title: s-thalidomide has a greater effect on apoptosis than angiogenesis in a multiple myeloma cell line.
abstract: s-Thalidomide has proven efficacy in multiple myeloma. Although it has both antiangiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects, its primary mode of therapeutic action remains unclear. We have investigated the changes to the expression of genes involved with these cellular processes following culture with s-thalidomide in the U266 MM cell line. Cells were cultured with s-thalidomide (0-1000 microM), and cell parameters, including apoptosis, were assessed on day 3. RNA was extracted from cells cultured for 24 h at the IC(50) concentration of s-thalidomide, and changes to gene expression were investigated by microarray methodologies. A reduction in cell viability was observed in U266 cells cultured with s-thalidomide (IC(50): 362 microM), which were mirrored by significant increases in apoptosis (for example, 200 microM on day 3: 40.3+/-3.1% vs. 3.2+/-0.4% on day 0; P<0.001). There were changes in the expression profile of genes involved in angiogenesis and apoptosis, but the changes were most dramatic in the apoptotic genes. In particular, the expression of I-kappaB kinase was decreased by two-fold, which was associated with a four-fold decrease in NF-kappaB expression. These data correlated with immunoblotting analyses, which showed significant increases in I-kappaB protein levels and decreased NF-kappaB activity. Additionally, the Bax : Bcl-2 ratio was significantly increased. Our data suggest that both angiogenic and apoptotic genes and proteins are affected by s-thalidomide. Additionally, a dramatic decrease in Bcl-2 expression with s-thalidomide suggests a possible enhancement of cytotoxic effect if combined with other cytotoxic agents.
authors.affiliation: 1New Drug Study Group, Barry Reed Oncology Laboratory, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Wai M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.forename: Sipra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Propper
authors.forename: Bryan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Joel
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Malpas
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013792:Thalidomide