Cell cycle effects of antifolate antimetabolites: implications for cytotoxicity and cytostasis

 Purpose: Cell cycle-related events in CCRF-CEM lymphocytic leukemia cells were examined subsequent to inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS) or GAR formyltransferase (GARFT) and prior to cell death or stasis. Methods: Cell populations were treated with the GARFT inhibitors 6R-5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate (lometrexol) or LY309887, the TS inhibitor ZD1694, or the multitargeted antifolate LY231514. DNA content, nucleoside precursor incorporation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression as functions of drug treatment were assessed by multiparameter flow cytometry. Cellular respiration was measured by MTT analysis and apoptosis was detected by extraction of DNA fragments. Results: Cell populations treated for up to 96 h with lometrexol or LY309887 did not replicate and maintained a cell cycle distribution with distinct G₁, S and G₂/M regions. The number of S phase cells in treated populations was slightly elevated relative to control as measured by DNA content and PCNA. However, these cells were unable to incorporate 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Throughout treatment, cells incubated with GARFT inhibitors maintained intact membranes and respired at a level comparable to untreated cells. In contrast, ZD1694 as well as LY231514, induced synchronization of the treatment population at the G₁/S interface within 12 h of drug addition. This was followed by synchronous entry of the population into S phase. After 24 h of treatment, more than 90% of the cells were capable of incorporating BrdU and stained positive for PCNA. DNA fragmentation occurred in cells treated with ZD1694 or LY231514 but not in those treated with GARFT inhibitors. In addition, the viable cells remaining after 24–48 h of treatment with ZD1694 or LY231514 were respiring at twice the level of untreated cells. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the distinct endpoints of GARFT and TS inhibition are preceded by distinct cell cycle and metabolic alterations. Received: 1 April 1996 / Accepted: 5 September 1996     

Age-related changes in dividing cells of the olfactory epithelium of the maturing guinea pig

Changes in dividing cells of the olfactory epithelium from guinea pigs of different ages were examined by immunohistochemical staining using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibody. Numerous dividing cells were scattered diffusely in the basal layer of the olfactory epithelium at 1 and 2 months following birth and then gradually decreased with maturation until 4 months. Findings then remained constant between 4 and 24 months. Subsequently, cell numbers were found to decrease as animals became older. The number of olfactory receptor cells did not vary significantly between 1 and 30 months. Although no correlation could be found between the numbers of dividing cells and olfactory receptor cells, it is still possible that the longevity of the olfactory receptor cells changes to maintain the overall size of the neuronal population. Received: 18 February 1998 / Accepted: 9 April 1998     

听神经瘤患者离体前庭毛细胞的分离及胞内钙离子活动

目的进一步了解离体人前庭毛细胞的胞内钙离子（Ｃａ２＋）活动。方法从３例经迷路听神经瘤切除术患者中采取半规管壶腹中的前庭毛细胞，用倒置显微镜观察分离出的离体前庭毛细胞形态，用Ｃａ２＋敏感的荧光染料Ｆｕｒａ２和数字影像显微镜监测细胞内Ｃａ２＋浓度的变化。结果分离的前庭毛细胞主要为Ⅰ型毛细胞，可在体外存活２．５ｈ。用１５０ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＫ＋液灌流单离的前庭毛细胞引起胞内Ｃａ２＋的显著升高，荧光比率从０．５４升至１．１６；这种胞内Ｃａ２＋的升高在胞外液中Ｃａ２＋缺如的情况下消失。０．２５μｍｏｌ／ＬＩｏｎｏｍｙｃｉｎ可以引起前庭毛细胞内Ｃａ２＋的不可逆性升高，荧光比率保持在０．７３。结论人前庭毛细胞膜上存在电压敏感的Ｃａ２＋通道。     

Role of sialoglycan structures for the function of the epidermal growth factor receptor and the in vitro proliferation of head and neck cancer

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck have been found to show a high expression of the receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF). This overexpression of the receptor has been associated with malignant transformation of cells, although there is still debate as to what extent this receptor takes part in the proliferation of malignant cells and which function it fulfills. The factors which determine receptor-ligand interaction are also not clearly defined. That the extracellular domain of the EGF receptor carries carbohydrate or sialoglycan structures might be important for function of the receptor. Since tumor specific enzymes can possibly alter such structures, it was the aim of our study to investigate the role of these structures on the EGF receptor during the proliferation of head and neck carcinomas. We used the human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line HLaC 79 and altered, for the first time, specific glycan structures with sialidase α-2,3 and α-2,6, causing desialylation. Changes were also produced by endo-β-galactosidase and sialyltransferase. Findings were monitored by labeling with bromo-deoxyuridine. To determine receptor affinity, ¹²⁵I-labeled EGF was employed. Results showed that both cell proliferation and receptor affinity depended on the level of sialylation of the receptor carbohydrate side chains. Desialylation led to a statistically significant reduction of tumor cell proliferation to 65 ± 33% (P < 0.01), while receptor affinity decreased to 70 ± 26% (P < 0.01).The importance of EGF receptor for the proliferation of malignant cells seems to depend on the level of sialylation of glycan structures on receptor protein. A release of enzymes by tumor cells may then produce auto-control of tumor proliferation on its own. Received: 5 November 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1998     

Cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of high-energy pulsed ultrasound (HEPUS) on human squamous cell carcinoma cells as compared to connective tissue fibroblasts

The cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of high-energy pulsed ultrasound (HEPUS) on human squamous cell carcinoma cells cloned from the hypopharynx (FaDu) and benign connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) were investigated in vitro. Sonication was carried out using an experimental piezoelectric, self-focusing burst-signal transducer. To increase the induction of cavitation, the transducer used was specifically designed to produce multiple oscillations with a high negative pressure amplitude. In both cell lines tested, the application of 100, 800 and 2000 pulses resulted in a high reduction of vital cells. After 2000 pulses, 4.0 ± 1.1% of the fibroblasts but only 2.0 ± 0.4% of the FaDu cells survived HEPUS exposure. A postexposure inhibiting effect of HEPUS for 10 days on the proliferation of surviving cells was noted for the FaDu cells exposed to 2000 pulses, but not as much for the fibroblasts. These findings support the hypothesis that human squamous cell carcinoma cells of the hypopharynx might be more sensitive to HEPUS than fibroblasts and that total tumor cell ablation might be possible in vitro given a sufficient number of HEPUS pulses. Received: 18 November 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1998     

Enhancement of Radiation Response by Paclitaxel in Mice According to Different Treatment Schedules

Purpose: The aim of our study was to determine if paclitaxel could be used as a radiosensitizer in vivo.

Materials and methods: Paclitaxel was tested as a single agent and combined with an X-ray treatment. Paclitaxel was administered i.p. in doses from 30 to 120 mg/kg b.w. to (C3D2F1) mice bearing spontaneous mammary carcinoma. Tumor growth delay (TGD) or tumor control dose (TCD₅₀, radiation dose needed to induce local tumor control in 50% of irradiated animals) and moist desquamation dose (MDD₅₀, radiation dose needed to induce serious moist desquamation in 50% of the non-tumor-bearing feet) were the endpoints. DNA flow cytometric analysis was performed.

Results: DNA analysis demonstrated a G2/M block of tumor cells and a depletion of cells in S phase, with a maximum at 24 h from paclitaxel administration. Administering paclitaxel, in graded doses, 15 min before a 10-Gy X-ray treatment resulted in a linear regression line, almost parallel to that with paclitaxel alone, with a growth delay of about 6 days. In contrast, varying the X-ray dose with a constant paclitaxel injection (45 mg/kg b.w.) treatment showed some degree of synergism as the linear regression curves diverged. Interval time and sequence between paclitaxel administration and a 10 Gy X-ray treatment did not influence TGD. Protocols with paclitaxel at 30, 45, or 60 mg/kg were combined with radiation treatments at various doses (from 10 to 65 Gy). Values of TCD50 varied from 50.8 Gy for X-ray alone to 31.8 Gy for paclitaxel 60 mg/kg + X-ray. No differences were observed among MDD of different protocols.

Conclusions: These results suggest that, under some conditions, paclitaxel combined with radiation can show superadditive effects and this result combined with the lack of severe normal tissue damage indicate that a favorable therapeutic gain can be obtained.     

Selection of Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells with High Dissemination Potential by Repeated Passage of the Cells in vivo into Nude Mice, and Involvement of Lex-determinant in the Dissemination Potential

Cells of the human tumor cell line RMG-1, derived from a clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary, were injected intraperitoneally into nude mice, and the cells obtained from the tumor nodules in the mesenterium were found to form a larger number of, and larger-sized, tumor nodules than the original RMG-1 cells. The RMG-1-h cells, transferred into culture from the tumor nodules after a 4th in vivo passage, showed a dissemination potential as high as that of cells disseminating directly from the tissues, and exceedingly higher than that of RMG-1 cells. To assess the molecular bases of the different biological properties of RMG-1 and RMG-1-h cells, we compared the content and expression of various carbohydrate antigens in both cells. The chromosomal profile of RMG-1-h cells revealed their human origin and was identical to that of the original RMG-1 cells. In contrast to the broad histogram for the Le^x-bearing cells among RMG-1 cells in flow cytometry, the weakly and moderately positive cells toward anti-Le^x antibody were found to be eliminated from the histogram for the RMG-1-h cells, resulting in the enrichment of cells strongly expressing Le^x, which may account for the high dissemination potential. In addition, the adhesion of RMG-1 cells to mesothelial cells was found to be significantly inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with anti-Le^x antibody, indicating Le^x-mediated cell-to-cell interaction between ovarian cancer cells and mesothelial cells. By TLC-immunostaining, two Le^x-glycolipids, III³Fucα-nLc₄Cer and V³Fucα-nLc₆Cer were detected in both RMG-1 and RMG-1-h cells, and their total concentrations were not significantly different from each other. However, the hydrophobic moieties of Le^x-glycolipids in RMG-1-h cells were different from those in RMG-1 cells, suggesting that a difference in the structure of the hydrophobic moieties of Le^x is partly involved in the enhanced reactivity of RMG-1-h cells toward anti-Le^x antibody. Thus, the high dissemination potential of ovarian cancer cells was shown to be mediated by the Le^x-determinant and the Le^x-bearing cells are enriched by repeated in vivo passage of the cells into nude mice.     

rhTRAIL对耐顺铂人肺腺癌细胞凋亡的影响

背景与目的TRAIL和TNF、Fas一样均属TNF蛋白超家族成员。研究表明,TNFα可用于克服某些肿瘤细胞的化疗耐药性,而一些化疗药物可上调死亡受体DR的表达,从而促进TRAIL诱导的细胞凋亡。本研究旨在探讨重组人可溶性肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体蛋白rhTRAIL对耐顺铂人肺腺癌细胞凋亡的影响。方法常规体外培养耐顺铂人肺腺癌细胞株A549/DDP,应用MTT比色法、DPA法、流式细胞术和激酶法,检测rhTRAIL对耐顺铂人肺腺癌细胞株A549/DDP细胞增殖的抑制活性及其诱导细胞凋亡的效应。结果单用rhTRAIL时,低剂量rhTRAIL(6.25、12.5、25.0μg/L)对A549/DDP细胞的生长抑制率和各项凋亡指数(细胞凋亡率、DNA片段化比率和Caspase3活性)均无明显影响,P>0.05,但当rhTRAIL浓度在50μg/L时,细胞生长抑制率、细胞凋亡指数、DNA片段化比率和Caspase3活性均明显增高,各达68.6%、(27.13±0.66)%、(37.4±2.0)%和0.117±0.011(P<0.05)。当3mg/LDDP和rhTRAIL联用时,12.5μg/L的rhTRAIL即可使A549/DDP细胞生长抑制率、细胞凋亡指数、DNA片段化比率和Caspase3活性明显增高,各达30.4%、(19.39±0.54)%、(17.3±4.1)%和0.138±0.009(P<0.05)。结论单用较高剂量的rhTRAIL可以诱导耐顺铂人肺腺癌细胞A549/DDP细胞凋亡。低剂量顺铂可以增强rhTRAIL诱导A549/DDP细胞凋亡的效应。rhTRAIL可望成为耐药性肺癌治疗的一种重要的生物制剂。     

Targeted disruption of GAP-43 in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells inhibits neuronal differentiation. As well as acquisition of the morphological phenotype

GAP-43 is expressed in proliferating neuroblasts in vivo and in vitro, but its role during early neurogenesis has not been investigated. Here we show that neuroectodermal differentiation stimulated by retinoic acid (RA) in the embryonal carcinoma (EC) line P19 is accompanied by upregulation of GAP-43 expression in neuroepithelial precursor cells. In contrast, when upregulation of GAP-43 expression was prevented in 3 independent P19 lines because of a targeted insertion into the gene, generation of neuroepithelial precursors was inhibited. Consequently, neuronal number was significantly decreased, neuronal morphology was abnormal and fewer than 20% of all neurons were able to initiate neuritogenesis. Extracellular matrix (ECM) was unable to rescue initiation of neuritogenesis in the mutant cells, however those neurites that were extended responded normally to ECM-stimulated neurite outgrowth-promoting signals. These data suggest that GAP-43 function is required for commitment to a neuronal phenotype as well as initiation of neurite extension. However, stimulation of neurite outgrowth by ECM in P19s occurs independently of GAP-43.     

豚鼠耳蜗部分外支持细胞的分离法

目的 :探讨豚鼠耳蜗部分外支持细胞 (Deiter细胞、Hensen细胞和外柱细胞 )的分离方法 ,并建立细胞活性的鉴别标准。方法 :选取健康杂色豚鼠 5只 ,解剖出耳蜗基底膜 ,采用酶解加机械吹打法分离Deiter细胞、Hensen细胞和外柱细胞。结果 :可以获得较多数量、活性良好、长短不一的Deiter细胞和Hensen细胞 ,8h内细胞活性较好 ;但外柱细胞数量较少 ,存活时间较短。评价Deiter细胞、Hensen细胞和外柱细胞的活性标准 :①细胞膜无膨胀或扭曲 ;②细胞核无肿胀、移位 ;③在相差显微镜下细胞呈半透明状态 ,存在双折射现象 ;④细胞内无呈布朗运动的颗粒。结论 :熟悉耳蜗的解剖特性、分离出完整的基底膜 ,增加酶的浓度和加大机械吹打力度是获取活性良好的Deiter细胞、Hensen细胞和外柱细胞的关键 ;评价外毛细胞活性的 4项标准同样可用于判断Deiter细胞、Hensen细胞和外柱细胞的活性