Synergistic inhibition of growth of breast and colon human cancer cell lines by site-selective cyclic AMP analogues.

Our past studies on the mechanism of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated control of tumor growth, using the experimental rat mammary tumor models as well as human breast cancer cell lines, indicated that the action of cAMP is mediated by the RII cAMP receptor protein, the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II (Y. S. Cho-Chung, J. Cyclic Nucleotide Res., 6: 163, 1980). We now shown that the site-selective cAMP analogues, which are manyfold more active in binding to the cAMP receptor protein than previously studied analogues, demonstrate a potent growth inhibition of seven breast and three colon human cancer cell lines. The cAMP receptor protein has two different cAMP binding sites, and cAMP analogues that selectively bind to either one of the two binding sites are known as either site 1 selective (C-8 analogues) or site 2 selective (C-6 analogues). Nineteen site-selective analogues, C-6 and C-8 monosubstituted and C-6,-8 disubstituted, were tested for their growth regulatory effect. The majority of these analogues demonstrated an appreciable growth inhibition, with no sign of toxicity in all 10 cancer lines at micromolar concentrations. The three most potent inhibitors were 8-Cl-, N6-benzyl-, and N6-phenyl-8-thio-p-chlorophenyl-cAMP, demonstrating 50% growth inhibition at 5-25 microM concentrations (IC50). Furthermore, N6-analogues, in combination with halogen or thio derivatives of C-8 analogues, demonstrated synergistic enhancement of growth inhibition. The growth inhibition paralleled a change in cell morphology, an augmentation of the RII cAMP receptor protein, and a reduction in p21 ras protein. The growth inhibition by 8-Cl-cAMP was not due to its metabolite, 8-Cl-adenosine, since: (a) the growth inhibition by 8-Cl-cAMP was released upon cessation of treatment, whereas that by 8-Cl-adenosine was not released; (b) 8-Cl-cAMP treatment did not affect cell cycle progression, whereas 8-Cl-adenosine brought about G1 synchronization; (c) 8-Cl-cAMP treatment caused reduction of p21 ras protein, whereas 8-Cl-adenosine did not affect p21 levels; and (d) 8-Cl-adenosine was not detected in either cell extracts or medium from the cells treated with 8-Cl-cAMP for 48-72 h. Site-selective cAMP analogues thus provide a new physiological means to control the growth of breast and colon human cancer cells.

The influence of in vitro procedures which diminish NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity on oxidative drug metabolism in lung and liver microsomes.

Rabbit lung and liver microsomes were subjected to three procedures which decreased NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity; flavoprotein antibody, trypsin and subtilisin digestion. The effects on benzphetamine and p-nitroanisole demethylation and amine metabolic-intermediate complex formation were investigated. In general, the proteolytic digestion had a greater inhibitory effect on oxidation reactions for a given loss of NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity than did flavoprotein antibody; and of the two proteases, subtilisin, which also diminishes the cytochrome b5 reduction pathway, had a greater inhibitory effect than trypsin. Subtilisin digestion had similar effects in both liver and lung microsomes; a loss of flavoprotein without a loss of cytochrome P-450; but whereas all three oxidative reactions decreased in unison as the flavoprotein was lost in the liver, benzphetamine demethylation was less susceptible to flavoprotein depletion than the other two reactions in lung microsomes. With trypsin digestion flavoprotein was removed without loss of cytochrome P-450 only in lung microsomes; in liver microsomes the cytochrome P-450 was susceptible to tryptic degradation. In lung microsomes, benzphetamine and p-nitroanisole demethylations were less susceptible to flavoprotein loss than metabolic-intermediate complex formation.

An adenoviral vector system for functional identification of nuclear receptor ligands.

A recombinant adenovirus system has been designed that confers glucocorticoid responsiveness upon infected cells in culture. Two mutually dependent viruses are required: a trans-activator virus containing the human glucocorticoid receptor transcription unit and a second receptor virus harboring a glucocorticoid response element linked to the firefly luciferase gene. Another reciprocal pair of viruses has been generated; one member expresses the rat thyroid hormone receptor alpha, while the other contains the luciferase gene regulated by a thyroid hormone-responsive DNA element. Corticosteroid- or thyroid hormone-induced transcription can be efficiently and accurately quantitated from cells coinfected with the appropriate complementary virus pair 20 h after infection in 96-well microtiter plates. This coinfection assay offers a convenient way to measure transcriptional activation by nuclear receptors and has certain key advantages over the commonly used cotransfection method. Its sensitivity and precision make it a practical approach to rapidly identify substances extracted from complex biological samples activating candidate "orphan" nuclear receptor molecules.

Effect of fibroblast growth factor saporin mitotoxins on human bladder cell lines.

Mitotoxins targeted via high-affinity growth factor receptors on the cell surface are a potential means of anticancer therapy. We have evaluated the effect of a chemically conjugated (FGF2-SAP) and a fusion protein (rFGF2-SAP) mitotoxin containing FGF-2 and saporin on normal (FHs 738B1) and malignant bladder cell lines (HT1197, TCCSUP, EJ-6, and RT4). The FGF-saporins demonstrated potent cytotoxicity in malignant bladder cell lines with an ID50 range of 0.13-13.6 nM, whereas cells derived from normal fetal bladder (FHs 738B1) were less sensitive to FGF2-saporins (ID50 > 100 nM). Greater than a 100-fold difference in cytotoxicity between FGF-saporins and unconjugated saporin was observed. Assessment of cellular FGF-2 content and secretion showed that FHs 738B1 and TCCSUP contained and secreted significantly more FGF-2 compared to other cell lines tested. (125)I-FGF-2 receptor binding studies showed the presence of high-affinity (pM) FGF receptors on all bladder cell lines. Cross-linking studies revealed the presence of a major receptor-ligand complex of 90 kDa on FHs 738B1 and 160-170 kDa on the other bladder cell lines. All cell lines studied, except RT4, expressed solely FGFR-1. These studies demonstrate that FGF2-saporins have antiproliferative activity on human bladder cancer cell lines. However, the number of high-affinity FGF receptors, and FGF-2 cellular content and secretion are not absolute determinants of cellular sensitivity to FGF2-saporins.

An immunoassay for assessment of receptor tyrosine kinase autophosphorylation.

We have developed an immunoassay that can be used to assess autophosphorylation activity of receptor tyrosine kinases, yet does not require the use of synthetic peptide substrates or anti-receptor antibodies. In the assay described here, receptor autophosphorylation and detection take place entirely within the wells of 96 well microplates coated with Protein G and an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. As the kinase reaction takes place, the antibodies capture the phosphorylated products in situ. Phosphorylation levels of captured receptors are measured by scintillation counting. Assay parameters were validated using A431 cell extracts containing EGF Receptor. The autophosphorylation capture assay is a simple and rapid method which can be adapted for use with robotics for qualitative HTS of potential inhibitors to any tyrosine kinase of interest.

Changes in diacylglycerol and membrane associated protein kinase C activity reflect the growth status of xenografted human mammary carcinoma treated with 8-Cl-cAMP.

The intracellular accumulation of cAMP inhibits the growth of transformed cells in vitro and in vivo, and exposure to various cAMP analogs produces similar results. The influence of such analogs on the growth of neoplastic cells in vivo is less well defined, and the relevance of these analogs for the phosphoinositide pathway has not been established. The present report details the inhibition of tumor growth that occurred when human mammary xenografts were treated with 8-Cl-cAMP, the subsequent rebound in tumor growth that occurred when treatment ceased, and the levels of diacylglycerol and membrane-associated protein kinase C activity that characterized tumors in different growth states. Tumor levels of diacylglycerol and particulate PKC activity appeared to be influenced not only by treatment but also by treatment withdrawal. Changes in these entities tended to coincide with tumor growth rate, being relatively suppressed during growth stasis and markedly elevated during periods of rapid growth. The data presented do not establish a causal relationship. Thus, the concomitant changes noted in tumor growth and tumor levels of either diacylglycerol and membrane-associated protein kinase C may only be coincidental. Alternatively, they may indicate that cAMP analogs inhibit tumor growth in vivo by modulating the phosphoinositide pathway.

Interaction of glucocorticoid analogues with the human glucocorticoid receptor.

Transient co-transfection of receptor cDNA and suitable reporter genes was used to study human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) function in a neutral mammalian cell background. A variety of natural and synthetic steroids were analyzed for their ability to activate gene expression through the hGR and to bind to extracts of cells expressing the hGR cDNA. There was very good correlation between these two in vitro parameters for these compounds. Furthermore, correlation of these data with reported in vivo anti-inflammatory potencies was surprisingly close, with two exceptions. The in vitro data suggest an explanation for the discrepant compounds, consistent with published data on their metabolic fate in vivo. The co-transfection assay has utility as a quantitative predictor of in vivo glucocorticoid pharmacology.

Encoded chemical synthesis coupled to screening: "Pot Assay".

A variety of screening methodologies is available to identify lead compounds. Screening methods that would permit the direct use of libraries made via the Radiofrequency Encoded Combinatorial chemistry paradigm (each individual small molecule in the library is presented separately on an individual encoded support) have the potential to diminish burdensome steps in this process. Here we report on our studies leading to such a direct method, which we have termed a Pot Assay. Pot Assay is a multiplex assay, which simultaneously measures specific binding of a number of ligands to at least one target. Pot Assay uses specific radiofrequency signals to decode compounds that are high affinity binders. We validated this approach by evaluating the interaction of biotin and its analogs with labeled streptavidin. This report introduces Pot Assay as a rapid, simple, sensitive and accurate format for identifying active members of libraries synthesized on solid supports. The success of this study demonstrates the power of coupling Radiofrequency Encoded Combinatorial chemistry and screening. This assay format may be applied to a wide range of screens that are based on binding events: ligand/receptor, inhibitor/enzyme, antigen/antibody, protein/protein, DNA/protein, and RNA/DNA.

Nucleoside and nucleotide modulation of genetic expression--a new approach to chemotherapy.

Unlike conventional enzymes, receptors that activate G proteins do not catalyze the direct formation or cleavage of covalent bonds but act instead as a catalyst for the exchange of GTP vs GDP, which results in major conformational changes in the alpha subunit of G proteins and dissociation and selective binding of the alpha subunit which provokes direct enzyme activation eventually resulting in stimulation of protein kinase A, B or C. Each of these kinases can phosphorylate specific DNA binding proteins which allow new portions of DNA to be read and expressed. Such a series of events can act as switches to control cellular genetic expression resulting in cellular proliferation, differentiation or hormonal secretion of growth factors (Scheme I). Examples of nucleosides and nucleotides which appear to exert their therapeutic effects via G protein control of cellular proliferation resulting in differentiation are tiazofurin, selenazofurin, and 8-chloro-cAMP which have been synthesized and studied in our laboratories. The clinical application of these nucleosides in cancer treatment is presently underway and offers a viable alternative to chemotherapy with highly cytotoxic agents. The use of these derivatives result in down-regulation of the G protein regulatory pathways responsible for rapid cell division. Alternatively, a series of guanosine analogs prepared in our laboratories, 8-bromoguanosine, 8-mercaptoguanosine, 7-methyl-8-oxoguanosine and 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine, all activate various aspects of the immune response by up-regulation of G protein regulatory pathways in various lymphocyte derived cells. Guanosine-like nucleosides which function in this manner could have major clinical application as antitumor, antiviral and antimetastatic agents providing the desired specificity can be achieved. Specific immune enhancement of the aged might be an attainable goal if suitable orally active guanosine derivatives with high specificity can be achieved. The G protein regulatory pathways for modulation of genetic expression in specific cell types provide a major modern approach to new chemotherapeutic agents.

Developmental changes in rabbit pulmonary cytochrome P-450 subpopulations.

Of the two characterized cytochrome P-450 subpopulations present in adult lung microsomes, only one (P-450II) appears to be present in the neonate. Both this subpopulation and a second subpopulation (P-450I) gradually increase over a period of several months, and account for most of the increase in lung cytochrome P-450 concentration during maturation. A third fraction of the cytochrome P-450, which is incapable of forming metabolic-intermediate complexes remains constant in concentration during maturation, thus decreasing from 60% of the total in the neonate to 20% in the adult. Metyrapone binding to lung cytochrome P-450 which increases during development does not correlate quantitatively with either of the two characterized subpopulations.

Changes in diacylglycerol and cyclic GMP during the differentiation of human myeloid leukemia K562 cells.

When the human myeloid leukemia cell line, K562, was induced to differentiate along the erythroid lineage by a 4 day treatment with 10 microM tiazofurin, the cellular content of diacylglycerol decreased to 35% of the value in untreated control cells. Under the same conditions the content of cGMP decreased to 61% of the control value. Tiazofurin inhibits guanine nucleotide biosynthesis and lowers cellular GTP. When guanosine and adenine were added together with tiazofurin, the differentiation of K562 was prevented, the concentration of diacylglycerol was maintained at control values, and the reduction in the concentration of cGMP was partially prevented. Other inducers of differentiation which acted by different mechanisms, caused similar changes in the concentrations of diacylglycerol and cGMP.

Unique properties of NADPH- and NADH-dependent metabolism of p-nitroanisole catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 isozyme 2 in pulmonary and hepatic microsomal preparations from rabbits.

Approximately 90% of the NADPH- and NADH-dependent O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole (PNA) in the hepatic microsomal fraction from phenobarbital (PB)-treated rabbits and in the pulmonary microsomal fraction from untreated rabbits is catalyzed by the same isozyme of cytochrome P-450. This isozyme of cytochrome P-450 catalyzes less than 60% of this reaction in the hepatic microsomal fraction from untreated rabbits. Antibodies to NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase inhibit NADPH-dependent metabolism of p-nitroanisole by about 90% but have no effect on NADH-dependent metabolism. Hepatic NADPH-dependent metabolism of pNA and reduction of cytochrome c are inhibited to the same extent with varying amounts of antibodies to NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase. The same relationship between inhibition of monooxygenase and reductase activities is observed for the hepatic and pulmonary metabolism of benzphetamine and 7-ethoxycoumarin. In contrast, the relationship between inhibition of the pulmonary NADPH-dependent metabolism of pNA and reductase activity is biphasic; at 75% inhibition of reductase activity, metabolism of pNA is inhibited by less than 25%. For NADH-dependent metabolism of pNA, our results indicate that both electrons are transferred to cytochrome P-450 from cytochrome b5.

A fluorometric assay for the measurement of endothelial cell density in vitro.

A fluorometric assay for determining endothelial cell numbers based on the endogenous enzyme acid phosphatase is described. In preliminary studies, three substrates--p-nitrophenyl phosphate, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate, and 2'-[2-benzthiazoyl]-6'-hydroxy-benthiazole phosphate (AttoPhos)--were compared with respect to their kinetic, optimum assay conditions, sensitivity, and detection limits. Only AttoPhos was found to have a high degree of sensitivity, reliability, and reproducibility for measuring both high and low cell numbers in the same plate. In subsequent experiments, assay conditions were validated for measuring endothelial cell density in response to basic fibroblast growth factor and fumagillin. Furthermore, the AttoPhos assay revealed a linear correlation between acid phosphatase activity and cell number in many cell types, including BALB/3T3, CHO-K1, A431, MCF7, 2008, SK-OV-3, T47-D, and OVCAR-3. This assay is potentially valuable for use in many in vitro systems in which the quantitation of cell density and proliferation is necessary. The practical advantages of AttoPhos assay for measuring endothelial cell numbers include (1) nonradioactivity, (2) simplicity, (3) economy, (4) speed of assessment of proliferation of large number of samples, and (5) amenability to high-throughput drug screening.

Antiproliferative effect of basic fibroblast growth factor-saporin mitotoxin on keratocytes in culture.

We evaluated the effect of the conjugate of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) and saporin (FGF2-SAP) on proliferation of cultured keratocytes. Cultured rabbit and human keratocytes were incubated in medium containing 0.01 to 100 nM of chemical conjugate of EGF2 conjugated by disulfide bond to saporin (CCFS1), FGF2 genetically fused to saporin (rFGF2-SAP), FGF2, or saporin for three hours or four days and cell proliferation was quantified four days after the drug treatment. Proliferation of rabbit and human keratocytes was effectively inhibited by three hour and by four day exposure to CCFS1 and rFGF2-SAP in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it was affected minimally by four day exposure to saporin. Their inhibitory effects were detected at concentrations above 0.1 or 1 nM, and were most prominent in serum-stimulated rabbit keratocytes. These results suggest a potential role for FGF2-SAP in limiting proliferation of keratocytes during corneal wound healing.

Ontogeny of blood-brain barrier permeability to, and cerebrospinal fluid sink action on, [14C]urea.

To ascertain the ontogeny of CSF sink action on a small hydrophilic solute, we investigated the rate and extent of uptake of [14C]urea by lateral ventricle choroid plexus (CP), cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), cerebral cortex, and cerebellum in 0.5- to 4-wk-old etherized nephrectomized rats. Five hours after ip injection, radiourea penetrated the entire H2O of tissue and CSF in 1-wk-old brain; moreover, for animals 1-4 wk old there was a marked inverse relationship between age and magnitude of steady-state [14C]urea space in all regions. However, there was lack of progression (with advancing age) in distribution times to steady state, undoubtedly a reflection of the complexity of maturational factors (CSF secretion, barrier permeability, biphasic changes in cerebral blood flow, etc.) that affect solute penetration into central nervous system. Analysis of [14C]urea uptake curves for various regions at different stages of development (1 vs. 2 wk) revealed half times (slow component) that were significantly greater at 1 wk (1.2-1.4 h) than at 2 wk (0.5-0.8 h). Steady-state concentration gradients for tracer urea, plasma to CP to CSF, indicated negligible molecular sieving of urea by CP 1 wk after birth; however, after the 2nd postnatal wk CSF sink action on urea became manifest due to development of CSF secretion and molecular sieving at the blood-CSF and blood-brain barriers.

Tiazofurin and selenazofurin induce depression of cGMP and phosphatidylinositol pathway in L1210 leukemia cells.

The synthetic nucleoside tiazofurin(2-beta-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxyamide) and its selenium analog selenazofurin inhibited the growth of L1210 leukemia cell culture in a dose dependent manner with IC50 value of 2.0 and 0.2 Um respectively. The GTP/ATP ratio was diminished 4-6 fold as measured by HPLC, while IMP/ATP increased 6-8 fold. The decreased guanylate pools may explain the 30% reduction in cyclic GMP levels and GTPase activity measured after the treatment with the nucleosides. Inhibition of phospholipase C activity is suggested since diacylglycerol content, protein kinase C activity and phorbol ester binding of the membrane fraction were also reduced 20-40%. These results reveal a novel aspect in the action of these compounds which may play a role in their therapeutic action and selectivity.

Maturational differences in acetazolamide-altered pH and HCO3 of choroid plexus, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain.

The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide is useful for analyzing ion transport, pH regulation, and fluid formation in developing central nervous system. We used the 14C-labeled dimethadione technique to measure alterations in steady-state pH, and to estimate the HCO3 concentration [HCO3], in choroid plexus (CP), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and cerebral cortex of 1- and 3-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats treated with acetazolamide or probenecid. These drugs can suppress transport of HCO3 and other anions in some cells, consequently altering intracellular pH. In 1-wk-old infant rats whose CSF secretory process is incompletely developed, 1 h of acetazolamide treatment did not significantly change CP intracellular pH or [HCO3]. However, in 3-wk-old rats, in which the ability of CP to secrete ions and fluids is almost fully developed, acetazolamide caused marked increases in CP cell intracellular pH and [HCO3]. In contrast, acetazolamide-induced alkalinization was not observed in CSF or cerebral cortex of the 1- and 3-wk-old animals. The other test agent, probenecid (an inhibitor of anion transport but not of carbonic anhydrase), did not alter the pH of any region at any age investigated. Overall, the results are interpreted in light of developmental changes in carbonic anhydrase and previous findings from kinetic analyses of ion-translocating systems in CP. Acetazolamide may interfere with a CP apical membrane HCO3 extrusion mechanism not fully operational in infant rats.

Cl-HCO3 exchange in choroid plexus: analysis by the DMO method for cell pH.

[14C]DMO distribution was used to measure steady-state intracellular pH (pHi) and [HCO3]i in adult rat choroid plexus (CP) incubated in synthetic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for 30 min. In controls at 37 degrees C, mean pHi (6.95 at PCO2 = 30 mmHg) was close to corresponding in vivo values; and [HCO3]i/[HCO3]csf, i.e., rHCO3, was 0.37. At normal [HCO3]csf = 18 mM, cell HCO3 was accumulated threefold above electrochemical equilibrium (as estimated from Em = -50 mV). [HCO3]i decreased proportionally with [HCO3]csf, as the latter was altered from 47 to 9 mM; in severe extracellular acidosis [( HCO3]csf = 3.7 mM), [HCO3]i was not reduced further and so rHCO3 rose to 0.66. Except in low [HCO3]csf, acetazolamide and ouabain (10(-4) M) caused small depletion of cell HCO3. 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid lowered [HCO3]i by 60%, thus decreasing rHCO3 (0.16) and rCl (0.25) to values close to estimated equilibrium distribution (0.15). Substitution of CSF Cl with isethionate resulted in marked alkalinization of pHi when [Cl]csf was depleted to 12 mM. Augmented PCO2 associated with temperature reduction to 15 degrees C elevated [HCO3]i, thereby increasing rHCO3 (to 0.66) as well as rCl. Anion distribution ratios indicate heteroanion exchange in mammalian CP.

Cytochrome P-450 isozymes 2 and 5 in rabbit lung and liver. Comparisons of structure and inducibility.

Rabbit cytochrome P-450 isozymes 2 and 5 were purified from pulmonary and hepatic microsomal preparations. Purification of isozyme 5 was monitored by immunochemical methods so that contamination by isozymes 2, 4, and 6 could be avoided. Partial proteolysis of hepatic and pulmonary isozyme 5 showed minor differences in peptide formation when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and visualized by the silver staining method. In contrast, identical patterns were observed when the peptides were transferred to nitrocellulose paper and visualized immunochemically. The differences observed between the results obtained with the two methods was apparently caused by differences in small amounts of contaminants present in both preparations. HPLC profiles of peptides formed by treatment of pulmonary and hepatic isozyme 5 with trypsin appeared to be the same. In addition, it was found that the pulmonary and hepatic isozymes had identical sequences for the first 20 NH2-terminal amino acids. Three distinct fractions of hepatic cytochrome P-450 isozyme 2 were obtained when chromatography on DEAE-cellulose was used as the final step in the purification procedure. In contrast, only a single fraction of purified pulmonary isozyme 2 was isolated by the same method. Analysis of the pulmonary and three hepatic preparations of isozyme 2 by partial proteolysis and visualization of peptides by silver staining or immunoblotting showed no differences. Analysis of tryptic digests by HPLC also produced the same results for each of the four preparations. The first 24 NH2-terminal amino acids were identical for all four preparations of isozyme 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)