Spicamycin,a New Differentiation Inducer of Mouse Myeloid Leukemia Cells (Ml) and Human Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells (HL-60)

A new antibiotic was obtained from the culture broth of Streptomyces alanosinicus 879-MT₃, and the name spicamycin was given. Spicamycin had a marked effect on the induction of differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) as well as mouse myeloid leukemia cells (Ml). Its structure was elucidated by degradative studies and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral analysis as shown in Fig. 1.     

Spred2 Modulates the Erythroid Differentiation Induced by Imatinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Differentiation induction is currently considered as an alternative strategy for treating chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Our previous work has demonstrated that Sprouty-related EVH1 domainprotein2 (Spred2) was involved in imatinib mediated cytotoxicity in CML cells. However, its roles in growth and lineage differentiation of CML cells remain unknown. In this study, we found that CML CD34⁺ cells expressed lower level of Spred2 compared with normal hematopoietic progenitor cells, and adenovirus mediated restoration of Spred2 promoted the erythroid differentiation of CML cells. Imatinib could induce Spred2 expression and enhance erythroid differentiation in K562 cells. However, the imatinib induced erythroid differentiation could be blocked by Spred2 silence using lentiviral vector PLKO.1-shSpred2. Spred2 interference activated phosphorylated-ERK (p-ERK) and inhibited erythroid differentiation, while ERK inhibitor, PD98059, could restore the erythroid differentiation, suggesting Spred2 regulated the erythroid differentiation partly through ERK signaling. Furthermore, Spred2 interference partly restored p-ERK level leading to inhibition of erythroid differentiation in imatinib treated K562 cells. In conclusion, Spred2 was involved in erythroid differentiation of CML cells and participated in imatinib induced erythroid differentiation partly through ERK signaling.     

The Structure of Latosillan,a New Differentiation Inducer of Mouse Myeloid Leukemia Cells (M 1)

The structure of latosillan was elucidated by a degradative study and NMR spectral analysis. This revealed that latosillan is a heteroglycan composed of repeating units of the pentasaccharide, →2)-β-d-Man-(1→2)-{β-d-G1CNAC-(1→4)}.-α-l-Rha-(1→4)-α-l-Rha-(1→4)-α-l-Rha-(1→, shown in Fig. 1.     

Human EVI9, a Homologue of the Mouse Myeloid Leukemia Gene, Is Expressed in the Hematopoietic Progenitors and Down-Regulated during Myeloid Differentiation of HL60 Cells

Evi9, a common site of retroviral integration in BXH2 murine myeloid leukemias, encodes a C₂H₂ zinc finger protein and is overexpressed in these leukemic cells. To investigate a possible role of EVI9 in the human hematopoietic system, we isolated the cDNA clone of the human homologue. Human EVI9, located on the chromosome 2p13 region, contains an open reading frame of 797 amino acids that is 98.7% identical to the mouse protein. RT-PCR analysis of purified human hematopoietic cells showed that EVI9 is expressed in CD34-positive myeloid precursors, B cells, monocytes, and megakaryocytes, but only weakly in T lymphocytes, suggesting that EVI9 may play an important role in hematopoiesis. Furthermore, EVI9 was down-regulated during myeloid differentiation of HL60 cells induced by all-trans-retinoic acid, whereas the expression remained during monocytic differentiation induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. These results indicate a distinct role for EVI9 in human hematopoietic cells and suggest that EVI9 may cause leukemia through inhibition of myeloid differentiation.     

Oncogenic NRAS Primes Primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells for Differentiation

RAS mutations are frequently found among acute myeloid leukemia patients (AML), generating a constitutively active signaling protein changing cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. We have previously shown that treatment of AML patients with high-dose cytarabine is preferentially beneficial for those harboring oncogenic RAS. On the basis of a murine AML cell culture model, we ascribed this effect to a RAS-driven, p53-dependent induction of differentiation. Hence, in this study we sought to confirm the correlation between RAS status and differentiation of primary blasts obtained from AML patients. The gene expression signature of AML blasts with oncogenic NRAS indeed corresponded to a more mature profile compared to blasts with wildtype RAS, as demonstrated by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and real-time PCR analysis of myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 homolog (MEIS1) in a unique cohort of AML patients. In addition, in vitro cell culture experiments with established cell lines and a second set of primary AML cells showed that oncogenic NRAS mutations predisposed cells to cytarabine (AraC) driven differentiation. Taken together, our findings show that AML with inv(16) and NRAS mutation have a differentiation gene signature, supporting the notion that NRAS mutation may predispose leukemic cells to AraC induced differentiation. We therefore suggest that promotion of differentiation pathways by specific genetic alterations could explain the superior treatment outcome after therapy in some AML patient subgroups. Whether a differentiation gene expression status may generally predict for a superior treatment outcome in AML needs to be addressed in future studies.     

Inhibition of c-Myc Overcomes Cytotoxic Drug Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells by Promoting Differentiation

Nowadays, drug resistance still represents a major obstacle to successful acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment and the underlying mechanism is not fully elucidated. Here, we found that high expression of c-Myc was one of the cytogenetic characteristics in the drug-resistant leukemic cells. c-Myc over-expression in leukemic cells induced resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, enhanced colony formation capacity and inhibited cell differentiation induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Meanwhile, inhibition of c-Myc by shRNA or specific c-Myc inhibitor 10058-F4 rescued the sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs, restrained the colony formation ability and promoted differentiation. RT-PCR and western blotting analysis showed that down-regulation of C/EBPβ contributed to the poor differentiation state of leukemic cells induced by c-Myc over-expression. Importantly, over-expression of C/EBPβ could reverse c-Myc induced drug resistance. In primary AML cells, the c-Myc expression was negatively correlated with C/EBPβ. 10058-F4, displayed anti-proliferative activity and increased cellular differentiation with up-regulation of C/EBPβ in primary AML cells. Thus, our study indicated that c-Myc could be a novel target to overcome drug resistance, providing a new approach in AML therapy.     

Characterization of Apoptosis Induced by Fucoxanthin in Human Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells

Apoptosis induced by fucoxanthin in HL-60 cells was associated with a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential at an early stage, but not with an increase in reactive oxygen species. Fucoxanthin treatment caused cleavages of procaspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase without any effect on the protein level of Bcl-2, Bcl-X_L, or Bax. Apoptosis induction by fucoxanthin may be mediated via mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and caspase-3 activation.     

Latosillan,a New Differentiation Inducer of Mouse Myeloid Leukemia Cells (M1): Taxonomy,Fermentation, Isolation,Physicochemical Properties and Biological Properties

A new polysaccharide was obtained from the culture filtrate of a bacterium, Alcaligenes latus strain G66A. This polysaccharide induced differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1), and has been named latosillan.     

急性前髓细胞性白血病细胞诱导分化实验的研究进展

急性前髓细胞性白血病或急性早幼粒细胞白血病（APL）是一种特殊类型的血液系统恶性克隆性疾病,其特点是异常早幼粒细胞无限增殖伴分化受阻,是白血病中最危重的一种类型。95%以上的APL患者具有（t15;17）染色体异常,形成PML/RAR融合基因,几乎存在于所有的APL细胞中,成为APL细胞的一个特异性标志,是APL发病重要分子基础。自从全反式维甲酸（ATRA）成功用于临床诱导APL分化以来,对诱导分化剂的作用机制的研究已取得很大的进展。本文主要对APL细胞遗传学和分子生物学特征、发病机制、诱导分化机制、分化后细胞表型变化等方面对APL细胞诱导分化实验的研究进展进行综述。     

维甲酸与星状孢子素联合分化诱导HL-60细胞过程中酪氨酸蛋白质磷酸化系统的变化

以人早幼粒白血病细胞株（HL-60）为材料,对维甲酸与星状孢子素联合诱导HL-60细胞过程中胞浆和膜部分的蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸化水平变化进行了研究．结果表明,诱导后2～24h范围内,TPK活力出现波动,随时间延长（24～27h）,胞浆部分TPK活力下降,膜溶脱部分TPK活力上升;PTPP活力明显升高且上升幅度比TPK大得多．利用抗P-tyr-BSA抗体分析底物含量变化的结果与相应时相的TPK和PTPP活力变化趋势一致．     

L6565小鼠白血病病毒诱发小鼠白血病

为探讨病毒与白血病发生的关系,我们用L6565小鼠白血病病毒（L6565MLV）悬液感染乳鼠,每周观察小鼠的发病情况及病理变化,并用逆转录一聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）动态检测小鼠体内病毒核酸的分布,结果发现：小鼠感染病毒后3－5周,其脾脏和淋巴结呈早期白血病的病理改变,至第10－12周小鼠发生淋巴细胞白血病,表现出耸毛、活动减少、腹膨胀等症状。病毒核酸于感染后第2周首先在小鼠胸腺、脾脏检测到,随时间延长,病毒核酸广泛分布在外周血、胸腺、脾脏、淋巴结等多种脏器组织中。本实验表明L6565小鼠白血病病毒可诱发小鼠白血病,其机制可能与病毒促使淋巴细胞向白血病细胞转化有关。     

L6565小鼠白血病病毒诱发小鼠白血病

为探讨病毒与白血病发生的关系,我们用L6565小鼠白血病病毒(L6565MLV)悬液感染乳鼠,每周观察小鼠的发病情况及病理变化,并用逆转录一聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)动态检测小鼠体内病毒核酸的分布.结果发现小鼠感染病毒后3～5周,其脾脏和淋巴结呈早期白血病的病理改变.至第10～12周小鼠发生淋巴细胞白血病,表现出耸毛、活动减少、腹膨胀等症状.病毒核酸于感染后第2周首先在小鼠胸腺、脾脏检测到,随时间延长,病毒核酸广泛分布在外周血、胸腺、脾脏、淋巴结等多种脏器组织中.本实验表明L6565小鼠白血病病毒可诱发小鼠白血病,其机制可能与病毒促使淋巴细胞向白血病细胞转化有关.     

过表达TRAF6对人急性髓系白血病细胞自噬活性的影响

该文旨在探讨过表达肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子6(tumor necrosis factor receptorassociated factor 6,TRAF6)对人急性髓系白血病(acute myeloid leukemia,AML)细胞自噬活性的影响。利用基因表达数据库GEO分析TRAF6在AML患者白血病细胞中的mRNA表达水平。通过癌症基因组图谱TCGA分析TRAF6表达与AML患者临床预后的关系。将TRAF6重组质粒载体转染人AML细胞系(KG-1a和THP-1),采用自噬激活剂雷帕霉素(Rapamycin)和自噬相关抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤(3-methyladenine,3-MA)、巴弗洛霉素A1(bafilomycin A1,Baf-A1)分别处理AML细胞。荧光定量PCR、蛋白免疫印迹技术检测过表达TRAF6后白血病细胞自噬标志物(LC3和p62)mRNA和蛋白水平;免疫荧光方法检测LC3绿色荧光斑点结构(puncta);流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率;CCK-8实验检测AML细胞的体外增殖能力。结果显示,AML患者白血病细胞高表达TRAF6(P<0.01);TRAF6高表达的白血病患者总体生存率和无事件生存率均较TRAF6低表达组显著降低(P=0.01)。TRAF6重组质粒转染能够显著增加两株AML细胞系中TRAF6的mRNA和蛋白水平(P<0.05)。Rapamycin处理能够激活AML细胞系自噬水平,过表达TRAF6后AML细胞LC3 mRNA和LC3II蛋白水平表达上调(P<0.05)、p62 mRNA和蛋白水平下调(P<0.05)以及LC3 puncta聚集增多。用Baf-A1处理以阻断过表达TRAF6的白血病细胞系中的自噬流后,LC3II蛋白表达水平显著提高(P<0.05)。3-MA处理过表达TRAF6的白血病细胞后,LC3II蛋白表达减少、p62蛋白表达增加(P<0.05)。此外,过表达TRAF6降低白血病细胞凋亡率和促进细胞的体外增殖(P<0.001),而过表达TRAF6后联合3-MA处理则可逆转TRAF6对白血病细胞的抗凋亡和促增殖作用(P<0.001)。以上研究结果提示,过表达TRAF6能够增强AML细胞的自噬活性,促进AML细胞的生长。     

青蒿素诱导人白血病细胞K562凋亡的线粒体机制

目的:探讨青蒿素诱导人白血病细胞K562凋亡的线粒体机制.方法:用青蒿素处理K562细胞.通过MTT比色法检别细胞增殖抑制的效果;荧光显微镜观察细胞的凋亡;流式细胞术(flow cytometry,FCM)进行细胞周期分析;Western-blotting测定药物作用前后线粒体、细胞浆细胞色素C的表达.结果:青蒿素抑制K562细胞的增殖,IC5D为1.5× 10-5mol·L-1;Hoechst33342/PI双荧光染色可观察到明显的核浓缩、凝集等细胞凋亡表现;流式细胞仪检测G2期细胞比例增高,S期减少;Western-blotting检测药物处理细胞后线粒体细胞色素C表达水平下调,细胞浆出现明显细胞色素C蛋白条带.结论:青蒿素可能通过线粒体细胞色素C途径诱导K562细胞凋亡.     

Sensitization of Chemo-Resistant Human Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Stem-Like Cells to Hsp90 Inhibitor by SIRT1 Inhibition

Development of effective therapeutic strategies to eliminate cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), which play a major role in drug resistance and disease recurrence, is critical to improve cancer treatment outcomes. The current investigation was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of the combination treatment of Hsp90 inhibitor and SIRT1 inhibitor in inhibiting the growth of chemo-resistant stem-like cells isolated from human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells. Inhibition of SIRT1 by use of SIRT1 siRNA or SIRT1 inhibitors (amurensin G and EX527) effectively potentiated sensitivity of Hsp90 inhibitors (17-AAG and AUY922) in CD44^high K562 stem-like cells expressing high levels of CSC-related molecules including Oct4, CD34, β-catenin, c-Myc, mutant p53 (mut p53), BCRP and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) as well as CD44. SIRT1 depletion caused significant down-regulation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1)/heat shock proteins (Hsps) as well as these CSC-related molecules, which led to the sensitization of CD44^high K562 cells to Hsp90 inhibitor by SIRT1 inhibitor. Moreover, 17-AAG-mediated activation of HSF1/Hsps and P-gp-mediated efflux, major causes of Hsp90 inhibitor resistance, was suppressed by SIRT1 inhibitor in K562-CD44^high cells. Our data suggest that combined treatment with Hsp90 inhibitor and SIRT1 inhibitor could be an effective therapeutic approach to target CSCs that are resistant to current therapies.     

Knockdown of SALL4 Protein Enhances All-trans Retinoic Acid-induced Cellular Differentiation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a differentiation agent that revolutionized the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, it has not been useful for other types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here we explored the effect of SALL4, a stem cell factor, on ATRA-induced AML differentiation in both ATRA-sensitive and ATRA-resistant AML cells. Aberrant SALL4 expression has been found in nearly all human AML cases, whereas, in normal bone marrow and peripheral blood cells, its expression is only restricted to hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. We reason that, in AMLs, SALL4 activation may prevent cell differentiation and/or protect self-renewal that is seen in normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Indeed, our studies show that ATRA-mediated myeloid differentiation can be largely blocked by exogenous expression of SALL4, whereas ATRA plus SALL4 knockdown causes significantly increased AML differentiation and cell death. Mechanistic studies indicate that SALL4 directly associates with retinoic acid receptor α and modulates ATRA target gene expression. SALL4 is shown to recruit lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) to target genes and alter the histone methylation status. Furthermore, coinhibition of LSD1 and SALL4 plus ATRA treatment exhibited the strongest anti-AML effect. These findings suggest that SALL4 plays an unfavorable role in ATRA-based regimes, highlighting an important aspect of leukemia therapy.     

M-CSF诱导人骨髓间充质干细胞分化为肝样细胞的分子机制

本研究主要目的是明确M-CSF诱导骨髓间充质干细胞分化为肝样细胞的分子机制,为临床中的肝移植和治疗肝病提供新思路。对取自于本院骨科治疗的患者的股骨骨髓间充质干细胞进行提取、分离、传代培养及鉴定。流式细胞仪检测BMSCs的表面表型。为了诱导BMSCs的肝分化,本研究将BMSCs加入到培养基中。骨髓间充质干细胞诱导21 d后,BMSCs表达了肝细胞特异性标志物a-蛋白(AFP)和细胞角蛋白18(CK18),通过免疫荧光染色证实了分化与为分化的BMSCs表达的差异性。分化的BMSCs还显示了肝细胞的体外功能特征,包括白蛋白产生、尿素分泌和糖原储存。本研究结果表明,BMSCs在M-CSF诱导下可分化为功能性肝细胞样细胞,可作为肝病治疗的细胞来源。