Blocking of spleen cell activity against target mammary tumor cells by viral antigens.

Spleen cells from BALB/c females exposed to or neonatally infected with mammary tumor virus (MTV) are cytotoxic to MTV-induced mammary tumor cells in microcytotoxocity assay. This activity can be partially or completely blocked by pretreatment of spleen cells with MTV purified from milk. Murine leukemia virus (MuLV) has no effect. T cell responses of virgin and multiparous BALB/cfC3H females are effectively blocked. Non-T cell responses of multiparous BALB/cfC3H females or of virgin BALB/c females are blocked by some but not all of the MTV antigen preparations. MuLV, but not MTV, can block activity of spleen cells from MuLV-sensitized donors against target MuLV-producing tumor cells.     

Lysis of tumor cells by antibody and complement. VI. Enhanced killing of enzyme-pretreated tumor cells.

The ascites form of a chemically induced guinea pig hepatoma, line-10, was resistant to killing in vitro by xenogeneic antibody and guinea pig complement. Pretreatment of line-10 cells with certain proteolytic enzymes rendered tham susceptible to the killing action of antibody and guinea pig complement. The effects of enzyme pretreatment were dependent on enzyme concentration, temperature, and could be blocked by addition of competitive or non-competitive inhibitors. The effect of the enzyme treatment could reversed by incubating the treated cells at 37 degrees C (but not at 0 degrees C), in the absence of the enzyme. Effective enzymes included ficin, bromelain, pronase, elastase, papain, trypsin, collagenase, lipases type I and type VI, and the neuraminidase preparation isolated from Clostridium perfringens. The activity of the lipase preparations and the neuraminidase preparation isolated from Clostridium perfringens appeared to be caused by proteolytic enzyme contamination. Enzyme preparations that proved ineffecitve in rendering the line-10 cells sensitive to killing by antibody and guinea pig complement included DNase, RNase, beta-glucuronidase type 6A or type B10, hyaluronidase type V or type VI, and pectinesterase.     

Effect of concanavalin A on the killing of tumor cells by antibody and complement.

Concanavalin A (Con A) was found to inhibit the killing of antibody-sensitized line-1 tumor cells (TA) by guinea pig complement (GPC) but not by human complement (HuC). Other plant lectins (wheat germ, leucoagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen) were also tested but Con A was the only lectin found to inhibit antibody-GPC-mediated killing. The inhibitory effect of Con A was observed when the GPC was mixed with Con A or when the antibody-sensitized cells were pretreated with Con A (TA-Con A) before the addition of GPC. The effect could be reversed by treatment of such cells with alpha-D-methylglucopyranoside or by incubation at 37 degrees C for approximately 2 hr. Con A appeared to act by preventing the binding of the first component of GPC (GPC1) to antibody-sensitized tumor cells. Differences in the binding of the first component of HuC (HuC1) and GPC1 to TA-Con A suggested that a difference in the binding site for HuC1 and GPC1 might exist. There was no difference in the number of GPC1 molecules fixed to antibody-sensitized sheep erythrocytes (EA) or EA treated with Con A in experiments using the same antibody as used with the tumor cells and the same Con A preparation. It would consequently appear that the inhibitory effect of Con A on the binding of GPC1 to TA is not due solely to an interaction of Con A with the antibody.     

Non-T cell activation linker promotes mast cell survival by dampening the recruitment of SHIP1 by linker for activation of T cells

The linker for activation of T cells (LAT) and the non-T cell activation linker (NTAL) are two transmembrane adapters which organize IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) signaling complexes in mast cells. LAT positively regulates, whereas NTAL negatively regulates mast cell activation. We previously found that the four distal tyrosines of LAT can generate negative signals. We show here that two of these tyrosines provide two binding sites for SHIP1, that LAT recruits SHIP1 in vivo, and that SHIP1 recruitment is enhanced in NTAL-deficient cells. We show that NTAL negatively regulates mast cell activation by decreasing the recruitment, by LAT, of molecules involved in FcepsilonRI-dependent positive signaling. We show that NTAL also decreases the recruitment of SHIP1 by LAT, leading to an increased phosphorylation of the antiapoptotic molecule Akt, and positively regulates mast cell survival. We finally show that the positive effect of NTAL on Akt phosphorylation and mast cell survival requires LAT. Our data thus document the mechanisms by which LAT and NTAL can generate both positive and negative signals which differentially regulate mast cell activation and survival. They also provide molecular bases for the recruitment of SHIP1 in FcepsilonRI signaling complexes. SHIP1 is a major negative regulator of mast cell activation and, hence, of allergic reactions.     

Simultaneous activation of T cells and accessory cells by a new class of intact bispecific antibody results in efficient tumor cell killing.

Bispecific Abs (bsAb) are promising immunological tools for the elimination of tumor cells in minimal residual disease situations. In principle, they target an Ag on tumor cells and recruit one class of effector cell. Because immune reactions in vivo are more complex and are mediated by different classes of effector cell, we argue that conventional bsAb might not yield optimal immune responses at the tumor site. We therefore constructed a bsAb that combines the two potent effector subclasses mouse IgG2a and rat IgG2b. This bispecific molecule not only recruits T cells via its one binding arm, but simultaneously activates FcgammaR+ accessory cells via its Fc region. We demonstrate here that the activation of both T lymphocytes and accessory cells leads to production of immunomodulating cytokines like IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, and DC-CK1. Thus this new class of bsAb elicits excellent antitumor activity in vitro even without the addition of exogenous IL-2, and therefore represents a totally self-supporting system.     

Regulation of antibody secretion by hybridoma cells. I. Suppression of antibody secretion by coculture of hybridoma cells with idiotype-induced suppressor cells

In this study, we have demonstrated that antibody secretion by hybridoma cell lines can be down-regulated by idiotype-specific immune spleen cells or by nylon wool nonadherent spleen cells. This suppression of antibody secretion can be abolished by treating the idiotype-specific immune spleen cells with anti-Thy 1.2 plus complement. The hybridoma we used for most of our experiments secretes IgM specific for the cross-reacting haptens 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) and 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP). Suppression was achieved by direct coculture of hybridoma cells with immune cells from animals which were injected with affinity-purified hybridoma antibody-coupled syngeneic spleen cells. The suppressed and control cultures contained similar numbers of viable hybridoma cells, suggesting that a simple cytotoxic effect is not responsible. Idiotype specificity was established in experiments showing that two idiotype immune animals immunized with antibody from two different IgM anti-TNP hybridomas could suppress the hybridoma to which they were immunized but could not affect the other hybridoma. Immune spleen cells required 3-4 days of coculture with hybridoma cells before maximum suppression was achieved. The kinetics of the response suggest that the final effector suppressor cell is generated during the coculture period and that a second signal, perhaps a product of the hybridoma cells, may be required.     

PRL modulates cell cycle regulators in mammary tumor epithelial cells.

PRL is essential for normal lobulo-alveolar growth of the mammary gland and may contribute to mammary cancer development or progression. However, analysis of the mechanism of action of PRL in these processes is complicated by the production of PRL within mammary epithelia. To examine PRL actions in a mammary cell-specific context, we selected MCF-7 cells that lacked endogenous PRL synthesis, using PRL stimulation of interferon-gamma-activated sequence-related PRL response elements. Derived clones exhibited a greater proliferative response to PRL than control cells. To understand the mechanism, we examined, by Western analysis, levels of proteins essential for cell cycle progression as well as phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. The expression of cyclin D1, a critical regulator of the G1/S transition, was significantly increased by PRL and was associated with hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein at Ser(780). Cyclin B1 was also increased by PRL. In contrast, PRL decreased the Cip/Kip family inhibitor, p21, but not p16 or p27. These studies demonstrate that PRL can stimulate the cell cycle in mammary epithelia and identify specific targets in this process. This model system will enable further molecular dissection of the pathways involved in PRL-induced proliferation, increasing our understanding of this hormone and its interactions with other factors in normal and pathogenic processes.     

Increased binding and killing of neuraminidase-galactose oxidase-treated tumor cells by normal macrophages.

The binding of Line 10 hepatoma cells to normal syngeneic guinea pig macrophages is increased when the tumor cells are treated with neuraminidase and galactose oxidase (NAGO) before they are added to the macrophage monolayers. The effect is abolished by exposure of the NAGO-treated tumor cells to sodium borohydride. Line 1 hepatoma cells treated with NAGO or with sodium periodate are killed to a greater extent than untreated tumor cells. This effect can also be reversed by sodium borohydride. Further, periodate-treated macrophages become cytotoxic for unmodified tumor cells. These results demonstrate that increased tumor cell killing occurs when artificial contacts (presumably via Schiff bases) are established between normal macrophages and tumor cells. They are consistent with the hypothesis that close cell to cell contact is necessary for macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity.     

Protection against light-activated photofrin II killing of tumor cells by nitroimidazoles.

Nitroimidazoles are good quenchers of triplet state porphyrins in chemical systems, thereby inhibiting singlet oxygen formation and type II photodynamic reactions. Photobiological studies were performed with EMT-6 tumor cells in vitro utilizing Photofrin II (PII) in combination with etanidazole (ETAN), misonidazole (MISO), and trifluoromisonidazole (TF-MISO). After short-term (1 h) exposure of cells to PII, 5 mM ETAN and MISO had no effect on photoinactivation while 5 mM TF-MISO had a small but significant protective effect. When the intracellular oxygen level was equilibrated with 0.3% oxygen in the gas phase, all three nitroimidazoles produced significant photoprotection at concentrations as low as 0.3 microM. After long-term (24 h) exposure of cells to PII, all three nitroimidazoles demonstrated large photoprotective effects under both aerobic and 0.3% oxygen conditions. At equal concentrations of nitroimidazole, photoprotection was greatest for the most lipophilic compound (TF-MISO) and least effective for the most hydrophilic compound (ETAN). These studies suggest that nitroimidazoles can quench triplet state porphyrins (within cells) to reduce intracellular concentrations of singlet oxygen, the putative toxin in PII photoinactivation. In addition, after long-term exposures to PII when porphyrins have partitioned into cellular membranes and lipid environments, the lipophilicity of this class of photoprotector correlates with effectiveness in these mammalian cells.     

Suppression of in vitro antibody responses by Listeria primed spleen cells.

Spleen cells from mice primed with virulent Listeria monocytogenes do not develop an anti-SRBC plaque forming cell response to SRBC in culture. Furthermore, when Listeria primed spleen cells are co-cultured with normal spleen cells and SRBC, the anti-SRBC response of the normal cells is suppressed. Listeria primed spleen cells from T cell depleted donors are equally effective at immunosuppression. The immunosuppressive effect does not appear to be due to the presence of the bacterium or its products per se in the cultures. Furthermore, the effect cannot be transferred across a 0.45 μm pore membrane. Kinetic studies show that the immunosuppressive effect develops by 2 days post-Listeria inoculation and peaks by Day 6. Low doses of Listeria are not immunosuppressive and produce some enhancement effect. From these results, it is suggested that a population of non-T cell dependent cells develop in Listeria primed hosts that nonspecifically suppress the response of B cells to an unrelated antigen in culture.     

Reversal of SV40 tumor-mediated suppression of spleen cell cytotoxicity by antibody.

Spleen cells obtained from hamsters bearing PARA-7 tumors greater than 1.0 cm were not reactive in microcytotoxicity assays unless preincubated overnight. The events occurring during in vitro incubation which lead to reversal of tumor-mediated suppression of cellular immunity were investigated. After 24 hr of incubation, supernatants overlying spleen cells from tumor-bearing hosts contained a factor which blocked cytotoxicity of simian virus 40 (SV40)3-sensitized spleen cells at the PARA-7 target cell level but not at the effector cell level. The preparations did not mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Opposite results were obtained in assays of culture medium overlying spleen cells from hosts with a tumor burden less than 0.1 cm. Although ADCC activity was present, no significant blocking was detectable. Treatment of inactive spleen cells with anti-hamster gamma-globlin in the presence of complement (anti-HGG + C) prevented activation and formation of blocking factor but did not impair the cytotoxic activity of already activated cells. Addition of SV40 antiserum to anti-HGG + C-treated cells led to effector cell activation, whereas heterologous virus-immune sera did not. Control studies established that the antibody-mediated recovery of cytotoxicity was not due to arming. Further studies showed that PARA-7 tumor antigen extract blocked at the effector cell level, not at the target cell level. Addition of PARA-7 extract to spleen cell supernatants mediating ADCC resulted in formation of a factor which blocked at the target cell level but not at the effector cell level. These data are compatible with the following interpretation. Spleen cell unresponsiveness is due to antigen blockade. Recovery of cytotoxicity occurs because antibody synthesized during the incubation period promotes elution of antigen from the effector cell surface. Thus, activation is accompanied by the generation of tumor antigen-antibody complexes.     

Expression of secreted frizzled-related protein 2 in a primary canine mammary tumor cell line: a candidate tumor marker for mammary tumor cells

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) have been proposed to be a good animal model for human breast cancer. To provide a basis for the tumorigenic study of CMTs, cell lines were established using a modified cell culture technique. The epithelial morphology and immunostaining with cytokeratin 18 confirmed the epithelial origin of the cells. In an investigation of possible mammary tumorigenesis-related factors, the expression of Wnt signaling-related proteins was detected in cell lines. Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) was abundantly expressed in CMT cells but not in normal canine mammary gland (MG) cells. Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 was secreted into the culture medium and was associated with the extracellular matrix. In addition, increased expressions of beta-catenin and cyclin D1 were observed in cells overexpressing SFRP2. The marked differential expression of SFRP2 reveals that this protein may be a potential candidate marker for CMTs. The CMT cell line established in this study provides a useful tool and experimental model for understanding both the tumorigenesis of CMTs and the role of Wnt signaling in cancers.     

Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-induced cell killing by tryptophan and indole

Cells sensitive to the cytocidal effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were protected against this effect when growth in the presence of elevated concentrations of tryptophan. Several other indole derivatives also provided protection against TNF cytotoxicity. Most effective were indole itself and its monomethyl derivatives, providing a degree of protection greatly exceeding that observed with tryptophan. Protection was also observed against the cytocidal effect of TNF applied in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor. The protective effect of tryptophan was largely dependent on preexposure of the cells, for several hours, to a high concentration of this amino acid. On the other hand, indole was protective also when applied to cells together with TNF, or even two hours after TNF application. The inhibition of the cytotoxicity of TNF by tryptophan and other indole derivatives may serve as a useful experimental tool in exploring the mechanisms and the physiological implications of TNF cytotoxicity.     

Patterns of blood-vessel invasion by mammary tumor cells

Rat mammary tumor TMT-081 was employed as a model for blood vessel invasion because its mode of metastasis resembles that of human tumors. The invasive mechanism was studied with two methods of serial transplantation: transfer of enzymatically dispersed solid tumors, and transfer of buffy coat containing circulating tumor cells. The latter method produced greater invasion of blood vessels, including larger veins and occasionally arteries, perhaps by obviating damage to tumor cells during enzyme treatment. The course of migration was traced by three-dimensional examination in the high voltage electron microscope, as well as the light microscope. Two broad patterns were found for the course of invasion of small and large vessels respectively.     

Production of a factor inhibiting tumor cell migration by spleen cells from tumor-bearing mice

A factor inhibiting tumor cell migration was found in the culture supernatants of spleen cells of BALB/c mice transplanted with sarcoma cells 20 days before or injected with killed sarcoma cells 14 days before, when the spleen cells were stimulated in vitro for 2 or 24 hr with a 3 M KCl extract of the sarcoma. This factor did not inhibit the migration of guinea-pig macrophages or of theophylline-pretreated sarcoma cells. When the supernatants were fractioned on Sephadex G-100 columns, active fractions with molecular weights lower than 14,000 were distributed broadly.