Chemical synthesis of DNA oligomers containing cytosine arabinoside.

The solid phase phospite triester synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides containing cytosine arabinoside (araC) is described. A protected araC phosphoramadite was prepared for the introduction of araC residues at 5'termini and internucleotide positions in DNA oligomers. These oligomers were utilized to demonstrate the formation of correct 3'-5' linkages, to test for alkaline lability at the araC site, and to study the stability of duplexes containing araC-G base pairs. For the introduction of araC residues at 3' terminal positions, a protected derivative of araC was coupled to functionalized silica. This material was used to prepare a test oligomer which was characterized enzymatically.     

Herpes simplex encephalitis: treatment with surgical decompression and cytosine arabinoside.

Herpes simplex encephalitis in a 21-year-old man presented as a flu-like illness, followed by inappropriate behaviour, drowsiness and focal neurologic signs. Investigations indicated a lesion in the right temporal lobe. The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of the virus from a cerebral biopsy. Pronounced clinical improvement was noted when cytosine arabinoside therapy was started in the postoperative period. This report supports the observation by some authors that cytosine arabinoside may be of value in the treatment of herpes simplex encephalitis.     

Selective treatment of leukemia L1210 with combination of deoxycytidine and lethal doses of cytosine arabinoside]

Oral administration of deoxycytidine simultaneously with intraperitoneal injections of toxic doses of cytosine arabinosidetomice with advanced L1210 leukemia diminished the toxic effects preventing drug death of these mice. They developed a marked antitumor effect. The mean survival time of these mice was considerably extended as compared to that of untreated animals or those given one of these drugs alone. At the optimum schedule of treatment about 23% of the mice survived over 60 days. Deoxycytidine protection reduced the antileukemic effect of cytosine arabinoside administered in nontoxic doses. The deoxycytidine plus cytosine arabinose combination was ineffective in the treatment of transplantable myeloid leukemia in mice.     

Low dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of the primary myelodysplastic syndrome.

23 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndrome was observed in 1982-1988. 8 patients with RAEB and RAEB-t according to FAB criterias were treated with low dose cytosine arabinoside. No complete response and only one partial response +10 months duration was achieved. Treatment had a minor influence on the natural course of disease, and doesn't protect patients from the transformation into acute leukaemias.     

Effect of high dose cytosine arabinoside on quantitative EEG in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Background EEG activity is considered an index of functional state of brain. Chemotherapy (CT), used for non-central nervous system (CNS) cancer, can cross the blood brain barrier and contribute to changes in the functional state of brain that can alter background EEG activity. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) is superior to conventional EEG in the detection of subtle alterations of EEG background activity and for this reason, the use of qEEG might assist the clinician in evaluating the possible effect of CT on the CNS. The nucleoside analog cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) is one of the milestone chemotherapeutic agents used for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our observational study evaluates the possible effect of Ara-C on the qEEG of patients with AML, without CNS involvement. We conducted an observational study on newly diagnosed AML patients without CNS involvement, undergoing treatment with Ara-C to analyze the possible effect of Ara-C high doses on EEG background activity using qEEG analyses. A total of nine AML patients, 5 with Ara-C i.v. high dose (≥3 g/m² die), 4 with standard dose (100 mg/m² die) underwent qEEG (at rest, during hyperpnoea, mental arithmetic task and blocking reaction). We compared the EEG background activity of the two groups at baseline and after 6 months. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups in mean relative power for all frequency bands, at rest and during hyperpnoea, mental arithmetic task and blocking reaction. Our data indicate that high dose Ara-C i.v. did not induce significant changes on EEG background activity in our patients. Future research in this area could include prospective studies that would combine qEEG and neuropsychological testing to assess the impact of CT on brain functions.     

Effect of cytosine arabinoside on viral-specific protein synthesis in cells infected with herpes simplex virus.

The relationship between viral DNA and protein synthesis during herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication in HeLa cells was examined. Treatment of infected cells with cytosine arabinoside (ara-C), which inhibited the synthesis of HSV-1 DNA beyond the level of detection, markedly affected the types and amounts of viral proteins made in the infected cell. Although early HSV-1 proteins were synthesized normally, there was a rapid decline in total viral protein synthesis beginning 3 to 4 h after infection. This is the time that viral DNA synthesis would normally have been initiated. ara-C also prevented the normal shift from early to late viral protein synthesis. Finally, it was shown that the effect of ara-C on late protein synthesis was dependent upon the time after infection that the drug was added. These results suggest that inhibition of progeny viral DNA synthesis by ara-C prevents the "turning on" of late HSV-1 protein synthesis but allows early translation to be "switched off."     

Studies on induction of polydactyly in rats with cytosine arabinoside.

The development of the retino-tectal projection in Rana pipiens has been studied by the intraocular injection of small amounts of [³H]proline at late embryonic and at several larval stages. After survival periods varying from 1–24 hr the distribution of the radioactively labeled proteins in the axons of the retinal ganglion cells was studied autoradiographically. It is evident from the appearance of labeled proteins in the optic nerve and chiasm at late embryonic and early larval stages that there is a rapid phase of axonal transport at these stages and that some fraction of the materials transported in this phase are distributed to the tips of the growing axons.The first retinal fibers reach the contralateral optic tectum at embryonic Stage 22; at this stage they are confined to the rostrolateral portion of the tectum where the first tectal neurons are generated. At successively later stages the fibers appear to grow across the surface of the tectum in a general rostrolateral to caudomedial direction, reaching the dorsal part of the mid-tectum at larval Stage II and the lateral part of its caudal third by Stage V. However, it is not until relatively late larval stages (XVIII) that the fibers reach the caudomedial region of the tectum, and it is only at the time of metamorphosis (Stage XXV) that the retinal projection appears to cover the entire tectum.     

Effects of rGM-CSF on leukemia cell proliferation and on the incorporation of cytosine arabinoside into DNA.

In vitro studies of the effects of recombinant granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) on freshly obtained human leukemia cells were conducted to determine if there is a relationship between the effects of this growth factor on the proliferative characteristics of leukemia cells and on their incorporation of cytosine arabinoside (araC) into DNA. While rGM-CSF was found to be able to stimulate both leukemia cell proliferation and araC incorporation, for individual leukemia specimens there was no consistent relationship among these effects. In some specimens proliferation was stimulated without an increase in araC incorporation. The reverse was also observed. These studies demonstrate the difficulty in identifying assays capable of predicting the clinical effects of growth factors on leukemia cells in patients since the effect in vitro vary with the assay.     

Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced single strand breaks is attributed to slower rejoining processes by DNA polymerase inhibitor, cytosine arabinoside in CHO-K1 cells

We demonstrate a successful induction of DNA single strand breaks in CHO-K1 cells by cocultivation with mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) during exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BP) or 3-methylcholanthrene (MC). When compared to those induced by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), the DNA single strand breaks induced by BP and MC were markedly accumulated by post-incubation with cytosine arabinoside (araC) and were much more delayed in their rejoining. These results suggest that the active metabolites of BP or MC produced by cocultivation with MEF or microsomal fraction (S-15) result in the formation of large DNA adducts which require an active participation of DNA polymerase alpha(delta) in the polymerization step of excision repair for their removal.     

c-myc protein and DNA replication: separation of c-myc antibodies from an inhibitor of DNA synthesis.

Antibodies against human c-myc protein have been reported to inhibit DNA polymerase activity and endogenous DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei, suggesting a role for c-myc in DNA replication. Using the same antibody preparations, we observed equivalent inhibition of simian virus 40 DNA replication and DNA polymerase alpha and delta activities in vitro, as well as inhibition of DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei. However, the c-myc antibodies could be completely separated from the DNA synthesis inhibition activity. c-myc antibodies prepared in other laboratories also did not interfere with initiation of simian virus 40 DNA replication, DNA synthesis at replication forks, or DNA polymerase alpha or delta activity. Therefore, the previously reported inhibition of DNA synthesis by some antibody preparations resulted from the presence of an unidentified inhibitor of DNA polymerases alpha and delta and not from the action of c-myc antibodies.     

Imidazole open ring 7-methylguanine: an inhibitor of DNA synthesis

Guanine methylated at the N7 position (me7G) is susceptible to cleavage of the imidazole ring yielding: 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5N-methyl-formamidopyrimidine (rom7G). DNA synthesis catalysed by E.coli DNA polymerase I, using as templates poly(dGC) containing either me7G or rom7G, show that rom7G blocks DNA chain elongation. It implies a potential killing effect. Furthermore rom7G does not induce mispairing with either dAMP or dTMP. me7G does not affect DNA synthesis. The results suggest that, beside AP-sites, rom7G is a potential killing lesion in cells treated by alkylating agents.     

On the mechanism of erythropoietin-induced differentiation : XV. Induced transcription restricted by cytosine arabinoside

We have examined the role of DNA synthesis in the induced differentiation of erythropoietin-responsive cells (ERC) by using cultured marrow cells from plethoric rats. In such marrow cell populations there are minimal numbers of differentiated erythroid cells permitting the study of erythropoietin action on the non-differentiated primitive ERC. Cytosine arabinoside (10⁻⁴ M) and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (10⁻⁷ M) were used for inhibition of DNA synthesis. The data indicate that DNA synthesis is not required for the early steps in the initiation of RNA synthesis or hemoglobin synthesis by erythropoietin. The evidence suggests, however, that ERC may be sensitive to erythropoietin only in a cell cycle phase after S. This period, presumably in G2, is approx. 85 min long. The full response to erythropoietin, therefore, requires DNA synthesis both to replenish the G2 compartment and to permit amplification divisions of induced cells.     

Estrogen synthesis in fetal sheep brain: effect of maternal treatment with an aromatase inhibitor

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the fetal lamb brain has the capacity to aromatize androgens to estrogens during the critical period for sexual differentiation. We also determined whether administration of the aromatase-inhibitor 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD) could cross the placenta and inhibit aromatase activity (AA) in fetal brain. Eight pregnant ewes were utilized. On Day 50 of pregnancy, four ewes were given ATD-filled Silastic implants, and the other four ewes received sham surgeries. The fetuses were surgically delivered 2 wk later (Day 64 of gestation). High levels of AA (0.8-1.4 pmol/h/mg protein) were present in the hypothalamus and amygdala. Lower levels (0.02-0.1 pmol/h/mg protein) were measured in brain stem regions, cortex, and olfactory bulbs. The Michaelis-Menten dissociation constant (K(m)) for aromatase in the fetal sheep brain was 3-4 nM. No significant sex differences in AA were observed in brain. Treatment with ATD produced significant inhibition of AA in most brain areas but did not significantly alter serum profiles of the major sex steroids in maternal and fetal serum. Concentrations of testosterone in serum from the umbilical artery and vein were significantly greater in male than in female fetuses. No other sex differences in serum steroids were observed. These data demonstrate that high levels of AA are found in the fetal sheep hypothalamus and amygdala during the critical period for sexual differentiation. They also demonstrate that AA can be inhibited in the fetal lamb brain by treating the mother with ATD, without harming fetal development.     

Plasmodium falciparum: synchronization of asexual development with aphidicolin, a DNA synthesis inhibitor

The asexual development cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, a malarial parasite of humans, has been synchronized in culture by treating ring-stage parasites with aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis. Optimization of both the concentration of drug added to ring stage containing red blood cells and the duration of exposure of parasites to drug led to a reversible block of their maturation at the early trophozoite stage. Release of the aphidicolin block led to a synchronous development of parasites that was manifested by about 80% of the new ring stages being produced within a 2- to 3-hr interval.     

The polyvalent protease inhibitor, trasylol, inhibits DNA synthesis of mouse lymphocytes by an indirect mechanism.

By the use of incorporation of radiolabeled thymidine, uridine, and leucine into mouse lymphocytes, the inhibitory effect of the protease inhibitor, trasylol, on antigenor mitogen-induced lymphocyte triggering was studied in vitro. DNA synthesis, as well as RNA and protein syntheses, were effectively inhibited by 0.3–2.5 × 10^?7 mol of trasylol when responses were induced by homologous antigen, allogeneic cells, phytohemagglutinin, or endotoxic lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli. The inhibitory effect of trasylol was reversible. On the contrary, DNA synthesis by nonadherent spleen cells was hardly inhibited by the inhibitor when the cells were stimulated with a relatively large amount of concanavalin A. Antigen-induced DNA synthesis by non-adherent lymph node cells was enhanced by the culture supernatant of macrophages. This helping effect of macrophage supernatant was effectively inhibited either by soluble or insoluble trasylol. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of trasylol on lymphocyte triggering may operate indirectly to interfere with the helping action of macrophages on lymphocytes.