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Biomedical subjects

L D Shultz

Publications and source records attributed to L D Shultz.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Role of natural killer cells on engraftment of human lymphoid cells and on metastasis of human T-lymphoblastoid leukemia cells in C57BL/6J-scid mice and in C57BL/6J-scid bg mice.

The severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation was backcrossed onto the C57BL/6J strain background in order to study the role of natural killer (NK) cells in rejection of normal and malignant human lymphohematopoietic cells. C57BL/6J-scid/scid mice showed severe loss of mature T and B cells accompanied by increased percentages of NK1.1+ cells and myeloid cells. Although little or no serum immunoglobulin was detectable prior to 2 months of age, all mice tested had circulating immunoglobulin by 7.5 months of age. C57BL/6J-scid/scid mice had markedly elevated levels of both hemolytic complement activity and NK cell activity compared with C57BL/6J - (+/+) controls. Weekly injections with anti-NK1.1 antibody resulted in elimination of NK cell activity in C57BL/6J-scid/scid mice throughout 8 weeks of treatment. Although human CEM-C7 T lymphoblastoid tumor cells grew slowly in unmanipulated C57BL/6J-scid/scid mice, anti-NK1.1 treatment resulted in increased growth accompanied by metastasis of human lymphoma cells to the brain, liver, and kidney. In contrast to T lymphoblastoid tumor cells, nonmalignant human peripheral blood mononuclear cells engrafted at low levels in anti-NK1.1-treated as well as in unmanipulated C57BL/6-scid/scid mice. Backcrossing of the beige (bgJ) mutation onto the C57BL/6-scid/scid genetic stock caused decreased NK cell activity accompanied by granulocyte defects. C57BL/6-scid/scid bgJ)/bgJ) mice showed metastasis of human CEM-C7 cells to the brain and other organs but supported only low levels of engraftment with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These results demonstrate that NK cells, in the absence of an adaptive immune system, function in resistance to metastasis of human lymphomas and suggest that innate immune factors in addition to NK cell function mediate resistance to engraftment of normal human peripheral blood leukocytes.

Animals↗

Neural and skin cell-specific expression pattern conferred by steel factor regulatory sequence in transgenic mice.

We have produced transgenic mice expressing a lacZ reporter gene under the control of a fragment of a Steel factor (SLF). The function of this gene is essential for the development of hematopoietic cells, germ cells, melanocytes and pacemaker cells of the intestine. The expression of the transgene, containing 2 kb DNA 5' regulatory sequence, was restricted to neural and skin tissues in appropriate spatial and temporal pattern compared with endogenous SLF mRNA expression. This indicates that the regulatory elements necessary for the neural and skin specific expression are present in this 2 kb DNA sequence, although strong position-dependence of transgene expression was observed. As we could not detect transgene expression in hematopoietic tissues and germ cells after extending 10 kb upstream, elements important for these organs must reside in other regions. Our results indicate that neural crest derived enteric ganglion cells provide SLF to the neighboring pace maker cells expressing c-kit, the receptor for SLF. Cells expressing the transgene in the intestine are ganglion cells derived from neural crest since homozygosity for the lethal spotting (Is) mutation results in loss of such ganglion cells in transgenic mice. We have also shown that the dermal papillae of the hair follicle expresses the transgene, suggesting its roles to support the c-kit dependent growth and development of melanocytes in the hair follicle.

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Development, differentiation, and phenotypic heterogeneity of murine tissue macrophages.

In murine ontogeny, macrophage precursor cells develop in the yolk sac and fetal liver. Primitive macrophages also appear in the yolk sac, migrate to various tissues, and differentiate into several fetal macrophage populations. Because the development of the monocytic cell lineage is incomplete in the early stage of fetal hematopoiesis, primitive/fetal macrophages are considered to originate from granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells or earlier macrophage precursors, bypassing the early monocytic cell series. In adult mice rendered severely monocytopenic by administration of strontium-89, resident macrophages are maintained by self-renewal. In contrast, administration of liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate (clodronate) results in the elimination of various tissue macrophage populations. The repopulation of affected macrophages is dependent on the increase of precursors in the liver and spleen during the period of macrophage depletion. Such precursors reconstitute heterogeneous macrophage subpopulations. In mice homozygous for the osteopetrosis (op) mutation, the absence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) activity results in a deficiency of monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. However, immature macrophages are present in various tissues. Administration of M-CSF to op/op mice induces the increased proliferative capacity and the morphological maturation of macrophages. However, the responses of individual tissue macrophage subpopulations to M-CSF are different. These results indicate that macrophage development, differentiation, and proliferation are regulated by the tissue microenvironment including the in situ production of macrophage growth factors in both fetal and adult life.

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Effect of the mouse scid mutation on meiotic recombination.

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of the mouse severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation on the rate of meiotic recombination, by standard backcross linkage analysis. For this purpose, we examined four crosses that involved F1 hybrid animals heterozygous for the strain C57BL/6 and BALB/c genomes. In one set of reciprocal crosses, F1 animals were homozygous scid/scid, and in a second set of reciprocal crosses, F1 mice were homozygous wild-type (+/+) at the scid locus. Backcross progeny were typed for recombination between selected genetic markers on mouse Chromosomes (Chrs) 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 15, and 17. Although some differences in recombination were observed over some intervals, the expression of the SCID phenotype did not appear to have a major or consistent effect on meiotic recombination.

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Evaluation of monoclonal antibody-mediated anti-acute myeloid leukemia immunotherapy in a SCID/hu model.

The therapeutic potential of the IgM complement-fixing murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) PM-81 (anti-CD15) against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was assessed in a SCID/hu leukemia model. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of NB4 leukemia cells resulted in aggressive growth of leukemia cells in the peritoneal cavity of irradiated SCID/CB-17 mice. Flow cytometric analysis of human CD15, 33 and 45 expression, as well as cytologic examination, revealed that leukemia cells disseminated into the peripheral blood and multiple tissues of the mice. The approximately linear relationship between the injected leukemia cells and the subsequent leukemia cell proliferation provided a reliable model for monitoring the therapeutic effects of immunotherapy. Intraperitoneal injection of the mAb PM-81 markedly suppressed leukemia cell growth in this SCID/leukemia model. Most of the untreated mice died within 35-50 days of leukemia cell inoculation. Four weeks after inoculation of NB4 cells, five of nine mAb PM-81 treated mice had no solid tumor growth and six of nine had no detectable peritoneal exudate leukemia cells as determined by flow cytometry. In contrast, 100% of the mice in the untreated or control mAb groups were found to have both solid and peritoneal leukemia growth. In further experiments designed to evaluate the effects of therapy on survival, 50% (4/8) of PM-81 treated mice survived to 150 days, and had no detectable solid or suspension leukemia cells detectable at necropsy. In contrast, the median survival of untreated or negative control antibody-treated mice was 40 days (comparison to PM-81 treated; p = 0.006 and p = 0.03, respectively). The mechanism of leukemia cell suppression is not likely due to complement fixation since we could not demonstrate in vitro any cytotoxicity mediated by SCID mouse plasma. Further study is required to understand the mechanism of the antileukemia effect of PM-81 in this model.

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Immunodeficient mice as hosts for hemoparasitic infections.

Thiruchandurai Rajan, Julie Moore and Leonard Shultz here review the evolution of technology in murine xeno-lymphohemopoietic chimeras, produced by engraftment with xenogeneic (fetal or adult) progenitor cells or mature lymphohemopoietic tissues into immunodeficient mice, and their use as hosts for hemoprotozoan parasites. Particular attention is paid to the development of chimeras that house xenogeneic peripheral red blood cells (xeno-RBC). These chimeras are potentially invaluable models for hemoprotozoan parasites, such as Babesia and Plasmodium. There are, however, daunting limitations that have to be overcome before these models can become universally acceptable systems for the study of these parasitic agents.

Journal Article↗

Follicular development and ovulation in macrophage colony-stimulating factor-deficient mice homozygous for the osteopetrosis (op) mutation.

To clarify the role of macrophages and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in follicular development and ovulation, the processes of folliculogenesis and ovulation, numerical changes in macrophages, and proliferative capacity of granulosa cells were examined in op/op mice before or after daily M-CSF administration. The natural estrous cycle was determined daily by means of vaginal smears. The number of ovulated ova in both fallopian tubes was significantly smaller in op/op mice than in normal littermates. Such ova markedly increased in number after daily M-CSF administration. The numbers of both antral and mature follicles in the proestrous ovary were markedly lower in op/op mice than in the controls and increased after daily M-CSF administration. Flash-labeling with [3H]thymidine showed that the proliferative capacity of granulosa cells in antral follicles was reduced in op/op mice but elevated after daily M-CSF administration. Numbers of granulosa cells and macrophages in the antral follicles were significantly decreased in op/op mice but were increased after M-CSF treatment. All these data provide evidence that macrophages are implicated in the process of folliculogenesis and ovulation.

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Role of nitric oxide in host defense against an extracellular, metazoan parasite, Brugia malayi.

The mechanisms by which mammalian hosts eliminate microparasites such as bacteria and viruses are well established. In viral infections, these mechanisms include the interferons, neutralizing and opsonizing antibodies, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In bacterial infections, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages, often facilitated by opsonizing antibodies, ingest the infectious agent and mediate host defense. In addition, complement, in the presence of specific antibodies directed against surface antigens, can lyse certain bacterial pathogens. In contrast, our understanding of the host defenses against metazoan, extracellular parasites is less well grounded. We obtained data by two different approaches to document the role of nitric oxide (NO) as a mediator of host defense against a human nematode parasite. First, treatment of immunocompetent, nonpermissive mice with an inhibitor of NO synthase abrogated resistance to Brugia malayi, one of the causative agents of human lymphatic filariasis. Second, treatment of permissive, immunodeficient mice with a compound that releases NO conferred resistance to infection. These data reinforce studies by James and her coworkers (I. P. Oswald, T. A. Wynn, A. Sher, and S. L. James, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Endocrinol. 108:11-18, 1994) on the role of NO in defense against trematode parasites and of Kanazawa et al. (T. Kanazawa, H. Asahi, H. Hata; K. Machida, N. Kagei, and M. J. Stadecker, Parasite Immunol. 15: 619-623, 1993) on cestode parasites.

Aedes↗

The murine thymic microenvironment: changes with age.

Immunosenescence has been well described in both human and a variety of animal species and has an important influence on changes in immune function. Although several mechanisms may be operating to explain the alterations in immune function with age, one factor that has attracted significant attention has been the progressive age-dependent involution of the thymus. Hitherto, most studies of thymus have focused only on thymocytes. We have now taken advantage of a well-defined panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs called MTS) that recognize and characterize the thymic miroenvironment, including epithelial and nonepithelial elements. Recent data using these MTS mAbs have disclosed significant abnormalities in the thymic cortex in models of murine lupus including the unusual appearance of medullary-type epithelial cells in the cortical areas and the presence of epithelial free spaces or 'cortical holes'. In this study, we investigated age-related changes in the thymic microenvironment in 12-month-old C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Controls included thymus from young 4-to 6-week-old mice as well as 6-month-old BALB/c mice. As expected, the thymus of all 12-month-old mice manifested normal and distinctive separation of cortical and medullary epithelium. However, unlike younger mice, the 12-month-old mice had severe changes in these regions. For example, in older mice, the cortex and medulla were diffusely irregular and atrophic and had a poorly defined cortico medullary junction; the former having small disrupted epithelial networks, and the latter containing clusters of atrophic cells. Moreover, the extracellular matrix was increased and contained large irregularly shaped clusters. Interestingly, the thymus of 6-month-old mice expressed some changes within the medullary epithelium and the extracellular matrix, but the cortical epithelium remained unchanged. These age-related degenerative changes in the thymic microenvironment differ significantly from the abnormalities identified in autoimmunity and may be a factor in immunosenescence.

Aging↗

Effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on macrophages and their related cell populations in the osteopetrosis mouse defective in production of functional macrophage colony-stimulating factor protein.

The development of macrophage populations in osteopetrosis (op) mutant mice defective in production of functional macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and the response of these cell populations to exogenous M-CSF were used to classify macrophages into four groups: 1) monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages, and osteoclasts, 2) MOMA-1-positive macrophages, 3) ER-TR9-positive macrophages, and 4) immature tissue macrophages. Monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages, osteoclasts in bone, microglia in brain, synovial A cells, and MOMA-1- or ER-TR9-positive macrophages were deficient in op/op mice. The former three populations expanded to normal levels in op/op mice after daily M-CSF administration, indicating that they are developed and differentiated due to the effect of M-CSF supplied humorally. In contrast, the other cells did not respond or very slightly responded to M-CSF, and their development seems due to either M-CSF produced in situ or expression of receptor for M-CSF. Macrophages present in tissues of the mutant mice were immature and appear to be regulated by either granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and/or interleukin-3 produced in situ or receptor expression. Northern blot analysis revealed different expressions of GM-CSF and IL-3 mRNA in various tissues of the op/op mice. However, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-3 in serum were not detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The immature macrophages differentiated and matured into resident macrophages after M-CSF administration, and some of these cells proliferated in response to M-CSF.

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Neonatal changes of osteoclasts in osteopetrosis (op/op) mice defective in production of functional macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) protein and effects of M-CSF on osteoclast development and differentiation.

In mice homozygous for the osteopetrosis (op) mutation, loss of osteoclasts in the postnatal period and their development, differentiation, and maturation following daily M-CSF administration in adult life were investigated. Histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural approaches, as well as [3H]thymidine autoradiography, clarified the role of M-CSF on osteoclast development and differentiation. In op/op mice osteoclasts appeared normal at birth. However, osteoclast numbers were reduced within a few days after birth, and osteoclasts were undetectable by 3-4 days of age. In adult op/op mice there were no multinuclear osteoclasts; however, small numbers of mononuclear cells (so-called 'preosteoclasts') were observed on the endosteal surface of bone. These preosteoclasts expressed tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and showed ultrastructural features of immature osteoclasts. After daily M-CSF administration in op/op mice, osteoclasts developed from the fusion of preosteoclasts and osteoclasts numbers increased to the levels of normal littermates at 3 days. Autoradiographic analysis with [3H]thymidine revealed no labeling in osteoclasts and preosteoclasts. In the mutant mice, M-CSF administration induced numerical increases of monocytes, promonocytes, and earlier precursor cells in bone marrow, ER-MP12- or, ER-MP58-positive granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFCs). Among these macrophage precursors, ER-MP58-positive cells were considered preosteoclast precursors, and possessed marked proliferative potential. These data suggest that an ER-MP58-positive cell subpopulation of GM-CFCs proliferates in response to M-CSF, differentiates into preosteoclasts which fuse with each other to develop into mature osteoclasts.

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Improved engraftment of human cord blood stem cells in NOD/LtSz-scid/scid mice after irradiation or multiple-day injections into unirradiated recipients.

Human lymphoematopoietic stem cells engraft in irradiated immunodeficient mice that are homozygous for the severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation. Engraftment levels in C.B-17-scid/scid mice, however, have been low and transient, decreasing the utility of this model for investigation of the development potential and function of human stem cells. In the present study, we have used NOD/LtSz-scid/scid mice as recipients and human cord blood as a source of donor stem cells. Our results demonstrate that NOD/LtSz-scid/scid mice support approximately fivefold higher levels of human stem cell marrow engraftment than do C.B-17-scid/scid mice. Human CD34+ cells are present in the marrow of recipient mice, and the engrafted cells readily peripheralize to the circulation of the host. Terminal differentiation of the stem and progenitor cells into mature progeny is limited. Using a multiple-day injection protocol developed in mice, which allows engraftment of stem cells between congenic mice in the absence of irradiation preconditioning, we observed high levels of human cell engraftment in unirradiated NOD/LtSz-scid/scid recipients after three or five consecutive-day injections. These results demonstrate that NOD/LtSz-scid/scid mice support high levels of human stem cell engraftment and that xenogeneic lymphohematopoietic stem cells can engraft in unirradiated hosts without the need for ablative reconditioning. This model will be useful for the in vivo investigation of human stem cells and for the preclinical analysis of human stem cells for transplantation.

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The flaky skin (fsn) mutation in mice: map location and description of the anemia.

Flaky skin (gene symbol fsn) is an autosomal recessive mutation that causes pleiotropic effects of anemia, papulosquamous skin disorder, and gastric forestomach hyperplasia. In this report, we assign fsn to distal chromosome 17 and characterize the anemia. The decrease in hematocrit levels and red blood cell counts is significant and persists throughout life in fsn/fsn mice. There is compensatory enlargement of the heart, liver, and spleen by 8 weeks of age, whereas the thymus is less than one half normal weight. Nucleated cell counts in the peripheral blood are increased 15- to 30-fold, primarily due to an increased percentage of normoblasts. The fsn/fsn mice examined at 8 weeks of age have significantly increased reticulocyte counts and protoporphyrin levels but reduced hemoglobin concentration, suggesting possible abnormalities of hemoglobin metabolism. Erythrocyte membrane fragility is normal. Compared with normal +/? littermates, fsn/fsn mice (1) lack splenic and hepatic stores of elemental iron, (2) have the ability to transport 59Fe across the duodenal cells and into the blood, (3) have increased levels of transferrin in serum, and (4) have acute loss of urinary 59Fe. Hemolysis is indicated by increased serum bilirubin and high blood reticulocyte numbers. Collectively, the genetic, hematologic, and pathologic data indicate a severe hematologic disorder caused by homozygosity for the fsn mutation that differs from other known hematologic mutations in the mouse. The mechanism whereby fsn induces the reported pleiotropic effects has yet to be elucidated.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗

Maintenance of the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, in scid mice and transmission of gametocytes to mosquitoes.

The study of human malaria has been hampered by the lack of small animal models for the human-infecting malarial parasites. To approach this problem, the erythrocytic stages of the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum were adapted to in vitro growth in the presence of ascites fluid from mice homozygous for the severe-combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation. Human red blood cells (hRBCs) infected with these adapted parasites were then injected i.p. into nonobese diabetic scid/scid (NOD/LtSz-scid) mice. With daily supplemental intraperitoneal boosts of uninfected hRBCs, parasites were detected in the peripheral circulation of these mice for an average of 7 d after injection. Splenectomy of NOD/LtSz-scid mice increased both the level and duration of parasitemia in the periphery, and it also promoted the circulation of mature sexual stage parasites (gametocytes). When Anopheline mosquitoes were allowed to feed on the splenectomized mice, the gametocytes were ingested by the mosquitoes and developed into oocysts in the mosquito midguts. To our knowledge, these results are the first demonstration of human malarial parasite propagation in mice and transmission of these parasites to the invertebrate vector.

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Programmed differentiation of murine thymocytes during fetal thymus organ culture.

Fetal thymus organ culture (FTOC) has become widely used to investigate the impact of immunomodulators on T cell development. However, these studies have given variable results among different laboratories. In this study, we have found that fetal tissue age and mouse strain differences can affect the development of T cell phenotypes in this system. T cell development in FTOC occurred in two 'waves', defined as peaks of cell recovery. The first wave consisted initially of CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) cells and CD4-CD8+ single positive (SP) T cells expressing gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR). CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) cells expressing low levels of alpha beta TCR were produced soon thereafter; and these cells dominated the cultures for the balance of the first wave. Prolonged FTOC resulted in the production of another wave of T cells which were relatively enriched for CD4 or CD8 SP cells expressing high levels of alpha beta TCR, as well as DN cells and CD4-CD8+ SP T cells expressing high levels of gamma delta TCR. As defined by cell number and differentiation of alpha beta TCR SP cells, development was delayed in FTOC using fetal thymus tissue from younger fetuses relative to that observed when older fetal thymus tissue was used. The degree of development of T cells in FTOC was also strain dependent. Organ cultures derived from 14 gestation days (gd) C.B-17 scid/scid fetal thymus did not generate TCR-bearing mature SP cells, but they did produce TCR-negative CD4 and CD8 SP cells likely to be precursors of DP thymocytes. Such cultures made from 18 gd tissue did not produce SP cells. Negative selection in FTOC was also evaluated. Mtv-specific V beta 3 cells were deleted in FTOC of C3H/HeN tissue. Deletion occurred only in late FTOC, suggesting a late encounter between the Mtv deleting elements and susceptible T cells during ontogeny. These results show that while FTOC recapitulates normal thymic development by a variety of criteria, results can be influenced by the length of culture, as well as by the age and strain of fetal thymus tissue utilized.

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