Agnieszka Żuryń

Low-dose etoposide-treatment induces endoreplication and cell death accompanied by cytoskeletal alterations in A549 cells: Does the response involve senescence? The possible role of vimentin.

BackgroundSenescence in the population of cells is often described as a program of restricted proliferative capacity, which is manifested by broad morphological and biochemical changes including a metabolic shift towards an autophagic-like response and a genotoxic-stress related induction of polyploidy. Concomitantly, the cell cycle progression of a senescent cell is believed to be irreversibly arrested. Recent reports suggest that this phenomenon may have an influence on the therapeutic outcome of anticancer treatment. The aim of this study was to verify the possible involvement of this program in the response to the treatment of the A549 cell population with low doses of etoposide, as well as to describe accompanying cytoskeletal alterations.MethodsAfter treatment with etoposide, selected biochemical and morphological parameters were examined, including: the activity of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase, SAHF formation, cell cycle progression, the induction of p21Cip1/Waf1/Sdi1 and cyclin D1, DNA strand breaks, the disruption of cell membrane asymmetry/integrity and ultrastructural alterations. Vimentin and G-actin cytoskeleton was evaluated both cytometrically and microscopically.Results and conclusionsEtoposide induced a senescence-like phenotype in the population of A549 cells. Morphological alterations were nevertheless not directly coupled with other senescence markers including a stable cell cycle arrest, SAHF formation or p21Cip1/Waf1/Sdi1 induction. Instead, a polyploid, TUNEL-positive fraction of cells visibly grew in number. Also upregulation of cyclin D1 was observed. Here we present preliminary evidence, based on microscopic analyses, that suggest a possible role of vimentin in nuclear alterations accompanying polyploidization-depolyploidization events following genotoxic insults.

Expression of cyclin A, B1 and D1 after induction of cell cycle arrest in the Jurkat cell line exposed to doxorubicin.

Jurkat human lymphoblastoid cells were incubated in increasing concentrations of doxorubicin (0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 μM) to induce cell death, and their expression of cyclin A, B1 and D1 was evaluated by flow cytometry (cell cycle progression, Annexin V assay, percentages and levels of each of the cyclins), transmission electron microscopy (ultrastructure) and confocal fluorescence microscopy (expression and intracellular localization of cyclins). After low‐dose doxorubicin treatment, Jurkat cells responded mainly by G2/M arrest, which was related to increased cyclin B1, A and D1 levels, a low level of apoptosis and/or mitotic catastrophe. The influence of doxorubicin on levels and/or localization of selected cyclins was confirmed, which may in turn contribute to the G2/M arrest induced by the drug.

Expression of cyclin D1 after treatment with doxorubicin in the HL-60 cell line

Increased levels of cyclin D1 and amplification of CCND1 gene occur in many types of cancers. We have followed the expression of cyclin D1 after treatment with doxorubicin with reference to cell death and other possible therapeutic implications. The effect of the treatment on the cell cycle, survival, intracellular level (flow cytometry), and intracellular localization of cyclin D1 (fluorescence microscopy) and expression of CCND1 (real‐time RT‐PCR) was investigated in HL‐60 cells. An increase in the fluorescence intensity of cyclin D1 occurred after treatment with 0.15 and 0.3 μM doxorubicin. This tendency was confirmed by real‐time RT‐PCR. Expression of CCND1 in relation to the reference gene PBGD was increased in cells exposed to 0.15 μM doxorubicin. Concomitantly, some alterations in the regulation of the G0/G1, S, and G2/M checkpoints occurred, accompanied by changes in the polyploid fraction of the population. This was particularly evident at 0.3 μM doxorubicin, at which concentration the rate of cell death was also clearly higher. In conclusion, depending on the concentration used, alterations in cell death and the number of S, G2/M, and polyploid cells may correspond with cyclin D1 levels. This, in turn, may reflect an important role of the protein as one of the possible survival/point‐of‐no‐return regulators dependent on its concentration, which seems especially plausible in the context of more prominent cell death in the above‐mentioned fractions of cells.

The influence of arsenic trioxide on the cell cycle, apoptosis and expression of cyclin D1 in the Jurkat cell line

Cyclin D1 drives cell cycle progression at the G1/S transition and is believed to play a significant role in tumorigenesis, contributing to efficient proliferation of many cancer cells. Consequently, it is also recognized as an end-point biomarker of therapeutic outcome for different treatment modalities in cancer. In this study we aimed to evaluate the expression and localization of cyclin D1 in arsenic trioxide (ATO) treated Jurkat cells (lymphoblastic leukemia cell line) and to correlate these results with the extent of cell death and/or cell cycle alterations. Jurkat cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of ATO (0.2, 0.6 and 1.0μM) for 24h in standard cell culture conditions. To reach our goal we performed annexin V/PI labeling for detection of cell death and RNase/PI labeling for evaluation of cell cycle distribution, which were followed by the respective flow cytometric analyses of ATO-treated Jurkat cells. Transmission electron microscopy was applied for visualization of the cell ultrastructure. For cyclin D1 estimation a biparametric cyclinD1/cell cycle assay was done and localization of the protein was shown after immuno-labeling using light microscopy (ABC procedure) and confocal fluorescence microscopy. We found that there were no significant changes in the percentages of cyclin D1-positive cells after the treatment with ATO, but at the same time mean fluorescence intensity reflecting cyclin D1 content was gradually increasing along with the cell cycle progression, irrespective of the applied dose of the drug. On the other hand, we found a nuclear-cytoplasmic shift of this protein as a major treatment-related response, which was in good accord with an increased rate of cell death and suggested that cyclin D1 cytoplasmic degradation is an important determinant of the therapeutic efficiency of ATO in the Jurkat cell line.

The influence of Trisenox on actin organization in HL-60 cells

The aim of this study was to show the influence of Trisenox (arsenic trioxide, ATO) on cytoplasmic and nuclear F-actin organization in HL-60 human leukemia cell line. Changes in localization were determined with the use of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Alterations, in both cytoplasmic and nuclear actin, were observed in cells exposed to ATO. F-actin network underwent accumulation and formed aggregates, that were very often placed under the cell membrane in whole cells and at the periphery of isolated nuclei. Addition of ATO also induced apoptosis and a decrease in G2 phase cells. These results suggest the influence of actin on the formation of apoptotic bodies and also participation of this protein in apoptotic alterations within nuclei, i.e. chromatin reorganization.

Activity of cyclin B1 in HL-60 cells treated with etoposide

Cyclin B1 triggers G2/M phase transition phosphorylating with its catalytical partner - Cdc2 many of the molecular targets essential for cell cycle progression. Human leukemia cell line HL-60 were treated with increasing doses of etoposide (ETP) (0.5; 0.75; 1μM) to investigate how the drug affects cell morphology, viability, cell cycle distribution and expression of cyclin B1. To achieve this aim we applied light and transmission electron microscopy to observe morphological and ultra structural changes, image-based cytometry for apoptosis evaluation and cell cycle analysis, and then we conducted immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining to visualize cyclin localization and expression. Quantitive data about cyclin B1 expression were obtained from flow cytometry. Etoposide caused decrease in cell viability, induced apoptosis and G2/M arrest accompanied by enhanced expression of cyclin B1. Changes in expression and localization of cyclin B1 may constitute a part of the mechanism responsible for resistance of HL-60 cells to etoposide. Our results may reflect involvement of cyclin B1 in opposite processes - apoptosis induction and maintenance of cell viability in leukemia cells. We hypothesized possible roles and pathways by which cyclin B1 takes part in drug treatment response and chemosensitivity.

Influence of arsenic trioxide on the expression of cyclin A in the Jurkat cel line

Improper expression of cell cycle regulators is characteristic for most cancer cells. Cyclins are a group of proteins, with concentration changing in time, which control progression through each phase of the cell cycle. Maximum cyclin A expression falls inside S and at the beginning of M phase. In the S phase cyclin A is responsible for a proper run of the replication process, and together with cyclin B conditions transition into the M phase. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is an efficient drug used in acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML). Numerous reports point that arsenic trioxide can be applied in therapy of other types of cancer as well. The purpose of these study was to evaluate influence of arsenic trioxide on the expression and localization of cyclin A in Jurkat cell line. Additionally, we determined the effect of ATO on morphology and ultrastructure of the Jurkat cells. In order to reach this aim we applied classic light, florescence and electron transmission microscopy. A dose-dependent decrease in the percentage of viable cells was observed. Morphological and ultrastructural alterations suggest that apoptosis and autophagy are induced by ATO. Image-based cytometry showed high extent of necrotic cells after ATO treatment. A decrease in cyclin A level was observed, but without a change in protein nuclear localization.

Expression of cyclin A in A549 cell line after treatment with arsenic trioxide.

BACKGROUND Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is an effective drug used in acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML). Many reports suggest that ATO can also be applied as an anticancer agent for solid tumors in the future. The influence of arsenic trioxide on the expression of different cell cycle regulators is poorly recognized. The purpose of the current study is to investigate how arsenic trioxide affects cyclin A expression and localization in the A549 cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS Morphological and ultrastructural changes in A549 cells were observed using light and transmission electron microscopes. Cyclin A localization was determined by immunofluorescence. Image-based cytometry was applied to evaluate the effect of arsenic trioxide on apoptosis and the cell cycle. Expression of cyclin A mRNA was quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS After treatment with arsenic trioxide, increased numbers of cells with cytoplasmic localization of cyclin A were observed. The doses of 10 and 15 μM ATO slightly reduced expression of cyclin A mRNA. The apoptotic phenotype of cells was poorly represented, and the Tali imagebased cytometry analysis showed low percentages of apoptotic cells. The A549 population displayed an enriched fraction of cells in G0/G1 phase in the presence of 5μM ATO, whereas starting from the higher concentrations of the drug, i.e. 10 and 15 μM ATO, the G2/M fraction was on the increase. DISCUSSION Low expression of cyclin A in the A549 cell line may constitute a potential factor determining arsenic trioxide resistance. It could be hypothesized that the observed alterations in cyclin A expression/distribution may correlate well with changes in cell cycle regulation in our model, which in turn determines the outcome of the treatment.