tacrolimus and Leukemia--Basophilic--Acute

FcepsilonRI-mediated exocytosis of preformed mediators from mast cells and basophils (e.g. histamine, serotonin, beta-hexosaminidase) is sensitive to the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A and FK506 (IC50 200 and 4 nM, respectively) but not rapamycin. The mechanism of inhibition does not appear to involve tyrosine phosphorylation, hydrolysis of inositol phosphates or calcium flux. Here we report experiments using a molecular approach to assess the role of calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase thought to be the primary pharmacological target of these drugs. Calcineurin's activity requires association of its catalytic (A) subunit with an intrinsic regulatory (B) subunit. We hypothesized that calcineurin-sensitive signalling events should be affected by the depletion of calcineurin B subunits, thereby reducing the number of active A:B complexes. We therefore transfected rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells with an inhibitory (dominant negative) form of the calcineurin A subunit, which binds the calcineurin B subunit with high affinity but does not possess catalytic activity (B subunit knock-out, BKO). In these transfected cells, the dose-response curve for the inhibition of FcepsilonRI-mediated exocytosis by FK506 was shifted to the left, indicating an increased drug sensitivity of BKO-transfected cells. We conclude that FK506 inhibition of FcepsilonRI-mediated exocytosis in mast cells specifically targets calcineurin activity.

Topics: Animals; Calcineurin; Cell Degranulation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electroporation; Exocytosis; Immunosuppressive Agents; Leukemia, Basophilic, Acute; Mast Cells; Rats; Receptors, IgE; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tacrolimus; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

To investigate the effect of Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors on the production of TNF-alpha in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells.. Two Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors, thapsigargin (TG) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), and three hydroquinone-antioxidants, 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (DTBHQ), 2,5-di-(tert/amyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (DTAHQ), 2-(tertbutyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (MTBHQ) were used.. Cells were treated with TG, CPA, DTBHQ, DTAHQ and MTBHQ for 3 h in the presence of 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and released TNF-alpha from the cells was measured (n > or = 4).. All Ca2--ATPase inhibitors (TG, CPA, DTBHQ and DTAHQ) induced TNF-alpha release in a dose-dependent manner. TNF-alpha release was inhibited by treatment with protein kinase C inhibitors (staurosporine, Ro31-8220, calophostin C) (p < or = 0.05). In contrast, MTBHQ, which does not induce increases in [Ca2+]i, did not induce the release of TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha release induced by DTBHQ and CPA was inhibited by treatment with actinomycin-D, the immunosuppressant FK506 and the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (p < or = 0.01).. These results suggest 1) that [Ca2+]i increase and subsequent activation of protein kinase C is necessary for the release of TNF-alpha, and they work synergistically, 2) that the TNF-alpha release induced by Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors can be regulated at the transcriptional level.

Topics: Animals; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Dactinomycin; Dexamethasone; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hydroquinones; Indoles; Leukemia, Basophilic, Acute; Protein Kinase C; Rats; Tacrolimus; Thapsigargin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

We investigated the inhibitory action of FK506 (0.0005-5 micrograms/ml) on the metabolism of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase in rat basophilic leukemia-1 cells. Cells were stimulated with A23187 (10(-5) mol/l) for 15 min in the absence or presence of various concentrations of FK506. Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase metabolites, peptide leukotrienes (LTs), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. FK506 inhibited A23187-stimulated production of peptide LTs, LTB4 and 5-HETE in intact cells by up to 77, 73 and 60%, respectively. Phospholipase A2 activity, measured by the release of 3H-arachidonic acid (AA), was not significantly inhibited by FK506. The synthesis of peptide LTs and LTB4 was not inhibited by FK506 when leukotriene A4-free acid was added to the culture medium. The synthesis of peptide LTs, LTB4 and 5-HETE was not affected by FK506 in a cell lysate study using AA as the substrate. These results indicate that FK506 inhibits the production of peptide LTs, LTB4 and 5-HETE by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase activity in intact cells. The inhibition is not a direct action on 5-lipoxygenase but results from the activating processes of this enzyme.

Topics: Animals; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Leukemia, Basophilic, Acute; Leukotrienes; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Phospholipases A; Phospholipases A2; Rats; Tacrolimus; Tumor Cells, Cultured