Judith Edwards-Prasad

Modification of the effect of tamoxifen, cis‐platin, DTIC, and interferon‐α2b on human melanoma cells in culture by a mixture of vitamins

The effect of a mixture of vitamins in modifying the efficacy of commonly used drugs in the treatment of human melanoma has not been studied. Vitamin C and d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (alpha-TS) alone reduced the growth of human melanoma (SK-30) cells in culture, whereas beta-carotene (BC), 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA), or sodium selenite alone was ineffective. RA caused morphological changes, as evidenced by flattening of cells and formation of short cytoplasmic processes. A mixture of four vitamins (vitamin C, BC, alpha-TS, and RA) was more effective in reducing growth of human melanoma cells than a mixture of three vitamins. The growth-inhibitory effect of cis-platin, decarbazine, tamoxifen, and recombinant interferon-alpha 2b was enhanced by vitamin C alone, a mixture of three vitamins (BC, alpha-TS, and RA), and a mixture of four vitamins (vitamin C, BC, alpha-TS, and RA) that contained 50 micrograms/ml of vitamin C. These data show that a mixture of three or four vitamins can enhance the growth-inhibitory effect of currently used chemotherapeutic agents on human melanoma cells.

Multiple antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disease: analysis of biologic rationale.

Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease are major progressive neurologic disorders, the risk of which increases with advancing age (65 years and over). In familial cases, however, early onset of disease (35-65 years) is observed. In spite of extensive basic and chemical research on Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease, no preventive or long-term effective treatment strategies are available. The analysis of existing literature suggests that oxidative stress is a major intermediary risk factor for the action of diverse groups of neurotoxins that are involved in these neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, it is proposed that the epigenetic components (mitochondria, other organelles, membranes, protein modification) rather than nuclear genes of neurons are the primary targets for the action of neurotoxins, including free radicals. In addition, a scientific rationale for using multiple antioxidants in clinical trials for the prevention of Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease among high-risk populations, and as an adjunct to standard therapy in the treatment of these diseases is presented.

Characterization and transplantation of two neuronal cell lines with dopaminergic properties

Immortalized rat mesencephalic cells (1RB3AN27) produced dopamine (DA) at a level that was higher than produced by undifferentiated or differentiated murine neuroblastoma cells (NBP2) in culture. Treatment of 1RB3AN27 and NBP2 cells with a cAMP stimulating agent increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and the intensity of immunostaining for the DA transporter protein (DAT). 1RB3AN27 cells were labelled with primary antibodies to neuron specific enolase (NSE) and nestin and exhibited very little or no labeling with anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). 1RB3AN27 cells exhibited β- and α-adrenoreceptors, and prostaglandin E1 receptors, all of which were linked to adenylate cyclase (AC). Dopamine receptor (D1) and cholinergic muscarinic receptors linked to AC were not detectable. The levels of PKCα and PKCβ isoforms were higher than those of PKCγ and PKCδ in 1RB3AN27 cells. The 1RB3AN27 cells were more effective in reducing the rate of methamphetamine-induced turning in rats with unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the nigrostriatal system than differentiated NBP2 cells. The grafted 1RB3AN27 were viable as determined by DiI labelling, but they did not divide and did not produce T-antigen protein; however, when these grafted cells were cultured in vitro, they resumed production of T-antigen and proliferated after the primary glia cells and neurons of host brain died due to maturation and subsequent degeneration. Examination of H&E stained sections of the grafted sites revealed no evidence of infiltration of inflammatory cells in the grafted area suggesting that these cells were not immunogenic. They also did not form tumors.

Establishment and characterization of immortalized clonal cell lines from fetal rat mesencephalic tissue.

SummaryThis investigation reports for the first time the establishment of immortalized clones of dopamine-producing nerve cells in culture. Freshly prepared single-cell suspensions from fetal (12-day-old) rat mesencephalic tissue were transfected with plasmid vectors, pSV3neo and pSV5neo, using an electroporation technique. Cells were plated in tissue culture dishes which were precoated with a special substrate and contained modified MCDB-153 growth medium with 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum. The immortalized cells were selected by placing the transfected cells in a selection medium (modified MCDB-153 containing 400µg/ml geneticin). The survivors showed the presence of T-antigens and were non-tumorigenic. Two cell lines, 1RB3 derived from cells transfected with pSV3neo, and 2RB5 derived from cells transfected with pSV3neo, revealed only 1 to 2% tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells. Repeated single-cell cloning of these cell lines by a standard technique failed to increase the number of TH-positive cells in any clones. Using three cycles of growth, alternating between hormone-supplemented, serum-free medium and serum-containing medium produced a cell line (1RB3A) that was very rich in TH-positive cells. The recloning of 1RB3A yielded clones some of which contained over 95% TH-positive cells. These cells produced homovanillic acid, a metabolite of dopamine, and may be useful not only for neural transplant but also for basic neurobiological studies.

Vitamin K3 (menadione) inhibits the growth of mammalian tumor cells in culture.

Abstract The effects of vitamin K on the morphology and the growth of mouse neuroblastoma (P 2 ), mouse melanoma (B-16) and rat glioma (C-6) cells in culture were studied. Vitamin K 3 inhibited the growth (due to cell death and partial or complete inhibition of cell division) of all three cell types without causing any morphological differentiation. Vitamin K 3 was more effective than vitamin K 1 . Neuroblastoma cells were more sensitive to vitamin K 3 than were melanoma or glioma cells. Glioma cells did not grow in hormone-supplemented serum-free medium; however, both neuroblastoma and melanoma cells grew to a level 70–80% of that found in serum-supplemented medium. Neuroblastoma cells and melanoma cells cultured in serum-free medium exhibited a 2–3 fold higher sensitivity to vitamin K 3 than those cultured in serum-supplemented medium. This suggests that serum factors attenuate the growth inhibitory effect of vitamin K 3 on tumor cells in culture, probably by reducing the availability of this vitamin to the cells. Neuroblastoma cells were more sensitive to vitamin K 3 than were melanoma cells even when they were treated in serum-free medium. The fact that micromolar concentrations of vitamin K 3 inhibit the growth of tumor cells in culture suggests that this vitamin may be a potentially useful anticancer agent.

Effects of altered cyclophilin A expression on growth and differentiation of human and mouse neuronal cells.

Abstract1. Cyclophilin A (CyP-A), a soluble cytoplasmic immunophilin, is known for its involvement in T cell differentiation and proliferation. Although CyP-A has a pivotal role in the immune response, it is most highly concentratedin brain, where its functions are largely unknown.2. We reported previously that a murine neuroblastoma (NB-P2) cellline can partially differentiate into neurons when treated with cyclosporin A (CyS-A), implicating a role for CyP-A in neuronal differentiation (Hovland et al. [1999]. Neurochem. Int. 3:229–235).3. The role of CyP-A in regulating neuronal growth and differentiation is not well defined. To investigate this, we first tested the utility of retroviral-mediated gene transfer and expression in human embryonic brain (HEB) and NB-P2 cells. Second, we examined the effects of retroviral-mediated overexpression or antisense-mediated reduction of CyP-A in HEB and NB-P2 cells.4. Our data show that retroviral vectors are efficient for stable gene transfer and expression in both cell lines. Moreover, neither overexpression nor reduction of CyP-A expression in NB-P2 cells altered the growth rate or induced differentiation. More importantly, the up- or down-regulation of CyP-A expressiondid not affect the magnitude of cAMP-induced NB-P2 differentiation. However, overexpression of CyP-A increased the growth rate of HEB cells.5. In summary, the utility of retroviral vectors for stable gene expression in human embryonic brain and murine neuroblastoma cells was shown. Furthermore,a novel role for CyP-A in augmenting the proliferation of human embryonic braincells was demonstrated in vitro.

Identifying genes involved in regulating differentiation of neuroblastoma cells

The genes regulating the induction of differentiation in neurons are not definitively known. Some neuronal tumors retain the ability to differentiate into mature, functional neurons in response to pharmacological agents, despite the presence of genetic anomalies. We hypothesized that some of the genes whose expression is altered between undifferentiated and differentiated states may be those responsible for inducing differentiation. To investigate this, we used a mouse neuroblastoma (NB) cell line, NBP2, in which ≥90% of the cells in the culture terminally differentiate upon elevation of intracellular adenosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels. Gene expression was analyzed using cDNA array blots containing 588 known genes. mRNA from cultures of undifferentiated and differentiated NB cells was used to make cDNA probes for blot hybridization. We identified several genes that are predominantly expressed in either undifferentiated or differentiated NB cells. In addition, numerous genes are moderately up‐ or down‐regulated during differentiation of NB cells. We identified the N‐myc protooncogene, cyclin B1, and protease nexin 1 as genes that are expressed in undifferentiated NB cells and whose levels are significantly down‐regulated upon differentiation. In contrast, the c‐fes and c‐fos protooncogenes and the RAG‐1 gene activator are genes whose expression is significantly up‐regulated during differentiation of NB cells. These findings were confirmed by RT‐PCR analysis. The transcript size and expression level of N‐myc, cyclin B1, protease nexin 1, c‐fes, and c‐fos were verified by Northern blotting. These genes may represent key mediators involved in the regulation of NB cell differentiation. J. Neurosci. Res. 64:302–310, 2001.

Effect of vitamin E succinate and a cAMP-stimulating agent on the expression of c-myc N-myc and H-ras in murine neuroblastoma cells

d‐Alpha‐tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate) at a concentration of 11.3 μM inhibited growth and reduced the expression of c‐myc, N‐myc and H‐ras specific mRNAs in murine neuroblastoma cells (NBP2) in culture. R020‐1724 [4‐(3‐butoxy‐4‐methoxybenzyl)‐2‐imidazolidinone], an inhibitor of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, also inhibited growth and reduced the expression of these oncogenes. Vitamin E succinate treatment caused the formation of two c‐myc related transcripts of 1.9 and 3.7 kb; however, R020‐1724 treatment did not. These results suggest that the inhibition of growth is sufficient to reduce the expression of c‐myc, N‐myc and H‐ras in NB cells in culture, but it is not sufficient to produce two c‐myc related transcripts.

Effect of alpha tocopheryl succinate on adenylate cyclase activity in murine neuroblastoma cells in culture.

Alpha tocopheryl succinate treatment (6-8 micrograms/ml), which inhibited the growth of murine neuroblastoma (NBP2) cells (46 +/- 3%), reduced basal and prostaglandin (PG)E1- and PGA2-stimulated adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in vitro. It also inhibited sodium fluoride (NaF)- and forskolin-stimulated AC activity, suggesting that the effect of vitamin E succinate on AC activity is mediated via stimulatory GTP-binding protein (Gs) and catalytic subunit. Vitamin E succinate-induced reduction of AC activity is not strictly related to inhibition of cell growth. This is substantiated by the finding that, although retinoic acid and butylated hydroxyanisole reduced the growth by over 50%, they did not inhibit AC activity. On the other hand, 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (R020-1724, 200 micrograms/ml), which inhibited growth (73 +/- 3%) and induced differentiation in NB cells, increased basal and PGE1-stimulated AC activity. Vitamin E succinate treatment also reduced PGE1- and PGA2-AC activity in murine fibroblasts (L-cells) without inhibiting growth.

Inhibition of proliferation and expression of T-antigen in SV40 large T-antigen gene-induced immortalized cells following transplantations

Rat dopamine-producing nerve cells (1RB3AN27) and rat parotid acinar cells (2RSG) were immortalized by insertion of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen gene (LTa). Both of these cells divided and produced nuclear LTa in vitro. In order to assess the relationship between cell proliferation and expression of LTa in vivo, immortalized dopamine-producing nerve cells and parotid cells were grafted into the striatum and parotid gland of adult Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. Grafted cells exhibited nuclear LTa at 1 day but not at 7 and 30 days after transplantation. At 30 days after transplantation, no tumor was found, and there was no evidence of cell division as determined by H and E staining. When the striatal areas containing the grafts were cultured, these cells did not express LTa at 4 days after plating; however, after 3 weeks, when most host cells were eliminated, the cultured grafted cells expressed LTa. After 3 months of culturing, only cells exhibiting LTa were present. These cells had the same morphology and divided with the same doubling time as 1RB3AN27 cells before grafting. Results suggest the presence of a LTa-inhibiting factor in vivo, and support the hypothesis that the expression of LTa is directly linked with proliferation of immortalized cells.