Differential cytotoxicity of cytosine arabinoside toward murine leukemia L1210 cells and murine bone marrow progenitor cells inhibited in nucleoside transport by cimicifugoside.

Cytotoxicities of cytosine arabinoside (Ara C) and showdomycin to murine L1210 leukemia cells was prevented by a nucleoside transport inhibitor, cimicifugoside. Ara C toxicity to bone marrow progenitor cells, however, was observed even in the presence of cimicifugoside. The difference of Ara C toxicity toward L1210 cells and bone marrow cells pretreated with cimicifugoside may be originated in the different characteristics of membrane transport site of nucleosides.