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Antitumor effect of actinomycin D entrapped in liposomes bearing subunits of tumor-specific monoclonal immunoglobulin M antibody.

Sonicated liposomes containing actinomycin D in the membranes were chemically coated with the subunits of monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody against a mouse mammary tumor-associated antigen (MM antigen) and examined for their in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects against MM46 (MM+) and MM48 (MM-) tumors of C3H/He mouse origin. The antibody-bearing, actinomycin D-containing liposomes (chemoimmunoliposomes) were selectively bound to MM+ tumor cells and showed much more in vitro cytotoxicity against the tumor cells than that shown by free actinomycin D. The in vivo antitumor effect of the chemoimmunoliposomes was tested on the mammary tumor cells (5 X 10(4) to 5 X 10(6) transplanted i.p. into syngeneic mice. A single i.p. injection of the chemoimmunoliposomes containing 0.3, 0.5, or 1 microgram of actinomycin D into MM46 tumor-bearing mice resulted in the cure of some mice and a prolonged survival time in the rest of the mice as compared to results in controls. In this test, free actinomycin D, anti-MM IgM antibody, and bovine serum albumin-coated liposomes containing actinomycin D were marginally effective or ineffective. To examine a systemic antitumor effect of chemoimmunoliposomes, mice were inoculated with MM46 tumor cells and then treated with a single i.v. injection of liposomes 4 days later. If the mice were pretreated with an i.v. injection of unmodified multilamellar liposomes, an injection of the chemoimmunoliposomes containing 1 microgram of actinomycin D resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor growth. Both free actinomycin D and bovine serum albumin-coated liposomes containing actinomycin D were ineffective against the s.c. tumor. These results indicate that an antitumor drug entrapped in the membranes of small sonicated liposomes bearing antitumor monoclonal antibodies can be delivered to antigenic tumor cells and exert more efficient antitumor activity than does the free drug.

Animals↗

Decreased retention of actinomycin D as the basis for cross-resistance in anthracycline-resistant sublines of P388 leukemia.

Sublines of P388 leukemia resistant to Adriamycin and daunorubicin were cross-resistant to actinomycin D in vivo and in vitro. The Adriamycin-resistant cell line was 1000-fold resistant to actinomycin D on 1-hr exposure in vitro and 370-fold resistant when exposed to the drug for 16 hr. The immediate binding of radioactive actinomycin D to sensitive and resistant cells was similar, and the uptake of the drug by the resistant cells was only about 27% less than the rate of uptake by sensitive cells. There was a dramatic difference in efflux of drug from sensitive and resistant sublines. Equivalent cytotoxicity of actinomycin D for the sensitive and resistant sublines was obtained at concentrations of the drug that resulted in approximately equivalent levels of net retention of actinomycin D (retained drug minus background levels of immediate binding of the drug to the cells). Incubation of cells in the presence of actinomycin D plus either Tween 80 or acridine orange incresed the rate of uptake and the percentage of actinomycin D retained by the resistant cells on short-term assays but did not reverse the resistance. It is concluded that these tumors must retain appreciable concentrations of actinomycin D for several hr in order to be killed. The anthracycline-resistant sublines are cross-resistant to actinomycin D by virtue of their inability to retain the drug.

Acridines↗

Stimulation of leptin release by actinomycin D in rat adipocytes.

A greater understanding of the factors causing the enhanced release of leptin by adipocytes in obesity is needed. Experiments were designed to determine the effects of actinomycin D on leptin release by isolated rat adipocytes during primary culture for 24 hr. In adipocytes from fed hypothyroid rats, the initial rate of leptin release over the first 6 hr was not maintained over the next 18 hr. The decline in leptin release by adipocytes in primary culture between 6 and 24 hr was reduced markedly by either dexamethasone or actinomycin D. Both actinomycin D and dexamethasone also reduced the loss of leptin mRNA seen over the 24-hr incubation. Maximal effects on leptin release and leptin mRNA accumulation required only 0.1 microM of actinomycin D, a concentration that had no significant effect on the 18S RNA content of adipocytes at the end of a 24-hr incubation. In contrast to the reduced loss of leptin mRNA seen at 24 hr, the loss of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid (GAPDH mRNA) was enhanced in the presence of 0.1 microM of actinomycin D. The effects of dexamethasone could be differentiated from those of actinomycin D by the finding that cycloheximide blocked the reduced loss of leptin mRNA due to dexamethasone while having no effect on that due to actinomycin D. These results point to a unique regulation of leptin release and leptin mRNA levels by actinomycin D.

Adipocytes↗

Determination of anti-cancer drug actinomycin D in human plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Actinomycin D is an anti-cancer drug commonly used in the treatment of paediatric malignancies such as Wilms' tumour, Ewing's sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Despite its long history of clinical use, little is known about the pharmacokinetics of actinomycin D in humans, largely due to problems in developing an analytical assay with the required sensitivity to measure relevant clinical concentrations. As actinomycin D treatment in children with cancer is associated with veno-occlusive disease (VOD), and as the dose intensity of actinomycin D treatment has been defined as a significant risk factor for the development of this potentially life-threatening hepatic toxicity, pharmacokinetic studies of actinomycin D may be beneficial in optimizing treatment with this drug. In order to investigate this issue, we developed a sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the determination of actinomycin D in human plasma samples. Extraction of analytical samples was carried out with acetonitrile and analysis performed on an API 2000 LC/MS/MS using an internal standard of 7-aminoactinomycin D. A limit of quantitation of 1.0 ng/ml was determined, allowing the reliable measurement of actinomycin D in plasma samples obtained from patients receiving this drug clinically. The method demonstrated good reproducibility, over the calibration curve range of 1.0-100 ng/ml, with intra- and inter-assay precision CVs of 2.7-11.3 and 2.3-7.8%, respectively. Accuracy data showed relative errors of 2.0-16.4 and 10.4-15.2% for intra-assay (n=10) and inter-assay (n=7) experiments, respectively. Initial results of actinomycin D pharmacokinetics in paediatric patients are shown.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

RNA synthesis in Streptomyces antibioticus: in vitro effects of actinomycin and transcriptional inhibitors from 48-h cells.

Two forms of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase have been partially purified (about 100-fold relative to the crude extract) from 48-h old cells of Streptomyces antibioticus. The two forms show different Mg2+ optima for the incorporation of [3H]UMP into RNA. Substances inhibiting transcription have been isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation from one of the fractions produced during the polymerase purification. Actinomycin can be shown to inhibit RNA synthesis catalyzed by the S. antibioticus polymerases to a similar extent regardless of the template used. When S. antibioticus DNA is the template, actinomycin inhibits transcription by S. antibioticus polymerase to a degree that is significantly less than the observed actinomycin inhibition of synthesis catalyzed by Escherichia coli polymerase or by either S. antibioticus or E. coli polymerase with calf thymus DNA as the template. Using an assay previously developed, it was shown that the association constant for the binding of actinomycin to S. antibioticus DNA was increased by the presence of RNA polymerase in the binding mixture, while the association constant for the binding to calf thymus DNA was decreased by RNA polymerase. RNA synthesis in crude, cell-free extracts of 12-h old S. antibioticus cells (not producing actinomycin) is less refractory to actinomycin inhibition than synthesis catalyzed by extracts of 48-h old (actinomycin producing) cells, and both extracts catalyze appreciable RNA synthesis at actinomycin concentrations that completely inhibit RNA synthesis catalyzed by E. coli extracts.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Phase partition studies of actinomycin-nucleotide complexes.

A method is reported for measuring the stoichiometry of complex formation between actinomycin and a series of deoxynucleotides. The amount of bound actinomycin is measured by distribution of the drug between two liquid phases, a buffer phase containing deoxynucleotide and an organic phase in which the nucleotide is insoluble. Using simple statistical mechanical analysis, the equilibrium equations for several models of actinomycin-deoxynucleotide complexes have been derived: actinomycin with one binding site, with two equivalent independent binding sites, and with two sites which must be occupied together. The binding of actinomycin C3 with dpG, dpApG, dpA, and dpGpC has been examined compared with these models. It is found that binding to dpG and dpApG involves two independent binding sites of nearly equal affinity for nucleotides, whereas binding of dpGpC to the two binding sites on actinomycin is a cooperative process. Binding of dpA tp actinomycin is partially cooperative and weaker than binding of dpG. The dimerization constant of actinomycin was also determined by the phase separation technique, and found in agreement with other values, including the results of kinetic measurements reported here.

Binding Sites↗

Carbon-7 substituted actinomycin D analogues as improved antitumor agents: synthesis and DNA-binding and biological properties.

7-(2,3-Epoxypropoxy)actinomycin D has been synthesized along with its major companion product, 7-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)actinomycin D. They were characterized by UV-visible and CD spectra and by NMR studies. According to UV-visible absorptiometry, circular dichroism, and thermal denaturation studies, they bind to DNA in a manner that is comparable to actinomycin D. The analogues are, like actinomycin D, extremely cytotoxic to human lymphoblastic leukemic cells (CCRF-CEM) in vitro but are significantly less toxic than actinomycin D to normal CDF1 mice is vivo. Unlike actinomycin, these analogues are metabolized in rats, and the metabolites are excreted in rat urine at a rapid rate. Compared to actinomycin D, the antitumor activity of the 7-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)actinomycin analogue against P-388 leukemia in mice is decidedly superior, and the therapeutic index is improved several fold.

Animals↗

Clearing-factor lipase in adipose tissue. Studies with puromycin and actinomycin.

1. When adipose tissue from starved rats is incubated in a medium containing glucose, insulin, heparin and actinomycin (5mug./ml.) the total clearing-factor lipase activity of the system increases at least tenfold over a period of 9hr. In the absence of actinomycin, enzyme activity also increases, but to a lesser extent and for only about 3hr. Some enzyme activity appears in the incubation medium in both the presence and the absence of actinomycin. 2. When the glucose and insulin of the incubation medium are replaced by pyruvate and heparin is omitted, an increase in the total clearing-factor lipase activity in the presence of actinomycin still occurs, but only after a lag of several hours. When only heparin is omitted from the medium, the rise in enzyme activity begins immediately, but there is a shoulder in the time-course curve after a few hours. In the absence of heparin, little enzyme activity appears in the incubation medium. 3. The increases in enzyme activity in the presence of actinomycin are prevented if puromycin (0.5mg./ml.) is present in the incubation medium. 4. Catecholamines and corticotrophin inhibit the increase in enzyme activity caused by actinomycin. 5. The clearing-factor lipase activity of adipose tissue from fed animals declines with a half-life of between 1 and 1.5hr. when the tissue is incubated in the presence of puromycin. The clearing-factor lipase activity of adipose tissue from starved animals is stable under similar circumstances, as is the raised activity found after such tissue has been incubated in the presence of actinomycin. 6. Clearing-factor lipase extracted from adipose tissue of fed animals is less stable in solution than that extracted from the tissue of starved animals after this has been incubated in the presence of actinomycin.

Adipose Tissue↗

Actinomycin D stimulates the transcription of rRNA minigenes transfected into mouse cells. Implications for the in vivo hypersensitivity of rRNA gene transcription.

The in vivo hypersensitivity of eukaryotic rRNA gene transcription to actinomycin D has long been known, but this effect could not be reproduced in model systems and its molecular mechanisms remain uncertain. We studied the action of actinomycin D using mouse rRNA minigenes (with RNA polymerase I promoter and terminator signals), carrying truncated mouse or human rDNA inserts, which are faithfully transcribed upon transient transfection into mouse cells. Low concentrations (0.01-0.08 micrograms/ml) of actinomycin D caused within 1-2 h a 2-7-fold stimulation of the transcription of rRNA minigenes which is inversely related to the size of the rDNA transcript. With transcripts longer than 3 kb the effect was reversed and at 4 kb a practically complete inhibition of the formation of full-length transcripts was observed, accompanied, however, by an enhanced accumulation of unfinished rDNA transcripts. The dependence of actinomycin D action on transcript length was also observed with lacZ gene segments of different size inserted into the mouse rRNA minigenes. The transcription initiation of endogenous rRNA genes was also stimulated by the low doses of actinomycin D as indicated by the enhanced synthesis of unfinished rDNA transcripts (spanning mainly the 5' external transcribed spacer), whereas the synthesis of full-length transcripts was abolished. Removal of actinomycin D from the medium caused within 8-24 h a dramatic increase of the transcription from all rRNA minigenes tested. This stimulation was also inversely related to the size of the transcripts and varied from twofold to fivefold for the 3-4-kb transcripts to about 50-80-fold for the basic minigene transcript (395 nucleotides). The amount of endogenous aborted rDNA transcripts was also markedly increased, but the synthesis of full-length transcripts was not restored even 24 h after removal of the drug. The present results reproduce in a model cellular system the in vivo hypersensitivity of rRNA gene transcription to actinomycin D and reveal that the major factor involved is the size of the rRNA gene transcript. This effect requires only the basic rRNA gene promoter and terminator signals and does not depend on the G + C content of the RNA polymerase I transcripts. We suggest that at low concentrations, the intercalation of actinomycin D changes the conformation of DNA in the promoter region in a manner that stimulates the transcription of both endogenous and transfected rRNA genes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Effect of pipecolic acid isomers on the biogenesis of actinomycins.

Streptomyces antibioticus produces a family of actinomycin components which differ solely at the "imino acid" site of the molecule; however, new congeners of actinomycin are synthesized when cultures are supplemented with pipecolic acid (PA). The quantitative and qualitative nature of the actinomycins produced differed when cultures were incubated in the presence of either l-, d-, or racemic PA. In the presence of d-PA, the quantitative and qualitative nature of those actinomycins produced were similar to those produced in the absence of supplementation. By contrast, in the presence of l-PA or dl-PA new actinomycin components containing PA were synthesized at the expense of normally produced components. Also, the total amount of antibiotic produced decreased in response to increasing concentrations of exogenously supplied l-PA. This effect occurred whether or not d-PA was also added to cultures. Concentrations of l-PA greater than 125 mug/ml of medium resulted in no additional decrease in the amount of antibiotic produced. Although PA-containing actinomycins were formed as early as 6 h after the addition of 250 mug of l-PA per ml, it was not until 24 h postaddition that the relative percentages of actinomycin components produced approached a constant value. Evidence presented here indicated that the l-isomer of PA replaces l-proline in the pentapeptide of actinomycin.

Amino Acids↗

Effects of actinomycin D on mouse thymus in vivo chromatin degradation to nucleosomes and inhibition of RNA and protein synthesis.

The administration of actinomycin D in toxic doses (4 mg/kg i.p.) to mice induces a progressive degradation of thymus chromatin. The course of this damage is slower than the radiation-induced chromatin degradation; it starts at 6-8h and culminates at 24 h after actinomycin D injection, when already most of the treated mice are dying. The inhibition of the [2-14C] orotic acid incorporation into rapidly labelled RNA by actinomycin D is substantially less expressed in the thymus than in the liver. The course of chromatin degradation correlates with the onset of the inhibition of protein synthesis in the thymuses of actinomycin D-treated mice. This demonstrates that, starting from the 6th h after actinomycin D administration, irreversible changes appear in the thymocytes that lead to chromatin degradation and cellular death. Contrary to the action of cycloheximide, the treatment with actinomycin D aggravates the chromatin degradation induced by irradiation. A comparative electrophoretic analysis of the DNA fragments (in native state and denatured) isolated from thymus chromatin of mice treated with actinomycin D (and/or irradiated) demonstrated that the chromatin DNA is degraded only in the internucleosomal segments yielding DNA fragments of nucleosomal size. Similarly to the effect of other agents leading to chromatin damage in vivo, the actinomycin D-induced degradation does not affect the DNA in the nucleosomal segments of chromatin.

Animals↗

Combined purification of actinomycin synthetase I and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid 4-methyltransferase from Streptomyces antibioticus.

Actinomycin synthetase I, which activates the precursor of the chromophore of actinomycin, has been purified nearly 1000-fold from extracts of Streptomyces antibioticus. The enzyme has an M(r) of 45,000 and appears to function as a single polypeptide chain. The formation of the enzyme is repressed when S. antibioticus mycelium is grown on glucose as a carbon source. Several benzoic acid derivatives, including intermediates in the putative pathway for actinomycin biosynthesis, were capable of supporting ATP-pyrophosphate exchange catalyzed by actinomycin synthetase I. Interestingly, three synthetic phenoxaziones also functioned as substrates in the exchange reaction. It proved possible to purify a second enzyme involved in actinomycin biosynthesis, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid 4-methyltransferase, from the same extracts prepared for the purification of actinomycin synthetase I and by similar procedures. Streptomyces lividans, previously shown to contain a silent gene for the enzyme phenoxazione synthase, apparently does not contain a silent pathway for the complete synthesis of actinomycin since neither actinomycin synthetase I nor the methyltransferase could be detected in strains containing a cloned sequence that activates phenoxazione synthase expression.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

MECHANISM OF RESISTANCE TO ACTINOMYCIN IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS.

Polsinelli, M. (University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy), O. Ciferri, G. Cassani, and A. Albertini. Mechanism of resistance to actinomycin in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 88:1567-1572. 1964.-Strains of Bacillus subtilis were rendered resistant to actinomycin D by serial transfer in increasing concentrations of the drug. Resistance to the antibiotic appeared to be due to an altered cell-wall permeability, because the resistant strains did not take up actinomycin. No evidence was found for the presence of an enzyme(s) degrading actinomycin. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from the actinomycin-resistant strains was found to bind actinomycin to the same extent as the DNA extracted from susceptible strains. The genetic nature of the resistance to actinomycin was demonstrated by means of transformation. Resistant strains appeared to have almost completely lost their transformability, as well as the tendency to autolyze.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Actinomycin-D, levamisole chemoimmunotherapy of refractory malignant melanoma.

Sixty adult patients with disseminated melanoma refractory to DTIC or Dacarbazine were given chemoimmunotherapy with intermittent high single dose Actinomycin-D and Levamisole. Actinomycin-D was given at a dose of 1.5-2.0 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 to 4 weeks. Levamisole was given in a dose of 150 mg/day for two consecutive days each week (50 patients) and in a dose of 200 mg every other day (10 patients). Antitumor responses consisted of 2% complete remissions (CR), 2% partial remissions (PR), and 33% disease improvement less than PR or stabilization (S). Comparison of these patients who received Actinomycin-D + Levamisole with those on an immediately preceding study in a similar population where Actinomycin-D was given as a single agent revealed no difference in response rates. Patients who responded to Actinomycin-D + Levamisole (CR + PR + S) survived significantly longer (35 weeks) than nonresponders (12 weeks, p less than 0.01). Survival was not longer (p less than .05) in responding patients (CR + PR + S) receiving Actinomycin-D + Levamisole (35 weeks) compared to those responding to Actinomycin-D alone (18 weeks, p = 0.09). Hematologic toxicity was tolerable with median lowest granulocyte counts of 1.6 x 10(3)/microliter and platelet counts of 134,000/microliter. Other toxic effects were predominantly nausea, vomiting, and mucositis. In those patients who received alternate day Levamisole there was greater gastrointestinal upset as well as fever, rash and central nervous system toxicity which was unacceptable.

Adult↗

Identification of actinomycins by high performance liquid chromatography and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

An actinomycin complex isolated from culture broth of a soil microorganism, SNUS 9305011 has been examined by High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). From the analysis of the fractions obtained by column chromatography of the ethyl acetate extract, three actinomycin components are confirmed. The HPLC analysis is carried out with a CN-bonded nucleosil column. Comparison of the retention times of the components with those of actinomycin D, C complex X0 beta, and V suggests that they are different actinomycins. FAB mass spectra of the components also shows different molecular ions from those of standards and other reported actinomycins. The present work was has demonstrated that actinomycin components can be separated by a CN-bonded HPLC column, and that comparison of their HPLC chromatograms with authentic samples and information on their molecular ions can be successfully employed for identification of actinomycins.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

The molecular mechanism of actinomycin D in preventing neointimal formation in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury.

The pathological mechanism of restenosis is primarily attributed to excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Actinomycin D has been regarded as a potential candidate to prevent balloon injury-induced neointimal formation. To explore its molecular mechanism in regulating cell proliferation, we first showed that actinomycin D markedly reduced the SMC proliferation via the inhibition of BrdU incorporation at 80 nM. This was further supported by the G1-phase arrest using a flowcytometric analysis. Actinomycin D was extremely potent with an inhibitory concentration IC50 at 0.4 nM, whereas the lethal dose LD50 was at 260 microM. In an in vivo study, the pluronic gel containing 80 nM and 80 microM actinomycin D was applied topically to surround the rat carotid adventitia; the thickness of neointima was substantially reduced (45 and 55%, respectively). The protein expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and Raf were all suppressed by actinomycin D. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk) involved in cell-cycle arrest were found to increase by actinomycin D. These observations provide a detailed mechanism of actinomycin D in preventing cell proliferation thus as a potential intervention for restenosis.

Animals↗

TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis in chondrocytes sensitized by MG132 or actinomycin D.

The mechanism of TNF-alpha-mediated chondrocyte apoptosis in human articular cartilage was investigated. First passage OA chondrocytes were treated with actinomycin D or MG132 in combination with TNF-alpha to facilitate cell death. The patterns of apoptosis-related proteins, NF-kappaB activation, and IkappaB degradation were analyzed. Cell death was increased by 0.2 microg/ml of actinomycin D or 20 microM MG132 in combination with TNF-alpha. Apoptosis potentiated by MG132 was more effectively inhibited by caspase inhibitors than that by actinomycin D. MG132 or actinomycin D both led to a significant increase in p53, but the expressions of the p53 response proteins increased only in MG132 treated chondrocytes. TNF-alpha induced chondrocyte IkappaB phosphorylation was unaffected by either MG132 or actinomycin D. MG132, but not actinomycin D, inhibited the chondrocyte IkappaB degradation induced by TNF-alpha and NF-kappaB activation. Our results suggest that MG132 and actinomycin D exert different influences upon TNF-alpha-mediated chondrocyte apoptotic signaling.

Aged↗

Sensitivity of RNA synthesis to actinomycin D inhibition is dependent on the frequency of transcription: a mathematical model.

The synthesis of ribosomal RNA is known to be up to 100-fold more sensitive to inhibition by actinomycin D than is messenger RNA. A model is presented here to explain the dose-response kinetics of this inhibition. The basic concept is that on very actively transcribed genes, such as ribosomal DNA, the first bound actinomycin D will sterically affect those densely packed polymerase molecules between it and the promoter, causing them to stack up into the promoter and interfere with the initiation of RNA synthesis. However, on less active genes, where the polymerases are widely spaced, the drug will inhibit individual polymerasas independently and only at the actinomycin blockade. Counteracting these inhibitory effects will be the tendency of genes bound with actinomycin to accumulate additional polymerases. A mathematical model is described which successfully explains previously reported dose-response kinetics of actinomycin inhibition in both frequently and infrequently transcribed genes. The analysis indicates that actinomycin inhibition is dependent on both polymerase packing and on gene size. The dose-response kinetics can be used to estimate both the size and transcriptional efficiency of individual genes. The model is also able to explain several other independent observations regarding the kinetics of inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin.

Dactinomycin↗