CD44 ligation induces caspase-independent cell death via a novel calpain/AIF pathway in human erythroleukemia cells.

Ligation of the cell surface molecule CD44 by anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has been shown to induce cell differentiation, cell growth inhibition and in some cases, apoptosis in myeloid leukemic cells. We report, herein, that exposure of human erythroleukemic HEL cells to the anti-CD44 mAb A3D8 resulted in cell growth inhibition followed by caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death. This process was associated with the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi m), the mitochondrial release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), but not of cytochrome c, and the nuclear translocation of AIF. All these effects including cell death, loss of mitochondrial Delta Psi m and AIF release were blocked by pretreatment with the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor isoquinoline. A significant protection against cell death was also observed by using small interfering RNA for AIF. Moreover, we show that calpain protease was activated before the appearance of apoptosis, and that calpain inhibitors or transfection of calpain-siRNA decrease A3D8-induced cell death, and block AIF release. These data suggest that CD44 ligation triggers a novel caspase-independent cell death pathway via calpain-dependent AIF release in erythroleukemic HEL cells.

CD44 ligation induces apoptosis via caspase- and serine protease-dependent pathways in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

We have recently reported that ligation of the CD44 cell surface antigen with A3D8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) triggers incomplete differentiation and apoptosis of the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)-derived NB4 cells. The present study characterizes the mechanisms underlying the apoptotic effect of A3D8 in NB4 cells. We show that A3D8 induces activation of both initiator caspase-8 and -9 and effector caspase-3 and -7 but only inhibition of caspase-3/7 and caspase-8 reduces A3D8-induced apoptosis. Moreover, A3D8 induces mitochondrial alterations (decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential DeltaPsi m and cytochrome c release), which are reduced by caspase-8 inhibitor, suggesting that caspase-8 is primarily involved in A3D8-induced apoptosis of NB4 cells. However, the apoptotic process is independent of TNF-family death receptor signalling. Interestingly, the general serine protease inhibitor 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF) decreases A3D8-induced apoptosis and when combined with general caspase inhibitor displays an additive effect resulting in complete prevention of apoptosis. These results suggest that both caspase-dependent and serine protease-dependent pathways contribute to A3D8-induced apoptosis. Finally, A3D8 induces apoptosis in all-trans-retinoic acid-resistant NB4-derived cells and in APL primary blasts, characterizing the A3D8 anti-CD44 mAb as a novel class of apoptosis-inducing agent in APL.

C-Jun modulates apoptosis but not terminal cell differentiation in murine erythroleukemia cells.

The proto-oncogene c-Jun has been implicated in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation and more recently in the regulation of apoptosis. We have previously reported the involvement of c-Jun in the erythroid differentiation block in murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. As reported here, we investigated the role of c-Jun in the regulation of terminal differentiation and apoptosis of MEL cells by studying different stable transfectant clones containing c-jun constructs in sense or antisense orientation. c-Jun did not prevent cell growth arrest in G0/G1 and p21 induction that are normally associated with terminal differentiation induced by DMSO treatment, suggesting that c-Jun may uncouple phenotypic differentiation and terminal cell division in the MEL cell system. Spontaneous apoptosis was accelerated in c-jun expressing MEL cells before and after DMSO treatment. Moreover, c-Jun sensitized apoptosis induced by various drugs. Drug-induced apoptosis was associated with c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation (JNP). In contrast, overexpression of c-jun delayed apoptosis in serum-starved cells, indicating that c-Jun may reduce or accelerate apoptosis in MEL cells depending on the nature of the apoptotic stimulus. These results suggest that the proto-oncogene c-Jun may modulate differentiation and apoptosis of leukemic cells.

Bcl-XL induction during terminal differentiation of friend erythroleukaemia cells correlates with delay of apoptosis and loss of proliferative capacity but not with haemoglobinization.

Friend murine erythroleukaemia (F-MEL) cells are a useful model for studying the processes that regulate erythroid differentiation since exposure of these cells to chemical inducers (DMSO or HMBA) results in commitment to terminal cell division and synthesis of haemoglobin. This study examined the relationship between differentiation and apoptosis in DMSO sensitive and resistant F-MEL cells. Clear apoptosis was not observed in DMSO-treated sensitive F-MEL (strain 745A) cells during the induction of differentiation. In contrast, DMSO-induced 745A cells exhibited delayed apoptosis compared to uninduced cells. Since the Bcl-2 family members play a major role in the control of apoptosis and/or differentiation, we determined their expression before and after DMSO or HMBA treatment. Neither untreated nor chemically-induced 745A cells expressed the Bcl-2 protein. The levels of Bax and Bad proteins remained relatively constant during DMSO-induced differentiation. DMSO or HMBA treatment of 745A cells induced a marked increase of Bcl-XL expression during the late phase of differentiation which persisted even when the cells began to die. This upregulation of Bcl-XL was independent of cell density but was correlated with cell arrest in G0/G1. DMSO treatment induced a similar delay of apoptosis and enhancement of Bcl-XL expression in F-MEL (strain TFP10) cells which fail to synthesize haemoglobin in the presence of DMSO. Dexamethasone, which blocks DMSO-induced differentiation of F-MEL cells, prevented the induction of Bcl-XL. Inhibitors such as imidazole or succinylacetone, which inhibit haemoglobin synthesis but not commitment to terminal cell division, did not suppress Bcl-XL induction in DMSO-induced cells. Taken together, these results indicate that DMSO treatment of F-MEL cells induces a marked increase in Bcl-XL expression suggesting a role for this anti-apoptotic protein in the process of erythroid differentiation in F-MEL cells. Moreover, induction of Bcl-XL during this process seems to be associated with loss of proliferative capacity rather than with haemoglobin synthesis.

NF-E2p18/mafK is required in DMSO-induced differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells by enhancing NF-E2 activity.

When Friend murine erythroleukemia (F-MEL) cells are induced to differentiate by dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), erythroid-specific genes are transcriptionally activated. The erythroid transcription factor NF-E2 is essential for enhancer activity of the globin locus control regions. NF-E2 functions as a heterocomplex consisting of a 45-kDa subunit (NF-E2p45) and a 18-kDa subunit (NF-E2p18). The larger subunit NF-E2p45 is tissue-restricted and is believed to play a role in globin gene expression in F-MEL cells. The expression of the smaller subunit NF-E2p18, which is a Maf family member (MafK), is cell type- and developmental stage-specific. We have investigated the possible role of NF-E2p18 in Friend erythroid differentiation by stably transfecting either sense and antisense p18 constructs into differentiation-sensitive 745A and partially defective-differentiation TFP10 cell lines. Overexpression of NF-E2p18 induced expression of globin transcripts in both cell lines and increased their sensitivity to erythroid differentiation when exposed to DMSO. Conversely, inhibition of p18 expression by antisense transcripts resulted in the inhibition of DMSO-induced differentiation in both cell lines. These results indicate that NF-E2p18 is necessary for globin expression in F-MEL cells and that it is the predominant gene of the Maf family involved in DMSO-induced erythroid differentiation. Moreover F-MEL clones overexpressing NF-E2p18 showed an increase in specific NF-E2 DNA-binding activity whereas this activity was decreased in clones expressing antisense p18. Finally, studies using transient transfection assays showed that p18 activated NF-E2 site-dependent transcription in F-MEL cells. These data suggest that NF-E2p18 can participate in DMSO-induced erythroid differentiation of F-MEL cells by enhancing NF-E2 activity.

c-Jun inhibits NF-E2 transcriptional activity in association with p18/maf in Friend erythroleukemia cells.

We have reported previously that antisense c-jun overcomes a block of Friend erythroleukemia cells to differentiation suggesting that the factor c-Jun may be an important negative regulator of erythroid differentiation. The recently described erythroid transcription factor NF-E2 plays an important role in the regulation of the transcription of globin genes and recognizes a sequence containing an AP-1 site. NF-E2 is a complex of two bZip proteins, p45 and p18/Maf. In order to determine whether c-Jun can interact with NF-E2/AP-1 sites to regulate transcriptional activation from them, we have compared the activity of AP-1 and NF-E2 in transient transcriptional assays, in erythroid and nonerythroid cells in the presence of c-jun sense and antisense expression vectors. In non-erythroid cells, c-Jun activates and NF-E2p18 inhibits both AP-1 and NF-E2 activities, suggesting that NF-E2/AP-1 sites function as AP-1 binding sites in these cells. In contrast, NF-E2p18 is a positive regulator of NF-E2 activity in erythroid cells. c-Jun alone is also a positive regulator of NF-E2 activity in erythroid cells but in association with NF-E2p18 inhibits this activity. Moreover antisense c-jun increases endogenous NF-E2 activity in erythroid cells. These results suggest that c-Jun could act as a repressor of NF-E2 transcriptional activity by forming inactive c-Jun/NF-E2p18 heterocomplexes which interfer with the transcription of globin genes in Friend erythroleukemia cells.

Antisense c-jun overcomes a differentiation block in a murine erythroleukemia cell line.

We have studied the expression of the c-jun gene during dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) induced differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia (F-MEL) cells. No expression of c-jun was detected in a differentiation-competent F-MEL cell line (745A) either before or after treatment with DMSO. By contrast, c-jun expression was constitutive in a F-MEL cell line (TFP10) resistant to DMSO-induced differentiation and increased with DMSO. We have investigated the possible role of c-jun in conferring this resistance by stably transfecting either sense or antisense c-jun constructs into both differentiation-sensitive 745A and defective TFP10 cell lines. Inhibition of c-jun expression by antisense transcripts in the TFP10 cells restored their ability to undergo erythroid differentiation when exposed to DMSO while expression of junB or junD antisense vectors failed to do so. In addition, c-jun overexpression in the 745A cells resulted in decreased DMSO-induced differentiation. These results indicate a correlation between the level of c-jun expression and the ability of F-MEL cells to undergo DMSO-induced differentiation and suggest that c-Jun may be an important negative regulator in this process.

Co-induction of c-fos and junB during the latent period preceding commitment of Friend erythroleukemia cells to differentiation.

Chemically induced differentiation of Friend murine erythroleukemia cells (F-MELC) is a multistep process with a latent period of about 12 h preceding irreversible commitment to terminal maturation. To gain understanding of the early genetic response of F-MELC to the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) inducer of F-MELC differentiation, we have investigated by Northern blot analysis the expression of fos and jun family genes that encode components of the transcription factor AP-1 complex. Our results show that c-jun mRNA is not detected at any time in untreated and DMSO-treated F-MELC. In contrast, DMSO-induced differentiation of F-MELC is associated with an early and transient induction of c-fos and junB mRNAs by 2 to 8 h treatment while in presence of dexamethasone, an inhibitor of F-MELC commitment, c-fos mRNA is not detected and junB mRNA remains at basal levels. junD mRNA is detected at low levels in untreated F-MELC and remains unchanged during DMSO treatment. Furthermore, DMSO treatment in a F-MELC cell line resistant to DMSO-differentiation does not result in an early induction of c-fos and junB mRNAs. Taken together, these results indicate that the DMSO-induced F-MELC differentiation is accompanied by an early co-induction of c-fos and junB during the latent period preceding the commitment to erythroid maturation.

Coexistence of a c-myc mRNA initiated in intron 1 with the normal c-myc mRNA and similar regulation of both transcripts in mammalian cells.

We previously described a c-myc mRNA initiated within intron 1 at a major start site designated P3. This mRNA was observed in tumorigenic murine cells with no detectable rearrangement of the c-myc gene. In the present study, we report that P3 mRNA also coexists with the P1/P2 c-myc transcript in non-tumorigenic murine cell lines and that a c-myc mRNA which appears to be an equivalent of the murine P3 transcript is found in various rat and human cells. These data suggest that P3 represents a promoter of the normal, non-rearranged mammalian c-myc gene. Furthermore, both P1/P2 and P3 mRNA levels are similarly regulated by cycloheximide and by dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in murine erythroleukemia Friend cells.

Protooncogene expression in normal, preleukemic, and leukemic murine erythroid cells and its relationship to differentiation and proliferation.

The expression of 18 protooncogenes was examined by Northern blot analysis in preleukemic and leukemic stages of murine erythroleukemias induced by Friend viruses. As controls, erythropoietically stimulated spleens from phenylhydrazine-treated mice were studied. Expression of 10 protooncogenes (c-erb-A, c-erb-B, c-ets, c-sis, c-mos, c-rel, c-src, c-fes, c-fms, N-myc [corrected] was not detectable in Friend erythroleukemias. One protooncogene (c-src) was found expressed in normal erythroid cells but not in erythroleukemias. Four protooncogenes (c-fos, c-abl, N-ras, and c-raf) were expressed at low levels in both steps of erythroleukemia. c-fos and c-abl RNAs were barely detectable in normal erythroid cells. High levels of four protooncogene transcripts (c-H-ras, c-K-ras, c-myc, and c-myb) were detected in preleukemic and leukemic tissues. While c-H-ras RNA was found at similar levels in normal and leukemic erythroid cells, c-myc, c-myb, and c-K-ras were not expressed in normal erythroid cells. To determine whether the elevated levels of c-myc, c-myb, and c-K-ras RNAs in erythroleukemic cells are related to the proliferative state or the undifferentiated state of the cells, the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide-induced differentiation on oncogene expression in two erythroleukemia cell lines was examined. Terminal differentiation was associated with lack of c-myb expression while c-myc and c-K-ras expression was essentially unaffected. These results suggest that the high levels of c-myb transcripts in erythroleukemias may reflect the undifferentiated state of the leukemic cells. In contrast, the elevated expression of c-myc and c-K-ras at both stages of the Friend diseases is probably not related to the stage of differentiation but rather to the uncontrolled proliferation of the cells. Finally among 18 protooncogenes surveyed, only the accumulation of c-myc and c-K-ras RNAs appears to be associated with the Friend erythroleukemic process before the late leukemic phase develops.

Presence of a c-myc transcript initiated in intron 1 in Friend erythroleukemia cells and in other murine cell types with no evidence of c-myc gene rearrangement.

In Friend murine erythroleukemia cells, although no detectable c-myc gene rearrangement was found, we observed, in addition to the normal 2.3-kilobase c-myc transcript, the presence of a 2.3-kilobase c-myc mRNA initiated in intron 1 at a promoter site called P3. The intron 1-initiated transcript has a longer half-life than the normal c-myc mRNA. This c-myc transcript initiated in intron 1 was also found in other murine cell types where no rearrangement of the c-myc locus has been reported.

Genetic analysis of myeloproliferative leukemia virus, a novel acute leukemogenic replication-defective retrovirus.

The myeloproliferative leukemia virus (MPLV) is a new acute leukemogenic, nonsarcomatogenic retroviral complex that is generated during the in vivo passage of a molecularly cloned Friend ecotropic helper virus. Examination of viral RNA expression in MPLV-producing cells revealed the presence of two distinct molecular species that hybridized with a long terminal repeat or an ecotropic env-specific probe but not with a xenotropic mink cell focus-forming virus env-specific probe derived from a spleen focus-forming virus: an 8.2-kilobase species corresponding to a full-length Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) and a deleted species with a genomic size of 7.4 kilobases. This deleted virus was biologically cloned by limiting dilutions and single cell cloning in Mus dunni fibroblasts. Three nonproducer clones with normal morphologies and containing one single integrated copy of the deleted virus were superinfected with F-MuLV, Moloney murine leukemia virus, Gross murine leukemia virus, mink cell focus-forming virus (HIX), or the amphotropic 1504 murine leukemia virus. All pseudotypes caused macroscopic and microscopic abnormalities in mice that were similar to those seen in the parental stock. A comparison of the physical maps of F-MuLV and MPLV, which was deduced from the restriction enzyme digests of unintegrated proviral DNAs, indicated that the MPLV-defective genome (i) is probably derived from F-MuLV, (ii) has conserved the F-MuLV gag and pol regions, and (iii) is deleted and rearranged in the env region in a manner that is clearly distinct from that of Friend or Rauscher spleen focus-forming viruses.

Analysis of integrated proviral DNA sequences with an octadecanucleotide probe designed for specific identification of spleen focus-forming virus in the mouse genome.

The Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) is an envelope gene recombinant between the ecotropic Friend murine leukemia virus and the endogenous xenotropic mink cell focus-forming retroviral sequences. We synthesized an octadecanucleotide complementary to the 3' end of the SFFV env gene designed for discriminating the SFFV proviruses from the xenotropic mink cell focus-forming virus and ecotropic exogenous or endogenous viral sequences. Under appropriate hybridization conditions this probe allowed the identification, in addition to few endogenous DNA fragments, of multiple SFFV proviruses integrated in the genome of Friend malignant cells. Therefore this probe should be of interest in further characterizing the SFFV integration sites and possibly the SFFV ancestor gene.

Retroviral endogenous transcripts related to the envelope gene of Friend spleen focus-forming virus in normal mouse tissues.

Retroviral endogenous sequences related to the envelope (env) gene of Friend spleen focus forming virus (SFFV) and of mink cell focus forming viruses (MCF) are present in the genome of various mouse strains. We have examined the transcription of these SFFV/MCF-related sequences in normal tissues of two mouse strains, ICFW and DBA/2. Cytoplasmic Poly A+ RNAs of normal mouse tissues were analyzed by dot-blot and Northern blot hybridizations with a subcloned env SFFV DNA fragment (0.4 kbp BamH I-Sma I). In both mice, the level of SFFV/MCF env related transcripts was very low in bone marrows and spleens whereas it was high in kidneys. Intermediate levels of transcripts were observed in other tissues (thymus, liver and brain). In both mouse strains, the size of SFFV/MCF env related transcripts varied from one tissue to another. Some transcripts in DBA/2 mice were reminiscent of full-size viral message indicating an occasional expression of xenotropic/MCF endogenous virus in this low-leukemic strain. Sizes of the other SFFV/MCF related env transcripts were unusual, but were similar in both strains for each tissue studied. This last result suggests a tissue-specific transcription of endogenous sequences related to the SFFV/MCF env gene. A 1.8 kb SFFV/MCF env RNA was the major transcript in the tissues which expressed a high level of these env transcripts. Treatment of mice with phenylhydrazine which greatly stimulates erythroid differentiation in spleens increased the level of SFFV/MCF related env RNAs only in the spleens, suggesting a possible correlation between the SFFV/MCF env transcription and the stimulation of the erythroid spleen cells.

Integration of spleen focus-forming virus proviruses in Friend tumor cells.

Using the Southern blot procedure, we studied the presumed spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) provirus integration sites in the genome of the premalignant and the malignant cells isolated during the course of Friend erythroleukemia. Two restriction endonucleases, PstI and BamHI, discriminated the presumed integrated SFFV proviruses from the endogenous xenotropic-mink cell focus-forming viral sequences. No SFFV integration sites were detectable in the premalignant cells, suggesting a random integration of SFFV proviruses in the genome of these cells. In contrast, SFFV proviruses were detected at a single or very few sites in the genome of all malignant cells we analyzed. These results indicate that the event leading to the malignant transformation in acute Friend leukemia is clonal. In two of the six animals examined, tumors cells isolated from the spleens and the livers of individual mice showed identical SFFV integration patterns. This last result suggests that in some cases different tumors in a same leukemic animal could be derived from a unique clonal event.

Expression of c-ras and c-myc oncogenes in murine erythroleukemias induced by Friend viruses.

We have examined the expression of three cellular oncogenes (c-Ki-ras, c-Ha-ras and c-myc) in different stages of murine erythroleukemias induced in ICFW mice by Friend viruses (F-MuLV and SFFV) in comparison to normal mice spleens and bone marrows, including erythropoietically-stimulated spleens from phenylhydrazine-treated mice. There is no evidence of c-Ki-ras RNA expression in any of the tissues tested. c-Ha-ras RNA was found at similar levels in erythroleukemic cells and normal erythroid cells. In contrast, increased levels of normal 2.3 Kb and short 1.8 Kb c-myc RNA transcripts were detected in both early preleukemic and late leukemic phases of the diseases, as compared to normal erythroid cells. Apparently, neither myc gene amplification nor myc gene rearrangement was observed in erythroleukemias. Our results suggest a possible involvement of c-myc gene either in erythroid cell differentiation or in an early proliferation step of the erythroleukemic process.

Genesis of a new spleen focus-forming virus: possible role of MCF viruses.

A Friend mink cell focus-inducing (Fr-MCF) virus isolated from a Friend tumor cell line was able to induce acute erythroleukemia associated with polycythemia when injected as a Friend murine ecotropic leukemia virus (F-MuLV) pseudotype into adult Swiss and ICFW mice. One virus isolate recovered from leukemic cells and designated as FV-F3 presented the following properties: (i) persistence of the same leukemogenic power when propagated in vivo and in vitro; (ii) in vivo spleen focus-forming (SFFV) capacity; (iii) presence of erythropoietin (EPO)-independent CFU-E in leukemic animals; (iv) expression of a 32 RNA specifically recognized by a SFFV probe, in FV-F3 infected cells; and (v) expression in FV-F3-infected cell of polypeptides in the range of gp52 SFFV. Peptide analysis of these products revealed close similarities with the parental MCF virus. These data suggest that a SFFV genome arose by genetic recombinational events involving MCF virus.

Isolation and characterization of a gp 70+ non producer Friend tumor cell clone.

Viral expression was analyzed in ten cell clones of a Friend erythroleukemia cell line (HFL/b cell line [3]), which had lost its capacity to produce infectious particles. All the ten subclones were non producers but expressed spleen focus forming virus (SFFV) polypeptides in the form of p48-p50gag and gp50-gp52env. One subclone (subclone 9) expressed the gp70env of the Friend-MuLV helper component of the Friend virus complex. Comparative analysis of viral RNA expression in one gp70- subclone (subclone 2) and in the gp70+ subclone (subclone 9) was performed using specific ecotropic env gene probe and MCF/xenotropic env gene probe. In both subclones 2 and 9, the MCF/xenotropic env gene probe detected 32S SFFV genomic RNA, 20S SFFV env gene mRNA and a 34S RNA. The ecotropic env probe failed to characterize any 38S F-MuLV genomic RNA in both clones but detected 34S RNA and 24S env mRNA in the gp70+ subclone 9. These data show that expression of a complete F-MuLV genome is not required for synthesis of env gene products.