Characterization of a renal tubular epithelial cell line which secretes the autologous target antigen of autoimmune experimental interstitial nephritis

Proximal tubular epithelial cells from mice which develop autoimmune interstitial nephritis were found to express the nephritogenic target antigen, 3M-1. Anti-3M-1 mAbs (alpha 3M-1-Ab) were used to positively select for 3M-1-secreting tubular epithelium and, after stabilization in culture, this new cell line (MCT) was examined for the production of several moieties important to either immune interactions or to the development of extracellular matrix. Alkaline phosphatase-staining MCT cells also express epithelial growth factor receptors with a Kd of 0.87 nM and an epithelial growth factor receptor constant (Ro) of 2.1 X 10(4) receptors/cell. MCT culture supernatants contain greater amounts of laminin, and types IV and V procollagens compared to types I and III procollagens, and growing MCT cells on type I collagen matrix causes them to preferentially secrete even more type IV and V procollagen. The 30,000-Mr 3M-1 antigen could be immunoprecipitated from biosynthetically labeled MCT cell supernatants with alpha 3M-1-Ab. An identical-sized moiety was isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography from collagenase-solubilized mouse kidney tubular basement membranes. The 3M-1 antigen can be found on the MCT cell surface by radioimmunoassay, or deposited in a linear array in the extracellular matrix surrounding the MCT cells in culture by immunofluorescence. Mature messenger RNA species for both class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules were detected by Northern hybridization, and their corresponding cell surface gene products were detected by cytofluorography of MCT cells stained with haplotype-specific antibodies. Both the cell surface 3M-1 and the small amounts of detected class II MHC molecules appear to be biologically functional, as MCT cells can support the proliferation of 3M-1-specific, class II MHC-restricted helper T cells in culture. These findings suggest that MCT cells provide all the necessary biological parameters for interfacing both as the target of a nephritogenic immune response, and as a potential source for new extracellular matrix which develops as a fibrogenic response to interstitial nephritis.     

Targeting of secretory vesicles to cytoplasmic domains in AtT-20 and PC- 12 cells

Organelles are not uniformly distributed throughout the cytoplasm but have preferred locations that vary between tissues and during development. To investigate organelle targeting to cytoplasmic domains we have taken advantage of the mouse pituitary cell line, AtT-20, which, when induced to extend long processes, accumulates dense core secretory granules at the tips of the processes. During mitosis, these secretory granules accumulate along the plane of division. Protein synthesis is not mandatory for such redistribution of secretory granules. To explore the specificity of the redistribution we have used transfected AtT-20 cells that express the immunoglobulin kappa light chain. While the endogenous hormone ACTH is found in secretory granules, the kappa chain is a marker for organelles involved in constitutive secretion. By immunofluorescence, kappa also accumulates at the tips of growing processes, and along the midline of dividing cells, suggesting that the redistribution of vesicles is not specific for dense-core secretory granules. Since there is evidence for selective organelle transport along processes in neuronal cells, the rat pheochromocytoma cell PC-12 was transfected with DNA encoding markers for regulated and constitutive secretory vesicles. Again regulated and constitutive vesicles co-distribute, even in cells grown in the presence of nerve growth factor. We suggest that at least in the cells studied here, cytoskeletal elements normally carry exocytotic organelles to the surface; when the cytoskeletal elements coalesce in an extending process, exocytotic organelles of both the constitutive and regulated pathway are transported nonselectively to the tips of the cytoskeletal elements where they accumulate.     

Pleural and extrapleural interstitial liquid pressure measured by cannulas and micropipettes

In 15 anesthetized apneic, oxygenated rabbits we simultaneously measured pleural liquid and interstitial extrapleural parietal pressures by using catheters and/or cannulas and micropipettes connected to a servonull system. With the animal in lateral posture, at an average recording height of 4.4 +/- 0.9 (SD) cm from the most dependent part of the cavity, the extrapleural catheter and the pleural cannula yielded -2.5 +/- 0.6 and -5.5 +/- 0.2 cmH2O; the corresponding values for micropipette readings in the two compartments were -2.4 +/- 0.6 and -5.4 +/- 0.4 cmH2O, respectively (not significantly different from those measured with catheters and cannulas). In the supine animal, interstitial extrapleural catheter pressure data obtained at recording heights ranging from 15 to 80% of pleural cavity lay on the identity line when plotted vs. the micropipette pressure values simultaneously gathered from the same tissues. We conclude that 1) micropipettes and catheters-cannulas yield similar results when recording from the same compartment and 2) the hydraulic pressure in the parietal extrapleural interstitium is less negative than that in the pleural space.     

Anaerobic degradation of trans-cinnamate and ω-phenylalkane carboxylic acids by the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris: evidence for a β-oxidation mechanism

The mechanism responsible for the initial steps in the anaerobic degradation of trans-cinnamate and -phenylalkane carboxylates by the purple non-sulphur photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris was investigated. Phenylacetate did not support growth and there was a marked CO₂ dependence for growth on acids with greater side-chain lengths. Here, CO₂ was presumably acting as a redox sink for the disposal of excess reducing equivalents. Growth on benzoate did not require the addition of exogenous CO₂. Aromatic acids with an odd number of side-chain carbon atoms (3-phenylpropionate, 5-phenylvalerate, 7-phenylheptanoate) gave greater apparent molar growth yields than those with an even number of side-chain carbon atoms (4-phenylbutyrate, 6-phenylhexanoate, 8-phenyloctanoate). HPLC analysis revealed that phenylacetate accumulated and persisted in the culture medium during growth on these latter compounds. Cinnamate and benzoate transiently accumulated in the culture medium during growth on 3-phenylpropionate, and benzoate alone accumulated transiently during the course of trans-cinnamate degradation. The transient accumulation of 4-phenyl-2-butenoic acid occurred during growth on 4-phenylbutyrate, and phenylacetate accumulated to a 1:1 molar stoichiometry with the initial 4-phenylbutyrate concentration. It is proposed that the initial steps in the anaerobic degradation of trans-cinnamate and the group of acids from 3-phenylpropionate to 8-phenyloctanoate involves -oxidation of the side-chain.Abbreviation 3-PP 3-phenylpropionic acid - 4-PB 4-phenylbutyric acid - 5-PV 5-phenylvaleric acid - 6-PH 6-phenylhexanoic acid - 7-PH 7-phenylheptanoic acid - 8-PO 8-phenyloctanoic acid - 4-P2B 4-phenyl-2-butenoic acid - GC/MS Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry - HPLC High-pressure liquid chromatography     

Complement-dependent lysis of tumor cells by a baboon IgM antibody to a tumor-associated antigen

Summary We developed a high-titer polyclonal antiserum to a glycoprotein tumor-associated antigen (TAA) by immunization of a baboon with the purified glycoprotein antigen. The baboon serum was fractionated into IgG and IgM components by DEAE Affi-Gel blue chromatography. The ability of the baboon IgM anti-TAA antibody to effect tumor cell lysis in the presence of complement was tested using a chromium-release assay. The baboon antibody was able to lyse melanoma target cells (20.8%–71.4% cytolysis), breast carcinoma cells (36.5%–38.9% cytolysis), and a neuroblastoma cell line (35.5% cytolysis) in the presence of complement but did not effect significant lysis of autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines (4.9% cytolysis) or peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy volunteers (12.6% cytolysis). Cytolysis of melanoma target cells was completely inhibited by preabsorption of the IgM anti-TAA antibody with UCLA-SO-M14 (M14) cells and partially inhibited by preabsorption with several other melanoma cell lines. There was no significant inhibition of tumor cell lysis after preabsorption of the antibody with lymphoblastoid cell lines. Complement-dependent lysis of M14 targets could be blocked by addition of the purified antigen to the antibody prior to incubation with the tumor cells. Our results suggest that the glycoprotein TAA resides on the tumor cell surface and that the baboon IgM anti-TAA antibody recognizes the antigen on the cell surface and is able to fix complement and effect the lysis of the tumor cells.     

Direct determination of homovanillic acid release from the human brain, an indicator of central dopaminergic activity

The plasma concentration of the dopamine (DA) metabolite, homovanillic acid (HVA), is used as an indicator of central nervous system dopaminergic activity. Using percutaneously inserted catheters we were able to obtain blood samples simultaneously from the right and left internal jugular veins. Veno-arterial HVA plasma concentration differences combined with adjusted organ plasma flows were used, according to the Fick Principle, to determine the HVA overflow from the brain. The HVA overflow from the liver was also measured. HVA overflow from the brain represented 12% of the total body HVA production. A similar amount was released from the liver, illustrating the limited validity of peripheral plasma HVA measurements as an indicator of central dopaminergic activity. HVA release from the human brain displayed a degree of asymmetry, the overflow into the left internal jugular vein being 36% greater than that into the right. Cerebral venous blood flow scans indicated that cortical cerebral regions drained preferentially into the right internal jugular; by inference the higher HVA overflow on the left originated from dopamine-rich subcortical brain areas. Since HVA in plasma may arise from the metabolism of DA existing either as a neurotransmitter or a norepinephrine (NE) precursor we measured the internal jugular vein plasma concentrations of NE, and its metabolite dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), to determine whether they displayed a similar pattern of release to HVA. The overflow of both NE and DHPG into the right internal jugular vein was approximately double that on the left. Since the overflow of HVA did not parallel that of NE and DHPG it may be inferred that the origin of much of the subcortically produced HVA is from dopaminergic neurons and not from the metabolism of precursor DA in noradrenergic neurones or cerebrovascular sympathetic nerves.     

A novel extracellular carbohydrase produced by Lipomyces tetrasporus

Summary The ascosporogenous yeast Lipomyces tetrasporus produced an unusual extracellular carbohydrase. It was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulphate precipitation and DEAE Bio-gel A ion-exchange chromatography. While retaining highest activity on low-molecular-weight saccharides such as maltose and nigerose, it displays considerable activity towards polymeric substrates including soluble starch. It is particularly unusual in that it also hydrolyses dextran and has a very high affinity for this substrate. The enzyme has an exo-lytic mode of action with the only hydrolysis product, glucose, being released in the -anomeric form. Optimum activity occurs at pH 4.5 and at 50°C. It is a glycoprotein, and has an M _r value of 150 000 (sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) — 183 000 (fast protein liquid chromatography) and a pI of 6.0. Offprint requests to: C. T. Kelly     

Maturation of dense core granules in wild type and mutant Tetrahymena thermophila.

Tetrahymena thermophila, a ciliated protozoan, has a well-developed pathway of regulated secretion from dense core granules called mucocysts. Since exocytosis-defective mutants are available, steps in the biogenesis of dense core granules and their fusion with the plasma membrane may be resolved genetically. To describe the steps in biochemical terms, we have generated antisera against mucocyst content proteins. One antiserum is directed against a calcium binding protein, p40, that is released on stimulation of exocytosis. p40 is shown to associate with an insoluble matrix in mature mucocysts. In addition, the antiserum recognizes a larger protein, p60, that is soluble, is not found in mature mucocysts and is not released on stimulation. Pulse-chase experiments support a precursor-product relationship between p60 and p40. Using these proteins as markers, two mutant Tetrahymena strains defective in exocytosis have been shown to accumulate the putative precursor p60 in organelles that can be distinguished from one another and from wild type mucocysts on the basis of density. The kinetics of appearance of insoluble p40 and the mutant phenotypes suggest a model of mucocyst maturation in which sorting precedes matrix condensation.