Deoxyadenosine analogs induce programmed cell death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by damaging the DNA and by directly affecting the mitochondria

Blood. 2000 Nov 15;96(10):3537-43.

Abstract

Adenine deoxynucleosides induce apoptosis in quiescent lymphocytes and are thus useful drugs for the treatment of indolent lymphoproliferative diseases. To explain why deoxyadenosine and its analogs are toxic to a cell that is not undergoing replicative DNA synthesis, several mechanisms have been proposed, including the direct binding of dATP to the pro-apoptotic factor Apaf-1 and the activation of the caspase-9 and -3 pathways. In this study it is shown, by means of several assays on whole cells and isolated mitochondria, that 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (2CdA) and 2-choloro-2'-ara-fluorodeoxyadenosine (CaFdA) disrupt the integrity of mitochondria from primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells. The nucleoside-induced damage leads to the release of the pro-apoptotic mitochondrial proteins cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor. The other adenine deoxynucleosides tested displayed comparable DNA-damaging potency but did not affect mitochondrial function. Interference with mitochondrial integrity, thus, may be a factor in the potent cytotoxic effects of 2CdA and CaFdA toward nondividing lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine Nucleotides
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / administration & dosage
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analogs & derivatives
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Arabinonucleosides / pharmacology
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cladribine / pharmacology
  • Clofarabine
  • Comet Assay
  • DNA Damage / physiology*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
  • Deoxyadenosines / pharmacology*
  • Deoxyadenosines / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Microinjections
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / physiology
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vidarabine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vidarabine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Adenine Nucleotides
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Arabinonucleosides
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Deoxyadenosines
  • Cladribine
  • Clofarabine
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Vidarabine
  • fludarabine