Increased DNA repair as a mechanism of acquired resistance to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) in human ovarian cancer cell lines

A human ovarian cancer cell line, A2780, derived from an untreated ovarian cancer patient and relatively sensitive to cisplatin was treated by stepwise incubation with cisplatin to produce a cisplatin-resistant variant, 2780CP. The relative abilities of these cell lines to repair cisplatin-induced damage to cellular DNA then was examined by measure of [3H]thymidine incorporation into normal density DNA separated from bromodeoxyuridine-substituted DNA on alkaline cesium chloride gradients. These studies revealed that primary cisplatin resistance present in 2780CP was associated with a near twofold-increased ability to repair damage induced by the drug under conditions where 2780CP was approximately 5-fold resistant to cisplatin. Aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase alpha, showed a dose-dependent capacity to inhibit DNA repair in this system with maximum inhibition of 63% at 4 micrograms/ml. It was also found that inhibition of DNA repair during and shortly after cisplatin exposure resulted in an approximately threefold increase in the cytotoxicity of cisplatin as monitored by clonogenic cell survival in the resistant but not the sensitive parental cell line.     

Mechanisms of collateral sensitivity to fluorouracil of a cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-resistant human non-small lung cancer cell line.

A cisplatin(CDDP)-resistant subline of a human lung cancer cell line, PC-7/CDDP, was 4.7-fold more resistant to CDDP than the parent line in a colony-forming assay. The sensitivity of this cell line to anthracyclines, vinca-alkaloid, etoposide, mitomycin C, and bleomycin was similar to that of the parental line, PC-7. However, PC-7/CDDP exhibited 4-fold higher sensitivity to fluorouracil (FUra). Possible mechanisms associated with the collateral sensitivity to FUra were studied in PC-7/CDDP cells. The sensitivity of both cell lines to FUra did not correlate with the effect of FUra on RNA. On the other hand, FUra induced a greater reduction in dTTP pools and more single strand breaks in PC-7/CDDP than in PC-7 cells. These results suggest that the pathway for de novo deoxyribonucleotide synthesis may be a target for FUra in PC-7/CDDP cells. However, inhibition of thymidylate synthase after FUra treatment did not correlate with the DNA-directed activity of FUra. Based on the above findings, the decreased salvage synthesis of dTTP was considered a possible mechanism of the greater reduction of dTTP pools in PC-7/CDDP cells. However, the activity of dThd kinase was the same in both cell lines. In the presence of physiological concentrations of exogenous dThd in the serum, uptake of dThd was less in PC-7/CDDP cells than that in PC-7 cells. Our data suggest that FUra-induced cytotoxicity in PC-7/CDDP cells is associated with the inhibition of dTTP synthesis and that the decreased uptake of dThd is a possible mechanism of the collateral sensitivity to FUra in PC-7/CDDP cells.     

Dasatinib induces DNA damage and activates DNA repair pathways leading to senescence in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines with kinase-inactivating BRAF mutations

Improved therapies are greatly needed for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that does not harbor targetable kinase mutations or translocations. We previously demonstrated that NSCLC cells that harbor kinase-inactivating BRAF mutations (^KIBRAF) undergo senescence when treated with the multitargeted kinase inhibitor dasatinib. Similarly, treatment with dasatinib resulted in a profound and durable response in a patient with ^KIBRAF NSCLC. However, no canonical pathways explain dasatinib-induced senescence in ^KIBRAF NSCLC. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we used 2 approaches: gene expression and reverse phase protein arrays. Both approaches showed that DNA repair pathways were differentially modulated between ^KIBRAF NSCLC cells and those with wild-type (WT) BRAF. Consistent with these findings, dasatinib induced DNA damage and activated DNA repair pathways leading to senescence only in the ^KIBRAF cells. Moreover, dasatinib-induced senescence was dependent on Chk1 and p21, proteins known to mediate DNA damage-induced senescence. Dasatinib also led to a marked decrease in TAZ but not YAP protein levels. Overexpression of TAZ inhibited dasatinib-induced senescence. To investigate other vulnerabilities in ^KIBRAF NSCLC cells, we compared the sensitivity of these cells with that of ^WTBRAF NSCLC cells to 79 drugs and identified a pattern of sensitivity to EGFR and MEK inhibitors in the ^KIBRAF cells. Clinically approved EGFR and MEK inhibitors, which are better tolerated than dasatinib, could be used to treat ^KIBRAF NSCLC. Our novel finding that dasatinib induced DNA damage and subsequently activated DNA repair pathways leading to senescence in ^KIBRAF NSCLC cells represents a unique vulnerability with potential clinical applications.     

Characterization of a human small cell lung carcinoma cell line with acquired resistance to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) in vitro

A 6.4-fold cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) resistant human small cell lung carcinoma cell line (GLC4-CDDP) was developed to study acquired CDDP resistance in vitro. Compared to the sensitive cell line (GLC4), the GLC4-CDDP showed an increase in doubling time and a decrease in cloning efficiency, cellular size, double minutes per cell, cellular protein, and nuclear protein content. While a complete cross-resistance for tetraplatin and a partial cross-resistance for doxorubicin, melphalan, cadmium chloride, carboplatin, and cis-dichloro-trans-dihydroxo-cis-bis(isoprolylamine)platinum (IV) (resistance factor, respectively,4.0,5.8,2.1,1.5,2.9) was found, no cross-resistance for vincristine was found. In the GLC4-CDDP line in comparison to the GLC4 line, glutathione and total amount of sulfhydryl compounds was significantly increased, while glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase was the same. The platinum content in cells and nuclei was lower in the resistant line, but after correction for cellular protein or volume no difference was found. The amount of platinum bound to DNA was significantly lower in the GLC4-CDDP line. After a 1-h incubation with CDDP, the amount of Pt-GG adducts was the same and the amount of interstrand cross-links was reduced in the GLC4-CDDP line as compared to GLC4. In conclusion, in the GLC4-CDDP line the phenotype and genotype are changed and various mechanisms, such as decreased Pt-DNA binding, elevated glutathione, and reduced interstrand cross-links, play a role in the development of the CDDP resistance.     

Cellular resistance to chloroethylnitrosoureas, nitrogen mustard, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) in human glial-derived cell lines

We investigated the cytotoxic and cytogenetic effects of 3-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea on five cell lines established from human glioma biopsy specimens. Compared to the sensitive cell line SF-126, SF-188 cells are 3- to 6.5-fold more resistant to the cytotoxic effects and 8- to 14-fold more resistant to the induction of sister chromatid exchanges. Cytotoxic effects and induction of sister chromatid exchanges are intermediate for SF-210 and SF-295 cell lines compared with SF-126 and SF-188. There is a good correlation between susceptibility to the cytotoxic effects and formation of DNA interstrand cross-links for cells treated with 3-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea . We quantitated the extent of repair of O6-methylguanine after treatment of these cell lines with [3H]methylnitrosourea. SF-126 cells showed no detectable repair of O6-methylguanine, SF-210 and SF-295 had intermediate levels of repair, and SF-188 had very high levels of repair. We conclude that the cellular capacity to repair O6-chloroethylguanine adducts in DNA, which is reflected in the methyl repair process, is an important factor in determining cytotoxic response, and that increased repair of O6-chloroethylguanine decreases cytotoxicity and causes fewer sister chromatid exchanges and DNA interstrand cross-links to form in cells treated with chloroethylnitrosoureas. We studied the effects of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) and nitrogen mustard in these cell lines. cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum(II) was equally cytotoxic and induced the same number of sister chromatid exchanges and DNA interstrand cross-links in all five cell lines. In contrast to the results obtained by treatment with chloroethylnitrosoureas, SF-126 cells treated with nitrogen mustard are 7.6-fold more resistant to the cytotoxic effects, 2-fold more resistant to the induction of sister chromatid exchanges, and 3-fold more resistant to the induction of DNA interstrand cross-links than are SF-188 cells. The results of this investigation with five human glial-derived cell lines clearly indicate that the molecular mechanisms of cellular resistance to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents are highly specific. Cellular resistance to chloroethylnitrosoureas does not result in cross-resistance to nitrogen mustard or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II).     

Phase II study of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

A phase II study of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP, 80 mg/m2, every 3 weeks) was performed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The overall response rate to CDDP was 14% (6/42). In patients without prior chemotherapy, the response rate was 20% (2/10), and in patients with prior chemotherapy, the response rate was 13% (4/31). The major side effect was gastrointestinal toxicity. It was concluded that CDDP at a dose of 80 mg/m2 every 3 weeks is effective against NSCLC.     

X-ray and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) cross-resistance in human tumor cell lines

Clinical studies have suggested a close correlation between cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) and radiation resistance. To determine whether this cross-resistance is due to an inherent cellular resistance to both agents, ten early passage human tumor cell lines were examined for their radiation and cisplatin sensitivity in vitro. Previous studies have suggested that these early passage tumor cell lines retain many of their in vivo characteristics and are therefore good models for tumor cells in vivo. Radioresistance was strongly associated with cisplatin resistance in these cell lines. Four of the cell lines examined were radioresistant, having Dos greater than 2.0 Gy. These four lines were also resistant to cisplatin, with the dose reducing survival to 10% greater than 1.29 microM. The remaining six cell lines had Dos ranging from 1.07 to 1.57 Gy of X-ray and doses reducing survival to 10% of less than 0.83 microM cisplatin. Because early passage human tumor cell lines were used, resistance or sensitivity to radiation and cisplatin most likely developed in vivo and was not due to selection in vitro. These results indicate that cross-resistance between cisplatin and radiation in vivo is probably due primarily to an inherent cellular resistance to these agents and not necessarily to the tumor microenvironment in situ.     

Excision repair of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-induced damage to DNA of Chinese hamster cells.

Platinum was lost from the DNA of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) [cis-Pt(II)]-treated exponentially growing Chinese hamster V79-379A cells with a half-life of 28 hr. By contrast, platinum was lost from the DNA of cells treated in stationary-phase culture with a half-life of 4 days. Cells treated in and allowed to remain as a stationary-phase culture maintained an intact and apparently viable appearance. When the stationary-phase culture was diluted with fresh medium, cell division occurred, and cell survival, as measured by colony-forming ability, could be determined. Dilution of cells immediately after treatment with 40 micron cis-Pt(II) resulted in 0.19% control survival. There was an increase in the ability of the stationary-phase cells to survive cis-Pt(II) damage with time after treatment. Thus, after 3 days, the survival had increased from 0.19 to 15.9%. We demonstrate that this increased ability of stationary-phase cells to survive with time after treatment is due to DNA excision repair and hence that survival is inversely related to the extent of reaction of cis-Pt(II) with the DNA.     

Reduced topoisomerase II activity in multidrug-resistant human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) cell lines often have a compound phenotype, combining reduced drug accumulation with a decrease in topoisomerase II. We have analysed alterations in topoisomerase II in MDR derivatives of the human lung cancer cell line SW-1573. Selection with doxorubicin frequently resulted in reduced topo II alpha mRNA and protein levels, whereas clones selected with vincristine showed normal levels of topo II alpha. No alterations of topo II beta levels were detected. To determine the contribution of topo II alterations to drug resistance, topo II activity was analysed by the determination of DNA breaks induced by the topo II-inhibiting drug 4''-(9-acridinylamino)methane-sulphon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) in living cells, as m-AMSA is not affected by the drug efflux mechanism in the SW-1573 cells. The number of m-AMSA-induced DNA breaks correlated well (r = 0.96) with in vitro m-AMSA sensitivity. Drug sensitivity, however, did not always correlate with reduced topo II mRNA or protein levels. In one of the five doxorubicin-selected clones m-AMSA resistance and a reduction in m-AMSA-induced DNA breaks were found in the absence of reduced topo II protein levels. Therefore, we assume that post-translational modifications of topo II also contribute to drug resistance in SW-1573 cells. These results suggest that methods that detect quantitative as well as qualitative alterations of topo II should be used to predict the responsiveness of tumours to cytotoxic agents. The assay we used, which measures DNA breaks as an end point of topo II activity, could be a good candidate.     

DNA repair pathways and non-small cell lung cancer: clinical perspectives

The role of DNA repair pathways is to maintain cellular integrity. However, genetic instability is a driving force in the development of tumor cells and many tumors are characterized by the loss of functionality in one or several DNA repair pathways. However, if genetic instability trespasses a certain point, it will induce cell death. Therefore, the dysfunctionality of several DNA repair pathways could represent an Achille's heel for the tumor, if such pathways could be pharmacologically targeted. For instance, the inhibition of PARP1, a protein in the base excision repair pathway (BER) is sufficient to induce cell death in cancer cells bearing BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, which are essential proteins in the homologous recombination repair pathway (HR). This phenomenon called "synthetic letality" constitutes recent knowledge and we discuss here the possibility that this strategy might be applied to innovative treatment options in lung cancer. Further, several DNA repair proteins could be used in lung cancer as prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers of response to chemotherapy or radiation. Indeed, specific biomarkers of each DNA repair pathway do exist and could guide oncologists in therapeutic decisions (e.g. ERCC1 and cisplatin). Finally, pharmacologic modulation of DNA repair proteins might also be interesting as it might increase therapeutic efficacy of anticancer strategies (DNA-interacting chemotherapy and radiotherapy). Here, we will present the principal DNA repair pathways and associated biomarkers (ERCC1, MSH2, PARP1 and BRCA1/2), and discuss their status in non-small call lung cancer (NSCLC).     

Schedule-dependent interaction of alpha-difluoromethylornithine and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) against human and hamster pancreatic cancer cell lines

The interaction of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cisplatin) and alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) has been previously shown by us to be roughly additive in enhancing the growth-inhibitory effects of cisplatin and by another group of investigators to be antagonistic. Since two different schedules of administration were used, we sought to investigate systematically the role of schedule dependence in the interaction of cisplatin and DFMO in a panel of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (PANC-1, of human origin, and WD PaCa and PD PaCa, both of hamster origin). Dose-effect relationships of single drug alone and in combination were analyzed by the median-effect principle and by the combination indices for the quantitation of synergism or antagonism with the aid of a microcomputer. Pre-cisplatin administration of DFMO for 2 or 5 to 6 days at concentrations of 50 or 100 micrograms/ml (0.21 or 0.42 mM) was found to antagonize the effects of cisplatin to various degrees in the cell lines. In contrast, whenever post-cisplatin DFMO was administered, marked enhancement, which was synergistic in most instances, of cisplatin's inhibition of colony formation was found. Thus, the interaction of cisplatin and DFMO is felt to be schedule dependent with deleterious effects found only when DFMO is administered prior to and not following cisplatin. Furthermore, the combination shows promise as an approach to overcoming drug resistance in pancreatic cancer.     

Possible mechanisms of resistance to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) of human ovarian cancer cells

The mechanism of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) resistance was examined by using a CDDP-resistant (KFr) cell line established by continuous exposure of KF cells (derived from serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary) to escalating doses of CDDP. When KFr cells were incubated with 66.7 microM CDDP, the uptake of CDDP was significantly inhibited and the cellular content in the KFr cells was about a half of that in KF cells after incubation for 4 h. When the KF or KFr cells were incubated for 4 h with 100 microM CDDP, the release pattern of CDDP from KFr cells was similar to that from KF cells. In addition, the DNA histogram of both KF and KFr cells revealed that KF cells seemed to contain two clones of cell population and the KFr cells may have been selected by exposure to CDDP. At 3 h after intraperitoneal administration of 0.5 mg of CDDP per mouse to nude mice with KF or KFr tumor, the CDDP content in the KFr tumor was significantly lower than that in the KF tumor. In contrast, at 6 or 9 h after CDDP administration the CDDP content in the KFr tumor was significantly higher than that in the KF tumor. Furthermore, the KFr cells had cross-resistance to various CDDP analogues including carboplatin. It was shown that cellular uptakes of two CDDP analogues into KFr cells were significantly lower than those into KF cells.     

Correlation between cell killing by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) in six mammalian cell lines and binding of a cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-DNA antiserum

The relationship between cell killing and the binding of the anticancer drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) to DNA was studied in six mammalian cell lines. Two of the human cell lines (COV413B) were of the same origin, comprising one sensitive to cis-DDP and the other with induced resistance to the drug. The four other lines, two rodent (RIF-1, Chinese hamster ovary) and two human (A2780, A1847), were unrelated. The cell lines differed in their sensitivity to cis-DDP, as tested in a clonogenic assay. cis-DDP-DNA binding was determined by quantitative immunocytochemistry using an antiserum against cis-DDP-modified DNA. The resistance factors relative to RIF-1, calculated from full survival curves for cis-DDP, were 3.8 +/- 0.4 for Chinese hamster ovary cells and 8.8 +/- 0.7 for both A2780 and A1847 lines. Using quantitative immunocytochemistry, the levels of the adduct-specific nuclear staining density compared with RIF-1 cells were 4.8 +/- 0.2 for Chinese hamster ovary cells, 9.1 +/- 0.2 for A2780, and 10.0 +/- 0.1 for A1847 cells, i.e., in good agreement with the resistance factors. In studies with the COV413B cells and their cis-DDP-resistant counterpart COV413B-PtR, immunologically detected adduct levels again correlated closely with resistance factors (correlation coefficient = 0.97). The kinetics of cis-DDP-DNA adduct formation and loss was investigated in RIF-1, A2780, and A1847 cells by the immunocytochemistry technique. Adduct levels after a 1-h incubation with approximately equitoxic doses of cis-DDP increased by 18 to 32% (average, 27%) between 0 and 6.5 h after treatment and then declined. Adduct half-lives in this latter phase did not correlate with the sensitivities of the cells for cis-DDP. These results indicate that the initial level of cis-DDP-DNA binding measured by quantitative immunocytochemistry may be a reasonable predictor of sensitivity to this chemotherapeutic drug.     

Establishment of a camptothecin analogue (CPT-11)-resistant cell line of human non-small cell lung cancer: characterization and mechanism of resistance

Camptothecin-11 (CPT-11) is a new derivative of camptothecin, a plant alkaloid antitumor agent, and a good candidate for clinical trials because of higher antitumor activity, less toxicity, and high aqueous solubility. CPT-11 is known to be altered into an active form, SN-38, by esterase in in vivo. CPT-11-resistant cells (PC-7/CPT) established from a human non-small cell lung cancer cell (PC-7) by stepwise, continuous treatment with CPT-11 exhibit about a 10-fold increase in resistance to the drug. CPT-11-resistant cells show a moderate cross-resistance to camptothecin (x8.6) and SN-38 (x8.6), and weak cross-resistance to Adriamycin (x2.2) and 5-fluorouracil (x2.4). The comparative studies between the parent (PC-7) and resistant (PC-7/CPT) cell lines with respect to their growth characterization shows a longer cell doubling time (45.8 versus 35.5 h), a lower cloning efficiency (3.2 versus 7.1%), and a lower population of S-phase cells (26.4 versus 36.0%) in the CPT-11-resistant cells. This observation may partly explain the resistance to CPT-11, a drug whose activity is cell cycle specific. Accumulation of CPT-11 is nearly the same in both cell lines. However, the intracellular concentration of SN-38 formed in the parent cells was 2-fold greater than in the CPT-11-resistant cells. This alteration may affect to some extent to the resistance. As assayed by relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA, the total activity of DNA topoisomerase I from the CPT-11-resistant cells was shown to be reduced to one-fourth its level in sensitive cells. The reduced activity was caused by a reduction of amount of DNA topoisomerase I. Furthermore, the enzyme from the resistant cells was shown to be 5-fold more resistant to CPT-11 than the enzyme from the parent cells. Thus, decreased total activity of topoisomerase I may play an important role in cellular resistance to CPT-11, and it appears that this decreased activity is due to a resistant form of topoisomerase I in CPT-11 resistant cells.     

Alphoid DNA nucleotide sequences from two human cell lines and the corresponding cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-resistant sublines

In order to study the interaction between cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) and representative human DNA in a highly defined manner, alphoid sequence DNA was isolated from two human parental cancer lines (one of head and neck squamous cell origin, SCC-25, and one of breast carcinoma origin, MCF-7) as well as from three CDDP-resistant cell lines derived from the parental lines. The alphoid DNAs were then cloned and tested for homology with published consensus sequence results. Percent homology with the consensus sequence varied between 84.4% and 91.7% for all of the cloned alphoid DNA tested and there was no significant difference for parentally derived versus resistant subline derived alphoid DNA. These results suggest, as expected, that resistance to the mutagenic chemotherapeutic drug CDDP is not the result of a general alteration in DNA base sequence from guanine and adenine to cytosine and thymidine, which are less favorable binding sites. The highly defined, abundant alphoid sequence DNA should provide an excellent model for investigating the interaction between various DNA active drugs and human DNA.     

Modulation of sensitivity to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) by thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists in non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines.

We examined the effect of selective thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor antagonists, calcium 5(Z)-1R, 2S, 3S, 4S-7-[3-phenylsulphonylaminobicyclo [2.2.1] hept-2-yl]-5-heptonoate hydrate (S-1452) and +/- -7-(3,5,6,-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-7-phenylhaptanoic acid (AA-2414), on sensitivity to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) in non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines. IC50 values to CDDP using MTT assay were decreased 2.1- and 4.6-fold respectively by treatment with 250 or 500 microM S-1452, for a 2 h simultaneous drug exposure, and those of PC-9/CDDP, a CDDP-resistant cell line, were decreased 3.1- and 6.1-fold. Sensitivity to carboplatin was also enhanced by the treatment with S-1452. IC50 values to CDDP and carboplatin were decreased by treatment with AA-2414 in a dose-dependent manner. Isobologram analysis showed that the combination of CDDP with S-1452 or AA-2414 produced supra-additive or additive effects in each cell line. Neither glutathione content nor glutathione S-transferase activity was changed in either cell line by treatment with 500 microM S-1452. Accumulation of platinum into PC-9 and PC-9/CDDP was increased by the treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Na+, K+-ATPase activity of PC-9 and PC-9/CDDP was enhanced by the treatment of S-1452 in a dose-dependent manner. These data show that the TXA2 receptor antagonists may enhance the sensitivity of non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines to platinum agents. Increase in Na+, K+-ATPase activity induced by S-1452 may be the mechanism of its sensitising effect through increase in platinum accumulation.     

Induction of DNA damage by deguelin is mediated through reducing DNA repair genes in human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells

It has been shown that deguelin, one of the compounds of rotenoids from flavonoid family, induced cytotoxic effects through induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many types of human cancer cell lines, but deguelin-affected DNA damage and repair gene expression (mRNA) are not clarified yet. We investigated the effects of deguelin on DNA damage and associated gene expression in human lung cancer NCI-H460 cells in vitro. DNA damage was assayed by using the comet assay and DNA gel electrophoresis and the results indicated that NCI-H460 cells treated with 0, 50, 250 and 500 nM deguelin led to a longer DNA migration smear based on the single cell electrophoresis and DNA fragmentation occurred based on the examination of DNA gel electrophoresis. DNA damage and repair gene expression (mRNA) were evaluated by using real-time PCR assay and the results indicated that 50 and 250 nM deguelin for a 24-h exposure in NCI-H460 cells, decreased the gene levels of breast cancer 1, early onset (BRCA1), DNA-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (DNA-PK), O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), p53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) mRNA expressions. Collectively, the present study showed that deguelin caused DNA damage and inhibited DNA damage and repair gene expressions, which might be due to deguelin-inhibited cell growth in vitro.     

Temperature-sensitive DNA repair of ultraviolet damage in human cell lines.

Following exposure to ultraviolet irradiation (UV), two of three human fibroblast strains and one of three melanoma cell lines showed lower rates of thymine dimer excision during 24 h at 40 degrees C than at 36 degrees C. All lines had lower rates at 32 degrees C. Autoradiographic studies of three fibroblast strains and four melanoma lines incubated for four hours after irradiation revealed decreased unscheduled DNA synthesis at 42 degrees C compared with 36 degrees C. The rate of semiconservative DNA synthesis was decreased at the upper temperature in both series of experiments. All eight cell lines tested showed decreased repair at 42 degrees C, as judged by slower sedimentation and increased heterogeneity of parental DNA in alkaline sucrose gradients. Experiments using the DNA synthesis inhibitor Actinomycin D suggested that these effects were due to temperature-sensitive repair synthesis. In the two lines studied, preincubation of cells at 42 degrees C apparently increased the extent of UV damage. Although by no means conclusive, these results are consistent with the possibility that temperature-sensitive DNA repair is a contributory factor in some cases of solar carcinogenesis.