Immortalized cell lines derived from mice lacking both type I and type II IFN receptors unify some functions of immature and mature dendritic cells

Cells with dendritic morphology obtained from several organs of mice lacking both type I and II IFN receptors were immortalized by a retrovirus and analysed for their phenotype and for their function to induce cognate immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Two cell lines called AG101 (skin) and AG116 (brain) were cloned and analysed in more detail. They constitutively expressed the cell surface markers CD45, CD11b, MHC class II, F4/80, N418, B7-2 and ICAM1 but were CD8- and B220-negative. Cells from both lines were capable of taking up ovalbumin (OVA). The processed protein was presented to the OVA-specific T cell hybridoma BO97.105 which responded specifically with the production of IL-2. AG101 and AG116 cells were able to induce a mixed lymphocyte reaction as shown by a 50-fold increase of IL-2 production over background. Naive T cells were stimulated by antigen-primed AG101 and AG116, resulting in a T cell proliferation which was 20-30 times over background, and in IL-2 production it was 10 times the background. The capacity of AG101 or AG116 cells to prime naive T cells was directly compared with freshly isolated and cultured cutaneous dendritic cells (DC) from 129 Sv/Ev mice (wtDC). After cognate T cell interaction, IL-6 (20-100-fold) and IL-12 p40 (100-1000-fold) were similarly up-regulated in either AG101, AG116 or mature wtDC. To analyse the capacity of the immortalized DC to induce antibodies in vivo, cell line AG116 was permanently infected with Borna disease virus (BDV) which is unable to replicate in adult mice. One hundred and twenty-nine Sv/Ev mice injected with different cell numbers of AG116 carrying BDV (but not control cells) produced antibodies against the viral BDVp40 and BDVp24 protein. Therefore, the cell lines AG101 and AG116 appear to unify some functions of immature and mature DC. They are able to pick up antigen and process it. In the absence of externally added cytokines, the antigen presented on AG101 or AG116 cells drives T cells with an efficiency similar to mature DC. The cloned cell lines may prove to be useful to study both immune response and replication of infectious agents in the absence of functional interferon receptors.     

Synthesis of non proteinogenic dipeptides by asymmetric hydrogenation

Summary N-Boc protected non-proteinogenic dipeptides with D,L-and L,L-configuration were prepared by catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding dehydrophenylalanyl-(L)-phenylalanine derivatives. The configuration of the new stereogenic centre depends first of all on the catalyst configuration and is less influenced by the substrate configuration. Diastereomeric excesses in the range of 80–96% de could be increased up to 99% by recrystallization. Analytical data of selected new compounds are given.Abbreviations PINDOPHOS 2,3-O,N-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1-(4-indolyloxy)-2-hydroxy-3-isopropylamino propane - PROPRAPHOS 2,3-O,N-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1-(naphthoxy)-2-hydroxy-3-isopropylamino propane - BDPB 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane     

A fatal cytokine-induced systemic inflammatory response reveals a critical role for NK cells

The mechanism of cytokine-induced shock remains poorly understood. The combination of IL-2 and IL-12 has synergistic antitumor activity in vivo, yet has been associated with significant toxicity. We examined the effects of IL-2 plus IL-12 in a murine model and found that the daily, simultaneous administration of IL-2 and IL-12 resulted in shock and 100% mortality within 4 to 12 days depending on the strain employed. Mice treated with IL-2 plus IL-12 exhibited NK cell apoptosis, pulmonary edema, degenerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, and elevated serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase reactants. The actions of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, macrophage-inflammatory protein-1alpha, IL-1, IL-1-converting enzyme, Fas, perforin, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and STAT1 did not contribute to the observed toxicity, nor did B or T cells. However, toxicity and death from treatment with IL-2 plus IL-12 could be completely abrogated by elimination of NK cells. These results suggest that the fatal systemic inflammatory response induced by this cytokine treatment is critically dependent upon NK cells, but does not appear to be mediated by the known effector molecules of this cellular compartment. These data may provide insight into the pathogenesis of cytokine-induced shock in humans.     

Evidence for Multiple Acquisition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arsenophonus</Emphasis> by Whitefly Species (Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae)

Whiteflies contain primary prokaryotic endosymbionts located within specialized host cells. This endosymbiotic association is the result of a single infection of the host followed by vertical transmission of the endosymbiont to the progeny. Whiteflies may also be associated with other bacteria called secondary (S-) endosymbionts. The nucleotide sequence of the 16S–23S ribosomal DNA from S-endosymbionts of 13 whitefly species was determined. A phylogenetic analysis of these sequences indicated their grouping into two major clusters, one consisting of two S-endosymbionts related to previously described T-type endosymbionts. The second cluster contained the 16S–23S rDNA sequence of the type strain of Arsenophonus nasoniae as well as sequences of S-endosymbionts from 11 whitefly species. This Arsenophonus cluster contained four S-endosymbionts with intervening sequences of 70–184 nucleotides in their 23S rDNAs. The phylogenetic tree of the Arsenophonus cluster differed greatly from the phylogenetic tree of the primary endosymbionts. These results suggest that, unlike the primary endosymbiont, Arsenophonus may infect whiteflies multiple times and may also be horizontally transmitted.     

Sequence Analysis of DNA Fragments from the Genome of the Primary Endosymbiont of the Whitefly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis>

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci contains a primary prokaryotic endosymbiont housed within specialized cells in the body cavity. Two DNA fragments from the endosymbiont, totaling 33.3 kilobases, were cloned and sequenced. In total, 37 genes were detected and included the ribosomal RNA operon and genes for ribosomal RNA proteins. The guanine plus cytosine of the DNA was 30.2 mol%, different from that of endosymbionts of other plant sap-sucking insects.     

Three Novel Mutant Arylsulfatase A Alleles Causing Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of arylsulfatase A. This leads to the accumulation of 3-O-sulfogalactosylceramide, which results in severe demyelination. Here we describe a novel non-sense mutation W124ter and two disease-causing missense mutations E382Q and C500F in arylsulfatase A gene. Another so far unknown allele harbors three sequence alterations: two polymorphisms (N350S, R496H) and a missense mutation (R288H). The R288H substitution and the N350S polymorphism have previously been found on one allele together with a polymorphism in a polyadenylation signal characteristic for the arylsulfatase A pseudodeficiency allele. The R496H has been shown to occur on another allele. The presence of the R288H, N350S, and R496H substitution on one allele in the absence of the polyadenylation site polymorphism shows that this allele has probably arisen by recombination between the nucleotides of codon 350 and 496.     

Development of a quantitative, high-throughput cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases are implicated as therapeutic agents for the treatment of many human diseases including cancer, inflammation and diabetes. Cell-based assays to examine inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinase mediated intracellular signaling are often laborious and not amenable to high-throughput cell-based screening of compound libraries. Here we describe the development of a nonradioactive, sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify the activation and inhibition of ligand-induced phosphorylation of the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) in 96-well microtiter plate format. The assay involves the capture of the Triton X-100 solubilized human CSF-1R, from HEK293E cells overexpressing histidine epitope-tagged CSF-1R (CSF-1R/HEK293E), with immobilized CSF-1R antibody and detection of phosphosphorylation of the activated receptor with a phosphotyrosine specific antibody. The assay exhibited a 5-fold increase in phosphorylated CSF-1R signal from CSF-1R/HEK293E cells treated with colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) relative to treated vector control cells. Additionally, using a histidine epitope-specific capture antibody, this method can also be adapted to quantify the phosphorylation state of any recombinantly expressed, histidine-tagged receptor tyrosine kinase. This method is a substantial improvement in throughput and quantitation of CSF-1R phosphorylation over conventional immunoblotting techniques.