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L-Asparaginase Isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris Seeds Exhibited Potent Anti-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Effects In-Vitro and Low Immunogenic Properties In-Vivo. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13101008. [PMID: 27754445 PMCID: PMC5086747 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13101008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli-derived L-asparaginases have been used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), however, clinical hypersensitivity reactions and silent inactivation due to antibodies against E. coli-asparaginase, lead to inactivation of these preparations in most cases.Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity and antitumor effects ofa novel L-asparaginaseenzyme, isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris seeds (P-Asp) on the ALL cell line (Jurkat). The immunogenicity of the enzyme was also evaluated in-vivo and results were compared to commercially available enzymes of microbial sources. The data demonstrated that P-Asp has an enhanced anti-proliferative effect on ALL cells as detected by the WST-8 cell viability assay kit. Cells treated with P-Asp also exhibited a higher degree of early apoptosis compared with asparaginase from Escherichia coli (L-Asp) or its pegylated form Pegasparagas (PEG-ASP) that induced higher rates of late apoptosis and necrosis as detected by an Annexin V/Propidium iodide binding assay. In-vivo experiments indicated that mice treated with P-Asp had less distinct allergenic responses than other bacterial enzyme preparations as indicated by lower serum concentrations of IgG, IgE, IgM and mMCP-1 compared with other treated groups. In conclusion, P-Asp can be considered as a promising candidate for use in the treatment of ALL.
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Einsfeldt K, Baptista IC, Pereira JCCV, Costa-Amaral IC, da Costa ES, Ribeiro MCM, Land MGP, Alves TLM, Larentis AL, Almeida RV. Recombinant L-Asparaginase from Zymomonas mobilis: A Potential New Antileukemic Agent Produced in Escherichia coli. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156692. [PMID: 27253887 PMCID: PMC4890785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
L-asparaginase is an enzyme used as a chemotherapeutic agent, mainly for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In this study, the gene of L-asparaginase from Zymomonas mobilis was cloned in pET vectors, fused to a histidine tag, and had its codons optimized. The L-asparaginase was expressed extracellularly and intracellularly (cytoplasmically) in Escherichia coli in far larger quantities than obtained from the microorganism of origin, and sufficient for initial cytotoxicity tests on leukemic cells. The in silico analysis of the protein from Z. mobilis indicated the presence of a signal peptide in the sequence, as well as high identity to other sequences of L-asparaginases with antileukemic activity. The protein was expressed in a bioreactor with a complex culture medium, yielding 0.13 IU/mL extracellular L-asparaginase and 3.6 IU/mL intracellular L-asparaginase after 4 h of induction with IPTG. The cytotoxicity results suggest that recombinant L-asparaginase from Z. mobilis expressed extracellularly in E.coli has a cytotoxic and cytostatic effect on leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Einsfeldt
- Programa de Engenharia Química, COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: (ALL); (KE); (RVA)
| | - Isis Cavalcante Baptista
- Programa de Engenharia Química, COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana Christina Castanheira Vicente Pereira
- Programa de Engenharia Química, COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabele Campos Costa-Amaral
- Programa de Saúde Pública e Meio Ambiente, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca (ENSP), Centro de Estudos da Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana (CESTEH), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elaine Sobral da Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Cecília Menks Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Gerardin Poirot Land
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tito Lívio Moitinho Alves
- Programa de Engenharia Química, COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ariane Leites Larentis
- Programa de Saúde Pública e Meio Ambiente, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca (ENSP), Centro de Estudos da Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana (CESTEH), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: (ALL); (KE); (RVA)
| | - Rodrigo Volcan Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: (ALL); (KE); (RVA)
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Integrative computational in-depth analysis of dysregulated miRNA-mRNA interactions in drug-resistant pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells: an attempt to obtain new potential gene-miRNA pathways involved in response to treatment. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:7861-72. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-4553-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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Sokolov NN, Eldarov MA, Pokrovskaya MV, Aleksandrova SS, Abakumova OY, Podobed OV, Melik-Nubarov NS, Kudryashova EV, Grishin DV, Archakov AI. Bacterial recombinant L-asparaginases: Properties, structure, and anti-proliferative activity. BIOCHEMISTRY MOSCOW-SUPPLEMENT SERIES B-BIOMEDICAL CHEMISTRY 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s199075081504006x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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55
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Goyal G, Bhatt VR. L-asparaginase and venous thromboembolism in acute lymphocytic leukemia. Future Oncol 2015; 11:2459-70. [PMID: 26274336 DOI: 10.2217/fon.15.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acute lymphocytic leukemia patients receiving L-asparaginase therapy may cause significant morbidity, neurological sequela and possibly worse outcomes. The prophylactic use of antithrombin infusion (to keep antithrombin activity >60%) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) may reduce the risk of VTE. The decision to continue L-asparaginase therapy after the development of VTE should be based on anticipated benefits, severity of VTE and the ability to continue therapeutic anticoagulation. In patients receiving asparaginase rechallenge, the use of therapeutic LMWH, monitoring of anti-Xa level and antithrombin level are important. Novel oral anticoagulants are not dependent on antithrombin level, hence offer theoretical advantages over LMWH for the prevention and therapy of asparaginase-related VTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Goyal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Vijaya Raj Bhatt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 987680 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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56
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Sokolov NN, Eldarov MA, Pokrovskaya MV, Aleksandrova SS, Abakumova OY, Podobed OV, Melik-Nubarov NS, Kudryashova EV, Grishin DV, Archakov AI. [Bacterial recombinant L-asparaginases: properties, structure and anti-proliferative activity]. BIOMEDIT︠S︡INSKAI︠A︡ KHIMII︠A︡ 2015. [PMID: 26215408 DOI: 10.18097/pbmc20156103312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
For more than 40 years L-asparaginases are used in combined therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and the range of tumors sensitive to these enzymes constantly extends. This review summarizes results of studies aimed at creation of new systems for heterological expression of bacterial L-asparaginases as Erwinia carotovora (EwA), Helicobacter pylori (HpA), Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (YpA) and Rhodospirillum rubrum (RrA); special attention is paid to isolation of purified enzymes and their crystallization, modification by chitosan/polyethylene, physicochemical, kinetic and structural properties characterization, and the study of the cytotoxic or anti-proliferative activity of new recombinant L-asparaginases on cell cultures in vitro. The resultant recombinant L-asparaginases (EwA, YpA, HpA и RrA) exhibit reasonable cytotoxic action on the human leukemia cells comparable to the pharmacologically available L-asparaginase EcA and represent practical interest in respect to creation, on their basis, new effective antineoplastic remedies. Further prospects of researches on bacterial L-asparaginases are associated with development of analogs of Rhodospirillum rubrum L-asparaginase (RrA) by means of directed changes of the protein structure using genetic engineering, development of chito-PEGylation for receiving L-asparaginase preparations with improved pharmacokinetic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- N N Sokolov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - M A Eldarov
- Centre "Bioengineering", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | | | - O V Podobed
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - E V Kudryashova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chemical Faculty, Moscow, Russia
| | - D V Grishin
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - A I Archakov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
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L-Asparaginase delivered by Salmonella typhimurium suppresses solid tumors. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2015; 2:15007. [PMID: 27119104 PMCID: PMC4845971 DOI: 10.1038/mto.2015.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria can be engineered to deliver anticancer proteins to tumors via a controlled expression system that maximizes the concentration of the therapeutic agent in the tumor. L-asparaginase (L-ASNase), which primarily converts asparagine to aspartate, is an anticancer protein used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In this study, Salmonellae were engineered to express L-ASNase selectively within tumor tissues using the inducible araBAD promoter system of Escherichia coli. Antitumor efficacy of the engineered bacteria was demonstrated in vivo in solid malignancies. This result demonstrates the merit of bacteria as cancer drug delivery vehicles to administer cancer-starving proteins such as L-ASNase to be effective selectively within the microenvironment of cancer tissue.
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58
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Kim JE, Kim JY. Oral Rivaroxaban Treatment for L-asparaginase-induced Deep Thrombophlebitis in Lower Extremity. CLINICAL PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.15264/cpho.2015.22.1.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jung Eun Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Kyungpook National University Children’s Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ji Yoon Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Kyungpook National University Children’s Hospital, Daegu, Korea
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59
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Krishnapura PR, Belur PD, Subramanya S. A critical review on properties and applications of microbial l-asparaginases. Crit Rev Microbiol 2015; 42:720-37. [PMID: 25865363 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2015.1022505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
l-Asparaginase is one of the main drugs used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a commonly diagnosed pediatric cancer. Although several microorganisms are found to produce l-asparaginase, only the purified enzymes from E. coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi are employed in the clinical and therapeutic applications in humans. However, their therapeutic response seldom occurs without some evidence of hypersensitivity and other toxic side effects. l-Asparaginase is also of prospective use in food industry to reduce the formation of acrylamide in fried, roasted or baked food products. This review is an attempt to compile information on the properties of l-asparaginases obtained from different microorganisms. The complications involved with the therapeutic use of the currently available l-asparaginases, and the enzyme's potential application as a food processing aid to mitigate acrylamide formation have also been reviewed. Further, avenues for searching alternate sources of l-asparaginase have been discussed, highlighting the prospects of endophytic microorganisms as a possible source of l-asparaginases with varied biochemical and pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajna Rao Krishnapura
- a Department of Chemical Engineering , National Institute of Technology Karnataka , Surathkal, Mangalore , Karnataka , India and
| | - Prasanna D Belur
- a Department of Chemical Engineering , National Institute of Technology Karnataka , Surathkal, Mangalore , Karnataka , India and
| | - Sandeep Subramanya
- b Department of Physiology , United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates
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60
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De Stefano V, Za T, Ciminello A, Betti S, Rossi E. Haemostatic alterations induced by treatment with asparaginases and clinical consequences. Thromb Haemost 2014; 113:247-61. [PMID: 25338526 DOI: 10.1160/th14-04-0372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The benefit of asparaginase for treating acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) has been well established. Native asparaginase derives from Escherichia coli (colaspase) or Erwinia chrysanthemi (crisantaspase); in a third preparation, colaspase is pegylated. Depletion of asparagine leads to decreased synthesis of procoagulant, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic proteins, with resultant hypercoagulability and greater risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Colaspase and crisantaspase are not dose-equivalent, with crisantaspase displaying haemostatic toxicity only at dosages much higher and administered more frequently than those of colaspase. Cerebral venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are two life-endangering manifestations that occur during treatment with asparaginase particularly in children and in adults with ALL, respectively. Approximately one-third of VTEs are located in the upper extremities and are central venous line-related. Other risk factors are longer duration of asparaginase treatment and concomitant use of prednisone, anthracyclines, and oral contraceptives. The risk associated with inherited thrombophilia is uncertain but is clearly enhanced by other risk factors or by the use of prednisone. VTE prevention with fresh frozen plasma is not recommended; the efficacy of antithrombin (AT) concentrates has occasionally been reported, but these reports should be confirmed by proper studies, and AT should not be routinely employed. Therapeutic or prophylactic heparin doses are only partially effective, and direct thrombin or factor Xa inhibitors could play significant roles in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio De Stefano
- Valerio De Stefano, MD, Institute of Hematology, Catholic University, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy, Tel.: +39 06 30154968, Fax: +39 06 30155209, E-mail:
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61
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Andrade AF, Borges KS, Silveira VS. Update on the Use of l-Asparaginase in Infants and Adolescent Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Clin Med Insights Oncol 2014; 8:95-100. [PMID: 25210485 PMCID: PMC4149393 DOI: 10.4137/cmo.s10242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Great improvements have been made in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment in the past decades, especially due to the use of l-asparaginase (l-ASP). Despite the significant success rate, several side effects mainly caused by toxicity, asparaginase silent inactivation, and cellular resistance, encourage an open debate regarding the optimal dosage and formulation of l-ASP. Alternative sources of asparaginases have been constantly investigated in order to overcome hypersensitivity clinical toxicity. Additionally, genomic modulation as gene expression profiling, genetic polymorphisms, and epigenetic changes is also being investigated concerning their role in cellular resistance to l-ASP. Understanding the mechanisms that mediate the resistance to l-ASP treatment may bring new insights into ALL pathobiology and contribute to the development of more effective treatment strategies. In summary, this review presents an overview on l-ASP data and focuses on cellular mechanisms underlying resistance and alternative therapies for the use of asparaginase in childhood ALL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusto F Andrade
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School/University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kleiton S Borges
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School/University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa S Silveira
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School/University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Borek D, Kozak M, Pei J, Jaskolski M. Crystal structure of active site mutant of antileukemicl-asparaginase reveals conserved zinc-binding site. FEBS J 2014; 281:4097-111. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.12906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Borek
- Department of Crystallography; Faculty of Chemistry; A. Mickiewicz University; Poznan Poland
| | - Maciej Kozak
- Department of Crystallography; Faculty of Chemistry; A. Mickiewicz University; Poznan Poland
- Department of Macromolecular Physics; Faculty of Physics; A. Mickiewicz University; Poznan Poland
| | - Jimin Pei
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas TX USA
| | - Mariusz Jaskolski
- Department of Crystallography; Faculty of Chemistry; A. Mickiewicz University; Poznan Poland
- Center for Biocrystallographic Research; Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry; Polish Academy of Sciences; Poznan Poland
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63
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Li Y, Zhang X, Hu T, Han L, Li R, Wen J, Zhang M. Asparagine synthetase expression and its potential prognostic value in patients with NK/T cell lymphoma. Oncol Rep 2014; 32:853-9. [PMID: 24913732 DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma usually shows a highly aggressive clinical course and the overall prognosis is poor. At present, there are no standard therapeutic regimens for this disease. Although chemotherapeutic protocols containing L-asparaginase (L-Asp) or pegaspargase (PEG‑Asp) have improved the efficacy of treatment, some patients are resistant to L-Asp or PEG-Asp. Previous studies demonstrated that the elevated expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) is correlated with the resistance to L-Asp or PEG-Asp and may also affect the prognosis in some types of tumors, but the expression level and clinical significance of ASNS in NK/T cell lymphoma remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the expression and clinical significance of ASNS in lymphoma cell lines and patients with NK/T cell lymphoma. Firstly, we detected PEG-Asp and L-Asp activity using MTT assay and expression of ASNS using real-time PCR in the 7 lymphoma cell lines. Secondly, we used branched DNA-liquidchip technology (bDNA-LCT) for detecting ASNS mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections in 50 cases of NK/T cell lymphoma and in 12 cases of nasal polyps and chronic rhinitis. Moreover, we analyzed the correlations between the expression of ASNS and the sensitivity to L-Asp and PEG-Asp in 7 lymphoma cell lines and with clinicopathological features and prognosis of NK/T cell lymphoma patients who used chemotherapy containing L-Asp and PEG-Asp. There was a marked difference in the sensitivity to L-Asp and PEG-Asp of the 7 lymphoma cell lines. YTS and SNK-6 cells were highly sensitive to PEG-Asp and had relatively low levels of ASNS mRNA expression. Hut-78, Jurkat and Karpas 299 cells were naturally resistant to PEG-Asp, and the ASNS expression levels were extremely high. The expression level of ASNS was relatively low in the NK/T cell lymphoma tissue compared to levels in the nasal polyps and chronic rhinitis (0.480±0.307 vs. 0.739±0.267; P=0.009). ASNS expression level was associated with III-IV tumor stage (P=0.041) and a high International Prognostic Index (P=0.018) in patients with NK/T cell lymphoma. The NK/T cell lymphoma patients with higher ASNS expression had a reduced median survival time when compared with the survival of patients with low ASNS expression (P=0.033). Cox regression test showed that the ASNS expression level is an independent prognostic factor for NK/T cell lymphoma patients. In conclusion, the expression of ASNS was closely related with the sensitivity of lymphoma cell lines to L-Asp and PEG-Asp in vitro and also had a certain effect on the survival of NK/T cell lymphoma patients. In conclusion, high ASNS expression in NK/T cell lymphoma is correlated with worse clinicopathological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqing Li
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Tengpeng Hu
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Lijuan Han
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Ruping Li
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Jianguo Wen
- The Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
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Loureiro I, Faria J, Clayton C, Ribeiro SM, Roy N, Santarém N, Tavares J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Knockdown of asparagine synthetase A renders Trypanosoma brucei auxotrophic to asparagine. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2578. [PMID: 24340117 PMCID: PMC3854871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (AS) catalyzes the ATP-dependent conversion of aspartate into asparagine using ammonia or glutamine as nitrogen source. There are two distinct types of AS, asparagine synthetase A (AS-A), known as strictly ammonia-dependent, and asparagine synthetase B (AS-B), which can use either ammonia or glutamine. The absence of AS-A in humans, and its presence in trypanosomes, suggested AS-A as a potential drug target that deserved further investigation. We report the presence of functional AS-A in Trypanosoma cruzi (TcAS-A) and Trypanosoma brucei (TbAS-A): the purified enzymes convert L-aspartate into L-asparagine in the presence of ATP, ammonia and Mg2+. TcAS-A and TbAS-A use preferentially ammonia as a nitrogen donor, but surprisingly, can also use glutamine, a characteristic so far never described for any AS-A. TbAS-A knockdown by RNAi didn't affect in vitro growth of bloodstream forms of the parasite. However, growth was significantly impaired when TbAS-A knockdown parasites were cultured in medium with reduced levels of asparagine. As expected, mice infections with induced and non-induced T. brucei RNAi clones were similar to those from wild-type parasites. However, when induced T. brucei RNAi clones were injected in mice undergoing asparaginase treatment, which depletes blood asparagine, the mice exhibited lower parasitemia and a prolonged survival in comparison to similarly-treated mice infected with control parasites. Our results show that TbAS-A can be important under in vivo conditions when asparagine is limiting, but is unlikely to be suitable as a drug target. The amino acid asparagine is important not only for protein biosynthesis, but also for nitrogen homeostasis. Asparagine synthetase catalyzes the synthesis of this amino acid. There are two forms of asparagine synthetase, A and B. The presence of type A in trypanosomes, and its absence in humans, makes this protein a potential drug target. Trypanosomes are responsible for serious parasitic diseases that rely on limited drug therapeutic options for control. In our study we present a functional characterization of trypanosomes asparagine synthetase A. We describe that Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi type A enzymes are able to use either ammonia or glutamine as a nitrogen donor, within the conversion of aspartate into asparagine. Furthermore, we show that asparagine synthetase A knockdown renders Trypanosoma brucei auxotrophic to asparagine. Overall, this study demonstrates that interfering with asparagine metabolism represents a way to control parasite growth and infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Faria
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Christine Clayton
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandra Macedo Ribeiro
- Protein Crystallography Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nilanjan Roy
- Ashok and Rita Patel Institute of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Allied Sciences, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail: (JT); (ACdS)
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail: (JT); (ACdS)
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Mehta RK, Verma S, Pati R, Sengupta M, Khatua B, Jena RK, Sethy S, Kar SK, Mandal C, Roehm KH, Sonawane A. Mutations in subunit interface and B-cell epitopes improve antileukemic activities of Escherichia coli asparaginase-II: evaluation of immunogenicity in mice. J Biol Chem 2013; 289:3555-70. [PMID: 24297177 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.486530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
L-Asparaginase-II from Escherichia coli (EcA) is a central component in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the therapeutic efficacy of EcA is limited due to immunogenicity and a short half-life in the patient. Here, we performed rational mutagenesis to obtain EcA variants with a potential to improve ALL treatment. Several variants, especially W66Y and Y176F, killed the ALL cells more efficiently than did wild-type EcA (WT-EcA), although nonleukemic peripheral blood monocytes were not affected. Several assays, including Western blotting, annexin-V/propidium iodide binding, comet, and micronuclei assays, showed that the reduction in viability of leukemic cells is due to the increase in caspase-3, cytochrome c release, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation, down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL, an arrest of the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, and eventually apoptosis. Both W66Y and Y176F induced significantly more apoptosis in lymphocytes derived from ALL patients. In addition, Y176F and Y176S exhibited greatly decreased glutaminase activity, whereas K288S/Y176F, a variant mutated in one of the immunodominant epitopes, showed reduced antigenicity. Further in vivo immunogenicity studies in mice showed that K288S/Y176F was 10-fold less immunogenic as compared with WT-EcA. Moreover, sera obtained from WT-EcA immunized mice and ALL patients who were given asparaginase therapy for several weeks recognized the K288S/Y176F mutant significantly less than the WT-EcA. Further mechanistic studies revealed that W66Y, Y176F, and K288S/Y176F rapidly depleted asparagine and also down-regulated the transcription of asparagine synthetase as compared with WT-EcA. These highly desirable attributes of these variants could significantly advance asparaginase therapy of leukemia in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjit Kumar Mehta
- From the School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
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66
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Smallwood TL, Small GW, Suter SE, Richards KL. Expression of asparagine synthetase predictsin vitroresponse tol-asparaginase in canine lymphoid cell lines. Leuk Lymphoma 2013; 55:1357-65. [DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2013.842980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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67
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E. coli-Derived L-Asparaginase Retains Enzymatic and Cytotoxic Activity In Vitro for Canine and Feline Lymphoma after Cold Storage. Vet Med Int 2013; 2013:786162. [PMID: 23738234 PMCID: PMC3655665 DOI: 10.1155/2013/786162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. L-asparaginase is effective in treating canine and feline lymphoma, however chemotherapy poses a significant financial cost to veterinary clients, limiting therapy for many pets. Single dose vials result in significant drug wastage, and drug shortages limit consistent availability for pets. Hypothesis. E. coli-derived asparaginase retains enzymatic and antineoplastic activity in canine and feline lymphoma cells after cold storage. Methods. E. coli-derived asparaginase was cold-stored: refrigeration (7–14 days) and freezing (14 days–six months, one to three freeze/thaw cycles). Enzymatic activity of asparaginase was measured via a modified asparagine assay. Effects of cold-stored asparaginase on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were measured in feline (MYA-1, F1B) and canine (17–71, OSW) lymphoma cells. Results. Cold-stored E. coli-derived asparaginase retains antineoplastic activity in all four cell lines tested. Cold-stored E. coli-derived L-asparaginase depletes asparagine and retains enzymatic activity. Duration of refrigeration, duration of freezing, and number of freeze-thaw cycles have minimal effect on asparaginase enzyme activity. Conclusions and Clinical Importance. This study establishes a scientific basis for long-term cold storage of reconstituted E. coli-derived asparaginase that may result in better utilization of limited drug resources and improve financial feasibility of E. coli-derived asparaginase as a therapeutic option for pets with lymphoma.
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68
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Kusano-Arai O, Iwanari H, Mochizuki Y, Nakata H, Kodama T, Kitoh T, Hamakubo T. Evaluation of the asparagine synthetase level in leukemia cells by monoclonal antibodies. Hybridoma (Larchmt) 2013; 31:325-32. [PMID: 23098298 DOI: 10.1089/hyb.2012.0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
L-Asparaginase (ASNase) is important for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. ASNase sensitivity has been shown to correlate with the asparagine synthetase (ASNS) protein content in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. However, there have been few studies to determine ASNS protein levels in human leukemias, since no appropriate monoclonal antibody is available for such quantitative analysis. In this study, we report the generation of anti-ASNS monoclonal antibodies, which are applicable to flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These monoclonal antibodies should provide a valuable tool for the quantification of ASNS protein level and estimation of ASNase-resistance in leukemia cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Kusano-Arai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
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69
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Truelove E, Fielding AK, Hunt BJ. The coagulopathy and thrombotic risk associated with L-asparaginase treatment in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Leukemia 2012; 27:553-9. [PMID: 23099335 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2012.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The dramatic improvements seen in the outcome of paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) have led to increasing incorporation of L-asparaginase (L-Asp) in adult treatment protocols. However, its use is associated with a disruption in the physiological balance between haemostatic and anticoagulant pathways, with the predominant clinical manifestation being thrombosis. Although L-Asp therapy is known to be associated with an acquired deficiency of antithrombin (AT), the concurrent depletion of fibrinogen and other haemostatic proteins means that the precise mechanism of thrombosis remains to be defined. In vitro coagulation assays are often prolonged but thrombosis rather than haemorrhage is the primary concern. Management of thrombotic events in these patients is based around agents that rely on AT for their anticoagulant effect, even though it is usually depleted. There is currently only limited evidence supporting the use of AT concentrates in either primary prevention or management following an established event. Evidence-based guidelines for prevention and management strategies are lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Truelove
- Department of Haematology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK.
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70
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Abstract
Cancer cells must rewire cellular metabolism to satisfy the demands of growth and proliferation. Although many of the metabolic alterations are largely similar to those in normal proliferating cells, they are aberrantly driven in cancer by a combination of genetic lesions and nongenetic factors such as the tumor microenvironment. However, a single model of altered tumor metabolism does not describe the sum of metabolic changes that can support cell growth. Instead, the diversity of such changes within the metabolic program of a cancer cell can dictate by what means proliferative rewiring is driven, and can also impart heterogeneity in the metabolic dependencies of the cell. A better understanding of this heterogeneity may enable the development and optimization of therapeutic strategies that target tumor metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Cantor
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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71
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Nomme J, Su Y, Konrad M, Lavie A. Structures of apo and product-bound human L-asparaginase: insights into the mechanism of autoproteolysis and substrate hydrolysis. Biochemistry 2012; 51:6816-26. [PMID: 22861376 DOI: 10.1021/bi300870g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Asparaginases catalyze the hydrolysis of the amino acid asparagine to aspartate and ammonia. Bacterial asparaginases are used in cancer chemotherapy to deplete asparagine from the blood, because several hematological malignancies depend on extracellular asparagine for growth. To avoid the immune response against the bacterial enzymes, it would be beneficial to replace them with human asparaginases. However, unlike the bacterial asparaginases, the human enzymes have a millimolar K(m) value for asparagine, making them inefficient in depleting the amino acid from blood. To facilitate the development of human variants suitable for therapeutic use, we determined the structure of human l-asparaginase (hASNase3). This asparaginase is an N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) family member that requires autocleavage between Gly167 and Thr168 to become catalytically competent. For most Ntn hydrolases, this autoproteolytic activation occurs efficiently. In contrast, hASNas3 is relatively stable in its uncleaved state, and this allowed us to observe the structure of the enzyme prior to cleavage. To determine the structure of the cleaved state, we exploited our discovery that the free amino acid glycine promotes complete cleavage of hASNase3. Both enzyme states were elucidated in the absence and presence of the product aspartate. Together, these structures provide insight into the conformational changes required for cleavage and the precise enzyme-substrate interactions. The new understanding of hASNase3 will serve to guide the design of variants that possess a decreased K(m) value for asparagine, making the human enzyme a suitable replacement for the bacterial asparaginases in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Nomme
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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Abstract
Cancer has become the leading cause of death in the developed world and has remained one of the most difficult diseases to treat. One of the difficulties in treating cancer is that conventional chemotherapies often have unacceptable toxicities toward normal cells at the doses required to kill tumor cells. Thus, the demand for new and improved tumor specific therapeutics for the treatment of cancer remains high. Alterations to cellular metabolism constitute a nearly universal feature of many types of cancer cells. In particular, many tumors exhibit deficiencies in one or more amino acid synthesis or salvage pathways forcing a reliance on the extracellular pool of these amino acids to satisfy protein biosynthesis demands. Therefore, one treatment modality that satisfies the objective of developing cancer cell-selective therapeutics is the systemic depletion of that tumor-essential amino acid, which can result in tumor apoptosis with minimal side effects to normal cells. While this strategy was initially suggested over 50 years ago, it has been recently experiencing a renaissance owing to advances in protein engineering technology, and more sophisticated approaches to studying the metabolic differences between tumorigenic and normal cells. Dietary restriction is typically not sufficient to achieve a therapeutically relevant level of amino acid depletion for cancer treatment. Therefore, intravenous administration of enzymes is used to mediate the degradation of such amino acids for therapeutic purposes. Unfortunately, the human genome does not encode enzymes with the requisite catalytic or pharmacological properties necessary for therapeutic purposes. The use of heterologous enzymes has been explored extensively both in animal studies and in clinical trials. However, heterologous enzymes are immunogenic and elicit adverse responses ranging from anaphylactic shock to antibody-mediated enzyme inactivation, and therefore have had limited utility. The one notable exception is Escherichia colil-asparaginase II (EcAII), which has been FDA-approved for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The use of engineered human enzymes, to which natural tolerance is likely to prevent recognition by the adaptive immune system, offers a novel approach for capitalizing on the promising strategy of systemic depletion of tumor-essential amino acids. In this work, we review several strategies that we have developed to: (i) reduce the immunogenicity of a nonhuman enzyme, (ii) engineer human enzymes for novel catalytic specificities, and (iii) improve the pharmacological characteristics of a human enzyme that exhibits the requisite substrate specificity for amino acid degradation but exhibits low activity and stability under physiological conditions.
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74
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Therapeutic enzyme deimmunization by combinatorial T-cell epitope removal using neutral drift. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:1272-7. [PMID: 21209329 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1014739108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of heterologous enzymes have been investigated for cancer treatment and other therapeutic applications; however, immunogenicity issues have limited their clinical utility. Here, a new approach has been created for heterologous enzyme deimmunization whereby combinatorial saturation mutagenesis is coupled with a screening strategy that capitalizes on the evolutionary biology concept of neutral drift, and combined with iterative computational prediction of T-cell epitopes to achieve extensive reengineering of a protein sequence for reduced MHC-II binding propensity without affecting catalytic and pharmacological properties. Escherichia coli L-asparaginase II (EcAII), the only nonhuman enzyme approved for repeated administration, is critical in treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but elicits adverse antibody responses in a significant fraction of patients. The neutral drift screening of combinatorial saturation mutagenesis libraries at a total of 12 positions was used to isolate an EcAII variant containing eight amino acid substitutions within computationally predicted T-cell epitopes--of which four were nonconservative--while still exhibiting k(cat)/K(M) = 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) for L-Asn hydrolysis. Further, immunization of HLA-transgenic mice expressing the ALL-associated DRB1*0401 allele with the engineered variant resulted in significantly reduced T-cell responses and a 10-fold reduction in anti-EcAII IgG titers relative to the existing therapeutic. This significant reduction in the immunogenicity of EcAII may be clinically relevant for ALL treatment and illustrates the potential of employing neutral drift screens to achieve large jumps in sequence space as may be required for the deimmunization of heterologous proteins.
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75
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Scotti C, Sommi P, Pasquetto MV, Cappelletti D, Stivala S, Mignosi P, Savio M, Chiarelli LR, Valentini G, Bolanos-Garcia VM, Merrell DS, Franchini S, Verona ML, Bolis C, Solcia E, Manca R, Franciotta D, Casasco A, Filipazzi P, Zardini E, Vannini V. Cell-cycle inhibition by Helicobacter pylori L-asparaginase. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13892. [PMID: 21085483 PMCID: PMC2976697 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Accepted: 10/15/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major human pathogen causing chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. One of the mechanisms whereby it induces damage depends on its interference with proliferation of host tissues. We here describe the discovery of a novel bacterial factor able to inhibit the cell-cycle of exposed cells, both of gastric and non-gastric origin. An integrated approach was adopted to isolate and characterise the molecule from the bacterial culture filtrate produced in a protein-free medium: size-exclusion chromatography, non-reducing gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, mutant analysis, recombinant protein expression and enzymatic assays. L-asparaginase was identified as the factor responsible for cell-cycle inhibition of fibroblasts and gastric cell lines. Its effect on cell-cycle was confirmed by inhibitors, a knockout strain and the action of recombinant L-asparaginase on cell lines. Interference with cell-cycle in vitro depended on cell genotype and was related to the expression levels of the concurrent enzyme asparagine synthetase. Bacterial subcellular distribution of L-asparaginase was also analysed along with its immunogenicity. H. pylori L-asparaginase is a novel antigen that functions as a cell-cycle inhibitor of fibroblasts and gastric cell lines. We give evidence supporting a role in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-related diseases and discuss its potential diagnostic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Scotti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of General Pathology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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76
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Ikeuchi H, Meyer ME, Ding Y, Hiratake J, Richards NG. A critical electrostatic interaction mediates inhibitor recognition by human asparagine synthetase. Bioorg Med Chem 2009; 17:6641-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2009.07.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Revised: 07/26/2009] [Accepted: 07/28/2009] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Prakasham RS, Hymavathi M, Subba Rao C, Arepalli SK, Venkateswara Rao J, Kennady PK, Nasaruddin K, Vijayakumar JB, Sarma PN. Evaluation of Antineoplastic Activity of Extracellular Asparaginase Produced by Isolated Bacillus circulans. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2009; 160:72-80. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-009-8679-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2008] [Accepted: 05/18/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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78
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Tabandeh MR, Aminlari M. Synthesis, physicochemical and immunological properties of oxidized inulin–l-asparaginase bioconjugate. J Biotechnol 2009; 141:189-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2009.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2008] [Revised: 03/23/2009] [Accepted: 03/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Kelo E, Noronkoski T, Mononen I. Depletion of L-asparagine supply and apoptosis of leukemia cells induced by human glycosylasparaginase. Leukemia 2009; 23:1167-71. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2008.387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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80
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Abstract
This article comprises detailed information about L-asparaginase, encompassing topics such as microbial and plant sources of L-asparaginase, treatment with L-asparaginase, mechanism of action of L-asparaginase, production, purification, properties, expression and characteristics of l-asparaginase along with information about studies on the structure of L-asparaginase. Although L-asparaginase has been reviewed by Savitri and Azmi (2003), our effort has been to include recent and updated information about the enzyme covering new aspects such as structural modification and immobilization of L-asparaginase, recombinant L-asparaginase, resistance to L-asparaginase, methods of assay of L-asparagine and L-asparaginase activity using the biosensor approach, L-asparaginase activity in soil and the factors affecting it. Also, side-effects of L-asparaginase treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been discussed in the current review. L-asparaginase has been and is still one of the most widely studied therapeutic enzymes by researchers and scientists worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Verma
- Biosensor Technology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
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81
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Bunpo P, Murray B, Cundiff J, Brizius E, Aldrich CJ, Anthony TG. Alanyl-glutamine consumption modifies the suppressive effect of L-asparaginase on lymphocyte populations in mice. J Nutr 2008; 138:338-43. [PMID: 18203901 DOI: 10.1093/jn/138.2.338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparaginase (Elspar) is used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It depletes plasma asparagine and glutamine, killing leukemic lymphoblasts but also causing immunosuppression. The objective of this work was to assess whether supplementing the diet with glutamine modifies the effect of asparaginase on normal lymphocyte populations in the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow. Mice consuming water ad libitum with or without alanyl-glutamine dipeptide (AlaGln; 0.05 mol/L) were injected once daily with 0 or 3 international units/g body weight Escherichia coli L-asparaginase for 7 d. Tissue expression of specific immune cell surface markers was analyzed by flow cytometry. Asparaginase reduced B220+ and sIgM+ cells in the bone marrow (P < 0.05) and diminished total cell numbers in thymus (-42%) and spleen (-53%) (P < 0.05). In thymus, asparaginase depleted double positive (CD4+ CD8+) and single positive (CD4+ CD8-, CD4-CD8+) thymocytes by over 40% (P < 0.05). In spleen, asparaginase reduced CD19+ B cells to 33% of controls and substantially depleted the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations. CD11b-expressing leukocytes were reduced by 50% (P < 0.05). Consumption of AlaGln did not lessen the effects of asparaginase in bone marrow or thymus but mitigated cellular losses in the CD4+, CD8+, and CD11b+ populations in spleen. AlaGln also blunted the increase in eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) phosphorylation by asparaginase in spleen, whereas eIF2 phosphorylation did not change in thymus in response to asparaginase or AlaGln. In conclusion, asparaginase reduces maturing populations of normal B and T cells in thymus, bone marrow, and spleen. Oral consumption of AlaGln mitigates metabolic stress in spleen, supporting the peripheral immune system and cell-mediated immunity during asparaginase chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyawan Bunpo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Evansville, IN 47712, USA
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82
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Abbatiello SE, Pan YX, Zhou M, Wayne AS, Veenstra TD, Hunger SP, Kilberg MS, Eyler JR, Richards NGJ, Conrads TP. Mass spectrometric quantification of asparagine synthetase in circulating leukemia cells from acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. J Proteomics 2007; 71:61-70. [PMID: 18541474 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2007.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2007] [Revised: 10/26/2007] [Accepted: 11/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The appearance of asparaginase-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in transformed cell lines has been correlated with increased expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS). Recent measurements using mRNA-based assays have raised doubts, however, as to the importance of ASNS protein in the cellular mechanisms that confer drug resistance upon the leukemic cells. Studies aimed at determining the concentration of ASNS protein in human leukemias are therefore needed to resolve this issue. A mass spectrometry (MS)-based procedure is presented for the direct quantification of ASNS protein concentration in complex sample mixtures. This assay is able to distinguish samples from transformed cell lines that express ASNS over a wide dynamic range of concentration. Importantly, this method directly detects ASNS protein, the functional entity that may be synthesizing sufficient asparagine to render leukemia cells resistant to asparaginase-treatment. We also report the successful use of this MS method, which has lower limits of detection and quantification of 30 and 100 attomoles, respectively, for the first direct measurements of ASNS protein concentrations in four patient blast samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Abbatiello
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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83
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Li BS, Gu LJ, Luo CY, Li WS, Jiang LM, Shen SH, Jiang H, Shen SH, Zhang B, Chen J, Xue HL, Tang JY. The downregulation of asparagine synthetase expression can increase the sensitivity of cells resistant to L-asparaginase. Leukemia 2006; 20:2199-201. [PMID: 17039232 DOI: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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84
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Narta UK, Kanwar SS, Azmi W. Pharmacological and clinical evaluation of L-asparaginase in the treatment of leukemia. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2006; 61:208-21. [PMID: 17011787 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2006.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2006] [Revised: 06/10/2006] [Accepted: 07/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
L-Asparaginase is an effective antineoplastic agent, used in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia chemotherapy. It has been an integral part of combination chemotherapy protocols of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia for almost 3 decades. The potential of L-asparaginase as a drug of leukemia has been a matter of discussion due to the high rate of allergic reactions exhibited by the patients receiving the medication of this enzyme drug. Frequent need of intramuscular injection has been another disadvantage associated with the native preparation. However, of late these clinical complications seem to have been addressed by modified versions of L-asparaginase. PEG-L-asparaginase proves to be most effective in this regard. It becomes important to discuss the efficacy of L-asparaginase as an antileukemic drug vis-a-vis these disadvantages. In this review, an attempt has been made to critically evaluate the pharmacological and clinical potential of various preparations of L-asparaginase as a drug. Advantages of PEG-L-asparaginase over native preparations and historical developments of therapy with l-asparaginase have also been outlined in the review below.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umesh K Narta
- Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla, India
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85
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Jarrar M, Gaynon PS, Periclou AP, Fu C, Harris RE, Stram D, Altman A, Bostrom B, Breneman J, Steele D, Trigg M, Zipf T, Avramis VI. Asparagine depletion after pegylated E. coli asparaginase treatment and induction outcome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first bone marrow relapse: a Children's Oncology Group study (CCG-1941). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2006; 47:141-6. [PMID: 16425271 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.20713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Re-induction outcomes vary for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and marrow relapse. We explored possible relationships among asparaginase (ASNase) activity levels, asparagine (ASN) depletion, anti-ASNase antibody titers, and response to re-induction therapy in children and adolescents with ALL and an 'early' first marrow relapse. PATIENTS AND METHODS After appropriate informed consent, we enrolled children and adolescents 1-21 years old with ALL and first marrow relapse within 12 months of completion of primary therapy. Induction therapy included intramuscular pegylated ASNase on Days 2 and 16. We assessed ASNase activity, anti-ASNase antibody titers against native and pegylated (E. coli) ASNase, and amino acid levels of asparagine (ASN) and glutamine (GLN) on Days 0, 14, and 35 of re-induction. RESULTS Ninety-three patients were at least partially assessable. Among 21 patients with M1 marrow status at Day 35, the median Day 14 ASN level was <1 microM. This is significantly lower than the median Day 14 ASN level of 4 microM in the group of patients with M3 marrow at Day 35. Neither Day 0 nor Day 35 antibody titers predicted ASNase enzymatic activity level on Day 14. Surprisingly, Day 14 ASNase activity did not predict serum ASN level on Day 14. However, Day 0 and Day 35 anti-native ASNase antibody titers, and Day 0 anti-PEG ASNase antibody titers correlated positively with Day 14 serum ASN levels as one might expect from neutralizing antibody. Day 35 anti-PEG ASNase antibody titers did not. CONCLUSIONS Patients with greater ASN depletion were more likely to achieve second remission in the context of six-drug therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Jarrar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, USC Keck School of Medicine, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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86
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Leslie M, Case MC, Hall AG, Coulthard SA. Expression levels of asparagine synthetase in blasts from children and adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2006; 132:740-2. [PMID: 16487174 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05945.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
L-asparaginase is active in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) through the depletion of serum asparagine. Here we report that median asparagine synthetase (AS) mRNA levels were higher in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) than ALL blasts in both children and adults, with intermediate levels in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (NPBMC). NPBMC versus child ALL (Tukeys multiple comparison test, P < 0.05); child ALL versus child AML (P < 0.001) and adult ALL versus adult AML (P < 0.01) were all significant and support the hypothesis that selectivity to treatment with l-asparaginase is due, at least in part, to lower AS expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Leslie
- Leukaemia Research Group, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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87
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Burkhardt B, Woessmann W, Zimmermann M, Kontny U, Vormoor J, Doerffel W, Mann G, Henze G, Niggli F, Ludwig WD, Janssen D, Riehm H, Schrappe M, Reiter A. Impact of Cranial Radiotherapy on Central Nervous System Prophylaxis in Children and Adolescents With Central Nervous System–Negative Stage III or IV Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 2006; 24:491-9. [PMID: 16421426 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2005.02.2707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose In the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma–Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (NHL-BFM) 95 trial, we tested, against the historical control of the combined trials NHL-BFM90 and NHL-BFM86, whether prophylactic cranial radiotherapy (PCRT) can be omitted for CNS-negative patients with stage III or IV lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) with sufficient early response. Patients and Methods Apart from the removal of PCRT in NHL-BFM95, the chemotherapy of the three trials was identical except for the amount of l-asparaginase and daunorubicin during induction. The therapy in NHL-BFM95 was accepted to be noninferior when compared with trials NHL-BFM90/86 if the lower limit of the one-sided 95% CI for the difference in the 2-year probability of event-free-survival (pEFS) between target patients of NHL-BFM95 and the historical controls of NHL-BFM90/86 did not exceed −14%. The target patient group consisted of stage III and IV patients who were CNS negative and responded well to induction therapy. Results The number of target patients was 156 in NHL-BFM95 (median age, 8.6 years; range, 0.2 to 19.5 years) and 163 in NHL-BFM90/86 (median age, 8.4 years; range, 0.6 to 16.6 years). For the target group, the pEFS rates at 2 and 5 years were 86% ± 3% and 82% ± 3%, respectively, in NHL-BFM95 (median follow-up time, 5.1 years; range, 2.1 to 9.1 years) compared with 91% ± 2% and 88% ± 3%, respectively in NHL-BFM90/86 (median follow-up time, 10.7 years; range, 5 to 15.4 years). The lower limit of the one-sided 95% CI for the difference in pEFS was −11% at 2 years and −13% at 5 years. In NHL-BFM95, one isolated and two combined CNS relapses occurred compared with one combined CNS relapse in NHL-BFM90/86. Five-year disease-free-survival rate was 88% ± 3% in NHL-BFM95 compared with 91% ± 2% in NHL-BFM90/86. Conclusion For CNS-negative patients with stage III or IV LBL and sufficient response to induction therapy, treatment without PCRT may be noninferior to treatment including PCRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Burkhardt
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's University Hospital, Giessen, Germany
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88
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Ando M, Sugimoto K, Kitoh T, Sasaki M, Mukai K, Ando J, Egashira M, Schuster SM, Oshimi K. Selective apoptosis of natural killer-cell tumours by l-asparaginase. Br J Haematol 2005; 130:860-8. [PMID: 16156856 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05694.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We examined the effectiveness of various anti-tumour agents to natural killer (NK)-cell tumour cell lines and samples, which are generally resistant to chemotherapy, using flow cytometric terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay. Although NK-YS and NK-92 were highly resistant to various anti-tumour agents, l-asparaginase induced apoptosis in these two NK-cell lines. NK-cell leukaemia/lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) samples were selectively sensitive to l-asparaginase and to doxorubicin (DXR) respectively. Samples of chronic NK lymphocytosis, an NK-cell disorder with an indolent clinical course, were resistant to both drugs. Our study clearly separated two major categories of NK-cell disorders and ALL according to the sensitivity to DXR and l-asparaginase. We examined asparagine synthetase levels by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) and immunostaining in these samples. At least in nasal-type NK-cell lymphoma, there was a good correlation among asparagine synthetase expression, in vitro sensitivity and clinical response to l-asparaginase. In aggressive NK-cell leukaemia, although asparagine synthetase expression was high at both mRNA and protein levels, l-asparaginase induced considerable apoptosis. Furthermore, samples of each disease entity occupied a distinct area in two-dimensional plotting with asparagine synthetase mRNA level (RQ-PCR) and in vitrol-asparaginase sensitivity (TUNEL assay). We confirmed rather specific anti-tumour activity of l-asparaginase against NK-cell tumours in vitro, which provides an experimental background to the clinical use of l-asparaginase for NK-cell tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Ando
- Department of Haematology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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89
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Irino T, Kitoh T, Koami K, Kashima T, Mukai K, Takeuchi E, Hongo T, Nakahata T, Schuster SM, Osaka M. Establishment of real-time polymerase chain reaction method for quantitative analysis of asparagine synthetase expression. J Mol Diagn 2004; 6:217-24. [PMID: 15269298 PMCID: PMC1867639 DOI: 10.1016/s1525-1578(10)60513-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2004] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We established a real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) with which to measure abundance of the asparagine synthetase (AS) mRNA. The level of AS mRNA paralleled AS enzyme activity, as well as the AS protein level detected by Western blotting and by in situ immunostaining. Cytotoxicity tests in vitro showed that the AS mRNA level also synchronized with cellular resistance to L-asparaginase in cell lines. Cellular levels of AS enzyme activity correlated with resistance to L-asparaginase. These results indicate that the AS mRNA level is an index of resistance to L-asparaginase. RQ-PCR is superior to enzyme assays, Western blotting, and immunostaining in the following ways: less labor and time, accurate and reproducible quantitativity, and broad dynamic range. In addition, RQ-PCR could evaluate differences in L-asparaginase sensitivity although immunostaining could not. And in clinical samples, we analyzed eight pediatric leukemia cases by this RQ-PCR to evaluate whether this method was applicable to clinical laboratories and the expression level of AS mRNA in each case were predictable for the effectiveness of L-asparaginase treatment. Consequently, this method was useful enough in defining candidates for selective therapy that targets an AS deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamotsu Irino
- Department of Pediatrics, Shiga Medical Center for Children, Moriyama 524-0022, Japan
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90
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Pinheiro JPV, Boos J. The best way to use asparaginase in childhood acute lymphatic leukaemia--still to be defined? Br J Haematol 2004; 125:117-27. [PMID: 15059133 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.04863.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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91
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Matsumoto Y, Nomura K, Kanda-Akano Y, Fujita Y, Nakao M, Ueda K, Horiike S, Yokota S, Kusuzaki K, Kitoh T, Watanabe A, Taniwaki M. Successful treatment with Erwinia L-asparaginase for recurrent natural killer/T cell lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma 2003; 44:879-82. [PMID: 12802930 DOI: 10.1080/1042819031000067873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
We describe a patient with natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma who relapsed after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) and was successfully treated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Erwinia L-asparaginase. A 38-year-old male patient with ulcerated tumor at the left thigh was diagnosed as having nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma on the basis of histopathological and flowcytometric findings of tumor, revealing diffuse infiltration of atypical lymphoid cells into blood vessels and expression of CD7 and CD56 antigens, but not CD3. He had tumor infiltration in the bone marrow and at the right lower lung field. After five cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) therapy, the patient achieved complete remission and received high-dose chemotherapy with auto-PBSCT, although the tumor recurred in the right leg 10 months later. Despite salvage chemotherapy, followed by local irradiation and surgical amputation, a tumor recurred at the left upper gingiva 10 days after. Using E. coli L-asparaginase (6000 U/m2/day), the tumor regressed, fever was alleviated and the serum lactate dehydrogenase decreased to normal range after several days. The asparagine synthetase expression in tumor cells was immunohistochemically negative on paraffin-embedded tissues. Because of the anaphylactoid reaction developing after E. coli L-asparaginase, alternative Erwinia L-asparaginase (6000 U/m2/day) was administered, resulting in regression of tumor and fever lysis. L-asparaginase is a promising agent for the treatment of NK/T cell lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Matsumoto
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kajiicho, Kyoto, Japan.
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92
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Ronghe M, Burke GA, Lowis SP, Estlin EJ. Remission induction therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: clinical and cellular pharmacology of vincristine, corticosteroids, L-asparaginase and anthracyclines. Cancer Treat Rev 2001; 27:327-37. [PMID: 11908926 DOI: 10.1053/ctrv.2001.0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Remission induction therapy with vincristine, a corticosteroid, L-asparaginase and an anthracycline has been the mainstay of the initial phase of treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) for the past 25 years. The speed and depth of the early response to remission induction therapy has become an important determinant of the intensity of subsequent therapy in many protocols worldwide. Moreover, the detection of significant levels of minimal residual disease at the end of remission induction may have an important bearing on subsequent outcome. Although these clinical observations may reflect, in part, the inherent sensitivity of lymphoblasts to remission induction therapy, the pharmacology of these agents in relation to childhood ALL may also play an important part in early response to therapy. In-vitro studies of human leukaemia cell lines indicate that both the extracellular fluid concentration and duration of exposure to vincristine and anthracyclines are important determinants of cytotoxicity. For L-asparaginase and corticosteroids, the cellular and molecular pharmacological determinants of chemosensitivity have been partially characterized, but further work is needed in this area. The clinical pharmacology of vincristine and L-asparaginase have been well characterized in relation to childhood ALL, and considerable interpatient pharmacokinetic variability exists for these drugs. For corticosteroids and anthracyclines, pharmacology studies are needed in order to fully characterize and understand the factors influencing interpatient pharmacokinetic variability for these agents in relation to childhood ALL. Whereas the relationship between the clinical pharmacology, and potentially important pharmacodynamic effects such as asparagine depletion, has been well characterized for therapy with L-asparaginase, similar studies have yet to be performed for the other drugs that form the mainstay of remission induction therapy for childhood ALL. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the relative importance of the clinical and cellular pharmacology of vincristine, corticosteroids, L-asparaginase and anthracyclines in the speed and depth of response to remission induction therapy for childhood ALL. Where these have been studied, interindividual differences in the clinical and cellular pharmacology of anticancer agents have been shown to be important determinants of the long-term disease-free survival for children with ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ronghe
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, UK
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93
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Fumarola C, Zerbini A, Guidotti GG. Glutamine deprivation-mediated cell shrinkage induces ligand-independent CD95 receptor signaling and apoptosis. Cell Death Differ 2001; 8:1004-13. [PMID: 11598798 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4400902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2001] [Revised: 04/27/2001] [Accepted: 05/02/2001] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell shrinkage and loss of cell viability by apoptosis have been examined in cultured CD95(Fas/Apo-1)-expressing leukemia-derived CEM and HL-60 cells subjected to acute deprivation of glutamine, a major compatible osmolyte engaged in cell volume control. Glutamine deprivation-mediated cell shrinkage promoted a ligand-independent activation of the CD95-mediated apoptotic pathway. Cell transfection with plasmids expressing FADD-DN or v-Flip viral proteins pointed to a functional clustering of CD95 receptors at the cell surface with activation of the 'extrinsic pathway' caspase cascade. Accordingly, cell shrinkage did not induce apoptosis in CD95 receptor-negative lymphoma L1210 cells. Replacement of glutamine with surrogate compatible osmolytes counteracted cell volume decrement and protected the CD95-expressing cells from apoptosis. A glutamine deprivation-dependent cell shrinkage with activation of the CD95-mediated pathway was also observed when asparaginase was added to the medium. Asparagine depletion had no role in this process. The cell-size shrinkage-dependent apoptosis induced by glutamine restriction in CD95-expressing leukemic cells may therefore be of clinical relevance in amidohydrolase enzyme therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Fumarola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy
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94
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Aslanian AM, Kilberg MS. Multiple adaptive mechanisms affect asparagine synthetase substrate availability in asparaginase-resistant MOLT-4 human leukaemia cells. Biochem J 2001; 358:59-67. [PMID: 11485552 PMCID: PMC1222032 DOI: 10.1042/0264-6021:3580059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is treated by combination chemotherapy with a number of drugs, almost always including the enzyme L-asparaginase (ASNase). Although the initial remission rate is quite high, relapse and associated drug resistance remain a problem. In vitro studies have demonstrated an adaptive increase in asparagine synthetase (AS) expression in ASNase-resistant cells, which is believed to permit ASNase-resistant human leukaemia cells to survive in vivo. The present results, obtained with ASNase-sensitive and -resistant human MOLT-4 leukaemia cell lines, illustrate that several other adaptive processes occur to provide sufficient amounts of the AS substrates, aspartate and glutamine, required to support this increased enzymic activity. In both cell populations, aspartate is derived almost exclusively from intracellular sources, whereas the necessary glutamine arises from both intracellular and extracellular sources. Transport of glutamine into ASNase-resistant cells is significantly enhanced compared with the parental cells, whereas amino acid efflux (e.g. asparagine) is reduced. Most of the adaptive change for the amino acid transporters, Systems A, ASC and L, is rapidly (12 h) reversed following ASNase removal. The enzymic activity of glutamine synthetase is also enhanced in ASNase-resistant cells by a post-transcriptional mechanism. The results demonstrate that there are several sites of metabolic adaptation in ASNase-treated leukaemia cells that serve to promote the replenishment of both glutamine and asparagine.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Aslanian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0245, USA
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95
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Murakawa M, Jung SK, Iijima K, Yonehara S. Apoptosis-inducing protein, AIP, from parasite-infected fish induces apoptosis in mammalian cells by two different molecular mechanisms. Cell Death Differ 2001; 8:298-307. [PMID: 11319613 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4400811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2000] [Revised: 09/10/2000] [Accepted: 11/08/2000] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
AIP (apoptosis-inducing protein) is a protein purified and cloned from Chub mackerel infected with the larval nematode, Anisakis simplex, which induces apoptosis in various mammalian cells including human tumor cell lines. AIP has shown structural and functional homology to L-amino acid oxidase (LAO) which oxidizes several L-amino acids including L-lysine and AIP-induced apoptosis has been suggested to be mediated by H2O2 generated by LAO activity of AIP. In this study, we confirmed that recombinant AIP generated enough H2O2 in culture medium to induce rapid apoptosis in cells and this apoptosis was clearly inhibited by co-cultivation with antioxidants such as catalase and N-acetyl-cysteine. Surprisingly, however, we found that AIP still could induce H2O2-independent apoptosis more slowly than H2O2-dependent one in HL-60 cells even in the presence of antioxidants. In addition, the HL-60-derived cell line HP100-1, which is a H2O2-resistant variant, underwent apoptosis on treatment with AIP with a similar delayed time course. The latter apoptosis was completely blocked by addition of L-lysine to the culture medium, which is the best substrate of AIP as LAO, indicating that decreased concentration of L-lysine in the culture medium by AIP-treatment induced apoptosis. We also showed that the both apoptosis by AIP were associated with the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and activation of caspase-9, and overexpressed Bcl-2 could inhibit both of the AIP-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that AIP induces apoptosis in cells by two distinct mechanisms; one rapid and mediated by H2O2, the other delayed and mediated by deprivation of L-lysine, both of which utilize caspase-9/cytochrome c system.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Murakawa
- Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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96
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Durlinger AL, Kramer P, Karels B, Grootegoed JA, Uilenbroek JT, Themmen AP. Apoptotic and proliferative changes during induced atresia of pre-ovulatory follicles in the rat. Hum Reprod 2000; 15:2504-11. [PMID: 11098018 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/15.12.2504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Atresia, a degenerative process through which many follicles are removed from the growing pool, involves apoptotic changes in the follicular granulosa cells. To identify histochemical markers of early stages of atresia, an in-vivo rat model was used which allowed the study of atresia of pre-ovulatory follicles in a synchronized and chronological order. By blocking the pre-ovulatory luteinizing hormone surge with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, ovulation of the pre-ovulatory follicles is prevented, after which these follicles became atretic. The first morphological sign of atresia (pyknotic granulosa cell nuclei) was found 27 h after injection of GnRH antagonist. Since the pre-ovulatory follicles gradually become atretic in a synchronous fashion, this model provided an opportunity to study and define markers of future atresia in pre-ovulatory follicles. Atresia involves apoptosis of granulosa cells, and therefore internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was examined. Using the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay it was found that the first sign of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in granulosa cells of pre-ovulatory follicles was detectable 24 h after GnRH antagonist treatment. In order to find an upstream marker of atresia, the 5-bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling index was used as a measure of proliferation. Already at 14 h after GnRH antagonist treatment, when morphological signs of atresia were not yet present, a clear decrease in BrdU labelling index was found in the granulosa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Durlinger
- Department of Endocrinology and Reproduction, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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97
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Estlin EJ, Ronghe M, Burke GA, Yule SM. The clinical and cellular pharmacology of vincristine, corticosteroids, L-asparaginase, anthracyclines and cyclophosphamide in relation to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2000; 110:780-90. [PMID: 11054059 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2000.t01-1-02153.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E J Estlin
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8BJ, UK.
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