Functional interactions between bile acids, all-trans retinoic acid, and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 on monocytic differentiation and myeloblastin gene down-regulation in HL60 and THP-1 human leukemia cells.

Bile acids were shown previously to inhibit proliferation and to induce monocytic differentiation in HL60 human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells (A. Zimber et al., Int. J. Cancer, 59: 71-77, 1994). In this report, we hypothesized that bile acids may exert a positive cooperativity with two known inducers of leukemic cell differentiation, all-trans retinoic acid and 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3. Our results provide evidence that bile acids induced the monocytic differentiation of HL60 and THP-1 human leukemia cells exposed to ineffective concentrations of these inducers. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors H-7 (10 and 20 microM) and staurosporine (5 and 20 nM) modulated the effects of bile acids on HL60 cell differentiation. Most interestingly, bile acids are shown herein to down-regulate the expression of the serine protease myeloblastin gene involved in the differentiation of myeloid hematopoietic cells. In agreement with the recent identification of nuclear receptors for bile acids, our data suggest that functional interactions between nuclear bile acid signaling pathways, PKC, and nuclear receptors for retinoic acid and vitamin D3 are involved in the down-regulation of the myeloblastin gene and the induction of cell differentiation in human leukemic cells.

Scorpion neurotoxin. Mode of action on neuromuscular junctions and synaptosomes.

Electrophysiological analysis of the effects of scorpion toxin I, one of the neurotoxins from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus australis Hector, upon crayfish neuromuscular junctions has shown that the toxin strongly associates with the nerve terminal to stimulate release of neurotransmitters. The biochemical approach has shown that the binding of scorpion toxin I to rat brain synaptosomes is accompanied by a decrease in their capacity to accumulate gamma-aminobutyric acid. The main effect of the toxin is to stimulate neurotransmitter release. The apparent dissociation constant of the toxin-receptor complex is 0.1-0.2 muM at 22 degrees C. The rate of dissociation is so slow that complex formation seems to be quasi-irreversible. The "quasi-irreversibility" has also been observed in electrophysiological experiments with the crayfish neuromuscular junction. Tetrodotoxin prevents scorpion toxin I action if it is incubated with synaptosomes or with crayfish neuromuscular junctions before scorpion toxin I application. Tetrodotoxin does not reverse scorpion toxin action if it is added to the preparation after scorpion toxin I. Prevention of scorpion toxin action by tetrodotoxin permits measurements of binding characteristics of this toxin to synaptosomes. The dissociation constant of the tetrodotoxin-receptor complex is 2.2 nM at 22 degrees C. No cooperativity is observed in the binding. Because of its high affinity for synaptosomes (and the "quasi-irreversibility" of the binding), scorpion toxin I appears to be a potentially excellent tool for further studies of the molecular mechanism of neurotransmitter secretion.

The differentiating agent, retinoic acid, causes an early inhibition of inositol lipid-specific phospholipase C activity in HL-60 cells.

Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, is shown to inhibit the levels of inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol by 25-30% when added to intact HL-60 cells at concentrations which induce differentiation. The onset of inhibition occurs after 10 min and reaches a maximum at 45 min. To study the mechanism and the site of action of retinoic acid, the activity of the phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C was studied in cells permeabilized with streptolysin O and in membrane preparations. Phospholipase C activity was stimulated either via the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) or directly by Ca2+. Retinoic acid treatment, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, led to a decrease in phospholipase C activity when stimulated with either GTP gamma S or NaF, both of which activate the enzyme via the G-protein. By contrast, it had no effect on the enzyme activity when stimulated with Ca2+ alone. This indicates that retinoic acid interferes with the coupling of the G-protein and phospholipase C. A relationship between the inhibition of phospholipase C activity and the induction of differentiation by retinoic acid was investigated. Only a small inhibition of GTP gamma S-stimulated phospholipase C activity was observed when an analogue of retinoic acid, etretine or Ro10-1670, with low differentiating activity, was used. Moreover, no inhibition of the GTP gamma S-stimulated phospholipase C activity was observed in an HL-60 sub-line resistant to retinoic acid. These results suggest that phospholipase C inhibition is an important step in the induction of differentiation.

Fatty acid composition of HL-60 cells is modified upon proliferation arrest and differentiation.

The human leukemic cell line HL-60 undergoes differentiation to granulocytic-like cells in response to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or retinoic acid (RA). This differentiation is accompanied by an arrest in cell proliferation. Studies have implicated alterations in the phospholipid fatty acid (FA) composition as a result of HL-60 differentiation. However, changes in FA's are also known to occur during the arrest of cellular proliferation. Using a highly efficient capillary gas-liquid chromatography technique, the phospholipid FA composition of HL-60 and of DMSO-resistant and RA-resistant HL-60 subclones was determined in proliferating cells, in density-arrested cells, and in terminally differentiated cells. The same specific modifications in some of the FAs of the three cell lines were observed when proliferation was inhibited by cell density; 16:0 and 18:2n-6 were decreased and 22:6n-3 increased. Moreover, 16 and 18 dimetylacetals were both increased when proliferation was decreased, indicating modifications in plasmalogen contents. Granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells and of its subclones with DMSO and/or RA provoked modifications in phospholipid FAs different from that found in density-arrested, undifferentiated cells such as decreases in monoenoic FAs of 16 and 18 carbons as well as an increase in arachidonic acid, the major polyunsaturated FA. The biological significance of these changes upon arrest of proliferation and differentiation are discussed. These results indicate that, when arrest of proliferation accompanies differentiation, these two phenomena can be responsible for different changes and, whenever possible, they have to be considered separately in order to know which modifications are effectively due to differentiation itself.

Retinoic acid inhibits the expression of cytidine deaminase linked to the differentiation of the human leukemic cell line HL-60.

The activity of cytidine deaminase markedly increases during the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by dimethylsulfoxide or 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3, but does not increase when the inducer is retinoic acid. Here it is demonstrated that retinoic acid inhibits the increase in cytidine deaminase activity elicited by the other two inducers. This inhibitory effect of retinoic acid (i) was not the result of a direct action on the enzymatic activity; (ii) was correlated with the differentiating effect of retinoic acid, as indicated by the similar time-course and dose-dependence of both effects, and by additional studies with various retinoids and with an HL-60 variant resistant to retinoic acid-induced differentiation; (iii) required the continued presence of the drug for more than 24 h, and could not be reversed after 48 h; (iv) was manifest, after a lag-time of 24 h, at whatever time retinoic acid was added during the 5 days of treatment of the cells with the differentiation inducers; and (v) was prevented by the addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. These data indicate that retinoic acid negatively regulates the expression of cytidine deaminase in HL-60 cells, and suggest that this effect is mediated by a protein, the synthesis of which should be controlled by the nuclear receptor of retinoic acid.

HLA-DR and DQ antigens in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: dissociation of expression revealed by cell surface, protein, and mRNA studies.

We studied peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of eight B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients for the expression of the human leucocyte antigens, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ. Cell surface expression of HLA class II epitopes was analyzed by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS) using three monomorphic anti-HLA class II monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for DR (D1.12) and DQ (TU22, L2) and a polymorphic anti-DQ (G2A5). The DR and DQ molecules were characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) of the specific immunoprecipitates from biosynthetically labeled cells. DR, DQ specific probes were used to characterize the class II transcripts of the corresponding genes. The data obtained with immunofluorescence disclosed two distinct patterns of HLA class II expression leading to two cell surface phenotypes: (DR+DQ+) and (DR+DQ-). In all cases the cells expressed normal amounts of HLA-DR gene products in terms of mRNA. DR cell surface determinants were present in more than 80% of cells in every sample. By 2-D gel analysis DR proteins disclosed the normal classical pattern associating the alpha, beta, and invariant chain gamma with normal level of biosynthesis for alpha and gamma but decreased biosynthesis for one of the beta gene products. Moreover, the three chains demonstrated defect in glycosylation process. In half of the cases studied the cells lacked DQ molecules at the cell surface. DQ alpha and DQ beta transcripts were detected in all cases, although the amount was extremely low in one case. DQ proteins were variable in the DQ+ phenotype and absent in the DQ- one. Interestingly, TPA and rIFN gamma treatment could restore normal glycosylation process of the DR isotype and increase biosynthesis of DQ alpha and beta chains. Those combined results support the view that transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and posttranslational mechanisms underlie the heterogeneity of class II expression observed in CLL. Moreover, 2-D gel analysis may be an invaluable tool for the analysis of the biosynthetic process of class II molecules.

Histamine H2 receptor activity during the differentiation of the human monocytic-like cell line U-937. Comparison with prostaglandins and isoproterenol.

Histamine H2 receptor activity (cAMP generation) has been characterized in U-937 cells before and after retinoic acid-induced differentiation into monocyte-/macrophage-like cells. The differentiation is associated with a decreased capacity of U-937 monocytes to generate cAMP under basal conditions or after cell surface receptor stimulation by histamine, isoproterenol and PGE1. In contrast, the potencies of the hormones are unchanged during monocytic maturation (EC50 values = 3.2-4.6 X 10(-6) M histamine, 4.6-7 X 10(-9) M isoproterenol, 2-4.6 X 10(-6) M PGE1). The data support the view that histamine and cAMP-inducing agents may control the proliferation and differentiation of normal and leukemic cells committed to monocytic maturation in man. They also raise the possibility that normal human monocytes also possess functional H2 receptors and that histamine may be implicated in the regulation of monocyte/macrophage functions.

An increase in intracellular pH is a general response of promonocytic cells to differentiating agents.

Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in HL60 and U937 cells before and after differentiation into monocyte-macrophage like cells. 12-O-Tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (PMA), butyrate, interferon, retinoic acid and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 all increased pHi. The increases elicited were rapid with PMA, much slower with retinoic acid and interferon and still slower with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Increases in pHi are due to an activation of the Na+/H+ exchange system. High pHi values are unlikely to serve as an early intracellular signal for initiating monocytic differentiation.

[3H]Ouabain binding and 86 rubidium uptake during the dimethyl sulfoxide-induced differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

When HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into granulocyte-like cells by culture in the presence of 1.3% dimethyl sulfoxide, an increase in the rate of ouabain-sensitive 86Rb transport was observed during the first 6 h followed by a constant decrease which became stable on day 4 at about 40% of control level. By contrast, the number of ouabain binding sites remained constant during the first 24 h then decreased with the same kinetics as that of the 86Rb transport rate. These results suggest that alterations in ionic fluxes, through activation of the sodium pump, are part of the early events resulting in HL-60 cell differentiation.

Gs alpha availability to cholera toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation is decreased in membranes of retinoic acid-treated leukemic cell lines HL-60 and THP-1. A posttranslational effect.

Retinoic acid (RA) induces HL-60 and THP-1 leukemic cell lines to differentiate into granulocyte-like and monocyte-like cells. Limited data are available concerning the effects of RA on components of the cyclic AMP pathway in human myeloid leukemic cells. We showed previously a decrease in adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of histamine, prostaglandin E1 and forskolin in RA-treated HL-60 cells as compared to untreated cells. We examined the elements of the signal transduction pathway utilized by RA in the human myeloid cell line HL-60 and the human monocytic cell line THP-1. We therefore studied the effect of RA on the activity of the stimulatory G-protein (Gs). We demonstrate that addition of RA to two human myeloid leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and THP-1, does not induce a reduction of the 2 subunit of Gs (Gs alpha) RNA or Gs alpha protein in the plasma membrane but leads to a rapid decrease in the cholera toxin (CTX)-catalysed ADP-ribosylation of Gs alpha. In addition, this effect seems to be specific to RA, since there was no modification in Gs alpha ADP-ribosylation in the membranes of cells treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), another inducer of differentiation in HL-60 cells.

Inefficacy of the synthetic aromatic retinoid etretinate and of its free acid on the in-vitro differentiation of leukemic cells.

The differentiation-inducer activity of the aromatic retinoid etretin and of its ethyl ester etretinate (Tigazon) was tested on the human myelomonocytic leukemia cell lines HL-60 and U-937 and compared to that of retinoic acid. Whereas all-trans and 13-cis isomers of retinoic acid were equally potent in inducing the differentiation of about 80% of the cells of both lines, etretin and etretinate were found to be totally ineffective. These results indicate that neither compounds should be used in vivo in the treatment of acute myelocytic leukemia patients.

Structure-activity relationships of aromatic retinoids on the differentiation of the human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U-937.

The differentiation-inducer activity of a series of derivatives modified on the terminal ring, the polyene side-chain or the polar end group of the retinoic acid molecule was tested on the human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U-937 and compared with that of all-trans-retinoic acid. Only retinoids with both an unsaturated terminal end ring and a free carboxyl polar end group were found to be active in this system. Introduction of an aromatic ring in place of the first double bond of the side chain increased highly the activity whereas cyclisation of the last two double bonds decreased it. Replacement of the unsaturated terminal ring by an aromatic ring abolished the activity as did the esterification of the carboxyl end group or its replacement by a sodium sulfinate, sodium sulfonate or ethyl sulfone end group. All but only the active retinoids induced the same morphological and biochemical changes on U-937 cells, suggesting that they have the same route of action. However, biologically inactive retinoids were shown to be able to inhibit the differentiation of U-937 cells, induced by active ones, indicating that they can compete for a common "receptor".

1-B-D arabinofuranosyl cytosine and all-trans retinoic acid in combination accelerates and increases monocyte differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells.

The effect of the combination of two different agents on myeloid differentiation was studied. Human promyelocytic cells (HL-60) and monoblast-like cells (U-937) were treated with 1-B-D arabinofuranosyl cytosine (Ara-C) alone, or in combination with retinoic acid (trans-RA). The known dual potentiality of HL-60 promyelocytes was confirmed by their ability to mature into granulocytes following induction by retinoic acid and into monocyte-like cells following treatment with 1-B-D arabinofuranosyl cytosine. The U-937 cell line differentiated to monocyte-like cells with either of the two drugs. The differentiation induced by Ara-C involved an irreversible step after 24-h incubation with the drug, was concentration dependent, and far more superior on U-937 cells than on HL-60 cells. The outcome of these two cell lines after treatment with both Ara-C and trans-RA was also different: this combination maintained the monocyte differentiation in the HL-60 cell line, and resulted in a higher sensitivity of U-937 cells to Ara-C, as indicated by a cell response to low Ara-C concentrations and a more rapid expression of monocyte specific properties.

Binding of 125I-insulin to the human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U-937: effect of differentiation with retinoic acid.

The human histiocytic lymphoma line U-937 consists of cells having characters of immature monocytes. We have demonstrated that these cells possess highly specific insulin receptors with binding properties similar to that found for mature human blood monocytes. 125I-insulin binding increased progressively with time to reach a maximum at 90 min at 22 degrees C and was proportional to the number of cells in the incubation medium. Insulin degradation as assessed by TCA precipitation was negligible. Scatchard analysis of the binding data was curvilinear and the total number of insulin binding sites was around 13,500. The average affinity profile gave an 'unoccupied site' affinity constant of 1.34 nM-1. When the U-937 cells were induced to differentiate into morphologically and functionally monocyte-like cells, after incubation with retinoic acid, the total number of binding sites decreased significantly with no change in the affinity of the hormone for its receptor.

Interactions between the human monocytic leukaemia THP-1 cell line and Old and New World species of Leishmania.

The human promyelocytic THP-1 cell line has been found to support the growth of Leishmania parasites. THP-1 cells, differentiated with retinoic acid, cease replication while remaining in suspension. 72 +/- 8% of THP-1 cells became infected after inoculation with promastigotes of several Old and New World Leishmania species. The resulting amastigotes (19 +/- 5 per infected cell) were easy to harvest, capable of reinfecting cultures of normal human cells and, in the case of L. major and L. infantum, caused specific lesions in BALB/c mice. This culture system should facilitate biochemical and immunological studies on amastigotes and be of use in screening anti-parasite drugs.

1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol induces an increase in PGE1- and forskolin-stimulated cyclic-AMP production in T47D human breast cancer cell line.

The effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3], the active form of vitamin D3, on cell growth, clonogenicity, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production was examined in human breast cancer cell line T47D. 1,25(OH)2D3 markedly inhibited proliferation of T47D cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. 1,25(OH)2D3 5 X 10(-7) reduced to 70% [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Specific high affinity nuclear receptors for 1,25(OH)2D3 were present in this cell line. The cAMP produced by T47D cells was measured during 10 min stimulation by effectors (prostaglandin E1 or forskolin). Without effector, T47D cells produced similar amounts of cAMP in control and 1,25(OH)2D3-treated cells. After 3 days in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, cAMP production was significantly increased compared to control cells when stimulated by 10(-4) M prostaglandin E1 or 5 X 10(-7) M forskolin (3.2- and 2.4-fold increase, respectively). This cAMP increase was concentration dependent within the same range that inhibited cell growth and clonogenicity. These results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 may indirectly affect cAMP production by modulating the target cell response to stimulatory agents of cAMP production.

Granulocytic differentiation induced by retinoic acid in HL-60 cells is associated with changes in adenylate cyclase activity.

The effect of all-trans Retinoic Acid (RA) on the activity of membrane bound adenylate cyclase (AC) of human malignant cell lines (HL-60 and U-937) was studied. Granulocytic terminal differentiation of the HL-60 cells was correlated to an increase of AC activity and to a potentiation of guanosine 5' triphosphate (GTP) inhibitory effects on the enzyme activity. No direct in vitro effect of RA on HL-60 membranes was found. Monocytic terminal differentiation obtained on 1 B-D arabinofuranosyl cytosine (Ara-C) treated HL-60 cells, or on RA treated U-937 cells, did not modify AC activity. The results here reported suggest relations between the modification of GTP binding protein activity and RA induced granulocytic differentiation of malignant cells.

Changes in the patterns of protein phosphorylation associated with granulocytic and monocytic-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells.

Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis we have analyzed the pattern of phosphorylated proteins in HL-60 leukemia cells and changes associated with their differentiation into granulocyte and monocyte-like cells. In undifferentiated cells 18 spots with MW ranging from 110 to 17, kDa were individualized with high resolution and reproducibility. Myelocytic differentiation induced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and retinoic acid (RA) resulted in a decrease of the overall phosphorylation, the disappearance of two proteins of 42 and 17 kDa, and the appearance of one new acidic protein of 46-48 kDa. These changes seem to be specifically related to this differentiation pathway since they are not found in two HL-60 subclones resistant to DMSO or RA-induced differentiation. Monocytic differentiation induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25 (OH)2D3] and the combination of RA + 1-B-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (Ara-C) was associated with the appearance of 2 proteins of 68 kDa and 2 proteins of 80 kDa located in the acidic region of the gel. The protein of 17 kDa, when disappeared completely in granulocytic-like cells was present in monocytic cells, this suggesting that its phosphorylation state may be involved in the control of the differentiation pathway of HL-60 cells. Data concerning the effect of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and histamine on the level of phosphorylation of various proteins in HL-60 cells have also been obtained and discussed. Our results show that the myelocytic and monocytic phenotypes are characterized by a specific pattern of phosphoproteins involving both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions.

Differential expression of c-myc and c-fos oncogenes during the differentiation of human leukemic cells by Ara-C.

1-B-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (Ara-C) is, at very low concentrations, an inducer of monocytic differentiation of human leukemic cells. By what mechanisms this differentiation is obtained and how the monocytic pathway is determined, is not yet understood. We studied the effect of Ara-C on the RNA transcript levels of two c-oncogenes often associated to cell proliferation and differentiation. In the monoblastic U-937 cell line, where Ara-C has a maximum (100%) monocytic differentiation, RNA transcript level of c-myc is not detectable, whereas c-fos levels are rapidly increased. On the other hand, in the bipotential promyelocytic HL-60 cells, Ara-C induces only 40% monocytic differentiation after 7 days; this is associated to a weaker decrement of c-myc expression; c-fos is however greatly induced 3 log after 2 days treatment, but before monocytic phenotype is observed. Ara-C, at low concentrations, may, by arresting cell proliferation, restore the leukemic's cell proliferation/differentiation equilibrium. The rapid inducement of c-fos expression may allow to foresee a rapid prescreening of Ara-C sensitive-blasts.

Pharmacological characterization of the histamine uptake system in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Serotonin and histamine H1, H2 receptor agonists or antagonists inhibited [3H]histamine uptake by HL-60 cells, according to the following order of potency: impromidine greater than 4-MH greater than histamine greater than AET greater than PEA and: cimetidine, histamine greater than diphenhydramine, serotonin. It is concluded that histamine uptake by HL-60 cells was specifically controlled by the H2 type histamine receptor and that this active process might be involved in pathophysiological regulations in leukemic and normal granulocytic precursors and in the control of histamine levels in peripheral blood and tissues in man.