title: Apoptosis induction of ultraviolet light A and photochemotherapy in cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma: relevance to mechanism of therapeutic action.
abstract: The anti-tumor action of many chemotherapeutic agents has recently been attributed to the induction of apoptosis in the malignant cell population. In this study, we investigated the ability of extracorporeal photopheresis (ExP) and in vitro PUVA (8-methoxy-psoralen + ultraviolet A) therapy to induce apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Sezary syndrome patients and normal controls. Flow cytometric analysis of ExP- or PUVA-treated peripheral blood lymphocytes demonstrated two distinct cell populations within 24 h of treatment. One population was similar to untreated controls with the other exhibiting characteristics of apoptotic cell death, i.e., a loss of cell volume and an accompanying increase in cell density. This latter population was comprised of cells with DNA strand breaks as determined by the Tdt-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling assay. Apoptosis was also confirmed morphologically by fluorescent and electron microscopy as well as by demonstration of characteristic DNA strand breaks (laddering) using gel electrophoresis. Apoptosis was not observed with 8-methoxypsoralen (< or = 300 ng per ml) alone; however, ultraviolet A alone at doses > or = 2 J per cm2 induced apoptosis in lymphocytes. Peripheral blood T-cell subpopulations of Sezary syndrome patients, including the malignant clone, were equally susceptible to apoptosis subsequent to either photopheresis or PUVA treatment. In contrast, monocytes (CD14+/CD45+) appear to be resistant to apoptosis induction by ExP or PUVA treatment. Moreover, ExP-treated and untreated monocytes phagocytized apoptotic, but not untreated, peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ExP and PUVA have been shown to be efficacious and well-tolerated therapies in the treatment of dermatologic diseases and transplant rejection. These data suggest that induction of apoptosis may be an important event for therapeutic efficacy.
authors: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
authors: E K
authors: EK
authors: Yoo
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Rook
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Elenitsas
authors: F P
authors: FP
authors: Gasparro
authors: B R
authors: BR
authors: Vowels
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005363:Ficusin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D017893:Photopheresis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D004247:DNA; D005363:Ficusin