menaquinone-6 and geranylgeraniol

We reported previously that vitamin K(2) selectively induces apoptosis in human ovary cancer cells (TYK-nu cells) and pancreatic cancer cells (MIA PaCa-2 cells) through a mitochondrion-dependent pathway. In the present study, we examined the details of the mechanism of vitamin K(2)-induced apoptosis in TYK-nu cells. We found that superoxide (O(2)(*-)) was produced by TYK-nu cells between 2 and 3 days after the start of treatment with vitamin K(2), whereas it was produced within 30 min after the start of treatment with geranylgeraniol. The vitamin K(2)-induced apoptosis was inhibited by anti-oxidants, such as alpha-tocopherol, Tiron and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Furthermore, both the production of superoxide and the induction of apoptosis by vitamin K(2) were inhibited almost completely by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, suggesting that the synthesis of enzymes for the production of superoxide might be required for these processes. In parallel with the production of superoxide, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, as measured by staining with Mitotracker Red CMXRos, dissipated during treatment of TYK-nu cells with vitamin K(2) for 3 days. The vitamin K(2)-induced depolarization of mitochondrial membranes was completely inhibited by alpha-tocopherol and, to a lesser extent, by Tiron and NAC. Since alpha-tocopherol reacts with oxygen radicals, such as superoxide, within the hydrophobic environment of the mitochondrial membrane, we postulate that vitamin K(2)-induced oxidative stress in mitochondria might damage mitochondrial membranes, with subsequent release of cytochrome c, the activation of procaspase 3 and, eventually, apoptosis.

Topics: 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium Salt; Acetylcysteine; alpha-Tocopherol; Apoptosis; Cycloheximide; Diterpenes; Female; Humans; Membrane Potentials; Mitochondria; Ovarian Neoplasms; Reactive Oxygen Species; Superoxides; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vitamin K 2

We comparatively examined the mechanism by which vitamin K(2) (Menatetrenone, MK4) and its side chain component, geranylgeraniol (GGO), inhibited osteoclast formation in the co-culture system of stromal cells with spleen cells. Both MK4 and GGO inhibited osteoclast formation induced by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)). MK4, but not GGO, inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in the co-culture system. To elucidate the precise mechanism of the inhibitory effect of GGO on osteoclast formation, the co-cultured cells were stimulated with PGE(2). GGO, but not MK4, inhibited osteoclast formation via suppression of the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) expression. Moreover, GGO abolished the disruption of osteoclastic actin rings induced by nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (N-BP), whereas MK4 did not affect it at all. These data suggest that MK4 inhibited osteoclast formation independently of GGO, and that MK4, but not GGO, has no competitive action on the anti-osteoporotic effect of N-BP.

Topics: Animals; Cell Division; Cell Line; Coculture Techniques; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dinoprostone; Diphosphonates; Diterpenes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Isoenzymes; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Osteoclasts; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Protein Subunits; Spleen; Vitamin K 2

It is still not certain what the direct effect of menatetrenone is on osteoclast precursors. In the present study, we investigated whether menatetrenone has a direct effect on circulating osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclast differentiation. Monocytes isolated from human peripheral blood were cultured with receptor-activated NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Menatetrenone or vitamin K1 was then added to the cultures. Geranylgeraniol or phytol (the respective side chain) was also added to the cultures instead of menatetrenone or vitamin K1, respectively. After 7 and 14 days incubation, cultures were evaluated for cytochemical and functional evidence of osteoclast formation. The number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells (MNCs) and the percentage area of lacunar resorption induced by RANKL and M-CSF were decreased when menatetrenone or geranylgeraniol was added to the cultures. Dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclast formation and lacunar resorption was seen when the cultures were treated with menatetrenone or geranylgeraniol. In contrast, vitamin K1 or phytol did not affect the number of TRAP-positive MNCs nor the percentage area of lacunar resorption. These results indicate that menatetrenone not only influences osteoclast formation via bone stromal cells but also acts directly on circulating osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclast differentiation. These findings also suggest that geranylgeraniol, the side chain of menatetrenone, plays an important role in this inhibitory effect.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Antifibrinolytic Agents; Bone Resorption; Cell Count; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Diterpenes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Combinations; Giant Cells; Humans; Isoenzymes; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Osteoclasts; Phytol; Stem Cells; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; Vitamin K 1; Vitamin K 2

Congeners of vitamin K have been found to inhibit growth in various rodent and human tumor cells, but the mechanisms of the inhibitory action are still not well understood. To investigate the modes of actions of vitamin K, we used several vitamin K analogs and examined their cytotoxic effect for human glioma cell lines RBR17T and U251. The analogs included vitamin K1 (VK1), vitamin K2 (VK2), vitamin K3 (VK3), and geranylgeraniol (GGO) which form an unsaturated side chain of VK2. Cell viability was estimated by MTT assay. DNA fragmentation was demonstrated by gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. In order to study the mechanism of apoptosis, we measured the changes of intracellular reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and Fas/APO-1 expression by flow cytometry. The results showed: (1) VK2, VK3, and GGO inhibited cell growth; (2) VK3 had a more potent cytotoxic effect than VK2, and VK3 enhanced the cytotoxic effect of antitumor agents (ACNU and IFN-beta) in RBR17T cells; (3) VK2, VK3, and GGO induce apoptosis: (4) VK3 increased the expression of Fas/APO-1 although VK2 and GGO did not increase its expression in glioma cells; (5) VK3 increased the production of intracellular ROI. Catalase and reduced glutathione (GSH) inhibited production of intracellular ROI and antagonized inhibition of cell-growth induced by VK3, but failed to antagonize that of VK2 and GGO. We hypothesize that VK3 induces apoptosis by promoting the generation of intracellular ROI and Fas/APO-1 expression. On the other hand, VK2 and GGO induce apoptosis but most likely by some other unknown pathway.

Topics: Antifibrinolytic Agents; Apoptosis; Catalase; Cell Division; Cytotoxins; Diterpenes; DNA Fragmentation; fas Receptor; Glioma; Glutathione; Hemostatics; Humans; Peroxides; Reactive Oxygen Species; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vitamin K; Vitamin K 1; Vitamin K 2

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.

Topics: Apoptosis; Bone Marrow; Diterpenes; Drug Synergism; Farnesol; Flow Cytometry; Gefarnate; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Molecular Structure; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vitamin K; Vitamin K 1; Vitamin K 2

Vitamin K is involved in the biosynthesis of a number of blood coagulation factors and bone proteins. It has been suggested that the vitamin K requirement of bone tissue is higher than that of the liver. Here we report that in rats very high doses of vitamin K affected neither the blood coagulation characteristics nor the blood platelet aggregation rate. This was observed for both phylloquinone and menaquinone-4. Both vitamers were also tested for their effects on the arterial thrombosis tendency in the rat aorta loop model. The mean obstruction times were prolonged at a high intake of menaquinone-4 (250 mg/kg body weight/day), and shortened after a similarly high phylloquinone regimen. Since (a) both vitamers only differ in their aliphatic side chains; and (b) a similar trend was observed after administration of phytol and geranylgeraniol, we conclude that the modulation of the arterial thrombosis tendency is accomplished by the side chain of vitamin K.

Topics: Animals; Blood Coagulation; Diet; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Susceptibility; Diterpenes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Male; Phytol; Platelet Aggregation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thrombosis; Vitamin K; Vitamin K 1; Vitamin K 2; Vitamin K Deficiency

Although the effects of vitamin K2 and vitamin K1 on bone metabolism have been reported, the difference between them has not been investigated. We now show the effects of menatetrenone, one of the vitamin K2 homologues, and vitamin K1 on bone resorption. Menatetrenone at greater than 3 x 10(-6) M significantly inhibited the calcium release from mouse calvaria induced by 3 x 10(-10) M of 1,25(OH)2D3 or 10(-7) M of prostaglandin E2, and it also inhibited osteoclast-like multinucleated cell (MNC) formation induced by 10(-8) M of 1,25(OH)2D3 in co-culture of spleen cells and stromal cells at the same concentrations. In contrast, the same doses of vitamin K1 had no effects on bone resorption and MNC formation in these in vitro systems. The inhibitory effect of menatetrenone on the calcium release from calvaria was not affected by the addition of 3 x 10(-5) M of warfarin, an inhibitor of vitamin K cycle. The same concentration of geranylgeraniol, the side-chain component of menatetrenone at the 3-position of the naphthoquinone, inhibited tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) activity and MNC formation to the same degree as menatetrenone. Phytol, the side-chain component of vitamin K1, did not affect TRACP activity at all doses tested, but weakly inhibited MNC formation. Moreover, multi-isoprenyl alcohols of two to seven units, except geranylgeraniol which contains four units, did not effect MNC formation. These findings suggest that the inhibitory effect of menatetrenone on bone resorption is not due to gamma-carboxylation and that the side chain of menatetrenone may play an important role in this inhibitory effect.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Bone Resorption; Calcitriol; Calcium; Cells, Cultured; Dinoprostone; Diterpenes; Giant Cells; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Organ Culture Techniques; Osteoclasts; Phytol; Spleen; Stromal Cells; Structure-Activity Relationship; Vitamin K; Vitamin K 1; Vitamin K 2; Warfarin