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Biomedical subjects

T Rème

Publications and source records attributed to T Rème.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Heparan sulphate proteoglycans are essential for the myeloma cell growth activity of EGF-family ligands in multiple myeloma.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF)/EGF-receptor (ErbB1-4) family is involved in the biology of multiple myeloma (MM). In particular, ErbB-specific inhibitors induce strong apoptosis of myeloma cells (MMC) in vitro. To delineate the contribution of the 10 EGF-family ligands to the pathogenesis of MM, we have assessed their expression and biological activity. Comparing Affymetrix DNA-microarray-expression-profiles of CD138-purified plasma-cells from 65 MM-patients and 7 normal individuals to those of plasmablasts and B-cells, we found 5/10 EGF-family genes to be expressed in MMC. Neuregulin-2 and neuregulin-3 were expressed by MMC only, while neuregulin-1, amphiregulin and transforming growth factor-alpha were expressed by both MMC and normal plasma-cells. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we found HB-EGF, amphiregulin, neuregulin-1 and epiregulin to be expressed by cells from the bone marrow-environment. Only the EGF-members able to bind heparan-sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) - neuregulin-1, amphiregulin, HB-EGF - promote the growth of MMC. Those ligands strongly bind MMC through HSPGs. The binding and the MMC growth activity was abrogated by heparitinase, heparin or deletion of the HS-binding domain. The number of HS-binding EGF ligand molecules bound to MMC was higher than 10(5) molecules/cell and paralleled that of syndecan-1. Syndecan-1, the main HSPG present on MM cells, likely concentrates high levels of HS-binding-EGF-ligands at the cell membrane and facilitates ErbB-activation. Altogether, our data further identify EGF-signalling as promising target for MM-therapy.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Growth and immortalization of human myeloma cells in immunodeficient severe combined immunodeficiency mice: a preclinical model.

Human multiple myeloma (MM) purified tumour cells readily undergo apoptosis in vitro. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a main growth factor of tumour cells, has enabled the development of IL-6-dependent MM cell lines. Recently, we developed anti-gp130 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), two of which (B1 + I2) were able to dimerize gp130 and replace IL-6 in vitro. We show here that the injection of B1 + I2 IL-6 agonistic mAbs via the inguinal subcutaneous (SC) route efficiently produced tumours in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice grafted with IL-6-dependent myeloma cell lines compared with either the intraperitoneal (IP) or abdominal surgical bursa (SB) routes. The SC tumour graft, together with Matrigel and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), leads to a strong vascularization and early detection of serum human immunoglobulins (huIgs). SCID mice treated with B1 + I2 mAbs were injected with fresh MM cells from five patients, four of whom had consistent levels of huIgs, and tumour growth was present in two. For one patient, tumour plasma cells that were passed several times subcutaneously in new SCID mice, still expressed their initial markers after several months. They remained unable to grow in vitro in the presence of B1 + I2 or IL-6. The nature of the SCID factors involved and the triggered genes are under investigation.

Animals↗

Mutations of the p53 tumour suppressor gene in erosive rheumatoid synovial tissue.

Erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is accompanied by synovial tissue hyperplasia associated with the proliferation of transformed-appearing synovial lining cells. In the present study we have analysed the expression of the p53 tumour suppressor gene in the synovial pannus tissue from patients at various stages of the disease. We used a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) on DNA and reverse transcription, PCR and sequencing on cDNAs from synovial tissues or purified synovial cell populations of 24 RA and three osteoarthritis (OA) patients. We also studied p53 expression by immunohistochemical analysis. Mutations suspected after SSCP were identified by systematic sequencing of the p53 exon 6, especially in the fibroblast-like, adherent synovial cell population, associated with an erosive disease. Some accumulation of the protein was detected in immunohistochemical analysis of the p53 tumour suppressor gene in the patients' synovial tissues. However, no sign of malignancy was seen in these patients after a 2-year survey. These results show some abnormalities in the p53 tumour suppressor gene in RA patients, but do not allow this to be related to characteristic proliferative features of the rheumatoid synovium.

Adolescent↗

MBR rearrangement and P-glycoprotein expression are not independent prognostic factors like p53 protein in malignant lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are B-cell malignancies which generally present molecular abnormalities, such as bcl-2 translocation t(14; 18) predominantly in the follicular subgroup. Other molecular events have been described in NHL, including p53 gene mutation and overexpression of one chemoresistance mechanism, the multidrug resistance system, P-glycoprotein (MDR 1/P-gp). In this study, we analysed samples from 44 NHL patients with the presence of the bcl-2 major breakpoint region (MBR) rearrangement in 29 and without in 15. Immunochemical analysis revealed that 39 samples were positive for bcl-2 protein expression in tumoral cells (88.6%). Seventeen (38.6%) patients expressed P-gp and 9 (20.5%) expressed p53 proteins. Eleven patients expressed both bcl-2 and P-gp proteins, four expressed bcl-2 and p53 proteins whereas four expressed bcl-2, p53 and P-gp proteins. Our results confirm the importance of p53 expression as a key prognostic factor, and no objective response (OR) was found in patients with p53 positivity. MBR rearrangement was not associated with poor response to chemotherapy (62.1% OR in MBR positive patients v. 60% OR in MBR negative patients). The clinical impact of P-gp cannot be identified because no relationship was observed between P-gp expression and prognosis (58.8% OR in P-gp positive patients v. 63% OR in P-gp negative patients).

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

T cell receptor distribution in rheumatoid synovial follicles.

OBJECTIVE: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joint erosion is accompanied by T cell infiltration of the synovial tissue. The resulting T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is a combination of antigen driven shaping, nonspecific selection by endothelial cell-T cell interactions, and cytokine mediated chemoattraction. Considering the conflicting results of molecular biology studies of the TCR repertoire in RA, we attempted to obtain new data to clarify the situation through microscopic distribution analysis of TCR beta chain diversity in synovium follicular CD4/CD8 subsets. METHODS: We used dual color fluorescence confocal microscopy with CD4/CD8 monoclonal antibodies (Mab) and a panel of new anti-V beta Mab. The analysis focussed on lymphocyte rich, follicle-like areas of synovial tissue from 4 patients with RA. RESULTS: The expression of individual TCR beta families varied between areas within the T cell follicles, and between patients. Normal absolute levels of some beta chains can be completely skewed towards one subset, indicating that overall TCR evaluation is insufficient. CONCLUSION: Confocal microscopy analysis of localized TCR diversity in RA synovium offers novel insight into overall V beta gene usage, which appears to be the accumulation of several localized microexpansions.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

CD57+ T lymphocytes are derived from CD57- precursors by differentiation occurring in late immune responses.

CD3+ T cells expressing the 110-kDa CD57 antigen are found in survivors of renal, cardiac and bone marrow transplants, in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. They are also present in normal individuals and expand upon ageing. They do not grow in culture and their role in the immune response is poorly understood. The expression of the various isoforms of the leukocyte common antigen (CD45) identifies a spectrum of differentiation in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells ranging from naive (CD45RA+CD45RBbrightCD45RO-) through early primed cells (CD45RA-RBbrightROdull) to highly differentiated memory cells which are CD45RA-RBdullRObright. CD45 isoforms expressed by CD57+ T cells showed distinct differences between CD4+ and CD8+ populations, but in each case indicated an advanced state of differentiation. The expression of T cell receptor V beta families was highly variable between individuals, but both CD57+ and CD57- cells show a full range of the specificities tested. V beta expression was more closely related within either the CD4+ or the CD8+ subsets, irrespective of CD57 expression, than between these subsets, suggesting a relationship between CD57+ and CD57- cells within the same T cell pool. This possibility was supported by experiments showing that CD3+CD57+ lymphocytes were similar to CD3+CD57- T cells in terms of the production of basic T cell cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and interferon-gamma]. Furthermore, in vitro stimulation of CD3+CD57- T cells in secondary mixed leukocyte reaction or by co-culture with IL-2 and IL-4 induced the appearance of CD3+CD57+ cells with phenotypic and functional similarities to in vivo CD3+CD57+ cells. These data strongly suggest that the expression of CD57 is a differentiation event which occurs on CD57- T cells late in the immune response.

Antigens, CD↗

Peripheral neuropathy after autologous blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

We report a case of peripheral neuropathy occurring after autologous blood stem cell transplantation (ABSCT) for multiple myeloma. The patient, free of neurological symptoms, was transplanted in partial remission, and achieved a complete remission after transplantation. A severe peripheral, symmetric, distal sensori-motor polyneuropathy appeared at day 25 and worsened progressively until commencement of corticosteroid therapy. A peripheral nerve biopsy showed endoneurial cellular infiltrates which were predominantly composed of T cells identified by immunocytochemistry. Ultrastructural examination showed acute axonal damage. Electrophysiologic studies performed before and during the treatment were consistent with a severe axonal degeneration and showed a marked improvement, concomitant with the favorable clinical outcome. This is the first report of peripheral neuropathy after ABSCT.

Axons↗

Clonal V alpha 12.1+ T cell expansions in the peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents a heterogenous disease characterized by chronic polyarthritis. Most patients with adult RA inherit HLA-DR4 or -DR1 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. While the molecular basis for this genetic predisposition is unknown, the major function of these MHC-encoded molecules is to present peptides to T lymphocytes. It is hypothesized that an endogenous or environmental antigen initiates a MHC-restricted immune response mediated by T lymphocytes, which is followed by a chronic inflammatory reaction involving many cell types. In chronic RA, previous or ongoing antigenic activation might result in detectable skewing of the peripheral alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. Here we demonstrate a marked expansion of V alpha 12.1-bearing CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood (mean, 22%; range, 10-43%) of > 15% of RA patients. A major proportion of these patients shared HLA-DQ2 in addition to the expected high frequency DR1 and DR4 alleles. Detailed molecular analysis in three of the RA patients with elevated V alpha 12.1+ T cells identified repeated TCR alpha chain sequences consistent with clonal V alpha 12.1+,CD8+ T cell expansion. In addition to shared TCR V alpha 12.1 germline gene usage among unrelated subjects, a conserved J alpha motif was also detected. Together, these results suggest an antigen-driven mechanism of T cell expansion in these patients and may offer a new approach in examining specific antigen that stimulate T cells in RA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Increased percentage of CD3+, CD57+ lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Correlation with duration of disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a small CD3+ lymphocyte population expressing 110-kd CD57 antigens (HNK1) is expanded in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as it is in patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation and patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and to investigate whether it is involved in the pathogenesis of RA. METHODS: The phenotype of CD3+, CD57+ lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry, and correlations between the percentage of these cells in the blood and various clinical and biologic parameters were investigated. RESULTS: The percentage of CD3+, CD57+ lymphocytes was increased in RA patients compared with controls. These lymphocytes expressed T cell receptor alpha/beta. Eighty percent expressed the CD8 accessory molecule, and 20% expressed the CD4 accessory molecule. The leukocyte common antigen CD45RA isoform was expressed by these CD3+, CD57+ lymphocytes in blood. The HLA-DR antigen was expressed in synovial fluid but not in blood. Finally, the percentage of these lymphocytes in the blood correlated with the duration of RA. CONCLUSION: The expansion of the CD3+, CD57+ lymphocyte population and their activation in the synovial fluid of RA patients suggest that these cells are involved in the inflammatory process.

Adult↗

Contrasting effect of transforming growth factor type beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on proliferation and interleukin-2 receptor expression in activated and rapidly cycling immature (CD3-CD4-CD8-) thymocytes.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a cytokine with immunoregulatory properties that acts negatively on T lymphocyte proliferation. However, with the EL 4-6.1 variant of the murine thymoma EL 4 activated with phorbol ester and/or interleukin-1 (IL-1), we recently found that it up-regulates interleukin-2-receptor (IL-2R) expression. Since EL 4-6.1 cells share phenotypic and functional characteristics with the immature thymic subset lacking CD4 and CD8 accessory molecules (DN), we investigated the effect of TGF-beta 1 on the IL-2R 55kD alpha chain expression and proliferation of activated DN cells and especially in DN cells that do not express CD3. We observed that TGF-beta 1 was able to increase both the percentage of CD3-DN cells expressing IL-2R alpha chains and the expression of IL-2R alpha chain in these cells. This stimulatory effect of TGF-beta 1 was distal from early transduction events. In addition, TGF-beta 1 was found to modulate CD3-DN cell proliferation. During differentiation in the thymus, CD3-DN cells transiently express the IL-2R alpha chain of the IL-2R and these IL-2R+ CD3-DN cells are preprogrammed to down-regulate the IL-2R alpha chain and up-regulate the CD4 and CD8 accessory molecule. We thus also tested the effect of TGF-beta 1 on IL-2R alpha chain expression in these in vitro differentiating CD3-DN cells. We found that TGF-beta 1 neither significantly affected IL-2R expression nor changed CD4 or CD8 expression. Hence, in CD3-DN cells, the effect of TGF-beta 1 on IL-2R expression seems to be restricted to proliferating cells.

Animals↗

T cell receptor gamma variable gene locus polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: We sought new susceptibility markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among the T cell receptor gamma (TCR gamma) genes. METHODS: We analyzed restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the first variable subgroup of TCR gamma genes in a group of French control subjects and a group of French RA patients. RESULTS: No significant difference in Eco RI RFLP was found between the 2 study populations: Allele frequencies were virtually identical. There was no polymorphism using Hind III. CONCLUSION: These results exclude TCRV gamma I polymorphism as a disease susceptibility marker in RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

T cell receptor expression and activation of synovial lymphocyte subsets in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Phenotyping of multiple synovial sites.

Two-color flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood and synovial lymphocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients was performed using monoclonal antibodies directed against T cell subsets, T cell activation markers, and T cell receptors. The results showed an abnormally high percentage (greater than 15%) of CD3+, CD4-, and CD8- T cells expressing a specific receptor containing a gamma chain. Phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes infiltrating both knee joints of individual rheumatoid arthritis patients revealed very similar subset distribution and activation levels, despite strong differences in the clinical status between the 2 sites.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Distribution of T-cell receptor-bearing lymphocytes in the synovial membrane from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Using immunohistology and monoclonal antibodies directed to the T-cell receptor (TCR) chains, we have analysed the distribution of TCR-bearing lymphocytes within the membrane of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Alkaline phosphatase staining for TCR alpha beta-bearing lymphocytes showed a distribution paralleling that of the total T cells. Staining for the TCR gamma delta chains revealed a moderate and rather homogeneous distribution of T gamma delta lymphocytes within the RA synovium. As evidenced by simultaneous staining for alpha beta and gamma delta receptors, the relative count of T gamma delta to alpha beta-expressing cells is close to the peripheral count (e.g.5%), and lower than that previously observed in the synovial fluid. Interestingly, the peripheral type V gamma 9-J gamma P rearrangement using the T gamma delta cell subset was relatively decreased in the synovial membrane, as compared to synovial fluid and peripheral blood, suggesting that the T gamma delta distribution in the rheumatoid synovium resembles a thymic-like situation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗