Thymus-derived inhibitor of lymphocyte proliferation. II. Tissue specificity in vitro and in vivo

A thymus crude factor (TCF) isolated from bovine thymus tissue has been tested for its effects on the proliferation of various murine cells. Specific inhibition in vitro has been found for DNA synthesis in murine T and B lymphocytes which appears not to be based on cytotoxicity. Moreover, TCF, when administered to mice, also interferes with the DNA synthesis in lymphoid tissue in vivo. Our data are suggestive for the presence in TCF of an endogenous 'chalone-like' inhibitor of lymphoid cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.     

THYMUS DERIVED INHIBITOR OF LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION I. ISOLATION AND ASSESSMENT OF TISSUE SPECIFICITY

Preparations from bovine thymus tissue were analyzed for their inhibitory effects during in vitro lymphocyte proliferation. The results indicate that these preparations strongly inhibit DNA synthesis in stimulated human peripheral lymphocytes, bone marrow cells, thymocytes and lymphoblastoid cells. This inhibition was dose-dependent and not due to cytotoxicity of the preparations. No inhibition was found of the spontaneous proliferation of HeLa cells and human fibroblasts indicating that the inhibitory effect was specific for proliferating lymphocytes. Control preparations from bovine liver or kidney did not show any suppression in the test systems used.     

Synergy among rat T cells in the proliferative response to alloantigen.

A synergistic interaction in the proliferative response to alloantigen is described for mixtures of rat thymus and lymph node cells. The optimal conditions for synergy are quantitatively defined. Regression analysis of the slope of the dose-response curve has been utilized to estimate the degree of interaction in thymus-lymph node cell mixtures. The slope of the response of cell mixtures was noted to be significantly greater than the slope for the response of lymph node cells alone. Irradiation was shown to have a differential effect on the response of thymus and lymph node cells in mixtures. Irradiated thymus cells retained the capacity for synergy in mixtures, whereas irradiated lymph node cells did not. Additional studies have demonstrated that both de novo protein synthesis and specific antigen recognition by both responding cell populations in mixtures was required for maximal synergy. These studies demonstrate that synergy cannot be explained as an artifact of altered cell density in vitro. They establish that thymus cells and lymph node cells represent distinct subsets which manifest qualitatively different functions in the proliferative response to alloantigen. Thymus cells can respond directly to alloantigen by proliferation but also have the capacity to amplify the proliferative response of lymph node cells—a capacity which is resistant to X irradiation but requires recognition of alloantigen and de novo protein synthesis. Lymph node cells may similarly respond by proliferation to alloantigen but lack the amplifier activity of thymus cells. Synergy for rat lymphoid cells, like mouse lymphoid cells, has been shown to involve an interaction of thymus-derived lymphocytes.     

STUDIES ON THE REGULATION OF LYMPHOCYTE PRODUCTION IN THE MURINE THYMUS AND SOME EFFECTS OF A CRUDE THYMUS EXTRACT

Cell proliferation in the murine thymus was studied in vivo under normal conditions and from 0 to 24 hr after a single injection of a water-soluble extract from mouse thymus, mouse spleen, and mouse skin. The thymus extract reduced during the first 24 hr the mitotic activity 40%; the spleen extract had a weaker inhibitory effect. The skin extract had no such effect. The thymus extract and spleen extract inhibited the flux of cells into the S phase 0–8 hr after the injection of the extract. Initial labelling index was also reduced in this period. Eight hours after injection of the thymus or spleen extracts the inhibited cells initiated DNA synthesis. The rate of progression of blast cells through the cell cycle was normal 24 hr after the injection of the extracts. It was deduced from the analysis that the thymus extract inhibits processes triggering Go/Gi cells into DNA synthesis, the inhibition of G₂ efflux being of minor importance. Finally a model for the regulation of proliferating thymic blast cells and the emigration of small lymphocytes from the thymus is proposed.     

SPECIFIC INHIBITION OF CELL PROLIFERATION IN THE MOUSE INTESTINE BY AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF RABBIT SMALL INTESTINE

An aqueous extract was prepared from the mucosa of rabbit small intestine by homogenization and centrifugation at 105,000 g. After precipitation with ammonium sulfate, the 0–50 fraction (F₁) and the supernatant (F₂) were collected, dialysed against a phosphate buffer and tested on rats in vitro and mice in vivo. The F₁ fraction was found to inhibit thymidine incorporation into rat intestinal DNA in vitro, but this effect was not found to be tissue specific (liver, kidney). Two hours after a single injection of F₁ (10 mg protein content), the uptake of tritiated thymidine was decreased in jejunal and colonic DNA in mice. This effect was maximal between 2 and 4 hr and totally reversible after 7 hr; this effect was found in neither the kidney nor the testis. A slowing of cellular migration was also noticed in the jejunum and the colon. Conversely, the F₂ fraction did not inhibit the synthesis of jejunal and colonic DNA either in vitro or in vivo. Our results suggest that the F₁ fraction of the aqueous extract of rabbit small intestine contains one or more substances which may act either on intestinal DNA synthesis or on the G₁–S transition of the cellular cycle in the mouse intestine. This reversible and specific intestinal action appears to inhibit cell proliferation and presents several of the characteristics defining a chalone.     

Epidermal Growth Factor Induces Proliferation and DNA Synthesis in Ciliate Cells

We studied the effect of murine epidermal growth factor on cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in macronuclei of ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis Gl. Mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factor on proliferation-induced tetrahymena cells has been revealed. This effect is due to the induced progression of cells at G ₁ and, consequently, their earlier entering DNA synthesis phase of the first cell cycle. Epidermal growth factor had no mitogenic effect on the resting cells in a stationary culture (G ₀ phase) whose development is independent of the growth factors in the medium.     

Production of Interleukin 1 Inhibitors by the Murine Macrophage Cell Line P388D1 Which Produces Interleukin 1

A murine macrophage cell line P388D₁ in in vitro culture without any specific stimulation produced both interleukin 1 (IL1) and IL1 inhibitor which inhibits mitogenic response of murine thymocytes to IL1 in the culture fluids. The factor(s) responsible for inhibiting IL1-induced thymocyte proliferation consisted of at least two molecules: factor I (FI) with an isoelectric point of 6.0 and factor II (FII) with an isoelectric point of 5.3, both of which had a similar m.w. of 40–60 kDa. FI activity was sensitive to heat (56 C) treatment and acid pH (3.0) treatment, while FII was resistant to both treatments. Both FI and FII inhibited mitogenic responses of thymocytes to IL1, but not proliferation of murine lymphoid cells induced by other interleukins, namely, IL2, IL3, or IL4. Neither showed any inhibition of spontaneous proliferation of murine tumor cell lines, suggesting that inhibition was specific for IL1, but not nonspecifically inhibiting for cellular DNA. These IL1 inhibitors were also suggested to be acting in the early phase of interaction between IL1 and lymphoid cells. The possible role of these inhibitors as representatives of regulatory substances, which normally control IL1 activities either in the levels of inflammation or immune responses, was discussed.     

DNA Products in In Vitro DNA Synthesis Using Bacteriophage ϕX174 Single-stranded DNA

We described product analysis of DNA synthesized in chloroplast lysate from liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. cell suspension cultures. Characteristics of in vitro DNA synthesis by chloroplast lysate using bacteriophage ?X174 single-stranded DNA were very similar to those in the case of double-stranded calf thymus DNA reported previously. Autoradiographic analysis clearly showed the incorporation of radioactive [α-³²P]-dCTP into DNA molecules associated with bacteriophage ?X174 single-stranded template DNA, indicating conversion of bacteriophage ?X174 single-stranded DNA to double-stranded DNA (RF III, double-stranded linear molecule). Experiments on the fate of [³²P]-labeled single-stranded DNA also showed a clear conversion of the single-stranded DNA to double-stranded DNA. Furthermore, patterns of sucrose density gradient centrifugations (neutral and alkaline) showed the production of two major components in in vitro DNA synthesis by chloroplast lysate. This also indicated conversion of bacteriophage ?X174 single-stranded DNA to double-stranded DNA (RF III form). Our results suggest that the mechanism of chloroplast DNA replication could be the mode of strand-displacement DNA synthesis as seen in animal mitochondrial DNA synthesis.     

In Vivo measurement of unscheduled DNA synthesis and S-phase synthesis as an indicator of hepatocarcinogenesis in rodents

Measurement of chemically induced DNA repair as unscheduled DNA synthesis in rodent liver following in vivo treatment is a useful screen for potential hepatocarcinogens. In addition to measurement of unscheduled DNA synthesis, examination of S-phase synthesis provides an indicator of chemically induced cell proliferation in the liver, which may be a basis for hepatic tumor promotion. Several chemicals and classes of chemicals have been examined using these endpoints. The pyrrolizidine alkaloid riddelline is a potent genotoxic agent in vitro, and in vivo studies confirm this response as riddelline induces significant elevations in unscheduled DNA synthesis and S-phase synthesis in rat liver. Conversely, H. C. Blue dyes #1 and #2 are both potent genotoxic agents in vitro but fail to express this genotoxicity in vivo. H. C Blue #1 induces significant increases in S-phase synthesis in B6C3F1 mouse liver, which correlates with the observed carcinogenicity of this compound. Halogenated hydrocarbons likewise fail to induce unscheduled DNA synthesis in vivo, but many of these compounds do increase hepatic cell proliferation in mice, which may be the principal mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis in this species.Abbreviations BCMEE bis(2-chloro-l-methylethyl)ether - dThd thymidine - HCB1 H.C. Blue #1 - HCB2 H.C. Blue #2 - UDS unscheduled DNA synthesis     

Oxygen consumption in diapausing blastocysts

In vitro hybridization of seven pairs of genetically different murine cell has been demonstrated by the use of karyological markers, and pure cultures of these hybrids have been isolated. All somatic hybrids showed a progressive loss of chromosomes during this proliferation in vitro.     

In vitro Transcription of Kinetoplast and Nuclear DNA in Kinetoplastida*†

SYNOPSIS. DNA-dependent RNA polymerases have been solubilized from homogenates of Crithidia fasciculata using gentle extraction procedures. RNA polymerase I and II are separated on DEAE cellulose at 0.07M (NH₄)₂SO₄ and 0.13M (NH₄)₂SO₄ respectively. RNA polymerase II is inhibited 80% by α-amanitin (25 μg/ml). Both RNA polymerases require DNA as a template, ribonucleoside triphosphates and Mn²⁺. The synthesis of RNA as a product is inhibited by DNase. RNase, pronase and actinomycin D. Purified kinetoplast and nuclear DNA can serve as templates for the RNA polymerases. Denatured DNA templates are preferred. The synthesis of RNA continues for at least an hour and is inhibited by trypanocidal drugs including suramin. antrycide, acriflavine, ethidium bromide and berenil. Complementary RNA synthesized in vitro from C. fasciculata kinetoplast DNA hybridizes with C. fasciculata kinetoplast DNA but not with C. fasciculata nuclear DNA or Blastocrithidia culicis kinetoplast DNA, Escherichia coli, T4 or calf thymus DNAs. The complementary RNA synthesized in vitro from C.fasciculata kinetoplast DNA sediments at 4–5S.     

Cell proliferation in the subependymal layer of the adult mouse in vivo and in vitro

Pulse labelling experiments with [³H] thymidine (dT) and double labelling experiments with [³H]dT and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) were carried out on cells of the subependymal layer in the brain of adult normal mice in vivo, in vivo/in vitro and in vitro. The results should (i) lead to information about cell cycle parameters of these cells in the brain of adult mice, since these cells have been studied mostly in the rat brain up to now and (ii) answer the question whether results concerning cell proliferation obtained in vivo correspond with those from brain slices incubated in vitro with or without prelabelling in vivo. In vivo an LI of 20.2 ± 2.7% (x?± SEM) and T_s= 7.2 ± 0.7h were found. Furthermore, grain count halving experiments led to a surprisingly short cycle time (T_c) of 11.2–14.2 h. The longer T_c values (18–20 h) reported in the literature for subependymal cells in the rat brain seem to be due to evaluations of different areas around the lateral ventricle without considering the migrating behaviour of these cells which is quite different regionally. The in vitro studies (with or without prelabelling in vivo) showed a significantly reduced LI due to the fact that about 20% of the S phase cells, possibly lying in the middle of S, stopped further DNA synthesis after transfer to culture. This was shown by comparing the cell fluxes at the G₁/S and S/G₂ borders of in vivo vs. in vitro studies.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic and tandem mass spectrometric quantitation ofN7-methyldeoxyguanosine in methylated calf thymus DNA

Quantitation ofN7-methyldeoxyguanosine (N7-MedG) produced in thein vitro N-methyl-N-introsourea (NMU) action on calf thymus DNA has been achieved by enzymatic degradation, liquid chromatographic separation and desorption chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry. In conjunction with the resolving power of HPLC in the separation of isomers, desorption chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry has been utilized in determining modified nucleosides at low levels using a stable-isotope labeled compound as an established by an independent HPLC analysis of methylated calf thymus DNA. A sensitive and specific methodology for the quantitation ofN7-MedG at the picomole level using HPLC combined with tandem mass spectrometry without radioisotope labeling process is presented. The potential of the liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric analysis shows the detection ofN7-MedG as a possible marker for human exposure to methylating agentsin vitro.     

Early embryonic lethality of mice lacking POLD2

As a highly conserved DNA polymerase (Pol), Pol δ plays crucial roles in chromosomal DNA synthesis and various DNA repair pathways. However, the function of POLD2, the second small subunit of DNA Pol δ (p50 subunit), has not been characterized in vivo during mammalian development. Here, we report for the first time, the essential role of subunit POLD2 during early murine embryogenesis. Although Pold2 mutant mouse embryos exhibit normal morphology at E3.5 blastocyst stage, they cannot be recovered at gastrulation stages. Outgrowth assays reveal that mutant blastocysts cannot hatch from the zona pellucida, indicating impaired blastocyst function. Notably, these phenotypes can be recapitulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown, which also exhibit slowed cellular proliferation together with skewed primitive endoderm and epiblast allocation during the second cell lineage specification. In summary, our study demonstrates that POLD2 is essential for the earliest steps of mammalian development, and the retarded proliferation and embryogenesis may also alter the following cell lineage specifications in the mouse blastocyst embryos.     

Antileukemic Activities and Mechanism of Action of 2′-Deoxy-4′-methylcytidine and Related Nucleosides

Abstract

Antileukemic activity of several analogues containing 2′-deoxy-4′-methylcytidine and its araC counterpart were evaluated against murine leukemic P388 cells in vitro and in vivo. Both compounds showed significant cytostatic activity (both IC₅₀=0.4 μM) in vitro and the former compound administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day × 5 showed high activity (T/C=175%) in vivo. The mechanism of action of these 5′-triphosphates on DNA polymerases in detail will be also described.     

Culture conditions affecting induction and release of lymphocyte produced proliferation inhibitory factor (PIF)

Studies on the factors affecting the production of a proliferation inhibitory factor (PIF) by human lymphocytes are presented. Maximal PIF production occurred with mitogen stimulation of blood lymphocytes cultured at 1 × 10⁶/ml. Optimal cultures contained 10% fetal calf serum, but PIF could be produced in the absence of serum, and after only a 6-hr pulse exposure to PHA. PIF production was found to correlate with lymphocyte activation in response to the mitogen PHA but was not related to lymphocyte proliferation (DNA synthesis). Inhibitory activity could be detected as early as 3 hr after mitogen addition, long before DNA synthesis occurs. The mitogens Con A and PWM initiated different intensities of DNA synthesis in these cultures, but similar quantities of PIF. Antigenic stimulation of sensitive human peripheral lymphocyte populations resulted in the release of PIF. Cells from donors that gave a strong positive skin test to tuberculin (PPD) responded in tissue culture to PPD by producing PIF, while the cells from skin test negative donors did not. A small quantity of PIF was also evident in the supernatants from cultures with no known stimulus (“unstimulated”), this was found to result from activation of the lymphocytes by nonlymphoid elements and by fetal calf serum. An investigation of the PIF-producing capabilities of other lymphoid tissues showed that lymph node cells produced this humoral factor, whereas thymus cells did not. Thymus cell supernatants, in fact, were found to contain an extremely labile cytotoxin which degraded rapidly upon storage.     

Cauliflower Mosaic Virus replication complexes: characterization of the associated enzymes and of the polarity of the DNA synthesized in vitro

The synthesis of both strands of CaMV-DNA has been studied in vitro using viral replication complexes obtained by hypotonic extraction of infected plant organelles. Hybridization of the DNA synthesized in vitro to single stranded CaMV DNA probes cloned in bacteriophage M 13 confirmed that the 35 S RNA served as a template for the synthesis of the (–) DNA strand. The response of CaMV DNA synthesis to various inhibitors suggests that a single enzyme directs both steps of the replication cycle. A comparative activity gel analysis of the DNA polymerases present in nuclear extracts from healthy and CaMV-infected turnips revealed an increase of a DNA polymerase species migrating in the 75 Kd range in infected tissue. When the enzyme activity associated with the isolated replicative complexes was similarly analyzed, the 75 Kd polymerase was markedly predominant, confirming that DNA polymerases of the -type (MW in the 110 Kd range) are not involved in the aphidicolin-insensitive CaMV DNA replication. It seems therefore increasingly probable that CaMV codes for its own polymerase.     

Studies on the regulation of lymphocyte production in the murine thymus and some effects of a crude thymus extract.

Cell proliferation in the murine thymus was studied in vivo under normal conditions and from 0 to 24 hr after a single injection of a water-soluble extract from mouse thymus, mouse spleen, and mouse skin. The thymus extract reduced during the first 24 hr the mitiotic activity 40%; the spleen extract had a weaker inhibitory effect. The skin extract had no such effect. The thymus extract and spleen extract inhibited the flux of cells into the S phase 0-8 hr after the injection of the extract. Initial labelling index was also reduced in this period. Eight hours after injection of the thymus or spleen extracts the inhibited cells initiated DNA synthesis. The rate of progression of blast cells through the cell cycle was normal 24 hr after the injection of the extracts. It was deduced from the analysis that the thymus extract inhibits processes triggering G0/G1 cells into DNA synthesis, the inhibition of G2 efflux being of minor importance. Finally a model for the regulation of proliferating thymic blast cells and the emigration of small lymphocytes from the thymus is proposed.     

Two novel human and mouse DNA polymerases of the polX family

We describe here two novel mouse and human DNA polymerases: one (pol λ) has homology with DNA polymerase β while the other one (pol µ) is closer to terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase. However both have DNA polymerase activity in vitro and share similar structural organization, including a BRCT domain, helix–loop–helix DNA-binding motifs and polymerase X domain. mRNA expression of pol λ is highest in testis and fetal liver, while expression of pol µ is more lymphoid, with highest expression both in thymus and tonsillar B cells. An unusually large number of splice variants is observed for the pol µ gene, most of which affect the polymerase domain. Expression of mRNA of both polymerases is down-regulated upon treatment by DNA damaging agents (UV light, γ-rays or H₂O₂). This suggests that their biological function may differ from DNA translesion synthesis, for which several DNA polymerase activities have been recently described. Possible functions are discussed.