Fraction Of Cells In G2 Research Articles

Elevated APEX1 Disrupts G2/M Checkpoint, Contributing to Evolution and Survival of Myeloma Cells

Cell cycle checkpoints provide the cell with time to repair chromosomal DNA damage before its replication (G1) and also prior to its segregation (G2), thus ensuring integrity, maintenance and protection of genome. Although proper functioning of both checkpoints is essential, G2/M has a special significance as a potentially lethal double-strand break in DNA escape repair and persist from G2 into mitosis, it may recombine in G1 to produce gene rearrangements. Moreover, G2 is the phase where homologous recombination (HR) can utilize a sister chromatid as a template to provide error-free repair. There is ample evidence that supports the role of defective G2/M checkpoint and dysregulated HR in genomic rearrangements and evolution in cancer. Previously, we have shown that elevated APEX1 contributes to dysregulated HR and genome stability in multiple myeloma (MM), and its upregulation leads to genomic instability and tumorigenesis in animal model. To further understand the role of APEX1 in myeloma, we investigated the impact of elevated APEX1 on cell cycle checkpoint/s and in the cellular response to genotoxic exposure. Our investigation using antibody array and subsequent confirmation with immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that APEX1 interacts with cyclin B and PLK in myeloma cells. A key step in progression from G2 to mitosis is the activation of cyclin B-CDK1 complex, which subsequently activates PLK to ensure G2/M progression. Based on observed interaction of APEX1 with cyclin B/PLK, we hypothesized that elevated APEX1 disrupts G2 checkpoint by mediating progression into mitosis. To test this, we inhibited APEX1 in myeloma cells by a small molecule as well as by shRNA targeting this gene, and investigated the impact on cell cycle checkpoints using a unique phospho-antibody array which allows investigation of 238 relevant proteins and their phosphorylation status. APEX1 inhibition by small molecule led to downregulation (> 2-fold) of many proteins/phosphorylations involved in the activation of cyclin B-CDK1 complex and other mediators of G2/M progression (including CDC25A, CDC25A, CDK1, ABL1), and upregulation of proteins/phosphorylations involved in G2/M arrest, including CDK1-phospho-Tyr15, 14-3-3 zeta-phospho-Ser58, p53-phospho-Ser15, and MYT and WEE which are involved in negative regulation of cyclin B-CDK1 complex. To further investigate the role of APEX1 in G2/M progression, myeloma cell lines (ARP, RPMI 8226, MM1S, LR5, H929) were treated with APEX1 inhibitor and subjected to cell cycle analysis using flow cytometery. Compared to control cells, all five APEX1-inhibitor treated cell lines showed a strong G2/M block, ranging from 5- to 10-fold increase in the fraction of cells in G2 phase in a dose dependent manner. The G2/M cell cycle arrest of APEX1-treated myeloma cells was further supported by reduced cell viability of treated myeloma cells (RPMI, H929, MM1S, ARP and U266); IC50 of inhibitor in myeloma cell lines ranged from 1.2 to 4 µM. Co-treatment with APEX1 inhbitor also sensitized myeloma cells to Melphalan. Consistent with these data, shRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of APEX1 in RPMI cells was associated with 4-fold increase in the fraction of cells in G2, relative to control cells. APEX1-KD was also associated with reduction in cell viability (by 40%) and sensitization to melphalan. Our results therefore suggest that elevated APEX1 disrupts G2 checkpoint and sets a stage for genomic rearrangements by allowing persistance of DNA damage from G2 into mitosis. Dysfunctional G2 checkpoint, combined with APEX1-mediated dysregulation of HR, could be attributed to APEX1 associated genomic instability and oncogenic transformation. Therefore, inhibitors of APEX1, alone or in combination with other agents, have potential to make myeloma cells static. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Survival of tumor cells after proton irradiation with ultra-high dose rates

BackgroundLaser acceleration of protons and heavy ions may in the future be used in radiation therapy. Laser-driven particle beams are pulsed and ultra high dose rates of >109 Gy s-1may be achieved. Here we compare the radiobiological effects of pulsed and continuous proton beams.MethodsThe ion microbeam SNAKE at the Munich tandem accelerator was used to directly compare a pulsed and a continuous 20 MeV proton beam, which delivered a dose of 3 Gy to a HeLa cell monolayer within < 1 ns or 100 ms, respectively. Investigated endpoints were G2 phase cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and colony formation.ResultsAt 10 h after pulsed irradiation, the fraction of G2 cells was significantly lower than after irradiation with the continuous beam, while all other endpoints including colony formation were not significantly different. We determined the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for pulsed and continuous proton beams relative to x-irradiation as 0.91 ± 0.26 and 0.86 ± 0.33 (mean and SD), respectively.ConclusionsAt the dose rates investigated here, which are expected to correspond to those in radiation therapy using laser-driven particles, the RBE of the pulsed and the (conventional) continuous irradiation mode do not differ significantly.

Reverse engineering of protein secretion by uncoupling of cell cycle phases from growth

The demand for recombinant proteins both for biopharmaceutical and technical applications is rapidly growing, and therefore the need to establish highly productive expression systems is steadily increasing. Yeasts, such as Pichia pastoris, are among the widely used production platforms with a strong emphasis on secreted proteins. Protein secretion is a limiting factor of productivity. There is strong evidence that secretion is coupled to specific growth rate (µ) in yeast, being higher at higher µ. For maximum productivity and product titer, high specific secretion rates at low µ would be desired. At high secretion rates cultures contain a large fraction of cells in the G2 and M phases of cell cycle. Consequently, the cell design target of a high fraction of cells in G2 + M phase was achieved by constitutive overexpression of the cyclin gene CLB2. Together with predictive process modeling this reverse engineered production strain improved the space time yield (STY) of an antibody Fab fragment by 18% and the product titer by 53%. This concept was verified with another secreted protein, human trypsinogen.

Leflunomide Inhibits Proliferation of Neoplastic B-Cell Lines and Induces Apoptosis in Primary CLL Cells.

Leflunomide is a commercially available immunosuppressive agent approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The compound is administered orally and is rapidly converted to the active compound A77 1726. The half-life of A77 1726 is long, with values reported as 10–15 days. Steady state plasma concentrations, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, approach 250 μM. The proposed mechanism of A77 1726 is a reduction in lymphocyte proliferation due to inhibition of de novo pyrimidine synthesis and inhibition of tyrosine kinases. Given the need for chemotherapeutics with activity against neoplastic B-cell diseases that possess favorable pharmacokinetic and side effect profiles, we examined the in vitro antiproliferative effect of A77 1726 upon neoplastic B-cell lines, and its in vitro cytotoxic effect upon primary CLL cells. Raji, Ramos, 697, WaC3CD5 and Daudi B-cell lines were treated with A77 1726 (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, 200 and 300 μM) for 24, 48 and 96 hrs in RPMI media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The antiproliferative effect of was determined using the MTT assay. A77 1726 IC50 values for each cell line are: Raji (36 μM), Ramos (18 μM), 697 (29 μM), WaC3CD5 (83 μM) and Daudi (13 μM). Cell cycle analysis of Raji cells using propidium iodide (PI) staining with FACS analysis, showed a reduction of the fraction of cells in G2 from 19 % to 4.9 % with A77 1726 (200 μM) treatment. A77 1726 binds to albumin, diminishing its effective concentration. Human albumin (3 gm/dl) reduced the effectiveness of A77 1726 (200 μM) upon both Raji and WaC3CD5 cell lines. In the presence of albumin, the number of viable Raji cells increased from 32% to 74%, and for WaC3CD5 cells the value increased from 19% to 78%, as compared to the untreated control cells. Both cell lines multiplied slower in the presence of human albumin, thus the observed antiproliferative effect of A77 1726 was proportionally reduced. A77 1726 reduces de novo pyrimidine synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. The reduction in de novo pyrimidine synthesis can be surmounted by the exogenous addition of uridine to the culture media. The Raji and WaC3CD5 cell lines were incubated with A77 1726 with and without uridine to determine the role of pyrimidine synthesis in A77 1726′s antiproliferative effect upon the cell lines. For the Raji cell line, addition of 50 μM uridine to A77 1726 (200 μM) treated cells increased the number of viable cells from 22% to 62% of the untreated control. For the WaC3CD5 cell line, the addition of uridine did not decrease the antiproliferative effect of A77 1726. These data agree with prior studies that indicated an antiproliferative effect of A77 1726 beyond its inhibition of de novo pyrimidine synthesis. CLL cells do not reproduce in vitro; however, we hypothesized that the pyrimidine-independent effect of A77 1726 may be cytotoxic to CLL cells in vitro. Five negatively selected primary CLL samples were treated with A77 1726 (0, 50, 100, 200 and 300 μM) for 120 hrs and cell viability was determined with the MTT assay. Significant (greater than 40 % of control value) cytotoxicity occurred with 200 μM A77 1726 in 3 of 5 samples. Treatment with 300 μM A77 1726 led to significant killing in all the samples; the mean viability, as compared to untreated control, was 36% (SD 21, N=5). Addition of uridine did not reverse the observed cytotoxic effect of A77 1726 upon CLL cells. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining with FACS analysis confirmed the cytotoxic effect of A77 1726 on CLL cells. Further study of leflunomide in animal models of neoplastic B-cell disorders is warranted.

Caffeine-inhibitable control of the radiation-induced G2 arrest in L5178Y-S cells deficient in non-homologous end-joining.

The two L5178Y (LY) sublines bear a heterozygous Tp53 mutation that affects its transactivation function. LY-S (radiation-sensitive) cells are deficient in double strand break (DSB) repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and do not express p21WAF1 (Cdkna1) either constitutively or after x-irradiation, in contrast to their radiation-resistant counterpart LY-R cells, which express p21WAF1 constitutively. Radiation-induced G2 arrest in LY-S cells is very long (11 h/Gy) but 2 mM caffeine treatment shortens it, decreases the fraction of G2 cells and increases the fraction of apoptotic cells. The treatment also increases the DNA damage that is estimated with the comet assay 18 h after irradiation with 5 Gy (ca. 23% of the initial value for x-rays and ca. 47% for x-rays plus caffeine). This indicates that either the repair has not been completed or the apoptotic DNA fragmentation has been initiated (or both). The same treatment applied to x-irradiated (5 Gy) LY-R cells (G2 arrest, 4 h/Gy) has no radiosensitising effect, induces no apoptosis and does not alter the amount of DNA damage left unrepaired (ca. 28%). The results are compatible with the assumption that inhibition of the Atm-dependent homologous recombination repair by caffeine, brings differential effects in LY sublines because of the defect of the alternative DNA repair system (NHEJ) in LY-S cells.

Comparison between radiation-induced cell cycle delay in lymphocytes and radiotherapy response in head and neck cancer.

A study was made evaluating the use of radiation-induced cell cycle delay in lymphocytes to predict tumour response to radiotherapy. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from whole blood from 49 patients with head and neck cancer before treatment with radiotherapy and from 25 healthy donors. The clinical response to radiotherapy was assessed at 0-2 months after treatment. The level of radiation-induced cell cycle delay was measured using flow cytometry after mitogen stimulation of lymphocytes. The analysis of ten normal donors gave no significant difference in variability between the intra-assay and the intra-donor samples. However, the cell cycle data for lymphocytes from these healthy donors showed significant inter-individual differences in G2 phase accumulation. Patients showing no response to radiotherapy had a high level of S-phase cells compared with partial (P < 0.001) and complete responders (P = 0.016). An inverse relationship was found when analysing the fraction of cells in G2 (P = 0.009 and 0.034 respectively). In general, healthy donors had similar cell cycle kinetics compared with the non-responders. In conclusion, the result indicates that radiation-induced cell cycle delay in lymphocytes is inversely correlated with tumour response to radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. However, the value of the present test for predicting individual tumour response is limited, because of assay variability and overlap between groups.

Effect of p53 overexpression on radiation sensitivity of human colon cancer cells.

Substantial controversy surrounds our understanding of the effect of p53 status on radiation sensitivity. To assess directly the role of p53 expression on radiation sensitivity, we chose a conditional expression system using a temperature-sensitive murine p53 that permitted each cell line to act as its own control. We found that the conditional expression of wild type p53 induced cell death (both apoptotic and nonapoptotic), changes in cell cycle distribution (arrest in G1 and G2, which resulted in a marked depletion of S-phase cells and an increase in the fraction of cells in G2), and an increase in the radiation resistance of G1 cells. These counterbalancing effects resulted in no significant effect on overall radiosensitivity. These findings demonstrate that wild type p53 function can produce a variety of effects that can modulate radiation sensitivity and may explain why p53 status alone has not been a strong predictor of radiosensitivity.

Different epidermal cell kinetic effects of hydroxyurea when injected at two different times of the day.

Circadian rhythms in epidermal basal cell-cycle progression in hairless mouse skin have been repeatedly demonstrated. A dose of 10 mg/animal hydroxyurea (HU), given to inhibit DNA synthesis was injected intraperitoneally to two groups of hairless mice. One group was injected at 10.00 hours MET, when the cell-cycle progression and cell division rate are relatively high, and another group was injected at 20.00 hours, when the same variables are at minimum values. Various cell kinetic methods--[3H]TdR autoradiography, DNA flow cytometry and the stathmokinetic method (Colcemid)--were used to study HU-induced alterations in cell kinetics. Hydroxyurea (HU) immediately reduced the labelling index (LI) to less than 10% of controls when injected at both times of the day, and higher then normal values were observed 8 hr later. A subsequent decrease towards normal values was steeper in the 20.00 hours injected group. The proportion of cells with S-phase DNA content was transiently reduced in both series, but the reduction was less pronounced and control values were reached earlier in the series injected at 10.00 hours. The observed alterations in LI and fraction of cells in S phase were followed by comparable alterations in the fraction of cells in G2 and in the mitotic rate. Hence the changes in G2 and mitotic rate are easily explained as consequences of the previous perturbations in the S phase. The time-dependent differences in the cell kinetic perturbations caused by HU in the S phase may be explained by a circadian-phase-dependent action of HU on the influx and efflux of cells to and from the S phase, respectively. At 10.00 hours the efflux of cells from S is most heavily inhibited; at 20.00 hours the influx is predominantly blocked. Hence, when physiological flux is high HU mainly blocks the efflux from S, but when flux normally is low, HU mainly blocks the entrance to S. Within 20 hours after the HU injection, the cell kinetic variables had approached the unperturbed circadian pattern.

A NEW METHOD FOR THE ESTIMATION OF CELL CYCLE PHASES

A method is described, which is applicable to cell renewal systems with an anatomical structure in which all cell locations may be uniquely mapped. Its use is demonstrated on the rat incisor inner enamel epithelium, which forms a one cell thick column in the sagittally sectioned tooth. Cells born in the apical part of the column migrate toward the distal end of the tooth, where they mature. As the cells migrate along the column, they traverse the various cell cycle phases. The present study has been designed to estimate the probability of a cell being in a given phase; all cells touching the basement membrane were numbered, and the number of cells separating any two cells was taken as a measure of distance. Since generally all cells move in one direction (lateral cell migration may occur), it is possible to solve the problem with the aid of functions describing the renewal counting stochastic process in which cell distance serves as an independent variable. The method predicts labelled cell and mitotic rates which agree with those estimated in the usual way. It was then utilized to estimate the fraction of cells in G2.