Cell Line ME-180 Research Articles

Potentiation of cisplatin cytotoxicity by methylxanthines in vitro

The ability of two supposed DNA-repair inhibitors to modulate cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in a human ovarian cancer cell line (CAOV-3) and a human cervical cancer cell line (Me-180) was investigated using a short-term chemosensitivity assay based on bioluminescence of cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Cisplatin concentrations bracketing the reported peak plasma concentration (2.5 micrograms/ml) were used and the 50% inhibitory concentrations were determined by linear regression of log-transformed survival data. At 2.5 mM, the methylxanthine caffeine enhanced cisplatin sensitivity 2.9-fold in CAOV-3 cells and 2.7-fold in Me-180 cells. At 2.5 mM, pentoxifylline, a closely related methylxanthine, increased cisplatin sensitivity 2.9-fold in CAOV-3 cells and 3.4-fold in Me-180 cells. Chemical modification of cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity by assumed inhibition of DNA-repair mechanisms may hold promise for clinical application in the treatment of gynecological cancer.

Studies on the differing effects of tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin on the growth of several human tumor lines.

The relative ability of TNF and lymphotoxin (LT) to inhibit the growth of five human tumor cell lines was examined both in the presence and absence of IFN-gamma. Two adenocarcinoma lines, HT-29 and SK-CO-1, were 20- and 320-fold more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of TNF and LT in 3- to 4-day proliferation assays. In contrast, the breast carcinoma line BT-20 showed only a one- to twofold difference. The MCF-7 and ME-180 cell lines exhibited intermediate behavior. These results parallel the reported disparate potencies of TNF and LT in their effects on endothelial cells, hematopoietic development and their abilities to sustain a mixed lymphocyte response. Radiolabeled TNF binding studies showed two classes of receptors (Kd 0.04 to 0.15 nM and 0.2 to 1.0 nM) on the highly sensitive SK-CO-1 line. HT-29 cells also appeared to possess some high affinity-binding sites, whereas the BT-20 line completely lacked the high affinity form. Thus the presence of high affinity-binding sites correlated with increased sensitivity to the antiproliferative effects of TNF. Cold TNF competed with the binding of radiolabeled human TNF three- to fivefold better than LT for binding to all three lines. These relatively small differences between the TNF and LT receptor-binding characteristics are insufficient to explain the dramatic disparity in their antiproliferative properties. Likewise, the absolute concentrations of the unlabeled cytokines necessary to block the binding of 125I-TNF were 10- to 150-fold higher than the levels necessary to elicit the biologic response. Thus, the receptor binding data conflict with the growth inhibitory effects. This discrepancy is discussed in terms of either separate receptors for TNF and LT or more complex phenomena such as receptor cooperativity possibly resulting from multivalent interactions with the trimeric form of TNF.

Manganous superoxide dismutase is essential for cellular resistance to cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces the synthesis of protein(s) that can protect cells against subsequent killing by TNF in the presence of cycloheximide. Here we demonstrate that manganeous superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a mitochondrial enzyme involved in the scavenging of superoxide radicals (O − 2), is such a protein. Overexpression of MnSOD confers increased resistance to TNF plus cycloheximide on the 293 human embryonic kidney cell line. Conversely, expression of antisense MnSOD RNA renders these cells sensitive to TNF even in the absence of cycloheximide. The TNF sensitivity of the ME-180 human cervical carcinoma cell line can also be modulated through expression of sense and antisense MnSOD RNAs. These data identify MnSOD as an important determinant of cellular resistance to TNF and implicate mitochondrially generated O − 2 as a key component of TNF-mediated tumor cell killing.

Interferon gamma-resistant mutants are defective in the induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Several mutants of the human cell line ME-180 resistant to the cytotoxic effect of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were isolated after mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine. Two of the mutant lines (ME-IR3b and ME-IR6g) examined had significantly lower induction levels of the L-tryptophan (L-Trp) degradative enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity in response to IFN-gamma. Moreover, culture medium supplemented with low concentrations of L-Trp reversed the cytotoxic effect of IFN-gamma, whereas higher concentrations of L-Trp in the medium were extremely toxic to both parental and mutant cells. These mutants were still protected against herpes simplex virus infection by IFN-gamma and expressed the HLA-DR alpha gene normally in the presence of this lymphokine. Thus, the mutation in these cells is specific to indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and not a global effect of an IFN-gamma-induced gene. This genetic evidence indicates that the major pathway of IFN-gamma cytotoxicity in this cell line is mediated primarily by induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and deprivation of L-Trp.

Cytotoxicity mediated by tumor necrosis factor in variant subclones of the ME‐180 cervical carcinoma line: Modulation by specific inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II

The mechanism of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cytotoxicity has been investigated using two clonal variants of the ME-180 human cervical carcinoma cell line. The clonal lines were characterized with respect to their expression of TNF receptors, kinetics of cell death, and their ability to communicate intercellularly through gap junctions. The ME-180.4 and ME-180.8 clones were identified by their relative sensitivity to TNF induced lysis in a 24-h assay. The dose of TNF required to kill 50% of the target cells was 60 pM for the sensitive ME-180.4 and 2.5 nM for the ME-180.8. However, when assay times were extended, the dose response for both clones was the same, indicating that a difference in the kinetics of cell death and not absolute TNF sensitivity existed between the ME-180.4 and ME-180.8 clones. Both clones were gap junction deficient as judged by their inability to transfer Lucifer yellow or 6-carboxyfluorescein, a characteristic phenotype of cells sensitive to cytotoxicity by TNF. The level of surface receptor expressed on these clones was nearly identical with a Kd = 0.3 nM and 5,000 binding sites per cell. Measurement of the kinetics of cell death revealed that the time between the addition of TNF and the onset of observed cell death (induction phase) was much shorter for the ME-180.4 (32-55 h) than for the resistant ME-180.8 (55-80 h). Mitomycin C, a DNA alkylating agent, significantly reduced the length of the induction phase for both clones, although the kinetic difference between the clones remained unchanged. Two epipodophyllotoxins, VP-16 and VM-26, which specifically inhibit the rejoining activity of DNA topoisomerase II, showed a 10-100-fold synergistic effect when combined with TNF as shown by isobologram analysis. VM-26 when added to the resistant ME-180.8 clones decreased the length of induction phase and abolished the kinetic difference observed with the ME-180.4 clone. These results indicate that the variance in the TNF response of these two clones was closely associated with DNA topoisomerase II, and suggest that this enzyme may play an important role in TNF mediated cytotoxicity.

Effects of scheduling and ascites-associated macrophages on combined antiproliferative activity of alpha-2b interferon and gamma-interferon in a clonogenic assay.

Effects of combination treatment with human recombinant alpha-2b interferon (IFN-alpha 2b) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and sequencing of the combination on colony formation of human tumor cells were studied in a human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA) with or without ascites-associated macrophages (AAM). Five different human tumor cell lines were studied. Three of the five cell lines (ovarian cancer cell line BG-1, cervical cancer cell line ME-180, and melanoma cell line SK-MEL 28) were sensitive to both IFNs. Cervical cancer cell line CaSki was sensitive to IFN-alpha 2b but resistant to IFN-gamma. Endometrial cancer cell line HEC-1A was resistant to both IFNs. Synergistic interaction was observed in BG-1 and SK-MEL 28 with a combination of the IFNs. ME-180 did not exhibit a positive interaction, in spite of its sensitivity to each IFN. CaSki and HEC-1A also did not exhibit a positive combined interaction at clinically achievable concentrations. One sequential combination method (method 1: IFN-alpha 2b----IFN gamma with a 24-h interval) resulted in a similar antitumor effect as the simultaneous combination. A reversed sequential method (method 2: IFN-gamma----IFN-alpha 2b with a 24-h interval) was less effective in three of the five cell lines. In BG-1, AAM enclosed in the lower layer markedly enhanced the antitumor effect of combined IFNs as well as each IFN alone. The antitumor effect with method 1 was significantly greater than that achieved with simultaneous combination or combination according to method 2 in the presence of AAM (P less than 0.01). These results suggest that (1) a synergistic antitumor effect of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN gamma is demonstrable in selected types of tumors, depending upon the sensitivity of each tumor cell line to both IFNs; (2) optimal scheduling for the direct antitumor effect of combined IFNs seems to be long-term exposure of cells to the IFN, the cells being treated with both IFNs either simultaneously or sequentially (IFN-alpha 2b preceding IFN-gamma); and (3) AAM potentiate the antitumor effect of IFNs either alone or in combination. Finally, IFN-alpha 2b may have some priming effects for the indirect effect of IFN gamma mediated through AAM in certain tumor cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-mediated cytotoxicity involves ADP-ribosylation.

The mechanism of TNF-mediated cytotoxicity was studied in several cell lines, including L929 murine fibroblasts. TNF caused a time- and dose-dependent increase of ADP-ribosylation in L929 target cells parallel to cell death. During the course of TNF-mediated cytotoxicity in the presence of actinomycin D, an increase in ADP-ribosylation became apparent between 4 and 6 h after exposure to TNF. Intracellular NAD+ and ATP levels decreased parallel to but not preceding cell death. Two inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation, namely 3-aminobenzamide and nicotinamide, prevented TNF-mediated cytotoxicity. Another target, the human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180, showed an increase in ADP-ribosylation when treated with TNF, and the cytotoxic action of TNF on this target cell was inhibited by these two inhibitors. In the absence of actinomycin D, treatment of L929 cells with TNF also increased ADP-ribosylation, and the cytotoxic action of TNF was inhibited by nicotinamide. These results indicate that ADP-ribosylation may be involved in the TNF-mediated cytotoxic reaction.

In vitro response of cervical cancer cell lines CaSki, HeLa, and ME-180 to the antiestrogen tamoxifen

The effect of tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogenic drug, on the in vitro growth of three cell lines derived from carcinoma of the uterine cervix (HeLa, CaSki, ME-180) was studied using the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 as a tamoxifen-sensitive control. Logarithmically growing cells were fed daily with medium containing 5% dextran-charcoaltreated fetal bovine serum (D5) and 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, or 10 μM tamoxifen. The cell number in replicate cultures was assessed every other day by cell counts. Growth inhibition was expressed as the percentage of the cell number in control cultures fed with D5. At a concentration of 5 μM tamoxifen, a clear decrease in cell proliferation, resulting in 66–74% inhibition of growth, was observed with MCF-7, HeLa, and ME-180 after 6 days of exposure to tamoxifen. Doses greater than 5 μM resulted in cytotoxicity and progressive cell loss. With the CaSki cell line, 2.5 μM tamoxifen induced more than 60% growth inhibition and 5 μM tamoxifen was cytotoxic. Tamoxifen-induced growth inhibition was reversed by removing tamoxifen from the cell cultures, and the cells resumed logarithmic growth after a lag period of 24–48 hr. MCF-7, but not the cervical carcinoma, lines required estradiol for complete and rapid recovery of logarithmic growth. Our results indicate that tamoxifen inhibits cell growth of these cervical carcinoma cell lines by a mechanism different from that in MCF-7.

Induction of receptors for tumor necrosis factor-alpha by interferons is not a major mechanism for their synergistic cytotoxic response.

We have investigated the effects of various interferons on the receptors for recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) and also their effects on rTNF-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity on human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180. Preincubation of cells with interferon (IFN)-gamma causes a concentration- and time-dependent increase in rTNF-alpha receptor number without any change in the affinity constant of the receptors. The increase in receptor number is caused only by IFN-gamma and not by IFN-alpha or IFN-beta. Approximately 4-6 h of preincubation with IFN-gamma are required for maximum increase in rTNF-alpha binding to the cells, and this increase can be abolished by inhibitors of protein synthesis, suggesting de novo synthesis of rTNF-alpha receptors. The half-life of both uninduced and induced receptors of rTNF-alpha is approximately 2 h, indicating a rapid turnover. The binding of rTNF-alpha to the cells can also be eliminated by pretreatment of cells with trypsin. Following the removal of trypsin, binding of rTNF-alpha gradually increases, and this requires the synthesis of new proteins. The cytotoxic effect of rTNF-alpha on ME-180 cells is potentiated severalfold by the addition of either IFN-alpha, -beta, or -gamma. However, at similar concentrations, relatively higher potentiation of rTNF-alpha cytotoxicity is observed with IFN-gamma as compared to IFN-alpha and IFN-beta. The pre-exposure of cells to IFNs is as effective as co-exposure in enhancing cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha. The induction of TNF-alpha receptors by IFNs is observed in different cell types regardless of their sensitivity to TNF-alpha, suggesting that increase in receptor number alone is not sufficient for the enhanced cytotoxic response. Because the enhancement of cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha is observed by all IFNs but receptor induction in ME-180 cells occurs only with INF-gamma and because metabolic inhibitors which down-regulate TNF-alpha receptors also enhance cytotoxic response, we suggest that the induction of TNF-alpha receptor by IFNs is not a major mechanism of synergism between these cytokines.

Use of a sensitive receptor binding assay to discriminate between full-length and truncated human recombinant tumor necrosis factor proteins.

A radioreceptor assay (RRA) capable of detecting picomolar concentrations of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was used to compare the relative binding affinities of genetically engineered full-length and truncated TNF proteins. The specific cell-surface receptors for TNF present on the human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180 were characterized as having a Kd of 0.2 nM and a density of 2700 sites/cell. Conditions were then defined for an RRA that maximized the specific binding of 125I-TNF to this adherent cell line. Incubation of ME-180 cells with 125I-TNF at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0.02% sodium azide resulted in a 4-fold increase in assay sensitivity and a doubling of specific counts bound, as compared to binding done at 4 degrees C with or without sodium azide. Inhibition of receptor-ligand internalization under these conditions was a likely reason for the increases. This system was utilized to compare low concentrations of the full-length TNF protein and a genetically altered TNF protein (mutein) which lacks the 10 N-terminal amino acids and contains an N-terminal methionine. Previous studies showing the truncated TNF to be 2- to 3-fold lower in cytotoxic activity on a variety of tumor cell lines were corroborated by our findings that the mutein was also three and one-half times lower in relative affinity for the TNF receptor on ME-180 cells. These results suggest a possible role for these residues in receptor binding and illustrate the use of a highly sensitive RRA for the evaluation of TNF molecules altered by recombinant DNA technology.

Modulation of receptors and cytotoxic response of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by various lectins.

The effects of various lectins on the interaction of the human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180 with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) was investigated. rTNF-alpha is known to have cytotoxic effects on this tumor cell line and has been reported to interact with these cells through a single class of specific high affinity receptors (Kd = 0.45 nM; approximately 1790 binding sites/cell). Exposure of cells to concanavalin A (ConA) causes an approximately 2-fold increase in rTNF-alpha receptors without any significant change in their affinity constant (Kd = 0.36 nM; approximately 3662 binding sites/cell). This increase in receptor number is dependent on temperature, the time of exposure and dose of ConA, and does not require the synthesis of new proteins. In spite of an increased binding of rTNF-alpha to cells, the cell killing induced by rTNF-alpha is totally blocked by ConA. Cells are also protected by this lectin from the synergistic cytotoxic effects of rTNF-alpha and recombinant human interferon-gamma. Furthermore, it was also found that ConA decreases the rate of internalization and dramatically inhibits the release and degradation of rTNF-alpha by the cells. These results, overall, demonstrate that ConA increases total number of binding sites for rTNF-alpha but blocks the transduction of the signal for the cytotoxic response.

Characterization of receptors for human tumour necrosis factor and their regulation by gamma-interferon.

Tumour necrosis factors, TNF-alpha and TNF-beta (previously called lymphotoxin), are the products of activated monocytes and lymphocytes, respectively, and both have recently been purified, sequenced and cloned by recombinant DNA methods, revealing 35% identity and 50% homology in the amino-acid sequence. Both proteins have been found to be specifically toxic to many tumour cells. Furthermore, it has been reported that various interferons are synergistic with TNF for anti-tumour effects in vitro, while activities attributed to the two proteins have also been shown to necrotize various tumours in vivo. We have now prepared 125I-labelled highly purified recombinant human TNF-alpha to study in detail its binding to the human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180. Our results indicate that there is a single class of specific high-affinity receptors for TNF on this cell line which has a Kd of about 0.2 nM and an average of 2,000 receptor sites per cell. The binding of labelled TNF-alpha to these cells can be inhibited by both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta but not by gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). However, preincubation of cells with IFN-gamma increases the total number of TNF receptors two to threefold without any significant change in the affinity constant. This is the first report that TNF-alpha and -beta share a common receptor and that the receptors can be up-regulated by interferon. Our results may explain previous observations regarding similar biological activities observed for these two cytotoxic proteins and also their synergistic action with interferons.

Leukocyte migration inhibition assay of tumor immunity in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma

The leukocyte migration inhibition test was used to study specific tumor immunity in carcinoma of the cervix. The test was done by the capillary tube method using Sykes Moore chambers. Test antigen was extracted from the ME-180 cervical squamous cell carcinoma cell line (either uninfected or infected with herpes simplex virus type II) by the hypotonic lysis, low frequency sonication method. Control antigen preparations from nonsquamous cell carcinoma tissues were also used. Thirty patients with invasive cervical carcinoma, sixteen patients with cervical dysplasia or in situ carcinoma, nineteen normal controls, and forty patients with other malignancies were studied. There was a significantly greater degree of leukocyte migration inhibition by the cervical cancer antigen among the leukocytes of the patients with invasive cervical carcinoma than in the other four groups. Mean migration indices were .55, .89, .93 and .91 in the four groups, respectively. Significant migration inhibition (defined as a migration index under 0.70) was not frequently seen among the leukocytes of the patients with in situ carcinoma or cervical dysplasia. Significant migration inhibition was not seen in any group with the control antigens. The antigen from herpes infected cells inhibited migration to a slightly greater degree than the antigen from noninfected cells. More vigorous reactions were seen in patients under the age of 50 than in patients over the age of 50. In patients with invasive carcinoma there was no relationship of the degree of migration inhibition to the stage of disease (Stage I-IV). These data indicate that 1) there is specific tumor immunity in cervical carcinoma, 2) that there may be a common antigen expressed on the ME-180 cell line and 3) that the tumor burden may have to reach either a critical size or level of invasiveness before it can elicit a host reaction detectable by these methods.

Fine structural changes in the nucleus induced by adenosine

Cells of the ME-180 cell line, when treated with a nutrient medium that contains adenosine in a 2 mM concentration, show profound fine structural changes of nucleoli. The fibrillar and granular components become separated, and new structural elements appear that are not observed in nucleoli of untreated cells. Most prominent among those structural elements are electron dense nodules of 100–170 mμ size that appear to be composed primarily of proteins and that resist lead citrate staining unless they are stained first with uranyl acetate. Nodules of identical appearance may occur also outside nucleoli. These appear to be associated with the dispersed chromatin. The mechanism by which adenosine exerts its effect on nucleoli is unknown. A meaningful interpretation is impossible at the present time, since little is known of its biochemical effects.