Immunogenic changes of murine lymphoma cells following in vitro treatment with aryl-triazene derivatives

Summary A series of dimethyl aryl-triazene derivatives and related monomethyl compounds were studied for their efficacy in mediating a strong increase in immunogenicity (i.e., chemical xenogenization, CX) of murine leukemic cells following in vitro treatment. It was found that all compounds under investigation were able to induce CX. The dimethyl derivatives were able to induce CX only after metabolic activation, whereas related monomethyl compounds were active per se.The antigenicity acquired by triazene-treated leukemic cells was very marked; intact hosts histocompatible with the parental line were able to reject up to 10⁷ cells. Antigenic tumor cells retained their immunogenic properties even after a large number of transplant generations in the absence of the drug. This means that marked immunogenicity of triazene-treated cells is a stable and heritable characteristic.     

Conversion of ethanolamine, monomethylethanolamine and dimethylethanolamine to choline-containing compounds by neurons in culture and by the rat brain.

The incubation of neurons from chick embryos in primary culture with [3H]ethanolamine revealed the conversion of this base into monomethyl, dimethyl and choline derivatives, including the corresponding free bases. Labelling with [methyl-3H]monomethylethanolamine and [methyl-3H]dimethylethanolamine supported the conclusion that in chick neuron cultures, phosphoethanolamine appears to be the preferential substrate for methylation, rather than ethanolamine or phosphatidylethanolamine. The methylation of the latter two compounds, in particular that of phosphatidylethanolamine, was seemingly stopped at the level of their monomethyl derivatives. Fetal rat neurons in primary culture incubated with [3H]ethanolamine showed similar results to those observed with chick neurones. However, phosphoethanolamine and phosphatidylethanolamine and, to a lesser extent, free ethanolamine, appeared to be possible substrates for methylation reactions. The methylation of water-soluble ethanolamine compounds de novo was further confirmed by experiments performed in vivo by intraventricular injection of [3H]ethanolamine. Phosphocholine and the monomethyl and dimethyl derivatives of ethanolamine were detected in the brain 15 min after injection.     

Leukemogenic AML1-ETO fusion protein upregulates expression of connexin 43: the role in AML 1-ETO-induced growth arrest in leukemic cells

AML1-ETO, a fusion protein generated by the chromosomal translocation t(8;21), is frequently associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In addition to blocking differentiation, AML1-ETO is also shown to induce growth arrest in AML cells, which is unfavorable for leukemogenesis harboring the t(8;21) translocation. However, its precise mechanism is still unclear. Here we provide the first demonstration that the conditional expression of AML1-ETO by the ecdysone-inducible system dramatically increases the expression of connexin 43 (CX43), together with growth arrest at G1 phase in leukemic U937 cells. We also show that the CX43 induction inhibits the proliferation of U937 cells at G1 phase, while the suppression of CX43 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) effectively overcomes the growth-inhibitory effect of AML1 -ETO in leukemic cells. Furthermore, either AML1-ETO or CX43 induction elevates cell-cycle negative regulator P27(kip1) protein by inhibiting its degradation, which is antagonized by siRNA against CX43. Taken together, our data indicate that CX43 plays a role in AML1-ETO-induced growth arrest possibly through the accumulation of P27(kip1) protein. The potential mutation or/and epigenetic alterations of CX43 and its related gene(s) deserve to be explored in AML1-ETO-positive AML patients.     

Induction of erythroid differentiation of human K562 cells by 3-O-acyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose derivatives

In this paper we report the synthesis of twelve 3-O-acyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose derivatives and the results obtained on their effects in inducing erythroid differentiation of human leukemic K562 cells. The data obtained demonstrate that two of the newly synthetized compounds are able to induce erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. In addition, these same compounds potentiate K562 erythroid differentiation induced by cytosine arabinoside, retinoic acid and mithramycin. Inducers of erythroid differentiation stimulating fetal gamma-globin synthesis could be considered for possible use in the experimental therapy of hematological diseases associated with a failure in the expression of adult beta-globin genes.     

Effects of fluorescent derivatives of TPA on HL60 cells: dissociation between the differentiation-induced and protein kinase C activity

The four fluorescent derivatives of TPA--dansylaza-TPA, NBDaza-TPA, and (N)- and (P)-dansylamino-TPA--were synthesized and examined for their ability to induce differentiation in human promyelocytic leukemic HL60 cells. At a concentration of 20 nM, all the derivatives inhibited proliferation and induced 60-80% of the cells to differentiate into macrophage-like cells. Removal of dansylaza-TPA from the medium after 5 h did not arrest adherence or the expression of nonspecific esterase activity. However, upon removal of any of the other three compounds after 5 h, HL60 cells became nonadherent and expressed low nonspecific esterase activity after additional culture. To investigate the relationship between protein kinase C (PKC) activation and cell maturation, PKC activity and translocation were measured after 0.5, 5, 24, and 48 h of treatment with each compound. Cells induced to differentiate by dansylaza-TPA or (N)- or (P)-dansylamino-TPA exhibited enhanced PKC activity, 50-80% of which was located in the particulate fraction. In cells that differentiated with NBDaza-TPA, 65-70% of PKC activity remained in the cytosol. After removal of the TPA derivatives, all cells exhibited PKC activity in the cytosol. These results indicate that the fluorescent derivatives are as potent as TPA in inducing HL60 cell differentiation. However, in the case of NBDaza-TPA and (N)- or (P)-dansylamino-TPA, their continuous presence in the culture medium was required for the recruitment of cells to differentiate. Consequently, it is suggested that activation and translocation of PKC are among the early biochemical events that trigger HL60 cell differentiation. Nevertheless, these two events alone are not sufficient to induce differentiation.     

Atherogenic lipids induce adhesion of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells to macrophages by up-regulating chemokine CX3CL1 on smooth muscle cells in a TNFalpha-NFkappaB-dependent manner

Recent genetic evidence has implicated the adhesive chemokine CX3CL1 and its leukocyte receptor CX3CR1 in atherosclerosis. We previously proposed a mechanism involving foam cell anchorage to vascular smooth muscle cells because: 1) CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 are expressed by both cell types in mouse and human atherosclerotic lesions; 2) foam cells are reduced in lesions in cx3cr1(-/-)apoE(-/-) mice; and 3) proatherogenic lipids (oxidized low density lipoprotein [oxLDL] and oxidized linoleic acid derivatives) induce adhesion of primary human macrophages to primary human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) in vitro in a macrophage CX3CR1-dependent manner. Here we analyze this concept further by testing whether atherogenic lipids regulate expression and function of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 on CASMCs. We found that both oxLDL and oxidized linoleic acid derivatives indirectly up-regulated CASMC CX3CL1 at both the protein and mRNA levels through an autocrine feedback loop involving tumor necrosis factor alpha production and NF-kappaB signaling. Oxidized lipids also up-regulated CASMC CX3CR1 but through a different mechanism. Oxidized lipid stimulation also increased adhesion of macrophages to CASMCs when CASMCs were stimulated prior to assay, and a synergistic pro-adhesive effect was observed when both cell types were prestimulated. Selective inhibition with a CX3CL1-specific blocking antibody indicated that adhesion was strongly CASMC CX3CL1-dependent. These findings support the hypothesis that CX3CR1 and CX3CL1 mediate heterotypic anchorage of foam cells to CASMCs in the context of atherosclerosis and suggest that this chemokine/chemokine receptor pair may be considered as a pro-inflammatory target for therapeutic intervention in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.     

基于与木糖进行美拉德反应的低聚壳聚糖衍生物的抗氧化性能研究

研究低聚壳聚糖与木糖的美拉德反应,考察了两种体系(低聚壳聚糖与木糖的质量比分别为1∶1和1∶3)反应过程中pH、吸光度及荧光值的变化,醇沉法提取4 h和8 h的低聚壳聚糖美拉德反应衍生物,分别为CX11-4、CX13-4、CX11-8和CX13-8。对衍生物进行红外表征和分子量测定,并研究其对羟基自由基.OH和DPPH的清除能力以及还原能力。结果显示:壳聚糖衍生物的抗氧化能力都明显优于低聚壳聚糖,抗氧化活性顺序为CX13-4>CX11-4,CX11-8>CX13-8。可见,壳聚糖美拉德衍生物的抗氧化活性不仅与反应物的比例有关,还与反应的时间有关。     

The Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist resiquimod greatly increases the immunostimulatory capacity of human acute myeloid leukemia cells

Immunotherapy for leukemia is a promising targeted strategy to eradicate residual leukemic cells after standard therapy, in order to prevent relapse and to prolong the survival of leukemia patients. However, effective anti-leukemia immune responses are hampered by the weak immunogenicity of leukemic cells. Therefore, much effort is made to identify agents that could increase the immunogenicity of leukemic cells and activate the immune system. Synthetic agonists of Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 and TLR8 are already in use as anticancer treatment, because of their ability to activate several immune pathways simultaneously, resulting in effective antitumor immunity. However, for leukemic cells little is known about the expression of TLR7/8 and the direct effects of their agonists. We hypothesized that TLR7/8 agonist treatment of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells would lead to an increased immunogenicity of AML cells. We observed expression of TLR7 and TLR8 in primary human AML cells and AML cell lines. Passive pulsing of primary AML cells with the TLR7/8 agonist R-848 resulted in increased expression of MHC molecules, production of proinflammatory cytokines, and enhanced allogeneic naïve T cell-stimulatory capacity. These effects were absent or suboptimal if R-848 was administered intracellularly by electroporation. Furthermore, when AML cells were cocultured with allogeneic PBMC in the presence of R-848, interferon (IFN)-γ was produced by allogeneic NK and NKT cells and AML cells were killed. In conclusion, the immunostimulatory effect of the TLR7/8 agonist R-848 on human AML cells could prove useful for the design of TLR-based immunotherapy for leukemia.     

Fractalkine receptor CX(3)CR1 is expressed in epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells and required for motility and adhesion to peritoneal mesothelial cells

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is a deadly disease, and little is known about the mechanisms underlying its metastatic progression. Using human specimens and established cell lines, we determined that the G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane fractalkine receptor (CX(3)CR1) is expressed in primary and metastatic ovarian carcinoma cells. Ovarian carcinoma cells robustly migrated toward CX(3)CL1, a specific ligand of CX(3)CR1, in a CX(3)CR1-dependent manner. Silencing of CX(3)CR1 reduced migration toward human ovarian carcinoma ascites fluid by approximately 70%. Importantly, adhesion of ovarian carcinoma cells to human peritoneal mesothelial cells was dependent on CX(3)CL1/CX(3)CR1 signaling. In addition, CX(3)CL1 was able to induce cellular proliferation. Together, our data suggest that the fractalkine network may function as a major contributor to the progression of EOC, and further attention to its role in the metastasis of this deadly malignancy is warranted.     

Toward establishing structure–activity relationships for oxygenated coumarins as differentiation inducers of promonocytic leukemic cells

The presumption that some coumarins might be lead compounds in the search for new differentiation agents against leukemia is based on the fact that natural coumarins, 5-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C-2) and 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C-1) inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation in U-937 cells [Riveiro, M. E.; Shayo, C.; Monczor, F.; Fernandez, N.; Baldi, A.; De Kimpe, N.; Rossi, J.; Debenedetti, S.; Davio, C. Cancer Lett. 2004, 210, 179–188]. These promising findings prompted us to investigate the anti-leukemia activity of a broader range of related polyoxygenated coumarins. Twenty related natural or synthetically prepared coumarins, including a range of 5-substituted ayapin derivatives which have become easy accessible via newly developed synthesis methods, were evaluated, where treatments with 5-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutoxy)-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (D-3) and 5-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3-methylbutoxy)-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (D-2) were able to inhibit the cell growth and induce the differentiation of U-937 cells after 48 h treatment. These results provide insight into the correlation between some structural properties of polyoxygenated coumarins and their in vitro leukemic differentiation activity.     

13C NMR spectral analysis of lignans from Araucaria angustifolia

Pinoresinol dimethyl ether, secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol, isolariciresinol and isolariciresinol-4′-methyl ether were isolated from the knots of dead trees of Araucaria angustifolia. The ¹³C NMR spectra of these compounds, their methyl and acetyl derivatives, and the corresponding one of matairesinol, have been recorded and the signals assigned. On the basis of these assignments, the structure of the new monomethyl ether of isolariciresinol has been established.     

Pyrogalloloestrogens: enzymic methylation of pyrogalloloestrogens and interaction of pyrogalloloestrogens with the enzymic methylation of catecholamines in rat liver in vitro.

During incubation of 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone with the 105000 X g supernatant of rat liver in the presence of S-adenosyl-[Me-14C]methionine, the formation of radioactive mono- as well as dimethyl ether derivatives was demonstrated. The products were identified as: 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 2-methyl ether, 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 3-methyl ether, 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 4-methyl ether, 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 2,3-dimethyl ether, 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 2,4-dimethyl ether and 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 3,4-dimethyl ether. The monomethyl ethers were the main products; within this group the 3-methyl ether of 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone was the main metabolite. Among the dimethyl ether derivatives, the 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 2,3-dimethyl ether represented the quantitatively most important product. When 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 2-methyl ether was incubated under the same conditions, 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 2,3- as well as 2,4-dimethyl ether was formed. The 2,3-dimethyl ether was again the main metabolite. The incubation of 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone 4-methyl ether yielded the 2,4- and 3,4-dimethyl ethers, the first being the main product. In contrast, the 3-methyl ether of 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone was not further methylated by the catechol methyltransferase preparation. In further experiments, the effect of the pyrogalloloestrogen and its monomethyl ether derivatives on the enzymatic methylation of catecholamines was investigated. It was demonstrated that the methylation of adrenalin and dopamine was competitively inhibited by 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone and the 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone monomethyl ethers. Only a weak inhibitory effect was observed with the 3- and 4-monomenthyl ethers (Ki values 200 and 160muM). The unsubstituted pyrogalloloestrogen produced a marked inhibition (Ki value 50muM), but the strongest inhibition was found with the 2-monomethyl ether of 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone (Ki value 14muM). The extent of inhibition caused by the addition of the 2-monomethyl ether of 2,4-dihydroxyoestrone was thereby in the same range as the inhibition caused by pyrogallol and the catecholoestrogens.     

Synthesis and induction of apoptosis signaling pathway of ent-kaurane derivatives

Thirty one ent-kaurane derivatives were prepared from kaurenoic acid (1), grandiflorenic acid (16), 15α-acetoxy-kaurenoic acid (26) and 16α-hydroxy-kaurenoic acid (31). They were tested for their ability to inhibit cell viability in the mouse leukemic macrophagic RAW 264.7 cell line. The most effective compounds were 12, 20, 21, and 23. These were selected for further evaluation in other human cancer cell lines such as Hela, HepG2, and HT-29. Similar effects were obtained although RAW 264.7 cells were more sensitive. In addition, these compounds were significantly less cytotoxic in non-transformed cells. The apoptotic potential of the most active compounds was investigated and they were able to induce apoptosis with compound 12 being the best inducer. The caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were measured. The results obtained showed that compounds 12, 21, and 23 induce apoptosis via the activation of caspase-8, whereas compound 20 induces apoptosis via caspase-9. Immunoblot analysis of the expression of p53, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and IAPs in RAW 264.7 cells was also carried out. When cells were exposed to 5 μM of the different compounds, expression levels of p53 and Bax increased whereas levels of antiapoptotic proteins such as Bc1-2, Bc1-x1, and IAPs decreased. In conclusion, kaurane derivatives (12, 20, 21, and 23) induce apoptosis via both the mitochondrial and membrane death receptor pathways, involving the Bcl-2 family proteins. Taken together these results provide a role of kaurane derivatives as apoptotic inducers in tumor cells.     

Mutations in Salmonella typhimurium and inactivation of Bacillus subtilis transforming DNA induced by phenylhydroxylamine derivatives

Phenylhydroxylamine (PHA) and its derivatives such as monomethyl (2-Me, 3-Me, 4-Me) and dimethyl (2,3-diMe, 2,4-diMe, 2,5-diMe, 2,6-diMe, 3,4-diMe, 3,5-diMe) were tested for their mutagenicity and for their inducing ability to inactivate transforming DNA. All these compounds except PHA and 3,5-diMePHA were found to be mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 even in the absence of S9 mix, and their mutagenic potency was in the order: 2,6-diMe- greater than 2,4-diMe- = 3,4-diMe- greater than 4-Me- greater than 2,3-diMe- = 2,5-diMe- greater than 2-Me- = 3-MePHA. Besides mutagenicities, all the PHA derivatives except 2,6-diMePHA caused severe reductions in the activity of Bacillus subtilis transforming DNA. To establish the structure-activity relationship, we examined the correlation between these activities and the stabilities of the PHA derivatives, and the results indicated that the more chemically unstable the PHA derivatives were, the more active they were with respect to the mutations and to the inactivation of the transforming DNA. The mutagenic activity of 2,6-diMePHA was the sole exception, because it was most stable, but its induced mutation frequency was highest. From these results, we suggest that all the PHA derivatives, except 2,6-diMePHA, cause DNA damage through the generation of active molecular species, such as nitrenium ions, without any enzymatic activation, while 2,6-diMePHA requires further metabolic activation by bacterial enzymes to stimulate mutagenesis.     

Structure-anti-leukemic activity relationship study of ortho-dihydroxycoumarins in U-937 cells: Key role of the δ-lactone ring in determining differentiation-inducing potency and selective pro-apoptotic action

Previous studies indicated the need of at least one phenolic hydroxyl group in the coumarin core for induction of cytotoxicity in different cell lines. Herein, we present an exhaustive structure-activity relationship study including ortho-dihydroxycoumarins (o-DHC) derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives (as open-chain coumarin analogues) and 1,2-pyrones (representative of the δ-lactone ring of the coumarin core), carried out to further identify the structural features of o-DHC required to induce leukemic cell differentiation and apoptosis in U-937 cells. Our results show for the first time that the δ-lactone ring positively influences the aforementioned biological effects, by conferring greater potency to compounds with an intact coumarin nucleus. Most tellingly, we reveal herein the crucial role of this molecular portion in determining the selective toxicity that o-DHC show for leukemic cells over normal blood cells. From a pharmacological perspective, our findings point out that o-DHC may be useful prototypes for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents.     

Effects of diethylstilbestrol and its methyl ethers on aneuploidy induction and microtubule distribution in Chinese hamster V79 cells

We previously reported that diethylstibestrol (DES) and its derivatives inhibit the in vitro polymerization of microtubule proteins isolated from porcine brain (Sato et al., 1987). We found that the presence of the free hydroxy group of DES was indispensable for the inhibition of microtubule assembly. In the present investigation, this structure-activity relationship was confirmed by the effects of DES and its methyl ethers on chromosome number and the cellular microtubule architecture of Chinese hamster V79 cells, revealed by fluorescent anti-tubulin antibody. DES induced tetra- and octa-ploidy and DES monomethyl ether induced only tetraploidy at a much slower rate, whereas DES dimethyl ether was found to be completely inactive. Furthermore, DES was more active than its monomethyl ether in disturbing microtubule formation within cells. These results support the initial assumption that polyploidy is largely a consequence of the disturbed assembly of microtubules.     

Elevation of adenylate cyclase activity during leukemic cell differentiation

Exposure of the various human myeloid leukemic cell lines (HL60 and RDFD) to various compounds results in marked differentiation of the cells. This differentiation is associated with a marked increase in both basal and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. The increase in AC activity occurs regardless of the differentiation inducer one has utilized (retinoic acid (RA), dimethyl formamide (DMF), hypoxanthine (HPX) or actinomycin D (actD) and is correlated with this process, as a variant of the HL60 cell (HL60-Blast) that does not differentiate upon exposure to the various inducers does not demonstrate this increase in AC activity. In addition, the differentiation process is associated with a rapid increase in intracellular cAMP within hours of adding the inducer, followed by a gradual decrease.     

Inhibition of connexin 43 expression and function in cultured rat dental pulp cells by antisense oligonucleotide

Connexins are gap-junction proteins forming hexameric structures in the plasma membranes of adjacent cells, thereby creating intercellular channels. Connexin 43 (CX43) is expressed in pulp tissue. However, its function in dental pulp tissue has yet to be fully investigated. We have employed antisense oligonucleotides (AS) against rat CX43 to study the role of CX43 in dental pulp cells. Cultured dental pulp cells were treated with AS or sense (S) oligonucleotides. The number of cells in the AS-treated groups was approximately 1.3-fold that in the S-treated controls. Growth rates were significantly different between the AS- and S-treated groups at 48 h (P < 0.01). An alkaline phosphatase assay revealed that AS-treated pulp cells dramatically decreased at 48 h after AS incorporation, whereas S-treated pulp cells showed no marked changes. Western blot analysis revealed that heat-shock protein 25 was highly expressed in S-treated cells but was only weakly expressed in AS-treated cells at 48 h. Furthermore, AS-treated cells highly expressed CX45, whereas S-treated cells exhibited high expression of CX32. These results suggest that CX43 is involved in cell growth, mineralization, and differentiation to odontoblasts in rat pulp cells, and that CX43 plays the opposite role to that of CX45.