Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S L White

Publications and source records attributed to S L White.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Protective effects of swainsonine on murine survival and bone marrow proliferation during cytotoxic chemotherapy.

We have investigated the ability of swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid with pleiotropic in vivo effects, to confer protection against the cytotoxic effects of both cell cycle-specific and cell cycle-nonspecific cytotoxic anticancer agents. The intraperitoneal administration of swainsonine decreased the lethality of methotrexate (MTX), fluorouracil (5-FU), cyclophosphamide (CPM), and doxorubicin (DOX) in non-tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice. The increased survival rate was found to correlate with stimulation of bone marrow cell proliferation, as measured by increases in 1) bone marrow cellularity, 2) in vivo and in vitro colony-forming activity, and 3) engraftment efficiency. These responses were critically dependent on the dose, sequence, and timing of swainsonine administration. If these results are confirmed in humans, swainsonine may offer promise in future intensive chemotherapy programs, allowing increased dosage and/or frequency of administration of cytotoxic agents without increasing toxic effects in bone marrow.

Alkaloids↗

Vancomycin-induced release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells and a rat basophil cell line (RBL-1).

Rapid intravenous administration of the glycopeptide antibiotic, vancomycin, may cause a hypotensive reaction which can usually be prevented by infusing vancomycin in dilute solutions. The release of histamine from circulating cells such as basophils and tissue mast cells has been implicated in hypotensive reactions since the effects can be prevented by antihistamine pretreatment. The direct effects of vancomycin on histamine release were therefore investigated in rat peritoneal mast cells and rat leukemic basophils (RBL-1 cells). Suspension cultures of mast cells or RBL-1 cells were exposed to vancomycin for 30-60 minutes at concentrations comparable to those infused clinically (2.28 or 4.56 mg/ml). Vancomycin induced a time- and dose-dependent release of histamine into the culture media from both cell types. The reference degranulating agent, Compound 48/80 (CP 48/80), was also shown to induce histamine release from mast cells and RBL-1 cells. Mast cells were significantly more sensitive to vancomycin and CP 48/80 than RBL-1 cells and, unlike RBL-1 cells, were responsive to the inhibitory effects of cromolyn sodium on histamine release. Cromolyn sodium did not inhibit vancomycin-induced histamine release in RBL-1 or mast cells. Morphologically, mast cells exposed to either vancomycin or CP 48/80 exhibited dose-related degranulation. On the other hand, treatment-related degranulation effects of either vancomycin or CP 48/80 on RBL-1 cells could not be reliably distinguished from controls by qualitative evaluation. Based upon these findings it is concluded that mast cells may represent a more useful model to evaluate the potential of investigational agents to release histamine and to study mechanisms of histamine release than RBL-1 cells.

Animals↗

The potential importance of swainsonine in therapy for cancers and immunology.

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, was initially used in biomedical research as a tool to investigate the biosynthesis and function of asparagine-linked 'complex' type oligosaccharide moieties of glycoproteins. Recently, swainsonine has generated interest in its potential use as an anticancer agent with reports that it (i) inhibits tumor growth and metastasis, (ii) augments natural killer (NK) and macrophage-mediated tumor cell killing, and (iii) stimulates bone marrow cell proliferation. The antineoplastic activity of swainsonine can be explained at least in part by augmentation of immune effector mechanisms. The potential application of swainsonine as an anticancer agent is discussed.

Animals↗

Swainsonine stimulation of the proliferation and colony forming activity of murine bone marrow.

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, was recently reported to exhibit both antineoplastic and immunomodulatory activities (Humphries, M.J.; Olden, K. Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides and tumor metastasis. Pharmacol. Ther. 44:85-105; 1989). In this study, we show that systemically administered swainsonine promoted the proliferation of murine bone marrow (BM) cells. Animals that received swainsonine intravenously exhibited a significant increase (approximately 5-10 fold) in BM cellularity, engraftment efficiency, and colony forming unit activity using in vitro or in vivo assays. BM cells derived from swainsonine-treated animals or treated with swainsonine in vitro also exhibited a 4-5 fold increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation, suggesting that a larger fraction of the cells was in the S-phase of the cell cycle. This provides the first evidence that swainsonine, which stimulates the production of cytokines by cells of the immune system, promoted the proliferation of BM progenitor cells. These results suggest that swainsonine could prove valuable in patients undergoing intensive chemoradiotherapy or autologous BM transplantation by decreasing or possibly eliminating leukopenia or myelosuppression often associated with these procedures; it may also be a useful probe to investigate the mechanism of normal hematopoieses.

Alkaloids↗

In vitro correlation of ultrastructural morphology and creatine phosphokinase release in L6 skeletal muscle cells after exposure to parenteral antibiotics.

Morphologic changes in a rat skeletal muscle cell line (L6) exposed for 1 h to the parenteral antibiotics amphotericin B (AMP), tetracycline-HCl (TET), erythromycin lactobionate (ERY), and cephaloridine (CEP) were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy and compared to cellular release of creatine phosphokinase (CPK). AMP (0.05, 0.1, 0.5 mg/ml) caused a concentration-related swelling of nuclei, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. Loss of membrane integrity associated with AMP exposure was evident at the middle concentration and extensive at the high concentration, which correlated well with the 43 and 90% depletion of CPK from the muscle cells, respectively. TET (0.25, 1.0, 2.5 mg/ml) caused dilation of endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasmic blebbing at the low concentration but had no effect on the cytoplasmic membrane or CPK. Cells exposed to the high concentration of TET had extensive damage to the cytoplasmic membrane, and CPK was completely depleted. ERY (2.5, 5.0, 25 mg/ml) caused a pattern of morphologic changes and CPK depletion similar to TET. CEP (4.0, 20, 50 mg/ml) had no effect on membrane integrity or CPK; however, membranous whorls were prominent in the cytoplasm. A good correlation between CPK release and cytoplasmic membrane integrity was evident and the ability of these agents to release CPK from muscle cells in culture correlated with the known irritancy potential of these parenteral antibiotics. Furthermore, CPK depletion seems to be a reliable indicator of muscle cell damage after cytoplasmic membrane perturbation and is therefore an appropriate index of toxicity in this in vitro muscle irritation model.

Amphotericin B↗

Effect of ciprofibrate, bezafibrate, and LY171883 on peroxisomal beta-oxidation in cultured rat, dog, and rhesus monkey hepatocytes.

Cultured rat hepatocytes have been used extensively to study the mechanisms of chemically induced peroxisome proliferation. Hepatocytes from nonrodent species have been used on a limited scale to study interspecies differences in the response. Because of their importance in pharmaceutical safety assessment, we have developed a model to study the response of beagle dog and rhesus monkey hepatocytes to peroxisome proliferators. Treatment of the hepatocytes with peroxisome proliferators was begun after 20 hr in culture and continued for 72 hr. Untreated rat, dog, and monkey hepatocytes retained 62, 42, and 43% of their initial (20 hr) peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity throughout 92 hr of culture. Ciprofibrate, bezafibrate, and LY171883 caused a dose-related increase in beta-oxidation in rat hepatocytes to a maximum of 10-, 8-, and 5-fold, respectively. In dog and monkey hepatocytes the increases in beta-oxidation were less than 2-fold. Peroxisome morphology in dog and monkey hepatocytes appeared to be unchanged by the drugs. Morphometric analysis in monkey hepatocytes showed no increase in peroxisome volume fraction in response to the chemicals. Treatment of dog and monkey hepatocytes with dexamethasone and glucagon during the final 24 hr in culture caused a 4- to 6-fold increase in tyrosine aminotransferase activity. This induction is characteristic of the in vivo response. The small increase in beta-oxidation reflects the relative insensitivity of the dog and monkey liver to peroxisome proliferators in vivo rather than a loss of sensitivity during culture. Cultured hepatocytes from beagle dog and rhesus monkey may provide a model for studying the mechanisms underlying the interspecies differences. Such information would help clarify the relevance of rodent data in human risk assessment.

Acetophenones↗

Comparison of in vitro and in vivo models to assess venous irritation of parenteral antibiotics.

The venous irritation potential of four parenteral antibiotics, tetracycline hydrochloride (TET), erythromycin lactobionate (ERY), amphotericin B (AMP), and cephaloridine (CEP), was evaluated in an in vivo model using the rabbit ear vein. Lateral ear veins of New Zealand White rabbits were infused for 1 hr with test solutions containing TET (0.25,2.5, or 10 mg/ml), ERY (2.5, 5, or 25 mg/ml), AMP (0.05, 0.1, or 0.5 mg/ml), or CEP (4 or 20 mg/ml). Control rabbits received comparable volumes of 0.9% NaCl or 5% dextrose. Approximately 24 hr postinfusion, the rabbits were evaluated for visually evident changes in the treated ears. Pathologic evaluation of the veins was performed using histologic sections and scanning electron microscopy. TET, ERY, and AMP caused concentration-dependent changes in veins characterized primarily by loss of endothelium with associated inflammation and thrombus formation, consistent with the known clinical irritancy of these antibiotics. CEP, on the other hand, was well tolerated in the rabbit ear vein, paralleling its low irritancy potential in man. Test solutions identical to those used in vivo in rabbits were also evaluated in established in vitro assays for hemolytic potential when mixed with whole blood from monkeys and for damage to L6 muscle cells as determined by loss of creatine phosphokinase. Results of the in vitro test systems paralleled those of the rabbit ear model, with TET, ERY, and AMP exhibiting dose-dependent hemolysis and muscle cell toxicity, while CEP was comparatively nontoxic. Of the three models, the rabbit ear vein had the greatest sensitivity when histopathologic evaluation was employed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Swainsonine modulation of protein kinase C activity in murine peritoneal macrophages.

The level of Ca2+, phospholipid-dependent, protein kinase C (PKC) activity in murine peritoneal macrophages treated with swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, has been investigated. The present studies are based on our recent report that murine peritoneal macrophages are activated by swainsonine (Grzegorzewski, K.; Newton, S.A.; Akiyama, S.K.; Sharrow, S.; Olden, K.; White, S.L., Cancer Commun. 1:373-379, 1989). Presently, we have demonstrated that macrophages treated with swainsonine exhibited a substantial increase in PKC activity. The activity was enhanced as much as 4- to 5-fold over that obtained in untreated macrophages and was inhibited by H-7 (1-[5-isoquinoline sulphonyl]-2-methylpiperazine), D-sphingosine, or a monoclonal antibody specific for the active site of PKC. This represents the first report to demonstrate an effect of swainsonine on a second messenger system known to be involved in tumor promotion and macrophage activation. Elevation of PKC activity occurred much more slowly in swainsonine-treated cells than in cells treated with agents known to activate PKC directly, e.g., PMA (4-beta-phorbol-12-beta-myristate-13-gamma-acetate) or gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). Furthermore the increase in PKC activity was inhibited by alpha-amanitine and cycloheximide, inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, respectively. These results suggest that swainsonine enhancement of PKC activity occurred by an indirect and possibly protein-synthesis-dependent mechanism. Whatever its precise mechanism of action, swainsonine provides a potentially important new probe to evaluate PKC mediated events. Selective enhancement of PKC activity may be important not only in elucidating the role of PKC in tumor promotion or macrophage activation but, also, in contributing to development of therapeutic regimens.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Swainsonine inhibition of spontaneous metastasis.

We have previously shown that swainsonine, administered systemically to C57BL/6 mice, inhibited the pulmonary metastasis of iv injected B16-F10 melanoma cells by a mechanism involving interleukin-2 production and augmentation of natural killer cell activity. From this finding, which uses an "experimental metastasis" model system, we considered: (a) whether swainsonine would be effective in the inhibition of authentic or spontaneous metastasis; (b) whether the drug would also inhibit metastasis formation in organs other than the lungs; and (c) whether the drug would block the metastasis of tumor cells of different histological type or origin. Our data indicated that swainsonine effectively inhibited the spontaneous metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma (by 88%) and M5076 reticulum sarcoma (by 95%) murine tumor cells to the lung and liver, respectively. In both cases, the antimetastatic activity of the drug increased as a function of the concentration in drinking water up to 3 micrograms/mL. These findings indicate that the antimetastatic activity of swainsonine is not limited to artificial or experimentally induced metastasis nor to a single tumor type or specific organ. The inhibition of metastasis is likely due to a combination of events, which are currently under investigation.

Alkaloids↗

Induction of macrophage tumoricidal activity, major histocompatibility complex class II antigen (Iak) expression, and interleukin-1 production by swainsonine.

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that the reported antitumor activity of systemically administered swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, is due at least in part to immune modulation involving effector cells (Humphries, M.J.; Matsumoto, K; White, S.L.; Olden, K. Cancer Res. 48:1410-1415; 1988 and White, S. L.; Schweitzer, K.; Humphries, M.J.; Olden, K. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 150:615-625; 1988). In this report, studies are presented to show that swainsonine was effective in activating peritoneal macrophages to cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Stimulation of tumoricidal activity of macrophages was associated with increased secretion of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and expression of the Iak major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen on the cell surface. The 3-fold stimulation of cytotoxicity observed in these in vivo studies was comparable to that obtained with Corynebacterium parvum, a commonly used in vivo activating agent. The in vitro incubation of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages with swainsonine consistently resulted in levels of activation (6- to 8-fold) comparable to that obtained by treatment with known in vitro macrophage activating agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or recombinant gamma-interferon (rIFN-gamma). The stimulation observed by using swainsonine in combination with LPS was additive, suggesting different mechanisms of action. These studies have important implications not only for treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, and immune suppressive disorders, but also for elucidation of the mechanism of macrophage activation.

Alkaloids↗

Pulmonary lesions in disseminated visceral coccidiosis of sandhill and whooping cranes.

Fifty cranes, consisting of 46 sandhill (Grus canadensis) and four whooping cranes (Grus americana), were studied. Eighteen sandhill cranes and the four whooping cranes were naturally infected with disseminated visceral coccidiosis (DVC). The remaining sandhill cranes were chicks experimentally infected with oocysts of Eimeria reichenowi and/or E. gruis; five chicks served as controls. There were no clinical signs attributed to respiratory infection. Necropsy of naturally infected adult birds revealed nodules in many organs, including the lung, air sacs, trachea and nares. Artificially infected sandhill cranes and the whooping crane chicks that died from DVC had congestion and consolidated areas in the lung with frothy fluid in the airways. Grossly visible nodules were observed from 10 days postinoculation. Granulomatous pneumonia and tracheitis were observed with light microscopy. Lesions were associated with merogonic and gametogonic stages of eimerian coccidia. Granulomas and granulomatous foci contained parasitized large mononuclear cells. Merogonic stages were seen in lymphoid cells by ultrastructural examination. Oocysts were observed in the trachea and bronchial mucosa and admixed with exudate in the airways, indicating that crane eimerians can complete their life cycle at these sites. Of the few eimeriid coccidia that have extraintestinal stages of development in birds and mammals, only the species in cranes complete their life cycle in both the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Air Sacs↗

Swainsonine: a new antineoplastic immunomodulator.

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid with immunomodulatory activity, has been found to be effective in inhibiting metastatic dissemination and growth of primary tumors of both murine and human origins. The unique ability of swainsonine to exhibit antimetastatic, anti-proliferative, and immunomodulatory activity imparts this drug a promising future in cancer therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Experimental approaches for the prevention of hematogenous metastasis.

With improvements in surgical procedures and cure rates, the probable course of cancer for the majority of patients is now largely determined by metastasis rather than growth of the primary tumor itself. Thus, metastasis has received increasing attention over the past decade. These studies have led to the identification of several of the molecular events crucial for metastatic dissemination, information which is now being used to design therapeutic strategies to inhibit metastasis formation. Even though the molecular events involved in the dissemination of malignant disease are only partially known, several promising agents are now being tested for their capacity to limit the spread of cancer. A few clinical trials have shown benefit in prolonging survival and disease-free state, particularly when such therapy is employed on an adjuvant basis.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Osteoarthrosis in guinea pigs: histopathologic and scanning electron microscopic features.

Spontaneous cartilage degeneration of the femorotibial joint of male Hartley guinea pigs, 61 to 365 days old, was studied by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the incidence, age at onset, and to characterize the early changes. Knee joints of 61 day old animals were histologically and ultrastructurally normal. Focal minimal degeneration characterized by cell and proteoglycan loss with surface fibrillation was first observed by LM on the medial tibial plateau (MTP) in two of five 89 day old animals. Mild lesions characterized by focal surface disruption, primarily in the area of medial tibial plateau not covered by the meniscus, were observed in three of five 89 day old animals by SEM. Light microscopic alterations in knee joints of 4, 5, and 6 month old animals consisted of varying degrees of focal chondrocyte death, decreased toluidine blue matrix staining, and surface fibrillation. Small chondrocytic clones were first observed in medial tibial cartilage of 6 month old animals with moderate focal degeneration. Ultrastructurally, 4, 5, and 6 month old animals generally had moderate to severe fibrillation involving primarily the area of the medial tibial plateau not covered by the meniscus. Tibial osteophyte formation, mild synovial hyperplasia, medial femoral and meniscal cartilage degeneration, were first seen by LM in 9 month old animals. Lesions in 1 year old animals were similar, but more severe and included subchondral sclerosis of medial tibial and femoral bone. Bilateral fibrillation of greater than 50% of the medial tibial articular surface was observed in all 1 year old animals by SEM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Augmentation of murine natural killer cell activity by swainsonine, a new antimetastatic immunomodulator.

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, has been found to inhibit the experimental metastasis of B16-F10 melanoma cells when administered systemically to syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. The inhibition was both potent and dose dependent with greater than or equal to 80% reduction in pulmonary colonization being observed after only 24-h exposure to 3 micrograms/ml of swainsonine in drinking water. In contrast, the inhibitory activity of swainsonine was completely abrogated when assays were performed in mice depleted of their natural killer (NK) cell activity either experimentally (anti-asialo-GM1 antibody- or cyclophosphamide-treated C57BL/6 mice) or as a result of genetic mutation (homozygous C57BL/6bg/bg beige mice). Swainsonine elicited a 32.0% increase in spleen cell number 2 days after administration and induced a concomitant 2- to 3-fold increase in splenic NK cell activity. These results indicate (a) an absolute requirement for a functional NK cell population in order for swainsonine to exert its inhibitory effects on experimental metastasis, and (b) that the antimetastatic activity of swainsonine is mediated primarily through the ability of the drug to augment NK cell reactivity. On the basis of these findings, swainsonine can be classified as a new immunomodulator that has the ability, at least in a prophylactic setting, to block tumor metastasis.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Stimulation of DNA synthesis in murine lymphocytes by the drug swainsonine: immunomodulatory properties.

Swainsonine, an inhibitor of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II, has recently been shown to have potent antimetastatic activity in experimental metastasis assays. In the case of systemic administration, the possible mechanism of action is unknown; the results reported here indicate that it can be explained at least in part by swainsonine stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation. In the present experiments, the standard in vitro mitogenic stimulation assay was used to test the effect of swainsonine on spleen cells. Treatment of spleen cell cultures with the optimum concentrations of the drug enhanced proliferation by 80-146%, as measured by (3H) thymidine incorporation, relative to untreated cultures. Similarly, when spleen cell cultures were prepared from mice maintained on swainsonine-supplemented drinking water, proliferation was stimulated at least 3-fold relative to cultures derived from animals maintained on regular water. The enhanced mitogenesis is apparently not directly related to increased expression of Concanavalin A (Con A) binding sites, since swainsonine induced mitogenesis is not inhibited by alpha-methyl-mannoside in contrast to Con A induced mitogenesis which is completely inhibited. These results suggest that the antimetastatic effect of systemically administered swainsonine is at least in part related to its ability to enhance proliferation of those specific cell populations involved in immune surveillance. This represents the first demonstration of a mechanism of action of swainsonine on the immune system.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗