muramidase and Leukemia--Promyelocytic--Acute

We investigated the electronmicroscopic (EM) features and cellular lysozyme (LZ) content in 16 cases of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL): 11 cases of the hypergranular form (M3) and five cases of the microgranular variant (M3-V). The main EM features in all cases were: irregular, folded or bilobed nuclei, many cytoplasmic granules, distended rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) cisternae which, in some cases, presented as stellate forms (more frequent in M3-V), and bundles of cytoplasmic microfilaments. Many Auer rods were present in M3 cases and few in M3-V; most of these disclosed parallel tubular arrays (PTA) with a varied periodicity ranging from 13 to 26 nm. There was a significant difference between M3 and M3-V (P<0.0001) in both the number of granules per cell section (62.9 +/- 34.5 v 38.0 +/- 23.6) and in the granule section area (0.044 +/- 0.033 v 0.026 +/- 0.015 microm2). In some cases, mainly in M3-V, we found cells with large granules containing PTA which probably represent poorly developed Auer rods. Intracellular LZ content assayed by a post-embedding immunogold method, showed high granular LZ density (in the range of that found in M4 and M5) in M3 cells and very low granular LZ content in M3-V. This study adds new objective parameters for the diagnosis of these two types of APL and provides new information on their LZ pattern of expression.

Topics: Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough; Granulocytes; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Microscopy, Electron; Muramidase

The revised French-American-British (FAB) classification system for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) recommends the determination of serum lysozyme (SL) or urine lysozyme (UL) levels as an aid in distinguishing acute myeloblastic leukemia with maturation (FAB M2) from acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4). We reviewed retrospectively 208 cases of adult leukemia in which SL and/or UL were obtained. Elevated lysozyme levels were not found in any of the M0, M3, or M7 cases, but were increased (false positive) in three (14%) M1 cases, 18 (19%) M2 cases and one (20%) M6 case. Although a UL value in excess of 3x normal was found in most cases of AML M4 and M5, only five (11%) M4 cases and three (20%) M5 cases had SL elevations of this magnitude. Lysozyme levels need to be interpreted in conjunction with other parameters for FAB classification.

Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase

Using an ultrastructural immunogold method, we performed a quantitative study on cellular lysozyme (LZ) content in young normal bone marrow cells and in 14 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) of the M2, M3, M4 and M5 types. In five cases of M2 we found significantly lower LZ content than in normal promyelocytes and than in nine cases of M3, M4 and M5. In M3, M4 and M5 cells a very high LZ content was observed whereas the serum LZ activity was high in M4 and M5 and normal in M3. The intragranular LZ content was especially high in M5 and in most granules of M4 cells. The immunogold reaction (IGR) for LZ was also performed in cells previously reacted for myeloperoxidase (MPO). In M2 the granules showed definite positive MPO reactivity and low LZ density (granulocytic pattern), whereas in M5 we found high granular LZ content and weak or almost negative MPO activity (monocytic pattern). In M4 we found 'granulocytic' and 'monocytic' type of granules in the same cell. The IGR for LZ performed in post-embedded M5 cells which were previously subjected to phagocytosis of latex particles, showed granules that had moved toward the phagosome, releasing LZ without degranulation. The above findings and those showing normal serum LZ in M3 despite their high cellular LZ content, definitely indicate that only leukaemic M4 and M5 cells secrete LZ into their environment, explaining the high serum LZ observed in those leukaemias.

Topics: Acute Disease; Bone Marrow; Gold Colloid; Humans; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Microscopy, Electron; Muramidase; Peroxidase; Phagocytosis

The granule proteins are among the most abundant and characteristic proteins of myeloid cells. They are essential for the antimicrobial activity of these cells and they provide important markers for the differentiation stage of the myeloid series and for the diagnosis of myeloid leukemias. In acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) there is high production of myeloperoxidase, and its cytochemical detection as well as the t(15;17) chromosomal translocation are important markers in the diagnosis of this acute myelogenous disease. The expression of other granule protein genes in APL has not been systematically determined. We have used the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to determine the pattern of expression of granule protein genes at the mRNA level in APL cells. We have examined the expression of the primary granule proteins defensin, myeloperoxidase, elastase, and cathepsin G; the secondary granule proteins lactoferrin, collagenase, and transcobalamin; as well as lysozyme, a protein reportedly found in both primary and secondary granules. mRNAs for all of these granule proteins were present in normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. We found that APL cells from three patients contain, in addition to myeloperoxidase mRNA, mRNAs for elastase, cathepsin G, and lysozyme. One patient had faint but detectable lactoferrin mRNA signal, but collagenase and transcobalamin mRNAs were not detectable in this patient. Defensin mRNA was found in one of the three APL patients, and all the primary granule protein mRNAs measured were found to be expressed in the APL cell line NB4. None of the secondary granule protein mRNAs measured were detectable in NB4 cells. After treatment with retinoic acid (RA), which induces neutrophil maturation of these cells, weak induction of lactoferrin and collagenase but not transcobalamin was observed. However, in view of the weak transcobalamin signal observed in normal bone marrow, the absence of transcobalamin in RA-induced NB4 cells must be interpreted with caution. Interestingly, elastase and cathepsin G mRNA disappeared after RA induction, whereas defensin and myeloperoxidase mRNAs remained present. These findings indicate that granule protein mRNAs are regulated separately and differently, and that only minimal expression of secondary granule protein genes can occur in APL cells.

Topics: Actins; Base Sequence; Blood Proteins; Cathepsins; Collagenases; Defensins; DNA, Complementary; Humans; Lactoferrin; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Molecular Sequence Data; Muramidase; Pancreatic Elastase; Peroxidase; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protein Biosynthesis; RNA, Messenger; Transcobalamins; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The role of proteasomes in ubiquitin (Ub)-dependent protein degradation was studied by analyzing lysates of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells by glycerol density gradient centrifugation. High succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide hydrolyzing activity was found in the 26S fraction, whereas the 20S fraction containing proteaomes had no activity. Addition of 0.05% sodium dodecylsulfate to the latter fraction, however, induced marked activity. The 26S, but not the 20S fraction catalyzed ATP-dependent degradation of [125I]lysozyme-Ub conjugate. Depletion from the lysate of ATP caused complete shift of the active 26S complex to the latent 20S form, whereas in the lysate prepared from ATP-depleted cells, ATP converted 20S proteasomes to 26S complexes. The immunoprecipitated 26S complexes were found to consist of proteasomes and 13-15 other proteins ranging in size from 35 to 110 kDa. We conclude that in the lysate, latent proteasomes undergo reversible, ATP-dependent association with multiple protein components to form 26S complexes that catalyze ATP-dependent degradation of Ub-protein conjugates.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Amino Acid Sequence; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Coumarins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Humans; Immunosorbent Techniques; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Molecular Sequence Data; Multienzyme Complexes; Muramidase; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitins

We have previously shown that HL-60 cells treated with 1 alpha, 25-(OH)2D3 in magnesium-deficient medium are committed to differentiate but do not express differentiation-related phenotypes. In the present study, we demonstrated that Mg2+ deprivation blocked the process of differentiation before the induction of lysozyme mRNA and that the process of HL-60 cell differentiation could be divided into two steps, i.e., a commitment step and a phenotypic expression step. We studied the effects of protein kinase A (PKA) and calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC) modulators at each step. The results indicated that agonists of PKA enhanced both steps but that N-(2-[methylamino]ethyl-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide inhibited them. On the other hand, 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate enhanced the commitment step but inhibited that of phenotypic expression. Staurosporine and 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine inhibited the commitment step and enhanced that of phenotypic expression. These results indicate that PKA acts as a positive regulatory signal and that PKC has a dual role in the process of HL-60 cell differentiation, i.e., as a positive regulatory signal in the commitment step and as a negative one in the phenotypic expression step. Recently, we have also shown that in K-562 cell differentiation into erythroid lineage, PKA may serve as a negative regulatory signal in both steps; however, PKC may act dually, namely as a negative regulatory signal in the commitment step and as a positive one in the phenotypic expression step.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Alkaloids; Calcium; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cholecalciferol; Diglycerides; Enzyme Activation; Gene Expression Regulation; Isoquinolines; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Magnesium; Muramidase; Phenotype; Protein Kinase C; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein Kinases; RNA, Messenger; Staurosporine; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

We synthesized a new series of nonphosphorus alkyl ether glycerolipids, in which the 2-acetyl group of platelet-activating factor was replaced by a pyrimidin-2-yl group and the 3-phosphocholine portion by an omega-(substituted ammonio)ethoxyethyl side-chain including omega-thiazolio-, imidazolio- and pyridinio groups with or without a carboxyl substituent, respectively (compound I-XI). Their effects on cell proliferation and differentiation of human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells were examined. Incubation of HL-60 cells with these cationic and zwitterionic alkyl ether lipids inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells with IC50 values ranging from 10 to 500 ng/mL. The cells were induced by the lipids to differentiate into morphologically and functionally mature granulocytes. Among the compounds we tested, 1-octadecyl-2-pyrimidinyl-3-[3-(5- carboxylatepentyl)imidazolioethoxyethyl]glycerol (compound I) was the most effective in inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells. Compound I showed on a molar basis, an inhibitory effect on the leukemic cells over 50 times greater than did 2-(2-dodecyloxyethoxy)ethyl 2-pyridinio-ethyl phosphate, the antileukemic alkyl ether phospholipid.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Line; Enzyme Induction; Glyceryl Ethers; Humans; Kinetics; Leukemia; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Molecular Structure; Muramidase; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Inhibitors of myosin light chain kinase, 1-(5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride (ML-9) and 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride (ML-7), induced Nitroblue tetrazolium reducing activity, lysozyme activity and morphological maturation of human monoblastic U937, THP-1 and promyelocytic HL-60 cells, but not of erythroblastic K562 cells. However, three analogs of ML-9, which are an inhibitor and an activator of protein kinase C, and a calmodulin antagonist, respectively, did not induce differentiation of the cells.

Topics: Azepines; Cell Differentiation; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Muramidase; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; Naphthalenes; Nitroblue Tetrazolium; Oxidation-Reduction; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The possible role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the activation of granulocytic HL60 cells was examined using vanadate, a phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. Treatment of permeabilized cells with micromolar concentrations of vanadate resulted in a substantial accumulation of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, detected by immunoblotting. At comparable concentrations, vanadate was also found to elicit an NADPH-dependent burst of oxygen utilization. Actin assembly, studied using 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD)-phallacidin, was similarly stimulated by vanadate, though considerably higher concentrations were required to observe this effect. In contrast with these responses, the secretion of lysozyme was not stimulated by vanadate, nor did vanadate affect calcium-induced secretion. Therefore, accumulation of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins is associated with stimulation of some, but not all, of the responses characteristic of granulocytic cell activation. This indicates that the effects of vanadate are selective and suggests divergence of the signalling pathways leading to the individual effectors.

Topics: Actins; Adenosine Triphosphate; Amanitins; Calcium; Cell Membrane Permeability; Exocytosis; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Immunoblotting; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Muramidase; NADP; Neutrophils; Oxygen Consumption; Phosphotyrosine; Polymers; Signal Transduction; Thionucleotides; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tyrosine; Vanadates

A human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (undifferentiated HL-60 cells) as well as a granulocyte form of HL-60 cells induced in vitro by exposure to dimethyl sulfoxide were examined for binding, metabolism, and biological responses to platelet-activating factor (PAF). Undifferentiated and differentiated HL-60 cells each exhibit a high capacity to incorporate and metabolize [3H]PAF at 37 degrees C; however, the amount of [3H]PAF that is assimilated by both cell populations is greatly reduced and its metabolism abolished at less than or equal to 4 degrees C. At 0 degrees C HL-60 granulocytes bind more [3H]PAF than their undifferentiated counterparts. Binding to differentiated cells reaches equilibrium within 80 min and is saturable, reversible and specific; PAF receptor antagonists WEB 2086, L-659,989, BN 52021, and kadsurenone abolish this specific [3H]PAF binding. In contrast, [3H]PAF uptake by undifferentiated HL-60 cells is neither saturable nor sensitive to specific receptor antagonists. Scatchard analyses reveal 5850 +/- 850 binding sites per differentiated HL-60 cell with a dissociation constant of 0.66 +/- 0.15 nM. In the presence of cytochalasin B, PAF (200 nM) induces degranulation only in differentiated cells and this response also is blocked by PAF receptor antagonists. Our results demonstrate that HL-60 cells develop specific and functionally active PAF receptors only after chemically induced differentiation into granulocytes.

Topics: Acetylglucosaminidase; Binding, Competitive; Cell Differentiation; Cytochalasin B; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Granulocytes; Humans; Kinetics; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Muramidase; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; Platelet Activating Factor; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Tumor Cells, Cultured