Differential Effects of Low Doses Of Structurally Different Anthracyclines on Immunoglobulin Production by Mouse Hybridoma B Cells

Abstract

Structurally different biological and chemical agents have been shown to block the proliferation of human and mouse tumor cells and to induce the production of molecules that are usually synthesized by terminally-differentiated cells. For instance, anti-neoplastic drugs such as Ara-C or doxorubicin (DOX) promote the irreversible induction of hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in human erythroleukemia K562 cells with a concomitant loss of proliferative capacity (Luisi-Deluca et al., 1984; Jeannesson et al., 1984; Mazouzi et al., 1991). Similarly, the treatment of mouse hybridoma B cells by low-doses of DOX induces the blockade of cell proliferation through an accumulation of the cells in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle as well as a strong increase of the Immunoglobulin (Ig) production (Teillaud et al., 1989), suggesting a terminal differentiation in “plasma-like” cells.