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Biomedical subjects

F Traganos

Publications and source records attributed to F Traganos.

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

Cytometry of cyclin proteins.

Cyclins are key components of the cell cycle progression machinery. They activate their partner cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and possibly target them to respective substrate proteins within the cell. CDK-mediated phosphorylation of specific sets of proteins drives the cell through particular phases or checkpoints of the cell cycle. During unperturbed growth of normal cells, the timing of expression of several cyclins is discontinuous, occurring at discrete and well-defined periods of the cell cycle. Immunocytochemical detection of cyclins in relation to cell cycle position (DNA content) by multiparameter flow cytometry has provided a new approach to cell cycle studies. This approach, like no other method, can be used to detect the unscheduled expression of cyclins, namely, the presentation of G1 cyclins by cells in G2/M and of G2/M cyclins by G1 cells, without the need for cell synchronization. Such unscheduled expression of cyclins B1 and A was seen when cell cycle progression was halted, e.g., after synchronization at the G1/S boundary by inhibitors of DNA replication. The unscheduled expression of cyclins B1 or E, but not of A, was also observed in some tumor cell lines even when their growth was unperturbed. Likewise, whereas the expression of cyclins D1 or D3 in nontumor cells was restricted to an early section of G1, the presentation of these proteins in many tumor cell lines also was seen during S and G2/M. This suggests that the partner kinase CDK4 (which upon activation by D-type cyclins phosphorylates pRB committing the cell to enter S) is perpetually active throughout the cell cycle in these tumor lines. Expression of cyclin D also may serve to discriminate G0 vs. G1 cells and, as an activation marker, to identify the mitogenically stimulated cells entering the cell cycle. Differences in cyclin expression make it possible to discriminate between cells having the same DNA content but residing at different phases such as in G2 vs. M or G2/M of a lower DNA ploidy vs. G1 cells of a higher ploidy. The expression of cyclins D, E, A and B1 provides new cell cycle landmarks that can be used to subdivide the cell cycle into several distinct subcompartments. The point of cell cycle arrest by many antitumor agents can be estimated with better accuracy in relation to these compartments compared to the traditional subdivision into four cell cycle phases. The latter applications, however, pertain only to normal cells or to tumor cells whose phenotype is characterized by scheduled expression of cyclins. As sensitive and specific indicators of the cell's proliferative potential, the cyclins, in particular D-type cyclins, are expected to be key prognostic markers in neoplasia.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effect of protease inhibitors on early events of apoptosis.

Proteolysis is an early event of apoptosis which appears to be associated with activation of the endonuclease which is responsible for internucleosomal DNA cleavage. The present study was designed to reveal the possible role of proteolysis in other early events, such as chromatin condensation, nuclear breakdown, and destabilization of in situ DNA double-stranded structure. Apoptosis of human leukemic HL-60 cells and rat thymocytes was induced by different agents, including DNA topoisomerase inhibitors, an RNA antimetabolite, and the glucocorticosteroid, prednisolone. DNA degradation was evaluated by pulsed field and conventional gel electrophoresis and by the presence of in situ DNA strand breaks. DNA stability was estimated by the measure of its sensitivity in situ to denaturation. Chromatin condensation, nuclear breakdown, and other morphological changes were monitored by interference contrast and UV microscopy following cell staining with the DNA-specific fluorochrome 4',6-diamidino-2- phenylindole. Several irreversible or reversible serine protease inhibitors prevented internucleosomal DNA degradation, nuclear breakdown, and destabilization of DNA double-stranded structure. The effective inhibitors, however, did not prevent the onset of chromatin condensation, nor the loss of the fine structural framework, nor the initial step of DNA cleavage generating DNA fragments of >=50 kb in size. The data indicate that in both cell systems the activity of proteases sensitive to the inhibitors tested is needed for internucleosomal DNA cleavage to occur. The data also suggest that these proteases may be involved in dissolution of the nuclear envelope. Because nuclear matrix proteins and histones stabilize DNA in situ, and the decrease in DNA stability which occurs during apoptosis is precluded by the inhibitors, it is likely that serine proteases may degrade DNA stabilizing proteins. The activity of these proteases, however, appears needed neither for DNA cleavage to >=50-kb fragments nor for the onset of chromatin condensation which is associated with dissolution of the structural framework of the nucleus.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Unscheduled expression of cyclins D1 and D3 in human tumour cell lines.

D-type cyclins are involved in regulation of cell traverse through G1 primarily by activating the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and targeting it to the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein. There is a vast body of evidence that defective expression of D-type cyclins is associated with tumour development and/or progression. Immunocytochemical detection of D cyclins combined with multiparameter flow cytometry makes it possible to measure the expression of these proteins in individual cells in relation to their cell cycle position without the need for cell synchronization. This approach was used in the present study to compare the cell cycle phase specific expression of cyclins D3 and D1 in human normal proliferating lymphocytes and fibroblasts, respectively, with nine tumour cell lines of different lineage. During exponential, unperturbed growth, expression of cyclin D1 in fibroblasts from donors of different age, or cyclin D3 in lymphocytes, was limited to mid-G1 cells: Less than 7% of the cells entering S phase or progressing through S and G2 were cyclin D positive. In contrast, expression of either cyclin D1 or cyclin D3 in tumour cell lines of different lineage was not limited to G1 phase. Namely, over 80% of the cells in S and G2+M were cyclin D positive in eight of the nine cell lines studied. The data indicate that while expression of cyclin D1 or D3 in normal cells is discontinuous, occurring transiently in G1, these proteins are expressed in some tumour lines persistently throughout the cell cycle. This suggests that the partner kinase CDK4 is perpetually active throughout the cell cycle in these tumour lines.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1995

Effects of organic and inorganic selenium compounds on rat mammary tumor cells.

To explore cellular effects of potent organoselenium chemopreventive agents we have used a rat mammary tumor cell line. We demonstrate that 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene) selenocyanate (p-XSC) at a dose of 5 microM is a more potent inhibitor of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis as well as of mitochondrial transmembrane potential than its chemopreventive counterparts benzyl selenocyanate (BSC) and sodium selenite. These differences were also reflected in reduced growth rate by 24 and 48 hr. Cell-cycle and cell-morphology analysis revealed that higher doses of p-XSC (10 microM) caused DNA fragmentation which was accompanied with partial loss of nuclear stainability, whereas BSC caused a noticeable change in cell-cycle distribution and extensive micronucleation. Overall, our results point to cellular targets of selenium compounds which may mediate their chemopreventive activities in mammary tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Induction of apoptosis by 5-azacytidine: drug concentration-dependent differences in cell cycle specificity.

There are conflicting data in the literature as to whether cytotoxicity of the cytidine antimetabolite 5'-azacytidine (AZC) is a consequence of its incorporation into RNA, DNA, or both. Because apoptosis appears to be the predominant mode of tumor cell death after treatment with most antitumor drugs, and in the case of some drugs, the proclivity of the cell to undergo apoptosis varies depending on the cell cycle position, this study was aimed toward elucidating whether induction of apoptosis by AZC is cell cycle phase specific. Human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells were treated with varying concentrations of AZC, and flow cytometric methods that identify apoptotic cels and provide information about the cell cycle distribution of the apoptotic and nonapoptotic cell populations were used. At 2-6 microM concentrations of AZC, the cells in the G1 phase preferentially underwent apoptosis, whereas the cells in G2-M were particularly resistant. Although incorporation of bromouridine into RNA was suppressed at that low AZC concentration, the rate of 5'-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA was not significantly affected. At an AZC concentration of 8-40 microM, no cell cycle phase specificity in induction of apoptosis was apparent, but both the rate of 5'-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA and bromouridine into RNA were reduced in proportion to drug concentration. The data suggest that the mechanism of cell killing by AZC may be different, depending on its concentration. Namely, whereas incorporation of AZC into RNA may play a predominant role in the induction of cytotoxicity of G1 cells at low drug concentrations, the perturbation of both RNA and DNA metabolism may be responsible for triggering cell death in the G1 and S phases, as is seen at higher concentrations of this antimetabolite.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1995

Single-step procedure for labeling DNA strand breaks with fluorescein- or BODIPY-conjugated deoxynucleotides: detection of apoptosis and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation.

The methods of in situ labeling of DNA strand breaks have been used to identify apoptotic cells and/or DNA replicating cells. While discrimination of apoptotic cells is based on the inherent presence of numerous DNA strand breaks in their chromatin, DNA proliferating cells can be discriminated by the selective DNA strand break induction by photolysis (SBIP) methodology at the sites that contain incorporated bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) or iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd). In both instances, DNA strand breaks are labeled with biotin- or digoxygenin-conjugated deoxynucleotides, preferably in the reaction catalyzed by exogenous terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase; fluorescein tagged avidin (streptavidin) or digoxygenin antibody is used in the second step of the reaction. In the present study, DNA strand break labeling was simplified by using directly labeled deoxynucleotides, in a single-step reaction. Cell fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry as well as by a microscope-based laser scanning multiparameter cytometer. Apoptotic cells in HL-60 cultures treated with camptothecin or in primary cultures of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells treated with prednisolone were easily identified utilizing BODIPY-conjugated dUTP (B-dUTP). Apoptotic cells were also recognized using fluorescein-conjugated dUTP or dATP, although the discrimination was more pronounced with B-dUTP. The single-step procedure, requiring fewer centrifugation steps, resulted in less cell loss compared to the two-step cell labeling technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1995

In vitro and in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of metabolic changes post radiation.

Radiation-induced metabolic changes previously observed in tumors using phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy include changes in the relative amounts of the phospholipid precursors phosphoethanolamine and phosphocholine, increases in membrane catabolites, and increases in energy status. To elucidate the degree to which these in vivo alterations are a result of intrinsic cellular changes versus radiation-induced systemic effects, the Radiation-Induced Fibrosarcoma-1 tumor model was studied before and over the course of 7 days after a single dose of 17 Gy. In vivo studies were performed with tumors implanted in C3H/He mice; in vitro studies used cells that were perfused in agarose gel threads after being grown, radiated, and maintained in monolayer. The statistically significant increases in the downfield component of the phosphomonoester peak, which consists primarily of phosphoethanolamine, compared to the upfield component, phosphocholine, were qualitatively similar in vivo and in vitro post radiation. Statistically significant increases in the membrane catabolite glycerophosphocholine, a phosphodiester, were also observed in both tumors and cell culture after irradiation, with a greater percentage change in vitro. This suggests that changes in the phosphomonoester and phosphodiester concentrations are primarily an intrinsic effect of radiation on cellular metabolism, modulated to a lesser degree by systemic effects. In contrast, the statistically significant increases in energy status after the 17-Gy dose showed markedly different temporal responses in the two systems. Therefore, energy status changes observed in vivo are due largely to systemic changes, such as changes in blood flow. Flow cytometry data obtained from the cultured cells showed a sustained increase in the G2-M fraction starting at 24 h, the first time point measured after irradiation, which continued for the 7 days studied post radiation. These data indicate that the in vivo changes detected by nuclear magnetic resonance in phospholipid precursors and catabolites occur directly at the cellular level and may reflect cell death or growth inhibition after antineoplastic therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Discrimination of G2 and mitotic cells by flow cytometry based on different expression of cyclins A and B1.

Cyclins, the regulatory subunits of their respective cyclin-dependent kinases, are the key components of the cell-cycle progression machinery. Some cyclins are expressed discontinuously during the cell cycle, their synthesis and degradation being strictly scheduled. The presence of these cyclins in the cell, therefore, provides landmarks of the cell cycle, in addition to DNA replication and mitosis. Cyclin A is expressed in late S and G2 phase and degraded during mitosis just prior to metaphase. Degradation of another "mitotic" cyclin, cyclin B1, occurs later, at the transition from metaphase to anaphase. Based on the difference in time of degradation of cyclin A versus cyclin B1 it was possible, in the present study, to discriminate between G2 and mitotic (postprophase) MOLT-4 leukemic cells, by multiparameter (cellular DNA content versus cyclin expression) flow cytometry. The cells arrested in metaphase by Vinblastine were cyclin A negative and had an elevated level of cyclin B1. The cells arrested in G2 by the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor m-AMSA had a very high level of cyclin B1 expression and unchanged expression of cyclin A. During stathmokinesis induced by Vinblastine the percentage of mitotic cells estimated by analysis of cellular DNA content and cyclin A expression was identical to that estimated by the alternative method based on in situ DNA denaturation followed by staining with acridine orange. Thus, differences in expression of cyclins A and B1 make it possible to discriminate cells that have the same DNA content but reside in different phases of the cycle, such as DNA diploid cells in G2 versus tetraploid G1 cells or mitotic versus G2 cells.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1995

Threshold expression of cyclin E but not D type cyclins characterizes normal and tumour cells entering S phase.

Complexes of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk) and their partner cyclins drive the cell through the cell cycle, each such complex phosphorylating a distinct set of proteins at a particular check-point or phase of the cycle. Immunocytochemical detection of cyclins combined with measurement of cellular DNA content by flow cytometry makes it possible to relate expression of each of these proteins with the actual cell cycle position, without the necessity of cell synchronization. In the present study, we have investigated expression of E and D type cyclins in G1 cells and in cells entering S phase, in eight different human hematopoietic and solid tumour cell lines (two leukaemias, a lymphoma, three breast carcinomas, a colon carcinoma and a bladder transitional cell carcinoma) during their exponential phase of growth, as well as in normal mitogen stimulated lymphocytes. In all the cell types studied, the average level of D type cyclin expression was invariable throughout the cell cycle. A great intercellular variability, in particular of the G1 cell subpopulations, and the presence of a large fraction of G1, S and G2 + M cells that were cyclin D negative (20-40% in tumour cell lines and about 80% among lymphocytes), were other characteristic features of D type cyclin expression. In contrast to D type cyclins, the expression of cyclin E was discontinuous during the cycle, peaking at the time of cell entrance to S. Also, a well defined threshold in expression of cyclin E characterized cells that were entering S phase, and virtually no cyclin E negative cells were seen during the early portion of S phase. The data indicate that while cell entrance to S phase is unrelated to expression of D type cyclins (at the time of entrance), accumulation of cyclin E up to critical level is a prerequisite for initiation of DNA replication. The great intercellular variability in expression of D type cyclins and their invariant average level across the cell cycle suggest that these cyclins, in addition to their acknowledged function in promoting cell progression through mid- to late-G1 may have other role(s), related or unrelated to the cell cycle progression. The presence of a large number of D type cyclin negative cells in all phases of the cycle suggests that during exponential growth the cells may not express this protein and yet may traverse the cycle, including G1 phase.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1995

Application of biotin, digoxigenin or fluorescein conjugated deoxynucleotides to label DNA strand breaks for analysis of cell proliferation and apoptosis using flow cytometry.

A flow cytometric method has recently been developed using biotinylated dUTP (b-dUTP) in a reaction catalyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) to identify the endonuclease-induced DNA strand breaks occurring during apoptosis. Counterstaining of DNA makes it possible to relate apoptosis to cell cycle position or DNA index. In the present study, we compared this method with one using digoxigenin-conjugated dUTP (d-dUTP) to label apoptotic cells. The discrimination of apoptotic from nonapoptotic cells was similar when incorporation of d-dUTP was compared with b-dUTP. Both techniques resulted in a 20-30 fold increase in staining of apoptotic over nonapoptotic cells although somewhat less background fluorescence was observed with the d-dUTP. Direct labeling with fluoresceinated dUTP (f-dUTP) was less sensitive in detecting DNA strand breaks, but had the advantage of simplicity. The principle of labeling DNA strand breaks using TdT was also employed to identify DNA replicating cells. To this end, the cells were incubated in the presence of BrdUrd, then exposed to UV light to selectively photolyse DNA containing the incorporated BrdUrd. DNA strand breaks resulting from the photolysis were then labeled with b-dUTP or d-dUTP. This approach is an alternative to immunocytochemical detection of BrdUrd incorporation, but unlike the latter does not require prior DNA denaturation, thus can be applied when the denaturation step must be avoided. The method was sensitive enough to recognize DNA synthesizing cells that were incubated with BrdUrd for only 5 min, the equivalent of replication of less than 1% of the cell's genome. The discrimination between apoptotic vs. BrdUrd incorporating-cells is based on different extractability of DNA following cell fixation. This method can be applied to analyze both cell proliferation (DNA replication) and death (by apoptosis) in a single measurement.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1995

Expression of cyclins A, D2 and D3 in individual normal mitogen stimulated lymphocytes and in MOLT-4 leukemic cells analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry.

Cyclins are regulatory subunits of the cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs), the enzymes that drive the cell through the respective phases and check-points of the cell cycle. The expression of cyclins in non-tumor cells, regulated by timely induction of their synthesis and proteolysis, is scheduled, occurring at discrete periods of the cell cycle. Using multiparameter flow cytometry we have recently observed that expression of cyclins B1 and E in individual normal lymphocytes mitogenically stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and lymphocytic leukemic MOLT-4 cells was similar, restricted to particular phases of the cycle: cyclin B1 was detected only in G2+M- and cyclin E in late G1 and early S-phase cells. In the present study we have measured the expression of cyclins A, D2 and D3 in these cells. The presence of cyclin A was restricted to late S and G2 phases, both in the case of lymphocytes and of MOLT-4 cells. Over 95% of the non-stimulated lymphocytes were both cyclin D2 and D3 negative. Mitogenic stimulation with PHA-induced expression of cyclins D2 and D3 in over 50% cells, which corresponds to the percentage of cells that respond to this mitogen in cultures. Expression of these proteins peaked between 8 and 24 h after addition of PHA, and then decreased at the time of cell entrance to S. During exponential growth (48-72 h after stimulation with PHA) expression of the D-type cyclins was diminished: only between 5-10% of the lymphocytes had levels of cyclin D3 as high as G1 cells between 8-24 h after PHA stimulation. Populations of proliferating lymphocytes and MOLT-4 cells were very heterogeneous in terms of expression of D-type cyclins by individual cells. While expression of cyclin D2 in exponentially growing MOLT-4 cells was similar to that of proliferating lymphocytes, the percent of cells expressing cyclin D3 as well as the degree of expression, was higher in MOLT-4 cells, regardless of the phase of the cycle. These results, with our earlier observations of the untimely expression of cyclins B1 and E in several other tumor lines, suggest that altered expression of cyclins may be a frequent feature of malignancy.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Induction of cell differentiation potentiates apoptosis triggered by prior exposure to DNA-damaging drugs.

At the end of their life span, differentiated cells die by apoptosis. Subsets of cells also die, in some cell systems, shortly after exposure to differentiating agents. This suggests that early during differentiation the cells may undergo "priming," during which synthesis and/or activation and accumulation of effectors of apoptosis occurs. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the signal for apoptosis provided by DNA-damaging drugs given prior to induction of differentiation will be more effective in triggering apoptosis than when given following induction of differentiation. Human promyelocytic HL-60 cells were treated with the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin, the alkylating agent nitrogen mustard, or 5'-azacytidine, an antimetabolite affecting predominantly RNA metabolism. Following drug removal, the cells were postincubated with n-butyrate, which induces differentiation of HL-60 cells along the monocytic pathway, or with all-trans-retinoic acid, which triggers myelocytic differentiation. Multiparameter flow cytometry using two different methods of analysis of apoptosis-associated DNA breakage in situ, as well as evaluation of cell morphology and DNA gel electrophoresis, were used to ascertain the mode of cell death. Increases of 100-200% in the percentage of apoptotic cells were seen when cells were first treated with camptothecin or nitrogen mustard, followed by n-butyrate or retinoic acid, compared to the combined percentage of apoptotic cells when these agents were used individually.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1995

Growth imbalance and altered expression of cyclins B1, A, E, and D3 in MOLT-4 cells synchronized in the cell cycle by inhibitors of DNA replication.

Expression of cyclins at the translational level is generally studied by immunoblotting lysates of cells synchronized in the cycle. Most methods used to synchronize transformed cells induce growth imbalance. The aim of the present study was to analyze levels of cyclins B1, A, E, and D3 in the respective phases of the cycle in synchronized human leukemic MOLT-4 cells, correlate them with total cellular protein content (reflecting growth imbalance), and compare the synchronized cells with cells from unperturbed, asynchronous cultures. Expression of cyclins detected immunocytochemically in individual permeabilized cells was analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry, which made it possible to relate position of the cell in the cell cycle with cyclin expression. Cells synchronized at the G1-S boundary by thymidine, mimosine, or aphidicolin had about 40% increased total protein and 4-5 fold higher levels of cyclins E and B1 compared to their G1 counterparts from unperturbed cultures. Expression of cyclin A in synchronized cells was 2-fold higher, while expression of cyclin D3 was essentially unaltered. The synchronized cells traversing S phase after release from the block had elevated but decreasing levels of cyclins E, B1, and A. Although the cyclin expression of cells reentering G1 was similar to that of their counterparts from asynchronous cultures, the total protein content was still elevated by about 30%. The data indicate that due to different degrees of imbalance in total protein and individual cyclin content, levels of cyclins detected by immunoblotting of cell lysates from synchronized cultures may not be representative of their expression in unperturbed cells. The elevated level of cyclin B1 in the cells arrested at the G1-S boundary may reflect the increased half-life of this protein, stabilized as the result of the overexpression of cyclin E.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1995

Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle-specific change in expression of p53 in normal lymphocytes and MOLT-4 leukemic cells by nitrogen mustard.

DNA damage in the cell activates expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, whose role is associated with cell arrest in G1 or apoptosis. The aim of this study was to examine the cell cycle position-related changes in expression of p53, as well as induction of apoptosis, in mitogen-stimulated normal human lymphocytes and in human leukemic MOLT-4 cells (which express mutated p53), following DNA damage by the alkylating agent nitrogen mustard. Measurement of p53 expression and DNA content by flow cytometry followed by bivariate analysis of the data made it possible to correlate the drug-induced changes in p53 expression in individual cells with their cell cycle position without the need for cell synchronization. Expression of p53 was detected immunocytochemically using the AB-6 mAb, which reacts with the product of the wild-type p53 tumor suppressor gene and with most of its mutated forms. Exposure of normal lymphocytes to 5 microM nitrogen mustard caused their arrest in G1, an increase in p53 expression which was maximal in such cells, and significant apoptosis in cells located beyond the arrest point (S and G2 + M cells). In contrast, neither arrest in G1 nor significant apoptosis of MOLT-4 cells was seen after administration of either 0.5 or 5 microM nitrogen mustard for up to 24 h, although the drug reduced the rate of cell progression in the S-phase at both concentrations. Expression of p53 was highest for S and G2 + M MOLT-4 cells in response to the nitrogen mustard. Although a severalfold lower level of p53 was detected in lymphocytes compared to MOLT-4 cells prior to drug treatment, the relative increase in p53 expression in response to the drug was 2-fold higher in lymphocytes. These data suggest that DNA damage caused by nitrogen mustard provides a signal that results in stabilization of wild-type p53, preferentially in G1 cells, causes cell arrest in G1, and induces apoptosis of the cells that either were in the S-phase at the time of drug administration and/or escaped G1 arrest. The increase in expression of mutated p53, in response to DNA damage, is unrelated to the cell cycle position, and neither provides a signal for cell arrest in G1 nor a trigger for immediate apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1994

Unscheduled expression of cyclin B1 and cyclin E in several leukemic and solid tumor cell lines.

Normal, nontumorous cells express cyclin proteins in an orderly, scheduled fashion, at a given phase of the cell cycle. Thus, cyclin B1 is synthesized during G2 and abruptly degraded during mitosis. The onset of cyclin E synthesis takes place in mid-G1, its maximal expression is at the time of cell entrance to S, and its degradation occurs during cell progression through S phase. In the present study, multiparameter flow cytometry was used to correlate expression of cyclin B1 or cyclin E with cell cycle position (estimated by cellular DNA content) in normal human proliferating lymphocytes as well as in T-cell MOLT-4 leukemia; promyelocytic HL-60 leukemia; histiocytic U937 lymphoma; MCF-7, T-47D, and Hs 587T breast carcinoma; Colo 320DM colon carcinoma; and the T-24 transitional cell carcinoma cell line. The scheduled expression of both cyclins, namely of cyclin B1 restricted to G2 + M cells and of cyclin E restricted to late G1 and early S cells, was observed only in normal lymphocytes and MOLT-4 cells. The cells of HL-60, U937, T-47D, and Hs 587T lines expressed both cyclins in an unscheduled ("ectopic") fashion, i.e., unrelated to cell cycle position. Colo 320DM cells showed unscheduled expression of cyclin E (i.e., during G2) but expression of cyclin B1 in this line was generally restricted to G2 + M cells. There were relatively few (10-12%) cells in MCF-7 and T-24 cell lines that expressed cyclin B1 or E in an unscheduled manner. It may be expected that the unscheduled expression of cyclins in tumor cells may lead to a loss of the regulatory mechanisms of cell cycle progression and that such feature of the tumor may be of prognostic value. There is a need, therefore, to conduct similar studies in primary tumor cells.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1994

Simultaneous analysis of DNA replication and apoptosis during treatment of HL-60 cells with camptothecin and hyperthermia and mitogen stimulation of human lymphocytes.

A new method is described which combines the identification of DNA replicating and apoptotic cells in a single measurement by flow cytometry. The detection of DNA replicating cells is based on incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine or 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine, followed by selective photolysis at the site of incorporation of the halogenated DNA precursors. Single-strand breaks in DNA resulting from the photolysis are subsequently labeled with digoxygenin or biotin-conjugated dUTP in a reaction catalyzed by exogenous terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. The double-stranded DNA breaks in apoptotic cells resulting from activation of the endonuclease can be labeled in this reaction as well. However, in contrast to the photolysed DNA, the low molecular weight fraction of DNA of apoptotic cells is extractable from the cells, and the degree of DNA elution can be modulated by cross-linking with formaldehyde. Thus, apoptotic cells can be distinguished and quantified by virtue of their fractional DNA content. Replication of less than 1% of a genome of a cell in the presence of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (equivalent of a 5-min 10 microM 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine pulse) can be detected by the selective photolysis method. The method was applied to study apoptosis and proliferation of human leukemic HL-60 cells and normal, mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. Whereas apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin was selective to DNA replicating cells, apoptosis induced by hyperthermia showed no such selectivity. Lymphocytes that preferentially underwent apoptosis in cultures stimulated by phytohemagglutinin did not initiate DNA replication. By offering the possibility for identification of both DNA replicating and apoptotic cells in a single measurement, the method may find an application in studies of the prognostic value of both cell proliferation and death in human tumors and the apoptotic response of DNA replicating vs. nonreplicating cells to different treatments.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1994

Staurosporine blocks cell progression through G1 between the cyclin D and cyclin E restriction points.

The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (SSP) stops progression of normal nontransformed cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This implies that at least one of the cell cycle associated kinases, essential for cell transit through G1, is sensitive to SSP. Using multivariate flow cytometry to correlate the expression of cyclin E or cyclin D with cellular DNA content (i.e., cell cycle position), we have presently characterized the point of action of SSP in relation to the expression of these cyclins. During stimulation of normal human lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin, cyclin D was expressed early, peaking at 8-14 h, while cyclin E appeared later, reaching a maximum at the time of cell entrance to S phase (24 h). Addition of SSP at the time of cell stimulation, while markedly suppressing the expression of cyclin E, had a rather modest effect on the expression of cyclin D. The data indicate that the SSP sensitive kinase(s) involved in cell progression through G1 operate beyond the restriction point of cyclin D but prior to that of cyclin E. Thus, the target(s) of SSP is (are) either the p33cdk/cyclin E complex itself or other protein kinase(s), activated subsequent to the cyclin D but prior to the cyclin E restriction point, the activity of which is essential for cell transit through G1.

Alkaloids↗