Radiosensitization in multifraction schedules. I. Evidence for an extremely low oxygen enhancement ratio

Stable monolayers of contact-inhibited C3H 10T1/2 cells were used in multifraction radiation experiments to measure the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) at low doses/fraction under conditions where cell cycle effects (repopulation, redistribution) were minimal. Consistent with there being a dose-dependent reduction in the OER at low doses, an extremely low OER of 1.34 was measured after 20 fractions of 1.7 Gy every 12 h. The sparing effects of fractionating radiation doses were not apparent for cells irradiated under hypoxic conditions (i.e., multifraction survivals were lower than acute single-dose values) until doses exceeding 15 Gy were reached. This result suggested a deficiency in the recovery from sublethal and/or potentially lethal damage might exist after hypoxic irradiations, thereby reducing the OER. The capacity to repair potentially lethal damage was found to be nearly the same after hypoxic as compared to aerobic irradiations. However, there was an apparent absence of sublethal damage repair by 10T1/2 cells between two hypoxic irradiations which could be a major contributing factor to the extremely low OER value measured in this multifraction schedule.     

Effects of split-dose irradiation on survival and oncogenic transformation induced by 31 MeV protons in C3H10T1/2 cells

Survival and oncogenic transformation were studied in C3H10T1/2 cells exposed to 31 MeV protons. Total doses of 0.5, 1 and 7 Gy were delivered as single and two equal fractions with various time intervals up to 10 h between doses. With split doses as compared with single doses to a total dose of 7 Gy, survival increased by a factor of 2.5 +/- 0.2, whereas the frequency of transformation per surviving cell declined by a factor of 3.1 +/- 0.5. Maximal split-dose recovery occurred within the first 5 h for both endpoints. Further, the transformation frequency decreased by factors of 3.1 +/- 0.6 and 1.5 +/- 0.3 respectively for total doses of 0.5 and 1.0 Gy split into two equal fractions. The data for 1 and 7 Gy are compatible with data in the literature for other low LET radiations.     

Response of thyroid follicular cells to gamma irradiation compared to proton irradiation: II. The role of connexin 32

The objective of this study was to determine whether connexin 32-type gap junctions contribute to the "contact effect" in follicular thyrocytes and whether the response is influenced by radiation quality. Our previous studies demonstrated that early-passage follicular cultures of Fischer rat thyroid cells express functional connexin 32 gap junctions, with later-passage cultures expressing a truncated nonfunctional form of the protein. This model allowed us to assess the role of connexin 32 in radiation responsiveness without relying solely on chemical manipulation of gap junctions. The survival curves generated after gamma irradiation revealed that early-passage follicular cultures had significantly lower values of alpha (0.04 Gy(-1)) than later-passage cultures (0.11 Gy(-1)) (P < 0.0001, n = 12). As an additional way to determine whether connexin 32 was contributing to the difference in survival, cultures were treated with heptanol, resulting in higher alpha values, with early-passage cultures (0.10 Gy(-1)) nearly equivalent to untreated late-passage cultures (0.11 Gy(-1)) (P > 0.1, n = 9). This strongly suggests that the presence of functional connexin 32-type gap junctions was contributing to radiation resistance in gamma-irradiated thyroid follicles. Survival curves from proton-irradiated cultures had alpha values that were not significantly different whether cells expressed functional connexin 32 (0.10 Gy(-1)), did not express connexin 32 (0.09 Gy(-1)), or were down-regulated (early-passage plus heptanol, 0.09 Gy(-1); late-passage plus heptanol, 0.12 Gy(-1)) (P > 0.1, n = 19). Thus, for proton irradiation, the presence of connexin 32-type gap junctional channels did not influence their radiosensitivity. Collectively, the data support the following conclusions. (1) The lower alpha values from the gamma-ray survival curves of the early-passage cultures suggest greater repair efficiency and/or enhanced resistance to radiation-induced damage, coincident with the expression of connexin 32-type gap junctions. (2) The increased sensitivity of FRTL-5 cells to proton irradiation was independent of their ability to communicate through connexin 32 gap junctions. (3) The fact that the beta components of the survival curves from both gamma rays and proton beams were similar (average 0.022 +/- 0.008 Gy(-2), P > 0.1, n = 39) suggests that at higher doses the loss of viability occurs at a relatively constant rate and is independent of radiation quality and the presence of functional gap junctions.     

Loss of repair capacity in density-inhibited cultures of C3H 10T1/2 cells during multifraction irradiation

Multifraction survival curves for slowly cycling, density-inhibited C3H 10T1/2 cells were shown previously to bend toward lower survival levels with increasing total dose, even for doses per fraction as small as about 2.0 Gy. In an attempt to explain this, we tested the capacity of cells to repair potentially lethal damage (PLD) as fractionation progressed. Plateau-phase cultures were exposed to repeated doses of 4.0 Gy of 137Cs gamma rays delivered at 12-hr intervals. After zero, three, five, and seven fractions, some cultures were put aside, incubated for 12 hr at 37 degrees C, irradiated with a single dose of 9.0 Gy, and subsequently returned to a 37 degrees C incubator. At 0, 2, 4, 6, and 12 hr after the 9.0 Gy dose, cultures were trypsinized and plated for a survival assay. Following three fractions of 4.0 Gy, cells were able to repair PLD as well as those receiving a single dose of 9.0 Gy without prior fractionation. Following five fractions, cells were less able to repair PLD, and after seven fractions, only a very small amount of PLD repair was detectable using this method of measurement.     

Structural study of phosphomannan of yeast-form cells of Candida albicans J-1012 strain with special reference to application of mild acetolysis

Structural analysis of the phosphomannan isolated from yeast-form cells of a pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans J-1012 strain, was conducted. Treatment of this phosphomannan (Fr. J) with 10 mM HCl at 100 degrees C for 60 min gave a mixture of beta-1,2-linked manno-oligosaccharides, from tetraose to biose plus mannose, and an acid-stable mannan moiety (Fr. J-a), which was then acetolyzed by means of an acetolysis medium, 100:100:1 (v/v) mixture of (CH3CO)2O, CH3COOH, and H2SO4, at 40 degrees C for 36 h in order to avoid cleavage of the beta-1,2 linkage. The resultant manno-oligosaccharide mixture was fractionated on a column of Bio-Gel P-2 to yield insufficiently resolved manno-oligosaccharide fractions higher than pentaose and lower manno-oligosaccharides ranging from tetraose to biose plus mannose. The higher manno-oligosaccharide fraction was then digested with the Arthrobacter GJM-1 alpha-mannosidase in order to cleave the enzyme-susceptible alpha-1,2 and alpha-1,3 linkages, leaving manno-oligosaccharides containing the beta-1,2 linkage at their nonreducing terminal sites, Manp beta 1----2Manp alpha 1----2Manp alpha 1----2Manp alpha 1----2Man, Manp beta 1----2Manp beta 1----2Manp alpha 1----2Manp alpha 1---- 2Manp alpha 1----2Man, and Manp beta 1----2Manp beta 1----2Manp beta 1----2Manp alpha 1---- 2Manp alpha 1----2Manp alpha 1----2Man. However, the result of acetolysis of Fr. J-a by means of a 10:10:1 (v/v) mixture of (CH3CO)2O, CH3COOH, and H2SO4 at 40 degrees C for 13 h was significantly different from that obtained by the mild acetolysis method; i.e., the amount of mannose was apparently larger than that formed by the mild acetolysis method. In summary, a chemical structure for Fr. J as a highly branched mannan containing 14 different branching moieties was proposed.     

Modelling the correlation between EGFr expression and tumour cell radiosensitivity, and combined treatments of radiation and monoclonal antibody EGFr inhibitors

ABSTRACT: Purpose To estimate the effects of heterogeneity on tumour cell sensitivity to radiotherapy combined with radiosensitizing agents attributable to differences in expression levels of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFr). Materials and methods Differences in radiosensitivity are not limited to cells of different cancer histotypes but also occur within the same cancer, or appear during radiotherapy if radiosensitizing drugs are combined with ionizing radiation. A modified biologically effective dose (MBED), has been introduced to account for changes in radiosensitivity parameters (alpha and alpha/beta) rather than changes in dose/fraction or total dose as normally done with standard biologically effective dose (BED). The MBED approach was applied to cases of EGFr over-expression and cases where EGFr inhibitors were combined with radiation. Representative examples in clinical practice were considered. RESULTS: Assuming membrane EGFr over-expression corresponds to reduced radiosensitivity (alphaH = 0.15 Gy-1 and alphaH/betaH = 7.5 Gy) relative to normal radiosensitivity (alpha = 0.2 Gy-1 and alpha/beta = 10 Gy), an increased dose per fraction of 2.42 Gy was obtained through the application of MBED, which is equivalent to the effect of a reference schedule with 30 fractions of 2 Gy. An equivalent hypo-fractionated regime with a dose per fraction of 2.80 Gy is obtained if 25 fractions are set. Dose fractionations modulated according to drug pharmacokinetics are estimated for combined treatments with biological drugs. Soft and strong modulated equivalent hypo-fractionations result from subtraction of 5 or 10 fractions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During this computational study, a new radiobiological tool has been introduced. The MBED allows the required dose per fraction to be estimated when tumour radiosensitivity is reduced because EGFr is over-expressed. If radiotherapy treatment is combined with EGFr inhibitors, MBED suggests new treatment strategies, with schedules modulated according to drug pharmacokinetics.     

The influence of self-MHC and non-MHC antigens on the selection of an antigen-specific T cell receptor repertoire

We have examined the influence of self-Ag on TCR expression and specificity in the immune response to the Ag pigeon cytochrome c. Previous work has shown that most Ek-restricted cytochrome c-specific T cells from B10 background mice express TCR alpha beta-heterodimers encoded by V beta 3 and V alpha 11 genes, but that T cells expressing V beta 3 proteins are eliminated due to self-tolerance in Mls-2a mouse strains. Thus, EK-restricted cytochrome c-specific T cells from Mls-2a mice fail to express any V beta 3. In the current study the influence of self-MHC and non-MHC Ag on TCR usage in the immune response to cytochrome c was further examined. First, it was demonstrated that the absence of V beta 3 expression in Mls-2a mice does not alter Ir gene function. Specifically, Mls-2a/Eb haplotype V beta 3- [C3H.SW x B10.A(5R)]F1 mice were high responders to cytochrome c despite the fact that previous structure function analyses have shown a very close correlation between Eb-restricted cytochrome c recognition and V beta 3 expression. This demonstration of the plasticity of TCR expression suggests that relatively few Ir gene defects result from tolerance induced by self-Ag. We also examined differences in V alpha 11 expression among cytochrome c-specific T cells from various H-2k haplotype mouse strains. In particular, the low level of expression of V alpha 11 in cytochrome c-specific T cells from C57BR (H-2k) mice was shown not to be due to self-tolerance. Rather, evidence for limited strain polymorphism of V alpha 11 genes, plus the fact that cytochrome c-specific T cells from F1 hybrids between H-2k, Mls-2b identical C57BR and B10.BR mice express high levels of V alpha 11, suggested the possibility that the variable V alpha 11 usage in the cytochrome c-specific responses of these two strains reflected differences in positive selection during ontogeny by non-MHC non-Mls self-Ag.     

X-ray induction of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase protects against some of the biological effects of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in C3H 10T1/2 cells

We have shown previously that the repair of O6-methylguanine can be induced in murine fibroblasts (C3H 10T1/2 cells) by exposure to X rays. The magnitude of the response is less, however, than is observed in the well-characterized adaptive response of various prokaryotes to methylating agents. To determine whether the induction of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase in C3H 10T1/2 cells is sufficient for protection against the genotoxic effects of the methylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), cells were challenged with MNNG after alkyltransferase induction by 1.5 Gy X rays and assayed for cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and neoplastic transformation. Preirradiated cells were significantly more resistant to the mutagenic effects of MNNG as scored by formation of ouabain-resistant colonies. The protective effect was greatest in cells challenged with a low dose (0.2 or 0.4 micrograms/ml) of MNNG. Protection against neoplastic transformation by MNNG was also observed, although the protective effect in this case was significant only in cells treated with a high dose (1.0 micrograms/ml) of MNNG. In cells that were preirradiated, there was no reduction in the cytotoxicity caused by MNNG or the chloroethylating agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). These data indicate that alkyltransferase induction in C3H 10T1/2 cells is sufficient to protect cells against some of the genotoxic effects of the alkylating agent MNNG. The data also suggest that formation of O6-alkylguanine may not be the only means by which alkylating agents can transform C3H 10T1/2 cells.     

The radiation response of a human colon adenocarcinoma grown in monolayer, as spheroids, and in nude mice

A human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, WiDr, has been grown in monolayer, as multicellular spheroids, and as xenografted tumors in immune-deprived mice. The growth and radiation responses of the cells under these different growth conditions were compared. The mean doubling time of monolayer cultures was 0.8 day and the initial volume doubling times of spheroids and xenografts averaged 1.2 and 6 days, respectively. The mean total viable cell plating efficiencies were 82, 63, and 7% for cells from monolayers, spheroids, and xenografted tumors, respectively. The radiation responses of single cell suspensions prepared from WiDr tumors (8-10 mm in diameter), exponentially growing monolayer cultures (5 days growth), and spheroids (1200 microns in diameter) irradiated in air at 4 degrees C were similar. Values for D0 were 1.5 Gy and for n between 3 and 5. Nitrogen curves were characterized by a D0 of 5 Gy and n between 3 and 6. Oxygen enhancement ratios were approximately 3.3. Both spheroids and tumors had radioresistant components to the 37 degrees C/air-breathing survival curves with estimated hypoxic fractions of 8 and 12%, respectively. The final portion of the survival curves for irradiations in nitrogen and under normal growth conditions were parallel for both tumors and spheroids. Thus WiDr spheroids appear to model accurately the radiation sensitivity of WiDr tumors.     

Characterization of RIIbeta and D-AKAP1 in differentiated adipocytes

A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) have beenproposed to regulate cAMP-dependent signaling in the cell by targetingRII subunits of protein kinase A (PKA) to specific subcellularcompartments. RII is the predominant PKA subtype inadipose tissue. In gel overlay assays of C3H/10T1/2 adipocytes andadipose tissue, RII bound to several proteins includinga prominent 132-kDa band, which was strongly induced upondifferentiation of C3H/10T1/2 cells into adipocytes. Immunoblotting andnuclease protection analysis of C3H/10T1/2 cellular extracts identifiedthis band as D-AKAP1/S-AKAP84, a putative AKAP. Immunocytochemicalanalysis of C3H/10T1/2 adipocytes revealed that most ofD-AKAP1/S-AKAP84, but not RII, was colocalizedwith a mitochondrial-selective dye, MitoTracker red. Thesefindings were further confirmed in studies where D-AKAP1/ S-AKAP84,but not RII, were localized in purified mitochondriamade from C3H/10T1/2 adipocytes. Moreover, D-AKAP1, which isupregulated after differentiation, did not recruit RIIto membrane fractions enriched in mitochondria. These resultsdemonstrate that D-AKAP1/S-AKAP84 does not interact with PKA indifferentiated C3H/10T1/2 adipocytes under the conditions tested.

     

Functional and phenotypic evidence for presentation of E alpha 52-68 structurally related self-peptide(s) in I-E alpha-deficient mice

The Y-Ae mAb and the 1H3.1 TCR-alpha beta (V alpha 1/V beta 6) are two immune receptors specific for I-Ab MHC class II molecules complexed to the 52-68 fragment of the alpha-chain of I-E class II molecules (the E alpha 52-68 peptide). A profound intrathymic negative selection occurs in 1H3.1 TCR transgenic mice in the presence of an I-E alpha transgene. The administration of mAbs to 1H3.1/I-E alpha double-transgenic newborn mice reveals that Y-Ae, but not the isotype-matched anti-I-E Y17 mAb, rescues a significant number of mature (V beta 6highCD4+CD8-) thymocytes and allows the detection of E alpha 52-68-reactive T cells in the periphery. These observations indicate that deletion of autoreactive T cells can be specifically inhibited in vivo by an mAb specific for the deleting self-peptide:self-MHC class II complex. Similar inhibition experiments indicate that C57BL/6 (I-Ab+/I-E alpha-) mice constitutively express an E alpha-independent, Y-Ae-recognizable epitope(s). This finding is confirmed by the phenotypic analysis of mature (MHC class II high) C57BL/6 bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Collectively, these observations further illustrate the peptide specificity of negative selection and demonstrate that MHC class II-positive cells from unmanipulated C57BL/6 mice that lack a functional I-E alpha gene can assemble one or more self-peptide:I-Ab complexes recognizable by the E alpha 52-68:I-Ab complex-specific Y-Ae mAb.     

Progression of chondrogenesis in C3H10T1/2 cells is associated with prolonged and tight regulation of ERK1/2

Close contact of mesenchymal cells in vivo and also in super dense micromass cultures in vitro results in cellular condensation and alteration of existing cellular signaling required for initiation and progression of chondrogenesis. To investigate chondrogenesis related changes in the activity of ubiquitous cell signaling mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinase), we have compared the effect of cell seeding of pluripotent C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal cells as monolayers (non-chondrogenic culture) or high density micromass cultures (chondrogenic) on the regulation and phosphorylation state of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and also on regulation of ERK1/2 nuclear targets, namely, activation protein-1 (AP-1) and serum response factor (SRF). Increasing cell density resulted in reduced DNA binding as well as activity of AP-1. SRF activity, on the other hand, was up-regulated in confluent monolayer cultures but like AP-1 was inhibited in micromass cultures. Low levels of PD 98059 (5 microM), a specific inhibitor of ERK1/2, resulted in delayed induction of AP-1 and SRF activity whereas higher concentrations of this inhibitor (10-50 microM) conferred an opposite effect. Increasing concentrations of the PD 98059 inhibitor in long term monolayer or micromass cultures (2.5 day) resulted in differential regulation of c-Fos and c-Jun protein levels as well as total expression and phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2. PD 98059 treatment of C3H10T1/2 micromass cultures also resulted in up-regulation of type IIB collagen and Sox9 gene expression. While high expression of aggrecan and type IIB collagen genes were dependent on BMP-2 signaling, ERK inhibition of BMP-2 treated micromass cultures resulted in reduced activity of both genes. Our findings show that the activity of ERK1/2 in chondrogenic cultures of C3H10T1/2 cells is tightly controlled and can cross interact with other signaling activities mediated by BMP-2 to positively regulate chondrogensis.     

Repair time for oncogenic transformation in C3H/10T1/2 cells subjected to protracted X-irradiation

With exponential cultures of C3H/10T1/2 cells, we have investigated the effect of X-ray dose protraction on oncogenic cell transformation in the dose range 0.25-2 Gy. Within a particular experiment a constant exposure time was used. In different experiments exposure time varied between 1 and 5h. Cell transformation was analysed using the linear-quadratic relation, gamma (D) = alpha 1D + alpha 2D2, between transformation frequency per surviving cell and X-ray dose. Based on values of the linear coefficients, we developed an empirical formula for relating slopes of dose induction curves obtained at high or reduced dose rate condition. Our estimate of repair half-time for cell transformation with 95 per cent confidence limits is 2.4 (1.8, 3.0) h.     

Modulation of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations by DMSO, an OH radical scavenger. 1: Dose-response studies in human lymphocytes exposed to 220 kV X-rays

Human G0 lymphocytes were exposed to 220 kV X-radiation in the presence or absence of DMSO, an efficient selective scavenger of OH radicals. Our studies demonstrate that DMSO affects a concentration-dependent modulation of induced asymmetrical aberrations in human lymphocytes exposed to approximately 3.0 Gy, with maximum protectible fractions of approximately 70 percent at DMSO concentrations of greater than or equal to 1 M. The dose dependency for dicentrics in lymphocytes acutely exposed to X-ray doses of 0.51 to 4.98 Gy in the absence of DMSO is adequately described by the linear-quadratic dose-response function Y = alpha D + beta D2. Data from duplicate cultures exposed in the presence of 1 M DMSO produce an excellent fit to the regression function modified as follows: Y(+ DMSO) = alpha(delta D) + beta(delta D)2 where the 'dose modifying' factor delta = 0.501. We interpret these findings as providing evidence that OH radical-mediated lesions in DNA account for approximately 50 percent of the dose dependency for dicentrics resulting from either one-track or two-track events, following exposures of non-cycling cells to moderate-to-high doses of low LET radiation. These data may be used in additional calculations to derive an estimate of approximately 6 x 10(8) s-1 for the rate of reaction of OH radicals with DNA targets involved in aberration formation.     

Repair capacity and kinetics in spheroids from a lung metastasis of a human soft tissue sarcoma: a growth delay study.

Spheroids grown from the human cell line EF8 of a lung metastasis of a human malignant fibrous histiocytoma were given fractionated irradiation with 60Co gamma rays at passages 31 and 32. The mean diameter of the spheroids at the time of treatment was 250 microns. Growth delay was used as the end point in these studies. Two experiments were carried out to determine the capacity and kinetics of repair of sublethal damage. In the first experiment, one, two, and five fractions were given at three or four dose levels with fixed intervals of 360 min. In the second experiment, schedules with two and four dose fractions and intervals of 0, 20, 60, 120, and 360 min were used, each at two dose levels. Data analysis was performed by a direct method based on the alpha/beta model and first-order repair kinetics of radiation damage. In both experiments, the alpha/beta value of EF8 spheroids was estimated to be about 8 (6-10) Gy. The rate constant of repair, mu, and its 95% confidence interval were estimated to be 0.62 (0.40-0.84) 10(-2) min-1, equivalent to a half-time of repair (T1/2) of 112 (83-172) min. A more detailed analysis of the data of the second experiment revealed a significant dependence of the rate constant of repair, mu, on the total radiation effect induced by the fractionated radiation treatments with short overall times. With increasing level of effect, mu decreased. These data indicate that the half-time of recovery of a human tumor can be longer than that of the surrounding normal tissue, in this case lung, at least for a limited range of doses and for some fractionation schedules.     

Ⅲ型纤连蛋白组件包含蛋白5通过抑制ERK1/2磷酸化抑制C3H10T1/2细胞成脂分化

旨在探究Ⅲ型纤连蛋白组件包含蛋白5（typeⅢ domain-containing protein5,FNDC5）对C3H10T1/2细胞成脂分化的调控作用。利用qRT-PCR和Western 印迹检测FNDC5在C3H10T1/2细胞成脂分化过程中的时序性表达规律;构建慢病毒包被的过表达/干扰FNDC5载体,转染C3H10T1/2细胞,采用qRT-PCR检测成脂分化关键基因的表达情况,油红O染色检测脂滴含量,利用Western 印迹检测细胞外信号调节激酶（extracellularregulatedkinase1/2,ERK1/2）及磷酸化ERK1/2（P-ERK1/2）的表达水平。C3H10T1/2细胞成脂诱导分化8d,Fndc5的表达量明显升高（P＜0.05）;C3H10T1/2细胞中过表达FNDC5,成脂分化关键基因过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体-γ（peroxisome proliferator--activated receptor-γ,PPARγ）、脂肪酸结合蛋白4（fatty acid binding protein 4,FABP4）和CCAAT增强子结合蛋白α（CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha,C/EBPα）的表达量显著降低（P＜0.01）,CCAAT增强子结合蛋白β（CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta,C/EBPβ）表达量明显降低（P＜0.05）,脂滴含量明显减少,P-ERK1/2的含量明显降低（P＜0.05）。C3H10T1/2细胞中干扰FNDC5,成脂分化关键基因PPARγ、C/EBPβ、FABP4和C/EBPα的表达量显著升高（P＜0.01）,脂滴含量明显增加,P-ERK1/2的含量明显升高（P＜0.05）。本研究发现,FNDC5可以通过抑制ERK1/2的磷酸化水平,抑制C3H10T1/2细胞的成脂分化,为FNDC5调控脂肪沉积的机制研究提供参考数据。     

Prostacyclin synthesis in irradiated endothelial cells cultured from bovine aorta

Confluent monolayers of bovine aortic endothelial cells were examined 2-72 h after exposure to 0.5-5.0 Gy of 60Co gamma-rays. Accumulation of prostacyclin [PGI2, measured as 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha)] in the culture media and PGI2 production stimulated by exogenous arachidonate were correlated with cell detachment and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Platelet adherence to irradiated and control monolayers also was studied. There were simultaneous time- and dose-dependent increases in cell detachment and in the titers of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and LDH activity in the culture medium. These changes were evident between 4 and 8 h after 5 Gy or at 24 h after 0.5 Gy. Four hours after 5 Gy, both adherent and detached endothelial cells showed a twofold increase in PGI2 production during a 15-min incubation with arachidonate (10 microM). However, by 72 h this increase was less significant. The accumulation of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha appeared to be related to cell destruction, but radiation also stimulated PGI2 synthesis independent of cell detachment. There was an increased platelet interaction with irradiated monolayers, as a result of platelet adherence to subendothelial matrix exposed after cell detachment. However, irradiation did not alter the nonadherent property of the endothelial cell surface toward platelets.     

Cell cycle changes and cytotoxicity in irradiated cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of ionizing radiation on cell number, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, cell cycle distribution, [3H]thymidine incorporation, and autoradiographic labeling index in bovine aortic endothelial cells in vitro. Confluent endothelial monolayers were exposed to single doses of 0.5-10 Gy of 60Co gamma rays and were analyzed from 2 to 24 h postirradiation. Irradiated monolayers exhibited a time- and dose-dependent decrease in cell number, increase in LDH release, and redistribution of cells in the cell cycle. Cell cycle redistribution included an increase in the proportion of cells in S phase at 4 h after irradiation and a decrease in S phase at 24 h. The cells also exhibited a decrease in [3H]thymidine incorporation as early as 2 h after 5 Gy. This represented the most rapid radiation response observed in the present study. These data demonstrate that radiation cytotoxicity in confluent, plateau-phase endothelial monolayers is accompanied by changes in the cell cycle distribution of adherent cells, and that reduced [3H]thymidine incorporation is an early marker of radiation injury in this clinically important cell type.     

Binding, internalization, and intracellular localization of interleukin-1 beta in human diploid fibroblasts

This study demonstrates internalization of interleukin-1 (IL-1) via its cell surface receptor on human diploid fibroblasts and shows intracellular localization of IL-1 beta. Binding experiments at 8 degrees C using confluent fibroblast monolayers revealed 5,000-15,000 IL-1 receptors/cell that bound both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta. Incubation of monolayers with 125I-IL-1 beta (10(-9) M) at 8 degrees C and then at 37 degrees C for various times up to 8 h revealed a t1/2 for internalization of receptor-bound IL-1 beta of about 1.5 h. In addition, it was shown that IL-1 beta internalized via receptors was undegraded and retained binding activity. Electron microscopic autoradiography of monolayers incubated with 125I-IL-1 beta, as above, showed a progressive increase in the ratio of cytoplasmic to cell surface-associated grains. Grains at the cell surface were primarily localized at cell processes or attachment sites, frequently close to intra- and extracellular filamentous material. During incubation at 37 degrees C, most grains were free in the cytoplasm, with few present in lysosomes or vesicles. After 1 h, approximately 15% of the grains were over nuclei. Control cultures incubated at 37 degrees C with 125I-IL-1 beta and 100-fold excess unlabeled IL-1 beta showed increased uptake of label into lysosomes and little into nuclei. This study shows that IL-1 receptors are primarily located at fibroblast processes and that receptor-mediated internalization of the ligand is slow. Nuclear localization apparently requires IL-1 receptor-specific internalization of IL-1 beta, suggesting a possible role for this process in eliciting the IL-1 signal.     

Myelosuppressive effects in vivo of purified recombinant murine macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha.

Purified recombinant murine macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (rmuMIP-1 alpha), a cytokine with myelopoietic activity in vitro, was assessed in vivo by injection into C3H/HeJ mice for effects on proliferation (percentage of cells in S phase DNA synthesis of the cell cycle) and absolute numbers of granulocyte-macrophage, erythroid, and multipotential progenitor cells in the femur and spleen, and on nucleated cellularity in the bone marrow, spleen, and blood. rmuMIP-1 alpha rapidly decreased cycling rates (at 2 to 10 micrograms/mouse i.v.) and absolute numbers (at 5 to 10 micrograms/mouse i.v.) of myeloid progenitor cells in the marrow and spleen. These effects were dose- and time-dependent and reversible. Suppressive effects were noted within 3 to 24 h for cell cycling and absolute numbers of progenitor cells in the marrow and spleen, and by 48 h for circulating neutrophils. A study comparing the effects of i.v. injection of rmuMIP-1 alpha versus rmuMIP-1 beta, a biochemically similar molecule but with no myelosuppressive effects in vitro, demonstrated myelosuppression in vivo by rmuMIP-1 alpha, but not by rmuMIP-1 beta. The results suggest that rmuMIP-1 alpha has myelosuppressive activity in vivo and offers the possibility that it may be a useful adjunct to treatments involving cytotoxic drugs because of its reversible suppressive effects on normal progenitor cell cycling.