Effects of 5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine and 2-deoxy-D-glucose on the radiosensitivity of proliferating transformed mammalian cells.

Effects of 5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine (BrdU) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) were studied in exponentially growing transformed mammalian (BHK-21) cells, grown as monolayer. Micronuclei formation as an index of radiation damage was studied by i) cytokinesis block technique from cytochalasin-B induced binucleated cells, and ii) conventional technique. Presence of BrdU (0.8 microM) for nearly 2 cell cycles before gamma-irradiation (2.5 Gy) significantly increased frequencies of cells with micronuclei. Post-irradiation incubation of cultures in liquid holding medium (HBSS) however, reduced micronuclei formation, especially in the BrdU treated cells. Presence of 2-DG (4 hr, equimolar with glucose) in growth as well as liquid holding medium further increased micronuclei frequencies. These observations suggest that radiation induced DNA lesions in BrdU substituted cells, leading to chromosome fragmentation are partly repairable. 2-DG increased cytogenetic damage, possibly by inhibiting the repair of such repairable lesions. Present studies suggest that combination of 2-DG could optimize BrdU-radiation therapy of brain tumors, by reducing the BrdU doses required for tumor radiosensitization.     

Glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, does not enhance radiation-induced apoptosis in mouse thymocytes and splenocytes in vitro

Earlier studies have shown that 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analogue and inhibitor of glycolytic ATP production selectively enhances radiation-induced damage in cancer cells by inhibiting the energy (ATP) dependent postirradiation DNA and cellular repair processes. A reduction in radiation induced cytogenetic damage has been reported in normal cells viz., peripheral blood lymphocytes and bone marrow cells. Since induction of apoptosis plays a major role in determining the radiosensitivity of some most sensitive normal cells including splenocytes and thymocytes, we investigated the effects of 2-DG on radiation induced apo tosis in these cells in vitro. Thymocytes and splenocytes isolated from normal Swiss albino mouse were irradiated with Co60 gamma-rays and analyzed for apoptosis at various post-irradiation times. 2-DG added at the time of irradiation was present till the termination of cultures. A time dependent, spontaneous apoptosis was evident in both the cell systems, with nearly 40% of the cells undergoing apoptosis at 12 hr of incubation. The dose response of radiation-induced apoptosis was essentially similar in both the cell systems and was dependent on the incubation time. More than 70% of the splenocytes and 60% of the thymocytes were apoptotic by 12 hr following an absorbed dose of 2 Gy. Presence of 2-DG marginally reduced the fraction of splenocytes undergoing apoptosis at all absorbed doses, while no change was observed in thymocytes. Presence of 2-DG did not significantly alter either the level or the rate of induction of spontaneous apoptosis in both these cell systems. These results are consistent with the earlier findings on radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in human PBL in vitro and mouse bone marrow cells and lend further support to the proposition that 2-DG does not enhance radiation damage in normal cells, while radiosensitizing the tumors and hence is an ideal adjuvant in the radiotherapy of tumors.     

Mentha piperita (Linn.) leaf extract provides protection against radiation induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow of mice

Oral administration of M. piperita (1 g/kg body weight/day) before exposure to gamma radiation was found to be effective in protecting against the chromosomal damage in bone marrow of Swiss albino mice. Animals exposed to 8 Gy gamma radiation showed chromosomal aberrations in the form of chromatid breaks, chromosome breaks, centric rings, dicentrics, exchanges and acentric fragments. There was a significant increase in the frequency of aberrant cells at 6 hr after irradiation. Maximum aberrant cells were observed at 12 hr post-irradiation autopsy time. Further, the frequency of aberrant cells showed decline at late post-irradiation autopsy time. However, in the animals pretreated with Mentha extract, there was a significant decrease in the frequency of aberrant cells as compared to the irradiated control. Also significant increase in percentage of chromatid breaks, chromosome breaks, centric rings, dicentrics, exchanges, acentric fragments, total aberrations and aberrations/damaged cell was observed at 12 hr post-irradiation autopsy time in control animals, whereas Mentha pretreated irradiated animals showed a significant decrease in percentage of such aberrations. A significant decrease in GSH content and increase in LPO level was observed in control animals, whereas Mentha pretreated irradiated animals exhibited a significant increase in GSH content and decrease in LPO level but the values remained below the normal. The radioprotective effect of Mentha was also demonstrated by determining the LD(50/30) values (DRF = 1.78). The results from the present study suggest that Mentha pretreatment provides protection against radiation induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow of Swiss albino mice.     

An approach to modification of the repair activity in eucaryotic cells by biological factors

This work was devoted to investigation or repair regulation by biological factors: viruses and interferon. DNA damage induced by gamma- and UV-irradiation, ethyleneimine and 4-nitro-quinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) were studied, by sedimentation of lysed cells through alkaline sucrose gradients, by hydroxylapatite column chromatography and by the chromosomal aberration test. The reproducible vaccinia virus resulted in simulation repair activity of chick embryo cells after treatment with 4-NQO. Interferon, added after gamma- and UV-irradiation, decreased the chromosomal aberration level, stabilized it after ethyleneimine treatment and also stimulated the ability of cells to rejoin DNA breaks induced by 4-NQO. The cause of this phenomenon is discussed.     

Alterations in radiation induced cell cycle perturbations by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in human tumor cell lines

In the present studies, effects of glucose analogue, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) on radiation-induced cell cycle perturbations were investigated in human tumor cell lines. In unirradiated cells, the levels of cyclin B1 in G2 phase were significantly higher in both the glioma cell lines as compared to squamous carcinoma cells. Upon irradiation with Co60 gamma-rays (2 Gy), the cyclin B1 levels were reduced in U87 cells, while no significant changes could be observed in other cell lines, which correlated well with the transient G2 delay observed under these conditions by the BrdU pulse chase measurements. 2-DG (5 mM, 2 hr) induced accumulation of cells in the G2 phase and a time-dependent increase in the levels of cyclin B1 in both the glioma cell lines, while significant changes could not be observed in any of the squamous carcinoma cell lines. 2-DG enhanced the cyclin B1 level further in all the cell lines following irradiation, albeit to different extents. Interestingly, an increase in the unscheduled expression of B1 levels in G1 phase 48 hr after irradiation was observed in all the cell lines investigated. 2-DG also increased the levels of cyclin D1 at 24 hr in BMG-1 cell line. These observations imply that 2-DG-induced alterations in the cell cycle progression are partly responsible for its radiomodifying effects.     

Transferrin C2 and radiation-induced chromosomal damage

Radiation-induced chromosomal damage (after exposure to 1 Gy) in lymphocytes was studied in relation to transferrin C subtype (C1 vs. C2). In 72-hour lymphocyte cultures a significantly increased frequency of cells with radiation induced aberrations was observed in individuals with the transferrin type C2. Thus the results lend some support to the hypothesis that transferrin C2 may act as an enhancer of chromosomal damage.     

Inhibition of unscheduled DNA synthesis and repair of potentially lethal X-ray damage by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in yeast.

The effects of the glucose antimetabolite, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), on DNA repair (assayed by unscheduled DNA synthesis) and on the repair of potentially-lethal damage (assayed by cell viability after irradiation) have been studied in X-irradiated respiratory-deficient yeast cells (auxotroph for 5'-thymidine-monophosphate). Experimental results show that: (a) both these phenomena can be inhibited by 2-DG; (b) the repair of potentially-lethal damage occurs after the unscheduled DNA synthesis is almost complete; and (c) the repair of potentially-lethal damage can be inhibited by 2-DG even after the completion of the unscheduled DNA synthesis.     

Kinetics of chromosomal aberrations and first mitosis division in human lymphocytes exposed to mitomycin C

In order to understand the relationship between the chromosomal damage detectable at the first mitosis after mutagen treatment and the induced mitotic delay we studied the time pattern of both mitotic indices and chromosomal aberration frequencies in human lymphocytes treated in G1 with mitomycin C (2.5 microM) and cultured in vitro in the presence of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine. Mitotic delay was observed in treated cells cultured for 81 h. At this point an increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations is evident and a higher proportion of abnormal cells enters mitosis, the long delay being due to the extensiveness of DNA damage. The importance of cell cycle progression for the detection of the maximal amount of induced chromosomal damage is discussed.     

Effects of gamma-rays and glucose analogs on the energy metabolism of a cell line derived from human cerebral glioma.

Effects of gamma-rays and glucose analogs, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), 5-thio-D-glucose (5-TG) and 3-O-methyl glucose (3-O-MG) on cellular energy metabolism have been studied in a cell line, derived from a human cerebral glioma, by analysing intermediates of glycolysis and some important nucleotides (ATP, NAD etc.) using the technique of isotachophoresis. Gamma-irradiation induced a transient decrease in the nucleotide levels accompanied by an accumulation of sugar phosphates, the nucleotide levels recovering in a few hours post-irradiation. 2-DG inhibited glycolysis and reduced the nucleotide levels of irradiated as well as unirradiated cells in a concentration-dependent manner both in presence and absence of respiration, whereas 5-TG and 3-O-MG did not show significant effects in the presence of respiration. Reduced energy status observed with 2-DG under respiratory proficient conditions was completely reversed in 2 hr following its removal, whereas such a recovery was not observed in the absence of respiration. These results have important implications in the energy-linked modifications of tumour radiation response using glucose analogs.     

Induction of Specific Chromosomal Aberrations by Adenovirus Type 12 in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells

Nonrandom chromosomal breaks in chromosomes 1 and 17 were provoked in human embryonic kidney cells 24 hr after infection with adenovirus type 12. These chromosomal changes disappeared in persistently infected cultures. Neutralization of the virus with type-specific antiviral serum prior to infection prevented the occurrence of chromosomal aberrations. No viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, as determined by autoradiography, was seen in metaphases containing adenovirus type 12-induced chromosomal aberrations. Ultraviolet irradiation of the virus reduced chromosomal aberrations linearly. This reduction in aberrations was fourfold slower than the inactivation of viral infectivity. At 24 hr after infection of cells with purified (3)H-labeled adenovirus type 12, the isotope was found to be associated with the nuclei. The uptake of isotope was reduced ninefold when the labeled virus was neutralized with type-specific antiviral serum. This difference is considered to account for neutralization of labeled virions. In metaphases infected with labeled viruses, most of the clustered grains were seen only on one arm of the chromatid, even after 72 hr. Isochromatid labeling was found, however, in a small percentage of chromosomes, and increased with time after infection. This increase was threefold between 24 and 72 hr after infection, whereas the mean grain counts decreased twofold during the same period. This has been tentatively interpreted to mean that most of the viral DNA molecules or parts thereof are merely attached to cellular chromatin, but a small fraction of them becomes gradually integrated as time proceeds. Certain chromosomal sites appeared to be preferentially labeled when chromosome 2 was used as a model for evaluation.     

Biochemical and cytogenetical characterization of Chinese hamster ovary X-ray-sensitive mutant cells xrs 5 and xrs 6. VI. The correlation between UV-induced DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations, and their modulations with inhibitors of DNA repair synthesis

The role of UV-induced DNA lesions and their repair in the formation of chromosomal aberrations in the xrs mutant cell lines xrs 5 and xrs 6 and their wild-type counterpart, CHO-K1 cells, were studied. The extent of induction of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) due to UV irradiation in the presence or absence of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) and hydroxyurea (HU) was determined using the alkaline and neutral elution methods. Results of these experiments were compared with the frequencies of induced chromosomal aberrations in UV-irradiated G1 cells treated under similar conditions. Xrs 6 cells showed a defect in their ability to perform the incision step of nucleotide repair after UV irradiation. Accumulation of breaks 2 h after UV irradiation in xrs 6 cells in the presence of HU and ara-C remained at the level of incision breaks estimated after 20 min, which was about 35% of that found in wild-type CHO-K1 cells. In UV-irradiated CHO-K1 and xrs 5 cells, more incision breaks were present after 2 h compared with 20 min post-treatment with ara-C, a further increase was evident when HU was added to the combined treatment. The level of incision breaks induced under these conditions in xrs 5 was about 80% of that observed in CHO-K1 cells. UV irradiation itself did not induce any detectable DNA strand breaks. Accumulation of SSBs in UV-irradiated cells post-treated with ara-C and HU coincides with the increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. These data suggest that accumulated SSBs when converted to DSBs in G1 give rise to chromosome-type aberrations, whereas strand breaks persisting until S-phase result in chromatid-type aberrations. Xrs 6 appeared to be the first ionizing-radiation-sensitive mutant with a partial defect in the incision step of DNA repair of UV-induced damage.     

Antagonistic effect of cocultivation on mitomycin C-induced aberration rate in cells of a patient with Fanconi's anemia and in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Summary The rate of spontaneous chromosomal aberrations in fibroblasts of a patient with Fanconi's anemia was slightly reduced after cocultivation with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, after mitomycin C treatment, a significant reduction of induced chromosomal damage was found in the FA cells while a significant increase was observed in the CHO cells. This antagonistic effect could be attributed to some diffusible agent(s). The results are discussed with respect to the underlying mechanism of the disease.     

Different effects of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and aphidicolin in S-phase cells--chromosome aberrations, cell-cycle delay and cytotoxicity

Some effects of a 2-h exposure to either aphidicolin (APC) or cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) on S-phase cells of the cell line JU56 have been measured. At a concentration of 1.5 X 10(-5) M of either drug, incorporation of tritiated thymidine into log-phase cultured was reduced by 97-99%. A 2-h exposure to either drug at the same concentration induced chromosome aberrations in cells in S when they subsequently reached mitosis. However, exposure to ara-C induced small numbers of aberrations per damaged cells, and most cells were undamaged. Exposure to APC induced gross chromosomal damage (pulverized chromosomes) in damaged cells. More cells were delayed, and for longer, after exposure to APC than after exposure to ara-C. The results of clonal assays were consistent with the assumption that chromosome aberrations are the proximal cause of reproductive cell death. In the case of ara-C, the results of this and a previous study are consistent with the assumption that cell death and chromosome aberrations are correlated with incorporation of ara-C into DNA in S-phase cells, but that these biological effects manifest themselves only with doses when inhibition of semi-conservative DNA synthesis is greater than 97%.     

Serum factor induces selective increase in Na-channel expression in cultured skeletal muscle.

We have examined effects of horse serum (HS) and various fractions (1 million-1M, 300K, 100K, and 30K nominal molecular weight limit) obtained by ultrafiltration on expression of TTX-sensitive Na-channels and on activities of the Na-K pump and glucose transport systems in cultured myotubes obtained from 1-2-day-old neonatal rat pups. Five-day-old cells were transferred to serum-free medium with no hormone or growth factor supplements (DMEM) for 24 hr and then treated with the various serum fractions for 48 hr. Measurements were made of specific [3H]-saxitoxin (STX) binding, action potential properties, 86Rb-uptake and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake. HS significantly increased all parameters compared to DMEM (increases in STX-binding, 69%; Rb-uptake, 65%; 2-DG uptake, 93%). Results of treatment with the separate fractions showed that the 300K fraction caused a significantly greater increase in STX-binding than either HS or the other fractions. In contrast, the increases in Rb and 2-DG uptakes induced by the different fractions were not different from that obtained with HS. We conclude that serum contains a factor that selectively increases expression of TTX-sensitive Na-channels in skeletal muscle.     

Synaptonemal complex damage in relation to meiotic chromosome aberrations after exposure of male mice to cyclophosphamide

The genetic implications of induced synaptonemal complex (SC) damage are not known. However, on theoretical grounds, such aberrations could be involved in mechanisms leading to potentially heritable defects. Cyclophosphamide (CP), a chemical reported to cause structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in the mouse, was used to determine if SC damage observed in meiotic prophase is related to subsequent metaphase chromosomal aberrations. Male mice were injected i.p. with CP. In some instances, mice were also injected simultaneously with tritiated thymidine to label DNA so that cells could be tracked autoradiographically through spermatogenesis. Prophase, primary metaphase (M1), and secondary metaphase (M2) samples were sequentially harvested at appropriate times from the same individual, and nuclei were examined for aberrations. Correlation coefficients between SC and metaphase chromosome aberrations were calculated. The inclusion of tritium labeling increased the number and significance of positive correlations. Positive correlations were found between (1) dose-dependent total SC damage and damage to M1, and to a lesser extent, M2 chromosomes; (2) SC breaks/fragments and M1 chains/rings as well as isochromatid breaks/fragments; (3) SC asynapsis and M1 chromatid breaks/fragments; (4) SC multi-axial configurations and M1 chains/rings as well as isochromatid and chromatid breaks/fragments; and (5) SC multi-axial configurations and M2 hyperploidy. These correlations do not define mechanistic or causal relationships between SC and chromosomal damage. However, taken together with the observation that induced SC damage is many times greater than ensuing metaphase chromosome damage, they substantiate SC analysis as a highly sensitive indicator of potentially heritable effects of this (and presumably other) genotoxic agents.     

The relevance of caffeine post-treatment to SCE incidence induced in Chinese hamster cells

The influence of caffeine post-treatment on sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosomal aberration frequencies on Chinese hamster cells exposed to a variety of chemical and physical agents followed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) was determined. After 2 h treatment, N-methyl-N′-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and cis-platinum(II)diamine dichloride (cis-Pt(II)) induced a 7- and 6-fold increase in SCE, respectively, while 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), proflavine, and N-hydroxyfluorenylacetamide (OH-AAF) caused a 2–3-fold increase in SCE compared to controls treated with BrdUrd alone. Ultraviolet light doubled the number of SCE. The lowest increase of SCE was obtained with bleomycin and X-irradiation. Caffeine post-treatment caused a statistically significant increase in the frequency of SCE induced by UV- and X-irradiation as well as by 4NQO and MMS but did not alter the number of SCE induced by MNNG, cis-Pt(II), proflavine, OH-AAF, and bleomycin.

Caffeine post-treatment increased the number of cells with chromosomal aberrations induced by MNNG, cis-Pt(II), UV, 4NQO, MMS, and proflavine. With the exception of proflavine, these agents are dependent on DNA and chromosome replication for the expression of the chromosomal aberrations. Caffeine enhancement of cis-Pt(II) chromosomal aberrations occurred independently of the time interval between treatment and chromosome preparations. Chromosomal damage produced by bleomycin and X-irradiation, agents known to induce chromosomal aberrations independent of “S” phase of the cell cycle, as well as the damage induced with OH-AAF was not influenced by caffeine post-treatment.

The enhancement by caffeine, an inhibitor of the gap-filling process in post-replication repair, of chromosomal aberrations induced by “S” dependent agents, is consistent with the involvement of this type of repair in chromosomal aberration formation. The lack of inhibition of SCE frequency by caffeine indicates that post-replication repair is probably not important in SCE formation.     

FTS and 2-DG induce pancreatic cancer cell death and tumor shrinkage in mice

The Ras inhibitor S-trans-trans farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) inhibits active Ras, which controls cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and metabolism. FTS also inhibits HIF1α expression in cancer cells, leading to an energy crisis. The synthetic glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), which inhibits glycolysis, is selectively directed to tumor cells that exhibit increased glucose consumption. The 2-DG enters tumor cells, where it competes with glucose for glycolytic enzymes. In cancer models, as well as in human phase 1 trials, 2-DG inhibits tumor growth without toxicity. We postulated that under normoxic conditions, tumor cells treated with FTS would be more sensitive than normal cells to 2-DG. We show here that combined treatment with FTS and 2-DG inhibited cancer cell proliferation additively, yet induced apoptotic cell death synergistically both in vitro and in vivo. The induced apoptosis was inferred from QVD-OPH inhibition, an increase in cleaved caspase 3, and loss of survivin. FTS and 2-DG when combined, but not separately, also induced an increase in fibrosis of the tumor tissue, chronic inflammation, and tumor shrinkage. Overall, these results suggest a possible new treatment of pancreatic tumors by the combined administration of FTS and 2-DG, which together induce pancreatic tumor cell death and tumor shrinkage under non-toxic conditions.     

Exogenous catalase introduced in CHO cells by electroporation does not protect against chromosome damage induced by ionizing radiation.

The relative importance of hydrogen peroxide generated as a consequence of irradiation with X-rays for the production of chromosomal aberrations has been studied in cultured CHO cells. Catalase introduced into cells by electroporation protected DNA from strand breakage induced by hydrogen peroxide given 4h later, and the yield of chromosome aberrations was also reduced. Nevertheless, when the cells were irradiated after treatment with catalase following a similar protocol and the yield of chromosomal aberrations analyzed at metaphase, no protective effect was observed as compared with cells treated with X-rays alone. These observations seem to support the hypothesis that hydroxyl radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide are not a major factor responsible for chromosome damage induced by ionizing radiation.     

Inducibility of chromosomal aberrations by metal compounds in cultured mammalian cells.

Metal compounds were tested for their ability to induce chromosomal aberrations in cultured mammalian cells. Chromosomal aberrations were induced by the application of some Cr, Mn and Ni compounds. Among 6-valent Cr compounds, K2Cr2O7 and CrO3 induced high levels of aberrations, at rates which were similar for Cr-equivalent doses. The perchromate compounds were more efficient in producing chromosomal aberrations than was a chromate compound, K2CrO4. A 3-valent Cr compound, Cr2(SO4)3, was less toxic and failed to induce a demonstrable increase in chromosomal aberrations. KMnO4 induced aberrations, but at a low rate. As to Ni compounds, NiCl2 and (CH3COO)2Ni induced few aberrations. Administration of K2Ni(CN)4 induced only gaps. NiS induced a low but definite increase in chromosomal aberrations. The rate of these aberrations increased with an increase in treatment time from 24 to 48 h, indicating a time-dependent increase in the hereditable toxicity of metal compounds. CdCl2 and HgCl2 were somewhat toxic, but failed to induce chromosomal aberrations in the present study.