Imatinib mesylate (STI-571) reduces Bcr-Abl-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor secretion in chronic myelogenous leukemia

A large and diverse spectrum of oncogenes has been implicated as a contributor to angiogenesis in solid tumors based, in part, on its ability to induce proangiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the fact that various anti-oncogenic signaling inhibitor drugs have been shown to reverse such proangiogenic effects both in vitro and in vivo. Because leukemias are now also considered to be angiogenesis-dependent malignancies, we asked whether a similar paradigm might exist for the BCR-ABL oncogene and the Bcr-Abl targeting drug, STI-571 (imatinib mesylate), in the context of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. We found that levels of VEGF expression in BCR-ABL-positive K562 cells were reduced in vitro by treatment with STI-571 in a dose-dependent fashion. Transfection of BCR-ABL into murine myeloid 32D and human megakaryocyte MO7e hematopoietic cells resulted in enhanced VEGF expression, which could be further elevated by the exposure to cytokines such as interleukin 3 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. We also found that conditioned media taken from 32D-p210-transfected cells could stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cells by increasing phosphorylation of VEGF-R2/KDR and the downstream serine/threonine kinase PKB/Akt, an important regulator of endothelial cell survival. Moreover, amplification of BCR-ABL in STI-571-resistant cells was associated with elevated VEGF expression levels which could be reversed by treatment with higher concentrations of STI-571. Taken together, our results implicate BCR-ABL as a possible regulator of CML angiogenesis and raise the possibility that STI-571 could mediate some of its anti-CML properties in vivo through an angiogenesis-dependent mechanism.     

Effect of STI-571 (imatinib mesylate) in combination with retinoic acid and gamma-irradiation on viability of neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) expresses the tyrosine kinase receptors c-Kit, PDGFR-alpha and -beta-targets for STI-571.We investigated a possible combination therapy of STI-571 with retinoic acid (RA) and gamma-irradiation on NB cell viability in vitro. Expression of tyrosine kinase receptors and their ligands was examined in 6 NB cell lines by RT-PCR and FACS. The effect on cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell viability of all 6 NB cell lines was significantly inhibited after treatment with 20 microM STI-571 for 72h, two cell lines responding already to 10 microM. Cell lines responded irrespective of their mRNA status or cell surface expression of c-Kit, PDGFR-alpha and -beta. Co-incubation with 9-cis RA sensitized cells to the inhibitory effects of STI-571. However, pre-treatment with 9-cis RA resulted in resistance of NB cell lines to STI-571 and gamma-irradiation. Treatment of NB with STI-571 in combination with 9-cis RA might be a therapeutic strategy for patients in consolidation therapy who have completed gamma-irradiation therapy.     

A Bcr/Abl-independent, Lyn-dependent form of imatinib mesylate (STI-571) resistance is associated with altered expression of Bcl-2

The relationship between the Src kinase Lyn and Bcl-2 expression was examined in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells (K562 and LAMA84) displaying a Bcr/Abl-independent form of imatinib mesylate resistance. K562-R and LAMA-R cells that were markedly resistant to induction of mitochondrial dysfunction (e.g. loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, Bax translocation, cytochrome c, and apoptosis-inducing factor release) and apoptosis by imatinib mesylate exhibited a pronounced reduction in expression of Bcr/Abl, Bcl-x(L), and STAT5 but a striking increase in levels of activated Lyn. Whereas basal expression of Bcl-2 protein was very low in parental cells, imatinib-resistant cells displayed a marked increase in Bcl-2 mRNA and/or protein levels. Treatment of LAMA-R cells with the Src kinase inhibitor PP2 significantly reduced Lyn activation as well as Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels. Transient or stable transfection of LAMA84 or K562 cells with a constitutively active Lyn (Y508F), but not with a kinase-dead mutant (K275D), significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression and protected cells from lethality of imatinib mesylate. Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 protected K562 and LAMA84 cells from imatinib mesylate- and PP2-mediated lethality. Conversely, interference with Bcl-2 function by co-administration of the small molecule Bcl-2 inhibitor HA14-1 or down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression by small interfering RNA or antisense strategies significantly increased mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis induced by imatinib mesylate and the topoisomerase inhibitor VP-16 in LAMA-R cells. In marked contrast, these interventions had little effect in parental LAMA84 cells that display low basal levels of Bcl-2. Together, these findings indicate that activation of Lyn in leukemia cells displaying a Bcr/Abl-independent form of imatinib mesylate resistance plays a functional role in Bcl-2 up-regulation and provide a theoretical basis for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting Bcl-2 in such a setting.     

Imatinib mesylate in chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia has become a paradigm for the discovery of target therapeutic approaches in the field of onco-hematology. Recognition of the tyrosine kinase activity of the p210Bcr-Abl oncoprotein led to the development of compounds targeting against BCR-ABL and then controlling the leukemic proliferation. Imatinib mesylate, one of the first tyrosine kinase inhibitors developed, was found effective and safe. According to five-years experience with this drug, it is recommended that the golden standard for initial treatment of newly diagnosis chronic myeloid leukemia patients should be 400 mg Imatinib daily. In this brief review, we discuss the current tools for the effective management of chronic myeloid leukemia with Imatinib, providing the updated results of IRIS and RIGHT clinical trials and then the suggestions how Imatinib-treated patients should be monitored.     

Transgenic expression of osteoactivin in the liver attenuates hepatic fibrosis in rats

The role of osteoactivin (OA) in liver fibrogenesis remains unclear. After feeding wild-type (WT) and OA transgenic (OA-Tg) rats a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet for 12 weeks, we evaluated liver fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin protein in OA-Tg rats were reduced in comparison to WT rats. Our examination of the expression of 31,100 genes by microarray analysis identified 177 and 256 genes that were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, by at least twofold in OA-Tg rat livers in comparison to WT rat livers. Of these genes, we confirmed a significant downregulation in the expression levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -2, type I collagen, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha and -beta in the livers of OA-Tg rats. These results indicate that transgenic OA expression attenuates the development of hepatic fibrosis in association with the suppression of specific genes involved in its pathogenesis.     

Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) gene therapy attenuates CCl4-induced liver injury and fibrosis in rats

Liver fibrosis represents a process of healing and scarring in response to chronic liver injury. Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) has been shown to protect hepatocytes from various toxins. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ALR gene therapy on liver injury and fibrosis induced by CCl₄ in rats and further explore the underlying mechanisms. Human ALR expression plasmid was delivered via the tail vein. ALR gene therapy might protect the liver from CCl₄-induced injury and fibrogenesis by attenuating the mitochondrial dysfunction, suppressing oxidative stress, and inhibiting activation of HSCs. This report demonstrated that ALR gene therapy protected against the ATP loss, increased the activity of ATPase, decreased intrahepatic reactive oxygen species level, and down-regulated transforming growth factor-β1, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and α-smooth muscle actin expression. Following gene transfer liver function tests were significantly improved. In brief, ALR gene therapy might be an effective therapeutic reagent for liver fibrosis with potential clinical applications.     

Imatinib (STI571) inhibits DNA repair in human leukemia oncogenic tyrosine kinase-expressing cells

BCR/ABL oncogene, as a result of chromosome aberration t(9;22), is the pathogenic principle of almost 95% of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib (STI571) is a highly selective inhibitor of BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase used in leukemia treatment. It has been suggested that BCR/ABL may contribute to the resistance of leukemic cells to drug and radiation through stimulation of DNA repair in these cells. To evaluate further the influence of STI571 on DNA repair we studied the efficacy of this process in BCR/ABL-positive and -negative cells using single cell electrophoresis (comet assay). In our experiments, K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia cells expressing BCR/ABL and CCRF-CEM human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells without BCR/ABL expression were employed. The cells were exposed for 1 h at 37 degrees C to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) at 5 microM, mitomycin C (MMC) at 50 microM or to gamma-radiation at 15 Gy with or without a 24 h preincubation at 1 microM of STI571. The MTT cells survival after 4 days of culture showed that STI571 enhanced the cytotoxity of the examined compounds in the K562 line. Further it was found, that the inhibitor decreased the efficacy of DNA repair challenged by each agent, but only in the K562 expressing BCR/ABL. Due to the variety of DNA damage induced by the employed agents in this study we can speculate, that BCR/ABL may stimulate multiple pathways of DNA repair. These results extend our previous studies performed on BCR/ABL-transformed mouse cells onto human cells. It is shown that BCR/ABL stimulated DNA repair in human leukemia cells. In conclusion we report that STI571 was found to inhibit DNA repair and abrogate BCR/ABL-positive human leukemia cells therapeutic resistance.     

Saikosaponin-d attenuates the development of liver fibrosis by preventing hepatocyte injury.

Treatment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis remains a challenging field. Hepatocyte injury and the activation of hepatic stellate cells are the 2 major events in the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. It is known that several Chinese herbs have significant beneficial effects on the liver; therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of saikosaponin-d (SSd) on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. A rat model of liver fibrosis was established using the dimethylnitrosamine method. Liver tissue and serum were used to examine the effect of SSd on liver fibrosis. A hepatocyte culture was also used to investigate how SSd can protect hepatocytes from oxidative injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. The results showed that SSd significantly reduced collagen I deposition in the liver and alanine aminotransferase level in the serum. Moreover, SSd decreased the content of TGF-beta1 in the liver, which was significantly elevated after dimethylnitrosamine induced liver fibrosis. Furthermore, SSd was able to alleviate hepatocyte injury from oxidative stress. In conclusion, SSd could postpone the development of liver fibrosis by attenuating hepatocyte injury.     

Imatinib mesylate (STI571) abrogates the resistance to doxorubicin in human K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells by inhibition of BCR/ABL kinase-mediated DNA repair

Imatinib mesylate (STI571), a specific inhibitor of BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase, exhibits potent antileukemic effects in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, the precise mechanism by which inhibition of BCR/ABL activity results in pharmacological responses remains unknown. BCR/ABL-positive human K562 CML cells resistant to doxorubicin (K562DoxR) and their sensitive counterparts (K562DoxS) were used to determine the mechanism by which the STI571 inhibitor may overcome drug resistance. K562 wild type cells and CCRF-CEM lymphoblastic leukemia cells without BCR/ABL were used as controls. The STI571 specificity was examined by use of murine pro-B lymphoid Baf3 cells with or without BCR/ABL kinase expression. We examined kinetics of DNA repair after cell treatment with doxorubicin in the presence or absence of STI571 by the alkaline comet assay. The MTT assay was used to estimate resistance against doxorubicin and Western blot analysis with Crk-L antibody was performed to evaluate BCR/ABL kinase inhibition by STI571. We provide evidence that treatment of CML-derived BCR/ABL-expressing leukemia K562 cells with STI571 results in the inhibition of DNA repair and abrogation of the resistance of these cells to doxorubicin. We found that doxorubicin-resistant K562DoxR cells exhibited accelerated kinetics of DNA repair compared with doxorubicin-sensitive K562DoxS cells. Inhibition of BCR/ABL kinase in K562DoxR cells with 1 microM STI571 decreased the kinetics of DNA repair and abrogated drug resistance. The results suggest that STI571-mediated inhibition of BCR/ABL kinase activity can affect the effectiveness of the DNA-repair pathways, which in turn may enhance drug sensitivity of leukemia cells.     

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) protects against streptozotocin-induced diabetes and islet cell death in vitro

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) has been demonstrated to protect various cell types from death by inhibition of Abelson tyrosine kinase (c-Abl). The aim of the present study was to establish whether imatinib protects the insulin producing beta-cell from the different apoptosis promoting agents in vitro and whether imatinib counteracts streptozotocin-induced diabetes in NMRI mice. We observe that imatinib attenuated the actions of several different death promoting substances. In addition, mice injected with streptozotocin did not develop diabetes when given imatinib. The beneficial effects of imatinib may be related to inhibition of the pro-apoptotic MAP kinase JNK. We conclude that imatinib protects against beta-cell death and that this may contribute to the previously reported anti-diabetic actions of imatinib.     

C3G silencing enhances STI-571-induced apoptosis in CML cells through p38 MAPK activation,but it antagonizes STI-571 inhibitory effect on survival

In this work we report evidences of a functional relationship between C3G and p38 MAPK in the apoptotic effect of STI-571 on the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line K562. This has been demonstrated by knocking down C3G and p38α using the interfering RNA approach, as well as through targeting p38 by its inhibitor SB203580. The results indicate that p38 is a mediator of the STI-571-induced apoptosis, while C3G plays a negative role on STI-571-mediated p38 activation through a Rap1-dependent mechanism. According to this, gene expression analysis in C3G silenced cells revealed an upregulation of a large number of genes involved in apoptosis. Some of these genes are also down-regulated (at the protein level) upon p38α knock-down, which further suggests a functional association between these two proteins. On the other hand, C3G knock-down reverts the STI-571-inhibitory effect on ERKs and Akt pathways in a Rap1-independent fashion. Moreover, C3G overexpression also increased both, basal and STI-571-induced apoptosis, in agreement with previous reports. Therefore, our results strongly suggest a dual regulatory role for C3G in CML cells, modulating both apoptosis and survival via Rap-dependent and independent mechanisms.     

Nicotinamide riboside,an NAD+ precursor,attenuates the development of liver fibrosis in a diet-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis

ObjectiveLiver fibrosis is part of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) spectrum, which currently has no approved pharmacological treatment. In this study, we investigated whether supplementation of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) precursor, can reduce the development of liver fibrosis in a diet-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis.MethodsMale C57BL/6 J mice were fed a low-fat control (LF), a high-fat/high-sucrose/high-cholesterol control (HF) or a HF diet supplemented with NR at 400 mg/kg/day (HF-NR) for 20 weeks. Features of liver fibrosis were assessed by histological and biochemical analyses. Whole-body energy metabolism was also assessed using indirect calorimetry. Primary mouse and human hepatic stellate cells were used to determine the anti-fibrogenic effects of NR in vitro.ResultsNR supplementation significantly reduced body weight of mice only 7 weeks after mice were on the supplementation, but did not attenuate serum alanine aminotransferase levels, liver steatosis, or liver inflammation. However, NR markedly reduced collagen accumulation in the liver. RNA-Seq analysis suggested that the expression of genes involved in NAD+ metabolism is altered in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) compared to quiescent HSCs. NR inhibited the activation of HSCs in primary mouse and human HSCs. Indirect calorimetry showed that NR increased energy expenditure, likely by upregulation of β-oxidation in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue.ConclusionNR attenuated HSC activation, leading to reduced liver fibrosis in a diet-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis. The data suggest that NR may be developed as a potential preventative for human liver fibrosis.     

Imatinib (STI571) induces DNA damage in BCR/ABL-expressing leukemic cells but not in normal lymphocytes

Imatinib (STI571) is a 2-phenylaminopyrimidine derivative used mostly in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia. It targets the BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase, inhibiting its activity. Using the alkaline comet assay we showed that STI571 at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 2 microM induced DNA damage in human leukemic K562 and BV173 cells expressing the BCR/ABL oncogene, whereas it had no effect in normal human lymphocytes and leukemic CCRF-CEM cells without the expression of BCR/ABL. Imatinib did not induce DNA strand breaks in the direct interaction with DNA as examined by the circular plasmid relaxation assay. Because the extent of DNA damage observed in the neutral and pH 12.1 versions of the comet assay was much lesser than in the alkaline version, we concluded that the drug induced DNA alkali-labile sites rather than strand breaks. K562 cells were unable to repair H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage during a 120-min incubation, if they had been preincubated with STI571, whereas normal lymphocytes did so within 60 min. Pre-treatment of K562 cells with Vitamins A, C and E reduced the extent of DNA damage evoked by STI571. Similar results brought experiments with the nitrone spin traps POBN and PBN, suggesting that free radicals may be involved in the formation of DNA lesions induced by STI571 in K562 cells. These cells exposed to imatinib and treated with endonuclease III, formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase and 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase II, the enzymes recognizing oxidized and alkylated bases, displayed greater extent of DNA damage than those not treated with these enzymes. Therefore, the mechanism of the anti-leukemic action of STI571 may involve not only the inhibition of BCR/ABL, but also DNA damage in the cells expressing this fusion protein. DNA damage induced by STI571 may follow from oxidative and alkylative base modifications.     

Total extract of Yupingfeng attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

Yupingfeng is a Chinese herbal compound used efficaciously to treat respiratory tract diseases. Total glucosides of Yupingfeng have been proven effective in anti-inflammation and immunoregulation. Nevertheless, the role of total extract of Yupingfeng (YTE) in pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a severe lung disease with no substantial therapies, remains unknown. Present study was conducted to elucidate the anti-fibrotic activity of YTE. The rat PF model was induced by intratracheal administration of bleomycin (BLM, 5 mg/kg), and YTE (12 mg/kg/d) was gavaged from the second day. At 14 and 28 days, the lungs were harvested and stained with H&E and Masson's trichrome. The content of hydroxyproline (HYP) and type I collagen (Col-I) were detected, while the protein expression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), Col-I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry or Western blot. As observed, YTE treatment attenuated the alveolitis and fibrosis induced by BLM, reduced the loss of body weight and increase of lung coefficient. Meanwhile, YTE strongly decreased the levels of HYP and Col-I, and reduced the over-expression of HMGB1, TGF-β1, Col-I and α-SMA. In conclusion, YTE could ameliorate BLM-induced lung fibrosis by alleviating HMGB1 activity and TGF-β1 activation, suggesting therapeutic potential for PF.     

Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells with Imatinib (STI571) Impairs p53 Accumulation in Response to DNA Damage

Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) is induced by the Bcr-Abl fusion protein. Inhibition of Bcr-Abl by STI571 is widely used to treat CML patients. Unlike in most cancer types, the frequency of p53 mutations in CML is low. Here, we investigated the effect of STI571 treatment of CML cells on p53 regulation. Exposure of CML cells, including established cell lines and freshly isolated cells from patients, to STI571 reduced p53 protein levels, and severely impaired its accumulation in response to DNA damage. This may be explained by the status of p53 serine 20 phosphorylation. In non-stressed CML cells, serine 20 of p53 is constitutively phosphorylated by Chk1, and is inhibited by STI571. In response to DNA damage, however, this phosphorylation is mediated by Chk1 and Chk2, and is only partially inhibited by STI571. CML cells expressing wild-type p53 are more resistant to treatment with STI571, but moderately more sensitive to DNA damage, than CML cells lacking p53. An enhanced induction of apoptosis by STI571 and DNA damage is observed in CML cells bearing wild-type p53, but not in cells lacking functional p53. This implies that the status of p53 may affect the response of CML cells to this combined treatment.     

Disruption of myofibroblastic Notch signaling attenuates liver fibrosis by modulating fibrosis progression and regression

The phenotypic transformation of hepatic myofibroblasts (MFs) is involved in the whole process of the progression and regression of liver fibrosis. Notch signaling has been demonstrated to modulate the fibrosis. In this study, we found that Notch signaling in MFs was overactivated and suppressed with the progression and regression of hepatic fibrosis respectively, by detecting Notch signaling readouts in MFs. Moreover, we inactivated Notch signaling specifically in MFs with Sm22α^CreER-RBPj^flox/flox mice (RBPj^MF-KO), and identified that MFs-specific down-regulation of Notch signaling significantly alleviated CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis during the progression and regression. During the progression of liver fibrosis, MFs-specific blockade of Notch signaling inhibited the activation of HSCs to MFs and increases the expression of MMPs to reduce the deposition of ECM. During the regression of fibrosis, blocking Notch signaling in MFs increased the expression of HGF to promote proliferation in hepatocytes and up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic factors, Ngfr and Septin4, to induce apoptosis of MFs, thereby accelerating the reversal of fibrosis. Collectively, the MFs-specific disruption of Notch signaling attenuates liver fibrosis by modulating fibrosis progression and regression, which suggests a promising therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.     

Imatinib mesylate inhibits antigen-specific memory CD8 T cell responses in vivo

Imatinib mesylate (IM) is effective at inducing complete cytogenetic remission in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Because its influence on CD8 T cell responsiveness in vivo is unknown, we investigated the effects of IM by analyzing the response of OT-1 CD8 T cells to Listeria monocytogenes (LM) that express the cognate epitope OVA(257-264) (LM-OVA). In vitro, IM had no effect on Ag-specific expansion, cell division, cell cycle progression, or IFN-gamma expression in naive or memory OT-1 T cells. However, IM induced apoptosis of naive and memory OT-1 T cells at doses of >5 microM. At 15 microM IM, OT-1 T cells did not survive in in vitro cultures. The primary response of OT-1 T cells in vivo to LM-OVA infection was unaltered. In contrast, continuous IM treatment resulted in a diminished memory OT-1 response. The expression of IL-7Ralpha, a receptor required for memory cell survival, was lower (on OT-1 cells) in animals receiving IM. These results indicate that IM treatment affects the ability of the CD8 memory pool to respond to Ag and has the potential to increase susceptibility to infection.