Folate-maytansinoids: target-selective drugs of low molecular weight.

Folate receptor is over-expressed in a variety of carcinomas. To design a cytotoxic drug that would selectively target these carcinomas, we synthesized folate-maytansinoids. These drugs showed high affinity toward folate receptor, appeared to enter cells exclusively via the folate receptor-mediated caveolar pathway and displayed high cytotoxic potency (in the range of 10[-11] to 10[-10] M) and remarkable selectivity for folate receptor-expressing carcinoma cell lines.

Eradication of large colon tumor xenografts by targeted delivery of maytansinoids.

The maytansinoid drug DM1 is 100- to 1000-fold more cytotoxic than anticancer drugs that are currently in clinical use. The immunoconjugate C242-DM1 was prepared by conjugating DM1 to the monoclonal antibody C242, which recognizes a mucin-type glycoprotein expressed to various extents by human colorectal cancers. C242-DM1 was found to be highly cytotoxic toward cultured colon cancer cells in an antigen-specific manner and showed remarkable antitumor efficacy in vivo.

Enhancement of the selectivity and antitumor efficacy of a CC-1065 analogue through immunoconjugate formation.

Bis-indolyl-(seco)-1,2,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]indol-4-on e compounds are synthetic analogues of CC-1065 that are highly cytotoxic toward a broad spectrum of tumor cell lines. One of these compounds, called DC1, was conjugated to antibodies via novel cleavable disulfide linkers. Conjugates of DC1 with murine mAbs anti-B4 and N901 directed against tumor-associated antigens CD19 and CD56, respectively, proved to be extremely potent and antigen selective in killing target cells in culture.

Anti-CD38-blocked ricin: an immunotoxin for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

We report the development of a potent anti-CD38 immunotoxin capable of killing human myeloma and lymphoma cell lines. The immunotoxin is composed of an anti-CD38 antibody HB7 conjugated to a chemically modified ricin molecule wherein the binding sites of the B chain have been blocked by covalent attachment of affinity ligands (blocked ricin). Conjugation of blocked ricin to the HB7 antibody has minimal effect on the apparent affinity of the antibody and no effect on the ribosome-inactivating activity of the ricin A-chain moiety.

Anti-B4-blocked ricin immunotoxin shows therapeutic efficacy in four different SCID mouse tumor models.

Anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody anti-B4 (IgG1) conjugated to the novel toxin-blocked ricin forms a potent immunotoxin, anti-B4-blocked ricin, that kills greater than 4.5 logs of CD19-positive cells in vitro after a 24-h exposure to a conjugate concentration of 5 x 10(-9) M (1.11 micrograms/ml).

Evaluation of fluorescein diacetate for flow cytometric determination of cell viability in orthopaedic research.

Accurate estimation of cellular viability is important both in research and in aspects of orthopaedic clinical practice. We have been interested in the potential for flow cytometric application of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) in evaluating chondrocyte survival following cryopreservation of osteochondral allografts as well as in the assessment of sarcoma necrosis following preoperative chemotherapy. In order to evaluate the suitability of this method for cell viability assays, this study compared FDA with more traditional methodology (trypan blue, clonigenic assay, metabolic activity analysis, measurement of DNA synthesis, and histological assessment of necrosis).

Regulation of catabolism of ribonuclease A microinjected into human fibroblasts.

We are using ribonuclease A (RNase A) as a model protein to study how the degradative rates of proteins are regulated within cells. RNase A and several derivatives can be microinjected into confluent cultures of human fibroblasts using red cell-mediated microinjection. The half-life of RNase A is 80-100 hrs in cells maintained in the presence of serum, and the degradative rate is enhanced approximately two-fold upon serum withdrawal.

Regulation of catabolism of microinjected ribonuclease A requires the amino-terminal 20 amino acids.

RNase A introduced into the cytoplasm of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts by erythrocyte-mediated microinjection is degraded with a half-life of approximately equal to 75 hr in the presence of fetal bovine serum. In response to serum deprivation the degradative rate of microinjected RNase A is enhanced 2-fold. RNase S protein (amino acids 21-124) is degraded with a half-life similar to that of RNase A in the presence of serum, but its catabolism is not increased during serum withdrawal.

Degradation of proteins microinjected into IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts.

Erythrocyte ghosts loaded with 125I-labeled proteins were fused with confluent monolayers of IMR-90 fibroblasts using polyethylene glycol. Erythrocyte-mediated microinjection of 125I-proteins did not seriously perturb the metabolism of the recipient fibroblasts as assessed by measurements of rates of protein synthesis, rates of protein degradation, or rates of cellular growth after addition of fresh serum. A mixture of cytosolic proteins was degraded after microinjection according to expected characteristics established for catabolism of endogenous cytosolic proteins.

DNA synthesis in cartilage cells is stimulated by oscillating electric fields.

External oscillating electric fields (1166 volts per centimeter, 5 hertz) enhanced the incorporation of [3H] thymidine into the DNA of chondrocytes isolated from the proliferative layer of embryonic (16 days) chick epiphysis. Verapamil or tetrodotoxin at 10(-6)M concentrations completely blocked the electric field effect. Tetracaine reduced the incorporation of [3H] thymidine in both control and electrically stimulated cells.

Epiphyseal cartilage cAMP changes produced by electrical and mechanical perturbations.

Epiphyseal cartilage from chick embryo was subjected in vitro for one to 15 minutes to static compressive forces or oscillating electric fields. The same stimuli were applied to suspensions of cells isolated from the epiphyses. At the end of the perturbation cAMP was measured in the tissue or cell extracts by radioimmunoassay.

Membrane changes during cartilage maturation. Increase in 5'-nucleotidase and decrease in adenosine inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

To examine the potential participation of the plasma membrane in differentiation, we studied the enzymatic activities of 5'-nucleotidase and adenylate cyclase as a function of chondrocyte maturation. 16-day-old chick embryo tibiae epiphyses were dissected into proliferative, growing and hypertrophying zones. Partially purified membrane fractions prepared by differential centrifugation from the respective tissue segments were assayed for enzymatic activity.

The role of calcium in the inhibition of cAMP accumulation in epiphyseal cartilage cells exposed to physiological pressure.

A hydrostatic pressure of 60g/cm sq (0.85 psi) inhibits the accumulation of cAMP in cells isolated from the proliferative zone of chick-tibia epiphyseal cartilage. The following findings indicate that this effect is mediated by a translocation of calcium: (i) the pressure enhances the cellular uptake of radiocalcium; (ii) the pressure effect on cAMP can be simulated by the calcium-ionophore A23187; (iii) the effects of pressure and A23187 are non-additive; (iv) the pressure effect is not produced in the presence of ethylenebis-(oxyethylenenitrilo)-pressure effect is not produced in the presence of ethylenebis-(oxyethylenenitrilo)-tetraacetic-acid (EGTA); (v) the particulate adenyl cyclase activity of the proliferative zone is susceptible to non-competitive calcium inhibition.

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP: mediators of the mechanical effects on bone remodeling.

Compressive forces of physiological magnitude (60 grams per square centimeter) reduce the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate content of the epiphyses of tibiae from 16-day-old chick embryos. An equivalent hydrostatic pressure applied directly to cells isolated from this tissue also affects cyclic nucleotide accumulation. The tissue response is uniform throughout the epiphysis, whereas the cell response varies according to the area of origin.