Defective Expression of β1-Integrins in Cells with Constitutively Active αLβ2-Integrins

We have investigated a potential relationship between expression of β1-integrins and adhesiveness of the β2-integrin LFA-1 (αLβ2, CD11a/CD18). By an approach of random mutagenesis and selection we established clones from the human acute lymphatic leukemia cell line HPB-ALL with (i) constitutively active LFA-1 and (ii) with no apparent integrin-β1 cell surface expression. Thirty-seven of 42 clones selected for activated LFA-1 were found to have lost apparent integrin-β1 expression. Conversely, 7 of 21 clones selected for lack of β1 expression were found to have activated LFA-1. Since this pointed toward a possible coupling between β1 expression and LFA-1 activity, we further analyzed at which level β1 expression was blocked. We focused on one clone, HAP4, with activated LFA-1 and no detectable β1 cell surface expression and found, surprisingly, that it expressed wild-type levels of β1 mRNA and, in Western blots of whole cell lysates, apparently normal levels of β1 protein. However, in addition to β1 of the expected molecular weight, HAP4 expressed a unique 48-kDa band recognized by the polyclonal anti-β1 antiserum. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that the epitope recognized by the anti-β1 antibody 4B4 was hidden or lost. The α4-chain was found in its precursor form but it did not associate with any β-chain, and it was not processed to its mature form. Instead α4-chains were eventually degraded. Taken together this showed that β1-chains were produced but not properly processed in HAP4. From this we propose that HAP4 is deficient in a gene product required both for proper β1 folding and for repression of LFA-1 adhesiveness.     

Extracellular matrix components influence the survival of adult cardiac myocytes in vitro

Calcium-tolerant myocytes were isolated from adult rat hearts by collagenase perfusion and plated on various substrates in serum-free medium and their adhesion to various extracellular matrix (ECM) components was determined. The myocytes attached readily to dishes coated with collagen type IV (C-IV), laminin (LN), and to fetal bovine serum (FBS) in a manner dependent on the concentration of the components. Substantially fewer myocytes adhered to dishes coated with fibronectin (FN) or to uncoated plastic dishes. Cells adhered equally well to dishes coated with C-IV, LN and FBS within 1-4 h. However, when examined after 2 weeks in culture it was found that only C-IV and LN could support survival of the attached myocytes, and when cultured on C-IV or LN the myocytes were spread and had formed a dense monolayer. The actin filaments had at this time reorganized linearly along the long axis of the cell and the myocytes contracted spontaneously. Rabbit antibodies were raised against myocyte membranes and their ability to inhibit attachment to ECM components was studied. Purified IgG inhibited attachment to C-IV, while having only a minor effect on attachment to LN. These data are compatible with the presence of a specific cell surface component(s) that interacts with ECM substrates and influences cell shape and possibly thereby influences cellular functions.     

Polymorphism in the interferon-alpha gene family.

A pronounced genetic polymorphism of the interferon type I gene family has been assumed on the basis of RFLP analysis of the genomic region as well as the large number of sequences published compared to the number of loci. However, IFNA2 is the only locus that has been carefully analyzed concerning gene frequency, and only naturally occurring rare alleles have been found. We have extended the studies on a variation of expressed sequences by studying the IFNA1, IFNA2, IFNA10, IFNA13, IFNA14, and IFNA17 genes. Genomic white-blood-cell DNA from a population sample of blood donors and from a family material were screened by single-nucleotide primer extension (allele-specific primer extension) of PCR fragments. Because of sequence similarities, in some cases "nested" PCR was used, and, when applicable, restriction analysis or control sequencing was performed. All individuals carried the interferon-alpha 1 and interferon-alpha 13 variants but not the LeIF D variant. At the IFNA2 and IFNA14 loci only one sequence variant was found, while in the IFNA10 and IFNA17 groups two alleles were detected in each group. The IFNA10 and IFNA17 alleles segregated in families and showed a close fit to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was a significant linkage disequilibrium between IFNA10 and IFNA17 alleles. The fact that the extent of genetic polymorphism was lower than expected suggests that a majority of the previously described gene sequences represent nonpolymorphic rare mutants that may have arisen in tumor cell lines.     

Intracellular calcium oscillations induced in a T-cell line by a weak 50 Hz magnetic field

Applied weak magnetic fields have been shown to affect cellular activity on several levels, but the mechanisms involved remain elusive. We have decided to study an early signal transduction event in the human T cell line Jurkat; oscillations of free [Ca²⁺]i, of the type seen by crosslinking the CD3 complex. Cells were exposed to a 50 Hz, 0.1 mT, sinusoidal magnetic field while intracellular free calcium was measured in individual cells, using fura-2 as a probe. An acute response was observed with oscillatory increases in [Ca²⁺]i, which subsided when the field was turned off. The effect of the magnetic field on [Ca²⁺]i was comparable to that achieved by an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Recognition of extracellular matrix components by neonatal and adult cardiac myocytes

The histogenesis of renal basement membranes was studied in grafts of avascular, 11-day-old mouse embryonic kidney rudiments grown on chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Vessels of the chick CAM invade the mouse tissue during an incubation period of 7-10 days and eventually hybrid glomeruli composed of mouse epithelium and chick endothelium form. Formation of basement membranes during this development was followed by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase stainings using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against mouse and chick collagen type IV and against mouse laminin. These antibodies were species-specific as shown in immunochemical and immunohistologic analyses. The glomerular basement membrane contained both mouse and chick collagen type IV, demonstrating its dual cellular origin. All other basement membranes were either exclusively of chick origin (mesangium, vessels) or of mouse origin (tubuli, Bowman's capsule).     

Antiproliferative effect of (2′–5′)oligoadenylate distinct from that of interferon in lymphoid cells

Interferon (IFN) induces 2′–5′ oligo (A) synthetase both in P₃HR-1 cells and spleen lymphocytes. Both cell types are sensitive to the antiproliferative effect of IFN, shown by accumulation of cells in G₀/G₁. However, the reaction product of the synthetase does not mimic the effect of IFN on cell cycle parameters, rather it inhibits progression through S.     

Transient expression of the CD2 cell surface antigen as a sortable marker to monitor high frequency transfection of human primary B cells.

We have used the T cell surface molecule CD2 gene, expressed from the human cytomegalovirus promoter as a reporter to optimize a transfection system for human primary B cells. The CD2-encoding DNA was transfected into cells by electroporation and transient expression was monitored by flow cytometric analysis. By using our optimal electroporation conditions on activated primary B cells, more than 30% of the resulting viable cells expressed CD2 on the cell surface. Moreover, unactivated primary B cells could also be transfected using this system but subsequent expression of CD2 required cellular activation. Magnetic beads or plastic culture bottles coated with anti-CD2 antibodies have been used to selectively purify transfected cells. The high transfection efficiency combined with the ability to specifically purify transfected cells may allow future studies on specific genes transiently expressed in human primary B cells.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of sialic acid-containing oligosaccharides and acidic monosaccharides

Many sialic acid-containing oligosaccharides and five acidic monosaccharides have been separated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography using a Dionex AS6 ion-exchange column eluted with aqueous 50 mM NaOH plus 50-175 mM sodium acetate. Using a pulsed amperometric detector, as little as 50 pmol oligosaccharide can be detected. Many factors, such as the presence of fucosyl groups or sialyl groups, glycosidic linkage positions, and branching structure, can have a tremendous influence on overall acidity of the oligosaccharide, which can lead to excellent separations and make this method an important addition to existing alternatives for the separation of sialic acid-containing oligosaccharides.     

Interferon-specific effects on protein synthesis in P3HR-1 cells.

The effect of interferon (IFN) on protein synthesis was studied in the Burkitt's lymphoma cell line P3HR-1 by [35S]methionine labelling of the cells, followed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of cell extracts. De novo synthesis of three proteins (mol. wts. 33 000, 62 000, and 98 000, respectively) and alterations in the rate of synthesis for a small number of additional proteins were observed during the first 12 h of treatment, while the rate of overall protein synthesis was unaffected. Treatment of P3HR-1 cells with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or hydrocortisone (HC), which induce similar changes in cell cycle distribution as does IFN, did not induce comparable changes in the rates of protein synthesis. Thus, the effects were specific for IFN and not induced by the change in cell cycle distribution per se, i.e., accumulation in G0. Treatment of cells with 2'-5' pA core did not mimic the effect of IFN at the translational level. A substrain of P3HR-1 cells, selected for resistance to the anti-proliferative effect of IFN, lacked six proteins found in the wild-type. The 62 000 mol. wt. protein was induced in this substrain as well as in native P3HR-1 cells on addition of IFN. The resistant substrain still developed an anti-viral effect in response to IFN. Thus, it seems as if the anti-proliferative and anti-viral effects of IFN, at least in some cells are mediated by different intracellular molecular mechanisms.