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Biomedical subjects

A Altman

Publications and source records attributed to A Altman.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Selective post-transcriptional down-regulation of protein kinase C isoenzymes in leukemic T cells chronically treated with phorbol ester.

Binding to, and activation of, protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol ester (PE) tumor promoters may underlie their tumor-promoting activity. To study the effects of long-term PE treatment on regulation of cellular PKC, we adapted the human leukemic T cell line, Jurkat (JK), to continuous growth in the presence of PE. Such cells (JKPE) displayed loss of CD2 and CD3 cell surface molecules, known to play an important role in agonist-stimulated T cell activation, unresponsiveness to stimuli that induce interleukin 2 (IL2) receptor expression or IL2 production, change in the expression of several cell cycle-regulated genes, and a 6-fold reduction in cellular PKC enzymatic activity. This reduction was accompanied by the disappearance of a major approximately 82-kDa immunoreactive protein in JKPE cytosol when cell extracts were immunoblotted with a polyclonal anti-PKC peptide antibody cross-reactive with the PKC isoenzymes, alpha, beta, and gamma. Analysis with additional anti-peptide antibodies specific for alpha, beta, or gamma PKC indicated that all three types of PKC are expressed in JK cells; however, JKPE cells lost a major approximately 82 kDa immunoreactive cytosolic protein detectable with anti-PKC alpha antibody. In contrast, levels of expression and subcellular distribution of immunoreactive PKC beta and PKC gamma, as well as levels of mRNA specific for the three PKC isoenzymes, were not significantly affected by chronic PE treatment. These results indicate that PE-mediated reduction of PKC in JKPE cells is selective and occurs at the protein, not mRNA, level, and support the notion that distinct isoenzymes encoded by the PKC multigene family may be independently regulated. Moreover, the correlation between phenotypic and functional changes on one hand, and the selective reduction of PKC alpha on the other, raises the possibility that expression of CD2 and/or CD3 and functional activation in JKPE cells are preferentially regulated by PKC alpha.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Dephosphorylation and activation of the T cell tyrosine kinase pp56lck by the leukocyte common antigen (CD45).

pp56lck, encoded by the lck proto-oncogene, is a non-receptor tyrosine protein kinase (TPK) found in all T lymphocytes. A significant fraction of pp56lck is tightly associated with the cytoplasmic domains of CD4 and CD8 glycoproteins, suggesting an important role for it in thymic development and T cell activation. We have studied the regulation of the tyrosine kinase activity of pp56lck and found recently that it becomes rapidly activated in isolated T cell membranes by an endogenous mechanism apparently involving a phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase). Moreover pp56lck was activated upon addition of isolated CD45 (leukocyte common antigen), a major membrane PTPase, and activation was absent in T cell mutants lacking CD45. Here, we address in more detail the mechanisms of pp56lck activation by the CD45 PTPase and show that this event is time-dependent, sensitive to Na3VO4 (which blocks the PTPase activity of CD45), and is accompanied by dephosphorylation of a regulatory tyrosine residue (Tyr-505) near the C-terminus of pp56lck. This provides a molecular mechanism for regulation of the catalytic activity of pp56lck by CD45, which thus is likely to be the physiological activator of pp56lck. Activation of pp56lck by the CD45 PTPase may underlie many of the reported immunomodulatory effects of antibodies to CD45, and provides further support for the notion that CD45-mediated tyrosine dephosphorylation plays a critical role in T cell activation and growth.

Antigens, Differentiation↗
PubMed1989

Stimulation of PIP2 hydrolysis by aluminum fluoride in resting T cell subsets of normal and autoimmune-prone lpr mice.

T cells of autoimmune-prone mice homozygous for the lpr mutation respond poorly to mitogens in terms of proliferation and of IL-2 production. In a previous study, we have correlated this deficient activation with the inability of mitogens to stimulate hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in lpr T cells, although these cells bind mitogen and express the TCR/CD3 complex. In order to determine whether activation-deficient lpr T cells contain functional GTP-binding (G) protein(s) and phospholipase C, we examined the effects of the G protein activating agent sodium fluoride plus Al+3 (AlF-4). AlF-4 stimulated phosphatidylinositol turnover, a response characteristic of TCR/CD3 occupancy, in mature L3T4+ and Ly2+ T cells. Second, and more important, AlF-4 stimulated the same biochemical events in L3T4-, Ly2- (double-negative) T cells from the normal thymus or from the enlarged lymph nodes of autoimmune-prone mice homozygous for the lpr mutation. However, these double-negative T cells were unresponsive to receptor-active ligands such as T cell mitogens or anti-CD3-epsilon mAb, despite their ability to bind these ligands. These findings suggest that activation-deficient double negative T cells express the receptors, G protein(s) and effector enzymes necessary for second messenger formation and further suggest that the failure of these cells to generate the relevant second messengers in response to mitogens or anti-CD3-epsilon antibody may be due to inefficient coupling of the TCR/CD3 complex to G proteins.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1989

Do CD4 and CD8 control T-cell activation via a specific tyrosine protein kinase?

The CD4 and CD8 glycoproteins play an important role in T-cell activation by binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II or class I molecules, respectively, and stabilizing their interactions with the T-cell receptor-CD3 complex during antigen presentation. Recent evidence suggesting that the cytoplasmic domains of CD4 and CD8 are physically, and perhaps functionally, linked to the T-cell specific tyrosine protein kinase, p56lck, adds a new dimension to our current understanding of their physiological function. Based on these and other recent findings, Tomas Mustelin and Amnon Altman present a working hypothesis that defines a novel role for CD4 or CD8 in regulating T-cell activation, and perhaps other processes, such as thymic repertoire selection and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced immunosuppression.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Synergistic induction of interleukin 2 receptor (TAC) expression on YT cells by interleukin 1 or tumor necrosis factor alpha in combination with cAMP inducing agents.

This study demonstrates synergistic effects on Tac expression by interleukin 1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in combination with the adenylate cyclase stimulator, forskolin (FK), as well as by IL-1 with TNF alpha in the human NK-like leukemic cell line YT. The maximal expression level (greater than 80% positive cells) obtained with FK plus IL-1 or FK plus TNF alpha could not be obtained by increasing the concentration of either agent alone. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Tac protein expression is correlated with increased steady-state Tac mRNA levels. Other agents that increase intracellular cAMP, such as prostaglandin E (PGE) or isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX), also synergized with IL-1 or TNF alpha (but not with FK). The findings suggest that cAMP plays a role in regulating Tac expression in YT cells, and that IL-1, TNF, and FK use distinct signal transduction mechanisms, all resulting in the same end point effect, namely, induction of Tac mRNA and cell surface protein expression.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1989

Rapid activation of the T-cell tyrosine protein kinase pp56lck by the CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase.

T lymphocytes express a tyrosine protein kinase (TPK; protein-tyrosine kinase; ATP:protein-tyrosine O-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.112), pp56lck that is encoded by the lck protooncogene. This TPK was recently found to be associated with the intracellular domain of the T-cell surface glycoproteins, CD4 and CD8, suggesting that it plays an important role in T-cell development and activation. We have studied the regulation of pp56lck and found that this kinase can be rapidly activated by an endogenous mechanism present in T-lymphocyte membranes. This activation was sensitive to sodium orthovanadate and O-phosphotyrosine, consistent with the involvement of a phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase; protein-tyrosine-phosphatase; protein-tyrosine-phosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.48) in pp56lck activation. Based on a recent report demonstrating that CD45, the leukocyte common antigen, is a membrane-bound PTPase, we analyzed its role in pp56lck activation. CD45 was found to be the major (greater than 90%) PTPase in membranes of the murine T-lymphoma line BW5147. Moreover, activation of pp56lck was undetectable in a mutant BW5147 line lacking CD45 expression (and the associated PTPase activity). In contrast, activation of pp56lck was readily detected in the wild-type lymphoma line. More important, when immunoprecipitated CD45 was added to pp56lck, the TPK activity of the latter increased greater than 2-fold within minutes. This effect of CD45 was completely blocked by sodium orthovanadate. These findings indicate an important role for the CD45 PTPase in pp56lck activation. This role could be mediated by direct dephosphorylation of a regulatory tyrosine residue in pp56lck.

Antigens, Differentiation↗
PubMed1988

Lpr T cell hyporesponsiveness to mitogens linked to deficient receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

The T lymphocytes that expand with age in the peripheral lymphoid organs of autoimmune disease-prone mice homozygous for the lpr mutation display deficient activation and proliferation in response to mitogenic lectins or antigen. In the present study, an attempt was made to correlate the deficient agonist-induced proliferation of these lpr T cells with early transmembrane signaling events mediated by receptor-coupled phosphoinositide hydrolysis. lpr T cells were capable of binding the agonistic lectin, phytohemagglutinin, in a normal manner. In addition, they expressed on their surface the antigen-specific T cell receptor-CD3 complex, which is required for T cell activation, albeit at a lower density than that found on congenic +/+ T cells. Furthermore, lpr T cells contained normal levels of the Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent enzyme, protein kinase C, and the enzyme was translocated from the cytosol to the particulate fraction upon phorbol ester treatment. On the other hand, the lpr T cells displayed a markedly deficient agonist-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in comparison with their congenic +/+ counterparts, as indicated by the minimal accumulation of the phosphoinositide-derived second messengers, inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol. The defective step(s) in transmembrane signaling was bypassed by a combination of phorbol ester plus Ca2+ ionophore, which reconstituted proliferative responses of lpr T cells to normal levels, suggesting that: (a) the phosphoinositide signaling pathway plays an obligatory role in T cell activation; and (b) signaling events subsequent to phosphoinositide hydrolysis are, for the most part, intact in lpr T cells. The deficient step(s) in lpr T cell activation precedes, therefore, the generation of phosphoinositide-derived second messengers and could be due to defective function of the T cell receptor-CD3 complex, GTP-binding proteins, and/or phosphoinositide-specific phosphodiesterase. It remains to be determined whether the deficient signaling event(s) in lpr T cells is a direct pathologic consequence of the lpr gene, or rather, reflects the immature status of a normally minor thymic subset that is aberrantly exported and expanded in lpr mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Suppression of T lymphocyte function by measles virus is due to cell cycle arrest in G1.

Measles virus suppresses T lymphocyte functions in vitro. When measles virus-infected T lymphocytes are stimulated with PHA or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, plus calcium ionophore, the cells secrete IL-2 and express the IL-2R or Tac Ag to a similar extent as uninfected cells, yet proliferation is reduced by 50 to 90%. Stimulated infected T cells also express the cell surface activation Ag 4F2, transferrin R, and HLA-DR. The secretion of IFN-gamma by infected T cells in response to PHA is not suppressed at 24 to 72 h after stimulation. Total RNA synthesis at 48 and 72 h after stimulation is reduced in infected T lymphocytes. Infectious measles virus progeny are produced during this interval. Thus infected T lymphocytes can become activated in response to mitogenic stimuli and the cells support efficient viral replication before the block in cell proliferation.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1988

Radiation port dermatophytosis.

We report two cases in which dermatophytic infection developed almost entirely within a radiation field mimicking an acute radiation effect. Radiotherapists and dermatologists should be aware of this possibility and be able to differentiate it from radiation dermatitis. Topical antifungal agents are the recommended treatment after diagnosis is established.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Immunological and structural homology between human T-cell leukemia virus type I envelope glycoprotein and a region of human interleukin-2 implicated in binding the beta receptor.

The N-terminal segment of human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) appears to mediate binding of the beta hIL-2 receptor (R. Robb, C. Rusk, J. Yodoi, and W. Greene, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:2002-2006, 1987). An affinity-purified antibody prepared against this peptide segment (p81) is shown here to cross-react with a homologous region of the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) envelope glycoprotein, raising the interesting possibility that the envelope glycoprotein of HTLV-I can interact with the beta hIL-2 receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Human T lymphocyte activation by tumor promoters: role of protein kinase C.

Protein kinase C (PKC) has a major role in a ligand-receptor-mediated signal transduction system in a variety of cell types including T lymphocytes. One of the early phenotypic changes associated with T cell activation is the expression of cell surface receptors for interleukin 2 (IL 2). To test the role of PKC in regulation of IL 2 receptor (IL 2-R) expression and T cell activation in general, we used tumor promoters (TP) as modulators of PKC and compared their effects on intact human T cells and on the enzymatic activity of T cell-derived PKC in a cellfree system. In T cells, the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induced IL 2-R expression and proliferation associated with cytosol-to-membrane PKC translocation. A dose of TPA (1 to 4 ng/ml) that induced about 50% of the maximal activation of PKC in the enzymatic assay also induced half-maximal effects on cell proliferation, IL 2-R expression, and PKC redistribution in intact T cells. Structure-function studies with several phorbol ester analogs and non-phorbol ester TP directly correlated tumor promotion activity with the ability to activate PKC and induce IL 2-R. An inhibitor of PKC, chlorpromazine, was found to suppress TPA-mediated proliferation and IL 2-R expression, and inhibited T cell-derived PKC by competing with the phospholipid. Ca2+ ionophore, which synergizes with TPA in induction of T cell proliferation, facilitated the TPA-induced PKC translocation to the membrane. The results thus demonstrate a direct correlation between the effects of various chemicals on: subcellular redistribution of PKC in T cells; induction of T cell proliferation and IL 2-R expression; and activation of T cell-derived PKC in vitro. These data provide further support for the role of PKC in transduction of activation signals in T cells and in regulation of IL 2-R expression.

Biological Transport↗