A morphological study of the effect of chlorambucil during the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle of synchronized HEp-2 cancer cell populations using computerized morphometry

Chlorambucil, a bisalkylating agent, used extensively in the treatment of autoimmune and neoplastic diseases, is known to affect DNA synthesis. However recent studies have revealed that it also affects the synthesis of other nuclear protein constituents, especially histones. Since histones play a major role in both the structural and functional integrity of chromatin, we have analyzed the morphological effects of this agent, using low dose conditions and synchronized populations of HEp-2 cancer cells in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Analyses at the light and electron microscopy levels were undertaken using synchronous image analysis techniques. Computerized morphometry was used so as to evaluate various nuclear and cytological morphological parameters. It was found that chlorambucil affects the organization of chromatin, as well as other cellular parameters in a manner characteristic of decreased tumor aggressiveness. A finding of significance in this study was that chlorambucil exerted its influence on all these morphological parameters only when treatment was initiated at the beginning of the S phase and not during the second half of the S phase or the G2 phase. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Ageing research in Greece

Ageing research in Greece is well established. Research groups located in universities, research institutes or public hospitals are studying various and complementary aspects of ageing. These research activities include (a) functional analysis of Clusterin/Apolipoprotein J, studies in healthy centenarians and work on protein degradation and the role of proteasome during senescence at the National Hellenic Research Foundation; (b) regulation of cell proliferation and tissue formation, a nationwide study of determinants and markers of successful ageing in Greek centenarians and studies of histone gene expression and acetylation at the National Center for Scientific Research, ‘Demokritos’; (c) work on amyloid precursor protein and Presenilin I at the University of Athens; (d) oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and the role of oncogenes in senescence at the University of Ioannina; (c) studies in the connective tissue at the University of Patras; (f) protcomic studies at the Biomedical Sciences Research Center ‘Alexander Fleming’; (g) work on Caenorhabditis clegans at the Foundation for Research and Technolog;(h) the role of ultraviolet radiation in skin ageing at ‘Andreas Sygros’ Hospital; (i) follow-up studies in healthy elderly at the Athens Home for the Aged; and (j) socio-cultural aspects of ageing at the National School of Public Health. These research activities are well recognized by the international scientific community as it is evident by the group’s very good publication records as well as by their direct funding from both European Union and USA. This article summarizes these research activities and discuss future directions and efforts towards the further development of the ageing field in Greece. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved