PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L D Tomei

Publications and source records attributed to L D Tomei.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Apoptosis in C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryonic cells: evidence for internucleosomal DNA modification in the absence of double-strand cleavage.

Apoptosis in embryonic C3H/10T1/2 (clone 8) cells is marked by specific changes in morphology and DNA fragmentation that differ from those found in apoptotic thymocytes. These results demonstrate that ultrastructural changes within the nucleus associated with endonucleolytic degradation are linked with structural degradation at higher levels of chromatin organization. Strand modifications within the internucleosomal linker region are shown to involve alkaline-sensitive sites that appear to be sensitive to S1 endonuclease. Our results suggest that apoptosis is not dependent upon internucleosomal cleavage and may reveal the penultimate step and the nature of the metabolic cascade that leads to cell death.

Animals↗

Psychological stress and phorbol ester inhibition of radiation-induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood leukocytes.

Apoptosis is a process of genetically programmed alterations of cell structure that lead to failure of proliferation and differentiation, and eventual cell death. Apoptosis is induced by a variety of toxic insults including growth factor deprivation and ionizing radiation. This process may function to protect against the appearance of heritable phenotypic changes in cells and may be a critical factor in normal cellular immune function. Phorbol esters inhibit apoptosis, but little is known about factors that regulate this process physiologically. In this study, we demonstrate an association between an acute psychological stressor, taking examinations, and the induction of substantial and reversible changes in the response of peripheral blood leukocytes to gamma irradiation and to phorbol ester treatment. These data suggest that psychological stress may induce physiological changes that regulate the ability of immune cells to initiate apoptosis.

Adult↗

Role of prostanoids and lipid peroxides as mediators of the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate effect on cell growth.

Confluent cultures of guinea pig smooth muscle cells (SMC) or human fibroblasts (HNF) were treated with 12-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Prostanoid levels were measured by the radioimmunoassay of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2, and lipid peroxides were measured by the thiobarbituric acid test for malondialdehyde (MDA). Cells were seeded at low densities, and growth was calculated both from the cell count (Coulter Counter) and the colony number (image analysis). When confluent SMC and HNF were incubated in media alone, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels were a function of the TPA concentration, increasing to a maximum at 10(-8) M TPA and then decreasing at higher TPC concentrations. When confluent SMC and HNF were incubated in media containing exogenous arachidonic acid, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels again increased to a maximum at 10(-8) M TPA but decreased at higher TPA concentrations only with SMC. The increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels was much greater in HNF (1310%) than SMC (680%). SMC synthesized similar amounts of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2, and the stimulatory effect of TPA was similar with 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2. Indomethacin (IM) blocked prostanoid synthesis at all TPA concentrations. TPA did not have a significant effect on MDA levels in either cell line. The lipid antioxidants alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherylquinone blocked lipid peroxidation without affecting the stimulation of prostanoid synthesis with TPA. Cell number decreased to a minimum at 10(-8) M TPA in both cell lines. The decrease in cell number was much greater in HNF (72%) than SMC (30%). SMC colony number decreased at 10(-8) TPA and then increased at 10(-6) M TPA. IM did not block the TPA effect on cell number in either cell line.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Correlation of ouabain-sensitive ion movements with cell-cycle activation.

The role of tumor-promoter-induced Na+, K+-ATPase activity in cell proliferation and the extent of coupling of Na+ and K+ movements to cell-cycle control under differing physiological states was examined. Earlier studies indicated that staging of cells in G1 by serum deprivation in the presence of phorbol esters such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced a state(s) in which postconfluent C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts were refractory to ouabain inhibition of DNA synthesis, and the present study further examines this property. Previous findings suggested that the promoter can act in either of two ways: (i) it can act by inducing an alternative pathway to S-phase independent of Na+,K+-ATPase activity, or (ii) the promoter can advance the cells in G1 to a point beyond which Na+, K+-ATPase activity is no longer required for the induction of DNA synthesis. When ouabain (0.3 mM) was added simultaneously with tumor promoters, such as dihydroteleocidin B, to cells arrested in the G1 phase, [3H]thymidine incorporation was inhibited greater than 90%. These data suggest that an alternative pathway is not likely the explanation but that tumor promoters advance cells through a dynamic state in G1, during which progression toward S-phase entry is independent of a Na+,K+-ATPase dependent regulatory step. Ouabain sensitivity kinetics measured by two independent methods indicated that the development of ouabain insensitivity is found in G1 approximately equal to 2 hr prior to S phase. This study indicates that the measured ion movements are markedly dependent on cell-cycle state and describes the criteria required to obtain reproducible responses.

Animals↗

Epidermal growth factor and tumor promoters prevent DNA fragmentation by different mechanisms.

Serum deprivation of C3H 10T 1/2 fibroblasts resulted in DNA fragmentation which was prevented by growth factors such as Epidermal Growth Factor or the tumor promoters, 12-0-tetradecanoyl-13-0-phorbol acetate and Dihydroteleocidin B. Palmityl carnitine, an inhibitor of Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C, reversed the effects of the tumor promoters, but not the effect of Epidermal Growth Factor.

Alkaloids↗

The effect of phorbol esters on the proliferation of C3H-10T 1/2 mouse fibroblasts: consideration of both stimulatory and inhibitory effects.

TPA stimulates cell cycle activation in both serum-deprived and density-inhibited cultures. The cells reestablish cycle arrest after no more than one generation, and addition of fresh drug produces no further response. However, cells freshly trypsinized can respond with a series of repetitive generations resulting in 3.5-4.0 population doublings over 72 hrs. In kinetic pulse experiments TPA enhanced 3H-thymidine incorporation in density-inhibited cells stimulated by fresh serum but only after markedly suppressing incorporation 8-13 hrs after serum stimulation. When cells arrested by serum deprivation were pretreated with TPA, fresh serum stimulation led to initiation of 3H-TdR incorporation 5 hrs earlier than untreated controls. However, TPA addition at the time of serum stimulation did not lead to a suppression at 8-13 hrs, whereas enhancement was observed during peak incorporation times regardless of whether the cells were pretreated with TPA during serum deprivation. The results support the concept that there can exist within G1 multiple states of responsiveness to phorbol esters. These pharmacologically induced states may be correlated with corresponding physiological states of the G1 phase of cell cycle.

Animals↗

Cell cycle activation and ouabain-sensitive ion movements of 3T3 and C3H-10T1/2 fibroblasts.

The introduction of either PGF2 alpha-(10(-7) M) or TPA (10(-7) M) stimulated, ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ influx at 30 min in postconfluent 3T3-4 mouse fibroblast cultures by 117% and 124%, respectively. Both TPA and PGF2 alpha at these concentrations stimulated the incorporation of 3H-TdR into DNA. TPA had the greatest stimulatory effect, which was similar to that obtained with 10% fetal calf serum. In accord with the idea that modulation of membrane processes such as Na+/K+ pump activity in fibroblasts may reflect important events related to the initiation of DNA synthesis, it was observed that in both 3T3-4 and C3H-10T1/2 cells there were parallel increases in 3H-TdR incorporation and ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ influxes with 10(-7) M TPA, whereas PGF2 alpha stimulated a significant increase in 3H-TdR incorporation in 3T3-4 but not C3H-10T1/2 cells and only marginal increases in ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ influx in both. Therefore, although there appears to be a close correlation between Na+/K+ pump activation and subsequent S-phase entry following TPA stimulation, a similar correlation for PGF2 alpha cannot be confirmed.

Animals↗

Tumor cell karyotypes in malignant melanoma.

Fifteen malignant melanomas were subjected to chromosomal analysis, in order to determine whether the number of chromosomes in a tumor cell could be correlated to a clinical prognosis. The protocol involved a direct technique which utilized a Colcemid blockade of spindle formation in mitosis to allow study of metaphase chromosomes. The direct method was chosen to reveal chromosome changes in the tumor cell in situ rather than changes in the cultured cell. Two tumors yielded chromosome spreads which could be counted and correlated with a clinical prognosis. Failure to obtain other adequate chromosome spreads were accounted for by the presence of tissue necrosis and the absence of viable tumor cells.

Adult↗

Stimulation of 86Rb+ and 32Pi movements in 3T3 cells by prostaglandins and phorbol esters.

The potent tumor promoter tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) induces early changes in ion movements analogous to those induced by prostaglandins E1 and F 2alpha. Among the earliest changes induced by TPA is a significant increase in 32Pi incorporation within 15 minutes incubation of TPA (10(-8)-10(-6) M) with post-confluent Swiss 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Similarly, the active phorbol ester homolog 4-beta-OH phorbol didecanoate but not the inactive stereoisomeric 4-alpha-OH phorbol didecanoate stimulated 32Pi incorporation. Also, TPA at the above concentrations stimulated 86Rb+ influx shortly after administration. Both fluxes were ouabain-sensitive in accord with the idea that an early effect of TPA is to alter (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. Further, prostaglandin E1 (10(-7)-10(-6) M) and prostaglandin F 2alpha (3 X 10(-9)-10(-7) M) caused a similar stimulation of 86Rb+ and 32Pi uptake. The finding that water-soluble prostaglandin F 2alpha also exhibited stimulatory effects indicated that those hormone-induced responses are not mediated by solvent interactions. The similar responses of phorbol esters and prostaglandin derivatives suggests that phorbol esters and prostaglandin derivatives may act at common membrane sites. The finding that stimulatory effects were observed at discrete times in the logarithmic phase of growth suggests that the activation of membrane receptors may be cell-cycle dependent.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Restoration of growth control in malignantly transformed mouse fibroblasts grown in a chemically defined medium.

The expression of growth control and morphological transformation was studied in methylcholanthrene-transformed C3H/10T 1/2 CL8 cells serially propagated in CDM by first exposing cells to albumin (0.1%) before dispersing them with trypsin (50 microgram/ml). In serum-supplemented media, methylcholanthrene-transformed C3H/10T 1/2 CL8 cells exhibit various aspects of the transformed phenotype such as irregular morphology, extensive cell overlap, lack of density-dependent inhibition of division, a saturation density of 1.1 X 10(5) cells/sq cm and tumorigenicity in vivo. Cell phenotype in CDM was dramatically altered. Methylcholanthrene-transformed C3H/10T 1/2 1/2 CL8 cells adapted to CDM exhibited a regular epithelioid morphology with no cell overlap and formed confluent monolayers of nonproliferating cells at a saturation density of 5 X 10(4) cells/sq cm. The mean generation time of logarithmic-phase cells was 25 to 27 hr. Reversion to the transformed phenotype followed addition of albumin (0.1%) or serum (2%) to logarithmic-phase cultures or exposure (30 to 60 sec) to trypsin (10 microgram/ml). Cultures in CDM reexposed to serum remained highly tumorigenic in vivo. The data suggest that absorbed proteins may block transformation-sensitive cell surface sites responsible for growth control and that these sites are inactivated by trypsin.

Albumins↗

The influence of beta-adrenergic antagonists on the adrenergic responses of the rat vas deferens.

The influence of beta-adrenergic antagonists (propranolol, pronethalol, alprenolol, isopropylmethoxamine, H 35/25, sotalol and practolol) on isotonic contractile responses to norepinephrine (NE) was studies. All drugs caused an increase in the maximum responses while depressant effects were seen only with high doses of propranolol, pronethalol and alprenolol. The enhancement of responses to NE was considerably greater at low concentrations of calcium (0.5-1.0 mM) than at high (8 mM) concentrations. The inhibitory effects of propranolol, pronethalol and alprenolol were diminished but not completely overcome by increasing calcium concentrations form 1.8 to 8 mM. Cumulative dose-response curves of calcium showed no increase in maximum responses although responses to low concentrations of calcium were augmented by sotalol and practolol. Evidence suggests that the enhancing effects of these drugs may be due to their facilitatory effect on calcium mobilization following alpha-adrenoceptor activation while their depressant properties probably reflect their membrane stabilizing properties.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Phorbol ester and Epstein-Barr virus dependent transformation of normal primary human skin epithelial cells.

Substantial evidence has implicated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the aetiology of two human neoplasms, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Burkitt's lymphoma. This is supported by the presence of high antibody titres to EBV early antigen and virus capsid antigen, as well as antibody to two viral-associated enzymes, DNase and DNA polymerase. Patients with NPC, particularly the undifferentiated form, are commonly found to have EBV DNA in the tumour. Ito and others have presented strong epidemiological evidence that phorbol esters are related to the unusual geographic distribution of NPC in southeastern regions of China. There appears to be a close link between the widespread EBV infection of the Asian population and the distinct regional distribution in China of plants that produce diterpene ester. Naturally occurring phorbol esters are produced by plants of the Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae, which are used as traditional herbal medicines. Although it has been established that EBV can infect epithelial cells isolated from NPC as well as certain normal epithelial cells, there has been no in vitro evidence that EBV induces neoplastic transformation in normal human epithelial cells with or without exposure to phorbol esters. We report here evidence that transformation of normal human epithelial cells results from exposure to infectious EBV and that transformation is dependent on the presence of phorbol esters.

Carcinogens↗