Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Lanza.
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Using appropriate standards immune flow cytometry permits quantitative analysis of the expression levels of cellular antigens. This information can be gained on an absolute basis and reported in terms of numbers of molecules per cell. This offers clues for reaching time-to-time and lab-to-lab comparability of immuno-fluorescence data. After briefly reminding the characteristics of available standards this paper provides an overview of the main relevant candidate molecules for flow cytometric quantitation on hemopoietic cells and reviews the major fields of application in immuno-hematology.
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Platelets are activated by contact with vascular lesions in high flow arteries and are involved in the development of thrombosis, atherosclerosis and the complications of transluminal angioplasty. Hence platelets are one the targets of pharmacological intervention in the prevention and treatment of arterial thrombosis. Understanding of the mechanisms of activation of platelet has enabled the development of new antiplatelet agents and the improvement of their therapeutic usage. The most recent clinical drugs and those currently under development belong to two main families: antagonists of the membrane receptors of activation coupled to signal transducting G proteins which fix circulating stimuli such as ADP, thrombin and TXA2 and inhibitors of the binding of adhesive proteins such as fibrinogen to the GPIIb-IIIa integrin or of von Willebrand factor to the leucine-rich glycoprotein complex GPIb-V-IX.
We evaluated the effect of flow cytometer photomultiplier (PMT) voltage setting on molecular equivalents of soluble fluorochrome (MESF) calculation by using two different quantitative microbead calibrating kits as calibrating standards and a third one as an unknown testing sample of stable intensity of fluorescence. Based on the analysis of residual values derived from linear regression and on the determinations of the resolution index, we demonstrated that, on a FACScan instrument, the window of photomultiplier setting for fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorescence determinations is 590-670 V. However, the best region was in the range of 610-650 V. Within the 590-670 PMT voltage region, the evaluation of the same testing sample at different PMT voltages, at 590 V, gave MESF percentage differences of 15% and 13% on the two lower unknown standards of intensity compared to the values obtained at the nearby 630 V setting. In the analyzed PMT region, logarithmic amplifier response was globally maintained, whereas evaluation of the same unknown testing sample in both linear (Lin) and logarithmic (Log) amplification demonstrated (at the higher intensities of fluorescence) Log-Lin minimal differences within the 610-650 PMT voltage range. According to our data, it can be stated that PMT voltages between 610 and 650 provide the best instrument performances and that PMT setting may be proposed as a source of variability in MESF calculation that deserves a careful evaluation in quality-control trials.
The glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex comprises four polypeptides: the subunits of the GP Ib-IX complex (GP Ib alpha, GP Ib beta, GP IX) and GP V. To determine the requirements for cell-surface expression of GPV, we transiently expressed the recombinant polypeptide in wild-type Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by cotransfection with plasmids for the subunits of the GP Ib-IX complex and in CHO cells that stably express different combinations of the GP Ib-IX complex subunits. Glycoprotein V expressed alone was detectable on the cell surface, and the level was not augmented by cotransfection with any one of the subunits of the GP Ib-IX complex. However, when GP V was expressed in cells that stably express combinations of GP Ib-IX complex subunits, its expression on the cell surface was greater in all the cell lines that contained GP Ib alpha than in wild-type CHO cells. That GP V associates with GP Ib alpha was also suggested by confocal microscopy studies: GP V colocalized with GP Ib alpha in CHO alpha beta IX (cells that express GP Ib alpha, GP Ib beta, and GP IX), CHO alpha beta, and CHO alpha IX cells, but did not colocalize with GP Ib beta in CHO beta IX cells. Similarly, immunoprecipitation of GP V from cells expressing GP Ib alpha led to coprecipitation of the latter polypeptide; neither GP Ib beta nor GP IX coprecipitated with GP V from CHO beta IX cells. Taken together, these data indicate that GP V associates with the GP Ib-IX complex through a direct interaction with GP Ib alpha and establish the topology of the GP Ib-IX-V subunits on the cell surface.
The cDNA of the human endothelial cell thrombin receptor has been cloned and a chimeric fusion protein consisting of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and the portion 25-97 corresponding to the N-terminal first extracellular domain of the thrombin receptor (TRE) has been expressed in Escherichia coli. Introduction of a factor Xa cleavage site in the fusion protein allowed purification of TRE after removal from the GST carrier protein. Purified GST-TRE or TRE have been tested in solution for their ability to interact with thrombin. alpha-Thrombin cleaved the fusion protein at position Arg-41-Ser-42 of TRE in a time- and concentration-dependent manner and GST-TRE competed with the tripeptidic substrate S-2238 for hydrolysis by thrombin (Ki = 0.5 microM). gamma-Thrombin that lacks the anion-binding exosite was 100-fold less potent than alpha-thrombin at cleaving GST-TRE. TRE competed with polymerizing fibrin monomers for binding to thrombin (Ki = 7.5 microM). The cleavage of GST-TRE by alpha-thrombin was inhibited by several alpha-thrombin exosite ligands such as the C-terminal peptide of hirudin, thrombomodulin and fibrin(ogen) fragment E. In contrast, platelet glycocalicin did not inhibit GST-TRE cleavage. In conclusion, the use of purified soluble GST-TRE allowed us to derive an affinity constant for thrombin interaction with the N-terminal domain of the receptor and to confirm the location of the cleavage site at Arg41-Ser-42 of the receptor. The importance of the thrombin anion-binding exosite for thrombin receptor recognition is highlighted by the low reactivity of gamma-thrombin for GST-TRE and by competition experiments, which in addition indicate that binding sites for fibrin(ogen), thrombomodulin and GST-TRE are overlapping. In contrast, binding of thrombin to GST-TRE and glycocalicin are not mutually exclusive, indicating that glycocalicin and TRE interact with discrete subsites within the large groove that constitutes the anion-binding exosite.
This review attempts to provide current information on the role played by the p53 gene in normal and leukemic hematopoiesis with particular emphasis on chronic myeloid leukemia. On the basis of the currently available data we can argue that p53 acts as a negative regulator of proliferation of myeloid mature cells and CD34+ progenitors, and its action is mediated through changes in cell cycle kinetics, mainly before the S phase. The p53-dependent pathway is also regulated by several proteins, including p16, p21, p27 (cyclin-dependent kinase [CDK] inhibitors), and a few oncogenes (bcl-2, bax, MDM-2). Although there is some information about the changes in the p53 gene seen in various types of leukemia, the functions and biological importance of these changes in the pathogenesis of leukemia are still largely elusive. During the past several years, accumulated evidence suggests that changes in the p53 gene are commonly associated with blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) but rarely with chronic phase, and they are represented by rearrangements, deletions and point mutations. As for most of the tumors, the majority of point mutations occur between exons 4 and 8 (hot regions). In patients with CML in blastic crisis the most frequent mechanism of p53 inactivation is complete deletion of one allele in association with a point mutation in the remaining allele.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Human neutrophils are able to kill in vitro colorectal carcinoma cell line SW11-16 coated with mAb 17-1A, but they are not cytotoxic towards a non-immunized tumour target. Neutrophil exposure to the inflammatory cytokine, IL-8, produces a significant increase in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, which is related to IL-8 concentration. Oxyradical production is one of the lytic mechanisms used by phagocytes, and IL-8 is shown to activate this function, which does not occur if neutrophils are pretreated with the protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporine, but is increased by R59022, a dyacylglycerol kinase inhibitor. The IL-8 effect is mediated by protein kinase C, which is potentiated by the calcium flux induced by the interaction between antibody coating tumour target and Fc gamma RIII on effector cells, as previously demonstrated. Data suggest a possible new role for IL-8 in tumour surveillance.
Leucine-rich repeats are conserved structural motifs present in the four components of the human platelet glycoprotein Ib/IX/V complex receptor for the adhesive protein von Willebrand factor. The absence or abnormality of this complex is responsible for Bernard-Soulier disease, an autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. We report a deletion of leucine 179, located in a highly conserved position of the seventh leucine-rich repeat of GPIb alpha, found in a variant form of Bernard-Soulier disease (Bernard-Soulier Nancy I). Three affected siblings of a family were characterized by absence of ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination, although ADP aggregation was normal. Flow cytometry studies showed detectable amounts of all four members of the GPIb/IX/V complex on the surface of the patients' platelets. Western blotting revealed normal levels of GPIX, decreased levels of GPIb beta and GPV, and < 1% of GPIb alpha. RT-PCR studies showed the presence of mRNA coding for GPIb alpha, GPIb beta, GPIX and GPV. Sequencing showed a three-base deletion which results in the absence of a leucine residue, highly conserved across the seven leucine-rich repeats of GPIb alpha and also within the other members of the leucine-rich glycoprotein family. The absence of the leucine 179 in a patient's GPIb alpha is believed to cause a conformational change in the protein which would account for the lack of binding of most of the MoAbs tested and would be responsible for the absence of von Willebrand factor binding. These results point to the leucine-rich region of GPIb alpha as being required for the correct exposure of the von Willebrand binding site as well as for the correct assembly and stability of the GPIb/IX/V complex on the platelet surface.
Mutations of the p53 tumour suppressor gene occur in 20% of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients in blastic crisis, but it is still uncertain whether this inactivation plays a role in the pathogenesis of blastic transformation or in maintaining the leukaemic proliferation in CML, as it does in several solid tumours. We have previously shown that more than 50% of both normal and CML CD34+ cells express the p53 protein. However, haemopoietic cells at different phases of the cell cycle express p53 with different conformations, suggesting that the function of p53 may be closely regulated during the cell cycle. In order to elucidate the mechanism by which p53 suppresses cell proliferation, we evaluated the effects of inhibiting p53 expression on cell cycle and cell kinetics of chronic phase CML (n = 12) and normal (n = 7) bone marrow light-density cells and purified CD34+ progenitors by using an 18-mer modified antisense oligonucleotide which targets the region covering the six base pairs immediately before the first codon and the first four coding codons of p53. We found that the number of cells positive for the cell cycle-specific nuclear antigen Ki67 and for the BrdU monoclonal antibody (McAb) was significantly increased after p53 antisense olignucleotide treatment. At the same time, p53 protein expression was completely abrogated in both light-density and CD34+ cells. In addition, DNA analysis by flow cytometry demonstrated that the number of cells in quiescent phases of the cell cycle (G0-G1) was significantly decreased after exposure of light-density cells to p53 antisense oligomers, whereas the number of cells in S or G2-M phases was increased. Furthermore, the longer the incubation time the higher the increase in cell proliferation. Treatment of CML, cells with p53 antisense oligomers also resulted in significantly increased numbers of CFU-GM colonies. Our data suggest that p53 is a negative regulator of cell proliferation and its action is mediated through changes in cell cycle kinetics, mainly before the S phase. We can further speculate that the loss of p53 function, at the time of blastic crisis of CML, may play a role, in combination with other genetic changes (p210 BCR/ABL, Rb gene abnormality, others to be defined), in inducing disturbances in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
CD34 monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) are widely used to identify and isolate hemopoietic progenitors and to classify acute and chronic leukemias. We assessed the reactivity of 17 CD34 McAbs from the 5th International Workshop on Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens with a variety of cells types: normal bone marrow hemopoietic progenitors, 10 AML, 6 ALL, 11 CML. The reactivity for these McAbs was compared with that of reference CD34 McAbs (Q-Bend 10 and 8G12). For each cell population the % of McAb binding cells, the peak channel and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the positive cells was evaluated. The peak channel, the MFI and the number of positive cells varied significantly from case to case, depending on the McAb and the type of leukemia. According to the spectrum of reactivity three groups of McAbs were defined; however, 7 McAbs do not belong to any of these subgroups. These groups were not entirely in accordance with McAb classification based on enzyme cleavage that identified three epitopes of the CD34 molecule. Some reagents were found to be more specific for AML, other for ALL, CML or normal CD34+ cells. Normal bone marrow light density cells showed a significantly higher percentage of positive cells for 43A1 and MD34.2 McAbs compared to that documented for the remaining McAbs. AML cells showed the most variable pattern of expression for the CD34 McAbs. In leukemic samples, MESF (molecular equivalents of soluble fluorochrome) values ranged from 18,200 to 322,000 and the number of binding sites per cells was 5,000-81,000.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The reproducibility of FAB morpho-cytochemical classification in a multicenter trial was recently assessed as 78.1%. The relevance of immunophenotyping in AML is debated because of the lack of a clear prognostic impact and the necessity of uniform diagnostic criteria and standardised methodologies. Several authors, studying the morpho-immunological characteristics of AML blasts by flow cytometry, suggested the necessity for the definition of clusters of cells with similar morphological patterns and intensity of expression. In this respect we reviewed blast CD34 and CD33 intensity of expression in 65 AMLs classified according to the FAB criteria. Four morphological groups could be identified: 1) low side scatter (SSC) and forward scatter (FSC); 2) intermediate SSC and FSC; 3) high SSC and FSC; 4) combination of pattern 2 plus 3. Five immunological patterns were defined: a) high CD34 expression with negative or weak CD33; b) high CD34 and CD33 expression; c) weak to negative CD34 with high CD33 expression; d) coexistence of 2 different subpopulations; e) negative to weak CD34 and CD33 expression. Based on this morpho-immunological analysis we were able to subdivide AML patients into 5 homogeneous subgroups and a comparison with FAB classification showed a concordance of 73.9%. Regarding CD34 and CD33 intensity of expression, a correlation with prognosis was demonstrated among all M1-M2 patients and in the M2 and M4 subgroups. In conclusion even if immunophenotype cannot substitute the FAB approach to AML, we feel that a flow cytometry morpho-immunological analysis could be helpful in achieving a greater understanding and agreement between different Institutions and assist in the definition of more precise prognostic subgroups.
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Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a rare hereditary recessive autosomal bleeding disorder characterized by a prolonged bleeding time, giant platelets, thrombocytopenia, normal platelet aggregation in response to ADP and no agglutination in response to ristocetin. This disease is due to absence or abnormality of the platelet membrane glycoprotein GPIb-IX-V, the receptor for von Willebrand factor. All four genes encoding the complex have been cloned and 17 forms of BSS have to date been characterized at the functional, immunological and molecular levels. The mutations can be divided into two main groups. Firstly, mutations located in leucine rich repeats (LRR), responsible for conformational modifications of the molecule, in some cases higher sensitivity to proteases and loss of adhesive function of the receptor, which is expressed at lower than normal levels at the platelet membrane. When mutations affect the LRR of GPIbalpha, the presence of the other chains varies from normal to residual amounts. When mutations affect the LRR of GPIX, expression of the other chains is strongly diminished, suggesting that GPIX plays a major role in the stability of the complex. A second type of mutations leads to synthesis of a truncated molecule lacking the transmembrane domain and absence of its expression at the platelet surface, while the other chains are present in residual amounts. Expression of recombinant proteins in eukaryotic cells has recently confirmed the results derived from studies of natural mutations. Separate expression of each chain can be obtained, although the presence of all subunits is required for full expression.
One proposed ligand binding site on platelet integrin alpha IIb beta 3 is the region of the beta 3 subunit encompassing amino acids 211-221. However, we recently showed that synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acids 211-221 inhibit fibrinogen binding to alpha IIb beta 3 by binding to alpha IIb beta 3 and not to fibrinogen. In this study, we show that AP6, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) directed against amino acids 214-221 of beta 3, bound to immobilized active alpha IIb beta 3 but did not inhibit fibrinogen binding to the complex. We then determined whether nonfunctional alpha IIb beta 3 on platelets with a beta 3 Arg-214-->Trp mutation (Strasbourg I variant of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia or GTV) could be induced to aggregate after treatment with dithiothreitol (DTT). DTT has been shown to expose the fibrinogen receptor on normal platelets. DTT treatment of GTV platelets did result in the formation of the fibrinogen binding site as indicated by the binding of pI-55, an MoAb that only binds to the activated form of alpha IIb beta 3. Furthermore, DTT-treated GTV platelets aggregated in the presence of fibrinogen and divalent cations. This aggregation was inhibited by EDTA, RGDS, and the selective alpha IIb beta 3 antagonist, Ro 43-5054. These data show that Arg-214 of beta 3 is not required for fibrinogen binding or for platelet aggregation. However, this amino acid appears to be critical for the formation and for the maintenance of the correct tertiary structure of the fibrinogen binding site on alpha IIb beta 3.
We investigated the expression of p53 in paraformaldehyde-lysine-periodate fixed normal and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) hemopoietic cells with flow cytometry and two monoclonal antibodies, PAb1801 and the mutant-conformation-associated PAb240. With both antibodies p53 proteins were detected in more than 50% of CD34+ cells and in more than 95% neutrophils but were undetectable in the CD34- myeloid precursors. The expression of a p53 protein reactive with PAb240 was closely associated with CD34+/HLA-DR+ cells and with cells in active cell cycle, while the p53 protein recognized by PAb1801 was mainly found in CD34+/HLA-DR- cells and in cells in the G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle. Treatment of chronic-phase CML cells with p53 antisense oligonucleotides resulted in significantly increased numbers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit colonies in 12 of 17 cases studied. Slightly reduced granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit colony numbers were observed in one case and no change in the four others. In eight samples of normal bone marrow cells, treatment with antisense oligonucleotides showed no consistent changes in granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit numbers. Our data suggest that the expression of the tumor suppressor p53 is involved in the regulation of both normal and CML hemopoiesis and that the inhibition of p53 expression could modulate the proliferation of CML hemopoietic cells and possibly of normal cells.