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C F Ware

Publications and source records attributed to C F Ware.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

A lymphotoxin-beta-specific receptor.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha) are members of a family of secreted and cell surface cytokines that participate in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. The cell surface form of LT-alpha is assembled during biosynthesis as a heteromeric complex with lymphotoxin-beta (LT-beta), a type II transmembrane protein that is another member of the TNF ligand family. Secreted LT-alpha is a homotrimer that binds to distinct TNF receptors of 60 and 80 kilodaltons; however, these receptors do not recognize the major cell surface LT-alpha-LT-beta complex. A receptor specific for human LT-beta was identified, which suggests that cell surface LT may have functions that are distinct from those of secreted LT-alpha.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production of lymphotoxin (LT alpha) and a soluble dimeric form of its receptor using the baculovirus expression system.

Human LT alpha and a fusion protein (p60:Fc) comprised of the extracellular domain of the 60 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR60) fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 were produced in insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses. The p60:Fc fusion produced in insect cells accumulates in culture supernatants to levels > 2 mg/l. Purified p60:Fc binds human TNF and LT alpha with high affinity (200-600 pM) and neutralizes TNF cytolytic activity at equimolar stoichiometric concentration. The data show that p60:Fc is an effective ligand-precipitating reagent which recognizes recombinant LT alpha produced in mammalian or insect cells and naturally occurring LT alpha produced in T cells. The levels of human LT alpha produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells is estimated to be approximately 20 mg/l. Insect cell-derived human LT alpha is biologically active in an L929 cytotoxicity assay and is efficiently neutralized by p60:Fc. These data demonstrate that the baculovirus system is useful for overexpressing biologically active LT alpha and p60:Fc and therefore, may be applicable to other oligomeric cytokines and soluble dimeric cytokine receptors.

Animals↗

Two classes of proteins and mRNAs in Lilium longiflorum L. indentified by human vitronectin probes.

Vitronectin (VN) is a substrate adhesion molecule, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that facilitates cell adhesion and cell movement in animals. We have reported the cross-reactivity of a 55-kD protein in plants with rabbit anti-human VN antibodies and the presence of VN-like sequences in plant genomes using a human VN cDNA probe. We have extended these studies by using human VN riboprobes to detect VN-like mRNAs in lily (Lilium longiflorum L.) and soybean. In both species, two mRNAs were detected. We have also identified a new cross-reactive protein (41 kD) using a different preparation of human VN antiserum. In lily roots five 41-kD isoforms were observed, whereas only three of these isoforms accumulated in leaves. Monospecific antibodies prepared against the plant proteins cross-reacted with the human VN protein and vice versa. We have purified the 41-kD protein using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and amino acid composition analysis indicates that it is similar in composition to human VN.

Amino Acids↗

Specific induction of 80-kDa tumor necrosis factor receptor shedding in T lymphocytes involves the cytoplasmic domain and phosphorylation.

The 80-kDa TNFR (TNFR80) expressed by activated human T cells is constitutively phosphorylated and undergoes limited proteolytic cleavage (shedding) at the cell surface releasing a 40-kDa soluble TNF-binding protein. Triggering of activated T cells through the TCR rapidly increased the rate of TNFR80 shedding > 20-fold more than nonstimulated cells, demonstrating that shedding is a specific, inducible process. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine inhibited constitutive phosphorylation and blocked inducible shedding of TNFR80, suggesting that phosphorylation may be important for cleavage of the extracellular domain. However, a deletion mutation of the entire cytoplasmic domain of human TNFR80 was shed when expressed in murine L929 cells, albeit relatively poorly compared with full length receptor. This demonstrates that the cytoplasmic domain is important but not essential for cleavage of the extracellular domain of TNFR80. Moreover, a requirement for phosphorylation of proteins other than the receptor was revealed by the finding that staurosporine completely blocked cleavage of the cytoplasmic deletion mutant. Collectively, these results demonstrate that protein phosphorylation is essential and the cytoplasmic domain is important for regulating the inducible production of soluble TNF-binding proteins by activated effector T cells.

Alkaloids↗

Lymphotoxin beta, a novel member of the TNF family that forms a heteromeric complex with lymphotoxin on the cell surface.

The lymphokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has a well-defined role as an inducer of inflammatory responses; however, the function of the structurally related molecule lymphotoxin (LT alpha) is unknown. LT alpha is present on the surface of activated T, B, and LAK cells as a complex with a 33 kd glycoprotein, and cloning of the cDNA encoding the associated protein, called lymphotoxin beta (LT beta), revealed it to be a type II membrane protein with significant homology to TNF, LT alpha, and the ligand for the CD40 receptor. The gene for LT beta was found next to the TNF-LT locus in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a region of the MHC with possible linkage to autoimmune disease. These observations raise the possibility that a surface LT alpha-LT beta complex may have a specific role in immune regulation distinct from the functions ascribed to TNF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of surface lymphotoxin and tumor necrosis factor on activated T, B, and natural killer cells.

The expression of membrane-associated forms of lymphotoxin (LT) and TNF were examined on cell lines of T, B, and myeloid origin, IL-2 dependent T cell clones, and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Inducible and constitutive patterns of surface LT expression were found on T cells as exemplified by the II-23.D7, a CD4+T cell hybridoma, and HUT-78, a T cell lymphoma. Phorbol ester induced surface LT expression on Ramos, an EBV transformed B cell line, but at a slower rate of appearance when compared to the II-23.D7. Secretion of LT was rapidly inducible by phorbol ester in II-23.D7 and also in HUT-78 but with slower kinetics; surface LT expression continued in both lines after secretion had ceased. Low levels of membrane TNF were transiently induced on II-23.D7 and HUT-78, but none was observed on Ramos. Peripheral blood monocytes and some myeloid tumor lines did not express surface LT. Several T cell clones expressed surface LT after Ag-specific stimulation, and expression persisted several days. Stimulation through the TCR or by IL-2 rapidly induced surface LT on resting peripheral T cells and CD56+ NK cells; pokeweed mitogen activation induced expression on CD20+ B cells. Consistent with previous results, immunoprecipitation with anti-LT mAb showed that LT was complexed with a distinct 33 kDa glycoprotein (p33) on cells that expressed surface LT, whereas secreted LT was not associated with p33. Surface and secreted modes of LT expression by activated T, B, and NK cells suggests that LT can be utilized as either a localized or diffusible mediator in immune responses.

Antigens, CD↗

Lymphotoxin is expressed as a heteromeric complex with a distinct 33-kDa glycoprotein on the surface of an activated human T cell hybridoma.

We characterized the membrane-associated form of lymphotoxin (surface LT) on the activated II-23.D7 T cell hybridoma. Antibodies to rLT precipitated both surface LT and a distinct 33-kDa glycoprotein (p33). Because p33 and surface LT were antigenically unrelated, their coprecipitation suggested a physical association of p33 and surface LT on the membrane. Pulse-chase analysis indicated that LT and p33 associate with each other early in the LT biosynthetic pathway, precluding the possibility that LT is secreted and bound to p33 or a surface receptor. Furthermore, no p33 was associated with the secreted form of LT. Isoelectric focusing of surface LT and p33 under nondenaturing and denaturing conditions confirmed that surface LT and p33 existed as a complex. Treatment of cells with a high concentration of salt or with acid indicated that surface LT is a peripheral membrane protein. Although secreted LT is a homologous trimer, protein cross-linking studies revealed that surface LT existed as a monomer associated with a dimer of p33. Together the results demonstrate a novel mechanism for stable membrane expression of LT by activated T cells.

Antigenic Variation↗

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor expression in T lymphocytes. Differential regulation of the type I TNF receptor during activation of resting and effector T cells.

The expression of TNF-alpha receptors (TNFR) was examined on a CD4+ T cell hybridoma, transformed T cell lines, CTL clones, and activated T cells from peripheral blood to determine the basis of the immunomodulatory activity of TNF on T cell function. Analyses by ligand cross-linking and competitive binding assays with mAb to the 80-kDa receptor (TNFR-I), demonstrated that the TNFR-I was the predominant receptor expressed on activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. However, on T cell leukemic lines, a second, non-TNFR-I binding site was identified, most likely the 55-kDa form (TNFR-II). Additional subsets of T cells were readily distinguished by their expression of TNFR-I and related members of the TNFR gene family (CD40 and CD27). Expression of the TNFR-I was dependent upon the state of T cell activation. Signaling through the TCR for Ag or IL-2R was sufficient to induce TNFR mRNA and protein expression in resting T cells. Multiple sizes of TNFR-I transcripts were detected during T cell activation; however, biosynthetic studies showed these multiple species encode a single protein of 80 kDa. These results, combined with the known ability of TNF to induce IL-2R expression, indicate that TNF and IL-2 form a reciprocating receptor amplification circuit. In contrast, differentiated effector T cells triggered through the TCR or protein kinase C initiated a rapid down-regulation (transmodulation) of the TNFR-I that preceded TNF or lymphotoxin secretion. The mechanism of transmodulation involved proteolytic processing of the mature 80-kDa receptor releasing a soluble 40-kDa fragment. This indicates that a TNF autocrine loop is not likely to form during the response of an effector T cell. Collectively, these results suggest that transcriptional and post-translational modification of the TNFR-I are important control points regulating the expression of this receptor during T cell activation.

Animals↗

Lymphotoxin and an associated 33-kDa glycoprotein are expressed on the surface of an activated human T cell hybridoma.

A human T cell hybridoma, II-23.D7, was induced with phorbol ester to express a surface form of lymphotoxin (LT, TNF-beta) and an associated 33-kDa glycoprotein. The LT epitopes were detected by surface immunofluorescence staining and by immunoprecipitation from radioiodinated or biosynthetically labeled cells with the use of anti-rLT polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. The epitopes detected by the antibody were related to LT because adsorption of the anti-rLT with PMA-activated II-23.D7 cells resulted in the removal of the neutralizing titer of the anti-rLT antiserum. Immunoprecipitation of surface radioiodinated II-23.D7 cells revealed two bands of 25 kDa and 33 kDa that were specifically precipitated with anti-rLT, but not anti-rTNF antibodies. Enzymatic digestion with glycanases showed both proteins to have N-linked carbohydrate, with O-linked sugar limited to the 25-kDa protein. To determine the biochemical relationship between these proteins, the two LT-like forms were purified from detergent-solubilized II-23.D7 cells by immunoaffinity chromatography. Peptide mapping using CNBr cleavage showed the 25-kDa surface form to be identical to rLT, whereas the 33-kDa protein was different. Biosynthetic labeling studies showed that p33 contained both methionine and cysteine, whereas the p25 contained only methionine. Thus, the surface LT form lacks a leader peptide indicating an anchoring mechanism distinct from that described for membrane TNF. The nature of the attachment of this LT form to the membrane surface is not clear, however, neither TNF receptor binding nor lipid linkages appear to be involved. The accessory protein, p33, may anchor LT to the surface. These findings identify a new characteristic of LT and point toward an additional pathway by which T lymphocytes may mediate cytolytic activity and regulate inflammatory processes.

Chromobox Protein Homolog 5↗

Inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase decrease the resistance of HER2/neu-expressing cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor.

Four human ovarian and breast tumor lines expressing the HER2/neu oncogene were resistant to the cytotoxic and DNA-degradative activity of TNF. The resistance was not associated with altered TNF receptor function because Scatchard analysis of 125I-rTNF binding to HER2/neu-expressing target cells revealed receptors with normal binding parameters. Furthermore, the TNF receptors on the resistant lines were capable of signal transduction as evidence by the induction of ADP-ribose polymerase activity and MHC expression. TNF resistance was not reversed by coincubation with drugs that interrupted the glutathione redox cycle. In addition, although coincubation of HER2/neu-expressing targets with cycloheximide resulted in significant TNF-induced lysis, when compared to HER2/neu-nonexpressing targets similarly treated with cycloheximide, a significant relative resistance was still present. To investigate the role of ADP-ribosylation in the resistance of these targets, we used nontoxic concentrations of two inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase, 3-aminobenzamide, and nicotinamide. Both inhibitors completely reversed the resistance of HER2/neu-expressing targets to TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and DNA injury in a concentration-dependent fashion. These inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase did not act by down-regulating expression of HER2/neu oncogenes. In contrast, aminobenzamide and nicotinamide significantly diminished TNF-induced cytotoxicity of L929 targets. These data suggest that the activity of ADP-ribose polymerase may play a pivotal role in determining the fate of the target cell during exposure to TNF.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗

Adenovirus E3 14.7K protein functions in the absence of other adenovirus proteins to protect transfected cells from tumor necrosis factor cytolysis.

A 14,700-kDa protein (14.7K) encoded by the E3 region of adenovirus has been shown to protect adenovirus-infected mouse C3HA cells from lysis by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (L. R. Gooding, L. W. Elmore, A. E. Tollefson, H. A. Brady, and W. S. M. Wold, Cell 53:341-346, 1988). These infected cells are sensitized to TNF by expression of the adenovirus E1A proteins (P. Duerksen-Hughes, W. S. M. Wold, and L. R. Gooding, J. Immunol. 143:4193-4200, 1989). In this study we show that 14.7K suppresses TNF cytolysis independently of adenovirus infection. Mouse C3HA and C127 cells were transfected with the 14.7K gene controlled by the mouse metallothionein promoter, and permanent 14.7K-expressing cell lines were tested for sensitivity to TNF cytolysis. Transfected cells which were sensitized to TNF either by inhibitors of protein synthesis, microfilament-destabilizing agents, or adenovirus infection were found to be resistant to TNF cytolysis. Two monoclonal antibodies were isolated and used to quantitate 14.7K in transfected and infected cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis with these monoclonal antibodies and 14.7K immunoblots showed that 14.7K expression can be induced with cadmium in C3HA and C127 transfectants. The 14.7K induction correlated with a dose-dependent decrease in sensitivity to TNF cytotoxicity. The 14.7K protein does not substantially alter cell surface TNF receptor numbers or affinity on C3HA mouse fibroblasts, as determined by Scatchard analysis of 125I-TNF binding. The 14.7K protein also does not alter TNF signal transduction in general, because TNF induction of cell surface class I major histocompatibility complex molecules on 14.7K transfectants was unmodified. Our findings indicate that the adenovirus 14.7K protein functions as a specific inhibitor of TNF cytolysis in the absence of other adenovirus proteins and thus is a unique tool to study the mechanism of TNF cytotoxicity.

Adenoviridae↗

Induction of the heat shock response protects cells from lysis by tumor necrosis factor.

A minority of transformed cell lines are directly susceptible to lysis by TNF, whereas many cells can be made sensitive to TNF by treatment with inhibitors of protein synthesis. Other groups have shown that exposure to TNF induces in many cells a transcription/translation dependent response that protects the cell from TNF lysis. Heat shock proteins are involved in protecting cells from the lethal affects of heat and other metabolic poisons. In this report, we test the possibility that heat shock proteins are also involved in protecting cells from lysis by TNF. We find that after induction of the cellular heat shock response by either heat or arsenite treatment, both spontaneously TNF-sensitive cells and those cells made sensitive by inhibition of protein synthesis are nearly completely protected from TNF cytolysis. The heat-treated cells retained most of their capacity to bind TNF, suggesting that heat shock functions at a postreceptor binding phase of the lytic process. Mouse C3HA fibroblasts are also made sensitive to TNF lysis by treatment with cytochalasin E. We have previously found that elicitation of the cell's TNF-protective response by exposure to TNF suppresses killing of C3HA by subsequent treatment with TNF plus cytochalasin E. In contrast, we report here that induction of the heat shock response did not provide significant protection to C3HA from killing by TNF in the presence of cytochalasin E. Thus, although induction of heat shock proteins does protect cells from TNF, they appear to act by a mechanism distinct from that elicited by TNF itself.

Animals↗

Double-negative (CD4- CD8-) T cells with an alpha/beta T cell receptor. Non-MHC-restricted cytolytic activity and lymphokine production.

T cell lines with a novel phenotype (CD3+ TCR-alpha/beta+ CD4- CD8-) were developed from the peripheral blood of a patient with a combined immunodeficiency and tissue injury resembling graft-vs-host disease. One of these IL-2-dependent T cell lines demonstrated non-MHC-restricted cytolytic function against tumor targets, syngeneic and allogeneic fibroblasts, and PHA blasts from allogeneic donors. The other cell line only became cytotoxic in the presence of lectin or anti-CD3 antibody. The two cell lines also differed in their expression of the T-200 gene products CD45RO (gp180) and CD45RA (gp220). Both cell lines produced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and -beta and IFN-gamma activity when activated with mitogens or PMA and IL-1. The in vitro functions of these T-cell lines suggest a potential role for alpha/beta double-negative T lymphocytes in tissue injury resembling graft-vs-host disease.

Antigens, CD↗

Characterization of the receptor for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin (LT) on human T lymphocytes. TNF and LT differ in their receptor binding properties and the induction of MHC class I proteins on a human CD4+ T cell hybridoma.

TNF-alpha and lymphotoxin (LT or TNF-beta) are structurally related cytokines that share several proinflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. The shared biologic activities of TNF and LT have been attributed to their binding to a common cell surface receptor(s). We observed that rTNF enhanced the expression of MHC class I proteins on the human T cell hybridoma, II-23.D7, however LT was largely unable to regulate MHC expression. To determine the molecular basis of this disparity between LT and TNF the receptor binding characteristics of rTNF and rLT were investigated by direct and competitive radioligand assays on the II-23.D7 T hybridoma, and for comparison, anti-CD3 activated human T lymphocytes. Specific 125I-rTNF binding to the II-23.D7 line revealed a single class of sites with a Kd = 175 pM and 3000 sites/cell; anti-CD3 activated T cells exhibited specific TNF binding with similar properties. The relationship of receptor occupancy to the induction of MHC class I Ag yielded a hyperbolic curve indicating a complex relationship between rTNF binding and biologic response. LT appeared to function like a partial agonist in that rLT was 10- to 20-fold less effective than rTNF in competitively inhibiting 125I-rTNF binding on the II-23.D7 line. Scatchard type analysis revealed a single class of low affinity binding sites for 125I-rLT. No differences in the competitive binding activity of rTNF and rLT were observed on the anti-CD3-activated T cells. Receptors for rTNF and rLT were immunoprecipitated from the II-23.D7 and activated T cells with anticytokine antibodies after cross-linking of radioiodinated rTNF or rLT to intact cells by using chemical cross-linking reagents. Analysis of the cross-linked adducts by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography indicated a major adduct of 92 kDa for rTNF and 104 kDa for rLT. Enzymatic digestion with neuraminidase or V8 protease revealed a unique structure to these adducts consistent with the cross-linking of a single chain of cytokine to a cell surface glycoprotein. rTNF inhibited the formation of the 104-kDa adduct formed with 125I-rLT on the II-23.D7 line, indicating these two cytokines bind to the same receptor of approximately 80 kDa. These results suggest that the disparate activities of LT and TNF to induce MHC class I proteins on the II-23.D7 cells are, in part, associated with a modified state of a common receptor.

Binding Sites↗

Enhanced cytotoxicity in the rheumatoid joint.

The cytotoxic cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or cachectin and lymphotoxin (LT), are mediators of bone resorption and of inflammation and may have relevance in rheumatoid arthritis. Using mononuclear cells (MC) isolated from matched peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we examined the generation of cytotoxic activity in a bioassay capable of detecting both TNF and LT. Synovial fluid mononuclear cells (MC) released significantly more cytotoxic activity than did matched PBMC, both spontaneously and following activation with phytohemagglutinin P (PHA). When PB and SFMC were stimulated with the combination of PHA plus phorbol-12-myristate acetate (PMA), the resulting culture supernatants possessed comparable cytotoxic activity. Neutralization studies employing anti-cytokine antibodies indicated that TNF represented 43 and 59% of the cytotoxic activity in the PHA plus PMA-induced culture supernatants from PB and SF, respectively. Since no inhibition was noted with antibodies to LT, the nature of the remaining approximately 50% of the cytotoxic activity was not determined. In PB and SF culture supernatants, obtained both spontaneously and following PHA activation, the concentration of TNF measured by ELISA significantly correlated with the level of cytotoxicity. As with the cytotoxic activity, the concentration of TNF was greater in the PHA-stimulated supernatants from SF than from PB. These observations suggest that TNF in the SF may contribute to the inflammation and bone destruction observed in rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗

Cytotoxicity mediated by tumor necrosis factor in variant subclones of the ME-180 cervical carcinoma line: modulation by specific inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II.

The mechanism of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cytotoxicity has been investigated using two clonal variants of the ME-180 human cervical carcinoma cell line. The clonal lines were characterized with respect to their expression of TNF receptors, kinetics of cell death, and their ability to communicate intercellularly through gap junctions. The ME-180.4 and ME-180.8 clones were identified by their relative sensitivity to TNF induced lysis in a 24-h assay. The dose of TNF required to kill 50% of the target cells was 60 pM for the sensitive ME-180.4 and 2.5 nM for the ME-180.8. However, when assay times were extended, the dose response for both clones was the same, indicating that a difference in the kinetics of cell death and not absolute TNF sensitivity existed between the ME-180.4 and ME-180.8 clones. Both clones were gap junction deficient as judged by their inability to transfer Lucifer yellow or 6-carboxyfluorescein, a characteristic phenotype of cells sensitive to cytotoxicity by TNF. The level of surface receptor expressed on these clones was nearly identical with a Kd = 0.3 nM and 5,000 binding sites per cell. Measurement of the kinetics of cell death revealed that the time between the addition of TNF and the onset of observed cell death (induction phase) was much shorter for the ME-180.4 (32-55 h) than for the resistant ME-180.8 (55-80 h). Mitomycin C, a DNA alkylating agent, significantly reduced the length of the induction phase for both clones, although the kinetic difference between the clones remained unchanged. Two epipodophyllotoxins, VP-16 and VM-26, which specifically inhibit the rejoining activity of DNA topoisomerase II, showed a 10-100-fold synergistic effect when combined with TNF as shown by isobologram analysis. VM-26 when added to the resistant ME-180.8 clones decreased the length of induction phase and abolished the kinetic difference observed with the ME-180.4 clone. These results indicate that the variance in the TNF response of these two clones was closely associated with DNA topoisomerase II, and suggest that this enzyme may play an important role in TNF mediated cytotoxicity.

Cell Communication↗

Effects of subacute administration of O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate on cellular and humoral immune response systems.

The effects of 14-day treatment with low doses of O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate (OSS-TMP), an impurity in technical malathion, on the generation of cell-mediated and humoral immune responses were examined in female C57BL/6 mice. At a dose of 2.0 mg/kg per day OSS-TMP, the generation of antibody-secreting cells to sheep red blood cells, the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to alloantigen and the production of Interleukin-2 were elevated approximately 2-3 fold, while no changes were observed in the proliferative responses to the polyclonal activators, Concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharide, or phytohemagglutinin. In contrast, at 5.0 mg/kg per day OSS-TMP, both the CTL and specific antibody responses were suppressed, while all other immune parameters examined were unchanged. Data from cell separation and reconstitution experiments indicated that both T and B lymphocytes were affected by these treatment regimes. These data suggest that long-term exposure to low doses of OSS-TMP may enhance the ability of an animal to generate an immune response while higher doses of OSS-TMP may suppress the generation of an immune response.

Animals↗

Cytotoxicity by tumor necrosis factor is linked with the cell cycle but does not require DNA synthesis.

The relationship between the kinetics of cell death induced by TNF and the cell cycle in L929.10 target cells was investigated by comparison of growing, asynchronous cells with target cells synchronized at G1/S using a double thymidine block. The induction phase of lysis, the time following TNF addition but before loss of cell viability, was shortened in asynchronous cells by increasing the level of saturation of the TNF receptor. However, in synchronized target cells, the length of the induction phase showed no dependence on receptor occupancy. Almost all cell death occurred within a 3 hr period 4-7 hr after the addition of TNF regardless of the concentration of TNF. Target cell lysis in synchronized cells was concomitant with mitosis as verified by flow cytometry and DNA staining with propidium iodide. The narrow window of cytotoxicity was not due to cell cycle-related changes in the expression of the TNF receptor as measured by [125I]TNF binding. Treatment with TNF did not accelerate or retard the progression of cells through S and G2/M nor did target cells accumulate at G2/M. When the kinetic experiments were repeated in the presence of 2 mM thymidine, TNF-treated cells died with identical dose and kinetic responses as those in which the thymidine block had been removed. Under these conditions, flow cytometric analysis revealed that DNA synthesis remained inhibited. These results suggest that TNF-induced cytotoxicity is linked to cell cycle-associated processes and that TNF is capable of overriding the normal cellular controls that coordinately link the DNA replicative cycle with the mitotic cycle. In the L929.10 target cell, TNF may induce a fatal mitosis-linked event.

Animals↗