Growth imbalance and altered expression of cyclins B1, A, E, and D3 in MOLT-4 cells synchronized in the cell cycle by inhibitors of DNA replication

Expression of cyclins at the translational level is generally studied by immunoblotting lysates of cells synchronized in the cycle. Most methods used to synchronize transformed cells induce growth imbalance. The aim of the present study was to analyze levels of cyclins B1, A, E, and D3 in the respective phases of the cycle in synchronized human leukemic MOLT-4 cells, correlate them with total cellular protein content (reflecting growth imbalance), and compare the synchronized cells with cells from unperturbed, asynchronous cultures. Expression of cyclins detected immunocytochemically in individual permeabilized cells was analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry, which made it possible to relate position of the cell in the cell cycle with cyclin expression. Cells synchronized at the G1-S boundary by thymidine, mimosine, or aphidicolin had about 40% increased total protein and 4-5 fold higher levels of cyclins E and B1 compared to their G1 counterparts from unperturbed cultures. Expression of cyclin A in synchronized cells was 2-fold higher, while expression of cyclin D3 was essentially unaltered. The synchronized cells traversing S phase after release from the block had elevated but decreasing levels of cyclins E, B1, and A. Although the cyclin expression of cells reentering G1 was similar to that of their counterparts from asynchronous cultures, the total protein content was still elevated by about 30%. The data indicate that due to different degrees of imbalance in total protein and individual cyclin content, levels of cyclins detected by immunoblotting of cell lysates from synchronized cultures may not be representative of their expression in unperturbed cells. The elevated level of cyclin B1 in the cells arrested at the G1-S boundary may reflect the increased half-life of this protein, stabilized as the result of the overexpression of cyclin E.

Discrimination of G2 and mitotic cells by flow cytometry based on different expression of cyclins A and B1

Cyclins, the regulatory subunits of their respective cyclin-dependent kinases, are the key components of the cell-cycle progression machinery. Some cyclins are expressed discontinuously during the cell cycle, their synthesis and degradation being strictly scheduled. The presence of these cyclins in the cell, therefore, provides landmarks of the cell cycle, in addition to DNA replication and mitosis. Cyclin A is expressed in late S and G2 phase and degraded during mitosis just prior to metaphase. Degradation of another "mitotic" cyclin, cyclin B1, occurs later, at the transition from metaphase to anaphase. Based on the difference in time of degradation of cyclin A versus cyclin B1 it was possible, in the present study, to discriminate between G2 and mitotic (postprophase) MOLT-4 leukemic cells, by multiparameter (cellular DNA content versus cyclin expression) flow cytometry. The cells arrested in metaphase by Vinblastine were cyclin A negative and had an elevated level of cyclin B1. The cells arrested in G2 by the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor m-AMSA had a very high level of cyclin B1 expression and unchanged expression of cyclin A. During stathmokinesis induced by Vinblastine the percentage of mitotic cells estimated by analysis of cellular DNA content and cyclin A expression was identical to that estimated by the alternative method based on in situ DNA denaturation followed by staining with acridine orange. Thus, differences in expression of cyclins A and B1 make it possible to discriminate cells that have the same DNA content but reside in different phases of the cycle, such as DNA diploid cells in G2 versus tetraploid G1 cells or mitotic versus G2 cells.

T-cell cytokine responses in human infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Compared with healthy tuberculin reactors, Mycobacterium tuberculosis-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from tuberculosis patients had diminished production and mRNA expression of the Th1 cytokines gamma interferon and interleukin 2 (IL-2), with no change in production and mRNA expression for the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13. These results were confirmed by evaluation of T cells and CD4+ cells. At the level of systemic T cells, development of tuberculosis is associated with diminished Th1 but not enhanced Th2 responses.

Induction of apoptosis by 5-azacytidine: drug concentration-dependent differences in cell cycle specificity

There are conflicting data in the literature as to whether cytotoxicity of the cytidine antimetabolite 5'-azacytidine (AZC) is a consequence of its incorporation into RNA, DNA, or both. Because apoptosis appears to be the predominant mode of tumor cell death after treatment with most antitumor drugs, and in the case of some drugs, the proclivity of the cell to undergo apoptosis varies depending on the cell cycle position, this study was aimed toward elucidating whether induction of apoptosis by AZC is cell cycle phase specific. Human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells were treated with varying concentrations of AZC, and flow cytometric methods that identify apoptotic cels and provide information about the cell cycle distribution of the apoptotic and nonapoptotic cell populations were used. At 2-6 microM concentrations of AZC, the cells in the G1 phase preferentially underwent apoptosis, whereas the cells in G2-M were particularly resistant. Although incorporation of bromouridine into RNA was suppressed at that low AZC concentration, the rate of 5'-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA was not significantly affected. At an AZC concentration of 8-40 microM, no cell cycle phase specificity in induction of apoptosis was apparent, but both the rate of 5'-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA and bromouridine into RNA were reduced in proportion to drug concentration. The data suggest that the mechanism of cell killing by AZC may be different, depending on its concentration. Namely, whereas incorporation of AZC into RNA may play a predominant role in the induction of cytotoxicity of G1 cells at low drug concentrations, the perturbation of both RNA and DNA metabolism may be responsible for triggering cell death in the G1 and S phases, as is seen at higher concentrations of this antimetabolite.

Autocrine transforming growth factor beta 1 modulates the expression of integrin alpha 5 beta 1 in human colon carcinoma FET cells

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has been extensively studied as an exogenous agent that stimulates the expression of extracellular matrix proteins and their cell-surface integrin receptors in a variety of cell types. However, the recent demonstration of autocrine TGF-beta growth effects in a number of cell types suggests that the steady-state expression of extracellular matrix and integrin proteins and their biological activity may also be under autocrine TGF-beta control. Previously, we reported that repression of autocrine TGF-beta 1 activity by constitutive expression of a full-length TGF-beta 1 antisense cDNA led to abrogation of autocrine negative TGF-beta and, as a result, increased tumorigenicity and anchorage-independent growth of a poorly tumorigenic, well-differentiated colon carcinoma cell line designated FET (Wu, S., Theodorescu, D., Kerbel, R. S., Willson, J. K. V., Mulder, K. M., Humphrey, L. E., and Brattain, M. G. (1992) J. Cell Biol. 116, 187-196). Consequently, we have used this model system to study the effects of repression of autocrine TGF-beta 1 activity on the expression of integrin alpha 5 beta 1 and integrin alpha 5 beta 1-mediated cell adhesion to fibronectin. The expression of the integrin alpha 5 subunit was reduced in TGF-beta 1 antisense transfected FET cells at both mRNA and protein levels as determined by RNase protection assays and immunoprecipitation, respectively. Autocrine TGF-beta 1 had no effect on the transcription of integrin alpha 5 and beta 1 subunits, indicating that autocrine TGF-beta 1 may regulate integrin alpha 5 beta 1 expression at the post-transcriptional level. The diminished expression of integrin alpha 5 beta 1 on the cell surface led to the reduced adhesion of TGF-beta 1 antisense transfected cells to fibronectin. This phenomenon could be reversed by treatment with exogenous TGF-beta 1.

Shall red cell units stand upright, lie flat or be mixed during storage? In vitro studies of red cells collected in 0.5 CPD and stored in RAS2 (Erythrosol)

Red cells were prepared using a new anticoagulant with half the normal amount of citrate and a new additive solution (RAS2, Erythrosol) previously shown to give improved storage conditions, and stored in a highly gas permeable plastic container (PL 2209). Mixing daily and weekly resulted in lower PCO2, higher PO2 and more rapid oxygen saturation of the haemoglobin than storage unmixed in an upright position. Storage horizontally in a lying position unmixed resulted in similar blood gas values as with mixing. The haemolysis was lowest in units mixed once weekly: 0.21 +/- 0.09% after 28 days and 0.26 +/- 0.06% after 56 days. The morphology was better maintained in mixed than in unmixed units. Horizontal storage and mixing once per week seem to be optimal as judged from these in vitro studies.

Threshold expression of cyclin E but not D type cyclins characterizes normal and tumour cells entering S phase

Complexes of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk) and their partner cyclins drive the cell through the cell cycle, each such complex phosphorylating a distinct set of proteins at a particular check-point or phase of the cycle. Immunocytochemical detection of cyclins combined with measurement of cellular DNA content by flow cytometry makes it possible to relate expression of each of these proteins with the actual cell cycle position, without the necessity of cell synchronization. In the present study, we have investigated expression of E and D type cyclins in G1 cells and in cells entering S phase, in eight different human hematopoietic and solid tumour cell lines (two leukaemias, a lymphoma, three breast carcinomas, a colon carcinoma and a bladder transitional cell carcinoma) during their exponential phase of growth, as well as in normal mitogen stimulated lymphocytes. In all the cell types studied, the average level of D type cyclin expression was invariable throughout the cell cycle. A great intercellular variability, in particular of the G1 cell subpopulations, and the presence of a large fraction of G1, S and G2 + M cells that were cyclin D negative (20-40% in tumour cell lines and about 80% among lymphocytes), were other characteristic features of D type cyclin expression. In contrast to D type cyclins, the expression of cyclin E was discontinuous during the cycle, peaking at the time of cell entrance to S. Also, a well defined threshold in expression of cyclin E characterized cells that were entering S phase, and virtually no cyclin E negative cells were seen during the early portion of S phase. The data indicate that while cell entrance to S phase is unrelated to expression of D type cyclins (at the time of entrance), accumulation of cyclin E up to critical level is a prerequisite for initiation of DNA replication. The great intercellular variability in expression of D type cyclins and their invariant average level across the cell cycle suggest that these cyclins, in addition to their acknowledged function in promoting cell progression through mid- to late-G1 may have other role(s), related or unrelated to the cell cycle progression. The presence of a large number of D type cyclin negative cells in all phases of the cycle suggests that during exponential growth the cells may not express this protein and yet may traverse the cycle, including G1 phase.

Expression of cyclins A, D2 and D3 in individual normal mitogen stimulated lymphocytes and in MOLT-4 leukemic cells analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry

Cyclins are regulatory subunits of the cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs), the enzymes that drive the cell through the respective phases and check-points of the cell cycle. The expression of cyclins in non-tumor cells, regulated by timely induction of their synthesis and proteolysis, is scheduled, occurring at discrete periods of the cell cycle. Using multiparameter flow cytometry we have recently observed that expression of cyclins B1 and E in individual normal lymphocytes mitogenically stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and lymphocytic leukemic MOLT-4 cells was similar, restricted to particular phases of the cycle: cyclin B1 was detected only in G2+M- and cyclin E in late G1 and early S-phase cells. In the present study we have measured the expression of cyclins A, D2 and D3 in these cells. The presence of cyclin A was restricted to late S and G2 phases, both in the case of lymphocytes and of MOLT-4 cells. Over 95% of the non-stimulated lymphocytes were both cyclin D2 and D3 negative. Mitogenic stimulation with PHA-induced expression of cyclins D2 and D3 in over 50% cells, which corresponds to the percentage of cells that respond to this mitogen in cultures. Expression of these proteins peaked between 8 and 24 h after addition of PHA, and then decreased at the time of cell entrance to S. During exponential growth (48-72 h after stimulation with PHA) expression of the D-type cyclins was diminished: only between 5-10% of the lymphocytes had levels of cyclin D3 as high as G1 cells between 8-24 h after PHA stimulation. Populations of proliferating lymphocytes and MOLT-4 cells were very heterogeneous in terms of expression of D-type cyclins by individual cells. While expression of cyclin D2 in exponentially growing MOLT-4 cells was similar to that of proliferating lymphocytes, the percent of cells expressing cyclin D3 as well as the degree of expression, was higher in MOLT-4 cells, regardless of the phase of the cycle. These results, with our earlier observations of the untimely expression of cyclins B1 and E in several other tumor lines, suggest that altered expression of cyclins may be a frequent feature of malignancy.

5-Aminolevulinate synthase and the first step of heme biosynthesis

5-Aminolevulinate synthase catalyzes the condensation of glycine and succinyl-CoA to yield 5-aminolevulinate. In animals, fungi, and some bacteria, 5-aminolevulinate synthase is the first enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. Mutations on the human erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase, which is localized on the X-chromosome, have been associated with X-linked sideroblastic anemia. Recent biochemical and molecular biological developments provide important insights into the structure and function of this enzyme. In animals, two aminolevulinate synthase genes, one housekeeping and one erythroid-specific, have been identified. In addition, the isolation of 5-aminolevulinate synthase genomic and cDNA clones have permitted the development of expression systems, which have tremendously increased the yields of purified enzyme, facilitating structural and functional studies. A lysine residue has been identified as the residue involved in the Schiff base linkage of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate cofactor, and the catalytic domain has been assigned to the C-terminus of the enzyme. A conserved glycine-rich motif, common to all aminolevulinate synthases, has been proposed to be at the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-binding site. A heme-regulatory motif, present in the presequences of 5-aminolevulinate synthase precursors, has been shown to mediate the inhibition of the mitochondrial import of the precursor proteins in the presence of heme. Finally, the regulatory mechanisms, exerted by an iron-responsive element binding protein, during the translation of erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA, are discussed in relation to heme biosynthesis.

Aminolevulinate synthase: functionally important residues at a glycine loop, a putative pyridoxal phosphate cofactor-binding site

5-Aminolevulinate synthase catalyzes the first step of the heme biosynthetic pathway in nonplant higher eukaryotes. The enzyme functions as a homodimer and requires pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as its cofactor. Lysine-313 in murine erythroid aminolevulinate synthase has been identified as the residue involved in the Schiff base linkage with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate [Ferreira, G. C., Neame, P. J., & Dailey, H. A. (1993) Protein Sci. 2, 1959-1965]. However, other residues involved in binding and orienting the cofactor remain unknown. We studied the informational content of each residue within an 11 amino acid glycine-rich region, which we propose to be part of the phosphate-binding motif, based on amino acid sequence comparison with other pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes and nucleotide-binding proteins. Partial random mutagenesis of this region in murine erythroid aminolevulinate synthase gene was followed by an efficient biological selection, using a hemA- Escherichia coli strain to recover functional unnatural enzymes. Among the total of 5444 variants produced, 283 were found to be functional. DNA sequencing results of 226 functional mutants indicated that most residues in this region contained a low informational content, being able to tolerate several other amino acid substitutions. However, three residues, namely, Arg-149, Gly-142, and Gly-144, were found to contain high informational content; Arg-149 was conserved in all of the functional mutants sequenced, while Gly-142 and Gly-144 could only tolerate alanine replacement. Two codon-specific random libraries of Arg-149, and Gly-142 and -144, respectively, were constructed to test further the stringency of these three positions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging and dietary modulation of elastase and interleukin-1 beta secretion

Aging is associated with diminished immune function that may stem from alterations in arachidonic acid metabolism and lipid peroxidation. This study sought to determine if dietary modification of fatty acids influenced neutrophil and monocyte secretion after an in vivo inflammatory stress in older human subjects. Volunteers participated in protocols that forced their quadriceps muscles to lengthen during tension development (eccentric stress). These protocols can cause inflammatory foci in the muscle as well as alterations in circulating leukocyte function. In this study, in vivo neutrophil degranulation was assessed by plasma elastase concentrations, and mononuclear cell function was assessed by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) secretion in vitro. In response to eccentric stress, older subjects (> 60 yr old) taking a placebo had no apparent elastase response, whereas those taking fish oil supplements responded with a 142% increase in plasma elastase (P = 0.011), similar to responses of younger reference subjects (< 33 yr old) taking no supplement. Overall, elastase responses correlated with individual plasma arachidonic acid-to-eicosapentaenoic acid ratios (r = -0.881, P = 0.004). Thus apparent age-related differences in elastase release were reconciled by individual differences in fatty acid nutriture. No significant temporal changes in urinary lipid peroxide excretion or IL-1 beta secretion were observed; however, age-associated differences were found.

T cell cytokine responses in persons with tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection

Tuberculosis causes more extensive and life-threatening disease in patients with HIV infection than in immunocompetent persons. To investigate the hypothesis that these severe manifestations of tuberculosis may be due to alterations in cytokine production, we evaluated cytokine patterns in HIV-infected tuberculosis patients. Upon stimulation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, PBMC from HIV-infected tuberculosis patients had reduced proliferative and type 1 responses, compared with HIV-seronegative tuberculosis patients. The reduction in proliferative responses was independent of the CD4 cell count, but the reduced type 1 response was a direct result of CD4 cell depletion. There was no enhancement of type 2 cytokine production in HIV-infected patients, although production of IL-10 was prominent in all tuberculosis patients. In HIV-infected tuberculosis patients, M. tuberculosis-induced proliferative responses were significantly enhanced by neutralizing antibodies to IL-10 but not by antibodies to IL-4 or by recombinant IL-12. The M. tuberculosis-induced type 1 response was augmented both by antibodies to IL-10 and by recombinant IL-12. Tuberculosis in the context of HIV infection is characterized by diminished type 1 responses, probably induced by immunosuppressive cytokines produced by macrophages/monocytes, rather than by type 2 cells.

Studies of one invasive and two noninvasive methods for detection of bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates

Recently, a new method for noninvasive detection of bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates was described [Arpi et al.: Vox Sang 1993;65:335-336]. A CO2-sensitive label is applied on the outer surface of the plastic container of the platelet concentrate. When any contaminating bacteria have increased the pCO2 to a certain level the label changes color, indicating bacterial growth. We have studied this technique and applied such sensitive labels both directly onto PCs and onto plastic bags with culture medium into which platelet contents have been transferred. However, in both cases the sensitivity of the technique was found insufficient for practical quality control of PCs. There seem to be two problems with this principle: (1) platelets produce CO2 and (2) a considerable amount of the gas passes beside the detection label, in this way decreasing the sensitivity of detection by the label. This noninvasive technique was compared with an invasive method using automated bacterial culture, which was found sensitive and rapid.

Unscheduled expression of cyclin B1 and cyclin E in several leukemic and solid tumor cell lines

Normal, nontumorous cells express cyclin proteins in an orderly, scheduled fashion, at a given phase of the cell cycle. Thus, cyclin B1 is synthesized during G2 and abruptly degraded during mitosis. The onset of cyclin E synthesis takes place in mid-G1, its maximal expression is at the time of cell entrance to S, and its degradation occurs during cell progression through S phase. In the present study, multiparameter flow cytometry was used to correlate expression of cyclin B1 or cyclin E with cell cycle position (estimated by cellular DNA content) in normal human proliferating lymphocytes as well as in T-cell MOLT-4 leukemia; promyelocytic HL-60 leukemia; histiocytic U937 lymphoma; MCF-7, T-47D, and Hs 587T breast carcinoma; Colo 320DM colon carcinoma; and the T-24 transitional cell carcinoma cell line. The scheduled expression of both cyclins, namely of cyclin B1 restricted to G2 + M cells and of cyclin E restricted to late G1 and early S cells, was observed only in normal lymphocytes and MOLT-4 cells. The cells of HL-60, U937, T-47D, and Hs 587T lines expressed both cyclins in an unscheduled ("ectopic") fashion, i.e., unrelated to cell cycle position. Colo 320DM cells showed unscheduled expression of cyclin E (i.e., during G2) but expression of cyclin B1 in this line was generally restricted to G2 + M cells. There were relatively few (10-12%) cells in MCF-7 and T-24 cell lines that expressed cyclin B1 or E in an unscheduled manner. It may be expected that the unscheduled expression of cyclins in tumor cells may lead to a loss of the regulatory mechanisms of cell cycle progression and that such feature of the tumor may be of prognostic value. There is a need, therefore, to conduct similar studies in primary tumor cells.

Staurosporine blocks cell progression through G1 between the cyclin D and cyclin E restriction points

The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (SSP) stops progression of normal nontransformed cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This implies that at least one of the cell cycle associated kinases, essential for cell transit through G1, is sensitive to SSP. Using multivariate flow cytometry to correlate the expression of cyclin E or cyclin D with cellular DNA content (i.e., cell cycle position), we have presently characterized the point of action of SSP in relation to the expression of these cyclins. During stimulation of normal human lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin, cyclin D was expressed early, peaking at 8-14 h, while cyclin E appeared later, reaching a maximum at the time of cell entrance to S phase (24 h). Addition of SSP at the time of cell stimulation, while markedly suppressing the expression of cyclin E, had a rather modest effect on the expression of cyclin D. The data indicate that the SSP sensitive kinase(s) involved in cell progression through G1 operate beyond the restriction point of cyclin D but prior to that of cyclin E. Thus, the target(s) of SSP is (are) either the p33cdk/cyclin E complex itself or other protein kinase(s), activated subsequent to the cyclin D but prior to the cyclin E restriction point, the activity of which is essential for cell transit through G1.

A selective procedure for DNA extraction from apoptotic cells applicable for gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry

In cells undergoing apoptosis (programmed cell death), a fraction of nuclear DNA is fragmented to the size equivalent of DNA in mono- or oligonucleosomes. When such DNA is analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis it generates the characteristic "ladder" pattern of discontinuous DNA fragments. Such a pattern of DNA degradation generally serves as a marker of the apoptotic mode of cell death. We developed a simple, rapid, and selective procedure for extraction of the degraded, low-molecular-weight DNA from apoptotic cells. The cells are prefixed in 70% ethanol, DNA is extracted with 0.2 M phosphate-citrate buffer at pH 7.8, and the extract is sequentially treated with RNase A and proteinase K and then subjected to electrophoresis. The ladder pattern was detected from DNA extracted from 1-2 x 10(6) HL-60 cells, of which as few as 8% were apoptotic, by flow cytometric criteria, as well as from blood and bone marrow samples from leukemic patients undergoing chemotherapy. The method is rapid and uses nontoxic reagents (no phenol, chloroform, etc.). This approach permits the analysis of DNA extracted from the very same cell population that is subjected to measurements by flow cytometry to estimate DNA ploidy, the cell cycle distribution of nonapoptotic cells, the percentage of apoptotic cells, or other parameters. Furthermore, the cells may be stored in 70% ethanol for at least several weeks before analysis without any significant DNA degradation. Treatment with ethanol also inactivates several pathogens, thereby increasing the safety of sample handling. The method is applicable to clinical samples, which can be fixed in ethanol and then stored and/or safety transported prior to analysis.

Interleukin 12 at the site of disease in tuberculosis

Interleukin 12 (IL-12), a heterodimeric cytokine composed of p40 and p35 chains, has potent immunologic effects in vitro. We used tuberculous pleuritis as a model to study the immunoregulatory potential of IL-12 in vivo at the site of human infectious disease. Messenger RNAs for p40 and p35 were detected in pleural fluid from six of six patients by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. By using an ELISA that detected both free p40 and heterodimeric IL-12, we found that mean concentrations were 585 +/- 89 pg/ml in pleural fluid of patients with tuberculous pleuritis, which were significantly higher than those in serum of the same patients (54 +/- 36 pg/ml), or in malignant pleural effusions (123 +/- 35 pg/ml). By using an ELISA specific for heterodimeric IL-12, we found that mean concentrations in pleural fluid of patients with tuberculous pleuritis were 165 +/- 28 pg/ml and undetectable in serum of the same patients, or in malignant pleural effusions. Bioactive IL-12 was detectable in five of five supernatants of pleural fluid cells stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Addition of anti-IL-12 antibodies suppressed proliferative responses of pleural fluid cells to M. tuberculosis by 36 +/- 7%. These data indicate that IL-12 may play a role in the human immune response to infectious agents in vivo. We hypothesize that IL-12 contributes to the antimycobacterial immune response by enhancing production of interferon-gamma, facilitating development of Th1 cells and augmenting cytotoxicity of antigen-specific T cells and natural killer cells.

Complement killing of Yersinia enterocolitica and retention of the bacteria by leucocyte removal filters

We report studies on the complement sensitivity of four strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, serotypes O:3, O:9, O:5.27, and O:20, isolated from blood units involved in transfusion fatalities. Complement in fresh CPD plasma killed Y. enterocolitica within 4 h at 22 degrees C in 100% of the experiments. The bactericidal action was serotype and complement activation pathway dependent. Both classic and alternate pathways seemed to be active, but the latter to a lesser degree. When the classic pathway was blocked by chelation of Ca2+ no complete killing was obtained. Complement did not enhance or condition Yersinia for leucocyte filter retention. Direct removal of Yersinia by filtration was also related to serotype; all strains were reduced by filtration in heat-inactivated plasma, and all except serotype O:5.27 were reduced in Ca(2+)-chelated plasma. Our findings may explain why plasma products and platelet concentrates are rarely involved in Yersinia sepsis related to transfusion.

Use of the cyclin e restriction point to map cell arrest in g(1)-induced by N-butyrate, cycloheximide, staurosporine, lovastatin, mimosine and quercetin

Cyclin E, a member of the G1 cyclin family, is an integral component of the complex machinery of the cell cycle. This protein is synthesized late in the G1 phase of the cycle and its transient association with p33cdk2 is essential for cell entrance to S phase. Using bivariate DNA content - cyclin E expression flow cytometric analysis, we have compared the point of action in G1 of several agents with diverse mechanisms of action in terms of its relationship to the cyclin E restriction point: cell arrest prior to the onset of cyclin E synthesis was expected to result in accumulation of cyclin E negative cells (G1cyE-) whereas arrest past this point was expected to result in accumulation of G1 cells with an increased cyclin E content (G1cyE+). Incubation of MOLT-4 cells with n-butyrate (which induces hyperacetylation of histones and hypophosphorylation of histone H1) and the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide arrested them in G1cyE. Likewise. incubation of c-ras transformed bladder carcinoma T24 cells with lovastatin (presumed to interfere with isoprenylation of p21ras and thus affecting the signal transduction pathway), or normal mitogen stimulated human lymphocytes with staurosporine (a protein kinase inhibitor) led to cell arrest in G1cyE. In contrast, growth of MOLT-4 cells in the presence of the bioflavonoid quercetin or plant amino acid mimosine, resulted in their arrest at the G, point past the onset of cyclin E synthesis (G1cyE+). Mapping the point(s) of action of drugs that perturb progression in the cycle with respect to the onset of synthesis of cyclin proteins offers some advantages compared to temporal mapping; the latter may vary due to intrinsic differences between cell types in the duration of G1, the induction of unbalanced growth, etc.

Effect of staurosporine on MOLT-4 cell progression through G2 and on cytokinesis

Staurosporine (SSP) is an inhibitor of a variety of protein kinases with an especially high affinity towards protein kinase C. Whereas SSP has been shown to halt the cell cycle progression of various normal, nontransformed cell types in G1, most virus transformed or tumor cells are unaffected in G1 but arrest in G2 phase. SSP has also been observed to increase the appearance of cells with higher DNA content, suggestive of endoreduplication, in cultures of tumor cells. Using multivariate flow cytometry (DNA content vs. expression of cyclin B, nuclear p120 protein, or protein reactive with Ki-67 antibody) which makes it possible to discriminate cells with identical DNA content but at different phases of the cycle, we have studied the cell cycle progression of human lymphocytic leukemic MOLT-4 cells in the presence of 0.1 microM SSP. MOLT-4 cells did not arrest in G1 or G2 phase in the presence of the inhibitor. Rather, they failed to undergo cytokinesis, entering G1 phase at higher DNA ploidy (tetraploidy; G1T), and then progressed through ST (rereplication) into G2T and MT. The rates of entrance to G2 and G2T were essentially identical, indicating that the rates of cell progression through S and ST as well as through G2 and G2T, respectively, were similar. Cells entrance to mitosis and mitotic chromatin condensation were also similar at the diploid and tetraploid DNA content level and were unaffected by 0.1 microM SSP. No evidence of growth imbalance (altered protein or RNA to DNA ratio) was observed in the case of tetraploid cells. The data show that, in the case of MOLT-4 cells, all events associated with the chromosome or DNA cycle were unaffected by SSP; the only target of the inhibitor appears to be kinase(s) controlling cytokinesis.

Flow cytometric detection of apoptosis: comparison of the assays of in situ DNA degradation and chromatin changes

The aim of this study was to compare three methods of detection of apoptotic cells: (1) the method based on elution of low molecular weight DNA from the ethanol fixed cells followed by cell staining with DAPI (diamidino-2-phenylindole) or propidium iodide as the DNA fluorochromes, (2) the method of in situ labeling of DNA strand breaks with biotinylated dUTP, utilizing exogenous terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase, and (3) the method of analysis of DNA denaturation in situ using acridine orange to differentially stain denatured and double-stranded DNA sections following cell exposure to 0.1 M HCl. Cells of the human promyelocytic HL-60 line, treated in vitro with the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin, which selectively triggers apoptosis of S-phase cells, were chosen as a model. The method based on analysis of changes in DNA denaturability was the most sensitive in terms of detection of the earliest changes in chromatin of cells undergoing apoptosis; the increased sensitivity of DNA to denaturation in S-phase cells was measured as early as 100 min after addition of camptothecin. DNA cleavage, assayed either by the univariate measurement of DNA content following extraction of low molecular weight DNA, or by labeling DNA strand breaks with biotinylated dUTP, was detected in S-phase cells after 120 min incubation with camptothecin. The percentage of apoptotic cells at the late stage of apoptosis, the kinetics of cell transition to apoptosis, and kinetics of the loss of S phase cells were all essentially similar when measured by any method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)