Inhibition of transferrin receptor expression by interferon-alpha in human lymphoblastoid cells and mitogen-induced lymphocytes

Mechanism of Decrease in Transferrin Receptor Synthesis by Interferon-α Treated Human Lymphoblastoid Cells

To clarify the mechanism of antiproliferative action of interferon-α (IFN-α) in hematological malignancy, we examined the transferrin receptor system in the lymphoblastoid cell line, Daudi cells treated with IFN-α. When cells were cultured with 10(4)U/ml of IFN-α, the number of surface transferrin receptors was decreased to 60% of that seen in the control culture. This decrease was not neutralized by co-incubation with the iron chelator, desferrioxamine (10-200 μM), suggesting that the change in the level of chelatable iron did not account for the decrease in transferrin receptor numbers. When determined by metabolic labeling using (35)S-methionine, IFN-α markedly decreased the rate of transferrin receptor biosynthesis. Uptake of iron and the cellular ferritin content also decreased by 50% when incubated with 10(4)U/ml of IFN-α. These data indicate that IFN-α inhibits transferrin receptor biosynthesis in an iron-independent fashion and the subsequent cellular iron-deficiency state may play a role in the antiproliferative action of IFN-α.

The Interferons in Clinical Practice

In the last decade, recombinant DNA technologies have allowed the production of highly purified interferons in virtually unlimited amounts. Therefore it has become possible to evaluate the usefulness of interferon therapy in several different diseases. Nowadays interferons have a well defined role in the therapy of infectious and malignant diseases. As these natural modifiers of biological responses are widely available to the specialist and to the general practitioner as well, in the present paper we review the main biochemical properties and the molecular mechanisms underlying the heterogeneous activities of the interferons. Furthermore, on the basis of already published therapeutical trials, we indicate the infectious and neoplastic diseases in which therapy with interferon has been effective and outline the most frequent toxic or side effects of this therapy.

Transferrin as a muscle trophic factor

Muscle cells grow by proliferation and protein accumulation. During the initial stages of development the participation of nerves is not always required. Myoblasts and satellite cells proliferate, fusing to form myotubes which further differentiate to muscle fibers. Myotubes and muscle fibers grow by protein accumulation and fusion with other myogenic cells. Muscle fibers finally reach a quasi-steady state which is then maintained for a long period. The mechanism of maintenance is not well understood. However, it is clear that protein metabolism plays a paramount role. The role played by satellite cells in the maintenance of muscle fibers is not known. Growth and maintenance of muscle cells are under the influence of various tissues and substances. Among them are Tf and the motor nerve, the former being the main object of this review and essential for both DNA and protein synthesis. Two sources of Tf have been proposed, i.e., the motor nerve and the tissue fluid. The first proposal is that the nervous trophic influence on muscle cells is mediated by Tf which is released from the nerve terminals. In this model, the sole source of Tf which is donated to muscle cells should be the nerve, and Tf should not be provided for muscle fiber at sites other than the synaptic region; otherwise, denervation atrophy would not occur, since Tf provided from TfR located at another site would cancel the effect of denervation. The second proposal is that Tf is provided from tissue fluid. This implies that an adequate amount of Tf is transferred from serum to tissue fluid; in this case TfR may be distributed over the entire surface of the cells. The trophic effects of the motor neuron have been studied in vivo, but its effects of myoblast proliferation have not been determined. There are few experiments on its effects on myotubes. Most work has been made on muscle fibers, where innervation is absolutely required for their maintenance. Without it, muscle fibers atrophy, although they do not degenerate. In contrast, almost all the work on Tf has been performed in vitro. Its effects on myoblast proliferation and myotube growth and maintenance have been established; myotubes degenerate following Tf removal. But its effects on mature muscle fibers in vivo are not well understood. Muscle fibers possess TfR all over on their cell surface and contain a variety of Fe-binding proteins, such as myoglobin. It is entirely plausible that muscle fibers require an amount of Tf, and that this is provided by TfR scattered on the cell surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antiproliferative effects of IFN-alpha correlate with the downregulation of nuclear factor-kappa B in human Burkitt lymphoma Daudi cells

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is known to exhibit antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory properties through mechanisms still not fully understood. Nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays a major role in viral replication, cell proliferation, and immune response. Whether antiproliferative effects of IFN are mediated through suppression of NF-kappaB is not known. We, therefore, examined the relationship between the antiproliferative effects of IFN-alpha and NF-kappaB activity in a human Burkitt lymphoma Daudi cell line. These cells were found to constitutively express high levels of active NF-kappaB that cannot be further activated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Treatment of cells with IFN-alpha suppressed the activated NF-kappaB in a dose-dependent manner, with an optimum effect at 10 U/ml in 72 h. Suppression of NF-kappaB correlated with a concomitant decrease in the cytoplasmic levels of IkappaBalpha, the inhibitory protein of NF-kappaB, known to be regulated by NF-kappaB. Downregulation of constitutive NF-kappaB activity correlated with a decrease in cell proliferation by IFN-alpha. Overall, our results suggest that IFN-alpha is a potent suppressor of constitutive NF-kappaB, which may contribute to the inhibition of cell proliferation.

Pharmacological aspects of targeting cancer gene therapy to endothelial cells

Targeting cancer gene therapy to endothelial cells seems to be a rational approach, because (a) a clear correlation exists between proliferation of tumor vessels and tumor growth and malignancy, (b) differences of cell membrane structures between tumor endothelial cells and normal endothelial cells exist which could be used for targeting of vectors and (c) tumor endothelial cells are accessible to vector vehicles in spite of the peculiarities of the transvascular and interstitial blood flow in tumors. Based on the knowledge on the pharmacokinetics of macromolecules it can be concluded that vectors targeting tumor endothelial cells should own a long blood residence time after intravascular application. This precondition seems to be fulfilled best by vectors exhibiting a slight anionic charge. A long blood residence time would allow the formation of a high amount of complexes between tumor endothelial cells and vector particles. Such high amount of complexes should enable a high transfection rate of tumor endothelial cells. In view of their pharmacokinetic behavior nonviral vectors seem to be more suitable for in vivo targeting tumor endothelial cells than viral vectors. Specific binding of nonviral vectors to tumor endothelial cells should be enhanced by multifunctional ligands and the transduction efficiency should be improved by cationic carriers. Effector genes should encode proteins potent enough to induce reactions which eliminate the tumor tissue. To be effective to that degree such proteins should induce self-amplifying antitumor reactions. Examples for proteins which have the potential to induce such self-amplifying tumor reactions are proteins endowed with antiangiogenic and antiproliferative activity, enzymes which convert prodrugs into drugs and possibly also proteins which induce embolization of tumor vessels. The pharmacological data for such examples are discussed in detail.

Interferon-gamma downregulates epidermal growth factor receptors on human melanoma cells

Unregulated expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) is a common event in neoplastic transformation and has been shown to be associated with melanocytic tumor progression. Modulation of such a receptor by pharmacological agents could therefore be of clinical interest. We have studied EGF-R expression, its response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and modulation effects by interferon gamma (IFN gamma) on human melanoma cells. Addition of EGF, anti-EGF and anti-EGF-R antibodies had no effect on proliferation of six melanoma cell lines tested. We report in this communication that EGF-R expression on human melanoma cells can be modulated by IFN-gamma. In the melanoma cell lines treated with IFN gamma, proliferative behavior was not affected; however, we demonstrate a downregulation of EGF-R expression on the protein level, by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometric analysis, and an accumulation of EGF-R mRNA by Northern blot analysis. The results suggest that IFN gamma downregulates EGF-R expression at a posttranscriptional level on human melanoma cells. This EGF/EGF-R interaction and its modulation by IFN gamma on human melanoma cells needs to be further clarified regarding its in vivo significance for the treatment and prognosis of malignant melanoma.

Synergistic antiproliferative activity of suramin and alpha 2A-interferon against human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines: in vitro studies

Suramin, a polysulphonated naphthylurea proven to be an effective anticancer agent against selected tumours, and alpha 2A-interferon (alpha 2A-IFN) were investigated for their combined effects on HCT-8, HCT-15, CL-D, SW-480 and SW-620 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines. All lines were sensitive to clinically achievable concentrations of suramin in a dose-dependent manner, while alpha 2A-IFN alone induced only a modest reduction of cell growth. Concomitant treatment with suramin and alpha 2A-IFN resulted in a synergistic inhibition of cell viability in each cell line at all doses tested. However, when suramin and alpha 2A-IFN were administered sequentially, inhibition of cell viability was clearly dependent on the timing of treatment schedule, with maximum effect obtained when alpha 2A-IFN was administered prior to suramin. In contrast, pretreatment with suramin was markedly inferior to the former one. In conclusion, suramin and alpha 2A-IFN exert a synergistic effect on human colorectal cell proliferation in vitro at clinically achievable concentrations. This observation may have clinical relevance although the mechanisms of interaction remain to be elucidated.

Expression of growth factor receptors on human melanoma cells: comparison of modulating effects of interferons and retinoids

Autocrine and paracrine growth factors are important mediators in malignant transformation. Interferons (IFN) and retinoids (RX) are well-known differentiative and immunomodulating agents with effects on subsets of different human tumors including malignant melanoma. In this study, we examined the modulating effects of three IFN and seven different RX on human melanoma cell lines regarding growth factor receptor expression. Growth factor receptor expression, including PDGF-R, NGF-R, EGF-R, IR, IGF-I-R, TFR and c-kit, was studied by immunohistochemistry and FACSscan analysis. Both groups of substances modulated the expression of some growth factor receptors. Upregulation of PDGF-R was seen after treatment with IFN as well as with RX. In contrast, EGF-R was found to be downregulated in two EGF-R-positive cell lines by IFN and, on the other hand, induced by RX in two EGF-R-negative cell lines. The expression of NGF-R was modulated ambiguously by these substances but demonstrated a cell line specificity in the different melanoma cell lines tested. Additionally, some of the tested growth factor receptors were not markedly changed regarding their expression by treatment with IFN and RX (IR, IGF-I-R, c-kit, TFR).

Differential responsiveness of normal and simian virus 40-transformed human fibroblast cells to interferon-gamma

The effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding and the proliferation of normal and simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed human fibroblast cells was compared under identical culture conditions. IFN-gamma induced an enhancement of EGF binding to normal cells, whereas it decreased the EGF binding to SV40-transformed cells. Half-maximal enhancement occurred at 72 h after the normal cells were exposed to 10 U/ml of IFN-gamma, and maximal stimulation was obtained at about 10(2) U/ml of IFN-gamma at 72 h. On the other hand, half-maximal reduction was observed for SV40-transformed cells at less than 10 U/ml of IFN-gamma at 72 h, and maximal reduction was obtained at around 10(3) U/ml of IFN-gamma at 72 h. Scatchard analysis indicated that the number of EGF binding sites of normal and SV40-transformed cells was calculated to be 1.6 x 10(5) and 0.88 x 10(5) per cell, respectively, and was little altered by IFN-gamma treatment. The dissociation constant (Kd) of normal cells, however, decreased from 4.5 nM (control) to 2.0 nM (IFN-gamma-treated), while the Kd of SV40-transformed cells increased from 3.6 nM (control) to 17.0 nM (IFN-gamma-treated). The immunoprecipitation of 125I-labeled EGF-bound EGF receptors with anti-receptor antiserum indicated that a 72-h IFN-gamma treatment did not induce a conformational alteration in the EGF receptors of both normal and transformed cells. The DNA synthesis of normal cells was enhanced by EGF, and IFN-gamma treatment potentiated the effect of EGF on DNA synthesis, probably due to the increased binding affinity of EGF to the cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The uptake of iron and transferrin by the human malignant melanoma cell

The role of the transferrin homologue, melanotransferrin (p97), in iron metabolism has been studied using the human melanoma cell line, SK-MEL-28, which expresses this antigen in high concentrations. The mechanisms of iron and transferrin uptake were investigated using human transferrin labelled with iodine-125 and iron-59. Internalised and membrane-bound iron and transferrin were separated using the proteinase, pronase. The uptake of iron from transferrin occurred by at least two processes. The first process was saturable and consistent with receptor-mediated endocytosis, involving internalisation of transferrin bound to specific binding sites. Uptake of iron also occurred by a second process which was non-saturable up to 0.06 mg/ml (0.75 microM) and was of higher efficiency than the saturable process. This process of iron uptake may be the dominant one at physiological serum transferrin concentrations. A membrane-bound, pronase-sensitive, temperature-dependent, iron-binding component was also identified. The number of binding sites was estimated to be approx. 340,000 per cell (assuming 2 atoms of iron per site) and it is suggested that this binding component may be melanotransferrin.

Recent advances in cancer research: drug targeting without the use of monoclonal antibodies

Cancer research in drug targeting has focused on the use of monoclonal antibody conjugates of drugs. This paper discusses the use of ligand conjugates of drugs to deliver to receptors on cancer cells. We have used transferrin coupled to adriamycin, and report these conjugates specifically bind and kill cancer cells in culture. Our studies of the mechanism show targeted plasma membranes are compromised for NADH ferricyanide reduction, and targeted cells lose diferric transferrin reductase activity. These results indicate that the binding of transferrin-adriamycin conjugates to transferrin receptors on either isolated plasma membranes or viable tumor cells causes an inhibition of redox reactions that are essential for growth. Since transferrin receptors are endocytosable, ligand-drug conjugates also are delivered to the interior of targeted cells where other mechanisms of killing can be employed. This novel method of drug delivery circumvents the need for monoclonal antibodies, and more investigation of the system may allow a controlled clinical study of its effectiveness.

Increase of transferrin receptors and iron uptake in regenerating motor neurons

After injury, motor neurons exhibit a number of metabolic and protein changes that are assumed to be part of an inherent neuronal regeneration program, which, when activated, eventually leads to functional restitution. The mechanisms underlying this regeneration are unclear, but it may be expected that factors supporting neuronal growth or survival play an important role in the restoration of neuronal integrity. A number of neuronal growth-associated proteins have been identified, but their functional roles remain unclear. This paper shows that axotomy results in a strong increase in transferrin receptors (TfRs) in regenerating motor neurons and that this phenomenon is functionally associated with an elevated uptake of exogenous iron. The association of TfR expression in regenerating motor neurons with direct uptake of iron into the brain provides evidence that iron uptake into neural tissue may be related to neuronal metabolic activation. We suggest that the enhanced capacity of regenerating motor neurons to bind transferrin and to take up iron plays an important role in neuronal repair.

The cellular receptor of the alpha-beta interferons

This is a selective review of recent trends in research on the cellular receptor for the alpha-beta interferons. It deals mainly with work published in the last three years (1985-88), and therefore mainly with receptors for the human interferons. The binding characteristics of several human alpha interferons are examined, and the importance of in vitro experimental models for establishing the relationship between receptor binding and the cellular response is emphasized.

Hepatocellular transferrin receptor expression in secondary siderosis

We investigated the hepatocellular transferrin receptor expression in 55 human liver specimens with secondary siderosis, with an indirect immunoperoxidase technique on frozen sections using 3 monoclonal anti-transferrin receptor antibodies. For comparison, specimens were also stained with the monoclonal antibody BK19.9, recognizing an antigen which is biochemically similar to the transferrin receptor, and with a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor. The degree of iron overload was estimated semi-quantitatively, taking into account hepatocellular and Kupffer cell iron deposition. In 47 out of 55 specimens hepatocellular transferrin receptor expression was present. The positivity was predominantly localized on hemosiderin-free hepatocytes. With increasing hepatocellular iron deposition, the proportion of cases with absent transferrin receptor immunoreactivity increased. This supports the previously reported disappearance of hepatocellular transferrin receptor expression in primary hemochromatosis cases with severe iron deposition. However, the transferrin receptor negative cases included four specimens in which Kupffer cell iron deposition clearly exceeded hepatocyte iron load. This finding suggests that in addition to hepatocellular iron load other factors may regulate the expression of parenchymal transferrin receptors in iron overload diseases. These may include plasma levels of various iron sources and/or Kupffer cell iron load. The iron deposition did not influence the staining of the hepatocellular epidermal growth factor receptor nor the Kupffer cell staining by the BK19.9 antibody. This confirms the specificity of the findings concerning the behaviour of the transferrin receptor in secondary siderosis.

The inhibitory effect of human interferon alpha on the generation of lymphokine-activated killer activity

The generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity and the proliferative response to human recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) were significantly reduced by the presence of human recombinant leukocyte interferon (IFN alpha) in cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Mature natural killer (NK) cells can be depleted from PBMC with the toxic lysosomotropic agent L-leucine methyl ester. The generation of cytotoxic cells from lymphocytes depleted in leucine methyl ester was also inhibited by indicating that the IFN-alpha effect is not limited to mature cytotoxic NK cells. Depletion of adherent cells from PBMC did not affect the suppression of LAK induction by IFN-alpha. Surface marker analyses of Tac antigen and transferrin receptor (TfR) showed that the presence of IFN alpha throughout the culture period significantly suppressed the typical increase in IL-2-induced Tac- and TfR-positive cells. In contrast, IFN alpha treatment before and after IL-2 culture enhanced LAK cytotoxic activity. Therefore, combinations of these biological response modifiers for clinical use should take into account the dual effect of IFN alpha on key features of the IL-2 response.

Reduction of transferrin receptor expression by interferon gamma in a human cell line sensitive to its antiproliferative effect

Interferon gamma (IFN gamma) reduced 125I-transferrin binding to WISH cells which are sensitive to its antiproliferative effect. IFN gamma did not affect transferrin binding to Daudi cells or phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes, neither of which respond to its antigrowth action. Scatchard analyses of the equilibrium binding of 125I-transferrin to WISH cells exposed to IFN gamma revealed a decrease in the number of cell surface receptors but no change in the apparent association constant compared with control cells. When 125I-transferrin binding was measured using detergent-extracted cells, the IFN-induced reduction of binding was smaller than with intact cells. This suggests that in WISH cells, IFN gamma not only reduced the total number of transferrin receptors, but also modified the process of receptor internalization and recycling. Labeling of newly synthesized receptors with [35S]-methionine indicated that a reduction in the biosynthesis might account for the decrease in the total number of transferrin receptors in IFN gamma-treated cells. Our results suggest that the antigrowth effect of IFN gamma is at least partly due to its inhibitory action on transferrin receptor expression leading to iron starvation.

A membrane protein from IFN-beta-treated Daudi cells causes a cessation in cell growth

An interferon-induced 17 kDa protein has been partially purified from the membranes of interferon-beta-treated Daudi cells. A fraction containing the 17 kDa protein purified 200 fold causes an inhibition of growth of Daudi, Namalva and Hela cells. The same fraction purified from the membranes of untreated cells causes no inhibition of cell growth. This interferon-beta-induced protein is located on the exterior of Daudi cells for it can be labeled with [125I] iodine catalyzed by lactoperoxidase. These results suggest that interferons induce a cell surface protein whose role is to cause an inhibition of cell growth.

Anti-proliferative effects of interferons on Daudi Burkitt lymphoma cells: induction of cell differentiation and loss of response to autocrine growth factors

Treatment of Daudi B-lymphoblastoid cells with low concentrations of either natural or recombinant human alpha-interferons inhibits cell proliferation and modulates the expression of a number of cell-surface antigens. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) identifying determinants expressed at the surface of normal plasma cells, and polyclonal antibodies against surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin, we have found that growth inhibition is accompanied by plasmacytoid differentiation. Assays of growth stimulation of heterologous cells indicate that the culture medium from interferon-treated Daudi cells contains substantially more B-cell growth factor activity than that from control cells. However, the interferon-treated cells exhibit an impaired ability to respond to both these autocrine factors and exogenous factors produced by another Burkitt lymphoma line. These findings show that, in the case of Daudi cells, growth inhibition by interferons is closely associated with both terminal differentiation and a refractoriness to growth factors. In this system IFN-alpha may therefore be considered to be a B-cell differentiation factor, suggesting a possible basis for the anti-proliferative effects observed with certain human B-cell malignancies.