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M J Wick

Publications and source records attributed to M J Wick.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Evaluation of capillary electrophoresis in polymer solutions with laser-induced fluorescence detection for the automated detection of T-cell gene rearrangements in lymphoproliferative disorders.

The rapid increase in the number of DNA-based clinical diagnostic procedures, particularly polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays, has generated interest in analytical techniques that are less time-consuming and labor-intensive than traditional procedures such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) detection, which allows for rapid and sensitive detection of DNA fragments in an automated format, is well-suited for DNA-based clinical assays. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of CE-LIF for the detection of PCR products from T-cell receptor gamma (TCR gamma) gene rearrangements present in monoclonal populations of lymphocytes. The presence of monoclonal populations of T-cells is associated (but not always synonymous) with lymphocytic malignancies. Analysis of 31 patient samples, as well as sensitivity controls, demonstrated that CE-LIF detection of monoclonal lymphocytic populations is comparable to that of PAGE-SYBR Green I staining, and that CE-LIF detection can be accomplished in less than 20 min. These preliminary results illustrate the potential feasibility of a CE-based diagnostic assay for the detection of T-cell gene rearrangements.

Automation↗
PubMed1996

Differential expression of opioid receptor genes in human lymphoid cell lines and peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The existence of receptors for opioid compounds on cells of the immune system has long been hypothesized, but has been very difficult to demonstrate unequivocally. We have used reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to obtain cDNA clones from the human MOLT-4 and CEM-3 T-leukemic cell lines which are nearly identical to portions of the delta and kappa opioid receptor cDNAs recently isolated from human brain and placenta, respectively. Northern analyses with riboprobes derived from the delta and kappa opioid receptor clones indicate these sequences are expressed at low levels in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in several human lymphoid cell lines. Sequences corresponding to the mu opioid receptor cDNA were not detected in this study. The results suggest that delta and kappa opioid receptors may be responsible for mediating some direct effects of opioids in immune cells.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Expression of OBCAM-related cDNA clones in Cos 1 cells: evidence for a phosphatidylinositol linkage to the cell membrane.

Previously, our laboratory purified and isolated the cDNA for OBCAM (opioid binding cell adhesion molecule) from bovine brain, as well as highly homologous rat brain cDNA clones, SG13 and DUZ-1. Structural similarities with members of the immunoglobulin superfamily suggest a possible role for OBCAM in cell adhesion and recognition, while studies in our own laboratory suggest that OBCAM is important in the regulation of opioid binding and signal transduction. However, OBCAM lacks a putative transmembrane domain, and its possible mode of linkage to the cellular membrane has not been studied. Upon transfection of Cos 1 cells with SG13 and DUZ-1 cDNAs, the OBCAM-homologous proteins were expressed on the surface of the Cos 1 cells. These proteins were released from the membrane of the Cos 1 cells upon digestion with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), demonstrating that they are linked to the membrane via a phosphatidylinositol (PI) linkage. These results are consistent with a role for OBCAM in cell recognition and adhesion, as well as in cellular signaling.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Peptide boronic acids. Versatile synthetic ligands for affinity chromatography of serine proteinases.

Peptide boronic acids are potent transition-state analogue inhibitors of serine proteinases. We prepared the peptide boronic acids Ala-Ala-boroPhe (AAbF), targeted at chymotrypsin-like proteinases, and Ala-Ala-boroVal (AAbV), targeted at elastolytic enzymes. Analogues protected on the N-terminus with the carbonylbenzyloxy (Cbz) group were powerful inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and human cathepsin G (CatG), as well as the non-human counterparts, porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and bovine alpha-chymotrypsin (ChT) Removal of N-Cbz protecting groups and immobilization with Sepharose 6B provided affinity matrices. Columns consisting of the AAbF or AAbV affinity matrix separated a mixture of PPE and ChT. PPE was specifically retained by the AAbV column and ChT was specifically retained by the AAbF column. HNE and CatG were not separated using the AAbF matrix, but were separated with the AAbV matrix. To demonstrate the practical utility of these affinity ligands, HNE was isolated from crude human neutrophil extracts, resulting in an 18-fold purification in one chromatographic step, with a 41% recovery of elastolytic activity. Because peptide boronic acids can be synthesized having specificity for a wide range of target enzymes, this method is readily adaptable as a general procedure for isolation and purification of serine proteinases.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Isolation of a cDNA encoding a novel zinc-finger protein from neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 cells.

A subtraction cDNA library was constructed from control hybrid NG108-15 (mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma) cells and NG108-15 cells which had been treated for 48 h with the delta-opioid agonist D-Ala2-D-Leu5 enkephalin (DADLE) to down-regulate the delta-opioid receptor on these cells. Among the clones isolated from this library was NGD16-4, a 2768-bp clone encoding a putative 64-kDa protein containing 14 tandemly repeated zinc fingers (Zf) with high homology to the Krüppel family of Zf proteins. NGD16-4 also contains a region homologous to the A element of the Krüppel Associated Box (KRAB) domain, a domain recently linked to transcriptional repression. Southern and Northern analyses indicate that NGD16-4 is derived from the mouse genome. Northern analysis also demonstrates that expression of NGD16-4 mRNA is much higher in several mouse neuroblastoma cell lines than in mouse brain or other tissues. Although the function of NGD16-4 is unclear, the expression pattern of NGD16-4 indicates a possible association with the processes of differentiation or transformation in the mouse.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Molecular cloning of a novel protein regulated by opioid treatment of NG108-15 cells.

A new cDNA clone, NGD5, has been identified from a subtraction cDNA library constructed with mRNA isolated from control neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 cells and cells treated for 48 h with the delta-opioid agonist, D-Ala2, D-Leu5 enkephalin (DADLE). NGD5 mRNA is decreased, in a naloxone-reversible manner, upon long-term treatment of NG108-15 cells with DADLE, indicating that this clone may be related to opioid receptor function. Northern analysis indicates that NGD5 mRNA is expressed in rat brain. Two similar nearly full-length NGD5 clones, NGD5A and NGD5B, were isolated from a lambda gt10 NG108-15 cDNA library and sequenced. The predicted 40-kDa peptide encoded for by the NGD5 cDNA has no significant homology to the recently cloned mu, delta or kappa opioid receptors nor to any other known proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Expression of alternate forms of brain opioid 'orphan' receptor mRNA in activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphocytic cell lines.

We screened a PHA (phytohemagglutinin)-activated human lymphocyte cDNA library for clones with homology to the recently cloned brain opioid receptors. A cDNA clone, AT7-5EU, was isolated which encodes the opioid 'orphan' receptor, a molecule with very high homology to the opioid receptor gene family, but which has not been shown to bind opioids or any other known compounds. The protein coding region of AT7-5EU has complete homology with a reported opioid 'orphan' clone isolated from human brain, but the 5' untranslated regions of AT7-5EU and the human brain clones are divergent, suggesting mechanisms for tissue-specific expression of this receptor. Northern analysis of AT7-5EU mRNA demonstrates the expression of this message in human lymphocytic cell lines of both B-and T-cell lineages. Furthermore, analysis of mRNA from human peripheral blood lymphocytes demonstrates that activation of the lymphocytes with PHA results in at least a 10-fold induction of the AT7-5EU message. These results suggest that the opioid 'orphan' receptor may have an important immunological function in addition to its function in the nervous system.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The phoP locus influences processing and presentation of Salmonella typhimurium antigens by activated macrophages.

The destruction and processing of bacteria by activated macrophages facilitates the presentation of antigens to T cells and thereby promotes the induction of specific immunity. The PhoP-PhoQ regulatory system that controls the synthesis of many Salmonella proteins required for virulence and survival within macrophages is one mechanism that this particular intracellular pathogen has evolved to resist destruction. To address whether the phoP locus also influences antigen processing during the interaction of Salmonella typhimurium with macrophages, we tested the effect of phoP mutations on the processing and presentation of model antigens expressed by the bacteria. Activated macrophages processed phoP- bacteria with greater efficiency than wild-type bacteria, as measured by the response of antigen-specific T-hybridoma cells; Salmonella constitutively expressing PhoP were processed even less efficiently than wild-type Salmonella. After heat-inactivation, however, both wild-type and phoP- bacteria were efficiently processed. The altered processing and presentation efficiency was not due to differences in the level of antigen expressed by the bacteria or differences in the level of bacterial uptake by the macrophages. In addition, phoP-regulated gene expression was shown to influence processing of antigen phagocytosed independently of the bacteria. Thus, phoP-regulated gene products decrease the processing and presentation of S. typhimurium antigens, demonstrating a role for this virulence locus in the inhibition of the induction of specific immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Processing of bacterial antigens for presentation to class I and II MHC-restricted T lymphocytes.

Phagocytosis leads to the destruction of many bacteria and the proteolytic degradation of bacterial antigens within phagolysosomes to produce immunogenic peptides that bind to Class II major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules within vacuolar compartments. On the other hand, Class I MHC molecules bind cytosol-derived peptides, including peptides from bacteria that escape the vacuolar system and penetrate into the cytosol. A recently described pathway may also allow the presentation of peptides from intravacuolar organisms by Class I MHC molecules in some cases. T cell recognition of peptide-MHC complexes then provides the primary basis for specific immunity to protein antigens of bacteria. This article will review the subcellular compartments and mechanisms involved in generating immunogenic peptides, the subcellular localization of MHC molecules that bind these peptides, and bacterial parameters that affect antigen processing.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Inactivation of hamster monomorphic N-acetyltransferase by vinyl fluorenyl ketone.

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are cytosolic enzymes that play important roles in the detoxification and activation of xenobiotic arylamines and their metabolites. Vinyl fluorenyl ketone (VFK) is a selective and potent active site-directed irreversible inhibitor of rat liver monomorphic NAT. The present study demonstrated that VFK is an active site-directed affinity label for hamster liver monomorphic NAT, but is a much less effective inactivator of the polymorphic N-acetyltransferase isozyme. The potency, irreversibility and selectivity of VFK make it a potentially valuable tool for characterization of NATs that exhibit acetyl donor specificity similar to that of hamster monomorphic NAT.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1994

Isolation of a novel cDNA encoding a putative membrane receptor with high homology to the cloned mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors.

A rat brain cDNA library was screened for clones homologous to the recently cloned mouse delta-opioid receptor (DOR-1). Among the clones isolated was Hyp 8-1, a clone with a unique nucleotide sequence capable of encoding a putative protein which is 57-58% identical to the amino acid sequences of the cloned delta, mu and kappa opioid receptors, indicating a close relationship of Hyp 8-1 with the opioid receptor family. Several cDNAs representing possible splice variants of Hyp 8-1 were also isolated. Binding studies of COS-7 cells transfected with clone Hyp 8-1 failed to demonstrate specific binding with several 3H-opioid ligands. In situ hybridization studies indicate that the mRNA for Hyp 8-1 is distributed discretely throughout the rat brain, in an overall pattern which is different from that of several other G-protein-coupled seven transmembrane receptors. Thus, it is likely that the Hyp 8-1 cDNA encodes a novel peptide receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Parameters that influence the efficiency of processing antigenic epitopes expressed in Salmonella typhimurium.

We investigated parameters that affect the efficiency with which antigenic epitopes from Salmonella typhimurium are processed for presentation to T lymphocytes. As a model system, the hen egg white lysozyme 52-61 [HEL(52-61)] epitope, which binds the murine major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecule I-Ak, was expressed in soluble fusion proteins in S. typhimurium. Murine peritoneal macrophages mediated phagocytic processing of viable S. typhimurium expressing fusion proteins of the HEL epitope for presentation via I-Ak regardless of the bacterial compartment in which the epitope was contained (i.e., surface exposed, facing the periplasmic space, or in the cytoplasm). Minor differences in processing efficiency observed with different epitope compartmentalizations could be overcome by altering the relative expression level, indicating that epitope abundance is an important factor for efficient processing of epitopes from S. typhimurium. This processing pathway required phagocytosis of bacteria followed by passage through an acidic compartment, suggesting a pathway involving phagolysosomal degradation of the bacteria to liberate epitopes that bind MHC-II. HEL(52-61) was processed more efficiently from heat-killed S. typhimurium than from viable bacteria, and in addition, the HEL epitope was processed more efficiently from a rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS) strain than from its isogenic smooth LPS counterpart, most likely because of enhanced phagocytosis of the rough LPS strain. These data suggest that the efficiency of epitope processing from S. typhimurium for presentation via MHC-II is affected by bacterial viability, epitope abundance, and LPS phenotype, factors which may be important to consider in development of recombinant S. typhimurium vaccine strains.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Analysis of delta-opioid receptor activities stably expressed in CHO cell lines: function of receptor density?

The question of whether short- and long-term opioid agonist activities could be affected by receptor density is being addressed with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines stably expressing delta-opioid receptors. CHO cells expressing different levels of delta-opioid binding sites were isolated and characterized. The opioid binding sites in these cell lines have stereoselective high affinity for 3H-diprenorphine (0.18 to 0.91 nM), with agonist binding sensitive to both Na+ and GTP gamma S, and are of the delta-2-opioid receptor subtype. This is conclude from observations that the delta-2-opioid receptor-selective agonist naltriben (NTB) has higher affinity than the delta-1-opioid receptor-selective agonist 7-benzylidenenaltrexone (BNTX). It also could be demonstrated that delta-opioid agonists inhibited forskolin-stimulated intracellular 3H-cAMP production and that agonist inhibition could be blocked by pretreating cells with pertussis toxin. Again, NTB is more potent than BNTX or naloxone in reversing DPDPE inhibition of intracellular 3H-cAMP production. When the ability of [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE) to regulate adenylyl cyclase activity was examined in three separate CHO cell lines: CHODORX1-15, CHODORX1-8 and CHODORX1-4, which express 1.42 +/- 0.08, 0.74 +/- 0.07 and 0.27 +/- 0.04 pmol/mg-protein of receptor, respectively, maximal inhibitory levels in clones X1-15 and X1-8 were similar, whereas maximal inhibitory level for clone X1-4 was 66% of the other two clones. However, when maximal inhibitory levels of other opioid receptor-selective agonists were examined, different levels of inhibition were observed among these three CHO clones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1993

Phagocytic processing of bacterial antigens for class I MHC presentation to T cells.

Class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules present antigens that are produced within the presenting cell or penetrate from the vacuolar system into the cytosol for processing. Most studies of exogenous antigen processing have used soluble antigens, which are not efficiently presented by class I MHC molecules and do not elicit CD8 T-cell responses in vivo. But particulate antigen preparations with no known mechanism for cytosolic penetration can also elicit CD8 T-cell responses in vivo. We report here that phagocytosis of bacteria with no mechanism for cytosolic penetration also results in presentation of bacterial antigens by class I MHC molecules. Moreover, this mechanism is resistant to cycloheximide and Brefeldin A, which block the classical class I processing pathway. These results suggest a novel vacuolar class I processing pathway for exogenous phagocytic antigens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Serum albumin concentration-related Health Care Financing Administration quality assurance criterion is method-dependent: revision is necessary.

The objective of this study was to examine quantitative differences between the two commonly used methods for determining serum albumin concentration, bromcresol green (BCG) and bromcresol purple (BCP), in normal subjects and in 235 unselected dialysis patients in view of recently established Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) quality assurance review criteria. The mean of normal results by the BCG method was 4.4 g/dL, and 97.5% of values were 3.8 g/dL or higher. The mean of normal results by the BCP method was 3.9 g/dL, and 97.5% of values were 3.3 g/dL or higher. Serum albumin concentrations in samples from the dialysis patients had respectively lower mean values by both methods. For the BCG method, the mean was 3.8 g/dL, and 82% of values were 3.5 g/dL or higher; for the BCP method, the mean was 3.3 g/dL, and 82% of values were 3.0 g/dL or higher. Likewise, for the reference immunonephelometric procedure, the mean value for the dialysis patients was 3.3 g/dL, and 82% of values were 3.0 g/dL or higher. For the samples from the dialysis patients, in comparison with the immunonephelometric method, the BCG method exhibited both constant (intercept = 9.3 g/L) and proportional error (slope = 0.87). The mean albumin value for the BCG method was 3.8 g/dL, 15% higher. In contrast, the BCP method compared closely with the reference method: slope = 1.00, intercept = 0.8 g/L, mean x = 3.3 g/dL, mean y = 3.3 g/dL. The HCFA quality assurance criteria are valid only for the BCG method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bromcresol Green↗
PubMed1993

Compartmentalization of defined epitopes expressed in Escherichia coli has only a minor influence on efficiency of phagocytic processing for presentation by class I and class II major histocompatibility complex molecules to T cells.

The effect of abundance and compartmentalization of antigenic epitopes expressed in Escherichia coli on phagocytic processing was studied by expressing fusion proteins containing the epitope from positions 52 to 61 of hen egg white lysozyme [HEL(52-61)], which binds the I-Ak murine major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecule or the epitope from positions 257 to 264 of chicken egg ovalbumin [OVA(257-264]), which binds the Kb murine MHC-I molecule. Epitopes expressed as fusion proteins in the outer membrane protein LamB allowed exposure of the epitopes either at the bacterial surface, in the periplasmic space, or in the cytoplasm. Regardless of epitope compartmentalization within the bacterium, MHC-II-restricted or MHC-I-restricted presentation to T hybridoma cells occurred after macrophages phagocytosed bacteria producing the HEL(52-61) epitope or the OVA(257-264) epitope, respectively. Increased epitope abundance within a given microbial compartment resulted in increased processing and presentation to epitope-specific T hybridoma cells. Minor differences in the efficiency of epitope processing between the constructs was observed, and the HEL or OVA epitope exposed in the periplasmic space was processed most efficiently compared with the surface- or cytoplasm-localized epitopes. These differences could be overcome by increasing the amount of epitope per bacterium as little as two to five times. The minor differences in processing efficiency may be due to differing protein contexts of the epitope as well as differing epitope compartmentalizations within the bacteria. Thus, production of abundant epitope is the important parameter influencing processing of epitopes expressed in E. coli to induce T-cell responses rather than targeting of an epitope to a specific bacterial compartment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Recombinant Escherichia coli express a defined, cytoplasmic epitope that is efficiently processed in macrophage phagolysosomes for class II MHC presentation to T lymphocytes.

Although the processing of soluble Ag for presentation to T cells has been extensively studied in vitro, similar studies of phagocytic Ag processing have been limited. We have developed an in vitro model system to study the ability of macrophages to process recombinant Escherichia coli strain HB101 with cytoplasmic or surface expression of the well characterized T cell epitope of hen egg lysozyme (HEL) 52-61. This epitope was expressed within full length HEL or within a fusion protein containing the HEL epitope. Phagocytosis of E. coli with cytoplasmic expression of HEL or the HEL fusion protein resulted in strong presentation of HEL(52-61) to T cells. Surface-conjugated HEL was processed with even greater efficiency. Processing required viable macrophages, was inhibited by cytochalasin D, and was achieved within 20 min of bacterial contact with the macrophages. Within this time span, phagosomes containing bacteria fused with lysosomes, and the bacteria were extensively degraded. Uptake of as few as four bacteria per macrophage produced an Ag-specific T cell response. We conclude that bacterial compartmentalization of the antigenic epitope (cytoplasmic vs surface) had some effect on its processing, but that phagocytic Ag processing organelles contain extensive capacity to degrade internalized bacteria and liberate intracellular Ag epitopes for recycling and presentation, consistent with a central role for phagolysosomes. Thus, future recombinant bacterial vaccines may be effectively designed with T cell epitopes expressed either on the surface or within the bacterial cytoplasm.

Animals↗