bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Induction of cutaneous graft-versus-host disease by administration of cyclosporine to patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia [see comments]
Authors: Yeager AM , Vogelsang GB , Jones RJ , Farmer ER , Altomonte V , Hess AD , Santos GW
Published: October 2019

Cutaneous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has been reported after administration of cyclosporine (CSP) after autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) with unpurged marrow in patients with lymphoma. To determine whether GVHD can be induced after ABMT with chemopurged marrow in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we administered intravenous CSP for 28 days (beginning on the day of ABMT) to 19 patients with AML (12 in first remission [CR1], six in CR2, and one in CR3) who received busulfan (16 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) and ABMT with 4- hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4HC)-treated marrow. In this dose- escalation trial, CSP daily doses were 1 mg/kg in seven patients, 2.5 mg/kg in eight patients, or 3.75 mg/kg in four patients. Skin biopsies were obtained weekly after ABMT or on appearance of rash and were graded for GVH changes. Overall, 15 of 19 patients (79%) had cutaneous histopathologic grade 2 GVHD at a median of 33 days (range, 14 to 49) after ABMT; in 10, cutaneous manifestations were present at time of positive biopsy. The frequency, time to onset, and duration of GVHD were similar among the three CSP dosage groups. No patients had hepatic or gastrointestinal dysfunction attributable to GVHD or required specific therapy for GVHD. Positive biopsies for GVHD were seen in seven of eight patients who received full-course, full-dose CSP and 8 of 11 patients who had CSP discontinued or dosage reduced because of renal insufficiency. Three patients (one with positive biopsy) died with ABMT-related complications. Seven patients (four CR1, three CR2) relapsed with AML at a median of 411 days (range, 178 to 549) after ABMT; six of seven had positive biopsies for cutaneous GVHD. Nine patients (seven CR1, one CR2, and one CR3) are alive without relapse at a median of 501+ days (range, 252+ to 811+) after ABMT; eight of nine had cutaneous GVHD. Short-course CSP can induce autologous GVHD in recipients of chemopurged marrow autografts for AML, but randomized prospective trials are needed to determine whether this immunologic reaction is associated with alterations in leukemic relapse rate and disease-free survival after ABMT in AML.
Inhibition of normal B-cell function by human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein, gp120
Authors: Chirmule N , Oyaizu N , Kalyanaraman VS , Pahwa S
Published: October 2019

Despite the occurrence of hypergammaglobulinemia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, specific antibody production and in vitro B-cell differentiation responses are frequently impaired. In this study, we have examined the effects of HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 on T-helper cell function for B cells. In the culture system used, B-cell functional responses were dependent on T-B- cell contact, since separation of T and B cells in double chambers by Transwell membranes rendered the B cells unresponsive in assays of antigen-induced B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Cytokines secreted by T cells were also essential, since anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb)-activated, paraformaldehyde-fixed T-cell clones failed to induce B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Pretreatment of the CD4+ antigen-specific T cells with gp120 was found to impair their ability to help autologous B cells, as determined by B-cell proliferation, polyclonal IgG secretion, and antigen-specific IgG secretion. The gp120-induced inhibition was specific in that it was blocked by soluble CD4. Furthermore, only fractionated small B cells (which are T-cell-dependent in their function) manifested impaired responses when cultured with gp120-treated T cells. Antigen-induced interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4, but not IL-6, secretion were markedly reduced in gp120-treated T-cell clones. Addition of exogenous cytokines failed to compensate for defective helper function of gp120-treated T cells. The findings in this study indicate that gp120 impairs helper functions of CD4+ T cells by interfering with T-B-cell contact- dependent interaction; the inhibitory effects of soluble envelope proteins of HIV may contribute to the immunopathogenesis of the HIV- associated disease manifestations.
Identical point mutations of the R-type pyruvate kinase (PK) cDNA found in unrelated PK variants associated with hereditary hemolytic anemia
Authors: Kanno H , Fujii H , Hirono A , Omine M , Miwa S
Published: October 2019

We cloned and sequenced the cDNAs for R-type pyruvate kinase (R-PK) from three homozygous PK patients. A point mutation (1151ACG to ATG) identified in the R-PK cDNA of PK Nagasaki was identical with that previously identified in an unrelated family, PK Tokyo. The mutation has also been identified in the PK L gene of a Lebanese family, PK Beirut, by Neubauer et al (Blood 77:1871, 1991). These results suggest either that the point mutation is very old or that the same mutation occurs sporadically in the same hot spot in unrelated families. A point mutation, 1261CAG to AAG, was detected in both PK Fukushima and PK Maebashi; this mutation causes a single amino acid substitution, from Gln421 to Lys, in R-PK. Consequently, the hydrophobicity properties near the mutated site are drastically changed. A silent mutation (1705AGG to CGG) was also identified in those variants. The screening of these three point mutations showed only the silent mutation in a normal individual as well as in individuals with PK variants. These results indicate that the multiplicity of the mutant PK allele is smaller than expected, and that the silent mutation is a polymorphic change commonly distributed in the Japanese population.
Globin-chain specificity of oxidation-induced changes in red blood cell membrane properties
Authors: Schrier SL , Mohandas N
Published: October 2019

We have previously shown that excess unpaired alpha- and beta-globin chains in severe alpha- and beta-thalassemia interacting with the membrane skeleton induce different changes in membrane properties of red blood cells (RBCs) in these two phenotypes. We suggest that these differences in membrane material behavior may reflect the specificity of the membrane damage induced by alpha- and beta-globin chains. To further explore this hypothesis, we sought in vitro models that induce similar membrane alterations in normal RBCs. We found that treatment of normal RBCs with phenylhydrazine produced rigid and mechanically unstable membranes in conjunction with selective association of oxidized alpha-globin chains with the membrane skeleton, features characteristic of RBCs in severe beta-thalassemia. Methylhydrazine, in contrast, induced selective association of oxidized beta-globin chains with the membrane skeleton and produced rigid but hyperstable membranes, features that mimicked those of RBCs in severe alpha- thalassemia. These findings suggest that consequences of oxidation induced by globin chains are quite specific in that those agents that cause alpha-globin chain accumulation at the membrane produce rigid but mechanically unstable membranes, whereas membrane accumulation of beta- globin chains results in rigid but mechanically stable membranes. These in vitro experiments lend further support to the hypothesis that membrane-associated alpha- and beta-chains induce oxidative damage to highly specific different skeletal components and that the specificity of this skeletal damage accounts for the differences in material membrane properties of these oxidatively attacked RBCs and perhaps of alpha- and beta-thalassemic RBCs as well.
Epstein-Barr viral DNA in acute large granular lymphocyte (natural killer) leukemic cells [see comments]
Authors: Hart DN , Baker BW , Inglis MJ , Nimmo JC , Starling GC , Deacon E , Rowe M , Beard ME
Published: October 2019

Serologic studies in a male Caucasian presenting with an acute hepatitis-like illness, associated with an increase in peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes (LGLs), suggested a chronic or reactived Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The LGL were shown to have a natural killer (NK) cell, CD3- CD16- CD56+ CD57- phenotype and mediated strong nonspecific major histocompatability complex-unrestricted (NK) cytotoxic activity. A progressive increase in the peripheral blood LGL count was associated with a rapid deterioration, hepatic necrosis, and death. Widespread organ infiltration with LGLs suggested a malignant lymphoproliferative condition, but no lymphoid (T-cell receptor or IgH) gene rearrangement or cytogenetic marker was detected. However, molecular analysis identified EBV genomic DNA present in a single episomal form within the LGL, establishing the clonal nature of the LGL proliferation. Confirmation that the EBV had infected the leukemic LGL was obtained by in situ hybridization studies that showed EBV RNA within the LGLs. Immunoblotting of LGL protein extracts established that, of the EBV gene products, EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) was expressed but EBNA-2 and the latent membrane protein (LMP-1) were not detectable in the leukemic cells. These results suggest that EBV may be involved directly in LGL cell transformation, in a manner similar to EBV-associated B-cell lymphomas, although other molecular changes probably contribute to the evolution of a fully malignant leukemic clone.
Diverse point mutations result in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) polymorphism in Taiwan
Authors: Tang TK , Huang CS , Huang MJ , Tam KB , Yeh CH , Tang CJ
Published: October 2019

Glucose-6-PHOSPHATE dehydrogenase (G6PD; EC 1.1.1.49) deficiency is the most common human enzymopathy, affecting more than 200 million people worldwide. Although greater than 400 variants have been described based on clinical and biochemical criteria, little is known about the molecular basis of these G6PD deficiencies. Recently, the gene that encodes human G6PD has been cloned and sequenced, which enables us to examine directly the heterogeneity of G6PD at the DNA level. During the past 10 years, we examined the G6PD activity in 21,271 newborn Chinese infants (11,400 males and 9,871 females) and identified 314 (2.8%) males and 246 (2.5%) females having low G6PD activity. The G6PD gene from 10 randomly selected affected individuals and their relatives was polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified, subcloned, and sequenced. Our results indicate that at least four types of mutation are responsible for the G6PD polymorphism in Taiwan. The first type of mutation (487 G----A) was found in an affected Chinese with a G to A change at nucleotide 487, which results in a (163)Gly to Ser substitution. The second type of mutation (493 A----G) is a novel mutation that has not been reported in any other ethnic group and was identified in two affected Chinese. This mutation causes an A to G change at nucleotide position 493, producing an (165)Asn to Asp substitution. Interestingly, the 487 G----A and 493 A----G mutations create Alu I and Ava II recognition sites, respectively, which enabled us to rapidly detect these two mutations by PCR/restriction enzyme (RE) digestion method. The third mutation (1376 G----T) was found in four affected Chinese. This mutation causes a G to T change at nucleotide position 1376 that results in an (459)Arg to Leu substitution. The 1376 G----T mutation seems to be the dominant allele that causes G6PD deficiency in Taiwan. Finally, two affected Chinese were identified as having the fourth mutation (1388 G----A). This mutation causes a G to A change at nucleotide 1388 that produces an (463)Arg to His substitution. Our studies provide the direct proof of the genetic heterogeneity of G6PD deficiency in the Chinese populations of Taiwan and the PCR/RE digestion method is suitable for simultaneous detection of the 487 G----A and 493 A----G mutations.
The Experimental Production of Splenomegaly, Anemia and Leukopenia in Albino Rats
Authors: PALMER J. G. , EICHWALD E. J. , CARTWRIGHT G. E. , WINTROBE M. M.
Published: October 2019

The intraperitoneal administration of methyl cellulose into rats over a period of fifteen weeks resulted in the development of a syndrome characterized by massive splenomegaly, hyperplasia of the bone marrow elements, normocytic, normochromic anemia, reticulocytosis, leukopenia, a mild thrombocytopenia in 9 of the 10 animals, ascites, and infiltration of the spleen, liver and kidneys with "storage-cell" macrophages. The administration of methyl cellulose to rats previously splenectomized produced similar histologic lesions but failed to produce the hematologic abnormalities.

It is suggested that the syndrome produced by methyl cellulose may represent an experimental form of the process to which, in man, the term "secondary hypersplenism" has been applied.
Factor XII-independent activation of factor XI in plasma: effects of sulfatides on tissue factor-induced coagulation
Authors: Gailani D , Broze GJ Jr
Published: October 2019

Factor XI (FXI) may be activated in a purified system by thrombin and by autoactivation in the presence of negatively charged substances such as dextran sulfate or sulfatides. The current studies were performed to determine if these processes occur during the coagulation of plasma. FXII--deficient plasma was supplemented with 125I-FXI and clot formation was induced with tissue factor and/or sulfatides. Cleavage of FXI was studied by standard polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Activated FXI (FXIa) was detected after 20 minutes of incubation with sulfatides alone and this process was markedly accelerated by the addition of tissue factor (TF). The enhancing effect of TF was blocked by hirudin, which indicated thrombin involvement in FXI activation. The contribution of FXIa to FIX activation in this system was studied using a 3H-FIX activation peptide release assay. Sulfatides increased FIX activation about twofold in plasma induced to clot with TF but had no effect if the plasma was immunodepleted of FXI. FIX activation was also increased in plasma induced to clot with FXa if sulfatides were present. The enhanced generation of FIXa was dependent on FXI and was blocked by hirudin. Some activation was seen in the reactions with sulfatides and hirudin and is likely solely caused by FXI autoactivation. The data indicate that during the coagulation of plasma in the presence of sulfatides, FXI is activated by a mechanism that is thrombin dependent and does not require FXII.
Further study of internal autocrine regulation of multipotent hematopoietic cells
Authors: Pech N , Hermine O , Goldwasser E
Published: October 2019

We have extended the study of the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides on hematopoietic colony formation to include the effects of antisense to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) on bone marrow cultures. GM-CSF antisense and GM-CSF receptor antisense cause an increase in mixed erythroid:nonerythroid colonies and a decrease in mixed nonerythroid colonies, which is an effect opposite to that described previously for erythropoietin (Epo) and Epo receptor antisense. The effect of GM-CSF antisense oligomer is not abrogated by the presence of the ligand in the culture. Antisense oligomers to G-CSF and M-CSF have no effect. When Epo and GM-CSF antisense oligomers are added simultaneously, the effects seem to be independent, with the GM-CSF antisense predominating. These data support the hypothesis of internal autocrine regulation of multipotent hematopoietic precursor cells, and extend the concept to myeloid as well as erythroid differentiation.
Activation of apoptosis associated with enforced myc expression in myeloid progenitor cells is dominant to the suppression of apoptosis by interleukin-3 or erythropoietin
Authors: Askew DS , Ihle JN , Cleveland JL
Published: October 2019

The inappropriate expression of c-myc in cells deprived of growth factors has recently been implicated in the activation of programmed cell death (apoptosis). The studies described here examine the ability of interleukin-3 (IL-3) or erythropoietin (Epo) to suppress apoptosis that occurs in association with enforced myc expression during cell cycle arrest of a murine IL-3-dependent myeloid progenitor cell line, 32D. G1 arrest was observed when culturing 32D cells to high density in medium supplemented with IL-3, or at subconfluent densities in medium supplemented with Epo. Under both conditions, endogenous c-myc expression was downregulated and viability was maintained. In clones of cells in which c-myc is constitutively expressed from a retroviral vector, enforced c-myc expression was associated with the activation of apoptosis at high cell densities. Similarly, enforced c-myc expression was deleterious to cell survival when these cells were cultured in Epo, as apoptosis was evident within 6 hours. The results support the concept that inappropriate c-myc expression activates apoptosis and that neither IL-3 nor Epo can suppress this program under these conditions.
A comparison of the iron-clearing properties of parabactin and desferrioxamine
Authors: Bergeron R , Streiff RR , King W , Daniels RD Jr , Wiegand J
Published: October 2019

A comparative study of the iron-clearing properties of subcutaneously administered desferrioxamine and parabactin is presented. The evaluation was performed in both a non-iron-overloaded bile-duct cannulated rat and an iron-loaded Cebus monkey model. Parabactin was superior to desferrioxamine in both the rodent and the primate. Unlike desferrioxamine, nearly all of the parabactin-induced iron clearance occurred in the bile. This study represents an evaluation of the iron- clearing properties of parabactin, a hexacoordinate catecholamide siderophore.
Monoclonal antibody-purged bone marrow transplantation therapy for multiple myeloma
Authors: Anderson KC , Andersen J , Soiffer R , Freedman AS , Rabinowe SN , Robertson MJ , Spector N , Blake K , Murray C , Freeman A
Published: October 2019

Forty patients with plasma cell dyscrasias underwent high-dose chemoradiotherapy and either anti-B-cell monoclonal antibody (MoAb)- treated autologous, anti-T-cell MoAb-treated HLA-matched sibling allogeneic or syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The majority of patients had advanced Durie-Salmon stage myeloma at diagnosis, all were pretreated with chemotherapy, and 17 had received prior radiotherapy. At the time of BMT, all patients demonstrated good performance status with Karnofsky score of 80% or greater and had less than 10% marrow tumor cells; 34 patients had residual monoclonal marrow plasma cells and 38 patients had paraprotein. Following high-dose chemoradiotherapy, there were 18 complete responses (CR), 18 partial responses, one non-responder, and three toxic deaths. Granulocytes greater than 500/microL and untransfused platelets greater than 20,000/microL were noted at a median of 23 (range, 12 to 46) and 25 (range, 10 to 175) days posttransplant (PT), respectively, in 24 of the 26 patients who underwent autografting. In the 14 patients who received allogeneic or syngeneic grafts, granulocytes greater than 500/microL and untransfused platelets greater than 20,000/microL were noted at a median of 19 (range, 12 to 24) and 16 (range, 5 to 32) days PT, respectively. With 24 months median follow-up for survival after autologous BMT, 16 of 26 patients are alive free from progression at 2+ to 55+ months PT; of these, 5 patients remain in CR at 6+ to 55+ months PT. With 24 months median follow-up for survival after allogeneic and syngeneic BMT, 8 of 14 patients are alive free from progression at 8+ to 34+ months PT; of these, 5 patients remain in CR at 8+ to 34+ months PT. This therapy has achieved high response rates and prolonged progression-free survival in some patients and proven to have acceptable toxicity. However, relapses post-BMT, coupled with slow engraftment post-BMT in heavily pretreated patients, suggest that such treatment strategies should be used earlier in the disease course. To define the role of BMT in the treatment of myeloma, its efficacy should be compared with that of conventional chemotherapy in a randomized trial.
Characterization of the interactions between procoagulant albumin and human endothelial cells
Authors: Faucette KJ , Fitzgerald LA , Liu L , Parker CJ , Rodgers GM
Published: October 2019

Normal human plasma contains procoagulant albumin (PC-Al), an anionic form of albumin that induces tissue factor (TF) activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and monocytes. In this study, we investigated both the interactions between HUVEC and PC-Al and the mechanism by which PC-Al induces TF activity. Binding of PC-Al to HUVEC was specific and reversible. Further studies indicated that membrane- bound PC-Al was not internalized by HUVEC. A potential receptor on HUVEC was suggested by studies in which the capacity of a variety of reagents to inhibit the activity of PC-Al was quantitated. Induction of TF activity by PC-Al was antagonized by dextran sulfate, heparin, fucoidan, and concanavalin A but not by ovalbumin, polyglutamic acid, or polyvinyl sulfate. This competition profile bears similarities to those reported for scavenger receptors that have been identified on both HUVEC and monocytes. Involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the PC-Al-induced enhancement of TF activity was suggested by experiments in which staurosporine, an inhibitor of PKC, suppressed the activity of PC-Al. The induction of TF activity by PC-Al was further characterized by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Increased TF mRNA was first seen after 1 hour of incubation with PC-Al. Maximal observed expression occurred at 2 hours, but at 5 hours, expression had significantly decreased. Monocytes could also be induced to express TF mRNA after a 2-hour incubation with PC-Al. These results suggest that the functionally relevant binding of PC-Al to HUVEC may be mediated through interactions with a membrane constituent that has some of the properties of a scavenger receptor and that this interaction augments TF activity by enhancing transcription of TF mRNA, at least in part, by a mechanism that is dependent on activation of PKC.
The N-terminal domain of human urokinase receptor contains two distinct regions critical for ligand recognition
Authors: Pollanen JJ
Published: October 2019

The high-affinity receptor that binds human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (hu-PAR) is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell-surface glycoprotein that belongs to the Ly-6 superfamily of T- cell-activating receptors. Binding of urokinase (u-PA) to u-PAR is species-specific, since neither murine (mu-PAR) nor hu-PAR binds u-PA from the other species. I designed and analyzed a series of exchanges between hu-PAR and mu-PAR in the N-terminal first domain to which ligand-binding function had been independently mapped. Introduction of as few as 13 murine residues (six of 13 variables) into the N-terminal region of hu-PAR abrogated binding to recombinant human pro-u-PA, whereas the opposite chimera, a mu-PAR carrying six of 13 human residues, was positive for binding. Within this region, the mu-PAR domain 1 could be minimally humanized to bind human pro-u-PA by a substitution of as few as four of the six nonconserved residues, thereby identifying the residues arginine-2, lysine-7, threonine-8, and glycine-10 as important in determining binding specificity. By alanine- scanning mutagenesis, a second recognition site within domain 1 was discovered between residues 47 and 53, a segment that is fully conserved between the human and the mouse receptors. Taken together, these results provide identification of two confined subregions within the N-terminal domain of hu-PAR critically involved in pro-u-PA recognition.
Interleukin-12 augments cytolytic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with hematologic and solid malignancies
Authors: Soiffer RJ , Robertson MJ , Murray C , Cochran K , Ritz J
Published: October 2019

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric 70-kD cytokine that can enhance the activity of cytotoxic effector cells. Although IL-12 shares some functional properties with interleukin-2 (IL-2), it appears to act via a distinct mechanism. In this report, we examined the effects of IL- 12 on the cytolytic activity and proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from patients with malignant disease. PBMC from two groups of patients were evaluated. The first group consisted of 12 individuals with metastatic solid tumors. PBMC from these patients demonstrated a marked defect in their ability to lyse natural killer (NK)-sensitive targets (K562) compared with normal volunteers. Overnight incubation with IL-12 (35 pmol/L) corrected this defect. The effect of 35 pmol/L of IL-12 on cytotoxicity was similar to that of 3 nmol/L of IL-2. In contrast, this concentration of IL-12 had little effect on cytolytic activity against an NK-resistant cell line (COLO 205). When IL-12 was added to PBMC obtained from cancer patients who were being treated with low-dose IL-2 in vivo, a dramatic increase in cytolytic activity against both NK-sensitive and -resistant tumor targets was observed. Unlike IL-2, IL-12 failed to stimulate proliferation of resting PBMC from cancer patients significantly. The second group of patients we studied comprised 13 patients who had recently undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for hematologic malignancy. In resting PBMC from these transplant recipients, IL-12 was capable of enhancing cytotoxicity against both NK- sensitive and -resistant tumor targets. Our findings indicate that IL- 12 can restore defective NK activity of PBMC from patients with metastatic cancer, as well as enhance cytolytic function of PBMC from patients after allogeneic BMT. The clinical use of IL-12 as an immunomodulator in patients with malignancy merits further consideration.
Platelet glycoprotein IV (CD36) deficiency is associated with the absence (type I) or the presence (type II) of glycoprotein IV on monocytes
Authors: Yamamoto N , Akamatsu N , Sakuraba H , Yamazaki H , Tanoue K
Published: October 2019

Platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IV (also called CD36 and GPIIb) deficiency is associated with N(aka)-negative platelets. Using flow- cytometric analysis of cells stained with the monoclonal anti-GPIV antibody OKM5, we have studied the expression of GPIV on the monocytes from 16 healthy Japanese individuals whose platelets were deficient in GPIV. GPIV was absent on the surface of monocytes from 2 platelet GPIV- negative donors (type I), whereas it was present on the monocytes from the remaining 14 platelet GPIV-negative donors (type II). The fluorescent intensity of OKM5-stained type II monocytes was significantly (P < .05) lower than that of normal monocytes derived from platelet GPIV-positive donors, suggesting that the expression of GPIV on the type II monocytes is also abnormally regulated as compared with that on normal monocytes. OKM5 induced an oxidative burst in the type II monocytes as well as in the normal monocytes, but it failed to induce it in the type I monocytes. Because the 2 individuals with the type I deficiency have been healthy and exhibited no immunologic problems, GPIV appears to be not essential for the normal physiologic functions of monocytes. An anti-GPIV antibody was detected in the serum from one of the type I GPIV-deficient women, who had never received any blood transfusions but had given birth to three apparently healthy children. These results suggest that type I GPIV-deficient individuals may be at risk of developing an anti-GPIV isoantibody upon blood transfusion or pregnancy.
A novel form of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia associated with deficiency of erythroid CD44 and a unique blood group phenotype [In(a-b- ), Co(a-b-)]
Authors: Parsons SF , Jones J , Anstee DJ , Judson PA , Gardner B , Wiener E , Poole J , Illum N , Wickramasinghe SN
Published: October 2019

We have used a panel of well-characterized monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to examine the blood cells of a patient with a novel form of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) characterized by intra- erythroblastic and intra-erythrocytic membranous inclusions. Twelve antibodies defining three nonoverlapping epitope groups on the extracellular domain of CD44 all failed to react with the red blood cells (RBCs) of the patient. A rabbit antibody to the cytoplasmic domain of CD44 from normal RBCs failed to react with the patient's RBC ghosts. In contrast, the patient's lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes showed apparently normal CD44 expression. Bone marrow preparations stained with CD44 antibodies and visualized with 125I antimouse Ig (F(ab')2) followed by autoradiography showed positive staining of lymphocytes and myeloid cells but not of most orthotolidine- positive erythroblasts. The patient's RBCs also gave weaker than normal reactions with MoAbs of anti-LWab specificity while MoAbs to glycophorins A, B, and C, Rh polypeptides, CD47, CD55, CD58, CD59, acetylcholinesterase, and Lutheran and Kell glycoproteins all gave normal reactions. Agglutination tests with human blood grouping sera demonstrated that the RBCs of the patient have the unique phenotype In(a-b-), Co(a-b-) and that they also lack the high incidence RBC antigen AnWj. The phenotype In(a-b-) would be expected because these antigens are known to be expressed on CD44. There is also some evidence associating the AnWj antigen with CD44. However, the CO blood group locus is on chromosome 7p whereas that for CD44 is on chromosome 11p. Quantitative binding assays using 125I-labeled Fab fragments of CD44 antibodies did not show any evidence for reduced levels of CD44 on RBCs from the parents of the patient or from her unaffected sister. The parents and sister had the common Colton blood group phenotype [Co(a+b- )]. Neither deficiency of CD44 nor absence of Colton antigens are general features of CDA because erythrocytes from patients with CDA I, CDA II, CDA III, and two other unclassified CDAs had normal expression of CD44 and normal Colton blood group phenotypes. Further analysis of the defect(s) present in the patient's erythroid cells may provide useful information regarding membrane assembly and the regulation of differentiation in normal erythroid cells.
Induced expression of c-fms in normal hematopoietic cells shows evidence for both conservation and lineage restriction of signal transduction in response to macrophage colony-stimulating factor
Authors: McArthur GA , Rohrschneider LR , Johnson GR
Published: October 2019

Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer was used to obtain expression of the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) receptor, c-fms, on hematopoietic lineages that normally do not express this receptor. Cultures of murine fetal liver cells infected with the c-fms retrovirus developed erythroid colonies in cultures stimulated with M-CSF. However, these colonies were fewer and less hemoglobinized than colonies in parallel cultures stimulated by erythropoietin. Culture of isolated clones demonstrated a direct action of M-CSF on erythroid clones. Culture of c-fms retrovirus-infected adult murine bone marrow cells showed megakaryocyte and novel macrophage-megakaryocyte clones when stimulated by M-CSF. Culture of isolated clones again confirmed a direct action of M-CSF on megakaryocyte clones. In contrast, M-CSF stimulation of c-fms-infected granulocytes and granulocyte progenitor cells did not elicit proliferation, enhanced survival, or functional stimulation of granulocytes. These findings provide evidence for both conservation and lineage restriction of signal transduction in normal hematopoietic cells.
Analysis of treatment failure in patients with minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0)
Authors: Stasi R , Del Poeta G , Venditti A , Masi M , Stipa E , Dentamaro T , Cox C , Dallapiccola B , Papa G
Published: October 2019

Reports of treatment of patients with minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0) are limited, heterogeneous, and controversial. We verified the prognosis of this subtype by analyzing the results of 189 consecutive patients with de novo AML. Fifteen cases fitting the criteria of AML-M0 were identified. No clinical features distinguished them from other patients with AML. The median age was 61 years (range 27 to 70), with a leukocyte count ranging from 0.6 to 185 x 10(9)/L. In all cases the leukemic cells expressed CD34 and reacted with at least one of the antibodies to early myeloid antigens, ie, CD13, CD33, or myeloperoxidase. Immunophenotypic analysis also showed positivity for CD7 in seven samples and the multidrug-resistance P- glycoprotein (P-170) in six. Cytogenetic analysis was abnormal in 12 of the 13 patients in whom an adequate number of mitoses could be evaluated. No single abnormality prevailed, the most common findings being trisomy 8 (three cases) and aberrations of chromosome 7 (two cases). Antileukemic treatment differed according to age, but for remission induction, all patients received a combination of cytosine arabinoside and an anthracycline or mitoxantrone. The prognosis of patients with AML-M0 was remarkably poor as compared with the other French-American-British subtypes. Whereas the overall rate of complete remission (CR) was 58% with a median survival of 63 weeks, only 6 of the 15 patients with AML-M0 achieved a CR, and the median survival of this group was 16 weeks (range 3 to 39). The major determinant of treatment failure was unresponsiveness to chemotherapy, as only one patient died of infection during the hypoplastic phase. The CR duration of responders was short, ranging from 3 to 22 weeks, and no second remissions were observed. We conclude that conventional combination chemotherapy yields disappointing results in AML-M0. The reason for this may be the convergence of various unfavorable prognostic factors, such as (1) the high incidence of cytogenetic abnormalities; (2) the lack of differentiation features and the expression of immaturity markers such as CD34 and CD7; and (3) the frequent expression of P-170. Nonconventional therapeutic approaches should be developed to alter the prognosis of this form of leukemia.
Peripheral blood lymphocytes as target cells of retroviral vector- mediated gene transfer
Authors: Mavilio F , Ferrari G , Rossini S , Nobili N , Bonini C , Casorati G , Traversari C , Bordignon C
Published: October 2019

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) are key target cells for gene therapy of a number of inherited and acquired blood disorders. We have systematically compared four retroviral vectors, designed according to different strategies, for their efficiency in transfer and expression in human PBLs of the same reporter gene. The receptor gene used in the study codes for the human low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR), and is not expressed on the majority of human hematopoietic cells, thus allowing quantitative analysis of the transduced gene expression by immunofluorescence, with single cell resolution. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as well as human hematopoietic cell lines of myeloid and lymphoid origin, were transduced with the four vectors and analyzed for efficiency of gene transfer, integration and stability of vector proviruses, and LNGFR expression at both RNA and protein level. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis of coexpression of LNGFR and lineage-specific cell surface markers was performed in transduced cell lines, PBLs, and T- cell clones to study gene expression on specific cell subpopulations. Although crucial differences were observed among different constructs, all retroviral vectors could transduce, under appropriate infection conditions, T-cell populations representative of the normal immune repertoire. Gene transfer and expression could be demonstrated also in circulating progenitors of mature T cells. Expression of the transduced gene was heterogeneous among cell populations infected with the different vectors, with optimal results obtained by two of the four constructs. Finally, we have devised a simple protocol based on vector- mediated gene transfer and positive immunoselection of the transduced cells that produces virtually 100% gene-modified cells. This may represent a crucial improvement in the way of designing efficacious protocols involving the use of gene-modified T lymphocytes in clinical studies.
Insertion of cytoplasmic tyrosine sequences into the nonphagocytic receptor Fc gamma RIIB establishes phagocytic function
Authors: Indik ZK , Pan XQ , Huang MM , McKenzie SE , Levinson AI , Schreiber AD
Published: October 2019

Receptors for the Fc domain of IgG on cells of hematopoietic lineage perform important functions, including stimulation of the ingestion of IgG-coated cells. In examining the function of Fc gamma receptor isoforms by transfection into COS-1 cells, we have observed that Fc gamma RIIA induces the binding and phagocytosis of IgG-sensitized RBCs (EA) and that transfected COS-1 cells can serve as a model for examining the molecular structures involved in mediating a phagocytic signal. We now report that COS-1 cell transfectants expressing the isoforms Fc gamma RIIB1 and Fc gamma RIIB2 and a Fc gamma RIIA mutant without a cytoplasmic tail efficiently bind EA but do not mediate their phagocytosis. Furthermore, wild-type Fc gamma RIIA, but not Fc gamma RIIB1 or Fc gamma RBII2, was phosphorylated on tyrosine upon receptor activation. Tyrphostin 23, which alters tyrosine kinase activity, inhibited the phagocytosis of EA and reduced the phosphorylation of Fc gamma RIIA on tyrosine. Fc gamma RIIB1 and Fc gamma RIIB2 contain one copy of the cytoplasmic sequence YXXL/I implicated in signal transduction, whereas Fc gamma RIIA contains two copies. We therefore inserted YXXL/I sequences at different sites in Fc gamma RIIB2. Low levels of phagocytosis were observed in a Fc gamma RIIB2 mutant bearing the Fc gamma RIIA sequence YMTL and higher levels of phagocytosis were observed in a second Fc gamma RIIB2 mutant that contained both the upstream YMTL and an additional downstream tyrosine-containing motif. Activation of this mutant receptor also induced receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, these studies indicate that both the number and placement of YXXL sequences in the cytoplasmic domain of the Fc gamma RII receptor family affect both receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and phagocytic competence.
c-kit expression in human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell lines
Authors: Hu ZB , Ma W , Uphoff CC , Quentmeier H , Drexler HG
Published: October 2019

A panel of 164 continuous human leukemia-lymphoma cell lines was analyzed for expression of c-kit using Northern blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The c-kit transcripts were detectable in cell lines assigned to the myeloid (in 7 of 29 by Northern blotting and in 4 of 8 by RT-PCR), monocytic (in 1 of 24 by Northern blotting and in 3 of 6 by RT-PCR), erythroid (in 6 of 8 by Northern blotting and in 5 of 5 by RT-PCR), and megakaryoblastic (in 10 of 10 by Northern blotting) lineages, c-kit expression was not seen by Northern blotting or RT-PCR analysis in any of the 93 lymphoid leukemia, myeloma, or lymphoma cell lines. Treatment of four megakaryoblastic cell lines with protein kinase C activators (phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and Bryostatin 1) led to terminal differentiation as assessed by morphologic alterations, changes in the surface marker profile, and growth arrest. These effects were associated with enhanced c-kit mRNA expression. Exposure to all- trans retinoic acid down-regulated c-kit mRNA levels, while simultaneously causing morphologic alterations in all four cell lines. Stimulation with growth factors (interleukin-3, granulocyte macrophage- colony stimulating factor, and insulin-like growth factors I and II), used to assess any role of c-kit in proliferative processes, did not lead to significant upregulation or downregulation of c-kit expression. The finding of constitutive and high expression of c-kit mRNA in all megakaryoblastic leukemia cell lines and its modulation by various reagents might further contribute to the understanding of megakaryopoietic proliferation, differentiation, and leukemogenesis.
Murine yolk sac endoderm- and mesoderm-derived cell lines support in vitro growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells
Authors: Yoder MC , Papaioannou VE , Breitfeld PP , Williams DA
Published: October 2019

The mechanisms involved in the induction of yolk sac mesoderm into blood islands and the role of visceral endoderm and mesoderm cells in regulating the restricted differentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic cells in the yolk sac remain largely unexplored. To better define the role of murine yolk sac microenvironment cells in supporting hematopoiesis, we established cell lines from day-9.5 gestation murine yolk sac visceral endoderm and mesoderm layers using a recombinant retrovirus vector containing Simian virus 40 large T- antigen cDNA. Obtained immortalized cell lines expressed morphologic and biosynthetic features characteristic of endoderm and mesoderm cells from freshly isolated yolk sacs. Similar to the differentiation of blood island hematopoietic cells in situ, differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro into neutrophils was restricted and macrophage production increased when bone marrow (BM) progenitor cells were cultured in direct contact with immortalized yolk sac cell lines as compared with culture on adult BM stromal cell lines. Yolk sac- derived cell lines also significantly stimulated the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells compared with the adult BM stromal cell lines. Thus, yolk sac endoderm- and mesoderm-derived cells, expressing many features of normal yolk sac cells, alter the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. These cells will prove useful in examining the cellular interactions between yolk sac endoderm and mesoderm involved in early hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
Retrovirus-mediated reconstitution of respiratory burst activity in X- linked chronic granulomatous disease cells
Authors: Kume A , Dinauer MC
Published: October 2019

X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) results from mutations in the gene encoding gp91phox, the larger subunit of the respiratory burst oxidase cytochrome b. In this study, a recombinant retrovirus vector was constructed and evaluated for its expression of human gp91phox in a human X-CGD myeloid cell line in which the endogenous gp91phox gene had been disrupted by gene targeting. The retrovirus construct, Zip/PGKgp91, was first introduced into the GP+envAm12 amphotropic packaging line and yielded virus producer clones with estimated titers of up to 1 x 10(5) cfu/mL. Coculture infection of X- CGD myeloid cells with Zip/PGKgp91 resulted in restoration of respiratory burst activity to 15% of the cells. Isolated clonal infectants expressed relatively low levels of recombinant gp91phox (< or = 12% of wild-type), but exhibited considerable superoxide- generating activity (up to nearly 60% of wild-type). These results show the feasibility of phenotypic correction of CGD using gene replacement therapy and suggest that even modest levels of gp91phox expression may lead to considerable functional correction of X-CGD neutrophils.
DLA-identical bone marrow grafts after low-dose total body irradiation: the effect of canine recombinant hematopoietic growth factors
Authors: Storb R , Raff RF , Appelbaum FR , Deeg HJ , Graham TC , Schuening FG , Shulman H , Yu C , Bryant E , Burnett R
Published: October 2019

Previous studies found that bone marrow (BM) allografts from DLA- identical littermates resulted in survival of two thirds of recipient dogs after otherwise lethal doses of 450 to 600 cGy of total body irradiation (TBI) because of successful allografts or autologous recovery after rejection of the allografts. The current study asked whether survival could be further improved by treating allograft recipients with recombinant canine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), stem cell factor (SCF), or G-CSF/SCF. Of 21 dogs, 14 (67%) receiving allografts but no growth factors survived, 10 with successful allografts (including 5 mixed chimeras) and 4 with autologous recovery; whereas 7 animals died, 5 from infections during BM aplasia and 2 from acute graft-versus-host disease. By comparison, 30 of 34 dogs (88%) receiving hematopoietic growth factors in addition to the BM graft survived, 17 with successful allografts (including 10 mixed chimeras) and 13 with autologous recovery; whereas 4 died, all with infection related to BM aplasia after rejection of the allograft. Survival was similar for recipients of G-CSF, SCF, or the combination of G-CSF and SCF. Logistic regression analyses, which accounted for possible effects of TBI dose, showed a trend for improved survival in dogs receiving growth factors (P = .09), no change in allogeneic engraftment (P = .74), and a slight increase in autologous recovery (P = .22). In agreement with previous data, we found that grafts of BM from DLA-identical littermates improved survival of recipient dogs exposed to low but otherwise lethal doses of TBI. A further improvement in survival could be achieved by additional treatment with G-CSF, SCF, or G-CSF/SCF. Results suggest that treatment by hematopoietic growth factors along with BM grafts should be considered for victims of radiation accidents.
CD44 can mediate the adhesion of platelets to hyaluronan
Authors: Koshiishi I , Shizari M , Underhill CB
Published: October 2019

CD44 represents a family of glycoproteins that are present on the surfaces of some types of lymphocytes, macrophages, and epithelial cells. In the present study, we have found that CD44 is also present on murine megakaryocytes and peripheral blood platelets as judged by immunohistochemical staining. Western blotting of platelet proteins indicated that this CD44 was predominantly of the 85-kD form. This form of CD44 also had the capacity to bind hyaluronan, because detergent extracts of platelets as well as intact platelets could bind soluble [3H]hyaluronan, and this property was blocked by antibodies directed against CD44. More importantly, isolated platelets could attach to the hyaluronan-containing extracellular matrix produced by cultured rat fibrosarcoma cells. This attachment took place in the absence of divalent cations and could be blocked by pretreating the rat fibrosarcoma cells with hyaluronidase or by the addition of an antibody to CD44. These results suggested that CD44 was responsible for the attachment of platelets to hyaluronan. Histochemical staining also showed that hyaluronan was present immediately beneath the endothelial cells of many blood vessels of various tissues, such as the dermis, lamina propria of the intestinal tract, the lungs, and the pericardium. Thus, it is possible that CD44 plays an important role in the attachment of platelets to the surface of exposed connective tissue after injury to endothelial cells.