Combined effects of GSTP1 and MRP1 in melanoma drug resistance.

Glutathione-S-transferase Pi1 (GSTP1) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) are overexpressed in melanoma, a skin cancer notoriously resistant to all current modalities of cancer therapy. To investigate the involvement of these detoxifying enzymes in the drug resistance of melanoma, an inducible (Tet-On system) antisense (AS) RNA strategy was used to specifically inhibit GSTP1 expression in A375 cells, a human melanoma cell line expressing high levels of GSTP1 and MRP1. Stable transfectant clones were established and analysed for GSTP1 inhibition by AS RNA. The clone A375-ASPi1, presenting a specific 40% inhibition of GSTP1 expression in the presence of doxycycline, was selected. Lowering the GSTP1 level significantly increased (about 3.3-fold) the sensitivity of A375-ASPi1 cells to etoposide. Inhibitors of glutathione synthesis (BSO), GSTs (curcumin, ethacrynic acid), and also of MRPs (MK571, sulphinpyrazone) improved the sensitising effect of GSTP1 AS RNA. All these inhibitors had stronger sensitising effects in control cells expressing high GSTP1 level (A375-ASPi1 cells in the absence of doxycycline). In conclusion, GSTP1 can act in a combined fashion with MRP1 to protect melanoma cells from toxic effects of etoposide.

Transient protection by peripheral benzodiazepine receptors during the early events of ultraviolet light-induced apoptosis.

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is a mitochondrial protein involved in the formation of mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) pores which play a critical role during the early events of apoptosis. PBRs are located in many tissues and are strongly expressed in the superficial layers of human epidermis. PBRs play a protective role against free radical damage and PBR ligands modulate apoptosis. To investigate the role of PBR during the early events of ultraviolet (UV)-mediated apoptosis we compared the effects of UVB on PBR-transfected Jurkat cells and their wild type counterparts devoid of any PBR expression. Results indicate that early after UVB exposure (up to 4 h), PBR-transfected cells were more resistant to apoptosis and exhibited a delayed mitochondrial transmembrane potential drop, a diminished superoxide anions production, and a reduced caspase-3 activation. Taken together these findings suggest that PBR may regulate early death signals leading to UV induced apoptosis.

Fluoropyrimidine sensitivity of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells stably transfected with human uridine phosphorylase.

The relationship between uridine phosphorylase (UP) expression level in cancer cells and the tumour sensitivity to fluoropyrimidines is unclear. In this study, we found that UP overexpression by gene transfer, and the subsequent efficient metabolic activation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by the ribonucleotide pathway, does not increase the fluoropyrimidine sensitivity of MCF-7 human cancer cells.

Combination of thymidine phosphorylase gene transfer and deoxyinosine treatment greatly enhances 5-fluorouracil antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

We reported previously that 5-fluorouracil (FUra) efficacy could be enhanced by increasing tumoral thymidine phosphorylase (TP) activity. Potentiated TP yield was achieved by either transfecting cells with human TP gene (A. Evrard et al., Br. J. Cancer, 80: 1726-1733, 1999) or associating FUra with 2'-deoxyinosine (d-Ino), a modulator providing the tumors with TP cofactor deoxyribose 1-phosphate (J. Ciccolini et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 6: 1529-1535, 2000). The purpose of the present work was to study the effects of a combined modulation (TP gene transfer + use of d-Ino) on the sensitivity to FUra of the LS174T human colorectal cell line. Results showed a near 4000 times increase of cell sensitivity in vitro after double (genetic + biochemical) modulation. This potentiation of tumor response was accompanied by a total change in the FUra anabolic pathway with a 5000% increase of cytosolic fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate, a stronger and longer inhibition of thymidylate synthase, and 300% augmentation of DNA damage. Besides, whereas thymidine failed to inhibit FUra cytotoxicity in LS174T wild-type cells, the potentiation of the antitumor activity observed in the modulating regimen was partly reversed by thymidine, indicative of thymidylate synthase as the main drug target. The impact of this double modulation was next investigated in xenograft-bearing nude mice. Results showed that whereas FUra alone was completely ineffective on wild-type tumor growth, the size of TP-transfected tumors in animals treated with the FUra/d-Ino combination was reduced by 80% (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that FUra exhibits stronger antiproliferative activity when activated via TP through the DNA pathway and that high tumoral TP activity therefore leads to enhanced sensitivity to fluoropyrimidines.

Enhanced antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil in combination with 2'-deoxyinosine in human colorectal cell lines and human colon tumor xenografts.

We investigated the effects of 2'-deoxyinosine (d-Ino), a modulator yielding thymidine phosphorylase activity, on cellular pharmacology of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in various human colorectal cell lines and its antitumoral activity when combined with FUra in human xenografts. Associating d-Ino with FUra increased by 38 up to 700 times the sensitivity of HT29 and FUra-resistant SW620 lines, respectively, but not of CaCO2 cells, although high levels of intracellular FdUMP and subsequent higher thymidylate synthase inhibition were observed. Cell death studies confirmed the ability of d-Ino to enhance both early and late apoptosis induced by FUra in HT29 and SW620 but not in CaCo2. Similarly, we showed that associating d-Ino increased by 68 up to 101% the Fas overexpression induced by FUra in HT29 and SW620 but not in CaCo2 cells. Anti-Fas and anti-FasL antibodies both partly reversed this increase of cell sensitivity, thus confirming the role Fas plays in the modulation of FUra toxicity by d-Ino. This Fas component could explain the discrepancy between the lines because CaCO2 has been described as insensitive to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Antitumor activity of the combination was next investigated in nude mice transplanted with SW620. Results showed that although FUra alone has little effect on SW620 xenografts (P > 0.05), associating d-Ino significantly reduced the tumor growth by 57% (P < 0.05). This study suggests that it is possible to reduce both in vitro and in vivo resistance to FUra by modulating the way the drug is converted after cellular uptake.

Increased cytotoxicity and bystander effect of 5-fluorouracil and 5-deoxy-5-fluorouridine in human colorectal cancer cells transfected with thymidine phosphorylase.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), a prodrug of 5-FU, are anticancer agents activated by thymidine phosphorylase (TP). Transfecting the human TP cDNA into cancer cells in order to sensitize them to these pyrimidine antimetabolites may be an important approach in human cancer gene therapy research. In this study, an expression vector containing the human TP cDNA (pcTP5) was transfected into LS174T human colon carcinoma cells. Eight stable transfectants were randomly selected and analysed. The cytotoxic effects of 5-FU and 5'-DFUR were higher in TP-transfected cells as compared to wild-type cells. The maximal decreases in the IC50 were 80-fold for 5-FU and 40-fold for 5'-DFUR. The increase in sensitivity to these pyrimidines of TP-transfected cells significantly correlated with the increase in both TP activity and TP expression. Transfected clone LS174T-c2 but not wild-type cells exhibited formation of [3H]FdUMP from [3H]5-FU. In addition the LS174T-c2 clone enhanced the cytotoxic effect of 5'-DFUR, but also that of 5-FU, towards co-cultured parental cells. For both anti-cancer agents, this bystander effect did not require cell-cell contact. These results show that both 5-FU or 5'-DFUR could be used together with a TP-suicide vector in cancer gene therapy.

Enhancement of 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity by human thymidine-phosphorylase expression in cancer cells: in vitro and in vivo study.

Transferring a gene into cancer cells in order to sensitize them to drugs is an important approach in human cancer gene-therapy research. Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is the first enzyme in the metabolic activation pathway of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to fluorodeoxyribonucleotides, thus, it could be used to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to this anti-pyrimidine agent. In this study, an expression vector containing the human TP cDNA was transfected into C26 murine colon-carcinoma cells. Stable transfectants were selected; all showed increased TP activity, ranging from 2- to 10-fold when compared with wild-type cells. The in vitro sensitivity of transfectants to 5-FU and 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) was enhanced, in agreement with the observed increase in TP activity. Then, tumors were generated by s.c. injection of TP-transfected or wild-type C26 cells in syngeneic BALB/c mice. 5-FU (25 mg/kg, i.p.) induced a growth delay of TP-transfected C26 tumors as compared with C26 wild-type tumors. These data suggest that TP could be transfected in tumor cells to increase the sensitivity to 5-FU for subsequent cancer gene therapy.

Differential responsiveness to contractile agents of isolated smooth muscle cells from human colons as a function of age and inflammation.

To study the involvement of age and inflammation in motor colonic activity in man, contractile responses to CCK, carbachol, and KCl of isolated colonic smooth muscle cells (SMC) from normal and inflamed human colons were evaluated; the incidence of sex and smoking on contraction was also analyzed. Contractile responses to the three agonists were significantly lower in tissues with a low degree of inflammation than in tissues with high level of inflammation or normal tissues. This reduction in cell responsiveness appears to be nonspecific and nonreceptor mediated. A positive correlation of the contractile responses to the three stimulants with the age of patients was observed. In contrast, no association was found between sex, smoking, and cell contraction. In conclusion, contractions of SMC due to CCK, carbachol, and KCl were significantly modified during life; inflammation of the colon led to a loss of SMC responsiveness.

mRNAs encoding CCKB but not CCKA receptors are expressed in human T lymphocytes and Jurkat lymphoblastoid cells.

We previously reported the existence of pharmacologically related gastrin/CCKB type receptors (CCKB-R) in a variant of Jurkat T lymphoblastoid cells (JK(CD3- CD4+)). We studied here the expression of mRNAs encoding CCKA and CCKB receptors in various human white cells by means of Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Using CCKB-R specific primers, we detected a significant expression of CCKB-R mRNA in JK(CD3- CD4+) cells. These transcripts were also expressed, at a lower level, in two other Jurkat clones (JK(CD3+ CD4-) and JK(CD3+ CD4+)), in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and in purified CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Activation of Jurkat cells and PBL by T cells mitogenic lectins (jacalin, phytohemaglutinin) did not modify CCKB-R mRNA expression. In all these cells, using CCKA-R specific primers, we could not amplify any specific cDNA fragment corresponding to this receptor. Neither CCKB-R nor CCKA-R mRNAs could be detected in monocytic cells. Our data show for the first time a constitutive expression of CCKB-R transcripts in lymphoid cells. Moreover, the modulation of immunocyte functions by cholecystokinin-related peptides could occur through CCKB-R rather than CCKA-R and affect lymphocytes rather than monocytes.

Involvement of G alpha q/11 in the contractile signal transduction pathway of muscarinic M3 receptors in caecal smooth muscle.

The nature of the pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein involved in muscarinic-mediated phosphoinositides breakdown and contraction of isolated smooth muscle cells from the circular layer of the rabbit caecum was investigated. Immunoblotting of membrane proteins using affinity purified antibodies directed against different G-protein alpha-subunits revealed the expression of G alpha q/11, G alpha 11 and G alpha 12 in these cells. The carbachol-mediated [3H]inositol phosphates accumulation in saponin-permeabilized cells was abolished by anti-G alpha q/11-antibodies whereas anti-G alpha i1,2-antibodies were ineffective. Moreover, the carbachol-induced contraction of permeabilized cells, as determined by videomicrocopic measurements, was reversed by anti-G alpha q/11-antibodies but not affected by anti-G alpha i1,2-antibodies. From these data, we conclude that carbachol stimulates phosphoinositides hydrolysis and cell contraction through activation of specific muscarinic M3 receptors coupled to the pertussis toxin-insensitive G alpha q/11-protein. This is the first demonstration of G alpha q/11 implication in the contractile signal transduction pathway of muscarinic M3 receptors in smooth muscle cells.

[Effects of an hydrosoluble fraction from bovine bone (Ossopan) on murine osteoblasts in culture]. / Effets de la fraction hydrosoluble d'un extrait d'os bovin (Ossopan) sur des ostéoblastes murins en culture.

The effects of an hydrosoluble fraction of the bovine bone extract Ossopan on cultured murine osteoblasts were assessed in this study. The hydrosoluble fraction from Ossopan, obtained by acid/ethanol extraction, contained significant amounts of TGF-beta 1. Calvariae from new-born rats were cultured for 1 month in synthetic medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum to allow cell proliferation; immunocytochemistry studies performed with a rabbit serum raised against alkaline phosphatase indicated that only osteoblasts were present in cell cultures. Using an XTT-based colorimetric cell proliferation assay, we showed that the hydrosoluble fraction of the bovine bone extract dose-dependently reduced the proliferation of cultured osteoblasts. A similar inhibition was obtained with a recombinant TGF-beta 1. Thus, the inhibitory effect of the hydrosoluble fraction of Ossopan on osteoblast proliferation should be due to the cytokines contained in this preparation.

Laparoscopic appendicectomy: case reports of vascular injury in 2 children.

The authors report 2 similar cases of serious vascular injury occurring during laparoscopic appendicectomy. These cases stress the potential risk of major accidents with laparoscopic surgery. There should be great care in the choice of indications and during the procedures.

Signal transduction pathways of muscarinic receptors in circular smooth muscle from the rabbit caecum.

The effects of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor stimulation on phosphoinositides breakdown and adenylate cyclase activity were examined in the circular smooth muscle of the rabbit caecum. In Myo-[3H]inositol-labeled circular smooth muscle cells, carbachol caused a concentration-dependent increase in [3H]inositol phosphates ([3H]IPs) accumulation (EC50 of 3 +/- 1 microM). The M1-selective antagonist pirenzepine (PRZ), the M2-selective AF-DX 116 (11-2[[2-[(diethyl-amino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5, 11-dihydro-6Hypyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one) and the M3-selective para-fluoro-hexahydrosiladifenidol (p-F-HHSiD) inhibited the carbachol-induced [3H]inositol phosphates accumulation with the following order of potency; p-F-HHSiD > PRZ > AF-DX 116. In saponin-permeabilized circular smooth muscle cells, carbachol and GTP gamma [S] elicited a concentration-dependent increase in [3H]inositol phosphates accumulation. The concentration-response curve for GTP gamma [S] was shifted to the left when cells were incubated with 1 microM carbachol. The [3H]inositol phosphates accumulation elicited by simultaneous addition of 0.1 microM GTP gamma [S] and 1 microM carbachol to permeabilized cells was significantly decreased (78.28 +/- 18.23% inhibition) when cells were preincubated for 5 min with 0.1 mM GDP beta [S]. In nonpermeabilized cells, pertussis toxin did not alter the carbachol-induced increase in [3H]inositol phosphates accumulation. On the other hand, the 0.1 mM carbachol-induced inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in circular smooth muscle homogenates was significantly reversed by atropine and AF-DX 116, whereas PRZ and p-F-HHSiD were ineffective (muscarinic antagonists were used at 1 microM final concentration).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacological coupling and functional role for the muscarinic receptor subtypes in isolated cells from the circular smooth muscle of the rabbit cecum.

The regulation of isolated smooth muscle cells from the circular layer of the rabbit cecum by muscarinic receptors was studied in this paper. Binding of N-[3H]methylscopolamine was found to be specific, saturable (maximal binding capacity of about 325,000 sites/cell) and of high affinity (dissociation constant [KD) of 0.52 +/- 0.12 nM] The muscarinic M1-selective antagonist pirenzepine (PRZ), the muscarinic M2-selective AF-DX 116 (11-2[[2-[(diethyl-amino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5, 11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one) and the muscarinic M3-selective para-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol (p-F-HHSiD) inhibited N-[3H]methylscopolamine binding with respective inhibition constants (Ki) of (in nanomolar): 1018 +/- 382, 254 +/- 76 and 916 +/- 305. [3H]inositol phosphates accumulation was increased by carbachol (CCh) (EC50 of 3 +/- 1 microM). Antagonists competitively inhibited the CCh-induced [3H]inositol phosphates accumulation with the following order of potency: atropine > p-F-HHSiD > PRZ > AF-DX 116. In addition, CCh increased inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate level in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion (EC50 of 1.5 +/- 0.5 microM). CCh inhibited both isoproterenol- and forskolin-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated smooth muscle cells. Moreover, CCh inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in smooth muscle homogenates (EC50 of 10.0 +/- 22.1 microM); the CCh-induced inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was reversed significantly by atropine and AF-DX 116, whereas PRZ and p-F-HHSiD were ineffective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

M3-subtype muscarinic receptor that controls intracellular calcium release and inositol phosphate accumulation in gastric parietal cells.

The muscarinic receptor subtype which triggers acid secretion was investigated in isolated rabbit gastric parietal cells. Cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), measured with the fluorescent indicator FURA-2, increased rapidly after full agonist (carbachol) stimulation (6-8 sec), then returned to an intermediate sustained value. Other M2-agonists, oxotremorine and arecoline, produced a partial [Ca2+]i increase, whereas M1-agonists, pilocarpine and [4-m-chlorophenylcarbamoyloxyl]-2-butynyl-trimethylammonium, were without any significant effect. [Ca2+]i rise was inhibited by selective muscarinic antagonists: atropine greater than 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methbromide greater than quinuclidinylbenzilate (QNB) greater than pirenzepine greater than 11-[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H- pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one, this sequence being characteristic of the involvement of an M3-subtype. This inhibition was shown to be stereoselective; dexetimide and (-)QNB were more potent than levetimide and (+)QNB. The IC50 values for inhibition of [Ca2+]i increase by muscarinic antagonists were in good agreement with those obtained for inhibition of phospholipase C activation. In conclusion, the muscarinic receptor that controls acid secretion appears to be of the M3-subtype and the biochemical events coupled to the activation of this receptor system are also controlled through the same subtype.

[Attempt at cost evaluation of the prevention of parietal infection in abdominal surgery. Retrospective study of 1100 patients surgically treated over 4 years]. / Tentative d'évaluation du coût de la prévention de l'infection pariétale en chirurgie abdominale. Etude rétrospective portant sur 1100 opérés en quatre ans.

Justification for prevention of parietal infection in abdominal surgery was evaluated by a retrospective study of 1100 patients operated upon between 1981 and 1984. Rate of infection in class I was 0.5% and in class IV 8%. Comparison of costs of prevention, and of treatment of declared infection, demonstrated a sum of 280 French francs per case, this representing the allowed outlay in this field. Preventive measures should continue to be applied, this type of expenditure being perfectly justified by the economy obtained through shortening of hospital stay and the inestimable improvement in patients' comfort.

[A pelvic tumor unusual in terms of its volume and clinical expression]. / Une tumeur pelvienne rare par son volume et son expression clinique.

The authors report the case of an exceptionally large prostatic adenoma (800 g) with a misleading clinical presentation: haematuria, signs of vascular compression, raised acid phosphatase, with no signs of urinary obstruction. Only repeated biopsies were able to confirm the benign nature of this hyperplasia, which justified surgical treatment.