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Biomedical subjects

D Spandidos

Publications and source records attributed to D Spandidos.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Tetra-amidines exhibiting anti-proteinase activity: effects on oriented migration and in vitro invasiveness of a Chinese hamster cell line transfected with the activated human T24-Ha-ras-1 oncogene.

In the present paper we have investigated the effects of aromatic tetra-amidines on attachment, oriented migration and in vitro invasiveness of the Chinese Hamster FH06T1-1 fibroblast lung cell line, transformed with the activated human T24-Ha-ras-1 oncogene. The FH06T1-1 cell line is tumorigenic in nude mice and displays growth properties and biological features clearly distinct from those of the FH06N1-1 cell line, obtained after transfection of the same fibroblast cells with the normal Ha-ras-1 proto-oncogene. Attachment, oriented migration and invasiveness were analysed by culturing the cells on a reconstituted extracellular matrix, composed of collagen IV, laminin, entactin and heparan sulphate proteoglycans. The results obtained demonstrate that oriented migration is performed only by FH06T1-1 cells and that tetra-benzamidines are effective inhibitors of oriented migration and "in vitro" invasiveness of these tumorigenic cells. These findings should encourage further studies on the possible antimetastatic effects of these antiproteinase tetra-benzamidines on experimental animals.

Amidines

Distant sequences which regulate globin genes.

Besides the major cap site, transcription of the human epsilon-globin gene initiates at several upstream sites, the furthest 4.5 kb away. The upstream initiation sites occur in regions of hypersensitivity to DNaseI. There is also a very prominent DNaseI hypersensitive site 6.5 kb upstream which corresponds to an unusual nucleotide sequence. Upstream promoters, particularly one 200 bp upstream can be regulated independently of the major cap site. This site behaves as if it were a unidirectional enhancer. A fragment upstream of the mouse beta-globin promoter acts as a negative regulator in cis; it contains a long stretch of alternating purine and pyrimidine bases. The significance of upstream regulatory sequences adjacent to globin genes is discussed.

Base Sequence

Inhibition of 'in vitro' tumor cell growth by aromatic polyamidines exhibiting antiproteinase activity.

Aromatic polyamidines containing two, three or four benzamidine residues inhibit proteinase activity and proliferation of different human tumor cell lines, including leukemic (K562, HEL), melanoma (Colo 38) and B-lymphoid (WI-L2) cell lines. In addition, the benzamidine derivatives analysed in the present study inhibit cell growth of the Chinese hamster FHO6T1-1 cell line, obtained after transfection of primary lung cells with the activated human T24-Ha-ras-1 oncogene. After treatment of FHO6T1-1 cells with benzamidine derivatives, a sharp decrease of the content of Ha-ras-1 mRNA was found, but not of transferrin receptor mRNA. We found that inhibition of cell proliferation by tetra-benzamidine derivatives is not restricted to tumor cells, but concerns also non-tumorigenic cell lines as well as normal primary fibroblasts. Therefore, our analysis was extended to di- and tri-benzamidine derivatives, which could be proposed as useful substrates in the synthesis of drug-conjugated monoclonal antibodies or growth factors. The data obtained demonstrate that these latter compounds and their halo-derivatives also exhibit strong antiproliferative effects on in vitro cultured cells.

Amidines

Recombinant immune interferon down-regulates Ha-ras-1 proto-oncogene products in a human melanoma cell line.

The antiproliferative and antineoplastic effects of the interferons may result, at least in part, from changes in the expression and quantity of specific oncogene products. To explore this hypothesis we have determined the effect of interferons, including recombinant leukocyte (IFN-alpha), fibroblast (IFN-beta) and immune (IFN-gamma), on expression of the Ha-ras proto-oncogene in the human melanoma cell line Colo 38. While concentrations of up to 1000 U/ml of either IFN-alpha or IFN-beta did not affect the total amounts of Ha-ras products, IFN-gamma at concentrations ranging from 20 to 200 U/ml caused a dose- and time-dependent (48-96 hr) reduction (approximately 40%) in the accumulation of Ha-ras-1 mRNA and in the synthesis of the specific protein products. Downregulation of this proto-oncogene occurs prior to the antiproliferative effects of IFN-gamma and parallels similar IFN-gamma mediated changes in the expression of certain melanoma associated antigens. The present findings indicate that this experimental model may prove valuable in determining whether a direct relationship exists between the antiproliferative activity of specific interferons and the downregulation of oncogene expression.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Effects of the proteinase inhibitor tetra-p-amidinophenoxyneopentane on in vitro adhesion and invasiveness of tumor cells.

Some of the biological processes which enhance the metastatic capacity of tumor cells are associated with the activation of proteinases. In this paper we examined the effects of aromatic polyamidines on "in vitro" invasiveness of tumor cell lines. In addition to their antiproteinase activity, aromatic polyamidines exhibit antiproliferative activity toward tumor cell lines and inhibit expression of specific oncogenes. The results obtained show that the aromatic polyamidine TAPP-Br does not affect attachment, but inhibits the "in vitro" invasiveness of tumor cells cultured on a reconstituted basement membrane composed by laminin, type IV collagen, entactin, heparan sulphate proteoglycans. Our data suggest that this and related compounds should be further studied as experimental antitumor agents.

Amidines

New synthetic retinoids: effects on proliferation and differentiation.

Nine retinoid analogues were synthesized and their effects on cell proliferation and differentiation of tumor cell lines were analysed and compared with those of natural retinoids (retinoic acid, retinol, retinal). Our results demonstrate differential inhibitory effects of the synthetic retinoids on cell growth. This inhibitory activity of the synthetic retinoids was, in some cases, higher than that of retinoic acid and retinol. Natural and synthetic retinoids were found to be able to induce to a different extent erythroid differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells and adipogenic conversion of Chinese Hamster FHO6N1-1 cells. Our data suggest that studies on the relationship between structure and biological activity could be approached by using the analysed synthetic retinoids.

Animals

Effects of benzamidine derivatives on Ha-ras-1 mRNA accumulation in a Chinese hamster cell line transformed with the activated human T24 Ha-ras-1 oncogene.

Tetra benzamidine derivatives were found to inhibit proteinase activity, cell proliferation and accumulation of the Ha-ras-1 mRNA in the FHO6T1-1 Chinese Hamster cell line, transformed with the activated human T24-Ha-ras-1 oncogene. Di- and Tri-benzamidine derivatives were also found to be potent inhibitors of proliferation of FHO6T1-1 cells. These latter compounds could be proposed as useful substrates in the synthesis of drug-conjugated monoclonal antibodies or growth factors.

Amidines