Regulation of the expression of lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in human lymphocytes

Mitogen activation of human peripheral lymphocytes leads to a switch in the isozymes of LDH; resting cells contain low activities of only the B₄ and B₃A forms, whereas activated cells contain high activities of the A₄ and A₃B forms. B₄ LDH is not altered in activated cells. In this study we show that the appearance of the A subunits occurs concomitantly with a several fold increase in the steady state levels of LDH-A mRNA. Responses in LDH-A mRNA are observed within 12 hrs of activation, and are, thus, associated with the G0/G1 transition or with early G1 (Marjanovicet al. Exp. Cell Res. (1991) 193: 425–431). Maximal expression of LDH-A mRNA requires both phorbol ester and concanavalin A, implying a complex regulatory pathway involving cascade systems activated through both the antigen receptor (TR) and protein kinase C.     

Annexin V expression in apoptotic peripheral blood lymphocytes: An electron microscopic evaluation

Loss of plasma membrane asymmetry, resulting in the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), is considered to be an early event in apoptosis. It is generally accepted to precede nuclear condensation, independent of the apoptosis inductive agent.In the present study we focus on 2 apoptotic parameters: PS exposure in comparison with morphological alterations. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were irradiated in vitro (5 Gy Co--rays) or incubated with staurosporine (1 M, 6 hours). PS exposure was measured flow cytometrically using FITC-labelled annexin V, combined with PI. Morphological alterations were evaluated by electron microscopy (EM). Results are based on 3 independent experiments.For the irradiated lymphocytes the amount of viable cells (annexin V-/PI-) as scored by flow cytometry was comparable or slightly lower than the number of viable cells as scored by EM (75% compared to 79%). However, for the staurosporine treated lymphocytes only about 24% of the cells were designated as viable by EM, whereas by flow cytometry about 65% of the cells were annexin V-/PI-. Examination by EM showed about 40% cells with a morphology distinct from that of a normal viable cell, but without the clear-cut characteristics of apoptotic cells. Time studies revealed that these cells went into apoptosis after prolonged incubation times up to 18 hours.Application of biotinilated annexin V for EM detection with gold-conjugated anti-biotin, showed that only clear-cut apoptotic, apoptotic necrotic and oncotic cells showed the gold-label at their membranes. Cells that could be detected under the EM as non-viable but without the clear-cut characteristics of apoptotic cells, were not labelled. Data indicate that, dependent on the apoptosis inductive mechanism, morphological alterations can occur before PS exposure.     

Efficient expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from solid tumors by stimulation with combined CD3 and CD28 monoclonal antibodies

Combined CD3 and CD28 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) may initiate efficient activation and expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). In this study we compared phenotypical and functional characteristics of TIL from a group of 17 solid human tumors, stimulated either by high-dose recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2, 1000 IU/ml) or by a combination of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies in the presence of low-dose rIL-2 (10 IU/ml). Compared to activation with high-dose rIL-2, stimulation of TIL with CD3/CD28 mAb induced significantly stronger proliferation and yielded higher levels of cell recovery on day 14. Following the CD3/CD28 protocol, expansion of an almost pure population of CD3⁺ cells was obtained. Whereas CD4⁺ cells dominated in the first week of culturing, within 4 weeks the CD8⁺ population increased to over 90%. The specific capacity to kill autologous tumor cells was not increased as compared to the high-dose rIL-2 protocol, but all cultures showed high cytotoxic T cell activity as measured in a CD3-mAb-mediated redirected kill assay. These studies show that combined CD3 and CD28 mAb are superior to rIL-2 with respect to the initiation of expansion of CD8⁺ cytolytic TIL from solid tumors. Stimulation with specific tumor antigens at a later stage of culturing may further augment the expansion of tumor-specific cytolytic T cells.     

Caspase-independent apoptotic pathways in T lymphocytes: a minireview

Cell death by apoptosis is involved in the maintenance of T cell receptor diversity, self tolerance, and T-cell number homeostasis. Until recently, apoptosis was thought to require caspase activation. Evidence is now accumulating that a caspase-independent pathway exists, shown by in vitro experiments with broad-range caspase inhibitors. Mature T lymphocytes readily undergo caspase-independent apoptosis in vitro, and recent data suggest that this type of apoptosis may be involved in the negative selection of thymocytes. Mitochondria likely release death triggers specific for both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptotic pathways (cytochrome c and AIF respectively) in response to apoptotic stimuli. A caspase-independent pathway is triggered first in activated T lymphocytes subjected to apoptotic stimuli that do not rely on receptors with death domains. In this pathway, the early commitment phase to apoptosis involves cell shrinkage, peripheral DNA condensation and the translocation of mitochondrial AIF to the cytosol and nucleus. This process is reversible until mitochondrial cytochrome c is released and m dissipated. Only at this stage are caspases activated.     

The role of apoptosis in the development and function of T lymphocytes

Apoptosis plays an essential role in T cell biology. Thymocytes expressing nonfunctional or autoreactive TCRs are eliminated by apoptosis during development. Apoptosis also leads to the deletion of expanded effector T cells during immune responses. The dysregulation of apoptosis in the immune system results in autoimmunity, tumorogenesis and immunodeficiency. Two major pathways lead to apoptosis： the intrinsic cell death pathway controlled by Bcl-2 family members and the extrinsic cell death pathway controlled by death receptor signaling. These two pathways work together to regulate T lymphocyte development and function.     

Effects of cell density and phorbol esters on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptors

Previously, it has been shown that the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) by a wide range of cells decreases as cell density increases. In this report, we demonstrate that KB cells treated chronically with phorbol esters continue to exhibit decreases in EGF receptor binding as cell density increases. This finding suggests that protein kinase-C may not be essential for density-induced down regulation of EGF receptors, since phorbol esters are known to down regulate protein kinase-C. We also report that short-term and long-term effects of phorbol esters on the binding of EGF are affected by density. As shown previously for several cell lines, the phorbol ester 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate transiently reduces EGF binding. We now show that the magnitude of this reduction diminishes as cell density increases. In addition, we determined that long-term treatment of KB cells with phorbol ester increases EGF binding. Again, this effect is diminished at high cell densities. Finally, we report that the increases in EGF binding induced by long-term treatment with phorbol esters are due to increases in the number of EGF receptors.Abbreviations EGF epidermal growth factor - FGF fibroblast growth factor - PBS phosphate buffered saline - PDBu 4-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate - PDGF platelet-derived growth factor - PK-C protein kinase-C - TGF- transforming growth factor- - TPA 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate     

Induction of apoptosis in proliferating lymphocytes by tricyclic antidepressants

We have previously found that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) induce apoptosis in quiescent human lymphocytes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if TCAs induce apoptosis in proliferating human lymphocytes and in established blastoid lymphocytes also. The development of conA-induced lymphoblast populations was followed by measuring the CD25 membrane expression. Three TCA compounds were run with the following concentrations: imipramine (10, 20, 30, 40, 60 M), clomipramine (1, 10, 20, 30, 40 M) and citalopram (40, 60, 80, 100, 180 M). They all induced a dose-dependent apoptosis both in continuously transformed, as well as in established lymphoblasts. Preincubation of the TCA up to 48 h did not significantly increase induction of apoptosis. The three drugs tested were found to be potent inducers of apoptosis in proliferating lymphocytes. Furthermore, we found that the apoptotic populations in proliferating and in established blastoid lymphocytes were of f airly the same magnitude than in the corresponding population in TCA-incubated resting lymphocytes. In conclusion, we demonstrate that TCAs induce apoptosis in proliferating lymphocytes, as they do in quiescent lymphocytes. Furthermore, the exent of apoptosis was even more pronounced in TCA-incubated lymphoblasts compared to TCA-treated resting lymphocytes.     

Induction of CML28-specific cytotoxic T cell responses using co-transfected dendritic cells with CML28 DNA vaccine and SOCS1 small interfering RNA expression vector

CML28 is an attractive target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. SOCS1 represents an inhibitory control mechanism for DC antigen presentation and the magnitude of adaptive immunity. In this study, we evaluated the potential for inducing CML28-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses by dendritic cells (DCs)-based vaccination. We constructed a CML28 DNA vaccine and a SOCS1 siRNA vector and then cotransfect monocyte-derived DCs. Flow cytometry analysis showed gene silencing of SOCS1 resulted in higher expressions of costimulative moleculars in DCs. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) indicated downregulation of SOCS1 stronger capability to stimulate proliferation of responder cell in DCs. The CTL assay revealed transfected DCs effectively induced autologous CML28-specific CTL responses and the lytic activities induced by SOCS1-silenced DCs were significantly higher compared with those induced by SOCS1-expressing DCs. These results in our study indicates gene silencing of SOCS1 remarkably enhanced the cytotoxicity efficiency of CML28 DNA vaccine in DCs.     

The novel synthetic inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases Ro 28-2653 induces apoptosis in Dunning tumor cells

The effect of synthetic inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) has been shown against a variety of tumors in preclinical models. Ro 28-2653, a novel synthetic MMP inhibitor, is able to reduce tumor growth in orthotopic prostatic cancer in rats (R3327 Dunning tumor). However, at present this inhibitory mechanism in tumor inhibition in vivo can only be partly explained by the inhibition of the catalytic activity of MMPs overexpressed in cancereous tissue. Using the flow cytometric method, we have investigated the effect of various concentrations of Ro 28-2653 on the Dunning tumor cells with regard to the staining of F-actin and DNA as markers of apoptosis. In combination with fluorescence microscopy we detected the loss of F-actin and the degradation of internucleosomal DNA. This effect of Ro 28-2653 on apoptosis was dose- and time-dependent increasing with concentration between 10 and 100 g/ml as well as with time of treatment between 24 and 48 h.     

Mechanism of apoptosis induced by zinc deficiency in peripheral blood T lymphocytes

Alterations in intracellular Zn²⁺ concentrations are believed to play a crucial role in modulating apoptosis. The observation that Zn²⁺ deficiency can induce cell death both in vivo and in vitro has been attributed to the fact that exchange of Zn²⁺ for Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ within the nuclei may directly activate endogenous endonucleases therefore inducing DNA fragmentation independent of cytoplasmic factors. Here we show that the membrane-permeable zinc chelator, N,N,N-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN) induces translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intramembranous space into the cytosol in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBL) with subsequent activation of caspases-3, -8, and -9. Pretreatment of T lymphocytes with caspase inhibitors Z-VAD.fmk or DEVD.fmk prevented DNA fragmentation in response to TPEN indicating that apoptosis triggered by zinc deficiency is entirely dependent on activation of caspase family members. The release of cytochrome c and activation of downstream caspases precedes changes in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential ( m). Therefore, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial events are critical to this process.     

Estrogen responsiveness of renal calbindin-D28k gene expression in rat kidney

In women, calcium excretion in the urine rises after menopause and falls with estrogen replacement therapy. The amount of calcium lost in the urine following estrogen therapy is less than should occur based on changes in serum calcium and the amount of calcium filtered by the kidney. This suggests there may be a direct effect of estrogen therapy to increase renal calcium reabsorption. Calbindin D_28k is a putative calcium ferry protein located in the distal renal tubules which has been shown to increase transcellular calcium transport. We proposed that estrogen loss after menopause may diminish gene expression of renal calbindin D_28k and subsequently diminish renal calcium reabsorption. We used the ovariectomized rat model of estrogen deficiency to investigate changes at the messenger RNA level of calbindin D_28k in ovariectomized rats (OVX), sham ovariectomized rats (S-OVX), and estrogen treated ovariectomized rats (E-OVX). We have demonstrated that ovariectomy in rats diminishes the gene expression of renal calbindin D_28k. The mRNA levels were approximately three times lower in OVX rats than S-OVX rats. Administration of 17β estradiol to OVX rats produced a significant increase in mRNA level to greater than the S-OVX rats by 4 h. Measurement of serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D₃ showed lower level in OVX rats than S-OVX rats but no significant change in E-OVX animals. In conclusion, our results indicate that estrogen increases renal calbindin D_28k mRNA levels, by a mechanism independent of changes in 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D₃. This may result in increased expression of calbindin D_28k protein which may have a role in reducing renal calcium excretion. J. Cell. Biochem. 65:340–348. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Oxysterol-induced toxicity in R28 and ARPE-19 cells

Studies have shown an intimate relationship between cholesterol and retinal diseases; we examined the effects of cholesterol oxides on cultured cells. Using the rat retinal precursor cell line R28 and the human RPE cell line ARPE-19, we investigated the potential cytotoxicity of cholesterol oxides. Cultured R28 and ARPE-19 cells were treated with either 25-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol (0–50 µg/ml). Cell viability was determined by the WST-1 colorimetric assay. Production of reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) was assessed by a fluorescent probe–based assay (2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate [H₂DCFDA]). To detect the presence of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation gel analysis and Hoescht nuclear staining were performed. Both cholesterol oxides tested were toxic in a time- and dose-dependent fashion to the two cell lines used in this study. Treatment of R28 cells with either 25-hydroxycholesterol or 7-ketocholesterol at a concentration of 25 µg/ml resulted in greater than 50% loss of cell viability after 24 h. ARPE-19 cells were slightly less affected, with a loss of cell viability of approximately 20% and 40% after 24 h-exposure of 25-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol, respectively. DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation demonstrated apoptotic events occurring in 7-ketocholesterol–treated cells. The fluorescent assay for ROI production showed that after an hour of exposure to 7-ketocholesterol, R28 cells responded with increased levels of ROIs, whereas no immediate production of ROIs were detected with treated ARPE-19 cells. These in vitro findings provide evidence that cholesterol oxides can directly damage cultured retinal and RPE cells. The oxysterol-induced oxidative stress in these cells may be a factor in the pathology of retinal degenerative diseases.     

Signaling defects in T lymphocytes of patients with malignancy

In patients with cancer, alterations in the expression of T-cell receptor-associated molecules in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as well as in circulating lymphocytes have been reported. By quantitative flow cytometry analysis, decreased or absent expression of the ζ chain in CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells as well as in natural killer (NK) cells was demonstrated in patients with malignancies. Changes in the expression of ζ are biologically significant, because the absence or low expression of this signaling molecule in TIL of patients with stage III or IV head and neck cancer predicts a significantly shorter 5-year survival than that of patients with normal ζ expression in TIL. Preliminary evidence indicates that expression of ζ in TIL may not only influence survival but also predicts a favorable response to biologic therapies. Patients with cancer also show significantly greater spontaneous ex vivo apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) compared to normal controls, as measured by a terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. While no correlation could be established between the proportions of cells with low ζ chain expression and those that spontaneously apoptose ex vivo, the ζ chain has been shown to be cleaved by caspases in T cells coincubated with tumor cells or with T cells exposed to CH-11 antibody, which induces apoptosis upon crosslinking Fas on the cell surface. The results suggest that low/absent ζ chain expression and lymphocyte apoptosis may be manifestations of negative effects of the tumor on the host immune system. Received: 20 March 1999 / Accepted: 3 May 1999     

小鼠Lin28基因的克隆及原核表达

目的探讨获取小鼠Lin28蛋白的方法。方法 提取8.5 d ICR小鼠胚胎mRNA后反转录为cDNA序列,用一对两端引入特定酶切位点（NcoⅠ及XhoⅠ）引物,从该cDNA中扩增出Lin28基因编码区序列;将获得的Lin28基因编码区序列克隆到pMD18-T载体上。对质粒双酶切回收其中Lin28基因片段,与pET-30a（+）载体相连接并转化Rosetta（DE3）型大肠杆菌,用IPTG诱导表达,最后采用SDS-PAGE对表达结果进行分析。结果对所克隆的Lin28蛋白编码区的DNA序列分析表明,Lin28 CDS区包括终止密码子在内为630 bp,与参照DNA（NM₁45833）相比同源性为99.37%,与参照氨基酸序列相比同源性为100%;在IPTG诱导下pET-30a（+）-Lin28重组质粒可表达与预期相符的约为27.5×103的蛋白质。结论利用克隆的小鼠Lin28基因,采用原核表达方法,成功获得小鼠Lin28蛋白,为进一步开展以重组蛋白诱导体细胞重编程研究奠定基础。     

性早熟雌性Sprague-Dawle大鼠下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b表达异常

目的：研究正常雌性Sprague-Dawle（SD）大鼠不同性发育阶段及雌激素诱导性早熟后下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b的表达及意义。方法：1）于雌性SD大鼠出生后15日（postnatal day 15,PND15）、PND23、PND35荧光实时定量PCR分析下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA的表达,同时以ELISA法检测血清黄体生成素（LH）和雌二醇（E2）水平变化;2）苯甲酸雌二醇（estradiol benzoate,EB）诱导的性早熟大鼠随机分为EB-1组和EB-2组,分别于阴道开口（vaginal opening,VO）时及PND56两个时间点处死,相应的发育阶段的大鼠用无菌芝麻油（sesame oil,OIL）作为对照分为OIL-1和OIL-2组;荧光实时定量PCR分析下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA的表达,ELISA法检测LH和E2水平变化,并观察性早熟对大鼠阴道开口、体重、顶臀径、胫骨长等生长发育指标的影响。结果：1）PND15、PND23和PND35组下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA表达、血清LH和E2水平无统计学差异（P〉0.05）;2）EB-1组下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA表达高于OIL-1组（P〈0.05）,血清LH和E2水平与OIL-1组相比无统计学差异（P〉0.05）;EB-2组下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA表达高于OIL-2组（P〈0.05）,血清LH和E2水平低于OIL-2组（P〈0.05）;3）与OIL-2组比较,EB-2组VO时间明显提前（P〈0.01）,体重、顶臀长、胫骨长差异无统计学差异（P〉0.05）。结论：外源性雌激素引起的性早熟可能导致下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b表达异常。     

The activation of protein kinase G by daphnane, ingenane and tigliane diterpenoid esters

The activation of protein kinase C by daphnane, ingenane and tigliane diterpenoid eaters. In this review, the mechanism of action of phorbol esters and related diterpenes is described. These compounds have been shown to stimulate a Ca^{2 +} and phospholipid dependent protein kinase, termed kinase C. Phorbol esters activate protein kinase C by substituting for the natural effector, the second messenger, diacylglycerol. The various known protein substrates of this enzyme are described. Many of these substrates are involved in regulation of protein synthesis, DNA expression, cell transformation etc. This provides the explanation for the tumour promotion effects of some phorbol esters. Evidence for the biochemical mechanisms of action of phorbol esters that have other biological effects are also described. Recent evidence from our laboratories indicates that phorbol esters with limited biological effects, e.g. inflammatory but not tumour promoting, also act through this protein kinase. These phorbol esters appear to stimulate the phosphorylation of a different range of substrate proteins in vivo.     

Phosphorylation of a tropomyosin-like (30 KD) protein during platelet activation

In this study, we have used the tumor promoter 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), as well as its biologically inactive analogue 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4 alpha-PDD), to investigate platelet protein phosphorylation and its possible correlation with platelet activation. Our data show that TPA, but not 4 alpha-PDD, induces a preferential phosphorylation of a 30,000 dalton (30 KD) protein. This phosphoprotein is found to be physically associated with an actomyosin-containing platelet cytoskeleton complex. Further analysis using both standard two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and one-dimensional urea-SDS gel electrophoresis reveals that this 30 KD protein has several tropomyosin-like properties. Most importantly, the degree of TPA-induced phosphorylation of the 30 KD protein is directly proportional to the extent of platelet granule release and the shape change of the platelet, as well as to the degree of aggregation. We speculate that this phosphorylated tropomyosinlike protein may play a pivotal role in the regulation of actomyosin-mediated platelet contractility, which has been previously implicated in a variety of platelet functions.     

中国沿海蛾螺科5属10种28S rRNA基因的系统学分析

目前已报道在我国分布的蛾螺科种类有13个属,约31个种,系统学和分类地位仍存在较大的争议.本研究利用核糖体大亚基28S rRNA的部分序列对我国辽宁、山东、福建沿海蛾螺科5属10个种的系统发生进行了分析.通过PCR获得了大约1400 bp的片段,测序之后,通过遗传分析软件对序列进行了比对分析,以骨螺科的脉红螺作为外群,利用Neighbor-Joining (NJ)法和Minimum Evolution (ME)法建立了系统树.结果显示,所研究的蛾螺科5属10个种可以被分为5个亚群:第一大分支为香螺亚群,包括Neptunea属的香螺、新英格兰蛾螺、Neptunea eulimata Dall、和一个未知种以及Siphonalia属的略胀管蛾螺;第二个分支为侧平肩螺亚群;第三个分支为荻曷莺突坪6曷菅侨海坏谒母龇种止芏曷菅群;第五个分支为方斑东风螺亚群.由系统学分析可知,香螺是较为进化的种;未知种为香螺属内的种;略胀管蛾螺与Neptunea属的种类亲缘关系较近,序列相似系数为0.9%-1.4%,已经达到了属内水平,建议将略胀管蛾螺归为Neptunea属.