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Phorbol ester induction of rat hepatic metallothionein in vivo and in vitro.

1. The induction of metallothionein (MT) protein by TPA (O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate), a protein kinase C activator, was demonstrated in vivo in rat liver and in vitro in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. In vivo half maximal induction at 25 hr was seen at 26 nmol TPA/kg body wt. Five- to seven-fold inductions were seen in vivo. De novo protein synthesis was required for this induction as demonstrated by cycloheximide inhibition of [35S]cysteine incorporation into MT protein. 2. TPA induction of MT protein in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes reached levels of 2.6-4.1-fold, as assessed by [35S]cysteine incorporation, 1.34-2.20-fold, as assessed by 109Cd binding in a metal displacement/HPLC assay, and 2.5-5-fold, as assessed by 109Cd binding in a metal displacement/Sephadex G-75 Superfine assay. 3. The induction of MT mRNA by TPA was demonstrated in vivo in rat liver and in vitro in 2 rat hepatoma cell lines, EC3 and 2M. MT mRNA was quantitated using dot blot and Northern gel assays. In vivo TPA induced hepatic MT mRNA 2.36-5.88-fold (dot blot) and 7.4-22-fold (Northern gels). In vitro TPA induced MT mRNA 1.71-15.26-fold in EC3 cells and 2.23-8.43-fold in 2M cells. MT mRNA was 0.54 kb, and alpha-tubulin mRNA was 1.62 kb in size on Northern gels. 4. TPA induction of MT protein and mRNA in vivo and in vitro is rapid and persistent and occurs at low concentrations. The 2 rat hepatoma cell lines provide a useful system in which to study MT induction in vitro without confounding secondary effects which can occur in vivo.

Animals↗

Differential induction of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase, microsomal epoxide hydrolase, and glutathione S-transferase activities.

Three major enzyme systems have been shown to metabolize epoxidized xenobiotics in vertebrate tissues, and this study demonstrates that these enzyme systems can be differentially induced. The cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activity was routinely monitored with trans-beta-ethylstyrene oxide, the microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity with benzo(a)pyrene, 4,5-oxide, and the glutathione S-transferase activity with 2,4-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene. Commonly used inducers of microsomal mixed-function oxidase, microsomal epoxide hydrolase, and cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activities failed to cause significant induction of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase while leading to the expected induction of the other epoxide metabolizing enzymes. The compounds tested by ip injection into male Swiss-Webster mice included phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, Aroclor 1254, trans- and cis-stilbene oxides, pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, chalcone, and 4-bromochalcone. To determine if there were strain, sex, or species differences, the enzymes were monitored in male C57BL/6 mice, female Swiss-Webster mice, and male Sprague-Dawley rats following ip injection of phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, and/or pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile. The time dependence of enzyme induction was followed in Sprague-Dawley rats following trans-stilbene oxide administration. Male Swiss-Webster mice were additionally exposed to dietary alpha-naphthoflavone and 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole while male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol. In no case was significant induction of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activity observed. Dietary di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, 2-ethyl-l-hexanol, and clofibrate proved to be potent inducers of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase in male Swiss-Webster mice while probucol (a nonperoxisome proliferating hypolipidemic drug) failed to cause significant induction. Data from isoelectric focusing experiments and other data are consistent with the epoxide hydrolase activities induced by 2-ethyl-l-hexanol and clofibrate being due to the same protein that is present in control animals. The lack of induction of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase by a variety of compounds which were selected to demonstrate induction of other xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, may indicate that the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase has a constitutive role whereas its induction by clofibrate could be related to some of the pharmacological and/or carcinogenic actions of this drug.

Animals↗

Nickel induction of microsomal heme oxygenase activity in rodents.

Heme oxygenase activity was measured in tissues of rats killed after administration of NiCl2 or Ni3S2. Induction of renal heme oxygenase activity occurred 6 hr after NiCl2 injection (0.25 mmol/kg, sc), reached a maximum of five to six times the baseline activity at 17 hr, and remained significantly increased at 72 hr. Heme oxygenase activities were also increased in liver, lung, and brain at 17 hr after the NiCl2 injection; heme oxygenase activities in spleen and intestinal mucosa were unchanged. The effects of NiCl2 on heme oxygenase activities in kidney and liver were dose-related from 0.06 to 0.75 mmol/kg, sc. Three Ni chelators were administered (1 mmol/kg, im) prior to injection of NiCl2 (0.25 mmol/kg, sc); d-penicillamine partially prevented Ni induction of renal heme oxygenase activity; triethylenetetramine had no effect; sodium diethyldithiocarbamate enhanced the Ni induction of renal heme oxygenase activity (three times greater than NiCl2 alone). Intrarenal injection of Ni3S2 (10 mg/rat) caused induction of renal heme oxygenase activity at 1 week but not at 2, 3, or 4 weeks; no correlation was observed between induction of renal heme oxygenase activity and erythropoietin-mediated erythrocytosis. Hypoxia (10% O2, 12 hr/day, 7 days) did not affect renal heme oxygenase activity. Induction of renal heme oxygenase activity was observed in mice, hamsters, and guinea pigs killed 17 hr after injection of NiCl2 (0.25 mmol/kg, sc). These studies established (a) the time course, dose-effect, organ selectivity, and species susceptibility relationships for Ni induction of microsomal heme oxygenase activity, (b) the effects of Ni chelators, and (c) the lack of relationship between induction of renal heme oxygenase activity and the erythrocytosis that develops after intrarenal injection of Ni3S2.

Animals↗

The formation of 3-methylcholanthrene-initiated lung tumors correlates with induction of cytochrome P450IA1 by the carcinogen in fetal but not adult mice.

The administration of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) to pregnant mice results in the formation of lung tumors in the offspring. Previous work has shown that fetuses demonstrating inducibility of aryl hydrocarbon metabolism develop two to five times more lung tumors than induction-nonresponsive littermates. In this study, the effects of fetal versus adult MC exposure were compared with regard to both induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity (AHH) in lung and dependence of lung tumorigenesis on the Ah genotype. In inducible (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 fetal lung supernatants, a single ip injection of 100 mg/kg of MC to the mothers resulted in a maximal 50-fold induction of AHH activity by 8 hr, which persisted for 48 hr. The enzyme data agreed well with RNA blot analysis, as MC caused maximal induction of P450IA1 RNA by 4 hr. For comparison, adult (F1 X DBA/2) mice were given three weekly injections of 100 mg/kg MC and tumor incidences were determined after 16 weeks. No differences were observed between responsive and nonresponsive mice of either sex in the number of mice bearing lung tumors, nor did the tumor multiplicity differ between responsive and nonresponsive males. However, noninducible female mice had a significantly higher tumor multiplicity than their inducible counterparts (p less than 0.025). Single ip injections of MC to adult F1 mice revealed that lung AHH activity was increased only 4- to 7-fold in the adult animal compared to the large fetal induction ratio. The difference in the magnitude of induction was due to the higher constitutive levels of AHH activity seen in adult tissue (4- to 14-fold greater than maximal basal fetal levels), as fetal and adult supernatants showed similar levels of induced activity following MC treatment. These results suggest that the correlation between susceptibility to MC-initiated lung tumors and induction of cytochrome P450IA1 is a unique property of the fetus and may be due, in part, to the low basal levels of fetal activating enzymes and their high induction ratio during the fetal period.

Animals↗

Kinetics for changes in enzyme synthesis and mRNA content and hormones required for induction of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in hepatocytes.

Rats fasted for 2 days were refed a 60% glucose diet for varying periods of time in order to follow the kinetics for changes in 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase synthesis and mRNA content. Hepatocytes isolated from control or induced rats were incubated with actinomycin D and the rate of decline in 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase mRNA was determined by translating RNA in a nuclease-treated reticulocyte lysate. The half-life for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase mRNA under both of these conditions was about 2 h. Thus, increases in transcription or the processing of nuclear RNA may increase 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase mRNA during the dietary induction of this enzyme. Hepatocytes prepared from fasted rats were cultured with 5% serum and various hormones and energy sources. If hepatocytes were isolated from thyroidectomized rats and cultured in serum from a thyroidectomized calf, the 4-fold induction of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was primarily dependent upon added insulin. In the presence of optimal insulin concentrations (10(-7) M) triiodothyronine slightly stimulated 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase induction. The gut hormones somatostatin and secretin had no effect on 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase induction in cultured hepatocytes. Hepatocytes cultured in carbohydrate-free medium and 5% serum required added insulin for maximal induction. 8-Br-cGMP did not significantly affect 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase induction in hepatocytes either in the presence or absence of added insulin. Dibutyryl cAMP did not alter the time course or extent of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase induction in cultured hepatocytes. We have concluded that under these conditions insulin is a potent signal regulating the levels of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase mRNA and that this induction is not mediated by cyclic nucleotides.

Animals↗

Effects of vacuum UV and UVC radiation on dry E. coli plasmid pUC19. I. Inactivation, lacZ- mutation induction and strand breaks.

Using Escherichia coli plasmid pUC19 as a test system to study the effects of radiation on DNA at the molecular level, the wavelength (160-254 nm) dependence of inactivation (loss of the ability to transform E. coli), mutation induction in the target gene lacZ and induction of single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks was investigated. The same fluences were applied for all endpoints tested. In the UVC range, the cross-sections of inactivation and mutation induction match the DNA absorption curve, whereas the cross-section for single-strand break induction deviates from the DNA curve, especially at 220 nm. In the vacuum UV range, with increasing energy of the photons, the cross-sections of inactivation and single-strand breaks increase sharply (from 190 to 160 nm by more than one order of magnitude), which is not reflected by the DNA curve. In this UV range, the shape of the action spectrum is similar to that of the absorption curve of the sugar phosphate moiety of DNA. Only after irradiation with vacuum UV at 160 nm are double-strand breaks detected. Their induction rate is about one order of magnitude lower than that of single-strand breaks at the same wavelength; however, their induction rate is at least twice that of single-strand breaks at longer wavelengths. Concerning mutation induction, the increment in the vacuum UV range is less well expressed. The data suggest the contribution of different kinds of photochemical injury to inactivation and mutation induction.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗

Induction and superinduction of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-rho-dioxin-inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase: role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor/aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator transcription activation domains and a labile transcription repressor.

The environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces a novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (TiPARP). In this study, the signaling pathway of the induction was analyzed. Induction of TiPARP by TCDD occurs in both hepa1c1c7 cells and C57 mouse liver. Induction is concentration and time dependent. Genetic analyses reveal that induction is abolished in aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)- or aromatic hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (Arnt)-defective variants but restored upon reconstitution of the variant cells with cDNAs expressing functional AhR or Arnt. Moreover, induction is largely reduced in cells expressing a deletion mutant of AhR or Arnt lacking the transcription activation (TA) domain, thus implicating the TA activities of both AhR and Arnt in the induction. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide enhances the induction of TiPARP in the presence of an AhR agonist. The superinduction is transcriptional and does not require pretreatment with TCDD. Finally, inhibition of the 26S proteasomes by MG132 superinduces TiPARP. These findings establish that induction of TiPARP by TCDD is mediated through an AhR and Arnt transcription activation-dependent signal transduction that is repressed by a labile factor through the ubiquitin-26S proteasome-mediated protein degradation.

Animals↗

The biochemical consequences of alpha2,6(N) sialyltransferase induction by dexamethasone on sialoglycoprotein expression in the rat H411e hepatoma cell line.

Previous studies have demonstrated sialyltransferase (ST) enzyme activity to be induced in hepatic cells by corticosteroids. In this study, we used the H411e rat hepatoma cell line to further characterise this induction with particular reference to the subsequent changes in the pattern of sialoglycoprotein (SGP) expression. The induction of total ST activity by dexamethasone was concentration dependent with maximum induction occurring 12 h subsequent to drug addition. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the induction was associated with an increase in the expression of the alpha2,6(N) ST enzyme with no change in the expression levels of the alpha2,3(N) enzyme. While the induction resulted in an increase in the reaction velocity (Vmax) of the enzyme for both the sugar donor (CMP-Neu5Ac) and the asialofetuin acceptor protein, there was no significant change in the enzyme affinity (Km) for the substrates, suggestive of either an increase in the expression or efficiency of the existing enzyme(s) rather than an induction of novel ST enzymes. Lectin blot analysis of cellular glycoprotein expression demonstrated no change in the expression patterns of either alpha2,3 or alpha2,6-linked SGP following enzyme induction. These results suggest that the available acceptor sites for the terminal sialic acid group(s) may be fully occupied in the control cells and therefore there are no further sites onto which the sialic acid can be transferred following induction of ST enzyme activity. This may be due to the high basal enzyme levels in the control cells already exhausting endogenous acceptor sites.

Animals↗

RU486 is a potent inhibitor of aromatase induction in human breast adipose tissue stromal cells.

Aromatization of circulating androgens in adipose tissue is a major source of estrogens in postmenopausal women. As part of our efforts to elucidate the mechanism of aromatase induction in human breast adipose tissue, we tested the effects of the antiglucocorticoid and antiprogestin, RU486, on aromatase induction in primary cultures of adipose tissue stromal cells in a serum-free system devoid of phenol-red. Under these conditions 1 microM cortisol alone induces low levels of aromatase activity within one day, whereas platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF) potentiates this effect two- to three-fold. The well-known strong inductive effect of dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP) is also augmented by cortisol, but is inhibited by PDGF in the absence of cortisol. RU486 completely prevented aromatase induction by cortisol and PDGF. Induction by db-cAMP in the presence and absence of cortisol was significantly inhibited by RU486. Even lower activities were measured when RU486 was added to cells stimulated with PDGF and db-cAMP in the absence or presence of cortisol. Similar results were obtained after prolonged incubation. The inhibitory effects of RU486 are dose dependent, less than 1 microM completely blocking the effects of cortisol, whereas 10 microM are needed to block db-cAMP induction. RU486 does not affect cell number, cellular protein, viability or house-keeping enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and therefore seems to act specifically. The time course of RU486 action on the db-cAMP induction of aromatase indicates that it acts via a newly synthetized mediator or target in stromal cells. These results suggest that all known inducers of aromatase in adipose tissue depend upon the action of signalling molecules (probably members of the nuclear receptor superfamily) which can be blocked by RU486. The inhibitory action of PDGF seems to be independent of steroid hormone action, as seems some basal activity induced by db-cAMP. In conclusion, this in vitro study suggests that RU486 might be a useful tool for the therapy of estrogen-dependent tumours through its inhibition of aromatase induction.

Adipose Tissue↗

A high-throughput cell-based reporter gene system for measurement of CYP1A1 induction.

INTRODUCTION: Enzyme induction is undesirable in new drug discovery process, with consequences spanning from auto-induction to toxicity. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 has long been known to be one of the metabolic enzymes involved in activating many procarcinogens, the first step toward tumor formation during chemical carcinogenesis. Induction of CYP1A1 during drug treatment may predispose the patients to some risk of chemical carcinogenesis. METHODS: Based on the signal-transduction mechanism of CYP1A1 induction, a high-throughput reporter-gene system was established by stable transformation of H4IIE cells to incorporate the luciferase gene under control of CYP1A1 promoter. This stable cell line was validated with known CYP1A1 inducers, such as 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF), alpha-naphthoflavone (alpha-NF) and 3-indocarbinol. Thirty in-house new chemical entities (NCEs) were then screened with this reporter-gene system, and also administered to rats to evaluate in vivo CYP1A1 induction. RESULTS: CYP1A1 reporter gene system can be used to identify strong inducers, such as 3-MC, beta-NF and alpha-NF, and weak inducers, such as 3-indocarbinol. In vitro induction of 30 in-house compounds in reporter gene system did not correlate with in vivo induction in rat liver microsome measured by ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (EROD) activity, but had a reasonable correlation with Western blot signals. DISCUSSION: This reporter-gene system may be useful in eliminating compounds that can cause CYP1A1 induction at an early stage of drug discovery.

Animals↗

Prediction of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated enzyme induction of drugs and chemicals by mRNA quantification.

Enzyme-specific testing for drug interactions by in vitro techniques has become a routine practice in drug development. With many drugs, enzyme induction has similar importance for the prediction of drug-drug interactions. We developed a method for recognizing enzyme induction mediated via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. This type of induction may be clinically important since experimental data suggest a higher rate of toxification in induced subjects. Twenty-four drugs and environmental chemicals, selected as prototype inducers or being chemically related to known inducers, including HIV protease inhibitors nelfinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, and indinavir, were tested for their potency to induce cytochrome P450 1A1 mRNA in human Hela cell cultures by a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Known prototype inducers such as beta-naphthoflavone and 3-methylcholanthrene exhibited the highest inducing potency quantified with an Imax value (maximal induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 mRNA synthesis) of 5.48 and 10.7 x 10(6) mRNA molecules per 150 ng of total RNA, respectively. The enzyme-inducing efficacy of some compounds such as resveratrol (2.92 x 10(6)) and the protease inhibitors was not much lower (2.23-3.08 x 10(6)). All compounds that were structurally similar to benzimidazoles exhibited some extent of enzyme induction; e.g., Imax values were 0.86 x 10(6), 0.20 x 10(6), and 0.14 x 10(6) for omeprazole, lansoprazole, and losartan, respectively. To predict the clinical relevance of these inducing effects, the concentration at half-maximal induction IM was estimated; the plasma concentrations of these drug substances were within 1 order of magnitude of the IM values, upon usual dosage. In conclusion, cytochrome P450 1A1 enzyme induction by drugs is a common phenomenon, though there is a great range in the inducing efficacy. In vitro prediction of enzyme induction may be useful for explaining or foreseeing drug interactions, drug side effects, or toxicity by xenobiotics.

Algorithms↗

Azacitidine-Venetoclax or Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Induction chemotherapy has long been a key component of curative therapy for fit patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), despite its frequently severe side effects and substantial health care utilization. For patients who are ineligible for induction chemotherapy, hypomethylating therapy plus venetoclax is the standard treatment owing to its efficacy and side-effect profile. METHODS: In this multicenter, phase 2 trial, we randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, previously untreated adults with AML who were eligible for induction chemotherapy to receive either azacitidine plus venetoclax or induction chemotherapy. Patients with core binding factor fusions, mutations in the gene encoding FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), or mutations in the gene encoding nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1; unless the patient was ≥60 years of age) were excluded. The primary end point was event-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients underwent randomization, with 86 patients assigned to each group. The median age of the patients was 64 years. A total of 72% of the patients had adverse-risk disease according to the European LeukemiaNet 2022 classification. At a median follow-up of 21.9 months, the median event-free survival was 14.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.4 to 24.4) in the azacitidine-venetoclax group, as compared with 6.2 months (95% CI, 4.1 to 10.1) in the induction chemotherapy group, corresponding to a hazard ratio for event or death of 0.57 (95% CI, 0.39 to 0.84; P = 0.002 by the stratified log-rank test). Infection of grade 3 or higher occurred in 28% of the patients (95% CI, 19 to 39) receiving azacitidine-venetoclax and in 41% of those (95% CI, 30 to 52) receiving induction chemotherapy; hemorrhage of grade 3 or higher occurred in 2% (95% CI, 0.3 to 8) and 12% (95% CI, 6 to 20), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this phase 2, randomized trial, azacitidine-venetoclax therapy led to significantly longer event-free survival than induction chemotherapy among induction-eligible patients with AML. (Funded by AbbVie and others; PARADIGM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04801797.).

Adult↗

Circadian rhythm of tyrosine hydroxylase induction by short-term cold stress: modulatory action of glucocorticoids in newborn and adult rats.

The trans-synaptic induction of tyrosine hydroxylase [tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; EC 1.14.16.2, L-tyrosine, tetrahydropteridine: oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating)] in adrenal medulla and sympathetic ganglia by short-term (1-2 hr) cold stress (4 degrees) exhibits a circadian rhythm which seems to be causally related to the diurnal changes in adrenal glucocorticoid synthesis. In induction is maximal during the morning hours, when plasma corticoid concentrations (reflecting corticoid synthesis in the adrenal cortex) are minimal. In contrast, initiation of tyrosine hydroxylase induction in sympathetic ganglia is only possible in the afternoon. These observations suggest that tyrosine hydroxylase inducibility in the adrenal medulla is optimal during periods of low corticoid synthesis (the adrenal medulla is exposed to excessively high corticoid concentrations directly originating from the adjacent cortex), whereas in sympathetic ganglia an induction is only possible during the period of high plasma corticoid concentrations. This assumption is supported by the observation that in the first postnatal weeks, when the pituitary--adrenocortical system is not yet operating and plasma corticoid concentrations are low, initiation of tyrosine hydroxylase induction in the adrenal medulla is possible at any time of the day, whereas in sympathetic ganglia it is not possible at all. However, after administration of glycocorticoids initiation of tyrosine hydroxylase induction by short-term cold stress is also possible in newborn animals and in adults during the morning hours. The importance of glucocorticoids as modulators for the initiation of trans-synaptic tyrosine hydroxylase induction can also be deduced from the observation that in sympathetic ganglia kept in organ cultures and induction of the hydroxylase by cholinomimetics is only possible when glycocorticoids are added to the culture medium.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Enzyme regulation in neuroblastoma cells in a salts/glucose medium: induction of ornithine decarboxylase by asparagine and glutamine.

L-Asparagine is necessary and sufficient for the maximal induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) (L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) activity in confluent N18 mouse neuroblastoma cells in a salts/glucose medium; L-asparagine also induces maximal ODC activity when added to a tissue culture medium. L-Glutamine is about one-half as effective as asparagine. Cholera toxin and agents that are known to raise intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations have no effect on the induction of ODC activity unless suboptimal concentrations of asparagine are present in the salts/glucose medium. Whereas actinomycin D does not inhibit induction of ODC activity by asparagine, it inhibits the induction of ODC activity in association with cyclic AMP. In the salts/glucose medium, the rate of loss of ODC activity following the inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide or puromycin depends upon the presence or absence of asparagine; loss is rapid only in the absence of asparagine and does not appear to be related to the inhibition of protein synthesis. These results are discussed in the context that the overlay of the growth medium tends to mask the minimal requirements for enzyme induction, because the composition of the medium defines: (a) the requirements for the induction of ODC activity; (b) the effect, or lack of effect, of cyclic AMP (and of inducers of intracellular cyclic AMP) on the induction of ODC activity; (c) the effect, or lack of effect, of actinomycin D on the induction of ODC activity; and (d) the action of puromycin and of cycloheximide on the rate of loss of ODC activity. It will be interesting to determine whether these results are uniquely applicable to ODC, whether many of the reactions attributed to cyclic AMP in the literature may be mediated by asparagine and glutamine, and whether actinomycin D, cycloheximide, and puromycin can be relied upon to differentiate between transcriptional and post-transcriptional control.

Asparagine↗

Effects of modulators of protein phosphorylation on heme metabolism in human hepatic cells: induction of delta-aminolevulinic synthase mRNA and protein by okadaic acid.

Effects of modulators of protein phosphorylation on delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase and heme oxygenase-1 mRNA were analyzed in the human hepatic cell lines Huh-7 and HepG2 using a quantitative RNase protection assay. Okadaic acid was found to induce ALA synthase mRNA in a concentration-dependent fashion in both Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. The EC(50) for induction of ALA synthase mRNA in Huh-7 cells was 13.5 nM, with maximum increases occurring at okadaic acid concentrations of 25-50 nM. The EC(50) for induction of ALA synthase mRNA in HepG2 cells was 35.5 nM, with maximum increases occurring at okadaic acid concentrations of 50 nM. Concentration-dependent induction of ALA synthase mRNA paralleled the increase in ALA synthase protein. Maximum induction of ALA synthase was observed between 5 and 10 h post-treatment in both cell lines. Induction of ALA synthase mRNA in Huh-7 cells, but not HepG2 cells, was associated with an increase in ALA synthase mRNA stability. Okadaic acid also induced heme oxygenase-1 mRNA in both cell lines, but the magnitude of induction was only twofold, and was rapid and transient. Okadaic acid and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate significantly decreased heme-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA in both Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. Wortmannin diminished the heme-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA in HepG2 cells, but not Huh-7 cells. These results report a novel property of okadaic acid to affect heme metabolism in human cell lines.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

Differential induction of fetal mouse liver and lung cytochromes P-450 by beta-naphthoflavone and 3-methylcholanthrene.

Previous studies have shown that the incidences of liver and lung tumors in mice exposed transplacentally to 3-methyl-cholanthrene (MC) were significantly influenced by the sensitivity of both mothers and fetuses to induction of cytochrome(s) P-450 by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In order to delineate further the biochemical and molecular processes underlying the observed biological effects, the inductive effect of MC and beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF) on cytochrome P-450 was determined at the biochemical and molecular levels. C57BL/6 females were mated with DBA/2 males and treated i.p. on day 17 of gestation with olive oil alone, 150 mg/kg of beta NF or different doses of MC. At various times after injection the mothers were sacrificed and the fetuses removed for biochemical and molecular studies. MC caused maximal induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity by 8 h in both the liver and lung. beta NF caused nearly maximal induction of AHH activity by 8 h in the lung but had little effect on liver AHH activity at this time. Maximal induction with beta NF occurred by 24 h in both organs. Addition of monoclonal antibody 1-7-1, specific for the MC-inducible forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-450IA1 and A2), to the incubation mixtures resulted in a 55-70% inhibition of AHH activity in both lung and liver assays, regardless of the inducing agent used, while having no effect on AHH activity from oil-treated mice. RNA blot analysis carried out in parallel with enzyme assays demonstrated that the levels of enzyme activity correlated very well with the levels of steady-state RNAs. MC caused maximal induction of P-450IA1 RNA levels 4 h after injection in both organs and a biphasic secondary increase was observed in the lung. Maximal levels of P-450IA1 RNA were seen at 12-16 h following injection of beta NF. However, the ratio of P-450IA1 RNAs present at 16 versus 2 h in the beta NF-treated liver appeared greater than that in the lung. P-450IA2 was also induced in fetal liver and lung, but at low levels relative to P-450IA1. The results indicate that the increase in functional AHH activity was primarily due to induction of cytochrome P-450IA1. The differences in induction kinetics observed for cytochromes P-450IA1 and A2 suggest that these enzymes exhibit both tissue- and inducer-dependent specificity.

Animals↗

Quinone methide mediates in vitro induction of ornithine decarboxylase by the tumor promoter butylated hydroxytoluene hydroperoxide.

Metabolism of the skin tumor promoter butylated hydroxy-toluene hydroperoxide (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroperoxyl-4-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienone; BHTOOH) to reactive intermediates is required for tumor promotion by this compound. In particular, an electrophilic quinone methide is known to mediate both in vivo tumor promotion as well as in vitro cytotoxicity by BHTOOH. In the present study, the role of this reactive intermediate in the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a gene strongly associated with tumor promotion, was investigated in cultured keratinocytes. BHTOOH stimulates a time-dependent increase in ODC enzyme activity, paralleled by ODC mRNA induction, suggesting transcriptional regulation of ODC by BHTOOH. Depletion of intracellular glutathione caused a 5-fold potentiation of keratinocyte sensitivity to BHTOOH. Concordantly, ODC induction by BHTOOH could be completely inhibited by soluble thiol compounds. These results suggest that ODC induction is mediated by a thiol-reactive metabolite of BHTOOH. The iron-specific chelator desferal blocked ODC induction by BHTOOH, indicating that formation of this intermediate is iron-dependent. Substitution of the 4-methyl group of BHTOOH with alkyl groups of incrementally larger size is known to reduce accordingly quinone methide production; comparative study of these BHTOOH analogs demonstrated a corresponding loss of potency for ODC induction, indicating that BHT-quinone methide mediates the in vitro induction of ODC by BHTOOH. Finally, kinase inhibitor studies suggested a role for protein kinase C in the induction of ODC by BHTOOH. Taken together, these results provide insight into the cellular mechanisms through which the reactive electrophile BHT-quinone methide can mediate alterations in gene expression, such as occur in tumor promotion in vivo.

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

Combined-modality treatment of small-cell lung cancer: randomized comparison of three induction chemotherapies followed by maintenance chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy to the chest. Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK).

BACKGROUND: From 1980 to 1983 the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) performed a randomised phase III trial in patients with small-cell lung cancer with the objective of improving the results of induction chemotherapy and defining the role of consolidating chest irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were initially randomised to induction arms AVP (adriamycin, etoposide and cisplatin given every four weeks for four cycles), EVA (cyclophosphamide, etoposide and adriamycin given every four weeks for four cycles) or MOC/AVP (methotrexate, vincristine, cyclophosphamide alternating with adriamycin, etoposide and cisplatin given for two cycles). All patients received prophylactic cranial irradiation with 30 Gy, and after four months of induction chemotherapy were randomized to maintenance chemotherapy with or without consolidating chest irradiation. The patients in the combined-modality maintenance arm first received radiation therapy to the chest (45 Gy) followed by MOC/EVA chemotherapy. RESULTS: 266 patients were eligible and evaluable. An overall response rate of 70% with 21% of complete remissions, a median survival of 9.3 months and survival of 8% of the patients at two years were observed. The highest objective response rate was achieved with the AVP-induction chemotherapy with an 80% response rate and 32% complete remissions. Similar results were achieved with the alternating regimen of MOC/AVP. In contrast, patients treated with the EVA induction regimen had significantly lower overall remission (56%) and complete remission rates (7%). The role of consolidating chest irradiation could not be clarified in limited-disease patients due to the small number of them who were randomised to the maintenance part of the study. However, in patients with extensive disease in partial remission after induction treatment, combined maintenance therapy had a more significant adverse effect on survival than maintenance chemotherapy alone (median survival in the maintenance phase of 148 days versus 239 days, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the combination of adriamycin, etoposide and cisplatin is an active induction treatment. Consolidating chest irradiation is contraindicated in patients with extensive disease in partial remission after induction when given in a sequential manner, as in our trial.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗