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Biomedical subjects

F Herrmann

Publications and source records attributed to F Herrmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Detection of allele-specific expression of N-RAS oncogenes in human leukaemia cells.

We report analysis of allele-specific expression of N-RAS transcripts in myeloid leukaemic cells and cell lines. Expression was assessed by an assay of reverse-transcription/PCR combined with differential hybridization with mutation-specific oligonucleotides. In cells from all patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and in myeloid cell lines HL-60 and THP-1, expression of both the wild-type allele and the abnormal allele altered by a point mutation could be detected, albeit not always at comparable levels. This might be due for instance to allelic exclusion. The assay described provides a means of analysing the degree of expression of dominant oncogenes.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

High levels of circulating soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor in hairy cell leukemia and type B chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The presence of soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) binding proteins (BP) was investigated in the sera of healthy volunteer blood donors and cancer patients. Two distinct types of TNFBP, types A and B, which are immunologically related to the cellular 75-kD TNF receptor (TNFR) and the cellular 55-kD TNFR, respectively, were assessed by immunoassays using nonblocking anti-receptor antibodies and 125I-recombinant human TNF alpha. As compared to the titers observed in 25 healthy controls, TNFBP types A and B titers were found to be elevated in almost all sera obtained from patients with underlying malignant disease. The highest amounts of TNFBP were seen in the sera of patients with B cell malignancies including hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and type B chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Treatment of HCL patients with recombinant human interferon-alpha was associated with decrease of circulating TNFBP.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Elevated circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor predict unresponsiveness to treatment with interferon alfa-2b in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

PURPOSE: The study was undertaken to analyze circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels in patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) undergoing interferon (IFN) alfa-2b therapy, and to correlate pretreatment serum levels of TNF with response to IFN alfa-2b therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with CML in chronic phase were treated with recombinant human IFN alfa-2b for 7 to 39 months. RESULTS: In eight patients IFN alfa-2b treatment failed due to lack of hematologic response. A complete or partial hematologic remission was achieved in the remaining six patients, of whom two patients experienced a complete cytogenetic response. Retrospective analysis of serum samples obtained from all patients before the onset of IFN alfa-2b administration revealed that levels (mean +/- SEM) of circulating TNF were higher (P less than .001) in the group of patients who did not respond to IFN alfa-2b treatment (157 +/- 15 U/mL) than in the responders (10.3 +/- 4 U/mL) or healthy control subjects (9.1 +/- 3 U/mL). However, there was no correlation between TNF serum levels and other patient characteristics at study enrollment including age, sex, duration of disease, performance status, splenomegaly, WBC count, platelet count, hemoglobin value, prior therapy, and prognostic category. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that circulating levels of TNF are increased in a subset of patients with chronic-phase CML and that this elevation is associated with poor response to IFN alfa-2b therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Combination of interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha in renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma: a phase II clinical trial.

A total of 22 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma were treated in a phase II study to assess the safety and efficacy of combination therapy of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). 3 x 10(6) U/m2/day recombinant human (rh)IL-2 was given in repetitive cycles by continuous 24-h infusion from day 1 to day 4; 6 x 10(6) U/m2/day rhIFN-alpha was given subcutaneously on days 1 and 4. There was one complete remission and two partial remissions in the renal cell carcinoma group and two partial remissions in the malignant melanoma group, giving an overall response rate of 24% in 21 evaluable patients with a median response duration of 5+ months. Toxicity was moderate, with hypotension, fever, chills, nausea, neurotoxicity, and dermatitis as prominent side effects. Measurement of circulating cytokine levels showed increased serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interferon-tau, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels during each cycle with a tendency to higher concentrations of TNF in responders as compared to nonresponders. With regard to therapeutic efficacy and tolerance, our approach might represent an alternative to the high-dose protocols and the labor- and cost-intensive strategies of adoptive immunotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The behavior of trypsin-like proteases in sulcus fluid].

The present study shows results aimed at determining whether levels of a trypsin-like protease in gingival crevicular fluid are associated with disease activity as assessed by the level of gingival inflammation and probing attachment loss. Maximum enzyme level was significantly elevated by groups with gingival inflammation and periodontal destruction. In a long-time study we find a decrease of enzyme activity with clinical therapy by scaling and root planning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Hemolytic disease of the newborn due to ABO incompatibility. A predictive test].

A direct 2 stage enzymatic test and the direct anti gamma globulin test were used to predict hemolytic disease of the newborn. Maternal allo-antibodies were determined in cord blood of all newborns from April to June 1988. 0.25% bromelase was used for the 2 Stage Enzymatic Test and a polyspecific anti-gammaglobulin serum was used for the Anti Gamma Globulin Test. Of 618 newborns 97 had parental ABO heterospecificity. Maternal allo-antibodies were present in 20 cases (3.2%). 20 of 86 fullterm newborns developed jaundice presumably due to ABO incompatibility. Blood exchange was required in 6, while phototherapy was sufficient in the rest. The 2 Stage Enzymatic Test was positive in 20 of these cases and the Anti Gamma Globulin Test was positive in 10. Thus, these tests may be used to predict hemolytic disease of the newborn due to ABO incompatibility.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1992

Hematopoietins in combination with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine: a possible strategy for improved treatment of myeloid disorders.

Inhibitors of DNA synthesis, such as 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, have been proven useful in the management of acute myelogenous leukemia. Despite significant improvement of response rates, long-term disease-free survival can be presently achieved only in a small percentage of patients. As S-phase--specific drugs, such as the inhibitors of DNA synthesis, only reach the cycling part of their target populations, dormant cells are left mainly unaffected. Their survival, however, is largely responsible for later disease relapse. This paper reports experiments that show that cell kinetic manipulations by hematopoietic growth factors may help to overcome the problem of cytokinetic and pharmacologic resistance. Hematopoietic growth factors synergize with inhibitors of DNA synthesis given at low doses to induce a more mature phenotype or to enhance leukemia cell kill when combined with high doses of DNA inhibitors. In addition, we present data to unravel several aspects of the molecular mechanism underlying this synergism.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Effect of antiinflammatory agents on synthesis of MCP-1/JE transcripts by human blood monocytes.

The human monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 encoded by the JE gene belongs to a family of low molecular weight secretory cytokines with monocyte-stimulating activity. JE transcripts are constitutively synthesized by normal and leukemic monocytes, as well as mesenchymal cells, including fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. Expression of MCP-1/JE is increased severalfold upon exposure of cells to recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor but is down-regulated when cells are treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Given the proinflammatory properties of MCP-1/JE, we have examined the modulatory effects of various antiinflammatory agents, including indomethacin, dexamethasone, cyclosporin A, and interleukin-4, on levels of MCP-1/JE transcripts either constitutively or inducibly expressed by human peripheral blood monocytes. Whereas indomethacin had no detectable effect on synthesis of MCP-1/JE transcripts and interleukin-4 treatment resulted in only a modest increase in steady state JE mRNA levels, exposure of monocytes to dexamethasone (DXS) led to a significant (2.5-10-fold) down-regulation of MCP-1/JE transcript levels. Studies examining the mechanism of down-regulation of JE mRNA by DXS indicated that DXS was acting transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally, by reducing the transcriptional rate of the MCP-1/JE gene and by destabilizing JE mRNA, a process requiring de novo RNA and protein synthesis. Although cyclosporin A by itself had no effect on synthesis of JE transcripts, it apparently relieved LPS-mediated down-regulation of JE transcript levels, by interfering with the destabilizing effect of LPS on JE mRNA. These results may provide new information regarding the action of antiinflammatory agents on synthesis of endogenous proinflammatory cytokines.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1992

Activation of NF-kappa B by interleukin 2 in human blood monocytes.

We report here that interleukin 2 (IL-2) acts on human blood monocytes by enhancing binding activity of the transcription factor NF-kappa B to its consensus sequence in the 5' regulatory enhancer region of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain (p55). Similarly, IL-2 activates NF-kappa B in the human monocytic cell line U 937, but not in resting human T-cells. This effect is detectable within 15 min and peaks 1 h after exposure to IL-2. Enhanced NF-kappa B binding activity is followed by functional activation in that inducibility of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain is mediated by enhanced NF-kappa B binding and that a heterologous promoter containing the NF-kappa B consensus sequence (-291 to -245) of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain gene is activated. In addition, IL-2 is capable of increasing transcript levels of the p50 gene coding for the p50 subunit of the NF-kappa B transcription factor, whereas mRNA levels of the p65 NF-kappa B gene remained unchanged.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of N-ras mutations in children with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia.

The ras proto-oncogene family encodes a group of 21 kDa nucleotide-binding proteins. Activating mutations of ras genes are associated with certain types of malignancies, indicating that they are related in some way to the malignant process. We have examined bone marrow cells from nine children with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and 35 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for activating point mutations of ras genes by in vitro amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), oligonucleotide hybridization and sequencing of PCR products. We found N-ras mutations in cells from 3 of 9 children (33%) with MDS and only 2 of 35 children with AML (6%; 95% confidence interval is 0.7-19%). All mutations the second nucleotide of codon 12 or the first nucleotide of codon 61 of N-ras. There was no apparent correlation with clinical or laboratory characteristics, including karyotype; however, an association of N-ras activation with the most aggressive type of MDS was noted. Among the patients with MDS, 2 of 6 with monosomy 7 had N-ras mutations; however, three children with monosomy 7 which presented with AML lacked ras mutations. One patient was studied at time of diagnosis of MDS and again after progression to AML. At the preleukemic stage of disease, an N-ras mutation was identified; however, after development of AML this mutation was not present in the leukemic clone. In conclusion, these data show that ras mutations, while not necessary for leukemic transformation, may be important for the initiation of preleukemias evolving into overt AML.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Activation of the transcription factor kappa B in human KG-1 myeloid leukemia cells treated with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine.

The present studies have examined the effects of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) on activation of the transcription factor kappa B (NF-kappa B). The results demonstrate that treatment of human KG-1 myeloid leukemia cells with ara-C is associated with induction of protein binding to the NF-kappa B consensus sequence. NF-kappa B binding was activated at 30 min and reached maximal levels of binding at 1-2 hr of ara-C treatment. The NF-kappa B consensus sequence was ligated to the heterologous thymidine kinase (TK) promoter and the human growth hormone (GH) reporter gene to determine whether ara-C-induced NF-kappa B activity includes an enhancer function. Ara-C treatment had little effect on transient expression of pTKGH in KG-1 cells but increased transcription of the p (NF-kappa B) TKGH vector by 8-fold. The results also demonstrate that ara-C transiently increases NF-kappa B mRNA levels. However, the finding that ara-C-induced binding of NF-kappa B to DNA occurs in the presence of cycloheximide indicates that this agent activates preexisting NF-kappa B protein. These results suggest that ara-C induces a cytoplasmic pathway that transduces signals to the nucleus by activation of NF-kappa B.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Interferon-gamma interrupts autocrine growth mediated by endogenous interleukin-6 in renal-cell carcinoma.

Cells of the renal-cell carcinoma line ACHN constitutively produce IL-6, express the IL-6 receptor and use IL-6 in an autocrine fashion to augment their growth. Growth arrest of ACHN cells can be achieved by exposure of cells to neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) to recombinant human (rh) IL-6. Treatment of ACHN cells with rh IFN-gamma also leads to inhibition of proliferation of these cells in a dose-dependent manner, that can be reversed by exogenous rh IL-6, while IFN-alpha, IL-2, IL-4 and vinblastine or 17-beta-estradiol has no effect on growth (3H-thymidine uptake) of ACHN cells and IL-6 expression. Studies on the mechanism of action of IFN-gamma revealed that IFN-gamma was acting by inhibiting the autocrine IL-6-mediated loop generated by ACHN.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1991

Induction of multiple-drug resistance during anti-neoplastic chemotherapy in vitro.

Induction of P-glycoprotein-related multi-drug-resistance (MDR) has been shown in normal and malignant tissues to result from environmental stresses such as heat shock, exposure to carcinogens or X-ray irradiation. To identify conditions under which MDR is enhanced during anti-neoplastic chemotherapy, a cell line showing low-level intrinsic MDR was investigated. In the pleural mesothelioma cell line, PXF1118, less than 1% of cells expressed P-glycoprotein (P-gp), as shown by immunocytochemical staining with monoclonal antibody (MAb) MRK16. Exposure of PXF1118 to vincristine, vindesine, vinblastine or doxorubicin for 2-3 weeks led to an increase in the MDR cell fraction of up to 15-28% during 2 to 3 weeks. For doxorubicin and vindesine, dose-dependence was observed: drug concentrations not capable of eliciting cytotoxicity failed to induce significant P-gp expression. Nutrient starvation in aging medium, exposure to activated cyclophosphamide (even at high concentrations) or cisplatin caused only negligible MDR induction. After exposure to vindesine for 6 weeks, tumor colonies exhibited highly enhanced resistance to Vinca alkaloids, doxorubicin, etoposide and dacarbacine, whereas their sensitivity to mitomycin, activated cyclophosphamide or cisplatin remained unchanged. As determined by [3H]-thymidine uptake and proliferation antigen expression, induction of MDR phenotype was observed at minimal proliferative activity with no change in cell count during exposure to anti-cancer drugs, thus suggesting that the drug treatments changed the phenotype of the cells rather than selecting for a resistant sub-population. In addition, changes in cell differentiation were observed during MDR induction. Induction of P-gp during exposure to anti-cancer drugs thus provides a model for MDR development during initially successful chemotherapy. of P-gp during exposure to anti-cancer drugs thus provides

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Interleukin-4 inhibits growth of multiple myelomas by suppressing interleukin-6 expression.

Unfractionated bone marrow (BM) cells obtained from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) exhibit high levels of interleukin (IL)-6. Secretion of IL-6 by these cells as well as spontaneous plasma cell proliferation can be abrogated by neutralizing anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (MoAb). Treatment of BM cells with recombinant human (rh)IL-4 at doses of 50 to 250 U/mL blocked endogenous IL-6 synthesis in a dose-dependent fashion and was associated with significant reduction of plasma cell growth that could be reversed by exogenous rhIL-6. Enrichment of BM cells from MM patients for plasma cells and adherent cells and analysis of IL-6 mRNA in these subpopulations by means of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that adherent BM cells accounted for most of the synthesis of IL-6 transcripts, whereas plasma cells displayed negligible levels of IL-6 mRNA only. These results suggest therapeutic evaluation of rhIL-4 in patients with plasma cell neoplasms.

Base Sequence↗