Dissociation of c-fos induction from macrophage differentiation in human myeloid leukemic cell lines.

Treatment of five human myeloid leukemic cell lines (KG1, ML3, HL-60, U-937, and HEL) with TPA was followed by macrophage differentiation and was accompanied by an early and transient increase in the mRNA level of c-fos proto-oncogene. The induction of c-fos was also observed in human cell lines K562 and K-Gla that did not respond to TPA with terminal macrophage differentiation. The treatment of HL-60 and U-937 cell lines with 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, a synthetic analog of diacylglycerol that, like TPA, stimulates protein kinase C activity, was followed by early and transient induction of c-fos mRNA in the absence of terminal macrophage differentiation. Finally, treatment of HL-60 with TPA in the presence of retinal, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, drastically reduced the induction of c-fos mRNA but had no effect on the terminal macrophage differentiation that is induced in this cell line by TPA. These results indicate that the induction of c-fos and terminal macrophage differentiation in response to TPA treatment can be dissociated in the in vitro models provided by human myeloid leukemic cell lines. Moreover, these findings suggest that the induction of c-fos is not only insufficient but may also be unnecessary for the differentiation along the monocyte-macrophage pathway.     

Role of phospholipase A2 and prostaglandin E in growth and differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells

Phospholipase A₂ activity and prostaglandin E synthesis have been studied in different clones of myeloid leukemic cells, which differ in their competence to be induced to differentiate by the macrophage and granulocyte differentiation-inducing protein or the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Clones that could be induced to differentiate by this protein showed a higher basal phospholipase A₂ activity than clones that could not be induced to differentiate by this protein inducer. Cell competence to be induced to differentiate by TPA did not show this correlation, and the clone with the least ability to respond to TPA showed the lowest number of binding sites for [20-³H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Differentiation induced by the protein was accompanied by a 7–14-fold increase in prostaglandin E synthesis, whereas differentiation induced by TPA did not show this increase. Externally added prostaglandin E₁ did not induce differentiation but inhibited cell proliferation and the degree of inhibition in the different clones was related to the basal phospholipase A₂ activity. The results indicate that increase of prostaglandin E synthesis was not an essential pre-requisite for differentiation, that prostaglandin E seems to be involved in the inhibition of cell proliferation in association with phospholipase A₂, and that the differentiation-inducing protein and TPA can induce differentiation by different pathways. The amount of basal phospholipase A₂ activity was also related to previously found differences in the ability of the clones to develop desensitization to β-adrenergic hormones or prostaglandin E₁.     

Phenotypic modulation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by phorbol ester: induction of IgM secretion and changes in the expression of B cell-associated surface antigens

Freshly explanted neoplastic populations from 22 cases of phenotypically well-characterized chronic type B lymphocytic leukemia were studied for their capacity to respond to the phorbol ester TPA in vitro. In all but four cases the secretion of IgM was either induced or increased, often to a high level. In contrast, the export of free immunoglobulin (Ig) light chains, an almost consistent feature of the B lymphocytic leukemias, remained relatively constant after TPA treatment. Parallel changes in leukemic cell surface phenotype were probed with both "conventional" and monoclonal antibodies, revealing some modulation of markers in every case investigated. A diminution in the level of surface Ig (preferentially IgD) and the accumulation of cytoplasmic Ig observed after phorbol ester treatment were accompanied by a corresponding reduction or loss of the B1 antigen and usually of B2 when present. The most consistent change induced by TPA was the appearance of BB-1, a marker of activated B lymphocytes, which was rarely expressed on fresh leukemic cells. Another marker of activated lymphocytes, LB-1, was also often induced or increased in its expression after exposure of the cells to TPA. The magnitude of the TPA response appeared to relate to the stage of maturation arrest of the individual leukemic clones rather than to any clinical parameter explored. The significance of the findings to normal B cell differentiation and their potential clinical utility are discussed.     

Glucocorticoid binding and mechanism of resistance in some clones of mouse myeloid leukemic cells resistant to induction of differentiation by dexamethasone.

Several clones of dexamethasone-resistant cells, which could not differentiate even in a high concentration of dexamethasone, were isolated from glucocorticoid-sensitive myeloid leukemic cells. Some of them were shown to be deficient in steroid binding to specific cytoplasmic receptors, while the others contained glucocorticoid-specific cytoplasmic receptors that might be the same as those in sensitive cells. One of the resistant clones was found to be almost completely deficient in nuclear acceptor sites for cytoplasmic steroid-receptor complexes. The remaining clones were also characterized by significantly reduced amounts of nuclear-bound glucocorticoid. These results suggest that resistibility to glucocorticoids in the resistant clones of myeloid leukemic cells is due mainly to a defect in some steps of intracellular transfer of the steroid. Dexamethasone-sensitive cells, which could differentiate in the presence of dexamethasone, could be also induced to differentiate by protein factor(s) in ascitic fluid. Although all the resistant cells showed a low response to ascitic fluid, some of them showed 10-fold enhancement of phagocytic activity which is a typical character of differentiated cells. These results suggest that response to steroids is not directly correlated with that to protein inducer(s).     

Control of normal differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells. XI. Induction of a specific requirement for cell viability and growth during the differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells

Normal hematopoietic cells require the presence of a protein (MGI) in the appropriate conditioned medium (CM) for cell viability and growth and for differentiation to mature macrophages and granulocytes. Clones of myeloid leukemic cells have been established in culture (D⁺ clones) which require CM with this protein for differentiation, but not for cell viability and growth. It has been shown that these leukemic cells can be induced by CM to again require, like normal cells, the presence of CM for cell viability and growth. Induction of this requirement, which will be referred to as RVG, occurred before the D⁺ cells differentiated to mature granulocytes. Clones of myeloid leukemic cells (D^? clones) that could not be induced to differentiate to mature cells, did not show the induction of RVG. The steroid hormones prednisolone and dexamethasone can induce some, but not all the changes associated with differentiation of D⁺ cells. Incubation with these steroids did not result in the induction of a requirement for these steroids for cell growth and viability. Studies with CM from different sources have shown, that all batches that induced RVG also induced differentiation of D⁺ cells and that both activities were inhibited after treating the CM with trypsin. It is suggested that the same protein (MGI) may be involved in both activities. Incubation of D⁺ cells with CM resulted in an increase in agglutinability by concanavalin A and this increase was maintained even in the absence of CM. This suggests, that the induction of RVG in D⁺ myeloid leukemic cells is associated with a change in the cell surface membrane.     

Presence of a functional vitamin D receptor does not correlate with vitamin D3 phenotypic effects in myeloid differentiation

Although VDR is expressed in all the acute myeloid leukemia cell populations studied, most of these leukemias do not exhibit any phenotypic response when exposed to VD. To determine whether VD resistance is related to an altered VDR function, we performed an analysis of VDR expression, phosphorylation, DNA binding capacity and transactivation activity in several leukemic myeloid cell lines arrested at different levels of maturation. Our results indicate that VD induces a clear phenotypic effect, i.e. terminal monocytic differentiation, only in leukemic cells of M2/M3 (intermediate myeloblasts) and M5 (monoblasts) types but not in erythroid precursor cells, early leukemic myeloblasts (M0/M1 type) and promyelocytes (M3 type). VDR expression and function are evident in all the nuclear extracts obtained from the different myeloid cell lines after 12 h of VD treatment, but VD activation of monocytic differentiation is limited to a narrow differentiation window characterized by the M2 type myeloid cellular context.     

The network of hemopoietic regulatory proteins in myeloid cell differentiation.

There are clones of myeloid leukemic cells that can be induced to undergo terminal cell differentiation to macrophages by normal hemopoietic regulatory proteins. Induction of differentiation in two different clones of myeloid leukemic cells with interleukin 6 (IL-6) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) resulted in induction of mRNA for the hemopoietic regulatory proteins IL-6, GM-CSF, interleukin 1 alpha and interleukin 1 beta, tumor necrosis factor, and transforming growth factor beta 1. In one of these clones, induction of differentiation with GM-CSF was also associated with induction of mRNA for macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) but not for the receptor for M-CSF (c-fms), whereas in the other clone, induction of differentiation with IL-6 was associated with induction of mRNA for both c-fms and M-CSF. The clones also differed in their responsiveness to these regulators. There was no induction of mRNA for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or interleukin 3 during differentiation of either clone. The results indicate that the genes for a nearly normal network of positive and negative hemopoietic regulatory proteins are induced during differentiation of these myeloid leukemic cells and that there are leukemic clones with specific defects in this network.     

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.     

Differential changes in lipid metabolism of myeloid and lymphoid cell lines induced by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)

Treatment of the myeloid cell lines, U-937 or HL-60, with 10 nM of the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), for 24 h increased the rate of incorporation of [3H]glycerol into total chloroform extracts. A proportionally greater labeling of the non-polar lipid (NL) fraction compared to the polar, phospholipid (PL), fraction was observed. Chromatographic analysis showed a 6-fold increase in the labeling of triacylglycerols (TAG), a 2-fold increase in diacylglycerols, and no changes in monoacylglycerols. PL labeling showed a 3-fold increase in phosphatidylcholine (PC). The effect of TPA on TAG labeling was selectively observed in myeloid cell lines. No such a change was found in the lymphoid cell line. MOLT-3, which did respond to TPA with increased PC labeling. Incorporation of [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) into TAG by U-937 cells was selectively increased (2.5-fold) after treatment with TPA for 24 h. Treatment of U-937 cells with TPA in serum-free medium resulted in no increased labeling of TAG. These studies suggest that changes in TAG metabolism may be characteristic of myeloid differentiation and depend on the presence of serum factor(s).     

Amplification of portions of the genome in the somatic cells of mammals resistant to colchicine. V. The induction of gene amplification in the cells of the Djungarian hamster and the mouse

The influence of some agents on gene amplification in Djungarian hamster and mouse cells was studied. The tumor promotor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), the epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) increase the incidence of colchicine-resistance, connected with amplification of the genes, which probably encode the polypeptide p22. The highest frequency of gene amplification was observed after the pretreatment of cells with TPA, which enhanced the number of colchicine-resistant colonies 44-200-fold. Mitostatic agents colchicine and colcemid increased the number of methotrexate-resistant cells, 2.0-6.5 times. These cells usually arise as the result of amplification of dihydrofolate reductase genes. Dexamethasone and ethidium bromide did not change the portion of cells resistant to colchicine. Ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) decreased the number of colchicine-resistant cells. The cells of two Djungarian hamster colchicine-resistant clones obtained after treatment with TPA did not differ from those of spontaneously derived colchicine-resistant clones. Both have similar survival patterns in the medium with different colchicine concentrations, unstable inheritance of the drug resistance, the additional chromosome 4 and small chromatin bodies-the structures containing the amplified genes. Possible mechanisms of the induction of gene amplification by the agents used are discussed.     

Regulation of cell surface receptors for different hematopoietic growth factors on myeloid leukemic cells.

There are clones of myeloid leukemic cells which are different from normal myeloid cells in that they have become independent of hematopoietic growth factor for cell viability and growth. The ability of these clones to bind three types of hematopoietic growth factors (MGI-1GM = GM-CSF, IL-3 = multi-CSF and MGI-1M = M-CSF = CSF-1) was measured using the method of quantitative absorption at 1 degree C and low pH elution of cell-bound biological activity. Results of binding to normal myeloid and lymphoid cells were similar to those obtained by radioreceptor assays. The results indicate that the number of receptors on different clones of these leukemic cells varied from 0 to 1,300 per cell. The receptors have a high binding affinity. Receptors for different growth factors can be independently expressed in different clones. There was no relationship between expression of receptors for these growth factors and the phenotype of the leukemic cells regarding their ability to be induced to differentiate. The number of receptors on the leukemic cells was lower than on normal mature macrophages. Myeloid leukemic cells induced to differentiate by normal myeloid cell differentiation factor MGI-2 (= DF), or by low doses of actinomycin D or cytosine arabinoside, showed an up-regulation of the number of MGI-1GM and IL-3 receptors. Induction of differentiation of leukemic cells by MGI-2 also induced production and secretion of the growth factor MGI-1GM, and this induced MGI-1GM saturated the up-regulated MGI-1GM receptors. It is suggested that up-regulation of these receptors during differentiation is required for the functioning of differentiated cells.     

Functional and phenotypic characterization of two HL60 clones resistant to dimethylsulfoxide

Two HL60 clones (C12 and C13) totally insensitive to differentiation induction by dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) are described. They have been growing continuously in the presence of the inducer for more than 6 months. The morphological and cytochemical features of the two populations are quite similar to those of the original HL60 cell line, whereas a different karyotype with marked hyperploidy (modal chromosome number of 86 for C12 and 82 for C13) was detected. An antigenic pattern analogous to that of the native HL60 cell line was found in C12 and C13 populations using three monoclonal antibodies differently reactive to myeloid cells. Both clones can be induced to differentiate by retinoic acid (RA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). The pattern of differentiation was assessed by morphological, cytochemical, phenotypical and functional markers. Differentiation of C12 cells by RA and TPA was similar to that observed with native HL60 cells, whereas C13 cells showed lower degrees of sensitivity to RA and TPA. The data presented suggest the existence of different mechanisms for induction of differentiation by Me2SO, RA and TPA. In addition, they are in accordance with previous observations of different degrees of inducibility to differentiation among leukemic cell populations in culture.     

Enhancement of altered-cell foci in baby mouse skin cultures by antitubulin treatment: Nuclear mechanisms

When primary baby mouse skin (BMS) cultures were subcultured for 48 hours into media containing 10^?6 to 10^?7 M colchicine or demecolcine, the number of altered cell foci appearing after 3–4 weeks' maintenance at 36°C was substantially enhanced over drug-free controls. This applied whether or not the primary cultures had been irradiated with white fluorescent light. The additional presence of cytochalasin D and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-l3-acetate (TPA) sometimes improved and sometimes partly suppressed the enhancing effect of the antitubulin drugs, and these drugs were omitted for reproducible focus enhancement. The enhancement depended on passage through DNA synthesis in presence of colchicine, which did not prevent concurrent or subsequent DNA synthesis but induced a substantial proportion (>33%) to replicate in the tetraploid (4n to 8n) chromosome configuration. Another effect was to induce widespread asymmetric nuclear division, allowing the potential for chromosome loss. All these effects occurred within the first one or few cell cycles after removal of the antitubulin drugs. The results suggest that the generation of tetraploidy perhaps followed by chromosome loss may be an important factor in the rapid induction of altered cell foci. Pre-existing DNA damage is another important factor.     

Dual effect of protein kinase C on the induction of DNA synthesis by colcemid in G0-arrested human diploid fibroblasts

G0-arrested human diploid fibroblasts, TIG-1, was stimulated to induce DNA synthesis by serum, epidermal growth factor (EGF), colchicine, colcemid, or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The induction of DNA synthesis was mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) when stimulated with TPA but not when stimulated with other agents. When TPA-stimulated cells were immediately treated with colcemid, induction of DNA synthesis was reduced. This reduction diminished when colcemid was added more than 6 h after TPA treatment. Conversely, when colcemid-stimulated cells were treated with TPA, induction of DNA synthesis was also reduced. This reduction was enhanced when the interval between the addition of two stimulants was extended. PKC-deprivation abolished both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of TPA on DNA synthesis. Staurosporine blocked an induction of DNA synthesis by TPA but appeared to be ineffective on the inhibitory action of TPA on DNA synthesis by colcemid. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of TPA on the induction of DNA synthesis by colcemid is mediated by down regulation-sensitive and staurosporine-insensitive PKC.     

Implication of microtubules and microfilaments in the response of the ovarian adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system to gonadotropins and prostaglandin E2.

Addition of anti-actin serum or cytochalasin B (3 μg/ml) to the medium abolished the stimulatory effect of LH and of choleragen, and inhibited the action of FSH, but not of PGE₂, on cyclic AMP production in cultured rat Graafian follicles. Colchicine and anti-sera to BSA, tubulin or smooth-muscle myosin, as well as anti-actin serum absorbed with actin, had no effect on the follicular response to LH, but anti-tubulin serum and colchicine inhibited the response to FSH and PGE₂. The inhibitory effect of cytochalasin B on LH-action was fully reversed 24 h after transfer of the follicles to drug-free medium. Neither anti-actin serum nor cytochalasin B had any effect on the binding of ¹²⁵I-hCG by the follicular cell membrane. The results suggest that microfilaments, but not microtubules, are intimately involved in the process of LH- and choleragen-stimulated ovarian adenylate cyclase activity. By contrast, the action of PGE₂ is dependent on microtubule assembly, while the action of FSH seems to depend on both these components of the cytoskeleton.     

TPA induced expression and function of human connexin 26 by post-translational mechanisms in stably transfected neuroblastoma cells

Connexin 26 (Cx26) has been proposed to be a tumor suppressor gene and its expression may modulate development, cell growth and differentiation in various tissues, including the brain. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) may serve as either tumor promoter (in mammary gland amd skin) or as a differentiating agent (in neuroblastoma and leukemic cells) and may also modulate expression, function and phosphorylation of gap junctions. In this study, to determine the effects of TPA on Cx26 expression and its function in neuroblastoma, we transfected N2A mouse neuroblastoma cells (which are gap junction deficient) with the coding region of human Cx26 gene (which lacks TPA response elements) and examined the changes of expression and function of Cx26 following 10 nM TPA treatment. Individual clones of transfectants stably expressed distinct levels of exogenous Cx26 as judged by Northern and Western blots, immunocytochemistry and electrophysiological recordings. Cx26 channels displayed unitary conductances of about 140-155 pS. Increase of Cx26 expression following TPA treatment was markedly observed using immunocytochemistry and Western blots of membrane fractions although it was not detected in Northern or Western blots of whole cells. This increase in Cx26 expression in the plasma membrane was accompanied by an increase of function as evidenced in measurements of junctional conductance. These results suggest that induction of exogenous Cx26 in neuroblastoma cells by TPA treatment is controlled by post-translational mechanisms.     

Induction of neoplastic transformation in C3H/10T1/2 cells by 2.45-GHz microwaves and phorbol ester

C3H/10T1/2 cells were exposed to 2.45-GHz microwaves for 24 h and/or 1.5 Gy of 238-kVp X rays at 3.75 Gy/min. Transformation frequency and cell survival were measured with or without postirradiation addition of the tumor promoter tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) at 0.1 microgram/ml. We previously reported (Carcinogenesis 6,859-864, 1985) an enhancement of transformation frequency when 10T1/2 cells exposed to a special sequence of microwaves and X rays were subsequently cultured in TPA. The same sequence of microwaves and X rays without promotion resulted in a transformation response similar to that induced by X rays alone. We now report statistically significant (at P greater than 0.999) enhancement of transformation response by TPA in cells exposed to 2.45-GHz microwaves (SAR = 4.4 W/kg). Microwaves alone had no effect on transformation. Plating efficiency and cell survival were not affected by TPA or microwave treatments.     

Effects of transforming growth factor beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma and LIF-HILDA on the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

A group of polypeptide factors that regulate cell growth and differentiation has been tested for their biological activities on the growth and differentiation of leukemic cells isolated from patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemias (AML). The effects of Transforming Growth Factor beta 1 (TGF beta), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha), Interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and LIF-HILDA were compared on leukemic cells cultured in vitro for seven days. Spontaneously growing leukemic cells were selected in order to study either inhibition or enhancement of proliferation induced by these factors. Only TGF beta 1 was found to induce a clear inhibition of leukemic proliferation in all cases tested. Recombinant TNF alpha and IFN gamma were found to induce either inhibition or enhancement of the proliferation on separate specimens. Under the conditions of culture, it was not possible to document any effect of LIF-HILDA. Cell differentiation and cell maturation were documented studying the modulation of cell surface antigens. TGF beta did not modify antigen expression on the cells surviving after 3 days in culture. Both TNF alpha and IFN gamma were found to enhance the expression of adhesion molecules and to a lesser extent, the expression of some lineage associated antigens. No effect of LIF-HILDA on antigen modulation was documented in the cases tested. These data confirm that TGF beta is by itself a potent inhibitor of the myeloid leukemia cells proliferation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)