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ABSTRACT: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accounts for more than half of fatal cases in all pediatric leukemia patients; this observation highlights the need of more effective therapies. Thus, we investigated whether interleukin (IL)-27, an immunomodulatory cytokine, functions as an antitumor agent against pediatric AML cells.
Expression of WSX-1 and gp130 on AML cells from 16 pediatric patients was studied by flow cytometry. Modulation of leukemia cell proliferation or apoptosis upon IL-27 treatment in vitro was tested by bromodeoxyuridine/propidium iodide (PI) and Ki67, or Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometric analysis. The angiogenic potential of AML cells treated or not with IL-27 was studied by chorioallantoic membrane assay and PCR array. In vivo studies were carried out using nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID)/Il2rg(-/-) mice injected intravenously with five pediatric AML cell samples. Leukemic cells engrafted in PBS and IL-27-treated animals were studied by immunohistochemical/morphologic analysis and by PCR array for expression angiogenic/dissemination-related genes.
We provided the first demonstration that (i) AML cells injected into NOD/SCID/Il2rg(-/-) mice gave rise to leukemia dissemination that was severely hampered by IL-27, (ii) compared with controls, leukemia cells harvested from IL-27-treated mice showed significant reduction of their angiogenic and spreading related genes, and (iii) similarly to what was observed in vivo, IL-27 reduced in vitro AML cell proliferation and modulated the expression of different genes involved in the angiogenic/spreading process.
These results provide an experimental rationale for the development of future clinical trials aimed at evaluating the toxicity and efficacy of IL-27.
Clinical Cancer Research 03/2012; 18(6):1630-40. · 7.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Interleukin (IL)-23 is a proinflammatory cytokine belonging to the IL-12 superfamily. The antitumor activity of IL-23 is controversial, and it is unknown whether or not the cytokine can act directly on tumor cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential direct antitumor activity of IL-23 in pediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells and to unravel the molecular mechanisms involved. Here, we show, for the first time, that IL-23R is up-regulated in primary B-ALL cells, compared with normal early B lymphocytes, and that IL-23 dampens directly tumor growth in vitro and in vivo through the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The latter finding is related to IL-23-induced up-regulation of miR15a expression and the consequent down-regulation of BCL-2 protein expression in pediatric B-ALL cells. This study demonstrates that IL-23 possesses antileukemic activity and unravels the underlying mechanisms. Thus, IL-23 may be a candidate novel drug for the treatment of B-ALL patients unresponsive to current therapeutic standards.
Blood 11/2010; 116(19):3887-98. · 9.90 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Acute myeloid leukemia is a haematopoietic malignancy originating from the transformation of myeloid progenitors that proliferate and accumulate in the bone marrow. In AML patients the survival rate at 5 years is 40-50% highlighting the need for novel therapies. In this study we have asked whether IL-12, an immuno-modulatory cytokine with anti-tumor activity, may inhibit directly AML cell growth. We show that the human AML cell lines U937, K562 and THP-1 expressed both chains of the IL-12 receptor (R), i.e. IL-12Rβ1 and IL-12Rβ2. IL-12 inhibited the angiogenic potential of AML cells in vitro, but did not affect their survival or proliferation. In vivo experiments were performed using SCID-NOD mice injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with the human U937 AML cell line and subsequently treated with human recombinant IL-12 or PBS i.p. Histological, immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analyses on explanted tumors revealed that IL-12 reduced new vessel formation, induced apoptosis and inhibited tumor cell proliferation. Studies on a panel of angiogenesis related genes in explanted tumors using PCR arrays showed significantly down-regulated expression of numerous pro-angiogenic genes including VEGF-C, IL-6, IL-8, CXCL1, CXCL6 and alanyl aminopeptidase in IL-12 vs PBS treated mice. This study shows for the first time that IL-12 targets directly AML cell growth and paves the way to further investigation of IL-12 as potential drug for AML treatment.
Immunology letters 10/2010; 133(2):99-105. · 2.91 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Multiple myeloma (MM) derives from plasmablast/plasma cells that accumulate in the bone marrow. Different microenvironmental factors may promote metastatic dissemination especially to the skeleton, causing bone destruction. The balance between osteoclast and osteoblast activity represents a critical issue in bone remodeling. Thus, we investigated whether interluekin-27 (IL-27) may function as an antitumor agent by acting directly on MM cells and/or on osteoclasts/osteoblasts.
The IL-27 direct antitumor activity on MM cells was investigated in terms of angiogenesis, proliferation, apoptosis, and chemotaxis. The IL-27 activity on osteoclast/osteoblast differentiation and function was also tested. In vivo studies were done using severe combined immunodeficient/nonobese diabetic mice injected with MM cell lines. Tumors from IL-27- and PBS-treated mice were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and PCR array.
We showed that IL-27 (a) strongly inhibited tumor growth of primary MM cells and MM cell lines through inhibition of angiogenesis, (b) inhibited osteoclast differentiation and activity and induced osteoblast proliferation, and (c) damped in vivo tumorigenicity of human MM cell lines through inhibition of angiogenesis.
These findings show that IL-27 may represent a novel therapeutic agent capable of inhibiting directly MM cell growth as well as osteoclast differentiation and activity.
Clinical Cancer Research 08/2010; 16(16):4188-97. · 7.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Experimental and clinical data suggest that tumours harbour a cell population retaining stem cell characteristics that can drive tumorigenesis. CD133 is considered an important cancer stem cells (CSC)-associated marker. In a large variety of human malignancies, including melanoma, CD133(+) cells have been reported to comprise CSC. In this study, we show that melanoma cell lines are highly heterogeneous for the expression of several stem cell-associated markers including CD133, c-kit/CD117 and p75 neurotrophin receptor/CD271. Since no information is available on the ability of NK cells to recognize and lyse melanoma stem cells, we assessed whether melanoma cell lines, characterized by stem cell-like features, were susceptible to lysis by IL-2-activated NK cells. We show that activated NK cells efficiently kill malignant melanoma cell lines that were enriched in putative CSC by the use of different selection methods (i.e. CD133 expression, radioresistance or the ability to form melanospheres in stem cell-supportive medium). NK cell-mediated recognition and lysis of melanoma cells involved different combinations of activating NK receptors. Since CSC have been reported to be both drug resistant and radioresistant, our present data suggest that NK-based adoptive immunotherapy could represent a novel therapeutic approach to possibly eradicate metastatic melanoma.
International Immunology 08/2009; 21(7):793-801. · 3.41 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The herbicide dichlobenil selectively causes necrosis of the dorsomedial part of olfactory neuroepithelium (NE) with permanent damage to the underlying mucosa, whereas the lateral part of the olfactory region and the nasal respiratory mucosa remain undamaged. We investigated here whether human umbilical cord blood CD133(+) stem cells (HSC) injected intravenously to nod-scid mice pretreated with dichlobenil may engraft the olfactory mucosa and contribute to the regeneration of the damaged NE. We tested HLA-DQalpha1 DNA and three human microsatellites (Combined DNA Index System) as indicators of engrafted cells, finding polymerase chain reaction evidence of chimaerism in various tissues of the host, including the olfactory mucosa and bulb, at 7 and 31 days following HSC transplantation. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and lectin staining revealed the morphological recovery of the dorsomedial region of the NE in dichlobenil-treated mice that received HSC, contrasting with the lack of regeneration in similarly injured areas as these remained damaged in control nontransplanted mice. FISH analysis, to detect human genomic sequences from different chromosomes, confirmed persistent engraftment of the regenerating olfactory area with chimeric cells. Electro-olfactograms in response to odorants, to test the functionality of the olfactory NE, confirmed the functional damage of the dorsomedial area in dichlobenil-treated mice and the functional recovery of the same area in transplanted mice. These findings support the concept that transplanted HSC migrating to the damaged olfactory area provide conditions facilitating the recovery from olfactory receptor cell loss.
Stem Cells 02/2009; 27(4):825-35. · 7.78 Impact Factor
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Laura Paleari,
Fausto Sessa,
Alessia Catassi,
Denis Servent,
Gilles Mourier,
Guido Doria-Miglietta, Emanuela Ognio,
Michele Cilli,
Lorenzo Dominioni,
Massimo Paolucci,
Andrea Calcaterra,
Alfredo Cesario,
Stefano Margaritora,
Pierluigi Granone,
Patrizia Russo
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ABSTRACT: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are expressed on bronchial epithelial and non-small cell lung cancer cells and are involved in cell growth regulation. Nicotine (classical nAChR agonist) induced cell proliferation, whereas nAChR antagonists, d- tubocurarine or alpha-cobratoxin (alpha-CbT), induced cell death. In the current study, we further explored the antitumor potential mechanisms and activities of alpha-CbT. NOD/SCID mice were grafted intraperitoneally or orthotopically and treated with alpha-CbT. alpha-CbT treatment [0.04 ng/kg or 0.12 ng/kg] induced a strong reduction in tumor size ( approximately 90%) in comparison with mice treated with the vehicle alone. Tumor inhibition was related to severe induction of apoptosis. Moreover, neoangiogenesis was strongly inhibited (reduction of cells positive to vascular endothelial growth factor and CD31). Biochemical analyses of the cells, isolated by the primary lung tumor in alpha-CbT-treated mice, showed apoptosis features characterized by: (i) inhibition of BAD phosphorylation at Ser(112) and Ser(136); (ii) BAD dissociation from 14-3-3; (iii) BAD association with BCL-XL; and (iv) cleavage of caspase-9. Moreover, these cells were unable to grow in soft agar and develop tumor, when reinjected into mice. The small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of the alpha7-nAChR gene confirmed that alpha-CbT specifically inhibited the alpha7-nAChR-mediated survival pathway in A549 cells. Furthermore, the specificity of alpha-CbT is reinforced by the lack of effect of short chain toxin (Erabutoxin-a). Once more, the no effect of the low-affinity R33E-modified alpha-CbT strengthened the specificity of this inhibition. Although alpha7-nAChR antagonists, such as alpha-CbT, are unlikely to be a primary therapy, it may provide lead compounds for the design of clinically useful drugs.
International Journal of Cancer 02/2009; 125(1):199-211. · 5.44 Impact Factor
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Alessia Catassi,
Laura Paleari,
Denis Servent,
Fausto Sessa,
Lorenzo Dominioni, Emanuela Ognio,
Michele Cilli,
Paola Vacca,
Mariacristina Mingari,
Giovanni Gaudino,
Pietro Bertino,
Massimo Paolucci,
Andrea Calcaterra,
Alfredo Cesario,
Pierluigi Granone,
Roberta Costa,
Monica Ciarlo,
Angela Alama,
Patrizia Russo
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ABSTRACT: Human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a dreadful disease and there is still no standard therapy available for a consistent therapeutic approach. This research is aimed at the evaluation of the potential therapeutic effect of a specific nicotinic receptor (nAChR) antagonist, namely alpha-Cobratoxin (alpha-CbT). Its effectiveness was tested in mesothelioma cell lines and in primary mesothelioma cells in vitro, as well as in vivo, in orthotopically xenotransplanted NOD/SCID mice. Cells showed alpha7-nAChR expression and their growth was significantly inhibited by alpha-CbT. Severe induction of apoptosis was observed after exposure to alpha-CbT [IC(80-90)]. Apoptosis was characterised by: change in mitochondrial potential, caspase-3 cleavage, down-regulation of mRNA and protein for survivin, XIAP, IAP1, IAP2 and Bcl-XL, inhibition by caspase-3 inhibitor. In vivo, the alpha-CbT acute LD(50) was 0.15 mg/kg. The LD(100) [0.24 mg/kg] induced fatal respiratory failure and massive kidney necrosis. Phase II experiments with 0.12 ng/kg alpha-CbT (1/1000 of LD(10)) were done in 53 xenotransplanted mice, inhibiting tumour development as confirmed by chest X-ray examinations, autopsy and microscopical findings. The growth of human proliferating T lymphocytes and of mesothelial cells in primary culture was not affected by alpha-CbT. Non-immunogenic derivatives of the alpha-CbT molecule need to be developed for possible human use.
European journal of cancer (Oxford, England: 1990) 09/2008; 44(15):2296-311. · 4.12 Impact Factor
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Irma Airoldi,
Claudia Cocco,
Nicola Giuliani,
Marina Ferrarini,
Simona Colla, Emanuela Ognio,
Giuseppe Taverniti,
Emma Di Carlo,
Giovanna Cutrona,
Vittorio Perfetti,
Vittorio Rizzoli,
Domenico Ribatti,
Vito Pistoia
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ABSTRACT: The interleukin-12 (IL-12) receptor (R) B2 gene acts as tumor suppressor in human acute and chronic B-cell leukemias/lymphomas and IL-12rb2-deficient mice develop spontaneously localized plasmacytomas. With this background, we investigated the role of IL-12R beta 2 in multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis. Here we show the following: (1) IL-12R beta 2 was expressed in primary MM cells but down-regulated compared with normal polyclonal plasmablastic cells and plasma cells (PCs). IL-6 dampened IL-12R beta 2 expression on polyclonal plasmablastic cells and MM cells. (2) IL-12 reduced the proangiogenic activity of primary MM cells in vitro and decreased significantly (P = .001) the tumorigenicity of the NCI-H929 cell line in SCID/NOD mice by inhibiting cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The latter phenomenon was found to depend on abolished expression of a wide panel of proangiogenic genes and up-regulated expression of the antiangiogenic genes IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, platelet factor-4, and TIMP-2. Inhibition of the angiogenic potential of primary MM cells was related to down-regulated expression of the proangiogenic genes CCL11, vascular endothelial-cadherin, CD13, and AKT and to up-regulation of an IFN-gamma-related antiangiogenic pathway. Thus, IL-12R beta 2 directly restrains MM cell growth, and targeting of IL-12 to tumor cells holds promise as new therapeutic strategy.
Blood 06/2008; 112(3):750-9. · 9.90 Impact Factor
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Roberto P Revoltella,
Sandra Papini,
Alfredo Rosellini,
Monica Michelini,
Valeria Franceschini,
Andrea Ciorba,
Lucia Bertolaso,
Sara Magosso,
Stavros Hatzopoulos,
Guiscardo Lorito,
Pietro Giordano,
Edi Simoni, Emanuela Ognio,
Michele Cilli,
Riccardo Saccardi,
Serena Urbani,
Rosemary Jeffery,
Richard Poulsom,
Alessandro Martini
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the fate of human cord blood CD133+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) transplanted intravenously (IV) into irradiated nod-scid mice previously made deaf by ototoxic treatment with kanamycin and/ or intense noise, to verify whether HSC engraft the cochlea and contribute to inner ear restoration, in vivo. We tested the presence of HLA.DQalpha1 by PCR, used for traceability of engrafted cells, finding evidence that HSC migrated to various host tissues, including the organ of Corti (OC). By histology, antibody and lectin-staining analysis, we confirmed that HSC IV transplantation in mice previously damaged by ototoxic agents correlated with the repair process and stimulation ex novo of morphological recovery in the inner ear, while the cochlea of control oto-injured, nontransplanted mice remained seriously damaged. Dual color FISH analysis also provided evidence of positive engraftment in the inner ear and in various mouse tissues, also revealing small numbers of heterokaryons, probably derived from fusion of donor with endogenous cells, for up to 2 months following transplantation. These observations offer the first evidence that transplanted human HSC migrating to the inner ear of oto-injured mice may provide conditions for the resumption of deafened cochlea, emerging as a potential strategy for inner ear rehabilitation.
Cell Transplantation 02/2008; 17(6):665-78. · 5.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: On the basis of our previous interesting results in vitro on the antiproliferative activity of (1E,3E)-1,4-bis(1-naphthyl)-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadiene (1-Naph-DNB) we have designed and synthesized the new molecule methyl (2Z,4E)-2-methylsulphanyl-5-(1-naphthyl)-4-nitro-2,4-pentadienoate (1-Naph-NMCB) characterized by the same naphthylnitrobutadiene array but with a different functional group at one end of the diene system. This new molecule showed an in vitro antiproliferative activity more significant than that found for the original 1-Naph-DNB. In order to verify in vivo our in vitro results we have tested the antitumour activity of 1-Naph-DNB and 1-Naph-NMCB in several murine tumour models, namely the myelomonocytic P388 and the Lewis lung carcinoma 3LL in BDF1 mice, the melanoma B16 in C57Bl mice, the fibrosarcoma WEHI 164 in nude mice and, finally, the C51 colon cancer in Balb/c mice. In the case of 1-Naph-NMCB the analysis of the antitumour activity has been preceded by toxicological experiments on CD-1 mice, in order to determine the lethal (LD) and the maximal tolerated (MTD) doses together with the spectrum of histological alterations caused by its iv administration. The results obtained show that the modification of the original structure of 1-Naph-DNB according to the molecular-simplification strategy has led to an asymmetric nitrobutadiene array, i.e. that of 1-Naph-NMCB, endowed with an antitumour activity which is in some cases even better than that showed by the parental compound itself, together with differences in tumour selectivity and negligible histological toxic effects.A promising, versatile route to new, more active and/or safe nitrobutadiene derivatives has thus been positively tested.
Investigational New Drugs 01/2008; 25(6):535-44. · 3.36 Impact Factor
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Maurizio Viale,
Giovanni Petrillo,
Cinzia Aiello,
Carla Fenoglio,
Cinzia Cordazzo,
Maria A Mariggiò,
Amalia Cassano,
Claudia Prevosto, Emanuela Ognio,
Massimo Maccagno,
Lara Bianchi,
Rita Vaccarone,
Egon Rizzato,
Domenico Spinelli
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ABSTRACT: Our interesting results on the antiproliferative (in vitro) and antitumour (in vivo) activities of (1E,3E)-1,4-bis(1-naphthyl)-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadiene (1-Naph-DNB) have more recently induced us to design and synthesize some new 1,4-diaryl-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadienes characterized by a common arylnitrobutadiene array but with different geometric and/or functional properties. This task was undertaken with the aim to obtain new compounds with an enhanced antiproliferative activity and, possibly, a different specificity with respect to the original (lead) compound. (1E,3E)-1,4-Bis(2-naphthyl)-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadiene (2-Naph-DNB) is one of the molecules so obtained, a structural isomer of 1-Naph-DNB provided with a different spatial arrangement. When analyzed in vitro for its inhibition of cell proliferation 2-Naph-DNB showed a remarkable activity in the range of micromolar concentrations, with significant differences, with respect to 1-Naph-DNB, against some cell lines. Furthermore, it was able to significantly trigger apoptosis, to up-regulate p53, to block cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and, finally, to slightly bind to DNA forming interstrand cross-links (ISCL). 2-Naph-DNB was then analyzed for its toxic activity in vivo in CD1 mice. This allowed the determination of toxicity parameters such as the lethal doses (LD) and the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) together with the definition of the spectrum of tissue alterations due to its administration i.v. Altogether our data suggest that the idea of modifying the geometry of the lead compound 1-Naph-DNB deserves further investigation aimed at synthesizing new molecules with similar chemical functionalities but with different spatial requirements, hopefully characterized by still enhanced activities in terms of inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Pharmacological Research 11/2007; 56(4):318-28. · 4.44 Impact Factor
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Roberta Castriconi,
Alessandra Dondero,
Michele Cilli, Emanuela Ognio,
Annalisa Pezzolo,
Barbara De Giovanni,
Claudio Gambini,
Vito Pistoia,
Lorenzo Moretta,
Alessandro Moretta,
Maria Valeria Corrias
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ABSTRACT: Several lines of evidence suggest that NK cell immunotherapy may represent a successful approach in neuroblastoma (NB) patients refractory to conventional therapy. However, homing properties, safety and therapeutic efficacy of NK cell infusions need to be evaluated in a suitable preclinical murine NB model.
Here, the therapeutic efficacy of NK cell infusions in the presence or absence of NK-activating cytokines have been evaluated in a NB metastatic model set up in NOD/scid mice, that display reduced functional activity of endogenous NK cells.
In NOD/scid mice the injected NB cells rapidly reached all the typical sites of metastatization, including bone marrow. Infusion of polyclonal IL2-activated NK cells was followed by dissemination of these cells into various tissues including those colonized by metastatic NB cells. The early repeated injection of IL2-activated NK cells in NB-bearing NOD/scid mice significantly increased the mean survival time, which was associated with a reduced bone marrow infiltration. The therapeutic effect was further enhanced by low doses of human recombinant IL2 or IL15.
Our results indicate that NK-based adoptive immunotherapy can represent a valuable adjuvant in the treatment of properly selected NB patients presenting with metastatic disease, if performed in a minimal residual disease setting.
Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy 11/2007; 56(11):1733-42. · 3.70 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The IL12RB2 gene acts as a tumor suppressor in human B cell malignancies. Indeed, Il12rb2 knockout (KO) mice develop spontaneously B cell tumors, but also lung epithelial tumors. This latter phenotype may be related to (i) impairment of host IL-12-mediated immunosurveillance and/or (ii) IL-12 inability to inhibit directly the growth of IL-12 unresponsive malignant cells. To address this issue, we transplanted IL-12R(+) B16 melanoma cells into syngeneic Il12rb2 KO mice with the following rationale: (i) these mice have severe defects in IFN-gamma production, as well as in cytotoxic T lymphocyte and natural killer cell cytotoxicity, and (ii) they produce but do not use IL-12 that can potentially bind to and target tumor cells only. Il12rb2 KO mice displayed higher endogenous serum levels of IL-12 and developed smaller B16 tumors than WT animals. These tumors showed reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and defective microvessel formation related to down-regulated expression of a set of proangiogenic genes previously unrelated to IL-12. Such effects depended on direct activity of endogenous IL-12 on tumor cells in KO mice, and hydrodynamic delivered IL-12 caused further reduced tumorigenicity of B16 cells in these mice. A previously undescribed mechanism of the IL-12 antitumor activity has been here identified and characterized.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 04/2007; 104(10):3996-4001. · 9.68 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cisplatin is one of the most widely utilized anticancer drugs; nevertheless its use is often hampered by the onset of serious side effects. In spite of its tight binding to DNA, great teratogenic effects do not characterize cisplatin, although its embryolethal and growth retardation activities are quite remarkable. On the basis of our previous observations, demonstrating the usefulness of procainamide hydrochloride for the protection against cisplatin toxic effects in adult mice and rats, we now analyze the feasibility of the combined treatment with cisplatin and the antiarrhythmic drug procainamide hydrochloride in pregnant mice and the possible protective action of procainamide against the embryotoxic activity of cisplatin. Our data, obtained in CD-1 dams after treatment with 8 or 12 mg/kg cisplatin ip, with or without 50 mg/kg procainamide hydrochloride iv, confirm the embryotoxic effects of cisplatin. We also demonstrate that procainamide may be administered with cisplatin without causing an increase in its embryotoxic effects, but slightly improving some embryotoxicity parameters in living embryos such as the fetal weight, the percentage of fetuses with skeletal anomalies, and the number of ossification centres. The mechanism of action of this partially protective activity seems to be linked in part to the lower cisplatin accumulation in fetal tissue, probably due to an interaction of drugs at the level of placenta, in part to the protection of procainamide against maternal toxicity of cisplatin. A relevant result of this research is the suggestion that procainamide hydrochloride might be administered in case of pregnancy to protect against the maternal toxic effects of cisplatin without an increased embryotoxic/teratogenic risk for the offspring.
Chemico-Biological Interactions 01/2007; 164(3):232-40. · 2.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Previous studies have shown that the interleukin-12 receptor beta2 (IL-12Rbeta2) gene is expressed in normal naive, germinal center and memory B cells but not in their malignant counterparts. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) whether the IL-12Rbeta2 gene is silenced in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells, and (ii) what the functional implications of such silencing for tumor growth are. Here, we show that although mature B cells expressed both chains of the IL-12R, normal pro-B and pre-B cells failed to express the IL-12Rbeta2 chain. Similarly, primary tumor cells from pediatric pro-B, early pre-B, and pre-B ALL (30 cases) did not express the IL-12Rbeta2 chain. IL-12Rbeta2 gene silencing in B-ALL was found to depend on methylation of a CpG island in exon 1. Such methylation was not detected in normal early B cells that when differentiated into mature B cells expressed the IL-12Rbeta2 gene. Detection of IL-12Rbeta2 mRNA and protein in the tumorigenic 697 pre-B-ALL cell line allowed to perform functional experiments in severe combined immunodeficient/nonobese diabetic mice receiving 697 cells with or without human recombinant IL-12 (hrIL-12). hrIL-12 administration reduced tumor growth and metastasis through antiproliferative and proapoptotic rather than antiangiogenic, activities. In conclusion, epigenetic silencing of the IL-12Rbeta2 gene represents a novel mechanism of tumor escape for B-ALL cells.
Cancer Research 05/2006; 66(8):3978-80. · 7.86 Impact Factor
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Carlo Dell'Erba,
Barbara Chiavarina,
Carla Fenoglio,
Giovanni Petrillo,
Cinzia Cordazzo,
Eleonora Boncompagni,
Domenico Spinelli, Emanuela Ognio,
Cinzia Aiello,
Maria A Mariggiò,
Maurizio Viale
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ABSTRACT: Our preliminary data suggested that 1,4-bis(1-naphthyl)-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadiene [Viale M, Ottone M, Chiavarina B, Mariggiò MA, Prevosto C, Dell'Erba C, et al. Preliminary evaluation in vitro of the inhibition of cell proliferation, cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis by 1,4-bis(1-naphthyl)-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadiene. Invest New Drug 2004;22:359-67] (Naph-DNB), possesses good characteristics in terms of inhibition of cell proliferation in two cell lines derived from colon and gastric cancers. On this basis and to confirm the specificity of our compound towards gastrointestinal malignancies, we have analyzed the inhibition of cell proliferation, the cytotoxicity and the induction of apoptosis by Naph-DNB in seven cell lines derived from human colon (DLD-1, Lovo, HCT-8 and Colo 741), stomach (HGC-27) and pancreas (Panc-1 and Hup-T4) tumours. For the sake of comparison, cells have also been exposed to four anticancer drugs utilized for the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies (oxaliplatin, irinotecan, gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil). Moreover, toxicological data have been obtained in order to define the lethal dose (LD) and maximal tolerated dose (MTD) values and the spectrum of tissue alterations caused by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration of Naph-DNB. IC50 data obtained by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay suggest that Naph-DNB is generally more active than two or more of the anticancer drugs above in most cell lines: it displayed the lowest activity only in HGC-27 cells, although data concerning the IC75 parameter enlighten a significantly better activity than irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil. Using the equitoxic concentrations IC50 and IC75, we have also evaluated the ability of Naph-DNB and of the other anticancer drugs to kill cells and to induce apoptosis. Our data show that at these concentrations Naph-DNB has a cytotoxic activity comparable or even better than that of some anticancer drugs. Similarly, Naph-DNB induces apoptosis better than the other anticancer drugs in HCT-8 and HGC-27 cells, while in Lovo and Panc-1 cells the induction is comparable. On the basis of toxicological data we defined the LD10, LD50, LD90 (i.p., 17.6, 36.1 and 54.1 mg kg(-1), respectively; i.v., 6.1, 14.1 and 22.0 mg kg(-1), respectively) and the MTD (i.p., 15 mg kg(-1); i.v., 5 mg kg(-1)) parameters. Histochemical analysis has shown that, in general, the administration of even toxic doses of Naph-DNB does not cause great structural injuries, although it can have some effects on the metabolism of glicogen and iron in organs as liver and spleen. In conclusion, our preclinical studies in vitro suggest that Naph-DNB may represent a good anticancer compound for the treatment of generally unresponsive tumours such as those of pancreas, stomach and colon. Moreover, the analysis of its toxic effects has allowed the definition of LD and MTD parameters, which will be used in further experiments in vivo for the definition of its antitumour activity.
Pharmacological Research 10/2005; 52(3):271-82. · 4.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cis-diaminechloro-[2-(diethylamino) ethyl 4-amino-benzoate, N4]-chloride platinum (II) monohydrochloride monohydrate (DPR) is a monofunctional Pt triamine complex synthesized starting from cisplatin and procaine hydrochloride, characterized by a good antitumor activity coupled with low toxic effects and able to impair prenatal development of mice but at doses outside or just in the upper range of therapeutic doses. In the present paper the transplacental passage of DPR-derived Pt was investigated in CD1 mice on days 9, 13, 16 and 18 of pregnancy, 24 h after ip administration of 21 mg/kg DPR. For comparison, groups of mice were treated with an equivalent Pt-containing dose of cisplatin (10.7 mg/kg). Similarly to cisplatin, small amounts of Pt were detected in fetuses on day 9. From day 13 of gestation the concentration of DPR- and cisplatin-derived Pt increased up to the highest fetal concentrations detected on day 16. On day 18 the concentration of Pt decreased. Most importantly, on days 13-18 of pregnancy cisplatin-derived Pt was always significantly higher than that assayed after DPR administration. In addition, on day 13 of pregnancy Pt exposure of fetuses was significantly higher when dams were treated with cisplatin (AUC(0.5-24)= 3.40 vs. 4.95 microg.h/g). Finally, it is worth noting that serum decay of Pt after DPR or cisplatin administration in adult female mice was similar with AUC0.13-2h s of 7.5 and 6.6 microg.h/ml, respectively. When we determined the concentration of Pt into the main organs of fetuses from dams treated with either DPR or cisplatin on day 18 of gestation, we observed a different organ distribution. In fact, while the concentration of DPR-derived Pt was greater in the heart (1.08+/-0.30 vs. 0.78 +/- 0.35 microg/g, p <0.10), an opposite situation was found in the kidney (0.51+/-0.20 vs. 0.69 +/- 0.22 microg/g, p <0.05). In conclusion, our data show that DPR may pass through the placenta with an efficiency significantly lower than that of cisplatin. This finding may represent one of the possible causes of the lower embryotoxic/teratogenic effect of DPR as compared to cisplatin.
Archive für Toxikologie 11/2004; 78(10):584-8. · 4.67 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Embryo-lethal and teratogenic effects caused by the cisplatin-procaine complex cis-diaminechloro-[2-(diethylamino) ethyl 4-amino-benzoate, N(4)]-chlorideplatinum(II) monohydrochloride monohydrate (DPR) were examined in CD-1 mice after a single administration of 7, 14, 21 or 28 mg/kg, injected on day 6, 9, 13 or 16 of pregnancy. At day 18 of pregnancy fetuses were removed and carefully examined for external, visceral and skeletal malformations under a dissecting microscope. A significant reduction of maternal weight gain was observed in pregnant mice after the administration of 21 (day 13) or 28 mg/kg (days 9 and 13) DPR. The exposure to DPR during the organogenesis and early histogenesis periods of prenatal development (administration on day 9 or 13) induced a significant reduction of the mean percentage of live fetuses and a significant increase of the mean percentage of dead and resorbed fetuses. A dose-dependent reduction of fetal body weight was observed in surviving specimens exposed to DPR on embryonic day 9, 13 or 16. The analysis of surviving fetuses killed on day 18 of gestation showed that a few, but statistically significant, external malformations and visceral anomalies were observed after administration of 21 or 28 mg/kg DPR on embryonic day 13. External malformations consisted of three hepato-omphalocele and six palatoschisis (one random palatoschisis was also observed at 21 mg/kg DPR given on day 9), while visceral anomalies included only renal pelvis dilatation. Skeletal anomalies affected fetuses independently of the day of treatment and were more frequent at the highest doses of DPR. They consisted of a delay in skull ossifications, vertebral and sternal anomalies, and formation of extra ribs. A low and non-significant incidence of skeletal malformations (asymmetric sternum) was noticed in fetuses. Our data demonstrated that DPR can cause embryotoxic effects if administered during the period of organogenesis and early histogenesis. Beside embryo-lethality, DPR induced growth retardation and malformations in surviving fetuses.
Archive für Toxikologie 11/2003; 77(10):584-90. · 4.67 Impact Factor
