Protein kinase C isoforms in human erythrocytes

Erythrocytes are the most abundant cells in blood and carry out the vital function of oxygen transport. These cells lack nuclei and do not synthesise new proteins. Their cellular responses are modulated entirely by post-translational modifications in existing proteins. Phosphorylation mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) plays a significant role in red cell physiology. To date PKC alpha and zeta are the only isoforms reported to be expressed in erythrocytes. Upon activation they influence cytoskeletal integrity and erythrocyte functions. In this study we report for the first time the presence of PKC iota and PKC mu in addition to PKC alpha and zeta in human erythrocytes. All isoforms were present only in the cytosolic fraction. PKC alpha was the only isoform that translocated to the membrane upon stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). It could thus mediate several of the reported PMA-regulated membrane modifications. Investigations on alterations in PMA-mediated phosphorylation of erythrocyte skeletal components in disorders such as chronic myeloid leukaemia can now focus on PKC alpha, which is the only isoform in erythrocytes, which translocates to the membrane on stimulation of the cells.

Adhesion of neutrophils to fibronectin: role of the cd66 antigens

Adhesion of neutrophils to substrate is initiated by receptor-ligand interactions that induce outside-in signaling. Inside-out signals and lateral interactions between surface molecules further fine tune the response. This study investigates the role of CD66 in adhesion of neutrophils to fibronectin, using domain-mapped monoclonal antibodies to CD66. Neutrophils express CD66a, CD66b, and CD66c on their surface. The neutrophil surface molecules that bind to fibronectin are the alpha(4)beta(1) and alpha(5)beta(1) integrins. Our results show that the monoclonal antibody Kat4c, which recognizes the AB domain of CD66a, b, and c and the polyclonal anti-CD66 (anti-carcinoembryonic antigen), augments neutrophil adhesion to fibronectin, while monoclonal antibodies to the individual CD66 antigens, the Fab fragment of Kat4c, and a mixture of the individual antibodies to CD66 antigens were unable to affect the adhesion. Thus heterodimerization of CD66a, b, and c is required for promoting neutrophil adhesion to fibronectin. The increased adhesion in presence of Kat4c was inhibited by antibodies to the beta(1) and beta(2) integrins. Antibody ligation of CD66 antigens causes their clustering and concomitant coclustering of the alpha(M) subunit of the beta(2) integrin, thereby activating the integrin. The sugar alpha-methyl mannoside inhibited anti-CD66-mediated clustering, indicating that a carbohydrate-lectin interaction may exist between CD66 and alpha(M) integrin. It also reduced the increased adhesion of neutrophils to fibronectin, suggesting that beta(2) integrin activation precedes beta(1) integrin activation. Further, the anti-CD66-mediated adhesion to fibronectin is accompanied by increased localization of Src family kinases (lyn and hck) to the cytoskeleton and an increase in their kinase activity. These results suggest that crosslinking of CD66a, CD66b, and CD66c promotes activation of the beta(2) integrin and in turn an alteration in the affinity of the beta(1) integrin, which enhances the adhesion of neutrophils to fibronectin.

Protein kinase C isoforms in normal and chronic myeloid leukemic neutrophils. Distinct signal for PKC alpha by immunodetection on PVDF membrane, decreased expression of PKC alpha and increased expression of PKC delta in leukemic neutrophils

Neutrophils from patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) exhibit defects in several functions. They also show altered phosphorylation-dephosphorylation patterns of several proteins on stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate--a direct activator of protein kinase C (PKC). Since PKC mediates several functions of the neutrophil, in this study we investigate the PKC isoform profile and subcellular distribution in normal and CML neutrophils in an attempt to elucidate their role in CML signalling. Our results show the presence of PKC alpha, betaI, betaII and delta in both the cell types. A distinct and clear signal was obtained for PKC alpha, the isoform reported to be absent or present in very low amounts in normal neutrophils. In addition, PKC alpha was present in significantly lower levels in CML neutrophils while the PKC delta isoform was found in significantly higher amounts in the CML cytosol as compared to that in normal cells. PKC alpha, betaI, betaII and delta isoforms could not be detected in the nucleus of unstimulated normal and CML neutrophils. The altered levels of PKC alpha and delta may be one of the causes for the defects in function exhibited by the leukemic cells.

Heterogeneity in the expression of Fc gammaRIII in morphologically mature granulocytes from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Morphologically mature granulocytes from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia exhibit a defect in receptor mediated endocytosis of FITC-conjugated heat-aggregated IgG. In our earlier studies, we have shown that transcripts for Fc gammaRII and Fc gammaRIII are lowered in CML granulocytes, while no such trend was seen for CD11b, CD18 and actin, the other molecules involved in this process. We have also shown by flow cytometry that the number of granulocytes expressing the Fc receptors on their surface is lowered in CML patients. In this report, we show that the lowered steady state level of the mRNA for the Fc receptors is due to their faster degradation and not due to any defect in transcription. A study of the expression of mRNA for Fc gammaRIII in morphologically mature CML granulocytes by in situ hybridization showed that there is heterogeneity in the expression of this receptor, with some cells positive for the message and some not. These results suggest that the Fc gammaRIII transcript reaches a stable RNA pool in only some of the granulocytes, whereas in the rest of the cells, it is probably degraded after it is transcribed and is therefore not detected. The Fc gammaRIII is probably one of the first antigens to be lost from the leukemic granulocyte surface during the transition of the disease from the chronic phase to the accelerated phase and finally to the blast crisis.

Chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes exhibit reduced and altered binding to P-selectin: modification in the CD15 antigens and sialylation

Granulocytes from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) egress from the bone marrow before they are functionally mature and exhibit delayed emigration to sites of infection. To understand these defects, we have compared the binding of normal and CML granulocytes to the 293 cell line transfected with cDNA for P-selectin. The CML granulocytes show significantly reduced binding to P-selectin relative to normal cells. The binding of normal granulocytes to P-selectin was significantly reduced when the cells were treated with anti CD15, polyclonal anti-P-selectin, monoclonal anti-P-selectin (G1) antibodies or neuraminidase. On average, only 8% of the CML granulocyte population bound to P-selectin. The antibodies and neuraminidase were ineffective in inhibiting the binding of this population of leukemic cells. These data show that the morphologically mature CML granulocytes consist of a heterogeneous population of cells, some of which do not bind to P-selectin and others which adhere to the molecule via modified sugars.

Actin mRNA is not lowered in chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes

Chronic myeloid leukemic (CML) granulocytes exhibit defects in several functions, some of which have been associated with changes in the expression of cell surface molecules, actin reorganization and lowered levels of total cellular actin. In this study, we show by northern blotting that the steady-state level of mRNA for actin is not decreased in the CML granulocyte. Our data suggest that the lowered levels of actin protein in the leukemic granulocyte may be due to altered control at the translational/post-translational step, rather than at the level of transcription/post-transcription, implicated in the regulation of expression of the surface molecules, Fc gamma RII, Fc gamma RIII and alkaline phosphatase.

Use of polyclonal anti-myeloperoxidase antibody in myeloid lineage determination

This study reports the production of a rabbit polyclonal antibody to myeloperoxidase (MPO) and its use in ascertaining the myeloid lineage of blasts in leukaemia. Comparison of the immunocytochemical stain using the anti-MPO antibody with the routine cytochemical methodology showed that the former was more sensitive. In all subtypes of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML; 72 patients, M1-M6) greater number of MPO positive blast cells were observed by immunocytochemistry, the highest being in the promyelocytic leukaemia. It was also extremely specific for cells of the myeloid lineage as it did not react with blasts from acute lymphoblastic (50 patients) and megakaryoblastic leukaemias (1 patient). In addition, it proved most useful for the lineage determination of blasts from patients with undifferentiated acute leukaemias (AUL) and those with chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast crisis (CML-BC). Out of 8 patients of AULs, 6 were classified as acute myeloblastic leukaemia due to their reactivity to the anti-MPO antibody. Similarly, out of 12 patients of chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast crisis, blasts from 8 showed reactivity to this antibody and thus could be identified as belonging to the myeloid lineage and/or of the mixed blast crisis type.

Chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes exhibit decreased adhesion to fibronectin

Extracellular matrix components are known to regulate the process of egress of granulocytes from the bone marrow and their emigration to inflammatory sites. In this study we have compared the adhesion of normal and chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes to fibronectin. Adhesion of granulocytes from leukemic patients to all the different concentrations of fibronectin assessed was significantly lower than that of normal individuals. This observation suggests that the decreased adhesion of leukemic cells to fibronectin may be responsible for their early egress from the bone marrow and their delayed emigration to the sites of inflammation.

A major concanavalin-A-binding cell surface protein from normal and leukemic granulocytes: isolation and characterization

This paper reports the isolation and biochemical characterization of a major concanavalin A (Con A)-binding cell surface protein (protein 2, M(r) 75-85 kD) from normal and chronic myeloid leukemic (CML) granulocytes. Our studies show that protein 2 has two differentially glycosylated forms, protein 2a (M(r) 75-85 kD), which does not bind the lectin RCA, and protein 2b (M(r) 80-90 kD), which does. Both molecules show identical retention times on reverse-phase HPLC, irrespective of the cell source. By the procedure used the amount of 2a obtained is about 2.4 times more than that of 2b in normal cells and about 2.6 times more in CML cells. Furthermore, both are approximately 2.4-fold more in CML granulocytes. A polyclonal antibody to protein 2a also immunostains protein 2b. The antibody to protein 2a does not prevent Con A binding but inhibits its internalization. Similarity of the molecules from both the cell types and their increased amounts in CML granulocytes suggest that factors/components other than its structure and amount are responsible for the known defective internalization of Con A by CML granulocytes.

The receptor for IgG on human normal and chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes: functional and biochemical characterization

Receptor mediated endocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated heat-aggregated IgG (Fl-HAIgG) via the receptor for IgG (Fc gamma R) was studied using granulocytes from normal donors and patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Within 15 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, 75% of the normal granulocytes internalized the ligand, while only 13% of the CML granulocytes could internalize the ligand in the same time. This functional defect was seen in all the CML patients analyzed. To elucidate the reason for this defective endocytosis, the Fc gamma R was isolated from normal and leukemic granulocytes and biochemically characterized, by gel electrophoresis, high pressure liquid chromatography, and one- and two-dimensional peptide mapping. Our results show that the molecule from the two cell types is very similar. The defective endocytosis must therefore be due to events which occur after ligand-receptor binding.

Plasma membrane proteins from human normal and chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes: identification and partial characterization of the concanavalin A-binding and detergent resistant proteins

In this work granulocytes from normal human donors and patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were externally labeled with 125Iodine, using the Iodogen method. 125Iodine labeled Concanavalin A binding proteins (CBP) and detergent-resistant proteins (DRP) were isolated from the cell lysates and characterized by one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D- and 2D-SDS-PAGE). Autoradiographs of the 2D-gels of DRP show seven proteins with Mr 118,000 (spot 1 a), Mr 112,000 (spot 1b), Mr 78,000-85,000 (spot 2), Mr 85,000 (spot 4), Mr 52,000 (spot 3, 3 a and 3 b). Of this set, spot 1 b, 2 and 4 are also present in the autoradiographs of 2D-gels of CBP and, hence, may be considered to be transmembrane components. Spot 4 is expressed more intensely in the normal granulocytes while spots 3 a and 3 b are mainly expressed on the leukemic granulocytes.

Differential endocytosis of fluorescein iso-thiocyanate-concanavalin A by normal and chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes

Isolated granulocytes from normal individuals and patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) displayed different fluorescent patterns on treatment with fluorescein isothiocyanate concanavalin A (Fl-Con A). The ligand was internalized by 86% of the normal granulocytes, while 80% of the leukemic granulocytes exhibited Fl-Con A localized on the cell periphery. In further experiments, pretreatment of the normal granulocytes with cytochalasin B, iodoacetamide, 2-deoxyglucose and sodium fluoride (but not with sodium azide or dinitrophenol) was found to drastically inhibit internalization of the ligand. However, pretreatment of granulocytes from CML patients with cytochalasin B and 2-deoxyglucose, caused only a little alteration in the pattern of Fl-Con A labelling relative to untreated cells. These results indicate that CML granulocytes are defective in their ability to endocytose Fl-Con A. We suggest that this differential interaction between Fl-Con A and normal and leukemic granulocytes is a convenient system to study the initial steps in receptor mediated endocytosis of Concanavalin A.

Peptide mapping of proteins in gel bands after partial cleavage with acidic cyanogen bromide vapors

A procedure is described for obtaining peptide maps from microgram quantities of protein in gel bands, after cleavage at the methionyl peptide bonds with vapors of acidic cyanogen bromide (CNBr). Absence of direct contact of the gel pieces with CNBr eliminates the need for extensive equilibration of the gel piece to remove CNBr prior to electrophoresis. The milder conditions lead to partial cleavage of the proteins, yielding larger peptides and thereby reducing the risk of peptide loss during the postelectrophoresis procedures. The "fingerprints" obtained are reproducible and independent of an eightfold change in CNBr concentration.

Mixed function oxidase enzymes in human normal granulocytes and chronic myeloid leukemia cells. I. Detection and estimation

Subcellular fractions prepared from human normal granulocytes and leukemic cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), were examined for 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity as well as cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 contents. The average 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity was found to be significantly increased in all the fractions of CML cells when compared to the corresponding fractions of the normal granulocytes. The CML cells also differed from the normal cells by exhibiting decreased levels of both cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5. Examination of the microsomal and cytosolic fractions of both normal granulocytes and CML cells showed distribution of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, cytochrome P-450, and cytochrome b5 in both the fractions. Such distribution seems to be unique for human leukocytes. Solubilization of protein in the postmitochondrial (S1) fractions of both the cell types with sodium cholate in the presence of 20% glycerol and further fractionation with 10% polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000) yielded a partially purified preparation with enriched 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity and cytochrome P-450 as well as cytochrome b5 contents.