Co-induction of c-fos and junB during the latent period preceding commitment of Friend erythroleukemia cells to differentiation.

Chemically induced differentiation of Friend murine erythroleukemia cells (F-MELC) is a multistep process with a latent period of about 12 h preceding irreversible commitment to terminal maturation. To gain understanding of the early genetic response of F-MELC to the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) inducer of F-MELC differentiation, we have investigated by Northern blot analysis the expression of fos and jun family genes that encode components of the transcription factor AP-1 complex. Our results show that c-jun mRNA is not detected at any time in untreated and DMSO-treated F-MELC. In contrast, DMSO-induced differentiation of F-MELC is associated with an early and transient induction of c-fos and junB mRNAs by 2 to 8 h treatment while in presence of dexamethasone, an inhibitor of F-MELC commitment, c-fos mRNA is not detected and junB mRNA remains at basal levels. junD mRNA is detected at low levels in untreated F-MELC and remains unchanged during DMSO treatment. Furthermore, DMSO treatment in a F-MELC cell line resistant to DMSO-differentiation does not result in an early induction of c-fos and junB mRNAs. Taken together, these results indicate that the DMSO-induced F-MELC differentiation is accompanied by an early co-induction of c-fos and junB during the latent period preceding the commitment to erythroid maturation.

Can cytotoxic activity of anthracyclines be related to DNA damage?

Accumulation, cytotoxicity, and DNA damages produced by doxorubicin (DOX), pirarubicin (THP-DOX), fluoro-doxorubicin (ME2303) or its isolated metabolite M1 have been investigated in human myelogenous leukemia cells, sensitive (K562) and resistant to DOX (K562/DOX). These compounds differed by lipophilicity and/or sugar moiety either with (DOX, THP-DOX) or without (ME2303, M1) amino group. In K562 cells, the cytotoxicity was correlated to DNA single-stranded breaks and the intracellular drug amount of DOX or M1. This was not true when the cells were treated with THP-DOX or ME2303. In addition, THP-DOX produced total DNA protein cross-linking. In K562 cells DNA damage was not repaired, while in K562/DOX repair of DNA damage produced by all drugs could be observed. Although in K562/DOX cells drug accumulation was much reduced, higher intracellular drug concentration was required to induce similar level of cytotoxicity and DNA damage. Thus, cytotoxicity produced by anthracycline is not always associated with DNA damage. Different level of resistance to DOX, THP-DOX, ME2303 or M1 is associated with reduced drug accumulation which varies with the structure.