CELL-DEATH BY APOPTOSIS FOLLOWING ANTICANCER DRUG-TREATMENT IN-VITRO

  • Authors:
    • LI HUSCHTSCHA
    • WA BARTIER
    • A MALMSTROM
    • MHN TATTERSALL
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 1, 1995     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.6.3.585
  • Pages: 585-593
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

The mechanism of cell death, apoptosis or necrosis, was determined morphologically and by DNA gel electrophoresis in 3 human leukaemic T-cell lines (CCRF-CEM.f2, CCRF-HSB and MOLT.4) after treatment with cytotoxic drugs. These include one hormone, dexamethasone (DXM); the DNA damaging agents, melphalan, cisplatin, bleomycin, mitomycin C and mithramycin; inhibitors of DNA synthesis, aphidicolin, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); and other metabolic inhibitors, bromo-2'-deoxy-2'-uridine (BUdR), actinomycin D, 5-azacytidine (5-AC), cycloheximide, vincristine, etoposide and adriamycin. When cell death was assessed morphologically apoptotic cell death was apparent in the three cell lines 48 hours after all drug treatments. However, a distinct pattern of DNA breakdown was observed for each cell line. A smear of DNA on agarose gels was seen for CCRF-CEM.f2 with 5-FU and mithramycin treatments whilst CCRF-HSB cells showed a similar DNA profile after 5-FU and MTX treatments. All drug treatments of MOLT.4 cells produced a necrotic pattern of DNA degradation. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis reduced DNA fragmentation of CCRF-CEM.f2 cells treated with DXM, MTX and FUdR indicating that protein synthesis is required for cytotoxicity by apoptosis. However, the extent of DNA fragmentation caused by 5-FU was not significantly affected by cycloheximide. These results indicate that at least morphological and electrophoretic criteria should be used to avoid differing conclusions about modes of cell death.

Related Articles

Journal Cover

March 1995
Volume 6 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
HUSCHTSCHA L, BARTIER W, MALMSTROM A and TATTERSALL M: CELL-DEATH BY APOPTOSIS FOLLOWING ANTICANCER DRUG-TREATMENT IN-VITRO. Int J Oncol 6: 585-593, 1995
APA
HUSCHTSCHA, L., BARTIER, W., MALMSTROM, A., & TATTERSALL, M. (1995). CELL-DEATH BY APOPTOSIS FOLLOWING ANTICANCER DRUG-TREATMENT IN-VITRO. International Journal of Oncology, 6, 585-593. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.6.3.585
MLA
HUSCHTSCHA, L., BARTIER, W., MALMSTROM, A., TATTERSALL, M."CELL-DEATH BY APOPTOSIS FOLLOWING ANTICANCER DRUG-TREATMENT IN-VITRO". International Journal of Oncology 6.3 (1995): 585-593.
Chicago
HUSCHTSCHA, L., BARTIER, W., MALMSTROM, A., TATTERSALL, M."CELL-DEATH BY APOPTOSIS FOLLOWING ANTICANCER DRUG-TREATMENT IN-VITRO". International Journal of Oncology 6, no. 3 (1995): 585-593. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.6.3.585