The Notch ligand, Delta-1, reduces TNF-alpha-induced growth suppression and apoptosis by decreasing activation of caspases in U937 cells

The Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in the regulation of self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induces apoptosis through activation of caspase pathway. A monoblastic leukemia cell line, U937, undergoes apoptosis following stimulation with TNF-alpha. We found that Notch activation induced by a recombinant Notch ligand, Delta-1, reduced the TNF-alpha-induced growth suppression and apoptosis in U937 cells. As the molecular mechanism involved, we showed Delta-1 stimulation partially suppressed the sequential activation of caspase-8, caspase-3, and, PARP induced by TNF-alpha. The TNF-alpha-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and NF-kappaB was not affected by Delta-1 stimulation. The cells needed to be exposed to Delta-1 prior to TNF-alpha stimulation to reduce the suppressive effect of TNF-alpha. Therefore, we thought that Delta-1 stimulation might reduce the expression of TNF-receptor (R) 1 and proteins to modulate the activation of caspases such as FLIP and XIAP. However, Delta-1 stimulation did not affect their expression. The precise mechanism by which Notch signaling suppresses caspase activation has yet to be determined. This is the first report to show the relationship between Notch activation and TNF-R1 signaling. The findings suggest possible mechanisms by which Notch activation supports cell survival.     

替米沙坦抑制U937细胞增殖及诱导凋亡

目的:探讨替米沙坦对U937细胞株的生长抑制及凋亡诱导作用。方法:分别以不同浓度的替米沙坦处理人类急性髓系白血病细胞U937;以CCK-8法检测不同浓度替米沙坦对U937细胞的生长抑制作用;以集落形成实验观察不同浓度替米沙坦对U937细胞集落形成能力的影响;以Annexin V-PI双染法及Hoechst 33342染色法检测不同浓度替米沙坦作用前后U937细胞凋亡程度的变化;以流式细胞术检测U937细胞表面抗原CD11b的阳性表达率,瑞氏染色后倒置显微镜进行细胞形态学观察,了解U937细胞的分化情况;以Western blot法检测不同浓度替米沙坦作用U937细胞后凋亡相关蛋白表达量的改变。结果:CCK-8实验结果证实替米沙坦呈时间和剂量依赖性抑制U937细胞的生长;集落形成实验显示低剂量替米沙坦可以完全抑制U937细胞的集落形成能力;Annexin V-PI双染法及Hoechst 33342法结果证实替米沙坦可以诱导U937细胞凋亡;细胞表面抗原流式检测术及瑞氏染色结果证实替米沙坦可以促进部分U937细胞分化;Western blot实验结果证实替米沙坦作用于U937细胞72 h后,促凋亡相关蛋白cleaved PARP及cleaved caspase-3蛋白的水平明显增高。结论:替米沙坦可以抑制细胞增殖以及诱导U937细胞部分分化,并通过caspase依赖的凋亡途径触发U937细胞凋亡。     

Pim-1激酶抑制剂SMI-4a抑制U937细胞增殖并诱导凋亡

目的:研究丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶Pim-1抑制剂SMI-4a对人类急性髓系白血病细胞株U937的生长抑制、促凋亡作用及其可能机制。方法:CCK-8法检测不同浓度SMI-4a作用不同时间对U937细胞的生长抑制率;Annexin V-PI及Hoechst 33342染色法检测SMI-4a作用前后细胞凋亡情况,集落形成实验检测SMI-4a对U937细胞集落形成能力的影响;Western blot法检测SMI-4a对U937细胞核及细胞浆内β-catenin表达变化及细胞内凋亡相关蛋白的表达变化;免疫荧光法检测β-catenin在细胞内的表达变化。结果:CCK-8结果显示SMI-4a可以抑制U937细胞的活力,并呈时间和剂量依赖性;Annexin V-PI及Hoechst 33342染色结果显示SMI-4a可以促进U937细胞凋亡;集落形成实验证实SMI-4a可以抑制U937细胞的集落形成能力;Western blot实验结果显示SMI-4a作用于U937细胞48 h后细胞浆内的β-catenin表达增加,细胞核内的β-catenin表达减少,细胞内促凋亡蛋白Bax和PARP表达增强,抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达明显减弱;免疫荧光进一步验证了SMI-4a作用后的U937细胞核内的β-catenin表达量明显减少。结论:SMI-4a诱导U937细胞凋亡是通过上调促凋亡基因的表达、下调凋亡抑制基因的表达来实现的。     

线粒体凋亡途径在槲皮素诱导U937 细胞凋亡中的作用研究

目的:观察槲皮素对人急性髓系白血病U937 细胞增殖、凋亡、线粒体膜电位(Δφm),、人B 细胞淋巴瘤因子- 2、人Bcl-2 相关X 蛋白、细胞色素c 表达及半胱氨酸蛋白酶鄄3、半胱氨酸蛋白酶鄄9 活性的影响,探讨线粒体凋亡途径在槲皮素 诱导U937 细胞凋亡中的作用。方法:体外培养U937 细胞,分别以0、10、20、40、80、160μmol/ L 浓度的槲皮素处理24、48 和 72 h,采用细胞计数试剂盒(Cell counting kit-8,CCK-8) 检测槲皮素对U937 细胞增殖的抑制作用;实验随机分为对照组 (Control)、槲皮素10、20 组和40 μmol/ L 组。采用流式细胞仪AnnexinV-FITC/ PI 双染法检测U937 细胞凋亡情况;采用荧光染 料3,3‘-二己基含氧碳菁碘代物[3,3‘-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide,DiOC6(3)]染色,流式细胞仪检测U937 细胞的变化; 采用Western blot 检测U937 细胞Bcl-2、Bax、Cytc 表达;采用比色法检测U937 细胞Caspase-3、Caspase-9 活性。结果:槲皮素可 抑制U937 细胞的增殖,抑制率显著升高,且呈时间-剂量依赖性。槲皮素亦可显著抑制U937 细胞凋亡率,与对照组比较(P< 0.01)。槲皮素显著降低U937 细胞驻鬃m,与对照组比较(P<0.01)。槲皮素显著下调U937 细胞Bcl-2 表达,上调Bax 表达,下 调Bcl鄄2/ Bax 比值及上调Cyt c 表达,与对照组比较(P<0.01)。槲皮素显著升高U937 细胞Caspase-3、Caspase-9 活性,与对照 组比较(P<0.01)。结论:槲皮素可显著抑制U937 细胞增殖,线粒体凋亡途径激活是槲皮素诱导U937 细胞凋亡的途径之一。     

二甲双胍对U937 细胞增殖、周期及凋亡的影响

目的：探究二甲双胍（metformin）对U937细胞增殖、周期及凋亡的影响。 方法：以U937细胞为研究对象,予不同浓度的二甲双胍处理,分别在24、48和72 h收集细胞。CCK-8法检测细胞增殖情况,流式检测细胞凋亡及细胞周期,并使用Western blot方法检测促凋亡蛋白Bax、抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2、p-AMPK、p53的表达情况。结果：CCK8结果显示二甲双胍抑制U937的增殖,且呈时间-剂量依赖性。流式结果显示二甲双胍处理后细胞周期停滞在G0/G1期,G0/G1期细胞比例的增加呈时间-剂量依赖性。二甲双胍可诱导细胞凋亡,且凋亡率呈剂量依赖性;二甲双胍浓度为20 mmol/L时,凋亡率呈时间依赖性。Western blot结果显示二甲双胍处理后,p-AMPK、p53、Bax的表达上调,而Bcl-2的表达下调。 结论：二甲双胍能抑制U937细胞的增殖,阻滞细胞周期在G0/G1期,诱导细胞凋亡;其机制可能与其上调胞内促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达、下调抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达、激活AMPK/p53通路有关。     

Lidocaine-induced apoptosis and necrosis in U937 cells depending on its dosage

Local anesthetics are known to affect a variety of cellular responses other than the action of anesthetics through the Na(+) channel blockade. In this study, we examined the effect of a common local anesthetic lidocaine on the cellular activity and viability of human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells. The cellular activity and viability were assessed by WST-1 reduction activity and trypan blue exclusion test, respectively. Induction of apoptosis was monitored by DNA ladder formation, reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim), caspase-3 activity and nuclear morphology. Lidocaine at concentrations below 12 mM induced apoptosis characterized by DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation dose- and time-dependently. A pan-caspase inhibitor and a caspase-3 inhibitor blocked DNA ladder formation followed by the reduction of cell death. However, the caspase inhibitors did not affect the DeltaPsim, but cyclosporin A inhibited the collapse of DeltaPsim followed by a reduction of cell death. Lidocaine-induced apoptosis was mitochondria- and caspase-dependent, but the collapse of DeltaPsim was independent of caspase activation. At concentrations above 15 mM, lidocaine induced necrosis with early disruption of membrane integrity. These results indicate that lidocaine induced apoptosis and necrosis in U937 cells depending on its dosage.     

Relationship between differentiation of U937 cells and free-radicals-associated proteins on the membrane

U937, the human monocytic cell line does not have the ability to generate free radicals. However, this cell can be differentiate into a monocyte by stimulation with phorbol esters. In this study, whether differentiated U937 could generate free radicals upon stimulation with chemotactic peptide was examined. The amount of surface protein which was related to the generation of free radicals was quantitated using a monoclonal antibody, termed TM2, which reacted with free radical-associated proteins. There was great augmentation of TM2-associated protein in differentiated U937 cells compared with undifferentiated U937 cells. There were slight differences in the molecular weight of the TM2-associated protein among undifferentiated U937 cells, differentiated U937 cells and granulocytes. It seems necessary to increase some specific protein on the surface of U937 cells in order to generate free radicals.     

The retinoic acid analog CBS-211A potentiates the 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced differentiation of U937 cells

We report the effect of CBS-211A, a synthetic retinoid analog, designed for topical eye administration, on the growth and differentiation of myelomonocytic cells. This compound was assayed alone or in combination with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25(OH)₂D₃), since we previously evidenced a synergism of retinoic acid (RA) and 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ in the induction of U937 cell differentiation. Unlike RA, CBS-211A neither affected the growth of myelomonocytic cells nor differentiated them. Nevertheless, when it was associated with 1α,25(OH)₂D₃, CBS-211A strongly potentiated the 1α,25(OH)₂D₃-induced inhibition of U937 cell proliferation and caused a dramatic increase in their differentiation toward monocytes/macrophages. The co-inducing effect of CBS-211A was restricted to U937 cells.Our data suggest that CBS-211A may have therapeutic implications in the treatment of certain kinds of myelomonocytic leukemia. CBS-211A also provides an interesting tool to understand the mechanisms involved in the differentiation of myelomonocytic cells.     

ABCA1 mRNA expression and cholesterol outflow in U937 cells

Objective: To investigate the oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on U937 cell ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mRNA expression and cholesterol efflux situation. Methods: Human U937 cells were incubated with gradient concentrations of oxLDL (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 mg/L), and then dyed by oil red O to estimate the content of intracelluar lipid and detect the expressing quantity of ABCA1 mRNA by Real-time Fluorescence quantitative PCR simultaneously. Calculating the cholesterol efflux rates by using the scintillation counter to detect the amount of H³-cholesterol in each well cell culture plate and medium. Results: Real-time Fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of ABCA1 mRNA in monocytes were lower than basal line when not intervened with oxLDL, and increased drastically with oxLDL stimulation, significant difference compared with controls (P < 0.01), and reached the highest level at oxLDL 50 mg/L, nevertheless, continuously increasing the concentration of oxLDL above 50 mg/L, the expression decreased. So is the outflowing rate of intracelluar lipid. Oil red O dyeing results also suggested that celluar lipid content was the highest when intervened with 125 mg/L oxLDL, and increased most obviously at 50 mg/L oxLDL. Cholesterol outflow result also demonstrated that cholesterol outflow rate related with the ABCA1 mRNA expressing quantity. Conclusion: With the increase of intervening concentration of oxLDL on U937cells, the exprssion of ABCAl mRNA represented that rising before 50 mg/L oxLDL, and then decreasing, reaching the top point at 50 mg/L oxLDL. So was the change in the outflowing rate of intracelluar lipid.     

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, but not retinoic acid, induces the differentiation of U937 cells.

We have examined the effects of vitamin D3 metabolites and retinoic acid on the myelomonocyte cell line U937. Inhibition of proliferation, measured by incorporation of 125iodo-deoxyuridine was seen at 72 h with 1,25-(OH)2D3 but not 25(OH)D3 or 24, 25(OH)2D3 metabolites. CD14 molecules, not normally present on U937 cells, were induced on the cell surface. However, Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules were not induced and Class I MHC molecules not increased in density as determined by flow cytometry. Retinoic acid inhibited proliferation but failed to induce CD14 molecules. These data suggest that both 1,25(OH)2D3 and retinoic acid act as an antiproliferation signal to U937 cells; only 1,25-(OH)2D3 induces the differentiation towards a more mature phenotype.     

Cytokine regulation of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein in U937 cells

A naturally occurring receptor-level antagonist of interleukin-1 (IRAPorIL-1 ra) has recently been cloned. To determine what stimuli might regulate this inhibitor, cytokines were tested for their effects on the steady-state level of IRAP mRNA in phorbol ester-differentiated U937 cells. The cytokines tested fell into one of three groups: (a) inducers: granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-4, (b) weak inducers (<2-fold stimulation): [IL-lα, IL-Iγ, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-γ)] and (c) cytokines with no effect: (IL-2, platelet-derived growth factor, acidic fibroblast grouth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, interferon-y, multi-colony stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor -a and IRAP itself. One hundred U/ml of either GM-CSF or IL-4 was the dose inducing peak IRAP mRNA expression; that peak expression occurred 12 h after addition of cytokine. GM-CSF induced a 34 ±15-fold increase in IRAP mRNA, and IL-4 induced a 15± 6-fold increase. In the same RNA samples, GM-CSF increased IL-ip mRNA 5.9 ± 1.7-fold, but IL-4 decreased IL-Iγ mRNA to half that of control levels (0.45 ± 0.17). Thus, a single stimulus (IL-4) decreased the expression of an agonist (IL-1) while it increased the expression of an antagonist (IRAP). When U937 cells were treated with both IL-4 and GM-CSF, the level of IRAP mRNA induced was additive, suggesting that the cytokines acted differently to increase IRAP mRNA levels. The level of IL-1 mRNA in cells treated with both IL-4 and GM-CSF was intermediate. Dexamethasone and cycloheximide inhibited all mRNA increases and did not reverse IL-4-induced decreases in IL-1 mRNA. These studies have identified two cytokines which induce IRAP in the monocytic cells studied, and have partially characterized the differential regulation of IL-1 and its antagonist, IRAP.     

Notch1表达下调抑制病理性瘢痕成纤维细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡

目的探讨慢病毒介导的Notch1表达下调对病理瘢痕成纤维细胞(PSF)中caspase-9活化水平及线粒体膜电位的影响。方法分离培养增生性PSFs,感染Notch1 siRNA慢病毒和阴性对照慢病毒。分别采用RT-qPCR和Western blot检测细胞中Notch1mRNA和蛋白表达;MTT法检测细胞增殖;PI单染法检测细胞周期;Annexin V-FITC/PI法检测细胞凋亡;Western blot检测细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclin D1)、细胞周期依赖性蛋白激酶4(CDK4)、活化的caspase-3(c-caspase-3)和caspase-9(c-caspase-9)蛋白及胞质和线粒体中细胞色素C(cytochrome C)蛋白;JC-1法检测细胞线粒体膜电位。结果Notch1 siRNA慢病毒感染后的PSFs中Notch1表达水平明显低于阴性对照慢病毒和未感染的PSFs的表达水平(P<0.05)。下调Notch1后的PSFs增殖能力降低(P<0.05);细胞G0/G1期比例升高(P<0.05);细胞凋亡率升高(P<0.05);c-caspase-3和c-caspase-9蛋白表达升高(P<0.05);细胞线粒体膜电位明显下降(P<0.05);细胞中cyclin D1和CDK4蛋白水平降低(P<0.05);胞质内的cytochrome C蛋白含量升高(P<0.05)及线粒体中cytochrome C蛋白水平降低(P<0.05)。结论Notch1表达下调抑制PSFs增殖并诱导凋亡。     

Poliovirus infection interferes with the phorbol ester-induced differentiation of the monocytic U937 cell line

Monocytic U937 cells can differentiate in vitro into macrophage-like cells by treatment with phorbol esters such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). We have analyzed the effect of poliovirus infection in this pathway of differentiation. Poliovirus RNA replication took place in both untreated and PMA-treated U937 cells infected before or after PMA addition, although a slight reduction in poliovirus RNA levels was observed in PMA-treated cells at late times postinfection. Total protein synthesis remained unchanged during the first 5 h of infection both in normal and PMA-treated cells. However, an inhibition on total RNA synthesis was observed early in infection. PMA-induced c-myc mRNA expression was abolished when infection took place 1 h before PMA addition but was just partially inhibited when poliovirus was added 1 h after PMA stimulation. Fluorescence flow cytometry analysis revealed that poliovirus infection induced an increase in the number of 4F2 molecules per cell in normal U937 cells and a slight decrease in the number of positive cells for the antigens CD14, CD4 and CD11c in both untreated or PMA-treated U937 cells. These findings suggest that poliovirus infection of U937 cells interferes at various levels with monocyte maturation yielding cells which are unable to undergo the complete pathway of differentiation to macrophages.     

Cellular analysis of growth suppression induced by the Notch ligands, Delta-1 and Jagged-1 in two myeloid leukemia cell lines

It is known that Notch activation promotes the self-renewal of hematopoietic cells. However, we have previously found that the growth of a myeloid leukemia cell line, OCI/AML-6, was suppressed by Notch activation induced by stimulation with a recombinant Notch ligand, Delta-1 protein. We recently found that the growth of another leukemia cell line, THP-1, was also suppressed by the ligands Delta-1 and Jagged-1. In this study, we tried to clarify the cellular and molecular mechanism of the growth suppression induced by Notch activation. Flow cytometric analysis showed that Delta-1 stimulation increased the expression of differentiation markers such as CD11b and CD13 while it decreased the expression of CD117 (c-KIT), a marker for primitive cells in THP-1 cells. In OCI/AML-6 cells, Delta-1 stimulation decreased the expression of CD11b and CD14 and increased CD34 expression. Namely, Delta-1 showed the opposite effects on the differentiation markers of each cell line. Delta-1 stimulation did not increase the binding of annexin V, a marker for apoptotic cells in either cell line. Since the growth of myeloid cells is regulated by MAP kinase and JAK/STAT pathways, we investigated the effects of the ligand stimulation on these pathways. Delta-1 stimulation did not induce the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3 proteins in either cell line. Pre-exposure to Delta-1 did not affect the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3 induced by G-CSF in OCI/AML-6 cells, either. Namely, it is thought that these pathways are not involved in the growth suppression caused by Notch ligands. Our study revealed several findings on Notch function. However, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated.     

The role of fatty acid metabolites in the differentiation of the human monocyte-like cell line U937

The human monocyte cell line, U937, can be induced to terminally differentiate into macrophage-like cells when treated with gamma-interferon. However, if these cells were treated with gamma-interferon and esculetin, an inhibitor of the lipoxygenase pathway, or BW755C, an inhibitor of both the lipoxygenase and the cyclooxygenase pathways, a marked inhibition in cellular differentiation occurred. In contrast, inhibitors of only the cyclooxygenase pathway had no effect on differentiation. These studies suggest a role for lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid in the differentiation of the human U937 cell line. Arachidonic acid utilized in the production of eicosanoids is derived from phospholipids by the action of phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C. When U937 cells were cultured in medium supplemented with gamma-interferon, there was a striking increase in the level of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase A2 activities and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity as compared to control cells. More ever, although there was not a significant difference in the incorporation of labeled arachidonic acid or linoleic acid into the major phospholipids of differentiated U937 cells as compared to undifferentiated control cells, there was a marked increase in the relative amount of the labeled arachidonic acid released from the differentiated cells as lipoxygenase products compared to cyclooxygenase products. These data suggest that lipoxygenase products may be essential in the differentiation process of U937 cells and that enhanced phospholipase enzyme activities that occur during differentiation help explain how arachidonic acid becomes available to form lipoxygenase products.     

转录因子Sp1抑制K562细胞红系分化

 目的 研究转录因子Sp1在K562细胞诱导向红系分化过程中的表达变化,并确定其对于红系分化及珠蛋白表达的影响。方法 用定量PCR及Western blot的方法确定Sp1在红系分化过程中的表达情况。通过RNAi的方法抑制Sp1的表达,并通过联苯胺染色确定K562细胞中血红蛋白的表达情况,同时定量PCR的方法分析红系分化相关基因的表达,流式细胞技术检测红系分化过程中表面标志蛋白的表达情况。结果 在hemin诱导的K562细胞以及促红细胞生成素EPO诱导的造血干细胞向红系分化过程中,Sp1的mRNA及蛋白水平均呈明显下降,提示其可能负调节红系分化过程。在K562细胞中抑制Sp1的表达则可明显提高K562细胞中的血红蛋白含量,促进γ-,ε-珠蛋白,CD71,CD235a基因的表达,同时CD71,CD235a阳性细胞比例明显增加。结论 以上结果说明转录因子Sp1负调节红系分化过程,抑制Sp1的表达可提高K562细胞中珠蛋白的表达,并促进K562细胞向红系分化。