Comodulation of CD3 and CD4. Evidence for a specific association between CD4 and approximately 5% of the CD3:T cell receptor complexes on helper T lymphocytes

The aggregation of a specific class of lymphocyte surface molecules results in patching, capping, and surface modulation of the aggregated ligand. Both CD4, an associative recognition structure found on helper T lymphocytes, and CD3, a component of the T cell receptor complex, are members of this functional subgroup. When 125I-labeled monoclonal antibodies reactive with either CD4 (19Thy 5D7) or CD3 (RW24B6) were bound to T lymphocytes, the subsequent addition of goat anti-mouse Ig resulted in their rapid, temperature-dependent internalization. Whereas the binding of 125I-19Thy 5D7 (anti-CD4) was inhibited by greater than 90% in the presence of unlabeled 19Thy 5D7, no inhibition occurred in the presence of unlabeled antibody reactive with CD3 (RW28C8). We took advantage of the fact that these antibodies were of different isotypes (19Thy 5D7:IgG2a; RW28C8:IgGl) to determine whether the internalization of CD3 induced the comodulation of CD4. T lymphocytes preincubated with 125I-19Thy5D7 (anti-CD4) and unlabeled RA28C8 (anti-CD3) were treated with goat anti-mouse IgGl under conditions shown to quantitatively internalize CD3. After 1 h at 37 degrees C, T lymphocytes had internalized 10.5 +/- 2.6% (n = 3) of their antibody-bound cell surface CD4. After similar incubations with media alone or with goat anti-mouse IgGl in the absence of prebound RW28C8 (anti-CD3), no internalization of CD4 could be detected. Control antibodies reactive with CD45R (2H4, IgGl) also failed to induce the internalization of CD4. Similar results were obtained by using a helper T cell clone (T4C1) that internalized 9.6 +/- 2.8% (n = 3) of its antibody-bound cell surface CD4 in response to CD3 modulation. In a reciprocal experiment, 125I-anti-CD3 (RW24B6, IgG2b) was preincubated with T4Cl cells together with unlabeled anti-CD4 (12T4D11, IgG1) prior to the addition of goat anti-mouse IgGl. The quantitative modulation of CD4 induced the co-internalization of 4.6 +/- 0.6% (n = 3) of cell surface CD3. These results suggest that approximately 5% of the CD3:T cell receptor complexes on helper T lymphocytes are specifically associated with CD4. Furthermore, our results suggest that an average of two CD4 molecules associate with each CD3:T cell receptor complex.     

Structural polymorphism of the human platelet Fc gamma receptor

A variable T lymphocyte proliferative response to murine IgG1 anti-T3 monoclonal antibodies, in which most North American Caucasians respond whereas a minority do not, is well established. This is most likely the result of a genetic polymorphism manifested by 1) the inability of the monocyte 40-kDa IgG FcR of some individuals to bind murine IgG1, and 2) a distinctive trimorphic pattern on IEF of the monocyte 40-kDa FcR, one form being seen in all individuals who do not respond and another form (or a combination of both forms) being seen in those who do respond. We have evaluated the IEF patterns of the platelet 40-kDa FcR and find that in every individual tested the pattern for platelet FcR correlates with that seen for the monocyte 40-kDa FcR pattern. Furthermore, the platelets of those individuals whose "nonresponder" monocyte 40-kDa FcR did not mediate a murine IgG1 anti-T3 response did not respond with an aggregation reaction to murine IgG1 immune complexes (opsonized E). In contrast, platelets from donors possessing "responder" monocytes displayed positive "aggregation" responses to E coated with murine IgG1 antibody. However, the platelet FcR structural polymorphism described earlier did not correlate with the donor-specific variability in capacity of platelets to respond functionally to aggregated human IgG described in an earlier paper. Rather, the variation in capacity of platelets from individual donors to respond functionally to aggregated human IgG was related to the quantitative expression of platelet FcR. These data indicate that the molecular mechanisms responsible for the platelet 40-kDa FcR structural polymorphism are quite different from the mechanisms governing the variation in quantitative expression of the receptor.     

A comparison of the lipid-lowering and intestinal morphological effects of cholestyramine, chitosan, and oat gum in rats

Cholestyramine, chitosan, and oat gum are lipid-lowering compounds. Cholestyramine use in humans may contribute to colonic adenocarcinoma; chitosan and oat gum are being studied in the rat to determine their potential for human use. To compare these compounds, we fed three groups of 10 male Sprague-Dawley rats one of the substances at 5% of diet with 1% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid; two other groups were fed cellulose with and without 1% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid. All groups had similar food intake and weight gains. Cholesterol feeding increased total liver lipids almost 3-fold and liver cholesterol concentration almost 10-fold. Cholestyramine, oat gum, and chitosan all significantly lowered liver cholesterol with cholestyramine feeding yielding levels identical to the noncholesterol-fed basal group. Chitosan and oat gum lowered liver cholesterol moderately. Cholestyramine and chitosan both significantly lowered serum cholesterol compared to the cellulose group. Oat gum was less effective. Hemoglobin and serum iron were similar in all groups except the oat gum group, which had decreased serum iron. Histological examination of small and large bowel with morphometry revealed statistically significant increases in both proximal and distal small bowel and distal large bowel mucosal thickness in the cholestyramine-fed group. No changes were noted in the proximal large bowel. Neither chitosan nor oat gum produced mucosal change other than an increase in the distal small bowel with the oat gum diet. Chitosan may have lipid-lowering effects similar to those of cholestyramine without the deleterious changes in intestinal mucosa.     

Tissue-specific analogues of erythrocyte protein 4.1 retain functional domains

Analogues of the human erythroid membrane skeletal component protein 4.1 have been identified in perfused rat tissues and human T and B lymphocyte cell lines. olyclonal antibodies were used which are specific for all domains of protein 4.1, the spectrin-actin-promoting 8-Kd peptide, the membrane-binding 30-Kd domain, and the 50-Kd domain. Antibody reactivity, by Western blotting of tissue homogenates, shows reactivity with proteins varying in molecular weight from 175 Kd to 30 Kd. Further, these protein 4.1 analogues appear to be expressed in a tissue-specific fashion. Of the analogues detected there appear to be at least three classes: analogues containing all erythroid protein 4.1 domains, analogues containing all domains but with modified antigenic epitopes, and analogues containing only some domains. Chemical cleavage at cysteine linkages indicates that in analogues containing the 30-Kd region the location of cysteine is highly conserved. This datum suggests that in nonerythroid 4.1 isoforms of higher molecular weight the additional protein mass is added to the amino terminal end (30 Kd end).     

Video-based image collection for quantitative histopathology

Obtaining histologic images for computer-based morphometric analysis is associated with a number of standardization problems, which must be solved if reproducible data collection is expected. These problems include tissue processing, sectioning and staining, standardizing and calibrating the video camera and determining the appropriate sampling rate (pixels/micron). Suggested solutions for these problems are presented for a specific image analysis system, but are applicable to other systems with similar capabilities. Biologic variability is not eliminated by computer-assisted analysis, so it is important to minimize data-collection artifacts by parallel processing of experimental and control material, as in other investigative work.     

Inhibition of T-cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangement by overexpression of the non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase p56lck.

The variable region genes of the T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains are assembled by somatic recombination of separate germline elements. During thymocyte development, gene rearrangements display both an ordered progression, with beta chain formation preceding alpha chain, and allelic exclusion, with each cell containing a single functional beta chain rearrangement. Although considerable evidence supports the view that the individual loci are regulated independently, signaling molecules that may participate in controlling TCR gene recombination remain unidentified. Here we report that the lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase p56lck, when overexpressed in developing thymocytes, provokes a reduction in V beta--D beta rearrangement while permitting normal juxtaposition of other TCR gene segments. Our data support a model in which p56lck activity impinges upon a signaling process that ordinarily permits allelic exclusion at the beta-chain locus.     

Comparison of a quadratic response surface model and a square root model for predicting the growth rate of Yersinia enterocolitic

Polynomial equations, relating the growth rate of Yersinia enterocolitica to temperature (0–25°C) and pH (4.5–6-5) in a liquid medium were constructed for four different acidulants. The logarithm of the time for a 100-fold increase in bacterial numbers could be represented by a quadratic response surface function of pH and temperature. The interactions between pH and temperature on growth rate were found to be additive. Values for a 2 log cycle increase in growth derived from the model were in good agreement with experimental values. Predictions from the quadratic model and from a square root model were compared with experimental values in laboratory media and UHT milk. The mean square error (MSE) for the quadratic response surface model was smaller than that for the square root model in 81% of cases. In UHT milk the square root model increasingly underestimated growth rate, as the temperature decreased and would 'fail dangerous' if used for predictive purposes. This indicated that the response surface model is more reliable for predicting the growth of Y. enterocolitica under conditions of sub-optimal temperature and pH.     

Human DNA-activated protein kinase phosphorylates serines 15 and 37 in the amino-terminal transactivation domain of human p53.

Human DNA-PK is a nuclear, serine/threonine protein kinase that, when activated by DNA, phosphorylates several DNA-binding substrates, including the tumor suppressor protein p53. To identify which p53 residues are phosphorylated, we examined DNA-PK's ability to phosphorylate synthetic peptides corresponding to human p53 sequences. Serines 15 and 37 in the amino-terminal transactivation domain of human p53, and serines 7 and 18 of mouse p53, were phosphorylated by DNA-PK in the context of synthetic peptides. Other serines in these p53 peptides, and serines in other p53 peptides, including peptides containing the serine 315 p34cdc2 site and the serine 392 casein kinase II site, were not recognized by DNA-PK or were phosphorylated less efficiently. Phosphorylation of the conserved serine 15 in human p53 peptides depended on the presence of an adjacent glutamine, and phosphorylation was inhibited by the presence of a nearby lysine. Phosphorylation of recombinant wild-type mouse p53 was inhibited at high DNA concentrations, suggesting that DNA-PK may phosphorylate p53 only when both are bound to DNA at nearby sites. Our study suggests that DNA-PK may have a role in regulating cell growth and indicates how phosphorylation of serine 15 in DNA-bound p53 could alter p53 function.     

A radiation-reduced hybrid cell line containing 5 Mb/17 cM of human DNA from 9q34.

Disease gene loci for tuberous sclerosis (TSC1), idiopathic torsion dystonia (DYT1), and nail-patella syndrome (NPS1) have been mapped by genetic linkage analysis to human chromosome 9q band 34. To create a resource for physical mapping and manipulation of this region of the genome, we have created a radiation-reduced hybrid cell line containing DNA from human 9q34 as its only human component. This cell line, E6B, has been characterized by Southern blot and PCR analysis using a panel of 9q markers and fluorescent in situ hybridization. We estimate that it contains 5 Mb of human DNA, equal to 17 cM of genetic distance, extending from AK1 to ABO on 9q34.