gamma-Interferon increases metaiodobenzylguanidine incorporation and retention in human neuroblastoma cells.

Iodine-labeled m-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is a widely used radiopharmaceutical for both diagnosis and biologically targeted radiotherapy of neuroblastoma. However, resistance to the radiotherapeutic effects of MIBG is often encountered, mainly due to lack of MIBG accumulation by neoplastic cells. We have investigated whether the induction of neuroblastoma cell differentiation modifies MIBG incorporation and retention. LAN-5 cells were selected, due to their moderate ability to take up MIBG. Treatment of these cells with gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) resulted in morphological changes accompanied by a significant increase in overall cell-associated MIBG. Desimipramine, but not reserpine, easily depleted IFN-gamma-treated LAN-5 cells of their MIBG content. This suggests that the mechanism involved is an uptake enhancement rather than an improved storage ability. Indeed, IFN-gamma induces de nov synthesis of MIBG receptor-transporters, as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction amplification and semiquantitative analysis. Our results suggest that pretreating neuroblastoma patients with IFN-gamma before MIBG administration may enhance the efficacy of both biologically targeted radioimaging and therapy of this tumor.     

Modulation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and the differentiation response of human neuroblastoma cells

We have tested the ability of various compounds to raise intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and, either alone or in combination with retinoic acid (RA), to promote differentiation of two "RA-resistant" sublines of LA-N-5 human neuroblastoma cells, designated LA-N-5HP and LA-N-5R9. Direct activation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin and cholera toxin increased intracellular cAMP levels over 10-fold in both cell lines after 1 h of treatment, after which the levels slowly declined for the next 16 to 24 h. After 5 days of continuous treatment, cAMP levels still remained 2- to 7-fold elevated above controls and were accompanied by a decrease in cell proliferation and an increase in neurite outgrowth. All these effects were exaggerated when the agents were combined with phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitors. Increasing cAMP levels (up to 24-fold) with N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) or 8-bromo-cAMP also resulted in decreased proliferation and an increase in morphological differentiation. Isoproterenol and epinephrine did not alter cAMP levels and had no discernible biological effects. Of the agents that raised cAMP levels, only dbcAMP caused an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity. This effect was duplicated with sodium butyrate and prostaglandin E1 in the absence of an increase in cAMP. RA promoted differentiation but also had little effect on cAMP levels. Combination treatment of cells with RA plus agents that raised cAMP levels resulted in greater degrees of differentiation than seen with single agent treatments. We conclude that: (a) the cAMP synthetic and degradative pathways are functional in LA-N-5HP and LA-N-5R9 cells; (b) elevation of cAMP is sufficient for inhibiting proliferation and promoting neurite outgrowth from these cells, but is not a necessary condition for inducing differentiation; and (c) elevation of intracellular cAMP potentiates the differentiation-inducing activity of RA.     

Epirubicin-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells in vitro

On the basis that inhibition of cell proliferation may play a role in the differentiation process, we have studied the effect of the antineoplastic drug epirubicin, an antibiotic of the anthracycline group, on human neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-MC, SK-N-SH, SJ-N-KP, TS12 and AF8. Epirubicin induced morphological and biochemical differentiation in these cultured cell lines; treatment with it stimulated the outgrowth of neurites and increased acetylcholinesterase activity.     

Enhancement of both intracellular uptake and antitumor action of cisplatinum on human neuroblastoma cells by encapsulation in liposomes

Phospholipid vesicles (phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylserine:cholesterol = 6:2:3 in molar ratio) with a small unilamellar structure were used as drug carriers for introducing cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) into human neuroblastoma cells, IMR-32, GOTO, Nagai, and TGW. DNA synthesis of IMR-32 cells among the human neuroblastoma cell lines was inhibited most strongly by CDDP-liposomes. CDDP-liposomes dose-dependently inhibited the DNA synthesis of IMR-32 in a similar fashion to that observed with free CDDP, but the drug concentration required to induce 50% inhibition of DNA synthesis for CDDP-liposomes (IC50: 0.7 micrograms CDDP/ml) was 1/3 of the IC50 for free CDDP (2.0 micrograms CDDP/ml). In support of the marked growth-inhibitory action of CDDP-liposomes, the intracellular incorporation rate of CDDP-liposomes was 3-fold higher when liposomes were used as carriers than when free CDDP was directly applied. CDDP-liposomes showed a stronger growth inhibition on IMR-32 cells at a high cell density than at a low density in culture. CDDP-liposomes were rapidly incorporated by IMR-32 cells within 5 min, resulting in the inhibition of DNA synthesis to 40% of the control. Swiss albino mouse 3T3 cells were less inhibited by CDDP-liposomes than by free CDDP, suggesting that encapsulation of CDDP in liposomes decreases cytotoxicity to normal cells.     

Modulation of laminin synthesis in human neuroblastoma cells during retinoic acid induced differentiation.

A comparable pattern of morphological neuronal differentiation was induced in the human neuroblastoma cell line SMS-KCNR by treatment with either retinoic acid (RA) or exogenous laminin (LM). LM expression and synthesis by SMS-KCNR was increased upon RA treatment which involved the cell bound, rather than the secreted protein. These data suggest an involvement of LM in the neuroblastoma differentiation process manifested both as an ability of LM to induce a morphological neuronal differentiation and as a selective control on LM metabolism during RA induced neuronal differentiation.     

Differential expression of N-myc and c-src proto-oncogenes during neuronal and schwannian differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) cells can be induced to differentiate bidirectionally into either neuronal or schwannian cells by different inducers. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We examined the expression of N-myc and c-src genes in 3 human NB-cell lines during either neuronal or schwannian differentiation in vitro, since proto-oncogenes are considered to play a pivotal role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Decreased N-myc expression and increased c-src expression were observed during neuronal differentiation by retinoic acid, polyprenoic acid (E5166) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, whereas the expression of N-myc and c-src genes was considerably reduced during schwannian differentiation by bromodeoxyuridine, demonstrating that the expression of N-myc and c-src genes was regulated independently in the bipolar differentiation processes of NB cells. Our results suggest that enhanced N-myc expression might be closely linked to the undifferentiated phenotypes of NB cells, that c-src expression might be related to the neuronal differentiation of NB cells, and that N-myc and c-src genes might be regulated independently in the determination of the bipolar differentiation of NB cells.     

Research on the differentiation of human and murine neuroblastoma cells.

In vitro, we were able to induce a differentiation of human (SK-N-MC, IMR-32, Leo-2) and murine neuroblastoma cells (NA-2, C-1300, NIE-115) with dibutyryl cyclic 3'5'-adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP), hypothalamic factor (HF), and somatostatin. As morphological criteria of cellular differentiation we used the decrease in cell proliferation and the formation of neurites. Functional parameters were the increase of A cholinesterase activity, cAMP level, and protein content, and the decrease of cGMP level. After application of dbcAMP and HF, the effects were stronger than after somatostatin. We believe that the action of HF and somatostatin is caused by an increase in cAMP levels. In the in vivo experiments, human and murine neuroblastoma cells (NA-2, C-1300, and Leo-2) were transplanted into nude/nude mice. After HF treatment of 14 mice with NA-2 tumors, 4 of the mice were tumor-free, and mean tumor weight was reduced to one-third of the controls. Of the animals with C-1300 and Leo-2 tumors, half became tumor-free, and mean tumor weight was reduced to one-fourth. The results indicate that the induction of cellular differentiation by factors and hormones may in future become a method of therapy for human neuroblastoma.     

Changes in the intracellular concentration of cyclic nucleotides in the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells

High performance liquid chromatography allows a simultaneous determination of ATP, CTP, GTP, and the cyclic nucleotides. During cell differentiation initiated by DBcAMP, we observed an increase in ATP, cAMP, GTP and an decrease in CTP, cCMP, and cGMP levels. It is being discussed the changes of relation between the triphosphates their corresponding cyclic nucleotides during the differentiation of NB cells.     

Active uptake and extravesicular storage of m-iodobenzylguanidine in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells

Radio-iodinated m-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), an analogue of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE), is increasingly used in the diagnosis and treatment of neural crest tumors. Active uptake and subsequent retention of MIBG and NE was studied in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Neuron-specific uptake of [125I]MIBG and [3H]NE saturated at extracellular concentration of 10(-6) M and exceeded by 20-30-fold that by passive diffusion alone. A minimum of 50% of accumulated MIBG remained permanently stored but the SK-N-SH cells were incapable of retaining recaptured [3H]NE. [125I]MIBG was displaced from intracellular binding sites by unlabeled MIBG with 10-fold higher potency than by unlabeled NE. MIBG stored in SK-N-SH cells was insensitive to depletion by the inhibitor of granular uptake reserpine (RSP) and was not precipitated in a granular fraction by differential centrifugation. Only few electron-dense granules were found in these cells by electron microscopy. In contrast, MIBG storage in PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells which contained many storage granules, was sensitive to RSP and part of accumulated drug was recovered in a granular fraction. Accordingly, storage of MIBG in the SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells is predominantly extravesicular and thus essentially different from that of biogenic amines in normal adrenomedullary tissue or in pheochromocytoma tumors, while sharing with these tissues a common mechanism of active uptake.     

Neuronal differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by gangliosides

Exogenous administration of gangliosides induced neuronal differentiation with prominent neuritogenesis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. Neuritogenesis was characterized by ruffling of the cell membrane, the development of lamellipodia and filopodia, and the subsequent elongation and branching of the neurites ultrastructurally. Both axons and neurites were identified. Increased numbers of cell organelles in the neurites and cell bodies were noted. Nonsynaptic contacts and gap junctions formed between neurites or between each neurite and cell body. These findings could be implicated in histopathologic changes from neuroblastoma to ganglioneuroblastoma.     

Regulation of c- and N-myc expression during induced differentiation of murine neuroblastoma cells

Using clones N1E-115 and N1A-103 from mouse neuroblastoma C1300, a comparative analysis of c- and N-myc gene expression was undertaken both in proliferating cells and in cultures exposed to conditions which induce differentiation. Under the latter conditions, while N1E-115 cells extend abundant neurites and express many biochemical features of mature neurons, clone N1A-103 stops dividing and expresses certain neurospecific markers but is unable to differentiate morphologically. In both clones, chemical agents, i.e. 1-methyl cyclohexane carboxylic acid (CCA) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), induce a decrease in c-myc expression. Similar results were found for N-myc gene in N1E-115 cells, but in contrast, in clone N1A-103, N-myc expression is increased with CCA and not modified with DMSO. Globally, this study favours the hypothesis that changes in c-myc expression would correspond to cell division blockade and differentiation, while modulations in N-myc are more closely related to an early phase of terminal differentiation.     

Effectiveness of differentiation inducers in combination on human neuroblastoma cells in vitro

The effects of epirubicin and retinoic acid (RA) as differentiation inducing agents on human neuroblastoma cell lines were investigated. We have compared the response of neuroblastoma cells to epirubicin alone, to RA alone and to combined treatment, with respect to neuritic processes outgrowth, acethylcholinesterase activity, growth inhibition and antigenic expression. The obtained data indicate that the combination of the two agents is able to produce a synergistic effect on differentiation and on growth inhibition.     

In vitro differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells caused by vasoactive intestinal peptide

Neuroblastoma, a tumor of the sympathetic nervous system, is the most common solid malignancy of childhood outside the central nervous system. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is produced by some of these tumors, and elevated serum levels correlate with tumor cell differentiation and a favorable prognosis. It has previously been demonstrated that human neuroblastoma cell lines LA-N-5 and IMR-32 will differentiate in vitro when exposed to retinoic acid. It is now shown that VIP also induces in vitro differentiation of these neuroblastoma lines. LA-N-5 or IMR-32 cells were grown in the presence of different concentrations of VIP. Cell proliferation was suppressed, as measured by cell count, incorporation of [3H]thymidine, and measurement of the proliferation index. The degree of suppression correlated with the concentration of VIP, and the effect was indistinguishable, on a molar basis, from that seen when cells were treated with retinoic acid. Similarly, the morphological changes seen in the VIP-treated cells were the same as those seen in retinoic acid-treated ones. The effects of VIP on both cell lines, like those of retinoic acid, are reversible. The human neuroepithelioma line CHP-100, is much less sensitive to either agent. Vasoactive intestinal peptide is the first substance shown to cause differentiation of neuroblastoma cells in vitro which is also known clinically to have a specific association with that tumor. It is postulated that VIP may play a key role in the well-documented maturation of these tumors in vivo and in the normal development of the sympathetic nervous system. These findings may also have therapeutic implications for the management of this frustrating childhood malignancy.     

Modulation of Mr 53,000 protein with induction of differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells

LA-N-5 human neuroblastoma cells were found to express high levels of an Mr 53,000 cellular tumor antigen (p53), a protein that has been implicated as playing a fundamental role in the control of cell division and differentiation processes in a variety of tumor systems. When LA-N-5 cells are treated with retinoic acid, they undergo growth and morphological, biochemical, and electrophysiological changes that are characteristic of neuronal maturation and a reduction of the malignant phenotype. We find that these retinoic acid-induced changes are accompanied by a marked decrease in the levels of p53 and p53 mRNA. In our study, p53 levels decreased in concert with both morphological differentiation and with inhibition of cellular proliferation in vitro. These results suggest that p53 levels are intimately related to an undifferentiated phenotype in neuroblastoma cells and support studies which relate p53 levels to the malignant phenotype in other tumor systems.     

Sprouty2 regulates growth and differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells through RET tyrosine kinase

The Sprouty (SPRY) family of proteins includes important regulators of downstream signaling initiated by receptor tyrosine kinases. In the present study, we investigated the role of SPRY proteins in intracellular signaling via the RET receptor tyrosine kinase activated by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Expression of SPRY1, SPRY2, SPRY3 and SPRY4 in HEK293T cells transfected with RET and GDNF receptor family alpha1 (GFRalpha1) genes significantly reduced sustained ERK activation as well as ELK-1 activation. Because expression of SPRY2 was efficiently induced by GDNF in TGW human neuroblastoma cells expressing RET and GFRalpha1, we further investigated the role of SPRY2 in the growth and differentiation of TGW cells. Expression of wild-type SPRY2 (WT-SPRY2) decreased the growth of TGW cells. In contrast, expression of a dominant negative form of SPRY2 (MT-SPRY2, with a mutated tyrosine residue) enhanced cell proliferation. In addition, expression of WT-SPRY2 reduced GDNF-dependent neurite outgrowth of TGW cells, whereas expression of MT-SPRY2 enhanced it. Taken together, our results suggest that SPRY2 regulates GDNF-dependent proliferation and differentiation of TGW neuroblastoma cells mediated by RET tyrosine kinase.     

Role of cyclic AMP in differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells in culture.

The inhibitors of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (papaverine and 4-(-3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone), serum-free medium, and x irradiation caused cell death and neurite formation in human neuroblastoma cells in culture (IMR-32), whereas theophylline was ineffective. Prostaglandin (PG) E1, N6O'2-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP) induced neurites without causing cell lethality. Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase and PGE1 increased the intracellular level of cAMP by about 2- and 4-fold respectively, whereas serum-free medium and x irradiation did not. The combination of PGE1 and phosphodiesterase inhibitor was more effective in causing morphological differentiation and in increasing the cAMP level than the individual agent. Sodium butyrate induced cell death and neurites, probably in part by increasing the cAMP level. cAMP, guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, and adenosine had no detectable effect on the growth or morphology of neuroblastoma cells in culture. Adenosine 5'-monophosphate produced cell death without causing neurite formation. DbcAMP, and to a much lesser degree, sodium butyrate increased the tyrosine hydroxylase activity.     

Neuronal cell differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells by inducing agents in combination.

The antineoplastic drug 4'-iodo-4'-deoxydoxorubicin (IDX), a new halogenated anthracycline (1), was examined as a differentiation inducing agent on the human neuroblastoma cell lines TS12 and SK-N-MC. IDX induced morphological and biochemical differentiation and growth inhibition. The effect of a combined treatment of IDX with retinoic acid (RA) and with nerve growth factor (NGF) respectively was then investigated. The responses of neuroblastoma cells to IDX alone and to these combined treatments were compared, with respect to neuritic outgrowth, acetylcholinesterase activity and cellular growth. The data obtained indicate that the combination of differentiation-inducing drugs may be able to enhance the effects of the same drugs given alone.     

Neuronal cell differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells by retinoic acid plus herbimycin A

We investigated the effect of retinoic acid (RA) and herbimycin A (herb-A) on cell growth, cell differentiation, and colony formation of human neuroblastoma cell lines. The neuroblastoma line SK-N-SH expressed both neuroblast and nonneuronal phenotypes, whereas its subclone SH-SY5Y and the Kelly cell line were predominantly neuroblastic. Both herb-A and RA, given alone, moderately reduced cell growth and colony formation of the neuroblastic cell lines. Growth curve analyses with SK-N-SH suggested that herb-A greatly reduced the number of initially growing cells, whereas RA slightly enhanced initial cell growth. Morphological changes were determined with the use of rhodaminephalloidin staining of actin. Retinoic acid caused an increase in the fraction of neuroblast cell in SK-N-SH, and conversely of nonneuronal cells in SH-SY5Y and Kelly cell lines. Both drugs also caused partial differentiation towards a neuronal phenotype, and herb-A induced selective lysis of nonneuronal cells of SK-N-SH. Because of their discrepant effects, RA (10 microM) and herb-A (236 nM) were tested in combination at a concentration that had only moderate effects when given alone. The combination further reduced cell growth and colony formation and dramatically enhanced differentiation towards a neuronal morphology. The Kelly cell line with amplified N-myc genome, which correlates with clinical progression of neuroblastoma, was also sensitive to RA plus herb-A. These results recommend the combination of RA and herb-A for differentiation therapy of neuroblastoma.     

Effect of human interferons on morphological differentiation and suppression of N-myc gene expression in human neuroblastoma cells

The activity of human interferons (HuIFNs) to induce morphological changes and the suppression of N-myc gene expression on human neuroblastoma cells (GOTO and KP-N-RT) was evaluated. Morphological differentiation, characterized as the extension and bifurcation of neurites, the formation of multinucleated giant cells and the formation of neurite networks, was induced by treatment with recombinant HuIFN-gamma (rHuIFN-gamma) and also with natural HuIFN-gamma on human neuroblastoma cells (GOTO and KP-N-RT). But recombinant HuIFN-alpha A and recombinant HuIFN-beta did not induce any changes. The rHuIFN-beta and rHuIFN-gamma inhibited the growth of GOTO and KP-N-RT cells more strongly than the rHuIFN-alpha A did. The expression of N-myc gene was suppressed in GOTO cells treated with rHuIFN-gamma. The suppressive effect of rHuIFN-gamma was dependent on the duration of the treatment. However, rHuIFN-alpha A and rHuIFN-beta did not suppress N-myc gene expression. Moreover, both morphological differentiation and the suppressive effect on N-myc gene expression by rHuIFN-gamma were inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide. These results suggest that the morphological changes and N-myc gene expression in neuroblastoma cells are closely related. Furthermore, this decreased N-myc gene expression during the morphological differentiation may be related to the proteins induced by HuIFN-gamma.     

Molecular dissection of TrkA signal transduction pathways mediating differentiation in human neuroblastoma cells

Activation of the neurotrophin receptor TrkA by its ligand nerve growth factor (NGF) initiates a cascade of signaling events leading to neuronal differentiation in vitro and might play an important role in the differentiation of favorable neuroblastomas (NB) in vivo. To study TrkA signal transduction pathways and their effects on differentiation in NB, we stably expressed wild-type TrkA and five different TrkA mutants in the NGF unresponsive human NB cell line SH-SY5Y. Resulting clones were characterized by TrkA mRNA and protein expression, and by autophosphorylation of the receptor. Introduction of wild-type TrkA restored NGF responsiveness of SH-SY5Y cells, as demonstrated by morphological differentiation, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and induction of immediate-early genes. Expression of TrkA in the absence of NGF resulted in growth inhibition of transfectants compared to parental cells, whereas NGF-treatment increased their proliferation rate. Analysis of downstream signal transduction pathways indicated that NGF-induced differentiation was dependent on TrkA kinase activity. Our data suggest that several redundant pathways are present further downstream, but activation of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway seems to be of major importance for NGF mediated differentiation of NB cells. Our results also show that the signaling effector SH2-B is a substrate of NGF-mediated Trk signaling in NB, whereas it is not activated by NGF in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. This might explain the differences we observed in TrkA signaling between neuroblastoma and PC12 cells. Further insight into TrkA signaling may suggest new options for the treatment of NB.