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Biomedical subjects

A Gescher

Publications and source records attributed to A Gescher.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Comparison of staurosporine and four analogues: their effects on growth, rhodamine 123 retention and binding to P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant MCF-7/Adr cells.

The potent kinase inhibitor staurosporine and its protein kinase C (PKC)-selective analogue CGP 41251 are known to sensitise cells with the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) to cytotoxic agents. Here four PKC-selective staurosporine cogeners, CGP 41251, UCN-01, RO 31 8220 and GF 109203X, were compared with staurosporine in terms of their MDR-reversing properties and their susceptibility towards P-gp-mediated drug efflux from MCF-7/Adr cells. Staurosporine was the most potent and the bisindolylmaleimides RO 31 8220 and GF 109203X the least potent cytostatic agents. When compared with MCF-7 wild-type cells, MCF-7/Adr cells were resistant towards the growth-arresting properties of RO 31 8220 and UCN-01, with resistance ratios of 12.6 and 7.0 respectively. This resistance could be substantially reduced by inclusion of the P-gp inhibitor reserpine. The ratios for GF 109203X, staurosporine and CGP 41251 were 1.2, 2.0 and 2.9 respectively, and they were hardly affected by reserpine. These results suggest that RO 31 8220 and UCN-01 are avidly transported by P-gp but that the other compounds are not. Staurosporine and CGP 41251 at 10 and 20 nM, respectively, decreased efflux of the P-gp probe rhodamine 123 (R123) from MCF-7/Adr cells, whereas RO 31 8220 and GF 109203X at 640 nM were inactive. CGP 41251 was the most effective and GF 109203X the least effective inhibitor of equilibrium binding of [3H]vinblastine to its specific binding sites, probably P-gp, in MCF-7/Adr cells. Overall, the results imply that for this class of compound the structural properties that determine susceptibility towards P-gp-mediated substrate transport are complex. Comparison with ability to inhibit PKC suggests that the kinase inhibitors affect P-gp directly and not via inhibition of PKC. Among these compounds CGP 41251 was a very potent MDR-reversing agent with high affinity for P-gp and least affected by P-gp-mediated resistance, rendering it an attractive drug candidate for clinical development.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1996

Differential effects of staurosporine analogues on cell cycle, growth and viability in A549 cells.

Staurosporine is a potent but non-specific kinase inhibitor. It has served as synthetic template for a variety of analogues, the indolocarbazoles, UCN-01 and CGP 41251, and the bisindolylmaleimides, Ro 31-8220 and GF 109203X, were investigated as growth inhibitors of human-derived A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. They were compared with respect to (1) effect on the cell cycle, (2) time dependency of growth arrest and (3) cytotoxic potency. Cells were exposed for 1, 2 and 4 days, or for 6, 12 and 24 h in the case of cycle-synchronised cells, to staurosporine analogues at concentrations at which they inhibited growth by 80% after 4 day exposure. Staurosporine and UCN-01 retarded cells in G0/1, and CGP 41251 appeared to inhibit cell growth without cell cycle specificity. Ro 31-8220 slowed progression of synchronised cells through the cycle; over a longer time period it induced a weak block in G2/M. GF 109203X induced potent G2/M arrest in synchronised cells. This was not so apparent in asynchronous cells, which by day 4 were slowed in G0/1 instead. Growth arrest induced by these inhibitors was more potent after incubation for 4 rather than 2 days. Incubation for 1 day followed by maintenance in drug-free medium for 3 days was sufficient to exert some cytostasis. The differences between cytotoxic and cytostatic concentrations, the former measured by release from cells of lactate dehydrogenase, were 15 000-fold for staurosporine, 300-fold for UCN-01, approximately 400-fold for CGP 41251, 25-fold for Ro 31-8220 and approximately 4-fold for GF 109203X. The results show that PKC-selective staurosporine analogues differ with respect to the mechanisms by which they interfere with the cell cycle. The necessity of long-term exposure for effective growth inhibition and the considerable margin between cytostatic and acute cytotoxic indolocarbazole concentrations are findings which might influence the planning and interpretation of clinical trials of these kinase inhibitors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Regulation of P-glycoprotein 1 and 2 gene expression and protein activity in two MCF-7/Dox cell line subclones.

The MCF-7 doxorubicin-resistant cell line MCF-7/Dox has been used extensively for studies of the multidrug resistance phenomenon. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), these cells were separated into two populations on the basis of rhodamine 123 (R123) accumulation. We designated these as low P-glycoprotein (LP-gp) and high P-gp (HP-gp) cells on the basis of their P-gp content. Using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique controlled by homologous internal standards, we analysed levels of MDR1 and MDR2 mRNA in each cell type. LP-gp and HP-gp cells had MDR1 mRNA levels of 2.17 +/- 0.17 and 6.65 +/- 2.29 amol ng-1 total RNA respectively, compared with 0.00088 +/- 0.00005 amol ng-1 in wild-type MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/WT). MCF-7/WT cells additionally contained 0.023 +/- 0.016 amol ng-1 of MDR2 mRNA, which was unchanged in LP-gp cells, but lower than in HP-gp cells, which contained 0.42 +/- 0.08 amol ng-1. Both LP-gp and HP-gp cells contained increased copies of the MDR1 gene. However, the degree of gene amplification did not correlate with the changes in MDR1 mRNA levels, indicating further regulatory levels of gene expression. The level of P-gp detected by MRK 16 correlated with R123 accumulation. HP-gp cells expressed a 10-fold higher level of P-gp1 than LP-gp cells. However, there was only a 3-fold increase in MDR1 mRNA level in HP-gp cells compared with LP-gp cells. These data suggest that some regulation of P-gp1 expression also occurred at the post-translational level. Phosphorylation of P-gp by protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha is necessary for its activity. Our analysis of PKC-alpha, 0 and epsilon isozyme levels, and subcellular distribution, shows a co-regulation of expression with P-gp, suggesting a necessary role for PKC in P-gp regulation.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1996

CYP2E1-mediated mechanism of anti-genotoxicity of the broccoli constituent sulforaphane.

The broccoli constituent sulforaphane (1-isothiocyanate-4-methylsulfinylbutane) has previously been shown to protect rats against 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benz[a]anthracene tumorigenesis, thought to be due, at least in part, to induction of phase II detoxification. We investigated the ability of sulforaphane to also inhibit the phase I enzyme cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 2E1 (CYP2E1), which is responsible for activation of several carcinogens, including dialkylnitrosamines. Using the p-nitrophenol hydroxylation assay in microsomes from livers of acetone-treated Sprague-Dawley rats, sulforaphane was shown to be a potent competitive inhibitor of CYP2E1 with a Ki of 37.0 +/- 4.5 microM. In view of this result, we studied the capacity of sulforaphane to inhibit the genotoxicity of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Sulforaphane at concentrations of > 0.8 microM inhibited the mutagenicity of NDMA (4.4 mg/plate) in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 after pre-incubation for 45 min with cytosol extract from livers of Balb/c mice pre-treated with acetone. Unscheduled DNA synthesis induced by NDMA (33.5 microM) in mouse hepatocytes was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by sulforaphane at 0.064-20 microM. Sulforaphane was unable to inhibit mutagenicity of sodium azide (5 micrograms/plate), a direct acting mutagen, in the Salmonella assay. It was not itself genotoxic in hepatocytes, as measured by unscheduled DNA synthesis, or mutagenic in the strain of Salmonella employed and cytotoxic only at high concentrations (> or = 0.5 mM). These findings suggest that inhibition of CYP2E1 by sulforaphane may offer chemoprotection against carcinogenic substrates of this enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Comparison between inhibition of protein kinase C and antagonism of calmodulin by tamoxifen analogues.

A variety of analogues of tamoxifen were tested for inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These results were compared with the calmodulin antagonism exhibited by the analogues as measured by inhibition of calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The same structural features that enhanced PKC inhibition also led to an increase in calmodulin antagonism, namely 4-iodination and elongation of the basic side-chain. The most potent analogue has a 4-iodine substituent and eight carbon atoms in its basic side-chain with IC50 values of 38 microM for PKC inhibition and 0.3 microM for calmodulin antagonism, which compares with 92 and 6.8 microM, respectively, for tamoxifen. Some selectivity was achieved with a ring-fused analogue that retained the potency of tamoxifen as a PKC inhibitor, but lacked calmodulin antagonism.

Calmodulin↗
PubMed1995

Metabolism of the genotoxicant 2-nitropropane to a nitric oxide species.

The mechanisms by which the paint constituent 2-nitropropane (2-NP) exerts genotoxicity and hepatocarcinogenicity are poorly understood. The hypothesis was tested that nitric oxide (NO) is a hepatic metabolic intermediate generated from 2-NP and/or its anionic tautomer propane 2-nitronate (P2N). Incubations of liver microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats or mice with 2-NP or P2N gave spectra with Soret maxima at 448 nm which indicated the presence of a ferrous-NO complex. Levels of 3':5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and nitrite were measured by ELISA assay and HPLC, respectively, in freshly isolated mouse hepatocytes. Levels of cGMP generated within 3 h in cells by 2-NP, P2N (5 mM each) or the diethylamine/NO complex [Et2NNO(N==O)]Na (0.6 mM), an NO precursor, were 6, 15 and 34 times, respectively, those seen in control hepatocytes. Production of cGMP following treatment with 2-NP was linear with time of incubation; cGMP generation from P2N reached its peak already after 1 h. cGMP levels observed in incubates with 1-nitropropane and 2-deutero 2-nitropropane (5 mM), 2-NP isomers devoid of genotoxic properties, were significantly lower than those seen in the presence of 2-NP. Inclusion in the incubate of methylene blue, which inhibits NO-mediated reactions, decreased cGMP formation in hepatocytes with [Et2NNO(N==O)]Na, but increased it in cells with 2-NP or P2N. The production of nitrite from 2-NP, P2N or [Et2NNO(N==O)]Na mirrored cGMP formation. The results suggest that 2-NP and its nitronate generate an NO species in cells which may mediate, or contribute to, 2-NP genotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Differential inhibition of cytosolic and membrane-derived protein kinase C activity by staurosporine and other kinase inhibitors.

The hypothesis was tested that 9 kinase inhibitors with diverse specificities for protein kinase C (PKC), including staurosporine and four of its analogues, interfere differently with PKC derived from either the cytosolic or particulate fractions of MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. GF 109203X inhibited the enzyme identically in either preparation. CGP 41251 and calphostin C inhibited cytosolic PKC more effectively than membrane-derived PKC with ratios of IC50 (cytosolic PKC) over IC50 (membrane-derived PKC) of 0.07 and 0.04, respectively. The other six agents inhibited membrane-derived PKC more potently than cytosolic enzyme. Staurosporine and RO 31 8220 exhibited IC50 ratios of 12.3 and 21.6, respectively. The results suggest that there are dramatic differences between kinase inhibitors in their divergent effects on cytosolic and membrane-derived PKC which should be borne in mind in the interpretation of their pharmacological properties.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1995

Modulators of signal transduction as cancer chemotherapeutic agents--novel mechanisms and toxicities.

The recent explosion of knowledge of the molecular basis of regulation of growth and differentiation has engendered the search for novel anticancer drugs which act via interference with cellular signal transduction pathways. Among the agents which are under investigation are modulators of protein kinases, for example quercetin and bryostatin 1. Both compounds have undergone phase 1 clinical evaluation. The major dose-limiting toxicities of quercetin and bryostatin are nephrotoxicity and myalgia, respectively. Novel analogs of the microbial product staurosporine, a potent kinase inhibitor, possess intriguing specificities for different kinases.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of ability of protein kinase C inhibitors to arrest cell growth and to alter cellular protein kinase C localisation.

Inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) such as the staurosporine analogues UCN-01 and CGP 41251 possess antineoplastic properties, but the mechanism of their cytostatic action is not understood. We tested the hypothesis that the ability of these compounds to arrest growth is intrinsically linked with their propensity to inhibit PKC. Compounds with varying degrees of potency and specificity for PKC were investigated in A549 and MCF-7 carcinoma cells. When the log values of drug concentration which arrested cell growth by 50% (IC50) were plotted against the logs of the IC50 values for inhibition of cytosolic PKC activity, two groups of compound could be distinguished. The group which comprised the more potent inhibitors of enzyme activity (calphostin C, staurosporine and its analogues UCN-01, RO 31-8220, CGP 41251) were the stronger growth inhibitors, whereas the weaker enzyme inhibitors (trimethylsphingosine, miltefosine, NPC-15437, H-7, H-7I) affected proliferation less potently. GF 109203X was exceptional in that it inhibited PKC with an IC50 in the 10(-8) M range, yet was only weakly cytostatic. To substantiate the role of PKC in the growth inhibition caused by these agents, cells were depleted of PKC by incubation with bryostatin 1 (1 microM). The susceptibility of these enzyme-depleted cells towards growth arrest induced by staurosporine, RO 31-8220, UCN-01 or H-7 was studied. The drug concentrations which inhibited incorporation of [3H]thymidine into PKC-depleted A549 cells by 50% were slightly, but not significantly, lower than significantly, lower than those observed in control cells. These results suggest that PKC is unlikely to play a direct role in the arrest of the growth of A549 and MCF-7 cells mediated by these agents. Staurosporine is not only a strong inhibitor of PKC but also mimics activators of this enzyme in that it elicits the cellular redistribution of certain PKC isoenzymes. The ability of kinase inhibitors other than staurosporine to exert a similar effect was investigated. Calphostin C, H-7, H-7I, miltefosine, staurosporine, UCN-01, RO 31-8220, CGP 41251 or GF 109203X were incubated for 30 min with A549 cells in the absence or presence of the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate. The subcellular distribution of PKC-alpha-, -epsilon and -zeta was measured by Western blot analysis. None of the agents affected PKC-alpha or -zeta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1994

The role of protein kinase C isoenzymes in the growth inhibition caused by bryostatin 1 in human A549 lung and MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells.

Bryostatin I is a natural product currently under clinical evaluation as an antitumor agent. Like the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) it activates protein kinase C (PKC). Bryostatin I inhibits the growth of the human-derived A549 lung and MCF-7 adenocarcinoma cell lines, but much more weakly than TPA. The hypotheses were tested that differences between cell lines in their response to bryostatin I are related to cellular PKC isotype content, and that differences between TPA and bryostatin I in their effects on cell growth are associated with differential abilities to modulate specific PKC isoenzymes. PKC isozyme profiles were studied by Western-blot analysis in the cytosol, particulate and nuclear fractions of A549 and MCF-7 cells. PKCs-alpha, -epsilon and -zeta were detected in both cell types with predominant location in the cytosol. Separation of cytosolic PKC isoenzymes in A549 cells by hydroxylapatite column chromatography and determination of PKC activity in fractions yielded a major peak which contained PKC-alpha. Exposure of cells to bryostatin I or TPA for 30 min caused the redistribution of PKCs-alpha and -epsilon from the cytosol to the particulate and nuclear fractions in a concentration-dependent fashion. PKC-epsilon was completely down-regulated by exposure to 10 nM bryostatin I for 18 hr or to TPA for 24 hr. Down-regulation of PKC-alpha was partial at 10 nM and complete at 1 microM of either agent. Bryostatin I inhibited incorporation of [3H]-labelled thymidine into cells only transiently, whereas TPA arrested growth for several days in A549 cells and irreversibly in MCF-7 cells. A549 cells, in which PKC was depleted by exposure to phorbol ester for 9 weeks, were resistant towards bryostatin-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis. The results suggest that the susceptibility of adenocarcinoma cells towards bryostatin-induced growth delay are determined by cellular levels of PKCs-alpha and/or -epsilon. However, differences between bryostatin I and TPA in their abilities to inhibit cell growth do not seem to be intrinsically related to differences in redistribution or down-regulation of specific PKC isoenzymes.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1994

Propane 2-nitronate is the major genotoxic form of 2-nitropropane.

The mutagenicity of 2-nitropropane in Salmonella typhimurium (strain TA100) was proportional to the pH (range 6.1-9.1) of the medium used for pre-incubation of the agent and for incubation of the agent with the Salmonella. The mutagenicity correlated with an enhanced rate of tautomerase to propane 2-nitronate at relatively high pH as measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Both the mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium (strains TA100 and TA102) and the rate of tautomerisation to the nitronate was lower with 2-deutero-2-nitropropane than with non-deuterated 2-nitropropane. Furthermore, 2-deutero-2-nitropropane was less potent in the induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes over a 4-h period. Propane 2-nitronate therefore appears to be pivotal in the causation of the genetic toxicity of 2-nitropropane. The presence of hepatocytes enhanced nitronate production from 2-nitropropane suggesting a contribution from hepatic enzymes in the tautomerisation reaction.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Establishment of a murine leukaemia cell line resistant to the growth-inhibitory effect of bryostatin 1.

Bryostatin 1 is a novel macrocyclic lactone activator of protein kinase C (PKC) which has clinical potential as an anti-cancer agent. The mechanism of action of this agent is unknown, but protein kinase C has been implicated. In order to investigate this possibility, we have developed P388 sublines resistant to bryostatin 1, by continuous challenge of the parent cell line with increasing incremental concentrations of the drug over 4 months. Cell lines were established at monthly intervals yielding four sublines: P388/BR/A, which were removed at 1 month; P388/BR/B, obtained after 2 months; P388/BR/C, obtained after 3 months; and P388/BR/D, which were established after 4 months. All four P388/BR sublines show an equal degree of resistance to the growth inhibitory effects of bryostatin 1, with a relative resistance ratio (RR) IC50 of approximately 4,000. The ability of the cytosol of cells to phosphorylate PKC-specific substrate is decreased by 41% for BR/A, 57% for BR/B 80% for BR/C and 94% for BR/D compared with the parental cell line, even when grown in the absence of bryostatin 1 for up to 4 weeks. Similar decreases are seen for cytosolic phorbol ester binding and whole-cell PKC isoenzyme expression. All four P388/BR sublines show high and equal levels of cross-resistance to the PKC activatory phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). There is no loss of resistance to either bryostatin 1 or PMA up to 3 months after termination of exposure of the sublines to bryostatin 1. There was no significant degree of cross-resistance to daunorubicin in the bryosatin 1-resistant cell lines, P388/BR/A, B, C or D, when compared with the parent cell line, P388.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cytostatic and cytotoxic properties of the marine product bistratene A and analysis of the role of protein kinase C in its mode of action.

Bistratene A is a polyether which was isolated from the marine ascidian Lissoclinum bistratum Sluiter. The hypothesis has been tested that the cytostatic effect of bistratene A is mediated by modulation of protein kinase C (PKC). Human-derived A549 lung and MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells are extremely sensitive to growth inhibition induced by activators of PKC. Therefore, the effect of bistratene A on these cell lines was compared with that of the known PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The ability of bistratene A to modulate PKC activity in cellular cytosol was assessed to determine the involvement of PKC in the induction of cytostasis. Bistratene A inhibited the growth of both cell lines and initial seeding density determined its cytostatic potency. IC50 values were between 1.0 and 2.9 nM. Bistratene A also had a profound effect on the colony forming ability of A549 cells, preventing clonal growth at 5 nM. Using the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into cells to assess DNA synthetic activity and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay to define cytotoxicity, the compound was found to have both cytostatic and cytotoxic properties. Bistratene A decomposed by 50% after only 2.8 hr in cell culture medium. TPA induced rapid motility and the formation of a network of branched colonies in both cell lines grown on Matrigel, whereas bistratene A did not cause the same effect. Cell cytosol was analysed for phorbol ester binding sites after treatment with bistratene A or TPA. Incubation with TPA (10 nM) caused a reduction in binding sites to 57% of binding in control cells after 30 min and to 35% after 24 hr. Bistratene A did not cause a significant change in binding sites. Assays of PKC activity in cellular cytosol revealed that bistratene A was unable to activate or inhibit the enzyme at concentrations of up to 10 microM. The results suggest that bistratene A is an exquisitely potent cytostatic agent in the two cell lines studied, but modulation of PKC is not involved in the mode of action by which it elicits this effect.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1993

Effects of 1,1-dichloroethene and of some of its metabolites on the functional viability of mouse hepatocytes.

1,1-Dichloroethene (DCE) is hepatotoxic in rodents, and the expression of its toxicity involves probably its metabolism. In this study the role of DCE metabolites in the generation of the hepatotoxic lesion was investigated. Hepatocytes from male BALB/c mice in suspension were used as the experimental model. Cells were incubated with DCE for up to 5 hr and cellular viability was assessed by measurement of the release of lactate dehydrogenase into the medium and by alterations in the reduction of the dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. After incubation for 3 hr DCE at 0.5 mM caused maximal toxicity, whereas at 0.1 mM DCE was only marginally toxic. Cytotoxicity was exacerbated by pretreatment of mice with buthionine sulfoximine (1.6 g/kg), an inhibitor of glutathione biosynthesis, given 4 hr prior to hepatocyte isolation. Inclusion of N-acetylcysteine (10 mM) into the incubate protected cells against DCE-induced cytotoxicity. Coincubation with octylamine (0.5 mM), an inhibitor of cytochrome P450, abolished the cytotoxic potential of 0.5 mM DCE during incubation for 3 hr. DCE toxicity was increased in hepatocytes from mice which had received ethanol or acetone in their drinking water, both of which induce levels of the hepatic cytochrome P450 isozyme P450 2E1. Incubation of cells with the P450 2E1 inhibitors N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mM) or diethyldithiocarbamate (100 microM) protected liver cells against the detrimental effect of DCE. Pretreatment of animals with phenobarbital, which induces the P450 2B subfamily, or 3-methylcholanthrene, which induces P450 1A1, did not affect the degree of hepatocytotoxicity elicited DCE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

DNA modification and repair by 2-nitropropane is extensive in hepatocytes of rats compared to those of humans and mice.

Hepatocytes from rats, mice or humans were exposed to either 2-nitropropane or propane 2-nitronate and the extent of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) was measured. At a concentration of 2-nitropropane (0.1 mM) that produced a marked induction of UDS in rat hepatocytes, a negative or minimal response was seen in hepatocytes from mice and humans. A 10-fold higher concentration of 2-nitropropane was required in mouse hepatocytes for an equivalent UDS response to that seen in rat-liver cells. All three species showed UDS after exposure of hepatocytes to propane 2-nitronate at 0.1 mM although the effect in human cells was variable. In rat hepatocytes the induction of UDS by 2-nitropropane was not inhibited by the antioxidant dimethyl sulphoxide (1%). In these cells, 2-nitropropane produced an electrochemically active modified deoxynucleoside, similar to that reported to be formed in livers of rats which had received 2-nitropropane in vivo. A smaller but significant production of this altered deoxynucleoside was found in mouse hepatocytes but not in human hepatocytes treated identically. The level of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydrode-oxyguanosine was not increased in hepatocytes from any of the three species exposed to 2-NP under the same conditions. It is suggested that the UDS caused by 2-nitropropane may be in response to damage other than that produced by oxygen radicals.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Modulation by staurosporine of phorbol-ester-induced effects on growth and protein kinase C localization in A549 human lung-carcinoma cells.

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and bryostatin 1 are activators of protein kinase C (PKC). TPA is a potent inhibitor of the growth of A549 cells, while bryostatin 1 exerts a weak antiproliferative effect upon this cell line. We tested the hypothesis that the PKC inhibitor staurosporine (STAU) can interfere with the effects of TPA or bryostatin 1 on A549 cells. STAU alone arrested A549 cell growth effectively with an IC50 of 0.65 nM as determined by cell counting after incubation for 96 hr. It also caused the release of lactate dehydrogenase from cells with an IC50 of 18.4 nM. On incubation with cells for up to 8 hr, STAU (100 nM) alone did not reduce thymidine incorporation into cells. However, it partially abrogated the inhibition of DNA synthesis caused by TPA or bryostatin 1 (10 nM). The IC50 for inhibition by STAU of the activity of PKC purified from A549 cells was 6.1 nM. Localization and levels of PKC were studied by Western blot and phorbol ester receptor binding analyses. STAU (100 nM) did not prevent the TPA-induced rapid redistribution of PKC to the cell membrane, but instead increased it by 25%. The PKC downregulation caused by TPA was not reduced in the presence of STAU. The results suggest that (i) PKC activation is involved in growth inhibition caused by TPA or bryostatin 1 in A549 cells, and (ii) subcellular localization or levels of PKC can be pharmacologically manipulated even under conditions of inhibited kinase function.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1992

Is metabolism an important arbiter of anticancer activity of ether lipids? Metabolism of SRI 62-834 and hexadecylphosphocholine by [31P]-NMR spectroscopy and comparison of their cytotoxicities with those of their metabolites.

Antineoplastic ether lipids have entered phase I clinical trial and, although their mechanism of action remains unclear, it is widely believed that the plasma membrane is the primary cellular drug target. In the present study the hypothesis was tested that metabolism of ether lipids acts as a detoxification process. [31P]-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to study the metabolism of the ether lipid SRI 62-834 (SRI) and the phosphate ester hexadecylphosphocholine (HPC) in the presence of both isolated phospholipases C and D and post-mitochondrial rat liver homogenate. Both SRI and HPC were slowly metabolised by phospholipase D to their alkyl phosphates and choline, and the alkyl phosphates were subsequently metabolised by phosphatase to yield the alcohols and inorganic phosphate. These studies failed to detect any metabolism of either SRI or HPC by phospholipase C, and the metabolism of platelet-activating factor (PAF) by this enzyme was not inhibited by the addition of either compound. The cytotoxicity of SRI, the related compound HPC and their metabolites was determined in vitro using three cell lines. Cytotoxicity was measured by analysis of cell growth kinetics, MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase release. Closely similar results were obtained in the JB1 rat hepatoma cell line, in the non-transformed BL8 rat hepatocyte cell line, and in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. SRI was the most toxic of the compounds analysed, the concentration required to produce 50% toxicity or growth inhibition (IC50) being 6-9 microM. The putative metabolite of SRI, 2,2'-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran, and the known metabolites [2'-(octadecyloxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2'-yl]methyl phosphate and 2-hydroxymethyl-2-octadecyloxymethyltetrahydrofuran exhibited IC50 values of > 200, > 100 and 40-70 microM, respectively, consistent with metabolic detoxification. HPC was more cytotoxic (IC50, 37 microM) than its phosphate metabolite (IC50, 140 microM), but its toxicity was similar to that of its metabolite hexadecanol (IC50, 28 microM), suggesting that only the former metabolic route leads to detoxification.

Adenocarcinoma↗