title: Role of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in Philadelphia (Ph1)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: studies on two newly established Ph1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (Z-119 and Z-181).
abstract: Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant disorder characterized by a poor prognosis. In recent years hematopoietic growth factors have been used to recruit myeloid leukemia blasts into the proliferative phase of the cell cycle and as supportive agents, both with cytotoxic regimens and in the setting of bone marrow transplantation. This approach prompted us to investigate whether myeloid growth factors have a role in Ph1 positive ALL. To do this, we utilized two newly established Ph1-positive cell lines, Z-119 and Z-181. Both lines have L2 morphology, ultrastructural characteristics of lymphoblasts and typical B-lineage surface markers identical to those observed in the two Ph1-positive ALL patients from whom they were derived. In addition, a single rearranged immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene (JH) band was found in both cell lines by Southern blot analysis, confirming B-cell clonality. Cytogenetic analysis of the two lines revealed t(9;22). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified cDNA from both Z-119 and Z-181 cells revealed an e1--a2 BCR-ABL junction, and p190BCR-ABL protein was detected in them by the immune complex kinase assay. Both cell lines produce interleukin (IL)-1 beta, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), but neither IL-1 beta, G-CSF, their corresponding antibodies and inhibitory molecules, nor GM-CSF, affected the cell lines' growth. However, GM-CSF neutralizing antibodies inhibited Z-181 but not Z-119 colony formation in a dose-dependent fashion by up to 77% and addition of GM-SCF reversed this inhibitory effect. Receptor studies with radiolabeled GM-CSF demonstrated specific binding to Z-181 but not to Z-119 cells, and Scatchard analysis revealed that Z-181 cells express high-affinity GM-CSF receptors. Furthermore, PCR analysis showed that Z-181 but not Z-119 bears the transcript for the GM-CSF receptor. Finally, studies using PH1-positive ALL patients' marrow cells revealed similar data. In 3 of 8 samples we detected significant concentrations of GM-CSF (7.5-13 pg/2 x 10(7) cells) and in 2 of 3 cases GM-CSF significantly stimulated Ph1-positive ALL colony proliferation. These data suggest that Ph1-positive ALL cells may produce GM-CSF, express GM-CSF receptors and thus show a proliferative response to this cytokine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimmunotherapy, Division of Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Estrov
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talpaz
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Zipf
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ouspenskaia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirsch-Ginsberg
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurzrock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006133:Growth Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl