Co-association of CD3 zeta with a receptor (CD16) for IgG Fc on human natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes that mediate major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-nonrestricted cytotoxicity against tumours and virus-infected cells and secrete numerous cytokines on activation. NK cells are distinct from mature T lymphocytes, because they do not rearrange or productively transcribe T-cell receptor alpha-, beta-, gamma- or delta-chain genes and do not express the CD3 gamma- or delta-subunits. But recent studies indicate that NK cells do express CD3 zeta, co-associated with other membrane proteins. Here we report that CD16, the receptor for the Fc (constant) region of IgG, specifically associates with the CD3 zeta homodimer on the membrane of human NK cells, and that co-transfection with CD3 zeta complementary DNA permits expression of a transmembrane-linked CD16 complex on COS-7 cells. These findings indicate that CD3 zeta can co-associate with membrane receptors of diverse cell types and function as a common structure for signal transduction.

[The surgical treatment of intermittent exotropia]

77 cases of surgically treated intermittent exotropia were followed up for analysis with regard to the relation between the age of operation and curative effect, the age and post-operative restoration of homologous retinal correspondence, and the effect of over-correction on final orthophoria. The authors were of the opinion that the earliest surgical intervention was conducive to recovery of Grade III visual function and restoration of homologous retinal correspondence, and slight over-correction was significant for final orthophoria. They recommended that the earliest surgical intervention be accorded patients with intermittent exotropia of 20 delta and over, instead of purposeless waiting and observation.

K562 leukemia cells transfected with the human c-fes gene acquire the ability to undergo myeloid differentiation

Expression of the proto-oncogene p93c-fes and its associated tyrosine kinase activity is marked in mature granulocytes, monocytes, differentiated HL-60 leukemia cells, and leukemia cell lines KG-1, THP-1, HEL, and U-937, which can be induced to differentiate along the granulocyte/monocyte pathway. Conversely, p93-c-fes expression is absent in the K562 cell line, which is resistant to myeloid differentiation. Upon transfection and clonal selection of K562 cells using a mammalian expression vector containing the 13-kilobase pair c-fes gene, c-fes mRNA was transcribed and p93-c-fes tyrosine activity kinase was expressed. Clones expressing c-fes underwent myeloid differentiation as assessed by the appearance of phagocytic activity, Fc receptors, nitro blue tetrazolium reduction, Mac-1 immunofluorescence, and lysozyme production. These results indicate that the expression of the c-fes protooncogene and its associated tyrosine kinase activity plays a major role in the initiation of myeloid differentiation.

A clinical investigation with Holter's monitoring of the antiarrhythmic effect of adonisidum

The authors studied 24 cases of refractory premature beats by giving 0.1 adonisidum twice daily with Holter's monitoring. It was found that adonisidum was effective in 12 cases (P less than 0.001), or 50%. In another 8 patients adonisidum or mexiletine alone were ineffective for premature beats. However, when these patients were treated with both mexiletine and adonisidum, they responded with no exception (P less than 0.001). All 7 cases monitored with one hour Holter recording responded to adonisidum (P less than 0.001). As adonisidum tends to slow the heart rate, it is especially indicated for patients suffering from premature beats with increased heart rate, and should be used with caution in cases with slow heart rate or A-V block.

Identification of the differentiation-associated p93 tyrosine protein kinase of HL-60 leukemia cells as the product of the human c-fes locus and its expression in myelomonocytic cells

A differentiation-associated 93-kDa tyrosine kinase (p93) was purified previously from the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. The present study conclusively identifies p93 as the c-fes proto-oncogene product and shows that expression of p93c-fes and its associated tyrosine kinase activity are marked in mature granulocytes, monocytes, and human myeloid leukemia cell lines. Antisera to peptides obtained by expression of c-fes cDNA fragments in Escherichia coli reacted strongly with p93 purified from HL-60 cells. Western blots using one of these antisera demonstrated high levels of p93c-fes protein in normal human granulocytes and monocytes, as well as the cell lines KG-1, THP-1, HEL, and U-937, all of which can be induced to differentiate along the myelomonocytic pathway. Conversely, in cell lines resistant to myeloid differentiation, p93c-fes expression was either very low or absent. Expression of immunoreactive p93c-fes in these cell lines showed a strong positive correlation with p93c-fes tyrosine kinase activity, which was measured in cell extracts using a nondenaturing gel assay. Finally, the expression of p93c-fes, its tyrosine kinase activity, and the binding of 125I-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were all coordinately increased in HL-60 cells treated with the granulocytic differentiation inducer dimethyl sulfoxide, while all three parameters were low in untreated or differentiation-resistant HL-60 cells. These results suggest that expression of p93c-fes tyrosine kinase activity may be an essential component of myeloid differentiation and responsiveness to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Association of p93c-fes tyrosine protein kinase with granulocytic/monocytic differentiation and resistance to differentiating agents in HL-60 leukemia cells

A 93-kDa tyrosine protein kinase (p93) identified previously as the gene product of the c-fes proto-oncogene, is highly expressed in HL-60 leukemia cells induced to differentiate to the granulocyte or monocyte phenotype. We have now studied the relationship of p93 to the differentiation process by using a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-resistant subline of HL-60 cells (HL-60/DMSO) or the parental cell line treated with peptide or protein substrates of p93. Treatment of HL-60/DMSO cells with DMSO induced neither differentiation nor the expression of p93; however, cotreatment with IFN-alpha and DMSO resulted in partial differentiation and the concomitant induction of p93 activity. Treatment of wild-type HL-60 cells by the coaddition of the p93 substrates poly(Glu,Tyr)1:1, poly(Glu,Tyr)4:1, poly(Glu,Ala,Tyr)6:3:1, angiotensin II or vasoactive intestinal peptide with DMSO or IFN-tau partially blocked differentiation and concurrently diminished the induction of p93 activity. The inhibitory concentrations of the p93 substrates were related to their Km values. These results indicate that there is an obligatory association between the expression of p93 and granulocyte/monocyte differentiation in this cell line.

Purification and characterization of p93fes- and p60src-related tyrosine protein kinase activities in differentiated HL-60 leukemia cells

Two tyrosine protein kinase activities have been identified previously to be present in HL-60 leukemia cells during induction of granulocytic and monocytic differentiation with a variety of differentiating agents. We have copurified a membrane-associated tyrosine kinase (p93) and an activity associated with both the cytosol and membrane fractions (p60). Triton X-100 extracts from HL-60 cells treated with dimethyl sulfoxide were subjected to tyrosine-agarose chromatography, polypropyl aspartamide high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and HPLC using an antiphosphotyrosine IgG-derivatized column. Overall purification was 2700-fold for p93 and 1800-fold for p60. p60 and p93 are phosphorylated exclusively on tyrosine residues and can use poly(Glu,Tyr)4:1, histone H1 and vasoactive intestinal peptide as substrates. Poly(Glu,Tyr)1:1 and poly(Glu,Ala,Tyr)6:3:1 were less effective substrates for p60 and p93. The activity of p93 was dependent on Mg2+ or Mn2+, whereas p60 was dependent on Mg2+; however, the activity of p60 was stimulated in a synergistic manner by the presence of both Mg2+ and Mn2+, whereas the activity of p93 was not enhanced further by the combination of divalent ions. Both p60 and p93 were immunoprecipitated by an anti-v-src monoclonal antibody but only p93 was immunoprecipitated by an anti-v-fps/fes antibody. V8 protease digestion of p60 revealed one major proteolytic fragment containing phosphotyrosine, whereas V8 protease digestion of p93 produced two major peptides that were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. These results suggest that, although p93 and p60 may possess some epitopic similarities, they have distinguishing phosphorylation sites. Moreover, p93, in contrast to p60, appears to be strictly associated with granulocytic/monocytic differentiation and related to the cellular fps/fes protooncogene.

Analysis of tyrosine kinase activity in cell extracts using nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

A general procedure for detecting tyrosine kinase activity in crude or purified preparations using nondenaturing gel electrophoresis is presented. Samples are resolved by electrophoresis in minigels which are then incubated in an assay mixture containing [gamma-32P]ATP, poly(glutamic acid, tyrosine)4:1, and cofactors. Subsequently, gels are fixed and washed in trichloroacetic acid-pyrophosphate, dried, and analyzed by autoradiography or liquid scintillation counting. The procedure is simple and fast and allows analysis of different molecular weight forms of tyrosine kinase under linear kinetics at 37 degrees C without interference from phosphatases and proteases.

The superiority of maximum fiber elastance over maximum stress-volume ratio as an index of contractile state

The end-systolic pressure-volume relationship has been used as a load-independent measure of ventricular pump performance. Since comparisons of load between ventricles of different size and thickness may be more accurately made with measurements of wall stress than with those of pressure, the end-systolic stress-volume relationship at one or more levels of end-systolic stress has been used to estimate contractile function in hypertrophied ventricles. Linear regression of end-systolic stress against end-systolic volume for differently loaded beats has a slope termed maximum fiber elastance (fiber Emax) and a volume intercept termed Vo; the maximum stress-volume ratio (MSVR) for a single beat is an approximation of fiber Emax but assumes Vo = 0. However, the influence of preload, afterload, and inotropic state on these indexes has not been examined. We therefore studied the stress-volume relationship in seven open-chest dogs instrumented with ultrasonic crystals and micromanometers. Postextrasystolic potentiation (PESP) increased both the MSVR (5.7 +/- 1.83 vs 4.85 +/- 1.43 at control, p less than .05) and fiber Emax (13.93 +/- 3.24 vs 9.24 +/- 2.15 at control; p less than .05). Augmentation of preload by infusion of dextran, with the use of nitroprusside to maintain afterload relatively constant, did not significantly influence either the MSVR or fiber Emax. Vo was not significantly influenced by PESP, but was shifted to higher values by augmentation of preload (17.5 +/- 14.8 vs 13.9 +/- 11.1 ml at control; p less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nonlymphomatous metastatic tumor to the testis

A patient with pancreatic carcinoma presented with an initial left testicular mass that proved to be metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Regional spread of the pancreatic carcinoma may have created venous and lymphatic obstruction with inferior passage of tumor emboli to the testis. A summary of nonlymphomatous secondary tumors of the testis also is presented.

Electroacupuncture treatment of morphine-dependent mice reduces signs of withdrawal, without showing cross-tolerance

Morphine pellets (75 mg morphine base per pellet) were implanted subcutaneously in mice (B6AF1/J) and were surgically removed after 3 or 8 days. During morphine abstinence (7 h after pellet removal), the mice were treated with electroacupuncture (EA). The results indicate that EA analgesia shows no cross-tolerance to morphine. Additionally, EA reduced withdrawal behaviour (jumping) in 50% of the mice during morphine abstinence.

Relationship between diazepam dose, plasma level, age, and central nervous system depression

Patients undergoing elective cardioversion for treatment of arrhythmias were premedicated with diazepam. The dose was individualized to achieve a degree of central nervous system CNS) depression characterized by response to painful but not vocal stimulation. Promptly following each cardioversion, blood was drawn and the plasma diazepam concentration was measured by gas chromatography. The plasma levels varied as widely as the diazepam doses so that there was no fixed plasma level of diazepam associated with the degree of CNS depression produced in these patients. However, both the dose of diazepam and the resulting plasma level were inversely correlated to age, indicating that age is a critical factor in the use of diazepam for cardioversion premedication; elderly are more sensitive to the depressant effects of this drug than the young.

Sensitization to cocaine stimulation in mice

Repeated administration of cocaine to B6AF1/J mice increased their running response to 20 mg/kg cocaine as much as four-fold over the response to the first injection. After four daily injections, the extent of the increase was proportional to the dose of cocaine that was used for pretreatment. Sensitization persisted for as long as 2 months after the last injection of cocaine. Cocaine-pretreated mice did not show an increased running response to either morphine or d-amphetamine. The response to cocaine was increased two-fold by treatment with morphine and three-fold by pretreatment with d-amphetamine. Pretreatment with either imipramine or reserpine did not produce sensitization to cocaine. There was no correlation between cocaine sensitization and whole-brain catecholamine levels. There were marked differences in both the running response to cocaine and the extent of cocaine sensitization betwee the parental strains, C57B1/6J and A/J. Experiments with recombinant-inbred lines, derived from C57B1/6By and BALB/cBy mice, suggest that the initial response to cocaine and the development of sensitization are controlled by different genetic determinants.