Effects of daunomycin on the microtubular network: a cytochemical study on a human melanoma cell line

The interaction of daunomycin (DAU), an anthracyclinic antibiotic employed as antitumoral agent, with microtubules, has been investigated by cytochemical and morphological methods on a human melanoma cell line (H14). Results obtained indicated that DAU was able to modulate the microtubule reassembly in cells treated with colcemid; such an effect proved to be dose-dependent. In particular, it has been observed that a low dose of DAU (0.05 microM) seemed to favor the microtubule reassembly whereas a higher dose (0.10 microM) impaired this process. In addition, when the anthracyclinic antibiotic was employed together with colcemid, both the cell detachment and the depolymerization of microtubules induced by the mitotic poison were hampered. These effects were dose-dependent and were better accomplished when DAU was used at an equimolar or at higher dose than that employed for the antimicrotubular agent. Moreover, the treatment of cells with DAU alone induced the stabilization of the microtubules, making them more resistant to the action of antimicrotubular agents. This effect could in part explain the antagonistic action exerted by DAU against colcemid. These observations seem to confirm that the microtubular network is an important target involved in the mechanism of action of the anthracyclinic antibiotics.     

Combretastatin CA-4 and combretastatin derivative induce mitotic catastrophe dependent on spindle checkpoint and caspase-3 activation in non-small cell lung cancer cells

Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4), a natural stilbenoid isolated from Combretum caffrum, is a new vascular targeting agent (VTA) known for its antitumor activity due to its anti-tubulin properties. We investigated the molecular mechanisms leading to cell death in non-small cell lung cancer H460 cells induced by natural (CA-4) and synthetic stilbenoids (ST2151) structurally related to CA-4. We found that both compounds induced depolymerization and rearrangement of spindle microtubules, as well as an increasingly aberrant organization of metaphase chromosomes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Prolonged exposition to ST2151 led cells to organize multiple sites of tubulin repolymerization, whereas tubulin repolymerization was observed only after CA-4 washout. H460 cells were arrested at a pro-metaphase stage, with condensed chromosomes and a triggered spindle assembly checkpoint, as evaluated by kinetochore localization of Bub1 and Mad1 antibodies. Persistent checkpoint activation led to mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP) alterations, cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-9 and -3, PARP cleavage and DNA fragmentation. On the other hand, caspase-2, and -8 were not activated by the drug treatment. The ability of cells to reassemble tubulin in the presence of an activated checkpoint may be responsible for ST2151-induced multinucleation, a recognized sign of mitotic catastrophe. In conclusion, we believe that discovery of new agents able to trigger mitotic catastrophe cell death as a result of mitotic block and prolonged spindle checkpoint activation is particularly worthwhile, considering that tumor cells have a high proliferative rate and mitotic failure occurs irrespective of p53 status. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at . Ilio Vitale and Antonio Antoccia contribuited equally to this work.     

Saposin D solubilizes anionic phospholipid-containing membranes.

Saposin (Sap) D is a late endosomal/lysosomal small protein, generated together with three other similar proteins, Sap A, B, and C, from the common precursor, prosaposin. Although the functions of saposins such as Sap B and C are well known (Sap B promotes the hydrolysis of sulfatides and Sap C that of glucosylceramide), neither the physiological function nor the mechanism of action of Sap D are yet fully understood. We previously found that a dramatic increase of Sap D superficial hydrophobicity, occurring at the low pH values characteristic of the late endosomal/lysosomal environment, triggers the interaction of the saposin with anionic phospholipid-containing vesicles. We have presently found that, upon lipid binding, Sap D solubilizes the membranes, as shown by the clearance of the vesicles turbidity. The results of gel filtration, density gradient centrifugation, and negative staining electron microscopy demonstrate that this effect is due to the transformation of large vesicles to smaller particles. The solubilizing effect of Sap D is highly dependent on pH, the lipid/saposin ratio, and the presence of anionic phospholipids; small variations in each of these conditions markedly influences the activity of Sap D. The present study documents the interaction of Sap D with membranes as a complex process. Anionic phospholipids attract Sap D from the medium; when the concentration of the saposin on the lipid surface reaches a critical value, the membrane breaks down into recombinant small particles enriched in anionic phospholipids. Our results suggest that the role played by Sap D is more general than promoting sphingolipid degradation, e.g. the saposin might also be a key mediator of the solubilization of intralysosomal/late endosomal anionic phospholipid-containing membranes.     

Suicide behavior of target cells after binding with natural killer cells

Human natural killer (NK) cell activity seems to be related to the integrity and function of the cytoskeletal apparatus. It has been hypothesized that microfilaments and microtubules play a pivotal role. In particular, the binding of the NK cell to the target cell requires microfilament integrity, and the lysis of bound targets seems to depend on microtubule assembly. We focused on the changes occurring in cytoskeletal elements and surface structures of NK cells and of target cells highly sensitive to NK activity (K562). Our observations, performed by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, besides confirming a rearrangement of the cytoskeletal apparatus in the effector cell, provide evidence that target cell cytoskeletal elements are involved in NK cell function. In K562 cells, after binding with NK cells, there is marginal rearrangement of actin and polarization of tubulin and vimentin in the contact regions, accompanied by modification of surface structures. These findings suggest that the target cell plays an active role in its own death by participating in the formation of an extended area of intimate contact with the killer cell. In addition, they lend credence to the surprising proposal that NK cells may induce a suicide mechanism in target cells.     

The tubulin-depolymerising agent combretastatin-4 induces ectopic aster assembly and mitotic catastrophe in lung cancer cells H460

The relationship between microtubular dynamics, dismantling of pericentriolar components and induction of apoptosis was analysed after exposure of H460 non-small lung cancer cells to anti-mitotic drugs. The microtubule destabilising agent, combretastatin-A4 (CA-4) led to microtubular array disorganization, arrest in mitosis and abnormal metaphases, accompanied by the presence of numerous centrosome-independent “star-like” structures containing tubulin and aggregates of pericentrosomal matrix components like γ-tubulin, pericentrin and ninein, whereas the structural integrity of centrioles was not affected by treatment. On the contrary, in condition of prolonged exposure or high concentrations of CA-4 such aggregates never formed. Treatment with 7.5 nM CA-4, which produced a high frequency “star-like” aggregates, was accompanied by mitotic catastrophe commitment characterized by translocation of the proapoptotic Bim protein to mitochondria activation of caspases-3/9 and DNA fragmentation as a result of either prolonged metaphase arrest or attempt of cells to divide. Drug concentrations which fail to block cells at mitosis were also unable to activate apotosis. A detailed time-course analysis of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis indicated that after CA-4 washout the number of metaphases with “star-like” structures decreased as a function of time and arrested cells proceeded in anaphase. After 4 h, the multiple α- and γ-tubulin aggregates coalesced into two well-defined spindles in a bipolar mitotic spindle organization. Overall, our findings suggest that the maintenance of microtubular integrity plays a relevant role in stabilising the pericentriolar matrix, whose dismantling can be associated with apoptosis after exposure to microtubule depolymerising agents.     

Mitochondrial alterations induced by serum amine oxidase and spermine on human multidrug resistant tumor cells

Summary. Multidrug resistance (MDR) has been studied extensively because it is one of major problems in cancer chemotherapy. The MDR phenotype is often due to overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), that acting as an energy-dependent drug efflux pump exports various anticancer drugs out of cells. The major goal of our investigation is to establish whether bovine serum amine oxidase (BSAO), which generates the products H₂O₂ and aldehyde(s), from the polyamine spermine, is able to overcome MDR of human cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of the products was evaluated in both drug-sensitive (LoVo WT) and drug-resistant (LoVo DX) colon adenocarcinoma cells. A clonogenic cell survival assay demonstrated that LoVo DX cells were more sensitive than LoVo WT cells. Exogenous catalase protected cells against cytotoxicity mainly due to the formation of H₂O₂. However, spermine-derived aldehyde(s) still induced some cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic effect was totally inhibited in the presence of both enzymes, catalase and NAD-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Transmission electron microscopy investigations showed that BSAO and spermine induced evident mitochondria alterations, more pronounced in MDR than in LoVo WT cells. The mitochondrial activity was checked by flow cytometry studies, labelling cells with the probe JC1, that displayed a basal hyperpolarized status of the mitochondria in multidrug-resistant cells. After treatment with amine oxidase in the presence of polyamine-spermine, the cells showed a marked increase in mitochondrial membrane depolarization higher in LoVo DX than in LoVo WT cells. Our findings suggest that toxic oxidation products formed from spermine and BSAO could be a powerful tool in the development of new anticancer treatments, mainly against MDR tumor cells.     

Caspase-independent apoptosis is activated by diazepam-induced mitotic failure in HeLa cells,but not in human primary fibroblasts

DZ, a benzodiazepine known to affect centrosome separation at prophase, leads to a higher degree of mitotic arrest in HeLa cells than in primary human fibroblasts. In fact, differently from fibroblasts, which undergo a transient block in prophase-to-prometaphase transition, a high proportion of tumor cells attempt to escape from the DZ-imposed mitotic block, fail to undergo complete mitosis and die by mitotic failure. DZ-treated samples showed certain biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis, such as induction of the proapototic Bax protein, mitochondrial alterations assessed by JC-1 staining and TEM analysis, PARP cleavage, and DNA fragmentation. However, in DZ-treated cells, we observed a very low or absent caspase activation as shown by immunofluorescence and immunoblot experiments with antibodies directed to activated caspases and by staining with the pancaspase inhibitor FITC-VAD-FMK. Experiments on mitochondrial depolymerization and apoptosis induction carried out in the presence of specific inhibitors of caspase-2 and caspase-3/7 indicated a caspase-independent apoptotic process induced by DZ. Accordingly, TEM analysis of treated cells revealed ultrastructural features resembling those reported for caspase-independent apoptosis. In conclusion, we hypothesize that HeLa cells override the prophase block imposed by DZ, producing a high rate of aberrant pro-metaphases, which, in turn, activates caspase-independent, apoptosis-like mitotic catastrophe.     

Adriamycin-plasma membrane interaction in human erythrocytes

A great body of data increasingly point to the cell membrane as an important target for adriamycin (ADR). However, the exact mechanism by which ADR exerts its cytotoxic action through the interaction with the plasma membrane is still unknown. In this study, the interaction of ADR with red blood cells from healthy donors was investigated by freeze-fracturing (FF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained can be summarized as follows: a) a dose-dependent modification in the intramembrane particle (IMP) distribution was revealed by FF on both fracture faces of the plasma membrane of erythrocytes treated with 50 or 100 microM ADR; b) SEM observations allowed to reveal a discocyte-stomatocyte transition induced by 50 microM ADR and the formation of mottled cells at the higher dose; c) these morphological and ultrastructural changes were not related to lipid peroxidation as demonstrated by experiments with radical scavengers or strong oxidant substances; d) the analysis of IMP density seemed to rule out a segregation process of membrane proteins suggesting that ADR interacts with the plasma membrane by becoming incorporated within the lipid bilayer.     

Ultrastructural localization of the secretory aspartyl proteinase in Candida albicans cell wall in vitro and in experimentally infected rat vagina

Detection and ultrastructural localization of aspartyl proteinase (Sap) in Candida albicans experimentally infecting rat vagina were studied. Two Sap-positive (Sap+) and one Sap-negative (Sap-) strains of the fungus, endowed with high and low experimental vaginopathic potential, respectively, were used. Both Sap+ strains produced consistent Sap levels in the rat vagina, while the Sap- strain did not produce any measurable Sap. Electron microscopy of thin sections of chemically-fixed vaginal scrapings showed clear evidence of hyphae of proteolitic strains of C. albicans invading the keratinized epithelial cell layer of the vagina. The fungal cells exhibited a pronounced fibrillar layer on the cell wall with a marked intermixing of fungal and vaginal materials especially pronunced at the hyphal tip. Post-embedding immunogold techniques with the use of anti-Sap polyclonal and the specifically generated monoclonal antibody GF1 showed that Sap was essentially localized in the cell wall of C. albicans early during infection, in a cytological pattern mirroring Sap localization in C. albicans cells grown in Sap-inductive media in vitro. In summary, the data offer a new biochemical and ultrastructural evidence that Sap is actively secreted during experimental rat vaginitis by C. albicans. Cell wall localization of Sap is probably inherent to this active secretion process. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.