Activation of adenosine A(3) receptors potentiates stimulatory effects of IL-3, SCF, and GM-CSF on mouse granulocyte-macrophage hematopoietic progenitor cells

Adenosine A(3) receptor agonist N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA) has been tested from the point of view of potentiating the effects of hematopoietic growth factors interleukin-3 (IL-3), stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells for granulocytes and macrophages (GM-CFC) in suspension of normal mouse bone marrow cells in vitro. IB-MECA alone induced no GM-CFC growth. Significant elevation of numbers of GM-CFC evoked by the combinations of IB-MECA with IL-3, SCF, or GM-CSF as compared with these growth factors alone has been noted. Combination of IB-MECA with G-CSF did not induce significantly higher numbers of GM-CFC in comparison with G-CSF alone. Joint action of three drugs, namely of IB-MECA + IL-3 + GM-CSF, produced significantly higher numbers of GM-CFC in comparison with the combinations of IB-MECA + IL-3, IB-MECA + GM-CSF, or IL-3 + GM-CSF. These results give evidence of a significant role of selective activation of adenosine A(3) receptors in stimulation of the growth of granulocyte/ macrophage hematopoietic progenitor cells.     

Glycosylation, disulfide bond formation, and the presence of a WSXWS-like motif in the orf virus GIF protein are critical for maintaining the integrity of Binding to ovine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-2

Orf virus (ORFV), the type species of the family Parapoxviridae, encodes a protein (GIF) that binds and inhibits the ovine cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). There is no obvious sequence homology between the ORFV protein and any known mammalian GM-CSF- or IL-2-binding proteins. We demonstrate here that many of the biochemical properties of mammalian GM-CSF receptors that are required for efficient binding of GM-CSF are also critical to the GIF protein for binding to ovine GM-CSF (ovGM-CSF). Site-directed mutagenesis of the GIF protein demonstrated, first, the importance of disulfide bonds, and second, that a sequence motif (WDPWV), related to the WSXWS motif of the type 1 cytokine receptor superfamily, was necessary for biological activity. Finally, glycosylation of the GIF protein was also critical for binding to GM-CSF.     

IL-3 specifically inhibits GM-CSF binding to the higher affinity receptor

The inhibition of binding between human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and its receptor by human interleukin-3 (IL-3) was observed in myelogenous leukemia cell line KG-1 which bore the receptors both for GM-CSF and IL-3. In contrast, this phenomenon was not observed in histiocytic lymphoma cell line U-937 or in gastric carcinoma cell line KATO III, both of which have apparent GM-CSF receptor but an undetectable IL-3 receptor. In KG-1 cells, the cross-inhibition was preferentially observed when the binding of GM-CSF was performed under the high-affinity binding condition; i.e., a low concentration of ¹²⁵I-GM-CSF was incubated. Scatchard analysis of ¹²⁵I-GM-CSF binding to KG-1 cells in the absence and in the presence of unlabeled IL-3 demonstrated that IL-3 inhibited GM-CSF binding to the higher-affinity component of GM-CSF receptor on KG-1 cells. Moreover, a chemical cross-linking study has revealed that the cross-inhibition of the GM-CSF binding observed in KG-1 cells is specific for the β-chain, M_r 135,000 binding protein which has been identified as a component forming the high-affinity GM-CSF receptor existng specifically on hemopoietic cells.     

Human interleukin-3 inhibits the binding of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-5 to basophils and strongly enhances their functional activity.

The human T cell-derived cytokines interleukin (IL)-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-5 were examined for their ability to bind specifically to human basophils and to regulate their function. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding studies showed that IL-3 and GM-CSF, bound to basophils with apparent dissociation constants (KD) = 8 x 10(-11) M and 3.9 x 10(-11) M, respectively. Specificity studies under conditions that prevent receptor internalization showed that the binding of IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5 was not inhibited by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-1 beta, interferon (IFN)-gamma, or G-CSF. However, receptors for IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5 interacted with each other on the basophil membrane, showing a unique spectrum of cross-reactivity, with IL-3 competing for GM-CSF and IL-5 binding, whereas GM-CSF and IL-5 showed little or no competition for IL-3 binding. In order to relate the binding properties of these cytokines to function, they were tested for their ability to influence basophil histamine release in an IgE/anti-IgE-dependent system. We found a hierarchy in the stimulation of basophil with the order of potency being IL-3 greater than GM-CSF greater than IL-5. In addition, IL-3 stimulated larger amounts of histamine release than GM-CSF or IL-5. The observation that IL-3 interacts with receptors for GM-CSF and IL-5 may have a bearing on its stronger functional effects and suggests a major role for IL-3 in the pathogenesis of hypersensitivity syndromes.     

Induction of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF) receptor by granulocyte CSF increases the differentiative options of a murine hematopoietic progenitor cell.

32DC13(G) is an interleukin-3-dependent murine hematopoietic precursor cell line which differentiates into neutrophilic granulocytes upon exposure to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) but ceases to proliferate and dies when exposed to granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF. Surface receptors for GM-CSF are undetectable on 32DC13(G) cells but can be induced by priming the cells with G-CSF. Exposure of the G-CSF-primed cells to GM-CSF then results in the generation of monocytes as well as granulocytes. The acquired competence to respond to GM-CSF remains irreversibly encoded in the primed cells, although the GM-CSF receptor can be down regulated by interleukin-3. This phenomenon suggests a mechanism by which hematopoietic precursors may obtain additional receptors, thereby increasing their differentiative potential.     

Hierarchical down-modulation of hemopoietic growth factor receptors

Granulocytes and macrophages can be produced in vitro when progenitor cells from mouse bone marrow are stimulated by any of four distinct colony stimulating factors, Multi-CSF (IL-3), GM-CSF, G-CSF, and M-CSF (CSF-1). At 0 degrees C the four CSFs do not cross-compete for binding to bone marrow cells, indicating that each has a specific cell surface receptor. However, at 21 degrees C or 37 degrees C, Multi-CSF inhibits binding of the other three CSFs and GM-CSF inhibits binding of G-CSF and M-CSF. Rather than competing directly for receptor binding, the binding of Multi-CSF, GM-CSF, or G-CSF to their own receptor induces the down-modulation (and thus activation) of other CSF receptors at 37 degrees C. The pattern and potency of down-modulation activity exhibited by each type of CSF parallels the pattern and potency of its biological activity. We propose a model in which the biological interactions of the four CSFs are explained by their ability to down-modulate and activate lineage-specific receptors.     

The amino-terminal helix of GM-CSF and IL-5 governs high affinity binding to their receptors.

Transduction of the biological effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) requires the interaction of each cytokine with at least two cell surface receptor components, one of which is shared between these two cytokines. A strategy is presented that allowed us to identify receptor binding determinants in GM-CSF and IL-5. Mixed species (human and mouse) receptors were used to locate unique receptor binding domains on a series of human-mouse hybrid GM-CSF and IL-5 cytokines. Results show that the interaction of these two cytokines with the shared subunit of their high affinity receptor complexes is governed by a very small part of their peptide chains. The presence of a few key residues in the amino-terminal alpha-helix of each ligand is sufficient to confer specificity to the interaction. Comparison with other cytokines suggests that the amino-terminal helix of many of these proteins may contain the recognition element for the formation of high affinity binding sites with the alpha subunit of their multi-component receptors.     

Differentiation-associated expression of two functionally distinct classes of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptors by human myeloid cells

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activates a broad range of myeloid cells through binding to high affinity surface membrane receptors. The effects of this hematopoietin are dependent upon the differentiation status of the myeloid cell and range from proliferation of early myeloid progenitor cells to activation of neutrophil and monocyte function. In addition, many of the biological effects of GM-CSF are shared with interleukin-3 (IL-3), a distantly related lymphokine. In this study, we have characterized the GM-CSF receptor of myeloid cells at various stages of differentiation by comparing the binding characteristics and surface regulation of this receptor in early versus late myeloid cells. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of high affinity receptors on normal neutrophils, monocytes, and myeloblasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Neutrophils expressed significantly higher numbers of receptors, with an approximately 2-fold lower affinity, when compared with other myeloid cells. Two different patterns of GM-CSF receptor regulation and binding were observed. In the first pattern, the GM-CSF receptor of neutrophils was rapidly down-regulated by GM-CSF itself, by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and by the calcium ionophore A23187, and it was not competed for by IL-3 (class I receptor). In contrast to the neutrophil receptor, the GM-CSF receptor of the myeloblast demonstrated resistance to the down-regulatory effects of GM-CSF itself, PMA, and A23187, and it was completely competed for by IL-3 (class II receptor). In some cases of acute myeloid leukemia and monocytes, a mixed pattern of partial PMA responsiveness and partial competition by unlabeled IL-3 was observed, suggesting the coexpression of both class I and II receptors in these cells. In these cells, after down-regulation of the class I receptor by PMA, the remaining receptors were shown to be completely cross-competed for by IL-3, further supporting the hypothesis that these cells have a mixture of class I and II receptors. Chemical cross-linking of radiolabeled GM-CSF to myeloid cells revealed the labeling of three proteins (156, 126, and 82 kDa) which were identical in cells expressing either class I or II binding sites. These data show that there are differentiation-associated differences in the regulation of the GM-CSF receptor which may have important physiological consequences.     

Specific binding of radioiodinated granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to hemopoietic cells

The hemopoietic growth factor granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, GM-CSF, specifically controls the production of granulocytes and macrophages. This report describes the binding of biologically-active 125I-labeled murine GM-CSF to a range of hemopoietic cells. Specific binding was restricted to murine cells and neither rat nor human bone marrow cells appeared to have surface receptors for 125I-labeled GM-CSF. 125I-Labeled GM-CSF only appeared to bind specifically to cells in the myelomonocytic lineage. The binding of 125I-labeled GM-CSF to both bone marrow cells and WEHI-3B(D+) was rapid (50% maximum binding was attained within 5 min at both 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C). Unlabeled GM-CSF was the only polypeptide hormone which completely inhibited the binding of 125I-labeled GM-CSF to bone marrow cells, however, multi-CSF (also called IL-3) and G-CSF partially reduced the binding of 125I-labeled GM-CSF to bone marrow cells. Interestingly, the binding of 125I-labeled GM-CSF to a myelomonocytic cell line, WEHI-3B(D+), was inhibited by unlabeled GM-CSF but not by multi-CSF or G-CSF. Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-labeled GM-CSF to WEHI-3B(D+) cells, bone marrow cells and peritoneal neutrophils indicated that there were two classes of binding sites: one of high affinity (Kd1 = 20 pM) and one of low affinity (Kd2 = 0.8-1.2 nM). Multi-CSF only inhibited the binding of 125I-labeled GM-CSF to the high affinity receptor on bone marrow cells: this inhibition appeared to be a result of down regulation or modification of the GM-CSF receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characterization of the receptor binding determinants of granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

We performed a series of experiments using alanine-scanning mutagenesis to locate side chains within human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that are involved in human G-CSF receptor binding. We constructed a panel of 28 alanine mutants that examined all surface exposed residues on helices A and D, as well as all charged residues on the surface of G-CSF. The G-CSF mutants were expressed in a transiently transfected mammalian cell line and quantitated by a sensitive biosensor method. We measured the activity of mutant proteins using an in vitro proliferation assay and an ELISA binding competition assay. These studies show that there is a region of five charged residues on helices A and C employed by G-CSF in binding its receptor, with the most important residue in this binding patch being Glu 19. Both wild-type G-CSF and the E19A mutant were expressed in E. coli. The re-folded proteins were found to have proliferative activities similar to the analogous proteins from mammalian cells: furthermore, biophysical analysis indicated that the E19A mutation does not cause gross structural perturbations in G-CSF. Although G-CSF is likely to signal through receptor homo-dimerization, we found no compelling evidence for a second receptor binding region. We also found no evidence of self-antagonism at high G-CSF concentrations, suggesting that, in contrast to human growth hormone (hGH) and erythropoietin (EPO), G-CSF probably does not signal via a pure 2:1 receptor ligand complex. Thus, G-CSF, while having a similar tertiary structure to hGH and EPO, uses different areas of the four helix bundle for high-affinity interaction with its receptor.     

Coupling of osteopontin and its cell surface receptor CD44 to the cell survival response elicited by interleukin-3 or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

The receptors for interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) share a common beta subunit, the distal cytoplasmic domain of which is essential for the promotion of cell survival by these two cytokines. Genes whose expression is specifically induced by signaling through the distal cytoplasmic domain of this receptor beta subunit were screened by a subtraction cloning approach in derivatives of a mouse pro-B-cell line. One gene thus identified was shown to encode a protein highly homologous (with only 7 amino acid substitutions) to murine osteopontin (OPN), a secreted adhesion protein. Conditioned medium from cells expressing wild-type OPN, but not that from cells expressing a deletion mutant lacking residues 79 to 140, increased the viability of a non-OPN-producing cell line in the presence of human GM-CSF. Antibody blocking experiments revealed that OPN produced as a result of IL-3 or GM-CSF signaling was secreted into the medium and, through binding to its cell surface receptor, CD44, contributed to the survival-promoting activities of these two cytokines. Furthermore, coupling of the OPN-CD44 pathway to the survival response to IL-3 was also demonstrated in primary IL-3-dependent mouse bone marrow cells. These results thus show that induction of an extracellular adhesion protein and consequent activation of its cell surface receptor are important for the antiapoptotic activities of IL-3 and GM-CSF.     

Costimulation of cytokine gene expression in T cells by the human T leukemia/lymphotropic virus type 1 trans activator Tax.

Many cell signals such as CD28 and CD4 binding can costimulate cytokine gene expression in activated T cells. We have found that the human T leukemia/lymphotropic virus type 1 viral protein Tax can also strongly costimulate expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-3, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA in T cells activated with the phorbol ester phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore, which can mimic activation through the antigen specific T-cell receptor. Reporter constructs also showed strong synergy between both stimuli and showed that Tax and the PMA-Ca2+ ionophore act through different regions of the IL-2 and GM-CSF genes. Furthermore, the Tax-responsive regions (TxRR) from both GM-CSF and IL-2 respond to costimulation through the CD28 surface receptor. The GM-CSF and IL-2 TxRRs showed significantly higher levels of NF-kappaB/rel binding, following induction by Tax, compared with that of the PMA-Ca2+ ionophore with only Tax capable of inducing c-Rel binding to a Consensus kappaB element within the GM-CSF TxRR. Tax protein mutants, however, showed that a pathway(s) other than NF-kappaB/rel induction could also cooperate with the PMA-Ca2+ ionophore to activate the GM-CSF and IL-2 genes. This high-level costimulation by Tax, through multiple pathways, may be important in the early stages of leukemia and in the nervous system disorder tropical spastic paraparesis.     

pH Dependence of structural stability of interleukin-2 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

After a cytokine binds to its receptor on the cell surface (pH approximately 7), the complex is internalized into acidic endosomal compartments (pH approximately 5-6), where partially unfolded intermediates can form. The nature of these structural transitions was studied for wild-type interleukin-2 (IL-2) and wild-type granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). A noncoincidence of denaturation transitions in the secondary and tertiary structure of IL-2 and tertiary structural perturbations in G-CSF suggest the presence of an intermediate state for each, a common feature of this structural family of four-helical bundle proteins. Unexpectedly, both IL-2 and G-CSF display monotonic increases in stability as the pH is decreased from 7 to 4. We hypothesize that such cytokines with cell-based clearance mechanisms in vivo may have evolved to help stabilize endosomal complexes for sorting to lysosomal degradation. We show that mutants of both IL-2 and G-CSF have differential stabilities to their wild-type counterparts as a function of pH, and that these differences may explain the differences in ligand trafficking and depletion. Further understanding of the structural changes accompanying unfolding may help guide cytokine design with respect to ligand binding, endocytic trafficking, and, consequently, therapeutic efficacy.     

Three residues in the common beta chain of the human GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5 receptors are essential for GM-CSF and IL-5 but not IL-3 high affinity binding and interact with Glu21 of GM-CSF.

The beta subunit (beta c) of the receptors for human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) is essential for high affinity ligand-binding and signal transduction. An important feature of this subunit is its common nature, being able to interact with GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5. Analogous common subunits have also been identified in other receptor systems including gp130 and the IL-2 receptor gamma subunit. It is not clear how common receptor subunits bind multiple ligands. We have used site-directed mutagenesis and binding assays with radiolabelled GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5 to identify residues in the beta c subunit involved in affinity conversion for each ligand. Alanine substitutions in the region Tyr365-Ile368 in beta c showed that Tyr365, His367 and Ile368 were required for GM-CSF and IL-5 high affinity binding, whereas Glu366 was unimportant. In contrast, alanine substitutions of these residues only marginally reduced the conversion of IL-3 binding to high affinity by beta c. To identify likely contact points in GM-CSF involved in binding to the 365-368 beta c region we used the GM-CSF mutant eco E21R which is unable to interact with wild-type beta c whilst retaining full GM-CSF receptor alpha chain binding. Eco E21R exhibited greater binding affinity to receptor alpha beta complexes composed of mutant beta chains Y365A, H367A and I368A than to those composed of wild-type beta c or mutant E366A. These results (i) identify the residues Tyr365, His367 and Ile368 as critical for affinity conversion by beta c, (ii) show that high affinity binding of GM-CSF and IL-5 can be dissociated from IL-3 and (iii) suggest that Tyr365, His367 and Ile368 in beta c interact with Glu21 of GM-CSF.     

c-fps/fes protein-tyrosine kinase is implicated in a signaling pathway triggered by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-3.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) are hematopoietic growth factors which stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of myeloid progenitor cells. There is a considerable degree of overlap in target cell specificity and the functional effects of GM-CSF and IL-3. GM-CSF and IL-3 induce a nearly identical pattern of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in certain cell lines, although their receptors have no kinase domains. Furthermore, their receptor complexes share one subunit (designated as beta). These observations raise the possibility that GM-CSF and IL-3 have a common signaling pathway. Here we show that both GM-CSF and IL-3 induce tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity of the c-fps/fes proto-oncogene product (p92c-fes), a non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinase, in a human erythro-leukemia cell line, TF-1, which requires GM-CSF or IL-3 for growth. In addition, GM-CSF induces physical association between p92c-fes and the beta chain of the GM-CSF receptor. p92c-fes is therefore a possible signal transducer of several hematopoietic growth factors including GM-CSF and IL-3 through the common beta chain.     

Effect of cytokines on Japanese encephalitis virus production by human monocytes

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus was shown to grow in in vitro cultures of human monocytes. Interferon (IFN)-alpha and IFN-gamma inhibited JE virus production by the infected monocytes in the absence of anti-JE virus antibody, but interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha did not show a significant inhibition. Antibody against JE virus increased the JE virus production by the infected monocytes probably by enhanced uptake of virus-antibody complexes via Fc receptors. IFN-gamma and GM-CSF increased JE virus production by monocytes in the presence of anti-JE virus antibody, whereas IFN-alpha inhibited JE virus production even in the presence of the antibody. The other 5 cytokines (IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-3, G-CSF, and TNF-alpha) did not show a significant effect on JE virus production by monocytes in the presence or absence of the antibody.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of receptor beta subunits and common substrates in response to interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

The receptors for interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) consist of two polypeptides each belonging to a new class of molecules referred to as the hemopoietin receptor family. When expressed alone, receptor polypeptides of this family often bind their respective factors with lower affinity than the receptors identified in whole cells. Despite the lack of structural evidence for any enzymatic activity of the receptor polypeptides, both IL-3 and GM-CSF stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple intracellular substrates. We investigated IL-3 and GM-CSF receptor structure and signaling in a myeloid cell line, FDC-P1, which is dependent on either IL-3 or GM-CSF for growth. Antiphosphotyrosine antibodies were used to immunoprecipitate tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins from 32P-labeled cells or to probe immunoblots. Both IL-3 and GM-CSF stimulated the phosphorylation of a similar pattern of polypeptides on tyrosine. One tyrosine phosphorylated polypeptide migrated with M(r) = 135,000 and increased to 150,000 over a period of 10 min following stimulation of cells with IL-3 or GM-CSF. The M(r) = 135,000-150,000 polypeptide phosphorylated in response to IL-3 was shown to be primarily the Aic-2A polypeptide, the low affinity IL-3 receptor. Phosphatase treatment showed that the dramatic IL-3-induced shift in apparent molecular weight from M(r) = 125,000 in unstimulated cells was entirely due to phosphorylation. The closely related receptor, Aic-2B, was also tyrosine phosphorylated in response to IL-3, although to a lesser extent than Aic-2A. Treatment with GM-CSF resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of the Aic-2B polypeptide exclusively. It was intriguing that GM-CSF treatment did affect the mobility of the Aic-2A polypeptide on polyacrylamide gels. Together, these results suggest that the Aic-2A polypeptide is part of the IL-3 receptor complex, but not the GM-CSF receptor. In contrast, the Aic-2B polypeptide is a component of the GM-CSF receptor, but it can also be utilized in an IL-3 receptor.     

Tec kinase associates with c-kit and is tyrosine phosphorylated and activated following stem cell factor binding.

Stem cell factor (SCF) plays a crucial role in hematopoiesis through its interaction with the receptor tyrosine kinase c-kit. However, the signaling events that are activated by this interaction and involved in the control of growth or differentiation are not completely understood. We demonstrate here that Tec, a cytoplasmic, src-related kinase, physically associates with c-kit through a region that contains a proline-rich motif, amino terminal of the SH3 domain. Following SCF binding, Tec is tyrosine phosphorylated and its in vitro kinase activity is increased. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Tec is not detected in the response to other cytokines controlling hematopoiesis, including colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interleukin-3 (IL-3). Conversely, the cytoplasmic kinase JAK2 is activated by IL-3 but not by SCF stimulation. The activation of distinct cytoplasmic kinases may account for the synergy seen in the actions of SCF and IL-3 on hematopoietic stem cells.     

Growth factor receptor expression during in vitro differentiation of partially purified populations containing murine stem cells

We have investigated, by semiquantitative RT-PCR, the kinetics of activation of hematopoietic receptors and differentiation markers in partially purified murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) induced to differentiate in serum-free culture with combinations of growth factor (GF). The combinations of GF used sustained either multilineage [stem cell factor (SCF) + interleukin 3 (IL-3)], or erythroid [SCF + IL-3 + erythropoietin (Epo)] or myeloid [SCF + IL-3 + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)] differentiation. The GF receptor genes investigated were the α and β subunits of the IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor, the erythropoietin receptor, the G-CSF receptor, and c-Fms, the receptor for macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The expression of Gata1 and α- and β-globin was investigated at the same time as a marker of erythroid differentiation. HSC were purified according to standard protocols, which include partitioning of lineage-negative bone marrow cells with the mitochondrial dye Rhodamine 123 (Rho) into Rho-dull (≥17% of which reconstitute long-term hematopoiesis in recipient mice) and into Rho-bright (which are as capable as Rho-dull of multilineage differentiation but do not permanently reconstitute the host). The following pattern of expression was observed: the α subunit of the IL-3 receptor clearly was expressed in both Rho-bright and Rho-dull cells at the outset, and its expression did not change over time in culture. The β subunits of the IL-3 and GM-CSF receptor, the α subunit of the GM-CSF receptor, the Epo and G-CSF receptors and Fms barely were expressed in purified Rho-bright and Rho-dull cells, but their expression increased in cells cultured both in erythroid and in myeloid GF combinations. Gata1 was expressed maximally in Rho-bright cells but was below the level of detection in Rho-dull cells. Rho-dull cells expressed Gata1 when cultured both in erythroid and in myeloid GF combinations. In contrast, α- and β-globin, which also were not expressed in the purified cells, were induced only in cells stimulated with Epo. These results indicate that the genes for all the GF receptors investigated (with the exception of the α subunit of the IL-3 receptor) are expressed at low levels, if any, in purified Rho-bright or Rho-dull cells, but are expressed in their progeny cultured either in erythroid or myeloid GF combinations. The expression of the Epo receptor,in particular, is activated both in erythroid (α- and β-globin positive) and in myeloid (α- and β-globin negative) cells. Therefore, activation of the expression of the Epo receptor gene and activation of the erythroid differentiation program are two independent events in normal hematopoiesis. J. Cell. Physiol. 171:343–356, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

不同诱导因子对人外周血单个核细胞P2X7受体表达的作用

ATP激活P2X7受体可产生一系列的白细胞功能反应,因此P2X7受体的表达调控引起我们的兴趣。然而P2X7受体在正常人外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cells,PBMC)、单核细胞中的表达调控机制尚未阐明。本文用半定量RT-PCR方法检测多种细胞因子、细菌抗原、丝裂原对P2X7受体表达的诱导作用,探索P2X7受体的诱导表达模式。结果表明,单个核细胞和单核细胞可检出P2X7受体的表达;白细胞介素2、4、6(interleukin-2、-4、-6,IL-2、IL-4、IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子仪(tumour necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)等细胞因子和金黄色葡萄球菌CowanⅠ株(Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strainⅠ,SAC)、脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)能上调PBMC的P2X7受体表达,而γ干扰素(interferon-γ,IFN-γ)、粒-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor,GM-CSF)、巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(macmphage colony-stimulating factor,M-CSF)和植物血凝素(phytohemagglutinin-M,PHA-M)等则没有作用;LPS和M-CSF可以提高单核细胞的P2X7受体表达,IFN-γ、TNF-α、GM-CSF作用较弱,但是这些因子的预处理并不能增强LPS对P2X7受体表达的诱导。炎症因子促进P2X7受体的表达,提示P2X7受体可能在对抗细菌感染的免疫反应中起一定作用,这有待于进一步研究。