Growth dominance of a revertant virus generated during in vitro serial passage of nef frameshift mutant of HIV-1

We prepared a series of nef mutant HIV-1 with a frameshift mutation at the Xho I site by up to 50 serial transfers into MT-4 cells. Here, we studied revertants. Immunofluorescence using an anti-Nef monoclonal antibody revealed that cells first became Nef antigen-positive at the 23rd passage. The percentage of Nef antigen-positive cells gradually increased and reached almost 100% by the 27th passage. The sequence of the provirus in the cells supported the generation of a revertant. This revertant mutated at the site immediately after the initially introduced frameshift mutation. This resulted in the substitution of only three amino acids and the insertion of two, which restored the proline-rich domain, a conserved region believed essential to viral replication, at the middle of Nef. Thus, the growth dominance of the revertant virus, compared with the original nef mutant, was directly demonstrated in vitro using serial passages consisting of mixed HIV-1 populations in a single cell.

Serial passage of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 generates misalignment deletions in non-essential accessory genes

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) derived from an infectious molecular clone pNL432 was extensively passaged in tissue culture by repeated rounds of acute infection. We previously showed the natural occurrence of a nonsense mutation in the vpr gene during continued passage of this virus. In this report, we show that two forms of large deletions (561 and 518 base pairs containing short direct repeats at the deletion junctions) occur after passage 50 in the region that spans the vif and vpr open reading frames. One model to explain the occurrence of these deletion regions is that such mutations result from misalignment of the growing point at a limited number of nucleotide positions. Infection of CD4+ T-cells with a recombinant HIV-1 construct containing the same vif to vpr deletion showed virtually no cytopathogenic phenotype. Thus, misalignment deletions at non-essential accessory genes of HIV-1 might be induced during replication, which result in the generation of virus with a low cytopathogenic potential.

High-risk HPV-positive human cancer cell lines show different sensitivity to cisplatin-induced apoptosis correlated with the p21Waf1/Cip1 level

We investigated the sensitivity and cell-cycle inhibitory gene expression of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16- and 18-positive human cancer cell lines after DNA damage induced by treatment with the anti-cancer drug cisplatin. Four HPV-positive cell lines (Caski, SiHa, HeLa and KB) were treated with cisplatin at various concentrations. Apoptotic cell death was observed in a dose-dependent manner in all cell lines treated with cisplatin; however, colony assay for chemosensitivity revealed that HeLa and KB cells (HPV 18-positive cell lines) were more sensitive than SiHa and Caski cells (HPV 16-positive cell lines). Northern blot analyses showed that p53 and p21Waf1/Cip1 mRNA were detectable in all untreated cells, and increasing amounts of these transcripts were identified in all cell lines treated with cisplatin. However, signals were more prominent in HeLa and KB, HPV 18-positive-cells. Immunohistochemical detection of p21Waf1/Cip1 protein showed that the p21-positive cells with apoptotic features were more distinct in KB and HeLa cells (HPV 18-positive) than in SiHa and Caski cells (HPV 16-positive). Our results show that there were differences in sensitivity to cisplatin among four types of high risk HPV-positive cells, possibly due to different levels of p21Waf1/Cip1 up-regulation by functional p53.

Investigation of IFN type-I receptor and IFN regulatory factor expression relating to induction of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus

Poor induction of interferon-induced 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activity has been demonstrated in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus or human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I). The suppression of 2-5AS induction is the result of the repression of 2-5AS gene expression at the transcription level. In a general way, after the binding of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to cell surface-specific receptors, expression of 2-5AS gene is thought to be regulated by some transacting factors, IFN-regulatory factors (IRF-1 and IRF-2) and the IFN-stimulated gene factor (ISGF-3, a complex consisting of STAT-1 alpha, STAT-2 and p48). To clarify the cause of the suppression mechanism(s), fluctuation in the number of IFN receptors and the levels of mRNAs in both IRF-1 and IRF-2 were examined in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus (FLMT and KBMT). There were few differences in the number of IFN receptors and the level of IRF-2 mRNA between persistently infected cells and uninfected control cells. After the treatment of cells with IFN, a slight reduction of IRF-1 mRNA was found in persistently infected cells as compared with that of the uninfected control cells.

[Molecular mechanisms of cancer metastasis--ets-related nuclear transcription factor play an important role in cancer metastasis]

Significant progress has been made in the field of cancer metastasis, and the molecular mechanism of cancer metastasis is being studied extensively. Recent studies revealed that some oncogenes and metastasis-associated genes play important roles in cancer metastasis. Some nuclear transcription factors have appeared to be involved in this metastasis. Ets-related E1AF confers the invasive phenotype on cancer cells. E1AF that acts as a transcription factor is believed to play an important role in cancer invasiveness/metastasis through transcriptions of metastasis-related genes.

The 273rd codon mutants of p53 show growth modulation activities not correlated with p53-specific transactivation activity

Cancer-related mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene are clustered in the four so-called 'hot spots', codons 175, 248, 273 and 281/282. By using recombination PCR in vitro mutagenesis, we introduced point mutations into the codon 273 of wild-type (wt) p53 (pC53-SN3) from Arg to His (pC53-273H [273H]), Asp (273D), Pro (273P), Lys (273K), Leu (273L) or Thr (273T), and compared their biological and biochemical activities with wt p53 and cancer-derived 175H, 248W and 273H/309S. Among them, 273H/309S, 273H and 273D as well as wt p53 transactivated the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene placed downstream of the p53 binding consensus, while none of the other mutants including 273L did. Transcriptions from human c-fos and rat PCNA promoters were suppressed by wt p53 and 273D, while they were enhanced variously by all other mutants in Saos-2 and/or NIH3T3 cells. On the other hand, growth of human squamous carcinoma cell lines measured by the plating efficiency of G418-resistant colonies was enhanced by transfection of 175H, 248W, 273H/309S and 273P, while suppressed by not only wt p53, 273D and 273H but also 273L. Thus, 273H/309S enhanced cell growth in spite of its p53-specific transactivation activity, while 273L suppressed cell growth in spite of its complete loss of the p53-specific transactivation. We concluded that the sequence-specific transactivation of p53 is not always correlated with its growth inhibitory activity.

Mutations in the p53 gene and human papillomavirus infection as significant prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity

The p53 gene has been indicated to be a tumour suppressor gene that is found in mutated form in common human cancers. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has oncogenic activity in cervical and oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The E6 protein of HPV is known to bind with p53 protein and inactive the tumor suppressor activity by promoting p53 degradation. Because of this background, we examined 38 primary, resected specimens of oral SCCs for detection of p53 mutations and HPV DNAs. Exons 5 through 8 of the p53 Mutations were observed in nine cases (24%). HPV-DNA detection and typing were performed using PCR with ¿high risk group' HPV-specified primers. HPV DNA sequences were detected in eight cases (21%). The AvaII digestion pattern of PCR-amplified HPV DNA showed that HPV-16 was present in all eight cases. Seven cases were p53 mutation-positive/HPV-negative, six cases were p53 mutation-negative/HPV-positive, and two intraosseus SCC cases were p53 mutation-positive/ HPV-positive. Thus, 15/38 (40%) cases had inactivation of the p53 protein. Interestingly, p53 mutation-negative/ HPV-negative cases had a poorer prognosis than p53 mutation positive or HPV-positive cases (P < 0.01). We conclude that (1) mutation in the p53 gene and/or HPV infection are frequent (40%) in oral SCC; (2) inactivation of p53 function by mutation and HPV infection are important genetic events in the development of 40% integral of oral SCCs; (3) p53 mutation and HPV infection are not mutually exclusive events and (4) other oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes may be crucial in the development of oral SCC if the prognosis is poor.

Correlated expression of matrix metalloproteinases and ets family transcription factor E1A-F in invasive oral squamous-cell-carcinoma-derived cell lines

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Transcription regulatory regions of MMP genes often contain binding sites for ets transcription factors. We recently isolated a cDNA encoding human E1A-F, a member of the ets oncogene family, and showed that E1A-F can upregulate MMP genes by CAT assay. We attempted to investigate the relationship between E1A-F mRNA expression and MMP protein expression in four different types of oral squamous-cell-carcinoma-derived cell lines (HSC 3, SAS, KB, and Ca 9.22). HSC 3 and SAS are highly invasive cell lines when they are injected in the tongue of nude mice. Raft culture of HSC 3 and SAS revealed the same characteristics as seen in tumors implanted in vivo. Both type I collagenase (MMP-1) and 92-kd type IV collagenase (MMP-9) were detected in cultured HSC 3 and SAS cells. E1A-F mRNA was demonstrated to be highly expressed in HSC 3 and SAS by Northern blotting, and in situ hybridization confirmed E1A-F mRNA expression at the invasion front of tumor cells seeded on collagen gel. On the other hand, KB and Ca 9.22 have little potential for invasion, and MMP-1 and MMP-9 protein and E1A-F mRNA could not be detected. These results suggest that the ets-related E1A-F participates in the regulation of invasion-associated MMP genes and is involved in presenting invasive activity in tumor cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Fusion of an ETS-family gene, EIAF, to EWS by t(17;22)(q12;q12) chromosome translocation in an undifferentiated sarcoma of infancy

EIAF is a newly isolated ETS-family gene that is located on 17q21 and codes for the adenovirus EIA enhancer-binding protein. In our chromosome analysis of 18 of the Ewing family of tumors and undifferentiated sarcomas, we found t(17;22)(q12;q12) in an MIC2 antigen-positive undifferentiated sarcoma of infancy. On Southern blot analysis, EWS and EIAF cDNA probes hybridized to the same rearranged band, indicating that an EWS-EIAF fusion gene was formed in the tumor. Further Southern blot analysis using four EIAF cDNA probes of different sizes showed that the breakpoint lies in the region upstream to the ETS domain of the EIAF gene. EIAF may be the fourth ETS-family gene to be identified forming a fusion gene with EWS. We assume that the RNA binding domain of EWS may have been replaced by the DNA binding domain of EIAF in the EWS-EIAF fusion protein as in other fusion proteins previously characterized in Ewing sarcoma and other types of sarcomas.

A single ets-related transcription factor, E1AF, confers invasive phenotype on human cancer cells

Invasion of cancer cells is the first step of metastasis. The invasive activity is thought to be dependent on the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The transcription regulatory regions of MMP genes often contain binding sites for Ets and AP-1 transcription factors and they mediate oncogene- and growth factor-induced transcription of the genes. We recently isolated the cDNA encoding human E1AF, a new member of ets oncogene family. E1AF highly stimulated transcription from three different subclasses of MMP genes in transient expression assays. Here we show that transfection of the non-invasive human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 with the E1AF expression plasmid results in induction of invasive and motile activities, accompanied by an increase of 92 kD type IV collagenase (MMP-9) gene expression. Tumors derived from the E1AF transfectant were highly invasive and produced MMP-9. Expression of E1AF and MMP-9 genes was elevated in several invasive tumor cell lines. These results provide evidence for an important role of ets-related E1AF in tumor cell invasion.

High susceptibility of U937-derived subclones to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection correlates with accumulation of unintegrated circular viral DNA

Our previous report showed that U937-derived subclones were differentiated into at least three types (high, middle, and low types), even in the subclones expressing similar levels of surface CD4, in terms of the kinetics of the appearance of viral antigens and virus production after infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Here we showed the evidence that high susceptibility to HIV-1 infection, which was confirmed by the profound expression of viral messages and antigens, was exclusively associated with a high number of the unintegrated extrachromosomal form of viral DNA, but not with the amounts of adsorbed virus RNA nor those of integrated DNA form. The difference in the amounts of extrachromosomal form of viral DNA was also observed in the culture with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), indicating that the susceptibility is essentially unrelated to multiple infection events. Thus, the susceptibility of U937-derived subclones to HIV-1 infection seems to be affected by the occurrence of specific events involved in the accumulation of unintegrated viral DNA after viral adsorption.

Extracellular Nef protein regulates productive HIV-1 infection from latency

In HIV-1-infected asymptomatic carriers, the vast majority of infected cells in PBMCs are believed to be latently or nonproductively infected. We have isolated a subclone (MOLT-20-2) from an infected T cell line that expressed HIV-1 Ags at a very low level. However, viral Ag expression was markedly up-regulated by stimulation with either TNF-alpha, A23187, or PMA, indicating that the subclone might provide a suitable model of HIV-1 latency. Our previous studies have shown that the carboxyl-terminal region of the extracellular form of HIV-1 Nef played an important role in the interaction of infected cells with uninfected T cells, and could induce the cytostatic state. This suggested that Nef might contribute to intracellular signal transduction through an interaction with latently infected cells. We show in this study that stimulation of MOLT-20-2 with soluble Nef leads to HIV-1 activation from latency in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, using a total of 14 overlapping Nef-related synthetic peptides, stimulatory activity was mapped to a discrete peptide (amino acid residues 132-147) that had the potential to activate latent HIV-1. This novel Nef function was confirmed by activation of virus production from the PBMCs of asymptomatic carriers. In addition, Nef-dependent HIV-1 activation from latency was also observed in another independently derived, latently infected cell line, U1, though not in cell line ACH-2. These results extend the significance of the Nef activity in vivo to the regulation of productive HIV-1 infection from latency, and define the regions of the protein involved.

Extracellular Nef protein regulates productive HIV-1 infection from latency

In HIV-1-infected asymptomatic carriers, the vast majority of infected cells in PBMCs are believed to be latently or nonproductively infected. We have isolated a subclone (MOLT-20-2) from an infected T cell line that expressed HIV-1 Ags at a very low level. However, viral Ag expression was markedly up-regulated by stimulation with either TNF-alpha, A23187, or PMA, indicating that the subclone might provide a suitable model of HIV-1 latency. Our previous studies have shown that the carboxyl-terminal region of the extracellular form of HIV-1 Nef played an important role in the interaction of infected cells with uninfected T cells, and could induce the cytostatic state. This suggested that Nef might contribute to intracellular signal transduction through an interaction with latently infected cells. We show in this study that stimulation of MOLT-20-2 with soluble Nef leads to HIV-1 activation from latency in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, using a total of 14 overlapping Nef-related synthetic peptides, stimulatory activity was mapped to a discrete peptide (amino acid residues 132-147) that had the potential to activate latent HIV-1. This novel Nef function was confirmed by activation of virus production from the PBMCs of asymptomatic carriers. In addition, Nef-dependent HIV-1 activation from latency was also observed in another independently derived, latently infected cell line, U1, though not in cell line ACH-2. These results extend the significance of the Nef activity in vivo to the regulation of productive HIV-1 infection from latency, and define the regions of the protein involved.

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA sequences in oral squamous cell carcinomas and their relation to p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression

BACKGROUND

The etiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is still obscure. Since human papillomavirus (HPV) DNAs are associated with carcinoma of the uterine cervix, carcinomas of the oral cavity were investigated to ascertain if these viruses are present in squamous carcinomas of this anatomic site.

METHODS

Seventy-seven oral mucosal SCCs were examined for the presence of HPV DNAs by polymerase chain reaction and dot blot hybridization. Immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 was performed and single strand conformation polymorphism analysis for p53 was undertaken. In situ hybridization detection of HPV-16 DNA also was performed.

RESULTS

Human papillomavirus-16 DNA was detected in 23 cases of oral SCC and both HPV-16 and HPV-18 DNA were detected in one case of tongue SCC. Human papillomavirus DNAs were detected of 11 of 33 tongue, 4 of 15 gingival, 2 of 4 palate, 2 of 5 buccal mucosa, 3 of 7 maxillary sinus, and 2 of 11 the floor of the mouth SCCs. None were detected in SCCs of the retromolar region (0/2). Immunohistochemical examination for p53 was performed in 26 cases of oral SCC and the accumulation of p53 protein was observed in 6 cases (i.e., in 4 of 17 HPV DNA-negative cases and in 2 of 9 HPV DNA-positive cases). Single strand conformation polymorphism analysis confirmed gene mutations in all 6 cases. Human papillomavirus-16 DNA was predominantly identified in cancer cells that showed a morphologic resemblance to basal cells and its hybridized signal in keratinized cells was reduced by in situ hybridization detection. Immunohistochemical detection of PCNA revealed its cooccurrence with HPV-16 DNA in cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that HPV-16 DNA sequences may have the capability to maintain the proliferative state of epithelial cells, and may contribute to the production of malignant phenotypes.

Immunohistochemical localization of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, calcineurin, in the mouse testis: its unique accumulation in spermatid nuclei

Immunohistochemical localization of a calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, calcineurin, was studied in the mouse testis in relation to previous observations showing that calmodulin is unusually rich in spermatogenic stages from mid-pachytene spermatocytes to elongating spermatids. The antibodies raised against calcineurin from scallop testis reacted with subunit B, but not subunit A, of calcineurin isoforms from mouse brain and testis. Indirect immunofluorescence using these antibodies on the mouse testis revealed positive reactions only in the nuclei of round or elongating spermatids: calcineurin started to accumulate in nuclei from the acrosomal cap phase, peaked at the initial stage of nuclear elongation, and decreased thereafter. There was almost no signal in the cytoplasm; spermatogenic cells at other stages, including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, mature sperm, and other somatic cells in the seminiferous tubules were totally negative. Immuno-electron microscopy gave the same result, on the basis of measuring the density of immunogold particles. These results suggest a role for calcineurin in remodeling of the nuclear chromatin in metamorphosing spermatids.

Variation of human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6) and HPV-11 genomes sampled throughout the world

We examined the genomic diversity of human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6) and HPV-11 isolates from different parts of the world by comparing the nucleotide sequences of part of the long control region of three reference clones and 62 HPV-6 and 40 HPV-11 isolates from Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America. The genomic sequence of the HPV-6b reference type had to be amended by inclusion of a 94-bp segment, which is also present with minor differences in HPV-6a. Aside from two small inserts typical of all variants related to HPV-6a and three inserts found in HPV-11 variants, no major alterations to the size of the long control regions of these viruses were observed. This corrects the previous impression that these two HPV types are highly polymorphic. Altogether, 19 HPV-6 and 10 HPV-11 variant genomes could be distinguished, and most of the differences were due to point substitutions. The variants of either type were continuously connected in phylogenetic trees rather than clustered separately into subtype groups. Thirteen mutations, namely, the two HPV-6a inserts and 11 substitutions in HPV-6 or HPV-11 variants, reduced the dissimilarity between the types, but they bridged only a small fraction of the genetic distance between the two types. Genomes more obviously intermediate between HPV-6 and HPV-11 were not found and probably do not exist any more. A single HPV-11 variant was found in Africa, but otherwise, no significant correlations of HPV-6 or HPV-11 variants with geography or ethnicity of the patient cohort were found. Functional analysis of diverse enhancer variants showed activities that differed two-to threefold, and it must be considered that transcriptional differences may alter the biology or pathology of these viruses. Similar variants were found in lesions from anatomically different sites and in both benign and malignant lesions.