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Biomedical subjects

L Ozmen

Publications and source records attributed to L Ozmen.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The human gamma interferon receptor accessory factor encoded by chromosome 21 transduces the signal for the induction of 2',5'-oligoadenylate-synthetase, resistance to virus cytopathic effect, and major histocompatibility complex class I antigens.

Mouse fibroblasts, and human-mouse hybrid fibroblasts carrying only human chromosome 21, were transfected with cDNA encoding full-length human gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) receptor or chimeric IFN-gamma receptor (extracellular domain of the human receptor; transmembrane and intracellular domains of mouse origin). These transfected mouse cells were sensitive to human IFN-gamma only when human chromosome 21 was present. These results show that the species-specific accessory protein encoded by human chromosome 21 interacts with the extracellular domain of human IFN-gamma receptor and transduces the IFN-gamma signal not only for up-regulation of mouse major histocompatibility complex class I antigen expression but also for the induction of 2',5'-oligoadenylate-synthetase and resistance to virus cytopathic effect.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

IFN-gamma receptor-Ig fusion proteins. Half-life, immunogenicity, and in vivo activity.

Two mouse IFN-gamma receptor (MoIFN gamma R)-Ig fusion proteins, which were constructed for the purpose of creating new efficient mouse IFN-gamma (MoIFN-gamma) inhibitor molecules, were studied in vivo to determine their plasma half-life and immunogenicity, and to show their biologic activity. The hybrid proteins show 40-h blood persistency. They do not provoke an antibody response when injected into mice, and they are biologically active in vivo, as demonstrated by the prevention of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The two fusion proteins are efficient MoIFN-gamma antagonists and can be used in mouse models of human diseases to investigate the role of MoIFN gamma in these pathologic states.

Animals↗

Analysis of soluble human and mouse interferon-gamma receptors expressed in eukaryotic cells.

The extracellular domains of the human and mouse interferon-gamma receptors were produced in insect Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses and in mammalian Chinese-hamster-ovary cells. The receptors expressed in both systems are secreted into the culture medium. Their signal peptides are cleaved off and the proteins show heterogeneity in glycosylation which, however, does not affect the capacity to bind interferon gamma or specific antibodies. The soluble mouse receptors exhibit binding capacities similar to those of cell-surface-anchored receptors, whereas the human receptors exhibit a lower binding capacity. All soluble receptors inhibit the binding of interferon gamma to cellular receptors and neutralize the antiviral activity exerted by interferon gamma. These receptors could therefore be useful for structure/function analyses and in vivo studies.

Animals↗

A novel solid-phase test to study the binding of IFN-gamma to its receptor.

A novel solid phase assay for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) binding to the human IFN-gamma receptor was developed. The receptor binding assay is carried out using a soluble form of the recombinant IFN-gamma receptor protein corresponding to the extracellular portion of the IFN-gamma receptor. Using different IFN molecules and anti-IFN monoclonal antibodies, we show that the specificity of the soluble IFN-gamma receptor coated to the plastic surface is not altered. In consequence, this new generation binding test can be used to characterize the interactions with the specific ligand under controlled conditions. In comparison with ELISA or RIA tests using antibodies specific for IFN-gamma, the solid-phase binding assay has the advantage of detecting only the active molecules. Finally, since the test has a large capacity, it is being applied for the screening of agents that are able to neutralize the IFN-gamma activity either by blocking the active site of the lymphokine or the binding site of the specific receptor.

Animals↗

Distribution of interferon-gamma receptor in human tissues.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is produced by activated T lymphocytes and plays a regulatory role in immune responses. The nature and location of cells that express the IFN-gamma receptor (R) and respond to this lymphokine are not well documented. The distribution of human IFN-gamma-R (HuIFN-gamma-R) was, therefore, investigated in situ by immunohistochemistry, using affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed against the extracellular domain of the receptor. In lymphoid organs, IFN-gamma-R expression is restricted to the B cell areas of lymph nodes, adult and fetal spleen, tonsils, appendix, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the small bowel. Macrophages and other reticular cells in lymphoid tissues and other organs are strongly positive for IFN-gamma-R, whereas its expression was consistently negative in the cortical and medullary thymocytes. Two-color flow cytofluorometric analysis of blood, lymph node, tonsil, spleen and thymus cells confirms that most B lymphocytes are IFN-gamma-R positive, whereas T lymphocytes are negative. However, after in vitro activation, peripheral blood T cells become IFN-gamma-R+. In non-lymphoid organs, IFN-gamma-R is expressed on endothelial cells of the medium- and small-size vessels. In epithelial tissues, high expression of IFN-gamma-R is detected on trophoblastic epithelium, glandular cells of stomach, ileum and colon, lung alveolar cells, salivary duct cells, renal tubular cells, and endometrial mucosa cells. Hepatocytes are weakly positive, while squamous epithelial cells are negative. The distribution of the HuIFN-gamma-R is discussed in view of the known functions of IFN-gamma.

Animals↗

Purification and biochemical characterization of a soluble mouse interferon-gamma receptor produced in insect cells.

The extracellular domain of the mouse interferon gamma receptor comprising amino acids 17-243 of the protein was produced in Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus. The receptor was mainly secreted into the culture medium and was purified to homogeneity in several hundred milligram amounts. The purification procedure involved four chromatography steps and delivered a soluble and active receptor with an overall recovery of 30%. From each purification run, two pools of soluble receptor with the same interferon gamma binding capacity were isolated. Under reducing electrophoretic conditions the protein of pool I migrates as two bands of molecular masses 32 and 34 kDa and of pool II as two bands of 30 and 32 kDa. The soluble receptor of both pools carries a heterogeneous glycosylation. After deglycosylation it appears as one protein band of 27 kDa. N-linked carbohydrates contribute about 6 kDa and O-linked carbohydrates 1 kDa to its molecular mass. The nonreduced protein specifically binds interferon gamma on ligand blots and in a solid-phase binding system and competes for the binding of radiolabeled interferon gamma to the cell surface receptor. The soluble mouse interferon gamma receptor exists as a monomer in physiological buffer and binds interferon gamma in its dimeric form. It is stable at room temperature and against tryptic digestion, but is very sensitive to proteinase K digestion. The soluble mouse interferon gamma receptor produced in the insect/baculovirus expression system may prove useful to study the function of interferon gamma receptor as an antagonist of endogenous interferon gamma in the treatment of immunological and inflammatory disorders.

Amino Acids↗

High-affinity receptor for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a ubiquitous protein occurring in different molecular forms on human cells: blood monocytes and eleven different cell lines have the same IFN-gamma receptor protein.

High-affinity receptors for human IFN-gamma were analyzed using 13 different cells, including blood monocytes. Scatchard analysis showed one high-affinity binding site for each cell. One cross-linked complex between IFN-gamma and the receptor was detected, although their apparent molecular masses were variable in different cells, as also confirmed in immunoblots of membrane extracts. Variations in molecular masses were abolished if N-linked glycosylation was absent. Stable tryptic fragments contained the intact binding site for IFN-gamma and antibody epitopes characteristic of the extracellular domain of the IFN-gamma receptor of Raji cells and were of different sizes only if glycosylated. In addition, Northern analysis showed the same mRNA encoding the high-affinity IFN-gamma receptor in each cell analyzed. Thus, all cells including blood monocytes express the same high-affinity IFN-gamma receptor protein. N-linked sugars may give structural stability to the IFN-gamma receptor and are unlikely to be directly involved in IFN-gamma binding.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

One interferon gamma receptor binds one interferon gamma dimer.

We investigated the stoichiometry of the interferon gamma and interferon gamma receptor interaction, using recombinant interferon gamma and recombinant soluble interferon gamma receptor, applying chemical cross-linking and chromatographic techniques, and analyzing the resulting products in denaturing polyacrylamide gels. Interferon gamma cross-linked to itself produced a major band of an apparent molecular mass of 34 kDa, which suggests that it exists as a dimer in physiological buffer and which agrees with published data. Soluble interferon gamma receptor cross-linked to itself produced mainly a 28-kDa band, suggesting that the interferon gamma receptor exists as a monomer. Interferon gamma cross-linked to the soluble interferon gamma receptor resulted in the formation of two main products of apparent molecular masses of 60 and 44 kDa. The predominant 60-kDa band resulted from the cross-linking of one interferon gamma dimer (34 kDa) to one interferon gamma receptor molecule (27 kDa). The 44-kDa band was formed by the cross-linking of one interferon gamma molecule to one interferon gamma receptor. Kinetic studies showed that the cross-linking of interferon gamma dimer to the soluble receptor proceeds through the intermediate formed by cross-linking one molecule of the interferon gamma dimer to the receptor. Reducing and dissociating agents inhibited complex formation. When chromatographed on Sephadex G-100, interferon gamma was eluted as a protein of 34-kDa molecular mass, the soluble interferon gamma receptor as a protein of 40 kDa, and their mixture was eluted in one peak corresponding to an apparent molecular mass of 73 kDa. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel analysis of the eluted mixture showed the presence of both interferon gamma and interferon gamma receptor at a ratio of 2:1. The found results suggest that the interferon gamma receptor binds interferon gamma as a dimer.

Cell Line↗

Human interferon-gamma receptor. Mapping of epitopes recognized by neutralizing antibodies using native and recombinant receptor proteins.

Monoclonal antibodies produced against native interferon-gamma receptor (IFN gamma-R) have been characterized for their capacity to react with purified receptor and receptor-positive cells, to inhibit the binding of IFN gamma to cellular receptor, to precipitate the receptor protein when cross-linked to IFN-gamma, and to recognize the recombinant interferon-gamma receptor and 19 overlapping fragments of this protein expressed in Escherichia coli. The results of this analysis showed that: (i) the extracellular portion of human IFN gamma-R is located between the N terminus and the transmembrane region (amino acids 18-246). (ii) The intracellular domain is between the transmembrane region and the C terminus (amino acids 269-489). (iii) The monoclonal antibodies that react with the IFN gamma-R intracellular domain recognize small linear epitopes. (iv) The human IFN gamma-R binding site is located between the N terminus and the transmembrane region. (v) The monoclonal antibodies that react with IFN gamma-R extracellular domain and inhibit the binding of IFN gamma recognize two different epitopes. One of these epitopes (included between amino acids 26 and 133) is very close to the binding site for IFN gamma. The second (included between amino acids 70 and 210) is related to the binding site for IFN gamma without including it. (vi) These two functional epitopes are conformational and need S-S bridges to maintain their architecture. (vii) These conformational epitopes are formed in receptor fragments expressed in E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and membrane topology of the high-affinity receptor for human IFN-gamma: requirements for binding IFN-gamma. One single 90-kilodalton IFN-gamma receptor can lead to multiple cross-linked products and isolated proteins.

We analyzed the high affinity receptor for IFN-gamma of Raji cells and human placenta by combining Scatchard analysis, cross-linking experiments, and receptor purification. Only one high affinity binding site was found, Kd 2.1 X 10(-10). The receptor is a 90-kDa glycoprotein. However, multiple cross-linked products of 110 kDa to about 250 kDa could be generated and proteins of 90, 70, and 50 kDa could be obtained upon purification. These proteins all contained the same 90-kDa receptor, or part of it. We suggest that extensive cross-linking and/or proteolysis may explain many of the conflicting results published thus far. The extracellular domain of the 90-kDa receptor protein was highly resistant to digestion with trypsin or proteinase K. Trypsin digestion neither affected the number of binding sites per cell, nor the Kd for IFN-gamma. A cluster of sites for different proteases was found in the intracellular domain. The 50-kDa fragment created by trypsin digestion had the same characteristics as the isolated 50-kDa receptor fragment. It contained the IFN-gamma binding site and the receptor's extracellular and amino-terminal domain. N-linked glycosylation contributed about 15 kDa to its molecular mass, of which 4 kDa were attributable to sialic acid residues. O-Linked glycosylation was not detected. The number of binding sites per cell and the Kd for IFN-gamma were not affected by the presence or absence of N-linked glycosylation. The receptor contained at least one critical disulfide bridge and the reduced receptor could be reactivated in vitro.

Animals↗

Development of interferon-gamma antagonists as an example of biotechnology application to approach new immunomodulators.

Recent applications of recombinant DNA technology have made possible the isolation and structural characterization of previously poorly-described proteins (e.g. Interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) and its specific receptors). These "recombinant proteins" can be developed as new therapeutics, or used in high specific screening. Structural information obtained from the studies on the recombinant proteins and their receptors, can then be used in computer assisted molecular modeling to design non-proteinaceous immunomodulatory, antiinflammatory and antineoplastic molecules. These novel compounds, able to modulate the functions of the endogenous IFN gamma, will show several advantages in respect to the recombinant proteins used as drugs. We would like to illustrate how the application of the modern biotechnology leads to the development of new drugs and, as an example, to describe the procedure which is followed in the case of the IFN gamma.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Serum amyloid protein (SAP) as a marker of autoimmune disease in mice.

Acute phase proteins are good markers of inflammatory processes. To clarify whether Serum Amyloid Protein (SAP) can be a marker for the onset of SLE disease in mice, we measured constitutive and inducible SAP levels in normal mice of different strains, in C57Bl/6 lpr/lpr (B6lpr) and [NZB x NZW]F1 (NZB/W) SLE-prone mice, in mice that develop Lupus-like syndrome during chronic Graft versus Host (GvH) reaction and in mice suffering acute GvH reaction. In comparison to B6lpr, NZB/W mice showed higher blood levels of SAP but those levels did not correlate with autoimmune parameters. In B6lpr, the SAP levels steadily increased with age and correlated with some of the parameters used for monitoring the SLE disease. High levels of SAP were also found in mice suffering acute GvH reaction whereas the lupus-like chronic GvH disease was associated with limited increase of SAP levels.

Age of Onset↗