cholecalciferol and Leukemia--Myeloid

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the arrest of differentiation leading to the accumulation of immature cells. This maturation arrest can be reversed by certain agents. Although differentiation therapy for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been established, the clinical response of AML patients other than those with APL to ATRA is limited. We must consider novel therapeutic drugs against other forms of AML for the development of a differentiation therapy for leukemia. Regulators that play an important role in the differentiation and development of plants or invertebrates may also affect the differentiation of human leukemia cells through a common signal transduction system, and might be clinically useful for treating AML. Cotylenin A, a plant growth regulator, is a potent and novel inducer of the monocytic differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines and leukemia cells freshly isolated from AML patients.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Differentiation; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Diterpenes; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Drug Synergism; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Mice; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Retinoids; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Successful treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has identified several novel approaches to induce leukemic cell differentiation and selective apoptosis by overcoming the site-specific transcriptional repression by dominant fusion leukemogenic proteins characteristic of APL and other forms of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). These therapeutic approaches include the use of site-specific ligands, receptors and cytokines, disruption of dominant fusion leukemogenic proteins, chromatin remodeling and combining the above with cytotoxic chemotherapy. With the exception of cytotoxic chemotherapy, the above therapeutic strategies do not significantly affect normal hematopoiesis and their combinations have been shown to be synergistic in inducing myeloid differentiation and apoptosis in several AML cell lines and in patients with APL. These approaches are, in general, non-cross resistant and should be well tolerated particularly in elderly patients with AML. Clinical studies which include biologic end points for differentiation induction, histone acetylation and selective apoptosis are presently in development to evaluate these strategies in the treatment of AML.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Butyrates; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Chromatin; Drug Design; Drug Synergism; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Ligands; Mice; Middle Aged; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; Phenylbutyrates; Transcription, Genetic; Translocation, Genetic; Tretinoin

Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Drug Synergism; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Oncogenes; Signal Transduction; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Topics: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Granulocytes; Leukemia, Myeloid; Macrophages; Oncogenes; Peroxidase; Phorbol Esters; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Existing data suggest that normal maturation can sometimes be re-established in leukemia. A number of differentiation-inducing substances have been reported; these include retinoic acid, vitamin D3 and cytokines such as differentiation-inducing factor, tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin. Different agents obviously act by separate mechanisms to provide terminal maturation.

Topics: Binding Sites; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Lymphokines; Lymphotoxin-alpha; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics: Animals; Bone Resorption; Calcitriol; Cell Line; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cholecalciferol; Culture Techniques; Gene Expression Regulation; Granulocytes; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Lymphoma; Mice; Monocytes; Oncogenes; Transcription, Genetic

Studies by several investigators have shown that 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is an extraordinarily potent stimulator of differentiation of cultured human promyelocytic leukemia cells in vitro. In the present study, TPA was administered to humans by i.v. infusion without irreversible toxicity, and it was shown to have pharmacological activity for the treatment of myelocytic leukemia in patients refractory to cytosine arabinoside (Ara C), retinoic acid, and other antileukemic drugs. Marked decreases in bone marrow myeloblasts as well as temporary remission of disease symptoms were observed when TPA was administered alone or in combination with vitamin D3 and Ara C. Additional studies with TPA after the determination of optimum dosing regimens are needed to determine whether long-lasting or permanent remissions of myelocytic leukemia can be achieved. Transient and reversible side effects were observed after a 1-mg i.v. dose of TPA, but these adverse effects became less intense or disappeared when a lower dose of TPA was used. The results of this study indicate a therapeutic effect of TPA in patients with myelocytic leukemia.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Cholecalciferol; Cytarabine; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Middle Aged; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) are key proteins for hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and for survival of differentiating progenitor cells. However, their specific role in myeloid cell maturation has been poorly investigated. Here we show that ADAR1 is present at basal level in the primary myeloid leukemia cells obtained from patients at diagnosis as well as in myeloid U-937 and THP1 cell lines and its expression correlates with the editing levels. Upon phorbol-myristate acetate or Vitamin D3/granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-driven differentiation, both ADAR1 and ADAR2 enzymes are upregulated, with a concomitant global increase of A-to-I RNA editing. ADAR1 silencing caused an editing decrease at specific ADAR1 target genes, without, however, interfering with cell differentiation or with ADAR2 activity. Remarkably, ADAR2 is absent in the undifferentiated cell stage, due to its elimination through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, being strongly upregulated at the end of the differentiation process. Of note, peripheral blood monocytes display editing events at the selected targets similar to those found in differentiated cell lines. Taken together, the data indicate that ADAR enzymes play important and distinct roles in myeloid cells.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholecalciferol; Cluster Analysis; Computational Biology; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Gene Ontology; Gene Silencing; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Neoplasm Grading; RNA Editing; RNA-Binding Proteins; Transcriptome

The active form of vitamin D(3), 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)], is a potent ligand for the nuclear receptor vitamin D receptor (VDR) and induces myeloid leukemia cell differentiation. The cardiotonic steroid bufalin enhances vitamin D-induced differentiation of leukemia cells and VDR transactivation activity. In this study, we examined the combined effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and bufalin on differentiation and VDR target gene expression in human leukemia cells. Bufalin in combination with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) enhanced the expression of VDR target genes, such as CYP24A1 and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, and effectively induced differentiation phenotypes. An inhibitor of the Erk mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway partially inhibited bufalin induction of VDR target gene expression. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) treatment induced transient nuclear expression of VDR in HL60 cells. Interestingly, bufalin enhanced 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced nuclear VDR expression. The MAP kinase pathway inhibitor increased nuclear VDR expression induced by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and did not change that by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) plus bufalin. A proteasome inhibitor also enhanced 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced CYP24A1 expression and nuclear VDR expression. Bufalin-induced nuclear VDR expression was associated with histone acetylation and VDR recruitment to the CYP24A1 promoter in HL60 cells. Thus, the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibitor bufalin modulates VDR function through several mechanisms, including Erk MAP kinase activation and increased nuclear VDR expression.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bufanolides; Cardiac Glycosides; Cell Differentiation; Cell Nucleus; Cholecalciferol; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Receptors, Calcitriol; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; Steroid Hydroxylases; Transcriptional Activation; Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase

Vitamin D3 causes potent suppression of various cancer cells; however, significant supraphysiological concentrations of this compound are required for antineoplastic effects. Current combinatorial therapies with vitamin D3 are restricted to differentiation effects. It remains uncertain if autophagy is involved in vitamin D3 inhibition on leukemia cells. Here we show that besides triggering differentiation and inhibiting apoptosis, which was previously known, vitamin D3 triggers autophagic death in human myeloid leukemia cells. Inhibiting differentiation does not efficiently diminish vitamin D3 suppression on leukemia cells. Vitamin D3 up-regulates Beclin1, which binds to class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to trigger autophagy. Vitamin D3 phosphorylates Bad in its BH3 domain, resulting in disassociation of the apoptotic Bad-Bcl-xL complex and association of Bcl-xL with Beclin1 and ultimate suppression of apoptotic signaling. Knockdown of Beclin1 eliminates vitamin D3-induced autophagy and inhibits differentiation but activates apoptosis, suggesting that Beclin1 is required for both autophagy and differentiation, and autophagy cooperates with differentiation but excludes apoptosis, in which Beclin1 acts as an interface for these three different cascades. Moreover, additional up-regulation of autophagy, but not apoptosis, dramatically improves vitamin D3 inhibition on leukemia cells. These findings extend our understanding of the action of vitamin D3 in antineoplastic effects and the role of Beclin1 in regulating multiple cellular cascades and suggest a potentially promising strategy with a significantly better antileukemia effect.

Topics: Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Autophagy; Beclin-1; Cell Communication; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholecalciferol; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Membrane Proteins; Models, Biological; Signal Transduction; Time Factors

Beclin 1 is a critical component in the class III PI3 kinase complex (PI3KC3) that induces the formation of autophagosomes in mammalian systems. Autophagic triggers upregulate Beclin 1, which in turn binds to PI3KC3 or Bcl-X(L) to form complexes of Beclin 1-PI3KC3 or Beclin 1-Bcl-X(L) that are physically and functionally independent from each other. Contrary to the previous observations that Beclin 1 binding to Bcl-2 family members is apoptotic and antiautophagic, we found that autophagic trigger-induced Beclin 1-binding to Bcl-X(L) is antiapoptotic and has no effect on autophagy, suggesting a convertible role of the Beclin 1-Bcl-X(L) complex in response to autophagy stimuli. Both autophagy and differentiation cascades require upregulation of Beclin 1. While the basal Beclin 1 level does not cause autophagy or differentiation, depletion of Beclin 1 cripples both autophagy and differentiation capabilities, but activates apoptosis. These results demonstrate that Beclin 1 is essential for autophagy, differentiation and antiapoptosis, and may play an important role in coordinating inputs for cellular decisions to signaling machinery that mediates different cellular cascades.

Topics: Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Autophagy; bcl-X Protein; Beclin-1; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Membrane Proteins; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; RNA, Small Interfering

1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). However, toxicity of hypercalcemia has limited the use of 1,25(OH)2D3 in clinical trials. We have evaluated 11 synthesized vitamin D3 analogs for their ability to inhibit clonal growth of HL-60 myeloid leukemic cells. Among the 11 vitamin D3 analogs, HY-11 (code name) showed the most potent antileukemic activity with 2.5x10(-6) M of IC50, however, it did not affect the cellular growth of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells until 10(-6) M. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that HY-11 induced the G1 arrest in a dose-dependent manner, which was mediated via inactivation of CDK4 and CDK6 in association with up-regulation of CDKI (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor), p27 and Rb protein. Induction of apoptosis was mediated via caspase-3 pathway in HY-11-treated HL-60. In addition, HY-11 enhanced the expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta receptor type I and II and vitamin D3 receptor (VDR). VDR expression was increased by TGF-beta1, suggesting that TGF-beta1 might be involved in the antiproliferative effect of HY-11 on HL-60 cells by autocrine and paracrine regulation. Serum calcium levels were within normal limit when HY-11 was given intraperitoneally (i.p.) every other day for 5 weeks to BALB/c mice at the doses of 10(-7), 10(-6)and 10(-5) M. HY-11 inhibited the growth of WEHI-3BD+ mouse leukemic cells in vitro, and syngeneic BALB/c mice that received WEHI-3BD+ mouse leukemic cells and HY-11 had a significantly longer survival without producing hypercalcemia compared to control group. In summary, HY-11 is a vitamin D3 analog that inhibited the proliferation of human AML cell line, HL-60, through induction of cell cycle arrest, triggering apoptosis as well as modulation of TGF-beta1 and its receptors. In particular, HY-11 significantly increased the survival of mice that had myeloid leukemia without producing hypercalcemia.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Calcium; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cholecalciferol; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Models, Chemical; Neoplasm Transplantation

Natural killer (NK) cells are potent effectors of innate antitumor defense and are currently exploited for immune-based therapy of human leukemia. However, malignant blood cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) display low levels of ligands for the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and can thus evade NK immunosurveillance. We examined the possibility of up-regulating NKG2D-specific UL16-binding protein (ULBP) ligands using anti-neoplastic compounds with myeloid differentiation potential. Combinations of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, trichostatin A, vitamin D3, bryostatin-1, and all-trans-retinoic acid, used together with myeloid growth factors and interferon-gamma, increased cell surface ULBP expression up to 10-fold in the AML cell line HL60 and in primary AML blasts. Up-regulation of ULBP ligands was associated with induction of myelomonocytic differentiation of AML cells. Higher ULBP expression increased NKG2D-dependent sensitivity of HL60 cells to NK-mediated killing. These findings identify NKG2D ligands as targets of leukemia differentiation therapy and suggest a clinical benefit in combining a pharmacological approach with NK cell-based immunotherapy in AML.

Topics: Acute Disease; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Azacitidine; Bryostatins; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholecalciferol; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Decitabine; Flow Cytometry; GPI-Linked Proteins; Humans; Hydroxamic Acids; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Killer Cells, Natural; Leukemia, Myeloid; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tretinoin; Up-Regulation

1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D(3)) is a powerful differentiation agent, which has potential for treatment of myeloid leukemias and other types of cancer, but the calcemia produced by pharmacologically active doses precludes the use of this agent in the clinic. We have shown that carnosic acid, the major rosemary polyphenol, enhances the differentiating and antiproliferative effects of low concentrations of 1,25D(3) in human myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL60, U937). Here we translated these findings to in vivo conditions using a syngeneic mouse leukemia tumor model. To this end, we first demonstrated that as in HL60 cells, differentiation of WEHI-3B D(-) murine myelomonocytic leukemia cells induced by 1 nM 1,25D(3) or its low-calcemic analog, 1,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-5,6-trans-cholecalciferol (Ro25-4020), can be synergistically potentiated by carnosic acid (10 microM) or the carnosic acid-rich ethanolic extract of rosemary leaves. This effect was accompanied by cell cycle arrest in G0 + G1 phase and a marked inhibition of cell growth. In the in vivo studies, i.p. injections of 2 microg Ro25-4020 in Balb/c mice bearing WEHI-3B D(-) tumors produced a significant delay in tumor appearance and reduction in tumor size, without significant toxicity. Another analog, 1,25-dihydroxy-16,23Z-diene-20-epi-26,27-hexafluoro-19-nor-cholecalciferol (Ro26-3884) administered at the same dose was less effective than Ro25-4020 and profoundly toxic. Importantly, combined treatment with 1% dry rosemary extract (mixed with food) and 1 microg Ro25-4020 resulted in a strong cooperative antitumor effect, without inducing hypercalcemia. These results indicate for the first time that a plant polyphenolic preparation and a vitamin D derivative can cooperate not only in inducing leukemia cell differentiation in vitro, but also in the antileukemic activity in vivo. These data may suggest novel protocols for chemoprevention or differentiation therapy of myeloid leukemia.

Topics: Abietanes; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Calcium; Cholecalciferol; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Flavonoids; Leukemia, Experimental; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Plant Preparations; Polyphenols; Rosmarinus; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The AML1/ETO and PML/RARalpha leukemia fusion proteins induce acute myeloid leukemia by acting as transcriptional repressors. They interact with corepressors, such as N-CoR and SMRT, that recruit a multiprotein complex containing histone deacetylases on crucial myeloid differentiation genes. This leads to gene repression contributing to generate a differentiation block. We expressed in leukemia cells containing PML/RARalpha and AML1/ETO N-CoR protein fragments derived from fusion protein/corepressor interaction surfaces. This blocks N-CoR/SMRT binding by these fusion proteins, and disrupts the repressor protein complex. In consequence, the expression of genes repressed by these fusion proteins increases and differentiation response to vitamin D3 and retinoic acid is restored in previously resistant cells. The alteration of PML/RARalpha-N-CoR/SMRT connections triggers proteasomal degradation of the fusion protein. The N-CoR fragments are biologically effective also when directly transduced by virtue of a protein transduction domain. Our data indicate that fusion protein activity is permanently required to maintain the leukemia phenotype and show the route to developing a novel therapeutic approach for leukemia, based on its molecular pathogenesis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholecalciferol; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Neoplasm Proteins; Nuclear Proteins; Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 1; Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; Peptides; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Repressor Proteins; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; Transcription Factors; Tretinoin

The translocation t(8;21) yields the leukemic fusion gene AML1/MTG8 and is associated with 10%-15% of all de novo cases of acute myeloid leukemia. We demonstrate the efficient and specific suppression of AML1/MTG8 by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in the human leukemic cell lines Kasumi-1 and SKNO-1. siRNAs targeted against the fusion site of the AML1/MTG8 mRNA reduce the levels of AML1/MTG8 without affecting the amount of wild-type AML1. These data argue against a transitive RNA interference mechanism potentially induced by siRNAs in such leukemic cells. Depletion of AML1/MTG8 correlates with an increased susceptibility of both Kasumi-1 and SKNO-1 cells to tumor growth factor beta(1) (TGF beta(1))/vitamin D(3)-induced differentiation, leading to increased expression of CD11b, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) receptor, and C/EBP alpha (CAAT/enhancer binding protein). Moreover, siRNA-mediated AML1/MTG8 suppression results in changes in cell shape and, in combination with TGF beta(1)/vitamin D(3), severely reduces clonogenicity of Kasumi-1 cells. These results suggest an important role for AML1/MTG8 in preventing differentiation, thereby propagating leukemic blast cells. Therefore, siRNAs are promising tools for a functional analysis of AML1/MTG8 and may be used in a molecularly defined therapeutic approach for t(8;21)-positive leukemia.

Topics: Acute Disease; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; CD11b Antigen; Cell Differentiation; Cell Size; Cholecalciferol; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; Drug Design; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Neoplasm Proteins; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; RNA Interference; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Small Interfering; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; Transcription Factors; Transfection; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Translocation, Genetic; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Stem Cell Assay

We searched for genes with expressions specific to human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) using differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and found that N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), a member of a new family of differentiation-related genes, was expressed in DCs. While DCs derived from CD34(+) progenitor cells also showed strong NDRG2 expression, the corresponding mRNA expression was absent in other cell lines including monocytes, B cells, and NK cells. The inhibition of DC differentiation by dexamethasone or vitamin D(3) treatment down-regulated the expression of the NDRG2 gene in DCs. In addition, gene expression was induced in a myelomonocytic leukemia cell line, which is capable of differentiating into DCs in cytokine-conditioned culture. The level of NDRG2 gene expression in DCs was significantly higher than that of other members of the NDRG gene family. Finally, in contrast to the stable NDRG2 expression in CD40-stimulated DCs, the induction of DC maturation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in the down-regulation of NDRG2 gene expression. This down-regulation is likely to be due to a modification and subsequent destabilization of NDRG2 mRNA, because co-treating with actinomycin D and LPS significantly blocked this LPS effect. Taken together, our results indicate that NDRG2 is expressed during the differentiation of DCs, and that NDRG2 gene expression is differentially regulated by maturation-inducing stimuli.

Topics: Antigens, CD34; CD40 Antigens; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Cytokines; Dactinomycin; Dendritic Cells; Dexamethasone; Down-Regulation; Erythroid Precursor Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Lipopolysaccharides; Monocytes; Proteins; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-associated chromosomal translocations result in formation of chimeric transcription factors, such as PML/RARalpha, PLZF/RARalpha, and AML-1/ETO, of which the components are involved in regulation of transcription by chromatin modeling through histone acetylation/deacetylation. The leukemic differentiation block is attributed to deregulated transcription caused by these chimeric fusion proteins, which aberrantly recruit histone-deacetylase (HDAC) activity. One essential differentiation pathway blocked by the leukemic fusion proteins is the vitamin (Vit) D(3) signaling. Here we investigated the mechanisms by which the leukemic fusion proteins interfere with VitD(3)-induced differentiation. The VitD(3)-receptor (VDR) is, like the retinoid receptors RAR, retinoid X receptor, and the thyroid hormone receptor (TR), a ligand-inducible transcription factor. In the absence of ligand, the transcriptional activity of TR and RAR is silenced by recruitment of HDAC activity through binding to corepressors. In the presence of ligand, TR and RAR activate transcription by releasing HDAC activity and by recruiting histone-acetyltransferase activity. Here we report that VDR binds corepressors in a ligand-dependent manner and that inhibition of HDAC activity increases VitD(3) sensitivity of HL-60 cells. Nevertheless, the inhibition of HDAC activity is unable to overcome the block of VitD(3)-induced differentiation caused by PLZF/RARalpha expression. Here we demonstrate that the expression of the translocation products PML/RARalpha and PLZF/RARalpha impairs the localization of VDR in the nucleus by binding to VDR. Furthermore, the overexpression of VDR in U937 cells expressing AML-related translocation products completely abolishes the block of VitD(3)-induced differentiation. Taken together these data indicate that the AML-associated translocation products block differentiation not only by interfering with chromatin-modeling but also by sequestering factors involved in the differentiation signaling pathways, such as VDR in the VitD(3)-induced differentiation.

Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Histone Deacetylases; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Neoplasm Proteins; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Receptors, Calcitriol; Receptors, Retinoic Acid; Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors; Transfection; Translocation, Genetic; Tretinoin

The seco-steroid hormone, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of malignant cells including those of the hematopoietic system. The 24-oxo metabolite of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) also has prominent antiproliferative activities against various cancer cells. We chemically synthesized five novel 24-oxo vitamin D(3) analogues and evaluated their abilities both to inhibit clonal growth and induce differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells and to cause hypercalcemia. The 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)-16-ene-D(3)] and 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-19-nor-D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)-16-ene-19-nor-D(3)] and their 24-oxo metabolites showed greater potency than 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in their abilities to inhibit clonal proliferation of HL-60, NB4, and U937 leukemic cell lines as measured by methylcellulose soft-gel assay. Their inhibition of clonal growth was irreversible as analyzed by pulse exposure studies. The synthetic analogues also had greater potency than 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) to induce differentiation of HL-60 and NB4 cells as measured by generation of superoxide, nonspecific esterase production, and induction of CD11b and CD14 cell surface antigens and to increase the proportion of these cells in the G(0)-G(1) phase of the cell cycle. For most assays, the 24-oxo metabolite was slightly more potent than the unmodified analogue, and 50% activity was usually found in the nanomolar range. These analogues and their 24-oxo metabolites also inhibited fresh leukemic cell clonal proliferation. Expression of p27(KIP1), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that plays an important role in blocking the cell cycle, was found by Western blot analysis to be induced by the analogues and their 24-oxo metabolites in both HL-60 and U937 cells, suggesting a possible mechanism by which these analogues inhibit leukemic growth. Notably, the calcemic activity tested by injections of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-24-oxo-19-nor-D(3) in mice was at least 12-fold less than 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-16-ene-19-nor-D(3). Taken together, chemically synthesized 24-oxo metabolites of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-16-ene-D(3) and 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-16-ene-19-nor-D(3) irreversibly inhibited proliferation and induced differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells with minimal toxicity; these compounds may have a role in the maintenance phase of therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Topics: Calcium; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; Cyclins; Dihydroxycholecalciferols; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Growth Inhibitors; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] is the physiologically active form of vitamin D3 that inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of a variety of malignant cells. We evaluated a newly synthesized vitamin D3 analogue [1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 (Ro 25-4020)] that has a novel 5,6-trans motif. Dose-response studies showed that 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 had 10-100-fold greater antiproliferative activities than 1,25(OH)2D3 when measuring clonal growth of breast (MCF-7) and prostate (LNCaP) cancer cell lines as well as a myeloid leukemia cell line (HL-60). Because the chief toxicity of vitamin D3 is hypercalcemia, we examined the calcemic activity of 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 in mice. Remarkably, 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 was at least 40-fold less calcemic as compared with 1,25(OH)2D3 and 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-D3 (Ro 24-2637). To explore the mechanism by which the 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 analogue mediated its antiproliferative activity, several studies were performed. Pulse-exposure studies showed that a 4-day pulse exposure to 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 (10(-7) M) in liquid culture was adequate to achieve a 40% inhibition of MCF-7 clonal growth in the absence of the analogue, suggesting that the growth inhibition mediated by 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 was at least in part irreversible. Cell cycle studies showed that 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 increased the proportion of MCF-7 cells in the G0-G1 phase and decreased those in the S phase. Furthermore, 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 induced an elevated expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21waf1 and p27kip1. In addition, 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3 almost completely inhibited telomerase activity, as measured by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA. For each of the growth-related parameters that were examined, the vitamin D3 analogue was more active than 1,25(OH)2D3. In contrast, 1,25(OH)2D3 was more calcemic than 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3. In summary, 1,25(OH)2-16-ene-5,6-trans-D3, having a novel 5,6-trans motif, strongly inhibited clonal proliferation and reduced telomerase activity with low calcemic activity, suggesting further testing in in vivo cancer models. This analogue may gain a therapeutic niche for selected malignancies.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Mice; Prostatic Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The object of this study was to investigate the antineoplastic action of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA) in combination with vitamin D analogs on HL-60 and NB-4 myeloid leukemic cells. The vitamin D analogs chosen for this investigation were 1,25-(OH)2-23-yne-cholecalciferol (23-D) and 1,25-(OH)2-delta16-23-yne-cholecalciferol (16-23-D) since they have the potential to be used clinically owing to their minimal action on calcium metabolism.. HL-60 and NB-4 leukemic cells were incubated with different concentrations of 5-AZA and either 23-D or 16-23-D and their antineoplastic action determined by inhibition of DNA synthesis and growth, induction of differentiation and colony assay.. 5-AZA in combination with either vitamin D analog produced a greater growth inhibition and induction of differentiation than either agent alone. For HL-60 leukemic cells the combination of 5-AZA with either analog produced a synergistic loss of clonogenicity. These effects on clonogenicity correlated with the effects of the combination on inhibition of growth and DNA synthesis.. These results suggest that vitamin D analogs may enhance the antileukemic action of 5-AZA and that it may be interesting to test these agents in combination in patients with myeloid leukemia.

Topics: Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Azacitidine; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Decitabine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; HL-60 Cells; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Leukemia, Myeloid

The WEHI-3B D+ leukemia is a near-diploid differentiation-competent cell line that undergoes myeloid differentiation in response to retinoic acid. WEHI-3B D- cells, derived from WEHI-3B D+ cells, are near tetraploid and not responsive to the differentiation-inducing properties of the retinoid. To gain information on mechanisms that regulate the maturation of these two cell lines, several multiploid cell lines have been established through fusion of WEHI-3B D+ and WEHI-3B D- cells. Studies with the multiploid cell lines have shown that (a) the cellular growth rate decreases with increased DNA ploidy; (b) near-tetraploid D+/+ cells, obtained by fusing WEHI-3B D+ with WEHI-3B D+ cells, remain differentiation-competent, demonstrating that no direct relationship exists between differentiation competency and DNA ploidy; and (c) near-hexaploid D +/- and D -/+ cells, formed by fusion of WEHI-3B D+ with WEHI-3B D- cells, do not respond to differentiation inducers, suggesting the inhibition of the differentiation machinery of WEHI-3B D+ cells by components from maturation-incompetent WEHI-3B D- cells. The scl transcription factor gene is expressed in WEHI-3B D- cells and is absent in WEHI-3B D+ cells. Overexpression of scl by transfection of scl cDNA in WEHI-3B D+ cells markedly decreased the capacity of retinoic acid to induce differentiation, suggesting that scl functions as a repressor of differentiation in WEHI-3B cell lines.

Topics: Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Fusion; Cell Size; Cholecalciferol; Diploidy; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gene Expression; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Leukemia, Myeloid; Lithium Chloride; Mice; Polyploidy; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Neoplasm; T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1; Transcription Factors; Transfection; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

In a liquid culture system, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), alone and in combination with dihydroxylated vitamin D3 (D3) or alpha interferon (alphaIFN) at concentrations achievable in vivo, could significantly suppress the maintenance of non-promyelocytic myeloid leukemia clonogenic cells (CFU-L) in 9/20, 9/18 and 7/11 cases, respectively. That suppression was counteracted only slightly by the addition of 'stem cell factor', a cytokine which promotes CFU-L expansion in vitro. Differentiated cells slightly increased in 5/17 cases only, suggesting the prevalence of anti-proliferative rather than differentiating mechanisms. The present results extend our previous ones and suggest the possible therapeutical value of ATRA+D3 or alphaIFN, even in cases of non-promyelocytic myeloid leukemia.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Humans; Interferon alpha-2; Interferon-alpha; Leukemia, Myeloid; Middle Aged; Recombinant Proteins; Stem Cell Factor; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The TAL-1 gene specifies a basic helix-loop-helix domain (bHLH) transcription factor, which heterodimerizes with E2A gene family proteins. tal-1 protein is abnormally expressed in the majority of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALLs). tal-1 is expressed and plays a significant role in normal erythropoietic differentiation and maturation, while its expression in early myeloid differentiation is abruptly shut off at the level of late progenitors/early differentiated precursors (G. L. Condorelli, L. Vitelli, M. Valtieri, I. Marta, E. Montesoro, V. Lulli, R. Baer, and C. Peschle, Blood 86:164-175, 1995). We show that in late myeloid progenitors (the phenotypically normal murine 32D cell line) and early leukemic precursors (the human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line) ectopic tal-1 expression induces (i) a proliferative effect under suboptimal culture conditions (i.e., low growth factor and serum concentrations respectively), via an antiapoptotic effect in 32D cells or increased DNA synthesis in HL-60 cells, and (ii) a total or marked inhibitory effect on differentiation, respectively, on granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced granulopoiesis in 32D cells or retinoic acid- and vitamin D3-induced granulo- and monocytopoiesis in HL-60 cells. Furthermore, experiments with 32D temperature-sensitive p53 cells indicate that aberrant tal-1 expression at the permissive temperature does not exert a proliferative effect but causes p53-mediated apoptosis, i.e., the tal-1 proliferative effect depends on the integrity of the cell cycle checkpoints of the host cell, as observed for c-myc and other oncogenes. tal-1 mutant experiments indicate that ectopic tal-1 effects are mediated by both the DNA-binding and the heterodimerization domains, while the N-terminally truncated tal-1 variant (M3) expressed in T-ALL malignant cells mimics the effects of the wild-type protein. Altogether, our results (i) indicate proliferative and antidifferentiative effects of ectopic tal-1 expression, (ii) shed light on the underlying mechanisms (i.e., requirement for the integrity of the tal-1 bHLH domain and cell cycle checkpoints in the host cell, particularly p53), and (iii) provide new experimental models to further investigate these mechanisms.

Topics: Apoptosis; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; DNA-Binding Proteins; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Interleukin-3; Leukemia, Myeloid; Phenotype; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1; Transcription Factors; Tretinoin

Epidemiological studies have provided evidence that diets rich in antioxidant nutrients may reduce the risk of cancer. To evaluate the possibility that dietary phytochemicals with antioxidant potential would create an environment capable of affecting the differentiation of HL-60 leukemia cells, we measured the effects of vitamin E and other dietary antioxidants on the differentiation produced by low levels of vitamin D3 and analogs thereof. Vitamin E succinate and other antioxidant compounds (ie butylated hydroxyanisole, beta-carotene and lipoic acid) used alone had no significant effect on the differentiation of HL-60 cells; however, these agents markedly increased the differentiation produced by vitamin D3. Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that a sequence-specific antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide to the Rel A subunit of NF-kappaB enhanced the differentiation of HL-60 cells produced by several inducing agents. Consistent with these observations, vitamin E succinate caused a marked reduction in the nuclear content of NF-kappaB both in the presence and absence of vitamin D3. These findings suggest that NF-kappaB may be a factor in regulating the differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. The results also indicate that combinations of vitamin D3 and analogs thereof with dietary antioxidants may be useful in overcoming the differentiation block present in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Topics: Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Butylated Hydroxyanisole; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; NF-kappa B; Thioctic Acid; Vitamin E

Angelmicin B is a new microbial substance which inhibits src tyrosine kinase activity and oncogenic signal transduction. We investigated the effect of angelmicin B on the proliferation and differentiation of the HL-60 human myeloid leukemia cell line. Angelmicin B caused the dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of differentiation along the myelomonocytic pathway, as determined by morphological changes, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction, and non-specific esterase and lysozyme activities at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 microgram/ml. Also, it induced significantly the differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cells. A similar concentration of angelmicin B inhibited the growth of the myeloid leukemia cell lines K562, HEL, KU812, ML-1, U937 and THP-1, but did not induce differentiation of these cells significantly. The differentiation of HL-60 cells was enhanced by combined treatment with angelmicin B and 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3), retinoic acid or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). Angelmicin analogs (A1, A2, B, C and D) had almost equivalent effects on the differentiation of HL-60 cells, although angelmicins C and D inhibited src tyrosine kinase activity less than the other analogs. The effective concentrations of angelmicin B in src kinase inactivation was about 100-fold higher than those required for the growth inhibition and differentiation induction. These findings indicate that the differentiation-inducing activity of angelmicins is not associated with their src kinase-inhibiting activity, and may be associated with the modulation of other signal pathway(s).

Topics: Animals; Anthraquinones; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mice; Monocytes; Nitroblue Tetrazolium; Oncogenes; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Signal Transduction; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Four vitamin D3 analogues, 1 alpha,24(S)- and 1 alpha,24(R)-dihydroxy-22-oxavitamin D3 (5 and 6) and their 20(R)-epimers (7 and 8) were synthesized from the 20(S)-alcohol (10). In tests of activity to induce differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60) to macrophages, 5 showed comparable activity to 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-22-oxavitamin D3 (OCT) (2), and the other three analogues (6, 7 and 8) were less active than OCT (2). The binding properties of these analogues to the chick embryonic intestinal 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1) receptor were evaluated. Furthermore, 20(R)-OCT (9) was synthesized and its biological properties were compared with those of OCT(2) and the 20(R)-epimers (7 and 8).

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Calcitriol; Cell Differentiation; Chick Embryo; Cholecalciferol; Humans; Isomerism; Leukemia, Myeloid; Macrophages; Receptors, Calcitriol; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Annexin VIII is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein with anticoagulant activity. Annexin VIII mRNA was found to be specifically expressed in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells; it was not found in other types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) nor in lymphoid malignancies. Using Northern blot analysis we investigated annexin VIII expression in 142 continuous human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines at the mRNA level. While the only APL cell line, NB-4, was indeed positive, other cell lines also displayed annexin VIII mRNA: 4/22 myeloid cell lines, 8/23 monocytic cell lines, 2/8 megakaryoblastic cell lines, 5/26 lymphoma-derived cell lines, 2/10 myeloma cell lines and 1/44 lymphoid leukemia cell lines. The strongest expression was seen in NB-4 and in the Hodgkin's disease derived cell line HDLM-2. Treatment of NB-4 cells with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or the phorbol ester TPA induced terminal differentiation and down-regulated annexin VIII mRNA expression rapidly within a few hours; vitamin D3 was ineffective in this regard; the protein kinase C activator Bryostatin 1 up-regulated the expression. A panel of initially negative cell lines could not be induced by any of these biomodulators to transcribe annexin VIII. The half-life (T1/2) of annexin VIII mRNA was about 3-4 h using actinomycin D as transcription inhibitor. Treatment with ATRA or TPA prior to exposure to actinomycin shortened the T1/2 to 2 h while Bryostatin 1 extended it to 6h. As 21/141 non-APL cell lines were positive, annexin VIII cannot be used as a marker gene for APL cells; however, it might be associated with myelomonocytic or erythro-megakaryoblastic precursor cells. Annexin VIII gene expression might play a unique role in the proliferation and/or differentiation of leukemic cells and could be associated with the particular abnormal hemostasis of some leukemias.

Topics: Annexins; Blotting, Northern; Bryostatins; Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Dactinomycin; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Half-Life; Humans; Lactones; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Lymphoma; Macrolides; RNA, Messenger; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Twenty-seven novel nucleobases and nucleosides were synthesized by structural modification of uracil, and their effects on growth and differentiation of human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells were examined. Some of the compounds inhibited the growth of HL-60 effectively. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-reducing activities of cells treated with the concentrations of these compounds for 50% inhibition of growth were compared. TI-66 (2,4-dibenzyl-6-fluoro-7,7,8,8-tetramethyl-cis-2,4-diazabicyclo-[4.2.0] octane-3,5-dione) was the most effective inducer of NBT-reducing activity and morphological differentiation of HL-60 cells into cells of the myelomonocytic lineage. TI-66 was also effective for induction of differentiation of another human myelogenous leukemia cell line, ML-1 cells, but not for differentiation of human erythroid leukemia K562 or HEL cells, or monocytic U937 cells. The effect of TI-66 in inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells was additive or more than additive in combination with retinoic acid or vitamin D3. Adenine or hypoxanthine alone induced NBT-reducing activity of the cells, and at suboptimal concentrations these compounds enhanced the effect of TI-66, but the enhanced NBT-reducing activities did not exceed the maximal activity induced by TI-66 alone. Simultaneous treatment of HL-60 cells with hypoxanthine reduced the growth inhibition by TI-66 alone. TI-66 was about 150 times more potent on a molar basis than adenine in inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells. These results suggest that nucleobase analogs such as TI-66 should be useful for differentiation therapy of some types of myelogenous leukemia.

Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Uracil

The role of CD11/CD18 leukocyte adhesion molecules and their ligands in mediating non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted lymphocyte cytotoxicity is controversial. In order to examine the role of target cell intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54), a ligand of lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1) (CD11a/CD18), we exposed the human leukemia cell line, HL-60, to a variety of agents implicated in modulating ICAM-1 expression and/or sensitivity to lymphocyte cytolysis. Exposure of HL-60 cells to retinoic acid (RA), interferon (IFN)-alpha, IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma induced protection from lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cytolysis. Only RA and IFN-gamma induced ICAM-1 expression. Tumor necrosis factor and vitamin D3, which also induced ICAM-1 expression, increased HL-60 sensitivity to LAK lysis. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor also increased sensitivity to LAK lysis; ICAM-1 was not induced. The state of cellular differentiation and expression of class I and II MHC antigens also did not correlate with sensitivity to LAK cytolysis. Exposure of untreated HL-60 cells and HL-60 cells expressing ICAM-1 to monoclonal antibody (mAb) versus ICAM-1 did not modulate LAK sensitivity. Exposure of LAK cells to mAb versus LFA-1 partially inhibited cytolysis; mAb versus CD18 inhibited cytolysis more completely. HL-60 cells were resistant to natural killer lysis; exposure to the various experimental agents did not alter sensitivity. We conclude that leukemic cell sensitivity to LAK cytolysis can be modulated by a variety of agents. Although our results suggest a role for leukocyte CD11/CD18 adhesion molecules in LAK cytolysis, the poor correlation between ICAM-1 expression and sensitivity to LAK lysis suggest that interactions other than LFA-1/ICAM-1 conjugation may be more central to the processes involved.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cell Death; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Membrane; Cholecalciferol; Flow Cytometry; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Interferon-alpha; Interferon-beta; Interferon-gamma; Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated; Leukemia, Myeloid; Lymphocytes; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Retinoic acid, vitamin D3, and dexamethasone are known inducers of myeloid leukemic cell differentiation. Recent evidence indicates that these drugs mediate their biological effects through binding to a nuclear receptor which belongs to the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily. This paper shows that the ligands of the other receptors of this family, estrogens, progesterone, androgens and thyroid hormone, do not induce leukemic cell differentiation. However, thyroid hormone potentiates, by one order of magnitude, the dose-response effect of retinoic acid in HL-60 cells.

Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cholecalciferol; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Granulocytes; Humans; Leukemia, Experimental; Leukemia, Myeloid; Oxygen; Stimulation, Chemical; Thyroid Hormones; Tretinoin; Triiodothyronine; Tumor Cells, Cultured

We have examined the efficacy of various drugs in 44 patients with MDS and found the different effectiveness which depends on the type of MDS. Namely, RA appears to respond to steroid hormone, androgen, and/or vitamin D3, regardless of single or combined use. In particular, it is obvious in androgen, and as our previous reports, high content of acidic ferritin in RBC with RA have changed to more basic ones by treatment with androgen. On the contrary, these drugs were not effective on RAEB, RAEB-T, and CMML. A long-term observation is needed to determine whether the prolonged or decreased occurrence of leukemia could be obtained in the effective cases with RA. Most of the cases who did not develop overt leukemia during this study died of bleeding or infections due to thrombocytopenia or leukocytopenia, thus indicating that supportive therapies are important in patients with MDS. Since it has recently been reported that recombinant G-CSF or GM-CSF is helpful to increase the number of leucocyte and to enhance their functional recovery in MDS, these factors may be powerful agents against infections when they are carefully used with regard to the activation of leukemic clones.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Androgens; Anemia, Refractory; Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts; Blast Crisis; Cholecalciferol; Chromosome Aberrations; Cytarabine; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Middle Aged; Preleukemia; Prognosis

Singlet oxygen adducts of various vitamin D derivatives, 6,19-dihydro-6,19-epidioxyvitamin D (vitamin D endoperoxides, 2 and 2'), were chemically synthesized, and their biological activity in inducing differentiation of a human myeloid leukemia cell line (HL-60 cells) was examined. The potency of the endoperoxides derived from vitamin D derivatives possessing the 1 alpha-hydroxyl group such as 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 endoperoxides (2b and 2b') was markedly (10(-2)) diminished relative to the respective parent vitamin D compounds. In contrast, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 endoperoxides [25-(OH)D3 endoperoxides, 2a and 2a'] and their analogues fluorinated at the 24- or 26- and 27-positions were 2.5-10 times more potent than 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1a) in spite of the absence of the conjugated triene structure typical of vitamin D compounds. The potency of these vitamin D endoperoxides (2 and 2'), especially those lacking the 1 alpha-hydroxyl group, in inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells was not correlated with their activity in binding to the cytosol receptor for 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1b). The binding efficiency to the receptor was relatively lower than the differentiating activity. To examine the action of vitamin D endoperoxides, carbon analogues of 25-(OH)D3 endoperoxides, two C-6 epimers of 25-hydroxy-6,19-dihydro-6,19-ethanovitamin D3 (6 and 6'), were synthesized. The carbon analogues (6 and 6') had no potential to induce differentiation of HL-60 cells. These results suggest that vitamin D endoperoxides (2 and 2') express their biological activity probably after being converted to some other compounds.

Topics: Binding, Competitive; Calcifediol; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Cholecalciferol; Cytosol; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen; Phagocytosis; Receptors, Calcitriol; Receptors, Steroid; Singlet Oxygen; Structure-Activity Relationship

Human promyelocytic leukaemia cells (HL-60) can be induced to differentiate into mature granulocytes in vitro by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3], the active form of cholecalciferol. The differentiation-associated properties, such as phagocytosis and C3 rosette formation, were induced by as little as 0.12 nM-1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, and, at 12 nM, about half of the cells exhibited differentiation on day 3 of incubation. Concomitantly the viable cell number was decreased to less than half of the control. Among various derivatives of cholecalciferol examined, 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 and 1 alpha,24R-dihydroxycholecalciferol were the most potent in inducing differentiation, followed successively by 1 alpha,24S-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and 24R,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. A cytosol protein specifically bound to 1 alpha,25 (OH)2D3 was found in HL-60 cells. Its physical properties closely resembled those found in such target tissues as intestine and parathyroid glands. 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 bound to the cytosol receptor was transferred quantitatively to the chromatin fraction. The specificity of various derivatives of cholecalciferol in inducing differentiation was well correlated with that of their association with the cytosol receptor. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that the active form of cholecalciferol induces differentiation of human myeloid leukaemia cells by a mechanism similar to that proposed for the classical concept of steroid hormone action.

Topics: Binding Sites; Calcitriol; Cell Line; Cell Nucleus; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Cholecalciferol; Complement C3; Cytosol; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Receptors, Calcitriol; Receptors, Steroid