Selective targeting of immunoliposomal doxorubicin against human multiple myeloma in vitro and ex vivo

Circulating malignant CD19(+) B cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis and relapse of multiple myeloma (MM). This study investigated the therapeutic applicability of using long-circulating liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (DXR) targeted against the internalizing CD19 antigens present on human MM cells. In vitro binding studies using the CD19(+) MM cell line ARH77 demonstrated that CD19-directed immunoliposomes (SIL[anti-CD19]) specifically attached to these cells. Formulations of immunoliposomal doxorubicin (DXR-SIL[anti-CD19]) showed a higher association with, and higher cytotoxicity against, ARH77 cells than did non-targeted liposomal doxorubicin (DXR-SL) or isotype-matched controls (DXR-NSIL[IgG2a]). By using the pH-sensitive fluorophore, 1-hydroxypyrene-3,6, 8-trisulfonic acid, binding of SIL[anti-CD19] to CD19 antigens was shown to trigger receptor-mediated internalization of the antibody-antigen complexes into endosomes. Targeting of SIL[anti-CD19] to CD19(+) B cells was also demonstrated in a heterogeneous mixture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from MM patients. A decrease in cellular DNA (which is an indicator of apoptosis) caused by the cytotoxicity of DXR-SIL[anti-CD19] to myeloma PBMC was determined by using flow cytometry. While PBMC treatment with free DXR resulted in non-specific cytotoxicity to both B and T cells, DXR-SL were only minimally cytotoxic to either. In contrast, DXR-SIL[anti-CD19] were selectively cytotoxic for B cells in PBMC, indicating that this treatment may be effective in eliminating circulating malignant B cells in MM patients.     

Surface markers on the T cells that regulate cytotoxic T-cell responses I. The Ly phenotype of suppressor T cells changes as a function of time, and is distinct from that of helper or cytotoxic T cells

Regulatory T cells can be obtained from primary mixed lymphocyte cultures of CBA spleen cells responding to BALB/c stimulators. At day 3 of culture, T cells are generated which can either help or suppress the generation of cytotoxic T cells in a second primary MLC culture. The regulatory activity observed depends on the conditions employed in the assay system allowing independent assay of different functional cell types which coexist in the cultures. Both the helper activity and the suppressor activity are mediated by differentiated antigen-specific T cells whose function is radioresistant. The Ly phenotype of these regulatory cells was tested. At day 3 of the first-step culture, the phenotype of the helper cells is Ly 1.1+ Ly 2.1-, whereas the inhibitory cells are Ly 1.1 Ly 2.1+. At day 5 of M LC culture, suppressor activity and helper activity are also observed. However, at this point, a suppressor cell which is Ly 1.1-Ly 2.1+ represents the major inhibitory activity. It is not clear whether this change in suppressor cell phenotype as a function of time in culture represents one differentiation pathway or cells derived from two different precursor cells. The Ly phenotype of helper or cytotoxic T cells did not change as a function of time in culture. In day 5 first-step cells, the cytotoxic cells were typed as Ly 1.1+ 2.1+, whereas the inhibitory cells present in aliquots of the same treated cell population expressed the Ly 1.1- Ly 2.1 phenotype. Taken together, these observations show that the antigen-specific suppressor cells and helper cells which regulate the generation of cytotoxicity, and the cytotoxic cells themselves represent physically distinct subclasses of T cells.     

In situ localization of CD45 isoforms in the human thymus indicates a medullary location for the thymic generative lineage.

Previous work has suggested that the generative lineage within the human thymus can be defined by the selective expression of CD45 isoforms and is CD45RO- and predominantly CD45RA+. In order to physically localize these cells we have stained frozen sections of human thymus with antibodies to CD45RO (p180), and CD45RA (p205/P220), as well as with CD1 and HLA class I to define cortical and medullary areas, respectively. In the cortex, 70 to 90% of thymocytes were CD45RO+, whereas only 0.5% expressed CD45RA. Medullary cells were 30% CD45RO+, 29% CD45RA+; approximately 40% did not express detectable levels of either isoform but did express CD45 common determinants. To assess the degree of proliferation of cells expressing CD45 isoforms, we stained adjacent sections, or used double staining, with Ki67, an antibody that detects a nuclear Ag on proliferating cells. We found that CD45RA+ thymocytes are predominantly a resting medullary population with a small component in cell cycle, consistent with our analysis of human thymocytes by immunofluorescence, and with data in murine systems defining the generative lineage. To confirm that the CD1- or low, CD45RO-CD45RA+ thymocytes defined by immunofluorescence analysis were likely to have a medullary location, we analyzed the CD4/CD8 subset distribution of CD1-cells. From 80 to 90% of CD1-thymocytes are CD4+ or CD8+ single positives or CD-8- double negatives. CD1-thymocytes also include 12 to 14% CD4+8+ cells with a probable medullary location. A similar analysis of lymphocytes expressing a high density of HLA class I, which have a medullary location, confirmed the existence of CD4+8+ thymocytes in the medulla. Purified CD3-4-8- cells, previously shown to be CD1-CD45RA+, were also shown to bear a high density of HLA class I, indicating a medullary location. Correlative localization of a panel of Ag thus supports the argument for a medullary location of the thymic generative lineage.     

Developmental nicotine exposure enhances inhibitory synaptic transmission in motor neurons and interneurons critical for normal breathing

Nicotine exposure in utero negatively affects neuronal growth, differentiation, and synaptogenesis. We used rhythmic brainstems slices and immunohistochemistry to determine how developmental nicotine exposure (DNE) alters inhibitory neurotransmission in two regions essential to normal breathing, the hypoglossal motor nucleus (XIIn), and preBötzinger complex (preBötC). We microinjected glycine or muscimol (GABA_A agonist) into the XIIn or preBötC of rhythmic brainstem slices from neonatal rats while recording from XII nerve roots to obtain XII motoneuron population activity. Injection of glycine or muscimol into the XIIn reduced XII nerve burst amplitude, while injection into the preBötC altered nerve burst frequency. These responses were exaggerated in preparations from DNE animals. Quantitative immunohistochemistry revealed a significantly higher GABA_A receptor density on XII motoneurons from DNE pups. There were no differences in GABA_A receptor density in the preBötC, and there were no differences in glycine receptor expression in either region. Nicotine, in the absence of other chemicals in tobacco smoke, alters normal development of brainstem circuits that are critical for normal breathing. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 337–354, 2016     

Errors in the determination of low levels of nitrate in lake sediments

Abstract

Error sources associated with the spectrophotometric determination of low levels (e.g. <2 μg g^?1) of nitrate in sediments have been examined and problems identified included incomplete nitrate recovery (attributable in part to anion resorption) and light scattering by colloidal (<0.45 μm) matter in extract solutions (minimised by using uncoloured extract in the reference beam). Optimum retrieval (>90%) of nitrate from the marine lake sediments studied was achieved with 15 min mixing with 0.1 M NH₄CI, using a sediment to extractant ratio of 1:30. The nitrate in the extracts was determined by reducing it to nitrite (using Cd powder), with subsequent colour development based on the addition of sulfanilic acid and N-1-naphthyl-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride. The reduction step was sensitive to the experimental conditions used, but was near quantitative using 0.1 M NH₄CI extracts. (Much lower transformation levels were observed when the nitrate solutions contained KCI or CaSO₄, or when Zn powder was used as the reductant). All the sediments tested sorbed nitrate ion from solution (some very avidly) and this sorbed ion was not readily retrieved by back extraction into NH₄CI solutions.     

Gradient of photosynthetic pigments in the bark and leaves of lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.)

The concentration of chlorophyll and a carotenoids in the bark of stems of different age and in the leaves of lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.) was determined. The thickness of bark changes with the age of the stems, ranging from 0.73 mm in the current-year stems to 1.22 mm in 3-year-old ones. Chlorophyll and carotenoids were present through the whole thickness of the bark, except the cork. It was found that chlorophyll and carotenoids are located mainly in the outer layer of the bark, immediately under the cork, to a depth of 400 μm. In this layer the chlorophyll a/b ratio is the highest and the content of chlorophyll is four times larger than that of carotenoids. When penetrating deeper into the bark, the content of chlorophyll and carotenoids as well as the chlorophyll a/b ratio diminishes. Investigations of the leaves showed that most of the chlorophyll is found in the palisade parenchyma, the chlorophyll a/b ratio is the highest in the upper layer. The highest concentration of chlorophyll in the bark is 0.44 mg·dm⁻² and in leaves −1.2 mg⁻²·dm⁻². The highest value of the chlorophyll a/b ratio in the bark is 3.8, and the lowest 0.5, while in the leaves it varies from 4.5 to 3.8 Low values of the chlorophyll a/b ratio are due to the shade conditions existing in the bark and they are evidence of very great differentiation of light conditions within it.     

FMC46, a cell protrusion-associated leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 epitope on human lymphocytes and thymocytes.

In this report, we describe a 76-kDa glycoprotein recognized by mAb FMC46 that, by virtue of its concentration on cell protrusions involved in motility, may be important in lymphoid cell locomotion. FMC46 detects an epitope of the leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1), a member of the selecting family (LAM-1, Endothelial Leukocyte Adhesion Molecular-1 (ELAM-1), and Granule Membrane Protein-140 (GMP-140), that is expressed on LAM-1-transfected cell lines, is a glycosylation epitope based on its loss after culture in tunicamycin, and is closely related to the LAM-1.2 epitope. FMC46 is expressed at high density on the majority of CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ peripheral blood T cells (60 to 70%) and on a subset of thymocytes that includes the multinegative CD3- CD4- CD8- progenitor cells (100% FMC46hi) and the CD45R0- presumptive thymic generative lineage (70% FMC46hi). It appears at reduced density and frequency on CD45RA- thymocytes (50% FMC46lo), comprised mainly of death-committed thymocytes. Among thymic subsets defined by expression of CD4 and/or CD8, FMC46 is expressed at high density predominantly on a subset of single-positive cells and not on double-positive cells. These results suggest a fundamental role for LAM-1 in thymic development, with a high density preferentially expressed on cells involved in thymic generative processes and a low density on cells progressing to intrathymic death. A major subset of peripheral blood B cells and thymic B cells also express FMC46. Immunohistochemistry on frozen sections indicated strong staining in splenic follicles and around blood vessels, staining of the thymic medulla and subcapsular areas, and staining of the mantle zone of germinal centers of the lymph node. FMC46+ lymphocytes accumulated along high endothelial venules in the lymph node. On locomoting multinegative thymocytes, FMC46 is concentrated on the leading tip of extended processes, on pseudopods, and on ruffles, unlike the distribution of either CD44 or TQ1 (LAM 1.2), suggesting a role in locomotion. On dividing multinegative thymocytes, FMC46 was found almost exclusively along the cleavage furrow, implicating it in detachment processes. We conclude that the properties of the LAM-1 molecule recognized by FMC46 are consistent with a role in detachment phases of motility and of cell interactions.