Iron removal by the chelating-agent deferoxamine (DFO) arrests cell cycle progression of activated human T cells in late G1 phase, before the G1/S border. The effects of the drug on molecules that regulate progression through the cell cycle were defined. DFO (10 mu mol/L) inhibited induction of transcription of the cdc2 gene, but had no effect on accumulation of cdk2, cdk4, or interleukin (IL)-2 transcripts. Mo detectable p34(cdc2) protein accumulated, but synthesis of the p33(cdk2) protein was begun, It accumulated to normal levels during the first 20 to 30 hours of incubation in the presence of DFO. Furthermore, p33(cdk2) was activated as an H1 histone kinase. As active p33(cdk2) primarily represents complexes of the p33 protein with cyclin E or cyclin A, the effects of DFO on these cyclins were examined. Although the induction of synthesis and early accumulation of cyclin E and cyclin E-associated kinase activity appeared normal, the appearance of cyclin A and cyclin A-associated kinase activity were inhibited by DFO, However, the production of cyclin A mRNA appeared to be normal in the presence of DFO. A major effect of DFO in blocking cell cycle progression may be mediated through inhibition of the appearance of cyclin A protein and, therefore, a major component of p33(cdk2) activity, The results also indicate that the p33(cdk2)/cyclin E activity produced in the presence of DFO was not sufficient for completion of the G1 phase of the cell cycle. (C) 1995 by The American Society of Hematology.
