Interleukin-1beta maintains an apoptosis-resistant phenotype in the blast cells of acute myeloid leukaemia via multiple pathways.

Blast cell survival in suspension culture is associated with chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Autonomous production of IL-1beta by AML blasts is linked with a proliferative response, although its role in survival and hence apoptosis-resistance has not been examined in this disease. Cells that secreted more than 19.7 pg/ml IL-1beta were significantly more resistant to spontaneous apoptosis in 48-h culture than those that produced less than 19.7 pg/ml IL-1beta (P=0.008). Exogenous rhIL-1beta significantly enhanced 48-h survival in 25/29 blast cell samples (P=0.0001). IL-1 receptor ligation is known to activate at least three survival pathways: those mediated by PI-3 kinase, IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) and ceramidase. In apoptosis-sensitive AML blasts with a strong survival response to rhIL-1beta, inhibitors of all three pathways down-modulated an IL-1beta-mediated increase in blast survival, but only the inhibition of all three pathways totally eliminated viable blasts. In apoptosis-resistant and apoptosis-sensitive primary AML samples, the three inhibitors all increased apoptosis in vitro after 48 h. Exogenous rhIL-1beta induced the hyperphosphorylation of Bcl-2. It also increased the activation of NF-kappaB in 5/15 blast samples. IL-1beta-mediated survival pathways may be a factor in apoptosis-resistance in primary AML blasts, and may therefore contribute to chemoresistance.

Mitochondrial membrane sensitivity to depolarization in acute myeloblastic leukemia is associated with spontaneous in vitro apoptosis, wild-type TP53, and vicinal thiol/disulfide status.

Nonresponse to remission-induction chemotherapy, which remains a major problem in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), has been linked to cellular resistance to apoptosis. Because the apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs is mediated by loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP), it was postulated that sensitivity to mitochondrial membrane depolarization might be heterogeneous in AML. Using the uncoupling agent carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (mClCCP), the mitochondrial membrane sensitivity to depolarization (mClCCP concentrations that inhibit 50% of the transmembrane potential [IC(50)]) in AML blasts was measured and demonstrated marked interclonal heterogeneity, with the existence of comparatively sensitive (median mClCCP IC(50), 4 microM) and resistant (median mClCCP IC(50), 10 microM) clones. Furthermore, the mClCCP IC(50) was inversely associated with spontaneous in vitro apoptosis (P =.001). It was high in cases with mutant TP53 and correlated with the total cellular level of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (P =.019) but not of bcl-2, bax, or bcl-x. It was also found that the dithiol oxidant diamide, in contrast to the monovalent thiol oxidant diethyl maleate, increased the sensitivity of mitochondrial membranes to mClCCP. To confirm that TP53 directly affects MTP in leukemic cells and to establish the role of vicinal thiol oxidation in the TP53-dependent pathway, CEM 4G5 leukemia cells with forced, temperature-dependent expression of TP53 were studied. Monobromobimane, which inhibits mitochondrial membrane depolarization by preventing dithiol cross-linking, inhibited depolarization and apoptosis in 4G5 cells. It was concluded that in leukemia, TP53 and vicinal thiol/disulfide status are determinants of mitochondrial membrane sensitivity to depolarization, which is in turn associated with spontaneous apoptosis.

Contrasting in vitro effects for the combination of fludarabine, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (FLAG) compared with daunorubicin and Ara-C in P-glycoprotein-positive and P-glycoprotein-negative acute myeloblastic leukaemia.

It has been suggested that the FLAG remission induction regimen comprising fludarabine (F-ara), cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be capable of overcoming P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-related multidrug resistance (MDR) in patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML). We have investigated the in vitro response of P-gp-positive and -negative AML clones to FLAG and compared this with their response to treatment with Ara-C and daunorubicin (DNR). Twenty-four cryopreserved samples from patients with AML were studied using a flow cytometric technique for the enumeration of viable (7-amino actinomycin D negative) cells. Samples consisted of 12 P-gp-positive and 12 P-gp-negative cases, as measured by the MRK16 antibody. The results were analysed by calculating the comparative drug resistance (CDR), i.e. the percentage cell death caused by Ara-C + DNR subtracted from the percentage cell death, caused by FLAG after 48 h incubation in suspension culture. P-gp-positive clones were shown to have a significantly higher CDR than P-gp-negative clones (P = 0. 001). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation (r2 = 0.40, P < 0.01) was found between P-gp protein expression and CDR. However, P-gp function, measured using cyclosporin modulation of rhodamine 123 (R123) uptake, was not associated with the CDR, demonstrating that there are other properties of P-gp, besides its role in drug efflux, that modulate the responsiveness of AML blasts to chemotherapy. These results are consistent with a potential benefit for FLAG in P-gp-positive AML, but not P-gp-negative AML, compared with standard anthracycline and Ara-C therapy.

Reproducible flow cytometric methodology for measuring multidrug resistance in leukaemic blasts.

In order to bring MDR analysis into a clinical setting, reproducible assays with clear cut off points to define MDR positivity must be used. Sensitivity can also be increased by combining the results of more than one assay. We have used a combination of flow cytometric assays to define MDR positive and negative blasts in 47 AML patients entered into MRC trials. Our primary test is a standardised and reproducible assay for anthracycline accumulation in which we use carboxylate microspheres to bind the fluorescent drug daunorubicin (dnr). Cells and beads are incubated concurrently with dnr. Cellular dnr accumulation is quantified as a cell:bead fluorescence ratio. Confirmatory assays for MDR comprise the cyclosporin modulation assay for rhodamine 123 uptake and also measurement of lung resistance protein and multidrug resistance associated protein (with LRP-56 and MRPr1 respectively). 27/47 (57%) samples had both low and accumulation and at least one positive confirmatory test (a modulated functional assay and/or protein overexpression) and were categorised as "confirmed MDR". 15/47 patients (32%) were MDR negative in all 4 assays. 5/47 (11%) patients had unconfirmed low dnr accumulation. None of the patients in this cohort had high dnr accumulation alongside overexpressed LRP or MRP or functional P-glycoprotein. We believe that this approach to MDR analysis enhances the value of the highly reproducible functional assays. The use of a primary and confirmatory tests is also likely to improve specificity.

Early allogeneic transplantation for refractory or relapsed acute leukaemia following remission induction with FLAG.

The prognosis for patients with secondary AML, primary resistant AML or ALL and early (<12 months) relapse of acute leukaemia remains extremely poor with conventional chemotherapy. As part of a strategy to improve the outcome for these patients we have treated 22 consecutive patients (18 AML, four ALL, median age 35 years) with either primary resistant disease (n=3), early relapsed leukaemia (n= 12) or secondary AML (n= 7, four RAEBt, two antecedant ALL and one antecedant Hodgkin's disease) with 'FLAG' induction chemotherapy with the aim of proceeding to early allogeneic transplantation either from sibling or unrelated donors. Eighteen patients achieved CR after one course of FLAG, including five patients who had documented p-glycoprotein-induced multidrug resistance and 10 patients with adverse cytogenetic abnormalities. Eight patients were consolidated with a second course of FLAG prior to transplantation and so far 16 patients have undergone allogeneic transplantation, 10 from unrelated donors and six from sibling donors (one mismatched). By the time of transplant three patients had progressed and were in early relapse and all have relapsed post BMT. Of the remaining 13 patients transplanted in remission, nine remain in CCR at a range of 4-26 months, three have died of transplant-related complications (18%) and one patient has relapsed. We conclude that the use of FLAG induction therapy followed by early allogeneic transplantation from either a sibling or unrelated donor can be an effective strategy for the treatment of this difficult group of young patients with poor risk acute leukaemia and appears to be associated with a low procedure-related risk.

Use of standardized flow cytometric determinants of multidrug resistance to analyse response to remission induction chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia.

We have used a combination of flow cytometric assays to define multidrug resistance (MDR) positive and negative blasts in cryopreserved samples from 47 MRC trial patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML). Our primary test is a standardized assay for daunorubicin accumulation. Confirmatory assays for MDR comprised the cyclosporin modulation assay for rhodamine-123 uptake as a measure of functional P-glycoprotein and the measurement of lung resistance protein and multidrug resistance associated protein (with LRP-56 and MRPr1 respectively). 57% of samples had both low accumulation and at least one positive confirmatory test. 32% were MDR negative in all four assays. 15% of patients had primary chemo-resistant disease. Resistant disease rates were 22% for confirmed MDR-positive patients and 0% for confirmed MDR-negative patients (P=0.07). Complete remission was achieved in 74% of patients, with rates of 63% in confirmed MDR-positive patients and 93% in confirmed MDR-negative patients (P=0.06). The use of a standardized method for daunorubicin uptake, combined with the use of confirmatory tests, should reduce the uncertainty that is currently characteristic of MDR evaluation in leukaemia. In comparison with daunorubicin uptake, p-gp expression, measured using MRK-16 antibody, was more closely associated with remission rates (P =0.01). This suggests an additional role for p-glycoprotein in mediating drug resistance beyond that of a drug efflux pump.

Effects of r-metHuG-CSF on polymorphonuclear leucocyte kinetics and function in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

End-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) are immunocompromised and exhibit abnormal circulating polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) function, including reduced phagocytosis and intracellular killing. Six uraemic patients on CAPD were each given 300 microg granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) every day for 5 d and PMN function tests were performed daily. By day 5 of the study CD11b expression was significantly decreased in response to N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP) and opsonized Staphylococcus epidermidis stimulation, and expression of L-selectin (CD62L) was significantly decreased in response to opsonized Staphylococcus epidermidis stimulation. Further, superoxide anion production and Fc gammaRI (CD64) expression were found to be significantly increased and Fc gammaRII (CD16) expression was lowered. Circulating white cell and PMN counts were significantly elevated in response to treatment. Administration of G-CSF did not appear to have corrected the abnormalities in phagocytosis and intracellular killing. This study suggests that G-CSF does no harm to ESRF patients and influences uraemic PMN function in a manner that is comparable to its effects on PMN in non-uraemic subjects.

Blast maturity and CD34 expression determine the effects of the differentiating agents KH1060 and 9-cis-retinoic acid on the differentiation and clonogenicity of non-M3 acute myeloid leukaemia cells.

The vitamin D analogue KH1060 and the retinoids all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cRA) and 4-hydroxyphenyl retinamide (4-HPR) induce differentiation and/or apoptosis and inhibit clonal growth of acute promyelocytic leukaemia cells. We have studied the effects of these agents in vitro on cells from 12 patients with other forms of acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML). Treatment with KH1060 (10(-6) M) caused decreases in cell viability in suspension culture to a median of 44% of control values (P=0.02). However, retinoids had little effect. Subsequent clonal growth in semi-solid medium was inhibited to 5% (median) of control with 10(-6) M KH 1060 (P=0.03) and to 73% with 10(-6) M 9-cRA (P=0.01). Further inhibition of clonal growth by the combination of 5 x 10(-7) M 9-cRA and 5 x 10(-7) M KH1060 was only noted in one case. Following the primary suspension culture, cells from 6/6 CD34 positive samples grew in semi-solid cultures without analogues, whereas cells from 3/6 CD34 negative cultures grew. 10(-6) M KH1060 completely abolished colony growth in all three CD34 negative samples and 10(-6) M 9-cRA inhibited the number of colonies to a median of 11% of control values. In the six CD34 positive samples median colony growth was inhibited to 36% of control values by KH1060 and to 83% of control values by 9-cRA. CD11b expression was increased by 210% (median) with 9-cRA and by 90% (median) with KH1060 in early to intermediate myeloblast (M0, M1, M2) clones. A different pattern was noted in more mature (M4, M5, M6) clones: here there was little or no increase in CD11b expression induced by retinoids or KH1060, but the ratio of apoptotic to viable CD11b+ cells, measured by CD11b/7-AAD double staining, was increased in 6/6 cases treated with KH1060 or the combination of 9-cRA and KH 1060, and in 5/6 cases treated with 9-cRA. No overall significant change in bcl-2 or bax expression on G0/G1 cells was found after 3 days' suspension culture with the analogues. However bcl-x was downregulated in G0/G1 cells treated with KH1060 (median bcl-x relative fluorescence intensity = 45.3 in cells treated with KH1060, compared with 65.7 in control wells, P=0.028). We conclude that CD34+ samples are relatively resistant to the growth inhibition induced by KH1060 and 9-cRA. However, downregulation of bcl-x in cells which have survived treatment with KH1060 may increase the susceptibility of the remaining leukaemic cells to cytotoxic drugs.

Ex vivo neutrophil function in response to three different doses of glycosylated rHuG-CSF (Lenograstim).

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is being considered as adjuvant treatment for infections in non-neutropenic patients. Normal healthy donors were given rHuG-CSF (Lenograstim) at 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 micrograms/kg subcutaneously daily for 5 d. Polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) function tests were carried out on peripheral blood PMN before the first injection and at 24 h and 96 h. Circulating PMN levels were also measured at these time intervals and found to be significantly increased with all doses by 24 and 96 h. Investigation of cell surface antigen expression revealed no changes in beta 2 integrin (CD11b/ CD18) expression. L-selectin (CD62L) expression was reduced with all doses by 96 h, this being significant with the 7.5 micrograms/kg dose. Fc gamma RI (CD64) levels were significantly up-regulated with the 7.5 micrograms/kg dose by 96 h whereas Fc gamma RIII (CD16) expression was found to be reduced during G-CSF treatment. Superoxide anion production was significantly increased in response to N-formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP) and opsonized Staphylococcus epidermidis stimulation at 24 h and 96 h with the 5.0 and 7.5 micrograms/kg doses. The initial rate of phagocytosis (0-2 min) appeared to have increased with the 7.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg doses at 96 and 24 h compared with PMN responses pretreatment, although these increases were not statistically significant. These results show that G-CSF enhances the functional responses of PMN stimulated by physiological agnonists and may help in the treatment of infections.

[Blood cadmium and plasma zinc in hypertensive patients. Apropos of 76 cases]. / Cadmium sanguin et zinc plasmatique chez l'hypertendu. A propos de 76 observations.

Changes in total blood cadmium level (CdT), in blood plasma Zinc level (ZnP) and in CdT/ZnP ratio were studied in 39 hypertensive patients compared to 37 healthy subjects. The hypertensive patients were caracterized by a higher CdT level (p less than 10(-5)), a lower ZnP level (p less than 10(-7)) and a higher CdT/ZnP ratio (p less than 10(-7)). A negative correlation was found between CdT and ZnP, and between blood pressure values (systolic and diastolic) and ZnP. A positive correlation was found between blood pressure values and CdT, and therefore CdT/ZnP ratio.

[Carbonic anhydrase activity in male chronic alcoholics. Statistical analysis of correlations apropos of 74 cases]. / Activité de l'anhydrase carbonique chez l'éthylique chronique de sexe masculin. Analyse statistique des corrélations à propos de soixante-quatorze observations.

Changes in cadmium blood levels and erythrocyte contents and in carbonic anhydrase activity (C.A.A.) were studied comparatively in 74 male subjects: 37 chronic alcoholics and 37 healthy age-matched controls. Chronic alcoholics exhibited significantly higher serum and erythrocyte cadmium concentrations and lower CAA than controls. Cadmium levels were correlated with the CAA. There was a negative correlation between the CAA and the mean corpuscular volume, daily alcohol intake and duration of the intemperance, in contrast with a positive correlation demonstrated for cadmium concentrations.