bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of thrombin binding to endothelial cells
Authors: Bauer PT , Machovich R , Aranyi P , Buki KG , Csonka E , Horvath I
Published: October 2019

The interaction of human alpha-thrombin with mini-pig aortic endothelial cells was studied using 125I-labeled enzyme. Equilibrium between bound and free thrombin was attained within 1 min, and the Klotz-Hunston equations indicated two populations of binding sites. Approximately 30,000 sites/cell belonged to the high-affinity class with a Kd of about 3 x 10(-8) M. Modification of two lysine residues of thrombin with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP2-thrombin) destroyed the high- affinity binding and about three-fourths of the low-affinity bindings. When the lysine residue of thrombin involved in heparin binding was protected with heparin against chemical modification (PLP-thrombin), the modified enzyme remained similar to the native one with respect to cellular binding, with some loss of low-affinity binding only. Heparin, in a tenfold molar excess to enzyme, inhibited the binding of the native as well as the PLP-thrombin, whereas it did not influence the interaction between PLP2-thrombin and the cell. Since heparin might interfere with both the enzyme and the cell, the binding of heparin to endothelial cells was also examined. The results revealed that 3H- heparin also bound to cells. This binding was characterized by a Kd of 3 x 10(-7) M, approximately 10(6) sites/cell. Furthermore, thrombin bound to endothelial cells was released by antithrombin III. On the basis of these and other data in the literature, a model is proposed for the mechanism of the binding of thrombin to endothelial cells.
The role of calcium in lymphocyte proliferation. (An interpretive review)
Authors: Lichtman AH , Segel GB , Lichtman MA
Published: October 2019

A small quantity of extracellular calcium is required for the stimulation of lymphocytes by mitogens such as plant lectins. Lectin binding to the lymphocyte surface and early postbinding events that eventually lead to DNA synthesis are calcium dependent. Mitogenic lectins such as PHA and Con-A rapidly increase the size of an exchangeable pool of cell calcium and cause a smaller rise in intracellular ionized calcium. The increase in ionized calcium is so small (100–200 nM), however, that no increase in total cell calcium is measurable. When lymphocytes are stimulated by a lectin, the rate of calcium entry into the cell increases, but the plasma membrane calcium extrusion pump can prevent the total cell calcium from increasing measurably. The calcium ionophore A23187 is a lymphocyte mitogen and causes an increase in the exchangeable, ionized, and total cell calcium. The former two effects may be causal in mitogenesis; the latter effect is cytotoxic. With A23187 treatment, the rate of calcium influx exceeds the maximum rate of the plasma membrane extrusion pump and cell calcium increases in proportion to the concentration of A23187. The mitochondria, by virtue of their high membrane potential, provide a sink for the buffering of cytoplasmic calcium after A23187 treatment. Thus, the plasma membrane or mitochondria regulate the distribution of lymphocyte calcium when the cell is stimulated by mitogenic lectins or ionophores. The evidence strongly suggests that an alteration in calcium pools or an increase in cytoplasmic ionized calcium plays a role in the initiation of the biochemical reactions that lead to mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and, perhaps, to the immune response.
Species-dependent variations in erythrocyte membrane skeletal proteins
Authors: Whitfield CF , Mylin LM , Goodman SR
Published: October 2019

Two mammalian species (porcine and murine) have erythrocytes that are being widely used to study membrane protein synthesis and red cell aging. Erythrocytes of these species however, are significantly smaller than those of the human. Before results obtained from study of these red cells can be applied to human cells, the membrane skeleton of these species must be investigated to determine if the skeletal elements are equivalent. Both pig and mouse bands 4.1b were of lower molecular weight than human 4.1b, and the a/b ratio was lower. In each species, 4.1a and b were sequence-related phosphoproteins, and yielded substantially different one-dimensional peptide maps. Band 3 of pig and mouse erythrocytes had a higher molecular weight than human band 3 and also had differing one-dimensional peptide maps after limited proteolytic cleavage with three different enzymes. In each species, free band 3 and band 3 bound to the membrane skeleton had identical peptide maps. Other major membrane skeletal components (spectrin, actin, and bands 2.1 and 4.2) seem to be very similar in molecular weight in various species. These results demonstrate that the molecular weights and relative proportions of the membrane skeletal elements are species dependent.
Monoclonal antibodies specific for globin chains
Authors: Stamatoyannopoulos G , Farquhar M , Lindsley D , Brice M , Papayannopoulou T , Nute PE
Published: October 2019

Six monoclonal antibodies specific for human globin chains are described. They are produced by stable clones obtained by raising hybridomas using cells of mice immunized with either adult or fetal hemoglobin. Characterization of the antibodies included testing against tetrameric human and other animal hemoglobins, isolated hemoglobin chains, and when indicated, cyanogen bromide fragments. Monoclonals 16- 2 and 37–8 are beta-chain specific. Antibody 31–2 recognizes an antigenic determinant common to the alpha and beta subunits. Monoclonal 30–3 recognizes determinants best expressed in the alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer. Antibody 45–1 recognizes a determinant common to beta and gamma subunits, while antibody 51–7 is gamma-chain specific. None of the monoclonal antibodies recognizes mouse hemoglobin, and they display significant differences in binding to hemoglobins of various species. The species-specific reactions and the knowledge of the primary structures of globins allowed deductions about the antigenic sites recognized by two of the monoclonals (16–2 and 45–1). These antihemoglobin monoclonal antibodies will provide useful probes for studying hemoglobin expression in vivo and in vitro.
Human natural killer cells can inhibit clonogenic growth of fresh leukemic cells
Authors: Beran M , Hansson M , Kiessling R
Published: October 2019

The effect of allogenic human natural killer (NK) cells on fresh leukemic cells from three patients was investigated. The low levels of leukemic target cell lysis in the conventional 51Cr-release assay contrasted with a pronounced inhibitory effect on the colony growth of the clonogeneic leukemic target cells (L-CFC). The ability of allogeneic lymphocytes to inhibit L-CFC increased if they were pretreated with interferon (IFN), which also increased their NK activity, monitored in parallel cytotoxicity assay, against K562. Furthermore, cell separation procedures, based on differences in density among nonadherent lymphocytes, revealed that only NK cell containing fractions were inhibitory. We have also compared the susceptibility to NK-mediated L-CFC inhibition of IFN pretreated leukemic target cells with that of nontreated target cells. As in the case of NK lysis in general, this pretreatment of target cells abolished the presumably NK-mediated L-CFC inhibition. In conclusion, these data provide the first indication that NK cells can inhibit the in vitro growth of fresh clonogenic leukemia cells from patients with nonlymphocytic leukemia. The identity of NK cells as effector is strongly suggested by Percoll separation and responsiveness to interferon; the final proof awaits more sophisticated purification of these cells.
Selective toxicity of deoxyguanosine and arabinosyl guanine for T- leukemic cells
Authors: Cohen A , Lee JW , Gelfand EW
Published: October 2019

Deoxyguanosine is selectively cytotoxic to leukemic cells from patients with T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), whereas all other leukemic cell types were significantly less sensitive. Arabinosylguanine, a deoxyguanosine analog resistant to cleavage by purine nucleoside phosphorylase, is a more potent inhibitor of DNA synthesis in T- leukemic cells than deoxyguanosine and retains a selective cytotoxic activity for T-leukemic cells. Deoxyguanosine and arabinosylguanine are phosphorylated to deoxyGTP and arabinosylGTP, respectively, by T cells but not by other cell types. The phosphorylation and the cytotoxicity of arabinosylguanine are prevented by deoxycytidine. The selectivity of arabinosylguanine for malignant T cells, the exquisite sensitivity of these cells to the drug, and the failure of PNP to cleave the nucleoside indicate its potential in the treatment of T-ALL.
Murine eosinophils labeled with indium-111 oxine: localization to delayed hypersensitivity reactions against a schistosomal antigen and to lymphokine in vivo
Authors: Rand TH , Clanton JA , Runge V , English D , Colley DG
Published: October 2019

We have evaluated a method for quantitation of eosinophil migration to stimuli in vivo. Upon transfusion into normal syngeneic mice, 111In- labeled eosinophils had an intravascular half-life of 9.5 hr and distributed predominantly into spleen, bone marrow, and liver. In either Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice or recipients of lymphoid cells from infected mice, intradermal (ear pinna) injection of the schistosomal egg antigenic preparation (SEA) elicited time-dependent accumulation of 111In-labeled eosinophils detectable by either gamma scintillation counting of tissue samples or by nuclear medicine external imaging. Intradermal administration of a lymphokine fraction (containing eosinophil stimulation promoter activity) similarly caused accumulation of 111In-labeled eosinophils. Both reactions depended on the concentration of stimulus (SEA or lymphokine). 111In-labeled neutrophils or macrophages or 125I-albumin did not preferentially accumulate at the reactions examined to the extent found with 111In- labeled eosinophils, indicating that localization of label depends on an active process and is due to eosinophils rather than a contaminating cell type. The method was used to estimate how long eosinotactic lymphokine remained at dermal sites: 60% of initial activity was present 12 hr after injection. The model is discussed with regard to the role of lymphokines in hypersensitivity reactions with eosinophil involvement, such as the granulomatous response to S. mansoni eggs.
Spontaneous hematologic recovery from bone marrow aplasia after accidental tenfold overdosage with radiophosphorus
Authors: Gmur J , Bischof B , Coninx S , Bucher U , Poretti G , Henrichs K , Kaul A , Roedler HD , Buttner K , Frick PG
Published: October 2019

Two patients with polycythemia vera received intravenously an accidental tenfold overdosage of radiophosphorus therapy (60 and 50 mCi 32P, respectively). In both patients, the occurrence of hemorrhagic complications 3 wk after the 32P medication led to detection of the error and referral to our hospital. Upon admission they showed an agranulocytosis, severe thrombocytopenia, and bone marrow aplasia. In both cases, spontaneous recovery of the hematopoiesis was observed from day 40 posttreatment onward. In one patient, a slow but ultimately complete normalization of blood counts and marrow morphology took place, whereas in the other, a mild thrombocytopenia persists. Nearly 5 yr after the accidental overdosage, both patients are clinically well. Symptoms of polycythemia vera have not reappeared up to now. Attempts were made to evaluate the radiation dose absorbed by the bone marrow. In the first patient, the daily 32P excretion was determined from day 22 to day 60, whereas in the other patient a whole body count was performed on day 78 after administration. From these results, an approximate cumulative bone marrow dose of 10 Sv (1000 rem) could be calculated.
A monoclonal antibody cross-reactive with human platelets, megakaryocytes, and common acute lymphocytic leukemia cells
Authors: Deng CT , Terasaki PI , Iwaki Y , Hofman FM , Koeffler P , Cahan L , El Awar N , Billing R
Published: October 2019

A cytotoxic monoclonal antibody, CALL1, produced against a human schwannoma tumor was found to react with human platelets, common acute lymphocytic cells (cALL), and lymphoblasts from lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). The hybridoma was repeatedly cloned, and the antibody was considered reactive to a single antigen by absorption tests demonstrating that platelets remove cALL activity and cALL cells absorb platelet activity from the antibody. In addition, chromatofocusing showed that the antibody against platelets and cALL had the same isoelectric point. The CALL1 antibody bound to megakaryocytes but inhibited neither myeloid (CFU-C) nor erythroid (BFU- E) colony formation from bone marrow stem cells. Immunoprecipitation and SDS-gel electrophoresis indicated that CALL1 reacts with a polypeptide of 26,000 daltons.
Lithium is an ineffective therapy for human cyclic hematopoiesis
Authors: Hammond WP , Berman B , Wright DG , Dale DC
Published: October 2019

Cyclic hematopoiesis is a rare disease in man in which severe neutropenia recurs at 21-day intervals with associated illness. Because lithium carbonate therapy has been shown to eliminate cyclic hematopoiesis in grey collie dogs, we examined the effects of lithium treatment on five patients with this disease. With lithium levels maintained between 0.5 and 1.0 meq/liter, these patients showed no change in the fluctuations of their neutrophil counts. We conclude that lithium carbonate is not a simple cure for human cyclic hematopoiesis.
Cutaneous lymphoblastic lymphoma with pre-B markers
Authors: Link MP , Roper M , Dorfman RF , Crist WM , Cooper MD , Levy R
Published: October 2019

Two children with cutaneous convoluted lymphoblastic lymphoma are reported. Malignant cells from both patients contained cytoplasmic Mu heavy chains characteristic of pre-B-cells and expressed CALLA and la antigens as well. Most cases of convoluted lymphoblastic lymphoma are T- cell-derived neoplasms. The non-T, non-B phenotype found in these two children demonstrates that histology does not necessarily predict immunophenotype. The association of the pre-B phenotype with cutaneous lymphoma has not been previously reported, but may represent a unique clinical-histopathologic-immunologic entity that occurs in young children.
Analysis of human myelogenous leukemia cells in the fluorescence- activated cell sorter using a tumor-specific antiserum
Authors: Malcolm AJ , Logan PM , Shipman RC , Kurth R , Levy JG
Published: October 2019

The properties of a rabbit antiserum (anti-AML) raised to a purified protein from membranes of human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells is described. Bone marrow and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from either normal individuals or patients with either myeloproliferative or other disorders were analyzed in a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS IV) after labeling with anti-AML, normal rabbit serum (NRS), or antiserum raised to normal human membrane antigens. Of 40 cell samples from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, 39 reacted strongly with the anti-AML antiserum. Similarly, all of 19 specimens from patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia reacted with the anti-AML. When 42 bone marrow or PBL samples from patients with a variety of lymphoproliferative disorders were examined, 2 specimens reacted with the antiserum, both from individuals with diagnoses of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). None of the 14 normal bone marrow or PBL donor specimens tested reacted with the antiserum. It was also found that essentially all samples from patients in clinical remission from AML had high numbers of cells reactive with the anti-AML. When cells from such individuals were labeled and sorted on the FACS IV, it was found that cells fluorescing strongly with the anti-AML contained cells of both myeloid and lymphoid origin. The implications of these results are discussed.
Relationship of megakaryocyte size at diagnosis to chemotherapeutic response in children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Jackson CW , Dahl GV
Published: October 2019

Small megakaryocytes are frequently seen in patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). In this study, median megakaryocyte diameters were determined in marrow biopsy specimens of 32 children at diagnosis of ANLL and related to platelet count and chemotherapeutic response. The association between median megakaryocyte size and time-to- failure was striking. Seven of 9 patients with median megakaryocyte diameters greater than 20 microns remain in continuous complete remission for more than 3 yr, whereas 20 of 23 patients with smaller median megakaryocyte diameters failed therapy within 15 mo (p = 0.002). By Cox-regression analysis, megakaryocyte size had independent prognostic value (p less than 0.001), surpassing that of spleen size, the only other feature having significant association with time-to- failure. Megakaryocyte size at diagnosis may be useful for predicting the likelihood of prolonged complete remission in ANLL.
Mechanism of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate increase in neonatal lambs
Authors: Noble NA , Jansen CA , Nathanielsz PW , Tanaka KR
Published: October 2019

The tenfold increase in red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) concentration that occurs during the first 5 days of life in lambs is an important adaptation to extrauterine life. In lambs, DPG reduces hemoglobin oxygen affinity by the Bohr effect. Our data on 10 neonatal lambs suggest that the biochemical mechanism underlying this DPG increase involves the following: (1) a rise in plasma glucose from 40 to 100 mg/dl in the first 48 hr of life, which allows for increased glucose consumption in the highly glucose-permeable neonatal RBC; (2) a transitory rise in blood pH begins at birth, peaks at about 20 hr, and falls slightly; (3) the pH increase coincides with a threefold increase in RBC fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) concentration due, we believe, to pH activation of phosphofructokinase; (4) glycolytic intermediates after the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) step do not rise in the first 24 hr of life, possibly due to insufficient inorganic phosphate (Pi), a substrate of GAPD; (5) plasma Pi increases from about 7 mg/dl at birth to 11 mg/dl at 72 hr, activates the GAPD, and FDP levels decline; and (6) the in vitro activity of the DPG synthetic enzyme, DPG mutase, is increased 12-fold in neonatal compared to adult RBC. We conclude that the postnatal rise in DPG is explained at least in part by the sequential effects of these metabolic changes.
Therapeutic and prognostic value of initial chromosomal findings at the blastic phase of Ph1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Sadamori N , Gomez GA , Sandberg AA
Published: October 2019

To assess parameters of therapeutic response and of survival after the onset of the blastic phase (BP) in 64 patients with Ph1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a number of clinical, hematologic, and cytogenetic data at the BP were evaluated. Among 10 parameters checked, only the chromosomal findings correlated with the therapeutic response and survival after the onset of the BP. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the chromosome findings in the bone marrow, blood, and spleen: (1) those with only a Ph1 (PP), (2) those having two types of clones, i.e., one clone with only a Ph1 and another with additional karyotypic changes (AP), and (3) those with only abnormal clones in addition to the Ph1 (AA). The number of patients in each group was 29 in PP, 15 in AP, and 20 in AA. The results were as follows. (1) The percentage of patients with a good therapeutic response was 79% (23/29) in PP, 53% (8/15) in AP, and 30% (6/20) in AA. (2) The median survival after the onset of the BP was 171 days (5.7 mo) in PP, 146 days (4.9 mo) in AP, and 74 days (2.5 mo) in AA. Statistically, there was a significant difference between the AA and the other two groups (p less than 0.05). For further study, the AA and AP patients were divided into 4 subgroups each: those with 48 or more chromosomes, those with 47 chromosomes, those with pseudodiploidy, and those with hypodiploidy. A subgroup with 48 or more chromosomes in the AA patients had a very short survival (median, 25 days; 0.8 mo) and a poor therapeutic response (1/9, 11%). Our observations suggest that the lack of a clone with only a Ph1 (AA), particularly with more than 48 chromosomes, at the acute crisis or shortly after the onset of the BP indicates an unfavorable therapeutic response and a poor prognosis after the onset of the BP.
Macromolecules stimulating human granulocytic colony-forming cells, precursors of these cells, and primitive erythroid progenitors: some apparent nonidentities
Authors: Hoang T , Iscove NN , Odartchenko N
Published: October 2019

The relationship between molecules having granulocyte colony- stimulating activity (G-CSA), erythroid burst-promoting activity (E- BPA), and activity promoting increase in the number of granulocytic progenitors in liquid culture (delta GPA) was explored in conditioned medium from human leukocytes (HLCM) and human placenta (HPCM). As tested on human hemopoietic progenitors in culture, G-CSA eluted from Sephadex G100 as a single peak with apparent molecular weight of 25,000, separating partially from E-BPA and delta GPA, which both had an apparent molecular weight of 45,000. All three activities eluted together from hydroxyapatite at low molarity phosphate. Their charge properties were also similar and all three electrofocused in flat gel beds in the pH range near 5.4. On both hydroxyapatite and isoelectric focusing, delta GPA sometimes separated partially from the other two activities but not consistently. The gel filtration result shows that in conditioned medium of human origin, molecules having G-CSA are not the same as those having delta GPA, suggesting a dual factor requirement in the granulocytic lineage reminiscent of that in the erythroid pathway. The results suggesting that delta GPA might differ from E-BPA, on the other hand, were not consistent enough to establish their nonidentity. Single micromanipulated cells proved capable of forming erythroid or granulocytic colonies in the presence of either crude or partially purified activity. The results establish that human colony-forming cells are direct primary targets of growth factors in HLCM and HPCM.
Partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 16 and bone marrow eosinophilia in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: a new association
Authors: Arthur DC , Bloomfield CD
Published: October 2019

Recently, several specific chromosomal abnormalities have been associated with distinctive clinical and/or morphological subtypes of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). To further investigate the clinical utility of karyotype analysis in ANLL, we have examined G- banded metaphase chromosomes at diagnosis in 61 consecutive patients. Of the 60 patients who had adequate mitoses, 47 (78%) had a clonal chromosome abnormality. The sole karyotypic abnormality found in 5 patients was a del(16)(q22). The unique pretreatment characteristic of these 5 patients was marrow eosinophilia ranging from 8% to 54%. No other patient had more than 4% marrow eosinophils. Among the patients with eosinophilia, all had Auer rods, serum muramidase was elevated in the 4 tested, and 4 had hepatomegaly at presentation. Both patients who survived initial treatment remain in complete remission at 23+ and 33+ mo. The data suggest that we have identified a new cytogenetic-clinical subtype of ANLL defined by the del(16)(q22)
Exposure of fibrinogen receptors on fresh and stored platelets by ADP and epinephrine as single agents and as a pair
Authors: Di Minno G , Capitanio AM , Thiagarajan P , Martinez J , Murphy S
Published: October 2019

Platelet concentrates stored at 22 degrees C have a marked decrease in their aggregation response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or epinephrine but a normal response to these agents when used as a pair. Since platelet stimulation involves exposure of receptors for fibrinogen, we studied fibrinogen binding to platelets from fresh and stored concentrates. Following stimulation with 10 microM ADP or 20 microM epinephrine, platelet suspensions from fresh concentrates bound 125I-fibrinogen in a reaction that reached completion within 30 min. Significantly less binding occurred in suspensions from platelet concentrates that had been stored for 5 days at 22 degrees C. When stimulated by ADP and epinephrine as a pair (2 microM each), binding of fibrinogen to platelets was complete within 10–15 min and was not significantly decreased in suspensions from stored concentrates. We also investigated the effect of storage on the glycoprotein IIb-IIa complex, thought to be a specific receptor for fibrinogen on the platelet surface. Binding of a monoclonal antibody specific for this complex (B59.2) to platelet suspensions was unaffected by 5 days of storage. Furthermore, B59.2 inhibited aggregation, secretion, and fibrinogen binding of fresh and stored platelets stimulated with the pair of agents just as it did with single agents. We conclude that storage for 5 days at 22 degrees C impairs the exposure of fibrinogen receptors on platelets in response to ADP or epinephrine when used as single agents, without affecting the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex quantitatively. The function of the receptor is normal in response to the pair of agents.
Ex vivo selective isolation of young red blood cells using the IBM-2991 cell washer
Authors: Bracey AW , Klein HG , Chambers S , Corash L
Published: October 2019

Transfusion-induced hemochromatosis is a major complication in the therapy of severe chronic anemia. Improvement of transfused cell survival with a reduction in transfusion frequency is one possible approach to this problem. Using continuous-flow centrifugation (CFC), young red blood cells (YRBC) with enhanced in vivo survival have been isolated, but the expense and donor time required with this technique prohibit its widespread use for patient support. We studied the use of the IBM 2991 cell washer (CW) to isolate YRBC ex vivo from previously collected donor blood. Age-dependent red cell separation could be achieved using this instrumentation. Autologous mean red cell half-life (RBC-T50) (n = 9) for the younger cell fractions was 43.9 +/- 7.8 days compared to 34.7 +/- 5.8 days for the older cell fractions (n = 6, p less than 0.05). Paired measurement of RBC-T50 for young and old fractions in three donors showed an average survival increase of 41% for the YRBC. Adequate quantities of YRBC with enhanced survival can be obtained with less cost and less donor stress using the CW system compared to CFC. This approach could improve the management of patients with chronic transfusion requirements and merits further examination.
Glucocorticoids and lymphocytes. III. Effects of glucocorticoid administration on lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors
Authors: Shipman GF , Bloomfield CD , Gajl-Peczalska KJ , Munck AU , Smith KA
Published: October 2019

To determine the effects of glucocorticoid administration on the number of measured lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptor sites and the duration of such effects, seven normal volunteers were studied. Glucocorticoid receptor levels of the lymphocytes circulating in the blood of each volunteer were determined. Glucocorticoid was then administered in a regimen of a total of four doses of dexamethasone 4 mg p.o. every 6 hr. Determinations of the number of receptors were performed at 6 hr and at various subsequent times after the end of dexamethasone administration. When compared to baseline receptor numbers, six volunteers showed a decrease in receptor number after glucocorticoid administration (median maximum decrease 2,046 sites/cell). The fall in receptor number occurred rapidly, reaching a nadir within 30 hr from the end of glucocorticoid administration. The return of receptor number to baseline was more gradual, requiring from 3 to as long as 17 days in one subject. Our results suggest that in order to accurately interpret glucocorticoid receptor numbers in human lymphoid cells, glucocorticoid should not have been administered for 3 wk prior to determinations of receptor levels.
Density heterogeneity of neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes: gradient fractionation and relationship to chemotactic stimulation
Authors: Pember SO , Barnes KC , Brandt SJ , Kinkade JM Jr
Published: October 2019

When elicited murine peritoneal exudate cells were subjected to Percoll density gradient centrifugation, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were found to distribute over a broad spectrum of buoyant densities (1.10–1.06 g/ml). PMN isolated between approximately 1.10 and 1.085 g/ml were referred to as high density PMN (HD-PMN), and those isolated at approximately 1.085–1.06 g/ml were designated intermediate density PMN (ID-PMN). Cells were characterized on the basis of morphology and specific markers: PMN by lactoferrin immunocytofluorescence and macrophages by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide glycohydrase activity. Macrophages banded near the top of the gradient with a peak at 1.04 g/ml. At increasing times following elicitation, the ratio of HD to ID- PMN decreased. Decreased density of either murine HD-PMN or human peripheral blood PMN could be induced in vitro by exposure of the cells to endotoxin-activated serum. A decrease in buoyant density of human PMN was also demonstrated in vitro using the synthetic chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). The response was time dependent, related to dose, and appeared to be mediated by the cell membrane receptor for FMLP. A competitive antagonist of FMLP binding, carbobenzoxy-phenylalanyl-methionine, inhibited the density change with a calculated Kd similar to that reported for inhibition of FMLP-induced aggregation, degranulation, locomotion, and superoxide production. The FMLP-induced decrease in PMN density was shown to be directly correlated with increases in relative mean cell volume. The density response is a new measurement of PMN interaction with specific chemotactic factors, which may be important in the generation of PMN heterogeneity observed in elicited peritoneal exudate cells. In addition, this approach offers a means of physically separating “activated” from “resting” PMN and of studying resultant biochemical differences between these cell populations using both in vivo and in vitro systems.
Intensive therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation for patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia in second or subsequent remission: determination of prognostic factors (a report from the University of Minnesota Bone Marrow Transplantation Team)
Authors: Woods WG , Nesbit ME , Ramsay NK , Krivit W , Kim TH , Goldman A , McGlave PB , Kersey JH
Published: October 2019

Fifteen patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in second or subsequent remission received intensive therapy with cyclophosphamide and single dose, rapid rate (26 cGy/min) total body irradiation (TBI) followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from a histocompatible sibling match. Outcome was compared to that of 23 conventionally treated control patients in second ALL remission who presented to the same institution during the same time period but had no available transplant donor. The 15 BMT patients and 23 control patients had similar characteristics, with the exception that the BMT patients were significantly older at the time of ALL diagnosis (12.6 yr versus 5.7 yr, p = 0.01). BMT patients had a significantly increased chance of remaining disease-free for 36 mo from time on study (43% actuarial versus 5%, p = 0.004) and a greater overall survival rate at 48 mo (47% actuarial versus 9%, p = 0.27) than the conventionally treated patients. In all, 5 of the bone marrow transplant patients (33%) remain alive and free of disease 24–48 + mo from transplantation. Several pre- and posttransplant characteristics were analyzed to determine predictive factors for a successful BMT outcome for patients with ALL in second or subsequent remission. Significant risk factors for predicting leukemic relapse included initial white blood count (WBC) greater than 50,000/microliters at ALL diagnosis (100% relapse rate versus 37% for patients with lower WBCs, p = 0.001) and presence of any extramedullary disease pre-BMT (100% relapse rate versus 37% for patients without extramedullary disease, p = 0.03). All 5 disease-free BMT survivors had initial WBCs less than 50,000/microliters and no evidence of extramedullary disease pretransplantation. Maintenance chemotherapy with 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) and methotrexate was given to four patients starting 100 days after bone marrow transplantation. Use of maintenance chemotherapy was associated with a significantly increased chance of remaining disease free (100% of patients surviving leukemia-free versus 17% for patients not receiving maintenance chemotherapy, p = 0.02). Presence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) did not influence leukemia-free survival. These results confirm that intensive therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with ALL in second or subsequent remission who have a histocompatible sibling match. Furthermore, the data suggest that a controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance chemotherapy post-BMT for ALL patients is warranted.
Myeloperoxidase-mediated modulation of chemotactic peptide binding to human neutrophils
Authors: Lane TA , Lamkin GE
Published: October 2019

Methionine-containing chemotactic peptides, such as formyl-methionyl- leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), are inactivated via a neutrophil-derived, myeloperoxidase-mediated oxidation of the methionine residue. We report that extracellular inactivation of FMLP by myeloperoxidase modulates the apparent binding of methionine-containing chemotactic peptides to their surface receptors. Inhibitors of myeloperoxidase enhanced FMLP binding. At subsaturating concentrations of 3H-FMLP (20 nM), 1 mM cyanide (KCN) increased the binding of 3H-FMLP to human neutrophils (PMN) by 51% +/- 12%. Similar increases occurred with 0.1 mM azide and 10 mM aminotriazole (ATZ). KCN had little effect on maximal 3H-FMLP binding to PMN at saturation (control-17,040 +/- 910 receptors/PMN; KCN- 16,820 +/- 1,940 receptors/PMN), but decreased the concentration of 3H- FMLP required to half-saturate the PMN receptors (control-39 +/- 3 nM; KCN-17 +/- 1 nM). ATZ gave similar results. The binding to PMN of the non-methionine-containing chemotactic peptide 125I-formyl-norleucyl- leucyl-phenylalanyl-norleucyl-tyrosyl-lysine (125I-FNLPNTL) was unaltered by KCN. Also, the binding of 3H-FMLP to myeloperoxidase- deficient PMN was unaltered by KCN. Both KCN and ATZ decreased the oxidation of FMLP by PMN. Finally, ATZ (but not KCN) enhanced the chemotactic migration of PMN in response to submaximal concentrations of FMLP. These studies show that intact PMN inactivate methionine- containing chemotactic peptides by a pathway that is sensitive to myeloperoxidase inhibitors and is absent in myeloperoxidase-deficient PMN. This action results in an apparent decrease in the affinity of the chemotactic peptide receptor for methionine-containing chemotactic peptides, which may modulate chemotatic events in inflammatory loci.
Restoration of responsiveness of chronic myeloid leukemia granulocyte- macrophage colony-forming cells to growth regulation in vitro following preincubation with prostaglandin E
Authors: Pelus LM , Gold E , Saletan S , Coleman M
Published: October 2019

The ability to modulate granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU- GM) Ia-antigen expression and response to growth inhibition in vitro was investigated in normals and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The hyporesponsiveness of CML CFU-GM to inhibition by prostaglandin E and acidic isoferritins in vitro and their associated diminished capacity for Ia-antigen expression could be reversed following suspension culture of bone marrow cells in the presence of prostaglandin E prior to soft agar culture. Suspension preculture with prostaglandin E for 24 hr resulted in the detection of a population of CFU-GM that were equivalent to normal CFU-GM in both response to inhibition by prostaglandin E and acid isoferritins and in their pattern of Ia-antigen expression. Cytogenetic analysis of the progeny of CFU-GM proliferating in cultures established from marrow cells, cultured directly upon isolation or following suspension culture in the absence or presence of prostaglandin E for 24 hr, indicated that the responding cell population belonged to the Ph1-positive leukemic clone. Antigen detection on these CFU-GM resulted both from Ia-antigen reexpression and the induction of noncycling cells into S-phase with coincident expression of Ia-antigens. These studies provide further evidence for a direct regulatory association between Ia-antigen and control of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell proliferation, offer a possible explanation for the disordered regulatory responses observed in patients with CML, and indicate that abnormal growth phenotypes can be modulated, at least in vitro.
Genetic transformation of murine bone marrow cells to methotrexate resistance
Authors: Carr F , Medina WD , Dube S , Bertino JR
Published: October 2019

Genetic transformation of murine bone marrow stem cells to methotrexate resistance was achieved using a modified calcium phosphate-DNA coprecipitation procedure. Bone marrow cells were transformed by DNA derived from methotrexate-resistant mouse 3T6 cells. In vivo selection of drug-resistant bone marrow cells resulted from thrice weekly injections of methotrexate (MTX) for a period of 6–8 wk. Following selection, dihydrofolate reductase activity encoded by the donor DNA species was easily detectable in extracts of recipient mouse spleens. In addition, selection of methotrexate-resistant cells was indicated by the persistence of spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) in drug-treated animals. Also, changes in ratios of mixed syngeneic bone marrow cells derived from CBA and CBA/T6T6 mice resulted from initial treatment of either cell type with 3T6 DNA. These results confirm and extend the observations of Cline and coworkers that normal bone marrow cells can be genetically transformed to methotrexate resistance.
Combined modality therapy of advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: an analysis of remission duration and survival in 95 patients
Authors: Sullivan KM , Neiman PE , Kadin ME , Dahlberg S , Farewell VT , Rudolph RH , Bagley CM Jr , Appelbaum FR , Thomas ED
Published: October 2019

Ninety-five patients with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with four courses of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone, with or without procarbazine [CHOP(P)] chemotherapy; either 150 rad total body irradiation (for “extensive” disease) or 3,500 rad local radiation therapy (for “limited” disease); and a final four courses of CHOP(P) chemotherapy. Sixty-four patients had stage IV, 22 stage III, and 9 abdominal stage II disease. Histologic material was available in 80 patients for review according to the new Working Formulation: 16 had low grade, 38 intermediate grade (20 large cell, 18 diffuse small cleaved and mixed cell), and 26 high grade (12 lymphoblastic, 8 immunoblastic, 6 small noncleaved) malignancies. Complete remission was achieved in 78% of 92 evaluable patients. The remission duration curve for diffuse large cell lymphoma patients showed a plateau at 72% after 2 yr, but a pattern of continued relapse (median 3 yr) was seen in the other histologies. Multivariate analysis showed that “B” symptoms, bulky abdominal masses, and stage IV disease adversely affected survival. Overall survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that 67% of diffuse small cleaved and mixed cell, 49% of large cell and immunoblastic, and 44% of lymphoblastic lymphoma patients survive 6 yr after diagnosis. When compared to reported remission duration and survival with CHOP chemotherapy alone, these data suggest a possible advantage for combined modality treatment.
Does treatment with ARA-C in low dosage cause differentiation of leukemic cells?
Authors: Castaigne S , Daniel MT , Tilly H , Herait P , Degos L
Published: October 2019

A series of 21 patients (5 refractory anemias with an excess of blasts in transformation and 16 acute leukemias) were treated with small doses of ARA-C (10 mg/sq m/12 hr for 15–21 days). Improvement was noted in 15 cases (71%) and complete remission observed in 12 (57%). Complete remission was obtained after one course of treatment in 8 cases. The fact that these patients entered remission relatively slowly and did not suffer marrow aplasia suggests that low-dose ARA-C may function in vivo as it does in vitro, i.e., by inducing differentiation of leukemic blasts.
Insulin receptors on leukemia and lymphoma cells
Authors: Chen PM , Kwan SH , Hwang TS , Chiang BN , Chou CK
Published: October 2019

Tumor cells obtained from leukemia and lymphoma patients were investigated for specific insulin receptors. Using radioactive 125I- labeled insulin, specific insulin binding sites were demonstrated on most acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) cells, including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), and acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL) cells. Insulin receptors were not found on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and malignant lymphoma (ML) cells. Specific insulin binding sites were also found on monocytes and thymocytes after treatment with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P), but not on inactivated tonsil cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, or thymocytes. There was no inverse correlation between the content of insulin receptors and the basal level of circulating insulin. These data suggest that the insulin receptor may be a new marker of acute leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia.
Hematopoietic precursors in disease induced by the myeloproliferative sarcoma virus
Authors: Klein B , Akouala JJ , Le Bousse-Kerdiles C , Smadja-Joffe F , Jasmin C
Published: October 2019

Granulocyte and macrophage precursors (GM-CFU-C-), which differentiate in vitro without added granulocyte and macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), can be detected in the hematopoietic organs of mice infected with myeloproliferative sarcoma virus (MPSV). Retransplantation experiments have shown that the GM-CFU-C- are incapable of autonomous growth and depend on a factor present in medium conditioned by MPSV spleen cells (MPSV-CM). This factor is not MPSV and is not produced by spleen cells of noninfected mice. Two classical sources of GM-CSF, lung GM-CSF and GM-CSF contained in the plasma of endotoxin-treated mice, cannot replace the MPSV factor. Inversely, MPSV- CM does not stimulate the growth of retransplanted clusters induced in normal bone marrow with lung GM-CSF, whereas lung GM-CSF does. Two conditioned media containing activity promoting the in vitro proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells in the mixed colony assay stimulate the growth of MPSV clusters: one medium was conditioned by pokeweed-mitogen-stimulated spleen cells, the other by the WEHI 3 cell line. The implication of the results in the comprehension of MPSV disease is discussed.
Cyclic neutropenia: amplification of granulocyte oscillations by lithium and long-term suppression of cycling by plasmapheresis
Authors: von Schulthess GK , Fehr J , Dahinden C
Published: October 2019

A patient with well documented cyclic neutropenia (CN) was given chronic lithium therapy as well as a short course of plasmapheresis with therapeutic intention. While on lithium therapy, an increase in the amplitude of the granulocyte oscillations was observed, but recurrent agranulocytotic periods persisted. A 2-wk course of plasmapheresis (total exchange 17 liters) resulted in a gradual decrease of granulocyte oscillations, with the granulocyte count remaining above 500/cu mm at all times, and the patient became asymptomatic. The improvements in the clinical state of the patient have now persisted for more than 9 mo. Quantitative analysis of the oscillation period and the phase lags between peak counts of the hematologic cell lines revealed a 20-day cycle for granulocytes, monocytes, reticulocytes, and platelets, but not for lymphocytes. The observed phase lags, together with the literature values for the intramarrow maturation times of the hematologic cell lines, suggest that the feedback regulation abnormality, believed to be at the basis of CN, primarily affects the stem cell that is still capable of differentiating into granulocytes and monocytes, but that the oscillations of reticulocytes and platelets are the result of a stem cell competition for uncommitted precursor cells by the primarily oscillating granulocyte and monocyte production.
Delta +-thalassemia in Sardinia
Authors: Pirastu M , Galanello R , Melis MA , Brancati C , Tagarelli A , Cao A , Kan YW
Published: October 2019

We have defined a new type of delta-thalassemia in which beta-globin chain synthesis is incompletely suppressed. Homozygotes have unusually low HbA2 levels, and double heterozygosity for this delta-thalassemia gene and beta-thalassemia normalizes the HbA2 level. The delta- thalassemia occurs on a chromosome that is identifiable using polymorphic restriction endonuclease sites. We call this condition delta +-thalassemia, to distinguish it from the previously described delta 0-thalassemia syndromes in which no delta-globin chain synthesis occurs.
Proliferative potential of subpopulations of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells in normal subjects and chronic myelogenous leukemia patients
Authors: Strife A , Lambek C , Wisniewski D , Arlin Z , Thaler H , Clarkson B
Published: October 2019

The studies described compare the subpopulations of granulocyte- macrophage progenitor cells present in normal marrow with those derived from the marrow of patients with Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The subpopulations were separated on the basis of size by velocity sedimentation and measured for their proliferative capacity by the colony formation technique. A pattern of development of colonies in the individual fractions was obtained by assaying the absolute number of colonies present at time intervals from 3 to 21 days. The number of colonies present at 3 days was taken as 100%, and the percentage of increase or decrease from this value was determined on subsequent days. In the fractions containing the most rapidly sedimenting large cells, the pattern of development of colonies derived from normal and CML marrow was similar. The CML colony-forming units in culture (CFU-C) began to show a deviation from the normal CFU-C pattern of development in the fractions containing CFU-C intermediate in size, and this deviation became progressively more pronounced in the slowest sedimenting small cell fractions. In these latter fractions, the CFU-C derived from CML marrow decreased in number at a rate similar to those arising from the more rapidly sedimenting fractions. This is in contrast to CFU-C derived from normal marrow, which increased in number in the more slowly sedimenting fractions and in the intermediate fractions, remained constant in number, or decreased at a rate slower than those arising from the more rapidly sedimenting fractions. The most likely explanation for these findings is accelerated maturation of the early small granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells in CML so that these cells show the same limited proliferative capacity as do the later larger progenitor cells.