Apoptosis induced by 3,7-dinitrodibenzobromonium salts in K562 cells

Abstract We evaluated the inhibitory effect of 3,7-dinitrodibenzobromonium salts (cBr) on the proliferation of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K₅₆₂ cell by trypan blue exclusion test and MTT colorimetric assay. The degree of DNA damage in K₅₆₂ cells treated with cBr, was detected by isotopic tracer method (³H-TdR). The morphological changes of these K₅₆₂ cells were examined by fluorescence and electron microscopy. Biochemical characteristics of K₅₆₂ cells were detected by flow cytometry and ³H-thymidine incorporation assay. Findings indicated that cBr could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and result in DNA damage of K₅₆₂ cells. cBr is a new type of immunostimulant and can induce cell apoptosis. __________ Translated from Journal of Lanzhou University (Natural Sciences), 2006, 42(6): 49–61 [译自: 兰州大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Apoptosis induced by niacin-related compounds in K562 cells but not in normal human lymphocytes

In our previous study, we found that niacin-related compounds induced apoptosis in human acute myelomonocytic leukemia cells, HL-60. We have investigated whether these compounds acted as inducers of apoptosis also in various other cell types. In human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, K562, which are relatively resistant to various inducers of apoptosis, the apoptosis was induced by picolinic acid and dipicolinic acid in about 50% of the cells 5-10 mM via the caspase pathway, but was not at 1 mM. However, isonicotinamide did not induce apoptosis effectively in K562 cells. On the other hand, in normal human quiescent lymphocytes, the apoptosis was not induced by these compounds at the same concentrations. It is suggested that these compounds may induce apoptosis mainly in tumor cells. The change of intracellular peroxide levels was observed in the early phase of apoptosis induced by niacin-related compounds. We expect to make use of niacin-related compounds in the field of medicine.     

Apoptosis induced by (di-isopropyloxyphoryl-Trp)2-Lys-OCH3 in K562 and HeLa cells

According to the method used in our laboratory, our group synthesized (DIPP-Trp)₂-Lys-OCH₃. It inhibited the proliferation of K562 and HeLa cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ of 15.12 and 42.23 µM, respectively. (DIPP-Trp)₂-Lys-OCH₃ induced a dose-dependent increase of the G2/M cell population in K562 cells, and S cell population in HeLa cells; the sub-G0 population increased dramatically in both cell lines as seen by PI staining experiments using a FACS Calibur Flow cytometer (BeckmanCoulter, USA). Phosphatidylserine could significantly translocate to the surface of the membrane in (DIPP-Trp)₂-Lys-OCH₃-treated K562 and HeLa cells. The increase of an early apoptotic population was observed in a dose-dependent manner by both annexin-FITC and PI staining. It was concluded that (DIPP-Trp)₂-Lys-OCH₃ not only induced cells to enter into apoptosis, but also affected the progress of the cell cycle. It may have arrested the K562 and HeLa cells in the G₂/M, S phases, respectively. The apoptotic pathway was pulsed at this point, resulting in the treated cells entering into programmed cell death. (DIPP-Trp)₂-Lys-OCH₃ is a potential anticancer drug that intervenes in the signalling pathway.     

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate prevents apoptosis in erythroleukemia K562 cells induced by some nucleosides

We studied the ability of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetat to prevent erythroid differentiation and apoptosis in erythroleukemic K562 cells induced by cytidine, thymidine, and guanosine. The exposure of cancer cells to combinations of phorbol 12-myrsitate 13-acetate (100 nM) nucleosides for two days led to a loss of hemoglobin production (marker of erythroid differentiation) in cells and increased expression of monocyte-macrophage lineage associated surface antigen CD14. The treatment of K562 cells with nucleosides only was accompanied by the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, rather than caspase-6, increased fluorescence of ethidium bromide and DAPI upon binding to DNA, and apoptosis. Intracellular activation of caspase-6, inhibition of caspase-9, a markedly decreased activity of caspase-3 and of fluorescence of DNA-binding dyes, and inhibition of apoptosis were observed when the cells were treated with phorbol 12-myeristet 13-acetate combined with nucleosides.Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 1, 2005, pp. 18–25.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Volkova, Malysheva, Nemova.     

Reprogramming of nuclear proteasomes under apoptosis induction in K562 cells I. Effect of glutathione-depleting agent diethylmaleate

In the present work, changes in the subunit composition, phosphorylation state, and enzymatic activities of 26S proteasomes undergoing programmed cell death were studied. Apoptosis in proerythroleukemic K562 cells was induced by the glutathione-depleting agent, diethylmaleate (DEM). We have shown for the first time that proteasomes isolated from the nuclei of control and apoptotic K562 cells differ in their subunit patterns, as well as in the phosphorylation state of subunits on threonine and tyrosine residues. As well, the trypsin-and chymotrypsin-like activities of nuclear proteasomes and the specificity of proteasomal nucleolysis of several individual messenger RNAs (c-fos and c-myc) were found to change under DEM action in K562 cells. DEM treatment of K562 cells led to a modification of proteasomal zeta/α5 and iota/α6 subunits associated with RNase activity. The obtained results argue in favor of changes of proteasomal subunit composition, phosphorylation state, and enzymatic activities, i.e., indicate the so-called reprogramming of the nuclear proteasome population during induced apoptosis in K562 cells.     

Humanin delays apoptosis in K562 cells by downregulation of P38 MAP kinase

Humanin (HN) is a newly identified neuroprotective peptide. In this study, we investigated its antiapoptotic effect and the potential mechanisms in K562 cells. Upon serum deprivation, expression of HN in K562 cells decreased and its intracellular distribution changed from cytoplasm to cell membrane. In HN stably transfected K562 cells, apoptosis was delayed compared with control vector transfected cells as measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, analysis of different mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases activity revealed that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway was inhibited while p38 signaling was activated following serum deprivation in K562 cells. And in HN transfected K562 cells, ERK downregulation was not affected, but p38 activation was suppressed, which may responsible for the delayed apoptosis in these cells. Activation of the ERK signaling pathway by phorbol myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and sorbitol protected K562 cells from serum deprivation induced apoptosis. Additionally, overexpression of HN reduced megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells. The present data outline the role of ERK and p38 MAP kinases in serum deprivation induced apoptosis in K562 cells and figure out p38 signaling pathway as molecular target for HN delaying apoptosis in K562 cells.     

Apoptosis and autophagy in hepatocarcinoma cells induced by different forms of lithium salts

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer that is resistant to drug therapy. It is believed that the development of HCC is correlated with misregulation of programmed cell death. Discovery of effective inducers of HCC cell death is very important for HCC therapy. The aim of this work was to identify structural changes leading to the death of HCC cells exposed to nanosized and original forms of lithium salts. Structural features of autophagy and apoptosis were revealed in HCC cells after their incubation with various forms of lithium salts by light, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry. It was shown that nanosized forms of lithium carbonate and lithium citrate had a pronounced effect on HCC-29 cells. Of these forms, the nanosized lithium citrate induced mainly apoptosis, while the nanosized form of lithium carbonate, along with apoptosis, induced autophagic death of HCC cells.     

菠菜种子胰蛋白酶抑制剂对K-562细胞增殖的抑制及促凋亡作用研究

应用MTT法分析了菠菜种子胰蛋白酶抑制剂SOTI对人慢性髓原性白血病K-562细胞生长的影响。结果显示SOTI能够抑制K-562细胞的增殖,其抑制细胞增殖的作用呈现明显的剂量-效应关系;进一步观察了不同浓度的SOTI处理K-562细胞所导致的形态学变化和诱导凋亡作用,证实SOTI具有明显的体外抗癌活性,SO—TI的抗癌活性与其诱导凋亡有关。     

鸭呼肠孤病毒强毒株致鸭胚原代成纤维细胞凋亡的研究

通过光镜、电镜、DNA Ladder法、流式细胞术、荧光染色对鸭呼肠孤病毒(DRV)诱导鸭胚原代成纤维细胞(DEF)凋亡情况进行检测.结果显示,光镜可见细胞形态学上出现细胞皱缩,染色质浓染边移;电镜观察到细胞胞浆浓缩,细胞核染色质凝聚、部分形成凋亡小体;荧光染色结果显示,在感染后24h有激发绿色荧光的凋亡细胞出现,随着时间的推移,激发红色荧光的死亡细胞数量增多;DNA Ladder检测到感染后24～144h的DNA样品呈梯形条带;流式细胞术于感染后24h检测到凋亡细胞,其数量在72～96h达到高峰,144h开始下降.研究结果表明,DRV在DEF增殖的过程中具有诱导宿主细胞凋亡的作用.     

Preapoptotic chromatin changes induced by ultraviolet B irradiation in human erythroleukemia K562 cells

Exponentially growing human erythroleukemia K562 cells were permeabilized and the dose dependent decrease of DNA synthesis rate was measured after ultraviolet (UV B, 290 nm) irradiation. Cells were able to overcome 2 and 5 J/m2 UV doses, partial recovery was observed at 15 J/m2, while at high (25 J/m2) UV dose replicative DNA synthesis remained suppressed. K562 cells were subjected to synchronization prior to and after UV irradiation (24 J/m2) and 18 fractions were collected by centrifugal elutriation. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry did not show early apoptotic cells after UV irradiation. The gradual increase in DNA content typical for non-irradiated cells was contrasted by an early S phase block between 2.2 and 2.4 C-values after UV irradiation. Cell cycle dependent chromatin changes after ultraviolet irradiation were seen as a fine fibrillary network covering the mainly fibrous chromatin structures and incompletely folded primitive chromosomes. Based on observations after UV irradiation and on earlier results with cadmium treatment and gamma irradiation, we confirm that typical chromatin changes characteristic to genotoxic agents can be recognized and classified.     

Reprogramming of nuclear proteasomes under apoptosis induction in K562 cells II. Effect of antitumor drug doxorubicin

The induction of apoptosis in K562 cells by doxorbuicin was used as a model for studying changes of the subunit composition, phosphorylation state, and enzymatic activities of nuclear proteasomes undergoing programmed cell death. The proteasomes isolated from nuclei of the control and induced K562 cells have been shown to differ in their subunit composition, as well as in the phosphorylation state of subunits at threonine and tyrosine residues. Changes of the trypsin-and chymotrypsin-like, as well as endoribonuclease, activities of proteasomes under the doxorubicin action were revealed. After the induction of apoptosis in K562 cells by doxorubicin, we observed a modification of the RNase activity-associated proteasome subunits zeta/α5 and iota/α6. These results argue in favor of changes of proteasomal subunit composition, enzymatic activities, and the phosphorylation state, i.e., of the reprogramming of nuclear proteasome population, after the induction of apoptosis in K562 cells.     

Pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile based potential anticancer agents as apoptosis inducers through PI3K/AKT axis inhibition in leukaemia K562

A novel series of 4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-2-(methylthio)pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile was developed linked to an aromatic moiety via N-containing bridge and then evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and K562 cell lines. Seven compounds exhibited the highest activity against both cell lines where compounds 4d and 7f were the most active against K562 cell line. Exploring their molecular mechanisms by enzyme inhibition assay on PI3Kδ/γ and AKT-1 showed that compound 7f was promising more than 4d with IC₅₀ = 6.99 ± 0.36, 4.01 ± 0.55, and 3.36 ± 0.17 uM, respectively. Also, flowcytometric analysis revealed that 7f caused cell cycle arrest at S-phase followed by caspase 3 dependent apoptosis induction. Mechanistically, compound 7f proved to modulate the expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, Cyclin D1, and NFΚβ. Furthermore, in-vivo toxicity study indicated good safety profile for 7f. These findings suggest that the trimethoxy derivative 7f has strong potential as a multi-acting inhibitor on PI3K/AKT axis targeting breast cancer and leukaemia.     

Effect of resveratrol on high glucose-induced stress in human leukemia K562 cells

Hyperglycemia, a symptom of diabetes mellitus, induces hyperosmotic responses, including apoptosis, in vascular endothelial cells and leukocytes. Hyperosmotic shock elicits a stress response in mammalian cells, often leading to apoptotic cell death. In a previous report, we showed that hyperosmotic shock induced apoptosis in various mammalian cells. Importantly, apoptotic biochemical changes (i.e., caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation) were blocked by antioxidant pretreatment during hyperosmotic shock-induced cell death. In the present study, we report that resveratrol, a phytoalexin present in grapes with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, attenuates high glucose-induced apoptotic changes, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and caspase-3 activation in human leukemia K562 cells. Experiments with the cell permeable dye, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA), an indicator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, revealed that high glucose treatment directly increased intracellular oxidative stress, which was attenuated by resveratrol. In addition, high glucose-treated K562 cells displayed a lower degree of attachment to collagen, the major component of vessel wall subendothelium. In contrast, cells pretreated with resveratrol followed by high glucose exhibited higher affinity for collagen. The results of this report collectively imply the involvement of oxidative stress in high glucose-induced apoptosis and alterations in attachment ability. Moreover, resveratrol blocks these events by virtue of its antioxidant property.     

K562 cells induced to differentiate by phorbol ester tumor promotors resist NK lysis

The effect of various phorbols and phorbol diesters on the NK sensitivity of the human leukemic K562 cells was studied. A marked decrease in K562 cell susceptibility was achieved by culture in the presence of either 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or beta-phorbol-dibutyrate. The maximum protection against NK lysis was achieved when K562 cells were cultured in the presence of 160 nM TPA for 48 hr (mean percentage inhibition: 61% of specific lysis). As for untreated targets, the residual killing of K562 cells after TPA treatment was mediated through large granular lymphocytes (LGL). The experimental procedures required to achieve maximal NK protection with TPA resulted simultaneously in marked phenotypical changes in K562 cells: erythroid and early myeloid markers decreased, whereas the expression of megakaryocytic markers was increased as shown by staining with antiplatelet monoclonal antibodies and assessment of platelet peroxidase activity. Chemical phorbol analogs which were unable to induce K562 cell differentiation did not affect K562 cell sensitivity to NK lysis. De novo protein synthesis is involved in the TPA-induced NK resistance, since this effect was abolished by pretreatment of K562 cells with actinomycin D or cycloheximide. TPA has been previously demonstrated to reduce NK effector activity. In our data however, the observed TPA effects were not due to release of TPA acting on effector cells during the NK assay since TPA-treated K562 cell supernatants were unable to inhibit NK activity in control assays. Thus, TPA appears to decrease NK killing of malignant cells, both by depressing NK effector cells functions and by reducing the susceptibility to NK lysis of the target cells. In single-cell agarose assays, TPA-treated K562 cells demonstrated reduced NK-binding capacity and reduced sensitivity to lysis after binding. These defects could not be reversed by activation of the NK effector cells with interferon. The results here reported extend the previously suggested relations between the expression of NK-target structures and the differentiation stage of malignant cells.     

Rescue of K562 cells from MDM2-modulated p53-dependent apoptosis by growth factor-induced differentiation

The wild-type human MDM2 protooncogene was tested for its ability to modulate apoptotic activity of the de novo expressed p53 tumor suppressor gene in K562 cells. We also studied the role of some cytokines in this phenomenon. K562, a human myeloid leukemia cell line, does not express p53 at the mRNA or protein level. In this study, we stably transfected K562 with eukaryotic vectors containing either normal p53 cDNA (pC53-SN3) or mutated p53 (143Val-->Ala) cDNA (pC53-SCX3). Transfectants expressing WT p53 or those expressing mutant p53 are called K562 SN and K562 SM respectively. Many leukemic cell lines undergo apoptosis when de novo WT p53 is expressed alone. In contrast, while the resulting clones (K562 SN and K562 SM) expressed p53, they did not undergo apoptosis. However, when treated with MDM2 mRNA antisense (MDM2 AS) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), K562 SN demonstrated apoptotic features at both molecular and morphological levels. No change was observed when the other clones (K562 and K562 SM) were treated with MDM2 AS. Apoptosis induced in this manner was associated with a relatively small increase in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i. Cells cultured in medium previously supplemented with recombinant human (rh) interleukin (IL)-3 and rh-erythropoietin (Epo) did not undergo apoptosis. Moreover, K562 SN cells were induced to differentiate. This differentiation was evaluated by measuring hemoglobin (Hb) level in cellular extracted proteins and by analyzing erythroid colony number and morphology. High Hb synthesis was obtained when K562 SN cells were cultured with cytokines (IL-3 + Epo) combined with MDM2 AS. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the function of the proto-oncogene MDM2 is to provide a 'feedback' mechanism for the p53-dependent pathway of apoptosis that could be shunted toward differentiation.     

IL——3和羟基脲协同诱导K562细胞凋亡

The effect of IL-3 and hydroxyurea on human erythroleukemia cell line (K562 cells) was demonstrated by using the electro-microscopy and flow cytometry. Our data showed that neither IL-3 nor hydroxyurea could induce the apoptosis of K562 cells alone. However, the IL-3 and hydroxyurea could induce the apoptosis of K562 cells cooperatively. Analysis with flow cytometry showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells was about 31.90% after K562 cells were induced by IL-3 and hydroxyurea cooperatively for 5 days, and the sub-G1 peak (apoptotic peak) was detected in the induced K562 cells. Meanwhile, the percentage of S-phase in the IL-3 and hydroxyurea induced K562 cells was increased, and the proliferation of the induced K562 cells was inhibited significantly. Furthermore, the IL-3 and hydroxyurea induced K562 cells showed chromatin condensation with regular crescents at the nuclear edges and apoptotic bodies. It suggested that IL-3 could enhance the sensitivity of K562 cells to hydroxyurea and the apoptosis of K562 cells could be induced by IL-3 and hydroxyurea cooperatively.