The age-dependent loss of bone marrow B cell precursors in autoimmune NZ mice results from decreased mitotic activity, but not from inherent stromal cell defects

The formation of B lymphocytes is abnormal in autoimmune NZB and (NZB x NZW)F1 mice. With age, the proportion of sIg- Ly-5(220)+ pre-B cells and less mature B cell progenitors in the bone marrow progressively declines, reaching only approximately one-third of normal levels in 20-wk-old NZ mice. To determine the mechanisms responsible for the deficiency of NZ B lineage precursors, the mitotic activity of sIg- Ly-5(220)+ bone marrow cells in vivo was determined in NZ and conventional inbred mice as a function of age. The proportion of sIg- Ly-5(220)+ B cell precursors in (S + G2/M) stages of the cell cycle steadily decreased with age in NZ autoimmune mice. Furthermore, upon metaphase arrest, the rate of entry of sIg- Ly-5(220)+ bone marrow cells into G2/M also decreased with age in NZ mice. Therefore, the mitotic activity of sIg- Ly-5(220)+ B cell precursors is substantially decreased in NZ mice greater than or equal to 20 wk of age. The capacity of the bone marrow stromal microenvironment of NZ mice to support B lineage precursor growth was tested in two ways: 1) the capacity of preformed NZ bone marrow stroma to support B lineage cell growth in long term bone marrow cell culture under lymphopoietic conditions was assessed and 2) the capacity of NZ bone marrow B lineage precursors to expand in vivo after sublethal (200 rad) whole body irradiation was determined. Stroma derived from adult NZ mice supported the growth and development of B lineage lymphocytes in long term bone marrow cell culture to a greater extent than did age-matched conventional murine stroma. Furthermore, sublethal irradiation of older adult NZ mice resulted in some expansion of bone marrow sIg- Ly-5(220)+ B cell precursors in vivo. Therefore, the deficiency of B cell progenitors in the bone marrow of older NZ autoimmune mice is associated with diminished mitotic activity. However, this does not result from defects in the capacity of NZ bone marrow stroma to permit B lineage cell expansion as determined by both in vitro and in vivo experiments. In the absence of a detectable stromal cell defect, it is possible that an active inhibitory process within the bone marrow influences the mitotic activity of B cell precursors in NZ mice.     

Identification of a novel bone marrow-derived B-cell progenitor population that coexpresses B220 and Thy-1 and is highly enriched for Abelson leukemia virus targets.

A novel stage in early B-lymphocyte differentiation has been identified in normal mouse bone marrow cells. Earlier work had demonstrated that bone marrow cells characterized by low levels of Thy-1 and lack of a panel of lineage markers (Thy-1lo Lin- cells) were highly enriched for pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. In this paper, we present evidence that another bone marrow population, which expressed low levels of Thy-1 and coexpressed B220, a B-lineage-specific form of the leukocyte common antigen, contained early and potent precursors for B lymphocytes upon in vivo transfer to irradiated hosts. These Thy-1lo B220+ cells, comprising 1 to 2% of bone marrow cells, were enriched for large cells in the mitotic cycle; the population lacked significant pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell activity and myeloid-erythroid progenitors. Most strikingly, Thy-1lo B220+ cells represented a highly enriched population of bone marrow cells that could be targets of Abelson murine leukemia virus transformation. We propose that Thy-1lo B220+ bone marrow cells represent the earliest stage of committed lymphocyte progenitors, intermediate in differentiation between Thy-1lo Lin- pluripotent stem cells and, in the B lineage, Thy-1- B220+ pre-B cells.     

Extracellular inorganic phosphate regulates gibbon ape leukemia virus receptor-2/phosphate transporter mRNA expression in rat bone marrow stromal cells

In mammalian cells, several observations indicate not only that phosphate transport probably regulates local inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration, but also that Pi affects normal cellular metabolism, which in turn regulates apoptosis and the process of mineralization. To elucidate how extracellular Pi regulates cellular functions of pre-osteoblastic cells, we investigated the expression of type III sodium (Na)-dependent Pi transporters in rat bone marrow stromal cells and ROB-C26 pre-osteoblastic cells. The mRNA expression level of gibbon ape leukemia virus receptor (Glvr)-2 was increased by the addition of Pi in rat bone marrow stromal cells, but not in ROB-C26 or normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. In contrast, the level of Glvr-1 mRNA was not altered by the addition of extracellular Pi in these cells. The induction of Glvr-2 mRNA by Pi was inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX). Moreover, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) /extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway inhibitors; U0126 (1.4-diamino-2, 3-dicyano-1, 4-bis [2-amino-phenylthio] butadiene) and PD98059 (2'-Amino-3'-methoxyflavone) inhibited inducible Glvr-2 mRNA expression, but p38 MEK inhibitor SB203580 [4-(4'-fluorophenyl)-2-(4'-methyl-sulfinylphenyl)-5-(4'pyridyl) imidazole] did not inhibit the induction of Glvr-2 mRNA expression, suggesting that extracellular Pi regulates de novo protein synthesis and MEK/ERK activity in rat bone marrow stromal cells, and through these, induction of Glvr-2 mRNA. Although Pi also induced osteopontin mRNA expression in rat bone marrow stromal cells but not in ROB-C26 and NRK cells, changes in cell viability with the addition of Pi were similar in both cell types. These data indicate that extracellular Pi regulates Glvr-2 mRNA expression, provide insights into possible mechanisms whereby Pi may regulate protein phosphorylation, and suggest a potential role for the Pi transporter in rat bone marrow stromal cells.     

Immunohistochemical localization of bursin in epithelial cells of the avian bursa of Fabricius

Antibodies to the avian B-cell-differentiating hormone bursin (lysyl-histidyl-glycine amide) were raised in mice and rabbits by immunizing with bursin conjugates in Freund's adjuvant. Immunohistochemical staining with these bursin-specific antibodies was restricted to follicular and dendritic reticular epithelial cells of the bursa of Fabricius, and was not found in control avian tissues.     

Suppression of the polyclonal B-cell responses by concanavalin A-treated bone marrow B cells in vitro

A suppressor cell that inhibits the development of a polyclonal antibody response of splenic B cells to lipopolysaccharide is generated in the bone marrow cell culture in response to a mitotic dose (10 micrograms/ml) of concanavalin A (Con A). The Con A-responding suppressor cell is radioresistant and found in a bone marrow B (BM-B) cell population of normal as well as athymic mice. The suppressor activity of Con A-treated BM-B cells was consistently higher (P less than 0.01-0.0001) than those of untreated BM-B and fresh BM cells. The BM-B cell population recovered from short-term (3-day) cultures with Con A contained about 65% surface immunoglobulin (Ig)-positive cells, about 6% T cells, and less than 0.5% plastic-adherent cells, the latter two of which did not contribute to the suppressive activity. Thus, cytolytic treatment with various anti-T-cell antibodies could not eliminate the suppressive activity of the Con A-treated BM-B cells, and the Con A-treated macrophage population provided no significant suppression. The Con A-treated BM-B cells adherent to anti-Ig or anti-Con A dishes exhibited highly enriched suppressive activity. It was therefore concluded that an immature B-cell population of bone marrow could develop in response to stimulation with Con A into surface Ig-positive suppressor cells, contributing to the regulation of nonspecific B-cell responses.     

Lack of spontaneous and inducible natural killer cell activity in human bone marrow: presence of adherent suppressor cells

Human bone marrow cells collected from ribs of patients undergoing thoracotomy had low or no natural killer (NK) cell activity against K562 in a 4-hour chromium release assay. In vitro overnight treatment with interferon or interleukin 2 of bone marrow cells resulted in no induction or augmentation of NK cell activity. In the presence of adherent bone marrow cells interferon was unable to enhance NK cell activity of blood lymphocytes, although the baseline level of NK cell activity was not suppressed. These results suggest that adherent bone marrow cells regulate the development of active NK cells and that bone marrow components do not provide a favorable environment for the functional differentiation of NK cells.     

The isolation, characterization, and molecular cloning of a 75-kDa gelatinase B-like enzyme, a member of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family. An avian enzyme that is MMP-9-like in its cell expression pattern but diverges from mammalian gelatinase B in sequence and biochemical properties

We have isolated a novel 75-kDa gelatinase from a chicken macrophage cell line, HD11. Biochemical and immunological characterization of the purified enzyme demonstrated that it is distinct from the chicken 72-kDa gelatinase A (MMP-2). The enzyme is capable of specific gelatin binding and rapid gelatin cleavage. Incubation with an organomercurial compound (p-aminophenylmercuric acetate) induces proteolytic processing and activation of this enzyme, and the resultant gelatinolytic activity is sensitive to both zinc chelators and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. A full-length cDNA for the enzyme has been cloned, and sequence analysis demonstrated that the enzyme possesses the characteristic multidomain structure of an MMP gelatinase including a cysteine switch prodomain, three fibronectin type II repeats, a catalytic zinc binding region, and a hemopexin-like domain. The 75-kDa gelatinase is produced by phorbol ester-treated chicken bone marrow cells, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, cell types that charac- teristically produce the 92-kDa mammalian gelatinase B (MMP-9). The absence of a 90-110-kDa gelatinase in these cell types indicates that the 75-kDa gelatinase is likely the avian counterpart of gelatinase B. However, the protein is only 59% identical to human gelatinase B, whereas all previously cloned chicken MMP homologues are 75-90% identical to their human counterparts. In addition, the new 75-kDa chicken gelatinase lacks the type V collagen domain that is found in all mammalian gelatinase Bs. Furthermore, the secreted enzyme appears structurally distinct from known gelatinase Bs and the activated enzyme can cleave fibronectin, which is not a substrate for mammalian gelatinase B. Thus the results of this study indicate that a second MMP gelatinase exists in chickens, and although it is MMP-9/gelatinase B-like in its overall domain structure and expression pattern, it appears to be biochemically divergent from mammalian gelatinase B.     

Expression of endogenous avian myeloblastosis virus information in different chicken cells.

Uninfected chicken cells were found to contain endogenous avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV)-specific information. Different tissues from chicken embryos and chickens expressed different amounts of the AMV-specific information. The endogenous AMV-related RNA was most abundant in bone marrow cells, which contained about 20 copies per cell. About 5 to 10 copies of AMV endogenous RNA per cell were found in embryonic yolk sac cells and bursa cells. The spleen, muscle, liver, and kidney cells of chickens and the fibroblasts of chicken embryos contained about two copies per cell. The amounts of AMV endogenous RNA in bone marrow, yolk sac, and bursa varied with age. From 19-day-old embryos to 2-week-old chickens, the bone marrow contained 20 copies of AMV RNA per cell. Bone marrow cells from 2-year-old chickens contained five copies per cell. Yolk sac cells of 10-day-old embryos and 1-day-old chickens were found to contain two copies per cell, whereas in 15- to 17-day-old embryos, these cells contained 5 to 10 copies. These results indicate that the level of endogenous AMV expression correlates with the development of granulopoiesis of the chicken hemopoietic system. The results of experiments on the thermostability of RNA-DNA hybrids indicated that the endogenous AMV RNA is closely related to viral AMV RNA. The expression of endogenous AMV information is independent of the activity of the chick helper factor. This endogenous AMV information is expressed as 20 to 21S RNA in both bone marrow and yolk sac cells.     

Expression of CD28 by bone marrow stromal cells and its involvement in B lymphopoiesis

Young mice lacking CD28 have normal numbers of peripheral B cells; however, abnormalities exist in the humoral immune response that may result from an intrinsic defect in the B cells. The goal of this study was to assess whether CD28 could be involved in the development of B cells. CD28 mRNA was detected preferentially in the fraction of bone marrow enriched for stromal cells. Flow cytometry and RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that CD28 was also expressed by primary-cultured stromal cells that supported B lymphopoiesis. Confocal microscopy revealed that in the presence of B-lineage cells, CD28 was localized at the contact interface between B cell precursors and stromal cells. In addition, CD80 was detected on 2-6% of freshly isolated pro- and pre-B cells, and IL-7 stimulation led to induction of CD86 on 15-20% of pro- and pre-B cells. We also observed that stromal cell-dependent production of B-lineage cells in vitro was greater on stromal cells that lacked CD28. Finally, the frequencies of B-lineage precursors in the marrow from young (4- to 8-wk-old) CD28(-/-) mice were similar to those in wild-type mice; however, older CD28(-/-) mice (15-19 mo old) exhibited a 30% decrease in pro-B cells and a 50% decrease in pre-B cells vs age-matched controls. Our results suggest that CD28 on bone marrow stromal cells participates in stromal-dependent regulation of B-lineage cells in the bone marrow. The localization of CD28 at the stromal cell:B cell precursor interface suggests that molecules important for T cell:B cell interactions in the periphery may also participate in stromal cell:B cell precursor interactions in the bone marrow.     

Suppression of natural killer activity in human blood and bone marrow cultures by bone marrow-adherent OKM1-positive cells

Maintenance and regulation of natural killer (NK) cell activity in human bone marrow cultures were studied using K562 leukemia cells as targets. Culture of bone marrow cells in medium supporting long-term generation of myeloid cells resulted in a rapid loss of NK activity in 1-3 days. In contrast, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity to an NK-resistant tumor was maintained for more than 7 weeks. Horse serum, a component of the myelopoietic culture medium, was found to diminish NK cytotoxicity of blood and bone marrow cultures whereas hydrocortisone supplement did not. In addition, an adherent cell is present in bone marrow which greatly inhibits NK activity. Nonadherent bone marrow cells exhibited higher cytotoxicity than unfractionated cells at all days of culture; adherent cells were not cytotoxic to K562. Purified adherent marrow cells inhibited the cytotoxic capacity of nonadherent blood or marrow mononuclear cells during coculture. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of protaglandin synthesis, augmented levels of NK activity in cultures of bone marrow cells, indicating that macrophages may be suppressing this effector function via prostaglandins. Further identification of the adherent suppressor cells came from experiments in which suppression was prevented by treatment of the adherent cells with monoclonal OKM1 antibody plus complement. This study shows that bone marrow-adherent OKM1-positive cells, presumably macrophages, negatively regulate NK activity, and it defines conditions for analysis of the generation and/or positive regulation of NK cells in human bone marrow.     

Definition of a novel cellular constituent of the bone marrow that regulates the response of immature B cells to B cell antigen receptor engagement

Previously we defined a Thy1(dull) bone marrow-derived cell population that regulated fate decisions by immature B cells after Ag receptor signaling. The microenvironmental signals provided by this cell population were shown to redirect the B cell Ag receptor -induced apoptotic response of immature B cells toward continued recombination-activating gene (RAG) expression and secondary light chain recombination (receptor editing). Neither the identity of the cell responsible for this activity nor its role in immature B cell development in vivo were addressed by these previous studies. Here we show that this protective microenvironmental niche is defined by the presence of a novel Thy1(dull), DX5(pos) cell that can be found in close association with immature B cells in vivo. Depletion of this cell eliminates the anti-apoptotic effect of bone marrow in vitro and leads to a significant decrease in the number and frequency of bone marrow immature B cells in vivo. We propose that, just as the bone marrow environment is essential for the survival and progression of pro-B and pre-B cells through their respective developmental checkpoints, this cellular niche regulates the progression of immature stage B cells through negative selection.     

Hyaluronic acid induces survival and proliferation of human myeloma cells through an interleukin-6-mediated pathway involving the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein

Originating from a post-switch memory B cell or plasma cell compartment in peripheral lymphoid tissues, malignant myeloma cells accumulate in the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma. In this favorable microenvironment their growth and survival are dependent upon both soluble factors and physical cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix contacts. In this report we show that hyaluronan (HA), a major nonprotein glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix in mammalian bone marrow, is a survival and proliferation factor for human myeloma cells. The effect of HA is mainly mediated through a gp 80-interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor pathway by a CD44-independent mechanism, suggesting that HA retains and concentrates IL-6 close to its site of secretion, thus favoring its autocrine activity. In addition, we show that HA-mediated survival and proliferation of myeloma cells is associated with a down-regulation in the expression of p27(kip1) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor and a hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). These data suggest that HA could be an important component in the myeloma cell physiopathology in vivo by potentiating autocrine and/or paracrine IL-6 activities.     

Itchy,a Nedd4 ubiquitin ligase,downregulates latent membrane protein 2A activity in B-cell signaling

Nedd4 family ubiquitin protein ligases (E3s) specifically associate with latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) of Epstein-Barr virus. Our previous studies analyzing LMP2A function in vitro have suggested that Nedd4 family E3s regulate LMP2A function. To determine the role of Nedd4 family E3s in LMP2A B-cell signaling, LMP2A transgenic (LMP2A(+)) mice were crossed with mice with the Itch-deficient (Itch(-/-)) background. Itchy, a mouse homologue of human AIP4, is a Nedd4 family E3 and is also the most abundant Nedd4 family E3 found in LMP2A affinity precipitates from B cells. There were significantly fewer B-cell receptor-positive B cells in spleen and bone marrow B cells in LMP2A(+) Itch(-/-) mice than in LMP2A(+) mice. In addition, LMP2A(+) Itch(-/-) bone marrow B cells formed larger colonies in cultures treated with interleukin-7 (IL-7) than control bone marrow B cells did. Finally, there was a dramatic increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of LMP2A and Syk in IL-7-cultured LMP2A(+) Itch(-/-) B cells. These results indicate that Nedd4 family E3s, in particular Itchy, downmodulate LMP2A activity in B-cell signaling.     

The origin of mesoderm in phoronids

Integrin alphaIIb is a cell adhesion molecule expressed in association with beta3 by cells of the megakaryocytic lineage, from committed progenitors to platelets. While it is clear that lymphohemopoietic cells differentiating along other lineages do not express this molecule, it has been questioned whether mammalian hemopoietic stem cells (HSC) and various progenitor cells express it. In this study, we detected alphaIIb expression in midgestation embryo in sites of HSC generation, such as the yolk sac blood islands and the hemopoietic clusters lining the walls of the major arteries, and in sites of HSC migration, such as the fetal liver. Since c-Kit, which plays an essential role in the early stages of hemopoiesis, is expressed by HSC, we studied the expression of the alphaIIb antigen in the c-Kit-positive population from fetal liver and adult bone marrow differentiating in vitro and in vivo into erythromyeloid and lymphocyte lineages. Erythroid and myeloid progenitor activities were found in vitro in the c-Kit(+)alphaIIb(+) cell populations from both origins. On the other hand, a T cell developmental potential has never been considered for c-Kit(+)alphaIIb(+) progenitors, except in the avian model. Using organ cultures of embryonic thymus followed by grafting into athymic nude recipients, we demonstrate herein that populations from murine fetal liver and adult bone marrow contain T lymphocyte progenitors. Migration and maturation of T cells occurred, as shown by the development of both CD4(+)CD8- and CD4-CD8(+) peripheral T cells. Multilineage differentiation, including the B lymphoid lineage, of c-Kit(+)alphaIIb(+) progenitor cells was also shown in vivo in an assay using lethally irradiated congenic recipients. Taken together, these data demonstrate that murine c-Kit(+)alphaIIb(+) progenitor cells have several lineage potentialities since erythroid, myeloid, and lymphoid lineages can be generated.