Structure-activity relationships in the development of hypoxic cell radiosensitizers. I. Sensitization efficiency.

The efficiency of 35 nitroaromatic and nitroheterocyclic compounds in radiosensitizing hypoxic Chinese Hamster cells in vitro was determined. The concentration C of the compound required to achieve an enhancement ratio of 1.6 was measured, and the redox and partition properties were quantified as the one-electron reduction potential at pH 7, E, and the octanol: water partition coefficient, P, respectively. Most of the compounds studied were 2-nitroimidazoles, but some 4- and 5-nitromidazoles, 5-nitrofurans and nitrobenzenes were investigated for comparison. Together with data for nine nitroimidazoles previously reported, the results were fitted to a structure-activity relationship of the form -log C = b0 + b1E + b2 log P + b3 (log P)2 using multiple linear regression analysis. Statistical tests showed that the coefficients b2 and b3 were not significantly different from zero and the simpler equation, obtained by omitting the terms in log P, explained 85 per cent of the variance in log C. Earlier reports that the radiosensitization efficiency of nitro compounds in vitro largely depends on the reduction potential were confirmed. The conclusive demonstration that P is unimportant in vitro is valuable in interpreting the results of experiments in vivo, where P is expected to have a much greater influence on biological response.     

Kinetic studies of four types of nitroheterocyclic radicals by pulse radiolysis. Correlation of pharmacological properties to decay rates

The chemical properties of the nitro radical of four types of nitroheterocyclic compounds, nitrofurans, 2-nitroimidazoles, 4(5)-nitroimidazoles, 5-nitroimidazoles, having radiosensitizing and cytotoxic properties, have been studied by pulse radiolysis. The acid-base equilibria involving the nitro radical, the imidazole ring and some residues on the heterocycle have been determined. The pH-dependence of the rate of the disproportionation reaction of the nitro radical have been extensively studied. While the nitro radical derived from nitrofurans, 4- and 5-nitroimidazoles had a second-order decay, those of the 2-nitroimidazoles were found to decay through simultaneous first-order and second-order processes. Intrinsic second-order rate constants of the decay of the radical species in its various acidic and basic forms, could be determined. The intrinsic rate constants that determine the overall decay rates in the physiologically important 6 to 7.5 pH-range could be related to the one-electron redox potential E7(1). The implication of such chemical properties to enzyme-catalyzed reduction processes and to the mechanisms of radiosensitization and cytotoxicity of nitroheterocyclic compounds are briefly discussed. Pharmacological properties such as in vitro radiosensitization efficiency or metabolic reduction rates could be related to two of the nitro radical intrinsic disproportionation rates.     

Hypoxia-selective radiosensitization of mammalian cells by nitracrine, an electron-affinic DNA intercalator

The radiosensitizing ability of the 1-nitroacridine nitracrine (NC) is of interest since it is an example of a DNA intercalating agent with an electron-affinic nitro group. NC radiosensitization was evaluated in Chinese hamster ovary cell (AA8) cultures at 4 degrees C in order to suppress the rapid metabolism and potent cytotoxicity of the drug. Under hypoxic conditions, submicromolar concentrations of NC resulted in sensitization (SER = 1.6 at 1 mumol dm-3). Sensitization was also seen under aerobic conditions but a concentration more than 10-fold higher was required. In aerobic cultures NC radiosensitization was independent of whether cells were exposed before and during, or after, irradiation. Postirradiation sensitization was not observed under hypoxic conditions. The time dependence of NC uptake and the development of radiosensitization were similar (maximal at 30 min at 4 degrees C under hypoxia) suggesting that sensitization, unlike cytotoxicity, is due to unmetabolized drug. NC is about 1700 times more potent as a radiosensitizer than misonidazole. This high potency is adequately accounted for by the electron affinity of NC (E(1) value at pH7 of -275 mV versus NHE) and by its accumulation in cells to give intracellular concentrations approximately 30 times greater than in the medium. However, concentrations of free NC appear to be low in AA8 cells, presumably because of DNA binding. If radiosensitization by NC is due to bound rather than free drug, it suggests that intercalated NC can interact very efficiently with DNA target radicals. This is despite a binding ratio in the cell estimated as less than 1 NC molecule/400 base pairs under conditions providing efficient sensitization. This work suggests a new approach in the search for more effective clinical radiosensitizers, and poses questions on the means by which intercalated drugs can interact with DNA damage.     

Toxicity, radiation sensitivity modification, and metabolic effects of dehydroascorbate and ascorbate in mammalian cells.

Dehydroascorbate, an electron affinic metabolite of vitamin C, sensitized Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, in vivo, to radiation and was selectively toxic to V79 Chinese hamster lung cells under hypoxic conditions (without radiation). The radiosensitization may involve both the electron affinic nature of dehydroascorbate as well as its ability to oxidize the intracellular NAD(P)H and non-protein sulfhydryl. Dehydroascorbate's oxidation of NAD(P)H required higher concentrations than other sulfhydryl oxidants such as N-ethylmaleimide and diamide. The oxidation of NAD(P)H by dehydroascorbate could be reversed by glucose. Hypoxic cell radiosensitization of V79 cells in tissue culture by dehydroascorbate could not be easily demonstrated because of the rapid breakdown and appreciable cytotoxicity of the drug at high concentration. The cytotoxicity was found to occur with both high and low densities of V79 cells. With low cell densities small amounts of oxygen did not reduce the cytotoxicity of dehydroascorbate, but virtually eliminated the cytotoxicity of nitroaromatic electron affinic compounds (metronidazole and Ro-07-0582). The cytotoxicity to dense cell suspensions was found to depend upon the type of buffer included in the reaction medium. The maximum cytotoxicity was obtained in buffer free saline. The reduced form of dehydroascorbate, vitamin C, was found to be toxic only under aerobic conditions. The aerobic cytotoxicity could be prevented by the addition of catalase to the growth medium or by an increase in cell density, suggesting it was caused entirely by the production of H2O2 from the oxidation of vitamin C.     

Radiosensitization, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of a 2-nitroimidazole nucleoside (RA-263)

A 2-nitroimidazole nucleoside, 1-(2',3'-dideoxy-alpha-D-erythro-hex-2'-enopyranosyl)-2-nitroimida zole (RA-263), has been investigated for its radiosensitization, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity properties. The in vitro radiosensitization tests against hypoxic Chinese hamster (V-79) cells demonstrated that RA-263 was a more potent radiosensitizer than misonidazole and at 2 mM concentration approached the oxic curve. Significant in vitro radiosensitization activity was also observed in EMT6 mammary tumor cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity data suggested that RA-263 is considerably more toxic to hypoxic cells than misonidazole. The increased cytotoxicity may be related to its higher depletion of nonprotein thiols (NPSH) than misonidazole. The combined effects of radiosensitization and hypoxic cell toxicity were measured by preincubation of the V-79 cells for 4 h under hypoxic conditions before irradiation. The results demonstrated a synergistic response by causing a significant decrease in the extrapolation number with loss of shoulder of the radiation survival curves. The in vivo radiosensitization experiments conducted by the in vivo-in vitro cloning assay with the EMT6 mammary tumor indicate that RA-263 is an effective sensitizer. Pharmacokinetic data suggested that RA-263 was eliminated from plasma by a rapid alpha phase and a slower beta phase with T 1/2 of 36 and 72 min, respectively. The concentration in the brain was approximately one-sixth of tumor concentration, suggesting that RA-263 is excluded from the CNS. Moreover, RA-263 was two times less toxic than misonidazole on equimolar basis by acute LD50 tests. This agent was also significantly less mutagenic than misonidazole in a strain of Escherichia coli.     

Toxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium derivatives in Escherichia coli.

Several derivatives of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), i.e., 1-methyl-4-(4'-nitrophenyl)pyridinium (1), 1-methyl-4-(4'-cyanophenyl)pyridinium (2), 1-methyl-4-(3'-nitrophenyl)pyridinium (3), 1-methyl-4-(4'-chlorophenyl)pyridinium (4), 1-methyl-4-(4'-acetamidophenyl)pyridinium (5), and 1-methyl-4-(4'-aminophenyl)pyridinium (6), were synthesized in order to compare their toxicity with that of paraquat (PQ2+) in Escherichia coli. Addition of compounds 1, 2, and 3 to aerobic E. coli cell suspensions caused extracellular ferricytochrome c reduction, which was inhibited by superoxide dismutase in the same manner as that in the case of PQ2+. The rate of the ferricytochrome c (cyt. c) reduction was in the order of PQ2+ greater than 1 greater than 2 greater than 3, which is the same as that of the redox potentials of these compounds. On the other hand, MPP+, 4, 5, and 6, which have more negative potentials, had no effect on the cyt. c reduction. Compound 1 inhibited the growth of E. coli under aerobic conditions, but not under anaerobic conditions. The results show that compound 1 can act as a mediator for production of superoxide (O2-.), which seriously injures E. coli cells. However, though compounds 2 and 3 catalyzed the production of O2-. in E. coli cells, their activity of O2-. production was much lower than that of compound 1 or PQ2+. Thus, compound 3 had no effect on growth or survival of E. coli at 1 mM, while compounds 2 and 4 had both bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal effects which were independent of dioxygen (O2). The results show that the toxic mechanism is different from that of compound 1. MPP+, 5, and 6 had no effect on growth of E. coli. This paper shows that compound 1 is a novel enhancer of intracellular superoxide production, though the mechanism of toxicity of compounds 2 and 4 is not clear yet. The results suggest that the redox potential is a crucial factor for manifestation of the activity.     

Thiol reactive nitroimidazoles: radiosensitization studies in vitro and in vivo

Using Chinese hamster V79 cells in vitro a study has been made of the radiosensitizing properties of 4- or 5-nitroimidazoles substituted in the 2, 5 or 4 position with various halo, sulphur ether, sulphonamide, sulphonate, ether or nitro groups. Values of E17 (the one-electron reduction potential measured versus the normal hydrogen electrode at pH7) vary in the range -178 to -565 mV. All the compounds, with one exception, are more efficient radiosensitizers than would be predicted from their redox potentials, and the factor, C1.6/C1.6, by which a compound is more efficient has been calculated. The second-order rate constants, k2, for reaction of these nitroimidazoles with glutathione and/or dithiothreitol were determined. Within each class of nitroimidazole there is a trend for k2 to increase with increasing redox potential. However, there is no clear trend between k2 and C1.6/C1.6. The concentration required to cause a 50 per cent depletion of intracellular glutathione was determined for selected compounds, as was the ability of glutathione-S-transferase to catalyse reaction with thiols. These observations suggested that the relative thiol reactivity measured under chemically controlled conditions does not necessarily indicate thiol reactivity intracellularly. Studies using the MT tumour in mice showed that the high levels of radiosensitization seen in vitro could not be duplicated in vivo. This was attributed to thiol reactivity, resulting in low metabolic stability and rapid depletion of sensitizer in vivo.     

Sensitization to x-rays by sodium arsenite or heat in normal cells and in cells with an induced tolerance for heat and arsenite

In this study we compared sensitization to x-rays by heat or sodium arsenite and the effect of an induced heat or arsenite resistance on radiosensitization. Treatment of Reuber H35 hepatoma cells with either heat or arsenite causes a dose-dependent radiosensitization. Based on a comparison of isosurvival doses for arsenite and heat, arsenite causes a stronger enhancement of the radiosensitivity. Radiosensitization increases exponentially with increasing sensitizer dose. It is gradually lost when the time interval between irradiation and treatment with heat or arsenite increases, depending on the treatment sequence. For x-rays prior to heat, radiosensitization disappears approximately twice as fast as in the reverse case. Arsenite radiosensitization shows approximately the same kinetics for an isoeffective combination, but slightly longer times are needed for the complete clearance of the interaction. As with heat, an exposure to arsenite induces a stress response in cultured cells which results in the development of an increased tolerance towards a second exposure. Heat and arsenite induce self- as well as cross-tolerance. The reduction in arsenite or heat toxicity in tolerant cells is correlated with a reduction in radiosensitization. The mechanisms for heat and arsenite cytotoxicity appear to be different. A combination of non-toxic doses of heat and arsenite has a synergistic effect on the cytotoxicity. One hour incubation with 0.02 mM arsenite at 41 °C has the same cytotoxicity as 0.2 mM after 3 h incubation at 37°C, and the amount of radiosensitization induced by these treatments is approximately the same.     

Impermeant electron acceptors and donors to the plasma membrane-bound respiratory chain of intact cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans

Membrane-impermeant redox compounds ferricyanide and horse heart ferrocytochrome c acted as electron acceptor and donor, respectively, for intact cells or spheroplasts of Anacystis nidulans (Synechococcus ATCC 27144) in the dark. The anaerobic reduction of ferricyanide was faster than aerobic reduction. KCN significantly enhanced the reaction under aerobic conditions. Light did not influence ferricyanide reduction. The oxidation of exogenous ferrocytochrome c was oxygen-dependent and inhibited by KCN. Either type of redox reaction was accompanied by vectorial proton translocation out of the cells. Arrhenius plots for the temperature dependence of both ferricyanide reduction and cytochrome c oxidation gave one distinct break point reflecting the lipid phase transition temperature of the plasma membrane. The results are presented as evidence for a respiratory chain in the plasma membrane of A. nidulans.     

Role of single-electron oxidation potential and lipophilicity in the antiplasmodial in vitro activity of polyphenols: comparison to mammalian cells

In spite of extensive studies, the structure-activity relationships in the action of polyphenols against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are poorly understood so far. As the mammalian cell cytotoxicity of polyphenols shows a negative dependence on the potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol redox couple (E(2)(7)), due to the involvement of prooxidant events, and a positive dependence on the octanol/water distribution coefficient at pH 7.0 (log D), we examined the role of these parameters in their antiplasmodial in vitro activity. We found that the concentrations of hydroxybenzenes causing 50% inhibition of the growth of P falciparum strain FcB1 (IC50) are described by the regression log IC50 (microM) = 0.36 + 1.81 E(2)(7) (V) - 0.10 log D [n = 11, r2 = 0.760, F(2.8) = 12.03]. The IC50 values of flavonoids (n = 5), comprising a separate less active series, did not depend on their E(2)(7) values, 0.33 V-0.75 V. These findings were similar to the mammalian cell cytotoxicity data. However, the mammalian cell cytotoxicity of hydroxybenzenes showed more pronounced dependence on their E(2)(7) values [delta log CL50/delta E(2)(7) = (6.9 - 5.1) V(-1), where CL50 is the compound concentration for 50% cell survival] than on their antiplasmodial activity. Although it is unclear whether the prooxidant action is the main factor in the antiplasmodial action of polyphenols or not, our data showed that the ease of their oxidation (decrease in E(2)(7)) may enhance their activity. On the other hand, the different sensitivity of the mammalian cell cytotoxicity and the antiplasmodial activity of the hydroxybenzenes to their E(2)(7) values implied that compounds with high oxidation potential may be used as relatively efficient antiplasmodial agents with low mammalian cell cytotoxicity.     

Fourier-transform infrared studies on conformation changes in bd-type ubiquinol oxidase from Escherichia coli upon photoreduction of the redox metal centers.

Cytochrome bd is a two-subunit ubiquinol oxidase in the aerobic respiratory chain of Escherichia coli that does not belong to the heme-copper terminal oxidase superfamily. To explore unique protein structural changes associated with the reduction of the redox metal centers, we carried out Fourier-transform infrared and visible spectroscopic studies on cytochrome bd. For infrared measurements of a partially dehydrated thin sample solution, the air-oxidized enzyme was fully reduced by the intermolecular electron transfer of photo-excited riboflavin in the absence and presence of KCN, and redox difference spectra were calculated. Upon reduction, the bound cyanide was released from the heme b595-heme d binuclear center but remained in a protein pocket as a deprotonated form. Reduction of heme b558, heme b595, and heme d resulted in large changes in amide-I and protonated carboxylic CO-stretching vibrations and also a small change in the cysteine SH-stretching vibration. The location of the redox metal centers and the effects of cyanide suggest that these protein structural changes occur at the heme-binding pockets near the protein surface. Systematic site-directed mutagenesis and time-resolved FTIR studies on cytochrome bd will facilitate an understanding of the unique molecular mechanisms for dioxygen reduction and delivery of chemical protons to the active center at the atomic level.     

Correlation of kinetic parameters of nitroreductase enzymes with redox properties of nitroaromatic compounds

The well-established mechanism of regeneration of the parent nitro compound by the reaction of the nitro anion radical with oxygen in aerobic systems is the basis of the correlation of kinetic parameters of purified flavoenzymes with electron affinities of some selected nitroaryl and nitroheterocyclic compounds. We have found that there is a linear relationship between log Vmax/Km and the one-electron reduction potentials of these compounds and that the measured values of redox dependence for these compounds is similar to that determined by other methods. Our results support the proposal of a rate-determining single electron-transfer as the initial step in the reduction of nitro compounds by purified flavoenzymes and are discussed in terms of the Marcus electron transfer theory.     

Flavoenzyme-catalyzed redox cycling of hydroxylamino- and amino metabolites of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene: implications for their cytotoxicity

The toxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), a widespread environmental contaminant, is exerted through its enzymatic redox cycling and/or covalent binding of its reduction products to proteins and DNA. In this study, we examined the possibility of another cytotoxicity mechanism of the amino- and hydroxylamino metabolites of TNT, their flavoenzyme-catalyzed redox cycling. The above compounds acted as redox-cycling substrates for single-electron transferring NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase (P-450R) and ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase (FNR), as well as substrates for the two-electron transferring flavoenzymes rat liver NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and Enterobacter cloacae NAD(P)H:nitroreductase (NR). Their reactivity in P-450R-, FNR-, and NR-catalyzed reactions increased with an increase in their single-electron reduction potential (E(1)(7)) or the decrease in the enthalpy of free radical formation. The cytotoxicity of the amino- and hydroxylamino metabolites of TNT towards bovine leukemia virus-transformed lamb kidney fibroblasts (line FLK) was partly prevented by the antioxidant N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylene diamine and desferrioxamine, and potentiated by 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, thus pointing to the involvement of oxidative stress. In general, their cytotoxicity increased with an increase in their electron accepting properties, or their reactivity towards the single-electron transferring FNR and P-450R. Thus, our data imply that the flavoenzyme-catalyzed redox cycling of amino and hydroxylamino metabolites of TNT may be an important factor in their cytotoxicity.     

Cytotoxic effects of digalloyl dimer procyanidins in human cancer cell lines

Flavanols, a class of polyphenols present in certain plant-based foods, have received increasing attention for their putative anticancer activity. In vitro and in vivo studies, which have compared the effectiveness of various monomer flavanols, indicate that the presence of a galloyl residue on the 3 position on the C-ring enhances the cytotoxicity of these compounds. Procyanidins, oligomerized flavanols, have been reported to be more cytotoxic than monomer flavanols in a variety of human cancer cell lines. Given the above, we evaluated the potential anticancer properties of dimer procyanidins that contain galloyl groups. Specifically, the cytotoxicity of synthetic digalloyl dimer B1 and B2 esters {[3-O-galloyl]-(−)-epicatechin-(4β,8)-(+)-catechin-3-O-gallate (DGB1) and [3-O-galloyl]-(−)-epicatechin-(4β,8)-(+)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (DGB2), respectively} were tested in a number of in vitro models. DGB1 produced significant cytotoxicity in a number of human cancer cell lines evaluated by three independent methods: ATP content, MTT and MTS assays. For the three most sensitive cell lines, exposure to DGB1 and DGB2 for 24, 48 or 72 h was associated with a reduction in cell number and an inhibition of cell proliferation. Digalloyl dimers exerted significantly higher cytotoxic effects than the structurally related flavanols, (−)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin gallate, (−)-epigallocatechin gallate, (−)-catechin gallate and dimer B1 and B2. These results support the concept that the incorporation of galloyl groups and the oligomerization of flavanols enhances the cytotoxic effects of typical monomer flavanols. The therapeutic value of these compounds and their derivative forms as anticancer agents merits further investigation in whole animal models.     

Radiosensitization by the 2,4-dinitro-5-aziridinyl benzamide CB 1954: a structure/activity study

CB 1954 (2,4-dinitro-5-aziridinyl benzamide) is a radiosensitizer which is up to 10 times more efficient in vitro than would be predicted on the basis of its electron affinity. In order to determine the contribution of the various functional groups comprising the molecule to overall sensitizing efficiency, nine structural analogues have been studied. The redox potential, E7(1), and sensitizing efficiency, C1.6, were obtained for each compound. The value of C1.6 depends on both redox potential and the magnitude of an additional component defined by C1.6/C1.6, where C1.6 is derived from a structure/activity relationship (Adams et al. 1979 b, Wardman 1982) described by the equation: log (C1.6/mol dm-3) = (6.96 +/- 0.22) + (9.54 +/- 0.56)E7(1)V. The magnitude of C1.6/C1.6 for CB 1954 and its analogues depends on alkyl substitution of the amide, the presence/absence and position of the nitro groups and is independent of the presence of the aziridine group. Holding cells in the presence of the drug post-irradiation marginally enhanced sensitization by CB 1954, CB 10-107 and by CB 10-092 but the largest effect was seen with the mononitro compound CB 7060 which also has a value of 26 for C1.6/C1.6. This compound was also interesting in that when combined with 2-phenyl-4(5)amino-5(4)-imidazole carboxamide (phenyl AIC) an enhancement of sensitization was obtained. In contrast, phenyl AIC protected against radiosensitization by CB 1954. Taken together, the data suggest that multiple mechanisms of radiosensitization may contribute to the abnormal radiosensitizing efficiency of CB 1954 and its analogues. This has implications for the further design and development of novel radiosensitizing drugs.     

Biokinetic and toxicodynamic modelling and its role in toxicological research and risk assessment

Toxicological risk assessment for chemicals is still mainly based on highly standardised protocols for animal experimentation and exposure assessment. However, developments in our knowledge of general physiology, in chemicobiological interactions and in (computer-supported) modelling, have resulted in a tremendous change in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of chemicals. This permits the development of biologically based models, in which the biokinetics as well as the toxicodynamics of compounds can be described. In this paper, the possibilities are discussed of developing systems in which the systemic (acute and chronic) toxicities of chemicals can be quantified without the heavy reliance on animal experiments. By integrating data derived from different sources, predictions of toxicity can be made. Key elements in this integrated approach are the evaluation of chemical functionalities representing structural alerts for toxic actions, the construction of biokinetic models on the basis of non-animal data (for example, tissue-blood partition coefficients, in vitro biotransformation parameters), tests or batteries of tests for determining basal cytotoxicity, and more-specific tests for evaluating tissue or organ toxicity. It is concluded that this approach is a useful tool for various steps in toxicological hazard and risk assessment, especially for those forms of toxicity for which validated in vitro and other non-animal tests have already been developed.     

Calcitriol sensitizes colon cancer cells to H2O2-induced cytotoxicity while inhibiting caspase activation

The anti-cancer activity of calcitriol, the active metabolite of Vitamin D, in the colon is usually attributed to its anti-proliferative and pro-differentiative actions. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are high in colon carcinomas due to increased aerobic metabolism and exposure to various anti-cancer modalities. We examined whether calcitriol modulates the response of colon cancer cells to the cytotoxic action of the common mediator of ROS injury, H2O2. Pretreatment with calcitriol (100 nM, 48 h) sensitized HT-29 colon cancer cells to cell death induced by acute exposure to H2O2 or chronic exposure to the H2O2 generating system, glucose/glucose-oxidase. Although the morphological features of H2O2-induced HT-29 cell death are consistent with apoptosis, we detected no executioner caspase activation in response to cytotoxic concentrations of H2O2 and treatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor did not affect H2O2-induced cytotoxicity nor its enhancement by calcitriol. Conversely, exposure of HT-29 cells to sub-toxic concentrations of H2O2 resulted in low executioner caspase activation that was inhibited by pretreatment with calcitriol. The sensitization of colon cancer cells to ROS-induced cytotoxicity may contribute to its assumed action as a chemopreventive agent and to its therapeutic potential alone or in combination with other anti-cancer modalities.     

A Re-examination of the Penetration of Nitella Cells by Non-electrolytes

The increase, followed by culmination and decrease, of biological activity often observed within a homologous series of toxic compounds has previously been explained by assuming that their rate of movement between the lipid cell membrane and the aqueous protoplasm passes through an optimum as the partition coefficients increase progressively. In contrast to this, it has been claimed that direct measurements of the penetration rate of compounds through individual Nitella cells show tbat penetration rates are proportional to partition coefficients. In this attempt to investigate these two opposed hypotheses an analysis of published penetration rate data, obtained with Nitella, showed that the direct penetration measurements were best described by an equation which included a quadratic function of partition coefficient. There is, therefore, no inconsistency between the measurements of penetration by biological activity and by direct measurement. The compounds used in the latter procedure were all relatively hydrophilic and although a maximum rate of penetration was observed tbere was no indication of a subsequent decrease as there were no compounds with high partition coefficients. The correlation of penetration with other physical properties of the compounds is discussed.     

Radiosensitization of human T-cell leukemia by thymidine and 41.8 degrees C hyperthermia in vitro

This study tested whether thymidine, a naturally occurring nucleoside metabolite, could increase the sensitivity of human T-cell neoplasms to ionizing irradiation and whether adding 41.8 degrees C hyperthermia (X 1 h) to the combination of thymidine and irradiation would further enhance killing of cells by radiation. The magnitude of cytotoxicity induced directly by thymidine was also evaluated. Finally, the ability of 2'-deoxycytidine to prevent thymidine-induced cytotoxicity and radiosensitization was studied. Using JM and MOLT3, two human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias, it was found that thymidine itself was cytotoxic and the toxicity appeared rapidly upon exposure to the drug (i.e., at 4 h). Thymidine caused significant radiosensitization, and thymidine plus 1 h of 41.8 degrees C hyperthermia enhanced radiation-induced killing significantly more than did thymidine or hyperthermia separately. The addition of 2'-deoxycytidine only partly reversed thymidine-induced killing and did not prevent thymidine-induced radiosensitization. The applicability of these results to the clinical management of T- and null-cell malignancies is discussed, as is the presumed mechanistic basis for these observations relative to deoxyribonucleoside metabolism, NAD metabolism, and inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.     

Radiosensitization of hypoxic mammalian cells in vitro by some 5-substituted-4-nitroimidazoles

The efficiencies of various 5-substituted-4-nitroimidazoles as radiation sensitizers have been determined in hypoxic Chinese hamster cells irradiated in vitro. Compared with published data on the sensitizing properties of substituted 2-nitro- and 5-nitroimidazoles, some of the 4-nitro derivatives show unusually high sensitizing efficiencies defined as the concentrations required to give an enhancement ratio of 1.6. The equilibrium one-electron reduction potentials of the compounds (E17) were measured by a pulse radiolysis technique and the results show that although sensitizing efficiencies are unexpectedly high, based on considerations of electron affinity, they still increase with increasing values of E17. Enhancement ratios were determined in two V79 cell lines for combinations of one of these compounds (a 4-nitroimidazole containing the group SO2.O.phenyl in the 5-position, NSC 38087) with various concentrations of misonidazole. The sensitization observed suggests that the two compounds may be operating by different mechanisms.