bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment and characterization of a human myeloid cell line from Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloblastic leukemia arising in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: McCarty TM , Rajaraman S , Elder FF , Gadson P , Thompson EB
Published: October 2019

A new hematopoietic cell line derived from a patient with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-negative myeloblastic leukemia arising from a form of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is described. This cell line, designated TMM, consists of immature cells with the morphological characteristics of young myeloblasts and grows in suspension culture with a doubling time of about 30 hours. By cytochemical analysis the cultured cells were positive for acid phosphatase. They were free of the Epstein-Barr virus-associated nuclear antigen as well as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. Further phenotypic analysis revealed the expression of the myelomonocytic-specific antigen Leu-M1 and receptors for the Fc portion of IgG. Partial differentiation of these cells could be induced by dimethyl sulfoxide, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, or hypoxanthine and resulted in cells of the myeloid series expressing lysozyme and receptors for the C3b complement protein. The karyotype was 46,XY, lacked the Ph1 chromosome, and displayed no abnormalities at the light microscopic level. No rearrangement of the bcr-c-abl gene complex was found. This cell line should be useful for studying an important type of the heterogeneous population constituting Ph1-negative myeloblastic leukemia, arising in this instance from MDS, as well as for studying differentiation and proliferation of human pluripotent stem cells.
Mixed blood chimerism in T cell-depleted bone marrow transplant recipients: evaluation using DNA polymorphisms
Authors: Bretagne S , Vidaud M , Kuentz M , Cordonnier C , Henni T , Vinci G , Goossens M , Vernant JP
Published: October 2019

We have used DNA sequence polymorphism analysis to document engraftment after T cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation (BMT), with a selected panel of four DNA probes. In contrast to nondepleted BMT recipients, the patients who received T cell-depleted marrow exhibited a mixed blood chimerism. This mosaicism was observed before graft failure or relapse in six patients. However, in five other patients, this mixed chimerism was not followed by these complications with a follow-up of 9 to 31 months after transplantation. Our results support the hypothesis that transplanted bone marrow T cells may help to maintain engraftment by eliminating host cells that can cause graft failure.
The effect of recombinant GM-CSF on the recovery of monkeys transplanted with autologous bone marrow
Authors: Monroy RL , Skelly RR , MacVittie TJ , Davis TA , Sauber JJ , Clark SC , Donahue RE
Published: October 2019

The regulatory function of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) on granulocyte production in vivo was evaluated in an autologous bone marrow transplantation model using rhesus monkeys. Monkeys were exposed to 9.0 Gy total body irradiation and then transplanted with 5.0 x 10(7) low-density bone marrow cells/kg. Alzet miniosmotic pumps were subcutaneously implanted to deliver rhGM-CSF at a rate of 50,400 U/kg/d. Minipumps, containing either rhGM-CSF or saline, were implanted between zero and five days after transplantation for seven days. Kinetic recoveries of peripheral blood cells after either saline or rhGM-CSF treatment were compared. Treatment with rhGM-CSF accelerated the recovery of neutrophils. Neutrophils in rhGM-CSF-treated animals recovered to 80% (3.4 x 10(3)/mm3) pre-irradiation control levels by day 20, in comparison with only 33% (0.9 x 10(3)/mm3) recovery for saline control monkeys. In addition, the recovery of neutrophils was enhanced over that of the controls, reaching 140% v 70% on day 30. Another prominent feature of rhGM-CSF-treated monkeys was the accelerated recovery of platelets, reaching near 50% normal levels by day 24 in comparison with 20% of normal levels for controls. The infusion of rhGM-CSF was shown to be an effective regulator of early hematopoietic regeneration, leading to the accelerated recovery of both neutrophils and platelets and then providing a consistent sustained increase of neutrophils even in the absence of rhGM-CSF.
Purification of human megakaryocytes by fluorescence-activated cell sorting
Authors: Tomer A , Harker LA , Burstein SA
Published: October 2019

For direct studies of growth control, a method was developed to purify viable human megakaryocytes to homogeneity from routine normal bone marrow aspirates. An initial separation of marrow over a 1.050 g/mL Percoll density cut was used to enrich megakaryocytes. After washing, the cells were specifically labeled with a fluoresceinated monoclonal antibody or F(ab')2 fragment to the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex. Megakaryocytes were selectively sorted by using Becton Dickinson FACStar flow cytometer on the basis of a fluorescence intensity greater than 50-fold that of control cells. To increase resolution and purity the sorting rate was adjusted to one cell in 13 formed drops, and negative events that coincided with positive ones were aborted. Two thirds of the isolated cells were large, morphologically recognizable megakaryocytes with a forward light scatter fourfold that of the main cell population. Microscopic examination showed these cells to be greater than or equal to 98% megakaryocytes with a diameter of 20 to 46 microns and a ploidy range of 2N to 64N with a mode of 16N. The small highly fluorescent cells were 10 to 21 microns in diameter, and their ploidy range from 2N to 32N with main ploidy classes of 2N and 4N. The majority of these small cells also positively reacted with monoclonal antibody to platelet GPIb. The isolated cells were cultured in either Iscove's or leucine, lysine-deficient RPMI 1640 medium with 10% human plasma. The cells were maintained in culture more than three days and were capable of synthesis of both DNA and protein as assessed by radiolabeled thymidine and amino acid incorporation. Moreover, the isolated megakaryocytes were capable of responding to recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony- stimulating factor. The data show that human megakaryocytes can be purified from routine marrow aspirates on the basis of a lineage marker and that they are capable of growth in vitro.
Augmentation of neutrophil-mediated erythrocyte lysis by cells derived in vitro from human monocytes
Authors: Dallegri F , Ballestrero A , Frumento G , Patrone F
Published: October 2019

Neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were incubated with opsonized zymosan and lysed human erythrocytes (RBCs) as measured by a 51Cr release method. Conversely, myeloperoxidase (MPO)-negative hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-generating cells, derived in vitro from human monocytes (monocyte-derived cells (MDCs), were ineffective per se but capable of augmenting the lysis by PMNs. The lysis by PMNs and PMNs plus MDCs was inhibited by catalase, azide, taurine, and alanine, consistent with the requirement for hypochlorous acid (HOCl). As detected under conditions similar to those used for lytic assays, MDCs failed to produce HOCl but augmented the HOCl recovery from the PMN-RBC system. Moreover, when the extent of the lysis was plotted as a function of the HOCl recovery, a positive linear relationship was found. Although the actual size of the H2O2 extracellular pool could not be measured because of the inexistence of a reliable assay to probe our cytolytic model without perturbing the equilibrium of the system, the results presented suggest that MDCs enhance the PMN-mediated lysis by improving the HOCl production, presumably by supplying extra amounts of H2O2 to be handled by PMN MPO. In fact, the events mediated by MDCs could be reproduced by using an appropriate H2O2-generating enzymatic system (glucose-glucose oxidase). The present study provides direct evidence for the possibility of cooperation between MPO-positive and MPO-negative phagocytes in exerting functions (HOCl production and, in turn, cytolysis) possibly relevant to the outcome of inflammatory processes.
Unique interactions of asialo von Willebrand factor with platelets in platelet-type von Willebrand disease
Authors: Miller JL , Ruggeri ZM , Lyle VA
Published: October 2019

The present studies demonstrate that platelets from patients with platelet-type von Willebrand disease show specific and saturable binding of asialo von Willebrand factor (AS-vWF) under conditions where such binding is not observed with normal platelets. Although specific binding of 125I-AS-vWF to formalin-fixed normal platelets could not be demonstrated, specific binding to fixed patient platelets was seen with an apparent Kd of 1.3 micrograms/mL and specific maximally bound ligand of 0.40 micrograms/10(8) platelets. Preincubation of patient platelets with the antiglycoprotein Ib (anti-GPIb) monoclonal antibody AS-2 reduced total binding close to the level of computer-estimated nonspecific binding. In contrast, binding was not reduced by preincubation with anti-GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody or with 5 mmol/L EDTA. Under stirring conditions, the binding of AS-vWF to fixed patient platelets was accompanied by a strong agglutination response. AS-vWF- induced agglutination was similarly observed in patient but not normal platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the presence of 5 mmol/L EDTA. In the absence of EDTA, AS-vWF produced a full aggregation response in patient PRP at concentrations as low as 0.1 microgram/mL in contrast to the 2 to 20 micrograms/mL required by normal PRP. Both thromboxane B2 formation and adenosine triphosphate secretion showed an AS-vWF concentration dependence paralleling the aggregation responses. These studies show that a major difference in the platelets from patients with platelet-type von Willebrand disease is the presence of an exposed, high-affinity binding site associated with GPIb that recognizes AS-vWF.
Regulation of erythropoietin production in a human hepatoblastoma cell line
Authors: Nielsen OJ , Schuster SJ , Kaufman R , Erslev AJ , Caro J
Published: October 2019

Production of immuno and biologically active erythropoietin was documented to occur in the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG-2. The expression of the erythropoietin gene was further verified by Northern blot analysis using a single stranded RNA probe. In vitro studies showed that erythropoietin production by these cells was not stimulated by hypoxia or cobalt chloride, but was related to the proliferative activity of the cells in culture. In addition it was found that the secretion of erythropoietin was almost completely abrogated by tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation. This effect of tunicamycin was also observed in a permanently transfected cell line that secretes erythropoietin in large quantities.
Rearrangement of the T cell receptor gamma-chain gene in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Tawa A , Benedict SH , Hara J , Hozumi N , Gelfand EW
Published: October 2019

We analyzed rearrangements of the T cell receptor gamma-chain (T gamma) gene as well as rearrangements of the T cell receptor beta-chain (T beta) gene and immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) gene in 68 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). All 15 patients with T cell ALL showed rearrangements of both T beta and T gamma genes. Twenty-four of 53 non-T, non-B ALL patients (45%) showed T gamma gene rearrangements and only 14 of these also showed T beta gene rearrangements. Only a single patient rearranged the T beta gene in the absence of T gamma gene rearrangement. The rearrangement patterns of the T gamma gene in non-T, non-B ALL were quite different from those observed in T cell ALL, as 20 of 23 patients retained at least one germline band of the T gamma gene. In contrast, all T cell ALL patients showed no retention of germline bands. These data indicate that rearrangement of the T gamma gene is not specific for T cell ALL. Further, the results also suggest that T gamma gene rearrangement precedes T beta gene rearrangement. The combined analysis of rearrangement patterns of IgH, T beta, and T gamma genes provides new criteria for defining the cellular origin of leukemic cells and for further delineation of leukemia cell heterogeneity.
Serum transferrin receptor as a new index of erythropoiesis
Authors: Kohgo Y , Niitsu Y , Kondo H , Kato J , Tsushima N , Sasaki K , Hirayama M , Numata T , Nishisato T , Urushizaki I
Published: October 2019

Serum transferrin receptors were measured by a sandwich radioimmunoassay procedure in patients with iron deficiency anemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and aplastic anemia. The mean circulating transferrin receptor concentration of normal subjects and patients with iron deficiency anemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and aplastic anemia are 253 +/- 82 ng/mL, 730 +/- 391 ng/mL, 1,426 +/- 1,079 ng/mL, and 182 +/- 39 ng/mL, respectively. The values for those with iron deficiency anemia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia were significantly higher than that of normal controls and the values for those with aplastic anemia were lower than that of normal controls. After iron supplementation in iron deficiency anemia, the serum transferrin receptor values increased twofold over those of pretreatment values. This increase parallels an increase in peripheral reticulocytes. Therefore, the number of circulating transferrin receptors in anemic patients may reflect the level of bone marrow erythropoiesis and is a potentially useful new index for red cell production.
Prognostic factors in a multicenter study for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults
Authors: Hoelzer D , Thiel E , Loffler H , Buchner T , Ganser A , Heil G , Koch P , Freund M , Diedrich H , Ruhl H
Published: October 2019

In a prospective multicenter study, 368 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients aged 15 to 65 years were treated with an intensified induction and reinduction regimen; 272 (73.9%) achieved complete remission (CR). The median remission duration (MRD) is 24.3 months, and the probability of being in continuous CR (CCR) at greater than 5 years is .37. The median survival for all 368 patients is 27.5 months, and the probability of being alive at 5 years is .39. For the 272 patients in remission the median survival is 58.4 months, and the probability of being alive at 5 years is .49. A lower CR rate was seen for patients with bleeding at diagnosis or with splenomegaly/hepatosplenomegaly. The prognostic factors unfavorable for remission duration were time to CR greater than 4 weeks v less than 4 weeks (P = .0002), age greater than 35 years v less than 35 years (P = .0008), leukocyte count greater than 30,000/microL v less than 30,000/microL (P = .0112), and null ALL v common ALL (c-ALL)/T cell ALL (T-ALL) (P = .05). The remission duration correlated strongly (P = .0001) with the number of these independent prognostic factors. In patients with none of these adverse factors the MRD has not yet been reached, with one adverse factor the MRD is 21.9 months, and with two or three adverse factors the MRD is only 9.6 months. For the immunologic subtype T-ALL, the probability of being in CCR at greater than 5 years is .55; for c-ALL, .34; and for null ALL, .24. According to these results, patients were stratified into a low- risk group with a CCR rate of .62 and a high-risk group with a CCR rate of .28, with the latter now allocated to either further chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation in first remission.
The gene for protein S maps near the centromere of human chromosome 3
Authors: Watkins PC , Eddy R , Fukushima Y , Byers MG , Cohen EH , Dackowski WR , Wydro RM , Shows TB
Published: October 2019

Two different mapping approaches were used to determine the human chromosomal location of the gene for protein S. A human protein S cDNA was used as a hybridization probe to analyze a panel of somatic cell hybrids containing different human chromosomes. Cosegregation of protein S-specific DNA restriction fragments with human chromosome 3 was observed. Three cell hybrids containing only a portion of chromosome 3 were analyzed in order to further localize protein S. Based on the somatic cell hybrid analysis, protein S is assigned to a region of chromosome 3 that contains a small part of the long arm and short arm of the chromosome including the centromere (3p21----3q21). In situ hybridization of the protein S cDNA probe to human metaphase chromosomes permitted a precise localization of protein S to the region of chromosome 3 immediately surrounding the centromere (3p11.1---- 3q11.2). Protein S is the first protein involved in blood coagulation that has been mapped to human chromosome 3.
Large granular lymphocyte proliferation: an analysis of T-cell receptor gene arrangement and expression and the effect of in vitro culture with inducing agents
Authors: Chan WC , Dahl C , Waldmann T , Link S , Mawle A , Nicholson J , Bach FH , Bongiovanni K , McCue PA , Winton EF
Published: October 2019

The status of the T cell receptor beta and gamma genes in natural killer (NK) cells was investigated in two patients with a marked expansion of CD2+, CD3- NK cells. Both genes were found to be in the germline state. The T alpha and complete T beta gene transcripts were not detected, but a 1.0-kilobase T beta gene transcript could be demonstrated at low levels in freshly isolated cells and at a much higher level in interleukin-2 (IL-2)-cultured cells. The transcript coding for the delta chain of the CD3 complex was also absent. These cells were cultured in IL-2 with or without the addition of the differentiation-inducing agents: retinoic acid, N,N-hexamethylene bisacetamide, and sodium butyrate. The cultured cells retained their NK activity except in culture with sodium butyrate at greater than or equal to 1 mmol/L. Expression of CD3 or other T cell surface markers by the NK cells was not observed in these cultures. Either CD2+, CD3- NK cells are derived from a non-T lineage, or they have diverged from the T cell lineage earlier than the stage of T gamma gene rearrangement and CD3 delta chain expression; they are refractory to many induction signals in undergoing further T cell differentiation.
Augmentation of donor bone marrow engraftment in histoincompatible murine recipients by granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor
Authors: Blazar BR , Widmer MB , Soderling CC , Urdal DL , Gillis S , Robison LL , Vallera DA
Published: October 2019

T cell depletion of donor bone marrow can prevent graft v host disease (GVHD) in human and murine marrow graft recipients. However, engraftment in the recipient may be compromised as a consequence of donor marrow T cell depletion. The effect of recombinant murine granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rmu GM-CSF) on engraftment and hematologic reconstitution was evaluated in a murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model involving T cell depletion of marrow. Before transplantation into irradiated mice differing at major and minor histocompatibility loci, rmu GM-CSF was preincubated with T cell-depleted donor marrow. When low degrees of engraftment were noted in control recipients, treatment of donor marrow with high concentrations of rmu GM-CSF led to enhanced engraftment. Ex vivo donor graft incubation with rmu GM-CSF or a single in vivo injection of rmu GM-CSF were both effective means of promoting engraftment. When the engraftment rate in control recipients was high, rmu GM-CSF did not have an identifiable effect. Only slight increases in hematologic recovery were detected regardless of the rate of engraftment. Neither post-BMT survival nor marrow stem cell capacity was affected by rmu GM-CSF incubation. Furthermore, growth factor administration did not have a significant effect on the incidence of GVHD in recipients of non-T cell-depleted bone marrow splenocyte preparations. In vitro natural killer-mediated target cell lysis was not altered by incubation of effector cells with rmu GM-CSF. These results demonstrate the potential of ex vivo rmu GM-CSF treatment of donor marrow to facilitate engraftment across extensive histo- compatibility barriers.
Integrated human T-cell leukemia virus II genome in CD8 + T cells from a patient with "atypical" hairy cell leukemia: evidence for distinct T and B cell lymphoproliferative disorders
Authors: Rosenblatt JD , Giorgi JV , Golde DW , Ezra JB , Wu A , Winberg CD , Glaspy J , Wachsman W , Chen IS
Published: October 2019

We previously reported isolation of human T-cell leukemia virus II (HTLV-II) from a second patient (N.R.A.) with atypical hairy cell leukemia. Follow-up analysis of the characteristics of the patient's HTLV-II infection over a 2-year period has revealed that the patient had two coexistant lymphoproliferative disorders. Oligoclonally integrated HTLV-II was detected in DNA extracted from the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells on separate occasions greater than 1 year apart, similar to integration of HTLV-I seen in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Although integrated provirus was readily detected, no HTLV-II viral RNA expression was seen in fresh peripheral blood lymphoid cells. Although the patient's peripheral blood consistently contained a majority of atypical lymphoid cells with a T cell antigenic phenotype, he ultimately developed extensive pleural, hepatic and soft tissue infiltration with malignant Tac+, tartrate-resistant, acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) B cells of clonal origin. To further characterize the role of HTLV-II, the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells were fractionated into four enriched subpopulations at autopsy. Oligoclonally integrated HTLV-II was detected in DNA from a T cell-enriched fraction and a CD8+ T cell-enriched fraction, but not in a CD4+ T cell-enriched fraction, a non-T cell fraction, or in B cells obtained from the malignant pleural effusion. We conclude that the patient harbored two distinct lymphoproliferative disorders, a TRAP+, Tac+ B cell malignancy consistent with hairy cell leukemia that did not contain HTLV-II and a Tac-, CD8+ lymphoproliferative syndrome with oligoclonally integrated HTLV-II.
Plasma cell karyotype in multiple myeloma
Authors: Gould J , Alexanian R , Goodacre A , Pathak S , Hecht B , Barlogie B
Published: October 2019

Karyotypic abnormalities were studied in multiple myeloma and were correlated with clinical features. Among 115 evaluable patients, 46% had an abnormal karyotype. Trisomy 3, 5, 9, and 15 and monosomy 13 and 16 were the most common clonal abnormalities. Translocations described previously in other B cell malignancies occurred in nine patients, including four with t(8;14)(q24;q32) translocations. The association of all t(8;14) abnormalities with IgA protein type suggested a pathogenetic relationship between a specific karyotypic abnormality and myeloma protein type. Hypodiploidy occurred mainly in patients with only Bence Jones protein, was associated with resistance to therapy, and justified the early consideration of investigational therapies.
Spectrin Tunis (alpha I/78): a new alpha I variant that causes asymptomatic hereditary elliptocytosis in the heterozygous state
Authors: Morle L , Alloisio N , Ducluzeau MT , Pothier B , Blibech R , Kastally R , Delaunay J
Published: October 2019

Spectrin Tunis (alpha 1/78) was found in the heterozygous state in a young white North-African man and his mother. Both of them presented with mild elliptocytosis. Using one-dimensional electrophoresis, a sharp 78 kd fragment was present with a reciprocal decrease of the alpha I 80 kd domain. Kinetic analysis unambiguously confirmed that the 78 kd fragment developed at the expense of the alpha I 80 domain. The alpha I 74 kd peptide was not flanked with a peptide lacking a 2 kd fragment. From this fact, it could be inferred that the site for additional proteolysis is located upstream from arginyl residue 39 and, more precisely, should lie 10 to 20 amino-acid residues (-2 kd) from the alpha-chain N-terminus. The percentage of spectrin dimers in 4 degrees C extracts was high (over 40%), contrasting with the absence of clinical symptoms related to elliptocytosis. This is the first mutation responsible for elliptocytosis found in Tunisia.
Decreased erythrocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide redox potential and abnormal pyridine nucleotide content in sickle cell disease
Authors: Zerez CR , Lachant NA , Lee SJ , Tanaka KR
Published: October 2019

RBCs from individuals with sickle cell disease are more susceptible to oxidant damage. Because key antioxidant defense reactions are linked to the pyridine nucleotides nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), we tested the hypothesis that the RBC redox potential as manifested by the NADH/[NAD+ + NADH] and NADPH/[NADP+ + NADPH] ratios is decreased in sickle erythrocytes. Our data demonstrate that sickle RBCs have a significant decrease in the NADH/[NAD+ + NADH] ratio compared with normal RBCs (P less than .00005). Interestingly, sickle RBCs also had a significant increase in total NAD content compared with normal RBCs (P less than .00005). In contrast, although sickle RBCs had a significant increase in the total NADP content compared with normal RBCs (P less than .00005), sickle RBCs had no significant alteration in the NADPH/[NADP+ + NADPH] ratio. High reticulocyte controls demonstrated that these changes were not related to cell age. Thus, sickle RBCs have a decrease in NAD redox potential that may be a reflection of their increased oxidant sensitivity. The changes in these pyridine nucleotides may have further metabolic consequences for the sickle erythrocyte.
Protein co-isolated with human tissue factor impairs recovery of activity
Authors: Carson SD , Ross SE , Gramzinski RA
Published: October 2019

Preparations of human tissue factor isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography contain variable amounts of 47,000 mol wt, 55,000 mol wt, and multimeric tissue factor when analyzed without reduction on polyacrylamide gels in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). When analyzed after reduction, the 47,000 mol wt tissue factor apoprotein and a protein of about 12,000 mol wt are observed. Elution of tissue factor from polyacrylamide gel slices, followed by reassociation with lipids, restored proportionately much greater tissue factor activity with the 47,000-mol wt protein than with the 55,000-mol wt form. Cyanogen bromide cleavage at the single tissue factor methionine revealed that the 12,000-mol wt protein is associated with the carboxyl-terminal peptide derived from the 47,000-mol wt protein. These results reveal that association of the 12,000-mol wt protein with the cytoplasmic domain of tissue factor can modulate its activity in vitro.
Fibrinogen Birmingham: a heterozygous dysfibrinogenemia (A alpha 16 Arg- ---His) containing heterodimeric molecules
Authors: Siebenlist KR , Prchal JT , Mosesson MW
Published: October 2019

Fibrinogen was isolated from the plasma of a 25-year-old female with a history of mild bleeding and several recent moderate to severe hemorrhagic episodes. Coagulability with thrombin approached 100% and varied directly with the time of incubation with the enzyme. High- performance liquid chromatography analysis of thrombin-induced fibrinopeptide release demonstrated retarded fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and fibrinopeptide B (FPB) release and the presence of an abnormal A peptide (FPA) amounting to 50% of the total. The same biochemical abnormalities were found in her asymptomatic father. Amino acid analysis and carboxypeptidase digestion of FPA demonstrated the substitution of His for Arg at A alpha 16. In contrast to the thrombin- and reptilase-sensitive Arg-Gly bond in the normal A alpha chain, the abnormal A alpha chain (A alpha) sequence is resistant to reptilase attack but is slowly cleaved by thrombin. To evaluate whether Birmingham A alpha and A alpha chains had been assembled nonselectively into heterodimeric (ie, 50% A alpha, A alpha) and homodimeric (ie, 25% A alpha, A alpha; 25% A alpha, A alpha) species, the clot and the clot liquor resulting from reptilase treatment of normal or Birmingham fibrinogen were separated, and each was then further incubated with thrombin to release remaining fibrinopeptides. Assuming that fibrinogen Birmingham contained heterodimeric molecules and that these and the normal molecules were completely incorporated into a reptilase clot, the expected coagulability would be 75%. In addition, subsequent thrombin treatment of the reptilase clot would release 50% of the total FPA and 75% of the total FPB present in the original sample. On the other hand, if only homodimeric fibrinogen species (50% A alpha, A alpha; 50% A alpha, A alpha) existed, the maximum reptilase coagulability would be 50%, and after thrombin treatment, 50% of the total FPB and no FPA would be recovered from the reptilase clot. We found the propositus's fibrinogen to be 68% coagulable, and we recovered 45% of the FPA and 70% of the FPB from the reptilase clot. Essentially the same coagulability and distribution of fibrinopeptides was found in the reptilase clot from her father's fibrinogen. We therefore conclude that fibrinogen Birmingham contains heterodimeric species (A alpha, A alpha) amounting to approximately 50% of the circulating fibrinogen molecules. The existence of heterodimers is consistent with a nonselective intracellular process of constituent chain assembly of dimeric plasma fibrinogen molecules.
Human granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor and interleukin 3 stimulate monocyte cytotoxicity through a tumor necrosis factor- dependent mechanism
Authors: Cannistra SA , Vellenga E , Groshek P , Rambaldi A , Griffin JD
Published: October 2019

Human colony-stimulating factors (CSF) exert multiple effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and function of myeloid lineage cells. In this study, the effects of three recombinant human CSFs (granulocyte- monocyte CSF [GM-CSF], interleukin 3 [IL-3], and granulocyte CSF [G- CSF]) on antibody-independent monocyte tumoricidal activity were investigated by using WEHI 164 fibrosarcoma cells as monocyte-sensitive targets. None of the CSFs directly induced monocyte cytotoxicity, although both GM-CSF and IL-3 were found to significantly enhance monocyte killing in response to a second stimulatory event (endotoxin). No effect was seen with G-CSF. Antitumor necrosis factor antibody completely abolished CSF-enhanced monocyte cytotoxicity, which suggests that this effect was mediated through increased release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). As previously shown for GM-CSF, IL-3 was found to induce cytoplasmic accumulation of TNF messenger RNA (mRNA) after 18 hours of exposure. These results suggest that GM-CSF and IL-3 may stimulate monocyte killing indirectly by enhancing expression of TNF mRNA, thereby leading to augmented TNF protein secretion in response to a second activation signal.
Production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by primary cultures of unstimulated rat microvascular endothelial cells
Authors: Malone DG , Pierce JH , Falko JP , Metcalfe DD
Published: October 2019

Small vessel (microvascular) endothelial cells are in close contact with hematopoietic progenitor cells in the bone marrow and therefore may have an important role in hematopoiesis. Although other studies have shown that endothelial cells produce various colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), these studies examined large vessel endothelial cells, which are different in many respects from microvascular endothelial cells and which do not contact cells in the bone marrow. We show in this study that primary cultures of unstimulated rat fat capillary endothelial cells grown in serum-free medium produce a substantial amount of granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF). The medium conditioned by these cells stimulated proliferation of two different lines of GM- CSF-responsive cells--PT-18 mast cells and FDC-P1 cells--and supported the growth of cells of the granulocyte and macrophage lines in cultures of rat bone marrow cells. The factor responsible for this activity had physical properties consistent with those of GM-CSF, namely, a similar apparent mol wt by gel filtration, resistance to repeated freeze-thaws, resistance to boiling for ten minutes but not for 30 minutes, and resistance to heating to 56 degrees C for one hour. The factor causing target cell stimulation was not B cell-stimulating factor-1 (BSF-1, or IL 4), since it failed to stimulate a BSF-1-responsive cell line HT2- JH, and target cells (PT-18) did not respond appreciably to recombinant BSF-1. Northern blot analysis of mRNA from rat fat capillary endothelial cells showed high levels of expression of GM-CSF, confirming that this factor is produced by microvascular endothelial cells. This is the first report of CSF production by unstimulated microvascular endothelial cells, demonstrating that these ubiquitous cells are capable of producing sizable amounts of at least one growth factor for hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Long-range mapping of the Philadelphia chromosome by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis
Authors: Westbrook CA , Rubin CM , Carrino JJ , Le Beau MM , Bernards A , Rowley JD
Published: October 2019

The Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) contains sequences from chromosome 9, including the ABL protooncogene, that have been translocated to the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) of chromosome 22, giving rise to a bcr-ABL fusion gene, whose product has been implicated in the genesis of CML. Although chromosome 22 translocation breakpoints in CML virtually always occur within the 5.8- kilobase (kb) bcr, chromosome 9 breakpoints have been identified within the known limits of ABL in only a few instances. For a better understanding of the variability of the breakpoints on chromosome 9, we studied the CML cell line BV173. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), large-scale maps of the t(9;22) junctions were constructed. The chromosome 9 breakpoint was shown to have occurred within an ABL intron, 160 kb upstream of the v-abl homologous sequences, but still 35 kb downstream of the 5′-most ABL exon. bcr-ABL and ABL-bcr fusion genes were demonstrated on the Ph1 and the 9q+ chromosomes, respectively; both of these genes are expressed. These results suggest that the 9;22 translocation breakpoints in CML consistently occur within the limits of the large ABL gene. RNA splicing, sometimes of very large regions, appears to compensate for the variability in breakpoint location. These studies show that PFGE is a powerful new tool for the analysis of chromosomal translocations in human malignancies.
Randomized study of 13-cis retinoic acid v placebo in the myelodysplastic disorders
Authors: Koeffler HP , Heitjan D , Mertelsmann R , Kolitz JE , Schulman P , Itri L , Gunter P , Besa E
Published: October 2019

A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of 13-cis retinoic acid was performed to determine if the drug has a therapeutic effect in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Sixty-eight evaluable patients with MDS were randomized to receive a single, daily oral dose of either 13-cis retinoic acid (13-CRA, 100 mg/m2) or matching placebo. Treatment was continued, when possible, for a period of 6 months. Determination of response to treatment was based on clinical course, repeat bone marrow biopsies, and aspirates and blood counts (CBC) with WBC differential, platelet, and reticulocyte numbers at specified intervals. No significant difference was noted between the two treatment groups in response to test drug (P = .66). One patient (3%) in the 13-CRA group and two patients (6%) in the placebo group had a minor response. Approximately 30% of patients in both groups had progression of their disease, and progression-free survival was nearly identical. Greater than 90% of the patients receiving 13-CRA developed mild or moderate skin toxicity that was reversible with decreasing or discontinuing the drug. Our study did not find that 13-CRA exerts a beneficial therapeutic effect in patients with MDS.
Gene transfer into hematopoietic progenitor cells from normal and cyclic hematopoietic dogs using retroviral vectors
Authors: Eglitis MA , Kantoff PW , Jolly JD , Jones JB , Anderson WF , Lothrop CD Jr
Published: October 2019

The Moloney murine leukemia retrovirus-derived vector N2 was used to transfer the bacterial NeoR gene (conferring resistance to the neomycin analogue G418) into hematopoietic progenitor cells. Approximately 5% of day seven CFU-GM were resistant to 2,000 micrograms/ml G418, using a supernatant infection protocol in the absence of vector-producing cells. A greater proportion of CFU-GM colonies were recovered relative to uninfected controls as the stringency of selection was diminished. Enzyme activity was detected in drug-resistant colonies, confirming that the resistant colonies obtained after infection with N2 represented cells producing neomycin phosphotransferase. Activity in the CFU-GM colonies approached 50% of that of drug-resistant vector- producing cells on a per cell basis. To test the hypothesis that more rapidly cycling bone marrow cells would be more susceptible to vector infection, we treated progenitor cells obtained from cyclic hematopoietic (CH) dogs with the N2 vector. Despite the increased numbers of hematopoietic progenitor cells obtained from CH dogs, the proportion of G418-resistant CFU-GM did not increase over that obtained with N2-infected normal marrow. These results demonstrate that retroviral vectors can be used to transfer and express exogenous genes in canine hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Fractionation of subsets of BFU-E from normal human bone marrow: responsiveness to erythropoietin, human placental-conditioned medium, or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
Authors: Kannourakis G , Johnson GR
Published: October 2019

Normal human bone marrow mononuclear cells were fractionated by differential adherence, immunomagnetic separation, and fluorescence- activated cell sorting (FACS). The resultant fractionated cells were cultured in semisolid medium to monitor the presence of BFU-E, Mix-CFC, and nonerythroid CFC. Two populations of cells were recovered on the basis of binding by the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) RFB-1. One of these populations contained BFU-E that were stimulated only by erythropoietin (Epo), whereas the second population contained BFU-E responsive to Epo, Epo and recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rHGM-CSF), or Epo and human placental-conditioned medium (HPCM). Prior enrichment of clonogenic cells by removal of adherent and Leu-M3+ve, Leu-4+ve, Leu-7+ve, B1+ve, WEMG1+ve, and Glycophorin A+ve cells, followed by FACS fractionation on the basis of RFB-1 binding, consistently resulted in recoveries of BFU-E, Mix-CFC, and nonerythroid CFC of greater than 100% (up to 800%). These procedures also resulted in enrichment of up to 200-fold and frequencies of 1:6 for BFU-E, 1:5 for CFC, and 1:130 for Mix-CFC.
A single-base change at position -175 in the 5'-flanking region of the G gamma-globin gene from a black with G gamma-beta+ HPFH
Authors: Surrey S , Delgrosso K , Malladi P , Schwartz E
Published: October 2019

Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) is a human hemoglobinopathy characterized by the continued expression of fetal globins during adult life. Both deletional and nondeletional forms have been described. A number of single-base changes in the immediate 5′- flanking region of the fetal G gamma and A gamma have been reported associated with nondeletional forms of HPFH. We now present the nucleotide sequence of a G gamma-globin gene from an American black with G gamma-beta + HPFH. The immediate 5′-flanking region of this G gamma gene has a T-to-C change at -175, C at -158, and a normal C at - 202. Additional changes were found in IVS2 and in the immediate 3′- flanking region, some of which may represent gene-conversion events. The sequence change at -175 probably represents a second mutation associated with the G gamma-beta + HPFH phenotype in blacks. This base change alters an octamer sequence known to be of importance in the normal expression of several other genes.
Sardinian G gamma-HPFH: a T----C substitution in a conserved "octamer" sequence in the G gamma-globin promoter
Authors: Ottolenghi S , Nicolis S , Taramelli R , Malgaretti N , Mantovani R , Comi P , Giglioni B , Longinotti M , Dore F , Oggiano L
Published: October 2019

A survey of hemoglobinopathies in Northern Sardinia allowed the identification of two subjects heterozygous for a new type of G gamma hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). The G gamma-globin gene from the HPFH chromosome shows the presence of a T----C substitution 175 nucleotides upstream of the CAP site, adding a new example of single-point mutations occurring in the promoter region of the gamma-globin genes and linked to HPFH phenotypes. In this case the mutation affects the 3′ end nucleotide of a conserved octamer sequence known to be present in other regulatory elements of several genes.
Defective T cell-mediated, isotype-specific immunoglobulin regulation in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Moore JS , Prystowsky MB , Hoover RG , Besa EC , Nowell PC
Published: October 2019

The consistent occurrence of T cell abnormalities in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) suggest that the non- neoplastic host T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of this B cell neoplasm. Because potential defects of immunoglobulin regulation are evident in B-CLL patients, we investigated one aspect of this by studying the T cell-mediated immunoglobulin isotype-specific immunoregulatory circuit in B-CLL. The existence of class-specific immunoglobulin regulatory mechanisms mediated by Fc receptor-bearing T cells (FcR + T) through soluble immunoglobulin binding factors (IgBFs) has been well established in many experimental systems. IgBFs can both suppress and enhance B cell activity in an isotype-specific manner. We investigated the apparently abnormal IgA regulation in a B-CLL patient (CLL249) whose B cells secrete primarily IgA in vitro. Enumeration of FcR + T cells showed a disproportionate increase in IgA FcR + T cells in the peripheral blood of this patient. Our studies showed that the neoplastic B cells were not intrinsically unresponsive to the suppressing component of IgABF produced from normal T cells, but rather the IgABF produced by the CLL249 host T cells was defective. CLL249 IgABF was unable to suppress IgA secretion by host or normal B cells and enhanced the in vitro proliferation of the host B cells. Size fractionation of both normal and CLL249 IgABF by gel-filtration high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated differences in the ultraviolet-absorbing components of IgABF obtained from normal T cells v that from our patient with defective IgA regulation. Such T cell dysfunction may not be restricted to IgA regulation, since we have found similar expansion of isotype-specific FcR + T cells associated with expansion of the corresponding B cell clone in other patients with B-CLL. These data suggest that this T cell-mediated regulatory circuit could be significantly involved in the pathogenesis of B-CLL.
Antigenic phenotype and functional characterization of human tonsil B cells
Authors: Gadol N , Peacock MA , Ault KA
Published: October 2019

Human tonsil cells were labeled with anti-leu-16, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that recognizes the CD20 antigen and that is specific for B cells. Two populations of B cells were identified by flow cytometry on the basis of antigen density. One labeled brightly with anti-Leu-16, and the other labeled at a level comparable to blood B cells. These two populations were characterized with a panel of MoAbs in two- and three- color flow cytometric studies and appeared to correspond to germinal- center and mantle-zone B cells. The pattern of staining of anti-Leu-16 on sections of frozen tonsil supported this characterization. Anti-Leu- 16 labeled germinal center cells more intensely than mantle zone cells and stained a few scattered B cells in the interfollicular zone. The ability of each Leu-16+ population to secrete IgG and IgM in response to mitogens was measured in a particle immunofluorescence assay. Dim Leu-16+ B cells (small, resting B cells and a subpopulation of preactivated cells) secreted IgG and IgM in response to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) but only IgG in response to B cell growth factor (BCGF). Bright Leu-16+ B cells (small to large activated cells and possibly memory cells) did not respond to PWM but secreted IgG in response to BCGF. The functional responses of dim Leu-16+ and bright Leu-16+ B cells were consistent with their identification as mantle-zone and germinal-center B cells. Phenotypic identification and functional studies of mantle-zone and germinal-center B cells may help clarify the differentiation pathway within the germinal center.
Immunohistochemical characterization of two new monoclonal antibodies (LN-4, LN-5) reactive with human macrophage subsets and derived malignancies in B5-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues
Authors: Bhoopat L , Turner RR , Stathopoulos E , Meyer PR , Taylor CR , Marder RJ , Epstein AL
Published: October 2019

Two monoclonal antibodies (LN-4, LN-5) reactive to human macrophages in B5 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections have been produced by using deparaffinized cell extracts of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Both monoclonal antibodies were initially identified on paraffin- embedded sections of hyperplastic lymph nodes by using the immunoperoxidase staining procedure. Specificity screens on normal human tissues show that LN-4 and LN-5 stain the cytoplasm of macrophages and histiocytes in hematopoietic organs including Kupffer's cells of the liver and Langerhans' cells of the skin. LN-4 also showed strong positivity with acini of the stomach, whereas LN-5 was positive with mantle zone B lymphocytes of the lymph node and spleen, spermatogonia, and chief cells of the stomach. Both antibodies were strongly reactive with cases of true histiocytic lymphoma but, except for infiltrating macrophages, were entirely negative in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In all cases of nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's disease, LN-4 was positive in macrophagelike cells present in the collagen bands surrounding the Hodgkin's lesions. Both monoclonal antibodies were also positive in macrophages and histiocytes present in a variety of benign lymphoid lesions including persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, Gaucher's disease, sinus histiocytosis, and dermatopathic lymphadenopathy. Because of their specificity for human macrophages, and their ability to stain B5-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, LN-4 and LN-5 are important new reagents for the diagnosis and classification of malignant and benign histiocytic lesions.