Selective expression of heat shock genes during differentiation of human myeloid leukemic cells

Several studies have indicated a role for heat shock proteins during development and differentiation. In these studies we have examined the patterns of activation of the HSP-70A, HSP-70B, HSP-70B' and HSP-28 mRNAs and proteins during the differentiation of immature human leukemic cells to more mature progenitors by several differentiation-inducing agents. K562 cells activate the mRNA for HSP-70A, HSP-70B' and HSP-28 genes in the presence of hemin or sodium butyrate as cells differentiate into late erythroblasts. K562 cells become progressively more resistant to killing by heat shock during their differentiation to late erythroblasts. Further, selective inhibition of HSP-70A by antisense oligonucleotides to reduce HSP-70 kDa accumulation results in consistent reduction of hemoglobin production by 25-30% in K562 cells exposed to hemin, HL-60 cells differentiate into mature macrophages within 3 days following addition of PMA. HSP-70A mRNA levels increase within the first 2 h of PMA treatment and remain elevated for up to 3 days during the cells' gradual differentiation into mature macrophages. PMA and sodium butyrate treatment also cause elevated levels of HSP-28 mRNA expression; this increase is barely detectable at 24 h but is considerable at 72 h when about 90% of HL-60 cells are differentiated into mature macrophages or monocytes. These studies show that HSP-70A, HSP-70B' and HSP-28 may have specific roles during the differentiation of blood cell progenitors into erythrocytes or macrophages. Further, differentiation alters the thermal sensitivity of leukemic cells.

Urokinase inhibits HL-60 cell proliferation in vitro

The binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) to its receptor (u-PA-R) is required for morphological and functional maturation during monocyte differentiation of the promyelocytic leukaemia line HL-60. This paper reports that monocyte differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D2 (vitamin D2) results in a marked increase in expression of u-PA and u-PA-R. This increase in u-PA expression is of greater magnitude than is observed after culture with interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), another potent inducer of monocytic differentiation. Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), an agent that induces granulocytic differentiation, also increased expression of u-PA. However, culture with the granulocyte-inducing all-trans retinoic acid (RA) did not induce an increase in surface expression of u-PA or u-PA-R. The vitamin D2-induced increase in cell-surface u-PA was not coincident with an increase in steady-state levels of u-PA mRNA, suggesting that intracellular stores of this protein, translational or post-translational mechanisms of regulation, or some other regulatory mechanism may be responsible for the increase in u-PA during differentiation. To ascertain an association between the increased expression of cell-surface u-PA and reduced proliferation that accompanies differentiation, the effect of u-PA on cellular proliferation of HL-60 cells was measured. Both pro-u-PA (whole molecule) and fragments of u-PA that retained receptor-binding capability caused a marked inhibition of HL-60 proliferation in the absence of vitamin D2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ketoconazole attenuates radiation-induction of tumor necrosis factor

PURPOSE

Previous work has demonstrated that inhibitors of phospholipase A2 attenuate ionizing radiation induced arachidonic acid production, protein kinase C activation and prevent subsequent induction of the tumor necrosis factor gene. Because arachidonic acid contributes to radiation-induced tumor necrosis factor expression, we analyzed the effects of agents which alter arachidonate metabolism on the regulation of this gene.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Phospholipase A2 inhibitors quinicrine, bromphenyl bromide, and pentoxyfylline or the inhibitor of lipoxygenase (ketoconazole) or the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (indomethacin) were added to cell culture 1 h prior to irradiation.

RESULTS

Radiation-induced tumor necrosis factor gene expression was attenuated by each of the phospholipase A2 inhibitors (quinicrine, bromphenyl bromide, and pentoxyfylline). Furthermore, ketoconazole attenuated X ray induced tumor necrosis factor gene expression. Conversely, indomethacin enhanced tumor necrosis factor expression following irradiation.

CONCLUSION

The finding that radiation-induced tumor necrosis factor gene expression was attenuated by ketoconazole suggests that the lipoxygenase pathway participates in signal transduction preceding tumor necrosis factor induction. Enhancement of tumor necrosis factor expression by indomethacin following irradiation suggests that prostaglandins produced by cyclooxygenase act as negative regulators of tumor necrosis factor expression. Inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor induction ameliorate acute and subacute sequelae of radiotherapy. We propose therefore, that ketoconazole may reduce acute radiation sequelae such as mucositis and esophagitis through a reduction in tumor necrosis factor induction or inhibition of phospholipase A2 in addition to its antifungal activity.

Effects of phenylacetate on cells from patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 patients with untreated B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were exposed to sodium phenylacetate (NaPA) in culture to assess its ability to induce differentiation. We found no evidence of cellular differentiation or induction of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase activity, as seen when B-CLL cells were treated with phorbol ester. We observed a striking decrease in the viability of the B-CLL cells in a time and dose dependent fashion when exposed to NaPA. After six days of culture, control cells from the 11 patients studied had a median viability of 90%, whereas cells exposed to NaPA at 5 and 10 mM concentrations had median viabilities of 39 and 16%, respectively. The cells treated with NaPA developed prominent cytoplasmic vacuoles. NaPA binds and depletes glutamine which is an important amino acid for lymphocyte metabolism. Although the mechanism of the cytocidal effects demonstrated in this study are unknown, they may relate at least partially to glutamine deprivation.

Retinoic acid receptors: involvement in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), is a homogeneous subgroup of acute myelogenous leukemias characterized by phenotypic and genetic markers. APL is associated with a reciprocal chromosomal translocation t(15,17) which has been shown to disrupt the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) gene. As a result, a portion of the RAR alpha gene becomes fused with a chromosome 15 locus termed PML (promyelocytic myeloid leukemia) from which chimeric PML/RAR alpha fusion mRNAs are expressed. The presence of these fusion transcripts in APL patients strongly support the hypothesis that both the t(15;17), and thus PML/RAR alpha, play a crucial role in the leukemogenesis of this disease. APL cells are specifically responsive to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and this characteristic has allowed the first differentiation therapy with retinoic acid. However, failure or partial responses are observed and, though this has most frequently been reported in patients at second or third relapse. The molecular basis of the absence of ATRA response in these patients has not been determined.

Interleukin-5 receptor alpha chain mRNA is down-regulated by transforming growth factor beta 1

Interleukin-5 is a T cell-derived cytokine with actions restricted to the eosinophil/basophil lineage and a subset of murine B cells. High affinity receptors have been identified and shown to comprise an IL-5-specific alpha chain (IL-5R alpha) in association with a beta chain which is shared with the receptors for IL-3 and GM-CSF. Nothing is currently known of the factors which regulate the transcription and subsequent expression of the IL-5 receptor alpha chain; this study was undertaken, therefore, in order to identify agents which modulate IL-5R alpha mRNA levels, with the goal of understanding the regulation of this gene in vivo. The human IL-5-dependent erythroleukemia TF-1 was used as a source of mRNA which was analysed by northern blotting using a cDNA probe for IL-5R alpha. A range of cytokines and pharmacological agents were used in 20 hour cultures of TF-1 followed by northern analysis. Of these, only TGF-beta 1 and PMA showed any effect, which was a selective downregulation, although the PMA displayed some cytotoxicity over the long culture period. The remainder (interleukins 1 to 11, G-CSF, GM-CSF, LIF, SCF, erythropoetin, IFN-gamma, RANTES, MIP-1 alpha, FGF, EGF, PDGF, dexamethasone, forskolin, retinoic acid and cyclosporin A) failed to alter expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differential expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase genes during phorbol ester-induced differentiation of human leukemia U937 cells

Some human leukemia cell lines, such as HL-60 and U937, differentiate to monocyte/macrophage by treatment with chemicals such as phorbol ester or 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3. In this report, we demonstrate that cellular protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity (especially in cytosol) in monoblastoid leukemia U937 cells increased up to 2-fold during the course of monocytic differentiation. We have cloned 13 PTPase-related gene fragments from the differentiated U937 cells using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Two of these were found to be genes of novel isozymes, PTP-U1 and PTP-U2. We investigated the changes in expression of each isozyme during the differentiation of the cells and found that nine isozymes (both cytosolic and transmembranous) were expressed more in the differentiated cells than in the undifferentiated cells. Among them, PTP-U1 and PTP-U2 were greatly induced by phorbol ester. Interestingly, there were two cytosolic isozymes that were down-regulated during the course of differentiation. Our present data suggest that the functions of the PTPase isozyme during monocytic maturation are not always equivalent to each other, and tyrosine dephosphorylation may participate in several different pathways of signal transduction during the differentiation of leukemia cells.

Pharmacological modulation of c-fos mRNA expression in the HL60 and U937 cell lines

A variety of drugs known to act via increasing intracellular cAMP are used in the treatment of asthma. In this study we asked whether anti-asthma drugs are capable of altering gene activation. We determined whether phosphodiesterase inhibitors, either alone or in combination with adrenoceptor agonists, were able to alter the abundance of mRNA of the cAMP responsive gene c-fos in the cell-lines HL60 and U937. Incubation of cells with phosphodiesterase inhibitors aminophylline, theophylline or pentoxyphylline all resulted in an increase in c-fos mRNA. Further upregulation of c-fos mRNA abundance was observed when the cells were stimulated with the combination of aminophylline and adrenoceptor agonists with beta 2-agonist activity. These increases in c-fos mRNA were accompanied by increases in intracellular concentration of cAMP. These data suggest that in these in vitro models, combinations of beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors can increase intracellular cAMP and affect gene activation.

Expression of mRNA for serglycin core protein and other platelet alpha granule proteins is increased in human erythroleukemia cells by phorbol myristate acetate

This study has determined the effects of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on mRNA levels for the serglycin proteoglycan core protein in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells. We have compared these changes to those for mRNA for other proteins which are known to be synthesized by HEL cells and megakaryocytes and are known to be localized to alpha granules within platelets. PMA caused a large increase in mRNA for serglycin within two hours of treatment of the cells, and the increase persisted for at least 72 hours. DMSO did not cause a significant change in mRNA levels. mRNA for platelet factor 4, transforming growth factor-beta, and P-Selectin (PADGEM, GMP-140) were also increased by PMA treatment. The mRNA for platelet factor 4 was substantially reduced in the presence of DMSO. The increase of mRNA for serglycin induced by PMA was consistent with our previous observation that synthesis of proteoglycans from [35S]sulfate was greatly stimulated by PMA in HEL cells. The data suggest that up-regulation of synthesis of proteoglycans is induced by PMA in cells which have the capacity to differentiate along the megakaryocytic lineage, as opposed to cell lines such as HL-60 in which proteoglycan synthesis is reduced in the presence of this differentiation-inducing agent.

Down-regulation of c-myc gene is not obligatory for growth inhibition and differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells

Suppression of c-myc expression is observed during induced differentiation of several myeloid cell lines and it has been attributed to the cell growth arrest that accompanies terminal differentiation. To dissect the role of c-Myc in the proliferation-differentiation switch we have studied c-myc expression in K562 cells exposed to several chemical agents. This model system allowed us to discriminate between the growth arrest and differentiation phenomena as well as the induction of differentiation along two different lineages (erythroid and myelomonocytic). Our results showed that c-myc expression did not significantly decrease when growth inhibition is reversible, either by treatment with a differentiating agent such as hydroxyurea (which induced erythroid differentiation) or by a non-differentiating agent such as interferon-alpha. In contrast, c-myc expression decreased when cells underwent terminal differentiation, either along the myelomonocytic (by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) or erythroid (by 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine) lineages. These results indicated that c-myc down-regulation is not obligatory for growth arrest and non-terminal differentiation of human myeloid cells. In contrast, c-myc down-regulation occurred in terminal differentiation, but induction of myelomonocytic differentiation resulted in a greater loss of c-myc mRNA than induction of erythroid differentiation.

Modulation of gene expression in the acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line NB4

The human leukemic cell line NB4 was derived from a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia and is characterized by a specific 15;17 chromosomal translocation. We analyzed the response of NB4 and HL-60 cells to the biomodulators all-transretinoic acid (ATRA), vitamin D3 (Vit D3) and the protein kinase C agonists bryostatin 1 (Bryo 1) and phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). HL-60 cells were used for comparison being arrested at the myeloblastic-promyelocytic stage, but lacking the t(15;17) abnormality. In most experiments Vit D3 was only weakly or not at all effective. The other three reagents effectively slowed or stopped the proliferation of the cells in suspension. Associated with this proliferation arrest was the cell differentiation along the myeloid cell lineages: ATRA modulated morphological features indicative of granulocytic differentiation; Bryo 1 and TPA caused also distinct morphological changes. The inducers up-regulated the expression of CD11b (without changing the surface expression of other markers, e.g. CD13, CD14, CD15, CD33, CD68, HLA-DR) and completely down-regulated the originally strong expression of myeloperoxidase and c-myc at the mRNA level. Thus, ATRA- or protein kinase C activator-induced differentiation involved changes associated with maturational processes. Induction of terminal differentiation of leukemic cells by physiological or pharmacological modulators may be able to control the growth of the malignant cells and has therapeutic implications.

TNF alpha acts in synergy with GM-CSF to induce proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells by up-regulating the GM-CSF receptor and GM-CSF gene expression

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are dependent for their survival and proliferation on hematopoietic growth factors. As tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) can increase the proliferation of primary cultures of AML cells, we have investigated the effect of TNF alpha on the autocrine and/or paracrine growth control by one of the major AML growth factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). First, a panel of AML cells were analysed with respect to their proliferative response to TNF alpha. We provide experimental evidence that TNF alpha induces both GM-CSF gene expression and up-regulation of high-affinity GM-CSF membrane receptor in TNF alpha-responsive cells. This effect is not restricted to the malignant phenotype, although it could account for the selective growth advantage of the leukemic clone over the normal cells upon TNF alpha stimulation.

A quantitative analysis of modulations occurring in cellular c-myc protein content, %S phase and growth balance under growth-inhibitory conditions

The c-myc protein was one of the first proto-oncogene products to be linked to the increased proliferative activity of neoplastic cells. However, few studies have attempted to quantify changes occurring in cellular c-myc protein content in response to growth-inhibitory conditions, or to relate such changes to total cellular protein (TCP) levels, %S phase cells and/or cellular growth balance. Knowledge of such relationships is important for determining the biological relevance of the c-myc protein as a marker for proliferating cells. In this study, a dual-laser flow cytometric technique employing three fluorescent dyes was used to quantify cellular changes in c-myc protein, TCP, DNA and growth balance in exponentially-growing and serum deprived U118MG, A-172 and HL-60 cells. Results obtained by flow cytometry were verified using other techniques. Changes in c-myc protein content were found to occur independently of changes in TCP, %S phase or cellular growth balance, and varied between cell lines. These results indicate that cellular c-myc protein determinations convey information that is unique from other indicators of cellular growth and proliferation. Such information may be linked, however, to the nutritional status and origin of the cells being assayed.

Establishment and characterization of a novel human monocytic leukemia cell line (KP-1) expressing scavenger receptor

A new monocytic leukemia cell line (KP-1) was established from a 2-y-old Japanese girl with acute monocytic leukemia. The KP-1 cells were maintained in suspension culture with a doubling time of 96 h. The cells were positively stained with alpha-naphtyl butyrate esterase, but not with naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, myeloperoxidase, and periodic acid-Schiff reagent. Cell surface marker analysis revealed that the cells were CD4, CD11a, CD11c, CD13, CD14, CD18, CD33, and HLA-DR positive. Karyotype analysis revealed near diploidy (47 XX) and a translocation t(11;19) was found. When treated with 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, KP-1 cells became tightly adherent, showed the enhanced reactivity for alpha-naphtyl butyrate esterase, and produced several monokines such as IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the human macrophage scavenger receptor was expressed after 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatment, and the cells accumulated a large amount of cholesterol esters in the presence of acetylated LDL. Compared with another human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, KP-1 expressed scavenger receptor and accumulated cholesterol ester more rapidly in the presence of 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate and acetylated LDL. Scatchard analysis using 125I-labeled acetylated LDL revealed a typical saturation curve with an apparent kd of 1.7 x 10(-7) M and 3400 binding sites per cell. KP-1 retained the characteristics of monocyte-macrophage lineage cells and will facilitate the in vitro studies of the pathologic and physiologic roles of scavenger receptors.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta mRNA expression in HMC-1 cells: differential regulation of gene product expression by recombinant interleukin-4

Cytokine-activation pathways in mast cells are supposed to play a significant role in host defense mechanisms and allergic reactions. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a well-characterized regulator of growth and function of mast cells. The human mast cell line HMC-1 was established from a patient suffering from mast cell leukemia and was shown to expose IL-4 binding sites. In the present study, the effects of recombinant human (rh) IL-4 and other rh cytokines (IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8) on expression of cytokine mRNA in HMC-1 cells were examined by Northern blot analysis using oligonucleotide probes. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1 beta transcripts were found to be expressed constitutively in HMC-1 cells, whereas transcripts for IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) could not be detected. Of all cytokines tested, rhIL-4 was found to down-regulate IL-1 beta mRNA expression and formation of immunoreactive IL-1 beta protein in HMC-1 cells. The effect of IL-4 on IL-1 beta gene product expression was time- and dose-dependent (maximum effects obtained with 100 U/mL of rhIL-4). No effect of IL-4 on expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in HMC-1 cells was observed. These results raise the possibility that human mast cells are a source of both TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta. Furthermore, our study provides evidence that IL-4 regulates IL-1 beta gene product expression in HMC-1 cells. The HMC-1 cell line should be a useful tool for studying cytokine activation pathways in human mast cells.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 enhances the transcription and expression of the inositol trisphosphate receptor gene in HL-60 cells

Human leukemic HL-60 cells were treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3) to induce monocytic cell differentiation. Concomitant with differentiation there was increased inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor expression, as assessed by both [3H]InsP3 binding site density and maximal InsP3-mediated Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores. Within 8 hr after VitD3 treatment the steady state level of a 10-kilobase InsP3 receptor mRNA was specifically elevated, and it continued to rise for 1-2 days. Nuclear run-off assays indicated a higher transcription rate of the InsP3 receptor gene in response to VitD3. The increased rate of transcription was sufficient to account for the increased steady state level of InsP3 receptor mRNA in VitD3-treated cells. VitD3 had no effect on the decay of InsP3 receptor mRNA in transcriptionally arrested cells; however, InsP3 receptor mRNA decay was dependent upon continued protein synthesis. Moreover, in cycloheximide-treated cells VitD3 was still able to induce an increase in the steady state level of InsP3 receptor mRNA, indicating that protein synthesis was not required for the enhanced transcriptional response. The results suggest that VitD3 directly enhances the transcription of the InsP3 receptor gene in HL-60 cells.

Regulation of c-kit expression in human myeloid cells

In both murine and human systems the c-kit ligand, also known as mast cell growth factor (MGF), acts synergistically with several colony stimulating factors, including the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 3 (IL-3), in stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of different types of hematopoietic progenitors. In addition, MGF is also known to enhance the effects of GM-CSF and IL-3 on the in vitro proliferative activity of myeloid leukemic cells. MGF synergizes with a number of other cytokines such as GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-9 in sustaining the proliferation of growth factor dependent M-07e cells. In order to explore the molecular basis of this synergistic activity and to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of c-kit expression, we investigated the effects of GM-CSF, IL-3 and MGF on c-kit mRNA and protein levels in M-07e cells. GM-CSF, unlike MGF and IL-3, induced a transient but significant increase of c-kit mRNA levels. Moreover, following MGF and GM-CSF treatment, c-kit protein expression in M-07e cells decreased, whereas all the other cytokines tested are unable to modulate c-kit protein. These data together with the results of protein turnover analysis suggest that MGF and GM-CSF regulate c-kit expression at the post-transcriptional level. In addition, the finding that IL-3 has no detectable effect on c-kit expression raises the possibility that GM-CSF-induced c-kit regulation is not mediated by the common signal transducing element: the beta subunit of the IL-3/GM-CSF receptor complex.

Investigations of mechanisms of drug-induced changes in gene expression: N-methylformamide-induced changes in synthesis of the M(r) 72,000 constitutive heat shock protein during commitment of HL-60 cells to granulocyte differentiation

HL-60 cells were treated with the differentiating agent N-methylformamide and early changes in gene expression and protein content were investigated. Analysis of protein synthesis had previously shown an early (< 12 h) fall in the synthesis of M(r) 70,000 heat shock proteins (F. M. Richards, A. Watson, and J. A. Hickman. Cancer Res., 48: 6715-6720, 1988). The changes have now been characterized in detail and their kinetics compared to those of the expression of the c-myc protein. Immunoanalysis, using antibodies to either the stress-inducible heat shock protein hsp70 (4G4) or a pan-M(r) 70,000 heat shock protein antibody (3A3), showed that there was a striking reduction in the levels of the constitutive heat shock protein hsc70 when cells were incubated continuously with 170 mM N-methylformamide. A reduction in the level of hsc70 RNA was observed within 3 h and continued thereafter. In contrast, transcription of the hsc70 gene was induced within 1-2 h, after which the rate returned to basal level. There were no significant changes in the rate of transcription of the stress-inducible heat shock proteins hsp70 or hsp90. When N-methylformamide was removed from the cells, prior to commitment to differentiation, the levels of hsc70 were reestablished, whereas after 36 h of treatment there was no recovery. Western blotting with an antibody to the c-myc protein showed this to fall to virtually undetectable levels by 3 h under the same conditions. The results suggest that the loss of hsc70, which may perform a protein chaperoning role, was mediated at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels of regulation and was an early event closely associated with the commitment of HL-60 cells to differentiation. The fall in hsc70 was not associated with alterations in the cell cycle, nor were the kinetics of the change suggestive of a relationship with the decrease in content of c-myc protein.

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and staurosporine induce increased retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene expression with megakaryocytic differentiation of leukemic cells

The phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), induced increased expression of the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor gene product in the course of megakaryocytic differentiation of the K562 human leukemia cell line, a differentiatively multipotent hematopoietic precursor cell. The induced increase in RB protein per cell occurred early, by 8 h of treatment, preceding any significant phenotypic differentiation evidenced by cellular expression of the CD41 differentiation-specific megakaryocytic cell surface marker, but not inhibition of cell cycle transit, leading to a cell population arrested with 2 n, 4 n, and 8 n DNA content. The increase in RB protein per cell occurred for cells in all cell cycle phases. Staurosporine (STSP) was found to induce a similar course of cell cycle arrest and differentiation. Furthermore, STSP caused an up-regulation of RB expression similar to that caused by TPA. Almost all of the RB protein is phosphorylated in untreated cells, but TPA and STSP both caused the late appearance of hypophosphorylated RB protein following cell cycle arrest. The STSP-caused hypophosphorylation was much later than the TPA effect. Hypophosphorylation of RB is, thus, not necessarily a prerequisite for cell cycle arrest but may be a consequence of G0. Given that TPA can be an activator and STSP an inhibitor of protein kinase C, it appears that the induced processes of tumor suppressor gene regulation and growth and differentiation control are not necessarily protein kinase C dependent in K562 cells. Furthermore, the findings that these two presumably divergent inducing agents caused a similar increase in RB gene expression suggests that the up-regulation of RB associated with differentiation is not a coincidence of just one specific inducer but may be a common essential feature of the induced differentiation. The amount of RB protein per cell increased within hours of exposure to TPA or STSP and may have a role in the induced metabolic cascade producing the new phenotype.

Dexamethasone enhances agonist induction of tissue factor in monocytes but not in endothelial cells

Stimulation of monocytic cells by inflammatory agents such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide or tumour necrosis factor-alpha leads to the rapid and transient expression of tissue factor, the major cellular initiator of the extrinsic coagulation cascade in both haemostasis and tissue inflammation. In this study we investigated whether the synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, would inhibit agonist induction of tissue factor expression in both monocytes and endothelial cells. Surprisingly, dexamethasone significantly enhanced the induction of tissue factor expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and an established monocytic cell line, THP-1, in response to lipopolysaccharide or tumour necrosis factor-alpha. However, unlike monocytic cells, dexamethasone did not enhance agonist induction of tissue factor in endothelial cells. Synergistic enhancement of tissue factor expression by dexamethasone was also reflected in tissue factor mRNA levels in THP-1 cells, but was not the result of improved TF mRNA stability. Synergism between bacterial lipopolysaccharide and glucocorticoid in the induction of monocyte effector function is extremely unusual and may help to explain the variable outcome of glucocorticoid treatment of septic shock.

Activation of the jun-D gene during treatment of human myeloid leukemia cells with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine

The jun-D gene is a member of the c-jun family of early response genes that code for DNA binding proteins. The present studies demonstrate that 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) increases jun-D expression in HL-525 myeloid leukemia cells. This induction by ara-C was maximal at 6 hr and transient. In contrast, ara-C had no detectable effect on the gene coding for the cAMP-responsive element binding protein 1. Nuclear run-on assays demonstrated that ara-C treatment is associated with an increased rate of jun-D transcription. The results also show that jun-D transcripts are stabilized at a posttranscriptional level in ara-C-treated cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ara-C induces expression of the jun-D gene and that this effect is regulated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Inhibition of P210 expression in chronic myeloid leukaemia: oligonucleotides and/or transduced antisense sequences

There is now strong evidence that the BCR-ABL gene product (P210) of the Philadelphia chromosome plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). That is why antisense strategies aiming at inhibiting P210 expression for research or therapeutic purposes are increasingly investigated. Two main tools are currently available in this respect: oligonucleotides and retrovirally transduced antisense sequences. In this paper, we discuss the potential advantages and drawbacks of each approaches and report experimental evidences showing the feasibility of the second one in a murine lymphoid cell line (BaF3) expressing P210 upon retroviral transduction of the complete BCR-ABL cDNA. A retroviral vector was used to introduce selected antisense and sense sequences into this cell line, that P210 expression had rendered Interleukin-3 (IL3) independent. The antisense transcripts generated under the control of MoMLV promoter specifically killed BaF3 cells in the absence of IL3 and stably inhibited P210 expression. Retrovirally transduced antisense sequences can thus successfully achieve stable suppression of P210 and may be used to study further the mechanisms by which P210 is transforming cells. The effect on CML cell lines and fresh CML cells, in bone marrow cultures, remains to be investigated before considering this technique for in vitro selective suppression of Philadelphia-positive haematopoiesis.

Differentiation and growth modulation of myeloid leukemia cells by the protein kinase C activating agent bryostatin-1

Bryostatin-1 (Bryo), a macrocyclic lactone of the sea water bryozoan Bugula neritina, is a potent activator of protein kinase C and was found to exhibit antineoplastic activity in several systems. We studied the effect of Bryo on differentiation and growth modulation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines and freshly explanted blood cells from patients with myeloid leukemia. Alterations at the molecular level and phenotypic changes triggered by Bryo were similar, but not identical, to those induced by phorbol esters. Bryo was able to inhibit cellular proliferation as evidenced by [3H]-thymidine uptake and induced morphological changes associated with monocytic differentiation. In studies using continuous cell lines, the glucocorticoid dexamethasone was unable to prevent the Bryo-induced growth inhibition or the induced phenotypic changes. However, in fresh myeloid blood cells dexamethasone attenuated these Bryo-triggered effects. Our own data taken together with reports from the literature reviewed here suggest the following conclusions: (i) Bryo, while lacking tumor promoting activity, is able to induce differentiation in maturation arrested leukemia cells; (ii) it exhibits selective antiproliferative properties in normal or malignant hematopoietic cells and supports growth of multipotent stem cells. These features might qualify Bryostatin-1 as a potential candidate for promising research and possibly for future clinical applications.

The serial study of c-myc expression in bone marrow biopsy specimens during treatment for acute myelogenous leukaemia

The AMEX method of fixation permitted the serial study of c-myc expression in bone-marrow (BM) biopsies obtained from 6 patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) and one with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) during therapy with various cytotoxic and bioactive agents. BM cytotoxic therapy and therapy with bioactive agents was capable of altering c-myc expression in vivo. While cytotoxic therapy was generally associated with a fall in myc expression, it did not produce a dramatic effect on myc expression. Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (RhGM-CSF) can increase and retinoic acid/alpha-interferon can decrease c-myc expression in myeloid cells in vivo.