Inhibition of spermine biosynthesis and thymidine incorporation in concanavalin A transformed lymphocytes by S-adenosyl-(+/-)-2-methylmethionine

Polyamines in normal and cancer cells

Based on available evidence, it appears that polyamines are critical for proliferation of both normal and transformed cells. Although the requirement of polyamines for DNA replication and cell proliferation is established, the molecular events in which the polyamines are essential are yet unknown. Furthermore, transformed and cancer cells, possibly because of their higher proliferative rate, appear to be more dependent on polyamine metabolism than their normal counterparts. This has been shown by the in vivo response of tumor models and human tumor xenografts in nude mice to polyamine depletion by DFMO. Although there has been associated toxicity to the host, the inhibition of cell proliferation has been higher in the implanted tumors than in the host. DFMO, a specific irreversible inhibitor of ODC, has been used extensively in studies which have shed light on the role of polyamines in cell proliferation and differentiation. DFMO has shown interesting anti-tumor effect in a number of experimental tumor models. Currently, DFMO clinical trials are being completed, and it will be of interest to see whether this polyamine inhibitor, or other newer polyamine analogs and inhibitors, will find a place in the treatment of neoplastic disorders.

Treatment with alpha-difluoromethylornithine plus a spermidine analog leads to spermine depletion and growth inhibition in cultured L1210 leukemia cells

Of the three biological polyamines, putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm), the relevance of Spm to cell proliferation has yet to be defined because of our general inability to deplete it selectively in intact cells. In the present study, Spm depletion was accomplished by treating cultured L1210 cells for 96 hr with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and an analog of Spd such as aminopropylcadaverine, N4-methylSpd, N4-ethylSpd, or homoSpd. DFMO, a specific inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, halts continued polyamine biosynthesis and the Spd analog serves as a functional substitute for Spd. Thus, while the Spd analog fulfills the role(s) of Spd in cell proliferation, Spm becomes steadily depleted. In cells treated with DFMO plus the analog, aminopropylcadaverine, Spm pools decline steadily and growth inhibition occus after 48 hr (when Spm pools decline to 60% of control). By 96 hr, Spm is approximately 15% of control and growth is less than 30%. Prevention studies with exogenous polyamines confirm a causal relationship between Spm depletion and growth inhibition. The critical levels of polyamines for cell proliferation to take place were found to be 30% of control for Spd and 60% for Spm. The use of DFMO plus a Spd analog is proposed as a system for studying the cellular consequences of Spm depletion. Spd depletion can be achieved for comparison purposes by treating cells with DFMO alone.

Effects of S-adenosyl-1,8-diamino-3-thiooctane on polyamine metabolism

Exposure of mammalian cells (transformed mouse fibroblasts or rat hepatoma cells) to S-adenosyl-1,8-diamino-3-thiooctane produced profound changes in the intracellular polyamine content. Putrescine was increased and spermidine was decreased, consistent with the inhibition of spermidine synthase by this compound, which is a potent and specific "transition-state analogue inhibitor" of the isolated enzyme in vitro. The spermine content of the cells was increased by exposure to this drug presumably since spermine synthase was able to use a greater proportion of the available decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine when spermidine synthase was inhibited. The decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine content rose substantially because the activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was increased in response to the decline in spermidine. These results indicate that S-adenosyl-1,8-diamino-3-thiooctane is taken up by mammalian cells and is an effective inhibitor of spermidine synthase in vivo and that S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is regulated by the content of spermidine, but not of spermine. The growth of SV-3T3 cells was substantially reduced in the presence of S-adenosyl-1,8-diamino-3-thiooctane at concentrations of 50 microM or greater. Such inhibition was reversed by the addition of spermidine but not by putrescine. When SV-3T3 cells were exposed to 5 mM alpha-(difluoromethyl)ornithine and 50 microM S-adenosyl-1,8-diamino-3-thiooctane, the content of all polyamines was reduced. Putrescine and spermidine declined by more than 90% and spermine by 80%. Such cells grew very slowly unless spermidine was added.