T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin genes are rearranged together in Abelson virus-transformed pre-B and pre-T cells

Regulatory Elements in the Promoter of a Murine TCRD V Gene Segment

TCRD V segments rearrange in an ordered fashion during human and murine thymic development. Recombination requires the accessibility of substrate gene segments, and transcriptional enhancers and promoters have been shown to regulate the accessible chromatin configuration. We therefore investigated the regulation of TCRD V rearrangements by characterizing the promoter of the first TCRD V segment to be rearranged, DV101S1, under the influence of its own enhancer. Sequences required for full promoter activity were identified by transient transfections of normal and mutated promoters into a human γδ lymphoma, and necessary elements fall between −86 and +66 nt, relative to the major transcription start site. They include a cAMP responsive element (CRE) at −62, an Ets site at −39, a TATA box at −26, the major transcriptional start site sequence (−8 to −5 and −2 to +11), and a downstream sequence (+12 to +33). Gel shift analyses and in vitro DNase I footprinting showed that nuclear proteins bind to the functionally relevant CRE, Ets, +1 to +10 sequence, and the +17 to +21 sequence. Nuclear proteins also bind to an E box at −52, and GATA-3 binds to a GATA motif at −5, as shown by Ab ablation-supershift experiments, but mutations that abrogated protein binding to these sites failed to affect DV101S1 promoter activity. We conclude that not all protein-binding sites within the DV101S1 minimal promoter are important for enhancer driven TCRD gene transcription. Further, the possibility remains that the GATA and E box sites function in enhancer independent DV101S1 germline transcription.

BCR-ABL and v-abl oncogenes induce distinct patterns of thymic lymphoma involving different lymphocyte subsets

The human BCR-ABL oncogenes encoded by the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) affect the pathogenesis of diverse types of leukemia and yet are rarely associated with T-lymphoid leukemia. To determine whether BCR-ABL kinases are inefficient in transforming T lymphocytes, BCR-ABL-expressing retroviruses were injected intrathymically into mice. Thymomas that expressed BCR-ABL kinase developed after a relatively long latent period. In most thymomas, deletion of 3' proviral sequences resulted in loss of tk-neo and occasionally caused expression of kinase-active carboxy-terminally truncated BCR-ABL oncoprotein. In contrast, deletion of 3' proviral sequences was not observed in thymomas induced with Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV). BCR-ABL viruses induced distinct patterns of disease and involved different thymocyte subsets than A-MuLV and Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV). While Mo-MuLV only induced Thy-1+ thymomas, v-abl- and BCR-ABL-induced thymomas often contained mixed populations of B220+ and Thy-1+ lymphocytes in the same tumor. In most v-abl and BCR-ABL tumors, Thy-1+ lymphoid cells expressed CD8 and a continuum of CD4 ranging from negative to positive. Conversely, Mo-MuLV thymomas contained distinct populations of CD4+ cells that were either CD8+ or CD8-. A-MuLV-transformed T-lymphoid cells did not express the CD3/T-cell receptor complex, while BCR-ABL tumors were CD3+. Thus, BCR-ABL viruses preferentially induce somewhat more differentiated T lymphocytes than are transformed by A-MuLV. Furthermore, rare B220+ lymphocytes may represent preferred v-abl and BCR-ABL transformation targets in the thymus.

Thymic targets for Abelson murine leukemia virus are early gamma/delta T lymphocytes

Molecular analysis has shown that the majority of Abelson murine leukemia virus (Ab-MuLV)-induced primary thymomas represent transformed gamma/delta thymocytes. Many of these thymomas are of monoclonal origin as judged by provirus integration pattern and contain rearranged genes encoding T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma and delta chains but germ-line immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes. Some of the monoclonal tumors contain multiple rearranged alleles encoding TCR gamma, delta, and beta chains. Further, one Ab-MuLV thymoma cell line contained germ-line-configuration TCR gamma- and delta-chain genes, which became rearranged after in vitro propagation. Clones of this cell line were observed to rearrange these genes after intrathymic passage. Also, some subclones of this cell line underwent rearrangement of their immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes in culture. These observations suggest that the thymic targets for Ab-MuLV transformation are early gamma/delta thymocytes, some of which continue to rearrange their TCR gamma- and delta-chain genes.

Isolation of coordinately regulated genes that are expressed in discrete stages of B-cell development

We have utilized subtractive hybridization to isolate 16 distinct cDNA sequences representing genes expressed in pre-B-cell lines but not myeloma cell or fibroblast lines. These sequences represent RNA transcripts that vary in abundance in pre-B-cell lines from 0.001% to 0.05%. Five of these sequences were not related to any known genes. One was related to but distinct from known myosin regulatory light chain genes and another encoded a protein with lectin domains. Three represented previously identified genes encoding carbonic anhydrase type II, thymosin, and CD2; these genes were not previously known to be specifically expressed in early stages of B-cell development. Other isolated genes corresponded to pre-B-cell-specific or pre-B-cell/B cell-specific genes recently described by others. The isolated cDNA sequences may be divided into two general categories--those representing genes expressed only in the pre-B-cell stage of B-cell development and those expressed in both the pre-B-cell and B-cell stages. The in vivo expression patterns of the identified genes suggest that some function specifically in lymphocytes while others may have roles in additional lineages.

Structure and biological activity of the transcriptional initiation sequences of the murine c-myb oncogene

To study the control mechanism(s) that govern the transcription of c-myb, genomic clones corresponding to the 5' region of the murine c-myb gene have been isolated and characterized structurally and functionally. Primer extension and nuclease protection analysis have revealed the presence of multiple transcriptional initiation sites, that are utilized in several hemopoietic cell lines (WEHI3B(D+). FDC-P1 and RB22.2). Some of the sites are used in all cell lines but others are unique; all are located in a region of the c-myb gene that is G-C rich, contains a number of potential Sp1 binding sites and lacks classical promoter consensus sequences. Experiments in which well characterized promoters controlling expression of a reporter gene have been replaced by fragments of c-myb DNA (including the observed cap sites) were performed in an attempt to demonstrate promoter activity in various cell types. It was shown that a region of the c-myb gene (approximately 1.0 kbp upstream from the splice donor site of the first exon) contains a weak promoter that has a low level of transcriptional activity in hemopoietic as well as in fibroblastic cells. These results support the suggestion that c-myb expression is not regulated primarily at the level of initiation of transcription.

Identification of a novel bone marrow-derived B-cell progenitor population that coexpresses B220 and Thy-1 and is highly enriched for Abelson leukemia virus targets

A novel stage in early B-lymphocyte differentiation has been identified in normal mouse bone marrow cells. Earlier work had demonstrated that bone marrow cells characterized by low levels of Thy-1 and lack of a panel of lineage markers (Thy-1lo Lin- cells) were highly enriched for pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. In this paper, we present evidence that another bone marrow population, which expressed low levels of Thy-1 and coexpressed B220, a B-lineage-specific form of the leukocyte common antigen, contained early and potent precursors for B lymphocytes upon in vivo transfer to irradiated hosts. These Thy-1lo B220+ cells, comprising 1 to 2% of bone marrow cells, were enriched for large cells in the mitotic cycle; the population lacked significant pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell activity and myeloid-erythroid progenitors. Most strikingly, Thy-1lo B220+ cells represented a highly enriched population of bone marrow cells that could be targets of Abelson murine leukemia virus transformation. We propose that Thy-1lo B220+ bone marrow cells represent the earliest stage of committed lymphocyte progenitors, intermediate in differentiation between Thy-1lo Lin- pluripotent stem cells and, in the B lineage, Thy-1- B220+ pre-B cells.

Interleukin 3 (IL-3) induces transcription from nonrearranged T cell receptor gamma loci in IL-3-dependent cell lines

The expression of the murine TCR-gamma genes was examined in a series of IL-3-dependent and growth factor-independent cell lines. All of the IL-3-dependent cell lines, but none of the IL-3-independent lines, expressed high levels of one or more of the gamma genes but did not express the TCR-beta genes. None of the cell lines expressing the gamma loci contained detectable genomic gamma gene rearrangements. Sequencing of cDNA clones from two of the cell lines demonstrated that transcription was from nonrearranged gamma loci based on the presence of sequences in the cDNAs that are found immediately 5' of the J gamma 4 and J gamma 2 genes. The expression of gamma transcripts was dependent upon IL-3 and no transcripts were detectable within 6-8 h after the removal of IL-3. Readdition of IL-3, but not granulocyte CSF, resulted in the reappearance of gamma transcripts within 30 min. The results demonstrate that IL-3 regulates the expression of nonrearranged gamma loci. Since expression is required for rearrangement, it can be hypothesized that IL-3 may influence the ability of lymphoid/myeloid progenitors to commit to the T cell lineage.

Identification of a novel bone marrow-derived B-cell progenitor population that coexpresses B220 and Thy-1 and is highly enriched for Abelson leukemia virus targets

A novel stage in early B-lymphocyte differentiation has been identified in normal mouse bone marrow cells. Earlier work had demonstrated that bone marrow cells characterized by low levels of Thy-1 and lack of a panel of lineage markers (Thy-1lo Lin- cells) were highly enriched for pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. In this paper, we present evidence that another bone marrow population, which expressed low levels of Thy-1 and coexpressed B220, a B-lineage-specific form of the leukocyte common antigen, contained early and potent precursors for B lymphocytes upon in vivo transfer to irradiated hosts. These Thy-1lo B220+ cells, comprising 1 to 2% of bone marrow cells, were enriched for large cells in the mitotic cycle; the population lacked significant pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell activity and myeloid-erythroid progenitors. Most strikingly, Thy-1lo B220+ cells represented a highly enriched population of bone marrow cells that could be targets of Abelson murine leukemia virus transformation. We propose that Thy-1lo B220+ bone marrow cells represent the earliest stage of committed lymphocyte progenitors, intermediate in differentiation between Thy-1lo Lin- pluripotent stem cells and, in the B lineage, Thy-1- B220+ pre-B cells.

Novel B-cell precursors blocked at the stage of DJH recombination

Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed cells have provided the principal model for study of the early events in immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. In this communication, we describe a new type of Abelson virus-transformed pre-B-cell line that is arrested at the DJH stage of the recombination process. These cells differ from other pre-B transformants with respect to two properties associated with the immunoglobulin rearrangement process. First, in contrast to cell lines undergoing VH-to-DJH joining in vitro, none of these cell lines contained detectable levels of RNAs transcribed from their unrearranged VH genes. Second, only some of the cell lines recombined exogenous heptamer-nonamer sequences, indicating that many of them have lost at least a portion of the enzymatic machinery that mediates recombination. The correlation between the absence of unrearranged VH RNAs and the inability to rearrange endogenous immunoglobulin gene segments suggests that VH gene transcription is required both to maintain an active recombination system and for the final step in variable-region formation.

Distinct helper virus requirements for Abelson murine leukemia virus-induced pre-B- and T-cell lymphomas

Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) can induce pre-B- or T-cell lymphomas (thymomas) in mice depending on the route and time of injection. Previous studies have shown that the choice of the helper virus used to rescue A-MuLV greatly influences its ability to induce pre-B-cell lymphomas. In this study, we investigated the role of the helper virus in A-MuLV-induced thymomas. A-MuLV rescued with the helper Moloney MuLV, BALB/c endogenous N-tropic MuLV, and two chimeric MuLVs derived from these two parents were injected intrathymically in young adult NIH Swiss mice. All four A-MuLV pseudotypes were found to be equally efficient in the induction of thymomas, whereas drastic differences were observed in their pre-B-cell lymphomagenic potential. Thymoma induction by A-MuLV was independent of the replication potential of the helper virus in the thymus, and no helper proviral sequences could be detected in the majority of thymomas induced by A-MuLV rescued with parental BALB/c endogenous or chimeric MuLVs. In the thymomas in which helper proviruses were present, none of them were found integrated in the Ahi-1 region, a common proviral integration site found in A-MuLV-induced pre-B-cell lymphomas (Y. Poirer, C. Kozak, and P. Jolicoeur, J. Virol. 62:3985-3992, 1988). In addition, helper-free stocks of A-MuLV were found to be as lymphomagneic as other pseudotypes in inducing thymomas after intrathymic inoculation, in contrast to their inability to induce pre-B-cell lymphomas when injected intraperitoneally in newborn mice. Restriction enzyme analysis revealed one to three A-MuLV proviruses in each thymoma, indicating the oligoclonality of these tumors. Analysis of the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor loci confirmed that the major population of cells of these primary thymomas belongs to the T-cell lineage. Together, these results indicate that the helper virus has no effect in the induction of A-MuLV-induced T-cell lymphomas, in contrast to its important role in the induction of A-MuLV-induced pre-B-cell lymphomas. Our data also revealed distinct biological requirements for transformation of these two target cells by v-abl.

A murine early thymocyte developmental sequence is marked by transient expression of the interleukin 2 receptor

Precursors of all T-lineage cells are found in the population of thymocytes that lacks the CD4 and CD8 surface markers. These "double-negative" thymocytes are heterogeneous and can be divided into discrete subpopulations based on their expression of other surface markers. We have determined the relative maturity of these subpopulations based on the extent of rearrangement and expression of their T-cell receptor genes, their cell cycle status, and their thymus reconstitution capacity. Within the subpopulation of double negatives expressing high levels of the heat-stable antigen, the additional markers phagocytic glycoprotein 1 (Pgp-1) and interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) can be used to define the sequence IL-2R- Pgp-1+----IL-2R+ Pgp-1-----IL-2R- Pgp-1-, which occurs before the expression of CD4 and CD8. Transient expression of the IL-2R marks an important developmental point in the sequence just prior to a burst of cell proliferation and a loss of thymus reconstitution ability. The earliest cells in this sequence are already partially rearranged for genes in the C beta 1 region. IL-2R expression marks a second wave of T-cell antigen receptor of beta-chain gene rearrangement and the initiation of T-cell antigen receptor alpha- and beta-chain gene expression.

Novel B-cell precursors blocked at the stage of DJH recombination

Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed cells have provided the principal model for study of the early events in immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. In this communication, we describe a new type of Abelson virus-transformed pre-B-cell line that is arrested at the DJH stage of the recombination process. These cells differ from other pre-B transformants with respect to two properties associated with the immunoglobulin rearrangement process. First, in contrast to cell lines undergoing VH-to-DJH joining in vitro, none of these cell lines contained detectable levels of RNAs transcribed from their unrearranged VH genes. Second, only some of the cell lines recombined exogenous heptamer-nonamer sequences, indicating that many of them have lost at least a portion of the enzymatic machinery that mediates recombination. The correlation between the absence of unrearranged VH RNAs and the inability to rearrange endogenous immunoglobulin gene segments suggests that VH gene transcription is required both to maintain an active recombination system and for the final step in variable-region formation.

Rearrangements of chicken immunoglobulin genes in lymphoid cells transformed by the avian retroviral oncogene v-rel

The retroviral oncogene v-rel transforms poorly characterized lymphoid cells. We have explored the nature of these cells by analyzing the configuration and expression of immunoglobulin genes in chicken hemopoietic cells transformed by v-rel. None of the transformed cells expressed their immunoglobulin genes. The cells fell into three classes: class I cells have their immunoglobulin genes potentially in an embryonic configuration; class II and class III cells have lost one copy of the lambda light chain locus and have one copy of the heavy chain locus rearranged into a configuration that differs from what is found in mature B cells. In class II cells, the other heavy chain locus may be in embryonic configuration, whereas it is deleted in class III cells. The first of these classes may represent the earliest stage of the lymphoid lineage yet encountered among virus-transformed cells, whereas the second and third classes represent an apparently anomalous rearrangement whose origin remains unknown.

Isolation and sequence of a cDNA corresponding to a src-related gene expressed in murine hemopoietic cells

We have isolated a murine cDNA that shares extensive homology with genes encoding the src (Rous sarcoma virus oncogene)-related family of protein-tyrosine kinases. The cDNA includes an open reading frame of 1509 base pairs, and conceptual translation predicts a protein of 56 kDa. Blot-hybridization analysis indicates that this src-related gene is expressed in normal macrophages and in cell lines representing both the myeloid and lymphoid B-cell lineages and, accordingly, is designated "bmk" (B cell/myeloid kinase). In addition, bmk mRNA levels increase following the induced differentiation of the murine myelomonocytic leukemic cell line WEHI-3B.