Platinosomes produced in synovial membrane by platinum coordination complexes

Multidrug resistance decreases with mutations of melanosomal regulatory genes

Whereas resistance to chemotherapy has long impeded effective treatment of metastatic melanoma, the mechanistic basis of this resistance remains unknown. One possible mechanism of drug resistance is alteration of intracellular drug distribution either by drug efflux or sequestration into intracellular organelles. Melanomas, as well as primary melanocytes from which they arise, have intracellular organelles, called melanosomes, wherein the synthesis and storage of the pigment melanin takes place. In this study, comparisons of congenic cells with and without functional molecules regulating melanosome formation show that sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic agent cis-diaminedichloroplatinum II (cis-platin) significantly increases with the mutation of genes regulating melanosome formation, concomitant disruption of melanosome morphology, and loss of mature melanosomes. Absence of the melanosomal structural protein gp100/Pmel17 causes increased cis-platin sensitivity. Independent mutations in three separate genes that regulate melanosome biogenesis (Dtnbp1, Pldn, Vps33a) also result in increased cis-platin sensitivity. In addition, a mutation of the gene encoding the integral melanosomal protein tyrosinase, resulting in aberrant melanosome formation, also causes increased cis-platin sensitivity. Furthermore, sensitivity to agents in other chemotherapeutic classes (e.g., vinblastine and etoposide) also increased with the mutation of Pldn. In contrast, a mutation in another melanosomal regulatory gene, Hps1, minimally affects melanosome biogenesis, preserves the formation of mature melanosomes, and has no effect on cis-platin or vinblastine response. Together, these data provide the first direct evidence that melanosomal regulatory genes influence drug sensitivity and that the presence of mature melanosomes likely contributes to melanoma resistance to therapy.

Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II)-induced acute renal failure in the rat: enzyme histochemical studies

Enzyme histochemical techniques were utilized to examine the progression and extent of proximal tubular injury during the development of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP)-induced acute renal failure. Acute renal failure was induced in male rats by the intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg CDDP/kg body weight. At 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr following treatment, renal function was assessed and tissue was collected for renal morphologic and enzyme histochemical studies. The enzymes examined were gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, sodium-potassium ATPase (nitrophenyl phosphatase), acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, and lactic dehydrogenase. By 24 hr, the activity of acid phosphatase was reduced throughout the proximal tubule, with the greatest decrease occurring in the P3 segment of the proximal tubule located in the outer stripe of the outer medulla. Changes in the histochemical staining of the remaining enzymes were not consistently observed until 48 or, in some cases, 72 hr. These alterations involved all portions of the proximal tubule with the most severe changes involving P3. The results of the enzyme histochemical studies along with the morphologic findings indicating that the initiation of CDDP-induced acute renal failure, first apparent at 48 hr in this model, is associated with cell injury throughout the proximal tubule. The majority of the histochemical changes did not become apparent until late in the course of tubular injury. This suggests that most of the changes in enzyme activity represent nonspecific effects of CDDP-induced tubular injury, as opposed to direct enzyme inhibition by the drug.

Uraniosomes produced in the synovial membrane by uranyl acetate

Uranyl acetate was injected into the rabbit knee joint. This produced single-membrane-bound presumably lysosmal bodies (called 'uraniosomes') containing electron-dense crystals in Type A and Type B synovial intimal cells, subsynovial macrophages and lipocytes. Uranium deposits were also seen in the extracellular matrix. All uraniosomes and extracellular deposits analysed by electron-probe X-ray analysis were found to contain uranium, potassium and phosphorus. Traces of calcium and sulphur were also found in some of the uraniosomes and extracellular uranium deposits.