Differentiation of Mouse and Human Myeloid Leukemia Cells Induced by an Antitumor Antibiotic,Ascofuranone

Mouse myeloid leukemia cells, M1, were induced to differentiate into phagocytes by treatment with ascofuranone (AF). AF also induced differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells and human erythroid leukemia K562 cells into granulocytes and erythrocytes, as detected by nitroblue tetrazolium reducing activity and benzidine staining, respectively.

The antibiotic enhanced acetate incorporation of K562 cells. The increase was not observed with the cells of HL60 and two human B lymphoma lines, Daudi and Raji. The increase was diminished by the addition of a glycolysis inhibitor, deoxyglucose. Inhibitors of respiration, antimycin and sodium azide, also enhanced acetate incorporation of K562 cells specifically, which was diminished by the addition of deoxyglucose. Furthermore, antimycin induced differentiation of K562 and HL60 cells. These results suggest a possible relationship between cell differentiation and inhibition of respiration.     

Bcr-abl translocation can occur during the induction of multidrug resistance and confers apoptosis resistance on myeloid leukemic cell lines

Apoptosis was studied in parental and mdr-1 expressing U937, HL60 and K562 myeloid leukemic cell lines using mdr unrelated inducers of apoptosis such as Ara-C, cycloheximide, serum deprivation, ceramide, monensin and UV irradiation. Apoptosis was efficiently induced by all these treatments in U937 and HL60 cells while K562 cells exhibited an apoptosis-resistant phenotype except with UV and monensin. The pattern of apoptosis resistance in mdr-1 expressing U937 (U937-DR) and HL60 (HL60-DR100) was similar to that presented by K562. This apoptosis-resistant phenotype of mdr cells was not overcome by concentrations of verapamil inhibiting the P-gp 170 pump. The acquisition of this phenotype was posterior to the mdr-1 expressing phenotype since a HL60-DR5 variant, selected at the beginning of the induction of resistance, presented a low level of mdr-1 expression without resistance to apoptosis. The variations observed in the Fas (CD95) expression between sensitive and resistant cells were not sufficient to account for apoptosis resistance. However, a high expression in Abl antigen was found in all the apoptosis-resistant cells. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that this increase in Abl antigen content was accompanied by the expression in U937-DR and HL60-DR100 cells of a hybrid bcr/abl mRNA and a 210 kD Bcr/Abl protein which was constitutive in K562. This expression was due to the translocation of abl and the amplification of the bcr-abl translocated gene. These results are in agreement with the role of Bcr/Abl tyrosine protein kinase as an inhibitor of apoptosis independently of the mdr-1 expression. They also suggest that translocation of the abl gene in the bcr region is a highly probable rearrangement in the mdr-1 expressing myeloid cells and that Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase effect on apoptosis needs the regulation of intracellular pH and is inactive against UV-induced apoptosis.     

Constitutive monocyte-restricted activity of NF-M, a nuclear factor that binds to a C/EBP motif.

In a search for monocyte-specific nuclear factors, we analyzed in human cells the promoter of the chicken myelomonocytic growth factor, a gene that, in the chicken, is expressed in myeloid and myelomonocytic cells. Reporter gene constructs were active in monocytic Mono Mac 6 cells and in monoblastic THP-1 cells but not in the hematopoietic stem cell line K562. When a region with homology to the sequence recognized by CAAT enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) was inactivated by site-directed mutagenesis, the reporter activity was reduced by a factor of 10. Multimers of this region, termed F, in front of a heterologous promoter were active in Mono Mac 6 and THP-1 cells but not in K562 cells, WIL2 B cells, BT20 mammary carcinoma cells, MelJuso melanoma cells, or SK-Hep-1 hepatoma cells. Gel shift analysis with the F oligonucleotide identified DNA-binding activity in monocytic Mono Mac 6, monoblastic THP-1, and myelomonocytic HL60 cells. No binding was detected in myelomonocytic RC2A cells, in myeloid KG-1 cells, or in the hematopoietic stem cell line K562. Furthermore, a panel of solid tumor cell lines, representing various tissues, were also negative. Stimulation by PMA could not induce this binding factor in any of the negative cell lines. Analysis of primary cells (granulocytes, T cells, monocytes, and alveolar macrophages) revealed binding activity only in monocytes and macrophages. This DNA-binding factor, termed NF-M, was found to consist of two molecules, of 50 and 72 kDa, as determined by affinity cross-linking. Binding of NF-M was competed by the region F oligonucleotide and by the C/EBP motif from the albumin enhancer but not by an AP-2 motif. These data suggest that NF-M is a member of the C/EBP family of nuclear factors. The monocyte-restricted activity of NF-M suggests that this nuclear factor may be involved in regulation of monocyte-specific genes.     

Casein α s1 is expressed by human monocytes and upregulates the production of GM-CSF via p38 MAPK

Caseins are major constituents of mammalian milks that are thought to be exclusively expressed in mammary glands and to function primarily as a protein source, as well as to ameliorate intestinal calcium uptake. In addition, proinflammatory and immunomodulatory properties have been reported for bovine caseins. Our aim was to investigate whether human casein α s1 (CSN1S1) is expressed outside the mammary gland and possesses immunomodulatory functions in humans as well. For this purpose, CSN1S1 mRNA was detected in primary human monocytes and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, but not in CD19(+) B cells. CSN1S1 protein was traceable in supernatants of cultured primary human CD14(+) monocytes by ELISA. Similarly, CSN1S1 mRNA and protein were detected in the human monocytic cell lines HL60, U937, and THP1 but not in Mono Mac 6 cells. Moreover, permeabilized human monocytes and HL60 cells could be stained by immunofluorescence, indicating intracellular expression. Recombinant human CSN1S1 was bound to the surface of Mono Mac 6 cells and upregulated the expression of GM-CSF mRNA in primary human monocytes and Mono Mac 6 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. A similar increase in GM-CSF protein was found in the culture supernatants. CSN1S1-dependent upregulation of GM-CSF was specifically blocked by the addition of the p38 MAPK inhibitor ML3403. Our results indicated that human CSN1S1 may possess an immunomodulatory role beyond its nutritional function in milk. It is expressed in human monocytes and stimulates the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine GM-CSF.     

Synthesis of Bcl-2 in response to anthracycline treatment may contribute to an apoptosis-resistant phenotype in leukemic cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Some forms of chemoresistance in leukemia may start from failure of tumour cells to successfully undergo apoptosis and Bcl-2 may play a role in this defect. Therefore, we evaluated the Bcl-2 content and synthesis in relation with the apoptotic potential in leukemic cell lines after anthracycline treatment. METHODS: U937, HL60, and K562 cells and their drug resistant (DR) variants were treated with varying concentrations of Idarubicin (IDA). Apoptosis was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy after acridine orange staining. Bcl-2 and Bax content were evaluated either by flow cytometry after indirect immunolabelling or by Western blot. RESULTS: High Bcl-2 contents were not related to a poor ability to undergo apoptosis in U937, HL60, K562 and their DR variants. IDA induced a concentration-dependent increase in Bcl-2 content in all cell lines as long as they do not perform apoptosis. Enhanced Bcl-2 expression was inhibited by cycloheximide, actinomycin D, or antisense oligonucleotide directed against bcl-2 mRNA. Bcl-2 expression was also increased in the resistant U937 variant after serum deprivation or C2-ceramide treatment. The synthesis of Bcl-2 led to an increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio solely in the cells with an apoptosis-resistance phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that exposure to IDA induces Bcl-2 expression in leukemic cell lines, and that this mechanism could contribute to apoptosis resistance and participate in the acquisition of chemoresistance. They also confirm that the evolution of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio reflects apoptotic ability better than the steady state level of Bcl-2 expression.     

Enhancing effects of monocytes on modulation of a lymphocyte membrane antigen

Redistribution, or modulation, of some cell surface antigens occurs in the presence of specific antibody. The phenomenon of antigenic modulation may therefore affect the use of antibodies as therapeutic agents. This study was undertaken to investigate modulation of the 65,000 dalton T65 antigen, present on normal and malignant T cells and some malignant B cells, which is recognized by the monoclonal antibody T101. To induce cell surface antigenic modulation, normal or leukemic lymphoid cells were cultured in the presence of monoclonal antibody T101 for 3-hr periods. Removal of monocytes from mononuclear cell preparations resulted in significantly lower degrees of T65 antigenic modulation. The degree of antigenic modulation could be increased by adding monocytes back to monocyte-depleted lymphocyte suspensions. Furthermore, maximal modulation occurred in the presence of monocytes at T101 concentrations that were 3 logs lower than in the absence of monocytes. The enhancing effect of monocytes was dependent on the Fc portion of the T101 antibody molecule, and presumably was mediated by cross-linking of antigen-antibody complexes on the surface membrane of the modulating cell by Fc receptors present on monocytes. Further experiments performed to examine the characteristics of this enhancement of antigenic modulation by monocytes indicated that autologous as well as allogeneic monocytes were effective, indicating that the enhancing phenomenon was not dependent upon recognition of major histocompatibility antigens. Viable monocytes were required, but pretreatment of monocytes with sodium azide to inhibit energy production, or indomethacin to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis had no effect on this phenomenon. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes did not mediate similar enhancement, although monocytic and myeloid cell lines U937, THP-1, and HL-60 did. Spent culture medium from modulated cultures and preparations containing IL 1 activity did not enhance modulation of the T65 surface antigen on lymphocytes, suggesting that direct contact between lymphocytes and monocytes is required to mediate the effect. The finding that leukemic cells from patients with CLL undergo modulation of the T65 antigen to a much lower degree in vitro than observed in vivo, and that this difference can be overcome by the addition of monocytes, suggests that monocytes or the reticuloendothelial system may augment antigenic modulation in vivo.     

Synthesis of new pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives as potential inhibitors of Akt kinase

Akt kinases are attractive targets for small molecule drug discovery because of their key role in tumor cell survival/proliferation and their overexpression/activation in many human cancers. Recent efforts in the development and biological evaluation of small molecule inhibitors of Akt have led to the identification of novel Akt kinase inhibitors, based on a quinoxaline or pyrazinone scaffold. A series of new substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives, structural analogues of these active quinoxaline or pyrazinone pharmacophores, was synthesized from various substituted 2-nitroanilines or 1,2-phenylenediamine via multistep heterocyclization process. These new compounds were tested for their in vitro ability to inhibit the proliferation of the human leukemic cell lines K562, U937 and HL60, and the breast cancer cell line MCF7. Three of these human cell lines (K562, U937 and MCF7) exhibited an active phosphorylated Akt form. The most promising active pyrroloquinoxalines were found to be 1a that inhibited K562 cell line proliferation with an IC(50) of 4.5 microM, and 1h that inhibited U937 and MCF7 cell lines with IC(50) of 5 and 8 microM, respectively. These two candidates exhibited more potent activities than the reference inhibitor A6730.     

Human monocytes and U937 cells bear two distinct Fc receptors for IgG

Several convergent lines of evidence have led us to propose that human monocytes and the related cell line U937 possess a second class of IgG Fc receptor (FcR) in addition to the 72-Kd high affinity FcR previously described. IgG affinity purification from detergent lysates of surface radiolabeled U937 cells has yielded both a 40-Kd IgG-binding membrane protein (p40) and the 72-Kd FcR protein. By the same procedure, only the p40 was isolated from the erythroblast cell line K562 and from the B cell lines, Daudi and Raji. Serologic cross-reactivity between the 40-Kd FcR on U937 and Daudi cells was demonstrated using a goat anti-FcR antiserum. A murine (m) monoclonal antibody, raised against the FcR of K562 cells, precipitated the 40-Kd FcR from lysates of U937 and K562 cells but not from Daudi or Raji cells. This antibody, referred to as anti-p40 (IV.3), selectively inhibited the binding of murine IgG1-coated erythrocytes to U937 cells, whereas monomeric human IgG selectively inhibited binding of human anti-Rh(D)-coated erythrocytes to U937 cells. Both Daudi and U937 cells mediated mIgG1 anti-T3 (Leu-4)-induced stimulation of T lymphocytes. In contrast, mIgG2a anti-T3 (OKT3)-induced stimulation was supported effectively by U937 cells but only modestly by Daudi cells. Intact IgG or Fab fragments of anti-p40 (IV.3) blocked mIgG1 anti-T3 (Leu-4) stimulation but not mIgG2a anti-T3 (OKT3) stimulation of T cells; monomeric human IgG blocked only OKT3-induced stimulation. The simplest interpretation of these results is that human monocytes and U937 cells bear two classes of IgG FcR, one of 72 Kd and the other, as described above, of 40 Kd. We propose that the 72-Kd FcR mediates rosette formation with red cells coated by human anti-Rh IgG as well as T cell stimulation by mIgG2a anti-T3 (OKT3) and that the 40-Kd FcR mediates rosette formation with erythrocytes bearing mIgG1 as well as T cell stimulation by mIgG1 anti-T3 (Leu-4). Furthermore, we suggest that these two FcR are the human homologues of the murine macrophage FcRI (binding mIgG2a) and FcRII (binding mIgG2b/1).     

Lineage-related sensitivity to apoptosis in human tumor cells undergoing hyperthermia

In this study the role of hyperthermia as an apoptotic trigger was analyzed in four human tumor cell lines: HL60, U937, DOHH₂, and K562. These cell lines were chosen because of their well known and different expression of bcl-2 and bcr-abl genes, the expression of which is known to be an antiapoptotic condition. HL60 and U937 cells were strongly susceptible to heat exposure, while DOHH₂ cells were weakly sensitive and K562 cells were resistant, thus suggesting a possible gene involvement in this type of programmed cell death. The mechanisms underlying this apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry, agarose gel electrophoresis, and light and electron microscopy. A subdiploid peak and DNA laddering, both of which are parameters specifically correlated to programmed cell death, were present in HL60 and U937 and, even if less evident, in DOHH₂ cells undergoing hyperthermic treatment, and were absent in K562 cells. In addition, DNA single-strand cleavage was revealed by in situ nick translation, observed by confocal microscopy. Morphological analysis confirmed these results and revealed the typical chromatin changes, followed by the appearance of micronuclei and apoptotic bodies. Accepted: 26 November 1999     

Role of class II histocompatibility antigens in Staphylococcus aureus protein A-induced activation of human T lymphocytes

The capacity of peripheral blood monocytes and B lymphocytes to support staphylococcal protein A (SpA)-induced proliferation of autologous and allogeneic T cells, as well as the role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules in this activation process, were investigated. Highly purified peripheral T lymphocytes did not proliferate in response to SpA, but their response was reconstituted by both irradiated (or mitomycin C-treated) monocytes and B lymphocytes. The effect of B cells on the SpA-induced T-cell response could not be explained by a contamination of residual accessory cells because long-term continuous B-cell lines restored SpA-induced T-cell DNA synthesis as effectively as did monocytes. Support of SpA responsiveness by B cells could not be accounted for by polyclonal binding of SpA to cell surface immunoglobulins, since the ability of SpA-unreactive and SpA-reactive B cells was comparable. The cells from two human leukemic lines--K562 and Raji--showed the same ability in supporting the pokeweed mitogen-induced T-cell response, but the class II-positive Raji cells were much more effective than class II-negative K562 cells in restoring the T-cell responsiveness to SpA. Monoclonal antibodies specific for monomorphic determinants of MHC class II antigens, as well as their F(ab')2 fragments, consistently inhibited the SpA-induced proliferative response, whereas antibodies specific for MHC class I antigens were without effect. The antibodies specific for class II antigens appeared to act at the level of accessory cell, since pretreatment with these antibodies inhibited the ability of SpA-pulsed monocytes or Raji cells to present SpA to autologous or allogeneic T lymphocytes, respectively. These data indicate that either monocytes or normal and lymphoblastoid B cells can act as accessory cells for the proliferative response of human T cells to soluble SpA and that monomorphic determinants of MHC class II molecules play an important role in this activation process.     

Electrophoretic pattern of NADPH-dependent oxidoreductive activities in K 562 and HL 60 leukemic cell lines

Morphological and functional differentiation of hemopoietic cells is accompanied by the expression of lineage-specific protein markers. NADPH-oxidoreductive enzymatic activities in HL 60 and K 562 leukemic cell lines, compared with granulocytes and erythrocytes, show a NADPH-oxidizing and a NADPH-diaphorase activity. The oxidizing activity, absent in erythrocytes, has the same electrophoretic migration in HL 60 cells and granulocytes while it is different in K 562 cells. The diaphorase, absent in HL 60 cells and granulocytes, has the same migration in erythrocytes and K 562 cells, although with a slightly different quantitative expression. K 562 cells induced to differentiation with arabinofuranosylcytosine show the appearance of a band of NADPH-oxidizing activity of granulocytic type, together with the major band found in these cells.     

Platonin induces autophagy-associated cell death in human leukemia cells

Platonin is a photosensitizer used for photodynamic therapy. In this study, we tested the effect of platonin on human leukemic cells. Treatment with platonin in the dark markedly reduced cell membrane integrity, and induced significant G₀/G₁ arrest of a panel of human leukemic cell lines, including U937, HL-60, K562, NB4 and THP-1. Development of hypodiploid cells was not evident in these cell lines within 24 h, but was noted in U937, HL-60 and NB4 cells after 24 h. No myeloid differentiation of these cells was noted after 5-day treatment. Intriguingly, exposure of monoblastic U937 cells to platonin caused changes characteristic of autophagy, including appearance of cytoplasmic membranous vacuoles and formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVO) in more than 95% of cells. The platonin-induced autophagy was accompanied by localization of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 to autophagosomes. Pretreatment with pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk abrogated the platonin-induced hypodiploidity, but had no effect on growth inhibition and formation of AVO, indicating a caspase-independent autophagy-associated cell death. Pretreatment of cells with 3-methyladenine attenuated platonin-mediated growth inhibition and formation of AVO. Platonin augmented the expression of BNIP3 in both U937 and K562 cells, whereas had an opposite effect on phosphorylation of mTOR downstream molecule p70S6K. Platonin, at the condition inducing autophagy, induced the mitochondrial membrane permeation. These results suggest that the platonin is capable of inhibiting growth as well as inducing cell death, mainly autophagy-associated, in leukemic cells via a mitochondria-mediated and caspase-independent pathway. A markedly less viability inhibition was noted to human monocytes, the normal counterpart of these myeloid leukemic cells. Platonin, other than a photodynamic agent, may offer significant promise as a therapeutic agent against leukemia.     

Macrophage glycolipid receptors for human migration inhibitory factor (MIF): differentiated HL-60 cells exhibit MIF responsiveness and express surface glycolipids which both bind MIF and convert nonresponsive cells to responsiveness

The human promyelocytic leukemia line HL-60 when treated with a phorbol diester (TPA) differentiates into cells (HL60-TPA) that respond to human migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Unresponsive HL-60 cells became responsive to MIF when preincubated with a glycolipid-enriched preparation extracted from HL60-TPA cells, human monocytes, human macrophage-like (U937) cell line, or with the purified glycolipid receptor for MIF from guinea pig peritoneal macrophages. Human blood monocytes exhibited an increased response to MIF when preincubated with glycolipids from HL60-TPA and U937 cells but not from HL-60 cells. Finally, glycolipids from HL60-TPA cells but not from HL-60 cells were able to reversibly bind MIF when covalently coupled to agarose. These studies suggest that TPA induces the differentiation of HL-60 cells into MIF-responsive cells through the expression of a glycolipid receptor for MIF.     

Regulation of monocyte/macrophage C2 production and HLA-DR expression by IL-4 (BSF-1) and IFN-gamma

IL-4 was originally described on the basis of its ability to co-stimulate the proliferation of resting B cells treated with anti-IgM. Recently, this cytokine has been shown to have other effects on mast cells, T cells, B cells, and macrophages. We studied the ability of IL-4 to regulate the production of C2 by human monocytes and monocytic cell lines and compared this with stimulation of HLA-DR expression, another recently described activity of IL-4. Responses to IL-4 were compared to IFN-gamma, a cytokine with both activities. IL-4 up-regulated C2 production by human monocytes and this effect was not inhibited by neutralizing anti-IFN-gamma antibody. IL-4 also stimulated C2 production by HL-60 cells that had been pre-treated with vitamin D3 to induce monocytic differentiation. IL-4 did not stimulate C2 production by U937 cells. IFN-gamma, in contrast to IL-4, stimulates C2 production by all three cell types. Although IL-4 increased C2 production by HL-60 cells we could not detect C2 mRNA by Northern blotting. However, co-stimulation of these cells with IL-4 and low concentrations of IFN-gamma resulted in an additive effect on C2 production and a greater increase in C2 mRNA than was seen with IFN-gamma alone. As reported by others, IL-4-stimulated HLA-DR expression by monocytes. In contrast to our findings regarding C2 production, stimulation of HLA-DR expression was inhibited by neutralizing anti-IFN-gamma mAb and IL-4 did not stimulate HLA-DR expression by U937 or HL-60 cells. IFN-gamma stimulated HLA-DR expression by all three cell types. These results identify IL-4 as an additional cytokine able to directly stimulate C2 production by human monocytes and by a monocytic cell line whereas IL-4 stimulation of HLA-DR expression by monocytes appears to be IFN-gamma dependent.     

Interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor production by human monocytoid cells: study on a single cell level.

Human IL-1 beta and TNF alpha production by normal and transformed monocytoid cells was studied using biological assays, cytokine specific ELISA and by immunocytochemical methods on a single cell level. Quiescent human blood monocytes and cultured in vitro transformed human monocytoid cell lines U-937, THP-1 and HL-60 did not contain IL-1 beta and TNF alpha in their cytoplasm. IL-1 beta synthesis and secretion was induced by LPS stimulation in nearly 90% monocytes, 15-20% U-937, 3-5% THP-1 and in no HL-60 cells. Normal human blood monocytes had a more rapid kinetics of IL-1 beta synthesis. IL-1 beta positive cells stained with antibodies to human IL-1 beta appeared at 1-2 hours after LPS application, while in monocytic cell lines only after 4-6 hours. Using immunoperoxidase staining of U-937 cells pulse labelled with 3H-thymidine, it was shown that proliferating cells did not synthetize IL-1 beta. Instead of IL-1 beta, TNF alpha could be induced by LPS in U-937 cells only after preliminary differentiation with PMA. Recombinant IL-1 beta induced a very low level of TNF alpha production in PMA-treated cells. Similarly recombinant TNF alpha alone induced IL-1 beta synthesis only in a few U-937 cells.     

Induction of differentiation of human and mouse myeloid leukemia cells by camptothecin

Low concentrations of camptothecin induced differentiation of human and mouse myeloid leukemia cells including human HL60, U937, ML1, and K562 cells and mouse M1 cells as measured by various differentiation-associated properties. When K562 cells were pretreated with 20 nM camptothecin for 2 h, 53% of the cells were induced to differentiate as measured by NBT staining. Significant single strand breaks in DNA of K562 cells were caused by this treatment. Most single strand breaks were accompanied by protein-DNA cross linking. The combination of camptothecin and rTNF synergistically induced differentiation of human ML1, U937, and M1 cells. These results suggest that topo I may be important in some differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells.     

A monoclonal antibody against a novel 20-kDa protein induces cell adhesion and cytoskeleton-dependent morphologic changes.

A new murine IgA mAb (JKT.M1), developed against Jurkat T cells chronically infected with HIV IIIB induces in vitro homotypic aggregation in several hemopoietic cell lines. The JKT.M1 Ag is expressed on a wide variety of cell types including human lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, RBC, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, many T cell lines, myelomonocytic cell lines, and a primate kidney cell line. The JKT.M1 Ag shows differential expression on myelomonocytic cells; it is present on K562 and HL60 cell lines, which represent precursors of E and monocytes, respectively, but is not expressed on the surface of U937 and THP-1 cell lines, which appear to represent intermediate cell types of the monocytic cell lineage. However, the JKT.M1 Ag is expressed on mature peripheral blood monocytes and the MonoMac cell line. Immunoprecipitation from cell lysates (Jurkat, SupT1, PBMC, MonoMac) with the JKT.M1 mAb yields a 20-kDa Ag with few if any carbohydrate residues as determined by N-glycanase and neuraminidase treatments. The pI appears acidic by two-dimensional gel analysis, and the nonreduced form migrates more slowly than the reduced form when analyzed by SDS-PAGE suggesting the presence of intramolecular disulfide bridge(s). JKT.M1 mAb-induced cell adhesion is shown to be divalent cation- and temperature-dependent. The adhesion induced by JKT.M1 mAb is inhibited by 20 microM cytochalasin B and also by 2 mM 2-deoxyglucose plus 10 mM sodium azide suggesting that cytoskeletal changes and metabolic energy are required. Aggregation induced by JKT.M1 appears to be independent of CD43, CD44, and VLA4 (CD29/CD49d), mAb against which have also been shown to induce homotypic cell adhesion. Anti-CD18 mAb have been shown to inhibit homotypic aggregation in other studies but failed to do so in the present study. Thus JKT.M1-induced adhesion also appears to be independent of CD18, the beta-chain of leukocyte integrins. However, like mAb against LFA-1, immobilized JKT.M1 stimulates a T cell line to undergo dramatic morphologic changes which could be enhanced by the addition of phorbol ester. These data suggest that the novel 20-kDa molecule recognized by the JKT.M1 mAb may trigger cell adhesion through a previously undescribed mechanism.     

Prediction of VEGF mRNA antisense oligodeoxynucleotides by RNA structure software and their effects on HL60 and K562 cells

Seven antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were selected using RNA structure 3.7 software and the principle of low overall DeltaG (free energy). Their effects on cell growth, VEGF protein expression and apoptosis in HL60 and K562 leukemic cells were examined, and cell numbers and viability were assessed using trypan blue dye exclusion, MTT, ELISA and flow cytometry. The results showed that six of the seven antisense sequences inhibited the cell growth and down-regulated VEGF protein expression significantly. Endogenous VEGF plays an important role in the proliferation of HL60 and K562 leukemic cells. RNA structure software provides a rapid and efficient way of identifying effective antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.