Biomedical subjects

Z Bacsó

Publications and source records attributed to Z Bacsó.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Kv1.3 potassium channels are localized in the immunological synapse formed between cytotoxic and target cells.

Membrane proteins of cytotoxic T cells specifically reorganize to form an immunological synapse (IS) on interaction with their specific target. In this paper, we investigated the redistribution of Kv1.3 channels, which are the dominant voltage-gated potassium channels, in the plasma membrane of allogen-activated human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) on interacting with their specific target cells. Kv1.3 channels bearing a FLAG epitope were expressed in the CTLs and the cell-surface distribution of fluorescently labeled ion channels was determined from confocal laser-scanning microscopy images. FLAG epitope-tagged Kv1.3 channels showed a patchy distribution in CTLs not engaged with target cells, whereas the channels were accumulated in the IS formed between CTLs and specific target lymphocytes. Localization of Kv1.3 channels in the IS might open an unrevealed possibility in the regulation of ion channel activity by signaling molecules accumulated in the IS.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗

PubMed2000

The DNA of annexin V-binding apoptotic cells is highly fragmented.

Jurkat leukemia cells induced to undergo apoptosis by treatment with an antibody against the Fas receptor have two annexin V (AV)-binding subpopulations: (a) single-positive cells that bind AV but not propidium iodide (PI); and (b) double-positive cells that bind AV and PI. The single-positive population is thought to represent an early stage of apoptosis. We have examined the relationship between AV binding and a classical characteristic of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation. Time course studies with Jurkat cells treated for 1, 2, or 4 h with anti-Fas indicated that the proportion of AV-binding cells was increased after 2 h. A significant increase in DNA fragmentation was observed only at 4 h as measured by the mean tail moment determined with the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. This correlation suggests a temporal relationship between the two parameters, but does not provide direct evidence of what happens in individual cells. We developed a method to measure fluorescent markers of cellular structure or function with a laser scanning cytometer and then perform the comet assay on the same cells. Cells in each AV-binding subpopulation were re-examined before and after electrophoresis. Most AV-/PI- cells had no DNA damage, although a few cells showed a pattern of damage characteristic for apoptosis. Double-positive cells all had damaged DNA; approximately half had the apoptotic pattern, and the rest had a pattern typical for necrosis. Nearly all of the single-positive cells had damaged DNA with the apoptotic pattern. Both AV-positive populations contained cells with little or no detectable DNA after electrophoresis, indicating that the DNA was highly fragmented. These results indicate that AV binding is an excellent marker for apoptotic cells, but that these cells already have fragmented DNA.

Annexin A5↗

PubMed1997

HLA class I and II antigens are partially co-clustered in the plasma membrane of human lymphoblastoid cells.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules displayed clustered patterns at the surfaces of T (HUT-102B2) and B (JY) lymphoma cells characterized by interreceptor distances in the micrometer range as detected by scanning force microscopy of immunogold-labeled antigens. Electron microscopy revealed that a fraction of the MHC class II molecules was also heteroclustered with MHC class I antigens at the same hierarchical level as described by the scanning force microscopy data, after specifically and sequentially labeling the antigens with 30- and 15-nm immunogold beads. On JY cells the estimated fraction of co-clustered HLA II was 0.61, whereas that of the HLA I was 0.24. Clusterization of the antigens was detected by the deviation of their spatial distribution from the Poissonian distribution representing the random case. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements also confirmed partial co-clustering of the HLA class I and II molecules at another hierarchical level characterized by the 2- to 10-nm Förster distance range and providing fine details of the molecular organization of receptors. The larger-scale topological organization of the MHC class I and II antigens may reflect underlying membrane lipid domains and may fulfill significant functions in cell-to-cell contacts and signal transduction.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed1996

Changes in membrane potential of target cells promotes cytotoxic activity of effector T lymphocytes.

The effector function of CD8+ lymphocytes depends on recognition by the TcR-CD3 complex of an oligopeptide presented by an MHC class I molecule on target cells. Recently it has been shown that MHC class I molecules change their conformation upon depolarization of human B lymphoblastoid JY cells. We studied here the effects of changes in membrane potential of target cells on the function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Selective alterations of plasma membrane potential of JY target cells were achieved by treatments with specific ionophore molecules as well as with Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, while the cytotoxic lymphocytes were not influenced. The plasma membrane was depolarized by gramicidin D and ouabain, while hyperpolarization was induced by valinomycin treatment. Alterations of the resting membrane potential of target cells in both direction resulted in an enhanced cytotoxic activity. The observed changes in cytolytic activities of cytotoxic T effectors may have a more general biological significance, namely apoptotic cells become depolarized after a given time, moreover neoplastic and virus infected cells also frequently show decreased membrane potential. A more efficient recognition of these cells by CTL is supposed to enhance the efficiency of their elimination, as well.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗

PubMed1996

A photobleaching energy transfer analysis of CD8/MHC-I and LFA-1/ICAM-1 interactions in CTL-target cell conjugates.

The photobleaching energy transfer (pbFRET) technique is a fluorescence method to measure proximity relationships between molecules, especially cell surface proteins, labeled with fluorophore-conjugated monoclonal antibodies, on a pixel-by-pixel base using digital imaging microscopy. This technique enables analysis of inter- and intramolecular proximities at cell surfaces at physiological conditions. We have developed a pbFRET approach to measure intercellular proximities in order to access spatial organization of interacting proteins in the contact region of two 'communicating' cells. Two examples, as possible application areas of this approach, are presented here: interaction between CD8 and MHC-I molecules in point contacts and interaction between LFA-1 and ICAM-1 molecules in focal contacts of CTL-target conjugates. The geometry of these protein contacts based on our resonance energy transfer (RET) data is consistent with the observed blocking effects of monoclonal antibodies (directed against the interacting proteins) on the cytolytic activity of CTLs and suggest a critical role for CD8beta-subunit in signal transmission in peripheral T-lymphocytes.

Antigens, Surface↗

PubMed1996

Chromatin isolated from viable human PBLs contains DNA fragmented to >/=50 kb.

Massive chromatin fragmentation (around 50 kb, to several hundred kb) is observed in nuclear lysates of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) upon their treatment with nuclease-free protein-denaturants. There is a consistent variation in the fragment size distributions that parallels the proliferative activity of the cells. Predominantly approximately 50 kb fragmentation is exhibited in samples from cells immunsuppressed via CD4 crosslinking, as opposed to the heterogeneous, higher molecular weight DNA of anti-TcR/CD3-, phytohemagglutininor concanavalin A-stimulated cells. Tritiated thymidine incorporated into DNA in the latter cultures can be detected in the approximately 50 kb band. Direct lysis of agarose-embedded, live cells in alkali+detergent also yields fragmented DNA, with a single-strand size of >/=50 kb. These data suggest that (i) the cells yielding fragmented DNA were alive at the time of DNA extraction, (ii) either regularly arranged, preformed nicks or hypersensitive sites may be present at every roughly 50-100 kb in the chromatin of PBLs, (iii) these sites or the fragmentation mechanism acting upon them, appear to be regulated in concert with the transit of cells between the resting and proliferative compartments.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Bretylium differentiates between distinct signal transducing pathways in human lymphocytes.

The selection of signal transducing pathways of T cells depends on the type of triggers. Antigens, antibodies or lectins induce the T cell receptor-CD3 operated pathway, and IL-2 transmits its activation signal via the IL-2 receptor. It has been demonstrated that bretylium, a quaternary ammonium ion, can significantly inhibit the first pathway at the same dose range that stimulates cell activation through the IL-2 receptor system. In the light of the different complexity of the two pathways at the plasma membrane level, and the non-toxic and reversible behavior of the drug, it is suggested that the bretylium induced sustained membrane hyperpolarization is responsible for the observation. This finding may open new possibilities in studying the mechanism of different signal transducing pathways.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma-membrane-bound macromolecules are dynamically aggregated to form non-random codistribution patterns of selected functional elements. Do pattern recognition processes govern antigen presentation and intercellular interactions?

Molecular recognition processes between cell surface elements are discussed with special reference to cell surface pattern formation of membrane-bound integral proteins. The existence, as detected by flow cytometric resonance energy transfer (Appendix), and significance of cell surface patterns involving the interleukin-2 receptor, the T-cell receptor-CD3 system, the intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1, and the major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules in the plasma membrane of lymphocytes are described. The modulation of antigen presentation by transmembrane potential changes is discussed, and a general role of transmembrane potential changes, and therefore of ion channel activities, adduced as one of the major regulatory mechanisms of cell-cell communication. A general role in the mediation and regulation of intercellular interactions is suggested for cell-surface macromolecular patterns. The dynamic pattern of protein and lipid molecules in the plasma membrane is generated by the genetic code, but has a remarkable flexibility and may be one of the major instruments of accommodation and recognition processes at the cellular level.

Animals↗