Biomaterial Database

Cellular pharmacology of N4-hexadecyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in the human leukemic cell lines K-562 and U-937. 1995

D H Horber, and H Schott, and R A Schwendener

Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.

The mechanisms of cytotoxicity, cellular drug uptake, intracellular drug distribution, cellular pharmacokinetics, formation of arabinofuranosylcytosine triphosphate (ara-CTP), and DNA incorporation of N4-hexadecyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (NHAC), a new lipophilic derivative of arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) formulated in small unilamellar liposomes, were determined in vitro in the human leukemic cell lines K-562 and U-937. Furthermore, the induction of erythroid differentiation by NHAC was tested in K-562 cells. The cytotoxicity of NHAC in both cell lines was not influenced by the deoxycytidine (dCyd) concentration or the presence of the nucleoside-transport-blocking agent dipyridamole as demonstrated in coincubations with dCyd and/or dipyridamole, whereas in contrast, the cytotoxicity of ara-C was decreased additively by both drugs. As compared with ara-C, the uptake of NHAC displayed up to 16- and 5-fold increases in K-562 and U-937 cells, respectively, depending on the drug concentration. Studies of the drug distribution and pharmacokinetics of NHAC revealed a depot effect for NHAC in the cell membranes, resulting in half-lives 2.6 and 1.4 times longer than those of ara-C in the two cell lines. The ara-CTP concentrations derived from NHAC were 150- and 75-fold lower at a drug concentration of 1 microM in K-562 and U-937 cells, respectively. The DNA incorporation of the drugs observed after incubation with 2 microM NHAC was 60- and 30-fold lower as compared with that seen at 2 microM ara-C in the two cell lines. Furthermore, NHAC was capable of inducing irreversible erythroid differentiation to a maximum of only 22% of K-562 cells, whereas ara-C induced differentiation at a drug concentration 100-fold lower in 50% of the cells. These results indicate a mechanism of cytotoxicity for NHAC that is independent of the nucleoside transport mechanism and the phosphorylation pathway and suggest that the mechanisms of action of NHAC are significantly different from those of ara-C. Therefore, NHAC might be used for the treatment of ara-C-resistant malignancies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007938	Leukemia	A progressive, malignant disease of the blood-forming organs, characterized by distorted proliferation and development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow. Leukemias were originally termed acute or chronic based on life expectancy but now are classified according to cellular maturity. Acute leukemias consist of predominately immature cells; chronic leukemias are composed of more mature cells. (From The Merck Manual, 2006)	Leucocythaemia,Leucocythemia,Leucocythaemias,Leucocythemias,Leukemias
D008081	Liposomes	Artificial, single or multilaminar vesicles (made from lecithins or other lipids) that are used for the delivery of a variety of biological molecules or molecular complexes to cells, for example, drug delivery and gene transfer. They are also used to study membranes and membrane proteins.	Niosomes,Transferosomes,Ultradeformable Liposomes,Liposomes, Ultra-deformable,Liposome,Liposome, Ultra-deformable,Liposome, Ultradeformable,Liposomes, Ultra deformable,Liposomes, Ultradeformable,Niosome,Transferosome,Ultra-deformable Liposome,Ultra-deformable Liposomes,Ultradeformable Liposome
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D003561	Cytarabine	A pyrimidine nucleoside analog that is used mainly in the treatment of leukemia, especially acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia. Cytarabine is an antimetabolite antineoplastic agent that inhibits the synthesis of DNA. Its actions are specific for the S phase of the cell cycle. It also has antiviral and immunosuppressant properties. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p472)	Ara-C,Arabinofuranosylcytosine,Arabinosylcytosine,Cytosine Arabinoside,Aracytidine,Aracytine,Cytarabine Hydrochloride,Cytonal,Cytosar,Cytosar-U,beta-Ara C,Ara C,Arabinoside, Cytosine,Cytosar U,beta Ara C
D004176	Dipyridamole	A phosphodiesterase inhibitor that blocks uptake and metabolism of adenosine by erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Dipyridamole also potentiates the antiaggregating action of prostacyclin. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p752)	Antistenocardin,Apo-Dipyridamole,Cerebrovase,Cléridium,Curantil,Curantyl,Dipyramidole,Kurantil,Miosen,Novo-Dipiradol,Persantin,Persantine,Apo Dipyridamole,Novo Dipiradol
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004337	Drug Carriers	Forms to which substances are incorporated to improve the delivery and the effectiveness of drugs. Drug carriers are used in drug-delivery systems such as the controlled-release technology to prolong in vivo drug actions, decrease drug metabolism, and reduce drug toxicity. Carriers are also used in designs to increase the effectiveness of drug delivery to the target sites of pharmacological actions. Liposomes, albumin microspheres, soluble synthetic polymers, DNA complexes, protein-drug conjugates, and carrier erythrocytes among others have been employed as biodegradable drug carriers.	Drug Carrier
D004347	Drug Interactions	The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug.	Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D006207	Half-Life	The time it takes for a substance (drug, radioactive nuclide, or other) to lose half of its pharmacologic, physiologic, or radiologic activity.	Halflife,Half Life,Half-Lifes,Halflifes
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man