Photocytotoxic effect of C60 fullerene against L1210 leukemic cells is accompanied by enhanced nitric oxide production and p38 MAPK activation.

AIM: To estimate the combined action of C60 fullerene and light irradiation on viability of L1210 leukemic cells, nitric oxide (NO) generation, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and cell cycle distribution. METHODS: Cell viability was assessed by MTT test. Light-emitting diode lamp (λ = 410-700 nm, 2.45 J/cm(2) ) was used for C60 fullerene photoexcitation. Nitrite level and NO-synthase activity were measured by Griess reaction and by conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline, respectively. p38 MAPK activity was assessed by Western blot analysis. Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: It was shown that light irradiation of C60 fullerene-treated L1210 cells was accompanied by 55% decrease of their viability at 48 h of culture. Nitrite level measured as an index of reactive NO generation was increased at the early period after C60 fullerene photoexcitation due to activation of both constitutive and inducible NO-synthase isoforms. The simultaneous activation of p38 MAPK was detected. Accumulation of L1210 cells in sub-G1 phase of cell cycle was observed after C60 fullerene photoexcitation. CONCLUSION: Photoexcited C60 fullerene exerts cytotoxic effect, at least in part, through triggering production of reactive NO species and activation of p38 kinase apoptotic pathways in L1210 leukemic cells.

Modulation of cisplatin-induced reactive oxygen species production by fullerene C(60) in normal and transformed lymphoid cells

The early response of normal (Wistar rat thymocytes) and transformed (mice lymphoid leukemia L1210) cells to treatment with anticancer drug cisplatin or to combined treatment with cisplatin and carbon nanostructure fullerene C60 was studied. We demonstrated with fluorescent probes DCFH-DA and TMRE that cisplatin at concentration 1 µg/ml induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased the value of mitochondrial membrane potential in both cell types. The combined treatment with cisplatin (1 µg/ml) and fullerene C60 (7.2 µg/ml) was shown to be followed by oppositely directed modulation of ROS production in thymocytes and L1210 cells. Cisplatin-induced ROS production was intensified in L1210 cells, while in thymocytes it was decreased. It is supposed that the different effects of combined treatment are associated with peculiarities of fullerene C60 accumulation and localization in normal and cancer cells.

Enhanced cytotoxicity of photoexcited fullerene C60 and cisplatin combination against drug-resistant leukemic cells.

AIM: To evaluate the viability of leukemic cells sensitive (L1210S) and resistant (L1210R) to cisplatin, ROS production and free cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration under treatment with cisplatin or its combination with photoexcited fullerene C60. METHODS: Cell viability was assessed by the MTT reduction assay. Light-emitting diode lamp (2.45 J/cm(2)) was used for photoexcitation of intracellular accumulated fullerene C60. Free cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) and ROS production in cells were estimated with the use of fluorescent probes Indo-1 and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA), respectively. RESULTS: It is shown that viability of L1210R cells wasn't changed under treatment with cisplatin in concentration range 0.1-10 µg/ml. 50% and 30% decrease of L1210S cells were observed after 24 h of incubation with cisplatin at concentrations 5 and 1 µg/ml, respectively. Intensification of extranuclear cytotoxic effects (ROS production and [Ca(2+)]i increase) after treatment with 1 µg/ml was detected in L1210S, but not in L1210R cells. The most strongly pronounced increase of ROS production and [Ca(2+)]i in both L1210 cell lines was revealed in dynamics after combined treatment with cisplatin (1 µg/ml) and photoexcited fullerene C60 (10(-5) M) and was followed by decreased viability of not only L1210S, but of L1210R cells as well.. CONCLUSION: Combined treatment with photoexcited C60 and cisplatin allowed to decrease effective concentration of cisplatin against parental L1210 cells and to increase sensibility of resistant cells to the drug.

COMPUTER PREDICTION OF BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF DIMETHYL-N-(BENZOYL)AMIDOPHOSPHATE AND DIMETHYL-N-(PHENYLSULFONYL)AMIDOPHOSPHATE, EVALUATION OF THEIR CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY AGAINST LEUKEMIC CELLS IN VITRO.

Structural analogues of ß-diketones--dimethyl-N-(benzoyl)amidophosphate (HCP) and dimethyl-N-(phenylsulfonyl)amidophosphate (HSP) were synthesized and identified by the methods of IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. Screening of biological activity and calculation of physicochemical parameters of HCP and HSP compounds were done with the use of PASS and ACD/Labs computer programs. A wide range of biological activity of synthesized compounds, antitumor activity in particular, has been found. Calculations of the bioavailability criteria indicate that the investigated compounds have no deviations from Lipinski's rules. HCP compound is characterized by a high lipophilicity at physiological pH as compared to HSP. It was found that cytotoxic effect of the studied compounds on the leukemic L1210 cells was of time- and dose-dependent character. HCP is characterized by more pronounced and early cytotoxic effects as compared to HSP. It was shown that 2.5 mM HCP increased ROS production 3 times in the early period of incubation, and decreased cell viability by 40% after 48 h, and by 66%--after 72 h. Based on the computer calculation and undertaken research, HCP was selected for target chemical modifications and enhancement of its antitumor effect.