Biomedical subjects

M S Cragg

Publications and source records attributed to M S Cragg.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Mitotic catastrophe and endomitosis in tumour cells: an evolutionary key to a molecular solution.

Following genotoxic insult, p53 mutated tumour cells undergo mitotic catastrophe. This is characterised by a switch from mitosis to the endocycle. The essential difference between mitosis and the endocycle is that in the latter, DNA synthesis is uncoupled from cell division, which leads to the formation of endopolyploid cells. Recent data suggests that a return from the endocycle into mitosis is also possible. Furthermore, our observations indicate that a particular type of endocycle known as endomitosis may be involved in this return. Here we review the role of endomitosis in the somatic reduction of polyploidy during development and its postulated role in the evolution of meiosis. Finally, we incorporate these evolutionary data to help interpret our most recent observations in the tumour cell system, which indicate a role for endomitosis and meiotic regulators, in particular p39mos in the segregation of genomes (somatic reduction) of these endopolyploid cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Segregation of genomes in polyploid tumour cells following mitotic catastrophe.

Following irradiation p53-function-deficient tumour cells undergo mitotic catastrophe and form endopolyploid cells. A small proportion of these segregates nuclei, and give rise to viable descendants. Here we studied this process in five tumour cell lines. After mitotic failure, tumour cells enter the endocycle and form mono-nucleated or multi-nucleated giant cells (MOGC and MNGC). MNGC arise from arrested anaphases, MOGC, from arrested metaphases. In both cases the individual genomes establish a radial pattern by links to a single microtubule organizing centre. Segregation of genomes is also ordered. MNGC present features of mitosis being resumed from late anaphase. In MOGC the sub-nuclei retain arrangement of stacked metaphase plates and are separated by folds of the nuclear envelope. Mitosis then resumes in sub-nuclei directly from metaphase. The data presented indicate that endopolyploid tumour cells preserve the integrity of individual genomes and can potentially re-initiate mitosis from the point at which it was interrupted.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2001

Mitotic death: a mechanism of survival? A review.

Mitotic death is a delayed response of p53 mutant tumours that are resistant to genotoxic damage. Questions surround why this response is so delayed and how its mechanisms serve a survival function. After uncoupling apoptosis from G1 and S phase arrests and adapting these checkpoints, p53 mutated tumour cells arrive at the G2 compartment where decisions regarding survival and death are made. Missed or insufficient DNA repair in G1 and S phases after severe genotoxic damage results in cells arriving in G2 with an accumulation of point mutations and chromosome breaks. Double strand breaks can be repaired by homologous recombination during G2 arrest. However, cells with excessive chromosome lesions either directly bypass the G2/M checkpoint, starting endocycles from G2 arrest, or are subsequently detected by the spindle checkpoint and present with the features of mitotic death. These complex features include apoptosis from metaphase and mitosis restitution, the latter of which can also facilitate transient endocycles, producing endopolyploid cells. The ability of cells to initiate endocycles during G2 arrest and mitosis restitution most likely reflects their similar molecular environments, with down-regulated mitosis promoting factor activity. Resulting endocycling cells have the ability to repair damaged DNA, and although mostly reproductively dead, in some cases give rise to mitotic progeny. We conclude that the features of mitotic death do not simply represent aberrations of dying cells but are indicative of a switch to amitotic modes of cell survival that may provide additional mechanisms of genotoxic resistance.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Polyploid giant cells provide a survival mechanism for p53 mutant cells after DNA damage.

The relationships between delayed apoptosis, polyploid 'giant' cells and reproductive survivors were studied in p53-mutated lymphoma cells after DNA damage. Following severe genotoxic insult with irradiation or chemotherapy, cells arrest at the G(2)-M cell cycle check-point for up to 5 days before undergoing a few rounds of aberrant mitoses. The cells then enter endoreduplication cycles resulting in the formation of polyploid giant cells. Subsequently the majority of the giant cells die, providing the main source of delayed apoptosis; however, a small proportion survives. Kinetic analyses show a reciprocal relationship between the polyploid cells and the diploid stem line, with the stem line suppressed during polyploid cell formation and restituted after giant cell disintegration. The restituted cell-line behaves with identical kinetics to the parent line, once re-irradiated. When giant cells are isolated and followed in labelling experiments, the clonogenic survivors appear to arise from these cells. These findings imply that an exchange exists between the endocyclic (polyploid) and mitotic (diploid or tetraploid) populations during the restitution period and that giant cells are not always reproductively dead as previously supposed. We propose that the formation of giant cells and their subsequent complex breakdown and subnuclear reorganization may represent an important response of p53-mutated tumours to DNA damaging agents and provide tumours with a mechanism of repair and resistance to such treatments.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2000

Release of mitotic descendants by giant cells from irradiated Burkitt's lymphoma cell line..

Polyploid giant cells are produced as part of the response of p53 mutant Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines to high doses of irradiation. Polyploid giant cells arise by endo-reduplication in the first week after a single 10 Gray dose of irradiation. Within the giant cells a sub-nuclear structure is apparent and within this, sub-nuclear autonomy is evident, as displayed by independent nuclear structure and DNA replication in different parts of the nucleus. The majority of these cells soon die as apoptotic polykaryons. However, approximately 10-20% of giant cells remain viable into the second week after irradiation and begin vigorous extrusion of large degraded chromatin masses. During the second week, the giant cells begin to reconstruct their nuclei into polyploid 'bouquets', where chromosome double-loops are formed. Subsequently, the bouquets return to an interphase state and separate into several secondary nuclei. The individual sub-nuclei then resume DNA synthesis with mitotic divisions and sequester cytoplasmic territories around themselves, giving rise to the secondary cells, which continue mitotic propagation. This process of giant cell formation, reorganization and breakdown appears to provide an additional mechanism for repairing double-strand DNA breaks within tumour cells.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2000

Complement mediated cell death is associated with DNA fragmentation.

In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that complement attack of target cells, in the presence of suitably high levels of serum, can induce the oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis. This phenomenon requires membrane permeabilisation induced by formation of the complete membrane attack complex and relies on physiologically relevant levels of serum. TUNEL analysis detected complement mediated DNA fragmentation as early as 30 min after the addition of serum and electron microscopy confirmed that chromatin became condensed after complement attack. Various experiments implicate serum DNase I as the mediator of this DNA fragmentation. Intriguingly, membrane permeability induced by melittin gave rise to similar serum dependent DNA fragmentation. The implications of these results for the study of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

The importance of antibody-specificity in determining successful radioimmunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma.

We report the radioimmunotherapy of mouse B-cell lymphoma, BCL1, using a panel of anti-B-cell monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) (anti-CD19, anti-CD22, anti-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, and anti-idiotype (Id) radiolabeled with 131-iodine. When administered early in disease (day 4), the 131I-anti-MHCII MoAb cured tumors as a result of targeted irradiation alone, the unlabeled MoAb being nontherapeutic. In contrast, 131I-anti-Id, despite targeting irradiation and having therapeutic activity as an unconjugated antibody, protected mice for only 30 days; 131I-anti-CD19 and anti-CD22 were therapeutically inactive. Binding and biodistribution studies showed that the anti-Id, unlike anti-MHCII, MoAb was cleared from target cells in vivo and delivered 4 times less irradiation to splenic tumor. Treating later in the disease (day 14) increased tumor load and produced the expected reduction in therapeutic activity with the anti-MHCII, but surprisingly, allowed 131I-anti-Id to cure most mice. This unexpected potency of 131I-anti-Id late in the disease appeared to result from the direct cytotoxicity of the anti-Id MoAb, which was more active in established disease, in combination with targeted irradiation. We believe the ability of targeted irradiation and certain cytotoxic MoAb to work cooperatively against tumor in this way has important implications for the selection of reagents in radioimmunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Molecular markers of B-cell lymphoma.

Molecular mapping of the cell surface has probably proceeded further with the human lymphocyte than with any other mammalian cell, and the B lymphocyte yields a wide range of subtly varying neoplasms. These two bodies of knowledge are now readily correlated, given the widespread adoption of a modern lineage-based classification of lymphoma (Revised European-American). Studies of the markers of B-cell lymphoma have immediate practical importance in diagnosis, defining clonality, and detecting minimal residual disease. They also help to keep us abreast of lymphocyte physiology, and present new opportunities for treating these neoplasms.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed1999

Signaling antibodies in cancer therapy.

Over the past 10-15 years, genetic engineering of monoclonal antibodies has greatly improved their utility in humans and in particular their ability to recruit immunological effectors such as natural killer cells and macrophages. Clinical results now confirm that these new reagents, when directed at the appropriate tumor markers (e.g. CD20 or Her-2), can control disease without untoward side effects. However, despite such success it is still unclear exactly how monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) destroy tumors in vivo. The ability of mAbs to crosslink membrane receptors and generate intracellular signals is part of the mechanism by which they control tumor growth. New data show that such 'signaling' mAbs can be used to sensitize tumors to the action of conventional DNA-damaging drugs.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1999

Analysis of the interaction of monoclonal antibodies with surface IgM on neoplastic B-cells.

In vitro studies identified three Burkitts lymphoma cell lines, Ramos, MUTU-I and Daudi, that were growth inhibited by anti-IgM antibody. However, only Ramos and MUTU-I were sensitive to monoclonal antibodies (mAb) recognizing the Fc region of surface IgM (anti-Fc mu). Experiments using anti-Fc mu mAb (single or non-crossblocking pairs), polyclonal anti-mu Ab, and hyper-crosslinking with a secondary layer of Ab, showed that growth inhibition of B-cell lines was highly dependent on the extent of IgM crosslinking. This was confirmed by using Fab', F(ab')2 and F(ab')3 derivatives from anti-Fc mu mAb, where increasing valency caused corresponding increases in growth arrest and apoptosis, presumably as a result of more efficient BCR-crosslinking on the cell surface. The ability of a single mAb to induce growth arrest was highly dependent on epitope specificity, with mAb specific for the Fc region (C mu2-C mu4 domains) being much more effective than those recognizing the Fab region (anti-L chain, anti-Id and anti-Fd mu, or C mu1). Only when hyper-crosslinked with polyclonal anti-mouse IgG did the latter result in appreciable growth inhibition. Binding studies showed that these differences in function were not related to differences in the affinity, but probably related to intrinsic crosslinking capacity of mAb.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1995

The development of anti-CD79 monoclonal antibodies for treatment of B-cell neoplastic disease.

The B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) consists of cell surface IgM associated with the CD79 alpha/beta heterodimer. In this paper we describe a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognising the extracellular regions of human CD79 alpha and beta. FACS analysis demonstrated that the mAbs bind to a range of Burkitt's lymphoma lines, a mouse B-cell line (JO-72) transfected with human CD79 alpha and beta, and tumour biopsies from NHL patients. The specificity of the mAbs was confirmed by immunoprecipitation. The Ka for the binding of IgG from the anti-CD79 alpha mAbs to cell surface CD79 alpha on Ramos cells was 3 x 10(8) M-1, and their maximum level of binding, 1.7-2 x 10(5) molecules/cell, matched that obtained with anti-Fc mu and anti-Fd mu mAbs. All four anti-CD79 beta mAbs were of lower affinity. Interestingly, in growth arrest studies, we found that while all anti-Fc mu mAbs caused profound inhibition of proliferation of Ramos cells, a range of other anti-BCR mAbs, which included the anti-CD79, anti-Fab mu, anti-gamma and anti-idiotype reagents, all performed poorly giving a maximum of 25% inhibition. These differences in performance are believed to relate to the ability of anti-BCR mAbs to cross-link neighbouring surface BCR and suggest that, unlike anti-Fc mu which favours cross-linking, most of these mAbs are binding in a monogamous, non-cross-linking, union with the BCR.

Animals↗