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Activity of 3'-(3-Cyano-4-morpholinyl)-3'-deaminoadriamycin in Sensitive and Resistant L5178Y Lymphoblasts in Vitro¹

Department of Internal Medicine [A. B., M. K. L., J. B. J.], and Pharmacology and Therapeutics [A. B.], University of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology [A. B., M. K. L., J. B. J.], 100 Olivia Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0V9, Canada

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, 100 Olivia Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0V9 Canada

An L5178Y murine lymphoblast cell line resistant to 3'-(3-cyano-4-morpholinyl)-3'-deaminoadriamycin (MRA-CN), L5178Y/MRA-CN, was isolated and characterized. L5178Y/MRA-CN cells were 9.6-fold resistant to MRA-CN compared with parental cells. The resistant cell line also displayed 2-fold resistance to 3'-(4-morpholinyl)-3'-deaminoadriamycin but was not cross-resistant to Adriamycin or chlorambucil. Uptake of MRA-CN was slightly reduced in the resistant cells compared to sensitive cells, but the distribution of the drug within the cells was unchanged. DNA interstrand cross-linking by MRA-CN was not significantly different in the sensitive and resistant cell lines, but MRA-CN was slightly less effective in inhibiting both DNA and RNA synthesis in L5178Y/MRA-CN cells compared with parental cells. NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity was increased in L5178Y/MRA-CN cells compared to parental cells, while the activity of DT-diaphorase was decreased in the resistant cells. The levels of glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity were increased in the resistant cells compared to sensitive cells; however, pre-treatment of L5178Y/MRA-CN cells with buthionine sulfoximine to reduce the glutathione level did not reverse the resistance of these cells to MRA-CN. MRA-CN induced DNA fragmentation that was characteristic of apoptosis in both L5178Y and L5178Y/MRA-CN cells at equitoxic drug concentrations. However, apoptosis occurred more rapidly in L5178Y/MRA-CN cells compared with parental cells. Thus, MRA-CN induces apoptosis in L5178Y cells, and this effect may be important for the anti-tumor activity of this agent. In contrast, DNA interstrand cross-linking does not appear to be the primary mechanism responsible for the cytotoxicity of MRA-CN in these cells.

¹ Supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada.

³ Portney Research Scientist of the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 8/ 2/93. Accepted 11/15/93.