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C Barras

Publications and source records attributed to C Barras.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Stimulation of FACS-analysed CD4+ and CD8+ human tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes with ionomycin + phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate does not overcome their proliferative deficit.

Human tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were prepared by enzyme digestion from a series of different tumours and were purified on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS II) according to their CD4+ and CD8+ phenotype. CD4+ and CD8+ TIL were stimulated separately in a low density microculture system with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or with ionomycin plus phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu). The PHA-induced proliferation of TIL was highly decreased when compared with control peripheral blood lymphocytes. A decreased proliferation of TIL was also observed when cells were stimulated with ionomycin plus PDBu, a combination which is thought to circumvent early events associated with lymphocyte activation. Some TIL were also plated in limiting dilution where they showed decreased frequencies of proliferating T cell precursors. The data suggest that one component of the inhibition of TIL must be acting 'downstream' of the early events of lymphocyte activation.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗

In vivo localization of a bispecific antibody which targets human T lymphocytes to lyse human colon cancer cells.

A bispecific MAb was derived from the fusion of a hybridoma producing MAb CD3 with a hybridoma producing MAb L-DI (which is directed against a 41-kDa glycoprotein expressed in most gastro-intestinal and pancreatic carcinomas). Bispecific antibody molecules were isolated from parental antibody molecules by the use of hydroxylapatite-HPLC and shown to target human cytolytic T lymphocytes, irrespective of their original specificity, to specifically lyse human colon carcinoma cells. Localization studies in vivo using nude mice bearing human colon carcinoma xenografts showed significant accumulation of the HPLC-purified 125I-labelled bispecific antibodies into the tumor compared to 131I-labelled control CD3 antibody.

Animals↗

Preferential clonogenic deficit of CD8-positive T-lymphocytes infiltrating human solid tumors.

The vast majority of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are either CD4+ or CD8+ T-lymphocytes. In order to examine directly the functional capabilities of the individual CD4+ and CD8+ TIL subsets we performed cell sorting of double immunofluorescence-labeled TIL recovered from 15 biopsies by enzyme digestion. These CD4+ and CD8+ TIL subsets were compared with similar subsets of T-lymphocytes from peripheral blood of normal subjects. Both CD4+ and CD8+ TIL showed a reduced clonogenicity as assessed quantitatively by limiting dilution analysis in a microculture system which allows every normal T-lymphocyte to undergo clonal expansion. The reduced clonogenic potential was unequally distributed among the CD4+ and CD8+ subsets with the CD8+ TIL showing a significant reduction of the frequency of proliferating T-lymphocyte precursors compared to the CD4+ TIL (with a median of 1/50 proliferating T-lymphocytes in CD8+ TIL versus a median of 1/11 in CD4+ TIL). The reduced response of CD8+ TIL was not caused by suppressor cells, lack of surface expression of CD2 and CD3 antigens nor of the alpha, beta T-cell receptor, nor by an accumulation of CD8+ cells of large granular lymphocyte morphology. Using low density cultures, the highly purified CD4+ and CD8+ TIL were stimulated either via the T-cell receptor or the CD2-mediated antigen-independent pathway of activation. Whereas CD8+ TIL did not respond to either stimulus the CD4+ TIL showed evidence of responder and nonresponder groups. In addition, we show that the deficient response obtained by triggering CD4+ TIL via the TCR can be restored by activation of the antigen-independent pathway. Finally, a total of 94 clones from four different TIL samples were obtained by limiting dilution and examined for their respective helper and cytolytic capabilities: 57% of the CD4+ TIL clones were able to produce interleukin 2 and 93% of the CD8+ TIL clones demonstrated cytolytic activity mediated by the T-cell receptor complex, indicating that the functional potential of proliferating TIL is intact.

Aged↗

Proliferative and cytolytic potentials of purified human tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. Impaired response to mitogen-driven stimulation despite T-cell receptor expression.

Using limiting dilution analysis (LDA) we have previously shown that in most instances, the frequency (F) of proliferative T lymphocyte precursors (PTL-P) was strikingly reduced in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). In this study involving 19 cases, we show that the impaired clonogenic potential of CD2+ TILs is primarily caused by an intrinsic defect rather than to suppressor T cells or to a direct effect of the tumor cells usually present in the culture system. This was demonstrated by experiments in which the F of PTL-Ps was quantitated both in highly purified CD2+ TILs (using a cell-sorter) and in non-purified TIL suspensions (still containing tumor cells), which originated from the same biopsy specimen. The F of PTL-Ps was virtually identical in either sorted or nonsorted suspensions and the data from LDA were always consistent with the single-hit Poisson model, indicating that no suppressor cells interfered with growth of CD2+ TIL. Stimulation of sorted CD2+ TIL in low-density cultures by either phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3-monoclonal antibody (MAb) indicated that the antigen-dependent activation pathway was impaired, although structurally intact T-cell receptor (TCR) complexes were apparently expressed, as assessed by immunofluorescence. The depressed proliferative response of CD2+ TIL could not be reversed in vitro when phorbol-esters were used in combination with ionomycin, which bypass the TCR. Nevertheless, 180 clones obtained from 8 cases were analyzed for their cytolytic activity. The majority mediated specific lytic activity (against unknown antigens), as assessed by lectin-dependent cell cytotoxicity, whereas only 6% of them manifested lymphokine-activated killing on appropriate targets.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

A study of the use of intravenous cannulas for medical emergencies in Newham--implications for financial savings.

A study of intravenous (i.v.) cannula usage for medical emergencies admitted to hospitals in the Newham Health District was undertaken during two defined periods (24 and 35 days). Almost half the cannulas inserted (47%) were not flushed following an initial bolus injection of heparinized saline. The duration that cannulas remained in a vein ranged from 24 hours to 8 days (median 2 days) and inflammation around the cannula site was related to the length of time since insertion but unrelated to whether the cannula was flushed regularly or to the type of fluid used. Our findings indicate a substantial wastage of i.v. cannulas due to difficulties with insertion and suggest that isotonic saline, without heparin, is effective in maintaining cannula patency for 48 hours. It is concluded that these findings are not unique to the Newham Health District and worthwhile financial savings should be achieved throughout the NHS if clinicians reconsider the indications and use of i.v. cannulas for their patients.

Adolescent↗

Heterogeneity of Ia antigen expression on myeloblastic leukaemias: correlation with stage of maturation defined by cytochemical markers.

The expression of Ia-like antigen (Ia) has been studied in 55 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in correlation with the expression of both Sudan Black (SB) and naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase (NCAE) stains. Operationally the AML cases were divided into three groups using only NCAE expression on the leukaemic cells: the first group with early maturation stage (MS1) consisted of 30 cases with less than 10% NCAE positive cells (SB: 15-100%): the MS2 group of 14 cases with 10-70% NCAE positive cells (SB: 65-100%) and the MS3 group of 11 cases with 70-100% NCAE positive cells (SB: 89-100%). Ia expression was determined by complement-dependent cytotoxicity, immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase methods. A similar high percentage (80%) of patients from both group MS1 and MS2 expressed Ia on the surface of 32-100% of the cells. Furthermore, individual comparison of all cases from these two groups showed no correlation between Ia, NCAE and SB expression. Only in the 11 cases from the MS3 group, which included nine cases of promyelocytic leukaemias, was there a correlation between very low expression of Ia antigen with the high NCAE expression. Thus, for AML with a low degree of differentiation the expression of Ia seems to be independent of conventional cytochemical markers of cell maturation.

Antigens, Surface↗

Characterization of acute undifferentiated leukemia by combined analysis of plasma membrane-associated gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and soluble terminal transferase.

gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) is a plasma membrane-associated enzyme present in blasts of certain acute leukemias. We analyzed 90 cases of undifferentiated and differentiated acute leukemias for gamma-GT, using a colorimetric assay. Blasts of all patients with common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and T-ALL were negative for gamma-GT (less than 5 units). In contrast, gamma-GT was significantly elevated in acute myeloblastic or monoblastic leukemia blasts (P less than .001). In 16 cases of acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL) studied, the levels of gamma-GT ranged from 0 to 93 units; in eight cases, gamma-GT was positive (greater than 5 units), and six of these had 2% to 5% Sudan black-positive leukemic cells in the blast-enriched suspension. Combined gamma-GT/TdT analysis revealed that both enzyme markers were mutually exclusive in 75% of AUL cases, suggesting that gamma-GT+/TdT-blasts are of nonlymphoid origin, and gamma-GT-/TdT+ blasts are of lymphoid origin. Two cases were devoid of both enzyme activities and could represent truly undifferentiated leukemia. Thus, combined gamma-GT/TdT analysis underlines the heterogeneity of AUL and appears to be useful in defining the lineage commitment of undifferentiated leukemic blasts.

Acute Disease↗

Detection of the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen in the serum of leukemia patients.

The common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) has been detected in biological fluids using a radioimmunoassay based on the inhibition of binding of 125I-labeled monoclonal anti-CALLA antibody to glutaraldehyde-fixed NALM-1 cells. With this assay, we showed first that CALLA was released in culture fluids from NALM-1 and Daudi cell lines but was absent from culture fluids from CALLA negative cell lines. Then, we found that the sera of 34 out of 42 patients (81%) with untreated common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (c-ALL) contained higher CALLA levels than any of the 42 serum samples from healthy controls. The specificity of these results was further demonstrated by testing in parallel the sera from 48 patients with CALLA negative leukemias, including 26 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 12 T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and 10 acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL). All of these sera gave negative results, except for one patient with AUL, who had a significantly elevated circulating CALLA level, and one patient with AML, who had a borderline CALLA level, 3 SD over the mean of the normal sera. Preliminary results suggest that circulating CALLA is associated with membrane fragments or vesicles, since the total CALLA antigenic activity was recovered in the pellet of the serum samples centrifuged at 100,000 g. In addition, the CALLA-positive pellets contained an enzyme considered as a membrane marker, 5'-nucleotidase. Evaluation of the clinical importance of repeated serum CALLA determinations for the monitoring of c-ALL patients deserves further investigation.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Evidence for HLA-linked susceptibility factors in childhood leukemia.

To test the hypothesis that susceptibility to leukemia can be governed by (a) recessive gene(s) associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in man, we performed an analysis of the inheritance of HLA antigens in 55 families in which one of the children developed ALL. We found among the parents of affected children a highly significant increased compatibility at the DR locus (p = 0.003). A similar increase was observed in sharing HLA antigens of the B locus (p = 0.02). The observed number of homozygotes among the patients was twice the expected value in families where the parents shared a B and a DR antigen. In segregation analysis, heterozygotes for the shared parental HLA antigen were significantly more prevalent among the healthy siblings. Our genetical analysis indicates that mating of certain shared alleles of the HLA system (especially of the DR locus) is associated with the risk for the offspring to develop ALL in childhood. This situation favors the expression of recessive genes associated with the MHC, and presumably those involved in the susceptibility to acute leukemia. Because familial leukemia is a rare event, the susceptibility to childhood ALL must also implicate genes outside the MHC and important environmental factors.

Child↗

Inhibition by two diphosphonates of bone lysis in tumor-conditioned media.

In order to test the effect of diphosphonates in inhibiting bone lysis induced by human tumors, neonatal mouse calvaria are cultured in sterile conditions in different media. Osteolysis is estimated by the amount of 45Ca released from bone to medium, the mice being given injections of 45Ca on their day of birth. An increased bone lysis is observed when calvaria are incubated in the same medium conditioned from cultured tumor fragments. This effect is significantly decreased when the mice have been treated with either ethanehydroxydiphosphonate or dichloromethylenediphosphonate. These experiments represent a first step in estimating the potential effects of different drugs on malignant osteolysis.

Animals↗

Increased frequency of HLA-DRw3 in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The distribution of HLA antigens was studied in 40 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. For loci A and B, increased frequencies of A1, B8 and the presence of only one B antigen were found. Nevertheless, in relation to the number of antigens tested, this increase was not significant. For the DRw locus, DRw3 was significantly increased (P < 0.001, after correction for the 39 antigens tested). However, the patients with DRw3 did not show any correlation with a specific clinical picture or the presence in their serum of lymphocytotoxic antibodies or autoantibodies against T and B lymphocytes.

Adult↗

[Effect of 2 phosphonates on the osteolysis induced by tumor extracts].

An in-vitro model is proposed to test the potential effect of diphosphonates in treatment or preventing bone metastases. This model involves culturing of neonatal mice calvaria in sterile conditions in an appropriate medium and measuring 45Ca release from bone to medium, the mice being injected with 45Ca on the day of birth. Tumour extracts added to the medium usually increase the bone lysis; this effect is significantly decreased when the mice have been treated with either ethane-hydroxy-diphosphonate (EHDP) or dichloromethylene-diphosphonate (Cl2MDP). These experiments represent a first step in a group of experiments with a view to clinical trials in cases of bone metastases.

Animals↗