Improved sensitivity in comparative genomic hybridization analysis of DNA heteroploid cell mixtures after pre-enrichment of subpopulations by fluorescence activated cell sorting.

Cytogenetic analysis of solid tumors with comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is hampered by the dilution of DNA from individual tumor subpopulations with DNA from other cells. We investigated to what extent this dilution effect can be alleviated using fluorescence activated cell sorting (flow sorting) of experimental DNA heteroploid cell mixtures prior to CGH. From mixtures of normal lymphocytes with triploid K-562 cells the individual components were sorted according to stemline DNA content and processed by CGH in comparison with pure K-562 samples and the original mixtures. Compared with 30 autosome copy number imbalances found in pure K-562 samples, a mixture with 32% K-562 cells showed 16 imbalances, and none were detected in mixtures with 13% or 5% K-562 cells. In contrast, 29, 22 and 23 imbalances were detected in K-562 nuclei sorted from the 32%, 13% and 5% mixtures, respectively. This indicate that CGH analysis of flow sorted DNA aneuploid subpopulations enables a specific cytogenetic analysis of the individual subclones in a DNA heteroploid cell population.     

菠菜种子胰蛋白酶抑制剂对K-562细胞增殖的抑制及促凋亡作用研究

应用MTT法分析了菠菜种子胰蛋白酶抑制剂SOTI对人慢性髓原性白血病K-562细胞生长的影响。结果显示SOTI能够抑制K-562细胞的增殖,其抑制细胞增殖的作用呈现明显的剂量-效应关系;进一步观察了不同浓度的SOTI处理K-562细胞所导致的形态学变化和诱导凋亡作用,证实SOTI具有明显的体外抗癌活性,SO—TI的抗癌活性与其诱导凋亡有关。     

Investigations on the effects of cobalt-alkyne complexes on leukemia and lymphoma cells: cytotoxicity and cellular uptake

Cobalt-alkyne complexes represent a new class of antiproliferative drugs with high activity on cell lines derived from human solid tumors. These promising results encouraged us to evaluate also their effects against leukemia and lymphoma cells. For this purpose, we selected three cobalt complexes with (2-propyn-1-yl)acetylsalicylate (Co-ASS), 2-propyn-1-ol (Co-Prop) and diphenylacetylene (Co-Diph) ligands and investigated their growth inhibiting properties on the LAMA-84, K-562, SD-1 leukemia and U-937 lymphoma cell lines. The cobalt complexes showed high effects on LAMA-84 cells (IC(50)=7.7-16.8 microM) after 48 and 72 h of incubation, but were inactive (K-562, U-937) or low active (SD-1) on the other cell lines. The proliferation of SD-1 cells was reduced by Co-Prop (IC(50)=18.6 microM) and Co-Diph (IC(50)=7.5 microM) only after a 72 h exposure. The antiproliferative effects did not correlate with the accumulation of the drugs into the tumor cells. The time dependent uptake during 24 h determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy was comparably the same in sensitive LAMA-84 and insensitive K-562 cells.     

Flow-cytometric analysis of mixed cell populations using intermediate filament antibodies

Using two human tumour cell lines, T24 bladder carcinoma and Molt-4 leukemia, flow-cytometric DNA analysis of pure and mixed cell populations was performed using cellular cytokeratin content to distinguish cytokeratin-containing carcinoma cells from leukemia cells which do not contain cytokeratin. Using cytokeratin content to gate DNA analysis, the same specificity and sensitivity of cellular DNA content and distribution measurement could be achieved by single-pass FCM analysis of a mixture of the two cell types as was seen when analysing pure populations of the two cell lines. This technique has broad applicability to FCM analysis of mixed populations composed of cells from different tissues of origin.     

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content and keratins by using CK7, CK8, CK18, CK19, and KL1 monoclonal antibodies in benign and malignant human breast tumors.

We have used a double-labelling flow cytometry analysis of keratin (CK) and DNA in breast cancer. Five monoclonal anti-keratin antibodies were tested: KL1 recognizing Mr 55,000-57,000 keratins, and "anti-glandular epithelia," LE41, RGE-53, and LP2K specific for CK n. 7, 8, 18, and 19 of Moll's classification, respectively. Flow cytometric (DNA-CK) analysis was performed on 10 benign and 19 malignant human breast tumors. All the benign tumors were diploid and 63% of the malignant tumors were aneuploid. This technique permits the analysis of DNA in the epithelial fraction alone. In aneuploid tumors, gating the DNA-keratin-positive population allowed accurate DNA analysis without interference due to debris background and non-epithelial cells. Moreover, double-labelling using the CK19 antibody gave a better identification of near-diploid tumors. An enhancement of keratin expression in malignant tumors was observed with CK 19 (P less than 0.001), KL1 (P less than 0.01), CK 8 (P less than 0.05), and CK18 (n.s.) compared to benign tumors. The comparison of keratin expression in aneuploid and diploid malignant tumors revealed reduced CK8, CK18, and CK19 in the former.     

Detection of surface differences between closely related cell populations by partitioning. Cultured K-562 cell sublines

The K-562 cell line is a culture of human leukemia stem cells originally derived from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. We have applied a sensitive method capable of detecting subtle differences in charge-associated and noncharge-related cell surface properties between closely related cell populations to K-562 cells from different sources and having different histories. The method consists of isotopically labeling aliquots of each of two cell populations to be compared with 51Cr-chromate and mixing the labeled cells with an excess of unlabeled cells with which they are to be compared. The mixtures are subjected to countercurrent distribution in either a charge-sensitive or a noncharge-sensitive dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous two-phase system. The distribution curves are analyzed for total cells (in terms of electronic counts) and labeled cells (in terms of cpm). Alterations in relative specific activities through the distribution curves are indicative of differences in surface properties between such cell populations. Using this method we have found surface differences, both charge-associated and noncharge-related, between any two K-562 cell sublines examined. Interestingly, whereas we observed differences among K-562 sublines, we never witnessed a change in surface properties of the respective sublines. The differences among the sublines examined remained unaltered for more than 40 passages in our hands. It thus appears likely that the event(s) leading to an altered K-562 cell surface, detectable by partitioning, does not occur gradually.     

Human leukemia K-562 cells: induction of erythroid differentiation by 5-azacytidine

In this article we show that the cytidine analog 5-azacytidine is able to induce differentiation of the human leukemia K-562 cell line. Erythroid induction is associated with (a) an increase of the overall globin synthesis and globin mRNA accumulation, (b) a relative increase of fetal with respect to embryonic globins, and (c) a decrease of the proliferative capacity of hemoglobin-containing cells. In addition, we have analysed the DNA methylation pattern at the cleavage sites of MspI and HpaII restriction enzymes, which are known to cleave differently CCGG DNA sequences when 5-methylcytosine is present. These experiments indicate that in K-562 cells treated with 5-azacytidine, DNA becomes hypomethylated, suggesting that genetic programmes leading to an erythroid phenotype may be activated by a reduction of DNA methylation.     

Biologic Activity of a Nucleotide Conjugate Between Mitomycin C and Cytarabine Monophosphate

Abstract

A dual prodrug conjugate between the antimetabolite cytarabine monophosphate and the alkylating agent 2,7-diaminomitosene (derived from mitomycin C), cytaramycin, was synthesized and tested for antileukemic activity in sensitive and resistant tumors. The compound was active against parental L-1210, CCRF-CEM, HL-60 and K-562 leukemia cells but did not overcome resistance in sublines developed for (1) multidrug resistance (L-1210/MDR and K-562-R) or (2) for cytarabine resistance (CCRF-CEM/ARA-C and HL-60/ARA-C). Alkaline DNA elution tests demonstrate a predominance of strand breaking activity due to the cytarabine moiety, and a lesser degree of DNA crosslinking, due to the mitosene moiety. The conjugate was active in mice bearing P-388 leukemia (80% increased lifespan), but was not more effective than mitomycin C alone in mice bearing a cytarabine-resistant L-1210 cell line (38% to 31% increased lifespan). These findings suggest that mitomycin nucleotide conjugates do not overcome resistance to the parent antimetabolites.     

Flow cytometric DNA analysis using cytokeratin labeling for identification of tumor cells in carcinomas of the breast and the female genital tract.

Flow cytometric assessment of DNA-ploidy and S-phase fraction in malignant tumors is compromised by the heterogeneity of cell subpopulations derived from the malignant and surrounding connective tissue, e.g., tumor, stromal and inflammatory cells. To evaluate the effect on quality of DNA cell cycle analysis and determination of DNA ploidy, cytokeratin labeling of epithelial cells was used for tumor cell enrichment in breast, ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancer prior to DNA analysis. In a prospective study, tumor cell subpopulations of 620 malignant tumors were labeled by a FITC-conjugated cytokeratin antibody (CK 5, 6, CK18 and CK 5, 6, 8 and CK 17, respectively) prior to flow cytometric cell cycle analysis. Compared to total cell analysis, detection rate of DNA-aneuploid tumors following cytokeratin labeling was increased from 62% to 76.5% in breast cancer, from 68% to 77% in ovarian cancer, from 60% to 80% in cervical cancer and from 30% to 53% in endometrial cancer. Predominantly in DNA-diploid tumors, a significantly improved detection of S-phase fraction of the tumor cells was shown due to the elimination of contaminating nonproliferating "normal cells". S-phase fraction following tumor cell enrichment was increased by 10% (mean) following cytokeratin staining in ovarian and endometrial cancer, by 30% in breast cancer and even by 70% in cervical cancer compared to total cell analysis. Thus, diagnostic accuracy of DNA-analysis was enhanced by cytokeratin labeling of tumor cells for all tumor entities investigated.     

A new endogenous differentiating factor (myelopeptide-4) for myeloid cells

Along with known lymphokines involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis, a new differentiating factor (myelopeptide-4, MP-4) for myeloid cells was found. The peptide (Phe-Arg-Pro-Arg-Ile-Met-Thr-Pro) originally isolated from the culture medium of porcine bone marrow cell culture was examined for its ability to induce differentiation in two human myeloid leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and K-562. Agents with well-known differentiation-inducing activity, such as phorbol myristate acetate, dimethylsulfoxide and the lymphokines were used as a reference. It has been shown that MP-4 significantly influences the integral characteristics of metabolism, expression of surface antigens and morphology of these cells. It decreased the level of chromosomal DNA synthesis and, in parallel, increased the total protein synthesis in both HL-60 and K-562 cells. MP-4 induced the expression of CD14 monocyte-specific surface antigen and the appearance of mature monocytes/macrophages in HL-60 cell cultures. There was a good correlation of cell metabolic/morphological changes and the CD14 marker expression for HL-60 cells. A similar phenomenon was observed in K-562 cells treated with MP-4 when the levels of hemoglobin synthesis were detected in their cytoplasm. Thus, we consider MP-4 as a new endogenous differentiating factor for myeloid cells.     

Large-scale fragmentation of dna and the death of tumor cells by the action of the binary system ascorbic acid-metallocomplexes of cobalt in vitro

High-molecular-weight DNA fragments are the markers of the early stage of apoptosis induced in eukaryotic cells by cytotoxins of different nature. The dynamics of the development of large-scale DNA fragmentation in K-562 leukemia cells by the action of the antitumor drug, the binary system ascorbic acid--cobalt phthalocyanine within 48 h of incubation, which correspond to two periods of the doubling of cell number in growing control cultures, have been studied. It was shown that, within the first hours of incubation, hydrogen peroxide generated by the system induces the formation of DNA fragments from 2200 to 50 kbp long. Later on the cell death accompanied by a decrease in the content of fragmented DNA is observed. Within 24 h of incubation, part of fragmented DNA remains unrepaired; after 48 h of incubation, a delay or a slowed down proliferation of K-562 cells, which differ from control cells also by a high level of death and a higher content of high-molecular-weight DNA fragments, is observed.     

Spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

Summary Lymphocytes isolated from the blood of TCC patients, like those of control patients, were capable of mediating spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity against K-562 cells. When this natural cytotoxicity was analyzed with regard to the effector cell type it was found that in TCC patients the SLMC was mostly displayed by E-rosetting T lymphocytes, whereas compared with controls, a significant decline in the SLMC of the non-T lymphocytes was observed. The SLMC of the T lymphocytes derived from TCC patients was further demonstrated on a T leukemia target cell (Peer). When the SLMC on K-562 and on Peer target cells was compared, a specificity difference was observed between TCC and the control patients' effector cells. The SLMC activity of the TCC patients' T cells was not abolished after depletion of Fc receptor-positive cells or following treatment with monoclonal antibodies OKT 8 or OKT 4 and complement (C'). These NK-like cells are therefore distinguished from cytotoxic T lymphocytes and NK cells.     

Monoclonal antibodies against the alpha-chain of human lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1

The goal of the investigation was to further characterize ICO-II monoclonal antibodies. ICO-II have been shown to block NK activity of mononuclear cells from the blood of healthy donors against K-562 and Molt-4 target cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced in a 7-day mixed lymphocyte culture, the reaction of lymphocyte blast cell transformation to phytohemagglutinin and the formation of En-rosettes. The molecular weight of the antigen detected by ICO-II is 180 KD. ICO-II are shown to detect alpha-subunit of human lymphocyte function-associated antigen-I (LFA-I).     

Measurement of proliferation nuclear and membrane markers in tumor cells by flow cytometry

Nuclear and membrane markers that have been related to proliferative activity were measured by flow cytometry. The markers studied were transferrin receptor (TR), Ki-67 antigen, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Two-color analysis for DNA via propidium iodide binding and for antigen expression via either a direct or indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed on three different cell lines and a solid human tumor model. The three cell lines tested were MCF-7 (breast), K-562 (leukemia), and A431 (a squamous cell). The solid tumor was obtained by subcutaneous injection of A431 cells into an athymic nude mouse. Our results demonstrate that TR are cell-cycle specific and can be readily measured in the cell lines. Ki-67 antigen is also cell-cycle specific in the cell lines tested, but the mean channel specific fluorescence uptake varies in the cell types. Finally, the EGFR was observed only in the A431 cell line, with most cells equally expressing this receptor. A bimodal distribution of EGFR was observed in A431 cells obtained from a solid tumor grown in an athymic nude mouse system. This suggests that cell line analysis may not always represent what might be observed under in vivo conditions. There are advantages to flow cytometry measurements of these factors which might be useful in predicting how patients should be treated and possibly the prognosis of cancer patients.     

Effect of a monoclonal anti-large granular lymphocyte antibody on the human NK activity

A monoclonal hybridoma antibody of IgGIa subclass was produced by fusing NS-1 myeloma cells with spleen cells of a mouse immunized with human LGL cells. This hybridoma antibody, termed NK-8, was reactive by indirect immunofluorescence with 33% of peripheral blood LGL cells and 70% of LGL forming conjugates with K-562 cells. Monocytes, granulocytes, and other lymphocytes were nonreactive. In iodinated protein A binding assays NK-8 was nonreactive with all kinds of leukemia and lymphoma lines tested and showed activity only against LGL cells. NK-8 inhibited the LGL-mediated cytotoxicity against K-562 cells by 50 to 60% without complement and inhibited the K-562 induced interferon production from the LGL population. However, the spontaneous cytotoxicity against human skin fibroblasts was augmented if the effector cells were pretreated with NK-8.     

Detection of 300-kilodalton membrane protein in adriamycin-resistant human tumor cells by a monoclonal antibody MRK18

To characterize the membrane changes related to adriamycin (ADM) resistance in tumor cells, we have developed monoclonal antibodies against an ADM-resistant subline of human myelogenous leukemia K562 (K562/ADM), and reported the overexpression of P-glycoprotein and 85-kDa protein as determined by the antibodies. In the present study, we have established a monoclonal antibody, MRK18, with higher reactivity to K562/ADM than to K562. MRK18 also showed higher reactivity to other human ADM-resistant lines, 2780AD and Hattori/ADM, than the corresponding parental lines. MRK18 also reacted to human breast cancer MCF-7 and human T-lymphoma CCRF-CEM which have never been exposed to anticancer agents in culture. MRK18 recognized a 300-kDa membrane protein of K562/ADM and MCF-7 and inhibited the growth of these cell lines in culture. These results indicate an induction of the 300-kDa protein during the development of ADM resistance.     

Involvement of cytoplasmic membranes in the non-lytic infection of K-562 cells by Semliki Forest virus

An analysis of the human leukemia cell line, K-562, infected with Semliki Forest virus, has been made with transmission electron microscopy. In contrast to the usual surface budding of the enveloped virus on the plasma membrane of vertebrate cells leading to cytolysis within 20 h, K-562 cells do not show surface budding, and the cells remain intact for periods of several months. Several unusual features of the infection include: 1) the rough endoplasmic reticulum arranges early into continuous perinuclear chains; 2) during the time of virus replication and release, the nucleocapsids aggregate on the cytoplasmic side of internal vesicles in the region of the cell where the Golgi complex is normally located; and 3) during this same time period, the vesicles are seen to contain enveloped virions and rod-like formations, a result suggesting that budding has occurred into these vesicles. Viruses are presumably released from the cell as these vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane. By 12 days post-infection and thereafter, the intact cells show electron-dense aggregates of chromatin, large vacuoles and lipid inclusions throughout the cytoplasm, and only a few virion-containing vesicles.