Effects on growth behavior in continuous hybridoma cell cultures: The role of viral contamination

This article describes the retrovirus expression with optimal nutrient supply and its potential growth inhibition effects in continuous hybridoma cell cultivation. A special reactor setup with total cell retention was developed to examine growth inhibition effects. Using this fermentation strategy we observed a decrease of viability cell rate which occurred at a defined state of the process despite sufficient nutrient supply. Therefore we assume that inhibitory substances are responsible for these effects. The molecular weight range of the inhibitory substances and the possible retrovirus cooperation of these growth inhibition effects were examined. To determine the molecular weight range we used the following methods: ultrafiltration, gelfiltration, ultracentrifugation and gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, RT-PCR and western-/immunoblot are used to detect retrovirus particles in the supernatant and to show a retrovirus participation on growth inhibition effects. The possible growth modulation was tested in a biological assay (MTT-assay). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inhibition of growth of cultured Babesia microti by serum and macrophages in the presence or absence of T cells

Serum and macrophages from the acute-phase (days 12-14 p.i.) and recovery-phase (days 23-25 p.i.) of infection of mice with Babesia microti were analyzed for their ability to inhibit the in vitro growth of B. microti in the presence or absence of T cells. Recovery-phase serum was inhibitory to the growth of B. microti, whereas, acute-phase serum had no inhibitory effects. Both acute- and recovery-phase macrophages inhibited B. microti growth. The co-culture of acute- but not recovery-phase T cells with macrophages from uninfected control mice was inhibitory to the growth of B. microti. Growth of B. microti was also inhibited in cultures containing macrophages from uninfected control mice plus culture supernatant fluid from acute-phase but not recovery-phase T cells. The supernatant fluid from B. microti cultures with acute-phase T cells contained IFN-gamma detected by a sandwich ELISA, whereas cultures with control T cells or recovery phase T cells did not. Results of the present study suggest the likelihood of a protective role against B. microti in mice for antibody which appeared in recovery-phase serum and for macrophages activated by IFN-gamma from acute-phase T cells.     

A comparison of the kinetic properties of mouse brain glutamate decarboxylase activities in the mitochondrial and supernatant fractions

Several properties of the glutamate decarboxylase activities in the high-speed supernatant and water-washed mitochondrial fractions were compared. No significant differences in the values of Km for glutamate, the inhibitory effects of chloride ion, the proportion of pyridoxal-P independent activity remaining after exhaustive dialysis, the effects of added pyridoxal-P or the inhibitory effects of ATP were observed between the two fractions. The water-washed mitochondrial fraction was found to contain about 4 percent of the initial activity in the homogenate. Aside from the fact the small amount of glutamate decarboxylase found in the mitochondrial fraction cannot be released from the particles by washing or other mild treatments, there are presently no well documented differences between the glutamate decarboxylases found in the mitochrondrial and supernatant fractions.     

Plasmid stability in immobilized and free recombinant Escherichia coli JM105(pKK223-200): importance of oxygen diffusion, growth rate, and plasmid copy number

Stability of the plasmid pKK223-200 in Escherichia coli JM105 was studied for both free and immobilized cells during continuous culture. The relationship between plasmid copy number, xylanase activity, which was coded for by the plasmid, and growth rate and culture conditions involved complex interactions which determined the plasmid stability. Generally, the plasmid stability was enhanced in cultured immobilized cells compared with free-cell cultures. This stability was associated with modified plasmid copy number, depending on the media used. Hypotheses are presented concerning the different plasmid instability kinetics observed in free-cell cultures which involve the antagonistic effects of plasmid copy number and plasmid presence on the plasmid-bearing/plasmid-free cell growth rate ratio. Both diffusional limitation in carrageenan gel beads, which is described in Theoretical Analysis of Immobilized-Cell Growth, and compartmentalized growth of immobilized cells are proposed to explain plasmid stability in immobilized cells.     

Plasmid stability in immobilized and free recombinant Escherichia coli JM105(pKK223-200): importance of oxygen diffusion, growth rate, and plasmid copy number.

Stability of the plasmid pKK223-200 in Escherichia coli JM105 was studied for both free and immobilized cells during continuous culture. The relationship between plasmid copy number, xylanase activity, which was coded for by the plasmid, and growth rate and culture conditions involved complex interactions which determined the plasmid stability. Generally, the plasmid stability was enhanced in cultured immobilized cells compared with free-cell cultures. This stability was associated with modified plasmid copy number, depending on the media used. Hypotheses are presented concerning the different plasmid instability kinetics observed in free-cell cultures which involve the antagonistic effects of plasmid copy number and plasmid presence on the plasmid-bearing/plasmid-free cell growth rate ratio. Both diffusional limitation in carrageenan gel beads, which is described in Theoretical Analysis of Immobilized-Cell Growth, and compartmentalized growth of immobilized cells are proposed to explain plasmid stability in immobilized cells.     

Tumor cell biotransformation products of prostaglandin A1 with growth inhibitory activity

The growth inhibitory effect and the fate of prostaglandin A1 (10(-6) M) were followed in cultures of rat B104 neuroblastoma and C6 glioma cells. More than 40% and 85% of the drug were neither recognized by a prostaglandin A1 antiserum nor extracted from the acidified medium with ethyl acetate, after 6 h and 24 h-incubation, respectively. When the supernatant of cells cultured in the presence of prostaglandin A1 during 24 hours was transferred to other cells and used as culture medium, the same growth inhibitory effect as with prostaglandin A1 was observed even when no prostaglandin A1 was added. After extensive purification and reverse phase HPLC of supernatant, four peaks more polar than prostaglandin A1 were shown; two of them were still active as growth inhibitors. This biotransformation was not observed with normal cells like L 929 or chick embryo fibroblasts, for which prostaglandin A1 had no inhibitory effect. The identification of these metabolites will allow the study of the structure-activity relationship.     

Thymic dependence of cell-mediated immunity to avian sarcomas in chickens. Immunological characterization of a nonvirion antigen in virus-infected cells.

Chickens bearing tumors which have been induced by avian retroviruses express cellmediated immune responsiveness against antigens which are associated with these neoplasms. We have employed a peripheral lymphocyte stimulation test to characterize antigens which are found in the supernatant fluids of avian retrovirus-infected chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells and in the plasma of birds which have been inoculated with avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). The results indicated that the antigenic activity being measured was virus group specific, cell transformation independent, and nonvirion in nature. Paradoxically, expression of such antigen(s) was restricted to cells which were actively synthesizing progeny avian retrovirus particles, and was absent in mammalian nonproducer cells which had been transformed by avian sarcoma viruses. Ability to respond immunologically to such antigen(s) was present in animals which had been inoculated with either leukosis or sarcoma viruses. Thymectomy, but not bursectomy, was stimulatory to tumor growth and abolished sensitized lymphocyte immune responsiveness in this system.     

Insulin and other regulatory factors modulate the growth and the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity of primary rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells in serum free medium.

Insulin was observed to modulate the growth and the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity of primary cultures of rabbit renal proximal tubule cells in serum free medium. Insulin was stimulatory to primary proximal tubule cell growth at a concentration of 10(-8) M. In contrast, insulin was inhibitory to a proximal tubule function, PEPCK activity, following a 5-minute incubation period. An insulin dosage as low as 10(-10) M was inhibitory to PEPCK activity, suggesting the involvement of insulin receptors. Although insulin was required at a significantly higher dosage to stimulate the growth of the primary renal proximal tubule cells than to inhibit PEPCK activity, the elevated dosage required in order to observe a growth effect may be explained by the degradation of insulin by the primary renal proximal tubule cells. However the possible involvement of receptors for Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) and Insulin-like Growth Factor II (IGF-II) in mediating the effects of insulin cannot be excluded. Other effector molecules were also examined with respect to their effects on PEPCK activity. The possible involvement of cyclic AMP in the control of the PEPCK activity of the primary renal cells was indicated by the stimulatory effects of 8 bromocyclic AMP, isobutyl methylxanthine (a cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor), and forskolin (an activator of adenylate cyclase). Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA), which activates protein kinase C, was inhibitory. The actions of these effector molecules and insulin on the PEPCK activity of the primary renal cultures are remarkably similar to their effects on hepatic PEPCK. Several growth factors, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) were also examined. FGF was observed to be stimulatory, whereas TGF beta was inhibitory to the PEPCK activity of the primary renal proximal tubule cells.     

Search for inhibitors against herpes simplex virus type-I in cell extracts derived from human lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Cell extracts obtained from KB cells and 5 human lymphoblastoid cell lines including 2 from Burkitt's lymphoma (P3HR-1 and Raji), one each from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (no.223), acute lymphatic leukemia (MOLT-4) and a healthy person (NC-37) were tested for their inhibitory effects on the growth of herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in green monkey kidney (GMK) cells by the plaque titration method. The relationship between the production of HSV-1 inhibitors and the degree of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome repression in lymphoblastoid cells were also examined. Among the cell lines used P3HR-1 and no.223 cells produced a few EBV particles, Raji and NC-37 cells contained EBV genomes only, and MOLT-4 as well as KB cells were EBV genome-negative. The results revealed that P3HR-1 cell extract showed a tendency to inhibit HSV-1 growth in GMK cells but the other 4 lymphoblastoid cell lines and KB cells did not produce HSV-1 inhibitors, indicating that EBV genomes governing the formation of EBV structural antigens were not related to the production of HSV-1 growth inhibitors. The extracts from MOLT-4 cells, which are only a T lymphocyte cell line used in this study, stimulated HSV-1 growth in GMK cells significantly.     

Ketoconazole inhibition and glucocorticoid action in the human lymphoblastic leukemia cell line CEM-C7

The antifungal drug, ketoconazole, was reported to antagonize the induction of the enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) by glucocorticoids in hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells, and to compete with glucocorticoids for binding to the glucocorticoid receptor. Since glucocorticoids inhibit the growth of the human leukemia cell line CEM-C7, ketoconazole might be expected to reverse this inhibition. Unexpectedly, ketoconazole inhibited CEM-C7 cell growth without utilizing glucocorticoid receptors. This was confirmed by ketoconazole inhibition of the growth of a receptor-less subline of CEM-C7 cells which are insensitive to glucocorticoids. Ketoconazole competed with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for binding to the glucocorticoid receptor in cell-free supernatant prepared from CEM-C7 cells, but this was greatly reduced if ketoconazole and TA were incubated with intact cells prior to preparation of the cell-free supernatant. Ketoconazole inhibited induction by TA of the enzyme glutamine synthetase only at concentrations of 45-90 microM. We conclude that ketoconazole antagonism of glucocorticoid activity in CEM-C7 cells is probably not of pharmacologic significance due to the large concentrations required, and its reduced interaction with receptors in intact cells. The growth inhibitory activity of ketoconazole may be of interest in cancer chemotherapy.     

Fine Structure of the Cytomembranes of Nitrosocystis oceanus

Thin-sectioned, negatively stained, and freeze-etched preparations of Nitrosocystis oceanus cytomembranes were compared. The cytomembranes in freeze-etched cells were covered with 80- to 120-A particles. When cells were disrupted and differentially centrifuged, various membrane and particle fractions were obtained. Negatively stained membrane fragments from the pellet centrifuged at 3,000 x g showed 70- to 80-A stalked particles, whereas those from the pellet centrifuged at 39,000 x g exhibited a crystalline array of subunits with a 30- to 40-A periodicity. High-speed supernatant and pellet fractions centrifuged at greater than 39,000 x g contained 40- to 120-A free particles but no membranes. In chemically fixed cells, 40-A particles were found embedded in the matrix of membranes. Results suggest that the larger 80- to 120-A particles are enzyme complexes, whereas the smaller 30- to 40-A particles represent a structural protein or a lipoprotein of the membrane.     

Microglial infection by a neurovirulent murine retrovirus results in defective processing of envelope protein and intracellular budding of virus particles.

The observation of murine retrovirus infection of microglial cells in brain regions expressing spongiform neurodegenerative changes suggests that these cells may play an important role in pathogenesis. To evaluate this potential in vitro, murine microglial cells were infected in mixed glial cultures with the highly neurovirulent murine retrovirus, FrCasE. The microglia were then isolated from the mixed cultures on the basis of their differential adherence and shown to be approximately 98% pure. The infected microglia expressed viral envelope protein at the plasma membrane, while viral budding was primarily intracellular. Evaluation of the viral envelope protein by immunoblotting indicated that the immunoreactive species produced was exclusively a 90-kDa precursor protein. Very little of the envelope protein was associated with particles released from these cells, and viral titers in the culture supernatant were low. Interestingly, these cells were still capable of infecting permissive target cells when seeded as infectious centers. This partially defective infection of microglial cells suggests a potential cellular means by which a neurovirulent retrovirus could disrupt normal microglia and in turn central nervous system motor system functioning.     

逆转录病毒介导的人NT—3在嗅神经鞘细胞中的表达及活性检测

本文构建了pRev-TRE-NT-3的逆转录病毒表达载体,通过Ecopack293细胞将其与pRevTet-On分别进行包装,制备了重组缺陷型的hNT-3和Tet-on逆转录病毒,用这两种病毒感染原代培养大鼠神经嗅神经鞘细胞（olfctory ensheathing cells,OECs),并经强力霉素（Dox）诱导,获得Dox浓度依赖性hNT-3表达的OECs,最后经过Western-Blot检测hNT-3的表达以及通过DRG与NT－3转染后OECs联合培养来对表达的hNT-3活性进行鉴定,结果：（1）hNT-3－pcDNA的多克隆位点,用EcoRI和HindⅢ酶切,PCR扩增,再用Sall和Hind Ⅲ切下全长编码的hNT-3cDNA,定向连接到pRev-TRE上,pRev-TRE全长为6．5kb,NT-3全长为0.78kb,pRev-TRE-NT-3重组体经过鉴定,确认插入子的方向和完整性,结果与预期相符。（2）hNT-3修饰的OECs培养上清经Western-blot检测,与hNT-3抗体结合的蛋白条带分子量约为28kd,hNT-3修饰过的OECs上清表达量明显高于未转染组OECs的表达量,且hNT-3表达量与Dox浓度有依赖性。（3）与hNT-3修饰的OECs联合培养背根神经节（dorsal root ganglion,DRG),有许多DRG细胞向外迁移,这些细胞折光性强,突起较长而纤细,并形成复杂的网络。而未修饰的OECs组, 只有少量的细胞迁移生长,细胞迁移和突起生长都很局限,空白对照组的DRG没有向外迁移的细胞和向外延伸的突起;且对照组的突起生长长度明显比NT－3修饰的实验组短（P＜0．01）。这些结果表明,Tet-On调控NT－3表达在OECs转染成功,为进一步体内移植修复损伤提供了理想的材料。     

Cytopathology and release of an RNA virus from a strain of Trichomonas vaginalis

A strain of Trichomonas vaginalis infected with a double-stranded RNA virus showed pronounced cytopathology in the form of giant syncytia generated by the recruitment of single cells. The giant cells ultimately lysed, releasing virus into the culture medium. In the infected cells, clusters of electron-dense particles resembling viral structures were found in the cytoplasm. In addition, distinctive inclusions composed of similar particles were present in the nuclei of some cells. Double-stranded viral RNA of 5.5 kbp was demonstrated in both cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions from these cells. Viral particles collected from the cell-free culture supernatant were of the same shape and size as the RNA virus isolated from a strain of T. vaginalis described previously (Wang & Wang, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 260: 3697–3702, 1985; Wang & Wang, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 83: 7956–7986) which does not show this cytopathology.     

Antitumor activity of cell suspension culture of green tea seed (Camellia sinensis L.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the antitumor activity of suspension cultures of tea callus cells grown in the presence of different concentrations of the growth regulator 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) with or without light irradiation. The methanol and ethanol extracts of precipitated cells (MEP, EEP) exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on the growth of tumor cell lines than the water extract of precipitated cells (WEP) or the supernatant. Compared to culture under dark conditions, exposure to light irradiation led to significantly higher antitumor activity. The MEP from light irradiated cells at 250 μg/mL with 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D displayed more than 64% growth inhibition of HEP-2 cells, whereas normal cells showed less than 25% growth inhibition. The some fractions of MEP obtained from Diaion HP-20 column chromatography displayed the majority of inhibitory activity against the HEP-2 cell line. These results show that 2,4-D, and light stimulated the synthesis of antitumor compounds.     

逆转录病毒介导的人NT-3在嗅神经鞘细胞中的表达及活性检测

本文构建了pRev-TRF-NT-3的逆转录病毒表达载体,通过Fcopack293细胞将其与pRev-Tet-On分别进行包装,制备了重组缺陷型的hNT-3和Tet-on逆转录病毒,用这两种病毒感染原代培养大鼠嗅神经鞘细胞(olfactory ensheathing cells,OECs),并经强力霉素(Dox)诱导,获得Dox浓度依赖性hNT-3表达的OECs,最后经过Western-Blot检测hNT-3的表达以及通过DRG与NT-3转染后OECs联合培养来对表达的hNT-3活性进行鉴定,结果:(1)hNT-3-pcDNA的多克隆位点,用EcoR Ⅰ和Hind Ⅲ酶切,PCR扩增,再用Sall和Hind Ⅲ切下全长编码的hNT-3 cDNA,定向连接到pRev-TRF上,pRev-TRF全长为6.5kb,NT-3全长为0.78kb,pRev-TRE-NT-3重组体经过鉴定,确认插入子的方向和完整性,结果与预期相符。(2)hNT-3修饰的OECs培养上清经Western-blot检测,与hNT-3抗体结合的蛋白条带分子量约为28kd,hNT-3修饰过的OECs上清表达量明显高于未转染组OECs的表达量,且hNT-3表达量与Dox浓度有依赖性。(3)与hNT-3修饰的OECs联合培养背根神经节(dorsal root ganglion,DRG),有许多DRG细胞向外迁移,这些细胞折光性强,突起较长而纤细,并形成复杂的网络。而未修饰的OECs组,只有少量的细胞迁移生长,细胞迁移和突起生长都很局限,空白对照组的DRG没有向外迁移的细胞和向外延伸的突起;且对照组的突起生长长度明显比NT-3修饰的实验组短(P<0.01)。这些结果表明,Tet-On调控NT-3表达在OECs转染成功,为进一步体内移植修复损伤提供了理想的材料。