VP-16-mediated cytotoxicity is modulated by interleukin-3 in a growth factor-dependent leukemic cell line

A growth factor-dependent cell line (TF-1) was treated with interleukin-3 (IL-3) or medium in combination with variable doses of VP-16 to test whether the latter's cytotoxicity can be modulated by IL-3. The results demonstrated that an augmented cell death occurred with TF-1 cells when pre-incubated for 24 h with IL-3 followed by treatment with VP-16 (10 micrograms/ml) for 1 h. The increased cell death could not be ascribed to an increased number of apoptotic cells as measured with the acridine orange method. However, the IL-3 treatment coincided with an upregulation of DNA topoisomerase II alpha (Topo II alpha) at mRNA and protein level after 24 h, which was preceded by an upregulation of c-myc mRNA. In contrast, Topo II beta did not demonstrate an upregulation at mRNA level in response to IL-3 stimulation. In addition, it was shown that cells treated with IL-3 followed by VP-16 demonstrated a higher number of cleavable DNA complexes which was not due to an increased uptake of VP-16, since cellular concentrations of VP-16 in the presence of IL-3 or medium were 16.8 +/- 7.8 ng/10(6) cells and 19.8 +/- 7.8 ng/10(6) cells (mean +/- SD, n = 3), respectively. These data indicate that IL-3 pretreatment followed by VP-16 results in an increased cell death due to cytotoxicity which may be ascribed to an upregulation of Topo II alpha.