Disruption of amino acid metabolism in human myelogenous leukemic cell lines destined to die after contact with metal plates.

Changes in amino acid metabolism during cell death of human myelogenous leukemic cell lines (HL-1, ML-1, KG-1) induced by contact with gold (Au), silver (Ag) or palladium (Pd) were investigated. All three leukemic cell lines consumed glutamine and serine at the highest rate (amounting to 50%-58% and 12%-16% of the total amino acid consumption, respectively). HL-60 cell growth was slightly stimulated by contact with any metal plate. Contact with Ag or Pd, but not Au plates occasionally induced cytotoxicity against ML-1 and KG-1 cells. In such cases, glutamine consumption was inhibited by 88%-90% and consumption of other amino acids completely ceased. This was accompanied by the enhanced production of arginine, glycine and glutamic acid. These data suggest the tight association of the disruption of amino acid metabolism with the cell death induced in human myelogenous leukemic cell lines by contact with metal plates.