bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor are candidate growth factors for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia cells
Authors: Everson MP , Brown CB , Lilly MB
Published: October 2019

Previous studies suggest that malignant cells from some patients with myeloid leukemias produce colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) that can function as autocrine growth factors in vitro. We have examined the roles of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) in the proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells. IL-6 activity was assessed in conditioned medium (CM) from myeloid leukemia cell cultures or cell lysates using IL-6-dependent KD83 and 7TD1 murine cell lines. Media conditioned by cells from patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL), but not by normal monocytes, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells, contained substantial levels (50 to 1,000 U/10(6) cells) of IL-6. The IL-6 content of CM correlated directly with donor peripheral blood WBC count. CM from two of five CMMoL samples also contained greater than 350 pg/mL GM-CSF. Moreover, CMMoL cells spontaneously formed colonies in semisolid medium. CMMoL colony formation could be partially inhibited by antibodies to IL-6 or GM-CSF, whereas combination of these antibodies gave additive, and nearly complete (greater than 93%), inhibition of spontaneous colony formation. Cell lysates from uncultured CMMoL cells from one patient contained abundant GM-CSF protein but no detectable IL-6. These data suggest that IL-6 and GM-CSF act in vitro as autocrine growth factors for CMMoL cells, and that CMMoL cells in vivo may represent a GM-CSF-dependent autocrine growth system.
Use of scid mice to identify and quantitate lymphoid-restricted stem cells in long-term bone marrow cultures
Authors: Fulop GM , Phillips RA
Published: October 2019

Mice homozygous for an autosomal recessive scid (severe combined immune deficiency) mutation on chromosome 16 exhibit a defect that specifically impairs lymphoid differentiation but not myelopoiesis. Consequently such mice are deficient in both humoral and cell-mediated immune functions. Despite their defect, scid mice survive under pathogen-free conditions and are fertile. The mutation does not impair the hematopoietic microenvironment necessary for lymphoid differentiation, since these mice can be cured with grafts of normal bone marrow (BM) or cells from long-term BM cultures (LTBMC); however, reconstitution requires sublethal (400 cGy) irradiation of recipients. Engraftment with cells from LTBMC gave near-normal levels of colony- forming B cells (CFU-B) in spleen and BM of the recipients by 6 weeks postgrafting. Since LTBMC are devoid of all mature B and pre-B cells but contain stem cells that restore lymphoid function in scid mice, we used a limiting-dilution assay to characterize and enumerate the number of stem cells in LTBMC capable of restoring lymphoid function. Curing was determined by the CFU-B-cell assay, since CFU-B are not detectable in normal scid mice. The results indicate that fewer cells from LTBMC than from fresh BM are required to obtain lymphoid reconstitution. As few as 10(3) LTBMC cells can repopulate significant B- and T-cell function in scid recipients. From these results we conclude that scid mice can be used as recipients to quantify lymphoid-restricted stem cells and that there is a functional separation of lymphoid- and myeloid-restricted stem cells in LTBMC with an enrichment for lymphoid- restricted stem cells in these cultures.
Different repopulation profile between erythroid and nonerythroid progenitor cells in genetically anemic W/Wv mice after bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Nakano T , Waki N , Asai H , Kitamura Y
Published: October 2019

Repopulation kinetics of erythrocytes and neutrophils and replacement of hematopoietic progenitors were studied in genetically anemic (WB x C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv (WBB6F1-W/Wv) hosts after bone marrow transplantation from C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ or C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ;Pgk-1a/Y mice. Electrophoretic pattern of hemoglobin was used as a marker of donor-type erythrocytes, giant granules of bgJ/bgJ mice as a marker of donor-type neutrophils, and A-type phosphoglycerate kinase-1 (PGK-1) as a marker of hematopoietic colonies produced by donor-derived progenitor cells. Repopulation of donor-type erythrocytes was significantly faster than that of donor-type neutrophils. Moreover, the extent of replacement was greater for erythroid progenitor cells than for nonerythroid progenitor cells. When nonirradiated WBB6F1-W/Wv mice with B-type PGK-1 received 10(5) bone marrow cells from C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ;Pgk-1a donors, only approximately 20% replacement of erythroid progenitor cells gave rise to total reconstitution of erythrocytes. The present result suggests that normal multipotential stem cells may preferentially differentiate into erythroid lineage cells in anemic WBB6F1-W/Wv hosts and that normal erythroid progenitor cells may suppress the differentiation of erythroid progenitors of WBB6F1-W/Wv hosts.
Characterization and partial purification of human marrow cells capable of initiating long-term hematopoiesis in vitro
Authors: Sutherland HJ , Eaves CJ , Eaves AC , Dragowska W , Lansdorp PM
Published: October 2019

To develop a purification strategy for isolating the most primitive hematopoietic stem cells present in normal human marrow we have combined cell separation techniques with an assay for cells that initiate sustained hematopoiesis in vitro in the presence of irradiated human marrow adherent cells. These “feeders” were established by subculturing 2- to 6-week-old primary long-term marrow culture adherent layers at a density of 3 x 10(4) irradiated cells per square centimeter. Test “long-term culture (LTC)-initiating cells” were plated on top of the feeders and the cocultures then maintained as standard long-term marrow cultures with half-media changes and removal of half of the nonadherent cells each week. The total number of myeloid, erythroid, and multilineage clonogenic progenitors present after 5 weeks was used to provide a quantitative assessment of the number of LTC-initiating cells originally added. Using this assay, the density, light scatter, and two cell surface antigen properties of LTC- initiating cells have been defined and compared with cells capable of directly forming colonies in methylcellulose. While the majority of the clonogenic cells were found in the high forward light scatter (FLS) “blast” window, LTC-initiating cells had significantly lower FLS properties and in this respect were more similar to lymphocytes. LTC- initiating cells also expressed less HLA-DR antigen than clonogenic cells. The majority of LTC-initiating cells were found in the top 2% of the CD34 (My10) fluorescence profile, whereas clonogenic cells were found throughout the top 5% of the CD34 fluorescence profile. By combining low FLS, low orthogonal light scatter (OLS), low HLA-DR expression, and high CD34 expression, a population could be obtained that was enriched for LTC-initiating cells approximately 800-fold over unseparated marrow. This population contains only 0.06% of the marrow cells and 2% of the total clonogenic cells, but retains 50% to 60% of the LTC-initiating cells present in the original marrow. The ability to purify these two populations independently shows that the LTC and clonogenic assays identify distinct, although not necessarily nonoverlapping cell types in human marrow. Since clonogenic cells are derived from LTC-initiating cells, the LTC assay clearly detects a more primitive population. The availability of a simple approach that allows the purification of such cells by three orders of magnitude in high yield should be useful for the investigation of early events in hematopoiesis as well as for the definitive isolation of human hematopoietic stem cells with long-term in vivo repopulating potential.
New variant of von Willebrand disease with defective binding to factor VIII
Authors: Nishino M , Girma JP , Rothschild C , Fressinaud E , Meyer D
Published: October 2019

A new variant of von Willebrand disease (vWD) was identified by a new analytic method which characterizes the ability of plasma von Willebrand Factor (vWF) to bind to purified factor VIII (F.VIII). vWF was isolated from small amounts of plasma by immunoadsorption with a selected monoclonal antibody to vWF previously coated onto wells of microtitration plates. Plasma F.VIII was removed from immobilized vWF by washing with 0.4 mol/L CaCl2; purified F.VIII was then added to the well. The amount of bound F.VIII was estimated directly in the wells by a chromogenic assay and immobilized vWF was estimated by an immunologic a pool of normal plasma, ten control individuals, 13 with hemophilia A and five with type I vWD. In all cases, the dose-response curves were linear and the slopes of the regression lines were essentially the same. The method was then applied to investigate the binding of vWF to F.VIII in two vWD patients (sister and brother) who demonstrated significantly lower activity of F.VIII than of vWF. The first patient, with a long history of epistaxis, bruising, and hematomas, showed a slightly prolonged bleeding time (10 minutes); 15% VIII:C and 39% of vWF:Ag and vWFRCo. Her brother, who has a bleeding syndrome but no hematomas, showed similar data (bleeding time 9 minutes, 20% VIII:C, 53% vWF:Ag and vWFRCo). Similar levels of F.VIII were observed in the two propositi by four different methods (one- and two-stage clotting and chromogenic and immunologic assays). Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) 1.4% agarose gel electrophoresis showed that all multimers of vWF were present in both patients. vWF binding to F.VIII was markedly decreased in the two propositi. The abnormal binding of vWF to F.VIII was not corrected during pregnancy or after infusion of 1-deamino (8-D- arginine) vasopressin despite an increase in vWF levels. The qualitative abnormality of vWF in both patients was associated with a subtle alteration of the multimeric structure by SDS 3% agarose gel electrophoresis in which the two central subbands of the quintuplet of individual oligomers were undetectable or poorly visible. SDS- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions demonstrated a single band of 275 Kd in the plasma of both patients, and there was no evidence of a second band corresponding to pro-vWF, the precursor of the mature vWF subunit, suggesting that proteolytic processing of vWF was normal.
Increased plasma levels of interleukin-6 in sepsis [see comments]
Authors: Hack CE , De Groot ER , Felt-Bersma RJ , Nuijens JH , Strack Van Schijndel RJ , Eerenberg-Belmer AJ , Thijs LG , Aarden LA
Published: October 2019

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is likely to be an important mediator of the inflammatory response. We measured levels of this cytokine in plasma samples from 37 patients with sepsis or septic shock obtained at the time of admission to the intensive care unit and related these levels to hemodynamic and biochemical parameters as well as to clinical outcome. In 32 of the 37 patients, increased levels of IL-6 were found, occasionally up to 7,500 times the normal level. The highest IL-6 levels were encountered in patients who suffered from septic shock (P value of the difference between patients with and without shock less than .0001). In addition, IL-6 significantly correlated with plasma lactate (P less than .0001), heart rate (P = .05) and, inversely, with mean arterial pressure (P = .01) and platelet counts (P = .0002). Significant correlations of IL-6 with the anaphylatoxins C3a (P = .0001) and C4a (P = .0002) and with the main inhibitor of the classical pathway of complement, C1-inhibitor (inverse correlation, P = .05), were also observed. IL-6 on admission appeared to be of prognostic significance: levels were higher in septic patients who subsequently died than in those who survived (P = .0003), in particular when only patients with septic shock were considered (P less than .0001). All nine septic patients with levels of less than 40 U/mL on admission survived, whereas 89% of the nine patients with levels exceeding 7,500 U/mL died. These data provide evidence for a role of IL-6 in the pathophysiology of septic shock. Further studies are needed to reveal whether IL-6 in sepsis is directly involved in mediating lethal complications or whether it is to be considered as an “alarm hormone” that reflects endothelial cell injury probably mediated by the anaphylatoxines.
Effects of tumor necrosis factor on sensitive and multidrug resistant human leukemia and myeloma cell lines
Authors: Salmon SE , Soehnlen B , Dalton WS , Meltzer P , Scuderi P
Published: October 2019

Two human tumor cell lines exhibiting acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) with increased expression of a cell surface glycoprotein (GP-170) were tested for their sensitivity to human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF). The drug resistant mutant lines (CEM/V, a T-cell leukemia line resistant to vinblastine, and 8226/D, a multiple myeloma line resistant to doxorubicin), were markedly more sensitive to rTNF in clonogenic assay than were their drug-sensitive parental lines (CEM, 8226). As determined by radioreceptor assay, the number of cell surface receptors for rTNF did not differ on the parental and drug-resistant lines. During the first 24 hours after addition of rTNF, there was a decrease in intracellular ATP content in the CEM/V line but not in the CEM line. No differential effect of rTNF on ATP content was observed between 8226 and 8226/D. As determined by RNA dot-blot analysis, total cellular RNA for GP-170 was increased in the 8226/D cells. After rTNF exposure, expression of total cellular RNA for GP-170 was not altered. Accumulation of radiolabeled doxorubicin by 8226/D cells was not altered by previous or coincubation with rTNF. These findings suggest that the effects of rTNF on MDR cells is not related to TNF receptor number and is mediated at a step subsequent to rTNF binding and not by either inhibition of synthesis of GP-170 or by alteration in the function of the GP-170 efflux pump.
An additional breakpoint region in the BCL-1 locus associated with the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation of B-lymphocytic malignancy
Authors: Meeker TC , Grimaldi JC , O'Rourke R , Louie E , Juliusson G , Einhorn S
Published: October 2019

The t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation is associated with human B- lymphocytic malignancy. This translocation divides the IgH locus on chromosome 14q32 and may activate a postulated proto-oncogene, bcl–1, located on chromosome 11q13. Two samples of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with the t(11;14)(q32;q13) translocation were studied. The break in one sample was shown to join Jh sequences with the previously described bcl–1 major translocation cluster. DNA blots of the second sample suggested that Jh sequences were joined to a different breakpoint region on chromosome 11. This translocation was cloned and found to link the human Jh3 region and a new breakpoint region 63 kb telomeric of the major translocation cluster. This translocation occurred in part as the result of an aberrant D-J recombination. Recurrent translocations human B-lymphocytic malignancy. The definition of a new breakpoint region may aid the identification of the postulated bcl–1 gene.
Expression of c-jun protooncogene in human myelomonocytic cells
Authors: Bertani A , Polentarutti N , Sica A , Rambaldi A , Mantovani A , Colotta F
Published: October 2019

A prototypic “immediate early” gene, c-fos, has been extensively investigated in relation to the differentiation and activation of myelomonocytic cells. The c-fos gene product is associated in transcriptional complexes with the c-jun product. These protooncogenes are part of the regulatory network of gene expression. The present study was designed to investigate expression of the c-jun protooncogene in human circulating myelomonocytic cells. We found that c-jun is constitutively expressed in normal monocytes and granulocytes, whereas low levels of transcripts are found in lymphocytes. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) samples of French-American-British Cooperative Group (FAB) subtypes 1 through 4 express appreciable levels of this protooncogene. Normal phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated lymphocytes express high levels of c-jun. Expression in normal myelomonocytic cells is detectable even after 18 hours of culture. The c-jun transcripts in myelomonocytic cells have a half-life of approximately 20 minutes and are superinduced by cycloheximide, which affects both the degradation rate of mRNA and the transcriptional activity of the c-jun gene. Functional activation of monocytes and granulocytes with phorbol esters, lipopolysaccharide, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) increase c- jun expression. This induction is rapid, transient, and does not require intervening protein synthesis. Runoff experiments showed that in freshly isolated untreated monocytes, the c-jun gene is constitutively transcribed, and that induction by lipopolysaccharide is at least in part at the transcriptional level. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment reduced the degradation rate of c- jun transcripts, prolonging the half-life to approximately two hours. Expression of c-jun in resting and activated monocytes and granulocytes suggests that this protooncogene may play a role in the differentiation and activation of cells belonging to the myelomonocytic lineage.
t(3;22)(q27;q11): a novel translocation associated with diffuse non- Hodgkin's lymphoma [see comments]
Authors: Offit K , Jhanwar S , Ebrahim SA , Filippa D , Clarkson BD , Chaganti RS
Published: October 2019

Of 187 specimens of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and four hyperplastic lymphoid proliferations with clonal chromosome abnormalities ascertained serially over a 4 1/2-year period, nine cases with t(3;22)(q27;q11) were identified. Seven of the lymphomas were diffuse tumors, predominantly large cell type. The eighth tumor, a follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma, exhibited a t(3;22) and a t(14;18)(q32;q21). The ninth case was a lymph node from a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient which showed atypical hyperplasia. Overall survival of t(3;22) diffuse lymphoma patients was not different from that of patients with abnormal karyotypes without t(3;22). The t(3;22) diffuse tumors studied showed a disproportionate frequency of lambda light chain on their cell surfaces, a finding similar to that observed in t(8;22)(q24;q11) Burkitt's lymphomas. Our results indicate that the t(3;22)(q27;q11) is the third most common recurring translocation in diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Expression cloning of cDNA encoding a novel human hematopoietic growth factor: human homologue of murine T-cell growth factor P40
Authors: Yang YC , Ricciardi S , Ciarletta A , Calvetti J , Kelleher K , Clark SC
Published: October 2019

We used functional expression cloning in mammalian cells to identify a cDNA clone encoding a hematopoietic growth factor that is mitogenic for the factor-dependent human megakaryoblastic leukemic cell line, MO7E. Analysis of the sequence of this cDNA revealed striking similarity to that of a recently reported novel murine growth factor for helper T- cell clones designated T-cell growth factor P40. The mRNA for the human P40 protein is expressed by several different human T-cell lines and by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. The recombinant protein displays substantial size heterogeneity typical of other glycoprotein cytokines. These properties plus the observation that this cytokine may well act within both the lymphoid and myeloid lineages warrant the designation of P40 as interleukin-9.
Disease-free survival after autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Korbling M , Hunstein W , Fliedner TM , Cayeux S , Dorken B , Fehrentz D , Haas R , Ho AD , Keilholz U , Knauf W
Published: October 2019

Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) makes it possible to escalate the dose of cytotoxic treatment to a lethal range. Disease- free survival (DFS) following myeloablative therapy and ABMT has been shown to be superior to conventional treatment in high risk patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It was the purpose of the present study to compare hematopoietic reconstitution, actuarial DFS, and relapse rate of patients transplanted in first complete remission (CR) of AML with those in second or subsequent CR, and to evaluate transplant related mortality. Fifty-two patients with AML, 22 in first CR (low risk) and 30 in second or subsequent CR (high risk), underwent total body irradiation (12.1 to 16.7 Gy) and cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment (200 mg/kg) followed by ABMT. The autograft was incubated with the active CY derivative Mafosfamide (ASTA Werke, Bielefeld, Federal Republic of Germany) to reduce the number of possibly contaminating clonogenic tumor cells. All patients showed three lineage engraftments with platelet recovery observed as being the slowest. The transplant related death rate was low at 5.8%. There was no significant difference in the kinetics of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell or platelet reconstitution between the low and high risk patient subgroups. The estimated probability of DFS (relapse) after ABMT in first CR was 61% (36%) compared with 34% (65%) in second or subsequent CR, the longest follow-up being 55 months and 57 months, respectively (median follow-up 31 months and 19 months, respectively). ABMT offers a stable long-term DFS when performed in first CR with no relapses occurring in over a year after transplantation. Six later relapses, however, were seen after ABMT in second or subsequent CR, although DFS was not statistically different from that of first remission patients (P = .72).
A stimulatory effect of recombinant murine interleukin-7 (IL-7) on B- cell colony formation and an inhibitory effect of IL-1 alpha
Authors: Suda T , Okada S , Suda J , Miura Y , Ito M , Sudo T , Hayashi S , Nishikawa S , Nakauchi H
Published: October 2019

Using a clonal culture system, we investigated the lymphohematopoietic effects of recombinant interleukin-7 (IL-7) obtained from conditioned media of transfected COS 1 cells. IL-7 alone acted on murine bone marrow cells and supported the formation of B-cell colonies. These colony cells were positive for B220, and some of them were also found to have either IgM or Thy-1. B220+, IgM- cells, but not B220- cells sorted from fresh bone marrow cells were able to form B cell colonies in the presence of IL-7. Thus, IL-7 supported the differentiation of B220+, IgM- cells to B220+, IgM+ cells. B220+, IgM+ cells did not proliferate in the presence of IL-7. IL-7 did not affect the myeloid colony formation supported by IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and G-CSF. On the other hand, lymphocyte colony formation was not affected by IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, GM-CSF, or G-CSF. Interestingly, IL-1 alpha inhibited IL-7- induced B cell colony formation in a dose-dependent manner, while the same concentration of IL-1 alpha enhanced the myeloid colony formation by IL-3. This reciprocal effect of IL-1 alpha may act on hematopoietic progenitor cells without accessory cells. These data show that IL-7 is a B cell growth factor and that IL-1 alpha may play an important role in differentiation of myeloid and lymphoid lineages.
Analysis of megakaryocyte ploidy in rat bone marrow cultures
Authors: Kuter DJ , Greenberg SM , Rosenberg RD
Published: October 2019

Megakaryocytes undergo changes in ploidy in vivo in response to varying demands for platelets. Attempts to study the putative factor(s) regulating these ploidy changes have been frustrated by the lack of an appropriate in vitro model of megakaryocyte endomitosis. This report describes a culture system in which rat bone marrow is depleted of identifiable megakaryocytes and enriched in their precursor cells. Morphologically identifiable megakaryocytes appear when the depleted marrow is cultured in vitro. The total number of nucleated cells, as well as the number of megakaryocytes and their ploidy distribution, are quantitated very precisely by flow cytometry. Although the total number of nucleated cells declines by 35% to 40% over 3 days in culture, the number of megakaryocytes rises 10-fold. The number of nucleated cells, the number of megakaryocytes, and the extent of megakaryocyte ploidization behave as independent variables in culture and are dependent on the culture conditions. The addition of recombinant erythropoietin promotes a rise in the number of megakaryocytes and a shift in ploidy to higher values while recombinant murine granulocyte- macrophage colony stimulating factor is without effect on the cultured megakaryocytes. This in vitro system may provide a means to study those factors that affect megakaryocyte growth and ploidization.
Consistency of responses to repeated DDAVP infusions in patients with von Willebrand's disease and hemophilia A
Authors: Rodeghiero F , Castaman G , Di Bona E , Ruggeri M
Published: October 2019

The consistency in time of responses to separate desmopressin (DDAVP) infusions in patients with von Willebrand's disease (vWD) and mild or moderate hemophilia A has been the subject of limited investigation. We report here the results of a clinical study undertaken to test the consistency of responses to repeated DDAVP administrations in 22 patients with vWD and 10 with mild or moderate hemophilia A (time interval between first and last infusion ranging from 1 to 77 months; median, 13 months). In patients with vWD, 80% of cases showed a departure of less than 20% from the average VIII:C peak level calculated after the two infusions. A similarly consistent pattern was observed for bleeding times recorded 30 minutes after each infusion. In patients with hemophilia A, some infused on more than two instances, the departure from the average VIII:C peak level was less than 20% in nearly 70% of cases. A good within-family consistency was also demonstrated by analyzing data obtained from seven kindreds with vWD and two with hemophilia A. In conclusion, our study suggests that the pattern of responsiveness observed after a DDAVP test-infusion can be reliably used to decide the future clinical management of the individual patient and that a similar pattern of response is usually observed within the same kindred.
A new congenital platelet abnormality characterized by spontaneous platelet aggregation, enhanced von Willebrand factor platelet interaction, and the presence of all von Willebrand factor multimers in plasma
Authors: Casonato A , De Marco L , Mazzucato M , De Angelis V , De Roia D , Fabris F , Ruggeri ZM , Girolami A
Published: October 2019

A case is reported of a 49-year-old woman with a mild bleeding tendency. Her bleeding time, platelet count and size, plasma ristocetin cofactor activity, von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen, and vWF multimeric pattern are all within normal limits. Spontaneous platelet aggregation is observed when citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is stirred in an aggregometer cuvette. This aggregation is completely is only slightly diminished by an antiglycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa or by an anti GPIb monoclonal antibody. The patient's PRP shows increased sensitivity to ristocetin. The distinct feature of this patient, also present in two family members studied, is that platelet aggregation is initiated by purified vWF in the absence of any other agonist. The vWF- induced platelet aggregation is abolished by anti-GPIb and anti- GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibodies and by EDTA (5 mmol/L). Apyrase inhibits the second wave of aggregation. Patient's platelets in PRP are four to six times more reactive to asialo vWF-induced platelet aggregation than normal platelets. The amount of radiolabeled vWF bound to platelets in the presence of either low concentration of ristocetin or asialo vWF was increased 30% compared with normal. The patient's platelet GPIb was analyzed by SDS page and immunoblotting and by binding studies with anti-GPIb monoclonal antibodies showed one band with slightly increased migration pattern and a normal number of GPIb molecules. Unlike the previously reported patients with pseudo or platelet-type von Willebrand disease, this patient has normal vWF parameters.
Elimination of drug-resistant myeloma tumor cell lines by monoclonal anti-P-glycoprotein antibody and rabbit complement
Authors: Kulkarni SS , Wang ZM , Spitzer G , Taha M , Hamada H , Tsuruo T , Dicke KA
Published: October 2019

The effectiveness of ex vivo chemotherapy with drugs, such as vincristine, etoposide, and Adriamycin (doxorubicin, Adria Labs, Columbus, OH) for elimination of residual tumor cells from human bone marrow grafts could be undermined by the presence of multidrug- resistant tumor cells in the bone marrow. Therefore, to supplement chemoseparation, we investigated whether MRK-16, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to the surface moiety of multidrug resistance-associated P- glycoprotein antigen, can eliminate drug-resistant tumor cells in the presence of rabbit complement (RC). Two doxorubicin (DOX)-resistant human myeloma tumor cell line, 8226/DOX40 (resistant to 4 x 10(-7) mol/L DOX) and 8226/DOX6 (6 x 10(-8) mol/L DOX) with high and low amounts of cell surface P-glycoprotein, respectively, and the drug- sensitive parent cell line 8226/S were used as tumor models in this study. Using the limiting dilution assay, we have shown that three cycles of treatment with 25 micrograms/mL of MRK-16 MoAb and a 1:4 final dilution of RC eliminated 2.90 +/- 0.10 logs of 8226/DOX40 cells and 1.94 +/- 0.18 logs of 8226/DOX6 cells. One and two cycles of treatment were less effective, eliminating 0.47 +/- 0.40 and 1.94 +/- 0.36 logs of 8226/DOX40 and 0.12 +/- 0.20 and 1.63 +/- 0.58 logs of 8226/DOX6 cells, respectively. The 8226/S cell growth was unaffected by one to three cycles of treatment. The cell kill was not impaired when the antibody plus complement treatment was carried out on a mixture of 8226/DOX40 or 8226/DOX6 cells with a ninefold excess of irradiated bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs). The three cycles of treatment with antibody plus complement did not adversely affect granulocyte- macrophage colony-forming unit (GM-CFU) survival in hematologically normal marrows (92.5% to 104% survival) or in myeloma patient marrows (85% to 100%). These results show that it is possible to eliminate drug- resistant myeloma tumor cell lines from the admixed human bone marrow by treatment with MRK-16 MoAb plus RC. This method could prove to be effective for elimination of other drug-resistant tumor cell lines including those of leukemia and solid tumors, and will be further useful for supplementing chemopurging, and immunopurging of bone marrow with other antitumor cell antibodies.
Third-party-mediated graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease after T-cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation, as demonstrated by hypervariable DNA probes and HLA-DR polymorphism
Authors: Drobyski W , Thibodeau S , Truitt RL , Baxter-Lowe LA , Gorski J , Jenkins R , Gottschall J , Ash RC
Published: October 2019

Graft rejection after marrow transplantation is generally thought to be mediated by alloreactive immune effector cells of host origin. Transfused blood products also contain immune cells capable of alloreactivity against both donor graft and host. To reduce the risk of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft rejection, standard procedure is to irradiate all blood products with at least 1,500 rad before transfusion. We report a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia who developed graft rejection and GVHD after receiving a T-cell-depleted transplant from a serologically HLA-A, B, DR/DQ matched and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) nonreactive unrelated donor. Cytogenetic analysis of marrow cells collected at the time of graft rejection revealed a PH1-negative female karyotype that was not consistent with donor cells. Use of specific minisatellite DNA probes (YNH 24, H-RAS, and 3′ HVR) revealed the exclusive presence of third- party (neither donor nor recipient) restriction-fragment-length polymorphisms (RFLP) in both peripheral blood and marrow. Repeat RFLP analysis 3 days later showed persistence of this unique third-party banding pattern. DNA-based HLA-typing, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide probe hybridization, also showed these cells to be derived from an individual whose HLA-DR type was distinct from donor and recipient. Together, these findings suggested the presence of a proliferating population of transfused cells possessing alloreactivity against both donor graft and host, despite prior irradiation of all blood products with 2,000 rad. Limiting dilution analysis to assess the frequency of irradiated lymphocytes able to respond to mitogen revealed an approximate 5- to 6-log reduction at 1,500 to 2,000 rad as compared with unirradiated controls. These data indicate that a small percentage of lymphocytes can survive irradiation at these doses and suggest that existing blood-product irradiation guidelines may require reassessment, especially in T-cell-depleted transplant recipients.
Effects of recombinant interleukin-2 administration on cytotoxic function following high-dose chemo-radiotherapy for hematological malignancy
Authors: Gottlieb DJ , Prentice HG , Heslop HE , Bello-Fernandez C , Bianchi AC , Galazka AR , Brenner MK
Published: October 2019

Activated killer cells, unrestricted by major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens circulate in the peripheral blood of patients who have undergone autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) and may contribute to the reduced risk of leukemic relapse observed after these procedures. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in vitro augments this cytotoxicity and used therapeutically might thereby promote the eradication of minimal residual disease. In order to assess whether these effects on cytotoxicity can be reproduced in vivo, we studied changes in number, phenotype, and MHC unrestricted cytotoxicity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with hematologic malignancy receiving IL-2 infusions. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma were treated after cytotoxic chemotherapy or autologous BMT. IL-2 infusions produced an initial lymphopenia, followed by a progressive recovery in mononuclear cell numbers and a rebound lymphocytosis after the termination of treatment. This affected all lymphocyte subsets; in particular CD25 (IL-2 receptor) positive cell numbers rose sevenfold. Cells with the ability to kill a natural killer (NK)-resistant, lymphokine activated killer cell (LAK)-sensitive target appeared in the circulation during 16 of 19 infusions and mean LAK activity rose from 5.9% to 15.5% during infusion (E:T ratio, 50:1; P less than .001). During IL-2 infusion, cells present in the peripheral blood inhibited the growth of myeloid leukemia blasts in agar after overnight co-culture. Depletion experiments showed that LAK activity was mediated by cells of both CD3- CD16+ (NK derived) and CD3+ CD16- (T derived) subsets. LAK precursor activity in peripheral blood also significantly increased during IL-2 infusion. Increases in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) unrestricted cytotoxicity can be produced by IL-2 infusions in vivo and may result in improved relapse-free survival following chemotherapy or BMT.
Effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on proliferation and induction of hemoglobin accumulation in K-562 cells
Authors: Chen LL , Dean A , Jenkinson T , Mendelsohn J
Published: October 2019

The effects of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on proliferation and hemoglobinization in K-562 cells, a human multipotential hematopoietic cell line, were studied. We found that TGF- beta 1 could induce hemoglobin accumulation in K-562 cells. Various clones were selected on the basis of the inducibility of hemoglobinization by TGF-beta 1. One high response clone (no. 1) and one low response clone (no. 8) were studied in detail. Hemoglobin accumulation peaked on day 5 of culture in the presence of TGF-beta 1 (0.5 ng/mL, 20 pmol/L), when 90% of clone 1 cells, 55% of parent line cells, and less than 10% of clone 8 cells contained hemoglobin. There was a concomitant reduction in proliferation of 60% for clone 1, 40% for the parent line, and 30% for the clone 8 on day 5 of culture. Quantitative analysis showed that the hemoglobin contents in clone 1 after 5-day induction by TGF-beta 1 and hemin were 1.0 pg/cell and 2.9 pg/cell, respectively. The hemoglobin induced by TGF-beta 1 showed the same electrophoretic characteristics as the hemoglobin induced by hemin. The expression of epsilon-globin mRNA was minimally detectable in control cells and was induced in both TGF-beta 1 and hemin treated cells. Other cytokines with potential effects on K-562 cell proliferation and differentiation were also studied. Interleukin-1, interleukin-3, interferon alpha, interferon gamma, and inhibin, tested as single agents, showed minimal effects on proliferation. None of these agents could induce hemoglobinization or inhibit the hemoglobinization induced by TGF-beta 1.
Spleen stromal cell lines selectively support erythroid colony formation
Authors: Yanai N , Matsuya Y , Obinata M
Published: October 2019

Mouse stromal cell lines (MSS lines) have been established from the spleens of newborn mice in culture at a low serum concentration. These MSS lines support the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells from mouse fetal livers and bone marrow in a semisolid medium in the presence of erythropoietin. Larger colonies of over 1,000 benzidine-positive erythroid cells were developed from the fetal liver cells on the MSS cell layers after 6 days of incubation. These layers also support the maturation of the erythroid cells since the enucleation process of the latter was observed in large erythroid colonies. Metabolically active MSS cells are apparently required to support the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells, because neither the MSS cells inactivated with fixation nor the conditioned media of MSS cells promoted the erythroid colony formation. These studies demonstrate that MSS lines specifically support the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells in vitro and that stroma cells may have a critical function in blood formation in the mouse spleen.
Discrimination of normal and abnormal prothrombin and protein C in plasma using a calcium ion-inhibited monoclonal antibody to a common epitope on several vitamin K-dependent proteins
Authors: Church WR , Bhushan FH , Mann KG , Bovill EG
Published: October 2019

Vitamin K deficiency or administration of vitamin K antagonists results in the biosynthesis of abnormal des-gamma-carboxy forms of the vitamin K-dependent proteins. Monoclonal antibody H-11 binds several vitamin K- dependent proteins at a determinant that includes the first two residues of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid. Antibody H-11 binds fully carboxylated prothrombin and protein C in the presence of EDTA but binding is inhibited by the divalent metal ions, calcium, magnesium, and manganese. By contrast, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin and protein C bind antibody H-11 the same in the presence of EDTA or calcium ion. Antibody H-11 thus appears to bind a conserved antigenic site containing gamma-carboxyglutamic acid that in the presence of divalent metal ion undergoes a conformational transition. This ability of antibody H-11 to bind des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin and protein C in the presence of calcium ion allowed the development of an immunoassay for these proteins in plasma. Prothrombin and protein C from stably anticoagulated individuals receiving warfarin were characterized by their ability to bind antibody H-11 in the presence of calcium ion. Binding of prothrombin and protein C to antibody H-11 in the presence of calcium correlated temporally with warfarin administration. The inability of calcium ion to inhibit binding of antibody H-11 to abnormal prothrombin and protein C in plasma suggests that the circulating forms of both proteins following warfarin administration cannot undergo the metal ion-dependent conformational transition that includes sequence residues 1 through 12.
Effect of interferon-alpha on the expression and release of the CD23 molecule in hairy cell leukemia
Authors: Genot E , Sarfati M , Sigaux F , Petit-Koskas E , Billard C , Mathiot C , Falcoff E , Delespesse G , Kolb JP
Published: October 2019

Hairy cells are stimulated to DNA synthesis by low molecular weight B cell growth factor (LMW-BCGF) and this proliferative response is suppressed by interferon (IFN)-alpha, both in vitro and in vivo. The suggestion that the CD23 molecule (Fc epsilon II receptor) might be involved in the signalling pathway of LMW-BCGF prompted us to study the expression of this molecule on hairy cells and its modulation by IFN- alpha. By flow cytometry and direct binding experiments with anti CD23 monoclonal antibodies, the presence of the CD23 antigen was detected in 7 of 12 cases tested, on variable percentages of cells, ranging from low to medium expression. In vitro incubation of hairy cells with IFN- alpha, which elicits a suppression of the proliferative response of these cells to LMW-BCGF, induced a parallel significant reduction of CD23 expression in only three cases. Similarly, a transient in vivo decrease of CD23 expression, concommitant with an inhibition of the LMW- BCGF response, could be detected in only one of three patients injected with IFN-alpha. Soluble sCD23/IgE-binding factor (BF) was quantitated in the serum from six other patients with hyperleukocytic hairy cell leukemia (HCL) undergoing a clinical trial of IFN-alpha therapy. Before treatment, these patients presented higher concentrations of the cleaved soluble form of the CD23 molecule than normal controls. Within a few weeks of IFN-alpha administration, these levels markedly decreased, paralleling a diminution of blood leukemic cells. Of interest, no such diminution was noticed for another patient resistant to IFN-alpha therapy. These results show that the proliferative response of hairy cells to LMW-BCGF is not linked to the expression of the CD23 marker. Besides, when the latter molecule was present, its decrease following IFN-alpha treatment, which could be detected in some cases, was not necessarily required for the suppression of the LMW-BCGF response and is thus not mandatory for the therapeutic efficacy of IFN- alpha. Our results point out that quantitation of serum sCD23/IgE-BF, whether related to a process of autocrine proliferation or not, is a parameter of potential importance for therapy monitoring.
Lymphokine-activated killer cell functions in patients with leukemic B- lymphoproliferative diseases
Authors: van der Harst D , Brand A , van Luxemburg-Heys SA , Kooy-Winkelaar EM , van Rood JJ
Published: October 2019

Nine patients with leukemic B-lymphoproliferative diseases (B-LPD) were evaluated for development of in vitro recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)- activated killer (LAK) cells. B-cell cultures were established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) containing 63% +/- 29% malignant cells. Short-term cultures were tested after 5-day activation with 500 U rIL-2/mL. Long-term cultures were maintained for 4 to 6 weeks by weekly addition of 500 U rIL-2 and autologous irradiated feeder cells. In the first week, the cells decreased considerably in the long-term cultures but thereafter cells proliferated (mainly T cells) on the average 300-fold (range 30- to 1,000-fold). In the short- term cultures, there was a 36% reduction of malignant B cells. In long- term cultures, B cells were reduced from 63% to 8%; three cultures still contained greater than 15% B cells. The CD16-positive cell percentage was comparable in both types of cultures and ranged from 2% to 17%. Effector cells lysing the natural killer (NK)-sensitive cell line K562 could be induced in all patients. Except in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and high malignant cell numbers, NK activity was already restored after 5 days. Optimal NK activity was obtained after 1.5 to 2.5 weeks. LAK cells killing NK-resistant lymphoma cell lines showed optimal activity after 2 to 3 weeks of culture. However, LAK cells killing greater than 10% of autologous malignant cells were obtained in only one third of the patients. The discrepancy between strong cytolytic activity against the NK-sensitive (K562) target cells obtained in all patients and the cytotoxic activity against NK-resistant cell lines contrasts with the poor development of LAK cells against autologous tumor cells. This discrepancy does not appear to be explained by soluble inhibitory factors released during the tumor cultures, as allogeneic LAK cells were not inhibited by supernatants from patients cultures. Further investigations are warranted to reveal cell-mediated inhibition by tumor cells or suppressor cells.
Gamma/delta lineage relationship within a consecutive series of human precursor T-cell neoplasms
Authors: de Villartay JP , Pullman AB , Andrade R , Tschachler E , Colamenici O , Neckers L , Cohen DI , Cossman J
Published: October 2019

We analyzed the gene rearrangements associated with the newly described delta T-cell receptor (TCR) gene from a series of 19 consecutive precursor T-cell (lymphoblastic) neoplasms that represent discrete stages surrounding the TCR gene rearrangement process. Significantly, the delta TCR gene showed rearrangement in most (13 of 19) of these T cells, and in addition it was rearranged in two cells displaying no rearrangement for any other TCR gene. Our survey showed three types of delta gene rearrangements associated with cell-surface TCR expression that presumably represent usage of three V delta genes. This analysis demonstrates (1) a major subclass of human precursor T-cell neoplasms belonging to the gamma/delta T-cell receptor-rearranging subtype; (2) a narrow repertoire of human V delta gene usage; and (3) the utility of delta gene rearrangements as a diagnostic clonal marker in precursor T lymphoblastic neoplasms.
Molecular heterogeneity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase A-
Authors: Beutler E , Kuhl W , Vives-Corrons JL , Prchal JT
Published: October 2019

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is probably the most common disease-producing genetic polymorphism of humans. Virtually all G6PD-deficient Africans show the G6PD A- phenotype, an electrophoretically rapid, deficient enzyme. The recently acquired ability to identify the point mutations producing the different variants has given us new insights into the population genetics of G6PD variants. Twenty-nine males with the G6PD A- phenotype were studied. They were of African, Mexican, Spanish, and US white ethnic origin. All had the A---G transition at nucleotide 376 characteristic of G6PD A. In each case, one of three additional mutations was present, at nucleotides 202, 680, or 968. That in this population second mutations producing G6PD deficiency occurred only on the genetic background of G6PD A suggests that G6PD A was at one time the most common type of G6PD in Africa. However, the nucleotide sequence of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) G6PD indicates that the primordial human type of G6PD was G6PD B.