Ex vivo elimination of neoplastic T-cells from human marrow using an anti-Mr 41,000 protein immunotoxin: potentiation by ASTA Z 7557

ASTA Z 7557 potentiated the ex vivo efficiency of a T-cell directed immunotoxin containing pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP). We used an immunotoxin of pan-T monoclonal antibody 3-A1 directed against p41 antigen expressed both on normal and leukemic T-cells. Treatment with 3A1-PAP in combination with ASTA Z 7557 produced 7-8 logs elimination of target lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Our data suggest that this new strategy shows potential for more effective ex vivo marrow purging in autologous marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.     

Combined ex vivo treatment with immunotoxins and mafosfamid: a novel immunochemotherapeutic approach for elimination of neoplastic T cells from autologous marrow grafts

We evaluated a novel ex vivo "purging" protocol for selective elimination of neoplastic T cells from human marrow by using a sensitive clonogenic assay. Immunotoxins (IT) were synthesized by conjugating ricin (R) to four different monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) directed against distinct markers of T cell lineage. Treatment with anti-p67-R produced effective elimination of leukemic T cells from human marrow. The cyclophosphamide congener mafosfamid (ASTA Z 7577) markedly enhanced the target cell cytotoxicity of IT and extended the final level of clonogenic kill 2 to 3 logs. Our data show that anti-p67-R in combination with mafosfamid resulted in a maximum elimination of 6.2 logs of neoplastic T cells with minimal toxicity to normal bone marrow progenitors. The efficiency of this protocol was not reduced in the presence of excess normal bone marrow cells. Similar findings were obtained by using a cocktail of four different anti-T cell IT. This approach is unique in combining both immunologic (IT) and chemical (mafosfamid) strategies for more effective ex vivo bone marrow purging in autologous bone marrow transplantation for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma.     

B lymphocyte regulation of human hematopoiesis

Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCL) were derived from seven different individuals. The ability of BLCL supernatants to stimulate hematopoietic colony formation in vitro was tested in a conventional stem cell assay system. Supernatants promoted the growth of single (GM, E, MK) as well as multi-lineage (GEMM) colonies in bone marrow cultures. Our results indicate that EBV-transformed B lymphocytes produce cytokines that affect in vitro stem cell proliferation and differentiation. These studies demonstrate the regulatory potential of activated B lymphocytes in human hematopoiesis.     

Anti-T cell immunotoxins containing pokeweed anti-viral protein: potential purging agents for human autologous bone marrow transplantation

The ex vivo anti-leukemic efficacy and stem cell toxicity of two different T cell directed immunotoxins containing pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) were studied by clonal assays. 5E9-11-PAP, an immunotoxin directed against human transferrin receptors, elicited a maximum leukemic cell kill of 3.9 logs. However, it was also toxic against normal pluripotent stem cells, and therefore is not a clinically useful purgative reagent. PAP conjugated to 3-A1, a monoclonal antibody directed against CD7 (T, p41), was more effective against leukemic T cells than 5E9-11-PAP and eliminated a maximum of 4.8 log of cells. 3A1-PAP was only slightly toxic to pluripotent stem cells: 13% of CFU-GEMM were lost after treatment with 3000 ng of 3A1-PAP/ml, a concentration that eliminated 99.96% of contaminating leukemic T cells from a 200-fold excess of normal bone marrow. Cryopreservation of treated cells by conventional methods did not affect the extreme selectivity and potency of 3A1-PAP. Incubation of 3A1-PAP with peripheral blood mononuclear cells resulted in the complete inhibition of phytohemagglutinin-induced mitogenic response, illustrating the possibility of using this immunotoxin as a potent anti-T cell reagent for prophylaxis against graft vs host disease in allogeneic BMT as well.     

CD45 cross-linking regulates phospholipase C activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of specific substrates in CD3/Ti-stimulated T cells.

In lymphocytes, CD45 regulates the increase in cytoplasmic calcium concentration that occurs after receptor cross-linking. Here we show that T cell receptor complex (CD3/Ti)-mediated inositol phosphate production was inhibited by CD45 ligation in Jurkat cells. CD3/Ti signaling in normal T cells was also inhibited by CD45 ligation, but coupling of CD4 with CD3/Ti gave augmented calcium signals that were entirely resistant to the inhibitory effect of CD45. In contrast, CD3-induced T cell proliferation was suppressed by immobilized CD45 mAb even in the presence of CD4 mAb. The effect of CD45 and CD4 ligation on tyrosine phosphorylation during T cell activation was directly examined by immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine. Using immobilized mAb, CD45 ligation suppressed the tyrosine phosphorylation of specific substrates induced by CD3/Ti stimulation, including almost complete suppression of 150-, 36-, and 35-kDa proteins and partial suppression of 76- and 80-kDa proteins. Other tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins induced by CD3/Ti stimulation, including 135- and 21-kDa proteins, were not suppressed by simultaneous ligation of CD3/Ti and CD45. Simultaneous ligation of CD3 and CD4 enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of all substrates, but did not overcome the CD45-mediated suppression of tyrosine phosphorylation of the 35- and 36-kDa proteins. The CD45-mediated suppression of phospholipase C activation is therefore modulated by association with CD4 without altering the specific inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation and T cell proliferation after co-ligation of CD45 and CD3/Ti.     

Immunohistochemical localization of irisin in skin,eye, and thyroid and pineal glands of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

Irisin was first identified in muscle cells. We detected irisin immunoreactivity in various organs of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata). In the epidermis, irisin immunoreactivity was localized mainly in stratum basale, stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum layers; immunoreactivity was not observed in the stratum corneum. In the dermis, irisin was found in the external and internal root sheath, cortex and medulla of hair follicles, and in sebaceous glands. Irisin immunoreactivity was found in the neural retina and skeletal muscle fibers associated with the eye. The pineal and thyroid glands also exhibited irisin immunoreactivity.     

Genetic and biochemical evidence for a critical role of Janus kinase (JAK)-3 in mast cell-mediated type I hypersensitivity reactions

We investigated the role of JAK3 in IgE receptor/FcepsilonRI-mediated mast cell responses. IgE/antigen induced degranulation and mediator release were substantially reduced with Jak3-/- mast cells from JAK3-null mice that were generated by targeted disruption of Jak3 gene in embryonic stem cells. Further, treatment of mast cells with 3'bromo-4'-hydroxylphenyl)-amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline (WHI-P154), a potent inhibitor of JAK3, inhibited degranulation and proinflammatory mediator release after IgE receptor/ FcepsilonRI crosslinking. Thus, JAK3 plays a pivotal role in IgE receptor/ FcepsilonRI-mediated mast cell responses and targeting JAK3 may provide the basis for new and effective treatment as well as prevention programs for mast cell-mediated allergic reactions.     

X-ray crystallographic analysis of pokeweed antiviral protein-II after reductive methylation of lysine residues

Pokeweed antiviral protein II (PAP-II) is a naturally occurring protein isolated from early summer leaves of the pokeweed plant (Phytolacca americana). PAP-II belongs to a family of ribosome-inactivating proteins which catalytically deadenylate ribosomal and viral RNA. The chemical modification of PAP-II by reductive methylation of its lysine residues significantly improved the crystal quality for X-ray diffraction studies. Hexagonal crystals of the modified PAP-II, with unit cell parameters a = b = 92.51 A, c = 79.05 A, were obtained using 1.8 M Na/K phosphate as the precipitant. These crystals contained one enzyme molecule per asymmetric unit and diffracted up to 2.4 A, when exposed to a synchroton source.