Effects of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine on erythroid inducible gene expression in human K-562 leukemia cells

Toxicol Lett. 1995 Oct;80(1-3):139-46. doi: 10.1016/0378-4274(95)03388-2.

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) down regulates hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis and globin gene expression. That inhibition may therefore result either from a direct effect on globin gene transcription or an indirect effect through inhibition of K-562 cell induction, thereby leading to inhibition of other inducible genes of heme biosynthesis. The present results demonstrate that inhibition of globin gene expression by AZT is a direct gene effect rather than a general inhibition of K-562 cell induction as demonstrated by the absence of AZT effects on expression of three other erythroid inducible genes [erythroid-specific aminolevulate synthase (ALAS-E), aminolevulinic acid dehydrogenase (ALAD), and erythroid-specific porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD-E)].

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • 5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / genetics
  • 5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / metabolism
  • Base Sequence
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Erythropoiesis / drug effects*
  • Erythropoiesis / genetics*
  • Erythropoiesis / physiology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects*
  • Globins / genetics*
  • Heme / biosynthesis
  • Heme / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase / genetics
  • Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligonucleotide Probes / genetics
  • Porphobilinogen Synthase / genetics
  • Porphobilinogen Synthase / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Zidovudine / toxicity*

Substances

  • Oligonucleotide Probes
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Heme
  • Zidovudine
  • Globins
  • 5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase
  • Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase
  • Porphobilinogen Synthase