In vitro growth of cytotoxic human lymphocytes. I. Growth of cells sensitized in vitro to alloantigens.

Human lymphocytes sensitized to allogeneic determinants in vitro were continuously cultured on medium prepared from phytohemagglutinin-(PHA-P) stimulated human mixed lymphocyte cultures. With such human-conditioned medium (HCM), human peripheral lymphoid cells could be grown in culture for over 90 days with a doulbing time of about 54 hr. Cytotoxic lymphocytes could be grown in culture for this time with no loss of cytotoxicity or change in cytotoxic specificity.     

Interaction of concanavalin A with differentiated and undifferentiated murine neuroblastoma cells.

Tritium-labeled acetyl-concanavalin A (³H-Con A) was used to study its kinetics of binding at 0 °C to murine neuroblastoma cells (clone neuro 2-A) grown in the differentiated (monolayer) and Undifferentiated (spinner) states. The binding of ³H-Con A to both cell types gives sigmoidal saturation curves, suggesting positively cooperative binding of the lectin. The Hill coefficient is 1.75 for differentiated and 1.36 for Undifferentiated cells. The maximal number of ³H-Con A molecules bound per cell is 2.3 × 10⁷ and 3.4 × 10⁷ for differentiated and Undifferentiated cells, respectively, and the apparent rate constants for formation of the lectin-cell complex are 6.13 × 10², m^?1, s^?1 for the Undifferentiated and 6.68 × 10², m^?1, s^?1 for the differentiated cells. The lectin bound to spinner cells does not dissociate spontaneously to any measurable extent over a 60-min period at 0 or 37 °C, but the lectin-cell complex dissociates rapidly after addition of α-methyl-d-mannopyranoside. At 37 °C, this sugar causes virtually complete dissociation of the cell-lectin complex within 30 min. The ³H-Con A dissociated from spinner cells is indistinguishable from the original ³H-Con A by sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gel filtration through Bio-Gels P-30 and P-100, and specific binding to spinner cells. Both the original and the dissociated ³H-Con A are dimers at pH 7.4. The sugar-induced dissociation of the labeled lectin from spinner cells is not accompanied by shedding or inactivation of the lectin binding sites of the cell surface.     

Phospholipid distribution and stimulation of methylation during denervation and reinnervation in skeletal muscle

Denervation of the rat soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles was induced by nerve crush. Functional signs of denervation were noted within 48 h with recovery beginning about the 12th day following denervation. There was also a marked decrease in muscle weight but only a small decrease in protein content per mg of muscle, subsequent to denervation. At 1, 2 and 3 weeks following nerve crush there was a relative decrease in muscle phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and a corresponding increase in phosphatidylcholine (PC). The proportion of the other phospholipids did not significantly change. The levels of PC and PE returned to, or in some cases slightly overshot, control values at 4 and 5 weeks following nerve crush, i.e. during the period of reinnervation. Levels in non-denervated contralateral muscles did not significantly change. At 1 and 3 weeks following nerve crush a marked increase was observed in the activities of the enzymes PE-methyltransferases I and II, as measured by [³H]methyl group incorporation from S-adenosyl methionine into phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and PC. Increased activity of these methylases was seen in the contralateral control muscle, although less than in the denervated muscle. These enzymatic changes could be responsible for the changes in PE and PC distribution which we observed. Methylation of PE might also decrease the microviscosity of the membrane, thereby leading to other changes associated with denervation. Activation of this system might be another form of supersensitivity induced by denervation.     

Persistence of cartilage proteoglycan and link protein during matrix-induced endochondral bone development: An immunofluorescent study

Monospecific antibodies to cartilage proteoglycan monomer and link protein were employed with immunofluorescence microscopy to determine the tissue distribution of these constituents during matrix-induced endochondral bone development. Subcutaneous implantation of demineralized diaphyseal bone matrix resulted in new endochondral bone formation. On Day 3, the implant consisted of mesenchymal tissue which did not contain any demonstrable cartilage-related proteoglycan or link protein. With the onset of early chondrogenesis on Day 5, cartilage proteoglycan monomer and link protein were first localized together in the cartilage matrix, particularly around chondrocytes in territorial sites. Progressively more staining around cells was observed at Days 7 and 9. On Day 9, when mineralization was first observed, there was no evidence of a net loss of these molecules prior to mineralization of the cartilage matrix. On Day 11 and thereafter, bone formation was observed by appositional growth on calcified cartilage spicules. Whereas the osteoblasts and bone matrix were devoid of any staining for cartilage proteoglycan and link components, the residual, partly mineralized cartilage spicules still reacted with antibodies to cartilage proteoglycan monomer and link protein in territorial sites, but in reduced amounts, indicating a loss of these molecules associated with a loss of hypertrophic chondrocytes. Since mineral prevented the access of Fab' antibody subunits, demineralization after fixation was routinely employed. The results reveal that cartilage proteoglycan monomer and link protein are present around chondrocytes in hyaline cartilage during the early stages of endochondral bone formation and that there is no net loss of these molecules prior to mineralization of this cartilage matrix as was previously thought.     

Mac-2-binding glycoproteins. Putative ligands for a cytosolic beta-galactoside lectin

Mac-2, a galactose-binding lectin secretion by activated macrophages, is the major non-integrin laminin-binding protein in these cells. Mac-2 is also expressed by epithelial cells in the intestine and kidney. We wished to identify intestinal glycoproteins other than laminin that have a high affinity for Mac-2 and that could be considered as candidate ligands or partners for this lectin in intestinal epithelium. Certain lines of human colon adenocarcinoma cells produce two Mac-2-binding glycoproteins (M2BP-1 and M2BP-2) that were identified by their avid association with Mac-2 following detergent lysis and immunoprecipitation. These glycoproteins do not share a common epitope with Mac-2, and the interaction between Mac-2 and these proteins is mediated through the carbohydrate-binding domain of Mac-2 and sugar moieties on M2BP-1 and M2BP-2. M2BP-1 (98 kDa) and M2BP-2 (70 kDa) were purified by immunoaffinity chromatography and were specifically eluted with either galactose or lactose. Peptide maps revealed that M2BP-1 and M2BP-2 are structurally related. M2BP-1 is secreted and could conceivably associate with Mac-2 extracellularly. N-terminal sequence analysis of M2BP-2 suggests that these glycoproteins represent a unique subset of candidate ligands for this mammalian beta-galactoside lectin.     

Adhesion of Actinomyces viscosus to Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis-coated hexadecane droplets.

Interbacterial adhesion (coadhesion) is considered a major determinant of dental plaque ecology. In this report, we studied several aspects of the adhesion of Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis to hexadecane in order to use the liquid hydrocarbon as a convenient substratum for coadhesion assays. Washed suspensions of hydrophobic P. gingivalis 2561 cells were vortexed with hexadecane to yield highly stable cell-coated droplets. Kinetics of coadhesion between Actinomyces viscosus cells and P. gingivalis-coated hexadecane droplets (PCHD) was subsequently studied. Aliquots of PCHD were added to A. viscosus suspensions, and the mixtures were gently rotated. Avid adhesion of A. viscosus cells to the immobilized P. gingivalis layer could be readily measured by the decrease in turbidity in the aqueous phase, following phase separation. Despite the ability of A. viscosus cells to adsorb to hexadecane following vigorous mixing, gentle mixing did not appreciably promote adhesion to bare hexadecane. Moreover, extensive microscopic examinations revealed that A. viscosus cells adhered exclusively to the bound P. gingivalis cells rather than to exposed areas of hexadecane. Coadhesion of A. viscosus to the PCHD appeared to follow first-order kinetics, attaining 80% levels within 30 min. Electron micrographs revealed A. viscosus cells adhering to the P. gingivalis cell layer adsorbed at the hexadecane-water interface. Interestingly, P. gingivalis cells did not appear to penetrate the hexadecane. A viscosus mutants lacking type 1 or type 2 fimbriae or both were still able to bind to the PCHD. No obvious correlation was observed between relative hydrophobicity of A. viscosus strains and their binding to PCHD. However, defatted bovine serum albumin, an inhibitor of hydrophobic interactions, was the most potent inhibitor among those tested. The data suggest that this approach provides a simple, quantitative technique for studying kinetics of bacterial coadhesion which is amenable to both light and electron microscopic observation.     

Two novel Streptomyces protein protease inhibitors. Purification, activity, cloning, and expression.

In contrast to the Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptomyces lack a mucopolysaccharide cell wall which allows them to produce and secrete a variety of proteins directly into their environment. In an effort to understand and eventually exploit the synthesis and secretion of proteins by Streptomyces, we identified and characterized two naturally occurring abundantly produced proteins in culture supernatants of Streptomyces lividans and Streptomyces longisporus. We purified these 10-kDa proteins and obtained partial amino acid sequence information which was then used to design oligonucleotide probes in order to clone their genes. Analysis of the sequence data indicated that these proteins were related to each other and to several other previously characterized Streptomyces protein protease inhibitors. We demonstrate that both proteins are protein protease inhibitors with specificity for trypsin-like enzymes. The presumptive signal peptidase cleavage sites and subsequent aminopeptidase products of each protein are characterized. Finally, we show that the cloned genes contain all of the information necessary to direct synthesis and secretion of the proteins by Streptomyces spp. or Escherichia coli.     

Rat cystathionine beta-synthase. Gene organization and alternative splicing.

We elucidated the structure and alternative splicing patterns of the rat cystathionine beta-synthase gene. The gene is 20-25 kilobase pairs long, and its coding region is divided into 17 exons. These are alternatively spliced, forming four distinct mRNAs (types I through IV). The predicted open reading frames encode proteins of 61.5, 39, 60, and 52.5 kDa, respectively. Exons 13 and 16 are used alternatively and mutually exclusively. Exon 13 includes a stop codon and encodes the unique carboxyl-terminal sequence found in types II and IV. Exon 16 is present only in type I. Types I and III, which differ by 42 nucleotides (exon 16), are the predominant synthase mRNA forms in rat liver. Seventeen arginine peptides from pure liver synthase matched the deduced amino acid sequences of types I and III. These two polypeptides are detectable in liver extracts; each exhibits enzymatic activity when expressed in transfected Chinese hamster cells. Synthase shows substantial sequence similarity with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzymes from lower organisms. Similarity of synthase to Escherichia coli O-acetylserine (thiol)-lyase (cysK) is 52%; E. coli tryptophan synthase beta chain (trpB), 36%; yeast serine deaminase, 33%. Lysine 116 in synthase aligns with the established pyridoxyllysine residue of these enzymes suggesting that it is the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding residue.     

Cellular mechanisms of the antitumor activity of recombinant IL-6 in mice.

The systemic administration of human rIL-6 to mice resulted in the regression of established, 3-day pulmonary micrometastases from two weakly immunogenic tumors, but not from a nonimmunogenic tumor, in the absence of observable toxicity. Although IL-6 alone failed to have a significant therapeutic impact on advanced, 10-day pulmonary macrometastases from weakly immunogenic tumors, substantial cure rates of mice could be achieved when this cytokine was combined with cyclophosphamide. Histologic analysis of the lungs of mice receiving IL-6 revealed infiltration with lymphoid cells during the regression of pulmonary nodules from a weakly immunogenic tumor. IL-6-mediated tumor regression could be abrogated after selective in vivo depletion of either CD4 or CD8 T cell subsets by the systemic administration of specific mAb. In vivo generation of tumor-specific CTL, but not of lymphokine-activated killer cells, was detected in the lungs of IL-6-treated mice during regression of pulmonary metastases. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a role for IL-6 in the treatment of established solid tumors that have the capacity to elicit T cell responses in the host. Differences in host cellular mechanisms involved in tumor regression mediated by immunotherapy using IL-6 vs IL-2 are discussed.