Apoptosis induced by nicotinamide-related compounds and quinolinic acid in HL-60 cells

In our previous paper, we have reported that niacin-related compounds, particularly picolinic acid, dipicolinic acid, and isonicotinamide, induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells but that niacin did not. Moreover, picolinamide, N1-methylnicotinamide, 6-aminonicotinamide, quinolinic acid, and cinchomeronic acid also had the function of DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells analyzed by flow cytometry, the ratio of DNA fragmentation finally being about 40% after treatment with these compounds at 10 mM for 24 h. In this study, we found that these compounds also induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. The wide-spectrum caspase inhibitors prevented DNA fragmentation induced by these compounds. Interestingly, 6-aminonicotinamide induced apoptosis at a comparatively low concentration, while picolinic acid, dipicolinic acid, and isonicotinamide did not at 1 mM. Our results suggest that both NAD metabolism and NAD biosynthesis may be related to the process of apoptosis induced by niacin-related compounds.     

Changes in the gene expression of C-myc and CD38 in HL-60 cells during differentiation induced by nicotinic acid-related compounds

Changes in gene expression levels of c-myc and CD38 were examined during the differentiation of HL-60 cells to granulocytes due to three nicotinic acid-related compounds. CD38 expression was increased by isonicotinic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Nicotinamide and nicotinamide N-oxide drastically decreased c-myc expression, but isonicotinic acid had no effect, suggesting that these compounds differentiate HL-60 to granulocytes through different pathways. These results should provide useful information as to the mechanisms of cell differentiation.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌Bt9875晶体蛋白诱导HL-60细胞凋亡

[目的]研究苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)Bt9875菌株晶体蛋白对人急性髓细胞性白血病细胞HL-60的影响.[方法]采用MTT比色、荧光显微观察、DNA凝胶电泳、流式细胞术等方法来检测不同浓度的Bt9875晶体蛋白处理后HL-60细胞的凋亡特征.[结果]Bt9875晶体蛋白对HL-60细胞的生长具有明显的抑制作用,且随着蛋白质浓度的增加对HL-60细胞生长抑制愈加明显,而对正常人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)无作用;荧光显微镜下观察发现经该蛋白作用后HL-60细胞核的形态呈现凋亡特征;流式细胞术分析表明,HL-60细胞经100 μg/mL晶体蛋白作用后,凋亡率达到52%;琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示细胞DNA呈梯状降解.[结论]初步证明了Bt9875晶体蛋白在体外能够明显抑制HL-60细胞的增长,并诱导其凋亡,这为苏云金芽抱杆菌晶体蛋白的应用开创了新的思路.     

Bax-dependent apoptosis induced by ceramide in HL-60 cells

Ceramide is an important lipid messenger involved in mediating a variety of cell functions including apoptosis. In this study, we show that antisense bax inhibits cytochrome c release, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase cleavage and cell death induced by ceramide in HL-60 cells. In addition, ceramide induces translocation of Bax to mitochondria. The addition of the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk prevented ceramide-induced apoptotic cell death but did not inhibit translocation of Bax and mitochondrial cytochrome c release. Furthermore, ceramide inhibits the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL with an increase in the ratio of Bax to Bcl-xL. These data provide direct evidence that Bax plays an important role in regulating ceramide-induced apoptosis.     

Apoptosis of human leukemic HL—60 cells induced to differentiate by treatment with RA or DMSO

In present study,we studied the effect of all-trans retinoic acid(ATRA)and dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO)on the induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cell line.Based on morphological changes by Hochest 33342 staining and identification of internuclesomal NDA celeavage by gel electrophoresis,we observed aberrant nuclear chromatin condensation and ladder-like pattern of DNA degradation. Using Flow Cytometric method.We found sub-G1 peak in RA-treated HL-60 cells starting 5 to 6d after the initiation of the treatment However,Such an obvious apoptotic peak was not identified in DMSO-differentiated cells.Combining the research accomplished before.our study approves further that apoptosis could be a common mode of death of terminally differentiated HL-60 cells.     

Ethanol induced apoptosis in human HL-60 cells

In this study flow cytometric and morphologic methods of apoptosis detection in human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 were compared. HL-60 cells were harvested at 4, 7, 16, 24 a 48 hours after induction of apoptosis by 3 % ethanol. Little changes were observed both by flow cytometry (decrease of forward scatter, increase of unprocessed cells staining with APO2.7 antibody) and viability determination by Trypan-blue staining until after 7 hours. However, after 4 hours morphologic changes were observed in the nuclear and cytoplasmic structures using Diff-Quik stained cytospin preparations and standard light microscopic techniques (50% apoptotic cells). The same results were obtained by flow cytometric measurement of sub-diploid DNA content (sub-G1 cells), and an increase of staining with APO2.7 antibody in cells permeabilised by digitonin prior to staining. After 7 hours almost all cells exhibited apoptotic morphology. After 16 hours the cell size (forward scatter) decreased significantly, and 54% of unprocessed cells were APO2.7 positive. After 24 hours only 6% of cells were alive (high forward scatter) and these cells were APO2.7 negative. The HL-60 cells did not proliferate during the cultivation in 3% ethanol, and after 48 hours all stained by Trypan blue. HL-60 leukemic cells were CD34-/AC133-, CD33+/CD15+, and only 2% of the cells were CD95+. Induction of apoptosis by ethanol did not enhance CD95 antigen expression.     

Apoptosis induced by dithiothreitol in HL-60 cells shows early activation of caspase 3 and is independent of mitochondria

Previous studies have shown that under certain conditions some thiol-containing compounds can cause apoptosis in a number of different cell lines. Herein, we investigated the apoptotic pathways in HL-60 cells triggered by dithiothreitol (DTT), used as a model thiol compound, and tested the hypothesis that thiols cause apoptosis via production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during thiol oxidation. The results show that, unlike H2O2, DTT does not induce apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway. This is demonstrated by the absence of early cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytosol, the lack of mitochondrial membrane depolarization at early times, and the minor role of caspase 9 in DTT-induced apoptosis. The first caspase activity detectable in DTT-treated cells is caspase 3, which is increased significantly 1 - 2 h after the start of DTT treatment. This was shown by following the cleavage of both a natural substrate, DFF-45/ICAD, and a synthetic fluorescent substrate, z-DEVD-AFC. Cleavage of substrates of caspases 2 and 8, known as initiator caspases, does not start until 3 - 4 h after DTT exposure, well after caspase 3 has become active and at a time when apoptosis is in late stages, as shown by the occurrence of DNA fragmentation to oligonucleosomal-sized pieces. Although oxidizing DTT can produce H2O2, data presented here indicate that DTT-induced apoptosis is not mediated by production of H2O2 and occurs via a novel pathway that involves activation of caspase 3 at early stages, prior to activation of the common 'initiator' caspases 2, 8 and 9.     

Apoptosis induced by the flavonoid from lemon fruit (Citrus limon BURM. f.) and its metabolites in HL-60 cells

The flavonoid from lemon fruit (Citrus limon BURM. f.) and its metabolites, particularly eriodictyol, 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid, and phloroglucinol had the function of DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells when analyzed by flow cytometry. An apoptotic DNA ladder and chromatin condensation were observed in HL-60 cells when treated with these compounds. The caspase inhibitor prevented DNA fragmentation. These compounds are anticipated to be useful for medical purposes.     

Apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells and inhibition of topoisomerase II by triterpene celastrol

Celastrol, which is a triterpene purified from Celastraceae plants, has anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study we investigated to clarify whether celastrol can induce apoptosis in a human leukemia HL-60 model system. Celastrol was found to induce apoptosis, and the rank order of the potency of celastrol and its derivatives to induce internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was found to be celastrol>cela-H>the other derivatives=vehicle control. Many anticancer agents are known to possess the ability to inhibit topoisomerase II, so the inhibitory activities of celastrol and its derivatives on topoisomerase II were also explored. The rank order of the inhibitory activity was found to be celastrol>etoposide>cela-H, indicating that the apoptosis-inducing activities of cela derivatives correspond to their inhibitory activities on topoisomerase II. These data suggested that celastrol may cause its effects such as anticancer activity by the mechanism of apoptosis along with topoisomerase II inhibition.     

Role of calcium in apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by harringtonine

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Arsenic suppresses necrosis induced by selenite in human leukemia HL-60 cells

Selenium, an essential trace element for humans, has been shown to have anticancer effects. Arsenic, a possibly essential ultratrace element for humans, has been used in the treatment of leukemia. Anticancer effects of selenium and arsenic have been related to their ability to induce apoptosis. Because humans are exposed to diverse trace elements simultaneously, it is important to learn their interrelationship. In this study, we demonstrate that sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) causes apoptosis at 3 μM and necrosis at high concentrations (>3 μM) in HL-60 cells. Similarly, both sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) at 50 μM and sodium arsenate (Na₂HAsO₄) induce apoptosis at 500 μM and necrosis at higher concentrations (>50 μM and >500 μM, respectively) in HL-60 cells. Arsenite/arsenate, but not selenite, enhances AP-1 DNA-binding activity. This finding indicates different mechanisms through which apoptosis is induced by these two elements. Interestingly, we observed that HL-60 cell necrosis induced by a high concentration (>3 μM) of selenite was essentially inhibited by arsenic (50 μM of NaAsO₂ or 500 μM of Na₂HAsO₄), which resulted in a net effect of apoptosis. Because AP-1 DNA-binding activity was not induced in the presence of a combination of necrotic amount of selenite and apoptotic amount of arsenite/arsenate, the observed apoptosis apparently was through the mechanism used by selenite. Our results suggest, for the first time, that the toxic necrotic effect of selenite can be neutralized by arsenite/arsenate at the cellular level. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Area, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all agency services are available without discrimination. Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Intracellular alkalinization induced by amphotericin B derivatives in HL-60 leukemia cells

The effects on intra- and extracellular pH of two polyenic derivatives of amphotericin B, N-fructosyl amphotericin B and N-fructosyl amphotericin B methyl-ester, were tested on HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Both derivatives raised the internal pH and reduced the external pH in weakly buffered medium. These results support the idea that both derivatives induce outward proton movement from the cell to the external solution. In this respect, the non-esterified derivative proved to be more powerful that the esterified one. Under the present conditions, there was little or no regulation of pH in HL-60 cells, which exhibited an almost constant pH gradient between the external and internal pH (acid inside relative to outside). This deficiency in pH homeostasis might be due to the immature state of the HL-60 cells.     

Glutamine promotes colony formation in bone marrow and HL-60 cells; accelerates myeloid differentiation in induced HL-60 cells

Several studies indicate that glutamine is a critical requirement for growth of cultured cells. The present studies describe the effect of deprivation of glucose or glutamine on mouse bone marrow cell or HL-60 cell colony formation in soft agar. The mouse bone marrow cells were induced to undergo granulocyte/macrophage type differentiation by colony-stimulating factor. Glutamine, but not glucose, was found to be an indispensable metabolite for the cloning of HL-60 cells or differentiated mouse bone marrow cells. In addition, the effect of glucose or glutamine on the rate of differentiation of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-induced HL-60 cells in liquid culture was studied. Glutamine was found to be superior to glucose in its ability to support the proliferation and myeloid differentiation of HL-60 cells. When an optimal concentration of DMSO was used, the rate of differentiation of induced HL-60 cells was found to be a function of the concentration of glutamine. In addition to these studies glutamine utilization and product formation was studied in induced and uninduced HL-60 cells after 60 min incubation with 1 mM initial glutamine concentration. The fractional distribution of the glutamine carbon into its metabolic products remained unchanged in induced versus uninduced HL-60 cells. However, the rate of utilization of glutamine and product formation by terminally differentiated HL-60 cells was less than the rate of utilization of glutamine by undifferentiated HL-60 cells. The data do not explain the role of glutamine in the complex process of differentiation but establish the critical requirements for glutamine, but not glucose, in myelopoiesis.     

Sphingomyelin turnover induced by vitamin D3 in HL-60 cells. Role in cell differentiation

Sphingolipid metabolism was examined in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Differentiation of HL-60 cells with 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D3; 100 nM) was accompanied by sphingomyelin turnover. Maximum turnover of [3H]choline-labeled sphingomyelin occurred 2 h following vitamin D3 treatment, with sphingomyelin levels decreasing to 77 +/- 6% of control and returning to base-line levels by 4 h. Ceramide and phosphorylcholine were concomitantly generated. Ceramide mass levels increased by 55% at 2 h following vitamin D3 treatment and returned to base-line levels by 4 h. The amount of phosphorylcholine produced equaled the amount of sphingomyelin hydrolyzed, suggesting the involvement of a sphingomyelinase. Vitamin D3 treatment resulted in a 90% increase in the activity of a neutral sphingomyelinase from HL-60 cells. The inferred role of sphingomyelin hydrolysis in the induction of cell differentiation was investigated using an exogenous sphingomyelinase. When a bacterial sphingomyelinase was added at concentrations that caused a similar degree of sphingomyelin hydrolysis as 100 nM vitamin D3, it enhanced the ability of subthreshold levels of vitamin D3 to induce HL-60 cell differentiation. This study demonstrates the existence of a "sphingomyelin cycle" in human cells. Such sphingolipid cycles (Hannun, Y., and Bell, R. (1989) Science 243, 500-507) may function in a signal transduction pathway and in cellular differentiation.     

Glutamine promotes colony formation in bone marrow and HL-60 cells; Accelerates myeloid differentiation in induced HL-60 cells

Summary Several studies indicate that glutamine is a critical requirement for growth of cultured cells. The present studies describe the effect of deprivation of glucose or glutamine on mouse bone marrow cell or HL-60 cell colony formation in soft agar. The mouse bone marrow cells were induced to undergo granulocyte/macrophage type differentiation by colony-stimulating factor. Glutamine, but not glucose, was found to be an indispensable metabolite for the cloning of HL-60 cells or differentiated mouse bone marrow cells. In addition, the effect of glucose or glutamine on the rate of differentiation of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-induced HL-60 cells in liquid culture was studied. Glutamine was found to be superior to glucose in its ability to support the proliferation and myeloid differentiation of HL-60 cells. When an optimal concentration of DMSO was used, the rate of differentiation of induced HL-60 cells was found to be a function of the concentration of glutamine. In addition to these studies glutamine utilization and product formation was studied in induced and uninduced HL-60 cells after 60 min incubation with 1 mM initial glutamine concentration. The fractional distribution of the glutamine carbon into its metabolic products remained unchanged in induced versus uninduced HL-60 cells. However, the rate of utilization of glutamine and product formation by terminally differentiated HL-60 cells was less than the rate of utilization of glutamine by undifferentiated HL-60 cells. The data do not explain the role of glutamine in the complex process of differentiation but establish the critical requirements for glutamine, but not glucose, in myelopoiesis. This work has been supported by USPHS Grants AM 31624 and CA 00859 and a Faculty Research Grant from Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.     

Geranylgeranylacetone induces apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) induces apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This effect was completely prevented by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe) fluoromethylketone, thereby implicating the caspase cascade in the process. Prior to DNA fragmentation, GGA treatment markedly activated caspase-3(-like) proteases, which might be responsible for the observed apoptosis. In addition, GGA treatment interfered with the processing and membrane localization of Rap1 and Ras, and these changes may be a result of apoptosis. Moreover, nitric oxide donors significantly accentuated the GGA-induced apoptosis, suggesting that the apoptotic pathway induced by GGA might be regulated by a redox-sensitive mechanism. Taken together, these data suggest that the isoprenoid, GGA, is an effective inducer of apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells.     

PAF-acether transfer activity in HL-60 cells is induced during differentiation

Platelet-activating factor is a proinflammatory lipid active at subnanomolar concentrations. The intermembrane transfer of a biologically active PAF analog has been previously demonstrated in macrophages. Here we demonstrate that the specific activity of this transfer activity increases when HL-60 cells are induced to differentiate by treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide, dibutyryl cAMP or phorbol diester. In undifferentiated HL-60 cells, methylcarbamyl-PAF transfer activity was only 0.56 U.min-1.mg-1. This basal value was increased 2.6 and 6.7 times upon granulocytic and macrophagic differentiation, respectively. On the other hand, the transfer of 2-O-methyl-PAF, a cytotoxic analog with no PAF biological activity, remained very low and did not vary during differentiation.     

Growth and morphological changes induced by lithium chloride treatment of HL-60 cells

HL-60 cells were grown in culture and their proliferative behaviour and response to lithium were studied. Treatment of cells with lithium concentrations of up to 5 mM enhanced cell proliferation, however above 5 mM lithium, cell growth was inhibited. Cell viability remained above 90% with concentrations of lithium below 10 mM. With increasing concentrations of lithium cell death increased rapidly to about 70% after 3 days at 50 mM. DNA synthesis was also strongly inhibited by concentrations of lithium above 5 mM. At 50 mM lithium, [3H]-thymidine incorporation was 1%. Electron microscopy seems to indicate that the plasma membrane is the main target for lithium cytotoxicity, whilst lithium uptake studies suggest that cytotoxicity might be related to the accumulation of lithium within the cells.     

Different patterns of apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by cycloheximide and camptothecin

Cells of the human promyelocytic HL-60 line, when treated with a variety of antitumor agents in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX), or with CHX alone, rapidly undergo apoptosis (“active cell death”). It is presumed, therefore, that such cells are “primed” to apoptosis in that no new protein synthesis is required for induction of their death. We have studied apoptosis of HL-60 cells triggered by the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin (CAM) in the absence and presence of CHX and apoptosis induced by CHX alone. Two different flcw cytometric methods were used, each allowing us to relate the apoptosis-associated DNA degradation to the cell cycle position. Apoptosis induced by CAM was limited to S phase cells, e.g., at a CAM concentration of 0.15 μM, nearly 90% of the S phase cells underwent apoptosis after 4 h. In contrast, apoptosis triggered by CHX was indiscriminate, affecting all phases of the cycle: ～40% of the cells from each phase the cycle underwent apoptosis at 5 μM CHX concentration. When CAM and CHX were added together, the pattern of apoptosis resembled that of cycloheximide alone, namely, cells in all phases of the cycle in similar proportion were affected. Thus, CHX, while itself inducing apoptosis of a fraction of cells, protected the S phase cells against apoptosis triggered by CAM. Because CHX (5 μM) did not significantly affect the rate of cell progression through S phase, the observed protective effect was most likely directly related to inhibition of protein synthesis, rather than to its possible indirect effect on DNA replication. Furthermore, whereas apoptosis (DNA degradation) triggered by CAM was prevented by the serine protease inhibitor N-tosyl-L-lysylchloromethyl ketone (TLCK), this process was actually potentiated by this inhibitor when induced by CHX. The present data indicate differences in mechanism of apoptosis triggered by CAM (and perhaps other antitumor drugs) as compared with CHX. Apoptosis caused by CHX may be unique in that it may not involve new protein synthesis. These data are compatible with the assumption that the loss of a hypothetical, rapidly turning over suppressor of apoptosis may be the trigger of apoptosis of HL-60 cells treated with CHX, whereas de novo protein synthesis is required when apoptosis is triggered by other agents. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.