title: Apoptosis induced by 2-chloro-adenosine and 2-chloro-2'-deoxy-adenosine in a human astrocytoma cell line: differential mechanisms and possible clinical relevance.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that 2-chloro-adenosine (2-CA) can induce apoptosis of rat astroglial cells (Abbracchio et al. [1995] Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 213:908-915). In the present study, we have characterized, for the first time, the effects induced on a human astrocytoma cell line (ADF cells) by both 2-CA and its related analog 2-chloro-2'-deoxy-adenosine (2-CdA, that is employed as anti-cancer agent in chronic lymphoid malignancies). Exposure of these cells to either adenosine analog resulted in time- and concentration-dependent apoptosis. Experiments with pharmacological agents known to interfere with adenosine receptors, its membrane transporter, and intracellular nucleoside kinases showed that: (i) cell death induced by either adenosine analog did not depend on extracellular adenosine receptors, but on a direct intracellular action; however, only in the case of 2-CA, was entry into cells mediated by the specific nitrobenzyl-tioinosine-sensitive transporter; (ii) for both adenosine analogs, induction of apoptosis required the phosphorylation/activation by specific intracellular nucleoside kinases, i.e., adenosine kinase for 2-CA, and deoxycytidine kinase for 2-CdA. In addition, only in the case of 2-CdA, was induction of apoptosis preceded by a block of cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Finally, at concentrations of either analog that killed about 80-90% of astrocytoma cells, a significantly lower effect on the viability of primary cortical neurons was observed. In conclusion, both adenosine analogs can trigger apoptosis of human astrocytoma cells, albeit with different mechanisms. This effect together with the relative sparing of neuronal cells, may have potential clinical implications for the therapy of tumors of glial origin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacological Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceruti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malorni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camurri
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giammarioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Racagni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cattabeni
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Abbracchio
mesh_terms: D015762:2-Chloroadenosine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D017338:Cladribine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D015762:2-Chloroadenosine; D017338:Cladribine; C022616:thiazolyl blue