Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F M McConnell.
The past year has seen major advances in the understanding of dendritic cell biology and of the costimulatory molecules that dendritic cells use to prime effector T cells and memory T cells. Recent work has revealed the specialization between different dendritic cell subsets and how this relates to their different functions in optimizing T-cell help for antibody responses and inflammatory T-cell responses.
Cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin (Ig) receptors on human B cells leads to the activation of a tyrosine kinase. The activated tyrosine kinase subsequently phosphorylates a number of substrates, including phospholipase C-gamma. This enzyme breaks down phosphoinositol bisphosphate to form two intracellular messengers, diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, leading to the activation of protein kinase C and the release of intracellular Ca2+ respectively. We have used h.p.l.c. and flow cytometry to measure accurately the inositol phosphate turnover and Ca2+ release in anti-Ig-stimulated human B cells. In particular, we have examined the effect of dose of the cross-linking antibody on the two responses. The identity of putative messenger inositol phosphates has been verified by structural analysis, and the amounts of both inositol phosphates and Ca2+ present have been quantified. In the Ramos Burkitt lymphoma, which is very sensitive to stimulus through its Ig receptors, both inositol phosphate production and Ca2+ release were found to be related to the dose of anti-Ig antibody applied. This suggests that phospholipase C-mediated signal transduction in human B cells converts the degree of cross-linking of the immunoglobulin receptor quantitatively into intracellular signals.
This study reports early B and T cell signaling events during cognate interactions between a human B cell line pulsed with peptide and an Ag-specific T cell clone. As has been previously reported, peptide in the context of the appropriate class II molecule stimulated a rise in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i in the Ag-specific T cell clone. The activation of the T cell clone was associated with a reciprocal rise in [Ca2+]i in the B cells. Engagement of receptors on the B cell surface by the T cell also was associated with inositol phospholipid turnover comparable to that elicited by stimulation through sIg. Early signaling events in B cells can therefore be stimulated in cognate interactions with Ag-specific T cells, without the direct engagement of Ig receptors. A class II deficient B lymphoblastoid mutant, 6.1.6, which was incapable of presenting peptide to the T cell clone, could be stimulated to produce a rise in [Ca2+]i if the T cell clone was activated by monoclonal antibodies to CD3. Therefore, the interaction of class II molecules on the B cell with the TCR and/or the CD4 accessory molecule was not essential for T-dependent B cell activation. However, T-dependent signalling of B cells was profoundly inhibited by mAb to CD18 (beta-chain of LFA-1) on the T cell or CD54 (ICAM-1) on the B cell, demonstrating the importance of this pair of adhesion molecules in early T-B cell interactions.
Substantial amounts of three [3H]InsP5 isomers were detected in [3H]inositol-labelled human lymphoblastoid (T5-1) cells. Their structures were determined by h.p.l.c. [Phillippy & Bland (1988) Anal. Biochem. 175, 162-166], and by utilizing a stereospecific D-inositol 1,2,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 3-kinase from Dictyostelium discoideum [Stephens & Irvine (1990) Nature (London) 346, 580-583]. The structures were: inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate, D-inositol 1,2,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate and L-inositol 1,2,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate. The relative proportions of these isomers (approx. 73:14:14 respectively) were unaffected by cross-linking anti-IgD receptors. The T5-1 cells also contained InsP6 and three Ins P4s, which were identified as the 1,3,4,5, 1,3,4,6 and 3,4,5,6 isomers. In incubations with permeabilized T5-1 cells, both 1,3,4,6 and 3,4,5,6 isomers of InsP4 were phosphorylated solely to Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5. Permeabilized cells also dephosphorylated InsP6, even in the presence of a large excess of glucose 6-phosphate to saturate non-specific phosphatases. In the latter experiments the following isomers of InsP5 accumulated: D- and/or L-Ins(1,2,3,4,5)P5, plus D- and/or L-Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5. This demonstration that multiple isomers of InsP5 may be formed in vivo and in vitro by a transformed lymphocyte cell line adds a new level of complexity to the study of inositol polyphosphate metabolism and function.
HL60 cells were adapted to grow in a serum-free medium containing 1 mg l-1 inositol, in which they differentiated normally towards neutrophils (in 0.9% by volume dimethylsulphoxide) and towards monocytes (in 10 nM phorbol myristate acetate). Cells that had been equilibrium-labelled with [2-3H]myo-inositol contained a complex pattern of inositol metabolites, several of which were at relatively high concentrations. These included InsP5 and InsP6, which were present at concentrations of about 25 microM and 60 microM, respectively. Striking and different changes occurred in the levels of some of the inositol polyphosphates as the cells differentiated towards either neutrophils or monocytes. Most notable were a large but gradual accumulation of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 as HL60 cells decreased in size and acquired neutrophil characteristics, and much more rapid and sequential declines in InsP4, InsP5 and InsP6 as the cells started to take on monocyte character. There was a marked accumulation of free inositol and of phosphatidylinositol in the cells during neutrophil differentiation, probably caused at least in part by an increased rate of inositol uptake providing an increased intracellular inositol supply. The same accumulation of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 occurred during neutrophil differentiation, whether it was induced by dimethylsulphoxide or by a combination of retinoic acid and a T-lymphocyte cell line-derived differentiation factor. Ins(1,4,5)P3, a physiological intracellular mediator of Ca2+ release from membrane stores, did not change in concentration during these differentiation processes. These observations suggest that some of the more abundant cellular inositol polyphosphates play some important, but not yet understood, role either in the processes of haemopoietic differentiation or in the expression of differentiated cell character in myeloid cells.
Cross-linking surface Ig on human B cells, or the TCR complex on T cells leads to the rapid appearance of newly tyrosine phosphorylated proteins. This is associated with inositol phospholipid turnover and a rise in intracellular calcium. Incubation of human B or T lymphocytes with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin and genistein, inhibits new tyrosine phosphorylation after receptor-linked activation. This is associated with complete abrogation of the increase in intracellular calcium in these lymphocytes and inhibition of inositol phospholipid turnover. Herbimycin- and genistein-treated lymphocytes are nevertheless still capable of responding to aluminum fluoride with a rise in intracellular calcium. These data support the contention that a B cell-associated protein tyrosine kinase regulates signal transduction via phospholipase C. CD45, the membrane associated protein tyrosine phosphatase, and PMA that activates protein kinase C, both inhibit the calcium response in B lymphocytes induced by receptor cross-linking. PMA and cross-linking CD45 both induced the appearance of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in human B cells, although the pattern is quite distinct from that seen when surface lg is cross-linked. However, the induction of new tyrosine phosphorylation by anti-mu does not appear to be affected by these reagents. Although this may reflect an insensitivity of the tyrosine phosphorylation assay, it could indicate that regulation of the calcium response and regulation of the tyrosine kinase can be independent processes.
Cross-linking class II molecules on resting human B cells can initiate phosphatidyl inositol turnover and an increase in intracellular calcium concentration levels comparable with that seen with the cross-linking of surface Ig receptors. The calcium response is most evident on dense B cell fractions: buoyant cells are less responsive, even though the levels of class II expression are similar on dense and buoyant tonsillar B cells. Human B cell lines exhibit the same absence of correlation between intensity of the calcium signal and levels of surface class II expression, indicating that responsiveness is related to the state of differentiation of the cell rather than the amount of class II expressed. Cross-linking class II on normal B cells or B cell lines caused accumulation of inositol phosphates, suggesting class II induces calcium release from intracellular stores, rather than through direct regulation of calcium channels. The calcium response mediated through class II was completely abolished by bringing the protein tyrosine phosphatase, CD45, into close proximity with surface class II. This result indicated that protein tyrosine phosphorylation might regulate the signal transduced through this molecule. In support of this notion we found that tyrosine phosphorylation is induced when small dense tonsillar B cells are stimulated with either anti-Ig or with antibodies to class II. Finally, in B cell proliferation assays we show that cross-linking class II molecules on dense tonsillar B cells synergize strongly with suboptimal concentrations of PMA or IL-4. The significance of these results is discussed with regard to the cognate signal between B and T lymphocytes.
The concept of cell lineage and the empirical characterization of specific lineages provide valuable insight into the problems of developmental biology. Of central interest is the decision-making process that results in the diversification of cell lines. Studies of the haemopoietic system, in which stem cells can be committed to one of at least six pathways of differentiation, have suggested that the restriction of differentiation potentials is a progressive and stochastic process. We have recently proposed an alternative model which hypothesizes that lineage potentials during haemopoiesis are expressed individually and in a predetermined sequence as progenitor cells mature. The model first arises from experimental studies which show that both normal myeloid progenitor cells and a human promyeloid cell line, which are able to differentiate towards either neutrophils or monocytes, express these potentials sequentially in culture. The close linear relationship between other haemopoietic progenitor cells is inferred from collective data from studies of bipotent progenitor cells and of haemopoietic proliferative disorders. If the development of haemopoietic cell lineages shows a tendency to follow a particular program, such a mechanism is likely to operate throughout development. In this paper we consider the evidence in favour of programmed events within progenitor cells implementing diversification, and the implications of predetermined and restricted pathways of embryonic development.
The volume regulatory response of erythrocytes (RBCs) of the little skate Raja erinacea subjected to 30% dilution of their medium is mimicked by the application of phorbol ester or calcium ionophore, implicating protein kinase C and phosphoinositide metabolism in that response. To investigate the signaling link between dilution of the medium and cell response, we measured levels of inositol phosphates (associated with intracellular calcium release) and of diacylglycerol (the physiological activator of protein kinase C) in control and hyposmotically treated RBCs. Labeled inositol monophosphate (IP1) was significantly higher in osmotically shocked than in control cells. Inositol bis- and trisphosphate levels (IP2 and IP3) were low and did not alter with dilution treatment. Separation of the isomers in the IP1 fraction indicated that the dilution effect was likely to result from the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol directly, without the involvement of the IP3 and related messenger molecules. Hyposmotic treatment also elevated the diacylglycerol content of the skate RBCs, providing evidence for the activation of protein kinase C as part of the volume regulatory response. The results are interpreted as indicating that the response to hypotonic media in skate erythrocytes is mediated primarily by protein kinase C and any involvement of calcium is associated with that pathway rather than with the production and metabolism of IP3.
Tyrosine absorption across the brush border of the intestinal epithelium of the winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus was studied in Ussing chambers modified to determine early rates of uptake. At 0.1 mM tyrosine, the 4-min rate of uptake (influx) of tyrosine across the brush border averaged 37.5 nmol X cm-2 X h-1. Omission of Na decreased influx by 60%, indicating that tyrosine influx occurs, at least in part, by a Na-coupled process. Ouabain inhibited influx by 80%. Inhibition of brush border Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransport by bumetanide, 8-bromo-cyclic GMP, or Cl replacement stimulated tyrosine influx 2.5- to 4-fold. However, atriopeptin III, which also inhibits Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransport, did not stimulate tyrosine influx. Cyclic AMP, which does not appear to inhibit ion cotransport, did not stimulate tyrosine influx. Both cyclic GMP and bumetanide also stimulated the net mucosa-to-serosa tyrosine flux (43 and 29%, respectively) and increased the cellular concentration of tyrosine by 50%. Thus tyrosine's influx is increased to a greater extent than is its transmural flux or its cellular concentration, suggesting that the main change occurs at the brush border and represents large increases in both influx and efflux of tyrosine across this membrane.