Uptake of Vinca Alkaloids into Mammalian Nerve and its Subcellular Components

Three Vinca alkaloids, vinblastine (VLB), vincristine (VCR), and vindesine (VDS), were recently found to affect axoplasmic transport to different degrees, with VCR the most potent. The uptake of these three species by desheathed cat sciatic nerves in vitro was determined by using tritium-labeled derivatives. In a sucrose medium, the uptake of VCR was found to be three to four times greater than that of VLB and VDS, which is in accord with the neurotoxicity of VCR. Uptake of VCR was dependent on Ca2+ concentration in the medium. Removal of Ca2+ from the incubation medium reduced the uptake of VCR, without having much effect on VLB or VDS uptake. The uptake of all three Vinca agents into nerve in a saline medium was about 50% of that in a sucrose medium, and elimination of Ca2+ from the saline incubation medium did not result in any significant change in uptake. High Ca2+ concentrations (100 mM) in the incubation medium, which cause a block of axoplasmic transport, did not change the total uptake of the Vinca alkaloids to any significant degree. The amount of labeled alkaloid found in the soluble fraction was, however, decreased by 50%. There was an increase in the amount present in the particulate fraction, caused, most likely, by an aggregation of vinca-binding components. The amount of VCR associated with tubulin-containing components isolated by gel filtration of the soluble fraction increased twofold when the nerves were exposed to a high-Ca2+ medium, as might be expected of a microtubule disassembly. Exposure of the nerve to low temperatures (0 degrees-4 degrees C) for 90 min did not show any effect on the total uptake of Vinca alkaloids.     

Block of axoplasmic transport in vitro by vinca alkaloids

The three potent antimitotic vinca alkaloids: vincristine (VCR), vinblastine (VLB), and vindesine (VDS) were compared for their effect in blocking axoplasmic transport in vitro using a desheathed preparation of the peroneal branch of cat sciatic nerve. A range of vinca alkaloid concentrations from 1–100μM was examined. The relative order of potency in blocking axoplasmic transport was VCR > VLB > VDS at a concentration of 25μM. At the higher concentrations block occurred so rapidly that a statistically significant difference between these agents could not be obtained. The relation of vinca block ot the transport mechanism is discussed.     

Immune enhancement by tumor-therapeutic drugs and endotoxins

Summary Five tumor chemotherapeutic drugs: adriamycin (ADM), formyl leurosine (FLE), 1,2–5,6-dianhydrogalactitol (DAD), 5-fluorouracyl (5-FU), and vincristine (VCR) were tested for their effect on the immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in mice in the Jerne plaque assay. It was found that four of these can act as both immunostimulators and immunosuppressants, depending upon the time elapsing between their application and immunization. VCR was found to be slightly immunopotentiating.Proper combination and timing of injections of DAD and FLE enhanced the immune response over 23fold. Administration of the same drugs in reversed sequence led to an almost complete immune suppression. Repeated injections of some drugs alone or in combination also led to marked or complete immunosuppression.The combined use of drugs and endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or its nontoxic, polysaccharide-rich hydrolytic breakdown product (PS) could compensate for some of the immunosuppressive effects. The most striking adjuvant effect was elicited by the combined use of VCR and LPS or VCR and the nontoxic PS preparation.     

Theoretical insight into the structural mechanism for the binding of vinblastine with tubulin

Vinblastine (VLB) is one of vinca alkaloids with high cytotoxicity toward cancer cells approved for clinical use. However, because of drug resistance, toxicity, and other side effects caused from the use of VLB, new vinca alkaloids with higher cytotoxicity toward cancer cells and other good qualities need to develop. One strategy is to further study and better understand the essence why VLB possesses the high cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. In present work, by using molecular simulation, molecular docking, density functional calculation, and the crystal structure of α,β-tubulin complex, we find two modes labeled in catharanthine moiety (CM) and vindoline moiety (VM) modes of VLB bound with the interface of α,β-tubulin to probe the essence why VLB has the high cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. In the CM mode, nine key residues B-Ser178, B-Asp179, B-Glu183, B-Tyr210, B-Asp226, C-Lys326, C-Asp327, C-Lys336, and C-Lys352 from the α,β-tubulin complex are determined as the active sites for the interaction of VLB with α,β-tubulin. Some of them such as B-Ser178, B-Glu183, B-Tyr210, B-Asp226, C-Lys326, C-Asp327, and C-Lys336 are newly identified as the active sites in present work. The affinity between VLB and the active pocket within the interface of α,β-tubulin is ?60.8 kJ mol^?1 in the CM mode. In the VM mode, that is a new mode established in present paper, nine similar key residues B-Lys176, B-Ser178, B-Asp179, B-Glu183, B-Tyr210, B-Asp226, C-Lys326, C-Asp327, and C-Lys336 from the α,β-tubulin complex are found as the active sites for the interaction with VLB. The difference is from one key residue C-Lys352 in the CM mode changed to the key residue B-Lys176 in the VM mode. The affinity between VLB and the active pocket within the interface of α,β-tubulin is ?96.3 kJ mol^?1 in the VM mode. Based on the results obtained in present work, and because VLB looks like two faces, composed of CM and VM both to have similar polar active groups, to interact with the active sites, we suggest double-faces sticking mechanism for the binding of VLB to the interface of α,β-tubulin. The double-faces sticking mechanism can be used to qualitatively explain high cytotoxicity toward cancer cells of vinca alkaloids including vinblastine, vincristine, vindestine, and vinorelbine approved for clinical use and vinflunine still in a phase III clinical trial. Furthermore, this mechanism will be applied to develop novel vinca alkaloids with much higher cytotoxicity toward cancer cells.     

Comparative genotoxic effect of vincristine,vinblastine, and vinorelbine in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

In this study, the vinca alkaloids vincristine (VCR), vinblastine (VBL) and vinorelbine (VNR) were investigated for genotoxicity in the wing Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) of Drosophila. Our in vivo experiments demonstrated that all drugs assessed induced genetic toxicity, causing increments in the incidence of mutational events, as well as in somatic recombination. Another point to be considered is the fact that VNR was able to induce, respectively, approximately 13.0 and 1.7 times more mutant clones per millimolar exposure unit as their analogues VCR and VBL. The replacement of a CH(3) attached to vindoline group in VBL by a CHO in VCR seems to be responsible for the approximately seven times higher potency of the former. In contrast, the structural modifications on VNR's catharantine group could be related to its higher genotoxic potency, as well as its similar mutagenic and recombinagenic action.     

Bisbibenzyl derivatives sensitize vincristine-resistant KB/VCR cells to chemotherapeutic agents by retarding P-gp activity

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is known to mediate multidrug resistance (MDR) by acting as an efflux pump to actively transport chemotherapeutic agents out of carcinoma cells. Inhibition of P-gp function may represent one of the strategies to reverse MDR. We have previously reported that marchantin C (MC), a macrocyclic bisbibenzyl compound from liverworts, exerts anti-tumor activity as an antimitotic agent. This study was designed to evaluate the possible modulatory effect of MC and its three synthetic derivatives (MC1, MC2 and MC3) on P-gp in VCR-resistant KB/VCR cells. Results of the cytotoxicity assay revealed that MC was the most potent inhibitor of cell proliferation in both KB and KB/VCR cells among these four compounds, while the three MC-derived chemicals had little anti-proliferative activity under the same condition. However, in P-gp-expressing MDR cells, analysis of potency of these compounds in enhancing cytotoxicity of VCR led to the identification of MC2 as a more effective chemical on reversal of resistance. Further study showed that MC2 was able to reduce efflux of rhodamine-123, and in turn, increase the accumulation of rhodamine-123 and adriamycin in KB/VCR cells, indicating that MC2 re-sensitized cells to VCR by inhibition of the P-gp transport activity. In addition, the combination of MC2 and VCR at a concentration that does not inhibit cell growth resulted in an induction of apoptosis in KB/VCR cells. These results suggest that MC2, as a novel and effective inhibitor of P-gp, may find potential application as an adjunctive agent with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs to reverse MDR in P-gp overexpressing cancer cells.     

癌细胞原代培养对化疗药物敏感性的探讨

目的通过对不同抗癌药物敏感性做比较,以期寻找各自的合理化疗用药方案,从而指导不同癌症病人的化疗。方法通过肿瘤细胞体外药敏试验（即四甲基偶氮唑盐着色法,MTT）,对161例肿瘤（胃癌28例,肠癌38例,膀胱癌8例,乳腺癌33例,其他肿瘤54例）新鲜瘤组织进行表阿霉素（EADM）、氨甲蝶呤（MTX）、丝裂霉素（MMC）、长春新碱（VCR）、5-氟脲嘧啶（5-FU）、羟基喜树碱（OPT）、顺铂（DDP）、卡铂（CBP）、环磷酰胺（CTX）、足叶乙甙（VP-16）、β-揽香烯（β-elemene）11种化疗药物敏感性检测,并对其结果进行比较。结果11种抗癌药对不同的肿瘤类型耐药率不同。结论各种类型肿瘤细胞对化疗药物的选择虽有一定共性,但同种肿瘤的不同个体对同种化疗药物的抑制率差异却存有显著性。肿瘤细胞体外药物敏感性测定对肿瘤病人个体的化疗具有一定价值。     

Electron microscopic examination of nuclear inclusions induced by Vinca alkaloids

Nuclear inclusions (filament bundles, crystalloid structures, “nuclear bodies”, tubular structures) in Ehrlich ascites cells induced by Vinca alkaloids were studied with a transmission electron microscope. The appearance of nuclear inclusions caused by VLB or DA-VCR may be attributed to the precipitation of tubulin, actin or some other acidic proteins.     

AS602801 sensitizes glioma cells to temozolomide and vincristine by blocking gap junction communication between glioma cells and astrocytes

Previous studies showed that the chemotherapeutic effect of temozolomide (TMZ) and vincristine (VCR) against glioma might be blunted by the co-culture with astrocytes, and connexin-43 (CX43) was thought to play a vital role in the communication between glioma cells and astrocytes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the combined chemotherapeutic effect of AS602801 and TMZ/ VCR in glioma cells both. Dye transfer assay was used to evaluate the gap junction activity between U251 cells and astrocytes. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were carried out to analyse the expression of p-JNK, CX43 and CASP-3 proteins treated under different conditions. AS602801 significantly suppressed the gap junction activity between U251 cells and astrocytes. The expression of p-JNK and CX43 was remarkably inhibited by AS602801. TMZ/VCR-induced apoptosis of glioma cells was effectively enhanced by AS602801 treatment. Accordingly, the inhibitory role of TMZ/VCR in the expression of p-JNK, CX43 and CASP-3 in glioma cells was notably restored by AS602801. Furthermore, in a glioma cell xenograft, AS602801 showed an apparent capability to enhance TMZ/VCR-induced tumour cell apoptosis through altering the expression of p-JNK, CX43 and CASP-3. The findings of this study demonstrated that the co-culture of glioma cells with astrocytes blunted the tumour killing effect of TMZ and VCR. AS602801 down-regulated CX43 expression by inhibiting JNK. And AS602801 also sensitized glioma cells to TMZ/VCR by blocking the gap junction communication between glioma cells and astrocytes via down-regulating CX43, indicating its potential role as a novel adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of glioma.     

Caffeic Acid Phenylethyl Ester and MG-132 Have Apoptotic and Antiproliferative Effects on Leukemic Cells But Not on Normal Mononuclear Cells

Chemotherapy aims to limit proliferation and induce apoptotic cell death in tumor cells. Owing to blockade of signaling pathways involved in cell survival and proliferation, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) inhibitors can induce apoptosis in a number of hematological malignancies. The efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, such as vincristine (VCR) and doxorubicine (DOX), may be enhanced with combined therapy based on NF-κB modulation. In this study, we evaluated the effect of caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE) and MG-132, two nonspecific NF-κB inhibitors, and conventional chemotherapeutics drugs DOX and VCR on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction on a lymphoblastoid B-cell line, PL104, established and characterized in our laboratory. CAPE and MG-132 treatment showed a strong antiproliferative effect accompanied by clear cell cycle deregulation and apoptosis induction. Doxorubicine and VCR showed antiproliferative effects similar to those of CAPE and MG-132, although the latter drugs showed an apoptotic rate two-fold higher than DOX and VCR. None of the four compounds showed cytotoxic effect on peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers. CAPE- and MG-132-treated bone marrow cells from patients with myeloid and lymphoid leukemias showed 69% (P < .001) and 25% decrease (P < .01) in cell proliferation and 42% and 34% (P < .01) apoptosis induction, respectively. Overall, our results indicate that CAPE and MG-132 had a strong and selective apoptotic effect on tumor cells that may be useful in future treatment of hematological neoplasias.     

The COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib enhances the sensitivity of KB/VCR oral cancer cell lines to Vincristine by down-regulating P-glycoprotein expression and function

Previous studies have indicated that long-term chemotherapy decreases the sensitivity of oral cancer cells to chemotherapeutics while simultaneously increasing resistance to these drugs. COX-2 inhibitors are known to enhance the toxic action of anti-tumor drugs against cancer cells. Using the MTT method, we investigated the influence of the COX-2 selective inhibitor Celecoxib on the proliferation of KB/VCR oral cancer cell lines and analyzed the effect of Celecoxib on the regulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and function. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the expression of P-gp, and flow cytometry was used to evaluate P-gp function by detecting the accumulation of the active P-gp functional fluorescence substrate within KB/VCR cells. The results revealed that a low dose of Celecoxib (10 μmol/L) showed no growth inhibitory effects on KB/VCR cell lines. When the concentration of Celecoxib was greater than or equal to 20 μmol/L, the inhibitory effect on KB/VCR cells was significantly enhanced in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The lower dose of Celecoxib (10 μmol/L) significantly enhanced the toxicity of Vincristine (VCR) against KB/VCR cell lines. After the application of Celecoxib plus VCR (10 μmol/L+1.5μmol/L, respectively) treatment for 24, 48 or 72 h, the growth inhibition rates of KB/KBV cells were 37.82 ± 1.60%, 47.84 ± 1.29% and 54.43 ± 2.35%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the rates in the cells treated only with Celecoxib (10 μmol/L) or VCR (1.5 μmol/L) (all P<0.01). P-gp expression levels in KB/KBV cells treated with Celecoxib plus VCR (10 μmol/L+1.5 μmol/L, respectively) were markedly lower than the levels in control cells and those treated with VCR (1.5 μmol/L) (all P<0.01). In addition, the intensity of Rho123 fluorescence of KB/KBV cells in cells treated with Celecoxib plus VCR (10 μmol/L+1.5 μmol/L, respectively) or Celecoxib alone (10 μmol/L) was significantly higher than the intensity observed in control cells and those treated with VCR alone (1.5 μmol/L) (all P<0.01). The underlying mechanism of these phenomena is likely correlated with the down-regulation of the expression and function of P-gp due to Celecoxib, thereby increasing the amount of VCR accumulated in KB/VCR cells.     

More Related Gene Pathways to Vincristine-Induced Death Events in a Human T-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cell Line

Background:Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is common in children but rare in adults. Vincristine (VCR) is one of the drugs used at the beginning of treatment. Some genes are resistant to VCR in B-ALL.Methods:Here, we examined the effect of VCR on gene expression changes in a T-ALL cell line, Jurkat. The MTT method was used to determine the IC₅₀ in Jurkat cells treated with different concentrations of VCR for 48 and 72 hours. Total RNA was isolated from the cells and cDNA was prepared. The Human Cancer Drug Target PCR Array kit was used to evaluate the 84 gene expression changes in Jurkat cells. Protein-protein interaction was analyzed by STRING software.Results:We identified 66 differentially expressed genes as comparison to untreated cells. The response to VCR-induced apoptotic events was remarkable in the pathways of heat shock protein, topoisomerases, protein kinases, cathepsins and cell cycle. In other pathways, there were resistant genes as well as sensitive genes to VCR treatment. Some proteins like HSP90AA1 and ESR1 had determining associations with other proteins.Conclusion:The results suggest VCR target genes in T-ALL cells may be beneficial biomarkers for ALL treatment and can be used to select appropriate synergistic drugs for VCR.Key Words: ALL, Gene expression profile, Jurkat, PCR array, Vincristine     

Proteome analysis of vinca alkaloid response and resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals novel cytoskeletal alterations

Vinca alkaloids are used widely in the treatment of both childhood and adult cancers. Their cellular target is the beta-tubulin subunit of alpha/beta-tubulin heterodimers, and they act to inhibit cell division by disrupting microtubule dynamics. Despite the effectiveness of these agents, drug resistance is a major clinical problem. To identify the underlying mechanisms behind vinca alkaloid resistance, we have performed high resolution differential proteome analysis. Treatment of drug-sensitive human leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM) with vincristine identified numerous proteins involved in the cellular response to vincristine. In addition, differential protein expression was analyzed in leukemia cell lines selected for resistance to vincristine (CEM/VCR R) and vinblastine (CEM/VLB100). This combined proteomic approach identified 10 proteins altered in both vinca alkaloid response and resistance: beta-tubulin, alpha-tubulin, actin, heat shock protein 90beta, 14-3-3tau, 14-3-3epsilon, L-plastin, lamin B1, heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein-F, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein-K. Several of these proteins have not previously been associated with drug resistance and are thus novel targets for elucidation of resistance mechanisms. In addition, seven of these proteins are associated with the tubulin and/or actin cytoskeletons. This study provides novel insights into the interrelationship between the microtubule and microfilament systems in vinca alkaloid resistance.     

消化道癌原代培养体外药敏试验的研究

目的 研究肠癌、胃癌、肝癌细胞在8种不同抗癌药物作用下的细胞抑制率,以筛选出敏感的化疗药物.方法 采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝着色法（MTT）,对97例消化道癌（43例肠癌、33例胃癌、21例肝癌）新鲜瘤组织进行原代细胞培养,同时进行顺铂（DDP）、丝裂霉素（MMC）、卡铂（CBP）、5-氟尿嘧啶（5-FU）、表阿霉素（EADM）、长春新碱（VCR）、羟基喜树碱（OPT）和环磷酰胺（CTX）8种常用化疗药物敏感检测,并对其结果作比较.结果 在肠癌中高度敏感率大于50%药物依次为MMC、5-FU、DDP、CBP.总敏感率大于50%的药物依次为DDP、MMC、5-FU、CBP.在胃癌中高度敏感率大于50%的药物依次为DDP、CBP.总敏感率大于50%的药物依次为DDP、CBP、MMC、5-FU、CTX、VCR.其中胃癌对CTX、VCR的敏感率明显高于肠癌细胞（P＜0.05）.肝癌细胞中高度敏感率＞50%的药物为零,而总敏感率＞50%的药物依次排序为MMC、EADM、CBP.结论 消化道肿瘤细胞对化疗药物的选择虽有一定共性,但同种肿瘤的不同个体对同种化疗药物的敏感性差异却存有显著性.体外检测消化道肿瘤对化疗药物的敏感性可为临床化疗提供指导.     

Stathmin/Op18 is a novel mediator of vinblastine activity

Microtubule (MT) dynamic instability is tightly regulated by stabilizing and destabilizing proteins, the latter being exemplified by stathmin/Op18, a protein known to destabilize MTs. Studies in cells have indicated that the level of stathmin expression modifies the cytotoxicity of antimicrotubule drugs, such as vinblastine (VLB). Using isothermal titration calorimetry and analytical ultracentrifugation, we show that VLB increases the affinity of stathmin for tubulin 50-fold (and vice versa). These results are the first biochemical evidence of the direct relationship between stathmin and an antimitotic drug, and reveal a new mechanism of action for VLB.     

Acridones circumvent P-glycoprotein-associated multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by overexpression of MDR1 P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the best characterized transporter-mediated barriers to successful chemotherapy in cancer patients. Chemosensitizers are the agents that increase the sensitivity of multidrug-resistant cells to the toxic influence of previously less effective drugs. In an attempt to find such vital chemosensitizers, a series of N(10)-substituted-2-chloroacridone analogous (1-17) have been synthesized. Compound 1 was prepared by the Ullmann condensation of o-chlorobenzoic acid and p-chloroaniline followed by cyclization. The N-(omega-chloroalkyl) analogues were found to undergo iodide catalyzed nucleophilic substitution reaction with secondary amines and the resultant products were characterized by spectral methods. The lipophilicity expressed in log(10)P and pK(a) of compounds has been determined. All compounds were examined for their ability to increase the uptake of vinblastine (VLB) in MDR KBCh(R)-8-5 cells and the results showed that the compounds 6, 8, 11-14, 16, and 17 at their respective IC(50) concentrations caused a 1.0- to 1.7-fold greater accumulation of VLB than did a similar concentration of the standard modulator, verapamil (VRP). Results of the efflux experiment showed that VRP and each of the modulators significantly inhibited the efflux of VLB, suggesting that they may be competitors for P-gp. All modulators effectively competing with [(3)H]azidopine for binding to P-gp pointed out this transport membrane protein as their likely site of action. Compounds at IC(10) were evaluated for their efficacy to modulate the cytotoxicity of VLB and the results showed that modulators 11, 13, 14, 16, and 17 were able to completely reverse the 25-fold resistance of KBCh(R)-8-5 cells to VLB. Examination of the relationship between lipophilicity and antagonism of MDR showed a reasonable correlation suggesting that hydrophobicity is one of the determinants of potency for anti-MDR activity of 2-chloroacridones. The results allowed us to draw preliminary conclusions about structural features of 2-chloroacridones important for MDR modulation.     

Novel nucleolar and nuclear morphology in a vincristine-dependent human leukemia cell line (L100).

Acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs by tumor cells is an important obstacle to effective therapy of human malignancy. We now describe a vincristine (VCR)-induced multidrug-resistant (MDR) human acute lymphatic leukemia cell line, the sustained in vitro growth of which is dependent on vincristine. The doubling time for parental drug-sensitive cells (L0) is 40.2 +/- 13.2 h and for the MDR subline (L100) 62.5 +/- 11.3 h. L100 cells have similar G2 and mitotic phase to parental cells, express the MDR phenotype, and are characterized by novel morphologic features with multilobulated nuclei and multiple small nucleoli. Compared with L0 cells which have 2-3 nucleoli per cell, L100 cells have 7-8 nucleoli per cell. Average nucleolar area is 11.3 +/- 7.3 microns 2 for L0 and 2.5 +/- 2.4 microns 2 for L100 cells determined by the laser scanning method. The striking morphologic abnormalities of L100 cells suggest a drug-induced cytoskeletal abnormality. The relationship of these abnormalities to the VCR growth dependence of L100 cells is discussed.     

Potentiation of vinblastine crystal formation in vivo by puromycin and colcemid

The quantity of microtubular protein present in unfertilized eggs and zygotes of the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus was assayed using vincaleucoblastine (VLB). This vinca alkaloid, used at 10^-4 M, induces the formation of highly birefringent crystals (uniaxial, refractive index 1.51, coefficient of BR 1.7 × 10^?3) known to contain microtubular protein. Crystals were measured in vivo with an ocular micrometer and the volume of each crystal was estimated. Total crystal volumes per cell were compared among groups which received VLB alone and other groups which received VLB with puromycin, colcemid or both. Puromycin was shown to have no effect on the VLB crystal volume in the unfertilized eggs, but zygotes incubated with VLB plus puromycin had a larger volume of crystals per cell than zygotes incubated in VLB alone. Colcemid (10^?4 M) clearly and consistently enhanced the volume yield of VLB crystals by a factor of 3 in both unfertilized eggs and zygotes.