EGF induces differentiation of an IL-3-dependent cell line expressing the EGF receptor.

Interleukin 3 (IL-3) is a T cell-derived lymphokine that supports the growth and development of hematopoietic cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation has been suggested to play an important role in IL-3-dependent cell proliferation. To test whether a growth factor receptor carrying a tyrosine kinase can be functional in IL-3 dependent cells, we used a retroviral vector to introduce the human EGF receptor into a murine IL-3-dependent pre-mast cell line, IC2. The EGF receptors expressed on the infected clones bind EGF with both high and low affinities. EGF stimulates the infected cells for a short term growth response. In the presence of IL-3 and EGF, infected clones differentiate into more mature mast cells characterized by increases in intracellular granulation and histamine content. This differentiation is reversible when EGF is removed. EGF induces tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins and the expression of oncogenes c-fos and c-myc, in a manner analogous to IL-3 stimulation. These results indicate that the EGF receptor is functional in the pre-mast IC2 cells; EGF can support short-term proliferation and activates the signals that induce cell differentiation. Thus, EGF receptor-expressing IC2 cells provide a unique cellular system for in vitro study of mast cell differentiation.     

Induction of IL 2 responsiveness in a murine IL 3-dependent cell line

A mouse IL 3-dependent cell line, FD.C/1, can be induced to IL 2 growth responsiveness by culture in IL 2-conditioned culture medium. The IL 2-dependent cell lines derived by this procedure have been designated FD.C/2 cells. Once established, the FD.C/2 cells respond to human, rat, and mouse IL 2. When cultured with murine IL 3, FD.C/2 cells did not proliferate, appearing to accumulate in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Other human and mouse lymphokines failed to stimulate FD.C/2 cell growth. The growth dependence of FD.C/2 cells on IL 2 could not be reversed to IL 3. Cell lines derived by these procedures could provide in vitro models for hemopoietic differentiative events.     

Expression of the functional erythropoietin receptors on interleukin 3-dependent murine cell lines

Two distinct hemopoietic growth factors, interleukin 3 (IL-3) and erythropoietin (EPO), support the growth and development of erythroid cells in a sequential manner in vitro. Stimulation of multipotential stem cells by IL-3 appears to develop committed erythroid progenitor cells that respond to EPO. When several murine IL-3-dependent cell lines were assayed for their ability to respond to EPO, the growth and survival of the three cell lines showing the profiles of either myeloid or mast cell lineage (IC-2, DA-1, FDC-P2) were stimulated by EPO in a dose-dependent fashion. To determine whether the biologic effects were mediated through the specific receptors for EPO, we performed binding experiments on these cells with radioiodinated EPO. All of these cells displayed significant levels of specific binding for EPO. Among a family of hemopoietic growth factors, only unlabeled EPO was able to compete for the binding of radioiodinated EPO to the cells. Analysis of the binding data revealed the existence of a single case of binding sites in extremely low abundance. IC-2 cells were used to study the effects of IL-3 on the regulation of expression of EPO receptors. It was demonstrated that a decrease in IL-3 concentration in the culture medium increased the responsiveness to EPO and the amount in specific binding of EPO as well. These results suggest that some IL-3-dependent cell lines have functional EPO receptors and their expression may be modulated by IL-3.     

IL-3-induced generation of alkylacylglycerol and diacylglycerol in an IL-3-dependent cell line

The hematopoietic growth factor IL-3 promotes the proliferation and development of several hematopoietic lineages. Inasmuch as protein kinase C has been suggested to mediate the response of IL-3, we examined the accumulation of diradylglycerols (DG) in response to IL-3 in CFTL-12 cells, a murine mast cell line that requires IL-3 for growth. Exposure of CFTL-12 cells to IL-3 resulted in the conversion of [3H]myristate-labeled lipids to DG. Mass analysis of the DG of CFTL-12 cells cultured in the presence of IL-3 showed that 58% was the ether-linked form, alkylacylglycerol, and 42% was diacylglycerol. The levels of both alkylacylglycerol and diacylglycerol declined when CFTL-12 cells were withdrawn from IL-3 and became quiescent. Stimulation of quiescent cells with IL-3 produced an acute increase in the mass of both alkylacylglycerol and diacylglycerol, consistent with phosphatidylcholine as a significant source. The effects of PMA on the generation of DG were examined to explore the role of protein kinase C activation in the response to IL-3. PMA stimulated an increase in DG accumulation that was not augmented by the simultaneous addition of IL-3. Down-modulation of protein kinase C by long term PMA treatment reduced, but did not eliminate, the IL-3-stimulated increase in DG, suggesting that protein kinase C activation results in an amplification of the initial accumulation of DG. These results indicate a role for DG, generated through the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, in the induction of protein kinase C activity and the events leading to cell proliferation in response to IL-3.     

Establishment of a differentiated mesodermal line from P19 EC cells expressing functional PDGF and EGF receptors

Aggregation of pluripotent P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells in the presence of DMSO induces differentiation to various mesodermal cell types, including spontaneously contracting muscle. We have established clonal cell lines from these cultures and characterized one (MES-1) in particular for its response to growth factors. In contrast to the undifferentiated stem cells, but as a number of myoblast and muscle cell lines, MES-1 cells respond to both carbachol and bradykinin by the rapid release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. In addition, MES-1 express receptors for and respond mitogenically to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Isolated membranes from these cells retain the capacity to bind both ligands; addition of EGF to membranes induces endogenous phosphorylation of several proteins, including the EGF receptor itself and a 38 kD protein, while addition of PDGF specifically induces phosphorylation of the PDGF receptor. By contrast, other derivatives of P19, isolated from retinoic acid (RA)-treated aggregates and resembling neuroectodermal or endodermal cell types respond only to EGF; PDGF neither binds nor induces phosphorylation and a mitogenic response in these cells. During differentiation from EC cells therefore MES-1 cells developed a combination of growth factor receptor characteristics typical of somatic mesodermal cells and indicate that such receptors on EC-derived mesodermal cells are also functional.     

Expression of interleukin 2 receptors on interleukin 3-dependent cell lines

Several mouse IL 3-dependent cell lines, IC2, LT4, FDC-P2, and PB-3C, derived from spleen or bone marrow cells were shown to express low affinity receptors for IL 2 (Kd; 0.5 to 8 X 10(-8) M). High affinity receptors for IL 2 were not detected on the IL 3-dependent cells within the experimental limitation of this study. The clones did not respond to IL 2 at all at the concentration as high as 25 micrograms/ml. The number of the receptors expressed on those clones was estimated to be 0.2 to 2 X 10(5)/cell, which is comparable with the number of those on IL 2-dependent T cell clones. Expression of IL 2 receptor was confirmed in mRNA levels for both IC2 and LT4 cells. A relatively low level expression of one (4.5 Kb) of four IL 2 receptor mRNA species was observed with those IL 3-dependent clones compared with IL 2-dependent T cells. It seems that these low affinity receptors may be expressed on IL 3-dependent cells that undergo differentiation or maturation in mast cell and some myeloid cell lineages.     

Autophosphorylation of EGF receptors in the A431 cell line with an increased intracellular concentration of Ca(2+) ions

The increase in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ in A431 cells induced by the calcium ionophore A23187 leads to phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors at serine and/or threonine residues. This process is accompanied by the decrease in the level of EGF receptor autophosphorylation at tyrosine residues. Preincubation of cells in a A23187-containing medium in the presence of phorbol-12-myristoyl-13-acetate leads to a further decrease of the phosphotyrosine content in EGF receptors. At increased intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ preincubation of A431 cells with the protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 has no effect on the degree of EGF receptor autophosphorylation. Down-regulation of cellular protein kinase C does not change the A23187-induced effect either. The data obtained suggest that the decreased autophosphorylation of EGF receptors induced by Ca2+ is not due to the activation of cellular protein kinase C.     

The induction of lymphokine synthesis and cell growth in IL 3-dependent cell lines using antigen-antibody complexes

Several IL 3-dependent murine bone marrow-derived cell lines can be stimulated to grow with antigen-antibody (Ag.Ab) complexes. The Ag.Ab complexes induced lymphokine gene expression and the synthesis of IL 2, GM-CSF, IL 3, and BSF-1 (IL 4). The lymphokines produced by these IL 3-dependent cells appeared to stimulate their own growth, as both IL 3 and BSF-1 (IL 4) stimulated the growth of IL 3-dependent cells. Ag.Ab complexes also stimulate the growth of primary cultures of bone marrow cells that have been previously activated with IL 3. Normal bone marrow, IL 2-, and GM-CSF-dependent bone marrow cell lines could bind Ag.Ab complexes, but binding did not result in the induction of lymphokine synthesis or cell growth. Hyperimmune serum from mice also stimulated lymphokine synthesis and cell growth in IL 3-dependent cells, and the stimulatory activity was removed by treatment with Staphylococcus aureus protein A, suggesting the presence of Ag.Ab complexes.     

Identification of functional insulin receptors on membranes from an insulin-producing cell line (RINm5F).

Insulin receptors on RINm5F cell membranes (an insulin-producing rat pancreatic cell line) were studied. To study the insulin receptor alpha-subunit, 125I-labelled photoreactive insulin was covalently bound to the membranes in the absence or presence of unlabelled insulin. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions showed specific labelling of an Mr 130 000 protein. The receptor beta-subunit was studied by using a cell-free phosphorylation assay. Analysis under reducing conditions showed a phosphoprotein of Mr 95 000 whose level of phosphorylation was selectively increased by insulin, and which was specifically immunoprecipitated by antibodies to the insulin receptor. Further, covalent hormone-receptor complexes purified with anti-insulin antibodies were able to undergo autophosphorylation, indicating the existence of operational receptor subunit arrangements. RINm5F cell insulin receptors (and, by analogy, possibly those of native B-cells) thus display structural and functional integrity comparable with those of conventional insulin target cells.     

MDA-468, a human breast cancer cell line with a high number of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, has an amplified EGF receptor gene and is growth inhibited by EGF

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been noted to stimulate proliferation of a variety of normal and malignant cells including those of human breast epithelium. We report here that MDA-468, a human breast cancer cell line with a very high number of EGF receptors, is growth-inhibited at EGF concentrations that stimulate most other cells. The basis for the elevated receptor level is EGF receptor gene amplification and over-expression. An MDA-468 clone selected for resistance to EGF-induced growth inhibition shows a number of receptors within the normal range. The results are discussed in relation to a threshold model for EGF-induced growth inhibition.     

Interleukin 1 (IL 1)-dependent lymphokine production by human leukemic T cell line HSB.2 subclones

Cloning of a human T cell leukemic cell line, HSB.2, was performed by a limiting dilution method to obtain clones with high levels of IL 2 production. None of the subclones that were obtained produced IL 2 constitutively, and only a low level of IL 2 was produced by the stimulation of these subclones with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) alone. High levels of IL 2 production (greater than 300 U/ml) were observed in several clones when stimulated with a cocktail of PHA and IL 1. Among them, HSB.2-A7-D2, A7-D9, or C5-B2 subclones, which were selected after cloning twice, were most effective in IL 1-dependent IL 2 production. HSB.2 subclones exhibited IL 1-dependent production of a variety of lymphokines other than IL 2, e.g., interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), B cell growth factor (BCGF), and colony-stimulating factor (CSF). We observed that subclones with high IL 2-producing capacity tended to produce high levels of IFN-gamma or BCGF as well, while the capacity of CSF production was not parallel to these properties. Although several subclones were found to produce IFN-gamma and BCGF simultaneously with minimal IL 2 activity, no subclones with an exclusive BCGF production were obtained. Furthermore, when supernatants from the stimulated A7-D9 subclone were applied to an Ultro-gel AcA54 gel chromatography, it was revealed that IL 2 activity (m.w. 17K to 18K) and IFN-gamma (40K to 45K) were clearly separated, whereas two peaks of BCGF activity coincided with each peak of IL 2 and IFN-gamma, respectively. On the other hand, CSF activity was eluted at a different peak (30K to 35K). These data indicate that IL 2, IFN-gamma, and CSF activities are based on distinct molecules, whereas BCGF activities are indistinguishable from IL 2 and IFN-gamma. The HSB.2 subclones thus selected will provide a useful model for delineating the mechanism of IL 1-dependent lymphokine(s) production, and are a promising candidate for better lymphokine(s) producers.     

Morphological and functional polarity of an epithelial thyroid cell line

The thyroid epithelial cell line FRT in monolayer culture appeared to be strongly polarized by morphological criteria. Cells were connected by tight junctions, exposed microvilli toward the culture medium and formed domes at confluency. FRT cells were infected with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Sindbis virus and the budding polarity was examined 8 and 16 h after infection, respectively. VSV budding occurred preferentially from the basolateral domain of plasma membrane, while Sindbis virus budding was mostly apical. The distribution of VSV and Sindbis virus glycoproteins, as determined by the immuno-gold technique, correlated well with the budding polarity. Polarized budding was not observed in isolated cells in suspension.     

Characterization of human interleukin-3 receptors on a multi-factor-dependent cell line

Recombinant human interleukin-3 (hIL-3) was radioiodinated by Bolton-Hunter method with maintenance of biological activity. Using 125I-hIL-3, hIL-3 receptors were characterized on a multi-factor-dependent cell line TF-1. Equilibrium binding studies revealed the existence of a single class of binding sites (667 +/- 306 sites/cell) with a Kd of 173 +/- 25 pM. Affinity labeling of TF-1 cells with 125I-IL-3 yielded two bands of 150 kDa and 85 kDa, implying molecular weights of 135 kDa and 70 kDa for the hIL-3 receptors.     

Proliferative activity of autoimmune MRL mouse serum IgG to interleukin 3-dependent cell line through autocrine mechanism

Serum of an autoimmune MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/l) mouse supported the proliferation of interleukin 3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line, FDC-P2. This IL-3-like activity initially appeared at 1 month of age and increased with age. Females showed higher titers than did males. MRL/Mp-+/+ mouse sera also exhibited such activity, though somewhat later in life only in female. Other autoimmune mice, NZB, NZB/NZW F1, and BXSB, demonstrated no such activity in either males or females, young and old. The active component of MRL/l sera was shown to be IgG. F(ab')2 or Fc fragments of MRL/l-IgG lost such activity. Not all IL-3-dependent cell lines, however, responded to MRL/l-IgG. We subcloned MRL-IgG responding and nonresponding clones from FDC-P2 cells and both were still dependent to IL-3. Such nonresponding IL-3-dependent cell lines, however, could be stimulated by the culture supernatant of the responding cell line, FDC-P2/185-4, after being stimulated with MRL/l-IgG. In this culture supernatant, IL-3 was found, thus the existence of an autocrine system was suggested in the IL-3-dependent MRL/l-IgG responding cell line.     

The human carcinoma cell line A431 possesses large numbers of functional beta-adrenergic receptors

The existence of beta-adrenergic receptors was demonstrated on whole A431 cells as well as A431 membrane preparations by means of binding assays using the hydrophobic 1-[3H]dihydroalprenolol and the hydrophilic antagonist [3H]CGP-12,177 as beta-adrenergic ligands. Binding was stereospecific. The receptors, as shown by competition studies, proved to be of the beta 2-subtype and appeared functional in the stimulation of adenylate cyclase. The number of receptors per cell and the yield of receptor sites/mg membrane protein render the A431 cell a useful tool for the study of human beta-adrenergic receptors.     

Characterization of functional VIP/PACAP receptors in the human erythroleukemic HEL cell line

R. LEMA-KISOKA, N. HAYEZ, I. LANGER, P. ROBBERECHT, E. SARIBAN AND C. DELPORTE. Characterization of functional VIP/PACAP receptors in the human erythroleukemic HEL cell line. PEPTIDES. The presence of VIP/PACAP receptors was investigated on the human erythroleukemic cell line HEL. Specific binding of [¹²⁵I]-PACAP or [¹²⁵I]-VIP on HEL cells or membranes was very low and did not allow to perform competition curves. At 37°C PACAP transiently increased cAMP levels in the presence of the non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX, suggesting rapid desensitization. Kinetic studies revealed that optimal conditions to measure the EC₅₀ of PACAP(1–27) were 10 min at 20°C. Under those conditions, PACAP-related peptides increased cAMP levels with EC₅₀ in agreement with the pharmacological profile of the VPAC₁ receptor subtype: PACAP = VIP > [K¹⁵, R^16, L²⁷]VIP(1–7)/GRF(8–27) = [R¹⁶]ChSn (two VPAC₁ agonists) HELODERMIN = secretin. RO 25–1553, a selective activator of VPAC₂ receptor was inactive at 1 μM. Dose-response curves of VPAC₁ agonist molecules (PACAP, VIP, [K¹⁵, R¹⁶, L²⁷]VIP(1–7)/GRF(8–27), [R¹⁶]ChSn) were shifted to the right by the VPAC₁ receptor antagonist [AcHis¹, D-Phe², Lys¹⁵, Leu¹⁷]VIP(3–7)/GRF(8–27), with a K_i of 3 ± 1 nM (n = 3). The presence of VPAC₁ receptor mRNA was confirmed by RT-PCR. Preincubation with PACAP or PMA showed that VPAC₁ receptors underwent homologous and heterologous desensitization.

This study provides the first evidence for the expression of functional VPAC₁ receptors undergoing rapid desensitization in HEL cells.     

Characterization of functional histamine H1 receptors on a cultured smooth muscle cell line

Cultured cells of the smooth muscle line DDT1MF-2, which was derived from a hamster vas deferens tumor, expressed histamine H1-type receptors and responded biochemically and functionally to H1-specific stimulation. The H1-receptor antagonist [3H]-pyrilamine bound specifically to 9.7 x 10(6) sites/DDT1MF-2 cell with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 219 nM. The addition of histamine to suspensions of fura-2-loaded DDT1MF-2 cells elicited a rapid, transient, and stimulus concentration-dependent increase in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ with an EC50 of 3 x 10(-5) M, which demonstrated H1 receptor specificity. Moreover, in order to evaluate in vitro contractile response of individual DDT1MF-2 cells, the degree of intracellular actin polymerization was quantified by a DNase inhibition assay. The percentage of nonpolymerized or G-actin in DDT1MF-2 cells was reduced in a histamine concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 of 1 x 10(-5) M and H1 receptor specificity. Histamine-induced actin polymerization was accompanied by changes in cell shape that were consistent with cellular contraction, as assessed by flow cytometry. The H1-type receptors of cultured DDT1MF-2 cells thus couple histamine stimulation to a variety of functional responses of smooth muscle cells.     

Thec-kit receptor transduces the stem cell factor-triggered growth signal in murine interleukin-3-dependent cell line

The stem cell factor is a glycoprotein hormone which regulates the proliferation and differentiation of primitive hematopoietic cells through its interaction with a tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptor which is encoded by thec-kit proto-oncogene. To examine whether a murinec-kit receptor can be functional in murine interleukin-3 (mlL-3)-dependent hematopoietic cell line, we introduced the murinec-kit cDNA into mlL-3-dependent pro-B cell line Ba/F3. One of the resulting clones, Ba/F3 clone BF-K96, expressed the 140 kDa protein recognized by anti-c-kit monoclonal antibody and the expressedc-kit receptor protein on the cell surface bound to a radiolabeled soluble form of murine stem cell factor (mSCF) with high affinity. BF-K96 clone expressing thec-kit receptor could proliferate in response to mSCF in the absence of mlL-3. The cell clone could also grow in co-culture with mouse 3T3 cells which are endogeneously expressing a membrane-associated type of mSCF on their cell surfaces. These findings demonstrate that thec-kit receptor expressed on mlL-3-dependent hematopoietic cell line Ba/F3 transduce the mSCF-dependent growth signal, indicating that established cell clone will provide a unique cellular system for the study of SCF/c-kit signal transduction mechanism.Abbreviations SCF stem cell factor - IL interleukin - CSF colony stimulating factor - IMDM Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium - DME Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium - FCS fetal calf serum - PCR polymerase chain reaction - EDTA ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid; sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Establishment of a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent growing human T-cell line derived from an interleukin-2-dependent cell line

An adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent growing cell line called CT-Mat was established by the long-term cultivation of an interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent human T-cell line, ILT-Mat, in the presence of cholera toxin instead of IL-2. CT-Mat cells can grow in the medium containing either cholera toxin or forskolin or cAMP derivatives. Although the CT-Mat cell line can still grow dependent on IL-2, the forskolin-induced growth of CT-Mat cells was demonstrated not to be mediated by an autocrine mechanism of IL-2 or any other growth factor. The intracellular cAMP level was elevated by treatment with the chemical agents but little by treatment with IL-2. These suggest that cAMP transduces intracellular growth signals different from those through the IL-2 receptor in an IL-2-dependent T-cell line CT-Mat.