Impact of inflammatory preconditioning on murine microglial proteome response induced by focal ischemic brain injury

Preconditioning with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces neuroprotection against subsequent cerebral ischemic injury, mainly involving innate immune pathways. Microglia are resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that respond early to danger signals through memory-like differential reprogramming. However, the cell-specific molecular mechanisms underlying preconditioning are not fully understood. To elucidate the distinct molecular mechanisms of preconditioning on microglia, we compared these cell-specific proteomic profiles in response to LPS preconditioning and without preconditioning and subsequent transient focal brain ischemia and reperfusion, - using an established mouse model of transient focal brain ischemia and reperfusion. A proteomic workflow, based on isolated microglia obtained from mouse brains by cell sorting and coupled to mass spectrometry for identification and quantification, was applied. Our data confirm that LPS preconditioning induces marked neuroprotection, as indicated by a significant reduction in brain infarct volume. The established brain cell separation method was suitable for obtaining an enriched microglial cell fraction for valid proteomic analysis. The results show a significant impact of LPS preconditioning on microglial proteome patterns by type I interferons, presumably driven by the interferon cluster regulator proteins signal transducer and activator of transcription1/2 (STAT1/2).

A Ponceau S Staining-Based Dot Blot Assay for Rapid Protein Quantification of Biological Samples

Despite the availability of a wide range of commercial kits, protein quantification is often unreliable, especially for tissue-derived samples, leading to uneven loading in subsequent experiments. Here we show that the widely used Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) assay tends to underestimate protein concentrations of tissue samples. We present a Ponceau S staining-based dot-blot assay as an alternative for protein quantification. This method is simple, rapid, more reliable than the BCA assay, compatible with biological samples lysed in RIPA or 2x SDS gel-loading buffer, and also inexpensive.

Alters- und geschlechtsbezogene Verteilung von Zuführung, Ersteinschätzung, Entlassart und Verweildauer in der zentralen Notaufnahme

Einleitung

Jährlich stellen sich bundesweit zahlreiche Patienten in zentralen Notaufnahmen vor. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es, alters- und geschlechtsabhängig Zuführung, Ersteinschätzung, Entlassart und Verweildauer an einem universitären Standort zu analysieren.

Material und Methodik

In dieser retrospektiven Studie wurden alle Patientenkontakte der zentralen Notaufnahme des Universitätsklinikums Düsseldorf des Jahres 2019 erfasst und anhand der Prozesskriterien Zuführung, Ersteinschätzung, Entlassart und Verweildauer kategorisiert und deren Verteilung untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Vom 01.01. bis 31.12.2019 wurden insgesamt 43.821 Patientenkontakte erfasst. Das durchschnittliche Alter der Patienten betrug 47 ± 24 Jahre (Median: 47, Min.–Max.: 0–106). Der Anteil weiblicher Patienten betrug 48 %. Ein Alter ≤ 17 Jahren wiesen 10 % der Patienten (♀ vs. ♂: 4 vs. 6 %, p < 0,0001) und ein Alter ≥ 70 Jahre 24 % auf (♀ vs. ♂: 13 vs. 11 %, p < 0,0001). Für beide Geschlechter nahm der Anteil der Triagekategorien „blau“ und „grün“ über die aufsteigenden Altersgruppen stetig ab. Ab der Altersgruppe der 50- bis 59-Jährigen lag für beide Geschlechter führend eine höhere Dringlichkeit („gelb“ bis „rot“) vor. Während im Alter ≤ 17 Jahren mit 84–90 % vorwiegend eine ambulante Behandlung erfolgte, reduzierte sich dieser Anteil über die weiteren Altersgruppen bis auf 22 % bei Männern und 28 % bei Frauen in der Altersgruppe der ≥ 90-Jährigen. Für die drei Entlassarten „ambulant“, „prästationär“ und „stationär“ stieg die Verweildauer bei beiden Geschlechtern mit dem Alter kontinuierlich an.

Schlussfolgerung

Es finden sich deutliche und vor allem altersabhängige Unterschiede in den Prozesskriterien Zuführung, Ersteinschätzung, Entlassart und Verweildauer. Rund 15 % der Patienten sind kritisch krank oder verletzt („orange“ und „rot“). Mit steigendem Alter nimmt der Anteil dieser Triagekategorien zu. Bei rund 30 % der Patienten besteht eine stationäre Aufnahmeindikation, entsprechende Bettenkapazitäten müssen täglich eingeplant werden.

The peripheral nervous system in hematopoietic stem cell aging

Hematopoietic stem cell performance and identity, crucial for homeostasis of the blood-forming system, is governed by extrinsic factors found in the bone marrow microenvironment. Communication within hematopoietic stem cell niches occurs via soluble factors or cell-to-cell contacts between niche and blood-forming cells - which in turn are influenced by systemic factors distributed by the bone marrow extracellular fluid. Although hematopoietic cell-intrinsic aging contributes to the aging phenotype of the hematopoietic system, the architecture and cellular composition of the bone marrow microenvironment have emerged to be highly dynamic during aging and suggested as a major driver for the functional limitations of the blood system observable in old individuals. Recent attention has been paid to the interface between the peripheral nervous system and blood-forming cells in the bone marrow in several clinical contexts and in aging - the latter is reviewed here.

Influence of DNA double‐strand break rejoining on clonogenic survival and micronucleus yield in human cell lines

PURPOSE

To examine the role of DNA double-strand break (DSB) rejoining in cell survival and micronucleus yield after 60Co gamma-irradiation.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Thirteen human cell lines (six glioblastoma, five prostate, one melanoma, one squamous cell carcinoma) were irradiated with 60Co gamma-rays to doses of 0-10Gy for cell survival and micronucleus measurements and 0-100Gy for DSB rejoining. Measurements were performed using standard clonogenic, micronucleus and constant-field gel electrophoresis assays.

RESULTS

Radioresistance and micronucleus yield were positively correlated (r=0.74, p=0.004). A significant cell type-dependent correlation was demonstrated between total (0-20 h) DSB rejoining and cell survival (r=0.86, p=0.03 for glioblastomas; r=0.79, p=0.04 for other cell lines), with more resistant cell lines showing higher levels of DSB rejoining. No relationship was apparent between fast (0-2 h) or slow (2-20 h) DSB rejoining and clonogenic survival. While there was no relationship between total or slow DSB rejoining and micronucleus yield, a significant and cell type-specific correlation emerged between fast rejoining and micronucleus yield for the glioblastomas (r=0.89, p=0.04) and other cell lines (r=0.76, p=0.04). Cell lines with higher levels of DSB rejoining within 2 h of irradiation showed higher yields of micronuclei.

CONCLUSION

Fast DSB rejoining, possibly through interaction with slow DSB rejoining, appears to play an important role in the formation of micronuclei. However, total DSB rejoining reflects intrinsic radiosensitivity. Consideration of differences in DSB rejoining kinetics might contribute to a better understanding of the significance of cell survival and micronucleus data in the clinical and radiation protection setting.

Flow cytometric evaluation of apoptosis and cell viability as a criterion of anti-tumour drug toxicity

BACKGROUND

Determination of the drug concentration required to kill 50% of the tumour cells (EC50) does not take into account the propensity of cells to undergo apoptosis and necrosis. These 2 parameters and the viable cells are here assessed by a flow cytometric (FC) approach using propidium iodide (PI) and FITC-Annexin V staining.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A number of carcinoma cell lines of defined p53 status were exposed to cis-PtII for 24 hours, stained with PI and FITC-Annexin V and analyzed by FC. Unstained viable cells, early apoptotic cells and necrotic cells were scored separately in dual parameter plots of green fluorescence (FITC) against red fluorescence (PI) to generate dose response curves.

RESULTS

EC50 values for cell viability were found to be 1-4 times higher than survival data from colony assays resembling data obtained by MTT or Crystal Violet vital dye staining. Percentage apoptosis measured by Annexin V binding was in agreement with microscopic scoring of apoptotic cells after Acridine Orange staining.

CONCLUSION

The FC assay described gives a good estimate of cell viability resembling data from vital dye staining assays and provides additional information on apoptosis and necrosis. FC data from Annexin V binding and microscopic scoring after Acridine Orange staining were in excellent agreement.

Cyclin B1 expression in response to abrogation of the radiation-induced G2/M block in HeLa cells

The G2 block is a major response of cells to DNA damage and seem to be induced independently of p53 status. It is thought that the G2 block has a protective function and allows cells to repair their DNA. The molecular events involved in the formation of the G2 block therefore are of great interest. We have used pentoxifylline, a potent G2 delay abrogator, to study the expression of an essential component of the mitosis promoting complex (MPF), cyclin B1. Cyclin B1/G2 ratios are used to show that irradiation induces a decrease in cyclin B1 expression and that pentoxifylline restores cyclin B1 expression to control level. This confirms that suppression of cyclin B1 plays a role in the formation of the G2 cell cycle delay, and that elevating cyclin B1 expression is part of the mechanism of action of pentoxifylline on G2 blocked cells.

A unifying model for reconstructing radiosensitivity from micronucleus formation, apoptosis and abnormal morphology

At present micronucleus data cannot predict cellular radiosensitivity. The inclusion of data from apoptosis and abnormal morphology has not entirely resolved this problem. Here, we assess the probability of cell death arising from events other than micronucleation, apoptosis and abnormal morphology (i.e. lesions not detected by these damage assays) P(oe), for its ability to reflect intrinsic cellular radiosensitivity. Analysis of data from 17 cell lines used in two separate studies, spanning a wide range of radiosensitivity (0.09</=SF2</=0.70), confirmed our previous observation that cell death due to undetected lesions depends on the irradiation dose and is cell type-specific. We further demonstrate that P(oe) accounts for inter-cell line differences in translating irradiation damage into cell death. Data from any two of micronucleus formation, apoptosis and abnormal cell morphology, fitted to the P(oe) model, adequately predict clonogenic survival, and measurement of additional damage endpoints is not required. The P(oe) model may benefit patient selection in situations where colony formation of primary tumour cultures fails to arrive at estimates of radiosensitivity.

The influence of chromatin structure on initial DNA damage and radiosensitivity in CHO-K1 and xrs1 cells at low doses of irradiation 1-10 Gy

Mitotic compaction of chromatin was generated by treatment of cells with nocodazole. Alternatively, chromatin structure was altered by incubating cells in 500 mM NaCl. The irradiation response in the dose range of 1-10 Gy was measured by colony assay and by a modified fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU) assay which measures the amount of undamaged DNA by EtBr fluorescence. Cell survival curves of irradiated CHO-K1 cells showed that treatment with nocodazole increases radiosensitivity as indicated by a decrease of the mean inactivation dose (D) from 4.446 to 4.376. Nocodazole treatment increased the initial radiation-induced DNA damage detected by the FADU assay from 7% to 13%. In repair-defective xrs1 cells, the same conditions increased the radiosensitivity from 1.209 to 0.7836 and the initial DNA damage from 43% to 57%. Alterations to chromatin structure by hypertonic medium increased radiosensitivity in CHO-K1 cells from of 4.446 to 3.092 and the initial DNA damage from 7% to 15%. In xrs1 cells these conditions caused radiosensitivity to decrease from 1.209 to 1.609 and the initial DNA damage to decrease from 43% to 36%. Disruption of chromatin structure by hypertonic treatment was found to be time-dependent. A threefold increase of exposure time to hypertonic medium from 40 to 120 min increased the initial DNA damage in CHO-K1 cells from 7% to 18% but decreased initial DNA damage in xrs1 cells from 43% to 21%. Perturbation of chromatin structure with hypertonic treatment has been shown to increase the radiosensitivity and the initial DNA damage in repair-competent CHO-K1 cells and decrease the radiosensitivity and DNA damage in repair-defective xrs1 cells. Hypertonic treatment thus abolishes differences in chromatin structure between cell lines and differences in initial DNA damage. Radiosensitivity and initial DNA damage are correlated ( r(2)=0.92; p=0.0026) and this correlation also holds when chromatin compaction is altered. The experiments demonstrate that initial DNA damage and chromatin structure are major determinants of radiosensitivity.

The effect of radiation on the permeability of human saphenous vein to 17 beta-oestradiol

Radiation therapy is an effective way of treating many forms of cancer, however, there are some indications that it may facilitate the development of metastasis. The question arises whether radiation therapy during cancer treatment might result in an alteration of the permeability of the tissues being treated. This alteration in the permeability might lead to metastatic cells escaping from the irradiated tissue, leading to the spread of cancer to other sites in the body. Because of the above implication, we determined the diffusion kinetics of a radioactive marker, 17 beta-oestradiol, through human saphenous vein before and after a single half hour exposure to 60 Gy of 60Co gamma-irradiation. Six clinically healthy saphenous vein specimens (mean patient age +/- standard deviation 57 +/- 13 years; age range 41-77 years) were obtained during cardiac surgery. In vitro flux rates of 17 beta-oestradiol were determined through use of a flow-through diffusion apparatus immediately after irradiation for a period of 24 hours. No statistically significant differences could be demonstrated for the flux rates of 17 beta-oestradiol through the non-irradiated and 60 Gy irradiated saphenous vein tissue. These findings strongly suggest that irradiation at 2 Gy/min and a total dose of 60 Gy would not alter the permeability of the venous wall. We have demonstrated that the in vitro flow-through diffusion method is capable of measuring permeability aspects of endothelial cell layers in saphenous vein biopsies under conditions resembling clinical reality.

Micronuclei and apoptosis in glioma and neuroblastoma cell lines and role of other lesions in the reconstruction of cellular radiosensitivity

It is now well established that micronuclei frequency does not always rank cell lines according to radiosensitivity. There is, however, a growing interest in reconstructing cellular radiosensitivity (measured by colony assay) from concurrent micronucleus and apoptosis data. Using a variety of radiosensitive and radioresistant cell lines, we have derived a missing parameter--Poe, the probability of cell death by other events such as small deletions, chromosome aberrations, late apoptosis and necrosis which are undetectable by micronucleus and apoptosis assays performed at a single time point. In the radioresistant glioma cell lines G120, G60, G28, G44 and G62 (SF2 > or =0.59), a characteristic threshold dose exists above which cell loss due to undetectable lesions occurs. In the radiosensitive SK-N-SH and KELLY cell lines (SF2 < or =0.43), the Poe parameter is positive at very low doses, reaches a maximum and declines at higher doses. In the radiation resistant G28 cells, Poe was found to be below zero for doses up to 6 Gy. In the G62, G44 and G120 cell lines, the threshold doses to induce Poe events were 0.87, 3.04 and 3.85 Gy, respectively. Cell death by undetectable lesions is a cell-specific and time-dependent variable. Micronucleus and apoptosis assays performed concurrently and at a specific time point miss cell death due to other events and this may be the reason why reconstruction of cellular radiosensitivity from micronucleus and apoptosis data fails.

Proton RBE for early intestinal tolerance in mice after fractionated irradiation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To determine the influence of the number of fractions (or the dose per fraction) on the proton relative biological effectiveness (RBE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Intestinal crypt regeneration in mice was used as the biological endpoint. RBE was determined relative to cobalt-60 gamma rays for irradiations in one, three and ten fractions separated by a time interval of 3.5h. Proton irradiations were performed at the middle of a 7-cm Spread Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).

RESULTS

Proton RBEs (and corresponding gamma dose per fraction) at the level of 20 regenerated crypts per circumference were found equal to 1.15+/-0.04 (10.0 Gy), 1.15+/-0.05 (4.8 Gy) and 1.14+/-0.07 (1.7 Gy) for irradiations in one, three and ten fractions, respectively. Alpha/beta ratios as derived from direct analysis of the 'quantal radiation response data' were found to be 7.6 Gy for gamma rays and 8.2 Gy for protons. Additional proton irradiations in ten fractions at the end of the SOBP were found to be more effective than at the middle of the SOBP by a factor of 1.14 (1.05-1.23).

CONCLUSION

Proton RBE for crypt regeneration was found to be independent of fractionation up to ten fractions. One can expect that it remains unchanged for higher number of fractions as the lethalities for doses smaller than 3 Gy are exclusively due to direct lethal events. As a tendency for increased effectiveness at the end of the SOBP is reported in the majority of the studies, for clinical applications it would be advisable to allow for by arranging a sloping depth dose curve in the deeper part of the target volume. Finally, it must be noticed that most of in vitro and in vivo RBE values for protons are larger than the current clinical RBE (RBE=1.10).

Chemosensitivity of prostatic tumour cell lines under conditions of G2 block abrogation

Conventional chemotherapy has had very limited success in the control of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Methylxanthine derivatives, such as pentoxifylline (PTX), are known to abrogate the G2 block and enhance the toxicity of ionising irradiation and chemotherapeutic agents. It is now also established that late addition of the cytotoxic drug after irradiation under conditions of G2 block abrogation sensitises human tumour cells for cytotoxins. Here we assess whether the chemosensitivity of prostate tumour cell lines can be enhanced by the application of a low dose of drug in conjunction with a G2 block abrogator. Prostate cell lines DU145, BM1604 and LNCaP were irradiated with 7 Gy 60Co gamma-irradiation. A sub-toxic (2 mM) dose of pentoxifylline and a cytotoxic drug were added at maximum expression of the G2 cell cycle block and cell survival was determined by colony assay. Cisplatin, etoposide and vinblastine were tested at a toxic dose of 10% (TD10). In the TP53 mutant cell lines, DU145 and BM1604, dose enhancement factors (EFs) were found to be in the region of 4.20 for cisplatin, 3.70 for vinblastine, and 3.20 for etoposide. In the TP53 wild-type cell line, LNCaP, the enhancement factors were low and in the region of 1.20 for cisplatin, vinblastine and etoposide. It is clear, therefore, that toxicity enhancement factors (EFs) are greater in the TP53 mutant cell lines, DU145 and BM1604, than in the TP53 wild-type cell line, LNCaP. The results indicate that a significant enhancement of drug toxicity can be obtained if the cytotoxic drug is given under conditions of G2 block abrogation. The sensitisation of prostate cancer cells to cytotoxic drugs is particularly high in radiation-resistant TP53 mutant tumour cells. Drugs which abrogate G2 block have the potential to enhance the therapeutic index and therefore reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs.

Comparison of cell inactivation by Auger electrons using the two reagents 4-[123I]iodoantipyrine and [123I]NaI

The Auger electron emitter 123I was examined in the form of 4-[123I]iodoantipyrine and as [123I]NaI for its effectiveness in killing cells of different sensitivity to photon irradiation. Micronucleus assays showed that 4-[123I]iodoantipyrine is 2-3 times more effective in cell inactivation than [123I]NaI. This can be attributed to the fact that antipyrine, for reason of its lipid solubility, can enter cells and can reach the nucleus, whereas [123I]NaI is excluded from the cytoplasm. In the nucleus Auger decay is conceivably located on the DNA where it may invoke high-LET irradiation damage. Irradiation damage by [123I]NaI is by long range Auger and internal conversion electrons and hence less densely ionising. Results of the present study demonstrate, however, that the enhancement of micronuclei frequency (MNF) seen with 4-[123I]iodoantipyrine as compared to [123I]NaI is similar for all cell lines and that the ratio of 4-[123I]iodoantipyrine/[123I]NaI MN response remains the same. Experiments with the free radical scavenger DMSO, indicated nearly identical dose reduction factors for both 123I carriers. These two observations strongly suggest that the cell inactivation by 4-[123I]iodoantipyrine is not by direct high-LET ionisation of DNA, but is due to an indirect effect. The indirect radiation effect of Auger decay in the nucleus could arise because 4-[123I]iodoantipyrine is not incorporated into the DNA, but is only associated with chromatin where the DNA is shielded by histones.

Cytotoxicity of azadirachtin A in human glioblastoma cell lines

The neem toxin azadirachtin A exhibits selective toxicity on insects. Despite its well-proven efficacy, the mode of action of this toxin remains obscure. The toxicity on vertebrate cells compared to insect cells is also not well characterized. We have cultivated six human glioblastoma cell lines G-28, G-112, G-60 (TP53 mutant) and G-44, G-62, G-120 (TP53 wild-type) in the presence of 28 microM of azadirachtin. This toxin concentration was chosen because it represents the 25 to 50% lethal dose in the glioma cells. Toxicity was measured in terms of cell proliferation (binucleation index), formation of micronuclei and cell survival. In the TP53 mutant cell lines, azadirachtin reduced the proportion of dividing cells and induced formation of micronuclei. Except for G-44 which showed a decrease in binucleation index, proliferation in the TP53 wild-type cell lines was unaffected by azadirachtin. In the TP53 wild-type cell lines, the decrease in micronuclei frequency is attributed to fewer cells entering mitosis to produce micronuclei. This is also apparent from the low surviving fractions. Cell survival was suppressed by 25-69% in all cell lines. The reduction of cell survival is a clear indication that azadirachtin affects reproductive integrity and cell division. The induction of micronuclei reflects DNA damage. Similar studies on damage induction in insect cell lines could elucidate the processes which precede the antifeedant and antimoulting effects of azadirachtin and other neem toxins in insects.

Determination of the initial DNA damage and residual DNA damage remaining after 12 hours of repair in eleven cell lines at low doses of irradiation

PURPOSE

To determine the relationship between DNA damage and radiosensitivity at low doses (1-10 Gy) for the initial DNA damage and residual DNA damage remaining after 12-h repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eleven cell lines, normal human lung epithelial L132, HT29 human colon carcinoma, ATs4 human ataxia telangiectasia, normal CHO-K1 hamster, repair-deficient xrs1 and xrs5 mutants, repair-deficient SCID rodent cell line, the human normal fibroblast 1BR.3, human ataxia telangiectasia fibroblast AT1BR and the repair-deficient fibroblasts 180BR.B and 46BR.1 were irradiated with 60Co gamma-rays. Radiosensitivity was measured by clonogenic survival assay. DNA damage was measured by fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU).

RESULTS

The radiosensitivity in the 11 cell lines ranged from SF2 of 0.02-0.61. By FADU assay, the undamaged DNA at 5-Gy ranged from 56 to 93%. The initial DNA damage and radiosensitivity were highly correlated (r2 = 0.81). After 5-Gy irradiation and 12-h repair, two groups of cell lines emerged. Group 1 restored undamaged DNA to a level ranging from 94 to 98%. Group 2 restored the undamaged DNA to a level ranging from 77 to 82%. No correlation was seen between residual DNA damage remaining after 12-h repair and radiosensitivity.

CONCLUSION

It is shown that the initial DNA damage correlates with radiosensitivity at low doses of irradiation. This suggests that the initial DNA damage must be considered as a determinant for radiosensitivity.

Assessment of electroporation by flow cytometry

BACKGROUND

Electroporation accomplishes transient permeabilization of cells and thus aids in the uptake of drugs. The method has been employed clinically in the treatment of dermatological tumors with bleomycin. The conditions of electroporation are still largely empirical and information is lacking as to the interrelationships among voltage pulse height, pulse number and toxicity, cell permeation, drug uptake, and effects on drug toxicity. We used propidium iodide (PI) and flow cytometry to define cell permeation into cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments to determine the improvements of drug toxicity that can be accomplished by electroporation.

METHODS

Human squamous carcinoma cells of defined TP53 status and normal human epithelial cells were subjected to electroporation using a square wave pulse generator in the range of 0-5,000 V/cm. Flow cytometry served to establish entry of the drug reporter, PI, into the cytoplasm and nucleus. A dye staining method served to establish cell survival and to determine the toxicity of bleomycin alone, electroporation alone, and electroporation with bleomycin.

RESULTS

The electric field intensity (EFI) required to produce 50% permeabilization (EP(50)) is cell type dependent. The EP(50) varied from 1,465 to 2,027 V/cm. An EFI below 900 V/cm is growth stimulatory whereas an EFI in excess of 1,000 V/cm is growth inhibitory. An EFI of 1,000 V/cm is sufficient to increase bleomycin toxicity by a factor of 2-3. A differential electroporation efficiency is observed between normal and tumor cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor cells can be targeted preferentially at electroporation voltages where normal cells are less permeable.

The role of G2-block abrogation, DNA double-strand break repair and apoptosis in the radiosensitization of melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma cell lines by pentoxifylline

PURPOSE

To examine the role of G2-block abrogation, DNA repair inhibition and apoptosis in the enhancement of radiotoxicity by pentoxifylline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The influence of pentoxifylline on radiotoxicity was assessed by colony assay in TP53 wild-type Bell and mutant MeWo melanoma, and in TP53 wild-type 4197 and mutant 4451 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines. G2-block abrogation was assessed by flow cytometry. Induction of DNA damage and repair was measured over a dose range of 0-100 Gy by constant field gel electrophoresis (CFGE). The Annexin-V binding assay was used to identify apoptotic cells.

RESULTS

Pentoxifylline, when combined with irradiation, significantly increased radiotoxicity in the TP53 mutant MeWo and 4451 cell lines by radiotoxicity enhancement factors of 3 and 14.5 respectively. No radiosensitization was seen in the TP53 wild-type Be11 and 4197 cells. When the drug was added after irradiation at the time of maximum G2-block expression, no radiosensitization was seen in any of the four cell lines. CFGE analyses showed that pentoxifylline effectively suppressed DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in all four cell lines, as indicated by 20 h repair inhibition factors of 1.4-2.4. Pentoxifylline did not increase apoptosis in any of the four cell lines.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that radiosensitization by pentoxifylline is not a consequence of G2-block abrogation alone, but that inhibition of DSB repair plays a role in certain cell types.

Influence of apoptosis on the enhancement of radiotoxicity by ouabain

BACKGROUND

The Na+, K(+)-ATPase inhibitor ouabain enhances the toxicity of irradiation and we have previously demonstrated that the drug suppresses repair capacity. The influence of ouabain on apoptosis is not known and is examined in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven human cell lines of defined TP53 status were irradiated with 60Co-gamma irradiation in the presence and absence of 10(-7) M ouabain. Cell survival was determined by the clonogenic assay, apoptosis by acridine orange staining and cell cycle delays by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The ouabain-induced enhancement of radiotoxicity, expressed as the ratio of SF2's, is independent of TP53 status and ranges from 1.1 to 2.8 depending upon cell line. Ouabain prolongs the irradiation-induced G2 delay in TP53 mutant tumor cell lines by a factor greater than 2, but not in the normal lung fibroblast L132, where the cell recovery is not altered in the presence of ouabain. Twenty hours post irradiation, ouabain enhances apoptosis induced by irradiation by factors of 1.3 to 1.7 depending on the cell line.

CONCLUSION

Ouabain preferentially enhances the radiotoxicity in tumor cells irrespective of TP53 status. In the pattern of DNA damage responses which are influenced by ouabain we show that the G2 cell cycle delay is prolonged and that early apoptosis events are upregulated in TP53 wild type and TP53 mutant cells. It is concluded that apoptosis plays a significant role in the enhancement of radiotoxicity by ouabain.

Influence of the G2 cell cycle block abrogator pentoxifylline on the expression and subcellular location of cyclin B1 and p34cdc2 in HeLa cervical carcinoma cells

The progression of cells from G2 into mitosis is mainly controlled by formation of the cyclin B1/p34cdc2 complex. The behaviour of this complex in the irradiation-induced G2 cell cycle delay is still unclear. A prior study demonstrated that the expression of the cyclin B1 protein is reduced by irradiation, and restored to control levels by the methylxanthine drug pentoxifylline, which is a potent G2 block abrogator. The present study shows that irradiation, and 2 mM pentoxifylline affect the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase p34cdc2 in HeLa cells. Irradiation induces p34cdc2 levels to increase and cyclin B1 levels to decrease. Addition of pentoxifylline at the G2 maximum reverses these trends. This is also evident from the cyclin B1/p34cdc2 ratios which decline after irradiation and are rapidly restored to control levels upon addition of pentoxifylline. It is concluded that cyclin BI and p34cdc2 protein expression are important events and act in concert to control the irradiation induced G2 block. Analysis of cyclin B1 expression in whole cells and in isolated nuclei furthermore show that cyclin B1 is translocated from the nucleus into the cytoplasm when the G2 block is abrogated by pentoxifylline.

Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor, ouabain accentuates irradiation damage in human tumour cell lines

Two normal, two tumour, one transformed fibroblast cell line established from Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) patients and one corrected AT hybrid were characterised with regard to alpha, beta, SF2, and D values. Survival of 60Co gamma-irradiated tumour and transformed cells was markedly reduced when the Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor ouabain was present 1 hr before and 3 hr post irradiation. Under these conditions, the radiosensitivity in normal cells remained virtually unchanged. Suppression of repair was found to play a role in the ouabain-induced inhibition of the cell survival. In A549 lung carcinoma cells, addition of 10(-8) M ouabain decreases the sublethal damage recovery ratio from 56.5 to 13.3. The same drug concentration decreases the recovery ratio in L132 epithelial cells only from 5.1 to 4.9. The fast repair component, as measured over the first 1.5 hr after irradiation, decreases from 1.83 to 0.36 hr(-1) in A549 cells and from 0.35 to 0.16 hr(-1) in HeLa cells. For 2 Gy fractions, the presence of 10(-8) M ouabain 1 hr before irradiation and 3 hr after irradiation induces dose enhancement ratios of 1.15-1.5. A more pronounced effect on cell inactivation may be expected from multiple fractions. The concentrations required to downregulate sublethal damage repair fall within the range where cardiac glycosides are used clinically. Application of these drugs in radiotherapy thus seems feasible.

Influence of histone acetylation on the modification of cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins by ADP-ribosylation in response to free radicals

Inhibition of histone deacetylase by addition of 5 mM n-sodium butyrate to the growth medium increases the utilization of [32P]NAD+ and ADP-ribosylation (ADPR) of total cellular proteins of V79, HeLa, mouse B16, mouse Fib/T and human T1 kidney cells by a factor of 1.2-2.3. When the ADP-ribosylase is challenged by exposing cells to damage by .OH radicals (25 microM CuSO4 2.8 mM H2O2) ADPR increases by factors of 5.7-6.0 and 3.2-4.0 in normal and butyrated cells, respectively. Operation of the free radical generator is supported by the response to EDTA and radical scavengers. Densitometric analysis of autoradiographs from SDS-gels show that butyrate exposure increases basal ADPR-modification of histones from T1 cells by factors of 1.1-1.9. Addition of .OH radicals increases the ADPR modifications of histones 4.4-8.7-fold in normal cells and 3.2-6.7-fold in butyrate exposed cells. Butyrate exposure elevates base level ADPR-modification and reduces subsequent ADPR-modification initiated by DNA damage. The results are consistent with the view that ADPR-modification and histone acetylation have overlapping functions and probably induce similar structural changes in chromatin.

RBE variation as a function of depth in the 200-MeV proton beam produced at the National Accelerator Centre in Faure (South Africa)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Thorough knowledge of the RBE of clinical proton beams is indispensable for exploiting their full ballistic advantage. Therefore, the RBE of the 200-MeV clinical proton beam produced at the National Accelerator Centre of Faure (South Africa) was measured at different critical points of the depth-dose distribution.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RBEs were determined at the initial plateau of the unmodulated and modulated beam (depth in Perspex = 43.5 mm), and at the beginning, middle and end of a 7-cm spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) (depths in Perspex = 144.5, 165.5 and 191.5 mm, respectively). The biological system was the regeneration of intestinal crypts in mice after irradiation with a single fraction.

RESULTS

Using 60Co gamma-rays as the reference, the RBE values (for a gamma-dose of 14.38 Gy corresponding to 10 regenerated crypts) were found equal to 1.16 +/- 0.04, 1.10 +/- 0.03, 1.18 +/- 0.04, 1.12 +/- 0.03 and 1.23 +/- 0.03, respectively. At all depths, RBEs were found to increase slightly (about 4%) with decreasing dose, in the investigated dose range (12-17 Gy). No significant RBE variation with depth was observed, although RBEs in the SOBP were found to average a higher value (1.18 +/- 0.06) than in the entrance plateau (1.13 +/- 0.04).

CONCLUSION

An RBE value slightly larger than the current value of 1.10 should be adopted for clinical application with a 200-MeV proton beam.

The merits of cell kinetic parameters for the assessment of intrinsic cellular radiosensitivity to photon and high linear energy transfer neutron irradiation

PURPOSE

Differences in tumor response and intrinsic cellular radiosensitivity make the selection of patients for specific radiation modalities very difficult. The reasons for these differences are still unclear, but are thought to be due to genomic and cellular characteristics. Because radiosensitivities vary between cell cycle stages and because S phase cells are very radioresistant, cell cycle kinetic parameters could be a candidate for predicting intrinsic radiosensitivity.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A panel of 15 tumor cell lines was analyzed for S phase content and potential doubling times (Tpot), and the influence of these parameters on the intrinsic radiosensitivity to 60Co gamma- and p(66)/Be neutron irradiation was assessed.

RESULTS

S phase content and Tpot show a statistically significant correlation with the mean inactivation dose for photons. The correlation between cell kinetic parameters and the mean inactivation dose for neutrons showed the same trend as photon sensitivity but this was not found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

S phase content and Tpot were identified as suitable criteria for predicting photon sensitivity. It is suggested that cell kinetic parameters could play a role in identifying neutron sensitive tumors if both tumor and normal cells are analyzed.

Radiosensitivity variations in human tumor cell lines exposed in vitro to p(66)/Be neutrons or 60Co gamma-rays

BACKGROUND

Neutron therapy should be beneficial to patients with tumor types which are resistant to photons but relatively sensitive to high-LET radiation. In this work the potential therapeutic gain of a clinical neutron beam is evaluated by quantifying the variations in radiosensitivity of different cell lines to neutrons and photons.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Different cell lines were exposed in vitro to p(66)/Be neutrons or 60Co gamma-rays. Micronuclei frequencies in binucleated cells and surviving fractions were determined for each cell type.

RESULTS

Following exposure to either 1 or 1.5 Gy neutrons, micronuclei frequencies were significantly correlated with that observed for 2 Gy photons. A weak but significant correlation between the variation in neutron RBE values, determined from survival curve inactivation parameters and the mean inactivation doses for photon exposures, was also established.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that although neutron and photon sensitivities are related, the use of this high energy neutron source may constitute a potential therapeutic gain for tumor types that can be identified as very resistant to photons. Considering that a definitive oxygen gain factor has been established for this neutron beam the observed therapeutic gain is expected to be further enhanced in tumors where hypoxia protects cells from conventional radiation damage.

Influence of ouabain on cell inactivation by irradiation

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that irradiation affects the function of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Here we examine the influence of the inhibitor ouabain on the cytotoxicity of irradiation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cell colony assay, cell survival, 86Rb-uptake, flow cytometry.

RESULTS

In V79, HeLa and A549 cells ouabain alone causes a significant growth reduction at medium concentrations of 10(-4) M, 10(-6) M and 10(-7) M, respectively. When cells were exposed to the drug for 1 h and subsequently irradiated, the SF2 values decreased from 0.55 to 0.41, from 0.42 to 0.18 and from 0.57 to 0.35 in V79, HeLa and A549 cells, respectively. These effects were manifest at drug concentrations of 10(-3) M, 10(-6) M and 10(-7) M respectively, where Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity as measured by 86Rb-uptake was reduced to 40 to 60% of the control value. Addition of the drug after irradiation and when the G2/M cell cycle block was firmly established, markedly delayed the recovery of cells for well over 6 h and G1 levels remained at 50% of the control values.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that ouabain is strongly dose modifying in the human cell lines HeLa and A549 at concentrations which correlate with the inhibition of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Ouabain also inhibits the recovery of cells blocked in the cell cycle by irradiation.

RBE variation between fast neutron beams as a function of energy. Intercomparison involving 7 neutrontherapy facilities

In fast neutron therapy, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of a given beam varies to a large extent with the neutron energy spectrum. This spectrum depends primarily on the energy of the incident particles and on the nuclear reaction used for neutron production. However, it also depends on other factors which are specific to the local facility, eg, target, collimation system, etc. Therefore direct radiobiological intercomparisons are justified. The present paper reports the results of an intercomparison performed at seven neutrontherapy centres: Orléans, France (p(34)+Be), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (p(26)+Be), Ghent, Belgium (d(14.5)+Be), Faure, South Africa (p(66)+Be), Detroit, USA (d(48)+Be), Nice, France (p(65)+Be) and Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium (p(65)+Be). The selected radiobiological system was intestinal crypt regeneration in mice after single fraction irradiation. The observed RBE values (ref cobalt-60 gamma-rays) were 1.79 +/- 0.10, 1.84 +/- 0.07, 2.24 +/- 0.11, 1.55 +/- 0.04, 1.51 +/- 0.03, 1.50 +/- 0.04 and 1.52 +/- 0.04, respectively. When machine availability permitted, additional factors were studied: two vs one fraction (Ghent, Louvain-la-Neuve), dose rate (Detroit), influence of depth in phantom (Faure, Detroit, Nice, Louvain-la-Neuve). In addition, at Orléans and Ghent, RBEs were also determined for LD50 at 6 days after selective abdominal irradiation and were found to be equal to the RBEs for crypt regeneration. The radiobiological intercomparisons were always combined with direct dosimetric intercomparisons and, when possible in some centres, with microdosimetric investigations.

Effect of pentoxifylline on radiation damage and tumor growth

PURPOSE

Inactivation of tumor cells by photon irradiation can be markedly improved by tumor oxygenation. We have investigated the effect of the vasoactive drug pentoxifylline with respect to cell toxicity, radiation sensitivity, repair and tumor growth.

METHODS

V79 and Hela cell survival curves and determination of the tumor volume using rhabdomyosarcoma growth in BALB/c mice.

RESULTS

In the presence of 1 mM pentoxifylline, survival of V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts and human Hela cells at a dose level of 2 Gy is reduced by factors of 1.12 +/- 0.09 and 1.62 +/- 0.10 S.E. respectively. A radiosensitizing effect of pentoxifylline is also evident from the change of the alpha-coefficient which increases from 0.140 to 0.19 and from 0.39 to 0.65 in V79 and Hela cells respectively. In 3 h split dose experiments Hela cells but not V79 cells showed a change in the recovery ratio from 3.0 in control cells to 1.0 in drug exposed cells. In vivo experiments on BALB/c mice receiving 50 mg/kg pentoxifylline alone by subcutaneous injection showed a marked stimulation of tumor growth. When combined with irradiation we observed a 1.3 to 1.7 fold gain in tumor growth delay depending upon tumor size or day of measurement.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that pentoxifylline has an intrinsic effect on cell recovery and in tumors also improves blood supply and oxygenation.