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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging
Published on: April 28, 2021
Reduction in drug-induced DNA double-strand breaks associated with beta1 integrin-mediated adhesion correlates with
L A Hazlehurst1, N Valkov, L Wisner
1Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology and Clinical Investigations Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
Abstract:
We previously showed that adhesion of myeloma cells to fibronectin (FN) by means of beta1 integrins causes resistance to certain cytotoxic drugs. The study described here found that adhesion of U937 human histiocytic lymphoma cells to FN provides a survival advantage with respect to damage induced by the topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitors mitoxantrone, doxorubicin, and etoposide. Apoptosis induced by a topo II inhibitor is thought to be initiated by DNA damage. The neutral comet assay was used to determine whether initial drug-induced DNA damage correlated with cellular-adhesion-mediated drug resistance. Cellular adhesion by means of beta1 integrins resulted in a 40% to 60% reduction in mitoxantrone- and etoposide-induced DNA double-strand breaks. When the mechanisms regulating the initial drug-induced DNA damage were examined, a beta1 integrin-mediated reduction in drug-induced DNA double-strand breaks was found to correlate with reduced topo II activity and decreased salt-extractable nuclear topo IIbeta protein levels. Confocal studies showed changes in the nuclear localization of topo IIbeta; however, alterations in the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio of topo IIbeta in FN-adhered cells were not significantly different. Furthermore, after a high level of salt extraction of nuclear proteins, higher levels of topo IIbeta-associated DNA binding were observed in FN-adhered cells than in cells in suspension. Together, these data suggest that topo IIbeta is more tightly bound to the nucleus of FN-adhered cells. Thus, FN adhesion by means of beta1 integrins appears to protect U937 cells from initial drug-induced DNA damage by reducing topo II activity secondarily to alterations in the nuclear distribution of topo IIbeta.
Insights
Fibronectin adhesion via beta1 integrins protects lymphoma cells from topoisomerase II inhibitor DNA damage. This protection involves reduced topoisomerase II activity and altered nuclear binding of topoisomerase IIbeta.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Oncology
- Drug Resistance Mechanisms
Background:
- Previous studies demonstrated that myeloma cell adhesion to fibronectin (FN) via beta1 integrins confers resistance to cytotoxic drugs.
- Topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitors are crucial in cancer therapy, inducing apoptosis through DNA damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether U937 human histiocytic lymphoma cell adhesion to FN influences resistance to topoisomerase II inhibitors.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying cellular-adhesion-mediated drug resistance in U937 cells.
Main Methods:
- Neutral comet assay to quantify drug-induced DNA double-strand breaks.
- Assessment of topoisomerase II activity and nuclear protein levels.
- Confocal microscopy to analyze the nuclear localization of topoisomerase IIbeta.
Main Results:
- Adhesion to FN via beta1 integrins reduced DNA double-strand breaks induced by mitoxantrone and etoposide by 40-60%.
- This adhesion correlated with decreased topoisomerase II activity and reduced levels of salt-extractable nuclear topoisomerase IIbeta.
- Topoisomerase IIbeta showed tighter binding to the nucleus in FN-adhered cells.
Conclusions:
- Fibronectin adhesion, mediated by beta1 integrins, confers a survival advantage to U937 cells against topoisomerase II inhibitors.
- Protection is achieved by reducing topoisomerase II activity, secondary to altered nuclear distribution and binding of topoisomerase IIbeta.
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