Alterations in glycoprotein synthesis and guanosine triphosphate levels associated with the differentiation of HL-60 leukemia cells produced by inhibitors of inosine 5'-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The synthetic "C" nucleoside, tiazofurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide), its selenium analogue selenazofurin, and the related inhibitor of inosine 5'-phosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase, mycophenolic acid, are effective inducers of the terminal differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. The inhibition of cellular replication and the induced maturation produced by these agents appears to be a consequence of the inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase, since growth inhibition is partially reversed and differentiation is completely prevented by the simultaneous exposure of cells treated with inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase to exogenous guanosine, which serves to circumvent the effects of the blockage of IMP dehydrogenase. The exposure of HL-60 leukemia cells to inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase caused a marked reduction in the incorporation of [3H]mannose into both cellular glycoproteins and their lipid-linked oligosaccharide precursors; these effects are presumably due to the pronounced decrease in intracellular levels of guanosine triphosphate produced by blockage of IMP dehydrogenase. Maximum effects on glycoprotein biosynthesis occurred within 8 h of exposure to the inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase. The simultaneous incubation of cells with guanosine and these inducers of differentiation partially prevented the reduction in [3H]mannose incorporation into glycoproteins, supporting a relationship between glycoprotein biosynthesis and guanosine triphosphate formation in the induction of differentiation by inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase.

Cell cycle events associated with the termination of proliferation by cytotoxic and differentiation-inducing actions of 6-thioguanine on HL-60 cells.

Delayed growth arrest was observed in HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells after exposure to 6-thioguanine (TG). This growth arrest occurred in both wild-type HL-60 cells exposed to 2 microM TG and an HL-60 clone lacking hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) activity at a 500-fold higher concentration of drug. Both cell lines continued replication during an initial 4-day period of exposure to TG; however, upon removal of the purine antimetabolite and reincubation in fresh medium in the absence of drug, no further increase in cell number was observed over the next 4 days. Extensive differentiation, as measured by the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, occurred in TG-treated, HL-60 HGPRT-negative cells, whereas no significant increase in the number of nitroblue tetrazolium-positive cells was observed in wild-type HL-60 cells exposed to the purinethiol. Thus, termination of proliferation in wild-type cells appeared to be an expression of cytotoxicity, while in the HGPRT-negative clone, cell replication was apparently terminated by conversion of cells to end-stage forms with a mature phenotype. In support of this conclusion, differences occurred in the stage of the cell cycle arrest, determined on Day 6 after exposure to TG. Approximately 85% of parental HL-60 cells treated with TG were present in the S and G2 + M phases of the cell cycle, with the greatest proportional change from untreated controls being in the G2-M phase (i.e., a 63% increase over untreated controls). In contrast, HL-60 HGPRT-negative cells treated with TG accumulated in G1, with 68% of the population located in this phase (i.e., an 80% increase compared to controls), as might be expected for a differentiated population. Dimethyl sulfoxide, which produced differentiation in both parental HL-60 and HL-60 HGPRT-negative cells, was used as a positive control. Both cell lines responded identically to dimethyl sulfoxide, with growth arrest being due at least in part to differentiation, which corresponded to an increase in G1 cells.

Differentiation of WEHI-3B D+ monomyelocytic leukemia cells by retinoic acid and aclacinomycin A.

WEHI-3B D+ monomyelocytic leukemia cells were induced to differentiate to mature granulocytes when treated with either 30 nM aclacinomycin A or 7 microM retinoic acid. Differentiation was assessed by the appearance of mature granulocytic phenotypes, as measured by the ability to reduce nitro blue tetrazolium, morphological changes, an increase in cell surface Fc receptors, as well as the loss of proliferative capacity. Maximum differentiation occurred 3 days after drug exposure. Analysis of DNA histograms of treated cells indicated that cells accumulated in the G1 phase of the cell cycle after 8 h of exposure to either inducer, with maximum accumulation occurring by 20 h; this arrest was observed prior to the phenotypic appearance of mature cells. The minimum interval of time necessary to commit cells to a differentiation pathway, which was less than one doubling time (9.2 h), closely paralleled the initial accumulation of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Since drug exposure for more than one cell division was required for maximum differentiation, the observed kinetics of maturation is consistent with a stochastic model. These studies support the idea that this cell line would be a particularly good model for extrapolation of findings with differentiating agents in culture to therapeutic monitoring in animals, since WEHI-3B D+ leukemia cells can be readily propagated in vivo in BALB/c mice.

Fibroblast growth factor-4 enhanced G2 arrest and cell survival following ionizing radiation.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) bind to cell membrane receptors and activate signal transduction pathways related to cell growth, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. FGFs have been shown to be abundantly expressed in some of the human tumors, which are known to be poorly responsive to radiation therapy. Using adrenal cortical carcinoma cells genetically engineered to express FGF-4, we have tested cellular survival following exposure to ionizing radiation. We report here that FGF-4 enhances cellular capacity to survive ionizing radiation. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis shows a pronounced increase in the duration of G2 arrest, suggesting perturbation of a cell cycle checkpoint. These findings implicate fibroblast growth factor-mediated signal transduction in cellular resistance of human tumors to radiation therapy.

Calcium-induced heterogeneous changes in membrane potential detected by flow cytofluorimetry.

Ionophore-induced changes in the cell-associated fluorescence of samples of approx. 50000 individual murine L1210 leukemia cells which had been incubated with the voltage-sensitive dye 3,3'-dihexyloctacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3] were monitored by flow cytometry. The K+ ionophore valinomycin (1 microM) produced homogeneous changes in the fluorescence of the entire population, the magnitude of which was dependent upon the concentration of extracellular K+. These changes allowed the estimation of the potassium equilibrium potential of the cells, by the null-point method, to be -11.9 mV. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (500 nM) produced heterogeneous changes in fluorescence, with populations of both hyperpolarised and depolarised cells. In addition, the depolarised population underwent an apparent size change, with a reduction in cell volume. This heterogeneity of response resulted in a minimal change in the median fluorescence value for the whole population, which suggests that it would not have been detectable by methods dependent upon net population-averaged changes in fluorescence. Removal of extracellular Na+ or preincubation of cells with amiloride (500 microM) effectively eliminated the depolarised population. Removal of extracellular K+ increased the hyperpolarised population. These findings provide evidence for the presence of Ca2+-induced Na+ exchange and Ca2+-induced K+ efflux mechanisms in these cells which may be expressed simultaneously in the cell population.

Cytotoxicity and differentiating actions of adriamycin in WEHI-3B D+ leukemia cells.

The monomyelocytic leukemia WEHI-3B D+ can be induced to differentiate into mature granulocytes in suspension culture when exposed to 40 nM adriamycin. Treated cells underwent approximately two divisions prior to reaching plateau phase, with approximately 55% of the cell population expressing nitro blue tetrazolium positivity (NBT+) by day 3. Decreased cellular proliferation was paralleled by a progressive increase in morphologically mature granulocytic cells. Maturation was also characterized by a 4.4-fold increase in Fc receptors on the cell surface. An increase in the size of adriamycin-treated cells occurred and correlated with residency in the G2M phase of the cell cycle. Adriamycin-induced NBT+ cells, which contained the highest levels of Fc receptors, were also found to reside in G2M. Adriamycin blocked cells in the G2M phase of the cell cycle by 8 hr (125% above control), and this arrest reached its maximum by 20 hr (194% above control). Concomitant with the block in the cell cycle was the commitment by these cells within 8 hr to the granulocytic pathway of differentiation. Fractionation of cells by centrifugal elutriation into enriched phases of the cell cycle was consistent with the hypothesis that induction of the differentiation program was initiated either in G1 or very late in the cell cycle. Immobilized adriamycin, which does not gain access to the cell interior, did not induce the maturation of WEHI-3B D+ cells, nor did it block their replication in a specific phase of the cell cycle; however, immobilized adriamycin was 30-fold more toxic to WEHI-3B D+ cells than free drug. Incubation of WEHI-3B D+ cells with the semisynthetic adriamycin analog N-trifluoroacetyl adriamycin-14-valerate (AD-32) resulted in approximately 50% of the cell population being NBT+ by day 3. The findings suggest that adriamycin must be able to enter cells to induce maturation, and that at least some portion of its toxicity is associated with an effect at the surface membrane. Furthermore, the results obtained with AD-32 imply that intercalation into DNA is not necessary for induction of the differentiated phenotype.

UV irradiation of lymphocytes triggers an increase in intracellular Ca2+ and prevents lectin-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization: evidence for UV- and nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

UV irradiation induces in vitro and in vivo immunosuppression. Because mobilization of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) represents a central step in cell activation and immune response, we investigated the effect of UV irradiation on Ca2+ homeostasis. Using indo-1 and cytofluorometry, [Ca2+]i kinetics in UVC- or UVB-exposed human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and Jurkat cells were determined in parallel with functional assays. Increases in [Ca2+]i were observed within 2-3 h of irradiation; these increases were UV-dose dependent and reached maxima of 240% and 180% above baseline level (130 nM) for UVB and UVC, respectively. The UV-induced [Ca2+]i rise was predominantly due to influx of extracellular calcium, and it was more pronounced in T than in non-T cells. Concurrent with [Ca2+]i shifts following UV treatment, there was a loss of ability to respond to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or to proliferate or stimulate in mixed leukocyte culture. This loss of function appeared to be related not only to UV-induced calcium shifts, but also to effects of UV irradiation on the plasma membrane. No [Ca2+]i mobilization was induced by gamma irradiation, and gamma-irradiated cells showed a normal [Ca2+]i increase in response to PHA. UV-induced Ca2+ flux into the cells was blocked by nifedipine. These data indicate that UV and gamma irradiation have different effects on lymphocyte membranes and suggest that a disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis may be involved in UV-induced lymphocyte inhibition. The data suggest, furthermore, the presence of Ca2+ channels in lymphocyte membranes that are sensitive to UV irradiation and Ca2+ channel blockers such as nifedipine.

Incorporation of 3H-leucine, 3H-lysine, and 3H-tryptophan during the cell cycle of Chinese hamster ovary cells: a flow cytometric analysis.

Exponentially growing Chinese hamster ovary cells were pulse labeled with 3H-leucine, 3H-lysine, or 3H-tryptophan, fixed, and stained by either the acriflavine-Feulgen procedure or with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Protein content as determined by FITC fluorescence was representative of protein content determined biochemically by the method of Lowry. Utilizing a fluorescence-activated cell sorter, 3H-labeled cells were sorted according to their DNA or protein content and the incorporation of 3H-leucine, 3H-lysine, or 3H-tryptophan determined by liquid scintillation counting. The rates of 3H-leucine, 3H-lysine, and 3H-tryptophan incorporation increased with respect to increasing DNA content (G1, mid-S, G2+M). The rate of 3H-lysine incorporation increased continuously with increasing protein content, whereas the rates of 3H-leucine and 3H-tryptophan incorporation were constant initially with an increase in incorporation near mid-cycle followed by a slight decrease. Matrix algebra modeling of the increase in protein content suggests that 3H-lysine incorporation is consistent with a sigmoidal increase in protein content, however, 3H-leucine and 3H-tryptophan incorporation do not follow either the exponential, linear, or sigmoidal models. Matrix algebra simulation of the FITC protein distribution indicates that while the rate of protein accumulation is not linear, the exponential and sigmoidal models fit the experimental data equally well.

Analysis of solid renal dysplasia by flow cytometry: malignant potential?

Renal nodular blastema/nephroblastomatosis is a recognized precursor of Wilms tumor. It also has been shown that nodular renal blastemata are seen in association with dysplastic renal parenchyma secondary to obstructive uropathy (i.e., ureteroceles or ectopic ureters). In an attempt to improve our understanding of the critical relationship between renal dysplasia and neoplasia, we performed flow cytometric evaluation on 16 paraffin-embedded specimens of dysplastic kidneys removed during the period 1984-1989. All nephrectomy specimens were associated with obstruction, either duplex collecting systems (10), ectopic ureters (2) or posterior urethral valves (2), or vesicoureteral reflux (2). One specimen was found to contain nodular renal blastema. No evidence of malignancy was found in any specimen. A specimen of normal kidney and two of Wilms tumor (favorable histology) were studied for comparison. Nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ploidy studies were performed on single dissociated nuclei after deparaffinization and staining with propidium iodide. All dysplastic specimens, including the specimen with nodular renal blastema, demonstrated a diploid pattern of DNA as did the specimens of normal renal tissue. The Wilms tumor specimens demonstrated a diploid and a tetraploid pattern. In view of the fact that Wilms tumor may demonstrate diploid DNA patterns on flow cytometry, the findings of diploid patterns on all specimens of solid dysplasia militate against but do not eliminate the possibility of malignant degeneration.

Incorporation of 35S-sulfate and 3H-glucosamine into heparan and chondroitin sulfates during the cell cycle of B16-F10 cells.

Changes in glycosaminoglycan composition occurring during the cell cycle were determined in B16-F10 cells sorted flow cytometrically with respect to DNA content. Incorporation of 35S-sulfate into heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate of unsorted and G1,S, and G2 +M sorted cells was determined following chondroitinase ABC or nitrous acid treatment; the incorporation into surface material was measured as the difference between the radioactivity of control and trypsin-treated cells. Incorporation of 35S-sulfate and 3H-glucosamine into cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC)-precipitable material was characterized before and after chondroitinase or nitrous acid treatment by Sephadex G50 chromatography. Long-term (48 h) and short-term (1 h) labeling studies demonstrate that (a) the amount of total cellular chondroitin sulfate is greater than that of heparan sulfate, with larger amounts of unsulfated heparan than chondroitin being present; (b) the rate of turnover of heparan sulfate is greater than that of chondroitin sulfate; (c) greatest short-term incorporation of 3H-glucosamine into CPC-precipitable material occurs during S phase; and (d) the rate of turnover of both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate is decreased in S phase relative to G1 and G2 + M.

Analysis of glycosaminoglycans of flow sorted cells: incorporation of [35S]sulfate and [3H]glucosamine into glycosaminoglycans of B16-F10 cells during the cell cycle.

The incorporation of [35S]sulfate and [3H] glucosamine into cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC) precipitable glycosaminoglycans was determined in B16-F10 cultured cells sorted with respect to DNA content. Incorporation into surface material was measured indirectly as the difference between the radioactivity of control and trypsin treated cells. Approximately 80% of the total cellular [35S] sulfate labeled CPC precipitable material, but only 5% of that labeled by [3H]glucosamine, was removed by this mild trypsin treatment. Incorporation of [35S]sulfate into the trypsin removable surface material increased progressively from G1 to S to F2 + M in both long-term (48 hours) and short-term (1 hour) labeled cells, while the ratio of surface to total incorporated [35S]sulfate remained relatively constant. Incorporation of [35S]sulfate into total cellular glycosaminoglycans in long- and short-term labeled cells increased as cells progressed from G1 to S to G2 + M; the incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into CPC precipitable material also increased progressively from G1 to S to G2 + M in long-term labeled cells but was greater during S phase relative to G1 or G2 + M in short-term labeled cells. The degree of sulfation of glycosaminoglycans as represented by the ratio of [35S]sulfate to [3H]glucosamine of double labeled cells was relatively constant in long-term labeled cells but was increased during the G1 and G2 + M phases of short-term labeled cells. Comparison of the degree of sulfation of short-term with long-term labeled cells suggests that highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans may be turned over more rapidly during G1 and G2 + M phases of the cell cycle.

Variation in G1 transit time relative to the cycloheximide and actinomycin D drug restriction points.

The transit time distribution at various points in the cell cycle of synchronized Chinese hamster ovary cells was determined from the mitotic index, [3H]thymidine labeling index and increase in cell number monitored at regular intervals after mitotic selection. Variation in G1 transit time compared with that for the total cell cycle indicates that variation in cell cycle transit time occurs mainly during G1 phase. The cycloheximide (5.0 microgram/ml) and actinomycin D (3.0 microgram/ml) restriction points occur 0.2 and 1.7 hr prior to entry into S phase, respectively. The transit time distributions are further characterized by the moments of the distributions. The variance (2nd moment about the mean) of the transit time distribution at the actinomycin D restriction point is similar to the variance of the transit time distribution at the G1/S border, thus variation in cell cycle transit time originates earlier than 1.7 hr prior to entry into S phase (i.e., the first 3/4 of G1). If G1 transit time variability and cell cycle control are related, then the results presented here indicate that the major regulatory events do not occur during late G1 phase.

Differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells monitored by flow cytometric measurement of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction.

Reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) to insoluble blue formazan granules occurs during the stimulus-induced respiratory burst of mature granulocytes and is routinely used as an indicator of the extent of granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. In the present study, the differentiation of HL-60 leukemia cells induced by dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or retinoic acid was monitored by flow cytometric (FCM) measurement of forward and 90 degree light scatter of NBT treated cells. Two-parameter correlated analysis permitted a distinction between cells with increased forward and decreased 90 degree light scatter (NBT-), and cells with decreased forward and increased 90 degree light scatter (NBT+). Fixation of NBT treated cells with 1% paraformaldehyde facilitated flow cytometric analysis, and allowed differences in NBT reduction to be quantitated. DMSO-induced cells expressed an all-or-none reduction of NBT to formazan, compared with retinoic acid treated cells that exhibited a graded response. Three parameter flow cytometric analysis of HL-60 leukemia cells stained with propidium iodide in combination with NBT allowed the determination of the cell cycle distribution of NBT-treated cells.

Differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells: simultaneous determination of phagocytic activity and cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry.

Phagocytosis of fluorescent microspheres by HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells following induction of differentiation with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was monitored using flow cytometry. Initiation of phagocytic capability following initiation of differentiation with 1.5% DMSO coincided with the attainment of respiratory burst activity as measured by NBT (nitro blue tetrazolium) reduction; the degree of phagocytic activity was dependent upon parameters such as microsphere size, microsphere number, and exposure time. Ingestion of fluorescent microspheres did not interfere with the measurement of DNA content using propidium iodide; thus, simultaneous determination of phagocytic activity and the cell cycle phase was possible. Accumulation of cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle following DMSO treatment was correlated with the acquisition of the capacity to phagocytize. Analysis of two-parameter correlated data also indicated that phagocytosis is coupled with residence in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle, further suggesting that the ability to phagocytize fluorescent microspheres is associated with end-stage differentiation.

Normal brachial plexus: MR imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brachial plexus was performed in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes in seven volunteers. Normal structures were delineated by comparison with axial and sagittal cadaver sections and with gross dissection. Differentiation of soft tissues with MR imaging enabled the brachial plexus to be defined from surrounding muscle and vascular structures. Multiplanar imaging demonstrated anatomic detail not previously demonstrated with other radiologic modalities and provided excellent delineation of the components of the brachial plexus from the ventral rami to the peripheral nerve branches.

Induction of the differentiation of synchronized HL-60 leukemia cells by tiazofurin.

Tiazofurin is an effective inducer of the maturation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, as monitored by increased phagocytic ability and the capacity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). The antimetabolite acts as a potent inhibitor of IMP dehydrogenase, which results in a profound depression in the cellular levels of guanine nucleotides. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA histograms indicated that the commitment of HL-60 cells to differentiate when exposed to tiazofurin was preceded by a transient delay in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. HL-60 leukemia cells enriched in the various phases of the cell cycle by centrifugal elutriation were utilized to further characterize the relationship between the phase of the cell cycle and the commitment to enter a pathway of differentiation. Fractions composed mainly of G1 cells demonstrated an increased capacity to mature when exposed to tiazofurin, whereas fractions containing cells from the S and G2 + M phases of the cell cycle had a lower ability to enter a differentiation pathway. The findings suggest that the commitment of HL-60 cells to mature when exposed to tiazofurin is mediated during the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Cell-cycle position and nuclear protein content.

To determine the change in nuclear protein content as a function of cell cycle position, isolated HeLa nuclei were stained for protein with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and for DNA with propidium iodide (PI) and analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The resulting FITC versus PI histogram consisted of four definable regions, a G1 region characterized by increasing FITC and relatively constant PI (2C DNA content), an S region characterized by increasing PI with relatively constant FITC, a G2 region characterized by increasing FITC and constant PI (4C DNA content), and a region of G1 FITC staining with near G2 PI staining. The relationship between cell cycle position and these regions of the histogram was confirmed by the two following studies: 1) The distribution of labeled nuclei throughout the histogram was observed after [14C]TdR pulse labeling. 2) Exit of cells from G1 was observed in the histogram after the addition of Colcemid to the HeLa cell cultures. Nuclear protein content did not appear to increase uniformly across the cell cycle (defined by DNA content). Rather, nuclear protein content showed the largest increase during G1. Thus, dual parameter FCM analysis based on nuclear DNA and protein content provides a more complete definition of cell cycle position than DNA content alone.

Lectin receptor proximity on HL-60 leukemia cells determined by fluorescence energy transfer using flow cytometry.

Fluorescence energy transfer using flow cytometric measurements was utilized to determine the proximity of concanavalin A receptors on the surface of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells before and after induction of differentiation. The HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into granulocytes using dimethylsulfoxide and into macrophages using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Concanavalin A was labeled with either fluorescein (donor chromophore) or tetramethylrhodamine (acceptor chromophore), and these species were used to determine lectin proximity. With granulocytic differentiation, the amount of concanavalin A bound remained constant, but a decrease in receptor density was observed. During macrophage differentiation, however, both receptor density and receptor number increased. The increase in concanavalin A binding during differentiation appears to be a result of maturation rather than an initiating event.