Erythroleukemia cells: variants inducible for hemoglobin synthesis without commitment to terminal cell division

Introducing undergraduate students to real-time PCR

An experiment is conducted, which in four 3 h laboratory sessions, introduces third year undergraduate Biochemistry students to the technique of real-time PCR in a biological context. The model used is a murine erythroleukemia cell line (MEL cells). These continuously cycling, immature red blood cells, arrested at an early stage in erythropoiesis, can be induced to progress further through the process by 72 h exposure to 1.8% DMSO. This gives a control cell sample and a DMSO-treated preparation. Students isolate RNA from both cell cultures, check its purity, yield and integrity by UV spectrophotometry and denaturing gel electrophoresis, then synthesized cDNA. The relative levels of three sequences: β globin, amino levulinate synthase, and carbonic anhydrase-1 are estimated by real-time PCR, using 18S rRNA as the reference sequence. The changes in gene expression are robust and reproducible, enabling students to experience a "cutting edge" research technique in an undergraduate lab setting. While the undergraduate student experience in practical classes with such sensitive techniques is often mixed, the changes in gene expression in this model are sufficiently great that students can gain the satisfaction of consistent results. In addition they gain experience at setting up checks and controls at stages throughout a multistep process and an appreciation of the difference between a reaction which has gone to completion with one that is measured as a rate. This experiment would also complement cell biology projects involving red cell development. It could also be extended to more thoroughly investigate the technique of real-time PCR.

Lymphoid neoplasia and the control of haemopoietic differentiation

Our broad aims are to delineate oncogenic events in lymphoid neoplasia and to search for genes that control haemopoietic differentiation. To explore lymphoid neoplasia, we have constructed transgenic mice bearing different oncogenes coupled to the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer (E mu), to force expression within lymphocytes. The prototype E mu-myc mice are highly prone to lymphomagenesis, generating pre-B and B cell lymphomas. In their pre-neoplastic phase, E mu-myc expression perturbs B cell development, accelerating the accumulation of pre-B cells. Lymphomagenesis requires additional oncogenic events, such as ras activation, and can be reconstructed in vitro. Transgenic mice bearing the N-myc, N-ras, v-abl and bcr-v-abl oncogenes are also prone to tumours. A striking demonstration that oncogenes can perturb lineage commitment has emerged. Introduction of the v-raf gene into cloned E mu-myc transgenic B cells frequently led to a switch in haemopoietic lineage: the cells became macrophages. Two clues to this remarkable metamorphosis are that the macrophage lines produce a myeloid growth factor and most bear marked karyotypic alterations, perhaps indicating that the balance between a few critical lineage control genes has been disturbed. To explore the hypothesis that genes encoding the DNA-binding homeo box domain participate in haemopoiesis, cDNA libraries from haemopoietic sources were screened, and several distinct homeo box cDNAs were isolated. They revealed a complex pattern of expression among haemopoietic cell lines. These genes are attractive candidates for regulators of haemopoietic differentiation.

Microarrays for undergraduate classes

A microarray experiment is presented that, in six laboratory sessions, takes undergraduate students from the tissue sample right through to data analysis. The model chosen, the murine erythroleukemia cell line, can be easily cultured in sufficient quantities for class use. Large changes in gene expression can be induced in these cells by erythropoietic agents such as DMSO over a 72-h time period. Students isolate total RNA from control (0 h) and 72-h DMSO-treated murine erythroleukemia cells. From this, they synthesize a cDNA copy incorporating amino-allyl dUTP, which is then coupled to either a Cy5 or a Cy3 dye. Equal amounts of the two labeled cDNA samples are then applied to a standard cDNA microarray, which is then hybridized, washed, and scanned. Up- and down-regulated genes are selected using an "in-house" user-friendly data base program. Quality control checks are included at various stages throughout the procedure and, as the process of erythropoiesis is well characterized, a number of erythroid sequences serve as internal controls on the validity of the array data. Through this experiment, students gain experience in a wide range of molecular biology techniques, the use of controls to check a multistep process, validation of results, and strategies to manage the large amount of data generated. Most importantly, it provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to carry out experiments using cutting edge techniques normally found only in research laboratories.

Structural characterization of erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation in Friend erythroleukemia cells

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the structural characterization of erythroid and megakaryocytic cell differentiation in Friend erythroleukemic cells using spectral imaging and electron microscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two variants of Friend erythroleukemia cells were treated with hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) to induce differentiation: 1) MEL, which exhibit the normal phenotype and are susceptible to differentiation; and 2) the resistant R1 cells. The cells were analyzed by spectral imaging along with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins was analyzed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Spectral imaging of HMBA-treated MEL and R1 cells stained by May-Grünwald-Giemsa and subjected to spectral similarity mapping revealed five morphologic cell types: proerythroblast-like cells, normoblast-like cells, reticulocyte-like cells, megakaryocytes, and apoptotic cells. In MEL cells, both megakaryocytic differentiation characterized by nuclear lobes and erythroid differentiation characterized by accumulation of hemoglobin were detected; R1 cells were not committed to terminal differentiation. HMBA-induced cell cycle arrest at G(1) affected the expression of regulatory proteins in a similar manner in both types of cells. Expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 decreased and expression of p21(WAF1) increased. The level of the underphosphorylated form of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein increased, inducing a decrease in the level of c-myc. In addition, we detected a decrease in the expression of the anti-apoptotic regulator, Bcl-2, and an increased expression of the pro-apoptotic regulator, Bax.

CONCLUSIONS

Spectral imaging provides new insight for the morphologic characterization of erythroid and megakaryocytic cell differentiation as well as apoptosis. Image analysis was well correlated to cell cycle arrest and the expression of regulatory proteins.

Second generation hybrid polar compounds are potent inducers of transformed cell differentiation

Hybrid polar compounds, of which hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA) is the prototype, are potent inducers of differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells and a wide variety of other transformed cells. HMBA has been shown to induce differentiation of neoplastic cells in patients, but is not an adequate therapeutic agent because of dose-limiting toxicity. We report on a group of three potent second generation hybrid polar compounds, diethyl bis-(pentamethylene-N,N-dimethylcarboxamide) malonate (EMBA), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), and m-carboxycinnamic acid bis-hydroxamide (CBHA) with optimal concentrations for inducing MEL cells of 0.4 mM, 2 microM, and 4 microM, respectively, compared to 5 mM for HMBA. All three agents induce accumulation of underphosphorylated pRB; increased levels of p2l protein, a prolongation of the initial G1 phase of the cell cycle; and accumulation of hemoglobin. However, based upon their effective concentrations, the cross-resistance or sensitivity of an HMBA-resistant MEL cell variant, and differences in c-myb expression during induction, these differentiation-inducing hybrid polar compounds can be grouped into two subsets, HMBA/EMBA and SAHA/CBHA. This classification may prove of value in selecting and planning prospective preclinical and clinical studies toward the treatment of cancer by differentiation therapy.

Interferon-independent activation of (2′-5′) oligoadenylate synthetase in Friend erythroleukemia cell variants exposed to HMBA

To provide evidence for the implication of interferon (IFN)-induced proteins in the regulation of cell growth during differentiation, the activation of (2′-5′) oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5A synthetase) as well as of PKR, two IFN-induced proteins, during differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells, was studied. Two cell variants were used. The first (FL) was completely susceptible to hexamethylene bis-acetamide (HMBA)-treatment and responded in both growth-retardation and hemoglobin synthesis. The second (R1) failed to synthesize hemoglobin in response to HMBA although cell growth was still inhibited. In both cell variants, 2–5A synthetase enzyme activity was induced in a similar fashion, reaching a peak at 26 hours after treatment with HMBA. However, the down regulation of activity thereafter was not identical in both cases. In R1 cells, the reduction was much slower compared to FL cells. A similar pattern was observed with the appearance of the 43 kDa isoform of 2–5A synthetase in immunoblots. An analysis of 2–5A synthetase gene expression revealed the presence of 1.7 kb transcripts which peaked at 16 hours after HMBA-treatment in both cell variants. Again, the down-regulation in expression was slower in R1 than in FL cells. Addition of anti-murin alpha/beta-IFN antibodies did not reduce the level of either 2–5A synthetase expression or enzyme activity in either cell variant. Interestingly, the presence of antibodies also did not affect the pattern of pRb phosphorylation in the cell variants exposed to HMBA. In both cell variants, an increase in the amount of the phosphorylated form (ppRb) was observed in immunoblots after 4 hours. This form was gradually transformed to the underphosphorylated molecule (pRb) with time in culture, even in the presence of antibodies. This further substantiates the notion that IFN-induced regulation of pRb phosphorylation is mediated by IFN-induced proteins. The basal level of either expression or ezymatic activity of PKR detected in untreated FL or R1 cells, was relatively high. Treatment with HMBA did not result in further induction of PKR in either cell variant.

Diaminofluorene is more sensitive than benzidine for detecting hemoglobin in erythropoietin responsive J2E cells

We have used the diaminofluorene stain to detect hemoglobin production in J2E cells following erythropoietin-induced differentiation. The pseudo-peroxidase activity of hemoglobin produces a colored product, fluorene blue, which can be measured spectrophotometrically. We found that the absorbance varied with time and concentration of hemoglobin, making it unsuitable for rapid, routine use. However, hemoglobin content could be determined from the initial reaction rate and this correlated extremely well with the number of benzidine positive cells. When used as a direct cytochemical stain diaminofluorene was shown to be more sensitive than benzidine in detecting hemoglobin-producing J2E cells.

Protein kinase C isozymes epsilon and alpha in murine erythroleukemia cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) has a role in signal transduction during hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA)-induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC). Separation of MELC PKC isozymes by hydroxylapatite chromatography yields a major peak (III) and a minor peak (II) of PKC activity, previously reported to contain the PKC alpha and beta isozymes, respectively. In the present study, we confirm that peak III activity is PKC alpha but show that peak II contains PKC epsilon and little or no PKC beta. Immunoblot analysis with isozyme-specific anti-alpha and anti-epsilon PKC antibodies detected PKC alpha in peak III and PKC epsilon in peak II. Peak III activity was markedly enhanced (up to 20-fold) by phosphatidylserine, diolein, and Ca2+, whereas addition of these cofactors to the reaction mixture stimulated peak II activity only 2- to 4-fold. RNase protection analysis of MELC RNA showed that PKC alpha and PKC epsilon RNAs were in a ratio of approximately 2:1, but PKC beta RNA was barely detectable. Taken together, these data indicate that MELC contain PKC alpha and PKC epsilon but little or no PKC beta.

Reduction in lactate accumulation correlates with differentiation-induced terminal cell division of leukemia cells

Lactate accumulation in the medium and glucose utilization decreased during the induction of in vitro differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) and human myeloid leukemia (HL-60) cells. The decrease in lactate accumulation occurred as early as 24 h after inducer treatment was initiated and occurred prior to the decrease in glucose utilization. The decrease in lactate accumulation was greater than that predicted by the decrease in glucose utilization, i.e., the ratio of glucose used glycolytically, as measured by lactate accumulation, to glucose used in other pathways ('glycolytic ratio') markedly decreased during differentiation in these cell lines. Differentiation correlated with the abrogation of the high levels of lactate accumulation first described by Warburg as characteristic of some transformed and neoplastic cells. Studies on both parental and differentiation-resistant variant MEL cell lines indicated that the changes in lactate accumulation were not dependent on the changes in glucose utilization and could be dissociated from them. Moreover, the changes in lactate accumulation only occurred in cells able to undergo differentiation-induced terminal cell division. This regulatable expression of lactate accumulation in MEL and HL-60 cells in vitro may make them useful model systems for the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms controlling lactate formation in malignant cells.

Conversion of differentiation inducer resistance to differentiation inducer sensitivity in erythroleukemia cells

Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) is a potent inducer of differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC). Commitment, the irreversible initiation of the program of terminal-cell differentiation, is first detected in HMBA-sensitive DS19-SC9 MELC in culture after 10 to 12 h of exposure to HMBA. Vincristine (VC)-resistant MELC derived from the DS19-SC9 MELC line display increased sensitivity to HMBA and become committed with little or no latent period. In the present study, we showed that the MELC line R1, which is resistant to HMBA-mediated differentiation, became sensitive to inducer if selected for a low level of VC resistance (less than 10 ng of VC per ml). Four independently derived VC-resistant cell lines from HMBA-resistant R1 cells, designated R1[VCR]a to R1[VCR]d, acquired sensitivity to HMBA and the accelerated kinetics of commitment that are characteristic of VC-resistant MELC derived from the parental DS19-SC9 cells. The calcium channel blocker verapamil suppresses the VC resistance of R1[VCR] cells but does not alter the accelerated response to HMBA. In R1[VCR] cells there was no detectable increase in the level of the 140-kilodalton P-glycoprotein. Transient inhibition of protein synthesis during the latent period delays inducer-mediated commitment of VC-sensitive DS19-SC9 MELC but does not alter the accelerated commitment kinetics of R1[VCR]a cells. Previously, we have reported evidence that protein kinase C beta (PKC beta) plays a role in HMBA-induced MELC differentiation and that compared with DS19-SC9 cells, R1 cells have a relatively low level and R1[VCR]a cells have a high level of PKC beta. These findings suggest that (i) acquisition of VC resistance overcomes the block acquired by R1 cells to HMBA-mediated differentiation; (ii) the accelerated kinetics of HMBA-induced commitment of VC-resistant MELC is not dependent on the verapamil-sensitive transport channel that is responsible, at least in part, for resistance to VC; (iii) in VC-resistant MELC, there is constitutive expression or accumulation of a protein required for HMBA-induced differentiation; and (iv) an elevated level of PKC beta activity may play a role in the altered response of R1[VCR] and other VC-resistant MELC to HMBA.

Conversion of differentiation inducer resistance to differentiation inducer sensitivity in erythroleukemia cells

Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) is a potent inducer of differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC). Commitment, the irreversible initiation of the program of terminal-cell differentiation, is first detected in HMBA-sensitive DS19-SC9 MELC in culture after 10 to 12 h of exposure to HMBA. Vincristine (VC)-resistant MELC derived from the DS19-SC9 MELC line display increased sensitivity to HMBA and become committed with little or no latent period. In the present study, we showed that the MELC line R1, which is resistant to HMBA-mediated differentiation, became sensitive to inducer if selected for a low level of VC resistance (less than 10 ng of VC per ml). Four independently derived VC-resistant cell lines from HMBA-resistant R1 cells, designated R1[VCR]a to R1[VCR]d, acquired sensitivity to HMBA and the accelerated kinetics of commitment that are characteristic of VC-resistant MELC derived from the parental DS19-SC9 cells. The calcium channel blocker verapamil suppresses the VC resistance of R1[VCR] cells but does not alter the accelerated response to HMBA. In R1[VCR] cells there was no detectable increase in the level of the 140-kilodalton P-glycoprotein. Transient inhibition of protein synthesis during the latent period delays inducer-mediated commitment of VC-sensitive DS19-SC9 MELC but does not alter the accelerated commitment kinetics of R1[VCR]a cells. Previously, we have reported evidence that protein kinase C beta (PKC beta) plays a role in HMBA-induced MELC differentiation and that compared with DS19-SC9 cells, R1 cells have a relatively low level and R1[VCR]a cells have a high level of PKC beta. These findings suggest that (i) acquisition of VC resistance overcomes the block acquired by R1 cells to HMBA-mediated differentiation; (ii) the accelerated kinetics of HMBA-induced commitment of VC-resistant MELC is not dependent on the verapamil-sensitive transport channel that is responsible, at least in part, for resistance to VC; (iii) in VC-resistant MELC, there is constitutive expression or accumulation of a protein required for HMBA-induced differentiation; and (iv) an elevated level of PKC beta activity may play a role in the altered response of R1[VCR] and other VC-resistant MELC to HMBA.

Alterations in electrophoretic mobility, diaphorase activity, and terminal differentiation induced in murine erythroleukemia lines by differentiating agents

The electrophoretic mobilities (EPMs) and semiquinone reductase activities of two clones of Friend murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells were investigated as a function of treatment with the inducing agents dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA). As reported previously by others, the inducible clone DS19 lost its ability to grow in soft agar and expressed hemoglobin as judged by benzidine/H2O2 staining after 96 hours of treatment with 1% DMSO or 4 mM HMBA. In addition, its EPM fell by 14%, its semiquinone reductase activity by 40%, and its mean diameter by 10%. The second clone, R1, retained its ability to grow in soft agar and lacked hemoglobin expression after treatment with HMBA and DMSO, characterizing it as noninducible. However, R1 did demonstrate alterations in EPM, semiquinone reductase activity, and cell diameter that closely paralleled those found in DS19. Such responses were not seen in three non-MEL cell lines exposed to HMBA or DMSO, suggesting that clone R1 responded to these inducing agents in a cell-line specific manner but that its ability to complete the sequences necessary for differentiation may be blocked at an unknown point distal to the block characteristic of untreated cells. The data show that while a reduction in EPM, semiquinone reductase activity, and cell diameter accompany induced differentiation in MEL cells, such changes can occur in the absence of a commitment to terminal differentiation.

Differentiation-dependent expression of phosphatidylserine in mammalian plasma membranes: quantitative assessment of outer-leaflet lipid by prothrombinase complex formation

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is asymmetrically distributed in mammalian cell membranes, being preferentially localized in the inner leaflet. Some studies have suggested that a disturbance in the normal asymmetric distribution of PS--e.g., PS exposure in the outer leaflet of the cell membrane, which can occur upon platelet activation as well as in certain pathologic red cells--serves as a potent procoagulant surface and as a signal for triggering their recognition by macrophages. These studies suggest that the regulation of PS distribution in cell membranes may be critical in controlling coagulation and in determining the survival of pathologic cells in the circulation. In this paper we describe a sensitive technique, based on PS-dependent prothrombinase complex activity, for assessing the amount of PS on the external leaflet of intact viable cells. Our results indicate that tumorigenic, undifferentiated murine erythroleukemic cells express 7- to 8-fold more PS in their outer leaflet than do their differentiated, nontumorigenic counterparts. Increased expression of PS in the tumorigenic cells directly correlated with their ability to be recognized and bound by macrophages.

Induced differentiation of erythroleukemia cells by hexamethylene bisacetamide: a model for cytodifferentiation of transformed cells

There is considerable evidence that malignant transformation need not eliminate the potential for a cell to express its developmental capabilities. This review explores the process whereby polar compounds, hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) in particular, induce murine erythroid leukemoid cells (MELC) to express the differentiated erythroid phenotype, including hemoglobin production and cessation of cell division. This is a multi-step process which, although the mechanisms of action of HMBA are not yet fully understood, is amenable to experimental definition and analysis. Early effects, including changes in protein kinase C activity, in ion transport, and in expression of certain nuclear proto-oncogenes, have been examined in relation to the onset of terminal cell differentiation. This experimental experience has formed the context for initiating preliminary clinical studies designed to examine the pharmacology of HMBA and to explore its potential for modifying the natural history of cancer.

Analysis of the growth kinetics of murine erythroleukaemia cells following commitment to terminal differentiation

Differentiation of murine erythroleukaemia cells by various inducers involves a step of irreversible commitment, after which the presence of the inducer is not required for completion of the process. Some cells become partially committed and give rise to differentiated as well as undifferentiated progeny. Commitment occurs asynchronously; under suboptimal inducing conditions, such as low concentration of inducer or short duration of exposure, both committed and uncommitted cells co-exist. In the present study the growth of these subpopulations was compared. Murine erythroleukaemia cells were exposed to the inducer hexamethylene-bisacetamide for 24 hr, then the inducer was removed by washing and the rate of proliferation of committed and uncommitted cells was measured. Commitment was scored by cloning the cells in inducer-free semi-solid medium and determining the cellular composition of the colonies with respect to haemoglobin content. The results indicated that following removal of the inducer the rate of proliferation was retarded similarly for both committed and uncommitted cells. Partially committed cells disappeared rapidly due to assymetrical cell division into fully committed and uncommitted cells. Both committed and uncommitted cells resumed logarithmic growth at 53 hr, but while uncommitted cells continued this pace until saturation was achieved, committed cells stopped multiplying earlier as a result of terminal differentiation.

Induction of differentiation in mouse erythroleukaemia cells by the action of papain at the cell surface

The addition of one of several proteases to cultures of mouse erythroleukaemia (MEL) or human K-562 leukaemia cells can induce a substantial portion of the cells to undergo erythroid differentiation. This effect is due, at least in part, to the proteolytic action of these enzymes. The critical substrate(s) for this proteolytic action is not a component of the medium or a long-lived substance(s) released from the cells. In order to determine if the substrate(s) is located on the cell surface or intracellularly, a comparison of the ability of non-immobilized papain and immobilized papain (i.e. covalently linked to Sepharose beads which were larger than the cells) to induce MEL cell differentiation was undertaken. Both papain preparations induced the same level of differentiation. The proteolytic activity of the bead-linked papain remained associated with the beads. Therefore, proteases induce erythroid differentiation in these cells by acting proteolytically on a substrate(s) that is exterior to the cell.

Butyrate induced accumulation of a 2.3 kb polyadenylated H1(0) histone mRNA in HeLa cells

Sodium butyrate was used to induce the accumulation of human H1(0) mRNA in HeLa cells. The length of this mRNA (2,300 nucleotides) was determined by Northern blot hybridization and S1 nuclease analysis using a human H1(0) gene probe. The mRNA shows long 5' and 3' non coding segments and it is polyadenylated. The signal for this step of mRNA maturation (cleavage and polyadenylation) appears to be the hexanucleotide AAUAAA in analogy to most (other than histone) mRNA species. Thus, the mode of maturation of H1(0) mRNA differs, on one hand, from that of the cell cycle dependent mRNA species, where it is based on a specific stem-and-loop structure. On the other hand, the 3' end of H1(0) mRNA varies from H5 mRNA, which is characterized by two unique dyad symmetry structures at its 3' end.

Murine erythroleukemia cell variants: isolation of cells that have amplified the dihydrofolate reductase gene and retained the ability to be induced to differentiate

A series of murine erythroleukemia cell (MELC) variants was generated by selection for the ability to grow in increasing concentrations of the folate antagonist methotrexate (MTX). Growth of the parental MELC strain DS-19 was completely inhibited by 0.1 microM MTX. We isolated cells able to grow in 5, 40, 200, 400, and 800 microM MTX. Growth rates and yields were essentially the same in the presence or absence of the selective dose of MTX for all variants. MTX resistance was not the result of a transport defect. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from our variants and DS-19 was inhibited to the same extent by MTX. Variants had increased dihydrofolate reductase activities. The specific activity of DHFR was proportional to the selective concentration of MTX employed to isolate a given variant. DNA dot blotting established that the cloned variant (MR400-3) had a 160-fold increase in DHFR gene copy number relative to the parental strain (DS-19). Hybridization studies performed in situ established the presence of amplified DHFR genes on the chromosomes of the MTX-resistant but not the MTX-sensitive (parental) cells. Quantitation of DHFR mRNA by cytoplasmic dot blotting established that the amplified DHFR gene expression was proportional to gene copy number. Thus, MTX resistance was due to amplification of the DHFR gene. The variants retained the ability to be induced to differentiate in response to dimethyl sulfoxide and hexamethylenebis(acetamide) as evaluated by the criteria of globin mRNA accumulation, hemoglobin accumulation, cell volume decreases, and terminal cell division.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of the terminal event in cellular differentiation: biological mechanisms of the loss of proliferative potential

Human plasma has been demonstrated to contain factors that induce the sequential expression of nonterminal and terminal adipocyte differentiation in 3T3 T mesenchymal stem cells. We now report the development of methods for the isolation of purified populations of nonterminally differentiated cells and terminally differentiated cells, and we show that it is possible to experimentally induce transition from the nonterminal to the terminal state of differentiation. With this model system it is therefore now possible to examine the biological and molecular processes associated with the terminal event in differentiation, i.e., the irreversible loss of proliferative potential. In this regard, we demonstrate that transition from the nonterminal to terminal state of differentiation is a complex metabolic process that consists of at least two steps and that this process can be triggered by pulse exposure to an inducer for approximately 12 h but that approximately 24-48 h is required for the process to be completed. The data also establish that induction of the terminal event in differentiation requires protein synthesis but not RNA and DNA synthesis. These and additional results suggest that loss of proliferative potential associated with the terminal event in cellular differentiation is a distinct regulatory process, and we suggest that defects in this regulatory process may be of etiological significance in the pathogenesis of specific human diseases, especially cancer.

Differentiation of leukemic cell lines: a review focusing on murine erythroleukemia and human HL-60 cells

Several acute leukemia cell lines respond to chemical or pharmacologic inducing agents by undergoing variable degrees of differentiation. This review focuses on the manner in which murine erythroleukemia (MEL) and HL-60 cells can be induced to differentiate into virtually fully mature erythroid cells and mature granulocytes or macrophages respectively. In this process the cells undergo irreversible "commitment" to terminal differentiation which is followed by loss of proliferative capacity and alterations in the expression of genes whose products are related to specific aspects of cell maturation in the corresponding cell pathways.

Differentiation modifiers

This article summarizes evidence that indicates that a variety of relatively simple chemical compounds can induce murine erythroleukemia cells (MELCs) as well as a number of other transformed cell lines to differentiate with the loss of proliferative capacity and the expression of differentiated characteristics. These studies provide a potentially important new approach in the treatment of certain neoplastic diseases that may be an alternative to the use of cytotoxic agents, namely, agents that induce transformed cells to terminal cell division, expression of differentiated characteristics, and loss of oncogenic properties. A strong note of caution is needed concerning the potential therapeutic role of these agents that are able to induce transformed cells to terminal differentiation. In general, it appears that inducer-sensitive transformed cell lines are blocked at a particular stage in the development of these cells. The evidence suggests that these compounds trigger certain events that then are involved in the progression of differentiation of these cells with loss of proliferative capacity. It is not known how to predict which transformed cell lines are blocked in a stage of differentiation susceptible to the inducer-mediated effects of agents as described above. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to suggest that the pursuit of studies in this area may permit researchers to determine the potential efficacy of these inducers for in vivo controlled trials with certain select types of neoplasms.

Induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells: cellular and molecular mechanisms

Study of inducer-mediated differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells provides insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms implicated in cell differentiation. The loss of proliferative capacity is revealed to be a complex multistep process during which the cells progress through a series of stages, including a precommitment "initiation" stage, a stage suggestive of the accumulation of commitment-related factors, and, finally, a stage of expression of the characteristics of the differentiated state. Cell cycle arrest in G1 phase of the cell cycle may, in part at least, be related to down-regulation of protein p53 synthesis. Expression of induced differentiation is accompanied by an acceleration of transcription at the globin loci, and possibly by posttranscriptional modulation of globin mRNA accumulation, as well. Cells at the stage of erythroid cell development represented by the transformed, differentiation-arrested MELC, have acquired a unique DNA structure and chromatin configuration around the globin genes which distinguish them from other, nonerythroid cells; additional complex changes in chromatin configuration accompany, and probably precede, inducer-mediated acceleration of globin gene transcription during terminal differentiation. Passage through G1 and early S phase of the cell cycle, in the presence of inducer, is critical for subsequent globin gene expression and may be important in establishing the chromatin reconfiguration required for gene expression.

Reduction in p53 synthesis during differentiation of Friend-erythroleukemia cells. Correlation with the commitment to terminal cell division

The process of cell differentiation in Friend-erythroleukemia cells was accompanied by 80-90% inhibition of p53 synthesis. This decrease was found to be linked to changes in cell-cycle distribution characteristics of the growth arrest program during differentiation rather than to the induction of the globin genes. The shut-off in the expression of p53 always preceded the specific arrest of cells in the G0/G1 phase. Interferon did not modulate down the expression of p53 if added to transformed non-induced Friend-erythroleukemia cells; however, it slightly enhanced the extent of reduction in p53 synthesis if added during cell differentiation, thus suggesting a differential effect of interferon between cells at different stages of differentiation.

Protein p53 and inducer-mediated erythroleukemia cell commitment to terminal cell division

Inducer-mediated murine erythroleukemia cell (MELC) differentiation provides a model for examining factors determining terminal cell differentiation. The nuclear protein, p53, has been implicated as a potential determinant of cell cycle progression and cell differentiation. In this study p53 content and synthesis, during inducer-mediated MELC differentiation, has been examined with monoclonal antibodies to p53. A decrease in p53 synthesis and content was demonstrated during induced differentiation. As determined by cell cycle fractionation, the decrease in p53 is manifest at all stages of the cell cycle. Hemin, which induces globin mRNA accumulation but not terminal cell division, fails to decrease p53 content. A MELC variant resistant to inducer-mediated commitment to terminal cell division also fails to decrease p53 levels in response to inducers. These experiments suggest that p53 is implicated in MELC cell proliferation and that an induced decrease in p53 may be responsible for G1 phase prolongation and terminal G1 arrest.

Hexamethylenebisacetamide-resistant murine erythroleukemia cells have altered patterns of inducer-mediated chromatin changes

We determined inducer-mediated changes in chromatin structure near the globin genes in a variant line of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC). The variant cell line, R1, was derived from the inducer-sensitive DS19 cell line by selection for inducer-resistance. R1 cells are resistant to induction of erythroid differentiation by hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA) whereas the parental line is HMBA-sensitive. Uninduced MELC (both inducer-sensitive DS19 cells and inducer-resistant R1 cells) have DNase I-sensitive sites in chromatin containing the alpha 1- and beta maj-globin genes. These nuclease-sensitive regions are located within the beta maj-globin second intervening sequence (IVS2) and near the alpha 1-globin gene 5' cap site. Culture with HMBA causes changes in chromatin structure in both parental and variant cell lines. In DS19 cells, the DNase I-sensitive site within the beta maj-globin IVS2 becomes more resistant to nuclease cleavage, and a new DNase I-sensitive region develops near the beta maj-globin cap site. In addition, the nuclease-sensitive region adjacent to the cap site of the alpha 1-globin gene increases, and a novel 5' nuclease-sensitive site is also established. In R1 cells, HMBA-mediated changes in chromatin structure are incomplete. The DNase I-sensitive site within the beta maj-globin IVS2 becomes more resistant to nuclease cleavage, but the nuclease sensitivity near the beta maj-globin cap site does not increase to the extent observed in DS19 cells. The pattern of nuclease sensitivity near the alpha 1-globin gene is essentially unchanged after culture of R1 cells with HMBA. Thus, in R1 cells, resistance to HMBA-induced expression of globin genes is associated with failure to detect inducer-mediated changes in chromatin structure 5' to the cap site of the alpha 1- and beta maj-globin genes. These results also suggest that the increased nuclease resistance of a site in the beta maj-globin IVS2 does not depend on the establishment of a DNase I-sensitive region near the beta maj-globin gene cap site.