Frequent expression of myeloid antigen (CD13) on immature T cells in culture

Leukemic cells from 12 patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) and T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) were studied to determine the inducibility of myeloid antigens in culture in the presence and absence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in association with discrete phenotypic and genotypic analyses on these cells. The investigation revealed that leukemic cells corresponding to common or mature thymocytes were never induced to express any myeloid antigens, and showed rearrangements of T cell antigen receptor (TcR) beta and gamma chain genes. Concomitant examination on leukemic cells from mature T cell malignancies, including adult T cell leukemia (ATL), T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) and T cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (T-NHL), also failed to express myeloid antigens in culture. By contrast, one of the panmyeloid antigens, CD13 (MCS-2) antigen was induced on leukemic cells corresponding to early thymocytes in 5 out of 7 cases in TPA-added culture and in 3 cases even in TPA-free culture. All of these CD13 antigen inducible cases exhibited the germ line configurations of TcR beta and gamma chain genes except for one case of T-ALL with sole TcR gamma chain gene rearrangement. These findings suggest that primitive T cells, still not undergoing TcR gene rearrangements, retain the characteristics of multipotent progenitor cells to possess different lineage markers and are able to express myeloid antigen not exceptionally. Both phenotypically and genotypically immature thymocytes are considered to be less restricted in the differentiation pathway of hematopoietic cells committed to T cell lineage.

Assignment of the human calpastatin gene (CAST) to chromosome 5 at region q14----q22

The human calpastatin gene (CAST) was assigned to chromosome 5 by spot-blot hybridization analysis with flow-sorted chromosomes, and it was further sublocalized to bands 5q14----q22 using in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes.

Increased expression of genes for basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor type beta 2 in human benign prostatic hyperplasia

It is now widely accepted that factors other than androgen are crucial in the normal and abnormal growth of the prostate, including human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Using a Northern blot analysis, we examined human normal and benign hyperplastic prostates for expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), acidic FGF, transforming growth factor type beta 2 (TGF-beta 2), TGF-beta 1, and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Basic FGF mRNAs were detectable in all the prostates examined. In addition, levels of basic FGF expression were significantly higher in BPH than in normal prostate. Acidic FGF transcripts were undetectable except in one case of BPH. Although both TGFs were expressed in all the samples, TGF-beta 2 showed significantly increased levels of expression in BPH as compared to those in normal prostate, while TGF-beta 1 did not. No EGF was expressed in any of the prostates examined. These findings suggest that specific growth factors (basic FGF and TGF-beta 2) produced locally in the prostate may be involved in BPH development.

Genetic heterogeneity in blast crisis of chronic myelocytic leukemia

Fourteen patients with lymphoid and mixed blast crisis (BC) of chronic myelocytic leukemia were studied by immunophenotyping and genotyping. Rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH), T-cell receptor (TcR) gamma and TcR beta genes were detected in all 14, in nine and in four patients, respectively. Interestingly, more than two rearranged bands of IgH gene in three lymphoid BC and two rearranged bands with germ line band in 1 biphenotypic BC indicated the genetic heterogeneity of the blasts. Some blastic transformations are thought to occur at a more immature stage of hematopoietic differentiation than that indicated by the phenotype and genotype of BC cells.

[Synthetic cephalosporins. V. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 3-alkylthio-7 beta-[(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(O-substituted oxyimino)acetamido]cephalosporins and related compounds]

3-Alkylthio-7 beta-[(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(O-substituted oxyimino)acetamido]cephalosporins (6 and 7) and the 3-methoxy analogues (10) were prepared by coupling diphenylmethyl 7-amino-3-alkylthio-3-cephem-4-carboxylate (1 and 2) or diphenylmethyl 7-amino-3-methoxy-3-cephem-4-carboxylate with (Z)-2-(2-tritylaminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(O-substituted oxyimino)acetic acid (4), followed by deprotection and subjected to examination of antibacterial activities. The pivaloyloxymethyl esters (8 and 9) of the compounds (6 and 7) were also prepared and oral activities of these esters were compared with those of the parent compounds (6 and 7). The cephalosporins (6a-j and 7a-c) had potent and wide antibacterial spectra against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria which were comparable to those of cefixime or cefteram. Among them, the cephalosporins (6f and 7c) and the pivaloyloxymethyl esters (8b and 9b) had good in vivo efficacy in mice against infections of Escherichia coli No. 29 and especially 8b showed high urinary recovery in mice.

Nucleolar targeting signal of human T-cell leukemia virus type I rex-encoded protein is essential for cytoplasmic accumulation of unspliced viral mRNA

The posttranscriptional regulator (rex) of human T-cell leukemia virus type I is known to be located predominantly in the cell nucleolus and to induce the accumulation of gag and env viral mRNAs. The N-terminal 19 amino acids of rex-encoded protein (Rex) has been shown to be sufficient to direct hybrid proteins to the cell nucleolus. We have studied the function of the nucleolar targeting signal (NOS) of rex by using full-length proviral DNA and mutant rex expression plasmids. Partial deletions of the NOS sequence abolished the accumulation of unspliced cytoplasmic mRNA, although the gene products of rex mutants were found in the nucleoplasm. These results indicate that NOS sequence, or nucleolar localization of Rex, is essential for Rex function.

Inhibition of calpain by a synthetic oligopeptide corresponding to an exon of the human calpastatin gene

Calpastatin is a widely distributed endogenous inhibitor protein specifically acting on calpain (Ca2+-dependent cysteine endopeptidase). The inhibitor consists of four inhibitory domains (Domains 1-4) with mutually homologous sequences. NH2-terminal Domain L is non-homologous, and all domains have 120-140 residues each. A human calpastatin genomic DNA clone was isolated using a previously obtained human calpastatin cDNA probe. Sequence analysis has revealed that the clone contains Domain 1 and segments of neighboring domains (Domains L and 2). Each of three highly conserved, restricted regions within Domain 1 was located on separate exons, 1A, 1B, and 1C. Exon 2A, corresponding to the first exon of Domain 2, is homologous to Exon 1A and follows Exon 1D of Domain 1. A 27-residue peptide encoded by Exon 1B, including a 12-residue middle conserved sequence, was chemically synthesized and tested for protease inhibitory activities. The synthetic peptide showed strong inhibition against calpain I (low Ca2+-requiring form), and calpain II (high Ca2+-requiring form), but no inhibition against papain or trypsin. These results indicated that Exon 1B forms a self-sufficient functional subdomain of the calpastatin inhibitory domain.

Late-phase accumulation of inositol phosphates stimulated by prostaglandins D2 and F2 alpha in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells

The accumulation of inositol phosphates (IPs) in response to prostaglandins (PGs) was studied in NG108-15 cells preincubated with myo-[3H]inositol. As a positive control, bradykinin caused accumulation of IPs transiently at an early phase (within 1 min) and continuously during a late phase (15-60 min) of incubation in the cells. PGD2 and PGF2 alpha did not significantly cause the accumulation of IPs at an early phase but significantly stimulated inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol monophosphate (IP) formation at late phase of incubation. The maximum stimulation was obtained at greater than 10(-7) M concentrations of these PGs, the levels being three-and twofold for IP2 and IP1, respectively. 9 alpha, 11 beta-PGF2 has a slight effect but PGE2 and the metabolites of PGD2 and PGF2 alpha have no effect up to 10(-6)M. The effects of PGD2 and PGF2 alpha were not additive, but the effect of each PG was additive to that of bradykinin at a late phase of incubation. Inositol 1-monophosphate was mainly identified in the stimulation by 10(-5) M PGD2 and 10(-5) M PGF2 alpha, whereas both inositol 1-monophosphate and inositol 4-monophosphate were produced in the stimulation by 10(5) M bradykinin. Depletion of extracellular Ca2+ diminished the stimulatory effect of PGD2 and PGF2 alpha and late-phase effect of bradykinin, but simple Ca2+ influx into the cells by high K+, ionomycin, or A23187 failed to cause such late-phase effects. These results suggest that PGD2 and PGF2 alpha specifically stimulate hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids.

A region of basic amino-acid cluster in HIV-1 Tat protein is essential for trans-acting activity and nucleolar localization

The trans-acting factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Tat, has a basic amino-acid cluster that is highly conserved among different HIV isolates. We have examined the effects of mutations in the basic region of Tat on its trans-acting activity and cellular localization. Introduction of a stop codon immediately preceding the basic region abolished the activity, while the truncated mutant with the basic region retained some activity. The basic region of Tat was replaceable with that of Rev (another trans-acting factor of HIV) but not with that of adenovirus Ela nor cellular enzyme. The result of immunofluorescence analysis revealed a correlation between the nuclear, especially nucleolar, accumulation and the activities of mutant Tat proteins.

Expression of post-transcriptional regulatory gene of HTLV-I, rex, in Escherichia coli

Human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I) has a post-transcriptional regulatory gene termed rex. We have designed the rex gene to express in E. coli. Synthesis of rex protein, p27rex, was examined by immunoblot analysis using anti-p27rex antibody. No difference in electrophoretic mobility in NaDadSO4-PAGE was observed between p27rex expressed in E. coli and in an HTLV-I-infected cell line, MT-2. Slower migration of p27rex, corresponding to a 27-kD protein, in NaDodSO4-PAGE when compared with the calculated molecular weight from the amino acid sequence (Mr = 20,367) is suggested to be caused not by post-translational modification, but by the intrinsic nature of the protein, which is rich in proline and arginine.

Low-titer antibodies reactive with HTLV-I gag p19 in patients with chronic myeloneuropathy

To elucidate the possible association of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and chronic neurological diseases, 156 serum samples from patients with various neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, chronic progressive myelopathy, chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, motor neuron disease, and tension headache, and healthy control subjects were examined for IgG antibodies to HTLV-I by three independent techniques--gelatin particle agglutination test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot assay. Specificity of antibodies was assessed by homologous competitive inhibition on Western blot assay. Six patients (3 with chronic progressive myelopathy, 1 with chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, 1 with motor neuron disease, and 1 with tension headache) had high-titer HTLV-I antibodies. Twelve patients (5 with multiple sclerosis, 1 with chronic progressive myelopathy, 2 with chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, 2 with myasthenia gravis, and 2 with motor neuron disease) had low-titer HTLV-I antibodies that reacted with a single gag protein, p19 or p24, on Western blot assay. In 4 (2 with multiple sclerosis, 1 with chronic progressive myelopathy, and 1 with chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy) of these 12, the antibodies that were all directed to p19 were determined to be specific by homologous competitive inhibition. In the remaining 8 patients (3 with multiple sclerosis, 1 with chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, 2 with myasthenia gravis, and 2 with motor neuron disease), restricted reactions against p19 or p24 were considered to be nonspecific because they were not inhibited by homologous competitive inhibition. The results suggest that in some patients chronic myeloneuropathy diagnosed as chronic progressive multiple sclerosis, chronic progressive myelopathy, and chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy may be associated with HTLV-I or related retroviruses.

Functional similarity of HIV-I rev and HTLV-I rex proteins: identification of a new nucleolar-targeting signal in rev protein

We have tested the functional compatibility between rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I) and rex protein of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Each protein recognized the other's cis-acting sequence, albeit at reduced levels. Both proteins localize predominantly in the nucleolus. We have identified a new nucleolar-targeting signal in rev protein, which was homologous to that of rex protein. The sequence [35-RQARRNRRRRWRERQR-50] in rev protein, when fused to the amino-terminus of beta-galactosidase, directed the hybrid protein to the cell nucleolus. A deletion mutant which lacks several amino acid residues within the signal failed to function in the CAT assay system. These results demonstrate that the nucleolar targeting signals are essential for the functions of Rev and Rex.

Binding of cellular protein(s) to U3 region of human T-cell leukemia virus type-I long terminal repeat

The U3 region within the long terminal repeat (LTR) of human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I) contains elements responsible for transcriptional trans-activation. DNA-binding activities of nuclear proteins for each region of LTR were demonstrated using the gel retardation assay. The existence of cellular protein(s) specifically binding to the U3 region was demonstrated. Furthermore, the formation of the U3-protein(s) complex increased remarkably in HTLV-I-infected T-cells.

Expression of oncogenes during rat chemical hepatotumorigenesis promoted by estrogen

To elucidate the role of oncogene expression in hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined the expression of 4 cellular oncogenes (c-myc, c-fos, Ha-ras and c-erbA) in liver tissues induced by chemical agents. Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were examined in the present study. Rats of the first and second groups were given a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN), 200 mg/kg body weight. Two weeks later, these rats were divided into two groups; the DEN-C group received no further medication, whereas the DEN-DES group was given diethylstilbestrol (DES), 0.5 mg/day, for 12 months. The DEN group was given DEN, 100 ppm, in drinking water for five months as the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group. The DES group was given DES, 0.5 mg/day, from the start for 8 months. Rats of the DEN-DES and DEN groups developed grossly visible hepatic tumors. Significantly higher levels of c-myc gene expression were observed in tissues of HCC of the DEN group and in neoplastic nodules of the DEN-DES groups than in the DES and DEN-C group. The increase of c-myc mRNA seemed to begin after 1 month of treatment and became significant at 4 months in the DEN-DES group. On the other hand, no significant differences in mRNA levels of c-fos, Ha-ras and c-erbA were observed among these four groups. Although the significance of increased c-myc gene expression in neoplastic liver is still not known, it is conceivable that the persistent elevation of c-myc gene expression in the DEN and DEN-DES groups might contribute to the development of rat chemical hepatotumorigenesis.

Identification of HTLV-I gag protease and its sequential processing of the gag gene product

The full-length provirus of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) was isolated from MT-2, a lymphoid cell line producing HTLV-I. In transfected cells, structural proteins of HTLV-I, the gag and env products, were formed and processed in the same manner as observed in MT-2 cells. The nucleotide sequence was determined for a region between the gag and pol genes of the proviral DNA clone containing an open-reading frame. The deduced amino acid sequences show that this open-reading frame encodes a putative HTLV-I protease. The protease gene (pro) of HTLV-I was investigated using a vaccinia virus expression vector. Processing of 53k gag precursor polyprotein into mature p19, p24, and p15 gag structural proteins was detectable with a recombinant plasmid harboring the entire gag- and protease-coding sequence. We demonstrated that the protease processed the gag precursor polyprotein in a trans-action. A change in the sequence Asp(64)-Thr-Gly, the catalytic core sequence among aspartyl proteases, to Gly-Thr-Gly was shown to abolish correct processing, suggesting that HTLV-I protease may belong to the aspartyl protease group. The 76k gag-pro precursor polyprotein was identified, implying that a cis-acting function of HTLV-I protease may be necessary to trigger the initial cleavage event for its own release from a precursor protein, followed by the release of p53 gag precursor protein. The p53 gag precursor protein is then processed by the trans-action of the released protease to form p19, p24, and p15.

Role of the cysteine-rich region of HIV tat protein on its trans-activational ability

The tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has a characteristic cysteine-rich region containing 7 cysteines within 16 residues. The role of this region was investigated by creation of several tat gene mutants. The activities of the novel tat gene translational products were assayed by measuring the co-transfected chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) gene expression controlled by HIV long-terminal repeat (LTR) in the COS 7 cells. Substitution of either Cys22 with Gly, or Cys34-Gln-Val-Cys with His-Gln-Val-His, and deletion behind Lys50 of the tat protein caused a drastic loss in its activity.

Identification of a transforming gene of human papillomavirus type 16

Previously, we observed sequential two-step alteration, growth stimulation, and progression to a more malignant state in NIH 3T3 cells transfected by human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) DNA. In this study, we prepared a cDNA library from RNA extracted from cells transfected with the HPV-16 DNA and isolated cDNA clones which had growth-stimulating activity. Analysis of these cDNA clones indicated that the E7 open reading frame alone is responsible for inducing both steps of this cell transformation.

Differential expression of N-myc and c-src proto-oncogenes during neuronal and schwannian differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) cells can be induced to differentiate bidirectionally into either neuronal or schwannian cells by different inducers. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We examined the expression of N-myc and c-src genes in 3 human NB-cell lines during either neuronal or schwannian differentiation in vitro, since proto-oncogenes are considered to play a pivotal role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Decreased N-myc expression and increased c-src expression were observed during neuronal differentiation by retinoic acid, polyprenoic acid (E5166) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, whereas the expression of N-myc and c-src genes was considerably reduced during schwannian differentiation by bromodeoxyuridine, demonstrating that the expression of N-myc and c-src genes was regulated independently in the bipolar differentiation processes of NB cells. Our results suggest that enhanced N-myc expression might be closely linked to the undifferentiated phenotypes of NB cells, that c-src expression might be related to the neuronal differentiation of NB cells, and that N-myc and c-src genes might be regulated independently in the determination of the bipolar differentiation of NB cells.

The calpain-calpastatin system in hematopoietic cells

Calpain I requires low Ca2+ for activation and calpain II requires high Ca2+. It was generally accepted that erythrocytes contain calpain I and calpastatin, but no calpain II. We have recently found, however, that nucleated chicken erythrocytes contain both calpains I and II in addition to calpastatin. The finding is significant in rectifying the previous view that the chicken has only one molecular species of calpain, whereas mammals have two. Another erroneous view which prevailed previously was that polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells contain only one calpain species. We could also recently demonstrate that pig PMN cells do contain both calpains I and II. The cloning of cDNAs for calpastatin enabled us to utilize them as the probes in studying the expression of calpastatin in various hematopoietic cell-line cells. We found that several T cells infected with human retrovirus HTLV-I markedly increased the production of calpastatin, which could be measured both by calpain-inhibition assay and by Western blot analysis, but the level of mRNA for calpastatin did not significantly change when compared with noninfected T cells. The increase in calpastatin protein always parallels with the expression of interleukin 2 receptor protein by the HTLV-I-infected T cells, although the biological implication of such phenomena is almost entirely unknown yet.

The effects of a prostacyclin analog OP-41483 on pulmonary oxygen toxicity in an isolated heart-lung autoperfusion model

Using an isolated canine heart-lung autoperfusion model, the effect of prostacyclin analog (OP-41483) on pulmonary oxygen toxicity was investigated. Twenty-four mongrel dogs were divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 inspired oxygen at concentrations (FiO2) of 0.95 and 0.6, respectively, while groups 3 and 4 received OP-41483 (0.1 micrograms/kg/min) in addition to FiO2 of 0.95 and 0.6. Autoperfusion was performed for five hours, and during the experiments the systolic blood pressure was maintained at 100 mmHg and the cardiac output at 40 ml/kg/min. After five hours of perfusion, PaO2 decreased significantly (P less than 0.01) from 410 +/- 49 mmHg to 237 +/- 38 mmHg in group 1, and also decreased significantly (P less than 0.01) from 368 +/- 44 mmHg to 243 +/- 26 mmHg in group 2. However, no significant changes in PaO2 were observed in groups 3 and 4. The pathological examinations clearly revealed perivascular edema and vascular dilation in groups 1 and 2, whereas no abnormal pathological findings were seen in groups 3 and 4. The above results indicate that OP-41483, when administered at the low dose of 0.1 micrograms/kg/min, induces no circulatory changes and exerts an effective action with respect to the prevention of pulmonary edema.

cDNA cloning of human calpastatin: sequence homology among human, pig, and rabbit calpastatins

cDNA of human calpastatin, an inhibitor protein specific for calpain (EC 3.4.22.17; Ca2(+)-dependent cysteine proteinase) was isolated by screening of a library prepared from human liver mRNA with pig calpastatin cDNA fragment as a probe. The primary structure of human calpastatin was deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA and compared with that of pig and rabbit calpastatins already reported. Human calpastatin consisted of 673 amino acid residues and had 78% and 77% identity to pig or rabbit calpastatins, respectively. Human calpastatin had a domain structure with four internally repetitive sequences and one N-terminal non-homologous sequence like the other calpastatins. Human calpastatin had two deletions, 22 and 13 residues long in domain L and domain 1, respectively, compared to pig or rabbit calpastatins.

Effects and virulences of recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from attenuated strains that express the human T-cell leukemia virus type I envelope gene

We constructed recombinant vaccinia viruses (RVVs) that expressed human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) envelope glycoproteins by using attenuated vaccinia viruses (VVs) which have much lower neurovirulence than the WR strain that is extensively used as a vector. The RVV produced from the LC16mO strain, one of the attenuated VVs, elicited a high titer of anti-HTLV-I antibody in rabbits and protected them against HTLV-I infection. The env gene was inserted into the VV hemagglutinin gene. The resultant inactivation of the hemagglutinin gene led to the attenuation of VVs, but the extent of their attenuation depended on the VV strain. The propagation of LC16mO and its RVV in rabbit brain was poorer than that of LO-1, a cloned derivative of Lister strain, and its RVV, although LC16mO replicated in other organs better than did LO-1. Taken together, these results suggest that LC16mO is a good candidate as a vector for vaccination of humans.

Endoscopic diagnosis of lymphangioma of the small intestine

In three patients with lymphangioma of the small intestine, the preoperative diagnosis of lymphangioma was made by endoscopy with biopsy and radiology. A typical endoscopic finding was an elevated polypoid tumor, yellowish-white to tan. The surface was smooth, often with white specks, and could be impressed by touching lightly with biopsy forceps. Endoscopic examination revealed satellite lesions not detected radiologically. Lymphangioma has heretofore been successfully diagnosed preoperatively by endoscopy in the duodenum. This report of accurate preoperative diagnoses of lymphangioma in the small intestine, other than the duodenum, using endoscopy, may be the first to be documented.

Fulminant clonal expansion of large granular lymphocytes. Characterization of their morphology, phenotype, genotype, and function

A 39-year-old woman exhibited abrupt malignant transformation of the large granular lymphocytes (LGL) after a chronic course of T gamma-lymphoproliferative disease (T gamma-LPD). The T gamma-lymphocytes were CD2+, CD3-, CD8-, CD16+, Leu7-, and Leu19+ with morphologic characteristics of LGL. Newly appearing LGL were much larger and had more prominent azurophilic granules. Although fundamentally they had the same phenotype as the LGL in chronic stage, they showed increased Ia-like antigen and decreased CD16 antigen expressions. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G-kappa type monoclonal component was detected in the patient's serum. The LGL showed a germ-line configuration for T-cell receptor (TCR) beta and gamma chain genes, whereas the clonal chromosomal abnormalities indicated the neoplastic nature of the LGL. The LGL exhibited competent natural killer (NK), interleukin 2 (IL2) activated killer (AK), and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities. The LGL may have derived from NK cells at their mature stage with prethymic phenotype and may have influenced the homeostasis of the patient's humoral immune response.