scholarly journals Dissociation between p93B-myb and p75c-myb expression during the proliferation and differentiation of human myeloid cell lines

Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 1778-1790 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Arsura ◽  
MM Luchetti ◽  
E Erba ◽  
J Golay ◽  
A Rambaldi ◽  
...  

Abstract Direct and indirect evidence strongly indicates that the proto-oncogene c-myb plays an important role in the regulation of both the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. In addition, recent data suggest that the structurally related B-myb gene is also necessary for the proliferation of these cells. To help understand the relationship between these two related gene products during proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells, we have studied in parallel the regulated expression of c-myb and B-myb RNAs and proteins in human myeloid cells that were either growth-arrested or induced to differentiate along different pathways. For this purpose, we have produced a polyclonal antibody directed against a fragment of the recombinant B-myb protein. We have thus been able to detect the B-myb protein in human cell lines and have found it to be a 93-kD protein localized in the nucleus. We have chosen two models to study the expression of both c-myb and B-myb mRNAs and proteins during myeloid proliferation and differentiation. One of the models was the HL-60 cell line, which can be induced to differentiate towards the monocytic pathway with either phorbol ester (phorbol myristate acetate) or vitamin D3 and towards the granulocytic pathway with either dimethyl sulfoxide or retinoic acid. In addition, we have studied another recently established human leukemic cell line, called GF-D8, which is strictly dependent on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for proliferation. The results show that the expression of B- myb RNA and protein closely correlates with proliferation in all experimental setups studied, whereas the c-myb protein levels do not always do so. We observed that the c-myb protein levels decreased well before the decrease of B-myb protein and of proliferation itself during differentiation toward monocytes. Such a difference was not present during granulocytic differentiation, in which c-myb levels decreased, if anything, later than those of B-myb and proliferation. Most striking was the finding that high levels of c-myb RNA and protein, but not of B- myb, were present in the GF-D8 cell line, even after growth arrest by GM-CSF deprivation. These data suggest that B-myb may function solely in the regulation of cellular proliferation, whereas c-myb has additional functions, for example, in the maintenance of an undifferentiated state.

Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 1778-1790 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Arsura ◽  
MM Luchetti ◽  
E Erba ◽  
J Golay ◽  
A Rambaldi ◽  
...  

Direct and indirect evidence strongly indicates that the proto-oncogene c-myb plays an important role in the regulation of both the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. In addition, recent data suggest that the structurally related B-myb gene is also necessary for the proliferation of these cells. To help understand the relationship between these two related gene products during proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells, we have studied in parallel the regulated expression of c-myb and B-myb RNAs and proteins in human myeloid cells that were either growth-arrested or induced to differentiate along different pathways. For this purpose, we have produced a polyclonal antibody directed against a fragment of the recombinant B-myb protein. We have thus been able to detect the B-myb protein in human cell lines and have found it to be a 93-kD protein localized in the nucleus. We have chosen two models to study the expression of both c-myb and B-myb mRNAs and proteins during myeloid proliferation and differentiation. One of the models was the HL-60 cell line, which can be induced to differentiate towards the monocytic pathway with either phorbol ester (phorbol myristate acetate) or vitamin D3 and towards the granulocytic pathway with either dimethyl sulfoxide or retinoic acid. In addition, we have studied another recently established human leukemic cell line, called GF-D8, which is strictly dependent on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for proliferation. The results show that the expression of B- myb RNA and protein closely correlates with proliferation in all experimental setups studied, whereas the c-myb protein levels do not always do so. We observed that the c-myb protein levels decreased well before the decrease of B-myb protein and of proliferation itself during differentiation toward monocytes. Such a difference was not present during granulocytic differentiation, in which c-myb levels decreased, if anything, later than those of B-myb and proliferation. Most striking was the finding that high levels of c-myb RNA and protein, but not of B- myb, were present in the GF-D8 cell line, even after growth arrest by GM-CSF deprivation. These data suggest that B-myb may function solely in the regulation of cellular proliferation, whereas c-myb has additional functions, for example, in the maintenance of an undifferentiated state.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2503-2503
Author(s):  
Kristopher A. Sarosiek ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Dien G. Pham ◽  
Hovav Nechushtan ◽  
E. Avisar ◽  
...  

Abstract IL-21, a member of the IL-2 cytokine family, is reported to have an immune-mediated anti-tumor activity against renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) cell lines in xenograph animal models. Whether IL-21 exhibits direct anti-tumor activity against NHL cell lines and primary tumors is presently unknown. We analyzed seven DLBCL and two Burkitt’s lymphoma cell lines for IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) expression. IL-21R was expressed at high levels in the two Burkitt’s lymphoma cell lines (RAJI and RAMOS). Out of the seven DLBCL lines, four expressed high levels of the receptor (OCI-LY-3, OCI-LY-7, OCI-LY-19, and RCK-8) while three had low receptor expression levels (OCI-LY-10, SU-DHL-4, and SU-DHL-6). IL-21 stimulation induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT-1, -3, and -5 as early as fifteen minutes post treatment in DLBCL lines expressing either high (OCI-LY-3 and RCK-8) or low (SU-DHL-6 and OCI-LY-10) levels of IL-21R. In six of the seven DLBCL lines tested, IL-21 dramatically inhibited or completely abolished cellular proliferation at 25 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL concentrations, respectively. In contrast, one DLBCL cell line (OCI-LY-3) exhibited a threefold increase in cellular proliferation after stimulation with 25 ng/mL IL-21, but proliferation was effectively inhibited by 100 ng/mL IL-21. Marked apoptosis and cell death were observed by flow cytometry at 72 hours post IL-21 exposure in all nine NHL cell lines tested with the exception of OCI-LY-3 which exhibited no significant change in cell viability. The IL-21-induced apoptosis was associated with an activation of caspases 3/7, 8, and 9, detected as early as 12 hours post IL-21 exposure. IL-21 also induced an increase in the levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in all the cell lines exhibiting marked apoptosis. In contrast, Bim protein levels decreased in response to the IL-21 stimulation in the resistant OCI-LY-3 DLBCL cell line. IL-21 treatment led to a decrease in the protein levels of Bcl-2 in all the analyzed cell lines except OCI-LY-3. An increase in expression of Bcl-6 protein in three of the four tested DLBCL cell lines was observed in response to IL-21 exposure. In primary tumors, IL-21 induced apoptosis in two of two DLBCLs, two of three follicular lymphomas, and two of six chronic lymphocytic leukemias. No apoptosis or cell death was induced in normal peripheral B-lymphocytes or in the HeLa or 293T control cells. These results suggest that IL-21 exhibits a direct anti-tumor effect on the DLBCL cell lines and primary tumors and point to a potential applicability of IL-21 in anti-DLBCL therapy. Further work interrogating the molecular mechanism of the IL-21-induced apoptosis of DLBCL cells in vitro and in animal models is in progress.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger H H Erb ◽  
Regina V Langlechner ◽  
Patrizia L Moser ◽  
Florian Handle ◽  
Tineke Casneuf ◽  
...  

Development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa) are associated with chronic inflammation. The cytokine interleukin 6 (IL6) can influence progression, differentiation, survival, and angiogenesis of PCa. To identify novel pathways that are triggered by IL6, we performed a gene expression profiling of two PCa cell lines, LNCaP and MDA PCa 2b, treated with 5 ng/ml IL6. Interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) was identified as one of the most prevalent IL6-regulated genes in both cell lines. IRF9 is a mediator of type I IFN signaling and acts together with STAT1 and 2 to activate transcription of IFN-responsive genes. The IL6 regulation of IRF9 was confirmed at mRNA and protein levels by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot respectively in both cell lines and could be blocked by the anti-IL6 antibody Siltuximab. Three PCa cell lines, PC3, Du-145, and LNCaP-IL6+, with an autocrine IL6 loop displayed high expression of IRF9. A tissue microarray with 36 PCa tissues showed that IRF9 protein expression is moderately elevated in malignant areas and positively correlates with the tissue expression of IL6. Downregulation and overexpression of IRF9 provided evidence for an IFN-independent role of IRF9 in cellular proliferation of different PCa cell lines. Furthermore, expression of IRF9 was essential to mediate the antiproliferative effects of IFNα2. We concluded that IL6 is an inducer of IRF9 expression in PCa and a sensitizer for the antiproliferative effects of IFNα2.


1993 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 477-484
Author(s):  
M. Alvarez-Silva ◽  
L.C. da Silva ◽  
R. Borojevic

In chronic murine schistosomiasis, extramedullar myelopoiesis was observed, with proliferation of myeloid cells in liver parenchyma and in periovular granulomas. We have studied the question of whether cells obtained from granulomatous connective tissue may act as myelopoietic stroma, supporting long-term myeloid proliferation. Primary cell lines (GR) were obtained in vitro from periovular granulomas, induced in mouse livers by Schistosoma mansoni infection. These cells were characterized as myofibroblasts, and represent liver connective tissue cells involved in fibro-granulomatous reactions. They were able to sustain survival and proliferation of the multipotent myeloid cell lines FDC-P1 and DA-1 (dependent on interleukin-3 and/or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, GM-CSF) without the addition of exogenous growth factors. This stimulation was dependent upon myeloid cell attachment to the GR cell layer; GR cell-conditioned medium had no activity. Primary murine skin fibroblasts could not sustain myelopoiesis. The endogenous growth-factor was identified as GM-CSF by neutralization assays with monoclonal antibodies. The stimulation of myelopoiesis occurred also when GR cells had been fixed with glutardialdehyde. The observed stimulatory activity was dependent upon heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) associated with GR cell membranes. It could be dislodged from the cell layer with heparin or a high salt buffer. Our results indicate a molecular interaction between endogenous growth-factor and HSPGs; this interaction may be responsible for the stabilization and presentation of growth factors in myelopoietic stromas, mediating extramedullar proliferation of myeloid cells in periovular granulomas.


1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 3525-3531
Author(s):  
J K Griffith

Recombinant DNA probes complementary to Chinese hamster metallothionein (MT)-1 and MT-2 mRNAs were used to compare MT gene copy numbers, zinc-induced MT mRNA levels, and uninduced MT mRNA levels in cadmium-resistant (Cdr) Chinese hamster ovary cell lines. Quantitative hybridization analyses determined that the MT-1 and MT-2 genes are each present at approximately single-copy levels in the genome of cell line Cdr2C10 and are coordinately amplified approximately 7, 3, and 12 times over the Cdr2C10 value in the genomes of cell lines Cdr20F4, Cdr30F9, and Cdr200T1, respectively. The maximum zinc-induced MT-1 mRNA concentrations in cell lines Cdr20F4, Cdr30F9, and Cdr200T1 were equal to 1, 3, and 15 times that measured in Cdr2C10, respectively. Similarly, the maximum zinc-induced MT-2 mRNA concentrations were equal to 1, 3, and 14 times that measured in Cdr2C10, respectively, and in each instance they were 90 to 150 times greater than their respective concentrations in uninduced cells. Thus, relative MT gene numbers are closely correlated with both zinc-induced and uninduced MT mRNA levels in Cdr2C10, Cdr30F9, and Cdr200T1, but not in Cdr20F4. Each of the latter two lines possesses structurally altered chromosomes whose breakpoints are near the MT locus. Nonetheless, the ratio of the levels of MT-1 to MT-2 mRNAs was constant in each of the four cell lines, including Cdr20F4. These results demonstrate that MT-1 and MT-2 mRNAs are induced coordinately in each Cdr cell line. Therefore, the coordination of the induction of MT-1 and MT-2 mRNA is independent of MT gene amplification, MT gene rearrangement, and the relative inducibilities of amplified MT genes. However, MT mRNA and protein levels each indicate that MT-1 and MT-2 expression is non-coordinate in uninduced cells. Thus, regulation of MT expression may involve two different mechanisms which are differentially operative in induced and uninduced cells.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1107-1107
Author(s):  
Jacqueline C. Barrientos ◽  
Sofya Rodov ◽  
Arthur W. Zieske ◽  
K. Gary J. Vanasse

Abstract The recent generation of mice lacking functional SOCS3 in hepatocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils reveals SOCS3 to be an essential regulator of IL-6 signaling via mediation of gp130-related cellular complexes, as well as a negative regulator of G-CSF signaling in myeloid cells. Although SOCS3 would appear to be a critical physiologic regulator of inflammatory responses, its possible role in hematologic malignancies and the underlying mechanisms which regulate its expression in B cells remain to be clearly defined. We previously showed that CD19+ B cells isolated from Eμ-Bcl-2 transgenic mice express high levels of SOCS3 in addition to overexpression of Bcl-2. Moreover, hematopoietic cell lines transduced to stably overexpress Bcl-2 exhibited marked induction of SOCS3 compared to controls, suggesting Bcl-2-associated pathways may play a role in the induction of SOCS3. In the current study, we describe SOCS3 overexpression limited to neoplastic follicular lymphoma (FL) cells in Bcl-2-associated human de novo FL and show that overexpression of SOCS3 is capable of stimulating cytokine-independent cellular proliferation of the BaF3 pro-B cell line. We measured SOCS3 protein levels by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded biopsies from twelve patients diagnosed with de novo, untreated histologic grade I or II FL which harbored t(14;18) and Bcl-2 overexpression. In 9/12 de novo FL cases examined, immunostaining with two distinct antibodies to SOCS3 revealed marked overexpression of SOCS3 protein that, within the follicular center cell region, was limited to neoplastic FL cells and co-localized with Bcl-2 primarily in the nucleus of positive cells. In contrast, SOCS3 protein was not detected by immunostaining in germinal center follicular B cells from benign hyperplastic tonsil tissue. To further evaluate the role of SOCS3 in B cell biology, the IL-3-dependent BaF3 pro-B cell line was stably transduced with either a retroviral expression construct containing a 675bp human SOCS3 cDNA (BaF3SOCS3) or with vector only control (BaF3Δ). Whereas no SOCS3 protein was detected in control cells, high level expression of SOCS3 in transduced BaF3SOCS3 cells was confirmed by Western analysis using SOCS3 anti-sera. Furthermore, Bcl-2 protein was not detected in either BaF3SOCS3 or control cell lines. 2 x 105 BaF3SOCS3, BaF3Δ, and non-transduced BaF3 cell lines were initially grown in the presence 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 5% WEHI 3B cell-conditioned medium as a source of IL-3. IL-3 was then removed by washing with DMEM/10% FBS. Cell viability was then measured by recording absorbance at 490nm using incorporation of the MTS tetrazolium compound. Interestingly, BaF3SOCS3 cells overexpressing SOCS3 did not undergo apoptosis but were able to proliferate in the absence of IL-3, with percent viable cells approaching 400% at > 96 hours, which represented the final time-point measured. In contrast, BaF3Δ and non-transduced BaF3 cells underwent apoptotic cell death between 8 and 36 hours in response to IL-3 withdrawal. Thus, SOCS3 overexpression confers IL-3-independent cell proliferation to the BaF3 cell line. These data indicate that unlike its negative regulatory effect on G-CSF signaling in myeloid cells, overexpression of SOCS3 in B cells may promote B cell proliferation rather than growth suppression and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of de novo FL in humans.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2180-2180
Author(s):  
Yaling Qiu ◽  
Dazhong Zhuang ◽  
Alexandra MacRae ◽  
Fan Dong

Abstract Granulocytic progenitor cells become progressively less capable of proliferation and survival with terminal differentiation. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is the major regulator of granulopoiesis and stimulates the activation of multiple signaling pathways including the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5) pathway. Little is known about the activation status of G-CSF-stimulated signaling pathways at the distinct stages of granulocytic differentiation. When myeloid 32D cells transfected with the G-CSF receptor were induced to differentiate with G-CSF, Stat5 activation in response to G-CSF was gradually attenuated. Activation of other signaling molecules including Stat1, Stat3, Erk1/2, JNK and p38 was not altered significantly. Stat5 activation was also downregulated in multipotent FDCP-mix cells, which differentiated into mature granulocytes upon induction with G-CSF, but not in pro-B BaF/3 transfected with the G-CSF receptor, which showed no terminal granulocytic differentiation in response to G-CSF, suggesting that the effect of G-CSF is cell type specific. Attenuated activation of Stat5 correlated with reduced Stat5 protein levels, which was associated with expression of a protease activity capable of degrading Stat5 protein in vitro. The Stat5 protease activity was upregulated when myeloid cells were induced to differentiate with G-CSF, but its upregulation by G-CSF was blocked upon expression of leukemogenic proteins Bcr-Abl and Tel-Jak2. The activity of the Stat5 protease was inhibited partially by PMSF and completely by a1-antitrypsin, suggesting that it belongs to the serine family of protease. Our data provide the first evidence that a Stat5 protease activity is upregulated by G-CSF and may have important implications for understanding the molecular mechanism by which G-CSF orchestrates granulopoiesis.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 3528-3528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srdan Verstovsek ◽  
Cem Akin ◽  
Giles J. Francis ◽  
Manshouri Taghi ◽  
Ly Huynh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Majority of adult patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) have activating mutation in codon 816 of c-kit (CD117), a receptor on the surface of mast cells. This abnormality is responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods. We investigated the effects of a newly designed tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AMN107, by comparing its in vitro inhibitory potency on c-kit mutated mast cell lines and patient samples with that of imatinib mesylate, another tyrosine kinase inhibitor, effective in some patients with SM. Two cell lines, subclones of HMC-1 cells, were used: HMC-1560 carrying juxtamembrane domain mutation in codon 560 of c-kit, and HMC-1560, 816 carrying both codon 560 mutation and tyrosine kinase domain mutation in codon 816 of c-kit. Results. In HMC-1560 mast cell line carrying wild-type codon 816, AMN107 was as potent as imatinib in inhibiting cellular proliferation, with IC50 values of 108 and 74 nM respectively, while in HMC-1560, 816 cell line carrying 816 mutation, neither medication had an effect. AMN107 was also as effective as imatinib in inhibiting phosphorylation of c-kit tyrosine kinase in HMC-1560 cells. The inhibition of cellular proliferation was associated with induction of apoptosis in HMC-1560 cells. AMN107 in concentrations up to 1 uM had no effect on bone marrow mast cells carrying D816V c-kit mutation obtained from patients with mastocytosis. Conclusions. Our results suggest similar potency of AMN107 and imatinib in mast cells that carry wild-type codon 816, but no activity against codon 816 mutation carrying cells.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 2401-2401
Author(s):  
Jesus Duque-Afonso ◽  
Leticia Solari ◽  
Michael Luebbert

Abstract LAT2 (NTAL/LAB/WBSCR5) is a 28 KDa membrane protein which acts as adaptor molecule in the signalling pathways of FcεR I, c-Kit, B cell and T cell receptor. Bone marrow-derived mast cells from knock-out (KO) mice are hyperresponsive to stimulation via FcεR I. Although LAT2 is highly expressed in B cells, no major changes were found in function or development of B cells from LAT2 KO mice. An autoimmunity syndrome in LAT2 KO mice is caused, at least in part, by hyperreactivity and higher proliferation of T cells. Previously, we showed that LAT2 mRNA is repressed in vivo by AML1/ETO which was confirmed by others in several large series of primary AML blasts. We wished to elucidate the possible role of LAT2 during the myelopoiesis. AML1/ETO was induced by Ponasterone A in an ecdysone-inducible system in U937 cells (9/14/18 cell line). AML bone marrow samples from 43 patients (pts) were analyzed for LAT2 expression. Several myeloid cell lines were treated either with ATRA, DMSO or PMA for 3 days. Normal CD34+ cells were differentiated ex vivo by G-CSF towards granulocytes and by GM-CSF plus IL-4 towards monocytes and dendritic cells. LAT2 expression was determined by Northern and Western blot. LAT2 protein was repressed not only in AML1/ETO positive primary AML blasts (6/6), but also in blasts from patients with deletions of chromosome 7 (3/4) and the t(15;17) (4/4); expression was moderate to high in AML blasts with normal karyotype (14/15). LAT2 was expressed in normal monocytes and even higher in alveolar macrophages but not in granulocytes of healthy donors. It was downregulated after ATRA-induced granulocytic differentiation of NB4, HL60 and U937 cells but upregulated after DMSO-induced granulocytic differentiation of HL60 cells and PMA-induced monocytic-macrophage differentiation of HL60, U937 and Kasumi-1 cells. In normal CD34+ cells, LAT2 was strongly induced 7 days after the addition of G-CSF and GM-CSF+IL4 respectively, but after 14 days it was downregulated (0.7 +/− 0.4-fold) by G-CSF-induced granulocytic differentiation and upregulated (5.8 +/− 2.8-fold) by GM-CSF+IL4-induced monocytic-DC differentiation. Conditional expression of AML1/ETO in 9/14/18-U937 cells partially inhibited the PMA- and vitamin D3-induced monocytic differentiation of these cells, as determined by FACS for CD11b and CD11c. In conclusion, LAT2 protein is strongly repressed by AML1/ETO in primary leukemias and is upregulated during the monocytic differentiation in several cell lines and normal CD34+ cells. Further studies in a LAT2 knock-down by shRNAs in U937 cells are warranted to functionally address its possible role in monocytic differentiation.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 1394-1394
Author(s):  
Mitsuteru Hiwatari ◽  
Jingqiu Dai ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Yu-Dong Zhou ◽  
Dale G. Nagle ◽  
...  

Abstract Quassinoids are natural product compounds known to possess tumor cytotoxicity and antimalarial activity. Neosergiolide and isobrucein B are two quassinoids previously isolated from roots and stems of Picrolemma sprucei. In screening studies to identify inhibitors that target STAT3, we discovered neosergeolide and isobrucein B as active compounds. Approximately 5000 plant-derived extracts were screened using a cell line that stably expresses a STAT3-dependent luciferase reporter and NPM-ALK, which constitutively induces STAT3 transcriptional activity. Of 25 total hits, a P. sprucei extract was potent and selective for STAT3 inhibition, and bioassay-guided isolation identified neosergeolide and isobrucein B as the inhibitory compounds. Western blot analysis confirmed that neosergeolide and isobrucein B not only inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of STAT3 but also decrease total STAT3 protein levels via a mechanism due in part to enhanced proteasome-mediated degradation. Small-molecule proteasome inhibitors such as MG132 and ALLN reversed the ability of the two quassinoids to decrease STAT3 protein levels; furthermore, simultaneous incubation of various hematopoietic malignancy cell lines with either neosergeolide or isobrucein B and MG132 or ALLN antagonized the cytotoxic activity of the quassinoids. Assessment of neosergiolide and isobrucein B antitumor effects using an XTT assay revealed both compounds to possess potent cytotoxic activity across a broad spectrum of hematopoietic malignancies, with T-leukemias/lymphomas being especially responsive. For example, mycosis fungoides (MF)- and Sezary syndrome (SS)-derived cell lines, as well as non-MF/SS cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) lines, were potently inhibited by both quassinoids (neosergiolide IC50 values: MAC-1, 11.6 nM; MAC-2A, 6.9 nM; Hut-78, 6.6 nM; HH, 4.3 nM; MJ, 7.0 nM; isobrucein B IC50 values: MAC-1, 31.9 nM; MAC-2A, 72.3 nM; Hut-78, 23.5 nM; HH; 20.3 nM; MJ, 13.5 nM). Non-hematopoietic cell lines representing various solid tumors also exhibited potent cytotoxic responses to the quassinoids (e.g., gastric carcinoma line AGS [neosergiolide IC50: 16.9 nM; isobrucein B IC50: 114.9 nM]). With rare exceptions, the cytotoxicity of the quassinoids against a specific tumor cell line correlated with STAT3 activation status; for example, breast cancer line MCF7 with inactive STAT3 was resistant to both quassinoids even at the maximum concentration tested (6.25 μM), whereas breast cancer lines MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-435s with activated STAT3 were inhibited by both compounds at low concentrations (neosergiolide IC50: MDA-MB-435s, 31.3 nM; MDA-MB-468, 29.9 nM; isobrucein B IC50: MDA-MB-435s, 209.3 nM; MDA-MB-468, 356.8 nM). The in vitro antitumor activity of the two quassinoids could also be demonstrated in vivo. For example, isobrucein B (1.0 mg/kg IP once q 3d x 5 doses) could be safely administered and potently inhibited the growth in SCID mice of the CD30+ primary CTCL MAC-1 cell line; mice at treatment day 16 showed average subcutaneous tumor volumes of 3839 ± 863 (s.e.) mm3 in the vehicle-control group and 913 ± 349 (s.e.) mm3 in the isobrucein B group (P=0.008, t-test). These results provide strong support for STAT3 targeting in antitumor drug discovery and suggest that quassinoids may have utility in such an approach.


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