bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved transfer of the leukocyte integrin CD18 subunit into hematopoietic cell lines by using retroviral vectors having a gibbon ape leukemia virus envelope
Authors: Bauer TR Jr , Miller AD , Hickstein DD
Published: October 2019

Leukocyte adherence deficiency (LAD) is an inherited immunodeficiency disease caused by defects in the CD18 leukocyte integrin subunit. Transduction of CD18 into hematopoietic cells from children with LAD represents a potential therapy for this disorder. In an attempt to maximize transfer and expression of CD18, we evaluated retroviral vectors with and without the neomycin selectable marker, with a modified tRNA primer binding site designed to prevent inhibition of gene expression, and with two different viral envelope proteins produced by using the amphotropic retrovirus packaging cell line PA317 or the gibbon ape leukemia virus packaging cell line PG13. The vectors were tested using transducing K562/CD11b cells and LAD Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) B cells and measuring levels of cell-surface CD11/CD18 expression by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. The best results were obtained with vectors made using PG13 packaging cells, for which about 25% of the K562 cells exposed once to the vectors expressed surface CD11b/CD18 and about 25% of the LAD EBV B cells exposed three times over a 3-day period to the vectors expressed surface CD11a/CD18. In contrast, transduction of cells under similar conditions with retroviral vectors produced using PA317 producer cells yielded less than 2% of the K562 cells and less than 4% of the LAD EBV B cells expressing the CD11/CD18 heterodimer on the cell surface. The presence or absence of the neomycin resistance gene or the modified tRNA primer had no effect on CD18 gene transfer rate or expression level. The increase in transduction with PG13 vectors correlated with Northern blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction studies that indicated that both K562 cells and the LAD EBV B cells express transcripts for the gibbon ape leukemia virus receptor at higher levels than for the amphotropic virus receptor. These findings indicate that the transduction efficiency of retroviral packaging cell lines correlates with receptor gene expression in the target cells and that vectors made using PG13 cells may be efficacious for gene therapy for LAD and other diseases in which gene transfer to hematopoietic cells is required.
A second generation transgenic mouse model expressing both hemoglobin S (HbS) and HbS-Antilles results in increased phenotypic severity
Authors: Fabry ME , Sengupta A , Suzuka SM , Costantini F , Rubin EM , Hofrichter J , Christoph G , Manci E , Culberson D , Factor SM
Published: October 2019

We report on a second generation of transgenic mice produced by crossing a transgenic mouse line expressing high levels of human alpha and beta S chains (alpha H beta S [beta MDD]) with a line expressing human alpha and beta S-Antilles (beta SAnt). We hypothesized that mice expressing both hemoglobins (Hbs) would have a more severe phenotype because the reduced oxygen affinity and solubility of the beta S- Antilles might enhance the rate and extent of polymer formation. We obtained mice that expressed both beta S and beta S-Antilles. The doubly transgenic mice that are heterozygous for deletion of mouse beta Major (beta MD) occurred with reduced frequency and those that are homozygous for deletion of mouse beta Major (beta MDD) occurred at a much reduced frequency and suffered early mortality. Human alpha was 58% of all alpha globin for all animals, whereas beta S and beta S- Antilles were 34% and 28% of all beta globins for beta MD mice and 42% and 36% for beta MDD mice. Hematocrit, Hb, and mean corpuscular Hb were normal for all transgenic mice, but reticulocyte levels were higher for the doubly transgenic mice versus alpha H beta S [beta MDD] mice older than 30 days (10.0% +/- 1.0% v 4.3% +/- 0.4%; P < .001, mean +/- SE, n = 20 and n = 10, respectively) and control mice (3.9% +/- 0.4%). Reticulocytosis was more severe in mice less than 30 days old ( >> 20% for alpha H beta S beta S-Ant[beta MDD] mice). The median mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of doubly transgenic mice was higher than that of alpha H beta S[beta MDD] mice with a variable number of very dense cells. Delay times for polymerization of Hb in red blood cells from alpha H beta S beta S-Ant[beta MDD] mice were shorter than those of alpha H beta S[beta MDD] mice, and there were fewer cells with delay times greater than 100 seconds. Urine-concentrating ability in control mice under ambient conditions is 2,846 +/- 294 mOsm and was reduced 30% to 1,958 +/- 240 mOsm, P < 4 x 10(-8) in all mice expressing both transgenes. We conclude that doubly transgenic mice have a more severe phenotype than either of the two parental lines. These mice may be suitable for validating therapeutic intervention in sickle cell disease.
Functional differences between two Fc receptor ITAM signaling motifs
Authors: Van den Herik-Oudijk IE , Ter Bekke MW , Tempelman MJ , Capel PJ , Van de Winkel JG
Published: October 2019

Most Ig receptors exist as multi-subunit complexes with a unique ligand binding alpha chain and a common signaling FcR gamma-chain. The myeloid Fc gamma RIIa (CD32) appears unique among FcR because both ligand- binding and signaling capacity are found in the alpha chain. Within the cytoplasmic tails of Fc gamma RIIa and FcR gamma-chain similar, but not identical, activatory motifs (ITAMs) have been defined, in which tyrosines play an important role. Previously, Fc gamma RIIa-ITAM was shown to be critical for both proximal and distal activatory functions in IIA1.6 B-cell transfectants. Triggering of interleukin-2 (IL-2) release and antigen presentation was absent in Fc gamma RIIa, but not in FcR gamma-chain receptor complexes. We now assessed the capacity of Fc gamma RIIa wild-type and Fc gamma RIIa/gamma chimeric molecules to trigger IL-2 production and antigen presentation by B cells. Both of these functions could solely be triggered by receptors containing the FcRIIa was capable of functional interaction with FcR gamma-chain, thus reconstituting the capacity to trigger IL-2 release and antigen presentation. These data document qualitative differences between Fc receptor ITAMs.
Quantitation of the quiescent fraction of long-term culture-initiating cells in normal human blood and marrow and the kinetics of their growth factor-stimulated entry into S-phase in vitro
Authors: Ponchio L , Conneally E , Eaves C
Published: October 2019

A method for quantitating the proportion of cycling long-term culture- initiating cells (LTC-IC) in heterogeneous populations of human hematopoietic cells is described. This procedure involves incubating the cells of interest for 16 to 24 hours in a serum-free medium containing 100 ng/mL Steel factor (SF), 20 ng/mL interleukin-3 (IL-3), and 20 ng/mL granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), with or without 20 microCi/mL of high specific activity 3H-thymidine (3H-Tdr) before plating the recovered cells in standard LTC-IC assays. The details of this procedure are based in part on the finding that the number of LTC-IC (regardless of their cycling status) remains constant for at least 24 hours under these culture conditions, as long as 3H-Tdr is not present. In addition, we have determined that a 16-hour period of exposure to the 3H-Tdr is sufficient to maximize the discrimination of cycling LTC-IC but not long enough to allow a detectable redistribution of LTC-IC between noncycling and cycling compartments. Finally, any isotope reutilization that may occur is not sufficient to affect the LTC-IC 3H-Tdr suicide values measured. Application of this methodology to normally circulating LTC-IC showed these to be a primarily quiescent population. However, within 72 hours of incubation in a serum-free medium containing SF, IL-3, and G-CSF, most had entered S-phase, although there was no net change in their numbers. This suggests that, under certain conditions in vitro, self-renewal divisions of LTC-IC can occur and, at least initially, balance any losses of these cells due to their differentiation or death. In contrast, many of the LTC-IC in freshly aspirated samples of normal marrow were found to be proliferating, although those that were initially quiescent could also be recruited into S-phase within 72 hours in vitro when incubated under the same conditions used to stimulate circulating LTC-IC. This modified 3H-Tdr suicide procedure should facilitate further investigation of the mechanisms regulating the turnover of the most primitive compartments of human hematopoietic cells and how these may be altered in disease states or exploited for a variety of therapeutic applications.
Peripheral blood harvest of unaffected CD34+ CD38- hematopoietic precursors in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Authors: Prince GM , Nguyen M , Lazarus HM , Brodsky RA , Terstappen LW , Medof ME
Published: October 2019

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) arises from somatic mutation of a bone marrow progenitor that disrupts glycosylinositol phospholipid (GPI) anchoring of cell surface proteins. We recently characterized the expression of GPI-anchored decay acclerating factor (DAF) and CD59 during hematopoietic development in PNH marrow. We found that, although a subset of early hematopoietic precursors identified by the CD34+CD38- phenotype exhibits normal DAF and CD59 expression, DAF and CD59 are absent on the majority of CD34+CD38- cells. Pluripotent CD34+CD38- hematopoietic stem cells normally circulate in the peripheral blood and can be collected by apheresis, cryopreserved, and later used for reconstitution of hematopoiesis. In this study, we examined the phenotypes of CD34+ cells that are released into the blood of PNH patients. Analyses of apheresis samples from three affected individuals showed discrete populations of circulating DAF+CD59+CD34+ and DAF-CD59- CD34+ cells. Variable proportions of CD34+CD38- cells were present within the peripheral blood CD34+ cells of each patient, but in all three cases the DAF+CD59+CD34+CD38- cell subset subset. Because CD34+ cells lacking CD38 antigen are highly enriched for self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells, these findings indicate that apheresis samples can serve as a source of unaffected stem cells for autologous marrow transplantation of PNH patients.
Molecular analysis in three cases of X91- variant chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: Bu-Ghanim HN , Segal AW , Keep NH , Casimir CM
Published: October 2019

Defects in gp91-phox, the large subunit of cytochrome b558 (b-245) give rise to X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a rare inherited condition characterized by an extreme susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infection. In the majority of cases, the phagocytes are unable to generate any superoxide owing to complete absence of the flavocytochrome. However, a small minority of these patients do have some phagocytic oxidase activity. We describe here an analysis of the molecular basis of the disease in three such variant patients with lesions in the gene coding for gp91-phox on the X chromosome. Three different genetic lesions were found, resulting in the substitution of tyrosine for cysteine 244, a deletion of one of three lysines 313 through 315, and the deletion of the six C-terminal amino acids, respectively. The functional consequences of these defects on oxidase activity was a reduction to 12%, 3.6%, and 2.1% of the normal levels, respectively. Corresponding levels of gp91-phox were 20%, 8%, and 16% of normal classifying these patients as X91-. Microbicidal assays showed that killing of Staphylococcus aureus was grossly impaired in cells in which there was 12% normal activity. This implies that if gene therapy is to be applied, it must restore oxidase activity to a much higher level than that present in the cells of this patient. The sites of two of the mutations were analyzed on a model of the C-terminal half of the gp91-phox, based on the crystal structure of the homologous protein ferrodoxin NADP reductase. Possible structural consequences of the mutations were examined.
Expression of murine CD38 defines a population of long-term reconstituting hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Randall TD , Lund FE , Howard MC , Weissman IL
Published: October 2019

Using a monoclonal antibody to murine CD38, we showed that a population of adult bone marrow cells that expressed the markers Sca-1 and c-kit but lacked the lineage markers Mac-1, GR-1, B220, IgM, CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD5 could be subdivided by the expression of CD38. We showed that CD38high c-kit+ Sca-1+, linlow/-cells sorted from adult bone marrow cultured with interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, and kit-L produced much larger colonies in liquid culture at a greater frequency than their CD38low/- counterparts. In addition, we found that CD36low/ - cells contained most of the day-12 colony-forming units-spleen (CFU-S) but were not long-term reconstituting cells, whereas the population that expressed higher levels of CD38 contained few, but significant, day-12 CFU-S and virtually all the long-term reconstituting stem cells. Interestingly, the CD38high Sca-1+ c-kit+ linlow/- cells isolated from day-E14.5 fetal liver were also found to be long-term reconstituting stem cells. This is in striking contrast to human hematopoietic progenitors in which the most primitive hematopoietic cells from fetal tissues lack the expression of CD38. Furthermore, because antibodies to CD38 could functionally replace antibodies to Thy-1.1 in a stem cell purification procedure, the use of anti-CD38 may be more generally applicable to the purification of hematopoietic stem cells from mouse strains that do not express the Thy-1.1 allele.
Functional heterogeneity of the hematopoietic microenvironment: rare stromal elements maintain long-term repopulating stem cells
Authors: Wineman J , Moore K , Lemischka I , Muller-Sieburg C
Published: October 2019

It has been hypothesized that distinct stromal cells from niches within the microenvironment that selectively regulate stem cell functions. To test this hypothesis, we derived a panel of matched stromal cell lines from murine fetal liver. The lines were immortalized with a retroviral vector encoding a temperature sensitive SV40 T antigen, to provide a snapshot of potential heterogeneity of the in vivo stroma compartment. All the stromal cell lines tested, supported the proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells in Dexter type bone marrow cultures. Furthermore, RT-PCR analysis indicates that these lines are similar with respect to the production of an array of cytokines. However, the stromal cell lines differed markedly in their ability to maintain in vitro stem cells with in vivo repopulating capacity. Stem cell levels were measured in the competitive repopulation assay, following 3 weeks of coculture on individual stromal cell lines. Three classes of stromal cell lines were identified: (1) lines that did not support stem cells, (2) lines that sustained low levels of stem cells that often showed limited persistence in vivo, and (3) an infrequent line (1 out of 16 lines tested) that maintained high levels of primitive, long-term repopulating stem cells. This suggests that stromal cells that can support primitive stem cells are rare in the hematopoietic microenvironment. Taken together, these data substantiate the hypothesis that distinct stromal cells interact selectively with stem cells.
Chemotactic and chemokinetic activities of stem cell factor on murine hematopoietic progenitor cells
Authors: Okumura N , Tsuji K , Ebihara Y , Tanaka I , Sawai N , Koike K , Komiyama A , Nakahata T
Published: October 2019

We investigated the effects of stem cell factor (SCF) on the migration of murine bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) in vitro using a modification of the checkerboard assay. Chemotactic and chemokinetic activities of SCF on HPC were evaluated by the numbers of HPC migrated on positive and negative gradients of SCF, respectively. On both positive and negative gradients of SCF, HPC began to migrate after 4 hours incubation, and their numbers then increased time- dependently. These results indicated that SCF functions as a chemotactic and chemokinetic agent for HPC. Analysis of types of colonies derived from the migrated HPC showed that SCF had chemotactic and chemokinetic effects on all types of HPC. When migrating activities of other cytokines were examined, interleukin (IL)-3 and IL-11 also affected the migration of HPC, but the degrees of each effect were lower than that of SCF. The results of the present study demonstrated that SCF is one of the most potent chemotactic and chemokinetic factors for HPC and suggest that SCF may play an important role in the flow of HPC into bone marrow where stromal cells constitutively produce SCF.
Induction of LFA-1 on pluripotent CD34+ bone marrow cells does not affect lineage commitment
Authors: Torensma R , Raymakers RA , van Kooyk Y , Figdor CG
Published: October 2019

Leukocyte function associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is an adhesion molecule indispensable in immune and inflammatory reactions, but its role in hematopoiesis remains obscure. Since LFA-1 is predominantly expressed by leukocytes, it is considered as a marker of late stage stem cell maturation when expressed on CD34+ bone marrow cells, and represents more mature hematopoietic progenitor cells. We observed that freshly isolated CD34+ bone marrow cells express LFA-1, and that the level of expression is highly variable. Interestingly, the expression of LFA-1 specific activation epitope L16 on these cells is low, even after culture. This demonstrates the LFA-1 is not activated, as was confirmed by low adhesion to ICAM-1. Culturing sorted CD34+ LFA-1+ cells in single cell per well assays in medium supplemented with SCF, Epo, IL-3, Il-6, GM-CSF, and G-CSF revealed that they gave rise to dispersed macrophage-like colonies, supporting the notion that CD34+LFA-1+ cells indeed consist of a mature committed cell population. In contrast, sorted CD34+LFA-1- cells had high proliferative potential and developed into large multilineage colonies within 14 days of culture. Unanticipated, in time course experiments we observed that these CD34+LFA-1- cells expressed LFA-1 within 24 hours upon culture. This induction was neither caused by the monoclonal antibody used to tag CD34 cells, nor dependent on growth factors present in the medium. These findings demonstrate that two populations of CD34+LFA-1+ cells can be discriminated: leukocyte lineage committed CD34+ cells in freshly isolated bone marrow cells, and multipotent CD34+ cells that acquired LFA-1 upon in vitro culture. These in vitro findings support the hypothesis that once contacts with bone marrow stroma are lost, LFA- 1 is upregulated by default, due to the lack of negative regulating signals from stromal cells. This might also explain the widely variable expression of LFA-1 as a result of crowding of cells in the bone marrow with subsequent loss of contact with stroma and upregulation of LFA-1, providing those cells with adhesion receptors enabling migration in the periphery.
Mouse P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1: molecular cloning, chromosomal localization, and expression of a functional P-selectin receptor
Authors: Yang J , Galipeau J , Kozak CA , Furie BC , Furie B
Published: October 2019

A mouse homolog of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), a P- selectin receptor on myeloid cells, has been cloned using the human cDNA sequence to probe a cDNA library prepared from the mouse WEHI-3 monocytic cell line and a genomic DNA library prepared from 129/SvJ mouse tissue. The gene flanking the entire open reading frame of 397 amino acids is composed of a single exon. Mouse and human PSGL-1 show an overall similarity of 67% and an identity of 50% and contain a similar domain organization. However, there are 10 threonine/serine- rich decameric repeats in mouse PSGL-1 as compared with 15 threonine- rich repeats in human PSGL-1. When the mouse PSGL-1 cDNA is coexpressed with an alpha 1,3/1,4 fucosyltransferase cDNA in COS cells, a functional protein is expressed on the COS cell surface mediating binding to human P-selectin. The mouse PSGL-1 gene, Selpl, was mapped to a position on mouse chromosome 5 (Chr 5). Northern blot analyses of mouse tissues showed moderate expression of a PSGL-1 mRNA species in most tissues including heart, kidney, liver, muscle, ovary, and stomach and high levels of expression in blood, bone marrow, brain, adipose tissue, spleen, and thymus. Whereas certain mouse myeloid cell lines including PU5–1.8, WEHI-3B, and 32DC13 express high levels of PSGL-1 mRNA, only WEHI-3B and 32DC13 bind to P-selectin; this interaction is blocked by anti-PSGL-1 antibody. WEHI-3B cells bind significantly better to P-selectin than to E-selectin. Although comparable P-selectin binding is observed in 32DC13 cells, these cells bind better to E- selectin. Binding of 32DC13 cells to E-selectin is not blocked by anti- PSGL-1 antibody. Treatment of WEHI-3B cells with trypsin or neuraminidase abolished their ability to interact with P-selectin. These results indicate that mouse PSGL-1 has structural and functional homology to human PSGL-1 but is characterized by differences in the composition and number of the decameric repeats. PSGL-1 on mouse myeloid cells is critical for high-affinity binding to P-selectin but not E-selectin.
Targeting of interleukin-13 receptor on human renal cell carcinoma cells by a recombinant chimeric protein composed of interleukin-13 and a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE38QQR)
Authors: Puri RK , Leland P , Obiri NI , Husain SR , Kreitman RJ , Haas GP , Pastan I , Debinski W
Published: October 2019

We have previously shown that human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells express large numbers of interleukin-13 receptors (IL-13R), a newly described hemopoietic growth factor receptor. To target tumor cells that express IL-13R, we have produced a chimeric protein composed of human IL-13 and a derivative of Pseudomonas exotoxin A, termed PE38QQR. We report here that IL13-PE38QQR is highly cytotoxic to many human RCC cell lines. IL-13R-negative cell lines or cell lines expressing low numbers of IL-13R ( < 300 sites/cell) that include human bone marrow- derived cells were not susceptible to the cytotoxic effect of IL 13- PE38QQR. The sensitivity of RCC cells to IL13-PE38QQR correlated positively with the density of IL-13R. The cytotoxic activity of IL13- PE38QQR was competed by an excess of IL-13 in a protein synthesis inhibition assay and confirmed by a clonogenic assay. Even though IL-13 and IL-4 are homologues and IL-4R and IL-13R have been proposed to share a receptor subunit, IL-4 did not compete for the cytotoxicity mediated by IL13-toxin on RCC. IL13-PE38QQR competes for [125I]-IL-13 binding sites on RCC cells, although at a lower affinity than the wild- type recombinant cytokine. Human T-cell, B-cell, and monocytic cell lines are unresponsive to the cytotoxic action of IL13-PE38QQR. Thus, our results indicate that IL13-PE38QQR is highly cytotoxic to human RCC cells, although it is not cytotoxic to a variety of normal hematopoietic cells. IL13-PE38QQR should be further investigated preclinically for the treatment of human RCCs.
Activated abl oncogenes and apoptosis: differing responses of transformed myeloid progenitor cell lines
Authors: Zhu J , Nabissa PM , Hoffman B , Liebermann DA , Shore SK
Published: October 2019

Activation of the c-abl protooncogene occurs during the generation of both the Abelson murine leukemia virus and the bcrabl fusion gene. To further dissect the biological properties of these proteins, we studied their effect on apoptosis. Using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to induce apoptosis in the murine myeloid progenitor cell line 32Dcl3, we examined the effect of expression of both v-abl and bcrabl transgenes on apoptosis. v-abl expressing 32Dcl3 cells are sensitive to apoptosis induction, similar to parental 32Dcl3 cells. In contrast, bcrabl expression 32Dcl3 cells are protected from the apoptotic stimulus resulting from DMSO exposure. Analyzing the expression patterns for Bcl- 2 and Bax, two proteins known to modulate the apoptotic response, we found a downregulation of Bcl-2 and enhanced expression of Bax in 32Dcl3 cells. In 32Dcl3/v-Abl cells, Bcl-2 expression remained constant while Bax was upregulated, whereas in 32Dcl3 cells expressing bcrabl, there was continuous expression of Bcl-2 at a level greater than observed in v-abl transformed cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that although both activated abl gene products promote overlapping effects of some biological responses (i.e., factor- independent proliferation) they diverge in their effect on apoptotic signaling pathways.
Cysteine proteinase inhibitors block early steps in hemoglobin degradation by cultured malaria parasites
Authors: Gamboa de Dominguez ND , Rosenthal PJ
Published: October 2019

Erythrocytic malaria parasites degrade hemoglobin as a source of amino acids for parasite protein synthesis. Cysteine proteinase inhibitors have been shown to block the hydrolysis of globin by cultured parasites, indicating that a malarial cysteine proteinase is required for this process. In the present study, we have evaluated the role of parasite proteinases in earlier steps of hemoglobin degradation, namely the disassociation of the hemoglobin tetramer and the separation of heme from globin. Hemoglobin did not spontaneously denature or release heme under the pH and reducing conditions of the malarial food vacuole, suggesting that parasite enzymatic activity is necessary for early steps in hemoglobin degradation. The incubation of cultured parasites with cysteine proteinase inhibitors inhibited the denaturation of hemoglobin and the release of heme from globin. These results suggest that, in addition to its role in globin hydrolysis, a malarial cysteine proteinase participates in the dissociation of the hemoglobin tetramer and the release of heme from globin. Thus, the malarial cysteine proteinase is a promising target for antimalarial chemotherapy.
Kinetics of increasing BCR-ABL transcript numbers in chronic myeloid leukemia patients who relapse after bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Lin F , van Rhee F , Goldman JM , Cross NC
Published: October 2019

We prospectively studied 98 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients after bone marrow transplantation by competitive polymerase chain reaction to detect and quantify leukemia-specific BCR-ABL mRNA. Of 69 patients who had persistently undetectable, decreasing, or low BCR-ABL levels ( < 50 transcripts/microgram RNA) on sequential analysis, one (1%) subsequently relapsed. Of 29 patients who had increasing or persistently high BCR-ABL (> 50 transcripts/microgram RNA) on sequential analysis, 21 (72%) have relapsed (P < .00001). In 19 patients studied sequentially, a constant logarithmic increase in the number of BCR-ABL transcripts was found before relapse, indicating a constant BCR-ABL transcript doubling time. The doubling time for patients relapsing cytogenetically or into chronic phase (median, 24.7 days) was significantly longer than that of patients relapsing into advanced phases (median, 14.7 days; P = .005). Eight patients were treated for relapse by donor leukocyte transfusions. The doubling time of responders was significantly longer than that of nonresponders (P = .017). We conclude that quantification of BCR-ABL transcripts after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is valuable in predicting relapse: a more rapid BCR-ABL transcript doubling time before relapse might indicate a more aggressive disease.
Prenatal diagnosis of triosephosphate isomerase deficiency
Authors: Arya R , Lalloz MR , Nicolaides KH , Bellingham AJ , Layton DM
Published: October 2019

First-trimester prenatal diagnosis was undertaken by chorionic villus DNA analysis in two unrelated families with the inherited glycolytic disorder triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency. The propositus in each family was shown to be homozygous for a missense mutation (GAG --> GAC) at codon 104 of the TPI gene. In the first case the fetus was heterozygous for the codon 104 mutation and therefore clinically unaffected. Prenatal diagnosis in the second case showed the fetus to be homozygous for the codon 104 mutation and thus affected by TPI deficiency. This represents the first molecular diagnosis during early pregnancy of a human glycolytic enzyme disorder.
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: report of an autosomal dominant variant
Authors: Rocca B , Bellacosa A , De Cristofaro R , Neri G , Della Ventura M , Maggiano N , Rumi C , Landolfi R
Published: October 2019

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder originally described as a clinical triad of thrombocytopenia with small platelets, eczema, and immunodeficiency. Impaired CD43 glycoprotein expression on lymphocytes is a typical hallmark of this disorder. The CD43 gene is located on chromosome 16, and the WAS gene, WASP, was recently isolated from the chromosome X p11.22-p11.23. This gene, mutated in WAS patients, encodes a protein that is likely to play a role in controlling the expression of CD43. However, the molecular mechanism(s) causing WAS are not yet known. Herein, we describe a three- generation family in which clinical and laboratory WAS features were expressed in six of nine subjects available for study. At variance with classic X-linked WAS, this disorder was characterized by the presence of thrombocytopenia with a broad spectrum of platelet size, including giant platelets, and was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. This last finding led us to hypothesize a mutation of the CD43 gene. However, Southern blot analysis failed to detect structural abnormalities of this gene, and genotype analysis ruled out the possibility that a CD43 allele might be shared by the affected individuals. These findings indicate that an alteration(s) of an autosomal gene distinct from the CD43 gene is responsible for the disease. Thus, results from this family, providing the first observation of an autosomally transmitted WAS variant, indicate that genetic mechanism(s) leading to WAS are more complex than previously recognized.
Hematopoietic supportive functions of mouse bone marrow and fetal liver microenvironment: dissection of granulocyte, B-lymphocyte, and hematopoietic progenitor support at the stroma cell clone level
Authors: Friedrich C , Zausch E , Sugrue SP , Gutierrez-Ramos JC
Published: October 2019

We dissected the functions of the microenvironment of bone marrow (BM) and fetal liver (FL) at the cellular level by cloning individual stromal calls and characterizing their phenotypical and functional features. Stromal cell clones derived from FL are large in size (mean forward light scatter intensity [mFSC] of 450), express the surface antigen Thy-1 but not Sca-1 and 6 out of 6 are able to differentiate into fat accumulating adipocytes. BM derived stromal cell clones are either small (mFSC of 250) or large (mFSC of 450), express Sca-1 but not Thy-1 and only 2 out of 7 differentiate towards adipocytes. Heterogeneity in terms of vascular adhesion molecule-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and heat stable antigen expression was found among the different cell clones. Functional assays using long- and short-term cocultures of stromal and hematopoietic calls revealed: (1) the capacity of 8 out of 12 stromal cell clones to support the expansion of primitive hematopoietic progenitors (colony forming unit spleen day 12) more than 10 weeks. Fat accumulation but not expression of stem cell factor by stromal cells did correlate with this supportive function. (2) Better support of granulocyte maturation and proliferation by BM- compared to FL-derived stromal cell clones. However, stromal cell clones from both organs expressed macrophage-colony stimulating factor. (3) The ability of 4 out of 12 stromal cell clones (derived from both, FL and BM) to support the expansion of Interleukin-7 dependent pre-B cells from the BM. Pre-B cell growth stimulating factor was not restricted to supporters. (4) Mutual exclusiveness of myeloid and lymphoid support in that a given stromal cell clone supported either pre B-cell or granulocyte expansion. Experiments comparing the support of BM- and FL-derived hematopoietic progenitors showed identical responses of late (B220+/c-kit-) but strikingly different responses of early (B220+/c-kit+) pre-B cells, revealing different proliferation requirements for FL- versus BM- derived early pre-B cells in vitro.
The proto-oncogene HLF and the related basic leucine zipper protein TEF display highly similar DNA-binding and transcriptional regulatory properties
Authors: Hunger SP , Li S , Fall MZ , Naumovski L , Cleary ML
Published: October 2019

Genes encoding transcription factors are frequently altered by chromosomal translocations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), suggesting that aberrant transcriptional regulation plays a prominent role in leukemogenesis. E2A-hepatic leukemia factor (HLF), a chimeric transcription factor created by the t(17;19), consists of the amino terminal portion of E2A proteins, including two experimentally defined transcriptional activation domains (TADs), fused to the HLF DNA binding and protein dimerization basic leucine zipper (bZIP) domain. To understand the mechanisms by which E2A-HLF induces leukemia and the crucial functions contributed by each constituent of the chimera, it is essential to define the normal transcriptional regulatory properties of HLF and related bZIP proteins. To address these questions, we cloned the human homologue of TEF/VBP, a bZIP protein closely related to HLF. Using a binding site selection assay, we found that TEF bound preferentially to the consensus sequence 5′-GTTACGTAAT-3′, which is identical to the previously determined HLF recognition site. TEF and HLF activated transcription of consensus site-containing reporter genes in several different cell types with similar potencies. Using GAL4 chimeric proteins, a TAD was mapped to a discrete approximate 40 amino acid region of TEF and HLF within which they share 72% amino acid identity and 85% similarity. The TEF/HLF activation domain (THAD) has a predicted helical secondary structure, but shares no sequence homology with previously reported TADs. The THAD contained most, if not all, of the transcriptional activation properties present in both TEF and HLF and its deletion completely abrogated transcriptional activity of TEF and HLF in both mammalian cells and yeast. Thus, TEF and HLF share indistinguishable DNA-binding and transcriptional regulatory properties, whose alteration in leukemia may be pathogenetically important.
Characterization of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors on human megakaryocytes and platelets
Authors: Park SK , Olson TA , Ercal N , Summers M , O'Dorisio MS
Published: October 2019

Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor I (VIPRI) expression was examined in megakaryocytes using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). VIPRI protein was characterized in platelet membranes using covalent crosslinking techniques. Human megakaryocytes were isolated from suspension cultures of cord blood and adult bone marrow mononuclear cells using a murine monoclonal antibody to human platelet glycoprotein IIB/IIIA (CD41) and immunomagnetic beads. RT-PCR primers were constructed for the VIP, VIPRI, and VIPRII genes as well as for megakaryocyte specific genes, c-mpl and platelet factor 4 (PF- 4). VIP, VIPRI, c-mpl, and PF-4 were coexpressed in megakaryocyte mRNA. Southern blot analysis confirmed the expression of VIPRI. 125I-VIP was covalently cross-linked to human platelet membranes using the homobifunctional reagent disuccinimidyl suberate, followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. A 125I-VIP- protein complex of Mr = 50,000 was identified. Labeling of the Mr = 50,000 component was completely abolished by unlabeled VIP, but not by peptide histidine methionine or growth hormone releasing factor, indicating specific binding of VIP to the platelet membranes. Taken together, these results suggest that VIP may have direct effects on megakaryocytopoiesis and support our earlier observations of VIP modulation of platelet aggregation.
Quantifiable excess of bone resorption in monoclonal gammopathy is an early symptom of malignancy: a prospective study of 87 bone biopsies
Authors: Bataille R , Chappard D , Basle MF
Published: October 2019

To determine if excessive osteoclastic-mediated bone resorption (BR) is an early tumor-induced event in multiple myeloma (MM), BR was assessed at first presentation on quantitative bone biopsy in 87 individuals evaluated for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and reinterpreted according to the presenting features and subsequent follow-up evaluation. As a reference population, 48 patients with previously untreated overt MM were evaluated under similar conditions. The median level of BR was significantly higher in 48 overt MM versus 87 MGUS patients (12.2% v 5.1% [normal level, <6%], P <.01). Actually, 93% of overt MM patients had an excessive BR versus 45% of MGUS patients at presentation (P <.01) According to simple presenting parameters (> or <5% plasma cells within the bone marrow, presence or absence of mild anemia/neutropenia), 31 individuals were classified as low-risk MGUS, 32 high-risk MGUS, and 24 indolent MM. An excessive BR was observed in 16% of low-risk MGUS, 46% of high-risk MGUS (P <.01 v low-risk MGUS), 79% of indolent MM (P <.05 v high-risk MGUS), and 93% of overt MM patients. Of major interest, the level of BR in indolent MM (11.2%) was identical to that in overt MM (12.2%) but significantly higher than in both low-risk (4%, P <.01) and high-risk (5.6%, P <.01) MGUS. When considering the follow-up evaluation of MGUS patients, an excessive BR at presentation was observed in 52% of MGUS cases that turned out to be unstable or developed subsequent MM, but in only 4% of stable MGUS (P <.01). More precisely the level of BR of low-risk MGUS that either turned out to be unstable or that developed into MM was significantly higher at presentation than that of subsequent stable MGUS (4.4% v 2.9%, P <.05). The same difference was observed in both high-risk MGUS and indolent MM according to subsequent follow-up studies (8.1% v 3.4% and 11.7% v 6%, respectively, P <.05). Of major interest, the level of BR in 11 stable high-risk MGUS cases actually fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of smoldering MM was very low (3.4%) and similar to that in stable low-risk MGUS (2.9%). We conclude that a quantifiable excess of BR in MGUS is significantly associated with progression and thus is an early symptom of malignancy in these individuals.
BCR/ABL-negative primitive progenitors suitable for transplantation can be selected from the marrow of most early-chronic phase but not accelerated-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia patients
Authors: Verfaillie CM , Bhatia R , Miller W , Mortari F , Roy V , Burger S , McCullough J , Stieglbauer K , Dewald G , Heimfeld S , Miller JS , McGlave PB
Published: October 2019

We have previously reported that selection of marrow cells on the basis of the CD34+HLA-DR- phenotype (34+DR-) may result in the recovery of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)- and BCR/ABL-negative long-term culture- initiating cells (LTC-IC) in selected patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). We now present data on 27 early chronic-phase ([ECP] studied within 1 year after diagnosis) and 23 advanced-phase ([AP] late chronic phase, ie, studied >1 year from diagnosis, or accelerated phase) CML patients. Fluorescence-activated call-sorting (FACS)- selected 34+DR- and 34+DR+ cells were subjected to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization. These cells were also cultured in long-term bone marrow culture for 1 to 5 weeks to examine the number of LTC-IC and the presence or absence of the BCR/ABL gene rearrangement in progeny of primitive LTC-IC. The number of 34+DR- cells and LTC-IC present in ECP CML marrow was similar to that in normal (NL) marrow, whereas the numbers were reduced in AP CML. Furthermore, 34+DR- cells from more than 80% of ECP CML patients were BCR/ABL mRNA- and Ph-negative and contained only BCR/ABL mRNA- and Ph-negative LTC-IC, whereas 34+DR- cells and LTC-IC from less than 40% of AP CML patients were BCR/ABL mRNA- and Ph-negative. In contrast to NL marrow, 34+DR+ cells from CML marrow, irrespective of clinical stage, contained large numbers of LTC- IC. CML 34+DR+ cells and LTC-IC were BCR/ABL mRNA- and Ph-positive. Since these studies suggested that a population of primitive progenitors that are Ph-negative can be selected from steady-state marrow in some ECP CML patients, we determined if similar results could be obtained when large quantities of marrow sufficient for transplantation are processed. We demonstrate that 1 to 3 x 10(5) BCR/ABL mRNA-negative 34+DR- cells/kg recipient body weight, containing only BCR/ABL mRNA-negative LTC-IC, can be obtained from a 2- to 2.5-L marrow collection by sequential COBE Spectra apheresis (COBE BCT, Lakewood, CO), CD34+ enrichment using the CEPRATE SC Cell-Concentrator (CellPro, Bothell, WA), and high-speed FACS. Thus, large-scale selection of a BCR/ABL mRNA- and Ph-negative 34+DR- cell population is possible in a fraction of chronic-phase CML patients, in whom these cells could be used to reconstitute the hematopoietic compartment following autologous transplantation.
Molecular basis of the altered antigenic expression of RhD in weak D(Du) and RhC/e in RN phenotypes
Authors: Rouillac C , Gane P , Cartron J , Le Pennec PY , Cartron JP , Colin Y
Published: October 2019

The RH blood group locus is composed of two sequence-related genes, RHD and RHCE, encoding the D, Cc, and Ee antigens in common Rh-positive phenotypes. In this report, we have analyzed the molecular basis of Rh antigens expression in weak D (Du) and RN donors, in whom there is a severe reduction of the D and C/e antigens, respectively. Genomic and transcript analysis of three unrelated low-grade weak D (Du) variants indicated that the very low expression of the D antigen is not the result of rearrangement or mutation in the coding sequence of the RHO gone. Accordingly, weak D (Du) erythrocytes should carry a normal RhD polypeptide, which is in agreement with the observation that these variants never produce anti-D antibodies. Comparative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed a lower steady-state level of RhD transcripts in weak D (Du) reticulocytes, as compared with normal RhD-positive controls, thus providing direct evidence that the difference between the D antigen of D-positive and weak D (Du) red blood cells is quantitative only. Conversely, analysis of the molecular genetic basis of the RN phenotype Indicated that the severely decreased expression of the RhC and Rhe antigens in three variants is associated with a qualitative alteration identified as a segmental DNA exchange between the RHCE and RHD genes. These genomic rearrangements, which resulted in hybrid RhCe-D-Ce proteins expressing the low frequency Rh32 but not the high incidence Rh46 antigens, involved either axon 4 alone or both exons 3 and 4. These findings show that an identical phenotypical alteration of Rh antigens (reduced expression) may result either from a quantitative or a qualitative alteration of the RH genes expression.
Inactivation of multiple tumor-suppressor genes involved in negative regulation of the cell cycle, MTS1/p16INK4A/CDKN2, MTS2/p15INK4B, p53, and Rb genes in primary lymphoid malignancies
Authors: Hangaishi A , Ogawa S , Imamura N , Miyawaki S , Miura Y , Uike N , Shimazaki C , Emi N , Takeyama K , Hirosawa S , Kamada N , Kobayashi Y , Takemoto Y , Kitani T , Toyama K , Ohtake S , Yazaki Y , Ueda R , Hirai H
Published: October 2019

It is now evident that the cell cycle machinery has a variety of elements negatively regulating cell cycle progression. However, among these negative regulators in cell cycle control, only 4 have been shown to be consistently involved in the development of human cancers as tumor suppressors: Rb (Retinoblastoma susceptibility protein), p53, and two recently identified cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16INK4A/MTS1 and p15INK4B/MTS2. Because there are functional interrelations among these negative regulators in the cell cycle machinery, it is particularly interesting to investigate the multiplicity of inactivations of these tumor suppressors in human cancers, including leukemias/lymphomas. To address this point, we examined inactivations of these four genes in primary lymphoid malignancies by Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction-single- strand conformation polymorphism analyses. We also analyzed Rb protein expression by Western blot analysis. The p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes were homozygously deleted in 45 and 42 of 230 lymphoid tumor specimens, respectively. Inactivations of the Rb and p53 genes were 27 of 91 and 9 of 173 specimens, respectively. Forty-one (45.1%) of 91 samples examined for inactivations of all four tumor suppressors had one or more abnormalities of these four tumor-suppressor genes, indicating that dysregulation of cell cycle control is important for tumor development. Statistical analysis of interrelations among impairments of these four genes indicated that inactivations of the individual tumor-suppressor genes might occur almost independently. In some patients, disruptions of multiple tumor-suppressor genes occurred; 4 cases with p16INK4A, p15INK4B, and Rb inactivations; 2 cases with p16INK4A, p15INK4B, and p53 inactivations; and 1 case with Rb and p53 inactivations. It is suggested that disruptions of multiple tumor suppressors in a tumor cell confer an additional growth advantage on the tumor.
CD34+CD38dim cells in the human thymus can differentiate into T, natural killer, and dendritic cells but are distinct from pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Res P , Martinez-Caceres E , Cristina Jaleco A , Staal F , Noteboom E , Weijer K , Spits H
Published: October 2019

Recently we reported that the human thymus contains a minute population of CD34+CD38dim cells that do not express the T-cell lineage markers CD2 and CD5. The phenotype of this population resembled that of CD34+CD38dim cells present in fetal liver, umbilical cord blood, and bone marrow known to be highly enriched for pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. In this report we tested the hypothesis that the CD34+CD38dim thymocytes constitute the most primitive hematopoietic cells in the thymus using a combination of phenotypic and functional analyses. It was found that in contrast to CD34+CD38dim cells from fetal liver and bone marrow, CD34+CD38dim cells from the thymus express high levels of CD45RA and are negative for Thy-1. These data indicate that the CD34+CD38dim thymocytes are distinct from pluripotent stem cells. CD34+CD38dim thymocytes differentiate into T cells when cocultured with mouse fetal thymic organs. In addition, individual cells in this population can differentiate either to natural killer cells in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-7 (IL-7), and IL-2 or to dendritic cells in the presence of SCF, granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFalpha), indicating that CD34+CD38dim thymocytes contain multi- potential hematopoietic progenitors. To establish which CD34+ fetal liver subpopulation contains the cells that migrate to the thymus, we investigated the T-cell-developing potential of CD34+CD38dim and CD34+CD38+ fetal liver cells and found that the capacity of CD34+ fetal liver cells to differentiate into T cells is restricted to those cells that are CD38dim. Collectively, these findings indicate that cells from the CD34+CD38dim fetal liver cell population migrate to the thymus before upregulating CD38 and ommitting to the T-cell lineage.