In vitro culture with prednisolone increases BCL-2 protein expression in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
The presence of BCL-2 gene rearrangement has been detected also in cellular populations lacking the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation, such as B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. It has been reported that overexpression of BCL-2 is related to resistance to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether in vitro culture with prednisolone (PDN) could modify the expression of BCL-2 protein. ALL cells from 21 patients were incubated for 72 hr with or without a minimally lethal (IC12) dose of PDN. In vitro culture with PDN did not affect the percentage of positive cells, even though the mean fluorescence index was significantly increased (P = 0.0001), thus indicating a higher level of protein production. These data could suggest a possible mechanism of drug resistance after treatment with PDN.
Tosi
P
P
Institute of Hematology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Visani
G
G
Ottaviani
E
E
Manfroi
S
S
Tura
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D001215:Asparaginase