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Identification of diphtheria toxin receptor and a nonproteinous diphtheria toxin-binding molecule in Vero cell membrane.

Two substances possessing the ability to bind to diphtheria toxin (DT) were found to be present in a membrane fraction from DT-sensitive Vero cells. One of these substances was found on the basis of its ability to bind DT and inhibit its cytotoxic effect. This inhibitory substance competitively inhibited the binding of DT to Vero cells. However this inhibitor could not bind to CRM197, the product of a missense mutation in the DT gene, and did not inhibit the binding of CRM197 to Vero cells. Moreover, similar levels of the inhibitory activity were observed in membrane fractions from DT-insensitive mouse cells, suggesting the inhibitor is not the DT receptor which is specifically present in DT-sensitive cells. The second DT-binding substance was found in the same Vero cell membrane preparation by assaying the binding of 125I-labeled CRM197. Such DT-binding activity could not be observed in membrane preparation from mouse L cells. From competition studies using labeled DT and CRM proteins, we conclude that this binding activity is due to the surface receptor for DT. Treatment of these substances with several enzymes revealed that the inhibitor was sensitive to certain RNases but resistant to proteases, whereas the DT receptor was resistant to RNase but sensitive to proteases. The receptor was solubilized and partially purified by chromatography on CM-Sepharose column. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting analysis of the partially purified receptor revealed that a 14.5-kD protein is the DT receptor, or at least a component of it.

Animals↗

Toxicology and pharmacokinetics of DT388IL3, a fusion toxin consisting of a truncated diphtheria toxin (DT388) linked to human interleukin 3 (IL3), in cynomolgus monkeys.

The fusion toxin DT388IL3 composed of the catalytic and translocation domains of diphtheria toxin (DT388) linked to interleukin-3 (IL3) was administered to 6 cynomolgus monkeys which possessed cross-reactive IL3 receptors. Groups of 2 animals (1 male and 1 female) received up to 6 every other day slow intravenous infusions of 40, 60, or 100 microg/kg DT388IL3. Monkeys given 40 or 60 microg/kg showed mild or moderate transient malaise and anorexia, respectively, without evidence of organ damage by blood tests or histopathology. Animals treated at 100 microg/kg showed severe malaise and anorexia. The female monkey had moderate to severe vasculitis in multiple tissues. Necropsies were performed on the 40 microg/kg monkeys on day 14 and the 100 microg/kg monkeys on days 6 and 7. DT388IL3 plasma half-life was approximately 30 min with a peak concentration of 0.45 microg/ml or 10,000 pM (IC50 for AML blasts treated in vitro was 6 pM). Immune responses were minimal in 4 animals tested at 12 days and 2 animals tested at 30 days post treatment with anti-DT388IL3 levels < 1 microg/ml. Bone marrow aspirates were obtained on all animals at day 19 or at necropsy and revealed myeloid suppression in the females and myeloid hyperplasia in the males irrespective of dose groups. The maximal tolerated dose of 60 microg/kg for 6 doses is markedly higher than other recombinant diphtheria toxins and provides a dose level sufficient for anti-leukemic activity in vitro and in rodent models. Thus, we propose this agent is a promising drug for AML patients.

Animals↗

[Expression, purification and specific monoclonal antibodies preparation of diphtheria toxin A fragment].

Diphtheria toxin A fragment (DTA) is an essential catalytic domain of diphtheria toxin (DT)-based immunotoxin. DTA protein and its antibodies play an important role in the studies on toxicology, purification and identification of DT-based immunotoxins. In this paper, DTA was expressed and purified from E. coli. After Q-Sepharose FF chromatography and (Ni+)-Sepharose affinity chromatography, 6 x His-DTA fusion protein with 90% purity was achieved. Using the purified DTA as antigen to immunize BalB/c mice, 2 hybridoma cell lines (designated as 3B6 and 3B9, respectively) secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against DTA were established. Investigations showed that both McAbs were characterized as IgG1 with titers of 1: 10(6). The binding of the McAbs to DTA was competitively inhibited by horse sera against DT. The fact that anti-DTA McAbs could be used in western blot analysis and affinity chromatography purification of DT-based immunotoxins implied that they will be useful agents in the studies on DT-based immunotoxins.

Animals↗

Coordinate regulation of siderophore and diphtheria toxin production by iron in Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Iron is an environmental signal which regulates the coordinate expression of genes associated with virulence in many pathogenic bacteria. In response to iron-deprivation, lysogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae C7 (beta) synthesizes and secretes diphtheria toxin and siderophore and induces a high-affinity iron uptake system. Diphtheria toxin is encoded by beta phage, but genes for siderophore production are encoded on the bacterial chromosome. Diphtheria toxin and siderophore production were shown to be coordinately induced during late logarithmic phase growth of wild-type C7(beta) in iron-limited medium. C. diphtheriae mutant C7hm723 produced siderophore and toxin constitutively under low-iron and high-iron conditions, but in mutants HC1, HC3, HC4, and HC5 their synthesis was partially repressed under high-iron conditions. The phenotypes of HC1, HC3, HC4, and HC5 are consistent with their severe defects in iron uptake, but the phenotype of C7hm723 is more likely to be explained by inactivation of the repressor for the iron regulon of C. diphtheriae.

Cetrimonium↗

Purification and characterization of the diphtheria toxin repressor.

The diphtheria toxin repressor gene (dtxR) encodes a protein (DtxR) that regulates transcription of the diphtheria toxin gene (tox) by an iron-dependent mechanism. Cloned dtxR was expressed in Escherichia coli from the phage T7 gene 10 promoter, and DtxR was purified. Specific binding of DtxR to the tox+ operator was dependent on reduction of DtxR and the presence of ferrous ions. DtxR protected a sequence of approximately 30 nucleotide pairs, partially overlapping the tox promoter and containing a region of dyad symmetry, from digestion by DNase I. DtxR exhibited very little binding to the mutant tox-201 operator region and failed to bind to the promoter/operator region of the ferric uptake regulation (fur) gene of E. coli.

Alleles↗

Contribution of plasminogen activator urokinase to in vitro cytotoxicity of diphtheria toxin.

Nicking of diphtheria toxin (DT), i.e. proteolytic cleavage at an arginine-rich region within the first disulphide loop, is a prerequisite to the intoxication process. We show that protease(s) required in this process was synthesized and secreted by the sensitive cells and that antibodies against plasminogen activator urokinase (uPA) decreased the in vitro cytotoxicity of DT on Vero cells. Our results demonstrate that uPA secreted by Vero cells cultured in vitro is one of the cellular proteases involved in the cleavage and activation of diphtheria toxin.

Antibodies↗

Computer modelling of the transmembrane channel formed by a CNBr peptide of diphtheria toxin B fragment.

Diphtheria toxin (DT) forms transmembrane, voltage-dependent channels in a planar lipid bilayer. Channels with similar characteristics were obtained with CB1, a cyanogen bromide peptide of diphtheria toxin B fragment (DTB) (res 340-459). Tryptophan 398 is in interaction with the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer. Using the Eisenberg method in association with the Shiffer-Edmunson wheel representation, we have identified two amphipathic alpha-helices within CB1 (res 346-364 and 389-406) that could be involved in the interaction with lipids. Bearing this information in mind, we are providing a model for the structure of the CB1 channel.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibitory effect of dideoxyforskolin on cell death induced by ricin, modeccin, diphtheria toxin, and Pseudomonas toxin in MDCK cells.

We have found that 1,9-Dideoxyforskolin (DDF) strongly inhibited the cell death induced by ricin, modeccin, Pseudomonas toxin, and diphtheria toxin in MDCK cells, suggesting that these protein toxins have a DDF-sensitive common pathway leading to cell death. However, no significant effect of forskolin on these toxins was observed, implying that cAMP-independent DDF specific mechanism is responsible for the inhibitory effect. The protective effect of DDF against ricin-induced cell death was significantly reversed by the increase in extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. The addition of brefeldin A (BFA) also reversed the protective effect of DDF, while BFA alone slightly increased the cytotoxicity of ricin. The protein synthesis inhibitory activity of modeccin was strongly inhibited by DDF, while only partial inhibition of the activities of ricin and diphtheria toxin was observed. However, the activity of Pseudomonas toxin was enhanced by DDF rather than inhibited. Thus, the process leading to cell death and protein synthesis inhibition by these toxins may be separately affected by DDF, and the protective effect of DDF against toxin-induced cell death is distinct from its effect on protein synthesis inhibition by toxins. Forskolin and DDF slightly increased rather than inhibited the binding and the internalization of ricin to MDCK cells. Despite the strong inhibitory effect of DDF on toxin-induced cell death, DDF did not block toxin-induced DNA fragmentation. These results suggest that DNA fragmentation and cell death may be triggered through separate pathways during apoptosis caused by these toxins, and that a DDF-sensitive specific step may be present in the pathway leading to cell death.

Animals↗

Effects of retinoids and phorbol esters on the sensitivity of different cell lines to the polypeptide toxins modeccin, abrin, ricin and diphtheria toxin.

The effects of retinoic acid and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate on the sensitivities of a number of cell lines to the toxins modeccin, abrin, ricin and diphtheria toxin were studied. Retinoic acid and some other retinoids were found to protect a number of the cell lines against the toxins. HeLa cells that were protected bound much more retinoic acid than L-cells that were not protected. The tumour promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate was found to increase the sensitivity of cells to abrin, ricin and modeccin in the absence as well as in the presence of retinoic acid. Neither retinoic acid nor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate affected the extent of binding and pinocytotic uptake of toxins by the cells. Apparently retinoic acid and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate interfere with the entry of the toxins through the cell membrane.

Abrin↗