Biomedical subjects

J P Deans

Publications and source records attributed to J P Deans.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

A cholesterol-dependent CD20 epitope detected by the FMC7 antibody.

Accurate diagnosis of lymphoid malignancies is essential for appropriate therapeutic intervention. In conjunction with other diagnostic determinants, immunophenotypic analysis of differentially expressed cell surface markers, such as CD5, CD20, CD23 and FMC7, is useful in the subclassification of lymphomas and leukemias arising from the B-cell lineage. Recent evidence suggesting that CD20 predicts FMC7 expression has prompted reappraisal of the utility of monitoring both markers. Here, we report that the FMC7 monoclonal antibody (mAb) specifically and strongly recognized CD20 ectopically expressed in hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cell lines. The reactivity of FMC7 was abolished by mutations in the extracellular domain of CD20. These data confirm the CD20 specificity of FMC7. Like other CD20 mAbs, FMC7 binding was temperature dependent and induced detergent insolubility of CD20. Of significant interest, the CD20 epitope recognized by FMC7 was unusual in that it was exceptionally sensitive to membrane cholesterol. Cholesterol depletion profoundly reduced expression of the FMC7 epitope, whereas cholesterol enrichment enhanced its expression. FMC7 mAb binding thus appears to be a sensitive indicator of the level of plasma membrane cholesterol and reveals a conformational state of CD20 that is regulated by cholesterol.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2001

Differential effects of filipin and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin on B cell receptor signaling.

Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin and filipin are cholesterol-binding reagents often used interchangeably to investigate functional requirements for lipid rafts in receptor-mediated signal transduction. Recently, contradictory results were reported by two groups using these reagents in different model systems to investigate the role of lipid rafts in BCR signaling. We confirm here that BCR-mediated calcium release is inhibited by filipin and enhanced by cyclodextrin. The inhibitory effect of filipin could not be attributed to raft disruption, however, because its ability to release raft-associated proteins into the detergent-soluble phase of cell lysates was less than that of cyclodextrin. In contrast, we found that filipin profoundly inhibited phosphorylation of the raft-associated adaptor protein Cbp/PAG, whereas the effect of cyclodextrin was minor. Thus, filipin and cyclodextrin modify cholesterol-rich microdomains through different mechanisms with different consequences on receptor signaling. In addition, the enhanced calcium release observed under conditions of maximum raft disruption suggests that rafts have a role in negatively regulating BCR signals.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2000

Transient translocation of the B cell receptor and Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase to lipid rafts: evidence toward a role in calcium regulation.

Membrane microdomains (lipid rafts) are enriched in selected signaling molecules and may compartmentalize receptor-mediated signals. Here, we report that in primary human B lymphocytes and in Ramos B cells B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation induces rapid and transient redistribution of a subset of engaged BCRs to lipid rafts and phosphorylation of raft-associated tyrosine kinase substrates. Cholesterol sequestration disrupted the lipid rafts, preventing BCR redistribution, but did not inhibit tyrosine kinase activation or phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated kinase. However, raft disruption enhanced the release of calcium from intracellular stores, suggesting that rafts may sequester early signaling events that down-regulate calcium flux. Consistent with this, BCR stimulation induced rapid and transient translocation of the Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase, SHIP, into lipid rafts.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1998

Identification of a cytoplasmic region of CD20 required for its redistribution to a detergent-insoluble membrane compartment.

CD20 is a B lymphocyte integral membrane protein with signal-transducing properties. Abs directed toward extracellular CD20 epitopes activate nonreceptor tyrosine kinases and modulate cell cycle progression of B lymphocytes. Recently, we demonstrated that binding of CD20 Abs to B cells induces the rapid redistribution of up to 95% of CD20 molecules to low density, detergent-insoluble membrane microdomains and induces the appearance of an approximately 50-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein in the same compartment. Active relocalization of CD20 may thus be critical to the initiation of signaling events by CD20. The CD20 cDNA sequence predicts a nonglycosylated protein with four transmembrane-spanning regions and intracellular amino and carboxyl termini. Here we provide verification of the location of both the intracellular and extracellular regions of the CD20 molecule and identify a membrane-proximal sequence in the cytoplasmic carboxyl tail that is required for CD20 to redistribute to detergent-insoluble membrane microdomains.

Antibody Specificity↗

PubMed1998

Rapid redistribution of CD20 to a low density detergent-insoluble membrane compartment.

CD20 is a B cell integral membrane protein capable of initiating growth-modulating signals in human B lymphocytes upon its engagement with monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies. In this report, we demonstrate that treatment of B cells with CD20 antibodies induces rapid redistribution of CD20 into a detergent-insoluble membrane compartment. Redistribution is detected as early as 15 s, following antibody addition, and involves up to 95% of CD20 molecules, depending on the antibody used. All of the detergent-insoluble CD20 was found in the low density fractions of sucrose density gradients, indicating that CD20 redistributes to glycolipid-rich membrane domains, analogous to caveolae in some cell types. As CD20 has previously been shown to associate with Src family tyrosine kinases, their co-existence in these compartments suggests a link to the role of CD20 in signal transduction. This study provides insight into the mechanism by which CD20 communicates signals to the cell interior and indicates that the search for membrane-proximal intracellular signaling partners should be directed to the Triton-insoluble fraction.

Antigens, CD20↗

PubMed1998

The association between CD20 and Src-family Tyrosine kinases requires an additional factor.

CD20 is a B cell surface protein which can initiate intracellular signals involving tyrosine kinase activation, and modify B cell growth and differentiation. CD20 is tightly associated with the Src-family kinases Lyn, Fyn and Lck; however, the mechanism of interaction remains to be determined. Association between CD20 and Src-family kinases has been detected in peripheral blood B cells and in 5 out of 8 unrelated B cell lines. The lack of CD20-associated kinase activity in some cell lines offered an opportunity to investigate the mechanism of CD20 associations. All 8 B cell lines were found to express Lyn, and, with one exception, all cell lines also expressed Fyn. Lck, however, was not detected in any of the cell lines in which CD20 failed to coprecipitate kinase activity. To test the possibility that Lck was required for assembly of the CD20 complex, Lck was transfected into one of the 3 CD20/kinase association-deficient lines, namely T51. CD20 did not coprecipitate kinase activity from the transfected T51 cells, despite their expression of high levels of exogenous Lck, as well as endogenous Lyn and Fyn. CD20 cDNA from T51 was sequenced and found to be normal. These data establish that association between CD20 and Src-family kinases requires an additional factor.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1995

Association of 75/80-kDa phosphoproteins and the tyrosine kinases Lyn, Fyn, and Lck with the B cell molecule CD20. Evidence against involvement of the cytoplasmic regions of CD20.

CD20, a non-glycosylated cell-surface protein expressed exclusively on B lymphocytes, is one of a family of 4-pass transmembrane molecules that also includes the beta chain of the high affinity receptor for IgE. The precise function of CD20 is unknown, although in vitro effects of CD20-specific antibodies on resting B cells indicate that it is able to transduce an extracellular signal affecting the G0/G1 cell cycle transition. Previous studies have demonstrated that CD20-initiated intracellular signals involve tyrosine kinase activation and that CD20 is tightly associated with both serine and tyrosine kinases. Here, analysis of CD20-associated molecules has revealed that CD20 is associated with the Src family tyrosine kinases p56/53lyn, p56lck, and p59fyn and with 75/80-kDa proteins phosphorylated in vivo on tyrosine residues. Mutagenesis of CD20 was performed to define regions of CD20 involved in intermolecular interactions. Mutants were analyzed in the human T lymphoblastoid cell line Molt-4, in which ectopically expressed wild-type CD20 associated with p59fyn, p56lck, and 75/80-kDa phosphoproteins. Deletion of major portions of the cytoplasmic regions of CD20 did not abolish its association with either p75/80 or tyrosine kinases. The interaction between CD20 and the Src-related kinases is therefore likely to be independent of CD20 cytoplasmic domains and may occur indirectly. The interaction may be mediated by the p75/80 phosphoproteins, which were found to be tightly associated with the Src family kinases isolated from the CD20 complex.

Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase↗

PubMed1994

Differential modulation of human multinegative (CD3-4-8-) thymocyte proliferation by monoclonal antibodies to CD45RA or to CD45.

Human multinegative (CD3-4-8-19-; MN) thymocytes proliferate optimally in response to anti-CD2 plus anti-CD28 mAb plus PMA or IL-7. The role of CD45 was assessed by the addition of mAb to a CD45 common determinant, or to CD45RA. MN thymocytes are unresponsive to anti-CD2 mAb. Co-stimulation with anti-CD45RA generated 1.6-5.7-fold enhancement of a proliferative response, with maximal enhancement by cross-linkage of CD45RA molecules. The response to anti-CD2/28 mAb was reproducibly enhanced only by immobilized anti-CD45RA. Cross-linking of CD45RA and CD28 through the use of heteroconjugates of mAb did not enhance the co-stimulation by CD45RA. The most marked enhancement by anti-CD45RA occurred in suboptimal activation conditions. In contrast, the response to anti-CD2 or anti-CD2/28 was inhibited by mAb to CD45 common determinants (anti-CD45) in the presence or absence of PMA or IL-7, with the most profound inhibition (6-8-fold) detected in optimal proliferative conditions. Cross-linking of CD45 and CD28 through heteroconjugates of mAb was required as soluble anti-CD45 or immobilized anti-CD45 were unable to mediate inhibition. This inhibitory effect of (anti-CD45 x 28) was specific to MN thymocytes as no inhibition was detectable when peripheral blood T cells were treated with anti-CD2/28 and the same heteroconjugate. The differential effects of anti-CD45 and anti-CD45RA may reflect either CD45 heterogeneity on MN thymocytes, or the physical modulation of a single CD45 molecules by interactions at different epitopes, and the avidity of the relevant CD45 mAb for thymocyte CD45 isoforms may play a role.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1994

Resistance and susceptibility to cyclosporin A as CD3-4-8- human thymocytes differentiate in vitro.

Human T-cell development appears to be relatively resistant to cyclosporin A (CsA). Children exposed to CsA in utero as part of kidney transplant maintenance have few abnormalities. The objective of the study described here was to analyse the effects of CsA on the development in vitro of human multinegative (MN) (CD3-4-8-) thymocytes as a model system for thymic progenitor development in vivo. MN thymocytes, prepared by depletion methods, differentiated in vitro to acquire CD3 and undergo transitions in CD45 isoform expression analogous to those postulated to occur in vivo. In this work MN thymocytes were cultured with IL-2 and on thymic epithelial cells (TEC) with or without IL-2, either in the presence or absence of CsA. For many thymocyte preparations, differentiation in the presence of CsA resulted in almost complete inhibition of the acquisition of CD3 and of the low Mr isoform CD45R0. Expression of CD45RA and of total CD45 were reduced but not eliminated and the density of CD29 was unaffected. For others, neither CD3 nor CD45 expression was affected, but selective inhibition of TCR delta expression TCR delta expression occurred. At all doses of CsA (0.1-100 micrograms/ml), MN thymocytes continued to cycle indicating a CsA-resistant generative compartment. Treatment of peripheral blood T cells with CsA had no effect on surface expression of CD3 or CD45 isoforms but did reduce the amount of de novo-synthesized CD45R0 mRNA. Culture of MN thymocytes on TEC rendered them virtually resistant to the negative effects of CsA. CD3 acquisition was unhindered and total CD45 remained high, but the transition from CD45RA to CD45R0 appeared to be delayed. In the absence of TEC, expression of both TCR alpha beta and of TCR delta was inhibited, but on TEC, TCR delta was actually up-regulated in some conditions. The effects of CsA on human thymocyte development appeared to be modulated by the physiological state of the donor and the growth conditions to which the cells were subjected. Conditions which most closely approximated those manifest in vivo rendered thymocytes most resistant to the negative effects of CsA. The amount of CsA required to affect differentiation in vitro was significantly higher than could be attained in vivo suggesting that the immunomodulatory effects of CsA in the maintenance of organ transplants may derive from an as yet uncharacterized mechanism.

CD3 Complex↗

PubMed1993

Association of tyrosine and serine kinases with the B cell surface antigen CD20. Induction via CD20 of tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 and PLC phospholipase C-gamma 2.

CD20 is a B cell-specific 35/37 kDa integral membrane protein which modulates proliferation and differentiation of normal resting B cells when stimulated by CD20 antibodies. An increase in c-myc mRNA levels occurs within hours after treatment of resting B cells with CD20 mAb; however earlier events in the CD20 signal transduction pathway have not been described. Here we demonstrate that anti-CD20 mediated induction of c-myc mRNA is inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A, that CD20 is associated with both tyrosine and serine kinase activity, and that tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple substrates is induced within minutes upon ligation of CD20 with mAb. Association of the tyrosine and serine kinases with CD20 was stable in lysis buffer containing 1% NP40 and 0.25% deoxycholate. Under the same conditions, antibodies against several other B cell surface molecules failed to co-precipitate tyrosine kinase activity, however, a serine kinase was precipitated by the anti-CD19 mAb, B43. Both phospholipase C-gamma 1 and -gamma 2 were phosphorylated on tyrosine after cross-linking of CD20-bound mAb, and this correlated with increases in intracellular calcium that were partially resistant to depletion of extracellular calcium with EGTA. The pattern of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins observed in whole cell lysates after anti-CD20 cross-linking appeared to be a subset of those induced by anti-IgM; however, differences in phosphoproteins induced by anti-IgM and anti-CD20 were detected using a fynSH2-fusion protein.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1993

CD4, CD8 and the role of CD45 in T-cell activation.

CD4, CD8 and CD45 regulate the coupling of the T-cell receptor complex (CD3-TCR) to tyrosine kinase activation and phosphorylation of key substrates such as phospholipase C gamma 1. CD4 and CD8 contribute to activation signals through their cytoplasmic association with p56lck. Expression of the zeta-chain is required for functional synergy of the T-cell receptor with CD4 in the activation of phospholipase C gamma 1, which probably reflects an interaction between p56lck and zeta-associated kinase ZAP-70. CD45 expression is required for CD3-TCR signaling. CD45 may positively regulate signaling by dephosphorylating the carboxyl-terminal tyrosine of p56lck and p59fyn, and negatively regulate signaling by dephosphorylation of other TCR-associated substrates directly. One ligand for CD45 receptor has been identified as the B cell CD22 molecule. The positive and negative effects of CD45 are sensitive to the composition of CD45 in receptor complexes, and may be regulated by specific associations of CD45 isoforms with other receptors such as CD3-TCR, CD2 and CD4.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

CD45 isoform transitions on multinegative human thymocytes differentiating in vitro mimic patterns predicted for selective events in vivo.

Experiments were designed to test the idea that the patterns of CD45 isoform expressed by differentiating human multinegative (MN) thymocytes (CD3- 4- 8- 19-) are regulated by the type of growth or activation stimuli delivered. We have proposed that within the thymus, CD45RA expression is fundamental to maintenance of the thymic generative lineage while a transition to CD45RO indicates entry into the path of intrathymic death. It seems likely that the signal transduction pathways leading to positive selection are different from those leading to negative selection. Upon culture, MN thymocytes proliferate in response to interleukin-2 (IL-2) or anti-CD2/28 and differentiate as defined by acquisition of CD3 as well as CD4 and/or CD8. Even at day 9 of culture, 30-40% of cells remain multinegative. DNA analysis indicates that both CD3- and CD3+ cells are actively cycling. Although the CD3- set includes a substantial number of cycling cells, it continues to express almost exclusively the CD45RA isoform. Among CD3+ progeny, 53-80% have acquired CD45RO while maintaining high expression of CD45RA, although 10-47% are able to maintain exclusive expression of CD45RA despite their more differentiated state. In contrast, stimulation with PHA/PMA, which gives a vigorous proliferative response, appears to inhibit acquisition of CD3 and thus differentiation, while forcing a premature transition from CD45RA to CD45RO. These in vitro systems appear to permit generative thymic development while maintaining a cycling multinegative subset, thus mimicking thymic development in vivo, permitting an exploration of the events in positive and negative selection of human thymocytes. The maintenance of CD45RA expression with co-expression of CD45RO by CD3+ progeny in cultures supplemented with IL-2 or anti-CD2/28, in contrast to the loss of CD45RA after PHA stimulation, shows that the regulation of CD45 isoform expression is closely linked to the nature of the developmental signals received by a thymocyte.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1992

CD3-zeta surface expression is required for CD4-p56lck-mediated upregulation of T cell antigen receptor-CD3 signaling in T cells.

It has been proposed that during T cell receptor antigen recognition, CD4- or CD8-p56lck molecules interact with the T cell antigen receptor-CD3 complex (TCR-CD3) to phosphorylate various undefined substrates, which then initiate signal transduction through the TCR-CD3 complex. The ability of CD4 to modulate the TCR-CD3-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+, [Ca2+]i, and substrate tyrosine phosphorylation was studied in mutants of the human leukemic T cell line HPB-ALL characterized by their low expression of the TCR-CD3 complex on the cell surface. In TCR-CD3low cells, in which CD3-zeta was found to be associated with the TCR-CD3 complex, cross-linking CD3 with CD4 resulted in a profile of calcium mobilization, CD3-zeta, and phospholipase C-gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation similar to that observed in HPB-ALL cells, although the magnitude of generalized substrate tyrosine phosphorylation appeared to be smaller, as compared with wild-type cells. Responses were weak or absent when CD3 was cross-linked alone. In contrast, in a mutant in which association of CD3-zeta 2 with the TCR-CD3 was defective, cross-linking of CD3 with CD4 had a weaker effect on any of the activation parameters tested. These experiments showed that the presence of CD3-zeta 2 in the TCR-CD3 complex is of critical importance for the ability of CD4 to enhance early transducing signals inside the cell. The data also suggest that CD4-associated protein tyrosine kinase p56lck could up-regulate defective CD3-mediated induction of phospholipase C activity by increasing tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Transient accumulation and subsequent rapid loss of messenger RNA encoding high molecular mass CD45 isoforms after T cell activation.

High molecular mass isoforms of CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase, predominantly CD45RA, are expressed on naive T cells with increasing density during the first 2 days of cellular activation, and subsequently down-regulated concurrent with increasing expression of the low Mr isoform, CD45RO. We show this to be de novo synthesis of CD45RA dependent upon both RNA and protein synthesis. Using a probe shown to detect mRNA encoding the alternatively spliced abc, ab, bc, and b exon isoforms of CD45, the expression of CD45 was analyzed. Kinetic studies of the transition from high to low Mr CD45 mRNA indicate an immediate decrease in the level of high Mr CD45 mRNA after mitogen stimulation of T cells, quickly followed at 4 h by an increase to above steady state levels. This is consistent with the transitory increase in cell-surface density of CD45RA observed at 1 to 2 days poststimulation. Within 24 h of stimulation the level of high Mr CD45 mRNA declines precipitously such that little or no mRNA encoding any of the alternatively spliced exons is detectable. High levels of CD45 mRNA are detectable at later points but this does not hybridize with the Sfa N1 probe recognizing the abc exons suggesting that only the CD45RO mRNA splicing pattern is operative. We also show that CD45 mRNA have a relatively short t1/2. In mitogen-stimulated cells the t1/2 of high and low m.w. CD45 mRNA was estimated at 2.25 h and 3.5 h, respectively. In unstimulated T cells the t1/2 of high Mr CD45 mRNA was estimated at 2.8 h. CD45 mRNA is super-induced in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, indicating that the degradation and/or splicing of CD45 mRNA is controlled by a labile pathway, and suggesting that mechanisms may exist in vivo to prolong synthesis of CD45RA. The kinetics of accumulation for high Mr CD45 mRNA are very similar to those of the TCR beta-chain and pp56lck suggesting that these functionally linked signaling molecules are regulated in tandem. This implicates stringent molecular control mechanisms on the production of mRNA encoding either high or low m.w. isoforms, consistent with the fundamental role of CD45 in signal transduction, and the apparent need to selectively and sequentially express functionally distinct external CD45 domains.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1992

Interaction of CD4:lck with the T cell receptor/CD3 complex induces early signaling events in the absence of CD45 tyrosine phosphatase.

Antibody-mediated ligation of the CD3/T cell antigen receptor (TcR) activates phospholipase C (PLC) via a tyrosine kinase signaling pathway that requires expression of the transmembrane tyrosine phosphatase CD45. In normal T cells, CD3-mediated PLC activation is significantly augmented by co-ligation of CD3 with the CD4 co-receptor; however, unlike CD3-associated tyrosine kinases, antibody-induced activation of the CD4-associated tyrosine kinase p56lck does not require CD45 expression. To explore the role of CD45 in the CD3 and CD4 activation pathways further, we examined the effect of CD3/CD4 cross-linking on tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of phospholipase C in CD45- mutant cells of the T cell leukemia line HPB.ALL. In accord with previous observations, anti-CD3 stimulation of the CD45-deficient cells failed to activate tyrosine kinases, or PLC as measured by mobilization of intracellular calcium. However, we show here that ligation of CD3 with CD4 leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma 1 and elevation in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in CD45- cells that is in excess of that seen in CD45+ cells. Since CD4 stimulation alone did not activate PLC, a component of the CD3 signaling pathway must be independent of CD45. Anti-CD4-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of CD4-associated lck was also enhanced in CD45- cells, suggesting that increased lck activation compensates for the defect in CD3/TcR signaling, such that interaction of the CD3 signaling pathway with the CD4-associated pathway activates PLC even in the absence of CD45. The data demonstrate that the requirement for CD45 in coupling CD3/TcR to the PI-PLC activation cascade is not absolute, but rather substantiates a role for CD45 in modifying molecular interactions that control T cell activation.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1992

Regulation of CD3-induced phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC gamma 1) tyrosine phosphorylation by CD4 and CD45 receptors.

Stimulation of the signal transduction cascade in T cells through the T-cell receptor (CD3) coincides with activation of the phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) pathway. activation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC gamma 1) occurs through tyrosine phosphorylation in T cells following surface ligation of CD3 receptors with CD3-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Here we show that cross-linking of CD4 molecules with CD3 augments the tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma 1, while co-ligation of CD3 with CD45 (a receptor tyrosine phosphatase) results in reduced PLC gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Mobilization of intracellular calcium correlated with the extent of PLC gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation, indicating that PLC gamma 1 enzymatic activity in T cells may be regulated by its phosphorylation state. The time-course of PLC gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation in cells stimulated by soluble anti-CD3 was transient and closely paralleled that of calcium mobilization, while the kinetics in cells stimulated by immobilized anti-CD3 were prolonged. The PI-PLC pathway in T cells was not stimulated by tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma 2, a homologue of PLC gamma 1, demonstrating the strict regulation of PLC gamma isoform usage in CD3-stimulated T cells. A 35,000/36,000 MW tyrosine phosphorylated protein in T cells formed stable complexes with PLC gamma 1, and its tyrosine phosphorylation was co-regulated with that of PLC gamma 1 by CD4 and CD45 receptors. Enzymatic activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma 1 occurs during growth factor stimulation of fibroblasts, where PLC gamma 1 exists in multi-component complexes. The observation that PLC gamma 1 exists in complexes with unique tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in T cells suggests that haematopoietic lineage-specific proteins associated with PLC gamma 1 may play roles in cellular signalling.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1991

Prolonged expression of high molecular mass CD45RA isoform during the differentiation of human progenitor thymocytes to CD3+ cells in vitro.

CD45, the leukocyte common Ag, has been shown to characterize T cell development both within the thymus and among peripheral T cells. The work reported here demonstrates that human multinegative (MN) thymocytes, depleted of cells bearing CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19, express predominantly the high molecular mass CD45RA isoform, and lack low molecular mass CD45RB isoforms and CD45R0 as detected by immunofluorescence. By immunoprecipitation of surface-labeled CD45 molecules from MN thymocytes, a proportion of the CD45 is in fact of low molecular mass but does not include epitopes recognized by CD45R0, nor by CD45RB mAb specific for the p190. This suggests either glycosylation variants of CD45RB/CD45R0 undetectable by our mAb, or underglycosylated CD45RA. MN thymocytes lack TCR-alpha beta mRNA confirming their early developmental stage. Upon culture with IL-2 or with mitogenic combinations of anti-CD2/CD28 mAb, MN thymocytes differentiate to acquire CD3, TCR-alpha beta, and in some cases CD4 and/or CD8. We have predicted that maintenance of CD45RA and lack of CD45R0 expression is fundamental to generative thymic development. If correct, this demands that unlike peripheral T cells, differentiation of MN thymocytes should be accompanied by prolonged expression of high molecular mass CD45 isoforms. Analysis of CD45 isoform expression during MN thymocyte development confirms this prediction and indicates that expression of CD45RA is maintained, at increasing density, for at least 8 to 12 days of culture. Unlike peripheral blood T cells, this is accompanied by the gradual acquisition of firstly the p190 isoforms of CD45RB and later by CD45R0, resulting in a population of CD3+TCR-alpha beta cells coexpressing CD45RA/RBp190/R0. Dot blot analysis of mRNA from differentiating MN thymocytes indicates prolonged expression of mRNA encoding CD45 exons a, b, and c, again in contrast to peripheral T cells which lose all mRNA for alternatively spliced CD45 exons within the first 24 h poststimulation. This is discussed in the context of negative selection during thymic development and interconversion of T cell subsets.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1989

CD45R as a primary signal transducer stimulating IL-2 and IL-2R mRNA synthesis by CD3-4-8- thymocytes.

CD45R is a high molecular weight (p205/220) form of a series of transmembrane glycoproteins, collectively known as CD45 and present in some form on all lymphoid cells. We have proposed that CD45R+ thymocytes, a minority (15 to 30%) of total thymocytes, represent the generative thymic lineage whereas CD45 p180+ thymocytes are destined for intrathymic death. To test this hypothesis, we prepared human thymus fractions enriched for the expression of CD45R by exhaustive depletion of CD45 p180+ cells, as well as progenitor CD3-4-8- "multinegative" thymocytes which are predominantly CD45R+. Northern analysis of RNA extracted from CD45 p180- and multinegative thymus fractions demonstrated that these populations are enriched for cells able to synthesize mRNA encoding IL-2 and IL-2R after mitogenic stimulation, as compared to unfractionated thymus, consistent with the properties expected for generative thymocytes. Postulating that the CD45R glycoprotein might represent an important signal delivery molecule, we analyzed the ability of mAb specific for CD45 epitopes to synergize with suboptimal amounts of PHA and PMA in the stimulation of IL-2 mRNA production by multinegative thymocytes. We found that CD45R-specific mAb synergizes strongly with PHA/PMA to stimulate IL-2 and IL-2R mRNA expression. In contrast, mAb to CD45 common determinants were unable to synergize. Multinegative thymocytes depleted of all CD45 p180+ cells were compared to total multinegative cells and found to synthesize fourfold greater levels of IL-2 mRNA after stimulation with anti-CD45R mAb. This CD45 p180- multinegative subset is enriched for cells expressing a high density of CD45R, and for CD45- thymus cells, suggesting a possible enrichment for nonlymphoid cells which may play a role in the stimulation process. Our results suggest that the extended amino acid insert of CD45R plays a fundamental role in transmembrane signalling, and that CD45R may be a primary signal transducer for developing thymic progenitor cells.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗