Establishment of a group of murine leukemic cell lines and investigation of their biological characteristics

An in vitro-vivo technique for establishment of cell lines on murine leukemia has been developed. Using this method, suppressive T lymphoblastic leukemia L7811-85, L7212-85, non-T, non-B lymphocytic leukemia L1210-86, B lymphocytic leukemia P 388-86 and Friend erythroleukemia FLCL cell lines have been established. Incidence of leukemia with these cell lines was 100%. Along with the increase of generations of cell lines, cell growth accelerated, generation time shortened and cloning efficiencies rose. A following up electron microscopic observation on L7811-85 and L7212-85 showed that the virus particles were "A" particles in original cells. When they became cell lines in vitro, virus particles increased and transformed into typical "C" particles with budding. An inhibitory activity relevant to leukemic cells on proliferation of leukemic cells has been observed in the supernatant of L7811-85 medium and was regarded as an "autocrine".     

Single-cell sphingosine kinase activity measurements in primary leukemia

Sphingosine kinase (SK) is a promising therapeutic target in a number of cancers, including leukemia. Traditionally, SK has been measured in bulk cell lysates, but this technique obscures the cellular heterogeneity present in this pathway. For this reason, SK activity was measured in single cells loaded with a fluorescent sphingosine reporter. An automated capillary electrophoresis (CE) system enabled rapid separation and quantification of the phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated sphingosine reporter in single cells. SK activity was measured in tissue-cultured cells derived from chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562), primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from three patients with different forms of leukemia, and enriched leukemic blasts from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Significant intercellular heterogeneity existed in terms of the degree of reporter phosphorylation (as much as an order of magnitude difference), the amount of reporter uptake, and the metabolites formed. In K562 cells, the average amount of reporter converted to the phosphorylated form was 39?±?26 % per cell. Of the primary PBMCs analyzed, the average amount of phosphorylated reporter was 16?±?25 %, 11?±?26 %, and 13?±?23 % in a chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patient, an AML patient, and a B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) patient, respectively. These experiments demonstrated the challenge of studying samples comprised of multiple cell types, with tumor blasts present at 5 to 87 % of the cell population. When the leukemic blasts from a fourth patient with AML were enriched to 99 % of the cell population, 19?±?36 % of the loaded sphingosine was phosphorylated. Thus, the diversity in SK activity remained even in a nearly pure tumor sample. These enriched AML blasts loaded significantly less reporter (0.12?±?0.2 amol) relative to that loaded into the PBMCs in the other samples (≥1 amol). The variability in SK signaling may have important implications for SK inhibitors as therapeutics for leukemia and demonstrates the value of single-cell analysis in characterizing the nature of oncogenic signaling in cancer. Figure

Phosphorylation of a fluorescent sphingosine kinase reporter was used to measure single-cell SK activity in primary cells from leukemic patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as enriched leukemic blasts were analyzed.     

Interaction of soybean agglutinin with leukemic T-cells and its use for their in vitro separation from normal lymphocytes by lectin-affinity chromatography

A procedure for separation of leukemic T-cells from normal lymphocytes, using lectin-affinity column chromatography, is described. CNBr-activated Sepharose 6MB was used as a non-mobile phase. The gel was covalently coupled with soybean agglutinin (SBA), then served as an affinity probe for fractionation of mixture of normal lymphocytes and leukemic cells. Leukemic cell lines, derived from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Jurkat, MOLT-4, RPMI-8402), were tested. The elution of normal lymphocytes was carried out by PBS(-). The leukemic T-cells, interacting with SBA, were removed by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine or low-concentration acetic acid. The type and viability of the separated cell fractions were analyzed by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy, using adequate fluorescent antibodies. The interaction of leukemic T-cells with free SBA, as well as with SBA-conjugated Sepharose beads, was examined fluorimetrically and visualized by fluorescent microscopy, using FITC-SBA as a marker. The rate of cell elution on SBA-affinity column decreased in order: normal > leukemic T-cells. Both normal lymphocytes and leukemic T-cells were removed in a mixture from SBA-free Sepharose 6MB by PBS(-) and were not fractionated discretely. The leukemic T-cells specifically interacted with SBA as well as with SBA-affinity adsorbent. In contrast, the normal lymphocytes did not interact with free SBA as well as with SBA-conjugated Sepharose beads in the concentrations applied. The method potentially combines a discrete cell fractionation with manifestation of a specific target cytotoxicity of SBA against leukemic T-cells, without any influence on normal lymphocytes.     

Hypericin-induced photocytotoxicity is connected with G2/M arrest in HT-29 and S-phase arrest in U937 cells

Susceptibility of the HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line and human myeloid leukemia cell line U937 to hypericin-mediated photocytotoxicity was investigated and compared in this study. Cellular parameters as viability, cell number, metabolic activity and total protein amount were monitored in screening experiments with subsequent cell-cycle analysis and apoptosis detection to determine the cellular response of the different tumor types to various concentrations of photoactivated hypericin. The results show concentration dependence of the photosensitizer's cytotoxicity on the studied cell lines, with higher sensitivity of U937 cells. Whereas the two extreme hypericin concentrations (1 x 10(-9) M and 1 x 10(-6) M) resulted in similar changes in all tested cellular parameters on the two studied cell lines, 1 x 10(-8) M and 1 x 10(-7) M hypericin treatment resulted in different responses of the cell lines in all monitored parameters except for viability. Although leukemic cells proved sensitive to both 1 x 10(-8) M and 1 x 10(-7) M hypericin, significant changes on HT-29 cells were detected only after the 1 x 10(-7) M hypericin concentration. Cell-cycle arrest was related to simultaneously occurring apoptosis in colon cancer. Remarkable is the difference in cell-cycle profile where G2/M arrest in colon cancer cells versus accumulation of leukemic cells in the S phase appears. This suggests that hypericin treatment affecting the cell-cycle machinery of different cancer cells is not universal in effect.     

Synthesis of Pyrazoloazepines from 5-Aminopyrazoles and Study of Their Cytotoxicity in Cancer Treatment

The novel synthetic approach was employed to synthesize a series of 1,8-dihydropyrazolo[3,4-b]azepine derivatives from 5-aminopyrazoles in three-step synthesis. The structures of the individual derivatives were unambiguously confirmed by spectral methods, including heteronuclear ¹H−¹³C HMBC spectra and other necessary 2D NMR experiments. The obtained pyrazoloazepines and starting aminopyrazoles were subsequently investigated for their potential cytotoxic effect using mouse and human leukemia cell models. The original L1210 (mouse lymphoblastic), MOLM-13, and SKM-1 (both human myeloblastic) cell lines and their P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expressing cell variants were used. Aminopyrazole 8 was the most effective on murine leukemic lymphoblasts (L1210), while it had a greater effect on P-gp expressing cells. In contrast, on human leukemic myeloblasts (MOLM-13, SKM-1), Aminopyrazoles 10 showed the most pronounced effect, but this was independent of the presence of P-gp in the cells.     

Co-Treatments of Edible Curcumin from Turmeric Rhizomes and Chemotherapeutic Drugs on Cytotoxicity and FLT3 Protein Expression in Leukemic Stem Cells

This study aims to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity of the combination treatment of a drug and curcumin (Cur) on leukemic stem cell and leukemic cell lines, including KG-1a and KG-1 (FLT3⁺ LSCs), EoL-1 (FLT3⁺ LCs), and U937 (FLT3⁻ LCs). The cytotoxicity of co-treatments of doxorubicin (Dox) or idarubicin (Ida) at concentrations of the IC₁₀–IC₈₀ values and each concentration of Cur at the IC₂₀, IC₃₀, IC₄₀, and IC₅₀ values (conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4) was determined by MTT assays. Dox–Cur increased cytotoxicity in leukemic cells. Dox–Cur co-treatment showed additive and synergistic effects in several conditions. The effect of this co-treatment on FLT3 expression in KG-1a, KG-1, and EoL-1 cells was examined by Western blotting. Dox–Cur decreased FLT3 protein levels and total cell numbers in all the cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, this study exhibits a novel report of Dox–Cur co-treatment in both enhancing cytotoxicity of Dox and inhibiting cell proliferation via FLT3 protein expression in leukemia stem cells and leukemic cells. This is the option of leukemia treatment with reducing side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs to leukemia patients.     

The Anti-Leukemic Activity of Natural Compounds

The use of biologically active compounds has become a realistic option for the treatment of malignant tumors due to their cost-effectiveness and safety. In this review, we aimed to highlight the main natural biocompounds that target leukemic cells, assessed by in vitro and in vivo experiments or clinical studies, in order to explore their therapeutic potential in the treatment of leukemia: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It provides a basis for researchers and hematologists in improving basic and clinical research on the development of new alternative therapies in the fight against leukemia, a harmful hematological cancer and the leading cause of death among patients.     

Inactivation of erythrocytic, lymphocytic and myelocytic leukemic cells by photoexcitation of endogenous porphyrins

The photodynamic sensitization of leukemic cells (erythrocytic, myelocytic and lymphocytic) via light activation of endogenous porphyrins is described. Human myelocytic-erythrocytic K562 cells and murine Friend erythroleukemia (FELC) and T-cell lymphoma Eb-Esb cells were stimulated to synthesize and accumulate porphyrins. K562 cells accumulated high amounts of protoporphyrin by stimulation with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) plus sodium butyrate or hemin. For Friend and Eb-Ebs cells ALA was an adequate stimulator. The high-metastatic Esb lymphoma cells accumulated comparatively more porphyrin than the low-metastatic Eb cell line. Maximal porphyrin accumulation produced mortality rates of more than 99% after 10 min of photoactivation of the three leukemic lines. Thymidine incorporation was inhibited by the photodynamic effect depending on porphyrin concentration. These results confirm the photodynamic ability of endogenous porphyrins to inactivate cancer cells of different origins.     

DNA binding and antitumor activities of platinum(IV) and zinc(II) complexes with some S-alkyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid

A series of complexes of platinum(IV) (C1–C5) and zinc(II) (C6–C10) with S-alkyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid were prepared and characterized. The interactions of the complexes with calf thymus DNA were analyzed by absorption (UV–Vis) and emission spectral studies (ethidium bromide displacement studies). The cytotoxic activities of complexes C1–C10 were determined against mouse B cell lymphocytic leukemia cells (BCL1), human B-prolymphocytic leukemia (JVM-13), mouse mammary carcinoma cells (4T1), and human mammary carcinoma cells (MDA-MB-468) and compared to the activities of the free ligand precursors and cisplatin. The cytotoxicities of the platinum(IV) and zinc(II) complexes toward mouse tumor cell lines were higher compared with their effects on human tumor cell lines. The zinc(II) complex C9 showed the highest antitumor activity toward the tested human cell lines, while the platinum(IV) complex C4 exhibited the highest antitumor activity toward mouse BCL1 and 4T1 cells. Both C4 and C9 have ligands derived from S-propyl thiosalicylic acid.     

ArtinM Binding Effinities and Kinetic Interaction with Leukemia Cells: A Quartz Crystal Microbalance Bioelectroanalysis on the Cytotoxic Effect

ArtinM, a D‐mannose‐binding lectin from Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit), interacts with N‐glycosylated receptors on the surface of several cells of hematopoietic origin, triggering cell migration, degranulation, and cytokine release. Because malignant transformation is often associated with altered expression of cell surface glycans, we evaluated the interaction of ArtinM with human myelocytic leukemia cells by Quartz Cristal Microbalance (QCM) and cross compared this investigation with cellular responses (cytotoxicity) to lectin binding by the colorimetric assay MTT, which is a standard method in biology. QCM analysis was able to provide additional information (not possible to be obtained by MTT) that impact on the knowledge of medical biology related to leukemic cells. For instance, it was shown that association rate constant of ArtinM and cellular membranes (obtained from QCM) of leukemia cell varies across the myeloid leukemia cell lines, decreasing as cytotoxic effect increases. Meanwhile no differences were observed for dissociation rate constants so that the equilibrium binding affinity constant was observed to be a direct function of the association rate event. It was supposed that ArtinM cytotoxicity is affected by the association time with glycans on the cellular membranes of leukemia cells in a way that the higher it is the association time (the lower was the association rate constant) the higher is the ArtinM cytotoxicity over the leukemia cell lines.     

5-Ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine. Cytotoxicity and DNA incorporation demonstrated with human leukemic cells and PHA-stimulated lymphocytes in vitro

5-Ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (5EtdUrd) is a biologically active thymidine analogue. The cytotoxicity of 5EtdUrd was investigated with seven established human leukemia cell lines as well as with human peripheral blood PHA-stimulated lymphocytes. All types of leukemia cells were susceptible to the toxicity of 5EtdUrd as assayed with a [U-14C]-L-leucine incorporation system developed for this study. A 50% inhibition of leucine incorporation in 3-day cultures was induced by 1.3-3.8 microM 5EtdUrd with leukemic cells, but the concentration required to induce similar inhibition with PHA-stimulated lymphocytes was approximately was approximately 100-fold. The toxicity of 5EtdUrd seemed to require active DNA synthesis, since the inhibition of leucine incorporation became obvious only after the first 24 hours of culture. The DNA incorporation studies were based on a new isotopically labeled 5EtdUrd derivative, [2-14C]5EtdUrd, synthesized for this study in our laboratory. It was demonstrated for the first time that most of the radioactivity derived from [2-14C]5EtdUrd in DNA was in 5-ethyluracil. 5EtdUrd has a powerful antileukemic potency in vitro. Its effects against human leukemia in vivo remain to be tested.     

Rational design and real time, in-cell detection of the proapoptotic activity of a novel compound targeting Bcl-X(L)

Antiapoptotic Bcl-2-family proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) have been recently validated as drug discovery targets for cancer. Here, by using a combination of molecular modeling, NMR-based structural analysis, fluorescence polarization assays, and cell-based assays, we have designed and characterized a novel proapoptotic compound targeting these proteins. Our compound, Apogossypol, is capable of binding and inhibiting Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) with high affinity and induces apoptosis of tumor cell lines. Mechanistic studies on the action of our compound were also performed via confocal microscopy that provided real-time detection of the interaction with Bcl-X(L) in intact cells. Finally, preliminary data on cells freshly isolated from patients affected by chronic lymphocytic leukemia strongly suggest potential applications of Bcl-2 antagonists as chemosensitizers in cancer therapy.     

DYRK2 controls a key regulatory network in chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a hematological cancer driven by the oncoprotein BCR-ABL1, and lifelong treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors extends patient survival to nearly the life expectancy of the general population. Despite advances in the development of more potent tyrosine kinase inhibitors to induce a durable deep molecular response, more than half of patients relapse upon treatment discontinuation. This clinical finding supports the paradigm that leukemia stem cells feed the neoplasm, resist tyrosine kinase inhibition, and reactivate upon drug withdrawal depending on the fitness of the patient’s immune surveillance. This concept lends support to the idea that treatment-free remission is not achieved solely with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and that new molecular targets independent of BCR-ABL1 signaling are needed in order to develop adjuvant therapy to more efficiently eradicate the leukemia stem cell population responsible for chemoresistance and relapse. Future efforts must focus on the identification of new targets to support the discovery of potent and safe small molecules able to specifically eradicate the leukemic stem cell population. In this review, we briefly discuss molecular maintenance in leukemia stem cells in chronic myeloid leukemia and provide a more in-depth discussion of the dual-specificity kinase DYRK2, which has been identified as a novel actionable checkpoint in a critical leukemic network. DYRK2 controls the activation of p53 and proteasomal degradation of c-MYC, leading to impaired survival and self-renewal of leukemia stem cells; thus, pharmacological activation of DYRK2 as an adjuvant to standard therapy has the potential to induce treatment-free remission.Subject terms: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Cancer stem cells     

A microfluidic "baby machine" for cell synchronization

Common techniques used to synchronize eukaryotic cells in the cell cycle often impose metabolic stress on the cells or physically select for size rather than age. To address these deficiencies, a minimally perturbing method known as the "baby machine" was developed previously. In the technique, suspension cells are attached to a membrane, and as the cells divide, the newborn cells are eluted to produce a synchronous population of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. However, the existing "baby machine" is only suitable for cells which can be chemically attached to a surface. Here, we present a microfluidic "baby machine" in which cells are held onto a surface by pressure differences rather than chemical attachment. As a result, our method can in principle be used to synchronize a variety of cell types, including cells which may have weak or unknown surface attachment chemistries. We validate our microfluidic "baby machine" by using it to produce a synchronous population of newborn L1210 mouse lymphocytic leukemia cells in G1 phase.     

Synthesis of novel xanthone and acridone carboxamides with potent antiproliferative activities

Several new amino-substituted acridone and xanthone derivatives have been designed and synthesized, using an efficient methodology from suitable acridone- or xanthone-carboxylic acid intermediates. The antiproliferative activity of the target compounds has been evaluated against four cancer cell lines, namely breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7, acute lymphocytic leukemia CCRF-CEM, and its doxorubicin-resistant variant CEM/ADR5000 and prostate cancer PC-3 cell lines. Selected derivatives have also been tested against the urinary bladder T24 and metastatic melanoma WM266-4 cancer cell lines. Two nitro substituted acridones, bearing a basic side chain as well, were endowed with a remarkable profile against the majority of the cell lines tested, with IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range. Both compounds cause accumulation at G0/G1 phase, induce apoptosis, and act as potent autophagy inhibitors in PC-3 cells, suggesting their further evaluation in various pathophysiological environments, conditions, and regimens.     

The relationship between NO-synthase inhibitory activity of N,S-containing heterocycles and their radioprotective and antileukemic properties

The effect of NO-synthase (NOS) activator and inhibitors on leukemic cell lines HL-60, K-562, and MOLT-4 and bone marrow cells of untreated patients diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared with lymphocytes from healthy donors is examined. The obtained data on the relationships between the radioprotective, NOS inhibitory, and cytotoxic properties of a number of thiazine, thiazoline, and thiourea derivatives indicates their potential for use as agents for complex radio- and chemotherapy.     

Autoantibodies to nuclear antigens: correlation between cytotoxicity and DNA-hydrolyzing activity

The cytotoxicity of DNA-specific autoantibodies from sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) and with lymphoproliferative diseases, and from blood of healthy donors was examined on tumor-cell lines L929 and HL-60. DNA-binding IgG fractions from SLE and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) sera were cytotoxic at concentrations of up to 10(-10) M. No detectable changes in cell viability were observed after incubation with antibodies devoid of DNA-binding activity and DNA-specific antibodies isolated from blood of healthy donors and patients with T-cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphosarcoma, and acute B-cell leukemia. There was good correlation between the cytotoxic activity and DNA-hydrolyzing activity of anti-DNA antibodies. The cytotoxic effect of DNA-binding antibodies presumably was complement-independent, because it was attributed only to the Fab fragment. The cytotoxic effect was completely inhibited by preincubation with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Both the cytotoxic effect and the DNA-hydrolyzing activity of anti-DNA antibodies were significantly increased in the antibody fraction that displayed cross-reactivity with nuclear matrix proteins. Possible mechanisms for the formation and pathogenicity of cytotoxic anti-DNA antibodies are discussed in this article.     

Hypericum perforatum L. extract - novel photosensitizer against human bladder cancer cells

The polar methanolic fraction (PMF) of the Hypericum perforatum L. extract has recently been developed and tested as a novel, natural photosensitizer for use in the photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photodynamic diagnosis (PDD). PMF has been tested on HL-60 leukemic cells and cord blood hemopoietic progenitors. In the present study, the efficacy of PMF as a phototoxic agent against urinary bladder carcinoma has been studied using the T24 (high grade metastatic cancer), and RT4 (primary low grade papillary transitional cell carcinoma) human bladder cancer cells. Following cell culture incubation, PMF was excited using 630 nm laser light. The photosensitizer exhibited significant photocytotoxicity in both cell lines at a concentration of 60microg/ml, with 4-8 J/cm(2) light dose, resulting in cell destruction from 80% to 86%. At the concentration of 20microg/ml PMF was not active in either cell line. These results were compared with the results obtained in the same cell lines, under the same conditions with a clinically approved photosensitizer, Photofrin. Photofrin was used in the maximum clinically tolerable dose of 4microg/ml, and it was also excited with 630 nm laser light. In the T24 cell Photofrin exhibited slightly less photocytotocixity, compared with PMF, resulting in 77% cell death with 8J/cm(2) light dose. However, against the RT4 cells Photofrin resulted in minimal cell death (9%) with even 8J/cm(2) light dose. Finally, the type of cell death induced by PMF photoactivation was studied using flow cytometry and DNA laddering. Cell death by PMF photodynamic action in these two bladder cell lines is caused predominently by apoptosis. The reported significant photocytotoxicity, selective localization, natural abundance, easy, and inexpensive preparation, underscore that the PMF extract hold the promise of being a novel, effective PDT photosensitizer.     

HOST CELL REACTIVATION IN MAMMALIAN CELLS-V. PHOTOREACTIVATION STUDIES WITH HERPES VIRUS IN MARSUPIAL AND HUMAN CELLS

Abstract— The survival of UV-irradiated herpes simplex virus was determined in cultured Potoroo (a marsupial) and human cells under lighting conditions which promote photoreactivation. Photoreactivation was readily demonstrated for herpes virus in two lines of Potoroo cells with dose reduction factors of 0.7-0.8 for ovan cells and 0.5-0.7 for kidney cells. Light from Blacklite (near UV) lamps was more effective than from Daylight (mostly visible) lamps, suggesting that near UV radiation was more efficient for photoreactivation in Potoroo cells. The quantitative and qualitative aspects of this photoreactivation were similar to those reported for a similar virus infecting chick embryo cells. UV-survhal curves for herpes virus in Potoroo cells indicated a high level of "dark" host cell reactivation. No photoreactivation was found for UV-irradiated vaccinia virus in Potoroo cells. A similar photoreactivation study was done using special control lighting (Λ > 600 nm) and human cells with normal repair and with ceils deficient in excision repair (XP). No photoreactivation was found for UV-irradiated herpes virus in either human cell with either Blacklite or Daylight lamps as the sources of photoreacti-vating light. This result contrasts with a report of photoreactivation for a herpes virus in the same XP cells using incandescent lamps.     

The Photodynamic Effect of Victoria Blue BO on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear and Leukemic Cells

Abstract— The photodynamic effect of Victoria blue BO (VB-BO) and photoirradiation on peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied. The cells were preincubated with VB-BO followed by photoirradiation and overnight culture. The highest percentage of dead cells (propidium iodide assay in flow cytometry) was seen in the monocyte population. The lymphocytes showed a lower sensitivity to VB-BO photodynamic action than the monocytes (12% vs 80% of Pi-positive cells). The effect of VB-BO and phototreatment on lymphocyte function was studied using a mitogen-induced proliferation assay. A decrease of mitogen response was observed. The VB-BO and photoirradiation were also used on leukemic cells. The leukemic cells from acute myeloid leukemia and B precursors leukemia were sensitive to VB-BO photodynamic action. The high VB-BO sensitivity of monocytes and leukemic cells (myeloid and lymphoid B derived) suggests possible application of VB-BO for selective depletion of monocytes or sensitive leukemic cells.