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Biomedical subjects

D Ferrero

Publications and source records attributed to D Ferrero.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Human recombinant stem cell factor stimulates in vitro proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells and expands the clonogenic cell pool.

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a new growth factor acting on early hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells. In our experiments human recombinant SCF stimulated short-term proliferation of accessory cell-depleted acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in 13/14 cases, as determined by 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation and cell counts. Stimulatory activity was significantly greater than in the presence of GM-CSF and was comparable to that of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin 3 (IL-3), and 5637 cell line supernatant (SN). Conversely, the ability of SCF to induce primary colony formation by AML clonogenic cells (CFU-L) was lower than that of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and 5637 SN in all but four cases. However, SCF potentiated the stimulatory effect of GM-CSF, G-CSF, and IL-3 on both 3H-TdR incorporation and colony formation. In a 7-day liquid culture SCF enhanced CFU-L recovery in all cases to a significantly greater extent than the other growth factors. A further increment was obtained by combinations of SCF with GM-CSF, G-CSF, or IL-3, and this was significantly more effective than 5637 SN. SCF did not induce leukemic cell differentiation. Human recombinant SCF is therefore highly efficient in stimulating AML cell proliferation and expanding the CFU-L pool. It was not, however, able to support long-term growth of AML cells (beyond 2-7 weeks) in five cases tested.

Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic↗

Induction of differentiation in human HL-60 cells by 4-hydroxynonenal, a product of lipid peroxidation.

4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is the major diffusible toxic product generated by lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes. The level of lipid peroxidation and, consequently, the concentration of its products are inversely related to the rate of cell proliferation and directly related to the level of cell differentiation. In the present paper the effects of HNE on the proliferation and differentiation of the HL-60 human promyelocytic cell line have been investigated. Repeated treatment at 45-min intervals with HNE (1 microM) was performed to maintain the cells in the presence of the aldehyde for 7 1/2 or 9 h. The effect of HNE on cell proliferation and differentiation was compared with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-treated cells. HNE causes a strong inhibition of cell growth without affecting cell viability. Moreover, HL-60 cells acquire the capability to produce chemiluminescence after soluble (phorbol myristate acetate) or corpuscolate (zymosan) stimulation. The phagocytic ability has also been calculated by counting the number of cells that phagocytize opsonized zymosan. Values were 43 and 55% after 10 or 12 HNE treatments, respectively, and 88% in DMSO-treated cells. Myeloperoxidase activity, 5 days after treatment, decreased by 85% in either HNE- or DMSO-treated cells while acid phosphatase activity increased with respect to untreated cells. Results obtained indicate that HNE at concentrations close to those found in the normal tissues can induce inhibition of proliferation and induction of differentiation in the HL-60 cell line.

Aldehydes↗

CD9 antigen on acute non-lymphoid leukemia cells: preferential expression by promyelocytic (M3) subtype.

A monoclonal antibody (S17-12), previously described to recognize subsets of myelomonocytic cells, is demonstrated to bind CD9 antigen, a surface marker of B-cell precursors, platelets and several non-hematopoietic tissues. The proportion of S17-12, CD9-positive leukemic cells was determined in 102 patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. It was found to be above 75% in 14/22 M3 cases (including 3/3 of microgranular variant) and only in 1/80 cases of different FAB subtype. Complete reactivity (greater than 95%) of leukemic clonogenic cells with CD9 MoAB was restricted to 4/18 M3 cases. Therefore, a high proportion of CD9-positive cells seems to be peculiar to M3 cases. This may help in the diagnosis of cases that lack typical morphological features.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Peripheral blood expansion of early progenitor cells after high-dose cyclophosphamide and rhGM-CSF.

In 20 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or breast cancer, high-dose cyclophosphamide induced, during the post-nadir period of rapid leucocyte recovery, on median day 19 about a 30-fold increase in the peak concentration of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and erythroid (BFU-E) colony-forming cells, and an even higher increase in the more immature pluripotent progenitors (CFU-Mix, 72-fold). After infusion of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF), peak concentration was reached earlier (median day 15) and with further enhancements (159, 116 and 283-fold respectively, in the number of CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-Mix). Most CFU-GM were immature, lacking the differentiation antigen CD15, and gave rise to large myeloid colonies, reflecting a high proliferative capacity of the founder cells. Very immature maphosphamide-resistant progenitors were detectable. The marked expansion in the circulating pool was predictable and reliable, allowing harvesting, after two or three leukaphereses, of sufficient haematopoietic progenitors for autologous bone-marrow reconstitution.

Adult↗

Responsiveness of highly enriched CFU-GM subpopulations from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cord blood to hemopoietic growth inhibitors.

Human early and late granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units, CFU-GM), depleted of accessory cells, were physically separated using an antimyeloid monoclonal antibody (DS1.1). They were separately cultured at optimal growth conditions and tested for responsiveness to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta 1). Late (DS1.1+) CFU-GM displayed the highest sensitivity to PGE2 and TNF alpha, the first significant inhibition being evident at 10(-9)M PGE2 and 1 U/ml TNF alpha. Conversely, their growth was stimulated (211%-217%) by 0.25-2.5 ng/ml TGF beta 1. Early (DS1.1-) marrow CFU-GM evidenced a lower sensitivity to PGE2 and TNF alpha. Their growth, however, was inhibited by 0.25-2.5 ng/ml TGF beta 1. Early CFU-GM constitute the totality of peripheral blood myeloid progenitors. Cord blood CFU-GM were also demonstrated here to be entirely DS1.1-. Both adult and cord blood CFU-GM displayed the highest resistance to PGE2 and TNF alpha. By contrast, they showed the maximum sensitivity to growth inhibition by TGF beta 1, active at 0.025-0.25 ng/ml. For the first time, therefore, highly purified subsets of human CFU-GM were separated that displayed a different responsiveness to well-defined growth-regulatory molecules. Our results indicate that TGF beta 1 has a dual activity; it is inhibitory on early and stimulatory on late CFU-GM, whereas PGE2 and TNF alpha preferentially inhibit late CFU-GM growth.

Adult↗

Establishment from an adult leukemic patient of two novel precursor B cell lines with different growth modality.

Two novel cell lines, PC-53 and PC-53A were established from an adult ALL patient, at third relapse and in the terminal accelerated phase respectively. Both lines displayed the phenotype of B-cell precursors (CD19+, CD38+, CD20-, cytoplasmic-mu-, immunoglobulin gene rearrangement), identical to the freshly isolated blast cells. Chromosomal analysis showed a prominent 45-XX karyotype, including three marker chromosomes. No chromosome 8 abnormalities were detectable, consistently with a non-rearranged c-myc locus. Both cell lines were EBV-negative. Growth stimulation by autologous supernatant was observed for PC-53 cells during the first 4 months in culture, whereas it was much less evident for PC-53A cells. Thus, PC-53 and PC-53A cells represent a useful tool to investigate the mechanisms involved in the clonal expansion of B-cell precursors.

Adult↗

Ras oncogene mutation in multiple myeloma.

The frequency of ras (H-, K-, and N-ras) and c-myc oncogenes was investigated in multiple myeloma (MM). By means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/oligonucleotide hybridization method, DNA from 56 tumor biopsies was analyzed for the presence of activating mutations involving codons 12 and 61 of the H-, K-, and N-ras genes and codon 13 of the N-ras gene. Mutations, involving the N- or K-ras genes, were detected in 18 of 56 (32%) cases of which 12/43 (27%) were at diagnosis and 6/13 (46%) were after treatment. In some cases, multiple mutations affecting different ras alleles were detected. Direct nucleotide sequence analysis of PCR products indicated that a more heterogeneous nature of the base pair changes than previously shown for other tumors along with a preferential involvement of N-ras codon 61. The heterogeneity of MM cases with respect to the presence of ras oncogenes prompted an analysis of possible correlations with different clinico-pathologic characteristics of MM from which a correlation between the presence of ras oncogenes and a partial or complete lack of response to therapy emerged. The frequency of activating rearrangements or mutations of the c-myc gene were studied by Southern blot analysis and PCR sequencing, respectively. However, contrary to previous reports involving mostly MM cell lines, no structural alterations of the c-myc gene were found. These results indicate that ras, but not c-myc, oncogenes are activated in vivo in MM cells, representing the first oncogene alteration that has been associated at appreciable frequency with this type of malignancy. While the mechanism of occurrence and biological role of ras activation in MM remains to be elucidated, the preliminary correlations observed in this study between the presence of ras oncogenes and poor therapeutic response suggest that further investigations of the possible prognostic significance of these alterations are necessary.

Base Sequence↗

Transformation and plasmacytoid differentiation of EBV-infected human B lymphoblasts by ras oncogenes.

The biological effects of ras oncogene activation in B cells were studied by using amphotropic retroviral vectors to introduce H- or N-ras oncogenes into human B lymphoblasts immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus. Expression of both H- and N-ras oncogenes led to malignant transformation of these cells, as shown by clonogenicity in semisolid media and tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice. In addition, terminal differentiation into plasma cells was detectable as specific changes in morphology, immunoglobulin secretion, and cell surface antigen expression. This combined effect, promoting growth and differentiation in human lymphoblasts, represents a novel biological action of ras oncogenes and has implications for the pathogenesis of terminally differentiated B-lymphoid malignancies such as multiple myeloma.

Animals↗

Growth- and tumor-promoting effects of deregulated BCL2 in human B-lymphoblastoid cells.

Human follicular B-cell lymphomas possess a t(14;18) that translocates a putative protooncogene, BCL2, into the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. The normal BCL2 gene is quiescent in resting B cells, expressed in proliferating, but down-regulated in differentiated B cells. Inappropriately high levels of BCL2-immunoglobulin chimeric RNA are present in t(14;18) lymphomas for their mature B-cell stage. We examined the biologic effects of BCL2 deregulation in human B cells by introducing BCL2 into human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) with retroviral gene transfer. Although deregulated BCL2 expression as a single agent was not sufficient to confer tumorigenicity to LCLs, it consistently produced a 3- to 4-fold increment in LCL clonogenicity in soft agar. In addition, BCL2 deregulation complements the transforming effects of the MYC oncogene in LCLs. BCL2 augmented the clonogenicity of LCLs bearing exogenous MYC and increased the frequency and shortened the latency of tumor induction in immunodeficient mice. These results demonstrate a role for BCL2 as a protooncogene that affects B-cell growth and enhances B-cell neoplasia.

Animals↗

Advances in biology of multiple myeloma: cell kinetics, molecular biology and immunology.

Bone marrow plasma cell proliferative activity has been evaluated in a large series of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. This kinetic parameter has been shown to be a useful tool for patient management, and contributes to a correct diagnosis and a selection of high-risk patients who can be offered high-dose chemotherapy. The role of ras oncogenes has been evaluated in the pathogenesis of MM. A point-mutated and activated H-ras oncogene, introduced in a human lymphoblastoid cell line, was able to induce neoplastic transformation and differentiation to plasma cell. Indeed, mutated alleles of ras genes have been detected in a high percentage of myeloma patients in relapse phase. Phenotypical and functional studies have been carried out in T-lymphocyte subsets and an impaired cellular immunity has been detected. Such an impairment was related to the disease status: marked alterations were detected in relapse phase, whereas a partial recovery was observed during remission phase.

Cell Cycle↗

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor requires interaction with accessory cells or granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for full stimulation of human myeloid progenitors.

Human recombinant GM-CSF (rGM-CSF) was tested on highly purified and fractionated CFU-GM subsets. The fractionation was performed with the DS1-1 monoclonal antibody (MoAb), which distinguishes early and late CFU-GM. On whole bone marrow cells, rGM-CSF had a colony-stimulating activity comparable to that of known sources of CSFs, ie, the supernatant (SN) of TPA 30-1 or 5637 cell lines, used as control. A greatly reduced activity was observed when CFU-GM were depleted of phagocytizing and E rosetting cells (colony growth of 27% as compared with control). On fractionated CFU-GM, the rGM-CSF activity was even more reduced on both early and late progenitors (18% and 6% of colony growth, respectively). However, when rGM-CSF was used together with rG-CSF at suboptimal concentrations, the colony growth reached values analogous to that of control cultures. A synergistic interaction between rGM-CSF and rG-CSF in stimulating either early or late myeloid progenitors was observed. The results suggest that the activity of rGM-CSF on CFU-GM is mainly exerted through cooperation with accessory cells. r-G-CSF is one of the factors that can synergistically cooperate with r-GM-CSF in the myelopoietic stimulation.

Bone Marrow↗

Monoclonal antibody purging and autologous bone marrow transplantation in acute myelogenous leukemia in complete remission.

A mouse monoclonal antibody (S4-7) reacting with human myelomonocytic cells has been previously shown to be suitable for bone marrow purging in selected acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients with S4-7 positive leukemic clonogenic cells at diagnosis. The results obtained in seven AML patients who underwent such a treatment, followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), are now reported. Six patients underwent ABMT in first complete remission (CR), one in second CR, after BAVC conditioning regimen. One patient died of infection 1 month after ABMT; in the other six a complete recovery of hemopoiesis was observed. In spite of S4-7 reactivity with normal myelomonocytic cells, a prompt recovery of granulopoiesis was however observed both in in vitro liquid culture and in vivo with a median time of 20 days to reach granulocyte values of 500 x 10(6)/l. The patient transplanted in 2nd CR relapsed 3 months after ABMT. Of the five evaluable patients transplanted in 1st CR, two relapsed 8 and 9 months post-ABMT while three remain in continuous CR at 35, 47, 57 months. Leukemic cells of two of the three patients with recurrent disease were studied at relapse and in both could be detected a significant percentage of S4-7 negative cells, detectable neither at diagnosis nor (one patient) at the time of first relapse after standard chemotherapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Enhancement of methotrexate cytotoxicity by modulation of proliferative activity in normal and neoplastic T lymphocytes and in a myeloid leukemia cell line.

Recent advances in the modulation of cell kinetics with growth factors suggest that the effect of cycle-specific cytostatic drugs can be enhanced by combination with such factors. The truth of this hypothesis was investigated by studying the effect of phytohemagglutinin and/or interleukin 2 on the sensitivity to methotrexate (MTX) of normal T lymphocytes and of lymphoblasts of a patient with acute T-cell lymphoid leukemia. In both cases, inhibition of proliferation by MTX was increased from less than 30% in resting cells or those suboptimally stimulated, in the case of leukemic blasts, to 68-83% in maximally stimulated cells. Similar results were observed when the AML 193 human myeloid leukemia line was stimulated with human recombinant granulocyte macrophage colony stimulation factor (GM-CSF). Under basal proliferation conditions, the addition of 1 microgram/ml and 10 micrograms/ml MTX was followed by 48% and 72% inhibition respectively. When 1 ng/ml GM-CSF (40 I.U./ml) was present, these figures rose to 89% and 91%. It is thus clear that growth factor-induced cell proliferation increases sensitivity to cycle-specific cytostatic agents. There is thus a biological premise for new perspectives in antineoplastic therapy.

Cell Division↗