Journal of Chemistry
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 162956, 11 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/162956

Research Article

Towards the Application of Atorvastatin to Intensify Proapoptotic Potential of Conventional Antileukemic Agents In Vitro

Jolanta D. Żołnierczyk,¹ Arleta Kaźmierczuk,¹ Paweł Hikisz,¹ Barbara Cebula-Obrzut,² Ewa Wawrzyniak,³ Jerzy Z. Błoński,³ Małgorzata Misiewicz,³ Paweł Robak,² Piotr Smolewski,² and Zofia M. Kiliańska¹

¹Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, 90-236 Łódź, Poland
²Department of Experimental Hematology, Medical University of Łódź, 93-510 Łódź, Poland
³Department of Hematology, Medical University of Łódź, 93-510 Łódź, Poland

Received 4 December 2014; Revised 5 March 2015; Accepted 5 March 2015

Academic Editor: Philippe Jeandet

Copyright © 2015 Jolanta D. Żołnierczyk et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

It has been previously revealed that statins used at high concentrations display antileukemic potential towards chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. However, their usage alone in clinical practice may be limited due to possible side effects of high doses of these drugs. On the other hand, combined treatment of leukemia with statins and the conventional chemotherapeutics is questionable because of unknown influence of the first on the standard treatment results. This study has revealed that in vitro atorvastatin increases the proapoptotic potential of cladribine and mafosfamide in CLL cells isolated from peripheral blood of patients. Moreover, a preincubation with the above statin sensitizes leukemic cells to CM-induced apoptosis even at small concentrations of the drug. The usage of atorvastatin together with or followed by the conventional chemotherapy should be considered as therapeutic option for the treatment for this leukemia. Interestingly, CM-resistant patients might have the biggest benefits from atorvastatin administration.

1. Introduction

Despite a large number of therapeutic options introduced recently, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains still an incurable disease. An increase in lymphocyte level is caused by decreased apoptosis process and elevated survival due to both intrinsic properties of leukemic cells and microenvironmental stimuli. The disease is highly heterogeneous with variable clinical course and prognosis [1]. The new strategies for CLL treatment are still being developed [2–4]. Currently, much attention is focused on monoclonal antibodies, that is, rituximab and alemtuzumab, which target CD20 and CD52 antigens, respectively. Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and fludarabine combination (RCF) is thought to be the gold standard in CLL treatment [5]. However, some patients are excluded from immunotherapy since RCF regimen augments the risk of myelosuppression [2]. Known anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity to murine proteins is counterindications to monoclonal antibodies usage. Furthermore, rituximab administration increases significantly a risk of development of severe infections [6]. Therefore, very high carefulness is needed in the treatment of CLL patients with opportunistic, recurrent, or chronic infections. In addition, hypersensitivity pneumonitis is rare, but life-threatening adverse effect of the antibody injection that is an indication to rituximab discontinuation [7]. Simultaneously with the progress in immunotherapy, improvement in conventional chemotherapy efficiency should also take place.

Numerous defects have been revealed in lipid metabolism of CLL cells. Contrary to the normal B lymphocytes, the leukemic cells exhibit overexpression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the enzyme which facilitates the hydrolysis of serum lipoprotein triacylglycerols(triglycerides) to free fatty acids (FFA) [8]. LPL generates ligands for peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) involved in fatty acid β-oxidation [9]. The elevated level of this nuclear receptor has been indicated within the quiescent CLL cells and it has been correlated with advancement of the leukemia. The elevated concentrations of LPL as well as PPARα in the lymphocytes change their metabolism towards higher utilization of FFA [8, 9]. Moreover, it seems that in addition to its lipolytic activity LPL must serve an extra vital function in the cells, deregulation of which may be related to aggressive course of the leukemia [8].

Mulas et al. [10] have demonstrated that both CLL and ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia) patients are characterized by decreased serum level of high density lipoproteins (HDL), as well as increased level of cholesterol esters within the leukemic lymphocytes in comparison to normal ones. Moreover, the cited scientists observed the elevated level of cholesterol esterification in the cells that had been treated with mitogens, while its decreasing level when the neoplastic lymphocytes had been exposed to inhibitor of cel proliferation such as the mTOR inhibitor, RAD. They have suggested that cholesterol esterification might be a mode for cellular growth control which goes via the regulation of free cholesterol concentration in lipid rafts. Hence, the statins, drugs affecting cholesterol biosynthesis by 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutharyl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibition, could be promising compounds targeting cholesterol-dependent pathways of leukemic cells’ growth and proliferation.

Although not fully understood, anticancer activity of statins has been well documented [11–13]. It is thought to be associated mainly with inhibition of mevalonate (MVA) pathway that is a source of molecules being of great importance for cellular survival, that is, ubiquinone, dolichol, farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GPP), and so forth [14–17]. These compounds determine proper course of cellular respiration, glycoprotein assembling, or prenylation of proteins engaged in intracellular signalization (Rho, Ras, Rab, and Rac), respectively [18, 19]. Moreover, it was reported that statins downregulate histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in colorectal cancer cells, leading to p27KIP1 overexpression, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of tumor progression [20].

It has been previously revealed that statins indicate cytotoxic potential also against CLL cells in vitro [21, 22]. Leukemic lymphocytes seem to indicate particularly high demand for intermediate products of cholesterol biosynthesis or cholesterol alone, which makes them more susceptible to the blockage of HMG-CoA reductase activity than normal ones [22].

The purpose of the current research was to compare the proapoptotic activity of synthetic compound, atorvastatin, with CM (cladribine + mafosfamide/cyclophosphamide) drug combination which is conventionally used for CLL treatment. Moreover, we aimed to establish atorvastatin influence on the antileukemic activity of CM against primary tumor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro.

2. Experimental

2.1. Patients

PBMCs were obtained from blood of 24 untreated CLL patients (18 men, 6 women) prior to the introduction of the anticancer therapy. The patients’ characteristics are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Characteristic of CLL patients.

Sex
Age
Stage of CLL
Leukocytosis [×10⁹/L]
Chromosomal abnormalities [analyzed by FISH technique]
Sensitivity of PBMC to CM [% of dead cells in comparison to control]
Sensitivity of PBMC to 10 μM, 25 μM, and 50 μM atorvastatin, respectively [% of dead cells in comparison to control]

1
M
80
II
75
del 13q14
38% S
14.1%
17.5%
29.9%

2
M
51
I
46
del 11q22
54% S
12.7%
26.7%
51.9%

3
M
68
I
300
del 13q14
78.2% S
19.2%
29.7%
47.1%

4
M
77
IV
300
del 11q22, del 13q14
3.7% R
4.7%
15.2%
30.3%

5
M
53
I
64
N
67.4% S
15.4%
27.2%
46.8%

6
F
60
IV
300
ND
64.8% S
20.3%
35.1%
32.8%

7
M
56
III
224
ND
60.4% S
22.1%
25.3%
35.4%

8
M
75
III
200
N
41.8% S
20.2%
27.8%
40.3%

9
M
69
IV
300
del 13q14
10.4% R
16.6%
25.4%
41.6%

10
M
65
II
260
del 13q14
77.4% S
20.7%
28%
42%

11
F
72
III
129
del 17p13
14.7% R
9.8%
16.8%
27.8%

12
M
56
IV
136
del 13q14
64.5% S
19.5%
29.3%
49.2%

13
M
72
II
220
ND
50% S
29.7%
48.8%
71.55%

14
M
68
III
170
del 13q14
45.1% S
31%
43.9%
55.2%

15
M
59
IV
190
del 13q14
10.8% R
12%
27.1%
45.2%

16
F
65
II
180
N
30.2% S
20.7%
25%
28.5%

17
F
63
IV
150
del 13q14
2.7% R
26.2%
38.8%
46.6%

18
F
56
IV
350
N
4.4% R
34.7%
51.9%
75.3%

19
M
66
IV
600
del 13q14, del 11q22, +12
18.7% P
12.1%
27.1%
49.4%

20
M
61
I
150
+12
2.4% R
1.6%
8.8%
13%

21
F
81
I
28
ND
26.3% P
7.9%
22.9%
29.9%

22
M
80
III
30
ND
42.3% S
5.7%
7.5%
21.1%

23
M
59
0
80
del 11q22
16% P
10.5%
1.6%
10.8%

24
M
71
I
77
ND
18.6% P
11.1%
14.4%
21.8%

 *Atypical CLL with only 15% of CD5+/CD19+ cells, N: normal karyotype, ND: not determined, +12: trisomy 12, del: deletion, F: female, M: male, P: PBMCs partially sensitive to cladribine + mafosfamide drug combination, S: PBMCs sensitive to cladribine + mafosfamide, and R: PBMCs resistant to cladribine + mafosfamide.

CLL was diagnosed on the basis of standard clinical and immunological criteria and the clinical stage. The disease was classified according to modified Rai system [23]. Leukemic PBMCs were characterized by the expression of CD5, CD19, and CD23 antigens on the surface and monoclonality for light chains of their immunoglobulins. This study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of Medical University of Łódź (number RNN/143/10/KE) and all the patients gave their written consent.

2.2. Isolation of Mononuclear Cells

PBMCs were isolated from freshly obtained peripheral blood samples (collected into EDTA) by Histopaque-1077 density gradient centrifugation (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA).

2.3. Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)

FISH was performed on interphase nuclei of PBMCs obtained from untreated CLL patients as previously described. The following commercially available probes were used: LSI D13S319 (13q14.3)/LSI 13q34/CEP 12 probe, LSI p53 (17p13.1)/LSI ATM (11q22.3) probe (Vysis/Abbott Molecular, USA). For each probe, 200 interphase nuclei were scored. The estimated cutoff levels were as follows: 8% for del(13)(q14.3), del(11)(q22.3), del(17)(p13.1), and 5% for trisomy, respectively.

2.4. Cytometric Analysis of ZAP70 Expression

In several cases, the assays of the intracellular expression of zeta chain- (TCR-) associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP70) in CD5⁺/CD19⁺ leukemic cells from previously untreated CLL patients were made. The detection of ZAP70 was performed according to the permeabilization and staining procedure of Invitrogen Molecular probes. Briefly, 50 μL of peripheral blood samples was incubated with FITC-conjugated anti-CD5 and PerCP-conjugated anti-CD19 antibodies (or the appropriate isotype controls) from Becton Dickinson for 15 min in the dark at room temperature. Afterwards, 100 μL of fixation medium from Invitrogen Molecular Probes was added to the each sample. After 15 min incubation the samples were washed in 3 mL PBS + 0.1% NaN₃ + 5% FBS and centrifuged for 5 min at 300 ×g. Then, the supernatant was aspirated and 100 μL of Permeabilization Medium from Invitrogen Molecular Probes and PE-conjugated anti-ZAP70 antibody (or the corresponding isotype control) from BioLegend (San Diego, CA, USA) were added. After incubation (20 min), blood cell samples were washed again in 3 mL PBS + 0.1% NaN₃ + 5% FBS and centrifugated for 5 min at 300 ×g. Then, supernatant was removed, whereas the cells were resuspended in sheath fluid and immediately analyzed with FACS Canto II (Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA) flow cytometer.

2.5. Cell Culture and Drug Treatment

After washing of PBMCs with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the cell samples (2 × 10⁶/mL) were resuspended in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% fetal calf serum supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, and 100 U/mL penicillin. PBMCs were incubated for 24 and 48 h in standard conditions, that is, at 37°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂. The model cells were exposed to atorvastatin at 10 μM, 25 μM, and 50 μM, combinations of cladribine and mafosfamide (an active form of cyclophosphamide), as well as cladribine, mafosfamide, and atorvastatin. The cell samples without drug(s) or with DMSO (solvent for atorvastatin) were considered as controls (Ctr) and vehicle controls, respectively. Cladribine and mafosfamide were added to culture medium at concentrations which corresponded to their concentrations in serum of CLL patients during CC (cladribine + cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy: 0.175 μM and 2.5 μM, respectively.

Atorvastatin was purchased from LKT Laboratories Inc. Cladribine was obtained from the Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Bioton (Warsaw, Poland), whereas mafosfamide was from Baxter Oncology GmbH (Frankfurt, Germany).

Moreover, to evaluate whether a pretreatment of CLL cell probes with smaller doses of atorvastatin has an impact on the cell susceptibility to conventional chemotherapeutic agents, that is, cladribine and mafosfamide, PBMCs were incubated with 0.1 μM and 1 μM of atorvastatin for 24 h. Then, the culture medium was changed and the cells were exposed to CM for next 48 h.

2.6. Cell Viability and Apoptosis/Necrosis Rate

To evaluate the viability of leukemic PBMCs, as well as the percent of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the populations of PBMCs exposed to the tested agents Membrane Permeability/Dead Cell Apoptosis Kit from Invitrogen Molecular Probes (Eugene, OR) was used according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The mononuclear cell population was gated on the basis of FSC (forward scatter) and SSC (side scatter) parameters. The analyses were made after 24 and 48 h cell exposure to the investigated drugs and quantified using LSR II cytometer (Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA).

In 4 experiments cell viability and apoptosis rate were evaluated after the preincubation with atorvastatin, as well as after 24 and 48 h exposure to CM. The results were compared with those obtained for a coincubation of PBMCs from the same patients with atorvastatin in combination with CM for 48 h.

2.7. Caspase-3 Activation

To assess the percent of PBMCs with active form of caspase-3 in control and drug-treated cell population PE active caspase-3 apoptosis kit (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA) was used. The analyses were performed after 48 h of incubation with the tested agents according to manufacturer’s protocol. The measurements were made by LSR II flow cytometer (Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA).

2.8. DNA Content

DNA content in PBMC samples was estimated after 24 and 48 h incubation with/without tested drugs as it was previously described [22]. Briefly, 1 × 10⁶ cells were fixed with 70% ethanol and incubated at −20°C for 2 h. Subsequently, the cells were incubated in the presence of RNAse A (at final concentration in PBS of 0.5 mg/mL) and propidium iodide (PI; at final concentration in PBS of 0.01 mg/mL) for 30 min, at 37°C in the dark. Then, the fluorescence of PI was measured by flow cytometry (FACS Canto II; Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA) and the number of sub-G1 cells was estimated on the basis of FL-3 histograms using FACS Diva Software (Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA). Ten thousand events were examined for each analysis.

2.9. Protein Separation and Immunoblotting

Leukemic PBMCs were lysed and prepared for Western blot analysis as it was previously described [24]. A protein quantitation in the cell lysates was performed according to Lowry method [25]. About 50 μg of proteins was loaded per each lane and the probes were separated by SDS-PAGE into 8% and 12.5% slab gels, depending on the molecular weights of the analyzed proteins, respectively [26]. Then, the proteins were transferred onto immobilon P according to Towbin et al. [27] and stained reversibly with 0.05% Ponceau S solution to confirm their equal loading. Subsequently, the membranes were incubated in the presence of 5% nonfat dry milk in TBST buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, and 0.05% Tween 20) for 1 h at room temperature with successive incubation overnight with specific antibodies in the following dilutions: anti-PARP-1 (1 : 5000; sc-7150), anti-lamin B (1 : 2000; sc-6216), anti-caspase-9 (1 : 5000; sc-8355), anti-Mcl-1 (1 : 5000; sc-819), anti-Bcl-2 (1 : 1000; sc-492), and anti-Bax (1 : 1000; sc-1035), all from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA), anti-caspase-3 (1 : 1000) from Sigma-Aldrich, anti-ZAP70 (1 : 1000) from Cell Signaling, as well as anti-actin (1 : 1000) antibody from Abcam (Cambridge, UK). After being washed 3 times in TBST buffer, the membranes were incubated with secondary antiserum conjugated with alkaline phosphatase (Sigma-Aldrich) for 2 h and washed 3 times again. The antigen-antibody complexes were visualized after incubation of membranes with a phosphatase substrate solution containing: 0.33 mg/mL of nitro blue tetrazolium, 0.17 mg/mL of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate in 100 mM Tris-HCl (pH 9.5), 100 mM NaCl, and 5 mM MgCl₂. In some experiments, secondary antibodies conjugated with horse radish peroxidase were applied. Then, Novex HRP chromogenic substrate (TMB) from Invitrogen was applied for detection of proteins.

2.10. Statistical Analysis

All results are presented as the mean value ± S.D. The statistical data analysis was performed by Anova with Tukey’s post hoc test. The data obtained for atorvastatin and the combinations of atorvastatin with CM were compared with the results from DMSO treated cells (vehicle control), whereas CM combination effectiveness was compared with the model cells incubated without drugs (Ctr). The results were considered statistically significant at .

Moreover, the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to statistically evaluate the differences in cytotoxicity of the tested drugs in CM-sensitive and CM-resistant groups of PBMC samples.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. FISH Analysis

In the current study, 4 of 18 analyzed CLL patients indicated normal FISH results (see Table 1). The most common chromosomal abnormality detected among the examined group of CLL patients was deletion of 13q14 (8 patients), which is generally observed in ~70% of patients with CLL and is associated with good prognosis as a sole abnormality [2]. Deletions of 17p13 and 11q22-q23 were found in 1 and 2 CLL patients enrolled in FISH analysis, respectively. These chromosomal aberrations are both connected with loss of function of TP53 tumor suppressor gene as well as the resistance to purine analogs and are related to worst (ATM) and the worst (TP53) prognosis [1, 4, 5]. Two CLL patients were characterized by deletions of 11q22 together with 13q14 and deletion of 11q22 associated with del 13q14 and trisomy 12, respectively. Trisomy 12 as a sole abnormality was observed in one patient only.

In the current study the proapoptotic potential of atorvastatin alone, as well as in combination with CM, was not related to the presence of high risk prognostic markers, such as del 17p13 or del 11q22-23.

3.2. Cell Viability and Apoptosis/Necrosis Evaluation

To verify whether the drugs frequently prescribed for elder people in connection with the hypercholesterolemia could be profitable or inversely unfavourable for the cured CLL patients who are usually over 60 years old we tested both higher and lower concentrations of atorvastatin with regard to its putative proapoptotic potential against CLL cells.

The viability of PBMCs obtained from blood of 24 CLL patients enrolled in the study was essentially decreased by atorvastatin used alone (A), as well as atorvastatin in combination with cladribine and mafosfamide (CM), that is, CM + A. The assays of early apoptotic cell number in population of the examined probes exposed to the used agents confirmed proapoptotic potential of atorvastatin, as well as the conventional applied combination, CM. The average cytotoxicity and proapoptotic activity of the tested drugs are presented in Figures 1(a) and 1(b). A combination of purine analog and the alkylator exhibits strong proapoptotic potential, especially after 48 h. Cell exposure to CM 24 h was less efficient than 24 h exposure to 25 μM and 50 μM atorvastatin. After 48 h, however, the impact of 25 μM compound was comparable to the action of CM combination. Although there was not established maximal dose of statin that could be used in human without inducing potent cytotoxicity, this drug concentration might be unattainable for anticancer therapy. Therefore, we evaluated the potential of CM + A combination to induce apoptosis in CLL cells. A combined treatment of CM and 10 μM atorvastatin (CMA10) was more effective than CM. The improvement in antileukemic potential of tested drugs in comparison to CM alone was about 10% as assessed by Membrane Permeability/Dead Cell Apoptosis kit. The 48 h incubation of the model cell samples with CM used in combination with 50 μM atorvastatin was associated with widespread late apoptosis/secondary necrosis of PBMCs (Figure 1).

(a) Cell viability by Membrane Permeable/Dead Cell Apoptosis Kit

(b) Apoptosis induction by Membrane Permeable/Dead Cell Apoptosis Kit

(c) Apoptosis induction on the basis of DNA content

(d) Apoptosis induction on the basis of caspase-3 activation in PBMCs from exemplary patient number 13

Figure 1: Antileukemic potential of atorvastatin (A), cladribine + mafosfamide combination (CM), or atorvastatin in combination with cladribine + mafosfamide (CM + A) evaluated on the basis of cell viability (a) and apoptosis induction (b–d) examination after 24 and 48 h CLL cell exposure. Proapoptotic activity of the tested drugs was evaluated by Permeable/Dead Cell Apoptosis Kit (b), DNA content analysis (c), and PE active caspase-3 apoptosis kit (d). the results were statistically significant at .

The cell samples were divided on the basis of their sensitivity towards the conventional chemotherapeutic combinations in vitro. We classified them into one of three groups (compare Table 1): the first one: CM-sensitive (S), the second one: partially sensitive (P), and the third one: CM-resistant (R), when CLL cell exposure to CM decreased cell viability over 30%, 15%–30%, and less than 15% after 48 h, respectively. As it is illustrated in Table 1 among examined 24 CLL cell samples the biggest group (13; 54%) responded to CM, but 7 cases (29%) did very weakly. Four cases (17%) indicated partial response to CM.

When we compared the average cytotoxicity of atorvastatin, CM, and their combination in CM-resistant PBMCs in vitro the used statin, even at the lowest concentration, caused higher antileukemic potential than CM drug combination (shown in Figure 2-R). In all of leukemic cell samples which were classified as CM resistant, 25 μM atorvastatin decreased the cell viability with higher efficiency than CM. Moreover, a combination of atorvastatin and CM caused potentiated cytotoxic effect in leukemic PBMCs in comparison to CM. In 6 of 7 CM-resistant cell samples atorvastatin at 10 μM triggered apoptosis of PBMCs at higher degree than the CM after 48 h. Differences in the cytotoxicity induced by CM + A25 and CM + A50 versus CM were statistically significant at and , respectively (Wilcoxon signed rank test). The average decrease in the viability of CMA10-treated cells was ~20% in comparison to the cell samples exposed to CM.

Figure 2: Antileukemic potential of atorvastatin (A), cladribine + mafosfamide combination (CM), or atorvastatin in combination with cladribine + mafosfamide (CM + A) in CM-resistant (R), partially resistant (P), and CM-susceptible (S) PBMC samples obtained from blood of exemplary CLL patients (numbers 1, 3, 9, 18, 19, 21, and 24). The cytotoxic potential of the tested compounds was evaluated by Permeable/Dead Cell Apoptosis Kit and their proapoptotic activity was assessed by Western blot analysis of apoptosis-related protein expression after 48 h exposure. The results were statistically significant at , , and (Wilcoxon signed rank test).

From among all the tested cell samples, only the examined probes obtained from blood of the patient number 20 were not susceptible to both CM and atorvastatin. In the rest of investigated CLL samples the resistance to conventional anticancer drug combination – CM did not go together with their resistance towards atorvastatin which is related to their different mechanisms of action against the model cells.

As it is illustrated in Figure 2-P, in CLL cell group classified as partially sensitive to CM, 50 μM atorvastatin displayed the most antileukemic potential from among all tested atorvastatin doses, similarly as CM combination, while CM + A10 combination induced ~10% decrease in the cell viability in comparison to CM. The effect caused by these drugs was additive.

In contrast, in CM-susceptible CLL cell group the CM combination operated more efficiently than atorvastatin used at all tested concentrations (compare Figure 2-S). Atorvastatin also indicated cytotoxic potential higher than that observed in CM-resistant CLL cells. Although combined action of atorvastatin and CM showed infra-additive effect on the leukemic PBMCs, the increase in antileukemic activity of examined agents was statistically significant ( for CM and CM + A10 pair of samples and for higher statin concentrations; Wilcoxon signed rank test). On average, adding 10 μM atorvastatin to CM triggered only about 5% decrease in examined cell viability in comparison to conventional CM combination.

Meanwhile, as it is shown in Figure 3, the preincubation of CLL cell samples with atorvastatin, even at 1 μM, diminished their viability in comparison to the cells treated only with CM (without the previous preincubation).

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: Antileukemic potential of atorvastatin (A) at 10 μM, cladribine + mafosfamide combination (CM), or atorvastatin in combination with cladribine + mafosfamide (CM + A) in comparison to the antileukemic potential of CM in PBMCs pretreated (or not) with atorvastatin at 1 μM.

3.3. DNA Content

DNA content assays were performed in cell samples from blood of 13 CLL patients. The average results of DNA content analysis in PBMCs exposed to the examined drugs are presented in Figure 1(c). Sub-G1 cell population of PBMCs corresponding to the population with apoptotic DNA fragmentation enlarged after 24 and 48 h incubation with all the tested agents in comparison to control (and the cells exposed to DMSO, solvent for atorvastatin). There was no difference between the DNA content in control cells and the vehicle control. The CM combination induced 4- and 3-fold increase in sub-G1 cell number in comparison to control PBMCs after 24 and 48 h, respectively. Apoptosis confirmed by the presence of sub-G1 cells rises in statin-treated PBMCs in dose-dependent manner. The lowest concentration of atorvastatin triggered 2-fold raise of subdiploid PBMC population in comparison to control with DMSO. Atorvastatin used solely at the concentration of 50 μM induced the changes in DNA content of the cells higher than those observed in PBMC samples incubated with CM (~50% versus 43%). Importantly, the combined treatment of the model cells with 10 μM atorvastatin and CM was more effective (~15% and more) than CM alone. The adding of atorvastatin at higher concentrations than 10 μM to CM combination increased antileukemic potential of the latter. In some cases, however, extreme DNA nucleolysis made impossible to reliably analyze the DNA content of the cells (these cases were excluded from analysis).

3.4. Caspase-3 Activation

The percentage of PBMCs expressing the active form of caspase-3 was assessed cytometrically. The obtained results confirm proapoptotic potential of used concentration of atorvastatin, CM, as well as CM in combination with atorvastatin. In the model cells, apoptosis induction intensified proportionally to the dose of investigated agents, gaining over 45% increase in CM-treated cells in comparison to control and over 40% and 65% in PBMCs exposed to atorvastatin at concentrations of 25 μM and 50 μM, respectively (exemplary patient number 13; see Figure 1(d)). The mean proapoptotic potential of CM was higher than that of 25 μM atorvastatin but lower than that of statin at 50 μM. Low increase in apoptotic cell number in vehicle control in comparison to the cells without DMSO was noted. Importantly, the treatment of leukemic cell probes with atorvastatin and CM together was more efficient than these drugs used separately.

3.5. Immunoblotting Assay

To evaluate the proapoptotic potential of atorvastatin in drug-treated CLL cells, the expression levels of chosen apoptosis markers, that is, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and lamin B1, were examined. Both of these nuclear proteins are proteolytically cleaved by active caspases in the execution phase of apoptosis [28, 29]. The obtained results confirmed the cleavage of these apoptotic markers followed by the cell exposure to CM combination, as well as to atorvastatin alone or to its combination with CM. In 5 cases, 48 h exposure to CM did not induce the changes in the expression level of the full length proteins with a mass of 116 kDa and 67 kDa, respectively. However, after the incubation of CLL cells with atorvastatin at rising concentration, the proteolysis of PARP-1 and lamin B1 was observed in 4 of them. Concomitantly, the elevated cleavage products of 85 kDa and 44 kDa, respectively, were seen. Hence, a slight susceptibility of leukemic cells to cladribine and mafosfamide does not have to be related to their resistance to the statin.

The investigation of procaspase-9 and procaspase-3 expression by Western blot revealed that the used compounds influenced cellular level of the zymogens which was presumably caused by the activation of these enzymes (see Figure 2). The obtained data suggest an involvement of mitochondria in apoptosis course in CLL cells exposed to the tested agents. Similarly, Cafforio et al. [30] have previously indicated mitochondria as the organelles involved in statin-induced apoptosis. We postulate, however, that these organelles are not central for initiation of apoptosis in statin-treated CLL cells. The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in statin-treated cells was not firmly confirmed by Bcl-2 (B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2) family protein expression data. Although the dropping of Mcl-1 (myeloid cell leukemia 1; ~40 kDa) cellular level was seen in most cases of CLL samples, as it is shown in Figure 2, this change was not accompanied by the spectacular diversities in the expression level of antiapoptotic–Bcl-2 and proapoptotic–Bax (Bcl-2 associated × protein) proteins. The increased Bax expression was observed in CM-sensitive CLL cell probes after their exposure to the conventional CM combination or its application with atorvastatin (see Figure 2-S). Additionally, a comparison of these protein expression levels revealed that the proteolysis of apoptosis-related proteins, PARP-1 and lamin B1, was observed together with the putative activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and it sometimes proceded the Mcl-1 level decline (see Figure 2-S; patient number 1 and Figure 2-P; patient number 19). Therefore, it suggests that the alterations in Mcl-1 expression could be associated with its proteolysis during apoptosis, not the reason of apoptosis induction. Importantly, the Bcl-2 expression decline was only seen after the cell exposure to the highest drug concentrations.

Furthermore, the expression of ZAP70 kinase was estimated in several CLL cell samples incubated with atorvastatin alone, CM, and CM with atorvastatin. A high intracellular expression of this enzyme is thought to be a negative prognostic factor for CLL [2]. Of note, Western blot assay indicated that in vitro exposure to atorvastatin resulted in ZAP70 kinase decrease in PBMCs from blood of ZAP70-positive patients (the positivity was confirmed by flow cytometry) that is in agreement with the results of Yavasoglu et al. [31]. The observed ZAP70 protein level decline is likely to be associated with executive phase of apoptosis, since analogous effect was also detected in CM-susceptible leukemic cells obtained from blood of exemplary patient number 1 exposed in vitro to CM. Moreover, no correlation between ZAP70 expression and the susceptibility of PBMC samples to the tested drug(s) was noticed.

The causal involvement of apoptosis disturbances and chromosomal aberrations and the evaluation of leukemic cell responses to drugs/experimental compounds have been demonstrated in leukemia cell lines [32, 33], primary CLL cell samples [33–36], and animal models [37, 38]. Recently, reported data presented in vivo mouse models [38, 39] to explain how different components of the microenvironment contribute to this hematological neoplasm pathogenesis. An interesting approach involving the usage of CLL cells/nurse-like cells coculture model for the investigation leukemia cells-microenvironment interactions after drug treatment was described [40]. The in vitro testing of CLL cells exposed to drug(s) was applied in Differential Staining Cytotoxicity test, DiSC [34], which recently was improved and simplies as TRAC (tumor response to antineoplastic compounds) [35, 41].

Summarizing, our results reveal that atorvastatin essentially increases the proapoptotic potential of drug combination, CM in CLL cells in vitro. In addition, even small doses of atorvastatin applied during the preincubation might intensify the cytotoxicity of CM against the leukemic cells in vitro. It seems, therefore, that atorvastatin usage by CLL patients during or before anticancer therapy is not a counterindication to cladribine and cyclophosphamide application. Conversely, it might intensify the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy. Supportive effect of atorvastatin and CM combination may be associated with their distinct modes of action. The conventional anticancer agents trigger cell death mainly by generating injuries within DNA and RNA molecules leading to apoptosis on mitochondrial pathway [42]. The metabolic changes provoked by statins in leukemic cells might induce cell death regardless of the changes in the Bcl-2 family protein expression and caspase-9 activation. It may be associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-dependent apoptosis, which is a major mechanism involved in spontaneous apoptosis of CLL cells, or autophagy [43–45]. In addition to proapoptotic potential, atorvastatin might also affect the efflux of anticancer agents outside the cells, similarly as lovastatin which has been shown to inhibit the activity of (ATP) binding casette drug transporters in leukemic cells [46].

It has been previously suggested that statins should not be administered to the patients cured with immunotherapy [47]. The combined treatment of statins and monoclonal antibodies was unadvisable due to possible influence of these drugs on cellular localization and structure of leukemic cell antigens. Very recently published data suggest, however, that statins marginally affect rituximab-dependent ADCC (antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity) [48]. Interestingly, it has been recently established that cholesterol molecules mask tumor-associated membrane glycosphingolipids enabling tumor escape from immune system recognition. Hence, statins could facilitate immunosurveillance by the reduction of cholesterol level in the membranes of some types of cancer [49, 50]. In light of these data it seems possible that the benefits of statin cotreatment might be higher than their disadvantages also for the patients treated with immunotherapy. Some of lately published results indicating improved response rate and survival among the patients with relapsed or refractory CLL who received statins and/or aspirin together with RCF have supported above notion [51]. Similarly, Lee et al. have [52] revealed that statins are able to potentiate the antiangiogenic effects of bevacizumab in colorectal cancer cells. On the other hand, there are a lot of controversies associated with statin usage [50, 53]. High dose of atorvastatin used during anticancer therapy might result in drug induced liver injury (DILI) in susceptible patients [54]. Another possibility is enhanced risk of diabetes development, especially among elder patients. The diabetogenic potential of statins occurring after about 4-year treatment with statins was reported [55].

4. Conclusions

The obtained results indicate that in vitro atorvastatin alone is able to induce apoptosis in CM-sensitive and CM-resistant chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Moreover, coincubation or preincubation with atorvastatin sensitizes CLL cells to CM-induced apoptosis and should be considered as therapeutic option for CLL patients. It seems that the patients who are CM-resistant and/or these ones with poor prognostic markers for the treatment with conventional chemotherapy might have bigger benefits from atorvastatin introduction.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grant no. 1407 from the University of Łódź. The authors would like to thank the colleagues from Laboratory of Cytometry, University of Łódź, for cytometric measurements of cell viability/apoptosis rate and caspase-3 activation.

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