31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of endothelial cells grown in three-dimensional matrigel construct as an enabling platform technology: I. The effect of glial cells and valproic acid on phosphometabolite levels.

Very few studies describe endothelial cell (EC) properties under three-dimensional (3D) conditions using (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The authors developed a model in which living ECs growing in Matrigel threads (3D conditions) for 5 days are monitored by (31)P MRS, providing the fingerprint of the major EC phosphometabolites. Organic extracts of membranal phospholipids were also analyzed by (31)P MRS. For comparison and as a model for two-dimensional (2D) tissue culture conditions, (31)P MRS spectra of aqueous extracts of EC phosphometabolites grown under 2D conditions were also evaluated. The phosphometabolites fingerprint of the cells cultured under 3D was significantly different from that of ECs maintained under 2D. Moreover, the pattern of phosphometabolites was affected by coculture with C6-glioma cells and upon treatment with valproic acid, which is under clinical investigation as an antioangiogenic anticancer drug. The major effects were modulation of (i) energy metabolism intermediates such as phosphocreatine, (ii) precursors of phospholipids such as phosphomonoesters, and (iii) degradation products of phospholipids such as glycerophosphocholine. This endothelial model will be usefull as an enabling platform technology for tissue engineering.

31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of endothelial cells grown in three-dimensional matrigel constructs as an enabling platform technology: II. The effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on phosphometabolite levels.

In the accompanying study, the authors presented phosphometabolite patterns of endothelial cells grown under three-dimensional (3D) conditions using (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Here the authors describe the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), using this enabling platform technology, which is relevant for evaluating drug effects in tissue-engineered endothelial constructs. Treatment with indomethacin significantly changed the phosphometabolite fingerprint in this endothelial model, by, respectively, increasing (81%) and decreasing (42%) glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and phosphomonoesters (PM). Furthermore, a safer approach using a NSAID prodrug was also demonstrated in this study with a indomethacin phospholipid-derived prodrug (DP-155). Like the parental drug, DP-155 increased and decreased the levels of GPC and PM by 100% and 20%, respectively. These changes represent useful biomarkers to monitor NSAID effects on endothelized tissue-engineered constructs for the purpose of controlling endothelial cell survival and inflammation upon implantation.

The Faces Symbol Test, a newly developed screening instrument to assess cognitive decline related to multiple sclerosis: first results of the Berlin Multi-Centre FST Validation Study.

Reliable, language-independent, short screening instruments to test for cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) remain rare, despite the high number of patients affected by cognitive decline. We developed a new, short screening instrument, the Faces Symbol Test (FST), and compared its diagnostic test characteristics with a composite of the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), in 108 MS patients and 33 healthy controls. An Informant-Report Questionnaire, a Self-Report Questionnaire, and a neurologist's estimation of the Every Day Life Cognitive Status were also applied to the MS patients. The statistical analyses comprised of a receiver operating characteristic analysis for test accuracy and for confounding variables. The PASAT and DSST composite score estimated that 36.5% of the MS patients had cognitive impairment. The FST estimated that 40.7% of the MS patients were cognitively impaired (sensitivity 84%; specificity 85%). The FST, DSST and PASAT results were significantly correlated with the patients' physical impairment, as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The results suggest that the FST might be a culture-free, sensitive, and practical short screening instrument for the detection of cognitive decline in patients with MS, including those in the early stages.

Levels of phospholipid metabolites in breast cancer cells treated with antimitotic drugs: a 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods have provided valuable information on cancer cell metabolism. In this study, we characterized the 31P-MR spectra of breast cancer cell lines exhibiting differences in hormonal response, estrogen receptors (positive/negative), and metastatic potential. A correlation was made between the cytotoxic effect of antimitotic drugs and changes in cell metabolism pattern. Because most anticancer drugs are more effective on proliferating cells, our study attempted to elucidate the metabolic profile and specific metabolic changes associated with the effect of anticancer drugs on proliferating breast cancer cell lines. Accordingly, for the 31P-MRS experiments, cells were embedded in Matrigel to preserve their proliferation profile and ability to absorb drugs. The MRS studies of untreated cells indicated that the levels of phosphodiesters and uridine diphosphosugar metabolites were significantly higher in estrogen receptor-positive and low metastatic potential cell lines. 31P-MRS observations revealed a correlation between the mode of action of anticancer drugs and the observed changes in cell metabolic profiles. When cells were treated with antimicrotubule drugs (paclitaxel, vincristine, colchicine, nocodazole), but not with methotrexate and doxorubicin, a profound elevation of intracellular glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) was recorded that was not associated with changes in phospholipid composition of cell membrane. Remarkably, the rate of elevation of intracellular GPC was much faster in cell population synchronized at G2-M compared with the unsynchronized cells. The steady-state level of GPC for paclitaxel-treated cells was reached after approximately 4 h for synchronized cells and after approximately 24 h (approximate duration of one cell cycle) for the unsynchronized ones. These observations may indicate a correlation between microtubule status and cellular phospholipid metabolism. This study demonstrates that 31P-MRS may have diagnostic value for treatment decisions of breast cancer and reveals new aspects of the mechanism of action of antimicrotubule drugs.

Noninvasive real-time monitoring of intracellular cancer cell metabolism and response to lonidamine treatment using diffusion weighted proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

We have used diffusion-weighted proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DWMRS) to noninvasively selectively observe only the intracellular metabolites of breast cancer and melanoma cell lines in vitro in real time. Breast cancer cell lines representing different stages in breast cancer progression were chosen for study. Intracellular biochemical profiles of six cell lines perfused in alginate beads were obtained. Spectral differences between groups of cell lines, including choline, lactate, and threonine peaks, were investigated. We also monitored response to the antineoplastic agent, lonidamine (LND), as a function of time and drug concentration in perfused cancer cells. Previous studies reported that this drug induced intracellular acidification and lactate accumulation. Diffusion weighted proton spectra demonstrated a 2- to 9-fold increase in the intracellular lactate signal as a response to LND treatment in several cancer cell lines. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the principal mechanism of LND in some cancer cells is marked inhibition of lactate transport. Moreover, we have shown that there is a factor of two to three between the response of melanoma cells and that of some types of breast cancer cells. The higher sensitivity of the melanoma cells, as predicted by proton DWMRS, was correlated with changes in water-suppressed magnetic resonance spectra and confirmed by a biological assay. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using DWMRS for monitoring intracellular metabolism and for studying the effects and mechanisms of action of anticancer drugs. We believe that this method can be used for noninvasive clinical applications, such as the differentiation between benign and malignant tissue, real-time monitoring of response to therapy, dose response, and toxicity effects.

Dynein light chain binding to a 3'-untranslated sequence mediates parathyroid hormone mRNA association with microtubules.

The 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs binds proteins that determine mRNA stability and localization. The 3'-UTR of parathyroid hormone (PTH) mRNA specifically binds cytoplasmic proteins. We screened an expression library for proteins that bind the PTH mRNA 3'-UTR, and the sequence of 1 clone was identical to that of the dynein light chain LC8, a component of the dynein complexes that translocate cytoplasmic components along microtubules. Recombinant LC8 binds PTH mRNA 3'-UTR, as shown by RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assay. We showed that PTH mRNA colocalizes with microtubules in the parathyroid gland, as well as with a purified microtubule preparation from calf brain, and that this association was mediated by LC8. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a dynein complex protein binding an mRNA. The dynein complex may be the motor that is responsible for transporting mRNAs to specific locations in the cytoplasm and for the consequent is asymmetric distribution of translated proteins in the cell.

Novel anthraquinone derivatives with redox-active functional groups capable of producing free radicals by metabolism: are free radicals essential for cytotoxicity?

The mode of action of antitumour anthraquinone derivatives (i.e. mitoxantrone) is not clearly established yet. It includes, among others, intercalation and binding to DNA, bioreduction and aerobic redox cycling. A series of anthraquinone derivatives, with potentially bioreducible groups sited in the side chain, have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. Their redox and cytotoxic activities were screened. Derivatives which bear a 2-(dimethylamino)ethylamino substituent, known to confer high DNA affinity, demonstrated cytotoxicity but not redox activity (beside the anthraquinone reduction). Conversely, derivatives which showed redox activity were not cytotoxic toward the P388 cell line. The results suggest that bioreduction is not the main mode of action in the cytotoxicity of anthraquinones.

Paclitaxel-induced modification of the effects of radiation and alterations in the cell cycle in normal and tumor mammalian cells.

The cytotoxicity of paclitaxel (taxol) is associated mainly with block in G2/M phase, the most radiosensitive phase of the cell cycle. Nevertheless, taxol-induced modification of the effects of radiation may vary from clear sensitization to subadditivity. Therefore, this effect was studied in relation to drug-induced alterations in the distribution of cells in the phases of the cell cycle in tumor cells (EMT-6 and OV-1063) and normal skin fibroblasts. Cell survival was evaluated with two colorimetric assays. The cell cycle was evaluated by FACS analysis of doubly-labeled cells. The radiosensitivity of the different cells studied was similar, apart from the less radiosensitive human fibroblasts. However, their dose- and time-dependent sensitivity to taxol varied significantly. After 24 h exposure of EMT-6 cells to taxol (IC50 approximately 20 nM), the fraction of cells in G2/M phase increased, the fraction in S phase decreased, and the proportion of possibly apoptotic cells with subdiploid and subtetraploid DNA content increased; this coincided with radiosensitization. In OV-1063 cells (IC50 approximately 3 nM), the drug-induced G2/M-phase block was most pronounced, but the combined effect with radiation was merely additive. In human fibroblasts (IC50 approximately 35 nM), a minimal G2/M-phase block with no change in the S phase and a massive elevation of apoptotic cells with subdiploid DNA content was accompanied by a subadditive combined effect with radiation. Six hours of exposure to taxol increased the fraction of cells in S phase in both nonsynchronized and S-phase-synchronized human fibroblasts (G1 phase approximately 65%, S phase approximately 13%). This was accompanied by a pronounced subadditive effect of the combined treatment. However, in G1-phase synchronized human fibroblasts (G1 phase > or =90%, S phase approximately 3%), only the fraction of cells in G2/M phase was slightly elevated, with a merely additive response to the combined treatment. The differences in the response to the combined treatment between slowly and rapidly proliferating cells in relation to modifications in the cell cycle are discussed.

Conformational studies of paclitaxel analogs modified at the C-2' position in hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvent systems.

The conformations of two paclitaxel analogs modified at the C-2' position, 2'-deoxypaclitaxel and 2'-methoxypaclitaxel, were studied in hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvent systems by a combination of NMR spectroscopy, CD measurements, and molecular modeling. Both analogs have hydrophobic and hydrophilic conformations that resemble those of paclitaxel itself in the same media. Since the two have diminished biological activities in a number of bioactivity assays and the hydrogen-bonding capability of the 2'-hydroxyl group has been eliminated, we postulate that this group is involved in hydrogen bonding with tubulin and plays an important role in molecular recognition. The results of this study are in agreement with our earlier report on paclitaxel 2'-acetate, an analog in which the 2'-hydroxyl group hydrogen-bonding capacity has also been eliminated.

Anti-neoplastic activity of paclitaxel on experimental superficial bladder cancer: in vivo and in vitro studies.

The effects of intravesical administration of paclitaxel (taxol) in a bladder tumor model in mice, as well as the drug's in vitro activity on the same tumor cells, have been studied. Two cell lines, derived from MBT-2 cells, were employed in these experiments. The T50 line (obtained by many passages in mice) was much more aggressive in vivo than the T5 line. In vivo paclitaxel treatment for 3 days after T5 implantation resulted in a considerable retardation of tumor growth, whereas under the same conditions the T50 line was much less, although still significantly, affected. When treatment was started 1 day after tumor implantation, both tumor variants were affected by paclitaxel to the same extent. The in vitro experiments utilized the MiCK assay, which allows continuous recording of the kinetics of cell growth. These studies revealed a 39.8% inhibition of cell growth by 2.10(-8)M paclitaxel in the T50 line and a 30-fold increase in concentration had only a small additional effect on the degree of inhibition. At 2.10(-8)M paclitaxel, growth of T5 was inhibited by 21.7%, which increased to 35.2% at 6.10(-7)M. The treated cells displayed bundles of microtubuli, as described for other paclitaxel-treated cells.

Vg1 RNA binding protein mediates the association of Vg1 RNA with microtubules in Xenopus oocytes.

Localized RNAs are found in a variety of somatic and developing cell types. In many cases, microtubules have been implicated as playing a role in facilitating transport of these RNAs. Here we report that Vg1 RNA, which is localized to the vegetal cortex of Xenopus laevis oocytes, is associated with microtubules in vivo. Because of the ubiquitous nature of tubulin, the association of specific RNAs with microtubules is likely to involve factors that recognize both RNA and microtubules. Vg1 RNA binding protein (Vg1 RBP), previously shown to bind with high affinity to the vegetal localization site in Vg1 RNA, appears to function in this capacity. Vg1 RBP is associated with microtubules: it is enriched in microtubule extracts of oocytes and is also co-precipitated by heterologous, polymerized tubulin. Furthermore, Vg1 RBP binding activity is required for the specific association of Vg1 RNA to microtubules in vitro. These data suggest a general model for how specific RNAs can be localized to particular sites via common cytoskeletal elements.

Characterization of two taxol photoaffinity analogues bearing azide and benzophenone-related photoreactive substituents in the A-ring side chain.

Taxol is a structurally novel and clinically effective antitumor drug, which, unlike other antimitotic agents, induces the assembly of tubulin into microtubules. To characterize the binding site(s) of taxol on the microtubule, taxol-based photoaffinity reagents 1 and 2 bearing photoreactive groups on the A-ring side chain were prepared and evaluated. Taxol analogue 1 exhibits better microtubule assembly activity, greater cytotoxicity toward J774.2 cells, and more specific and efficient photolabeling of the beta-subunit of tubulin than does analogue 2. Therefore, it would appear that 1 is the better candidate for further studies aimed at the characterization of the taxol binding site on the microtubule.

3'-(p-azidobenzamido)taxol photolabels the N-terminal 31 amino acids of beta-tubulin.

Taxol possesses an unusual chemical structure, a unique mechanism of action, and demonstrated activity in human malignancies. It is the only antitumor agent that has a binding site on the microtubule polymer. The interaction of Taxol with the microtubule polymer results in the formation of stable bundles of cellular microtubules that are resistant to depolymerization. Although it has become evident that the microtubule, specifically beta-tubulin, is the target for Taxol, no information is available on the binding site for the drug. In this report, we demonstrate that 3'-(p-azidobenzamido)taxol, an analogue with similar biological activities as Taxol, covalently binds to the N-terminal domain of beta-tubulin after irradiation of the microtubule-drug complex. Taxol competes with [3H]3'-(p-azidobenzamido)-taxol binding, suggesting that the photoaffinity analog and Taxol are binding at the same or overlapping sites. Formic acid cleavage of [3H]3'-(p-azidobenzamido)-taxol-photolabeled beta-tubulin and subsequent protein sequence and mass analyses have identified the N-terminal 31 amino acids as the major site for [3H]3'-(p-azidobenzamido)taxol photoincorporation.

Neurites induced by staurosporine in PC12 cells are resistant to colchicine and express high levels of tau proteins.

Staurosporine, a protein kinase inhibitor, induces neurite outgrowth in pheochromocytoma cells and, therefore, may serve as a potential prototype for neurotropic drugs. The principal aim of the present study was to characterize the cytoskeletal properties of neurites induced in pheochromocytoma cells by staurosporine, in comparison to those induced by nerve growth factor, with emphasis on tubulin and tau proteins. Two major findings are described: a) staurosporine rapidly induces outgrowth of neurites that are resistant to colchicine treatment; and b) staurosporine treatment causes a rapid increase in tau protein levels, with a time course similar to the initiation of its neurotropic effects. The following observations exclude tubulin as the cellular target for staurosporine action: a) the level, cellular distribution, and assembly properties of tubulin are not affected by staurosporine treatment; and b) colchicine uptake, its binding to tubulin, and its interference with tubulin polymerization are not changed by staurosporine. On the other hand, staurosporine treatment causes a transient, dose-dependent increase in tau protein levels. This increase, which is already evident after 1 hr, reaches a maximum of 2 to 3 fold after 5 hr of treatment and declines to basal level within the next 10 to 15 hr. The rapid, transient increase of tau protein levels induced by staurosporine is reminiscent of its neurotropic properties. Here we characterize and compare the cytoskeletal properties of neurites induced by treatment with staurosporine and with nerve growth factor, and we offer a mechanistic explanation for the rapid stabilization of staurosporine induced neurites.

Taxol: mechanisms of action and resistance.

Information on the mechanisms of action and of resistance to Taxol, as well as new data from our laboratory on the promoter regions of the genes that encode P-glycoprotein in a murine Taxol-resistant cell line, is discussed. Taxol induces the formation of stable bundles of microtubules, thereby interfering with the normal function of cellular microtubules. The drug can induce the multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenotype that includes the overproduction of P-glycoprotein, a membrane glycoprotein that acts as a drug efflux pump. In human tumors resistant to Taxol, P-glycoprotein could be responsible for maintaining the drug below cytotoxic levels. Analyses of the MDR promoters that are involved in P-glycoprotein expression and overproduction revealed an interesting recombination event in a Taxol-resistant cell line. As an important new clinical agent for the treatment of malignancies, Taxol requires further mechanistic investigations at the preclinical level.

Direct photoaffinity labeling of tubulin with taxol.

BACKGROUND: Taxol is a potent inhibitor of the replication of eukaryotic cells and has significant antitumor activity in human malignancies. The drug induces the formation of bundles of stable microtubules and blocks cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. In vitro, taxol enhances the polymerization of tubulin to microtubules that are resistant to depolymerization. Although it is evident that taxol interacts with the tubulin-microtubule system, no information has been available on the binding site for the drug on the microtubule. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to determine if taxol binds to one or both of the tubulin subunits. METHODS: In the absence of a photoaffinity-labeled analogue of taxol, [3H]taxol was used directly to photolabel tubulin. A complex of microtubule protein and [3H]taxol was irradiated by ultraviolet light and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The radiolabeled drug preferentially binds covalently to the beta-subunit of tubulin, and the binding can be competed with unlabeled taxol. IMPLICATIONS: This observation is the first step in a study to determine the binding site for taxol on the microtubule.

Fluorinated colchicinoids: antitubulin and cytotoxic properties.

The synthesis of B-ring and C-ring trifluoroacetamide-substituted colchicinoids and fluoro-substituted colchicineethylamides is presented. The B-ring trifluoroacetamido-substituted analogues exhibit moderate enhancement of potency compared to the nonfluorinated analogues for tubulin assembly inhibition and cytotoxicity toward two wild type cell lines. The C-ring substituted fluoroethylamides have reduced relative potencies in the same systems due to the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the fluoro derivatives. The fluoro colchicinoids are much more cytotoxic toward drug-resistant cell lines than to the wild type cell lines. Their enhanced potency is probably due to an effect of the fluoro moiety on functions specific to resistant cells and/or their higher hydrophobicity that may result in higher intracellular drug content. This finding may suggest the application of designed fluorinated anticancer drugs to overcome acquired resistance which may develop after several regiments of treatment with a nonfluorinated chemotherapeutic agent.

Effect of alkaline pH on taxol-microtubule interactions.

Taxol stabilizes microtubules against the depolymerizing effects of cold temperature, drugs and Ca++. In this report, the effect of alkaline pH on microtubules polymerized in the presence of taxol has been studied. Although taxol-microtubules are more stable than microtubules assembled in the presence of GTP, taxol-microtubules can be partially disassembled when the pH becomes more alkaline. A portion of the recovered tubulin dimer is assembly competent upon pH adjustment to approximately 6.6 and the microtubules formed upon the induction of assembly by GTP are normal as judged by electron microscopy. The data indicate that alkaline pH can be used to recover assembly-competent tubulin from a taxol-microtubule complex. At pH 6.6, taxol-induced polymers consisted of two components. The majority were microtubules, but in addition hoops and ribbons were also present. At alkaline pH, the microtubules were more stable than the hoops and ribbons and at pH greater than 7.5 they were the only stable structures. Microtubules stabilized by taxol are protected against the depolymerizing action of podophyllotoxin even at alkaline pH, whereas the hoops and ribbons are depolymerized.