4-acetamido-4--isothiocyanatostilbene-2-2--disulfonic-acid and Carcinoma

The environment of cells within solid tumors is known to be acidic relative to that in normal tissue, and the viability of tumor cells may depend on mechanisms which maintain intracellular pH (pHi) above the extracellular pH (pHe). We have assessed therefore the toxicity in vitro of the proton ionophore carbonylcyanide-3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), since this agent has been reported to be capable of transporting H+ equivalent through artificial lipid bilayers and mitochondrial membranes. CCCP was toxic to the human bladder carcinoma cell line MGHU1 and to the murine mammary sarcoma cell line EMT-6 only at pH, less than 6.5. CCCP transported H+ equivalents through cell membranes at physiological (7.35) and low pHc (6.20). Cell lines were found to have steady-state pHi values approximately 0.1 to 0.2 pH units above pHc at pHc less than 6.50. Addition of CCCP led to a decrease in steady-state pHi values as compared to untreated cells at pHc less than 6.50, whereas there was no apparent effect of CCCP on steady-state pHi values at pHc greater than 6.50. The CCCP-induced reduction in steady-state pHi combined with the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation by CCCP appeared to be the major mechanisms leading to cell death at pHc less than 6.50. The toxicity of CCCP under acidic conditions was enhanced by amiloride and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid, agents which are known to inhibit membrane-based ion exchange mechanisms which regulate pHi under acidic conditions. When both agents were combined with CCCP, cell killing was observed at pHc less than 7.30. Our results suggest that mechanisms which regulate pHi under acidic conditions which occur in solid tumors may represent targets for new forms of tumor-specific therapy.

Topics: 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid; 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; Adenosine Triphosphate; Amiloride; Animals; Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone; Carcinoma; Cell Survival; Drug Synergism; Energy Metabolism; Glycolysis; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; Mice; Nigericin; Nitriles; Sarcoma, Experimental; Time Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

The effect of K+ depletion of Hep 2 cells on ion fluxes, internal pH, cell volume, and membrane potential was studied. The cells were depleted of K+ by incubation in K+-free buffer with or without a preceding exposure to hypotonic medium. Efflux of K+ in cells not exposed to hypotonic medium was inhibited by furosemide or by incubation in Na+-free medium, indicating that in this case at least part of the K+ efflux occurs by Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport. After exposure to hypotonic medium, K+ efflux was not inhibited by furosemide, whereas it was partly inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Exposure to hypotonic medium induced acidification of the cytosol, apparently because of efflux of protons from intracellular acidic vesicles. When isotonicity was restored, a rebound alkalinization of the cytosol was induced, because of activation of the Na+/H+ antiporter. While hypotonic shock and a subsequent incubation in K+-free buffer rapidly depolarized the cells, depolarization occurred much more slowly when the K+ depletion was carried out by incubation in K+-free buffer alone. The cell volume was reduced in both cases. K+ depletion by either method strongly reduced the ability of the cells to accumulate 36Cl- by anion antiport, and K+-depleted cells were unable to increase the rate of 36Cl- uptake in response to alkalinization of the cytosol.

Topics: 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid; 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; Anions; Biological Transport; Carcinoma; Cell Line; Chlorides; Cytosol; Furosemide; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hypotonic Solutions; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Membrane Potentials; Potassium; Potassium Deficiency; Radioisotopes