bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcellular metabolism of arachidonic acid: increased platelet thromboxane generation in the presence of activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes
Authors: Maugeri N , Evangelista V , Piccardoni P , Dell'Elba G , Celardo A , de Gaetano G , Cerletti C
Published: October 2019

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) activated by n-formyl- methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), in the presence of cytochalasin B, are able to induce activation of coincubated autologous platelets “via” cathepsin G released from the azurophilic granules. However, thromboxane (Tx) B2 production in this system cannot be completely explained by cathepsin G-stimulated platelet arachidonate metabolism. Indeed, the amount of TxB2 found in supernatants of platelet/PMN suspensions challenged with 1 mumol/L fMLP was twofold to fourfold higher than that measured when platelets were stimulated by supernatants from fMLP-activated PMN. In the present report, we analyzed the possibility that PMN-induced TxB2 production in this system is the result of transcellular metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) between fMLP-activated PMN and cathepsin G-stimulated platelets. 3H-AA-labeled PMN were used to test if a transfer of AA or metabolite(s) occur from PMN to platelets. Our results showed that: (1) 3H-TxB2 and 3H-12-HHT are synthesized when 3H-AA-labeled PMN are activated mixed to unlabeled platelets; (2) total radioactivity released by fMLP-stimulated PMN is increased in the presence of platelets, whereas the membrane content of unesterified 3H-AA is reduced; (3) platelet cyclooxygenase inhibition completely prevents 3H- TxB2 synthesis; and (4) inhibition of cathepsin G-induced platelet activation with the antiprotease eglin C blocks the formation of 3H- TxB2. These data show that in the experimental system used, platelets use PMN-derived unmetabolized AA to synthesize TxB2.
Expression of bcl-2 in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines: induction by latent Epstein-Barr virus genes
Authors: Finke J , Fritzen R , Ternes P , Trivedi P , Bross KJ , Lange W , Mertelsmann R , Dolken G
Published: October 2019

The bcl-2 oncogene blocks programmed cell death (apoptosis). Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) can immortalize B lymphocytes into continuously growing lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) by the coordinate expression of at least 9 latent genes (EBV nuclear antigen [EBNA] 1–6, latent membrane protein [LMP], and terminal proteins [TP] 1 and 2). We analyzed transcription and expression of bcl-2 and latent EBV genes in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines with a germinal center phenotype (group I) as well as activated BL cell lines (group III) and LCLs. We found high expression of bcl-2 as well as the full spectrum of latent EBV genes in LCLs and activated group III BL cell lines. Group I BL cells expressed little or no bcl-2, EBNA-2, and LMP. Superinfection with nondefective EBV or an EBNA-2-defective virus as well as transfection with EBNA-2- or LMP-carrying vectors into the EBV-negative cell lines RAMOS, DG75, U698, or BJAB induced upregulation of bcl-2 expression. The strongest effect on bcl-2 was obtained by transfection with LMP, or infection with the nondefective virus. No change of bcl-2 expression was observed with EBNA-1. Our data indicate that the immortalization capacity of EBV and the growth advantage of EBV- positive compared with EBV-negative BL cells in vitro may predominantly be mediated via induction of bcl-2 and the main effectors are EBNA-2 and LMP.
Band 3 Tuscaloosa: Pro327----Arg327 substitution in the cytoplasmic domain of erythrocyte band 3 protein associated with spherocytic hemolytic anemia and partial deficiency of protein 4.2
Authors: Jarolim P , Palek J , Rubin HL , Prchal JT , Korsgren C , Cohen CM
Published: October 2019

Protein 4.2 is a major red blood cell (RBC) protein that interacts with the band 3 protein and with ankyrin. Inherited deficiencies of this protein are associated with spherocytic hemolytic anemia, but the molecular basis of this defect is unknown. We have studied the underlying defect in a patient with spherocytic hemolytic anemia whose RBCs had a partial (29% +/- 5%) deficiency of protein 4.2. We have first studied the binding of normal ankyrin and protein 4.2 to patient inside-out vesicles (IOVs) stripped of peripheral proteins. While the binding of ankyrin was normal, the predicted maximal binding capacity of patient IOVs for band 4.2 was 20% to 33% lower than that of control IOVs, suggesting a defect in the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 (cdb3). An additional line of evidence pointing to a possible abnormality of band 3 was an abnormal proteolytic digest of cdb3. To elucidate the underlying molecular defect, we have cloned and sequenced the cDNA coding for cdb3 from the patient. One band 3 allele was found to be normal, while clones corresponding to the other allele contained two mutations: substitution A----G in nucleotide 166, changing codon 56 from AAG to GAG (Lys----Glu), and substitution C----G in nucleotide 980, changing codon 327 from CCC to CGC (Pro----Arg). Since the Lys56--- -Glu56 substitution is found in a common asymptomatic variant of the band 3 protein designated band 3 Memphis, we conclude that either the Pro327----Arg327 substitution itself, or in combination with the band 3 Memphis polymorphism, underlies the abnormal binding of protein 4.2 to cdb3 and results in the spherocytic.
Failure to detect evidence of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I and type II in blood donors with isolated gag antibodies to HTLV-I/II
Authors: Lal RB , Rudolph DL , Coligan JE , Brodine SK , Roberts CR
Published: October 2019

Of the 267,650 blood donations from members of the US armed forces, 72 (0.027%) were serologically confirmed to be positive for human T- lymphotropic virus type I/II (HTLVpos) and 379 (0.14%) were Western blot (WB)-indeterminate with banding pattern restricted to the proteins encoded by the gag gene only (HTLVind). To determine whether these apparently healthy HTLVind blood donors are infected with HTLV-I or HTLV-II, coded specimens from randomly selected military blood donors (n = 73) were tested for antibodies to HTLV by WB and radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) using HTLV-I (MT-2) antigens, by enzyme immunoassay using synthetic peptides representing the immunodominant epitopes of HTLV, and for sequences of proviral HTLV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 73 HTLVind donors, none showed presence of env reactivity by HTLV WB and RIPA. Minimal reactivity was observed with synthetic immunodominant motifs derived from the env protein of HTLV-I (Env-1(191–214) and Env-5(242–257)) or HTLV-II (Env-2(187–209) and Env-20(85–102)) and gag protein (Gag-1a(102– 117) and Gag-10(364–385)). A peptide corresponding to the endogenous retroviral sequence with structural homologies to the gag protein of HTLVs (RTVLgag) reacted with antibodies not only in HTLVpos (88%) and HTLVind (42% to 66%) specimens, but also reacted with normal control subjects (60%). Furthermore, none of the 73 HTLVind specimens demonstrated presence of the HTLV genome when amplified with primers for the pol and tax/rex region. Six to 23 months from the initial test, 27 subjects still gave indeterminate WB patterns, and 13 of these repeat specimens were still negative for the presence of HTLV genome. We conclude that individuals at low risk for HTLV infection who have HTLVind WB reactivity are rarely, if ever, infected with HTLV-I or HTLV- II.
2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine: an active agent in the treatment of cutaneous T- cell lymphoma
Authors: Saven A , Carrera CJ , Carson DA , Beutler E , Piro LD
Published: October 2019

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are disfiguring malignant lymphoproliferative disorders for which standard therapy has been principally palliative. 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA), a new purine analogue resistant to degradation by adenosine deaminase that has substantial activity against lymphoid neoplasms, was administered to 16 patients with cutaneous involvement by T-cell lymphoma. All patients had failed topical treatment modalities and/or systemic therapies. Fifteen patients were evaluable; one patient was not evaluable due to incomplete therapy and follow-up. The overall response rate was 47%. Three of 15 patients (20%) achieved complete responses and four of 15 patients (27%) achieved partial responses. The median duration of response was 5 months. One patient remains in unmaintained complete remission at 52+ months. Therapy was well tolerated. Myelosuppression was the principal toxicity encountered, occurring in 8 of 15 (53%) patients. 2-CdA is an effective new agent for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and warrants further study both as a single agent and in combination regimens.
Changes in cell surface antigen expressions during proliferation and differentiation of human erythroid progenitors
Authors: Okumura N , Tsuji K , Nakahata T
Published: October 2019

Cell surface antigen expression during proliferation and differentiation of human erythroid progenitors was examined using a combination of sequential micromanipulations of paired daughter cells derived from erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) and immuno-staining with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Single hematopoietic progenitors were identified in methylcellulose cultures containing human cord blood mononuclear cells and micromanipulated individually to secondary culture. Paired daughter cells, granddaughter cells, and subsequent generations, whose counterparts produced erythroid bursts, were stained with various cytochemical and immuno-alkaline phosphatase stainings. Most paired daughter cells of BFU-E immunostained positively with anti- platelet glycoprotein(GP) IIb, antiplatelet GPIIb/IIIa, anti-HLA-DR, and antitransferrin receptor antibodies. Acid phosphatase staining was also positive. Neither CD34 nor CD33 antigens were identified on the cells. CD36 and blood group A antigens were first identified on cells from aggregates containing 32 to 64 cells after 4 days of secondary culture and preceded the expression of glycophorin A and hemoglobin alpha. These results indicate that various cell surface antigens were sequentially expressed during the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors, and that our procedure may be useful for clarifying the morphologic and immunologic properties of hematopoietic stem cells.
Induction of colony-stimulating factor receptor expression on hematopoietic progenitor cells: proposed mechanism for growth factor synergism
Authors: Jacobsen SE , Ruscetti FW , Dubois CM , Wine J , Keller JR
Published: October 2019

In many cells systems, the cellular interaction between two or more humoral factors leads to a synergistic response in terms of cellular growth and function. In particular, the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells involves numerous synergistic interactions between colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) that individually stimulate hematopoiesis (granulocyte-CSF, granulocyte- macrophage-CSF, and interleukin-3 [IL-3]), as well as between these factors and other cytokines that individually have no proliferative effect on progenitor cell growth (IL-1 and IL-6). The present study investigated whether hematopoietic growth factor (HGF) synergy could be mediated by upregulation of CSF receptors. Synergistic effects on bone marrow (BM) progenitor cell colony formation, regardless of the combination of factors used, were consistently preceded by increased CSF receptor expression on highly enriched BM progenitor cells, but not on unfractionated BM cells. Induction of CSF receptors preceded detectable differentiation and did not require cell division because nocodazole, an inhibitor of mitosis, blocked CSF-mediated cell proliferation, but not receptor upregulation. Furthermore, combinations of cytokines that did not synergize also failed to affect the level of CSF receptors on BM progenitors. These results have led us to propose a model for HGF synergy whereby one mechanism of action the investigated synergistic cytokines might be the ability to induce increased expression of CSF receptors.
C-reactive protein and beta-2 microglobulin produce a simple and powerful myeloma staging system
Authors: Bataille R , Boccadoro M , Klein B , Durie B , Pileri A
Published: October 2019

Multiple myeloma (MM) staging procedures are still inadequate for detection of the optimal therapeutic procedure for an individual patient. The Durie & Salmon staging system and serum beta 2- microglobulin (beta 2M) are used worldwide because of their easy clinical application. Other prognostic parameters, such as myeloma cell proliferative activity, are of exceeding importance, but are not as simple as standard methods. Recently, interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to be a major growth factor for MM. IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine acting on several cell lineages, and, at the hepatocyte level, stimulates the synthesis of acute phase proteins, such as the well known C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Serum CRP concentration actually reflects the IL-6 activity. A survival analysis carried out in 162 MM patients at diagnosis showed that serum CRP level is a highly significant prognostic factor. Moreover, serum CRP was independent of serum beta 2M. This feature allowed stratification of MM patients into 3 groups according to CRP and beta 2M serum levels: (1) low risk group, CRP and beta 2M less than 6 mg/L (50% of patients); (2) intermediate risk group, CRP or beta 2M greater than or equal to 6 mg/L (35% of patients); (3) high risk group, CRP and beta 2M greater than or equal to 6 mg/L (15% of patients). Survival was 54, 27, and 6 months, respectively (P less than .0001). We thus propose a new and powerful myeloma staging system based on simple and reliable laboratory evaluations.
MYC rearrangements in histologically progressed follicular lymphomas
Authors: Yano T , Jaffe ES , Longo DL , Raffeld M
Published: October 2019

Histologic transformation of low-grade follicular lymphoma to an aggressive-grade lymphoma occurs in 60% to 80% of patients during their clinical course. The events that drive the transformation process are poorly understood. Deregulation of the MYC gene has been implicated in a small number of cases. This observation led us to examine the molecular organization of the MYC oncogene in 38 cases of histologically transformed lymphomas that arose from follicular lymphomas, and in 18 of the initial pretransformation follicular lymphomas. In addition, we examined 58 “control” low-grade follicular lymphomas that had not yet shown evidence of histologic progression. Immunoglobulin heavy chain and light chain gene rearrangements were detected in all biopsies and rearrangements of the BCL-2 locus were seen in 36 of 38 of the transformed lymphomas (consistent with their origin from follicular lymphomas), in 18 of 18 of the pretransformation follicular lymphomas, and in 51 of 58 of the control follicular lymphomas. All 18 pretransformation follicular lymphoma specimens displayed at least one immunoglobulin gene and BCL-2 rearrangement in common with the corresponding histologically progressed lymphoma, indicating a clonal relationship between the original follicular lymphoma and the histologically transformed lymphoma. MYC rearrangements were detected in 3 of 38 (8%) transformed lymphomas and in 1 of 58 (2%) control follicular lymphomas. The latter MYC rearranged follicular lymphoma was clinically aggressive and transformed to a high- grade lymphoma that led to the death of the patient within 20 months. None of the 18 pretransformation follicular lymphomas showed MYC rearrangement, including two from patients who later demonstrated MYC rearrangement in the progressed aggressive lymphoma. PvuII mutational analysis failed to identify additional MYC gene abnormalities in the progressed lymphomas. Because the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a fraction of high-grade lymphomas and is known to upregulate BCL-2, we looked for a potential role for this agent in our progressed lymphomas. We did not detect viral sequences in any case indicating that EBV does not play a major role in progression. The presence of MYC rearrangements in a small fraction of progressed aggressive lymphomas, and not in the corresponding antecedent follicular lymphomas, suggests that acquisition of a MYC rearrangement is in some cases associated with the transformation event.
Effect of age on human immunodeficiency virus type 1-induced changes in lymphocyte populations among persons with congenital clotting disorders. Transfusion Safety Study Group
Authors: Fletcher MA , Mosley JW , Hassett J , Gjerset GF , Kaplan J , Parker JW , Donegan E , Lusher JM , Lee H
Published: October 2019

Children other than neonates infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have low rates of progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Through 1989, 5.3% of 95 infected hemophiliacs aged 5 to 13 years developed AIDS, compared with 20.3% of 364 aged greater than or equal to 25 years. We asked whether the HIV-1 impact on peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations differed with age using pairwise comparisons of uninfected and infected male children and adult hemophiliacs. Infected children had lesser reductions of total lymphocytes than adults, but proportionately lower numbers of CD2+, CD4+, CD2+CD26+, and CD4+CD29+ counts. CD4+CD45RA+ cell counts were greater than twofold higher in uninfected and infected children than adults; with infection, the CD4+CD45RA+/CD4+ proportion increased by 1.4-fold in adults, but was unchanged in children. Infected adults had highly significantly increased total CD8+ counts; both age groups had elevated CD8+HLA-DR+ counts. Infected children had significantly higher total B-cell counts than infected adults, with a disproportionately lower number of resting B cells (CD20+CD21+). During 2 years of follow-up, infected children and adults had lymphocyte changes in the same directions and these were proportionately equal. The lower rate of HIV-1 progression in children may be partly associated with differences in lymphocyte populations compared with adults; functional properties of immune cells may be equally or more important.
Frequent clonal proliferation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected T cells in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM-TSP)
Authors: Furukawa Y , Fujisawa J , Osame M , Toita M , Sonoda S , Kubota R , Ijichi S , Yoshida M
Published: October 2019

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) integrates its proviruses into random sites in host chromosomal DNA. Random integration of the proviruses was observed in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP). However, clonal integration has been reported in patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), including that in the smoldering, chronic, and acute states, indicating clonal expansion of infected cells. In this study, we found that about 20% of HAM/TSP patients and their seropositive family members harbored subpopulation(s) of clonally proliferated cells infected with HTLV-1, although they still maintained randomly infected cells as a major population. These clones were stable during examination periods of 4 months to 3 years. However, these carriers or HAM/TSP patients did not show any significant indication of ATL. This extremely high frequency of clonal expansion of HTLV-1-infected cells indicates that some clones of HTLV-1-infected cells have a tendency to proliferate more efficiently than the other population without malignant transformation.
OMA-AML-1: a leukemic myeloid cell line with CD34+ progenitor and CD15+ spontaneously differentiating cell compartments
Authors: Pirruccello SJ , Jackson JD , Lang MS , DeBoer J , Mann S , Crouse D , Vaughan WP , Dicke KA , Sharp JG
Published: October 2019

OMA-AML-1 was established from a patient with acute myelomonocytic (M4) leukemia at fifth relapse when blasts were greater than 85% CD34+, CD15- . Leukemic cells were established in suspension culture and independently grown as subcutaneous tumors in SCID mice. Cells growing in suspension culture underwent differentiation by phenotypic and morphologic criteria. In contrast, cells grown as subcutaneous solid tumors in SCID mice maintained progenitor cell characteristics with high-density CD34 expression and lack of morphologic differentiation. A tendency toward differentiation to CD15+, CD34- cells in vitro and self- renewal of CD34+, CD15- cells in vivo was consistently demonstrated regardless of whether cells were initially grown in vitro or in vivo. The cell line maintains both a CD34+, CD15- progentitor cell pool and a non-overlapping, CD15+, CD34- differentiating cell compartment after more than 1 year in continuous culture. Cell cycle analysis and cloning experiments were consistent with terminal differentiation occurring in the CD15+, CD34- population. The cell line shows concentration- dependent proliferative responses to interleukin (IL)-3, granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-6, but not to granulocyte CSF (G-CSF). OMA-AML-1 appears to mimic several features of normal myeloid hematopoiesis and should prove useful for the study of normal and malignant myeloid differentiation.
Primary dexamethasone treatment of multiple myeloma
Authors: Alexanian R , Dimopoulos MA , Delasalle K , Barlogie B
Published: October 2019

Intermittent courses of dexamethasone (DEX) were administered to 112 consecutive, previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Using criteria based on a 75% or greater reduction of calculated tumor mass, the overall response rate was 43%. Among comparable patients, response rate were approximately 15% less than those observed previously with vincristine-doxorubicin by continuous infusion with intermittent DEX (VAD) and similar to those with melphalan-prednisone. The projected survival times with VAD or DEX were similar. Results indicated that DEX accounted for most of the plasma cell reduction achieved with VAD. Serious complications occurred in 27% of patients treated with VAD, but in only 4% of those who received DEX. In view of the similar outcome with fewer serious complications, DEX provided a simple, effective, and safe primary treatment for a large fraction of patients with MM. Patients who appear most likely to benefit include those with hypercalcemia or pancytopenia, or who require simultaneous radiotherapy for a pathologic fracture.
Effect of interleukin-11 on cycling status and clonogenic maturation of fetal and adult hematopoietic progenitors
Authors: Schibler KR , Yang YC , Christensen RD
Published: October 2019

A recently cloned human cytokine, interleukin-11 (IL-11), has functional similarities to IL-6. We tested the hypothesis that the hematopoietic actions of IL-11 in vitro also resemble those of IL-6. The effect of IL-11 on the cell cycle status of fetal and adult hematopoietic progenitors was assessed using serum-free incubations followed by tritiated thymidine suicide studies. Its effect on clonogenic maturation was assessed by including IL-11, either as a single agent or with subplateau or plateau concentrations of other recombinant cytokines, in cultures that contained neutralizing monoclonal antibodies directed against relevant growth factors. Similar to IL-6, IL-11 resulted in accelerated cycling of fetal colony-forming units-mixed (CFU-MIX), CFU-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM), and erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E). This effect was additive to that of submaximal, but not to plateau, concentrations of IL-6. However, no effect of IL-11 was observed on cycling status of adult progenitors. As a single agent, IL-11 failed to support clonal maturation of either fetal or adult progenitors. IL-11 was additive to GM-CSF in supporting clonal maturation of CFU-GM from adult marrow but not from fetal blood. We conclude that the in vitro hematopoietic actions of IL-11 on cell cycle status of hematopoietic progenitors resemble those of IL-6. However, unlike IL-6, IL-11 as a single agent failed to support clonal maturation of fetal CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-MIX.
Binding of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells to marrow stromal cells involves heparan sulfate
Authors: Siczkowski M , Clarke D , Gordon MY
Published: October 2019

Blast colony-forming cells (BI-CFC) and pre-colony-forming unit- granulocyte, monocyte (CFU-GM) in human bone marrow bind to marrow- derived stromal layers grown in the presence of methylprednisolone (MP+), but do not bind to stroma grown without MP (MP-). The BI-CFC bind to stroma and form colonies when overlaid with agar; the pre-CFU- GM bind to stroma and release CFU-GM into the supernatant culture medium (delta assay). These two classes of progenitor may represent similar stages of hematopoietic cell development. Their binding to stroma depends on the presence of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HS-PG) in the extracellular matrix secreted by the stromal cells. Here, we have analyzed the functional and biochemical properties of HS-PG isolated from MP+ and MP- stromal cultures. HS-PG or isolated HS glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains partially blocked progenitor cell binding when they were added to the 2-hour binding phase of the BI-CFC or delta assays. Gel electrophoresis of HS-PG resolved more bands in matrix preparations from MP+ cultures than in preparations from MP- cultures. The blocking activity of the eluted MP+ HS-PG bands depended partly on the amount of GAG attached to the protein core and presumably partly on the structure of the core itself. Time course studies demonstrated that the HS-dependent phase of the binding interaction was limited to the first 30 to 60 minutes of the 2-hour binding phase. The different blocking effects of MP+ and MP- HS indicate that they have different biochemical properties. The HS-GAG in MP+ stroma has a higher degree of sulfation and a greater negative charge to mass ratio compared with MP- HS-GAG. Variations in HS may determine specific binding by hematopoietic progenitor cells and a heparan sulfate receptor is envisaged as acting in concert with further cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on the progenitor cell surface.
Shear rate-dependent impairment of thrombus growth on collagen in nonanticoagulated blood from patients with von Willebrand disease and hemophilia A
Authors: Fressinaud E , Sakariassen KS , Rothschild C , Baumgartner HR , Meyer D
Published: October 2019

Thrombus formation on collagen fibrils was quantified at venous (100/s) and arterial (650/s and 2,600/s) wall shear rates in blood from patients with various subtypes of von Willebrand disease (vWD) and with hemophilia A (HA). Nonanticoagulated blood was drawn directly from an antecubital vein over purified type III collagen fibrils exposed in parallel-plate perfusion chambers. Blood-collagen interactions were differentiated and quantified by morphometry as platelet adhesion, thrombus height, thrombus volume, and deposition of fibrin strands. Sixteen patients with vWD, including four type III, six type I, four type IIA, and two type IIB, were compared with 26 normal subjects and nine patients with HA, including six severe HA and three mild HA. Platelet adhesion and thrombus formation at 2,600/s were significantly decreased in blood from patients with vWD type III, IIA, and IIB, but not in blood from patients with type I and in HA. The abnormal thrombus formation was apparently not related to the decreased levels of factor VIII (F.VIII), because thrombus height and volume were normal in severe and mild HA. Thrombus formation at 650/s was also significantly decreased in patients with vWD type III, IIA, and IIB and slightly reduced in type I. Significant reduction in thrombus volume and height was also observed in blood from patients with severe HA, but not in mild HA. Thrombus dimensions were not affected at 100/s in the vWD subtypes. However, significantly decreased thrombus height and virtually absent fibrin deposition were observed in blood from patients with severe HA. Apparently, F.VIII supports thrombus formation at low and intermediate shear conditions, presumably through the generation of thrombin. In contrast, von Willebrand factor (vWF) mediates not only platelet adhesion, but also thrombus formation at intermediate and high shear rates. Thus, the relative contribution of coagulation (F.VIII) and platelet function (vWF) in thrombus formation appears to be shear rate dependent, but having optimal effects at different shear conditions.
Effects of bone marrow stimulatory cytokines on human immunodeficiency virus replication and the antiviral activity of dideoxynucleosides in cultures of monocyte/macrophages
Authors: Perno CF , Cooney DA , Gao WY , Hao Z , Johns DG , Foli A , Hartman NR , Calio R , Broder S , Yarchoan R
Published: October 2019

Cells of the monocyte lineage are important targets for the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our group and others have previously shown that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulates HIV replication in monocyte/macrophages, but that it also enhances the anti-HIV activity of 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′- azidothymidine (AZT). In the present study, we have explored the effects of other bone marrow stimulatory cytokines on the replication of HIV and on the anti-HIV activity of certain dideoxynucleosides in human peripheral blood monocyte/macrophages (M/M). Like GM-CSF, macrophage CSF (M-CSF) enhanced HIV replication in M/M. In contrast, granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) and erythropoietin (Epo) had no such effects. The anti-HIV activity of zidovudine (AZT) was increased in M/M exposed to GM-CSF. In contrast, the anti-HIV activity of AZT was unchanged in M/M exposed to M-CSF, and the activities of 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC) and 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (ddl) were unchanged or slightly diminished in M/M stimulated with GM-CSF or M-CSF. These differential activities of AZT and ddC were paralleled by differential effects of the cytokines on the anabolism of these drugs to their active 5′-triphosphate moieties. GM-CSF increased the levels of AZT-5′-triphosphate (at least in part through an increase in thymidine kinase activity) and overall induced an increase in the ratio of AZT-5′-triphosphate/thymidine-5′- triphosphate. In contrast, M-CSF-induced increases in AZT-5′- triphosphate were roughly matched by increases in thymidine-5′- triphosphate. Also, GM-CSF- or M-CSF-induced increases in the levels of ddC-5′-triphosphate were associated with parallel increases in the levels of deoxycytidine-5′-triphosphate (the physiologic nucleoside that competes at the level of reverse transcriptase), so that there was relatively little net change in the ddC-5′-triphosphate/deoxycytidine- 5′-triphosphate ratio. Thus, bone marrow stimulatory cytokines may have a variety of effects on HIV replication and on the activity and metabolism of dideoxynucleosides in M/M.
Transfer of the ADA gene into human ADA-deficient T lymphocytes reconstitutes specific immune functions
Authors: Ferrari G , Rossini S , Nobili N , Maggioni D , Garofalo A , Giavazzi R , Mavilio F , Bordignon C
Published: October 2019

Peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from a patient affected by adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency and severe combined immunodeficiency were infected with a retroviral vector containing two copies of a human ADA minigene, and injected into bg/nu/xid (BNX) immunodeficient mice. Six to 10 weeks after injection, human T cells were cloned from the spleens of recipient animals and analyzed for proliferative potential, T-cell surface markers, expression of ADA activity, integration of retroviral sequences, T-cell receptor (TCR) beta gene rearrangement, and specificity of antigen recognition. Efficient gene transfer and expression restored proliferative potential in vitro and long-term survival in vivo. All clonable human T lymphocytes obtained from the spleen of recipient animals had high levels of vector-derived ADA enzyme activity and showed predominantly the CD4+ phenotype. Retroviral integrations and TCR-beta gene rearrangements demonstrated the presence of a variety of different clones in the spleens of recipient mice. Furthermore, the combined analyses of vector integration and TCR rearrangement provided evidence that a circulating progenitor cell was transduced by the retroviral vector, giving rise to different and functional TCRs. Evaluation of antigen-specificity demonstrated both alloreactive and foreign antigen specific immune responses. These results suggest that restoration of enzyme activity in human ADA-deficient peripheral blood T cells by retroviral-mediated ADA gene transfer allows in vivo survival and reconstitution of specific immune functions. Therefore, retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer into circulating mononuclear cells could be successful not only in maintaining the metabolic homeostasis, but also for the development of a functional immune repertoire. This is a fundamental prerequisite for the usage of genetically engineered peripheral blood lymphocytes for somatic cell gene therapy of ADA deficiency.
Restoration of superoxide generation to a chronic granulomatous disease- derived B-cell line by retrovirus mediated gene transfer
Authors: Thrasher A , Chetty M , Casimir C , Segal AW
Published: October 2019

Failure of a superoxide generating system, the NADPH oxidase, present in neutrophils and other phagocytes gives rise to chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a group of single-gene inherited disorders all characterized by an extreme susceptibility to pyogenic infection, with potentially fatal consequences. About 30% of CGD cases are caused by an autosomally inherited deficiency of a 47-Kd cytoplasmic component of the oxidase (p47-phox). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immortalized B- lymphocyte lines established from these CGD patients also express this NADPH oxidase defect and consequently are rendered incapable of generating superoxide on stimulation. We have used a p47-phox-deficient EBV-transformed B-cell line as a recipient for retroviral transfer of a functional p47-phox cDNA. The presence and activity of the retrovirally encoded p47-phox in the transduced cells is demonstrated and we show that this restores their capacity to generate superoxide.
Defective transport as a mechanism of acquired resistance to methotrexate in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Trippett T , Schlemmer S , Elisseyeff Y , Goker E , Wachter M , Steinherz P , Tan C , Berman E , Wright JE , Rosowsky A
Published: October 2019

Although the mechanisms of resistance to methotrexate (MTX) are known in experimental tumors made resistant to this drug, little information is available regarding acquired resistance to MTX in patients. A competitive displacement assay using the fluorescent lysine analogue of MTX, N-(4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroyl)-N epsilon-(4′-fluorescein- thiocarbamyl)-L-lysine (PT430), was developed as a sensitive method of detection of transport resistance to MTX in cell lines, as well as in blast cells from patients with leukemia. Rapid uptake of PT430 at high concentrations (20 mumol/L) in leukemic blasts resulted in achievement of steady-state levels within 2 hours. Subsequent incubation with the folate antagonists, MTX and trimetrexate (TMTX), which differ in the mode of carrier transport, produced characteristic patterns of PT430 displacement. Flow cytometric analysis of the mean fluorescence intensity in the human CCRF-CEM T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia cell line and its MTX-resistant subline clearly identified the presence of transport deficiency in the resistant subline. Analysis of blasts from 17 patients with leukemia, nine with no prior chemotherapy and eight previously treated with chemotherapy, found evidence of MTX transport resistance in two of the four patients who were treated with MTX and considered to be clinically resistant to the drug. The finding that blast cells of some patients with leukemia considered clinically resistant to MTX is due to decreased MTX transport has important implications for clinical use of this drug and for new drug development.
Bone marrow stromal fibroblasts secrete interleukin-6 and granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the absence of inflammatory stimulation: demonstration by serum-free bioassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Guba SC , Sartor CI , Gottschalk LR , Jing YH , Mulligan T , Emerson SG
Published: October 2019

Bone marrow (BM) stromal fibroblasts produce hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) in response to inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). In the absence of such inflammatory stimuli, production of HGFs by BM stromal cells has been problematic and controversial. In vivo, however, basal hematopoiesis maintains blood counts within a normal homeostatic range even in the absence of inflammation, and HGFs are required for progenitor cell differentiation in vitro. To better ascertain the contribution of BM stromal fibroblasts to basal hematopoiesis, we therefore studied HGF production in quiescent BM stromal fibroblasts by three sensitive assays: serum-free bioassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Stromal fibroblasts were cultured in the presence or absence of normal human serum to determine if serum factor(s) present in the noninflammatory (basal) state induce secretion of HGFs. Human serum was found to induce or enhance transcription and secretion of granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and enhance secretion of constitutively expressed IL-6. In contrast, no secretion of either granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) or IL-3 was found. These data indicate that factors in normal human serum are active in enhancing GM-CSF and IL-6 production by stromal fibroblasts and suggest that these growth factors contribute to the maintainance of normal, basal hematopoiesis in vivo.
Insulin-like growth factor-I regulates pro-B cell differentiation
Authors: Landreth KS , Narayanan R , Dorshkind K
Published: October 2019

Progression of B-lymphocyte development in the bone marrow of postnatal mammals is marked by progressive rearrangement and expression of immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy- and light-chain genes. Following productive VHDJH gene rearrangement in the Ig heavy-chain gene complex, mu-heavy chain is the first Ig gene product expressed in cells committed to the B-lymphoid differentiation pathway. Interleukin (IL)-7 has been shown to stimulate proliferation of pre-B cells following c mu expression and this proliferative stimulus is potentiated by kit ligand (KL). However, it appears that neither of these cytokines contributes to differentiation of pro-B cells or initiation of expression of Ig gene products. We previously demonstrated that differentiation of pro-B cells and expression of mu-heavy chain is stimulated by either bone marrow stromal cell line S17 or cell-free supernatants from that line. This biological activity was attributed to molecules with an apparent M(r) of less than 10 Kd and approximately 40 to 60 Kd. We now report that this biological activity resides with stromal cell-derived insulin- like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Recombinant IGF-I stimulated the expression of cytoplasmic mu-heavy chain in short-term bone marrow cultures and this stimulus was abrogated in the presence of anti-IGF-I antibody. We also demonstrate that either anti-IGF-I antibody or pretreatment of S17 cells with antisense oligonucleotide for IGF-I abrogated the pro-B cell differentiation activity of S17 stromal cell supernatants. Although IGF-I did not directly stimulate proliferation of B-lineage cells, like KL, it potentiated the proliferative stimulus provided by IL-7. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that IGF- I produced by bone marrow stromal cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment plays a key role in regulating primary B lymphopoiesis.
Human neutrophils synthesize thrombomodulin that does not promote thrombin-dependent protein C activation
Authors: Conway EM , Nowakowski B , Steiner-Mosonyi M
Published: October 2019

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a surface glycoprotein that forms a 1:1 complex with thrombin, thereby interacting to form the basis of a major physiologically relevant natural anticoagulant mechanism. Although initially described as a vascular endothelial cell receptor, TM has been reported to be present in several other cells, including megakaryocytes, platelets, monocytes, and several cultured cells. Other investigators have reported that neutrophils (PMN) may play a role in the hemostatic mechanism by supporting transformation of prothrombin to thrombin. To determine whether PMN might contribute further to the regulation of the coagulation system, we have evaluated these cells for the expression of TM. Large numbers of human leukocytes were isolated by standard techniques, and the PMN fraction was extracted and shown to be free of platelets and monocytes. Membrane preparations were affinity purified on an anti-TM-Affigel-10 matrix and the eluted material was examined by Western blotting, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and silver staining. The purified material was identical in apparent molecular weight to TM from human placenta and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Using a sensitive and specific immunoassay, we estimated that there are a minimum of 5,220 +/- 1,658 molecules of TM per PMN, as compared with more than 50,000 in HUVEC. Northern analysis of RNA from PMN indicates that specific messenger RNA for TM, as identified by a single 3.8-kb band, is identical to that from HUVEC, and thereby confirms that PMN can also synthesize the receptor. Localization of TM in PMN was attempted by immunofluorescence, and the receptor was visualized only in permeabilized PMN, but was not seen on the surface of nonpermeabilized cells. Flow cytometry was also used, and could detect TM in 10% to 15% of nonpermeabilized PMN, whereas the antigen was present in greater than 80% of permeabilized cells. Biologic function of the PMN-derived TM, as tested by thrombin-dependent activation of protein C, was absent. Our results suggest that TM is synthesized by PMN, but under nonstimulated conditions, the protein is largely excluded from the membrane surface, and lacks the ability to promote activation of protein C by thrombin. TM from PMN may provide a further link between inflammation and thrombosis and may also be a significant source of plasma TM.
Atypical Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in a girl
Authors: Conley ME , Wang WC , Parolini O , Shapiro DN , Campana D , Siminovitch KA
Published: October 2019

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a fully penetrant X-linked recessive disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia with small platelets, eczema, and defects of both T-cell and B-cell immunity. Obligate carriers of this disorder show no signs of the gene defect because in the cell lineages primarily affected by the disorder they demonstrate preferential use of the normal, nonmutant X as the active X. This can be explained by the selective disadvantage in proliferation and/or survival experienced by the cells with the mutant X as the active X. We have recently evaluated an 8-year-old girl with a disorder phenotypically identical to WAS. Cytogenetic studies did not show any structural abnormalities of the X chromosome and X chromosome inactivation analysis showed that both of her X chromosomes could function as the active X. These findings suggest that there is an autosomal recessive disorder that is very similar to classic WAS.
Delta-thalassemia caused by disruption of the site for an erythroid- specific transcription factor, GATA-1, in the delta-globin gene promoter
Authors: Matsuda M , Sakamoto N , Fukumaki Y
Published: October 2019

Delta-thalassemia is a complex group of inherited disorders of globin genes characterized by impaired synthesis of the delta-globin chain. The T-C substitution was detected at position -77 of the delta-globin gene isolated from three independent Japanese individuals who were homozygotes for delta-thalassemia. To elucidate the significance of the mutation in delta-globin gene expression, we investigated the genotype of three delta-thalassemia homozygotes and 58 normal individuals using dot blot hybridization of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA. The mutation was observed in six alleles of three homozygotes, while no mutation was detected in 116 alleles of normal individuals, thereby indicating the close association of this mutation with the thalassemia phenotype. Since the mutation (TTATCT-TCATCT) is located within the inverted binding motif of GATA-1 (T or A-G-A-T-A-G or A), an erythroid cell-specific transcription factor, we did gel retardation assays using nuclear extracts from the erythroid cells. We found that GATA-1 binds the oligonucleotide spanning positions -61 to -90, but does not bind to the oligonucleotide with the mutation at position -77. Competition gel retardation assays showed that GATA-1 binding can be competed out by the fragment with the GATA-1 motif, but not with the mutant oligonucleotide. Analysis of the transient expression of the CAT gene linked to the delta-globin gene promoter region demonstrated that the construct with the mutant promoter region was expressed about 20- fold less compared with the normal one. Thus, the mutation at position - 77 impairs delta-globin gene expression by abolishing GATA-1 binding to the AGATAA sequence of the promoter region of the delta-globin gene. This provides a good example of involvement of tissue-specific transacting factors in the molecular pathogenesis of hereditary diseases.
Low c-kit expression of cultured mast cells of mi/mi genotype may be involved in their defective responses to fibroblasts that express the ligand for c-kit
Authors: Ebi Y , Kanakura Y , Jippo-Kanemoto T , Tsujimura T , Furitsu T , Ikeda H , Adachi S , Kasugai T , Nomura S , Kanayama Y
Published: October 2019

Mutant mice of mi/mi genotype are osteopetrotic and deficient in tissue mast cells due to a defect in osteoclasts and mast cells. In an effort to further understand the mechanisms behind why mi/mi mouse-derived cultured mast cells (mi/mi-CMC) responded to interleukin-3 (IL-3), but not to the proliferative stimuli presented by fibroblasts, mi/mi-CMC and congenic normal (+/+) mouse-derived CMC (+/+-CMC), both of which expressed the phenotypic characteristics of immature mast cells, were cocultured with Swiss albino/3T3 fibroblasts in a medium containing IL- 3. In the in vitro CMC/fibroblast coculture, mi/mi-CMC did not acquire the phenotypes of connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC), while +/+- CMC did. In addition, attachment of mi/mi-CMC to the fibroblasts was found to be significantly lower than that of +/+-CMC. Because the interaction of c-kit product with its ligand (stem cell factor [SCF]) is known to play an important role not only in proliferation and differentiation of mast cells but also in attachment of CMC to fibroblasts, the expression and function of c-kit were investigated in mi/mi-CMC and +/+-CMC. Recombinant rat SCF (rrSCF164) induced a dose- dependent proliferation of +/+-CMC. Also, rrSCF164 induced +/+-CMC to acquire the phenotypes of CTMC in the medium containing IL-3. By contrast, rrSCF164 did not stimulate the proliferation of mi/mi-CMC nor induce a phenotypic change of the cells from immature mast cells to mature, CTMC-like mast cells. Immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody showed that rrSCF164 induced considerable tyrosine phosphorylation of 145- to 165-Kd protein, the product of c-kit, in +/+- CMC, whereas tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein was barely detectable in mi/mi-CMC. Northern blot and flow cytometry analyses showed that mi/mi-CMC expressed much less c-kit at both protein and message levels than +/+-CMC. Further, mi/mi-CMC were found to differ from +/+-CMC in the expression of mouse mast cell protease-6 (MMCP-6) and MMCP-2 messenger RNA transcripts. These results suggest that the gene product of the mi locus may be important in regulating the expression of gene products such as c-kit, and that mast cell deficiency of mi/mi mice appears to be due, at least in part, to impaired signaling through the c-kit receptor because of the low c-kit expression.