Inhibitors of coenzyme A-independent transacylase induce apoptosis in human HL-60 cells

James D. Winkler, Tamer Eris, Chiu Mei Sung, Marie Chabot-Fletcher, Ruth J. Mayer, Marc E. Surette, Floyd H. Chilton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

ET-18-O-CH3 (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is an antiproliferative agent, blocking the growth of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. However, there is controversy regarding the mechanism leading to its antiproliferative effects. CoA-independent transacylase (CoA-IT) is an enzyme that remodels arachidonate between specific phospholipid donor and acceptor molecules in a variety of mammalian cells. ET-18-O-CH3 was found to be a potent inhibitor of CoA-IT (IC50, 0.5 μM), and kinetic analysis revealed that its inhibition was competitive with the lyso-phospholipid substrate. The goal of the current study was to explore the connection between inhibition of CoA-IT and antiproliferative effects using several structurally distinct inhibitors of CoA-IT. ET-18-O-CH3 and other inhibitors of CoA-IT were found to inhibit cell proliferation and thymidine incorporation into the DNA, as well as to induce apoptosis in human HL-60 monocytic leukemia cells. The mechanism of apoptosis induced by ET-18-O-CH3 appeared to be different from that induced by tumor necrosis factor; the former failed to activate NF-κB, whereas tumor necrosis factor did. Closer examination of the pharmacology of apoptosis in this model revealed that compounds that were structurally related to CoA-IT inhibitors, but lacked CoA-IT inhibitory activity, also failed to induce apoptosis. In addition, compounds that inhibited other enzymes that participate in arachidonic acid metabolism, cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase and phospholipase A2, did not induce apoptosis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that inhibition of CoA-IT can be linked to blockade of proliferation and the induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)956-966
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Volume279
Issue number2
StatePublished - Nov 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

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