Biomedical subjects

J J Lucas

Publications and source records attributed to J J Lucas.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Differential requirements for interleukin-2 distinguish the expression and activity of the cyclin-dependent kinases Cdk4 and Cdk2 in human T cells.

We examined the expression and activity of Cdk4 and Cdk2 in resting, competent, and proliferating normal human T cells. Expression of Cdk4 but not of Cdk2 was induced in competent T cells independent of an IL-2 signal. This up-regulation of Cdk4 mRNA and protein was resistant to the immunosuppressant drugs cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506. A further increase in Cdk4 expression was seen upon stimulation of competent T cells by IL-2, as was de novo expression of Cdk2. Cyclin D2, a Cdk4 partner, showed similar patterns of regulation as Cdk4. The increases in Cdk4 and cyclin D2 expression seen in competent T cells were functionally significant since Cdk4 immunoprecipitates from these cells phosphorylated recombinant RB protein in vitro. Despite the lack of an increase in the expression of Cdk2, a small pool of pre-existing Cdk2 protein detected in resting T cells could be activated upon induction of competence. These data demonstrate that 1) the signals that lead to induction of competence in T cells stimulate an IL-2-independent and CsA-resistant phase of Cdk4 and cyclin D2 expression, Cdk4 kinase activity, and Cdk2 kinase activity, and 2) IL-2 stimulates a second phase of Cdk4 and cyclin D2 expression and de novo expression of Cdk2 in these cells. The data show that the expression and activity of these major cell cycle regulatory proteins are controlled differentially by growth factors and indicate a role for Cdk4 and cyclin D2 in T-cell cycle entry and/or early G1 progression and for Cdk2 in later G1 progression and G1/S transition.

CDC2-CDC28 Kinases↗

PubMed1994

Activation of MAP2-kinase in B lymphocytes by calcium ionophores.

The role of increases in intracellular calcium levels on tyrosine phosphorylation in human B lymphocytes was studied. Stimulation of normal, resting B lymphocytes or B lymphoblastoid cells with the calcium ionophores ionomycin or A23187 induced the tyrosine phosphorylation and the enzymatic activation of microtubule-associated protein-2 kinase (MAP2-K). Treatment of these cells with PMA induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein with the identical mobility, as well as the enzymatic activation of MAP2-K. Stimulation of these cells with ionomycin also resulted in increased ribosomal S6 kinase activity. Activation of MAP2-K in B lymphocytes by calcium ionophore was rapid (detectable within 1 min), transient (returning to background levels by 45 min), and dependent on extracellular calcium. These results demonstrate that transmembrane calcium flux induced by calcium ionophore results in the tyrosine phosphorylation and enzymatic activation of MAP2-K in human B cells.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1994

Association of proliferating cell nuclear antigen with cyclin-dependent kinases and cyclins in normal and transformed human T lymphocytes.

The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an auxiliary protein of DNA polymerase delta and appears to be needed for both DNA synthesis and DNA repair. It is present in low amount in resting normal human T lymphocytes and, upon mitogenic stimulation with phorbol dibutyrate and ionomycin, begins to increase in mid-G1 phase, approximately 12 to 15 hours before entry into S phase. PCNA continues to increase in amount throughout the cell cycle and remains high in proliferating cultures. PCNA was extracted from activated normal T cells and from the transformed T-lymphoblastoid cell line Jurkat by a method that recovered approximately 98% of total cellular PCNA but yet retained its associations with other proteins. PCNA immunoprecipitates possessed H1 histone kinase activity, which increased in parallel with increasing cellular content of PCNA. Both the cdc2 and cdk2 kinases were found associated with PCNA in normal T cells, in amounts consistent with detected kinase activity. The results indicate that PCNA is not an inhibitory molecule of cdk/cyclin activity. Both normal and transformed T cells contained PCNA in association with cdk2, cdk4, cdk5, and cdk6, with the amount of PCNA associated with these molecules increasing in the order listed. Relatively high amounts of PCNA were also found associated with cyclins D2 and D3, the major cyclin partners of cdk6 in T cells. Though detected in normal cells, PCNA/cdc2 complexes were present in exceedingly low amount, if at all, in Jurkat cells. This cell line appeared to contain more of nearly all of the cdk and cyclin molecules analyzed, but there seemed to be little difference in the patterns of association of these molecules with PCNA in the cell line as compared with normal human T cells.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗

PubMed1994

Expression of a novel cell surface lipophosphoglycan-like glycoconjugate in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes.

The lipophosphoglycan (LPG)-like glycoconjugate expressed on the cell surface of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes was isolated, purified, and partially characterized. The glycoconjugate migrated as a homogeneous band (42 kDa) on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectral analysis of the native molecule indicated the presence of two major components whose molecular masses were about 18.4 and 22.5 kDa. The LPG could be metabolically labeled with [3H]galactose, [3H]mannose, [14C]glucose, or [3H]palmitic acid. Monosaccharide compositional analysis of the LPG indicated that galactose, glucosamine, and sialic acid predominate over mannose, galactosamine, and inositol. A peptide associated with the LPG molecule contained about 40 amino acid residues per inositol and had threonine as the predominant amino acid. The LPG showed strong binding to Ricinus communis agglutinin-1 and Tritium vulgare wheat germ agglutinin, indicating the presence of terminal beta 1,4-linked galactosyl residue(s) and N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. Lectin binding studies also suggested the presence of a terminal beta-galactose and GlcNAc in the glycan-inositol lipid core of LPG. Virtually all of the sialic acids appeared to be located in the saccharide portion of the molecule. Treatment of the LPG with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C liberated an alkylacylglycerol. Structural analysis of the alkylacylglycerol and its acidic methanolysis products by gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry indicated that the glycerol substituents were primarily the C16 1-alkyl group and C16 2-acyl group. The ratio of inositol to 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acylglycerol was 1:1. Treatment of the glycoconjugate with nitrous acid released a major phospholipid product that migrated close to the phosphatidylinositol standard on thin layer chromatography. This result implied that phosphatidylinositol was glycosidically linked to the nonacetylated amino sugar. Furthermore, the LPG was found to contain phosphate and was labile to mild acid hydrolysis, strongly suggesting that the intact molecule is related to Leishmania LPG. The most striking and unique feature of T. cruzi LPG is the presence of large amounts of glucosamine and sialic acid as well as galactosamine. These results indicate that the glycoconjugate expressed on the T. cruzi cell surface is a new type of LPG-like molecule anchored on the cell surface via an alkylacylphosphatidylinositol.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

A chicken transferrin binding protein is heat shock protein 108.

A previously described transferrin binding protein from chicken oviduct has been identified as a heat shock protein, HSP108, by microsequencing of RP-HPLC purified tryptic peptides. The protein purified from oviduct by SDS-PAGE or from liver by ovotransferrin-affinity chromatography reacts with a monoclonal antibody raised against HSP108. The cDNA sequence predicts of KDEL peptide at the carboxyl terminus, but the protein does not react with anti-KDEL monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that HSP108 is processed in a way that eliminates the KDEL epitope.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Elimination of the O-linked glycosylation site at Thr 104 results in the generation of a soluble human-transferrin receptor.

The transferrin receptor (TfR) is the plasma membrane protein responsible for the binding and internalization of the major iron-transport protein, transferrin. The function of the single O-linked oligosaccharide near the transmembrane domain of the TfR at amino acid Thr 104 is unknown. To elucidate the effect of the O-linked carbohydrate on TfR function, the oligosaccharide was eliminated by replacing Thr 104 with Asp and the mutated cDNA was expressed in a cell line lacking endogenous TfR. Elimination of the oligosaccharide at Thr 104 results in a form of the receptor that is susceptible to cleavage. A 78-kD soluble TfR that can bind transferrin is released into the growth medium. The intact mutant TfR is not grossly altered in its structure and does not differ significantly from the wild-type human receptor in many respects: (1) It shows the same distribution between the plasma membrane and intracellular compartments; (2) the binding constant for transferrin is similar to that of the wild-type TfR; and (3) it is not rapidly degraded. Protein-sequence analysis of the soluble form indicates that the sequence begins at amino acid 101 of the intact receptor. This is the same cleavage site reported for a soluble form of normal receptor found in human serum. Substitution of Gly, Glu, or Met at position 104 also results in increased cleavage of the TfR and suggests that elimination of the O-linked carbohydrate at position 104 enhances the susceptibility of TfR to cleavage and may mimic a naturally occurring process previously described as being related to erythropoiesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Role for Ca2+ in expression of cell cycle regulated genes in PAF-stimulated cells.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a powerful stimulator of a wide variety of cells. In transformed human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines, PAF increases intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and induces the expression of the proto-oncogenes c-fos and early growth response gene-2 (EGR2). Here, we present data that evaluates the role of Ca2+ in the PAF-dependent induction of these cell-cycle activated genes. PAF (10(-7) M) increased c-fos and EGR2 mRNA levels in cells suspended in Ca(2+)-containing medium by 6-10-fold. In PAF-stimulated cells suspended in medium depleted of Ca2+, eliminating Ca2+ influx but not intracellular store release of Ca2+, the induction of gene expression was reduced by approx. 50%. In contrast, buffering of Ca2+ released from intracellular stores but maintaining transmembrane Ca2+ uptake had little effect on gene expression. When both sources of Ca2+ were eliminated, PAF-stimulated expression of these genes was completely prevented. This was not due to any toxicity to the cells since the response to phorbol ester under identical conditions was unaffected. The regulation of c-fos mRNA expression was paralleled by changes in levels of FOS protein. These data indicate that changes in [Ca2+]i, primarily from stimulated entry across the plasma membrane and to a lesser extent release of Ca2+ from sequestered intracellular stores, play an essential role in PAF-dependent triggering of c-fos and EGR2 mRNA expression.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1994

Release from G0/G1 arrest induced by dimethyl sulfoxide in human lymphoid cells: regulation of synthesis and activation of the p33cdk2 and p34cdc2 kinases.

Raji cells, a human Burkitt's lymphoma-derived cell line, will accumulate in a G0-like state upon prolonged (5-6 days) incubation in medium containing 1.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). After removal of DMSO, the cells reenter the cell cycle in a synchronous manner and proliferate. After 5.5 days incubation in DMSO, S phase entry occurs at about 21-24 h after release, which is about the length of the first G1 phase of normal human lymphocytes which are stimulated in vitro to enter the cell cycle. The G0-like state of arrested cells and the sequence of events occurring after release from DMSO mimic, in most ways studied, those of normal lymphocytes. Arrested Raji cells lack many cell cycle-regulated molecules, including cyclin A, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and the p34cdc2 kinase. They contain only hypophosphorylated p110Rb and a low level of enzymatically inactive p33cdk2 kinase. After reentering the cell cycle, a series of events occurred, including phosphorylation of p110Rb and accumulation of the cyclin A and proliferating cell nuclear antigen proteins in mid-G1 and the accumulation of the p33cdk2 and p34cdc2 proteins beginning in late G1, just prior to S-phase entry. Cyclin E levels in Raji cells appeared to be less regulated than in normal cells, with high levels of this protein being present in resting cells and throughout the entire cell cycle. The time courses of activation of the p34cdc2 and p33cdk2 kinases were similar; both became detectable at about 21 h after release and increased greatly in early S.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetyltransferases↗

PubMed1993

Platelet-activating factor triggers the phosphorylation and activation of MAP-2 kinase and S6 peptide kinase activity in human B cell lines.

Platelet activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid mediator produced by a variety of cell types, has potent biological activities in many cellular systems. We report that stimulation of B cell lines with PAF induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein, approximately 42 kDa in size. The PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086 as well as the structural analogue PAF antagonist CV3988 inhibited the response, demonstrating that the tyrosine phosphorylation was attributable to PAF binding to a specific receptor. Immunoblot analysis, using an antibody to microtubule-associated protein-2 kinase, demonstrated the presence of a single protein species in unstimulated cells. PAF treatment induced the appearance of an additional species with a slightly reduced mobility in the gel. This PAF-inducible band had the same mobility on SDS-PAGE gels as the protein that was tyrosine-phosphorylated after PAF stimulation. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the 42-kDa protein was rapid, detectable within 30 s, and evident over a wide range of PAF concentrations (10(-7) to 10(-10) M). Treatment of cells with phorbol myristate acetate induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein with the same mobility in SDS-PAGE gels as the protein induced after PAF stimulation. Lysates from PAF-stimulated lymphoblastoid cells exhibited more than twice the ability to phosphorylate myelin basic protein than lysates from untreated cells. In addition, the ribosomal S6 peptide kinase activity (S6PK) was increased after PAF stimulation of the B cells. Taken together, the results suggest that PAF stimulation of B cells induces the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of microtubule-associated protein-2 kinase.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1993

Failure of rapamycin to block proliferation once resting cells have entered the cell cycle despite inactivation of p70 S6 kinase.

Rapamycin (RAP) has recently been shown to inhibit the phosphorylation and activity of p70 S6 kinase (p70s6k). In interleukin (IL)-2-induced cell activation of the human IL-2-dependent T-cell line, Kit225, RAP inhibited p70s6k phosphorylation and activation, but not the activation of MAP kinase, p90 S6 kinase (p90rsk), early tyrosine kinases, or the transcription of the c-fos and c-myc genes. Cell cycle progression induced by IL-2 was arrested by RAP prior to p110Rb phosphorylation and the major increase in total RNA synthesis, both of which were initiated around 6 h after addition of IL-2 and 9 h before the beginning of DNA synthesis. Interestingly, RAP could not inhibit DNA synthesis if addition of the drug was delayed for 6 h after addition of IL-2, despite the fact that even at this time, RAP rapidly induced the accumulation of the dephosphorylated form of p70s6k and that p70s6k was inactivated within 1 h of RAP addition. Furthermore, when RAP was added to continuously growing Kit225 cells, cell proliferation was maintained for at least two additional cell cycles, in the absence of apparent p70s6k activity. These results indicate that 1) among the earliest detectable signals after IL-2 treatment, RAP selectively inhibits p70s6k activation, 2) RAP inactivates p70s6k regardless of the stage of the cell cycle in which the drug is added, 3) RAP blocks resting T-cells from entering the cell cycle, but does not directly arrest cell cycle progression once cells have entered the cycle, and 4) inactivation of p70s6k does not cause immediate arrest of cell cycle progression once cells have entered the cycle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Rapamycin blocks cell cycle progression of activated T cells prior to events characteristic of the middle to late G1 phase of the cycle.

The effects of rapamycin (RAP) on cell cycle progression of human T cells stimulated with PHA were examined. Cell cycle analysis showed that the RNA content of cells stimulated with PHA in the presence of RAP was similar to that of control T cells stimulated with PHA for 12-24 hr in the absence of the drug. This level was substantially higher than that seen in cells stimulated in the presence of cyclosporin A (CsA), an immunosuppressant known to block cell cycle progression at an early point in the cycle. However, the point in the cell cycle at which RAP acted appeared to be well before the G1/S transition, which occurs about 30-36 hr after stimulation with PHA. In an attempt to further localize the point in the cell cycle where arrest occurred, a set of key regulatory events leading to the G1/S boundary were examined, including p110Rb phosphorylation, which occurred at least 6 hr prior to DNA synthesis, p34cdc2 synthesis, and cyclin A synthesis. In control cultures, p110Rb phosphorylation was detected within 24 hr of PHA stimulation; p34cdc2 and cyclin A synthesis were detected within 30 hr. Addition of RAP to the cultures inhibited each of these events. In contrast, early events, including c-fos, IL-2, and IL-4 mRNAs expression, and IL-2 receptor (p55) expression, were only marginally affected, if at all, in PHA-stimulated T cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of cell proliferation by RAP could not be overcome by addition of exogenous IL-2. These results indicate that RAP blocks cell cycle progression of activated T cells after IL-2/IL-2 receptor interaction but prior to p110Rb phosphorylation and other key regulatory events signaling G1/S transition.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Definition of the roles for iron and essential fatty acids in cell cycle progression of normal human T lymphocytes.

A serum-free cell culture system for human T lymphocytes was used to investigate the synthesis and metabolism of several important cell cycle-regulated proteins (p62c-fos, p110Rb, and p34cdc2 and its homologs) and the possible roles of iron and essential free fatty acids in regulating cell cycle progression. Following stimulation with phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) and ionomycin under serum-free conditions, resting T cells entered the cell cycle, as evidenced by a burst of synthesis of p62c-fos and an increase in the amount of the p33 homolog of the cdc2 kinase. However, in the absence of other additions, cells were arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Supplementation of the medium with two components, iron and linoleic acid (LA), permitted activated cells to progress through the G1 phase of the cycle and initiate DNA synthesis. Under these conditions p110Rb became phosphorylated and p34cdc2 was synthesized similar to T cells proliferating in normal serum-containing medium. The addition of iron, without LA, had little effect on activated cells; however, the addition of LA, in the absence of added iron, had profound effects. RNA accumulated to levels characteristic of cells at the G1/S interface, phosphorylation of p110Rb was almost complete, and p34cdc2 was synthesized, although at lower levels than in proliferating cells. However, no DNA synthesis was detected; under these conditions the cells appeared to be blocked at or near the G1/S border. Since there was a possibility that some component of the cell culture system could provide "trace" amounts of iron, and also to further delineate the role of iron in this system, cells were activated in medium containing LA and deferoxamine (10 microM), a chelator of iron. The accumulation of p34cdc2 was now reduced to nearly undetectable levels although phosphorylation of p110Rb was not substantially affected. It therefore appears that synthesis of p34cdc2 requires a low amount of iron, a finding which may define a possible regulatory point in the cell cycle for iron before its well-recognized role in regulating S phase entry by acting as a cofactor for the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗

PubMed1993

Molecular mechanisms of pain: serotonin1A receptor agonists trigger transactivation by c-fos of the prodynorphin gene in spinal cord neurons.

By using spinal cord neurons cultured in chemically defined medium, a double labeling procedure, and blockage with antisense oligonucleotides, we show that induction of c-fos and the subsequent transactivation of the prodynorphin gene are coupled events, triggered by serotonin1A receptor agonists. Addition of the specific 1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) to the culture, at concentrations similar to that needed for transactivation of the prodynorphin gene, also significantly increases cAMP levels. Furthermore, in rats depleted of serotonin by intrathecal administration of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, the induction of prodynorphin after noxious stimulation is dramatically decreased compared with the induction in sham-operated rats. These results suggest that the expression of the prodynorphin gene in spinal cord is under the control of the raphe-spinal efferents containing serotonin.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

PubMed1992

Transcription of IL-2 and IL-4 genes is not inhibited by cyclosporin A in competent T cells.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibits T-cell proliferation primarily by blocking the transcription of several early activation genes, especially those of the important T-cell growth factors IL-2 and IL-4. This effect seems to be mediated through inhibition of the activity of the transcription factor NF-AT which is essential for IL-2 and probably for IL-4 gene transcription. However, once T cells are rendered "competent" to proliferate following a brief exposure to the phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), and the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, CsA no longer inhibits cell cycle progression supported by the presence of PDBu alone. Here it is shown that transcription of the IL-2 and IL-4 genes occurs normally throughout this "progression" phase, even in the presence of CsA. However, further production of functional NF-AT, which began during the competence phase of the cell cycle, is inhibited. These data indicate that, although the primary initiation of transcription of IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA during induction of competence may be NF-AT-dependent and CsA-sensitive, the augmentation in the progression phase is both NF-AT-independent and CsA-resistant.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Rapamycin inhibits the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase in IL-2 and mitogen-activated human T cells.

Phosphorylation of 40S ribosomal protein S6 is regulated in part by the mitogen-activated p70 S6 kinase (p70s6k). Following the addition of IL-2 to the IL-2 dependent human cell line Kit225, or mitogenic activation of resting human T cells, a rapid phosphorylation of p70s6k was observed by immunoblotting. Rapamycin (RAP), a potent suppressor of T-cell proliferative responses, markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of p70s6k induced by IL-2 in Kit225 cells or by the mitogens added to resting T cells. Other immunosuppressants such as cyclosporin A or an FK506 analogue were without effect. Moreover, the effect of RAP was restricted to p70s6k; it did not inhibit the phosphorylation of p90rsk, another kinase which utilizes the S6 protein as a substrate. These data indicate for the first time that RAP may target the pathway leading to p70s6k phosphorylation during human T-cell proliferation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Regulation of synthesis of p34cdc2 and its homologues and their relationship to p110Rb phosphorylation during cell cycle progression of normal human T cells.

In yeast, the protein kinase p34cdc2 plays a role in regulating both the G2 to M and G1 to S phase transitions. The discovery of multiple homologues of the protein in cells of higher eukaryotic organisms suggests that different cell cycle regulatory events may be performed by different kinases in such cells. Here, the synthesis and metabolism of the human forms of these proteins are described in a normal human cell type, peripheral blood T lymphocytes that have been stimulated to enter the cell cycle in vitro. Using a carboxyl-terminus antiserum specific for true p34cdc2, the protein could first be found in T cells at about 24 to 30 h after stimulation, just before the initiation of DNA synthesis. Three forms of the enzyme could be resolved by denaturing gel electrophoresis: an unphosphorylated form with an apparent molecular mass of 34,500 daltons and two phosphorylated derivatives. In cells synchronized at G2/M phase with nocodazole, p34 was almost entirely in the unphosphorylated form whereas the phosphorylated derivatives were more predominant in cultures arrested at the G1/S border with aphidicolin. The relationship of p34 synthesis to the phosphorylation of p110Rb, an event known to be associated with passage through late G1 and/or the G1/S phase transition, was also investigated. It was noted that p110Rb phosphorylation began before p34 synthesis first became detectable. Furthermore, it appeared that the two events could be largely uncoupled by treating cells with deferoxamine (10 microM), an iron chelating agent that arrests T cells at a point in late G1 phase but substantially before the G1 to S phase transition. Under these conditions, p110Rb phosphorylation was almost completely accomplished in the absence of significant p34 synthesis, a finding that suggests that most or all of p110 phosphorylation is performed by kinases other than p34. Because of this observation, extracts were next examined for p34-like molecules using an antibody against the so-called PSTAIRE domain found in all cdc2 homologues identified to date. A species of protein with a mobility slightly less than true p34 was found, even in resting T cells. Upon stimulation, this protein increased slightly in amount, and a second protein with a mobility greater than p34, a putative p33cdk2, was seen. Not only was the appearance of these proteins not inhibited by deferoxamine but they accumulated in cultures treated with the drug, suggesting that p33, and not p34, may be the G1 phase kinase for p110Rb.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗

PubMed1992

Studies of the mechanism of iron transport across the blood-brain barrier.

The mechanism by which iron enters the central nervous system from the blood is not well understood. Iron in blood plasma is totally bound to transferrin (Tf), a major plasma glycoprotein. Tf receptors are present on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelium. It is not known whether iron separates from Tf during its passage across the endothelial cells and then enters the brain by another mechanism, or whether the two proteins enter the brain together. We characterize here the morphological pathway for endocytosis of a monomeric horseradish peroxidase-transferrin conjugate by the rat BBB endothelium. Our results indicate that this conjugate binds to Tf receptors on the luminal BBB, is internalized via clathrin-coated vesicles, enters early or sorting endosomes, and, subsequently, late or recycling endosomes near the Golgi apparatus. No evidence is found for Tf transcytosis. It is likely that iron separates from Tf in early endosomes, which are assumed to be acidic, as they are in other cells, and enters the brain by an as yet undefined pathway. A clonal line of brain capillary endothelial cells that mimics the BBB when grown on permeabilized membranes can transcytose iron provided as Fe55-Tf. This cell line may provide a useful system to determine the pathway that iron uses to enter the brain. We also present evidence that cultured chick embryo forebrain neurons contain a large number of a unique Tf receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Signal transduction by interleukin 2 in human T cells: activation of tyrosine and ribosomal S6 kinases and cell-cycle regulatory genes.

The early events of signal transduction associated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) binding to its receptor were examined using a human IL-2 dependent T-cell line, Kit225. Cell cycle analysis showed that 90% of Kit225 cells were in the G0/G1 phase after a 72-hr incubation in the absence of exogenous IL-2. At this point, stimulation of the cells with IL-2 resulted in the rapid initiation of RNA and DNA synthesis by 9 and 20 hr, respectively. Within 5 min after addition of IL-2, rapid activation of tyrosine and ribosomal S6 kinases was detected. Addition of IL-2 also increased mRNA levels for c-fos, c-myc, IL-2 receptor alpha, and IL-2 receptor beta chain. These events increased in the absence of detectable changes in free cytosolic [Ca2+]i, inositol phosphate metabolism, or the activity of several kinases including cAMP-dependent protein kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, or protein kinase C. These findings demonstrate that the signals triggered by IL-2 binding to its receptors are quickly transduced into the nucleus with increased mRNA transcription of activation-associated genes. Furthermore, the data indicate that tyrosine and ribosomal S6 kinases may be important for IL-2-induced cell growth.

Calcium↗