bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of factor VIII-von Willebrand factor association
Authors: Vlot AJ , Koppelman SJ , Meijers JC , Dama C , van den Berg HM , Bouma BN , Sixma JJ , Willems GM
Published: October 2019

The binding of factor VIII to von Willebrand factor (vWF) is essential for the protection of factor VIII against proteolytic degradation in plasma. We have characterized the binding kinetics of human factor VIII with vWF using a centrifugation binding assay. Purified or plasma vWF was immobilized with a monoclonal antibody (MoAb RU1) covalently linked to Sepharose (Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Uppsala, Sweden). Factor VIII was incubated with vWF-RU1-Sepharose and unbound factor VIII was separated from bound factor VIII by centrifugation. The amount of bound factor VIII was determined from the decrease of factor VIII activity in the supernatant. Factor VIII binding to vWF-RU1-Sepharose conformed to the Langmuir model for independent binding sites with a Kd of 0.46 +/- 0.12 nmol/L, and a stoichiometry of 1.3 factor VIII molecules per vWF monomer at saturation, suggesting that each vWF subunit contains a binding site for factor VIII. Competition experiments were performed with a recombinant vWF (deltaA2-rvWF), lacking residues 730 to 910 which contain the epitope for MoAB RU1. DeltaA2-rvWF effectively displaced previously bound factor VIII, confirming that factor VIII binding to vWF-RU1-Sepharose was reversible. To determine the association rate constant (k(on)) and the dissociation rate constant (k(off)), factor VIII was incubated with vWF-RU1-Sepharose for various time intervals. The observed association kinetics conformed to a simple bimolecular association reaction with k(on) = 5.9 +/- 1.9 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and k(off) = 1.6 +/- 1.2 x 10(-3) s(-1) (mean +/- SD). Similar values were obtained from the dissociation kinetics measured after dilution of preformed factor VIII-vWF-RU1-Sepharose complexes. Identical rate constants were obtained for factor VIII binding to vWF from normal pooled plasma and to vWF from plasma of patients with hemophilia A. The kinetic parameters in this report allow estimation of the time needed for complex formation in vivo in healthy individuals and in patients with hemophilia A, in which monoclonally purified or recombinant factor VIII associates with endogenous vWF. Using the plasma concentration of vWF (50 nmol/L in monomers) and the obtained values for K(on) and K(off), the time needed to bind 50% of factor VIII is approximately 2 seconds.
The FLK2/FLT3 ligand synergizes with interleukin-7 in promoting stromal- cell-independent expansion and differentiation of human fetal pro-B cells in vitro
Authors: Namikawa R , Muench MO , de Vries JE , Roncarolo MG
Published: October 2019

The effects of a novel cytokine FLK2/FLT3 ligand (FL) on human fetal bone marrow-derived CD34+CD19+ pro-B cells were analyzed in a stromal- cell-independent, serum-deprived culture system. FL, like interleukin-3 (IL-3), synergized with IL-7 in promoting pro-B cell growth, and differentiation of these cells into CD34-CD19+clgM+slgM- pre-B cells, whereas a small proportion of these cells even differentiate into more mature slgM+ B cells. In contrast, KIT ligand (KL) and granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were ineffective in promoting IL-7-dependent pro-B cell growth and differentiation. Maximal levels of pro-B cell expansion, generally resulting in 15- to 30-fold increases in cellularity, were obtained in cultures supplemented with optimal doses of FL + IL-7 + IL-3. The addition of mouse bone marrow stromal cells further enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of pro-B cells obtained in the presence of these three cytokines. Under these conditions, cultures could be maintained for more than 4 weeks, and in general 40- to 50-fold increases in cell numbers were observed by 3 weeks of culture. The percentages of clgM+ and slgM+ B cells increased 1.5- to 3-fold and 2-fold, respectively, suggesting that stromal cells may provide additional costimulatory signals for human B- cell growth and differentiation that are different from IL-7, IL-3, and FL. Collectively, our results indicate that FL, in contrast to KL, strongly promotes long-term expansion and differentiation of human pro- B cells in the presence of IL-7 or in combination of IL-7 and IL-3, which is a novel property of this hematopoietic growth factor.
Expression of p13MTCP1 is restricted to mature T-cell proliferations with t(X;14) translocations
Authors: Madani A , Choukroun V , Soulier J , Cacheux V , Claisse JF , Valensi F , Daliphard S , Cazin B , Levy V , Leblond V , Daniel MT , Sigaux F , Stern MH
Published: October 2019

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL), a rare form of mature T-cell leukemias, and ataxia telangiectasia clonal proliferation, a related condition occurring in patients suffering from ataxia telangiectasia, have been associated to translocations involving the 14q32.1 or Xq28 regions, where are located the TCL1 and MTCP1 putative oncogenes, respectively. The MTCP1 gene is involved in the t(X;14)(q28;q11) translocation associated with these T-cell proliferations. Alternative splicing generates type A and B transcripts that potentially encode two entirely distinct proteins; type A transcripts code for a small mitochondrial protein, p8MTCP1, and type B transcripts, containing an additional open reading frame, may code for 107 amino-acid protein, p13MTCP1. The recently cloned TCL1 gene, also involved in translocations and inversions associated with T-cell proliferations, codes for a 14-kD protein that displays significant homology with p13MTCP1. We have generated rabbit antisera against this putative p13MTCP1 protein and screened for expression of p13MTCP1 normal lymphoid tissues and 33 cases of immature and mature lymphoid T-cell proliferations using a sensitive Western blot assay. We also investigated the MTCP1 locus configuration by Southern blot analysis. The p13MTCP1 protein was detected in the three T-cell proliferations with MTCP1 rearrangements because of t(X;14) translocations, but neither in normal resting and activated lymphocytes nor in the other T- cell leukemias. Our data support the hypothesis that p13MTCP1 and p14TCL1 form a new protein family that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of T-PLL and related conditions.
Retinoid-induced differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia involves PML-RARalpha-mediated increase of type II transglutaminase
Authors: Benedetti L , Grignani F , Scicchitano BM , Jetten AM , Diverio D , Lo Coco F , Avvisati G , Gambacorti-Passerini C , Adamo S , Levin AA , Pelicci PG , Nervi C
Published: October 2019

All-trans retinoic acid (t-RA) administration leads to complete remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients by inducing growth arrest and differentiation of the leukemic clone. In the present study, we show that t-RA treatment dramatically induced type II transglutaminase (type II TGase) expression in cells carrying the t(15;17) translocation and expressing the PML-RARalpha product such as the APL-derived NB4 cell line and fresh leukemic cells from APL patients. This induction correlated with t-RA-induced growth arrest, granulocytic differentiation, and upregulation of the leukocyte adherence receptor beta subunit (CD18) gene expression. The increase in type II TGase was not abolished by cycloheximide treatment, suggesting that synthesis of a protein intermediate was not required for the induction. t-RA did not significantly alter the rate of growth arrest and did not stimulate differentiation and type II TGase activity in NB4.306 cells, a t-RA-resistant subclone of the NB4 cell line, or in leukemic cells derived from two patients morphologically defined as APL but lacking the t(15;17). However, in NB4.306 cells, t-RA treatment was able to increase CD18 mRNA expression in a manner similar to NB4 cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in the induction of these genes were investigated. In NB4 cells, using novel receptor-selective ligands such as 9-cis-RA, TTNPB, AM580, and SR11217, we found that RAR- and RARalpha- selective retinoids were able to induce growth arrest, granulocytic differentiation, and type II TGase, whereas the RXR-selective retinoid SR11217 was inactive. Moreover, an RAR alpha-antagonist completely inhibited the expression of type II TGase and CD18 induced by these selective retinoids in NB4 cells. In NB4.306 cells, an RARalpha- dependent signaling pathway was found involved in the modulation of CD18 expression. In addition, expression of the PML-RARalpha gene in myeloid U937 precursor cells resulted in the ability of these cells to induce type II TGase in response to t-RA. On the basis of these results we hypothesize a specific involvement of a signaling pathway involving PML-RAR alpha for the induction of growth arrest, granulocytic differentiation, and type II TGase by retinoids in APL cells.
Novel ex vivo analysis of nonclassical, pleiotropic drug resistance and collateral sensitivity induced by therapy provides a rationale for treatment strategies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Bosanquet AG , Bell PB
Published: October 2019

Extensive research into mechanisms of cytotoxic drug resistance and subsequent clinical trials of drug resistance modifiers have produced few encouraging results. In this report, we analyze 4,400+ ex vivo Differential Staining Cytotoxicity (DiSC) assay drug response results from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to investigate the development of drug resistance during treatment. Patients were untreated (n = 216) or previously treated with various cytotoxic agents (n = 188). Data was processed to identify ex vivo resistance (or sensitivity) induced by treating patients with prednisolone, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, anthracycline, or fludarabine. Induced resistance was apparently not associated with any one known mechanism. Treatment with chlorambucil induced a 10-fold sensitivity to steroids; cyclophosphamide induced greater resistance to anthracyclines than alkylating agents; anthracyclines induced greatest resistance to chlorambucil, cisplatin, carboplatin, and cladribine. Patients previously treated with at least two regimens were only 2.16-fold more resistant to CLL drugs than untreated patients, but had significantly reduced survival (median survival, 7.9 months compared with 61.1 months for untreated patients). These results suggest that chlorambucil and/or an antimetabolite should be administered before cyclophosphamide or anthracyclines to delay the onset of extensive pleiotropic drug resistance. Because individual differences in drug sensitivity are considerable, specific guidance could be obtained from ex vivo assay results. Furthermore, as a model for investigating drug resistance mechanisms, fresh CLL lymphocytes represent a useful alternative to drug-resistant cell lines.
Chemoattractant-induced changes in surface expression and redistribution of a functional ligand for P-selectin on neutrophils
Authors: Dore M , Burns AR , Hughes BJ , Entman ML , Smith CW
Published: October 2019

Adhesion between platelets and neutrophils is mediated through the interaction of P-selectin on activated platelets with a carbohydrate- containing structure on neutrophils, and occurs under both static and shear conditions. Recent studies using flow chambers have shown that neutrophils become activated after binding to surface-adherent platelets expressing P-selectin. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of such activation on the interactions of platelet P-selectin with its ligand on neutrophils. Flow cytometric analyses using P-selectin chimeras revealed that activation induced a rapid and marked reduction in chimera binding, with levels of binding decreased by 71% after 15 minutes of stimulation with the chemotactic agent, FMLP. Using a visual assay of platelet-neutrophil rosetting, we showed that the P-selectin ligand was translocated and clustered at the uropod of neutrophils following the shape changes and polarization induced by chemotactic stimulation. Activated neutrophils bound to surface-adherent platelets also displayed the clustering of P-selectin ligand at the uropod, and these neutrophils detached from the platelets when a shear stress (2 dynes/cm2) was applied through the adhesion chamber. These results indicate that chemotactic stimulation of neutrophils induces changes in the surface expression and distribution of a biologically relevant ligand for P-selectin, and that these changes might influence the adhesive interactions occurring between neutrophils and activated platelets.
Overexpression of the ferritin H subunit in cultured erythroid cells changes the intracellular iron distribution
Authors: Picard V , Renaudie F , Porcher C , Hentze MW , Grandchamp B , Beaumont C
Published: October 2019

To test the hypothesis that variations in H- and L-subunit composition in the ferritin shell affect intracellular iron metabolism, we established stable transfectants of mouse erythroleukemia cells overexpressing the H-ferritin subunit. Analyses were performed on individual clones of transfected cells induced to differentiate with hexamethylenbisacetamide (HMBA). The results showed that there was a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin produced, in inverse relationship with the level of H-subunit overexpression. Incorporation of [2- 14C]glycine into heme was reduced by 20% t0 30% in the clones overexpressing H-ferritin subunit compared with control clone. However, the reduction in hemoglobin production was not reversed by addition of heme precursors (delta-aminolevulinic acid or iron) or by hemin itself. A reduced accumulation of beta-globin mRNA was also observed, which could account for the impaired hemoglobin synthesis. Furthermore, synthesis of the endogenous L-ferritin subunit was greatly repressed. Gel retardation assays performed on cytoplasmic extracts of transfected cells using an iron-responsive element (IRE) as a probe revealed that in overexpressing cells, the iron-regulatory protein (IRP) had a conformation with a high RNA-binding affinity, thus leading to translational repression of the endogenous L-ferritin synthesis. These data suggest that an increased formation of H-rich isoferritins leads to a rapid chelation of the regulatory iron pool. While the mechanism underlying the reduction in beta-globin mRNA remains to be elucidated, this study provides direct evidence for the role of IRP-mediated regulation of ferritin expression in erythroid cell metabolism.
Glanzmann thrombasthenia due to a two amino acid deletion in the fourth calcium-binding domain of alpha IIb: demonstration of the importance of calcium-binding domains in the conformation of alpha IIb beta 3
Authors: Basani RB , Vilaire G , Shattil SJ , Kolodziej MA , Bennett JS , Poncz M
Published: October 2019

The integrin alpha IIb beta 3, a calcium-dependent heterodimer, plays a critical role in platelet aggregation. The alpha IIb subunit of the heterodimer contains four highly conserved putative calcium-binding domains in its extracellular portion. During studies of the molecular basis of Glanzmann thrombasthenia in a child of mixed Caucasian background whose platelets expressed little alpha IIb beta 3 on their surface, we found the patient heterozygous for a two amino acid deletion in the fourth alpha IIb calcium-binding domain. When this alpha IIb mutant was expressed in COS-1 cells, we found that the deletion did not interfere with the assembly of alpha IIb beta 3 heterodimers, but altered their conformation such that they were neither recognized by the heterodimer-specific antibody A2A9 nor able to undergo further intracellular processing or transport to the cell surface. These results suggest that the calcium-binding domains in alpha IIb play an important role maintaining the overall conformation of alpha IIb beta 3. To confirm this suggestion, we deleted each of the four 12 amino acid calcium-binding domains in alpha IIb by in vitro mutagenesis and expressed the mutants along with beta 3 in COS-1 cells. Each construct formed a heterodimer with beta 3, but none of the heterodimers interacted with A2A9 or underwent further intracellular processing. These data indicate that the calcium-binding domains in alpha IIb are not involved in alpha IIb beta 3 heterodimer formation, but their presence is required for the intracellular transport of alpha IIb beta 3 to the cell surface.
Effects of verocytotoxin-1 on nonadherent human monocytes: binding characteristics, protein synthesis, and induction of cytokine release
Authors: van Setten PA , Monnens LA , Verstraten RG , van den Heuvel LP , van Hinsbergh VW
Published: October 2019

The epidemic form of the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) has been associated with a verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli infection. Endothelial cell damage of glomeruli and arterioles of the kidney plays a central role in the pathogenesis of HUS. A number of observations in vivo and in vitro indicate that inflammatory mediators contribute to this process. In this study we investigated the binding of 125I- verocytotoxin-1 (VT-1) to freshly isolated human nonadherent monocytes as well as the nature of the ligand to which VT-1 binds on monocytes. On the average, freshly isolated monocytes have 0.07 x 10(5) specific binding sites for 125I-VT-1 per cell. Preincubation of nonadherent monocytes with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused a 23- to 30- fold increase of specific binding sites for VT-1 as shown by Scatchard plot analysis. Thin-layer chromatography of extracted neutral glycolipids of the cells and subsequent binding of 125I-VT-1 showed that human monocytes bind VT-1 to a globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) species that is different from that found on endothelial cells, probably a short-chain fatty acyl Gb3 or an alpha-OH-Gb3. In addition, we evaluated the functional consequences of VT-1 binding to human monocytes by investigating the effects of VT-1 on the total protein synthesis and, specifically, the production of the cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha), IL-6, and IL-8. We observed that VT-1 did not inhibit overall protein synthesis, nor under basal conditions, neither after stimulation with LPS, in contrast to previous observations with endothelial cells. Furthermore, we found that VT-1 induces the synthesis of the cytokines IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 in nonstimulated monocytes by a LPS-independent cell activation. The increase in the production of cytokines was parallelled by an increase in mRNA, as was demonstrated for IL-6 by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction. These data suggest that inflammatory mediators locally produced by VT-1-stimulated monocytes may contribute to the pathogenic mechanism of the HUS.
Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 oncogene deletions: correlations with malignancy in Epstein-Barr virus--associated lymphoproliferative disorders and malignant lymphomas
Authors: Kingma DW , Weiss WB , Jaffe ES , Kumar S , Frekko K , Raffeld M
Published: October 2019

LMP-1, an Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) latency protein, is considered a viral oncogene because of its ability to transform rodent fibroblasts in vivo and render them tumorigenic in nude mice. In human B cells, EBV LMP-1 induces DNA synthesis and abrogates apoptosis. LMP-1 is expressed in EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a subset of Hodgkin's disease (HD), and in EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-LPDs). Recently, focused deletions near the 3′ end of the LMP-1 gene (del-LMP-1, amino acids 346–355), in a region functionally related to the half-life to the LMP-1 protein, have been reported frequently in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- associated HD (100%) and EBV+ Malaysian and Danish peripheral T-cell lymphomas (100%, 61% respectively), but less frequently in cases of HD not associated with HIV (28%, 33%) and infectious mononucleosis (33%). To further investigate the potential relationship of del-LMP-1 to EBV- LPDs associated with immunosuppression or immunodeficiency, we studied 39 EBV-associated lymphoproliferations (10 benign, 29 malignant) from four distinct clinical settings: posttransplant (4 malignant, 1 reactive); HIV+ (18 malignant, 2 reactive); nonimmunodeficiency malignant lymphoma (ML) (7 cases); and sporadic EBV infection with lymphoid hyperplasia (7 cases). The presence of EBV within lymphoid cells was confirmed by EBV EBER1 RNA in situ hybridization or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. EBV strain type and LMP-1 deletion status were determined by PCR. EBV strain types segregated into two distinct distributions: HIV+ (9 A; 11 B) and non-HIV (19 A, 0 B), consistent with previous reports. Overall, del-LMP-1 were found in 1 of 5 (20%) Burkitt lymphomas (BL); 17 of 24 (71%) aggressive non- Hodgkin's lymphoma (agg-NHL), and 2 of 10 (20%) reactive lymphoid proliferations. Of the agg-NHLs, del-LMP-1 were present in 4 of 4 PT-ML (100%); 10 of 15 HIV+ ML (67%); and 3 of 5 nonimmunodeficiency malignant lymphoma (ML, 60%). A total of 2 of 7 (28%) sporadic EBV- associated lymphoid hyperplasias contained a del-LMP-1. All del-LMP-1 were identical by DNA sequence analysis. No correlation was identified between the presence of del-LMP-1 and the EBV strain type observed. The high incidence of del-LMP-1 observed in agg-NHLs (71%), in contrast to the relatively low incidence observed in reactive lymphoid proliferations (28%), suggests that the deleted form may be preferentially selected in lymphomatous processes. All posttransplant agg-NHLs contained a del-LMP-1, and a similar frequency of del-LMP-1 was observed in both HIV-associated ML (66%) and nonimmunodeficiency ML (60%), suggesting that impairment of immune function alone is not a requirement for the expansion of malignant cells infected by EBV stains containing the deleted LMP-1 gene.
Favored use of immunoglobulin V(H)4 Genes in AIDS-associated B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Bessudo A , Cherepakhin V , Johnson TA , Rassenti LZ , Feigal E , Kipps TJ
Published: October 2019

We examined the lg heavy chain variable region genes (Ig V(H) genes) expressed in biopsy specimens of 10 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated lymphoma. Eight expressed Ig V(H) genes of the V(H)4 group, indicating a bias toward expression of Ig V(H) genes of this subgroup. Sequence analyses of Ig V(H) genes isolated from any one lymphoma did not reveal evidence for intraclonal diversity. However, some lymphomas express Ig V(H) genes that apparently have undergone somatic diversification and selection. In addition, we found that the sequence encoding each examined third complementarity determining region most likely resulted from D-D fusion, a process that ordinarily contributes to the generation of a relatively small proportion of the Ig heavy chain genes expressed by normal adult B cells. The noted restriction in the use of Ig V(H) genes by AIDS-associated B-cell lymphomas suggests that antigenic stimulation contributes to lymphomagenesis in patients with AIDS.
Identification of novel K562 membrane proteins that adhere to bone marrow fibroblasts
Authors: Bendall LJ , Bradstock KF , Gottlieb DJ
Published: October 2019

Adhesion of myeloid leukemia cells to the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment is mediated in part by Beta 1 and Beta 2 integrins. Cells of the erythroleukemia line K562, derived from a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia, bind to BM fibroblasts (BMFs) but the adhesion cannot be accounted for by integrins or other known adhesion proteins including CD44 or members of the Ig or selectin families. Membrane fragments from K562 cells were radioiodinated and allowed to adhere to BMF monolayers. Adherent proteins were solubilized together with the fibroblasts, analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and visualized by autoradiography. Four adherent proteins were consistently observed. Two of these, with reduced molecular weights of 52 kD and 35 to 37 kD, were prominent. Addition of soluble thrombospondin and heparin but not fibronectin inhibited binding of K562 membrane proteins to adherent BMFs and immobilized thrombospondin- and heparin-bound K562 proteins. The 52-kD protein has a multimeric structure nonreduced and has characteristics of a glycoprotein. Its adhesion to fibroblasts is divalent cation and temperature sensitive. The 35- to 37-kD protein, whose function is divalent cation but not temperature sensitive, is phosphoinositol- linked and has characteristics identical to an adherent 35- to 37-kD protein identified on murine progenitor cells. Membrane preparations from two cases of acute myeloid leukemia showed an adherent 35- to 37- kD protein and in one case an adherent 52-kD protein without other adherent bands. A K562 subclone with reduced adherence to BMFs showed reduced amounts of adherent 52-kD and 35- to 37-kD proteins. These proteins may be responsible for the adhesion of malignant and normal hematopoietic progenitor cells to the BM microenvironment.
Correlation of P-glycoprotein expression and function in childhood acute leukemia: a children's cancer group study
Authors: Ivy SP , Olshefski RS , Taylor BJ , Patel KM , Reaman GH
Published: October 2019

Clinical drug resistance may be attributed to the simultaneous selection and expression of genes modulating the uptake and metabolism of chemotherapeutic agents. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) functions as a membrane-associated drug efflux pump whose increased expression results in resistance to anthracyclines, epipodophyllotoxins, vinca alkaloids, and some alkylating agents. This type of resistance occurs as both de novo and acquired resistance to therapy for leukemia. We have studied P- gp expression and function in childhood acute leukemias by developing a series of doxorubicin- and vincristine-selected CEM, T-cell lymphoblastoid cell lines that recapitulate the low levels of expression and resistance seen clinically. These cell lines have been used to develop flow cytometric assays for the semiquantitative measurements of P-gp expression with the MRK16 monoclonal antibody and P-gp function using the enhanced retention of rhodamine 123 in the presence of verapamil, a resistance modulator. Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistics, represented by the D measurement, are used to determine the difference in level of P-gp expression by comparing MRK16 staining to an IgG2a isotype control. When D is > 0.09, there is an excellent correlation (R = 0.82) between P-gp expression and function. The evaluation of 107 bone marrow specimens from 84 children with lymphoblastic or myelogenous leukemia showed a statistically significant (P = .004) increase in P-gp function at relapse. P-gp expression at relapse, however, approached but did not reach a significant level (P = .097). Using this methodology, we can identify patients with levels of P-gp expression and function that we can define clinically, as well as children with discordant multidrug resistance phenotypes. This study supports the role of P-gp-mediated drug resistance in childhood leukemia and confirms that P-gp expression and function are measurable in their leukemic blasts. These assays provide the means for the in vitro testing of resistance modulators and the monitoring of in vivo response to treatment with these agents.
Are there functional gap junctions or junctional hemichannels in macrophages?
Authors: Alves LA , Coutinho-Silva R , Persechini PM , Spray DC , Savino W , Campos de Carvalho AC
Published: October 2019

The existence of functional gap junctions in migratory cells of the immune system is a controversial issue. In this report, we have focused on one particular cell type, namely the macrophages, because connexin- 43, a protein that forms gap junctions, has been described in peritoneal macrophages and a macrophage cell line (J774), by Northern and Western blot analysis. To test whether these cell types expressed functional gap junctions, we assayed dye coupling by intracellular injection of Lucifer Yellow. We observed that nonstimulated macrophages are not coupled among themselves and did not form functional gap junctions with an epithelial cell line, which expresses functional gap junctions formed by connexin-43. Dye coupling was also not detected between macrophages previously activated by lipopolysaccharide or interferon-gamma. We further examined the presence of functional coupling using the more sensitive technique of dual whole cell patch- clamp, and again, did not find electrical coupling between macrophages, consistent with the dye microinjection data. We also examined the possible presence of hemigap junction channels activated by extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using a dye uptake assay and the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Conditions expected to close gap junction hemichannels (exposure to octanol and low intracellular pH) did not decrease ATP-induced Lucifer Yellow uptake, whereas conditions expected to increase hemichannel opening either did not affect ATP permeabilization (dibutyryl adenosine monophosphate) or decreased it (zero extracellular CA+2). Finally, in experiments using resident macrophages derived from conexin-43 knockout mice, we observed ATP induced dye uptake. Our experimental data thus indicate that macrophages in vitro do not form functional gap junctions and that the permeability pathway activated by extracellular ATP is not formed by a hemigap junction channel.
Nonrandom X-inactivation patterns in normal females: lyonization ratios vary with age
Authors: Busque L , Mio R , Mattioli J , Brais E , Blais N , Lalonde Y , Maragh M , Gilliland DG
Published: October 2019

The utility of X-inactivation based clonality assays for evaluation of human neoplasia is well-documented. However, excessive Lyonization is a potential limitation of these assays, because it mimics clonal derivation of cells. The incidence of excessive Lyonization in healthy females is controversial, with reported incidence varying from 4% to 33%. Several explanations have been offered for the observed variation, including different criteria for excessive Lyonization, diversity of X- linked clonality assays, small population sizes and more recently, tissue specificity of X-inactivation patterns. However, it is also possible that stem cell depletion, clonal hematopoiesis, or selection pressures on blood cells results in an increased incidence of excessive skewing. If any of the latter is true, then the incidence of excessive skewing should increase with age in blood cells. To test this hypothesis, we determined X-inactivation ratios at the human androgen receptor locus of 295 normal females from three age groups: (1) neonates, (2) females 28 to 32 years old and, (3) females aged > or = 60 years. The incidence of skewing (allele ratios > or = 3:1) was 8.6% (14 of 162) in neonates (P = .104 v 28 to 32); 16.4% (11/67) in 28 to 32 y.o. (P = .0064 v > or = 60), and 37.9% (25 of 66) in women > or = 60 y.o. (P < .0001 v neonates). When a more stringent criterion for skewing was used (allele ratios > or = 10:1), the incidence was 1.9% (3 of 162) in neonates (P = .362 v 28 to 32), 4.5% (3 of 67) in 28 to 32 y.o. (P = .0022 v > or = 60), and 22.7% (15 of 66) in > or = 60 y.o. group (P < .0001 v neonates). Results have been confirmed at the phosphoglycerate kinase locus for 48 heterozygous females. The incidence of excessive skewing increases with age. In neonates, the incidence is low and may correspond to true excessive Lyonization. Acquired skewing occurs with aging in normal females and is present in 38% of females over the age of 60. Further studies are needed to determine whether acquired skewing is a consequence of stem cell depletion, true clonal hematopoiesis, growth advantage conferred by parental-specific X-chromosomes, or other causes. These data provide an explanation for variation in reported incidence of excessive skewing in normal females. Furthermore, these findings suggest that any study of clonality using X-inactivation based assays should incorporate age- matched controls for Lyonization.
Transforming growth factor beta 1 directly and reversibly inhibits the initial cell divisions of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Sitnicka E , Ruscetti FW , Priestley GV , Wolf NS , Bartelmez SH
Published: October 2019

Hematopoiesis appears to be regulated, in part, by a balance between extracellular positive and negative growth signals. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta 1) has been shown to be a negative regulator of primitive hematopoietic cells. This study examined the direct effect of TGF-beta 1 on the proliferation and differentiation of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LTR-HSC) in vitro. We previously reported a cell fractionation approach that includes the selection of low Hoescht 33342/low Rhodamine 123 (low Ho/Rh) cell fractions that are highly enriched for long-term repopulating cells (LTR-HSC) and also clone to a very high efficiency in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) + interleukin-3 (IL-3) + IL-6: 90% to 100% of individually cultured low Ho/Rh cells formed high proliferative potential clones. This high cloning efficiency of an LTR-HSC enriched cell population enabled proliferation inhibition studies to be more easily interpreted. In this report, we show that the continuous presence of TGF-beta 1 directly inhibits the cell division of essentially all low Ho/Rh cells (in a dose-dependent manner) during their 0 to 5th cell division in vitro. Therefore, it follows that TGF-beta 1 must directly inhibit the proliferation of LTR-HSC contained within these low Ho/Rh cells. The time required for some low Ho/Rh cells to undergo their first cell division in vitro was also prolonged in the presence of TGF-beta 1. Furthermore, when low Ho/Rh cells were exposed to TFG-beta 1 for varying lengths of time before neutralization of the TGF-beta 1 by monoclonal antibody, the ability to form macroclones was markedly decreased after approximately 4 days of TGF-beta 1 exposure. In addition, 1 to 10 ng/mL of TGF-beta 1 resulted in a maintenance of high proliferative potential-colony-forming cell (HPP-CFC) during 8 days of culture compared with loss of HPP-CFC in cultures with no added TGF- beta 1. In conclusion, this study shows that TGF-beta 1 directly inhibits the initial stages of proliferation of LTR-HSC and appears to slow the differentiation of daughter cells of low Ho/Rh cells.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) upregulates BAG-1 gene expression through serine- rich region within IL-2 receptor beta c chain
Authors: Adachi M , Sekiya M , Torigoe T , Takayama S , Reed JC , Miyazaki T , Minami Y , Taniguchi T , Imai K
Published: October 2019

BAG-1 is a Bci-2-binding protein which functions in protection from apoptotic cell death. Here we provide evidence for interleukin-2 (IL-2)-mediated upregulation of BAG-1 expression. In hematopoietic cell line BAF-B03 F7 cells, gene transfer mediated expression of the IL-2R beta c chain is sufficient to confer proliferation and cell survival responses to IL-2. In these IL-2R beta c-expressing cells, BAG-1 mRNA was dramatically induced by IL-2. The IL-2-mediated induction of BAG-1 expression required the activation of tyrosine kinase(s) and was sensitive to rapamycin as the induction of bcl-2 expression was. Analysis of the transfectants which express mutant IL-2R beta c chains or mutant Janus family protein tyrosine kinase Jak3 lacking the kinase domain showed that the IL-2-mediated BAG-1 gene expression required the serinerich region within the IL-2R beta c chain, but Jak3 activation was dispensable. The signaling pathway for BAG-1 gene expression thus highly resembles that for bcl-2 gene expression, strongly suggesting that their induction shares the same signaling pathway. In addition, deletion of the serine-rich region led to loss of IL-2-mediated protection from apoptotic cell death. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that the serine-rich region of the IL-2R beta c chain mediates the coordinated expression of bcl-2 and BAG-1 genes, thereby contributing to suppression of apoptosis.
CD10/neutral endopeptidase 24.11 is phosphorylated by casein kinase II and coassociates with other phosphoproteins including the lyn src- related kinase
Authors: Ganju RK , Shpektor RG , Brenner DG , Shipp MA
Published: October 2019

CD10/neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) regulates peptidemediated proliferation of lymphoid progenitors and certain epithelial cells and is itself regulated by cellular proliferation. To further characterize mechanisms by which cell-surface signaling might regulate CD10/NEP expression, we determined whether CD10/NEP was phosphorylated and whether the enzyme co-associated with additional cellular phosphoproteins. The CD10/NEP cytoplasmic tall contains two consensus recognition sequences for casein kinase II (CKII), a serine and threonine kinase that increases in activity following peptide signaling. In standard in vitro kinase assays, CKII phosphorylated full-length recombinant CD10/NEP but did not phosphorylate a truncated CD10/NEP protein that lacked the transmembrane region and cytoplasmic tail. To determine whether CD10/NEP might interact with additional cellular phosphoproteins, in vitro kinase assays were performed on CD10/NEP immune complexes from Nalm-6 cells. Three additional tyrosine phosphoproteins of approximately 40 kD, approximately 58 kD, and approximately 75 kD were identified in the CD10/NEP immunoprecipitates. The approximately 56-kD CD10/NEP-associated phosphoprotein was immunoprecipitated with an anti-lyn antibody confirming its identity as the lyn src-related kinase. Taken together, these data indicate that CD10/NEP is itself phosphorylated by CKII and that CD10/NEP co- associates with additional tyrosine phosphoproteins including lyn.
Mechanism and effects of the binding of lupus anticoagulant IgG and prothrombin to surface phospholipid
Authors: Rao LV , Hoang AD , Rapaport SI
Published: October 2019

We report here experiments on how lupus anticoagulant antibodies (LA IgG) that react with prothrombin bind to surface phospholipid and affect prothrombin's affinity for surface phospholipid and activation to thrombin. LA IgG was purified by protein A chromatography from the plasma of 16 patients of whom four had associated hypoprothrombinemia and 10 had experienced thrombosis. Many LA IgG bound, in the absence of phospholipid and calcium, not only to immobilized prothrombin but to both prothrombin 1 and fragment 1, which established at least an oligoclonal origin of LA IgG. No LA IgG bound to thrombin. Although prothrombin and Ca2+ were required to support binding of LA IgG to immobilized phosphatidylserine (PS), prothrombin at higher concentrations inhibited binding, presumably by competing with prothrombin/LA IgG complexes for PS binding sites. Prothrombin 1, which cannot bind to PS, also inhibited binding of many LA IgG to PS, presumably by forming competing soluble prothrombin 1/LA IgG complexes. Despite their ability to react with prothrombin independent of phospholipid, LA IgG enhanced binding of prothrombin to immobilized phospholipid and to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Prothrombin bound with LA IgG to the surface of endothelial cell monolayers could be activated to thrombin after supernatant prothrombin and LA IgG were washed away. The relation is discussed of these observations to a hypothesis that LA IgG mediated concentration of prothrombin on cell surface phospholipid represents a mechanism by which LA IgG could increase thrombotic risk.
Platelet/polymorphonuclear leukocyte interaction in dynamic conditions: evidence of adhesion cascade and cross talk between P-selectin and the beta 2 integrin CD11b/CD18
Authors: Evangelista V , Manarini S , Rotondo S , Martelli N , Polischuk R , McGregor JL , de Gaetano G , Cerletti C
Published: October 2019

Adhesion between platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is a key event in thrombosis and inflammation. Double color fluorescence- activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis was used to determine the extent and kinetics of adhesion of thrombin-activated platelets to resting or activated PMN when mixed cell populations were incubated in dynamic conditions. Activated platelets bound very rapidly to PMN. Mixed cell conjugates reached a maximum at 1 minute and were reversible within 10 minutes. Platelet/PMN adhesion required both Ca2+ and Mg2+ and was markedly increased by the presence of Mn2+. The latter made mixed cell conjugates stable up to 10 minutes. Adhesion of platelets required metabolic activity of PMN and was abolished by tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, adhesion of platelets to PMN resulted in binding of a monoclonal antibody (MoAb 24) known as beta 2 integrins “activation reporter.” When PMN were activated by exogenous stimuli, the adhesion of platelets was markedly increased: fMLP induced a rapid and transient effect, while PMA resulted in a slower, but stable, increase in mixed conjugates formation. The hypothesis that activated PMN beta 2 integrins are able to bind a counter-receptor on platelets was directly demonstrated by the increase of mixed cell conjugates following PMN treatment with KIM127 and KIM185, two anti-CD18 antibodies able to induce the active conformation of beta 2 integrins. Consistently, two other anti-CD18, as well as an anti-CD11b inhibitory antibody abolished platelet/PMN adhesion. PMN beta 2 integrin activation was not the only mechanism for activated platelet/PMN adhesion to occur: indeed, this phenomenon could also be inhibited by two anti-P-selectin antibodies. Resting platelets did not adhere to resting PMN, but markedly adhered to fMLP-or PMA-activated PMN. Resting platelet/fMLP-activated PMN adhesion was abolished by anti-CD18 antibodies, but not by anti-P-selectin antibodies. In conclusion, activated platelet/PMN interaction can be modeled as an adhesion cascade involving a P-selectin-dependent recognition step and a functional signal. The latter proceeds through tyrosine kinase activation and enables a beta 2 integrin-dependent adhesion to a not yet identified counter-receptor constitutively expressed on platelet surface.
Schistosoma mansoni excretory circulating cathodic antigen shares Lewis- x epitopes with a human granulocyte surface antigen and evokes host antibodies mediating complement-dependent lysis of granulocytes
Authors: van Dam GJ , Claas FH , Yazdanbakhsh M , Kruize YC , van Keulen AC , Ferreira ST , Rotmans JP , Deelder AM
Published: October 2019

Parasitic worms of the genus Schistosoma excrete relatively large amounts of immunogenic glycoproteins (circulating cathodic antigen [CCA]) that contain polysaccharide side chains with the trisaccharide Lewis-x (L(ex)) as a repeating unit. These carbohydrates evoke high titers of specific IgM antibodies that cross-react with the repeating L(ex) units on the surface of granulocytes. Consequently this might lead, in the presence of complement, to lysis of the granulocytes. In the present study, this hypothesis was investigated using anti-CCA mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and polyclonal antibodies purified from sera of infected humans. By flow cytometry, it was demonstrated that the mouse MoAbs directed against CCA strongly recognized the granulocytes. It could also be shown that these MoAbs, as well as anti- CCA IgM antibodies purified from infected human sera, caused lysis of granulocytes in a complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay. Sera from healthy controls or from patients with other helminth infections resulted in negligible granulocytotoxicity. These in vitro observed phenomena may explain the mild to moderate neutropenia that occurs in schistosomiasis patients.
Altered oncoprotein expression and apoptosis in myelodysplastic syndrome marrow cells
Authors: Rajapaksa R , Ginzton N , Rott LS , Greenberg PL
Published: October 2019

Ineffective hematopoiesis with associated cytopenias and potential evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterize patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We evaluated levels of apoptosis and of apoptosis-related oncoproteins (c-Myc, which enhances, and Bcl-2, which diminishes apoptosis) expressed within CD34+ and CD34- marrow cell populations of MDS patients (n = 24) to determine their potential roles in the abnormal hematopoiesis of this disorder. Marrow cells were permeabilized and CD34+ and CD34- cells were separately analyzed by FACS to detect: (1) a subdiploid (sub-G1) DNA population, and (2) expression of Bcl-2 and c-Myc oncoproteins. Within the CD34+ subset, a significantly increased percentage of cells demonstrated apoptotic/sub- G1 DNA content in early (ie. refractory anemia) MDS patients compared with normal individuals and AML patients (mean values: 9.1% > 2.1% > 1.2%). Correlated with these findings, the ratio of expression of c-Myc to Bcl-2 oncoproteins among CD34+ cells was significantly increased for MDS patients compared to those from normal and AML individuals (mean values: 1.6 > 1.2 > 0.9). Bcl-2 and c-Myc oncoprotein levels were maturation stage-dependent, with high levels expressed within CD34+ marrow cells, decreasing markedly with myeloid maturation. Treatment of seven MDS patients with the cytokines granulocyte colony-stimulating factor plus erythropoietin was associated with decreased levels of apoptosis within CD34+ marrow cells and may contribute to the enhanced hematopoiesis in vivo that was shown. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that altered balance between cell-death (eg, c-Myc) and cell-survival (eg, Bcl-2) programs were associated with the increased degrees of apoptosis present in MDS hematopoietic precursors and may contribute to the ineffective hematopoiesis in this disorder, in contrast to decreased apoptosis and enhanced leukemic cell survival in AML.
Characterization of 13 novel band 3 gene defects in hereditary spherocytosis with band 3 deficiency
Authors: Jarolim P , Murray JL , Rubin HL , Taylor WM , Prchal JT , Ballas SK , Snyder LM , Chrobak L , Melrose WD , Brabec V , Palek J
Published: October 2019

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a common hemolytic anemia of variable clinical expression. Pathogenesis of HS has been associated with defects of several red cell membrane proteins including erythroid band 3. We have studied erythrocyte membrane proteins in 166 families with autosomal dominant HS. We have detected relative deficiency of band 3 in 38 kindred (23%). Band 3 deficiency was invariably associated with mild autosomal dominant spherocytosis and with the presence of pincered red cells in the peripheral blood smears of unsplenectomized patients. We hypothesized that this phenotype is caused by band 3 gene defects. Therefore, we screened band 3 DNA from these 38 kindred for single strand conformational polymorphisms (SSCP). In addition to five mutations detected previously by SSCP screening of cDNA, we detected 13 new band 3 gene mutations in 14 kindred coinherited with HS. These novel mutations consisted of two distinct subsets. The first subset included seven nonsense and frameshift mutations that were all associated with the absence of the mutant mRNA allele from reticulocyte RNA, implicating decreased production and/or stability of mutant mRNA as the cause of decreased band 3 synthesis. The second group included five substitutions of highly conserved amino acids and one in-frame deletion. These six mutations were associated with the presence of comparable levels of normal and mutant band 3 mRNA. We suggest that these mutations interfere with band 3 biosynthesis leading thus to the decreased accumulation of the mutant band 3 allele in the plasma membrane.