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Biomedical subjects

M Marchisio

Publications and source records attributed to M Marchisio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of HIV-1 Tat proteins mutated in the transactivation domain for prophylactic and therapeutic application.

Previous work from our group showed that genetic immunization of mice with HIV-1 tat genes (tat22 and tat22/37), encoding Tat proteins mutated in the transactivation domain and lacking Tat-transactivating activity, evoke an immune response to wild-type Tat, both humoral and cellular. In the present work we report that the mutated Tat proteins localize within the cells, are released and taken up by the cells in a fashion similar to wild-type Tat. Moreover, the exogenous mutated Tat proteins interfere with the transactivating function of extracellular wild-type Tat. These results support the notion that tat22 and tat22/37 genes may represent good candidates for the development of an anti-HIV-1 vaccine, especially for HIV-1 infected patients.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Histochemical and biochemical analysis of phospholipase C isoforms in normal human gastric mucosa cells.

The expression and activity of PIP2-specific phospholipase C (PLC) in healthy human gastric mucosa cells were investigated by means of Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and in vitro activity assays. The results provide direct evidence for an almost exclusive expression of the PLC beta family and at the same time supply a cellular cartography of each represented isoform of this family. In this context, the putative roles of each isoform in the signaling events regulating the gastric mucosa metabolic machinery are discussed. These data provide a unique map of the specific expression and cellular distribution of the most represented PLC isoforms in healthy human gastric mucosa cells, which may constitute a reference point in future studies aimed at highlighting possible cytochemical and biochemical hallmarks of metaplastic or malignant transformation.

Blotting, Western↗

Phospholipase C delta2 expression characterizes the neoplastic transformation of the human gastric mucosa.

The expression, cellular distribution, and activity of PIP(2)-specific phospholipase C (PLC) in healthy human gastric-mucosa cells have been recently studied in our laboratories and a direct evidence for an almost exclusive expression of PLC beta isoforms, with the exception of PLC beta4, has been provided. These results addressed our attention to possible modification of PLC expression and activity during neoplastic transformation of the human gastric mucosa. In the present article we present results indicating that PLC delta2 is markedly expressed in type II intestinal metaplasia and in the adenocarcinoma whereas traces of other PLC isoforms were sometime detected. Interestingly, we found that type I intestinal metaplasia was in the majority of the cases PLC delta2-negative, but when expressed, this type of metaplasia generally considered as benignant, always evolved toward neoplastic transformation. These results therefore readdress the question of surveillance of the patients with type I intestinal metaplasia and suggest that PLC delta2 expression might be a possible marker of gastric malignant transformation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Stromal derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 alpha) induces CD4+ T cell apoptosis via the functional up-regulation of the Fas (CD95)/Fas ligand (CD95L) pathway.

Stromal-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha), the high-affinity ligand of CXC-chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), induced a progressive increase of apoptosis when added to the Jurkat CD4+/CXCR4+ T cell line. The SDF-1alpha-mediated Jurkat cell apoptosis was observed in serum-free or serum-containing cultures, peaked at SDF-1alpha concentrations of 10-100 ng/ml, required 3 days to take place, and was completely blocked by the z-VAD-fmk tripeptide caspase inhibitor. Although SDF-1alpha did not modify the expression of TNF-alpha or that of TNF-RI and TNF-RII, it increased the expression of surface Fas/APO-1 (CD95) and intracellular Fas ligand (CD95L) significantly. Moreover, the ability of SDF-1alpha to induce apoptosis was inhibited by an anti-CD95 Fab' neutralizing antibody. These findings suggest a role for SDF-1alpha in the homeostatic control of CD4+ T-cell survival/apoptosis mediated by the CD95-CD95L pathway.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Requirement of tyrosine-phosphorylated Vav for morphological differentiation of all-trans-retinoic acid-treated HL-60 cells.

Our previous data demonstrated that cellular and nuclear tyrosine-phosphorylated Vav associate with phosphoinositide 3-kinase during all-trans-retinoic acid-dependent granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells. In this study, aimed to analyze the mechanism by which Vav is recruited and activated, we report that the Src homology 2 domain of Vav interacts with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in a differentiation-dependent manner. Two adaptor proteins, Cbl and SLP-76, were identified, showing a discrete distribution inside the cells, with Cbl absent from the nuclei and SLP-76 particularly abundant in the nuclear compartment. Of note, Vav interacts with the tyrosine kinase Syk, which is also present in the nuclear compartment and may phosphorylate Vav in vitro when cells differentiate. Inhibition of Syk activity by piceatannol prevents both in vitro and in vivo Vav tyrosine phosphorylation, its association with the regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and the nuclear modifications typically observed during granulocytic differentiation of this cell line. These findings suggest that tyrosine-phosphorylated Vav and its association with phosphoinositide 3-kinase play a crucial role in all-trans-retinoic acid-induced reorganization of the nucleoskeleton, which is responsible for the changes in nuclear morphology observed during granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Spatial distribution of lamin A and B1 in the K562 cell nuclear matrix stabilized with metal ions.

When the nucleus is stripped of most DNA, RNA, and soluble proteins, a structure remains that has been referred to as the nuclear matrix, which acts as a framework to determine the higher order of chromatin organization. However, there is always uncertainty as to whether or not the nuclear matrix, isolated in vitro, could really represent a skeleton of the nucleus in vivo. In fact, the only nuclear framework of which the existence is universally accepted is the nuclear lamina, a continuous thin layer that underlies the inner nuclear membrane and is mainly composed of three related proteins: lamins A, B, and C. Nevertheless, a number of recent investigations performed on different cell types have suggested that nuclear lamins are also present within the nucleoplasm and could be important constituents of the nuclear matrix. In most cell types investigated, the nuclear matrix does not spontaneously resist the extraction steps, but must rather be stabilized before the application of extracting agents. In this investigation, by immunochemical and morphological analysis, we studied the effect of stabilization with different divalent cations (Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+)) on the distribution of lamin A and B1 in the nuclear matrix obtained from K562 human erythroleukemia cells. In intact cells, antibodies to both lamin A and B1 mainly stained the nuclear periphery, although some immunoreactivity was detected in the nuclear interior. The fluorescent lamin A pattern detected in Cu(2+)- and Cd(2+)-stabilized nuclei was markedly modified, whereas Zn(2+)-incubated nuclei showed an unaltered pattern of lamin A distribution. By contrast, the distribution of lamin B1 in isolated nuclei was not modified by the stabilizing cations. When chromatin was removed by nuclease digestion and extraction with solutions of high ionic strength, a previously masked immunoreactivity for lamin A, but not for lamin B1, became evident in the internal part of the residual structures representing the nuclear matrix. Our results indicate that when metal ions are used as stabilizing agents for the recovery of the nuclear matrix, the distribution of both lamin A and lamin B1 in the final structures, corresponds to the pattern we have very recently reported using different extraction procedures. This observation strengthen the concept that intranuclear lamins may act as structural components of the nuclear matrix.

Cadmium↗

Monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells is characterized by the nuclear translocation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and of definite phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C isoforms.

Immunochemical and immunocytochemical data indicate that nuclei of HL-60 cells contain different enzymes involved in the phosphoinositide cycle, such as PI 3-K and the phosphatidylinositol-specific PLC isoforms beta3, gamma1 and gamma2. These enzymes translocate differently to the nuclear fraction when HL-60 cells are treated with differentiating doses of vitamin D3: PI 3-K translocated progressively to the nucleus in parallel with full differentiation until 96 hours. PLC beta3 increased until 72 hours of treatment and then lowered its intranuclear amount and PLC gamma1 was unchanged at all the examined times. PLC gamma2 nuclear translocation increased progressively until 96 hours of vitamin D3 administration. A fourth PLC isozyme, beta2, present in the cytoplasm of untreated cells, translocates to the cytoplasm after vitamin D3 addition and reaches the highest concentration at the end of monocytic differentiation. Terminal monocytic differentiation was characterized at the nuclear level by high levels of PI 3-K and PLC gamma2 and by the novel expression of PLC beta2. We then observed that the xi isoform of PKC, constitutively present in nuclei of HL-60 cells, translocated to the nucleus when cells were induced to differentiate along the monocytic lineage, but the nuclear translocation of PKC xi was blocked as a consequence of PI 3-K inhibition by Wortmannin. These findings indicate that the main components of the noncanonical and canonical inositol lipid signal transduction pathways, including PI 3-K, PLC beta2 and beta3, PLC gamma2, undergo nuclear translocation and may therefore play a relevant role during monocytic differentiation at the nuclear level. Furthermore, PKC xi nuclear translocation appears to be related to PI 3-K activity.

Androstadienes↗

Influence of different metal ions on the ultrastructure, biochemical properties, and protein localization of the K562 cell nuclear matrix.

The higher order of chromatin organization is thought to be determined by the nuclear matrix, a mainly proteinaceous structure that would act as a nucleoskeleton. The matrix is obtained from isolated nuclei by a series of extraction steps involving the use of high salt and nonspecific nucleases, which remove chromatin and other loosely bound components. It is currently under debate whether these structures, isolated in vitro by unphysiological extraction buffers, correspond to a nucleoskeleton existing in vivo. In most cell types investigated, the nuclear matrix does not spontaneously resist these extractions steps; rather, it must be stabilized before the application of extracting agents. In this study nuclei, isolated from K562 human erythroleukemia cells, were stabilized by incubation with different metal ions (Ca2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+), and the matrix was obtained by extraction with 2 M NaCl. By means of ultrastructural analysis of the resulting structures, we determined that, except for Ca2+, all the other metals induced a stabilization of the matrix, which retained the inner fibrogranular network and residual nucleoli. The biochemical composition, analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis separation, exhibited a distinct matrix polypeptide pattern, characteristic of each type of stabilizing ion employed. We also investigated to what extent metal ions could maintain in the final structures the original distribution of three inner matrix components, i.e. NuMA, topoisomerase IIalpha, and RNP. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that only NuMa, and, to a lesser extent, topoisomerase IIalpha, were unaffected by stabilization with divalent ions. On the contrary, the fluorescent RNP patterns detected in the resulting matrices were always disarranged, irrespective of the stabilization procedure. These results indicate that several metal ions are powerful stabilizing agents of the nuclear matrix prepared from K562 erythroleukemia cells and also strengthen the concept that NuMA and topoisomerase IIalpha may act as structural components of the nuclear matrix.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Selective modulation of specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in primary human megakaryocytic vs. erythroid cells.

We have investigated the pattern of expression of classical (alpha, betaI, betaII, gamma), novel (delta) and atypical (zeta) protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms during the course of human hematopoietic differentiation along the closely related megakaryocytic and erythroid lineages. Using in situ immunofluorescence analysis, freshly isolated human pluripotent CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells expressed detectable amounts of all the PKC isoforms investigated. On the other hand, clear-cut differences in terms of PKC staining were noticed between cells belonging to the erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages, obtained after 9 days of serum-free liquid culture in the presence of specific growth factors. Specifically, 1) erythroid cells showed a very weak expression of PKC-alpha, -betaI, -betaII, and -gamma, while megakaryocytes showed an enhanced expression of all classical PKC isoforms, predominantly confined to the cytoplasm; 2) the expression of PKC-delta increased in the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of both erythroid and megakaryocytic cells with respect to CD34+ cells; and 3) atypical PKC-zeta isoform showed a striking accumulation in the nucleus during both erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation.

Cell Differentiation↗

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity is essential for all-trans-retinoic acid-induced granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) activity increases in HL-60 cells that are induced to granulocytic differentiation by all-trans-retinoic acid. Immunochemical and immunocytochemical analyses by confocal microscopy also reveal an increase in the amount of the enzyme, which is particularly evident at the nuclear level. Inhibition of PI 3-K activity by nanomolar concentrations of wortmannin and of its expression by transfection with an antisense fragment of p85alpha prevented the differentiative process. The data obtained indicate that PI 3-K activity plays an essential role in promoting granulocytic differentiation.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Increase in nuclear phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate synthesis precede PKC-zeta translocation to the nucleus of NGF-treated PC12 cells.

We and others have previously demonstrated the existence of an autonomous nuclear polyphosphoinositide cycle that generates second messengers such as diacylglycerol (DAG), capable of attracting to the nucleus specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms (Neri et al. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 29738-29744). Recently, however, nuclei have also been shown to contain the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of the non-canonical 3-phosphorylated inositides. To clarify a possible role of this peculiar class of inositol lipids we have examined the question of whether nerve growth factor (NGF) induces PKC-zeta nuclear translocation in PC12 cells and whether this translocation is dependent on nuclear phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) activity and its product, phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)]. NGF increased both the amount and the enzyme activity of immunoprecipitable PI 3-K in PC12 cell nuclei. Activation of the enzyme, but not its translocation, was blocked by PI 3-K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. Treatment of PC12 cells for 9 min with NGF led to an increase in the nuclear levels of PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3). Maximal translocation of PKC-zeta from the cytoplasm to the nucleus (as evaluated by immunoblotting, enzyme activity, and confocal microscopy) occurred after 12 min of exposure to NGF and was completely abrogated by either wortmannin or LY294002. In contrast, these two inhibitors did not block nuclear translocation of the conventional, DAG-sensitive, PKC-alpha. On the other hand, the specific phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C inhibitor, 1-O-octadeyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, was unable to abrogate nuclear translocation of the DAG-insensitive PKC-zeta. These data suggest that a nuclear increase in PI 3-K activity and PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) production are necessary for the subsequent nuclear translocation of PKC-zeta. Furthermore, they point to the likelihood that PKC-zeta is a putative nuclear downstream target of PI 3-K during NGF-promoted neural differentiation.-Neri, L. M., Martelli, A. M., Borgatti, P., Colamussi, M. L., Marchisio, M., Capitani, S. Increase in nuclear phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity and phosphatidylinositol (3,4, 5) trisphosphate synthesis precede PKC-zeta translocation to the nucleus of NGF-treated PC12 cells.

Animals↗

Nuclear association of tyrosine-phosphorylated Vav to phospholipase C-gamma1 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase during granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells.

The granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by all-trans retinoic acid was accompanied by a progressive tyrosine phosphorylation of specific proteins in either cells or isolated nuclei. Among these phosphoproteins, we identified the Vav adaptor in whole cells as well as in the inner nuclear compartment, where the increase in its tyrosine phosphorylation level was more conspicuous. We also demonstrated the differentiation-dependent association of nuclear phosphorylated Vav to phospholipase C-gamma1 and to the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. The role of the Vav/phospholipase C-gamma1/phosphoinositide 3-kinase phosphoprotein complexes in the nuclei of HL-60 induced to differentiate along the granulocytic lineage is discussed.

Cell Differentiation↗

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in HL-60 nuclei is bound to the nuclear matrix and increases during granulocytic differentiation.

We have used HL-60 leukemia cells to investigate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) during granulocytic differentiation at the nuclear level. Nuclei of HL-60 cells showed a constitutive presence of PI 3-K that increased when cells were treated with differentiating doses of ATRA. PI 3-K was also detected tightly bound to nuclear matrices of HL-60 cells, isolated by nuclease treatment and high salt extraction. Four days of ATRA treatment induced a striking increase of nuclear matrix bound PI 3-K. In situ morphological analysis by confocal microscopy showed the translocation of PI 3-K to the nucleus and to the subnuclear fractions. PI 3-K enzymatic activity was stimulated during the granulocytic differentiation process and parallelled the increase in content of nuclei and subnuclear fractions. PI 3-K activity was recovered in nuclei also without the addition of exogenous substrates, consistent with the presence of both substrates and enzyme in the nucleus. These results indicate that specific intracellular localization of PI 3-K determines the production of different phosphoinositides in the sites of the enzyme translocation, and suggest that 3-phosphoinositide metabolism may play a specific role in the nucleus, candidating PI 3-K as a key enzyme in promoting granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells.

Blotting, Western↗

The induction of megakaryocyte differentiation is accompanied by selective Ser133 phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB in both HEL cell line and primary CD34+ cells.

The addition of thrombopoietin (TPO) to HEL cells, cultured in a chemically defined serum-free medium, induced a rapid and dose-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB on serine133 (PSer133), as detected by Western blot analysis. TPO also significantly increased the transactivation of CRE-dependent promoter, as determined in transient transfection experiments. On the other hand, neither erythropoietin (Epo; 1 to 10 U) nor hemin (10 (-7) mol/L) were able to significantly stimulate CREB-PSer133 or to activate CRE-promoter in HEL cells. Although pharmacological inhibitors of protein kinase C (chelerytrine and BIM) and protein kinase A (H-89) failed to block the TPO-mediated CREB phosphorylation, a specific inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (PD98059) completely blocked the ability of TPO to stimulate CREB-PSer133. Moreover, PD98059 significantly decreased the ability of TPO to upregulate the surface expression of the alphaIIIbbeta3 megakaryocytic marker in HEL cells. In parallel, primary CD34+ hematopoietic cells were seeded in liquid cultures supplemented with 100 ng/mL of TPO and examined by immunofluorescence for the coexpression of alphaIIIbbeta3 and CREB-PSer133 at various time points. High levels of nuclear CREB-PSer133 were unequivocally demonstrated in alphaIIIbbeta3+ cells, including morphologically recognizable megakaryocytes. Taken together, these data suggest that CREB plays a role in modulating the expression of genes critical for megakaryocyte differentiation and that the TPO-mediated CREB phosphorylation seems to be regulated via mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Antigens, CD34↗

Human herpesvirus 7 induces the down-regulation of CD4 antigen in lymphoid T cells without affecting p56lck levels.

In this study, we investigated the fate of the CD4 Ag during infection of CD4+ T cells with the T lymphotrophic human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7), using the SupT1 lymphoblastoid T cell line as a model system. The following points were established: 1) productive infection with HHV-7 was required to obtain persistent down-modulation of surface CD4 (CD4SURF); 2) at 6 to 9 days postinfection, when approximately 50 to 60% of SupT1 cells still showed a CD4SURF dim positivity, a drastic loss of total CD4 protein was found by either Western blot or immunoprecipitation experiments; 3) a block in CD4 protein production was demonstrated by a radioimmunoprecipitation assay; 4) analysis of the mRNA steady-state levels and transfection studies performed with a plasmid containing the CD4 promoter/enhancer regions in front of the luciferase gene indicated that HHV-7 infection has a suppressive effect on CD4 transcription; 5) both CD4SURF and intracellular CD4 (CD4INTRA) were reduced in HHV-7-infected cells with respect to uninfected controls, but the loss of CD4SURF was more dramatic than that of CD4INTRA; 6) immunogold labeling and electron microscopy demonstrated that CD4INTRA co-localized with HHV-7 Ags within the same subcellular compartments of infected cells; and 7) the total amount of the tyrosine kinase p56lck and tyrosine phosphorylated p56lck levels were unchanged in HHV-7-infected versus uninfected cells.

Antigens, Viral↗

Intranuclear translocation of phospholipase C beta2 during HL-60 myeloid differentiation.

Phospholipases C (PLC) beta3, gamma1, and gamma2 were detected in nuclei of HL-60 promyelocitic leukaemia cells. When HL-60 cells undergo terminal myeloid differentiation in the presence of ATRA, the beta2 isoform appeared inside nuclei and was up-regulated until 72 hours of ATRA treatment. The beta3 isozyme was also increased until 72 hours and both isoforms lowered their intranuclear amount at 96 hours and following days of treatment. By contrast PLC gamma1 and gamma2 progressively increased in the nucleus during granulocytic differentiation even after 72 hours of treatment. Terminal differentiation was characterised by the expression of high levels of PLC gamma1 and gamma2 and by low levels of PLC beta2 and beta3 in the nucleus. PIP2 and PIP hydrolysis paralleled the prevalence of the beta or gamma subfamily, respectively. Moreover, at all the examined times no changes of PLCs in the whole cell were detectable, indicating a de novo nuclear translocation of the beta2 and an increased accumulation of beta3, gamma1, and gamma2 isoforms. Thus, the intranuclear presence, expression, and activity of PLC isozymes, which are modulated during differentiation of HL-60 cells, implicate a role for nuclear phosphoinositide signalling in the process of cell maturation. In particular the nuclear translocation of PLC beta2 candidates this PLC as a key enzyme in the granulocytic differentiative commitment of HL-60 cells.

Cell Differentiation↗

Enhanced resolution of specific chromosome and nuclear regions by reflectance laser scanning confocal microscopy.

DNA sequences digested by HaeIII and reconstructed by in situ nick translation employing digoxigenin-labelled nucleotides are usually revealed either by horseradish peroxidase or FITC fluorescence. To obtain a significant improvement in terms of resolution, sensitivity and specificity, colloidal gold has been used instead of FITC (as the reporter molecule) to reveal the labelled DNA. Colloidal gold and propidium iodide were visualised by employing the reflectance mode and the 488-nm laser line of a confocal laser scanning microscope. In chromosomes, the fluorescent reaction pattern showed diffuse areas of labelling in which it was impossible to identify any specific kind of banding along the arms. In some chromosomes and, in particular, 1 and 9, a C-negative banding due to the negativity of the centromeric areas was seen. A more accurate localisation on chromosomes, including telomeric regions, often organised in spot pairs that resembled an R-like banding, was detected using 1-nm colloidal gold. A fine labelling was also demonstrated in nuclei, especially at their peripheral heterochromatin. The non-fading properties of colloidal gold combined with visualisation by reflectance confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated the possibility of obtaining a higher spatial resolution than when using conventional fluorophores or higher laser wavelength. This improved way to study the localization of HaeIII digestion sites in single chromosomes and in interphase nuclei made the reaction a valuable tool for the detection of antigens or of specific DNA sequences in biological preparations.

Cell Nucleus↗