Expression of a T cell receptor-like molecule on normal and malignant murine T cells detected by rat monoclonal antibodies to nonclonotypic determinants

A T cell receptor-like molecule with a dimer structure of 45 kilodaltons (Kd) under reducing and 90 Kd under nonreducing conditions was detected on the surface of two murine T lymphoma lines, EL-4 and MBL-2, by two rat monoclonal antibodies. The two antibodies seemed to react with different determinants on the same molecule. The antibodies did not react with the surface of normal T cells as tested by flow cytometric analysis of cell surface staining. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (IEF vs SDS-PAGE) and tryptic peptide analysis revealed the molecule to consist of two chains with different isoelectric points and different tryptic peptides. A conventional antiserum was raised against the heterodimer purified from EL-4 cells. The immune serum did not bind to the surface of normal T cells. However, the immune serum as well as the monoclonal antibodies immunoprecipitated the dimer molecules from detergent-solubilized normal thymocytes and spleen cells. The dimer molecule was detected on both immature and mature thymocytes. These results suggest that the antibodies detect non-clonotypic determinants on a T cell receptor-like protein. The determinants are masked on the surface of normal T cells, whereas they are exposed on the surface of at least two T lymphoma cell lines. Three polypeptides of 30 Kd, 25 Kd, and 15 Kd were also coprecipitated with the heterodimer from MBL-2 cells. These proteins may associate with the heterodimer and may be masking the antigenic determinants on normal T cells. The relationship between the heterodimer molecule described here and the T cell antigen receptor or the human T cell antigen 9.3 is still unknown.     

Monoclonal antibodies to ThB detect close linkage ofLy-6 and a gene regulating ThB expression

We have generated three hybridomas producing rat monoclonal antibodies to a surface antigen, ThB, that is shared by murine B lymphocytes and approximately 50 percent of murine thymocytes. These antibodies, produced by immunizations with MOPC-104E cells, appear to recognize the same antigen that was previously detected by rabbit and goat antisera to MOPC-104E cells (Yutoku et al. 1974, Yutoku et al. 1976).Using these antibodies, we have studied a genetic polymorphism that is associated with the level of ThB expression on B lymphocytes but not with the antigen's expression on thymocytes. We present evidence that this trait is controlled by one gene,Thb, which we find to be very closely linked to the gene or genes controlling the Ly-6, Ly-8, DAG, and Ala 1 antigen(s). While the latter four antigens were described as markers on mature T (or activated T and B) lymphocytes, ThB is restricted to immature thymocytes and all B cells. ThB is not expressed on kidney, although some investigators (McKenzie et al. 1977 a, Halloran et al. 1978) report Ly-6 expression on that tissue. SJL/J, C57BL/10JHz, DBA/2J, and AKR/J are among the mouse strains carrying theThb ^h allele, while BALB/cN, CBA/J, C3H.SW/SnHz, and A/J carry theThb ^l allele. The ThB antigen has not yet been identified as a glycoprotein after cell-surface iodination, NP-40 solubilization, and immunoprecipitation.This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI-08917, CA-04681, GM-17367).     

Murine cell surface transferrin receptor: Studies with an anti-receptor monoclonal antibody

A rat monoclonal antibody against the murine transferrin receptor has been identified. The receptor is a 95,000 molecular weight species that exists in the cell membrane as a disulphide-bonded dimer. Whereas 29 of 29 murine hematopoietic tumor cell lines express detectable numbers of transferrin receptors, less than 1% of adult thymocytes or spleen cells and only 5% of bone marrow cells are positive. However, fetal liver and neonatal spleen contain substantial numbers of transferrin receptor-positive cells. Induction of Friend cells in vitro with dimethyl-sulphoxide leads to an overall increase in the expression of transferrin receptors on the cell surface. The anti-transferin receptor antibody we have obtained partially blocks iron uptake from ⁵⁹Fe-transferrin by a variety of murine cell lines and inhibits the growth of a murine myeloma cell line in vitro.     

Cell surface molecules of friend erythroleukemias: Decrease in T200 glycoprotein expression after induction

Monoclonal antibodies against the Thy-1 and T200 glycoproteins were used to study the expression of cell surface molecules on mouse hematopoietic cell lines. Friend erythroleukemias express T200 glycoprotein but do not express significant amounts of Thy-1 glycoprotein on their cell surface. The rate of T200 glycoprotein synthesis in maximally-induced Friend erythroleukemia 745.6 cells is less than 10% that in noninduced cells, although total protein synthesis shows only a twofold decline and induced cells express 2-6-fold less T200 glycoprotein on their surface compared to noninduced cells. T200 glycoprotein expression is reduced in a variant cell line obtained by selection for growth in dimethylsulfoxide, showing that the reduction in T200 glycoprotein synthesis characteristic of induced cells is an event that can be dissociated from commitment and hemoglobin synthesis. Analysis of T200 glycoprotein negative cell lines, isolated by cytotoxic immunoselection against T200 glycoprotein, indicates that the presence of T200 glycoprotein on the cell surface is not necessary for induction of hemoglobin synthesis and terminal differentiation of Friend erythroleukemias.     

Genetic characterization of a polymorphic murine cell-surface glycoprotein

As described in the preceding paper, monoclonal antibodies have been raised by immunization of rats with mouse hematopoietic cells which detect a major cell-surface glycoprotein (M_r=95 000) of mouse bone-marrow cells of the granulocytic series. While most of the monoclonal antibodies detect this molecule on bone-marrow and spleen cells of all mouse strains, two antibodies recognize alternative allelic forms of the molecule. One alloantigen is expressed in all the remaining inbred strains examined. The alloantigens are codominantly expressed on the cells of F₁ mice. Backcrosses of DBA/2 and C57BL/6 with F₁ mice (B6D2F₁) confirmed that a single genetic locus is involved in the expression of the two antigenic forms and demonstrated linkage to Ly-m11 which has previously been mapped to mouse chromosome 2. These genetic mapping experiments and the biochemical properties of the glycoprotein suggested that it might be identical to a glycoprotein first identified on murine fibroblasts by Hughes and August and designated Pgp-1. This has been firmly established by exchange of monoclonal antibody reagents and sequential immunoprecipitations.     

Interaction of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) spike glycoprotein with receptor glycoprotein MHVR is required for infection with an MHV strain that expresses the hemagglutinin-esterase glycoprotein.

In addition to the spike (S) glycoprotein that binds to carcinoembryonic antigen-related receptors on the host cell membrane, some strains of mouse coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) express a hemagglutinin esterase (HE) glycoprotein with hemagglutinating and acetylesterase activity. Virions of strains that do not express HE, such as MHV-A59, can infect mouse fibroblasts in vitro, showing that the HE glycoprotein is not required for infection of these cells. The present work was done to study whether interaction of the HE glycoprotein with carbohydrate moieties could lead to virus entry and infection in the absence of interaction of the S glycoprotein with its receptor glycoprotein, MHVR. The DVIM strain of MHV expresses large amounts of HE glycoprotein, as shown by hemadsorption, acetylesterase activity, and immunoreactivity with antibodies directed against the HE glycoprotein of bovine coronavirus. A monoclonal anti-MHVR antibody, MAb-CC1, blocks binding of virus S glycoprotein to MHVR and blocks infection of MHV strains that do not express HE. MAb-CC1 also prevented MHV-DVIM infection of mouse DBT cells and primary mouse glial cell cultures. Although MDCK-I cells express O-acetylated sialic acid residues on their plasma membranes, these canine cells were resistant to infection with MHV-A59 and MHV-DVIM. Transfection of MDCK-I cells with MHVR cDNA made them susceptible to infection with MHV-A59 and MHV-DVIM. Thus, the HE glycoprotein of an MHV strain did not lead to infection of cultured murine neural cells or of nonmurine cells that express the carbohydrate ligand of the HE glycoprotein. Therefore, interaction of the spike glycoprotein of MHV with its carcinoembryonic antigen-related receptor glycoprotein is required for infectivity of MHV strains whether or not they express the HE glycoprotein.     

Immunohistology of thymic nurse cells

The demonstration of thymic nurse cells (TNC), complexes between stromal cells and thymocytes, in cell suspensions of murine thymuses, prompted us to investigate (1) the relationship of TNC to other thymic stromal cell types defined in situ, and (2) the maturation stage of the enclosed thymocytes. To this purpose we incubated frozen sections of TNC suspensions with various monoclonal antisera directed to T cells and stromal cell types, using immunohistology. This approach enabled us to study antigen expression on the "nursing" cell itself and to analyze the phenotype of the enclosed lymphocytes in cross sections of TNC. The results show that lymphocytes enveloped by TNC express high levels of Thy-1, moderate levels of T200, and variable amounts of Lyt-1. Due to enzymatic degradation Lyt-2 expression could not be studied. The enveloped cells also bear PNA receptors, but no detectable I-A/E antigens. Expression of H-2K antigens on enclosed thymocytes varied from weak to absent. The "nursing" cells react with ER-TR4, a monoclonal antibody which detects cortical epithelial-reticular cells. In addition TNC express I-A/E and H-2K antigens. In contrast, TNC do not react with ER-TR 5 and 7, monoclonal antibodies, which detect medullary epithelial cells and reticular fibroblasts, respectively. TNC do not express the macrophage antigens Mac-1 and Mac-2. We conclude that TNC in vitro represent the in vivo association of epithelial-reticular cells with cortical thymocytes. However, the enclosed thymocytes do not constitute a phenotypically distinct subset of subcapsular or outer cortical cells.     

Retinoic acid induces a specific membrane glycoprotein in human epithelial cell lines

Retinoic acid (RA) inhibits growth, increases the cytokeratin content, and alters the cytoskeleton of the human cervical cell line NHIK 3025. Using RA-treated NHIK 3025 cells as immunogen we prepared murine monoclonal antibodies (IgG1) which recognized an RA-induced cell-surface antigen which could not be detected in untreated NHIK 3025 cells. Analysis of the Triton soluble proteins by SDS-gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting revealed that the cell-surface antigen is a 140-kDa glycoprotein (gp140). gp140 was also shown to be induced by RA in HeLa S3 cells and constitutively expressed in the human trophoblast cell line BeWo. gp140 was also detected in other human epithelial cell lines, but not in human hematopoietic cells. Expression of gp140 was induced in HeLa S3 cells by nanomolar concentrations of RA, and in NHIK 3025 cells by micromolar amounts (1-10 microM). The glycoprotein was detectable 3-6 h following exposure to RA and its expression was reversible upon removal of RA from the medium. Our results indicate that gp140 is a newly identified RA-inducible epithelial membrane glycoprotein which may represent a phenotypic differentiation marker for epithelial cells.     

Absence of cross-reactivity between murine Ly-6C and Ly-6G.

BACKGROUND: The Ly-6 family has many members, including Ly-6C and Ly-6G. A previous study suggested that the anti-Ly-6G antibody, RB6-8C5, may react with Ly-6Chi murine bone marrow (BM) cells. This finding has been interpreted as cross-reactivity of RB6-8C5 with the Ly-6C antigen, and has been generalized to many hematopoietic cell types, using the terminology Ly-6G/C. The present study was undertaken to determine whether anti-Ly-6G antibodies truly cross-react with the Ly-6C antigen on multiple hematopoietic cell types. METHODS: Splenocytes, thymocytes, and BM cells obtained from Ly-6.1 and Ly-6.2 strains of mice were stained with a variety of antibodies to Ly-6C and Ly-6G. Flow cytometric analysis was performed on these populations. RESULTS: Evaluation of anti-Ly-6C and anti-Ly-6G staining showed only Ly-6C expression and no Ly-6G expression on subsets of splenic T and B cells and thymocytes from Ly-6.1 and Ly-6.2 mice. Bone marrow cells were identified that express both Ly-6G and Ly-6C; no Ly-6G+Ly-6C- populations were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple Ly-6C+ hematopoietic cell populations were identified that do not stain with anti-Ly-6G antibodies. This calls into question the use of the Ly-6G/C nomenclature and suggests that epitopes recognized by anti-Ly-6G antibodies should simply be designated Ly-6G.     

Thymic stromal cells in culture. 2. Binding of normal thymocytes to a cloned thymic stromal cell line.

Thymic stromal cell line TS-9 was found to selectively bind a subpopulation of normal murine thymocytes. Selective binding allowed the isolation and phenotypic characterization of the adherent and nonadherent subpopulations of thymocytes. Flow cytometric analysis of fluorescently labeled thymocytes revealed that the adherent and nonadherent populations differ in maturity, with the adherent population enriched in immature thymocytes of the PNAhi, Thy-1hi, CD3-/lo, and CD4+/CD8+ double positive surface phenotype. A quantitative microwell assay was developed to measure the binding of thymocytes to TS-9. Thymocytes labeled with vital DNA stain Hoechst 33342 were allowed to bind to TS-9 in microwells and the intense fluorescence of this label was readily detected with a scanning fluorometer. The binding was trypsin-sensitive and hyaluronidase and PI-PLC resistant. The binding was also temperature dependent and sensitive to cytochalasin B. A panel of monoclonal antibodies to cell surface antigens including CD2, LFA-I/ICAM-I, and Thy-1 was screened in a quantitative binding assay for their ability to inhibit the binding of thymocytes to TS-9. The binding was partially inhibited by the C3C12 monoclonal antibody which recognizes the recently identified and apparently unique gp23,gp45 complex expressed on murine stromal cells.     

An alternative pathway of T-cell activation: A functional role for the 50 kd T11 sheep erythrocyte receptor protein

A series of seven monoclonal antibodies was produced against the T-lineage-specific 50 kd T11 sheep erythrocyte rosette (SRBC) receptor protein in order to define the function of the molecule. Three distinct epitopes were detected: T11₁, the SRBC binding site expressed on all T lymphocytes and thymocytes; T11₂, an epitope unrelated to the SRBC binding site but with a similar distribution; and T11₃, a neo-epitope expressed only upon T-cell activation. Simultaneous triggering of T11₂ and T11₃ epitopes by monoclonal antibodies induces T lymphocytes to proliferate and mediate their functional programs in the absence of antigen and/or antigen-presenting cells. This antigen-independent mode of triggering is distinct from that involving the T3-Ti antigen receptor complex and represents an alternate pathway of T-cell activation. Given that T11 is the earliest T-lineage surface glycoprotein to appear in thymic ontogeny and is thus expressed before T3-Ti, the former may be involved in clonal expansion and/or differentiation during early development.     

Distinct reactivities of four monoclonal antibodies with human interleukin 2 receptor

Two new murine monoclonal IgG1 antibodies, H-31 and H-A26, were characterized in comparison with two previously obtained monoclonal antibodies against human interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor (IL-2 R), anti-Tac and HIEI. In immunofluorescence assays with various human hematopoietic cells, H-31 and H-A26 antibodies both reacted with only IL-2 R-positive cells, and they precipitated IL-2 R molecules, glycoproteins with molecular weights of 60K and 53K daltons (gp60/gp53), from human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-carrying MT-2 cells, as demonstrated by sequential immunoprecipitation after absorption of IL-2 R with anti-Tac. Antibody-binding competition assays showed that H-31 and anti-Tac, and H-A26 and HIEI, respectively, competed reciprocally in binding to the cells, and that anti-Tac also inhibited the binding of HIEI but not vice versa. H-31, like anti-Tac, strongly inhibited the IL-2-dependent proliferation of normal activated T-cells, absorption of IL-2 and direct binding of IL-2 to the cells, while H-A26, like HIEI, inhibited those processes only weakly. The spectra of reactivities of these antibodies with various simian cell lines derived by HTLV-I infection were different, as revealed by immunofluorescence studies. Human IL-2 R was shown to express a unique antigenic determinant, detected with HIEI, that was not detectable in IL-2 R molecules of Old and New World monkeys, and also to express determinants common to simian IL-2 R molecules. These observations indicate that H-31 and H-A26 recognize human IL-2 R molecules and that the antigenic sites on the IL-2 R molecule defined by H-31, H-A26, anti-Tac, and HIEI are different.     

Identification of B-L antigens on reticular epithelial cells of the bursa of Fabricius

We have established two monoclonal antibodies against B-L antigens (chicken Ia-like antigens). The specificity of the antibodies for B-L antigens was determined by two criteria, the cellular expression and the molecular structure of antigens with which they reacted. They reacted with antigens expressed on bursacytes, Con A-blast thymocytes, macrophages, and MDCC MSB1, but not with thymocytes and erythrocytes. In molecular basis, they recognized 64,000 dalton glycoprotein consisting of two polypeptides, 35,000 and 32,000 dalton, which bound non-covalently. To investigate the distribution of B-L antigens on non-lymphoid cells of the bursa of Fabricius, which were thought to play important roles in the differentiation of B cells, anti-B-L antigen and anti-chicken immunoglobulin (Ig) monoclonal antibodies were used. B-L antigen-positive cells were detected in both cortical and medullary areas, whereas Ig-positive lymphoid cells were confined to the medullary areas of normal chicken bursal follicles. In the bursal follicles of cyclophosphamide (CY)-treated chickens, lymphoid cells were depleted but epithelial cells remained intact. And B-L antigen-positive but Ig-negative cells were easily detected in the medullary areas of almost all follicles. These cells were identified to be reticular epithelial cells (REp cells) from the result of their keratin expression.     

The murine pan T cell marker CD96 is an adhesion receptor for CD155 and nectin-1

The CD155 ligand CD96 is an immunoglobulin-like protein tentatively allocated to the repertoire of human NK receptors. We report here that the CD96/CD155-interaction is preserved between man and mouse although both receptors are only moderately conserved in amino acid sequence. Moreover, murine CD96 (mCD96) binds to nectin-1, a receptor related to CD155. Applying newly generated monoclonal antibodies specifically recognizing mCD96, an expression profile is revealed resembling closely that of human CD96 (hCD96) on cells of hematopoietic origin. A panel of anti-mCD96 but also recently established anti-mCD155 antibodies effectively prevents formation of CD96/CD155-complexes. This was exploited to demonstrate that the only available receptor for mCD96 present on thymocytes is mCD155. Moreover, T cell adhesion to insect cells expressing mCD155 is blocked by these antibodies depending on the T cell subtype. These results suggest a function of the CD96/CD155-adhesion system in T cell biology.     

Monoclonal antibody-defined antigens of human prostate cancer cell line PC3

Summary Over 600 hybridomas were derived from the immunization of mice with live cells and aqueous extracts of the human prostatic carcinoma cell line PC3. A total of 26 hybridomas with restricted reactivities were selected, subcloned and antibodies tested on a variety of tumor and normal cells. Seven monoclonal antibodies showed reactivity for prostate cancer and other tumor cell lines, including breast carcinomas. Three of the antibodies obtained after immunization with live cells reacted with live cells only and three of the four antibodies obtained after immunization with cell extract reacted with cell extracts and spent culture media. The fourth antibody in the latter group was reactive only in the immunoperoxidase staining assay. Antibody PrS5 recognized a 90,000 molecular weight molecule from ¹²⁵I-surface-labeled cells in immunoprecipitation analysis. Antibodies PrE3 and PrD8 detected a nonacid glycolipid pentasaccharide from PC3 cells and meconium, and a glycoprotein of 115,000 molecular weight from ¹²⁵I-surface-labeled red blood cells. The similar patterns of reactivity in RIAs and antigen analysis suggest that antibodies PrE3 and PrD8 recognize the same molecule. The results emphasize the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the testing of monoclonal antibodies and the impact of the form in which the antigen is presented on the resultant antibody specificity     

Monoclonal antibodies against T cell differentiation antigens initiate stimulation of monocyte/macrophage oxidative metabolism

Within the first minute after incubation with the mouse anti-human T cell orthoclone monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8, and in the absence of complement, human monocytes generate a burst of highly reactive oxygen metabolites as detected by a luminol-dependent photometric chemiluminescence (CL) assay. The kinetics of the CL responses to these antibodies are identical to that induced by OKM1, the monoclonal antibody to human monocytes and granulocytes. With regard to CL response intensities, OKM1 induces the maximal response and those of OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 closely reflect the proportion of T cell subsets recognized by these antibodies in peripheral blood. This reaction is also observed when monoclonal antibodies against mouse Lyt surface determinants (Lyt-1 and Lyt-2) and Thy-1 antigen are tested against murine spleen cells. This murine model was further used to investigate the specificity and the mechanism of this reaction. It was demonstrated that the CL response is Lyt antigen specific, occurs upon addition of monoclonal IgG but not IgM antibodies, requires the concomitant presence of CL-producing cells (CLPC) (promonocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and/or granulocytes) and of fully differentiated T cells, and lastly, is mediated via a T cell opsonization process. Selective blockade of bone marrow cell Fc receptors (FcR II) with monoclonal anti-mouse FcR II antibody inhibits the CL response to IgG2b anti-T cell antibody-coated thymocytes and thus strongly suggests that the stimulation of CLPC oxidative metabolism in this model results from the binding of opsonized T cells to plasma membrane Fc receptors. These observations lend additional support to increasing evidence that the initiation of effector functions by monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies may be strictly dependent upon the presence of monocytes and/or macrophages.     

Identification and characterization of the human Pgp-1 glycoprotein

Two monoclonal antibodies have been raised against human Pgp-1 by the immunization of mice with human fibroblasts. The human molecule, like the previously identified mouse counterpart, is an abundant membrane protein (M_r approximately 95 000) with a broad tissue distribution. Pgp-1 is phosphorylated, and phosphoamino acid analysis demonstrates that this occurs exclusively on serine residues. A major difference between the mouse and the human is that 50–60% of human thymocytes are Pgp-1⁺ compared to 5–10% of mouse thymocytes at an equivalent stage in development. Immunofluorescence studies of cryostat sections showed that the majority of human medullary thymocytes are strongly stained with Pgp-1-specific antibody, whereas the expression of Pgp-1 on cortical thymocytes is much more heterogenous.     

Monoclonal antibodies to antigens abnormally expressed in breast cancer

We report the production, screening, and characterization of ten murine monoclonal antibodies directed at antigens that are expressed abnormally in human breast tumors. Immunoperoxidase staining of frozen and fixed tissues shows the antigens to be present at low levels on the luminal membrane of normal breast cells and at high levels in the cytoplasm and surface membrane of breast tumor cells. The ten antibodies appear to recognize six different epitopes on the basis of their quantitative differences in reactivity against four antigen preparations, as measured by ELISA. Immunoblots show that eight of the ten antibodies recognize a 300,000 MW molecule from breast tumor preparations; six of these antibodies also react with a second molecule from the same tumor preparations of 280,000 MW. Seven antibodies react with an antigen from milk fat globule membrane of 330,000 MW. It therefore appears that the two molecules from tumor tissue and the one molecule from normal tissue share common epitopes. Selected antibodies were tested for reactivity against 25 primary breast tumors and 14 pairs of primary and metastatic breast tumors. Three antibodies have broad reactivity and stain more than 80% of primary tumors; the three other antibodies identify subsets of those tumors. Results of staining pairs of primary and metastatic lesions show that metastases continue to express antigens of the primary lesion in a high percentage of cells.     

Induction of apoptosis in mouse thymocytes by microcolin A and its synthetic analog

Microcolin A (Mic-1), a marine-derived compound, has been shown to be a novel antiproliferative and immunosuppressive agent. We investigated the ability of Mic-1 and its chemosynthetic analog, microcolin A3 (Mic-3), to induce apoptosis in murine thymocytes. Following incubation of the cells with Mic-1 (10-100 nM) or Mic-3 (10-100 nM), internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in apoptotic cells was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and the diphenylamine (DPA) assay; the presence of hypodiploid nuclei assessed by propidium iodide (PI) staining; and the percentages of apoptotic and necrotic cells quantified by morphological observation and fluorescein labeled annexin-V binding. Our results show that both Mic-1 and Mic-3 are potent inducers of apoptosis in thymocytes depending on drug concentration and time of exposure, with Mic-3 being more potent than Mic-1 in the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis using monoclonal antibodies specific to thymocyte subpopulations showed that the proportion of the early immature CD4+ CD8+ T-cell subpopulation in thymocytes was selectively decreased by both agents with a corresponding increase of other subpopulations, indicating that CD4+ CD8+ T cells are the most likely targets of Mic-1 and Mic-3. These in vitro results suggest that the antiproliferative and immunosuppressive properties of both compounds are possibly associated with apoptosis-inducing events and imply that they may have additional potential value as antineoplastic agents.