Cytogenomic Characterization of Murine Cell Line Sarcoma 180 = S-180

Abstract

The cell line Sarcoma 180, which is also called S-180 (or S180), was established about 110 years ago from a murine axillary sarcoma. It has been applied in >5000 studies but was never genetically characterized in detail; this study fills that gap. The cell line Sarcoma 180 was analyzed for its chromosomal constitution using molecular cytogenetic approaches, specifically murine multicolor banding (mcb). Additionally, array comparative genomic hybridization was performed to characterize copy number alterations. Sarcoma 180 has a near tetraploid karyotype without Y-chromosome material and only two X-chromosomes. The complex karyotype includes dicentrics and simple and complex rearrangements and shows a relatively high chromosomal instability. An in silico translation of the obtained results to the human genome indicated that Sarcoma 180 is suitable as a model for advanced human mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.

Keywords: chondrosarcoma; molecular cytogenetics; murine tumor cell line.

Figure 1

Murine multicolor banding (mcb) was applied on the cytogenetic preparation of cell line Sarcoma 180. Typical pseudocolor banding for all 20 murine chromosomes is shown. This figure summarizes 20 chromosome-specific FISH experiments. Translocations are highlighted by frames in this karyogram summary.

Figure 2

Murine multicolor banding (mcb) for chromosome 6 shows, for one specific cell, four of the five derivative chromosomes 6 shown in Figure 1 (highlighted in pink frame—here denominated as a to d). Besides, there are a chromosome e, which is most likely derived from a fusion of chromosomes c and d; two identical dicentric derivatives with insertion of chromosome 6 material (f1 and f2); one derivative of an isochromosome (g) with telomeric material derived from chromosome 6; and one derivative chromosome 6 (h), which lost main parts of its long arm.

Figure 3

(A) aCGH results for cell line Sarcoma 180. Copy number alterations are depicted in a color code, with red indicating losses and green indicating gains. (B) The projection of the aCGH results onto the human genome highlights imbalances in specific chromosomal regions, indicating gains and losses compared to the original near-tetraploid chromosome set.