Biomedical subjects

D Bevec

Publications and source records attributed to D Bevec.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Stem cell factor-induced downregulation of c-kit in human lung mast cells and HMC-1 mast cells.

Recent data suggest that local overexpression of the tissue-hormone c-kit ligand (stem cell factor [SCF]) is associated with accumulation of mast cells (MCs) and a decrease in expression of c-kit in the accumulated MCs [28]. In the present study, the effects of recombinant human (rh) SCF on expression of c-kit mRNA and c-kit protein in isolated human MCs and a human mast cell line, HMC-1, were analyzed. Incubation of isolated lung MC with rhSCF (100 ng/mL) for 120 minutes resulted in decreased expression of c-kit mRNA (optical density [OD], control: 100% vs. rhSCF: 37%). Almost identical results were obtained with HMC-1 cells (OD, control: 100% vs. rhSCF: 40 to 45%). As assessed by flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to c-kit, the SCF-induced decrease of c-kit mRNA in HMC-1 was associated with a substantial decrease in surface expression of c-kit (MFI, control: 100 +/- 21%, vs. MFI in cells incubated with rhSCF [100 ng/mL at 37 degrees C for 12 hours]: 8 +/- 2%, vs. MFI in cells incubated with rhSCF, 100 ng/mL, at 4 degrees C: 34 +/- 3%). The effects of rhSCF on c-kit expression in HMC-1 cells were dose- and time-dependent with maximum effects observed with 10-100 ng/mL of rhSCF after 4 to 12 hours. The SCF-dependent loss of c-kit was also accompanied by a decreased chemotactic response to rhSCF (control: 100%; rhSCF: 71 +/- 2%). This study shows that exposure of human lung MC and HMC-1 cells to recombinant SCF results in downregulation of c-kit mRNA and surface c-kit expression. These data may explain the partial loss of c-kit on MCs in areas of SCF overexpression.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1995

Identification of a new member of the human eIF-5A gene family.

Using an oligodeoxynucleotide generated by rapid PCR amplification of 5'-cDNA ends (5'-RACE) as a detection probe, we have isolated a new genomic clone encoding the human eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A). Sequence analysis revealed that the eIF-5A coding region is identical to the corresponding cDNA but interrupted by three introns. In a plasmid shuffle experiment we show functional replacement of the essential homologous gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by this human eIF-5A.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

The eukaryotic cofactor for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) rev protein, eIF-5A, maps to chromosome 17p12-p13: three eIF-5A pseudogenes map to 10q23.3, 17q25, and 19q13.2.

The eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) has been identified as an essential cofactor for the HIV-1 transactivator protein Rev. Rev plays a key role in the complex regulation of HIV-1 gene expression and thereby in the generation of infectious virus particles. Expression of eIF-5A is vital for Rev function, and inhibition of this interaction leads to a block of the viral replication cycle. In humans, four different eIF-5A genes have been identified. One codes for the eIF-5A protein and the other three are pseudogenes. Using a panel of somatic rodent-human cell hybrids in combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, we show that the four genes map to three different chromosomes. The coding eIF-5A gene (EIF5A) maps to 17p12-p13, and the three pseudogenes EIF5AP1, EIF5AP2, and EIF5AP3 map to 10q23.3, 17q25, and 19q13.2, respectively. This is the first localization report for a eukaryotic cofactor for a regulatory HIV-1 protein.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Immunopharmacological activities and clinical development of muramyl peptides with particular emphasis on murabutide.

Certain immunopharmacological activities of muramyl peptides have been associated with inflammatory and undesirable side-effects typically observed following the administration of the prototype molecule muramyl dipeptide. This activity is now demonstrated not to be linked to a direct activation of inflammatory processes in endothelial cells. Neither MDP nor other structural derivatives were able to induce inflammatory cytokines release or E-selectin gene expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. However, oral administration of muramyl peptides has been reported to induce certain biological effects, including the downregulation of anamnestic, antigen-specific IgE responses, which are not observed following parenteral administration. We elaborate on these findings and extend them to show the efficacy of a new muramyl peptide in suppressing polyclonally induced serum IgE levels in anti-IgD-treated mice. The comparative effects of muramyl peptides, selected for clinical development, on the induction of cytokines in human whole blood are then presented at the level of mRNA accumulation and protein secretion. Moreover, the cytokine profile induced in vitro and in vivo by the combination of the safe immunostimulant, Murabutide, with interferon-alpha is examined. This combination reveals a selective and beneficial synergistic activity and induces anti-inflammatory cytokines in the absence of synergistic toxicity. The potential and the implications for the use of a therapeutic combination of an immunostimulant with a cytokine are discussed.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

PubMed1994

TGF-beta 1 is a potent inducer of human effector T cells.

TGF-beta 1 is known to modulate lymphocyte activation affecting cell proliferation and the production of cytokines and Igs. Little is known about the characteristics of T cells grown in the presence of TGF-beta 1. We have stimulated human T cells with PHA in the presence of TGF-beta 1 under serum-free conditions for 7 days and characterized the resulting cell population. TGF-beta 1 (0.0032 to 10 ng/ml) affected neither [3H]thymidine incorporation (day 4) nor cell yield (day 7) in these cultures. However, cells activated in the presence of TGF-beta 1 proliferated vigorously in secondary cultures and produced highly elevated amounts of IL-2 (12 +/- 3-fold enhancement of IL-2 production in response to CD2 plus CD28 stimulation compared with control cells, mean +/- SEM; n = 10). The enhancing effects of TGF-beta 1 were demonstrable over a wide range of concentrations (0.4 to 10 ng/ml). The increased IL-2 protein production was paralleled by a dramatic up-regulation of IL-2 mRNA. In addition, cells precultured with TGF-beta 1 responded with enhanced cluster formation in the secondary cultures. With regard to their phenotype, we observed an increased expression of the alpha E beta 7-integrin human mucosal lymphocyte-1 and of the CD2-restricted epitope CD2R, whereas the expression of CD11a was slightly decreased. In contrast, TGF-beta 1 did not influence the constitutive or activation-induced expression of CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD25, CD71, CD54, CD58, CD59, and B7. We conclude that TGF-beta 1 supports the generation of human effector cells with a strongly enhanced capacity to respond to subsequent restimulation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1994

Induced gene expression of the hypusine-containing protein eukaryotic initiation factor 5A in activated human T lymphocytes.

The hypusine-containing protein eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) is a cellular cofactor critically required for the function of the Rev transactivator protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). eIF-5A localizes in the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments of mammalian cells, suggesting possible activities on the level of regulated mRNA transport and/or protein translation. In this report we show that eIF-5A gene expression is constitutively low but inducible with T-lymphocyte-specific stimuli in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy individuals. In contrast, eIF-5A is constitutively expressed at high levels in human cell lines as well as in various human organs. Comparison of eIF-5A levels in the PBMCs of uninfected and HIV-1-infected donors shows a significant upregulation of eIF-5A gene expression in the PBMCs of HIV-1 patients, compatible with a possible role of eIF-5A in HIV-1 replication during T-cell activation.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

The genomic structure encoding human initiation factor eIF-5A.

A genomic clone encoding the human eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) was isolated and its entire nucleotide sequence was determined. The whole eIF-5A coding region is not interrupted by introns. The functional eIF-5A gene is highly homologous to the corresponding complementary DNA. One single 1.4-kb transcript thereof is expressed in human cell lines. Furthermore, we also isolated and sequenced two additional eIF-5A-related sequences which are, by expression and sequence analyses, identified as pseudogenes of the functional eIF-5A. The sequence homology between these pseudogenes and the functional eIF-5A is 71 and 87%.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Reduction in replication of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in human T cell lines by polymerase III-driven transcription of chimeric tRNA-antisense RNA genes.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication was demonstrated by using tat- and rev-directed antisense oligoribonucleotides 68 and 69 nucleotides in length. In this study, human T-lymphoid cells were transduced with a murine amphotropic retroviral vector containing a polymerase III-driven chimeric gene consisting of the human tRNA(imet) sequence and the short tat- and rev-directed antisense sequences that had been shown before to inhibit HIV-1 replication. Pools of transduced, G418-resistant human T-lymphoid Jurkat or CEM cells showed reduced replication of HIV-1 in the presence of antisense-containing chimeric transcripts, but not with sense sequence-containing transcripts. These results demonstrate that short inhibitory antisense RNA transcripts can be stably expressed endogenously using polymerase III promoters, which can reduce replication of HIV-1. The approach described in this work combines the advantages of short and, usually, synthetic oligonucleotides with the stable intracellular expression of inhibitory genes for HIV-1 in target cells. Considering the small size of the described chimeric polymerase III genes, it appears feasible to combine multiple antiviral genes with the currently available retroviral vectors as gene delivery systems.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1994

Constitutive expression of chimeric neo-Rev response element transcripts suppresses HIV-1 replication in human CD4+ T lymphocytes.

We have previously reported that chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase (neo)-Rev response element (RRE) transcripts suppress the function of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev trans-activator protein in HeLa cells. In an extension of these experiments, human CD4+ CEM cells (G418-resistant cell populations and clonal isolates) stably expressing chimeric neo-RRE genes (2, 3, or 6 RRE copies) were generated using retroviral-mediated gene transfer. The transduced CEM clones were infected with the HIV-1 HTLVIIIB isolate and the following three phenotypes were observed: (i) the transduced CEM cells were readily infected with HIV-1 indistinguishable from the control CEM cells; (ii) the appearance of HIV-1 replication markers was significantly delayed; (iii) no signs of HIV-1 replication were detectable although proviral HIV-1 DNA sequences could be detected in these cells. Furthermore, HIV antigen expression was limited in neo-resistant CEM cell populations inoculated with the HIV-1 HTLVIIIB isolate. Only 10% of the CEM-pX17-3xRRE cells and 20% of the CEM-pX17-2xRRE cells displayed HIV-1 antigens 43 days after challenge and had retained CD4 surface expression on 47% and 64% of the cells, respectively. In sharp contrast, 80% of the CEM-pX17 or the CEM-pX17-6xRRE cells expressed HIV-1 antigens but no CD4 antigens were detectable in these cultures. These results clearly indicate that RRE decoys could be developed into an effective somatic gene therapy approach against HIV-1 induced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Modulation of pyrogen-induced upregulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) by interleukin-4: transcriptional mechanisms and CAM-shedding.

The pyrogens interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are known to increase endothelial cell (EC) adhesiveness for leukocytes by stimulating surface expression of various adhesion molecules. IL-4, a product of activated T-cells, was shown to affect pyrogen-mediated regulation of EC adhesion molecule surface expression. In the present study, we investigated the effect of IL-4 on pyrogen-induced upregulation of the cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) ICAM-1 (intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1), ELAM-1 (endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1), and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) in cultured human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC). Surface expression of adhesion molecules was quantified by flow cytometry, HUVEC mRNA content was estimated by Northern blot analysis, and ICAM-1 antigen in conditioned media was measured by ELISA. Incubation of HUVEC with IL-1 (100 U/ml), TNF (500 U/ml), and LPS (10 micrograms/ml) caused significant increase in ICAM-1, ELAM-1, and VCAM-1 surface expression; IL-1 caused about an eightfold increase in ICAM-1 expression, about a 13-fold increase in ELAM-1 surface expression, and about a fourfold increase in VCAM-1 expression. Coincubation of pyrogens with IL-4 (500 U/ml) differentially influenced their proadhesive effects on the HUVEC surface. In the presence of IL-4, IL-1-induced ICAM-1 upregulation was reduced, ELAM-1 upregulation was not significantly influenced by IL-4, and induction of VCAM-1 was enhanced by IL-4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Eukaryotic initiation factor 5A is a cellular target of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev activation domain mediating trans-activation.

Expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) structural proteins requires the presence of the viral trans-activator protein Rev. Rev is localized in the nucleus and binds specifically to the Rev response element (RRE) sequence in viral RNA. Furthermore, the interaction of the Rev activation domain with a cellular cofactor is essential for Rev function in vivo. Using cross-linking experiments and Biospecific Interaction Analysis (BIA) we identify eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) as a cellular factor binding specifically to the HIV-1 Rev activation domain. Indirect immunofluorescence studies demonstrate that a significant fraction of eIF-5A localizes to the nucleus. We also provide evidence that Rev transactivation is functionally mediated by eIF-5A in Xenopus oocytes. Furthermore, we are able to block Rev function in mammalian cells by antisense inhibition of eIF-5A gene expression. Thus, regulation of HIV-1 gene expression by Rev involves the targeting of RRE-containing RNA to components of the cellular translation initiation complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta mRNA expression in HMC-1 cells: differential regulation of gene product expression by recombinant interleukin-4.

Cytokine-activation pathways in mast cells are supposed to play a significant role in host defense mechanisms and allergic reactions. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a well-characterized regulator of growth and function of mast cells. The human mast cell line HMC-1 was established from a patient suffering from mast cell leukemia and was shown to expose IL-4 binding sites. In the present study, the effects of recombinant human (rh) IL-4 and other rh cytokines (IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8) on expression of cytokine mRNA in HMC-1 cells were examined by Northern blot analysis using oligonucleotide probes. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1 beta transcripts were found to be expressed constitutively in HMC-1 cells, whereas transcripts for IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) could not be detected. Of all cytokines tested, rhIL-4 was found to down-regulate IL-1 beta mRNA expression and formation of immunoreactive IL-1 beta protein in HMC-1 cells. The effect of IL-4 on IL-1 beta gene product expression was time- and dose-dependent (maximum effects obtained with 100 U/mL of rhIL-4). No effect of IL-4 on expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in HMC-1 cells was observed. These results raise the possibility that human mast cells are a source of both TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta. Furthermore, our study provides evidence that IL-4 regulates IL-1 beta gene product expression in HMC-1 cells. The HMC-1 cell line should be a useful tool for studying cytokine activation pathways in human mast cells.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in human T cells by retroviral-mediated gene transfer of a dominant-negative Rev trans-activator.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Currently, no satisfactory treatment for this viral disease is available. Somatic gene therapy has been proposed as an alternative to conventional therapies. Several antiviral gene therapy approaches including ribozymes, antisense inhibition, and RNA-decoy strategies, as well as dominant-negative mutants of HIV-1 proteins (Gag, Tat, and Rev) have been suggested. To prove the concept of trans-dominant inhibition of HIV-1 replication, we transduced CEM cells with a retroviral vector encoding a dominant-negative rev gene. Amplification of integrase-specific proviral sequences from high molecular weight DNA indicated successful HIV-1 human T-lymphotropic virus type IIIB (HTLV-IIIB) infection of all cells. In contrast to CEM cells and CEM cells expressing the rev wild-type (wt) gene, infection of two CEM-RevM10 clones with HIV-1 did not result in the release of significant levels of p24 Gag antigen as measured by antigen capture assay, indicating a block in HIV-1 replication due to the presence of the trans-dominant Rev protein. Furthermore, the parental CEM cells as well as CEM cells expressing the Rev wt protein were effectively killed in the course of the HIV-1 infection, whereas all CEM cells expressing the RevM10 protein were unaffected in their growth rate.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Specific inhibition of mRNA accumulation for lymphokines in human T cell line Jurkat by mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan antigen.

The immunomodulatory effect of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-derived lipoarabinomannan (LAM) on mitogen/antigen-induced expression of mRNAs for a number of cytokines in human monocytic cell line Mono-Mac-6 and in T cell line Jurkat was investigated. Interestingly, LAM exhibited a down-regulatory effect on the accumulation of mRNAs for IL-2, IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-2 receptor alpha (IL-2R alpha) in T cells co-stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin-P (PHA) and 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristyl-13-acetate (PMA). In human Mono-Mac-6 cells. LAM has a weak inhibitory effect on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mRNA accumulation for IL-1 beta, a slight stimulatory effect on mRNAs accumulation for IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), but clearly no effect on mRNA accumulation for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). These findings imply that LAM may contribute to the immunologic defects associated with a number of mycobacterial infections by modulating these mediators.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

PubMed1992

Selection of a muramyl peptide based on its lack of activation of nuclear factor-kappa B as a potential adjuvant for AIDS vaccines.

Activation of the cellular transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) by cytokines and other immunostimulants has been tightly linked with enhanced replication of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) in infected cells. Various immunomodulators are currently being examined in animal and human trials for their suitability as adjuvants in potential vaccines against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It may prove to be beneficial to select adjuvants that do not induce NF-kappa B activation and particularly if the vaccines are to be aimed at seropositive individuals. We have examined a battery of synthetic immunostimulants of the muramyl peptide family for their ability to activate NF-kappa B in human and mouse cell lines. In this report, we demonstrate selective activation of NF-kappa B in different cell lines and by different muramyl peptides possessing immunostimulatory activities. The mechanism of such activation is apparently via production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) since pretreatment of cells with antioxidants blocked subsequent activation of NF-kappa B. However, among all the molecules tested only one lipophilic, non-pyrogenic adjuvant active muramyl peptide showed a complete lack of NF-kappa B activation in all cell lines tested. This molecule could well become the adjuvant of choice in future AIDS vaccines.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

PubMed1991

IL-4 regulates c-kit proto-oncogene product expression in human mast and myeloid progenitor cells.

The c-kit proto-oncogene encodes the receptor for a novel hemopoietic cytokine, termed stem cell factor (SCF) or mast cell growth factor (MGF) according to its stimulating spectrum. The human receptor for SCF/MGF is expressed in a subset of normal bone marrow progenitor cells, in leukemic myeloid cells, and in mast cells. In the present study, the effects of recombinant human growth regulators (IL-1 through -9, granulocyte-macrophage/granulocyte/macrophage-CSF, IFN, and TNF) on c-kit proto-oncogene product expression were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence, by using the anti-SCF/MGFR mAb YB5.B8, and Northern blot analyses, by using a c-kit oligonucleotide probe. Of all cytokines tested, IL-4 was found to down-regulate expression of YB5.B8 Ag in the human mast cell line HMC-1 (maximum inhibition, 51.05 +/- 16.36% mean fluorescence intensity of control; p less than 0.02), as well as in primary leukemic myeloid cells. IL-4 was also found to down-regulate expression of YB5.B8 Ag in normal enriched bone marrow progenitor cells. The effects of IL-4 on expression of YB8.B8 Ag in myeloid/mast cell progenitors was dose and time dependent (maximum effects observed on days 2 and/or 4, by using 50 U/ml of rIL-4) and could be neutralized by using anti-IL-4 mAb. Moreover, IL-4 was found to down-regulate expression of c-kit mRNA in leukemic myeloid cells as well as in HMC-1 cells. Together, these observations identify IL-4 as a regulator of c-kit proto-oncogene product expression in the human system. The effects of IL-4 on human hemopoietic progenitor cells and mast cells may be mediated in part through regulation of SCF/MGFR expression.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1991

Interleukin-4 counteracts pyrogen-induced downregulation of thrombomodulin in cultured human vascular endothelial cells.

Inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) and bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were shown to shift the hemostatic balance of the endothelial cell (EC) surface in favor of procoagulant activities by inducing tissue factor (TF) expression and downregulation of thrombomodulin (TM). In the present study, the effects of IL-4 on these regulatory mechanisms were investigated using cultured human umbilical vein EC. TM downregulation induced by the pyrogens IL-1 (100 U/mL), TNF (500 U/mL), and LPS (20 micrograms/mL) to less than 50% of TM activity of untreated cells during a 12-hour incubation period was completely neutralized when these mediators were coincubated with IL-4 (100 U/mL). In accordance with TM surface activity, TM messenger RNA was decreased by IL-1, TNF, and LPS to less than 40% of untreated cells; this effect was in part antagonized by IL-4. No influence of IL-4 on EC tissue factor induction by IL-1, TNF, and LPS was found. Binding studies using 125I-radiolabeled IL-4 suggest that EC express a single class of high-affinity binding sites (kd = 3.2 pmol/L; 2,000 to 2,500 receptors per cell). These results show that IL-4, in part, protects the EC surface against pyrogen-induced procoagulant changes. Transcriptional regulatory mechanisms seem to be involved in EC surface TM regulation.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed1991

Interleukin 4 promotes expression of mast cell ICAM-1 antigen.

Cell recognition molecules play a crucial role in the regulation of immune cells. We recently found that mast cells (MCs) express leukocyte recognition molecules, including ICAM-1 antigen, a natural ligand of LFA-1. We here report that interleukin 4 (IL-4), a pleiotropic cytokine and mast cell differentiation factor, selectively promotes expression of surface ICAM-1 antigen and ICAM-1 mRNA in human MCs. IL-4 also up-regulates ICAM-1 antigen in cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage but has no effect on ICAM-1 antigen expressed on basophils, fibroblasts, or lymphocytes. The increase in expression of mast cell/macrophage ICAM-1 antigen induced by IL-4 may contribute to the accumulation of leukocytes and facilitate cell-contact-dependent regulation of immune cells in inflamed tissues.

Antigens, CD↗