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Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the... 2021I here present the results of our studies on the synthesis and functional analysis of tautomeric dihydropyrimidines (DPs) and related compounds in two sections. In the... (Review)
Review
I here present the results of our studies on the synthesis and functional analysis of tautomeric dihydropyrimidines (DPs) and related compounds in two sections. In the first section, we describe our experimental and theoretical studies on the thermodynamics and properties of 2-substituted 1,4- and 1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates by H NMR measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, respectively. The concentration ratios of tautomers a/b of DPs 1, 2, and 3 were determined under various conditions to determine the effects of temperature, solvent, and concentration on thermodynamics data. The obtained free energy differences (ΔG), enthalpy differences (ΔH), and entropy differences (ΔS) are discussed in terms of the molecular structures, dipole moments (DM), and electrostatic potential maps obtained by DFT calculations to clarify the nature of DPs 4-8. In the second section, an efficient synthetic method developed for 6-unsubstituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thiones 9 and 2-ones 10 is described. The novelties of the synthesis protocol are as follows: 1) the use of Lewis acid-mediated reaction, 2) good to high yields, and 3) its broad scope of applicability to aldehydes and ureas. Hitherto unavailable 6-unsubstituted 2-amino DP 11 and 2-aryl DP 12 were obtained from 9 by a substitution reaction with the amine and the Liebeskind-Srogl reaction, respectively. The compounds 9, 10, and related 6-methyl derivatives 19-21 were assessed for their antiproliferative effect on the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. 4,4-Dipropyl derivative 20 showed relatively strong activity with an IC value of 341 nM.
Topics: Cell Proliferation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Molecular Structure; Pyrimidines; Solvents; Static Electricity; Structure-Activity Relationship; Temperature; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 33518632
DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.20-00182 -
BMC Cancer May 2023Leukemic cell metabolism plays significant roles in their proliferation and survival. These metabolic adaptations are under regulation by different factors. Programmed...
BACKGROUND
Leukemic cell metabolism plays significant roles in their proliferation and survival. These metabolic adaptations are under regulation by different factors. Programmed Death Ligand -1 (CD-274) is one of the immune checkpoint ligands that do not only cause the immune escape of cancer cells, but also have some intracellular effects in these cells. PD-L1 is overexpressed on leukemic stem cells and relates with poor prognosis of AML. In this study, we investigated effects of PD-L1 stimulation on critical metabolic pathways of glucose and fatty acid metabolisms that have important roles in proliferation and survival of leukemic cells.
METHODS
After confirmation of PD-L1 expression by flow cytometry assay, we used recombinant protein PD-1 for stimulation of the PD-L1 on two AML cell lines, HL-60 and THP-1. Then we examined the effect of PD-L1 stimulation on glucose and fatty acid metabolism in cells at the genomic and metabolomic levels in a time dependent manner. We investigated expression changes of rate limiting enzymes of theses metabolic pathways (G6PD, HK-2, CPT1A, ATGL1 and ACC1) by qRT-PCR and also the relative abundance changes of free fatty acids of medium by GC.
RESULTS
We identified a correlation between PD-L1 stimulation and both fatty acid and glucose metabolism. The PD-L1 stimulated cells showed an influence in the pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis by increasing expression of G6PD and HK-2 (P value = 0.0001). Furthermore, PD-L1 promoted fatty acid β-oxidation by increasing expression of CPT1A (P value = 0.0001), however, their fatty acid synthesis was decreased by reduction of ACC1 expression (P value = 0.0001).
CONCLUSION
We found that PD-L1 can promote proliferation and survival of AML stem cells probably through some metabolic changes in leukemic cells. Pentose phosphate pathway that has a critical role in cell proliferation and fatty acids β-oxidation that promote cell survival, both are increased by PD-L1 stimulation on AML cells.
Topics: Humans; B7-H1 Antigen; Glucose; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; HL-60 Cells; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 37193972
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10947-7 -
PloS One 2023In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), neoplastic myeloblast (CD34+CD13+CD33+ cells) numbers often increase over time, leading to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In...
OBJECTIVES
In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), neoplastic myeloblast (CD34+CD13+CD33+ cells) numbers often increase over time, leading to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In recent studies, blasts in some MDS patients have been found to express a megakaryocyte-lineage molecule, CD41, and such patients show extremely poor prognosis. This is the first study to evaluate whether myeloblasts transition to CD41+ blasts over time and to investigate the detailed immunophenotypic features of CD41+ blasts in MDS.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective cohort study, in which time-dependent changes in blast immunophenotypes were analyzed using multidimensional flow cytometry (MDF) in 74 patients with MDS and AML (which progressed from MDS).
RESULTS
CD41+ blasts (at least 20% of CD34+ blasts expressing CD41) were detected in 12 patients. In five of these 12 patients, blasts were CD41+ from the first MDF analysis. In the other seven patients, myeloblasts (CD34+CD33+CD41- cells) transitioned to megakaryoblasts (CD34+CD41+ cells) over time, which was often accompanied by disease progression (including leukemic transformation). These CD41+ patients were more frequently observed among patients with monosomal and complex karyotypes. CD41+ blasts were negative for the erythroid antigen, CD235a, and positive for CD33 in all cases, but CD33 expression levels were lower in three cases when compared with CD34+CD41- blasts. Among the five CD41+ patients who underwent extensive immunophenotyping, CD41+ blasts all expressed CD61, but two cases had reduced CD42b expression, three had reduced/absent CD13 expression, and three also expressed CD7.
CONCLUSIONS
Myeloblasts become megakaryoblastic over time in some MDS patients, and examining the megakaryocyte lineage (not only as a diagnostic work-up but also as follow-up) is needed to detect CD41+ MDS. The immunophenotypic features revealed in this study may have diagnostic relevance for CD41+ MDS patients.
Topics: Humans; Granulocyte Precursor Cells; Immunophenotyping; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells; Retrospective Studies; Antigens, CD34; Myelodysplastic Syndromes
PubMed: 37729123
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291662 -
Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Jun 2021Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) and T-lymphoid/myeloid mixed phenotype acute leukemia (T/M-MPAL) are closely related entities and remain a...
Early T-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and T/Myeloid Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia Possess Overlapping Characteristics and Both Benefit From CAG-Like Regimens and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) and T-lymphoid/myeloid mixed phenotype acute leukemia (T/M-MPAL) are closely related entities and remain a therapeutic challenge. In this study, we characterized the clinical features of 43 ETP-ALL and 41 T/M-MPAL patients and compared clinical outcomes and safety between cytarabine, aclarubicin, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CAG)-like regimens in 34 patients and conventional ALL regimens in 50 patients. In our series, ETP-ALL and T/M-MPAL showed similar biological characteristics, immunophenotypes, genomic alterations, and outcomes. The complete remission (CR) rate and minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative CR rate of CAG-like regimens were significantly higher compared with conventional ALL regimens (CAG-like: 80.0% and 59.7%, respectively; P = .039; ALL: 51.4% and 31.3%, respectively; P = .048). Overall, 90.0% of cases (18/20) achieved CR using combined decitabine and CAG-like regimens. Additionally, CAG-like regimens had lower rates of grade 3 or 4 infection (18.8% vs. 38.2%; P = .059) and grade 1 or 2 hepatotoxicity (37.5% vs. 60.0%; P = .043) than conventional ALL regimens. The 38 patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in the first CR (CR1) had better overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) than the 11 patients who underwent allo-HSCT in the second CR (CR2) or in no remission (median OS not reached vs. 7.6 months, P = .0004; median LFS not reached vs. 11.6 months, P = .0008). There was a significant difference in 3-year OS (95.7% vs. 52.5%; P = .0039) and LFS (95.8% vs. 43.5%; P = .0003) after allo-HSCT between pre-transplant MRD-negative and MRD-positive patients. The median OS for patients without allo-HSCT was 32.1 months in the CAG-like group compared with 12.1 months in the non-CAG-like group (P = .019). These findings suggest that ETP-ALL and T/M-MPAL possess overlapping characteristics and CAG-like regimens improve their clinical outcomes.
Topics: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Phenotype; Precursor Cells, T-Lymphoid; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 33785365
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2021.02.032 -
Theranostics 2021The implementation of targeted therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been challenging. Fat mass and obesity associated protein (FTO), an mRNA N-methyladenosine...
The implementation of targeted therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been challenging. Fat mass and obesity associated protein (FTO), an mRNA N-methyladenosine (mA) demethylase, functions as an oncogene that promotes leukemic oncogene-mediated cell transformation and leukemogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of Saikosaponin-d (SsD) in broad anti-proliferation effects in AML and evaluated the mA demethylation activity by targeting FTO of SsD. It was examined whether and how SsD regulates FTO/mA signaling in AML. The pharmacologic activities and mechanisms of actions of SsD , in mice, primary patient cells, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors-resistant cells were determined. SsD showed a broadly-suppressed AML cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest both and . Mechanistically, SsD directly targeted FTO, thereby increasing global mA RNA methylation, which in turn decreased the stability of downstream gene transcripts, leading to the suppression of relevant pathways. Importantly, SsD also overcame FTO/mA-mediated leukemia resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Our findings demonstrated that FTO-dependent mA RNA methylation mediated the anti-leukemic actions of SsD, thereby opening a window to develop SsD as an epitranscriptome-base drug for leukemia therapy.
Topics: Adenosine; Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; Animals; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; HL-60 Cells; Humans; K562 Cells; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Methylation; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, SCID; Oleanolic Acid; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; RNA, Messenger; Saponins; Signal Transduction; U937 Cells
PubMed: 33897884
DOI: 10.7150/thno.55574 -
Genes Mar 2023Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) pathogenesis is based on gene translocations, which are of high importance in the diagnosis of and proper therapy selection for APL....
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) pathogenesis is based on gene translocations, which are of high importance in the diagnosis of and proper therapy selection for APL. However, in some cases acute myeloid leukemia (AML) demonstrates APL-like morphological features such as atypical promyelocytes accumulation. This type of AML is characterized by the involvement of other family members or completely different genes. In the present study, we used conventional karyotyping, FISH and high-throughput sequencing in a group of 271 de novo AML with atypical promyelocytes accumulation. Of those, 255 cases were shown to carry a typical chromosomal translocation t(15;17)(q24;q21) with chimeric gene formation (94.1%). Other -positive cases exhibited cryptic fusion without t(15;17)(q24;q21) (1.8%, = 5) and variant t(5;17)(q35;q21) translocation with chimeric gene formation (1.5%, = 4). However, 7 -negative AMLs with atypical promyelocytes accumulation were also discovered. These cases exhibited and fusions as well as mutations, e.g., insertion and non-recurrent chromosomal aberrations. Our findings demonstrate the genetic diversity of AML with APL-like morphological features, which is of high importance for successful therapy implementation.
Topics: Humans; Granulocyte Precursor Cells; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Translocation, Genetic; Nuclear Proteins
PubMed: 36980947
DOI: 10.3390/genes14030675 -
BMC Cancer Dec 2020Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease that frequently relapses after standard chemotherapy. Therefore, there is a need for the development of novel...
BACKGROUND
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease that frequently relapses after standard chemotherapy. Therefore, there is a need for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents that could treat AML effectively. Radotinib, an oral BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was developed as a drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Previously, we reported that radotinib exerts increased cytotoxic effects towards AML cells. However, little is known about the effects of combining radotinib with Ara-C, a conventional chemotherapeutic agent for AML, with respect to cell death in AML cells. Therefore, we investigated combination effects of radotinib and Ara-C on AML in this study.
METHODS
Synergistic anti-cancer effects of radotinib and Ara-C in AML cells including HL60, HEL92.1.7, THP-1 and bone marrow cells from AML patients have been examined. Diverse cell biological assays such as cell viability assay, Annexin V-positive cells, caspase-3 activity, cell cycle distribution, and related signaling pathway have been performed.
RESULTS
The combination of radotinib and Ara-C was found to induce AML cell apoptosis, which involved the mitochondrial pathway. In brief, combined radotinib and Ara-C significantly induced Annexin V-positive cells, cytosolic cytochrome C, and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax in AML cells including HL60, HEL92.1.7, and THP-1. In addition, mitochondrial membrane potential and Bcl-xl protein were markedly decreased by radotinib and Ara-C. Moreover, this combination induced caspase-3 activity. Cleaved caspase-3, 7, and 9 levels were also increased by combined radotinib and Ara-C. Additionally, radotinib and Ara-C co-treatment induced G/G arrest via the induction of CDKIs such as p21 and p27 and the inhibition of CDK2 and cyclin E. Thus, radotinib/Ara-C induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis and G/G arrest via the regulation of the CDKI-CDK-cyclin cascade in AML cells. In addition, our results showed that combined treatment with radotinib and Ara-C inhibits AML cell growth, including tumor volumes and weights in vivo. Also, the combination of radotinib and Ara-C can sensitize cells to chemotherapeutic agents such as daunorubicin or idarubicin in AML cells.
CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, our results can be concluded that radotinib in combination with Ara-C possesses a strong anti-AML activity.
Topics: Animals; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Benzamides; Cell Cycle; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Drug Synergism; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Idarubicin; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Proteins; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrazines; Random Allocation; Single-Blind Method; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Tumor Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 33276759
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07701-8 -
Cytometry. Part B, Clinical Cytometry Sep 2021Flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCIP) can improve diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN), although its...
Exploring blast composition in myelodysplastic syndromes and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms: CD45RA and CD371 improve diagnostic value of flow cytometry through assessment of myeloblast heterogeneity and stem cell aberrancy.
BACKGROUND
Flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCIP) can improve diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN), although its application is challenging due to difficulties in standardization, complexity of antibody panels and subjective interpretation of data. Since blasts are invariably affected in these disorders, we developed a FCIP approach for detailed and objective analysis of the blast population.
METHODS
FCIP using a one-tube 10-color (13-marker) antibody panel was performed on bone marrow samples from 23 MDS and 8 MDS/MPN patients, 21 cytopenic patients non-diagnostic for MDS (Non-MDS), and 16 Control samples.
RESULTS
MDS and MDS/MPN cases demonstrated one to several immunophenotypic abnormalities including: increased myeloblasts, decreased stage-1 hematogones, aberrant stem cells, abnormal myeloblast heterogeneity/divergence from normal, increased or decreased CD45 intensity, increased CD117 or CD123 intensity, decreased CD38 intensity, and aberrant expression of lineage markers (CD5, CD19, CD56). A Blast score was developed that showed sensitivity of 80.6% and specificity of 90.5% for immunophenotypic diagnosis of MDS and MDS/MPN. Expression levels of CD45RA and CD371 were used to evaluate abnormal myeloblast heterogeneity and stem cell aberrancy. Both these features were, for the first time, incorporated into a scoring system and resulted in 19% increase in the sensitivity of the assay for lower-risk MDS.
CONCLUSION
Deep immunophenotypic analysis of the blast population is valuable for diagnosis of MDS and MDS/MPN and can potentially provide sensitivity and specificity figures comparable to those previously described using more comprehensive panels that assess maturing myelomonocytic and erythroid elements in addition to progenitor cells.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Flow Cytometry; Granulocyte Precursor Cells; Humans; Lectins, C-Type; Leukocyte Common Antigens; Male; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Myelodysplastic-Myeloproliferative Diseases; Receptors, Mitogen; Stem Cells
PubMed: 33369070
DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21983 -
Annals of Hematology Jul 2023Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF), with AS as a major ingredient, is an oral arsenic used in China to treat pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The...
Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF), with AS as a major ingredient, is an oral arsenic used in China to treat pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The efficacy of RIF is similar to that of arsenic trioxide (ATO). However, the effects of these two arsenicals on differentiation syndrome (DS) and coagulation disorders, the two main life-threatening events in children with APL, remain unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 68 consecutive children with APL from South China Children Leukemia Group-APL (SCCLG-APL) study. Patients received all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on day 1 of induction therapy. ATO 0.16 mg/kg day or RIF 135 mg/kg·day was administrated on day 5, while mitoxantrone was administered on day 3 (non-high-risk) or days 2-4 (high-risk). The incidences of DS were 3.0% and 5.7% in ATO (n = 33) and RIF (n = 35) arms (p = 0.590), and 10.3% and 0% in patients with and without differentiation-related hyperleukocytosis (p = 0.04), respectively. Moreover, in patients with differentiation-related hyperleukocytosis, the incidence of DS was not significantly different between ATO and RIF arms. The dynamic changes of leukocyte count between arms were not statistically different. However, patients with leukocyte count > 2.61 × 10/L or percentage of promyelocytes in peripheral blood > 26.5% tended to develop hyperleukocytosis. The improvement of coagulation indexes in ATO and RIF arms was similar, with fibrinogen and prothrombin time having the quickest recovery rate. This study showed that the incidence of DS and recovery of coagulopathy are similar when treating pediatric APL with RIF or ATO.
Topics: Child; Humans; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Arsenic; Retrospective Studies; Arsenic Trioxide; Tretinoin; Arsenicals; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Oxides; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37199788
DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05270-x -
Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS Oct 2023Neutrophils depend heavily on glycolysis for energy production under normal conditions. In contrast, neutrophils require energy supplied by mitochondrial oxidative...
LRRK2 is involved in the chemotaxis of neutrophils and differentiated HL-60 cells, and the inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity increases fMLP-induced chemotactic activity.
BACKGROUND
Neutrophils depend heavily on glycolysis for energy production under normal conditions. In contrast, neutrophils require energy supplied by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) during chemotaxis. However, the mechanism by which the energy supply changes from glycolysis to OXPHOS remains unknown. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is partially present in the outer mitochondrial membrane fraction. Lrrk2-deficient cells show mitochondrial fragmentation and reduced OXPHOS activity. We have previously reported that mitofusin (MFN) 2 is involved in chemotaxis and OXPHOS activation upon chemoattractant N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) stimulation in differentiated HL-60 (dHL-60) cells. It has been previously reported that LRRK2 binds to MFN2 and partially colocalizes with MFN2 at the mitochondrial membranes. This study investigated the involvement of LRRK2 in chemotaxis and MFN2 activation in neutrophils and dHL-60 cells.
METHODS
Lrrk2 knockout neutrophils and Lrrk2 knockdown dHL-60 cells were used to examine the possible involvement of LRRK2 in chemotaxis. Lrrk2 knockdown dHL-60 cells were used a tetracycline-inducible small hairpin RNA (shRNA) system to minimize the effects of LRRK2 knockdown during cell culture. The relationship between LRRK2 and MFN2 was investigated by measuring the GTP-binding activity of MFN2 in Lrrk2 knockdown dHL-60 cells. The effects of LRRK2 kinase activity on chemotaxis were examined using the LRRK2 kinase inhibitor MLi-2.
RESULTS
fMLP-induced chemotactic activity was reduced in Lrrk2 knockout neutrophils in vitro and in vivo. Lrrk2 knockdown in dHL-60 cells expressing Lrrk2 shRNA also reduced fMLP-induced chemotactic activity. Lrrk2 knockdown dHL-60 cells showed reduced OXPHOS activity and suppressed mitochondrial morphological change, similar to Mfn2 knockdown dHL-60 cells. The amount of LRRK2 in the mitochondrial fraction and the GTP-binding activity of MFN2 increased upon fMLP stimulation, and the MFN2 GTP-binding activity was suppressed in Lrrk2 knockdown dHL-60 cells. Furthermore, the kinase activity of LRRK2 and Ser935 phosphorylation of LRRK2 were reduced upon fMLP stimulation, and LRRK2 kinase inhibition by MLi-2 increased the migration to fMLP.
CONCLUSIONS
LRRK2 is involved in neutrophil chemotaxis and the GTP-binding activity of MFN2 upon fMLP stimulation. On the other hand, the kinase activity of LRRK2 shows a negative regulatory effect on fMLP-induced chemotactic activity in dHL-60 cells. Video Abstract.
Topics: Humans; Chemotaxis; Neutrophils; HL-60 Cells; Oxidative Phosphorylation; RNA, Small Interfering; Guanosine Triphosphate; Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
PubMed: 37904222
DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01305-y