The cytokine receptor repertoire specifies autocrine growth factor production in factor-dependent cells

Mechanisms of helper virus-induced growth factor-independence were examined in FDC-P1 cells and FDC-P1 cells expressing the erythropoietin receptor (FDER cells). Retroviral mutagenesis of FDC-P1 cells led to factor-independent (FI) colonies from which cell lines could readily be established; whereas control cells exhibited at least 20 to 40-fold lower rates of factor-independence. From 44 independent experiments using either FDC-P1 or FDER cells, 205 autonomous cell lines were obtained. Sixteen colonies displayed a novel ("satellite-inducing") appearance in agar and produced up to 4.1 x 10(5) U/mL granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (some with altered GM-CSF transcript sizes) and/or interleukin-3 (IL-3). Retroviral mutagenesis of FDER cells increased the repertoire of autocrine growth factors now responsible for stimulating autocrine proliferation: 3% of FI cell lines produced erythropoietin (Epo) (0.5 U/mL). Unexpectedly, in every autonomous FDC-P1 cell line, reverse transcriptase-PCR demonstrated expression of a growth factor normally required for proliferation. Thus, a profound selection for cells able to produce growth factors as the mechanism for achieving autonomous proliferation was documented. The ectopic expression of a receptor lacking a cognate ligand ("orphan") followed by retroviral mutagenesis and selection for autocrine mutants may offer an effective method for identifying new ligands.