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R A Kroczek

Publications and source records attributed to R A Kroczek.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Oligoclonal T cells in rheumatoid arthritis: identification strategy and molecular characterization of a clonal T-cell receptor.

Immunodominant antigens in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should induce an expansion of T cells bearing a corresponding T-cell receptor (TCR). We therefore analysed the TCR repertoire at the site of inflammation using two fundamentally different strategies. The total TCR repertoire was examined by generating 'representative' T-cell clone panels, which were subsequently tested for clonality by restriction mapping of the TCR beta gene locus. No clonality was detected in large T-cell clone panels generated with cells from three patients. However, when we selectively analysed the TCR repertoire of in vivo pre-activated, interleukin-2 (IL-2)-responsive T cells, significant T-cell/TCR clonality was found in 2 out of 4 patients. The clonal T cells represented a minority of the total T-cell population with an estimated frequency of 1 in 300 to 1 in 1000 cells. Molecular characterization of a clonal TCR and the use of a specific TCR V beta MoAb ruled out an over-representation of T cells bearing the same V beta element in the total T-cell population, rendering the involvement of super-antigens in the induction of T-cell clonality in this case unlikely.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Optimization of northern analysis by vacuum-blotting, RNA-transfer visualization, and ultraviolet fixation.

We have optimized Northern analysis at several steps. Overnight electrophoresis was replaced by short gel runs and overnight capillary transfer by rapid vacuum-blotting adapted to Northern analysis. Short uv irradiation was used as a substitute for the usual RNA fixation by baking. Direct staining of RNA before electrophoresis made it possible to check RNA integrity and to evaluate the quality of the size separation immediately after electrophoresis. In this system, RNA transfer onto the membrane support could also be quickly assessed after the blotting step. The net result of all modifications was a doubling of the autoradiography signal compared with that obtained by modern Northern protocols. At the same time, the duration of the procedure was shortened drastically, allowing an autoradiography signal to be obtained within 24 h.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1990

Expression of activation antigens on T cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The aim of our study was to identify differences in cell surface marker expression between T cells taken from the peripheral blood (PB) of healthy individuals and T cells recovered from inflamed joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Out of 118 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against activation antigens on haematopoietic cells, 12 MoAbs recognizing nine distinct surface molecules were selected after a screening procedure to study the expression of the corresponding antigens on T cells from the PB, synovial fluid and synovial tissue of RA patients, and also on T cells from PB and spleens of controls. Using two-colour flow cytometry and immunohistology we found the molecules B-C5, CD39, CD40, CD45 R0, CD54, CD76 and potentially 1D11 to be substantially up-regulated on T cells from various body compartments in RA patients. We thus could determine that the cell surface of T cells in RA patients not only differs in MHC class II expression, but also in a number of other activation-associated cell surface molecules from T cells in healthy individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Induction of IL-2 receptor expression in vivo: response to concanavalin A.

The requirements for the induction of IL-2 receptor expression following lymphocyte stimulation in vitro are well understood but little is known about the role of IL-2 and the IL-2 receptor in lymphocyte activation in vivo. Following the subcutaneous injection of concanavalin A, cells from popliteal and lumbar lymph nodes draining the footpad became enlarged and expressed the IL-2 receptor. At the peak of the response, 9-15 hr after injection, more than 70% of all cells were IL-2 receptor positive; the majority were T cells of both Lyt-2+ and L3T4+ subsets. IL-2 receptor expression was closely associated with both spontaneous and IL-2-driven proliferation. Analysis of the biodistribution of 125I-labeled concanavalin A revealed that much of the injectate remains in the footpad injection site but the mitogen also accumulates in the draining lymph nodes and eventually in the major organs. This model of lymphocyte activation was used to demonstrate that in vivo cyclosporin A inhibits both IL-2 receptor expression and the induction of spontaneous proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Mechanism of action of cyclosporin A in vivo. I. Cyclosporin A fails to inhibit T lymphocyte activation in response to alloantigens.

Although cyclosporin A (Cy A) has been widely used clinically as a potent suppressor of organ allograft rejection and has been shown to block T lymphocyte activation in vitro by inhibiting the generation of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and other lymphokines, little direct evidence is available to support the view that the immunosuppressive effects of Cy A in vivo are mediated by a similar inhibition of the autocrine lymphokine cascade. We have used a quantitative assay for the assessment of the role of the IL-2/IL-2 receptor system in the activation of the draining popliteal lymph node population after the injection of allogeneic cells in the footpad to define the effects of Cy A on the early events of lymphocyte activation in vivo and to compare them with the effects of Cy A on lymphocyte activation in vitro. The administration of Cy A in vivo had no effect on alloantigen-induced increases in cell size, percentage of cells expressing the IL-2 receptor, the spontaneous or IL-2-driven proliferation of freshly explanted cells, or the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. These findings raise major questions about the mechanism of action of Cy A in vivo and suggest that more experimentation is required to probe the mechanisms of Cy A-induced suppression of the response to allografts.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Induction of IL-2 receptor expression in vivo. Response to allogeneic cells.

Although the requirements for the induction of IL-2 receptor expression following lymphocyte stimulation in vitro have been well characterized, little information is available on the role of IL-2 and the IL-2 receptor in lymphocyte activation in vivo. We have established a quantitative assay for the measurement of IL-2-receptor-positive cells in the draining popliteal lymph node following the injection of allogeneic cells in the footpad. At the peak of the response more than 20% of the lymph node cells were IL-2-receptor-positive, and the majority of the IL-2-receptor-positive cells were Ly-2+ T cells and B cells. IL-2 receptor expression in vivo was closely associated with an increase in cell size and spontaneous and IL-2-driven proliferation, as well as with the induction of CTL activity specific for the donor strain. The model system described here should be useful in the further characterization of the mechanism of action in vivo of immunosuppressive drugs, antibodies, or lymphokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Role of Ly-6 in lymphocyte activation. II. Induction of T cell activation by monoclonal anti-Ly-6 antibodies.

The Ly-6 locus controls the expression and/or encodes for alloantigenic specificities found primarily on subpopulations of murine T and B lymphocytes. We have recently identified and characterized a new rat mAb, D7, that recognizes a nonpolymorphic Ly-6 specificity. After crosslinking by anti-Ig reagents or by Fc receptor-bearing accessory cells, mAb D7 could induce IL-2 production from T cell hybridomas, and in the presence of PMA could trigger a vigorous proliferative response in resting peripheral T cells. The addition of mAb D7 to cultures of antigen- and alloantigen-, but not mitogen-stimulated T cells resulted in a marked augmentation of the proliferative response. A number of other well-characterized mAbs to Ly-6 locus products could also stimulate a T cell proliferative response after crosslinking by anti-Ig and in the presence of PMA. These results strongly suggest that Ly-6 molecules may play a critical role in the T cell activation cascade, either as receptors for an unidentified soluble or cell-associated ligand or as transducing molecules that modulate signals initiated by antigen stimulation of the T3-Ti complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Induction of T cell activation by monoclonal anti-Thy-1 antibodies.

We have analyzed the requirements for T cell activation by monoclonal anti-Thy-1 antibodies (MAb). A large panel of unselected anti-Thy-1 MAb was capable of inducing a strong proliferative response in resting peripheral T cells and a rise in cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in both peripheral T cells and a T cell hybridoma. Both of these responses required the interaction of a MAb bound to Thy-1 with a second layer of anti-Ig antibody. Induction of T cell proliferation also required an additional signal, which could be provided by PMA. T cell activation in this system was specific for the Thy-1 molecule, independent of the epitope on Thy-1 recognized by a given MAb, with the anti-Ig reagent was also independent of the type of anti-Ig used, as both polyvalent rabbit anti-rat Ig sera and a mouse MAb to rat Ig functioned as effective cross-linkers. All signals provided by the interaction of anti-Thy-1 MAb with anti-Ig preparations could also be reproduced by the simultaneous binding of two MAb recognizing independent epitopes on Thy-1. Although the physiological role of Thy-1 remains unknown, the model system described here should prove to be very useful in further analysis of the steps involved in the polyclonal activation of murine T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Functional expression of the murine Thy-1.2 gene in transfected human T cells.

The interaction of certain mAbs with the Thy-1 molecules of murine T lymphocytes leads to cell activation and proliferation. To examine the signal transduction mechanism underlying this process and to determine what, if any, relationship exists between Thy-1-dependent triggering and T cell activation mediated through the T3-antigen receptor (T3-Ti) complex, a genomic clone of murine Thy-1.2 was isolated and transfected into the human T cell tumor, Jurkat. The transfected gene was actively transcribed in these human cells and high levels of Thy-1.2 glycoprotein were found on the cell membrane. Although certain mAbs to Thy-1.2 failed to bind to the Thy-1 transfected Jurkat cells, several known mitogenic anti-Thy-1 mAbs did react, and in the presence of phorbol ester, induced IL-2 secretion. One Thy-1+ transfectant out of five failed to produce IL-2 in response to anti-T3/Ti antibodies even though it retained the ability to increase intracytoplasmic calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) in response to these ligands. A Thy-1 negative revertant of this cell regained anti-T3/Ti reactivity, suggesting a regulatory defect in signal transmission via T3/Ti in the original transfectant. These data confirm the ability of Thy-1 to act as an activation receptor for T cells. They reveal a potential role for changes in [Ca2+]i in this process, in common with other pathways of T cell activation, but also indicate a more complex series of events is involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Cloverleaf skull associated with Pfeiffer syndrome: pathology and management.

The clinical and radiological findings in an infant with severe cloverleaf skull associated with a Pfeiffer syndrome are presented. The skull anomaly resulted in raised intracranial pressure and proptosis of the right eye within several weeks of birth. The child died at 3 months of age after subtotal craniectomy. At autopsy a detailed macroscopical and histological analysis of the skull base was conducted. The timing and value of surgery are discussed as well as the pathology of the cloverleaf skull anomaly.

Brain↗
PubMed1985

Congenital chyloperitoneum: direct comparison of medium-chain triglyceride treatment with total parenteral nutrition.

A severe case of congenital chyloperitoneum was managed over a prolonged period by permanent drainage and replacement of lymphatic loss by fresh frozen plasma, resulting in normal development of the infant. The average daily drainage of 360 ml during a period of a medium-chain-triglyceride (MCT) diet could be reduced to 228 ml (1.58 ml/kg per h) with total parenteral nutrition, representing apparently the basal flow rate of the intestinal lymphatics. Reduction in leakage, however, did not influence the observed lymphocytopenia. Healing of the lesion within the intestinal lymphatic system occurred after a brief period of bacterial peritonitis. The rationale for treatment with an MCT diet and for the application of total parenteral nutrition in infants with chyloperitoneum is discussed.

Chylous Ascites↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thy-1 functions as a signal transduction molecule in T lymphocytes and transfected B lymphocytes.

Thy-1, a glycoprotein of relative molecular mass 25,000 (25K), is a major constituent of the cell surface of mouse thymocytes, peripheral T cells and neurones. In man, Thy-1 is present on neurones and on a small percentage of thymocytes, but is absent from peripheral T cells. The amino-acid and complementary DNA sequences of Thy-1 indicate that it has a structure similar to an isolated V (variable region) domain of immunoglobulin. Although the function of Thy-1 is unknown, the ability of different anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibodies to activate murine T cells or induce functional changes in neuronal cells in vitro suggests that Thy-1 is involved in transmembrane signalling. We now show that crosslinking of murine Thy-1 triggers a rapid rise in the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), not only in murine T cells and Thy-1.2-transfected human T cells, but also in murine B-lymphoma cells transfected with the murine thy-1.2 gene. These results indicate that the generation and transduction of the signal leading to the rise in [Ca2+]i is independent of the T-cell receptor and other T-cell-specific molecules. The preservation of the [Ca2+]i-modulating function of Thy-1 in various lymphoid cells of two species further suggests that the necessary signal either originates in the Thy-1 molecule itself or is generated in concert with a highly conserved molecules(s) associated with Thy-1.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thy-1-mediated T-cell activation requires co-expression of CD3/Ti complex.

In addition to monoclonal antibodies against the CD3 (T3)-T-cell antigen receptor (CD3/Ti) complex, several other monoclonals directed towards distinct cell surface structures on human (CD2 (T11) and Tp44) and murine (Thy-1, TAP, and Ly-6) T lymphocytes are capable of activating T cells. It has been proposed that such structures may function as alternative pathways of stimulation. To examine directly whether any relationship exists between Thy-1-dependent activation phenomena and T-cell activation mediated through the CD3/Ti complex, we have transfected several CD3/Ti- variants of the human T-cell line Jurkat with the murine Thy-1.2 gene. Our data indicate that in CD3/Ti-, Thy-1.2+ transfectants, monoclonal antibodies against Thy-1.2 can induce a rise in cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca2+]i), but fail to stimulate interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. The only defect in these variant cell lines responsible for the inability to produce IL-2 in response to Thy-1 stimulation was in the expression of the CD3/Ti complex, because replacement of defective Ti alpha- or beta-chain genes reconstributed both surface expression of CD3/Ti and responsiveness to Thy-1 in the IL-2 production assay.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗