Induction of differentiation in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 by the cyclopentenyl analogue of cytidine

(-)-Carbodine: enantiomeric synthesis and in vitro antiviral activity against various strains of influenza virus including H5N1 (avian influenza) and novel 2009 H1N1 (swine flu)

Enantiomerically pure cyclopentyl cytosine [(-)-carbodine 1] was synthesized from d-ribose and evaluated for its anti-influenza activity in vitro in comparison to the (+)-carbodine, (+/-)-carbodine and ribavirin. (-)-Carbodine 1 exhibited potent antiviral activity against various strains of influenza A and B viruses.

A77 1726 induces differentiation of human myeloid leukemia K562 cells by depletion of intracellular CTP pools

A77 1726 (LEF) is the active metabolite of leflunomide, a recently approved immunosuppressive agent. We examined the ability of LEF to induce differentiation of a human erythroleukemia (K562) cell line and show that LEF induces a dose- and time-dependent differentiation of these cells as characterized by growth inhibition, hemoglobin production, and erythroid membrane protein glycophorin A expression. This effect was dependent on depletion of the intracellular pyrimidine ribonucleotides (UTP and CTP), and preceded by a specific S-phase arrest of the cell cycle. Supplementation of the cultures with exogenous uridine restored intracellular UTP and CTP to normal levels and prevented the LEF-induced cell cycle block and differentiation of K562 cells. Interestingly, addition of cytidine alone blocked the LEF-induced differentiation of K562 cells but only restored the CTP pool. By contrast, neither deoxycytidine nor thymidine prevented the effects of LEF on these cells. Similarly, pyrimidine starvation of a cell line lacking the de novo pyrimidine pathway (G9c) resulted in an S-phase arrest that was reversed by the addition of cytidine. Thus these studies demonstrate an important role for CTP in regulating cell cycle progression and show that LEF is an effective inducer of tumor cell differentiation through depletion of this ribonucleotide.

Cyclopentenyl cytosine increases the phosphorylation and incorporation into DNA of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine in a human T-lymphoblastic cell line

The cytotoxic effect of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (araC) depends on the intracellular phosphorylation into its active compound araCTP, on the degree of degradation of araCTP and on the incorporation of araCTP into DNA. Deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) inhibits the phosphorylation of araC (by feedback inhibition of the enzyme deoxycytidine kinase) and the incorporation of araCTP into DNA (by competition for DNA polymerase). In a T-lymphoblastic cell line, we studied whether the cytotoxicity of araC (2 nM-50 microM) could be enhanced by decreasing the concentration of dCTP, using the nucleoside-analogue cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC), an inhibitor of the enzyme CTP synthetase. Preincubation of the cells with CPEC (100-1,600 nM) for 2 hr increased the concentrations of araCMP 1.6-9.5-fold, which was significant for each concentration of CPEC used. The concentration of araCDP remained low, whereas the concentration of araCTP changed depending on the concentration of araC used. With 2-15 microm of araC and a preincubation with 400 nM of CPEC, the araCTP concentration increased by 4-15% (not significant), and the total amount of araC nucleotides increased significantly by 21-45%. When using a concentration of araC of 2 nM after a preincubation with CPEC of 100 nM, the concentration of araCMP increased by 60% (p = 0.015), whereas that of araCTP decreased by 10% (p = 0.008). This was compensated by an increase of 41% (p = 0.005) of araCTP incorporation into DNA, which represented 43% of all araC metabolites. Moreover, by performing pulse/chase experiments with 400 nM of CPEC and 2 microM of araC, the retention of cytosolic araCTP and the incorporated amount of araCTP into DNA were increased by CPEC. The modulation by CPEC of araC metabolism was accompanied by a synergistic increase of araC-induced apoptosis and by an additive effect on the araC-induced growth inhibition.

The cytostatic- and differentiation-inducing effects of cyclopentenyl cytosine on neuroblastoma cell lines

This paper describes the effects of cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) on the proliferation and cell-cycle distribution of the SK-N-BE(2)c and SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as their ability to recover from treatment with CPEC. The IC50 value of SK-N-BE(2)c for CPEC, determined after 48 hr was 80 nM. SK-N-BE(2)c cells showed a time- and concentration-dependent accumulation in the S-phase of the cell cycle after 2 and 3 days of incubation with 50-250 nM CPEC, followed by a G0/G1-phase arrest after 4 days. After incubation with 50 nM CPEC for 2 days, SK-N-BE(2)c cells fully recovered and resumed logarithmic proliferation. In contrast, a complete and persistent growth arrest occurred when SK-N-BE(2)c cells were incubated for 2 days with 100 or 250 nM CPEC. The IC50 value of SK-N-SH, determined after 48 hr, for CPEC was > or =1 microM. SK-N-SH cells incubated with 250 nM or 1 microM CPEC showed a time-dependent accumulation in the S-phase of the cell cycle, followed by an accumulation in the G0/G1-phase, which reached a maximum of 84.1% after 7 days of incubation with 1 microM CPEC. SK-N-SH cells did not resume proliferation after removal of the drug. In addition, CPEC strongly induced differentiation in SK-N-SH cells. After 48 hr incubation with 250 nM CPEC, 90% of the cell population was differentiated. Both neuronal type and Schwannian type cells were observed. We conclude that at very low concentrations, CPEC has profound cytostatic- and differentiation-inducing effects on the neuroblastoma cells studied.

Cyclopentenyl cytosine induces apoptosis and increases cytarabine-induced apoptosis in a T-lymphoblastic leukemic cell-line

Cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) is a nucleoside-analogue that decreases the concentrations of cytidine triphosphate (CTP) and deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) in leukemic cells by inhibiting the enzyme CTP synthetase, resulting in a decreased synthesis of RNA and DNA. Low concentrations of dCTP facilitate the phosphorylation of 1-beta-D arabinofuranosyl cytosine (araC) and the incorporation of arabinofuranosyl cytosine triphosphate (araCTP) into DNA. Apoptosis and necrosis were analyzed by flow cytometric detection of fluorescence-labeled Annexin V in a human T-lymphoblastic MOLT-3 cell-line after incubations with CPEC and/or araC. CPEC induced apoptosis and necrosis in a concentration- (50-300 nM) and time-dependent (8-16 h) way. The observed necrosis proved to be secondary to apoptosis as the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk) completely blocked the CPEC-induced apoptosis and necrosis. Coincubation of various concentrations of CPEC and araC for 16h showed a significant additive effect on the occurrence of apoptosis and (secondary) necrosis. In contrast, a preincubation with 37.5 nM of CPEC for 24 h, which by itself caused only minor apoptosis (4%), followed by a coincubation for 16 h with 62.5 nM of araC (7% of apoptotic cells), showed a synergistic effect on the induction of apoptosis (27%, P<0.001). Growth-inhibition experiments with CPEC and araC under various conditions showed an additive effect on the araC-induced growth-inhibition after 48 h. The results indicate that the cytotoxicity of araC can be increased in T-lymphoblasts by CPEC.

In vitro inhibition of cytidine triphosphate synthetase activity by cyclopentenyl cytosine in paediatric acute lymphocytic leukaemia

Cytidine triphosphate (CTP) synthetase is a key enzyme for the synthesis of cytosine (deoxy)ribonucleotides, catalysing the conversion of uridine triphosphate (UTP) into CTP, and has a high activity in several malignancies. In this preclinical study, the enzyme activity and mRNA expression of the enzyme and (deoxy)ribonucleotide concentrations were analysed in leukaemic cells of 57 children suffering from acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). In addition, in vitro experiments were performed with the CTP synthetase inhibitor cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC). A significantly higher activity of CTP synthetase (6.5 +/- 3.9 nmol CTP/mg/h) was detected in ALL cells than in lymphocytes of healthy controls (1.8 +/- 0.9 nmol CTP/mg/h, P < 0.001) that was independent of white blood cell (WBC) count, blast percentage, age, gender or type of ALL. The enzyme activity was not correlated with the CTP synthetase mRNA expression. The activity of CTP synthetase in ALL cells compared with non-malignant CD34+ bone marrow controls (5.6 +/- 2.4 nmol CTP/mg/h) was not statistically different. In vitro treatment of ALL cells with CPEC induced a dose-dependent decrease of the CTP concentration. The lowest concentration of CPEC (0.63 microM) induced a depletion of CTP of 41 +/- 20% and a depletion of dCTP of 27 +/- 21%. The degree of CTP depletion of ALL cells after treatment with CPEC was positively correlated with the activity of CTP synthetase. The inhibition of CTP synthetase in situ was confirmed by flux studies using radiolabelled uridine. From these results, it can be expected that CPEC has a cytostatic effect on lymphoblasts of children with ALL.

Cyclopentenyl cytosine inhibits cytidine triphosphate synthetase in paediatric acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia: a promising target for chemotherapy

Cytidine triphosphate (CTP) synthetase is a key enzyme in the anabolic pathways of cytosine and uracil ribonucleotide metabolism. The enzyme catalyses the conversion of uridine triphosphate (UTP) into CTP, and has a high activity in various malignancies, which has led to the development of inhibitors of CTP synthetase for therapeutic purposes. We studied both CTP synthetase activity and ribonucleotide concentrations in leukaemic cells of 12 children suffering from acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (ANLL), and performed incubation experiments with cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC), a nucleoside analogue that is capable of inhibiting CTP synthetase. The CTP synthetase activity in ANLL cells (5.1+/-2.3 nmol CTP/mg/h) was significantly higher compared with granulocytes of healthy controls (0.6+/-0.4 nmol CTP/mg/h, P=0.0002), but was not different from the CTP synthetase activity in non-malignant CD34+ bone marrow cells (5. 6+/-2.4 nmol CTP/mg/h). Major shifts were observed in the various ribonucleotide concentrations in ANLL cells compared with granulocytes: the absolute amount of ribonucleotides was increased with a substantial rise of the CTP (2.4 versus 0.4 pmol/microg protein, P=0.0007) and UTP (8.7 versus 1.6 pmol/microg protein, P=0. 0007) concentrations in ANLL cells compared with granulocytes. Treatment of ANLL cells in vitro with CPEC induced a major depletion (77% with 2.5 microM of CPEC) in the concentration of CTP, whilst the concentrations of the other ribonucleotides remained unchanged. Therefore, the high activity of CTP synthetase in acute non-lymphocytic leukaemic cells can be inhibited by CPEC, which provides a key to a new approach for the treatment of ANLL.

Role of antimetabolites of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism in tumor cell differentiation

Transformed cells are characterized by imbalances in metabolic routes. In particular, different key enzymes of nucleotide metabolism and DNA biosynthesis, such as CTP synthetase, thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, IMP dehydrogenase, ribonucleotide reductase, DNA polymerase, and DNA methyltransferase, are markedly up-regulated in certain tumor cells. Together with the concomitant down-modulation of the purine and pyrimidine degradation enzymes, the increased anabolic propensity supports the excessive proliferation of transformed cells. However, many types of cancer cells have maintained the ability to differentiate terminally into mature, non-proliferating cells not only in response to physiological receptor ligands, such as retinoic acid, vitamin D metabolites, and cytokines, but also following exposure to a wide variety of non-physiological agents such as antimetabolites. Interestingly, induction of tumor cell differentiation is often associated with reversal of the transformation-related enzyme deregulations. An important class of differentiating compounds comprises the antimetabolites of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis, the majority being structural analogs of natural nucleosides. The CTP synthetase inhibitors cyclopentenylcytosine and 3-deazauridine, the thymidylate synthase inhibitor 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine, the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor methotrexate, the IMP dehydrogenase inhibitors tiazofurin, ribavirin, 5-ethynyl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (EICAR) and mycophenolic acid, the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors hydroxyurea and deferoxamine, and the DNA polymerase inhibitors ara-C, 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA), and aphidicolin, as well as several nucleoside analogs perturbing the DNA methylation pattern, have been found to induce tumor cell differentiation through impairment of DNA synthesis and/or function. Thus, by selectively targeting those anabolic enzymes that contribute to the neoplastic behavior of cancer cells, the normal cellular differentiation program may be reactivated and the malignant phenotype suppressed.

Studies on the antitumor activity and biochemical actions of cyclopentenyl cytosine against human colon carcinoma HT-29 in vitro and in vivo

Cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) is cytotoxic to several tumor cell lines. CPEC inhibits CTP synthesis resulting in depletion of cytidylate pools. The aim of this study was to examine CPEC's cytotoxic and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo against human colon carcinoma HT-29, and to relate its action on CTP synthesis. CPEC exhibits potent cytotoxicity in vitro to HT-29 cells with an LC50 (concentration that is lethal to the survival of 50% cell colonies) of 2.4 microM and 0.46 microM following 2 h and 24 h exposure, respectively. Incubation of cells with CPEC for 2 h resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in cytidylate pools. The in vivo antitumor activity of CPEC in athymic mice transplanted subcutaneously (s.c.) with 3 million HT-29 cells was examined. Antitumor activity of CPEC was elucidated in early-staged tumor, wherein CPEC (1.5 mg/kg, QD x 9 or 3 mg/kg, QOD x 9) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 24 h after tumor implantation and it resulted in a significant reduction in tumor weight to 48% of control. The effect of CPEC on established solid tumors in vivo was examined in athymic mice transplanted s.c. 14 days earlier with HT-29 cells and treated i.p. with 1.5 mg/kg CPEC, QD x 5 for 4 courses, with a 10 day-interval between courses. This treatment resulted in a significant reduction in tumor weight (72%) in the treated group. HPLC analysis of HT-29 tumor obtained from mice after treatment with CPEC showed a depletion of the CTP concentration reaching a nadir at 8 h. In conclusion, the present studies demonstrate potent antitumor activity of CPEC against freshly transplanted and established human colon carcinoma which can be corroborated with the drug's biochemical actions.

Cytidine triphosphate synthase activity and mRNA expression in normal human blood cells

Cytidine triphosphate (CTP) synthase is one of the key enzymes in pyrimidine nucleotide anabolic pathways. The activity of this enzyme is elevated in various malignancies including acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). In this study we investigated the activity of CTP synthase in various human blood cells isolated from healthy volunteers by density centrifugation and elutriation centrifugation. We also investigated the mRNA expression of CTP synthase in lymphocytes and monocytes. The highest activity of CTP synthase was found in thrombocytes (6.48 nmol CTP x mg(-1) x h(-1)), followed by that of monocytes (2.23), lymphocytes (1.69), granulocytes (0.52) and erythrocytes (0.42). The activity of CTP synthase in whole blood samples was at an intermediate level (1.27). The mRNA expression of CTP synthase in monocytes was comparable to that observed in lymphocytes.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the new antitumor agent cyclopentenyl cytosine in biological fluids

Cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPE-C) is a synthetic carbocyclic nucleoside that possesses diverse antitumor and antiviral activity. CPE-C has been studied extensively at the preclinical level and has been evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial involving patients with solid tumors. A narrow-bore, reversed-phase HPLC method that has been developed for the sensitive measurement of CPE-C in plasma and urine in order to carry out these studies is described. Covalent solid-phase extraction based on an immobilized phenylboronic acid ligand is employed to isolate both CPE-C and endogenous ribonucleosides from the biological matrix selectively and efficiently. This is followed by isocratic elution of the extract with pH 5.0, 0.1 M ammonium formate buffer at 0.150 ml/min on a tandem, switchable, C18 narrow-bore (2.1 mm I.D.) column system in which the precolumn is automatically backflushed to eliminate late-eluting components. UV detection at 278 nm provides a limit of quantitation of 0.1 microM for CPE-C in rat and human plasma with a precision better than 4% for the range 1-20 microM in rat plasma. Application of this assay to the determination of the bolus dose plasma kinetics and disposition of 2 mg/kg CPE-C in rats is illustrated. This method is amenable to partial automation and is well-suited for the analysis of clinical samples.

Phase I clinical trial of continuous infusion cyclopentenyl cytosine

Cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPE-C) is an investigational drug that is active against human solid tumor xenografts. The 5'-triphosphate of CPE-C inhibits CTP synthase, and depletes CTP and dCTP pools. We conducted a phase I clinical trial of CPE-C given as a 24-h continuous i.v. infusion every 3 weeks in 26 adults with solid tumors. The starting dose rate, 1 mg/m2 per h, was selected on the basis of both preclinical studies and pharmacokinetic data from two patients obtained after a test dose of 24 mg/m2 CPE-C as an i.v. bolus. Dose escalation was guided by clinical toxicity. A total of 87 cycles were given, and ten patients received four or more cycles. The mean CPE-C steady-state plasma levels (Cpss) increased linearly from 0.4 microM to 3.1 microM at dose levels ranging from 1 to 5.9 mg/m2 per h (actual body weight); the mean total body clearance was 146 +/- 38 ml/min per m2. CPE-C was eliminated by both renal excretion of intact drug and deamination to cyclopentenyl uracil in an apparent 2:1 ratio. CTP synthase activity in intact bone marrow mononuclear cells was inhibited by 58% to 100% at 22 h compared to matched pretreatment samples at all CPE-C dose levels. When all data were combined, flux through CTP synthase was decreased by 89.6% +/- 3.1% at 22 h (mean +/- SE, n = 16), and remained inhibited by 67.6% +/- 7.7% (n = 10) for at least 24 h post-CPE-C infusion. Granulocyte and platelet toxicities were dose-dependent, and dose-limiting myelosuppression occurred during the initial cycle in two of three patients treated with 5.9 mg/m2 per h. Four of 11 patients (4 of 20 cycles) who received 4.7 mg/m2 per h CPE-C experienced hypotension 24-48 h after completion of the CPE-C infusion during their first (n = 2), third (n = 1) and sixth cycles (n = 1), respectively. Two of these patients died with refractory hypotension despite aggressive hydration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. One of 12 patients (28 total cycles) treated with 3.5 mg/m2 per h CPE-C experienced orthostatic hypotension during cycle 1, and this patient had a second episode of orthostatic hypotension at a lower dose (3.0 mg/m2 per h). Hypotension was not seen in patients receiving < or = 2.5 mg/m2 per h CPE-C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Reversal by cytidine of cyclopentenyl cytosine-induced toxicity in mice without compromise of antitumor activity

Among nine compounds surveyed, cytidine was found to be the most effective in reversing the antiproliferative effects of cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) on human T-lymphoblasts (MOLT-4) in culture. Cytidine, at concentrations of 1-25 microM, enabled cells to maintain normal logarithmic growth when added up to 12 hr after exposure to a 200 nM concentration of the oncolytic nucleoside, CPEC. The most abundant CPEC metabolite, CPEC-5'-triphosphate, is a potent [K1 approximately 6 microM] inhibitor of CTP synthetase (EC 6.3.4.2). Accumulation of this inhibitor resulted in a depletion of CTP levels to 17% of their original cellular concentration. Exogenous cytidine reversed CPEC-induced cellular cytotoxicity by suppressing the formation of CPEC-5'-triphosphate by 70%, and by partially replenishing intracellular CTP to at least 60-70% of its original concentration. In vivo, cytidine (500 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally 4 hr after each daily dose of CPEC (LD10-LD100) for 9 days reduced the toxicity and abolished the lethality of CPEC to non-tumored mice. Of greater practical importance is the finding that, under these experimental conditions, cytidine did not curtail the antineoplastic properties of CPEC in L1210 tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, the concentration range over which CPEC exhibited antineoplastic activity was extended with cytidine administration.

Cyclopentenyl cytosine and neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C cell line cells

We studied the effect of cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) on human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C cell line cells. CPEC had an IC50 value of 100 nM for non-synchronised SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. These cells were arrested in G0/G1-phase or early S-phase of the cell cycle upon treatment with CPEC. After treatment of synchronised S-phase cells with 1 microM CPEC, the number of cells present after 3 days was less than 10% of that observed for the untreated cells. S-phase synchronised cells treated with CPEC and deoxycytidine showed an increased viability in comparison with cells treated with CPEC alone. Approximately 15% of the cells treated with CPEC and deoxycytidine traversed through one cell cycle. The amount of CTP declined to undetectable levels within 3 h after addition of 1 microM CPEC. The presence of cytidine prevented, to a large extent, the cytostatic effect of CPEC.

In vitro characterization of the myelotoxicity of cyclopentenyl cytosine

We studied the toxicity of a new experimental anticancer drug, cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPE-C), to human and murine hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro. Due to CPE-C's in vivo myelotoxicity, it was important to characterize its potential adverse effects on human marrow cells during preclinical development of the drug. Marrow cells were exposed to CPE-C for either 1 h prior to addition in clonal assays or continuously during their culture period. The inhibitory effects of CPE-C on myeloid (CFU-gm) and erythroid (CFU-e, BFU-e) colony formation were concentration- and time-dependent, with continuous CPE-C exposure being significantly more inhibitory than 1-h exposure. The results of both exposure experiments were combined to investigate colony inhibition as a function of overall drug exposure (concentration x time, AUC) and data analyzed by the nonlinear Emax equation. Human and murine CFU-gm had similar AUC-response curves and IAUC70 values (i.e., AUC at 70% colony inhibition) of 40.8 and 41.9 microM h, respectively. In contrast, murine CFU-e and BFU-e were more sensitive to CPE-C, having lower IAUC70 values (both, 21.1 microM h) than human CFU-e and BFU-e (107.8 and 33.0 microM h, respectively). This difference was most prominent with the late erythroid progenitor, CFU-e, in that the human cells were 5 times more resistant to inhibition by CPE-C. CPE-C was myelotoxic in vitro to human and murine marrow cells and toxicity correlated with overall drug exposure.

Mechanism of resistance to cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPE-C) in Molt-4 lymphoblasts

Cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPE-C), a carbocyclic analogue of cytidine, has preclinical antineoplastic activity against ara-C resistant murine leukemias and a broad spectrum of human tumor xenografts. CPE-C is a prodrug and requires intracellular phosphorylation to cyclopentenyl cytosine triphosphate (CPE-CTP) which depletes endogenous CTP pools. The initial step in this activation process is catalyzed by uridine/cytidine kinase. We studied the mechanism of resistance to CPE-C in a Molt-4 T-cell leukemia line made resistant to CPE-C (Molt-4R) by culturing it in the continuous presence of increasing concentrations of CPE-C. Using a tetrazolium based colorimetric assay to assess cytotoxicity, the IC90 for the parent Molt-4 cells (Molt-4WT) was 0.5 microM after a 24 hr drug exposure. In contrast, cytotoxicity was not observed at concentrations as high as 1 mM in the Molt-4R cells. Following a brief exposure to 1 microM CPE-C, parent drug could be detected intracellularly in the resistant and sensitive cell lines. However, CPE-CTP formation was reduced markedly in the resistant cell line. Measurement of the activity of anabolic and catabolic enzymes in the Molt-4WT and Molt-4R cells revealed equivalent activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases as well as cytidine and dCMP deaminase but there was a significant reduction in uridine/cytidine kinase activity in Molt-4R cells. Endogenous ribonucleotide pools and CPE-CTP pools were measured in the absence and presence of CPE-C. CTP pools were reduced markedly in Molt-4WT cells following exposure to CPE-C. However, CTP pools in Molt-4R cells exposed to 100 microM CPE-C were two times greater than in the untreated Molt-4WT cells. At high concentrations of CPE-C (10 and 100 microM), Molt-4R cells were able to generate amounts of CPE-CTP equivalent to that seen in Molt-4WT cells exposed to 1 microM CPE-C (a cytotoxic concentration of drug in Molt-4WT cells), but no cytotoxic effect was seen in Molt-4R cells. Therefore, in addition to decreased uridine/cytidine kinase activity, a second mechanism of resistance that is the result of alterations in CTP synthetase activity also appears to be operative. Elucidation of the mechanism of resistance in vitro may provide insight into the mechanism of action of the drug and potential mechanisms of resistance in vivo.

Broad-spectrum antiviral and cytocidal activity of cyclopentenylcytosine, a carbocyclic nucleoside targeted at CTP synthetase

Cyclopentenylcytosine (Ce-Cyd) is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent active against DNA viruses [herpes (cytomegalo), pox (vaccinia)], (+)RNA viruses [picorna (polio, Coxsackie, rhino), toga (Sindbis, Semliki forest), corona], (-)RNA viruses [orthomyxo (influenza), paramyxo (parainfluenza, measles), arena (Junin, Tacaribe), rhabdo (vesicular stomatitis)] and (+/-)RNA viruses (reo). Ce-Cyd is a more potent antiviral agent than its saturated counterpart, cyclopentylcytosine (carbodine, C-Cyd). Ce-Cyd also has potent cytocidal activity against a number of tumor cell lines. The putative target enzyme for both the antiviral and antitumor action of Ce-Cyd is assumed to be the CTP synthetase that converts UTP to CTP. In keeping with this hypothesis was the finding that the antiviral and cytocidal effects of Ce-Cyd are readily reversed by Cyd and, to a lesser extent, Urd, but not by other nucleosides such as dThd or dCyd. In contrast, pyrazofurin and 6-azauridine, two nucleoside analogues that are assumed to interfere with OMP decarboxylase, another enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of pyrimidine ribonucleotides, potentiate the cytocidal activity of Ce-Cyd. Ce-Cyd should be further pursued, as such and in combination with OMP decarboxylase inhibitors, for its therapeutic potential in the treatment of both viral and neoplastic diseases.

Cyclopentenyl cytosine: interspecies predictions based on rodent plasma and urine kinetics

A hybrid compartmental-physiological model for cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPE-C) is designed on the basis of early limited rodent pharmacokinetic data. Application of model independent pharmacokinetics and biochemical knowledge was first used to conceptualize such a model. The approach was to scale the physiological parameters of the model (compartmental clearances) and keep constant the anatomic parameters of the model (compartment volumes). Scaling of physiological mechanisms was based on body weight/surface area ratios. Using these principles, simulations with the model can reasonably anticipate the in vivo behavior of (CPE-C) in several species (mouse, rat, dog). The model is useful in understanding species differences in pharmacokinetic behavior of CPE-C.

Broad-spectrum antiviral activity of carbodine, the carbocyclic analogue of cytidine

Carbocyclic cytidine (C-Cyd) is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent active against DNA viruses [pox (vaccinia)], (+)RNA viruses [toga (Sindbis, Semliki forest), corona], (-)RNA viruses [orthomyxo (influenza), paramyxo (parainfluenza, measles), rhabdo (vesicular stomatitis)] and (+/-)RNA viruses (reo). The target enzyme of C-Cyd is supposed to be CTP synthetase that converts UTP to CTP. In keeping with this assumption are the observations that (i) C-Cyd effects a dose-dependent inhibition of RNA synthesis in both virus-infected and uninfected cells, and (ii) exogenous addition of either Urd or Cyd reverses both the antiviral and cytocidal activity of C-Cyd, whereas addition of dThd or dCyd fails to do so. The selectivity of C-Cyd against Sindbis, vesicular stomatitis and reo virus is markedly increased when C-Cyd is combined with Cyd (10 micrograms/mL). This combination may therefore be worth pursuing as a chemotherapeutic modality for the treatment of virus infections.

The role of blood platelets in nucleoside metabolism: regulation of megakaryocyte development and platelet production

In higher vertebrates, different types of blood cells develop from common precursors. Mammals are unique in possessing two types of blood cells--erythrocytes and platelets--which lack nuclei. Although platelets display consistent and easily-recognisable morphological and ultrastructural characteristics and show extreme metabolic and functional versatility, they are not true cells, being produced by fragmentation of giant polyploid precursors called megakaryocytes. At present, the physiological mechanisms which regulate megakaryocyte development and platelet production are not well understood. Platelets are actively involved in metabolism of purine derivatives and a significant platelet role in pyrimidine metabolism has also been demonstrated (see previous papers). Here an attempt is made to integrate information about platelet involvement in nucleic acid precursor metabolism with current concepts of haematopoiesis, particularly megakaryocyte development and platelet production. It is concluded (i) that megakaryocytic cells are immediate descendents of haematopoietic stem cells which have become polyploid as a result of genetic damage or metabolic imbalances, (ii) megakaryocytes and platelets are the ultimate regulators of stem cell development because they control the availability of thymidine and (iii) that the production of megakaryocytes and platelets is a physiological safety mechanism which prevents fixation of genetic damage and protects other cells from potentially cytotoxic and genotoxic stimuli.

Purification of cytidine-triphosphate synthetase from rat liver, and demonstration of monomer, dimer and tetramer

Cytidine-triphosphate synthetase (UTP: ammonia ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.4.2) has been purified over 31,000-fold to homogeneity with 17% recovery from rat liver cytosol, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. The presence of CTP synthetase monomer, dimer and tetramer has been demonstrated in the ammonium sulfate fraction of rat liver cytosol. By gel-permeation HPLC, the molecular weights of the three molecular forms of the enzyme have been estimated as 240,000 (tetramer), 120,000 (dimer) and 60,000 (monomer). By gel-permeation chromatography on Bio-Gel A-1.5m column, the molecular weights of dimer and monomer were estimated as 100,000 and 50,000, respectively. The molecular weight of the monomeric subunit is determined to be 66,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Monomers isolated fresh from 0-30 (NH4)2SO4 fraction of rat liver cytosol are enzymatically active. Purified rat liver CTP synthetase exhibited sigmoidal kinetic plots as a function of the substrate UTP in the presence of the end-product, CTP. Partially purified CTP synthetase usually forms an inactive coagulum on freezing and subsequent thawing. Incubation of CTP synthetase dimer at 25 degrees C for 1 h in the presence of UTP, ATP and Mg2+ resulted in optimum conversion to tetramer with least inactivation. The purified tetramer dissociates to dimers when UTP, ATP and Mg2+ are removed by dialysis.

3-Deazaneplanocin A: a new inhibitor of S-adenosylhomocysteine synthesis and its effects in human colon carcinoma cells

The mechanism of action of the cyclopentenyl analogue of 3-deazaadenosine (3-deazaneplanocin A or c3Nep) was investigated in the human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. Upon exposure of cells for 24 hr to 3-deazaneplanocin A (c3Nep), neplanocin A (Nep) or 3-deazaaristeromycin (c3Ari), significant toxicity was noted only for Nep, wherein an 87% reduction in viability was produced at a 100 microM concentration. c3Nep and c3Ari at 100 microM reduced viability by 34 and 21%, respectively. Intracellular levels of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) were elevated by a 24-hr exposure to 100 microM c3Nep, Nep and c3Ari and were 120, 75 and 25 pmoles/10(6) cells respectively. Only Nep was metabolized to an S-adenosylmethionine-like metabolite, and its formation was dose-related to its cytotoxicity. The t1/2 for the disappearance of elevated levels of AdoHcy following drug removal was 1.6 to 2.5 hr for all drugs. rRNA and tRNA methylation was inhibited significantly by Nep, but c3Nep and c3Ari inhibited tRNA methylation but not rRNA methylation to a lesser degree. These results demonstrate that c3Nep is a potent inhibitor of AdoHcy synthesis with a low degree of cytotoxicity.