Enhancement of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation by some inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase and diamine oxidase

Generation of T cells specific for the wild-type sequence p53(264-272) peptide in cancer patients: implications for immunoselection of epitope loss variants

Alterations in the p53 gene occur frequently and can lead to accumulation of p53 protein in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). Since accumulation of p53 is associated with enhanced presentation of wild-type sequence (wt) p53 peptides to immune cells, the development of pan vaccines against SCCHN has focused on wt p53 epitopes. We used the HLA-A2.1-restricted wt p53(264-272) epitope to generate CTL from circulating precursor T cells of HLA-A2.1(+) healthy donors and patients with SCCHN. Autologous peptide-pulsed dendritic cells were used for in vitro sensitization. CTL specific for the wt p53(264-272) peptide were generated from PBMC obtained from two of seven normal donors and three of seven patients with SCCHN. These CTL were HLA class I restricted and responded to T2 cells pulsed with p53(264-272) peptide as well as HLA-A2-matched SCCHN cell lines naturally presenting the epitope. Paradoxically, none of the tumors in the three patients who generated CTL could adequately present the epitope; two had a wt p53 genotype and no p53 protein accumulation, while the third tumor expressed a point mutation (R to H) in codon 273 that prevents presentation of the p53(264-272) epitope. In contrast, patients who did not generate CTL had tumors that accumulated altered p53 and potentially could present the p53(264-272) epitope. These findings suggest that in vivo, CTL specific for the wt p53(264-272) peptide might play a role in the elimination of tumor cells expressing this epitope and in immunoselection of epitope-loss tumor cells. Immunoselection of tumors that become resistant to anti-p53 immune responses has important implications for future p53-based vaccination strategies.

Is oral levamisole immunostimulation in rats mediated by reduced levels of free plasma corticosterone?

A brief review of the immunostimulative and anti-inflammatory properties of levamisole is followed by a research report which indicates that in rats under antigenic challenge by ovalbumin, oral levamisole (18 mg/kg) decreases corticosterone levels. This previously unreported finding may belie the immunostimulative effect of levamisole.

Effect of anti-alkaline phosphatase monoclonal antibody on B lymphocyte function

Alkaline phosphatase (APase) is a glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol (GPI)-anchored protein appearing on the membranes of mitogen-stimulated B cells after progression into S phase of the cell cycle. Maximal APase expression occurs after peak proliferation and precedes maximal immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion. While APase is clearly an activation marker for mitogen-stimulated B cells, the physiologic role of APase in B cells has not been defined. Other GPI-anchored proteins have been assigned roles in transmembrane signaling since treatment with specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can modulate and/or mimic the effect of mitogens or antigens. Thus, as an initial attempt to determine whether membrane APase (mAPase) plays a role in B cell activation, rat splenic B cells were treated with anti-APase specific mAb in the presence and absence of LPS plus dextran sulfate, known B cell mitogens. Anti-APase mAb alone did not induce proliferation or modulate mitogen-induced proliferation as measured by [3H]thymidine uptake and viable cell recoveries. However, the mAb augmented IgM secretion when used in a soluble form or cross-linked with anti-Ig. Both soluble and immobilized anti-APase mAb decreased the expression of APase activity by mitogen-stimulated B cells. Based upon these results we propose: (1) that transmembrane signaling may occur through mAPase as described for other GPI-anchored proteins such as Thy-1, CD55, CD59, CD24, CD73, Fc gamma III, Qa-2, Ly-6A/E and LFA-3, and (2) this signaling may be regulated by changes in protein phosphorylation caused by modulation of cellular phosphatases, specifically APase.

Regulation of gastric mucosal diamine oxidase activity by gastrin

The polyamines spermidine and spermine are essential for cell proliferation. Most growth factors stimulate polyamine synthesis by inducing ornithine decarboxylase activity, which catalyzes the formation of putrescine from ornithine. Putrescine can then be utilized either for polyamine biosynthesis or may serve as a substrate for diamine oxidase (DAO), leading to formation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Growth of the oxyntic mucosa of the stomach is stimulated by feeding, by trophic hormones such as gastrin and by exogenous administration of putrescine. Conversely, fasting, as well as ornithine decarboxylase inhibition decrease oxyntic mucosal DNA synthesis. We now demonstrate that fasted rats show a high degree of [3H]GABA formation from [3H]putrescine in the oxyntic mucosa and that feeding or injections of gastrin, caerulein or the DAO-inhibitor aminoguanidine decrease such [3H]GABA formation and, instead, stimulate formation of [3H]spermidine. Moreover, gastrin injections reduced oxyntic mucosal DAO activity. Thus, oxyntic mucosal DAO activity is regulated by tropic factors and may be involved in growth regulation by controlling intramucosal putrescine metabolism.

Effect of bromolevamisole and other imidazo [2,1-b] thiazole derivatives on adenylate cyclase activity

We studied the effect of bromolevamisole (BL) and other imidazo [2,1-b] thiazole derivatives--bromodexamisole (BD) and levamisole (LV)--on adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. BL and BD both inhibited forskolin-activated human thyroid AC, while LV had no effect. This inhibition was non-stereospecific and the IC50 values, as measured with 1 mM ATP and 40 microM forskolin, were 0.95 and 0.80 mM for BL and BD, respectively. In contrast, human thyroid alkaline phosphatase (ALP) inhibition was stereospecific, with IC50 values of 0.0012 mM for BL and 0.9 mM for BD. LV was a 10-fold weaker inhibitor of ALP than BL. These results show that ALP inhibition is not correlated with forskolin-activated AC inhibition. Furthermore, in the presence of a competitive inhibitor of GTP (0.1 mM guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), BL retained its antagonizing effect on forskolin-activated AC which suggests a direct action on the catalytic subunit. The inhibition was of the mixed type, indicating a complex interaction between BL and AC. Glucagon-activated AC activity in rat liver membranes was also inhibited by BL, although to a slightly lesser degree than thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-activated AC from human thyroid for a given BL concentration. In cultured human thyroid cells, BL (0.25 mM) induced a potent decrease in cAMP accumulation after 2 hr of stimulation by TSH. Taken together, these results show that BL inhibits AC and that this inhibition is not organ-specific.

Differential theophylline inhibition of alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase of bovine milk fat globule membranes

1. The effects of theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine) on alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities of bovine milk fat globule membranes (MFGM) were examined. 2. Theophylline inhibited MFGM alkaline phosphatase in a concentration-dependent manner with 50% inhibition produced by 99 +/- 28 microM theophylline. 3. The 5'-nucleotidase activity was resistant to theophylline inhibition with 50% inhibition produced by 33.9 +/- 3.1 mM theophylline. 4. Theophylline was an uncompetitive inhibitor of MFGM alkaline phosphatase with a Ki of 126 +/- 15 microM. 5. The extent of theophylline inhibition of alkaline phosphatase activity was independent of the substrate utilized in the assay. 6. The effect of theophylline on bovine MFGM alkaline phosphatase was similar to theophylline effects on other mammalian alkaline phosphatases of liver/bone isoenzyme origin.