Hypophosphorylation of topoisomerase II in etoposide (VP-16)-resistant human leukemia K562 cells associated with reduced levels of beta II protein kinase C.

We selected and characterized a 30-fold etoposide (VP-16)-resistant subline of K562 human leukemia cells (K/VP.5) that exhibits quantitative and qualitative changes in topoisomerase II, including hypophosphorylation of this drug target. The initial rate of topoisomerase II phosphorylation was reduced 3-fold in K/VP.5 compared with K562 cells, but the rate of dephosphorylation was similar. Analysis of potential topoisomerase II protein kinases revealed a 3-fold reduction in the level of the beta II protein kinase C (PKC) in K/VP.5 cells, whereas levels of alpha- and epsilon PKC, casein kinase II, p42map kinase, and p34cdc2 kinase were comparable for both cell lines. The PKC activator, bryostatin 1, together with K562 nuclear extracts potentiated VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA covalent complex formation in nuclei isolated from K/VP.5 cells but not from K562 cells. Bryostatin 1 effects were blocked by the PKC inhibitor 7-O-methyl-hydroxy-staurosporine. Bryostatin 1 also up-regulated topoisomerase II phosphorylation and potentiated VP-16 activity in intact K/VP.5 cells but had no enhancing effect in K562 cells. 4 beta-Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate did not potentiate VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA complex formation in intact cells or in isolated K/VP.5 nuclei. Together, our results indicate that beta II PKC plays a role in modulating the VP-16-induced DNA binding activity of topoisomerase II in resistant K/VP.5 cells through a mechanism linked to phosphorylation of topoisomerase II.

Induction of apoptosis in murine and human neuroblastoma cell lines by the enediyne natural product neocarzinostatin.

Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is a naturally occurring enediyne antitumor agent that produces single- and double-strand breaks in cellular DNA. We have previously shown that treatment of human (SK-N-SH) and murine (NB41A3) neuroblastoma cells with NCS results in cell death for a subpopulation within the culture. The remaining cells undergo mitotic arrest with morphological differentiation along glial lines. Further investigation of cell death induced by this agent demonstrates that within 24 hr after a single one hr exposure to submicromolar concentrations of NCS, susceptible cells of both lines decrease in size, round up, detach from the culture surface and fragment in the overlying medium. This cytotoxicity is attenuated by the addition of cycloheximide (in NB41A3 cells) or aurintricarboxylic acid (in NB41A3 and SK-N-SH cells). Fluorescence and electron microscopic examination of the nonadherent cells reveals the chromatin condensation and fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis. Examination of the time course of DNA cleavage reveals that despite the presence of alkaline elution-detectable DNA cleavage, oligonucleosomal-sized DNA fragments are not demonstrable by gel electrophoresis immediately after a 1-hr incubation with the drug (1.6-10,000 nM). However, by 6 hr after treatment, DNA ladders are in evidence at all concentrations of NCS. These results suggest that the oligonucleosomal cleavage of DNA seen after NCS treatment is associated with apoptosis, rather than being the direct result of the strand-cleaving effects of the drug itself.

Differential induction of etoposide-mediated apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 and K562 cells.

Etoposide (VP-16) is one of several DNA-damaging agents that induce subcellular structural changes associated with apoptosis. VP-16 exerts its DNA-damaging and cytotoxic effects subsequent to interference with DNA topoisomerase II activity. VP-16 also stimulates c-jun and c-fos mRNA expression in some cell lines, including human leukemia K562 and HL-60 cells. To compare the temporal relationship between drug-induced c-jun expression and apoptosis, we examined cell morphology, cell viability, DNA integrity, and c-jun induction during VP-16 treatment of K562 and HL-60 cells. VP-16 (10 microM)-induced internucleosomal DNA damage and nuclear fragmentation were readily apparent within 6 hr in HL-60 cells but were absent in K562 cells treated for up to 24 hr. Some internucleosomal DNA damage was observed in K562 cells but only after treatment with 100 microM VP-16 for 24 hr. In contrast, VP-16-induced DNA single-strand breaks, VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA covalent complex formation, and VP-16-mediated growth inhibition were similar in K562 and HL-60 cells. Also, the time course of VP-16-induced c-jun mRNA expression was comparable for both K562 and HL-60 cell lines. Western blot analysis of whole-cell lysates showed that Bcl-2 protein levels were 13-fold greater in HL-60 cells than in K562 cells. Thus, the resistance of VP-16-treated K562 cells to apoptosis was not attributable to protection by Bcl-2. Furthermore, the relatively high levels of Bcl-2 in HL-60 cells were not sufficient to protect these cells against apoptosis. Together, our results indicate that the temporal coupling of VP-16-induced DNA damage, c-jun expression, and apoptosis is cell type specific and suggest that different signaling pathways for apoptosis are operating in these two human leukemia cell lines.

Increased c-jun/AP-1 levels in etoposide-resistant human leukemia K562 cells.

C-jun mRNA and AP-1 levels were examined in etoposide (VP-16)-sensitive (K562) and -resistant (K/VP.5) human leukemia cell lines. Previously, we reported that K/VP.5 cells have increased basal levels of mRNA for the protooncogene c-jun (Ritke MK and Yalowich JC, Biochem Pharmacol 46: 2007-2020, 1993). In this study, we show that the 3-fold increase in c-jun transcripts in K/VP.5 cells was accompanied by a 2-fold increase in the stability of the mRNA for this gene and a nearly 2-fold increase in AP-1 DNA binding activity compared with parental K562 cells. Treatment of K562 and K/VP.5 cells with 50-200 microM VP-16 resulted in 3- to 10-fold stimulation of c-jun transcripts, which peaked 90-150 min after addition of drug and remained elevated up to 5 hr. In contrast, amsacrine stimulated the levels of c-jun mRNA only 3-fold in both cell lines, and its c-jun stimulatory effects were decreased at concentrations greater than 50 microM. VP-16 stimulation of c-jun mRNA levels resulted in a 2-fold increase in AP-1 binding activity in K562 but not in K/VP.5 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that posttranscriptional changes in c-jun mRNA regulation may be associated with acquired resistance to VP-16.

Reduced phosphorylation of topoisomerase II in etoposide-resistant human leukemia K562 cells.

In this report we examine biochemical and genetic alterations in DNA topoisomerase II (topoisomerase II) in K562 cells selected for resistance in the presence of etoposide (VP-16). Previously, we have demonstrated that the 30-fold VP-16-resistant K/VP.5 cell line exhibits decreased stability of drug-induced topoisomerase II/DNA covalent complexes, requires greater ATP concentrations to stimulate VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA complex formation, and contains reduced mRNA and protein levels of the M(r) 170,000 isoform of topoisomerase II, compared with parental K562 cells. K/VP.5 cells grown in the absence of VP-16 for 2 years maintained resistance to VP-16, decreased levels of topoisomerase II, and attenuated ATP stimulation of VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA binding, compared with K562 cells. Sequencing of cDNA coding for two consensus ATP binding sites and the active site tyrosine in the K/VP.5 topoisomerase II gene indicated that no mutations were present in these domains. In addition, single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of restriction fragments encompassing the entire topoisomerase II cDNA revealed no evidence of mutations in the gene for this enzyme in K/VP.5 cells. Nuclear extracts from K562 (but not K/VP.5) cells contained a heat-labile factor that potentiated VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA covalent complex formation in isolated nuclei from K/VP.5 cells. Immunoprecipitated topoisomerase II from K/VP.5 cells was 2.5-fold less phosphorylated, compared with enzyme from K562 cells. Collectively, our data suggest that acquired VP-16 resistance is mediated, at least in part, by altered levels or activity of a kinase that regulates topoisomerase II phosphorylation and hence drug-induced topoisomerase II/DNA covalent complex formation and stability.

Interference by doxorubicin with DNA unwinding in MCF-7 breast tumor cells.

The capacity of doxorubicin to inhibit topoisomerase II in the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line is supported by the induction of protein-associated single-strand breaks in DNA, as well as by interference with the decatenation activity of nuclear extracts. Doxorubicin also produces non-protein-associated DNA strand breaks (at a supraclinical concentration of 5 microM), which may indicate damage mediated via the generation of free radicals. However, no strand breaks are detected in DNA of MCF-7 cells at the IC50 for doxorubicin (approximately 0.1 microM). At doxorubicin concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 microM, at which growth is inhibited by approximately 15, 50, and 75%, respectively, doxorubicin interferes with radiation-induced unwinding of DNA; doxorubicin also produces a concentration-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis that corresponds closely to growth inhibition. These studies suggest that DNA strand breaks fail to fully account for the antiproliferative activity of doxorubicin in the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line. Compromised DNA synthesis associated with interference with DNA unwinding may contribute to growth inhibition in MCF-7 cells exposed to doxorubicin.

Altered stability of etoposide-induced topoisomerase II-DNA complexes in resistant human leukaemia K562 cells.

K562 leukaemia cells were selected for resistance using 0.5 microM etoposide (VP-16). Cloned K/VP.5 cells were 30-fold resistant to growth inhibition by VP-16 and 5- to 13-fold resistant to m-AMSA, adriamycin and mitoxantrone. K/VP.5 cells did not overexpress P-glycoprotein; VP-16 accumulation was similar to that in K562 cells. VP-16-induced DNA damage was reduced in cells and nuclei from K/VP.5 cells compared with K562 cells. Topoisomerase II protein was reduced 3- to 7-fold and topoisomerase II alpha and topoisomerase II beta mRNAs were each reduced 3-fold in resistant cells. After drug removal, VP-16-induced DNA damage disappeared 1.7 times more rapidly and VP-16-induced DNA-topoisomerase II adducts dissociated 1.5 times more rapidly in K/VP.5 cells than in K562 cells. ATP (1 mM) was more effective in enhancing VP-16-induced DNA damage in nuclei isolated from sensitive cells than in nuclei from resistant cells. In addition, ATP (0.3-5 mM) stimulated VP-16-induced DNA-topoisomerase II adducts to a greater extent in K562 nuclei than in K/VP.5 nuclei. Taken together, these results indicate that resistance to VP-16 in a K562 subline is associated with a quantitative reduction in topoisomerase II protein and, in addition, a distinct qualitative alteration in topoisomerase II affecting the stability of drug-induced DNA-topoisomerase II complexes.

P-glycoprotein mediates profound resistance to bisantrene.

Bisantrene, mitoxantrone, and anthracyclines are anthracene derivatives that interact with DNA and are used for the treatment of cancers. The mechanisms of resistance to bisantrene are unknown. Here we show that cells that overexpress low levels of P-glycoprotein or are transfected with human MDR1 have approximately 10-fold greater resistance to bisantrene compared to vinblastine, doxorubicin, or colchicine. Furthermore, bisantrene can be used to select for high-level P-glycoprotein-mediated multiple drug resistance in a human colon carcinoma cell line, LS 174T, and the drug blocks photoaffinity labeling of P-glycoprotein. The data suggest that bisantrene is an excellent substrate for P-glycoprotein. These findings could influence subsequent clinical evaluation of bisantrene for the treatment of cancer.

Altered gene expression in human leukemia K562 cells selected for resistance to etoposide.

Sublines of K562 human leukemia cells were selected for resistance (30- to 80-fold) to etoposide by continuous exposure to 0.5 microM VP-16. Two etoposide-resistant cell lines, K/VP.5 and K/VP.5-1, showed a 5-fold reduction in levels of topoisomerase II alpha protein compared with K562 cells. Northern analysis indicated a 2.5-fold reduction in topoisomerase II alpha mRNA in etoposide-resistant cell lines, due in part to a 1.7-fold decrease in topoisomerase II mRNA stability with no change in transcription rate. Immunoblotting assays of electrophoresed cell lysates from VP-16-treated cells revealed less drug-induced covalent topoisomerase II/DNA adducts in resistant than in sensitive cells, suggesting a functional alteration in resistant cell topoisomerase II. Recent reports of specific topoisomerase II DNA binding sites near the promoter sites of growth response genes and alterations of gene expression in cells treated with topoisomerase II inhibitory drugs led to experiments to determine if the apparent functional alterations of topoisomerase II were accompanied by changes in the regulation of these genes. Therefore, the expression of several growth response genes was compared by northern analysis in parental K562 and both VP-16-resistant cell lines. Basal levels of c-myc were comparable for all three cell lines, but levels of c-jun and c-fos were elevated 2- to 4-fold in VP-16-resistant cell lines. Increased levels of c-fos and c-jun were not a result of altered rates of transcription, as determined by nuclear run-off assays. Exposure of both sensitive and resistant cells to 200 microM VP-16 for 5 hr resulted in no further changes in topoisomerase II mRNA levels but caused an additional 2- to 3-fold elevation in the level of c-jun mRNA, indicating that altered basal levels of this gene were not due to deregulation of this gene. Acquired VP-16 resistance in K/VP.5 and K/VP.5-1 cells was accompanied by reduced levels and altered activities of DNA topoisomerase II as well as changes affecting the expression of genes important for growth and differentiation.

Mutational inactivation of the p53 gene in the human erythroid leukemic K562 cell line.

The K562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell line has attained widespread use as a model for studying hematologic malignancy and erythroid differentiation. Sequencing of the p53 gene in the K562 cell line demonstrated a mutation in exon 5 characterized by a single base insertion (cytosine) between codons 135 and 136. This frameshift mutation leads to an N-terminal truncated protein of 147 amino acids. Only the mutated sequence was present suggesting that the normal allele has been lost. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) detected a p53 transcript but Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining of cells failed to detect p53 protein. The identification of an inactivation mutation of p53 in the K562 cell line further supports the argument that p53 mutations play a role in myeloid blast transformation of CML.

Dissociation between bulk damage to DNA and the antiproliferative activity of teniposide (VM-26) in the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line: evidence for induction of gene-specific damage and alterations in gene expression.

In the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line, induction of bulk damage to DNA (measured either as total strand breaks or as double-strand breaks) fails to correspond with the antiproliferative activity of the demethylepipodo-phyllotoxin derivative, VM-26. In contrast, VM-26 produces an early (within 2-3 h) concentration-dependent reduction in c-myc expression (and of DNA synthesis) which parallels inhibition of cell growth, suggesting the possibility of effects of VM-26 at the level of genomic regions which regulate DNA replicative function. Although VM-26 also produces a reduction in c-myc expression in K562 human leukemic cells, these alterations fail to correspond with the concentration-dependent effects on cell growth in this cell line. Utilizing the newly developed alkaline unwinding/Southern blotting assay in the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line, it was determined that VM-26 induces damage within regions surrounding the c-myc gene and the beta-globin gene which exceeds that induced in both alpha-satellite DNA and in L1 repeat sequences; damage within c-myc and beta-globin also exceeds that observed throughout the genome as a whole. These findings indicate that certain genomic regions incur preferential damage in MCF-7 cells exposed to VM-26. It appears possible that damage within such genomic regions could lead to alterations in expression of select genes associated with regulation of cellular proliferation, resulting in reduced DNA synthesis, compromised cell growth, and, ultimately, cell death.

Molecular analysis of chromosome 1 abnormalities in neuroblastoma.

Tumor cells from 70% of neuroblastoma patients contain a deletion of part of the short arm of chromosome 1, indicating that this chromosomal region includes a gene involved in tumor formation. To more precisely evaluate the boundaries and mechanisms involved in generating these deletions, we have examined four neuroblastoma cell lines using a combination of somatic cell hybridization, isozyme analysis, and nucleic acid hybridization employing both standard and restriction fragment length polymorphic probes. The data suggest that the truncation of chromosome 1 in these neuroblastomas was most likely due to a complex translocation and deletion mechanism rather than a simple unbalanced translocation or terminal or interstitial deletion. This conclusion is supported by the frequent removal of MYCL from the altered chromosome 1 to another chromosome. Furthermore, the data suggest that the frequency of breakpoints previously assigned by karyotypic analysis to bands other than 1p32 in neuroblastomas may be overestimated. Finally, this study identified a breakpoint at 1p32 that was localized between the genes JUN and MYCL for one neuroblastoma thus establishing the order of these genes as centromere, JUN, MYCL, telomere. We conclude that the observed breakpoints within chromosome 1p in human neuroblastoma are not as variable as previously described and suggest the results of this study provide evidence for the involvement of specific DNA sequences within 1p32 in the generation of neuroblastoma.