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Induction of p21/WAF1 and G1 cell-cycle arrest by the chemopreventive agent apigenin.

Apigenin is a plant flavonoid that has been shown to significantly inhibit ultraviolet-induced mouse skin tumorigenesis when applied topically and may be an alternative sunscreen agent for humans. A long-term goal of our laboratory is to elucidate the molecular mechanism or mechanism by which apigenin inhibits skin tumorigenesis. In a previous publication, we characterized the mechanism by which apigenin induced G2/M arrest in keratinocytes. More recent studies in our laboratory have provided evidence that apigenin can induce G1 arrest in addition to arresting cells at G2/M. Here we describe the mechanism of the apigenin-induced G1 arrest in human diploid fibroblasts (HDF). Treatment of asynchronous HDF for 24 h with 10-50 microM apigenin resulted in dose-dependent cell-cycle arrest at both the G0/G1 and G2/M phases as measured by flow cytometry. The G0/G1 arrest was more clearly defined by using HDF that were synchronized in G0 and then released from quiescence by replating at subconfluent densities in medium containing 10-70 microM apigenin. The cells were analyzed for cell-cycle progression or cyclin D1 expression 24 h later. A dose of apigenin as low as 10 microM reduced the percentage of cells in S phase by 20% compared with control cultures treated with solvent alone. Western blot analysis of apigenin-treated HDF indicated that cyclin D1 was expressed at higher levels than in untreated cells, which signifies that they were arrested in G1 phase rather than in a G0 quiescent state. The G1 arrest was further studied by cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) immune complex-kinase assays of apigenin-treated asynchronous HDF, which demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of cdk2 by apigenin. Inhibition of cdk2 kinase activity in apigenin-treated cells was associated with the accumulation of the hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein as measured by western blot analysis. The cdk inhibitor p21/WAF1 was also induced in a dose-dependent manner, with a 22-fold induction of p21/WAF1 in 70 microM apigenin-treated cells. In conclusion, apigenin treatment produced a G1 cell-cycle arrest by inhibiting cdk2 kinase activity and the phosphorylation of Rb and inducing the cdk inhibitor p21/WAF1, all of which may mediate its chemopreventive activities in vivo. To our knowledge this is the first report of a chemopreventive agent inducing p21/WAF1, a known downstream effector of the p53 tumor suppressor protein.

Anticarcinogenic Agents↗

S-phase cells of the lymphoplasmocytic compartment in hyperdiploid multiple myeloma are diploid cells.

In vivo S-phase cell labeling with iododexoyuridine (IdUrd) was performed in six multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Myeloma cells from four patients were hyperploid. In three out of four patients, DNA/IdUrd flow cytometry revealed that most of the labeled cells, which had divided during the period, elapsed between flash labeling and sampling, had returned to the diploid G0/G1 compartment and not to the hyperdiploid peak. To eliminate contaminating cells belonging to the normal hematopoiesis, plasmocytic and lymphocytic cells were fractionated and analyzed separately. Cell enrichment was performed with use of murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against plasmocytic and lymphocytic cell markers and subsequent magnetic activated cell sorting with immunobeads, i.e., polysterene magnetic particles coated with sheep anti-mouse IgG. The purified plasmocytic cells were mainly hyperdiploid and largely unlabeled. The lymphocytic cells appeared to belong chiefly to the diploid cell population. The IdUrd-labeled cells were predominantly lymphocytic cells, returning after mitosis to the diploid G0/G1 peak. Although this pattern of S-phase cells in hyperdiploid MM, belonging to the diploid cell compartment, was observed in three out of four hyperploid cases and although the number of observations is small, S-phase cells may demonstrate an aspect of tumor cell kinetics in hyperploid MM, which has been debated for many years and which indicates the existence of a non-plasmocytic stem cell compartment that feeds the plasmocytoma. The behavior of the labeled cells as observed in a few cases of MM provides another, hitherto undescribed, argument that, at least in some MM patients, a part of the proliferating tumor cells may be diploid lymphocytic (precursor) cells. These findings should be considered when targeting and monitoring treatment of MM and also in purging procedures of bone marrow in patients to be treated by ablative cytotoxic therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Aged↗

Effect of 4-Hydroxynonenal on cell cycle progression and expression of differentiation-associated antigens in HL-60 cells.

4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is a highly reactive aldehyde produced by lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes that inhibits growth and induces differentiation in HL-60 cells. Its mechanisms of action were investigated by analyzing the cell cycle distribution and the appearance of differentiated phenotypes in HL-60 cells. Data obtained by exposing cells to DMSO for 7.5 h (same time as for HNE treatment) or for the whole length of the experiments (5 d) were used for comparison. HNE induced a marked increase in the proportion of G0/G1 cells after 1 and 2 d. The brief DMSO treatment did not affect the distribution, whereas continuous exposure led to a progressive accumulation of cells in G0/G1 (maximal at day 5). The proportion of phagocytic cells gradually increased in HNE-treated and DMSO long-exposed cultures from day 2 and peaked at day 5 (35 and 63%, respectively), whereas the effect of the brief DMSO treatment was negligible. The expression of CD11b and CD67 increased in cells treated with HNE or continuously exposed to DMSO, whereas CD36 was expressed at low levels on both treatments. These results indicate that the pathway of the granulocytic differentiation induced by HNE in HL-60 cells differs from that of DMSO: with HNE, growth inhibition precedes the onset of differentiation, whereas in DMSO-treated cells the two processes are chronologically associated.

Aldehydes↗

Phosphorylation of p27Kip1 on serine 10 is required for its binding to CRM1 and nuclear export.

Phosphorylation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) has been thought to regulate its stability. Ser(10) is the major phosphorylation site of p27(Kip1), and phosphorylation of this residue affects protein stability. Phosphorylation of p27(Kip1) on Ser(10) has now been shown to be required for the binding of CRM1, a carrier protein for nuclear export. The p27(Kip1) protein was translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm at the G(0)-G(1) transition of the cell cycle, and this export was inhibited by leptomycin B, a specific inhibitor of CRM1-dependent nuclear export. The nuclear export and subsequent degradation of p27(Kip1) at the G(0)-G(1) transition were observed in cells lacking Skp2, the F-box protein component of an SCF ubiquitin ligase complex, indicating that these early events are independent of Skp2-mediated proteolysis. Substitution of Ser(10) with Ala (S10A) markedly reduced the extent of p27(Kip1) export, whereas substitution of Ser(10) with Asp (S10D) or Glu (S10E) promoted export. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis showed that CRM1 preferentially interacted with S10D and S10E but not with S10A, suggesting that the phosphorylation of p27(Kip1) on Ser(10) is required for its binding to CRM1 and for its subsequent nuclear export.

3T3 Cells↗

Evidence of increased DNA content of murine thymocytes caused by cocaine.

C57BL mice were injected intraperitoneally daily with 10 to 50 mg/kg of cocaine for five days. Four hours after the last injection, the thymuses were removed, and the effects on DNA and protein content of the surviving cells were measured. A dose-dependent increase in DNA content per cell, determined by UV spectrophotometric analysis, and a dose-dependent increase in protein content per cell, as measured using the Bio-Rad reagent, were observed. The increase in DNA content per cell was confirmed by H33258 staining of DNA as well as the diphenylamine assay. These changes were also observed when normal thymocytes were cultured with cocaine. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry of cocaine-treated cultures revealed the presence of aneuploid cells with increased DNA content. Fewer cells with aneuploidy were observed in experiments with significant apoptosis. Since both aneuploidy and enhanced apoptosis can be induced by cocaine and the amount of aneuploidy cells varies inversely with the degree of apoptosis, we hypothesize that cocaine causes DNA/chromosome damage, which eventually leads to cell death via the apoptosis pathway.

Analysis of Variance↗

Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis of cultured porcine fetal fibroblast cells.

Normal development of nuclear transfer embryos is thought to be dependent on transferral of nuclei in G0 or G1 phases of the cell cycle. Therefore, we investigated the cell cycle characteristics of porcine fetal fibroblast cells cultured under a variety of cell cycle-arresting treatments. This was achieved by using flow cytometry to simultaneously measure cellular DNA and protein content, enabling the calculation of percentages of cells in G0, G1, S, and G2+M phases of the cell cycle. Cultures that were serum starved for 5 days contained higher (p < 0.05) percentages of G0+G1 (87.5 +/- 0. 7) and G0 cells alone (48.3 +/- 9.7) compared with rapidly cycling cultures (G0+G1: 74.1 +/- 3.0; G0: 2.8 +/- 1.2). Growth to confluency increased (p < 0.05) G0+G1 percentages (85.1 +/- 2.8) but did not increase G0 percentages (6.0 +/- 5.3) compared to those in cycling cultures. Separate assessment of small-, medium-, and large-sized cells showed that as the cell size decreased from large to small, percentages of cells in G0+G1 and G0 alone increased (p < 0.05). We found 95.2 +/- 0.3% and 72.2 +/- 12.0% of small serum-starved cells in G0+G1 and G0 alone, respectively. Cultures were also treated with cell cycle inhibitors. Treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (1%) or colchicine (0.5 microM) increased percentages of cells in G0 (24.8 +/- 20.0) or G2+M (37.4 +/- 4.6), respectively. However, cells were only slightly responsive to mimosine treatment. A more complete understanding of the cell cycle of donor cells should lead to improvements in the efficiency of nuclear transfer procedures.

Animals↗

The HIV protease inhibitor Indinavir inhibits cell-cycle progression in vitro in lymphocytes of HIV-infected and uninfected individuals.

Indinavir (IDV) is a potent and selective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor (PI) widely used in antiretroviral therapy for suppression of HIV, but its effects on the immune system are relatively unknown. Recently, it has been reported that PIs inhibit lymphocyte apoptosis. In the present study we have investigated the effects of ex vivo addition of IDV on lymphocyte activation and apoptosis in cells from HIV-infected children (n = 18) and from healthy uninfected individuals (controls, n = 5) as well as in Jurkat and PM1 T-cell lines. Pretreatment of control peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures with IDV resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of lymphoproliferative responses to different activation stimuli. Additionally, this treatment led to cell-cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase in anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-stimulated PBMC cultures in controls and in 15 of 18 HIV-infected children. Spontaneous- or activation-induced apoptosis of PBMCs from HIV-infected or uninfected individuals or of Fas-induced apoptosis in Jurkat and PM1 T cell lines were not inhibited by IDV. Moreover, IDV did not inhibit activation of caspases-1, -3, -4, -5, -9, and -8 in lysates of Jurkat T cells undergoing Fas-induced apoptosis. The findings indicate that IDV interferes with cell-cycle progression in primary cells but does not directly affect apoptosis. It is concluded that IDV may prolong cell survival indirectly by inhibiting their entry into cell cycle. In individuals on PI therapy, PI-mediated effects could potentially modulate immunologic responses independently of antiviral activity against HIV.

Adolescent↗

Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes cell-cycle transition from G0 to G1 phase in subcultured endothelial cells of diabetic rat thoracic aorta.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been claimed to be a major positive regulator of angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy and atherosclerosis. Diabetic state-induced alteration of the phenotypes and the influence of 12-h pretreatment with VEGF were examined after a further 12-h treatment with only 1% fetal bovine serum in subcultured endothelial cells (EC) derived from rat thoracic aorta. By flow cytometric cell cycle analysis, VEGF showed quite different transition patterns from those of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in 5-day (at the progression phase) cultured normal rat EC even though VEGF belongs to the PDGF family. VEGF promoted cell cycle transition from the G0 to the G1 phase at 3 ng/ml, but at 30 ng/ml, VEGF weakly inhibited it compared with the effect of PDGF. The streptozotocin-diabetic state promoted cell cycle transition of EC from the G0 to the G1 phase. The promotion by the low concentration of VEGF was observed even at the point of 35-day culture (angiogenic EC at the competence phase in normal state). The diabetic state enhanced EC proliferation rather than tube formation, and the tube formation was scarce. The promotion of cell cycle transition by VEGF may aggravate furthermore diabetic angiopathy due to the leaky constitution of blood vessels.

Animals↗

Differential control of cell cycle, proliferation, and survival of primary T lymphocytes by purine and pyrimidine nucleotides.

Purine and pyrimidine nucleotides play critical roles in DNA and RNA synthesis as well as in membrane lipid biosynthesis and protein glycosylation. They are necessary for the development and survival of mature T lymphocytes. Activation of T lymphocytes is associated with an increase of purine and pyrimidine pools. However, the question of how purine vs pyrimidine nucleotides regulate proliferation, cell cycle, and survival of primary T lymphocytes following activation has not yet been specifically addressed. This was investigated in the present study by using well-known purine (mycophenolic acid, 6-mercaptopurine) and pyrimidine (methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) inhibitors, which are used in neoplastic diseases or as immunosuppressive agents. The effect of these inhibitors was analyzed according to their time of addition with respect to the initiation of mitogenic activation. We showed that synthesis of both purine and pyrimidine nucleotides is required for T cell proliferation. However, purine and pyrimidine nucleotides differentially regulate the cell cycle since purines control both G(1) to S phase transition and progression through the S phase, whereas pyrimidines only control progression from early to intermediate S phase. Furthermore, inhibition of pyrimidine synthesis induces apoptosis whatever the time of inhibitor addition whereas inhibition of purine nucleotides induces apoptosis only when applied to already cycling T cells, suggesting that both purine and pyrimidine nucleotides are required for survival of cells committed into S phase. These findings reveal a hitherto unknown role of purine and pyrimidine de novo synthesis in regulating cell cycle progression and maintaining survival of activated T lymphocytes.

Apoptosis↗

A novel mechanism for aspirin-mediated growth inhibition of human colon cancer cells.

PURPOSE: The molecular mechanisms by which aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exert chemopreventative effects in colon cancer are unclear and complex. Current investigations focus on the chemopreventive properties of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, independent of their ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, and presumably, identification of non-COX pathways will suggest new targets for clinical use. It was demonstrated recently that aspirin results in reduced microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer cells. We hypothesized that aspirin treatment might alter expression of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, representing another potential non-COX mechanism for its action. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this study, we have examined the effects of aspirin on the cellular growth rates, MMR protein levels, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis in MMR-deficient (HCT116) and MMR-proficient (HCT116+chr3 and SW480) human colon cancer cell lines. RESULTS: We found that treatment with aspirin inhibited the growth of these three cancer cell lines. In HCT116+chr3 cells, treatment with 1 mM of aspirin increased expression of the hMLH1 and hPMS2 proteins by 2.5-fold and 2-fold, respectively, and increased expression of the hMSH2 and hMSH6 proteins by 2-3-fold. For SW480 cells, treatment with 1 and 5 mM of aspirin increased expression of the hMLH1 and hPMS2 proteins by 2-4-fold and 3-5-fold, respectively, and increased expression of the hMSH2 and hMSH6 proteins by 3-7-fold. For all three of the cell lines, treatment with 1 and 2.5 mM of aspirin induced apoptosis at 48 and 72 h. Aspirin induced G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest in HCT116 cells. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that aspirin acts through COX-independent mechanisms by resulting in an increase in MMR protein expression and subsequent apoptosis, which might serve as an additional means of growth inhibition in aspirin-treated human colon cancer cells.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

The natural compound n-butylidenephthalide derived from Angelica sinensis inhibits malignant brain tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

The naturally-occurring compound, n-butylidenephthalide (BP), which is isolated from the chloroform extract of Angelica sinensis (AS-C), has been investigated with respect to the treatment of angina. In this study, we have examined the anti-tumor effects of n-butylidenephthalide on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumors both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, GBM cells were treated with BP, and the effects of proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis were determined. In vivo, DBTRG-05MG, the human GBM tumor, and RG2, the rat GBM tumor, were injected subcutaneously or intracerebrally with BP. The effects on tumor growth were determined by tumor volumes, magnetic resonance imaging and survival rate. Here, we report on the potency of BP in suppressing growth of malignant brain tumor cells without simultaneous fibroblast cytotocixity. BP up-regulated the expression of Cyclin Kinase Inhibitor (CKI), including p21 and p27, to decrease phosphorylation of Rb proteins, and down-regulated the cell-cycle regulators, resulting in cell arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase for DBTRG-05MG and RG2 cells, respectively. The apoptosis-associated proteins were dramatically increased and activated by BP in DBTRG-05MG cells and RG2 cells, but RG2 cells did not express p53 protein. In vitro results showed that BP triggered both p53-dependent and independent pathways for apoptosis. In vivo, BP not only suppressed growth of subcutaneous rat and human brain tumors but also, reduced the volume of GBM tumors in situ, significantly prolonging survival rate. These in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects indicate that BP could serve as a new anti-brain tumor drug.

Angelica sinensis↗

Anchorage-dependent control of muscle-specific gene expression in C2C12 mouse myoblasts.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that expression of growth-associated genes is regulated by the adhesive state of the cell. To understand the role of cell adhesion in regulating the switch from growth to differentiation, we are studying the differentiation of mouse myoblasts into multinucleated contractile myotubes. In this report, we describe a novel means of culturing C2C12 myoblasts that permits an analysis of the role of cell adhesion in regulating the sequential induction of muscle-specific genes that control myogenesis. Suspension of an asynchronous, proliferating population of myoblasts in a viscous gel of methylcellulose dissolved in medium containing 20% serum induces growth arrest in G0 phase of the cell cycle without a concomitant induction of muscle-specific genes. Reattachment to a solid substratum in 20% serum, 0.5 nM bFGF, or 10 nM IGF-1 rapidly activates entry of the quiescent cells into G1 followed by a synchronous progression of the cell population through into S phase. bFGF or IGF-1 added separately facilitate only one passage through the cell cycle, whereas 20% serum or the two growth factors added together support multiple cell divisions. Adhesion of suspended cells in DMEM alone or with 3 nM IGF-1 induces myogenesis as evidenced by the synthesis of myogenin and myosin heavy chain (MHC) proteins followed by fusion into myotubes. bFGF completely inhibits this differentiation process even in the presence of myogenic doses of IGF-1. Addition of 3 nM IGF-1 to quiescent myoblasts maintained in suspension culture in serum-free conditions does not induce myogenin or MHC expression. Thus, adhesion is a requirement for the induction of muscle gene expression in mouse myoblasts. The development of a muscle cell culture environment in which proliferating myoblasts can be growth arrested in G0 without activating muscle-specific gene expression provides a means of analyzing the synchronous activation of either the myogenic or growth programs and how adhesion affects each process, respectively.

Animals↗

Fas-mediated apoptosis of proliferating, transiently growth-arrested, and senescent normal human fibroblasts.

Previous studies suggest that apoptotic signaling may require proteins that are critical to cellular proliferation and cell cycle regulation. To further examine this question, proliferating, transiently growth-arrested, and senescent normal human fibroblasts were induced to undergo apoptosis in response to two distinct mediators of apoptosis-Fas (APO-1/CD95) death receptor and staurosporine. Ligation of the Fas receptor in the presence of cycloheximide or actinomycin D resulted in apoptosis of proliferating cells, cells transiently growth arrested by gamma-irradiation or serum starvation (i.e., G(0) arrest), and permanently growth-arrested senescent fibroblasts. Proliferating and G(0)-arrested cells were also susceptible to staurosporine-mediated apoptosis. Surprisingly, gamma-irradiated cells did not undergo staurosporine-mediated apoptosis, and remained viable for a prolonged time. Fas-mediated apoptosis of senescent fibroblasts was evidenced by chromosome condensation and by activation of caspase-8 and -3, proteases crucial for the execution of the Fas apoptosis pathway. In addition, ligation of the Fas receptor in G(0)-arrested cells did not result in the activation of p34(cdc2) kinase, arguing that activation of this kinase is not essential in this apoptotic process. From these studies we conclude that proliferating, transiently growth-arrested, and senescent normal human fibroblasts are susceptible to apoptotic signals and that apoptosis is not necessarily dependent upon cell cycle or proliferative state of the cell.

Apoptosis↗

Alpha interferon suppresses the cyclin D3 and cdc25A genes, leading to a reversible G0-like arrest.

Alpha interferon is a potent growth inhibitor of Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells. We show here that alpha-interferon signaling interacted simultaneously with several components of the basic cell cycle machinery, causing cells to enter into a state that had many features characteristic of the G0 state. Within a few hours after alpha-interferon treatment, cyclin D3 mRNA and protein levels dropped to undetectable levels and, in parallel, the activities of cyclin A- and cyclin E-associated kinases were significantly reduced. The latter resulted from the rapid alpha-interferon-mediated elimination of cdc25A, a phosphatase that is required for antagonism of negative tyrosine phosphorylation of cdk2 in cyclin-cdk complexes. This regulation represents a novel mechanism through which an external inhibitory cytokine interacts with the cell cycle machinery. At later time points after alpha-interferon treatment, the levels of the 55-kDa slowly migrating hyperphosphorylated form of cyclin E and of cyclin A were also reduced. The antiproliferative effects were reversible, and cultures from which alpha interferon was removed reentered S phase after a lag that typically corresponded to approximately two doubling times. During this lag period, the expression of cyclin D3 and cyclin A, as well as of the cdc25A phosphatase, continued to be switched off, in spite of the removal of alpha interferon from the cell surface. In contrast, c-myc, which represents another downstream target gene that is subjected to negative regulation by alpha interferon, was relieved from suppression much earlier, concomitant with the decay in early signaling of the cytokine. The delayed pattern of cyclin reexpression provides evidence that alpha-interferon signaling imposes a G0-like state on this system.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Molecular biological observations in some rare neoplasms: DNA ploidy and cell cycle data in liposarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

INTRODUCTION: The prognostic significance of tumor DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis for long-term survival has been examined in 19 patients with liposarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma. In many cases, different tumor areas of primary tumors and local recurrences have been analyzed to reveal intratumoral heterogeneity. RESULTS: Among the primary tumors, there were eight aneuploid tumors, three of which showed diploid and aneuploid tumor regions. Correlations among DNA ploidy, grading, percentage of S-phase cells and infiltrative growth pattern of the tumors could be demonstrated. Poorly differentiated tumors (G3) showed aneuploidy in six of eight patients. Aneuploid tumors showed S-phase cells in 17.2% (range 3.2-38.1%), which was higher than the percentage of S-phase cells in diploid tumors (9.4%, range 2.1-27.4%). Aneuploid tumors showed a more infiltrative growth pattern (6 of 8 patients) than diploid tumors (6 of 11 patients). The median survival time of patients with diploid tumors was 86.5 months (8-144 months), compared with 40.9 months (11-54 months) for patients with aneuploid tumors. CONCLUSION: DNA ploidy and percentage of S-phase cells may be considered as prognostic factors.

Aneuploidy↗

Some insights into the mode of action of butadiene by examining the genotoxicity of its metabolites.

1,3-Butadiene (BTD) is an important commodity chemical and air pollutant that has been shown to be a potent carcinogen in mice, and to a lesser extent, a carcinogen in rats. To better assess butadiene's carcinogenic risk to humans, it is important to understand its mode of action and how this relates to differences in responses among species. In a series of in vitro experiments, lymphocytes from rats, mice, and humans were exposed to 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (EB) or 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) for 1h at the G(0) stage of the cell cycle, stimulated to divide, and cultured to assess the ability of these metabolites to induce sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosome aberrations (CAs). EB induced no increases in SCEs or CAs in the cells from the three species. DEB was a potent SCE- and CA-inducer, with the results being similar in each rodent species. The response for SCEs seen in the human cells was more complex, with genetic polymorphism for glutathione-S-transferases (GST) possibly modulating the response. The single cell gel electrophoresis assay was used on genetically engineered V79 cell lines to investigate a possible influence of GST status. Experiments were also conducted to investigate the reason for EB's failure to induce SCEs or CAs in G(0) cells. The results indicate that EB-induced DNA damage was repaired before DNA synthesis in unstimulated lymphocytes, but EB caused a large increase in SCEs if actively cycling cells were treated. Thus, the results indicate that DEB damage is persistent in G(0) cells, and DEB is a much more potent genotoxicant than EB. The carcinogenic effect of butadiene will most likely depend on the degree to which DEB is produced and reaches target tissues, and to a lesser extent on the ability of EB to reach actively dividing or repair deficient cells.

Animals↗

Lenalidomide inhibits proliferation of Namalwa CSN.70 cells and interferes with Gab1 phosphorylation and adaptor protein complex assembly.

Lenalidomide (Revlimid, CC-5013) belongs to a line of compounds known as immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) that are under clinical investigation in hematopoietic and solid tumor cancers. Lenalidomide efficacy has been reported in clinical trials of multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly in MDS patients with a del 5q cytogenetic abnormality, with or without other cytogenetic abnormalities. Here we report that lenalidomide inhibits proliferation of chromosome 5 deleted hematopoietic tumor cell lines in vitro, whether from the B cell, T cell, or myeloid lineage. There was diversity in the responses of the various cell lines to lenalidomide, with one undergoing cell cycle arrest, and others undergoing apoptosis. In the most lenalidomide-sensitive chromosome 5 deleted cell line, Namalwa CSN.70, the compound induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, inhibited Akt and Gab1 phosphorylation, and inhibited the ability of Gab1 to associate with a receptor tyrosine kinase. Lenalidomide also enhanced AP-1 transcriptional activity in Namalwa, but not in the other cell lines tested. These studies provide evidence for the mechanism of action of lenalidomide in chromosome 5 deleted hematopoietic tumors in vitro, and may provide a better understanding of the drug's activity in clinical applications.

Adaptor Protein Complex 1↗

Capsaicin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human esophagus epidermoid carcinoma CE 81T/VGH cells through the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ productions and caspase-3 activation.

Capsaicin (N-vanillyl-8-methyl-1-nonenamide) is found in pungent fruits, especially in red pepper. Many studies have focused on the anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic or chemopreventive activities of capsaicin. However, the effects of capsaicin on human esophagus epidermoid carcinoma cells have never been investigated. In this study, we investigated the effects of capsaicin on esophagus epidermoid carcinoma cells in vitro and further examined the molecular mechanisms of capsaicin-induced apoptosis in esophagus epidermoid carcinoma cells. Capsaicin decreased the percentage of viable cells of CE 81T/VGH cells, via induction of G0-G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Capsaicin induced G0-G1 phase arrest underwent the promotion of p53 and p21, which is an inhibitor of Cdk2 and cyclin E complex before leading to the inhibitions of both compounds. Capsaicin induced apoptosis in time-dependent manners. Capsaicin-induced apoptosis was in association with the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ productions and BAPTA, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, which significantly inhibited capsaicin-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results suggest that the capsaicin-induced apoptosis in the CE 81T/VGH cells may result from the activation of caspase-3 and intracellular Ca2+ release pathway, and it is further suggested that capsaicin has potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of esophagus epidermoid carcinoma cells.

Apoptosis↗