bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production of interleukin-1 by bone marrow myeloma cells
Authors: Cozzolino F , Torcia M , Aldinucci D , Rubartelli A , Miliani A , Shaw AR , Lansdorp PM , Di Guglielmo R
Published: October 2019

Plasma cells isolated from bone marrow (BM) aspirates of 12 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and nine patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) were analyzed for production of cytokines with bone-resorbing activity, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and lymphotoxin (LT). Culture supernatants of plasma cells from MM, but not from MGUS or normal donor, invariably contained high amounts of IL-1-beta and lower amounts of IL-1-alpha. With a single exception, TNF/LT biologic activity was not detected in the same supernatants. IL-6 was present in two of five supernatants tested. Normal B lymphocytes released both IL-1 and TNF/LT activities for four days after activation in vitro; however, production of these cytokines ceased at the final stage of plasma cell. Unexpectedly, the mRNA extracted from MM plasma cell hybridized with TNF- and LT- specific, as well as IL-1-specific probes, although the culture supernatants did not contain detectable TNF/LT biologic activity. When tested in the fetal rat long bone assay, MM plasma cell supernatants displayed a strong osteoclast-activating factor (OAF) activity, which was greatly reduced but not completely abolished by neutralizing anti- IL-1 antibodies. Anti-TNF or anti-LT antibodies were ineffective in the same test. We conclude that the IL-1 released in vivo by malignant plasma cells has a major role in pathogenesis of lytic bone lesions of human MM.
Two regression models and a scoring system for predicting survival and planning treatment in myelodysplastic syndromes: a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in 370 patients
Authors: Sanz GF , Sanz MA , Vallespi T , Canizo MC , Torrabadella M , Garcia S , Irriguible D , San Miguel JF
Published: October 2019

Therapy planning in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) is complicated by its high prognostic heterogeneity. Forty-one patient and disease characteristics at onset of 370 patients with MDS were analyzed to identify significant prognostic factors for survival and transformation to acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), and to develop and validate a regression model for predicting survival. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the total bone marrow percentage of blast cells, age, platelet count, WBC count, and hemoglobin level were the characteristics more significantly associated with survival in the overall series. The bone marrow percentage of type I blast cells was the most important factor predicting transformation into AML. Proportional hazards regression analysis in a randomly selected training sample of 240 patients demonstrated that the combination of total bone marrow percentage of blast cells, platelet count, and age had the strongest predictive relation to survival length. The resulting regression models, continuous and categorized, were validated in the remaining test sample of 130 patients by demonstrating its capability of segregating patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, with distinctively different survival curves (P less than .0001). A scoring system derived from the categorized model also had a great prognostic value (P less than .0001). These regression models and the simpler scoring system may be accurately used for decision-making regarding therapy in MDS patients.
Erythrocyte adenosine deaminase overproduction in hereditary hemolytic anemia
Authors: Chottiner EG , Ginsburg D , Tartaglia AP , Mitchell BS
Published: October 2019

A marked tissue-specific increase in erythrocyte adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity is associated with an autosomal dominantly inherited hemolytic anemia. We investigated the molecular basis of ADA overproduction by studying reticulocyte ADA mRNA from affected individuals. Analysis of proband reticulocyte ADA cDNA clones revealed normal sequence. RNase mapping demonstrated that the amount of ADA mRNA in affected reticulocytes was greater than the amount in normal B lymphoblasts, whereas ADA mRNA was undetectable in normal reticulocytes. The 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions of reticulocyte and B-lymphoblast ADA mRNAs from affected individuals were structurally indistinguishable from those of normal B lymphoblasts. Northern blot analysis performed under stringent hybridization and washing conditions confirmed a markedly increased amount of reticulocyte ADA mRNA in affected individuals as compared with controls. We conclude that the RBC-specific overexpression of ADA in this disorder occurs at the mRNA level.
Sodium butyrate enhances fetal globin gene expression in erythroid progenitors of patients with Hb SS and beta thalassemia
Authors: Perrine SP , Miller BA , Faller DV , Cohen RA , Vichinsky EP , Hurst D , Lubin BH , Papayannopoulou T
Published: October 2019

Increasing the expression of the gamma globin genes is considered a useful therapeutic approach to the beta globin diseases. Because butyrate and alpha-amino-n-butyric acid (ABA) augment gamma globin expression in normal neonatal and adult erythroid progenitors, we investigated the effects of sodium butyrate and ABA on erythroid progenitors of patients with beta thalassemia and sickle cell anemia who might benefit from such an effect. Both substances increased fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) expression in Bfu-e from 7% to 30% above levels found in control cultures from the same subjects with sickle cell anemia. The fraction of cultured erythroblasts producing Hb F increased more than 20% with sodium butyrate treatment in 70% of cultures. In most cultures, this produced greater than 20% total Hb F and greater than 70% F cells, levels which have been considered beneficial in ameliorating clinical symptoms. Alpha: non-alpha (alpha-non-alpha) imbalance was decreased by 36% in erythroid progenitors of patients with beta thalassemia cultured in the presence of butyrate compared with control cultures from the same subjects. These data suggest that sodium butyrate may have therapeutic potential for increasing gamma globin expression in the beta globin diseases.
A splicing defect in the mouse transferrin gene leads to congenital atransferrinemia
Authors: Huggenvik JI , Craven CM , Idzerda RL , Bernstein S , Kaplan J , McKnight GS
Published: October 2019

We have analyzed the biochemical defect in a mutant line of mice that produces less than 1% of the normal level of serum transferrin. This mouse line (Hp) transcribes the transferrin gene in liver at the same rate observed in normal mice, but the steady state levels of transferrin mRNA sequences are less than 20% of normal. Further hybridization studies reveal that most of the transferrin mRNA sequences present in homozygous Hp mouse liver are in the form of a 5 kb nuclear precursor instead of the mature 2.5 kb transferrin mRNA seen in normal mice. Using several different exon and intron probes from the mouse transferrin gene, we have shown that the 5 kb RNA precursor retains the last two introns of the transferrin gene but that the 5′ and middle introns have been removed by processing. The defect in transferrin mRNA processing also extends to nonhepatic tissues and we find the same lack of mature mRNA and increased precursor accumulation in brain RNA. Since Southern blot analysis does not reveal gross changes in the structure of the transferrin gene in Hp mice, we suggest that the Hp defect is due to a small deletion or point mutation that either disrupts splicing signals or uncovers cryptic splice signals that interfere with processing of the last two introns in the transferrin gene. This Hp mouse line provides an opportunity to study the effects of transferrin deficiency on development and iron homeostasis.
Acid pH induces formation of dense cells in sickle erythrocytes
Authors: Brugnara C , Van Ha T , Tosteson DC
Published: October 2019

When erythrocytes from patients homozygous for hemoglobin S (SS) are swollen or exposed to pH less than 7.40, they lose K, Cl, and water through a volume and pH-dependent KCl cotransport system. We report that carbon monoxide-treated SS cells become progressively denser when incubated for eight to 12 hours in media with pH less than 7.40 (7.3 to 7.0) at constant cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG). This phenomenon is maximal in fresh SS cells from the top and middle density fractions, and is absent in cells from the densest fraction. When AA cells are separated according to density, acid pH induces cell shrinkage in the least dense fraction of AA cells, which has considerable KCl cotransport, but produces no change in cell density in the densest fractions of AA erythrocyte, which have no KCl cotransport. These data suggest that dense cells can form in oxygenated SS erythrocytes when the KCl cotransport system is activated by acidification.
Efficacy of ex vivo purging for autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Rowley SD , Jones RJ , Piantadosi S , Braine HG , Colvin OM , Davis J , Saral R , Sharkis S , Wingard J , Yeager AM
Published: October 2019

We used an in vitro measure of drug activity to predict the efficacy of ex vivo purging of leukemic cells from autologous bone marrow grafts. We previously found that the myeloid progenitor cell (CFU-GM) content of the marrow grafts after ex vivo purging with 4- hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) correlates with time to hematologic recovery after autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. We observed that variable red blood cell concentration of the bone marrow incubation mixture results in differential cytotoxic activity of 4-HC. The CFU-GM content of the graft after the ex vivo treatment is a measure of this 4-HC activity. We analyzed the disease-free survival of 45 patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation with 4-HC purged grafts. Patients who relapsed after transplantation had 4.2 +/- 1.1% of graft CFU-GM surviving the ex vivo purge, compared with 1.1 +/- 0.4% for patients who achieved a sustained remission (P = .06). Twenty-three patients with a CFU-GM content after 4-HC purging of greater than 1% of the pretreatment value had an actuarial disease-free survival of 12%, compared to 36% for 22 patients with a less than or equal to 1% CFU-GM content after purging (P = .006). Therefore, percent CFU-GM survival as a measure of 4-HC cytotoxicity identified a group of patients with insufficient purging. Although no randomized clinical trials have documented the need for ex vivo purging, our results suggest that effective bone marrow purging is important for the optimal application of autologous transplantation in the treatment of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia.
Risk classification as the basis for clinical staging of diffuse large- cell lymphoma derived from 10-year survival data
Authors: Velasquez WS , Jagannath S , Tucker SL , Fuller LM , North LB , Redman JR , Swan F , Hagemeister FB , McLaughlin P , Cabanillas F
Published: October 2019

Two hundred and fifty previously untreated adult patients with diffuse large-cell lymphomas were treated with a chemotherapy combination of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, prednisone, and low-dose bleomycin (CHOP-Bleo) with or without radiotherapy between 1974 and 1984. The 10-year survival rates for patients with Ann Arbor stages II, III, or IV disease of 55%, 42%, and 40%, respectively, were not significantly different. However, the survival rate of 76% for patients with stage I disease was clearly better. Factors more indicative of prognosis than stage, as found by univariant analysis, were tumor burden, serum lactic dehydrogenase level (LDH), age, and constitutional symptoms. From these, a multivariant analysis selected tumor burden, LDH level, and age as major independent factors for predicting survival (P less than .001). A prognostic risk model constructed on the basis of tumor burden and LDH levels identified four distinct risk groups (A, B, C, D) with 10-year survival rates of 85%, 66%, and 43% for A, B, and C. No patient in group D survived 10 years. These risk groups also had a strong correlation with complete remission rates and with relapse rates. Thus this model proved more effective for identifying patient populations according to their expected responses, durations of remission, and survivals than the Ann Arbor staging system. Detailed information supporting the use of this system for predicting prognosis and for treatment selection for patients with diffuse large-cell lymphomas is provided.
Release of soluble transferrin receptor from the surface of human leukemic HL60 cells
Authors: Chitambar CR , Zivkovic Z
Published: October 2019

Information regarding transferrin (Tf) receptor degradation is largely incomplete. HL60 cells were shown to release to their growth medium a Tf-binding protein which could be immunoprecipitated by anti-Tf receptor monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) B3/25 and OKT9. Soluble Tf receptor was detected in the medium within one hour of replating of cells, and its release was inhibited at 4 degrees C. The affinity of Tf for the soluble receptor released by cells (kd = 2.3 x 10(-10) mol/L) was slightly lower than its affinity for the detergent-solubilized cellular receptor (kd = 1.2 x 10(-10) mol/L). 125I-Tf internalized and released by cells subsequently bound to Tf receptor released by the same cells, and soluble Tf receptor in the conditioned medium (CM) inhibited 125I-Tf binding to intact cells. The soluble Tf receptor isolated from the CM was smaller (78,000 daltons) than the cell surface receptor (94,000 daltons) when analyzed by gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Isolated cell membranes readily released soluble receptor; however, this release could be blocked by protease inhibitors. The soluble Tf receptor may represent the extracytoplasmic domain of the cellular Tf receptor released from the surface of HL60 cells through proteolytic cleavage by a membrane-based protease.
Cleavage of human von Willebrand factor by porcine pancreatic elastase
Authors: Howard MA , Greco T , Coghlan M
Published: October 2019

von Willebrand factor (vWF) was purified from pooled normal plasma, radiolabeled with iodine then cleaved by porcine pancreatic elastase. Cleavage was monitored by sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), SDS-agarose electrophoresis, crossed immuno- electrophoresis, ristocetin and botrocetin cofactor activities, and ristocetin and botrocetin induced binding to fixed washed platelets. Cleavage of vWF by porcine elastase was dependent on both the concentration of porcine elastase and period of incubation. Incubation of vWF with concentrations of porcine elastase greater than 20 U/mL for 30 minutes resulted in loss of the 240 Kd vWF subunit and a corresponding loss of the high molecular weight multimers and formation of fragments with molecular weights on reduced SDS-PAGE of 150, 125, 115 Kd and minor bands at 44, 28, and 24 Kd and a band at 20 Kd, which increased in intensity as either the concentration of porcine elastase or the period of incubation increased. More than 50% of the ristocetin cofactor activity was lost during a five-minute incubation of vWF with 0.56 U/mL porcine elastase when no detectable structural changes in the vWF molecule had occurred. Botrocetin cofactor activity was more resistant. Similarly botrocetin induced vWF binding to platelets was retained by a fraction produced by digestion of vWF with porcine elastase, which contained predominantly a 20 Kd fragment of vWF. This fragment retained insignificant amounts of ristocetin related functions and therefore represents a useful piece of the vWF molecule for further exploration of the site involved in botrocetin induced binding to platelets.
Effects of an antiplatelet glycoprotein Ib antibody on hemostatic function in the guinea pig
Authors: Becker BH , Miller JL
Published: October 2019

Previous studies in the guinea pig model system have established a close structural homology between human and guinea pig glycoproteins Ib (GPIb) and IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa). Moreover, the murine monoclonal antibody (MoAb) PG-1, which recognizes GPIb in guinea pig platelets and megakaryocytes, exerted full inhibition on von Willebrand factor (vWF)- dependent platelet agglutination without inhibiting aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, or thrombin. The present research extends this animal model system to study of the effects on hemostatic function following the in vivo injection of MoAb PG-1 or its F(ab')2 fragments. A hind limb template bleeding time methodology was developed for use in guinea pigs. Normal bleeding time was determined to be 2.7 +/- 0.5 minutes (mean +/- SD), with an observed range of two to four minutes. Platelet counts in these same animals were 501 +/- 82 x 10(3)/microL. After intraperitoneal (IP) injection of busulfan, guinea pigs became increasingly thrombocytopenic. As long as the platelet count remained above approximately 150 x 10(3)/microL, the bleeding time was not more than five minutes; however, further decrease in the platelet count was accompanied by more marked prolongations of the bleeding time. For 14 to 72 hours after IP injection of 1.3 mg/kg intact PG-1 MoAb, a hemorrhagic state was produced with a bleeding time greater than 20 minutes. The platelet count concurrently decreased to approximately 50% of its baseline value but could not be further decreased either by raising the initial PG-1 dosage tenfold or by administering a second, equal dose 24 hours after the initial injection. This finding may reflect a heterogeneity of circulating platelets with respect to GPIb, to Fc receptors, or to an interaction between them. After IP injection of 0.63 to 2.5 mg/kg PG-1 F(ab')2 fragment, platelet counts did not decrease more than 21% below baseline levels in a 72-hour period, and bleeding times never increased by more than one minute over baseline values. Nevertheless, platelets obtained from animals 24 hours after injection of 2.5 mg/kg PG-1 F(ab')2 showed full inhibition of agglutination induced by ristocetin. The response of these platelets to aggregation by asialo-vWF was also severely inhibited as compared with control platelets. PG-1 F(ab')2 produced no effect on aggregation induced by ADP. These studies show that virtually complete functional block of the vWF receptor by F(ab')2 fragments of the anti-GPIb MoAb PG- 1 is not sufficient to produce a hemorrhagic state in the guinea pig animal model system.
Monoclonal antibody to human high-molecular-weight kininogen recognizes its prekallikrein binding site and inhibits its coagulant activity
Authors: Reddigari SR , Kaplan AP
Published: October 2019

We developed a mouse monoclonal antibody (MoAb 115–21) to human high- molecular-weight kininogen (HK) that recognizes its prekallikrein binding site (residues 565 through 595 of HK). The corresponding synthesized 31-amino acid peptide (peptide IV) was recently shown to retain native HK's prekallikrein binding property. The same peptide bound factor XI also, although less avidly. Our MoAb recognizes purified HK, peptide IV, and the light chain moiety of HK (where the peptide IV resides), as shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting experiments. The apparent dissociation constant for the HK and MoAb 115–21 interaction was 2.2 nmol/L. It does not recognize low-molecular-weight kininogen (LK) with which HK shares its heavy chain moiety or any antigens in human plasma congenitally deficient in kininogens. The binding of MoAb 115–21 to purified light chain of HK was competitively inhibited by peptide IV. In addition, the antibody inhibits HK-dependent clotting activity of normal human plasma and dextran sulfate-mediated activation of prekallikrein in plasma and retards cleavage of HK in normal plasma after contact activation with dextran sulfate. Also, purified Fab fragments of MoAb 115–21 inhibited the HK-dependent coagulant activity and dextran sulfate-mediated prekallikrein activation in normal plasma. Since the kd for HK-MoAb 115– 21 interaction is ten times lower than that of HK-prekallikrein, our data suggest that binding of MoAb 115–21 to HK's peptide IV site increases the free prekallikrein concentration in plasma and thus results in the decreased efficiency of factor XIIa-mediated activation of prekallikrein. Decreased levels of kallikrein thus formed may be responsible for the inhibition of HK-dependent clotting activity and the decrease in rate and extent of HK cleavage in normal plasma on contact activation with dextran sulfate. MoAb 115–21 may thus prove very useful, especially with its high affinity for HK, in further delineation of the role of HK and prekallikrein in contact activation and kinin-related human pathology.
Flow cytometric analysis of the Hermes homing-associated antigen on human lymphocyte subsets
Authors: de los Toyos J , Jalkanen S , Butcher EC
Published: October 2019

The homing of lymphocytes is controlled by interactions with high endothelial venules (HEV), specialized vessels that define sites of lymphocyte extravasation into lymph nodes and inflamed tissues. In humans, lymphocyte-HEV binding involves a lymphocyte surface glycoprotein (GP) of 85 to 95 kd (CD44, H-CAM), defined by monoclonal antibody (MoAb) Hermes-1. To define the expression of this homing- associated adhesion molecule during human lymphocyte development, we performed two-color immunofluorescence analyses of human bone marrow (BM), thymus, peripheral blood (PB), and tonsillar lymphocytes. The highest levels of Hermes-1 antigen are displayed by circulating B and T cells in the blood, which are uniformly positive and bear roughly twice the level of antigen present on mature lymphocytes within organized lymphoid tissues and BM. “Immature” (CD4+, CD8+) T cells in the thymus are Hermes-1lo to-, whereas thymocytes of mature phenotype (CD4+ or CD8+) are positive. The Hermes-1 antigen is present at high levels on the same population of thymocytes that bears high surface levels of CD3, a component of the T-cell antigen receptor complex, suggesting that levels of T-cell homing and antigen receptors characteristic of mature peripheral T cells appear coordinately during thymocyte maturation/selection. Essentially all T cells in the periphery are Hermes-1hi, including T blasts, and the homing-associated antigen is maintained at high levels on T cells stimulated in vitro by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and on interleukin-2 (IL-2) maintained T-cell clones and lines. In contrast, although most resting IgD+ B cells are positive a significant fraction of B cells in tonsils are Hermes-1lo to- ; these cells are predominantly PNAhi, IgD-, and CD20hi, a phenotype characteristic of sessile, activated B cells in germinal centers. In all lymphocyte populations examined, there is a linear correlation in staining for Hermes-1 and for Hermes-3, an antibody that defines a distinct functionally important epitope on this molecule. The results demonstrate a precise regulation of this homing-associated antigen during lymphocyte differentiation.
Adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia: a benign cell population with potent cytotoxic activity
Authors: Verfaillie C , Miller W , Kay N , McGlave P
Published: October 2019

We generated a homogeneous population of cells with cytotoxic activity termed “adherent lymphokine-activated killer” (ALAK) cells from the peripheral blood of nine patients in the chronic phase of Ph1 positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The selective enrichment of CML ALAK cells depended on their propensity to adhere to plastic and proliferate when cultured in the presence of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) for 14 days. Culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells under these conditions resulted in growth of a uniform population of cells with morphologic characteristics of large granular lymphocytes. The NKH1+/CD3- phenotype associated with IL-2-stimulated natural killer (NK) cells was present on 79% +/- 9% of cells. Absence of colony formation in conditions promoting the growth of CFU-GEMM indicated that the CML ALAK population was not contaminated with viable hematopoietic progenitors. Cytogenetic analysis of the CML ALAK population revealed 119/120 Ph1 negative metaphases and l/120 Ph1 positive metaphase in six patients. Southern blot analysis of CML ALAK failed to demonstrate a bcr gene rearrangement in seven patients known to have a bcr gene rearrangement in myeloid cells. Comparison of ALAK populations derived from peripheral blood of CML patients and normals revealed similar cytotoxicity against the NK-sensitive K562 cell line (104 +/- 36 LU v 88 +/- 19 LU; P = NS) and the NK-resistant Raji cell line (93 +/- 26 LU v 98 +/- 28 LU; P = NS). The proliferative capacity of CML ALAK cells (101 +/- 33 fold expansion) exceeds the growth potential of the normal ALAK cells (22.3 +/- 3 fold expansion; P = .02). Direct comparison of equal numbers of CML ALAK cells and a CML LAK cell population produced by incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in rIL-2 for 14 days without adherence revealed that the CML LAK population had significantly lower lytic activity against K562 and Raji cell lines. We are able to expand CML peripheral blood mononuclear cells to provide a population of ALAK cells with potent cytotoxic activity. The CML ALAK population is relatively homogeneous, not contaminated with viable stem cells, not derived from a malignant lineage, and more cytotoxic than equal numbers of CML LAK cells. Further studies are underway to determine if this ALAK population may be effective in autologous killing of chronic myelogenous leukemia stem cells.
A possible autocrine role for interleukin-6 in two lymphoma cell lines
Authors: Yee C , Biondi A , Wang XH , Iscove NN , de Sousa J , Aarden LA , Wong GG , Clark SC , Messner HA , Minden MD
Published: October 2019

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a growth factor with diverse biologic activity. Originally described as a T-cell product that enhances immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion in antigen-stimulated B cells, it also affects the growth of T cells, plasmacytomas, hybridomas, and hematopoietic stem cells. We report the expression and secretion of IL-6 by two lymphoma cell lines, OCI-LY3 and OCI-LY12. Addition of recombinant IL-6 stimulated their growth, whereas addition of polyclonal anti- recombinant IL-6 (anti-rIL-6) had a marked inhibitory effect on proliferation. These results suggest an autocrine role for IL-6 in the growth of these lymphoma cells in culture.
Molecular genetic analysis of a hybrid gene encoding Sta glycophorin of the human erythrocyte membrane
Authors: Huang CH , Guizzo ML , Kikuchi M , Blumenfeld OO
Published: October 2019

Sta is an antigen of the human MNSs blood group system carried by a variant glycophorin residing in the erythrocyte membrane. We examined the structure, organization, and inheritance of Sta gene identified in genomic DNA from an Oriental family. Southern blotting detected a useful genetic marker tightly linked to the Sta gene. Differential hybridization and secondary restriction analyses showed that Sta gene is a fusion hybrid of delta and alpha glycophorin genes. Genomic mapping by extensive use of synthetic oligonucleotides, with overlapping sequence specificity, allowed us to define the delta-alpha junction site and disclose the organization of the variant gene. The junction point of Sta hybrid gene is encompassed by an unexpressed exonlike sequence of the delta gene at the 5′ site, and an expressed sequence of the alpha gene spanning codons 59 through 71, at the 3′ site. Dosage quantification demonstrated the occurrence of Sta gene as a single copy in the genome. Blood group inheritance, evaluated by DNA typing, established the tight linkage of Sta to the alpha M and delta S genes. The data support a single unequal crossing-over event between misaligned delta and alpha genes on the homologous chromosomes as the mechanism for the origin of Sta gene. The Sta gene is similar in overall structure to another delta-alpha hybrid gene, Dantu, but differs from it in junction structure, copy number, gene linkage, and antigen specificity.
Detection of Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells by the polymerase chain reaction following bone marrow transplant for chronic myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Roth MS , Antin JH , Bingham EL , Ginsburg D
Published: October 2019

Sixteen patients treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) were evaluated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for bcr/abl-specific RNA transcripts at various time points after BMT. In reconstitution experiments, one CML cell per million normal mononuclear cells could be detected by direct agarose gel visualization of a bcr/abl-specific band following PCR. Bcr/abl message was found in ten out of 16 patients post-BMT. PCR- positive bcr/abl was present only transiently in three patients and correlated with relapse in three. One patient died in clinical remission, while two patients remain in remission despite persistence of bcr/abl-positive abl-positive cells at 180 days. Long-term follow-up of bcr/abl-positive patients in clinical remission may provide insight into the fate or residual Ph+ cells after BMT. This approach may aid in the identification of high-risk patients likely to relapse post-BMT.
In situ-generated thrombin is the only enzyme that effectively activates factor VIII and factor V in thromboplastin-activated plasma
Authors: Pieters J , Lindhout T , Hemker HC
Published: October 2019

We investigated the activation of the nonenzymatic protein cofactors factor VIII and factor V in plasma when coagulation was initiated by thromboplastin. With sensitive bioassays, we were able to measure specifically the generation of activated factor VIII and activated factor V in plasma. Our results showed that when plasma was triggered with a relatively high concentration of thromboplastin, factor VIII and factor V were completely activated at the clotting time of plasma. However, when the generation of thrombin, but not that of factor Xa, was delayed by addition of hirudin to the plasma, factor Va was generated only at the time thrombin generation overcame the hirudin inhibition. In addition, generation of factor VIIIa correlated with thrombin generation and not with factor Xa generation. Furthermore, addition of large amounts of factor Xa to hirudinized plasma did not show detectable factor VIII or factor V activation. We concluded that in plasma activated with thromboplastin the enzyme responsible for activation of factor V and factor VIII is thrombin, not factor Xa.
Evaluation of the inhibition by heparin and hirudin of coagulation activation during r-tPA-induced thrombolysis
Authors: Mirshahi M , Soria J , Soria C , Faivre R , Lu H , Courtney M , Roitsch C , Tripier D , Caen JP
Published: October 2019

Thrombin bound to a fibrin clot remains active and poorly accessible to heparin-AT III complex. During fibrinolysis, thrombin is released as thrombin-FDP complex and is inactivated by heparin-AT III. However, as successive fibrin layers are removed, inaccessible molecules of thrombin are exposed at the surface of the residual clot, possibly contributing to the occurrence during thrombolytic therapy of coagulation that is poorly controlled by heparin. We have investigated the accessibility of fibrin-bound thrombin to hirudin. The results clearly show that two recombinant hirudin variants neutralize thrombin both in solution and fibrin bound. Furthermore, we have found that in in vitro models, hirudin present in the surrounding medium of a clot under lysis is more efficient than heparin in preventing the activation of coagulation. This observation suggests that hirudin may be effective in the prevention of the rethrombotic process frequently encountered during thrombolytic therapy.
Detection of anti-HTLV-I Tax antibodies in HTLV-I enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-negative individuals
Authors: Ehrlich GD , Glaser JB , Abbott MA , Slamon DJ , Keith D , Sliwkowski M , Brandis J , Keitelman E , Teramoto Y , Papsidero L
Published: October 2019

The HTLV-I tax gene protein (Tax) is not packaged within the mature viral particle from which the proteins for the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are derived. Screening of 162 individuals within a cohort of white intravenous (IV) drug abusers, previously identified as having an increased incidence of HTLV-I infection, demonstrated that seven of them had antibodies to the HTLV-I Tax protein but tested negative in HTLV-I ELISAs and Western blots prepared from purified virion proteins. Three out of 35 individuals in other behaviorally defined high-risk groups also displayed this limited pattern of reactivity to HTLV-I proteins. The presence of the anti-HTLV- I p40/Tax antibodies was determined by radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA), which also revealed low levels of anti-env reactivity. The specificity of the anti-p40 reactivity was confirmed on specific Tax ELISAs and Western blots prepared from recombinantly produced Tax. In vitro gene amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to establish the presence of sequences homologous to HTLV-I proviral DNA in four/four of these HTLV-I ELISA negative, Tax ELISA/Tax western blot/RIPA positive individuals. These data suggest that the true incidence of HTLV-I infection within high-risk cohorts is greater than previously reported.
Detection of the Philadelphia chromosome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis
Authors: Hooberman AL , Rubin CM , Barton KP , Westbrook CA
Published: October 2019

The Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome is an acquired abnormality in the malignant cells of 10% to 25% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Unlike chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), where the molecular detection of the Ph1 chromosome is relatively straightforward using conventional Southern hybridization analysis, the detection of the Ph1 chromosome in ALL is complicated by the existence of several molecular subtypes, and the fact that translocation breakpoints are dispersed over a large genomic area. To circumvent these difficulties, we investigated pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to determine if this method could be used directly on clinical samples to detect the Ph1 chromosome in ALL. We report that, in a study of seven patients with Ph1-positive ALL, we could easily detect the Ph1 using only a single PFGE analysis, regardless of the Ph1 subtype, and we could confirm that the translocations occur either within or very near the BCR gene in all seven. We conclude that PFGE is a useful technique for the detection of the Ph1 in ALL, which ultimately may find wide applicability in the detection of other chromosomal abnormalities in other malignancies.
Identification of an anti-A and anti-B blood group glycosyltransferase antibody after incompatible bone marrow transplant
Authors: Mojena M , Bosca L
Published: October 2019

The occurrence of a potent antibody against plasmatic A and B glycosyltransferase activities has been characterized in a patient (blood group A1) transplanted with a bone marrow from a blood group O donor. A and B glycosyltransferases were purified to near homogeneity from plasma of A1 and B blood-group individuals. The half-maximal inhibition of both enzymes was obtained at 1 to 2 micrograms/mL of the post-transplant IgG fraction, prepared by protein A-sepharose chromatography. A and B glycosyltransferases were also recognized by the post-transplant IgG fraction after sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose membranes.
Proliferative potential of degranulated murine peritoneal mast cells
Authors: Kuriu A , Sonoda S , Kanakura Y , Jozaki K , Yamatodani A , Kitamura Y
Published: October 2019

The fate of mast cells after degranulation was investigated. Purified peritoneal mast cells of WBB6F1-+/+ mice were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) IgE antibodies and stimulated with DNP conjugated with human serum albumin. Mast cells were vitally stained with neutral red, and highly degranulated mast cells were identified under a phase-contrast microscope and individually picked up with the micromanipulator. When these highly degranulated mast cells were individually plated in methylcellulose, their potential to produce a cluster or a colony was comparable to that of morphologically intact mast cells. Moreover, when highly degranulated mast cells were injected into the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, the proportion of injection sites at which mast cell clusters appeared was comparable to the value observed when morphologically intact mast cells were injected. The present result indicates that proliferative potential of mast cells is not reduced by their degranulation.
Expression of the alloantigen Zwa (or P1A1) on human vascular smooth muscle cells and foreskin fibroblasts: a study on normal individuals and a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia
Authors: Giltay JC , Brinkman HJ , von dem Borne AE , van Mourik JA
Published: October 2019

The cytoadhesin family consists of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa and the endothelial vitronectin receptor. The beta subunit (GP IIIa) of these complexes expresses the alloantigen Zwa (or PIA1). This alloantigen is not expressed by members of other integrin subfamilies. By using immunoprecipitation and immunoblot techniques, we found that the beta subunit of a heterodimer, expressed by cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells and cultured foreskin fibroblasts, carries the Zwa antigenic determinant. Furthermore, the mobilities of the alpha and beta subunits of these two heterodimers are indistinguishable from those of the alpha and beta subunits of the endothelial vitronectin receptor. Therefore, we propose that the smooth muscle cell and fibroblast heterodimer are members of the cytoadhesin family. In Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, platelet GP IIb-IIIa is absent or severely reduced. Previously, we showed that endothelial cells from a thrombasthenic patient normally synthesize and express a GP IIb-IIIa- related molecule (the vitronectin receptor). Here we show that arterial smooth muscle cells, obtained from the same patient, express a surface molecule indistinguishable from the endothelial vitronectin receptor. We also demonstrate that both the endothelial and the smooth muscle cell GP IIIa-related molecule in this Glanzmann patient express Zwa. Our data indicate that (a) GP IIb-IIIa-related molecules on cell types other than platelets and endothelial cells can express Zwa in vitro, and (b) patients with Glanzmann's disease can express the Zwa antigen. This study substantiates our view that the defect in Glanzmann's disease is restricted to the megakaryocytes/platelets.
Modulation of platelet function by extracellular adenosine triphosphate
Authors: Soslau G , Parker J
Published: October 2019

A potential physiologic role of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on platelet function is proposed in this report. It is widely accepted that ATP competitively inhibits adenosine diphosphate (ADP)- induced platelet aggregation. Our observations of platelet aggregation with the agonists, collagen, epinephrine, and ADP in the presence of 180 mumol/L ATP could support this competitive nature of ATP. However, the disaggregation of maximally aggregated platelets induced by ATP, theophylline, or ATP plus theophylline indicates that additional mechanisms of ATP action may be present. Extracellular gamma-32P-ATP (7 pmol) labels surface-membrane proteins in intact platelets as demonstrated by several criteria. The reaction is Ca++-dependent. Stimulation by calcium occurs in the physiologic range of 1 to 5 mmol/L. Significant levels of phosphorylation occur within one minute with near maximal levels reached by five minutes. Platelet cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels were elevated in a dose-dependent fashion in cells incubated for four minutes with increasing amounts of extracellular ATP (18 to 540 nmol). The addition of ATP plus theophylline resulted in a synergistic stimulation of cAMP levels. ATP was not being hydrolyzed to adenosine by plasma nucleotidases, as demonstrated by the lack of effect of ten U of adenosine deaminase. The phosphorylation of surface proteins by extracellular ATP released from activated platelets may modulate platelet responsiveness to agonists at distances removed from the site of vascular injury. Phosphorylation may also play a role in signal transduction to regulate the levels of intracellular cAMP, which further inhibits platelet activation.
Prognostic importance of the pre-B-cell immunophenotype and other presenting features in B-lineage childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Pediatric Oncology Group study
Authors: Crist W , Boyett J , Jackson J , Vietti T , Borowitz M , Chauvenet A , Winick N , Ragab A , Mahoney D , Head D
Published: October 2019

We report the prognostic significance of the pre-B-cell immunophenotype and other presenting features, including blast cell karyotype, in a randomized clinical trial conducted from 1981 to 1986 for children with early pre-B (n = 685) or pre-B (n = 222) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patients greater than or equal to 1 year and less than or equal to 21 years of age who attained complete remission were stratified by conventional risk criteria and immunophenotype and then randomized to receive continuation therapy with either of two regimens of intensive chemotherapy, designated S (standard) and SAM (standard plus intermediate-dose methotrexate, 1 g/m2 every 8 weeks). The proportions of subjects achieving complete remission in the two phenotypically defined subgroups were identical, 96%. At a median follow-up time of 42 months, the overall probability of 4-year event-free survival (+/- SE) was 63% +/- 2% (pre-B = 51% +/- 5% and early pre-B = 66% +/- 3%). Children with pre-B ALL had significantly shorter durations of continuous complete remission (P = .0004); this association included both bone marrow and CNS remissions (P = .0004 and P = .02, respectively). In a univariate Cox regression analysis of potentially important prognostic factors, the pre-B immunophenotype was significantly related to a poorer outcome, as were other recognized biologic and clinical features (eg, pseudodiploidy, older age, male sex, black race, and a higher WBC). It retained its prognostic strength in a multivariate model based on age, WBC, ploidy, and sex. The risk of failure at any point in the clinical course of a child with the pre-B immunophenotype was 1.8 times as great as that in a patient lacking this feature but otherwise having an equivalent risk status. It should be stressed that the predictive value of any of the significant characteristics identified in this study could diminish in the context of another, more effective treatment program. Nevertheless, our major conclusion, that children with pre-B ALL fare worse than those with early pre-B disease in a contemporary clinical trial has implications for stratified randomization of patients and the design of risk- specific treatment protocols.
Sequential loss of CD34 and class II MHC antigens on purified cord blood hematopoietic progenitors cultured with IL-3: characterization of CD34-, HLA-DR+ cells
Authors: Caux C , Favre C , Saeland S , Duvert V , Mannoni P , Durand I , Aubry JP , de Vries JE
Published: October 2019

The expression of class II MHC and CD34 antigens on human cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) was investigated upon culturing in the presence of interleukin-3 (IL-3). HPC isolated by “panning” according to their expression of CD34 coexpressed HLA-DR and HLA-DP, and the majority of the CD34+ HPC also expressed HLA-DQ. In the presence of IL-3, the expression of CD34 and class II MHC antigens was found to be gradually lost in culture. Loss of CD34 expression preceded loss of HLA-DR expression. After eight days of culture, CD34-, HLA-DR+ blast cells were obtained that strongly proliferated in response to IL- 3, GM-CSF, G-CSF, and M-CSF, and that had the capacity to generate macrophage and granulocyte colonies. After ten days of culture in IL-3, a population of CD34- cells that expressed low levels of HLA-DR (HLA- DRlo) was obtained by FACS-sorting. These CD34-, HLA-DRlo cells lacked colony-forming activity while the population expressing high levels of HLA-DR (HLA-DRhi) contained great numbers of colony-forming cells, and proliferated stronger in response to CSFs than the HLA-DRlo fraction. Finally CD34-, HLA-DR- cells that appeared later in the cultures (14 to 16 days) represented more differentiated cells with only marginal proliferative and no clonogenic capacity. These data indicate that whereas CD34 expression is associated with the multilineage potential of the HPC, HLA-DR expression correlates with overall proliferative capacity of hematopoietic cells during culture in IL-3.
Evidence for a novel in vivo control mechanism of granulopoiesis: mature cell-related control of a regulatory growth factor
Authors: Layton JE , Hockman H , Sheridan WP , Morstyn G
Published: October 2019

As part of phase I/II clinical trials of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), the pharmacokinetics was studied. To determine the optimal way of abrogating the neutropenia caused by melphalan, patients received G-CSF and melphalan on several schedules. The half-life (t 1/2) of elimination of G-CSF was in the range 1.3 to 4.2 hours and was prolonged at higher doses, suggesting that one clearance mechanism becomes saturated at doses greater than 10 micrograms/kg, When a continuous subcutaneous (SC) infusion was administered for five days, a rapid reduction in serum G-CSF levels occurred during the last two days of the infusion, indicating that an additional clearance mechanism was induced. When a continuous infusion of G-CSF was administered after melphalan, serum G-CSF levels remained constant for a longer period of time but did decrease during the second phase of a biphasic neutrophil response. In another clinical trial, G-CSF was administered after high- dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). In these patients, the G-CSF levels did not decrease while the patients were neutropenic. These results show that increased neutrophil levels are associated with increased clearance of G-CSF. This may be one of the negative feedback mechanisms involved in maintaining neutrophil homeostasis in normal and disease states.
Human embryonic zeta-globin chains in fetal and newborn blood
Authors: Chui DH , Mentzer WC , Patterson M , Iarocci TA , Embury SH , Perrine SP , Mibashan RS , Higgs DR
Published: October 2019

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for human embryonic zeta-globin chains was used to study normal fetal blood and newborn cord blood as well as cord blood from newborns with alpha-thalassemias. From 17 weeks until 37 weeks of gestation, zeta-globin chains were present in almost all fetal and cord blood samples (0.27% +/- 0.15% in samples of weeks 17 through 30; 0.14% +/- 0.11% in samples of weeks 31 through 37). zeta-Globin chains were present in greater than 80% of cord blood hemolysates from normal, full-term newborns (0.15% +/- 0.11%) as well as from 16 near-term newborns of diabetic mothers (0.13% +/- 0.13%). zeta-Globin chains were not detected in normal infants aged 3 months to 2 years. In cord blood hemolysates from alpha-thalassemic newborns, the levels of zeta-globin chain content varied from very high to undetectable levels. Gene mapping of the zeta-alpha-globin gene cluster was performed in 12 newborns in whom cord blood zeta-globin chains had been determined. Newborns who were carriers of alpha- thalassemia-1 due to the (--SEA/) deletion had very high levels of zeta- globin chains (greater than 1.5%).