Apoptosis induced by the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate in human leukemic lymphoblasts

Temperature-induced reactivation of Marek's disease virus-transformed T cells ex vivo

Marek's disease virus (MDV) establishes latency in chicken T lymphocytes that can lead to T cell transformation and cancer. Transformed Marek's disease chicken cell lines (MDCCs) can be expanded ex vivo and provide a valuable model to study latency, transformation, and reactivation. Here, we developed MDCCs from chickens infected with MDV that fluoresce during lytic replication and reactivation. Sodium butyrate treatment increased fluorescent protein expression as evidenced by fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and western blotting; however, it caused significant apoptosis and necrosis. Treatment of MDCCs by decreasing the temperature resulted in robust MDV reactivation without significant induction of apoptosis and necrosis. Furthermore, MDV reactivation was significantly affected by the time in culture that can affect downstream reactivation analyses. In all, our data show that fluorescent protein expression during reactivation is a robust tool to examine viral replication in live cells ex vivo, and temperature treatment is an efficient technique to induce reactivation without punitive effects on cell viability seen with chemical treatment.

Taming the Sentinels: Microbiome-Derived Metabolites and Polarization of T Cells

A global increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndromes and digestive tract disorders, like food allergy or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), has become a severe problem in the modern world. Recent decades have brought a growing body of evidence that links the gut microbiome’s complexity with host physiology. Hence, understanding the mechanistic aspects underlying the synergy between the host and its associated gut microbiome are among the most crucial questions. The functionally diversified adaptive immune system plays a central role in maintaining gut and systemic immune homeostasis. The character of the reciprocal interactions between immune components and host-dwelling microbes or microbial consortia determines the outcome of the organisms’ coexistence within the holobiont structure. It has become apparent that metabolic by-products of the microbiome constitute crucial multimodal transmitters within the host–microbiome interactome and, as such, contribute to immune homeostasis by fine-tuning of the adaptive arm of immune system. In this review, we will present recent insights and discoveries regarding the broad landscape of microbiome-derived metabolites, highlighting the role of these small compounds in the context of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms orchestrated by the host T cell compartment.

Haemanthamine alters sodium butyrate-induced histone acetylation, p21WAF1/Cip1 expression, Chk1 and Chk2 activation and leads to increased growth inhibition and death in A2780 ovarian cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Haemanthamine (HA) and sodium butyrate (NaB) are promising candidates for chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer.

PURPOSE

We aimed to determine the anticancer potential of HA and NaB, alone and in combination, in A2780 ovarian cancer cells and concurrently investigated anticancer potential in contrast to non-cancer human MRC-5 fibroblasts.

METHODS

Antiproliferative effects were determined by WST-1 assay and by Trypan blue exclusion staining. Cell cycle distributions were studied by flow cytometry and protein levels were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

The combination of HA and NaB caused a significant decrease in the proliferation of A2780 cells compared to the stand-alone treatment of cells by HA or NaB. This effect was less pronounced in non-cancer MRC-5 fibroblasts. In the later intervals, the number of A2780 living cells was strongly decreased by treatment using a combination of NaB and HA. This simultaneous application had no considerable effect in MRC-5 fibroblasts. The combination of NaB and HA led to the suppression of cells in the G1 phase and caused an accumulation of cells in the S and G2 phase in comparison to those treated with NaB and HA alone. Treatment of cells with NaB alone led to the activation of proteins regulating the cell cycle. Notably, p21^WAF1/Cip1 was upregulated in both A2780 and MRC-5 cells, while checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 were activated via phosphorylation only in A2780 cells. Unexpectedly, NaB in combination with HA suppressed the phosphorylation of Chk2 on threonine 68 and Chk1 on serine 345 in A2780 cells and downregulated p21^WAF1/Cip1 in both tested cell lines. The sensitization of cells to HA and NaB treatment seems to be accompanied by increased histone acetylation. NaB-induced acetylation of histone H3 and H4 and histone acetylation increased markedly when a combination of NaB and HA was applied. Whereas the most prominent hyperacetylation after HA and NaB treatment was observed in A2780 cells, the acetylation of histones occurred in both cell lines.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we have demonstrated the enhanced activity of HA and NaB against A2780 cancer cells, while eliciting no such effect in non-cancer MRC-5 cells.

Influences of the Gut Microbiota on DNA Methylation and Histone Modification

The gut microbiota is a vast ensemble of microorganisms inhabiting the mammalian gastrointestinal tract that can impact physiologic and pathologic processes. However, our understanding of the underlying mechanism for the dynamic interaction between host and gut microbiota is still in its infancy. The highly evolved epigenetic modifications allow hosts to reprogram the genome in response to environmental stimuli, which may play a key role in triggering multiple human diseases. In spite of increasing studies in gut microbiota and epigenetic modifications, the correlation between them has not been well elaborated. Here, we review current knowledge of gut microbiota impacts on epigenetic modifications, the major evidence of which centers on DNA methylation and histone modification of the immune system.

Butyrate regulates the expression of inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines in human acute leukemic cells during apoptosis

Butyrate is a histone deacetylase inhibitor implicated in many studies as a potential therapy for various forms of cancer. High concentrations of butyrate (>1.5mM) have been shown to activate apoptosis in several cancer cell lines including prostate, breast, and leukemia. Butyrate is also known to influence multiple signaling pathways that are mediators of cytokine production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of high concentrations of butyrate on the cancer microenvironment vis-à-vis apoptosis, cellular migration, and capacity to modulate cytokine expression in cancer cells. The results indicate that high concentrations of butyrate induced a 2-fold activation of caspase-3 and reduced cell viability by 60% in U937 leukemia cells. Within 24h, butyrate significantly decreased the levels of chemokines CCL2 and CCL5 in HL-60 and U937 cells, and decreased CCL5 in THP-1 leukemia cells. Differential effects were observed in treatments with valproic acid for CCL2 and CCL5 indicating butyrate-specificity. Many of the biological effects examined in this study are linked to activation of the AKT and MAPK signaling pathways; therefore, we investigated whether butyrate alters the levels of phosphorylated forms of these signaling proteins and how it correlated with the expression of chemokines. The results show that butyrate may partially regulate CCL5 production via p38 MAPK. The decrease in p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT levels correlated with the decrease in CCL2 production. These data suggest that while promoting apoptosis, butyrate has the potential to influence the cancer microenvironment by inducing differential expression of cytokines.

Mechanisms of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor-Regulated Gene Expression in Cancer Cells

SIGNIFICANCE

Class I and II histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) are approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and are undergoing clinical trials as single agents, and in combination, for other hematological and solid tumors. Understanding their mechanisms of action is essential for their more effective clinical use, and broadening their clinical potential.

RECENT ADVANCES

HDACi induce extensive transcriptional changes in tumor cells by activating and repressing similar numbers of genes. These transcriptional changes mediate, at least in part, HDACi-mediated growth inhibition, apoptosis, and differentiation. Here, we highlight two fundamental mechanisms by which HDACi regulate gene expression—histone and transcription factor acetylation. We also review the transcriptional responses invoked by HDACi, and compare these effects within and across tumor types.

CRITICAL ISSUES

The mechanistic basis for how HDACi activate, and in particular repress gene expression, is not well understood. In addition, whether subsets of genes are reproducibly regulated by these agents both within and across tumor types has not been systematically addressed. A detailed understanding of the transcriptional changes elicited by HDACi in various tumor types, and the mechanistic basis for these effects, may provide insights into the specificity of these drugs for transformed cells and specific tumor types.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Understanding the mechanisms by which HDACi regulate gene expression and an appreciation of their transcriptional targets could facilitate the ongoing clinical development of these emerging therapeutics. In particular, this knowledge could inform the design of rational drug combinations involving HDACi, and facilitate the identification of mechanism-based biomarkers of response.

Aberrant histone acetylation promotes mitochondrial respiratory suppression in the brain of alcoholic rats

The acetylation of histone proteins in the core of DNA regulates gene expression, including those affecting mitochondria. Both histone acetylation and mitochondrial deficit have been implicated in neuronal damage associated with drinking problems. Many alcoholics will repeat unsuccessful attempts at abstaining, developing a pattern of repeated drinking and withdrawal. We investigated whether aberrant histone acetylation contributes to mitochondrial and cellular damage induced by repeated ethanol withdrawal (EW). We also investigated whether this effect of histone acetylation involves let-7f, a small noncoding RNA (microRNA). Male rats received two cycles of an ethanol/control diet (7.5%, 4 weeks) and withdrawal. Their prefrontal cortex was collected to measure the mitochondrial respiration and histone acetylation using extracellular flux (XF) real-time respirometry and gold immunostaining, respectively. Separately, HT22 (mouse hippocampal) cells received two cycles of ethanol exposure (100 mM, 20 hours) and withdrawal. Trichostatin A (TSA) as a histone acetylation promoter and let-7f antagomir were applied during withdrawal. The mitochondrial respiration, let-7f level, and cell viability were assessed using XF respirometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, TaqMan let-7f primers, and a calcein-acetoxymethyl assay, respectively. Repeated ethanol withdrawn rats showed a more than 2-fold increase in histone acetylation, accompanied by mitochondrial respiratory suppression. EW-induced mitochondrial respiratory suppression was exacerbated by TSA treatment in a manner that was attenuated by let-7f antagomir cotreatment. TSA treatment did not alter the increasing effect of EW on the let-7f level but dramatically exacerbated the cell death induced by EW. These data suggest that the multiple episodes of withdrawal from chronic ethanol impede mitochondrial and cellular integrity through upregulating histone acetylation, independent of or additively with let-7f.

Caspase-3 and caspase-6 cleave STAT1 in leukemic cells

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-1 (STAT1) is phosphorylated upon interferon (IFN) stimulation, which can restrict cell proliferation and survival. Nevertheless, in some cancers STAT1 can act in an anti-apoptotic manner. Moreover, certain malignancies are characterized by the overexpression and constitutive activation of STAT1. Here, we demonstrate that the treatment of transformed hematopoietic cells with epigenetic drugs belonging to the class of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) leads to the cleavage of STAT1 at multiple sites by caspase-3 and caspase-6. This process does not occur in solid tumor cells, normal hematopoietic cells, and leukemic cells that underwent granulocytic or monocytic differentiation. STAT1 cleavage was studied under cell free conditions with purified STAT1 and a set of candidate caspases as well as with mass spectrometry. These assays indicate that unmodified STAT1 is cleaved at multiple sites by caspase-3 and caspase-6. Our study shows that STAT1 is targeted by caspases in malignant undifferentiated hematopoietic cells. This observation may provide an explanation for the selective toxicity of HDACi against rapidly proliferating leukemic cells.

Polyphenols and the modulation of gene expression pathways: can we eat our way out of the danger of chronic disease?

Plant-derived dietary polyphenols may improve some disease states and promote health. Experimental evidence suggests that this is partially attributable to changes in gene expression. The rational use of bioactive food components may therefore present an opportunity to activate or repress selected gene expression pathways and, consequently, to manage or prevent disease. It remains to be determined whether this use of bioactive food components can be done safely. This article reviews the associated controversies and limitations of polyphenol therapy. There is a paucity of clinical data on the rational use of polyphenols, including a lack of knowledge on effective dosage, actual chemical formulations, bioavailability, distribution in tissues, the effect of genetic variations, differences in gut microflora, the synergistic (or antagonistic) effects observed in extracts, and the possible interaction between polyphenols and lipid domains of cell membranes that may alter the function of relevant receptors. The seminal question of why plants make substances that benefit humans remains unanswered, and there is still much to learn in terms of correlative versus causal effects of human exposure to various nutrients. The available data strongly suggest significant effects at the molecular level that represent interactions with the epigenome. The advent of relatively simple technologies is helping the field of epigenetics progress and facilitating the acquisition of multiple types of data that were previously difficult to obtain. In this review, we summarize the molecular basis of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and the epigenetic changes associated with the consumption of polyphenols that illustrate how modifications in human nutrition may become relevant to health and disease.

Trichostatin A targets the mitochondrial respiratory chain, increasing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production to trigger apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

AIM

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs)-based therapies have stimulated interest via their anti-tumor activities, including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, cell differentiation, and autophagy. However, the mechanisms of HDACI-associated anti-tumor activity are not yet clearly defined. The aim of this study was to explore the key events of Trichostatin A (TSA), a classic HDACI agent, against breast cancer cells.

METHODS

The MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-10A cell lines were evaluated with colony-forming and cell viability assays. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were detected by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial function was measured with biochemical assays, flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

TSA inhibited breast cancer cell viability and proliferation, without affecting MCF-10A cell. TSA-induced breast cancer cell apoptosis was initiated by G2-M arrest and depended on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced subsequent to reduced mitochondrial respiratory chain activity. The enhanced mitochondrial ROS production and apoptosis in cancer cells were markedly attenuated by antioxidants, such as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), reduced glutathione (GSH) and Vitamin C.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that TSA-induced cell death by arresting cell cycle in G2-M phase and was dependent on production of mitochondria-derived ROS, which was derived from impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Molecular and biologic analysis of histone deacetylase inhibitors with diverse specificities

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are anticancer agents that induce hyperacetylation of histones, resulting in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional changes. In addition, nonhistone proteins, such as the chaperone protein Hsp90, are functionally regulated through hyperacetylation mediated by HDACis. Histone acetylation is thought to be primarily regulated by HDACs 1, 2, and 3, whereas the acetylation of Hsp90 has been proposed to be specifically regulated through HDAC6. We compared the molecular and biologic effects induced by an HDACi with broad HDAC specificity (vorinostat) with agents that predominantly inhibited selected class I HDACs (MRLB-223 and romidepsin). MRLB-223, a potent inhibitor of HDACs 1 and 2, killed tumor cells using the same apoptotic pathways as the HDAC 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8 inhibitor vorinostat. However, vorinostat induced histone hyperacetylation and killed tumor cells more rapidly than MRLB-223 and had greater therapeutic efficacy in vivo. FDCP-1 cells dependent on the Hsp90 client protein Bcr-Abl for survival, were killed by all HDACis tested, concomitant with caspase-dependent degradation of Bcr-Abl. These studies provide evidence that inhibition of HDAC6 and degradation of Bcr-Abl following hyperacetylation of Hsp90 is likely not a major mechanism of action of HDACis as had been previously posited.

Intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway signaling as determinants of histone deacetylase inhibitor antitumor activity

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can elicit a range of biological responses that impede the growth and/or survival of tumor cells. Depending on the physiological context, HDACi can induce apoptosis via two well-defined apoptotic pathways; the intrinsic/mitochondrial pathway and the death receptor (DR)/extrinsic pathway. A number of groups have demonstrated that overexpression of prosurvival Bcl-2 family members significantly reduces HDACi-mediated tumor cell death and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models. In many cases, HDACi activate the intrinsic pathway via upregulation of a number of proapoptotic BH3-only Bcl-2 family genes including Bim, Bid, and Bmf. Additionally, HDACi can engage the extrinsic pathway through upregulation of DR expression, reductions in c-FLIP, and upregulation of ligands such as TRAIL. Overall, it appears that activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway is the predominant mechanism of HDACi-induced tumor cell death; however, the DR pathway may also be engaged, either to amplify the apoptotic signal through the intrinsic pathway or to directly induce cell death.

Altered dynamics of ubiquitin hybrid proteins during tumor cell apoptosis

The ubiquitin hybrid genes Uba80 and Uba52 encode ubiquitin (Ub), which is fused to the ribosomal proteins S27a (RPS27a) and L40 (RPL40), respectively. Here, we show that these genes are preferentially over-expressed during hepatoma cell apoptosis. Experiments using the tet-inducible transgenic system revealed that over-expression of the ubiquitin hybrid genes sensitized the cells to apoptosis. Further analysis suggested that Ub, and not RPS27a or RPL40, was associated with apoptotic cell death. Cleavage-resistant mutation analysis revealed that the N-terminal portion and the last two amino acids (GG) of Ub are critical for cleavage at the junction between the two protein moieties. An apoptogenic stimulus enhances the nuclear targeting and aggregation of Ub in the nucleus, resulting in histone H2A deubiquitylation followed by abnormal ubiquitylation of the nuclear envelope and the lamina. These events accompany the apoptotic nuclear morphology in the late stage of apoptosis. Each fused RP is localized in the nucleoli. These results suggest a role for Ub hybrid proteins in the altered nuclear dynamics of Ub during tumor cell apoptosis induced by apoptogenic stimuli.

TAL1/SCL is downregulated upon histone deacetylase inhibition in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

The transcription factor T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (TAL)-1 is a major T-cell oncogene associated with poor prognosis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). TAL1 binds histone deacetylase 1 and incubation with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) promotes apoptosis of leukemia cells obtained from TAL1 transgenic mice. Here, we show for the first time that TAL1 protein expression is strikingly downregulated upon histone deacetylase inhibition in T-ALL cells. This is due to decreased TAL1 gene transcription in cells with native TAL1 promoter, and due to impaired TAL1 mRNA translation in cells that harbor the TAL1(d) microdeletion and consequently express TAL1 under the control of the SCL/TAL1 interrupting locus (SIL) promoter. Notably, HDACi-triggered apoptosis of T-ALL cells is significantly reversed by TAL1 forced overexpression. Our results indicate that the HDACi-mediated apoptotic program in T-ALL cells is partially dependent on their capacity to downregulate TAL1 and provide support for the therapeutic use of HDACi in T-ALL.

The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A synergistically resensitizes a cisplatin resistant human bladder cancer cell line

PURPOSE

Cisplatin is the mainstay of treatment for advanced bladder cancer. However, intrinsic or acquired resistance to cisplatin is common, which severely limits its therapeutic potential. We determined the synergistic antitumor effect of cisplatin and the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A in cisplatin resistant human bladder cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cisplatin resistant human bladder cancer cell line T24R2 was exposed to cisplatin and/or trichostatin A. Tumor cell proliferation was examined by cell counting kit assay. Synergism between 2 drugs was examined by the combination index. Changes in cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. We analyzed the expression of caspase-3, 8 and 9, poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase, p21WAF1/CIP1, cyclin A, B1 and D1, Cdc2c, p-Cdc2c, Cdc25c, p-Cdc25c, cytochrome c, p-Akt, t-Akt, Bcl-2, Bax, Bad, vascular endothelial growth factor and fetal liver kinase-1 by Western blot and colorimetric assay.

RESULTS

Based on the combination index and isobole analysis of the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay we observed a strong synergistic antitumor effect between cisplatin and trichostatin A, allowing a 3.5 and 4.9-fold dose reduction in cisplatin and trichostatin A, respectively, while achieving an estimated 90% kill of T24R2 cells. The underlying mechanism could be synergistic cell cycle arrest, induction of caspase mediated apoptosis or up-regulated expression of pro-apoptotic Bad and Bax.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that trichostatin A may synergistically enhance the antitumor effect of cisplatin and resensitize cisplatin resistant bladder cancer cells. These findings suggest the potential use of histone deacetylase inhibitor as a combination agent to enhance the antitumor effect of cisplatin in patients with advanced bladder cancer.

The short chain fatty acid sodium butyrate regulates the induction of CD1a in developing dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells with attributes for priming/activating T cells and mediating immune responses. Considering the importance of DCs in the initiation of immune responses, it will be of interest to study their mechanisms of regulation. Histone-modifying enzymes, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), are critical in controlling chromatin organization. The aim of our study was to investigate DC differentiation under the influence of sodium butyrate (NaB), a short chain fatty acid that is a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Monocytes from healthy individuals were differentiated into immature DCs with IL-4 and GM-CSF in the presence or absence of NaB. DC differentiation was evaluated by CD14 and CD1a expression by flow cytometry. We observed that monocytes stimulated to differentiate in the presence of NaB displayed colony formation and dendritic cell morphology, lost CD14 and showed decreased secretion of IL-1β. The acquisition of CD1a, however, was impaired. Being a natural short chain fatty acid, NaB may regulate CD1a acquisition independently of its HDAC inhibitory activity. We observed that the addition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) antagonist (GW9662) did not reverse NaB effect, suggesting this was not the pathway involved. On the other hand, CD1a can also be induced by toll like receptors 2 (TLR 2) agonists, such as Pam3Cys, and NaB inhibited this effect. Our data suggest that the histone deacetylase inhibitor NaB instead of impairing DC differentiation inhibits the acquisition of CD1a induced both by cytokines and by TLR 2 agonist stimulus. Furthermore, this occurs at the transcriptional level as NaB led to a decrease in mRNA levels of CD1a and upregulation of CD1d.

The histone deacetylase inhibitors LAQ824 and LBH589 do not require death receptor signaling or a functional apoptosome to mediate tumor cell death or therapeutic efficacy

LAQ824 and LBH589 (panobinostat) are histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) developed as cancer therapeutics and we have used the Emu-myc lymphoma model to identify the molecular events required for their antitumor effects. Induction of tumor cell death was necessary for these agents to mediate therapeutic responses in vivo and both HDACi engaged the intrinsic apoptotic cascade that did not require p53. Death receptor pathway blockade had no effect on the therapeutic activities of LAQ824 and LBH589; however, overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) protected lymphoma cells from HDACi-induced killing and suppressed their therapeutic activities. Deletion of Apaf-1 or Caspase-9 delayed HDACi-induced lymphoma killing in vitro and in vivo, associated with suppression of many biochemical indicators of apoptosis, but did not provide long-term resistance to these agents and failed to inhibit their therapeutic activities. Emu-myc lymphomas lacking a functional apoptosome displayed morphologic and biochemical features of autophagy after treatment with LAQ824 and LBH589, indicating that, in the absence of a complete intrinsic apoptosis pathway involving apoptosome formation, these HDACi can still mediate a therapeutic response. Our data indicate that damage to the mitochondria is the key event necessary for LAQ824 and LBH589 to mediate tumor cell death and a robust therapeutic response.

Leoligin, the major lignan from Edelweiss, inhibits intimal hyperplasia of venous bypass grafts

Aims

Despite the lower patency of venous compared with arterial coronary artery bypass grafts, ∼50% of grafts used are saphenous vein conduits because of their easier accessibility. In a search for ways to increase venous graft patency, we applied the results of a previous pharmacological study screening for non-toxic compounds that inhibit intimal hyperplasia of saphenous vein conduits in organ cultures. Here we analyse the effects and mechanism of action of leoligin [(2S,3R,4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3-yl]methyl (2Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoat, the major lignan from Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum Cass.).

Methods and results

We found that leoligin potently inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in the G1-phase. Leoligin induced cell death neither in SMCs nor, more importantly, in endothelial cells. In a human saphenous vein organ culture model for graft disease, leoligin potently inhibited intimal hyperplasia, and even reversed graft disease in pre-damaged vessels. Furthermore, in an in vivo mouse model for venous bypass graft disease, leoligin potently inhibited intimal hyperplasia.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that leoligin might represent a novel non-toxic, non-thrombogenic, endothelial integrity preserving candidate drug for the treatment of vein graft disease.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors from microorganisms: the Astellas experience

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, such as trichostatin A and trapoxin, which were first found in microorganisms, potently and selectively inhibit HDAC enzymes. They have made a strong contribution to research on HDACs, chromatin control, abnormal epigenetic control in various diseases and the significance of acetylation in posttranslational modification. Recently, HDAC inhibitors have been focused on as potential drugs for the treatment of several diseases, including cancer, although trichostatin A and trapoxin show no effects in animal models because of their metabolic instability in vivo. Chemical modification has been conducted in order to overcome this drawback. We discovered the microbial metabolites FK228 (also known as FR901228, romidepsin, depsipeptide, NSC-630176 and NSC-630176D) and YM753 (spiruchostatin A). Both compounds have bicyclic structures and represent a novel structural class of HDAC inhibitor. The enzyme and tumor cell growth inhibitory activities of FK228 were found to be very potent. It also showed potent HDAC inhibitory activity in vivo. FK228 is the first potent HDAC inhibitor to undergo clinical development as a potential treatment for solid and hematological cancers. Due to its dramatic effect in patients with refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), in October 2004 the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) granted fast-track status to FK228 as monotherapy for the treatment of CTCL in patients who have relapsed following, or become refractory to, another systemic therapy. Thus HDAC inhibitors such as FK228 and YM753 have potential as tools for life science studies and also as therapeutic agents for various intractable diseases.

Dietary Components Impact Histone Modifications and Cancer Risk

Epigenetics refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without a change in the DNA sequence and constitute an important mechanism by which dietary components can selectively activate or inactivate gene expression. Alterations in histone acetylation and methylation are a common hallmark of human cancer. This review focuses on several histone-modifying enzymes that are associated with cancer development and their modification by bioactive food components.

The novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, LBH589, induces expression of DNA damage response genes and apoptosis in Ph- acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

We investigated the mechanism of action of LBH589, a novel broad-spectrum HDAC inhibitor belonging to the hydroxamate class, in Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph(-)) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Two model human Ph(-) ALL cell lines (T-cell MOLT-4 and pre-B-cell Reh) were treated with LBH589 and evaluated for biologic and gene expression responses. Low nanomolar concentrations (IC(50): 5-20 nM) of LBH589 induced cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and histone (H3K9 and H4K8) hyperacetylation. LBH589 treatment increased mRNA levels of proapoptosis, growth arrest, and DNA damage repair genes including FANCG, FOXO3A, GADD45A, GADD45B, and GADD45G. The most dramatically expressed gene (up to 45-fold induction) observed after treatment with LBH589 is GADD45G. LBH589 treatment was associated with increased histone acetylation at the GADD45G promoter and phosphorylation of histone H2A.X. Furthermore, treatment with LBH589 was active against cultured primary Ph(-) ALL cells, including those from a relapsed patient, inducing loss of cell viability (up to 70%) and induction of GADD45G mRNA expression (up to 35-fold). Thus, LBH589 possesses potent growth inhibitory activity against including Ph(-) ALL cells associated with up-regulation of genes critical for DNA damage response and growth arrest. These findings provide a rationale for exploring the clinical activity of LBH589 in the treatment of patients with Ph(-) ALL.

Mechanisms of resistance to histone deacetylase inhibitors and their therapeutic implications

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDI) are a promising new approach to the treatment of cancer. HDIs have been shown to induce differentiation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in a variety of transformed cell lines; inhibit tumor growth in animal models; and show antitumor activity in clinical trials. Vorinostat, which has shown clinical responses in approximately 30% of patients with advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is the first HDI approved for the treatment of cancer, and it is currently being evaluated in other indications. A better understanding of the molecular determinants of resistance to HDIs may provide the basis for therapeutic combinations with improved clinical efficacy. Poor response to treatment could be linked to systemic factors like pharmacokinetics or to tumor-specific factors both at the level of the malignant cells (tumor intrinsic) or the tumor microenvironment. This review focuses on the tumor intrinsic mechanisms of drug resistance (excluding mechanism of acquired resistance due to chronic exposure). In particular, attention is given to selected mechanisms that are relevant across chemical classes of HDIs and that can aid in the design of rational combination strategies.

Radiosensitization by the histone deacetylase inhibitor PCI-24781

PURPOSE

PCI-24781 is a novel broad spectrum histone deacetylase inhibitor that is currently in phase I clinical trials. The ability of PCI-24781 to act as a radiation sensitizer and the mechanisms of radiosensitization were examined.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Exponentially growing human SiHa cervical and WiDr colon carcinoma cells were exposed to 0.1 to 10 micromol/L PCI-24781 in vitro for 2 to 20 h before irradiation and 0 to 4 h after irradiation. Single cells and sorted populations were analyzed for histone acetylation, H2AX phosphorylation, cell cycle distribution, apoptotic fraction, and clonogenic survival.

RESULTS

PCI-24781 treatment for 4 h increased histone H3 acetylation and produced a modest increase in gammaH2AX but negligible cell killing or radiosensitization. Treatment for 24 h resulted in up to 80% cell kill and depletion of cells in S phase. Toxicity reached maximum levels at a drug concentration of approximately 1 micromol/L, and cells in G(1) phase at the end of treatment were preferentially spared. A similar dose-modifying factor (DMF(0.1) = 1.5) was observed for SiHa cells exposed for 24 h at 0.1 to 3 micromol/L, and more radioresistant WiDr cells showed less sensitization (DMF(0.1) = 1.2). Limited radiosensitization and less killing were observed in noncycling human fibroblasts. Cell sorting experiments confirmed that depletion of S-phase cells was not a major mechanism of radiosensitization and that inner noncycling cells of SiHa spheroids could be sensitized by nontoxic doses. PCI-24781 pretreatment increased the fraction of cells with gammaH2AX foci 24 h after irradiation but did not affect the initial rate of loss of radiation-induced gammaH2AX or the rate of rejoining of DNA double-strand breaks.

CONCLUSIONS

PCI-24781 shows promise as a radiosensitizing agent that may compromise the accuracy of repair of radiation damage.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor NVP-LAQ824 sensitizes human nonsmall cell lung cancer to the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation

Stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer is primarily treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Relapses for progression of disease within irradiated sites remains a primary pattern of failure. To evaluate the interaction between histone deacetylase inhibitors and irradiation in nonsmall cell lung cancer, we studied NVP-LAQ824 in mouse models of human lung cancer. Colony formation assays were performed to determine whether LAQ824 sensitized nonsmall cell lung cancer to the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation. LAQ824 reduced clonogenic survival of the H23 and H460 cell lines five-fold compared with controls and four-fold compared with either agent alone (P<0.001). Western blot analysis of caspase cleavage, microscopic analysis of nuclei and Annexin-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide flow cytometry assays showed that LAQ824 enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis and attenuated mitosis (P<0.001). Immunostaining for gamma-H2AX nuclear foci was performed to determine the effect of LAQ824 on radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks. Combined modality treatment delayed the resolution of gamma-H2AX foci with over 30% of cells staining positive 6 h after treatment versus approximately 5 and 3% in cells treated with LAQ824 or radiation alone (P<0.001). Additionally, an in-vivo xenograft model was utilized to study the effects of fractioned irradiation and LAQ824 on tumor growth. Fractioned irradiation and LAQ824 delayed tumor growth by 19 days versus 7 and 4 days for treatment with LAQ824 and radiation alone. This study shows the effectiveness of histone deacetylase inhibitors to enhance the cytotoxic effects of radiation by attenuating DNA repair and inducing apoptosis in human nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Effect of histone acetylation modification with sodium butyrate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on cell cycle, apoptosis, ploidy and gene expression in porcine fetal fibroblasts

The present study evaluated the effective dose of sodium butyrate (NaB), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, for determination of the level of enhancement of histone acetylation in porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFFs) based on their morphology, growth, apoptosis and cell cycle status. Cells were analyzed for their histone acetylation levels at H3, H4 and H2A and expression of genes related to histone deacetylation (HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3), pro-apoptosis (Bax and Bak) and anti-apoptosis (Bcl-2). PFFs at passage 3-4 were cultured with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mM NaB for 96 h. NaB inhibited cell proliferation at all tested concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was slow cell growth for PFFs treated with 2.0 and 3.0 mM NaB compared with those of untreated PFFs and those treated with other lower concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 mM). More than 85% of the cells that were untreated or treated with 0.5 or 1.0 mM NaB had intact membranes, whereas, approximately 30% of the cells treated with 2.0 or 3.0 mM NaB had increased cell sizes and a more flattened and elongated appearance. NaB induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner; the rates of apoptosis were 2.5 +/- 0.4% for 1.0 mM NaB, 7.6 +/- 1.1% for 2.0 mM NaB and 11.2 +/- 1.4% for 3.0 mM NaB. The chromosomal sets of PFFs treated with 0.5 and 1.0 mM NaB were normal, whereas a lower proportion of PFFs treated with 2.0 and 3.0 mM were classified as normal. NaB at 0.5 and 1.0 mM showed little effect on cell cycle. However, 2.0 and 3.0 mM resulted in an increased cell population at the G(0)/G(1) phase. Increased NaB concentrations led to elevated acetylation of H3, H4 and H2A. NaB altered the expression of histone deacetylation and apoptosis-related genes. In conclusion, 1.0 mM NaB induced histone hyperacetylation in the PFFs and produced less deleterious effects than other concentrations; these PFFs might serve as suitable donors for porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

Targeting AML1/ETO-histone deacetylase repressor complex: a novel mechanism for valproic acid-mediated gene expression and cellular differentiation in AML1/ETO-positive acute myeloid leukemia cells

In t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the AML1/ETO fusion protein promotes leukemogenesis by recruiting class I histone deacetylase (HDAC)-containing repressor complex to the promoter of AML1 target genes. Valproic acid (VPA), a commonly used antiseizure and mood stabilizer drug, has been shown to cause growth arrest and induce differentiation of malignant cells via HDAC inhibition. VPA causes selective proteasomal degradation of HDAC2 but not other class I HDACs (i.e., HDAC 1, 3, and 8). Therefore, we raised the question of whether this drug can effectively target the leukemogenic activity of the AML1/ETO fusion protein that also recruits HDAC1, a key regulator of normal and aberrant histone acetylation. We report here that VPA treatment disrupts the AML1/ETO-HDAC1 physical interaction, stimulates the global dissociation of AML1/ETO-HDAC1 complex from the promoter of AML1/ETO target genes, and induces relocation of both AML1/ETO and HDAC1 protein from nuclear to perinuclear region. Furthermore, we show that mechanistically these effects associate with a significant inhibition of HDAC activity, histone H3 and H4 hyperacetylation, and recruitment of RNA polymerase II, leading to transcriptional reactivation of target genes (i.e., IL-3) otherwise silenced by AML1/ETO fusion protein. Ultimately, these pharmacological effects resulted in significant antileukemic activity mediated by partial cell differentiation and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Taken together, these data support the notion that VPA might effectively target AML1/ETO-driven leukemogenesis through disruption of aberrant HDAC1 function and that VPA should be integrated in novel therapeutic approaches for AML1/ETO-positive AML.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce cell death and enhance the apoptosis-inducing activity of TRAIL in Ewing’s sarcoma cells

PURPOSE

The present in vitro study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) suberoyl anilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), sodium butyrate (NaB) and MS-275 applied as single agents or in combination with TRAIL in Ewing's sarcoma.

METHODS

Cytotoxic activities were assessed by cytofluorometric analysis of propidium iodide uptake, DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial depolarisation as well as by measuring caspase-9 and -3 activities. Cell-surface expression of TRAIL receptors was determined by cytofluorometry, and histone H4 acetylation was assessed by western blot.

RESULTS

All three HDIs potently induced cell death in the two cell lines explored, SK-ES-1 and WE-68. However, they seemed to differ in their modes of action. SAHA and NaB induced mitochondrial depolarisation as well as caspase-9 and -3 activities, and their cytotoxic effects could be significantly reduced by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. MS-275 was a much weaker inducer of caspase-9 and -3 activities as well as mitochondrial injury; consistently, z-VAD-fmk had little effect on MS-275-mediated activities. Combined treatment of HDIs and TRAIL led to an additive effect in SK-ES-1 cells and a supra-additive effect in WE-68 cells. Yet, HDIs did not increase cell-surface expression of TRAIL receptor 2, but rather decreased it. Selective inhibition of caspase-8 in WE-68 cells and HDI treatment of CADO-ES-1 cells, a Ewing's sarcoma cell line deficient in caspase-8 expression, revealed that caspase-8 was not required for HDI-mediated apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that HDIs may be considered as a novel treatment strategy for Ewing's sarcoma either applied as monotherapy or in combination with TRAIL.

A dynamic model for induced reactivation of latent virus

We develop a deterministic mathematical model to describe reactivation of latent virus by chemical inducers. This model is applied to the reactivation of latent KSHV in BCBL-1 cell cultures with butyrate as the inducing agent. Parameters for the model are first estimated from known properties of the exponentially growing, uninduced cell cultures. Additional parameters that are necessary to describe induction are determined from fits to experimental data from the literature. Our initial model provides good agreement with two independent sets of experimental data, but also points to the need for a new class of experiments which are required for further understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Acidic extracellular pH shifts colorectal cancer cell death from apoptosis to necrosis upon exposure to propionate and acetate, major end-products of the human probiotic propionibacteria

The human probiotic Propionibacterium freudenreichii kills colorectal adenocarcinoma cells through apoptosis in vitro via its metabolites, the short chain fatty acids (SCFA), acetate and propionate. However, the precise mechanisms, the kinetics of cellular events and the impact of environmental factors such as pH remained to be specified. For the first time, this study demonstrates a major impact of a shift in extracellular pH on the mode of propionibacterial SCFA-induced cell death of HT-29 cells, in the pH range 5.5 to 7.5 prevailing within the colon. Propionibacterial SCFA triggered apoptosis in the pH range 6.0 to 7.5, a lethal process lasting more than 96 h. Indeed at pH 7.5, SCFA induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, followed by a sequence of cellular events characteristic of apoptosis. By contrast, at pH 5.5, the same SCFA triggered a more rapid and drastic lethal process in less than 24 h. This was characterised by sudden mitochondrial depolarisation, inner membrane permeabilisation, drastic depletion in ATP levels and ROS accumulation, suggesting death by necrosis. Thus, in digestive cancer prophylaxis, the observed pH-mediated switch between apoptosis and necrosis has to be taken into account in strategies involving SCFA production by propionibacteria to kill colon cancer cells.

Anticancer activities of histone deacetylase inhibitors

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes involved in the remodelling of chromatin, and have a key role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. In addition, the activity of non-histone proteins can be regulated through HDAC-mediated hypo-acetylation. In recent years, inhibition of HDACs has emerged as a potential strategy to reverse aberrant epigenetic changes associated with cancer, and several classes of HDAC inhibitors have been found to have potent and specific anticancer activities in preclinical studies. However, such studies have also indicated that the effects of HDAC inhibitors could be considerably broader and more complicated than originally understood. Here we summarize recent advances in the understanding of the molecular events that underlie the anticancer effects of HDAC inhibitors, and discuss how such information could be used in optimizing the development and application of these agents in the clinic, either as monotherapies or in combination with other anticancer drugs.

The novel histone deacetylase inhibitor BML-210 exerts growth inhibitory, proapoptotic and differentiation stimulating effects on the human leukemia cell lines

Histone deacetylase inhibitors have a potent role in the strategy for the treatment of leukemias. BML-210 (N-(2-Aminophenyl)-N' phenyloctanol diamine) is the novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, and its mechanism of action has not been characterized. In this study, we examined the in vitro effects of BML-210 on the human leukemia cell lines (NB4, HL-60, THP-1, and K562). We found that BML-210 inhibits the growth of all cell lines and promotes apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. BML-210 alone induces HL-60 and K562 cell differentiation (up to 30%) to granulocytes and erythrocytes, respectively, and in combination with differentiation agents - all-trans retinoic acid and hemin, markedly potentates it. Those treatments cause G1 arrest and histone H4 acetylation, affects transcription factor NF-kappaB and Sp1 binding activity to their consensus sequences, the p21 or the FasL promoters, and influences expression of Sp1, NF-kappaB, p21 and FasL. These findings suggest that BML-210 could be a promising antileukemic agent to induce apoptosis and to modulate differentiation through the modulation of histone acetylation and gene expression.

Hydrogen peroxide-mediated necrosis induction in HUVECs is associated with an atypical pattern of caspase-3 cleavage

Oxidative stress, continuously exerted during chronic inflammation, has been implicated as a major causative agent of cellular dysfunction and cell death. In the present study, we investigated the impact of oxidative stress on the mode of cell death in HUVECs using H2O2 as a model reagent. We found that the predominant form of cell death was necrosis. Necrosis induction was accompanied by a distinct mode of caspase-3 cleavage, yielding a 29-kDa fragment. While inhibition of caspases could not prevent the generation of the 29-kDa fragment, general protease inhibitors, such as leupeptin and LLNL, proved to be effective in inhibiting the distinct processing pattern of caspase-3. These results suggest that caspases can act as substrates for non-caspase proteases in cells primed for necrosis induction. Thus, the pattern of caspase-3 cleavage might reflect the proteolytic system engaged in the cell death machinery in HUVECs.

Increased serum cadmium and strontium levels in young smokers: effects on arterial endothelial cell gene transcription

OBJECTIVE

Metal constituents of tobacco have long been suspected to contribute to cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we determined the serum concentrations of aluminum, cadmium (Cd), cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, strontium (Sr), and zinc of young nonsmokers, passive smokers, and smokers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cd and Sr were found to be significantly increased in smokers compared with nonsmokers. The effects of these metals on primary arterial endothelial cells were then assessed using microarray technology and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The data showed that Sr does not interfere with endothelial cell transcription. In contrast, the effects of Cd in amounts delivered to the human body by smoking were dramatic.

CONCLUSIONS

Arterial endothelial cells responded to Cd exposure by massively upregulating metal and oxidant defense genes (metallothioneins) and by downregulating a number of transcription factors. In addition, the mRNA of the intermediate filament protein vimentin, crucial for the maintenance of cellular shape, was reduced. Surprisingly, a number of pro-inflammatory genes were downregulated in response to Cd. The present data suggest that by delivering Cd to the human body, smoking deregulates transcription, exerts stress, and damages the structure of the vascular endothelium; furthermore, in contrast to the effects of cigarette smoke as a whole, Cd seems to possess anti-inflammatory properties.

Sodium butyrate sensitizes human glioma cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis through inhibition of Cdc2 and the subsequent downregulation of survivin and XIAP

In TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-resistant glioma cells, co-treatment with nontoxic doses of sodium butyrate and TRAIL resulted in a marked increase of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. This combined treatment was also cytotoxic to glioma cells overexpressing Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL, but not to normal human astrocytes, thus offering an attractive strategy for safely treating resistant gliomas. Cotreatment with sodium butyrate facilitated completion of proteolytic processing of procaspase-3 that was partially blocked by treatment with TRAIL alone. We also found that treatment with sodium butyrate significantly decreased the protein levels of survivin and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), two major caspase inhibitors. Overexpression of survivin and XIAP attenuated sodium butyrate-stimulated TRAIL-induced apoptosis, suggesting its involvement in conferring TRAIL resistance to glioma cells. Furthermore, the kinase activities of Cdc2 and Cdk2 were significantly decreased following sodium butyrate treatment, accompanying downregulation of cyclin A and cyclin B, as well as upregulation of p21. Forced expression of Cdc2 plus cyclin B, but not Cdk2 plus cyclin A, attenuated sodium butyrate/TRAIL-induced apoptosis, overriding sodium butyrate-mediated downregulation of survivin and XIAP. Therefore, Cdc2-mediated downregulation of survivin and XIAP by sodium butyrate may contribute to the recovery of TRAIL sensitivity in glioma cells.

CXCR4 chemokine receptors, histone deacetylase inhibitors and acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignancy with the potential to infiltrate the liver, spleen, lymph nodes and brain. The mechanism for selective homing of ALL cells to preferential sites has long been unclear. Recent reports indicate that the chemokine receptor CXCR4 is found on ALL cells and its ligand is highly expressed at sites associated with ALL-induced organ infiltration. This results in chemotaxis, or directed migration of leukemic cells from the bone marrow via the circulation to preferential sites of extramedullary organ infiltration. Because overexpression of CXCR4 on ALL cells is associated with high extramedullary organ infiltration and shorter disease-free survival, numerous pharmacological agents affecting CXCR4 have currently been investigated. The most promising data are available for histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAIs), which have been shown to be safe and well tolerated in phase I clinical trials. In vitro, HDAIs extensively down-regulate CXCR4 protein and mRNA levels. As a result, the ability of CXCR4 ligand to induce cellular migration is impaired. Wider recognition of the role of CXCR4 in ALL and manipulation of this important mechanism may lead to novel approaches in the treatment and outcome of this disease.

Rational development of histone deacetylase inhibitors as anticancer agents: a review

The epigenome is defined by DNA methylation patterns and the associated post-translational modifications of histones. This histone code determines the expression status of individual genes dependent upon their localization on the chromatin. The histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a major role in keeping the balance between the acetylated and deacetylated states of chromatin and eventually regulate gene expression. Recent developments in understanding the cancer cell cycle, specifically the interplay with chromatin control, are providing opportunities for developing mechanism-based therapeutic drugs. Inhibitors of HDACs are under considerable exploration, in part because of their potential roles in reversing the silenced genes in transformed tumor cells by modulating transcriptional processes. This review is an effort to summarize the nonclinical and clinical status of HDAC inhibitors currently under development in anticancer therapy.

Involvement of GADD153 and Cardiac Ankyrin Repeat Protein in Hypoxia-induced Apoptosis of H9c2 Cells

Oxidative stress is the main cause of cardiac injury during ischemia/reperfusion but the molecular mechanism for this process is unclear. In this study, it was found that hypoxia induces apoptosis in rat embryonic heart-derived H9c2 cells leading to the induction of GADD153, which is an apoptosis-related gene. Therefore, this study addressed the molecular role of GADD153 in hypoxia-induced apoptosis. The stable or inducible overexpression of GADD153 sensitized the H9c2 cells to apoptotic cell death. The results suggest that the transactivation domain of the GADD153 might be responsible for this cell execution and play a role in the nucleoplasmic localization of GADD153. The cells transiently transfected with the antisense GADD153 were more resistant to hypoxia-induced apoptosis than the vector control cells. Furthermore, GADD153 transcriptionally down-regulated the expression of the cardiac ankyrin repeat protein gene (CARP), which is a nuclear transcriptional co-factor that negatively regulates the expression of the cardiac gene. The ectopic expression of CARP in H9c2 cells increased the resistance to hypoxia-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that GADD153 overexpression and the concomitant down-regulation of CARP might have a causative role in the apoptotic cell injury of hypoxic H9c2 cells.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce G2-checkpoint arrest and apoptosis in cisplatinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells associated with overexpression of the Bcl-2–related protein Bad

Trichostatin A produces predominantly G(1) cell-cycle blockade and differentiation of the cisplatinum-sensitive A2780 ovarian cancer cell line. Given the propensity of ovarian tumors to become resistant to cisplatinum, often leading to cross-resistance to other agents, we have extended these observations by examining how the emergence of resistant phenotypes in A2780 cells affects the actions of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Trichostatin A exposure (100 ng/mL, 24 hours) induced ultrastructural differentiation of the "intrinsically" cisplatinum-resistant A2780-9M subline, with the reappearance of intercellular junctions and lumina containing primitive microvilli. Similar trichostatin A exposure in the acquired resistance A2780CP cells produced minimal differentiation consisting of occasional weak intercellular junctions. Independent of the differences in trichostatin A-induced differentiation, in both resistant sublines trichostatin A produced a similar reduction in cell viability, by >90%, within 5 days of treatment. Diminished viability in both A2780-9M and CP cells was associated with the absence of cell cycle arrest in G1, resulting in predominant G2-checkpoint arrest accompanied by a 10- to 20-fold increase in Annexin V binding and the reemergence of apoptosis. Similar cell cycle arrests and apoptosis were also observed using other HDAC inhibitors and in other resistant ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3). Trichostatin A-induced apoptosis in resistant cells is in sharp contrast to its effects on the parental cisplatinum-sensitive A2780 and normal MRC-5 fibroblast cell lines (predominant cycle arrest in G1 with no detectable apoptosis). Western immunoblot analysis indicated trichostatin A triggers apoptosis in resistant ovarian cancer cells via p53-independent activation of the intrinsic "mitochondrial" pathway, commensurate with induction of the Bcl-2-related protein Bad. These results suggest cisplatinum resistance alters the effects of HDAC inhibition through a shift in cell cycle arrest from the G1 to the G2 checkpoint and reactivation of the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic cascade.

Effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor FR901228 on the expression level of telomerase reverse transcriptase in oral cancer

We speculated whether or not the expression level of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) would be modulated by agents targeting epigenetics in oral cancer cell lines. Although hTERT is known to be targeted by epigenetic changes, it remains unclear how chemoagents targeting epigenetics work on hTERT transcription. In the present study, the epigenetic effects of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor FR901228 on hTERT transcription in oral cancer cell lines were analyzed by RT-PCR. The mRNA expression of hTERT was upregulated after exposure to FR901228 in hTERT-negative Hep2 cells, and even SAS and KB cells expressed high levels of hTERT. Moreover, cotreatment of protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) resulted in the induction of hTERT transcription by FR901228. This suggests that the induction of hTERT by FR901228 requires de novo protein synthesis to some extent and is more likely a direct than an indirect effect on epigenetic changes such as histone acetylation/deacetylation. We further examined the effect of FR901228 on c-myc protein, which is one of the main hTERT transcription activators. FR901228 repressed c-myc protein only in the absence of CHX, and depended on the enhancement of de novo protein synthesis. Our results indicate that c-myc protein is repressed indirectly by FR901228 but may not contribute to FR901228-induced hTERT transcription. The present study showed that the HDAC inhibitor FR901228 induced the hTERT gene by a complex mechanism that involved transcription factors other than c-myc, in addition to inhibition of histone deacetylation.

Oxidative stress is involved in inhibition of copper on histone acetylation in cells

Our previous study demonstrates that copper induces histone hypoacetylation by inhibiting histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. However, it lacks direct evidences whether copper-inhibited histone acetylation right contributes to the toxicity of copper. Exposure of human leukemia cells (HL-60) to Cu2+ resulted in cell proliferation arrest and a concentration- and time-dependent decrease of histone acetylation. At the same time, Cu2+-induced significant increase of H2O2 and O2.- generation via a concentration- and time-dependent manner too. The histone acetylation was efficiently suppressed by exogenous H2O2, and enhanced by superoxide dismutase (the scavenger of O2.-), catalase (the scavenger of H2O2) or the combination of both, indicating that Cu2+ at least partially inhibited histone acetylation through triggering oxidative stress. Further studies found that sodium butyrate, the inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC), which had no obvious effect on oxidative stress but increased histone acetylation at the concentration of 50 microM, attenuated Cu2+-inhibited cell proliferation, indicating that histone acetylation inhibition is simultaneously involved in the cytotoxicity of Cu2+. Considering the important role of histone acetylation in gene transcription and regulation of cell fate, the present study may open a new door to further understand the mechanism of Cu2+-induced toxicity.

Mapping herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript sequences that protect from apoptosis mediated by a plasmid expressing caspase-8

LAT (latency-associated transcript) is the only herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) transcript abundantly expressed during neuronal latency. LAT expression is required for the high reactivation phenotype of HSV-1 and this phenotype correlates with LAT's anti-apoptosis properties. LAT nucleotides 1 to 1499 inhibit caspase-8 (death receptor apoptotic pathway), but not caspase-9 (mitochondrial apoptotic pathway), -induced apoptosis as efficiently as larger LAT fragments. LAT sequences important for inhibiting caspase-8-induced apoptosis were also localized. The ability of LAT nucleotides 1 to 1499 to efficiently inhibit caspase-8-induced apoptosis correlates with the high reactivation phenotype of a mutant virus expressing just the first 1.5 kb of LAT (nucleotides 1 to 1499).

Involvement of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/TNF receptor system in leukemic cell apoptosis induced by histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide (FK228)

Inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) is a novel strategy for the treatment of leukemias via restoration of aberrantly silenced genes. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of anti-leukemic effects of an HDAC inhibitor (HDI), depsipeptide (FK228), using myeloid leukemia cell lines HL-60 and K562. DNA chip analysis revealed upregulation of TNF-alpha mRNA and a number of molecules involved in TNF-signaling such as TRAF-6, caspases-10, and -7 in depsipeptide-treated HL-60 cells, which prompted us to examine the involvement of the TNF/TNF receptor system in the anti-leukemic effects of the drug. Upregulation of TNF-alpha was induced by depsipeptide in HL-60 and K562 cells, which expressed type I TNF receptors (TNF-RI). Depsipeptide activated caspases-8 and -10, which in turn cleave caspases-3 and -7, leading to apoptotic cell death in both cell lines. Anti-TNF-alpha neutralizing antibody and short interfering RNA (siRNA) against TNF-RI alleviated the activation of the caspase cascade and the induction of apoptosis, indicating the presence of an autocrine loop. Finally, we demonstrated that the enhanced production of TNF-alpha by depsipeptide was due to transcriptional activation of the TNF-alpha gene through hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4 in its promoter region (-208 to +35). These results suggest that autocrine production of TNF-alpha plays a role in the cytotoxicity of depsipeptide against a subset of leukemias.

Cholesteryl butyrate solid lipid nanoparticles as a butyric acid pro-drug: effects on cell proliferation, cell-cycle distribution and c-myc expression in human leukemic cells

Cholesteryl butyrate solid lipid nanoparticles (chol-but SLN) have been proposed as a pro-drug to deliver butyric acid. We compared the effects on cell growth, cell-cycle distribution and c-myc expression of chol-but SLN and sodium butyrate (Na-but) in the human leukemic cell lines Jurkat, U937 and HL-60. In all the cell lines 0.5 and 1.0 mM chol-but SLN provoked a complete block of cell growth. Cell-cycle analysis demonstrated in Jurkat cells that 0.25 mM chol-but SLN caused a pronounced increase of G2/M cells and a decrease of G0/G1 cells, whereas in U937 and HL-60 cells chol-but SLN led to a dose-dependent increase of G0/G1 cells, with a decrease of G2/M cells. In Jurkat and HL-60 cells 0.5 mM chol-but SLN induced a significant increase of sub-G0/G1 apoptotic cells. Cell growth and cell-cycle distribution were unaffected by the same concentrations of Na-but. A concentration of 0.25 mM chol-but SLN was able to cause a rapid and transient down-regulation of c-myc expression in all the cell lines, whereas 1 mM Na-but caused a slight reduction of c-myc expression only in U937 cells. The results show how chol-but SLN affects the proliferation pattern of both myeloid and lymphoid cells to an extent greater than the natural butyrate.

Overexpression of histone deacetylase 1 confers resistance to sodium butyrate-mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells through a p53-mediated pathway

Melanoma cells typically express wild-type p53, yet they are notoriously resistant to DNA-damaging agents. Here, we show that sodium butyrate (NaB), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, induced apoptosis in human melanoma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis was associated with HDAC1-dependent induction of Bax and acetylation of p53. Down-regulation of HDAC1 by an antisense vector sensitized the cells to NaB-induced apoptosis, whereas its overexpression conferred resistance to this agent. Increased HDAC1 levels and activity impaired NaB-mediated activation of Bax promoter and Bax protein levels. Finally, using p53-null melanoma cell line and RNA interference in cells expressing wild-type p53 protein, we show that Bax induction and NaB-mediated apoptosis is p53 dependent.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor NVP-LAQ824 has significant activity against myeloid leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo

NVP-LAQ824 is a novel potent hydroxamic acid-derived histone deacetylase inhibitor that induces apoptosis in nanomolar concentrations in myeloid leukemia cell lines and patient samples. Here we show the activity of NVP-LAQ824 in acute myeloid leukemia cells and BCR/ABL-expressing cells of mouse and human origin, both sensitive and resistant to imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, STI-571). Whereas imatinib inhibited overall cellular tyrosine phosphorylation in Ba/F3.p210 cells, NVP-LAQ824 did not inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation, and did not affect BCR/ABL or ABL protein expression. Neither compound was able to inhibit cellular tyrosine phosphorylation in the imatinib-resistant Ba/F3.p210-T315I cell line. These data taken together suggest that BCR/ABL kinase activity is not a direct target of NVP-LAQ824. Synergy between NVP-LAQ824 and imatinib was demonstrated against BCR/ABL-expressing K562 myeloid leukemia cell lines. In addition, we show that NVP-LAQ824 was well tolerated in vivo in a pre-clinical murine leukemia model, with antileukemia activity resulting in significant prolongation of the survival of mice when treated with NVP-LAQ824 compared to control mice. Taken together, these findings provide the framework for NVP-LAQ824 as a novel therapeutic in myeloid malignancies.