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Biomedical subjects

D V Faller

Publications and source records attributed to D V Faller.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Autocrine induction of major histocompatibility complex class I antigen expression results from induction of beta interferon in oncogene-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells.

By varying growth conditions, we identified a novel mechanism of autocrine regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene expression by induction of beta interferon gene expression in transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells. Low-serum conditions enhanced MHC class I antigen expression in v-rasKi- and v-mos-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells but not in untransformed BALB/c-3T3 cells. Transformed and untransformed cells grown under standard serum conditions (10% bovine calf serum) expressed similar cell surface levels of MHC class I antigens. However, low-serum conditions (0.5% bovine calf serum) induced four- to ninefold increases in cell surface levels of MHC class I antigens in both v-rasKi- and v-mos-transformed cells but not in untransformed cells. These increases in MHC class I gene expression were seen at both the mRNA and cell surface protein levels and involved not only the heavy-chain component of the class I antigens but also beta 2 microglobulin. Beta 1 interferon mRNA and beta interferon-inducible 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA were induced by growth under low-serum conditions in transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells, and antibodies to beta interferon blocked the induction of MHC class I antigen expression by serum deprivation in these cells. These results demonstrate that growth under low-serum conditions leads to induction of beta interferon expression in oncogene-transformed cells which then directly mediates autocrine enhancement of MHC class I gene expression.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

Sodium butyrate enhances fetal globin gene expression in erythroid progenitors of patients with Hb SS and beta thalassemia.

Increasing the expression of the gamma globin genes is considered a useful therapeutic approach to the beta globin diseases. Because butyrate and alpha-amino-n-butyric acid (ABA) augment gamma globin expression in normal neonatal and adult erythroid progenitors, we investigated the effects of sodium butyrate and ABA on erythroid progenitors of patients with beta thalassemia and sickle cell anemia who might benefit from such an effect. Both substances increased fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) expression in Bfu-e from 7% to 30% above levels found in control cultures from the same subjects with sickle cell anemia. The fraction of cultured erythroblasts producing Hb F increased more than 20% with sodium butyrate treatment in 70% of cultures. In most cultures, this produced greater than 20% total Hb F and greater than 70% F cells, levels which have been considered beneficial in ameliorating clinical symptoms. Alpha: non-alpha (alpha-non-alpha) imbalance was decreased by 36% in erythroid progenitors of patients with beta thalassemia cultured in the presence of butyrate compared with control cultures from the same subjects. These data suggest that sodium butyrate may have therapeutic potential for increasing gamma globin expression in the beta globin diseases.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Hematopoietic hormones: from cloning to clinic.

In order to maintain adequate circulating numbers of blood cells, the bone marrow must produce billions of cells each day and must be able to rapidly increase production by 10-20-fold in response to infection and hemorrhage. The existence of circulating factors that regulate this process has been suspected for over 100 years. Recently, the genes encoding these growth factors were cloned and their functions are now identified. Interleukin-3 (IL-3) acts on the most primitive hematopoietic stem cell, driving this self-renewing cell to produce progeny of all hematopoietic lineages. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulates the granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell, as well as cells committed to the erythroid lineage, to differentiate. G-CSF and M-CSF stimulate the most differentiated myeloid progenitors to produce granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages, respectively. Erythropoietin stimulates the differentiation of late erythroid progenitors. In the lymphoid progenitor lineage, IL-2 stimulates T cell differentiation; IL-4 and IL-6 stimulate differentiation of B cells. The colony-stimulating factors also enhance function and cause activation of the mature cells whose production they induce. In clinical trials, these hormones have successfully ameliorated anemia in renal failure, chronic disease, and in prematurity. They have improved pancytopenias in aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and congenital cytopenias, and they have hastened recovery from chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Immortalization of murine connective tissue-type mast cells at multiple stages of their differentiation by coculture of splenocytes with fibroblasts that produce Kirsten sarcoma virus.

Mature connective tissue mast cells (CTMC) have not been previously available as a cell line from any species. Here we describe 15 novel mast cell lines (KiSV-MC) that were derived by coculturing murine splenocytes with fibroblasts that produce a Ki-ras-containing murine sarcoma virus. Some of the KiSV-MC lines are similar to CTMC in that they synthesize predominantly heparin proteoglycans, and contain up to 35 micrograms of histamine and 2.2 units of carboxypeptidase A/10(6) cells in secretory granules which stain red with Safranin. Other cell lines display phenotypic characteristics intermediate to CTMC and mucosal-like mast cells in being predominantly Safranin-, having lower amounts of histamine and carboxypeptidase A, and in synthesizing chondroitin sulfate E proteoglycans in preference to heparin proteoglycans. When the individual KiSV-MC lines were compared, a linear relationship was found between the number of Safranin+ granules, the cellular contents of histamine and carboxypeptidase A, and the biosynthesis of heparin relative to chondroitin sulfate E proteoglycans. Upon sensitization with monoclonal IgE and exposure to hapten-specific antigen, the cells exocytose the contents of their secretory granules. Thus, these immortalized cells provide the first source of CTMC-like lines for chemical and functional analysis and illustrate that murine mast cells can express a continuum of phenotypes.

Animals↗

A physiological delay in human fetal hemoglobin switching is associated with specific globin DNA hypomethylation.

The human fetal-to-adult globin switch normally occurs on a fixed schedule, beginning at 32-34 weeks gestation, and recent studies have suggested an association between this developmental inactivation of the fetal (gamma) globin genes and the appearance of methylation within and around these genes. We have studied a population of infants in whom this switch does not occur before birth (infants of diabetic mothers, IDM) and examined the patterns of methylation surrounding their active gamma-globin genes, in comparison to the gamma-globin genes of age-matched controls who have switched their pattern of globin gene expression on schedule. All genomic DNA samples from infants with delays in the globin switch demonstrated extensive hypomethylation in the region of the gamma-globin genes, comparable to that found in the genomes of fetuses of less than 21 weeks gestation. DNA from the erythroid cells of infants of 32-40 weeks gestation had no detectable hypomethylation in the gamma-globin region. These findings support the concept that hypomethylation is an accurate developmental marker of globin gene switching, and suggest that globin gene expression in IDM may be arrested at an early preswitch stage.

Adult↗

Mechanism of induction of class I major histocompatibility antigen expression by murine leukemia virus.

Alterations in expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on tumor cells clearly correlate with the tumorgenicity and metastatic potential of those cells. These changes in the biological behavior of the tumor cells are presumably secondary to resulting changes in their susceptibility to immune recognition and destruction. Murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) exert regulatory effects on class I genes of the MHC locus. MuLV infection results in substantial increases in cell surface expression of all three class I MHC antigens. These viral effects on MHC antigen expression profoundly influence immune-mediated interaction with the infected cells, as assessed by cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition and killing. Control of class I MHC and beta-2 microglobulin genes by MuLV takes place via a trans-acting molecular mechanism. MuLV controls expression of widely separated endogenous cellular MHC genes, transfected xenogeneic class I MHC genes, and unintegrated chimeric genes consisting of fragments of class I MHC genes linked to a bacterial reporter gene. These findings indicate that MuLV exerts its effects on MHC expression via a trans mechanism. The MuLV-responsive sequences on the MHC genes appear to lie within 1.2 kilobases upstream of the initiation codon for those genes.

Animals↗

Immortalization of human endothelial cells by murine sarcoma viruses, without morphologic transformation.

Amphotropic murine leukemia virus pseudotypes of murine sarcoma viruses containing the ras or mos oncogenes were constructed to permit efficient introduction of the sarcoma virus genome into early-passage human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The resulting cell lines were morphologically and phenotypically unchanged, retaining properties characteristic of differentiated endothelial cells. For example, the cells in a Kirsten sarcoma virus-modified line were found to biosynthesize and secrete von Willebrand factor in both a constitutive and regulated manner, and they contained ultrastructurally identifiable Weibel-Palade bodies, an endothelial cell-specific organelle. In contrast to the parent cultures, sarcoma virus-modified cells were able to proliferate indefinitely in culture. Examination of both Kirsten sarcoma and Moloney leukemia virus-modified lines indicated that the immortalized cells retained a diploid female karyotype after over 18 months in culture. In addition, the sarcoma virus-modified cells were able to grow independently of added endothelial cell growth factor. This growth factor autonomy does not appear to be due to autocrine production of a biologically cross-reactive growth factor. These immortal, virus-modified endothelial cells express large amounts of sarcoma virus-specific mRNA but no detectable helper virus or transforming virus activity. This technique for immortalization of primary human cells without alteration of the differentiated characteristics of the cell type is readily applied to a variety of human cell types. Moreover, the ability to separate the immortalizing and transforming activities of viral oncogenes should provide further understanding as to mechanisms of oncogene action.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is involved in the cytolytic T lymphocyte interaction with a human synovial cell line.

The cell surface molecules involved in the human cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL)-synovial cell interaction may play an important role in T cell interactions with connective tissue mesenchymal cells. To examine the molecular basis for the CTL-synovial cell interaction, we immortalized synovial cell explants to establish the cell line SYN.SPP. The SYN.SPP cell line was compared to the established B lymphoblastoid cell line JY. Cell surface immunofluorescence demonstrated significantly different levels of the immunologically relevant cell surface molecules ICAM-1 and LFA-3. Both cell lines were used to stimulate CTL precursors. After several months in culture, CTL lines stimulated by the SYN.SPP and JY cell lines demonstrated HLA class I-directed cytolytic activity. The cell surface molecules utilized by the anti-SYN.SPP and anti-JY CTL lines were identified by monoclonal antibody (MAb) inhibition. MAb recognizing the CTL cell surface molecules CD3, CD8 and LFA-1 (CD11a) significantly inhibited CTL-mediated lysis of both target cells. An interesting observation was that the anti-SYN.SPP CTL line appeared to utilize the ICAM-1 and not the LFA-3 target cell molecule. In contrast, the anti-JY CTL line utilized the LFA-3 and not the ICAM-1 membrane molecule. These results indicate that CTL interactions with connective tissue mesenchymal cells may be regulated by a unique pattern of antigen nonspecific cell-cell interaction molecules.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Relative contribution of the leukocyte molecules Mo1, LFA-1, and p150,95 (LeuM5) in adhesion of granulocytes and monocytes to vascular endothelium is tissue- and stimulus-specific.

Adhesion of human monocytes and granulocytes to vascular endothelium plays an important role in migration of these cells to inflammatory sites in tissues. A family of three human leukocyte heterodimeric surface molecules named Mo1, LFA-1, and p150,95 (LeuM5) has been shown to mediate leukocyte adhesion to confluent monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVE). The relative contribution of each of the three molecules in leukocyte endothelial adhesion was studied using a variety of stimuli. Purified human granulocytes and monocytes were radiolabelled and incubated with HUVE for 45 minutes in a 37 degrees C humidified 5% CO2 incubator in the presence or absence of subunit-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Adhesion was assessed by quantitation of endothelial cell-associated radioactivity and confirmed by microscopic evaluation. MAbs directed against the alpha subunit of LFA-1 as well as to the beta subunit common to all three antigens significantly inhibited unstimulated monocyte adhesion to HUVE. Small but significant inhibiton was also observed using MAbs directed against Mo1a and p150. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced grranulocyte adhesion to HUVE was significantly inhibited by anti-Mo1a and anti-beta, but not by anti-LFA-1a or anti-p150. When HUVE were prestimulated by recombinant IL-1, a different pattern of antigen utilization by granulocytes was observed. MAbs directed against each of the three alpha subunits as well as the common beta subunit all inhibited granulocyte adhesion to HUVE. Furthermore the effect of the three anti-alpha subunit MAbs on granulocyte-HUVE adhesion was additive. These studies show that relative contribution of Mo1, LFA-1, and p150,95 to leukocyte endothelial adhesion varies depending on the cell type and the stimulus used. These studies also reveal a novel role for p150,95 in promoting monocyte and granulocyte adhesion to HUVE.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The role of CD18 in phorbol ester-induced human monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity.

Monocyte cell surface molecules play an important role in the regulation of monocyte function. To investigate the molecular basis of monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity, we tested the ability of a variety of mediators to stimulate human monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Phorbol myristic acetate (PMA) stimulated significant monocyte-mediated killing of tumor cells in an 18-hr indium-111 release assay. Five other cytoactive substances did not induce monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. The acquisition of monocyte cytotoxicity was associated with nearly a twofold increase in surface expression of three CD18-bearing cell surface molecules (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c). The direct involvement of the CD18-bearing molecules in monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was investigated using monoclonal antibody (MAb) inhibition. MAb recognizing the CD18 subunit significantly inhibited monocyte-mediated killing. The inhibition by anti-CD18 MAb could not be attributed to LFA-1 (CD11a) alone, suggesting that CR3 (CD11b) and p150,95 (CD11c) may also participate in monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. In contrast, seven of eight other cell surface structures were not affected by PMA treatment, and MAb to all eight cell surface structures did not inhibit killing. These findings suggest that CD18-bearing molecules are upregulated with monocyte activation and may play a functional role in monocyte-mediated killing.

Animals↗

T cell hybridomas define the class II MHC-restricted response to vesicular stomatitis virus infection.

T cell hybridomas with specificity for VSV (vesicular stomatitis virus)-infected cells were generated in an attempt to better define the la-restricted helper T cell response to VSV. The hybridomas were created by fusing BALB/c (H-2d) anti-VSV immune spleen cells to the murine thymoma BW 5147. These hybridomas produce IL-2 when stimulated with VSV-infected spleen cells. They were found to recognize viral antigens in association with I-Ad and, in addition, could also be stimulated by VSV-infected A20 cells (an Ia-positive B cell lymphoma of H-2d origin). The purified viral membrane glycoprotein, G protein, and Gs (secreted G protein that lacks the hydrophobic and intracytoplasmic domains) both stimulated IL-2 production when added to cultures of A20 and the hybridomas. These hybridomas therefore recognize a viral antigenic determinant on G protein. Since chemically-fixed antigen-presenting cells fail to stimulate the hybridomas after exogenous addition of purified G protein we can conclude that these T cell hybridomas recognize a processed form of the G protein. Stimulator cells created by expression in A20 of a transfected cDNA encoding G protein were also recognized. Recognition in this case was I-Ad-restricted, as anti-I-Ad monoclonal antibodies blocked stimulation, and an Ia-negative cell (P815) expressing a transfected G protein gene failed to stimulate the hybridomas. Even after paraformaldehyde fixation, G gene-transfected, Ia-positive cells could stimulate the hybridomas, suggesting that processing of this endogenously-synthesized antigen has occurred.

Animals↗

Butyrate infusions in the ovine fetus delay the biologic clock for globin gene switching.

The switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin expression is regulated in many mammalian species by a developmental clock-like mechanism and determined by the gestational age of the fetus. Prolonging fetal globin gene expression is of considerable interest for therapeutic potential in diseases caused by abnormal beta-globin genes. Butyric acid, which is found in increased plasma concentrations in infants of diabetic mothers who have delayed globin gene switching, was infused into catheterized fetal lambs in utero during the time of the normal globin gene switch period. The globin gene switch was significantly delayed in three of four butyrate-treated fetuses compared with controls and was entirely prevented in one fetus in whom the infusion was begun before the globin switch was under way. These data provide a model for investigating and arresting the biologic clock of hemoglobin switching.

Animals↗

Increased expression of CD4 molecules on Jurkat cells mediated by human immunodeficiency virus tat protein.

The tat gene of the human immunodeficiency virus, tat-III, when introduced into T-lymphoblastoid Jurkat cells by a Moloney retroviral recombinant DNA vector expressed high levels of the functional tat protein as measured by the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay. Immunofluorescence analysis with CD4-specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that the cell surface levels of the CD4 antigen were increased by 5- to 10-fold in the tat-III-infected Jurkat cells. Cellular cytoplasmic RNA analysis indicated that the enhanced CD4 expression was mediated at the mRNA level. Our findings suggest that the single expression of the human immunodeficiency virus tat protein in the absence of the other viral proteins causes an upregulation of CD4 gene expression on helper T cells, although infection of these cells by the virus, thus expressing all the viral gene products including tat, is known to downregulate CD4 antigen expression.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I infection of CD4+ or CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell clones results in immortalization with retention of antigen specificity.

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is capable of chronically infecting various types of T cells and nonlymphoid cells. The effects of chronic infection on the specific functional activities and growth requirements of mature cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have remained poorly defined. We have, therefore, investigated the results of HTLV-I infection of both CD4+ and CD8+ human CTL clones. HTLV-I infection resulted in the establishment of functional CTL lines which propagated indefinitely in culture many months longer than the uninfected parental clone. The infected cells became independent of the need for antigen (target cell) stimulation as a requirement for proliferation and growth. Like their uninfected counterparts, however, these HTLV-I-infected clones remained strictly dependent on conditioned medium from mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes for their growth. This growth factor requirement was not fulfilled by recombinant interleukin-2 alone. Furthermore, the infected lines remained functionally identical to their uninfected parental CTL clones in their ability to specifically recognize and lyse the appropriate target cells. Our findings indicate that the major effects of HTLV-I infection on mature CTL consist of (i) the capacity for proliferation in the absence of antigen stimulation and (ii) a prolonged or immortal survival in vitro, but they also indicate that the fine specificity and cytolytic capacity of these cells remain unaffected.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

P21 v-ras inhibits induction of c-myc and c-fos expression by platelet-derived growth factor.

The viral oncogene v-ras inhibited the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced upregulation of c-myc and c-fos proto-oncogene expression in fibroblast monolayers. These v-ras-containing cells proliferated in the absence of c-myc induction and no longer required PDGF to support growth. Fibroblasts expressing v-ras continued to express the same number of functional PDGF receptors on their surface as uninfected cells, yet the usual induction of transcription of the genes c-myc, c-fos, and JE in response to PDGF stimulation did not occur in the presence of newly introduced v-ras or chronic v-ras gene expression, and synthesis of c-myc protein did not occur. This inhibitory effect on growth factor-mediated induction of cellular proto-oncogenes was specific for PDGF in that induction of the c-myc and c-fos genes by certain other factors was not impaired.

Animals↗

Endothelial cells synthesize basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor beta.

Endothelial cells, including human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC), and bovine capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) in culture synthesize basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta). Basic FGF was cell-associated and synthesis was demonstrated by (i) the presence of bFGF mRNA species, (ii) binding to heparin-Sepharose and elution at 1.5 M NaCl, (iii) cross-reactivity with anti-bFGF antibodies when analyzed by electrophoretic blotting, and (iv) biological activity. Basic FGF was found in cell lysates at 2.3 ng/10(6) cells in HUVEC, 2.0 ng/10(6) cells in BCEC, and 13 ng/10(6) cells in BAEC. TGF-beta was secreted into media, and synthesis was demonstrated by (i) presence of TGF-beta mRNA species, (ii) cross-reactivity with anti-TGF-beta antibodies when analyzed by immunoprecipitation, (iii) competitive binding with authentic human platelet-derived TGF-beta that was blocked by TGF-beta specific blocking antibodies, and (iv) inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation in CCl-64 cells. TGF-beta was secreted in an inactive form and required acid activation for detection. HUVEC synthesized 2.0 ng TGF-beta/10(6) cells per 12 hr; BCEC, 3.5 ng; and BAEC, 3.5 ng. HUVEC proliferation was not affected by treatment with exogenous TGF-beta, while BCEC proliferation was decreased by treatment with TGF-beta. Vascular endothelium is thus a source for these two potent multifunctional regulatory molecules, both of which may affect the growth of endothelium and neighboring fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and white blood cells. The activation or release of these factors by endothelium may be a precipitating event in important cellular processes such as wound healing, organogenesis, and angiogenesis.

Animals↗

Interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, and the production of colony-stimulating factors by cultured mesenchymal cells.

Although the genes for four hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) have been cloned, neither the mechanism of the regulation of their production nor their cellular origins have been established with certainty. Monocytes are known to produce colony-stimulating and burst-promoting activities, as well as several monokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). These monokines indirectly stimulate other mesenchymal cells to produce certain colony-stimulating factors such as granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF). To determine whether monocytes produce other CSFs and if so, to compare the mechanism of regulation of production with that of endothelial cells and fibroblasts, we investigated the synthesis of CSFs by monocytes, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. We used total cellular RNA blot analysis to determine interleukin-3 (IL-3), GM-CSF, granulocyte CSF (G-CSF), and monocyte CSF (M-CSF) messenger RNA (mRNA) content and immunoprecipitation or bioassay to confirm the presence of the specific secreted proteins. The results indicate that M-CSF mRNA and protein are produced constitutively by all three cell types and their level of expression does not increase after induction. In contrast, GM-CSF and G-CSF mRNAs are barely detectable in uninduced monocytes and show an increase in expression after lipopolysaccharide treatment. Retrovirus-immortalized endothelial cells, unlike primary endothelial cells or both primary and immortalized fibroblasts, produce IL-1 constitutively; this correlates with their constitutive production of GM-CSF and G-CSF. IL-3 mRNA was not detectable in any of these cells either before or after induction. The results indicate that these mesenchymal cells can produce three CSFs: GM-CSF, G-CSF, and M-CSF; furthermore, the data suggest that the mechanism of regulation of M-CSF production is different from that of GM-CSF and G-CSF, and that the latter two inducible CSFs are regulated by different factors in monocytes compared with the other mesenchymal cells.

Adult↗