Apoptosis of L929 cells induced by tumor necrosis factor

We investigated the mode of TNF-dependent death of L929 murine fibroblasts and the influence of overexpression of bcl-2 family genes on this process. Based on morphological and biochemical data it has been shown that L929 cells died after TNF treatment by apoptosis irrespective of TNF dose and protein synthesis inhibition. Analysis of bcl-2 family gene transfectants revealed a down-regulation of TNF-induced apoptosis by bcl-2 and bclX overexpression, and an up-regulation by bax gene.     

Effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor on HL-60 cells: cell-cycle specificity and synergism with actinomycin D

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) exhibits a multitude of activities depending on the type of target cells. We characterized the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of recombinant TNF, alone and in combination with actinomycin D (AMD), on the human leukemic cell line HL-60. Because HL-60 cells, when triggered to monocytic differentiation by phorbol esters, are known to produce and secrete TNF, their sensitivity to the factor could indicate an autocrine function of TNF in this cell system. Indeed, HL-60 cells were affected by TNF; their doubling time was increased by about 50% and progression through the cell cycle was perturbed. Initially, (up to 8 h) TNF induced a temporary arrest in G2 while later (24-48 h) it delayed progression through the G1 phase. Also, a transient increase in RNA content peaking at 6-8 h was apparent. The cytotoxicity of TNF alone was low. Thus, TNF may be involved in the regulation of the cell cycle of HL-60 cells during early stages of their differentiation. The cytotoxicity of TNF was markedly potentiated in the presence of AMD; the effect was AMD but not TNF concentration-dependent. Whereas at 20 and 50 ng/ml of AMD alone nonviable cells did not exceed 20% during the first 24 h of treatment, their proportion increased to 80 and 90%, respectively, in the presence of TNF. The most sensitive were cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. The observed synergistic effect of TNF and AMD does not appear to be caused by the action of TNF increasing the permeability of the cell membrane to AMD. The results indicate that HL-60 cells, ordinarily resistant to the cytotoxic action of TNF, can be rendered sensitive by treatment with AMD. This implies that a combination of TNF and AMD may be considered in oncology for treatment of tumors otherwise nonresponding to TNF alone.     

Structure/Function analysis of p55 tumor necrosis factor receptor and fas-associated death domain. Effect on necrosis in L929sA cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces a typical apoptotic cell death program in various cell lines by interacting with the p55 tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R55). In contrast, triggering of the fibrosarcoma cell line L929sA gives rise to characteristic cellular changes resulting in necrosis. The intracellular domain of TNF-R55 can be subdivided into two parts: a membrane-proximal domain (amino acids 202-325) and a C-terminal death domain (DD) (amino acids 326-413), which has been shown to be necessary and sufficient for apoptosis. Structure/function analysis of TNF-R55-mediated necrosis in L929sA cells demonstrated that initiation of necrotic cell death, as defined by swelling of the cells, rapid membrane permeabilization, absence of nuclear condensation, absence of DNA hypoploidy, and generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen intermediates, is also confined to the DD. The striking synergistic effect of the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone on TNF-induced necrosis was also observed with receptors solely containing the DD. TNF-R55-mediated necrosis is not affected by the dominant negative deletion mutant of the Fas-associated death domain (FADD-(80-205)) that lacks the N-terminal death effector domain. Moreover, overexpression of FADD-(80-205) in L929sA is cytotoxic and insensitive to CrmA, while the cytotoxicity due to overexpression of the deletion mutant FADD-(1-111) lacking the DD is prevented by CrmA. These results demonstrate that the death domain of FADD can elicit an active necrotic cell death pathway.     

Tumor necrosis factor induced DNA fragmentation of HL-60 cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces differentiation of HL-60 cells, with only slight effects upon proliferation and little or no cytotoxicity. TNF induced cytotoxicity of other target cell lines has been associated with DNA fragmentation. To assess whether TNF-induced DNA fragmentation might also contribute to HL-60 differentiation, studies were performed using a [3H]-dThd release assay. Between 1 and 2 hours of culture, significant [3H]-dThd release was induced by TNF at concentrations of 10 U/ml and greater. This response was blocked by inhibiting energy metabolism, but not by several inhibitors of cell surface signal transduction, protein or RNA synthesis, or free radical scavengers. DNA electrophoresis of the released DNA disclosed a wide range of low molecular weight fragments. It is possible that TNF-induced DNA fragmentation contributes to HL-60 differentiation.     

Docosahexaenoic acid enrichment can reduce L929 cell necrosis induced by tumor necrosis factor

We previously reported that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) attenuated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis in human monocytic U937 cells (J. Nutr. 130: 1095-1101, 2000). In the present study, we examined the effects of DHA and other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on TNF-induced necrosis, another mode of cell death, using L929 murine fibrosarcoma cells. After preincubation with PUFA conjugated with BSA for 24 h, cells were treated with TNF or TNF+actinomycin D (Act D). Preincubation of cells with DHA enriched this polyunsaturated acid in the phospholipids and attenuated cell death induced by either TNF or TNF+Act D. When cells were treated with TNF alone, DNA laddering was not detected, and cells were coincidently stained with both annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide, indicating that the death mode was necrotic. TNF+Act D predominantly induced necrosis, although concurrent apoptotic cell death was also observed in this case. Preincubation with oleic acid, linoleic acid or 20:3(n-3) did not affect TNF-induced necrosis. Conversely, supplementation with n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-3) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduced necrotic cell death, but to a lesser extent in comparison with DHA. Unlike the case of U937 cell apoptosis, arachidonic acid (AA) significantly attenuated L929 cell necrosis, and 20:3(n-6) or 22:4(n-6) showed similar or less activity, respectively. Statistical evaluation indicated that the order of effective PUFA activity was DHA>DPAn-3> or =EPA>AA approximately 20:3(n-6)> or =22:4(n-6). One step desaturation, C2 elongation or C2 cleavage within the n-6 or n-3 fatty acid group was probably very active in L929 cells, because AA, synthesized from 20:3(n-6) or 22:4(n-6), and C22 fatty acids, synthesized from AA or EPA, were preferentially retained in cellular phospholipids. These observations suggested that attenuation of TNF-induced necrosis by the supplementation of various C20 or C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids is mainly attributable to the enrichment of three kinds of polyunsaturated fatty acids, i.e., DHA, DPAn-3 or AA, in phospholipids. Among these fatty acids, DHA was the most effective in the reduction of L929 necrosis as observed in the case of U937 apoptosis. This suggests that DHA-enriched membranes can protect cell against TNF irrespective of death modes and that membranous DHA may abrogate the death signaling common to necrosis and apoptosis.     

Endocytic pathway of recombinant murine tumor necrosis factor in L-929 cells

The fate of TNF after binding to the surface of L-929 cells was followed by using murine rTNF coupled to colloidal gold as a probe. A time-course study using electron microscopy was performed. Our results confirm previous indications obtained from biochemical studies suggesting that TNF is internalized by this cell type. They further directly show that internalization proceeds through the classical receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway, i.e., via clathrin-coated structures and endosomes before accumulation in secondary lysosomes.     

Hypoxia and resistance to hydrogen peroxide confer resistance to tumor necrosis factor in murine L929 cells.

The mechanism whereby tumor necrosis factor (TNF) kills mammalian cells is not well understood, although oxidative damage has been suggested by several investigators. Further, it is not known why cells vary in their responsiveness to TNF. We show that the cytotoxic effect of TNF toward TNF-sensitive L929 cells is blocked under hypoxic conditions, suggesting a critical role of molecular oxygen and reactive oxygen species. To test whether cellular resistance to reactive oxygen species could provide resistance to TNF, we derived a variant strain from L929 cells by chronic exposure to an oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These cells exhibit marked resistance to TNF as well as to H2O2. This cross-protection provides additional evidence that mechanisms of resistance to oxidative damage are causally related to TNF-induced cell death. Scatchard analysis of TNF binding did not reveal significant differences between the H2O2-resistant line and the wild-type L929 line. On the other hand, analyses of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione levels in cells of the wild-type and the H2O2-resistant lines revealed several potentially important differences. Before exposure to TNF, the H2O2-resistant variants have elevated catalase activity, decreased activity of total glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and similar superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Exposure to TNF led to alteration in CuZnSOD activity, and much more so in the variants than in the wild-type L929 cells. However, no significant change in MnSOD activities in cells of either cell line was observed. Total GST activity was not altered appreciably by TNF in either cell line, but Western analysis showed that the level of alpha GST isozyme was increased and mu GST isozyme decreased in the H2O2-resistant variants. Furthermore, alterations in total glutathione content were observed in both the control and the variant cells.     

HMGCoA reductase inhibition partially mediates tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis in human U-937 and HL-60 cells

We have examined the effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and its second messenger, ceramide, on HMGCoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. Treatment of human U-937 and HL-60 cells with TNF alpha or C2-ceramide inhibited both expression and activity of HMGCoA reductase in a time-dependent manner. Maturation of p21(ras) was also inhibited in a mevalonate-dependent fashion. The addition of mevalonate to both U-937 and HL-60 cells could also partially prevent TNF alpha and ceramide-induced apoptosis. These results support the hypothesis that the inhibition of HMGCoA reductase expression and the subsequent decrease in prenylation of proteins such as p21(ras) are part of the mechanism by which TNF alpha induces apoptosis in these cells.     

Appearance of membrane-bound tyrosine kinase during differentiation of HL-60 leukemia cells by immune interferon and tumor necrosis factor

The effect of immune interferon (IFN-gamma) and recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF-alpha) on cellular differentiation was investigated in human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. Both IFN-gamma and rTNF-alpha induced the appearance of the monocytic phenotype in a dose- and time-dependent manner as assessed by morphology, reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium and the induction of alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase. Utilizing a nondenaturing polyacrylamide electrophoretic assay, it was revealed that a membrane-bound tyrosine kinase activity accompanied the appearance of the differentiated cell type. These results suggest that the induction of membrane-bound tyrosine kinase activity by IFN-gamma and rTNF-alpha may be an important characteristic of monocytic differentiation.     

Hyaluronidase induces murine L929 fibrosarcoma cells resistant to tumor necrosis factor and fas cytotoxicity in the presence of actinomycin D

Actinomycin D (ActD) enhances the potency of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in killing cancer cells. However, it is determined in this study that murine L929 fibrosarcoma cells, when pretreated with bovine testicular hyaluronidase for 12–24h, became resistant to the cytotoxic effect of TNF-α in the presence of DNA interacalators, such as ActD, doxorubicin, and daunorubicin. Monoclonal anti-Fas antibody-mediated apoptosis in the presence of ActD was also blocked in hyaluronidase-pretreated L929 cells. Hyaluronidase failed to up-or downregulate the expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins, including Bcl-2, Bcl-x_L, ICH-1, and TIAR, suggesting that these proteins were not involved in the hyaluronidase-induced resistance to TNF/ActD. A semisynthetic polysulfated hyaluronic acid (HA) inhibited the increased TNF/ActD resistance, whereas unmodified HA, dextran sulfate, and naturally polysulfated glycosaminoglycans had no effect. Evidence is provided here that the induced resistance is related to serum fetuin and a novel intracellular 35-kDa TNF-binding protein (intra TBP). Under serum-free conditions, L929 became refractory to TNF/ActD cytotoxicity and hyaluronidase reversed the resistance. Exogenous fetuin increased L929 cell spreading and proliferation, and restored hyaluronidase-induction of TNF/ActD resistance in these serum-starved cells. Hyaluronidase failed to reduce the expression of TNF-receptors and their binding of TNF-α. However, binding and Western-blotting analyses revealed that hyaluronidase downregulated the intra-TBP. Overall, these observations suggest that serum fetuin and intra TBP are involved in the hyaluronidase induction of TNF/ActD resistance.     

Stimulation by tumor necrosis factor of HL-60 thymidine salvage pathway metabolism dissociated from proliferation

The effect of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on early-passage HL-60 cells was studied. A transient phase of increased [3H]thymidine (TdR) incorporation was noted at 20-24 hr of exposure to TNF. This increase was disproportionate to the much slighter stimulation of the percentage of S-phase cells, which was measured by flow cytometry. Evidence for increased metabolic trapping of [3H]TdR following TNF treatment was apparent from whole cell uptake experiments. The salvage pathway enzyme TdR kinase was therefore measured and was found to be elevated comparably to [3H]TdR uptake. The mechanism of TNF regulation of TdR kinase was further investigated by a series of combination treatment experiments using other biologic factors and pharmacologic inhibitors of various intracellular steps. The response to TNF was not potentiated or reproduced by IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, G-CSF, M-CSF, GM-CSF or alpha- or gamma-interferon. Blockers of early signal transduction steps, including H7, W7, sphingosine, and pertussis toxin, failed to inhibit TNF stimulation of [3H]TdR incorporation. mRNA synthesis inhibition with alpha-amanitin blocked this TNF effect, as did cAMP but not cGMP analogues. A sensitizing effect was noted with amiloride or cytochalasin B, characterized by greater relative increases of [3H]TdR incorporation and TdR kinase activity in response to TNF. In the presence of cytochalasin B, TNF treatment resulted in no change or slight decreases in the percentage of S-phase cells. Regulation of TdR kinase could thereby be dissociated from the usual cell cycle control. This study thus documents a unique example of stimulation of thymidine salvage pathway metabolism by a biologic factor, dissociable from overall cell cycle regulation.     

Distinct roles of basal steady-state and induced H-ferritin in tumor necrosis factor-induced death in L929 cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is a cytokine capable of inducing caspase-dependent (apoptotic) cell death in some cells and caspase-independent (necrosis-like) cell death in others. Here, using a mutagenesis screen for genes critical in TNF-induced death in L929 cells, we have found that H-ferritin deficiency is responsible for TNF resistance in a mutant line and that, upon treatment with TNF, this line fails to elevate levels of labile iron pool (LIP), critical for TNF-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS-dependent cell death. Since we found that TNF-induced LIP in L929 cells is primarily furnished by intracellular storage iron, the lesser induction of LIP in H-ferritin-deficient cells results from a reduction of intracellular iron storage caused by less H-ferritin. Different from some other cell lines, the H-ferritin gene in L929 cells is not TNF inducible; however, when H-ferritin is expressed in L929 cells under a TNF-inducible system, the TNF-induced LIP and subsequent ROS production and cell death were all prevented. Thus, LIP is a common denominator of ferritin both in the enhancement of cell death by basal steady-state H-ferritin and in protection against cell death by induced H-ferritin, thereby acting as a key determinant of TNF-induced cell death.     

L-Glutamic acid modulates the cytotoxic effect of tumor necrosis factor in the HL-60 cell line

L-Glutamic acid was shown to increase the stability of cells of the HL-60 line of human promyelocyte leukemia to the cytotoxic action of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) due to the inhibition of apoptotic and NF-kappaB-activating cascades induced by this cytokine. At the same time, L-glutamic acid increases the TNF-alpha-mediated differentiating signal and the accompanying enhancement of the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity. Therefore, it is a promising agent for the reduction of total toxicity and inflammatory processes during treatment with TNF-alpha. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2005, vol. 31, no. 6; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Growth inhibition and cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor in L929 cells is enhanced by high cell density and inhibition of mRNA synthesis

L929 cells were growth-inhibited after 1 to 2 days of treatment with human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF). This effect of rTNF was largely reversible, and L929 cells resumed normal growth when rTNF was removed. The rTNF showed growth inhibitory and cytotoxic activity when L929 cells approached a high cell density and grew slowly. This was shown in experiments in which L929 cells approached confluency at different times after being seeded at increasing initial densities. The rTNF had little effect on the growth of cells seeded at the lowest density tested. L929 cells cultured to high density synthesized RNA at a reduced rate. This suggested that a reduced rate of RNA synthesis may be at least in part responsible for the growth inhibitory and cytotoxic activities of rTNF on cells grown to high density. Treatment with inhibitors of RNA synthesis potentiated the cytotoxic activity of rTNF. Inhibition of mRNA synthesis was apparently responsible for the enhanced sensitivity to rTNF, as shown by experiments with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, an inhibitor of the synthesis of poly(A)-containing RNA.     

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants do not prevent tumour necrosis factor-induced necrosis of L929 cells

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is widely reported as a central effector during TNF-induced necrosis. The effect of a family of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants on TNF-induced necrosis of L929 cells was studied. While the commonly used lipid–soluble antioxidant BHA effectively protected cells from TNF-induced necrosis, the mitochondria-targeted antioxidants MitoQ₃, MitoQ₅, MitoQ₁₀ and MitoPBN had no effect on TNF-induced necrosis. Since BHA also acts as an uncoupler of mitochondrial membrane potential, two additional uncouplers were tested. FCCP and CCCP both provided dose-dependent inhibition of TNF-induced necrosis. In conclusion, the generation of mitochondrial ROS may not be necessary for TNF-induced necrosis. Instead, these results suggest alternative mitochondrial functions, such as a respiration-dependent process, are critical for necrotic death.     

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants do not prevent tumour necrosis factor-induced necrosis of L929 cells

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is widely reported as a central effector during TNF-induced necrosis. The effect of a family of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants on TNF-induced necrosis of L929 cells was studied. While the commonly used lipid-soluble antioxidant BHA effectively protected cells from TNF-induced necrosis, the mitochondria-targeted antioxidants MitoQ₃, MitoQ₅, MitoQ₁₀ and MitoPBN had no effect on TNF-induced necrosis. Since BHA also acts as an uncoupler of mitochondrial membrane potential, two additional uncouplers were tested. FCCP and CCCP both provided dose-dependent inhibition of TNF-induced necrosis. In conclusion, the generation of mitochondrial ROS may not be necessary for TNF-induced necrosis. Instead, these results suggest alternative mitochondrial functions, such as a respiration-dependent process, are critical for necrotic death.     

Cytosolic-nuclear tumor promoter-specific binding protein (CN-TPBP) in human promyelocytic leukemia cells HL-60

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) is a potent tumor promoter and is known to induce terminal differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells HL-60 to mature monocytes. To investigate the molecular mechanism of TPA actions, TPA-specific binding proteins in HL-60 were analyzed. Anion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that HL-60 cells possess TPA-specific binding proteins other than protein kinase C (PKC). One of these TPA-specific binding proteins exists in the cytosolic fraction of HL-60 cells, but translocates into the nuclear fraction of HL-60 cells after the treatment of the cells with TPA. The results suggest that HL-60 cells take up TPA into the nuclei via the TPA-specific binding protein. The TPA-specific binding protein binds TPA, phorbol 12,13-di-butylate, teleocidin B-2, teleocidin B-3, and debromoaplysiatoxin in a mutually competitive manner. However, the protein does not bind to okadaic acid, olivoretin C, retinoic acid, or dioxin. This cytosolic-nuclear tumor promoter-specific binding protein (CN-TPBP) might play an essential role in the action of tumor promoters.     

The endogenous differentiation factor of the HL-60 cells shows a nuclease activity

A structural homology between the endogenous differentiation factor of the HL-60 cell line of promyelocyte leukemia (HLDF) and several DNA/RNA-binding and DNA/RNA-hydrolyzing proteins was revealed, and expression of the hldf gene in prokaryotic systems was studied. On the basis of these experiments, the amino acid sequence of an 8-membered fragment of HLDF with potential nuclease activity was identified. The synthetic octapeptide RRWHRLKE was shown to be capable of the cleavage of RNA, linear DNA from phage lambda, and all forms of plasmid DNA. We established that treatment of the HL-60 cell culture with this peptide (10(-6) M) results in an increase in the number of apoptotic cells and suggested that HLDF is involved in processes of apoptosis.