bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcription factor GATA-2 is expressed in erythroid, early myeloid, and CD34+ human leukemia-derived cell lines
Authors: Nagai T , Harigae H , Ishihara H , Motohashi H , Minegishi N , Tsuchiya S , Hayashi N , Gu L , Andres B , Engel JD
Published: October 2019

To understand the functional roles that the GATA factors may play during hematopoietic cell differentiation, we examined the expression of GATA factor mRNAs and protein products in various human cell lines. Blot hybridization analyses demonstrated that GATA-1 and GATA-2 mRNAs are expressed abundantly in a set of cell lines established from human myelogenous leukemia cells, but the expression pattern of each factor is distinct. GATA-2 mRNA is expressed in all cell lines tested that express erythroid markers, and, in addition, the mRNA is also expressed in three CD34+ cell lines and two early myeloid cell lines. In contrast, the expression of GATA-1 mRNA showed tight correlation to that of the erythroid/megakaryocytic lineage markers. We also found that the GATA-2 probe identifies two types of mRNA. Structural analysis of genomic DNA clones encoding human GATA-2 coupled with RNA blot analysis demonstrated that there exists an alternative use of polyadenylation consensus sequences in a single exon and this causes the molecular heterogeneity among GATA-2 mRNAs. Through immunochemical and immunohistochemical analyses using anti-GATA-1- and anti-GATA-2- specific antibodies, GATA-2 protein was clearly shown to be present in the nuclei of leukemia-derived early myeloid and CD34+ cell lines, whereas both GATA-1 and GATA-2 proteins are expressed in erythroid/megakaryocytic cell lines. Thus, the expression profile of GATA-2 is consistent with the hypothesis that GATA-2 plays unique roles for the transcriptional activation of genes in cells at an early stage of hematopoietic differentiation and in developing cells of the erythroid and myeloid lineages.
Complete hematologic remissions induced by 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in children with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Santana VM , Hurwitz CA , Blakley RL , Crom WR , Luo X , Roberts WM , Ribeiro R , Mahmoud H , Krance RA
Published: October 2019

The majority of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are treated exclusively with chemotherapy die of progressive disease. Improvement in outcome will likely require new active drugs capable of eradicating resistant blast cells early in the clinical course. We therefore assessed the cytoreductive potential of 2- chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA), a halogenated purine analogue, in 22 consecutive children with newly diagnosed AML. The drug was administered as a single 120-hour continuous infusion (8.9 mg/m2 of body surface area per day) before the introduction of standard remission induction therapy. Six patients (27%) had complete hematologic remissions by a median of 21 days after treatment with the nucleoside (range, 14 to 33 days). Seven others had partial responses, yielding a total response rate of 59%. The drug also eliminated leukemic cells from cerebrospinal fluid in 4 of the 6 patients tested. Concentrations of 2-CdA in cerebrospinal fluid on day 5 after the initiation of treatment ranged from 12.4% to 38.0% (mean, 22.7%) of the steady-state plasma concentrations. Severe but reversible myelosuppression and thrombocytopenia developed in all patients. Analysis of factors that may have influenced the complete remission rate suggested a better outcome in patients with myeloblastic leukemia (M0-M2 subtypes in the revised French-American-British classification system). These results demonstrate clinically significant activity by 2- CdA against previously untreated AML in children, including leukemic blast cells in the central nervous system. Its use in combination chemotherapy may improve the outlook for patients with this often fatal hematologic cancer.
Contrasting effects of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony- stimulating factor (CSF) and granulocyte CSF treatment on the cycling of blood elements in childhood-onset cyclic neutropenia
Authors: Wright DG , Kenney RF , Oette DH , LaRussa VF , Boxer LA , Malech HL
Published: October 2019

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment has been shown to increase average neutrophil counts substantially in patients with childhood-onset cyclic neutropenia (or “cyclic hematopoiesis”), but not to eliminate the cyclic oscillations of neutrophil counts or those of other blood elements (monocytes, platelets, eosinophils, and reticulocytes) that are characteristic of this hematopoietic disorder. Indeed, oscillations of neutrophil counts are amplified during G-CSF treatment. We have compared the effects of recombinant granulocyte-macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF) with those of G-CSF in three patients with this disease (2 men and 1 woman, 17, 30, and 32 years of age). These patients were treated with GM-CSF (2.1 micrograms/kg/day, subcutaneously) for 6 weeks, preceded and followed by 6 to 13 weeks of detailed observation to document changes in the cyclic oscillations of blood neutrophils and other blood elements; two of the patients were subsequently treated with G-CSF (5.0 micrograms/kg/d, subcutaneously) and observed for comparable periods of time. Unlike G-CSF treatment, which increased average neutrophil counts more than 20-fold, GM-CSF increased neutrophil counts only modestly, from 1.6- to 3.9-fold, although eosinophilia of varying prominence was induced in each patient. However, at the same time, GM-CSF treatment dampened or eliminated the multilineage oscillations of circulating blood elements (neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, and/or reticulocytes) in each of the patients. In contrast, G-CSF treatment of the same patients markedly amplified the oscillations of neutrophil counts and caused the cycling of other blood elements (monocytes in particular) to become more distinct. These findings support the conclusion that the distinctive cycling of blood cell production in childhood-onset cyclic neutropenia results from abnormalities in the coordinate regulation of both GM-CSF-responsive, multipotential progenitor cells and G-CSF-responsive, lineage-restricted, neutrophil progenitors.
Treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease with humanized anti-Tac: an antibody that binds to the interleukin-2 receptor
Authors: Anasetti C , Hansen JA , Waldmann TA , Appelbaum FR , Davis J , Deeg HJ , Doney K , Martin PJ , Nash R , Storb R
Published: October 2019

Humanized anti-Tac is a genetically engineered human IgG1 monoclonal antibody specific for Tac, the alpha subunit of the interleukin-2 (IL- 2) receptor, and blocks IL-2-dependent activation of human T lymphocytes. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunosuppressive activity of humanized anti-Tac were evaluated in 20 patients who developed acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic marrow transplantation. Patients had developed acute GVHD at 5 to 26 (median, 14) days after transplantation and had failed to respond to primary therapy with glucocorticoids. Sequential groups of 4 patients each received a single 1-hour infusion of antibody in escalating doses of 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/kg; 8 additional patients were then treated with 1.5 mg/kg. A second infusion of antibody was administered after 11 to 48 (median, 16) days in 8 patients who had transient improvement of GVHD after the first infusion. Acute side effects, limited to chills in 1 patient and diaphoresis in another, were observed during or shortly after the antibody infusion. Overall improvement of acute GVHD occurred in 8 patients, 6 of whom were treated with a single antibody infusion and 2 with two infusions. Four responses were complete and 4 were partial. Three additional patients had improvement in one organ but progression in another. Responses occurred in 9 of 16 cases with skin disease, 3 of 15 with liver disease, and 6 of 12 with gastrointestinal disease. Two patients survive at 529 and 645 days after antibody treatment. Two patients died after relapse of leukemia. Sixteen patients died of infection or organ failure between 5 and 211 (median, 55) days. The terminal elimination half-life of the antibody was 44 to 363 hours, with a harmonic mean of 79, 88, and 94 hours, respectively, for the three doses studied. Absolute peripheral blood T-lymphocyte counts remained unchanged during the 56 days after infusion of the antibody. A fraction of circulating T cells expressed the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor that, in some patients, was bound by antibody in vivo up to 28 days after treatment. No patient developed a measurable antibody response to humanized anti-Tac. Humanized anti-Tac has a long half-life after intravenous injection in humans, superior to any rodent monoclonal antibody specific for human T cells, and does not appear to induce antibody formation in recipients of marrow transplants. Improvement of steroid-refractory GVHD in 40% of patients after only one or two antibody infusions indicates that humanized anti-Tac is immunosuppressive.
Increased risk of infection in marrow transplant patients receiving methylprednisolone for graft-versus-host disease prevention
Authors: Sayer HG , Longton G , Bowden R , Pepe M , Storb R
Published: October 2019

One hundred forty-seven patients with hematologic diseases and treated by allogeneic marrow transplants received graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevention with methotrexate and cyclosporine. In addition, 73 of the 147 patients were randomized to receive methylprednisolone during the first 35 days after transplant to improve GVHD prevention, whereas 74 patients were randomized not to receive methylprednisolone. The randomized trial enabled us to examine whether methylprednisolone increased the risk of infection after marrow grafting. Charts of study patients were analyzed retrospectively for infection events including bacteremia, septicemia, and fungemia. The randomization was stratified by diagnosis, patient age, genotypic HLA identity, and assignment to laminar airflow room isolation. All patients were given a short course of methotrexate (no longer than 11 days) and cyclosporine for no longer than 180 days after marrow transplantation. Methylprednisolone was begun on the day of marrow grafting at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight intravenously in divided AM and PM doses through day 22. Methylprednisolone was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg in divided doses from days 22 through 35, and then discontinued. Infections were analyzed for the time interval ending on day 65 after transplantation, which included the period of methylprednisolone administration and 1 month thereafter. Seventy-one episodes of first infection events were observed in patients receiving methylprednisolone compared with 47 episodes in patients not receiving the drug. Predominant infections were bacteremias, followed in descending order by fungemias and septicemias. The most prevalent organisms cultured were gram-positive bacteria, especially coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. Pseudomonas species were the most common gram negative bacteria, and the most prevalent fungus was Candida albicans. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that patients receiving methylprednisolone had a 1.5 times higher risk of infection (P = .03), with acute GVHD being another independent risk factor for infections (P = .005). Methylprednisolone, when added to GVHD prevention by methotrexate and cyclosporine, increases the risk of infection during the early posttransplantation period.
Recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the treatment of steroid-resistant graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Antin JH , Weinstein HJ , Guinan EC , McCarthy P , Bierer BE , Gilliland DG , Parsons SK , Ballen KK , Rimm IJ , Falzarano G
Published: October 2019

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) that is resistant to therapy is a highly lethal complication of marrow transplantation. Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) may be critical mediators of this process. If so, specific inhibition of IL-1 activity with recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), a naturally occurring competitive inhibitor of IL-1, may ameliorate acute GVHD. We performed an open-label, phase I/II trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IL-1Ra in 17 patients with steroid-resistant GVHD. The IL- 1Ra was administered as a 24-hour continuous infusion over 7 days. The dose was escalated in cohorts of patients from 400 to 3,200 mg/d. Acute GVHD was evaluated in each affected organ and as an overall grade. Stage-specific improvement of acute GVHD occurred in the skin (8 of 14, 57%), gut (9 of 11, 82%), and liver (2 of 11, 18%). Overall, acute GVHD improved by at least one grade in 10 of 16 (63%) patients. Response to therapy was associated with a reduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA levels in blood mononuclear cells (P = .001). The only toxicity attributable to IL-1Ra was reversible transaminase elevation in two patients. Inhibition of IL-1 activity with IL-1Ra is safe and has demonstrable efficacy in acute GVHD that failed to respond to conventional treatment. These data provide further evidence that IL-1 is a mediator of GVHD.
Effects of recombinant human interleukin-6 in cancer patients: a phase I-II study
Authors: van Gameren MM , Willemse PH , Mulder NH , Limburg PC , Groen HJ , Vellenga E , de Vries EG
Published: October 2019

To define the toxicity profile of recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL- 6) and to study its effect on hematopoiesis, biochemical parameters and other cytokines, rhIL-6 was administered in a phase I-II study to 20 patients with breast carcinoma or nonsmall cell lung cancer. RhIL-6 doses were 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, and 20 micrograms/kg/d, with at least three patients per dose level. RhIL-6 was administered 24 hours by continuous intravenous infusion followed by subcutaneous (SC) administration for 6 days, partly on an outpatient basis. RhIL-6- related side effects were fever, headache, myalgia, and local erythema. Starting at 2.5 micrograms/kg/d, these side effects were compounded by nausea, reversible increase in liver enzymes, and anemia. Flu-like symptoms were controllable up to and including 10 micrograms rhIL- 6/kg/d with acetaminophen. RhIL-6 increased platelet counts with a decrease in mean platelet volume and increased leukocytes caused by neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte increase, with an increase in T cells and natural killer cells at 1.0 and 2.5 micrograms rhIL-6/kg/d. The reversible anemia was characterized by a decrease in serum iron, and an increase in ferritin and erythropoietin without reticulocytosis. RhIL-6 reduced total cholesterol levels and a dose-related increase of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A plasma levels was observed. Serum IL-6 levels were increased, especially at 10 and 20 micrograms/kg/d, whereas no change in IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels was observed. RhIL-6 can be administered with controllable side effects in this setting, up to and including a SC dose of 10 micrograms/kg/d on an outpatient basis, and has a promising stimulating effect on leukopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.
Upregulation of human immunodeficiency virus-1 in chronically infected monocytic cell line by both contact with endothelial cells and cytokines
Authors: Fan ST , Hsia K , Edgington TS
Published: October 2019

Cells of monocytic lineage (Mo) persistently infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been suspected to be a major reservoir for in vivo transmission of virus to susceptible target cells. Cellular events and mechanisms that upregulate viral gene expression in such cells are important issues. Because the traffic of such cells is central to biodistribution of HIV, we have explored the impact of interaction of endothelium with HIV-1-infected U1 promonocytic cells. Coculturing of U1 with human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) for 24 to 72 hours in the absence of stimulation induced HIV-1 p24 biosynthesis significantly. Antibody-blocking experiments indicated that CD11/CD18 integrins play a role in upregulation of HIV expression elicited by interaction with HUVEC. Engagement of CD11b/CD18 by adherence of U1 to surfaces coated with either the cognate ligand fibrinogen or monoclonal antibody specific for CD11b/CD18 also enhanced p24 biosynthesis. Furthermore, endothelial cells were found to constitutively synthesize and secrete soluble factors that enhanced HIV- 1 synthesis. The enhancing factors, of estimated size 10 to 45 kD, were induced in HUVEC to high levels by monokines or by lipopolysaccharide, resulting in markedly enhanced HIV-1 expression by U1. These endothelial cell-derived HIV-1-enhancing factors consist of, among others, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1 beta, and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF). Our results suggest that activation of HIV biosynthesis in infected Mo via interaction with endothelium may impact significantly on the tissue distribution and pathogenesis of HIV infections.
Transactivation of the human interleukin-6 gene by human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 Tax protein
Authors: Yamashita I , Katamine S , Moriuchi R , Nakamura Y , Miyamoto T , Eguchi K , Nagataki S
Published: October 2019

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates both humoral and cellular immune responses. Accumulating evidence suggests that the infection of T cells and other cell types with human T- lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) results in the constitutive expression of IL-6. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are little understood. When a reporter plasmid, pIL6-CAT-E3, in which the human IL-6 enhancer/promoter region from -630 to +14 was linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene, was transfected, HTLV-1-infected but not -uninfected T-cell lines activated the IL-6 promoter. This indicated the presence of a factor transactivating the IL-6 gene in the infected cells. To evaluate the involvement of the HTLV-1-encoded transacting factor (Tax) in this transactivation, we examined the effect of transient cotransfection with the Tax-expression plasmid, pMAX-Neo, on the transcription from the IL-6 promoter by use of COS1 cells. The cotransfected COS1 has about six-times greater the CAT activity than that transfected with pIL6-CAT-E3 alone. The analysis of a series of deletions of the IL-6 promoter suggested that the region (-105/-47) containing a NF kappa B site was crucial for the Tax responsiveness. We further examined the effect of Tax on endogenous IL-6 gene expression using the Jurkat clone, JPX-9, stably transfected with pMAX-Neo. JPX-9 accumulated steady state transcripts of the endogenous IL-6 gene in response to the induction of Tax expression. Our findings indicate an important role of the Tax protein in the expression of IL-6 in cells infected with HTLV-1.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Schriber JR , Chao NJ , Long GD , Negrin RS , Tierney DK , Kusnierz-Glaz C , Lucas KS , Blume KG
Published: October 2019

Hematopoietic growth factors have been shown to be effective in reducing the period of neutropenia after autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Initial concerns over potential aggravation of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and increase in the incidence of relapse in patients with myeloid leukemias influenced the number of studies using hematopoietic growth factors after allogeneic BMT. We report the experience with 50 patients treated at a single institution using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) after allogeneic sibling (n = 30) and matched unrelated (n = 20) BMT. The time to an absolute neutrophil count > or = 500/microL was significantly faster in patients who received G-CSF and cyclosporine and prednisone for GVHD prophylaxis when compared with historical control patients receiving the same GVHD prophylaxis (10 v 13 days, P < .01). A similar accelerated myeloid engraftment was observed for those patients who received the addition of methotrexate for GVHD prophylaxis when compared with historical control patients receiving the same GVHD prophylaxis regimen (16 v 19 days, P < .05). The median time to engraftment for patients receiving a matched unrelated BMT and G-CSF was 17 days (range 13 to 26). We did not observe any increase in GVHD or early mortality in the matched related sibling BMT. The incidence of acute GVHD in the matched unrelated BMT recipients was also low at 21%; however, 9 patients (45%) died within 100 days of the date of BMT, similar to the experience reported with granulocyte-macrophage CSF. This study confirms the efficacy of G-CSF in accelerating myeloid engraftment after allogeneic matched sibling BMT. The higher early mortality associated with patients receiving matched unrelated BMT suggests that randomized controlled trials using G-CSF after allogeneic BMT should be performed.
Biologic effects of leukocytes present in transfused cellular blood products
Authors: Bordin JO , Heddle NM , Blajchman MA
Published: October 2019

A considerable literature has accumulated over the past decade indicating that leukocytes present in allogeneic cellular blood components, intended for transfusion, are associated with adverse effects to the recipient. These include the development of febrile transfusion reactions, graft-versus-host disease, alloimmunization to leukocyte antigens, and the immunomodulatory effects that might influence the prognosis of patients with a malignancy. Moreover, it has become evident that such leukocytes may be the vector of infectious agents such as CMV, HTLV-I/II, and EBV as well as other viruses. An interesting development that has occurred coincidentally in transfusion medicine is that agencies responsible for the provision of blood products are being designated manufacturers of biologicals. The trend among manufacturers of biologicals is to try to produce pure products to provide for the specific therapeutic need of patients. Thus, with the realization that allogeneic leukocytes and their products may have adverse biologic activities, there is increasing pressure from various sources for the reduction of the leukocyte content in allogeneic blood components to minimize the occurrence of their adverse effects. Although the threshold leukocyte number below which these effects might no longer occur is still to be determined, a 2 to 3 log10 leukocyte reduction, provided by the currently available commercial leukocyte filters, has been shown to reduce the frequency of many of such reactions. On the other hand, the immunosuppressive effects produced by the infusion of allogeneic leukocytes might be beneficial for some patients, ie, for the maintenance of kidney allografts, in possibly reducing the relapse rate in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, and in ameliorating recurrent spontaneous abortion. Moreover, therapeutic granulocyte transfusions may be of benefit in certain well- defined categories of patients infected with bacteria, yeast, and/or fungi. These include neonates with bacterial sepsis associated with bone marrow failure as well as severely neutropenic leukemic patients with an infection unresponsive to appropriate and specific antibiotic therapy. Many of the results obtained with the use of leukocyte depletion filters are tantalizing, but the actual clinical benefit of leukodepletion has not been established in most instances, because much of the available data are retrospective or from uncontrolled clinical trials. Moreover, issues of cost-effectiveness and quality control have not been considered adequately. Properly designed prospective clinical trials are essential to provide data with which to answer such questions and also to help define the optimal conditions required for the preparation of blood components ultimately destined for clinical use. Only with the availability of such data can sound decisions be made about the clinical value of leukodepletion.
Tyrosine phosphorylation of CRKL in Philadelphia+ leukemia
Authors: ten Hoeve J , Arlinghaus RB , Guo JQ , Heisterkamp N , Groffen J
Published: October 2019

The chimeric BCR/ABL protein is characteristic of Philadelphia (Ph)+ leukemia because it is the direct product of the Ph translocation and it has been shown to play a causal role in the genesis of leukemia. The BCR/ABL protein exhibits a deregulated tyrosine-kinase activity capable of phosphorylating different cellular substrates in vivo and in vitro. CRKL, an adaptor protein consisting of SH2 and SH3 domains in the absence of a catalytic domain, is one potential in vivo substrate of BCR/ABL. Previous experiments have shown that CRKL is phosphorylated on tyrosine in the chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell line K562 and that CRKL is a substrate for ABL and for BCR/ABL in COS-1 cells. In the current study, we show that in peripheral blood cells a direct correlation exists between the presence of BCR/ABL and the phosphorylation status of CRKL. In Ph- peripheral blood cells, CRKL is present only in the nonphosphorylated form. In contrast, all BCR/ABL+ CML and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient samples examined showed clear tyrosine-phosphorylation of CRKL. This result strongly suggests that CRKL is a biologically significant substrate for BCR/ABL and is likely to play a major role in the development of Ph+ leukemia.
Expression of a homologously recombined erythopoietin-SV40 T antigen fusion gene in mouse liver: evidence for erythropoietin production by Ito cells
Authors: Maxwell PH , Ferguson DJ , Osmond MK , Pugh CW , Heryet A , Doe BG , Johnson MH , Ratcliffe PJ
Published: October 2019

We have obtained transgenic mice in which an erythropoietin-SV40 virus T antigen fusion gene is homologously recombined into the native Epo locus. This gene is expressed in a tissue-specific manner closely resembling that of the native Epo gene. Immunohistochemical detection of SV40 T antigen has been used to characterize the hepatic cell populations expressing the transgene. In mice stimulated by anaemia or hypobaric hypoxia, SV40 T antigen was demonstrated in two liver cell populations: a subset of hepatocytes and a nonparenchymal cell type. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characterization of these cells by light and electron microscopy showed the nonparenchymal cell type to be the Ito cells, which lie in a persinusoidal position within the space of Disse. We therefore conclude that Ito cells are the nonhepatocytic source of liver Epo production. These cells show many similarities to the Epo-producing fibroblastoid interstitial cells of the kidney.
Transgenic mice carrying the erythropoietin gene promoter linked to lacZ express the reporter in proximal convoluted tubule cells after hypoxia
Authors: Loya F , Yang Y , Lin H , Goldwasser E , Albitar M
Published: October 2019

Results on the localization of erythropoietin (Epo) synthesis in renal cells have been contradictory, implicating either interstitial or tubular cells. We fused the lacZ gene to a 7-kb DNA fragment of the mouse Epo gene encompassing a portion of the first intron, the first exon, and a 6-kb sequence of the 5′-flanking region. Transgenic mice carrying this construct show a low level of specific expression of the lacZ gene in proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) cells. Without hypoxia, no significant expression was detected in the liver. Hypoxia induced a large degree of lacZ expression, mainly in kidney PCT cells and to a lesser degree in liver. However, anemia induced lacZ expression in both kidney and liver. These findings indicate that, under these conditions, Epo is expressed in tubular cells, specifically PCT cells.
A point mutation in the integrin beta 3 cytoplasmic domain (S752-->P) impairs bidirectional signaling through alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa)
Authors: Chen YP , O'Toole TE , Ylanne J , Rosa JP , Ginsberg MH
Published: October 2019

Agonist-induced inside-out signaling results in an increased affinity of integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa) for soluble ligands (fibrinogen [Fg] and PAC1). Ligand binding to integrins initiates outside-in signaling that leads to cellular responses such as cell spreading and focal adhesion formation. A point mutation in the beta 3 cytoplasmic domain (S752-->P) is associated with blocked inside- out alpha IIb beta 3 signaling in a variant Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. This mutation was introduced into beta 3 and cotransfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells with a chimeric alpha subunit consisting of the alpha IIb extracellular and transmembrane domains and the alpha 6B cytoplasmic domain. The substitution of the alpha IIb cytoplasmic domain with that of alpha 6 led to activation of alpha IIb beta 3 to bind PAC1, mimicking inside-out signaling. This effect was reversed by the S752-->P mutation, indicating a disruption of inside-out signaling by the mutation. In addition, transfectants expressing this beta 3 variant showed reduced alpha IIb beta 3-mediated cell spreading on immobilized Fg, focal adhesion, and fibrin clot retraction, suggesting an impairment in outside-in alpha IIb beta 3 signaling. Therefore, a single point mutation in the beta 3 cytoplasmic domain impaired bidirectional signaling through alpha IIb beta 3.
Sustained high levels of circulating chaperoned interleukin-6 after active specific cancer immunotherapy
Authors: May LT , Patel K , Garcia D , Ndubuisi MI , Ferrone S , Mittelman A , Mackiewicz A , Sehgal PB
Published: October 2019

In a phase 1 study of recombinant interleukin-6 (rIL-6) in patients with advanced solid tumors (n = 15), we discovered that the endogenous IL-6 levels, in pretreatment plasma or serum samples, were distributed into two groups. One set of patients (designated “type 1”; n = 9) was characterized by low plasma IL-6 levels (48 to 1,700 pg/mL) as measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for IL-6. In the second set of patients (designated “type 2”; n = 6), IL-6 ELISAs showed high levels of plasma IL-6 (50 to 600 ng/mL). Neither group had detectable B9 hybridoma cell growth factor activity associated with the IL-6 in their pretreatment plasma or serum. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were markedly elevated in type II patients suggesting that the circulating IL-6 was biologically active in vivo. In both groups of patients there was a small but significant increase in B9 activity in the plasma within three hours after rIL-6 administration (n = 5). Gel filtration profiles showed that circulating IL-6 in type 1 patients, 15 to 120 minutes after rIL-6 administration was of approximate mass 20 to 40 kD, whereas in type 2 patients, the IL-6 before and after exogenous rIL-6 administration was indistinguishable and was of an approximate mass of 200 kD. IL-6 immunoaffinity purification of the 200 kD complexes showed these to contain multiple isoforms of IL-6 (14 to 31 kD) and the soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R; 50 to 55 kD). A distinguishing clinical history was that all of the type 2 patients had been actively immunized with an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody (MoAb) (MK2–23) 3 to 12 months before initiation of this study for advanced melanoma. An analysis of the plasma IL-6 content in other melanoma patients (n = 16) during antiidiotypic MoAb immunization indicated that marked (up to 600 ng/mL) and sustained (several months) elevations of circulating “chaperoned” IL-6 were induced by active immunization regimens.
1 alpha,25-Dihydroxy-20-epi-vitamin D3: an extraordinarily potent inhibitor of leukemic cell growth in vitro
Authors: Elstner E , Lee YY , Hashiya M , Pakkala S , Binderup L , Norman AW , Okamura WH , Koeffler HP
Published: October 2019

We have evaluated seven recently synthesized vitamin D3 analogs for their abilities to inhibit clonal growth of leukemic cells, to induce leukemic cell differentiation, to stimulate clonal growth of normal myeloid committed stem cells, and to transactivate a reporter gene having a 1,25(OH)2D3 response element (VDRE). The 1,25(OH)2–20-epi-D3 showed extraordinary activity; at 10(-11) mol/L it inhibited clonal growth of 87% of HL-60 myeloblast cells, 60% of S-LB1 cells (human T- cell lymphotropic virus type 1 [HTLV-1]-immortalized human T-lymphocyte cell line) and 50% of leukemic clonogenic cells (colony-forming unit- leukemia) obtained from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. No effect of either 1,25(OH)2D3 or 1,25(OH)2–20-epi-D3 was observed on the clonal proliferation of an HTLV-1-immortalized human T-lymphocyte cell line (Ab-VDR) having nonfunctional 1,25 (OH)2D3 cellular receptors (VDR). The abilities of 1,25(OH)2–20-epi-D3 to induce differentiation of HL-60 cells, as measured by generation of superoxide and nonspecific esterase production, was less than its antiproliferative activities. This analog stimulated colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage growth from normal human bone marrow. To gain insights into the remarkable antileukemic activities of 1,25(OH)2–20-epi-D3, we examined its ability to enter HL-60 cells, bind to the VDR, and interact with a transfected VDRE attached upstream of a TK promoter-driven reporter gene (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase [CAT]). The 1,25(OH)2–20-epi- D3 potently increased CAT activity (> 16-fold, as compared with cells transfected with control receptor having no VDRE); paradoxically, 1,25(OH)2–20-epi-D3 was of equal potency to 1,25(OH)2D3 in transactivating the VDRE-containing reporter gene, even though the analog had a 1,000-fold greater antileukemic effect as compared with 1,25(OH)2D3. In summary, we have identified an extremely potent 1,25(OH)2D3 analog with antiproliferative and differentiating effects on leukemic cells and that may be clinically useful. This analog appears to generate biologic responses via the classical VDR pathway, but further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism by which this analog produces its prominent activities.
Production and nucleotide sequence of an inhibitory human IgM autoantibody directed against platelet glycoprotein Ia/IIa
Authors: Deckmyn H , Zhang J , Van Houtte E , Vermylen J
Published: October 2019

Human B-cell lines were derived by limiting dilutions of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed peripheral B cells from a patient with an autoantibody against glycoprotein (GP)Ia/IIa, and manifesting defective collagen-induced platelet aggregation and a bleeding problem. Antibody- producing clones were selected for their reactivity with whole platelets or with affinity-purified GPIa/IIa by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). One of these cell lines, selected for further evaluation, produced an IgM (E3G6) that interfered with platelet aggregation responses. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications with two different sets of primers specific for human kappa-chains resulted in the rescue of a unique and identical sequence. The same was true for the mu-chain, from which it was concluded that the cell line was monoclonal. Further analysis showed that the kappa variable domain sequence is similar to the germline gene A30, to 2E7, an anti-GPIIb human autoantibody, and to HF2–1/17, a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated broad-specificity human autoantibody. Thus, the specificity of our antibody, E3G6, appears to be determined by the mu-chain, the sequence of which is encoded by a VHIII gene segment strongly homologous to the germline gene DP-77, by a D gene that is not homologous to any of the germline D genes reported to date, and by JH4 gene segment that is germline. All four mutations versus DP- 77 are in CDRs, and result in amino acid substitutions, which implies that E3G6 may have been derived from an antigen-driven response.
Identification of transforming growth factor-beta as a contaminant in factor VIII concentrates: a possible link with immunosuppressive effects in hemophiliacs
Authors: Wadhwa M , Dilger P , Tubbs J , Mire-Sluis A , Barrowcliffe T , Thorpe R
Published: October 2019

In previous studies, we have shown that some, but not all low-, intermediate-, and high-purity factor VIII concentrates inhibit interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion from phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated T lymphocytes. We now present evidence that this inhibitory action of concentrates is, at least in part, due to contamination with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Originally identified in platelets, TGF-beta is a 25-kD homodimer that has been shown to be a natural and potent inhibitor of many immunologic responses. Using a specific bioassay, we have measured TGF-beta in various factor VIII concentrates. While some concentrates contained substantial amounts of the cytokine, there was a wide variation in concentrations of TGF-beta in different products. These levels correlated with the degree of inhibition of IL-2 secretion from T cells exhibited by each product (P = .0001). Noninhibitory concentrates contained no detectable TGF-beta. Addition of a specific TGF-beta 1 antibody reversed the inhibitory effect of some concentrates on IL-2 secretion by PHA-stimulated Jurkat T cells and interleukin-5 (IL-5)-induced proliferation of an erythroleukemic cell line. These findings suggest that TGF-beta contamination is a major contributory factor to the inhibitory activity of some factor VIII concentrates on cytokine secretion or activity, and may partially explain the reported immunosuppressive effects in recipients of these blood products.
CD3+, CD56+ aggressive variant of large granular lymphocyte leukemia [see comments]
Authors: Gentile TC , Uner AH , Hutchison RE , Wright J , Ben-Ezra J , Russell EC , Loughran TP Jr
Published: October 2019

Clonal expansions of CD3+ large granular lymphocytes (LGL) have been classified as T-LGL leukemia. The majority of patients with T-LGL leukemia have a chronic disease (years) manifested often by severe neutropenia, rheumatoid arthritis, and mild-to-moderate splenomegaly. The characteristic phenotype of the leukemic LGL is CD3+, CD8+, CD16+, CD57+, and CD56-. In this report we describe an aggressive variant of T- LGL leukemia in which leukemic LGL also expressed CD56, as identified by two-color flow-cytometry analysis. In contrast to the chronic nature typical of T-LGL leukemia, these patients presented with a severe systemic illness that was rapidly progressive and resistant to treatment. Atypical clinical features included rapidly increasing spleen size to massive proportions, extensive lymphadenopathy, and the presence of B symptoms (fever, nightsweats, weight loss). Hematologic and pathologic features were also unusual for T-LGL leukemia. These patients had very high LGL counts at diagnosis (range 11,692 to 26,312 microL), which increased rapidly despite treatment. Histopathologic examination of splenic sections showed extensive infiltration of red pulp cords and sinuses by leukemic cells with atrophy of the white pulp. These clinicopathologic features are similar to those described for patients with natural killer cell (NK)-LGL leukemia, whose cells are also CD56+. However, unlike NK-LGL leukemia, we could not show a direct pathogenic role for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as Southern-blot analyses using an EBV-joined termini probe were negative in these patients. Our findings suggest that CD3+, CD56+ LGL leukemia is a distinct clinicopathologic entity separate from the usual CD3+, CD56- T- LGL leukemia. The expression on leukemic LGL of CD56, an adhesion molecule, may determine the aggressive biologic nature of this newly described disease.
Phenotypic characterization of a novel bone marrow-derived cell that facilitates engraftment of allogeneic bone marrow stem cells
Authors: Kaufman CL , Colson YL , Wren SM , Watkins S , Simmons RL , Ildstad ST
Published: October 2019

Bone marrow transplantation is an accepted therapy for hematologic malignancies, aplastic anemia, metabolic disorders, and solid tumors. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and failure of engraftment have limited the widespread application of this technology to nonmalignant disease states. The use of purified bone marrow stem cells has been suggested as an approach to promote engraftment yet avoid GVHD. Although bone marrow stem cells, purified by cell sorting, engraft and repopulate lethally irradiated genetically identical recipients, they do not engraft in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-disparate allogeneic recipients. We report for the first time the characterization of a novel cell population of donor bone marrow origin, separate from the hematopoietic stem cell, that facilitates engraftment of purified allogeneic bone marrow stem cells in an MHC- specific fashion without causing GVHD. Although 1,000 purified stem cells (c-kit+/Sca-1+/lineage-) reliably repopulate syngeneic mouse recipients, 10 times that number do not engraft in MHC-disparate allogeneic recipients. The addition of as few as 30,000 facilitating cells (CD8+/CD45R+/TCR-) is sufficient to permit engraftment of purified stem cells in MHC-disparate recipients. The cell surface phenotype of this purified cellular population differs significantly from other characterized lineages of lymphoid or myeloid origin. Based on multiparameter rare-events cell sorting, the facilitating fraction is CD8+, CD3+, CD45R+, Thy 1+, class IIdim/intermediate but alpha beta- TCR- and gamma delta-TCR-. This cellular population comprises approximately 0.4% of the total bone marrow and is separate from the hematopoietic stem cell. The coadministration of purified facilitating cells plus stem cells to optimize engraftment yet avoid GVHD may expand the potential application of bone marrow transplantation to disease states in which the morbidity and mortality associated with conventional BMT cannot be justified.
Administration of an anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody to patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and lymphoma: effect on lymphoma growth and on B clinical symptoms
Authors: Emilie D , Wijdenes J , Gisselbrecht C , Jarrousse B , Billaud E , Blay JY , Gabarre J , Gaillard JP , Brochier J , Raphael M
Published: October 2019

Increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production and expression by malignant cells of the IL-6 receptor has been evidenced in a subgroup of non- Hodgkin's lymphomas, suggesting that this cytokine plays a role in lymphoma growth and in B clinical symptoms. In this study, the effect of the administration of an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) was analyzed in 11 patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus-1 and suffering from an immunoblastic or a polymorphic large-cell lymphoma. The antibody (BE-8, 10 to 40 mg/day) was administered for 21 days. Neutralization of in vivo IL-6 effect was assessed by monitoring C-reactive protein levels in the serum. In 5 patients, the lymphoma progressed during treatment. Among them were the 2 patients in whom endogenous IL-6 effect was not neutralized. Five patients experienced a stabilization, and 1 a partial remission. This effect on lymphoma growth lasted for 8 to 28 weeks. The anti-IL-6 MoAb had a clear effect on lymphoma-associated fever and cachexia. The mean body weight increase was 1.4 +/- 0.5 kg between day 1 and day 21, and reached 12 kg in 120 days in 1 patient who received three courses of treatment. Side effects were a consistent but moderate thrombocytopenia, and an occasional and moderate decrease of neutrophil counts. Immunization against the MoAb was observed in only 2 patients. These results indicate that in some cases of lymphomas growth of malignant cells may be partially IL-6-dependent and that neutralizing endogenous effect of IL-6 completely abrogates B clinical symptoms.
Effect of retinoic acid on HL-60 cells infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Authors: Semmel M , Macho A , Coulaud D , Alileche A , Plaisance S , Aguilar J , Jasmin C
Published: October 2019

HL-60 cells infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) can be induced to differentiate along the granulocyte pathway by retinoic acid. In these cells, HIV mRNA synthesis is stimulated, but synthesis of viral proteins and virus replication are blocked and HIV- infected cells die after becoming apoptotic and/or vacuolized.
Functional activities of receptors for tumor necrosis factor-alpha on human vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Paleolog EM , Delasalle SA , Buurman WA , Feldmann M
Published: October 2019

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a critical role in the control of endothelial cell function and hence in regulating traffic of circulating cells into tissues in vivo. Stimulation of endothelial cells in vitro by TNF-alpha increases the surface expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules, enhances cytokine production, and induces tissue factor procoagulant activity. In the present study, we have examined the relative roles of the two cell surface receptors for TNF- alpha (p55 and p75) on endothelial cells, using antibodies with both agonistic and antagonistic activities. We report that anti-p55 receptor agonistic antibody Htr-9 induces the expression of tissue factor antigen and the release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In contrast, there is very little or no activation of endothelial cell responses by an anti- p75 agonist. TNF-alpha-induced expression of tissue factor and adhesion molecules, and release of IL-8 and GM-CSF, are decreased by antibodies with antagonistic activities for either receptor, although the effect of anti-p55 antibodies is markedly greater than that of anti-p75 antibodies. The responses of endothelial cells to lymphotoxin/TNF-beta are significantly decreased by anti-p55 antagonists alone. Our data suggest that endothelial cell responses to TNF-alpha, such as expression of tissue factor and adhesion molecules for mononuclear cells, which may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, are mediated predominantly, but not exclusively, by the p55 TNF receptor.
Expression of recombinant transmembrane CD59 in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria B cells confers resistance to human complement
Authors: Rother RP , Rollins SA , Mennone J , Chodera A , Fidel SA , Bessler M , Hillmen P , Squinto SP
Published: October 2019

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired hematopoietic disorder characterized by complement-mediated hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, and venous thrombosis. These clinical manifestations arise from an underlying molecular defect of bone marrow stem cells. Specifically, somatic mutations in the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A gene result in the ability of blood cells to anchor complement- regulatory proteins (CD59 and DAF) to the cell surface via glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI). In an attempt to circumvent the functional defect in PNH cells, a recombinant transmembrane form of CD59 (CD59-TM) was analyzed for the ability to regulate complement activity. Balb/3T3 stable transfectants expressing similar levels of either CD59-TM or native CD59 (CD59-GPI) were equally protected against human complement- mediated membrane damage. Treatment of these cells with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C failed to release CD59-TM from the cell surface. Retroviral transduction of GPI-anchoring deficient mouse L cells with CD59-TM resulted in surface expression of the protein and rendered these cells resistant to human complement- mediated membrane damage. Conversely, L cells transduced with CD59-GPI failed to express this protein on the cell surface. A GPI-anchoring deficient complement-sensitive B-cell line derived from a PNH patient was successfully transduced with CD59-TM, resulting in surface expression of the protein. The PNH B cells expressing CD59-TM were protected against classical complement-mediated membrane damage by human serum. Taken together, these data establish that a functional recombinant transmembrane form of CD59 can be expressed on the surface of GPI-anchoring deficient PNH cells and suggest that retroviral gene therapy with this molecule could provide a treatment for PNH patients.