Human Myelomonocytic Leukemia Cells Research Articles

Bryostatin 1 and UCN-01 potentiate 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-induced apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells through disparate mechanisms.

The effects of the PKC activator and down-regulator bryostatin 1 and the PKC and Chk1 inhibitor 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) were compared with respect to potentiation of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C)-induced apoptosis in human myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937). Whereas bryostatin 1 and UCN-01 both markedly enhanced ara-C-induced mitochondrial injury (e.g., cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO release, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential), caspase activation, and apoptosis, ectopic expression of an N-terminal loop-deleted Bcl-2 mutant protein protected cells from ara-C/UCN-01- but not ara-C/bryostatin 1-mediated lethality. Conversely, ectopic expression of CrmA or dominant-negative caspase-8 abrogated potentiation of ara-C-mediated apoptosis by bryostatin 1 but not by UCN-01. Exposure of cells to ara-C and bryostatin 1 (but not UCN-01) resulted in sustained release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha; moreover, potentiation of ara-C lethality by bryostatin 1 (but not by UCN-01) was reversed by coadministration of TNF soluble receptors or the selective PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (1 microM). Finally, similar events were observed in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. Together, these findings suggest that potentiation of ara-C lethality in human myeloid leukemia cells by bryostatin 1 but not UCN-01 involves activation of the extrinsic, receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway, and represents a consequence of bryostatin 1-mediated release of TNF-alpha. They also argue that the mechanism by which bryostatin 1 promotes ara-C-induced mitochondrial injury, caspase activation, and apoptosis involves factors other than or in addition to PKC down-regulation or modulation of Bcl-2 phosphorylation status.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of drug-resistant leukemia cell lines by comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is one of the major difficulties encountered during cancer chemotherapy. To detect genomic aberrations underlying the acquired drug resistance, we examined three cultured human myelomonocytic leukemia cell sublines each resistant to adriamycin (ADR), 1‐β–1‐d‐arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara‐C), or vincristine (VCR), using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RT‐PCR, and western blot techniques. Chromosomes 7, 10 and 16 most conspicuously showed frequent aberrations among the resistant sublines as compared to the parental KY–821 cell line. In ADR‐resistant cells, gains at 7q21, 16p12, 16p13.1–13.3, 16q11.1–q12.1, and losses at 7p22–pter, 7q36–qter, 10p12, 10p11.2–pter, 10q21–q25, 10q26–qter were notable. In ara‐C‐resistant cells, no remarkable gain or loss on chromosome 7, but losses at 10p14–pter, 10q26–qter and 16p11.2–p11.3 were observed. In VCR‐resistant cells, gain at 7q21 and losses at 10p11–p13, 10p15 and 16p11.2–p13.3 were found. FISH identified amplified signals for the MDR–1 gene located at 7q21.1 in ADR‐and VCR‐but not ara‐C‐resistant cells, and for the MRP–1 gene located at 16pl3.1 in ADR‐resistant cells. These findings were validated at the mRNA and protein levels. Overlapping of the amplified MRP–1 gene with MDR–1 gene may play a critical part in the acquisition of resistance to ADR. Resistance to ara‐C excluded MDR–1 gene involvement and highlighted other key genes such as MXR gene. Several other genes putatively involved in the development of drug resistance might lie in other aberrated chromosomal regions.

UCN-01 (7-Hydroxystauorsporine) Blocks PMA-Induced Maturation and Reciprocally Promotes Apoptosis in Human Myelomonocytic Leukemia Cells (U937)

Interactions between the protein kinase inhibitor UCN-01 and the PKC activator phorbol ester (PMA) have been examined in relation to differentiation and apoptosis in human myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937). Coadministratation of 100 nM UCN-01 with a low concentration of PMA e.g., 2 nM, inhibited rather than promoted differentiation, reflected by reduced surface expression of the monocytic maturation marker CD11b and diminished cell adherence. Instead, administration of UCN-01 with PMA led to a marked increase in mitochondrial injury (e.g, cytochrome c release), activation of caspases-3 and -8, Bid cleavage, PARP degradation, and apoptosis, accompanied by a substantial reduction in viability and clonogenic survival. These phenomena were associated with multiple perturbations in cell cycle regulatory events, including abrogation of p21CIP1 induction, p27KIP1 cleavage, down-regulation of cyclin D1, dephosphorylation (activation) of p34cdc2, and degradation of underphosphorylated pRb. Potentiation of PMA-mediated apoptosis was partially mimicked by caffeine suggesting the involvement of Chk1 in the potentiation of apoptosis. Induction of cell death by UCN-01 and PMA was increased in cells stably expressing a p21CIP1 mRNA antisense construct, suggesting that p21CIP1 expression may protect cells from the lethal effects of this drug combination. Finally, ectopic expression of a Bcl-2 but not dominant-negative caspase-8 protected cells from UCN-01/PMA-mediated apoptosis, suggesting the lethal effects of this combination primarily involves the mitochondrial rather than the TNF-related extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Taken together, these findings suggest that UCN-01 disrupts a variety of cell cycle events in leukemic cells exposed to the maturation-inducing agent PMA, causing cells to engage an apoptotic rather than a differentiation-related program. Key Words:PMA, UCN-01, Differentiation, Apoptosis

Evidence of a functional role for the cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6 in promoting differentiation and preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis induced by sodium butyrate in human myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937)

The impact of dysregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6 has been examined in U937 human monocytic leukemia cells in relation to cell cycle arrest and differentiation following treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate (SB). Cells stably transfected with a p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6 antisense construct, in marked contrast to their wild-type counterparts, failed to up-regulate p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6, undergo G1 arrest, or express the maturation marker CD11b when exposed to 1 or 3 mM SB. However, antisense-expressing cells were significantly more susceptible to SB-mediated mitochondrial injury and apoptosis, manifested by increased cytosolic translocation of cytochrome c, activation of pro-caspase 3, and degradation of PARP. Dysregulation of p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6 did not modify the extent of SB-induced histone acetylation, but did result in cleavage of p27KIP1, Bcl-2 and pRb, as well as diminished levels of full-length underphosphorylated pRb. Finally, dysregulation of p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6 did not modify SB-mediated down-regulation of E2F-1 or c-Myc, but was associated with enhanced down-regulation of cyclins D1 and E. Together, these findings indicate that in U937 leukemia cells, p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6 plays a critical functional role in SB-mediated G1 arrest and maturation, and suggest that cells displaying dysregulation of this CDKI respond to SB by engaging a default apoptotic program.

Evidence of a functional role for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 CIP1 in leukemic cell (U937) differentiation induced by low concentrations of 1-β-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine

The functional role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) p21 CIP1 in differentiation of human myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937) exposed to low concentrations of the antimetabolite 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) was examined utilizing a cell line stably expressing a p21 CIP1 antisense construct. Continuous exposure to 50 n M ara-C led to marked induction of p21 CIP1 at 48–72 h in empty-vector control cells but not in their antisense-expressing counterparts (p21AS/F4 and B8). Such treatment induced expression of the myelomonocytic differentiation marker CD11b in ∼ 35 % of control cells, but no evidence of maturation was noted in antisense-expressing lines. However, antisense-expressing cells exposed to low concentrations of ara-C exhibited a reciprocal increase in apoptosis, manifested by the appearance of cells with classic morphologic features and hypodiploid quantities of DNA, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m), an increase in cytochrome c release into the cytosol, cleavage/activation of procaspases-9 and −3, and degradation of PARP and p27 Kip1. Whereas empty-vector control cells exposed to 50 n M ara-C exhibited a decline in Bcl-2 expression, dephosphorylation of pRb, and an initial accumulation in S-phase, antisense-expressing cells did not. However, c-Myc down-regulation induced by low concentrations of ara-C was, if anything, more complete in antisense-expressing cells. Exposure of control but not antisense-expressing cells to ara-C led to phosphorylation/activation of MAP kinase at 24 h; moreover, the specific MEK/MAP kinase inhibitor PD98059 enhanced low-dose ara-C-mediated apoptosis only in wild-type cells. Lastly, exposure to 50 n M ara-C for 72 h resulted in detectable levels of cytoplasmic p21 CIP1, a phenomenon associated with resistance to apoptosis, only in empty vector controls. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a functional role for p21 CIP1 in leukemic cell maturation induced by low concentrations of ara-C. They also indicate that, as in the case of more conventional differentiation-inducers such as phorbol esters, disruption of the p21 CIP1 response after exposure to low concentrations of the cytotoxic drug ara-C prevents leukemic cells from engaging a maturation program, but instead directs them along an apoptotic pathway.

Apoptosis induced by niacin-related compounds in K562 cells but not in normal human lymphocytes.

In our previous study, we found that niacin-related compounds induced apoptosis in human acute myelomonocytic leukemia cells, HL-60. We have investigated whether these compounds acted as inducers of apoptosis also in various other cell types. In human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, K562, which are relatively resistant to various inducers of apoptosis, the apoptosis was induced by picolinic acid and dipicolinic acid in about 50% of the cells 5-10 mM via the caspase pathway, but was not at 1 mM. However, isonicotinamide did not induce apoptosis effectively in K562 cells. On the other hand, in normal human quiescent lymphocytes, the apoptosis was not induced by these compounds at the same concentrations. It is suggested that these compounds may induce apoptosis mainly in tumor cells. The change of intracellular peroxide levels was observed in the early phase of apoptosis induced by niacin-related compounds. We expect to make use of niacin-related compounds in the field of medicine.

Myeloid and monocytoid leukemia cells have different sensitivity to differentiation-inducing activity of deoxyadenosine analogs

The differentiation-inducing effect of clinically applicable analogs of deoxyadenosine on myelomonocytic leukemia cells was examined. Monocytoid leukemia cells were more sensitive to the analogs than were erythroid or myeloid leukemia cells based on the inhibition of cell growth and induction of cell differentiation. Monocytoid leukemia cells were highly sensitive to combined treatment with 2′-deoxycoformycin (dCF) and 9-β- d-arabinofuranosyladenine (Ara A) for inducing cell differentiation. Ara A induced the differentiation of monocytoid leukemia U937 and THP-1 cells at concentrations which were 1/1000–10 000 of that at which it induced the differentiation of other cell lines in the presence of dCF. In combination with a low concentration of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (VD 3), the induction of the monocytic differentiation was greater in monoblastic U937 cells. Adenosine deaminase-resistant analogs such as fludarabine (FLU) and cladribine (CdA) also induced the differentiation of human myelomonocytic leukemia cells, and these analogs synergistically enhanced the differentiation induced by all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or VD 3. CdA was the most potent analog for inducing the differentiation of myeloid leukemia NB4 and HL-60 cells in the presence or absence of ATRA. These findings indicate that dCF+Ara A and CdA may be effective for the therapy of acute monocytoid and myeloid leukemia, respectively.

Constitutive protein expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by myelomonocytic cell lines and regulation of the secretion by anti- and proinflammatory stimuli

We have investigated the protein expression of the chemokine monocyte chemotactic/chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in various human myelomonocytic leukemia cell lines. Applying specific ELISA, we demonstrated that this chemokine is produced constitutively by the cell lines HL-60, ML-2, MONO-MAC-6 and MUTZ-3 ranging between 440 and 1400 pg/ml MCP-1 per million cells. In the culture medium of two other unstimulated cell lines, MONO-MAC-1 and THP-1, almost no MCP-1 was detected. Stimulation of HL-60 and MONO-MAC-6 with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and stimulation of ML-2 and MUTZ-3 with 12-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) dramatically increased the MCP-1 level in the culture medium. The highest amount of MCP-1 (>80 ng/ml within 24 h) was achieved by TPA stimulation of MUTZ-3 cells. Out of 15 cytokines tested for induction or enhancement of MCP-1 secretion, interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) were able to augment (twofold to 12-fold) the MCP-1 level in the culture medium of MONO-MAC-6 cells. While the antinflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 failed to suppress MCP-1 secretion, the glucocorticoid dexamethasone strongly inhibited the MCP-1 production of unstimulated and stimulated MONO-MAC-6 cells. Thus, several regulatory elements are involved in MCP-1 secretion. Despite the quantitative differences of MCP-1 production among the cell lines analyzed, our results demonstrated a constitutive secretion in differentiation-arrested myelomonocytic leukemia cell lines and emphasize the usefulness of these malignant cell lines as models to study MCP-1 secretion and regulation.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 is an autocrine mediator of U937 cell growth arrest and differentiation induced by vitamin D3 and retinoids.

Vitamin D and retinoids cooperate to inhibit the proliferation and induce the differentiation of human myelomonocytic U937 leukemia cells. In the present work, we investigated the role of TGF-beta as an endogenous mediator of this process. We found that the TGF-beta1 precursor began to accumulate in cell culture supernatants soon after the addition of 1alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD) and retinoids. We used neutralizing antibodies (AbTGF-beta) and antisense oligonucleotide (AS Oligo) to inhibit its possible effects. Our data demonstrated that AbTGF-beta partially inhibit the expression of the differentiated phenotype, as assessed by measurement of phagocytic activity, response to the chemotactic peptide fMLP, and lysozyme secretion. AS Oligo was also inhibitory, and the effects of AS Oligo and AbTGF-beta were cumulative. Cell growth inhibition induced by VD and retinoids was completely reversed, and differentiation was reduced by about 75% when both inhibitors were associated. Time course experiments based on the delayed addition of AbTGF-beta and AS Oligo showed that TGF-beta1 was required for cell differentiation 24 h after the addition of inducers. Studies on TGF-beta receptors revealed that, while the expression of type II receptor was stable, the level of type I TGF-beta receptor mRNA and the expression of the protein began to decline early during the differentiation process. As a whole, these results support the notion that an autocrine TGF-beta pathway, activated by VD and retinoids in U937 cells, is involved in the early steps of the process leading to cell growth arrest and differentiation.

Evidence of a Functional Role for the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1/MDA6in the Reciprocal Regulation of PKC Activator-Induced Apoptosis and Differentation in Human Myelomonocytic Leukemia Cells

The functional role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1in leukemic cell G1arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis induced by two PKC activators (PMA and bryostatin 1) was examined using antisense-expressing lines [U937/p21AS(F4) and U937/p21AS(B8)]. Following incubation with 10 nM PMA (24 h), antisense-expressing cells displayed induction of p27KIP1but not of p21, whereas empty vector-containing cells (U937/pREP4) exhibited induction of both p21 and p27. Antisense-expressing cells were impaired in G1arrest, dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, dephosphorylation and reduction in activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2, and acquisition of differentiated features (e.g., plastic adherence). Bryostatin 1 induced p27 but not p21 in control cells and was less effective than PMA in initiating G1arrest and related events. Nevertheless, disruption of p21 expression abrogated the effects of bryostatin 1 on cell cycle arrest and cellular maturation. Dysregulation of p21 did not, however, modify PMA- or bryostatin 1-mediated down-regulation of c-Myc protein. Unexpectedly, disruption of p21 failed to attenuate the net reduction in viable cell number following PMA or bryostatin 1 treatment inasmuch as impaired differentiation was accompanied by a lowered threshold for PMA- and bryostatin 1-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of p21 expression also promoted PMA- and bryostatin 1-mediated loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) and release of cytochromecinto the cytosol. Together, these findings demonstrate a critical functional role for p21 in regulating myelomonocytic leukemic cell G1arrest and differentiation following exposure to two PKC activators exhibiting disparate patterns of activity. They also suggest that following treatment with these agents, dysregulation of p21 prevents leukemic cells from engaging a normal differentiation program through a c-Myc-independent mechanism, and instead directs cells along an apoptotic pathway.

Divergent effects of bryostatin 1 and phorbol myristate acetate on cell cycle arrest and maturation in human myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937)

Bryostatin 1 and the phorbol ester, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), both bind to and activate protein kinase C (PKC) but exhibit divergent biological actions. Bryostatin 1 exerts variable effects on leukemic cell differentiation, and has been reported by some investigators to inhibit the proliferation of the monocytic leukemic cell line U937. In this study, we have compared the efficacy of bryostatin 1 and PMA with respect to U937 cell maturation, with a major emphasis on differential actions on the cell cycle arrest machinery. At equimolar concentrations (10 nM), PMA, in contrast to bryostatin 1, induced cellular differentiation of U937 cells, reflected by growth inhibition, increased plastic adhesion, and expression of the monocytic differentiation marker, CD11b. Consistent with these results, bryostatin 1 was less effective in inducing G 0/G 1 arrest and inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) activity. Bryostatin 1, unlike PMA, failed to induce expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI), p21 CIP1/WAF1, and blocked the ability of PMA to induce this protein. Bryostatin 1 exposure resulted in increased expression of the CDKI p27 KIP1 in these cells, although the kinetics differed from PMA. In addition, bryostatin 1 was less effective than PMA in dephosphorylating pRb, modifying E2F complexes, and downregulating c-Myc. Co-administration of bryostatin 1 with PMA antagonized the latter's differentiation-inducing capacity and anti-proliferative effects, actions that were accompanied by a reduction in PMA-mediated p21 CIP1/WAF1 induction, CDK2 inhibition, pRb dephosphorylation, and c-Myc downregulation. Antagonistic effects of bryostatin 1 on PMA-related cell cycle events were mimicked by the specific PKC inhibitor GF109203X. Together, these studies indicate that bryostatin 1 is a considerably weaker stimulus than PMA for U937 cell differentiation, and raise the possibility that this deficiency arises from its failure to induce p21 CIP1/WAF1 and trigger cell cycle arrest.

Altered Formation of Topotecan-Stabilized Topoisomerase I-DNA Adducts in Human Leukemia Cells

AbstractTopotecan (TPT) is a topoisomerase I (topo I) poison that has shown promising antineoplastic activity in solid tumors and acute leukemia. In the present study, a band depletion assay was used to evaluate the ability of TPT to stabilize topo I-DNA adducts in human leukemia cell lines and in clinical leukemia samples ex vivo. This assay showed that 50% of the cellular topo I in HL-60 human myelomonocytic leukemia cells became covalently bound to DNA at an extracellular TPT concentration of 4 μmol/L. In contrast, in 13 clinical specimens of human leukemia harvested before treatment of patients with TPT, the TPT concentration required to stabilize 50% of the cellular topo I in topo I-DNA complexes ranged from 3 to greater than 100 μmol/L (median, 30 μmol/L). Flow microfluorimetry showed that cellular TPT accumulation varied over only a twofold range and failed to provide evidence for transport-mediated resistance in the clinical samples. These observations raise the possibility that formation of topo I-DNA adducts is diminished in many specimens of refractory/relapsed acute leukemia by a mechanism that might alter topo I sensitivity to TPT.

Potentiation of VD-induced monocytic leukemia cell differentiation by retinoids involves both RAR and RXR signaling pathways.

Retinoids and vitamin D (VD) cooperate to induce the differentiation and inhibit the proliferation of human myelomonocytic leukemia cells. Two classes of retinoids receptors, the RARs and RXRs, respectively, can mediate these effects. RXR forms heterodimers with a variety of nuclear receptors, including RAR and the VD receptor. We have previously found that VD treatment increases RXR alpha levels in myelomonocytic leukemia cells. By immunoanalysis, we observed in the present work that the RAR alpha protein is expressed in proliferating U937, HL-60 and THP-1 human leukemia cells and that VD treatment induces alterations of its electrophoretic pattern, although with large differences between cell lines. In the three cell lines, 9-cis RA, an agonist of both RARs and RXRs, cooperated with VD more efficiently than all-trans RA and RAR-specific synthetic ligands, thus suggesting an involvement of both RAR and RXR pathways in cell differentiation. Using U937 cells as a model, we delineated the relative contributions of RAR and RXR by assessing the effects of receptor-selective synthetic retinoids. The synergy between VD and all-trans RA or RAR-specific agonists (TTNPB and Ro 40-6055) was abrogated by a RAR alpha-specific antagonist (Ro 41-5253), confirming an involvement of RAR alpha. However, the cooperation between VD and 9-cis RA, although reduced, was not suppressed by the antagonist, suggesting also an involvement of the RXR pathway. The role of RXR as a ligand-activated receptor was confirmed using RXR-specific agonists (CD2608 and LGD1069), which also proved able to cooperate with VD. Finally, while each synthetic agonist alone was significantly less potent than 9-cis RA, combinations of the RAR and RXR selective agonists TTNPB and LGD1069 appeared to be as effective as the pan agonist 9-cis-RA. These results confirm that various retinoids can cooperate with VD and demonstrate that, at a whole cell level, optimal effects require the activation of both RAR and RXR receptors.

Identification of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in human leukemia HL-60 cells and its induction by lipopolysaccharide.

Cytokines play an important role in inflammation and immunity. In this study, we examined the expression and presence of human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in human myelomonocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunological methods (Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry), respectively. The RT-PCR showed that MIF mRNA was constitutively expressed, and the expression was further induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The expression was upregulated by LPS at the range of 10 pg/ml to 10 ng/ml; however, it decreased at doses higher than 100 ng/ml. The expression reached the maximum 12 hr after the stimulation, but substantially decreased by 24 hr. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry using an anti-human MIF antibody revealed the presence of MIF protein in cytoplasm of the cells. The pathophysiological role of MIF in HL-60 cells has not been fully understood; however, the regulation of MIF mRNA expression by LPS suggests the possibility that the cytokine plays an important role in inflammatory events of leukemia.

Enhancement of Activity of la,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 for Growth Inhibition and Differentiation Induction of Human Myelomonocytic Leukemia Cells by Tretinoin Tocoferil, an α-Tocopherol Ester of All-trans Retinoic Acid

Tretinoin tocoferil is an alpha-tocopherol ester of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and safely used in the treatment of skin ulcer. Tretinoin tocoferil inhibited proliferation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells and induced granulocytic differentiation of the cells, but less than RA. alpha-Tocopherol did not affect differentiation of HL-60 cells, but at high concentrations enhanced its nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-reducing activity and expression of surface antigen CD11b, which are markers of myelomonocytic differentiation induced by RA. Tretinoin tocoferil increased NBT reduction in HL-60 cells treated with RA. It also enhanced the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by dimethyl sulfoxide, phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate or 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3). In combination with a low concentration of VD3, it induced the NBT-reducing activity of human monoblastic U937 cells very effectively. Moreover, it enhanced the differentiation of human myelomonocytic ML-1, THP-1, P39/TSU, and P31/FUJ cells induced by VD3. In combination with VD3, it synergistically inhibited the proliferation of HL-60, U937, ML-1, THP-1, P39/TSU, and P31/FUJ cells and decreased the effective concentration of VD3 to a 10(-10) mol/L level. Because tretinoin tocoferil was reported to induce neither retinoid-related toxicity nor teratogenicity, the therapeutic advantage of the use of it in treatment of myelomonocytic leukemia is suggested.

Marker profile, enzyme activity, and function of a human myelomonocytic leukemia cell line

Morphological and functional characteristics of a permanent human leukemia cell line (DD) that possesses myelomonocytic features were investigated. The cells bear a second type Fcγ receptor and form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes sensitized with rabbit IgG (EA). However, the surface-bound EA is not internalized. The cell line lacks the surface markers CD2, CD 19, CD 14, HLADR, Fcγ receptor I, Fc/gg receptor III, and CR3. α 1-Antitrypsin, lysozyme, Factor XIII a subunit of blood coagulation, and acid phosphatase reactions were negative. A terminal differentiation of the DD cell line was observed when the expression of CD 14, CR3, Fcγ receptor I, and Fcγ receptor III was induced. The DD cells induced with 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide can internalize EA via Fcγ receptor II and complement-coated yeast in the function of the inducers. The phagocytic ability appears to be parallel with the appearance of enzymes which participate in phagocytosis.

Alpha 2-macroglobulin restricts plasminogen activation to the surface of RC2A leukemia cells.

Human RC2A myelomonocytic leukemia cells are able to activate the prourokinase (pro-u-PA) they secrete so that active u-PA is present both in serum-free conditioned medium from these cells, as well as on the cell surface. When the cells are grown in serum-containing medium, no u-PA activity can be found in the medium but active u-PA is found bound to the cell surface where it can generate bound plasmin. This distribution of u-PA activity was shown to be, first, the net result of slow inactivation of free active u-PA by serum inhibitor(s) and simultaneous rapid uptake of u-PA onto the cell surface. Binding to cells was at least six times faster than inactivation by 10% serum. The principal serum inhibitor of u-PA was identified as alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), and prior inactivation of u-PA by purified human alpha 2M was also shown to prevent uptake of u-PA activity onto cells. Second, although endogenous u-PA could form covalent complexes with purified alpha 2M in the culture medium of RC2A cells, covalent alpha 2M complexes were not formed by u-PA on the cell surface; the u-PA taken up in this compartment was protected against alpha 2M inhibition. u-PA anchored to plastic surfaces via monoclonal antibodies to the amino-terminal region of u-PA was also protected against alpha 2M, suggesting that the protection of cell surface u-PA results from a steric effect. These results provide evidence as to how the active u-PA produced by leukemia cells can contribute to proteolytic activity on their cell surface in the presence of serum inhibitors.

Fusion of fibroblasts with differentiated and nondifferentiated leukemia cells resulting in blockage of DNA synthesis

We have investigated the regulation of DNA synthesis in the heterokaryons of HL60 human myelomonocytic leukemia cells and NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts to examine if the differentiated leukemia cells contained a replication inhibiting activity. Cell fusions were performed either by exposing a suspension of mixed cells to an electric pulse or by the polyethylene glycol method. To identify the origin of the nuclei in a heterokaryon, one set of partner cells was prelabeled with [ 3H]thymidine before fusion. DNA synthetic activity after fusion was then revealed immunohistochemically by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. DNA synthesis in the nuclei of 3T3 was inhibited in the heterokaryons of 3T3 and in either one of the two differentiated forms of HL60, i.e., the macrophage-like or the granulocyte-like. The result supports that a negative regulator of DNA synthesis exists in the differentiated HL60. Surprisingly, we have also found that DNA synthesis was inhibited in the nuclei of both 3T3 and nondifferentiated, proliferating HL60 when these two cells were fused. When unfused, proliferating cells were eliminated with cytosine arabinoside; these nonreplicating heterokaryons survived for at least 5 days, and 15% of them showed α-naphthylacetate esterase activity, a trait of the macrophage differentiation. The blockage of DNA synthesis in both partner nuclei was also observed in the heterokaryons of NIH3T3 cells and nondifferentiated human promonocytic leukemia cells U937, and in nondifferentiated HL60 and human diploid fibroblasts WI38. However, this effect was not found in the heterokaryons of NIH3T3 cells and human B lymphoma WI-729-HF 2 cells. This is the first demonstration of the inhibition of DNA synthesis upon fusion of two proliferating cells.

Effects of inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase activity and/or phosphatidylinositol turnover on differentiation of some human myelomonocytic leukemia cells

The activities of protein tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol turnover have been found to be associated with cell growth and differentiation. We examined the effects of some inhibitors for these biochemical activities in human myelogenous leukemia cells. Genistein, which is known to inhabit the activities of protein tyrosine kinase, phosphatidylinositol turnover and topoisomerase II, induced nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and lysozyme activity in ML-1, HL-60 and U937 cells. Morphological studies showed that genistein-induced differentiation of myeloblastic ML-1 cells into promyelocytes and of promyelocytic HL-60 cells into mature granulocytes. The differentiation-inducing effect of genistein was augmented by addition of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (VD 3) or retinoic acid, VD 3 being more effective than retinoic acid. Methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinamate, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, had only a weak effect in inducing differentiation of ML-1 cells. On the other hand, psi-tectorigenin was more effective than genistein in inducing the differentiations of ML-1 and HL-60 cells. Psi-tectorigenin is reported to inhibit phosphatidylinositol turnover without inhibiting protein tyrosine kinase. Thus modulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover might be more important than that of protein tyrosine kinase activity for differentiation of some myelogenous leukemia cells.

Effects of dexamethasone on induction of monocytic differentiation in human U‐937 cells by dimethylsulfoxide

The present studies demonstrate that dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) treatment of human U-937 myelomonocytic leukemia cells is associated with induction of monocytic differentiation. The DMSO-induced U-937 monocytic phenotype was associated with 1) growth inhibition, 2) loss of clonogenic survival, 3) increases in alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (NSE) staining, and 4) increases in cell surface expression of the monocyte marker Mac-1. DMSO treatment of U-937 cells was also associated with down-regulation of c-myc and c-myb gene expression as well as with increases in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mRNA levels. The results further demonstrate that induction of U-937 monocytic differentiation by DMSO is accompanied by increases in phospholipase A2 activity. Moreover, this stimulation of phospholipase A2 was sensitive to dexamethasone. We therefore studied the effects of dexamethasone on DMSO-induced differentiation of U-937 cells. Although dexamethasone had no effect on growth inhibition or loss of clonogenic survival by DMSO, this glucocorticoid blocked increases in NSE staining and cell surface Mac-1 expression. Dexamethasone also had no effect on the down-regulation of c-myc and c-myb expression but blocked the reappearance of c-myb transcripts after 6 hr of DMSO treatment. Finally, dexamethasone inhibited DMSO-induced increases in TNF gene expression. Taken together, the results demonstrate that dexamethasone inhibits multiple characteristics, including the stimulation of phospholipase A2 activity, associated with DMSO-induced monocytic differentiation of U-937 cells.