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T Graf

Publications and source records attributed to T Graf.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Bicistronic retroviral vector reveals capacity of v-erbA to induce erythroleukemia and to co-operate with v-myb.

Previous studies have shown that v-erbA and v-myb can induce the proliferation of avian erythroid cells in culture. To study the combined effects of v-erbA and v-myb, the two oncogenes were engineered into a retrovirus bicistronic vector with an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) or into a vector with a splice acceptor (SPL). This allowed coexpression of the two proteins and a comparison with the same vector containing either v-erbA or v-myb only. Both the erbA IRES and the erbA/myb IRES virus constructs transformed erythroid cells after infection of bone marrow or blastoderm cultures. The erbA/myb IRES virus exhibited a 5-10-fold higher transformed colony forming efficiency than the erbA IRES virus in the blastoderm assay. Surprisingly, when injected into chicken embryos in the presence of helper virus, both viruses induced an erythroleukemia in about half of the animals. In contrast, no leukemia was observed with a myb IRES virus, with spliced vectors containing v-erbA alone or v-erbA in combination with v-myb, nor with erbA IRES and erbA/myb IRES viruses produced in the absence of helper virus. The average latency of leukemia induction was shorter for the erbA/myb IRES virus (3.5 weeks) than for the erbA IRES virus (5 weeks). Nevertheless, for both viruses the leukemic blasts retained full factor dependence for growth. These results show that v-erbA is capable of inducing an erythroleukemia when expressed by a high titer bicistronic retrovirus under conditions of virus spreading and that its in vitro and in vivo transforming potential can be enhanced by v-myb.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

v-Myb DNA binding is required to block thrombocytic differentiation of Myb-Ets-transformed multipotent haematopoietic progenitors.

The E26 avian leukaemia virus encodes a fusion oncoprotein consisting of truncated versions of the c-Myb and c-Ets-1 transcription factors. When used to infect embryonic chicken haematopoietic cells two types of self-renewing progenitors are obtained, namely myeloblasts and 'MEPs' (Myb-Ets progenitors). In earlier work we have shown that myeloblasts transformed by the ts21 mutant of E26, which has a lesion in v-Myb, can be induced to differentiate into macrophages following shift to the non-permissive temperature. Here we show that the ts21 v-Myb is temperature sensitive for DNA binding in band shift experiments and that its inactivation in transformed MEPs induces their maturation into thrombocytes. The MEP transforming capacity of v-Myb is not confined to its fusion with v-Ets, as it is also seen with a virus that co-expresses tsMyb with v-ErbB. As with wild-type E26-transformed MEPs, ts21-transformed MEPs are multipotent, differentiating into eosinophils and myeloblasts following treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. In addition, ts21-transformed myeloblasts differentiate into macrophages when shifted to the non-permissive temperature. This shows that v-Myb blocks haematopoietic differentiation at two distinct stages. In contrast, v-Ets inactivation in MEPs transformed by a ts E26 mutant with a lesion in the corresponding oncoprotein leads to their differentiation into erythrocytes, myeloblasts and probably eosinophils. These data show that the two domains of Myb-Ets selectively affect decision making processes in different types and stages of haematopoietic cells.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1995

GATA-1 reprograms avian myelomonocytic cell lines into eosinophils, thromboblasts, and erythroblasts.

The transcription factor GATA-1 is expressed in early hematopoietic progenitors and specifically down-regulated in myelomonocytic cells during lineage determination. Our earlier observation that the differentiation of Myb-Ets-transformed chicken hematopoietic progenitors into myeloblasts likewise involves a GATA-1 down-regulation, whereas expression is maintained in erythroid, thrombocytic, and eosinophilic derivatives, prompted us to study the effect of forced GATA-1 expression in Myb-Ets-transformed myeloblasts. We found that the factor rapidly suppresses myelomonocytic markers and induces a reprogramming of myeloblasts into cells resembling either transformed eosinophils or thromboblasts. In addition, we observed a correlation between the level of GATA-1 expression and the phenotype of the cell, intermediate levels of the factor being expressed by eosinophils and high levels by thromboblasts, suggesting a dosage effect of the factor. GATA-1 can also induce the formation of erythroblasts when expressed in a myelomonocytic cell line transformed with a Myb-Ets mutant containing a lesion in Ets. These cells mature into erythrocytes following temperature-inactivation of the Ets protein. Finally, the factor can reprogram a v-Myc-transformed macrophage cell line into myeloblasts, eosinophils, and erythroblasts, showing that the effects of GATA-1 are not limited to Myb-Ets-transformed myeloblasts. Our results suggest that GATA-1 is a lineage-determining transcription factor in transformed hematopoietic cells, which not only activates lineage-specific genetic programs but also suppresses myelomonocytic differentiation. They also point to a high degree of plasticity of transformed hematopoietic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Rem-1, a putative direct target gene of the Myb-Ets fusion oncoprotein in haematopoietic progenitors, is a member of the recoverin family.

The Myb-Ets oncoprotein encoded by the E26 avian leukaemia virus represents a fusion of two transcription factors which cooperate in transforming multipotent haematopoietic progenitors (MEPs) in vitro and in vivo. Previous studies with a temperature sensitive mutant in ets (ts1.1 E26) have suggested that the Ets part of the Myb-Ets fusion protein blocks multilineage differentiation of transformed MEPs, by regulating specific target genes. Using this system in a differential screening approach we have now identified a new gene, called rem-1, as a target for the E26 virus. Following shift of ts1.1 mutant transformed cells to the nonpermissive temperature a decreased expression of rem-1 was observed which increased upon downshift. The finding that this reexpression did not require new protein synthesis suggests that the Ets component of the fusion protein directly regulates rem-1 transcription. Rem-1 is related to a family of EF-hand-containing calcium-binding proteins that are predominantly expressed in the brain and in retinal cells. This family includes recoverin and visinin, proteins that have been implicated in regulating photoreception. Rem-1 is likewise expressed in these tissues but in addition in haematopoietic cells and in the gut. Enforced expression of rem-1 in ts1.1-transformed MEP cells, using a retroviral vector, showed that this gene is not sufficient to block their differentiation, but that it may provide them with a growth advantage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Dynamic changes in the chromatin of the chicken lysozyme gene domain during differentiation of multipotent progenitors to macrophages.

The chicken lysozyme locus is regulated in oviduct and macrophages by a complex set of well-characterized cis-regulatory DNA elements. We determined the DNase I hypersensitive chromatin site pattern of the chromatin of the lysozyme locus in retrovirally transformed cell lines representing different stages of myelomonocytic cell differentiation. In the transformed multipotent progenitor stage and in erythroblasts, only a DNase I hypersensitive chromatin site at a silencer element located -2.4 kb upstream of the transcriptional start site is present. At the myeloblast stage DNase I hypersensitive chromatin sites are formed both at the distal enhancer located at -6.1 kb and at the promoter. Later in differentiation, at the monocytic stage, a second DNase I hypersensitive chromatin site appears at the medial enhancer located at -2.7 kb. Parallel with DNase I hypersensitive chromatin site formation at the medial enhancer, the DNase I hypersensitive chromatin site at the silencer element disappears. These chromatin rearrangements correlate with the mRNA expression of the gene that is undetectable in multipotent progenitors and maximal in a lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocyte cell line. Our results show that the chromatin structure and the transcriptional activity of the gene are tightly coupled during commitment and maturation of the myelomonocytic lineage.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Integrin alpha 2 beta 1 mediates interactions between developing embryonic retinal cells and collagen.

In the developing nervous system, the extracellular matrix provides a source of extrinsic cues to guide determination of cell fate, neuroblast migration, axon outgrowth and synapse formation. In the neural retina, undifferentiated neuroepithelial precursor cells contact extracellular matrix that contains multiple collagen types. Collagens have been shown to support retinal cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth, but the integrin receptors mediating neuronal responses are not understood. Here we provide evidence that integrin alpha 2 beta 1 acts as a collagen receptor in the developing avian retina and examine its expression pattern. Using a recently described monoclonal antibody, MEP-17, alpha 2 protein was detected in the developing retina by immunofluorescence in tissue sections and dissociated cells, and by immunoprecipitation. At embryonic day 4 (E4), when the majority of retinal cells are undifferentiated neuroepithelial cells, alpha 2 immunoreactivity in sections was widespread and about half of cells dissociated in culture were alpha 2 positive. At E6, after the retinal ganglion cell layer had differentiated, immunoreactivity in sections decreased in the central, more developed portion of the retina and 25% of dissociated cells were alpha 2 positive. E6 retinal ganglion cells, identified by neurofilament immunoreactivity, did not express detectable alpha 2 immunoreactivity. Immunoprecipitation experiments using E6 extracts demonstrated that the alpha 2 subunit was paired with the beta 1 integrin subunit. By E12, alpha 2 immunoreactivity in sections was confined to the extreme peripheral retina, although the antigen may be masked since expression levels comparable to or slightly higher than E6 could be detected in dissociated cells and extracts. By employing function blocking antibodies, it was shown that alpha 2 beta 1 integrin is necessary for cell adhesion and process outgrowth by embryonic retinal cells on collagens I and IV. Although alpha 2 expression continued through E12, alpha 2 activity was down regulated with increasing embryonic age, since alpha 2-dependent adhesion and outgrowth declined. These data suggest a role for alpha 2 beta 1 in neuroepithelial cell interactions with collagen rather than for axon extension by retinal ganglion cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Altered influence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on coagulation in acute ischemic stroke.

Polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear (MN) leukocytes possess procoagulant and anticoagulant activity which could be involved in both formation and dissolution of thrombi. We investigated if coagulant properties of circulating leukocytes are altered in patients within three days after acute ischemic stroke (n = 22) as compared to a control group (n = 22) matched for sex and age. The recalcification time with autologous plasma did not differ between patients and control subjects. Circulating PMNs were procoagulant in all subjects, however, they were less procoagulant in patients (-18.1 [-13.4 - (-)22.8] % of control experiments; mean [95% confidence interval]) than in controls subjects (-31.9 [-27.4 - (-)36.4] %; p = 0.0002). In contrast, MNs were similarly procoagulant in both groups. In the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), there was a non-significant trend to less procoagulant PMNs in patients (-6.7 [-5.1 - (-)8.2] %) than in control subjects (-8.4 [-6.4 - (-)10.5] %). The recalcification time with pooled human plasma showed similar results as with autologous plasma. The procoagulant activity of PMNs increased in follow-up measurements in patients. Upon stimulation with FMLP, the procoagulant activity of PMNs decreased in control subjects but did not change significantly in patients. In the acute stage after ischemic stroke, circulating PMNs exhibit a decreased capability to stimulate coagulation, a feature which reflects cell activation and which may be a reaction on thrombus formation and ischemic tissue damage.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

A functional Ets DNA-binding domain is required to maintain multipotency of hematopoietic progenitors transformed by Myb-Ets.

Earlier work demonstrated that the Myb-Ets fusion protein of E26 avian leukemia virus induces the proliferation of multipotent hematopoietic progenitors (MEPs). These progenitors differentiate spontaneously at low frequencies along the erythroid lineage, and following the introduction of kinase/ras-type oncogenes or treatment with TPA, they are induced to differentiate along the myelomonocytic and eosinophilic lineages. Here, we show that the ts1.1 mutant of E26 encodes an Ets DNA-binding domain that is both defective and thermolabile for binding of specific DNA sequences. Correlating with this, ts1.1 MEP colonies transformed at the permissive temperature exhibit elevated levels of erythroid cells and eosinophils, whereas at the nonpermissive temperature they are induced to differentiate along the erythroid and myelomonocytic lineages and, to a lesser extent, along the eosinophil lineage. Induction of the former two lineages cannot be separated by pulse shift experiments and is essentially completed 2.5 days after temperature shift. Our results indicate that the Ets portion of the Myb-Ets fusion protein inhibits the lineage commitment of multipotent hematopoietic progenitors, probably via binding to regulatory DNA sequences of specific target genes.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1994

Causes and formation of cavitation in mechanical heart valves.

Cavitation may develop on mechanical valvular prostheses in the mitral position; it causes blood damage and, under particularly adverse conditions, it may result in sudden failure of the prosthesis. Therefore, with regard to future development of mechanical heart valves, the pattern of cavitation and its predisposing factors in different types of prostheses were investigated in in vitro studies, which focused on the analysis of valve closure dynamics and the influence of design parameters on the cavitation-inducing pressure drop at the artificial valve. It was found that cavitation is produced primarily by the deceleration of the closing body of the valve. At 900g, the measured deceleration of the closing bodies falls in the range of the decelerations determined in oscillation experiments for investigating cavitation-induced material erosion. The pressure drop produced thereby is overlapped by the pressure drop in accelerated or turbulent flow regions produced by design characteristics at outlet struts, stop faces or sealing lips during backflow through the closing disc. These phenomena exist particularly in regions of high flow velocity, i.e. at the instant of closure at the maximum distance from the bearing axis of the closing body (12 o'clock position). The onset of cavitation is additionally promoted in this position by a tight joint between the closing body and the ring. Oscillations of the closing body generally have a negligible effect on the cavitation behavior. From these relationships one can infer that cavitation can be avoided in future in mechanical heart valves by locally limited design measures. Especially, unsteadiness in the backflow through the closing valve is to be avoided.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1993

Serotonin uptake inhibition by the monoamine oxidase inhibitor brofaromine.

The selective, reversible monoamine oxidase (MAO) A inhibitor brofaromine inhibits serotonin (5-HT) uptake in animal models in vitro and in vivo. We investigated whether such an effect can be demonstrated at clinical doses in humans by treating three groups of six volunteers with either placebo, 15 mg phenelzine three times a day, or 75 mg brofaromine twice a day in a 2-week experiment. As an indirect, although relevant parameter, binding of 3H-paroxetine to the 5-HT uptake sites on blood platelets was assessed. Moreover, whole-blood 5-HT as a measure of platelet 5-HT, and serum homovanillic acid (HVA) to tentatively estimate MAO inhibition, were determined. Brofaromine reduced 3H-paroxetine binding to platelets compared with placebo by 20%-25% throughout the treatment period, significance being reached on the last treatment day. In contrast, phenelzine tended to increase 3H-paroxetine binding. Both drugs increased whole-blood 5-HT to approximately 140%-150%. Brofaromine moderately and on some days significantly decreased serum HVA, whereas phenelzine only tended to do so. Our results suggest that brofaromine at the clinically used dosage of 150 mg/day does indeed inhibit 5-HT uptake, as evidenced by measurements of 3H-paroxetine binding to platelets.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Influence of the v-Myb transactivation domain on the oncoprotein's transformation specificity.

The v-myb-containing viruses AMV and E26 induce the proliferation of myelomonocytic cells. The E26 Myb protein, by virtue of its fusion to Ets, is also able to transform multipotent haematopoietic cells (MEPs). We have examined the biological effects of substituting the v-Myb transactivation domain with the strong acidic activator domain from the C-terminus of the HSV-1 VP16 protein. In the absence of Ets, deletion of the transactivation domain destroyed the ability of v-Myb to stimulate transcription and to transform cells, whilst the substitution of the VP16 transactivation domain into v-Myb resulted in a greatly enhanced transactivation potential and altered TATA box binding protein (TBP) binding properties. In spite of these functional differences, the v-Myb VP16 protein regained the ability to transform myeloid cells with the same characteristics as wild type v-Myb. A construct encoding v-Myb VP16 fused to v-Ets was still capable of inducing leukaemia and of transforming both myeloid cells and MEPs in vitro, although the latter cells exhibited an altered phenotype. Our results demonstrate that the transformation of myeloid cells by v-Myb is largely independent of the type and potency of the transactivation domain it contains, whereas transformation of MEPs by the Myb-Ets fusion protein has more stringent transactivation requirements of Myb.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1993

Systemic blood pressure in glaucoma patients.

Blood pressure was monitored for 24 h in 32 control patients, 38 open-angle glaucoma patients referred because of decompensated IOP despite maximum treatment, 40 patients with open-angle glaucoma referred because of progressive damage despite controlled IOP, and 39 normal-tension glaucoma patients. In the control group a physiological drop in blood pressure during the night was observed. The patients referred with uncontrolled IOP had blood pressure very similar to that of the control group during both day and night. However, the open-angle glaucoma patients with progression despite well-controlled IOP and also the patients with normal-tension glaucoma had markedly, and statistically significantly, lower systolic blood pressure during both day and night. The difference in diastolic blood pressure was smaller. Thus, blood pressure should be considered in diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Myb and NF-M: combinatorial activators of myeloid genes in heterologous cell types.

The c-Myb transcription factor regulates the differentiation of immature erythroid, lymphoid, and myeloid cells, although only the latter cells become transformed by the v-myb oncogene. These are also the only cells that express the Myb-regulated gene mim-1, suggesting that Myb requires tissue-specific, cooperating factors to activate such genes. Here, we investigated the tissue-specific regulation of the mim-1 promoter and found that it not only contains binding sites for Myb but also for NF-M, a myeloid-specific transcription factor that probably corresponds to mammalian C/EBP beta. Both types of binding sites were found to be required for full activity of the promoter. Remarkably, ectopic coexpression of Myb and NF-M proteins in erythroid cells or fibroblasts was sufficient to induce endogenous markers of myeloid differentiation, like the mim-1 and lysozyme genes. Our results indicate that c-Myb and NF-M proteins act as a bipartite, combinatorial signal that regulates the expression of myeloid-specific genes, even in heterologous cell types.

Acetyltransferases↗