Regulation of cellular immune response against autologous human melanoma. II. Mechanism of induction and specificity of suppression

The cytotoxic immune response in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) against an autologous malignant melanoma cell line, PJ-M, was found to be down-regulated in in vitro co-culture (IVC) selectively by unfractionated resident lymph node lymphocytes (derived from a lymph node infiltrated with the PJ-M melanoma cells) and T4+ as well as T8+ fractions of the resident lymph node-derived lymphocytes. In this study, the mechanism involved in, and the specificities of, cytotoxic immune response in this autologous system were examined at population and clonal levels. Resident lymph node lymphocytes were isolated from both involved and uninvolved lymph nodes from the same patient. Resident lymphocytes from both sources regulated the generation of cytotoxic immune response when both types of resident lymph node lymphocytes were further sensitized against the PJ-M cells in IVC and were expanded in interleukin 2 (IL 2). An IL 2-dependent homogeneous lymphocyte line (I-10:1) bearing the phenotype of a helper T cell (T4+) and a T4+ clone (I-10.3) of the I-10:1 line, established by limiting dilution culture, also down-regulated the generation of cytotoxic immune effector cells in the PBL in IVC against the PJ-M targets. The IL 2-dependent T4+ inducer line I-10:1 generated a functionally differentiated T8+ suppressor population(s) that, in turn, could abrogate cytotoxic response in fresh PBL in IVC against PJ-M cells. The inducer line I-10:1 and its subclone I-10.3 suppressed the generation of cytotoxic effector cells in the PBL in IVC selectively against the autologous PJ-M cells. Generation of cytotoxic allo-response in IVC was unaffected by the inducer lines. These results provide further evidence for the involvement of the regulatory network in cytotoxic immune response in an autologous human tumor system, and suggest a potential explanation for cytotoxic unresponsiveness against autologous melanoma cells.     

The enzymic synthesis of ribose-1,5-bisphosphate: studies of its role in metabolism

Ribose-1,5-bisphosphate is synthesized in a reaction that uses ribose-1(or 5)-P as the phosphoryl acceptor and the acyl-P of 3-phosphoglyceryl phosphate as the donor. Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate is synthesized in a similar reaction. The relative activity with the two substrates remains unchanged over almost 300-fold purification of the enzyme, indicating that glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase catalyzes both reactions. The relative V/Km values for alternative phosphoryl acceptors are ribose-1-P (1); glucose-1-P (0.30); mannose-1-P and ribose-5-P (0.11); glucose-6-P (0.10); 2-deoxyglucose-6-P (0.03); and 2-deoxyribose-5-P (0.02). Fructose-1- and 6-phosphates are not substrates. The synthesis of both ribose-1,5-bisphosphate and glucose-1,6-bisphosphate is inhibited by physiologically significant levels of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, glycerate-2,3-bisphosphate, glycerate-3-phosphate, citrate, and inorganic phosphate. Ribose-1,5-bisphosphate is a strong activator of brain phosphofructokinase.     

Alteration in the Geotropic Response of Allium Seedlings by Growth Regulators

Indoleacetic acid (1AA) brings about a striking alteration in the normal geotropic response in the seedlings of onion and several other species of Allium. The seedlings which are normally positively geotropic, become ageotropic. Besides IAA several other auxins like IBA, NAA and 2,4-D also showed a similar response. An anti-auxin like triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) enhanced the auxin-effect instead of reversing it. A marked enhancement of the auxin-effect was also brought about when sucrose (in the culture medium) was replaced by L-arabinose which appeared to act synergistically with the auxin.     

Role of inosine 5'-phosphate in activating glucose-bisphosphatase

Glucose-bisphosphate (G1c-1,6-P2) phosphatase has been purified greater than 200-fold from the cytosol of mouse brain. As reported earlier, the enzyme requires inosine monophosphate (IMP) and Mg2+ for activity [Guha, S.K., & Rose, Z. B. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 6634-6637]. Kinetic parameters and the role of IMP have been further investigated. When Glc-1,6-P2 and IMP are both varied, double-reciprocal plots of the data form a parallel line pattern. With 2 mM Mg2+, the Km obtained for G1c-1,6-P2 is 20 microM and the Ka for IMP is 9 microM. Co2+, Mn2+, and Ni2+ activate less effectively than Mg2+. The apparent Ka for Mg2+ decreases with increasing G1c-1,6-P2, and the observed Km of G1c-1,6-P2 decreases with increasing Mg2+. The extrapolated value of the Ka of Mg2+ at infinite substrate is 86 microM. Mg2+ does not affect the Ka of IMP. The phosphatase activity is optimal at pH 7. The phosphatase is not completely specific since mannose 1,6-bisphosphate is hydrolyzed and guanosine monophosphate activates. However, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is no more than a poor inhibitor, and adenine nucleotides are neither activators nor inhibitors. The products of the reaction are glucose-1-P and glucose-6-P, in a ratio of 2:3, and Pi. Both glucose-P's are competitive inhibitors with respect to IMP [Ki(glucose-1-P) = 5 microM; Ki(glucose-6-P) = 18 microM]. Neither glucose-P competes with G1c-1,6-P2. The demonstration of an exchange reaction between G1c-1,6-P2 and glucose-6-P is evidence for the phosphorylation of the enzyme by the substrate. The exchange reaction requires Mg2+ and is inhibited by IMP. The observation of the exchange reaction and its elimination by IMP indicates that the low level of phosphoglucomutase activity that remains with the phosphatase throughout purification is an inherent property of the phosphatase. The requirement of glucose-bisphosphatase for the nucleotide IMP is consistent with possible roles for both G1c-1,6-P2 and IMP in the control of the ATP level in the brain.     

The trace and major element composition of the leaves of some deciduous trees

Summary A number of factors concerned in the sampling of the leaves of deciduous trees for diagnostic purposes are considered.A method is described for sampling leaves prior to the spectrochemical determination of 21 trace and major constituents in order to study seasonal changes. The precision, generally around ± 10 per cent for samples of leaves or leaf blades, including analytical errors, is considered satisfactory for this type of investigation.Some comparisons of leaf blade and petiole contents are made and the effects of removal of surface contamination are considered. Marked differences between petiole and leaf blade contents must be taken into account in diagnostic applications of leaf analysis. For most elements surface contamination is shown to be insignificant even at a site adjoining a main road.     

Resolving fibrosis in the diseased liver: translating the scientific promise to the clinic

Liver fibrosis and its end-stage disease cirrhosis are a major cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Fibrosis is a response to chronic liver injury or infection that if unabated leads to the replacement of normal functional liver tissue with scar tissue. Basic research over the past decade has generated a vastly improved knowledge of the cell and molecular biology of liver fibrosis that provides a framework on which to design and develop therapeutics. The field has also witnessed a genuine paradigm shift from the original dogma that liver fibrosis is only ever a progressive process, to the new understanding that liver fibrosis even in an advanced stage can be reversible. There is therefore renewed optimism that liver fibrosis may be cured providing that we develop therapies that halt the fibrogenic process and encourage the natural regenerative properties of the liver. The key to the design of effective therapeutics will be to exploit the ongoing discoveries pertaining to the biology and function of fibrogenic hepatic myofibroblasts and their interplay with other liver cells and with the hepatic extracellular matrix. This review provides a critique of those discoveries in basic research that provide the most promise for translation to the clinic. In addition, we review the latest developments in the search for minimal invasive diagnostic tests for fibrosis that will be essential for determining the efficacy of anti-fibrotic drugs.