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Biomedical subjects

K P Lee

Publications and source records attributed to K P Lee.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Simultaneous determination of anions and cations by ion-exclusion chromatography-cation-exchange chromatography with tartaric acid/18-crown-6 as eluent.

Ion-exclusion chromatography-cation-exchange chromatography was developed for the simultaneous separation of common inorganic anions and cations (Cl-, NO3- and SO4(2-); Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) on a weakly acidic cation-exchange column by elution with weak acid. Generally, the resolution among these monovalent cations was only moderate, thereby hindering the determination of these analytes in natural-water samples. Therefore, 18-crown-6 was added to the eluent to improve the resolution. A good separation of these anions and cations on a weakly acidic cation-exchange column was achieved in 30 min by elution with 5 mM tartaric acid/6 mM 18-crown-6/methanol-water (7.5:92.5). The ion-exclusion chromatography-cation-exchange chromatography method developed here was successfully applied to the separation of major anions and cations in an environmental water sample.

Anions

Acid-rain monitoring in east Asia with a portable-type ion-exclusion-cation-exchange chromatographic analyzer.

A monitoring system consisting of a portable-type conductimetric ion-exclusion-cation-exchange chromatographic (CEC) analyzer and a meteorological satellite data analyzer has been investigated for the evaluation of the effects of acid precipitation on natural and urban environments in East Asia. The portable ion-exclusion-CEC analyzer uses a polymethacrylate-based weakly acidic cation-exchange resin column in the H(+)-form and a weak-acid eluent (tartaric acid-methanol-water) and is applied for the simultaneous determination of anions (SO4(2)-, NO3-, and Cl-) and cations (Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) in precipitation transported from mainland China to central Japan, as mapped by the meteorological satellite data analyzer. Linear calibration graphs of peak area versus concentration for anions and cations were observed in the concentration range 0-1.0 mM for the anions and 0-0.5 mM for the cations. Detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were in the range 5.18-12.1 ppb for the anions and 6.58-16.5 ppb for the cations. The practical utility of this monitoring system is presented.

Acid Rain

Evidence for distinct intracellular signaling pathways in CD34+ progenitor to dendritic cell differentiation from a human cell line model.

Intracellular signals that mediate differentiation of pluripotent hemopoietic progenitors to dendritic cells (DC) are largely undefined. We have previously shown that protein kinase C (PKC) activation (with phorbol ester (PMA) alone) specifically induces differentiation of primary human CD34+ hemopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) to mature DC. We now find that cytokine-driven (granulocyte-macrophage CSF and TNF-alpha) CD34+ HPC-->DC differentiation is preferentially blocked by inhibitors of PKC activation. To further identify intracellular signals and downstream events important in CD34+ HPC-->DC differentiation we have characterized a human leukemic cell line model of this process. The CD34+ myelomonocytic cell line KG1 differentiates into dendritic-like cells in response to granulocyte-macrophage CSF plus TNF-alpha, or PMA (with or without the calcium ionophore ionomycin, or TNF-alpha), with different stimuli mediating different aspects of the process. Phenotypic DC characteristics of KG1 dendritic-like cells include morphology (loosely adherent cells with long neurite processes), MHC I+/MHC IIbright/CD83+/CD86+/CD14- surface Ag expression, and RelB and DC-CK1 gene expression. Functional DC characteristics include fluid phase macromolecule uptake (FITC-dextran) and activation of resting T cells. Comparison of KG1 to the PMA-unresponsive subline KG1a reveals differences in expression of TNF receptors 1 and 2; PKC isoforms alpha, beta I, beta II, and mu; and RelB, suggesting that these components/pathways are important for DC differentiation. Together, these findings demonstrate that cytokine or phorbol ester stimulation of KG1 is a model of human CD34+ HPC to DC differentiation and suggest that specific intracellular signaling pathways mediate specific events in DC lineage commitment.

Adult

Subchronic inhalation toxicity of diglyme.

Diglyme [1,1'-oxybis(2-methoxyethane)] is an organic solvent belonging to the glycol ether class of compounds. To assess the inhalation toxicity of diglyme, groups of 20 male and 10 female rats were exposed by nose-only inhalation 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks to either 0 (control), 110, 370 or 1100 ppm diglyme. To compare potency, 2-methoxyethanol was also tested at 300 ppm. Rats were sacrificed either immediately following exposure, after a 14-day recovery period, or after 42 and 84 days of recovery (males only). Parameters investigated included in-life observations and body weights, clinical pathology, and histopathology with organ weights. Exposure to diglyme produced a variety of concentration-related haematological, clinical chemical and histopathological changes in both sexes. The most striking effect produced in all test groups was cellular injury involving the testes, seminal vesicles, epididymides and prostate. Although these effects were more severe at the higher concentrations tested, partial or complete recovery was seen by 84 days post-exposure. Changes in the haematopoietic system occurred in both sexes and involved the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, leucocytes and erythrocytes. The testicular effects of diglyme were somewhat less pronounced than those seen with 2-methoxyethanol. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for repeated inhalation exposure to diglyme in female rats is 370 ppm. For males, all concentrations tested produced effects to the reproductive system, hence a no-observed-effect level could not be demonstrated.

Administration, Inhalation

Phorbol esters induce differentiation of human CD34+ hemopoietic progenitors to dendritic cells: evidence for protein kinase C-mediated signaling.

The intracellular signals that mediate the differentiation of pluripotent hemopoietic progenitors to dendritic cells (DC) are largely undefined. We have found that the phorbol ester PMA by itself induced 47% +/- 8.7% of input human CD34+ hemopoietic progenitors to differentiate into cells with morphology and surface Ag phenotype characteristic of DC by day 7 of culture. Functionally, PMA-generated DC processed and presented whole soluble Ag and also induced resting T cell proliferation and Ag-specific CTL effector function. Unlike cytokine-driven DC differentiation, PMA suppressed proliferation and induced cell death (in part via apoptosis) in cells that did not differentiate to DC. The effects of PMA were blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase C activation, suggesting a central role for this signaling molecule. PMA-mediated signaling also induced expression of the RelB transcription factor, an NF-kappaB family member implicated in DC differentiation. These findings suggest that phorbol esters activate protein kinase C, which then initiates the terminal component of an intracellular signaling pathway(s) involved in the DC differentiation of CD34+ hemopoietic progenitors.

Antigen Presentation

Nucleic acid vaccine-induced immune responses require CD28 costimulation and are regulated by CTLA4.

Immunization with plasmids expressing specific genes (DNA or nucleic acid vaccination (NAV)) elicits robust humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The mechanisms involved in T cell activation by NAV are incompletely characterized. We have examined the costimulatory requirements of NAV. CD28-deficient mice did not mount Ab or CTL responses following i.m. immunization with eukaryotic expression plasmids encoding the bacterial gene beta-galactosidase (beta gal). Because these mice retained their ability to up-regulate the CTLA4 receptor (a negative regulator of T cell activation), we examined CTLA4's role in the response of wild-type BALB/c mice to NAV. Intact anti-CTLA4 mAb but not Fab fragments suppressed the primary humoral response to pCIA/beta gal without affecting recall responses, indicating CTLA4 activation inhibited Ab production but not T cell priming. Blockade of the ligands for CD28 and CTLA4, CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2), revealed distinct and nonoverlapping function. Blockade of CD80 at initial immunization completely abrogated primary and secondary Ab responses, whereas blockade of CD86 suppressed primary but not secondary responses. Simultaneous blockade of CD80 + CD86 was less effective at suppressing Ab responses than either alone. Enhancement of costimulation via coinjection of B7-expressing plasmids augmented CTL responses but not Ab responses, and without evidence of Th1 to Th2 skewing. These findings suggest complex and distinct roles for CD28, CTLA4, CD80, and CD86 in T cell costimulation following nucleic acid vaccination.

Abatacept

CTLA-4 ligation delivers a unique signal to resting human CD4 T cells that inhibits interleukin-2 secretion but allows Bcl-X(L) induction.

We have assessed the functional effects of a panel of CTLA-4 mAbs on resting human CD4+ T cells. Our results demonstrate that some CTLA-4 mAbs can inhibit proliferative responses of resting CD4+ cells and cell cycle transition from G0 to G1. The inhibitory effects of CTLA-4 were evident within 4 h, at a time when cell surface CTLA-4 expression remained undetectable. Other CTLA-4 mAbs had no detectable inhibitory effects, indicating that binding of Ab to CTLA-4 alone is not sufficient to mediate down-regulation of T cell responses. Interestingly, while IL-2 production was shut off, inhibitory anti-CTLA-4 mAbs permitted induction and expression of the cell survival gene bcl-X(L). Consistent with this observation, cells remained viable and apoptosis was not detected after CTLA-4 ligation.

Abatacept

Costimulatory approaches to adoptive immunotherapy.

Costimulation is critical for induction of full T-cell effector function, and thus represents an attractive immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer. This review examines these approaches, including ex vivo T-cell expansion, systemic "delivery" of constimulation, tumors transduced or transfected with costimulatory ligands, and vaccine strategies using coimmunization with the genes for costimulatory ligands. Impressive results in animal models have been demonstrated and a wide range of human clinical trials are underway.

Antigens, CD

Bone marrow repopulation by human marrow stem cells after long-term expansion culture on a porcine endothelial cell line.

In vitro exposure of murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to cell cycle-inducing cytokines has been shown to result in a defect in the ability of these cells to engraft. We used a porcine microvascular endothelial cell (PMVEC) line in conjunction with exogenous interleukin (IL)-3, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and stem cell factor (SCF) to expand human HSCs that express the CD34 and Thy-1 antigens but lack lineage-associated markers (CD34+Thy-1+Lin- cells). Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic cells was evaluated in comparison to stromal cell-free, cytokine-supplemented cultures. Cells expressing the CD34+Thy-1+Lin- phenotype were detectable in both culture systems for up to 3 weeks. These cells were reisolated from the cultures and their ability to engraft human fetal bones implanted into SCID mice (SCID-hu bone) was tested. HSCs expanded in PMVEC coculture were consistently capable of competitive marrow repopulation with multilineage (CD19+ B lymphoid, CD33+ myeloid, and CD34+ cells) progeny present 8 weeks postengraftment. In contrast, grafts composed of cells expanded in stroma-free cultures did not lead to multilineage SCID-hu bone repopulation. Proliferation analysis revealed that by 1 week of culture more than 80% of the cells in the PMVEC cocultures expressing the primitive CD34+CD38- phenotype had undergone cell division. Fewer than 1% of the cells that proliferated in the absence of stromal cells remained CD34+CD38-. These data suggest that the proliferation of HSCs in the presence of IL-3, IL-6, GM-CSF, and SCF without stromal cell support may result in impairment of engraftment capacity, which may be overcome by coculture with PMVECs.

Animals

Inflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha induce regulated expression of CD80 (B7-1) but not CD86 (B7-2) on murine fibroblasts.

Optimal T cell activation requires signals delivered via both the TCR and the costimulatory receptors. Considerable experimental data now suggest that this costimulatory signal is generated predominantly by CD28 when engaged by its ligands CD80 (B7-1) and/or CD86 (B7-2). Whether T cell activation is controlled in part by regulated CD80 and/or CD86 expression has been incompletely explored. Here, we report that CD80 can be expressed constitutively by murine fibroblasts and up-regulated after treatment with IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha. CD80 expression and function was confirmed by 1) Northern analysis, 2) specific immunoprecipitation of a approximately 69-kDa surface protein that comigrated with CD80 precipitated from CD80-transfected CHO cells, and 3) two independent assays for costimulation of Ag-specific T cell activation. Taken together, these observations suggest that CD28/CTLA-4 ligands are expressed on a wider variety of tissues than previously suspected and that their expression is dynamically regulated. Consequently, these results might explain previous observations that inflammatory cytokines can result in autoimmune responses.

Animals

CD28 dependence of T cell differentiation to IL-4 production varies with the particular type 2 immune response.

T cell differentiation to effector cell function is required for the development of a type 2 immune response. The T cell surface molecule, CD28, is widely considered to be the principal costimulatory molecule involved in T cell differentiation to effector function, including IL-4 production, although this has been difficult to directly examine in vivo. We have studied in vivo differentiation to T cell effector function during two type 2 immune responses in CD28 knockout mice: the systemic immune response to goat anti-mouse IgD Ab and the mucosal immune response following oral inoculation with the nematode parasite, Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Our results show that in C57BL/6 CD28 knockout mice elevations in IL-4 gene expression and protein secretion are blocked during the immune response to goat anti-mouse IgD, and associated increases in serum IgG1 and IgE are also inhibited to untreated control levels. In marked contrast, T cell differentiation to IL-4 production is comparable in C57BL/6 CD28 -/- and CD28 +/+ H. polygyrus-inoculated mice, and elevations in both serum IgG1 and IgE levels occur. These results indicate that the specific kind of type 2 immune response determines whether T cell differentiation to IL-4 production is CD28 dependent.

Animals

Conditioned medium from primary porcine endothelial cells alone promotes the growth of primitive human haematopoietic progenitor cells with a high replating potential: evidence for a novel early haematopoietic activity.

The authors have recently shown that direct contact with primary porcine microvascular endothelial cell monolayers (PMVECs) in combination with haematopoietic growth factors enhances the expansion of primitive human haematopoietic CD34+ bone marrow progenitor cells. It is now demonstrated that serum-free conditioned medium (PMVEC CM, concentrated 70x for proteins >30 kDa) from untreated PMVECs contains haematopoietic growth factor activity that enhances the in vitro proliferation, haematopoietic cell production, and colony cell formation of primitive human haematopoietic progenitor cells. In combination with exogeneously added human growth factors such as interleukin 3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and EPO, PMVEC CM enhances the proliferation and colony growth of human haematopoietic CD34+ cells. In contrast, PMVEC CM has no significant synergistic activity on either stem cell factor (SCF) or flt3-ligand-induced CD34+ cell proliferation, cell production or colony formation. Blocking mAbs against the c-kit receptor have no effect on PMVEC CM-induced CD34+ cell proliferation at titres that completely suppress SCF-induced proliferation. Moreover, it is shown that this haematopoietic growth factor supports the proliferation and colony formation of murine, non-human primate, and porcine marrow progenitor cells without any apparent species-specific restrictions in its activity. These finding suggest that PMVEC CM contains a novel early haematopoietic activity.

Animals

Subchronic nasal toxicity of hexamethylphosphoramide administered to rats orally for 90 days.

Rats were administered hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) at dosages of 10, 100, 300, and 1000 ppm in drinking water or at 15, 40, or 120 mg/kg/day by gavage for approximately 90 days. Another group of rats was implanted subcutaneously with HMPA-filled osmotic minipumps, designed to deliver a dosage of 40 mg/kg/day to prevent the possibility of direct contact of HMPA with the nasal epithelium. After 90 days at 10 ppm in the drinking water, some rats had tracheas lined with regenerated epithelium, but no HMPA-related lesions were present in any other organs and tissues. At 100 ppm, nasal lesions (epithelial denudation, regeneration, and squamous metaplasia) were mostly in the maxilloturbinates, tips of nasoturbinates, and the adjacent septum in the anterior nasal cavity (level I), but the lesions were confined to the ventral region of the mid-anterior nasal cavity (level II) and to recesses of the posterior nasal cavity (levels III and IV). At 300 ppm, nasal turbinates in level I were partially adhered to the nasal septum by fibrous tissue. In level II the lesions were mainly confined to the ventral medial meatus, but were scattered diffusely in levels III and IV. Denuded turbinates showed minimal bone proliferation. At 1000 ppm, the anterior nasal cavity was partially occluded by extensive adhesion of the turbinates to the nasal septum by granulation tissue and proliferating turbinate bone. The general architecture of the posterior nasal cavity was obliterated by the marked proliferation of turbinate bone and fibrous tissue in the interturbinate spaces. Tracheas showed regenerated epithelium and bronchi had focal epithelial denudation at 100, 300, and 1000 ppm. Foamy alveolar macrophages (histiocytosis) were increased in the lungs at 300 and 1000 ppm. Testicular atrophy occurred at 1000 ppm. No other tissues were affected by HMPA treatment. Nasal lesions in rats given HMPA by gavage were identical in nature to, but sometimes slightly more severe than, the lesions in rats given HMPA in the drinking water. Rats given 40 mg/kg/day HMPA via an osmotic minipump had slightly less severe nasal lesions than did the rats given the same dosage of HMPA by gavage. Testicular atrophy was present in the rats given 120 mg/kg/day by gavage. The results of this study show that, with the exception of bone proliferation, systemic delivery of HMPA or its metabolites to the nasal tissue following oral administration causes tissue damage similar to that caused by direct exposure of the nasal tissue via inhalation. Oral administration of HMPA is a less potent route for producing nasal lesions than is inhalation.

Administration, Intranasal

Mitogenic stimulation of T cells reveals differing contributions for B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) costimulation.

The requirement of accessory cells for concanavalin A (Con A) activation of T cells suggests delivery of a separate costimulatory signal. However, the costimulatory pathways involved have not been identified. These studies assess the role of CD28-B7-mediated costimulation during T-cell activation by Con A. The B7-1/B7-2 binding protein CTLA4-Ig inhibited the proliferative response of primary lymph node cells to either Con A or soluble anti-CD3 mAb. This suppression was dose dependent and could be reversed by CD28 cross-linking. CTLA4-Ig also completely suppressed induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA by Con A. CTLA4-Ig-mediated suppression was not due to blockade of the Con A 'receptor(s)' or of the primary activation signal (as measured by the intracellular calcium response). Although both B7-1 and B7-2 were up-regulated following Con A activation, each played a different role in proliferation and cytokine production. Individually, anti-B7-2 Fab partially inhibited the Con A response whereas anti-B7-1 Fab had no effect. However, the combination of anti-B7-1 and anti-B7-2 Fab completely suppressed proliferation and IL-2 production. Therefore, while a part of the Con A response requires B7-2, the remainder of the response can utilize either B7-1 or B7-2. Together, these results demonstrate that Con A activation of T cells requires the delivery of a separate costimulatory signal that is mediated almost entirely by the B7 receptors.

Animals