Humoral mechanisms of in vitro inhibition of mouse lymphocyte immunoreactivity by mastocytoma P815 cells

The inhibitory capacity of mastocytoma cell line P815 and its cultural supernatant (CS) was studied in the reaction of blast transformation (RBT) and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). An addition of both P815 cells and CS resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation in RBT and MLC. The treatment of DBA/2 spleen cells with CS for 2 h at 37 degrees C resulted in a significant decrease in proliferative activity and induction of supressor cells.     

Inhibitory effects of tetrahydropapaverine on serotonin biosynthesis in murine mastocytoma P815 cells

The inhibitory effects of tetrahydropapaverine on serotonin biosynthesis in serotonin-producing murine mastocytoma P815 cells were investigated. Tetrahydropapaverine at concentration ranges of 5-20 microM decreased serotonin content in a concentration-dependent manner in P815 cells and showed 42.1% inhibition of serotonin content at 5.0 microM at 24 hr. The value of 50% inhibitory concentration, IC50, of tetrahydropapaverine was 6.2 microM. Under these conditions, tryptophan hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.4, TPH) was inhibited for 24-36 hr after treatment with tetrahydropapaverine in P815 cells (49.1% inhibition at 7.5 microM). However, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase activity was not affected by tetrahydropapaverine. In addition, tetrahydropapaverine inhibited the activity of TPH, prepared from the P815 cells (P815-TPH), with the IC50 value of 5.7 microM. Tetrahydropapaverine un-competitively inhibited P815-TPH with the substrate L-tryptophan, and non-competitively with the cofactor DL-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridin. The Ki value of tetrahydropapaverine with L-tryptophan was 10.1 microM. These data indicate that tetrahydropapaverine leads to a decrease in serotonin content by the inhibition of TPH activity in P815 cells.     

Transmembrane signaling in P815 mastocytoma cells by transfected IgE receptors

In order to delineate structural-functional relationships of the mast cell receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) by molecular-genetic analysis, a transfectable cell must be identified which resembles mast cells except for being deficient in receptors. We have found that the well known murine mastocytoma P815 is suitable. These cells express no Fc epsilon RI, lack mRNA for the alpha and beta subunits of the receptor, but contain some mRNA for gamma chains. After transfection with the cDNA for each of the subunits, stable clones could be isolated which expressed several hundred thousand normal Fc epsilon RI and synthesized large amounts of mRNA for alpha, beta, and gamma, the last at 3-fold higher levels than in the untransfected cells. Aggregation of the transfected receptors led to opening of presumptive calcium channels and to activation of phospholipase C, phospholipase A2, and protein kinase C. The kinetics and other characteristics of the signals were similar to those observed after stimulation of the rat tumor mast cells from which the receptor genetic material had been derived but were smaller in magnitude. These weaker signals most likely result from an overall reduced reactivity exhibited by the P815 cells since stimulation by other ligands led to weaker or even no responses. The cells failed to degranulate after either receptor aggregation or reaction with ionophores with or without phorbol ester. Both the transfected and untransfected P815 cells express Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma RII) which, interestingly, independently triggered similar responses despite their apparently simpler subunit structure.     

Role of microvilli in surface changes of synchronized P815Y mastocytoma cells

The surface morphology of synchronized P815Y mastocytoma cells has been examined by scanning electron microscopy. Early G1 cells are comparatively smooth or light villated, whereas at later stages the surface becomes progressively more villated. In G1 cell most microvilli have a uniform diameter, whereas in S and G2 cells, many microvilli show branching and often originate from much larger surface protuberances. Small "blebs" are seen on the surface of many cells but these structures do not appear to be a characteristic feature of cells at any one stage of the cycle. The presence of microvilli increases the total surface of the cell to such an extent that the ratio of volume to surface area remains constant throughout the cell cycle. The mechanism of cytokinesis is thus a physical one, involving the unfolding of previously accumulated microvilli.     

NADH-specific dihydropteridine reductase in mastocytoma P-815 cells

NADH-specific dihydropteridine reductase [EC 1.6.99.7] was purified from mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells. Km values for NADH and NADPH were determined to be 1.4 microM and 32 microM, respectively, using tetrahydro-6-methylpterin. Molecular weight was 50,000, and subunit molecular weight was 25,000. The enzymes from P-815 and liver of host mouse (DBA/2) showed similar electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide gel. The P-815 enzyme reacted with antiserum against bovine liver NADH-specific dihydropteridine reductase, forming a single precipitin line.     

Purification and characterization of l-histidine decarboxylase from mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells

Histidine decarboxylase was purified from mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells to electrophoretic homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, dialyses at pH 7.5 and 6.0, chromatographies on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B and Hydroxylapatite, Phenyl-Superose HPLC, Mono Q HPLC, and Diol-200 gel filtration HPLC. Under the assay conditions used, the pure enzyme exhibited a specific activity of 800 nmol/min/mg, which constituted 12,500-fold purification compared to the crude extract, with a 7% yield. The two-step dialysis turned out to be essential for removing the factor(s) which interfered with the enzyme purification. The optimum pH for the enzyme reaction was 6.6 and the isoelectric point of the enzyme was pH 5.4. The molecular mass of the enzyme was found to be approximately 53 kDa on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, 110 kDa on gel filtration, and 115 kDa on polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The Km value for histidine was estimated to be 0.26 mM at pH 6.8.     

Sodium n-butyrate induces prostaglandin synthetase activity in mastocytoma P-815 cells

Cultured mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells were treated with 1 mM sodium n-butyrate for 40 h. The treated cell homogenate showed high activities in synthesizing prostaglandin D2, E2, and F2 alpha. Such activities were virtually absent in untreated cell homogenate. Direct addition of sodium n-butyrate to the homogenate showed no effects. Pre-exposure of cells to acetylsalicylic acid did not diminish the effect of the subsequent treatment with sodium n-butyrate. These data suggest that sodium n-butyrate induces fatty acid cyclooxygenase in P-815 cells.     

Antibody-mediated enhancement of infection by dengue virus of the P815 murine mastocytoma cell line

Dengue type 2 virus (DEN 2) could replicate only to a limited extent in a murine mastocytoma cell line, P815. The viral multiplication was enhanced 10- to 100-fold by mouse anti-DEN 2 antiserum or anti-DEN 2 type-specific monoclonal antibody diluted beyond their neutralizing titers. Cells incubated with virus-antibody mixtures changed morphologically, developing a mature mast cell-like appearance, 4-5 days after infection. The indirect fluorescent antibody technique showed that the enhancement of infection was caused by an increase in the number of DEN 2-infected cells. This is the first report that cells of mast cell lineage support dengue virus multiplication, and that virus production is enhanced in the presence of anti-dengue antibodies.     

Characterization of cytosolic pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in mastocytoma P-815 cells

We have characterized a soluble pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive GTP-binding protein (G-protein) present in mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells. 65% of total ADP-ribosylation of PT substrate having a molecular mass of 40 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in cell homogenate was detected in the supernatant after centrifugation at 100,000 x g for 90 min. [32P]ADP-ribosylation of cytosolic PT substrate was significantly enhanced on the addition of exogenous beta gamma complex. The molecular mass of the cytosolic PT substrate was estimated to be about 80 kDa on an Ultrogel AcA 44 column, but the beta gamma complex was not detected in the cytosol by using the anti-beta gamma complex antibody. Furthermore, the cytosolic PT substrate was found to have some unique properties: [35S]GTP gamma S binding was not inhibited by GDP and [32P]ADP-ribosylation was not affected by GTP gamma S treatment. Only after the cytosolic PT substrate had been mixed with exogenous beta gamma complex, did it copurify with exogenous beta gamma complex by several column chromatographies including an Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B column. The PT substrate was identified as Gi2 alpha by Western blot analysis and peptide mapping with S. aureus V8 protease. These results suggest that Gi2 alpha without beta gamma complex exists with an apparent molecular mass of about 80 kDa in the cytosolic fraction of P-815 cells.     

Suppression of cell-mediated immunity to challenge with P 815 mastocytoma in concanavalin A-treated mice

C57Bl/6 (B6) mice allogeneic to the P 815 mastocytoma tumor cell line when treated with concanavalin A prior to and at frequent intervals following challenge intraperitoneally with 10⁷ tumor cells showed a significant suppression of their cell-mediated immune response at 9–10 days when compared with untreated animals. Suppression of the immune response of mice syngeneic (DBA/2) or hybrid (BDF₁) to the tumor was also evidenced by increased mortality rates in concanavalin A-treated animals. The suppression of cell-mediated cytotoxicity observed in B6 mice treated with concanavalin A could be reversed by pretreatment with 20 mg silica injected intraperitoneally 7 days prior to challenge. These results suggest that macrophages play a significant role in the concanavalin A-induced immune suppression observed in this in vivo tumor-host system.     

cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of L-histidine decarboxylase from mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells

The primary structure of L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC: L-histidine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.22) from mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells has been determined by parallel analysis of the amino acid sequence of the protein and the nucleotide sequence of the corresponding cDNA. HDC contains 662 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 74017, which is larger by about 21,000 Da than that of the previously purified HDC subunit (53 kDa), suggesting that HDC might be posttranslationally processed. The HDC cDNA hybridized to a 2.7 kilobase mRNA of mastocytoma cells. Homology was found between the sequences of mouse mastocytoma HDC and fetal rat liver HDC.     

Tryptophan 5-monooxygenase from mouse mastocytoma P815. A simple purification and general properties

Tryptophan 5-monooxygenase was purified 880-fold with a 48% yield from mouse mastocytoma cells (P815) by only a one-step purification procedure of pteridine affinity chromatography. The specific activity of the final preparation was 5280 nmol min-1 mg-1. It gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence and presence of sodium dodecylsulfate. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 270,000 by gel filtration and 280,000 by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the enzyme to be composed of identical subunits with a molecular weight of 53,000. Tetrameric structure of the enzyme was suggested by cross-linking studies using dimethyl suberimidate as a bifunctional reagent. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was estimated to be 6.0. Amino acid analysis showed a residue composition similar to that reported for rat liver phenylalanine 4-monooxygenase. The enzyme activity was stimulated approximately fivefold by preincubation with dithiothreitol and Fe2+. The purified enzyme had an activity of phenylalanine hydroxylation and also a weak activity of tyrosine hydroxylation. The kinetic properties of the enzyme are also presented.     

Enhancement of 5-lipoxygenase activity in mastocytoma P-815 cells by n-butyrate treatment

Cloned mastocytoma P-815, 2-E-6 cells were used to investigate regulation of 5-lipoxygenase activity. 2-E-6 cells had high 5-lipoxygenase activity with slight 12-lipoxygenase activity. The 5-lipoxygenase activity was increased over 5-fold by treatment of the cells with 1 mM n-butyrate for 18 h. the most effective dose range being 0.1-5.0 mM. Treatment with n-butyrate for 18 h was more effective than treatment for 40 h. Addition of n-butyrate to an untreated cell homogenate had no stimulatory effect. The enhancement of 5-lipoxygenase activity by n-butyrate was accompanied by new synthesis of protein(s). 12-Lipoxygenase activity was not increased so much as 5-lipoxygenase activity by the treatment. This is the first report of stimulation of 5-lipoxygenase activity in cultured cells. The different responses of the two lipoxygenases to n-butyrate treatment strongly suggest that 5-lipoxygenase is a different enzyme from 12-lipoxygenase.     

Thapsigargin induces mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in the mastocytoma P815 cell line and in mouse thymocytes

Thapsigargin is a plant-derived inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase.Treatment with thapsigargin leads to a rapid, large and prolonged increase in the intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). Previously thapsigargin has been shown to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis. Here we report the results of thapsigargin treatment in thymocytes harvested from 10-day-old mice and in the P815 mastocytoma cell line. In thapsigargin-treated cells we observed enlarged mitochondria with disrupted cristae structure. These mitochondria closely resembled those observed after the induction of phase transition. To determine if the mitochondria were functioning normally the cells were stained with rhodamine 123 (R123) and analysed with flow cytometry. After thapsigargin treatment the R123 staining decreased, indicative of a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore intracellular ATP concentrations were also found to be reduced in cells treated with thapsigargin. Taken together these results indicate an increase in the [Ca(2+)](i) caused by thapsigargin treatment results in dysfunctional mitochondria and reduced ATP. We propose that this decrease in the concentration of ATP provokes the onset of thapsigargin-induced apoptosis. To investigate the effect of thapsigargin treatment on the cell cycle, rapidly cycling P815 cells were sorted into populations enriched for either G(0)/G(1) or S/G(2)/M phases, and these populations were then treated with thapsigargin. Thapsigargin treatment induced a cell cycle block before S phase. We propose that the block in the cell cycle induced by thapsigargin was a result of the decreased intracellular ATP concentration interfering with the energy requiring processes of DNA replication. The block could also be related to the high intracellular calcium ion concentration that would interfere with the subtle calcium transients involved in the cell's preparations for replication and mitosis. Apoptosis occurred to an equal extent in both populations of cells.     

Identification of a second major tumor-specific antigen recognized by CTLs on mouse mastocytoma P815

Murine mastocytoma P815 induces CTL responses against at least four distinct Ags (AB, C, D, and E). Recent studies have shown that the main component of the CTL response against the P815 tumor is targeted against Ags P815AB and P815E. The gene P1A has been well characterized. It encodes the P815AB Ag in the form of a nonameric peptide containing two epitopes, P815A and P815B, which are recognized by different CTLs. Here, we report the identification of the P815E Ag. Using a cDNA library derived from tumor P815, we identified the gene coding for P815E. We also characterized the antigenic peptide that anti-P815E CTLs recognize on the MHC class I molecule H-2Kd. The P815E Ag results from a mutation within an ubiquitously expressed gene encoding methionine sulfoxide reductase, an enzyme that is believed to be important in the protection of proteins against the by-products of aerobic metabolism. Surprisingly, immunizing mice i.p. with syngeneic tumor cells (L1210) that were constructed to express B7-1 and P815E did not induce resistance against live P815, even though a strong anti-P815E CTL response was observed with splenocytes from immunized animals.     

Pretreatment of P815 mastocytoma cells with inhibitors of protein synthesis reduces their susceptibility to lysis by cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocytes

Protein synthesis inhibitors like cycloheximide, emetine, and puromycin diminish the ability of P815, a mastocytoma of DBA/2 mice, to react with anti-H-2^d cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocytes (CTLs). Compared to untreated P815, tumor cells incubated with the protein synthesis inhibitors exhibited a reduced sensitivity to lysis and a reduced ability to inhibit lysis of untreated P815 cells. Consistent with this reduced reactivity of cycloheximide-treated P815 cells with CTLs was the inability of anti-H-2^d CTLs to form T cell-target cell conjugates with treated P815 cells. As evaluated by the binding of an anti-H-2^d serum, treated P815 cells expressed the same amount of H-2 membrane antigen as untreated cells. However, treated cells were still lysed by CTLs in the presence of the agglutinator, concanavalin A (Con A).