Leu-10 (HLA-DC/DS) antigen distribution in human leukaemic disorders as detected by a monoclonal antibody: correlation with HLA-DR expression

HLA class II restricted T-cell receptor gene transfer generates CD4+ T cells with helper activity as well as cytotoxic capacity

Both cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells are important in immune responses against pathogens and malignant cells. In hematological malignancies which express HLA class II molecules, immunotherapy may be directed to HLA class II restricted antigens. We investigated whether it is possible to engineer HLA class II restricted T cells with both antigen-specific cytolytic activity and the capacity to produce high amounts of cytokines. CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral-blood-derived T cells were retrovirally transduced with the HLA class II restricted minor histocompatibility antigen dead box RNA helicase Y (DBY)-specific TCR. The TCR-transduced CD4+ T cells exerted DBY-specific cytolytic activity, produced Th0, Th1, or Th2 cytokines, and proliferated upon DBY-specific stimulation. TCR-transduced CD8+ T cells exerted cytolytic activity which equaled the level of cytolytic activity of the TCR-transferred CD4+ T cells. Cotransfer of CD4 enhanced the cytolytic activity of the TCR-transduced CD8+ T cells, but introduction of CD4 was not sufficient to generate DBY-specific CD8+ T cells with the capacity to produce high amounts of cytokines. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility to engineer T cells with antigen-specific cytolytic activity, as well as the ability to produce significant amounts of cytokines, by TCR transfer to CD4+ T cells.

Protein studies of human non-Hodgkin's B-lymphoma: appraisal by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

We have utilized two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) coupled with silver stain to identify cellular proteins in human non-Hodgkin's B-lymphoma (NHL). Five cell lines (SKDHL2B, WSU-DLCL2, WSU-NHL, WSU-FSCCL and SKLN1), representing four different NHL maturational stages and a normal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed line of B-cell origin (SKLN1) were studied. The NHL lines were immunophenotyped using flow cytometry with lineage associated monoclonal antibodies. Whole cell lysates of the cell lines were subjected to 2-D PAGE analyses. The gels were analyzed with an image scanning computer and the qualitative differences of protein patterns were studied. Results revealed great similarities in patterns of the NHL lines. A master map containing common NHL-protein spots was constructed. When the map of each tumor line was compared to the master map, several protein spots were associated with each NHL-grade. Search for these proteins in the normal EBV-transformed B-cell line showed that only one of the proteins (S3; M(r)/pI 19/5.9) was present. Proteins that were detected in malignant NHL, but not in the normal EBV-line, could provide important information regarding the human NHL B-lymphocyte data-bases. Whether or not these proteins are definite malignant markers to distinguish between different NHL maturational stages needs further exploration through electroblotting and microsequencing.

Protein study of T and B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) was used to identify cellular proteins in T and B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines. Five lines, REH and BALL-1 of B-cell lineage, CCRF-CEM and HPB-ALL of T-cell lineage, and a normal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed line of B-origin (SKLN1) were studied. The lines were immunophenotyped using flow cytometry and lineage associated monoclonal antibodies. Whole cell lysates of the cell lines were subjected to 2-D PAGE analyses. 2-D gels were analyzed with an image scanning computer and the qualitative as well as quantitative differences of the protein patterns were studied. Despite the great similarities in the patterns of the B- and T-gels, three proteins were unique to B-cell lines, while eight were unique to T-cell lines. Using cell lines is the first step toward identifying potential markers in ALL and can provide important information regarding the human ALL databases. Whether these proteins are definite markers for B- or T-ALL or are unique to the cell lines studied needs further exploration.

HLA-DR expression in B-cell non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas: a multiparameter flow cytometry study

Ten cases of reactive follicular hyperplasia and 31 cases of B-cell non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma were studied using multiparameter flow cytometry. A bimodal distribution for HLA-DR expression, but not for surface immunoglobulin or B cell-specific antigens CD19 and CD20, was observed commonly in mixed cell type and infrequently in non-mixed cell type B-cell malignant lymphomas. On the basis of HLA-DR distribution alone, 31 cases of B-cell malignant lymphomas of low, intermediate, and high grades could be separated into mixed and non-mixed cell types, with only two misclassifications (P = 0.0001). Exceptionally, one case of malignant lymphoma, follicular and diffuse, mixed-cell type had a unimodal HLA-DR distribution, and one case of malignant lymphoma, diffuse, large noncleaved cell type had a bimodal HLA-DR distribution. In all cases of malignant lymphoma, follicular, mixed-cell type studied, low HLA-DR was correlated with small cells, and high HLA-DR was correlated with large cells. In contrast, HLA-DR expression and cell size were not as directly correlated in cases of malignant lymphoma, diffuse, mixed-cell type. These observations suggest that most, but not all, cases of B-cell malignant lymphomas of the mixed cell type can be separated from other B-cell lymphomas on the basis of HLA-DR distribution.

Induced expression of a monocytoid B lymphocyte antigen phenotype on the REH cell line

A human common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, REH, was treated in vitro with gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Untreated (control) and treated cells were analyzed for changes in growth patterns, morphology, cytochemistry, surface phenotype, and terminal transferase (TdT) activity. TPA but not gamma-IFN induced further maturation of REH cells along the B-cell lineage. There was a dramatic decrease in CALLA expression, loss of TdT activity, induction of Leu M5, and increase in Leu 14 expression. TPA also induced monocytoid morphological features on REH cells. Enzymatically, the induced cells strongly expressed acid phosphatase (tartrate sensitive), alpha-naphthol acetate esterase (NAE), and periodic acid Schiff (PAS). We conclude that TPA induced monocytoid B-lymphocyte features on REH cells within the B-cell lineage, which should not be confused with monocytes/macrophage. The phenotype of cells in this stage is Leu 14+, Leu M5+, BL1+, Leu 12+, AcP+, PAS+, NAE+, CALLA-, TdT-, MO1-, and MO2-.

Conversion of high grade lymphoma tumor cell line to intermediate grade with TPA and bryostatin 1 as determined by polypeptide analysis on 2D gel electrophoresis

A high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) was used for total cellular polypeptide mapping of two established lymphoma cell lines; MANCA, a Burkitt's line representing a high grade lymphoma (HGL) and WSU-NHL (nodular histiocytic lymphoma) representing an intermediate grade lymphoma (IGL). Gels were digitized and analysed with an image scanning computer using the Elsie 4 system. Polypeptide mapping revealed striking similarities in 1100 polypeptide spots in both types. However, three polypeptides were unique to HGL (Molecular mass/isoelectric point (Mr/PI): 39/4.4, 35/5.6, 33/4.8), and one to IGL (95/4.7). In order to investigate the kinetics of expression of these polypeptides, the two cell lines were treated with two protein kinase C (PKC) activators, tumour promoting 12-O tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and bryostatin 1. 2D-PAGE of the treated cells revealed that the HGL line loses its unique polypeptides and expresses a new one. The new polypeptide has the same Mr and PI as that unique to the untreated IGL (95/4.7). TPA or bryostatin 1 treatment of the IGL line for 72 h induced no significant changes. Our data show a unidirectional change from HGL to IGL, supporting the clinical notion that HGL is less differentiated than IGL. It also shows the similarity in the mode of action of bryostatin 1 and TPA in inducing these polypeptide changes.

B-cell lymphomas of high-grade malignancy frequently lack HLA-DR, -DP and -DQ antigens and associated invariant chain

The expression of HLA-DR, HLA-DP and HLA-DQ antigens was studied in an unselected series of 66 B-cell lymphomas by means of immunohistology using monoclonal antibodies against non-polymorphic determinants in a sensitive immunoperoxidase technique. In addition, the expression of the MHC class-II antigen-associated invariant chain (li) was examined. The tumors were classified according to the Kiel classification, 30 being of high-grade and 36 being of low-grade malignancy. Only 6 lymphomas of high-grade and 16 lymphomas of low-grade malignancy showed coordinate strong expression of all HLA class-II antigens and invariant chain as observed in the normal peripheral B cell. Six further tumors of high-grade and 8 tumors of low-grade malignancy contained tumor-cell subsets with reduced expression of one or several of the antigens. Eighteen lymphomas of high-grade and 12 lymphomas of low-grade malignancy contained varying tumor-cell subsets that were negative for HLA-DR, -DP, -DQ and li in a selective or combined manner. Three highly malignant tumors were devoid of all class-II antigens and li; 2 highly malignant tumors expressed invariant chain only. The presence of high-grade malignancy was significantly correlated with the occurrence of tumor cells lacking HLA-DR (p = 0.004), HLA-DP (p = 0.013), HLA-DQ (p = 0.007) or li (p = 0.024).

HLA-class II antigens on human hematopoietic progenitors

A panel of alloindifferent monoclonal antibodies (MAB's) was used in complement-dependent lysis to characterize human myeloid, erythroid and multipotential progenitors (CFU-GM, BFU-E, CFU-GEMM) for their expression of MHC class II HLA-DR, -DP, and -DQ products. 7-16 donors were tested in each system. MAB Tü 34, detecting DR products, caused reduction of CFU-GM by a mean of 89%, whereas BFU-E and CFU-GEMM were reduced by 67% and 66% respectively. 35% of CFU-GM, 27% of BFU-E and 32% of CFU-GEMM were lysed by MAB B7/21, recognizing HLA-DP determinants, while Tü 22, binding HLA-DQ antigens, lysed 32% only of CFU-GM and did not lyse the other progenitors. Employing the "broad" MAB Tü 39, which binds at least DR and DP, inhibition of colony formation by CFU-GM was generally greater than that caused by Tü 34 alone or even by combinations of Tü 34, Tü 22, and B7/21. This suggests that there may be a subset of DR-, DP-, DQ- hematopoietic progenitors, which nonetheless bind MAB Tü 39, previously proposed as a candidate for the recognition of novel class II antigens.

Pulmonary alveolar macrophages in patients with sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis: characterization by monoclonal antibodies

Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), the frequency of cells bearing Class I and Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants, transferrin receptor (TR) sites, and interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) has been evaluated on pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) recovered from the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of 21 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (including 11 cases with active sarcoidosis and 10 cases with inactive disease), 8 patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), and 6 normal non-smoking volunteers. When the frequency of Class II DR-positive cells was considered, 64.3% of control PAM expressed HLA-DR products. No statistically significant differences were observed between controls and sarcoid patients, while HP patients showed an enhanced proportion of DR+ PAM with respect to normal PAM (P less than 0.05). On the contrary, the frequency of PAM expressing HLA-DQ molecules was higher in both active sarcoidosis and HP patients with respect to patients with inactive sarcoidosis and normal subjects (P less than 0.001). A statistically significant increase in Class I antigen-positive PAM has been demonstrated in HP patients as compared to controls (P less than 0.05). Active sarcoid patients showed a higher number of PAM-bearing TR sites than controls and other groups of patients considered (P less than 0.001). An increase in the percentage of IL-2R-positive PAM has been demonstrated in active sarcoidosis (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Surface immunoglobulin light chain expression in pre-B cell leukemias

Cytofluorographic analysis of surface immunoglobulin (sIg) light chain clonal excess (CE), defined as (%kappa+ - %lambda+)/(%kappa+ + %lambda+) cells per discrete level of fluorescence intensity, was carried out on mononuclear cells of 32 leukemic patients. Eight demonstrated sIg light chain CE, including four blastic chronic myeloid leukemias (BL-CML), three "null" acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL), and one leukemic lymphoblastic lymphoma. Six of the leukemias demonstrated a kappa CE and two had a lambda CE. Sorted kappa+ PB cells from a BL-CML patient were shown to have a diploid DNA stem line and to bear the "common" ALL antigen. To provide further support for our finding of the expression of sIg light chains in ALL, we studied the REH cell line, derived from a "common" ALL patient and found cytoplasmic mu heavy chain and surface Ig lambda CE. Nucleic acid blotting experiments on REH revealed that both kappa genes had been deleted and that lambda genes had been rearranged, as expected in B cells expressing lambda light chains. Moreover, REH cells contained mu and lambda RNA. When REH cells were treated with TPA the amount of mu chain RNA increased by approximately fivefold and the amount of lambda chain RNA increased by approximately twofold. The finding of sIg light chain in pre-B cell leukemias and in the REH cell line, suggests that these leukemic cells are further differentiated along the B-cell lineage than was previously believed.

Cytofluorometric detection of chronic myelocytic leukemia supervening in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

An 82-year-old woman with stage I chronic lymphocytic leukemia presented with systemic symptoms, minimal adenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and anemia five years after the initial diagnosis was made and while receiving no therapy. Her white blood cell count was 231,000/mm3 with an absolute neutrophil count of 164,360/mm3 and lymphocyte count of 43,890/mm3. Peripheral blood smear inspection revealed both increased mature lymphocytes and myeloid cells at all stages of maturation. Flow cytometric analysis of forward- and right-angle light scatters demonstrated the presence of two populations of cells, one lymphoid, bearing predominantly lambda light chain surface immunoglobulin and showing phenotypic characteristics of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (HLA-DR-positive, BL-1-positive, BL-2-positive, BL-7-positive, Leu-1-positive, Leu-10-positive, BL-5-negative, BL-6-negative, and OKM1-negative), and another granulocytic population expressing phenotypic features compatible with myeloid lineage (HLA-DR-negative, Leu-1-negative, BL-1-negative, BL-2-negative, BL-7-negative, Leu-10-negative, BL-5-positive, BL-6-negative, OKM1-positive, and surface immunoglobulin-negative). All of the peripheral blood cell metaphases were Philadelphia chromosome-positive after 24 hours of culture, confirming the diagnosis of chronic myelocytic leukemia, whereas all of the Epstein-Barr virus-treated B lymphocyte metaphases showed a normal karyotype after two weeks of culture. In this patient, analysis of surface antigens and immunoglobulin fractions by flow cytometry proved to be useful in recognizing concomitantly expressed leukemic lineages. This approach allows the increasing recognition of the heterogeneity of leukemic populations.

Distribution of class IIDQ antigens on normal and leukemic lymphoid cells

The distribution of DQ as well as DR antigens was examined on lymphoid and monocytic cells at different stages of differentiation. In the B cell series, both immature and differentiating (under Staphylococcus aureus or pokeweed mitogen stimulation) B cells often lacked DQ molecules; among surface IgM+ and IgD+ cells, both DQ and DR molecules were detected except on cells from 30% of the lymphoid malignancies studied. T cells expressed DQ molecules only after stimulation; a DQ-DR+ phenotype was observed in a large number of cells after allogeneic stimulation, in certain antigen-specific T cell lines as well as in T cell lymphomas, suggesting that class II antigens had a distinct pattern of regulation. In the monocytic lineage, DQ molecules were expressed by most lymph node monocytes and only a low percentage (20%) of circulating monocytes.

Phenotypic characterization of 'non-T, non-B' acute lymphoblastic leukemia by a new panel (BL) of monoclonal antibodies

Peripheral blood and/or bone marrow leukemic cell suspensions from 49 patients with 'non-T, non-B' acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were analysed by flow cytometry using a new panel of four monoclonal antibodies. Anti-BL1 and anti-BL2 originating from NALM-6 and B35M lymphoblastoid cell lines, respectively. These antibodies recognize B-cell differentiation antigens: a heat stable non-immunoprecipitable antigenic determinant, and a 68 000 daltons glycoprotein molecule, respectively. BL5 and BL6 were derived by immunization with the promyelocytic cell line HL-60, recognizing antigens present on early hematopoietic cells: an 85 000 daltons MW glycoprotein (Pro-Im 1) and a heat stable antigen (Pro-Im2), respectively. All ALL patients studied had L1 or L2 morphology by the FAB classification and a blast count exceeding 50 per cent. There were 25 males and 24 females. Median age was 8 years (range 1-67 years). Thirty-nine cases were studied at initial presentation and 10 at relapse. Cells from 46/49 cases expressed BL2 and/or BL1, but were not reactive with BL5 or BL6. Three of 49 cases did not express BL1 or BL2. However, a small percentage of blasts from one case was positive for BL5 (13 per cent) and the other 2 cases were reactive with BL6 (20 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively). These were one adult and 2 pediatric patients that had other ALL markers and achieved a complete remission with appropriate ALL therapy. One of the BL6+ cases relapsed after 19 months with a change in phenotype to BL1+ BL2+ BL5- BL6-. This analysis shows that the majority of 'non-T, non-B' ALL's do express B-cell associated antigens (BL1/BL2) argumentative of their B-cell origin. A small subgroup does not express such antigens and may arise from a more immature cell, since they expressed antigens on early hematopoietic stem cells.

Surface immunoglobulin light-chain expression by the "common" all cell line REH

To provide further support of the B-cell lineage of "common" acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we studied the REH cell line and found not only cytoplasmic heavy chain but also surface lambda light-chain expression by flow cytometry. Nucleic acid blotting experiments on REH revealed that both kappa genes had been deleted and that lambda genes had been rearranged, as expected in B cells expressing lambda light chain. Moreover, REH cells contained mu and lambda RNA. When REH cells were treated with TPA the amount of mu chain RNA increased by approximately fivefold and the amount of lambda chain RNA increased by approximately twofold. The finding of surface immunoglobulin lambda light chain in the REH cell line, suggests that these leukemic cells are further differentiated along the B-cell lineage than was previously believed.