stilbenes and Lymphoma--B-Cell

Natural compound schweinfurthins are of considerable interest for novel therapy development because of their selective anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cells. We previously reported the isolation of highly active schweinfurthins E-H, and in the present study, mechanisms of the potent and selective anti-proliferation were investigated. We found that schweinfurthins preferentially inhibited the proliferation of PTEN deficient cancer cells by indirect inhibition of AKT phosphorylation. Mechanistically, schweinfurthins and their analogs arrested trans-Golgi-network trafficking, an intracellular vesicular trafficking system, resulting in the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and the suppression of both lipid raft-mediated PI3K activation and mTOR/RheB complex formation, which collectively led to an effective inhibition of mTOR/AKT signaling. The trans-Golgi-network traffic arresting effect of schweinfurthins was associated with their in vitro binding activity to oxysterol-binding proteins that are known to regulate intracellular vesicular trafficking. Moreover, schweinfurthins were found to be highly toxic toward PTEN-deficient B cell lymphoma cells, and displayed 2 orders of magnitude lower activity toward normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and primary fibroblasts in vitro. These results revealed a previously unrecognized role of schweinfurthins in regulating trans-Golgi-network trafficking, and linked mechanistically this cellular effect with mTOR/AKT signaling and with cancer cell survival and growth. Our findings suggest the schweinfurthin class of compounds as a novel approach to modulate oncogenic mTOR/AKT signaling for cancer treatment.

Topics: Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Fibroblasts; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; PTEN Phosphohydrolase; Signal Transduction; Small Molecule Libraries; Stilbenes; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; trans-Golgi Network

Malignant B-cells express measurable levels of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II proteins, but often escape immune recognition by CD4 + T cells. Resveratrol (Resv) has been the focus of numerous investigations due to its potential chemopreventive and anti-cancer effects, but it has never been tested in the regulation of immune components in B-cell tumors. Here, we show for the first time that Resv treatment enhances HLA class II-mediated immune detection of B-cell lymphomas by altering immune components and class II presentation in tumor cells. Resv treatment induced an up-regulation of both classical and non-classical HLA class II proteins (DR and DM) in B-lymphoma cells. Resv also altered endolysosomal cathepsins (Cat S, B and D) and a thiol reductase (GILT), increasing HLA class II-mediated antigen (Ag) processing in B-cell lymphomas and their subsequent recognition by CD4 + T cells. Mechanistic study demonstrated that Resv treatment activated the recycling class II pathway of Ag presentation through up-regulation of Rab 4B protein expression in B-lymphoma cells. These findings suggest that HLA class II-mediated immune recognition of malignant B-cells can be improved by Resv treatment, thus encouraging its potential use in chemoimmunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma.

Topics: Antigen Presentation; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Blotting, Western; Cathepsins; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Proliferation; Endocytosis; Flow Cytometry; HLA-D Antigens; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Resveratrol; Stilbenes; Tumor Cells, Cultured

To determine whether proapoptotic proteins were associated with clinicopathologic heterogeneity and influenced survival in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we evaluated patterns of expression of the BCL-2 family member BAD, PP1alpha (the catalytic subunit of PP1 involved in activation of BAD), and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF).. We retrospectively analyzed 46 patients all treated with standard chemotherapy ([CHOP] cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone-like); of these, 16 received rituximab. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed from biopsy samples of nodal DLBCL that were performed at initial diagnosis. Normal reactive lymph nodes were used as controls.. BAD expression was found in 38 of 46 DLBCL cases and, though variable, was often strong. PP1alpha and AIF were detected in all tumors tested with a relative strong expression. Lower BAD expression was shown to be significantly associated with advanced clinical stages (Ann Arbor stage III + IV and International Prognostic Index intermediate-high to high; P = .006 and P = .0008, respectively). Moreover, BAD staining was positively correlated with BCL-2 (P = .022) and PP1alpha (P = .013) staining. Finally, high AIF expression proved to be predictive of a longer overall survival in non-rituximab-treated patients.. Our study shows for the first time in DLBCL that differential BAD expression might play a role in the development of the disease, possibly reflecting its function as a tumor suppressor. Furthermore, our data highlight the interest in targeting BAD phosphatases and AIF-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis for new therapeutic strategies.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Inducing Factor; B-Lymphocytes; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Female; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Male; Middle Aged; Prednisone; Prognosis; Rituximab; Stilbenes; Vincristine

Red wine polyphenol, trans-resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxy stilbene), has potent chemopreventive effects against various tumors. In this study, we found for the first time that resveratrol rapidly induces S phase cell cycle arrest of human malignant B cells including myeloma cells in dose- and time-dependent manners, followed by S phase cell cycle arrest through ATM/Chk pathway. Resveratrol-induced apoptosis occurs in association with the activation of caspase-3 and the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potentials. In addition, resveratrol induces the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, and specific inhibition of p38 MAP kinase abolishes the resveratrol-induced apoptosis, indicating that activation of the p38 MAP kinase pathway is required for inducing apoptosis in malignant B cells. These results suggest that resveratrol may have potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the patients with B cell malignancies including multiple myeloma.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Multiple Myeloma; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation; Resveratrol; Stilbenes

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is emerging as a promising target for antitumor therapy. However, the mechanism that contributes to its regulation in B lymphomas remains unknown. This study shows that in follicular lymphoma (FL) cells, mTOR is active because the cells displayed rapamycin-sensitive phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase and 4E-BP1. Moreover, immunohistochemistry applied on lymph node tissue sections obtained from patients with FL revealed that, in most cases, p70S6 kinase was highly phosphorylated compared to normal tonsillar tissue. In FL cells, mTOR was under control of both phospholipase D (PLD) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Moreover, we demonstrated that Syk plays a central role in mTOR activation because we found that both expression and activity are elevated compared to normal or chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells. We also provide evidence that Syk operates through PLD- and PI3K-independent pathways. Finally, Syk inhibition by piceatannol or by siRNA plasmids resulted in a potent inhibition of mTOR activity in FL cells, as well as in mantle cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. These findings suggest that the Syk-mTOR pathway has a critical function in FL survival, and therefore, that Syk could be a promising new target for B-lymphoma therapy.

Topics: Burkitt Lymphoma; Cell Line, Tumor; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Lymph Nodes; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Lymphoma, Follicular; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell; Neoplasm Proteins; Palatine Tonsil; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phospholipase D; Protein Kinases; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; RNA, Small Interfering; Signal Transduction; Stilbenes; Syk Kinase; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound that exhibits anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. BCL6, a transcriptional repressor frequently translocated in lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and transformed follicular lymphoma (FL), regulates germinal center B-cell differentiation. We report herein that resveratrol treatment of human LY8 follicular lymphoma cells leads to an accumulation of LY8 cell in G0/G1 phase and apoptosis. Resveratrol decreased the expression of BCL6 protein, concomitant with the increased expression of several BCL6 regulated gene products, including p27, p53 and CD69. In addition, resveratrol reduces Myc expression in LY8 cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that resveratrol inhibits a BCL6-linked pathway and suggest that loss of BCL6 expression may represent a key event underlying the anti-proliferative activities of resveratrol on LY8 cells. The use of resveratrol to treat aggressive lymphomas with BCL6 and/or MYC translocations may prove useful as an effective therapy.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Transformed; DNA-Binding Proteins; Genes, myc; Genes, p53; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Lymphoma, Follicular; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; Resveratrol; Stilbenes

Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) is one of a family of compounds isolated from the South African willow tree Combretum caffrum. CA-4 was found to be active against murine melanoma and a variety of other human solid tumors. For the first time, we report the effect of CA-4 against a panel of malignant human B-lymphoid cell lines [early pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Reh), diffuse large cell lymphoma (WSU-DLCL2), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (WSU-CLL) and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WSU-WM)]. Our results indicate, using the prodrug form of CA-4, a concentration-dependent growth inhibition in all tested cell lines, although WSU-DLCL2 was more sensitive. Exposure to 4 nM CA-4 for 96 h induced 77% growth inhibition in Reh, 86% in WSU-CLL and 92% in WSU-WM. When used against the WSU-DLCL2 cell line, this same concentration of CA-4 was completely toxic. Morphological examination showed CA-4 induced the formation of giant, multinucleated cells, a phenomenon commonly found in mitotic catastrophe. Only minimal numbers of cells showing characteristics of apoptosis were detected. In WSU-DLCL2 cells, CA-4 (3 nM) induced the highest apoptosis (5%) after 48 h, while the percentage of dead cells was approximately 47%. Exposure of Reh, WSU-CLL, WSU-WM and WSU-DLCL2 cells for 24 h to 5 nM CA-4 induced 19, 28, 57 and 75% G2/M arrest, as determined by flow cytometry, respectively. Based on these preliminary studies, we believe that mitotic catastrophe is the predominant mechanism by which CA-4 induces cell death rather than apoptosis. Further studies to elucidate the mechanisms of CA-4 activity in vitro and in vivo are currently under investigation in our laboratory.

Topics: Annexin A5; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle; Cell Division; DNA, Neoplasm; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Mitosis; Prodrugs; Stilbenes; Tumor Cells, Cultured