Potentiation of etoposide-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by co-treatment with KG-135, a quality-controlled standardized ginsenoside formulation.

Our previous studies demonstrated that KG-135, a quality-controlled red ginseng-specific formulation containing approximately equal amounts of three major ginsenosides (Rk1, Rg3 and Rg5), down-regulated G1 cyclin-dependent kinase in HeLa cells. In the present work, we have found that KG-135 potentates cytotoxicity of etoposide by modulating apoptotic signaling. Co-treatment of etoposide and KG-135 markedly elevated the expression and phosphorylation at the serine 15 residue of p53 as well as the cellular levels of Bax and p21(Waf1/Cip1). The increased accumulation and phosphorylation of p53 (Ser15) were attenuated by treatment of cells with wortmannin, a pan-phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor. Moreover, co-treatment of etoposide and KG-135 enhanced mitochondrial localization of Bax. Our results indicate that etoposide-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells can be potentiated in the presence of KG-135 through a mechanism that involves the stabilization of p53 and the stimulation of Bax- and p21-mediated apoptotic signaling pathways. These findings suggest that KG-135 represents a useful candidate adjuvant for the treatment of cancers that could potentially minimize the adverse effects of current clinical chemotherapeutics.

Characterization of two distinct phospholipase C enzymes from Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a serious bacterial pathogen that can cause a lethal infection in humans known as melioidosis. In this study two of its phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes (Plc-1 and Plc-2) were characterized. Starting with a virulent strain, two single mutants were constructed, each with one plc gene inactivated, and one double mutant with both plc genes inactivated. The single plc mutants exhibited decreased extracellular PLC activity in comparison to the wild-type strain, thereby demonstrating that the two genes encoded functional extracellular PLCs. Growth comparisons between the wild-type and PLC mutants in egg-yolk-supplemented medium indicated that both PLCs contributed to egg-yolk phospholipid utilization. Both PLCs hydrolysed phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin but neither was haemolytic for human erythrocytes. Experimental infections of eukaryotic cells demonstrated that Plc-1 itself had no effect on plaque-forming efficiency but it had an additive effect on increasing the efficiency of Plc-2 to form plaques. Only Plc-2 had a significant role in host cell cytotoxicity. In contrast, neither Plc-1 nor Plc-2 appeared to play any role in multinucleated giant cell (MNGC) formation or induction of apoptotic death in the cells studied. These data suggested that PLCs contribute, at least in part, to B. pseudomallei virulence and support the view that Plc-1 and Plc-2 are not redundant virulence factors.

[Studies on chemical constituents of cytotoxic fraction from leaves of Elaeagnus pungens].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents possessing cytotoxicity activity from Elaeagnus pungens. METHOD: The constituents were separated through repeated chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. RESULT: Five compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate ether extract of leaves of E. pungens. Their structures were elucidated as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (1), 3, 3'-dimethoxyquercetin (2), caffeic acid methyl ester (3), methyl 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoate (4), spingic acid (5), 4-methoxylbenzoic acid (6), 3-methylkaempferol (7), kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (8), dausosterol (9). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-8 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

A novel mechanism of action of the fumagillin analog, TNP-470, in the B16F10 murine melanoma cell line.

TNP-470, a semisynthetic derivative of fumagillin, is an acknowledged angiogenesis inhibitor, presently undergoing clinical trials. It exerts an anti-proliferative effect directed against endothelial cells. This effect is known to be based on cell cycle inhibition effected by the p53/p21 pathway. We observed short-term toxicity of TNP-470 in the B16F10 murine melanoma cell line in vitro and investigated the mechanism of action. Cell death occurred as soon as 2 h after the addition of TNP-470, without typical apoptotic features. The toxic effect could be modulated and it depended on the type of culture medium or supplementation with anti-oxidants. Addition of N-acetylcysteine protected B16F10 cells from TNP-470-induced death and inhibited an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are detected by the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe. We conclude that TNP-470 can induce intracellular generation of ROS, which act toxically inside B16F10 cells. One may suggest that this novel activity of TNP-470 might be beneficial in some cases, but it could also be responsible for some undesirable side-effects. The possibility of its modulation gives a prospect for controlling the action of this potential drug and probably its derivatives.

Fibroblasts can be genetically modified to produce excitable cells capable of electrical coupling.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac conduction occurs in an electrical syncytium of excitable cells connected by gap junctions. Disruption of these electrophysiological properties causes conduction slowing or block. Depending on the location of affected cells within the heart, this has the potential to result in clinical syndromes such as atrioventricular block. With a view to developing gene therapy strategies for repairing cardiac conduction defects, we sought to establish whether the phenotype of fibroblasts can be modified by gene transfer to produce cells capable of electrical excitation and coupling. METHODS AND RESULTS: High-titer lentiviral vectors encoding MyoD, a myogenic transcription factor, and connexin43, a gap junction protein, were produced by established methods. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were efficiently (>80%) transduced at a multiplicity of infection of 50. HDFs transduced with the MyoD-encoding vector underwent myogenic conversion, as evidenced by myotube formation and detection of muscle-specific proteins. Importantly, calcium transients indicative of membrane excitability were observed in MyoD-induced myotubes after loading with a calcium-sensitive dye and electrical stimulation. Transients from adjacent myotubes displayed different excitation thresholds, indicating an absence of coupling between cells, consistent with skeletal muscle biology. In contrast, simultaneous transduction of HDFs with MyoD and connexin43-encoding vectors resulted in the appearance of transients in adjacent myotubes with identical thresholds, indicative of electrical coupling. Notably, dye transfer studies confirmed gap junctional intercellular communication. CONCLUSIONS: Fibroblasts can be genetically modified to produce excitable cells capable of electrical coupling. These observations strengthen the prospect of developing gene-based strategies for repairing cardiac conduction defects.

Synthesis and antiviral properties of arabino and ribonucleosides of 1,3-dideazaadenine, 4-nitro-1,3-dideazapurine and diketopiperazine.

Different arabinosides and ribosides, viz. Ara-DDA or 9(1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl) 1,3-dideazaadenine (6), Ara-NDDP or 9(1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl) 4-nitro-1,3-dideazapurine (7), Ara-DKP or 1(1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl) diketopiperazine (8), Ribo-DDA or 9(1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl) 1,3-dideazaadenine (9) and Ribo-NDDP or 9(1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl) 4-nitro-1,3-dideazapurine (10) have been synthesized as probable antiviral agents. The arabinosides have been synthesized using the catalyst TDA-1 that causes stereospecific formation of beta-nucleosides while a one-pot synthesis procedure was adopted for the synthesis of the ribonucleosides where beta-anomers were obtained in higher yields. All the five nucleoside analogs have been screened for antiviral property against HIV-1 (IIIB), HSV-1 and 2, parainfluenza-3, reovirus-1 and many others. It was observed that arabinosides had greater inhibitory action than ribosides. The compound 7 or Ara-NDDP has shown maximum inhibition of HIV-1 replication than the rest of the molecules with an IC50 of 79.4 microg/mL.

p55CDC/hCDC20 is associated with BUBR1 and may be a downstream target of the spindle checkpoint kinase.

Eukaryotic cells have evolved a mechanism that delays the progression of mitosis until condensed chromosomes are properly positioned on the mitotic spindle. We have been studying genes that regulated the spindle checkpoint in human cells. Enforced expression of human BUBR1, but not a BUBR1 mutant allele, enhances accumulation of mitotic cells. Yeast two-hybrid system and GST-pulldown analyses show that p55CDC/hCdc20, a protein known to link spindle checkpoint components such as MAD2 to anaphase promoting complex (APC), interacts with BUBR1. In addition, p55CDC is capable of pulling down BUBR1 in sf-9 cells infected with both p55CDC and His6-BUBR1 recombinant baculoviruses but not in the cells infected with p55CDC baculoviruses or with the baculoviral vector alone. Moreover, immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot analyses confirmed that native p55CDC is associated with BUBR1 in HeLa cells. Spindle checkpoint activation by nocodazole treatment enhances the association between p55CDC and His6-BUBR1. In nocodazole-arrested mitotic cells, both CDC16 and hyperphosphorylated CDC27, two APC components, preferentially associate with His6-BUBR1 resins, but not the control resins. Furthermore, BUBR1 phosphorylates p55CDC in vitro, and the phosphorylation of p55CDC by BUBR1 appears to be correlated with spindle checkpoint activation. Together, our studies strongly suggest that BUBR1 may target APC via p55CDC.

Relation of transmembrane potential to cell survival following hyperthermia in HeLa cells.

Hyperthermia induces cell death and the usual endpoint to study this is the ability of the cells to form colonies. Hyperthermia is also known to alter membrane characteristics, especially transmembrane potential and this has been correlated with duration and degree of heating. The aim of the present study was to see the correlation between changes in membrane potential and clonogenic ability of HeLa cells after heat treatment of 41-44 degrees C. Membrane potential was measured by the fluorescence polarization of the plasma membrane probe 3,3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine by flow cytometry. Cell survival was assessed by colony formation assay. The fluorescence intensity increased and cell survival decreased with an increase in temperature. The fall in survival following heat treatment closely paralleled the increase in fluorescent intensity, especially heat treatments of 60 min or more. After 2 h of heating at 44 degrees C, the surviving fraction decreased to 1% and the fluorescence intensity increased to 154.84% of the unheated controls. This study suggests that measurement of membrane potential by flow cytometry may potentially be an alternative to colony forming assay for assessing cell survival. Since the results of membrane potential measurements are available immediately, this has implications for its potential use as a predictive assay of thermosensitivity.

Effects of antheridial peptides derived from Chara on cell cycle-regulated processes in human and yeast cells.

Previous experiments have shown that extracts obtained from maturing male sex organs of Chara tomentosa, containing a low molecular weight peptide (termed antheridial chromatin condensation factor--ACCF) are capable to induce structural and functional effects in root meristems and fern gametophytes. Our present data point to a number of resemblances between the phenotypic characters of antheridial filaments (a.f.) and the properties of ACCF-treated human lymphocytes and HeLa cells; these comprise primarily a number of morphological changes at the nuclear/chromosomal levels. Mitotic chromosomes become shortened and the relative duration of prophase is reduced, while duration of telophase is prolonged. Nucleolar profiles in ACCF-treated HeLa cells become reduced. Significant decrease in mitotic activity was found in human and yeast cells (Schizosaccharomyces pombe). All the above similarities between the "innate" processes within a.f. and those induced by ACCF provide positive evidence for the presence of a highly specific factor that contributes to nuclear re-patterning of cells undergoing morphogenetic transformations before the onset of spermiogenesis.

The induction of apoptosis in HeLa cells by the loss of LBP-p40.

To analyze the function of the laminin-binding protein precursor p40 (LBP-p40) in higher eukaryotic cells, plasmid DNA expressing antisense or sense cDNA for p40 under the control of the LacSwitch system was introduced into HeLa cells. Stable transformants were isolated, and the expression of p40 was assayed by Western and Northern blotting. The expression level of p40 was not affected in HeLa cell transformants cultured in 10% serum-supplemented media with the induction of antisense (AS)-p40 with 5 mM IPTG. However, both the protein and message for endogenous p40 in serum-depleted media with 5 mM IPTG were reduced to about 30 - 10% of the expression level in serum-free media without 5 mM IPTG. Colony formation was inhibited with the suppression of p40. AS-p40 clones died in 7 days when cultured in serum-depleted media with 5 mM IPTG, while clones without 5 mM IPTG AS-p40 clones never died, even in serum-depleted media. Additionally, sense (S)-p40 clones and control CAT clones survived more than 2 weeks in serum-free media with 5 mM IPTG. DNA fragmentation assay revealed that cell death induced by the reduction of AS-p40 resulted from apoptosis. Both the inhibition of cell growth and apoptotic cell death were partially rescued by the transfer of the p40 cDNA expression vector to AS-p40 clones. Moreover, the introduction of a synthetic hammerhead ribozyme for LBP-p40 using a fusigenic viral liposome suppressed the message for LBP-p40 even in the presence of 10% serum, and it also induced apoptosis.

[YY1 and its repressive effect on human papillomavirus 16 early promoter P97 existed widely among human epithelial cell lines].

Cellular transcription factor YY1 represses the activity of early promoter P97 of HPV 16. Removal of the specific binding sites for YY1 in HPV 16 LCR can increase the P97 activity. To analyse the expression of YY1 and the existence of the activation effect on P97 due to removing YY1 binding sites in the LCR region, we extracted nuclear proteins from four cervical cancer cell lines and two human keratinocytes. EMSA assays were carried out in vitro. At the same time, we transiently transfected the luciferase reporter plasmids, which contain HPV 16 reference and mutated LCR sequences, respectively, into the different cells and determined the luciferase expressions. The results showed that all the analysed cell lines contained biologically functional YY1 proteins. No remarkable difference in the concentration of native YY1 proteins could be detected among the tested cells. Removal of YY1 binding sites in HPV 16 LCR could elevate P97 activity in several analysed cell lines, including normal human primary kerationcytes from foreskin. It suggests that YY1 regulatory system exists widely in human epithelial cell lines. We also found that the transcription activator NF1 was more highly expressed in C33a cell than in HT3 cell, indicating an unevenly distribution of functional proteins in various cell lines.

Inhibition of colony formation of Hela cells by naturally occurring and synthetic agents.

The present study compared the effects of naturally occurring extracts or compound in combination with synthetic selenium compounds on the colony formation and nucleic acid synthesis of cultured human cervical epitheloid carcinoma cells (Hela). Crude extract of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) or purified lectin from red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in combination with selenomethionine were more effective in inhibiting the colony formation of Hela cells than when these cells were treated with these agents alone. Extracts of saffron (Crocus sativus) and selenite have previously been shown to inhibit the colony formation and nucleic acid synthesis by Hela cells in vitro. In the present study we examined the effects of saffron extract in combination with selenite on the colony formation and DNA and RNA synthesis in Hela cells. We found that the treatment of tumor Hela cells with saffron extract in combination with selenite increased the level of inhibition of the colony formation and nucleic acid synthesis in comparison with cells that were treated with only one of these agents. The inhibitory effect of saffron extract in combination with selenite was modified by intracellular sulfhydryl compounds.

Synthesis, cell growth inhibition, and antitumor screening of 2-(p-n-butylanilino)purines and their nucleoside analogues.

Derivatives of N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)guanine (BuPG) and 2-(p-n-butylanilino)adenine (BuAA) were synthesized and tested as inhibitors of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha, cell growth, and macromolecule synthesis. 2-(p-n-Butylanilino)-6-chloropurine (BuACl) served as a useful intermediate to prepare a series of 6-substituted analogues. BuACl, as its sodium salt, reacted with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-p-toluoyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl chloride in acetonitrile to give 64% of the corresponding 9-beta nucleoside (blocked BuAdCl) and only 14% of the 7-beta isomer. Deblocking and substitution of chlorine in BuAdCl generated a series of 2-(p-n-butylanilino)-9-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purine derivatives. Reaction of the sodium salt of BuACl with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide also afforded, after deblocking and substitution of the 6-chloro group, a series of 2-(p-n-butylanilino)-9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]purines. The bases synthesized were inhibitors of DNA polymerase alpha isolated from Chinese hamster ovary cells, the most potent compounds being 6-methoxy and 6-methylthio derivatives of 2-(p-n-butylanilino)purine. When tested for their ability to inhibit [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in HeLa cell cultures and the growth of exponentially growing HeLa cells, 9-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl) derivatives had greater potency than their base counterparts, but "adenine" analogues, such as 2-(p-n-butylanilino)-2'-deoxyadenosine (BuAdA, IC50 = 1 microM), were considerably more potent than N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine (BuPdG, IC50 = 25 microM). Derivatives bearing the 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl] group were nearly as potent inhibitors of [3H]thymidine incorporation in these experiments as the corresponding deoxyribonucleosides. Base and deoxynucleoside derivatives also inhibited cellular RNA synthesis, and several compounds, at high concentrations, inhibited protein synthesis. BuPG, BuAA, and four deoxyribonucleoside derivatives of 2-(p-n-butylanilino)purines were tested against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice. None of the compounds increased the survival time of test animals, but two of them, BuAdA and its 6-desamino derivative BuAdP, were lethal at the highest concentration used (400 mg/kg).

In vitro and in vivo anti-picornavirus activity of some p-benzoylphenoxypyridines.

Fifteen p-benzoylphenoxypyridines were initially evaluated for their in vitro activity against rhinoviruses (RV) 1A, 2 and 64 and coxsackie virus (Cox) A21 and for their oral prophylactic and therapeutic activity in Swiss albino mice lethally challenged with Cox A21. One compound, (4-[(5-methylsulfonyl-2-pyridinyl)oxy]phenyl) phenyl methanone, was selected for additional evaluation. These studies showed the compound to possess MIC50 values of less than or equal to 5 micrograms/ml against only 6 of 20 (30.0%) RV serotypes tested. In contrast, the compound was active at concentrations of less than or equal to 5.0 micrograms/ml against 10 of 12 (83.3%) enteroviruses evaluated. In vivo studies showed the compound to significantly protect mice lethally infected with Cox A21 after a single oral dose of 37.5 mg/kg (P less than 0.02) and during a regimen of continuous oral doses of at least 4.7 mg/kg per day (P less than 0.001). Mechanism of action studies indicated that the compound inhibits picornavirus uncoating or some earlier virus-host cell-associated event. Isotopic studies show that (4-[(5-methylsulfonyl-2-pyridinyl)oxy]phenyl) phenyl methanone perturbs HeLa cell macromolecular synthesis at concentrations of as low as 3.12 micrograms/ml. This concentration is only 4-fold higher than the concentration of compound necessary to inhibit Cox A21 RNA synthesis by 90%. This narrow therapeutic ratio limits the potential clinical utility of this compound to all but the most serious picornavirus infections.

Assembly of chromatin fibers into metaphase chromosomes analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

The higher-order assembly of the approximately 30 nm chromatin fibers into the characteristic morphology of HeLa mitotic chromosomes was investigated by electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of serial sections was applied to view the distribution of the DNA-histone-nonhistone fibers through the chromatid arms. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided a complementary technique allowing the surface arrangement of the fibers to be observed. The approach with both procedures was to swell the chromosomes slightly, without extracting proteins, so that the densely-packed chromatin fibers were separated. The degree of expansion of the chromosomes was controlled by adjusting the concentration of divalent cations (Mg2+). With TEM, individual fibers could be resolved by decreasing the Mg2+ concentration to 1.0-1.5 mM. The predominant mode of fiber organization was seen to be radial for both longitudinal and transverse sections. Using SEM, surface protuberances with an average diameter of 69 nm became visible after the Mg2+ concentration was reduced to 1.5 mM. The knobby surface appearance was a variable feature, because the average diameter decreased when the divalent cation concentration was further reduced. The surface projections appear to represent the peripheral tips of radial chromatin loops. These TEM and SEM observations support a "radial loop" model for the organization of the chromatin fibers in metaphase chromosomes.

Screening for eye irritancy using cultured HeLa cells.

To investigate whether toxicity tests on HeLa cells were predictive of eye irritancy, 18 compounds of known eye irritancy and in vitro cytotoxicity were tested on HeLa cells in the MIT-24 system. The results correlated well with eye irritancy as determined by the Draize test in rabbits for 16 of the test substances, but failed to detect the high eye irritancy of 1-heptanol and allyl alcohol, both of which were cytotoxic in other cellular systems.

Cytotoxic and antitumor activity of 1-nitroacridines as an aftereffect of their interstrand DNA cross-linking.

To determine whether the toxic effects and changes in many cell functions caused by antitumor 1-nitroacridines are related to their enzymatically mediated covalent interstrand DNA cross-linking (J. Konopa, J. W. Pawlak, and K. Pawlak. Chem.-Biol. Interact., 43: 175-197, 1983), the cross-linking potency of the derivatives with structural modifications in position 9 of the acridine nucleus was estimated as their in vitro threshold concentrations (0.3 to 4.5 microM), beyond which the first interstrand DNA cross-links could be detected in DNA of cultured HeLa S3 cells with a polyethylene glycol 6000-Dextran T500 assay. Statistically significant (p less than 0.05) correlations exist between the cross-linking potency of 1-nitroacridines and their in vivo antitumor activity and toxicity against mice with Sarcoma 180 tumors in solid form (3 to 1065 mumol/kg of body weight), as well as their in vitro cytotoxicity against cultured HeLa or HeLa S3 cells (0.0005 to 7.2 microM), indicating that the interstrand DNA cross-linking potency might be one of primary determinants of in vivo and in vitro biological activity of 1-nitroacridine antineoplastic drugs. Susceptibility of the parent agents to reduction does not appear to be a rate-limiting factor of DNA cross-linking potency of 1-nitroacridines and their metabolic transformations (J. W. Pawlak, and J. Konopa. Biochem. Pharmacol., 28: 3391-3402, 1979), because no significant differences were observed among the agents with respect to their polarographic half-wave potentials estimated under anaerobic conditions.

Glucose requirement for induction by sodium butyrate of the glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit in HeLa cells.

Butyric acid produces multiple effects on mammalian cells in culture, including alterations in morphology, depression of growth rate, increased histone acetylation, and modified production of various proteins and enzymes. The latter effect is exemplified by the induction in HeLa cells of the glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit by millimolar concentrations of the fatty acid. This report demonstrates that increased subunit accumulation in response to sodium butyrate is strikingly dependent on the presence of glucose (or mannose) in the growth medium. In contrast, basal levels of subunit synthesis are only marginally affected when the culture medium is supplemented with one of a variety of hexoses. An increase in the accumulation of HeLa alpha does not occur in medium containing pyruvate as the energy source, and sustained induction requires the simultaneous and continued presence of both glucose and butyrate. The effects of butyrate on HeLa cell morphology and subunit induction can be separated, since the latter is glucose-dependent while the former is not. Failure of butyrate to induce alpha in medium containing pyruvate does not result from restricted subunit secretion, since the levels of intracellular alpha are not increased disproportionately relative to those in the medium. The hexoses which support induction of HeLa alpha (glucose greater than or equal to mannose greater than galactose greater than fructose) are identical to those which have been shown previously to stimulate the glucosylation of lipid-linked oligosaccharides and enhance the synthesis of certain glycoproteins. Labeling of various glycosylation intermediates with [3H]mannose indicates that in glucose medium there is a decrease in the level of radioactivity associated with both dolicholpyrophosphoryl oligosaccharide and cellular glycoproteins and a concomitant increase in the fraction of label recovered in secreted glycoproteins. Butyrate also causes a decrease in [3H]mannose-labeled cellular glycoproteins and an increase in tritiated extracellular glycoproteins, particularly in glucose medium. Likewise, glucose stimulates the incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into immunoprecipitable alpha subunit relative to the bulk of HeLa-secreted glycoproteins, and this is further enhanced by butyrate. However, as demonstrated by lectin chromatography of conditioned media, a nonglycosylated subunit does not accumulate in pyruvate medium, either in the absence or presence of butyrate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)