bis(2,6-dioxopiperaxine) derivatives, topoisomerase II inhibitors which do not form a DNA cleavable complex, induce thymocyte apoptosis.

Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and cell death were induced dose- and time-dependently by incubation of mouse thymocytes with bis(2,6-dioxopiperazine) derivatives, ICRF-154 and MST-16, inhibitors of topoisomerase II, which do not induce cleavable complex formation. The process was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, indicating that the process was an active apoptotic process. Bis(2,6-dioxopiperazine) derivatives have been known to inhibit the etoposide-induced DNA cleavage, but ICRF-154 did not inhibit etoposide-induced apoptosis in thymocytes at 6 h incubation, suggesting that DNA cleavage is not essential for induction of apoptosis by topoisomerase II inhibitors. The alteration of DNA helicity induced by a subtle inhibition of topoisomerase II activity may have an important role in the induction of apoptosis in thymocytes, since topoisomerase II is a major component of the nuclear matrix that can regulate gene expression.