title: Oligonucleotides complementary to c-myb messenger RNA inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in human Burkitt lymphoma cells.
abstract: A 24-mer (antisense) phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (ODN) corresponding to the codons 2-9 of the c-myb gene was evaluated for its effects on the growth of a human Burkitt lymphoma cell line (Raji) in vitro. Raji cells incubated with different concentrations of c-myb antisense ODN (5-15 mu g/ml) for 24-72 h showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in growth. The same concentrations of control (sense) or scrambled c-myb phosphorothioate ODNs did not inhibit Raji cell growth. The c-myb antisense ODN, but not the control ODNs, significantly decreased c-myb mRNA levels in treated cells as determined by RT-PCR. Additionally, the c-myb antisense ODN induced apoptosis of Raji cells as demonstrated by i) flow cytometry to enumerate the A(o) (apoptotic cell population) population of propidium iodide stained cells; ii) electron microscopy to evaluate the cell morphology; and iii) DNA fragmentation pattern. Thus, an antisense c-myb ODN causes significant growth inhibition of Burkitt lymphoma cells, and one mechanism of growth inhibition is the induction of apoptosis of the lymphoma cells. In addition, antisense c-myb ODN did not reduce CFU-GM or BFU-e colony-forming ability of normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Because the inhibition is sequence-specific and Burkitt lymphoma cell selective, evaluation of the therapeutic effects of c-myb antisense ODN against Burkitt lymphoma is warranted.
authors.affiliation: UNIV NEBRASKA,MED CTR,DEPT INTERNAL MED,OMAHA,NE 68198. UNIV NEBRASKA,MED CTR,DEPT PATHOL & MICROBIOL,OMAHA,NE 68198. UNIV NEBRASKA,MED CTR,DEPT PHARMACOL,OMAHA,NE 68198.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verbik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Algarra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pirruccello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kessinger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharp