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Biomedical subjects

M Kizaki

Publications and source records attributed to M Kizaki.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A novel retinoic acid-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia model in vitro and in vivo (review).

Differentiation-inducing therapy by all-trans retinoic acid (RA) is now a standard therapy in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Nearly all patients achieve complete remission by the treatment of all-trans RA, however, clinical remissions are usually of brief duration, and these patients often develop RA-resistant disease. The mechanisms of RA-resistance in APL cells are poorly understood and most clinical approaches have not been successful in overcoming RA-resistance. We have recently established a novel APL cell line (UF-1) with RA-resistant features. In addition, we have established human GM-CSF-producing transgenic (hGMTg) SCID mice system. UF-1 cells were inoculated either intraperitoneally or subcutaneously into hGMTg SCID mice and made the first RA-resistant murine APL model. These RA-resistant APL model systems in vitro and in vivo may be useful for investigating the molecular studies on the block of leukemic cell differentiation and as means to investigate the mechanisms of RA-resistance. Moreover, this murine model system will be important for developing novel therapeutic strategies in RA-resistant APL.

Animals↗

Serum thrombopoietin and erythropoietin levels in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia during all-trans retinoic acid treatment.

Endogenous serum thrombopoietin (TPO) and various cytokines including erythropoietin (EPO), interleukin (IL)-3, IL-6, IL-11, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF) levels were measured in five patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) during all-trans retinoic acid (RA) treatment. During differentiation-inducing therapy, platelet counts slowly increased and reached a peak between days 29 and 46 (median day 35). Serum TPO levels increased parallel to the increasing platelet counts and reached a maximum level during the first 10-20 d of all-trans RA treatment. The circulating TPO levels then decreased in inverse correlation to the platelet counts. These unique changes in serum TPO levels revealed that TPO levels were not regulated by platelet or megakaryocyte mass in patients with APL during differentiation-inducing therapy, and it would appear that TPO levels are directly regulated by all-trans RA during the first 10-20 d of treatment. In addition, the change in circulating EPO levels and reticulocyte counts were similar to that of the TPO levels and platelet counts during all-trans RA treatment, suggesting a close relationship between TPO and EPO signalling.

Adult↗

[Natural killer-like T-cell lymphoma appearing in the duodenum with recurrence in a variety of extranodal organs].

A 48-year-old man was admitted to Keio University Hospital in April 1995 with complaints of right abdominal pain and weight loss. Hypotonic duodenography showed a mass located in the 3rd portion of the duodenum. Endoscopic biopsy specimens disclosed diffuse large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the duodenum. The patient was initially treated with 2 courses of CHOP, albeit with no response. A pancreatoduodenectomy and radiotherapy yielded a complete remission. A year later, lymphoma recurred in the right mandible salivary gland, and a second complete remission was obtained after 6 courses of CHOP and radiation. However lymphomas also recurred in the intestine, and lungs, and the patient died of disease progression 38 months after diagnosis. Lymphoma cells were surface CD3 and CD56 positive. An examination of resected intestinal tissues disclosed lymphoma cells morphologically resemble large granular lymphocytes with rearranged TcR genes. These findings indicated the diagnosis of natural killer-like (NK-like) T-cell lymphoma. Compared with previously reported cases of NK-like T-cell lymphoma, this case was noteworthy for an unusual clinical course characterized by initial appearance in the duodenum, recurrence in a variety of extranodal organs, and the relatively long-term survival of the patient.

Duodenal Neoplasms↗

Restoration of retinoid sensitivity by MDR1 ribozymes in retinoic acid-resistant myeloid leukemic cells.

Complete remission is achieved in a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) after all-trans retinoic acid (RA) treatment, but most patients relapse and develop RA-resistant APL. We have previously reported that both RA-resistant HL-60 (HL-60R) and APL cells express P-glycoprotein and MDR1 transcripts; and these cells differentiate to mature granulocytes after culture with RA and P-glycoprotein antagonist. Ribozymes have been shown to be able to intercept a target RNA by catalytic activity. To address the role of MDR1 in overcoming RA-resistance in APL cells, we investigated the biologic effects of ribozymes against the MDR1 transcript in HL-60R cells. These ribozymes efficiently cleaved MDR1 mRNA at a specific site in vitro. The 196 MDR1 ribozyme was cloned into an expression vector, and stably transfected (HL-60R/196Rz) cells were obtained. Expression of MDR1 transcripts was decreased in HL-60R/196Rz cells compared with parental HL-60R and empty vector-transfected (HL-60R/neo) cells. Interestingly, RA inhibited cellular proliferation and induced differentiation of HL-60R/196Rz cells in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting reversal of drug resistance in HL-60R cells by the MDR1 ribozyme. These data are direct evidence that P-glycoprotein/MDR1 is responsible in part for acquired resistance to RA in myeloid leukemic cells. The MDR1 ribozyme may be a useful tool for investigating the biology of retinoid resistance and may have therapeutic potential for patients with RA-resistant APL.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

A novel retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-selective antagonist inhibits differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells: implications of RARalpha-mediated signals in myeloid leukemic cells.

Retinoic acid (RA) induces HL-60 cells to differentiate terminally into mature granulocytes, which subsequently die by apoptosis. The biological effects of RA are mediated by two distinct families of transcription factors: retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). RARs and RXRs form heterodimers and regulate retinoid-mediated gene expression. We have recently developed a novel RAR-selective antagonist (ER27191) which prevents RAR activation by retinoids. Using this RAR-selective antagonist, and RXR and RAR agonist, we demonstrate the RAR-mediated signaling pathway is important for differentiation and apoptosis of myeloid leukemic cells. Simple activation of RXRs is not sufficient to induce apoptosis of the cells. Interestingly, the combination of the RAR-selective antagonist and 9-cis RA resulted in partial differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 and NB4 cells, whereas the RAR antagonist completely blocked all-trans RA-induced differentiation and apoptosis of the cells. Additional experiments showed that levels of BCL-2 protein decreased during differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells. Furthermore, HL-60 cells transduced with a bcl-2 expression vector showed the same differentiation response to retinoids as did parental HL-60 cells even though apoptosis was inhibited in these bcl-2-transduced cells, suggesting that differentiation and apoptosis are regulated independently in myeloid leukemic cells.

Alitretinoin↗

Establishment of a retinoic acid-resistant human acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) model in human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) transgenic severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice.

To understand the mechanisms and identify novel approaches to overcoming retinoic acid (RA) resistance in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), we established the first human RA-resistant APL model in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. UF-1 cells, an RA-resistant APL cell line established in our laboratory, were transplanted into human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-producing SCID (hGMTg SCID) mice and inoculated cells formed subcutaneous tumours in all hGMTg SCID mice, but not in the non-transgenic control SCID mice. Single-cell suspensions (UF-1/GMTg SCID cells) were similar in morphological, immunological, cytogenetic and molecular genetic features to parental UF-1 cells. All-trans RA did not change the morphological features of cells or their expression of CD11b. RA did not alter the growth curve of cells as determined by MTT assay, suggesting that UF-1/GMTg SCID cells are resistant to RA. These results demonstrate that this is the first RA-resistant APL animal model that may be useful for investigating the biology of this myeloid leukaemia in vivo, as well as for evaluating novel therapeutic approaches including patients with RA-resistant APL.

Animals↗

Activin A regulates the production of mature interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in human monocytic cells.

Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family, is produced by a variety of cells and implicated in the regulation of the reproductive endocrine system, mesoderm induction, and erythropoiesis. In the present study, we showed that activin A inhibited the production of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a potent proinflammatory cytokine, and enhanced the production of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), in activated THP-1 and U-937 human monocytic cells, resulting in the reduction of IL-1 biologic activity. Northern blot analysis revealed that activin A had no effect on mRNA accumulation of IL-1beta and IL-1ra, indicating that activin A regulates IL-1beta and IL-1ra production at a posttranscriptional level. As it is well known that an inactive precursor form of IL-1beta (pro-IL-1beta) is converted to an active mature form (mature IL-1beta), we examined the expression levels of pro-IL-1beta and mature IL-1beta by immunoblot analysis. Although activin A inhibited the production of mature IL-1beta in activated U-937 cells, the relative protein expression of pro-IL-1beta was unaltered by activin A, suggesting that activin A inhibits IL-1beta production by blocking proteolytic conversion of pro-IL-1beta into mature IL-1beta. Taken together, these findings suggest that activin A may function as an anti-inflammatory cytokine by modulating mature IL-1beta and IL-1ra production in inflammatory sites.

Activins↗

[Clinical efficacy of fosfomycin in combination with sulbactam/cefoperazone in the treatment of severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia. Working Group of Kanto Combination Therapy for FOM + SBT/CPZ].

In the treatment of severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia, the efficacy and usefulness of fosfomycin (FOM) in combination with sulbactam (SBT)/cefoperazone (CPZ) were compared between patients receiving FOM in the first followed by SBT/CPZ (Group A) and those receiving both drugs simultaneously (Group B). The following results were obtained. 1. The efficacy rate was 56.3% for Group A and 47.9% for Group B, with no significant difference. 2. The efficacy for patients suspected of the presence of septicemia, the efficacy rate was 57.9% for Group A and 54.3% for Group B, with no significant difference. 3. As for underlying disease, patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were most prevailing. In these patients, the efficacy rate was 57.1% for Group A and 27.3% for Group B, with no statistically significant difference. However, the efficacy rate tended to be higher in Group A. 4. The administration of antibiotics was effective to restore the neutrophil count to 501/microliters or higher in 77.8% and 45.5% of the cases for Groups A and B, respectively, with significantly higher efficacy for Group A. 5. In the safety evaluation a total of 115 cases were included. Side effects and laboratory abnormalities were seen in 3 cases each, but none of them were serious in degree. From these results, it was confirmed that the combination therapy consisting of administration of FOM followed by SBT/CPZ with some interval is effective for severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Vitamin K2 and its derivatives induce apoptosis in leukemia cells and enhance the effect of all-trans retinoic acid.

Geranylgeraniol, a polyprenylalcohol composing the side chain of vitamin K2 (VK2), was previously reported to be a potent inducer of apoptosis in tumor cell lines (Ohzumi H et al, J Biochem 1995; 117: 11-13). We examined the apoptosis-inducing ability of VK2 (menaquinone 3 (MK3), MK4 and MK5) and its derivatives such as phytonadione (VK1), as well as polyprenylalcohols with side chains of various lengths including farnesol (C15-OH; FO), geranylgeraniol (C20-OH; GGO), and geranylfarnesol (C25-OH; GFO) toward leukemia cells in vitro. MK3, MK4, MK5 and GFO (at 10 microM) showed a potent apoptosis-inducing activity for all freshly isolated leukemia cells tested and for leukemia cell lines such as NB4, an acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)-derived cell line and MDS92, a cell line derived from a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome, although there were some differences depending on the cells tested. In contrast, VK1 showed no effect on any of the leukemia cells. The combination of MK5 plus all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) resulted in enhanced induction of apoptosis in both freshly isolated APL cells and NB4 cells as compared to each reagent alone. These data suggest the possibility of using VK2 and its derivatives for the treatment of myelogenous leukemias, including APL.

Apoptosis↗

Skin infiltration in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a type of acute leukemia showing unique clinical, morphological and cytogenetic features. A skin infiltration by APL cells is an extremely rare occasion, but there have been several case reports of leukemia cutis in APL, in which all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) may have induced the skin infiltration. However, no immunohistochemical analyses of the APL cells in the skin have been done to date. A 30-year-old woman with APL developed multiple reddish purple nodules on the extremities in her second complete remission. Histological findings revealed a dense infiltration of medium to large atypical cells, which were positive for myeloperoxidase, throughout the dermis. Despite the conventional chemotherapy and ATRA therapy she died from disseminated intravascular coagulation during her third relapse. Leukemic cells in the peripheral blood before the treatment with ATRA revealed CD3-/CD4-/CD5-/CD7-/CD8-/CD10-/CD13++/CD14-/CD19 -/ CD20-/CD33++/CD38++/CD41-/Ia-, but they expressed CD3-/CD4-/CD5-/CD7++/ CD8-/CD10-/CD13++/CD14-/CD19-/CD20-/CD33++ /CD38++/CD41+/Ia+ after the treatment. We suggest that the alternation of the surface molecules on the tumor cells is closely associated with the skin infiltration of APL cells.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Activin A induction of cell-cycle arrest involves modulation of cyclin D2 and p21CIP1/WAF1 in plasmacytic cells.

Activins, members of the transforming growth factor-beta family, have been implicated in the regulation of growth and differentiation of various types of cells. We have recently found that activin A induces apoptotic cell death of plasmacytic cells including B cell hybridoma cells and myeloma cells. In the present study, we demonstrated that activin A caused cell-cycle arrest in the G1 phase before appearance of apoptotic cells in mouse B cell hybridoma cells. Phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb) and in vitro Rb kinase activity of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4 was inhibited in activin A-treated cells. Analysis of expression of genes regulating Rb phosphorylation revealed that activin A suppressed cyclin D2, the sole D-type cyclin gene expressed in the hybridoma cells, and activated p21CIP1/WAF1 but had no effect on expression of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK2, CDK4, CDK6) and other CDK inhibitors (p27KIP1, p16INK4a, p15INK4b). Modulation of cyclin D2 and p21CIP1/WAF1 expression resulted in a decrease in level of cyclin D2-CDK4 complex and an increase in level of CDK4 complexed with p21CIP1/WAF1. Moreover, overexpression of cyclin D2 partially abrogated inhibition of Rb phosphorylation and G1 arrest in the hybridoma cells.

Activins↗

Retinoid resistance in leukemic cells.

Recent studies have shown that a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) achieve complete remission after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (RA). Nevertheless, despite an initial good response, most patients who received continuous treatment with all-trans RA relapsed and develop RA-resistant disease. The detailed mechanisms for this development of RA resistance by APL cells are still unclear. Several possible mechanisms have been considered to explain in vitro resistance to RA. One obvious explanation is the generation of new mutations in the retinoid receptors. However, UF-1 cells (the first permanent APL cell line with RA-resistant features) had no point mutations in the ligand-binding domain of the RAR-alpha gene. Another potential mechanism for clinical RA resistance is the pharmacologic alteration in the metabolism of all-trans RA. Continuous treatment with all-trans RA in APL is associated with a progressive reduction of the plasma concentrations of RA. Induction of cytochrome P-450, cellular RA-binding protein (CRABP) and P-glycoprotein resulted in lower plasma and cellular levels of active retinoids. Thus, acquired resistance to RA may be explained at least in part by drug metabolism in leukemic cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Long-term follow-up of hemostatic molecular markers during remission induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Keio Hematology-Oncology Cooperative Study Group (KHOCS).

Hemostatic molecular markers were serially monitored in a prospective fashion during remission induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in sixteen patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). One patient with leukocytosis before treatment and three patients who later developed hyperleukocytosis also received chemotherapy with behenoyl Ara-C and daunorubicin. Plasma levels of E-fragment of fibrin and fibrinogen degradation product (FDP-E), FDP-D dimer (D-D), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and plasmin-alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) were markedly elevated in all but one patient before treatment, and these parameters decreased to normal or near normal ranges in most patients within the first 7 days of treatment. Interestingly, we have found that these parameters were again elevated during the later course of ATRA therapy (after day +7) in eleven patients for various reasons including cytotoxic chemotherapy (3 cases), fever (5 cases; 2 cases with apparent infection, 3 cases without known etiology), Caesarean section (1 case), and no apparent etiology (2 cases). Three patients showed bleeding complications during re-elevation of molecular markers, but none developed thrombosis. Plasma elastase-alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor complex (E-alpha 1 PI) was markedly elevated in all patients at diagnosis and did not decrease significantly during ATRA therapy. Plasma tissue factor antigen was mildly elevated in one out of four patients studied, and thrombomodulin was elevated in two out of ten patients tested. These results confirmed the rapid normalization of coagulopathy during the early phase of remission induction therapy with ATRA but suggest that re-elevation of molecular markers occurs frequently during the later course of ATRA therapy.

Adolescent↗

Establishment and characterization of a novel acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line (UF-1) with retinoic acid-resistant features.

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) induces complete remission in a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Nevertheless, most of these patients develop RA resistance and relapse. The mechanisms of RA resistance by APL cells are still unclear. To understand the characteristics of human leukemia, human leukemic cell lines are useful tools for study. APL cells have a strikingly low proliferation potential in vitro; thus, only one APL cell line has been established. We developed a novel APL cell line (UF-1) from a patient clinically resistant to all-trans RA. Cell surface markers in the UF-1 cells were positive for CD7, CD13, CD33, and CD38. Cytogenetic analyses revealed additional abnormalities, 46XX, add(1)(q44), add(6)(q12), add(7)(q36), t(15;17) (q21;q21). Molecular analyses showed a PML/RAR alpha fusion transcript. Sequence analysis of the RAR alpha gene in RA-resistant HL-60 cells disclosed a point mutation in codon 411 (C to T substitution), whereas UF-1 cells showed the normal sequence. All-trans RA did not change morphological features of the cell, NBT reduction activity, or their expression of CD11b antigens as determined by FACS analysis except at 10(-6) mol/L. RA also did not alter the growth curve of the cells as determined by the MTT assay. These findings suggest that the UF-1 cell is the first permanent cell line with spontaneous RA-resistant APL cells. This RA-resistant APL cell line may be a useful model for molecular studies on the block of leukemic cell differentiation and as a means to investigate the mechanisms of RA resistance.

Adult↗

Infrequent alterations of the RAR alpha gene in acute myelogenous leukemias, retinoic acid-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, and cell lines.

Retinoids are important regulators of cell growth and differentiation in vitro and in vivo and they exert their biologic activities by binding to nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs; alpha, beta, and gamma) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs; alpha, beta, and gamma). All-trans retinoic acid (RA) induces complete remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) presumably by binding directly to RAR alpha of APL cells. Leukemic blasts from APL patients initially responsive to RA can become resistant to the agent. HL-60 myeloblasts cultured with RA have developed mutations of the ligand-binding region of RAR alpha and have become resistant to RA. Furthermore, insertion of an RAR alpha with an alteration in the ligand-binding region into normal murine bone marrow cells can result in growth factor-dependent immortalization of the early hematopoietic cells. To determine if alterations of the ligand binding domain of RAR alpha might be involved in several malignant hematologic disorders, the mutational status of this region (exons 7, 8, and 9) was examined in 118 samples that included a variety of cell lines and fresh cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemias (AML), including 20 APL patients, 5 of whom were resistant to RA and 1 who was refractory to RA at diagnosis, using polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. In addition, 7 of the 20 APLs were studied for alterations of the other coding exons of the gene (exons 2 through 6). No mutations of RAR alpha were detected. Although the sensitivity of PCR-SSCP analysis is less than 100%, these findings suggest that alterations of RAR alpha gene are rare and therefore other mechanisms must be involved in the onset of resistance to retinoids and in the lack of differentiation in disorders of the myeloid lineage.

Acute Disease↗

Effects of novel retinoid X receptor-selective ligands on myeloid leukemia differentiation and proliferation in vitro.

The biologic effects of retinoids such as all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and 9-cis-retinoic acid on proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells are mediated by binding and activating two distinct families of transcription factors: the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and the retinoid X receptors (RXRs). The RARs require heterodimerization with RXRs; in addition, RXRs can form homodimers, which can bind to DNA response elements that are either distinct or the same as those bound by the RAR/RXR heterodimers. Therefore, the two retinoid pathways provide sequences that are specific for effective DNA binding and activation of target genes. We have developed several series of novel synthetic retinoids that selectively interact with RXR/RXR homodimers and RAR/RXR heterodimers. We show here that SR11236 and SR11246, which are RXR-selective analogs, had little ability to inhibit clonal growth and induce differentiation of leukemic cells (HL-60 cells and fresh acute myeloid leukemia cells). However, SR11249, SR11256, and LGD1069, which activated both RXR/RXR homodimers and RAR/RXR heterodimers, could inhibit clonal growth and induce differentiation of HL-60 cells as well as leukemic cells from patients, including those with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). This is similar to results observed with RAR/RXR-specific ligands. Interestingly, the combination of ATRA and either SR11249, SR11256, or LGD1069 showed synergistic effects in inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells. A retinoid (SR11238) with strong anti-AP-1 activity that did not activate the RARs and RXRs for gene transcription from the response element TREpal was inactive in our assay systems, suggesting that the antiproliferative effects of retinoids on leukemic cells is not mediated by inhibiting the AP-1 pathway. We conclude that the RAR/RXR pathway is more important than RXR/RXR pathway for differentiation and proliferation of acute myeloid leukemic cells, and certain retinoids or combination of retinoids with both RAR and RXR specificities may synergistically enhance the differentiation activity of ATRA, which may be relevant in several clinical situations.

Bexarotene↗