Displacement of excitatory amino acid receptor ligands by acidic oligopeptides

A number ofD-glutamyl andL-aspartyl dipeptides, glutathione, -D-glutamylglycine and -D-glutamyltaurine, were tested for their efficacy to displace ligands specific for different subtypes of excitatory amino acid receptors from rat brain synaptic membranes. In general, theL enanthiomorphs of -glutamyl peptides were more potent displacers than -D-glutamylglycine and-taurine but the latter were more specific for the quisqualate type of receptors. -L-glutamyl-L-glutamate was the most effective dipeptide in displacing the binding of glutamate, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionate (AMPA) and 2-amino-5-phosphonoheptanoate (APH), whereas -L-glutamyl-L-aspartate was the most effective in the binding of kainate. Both oxidized and reduced glutathione were inhibitory, being most potent in the binding of AMPA. -L-Glutamylaminomethylsulphonate was most effective in the binding of APH. The most potent -L-glutamyl peptides (glutathione, -L-glutamyl-L-glutamate,-L-aspartate, and-glycine) may act as endogenous modulators of excitatory aminoacidergic neurotransmission.     

Efficient activation of human blood monocytes to a tumoricidal state by liposomes containing human recombinant gamma interferon

Summary Human recombinant gamma interferon (INF-) activated human peripheral blood monocytes to a cytotoxic state capable of lysing adherent tumorigenic cells without harming normal cells. The efficiency of INF- activation of monocytes is enhanced by encapsulating INF- within liposomes: The minimum effective dose (MED) of free INF- for monocyte activation was found to be 1–10 U/ml, per 10⁵ monocytes, whereas the minimum dose for INF- encapsulated in liposomes was less than 0.0025 U. Monocytes treated with liposome-encapsulated INF- retained their cytotoxic phenotype for much longer than do monocytes treated with free INF-. Since liposomes can be passively targeted to cells of the reticuloendothelial system following IV administration, these findings suggest that liposome-encapsulated INF- may have therapeutic potential that should be evaluated in vivo.     

T-cell receptor gene rearrangements and expression in normal human large granular lymphocytes (LGL) and their pathological expansions

The lineage to which normal large granular lymphocytes/natural killer (LGL/NK) cells belong is controversial; in fact they share some surface markers and functional activities with monocytes, but also with T lymphocytes. The relationship of LGL to the T cell lineage by analysis with the T cell receptor (T-rec) gene has been investigated. Pure preparations of human LGL and their CD11⁺ CD8^- and CD11^- CD8⁺ subsets had the T gene in its unrearranged germline configuration. Expression of T and T genes was not detectable. The organization of T gene, which is of particular importance because it occurs early in T cell ontogeny, was also found in its germline configuration.A rare type of lymphoproliferative disorder, termed T-LPD, is characterized by expansion of cells very similar to LGL for morphology, phenotype, and functional activity. Of 17 patients with T-LPD studied for T-rec rearrangement, 15 displayed rearrangement of T and T loci and were CD3+ (14/15 had monoclonal rearrangement), while 2 cases were in germline configuration and were CD3–. Similarly to very small subsets of CD3+ LGL recently described, most T-LPD cases are CD3+ and have T-rec genes rearranged. These data suggest that either a subset of LGL or a particular step of differentiation may be related to the T cell lineage; they also demonstrate that, in contrast to previous views, most TLPD are monoclonal, presumably neoplastic, lymphoproliferative disorders.Abbreviations LGL large granular lymphocytes - NK natural killer - T-rec T-cell receptor - TLPD T lymphoproliferative disease     

Antimetastatic effect of endogenous tumor necrosis factor induced by the treatment of recombinant interferon γ followed by an analogue (GLA-60) to synthetic lipid A subunit

Summary We have investigated the effect of endogenous production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induced by the combination of recombinant interferon (rIFN) as a primer followed by GLA-60 as a trigger (rIFN/GLA-60) on murine lung metastases caused by B16-BL6 melanoma. In order to examine the therapeutic effect of endogenous TNF on tumor metastasis, the ability of multiple administrations of rIFN/GLA-60 to induce TNF production was also tested. The multiple administrations of rIFN/GLA-60 at intervals of 2 days were effective for the induction of endogenous TNF in mice but continuous multiple administrations of them for 2–4 days were not. In tumor-bearing mice, the production of endogenous TNF by rIFN/GLA-60 was less than that of normal mice, but treatment 3 days after the surgical excision of primary tumors showed the endogenous TNF production to be similar to that in normal mice. In the experimental lung metastasis model, intravenous administration of rIFN followed by intravenous or intranasal administration of GLA-60 showed potent inhibition of lung metastases of B16-BL6 melanoma, whereas the reverse sequence of administration (GLA-60/rIFN) or administration of a mixture of rIFN and GLA-60, which cannot induce the production of TNF, caused no inhibition of lung metastases. These results indicated that the regression of tumor metastases by rIFN/GLA-60 was mediated by the production of endogenous TNF in addition to the direct effects of both immunostimulants. Furthermore, the administration of rIFN and GLA-60 significantly inhibited the tumor metastases in spontaneous lung metastasis model. These results may provide a promising approach for the treatment of cancer metastasis as a result of its ability to induce endogenous TNF.     

Comparative study of the antitumor effect of two types of murine recombinant interferons, (β) and (γ), against B16-F10 melanoma

Summary A comparative study of the antitumor effect of murine recombinant interferon() Mu-rIFN() and murine recombinant interferon() Mu-rIFN() on B16-F10 melanoma was conducted. Administration of Mu-rIFN() i.p. into C57BL/6 mice on days 1 to 7 produced a higher suppressive effect than Mu-rIFN() both on the growth of s.c. implanted tumor and on the formation of artificial pulmonary metastasis. Pharmacokinetic study of Mu-rIFN() demonstrated that high plasma levels were retained for a long time. In clonogenic assay, Mu-rIFN() at 1000 units/ml showed about 80% inhibition of colonies of B16-F10 melanoma. However, Mu-rIFN() hardly inhibited the colonies, even at 1000 units/ml. Augmentation of natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity was much greater with Mu-rIFN() than Mu-rIFN(), whereas Mu-rIFN() enhanced the cytotoxicity of peritoneal macrophages more strongly than Mu-rIFN(). Injection of Mu-rIFN() i.p. 1 day before tumor challenge also inhibited the formation of pulmonary metastasis of B16-F10 melanoma. However, pretreatment of mice with carrageenan significantly suppressed the inhibitory effect of Mu-rIFN(). From these results, it is suggested that the inhibitory effect of Mu-rIFN() on the tumor growth and metastases of B16-F10 melanoma is mediated partly by direct antitumor effect and partly by the activation of macrophages, and that the augmentation of NK activity contributes mainly to the antitumor effect of Mu-rIFN().     

Phylogenetic relationship of zeins and coixins as determined by immunological cross-reactivity and Southern blot analysis

Zeins from Zea mays L cv. Maya and coixins from Coix lacryma-jobi L. cv. Adlay were fractionated to obtain -, -, and -zein and -, -, and -coixin. The -coixins were composed of 4 polypeptide classes of 27 kDa (C1), 25 kDa (C2), 17 kDa (C4) and 15 kDa (C5) with solubility properties very similar to those of the 22 kDa and 19 kDa -zeins. Like the -zeins, the C1 and C2 -coixins corresponded to 80% of total Coix prolamins. The fraction corresponding to -coixin contained only one protein band of 22 kDa (C3). This coixin fraction has solubility properties similar to those of -zein and represents 15% of the total coixin. The -zein fraction was composed of a major 17 kDa protein band, while the -coixin fraction consisted of a mixture of - and -coixins.Polyclonal antibodies raised against C1 recognized C1 and C2 and cross-reacted strongly with the 22 kDa -zein, as did C4 and C5 antisera. The antiserum against -coixin showed strong cross-reaction with -zein. The homology between coixins and zeins was further investigated by using Southern hybridization analyses. The genomic DNA of maize and Coix were digested with several restriction enzymes and probed with cDNA clones representing 19 and 22 kDa -zeins as well as the 28 and 16 kDa -zeins. The Coix genome showed complex cross-hybridization sequences with the 22 kDa -zein cDNA, while no cross-hybridization was observed with the 19 kDa cDNA clone. The cDNA clone representing the 28 kDa -zein cross-hybridized with only one band of Coix genomic DNA, in contrast to the three bands observed in maize. This same Coix sequence also cross-hybridized with the cDNA clone representing the 16 kDa -zein. The relevance of these findings are discussed in the context of the origin of zein and coixin genes.     

Modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the brain by dipeptides

The effects of endogenous and synthetic peptides containing GABA or its analogues on the GABA/benzodiazepine/chloride ionophore, complex, GABA_B receptor, Cl fluxes, GABA release and GABA uptake were studied using synaptic membranes, crude synaptoneurosomal preparations and slices prepared from the rat and mouse brain. The sodium-independent binding of GABA was strongly inhibited by GABA-histidine, followed by -glutamyl-homotaurine, GABA-glycine and -glutamyl-GABA. The binding of diazepam was slightly enhanced by the same peptides. The peptides alone had no effect on the chloride fluxes, but GABA-histidine, -glutamyl-GABA and GABA-glycine enhanced while -glutamyl-homotaurine and GABA-taurine inhibited GABA-stimulated chloride uptake. GABA-histidine was the most effective displacer of baclofen binding, but -glutamyl-homotaurine was entirely ineffective. The uptake of GABA was markedly inhibited in synaptosomal preparations by GABA-histidine, while all other peptides were less effective. -Glutamyl-taurine attenuated but -glutamyl-homotaurine and GABA-glycine enhanced the potassium-stimulated release of GABA. The present actions of GABA-histidine in vitro may be of significance for GABAergic neurotransmission in vivo.     

ATP synthesis associated with the conversion of hexachlorocyclohexane related compounds

Clostridium rectum strain S-17 converts -1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) related compounds to chlorobenzenes. The metabolites from -1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexene and -1,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexene are identified as 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and 1,4-dichlorobenzene, respectively. ATP synthesis, converting these chlorinated compounds, is observed in the cell suspension of C. rectum as indicated by luciferase-luciferin reaction and phosphorylation of ³²P-labeled phosphate. These observation lead to the conclusion that HCH and related compounds serve as artificial electron acceptors of the Stickland reaction, and therefore, the reductive dechlorination is associated with ATP synthesis.Abbreviations HCH -1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane - HCCH -1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexene - PCCH -1,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexene - TCCH -3,4,5,6-tetrachlorocyclohexene - 1,2,4-TCB 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene - 1,4-DCB 1,4-dichlorobenzene - MCB monochlorobenzene - DTT 1,4-dithiothreitol - IAA monoiodoacetic acid     

Complete response of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to low-dose interferon-γ treatment

The course of metastatic renal cell carcinoma may be positively influenced by immunotherapeutic agents. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma showing a complete response to once-weekly low-dose s. c. interferon- (INF) treatment in multiple metastatic sites (lung, chest wall, abdomen, vertebral body), but concomitantly developing a solitary brain metastasis. High initial interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels returned to normal during IFN treatment suggesting that IFN may have interrupted an autocrine IL-6/IL-6-receptor loop of the tumor cells. The duration of complete remission in the extracerebral sites is now 46+ months. IFN may be less active beyond the blood/brain barrier.     

Human lymphokine preparations which generate tumoricidal properties of human monocytes in vitro may be distinct from gamma interferon

Summary The purpose of these studies was to determine whether stimulated human lymphocytes produce lymphokines distinct from IFN, that can activate human blood monocytes to lyse tumor cells. We undertook this investigation because of the controversy concerning whether MAF and IFN are the same molecule. Crude lymphokine preparations prepared from normal human mononuclear cells incubated with Con A and rich in MAF activity also contained 1000 U/ml IFN as measured by the virus neutralization assay. However, the induction of tumoridical activity in monocytes by the lymphokine preparation could be dissociated from the IFN activity, based on the following data: (1) Heat treatment (100 °C for 2 min) removed the antiviral activity of the lymphokine yet did not diminish its MAF-like activity when measured in a 72 h cytotoxicity assay against ¹²⁵I IUdR-labeled human A375 melanoma cells. (2) Likewise, treatment of this lymphokine preparation with a twofold excess of anti-IFN antibody neutralized antiviral activity but once again had no effect on its ability to activate monocyte tumoricidal function. In contrast, both heat treatment and anti-IFN antibody abolished monocyte activation by equivalent units of human recombinant IFN. Taken together, these data suggest that there is a molecule(s) distinct from IFN which can activate human monocytes for tumoricidal function. Furthermore, this dissociation of MAF and IFN activity was dependent on the use of a long-term (72 h) assay, since activation of tumoricidal activity in an 18–24 h assay appeared to be attributable solely to IFN.     

The protein sequence homology of gamma-crystallins among major vertebrate classes and their DNA sequence homology to heat-shock protein genes

A systematic characterization of lens crystallins from five major classes of vertebrates was carried out by exclusion gel filtration, cation-exchange chromatography and N-terminal sequence determination. All crystallin fractions except that of -crystallin were found to be N-terminally blocked. -Crystallin is present in major classes of vertebrates except the bird, showing none, or decreased amounts, of this protein in chicken and duck lenses, respectively. N-Terminal sequence analysis of the purified -crystallin polypeptides showed extensive homology between different classes of vertebrates, supporting the close relatedness of this family of crystallin even from the evolutionarily distant species. Comparison of nucleotide sequences and their predicted amino acid sequences between -crystallins of carp and rat lenses and heat-shock proteins demonstrated partial sequence homology of the encoded polypeptides and striking homology at the gene level. The unexpected strong homology of complementary DNA (cDNA) lies in the regions coding for 40 N-terminal residues of carp -II, rat 2-1, and the middle segments of 23,000- and 70,000-M _r heat-shock proteins. The optimal alignment of DNA sequences along these two segments shows about 50% homology. The percentage of protein sequence identity for the corresponding aligned segments is only 20%. The weak sequence homology at the protein level is also found between the invertebrate squid crystallin and rat -crystallin polypeptides. These results pointed to the possibility of unifying three major classes of vertebrate crystallins into one // superfamily and corroborated the previous supposition that the existing crystallins in the animal kingdom are probably mutually interrelated, sharing a common ancestry.     

Chimeric B72.3 mouse/human (IgG1) antibody directs the lysis of tumor cells by lymphokine-activated killer cells

Summary Chimeric mouse/human B72.3 (cB72.3) antibodies having a human IgG1 (1) or IgG4 (4) constant region were compared to the native murine IgG1 B72.3 (nB72.3) monoclonal antibody (mAb) for their ability to participate with human effector cells in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Because the TAG-72 antigen recognized by B72.3 is poorly expressed on tissuecultured tumor cell lines, the xenografted OVCAR-3 human ovarian carcinoma ascites was used as a cytotoxicity target. The lytic activity of the cB72.3(1) mAb with peripheral blood lymphocytes was 1.5- to 50-fold greater than that of the nB72.3 mAb and usually the cB72.3(4) mAb. However, lymphocytes from some donors had similar ADCC activity with either the cB72.3(1) or cB72.3(4) mAb. The cB72.3(1) and the murine anti-colon carcinoma CO17-1A mAb had comparable activity in mediating ADCC against the OVCAR-3 tumor. Exposure of lymphoid cells to interleukin-2 (IL-2) (100–500 U/ml) for 24 h to generate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells augmented ADCC mediated by the cB72.3(1) mAb 2- to 22-fold. By contrast, LAK cells from most donors expressed weak non-specific cytotoxicity against OVCAR-3 ascites tumor cells. The cB72.3(1), and to a lesser extent, the cB72.3(4) chimera also participated with monocytes in mediating ADCC, but the antibody-dependent lytic potency of monocytic effectors was much weaker than that of IL-2-activated lymphoid cells. These studies show that the cB72.3(1) mAb has appreciable ADCC-mediating properties, suggesting a potential role for its incorporation into treatment strategies utilizing adoptive killer cell and/or lymphokine therapy. Offprint requests to: J. Schlom, to whom reprint requests should be sent at 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, Room 8B07, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA     

The frequency of the γ chain variant AγT in different populations,and its use in evaluating γ gene expression in association with thalassemia

Summary The occurrence of the ^AT chain (i.e. ^A75 Ile Thr) in different populations was evaluated through a study of 4250 cord blood samples and blood samples from more than 350 SS¹ patients. High frequencies were observed in Italy, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Holland, but also in Japan, Vietnam, and India. The chain is (nearly) absent in the Black population of Ghana and Kenya, and low frequencies were observed in China and Australian aborigines. Only a few adult SS patients (18 out of 357) were ^AT heterozygotes. The chromosomes with the ^AT globin gene were mapped through an evaluation of the presence of 10 different restriction sites. The ^AT chromosomes from different populations were closely related and had the same subhaplotypes of [--++-+] (Hinc II 5 to ; Xmn I 5 to ^G; Hind III in ^G and ^A; Hinc II in and 3 to ), quite different from the subhaplotypes seen for ^AT negative chromosomes.² This suggests a common ancestor which may have originated in Southern Europe. An evaluation of the chain production by both chromosomes in SS patients and -thalassemia heterozygotes was possible for subjects with an ^AT heterozygosity. It was concluded that in -thalassemia trait, the chain synthesis is directed for about two-thirds by the thalassemic chromosome and for about onethird by the normal chromosome; the contribution by the normal chromosome decreases with a decrease in total chain production.This is contribution #0890 of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA     

Retroviral transduction of interferon-γ cDNA into a nonimmunogenic murinefibrosarcoma: generation of T cells in draining lymph nodes capable of treating established parental metastatic tumor

Gene modification of tumor cells with the cDNA for interferon (IFN) has been shown to increase the immunogenicity of some tumor cells. In order to explore further the possible therapeutic relevance of these previous findings, two clones of the nonimmunogenic MCA-102 fibrosarcoma of C57BL/6 origin were retrovirally transduced with the cDNA encoding murine IFN: 102.4JK (4JK), a clone with relatively high major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression, and 102.24JK (24JK), a clone with low expression of surface MHC class I molecules. Retroviral transduction of tumor cells with the cDNA encoding for IFN resulted in a substantial up-regulation of MHC class I surface expression in the 24JK clone but little change of class I in the 4JK clone. In an attempt to generate antitumor lymphocytes, these gene-modified cells were inoculated into mouse footpads and draining lymph nodes (DLN) were removed, dispersed, and cultured in vitro for 10 days with irradiated tumor cells and interleukin-2. DLN from mice bearing either unmodified tumor or tumor transduced with cDNA encoding neomycin resistance (Neo ^R) or IFN, were used to treat recipients harboring 3-day pulmonary metastases induced by the parental, unmodified tumor. Treatment with DLN cells obtained following the injection of 24JK tumor cells modified with the gene for IFN significantly reduced the number of pulmonary metastases in four separate experiments, compared to groups treated by DLN cells generated from inoculation of either the unmodified, parental 24JK clone or the same clone transduced with theNeo ^R gene only. In contrast, DLN cells induced either by IFN-transduced 4JK (high expression of MHC class I) or an unmodified 4JK tumor (moderate expression of MHC class I) had significant but equal therapeutic efficacy. Although the in vitro growth rate of tumor cell lines was unaffected by the insertion of the mouse IFN cDNA, their in vivo (s.c.) growth rates were significantly slower than those of the nontransduced tumors. Thus, after retroviral transduction of the murine IFN cDNA into a nonimmunogenic tumor with a very low level of surface expression of MHC class I, modified tumor cells could elicit therapeutic T cells from DLN capable of successfully treating established pulmonary metastases upon adoptive transfer. This strategy significantly confirms previous observations on the potential therapeutic effects of gene modification of tumor cells with IFN and extends the realm of therapeutic possibilities to include the use of DLN cells for the development of T-cell based immunotherapies against nonimmunogenic human tumors.     

Extent and high frequency of a short conversion between the human Aγ and Gγ fetal globin genes

Summary Southern blotting and DNA sequencing after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification provide evidence for the frequent occurrence (in 7 out of 24 chromosomes) of a short conversion GA in the 3 end of the human fetal A globin gene. This short conversion is characterized by the presence, 3 nucleotides downstream from the termination codon of the A gene, of the TCAC sequence that is normally present at the equivalent position at the 3 end of the G gene; it is therefore identical to a conversion already described. Interestingly, we have found that this conversion is associated with the presence of theHindIII polymorphic restriction site in the A IVS2, occuppying an equivalent position in both the G and A genes. Our observations strengthen the hypothesis that the presence of the HindIII polymorphic restriction site in A IVS2 and the presence of the sequence TCAC at the 3 end of the A gene might be the result of a single conversion event.     

Role of βγ-Dimers of GTP-Binding Proteins in Processes of Hormonal Signal Transduction

This review summarizes and analyzes data on structural and functional peculiarities of - and -subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins and their participation in -dimer in processes of hormonal signal transduction to the cell. The molecular mechanisms are discussed, which are responsible for formation of the -dimer complex and its interaction with the wide spectrum of signal and structural proteins, such as G protein -subunit, serpentine type receptors, kinases of G protein-coupled receptors, adenylyl cyclase, phospholipase C2, phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase, Raf-kinase, potassium and calcium channels, microtubular and RGS-proteins. The characteristics of - and -subunits are given for living organisms of different phylogenetic levels (lower eukaryotes, fungi, plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates). It is concluded that the -dimer is the most important regulatory link in various signal systems to carry out switch from one signal cascade to another and thereby to determine the final cellular response to the signal impulse.     

Interferons up-regulate with different potency HLA class I antigen expression in M14 human melanoma cell line. Possible interaction with glucocorticoid hormones

The relative potency of interferon (IFN), interferon (IFN), and interferon (IFN) in inducing the expression of HLA class I antigens, as well as their capacity to counteract the inhibition induced by glucocorticoid hormones on HLA class I antigen expression, were analysed in the human melanoma cell line M14, both at membrane and at mRNA level. The data obtained indicate that (a) IFN enhance with different potency (IFN>IFN>IFN) the expression of HLA class I antigens in M14 cells, (b) prednisone inhibits HLA class I antigen expresion, (c) glucocorticoid hormones, when associated with IFN or IFN, inhibit the HLA class I enhancement induced by IFN alone, and ffinally, (c) the association between 1 M prednisone or 1 M deflazacort and IFN seems to potentiate the enhancing capacity of IFN on the expression of HLA class I molecules at the mRNA level. These findings, if confirmed, might indicate that IFN and glucocorticoid hormones are not mutually exclusive in the management of human melanoma.