Radiolabeled guanine derivatives for the in vivo mapping of O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase: 6-(4-[(18)F]Fluoro-benzyloxy)-9H-purin-2-ylamine and 6-(3-[(131)I]Iodo-benzyloxy)-9H-purin-2-ylamine.

Two radiolabeled analogues of 6-benzyloxy-9H-purin-2-ylamine (O(6)-benzylguanine; BG) potentially useful in the in vivo mapping of O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) were synthesized. Fluorine-18 labeling of the known 6-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-9H-purin-2-ylamine (FBG; 6) was accomplished by the condensation of 4-[(18)F]fluorobenzyl alcohol with 2-aminopurin-6-yltrimethylammonium chloride (4) or 2-amino-6-chloropurine in average decay-corrected radiochemical yields of 40 and 25%, respectively. Unlabeled 6-(3-iodo-benzyloxy)-9H-purin-2-ylamine (IBG; 7) was prepared from 4 and 3-iodobenzyl alcohol. Radioiodination of 9, prepared from 7 in two steps, and subsequent deprotection gave [(131)I]7 in about 70% overall radiochemical yield. The IC(50) values for the inactivation of AGT from CHO cells transfected with pCMV-AGT were 15 nM for IBG and 50 nM for FBG. The binding of [(18)F]6 and [(131)I]7 to purified AGT was specific and saturable with both exhibiting similar IC(50) values (5-6 microM).

Role of aldehyde dehydrogenase in the protection of hematopoietic progenitor cells from 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide by interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor.

Preincubation of human bone marrow cells with interleukin 1 beta (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) for 20 h can protect early progenitor cells from 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) toxicity. In this report, we have studied the mechanism for such protection. We examined the effect of the length of incubation time and found that preincubation for at least 20 h with IL-1 and TNF-alpha is needed for significant protection. The addition of 2 micrograms/ml cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, during the 20-h preincubation completely abolished the protection observed for all colony-forming cells. In order to study the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), an enzyme which inactivates 4-HC, we used diethylaminobenzaldehyde, an inhibitor of ALDH. Diethylaminobenzaldehyde was added during the last 10 min of the 20-h preincubation with IL-1 and TNF-alpha. Diethylaminobenzaldehyde prevented the protection of colony-forming cells from 4-HC. Finally, using the same protection assay system, we showed that a 20-h preincubation with IL-1 and TNF-alpha can also protect early progenitor cells from phenylketophosphamide, an analogue of 4-HC which is resistant to inactivation by ALDH. From these studies, we conclude that preincubation with IL-1 and TNF-alpha for at lest 20 h is required for the protection of early progenitor cells from 4-HC. During that time period, protein synthesis, specifically aldehyde dehydrogenase synthesis, is critical for the protection from 4-HC. Preincubation with IL-1 and TNF-alpha also protects early progenitors from phenylketophosphamide. Because phenylketophosphamide cannot be metabolized by ALDH, the reason for this protection must be due to other, as yet unidentified, mechanisms.

Effects of in vitro purging with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide on the hematopoietic and microenvironmental elements of human bone marrow.

UNLABELLED: We describe the effects of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) on the hematopoietic and stromal elements of human bone marrow. Marrow cells were exposed to 4-HC and then assayed for mixed (CFU-Mix), erythroid (BFU-E), granulomonocytic (CFU-GM), and marrow fibroblast (CFU-F) colony-forming cells and studied in the long-term marrow culture (LTMC) system. The inhibition of colony formation by 4-HC was dose and cell-concentration dependent. The cell most sensitive to 4-HC was CFU-Mix (ID50 31 mumol/L) followed by BFU-E (ID50 41 mumol/L), CFU-GM (ID50 89 mumol/L), and CFU-F (ID50 235 mumol/L). In LTMC, a dose-related inhibition of CFU-GM production was noted. Marrows treated with 300 mumol/L 4-HC were completely depleted of CFU-GM but were able to generate these progenitors in LTMC. Marrow stromal progenitors giving rise to stromal layers in LTMC, although less sensitive to 4-HC cytotoxicity, were damaged by 4-HC also in a dose-related manner. Marrows treated with 4-HC up to 300 mumol/L, gave rise to stromal layers composed of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, adipocytes, and macrophages. Cocultivation experiments with freshly isolated autologous hematopoietic cells showed that stromal layers derived from 4-HC-treated marrows were capable of sustaining the long-term production of CFU-GM as well as controls. IN CONCLUSION: (1) Hematopoietic progenitors cells, CFU-Mix, BFU-E, and CFU-GM, are highly sensitive to 4-HC, whereas marrow stromal progenitor cells are relatively resistant. (2) Marrows treated with 300 mumol/L 4-HC that are depleted of CFU-Mix, BFU-E, and CFU-GM can generate CFU-GM in LTMC, suggesting that most primitive hematopoietic stem cells (not represented by CFU-Mix) are spared by 4-HC up to this dose. (3) Consequently, the above colony assays are not suitable tools for predicting pluripotent stem cell survival after 4-HC treatment in vitro.

4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide: a model for eliminating residual human tumour cells and T-lymphocytes from the bone marrow graft.

Autologous bone marrow transplantation in acute leukaemia carries the risk of relapse from reinfusion of tumour cells present in marrow collected in remission and cryopreserved. An effective method for clearing marrow of tumour cells is required for a successful outcome. In the animal model 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) has proved to be effective in eliminating tumour cells from an autologous marrow graft. In the present studies, the in vitro effect of short- and long-term marrow cell incubation with 4-HC on haemopoietic stem cells was investigated to determine the maximum concentration of 4-HC that can be used for in vitro incubation without destroying the capacity of the marrow to effect complete haematological recovery as judged by residual CFUc content. However, loss of CFUc may not necessarily parallel survival of pluripotential stem cells. 4-HC was also shown to be effective against peripheral T-lymphocytes. Its possible therapeutic use in preventing or ameliorating graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic marrow grafts by preincubation with 4-HC prior to transplantation is discussed.

Effect of radiation and 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide on thymic regulators of erythropoietic growth.

In vitro growth of erythroid progenitors (BFU-e and CFU-e) from mouse bone marrow (BM) can be influenced by the addition of graded doses of thymocytes (THY). At low THY:BM ratios (1:50), inhibition of erythroid growth occurred, whereas at high THY:BM ratios (20:1), enhancement of erythroid growth was observed. Experiments were designed to examine the sensitivity of the thymocytes to gamma radiation or treatment in vitro with an alkylating agent, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4HC), to determine if two subpopulations with different physical characteristics were responsible for these observations. We reasoned that if there were selective effects of either radiation or drug treatment on enhancement or inhibition, this would provide evidence for separate populations which regulated erythroid cell growth by cell-cell interaction. At the small doses of drug or X-ray studies (i.e., 10 microM 4HC or 3.0 Gys), elimination of the inhibitory effect of low THY:BM ratios resulted. Enhancement of erythroid growth was unaffected by drug or radiation until 80 microM 4HC or 30.0 Gys were employed. Fresh putative inhibitory thymocytes (low numbers) added to either 4HC or radiation-treated inhibitory cells restored the suppressor effect on erythroid growth. The helper effect, however, was not restored by the addition of fresh thymocytes. We conclude that there are at least two populations which provide (a) an inhibitory influence that is relatively sensitive to radiation and cyclophosphamide in vitro, and (b) an enhancing effect which is relatively insensitive to these treatments.