Phosphatidylglycerol-modulated protein kinase activity from human spleen. I. Enzyme purification and properties

Protein kinase P (PK-P) is a phospholipid-modulated protein kinase activity previously described in human and murine cells. This paper details the 3300-fold, high yield purification to electrophoretic homogeneity of protein kinase P from human spleen by a three-step chromatographic process. Physical characterization disclosed a protein of Mr 27,000 (by electrophoresis) or 31,700 (by gel filtration and sedimentation) and pI 5.09. Protein kinase P activity was stimulated by phosphatidylglycerol or phosphatidylinositol, with maximal stimulation observed between 200 and 400 micrograms/ml phospholipid. No stimulation was noted using phosphatidic acid or phosphatidylserine. Histone H2B was the best substrate for demonstrating the protein kinase P phospholipid stimulation. Histone H1 was phosphorylated in a phospholipid independent manner. Vinculin and actin were not substrates. Optimum enzyme activity was observed at approximately 35 degrees C and pH 6.95. PK-P was relatively insensitive to the calmodulin and protein kinase C inhibitors W7 and H7, and to the cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. Kinetic analysis disclosed complex patterns including optimal rather than Michaelis-Menton kinetics for histone and phospholipid concentration, and a steep activation threshold with respect to histone concentration in the presence of phospholipid. Biphasic kinetics for Mg2+-ATP were observed, with the major stimulatory effect of phospholipid being on Vmax rather than Km. These data suggest a model for the mechanism of activation of protein kinase P by phospholipid entailing a direct three-way interaction between substrate, enzyme, and phospholipid micelles rather than allosteric activation by phospholipid.

Interferon effects upon the adenocarcinoma 38 and HL-60 cell lines: antiproliferative responses and synergistic interactions with halogenated pyrimidine antimetabolites

In order to gain insight into the mechanisms affecting combination treatment of tumor cells with interferon and halogenated pyrimidine antimetabolites, in vitro studies of murine colon adenocarcinoma 38 and HL-60 cell lines were undertaken. Interferons exhibited modest antiproliferative effects against these lines with DNA synthesis inhibited greater than RNA greater than protein synthesis, as studied by 3H-precursor incorporation. The adenocarcinoma cell line was considerably more sensitive to recombinant gamma-than to purified alpha/beta-interferon, while HL-60 was slightly more sensitive, in short term studies, to antiproliferative effects of recombinant alpha- than to gamma-interferon. Interferon treatment was further associated with suppression of a hyperdiploid component of the adenocarcinoma cell line, as detected by flow cytometry. Combination treatment of the adenocarcinoma cell line with interferon and halogenated pyrimidines, under 4-day continuous exposure conditions, revealed significant synergy for growth inhibition with gamma- much greater than alpha/beta-interferon and with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine greater than 5-fluorouracil much greater than 5-fluorouridine. Thus, synergy was much greater with the more antiproliferative interferon and with the antimetabolite derivative most likely to lead to thymidylate synthetase inhibition rather than RNA incorporation. Sequential 2-day + 2-day treatment revealed greater synergy when interferon preceded 5-fluorouracil or 5-fluorodeoxyuridine rather than the reverse protocol. The synergy of gamma-interferon and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine could be blocked by thymidine, which bypasses inhibition of thymidylate synthetase. HL-60 also exhibited thymidine antagonized synergistic growth-inhibitory effects of interferon and 5-fluorouracil. Analysis of this interaction by [3H]thymidine incorporation, which can reflect thymidylate synthase inhibition, revealed exaggerated responses of interferon-treated cells to either 5-fluorouracil or 5-fluorodeoxyuridine. These results indicate that interferon-halogenated pyrimidine antimetabolite synergistic interactions may be common to several cell types. Evidence is further presented for a mechanism of synergy entailing enhanced thymidylate synthetase inhibition by the antimetabolite of interferon-treated cells.

Stimulation by tumor necrosis factor of HL-60 thymidine salvage pathway metabolism dissociated from proliferation

The effect of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on early-passage HL-60 cells was studied. A transient phase of increased [3H]thymidine (TdR) incorporation was noted at 20-24 hr of exposure to TNF. This increase was disproportionate to the much slighter stimulation of the percentage of S-phase cells, which was measured by flow cytometry. Evidence for increased metabolic trapping of [3H]TdR following TNF treatment was apparent from whole cell uptake experiments. The salvage pathway enzyme TdR kinase was therefore measured and was found to be elevated comparably to [3H]TdR uptake. The mechanism of TNF regulation of TdR kinase was further investigated by a series of combination treatment experiments using other biologic factors and pharmacologic inhibitors of various intracellular steps. The response to TNF was not potentiated or reproduced by IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, G-CSF, M-CSF, GM-CSF or alpha- or gamma-interferon. Blockers of early signal transduction steps, including H7, W7, sphingosine, and pertussis toxin, failed to inhibit TNF stimulation of [3H]TdR incorporation. mRNA synthesis inhibition with alpha-amanitin blocked this TNF effect, as did cAMP but not cGMP analogues. A sensitizing effect was noted with amiloride or cytochalasin B, characterized by greater relative increases of [3H]TdR incorporation and TdR kinase activity in response to TNF. In the presence of cytochalasin B, TNF treatment resulted in no change or slight decreases in the percentage of S-phase cells. Regulation of TdR kinase could thereby be dissociated from the usual cell cycle control. This study thus documents a unique example of stimulation of thymidine salvage pathway metabolism by a biologic factor, dissociable from overall cell cycle regulation.

The basis for treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia with biologic agents

A number of cloned biologic factors are currently available that are candidates for therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes and, by extension, acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. gamma-Interferon and, to a greater extent, tumor necrosis factor exhibit leukemic differentiative effects without the potential for stimulation of leukemic clones. These effects may be enhanced by combinations of these with one another or with chemical inducers of differentiation such as retinoic acid or vitamin D derivatives. The colony-stimulating factors clearly have potent in vivo effects upon hematopoiesis. The lineage specific factors (G- or M-CSF) may have greater differentiation induction potential and less risk of accelerating emergence of leukemic clones than the earlier acting factors (GM- or multi-CSF). Thus, several potentially fruitful avenues for clinical research are currently available.

A distinctive phospholipid-stimulated protein kinase of normal and malignant murine hemopoietic cells

This report describes the activity of a novel phospholipid-stimulated protein kinase from mouse DA-1 leukemic cells. The kinase was activated by phosphatidylglycerol or phosphatidylinositol. Phospholipid-stimulated protein phosphorylation occurred in the presence of Mn2+ or Mg2+; kinase activity was greater with Mg2+ than with Mn2+ from 4 to 10 mM, although at lower divalent cation concentrations Mn2+ was preferred. A Mr 75,500-77,000 endogenous protein doublet and a Mr 42,000 endogenous protein were phosphorylated in whole cell extracts under these conditions. These substrates contrasted with those identified under protein kinase C conditions. Of the exogenous proteins tested, phospholipid-stimulated phosphorylation was highest with histone H2B followed by other histones. In addition to DA-1 cells, phospholipid-stimulated protein kinase also was detected in high levels in normal mouse spleen, marrow, and kidney but not detectable in brain extracts. The phosphatidylglycerol-stimulated kinase was separated from protein kinase C by anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, from which it eluted at 0.2 to 0.3 M NaCl. Physiological dissociation of the two types of kinase activity was demonstrated by down regulation of protein kinase C over 24 h by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetic acid. Under these conditions phosphatidylglycerol kinase activity and subcellular distribution were unaffected. Thus, phosphatidylglycerol-stimulated kinase was detectable in both normal and malignant cells and contrasted with, and was separable from, protein kinase C in numerous respects. Phosphatidylglycerol-stimulated protein kinase basic biochemistry and physiological roles are topics worthy of further investigation.

A trial of recombinant alpha 2 interferon in the myelodysplastic syndrome: II. Characterization and response of granulocyte and platelet dysfunction

Because qualitative neutrophil and platelet dysfunction is an important concomitant of the myelodysplastic syndrome, functional studies were performed prospectively of cells from eight patients with myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing treatment with recombinant alpha 2 interferon. Neutrophil studies performed included myeloperoxidase release and superoxide anion generation, measured spectrophotometrically, in response to stimulation by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, opsonized zymosan, and the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), respectively. The most consistently abnormal of these tests was the fMLP-stimulated superoxide anion generation, which was low in six of seven patients tested. Mean results with this test were significantly lower than controls (mean +/- SD = 5.11 +/- 2.41 nmol/10(6) patient cells vs. 10.14 +/- 3.02 with normal cells, p less than 0.001). No significant change was noted following 2 or 8 weeks of interferon therapy. Because of the severe thrombocytopenia prevalent in myelodysplastic syndrome, fewer platelet studies were feasible. One patient, however, exhibited normal platelet numbers but markedly decreased aggregation in response to arachidonic acid, epinephrine, and collagen. After 4 weeks of treatment, this patient's platelet aggregation was noted to be normal. Platelets from two patients were purified by gel filtration, and the ATP/ADP ratios were determined by HPLC. Pretreatment ATP/ADP ratio of one patient was 4.85 (normal = 1.85 +/- 0.28) which declined to 3.27 on treatment and then returned to 4.80 following a 14-day period off treatment. Another patient, also with elevated ATP/ADP, exhibited a smaller decline during a treatment cycle. From these studies it was concluded that fMLP-stimulated superoxide generation may be a sensitive marker for neutrophil dysfunction in the myelodysplastic syndrome. No evidence was found for improvement of neutrophil dysfunction following alpha 2 interferon treatment. alpha 2 interferon, however, may sometimes have beneficial effects upon platelet dysfunction.

A trial of recombinant alpha 2 interferon in the myelodysplastic syndromes: I. Clinical results

Interferon has been reported to have differentiation promoting effects in certain model systems. Because of this and other potentially beneficial effects, a trial of recombinant alpha 2 interferon was undertaken in myelodysplastic syndromes. The study population consisted of 14 patients, subclassified as two refractory anemia (RA), one RA with ring sideroblasts (RARS), nine RA with excess blasts (RAEB), and two chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL). The planned dosage schedule was 2.0 MU/M2 t.i.w. sc x 2 weeks q 4 weeks for at least two cycles. No patient achieved the prospective remission criteria, which included sustained blood count improvements. Transient improvements of platelet counts of greater than 50% in baseline were noted in six patients, and a transient antileukemic effect was noted in one patient with CMMoL. Myelodysplastic syndrome patients were found to be sensitive to the count suppressing effects of alpha 2 interferon with greater than 25% suppression of granulocytes, platelets, or reticulocytes transiently noted in 11 patients and decreasing bone marrow cellularity noted in two while on treatment. Because of these effects, dosage adjustments were frequently instituted in the RA, RARS, and RAEB patients. The average dosages and durations of treatment received were thus 1.48 MU/M2 x 19.4 injections for patients with RA, RARS, and RAEB and 2.25 MU/M2 x 27 injections for the CMMoL patients. Progression to acute myeloid leukemia or RAEB in transformation was noted in five patients, and increasing leukocytosis was noted in one CMMoL patient while on protocol. It cannot be determined at this time whether these transformations were accelerated by alpha 2 interferon or represent selection bias in this study population. Although some evidence of beneficial effects was noted, alpha 2 interferon in this dosage and schedule is not a useful treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes.

Analysis of heavy metal immunotoxicity by multiparameter flow cytometry: correlation of flow cytometry and immune function data in B6CF1 mice

Bone marrow and spleen cells obtained from female B6C3F1 mice given a single i.p. exposure to cadmium acetate (0.9 mg/kg), lead acetate (12 mg/kg), or sodium acetate (12 mg/kg), were studied using flow cytometry, immunologic, and hematologic assays. Significant changes were detected in subpopulations of bone marrow cells using multiparameter flow cytometry within 1 day following treatment with cadmium or lead. Bone marrow cells obtained from B6C3F1 mice 5 days after treatment with cadmium or lead were found to have a decreased number of cells expressing Mac-1, 55-7.2, 14.8, and Lyt-1 antigens, suggesting a shift to immature cell types. An increase in the number of progenitor cells (CFU-C) obtained from the bone marrow of mice treated with heavy metals was also noted 5 days after exposure to cadmium or lead. A time-dependent suppression of the in vitro primary humoral immune response of spleen cells to SRBCs, TNP-Ficoll and TNP-LPS was produced by cadmium or lead treatment. Suppression of the mitogenic response of spleen cells to Con A, PHA, and LPS was also found to be time-dependent. Spleen cell surface marker expression (Mac-1, Lyt-1, Lyt-2 and 14.8) was altered in response to cadmium or lead treatments, but these changes did not appear to correlate with the humoral immunity or mitogen-induced proliferation data. These studies demonstrate that changes in cell surface markers on discrete subpopulations of lymphoid cells present in the spleens of heavy metal exposed mice may not correlate with alterations in the functional activity of these cells. However, changes in murine bone marrow surface markers in response to cadmium or lead treatment predicts a shift to immature cell types, which appeared to correlate with the increase in CFU-C activity.

Effects of conditioned medium upon proliferation, deoxynucleotide metabolism, and antimetabolite sensitivity of promyelocytic leukemic cells in vitro

In order to investigate the interaction of factors from leukocyte-conditioned medium with leukemic cells, effects of an ammonium sulfate-precipitated conditioned medium concentrate were tested upon HL-60 cells. This preparation increased tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA of HL-60 cells markedly, an effect which was found to be attributable in large part to greater thymidine accumulation in the intracellular nucleotide triphosphate pool. A modestly expanded population of DNA synthetic phase cells was also demonstrated by flow cytometry. Similar effects were noted of the K562 and KG-1 cell lines and were also demonstrable with giant cell tumor-conditioned medium. These effects were not demonstrable with a purified preparation of granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulated factor. Because of the altered pattern of nucleotide metabolism noted, the effect of the conditioned medium concentrate upon 5-fluorouracil sensitivity was tested. Following continuous 24-h exposure to 5-fluorouracil at 5 X 10(-6) M, tritiated thymidine incorporation of HL-60 cells increased in parallel with depletion of endogenous thymidylate. Conditioned medium concentrate markedly sensitized cells to this effect of 5-fluorouracil and also increased growth retardation, cytotoxicity, and cell cycle arrest as assessed by flow cytometry. These studies thus demonstrated marked effects of a factor in conditioned medium on deoxynucleotide uptake and metabolism of the HL-60 line. These effects occurred in conjunction with, but were relatively more marked than, effects upon cell cycle distribution and were found to influence chemotherapy sensitivity.

Manganese-phospholipid-stimulated protein kinase activity of human leukemic cells

A protein kinase system with unusual characteristics was noted in extracts of HL-60 cells using endogenous proteins as substrates. This system exhibited a cation preference for manganese at an optimal concentration of 0.5 mM. Moderate activity was detectable with magnesium at an optimal concentration of 5.0 mM, but calcium was inactive. Activity was markedly stimulated by phospholipid, with phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol exhibiting greater activity than phosphatidylserine. In isolated plasma membranes, the major substrate of this system was a 73-kDa protein, while cytoplasmic extracts exhibited larger amounts of a 42-kDa substrate. 73-kDa phosphorylating activity of membranes was comparably active at 0 and 31 degrees C, although in cytosol activity was greater at 31 degrees C. No 73-kDa protein phosphorylation was observed in the presence of Ca2+, Mg2+, and phosphatidylserine. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the 73-kD band revealed phosphothreonine and phosphoserine. The 42-kDa substrate was distinguishable from actin by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, which disclosed that both major substrates were highly basic in the isoelectric focusing dimension. Protamine and histones (H2B greater than H1 greater than H3) exhibited phospholipid-stimulated phosphorylation in the presence of Mn2+, but phosvitin, casein, and vinculin were not substrates. High levels of phosphorylative activity involving the 73-kDa substrate were noted in nuclear extracts. Complex patterns of increase of this activity were noted in both cytosol and nuclear extracts following induction of differentiation with dimethyl sulfoxide, retinoic acid, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. This study thus demonstrated the presence of a previously undescribed type of protein kinase activity which exhibited alterations during leukemic cellular differentiation.

A cyclic AMP binding protein pattern useful as a biochemical differentiation marker of erythroleukemic cell lines and normal cloned erythroblasts

Previous study of a variety of a human hemopoietic cell lines and normal samples with 8-N3-[32P]-cAMP photoaffinity labelling, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography revealed five distinct cAMP binding protein patterns, each of which were restricted to cells of particular lineages. One pattern unique to K562 cells was characterized by the presence of three bands designated a, b and d. In order to ascertain the significance of this finding, we studied by the same methods normal human erythroblasts harvested from methylcellulose cultures of fetal liver and adult blood, and murine and human erythroleukemic cells (MEL and HEL) as well as K562, cultured with and without chemical inducers of erythrodifferentiation. Three band patterns recognizable as similar to that of K562, but distinctive from those of myeloid and lymphoid cells, were noted of cells of erythroblastic origin. Both HEL and MEL, as well as the normal erythroblasts, exhibited heaviest labeling of band a in contrast to K562, which exhibited heaviest labelling of band d. Relative labelling of band b and d of HEL and MEL increased following treatment with 50 mu hemin or 4 mM hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA), respectively. Treatment of K562 with hemin, however, resulted in increased band a. Thus, among hemopoietic cells, an isozymic cAMP binding protein pattern has been identified which is characteristic of the erythroid lineage. The relative abundances of the three components (a, b and d) have been furthermore noted to undergo a series of shifts during induced differentiation. Cyclic AMP binding proteins may thus prove useful as a biochemical marker system in the recognition and analysis of erythroid differentiation.

Application of air sampling and ion-mobility spectrometry to narcotics detection: a feasibility study

A feasibility study of the application of air sampling and ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS) for detection of heroin and cocaine concealed in letter mail showed that a unique IMS signature is associated with each type of drug and that a number of IMS peaks can be used as markers for the presence of drugs. No false reading for cocaine or heroin resulted when innocent items were monitored. Near real-time performance with sampling and analysis times of less than 30 seconds was achieved for the simultaneous detection of cocaine and heroin. The method proved to be a reliable tool for the fast screening of suspect items. Preliminary tests also showed that the method has potential for use in detecting the drugs in suitcases and on people.

Determination of amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin vapour pressures using a dynamic gas blending system and gas chromatographic analysis

A dynamic gas blending system was used to generate controlled vapour concentrations of amphetamine, cocaine, or heroin. An adsorption – thermal desorption – gas chromatographic procedure was developed and used to measure the output vapour concentrations. The vapour pressure of amphetamine at 20 °C was determined, and vapour pressures as a function of temperature have been measured for cocaine and heroin.

Subcellular distribution of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase during the chemically induced differentiation of HL-60 cells

In order to determine if cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate- (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase has a role in the expression of chemically induced differentiation of HL-60 cells, levels and subcellular distribution of this enzyme were studied during this process. Cyclic AMP binding protein and stimulated kinase activities increased moderately in cytosol and more markedly in nucleosol and nonhistone chromatin-associated protein fractions of cells induced to differentiate with dimethyl sulfoxide or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Retinoic acid induced similar cytosolic changes but less marked intranuclear increases. Nuclear increases did not occur in the differentiation-resistant subline, HL-60 Blast II, treated with dimethyl sulfoxide. DEAE-cellulose chromatography, as well as photoaffinity labeling and gel electrophoresis, disclosed higher ratios of type I to type II kinase in cytosol than in intranuclear fractions. Differences of the qualitative binding protein patterns between cytosol and nucleosol were enhanced following chemically induced differentiation. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased cytoplasmic and nuclear binding protein levels when given alone or in combination with retinoic acid or dimethyl sulfoxide, and it enhanced differentiation. These results suggest that intranuclear cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is associated with the expression of the differentiative program in HL-60 cells.

Analysis of myelomonocytic leukemic differentiation by a cell surface marker panel including a fucose-binding lectin from Lotus tetragonolobus

The fucose-binding lectin from Lotus tetragonolobus ( FBL -L) has been previously shown to bind specifically to normal cells of the myeloid and monocytic lineages. The purpose of this study was to explore the utility of fluoresceinated FBL -L as a leukemia differentiation marker in conjunction with a panel of other frequently used surface markers (Fc receptor, HLA-DR, OKM1, and antimonocyte antibody). FBL -L reacted with leukemic cells in 8/9 cases of clinically recognized acute myeloid leukemia, including myeloid blast crisis of chronic granulocytic leukemia, 3/3 cases of chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia, and in 2/7 cases of clinically undifferentiated acute leukemia. Correlations were noted between reactivity with FBL -L, and DR and Fc receptor expression. Among continuous cell lines, FBL -L bound with high intensity to a majority of HL-60 and U937 cells. The less well differentiated myeloblast cell lines, KG-1, KG1a , and HL-60 blast II, exhibited less FBL -L binding than HL-60 and U937. A moderate proportion of K562 cells exhibited low level binding of FBL -L. Several lymphoblastic cell lines exhibited a pattern of low intensity binding that was distinguishable from the high intensity binding pattern of the myeloblastic lines. FBL -L reactivity of U937 was enhanced by induction of differentiation with leukocyte conditioned medium, but not dimethylsulfoxide. Such treatments induced contrasting patterns of change of HL-60 and U937 when labeled with OKM1, alpha-Mono, and HLA-DR. These studies demonstrate the application of FBL -L to analysis and quantitation of myelomonocytic leukemic differentiation.

Medical student interactions with cancer patients: evaluation with videotaped interviews

In order to evaluate the impact of a block in cancer medicine upon student interactions with cancer patients, a group of 32 students have been videotaped during interviews with simulated and genuine cancer patients before and after the block. The videotapes were scored and analyzed for frequencies and patterns of interactions by the method of Reciprocal Category Analysis. This disclosed significant decreases in purely factual questions by the students, with corresponding increases in discussion of emotional aspects of illness, following the course. The temporal pattern of interaction also changed with less of a tendency to delay or avoid addressing emotional aspects of disease noted. In addition to demonstrating changes in student interactions with cancer patients following a didactic course, this study exemplifies an approach offering more direct assessment of physician-patient interactions than has been practical using questionnaires.

Distinctive patterns of cAMP-binding proteins and their relationship to hemopoietic cellular differentiation

In order to clarify distinctions among cAMP-binding protein patterns present in hemopoietic cells of the various major lineages, we have studied extracts from 18 human cell lines by photoaffinity labelling with 8-azido [32P]cAMP, followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Four major cAMP-binding protein bands were noted. These occurred in five recognizable patterns of combinations, each of which was restricted to cells of particular lineages. A distinctive pattern was found in the pluripotent stem cell line K562, confirming its unusual nature compared with other lines committed to myeloid or lymphoid differentiation. Three patterns were noted among the pre-B and early and late B cell lines studied, which may thus define sequential stages of differentiation of this series. These studies indicate the utility of cAMP-binding proteins as a biochemical differentiation marker system. The variety of phenotypes noted further suggests a role for them in the development or expression of specialized cellular functions.