bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of fetal hemoglobin production by short chain fatty acids
Authors: Liakopoulou E , Blau CA , Li Q , Josephson B , Wolf JA , Fournarakis B , Raisys V , Dover G , Papayannopoulou T , Stamatoyannopoulos G
Published: October 2019

Butyrate, a four-carbon fatty acid, and its two-carbon metabolic product, acetate, are inducers of gamma-globin synthesis. To test whether other short-chain fatty acids share this property, we first examined whether propionic acid, a three-carbon fatty acid that is not catabolized to acetate, induces gamma-globin expression. Sodium propionate increased the frequency of fetal hemoglobin containing erythroblasts and the gamma/gamma + beta mRNA ratios in adult erythroid cell cultures and F reticulocyte production in a nonanemic juvenile baboon. Short-chain fatty acids containing five (pentanoic), six (hexanoic), seven (heptanoic), eight (octanoic), and nine (nonanoic) carbons induced gamma-globin expression (as measured by increase in gamma-positive erythroblasts and gamma/gamma + beta mRNA ratios) in adult erythroid burst-forming unit cultures. There was a clear-cut relationship between the concentration of fatty acids in culture and the degree of induction of gamma-globin expression. Three-, four-, and five-carbon fatty acids were better inducers of gamma globin in culture as compared with six- to nine-carbon fatty acids. These results suggest that all short-chain fatty acids share the property of gamma-globin gene inducibility. The fact that valproic acid, a derivative of pentanoic acid, also induces gamma-globin expression suggests that short-chain fatty acid derivatives that are already approved for human use may possess the property of gamma-globin inducibility and may be of therapeutic relevance to the beta-chain hemoglobinopathies.
Human leukemia cell lines bind basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on FGF receptors and heparan sulfates: downmodulation of FGF receptors by phorbol ester
Authors: Liuzzo JP , Moscatelli D
Published: October 2019

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been identified as an important cytokine for blood cells. To determine whether hematopoietic cells have receptors that recognize bFGF, the ability of human leukemia cell lines to bind 125I-bFGF was investigated. Specific bFGF-binding sites were identified on K562 and HL60 cells, but not on U937 cells. DAMI cells bound low amounts of 125I-bFGF specifically. Binding of 125I- bFGF to K562 cell surfaces was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by unlabeled bFGF or by heparin. Scatchard analysis of binding to K562 cells revealed two classes of binding sites: 1,650 high affinity binding sites per cell with a dissociation constant (kd) of 192 pmol/L, and 36,600 low affinity sites per cell with a kd of 9.3 nmol/L. Chemical crosslinking experiments with K562, HL60, and DAMI cells revealed receptor-growth factor complexes with molecular masses of 140 to 160 kD, similar in size to complexes formed by known receptor species. Binding of 125I-bFGF to K562 cells was sensitive to heparinase treatment but not to chondroitinase treatment, suggesting that heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) may be responsible for the low affinity binding sites. To further investigate whether K562 cells make HSPG, the incorporation of 35SO4 into proteoglycans was assessed. Metabolically labeled cell-surface proteoglycans with molecular masses of 180 to 300 kD were identified in K562 cells. These proteoglycans were sensitive to heparinase, demonstrating that K562 cells synthesize bFGF-binding HSPG. Treatment of K562 cells with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) caused a loss of bFGF-binding capacity. This decreased binding capacity reflected a rapid loss of high affinity receptors. The ability to form bFGF-receptor complexes decreased by 65% to 70% within 1 hour and declined continuously thereafter. The decrease in binding of bFGF was not due to an autocrine downregulation of bFGF receptors, because there was no increase in bFGF after PMA treatment as detected by Western blotting, and suramin, which blocks bFGF binding to receptors, did not prevent the loss of receptors after exposure to PMA. In addition, inhibitors of either protein synthesis or protease activity did not prevent the loss of bFGF receptors in PMA-treated cells. In summary, this work demonstrates that leukemia cell lines have receptors that specifically bind bFGF and supports the hypothesis that bFGF acts directly on certain blood cells to stimulate their proliferation.
Molecular characterization of 12p abnormalities in hematologic malignancies: deletion of KIP1, rearrangement of TEL, and amplification of CCND2
Authors: Hoglund M , Johansson B , Pedersen-Bjergaard J , Marynen P , Mitelman F
Published: October 2019

Twenty patients with hematologic malignancies with 12p abnormalities were investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes mapped to specific regions in 12p. The initial analysis using the YAC 964c10 (D12S736) revealed that all four cases with cytogenetically identified del(12p) had lost one copy of this YAC and that submicroscopic deletions had occurred in 10 of the 16 neoplasms with other 12p abnormalities, ie, translocations, additions, and insertions. The deletions were partially mapped with cosmids localized to subregions of 12p. One copy of the gene for p27kip1 (KIP1), involved in cell cycle entrance, was found to be lost in all cases in which deletions could be detected by other probes and in one case with a translocation as the only detectable change. This implicates KIP1 as a possible tumor suppressor gene affected by del(12p). Four translocations with no apparent concomitant deletions were detected. All four breakpoints resulted in a split D12S736 signal. In two of these cases, we showed that TEL was disrupted as a result of a t(5;12)(q32–33;p12) and a t(12;22)(p12;q12), respectively. Two lymphoid neoplasm--one non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and one Burkitt's lymphoma--with 12p amplifications were detected. In both cases cyclin D2 (CCND2) was within the amplified region. Thus, cytogenetic abnormalities of 12p in hematologic malignancies result in at least three different molecular changes: deletions of KIP1, amplifications of CCND2, and structural rearrangements of TEL.
Human mononuclear cells express 12-LX: coordinated mRNA regulation with 5-LX and FLAP genes
Authors: Kaminski WE , Jendraschak E , Baumann K , Kiefl R , Fischer S , Marcus AJ , Broekman MJ , von Schacky C
Published: October 2019

Lipoxygenases (LXs) catalyze formation of leukotrienes and hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), proinflammatory, and spasmogenic autacoids that are critical for host defense systems. We studied the expression and regulation of LX genes (12-LX, 5-LX, and 15-LX) and the 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) in human mononuclear cells (MNC) and granulocytes using a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. We show that 12-LX mRNA is constitutively expressed in resting platelet-free MNC. 12-LX gene expression was upregulated by activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The formation of 12-HETE was inducible with ionophore in MNC, as assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography, and increased after LPS pretreatment. In addition to 12- LX, resting MNC expressed the genes for 5-LX and FLAP constitutively. Quantitative time course analyses of 12-LX, 5-LX, and FLAP gene expression suggested coregulation of 12-LX and FLAP mRNAs, and reciprocal regulation of 5-LX and FLAP mRNAs. During cell stimulation with LPS 5-LX mRNA levels remained unchanged, whereas FLAP gene expression increased. No 15-LX mRNA expression or 15-HETE formation was detectable in unstimulated and activated MNC. In contrast to MNC, quantitative RT-PCR mRNA analysis showed intermittent intraindividual expression of the 5-LX and FLAP genes in resting granulocytes. mRNAs for 12-LX and 15-LX were not expressed. On stimulation of granulocytes ex vivo, mRNA expression of 5-LX and FLAP was upregulated. Stimulation by LPS differed from that by ionophore A23187. Neither LPS nor ionophore induced gene expression of 12-LX or 15-LX in granulocytes. Our data indicate that resting human MNC and granulocytes express LX and FLAP genes in a cell-specific manner. Cell activation induces coordinated upregulation of 12-LX and FLAP genes in MNC, and 5-LX and FLAP genes in granulocytes, respectively. The constitutive expression of 12-LX mRNA, its upregulation on cell activation, and the formation of 12-HETE clearly indicate the presence of a functional 12-LX in human MNC.
Identification of a novel exon and spliced form of Duffy mRNA that is the predominant transcript in both erythroid and postcapillary venule endothelium
Authors: Iwamoto S , Li J , Omi T , Ikemoto S , Kajii E
Published: October 2019

The Duffy gene has been shown not to be split by introns, even in its 5′ untranslated region, and to be expressed not only in erythroid but in postcapillary venule endothelium of almost every organ in the body. To further investigate the transcriptional start position in erythroid and postcapillary venule endothelium, we performed 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5′-RACE). While every positive clone of 5′- RACE encoded the identical sequence of previously identified cDNA downstream from nucleotide 203, the upstream sequences were different. The upstream sequences corresponded to the sequence from nucleotide - 279 to -308/-357 in erythroblasts and from -279 to -355/-383 in lung and were regarded as comprising a novel exon. This novel exon encoded seven residues initiated with a methionine, linked to nucleotide 203 in- frame and in agreement with the GT-AG splicing rule. The major erythroid transcriptional start position was identified in human erythroleukemia cells by primer extension and in bone marrow by ribonuclease protection analysis at 34 bases upstream from the first ATG codon. Distinctively, in lung and kidney, the transcription was started at 82 bases upstream from the ATG. Both Northern blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern analysis indicated a predominance of the novel spliced form of mRNA of about 50- to 200-fold comparing with the unspliced form, in every studied organ and erythroid lineage cells. The spliced form of cDNA has been transfected into a human erythroleukemic cell line, K562, and the expressed protein reacted with Duffy-specific murine monoclonal antibody Fy6. These studies indicate that the product from the spliced form of mRNA is the major product of the Duffy gene in the erythroid lineage and postcapillary venule endothelium.
Use of a lethally irradiated major histocompatibility complex nonrestricted cytotoxic T-cell line for effective purging of marrows containing lysis-sensitive or -resistant leukemic targets [see comments]
Authors: Cesano A , Pierson G , Visonneau S , Migliaccio AR , Santoli D
Published: October 2019

Improved marrow purging protocols are needed in autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) to achieve complete eradication of minimal residual disease. This study investigates the potential of a human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) nonrestricted killer T-cell line (TALL-104) as a new marrow purging agent in a clinical setting. TALL- 104 cells can be irradiated without losing cytotoxic activity against tumor targets in vitro. In vivo, the irradiated killers can be adoptively transferred into immunodeficient and immunocompetent leukemia-bearing mice, and reverse their disease even in advanced stages. The present study shows that gamma-irradiated TALL-104 cells, cultured for 18 hours with marrows from healthy donors, do not impair the viability and long-term growth of committed and pluripotent hematopoietic progenitors. However, as determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and colony assays, TALL-104 cells could completely purge marrows containing up to 50% lysis-susceptible myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937). When marrows were admixed with a pre-B leukemia cell line (ALL-1), which is fairly resistant to TALL-104 cell lysis in longterm 51Cr-release assays but can be totally growth inhibited by TALL-104 cells in proliferation assays, residual ALL-1 cells were detectable by PCR after TALL-104 purging. However, importantly, these PCR+ marrows were devoid of tumorigenic activity when transplanted into the human hematopoietic microenvironment of human severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) chimeras. These data indicate the strong potential of the TALL- 104 cell line in future marrow purging strategies against lysis- susceptible and -resistant leukemias.
Predominant expression of a receptor tyrosine kinase, TIE, in hematopoietic stem cells and B cells
Authors: Hashiyama M , Iwama A , Ohshiro K , Kurozumi K , Yasunaga K , Shimizu Y , Masuho Y , Matsuda I , Yamaguchi N , Suda T
Published: October 2019

A receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), TIE (tyrosine kinase that contains immunoglobulin-like loops and epidermal growth factor [EGF] homology domains), is expressed in vascular endothelial and hematopoietic cells. We generated monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against the extracellular domain of TIE and a polyclonal antibody against the TIE carboxyterminus and used them to analyze expression of TIE in hematopoietic cells. Western blotting detected two forms of TIE protein with a molecular mass of 135 and 130 kD in hematopoietic and endothelial cells. Northern blotting analysis revealed that TIE was expressed preferentially in undifferentiated cell lines, especially when megakaryocytic, but not erythroid differentiation was induced. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that TIE was predominantly expressed in the human hematopoietic progenitor fraction, CD34+ cells. Fluorescence- activated cell sorting (FACS) showed that 42% of CD34+ and 17% of KIT- positive (KIT+) cells were TIE-positive (TIE+). The majority (81%) of the primitive hematopoietic stem cells, CD34+CD38- cells, were TIE+. Assays of progenitor cells and long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC- IC) showed that the TIE+ fraction contained more primitive cells than the TIE- fraction. Some TIE+ cells were in the CD34- fraction, which were CD19+ and CD20+ (B cells). These findings indicate that TIE has a unique spectrum of expression in primitive hematopoietic stem cells and B cells. Although its ligand has not been identified, TIE and its ligand may establish a novel regulatory pathway not only in early hematopoiesis, but also in the differentiation and/or proliferation of B cells.
The RAR-RXR as well as the RXR-RXR pathway is involved in signaling growth inhibition of human CD34+ erythroid progenitor cells
Authors: Rusten LS , Dybedal I , Blomhoff HK , Blomhoff R , Smeland EB , Jacobsen SE
Published: October 2019

Previous studies have shown that retinoic acid (RA), similar to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), can act as a bifunctional regulator of the growth of bone marrow progenitors, in that it can stimulate granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)- or interleukin-3 (IL-3)-induced GM colony formation, but potently inhibit G-CSF-induced growth. The present study, using highly enriched human CD34+ as well as Lin- murine bone marrow progenitor cells, demonstrates a potent inhibitory effect of 9-cis-RA on burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) colony formation regardless of the cytokine stimulating growth. Specifically, 9-cis-RA potently inhibited the growth of BFU-E response to erythropoietin (Epo) (100%), stem cell factor (SCF) + Epo (92%), IL- 3 + Epo (97%), IL-4 + Epo (88%), and IL-9 + Epo (100%). Erythroid colony growth was also inhibited when CD34+ progenitors were seeded at one cell per well, suggesting a direct action of RA. Using synthetic ligands to retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs) that selectively bind and activate RAR-RXR or RXR-RXR dimers, respectively, we dissected the involvement of the two retinoid response pathways in the regulation of normal myeloid and erythroid progenitor cell growth. Transactivation studies showed that both the RAR (Ro 13– 7410) and RXR (Ro 25–6603 and Ro 25–7386) ligands were highly selective at 100 nmol/L. At this concentration, Ro 13–7410 potently inhibited G- CSF-stimulated myeloid as well as SCF + Epo-induced erythroid colony growth. At the same concentration, Ro 25–6603 and Ro 25–7386 had little or no effect on G-CSF-induced colony formation, whereas they inhibited 75% and 53%, respectively, of SCF + Epo-stimulated BFU-E colony growth. Thus, the RAR-RXR response pathway can signal growth inhibition of normal bone marrow myeloid and erythroid progenitor cells. In addition, we demonstrate a unique involvement of the RXR-RXR pathway in mediating growth inhibition of erythroid but not myeloid progenitor cells.
Abnormal assembly of membrane proteins in erythroid progenitors of patients with beta-thalassemia major
Authors: Aljurf M , Ma L , Angelucci E , Lucarelli G , Snyder LM , Kiefer CR , Yuan J , Schrier SL
Published: October 2019

The life threatening anemia in beta-thalassemia major (Cooley's anemia) is characterized by profound intramedullary lysis, the cause of which is incompletely understood. Using marrow obtained from beta thalassemia major patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in Pesaro Italy, it became possible to directly study the mechanism of the intramedullary hemolysis. Based on our previous studies, we hypothesized that the unmatched alpha globin chains would interfere with normal assembly of erythroid precursor membrane proteins. Patient and control erythroid precursors were reacted with monospecific polyclonal rabbit antibodies directed against spectrin, band 3, and band 4.1 and with a monoclonal anti-alpha globin chain antibody. Using laser confocal fluorescence microscopy, normal erythroid precursors show no alpha globin chain accumulation and exhibited uniformly smooth rim fluorescence of the three membrane proteins. In some thalassemic precursors, spectrin appeared to interact with large alpha globin accumulations, and in many of these cells the spectin appeared clumped and discontinuous. Band 4.1 interacted strongly with accumulations of alpha globin in thalassemic precursors to produce bizarrely clumped zones of abnormal band 4.1 distribution. Band 3 was incorporated smoothly into thalassemic erythroblast membranes. However, the proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts were significantly deficient in band 3. Thus, accumulations of alpha globin in beta- thalassemia major colocalized with and disrupt band 4.1 and spectrin assembly into the membrane. The cause of deficient band 3 incorporation into thalassemic proerythroblast membranes remains unknown. These profound membrane alterations would likely contribute to the intramedullary lysis seen in Cooley's anemia.
Three cases of hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia associated with red blood cell glutathione deficiency
Authors: Hirono A , Iyori H , Sekine I , Ueyama J , Chiba H , Kanno H , Fujii H , Miwa S
Published: October 2019

Three unrelated Japanese patients with chronic nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia wer found to have marked deficiency of red blood cell (RBC) reduced glutathoine (GSH) (4.4%, 13.1%, and 6.9% of normal, respectively). A panel of RBC enzyme assays showed that one patient had decreased glutathione synthetase activity and the other two were moderately deficient in gamma-glutamylcystine synthetase. Some family members of each patient showed mild deficiency of the respective enzymes. RBCs of these patients also showed a decreased level of glutathione-S-transferase as in previously described GSH-deficient cases. Hemolytic anemia was their only manifestation, and neither 5- oxoprolinemia nor 5-oxoprolinuria, which are usually associated with to generalized type of glutathione synthetase deficiency, was noted in our patients.
Changes in cell spreading and cytoskeletal organization are induced by adhesion to a fibronectin-fibrin matrix
Authors: Corbett SA , Wilson CL , Schwarzbauer JE
Published: October 2019

Plasma fibronectin (pFN) cross-linked to fibrin during the injury response provides a provisional matrix required for cells to begin tissue repair. Using a synthetic matrix of pFN and fibrin as a substrate for cell adhesion and spreading, we have determined that pFN covalently cross-linked to fibrin into a complex multimer is functionally distinct from pFN immobilized onto a plastic surface. NIH- 3T3 cells on a FN-fibrin matrix reach 50% of the maximal cell area of cells spread on FN-coated plastic. They neither attach nor spread on cross-linked fibrin alone. Cells on pFN-fibrin matrices form few prominent stress fibers and exhibit clear differences in membrane ruffling and filopodial extension when stained with rhodamine-labeled phalloidin. Interestingly, these differences are enhanced by upregulation of protein kinase C. These data suggest that cell-FN interactions can be modified by the molecular context of the protein within the extracellular matrix resulting in distinct cell morphology and cytoskeletal organization.
Telomerase activation in normal B lymphocytes and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
Authors: Norrback KF , Dahlenborg K , Carlsson R , Roos G
Published: October 2019

Activation of telomerase seems to be a prerequisite for immortalization and is found in permanent cell lines and most malignant tumors. Normal somatic cells are generally telomerase negative, except for bone marrow stem cells. Weak activity is also present in peripheral blood cells. In the present study strong telomerase activity was demonstrated in vivo in normal mature cells of the immune system, as well as in malignant lymphomas. Benign lymph nodes had lower telomerase activity than benign tonsils, which exhibited intermediate to high activity comparable with findings in malignant lymphomas. In benign tonsils the activity seemed to be restricted to germinal center B cells. In benign lymphoid tissues telomerase activity correlated with B-cell numbers and cell proliferation, but this was not observed in the lymphoma group. High- grade lymphomas exhibited higher levels of telomerase compared with low- grade cases. The data showed that in vivo activation of telomerase is a characteristic feature of germinal center B cells. Different signals for activation of telomerase are likely to exist, one of them being immune stimulation. The data suggest that telomerase activity in malignant lymphomas can be explained by an “induction and retention” model, ie, transformation occurs in a normal, mature B cell with reactivated telomerase, which is retained in the neoplastic clone.
Effect of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on neutrophil kinetics in normal young and elderly humans
Authors: Price TH , Chatta GS , Dale DC
Published: October 2019

Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered to healthy young (n = 32) and elderly (n = 19) volunteers (0 microgram/d, 30 microgram/d, or 300 microgram/d) to determine its effect on neutrophil production, blood kinetics, and tissue migration. Measurements included blood counts (daily), marrow neutrophil pool sizes and neutrophil tissue migration (baseline and day 5), blood kinetics (day 6), and marrow transit time while on drug (days 6 to 14). G-CSF markedly expanded the marrow neutrophil mitotic pool and shortened the transit time of the postmitotic pool (control, mean = 6.4 days; 300 microgram/d, mean = 2.9 d). G-CSF increased neutrophil production without significantly altering blood neutrophil half-life or margination. Compared to control, neutrophil accumulation in skin chambers decreased by about 50% in the 300 microgram/d group in both young and elderly subjects. G-CSF induced neutrophilia by stimulating proliferation of marrow neutrophil precursors and accelerating neutrophil entry into the blood. Decreased neutrophil inflammatory responses measured with the skin chamber technique may be because of the relative immaturity of the circulating cells or to alterations in neutrophil phenotype induced by G-CSF.
Thiotepa cyclophosphamide followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilized allogeneic peripheral blood cells in adults with advanced leukemia
Authors: Bacigalupo A , Van Lint MT , Valbonesi M , Lercari G , Carlier P , Lamparelli T , Gualandi F , Occhini D , Bregante S , Valeriani A , Piaggio G , Pitto A , Benvenuto F , Figari O , De Stefano G , Caimo A , Sessarego M
Published: October 2019

Thirty-one patients (median age, 44 years) with advanced hematologic malignancies were given thiotepa 15 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide 120 (n = 14) or 150 (n = 17) mg/kg followed by unfractionated peripheral blood stem cell transplants (PBSCT) from genotypically identical siblings (n = 28) or one antigen mismatched family donor (n = 3). Donors were mobilized with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 5 to 10 microgram/kg/d for 6 days and underwent two to three leukapheresis on days +5, +6, +7. The median cell yield per donor expressed/kg of recipients body weight was as follows: nucleated cells 13 x 10(8)/kg; CD34+ cells 6 x 10(6)/kg; colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage 38 x 10(4)/kg, and CD3+ cells 449 x 10(6)/kg. The diagnoses were chronic myeloid leukemia (n = 4), acute myeloid (n = 9) or lymphoid leukemia (n = 2), acute myelofibrosis (n = 2), multiple myeloma (n = 1), lymphoma (n = 6), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (n = 1) myelodysplasia (n = 6). Twenty-eight patients had advanced disease, 29 patients were first grafts, and 2 were second transplants 3 and 9 years after the first. Neutrophil counts of 0.5 x 10(9)/L and platelet counts of 30 x 10(9)/L platelets were both achieved on day +14 (median). Engraftment could be proven by sex markers or DNA polymorphism in 29 of 31 patients: one had early leukemia relapse and one patient was unevaluable because of early death. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was scored as minimal or absent (grade 0 to 1) in 14 patients, moderate (grade II) in 13, and severe (grade III to IV) in four. Causes of death were leukemia (n = 4), acute GVHD (n = 4, with associated cytomegalovirus infections in three), sepsis (n = 1), liver failure (n = 1), multiorgan failure (n = 1), and hemorrhage (n = 1). The actuarial transplant mortality is 29%, the actuarial relapse rate 22%. Nineteen patients survive with a median follow up of 288 days (100–690). The actuarial 2-year survival is 57%. Three patients received PBSCT from family donors mismatched for one class II antigen: all engrafted, one developed grade I aGVHD; one died of leukemia on day +155; two are alive disease free 267 to 290 days postgraft. This study suggests that thiotepa cyclophosphamide followed by unfractionated PBSC allograft may be an alternative form of transplant for adults with advanced leukemia, also in the setting of one antigen mismatched donor. The engraftment is rapid with acceptable GVHD and relatively low transplant-related mortality.
Megakaryocyte growth and development factor accelerates platelet recovery in peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant recipients
Authors: Molineux G , Hartley C , McElroy P , McCrea C , McNiece IK
Published: October 2019

We have investigated the potential of PEGylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rHuMGDF), a molecule related to thrombopoietin (mpl ligand or TPO) in minimizing the thrombocytopenia associated with hematopoietic ablation and peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplant. Irradiated mice that received PBPC mobilized by PEG-rHuMGDF or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) had a reduced number of thrombocytopenic days with platelets below 100 x 10(6) per mL of blood. Recipients of unmobilized PBPC had a 9 day thrombocytopenic phase which was shortened to 7 days if they were given granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)- mobilized PBPC. This was further reduced to 2 or 3 days of thrombocytopenia in recipients of G-CSF- or PEG-MGDF-mobilized PBPC. Despite our observation that PEG-rHuMGDF is a relatively modest stimulator of the mobilization of myeloid progenitors to the blood, MGDF-mobilized PBPC do effect accelerated recovery of platelets after transplantation. However, the most effective use of PEG-rHuMGDF is when it is given during the recovery phase after PBPC transplantation to hematopoietically ablated mice. Posttransplant treatment with PEG- rHuMGDF reduces thrombocytopenia to a single day or less, in recipients of most types of PBPC. Mice that were treated during the first 2 weeks after PBPC transplant with PEG-rHuMGDF had 1 thrombocytopenic day compared to 9 days in carrier-treated recipients of unmobilized PBPC and 2 to 3 days in carrier-treated recipients of the optimally mobilized PBPC from G-CSF or G-CSF/PEG-rHuMGDF treated donors. In groups where PEG-rHuMGDF was included in the mobilization protocol and used to treat recipients as well thrombocytopenia was effectively eliminated. These data show that PEG-rHuMGDF is a highly effective agent in eliminating the thrombocytopenia associated with PBPC transplantation.
Bone marrow collected 14 days after in vivo administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and stem cell factor to mice has 10-fold more repopulating ability than untreated bone marrow
Authors: Bodine DM , Seidel NE , Orlic D
Published: October 2019

We have examined the repopulating ability of bone marrow and peripheral blood cells collected immediately and at intervals after treatment of donor mice with the combination of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF). Using a competitive repopulation assay we showed that the repopulating ability of peripheral blood cells was highest immediately after cytokine treatment and declined to normal levels within 6 weeks of the termination of treatment with G-CSF and SCF. In contrast the repopulating ability of bone marrow cells was low immediately after cytokine treatment and increased to levels that were 10-fold or more greater than marrow from untreated mice by 14 days after termination of treatment with G-CSF and SCF. This high level of repopulating activity declined to normal levels by 6 weeks after termination of treatment with G-CSF and SCF. The high level of repopulating ability was confirmed by injecting cells from G- CSF- and SCF-treated donors into unconditioned recipients. Peripheral blood cells collected immediately after treatment with G-CSF and SCF engrafted into unconditioned mice sevenfold better than an equivalent number of bone marrow cells from untreated mice. Likewise, bone marrow cells collected 14 days after treatment of the donor animal with G-CSF and SCF engrafted at 10-fold higher levels than an equivalent number of bone marrow cells from untreated mice. We conclude that the treatment of donor mice with G-CSF and SCF causes a transient increase in the repopulating ability of peripheral blood and later of bone marrow. These observations may have applications to clinical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Crkl is constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in platelets from chronic myelogenous leukemia patients and inducibly phosphorylated in normal platelets stimulated by thrombopoietin
Authors: Oda A , Miyakawa Y , Druker BJ , Ishida A , Ozaki K , Ohashi H , Wakui M , Handa M , Watanabe K , Okamoto S , Ikeda Y
Published: October 2019

Platelet functions such as aggregation and clot retraction are often abnormal in chronic mylogenous leukemia (CML) patients. However, the molecular mechanisms of these altered functions are unknown. As expression of the p210bcr-abl oncogene product, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase, is known to have an essential role in the pathogenesis of CML and tyrosine phosphorylation is intimately involved in various aspects of platelet activation, we examined the pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets from 15 CML patients by immunoblotting with a monoclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibody (4G10). Before and after stimulation with thrombin, the only consistent difference between normal and CML platelets was the presence of a tyrosine phosphorylated protein with a relative molecular weight of 39 kD. This tyrosine phosphorylated protein was identified as crid, an SH2, SH3 containing adapter protein. Thus, as previously demonstrated for neutrophils from CML patients, tyrosine phosphorylation of p39crkl persists in mature platelets. No tyrosine phosphorylation of crid was detected following stimulation with thrombin in normal platelets. However, crkl became incorporated into the Triton X-100 insoluble residue following thrombin stimulation in a manner dependent on platelet aggregation. Further, we found that crkl is an endogenous substrate for calpain, a protease that may be involved in postaggregation signaling processes. This suggests that crkl may be involved in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton during normal platelet aggregation and its tyrosine phosphorylation in CML platelets may contribute to the abnormal platelet function in CML patients. Finally, we found that thrombopoietin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of crk1 in normal platelets and FDCP cells genetically engineered to express human c-Mpl. This suggests that crk1 can be phosphorylated by a kinase other than p210bcr-abl and that crk1 may have a role in signaling by thrombopoietin.
Neutrophils from patients after burn injury express a deficiency of the oxidase components p47-phox and p67-phox
Authors: Rosenthal J , Thurman GW , Cusack N , Peterson VM , Malech HL , Ambruso DR
Published: October 2019

Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients after thermal injury. This predisposition to infections is related, in part, to abnormal polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function and a diminished respiratory burst. To evaluate the biochemical basis for the defective respiratory burst after major burns, the status of the oxidase enzyme system and its components was investigated. PMNs were isolated from 24 patients with 12% to 62% burns. Oxidase activity of intact PMNs, measured as superoxide anion (O2-) generation or oxygen consumption, was decreased in burn compared with healthy controls. Subcellular fractions from patient PMNs generated less O2- in the sodium dodecyl sulfate cell-free system, and this was related to a diminished contribution by cytosol but not by plasma membrane. Subsequently, cytosol was separated with CM-Sepharose, yielding two fractions; one contained the p47-phox and p67-phox (47/67 mix) and the other contained the remaining cytosolic components (run through [RT]). Although the contribution to oxidase activity made by RT from patient cytosol was similar to that of control, the activity of p47/67 mix from PMNs of burn patients was deficient. Quantitative assays using an immunoautoradiographic technique showed a consistent, but significant decrease in both p47-phox and p67-phox. The addition of purified or human recombinant p47-phox but not p67-phox corrected the diminished oxidase activity of cytosol from burn patients. Thus, decreased respiratory burst activity found in PMNs from individuals with thermal injury was associated with a specific, quantitative deficiency of p47- phox.
In vivo search for butyrate responsive sequences using transgenic mice carrying A gamma gene promoter mutants
Authors: Pace BS , Li Q , Stamatoyannopoulos G
Published: October 2019

We describe an in vivo approach, in transgenic mice, aimed to identify promoter elements responsible for the induction of gamma globin expression by butyrate. Transgenic lines carrying human A gamma gene promoter truncations at position -141, -201, -382, and -730 A gamma were treated with alpha amino butyric acid (alpha ABA), and effects on gamma globin expression were analyzed at the messenger RNA level. No induction of gamma gene expression was observed in animals carrying promoters truncated at positions -141, -201, or -382 A gamma, suggesting either that butyrate response elements (BRE) are not located in the proximal gamma gene promoter or, if they were, they require the cooperation of upstream sequences for gamma gene induction. Two animals from one line carrying the -730 A gamma truncation responded to alpha ABA treatment with significant increases in gamma gene expression, indicating that a BRE is located between position -382 and -730 region of the A gamma gene promoter. Because the maximum induction by alpha ABA is observed in transgenic mice carrying a A gamma gene promoter extending to nucleotide -1350, it is likely that another butyrate responsive element is located between -730 and -1350 of the A gamma gene promoter. These results indicate that the transgenic mouse model can be used for identification of DNA regions that contain cis elements involved in gamma globin gene inducibility.
Frequent somatic deletion of the 13q12.3 locus encompassing BRCA2 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Garcia-Marco JA , Caldas C , Price CM , Wiedemann LM , Ashworth A , Catovsky D
Published: October 2019

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has consistent 13q chromosomal abnormalities detected by conventional cytogenetics. Using interphase cytogenetics we show deletion of a 1-megabase 13q12.3 locus, encompassing the BRCA2 gene, in 80% of 35 CLL cases studied. Homozygous deletion of BRCA2, located within the minimal deletion consensus, was detected in a significant population of cells in 60% of the cases. Deletion of the previously described 13q14 locus (analyzed with RB1 and D13S25 probes) was seen in 63% of the cases. Homozygous deletion of RB1 was seen in one case. Seven of the cases (32%) with D13S25 deletion had a population of cells with homozygous deletion. Deletions at the 13q12 and 13q14 loci result from distinct events because they were not contiguous. These data provide evidence for the existence of a new tumor suppressor locus in B-cell CLL located at 13q12.3. BRCA2, located within the minimal deletion consensus, is a candidate for the gene whose somatic inactivation could play a role in the initiation and or progression of B-cell CLL.
Upregulated expression of BCL-2 in multiple myeloma cells induced by exposure to doxorubicin, etoposide, and hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Tu Y , Xu FH , Liu J , Vescio R , Berenson J , Fady C , Lichtenstein A
Published: October 2019

Enhanced expression of the antiapoptotic gene BCL-2 may participate in chemoresistance. To ascertain if multiple myeloma cells surviving exposure to chemotherapy alter their BCL-2 expression, we treated the myeloma cell lines 8226, IM-9, and U266 as well as a primary myeloma cell culture with various injurious agents. Doxorubicin, etoposide, and hydrogen peroxide consistently induced a concentration- and time- dependent upregulation of BCL-2 expression in all myeloma target cell types assayed by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. In contrast, serum starvation, dexamethasone, and anti-fas antibodies had no effect on expression. Enhanced expression of BCL-2 was relatively selective as treatments had no effect on expression of Ig light chains, BCL-X, or actin. An reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay showed increased levels of BCL-2 RNA in 8226 cells as early as 4 hours after treatment with doxorubicin at a time when cell recoveries were not decreased. Thus, doxorubicin stimulates BCL-2 expression in individual 8226 cells rather than simply allowing a selected survival of high BCL- 2-expressing cells in culture. Doxorubicin-treated 8226 cells with upregulated BCL-2 expression were relatively resistant to a second exposure of doxorubicin. In addition, BCL-2-transfected IM-9 cells, with enhanced expression of BCL-2 which was comparable to that achieved by initial exposure to doxorubicin, were resistant to doxorubicin and etoposide cytotoxicity. These data suggest that exposure to chemotherapeutic agents may enhance BCL-2 expression in surviving myeloma cells and contribute to acquired chemoresistance.
Transfer of the Interleukin-2 Gene Into Human Cancer Cells Induces Specific Antitumor Recognition and Restores the Expression of CD3/T-Cell Receptor Associated Signal Transduction Molecules
Authors: Guarini Anna , Riera Ludovica , Cignetti Alessandro , Montacchini Laura , Massaia Massimo , Foa Robert
Published: October 2019

Normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cocultured with a human lung cancer cell line (LC89) transduced with the interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-7, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) genes to evaluate the capacity of the engineered cells to: allow survival of CD3+ and CD56+ cells, generate cytotoxic effectors with HLA class I restricted and unrestricted antitumor activity, and interfere in the molecular organization of the CD3/T-cell receptor associated signal transduction machinery. When PBMC were cultured up to 3 weeks with IL-2 releasing LC89 cells (LC89/IL-2), the number of viable CD3+ and CD56+ lymphocytes was much greater than in cultures with parental cells or with LC89 cells transduced with the other cytokine genes. After 1 week of coculture, a variable degree of restricted and unrestricted killing directed against different targets was observed. When the cultures were prolonged up to 3 weeks, LC89/IL-2 cells induced a marked increase in specific cytotoxic activity, which was coupled to a further enhancement of unrestricted lytic function. In the presence of LC89/IL-7 cells the degree of specific lysis remained unchanged, whereas unrestricted effectors were markedly decreased. No cytotoxic activity could be induced by LC89/GM-CSF and LC89/TNF-α cells in the few lymphocytes surviving after 3 weeks of culture. Coculture of parental LC89 cells with PBMC was consistently associated with a downmodulation in the expression of the CD3 ζ chain, as well as of the tyrosine kinases p56lck and ZAP-70. On the contrary, LC89/IL-2 cells, and not LC89 cells transduced with the IL-7, GM-CSF, or TNF-α gene, were capable of reverting the immunosuppressive effect exerted by the tumor cells. This protective effect could be maintained in cultures prolonged up to 4 weeks. When the same cultures were set up in Transwell, ie, with a membrane separation between cancer cells and PBMC, the expression of the CD3 ζ chain and of the p56lck and ZAP-70 tyrosine kinases remained unchanged under all culture conditions, indicating that the downmodulation of T-cell signal transduction molecules requires a direct cell to cell contact. These results show that transfer of the IL-2 gene into the DNA of human cancer cells promotes both restricted and unrestricted antitumor activity, and is capable of restoring and maintaining the expression of molecules involved in the process of T-cell mediated tumor cell recognition, thus underlining the potential role of the IL-2 gene in the design of vaccination protocols with cytokine gene transduced cancer cells.
Myeloma VL and VH Gene Sequences Reveal a Complementary Imprint of Antigen Selection in Tumor Cells
Authors: Sahota Surinder S. , Leo Regine , Hamblin Terry J. , Stevenson Freda K.
Published: October 2019

In multiple myeloma, sequence studies of VH genes used to encode clonal Ig in neoplastic plasma cells have shown a common pattern of extensive somatic hypermutation. A further consistent feature of these VH sequences is a complete lack of intraclonal variation. These findings indicate that the malignant cell arises at a mature, postfollicular stage of B-cell development. However, only a minority of cases have a distribution of somatic mutations in VH consistent with a prior role for antigen in selecting the B cell of origin. To complement these studies, and to take further the investigation of a role for antigen in the clonal history of myeloma, we have investigated tumor-derived VL sequences from bone marrows of 15 patients. All sequences (9Vκ and 6Vλ) were potentially functional and 5 of 15 had evidence for N-region additions. All had undergone extensive somatic hypermutation, and showed no intraclonal variation. In 4 of 15 cases, the distribution of mutations revealed a significant (P < .05) clustering of replacement mutations in the CDR sequences, indicating a role for VL in selection by antigen. Comparison with the VH sequences used by the same tumor cells showed that, if significant clustering was present, it was in either VH or VL, but not both. Altogether, 10 of 15 V-regions showed evidence for antigen selection, suggesting that the B cell of origin has behaved as a normal germinal center B cell. Deductions concerning a role for antigen selection may require both VH and VL sequences for validation.
Clinical and Prognostic Significance of Femoral Marrow Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Malignant Lymphoma
Authors: Tsunoda Saburo , Takagi Shojiro , Tanaka Osamu , Miura Yasusada
Published: October 2019

We evaluated 56 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma including 48 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 8 with Hodgkin's disease to determine the clinical and prognostic significance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the femoral marrow. MR images of the femoral marrow were obtained by the T1-weighted spin echo method and the short TI inversion recovery technique. Abnormal “positive” images were seen in 29 of the 56 patients (52%). All 17 patients with positive biopsy results showed abnormal images on their femoral marrow MRI. Three “positive” MRI patterns — scattered (72%), uniform (21%), and nodular (7%) — were observed. The overall survival of the patients with a positive MRI pattern was significantly poorer than that of patients with a normal pattern (P = .0129). Survival did not differ significantly according to MRI pattern. The 3-year survival rate in the patients with a normal MRI pattern was 89.9% and in the patients with a positive MRI pattern, it was 41.0%. This difference was statistically significant (P = .0279) when we evaluated only the patients with NHL. Patients with positive MRI patterns, but a normal bone marrow histology, showed a significantly shorter survival than those with a normal MRI pattern (P = .016). These results indicate that abnormal MR images of the femoral marrow are associated with a significantly poorer survival in patients with malignant lymphoma, regardless of histologic findings in the marrow.