Reversal by L-cysteine of the growth inhibitory and glutathione-depleting effects of N-methylformamide and N,N-dimethylformamide

Effects of buthionine sulfoximine on the outcome of the in utero administration of alcohol on fetal development

The adverse effects of the maternal consumption of alcohol on the fetus have been recognized for centuries. Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by pre- and postnatal growth retardation, mental retardation, behavioral deficits, and facial deformities. Despite numerous animal studies, the biochemical mechanism(s) by which alcohol produces teratogenic effects on the developing fetus are not well understood. Several studies have shown that administration of alcohol to adult rats produces a decrease in hepatic levels of glutathione (GSH). In utero administration of alcohol has also been shown to produce a decrease in GSH levels, as well as prenatal growth retardation and intrauterine death. In an effort to determine if GSH may have a vital role in protecting the fetus against the teratogenic effects of alcohol, buthionine (SR)-sulfoximine (BSO) was used to deplete GSH levels in the mother and fetus. Timed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on a liquid BioServ diet containing either 0%, 11%, 23%, 29%, 31%, 33%, or 35% ethanol-derived calories, with or without BSO (888 mg/kg/24 hr), starting on day 1 of pregnancy. Another set of mothers were fed lab chow and water as a control group for the liquid diet. The mothers were maintained on the diet until gestation day 21 when they were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and the pups delivered by cesarean section. The offspring were counted, weighed, killed, and the brain and liver weighed. The effects of BSO on the alcohol dose-response curves (body weights, brain weights, and litter number) were then determined to ascertain if a depletion in GSH potentiated the effects of alcohol. In utero administration of BSO, aside from the depletion of GSH in the liver and brain in the developing fetus, produced a shift to the left in the alcohol dose-response curve.

Effects of in utero administration of alcohol on glutathione levels in brain and liver

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that the ontogenic development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GTP) activity is delayed by the in utero administration of alcohol. gamma-GTP is responsible for the degradation and recycling of glutathione (GSH) via the gamma-glutamyl cycle. In this study, we examined the effects of the in utero administration of alcohol on GSH levels in gestational age 21-day-old (g21) rats. Pregnant rats were placed on a liquid diet containing either 35% ethanol-derived calories (35% EDC) or a pair-fed (PF) diet or a lab chow (LC) diet starting on day 1 of gestation and maintained on their respective diets until gestational day 21. On gestational day 21, the pups were delivered by Cesarean section and brains and livers removed and prepared for analysis of GSH, gamma-GTP, or gamma-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase (gamma-GCSyn). GSH levels in brain and liver were found to be significantly lower in the offspring of the 35% EDC-treated mothers than from the PF and LC controls. gamma-GTP activity was higher in brain and liver of the 35% EDC group than the PF group. gamma-GCSyn, the enzyme involved in the rate-limiting step of GSH synthesis, was not affected in liver, but was found to be decreased in brain of the 35% EDC and PF groups when compared with the LC group. GSH is involved in many cellular reactions that appear to protect the cell from damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Different effects of sequential combinations of N-methylformamide with 5-fluorouracil on human colon carcinoma cells growing in nude mice

The effects of the combination of N-methylformamide (NMF) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on tumor growth and morphological features of human colon carcinoma cells (HT29) implanted in nude mice were assessed. Both agents were administered i.p. at tolerable doses: 5-FU at 19 mg/kg for 5 days and NMF at 200 mg/kg for 12 days. Four main schedules were tested: 5-FU alone, NMF alone, NMF followed by 5-FU and 5-FU followed by NMF. The last sequence was the most effective, as compared with the other treatment regimens. In particular, the 5-FU----NMF combination induced a tumor inhibition of about 75% at the end of the treatments (17th day) versus an inhibition of 23%-43% in the other schedules. Morphological observations, carried out by light and electron microscopy, indicated a possible relationship between the presence of structural changes and tumor growth inhibition. The results of this study renew interest in the use of NMF in sequential combination confirming sequence as a critical factor for the optimal combination of NMF and 5-FU.

Oxidative stress as a causal factor in differentiation and aging: a unifying hypothesis

In this article, the authors have pointed out flaws in the current version of the free radical hypothesis of aging and have advanced a new hypothesis that reconciles and encapsulates existing information. The main premise of this hypothesis is that aging is a continuation of development and is thus influenced by genetically programmed phenomena. Completion of various genetic programs and the duration of life are linked to a metabolic potential which is itself a genetically determined sum of energy expenditure. Nevertheless, the rate at which metabolic potential is reached is linked to the rate of metabolism and the level of oxidative stress both of which are influenced by epigenetic stimuli. The current version of the free radical hypothesis postulates that partially reduced oxygen species are produced in aerobic cells in an uncontrolled fashion and do not play any useful physiological function. The principle tenet of the free radical hypothesis is that molecular damage is the underlying cause of aging and that O2- radicals and derivatives induce most of the damage sustained by cells during aging. The authors regard this hypothesis as flawed because it fails to explain either low randomly occurring damage can lead to age-associated changes that are species-specific, or the sequential nature of the changes that occur in aging organisms. In contrast to the free radical hypothesis, our hypothesis can explain the specific and sequential nature of aging-related changes because they are postulated to be neither dependent upon uncontrolled damage nor the cellular capacity to prevent it. Instead, the authors suggest that the damage accumulated during aging is a secondary effect rather than a direct cause of senescence. The authors have shown that cells exert control not only on their level of antioxidant defense but also on their rate of oxidant production. The authors postulate that aging is the terminal stage of development, and as such is influenced genetically. The authors also postulate that a definite sum of energy is required to complete the genetic programs associated with aging. Thus, the rate of aging is linked to the level of oxidative stress; the rate of energy utilization is postulated to determine the level of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is one of the factors which appears to govern changes in gene expression during differentiation and we suggest that it causes alterations in gene expression during aging. In the authors revised hypothesis, free radicals promote aging by affecting specific genetic programs and the incidental damage they inflict in cells is only a by-product of this process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Oxidative influence on development and differentiation: an overview of a free radical theory of development

Metabolic gradients exist in developing organisms and are believed to influence development. It has been postulated that the effects of these gradients on development result from differential oxygen supplies to tissues. Oxygen has been found to influence the course of development. Cells and tissues in various stages of differentiation exhibit discrete changes in their antioxidant defenses and in parameters of oxidation. Metabolically generated oxidants have been implicated as one factor that directs the initiation of certain developmental events. Also implicated as factors that modulate developmental processes are the cellular distribution of ions and the cytoskeleton both of which can be influenced by oxidants. The interaction of oxidants with ion balance and cytoskeleton is discussed.

X ray responses of a human colon tumor cell line after exposure to the differentiation-inducing agent N-methylformamide: concentration dependence and reversibility characteristics

The combination of differentiation-inducing agents with conventional cytotoxic agents has been suggested as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy. In this regard, we have chronically exposed (3 passages) a human colon tumor line (clone A) to varying concentrations (0-170 mM) of N-methylformamide and examined the change in sensitivity to ionizing radiation in vitro. The linear-quadratic formalism of survival was used to characterize the single graded dose survival curves. This equation yields two constants (alpha and beta) relating to cellular inactivation produced by either single events (alpha) or by the combination of two events (beta). As the N-methylformamide concentration increased, the alpha parameter increased while the beta parameter concomitantly decreased, yielding a concentration dependent radiosensitization which was most marked in the low dose region of the survival curve. Upon removal of NMF, the original radiation resistance was regained within 2-3 cell culture doubling times.

Alkylformamides as inducers of tumour cell differentiation--a mini-review

The induction of terminal differentiation in tumour cells represents a possible therapeutic strategy for treating cancer. The alkylformamides are 1 group of experimental compounds which have been shown to induce terminal differentiation in human HL-60 leukemia and murine Friend erythroleukemia cells in vitro. Their mechanism of action is unknown. Dimethylformamide has been used as a model inducer in carcinoma and fibroblastic models. Analysis of the relationship between structure and inducing activity of the alkylformamides in vitro reveals that no specificity of structure exists and that their properties as inducers of terminal differentiation extend to related compounds, e.g. the alkylacetamides and alkylureas. This is in contrast to the marked specificity of N-methylformamide (NMF) as an in vivo antitumour agent. The potency of these compounds as inducers of differentiation is predictable and correlated with their molecular weight. High concentrations of NMF are required to induce differentiation in vitro and these concentrations are not achievable in vivo. However, while NMF is unlikely to be a useful inducer in vivo many of its higher MW analogues are very much more potent as inducers in vitro and yet no more toxic (to the host) in vivo. Some of these (e.g. tetramethylurea or 1,3-dimethylurea) may be capable of achieving inducing concentrations in vivo.

Potentiation of in vitro cytotoxic effects of misonidazole on human colon tumor cells by the differentiation-inducing agent N-methylformamide

Human colon tumor cells (clone A) were studied in vitro with regard to modification of dose-dependent cytotoxicity to misonidazole (MISO) treatment by pre-exposure growth in medium containing the differentiation-inducing agent N-methylformamide (NMF). Cells were grown as exponential cultures and were exposed for 2 passages to 170 mM NMF before exposure to graded doses of MISO (0-100 mM, 3 hours at 37 degrees C, oxic or hypoxic). Both oxic and hypoxic cells could be sensitized to MISO cell killing. Using the 10% level of survival for comparison, the calculated MISO doses (mM) were: 105, 37, 50, and 10 for oxic control cells, hypoxic control cells, oxic-NMF treated cells, and hypoxic-NMF treated cells, respectively. Therefore, for NMF treated oxic cells, cell killing was increased by a factor of about 2.1, while for NMF treated hypoxic cells, cell killing increased by a factor of about 3.7. These data indicate that NMF treatment, while potentiating effects on both oxic and hypoxic cells, appears to have selectivity towards hypoxic cells. NMF may therefore have use in combined modality radiation therapy of solid tumors with electron-affinic radiosensitizers.

Enhanced X ray sensitivity of human colon tumor cells by combination of N-methylformamide with chemotherapeutic agents

The responses of human colon tumor cells (clone A) to graded doses of x-irradiation were studied in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs (bleomycin and 5-fluorouracil) after induction of commitment to differentiation by chronic exposure to N-methylformamide (NMF). NMF treated cells show increased radiation sensitivity, particularly in the low dose region of the survival curve. When doses of bleomycin (Bleo) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were used that were subtoxic, both agents enhanced the cytotoxicity of x-irradiation by factors of about 1.25 and 1.10, respectively (at the 10% level of survival), and little sequence dependence was seen. However, in NMF treated cells, the combination of these drugs produced enhancement of X ray killing by factors of about 1.6 (x + bleo), 2.5 (bleo + x), 1.4 (x + 5-FU), and 1.6 (5-FU + x). Drug exposures were for 1 hr duration at 37 degrees C; 0.05 microgram/ml for Bleo, and 20 micrograms/ml for 5-FU. Since the X ray dose enhancement factor for NMF alone was about 1.3, the increased toxicity seen is probably additive in nature for the NMF + 5-FU + x experiments, but more than additive for the NMF + Bleo + x experiments. Also, complete removal of the shoulder was seen in the NMF + Bleo + X ray experiments. These data indicate that the use of differentiation-inducing agents in combination with other cytotoxic therapies might be important in yielding major decreases in the neoplastic cell burden, while avoiding the major morbidity seen in aggressive cancer therapy.

Contrasting effects of the differentiating agent sodium butyrate on recovery processes after x-irradiation in heterogeneous human colon tumor cells

The X ray survival responses of two clonal subpopulations of cells (clones A and D) from a heterogeneous human colon adenocarcinoma (DLD-l) were studied in unfed plateau phase cultures either as control cultures or in cultures grown for three passages in medium containing the differentiating agent sodium butyrate (NaB, 2 mM). Specifically, the cultures were studied with regard to their ability to express both potentially lethal and sublethal damage recovery (PLDR and SLDR). Growth in NaB-containing medium enhanced the radiation sensitivity of both cell lines in the low dose ("shoulder") region of the survival curve. For clone A, the Dq value was reduced by 59%, and for clone D, the Dq value was reduced by 96%. NaB treatment increased both the rate and the extent of PLDR in both cell lines as assessed by single dose kinetic studies. However, when split dose experiments are performed to assess the expression of SLDR, NaB pretreatment was shown to totally inhibit the expression of SLDR, and also to alter the expression of PLDR under these conditions. These data suggest that PLDR and SLDR are separate, yet related, cellular recovery processes. In addition, NaB may be useful as an adjunct to radiotherapy by virtue of its ability to sensitize tumor cells in the dose range conventionally used for therapy, as well as by inhibition of sublethal damage recovery.

Oxygen free radicals play a role in cellular differentiation: an hypothesis

Evidence from a variety of sources supports the view that oxygen free radicals play a role in cellular differentiation. It is postulated that cellular differentiation is accompanied by changes in the redox state of cells. Differentiated cells have a relatively more prooxidizing or less reducing intracellular environment than the undifferentiated or dedifferentiated cells. Changes in the redox balance during differentiation appear to be due to an increase in the rate of O2- generation. Differentiated cells, in general, exhibit higher rates of cyanide-resistant respiration, cyanide-insensitive SOD activity, and peroxide concentration and lower levels of GSH as compared to undifferentiated cells. The effects of free radicals on cellular differentiation may be mediated by the consequent changes in ionic composition.

The effect of glutathione on development in wild carrot suspension cultures

The role of reduced and oxidized glutathione in plant development was investigated using wild carrot suspension cultures. Concentrations of GSH are lower in developing than in proliferating carrot cultures. Addition of 0.3 mM buthionine sulfoximine (a glutathione synthesis inhibitor) to developing cultures decreased the cellular GSH levels and enhanced somatic embryogenesis while addition of 0.6 mM GSH increased the cellular GSH levels and inhibited embryogenesis. Additions of GSH and buthionine sulfoximine to developing cultures also indicated that buthionine sulfoximine is acting specifically to lower GSH levels and not through some nonspecific toxic effect. These results provide evidence that the levels of GSH are important in determining whether carrot cells develop into somatic embryos or grow proliferatively.

The Hofmeister effect and the behaviour of water at interfaces

Starting from known properties of non-specific salt effects on the surface tension at an air-water interface, we propose the first general, detailed qualitative molecular mechanism for the origins of ion-specific (Hofmeister) effects on the surface potential difference at an air-water interface; this mechanism suggests a simple model for the behaviour of water at all interfaces (including water-solute interfaces), regardless of whether the non-aqueous component is neutral or charged, polar or non-polar. Specifically, water near an isolated interface is conceptually divided into three layers, each layer being I water-molecule thick. We propose that the solute determines the behaviour of the adjacent first interfacial water layer (I1); that the bulk solution determines the behaviour of the third interfacial water layer (I3), and that both I1 and I3 compete for hydrogen-bonding interactions with the intervening water layer (I2), which can be thought of as a transition layer. The model requires that a polar kosmotrope (polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 more strongly than would bulk water in its place; that a chaotrope (water-structure breaker) interact with I1 somewhat less strongly than would bulk water in its place; and that a non-polar kosmotrope (non-polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 much less strongly than would bulk water in its place. We introduce two simple new postulates to describe the behaviour of I1 water molecules in aqueous solution. The first, the 'relative competition' postulate, states that an I1 water molecule, in maximizing its free energy (--delta G), will favour those of its highly directional polar (hydrogen-bonding) interactions with its immediate neighbours for which the maximum pairwise enthalpy of interaction (--delta H) is greatest; that is, it will favour the strongest interactions. We describe such behaviour as 'compliant', since an I1 water molecule will continually adjust its position to maximize these strong interactions. Its behaviour towards its remaining immediate neighbours, with whom it interacts relatively weakly (but still favourably), we describe as 'recalcitrant', since it will be unable to adjust its position to maximize simultaneously these interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Enhancement of the responses of human colon adenocarcinoma cells to X-irradiation and cis-platinum by N-methylformamide (NMF)

The ability of the maturational agent N-methylformamide (NMF) to modify the response of exponentially growing clone A human colon adenocarcinoma cells to x-irradiation, cis-platinum (cis-DDP), or x-irradiation combined with cis-platinum was studied using an in vitro clonogenic assay. When clone A tumor cells were adaptively grown in medium containing 1% NMF (V/V) for 3 passages prior to experiments, a significantly increased sensitivity to x-irradiation as compared to non-NMF treated cells was found. This increased sensitivity was most marked in the low dose region of the survival curve (as indicated by a large increase in the alpha constant in the linear-quadratic equation), and is similar to the increased radiosensitivity observed after treatment of these tumor cells with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Growth in NMF medium also sensitized these cells to the cytotoxic effects of a 1 hr treatment with cis-DDP at 37 degrees C. A dose enhancement factor of about 1.8 was found at the 10% level of survival for the NMF adapted and cis-DDP treated cells as compared to control cells. Clone A cells were treated either immediately prior to or immediately after x-irradiation with a single low dose of cis-DDP (1.5 microgram/ml, 1 hour at 37 degrees C) after adaptation to growth in NMF containing medium, and the modification of the X ray survival curve was compared to cells not exposed to NMF and to NMF-treated cells also treated with cis-DDP. For the non-NMF treated cells, the low dose cis-DDP treatment produced no change in the survival parameters of the X ray survival curve. However, the NMF adapted cells exhibited an additional decrement in cell survival, indicating that the effect of NMF on radiation on cis-DDP cell killing was additive in nature when all 3 agents were combined in this protocol. Also, there was no difference between the sequences of cis-DDP (1 hr, 37 degrees C) + X rays versus X rays + cis-DDP (1 hr, 37 degrees C). These data indicate that combinations of differentiation inducing agents, together with chemotherapeutic agents and X rays, may be a promising avenue of investigation in developing strategies for cancer treatment.

Computer-assisted structure--anticancer activity correlations of carbamates and thiocarbamates

With the aid of the computer, approximately 8000 compounds that incorporate a carbamate or thiocarbamate moiety, which have been tested as potential anticancer agents at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), were classified and their structure-activity correlations against the in vivo P-388 and L-1210 leukemias were evaluated. Aromatic carbamates and thiocarbamates have shown good activity against P-388 and poor activity against L-1210. The majority of active compounds in this series of aromatic carbamates possess a 2- or 4-heteroatom-substituted phenyl attached to the carbamate oxygen atom or the thiocarbamate sulfur atom with the carbamate nitrogen atom as NHMe. The N-phenyl carbamates were much less active against P-388 than the phenyl carbamates; only bis-N-phenyl carbamates with a methylene bridge between the two phenyl groups showed good activity against both P-388 and L-1210 leukemias. Except for the mycophenolic acid carbamates, the fused phenyl carbamates showed poor activity against both P-388 and L-1210 leukemias. Certain nitrogen-heterocyclic carbamates and carbamates with heteroatom substituents have been selected by the NCI for development toward clinical trials. The nature of the heterocyclic carrier and the position of attachment to the carbamate moiety have a major role on the mode of action of the antitumor activity of these compounds.