Tea flavanols inhibit cell growth and DNA topoisomerase II activity and induce endoreduplication in cultured Chinese hamster cells

Tea polyphenols are promising chemopreventive anticancer agents, the properties of which have been studied both in vitro and in vivo, providing evidence that - within this group of compounds - the tea flavanols are able to inhibit carcinogenesis, an effect that in some cases could be correlated with increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. Of four main tea flavanols, namely (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (+)-catechin (CA) and (-)-epicatechin (EC), it was found that EGCG was the most potent to inhibit dose dependently the topoisomerase II (TOPO II) catalytic activity isolated from hamster ovary AA8 cells. In the range of concentrations that caused TOPO II inhibition, a high level of endoreduplication, a rare phenomenon that consists in two successive rounds of DNA replication without intervening mitosis, was observed, while neither micronuclei nor DNA strand breaks (Comet assay) were detected at the same doses. We propose that the anticarcinogenic effect of tea flavanols can be partly explained by their potency and effectiveness to induce endoreduplication. Concerning such an induction, maximum effect seems to require a pyrogallol structure at the B-ring. Additional substitution with a galloylic residue at the C3 hydroxyl group leads to further augmentation of the effect. Thus, we suggest that the chemopreventive properties of tea flavanols can be at least partly due to their ability to interfere with the cell cycle and block cell proliferation at early stages of mitosis.     

Role of DNA endoreduplication, lipotubuloids, and gibberellic acid in epidermal cell growth during fruit development of Ornithogalum umbellatum

Cytophotometry of individual nuclei was used to examine the level of endoreduplication in epidermal cells from the upper and lower parts of the ovary during Ornithogalum umbellatum flower and fruit development. An increase in DNA content from 2-4C to 2-8C in both parts of the ovary was observed, while the epidermal cell surface area grew about 6-fold and 15-fold in the lower and upper parts of the ovary, respectively. However, the correlation between mean epidermal cell size and ploidy was distinct during epidermis growth. Lipotubuloids became bigger in the upper than in the lower part during ovary and fruit development. In addition, more dynamic growth of the epidermal cells of the upper than of the lower part of the ovary was connected to the higher content of gibberellic acid. A hypothesis has been put forward that the role of DNA endoreduplication in epidermal cell growth was modulated by the function of lipotubuloids and the gradient of gibberellin.     

Interleukin-2 induces the activities of DNA topoisomerase I and DNA topoisomerase II in HuT 78 cells

The induction by interleukin-2 of DNA topoisomerase I and DNA topoisomerase II activities in the human T cell line HuT 78 was investigated. HuT 78 cells were treated with 1000 U of interleukin-2/ml, and extracts of the HuT 78 nuclei were prepared over a 24 h period. The extracts were assayed quantitatively for the activities of DNA topoisomerase I and DNA topoisomerase II. Three concomitant, transient increases of 3- to 11-fold in the specific activities of both DNA topoisomerase I and DNA topoisomerase II were observed following treatment with IL-2 at 0.5, 4, and 10 h after treatment with interleukin-2. The specific activities of both enzymes returned to base-line values after each of these transient increases. These results reveal that the activities of DNA topoisomerase I and DNA topoisomerase II are highly regulated in HuT 78 cells upon treatment with IL-2.     

Inhibition of DNA synthesis and cytotoxic effects of some DNA topoisomerase II and gyrase inhibitors in Chinese hamster V79 cells

In this study, some DNA topoisomerase II and gyrase inhibitors have been identified as inhibitors of polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides [novobiocin (NVB), nalidixic acid (NDA), oxolinic acid (OXA)], or inhibitors of replicon initiation and DNA-chain elongation [etoposide (VP-16), teniposide (VM-26), 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methansulfon-m-anisidine (m-AMSA), ellipticine (ELT)]. The inhibitors of deoxyribonucleotide polymerization produced a significant (greater than 85%) suppression of [3H]thymidine incorporation into V79 cells within 20 min of treatment, followed by a rapid recovery of DNA synthesis, and reduced cell killing. In contrast, the inhibitors of replicon initiation and DNA-chain elongation needed about 60 min to induce a partial, but irreversible inhibition of DNA replication, associated with extensive cell killing.     

Carnosine and neocuproine as neutralizing agents for copper overload-induced damages in cultured human cells

Copper is dangerous when it is present in excess, mainly because it can participate in the Fenton reaction, which produces radical species. As a consequence of copper pollution, people are involuntarily exposed to a copper overload under sub-clinical and sub-symptomatological conditions, which may be very difficult to detect. Thus, we investigated (i) the possible use of the chelator molecules carnosine and neocuproine to prevent the Cu overload-induced damage on cellular lipids and proteins, as tested in human cell culture systems, and (ii) the differential response of these two chelating agents in relation to their protective action, and the type of copper ion involved in the process, by using two types of human cultured cells (HepG2 and A-549). Cu treatment clearly enhanced (p < 0.01) the formation of protein carbonyls, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and the concentration of nitrate plus nitrites, with a concomitant decrease in cell survival, as estimated by the trypan dye exclusion test and lactate dehydrogenase leakage. Simultaneous treatment with Cu and carnosine or neocuproine indicated that carnosine is more efficient than neocuproine in protecting both types of cells from the effect of cupric ions on both the cell-associated damages and the decrease in the cellular viability. This observation was supported by the fact that carnosine is not only a complexing agent for Cu(II), but also an effective antioxidant that can dismutate superoxide radicals, scavenge hydroxyl radicals and neutralize TBARS formation. Carnosine should be investigated in more detail in order to establish its putative utility as an agent to prevent copper-associated damages in biological systems.     

茶多酚对NASH 大鼠肝脏组织VEGF 及氧化应激的影响

目的:茶多酚对NASH大鼠肝脏组织VEGF及氧化应激的影响。方法:雄性SD大鼠30只,随机分为3组,正常对照组、模型组、茶多酚治疗组。正常组普通饲料喂养,模型组喂高脂饮食,茶多酚治疗组在高脂饮食12周后茶多酚(150mg(/kg.d)灌胃治疗,16周末处死各组大鼠,留取肝脏组织,观察各组大鼠肝组织病理改变,测定其肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性以及血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原的表达。结果:模型组大鼠肝组织中SOD活性降低而MDA含量以及VEGF、Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原表达均明显高于正常组。茶多酚治疗可减轻肝纤维化程度,显著升高肝组织中SOD活性、降低MDA含量以及VEGF、Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原表达水平。结论:茶多酚可通过抑制肝纤维化组织VEGF表达,降低肝组织氧化应激水平而发挥抗肝纤维化作用。     

DNA-damaging activity of biotic and xenobiotic aldehydes in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Alkaline elution was employed to study DNA damage in CHO-Kl cells treated with a series of biotic and xenobiotic aldehydes. DNA cross-linking was measured in terms of the reduction in the effect of methyl methanesulphonate on the kinetics of DNA elution and was observed in cells treated with formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, methylglyoxal and malonaldehyde. Propionaldehyde, valeraldehyde, hexanal and 4-hydroxynonenal produced DNA single-strand breaks, or lesions which were converted to breaks in alkali. Both types of DNA damage occurred in cells exposed to malealdehyde. These findings support the hypothesis of a carcinogenic effect of the aldehydic products (malonaldehyde, methylglyoxal, propionaldehyde, hexanal, 4-hydroxynonenal) released in biomembranes during lipid peroxidation.     

Gametocytocidal activity of pyronaridine and DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

Gametocytocidal activities of pyronaridine and DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors against two isolates of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, KT1 and KT3 were determined. After sorbitol treatment, pure gametocyte cultures of Plasmodium falciparum containing mostly young gametocytes (stage II and III) obtained on day 11 were exposed to the drugs for 48 h. The effect of the drugs on gametocyte development was assessed by counting gametocytes on day 15 of culture. Pyronaridine was the most effective gametocytocidal drug against P. falciparum isolates KT1 and KT3 with 50% inhibitory concentration of 6 and 20 nM, respectively. Moreover, the 50% inhibitory concentration of pyronaridine was lower than that of primaquine which is the only drug used to treat malaria patients harboring gametocytes. Prokaryotic (norfloxacin) and eukaryotic (amsacrine and etoposide) DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors were only effective against asexual but not sexual stages of the malaria parasites. Pyronaridine has both schizontocidal and gametocytocidal activities against the human malaria parasite, P. falciparum.     

Repetitive DNA sequences in methotrexate- and methasquin-sensitive and -resistant Chinese hamster cell lines

DNA purified from a Chinese hamster cell line of lung fibroblast origin (DC83F) was analyzed by density gradient centrifugation and by gel electrophoresis after restriction endonuclease digestion in order to fractionate discrete repetitive fractions within the total DNA. No obvious satellite DNAs were resolved using the CsCl or Ag-Cs₂SO₄ density gradient conditions described herein. However, analysis of the digestion products of a battery of restriction endonucleases indicated that three of these enzymes, EcoR ₁, HaeIII, and XhoI, yielded discrete fragments which could be visualized with EtBr staining or identified by scintillation counting of [ ³ H] DNA. DNAs from several highly ( hundredfold increased resistance) antifolate-resistant sublines of DC-3F, characterized by a large homogeneously staining region (HSR) in the chromosome complement, were examined with both techniques and compared to the parental, antifolate-sensitive cell line DNA. The density gradient profiles and electrophoretic patterns of restriction endonuclease digests were identical among all the cell lines examined and were indistinguishable from those of the parental DC-3F DNA.This work was supported in part by grants to the Sloan-Kettering Institute and to J.L.B. and P.W.M. by the National Institutes of Health and the Fairchild New Frontiers Fund. Portions of this study were presented at the 18th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology held in San Antonio, Texas, November 4–8, 1978.     

Effect of constitutively active Ras overexpression on cell growth in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells

Constitutively active Ras (CA-Ras) is known to enhance cell growth through the induction of various signaling cascades including the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling pathways, although the cellular response is highly dependent on the cell type. To evaluate the effect of CA-Ras overexpression on cell growth in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells, an erythropoietin (EPO)-producing rCHO cell line with regulated CA-Ras overexpression (EPO-off-CA-Ras) was established using the Tet-off system. The CA-Ras expression level in EPO-off-CA-Ras cells was tightly regulated by doxycycline addition. Although CA-Ras overexpression slightly increased the viable cell concentration during the late exponential phase, it did not increase the maximum viable cell concentration or specific growth rate to a significant degree. Unexpectedly, CA-Ras overexpression in rCHO cells led only to the enhancement in the activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and not the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Taken together, CA-Ras overexpression in rCHO cells did not significantly affect cell growth; it also had no critical impact on viable cell concentration or EPO production, possibly due to a failure to activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.     

Effect of gliclazide on DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and insulinoma mouse cells

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with increased oxidative stress. Free radicals produced during this stress may damage various cellular components. Gliclazide, a second-generation sulfonylurea, is an oral hypoglycemic drug that possesses antioxidant properties. Therefore, gliclazide may diminish the harmful consequences of oxidative stress in diabetic patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the action of gliclazide on DNA damage and repair in normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes and insulinoma mouse cells (beta-TC-6). DNA damage and repair were induced by hydrogen peroxide, gamma and ultraviolet radiation and MNNG (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine) in the presence or absence of gliclazide and were analysed by the alkaline comet assay. DNA double-strand breaks were assayed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Gliclazide protected DNA of both kinds of cells from DNA damage induced by chemicals and radiations. These results suggest that gliclazide may diminish the risk of free radical-related diseases associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and possibly cancer.     

Study of interactions between phenolic compounds and H2O2 or Cu(II) ions in B14 Chinese hamster cells

The antioxidant and prooxidant effects of tannic, ellagic and gallic acids (1-60 microM) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (40 and 100 microM) or copper ions (50 microM) on B14 Chinese hamster cells were examined. The fluorescence probe DCFH-DA (dichlorofluorescein-diacetate) was used to analyse the levels of reactive oxygen species. This method showed the reduction in oxidation of DCF (dichlorofluorescein). It indicates that antioxidant capacity of tested polyhenols is decreased in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or copper ions. Spectrophotometric assay with Ellman's reagent was used to determine SH-groups. The experimental results revealed the oxidative modification of proteins after exposure to polyphenols at concentrations above 15 microM. Additional incubation with H2O2 or Cu(2+) ions showed the prooxidant activity of tested complexes also for polyphenols used at a concentration of 1 microM. Fluorescence method with Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide dyes was used to study apoptotic and necrotic cell death. The obtained data demonstrated that polyphenols alone, as well as in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or copper ions, can induce DNA fragmentation.     

The oxidative induction of DNA lesions in cancer cells by 5-thio-d-glucose and 6-thio-d-fructopyranose and their genotoxic effects. Part 3

Thio-sugars have been described as potent inhibitors of cancer cell growth but the detailed mechanism of action remains unknown. Herein we investigated the mechanism of their anticancer action in the HeLa cell line. We investigated two thio-sugars: 5-thio-d-glucose (FCP1) and 6-thio-β-d-fructopyranose (FCP2). We have observed that FCP1 as well as FCP2 clearly induced oxidative DNA lesions in cancer cells and increased the level of cellular ROS. A spin trap and antioxidants have decreased the level of DNA lesions induced by FCPs. FCPs also induced significant changes in the oxidative-stress gene expression. Therefore, we assume that ROS generation is correlated with the increased NOX5 expression by FCPs. Higher cyto- and genotoxicity of FCPs for HeLa cells in a low glucose environment suggested their role in the glucose metabolism. The data indicates that thio-sugars may become drug alternatives for the cancer treatment but such undertaking needs further studies.     

High butyric acid amounts induce oxidative stress,alter calcium homeostasis,and cause neurite retraction in nerve growth factor-treated PC12 cells

Butyric acid (BA) is a common secondary metabolite by-product produced by oral pathogenic bacteria and is detected in high amounts in the gingival tissue of patients with periodontal disease. Previous works have demonstrated that BA can cause oxidative stress in various cell types; however, this was never explored using neuronal cells. Here, we exposed nerve growth factor (NGF)-treated PC12 cells to varying BA concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 5.0 mM). We measured total heme, H₂O₂, catalase, and calcium levels through biochemical assays and visualized the neurite outgrowth after BA treatment. Similarly, we determined the effects of other common periodontal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on neurite outgrowth for comparison. We found that high (1.0 and 5.0 mM) BA concentrations induced oxidative stress and altered calcium homeostasis, whereas low (0.5 mM) BA concentration had no significant effect. Moreover, compared to other SCFAs, we established that only BA was able to induce neurite retraction.     

DNA topoisomerase I from rice: Enzyme synthesis in germination, and partial purification from cultured cells

DNA topoisomerase I activity was observed in two-day-old seeds of rice when the seeds started germination at 30°. Partially purified enzyme from cultured rice cells showed maximum activity at pH 7.0 with 75 mM NaCl in the absence of ATP, and showed resistance to camptothecin and DNA-intercalating reagents. The M_r was ca 80 000 using gel permeation on a Sephacryl S-200 column. After fractionation of the homogenate from cultured rice cells by centrifugation, the activity was observed mainly in the crude nuclear fraction.     

Recombinant expression of human transforming growth factor-β isoforms in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-βs) are multi functional growth modulators implicated in several physiological processes which include embryogenesis, inflammation, immune-suppression, wound healing, carcinogenesis and cellular differentiation. For clinical use, recombinant expression of TGF-βs is the only practical source because of very low yields from natural sources. Here, we report the recombinant expression of human TGF-βl and TGF-β2 in a mammalian expression system using a high expression eukaryotic vector driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter. Expression levels are as high as 0.97 μg/ml of TGF-βl and 0.24 μg/ml of TGF-β2 in conditioned media, sufficient for purification without the need for amplification of the gene using methotrexate.     

Differential methylation of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA in cultured mouse, hamster and virus-transformed hamster cells. In vivo and in vitro methylation

Information has been lacking as to whether mitochondrial DNA of animal cells is methylated. The methylation patterns of mitochondrial and nuclear DNAs of several mammalian cell lines have therefore been compared by four methods: (1) in vivo transfer of the methyl group from [methyl-³H]methionine; (2) in vivo incorporation of [³²P]orthophosphate and a combination of (1) and (2); (3) in vivo incorporation of [³H]deoxycytidine; (4) in vitro methylation of DNAs with ³H-labeled S-adenosylmethionine as methyl donor and DNA methylase preparations from L cell nuclei. The cell lines were mouse L cells, $\text{BHK21}\text{C13}$, $\text{C13}\text{B4}$ (baby hamster kidney cells transformed by the Bryan strain of Rouse sarcoma virus), and PyY (BHK cells transformed by polyoma virus). DNA bases were separated chromatographically, using 5-methylcytosine, 6-methylaminopurine and, in some cases, 7-methylguanine as markers.Mitochondrial DNA was found to be significantly less methylated than nuclear DNA with respect to 5-methylcytosine in all cell types studied and by all methods used. The relative advantages and disadvantages of each method have been discussed. The level of 5-methylcytosine in mitochondrial DNA as compared with that in nuclear DNA was estimated as one-fourth to one-fourteenth in various cell lines. The estimated 5-methylcytosine content per circular mitochondrial DNA molecule (mol. wt 10 × 10⁶) was about 12 methylcytosine residues for L cells and 24, 30 and 36 methylcytosine residues for BHK, B4 and PyY cells, respectively. Relative to cytosine residues, the estimate was one 5-methylcytosine per 500 cytosine residues of mitochondrial DNA and one 5-methylcytosine per 36 cytosine residues of nuclear DNA from L-cells. The values for methylcytosine of mitochondrial DNA are presumed to be maximal. PyY cells as compared with other cells had the highest methylcytosine content of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA as estimated by method (3). No methylation of nuclear DNA was observed in confluent L cells.Evidence for the presence of DNA methylase activity associated with mitochondrial fractions was obtained. This activity could be distinguished from other cellular DNA methylase activity by differential response to mercaptoethanol. Radioactivity from ³H-labeled S-adenosylmethionine was found only in 5-methyl-cytosine of DNA.     

Chloroquine and monensin inhibit induction of DNA synthesis in rat arterial smooth muscle cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor

Summary The weak base chloroquine and the Na⁺/H⁺ ionophore monensin were used to study the role of lysosomes in the induction of DNA synthesis by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in rat arterial smooth muscle cells cultivated in vitro. The results show that PDGF initiates DNA synthesis in a defined, serum-free medium. This indicates that a single factor may control, directly or indirectly, the transition from the G0 to the G1 phase, the progress through the G1 phase, and the entrance into the S phase of the cell cycle. It is further demonstrated that PDGF has to be present throughout most of the prereplicative period (12–16 h) to induce DNA synthesis in the maximum number of cells, suggesting that one or more processes need to be stimulated continually or successively to push the cell into the S phase. Chloroquine and monensin inhibit induction of DNA replication by PDGF, with maximum effect at 50 M and 5 M, respectively. To be fully active, the drugs have to be added within 4–8 h after the growth factor, but a partial inhibition persists if they are added at any time during the prereplicative period. Both drugs reduce PDGF-stimulated RNA and protein synthesis, and suppress degradation of [³H]leucine-labeled cellular protein and [¹²⁵I]-labeled PDGF. Fine-structurally, they give rise to an accumulation of lysosomes or prelysosomal vacuoles with inclusions of incompletely degraded material. These findings suggest that the mitogenic effect of PDGF is dependent on a normal function of lysosomes during the prereplicative phase, especially its first half (0–8 h).     

Analysis of the tomato fruit growth response to temperature and plant fruit load in relation to cell division, cell expansion and DNA endoreduplication

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To better understand the regulation of fruit growth in response to environmental factors, the effects of temperature and plant fruit load on cell number, cell size and DNA endoreduplication were analysed. METHODS: Plants were grown at 20/20 degrees C, 25/25 degrees C and 25/20 degrees C day/night temperatures, and inflorescences were pruned to two ('2F') or five ('5F') flowers. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lower fruit growth rate at 20/20 degrees C, temperature did not affect final fruit size because of the compensation between cell number and size. The higher cell number at 20/20 degrees C (9.0 x 10(6) against 7.9 x 10(6) at 25/25 degrees C and 7.7 x 10(6) at 25/20 degrees C) resulted from an extended period of cell division, and the smaller cell size was due to a shorter period of expansion rather than a lower expansion rate. By contrast, the lower fruit growth rate and size of 5F fruits compared with 2F fruits resulted from the slow down of cell expansion, whereas the number of cells was hardly affected in the proximal fruit. However, within the inflorescence the decreasing gradient of fruit size from proximal to distal fruits was due to a decrease in cell number with similar cell size. Fruit size variations within each treatment were always positively correlated to variations in cell number, but not in cell size. Negative correlations between cell size and cell number suggested that cells of tomato pericarp can be seen as a population of competing sinks. Mean ploidy was slightly delayed and reduced in 5F fruits compared with 2F fruits. It was highest at 25/25 degrees C and lowest at 25/20 degrees C. Treatments did not affect ploidy and cell size in similar ways, but within each treatment, positive correlations existed between mean ploidy and cell size, though significant only in the 2F-25/20 treatment.