Cytolethal sensitivity of human lymphoid cells to glucocorticoids and oxidised polyamines

A series of clonally-derived glucocorticoid-sensitive and -resistant human lymphoid cell lines was used to investigate the relationship between sensitivity to the effects of oxidised polyamines and initiation of glucocorticoid-induced cytostatic and cytolethal responses. Whilst the exogenous polyamines were found to exert no effect by themselves, incubation of cells for 48 h with 10(-4)M spermine or spermidine in the presence of serum polyamine oxidase produced severe lethal responses in all clones tested. By contrast 10(-5)M exogenous polyamines in the presence of polyamine oxidase produced lethal effects only in glucocorticoid-sensitive clones. Spermine was more potent than spermidine. The significance of these observations is discussed.