Beclin-1 and its role as a target for anticancer therapy

The Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD, 2009) defines different types of cell death on the basis of morphological, enzymological, immunological and functional criteria. Four basic types of cell death are distinguished from the biochemical point of view: necrosis, apoptosis, autophagy and cornification. Autophagy (macroautophagy) is a highly conserved process by which defective organelles, non-functional proteins and lipids become sequestered within structures called autophagosomes, which fuse with lysosomes, and the engulfed components are then degraded by lysosomal enzymes. The role of autophagy is not only the elimination of components, it also serves as a dynamic recycling system that produces new materials and energy for cellular renovation and homeostasis. Beclin-1 is a protein that plays a central role in autophagy; it interacts with multiple cofactors (Atg14L, UVRAG, Bif-1, Rubicon, Ambra1, HMGB1, IP3R, PINK and survivin) to promote the formation of the Beclin-1-Vps34-Vps15 complex which triggers the autophagy protein cascade. Beclin-1 dysfunction may lead to immune disorders, liver and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancer. A positive and negative correlation between the expression pattern and/or activity of Beclin-1 and carcinogenesis has been demonstrated. Here we describe recent advances in understanding the molecular dynamics and regulation of autophagy and we discuss Beclin-1's contribution to anticancer therapy.

Evaluation of apoptotic activity of new condensed pyrazole derivatives

Cyclic pyrazoles exhibit cytotoxicity to human cancer cells through apoptosis induction. We investigated the proapoptotic activities of two novel synthetic pyrazoles: 5-(p-toluenesulfonyl)pyrazolo[4,3-f]quinoline (tospyrquin) and 5-chloro-3-(p-toluenesulfonyl)indazole (tosind) in HT29 colon cancer cells which are characterised by point mutation (G/A in codon 273) in the p53 gene, which causes the lack of functionality of the p53 protein. Cell viability was evaluated in the MTT assay, cell morphology was assessed by DAPI staining, flow cytometry was used to study the cell cycle, Western blot techniques were applied for measurements of the Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-8, caspase-9 and PARP-1 proteins and DNA damage was evaluated in the Comet assay. Tospyrquin or tosind in a concentration range of 2.5 μM-15 μM caused an approximately 20% diminishment in cell growth, but in higher concentrations (25-100 μM) the observed effect depended on the pyrazole structure and time of treatment. In cell cycle analysis, tosind caused 23.7% of apoptotic death and tospyrquin - 14.9%. These data were supported by an increased level of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, a decreased level of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and enhanced caspase-8, caspase-9, PARP-1 cleavage. DNA damage was dose-dependent for both tested compounds. The results suggest that the pro-apoptotic activity of tospyrquin and tosind is probably regulated by the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways.

Effects of miltefosine on various biochemical parameters in a panel of tumor cell lines with different sensitivities

We investigated endocytosis activity, uptake of miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine), phospholipid and cholesterol content, the cell cycle, and apoptosis in 13 tumor cell lines (MCF7, MCF7/ADR, KB-3-1, KB-8-5, KB-C1, HeLa, HeLa-MDR1-G185, HeLa-MDR1-V185, CCRF/CEM, CCRF/VCR1000, CCRF/ADR5000, HL-60, HL-60/AR) with different sensitivities to treatment with the antitumor phospholipid analogues miltefosine and D-21266 (octadecyl-(N,N-dimethyl-piperidino-4-yl)-phosphate). In this panel of cell lines, MDR1 (multidrug resistance gene 1)- and MRP1 (multidrug resistance-associated protein)-expressing cells were found to be slightly more resistant to both compounds than sensitive parental cells. No correlation was found between resistance to miltefosine and endocytosis, intracellular concentration of miltefosine, the phospholipid and cholesterol content, induction of apoptosis, or cell cycle alterations in all the cell lines tested. Wild-type p53 containing WMN Burkitt's lymphoma cells and wild type p53-deficient CA46 exhibited similar sensitivities to miltefosine. The low percentage of apoptosis induced in MCF7 cells lacking caspase 3 indicated that caspase 3 seems to play an essential role in miltefosine-induced apoptosis.

MDR1 causes resistance to the antitumour drug miltefosine

Miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine) is used for topical treatment of breast cancers. It has been shown previously that a high percentage of breast carcinomas express MDR1 or MRP. We investigated the sensitivity of MDR1 -expressing cells to treatment with miltefosine. We show that cells overexpressing MDR1 (NCI/ADR-RES, KB-8-5, KB-C1, CCRF/VCR1000, CCRF/ADR5000) were less sensitive to miltefosine treatment when compared to the sensitive parental cell lines. HeLa cells transfected with MDR1 exhibited resistance to the compound, indicating that expression of this gene is sufficient to reduce the sensitivity to miltefosine. The resistance of MDR1-expressing cells to miltefosine was less pronounced than that to adriamycin or vinblastine. Expression of MDR2 did not correlate with the resistance to miltefosine. As shown by a fluorescence quenching assay using MIANS-labelled P-glycoprotein (PGP), miltefosine bound to PGP with a K(d)of approximately 7 microM and inhibited PGP-ATPase activity with an IC(50)of approximately 35 microM. Verapamil was not able to reverse the resistance to miltefosine. Concentrations of miltefosine up to approximately 60 microM stimulated, whereas higher concentrations inhibited the transport of [3H]-colchicine with an IC(50)of approximately 297 microM. Binding studies indicated that miltefosine seems to interact with the transmembrane domain and not the cytosolic nucleotide-binding domain of PGP. These data indicate that expression of MDR1 may reduce the response to miltefosine in patients and that this compound interacts with PGP in a manner different from a number of other substrates.

Reversal of multidrug resistance by the staurosporine derivatives CGP 41251 and CGP 42700

It has been shown previously that the staurosporine derivative CGP 41251, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C (IC50 = 50 nM), exhibits antitumor activity and reverses mdr1 mediated multidrug resistance. At present, the compound is evaluated as an anticancer drug in clinical phase I trials. We compared the effects of CGP 41251 with CGP 42700, another staurosporine derivative, which exhibits low protein kinase C inhibiting activity (IC50 = > 100 microM). We found that in contrast to CGP 41251, CGP 42700 does not show antiproliferative activity in HeLa and KB cells in tissue culture (up to a concentration of 10 microM). We compared both compounds for their ability to reverse mdr1-mediated resistance in KB-C1 and in HeLa-MDR1 cells (transfected with the mdr1 gene). CGP 42700 is able to reverse mdr1-mediated resistance to a similar extent as CGP 41251. The intracellular accumulation of rhodamine 123 in KB-C1 cells following pretreatment with CGP 41251 for 30 min was higher than that following treatment with CGP 42700 if determined in medium without serum. However, quantitation of rhodamine efflux in an ex vivo assay using human CD8+ cells in serum showed that CGP 42700 is more effective in inhibiting the efflux of rhodamine 123 than CGP 41251. We conclude from our results that (1) CGP 42700 is more effective in reversal of multidrug resistance in serum than CGP 41251, indicating that the compound may be useful for treatment of patients, and (2) CGP 42700 does not inhibit protein kinase C and cell proliferation and, therefore, may be less toxic and elicit less side effects in humans than other chemosensitizers.

Resistance to the new anti-cancer phospholipid ilmofosine (BM 41 440)

The thioether phospholipid ilmofosine (BM 41 440) is a new anti-cancer drug presently undergoing phase II clinical trials. Because resistance to anti-tumour drugs is a major problem in cancer treatment, we investigated the resistance of different cell lines to this compound. Here we report that the multidrug-resistant cell lines MCF7/ADR, CCRFNCR1000, CCRF/ADR500, CEM/VLB100 and HeLa cell lines transfected with a wild-type and mutated (gly/val185) multidrug resistance 1 gene (MDR1) are cross-resistant to ilmofosine compared with the sensitive parental cell lines. In CEMNM-1 cells, in which the resistance is associated with an altered topoisomerase II gene, no cross-resistance to ilmofosine was observed. Ilmofosine is not capable of modulating multidrug resistance and neither does it reduce the labelling of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) by azidopine nor alter ATPase activity significantly. The resistance to ilmofosine in multidrug-resistant CCRF/VCR1000 cells cannot be reversed by the potent multidrug resistance modifier dexniguldipine-HCI (B8509-035). A tenfold excess of ilmofosine does not prevent the MDR-modulating effect of dexniguldipine-HCl. Treatment of cells with ilmofosine does not alter the levels of MDR1 mRNA. Long-term treatment of an ilmofosine-resistant Meth A subline with the drug does not induce multidrug resistance, indicating that ilmofosine does not increase the level of P-gp. Determination of the MDR2 mRNA levels in the cells revealed that the resistance pattern to ilmofosine is not correlated with the expression of this gene. It is concluded, therefore, that multidrug-resistant cells are cross-resistant to ilmofosine and that the compound is not a substrate of Pgp. No association between the expression of the MDR2-encoded P-gp and resistance to ilmofosine was observed. It is supposed that MDR1-associated alterations in membrane lipids cause resistance to ilmofosine.

Abnormal rheological response of erythrocytes caused by nitroimidazoles and hyperthermia

The aim of the present study was to investigate the response of erythrocytes to hyperthermia in combined treatment with nitroimidazoles. The efficiency of nitroimidazoles and physical agents on the rheological response of erythrocytes was measured by the viscosimetric-diffractometric method in a continuous osmotic gradient with constant shear stress of 100 dyn/cm2. We found that three newly synthesized dinitro- or nitroimidazole derivatives caused oxidative damage of erythrocytes in aerobic conditions. Nitroimidazole structure-dependent decrease of erythrocyte deformability was accompanied by oxidation of haemoglobin and depletion of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation and alteration of membrane structure indicated by a decrease of the ANS fluorescence intensity and increased production of MDA. Heat treatment per se (from 42 to 45 degrees C) only slightly decreased the erythrocyte deformability, but markedly enhanced the structure-dependent effect of nitroimidazoles. Erythrocytes heated at 45 degrees C with dinitroimidazole derivative III lost their deformability without haemolysis. Dithiothreitol used in combination with nitroimidazoles during a heating period to 43.5 degrees C protected cell deformability entirely, indicating an important role for disulphide bond formation in membrane proteins submitted to oxidative stress and hyperthermia.

Comparative study of nitroimidazoles on the bioelectric properties of frog skin as a membrane model

The effects of misonidazole (MISO) and two other nitroimidazoles (5-NO2 and 4,5-NO2) on the bioelectric parameters of ion transport (potential difference and short circuit current) across frog skin as a membrane model, were studied in vitro. The nitroimidazoles investigated caused structure dependent effects on the sodium transport function of the membrane. MISO induced a biphasic action following administration on the external side of the membrane: after an initial enhancement, the potential difference and short circuit current signals both decreased. The other imidazole derivatives, 5-NO2 and 4,5-NO2, showed only one phase, whether administered on the external or internal membrane surface. All the nitroimidazoles investigated decreased sodium transport after internal or external surface administration. It was found that the 4,5-NO2 imidazole derivative irreversibly decreased the bioelectric membrane parameters.

The evaluation of erythrocyte membrane response to combined treatment of radiation and nitroimidazoles

The effect of gamma-irradiation on human erythrocytes in the presence of nitroimidazoles in aerobic conditions was investigated. It was found that both 1-(2-nitroimidazole-1-y1)-3-methoxy-2-propanol (misonidazole, MISO) and 1-(2-methyl-4,5-dinitroimidazoyle)-3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane (4,5-NO2) inhibited membrane-bound ATPase activity without irradiation. Treatment with 4,5-NO2 enhanced the radiation-induced decrease in the activity, whereas irradiation after treatment of membranes with MISO had a variable, concentration-dependent effect. Irradiation of cells in the presence of MISO concentrations less than 34 micrograms/ml decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. With the same concentrations a marked oxidative effect of 4,5-NO2 was observed. Significant correlations between 4,5-NO2 concentrations, GSH levels and lipid peroxidation, and also between GSH and MDA levels, were observed. Increasing radiation doses decreased erythrocyte membrane sensitivity to the stabilizing effect of unsaturated fatty acids. This effect for oleic acid was elevated by 4,5-NO2 and suppressed by GSH and BHT. Therefore, it is concluded that in aerobic conditions the red blood cell membrane is a target to radiation and to hypoxic cell radiosensitizers.

Interaction of free fatty acids with the erythrocyte membrane as affected by hyperthermia and ionizing radiation

The interference of hyperthermia and ionizing radiation, respectively, with the effects of capric (10:0), lauric (12:0), myristic (14:0), oleic (cis-18:1) and elaidic (trans-18:1) acids on the osmotic resistance of human erythrocytes was investigated. The results are summarized as follows: (A) not only at 37 degrees, but also at 42 degrees and 47 degrees C lauric acid (12:0) represents the minimum chain length for the biphasic behaviour of protecting against hypotonic hemolysis at a certain lower concentration range and hemolysis promotion at subsequent higher concentrations; (B) with increasing temperatures the protecting as well as the hemolytic effects occur at lower concentrations of the fatty acids; (C) the increase of temperature promotes the extent of hemolysis and reduces the extent of protection against hypotonic hemolysis; (D) Gamma-irradiation of erythrocytes selectively affects the concentration of oleic acid at which maximum protection against hypotonic hemolysis occurs, without altering the minimum concentration for 100% hemolysis.

Carriers of ataxia-telangiectasia gene display additional protein fraction and changes in the environment of SH groups in erythrocyte membrane

Additional protein fraction migrating slower than spectrin has been detected in erythrocyte membranes from an ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patient and from his mother (A-T heterozygote). In erythrocyte membranes labelled with maleimide spin label changes in signal of the weakly immobilized spin label as related to that of strongly immobilized one (w/s) were noted. In comparison to age-matched control groups the values of w/s were lower in A-T heterozygotes (ten persons) and higher in A-T homozygotes (four persons). In control persons the values of w/s increased with age, whereas in families with A-T no significant differences in this parameter were noted between children and parents. The presence of additional protein fraction in erythrocytes membranes of A-T patient and A-T heterozygote indicates that these phenotypes can be differentiated from the healthy control persons for the first time on the basis of changes detected in the erythrocytes. This change in erythrocyte membrane may explain the decrease in the w/s parameter of electron spin resonance in A-T heterozygotes. On the other hand increased values of w/s in A-T patients may be caused by disease process.

Chain length-dependent interaction of free fatty acids with the erythrocyte membrane

Free fatty acids protect erythrocytes against hypotonic haemolysis in a certain low concentration range and become haemolytic at higher concentrations. The chain length dependence of this biphasic behaviour was investigated using human erythrocytes. The results can be summarized as follows: (i) A critical minimum chain length is required for both effects. Octanoic acid (C8) and fatty acids with a shorter chain length do not have any effect on the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes. (ii) Decanoic acid (C10) decreases the extent of hypo-osmotic haemolysis and does not become haemolytic at higher concentrations. (iii) Dodecanoic acid (C12) represents the minimum chain length for the typical concentration-dependent biphasic behaviour with protection against hypo-osmotic haemolysis at a certain low concentration range and subsequent haemolysis at higher concentrations. (iv) Tetradecanoic acid (C14) exhibits two concentration ranges of protection against hypo-osmotic haemolysis, each followed by haemolytic concentrations. (v) The observed effects are not correlated with the critical micellar concentrations of the investigated fatty acids.

Critical temperatures for the interaction of free fatty acids with the erythrocyte membrane

Non-esterified long-chain fatty acids reduce the extent of hypotonic hemolysis at a certain low concentration range but cause hemolysis at higher concentrations. This biphasic behavior was investigated at different temperatures (0-37 degrees C) for lauric (12:0), myristic (14:0), palmitoleic (16:1), oleic (cis-18:1) and elaidic (trans-18:1) acids. The results are summarized as follows: (A) the fatty acids examined exhibit a high degree of specificity in their thermotropic behavior; (B) oleic acid protects against hypotonic hemolysis even at the highest concentrations, up to 15 degrees C, when it becomes hemolytic, but only in a limited concentration range; (C) elaidic acid does not affect the osmotic stability of erythrocytes up to 20 degrees C, when it starts protecting: above 30 degrees C, it becomes hemolytic at the highest concentrations; (D) palmitoleic acid is an excellent protecting agent at all temperatures in a certain concentration range, becoming hemolytic at higher concentrations; (E) lauric acid protects up to 30 degrees C and becomes hemolytic only above this temperature; (F) myristic acid exhibits an extremely unusual behavior at 30 and 37 degrees C by having alternating concentration ranges of protecting and hemolytic effects; (G) there is a common critical temperature for hemolysis at 30 degrees C for saturated and trans-unsaturated fatty acids; (H) the initial slope of Arrhenius plots of percent hemolysis at the concentration of maximum protection is negative for cis-unsaturated fatty acids and positive for saturated and trans-unsaturated fatty acids.

The influence of nitroheterocyclic radiosensitizers on the membrane of red blood cells

Nitroimidazole compounds are effective radiosensitizers, but neurotoxic side effects prevent their clinical use. Studying the effect of misonidazole, metronidazole and two of its derivatives, 4.5-NO2-METRO and 4-NO2-METRO, on red blood cell, it was recently demonstrated that these compounds inhibit the red cell membrane (Na+-K+) ATPase and decrease the fluidity of the membrane bilayer. In order to extend these observations and to achieve a more complete interpretation, four additional investigations were selected: the (Ca++-Mg++)ATPase activity, the anion channel (band 3 protein) kinetics, the susceptibility of the phospholipids to peroxidation, and their influence on the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH). The activity of the (Ca++-Mg++)ATPase and its stimulation by calmodulin were decreased by all four drugs, but the anion transport kinetics were unaltered. No lipid peroxidation could be detected, as estimated by the production of malonyldialdehyde. The red cell GSH was depleted by 4.5-NO2-METRO, probably due to the formation of a complex between GSH and the drugs [Varghese 1983]. The mechanism of the inhibition of the ATPases is not yet clearly apparent; it is presently sought in a direct interaction of the drugs with some thiol reactive groups of the ATPases.

Effect of denervation or castration on steroid receptors in rat bulbocavernosus/levator ani muscles

Alterations in cytosolic glucocorticoid (GR) and androgen receptors (AR) in atrophic rat bulbocavernosus/levator ani muscles (BCLA) were investigated. The BCLA was removed 15 days after denervation (DEN) of the right part of BCLA or castration (CAS) and compared with the innervated left part of BCLA (INN) or the BCLA from sham-operated rats (SHAM). Receptor analyses were performed using charcoal adsorption or agar-gel electrophoresis. The main results were: (1) no alterations in KD were observed; (2) GR were increased in DEN compared to INN when expressed per mg cytosolic protein (P less than 0.0001) or g tissue (P less than 0.0002) as well as in DEN compared to SHAM when expressed per mg protein (P less than 0.0002) or g tissue (P less than 0.0003); (3) GR were increased in CAS compared to SHAM when calculated per mg protein (P less than 0.05) or g tissue (P less than 0.04); (4) no differences between DEN and INN or SHAM were noted when results were expressed per mg DNA; (5) AR were increased in CAS compared to SHAM only when expressed per mg protein (P less than 0.003); (6) GR/AR was increased in DEN compared to INN (P less than 0.0001) or SHAM (P less than 0.0006), but unaltered in CAS compared to SHAM. The data reflect differences in the behaviour of GR and AR in the atrophic BCLA and suggest a relative increase in sensitivity to glucocorticoids compared to androgens in the DEN muscle.