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Biomedical subjects

M X Zhou

Publications and source records attributed to M X Zhou.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the proliferation of leukemic cells from children with B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL): studies of primary leukemic cells and BCP-ALL cell lines.

The effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) on the primary leukemic blasts and leukemic cell lines derived from children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) was studied. The proliferation of leukemic cells from the bone marrow of 11 of 13 patients (seven at diagnosis, four in relapse) and from the 697 (BCP-ALL) cell line was significantly inhibited by rTNF-alpha at the lowest dose tested (0.1 ng/mL), as measured by 3H-TdR uptake. The degree of inhibition was variable, ranging from 17% to 78%. Furthermore, a dose-dependent inhibitory effect was observed, with approximately 70% mean inhibition of DNA synthesis detected when cells from 12 of 13 patients were incubated with 100 ng/mL of rTNF-alpha for 3 days. In contrast, rTNF-alpha did not inhibit another BCP-ALL cell line (EU-1/ALL) established recently in our laboratory. Studies indicated that the TNF-alpha gene was expressed by the primary leukemic blasts of one TNF-resistant case in his third relapse and by EU-1 cells. Also, TNF-alpha protein was detected by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in the supernatant of EU-1 cells; this is the first report of TNF production by a BCP-ALL cell lines. The production of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein was not detected in the 697 cell line and in the primary leukemic blasts from six patients (four at diagnosis, two in relapse) whose leukemic cells were inhibited by TNF. The partially purified TNF-alpha obtained from the EU-1 cell line also suppressed the proliferation of TNF-sensitive primary leukemic cells, and this inhibitory activity was abolished by an anti-TNF-alpha specific antibody. Our results demonstrate that TNF-alpha is an inhibitor of in vitro proliferation of BCP-ALL cells from most patients. The TNF-resistant leukemic cells from a few patients and the EU-1 cell line express TNF mRNA, suggesting that the induction of TNF gene expression is associated with the development of TNF resistance.

Blotting, Western

Effects of low molecular weight B-cell growth factor on proliferation of leukemic cells from children with B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Recently, low-molecular-weight B-cell growth factor (LMW-BCGF) has been reported to stimulate growth of leukemic cells from B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). We further investigated the effects of LMW-BCGF on proliferation of leukemic clonogenic (progenitor) and nonclonogenic (progeny) cells from children with BCP-ALL (28 patients) and B-cell ALL (two patients). Patients were either at diagnosis (n = 18) or in relapse (n = 12). Response of leukemic progenitor cells was determined by culturing cells (10(5) cells/mL) in methylcellulose with 0.1 U/mL LMW-BCGF. Colonies (greater than 20 cells) were counted at day 7. The response of the leukemic progeny population was determined by DNA synthesis studies using tritiated-thymidine and by DNA quantitation with propidiumiodide for determination of cell-cycle status. LMW-BCGF supported growth of leukemic progenitor cells from 20 of 28 (71%) BCP-ALL and two of two B-cell ALL patients. Colony numbers ranged from 7 to 2,400 (mean 145, median 45). A dose-response effect in colony growth was noted, with an apparent plateau at approximately 2.0 U/mL LMW-BCGF. Colony cells were primarily of leukemic phenotype (CD19+/CD10+/-). LMW-BCGF also induced significant increases in leukemic progeny cell proliferation as measured by both thymidine incorporation (stimulation indexes of 1.6 to 34) and by cell-cycle assay (percentage S+ G2/M stimulation indexes of 1.6 to 6). LMW-BCGF was more effective in stimulating leukemic proliferation than three recombinant interleukins (rIL-2, rIL-3, rIL-4), although rIL-3 was able to support colony growth in 4 of 11 patients. These results indicate that LMW-BCGF and, to a lesser degree rIL-3, are able to stimulate proliferation of BCP-ALL progenitor and progeny cells, whereas rIL-2 and rIL-4 do not support progenitor cell proliferation and have only marginal effects on leukemic progeny cell proliferation.

Bone Marrow

Assay of lymphokine-activated killer activity generated from bone marrow cells of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We recently reported that low molecular weight B-cell growth factor (LMW-BCGF) plus recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) synergistically induced lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity from the bone marrow (BM) cells of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The kinetics of cell growth, antigenic phenotype, and lytic activity of the generated effector cells were further analyzed in this study. BM cells from ALL patients with active disease and in complete remission (CR) were cultured with a combination of LMW-BCGF and rIL-2. Monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD3 and anti-Leu 19) and immunomagnetic beads were used to separate LAK cells into three subsets: CD3+/Leu 19-, CD3+/Leu 19+, and CD3-/Leu 19+. Cytotoxicity assays with different subsets were performed versus K562, Raji, and autologous leukemic cells, using a 3-hour 51Cr release test. There was a significant cell expansion of 54-fold (mean value) for CD3+ cells and 15-fold for Leu 19+ cells in culture with LMW-BCGF plus rIL-2 for 7 to 14 days, whereas no cell expansion was observed in culture with rIL-2 alone. Although NK activity (K562) was generated from leukemic BM cells in culture with rIL-2 alone, it is only about one third of that generated in culture with rIL-2 plus LMW-BCGF. Analysis of lytic activity of cells generated in the latter cultures demonstrated that CD3-/Leu 19+ cells expressed highest lytic activity against NK-sensitive K562 cells as well as against NK-resistant Raji cells. CD3+/Leu 19+ cells showed median cytotoxicity, and CD3+Leu 19- cells mediated only minimal cytotoxic activity. Also, lytic activity of CD3-/Leu 19+ cells against autologous leukemic blasts was noted in patients with active disease. Our results demonstrate that LAK activity generated from BM cells by LMW-BCGF and r-IL2 is mediated mainly by two types of Leu 19+ cells: CD3-/Leu 19+ NK cells and CD3-/Leu 19+ T cells. Although CD3+ T cells (both Leu 19+ and Leu 19-) mediated less antitumor cytotoxicity than CD3-/Leu 19+ cells, the former cells were the major expanding cell population in culture with LMW-BCGF and rIL-2. The new culture system may be effective in generation of cells with LAK activity for therapeutic use.

Adolescent

Low molecular weight B-cell growth factor and recombinant interleukin-2 are together able to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes with LAK activity from the bone marrow cells of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We are reporting here that low-mol wt B-cell growth factor (LMW-BCGF) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) are together able to induce CD3+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with lymphokine-activated killer cell (LAK) activity from the bone marrow (BM) cells of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Ficoll-Hypaque (FH)-separated BM cells were obtained from patients with active disease (at diagnosis N = 13, in relapse N = 15) and in complete remission (CR; N = 12). CD3+ cells were removed by Leu-4 antibody and immunobeads. Cells were cultured (10(5) cells/mL) in semisolid media with rIL-2 (100 mu/mL), LMW-BCGF (0.1 mu/mL), and the combination of rIL-2 plus LMW-BCGF, respectively, for seven to ten days. Pooled colonies were harvested for phenotyping. LMW-BCGF plus rIL-2 induced large numbers of CD3+ colonies from CD3- precursors. rIL-2 alone did not induce colony formation. In addition, cells were cultured in liquid media with LMW-BCGF, rIL-2, and the combination of LMW-BCGF plus rIL-2, respectively, for seven to 21 days. They were harvested for phenotyping, and cytotoxicity assays were performed v K562, Raji, and autologous leukemic cells. LMW-BCGF plus rIL-2 induced significant expansion of CD3+ cells from CD3- precursors, and these cells were activated to kill autologous leukemic cells in addition to Raji and K562 cell lines. LMW-BCGF or rIL-2 alone did not induce significant expansion or activation of cytotoxic CD3- cells. Our hypothesis is that LMW-BCGF plus rIL-2 stimulates the proliferation and activation of CD3- precursors from the BM cells of children with acute leukemia to become CD3+ cells that have LAK activity. This finding may have therapeutic implications.

Antigens, Surface

Effects of polylactic acid microcapsules containing prostaglandin E2 on the survival rates of grade II coma galactosamine induced fulminant hepatic failure rats.

Prostaglandin E2 was successfully incorporated into low molecular weight polylactic acid microcapsules. The size distribution of the microcapsules ranges from 20 to 50 micron. The microcapsules released drug continuously up to three days in vitro. The galactosamine induced fulminant hepatic failure rats model was used. 36 hours after the injection of galactosamine, those rats in grade II coma were chosen and pairs were matched for comparable degree of coma. Then each of the pair was randomly selected as control or treated. Each rat in the treated group received an intraperitoneal injection of PGE2 microcapsules containing 0.55 mg of PGE2. The control received blank PLA microcapsules only. The survival rate of the treated group was 40% compared to 10% in the control group. There was a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in the survival rate in the treated group.

Animals

Control release of prostaglandin E2 from polylactic acid microcapsules, microparticles and modified microparticles.

Low molecular weight polylactic acid (PLA) microparticles containing prostaglandin E2 were prepared. An average particle size of 30 micron was obtained by grinding at low temperature. These particles were further treated by heating to modify the shape and the release pattern. Microscopic studies showed that the modified particles had a smoother surface than the non-modified particles. The drug was also incorporated into PLA microcapsules using the solvent evaporation process, but the incorporation efficiency was lower. We studied the release profiles of modified particles prepared using different molecular weight PLA. The release rate depended on the molecular weight with lower molecular weights having a greater release rate. In addition, the release studies showed different matrix forms made from the same molecular weight PLA had different release patterns. For example, the microcapsules released the drug very slowly whereas the modified particles exhibited a moderate release rate. It was also noted that the matrix release model could describe the release patterns of microcapsules and modified particles very well. However, the release patterns of non-modified microparticles did not follow this model.

Capsules