Establishment and characterization of a human histiocytic lymphoma cell line (U-937)

A human hematopoietic cell line (U-937) with exceptional characteristics was derived from a patient with generalized histiocytic lymphoma. The morphology of the cell line was identical to that of the tumor cells in the pleural effusion from which the line was derived. Since Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) carrying diploid lymphoblastoid cell lines unrelated to the tumor population often become established in vitro from non-Burkitt lymphoma explants, several parameters were studied to discriminate the U-937 from such lines: morphology in vitro, growth characteristics, cytochemistry, surface receptor pattern, Ig production, lysozyme production, beta2-microglobulin production, presence of EBV genome and karyotype. In all these respects U-937 differed from prototype lymphoblastoid cell lines. The histiocytic origin of the cell line was shown by its capacity for lysozyme production and the strong esterase activity (naphtol AS-D acetate esterase inhibited by NaF) of the cells. It is therefore concluded that the U-937 is a neoplastic, histiocytic cell line.

Establishment and characterization of a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1)

A human leukemic cell line (THP-1) cultured from the blood of a boy with acute monocytic leukemia is described. This cell line had Fc and C3b receptors, but no surface or cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. HLA haplotypes of THP-1 were HLA-A2, -A9, -B5, -DRW1 and -DRW2. The monocytic nature of the cell line was characterized by: (1) the presence of alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase activities which could be inhibited by NaF; (2) lysozyme production; (3) the phagocytosis of latex particles and sensitized sheep erythrocytes; and (4) the ability to restore T-lymphocyte response to Con A. The cells did not possess Epstein-Barr virus-associated nuclear antigen. These results indicate that THP-1 is a leukemia cell line with distinct monocytic markers. During culture, THP-1 maintained these monocytic characteristics for over 14 months.

Differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cells induced by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

Mouse myeloid leukemia cells can be induced to differentiate into macrophages in vitro by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D3. The minimal concentration of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to induce the cell differentiation was 0.12 nM. The degree of cell differentiation in various markers induced by 12 nM 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was nearly equivalent to that induced by 1 microM dexamethasone, the most potent known stimulator. Among several markers of the differentiation by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, phagocytic activity was induced within 24 hr, and this was followed by induction of lysozyme and locomotive activities. Similar changes were also induced by 0.01-1 microM 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 showed only weak inducing activity. These results suggest the possibility that, in addition to its wellknown biological activities in enhancing intestinal calcium transport and bone mineral mobilization, 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is involved in the differentiation of bone marrow cells.

Secretion of plasminogen activator by stimulated macrophages

Cultured thioglycollate-stimulated peritoneal macrophages synthesize, accumulate, and continuously release high levels of plasminogen activators for at least 4 days whereas cultures of unstimulated macrophages do not; the higher specific catalytic activity of released vs. cell-associated enzyme suggests that the plasminogen activators are actively secreted. The major macrophage plasminogen activator is a serine protease of mol wt 48,000, and thus resembles the comparable enzyme released by virally transformed fibroblasts. Macrophages release a second plasminogen activator of mol wt 28,000 that is also a serine enzyme. The secretion products released by stimulated and unstimulated macrophages have been compared by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after chemical labeling with (3)H-DFP or biosynthetic labeling with (14)C-amino acids. These procedures show that some proteins are formed in both cultures, whereas others are uniquely secreted by each type of macrophage. The serine enzymes released by the two kinds of macrophages differ in specificity and electrophoretic mobility.

Induction of self-tolerance in mature peripheral B lymphocytes

In transgenic mice, mature peripheral B lymphocytes in lymphoid follicles, like immature B cells, are rendered tolerant by encounter with self-antigen, provided receptor occupancy by self-antigen exceeds a critical threshold. The tolerant state of the B cell is closely correlated with down-regulation of membrane IgM but not IgD antigen-receptors. Identical changes in antigen-receptor expression occur in a subset of follicular B cells in nontransgenic mice, suggesting that clonally silenced self-reactive cells are common in the peripheral B-cell repertoire.

In vitro synthesis and secretion of lysozyme by mononuclear phagocytes

Pure cultures of three types of mononuclear phagocytes-mouse peritoneal macrophages, unstimulated or after thioglycollate stimulation, and human monocytes-synthesize and secrete large amounts of lysozyme in vitro. The macrophage lysozyme is indistinguishable from authentic lysozyme in its ability to lyse M. lysodeikticus, inhibition by specific antisera, a similar size of 14,000 and cationic charge. Lysozyme secretion in culture is characterized by a large net increase in total lysozyme, 4-20-fold in 3 h, 75-95% of which is in the medium, and its continued extracellular accumulation over at least 2 wk in culture. Lysozyme is the major (14)C-labeled protein secreted into the medium by both unstimulated and thioglycollate-stimulated macrophages and the 0.75-1 microg produced per 1 x 10(6) cells/day represents 0.5-2.5% of the total cell protein. Lysozyme is a cell-specific marker for mononuclear phagocytes and the PMN, which contains preformed enzyme, since it is absent in lymphoid cells and a variety of fibroblast and epithelioid cell lines. Lysozyme production is also a useful measure of mononuclear phagocyte cell number. The rate of lysozyme production and secretion is remarkably constant for all cell types under a variety of culture conditions. Production by the mouse macrophage increases threefold on the 2nd day in culture and then remains linear with time. Production is optimal at a relatively low serum concentration, but can be maintained, in the absence of serum, in lactalbumin hydrolysate or, at a reduced level in basal media. The production and secretion of lysozyme are independent of the production of macrophage acid hydrolases. Net increase and secretion of lysozyme occur under conditions where acid hydrolases like N-acetyl beta-glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, and cathepsin D are neither accumulated nor secreted. Massive phagocytosis of latex particles has no effect on lysozyme production and secretion. Lysozyme production can be rapidly inhibited by treatment with cycloheximide (0.4 microg/ml) whereas inhibition of its production by colchicine (10(-6) M) occurs only after a lag period of more than 8 h, and is probably due to a secondary effect. These results show that mouse macrophages provide a simple in vitro system to measure lysozyme secretion and its control. These studies also indicate the possible importance of mononuclear phagocytes in the secretion of a variety of biologically active products and in the modification of their environment.

An immortalized cell line expresses properties of activated microglial cells

Murine cultured microglial cells were immortalized after infection with a v-raf/v-myc recombinant retrovirus. This immortalized cell line (BV-2) shares properties with body macrophages with respect to the antigen profile, their phagocytic capacity and antimicrobial activity. BV-2 cells are not constitutively able to kill tumor cells in vitro, but acquire antitumor activity following an increase in [Ca++]i. BV-2 cells, like microglial cells, are however, distinct from peripheral macrophages by their expression of inwardly rectifying K+ channels in concert with a lack in outwardly rectifying K+ channels and the formation of spineous processes. The BV-2 cell line thus represents a suitable model for in vitro studies of activated microglial cells.

Lysozyme synthesis by established human and murine histiocytic lymphoma cell lines

A human cell line established in culture from a histiocytic lymphoma patient synthesizes and secretes the monocyte-granulocyte specific enzyme lysozyme. 18 other human cell lines with characteristics of T-lymphocyte, B-lymphocyte, Burkitt's lymphoma, non-Burkitt's lymphoma, myeloma, and bone marrow epithelial cells were not associated with lysozyme. Among murine cell lines, lysozyme was produced by (a) three histiocytic lymphoma or macrophage lines, which mediate antibody-dependent phagocytosis and cytolysis; (b) myelomonocytic leukemia line which also secretes myeloid colony-stimulating factor; and (c) a spontaneous lymphoma and an Abelson leukemia virus-induced lymphoma. Lysozyme-negative lines include another Abelson lymphoma, myelomas, T lymphomas, and mastocytoma.

Construction of a lactococcal expression vector: expression of hen egg white lysozyme in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis

A pair of vectors for expression of heterologous genes in Lactococcus lactis was constructed. In addition to an origin of replication that has a broad host range, these vectors contain a multiple cloning site flanked by gene expression signals originating from L. lactis subsp. cremoris Wg2. The two vectors, about 3.7 kilobase pairs in size, differ only in the type of antibiotic resistance they confer to their hosts. pMG36 carries a kanamycin resistance marker, which was replaced by an erythromycin resistance marker in pMG36e. As an example of the use of these vectors, the hen egg white lysozyme-coding sequence was inserted. A fusion protein of the expected size was detected in a transformed L. lactis subsp. lactis strain by using Western blotting (immunoblotting).

Myb and NF-M: combinatorial activators of myeloid genes in heterologous cell types

The c-Myb transcription factor regulates the differentiation of immature erythroid, lymphoid, and myeloid cells, although only the latter cells become transformed by the v-myb oncogene. These are also the only cells that express the Myb-regulated gene mim-1, suggesting that Myb requires tissue-specific, cooperating factors to activate such genes. Here, we investigated the tissue-specific regulation of the mim-1 promoter and found that it not only contains binding sites for Myb but also for NF-M, a myeloid-specific transcription factor that probably corresponds to mammalian C/EBP beta. Both types of binding sites were found to be required for full activity of the promoter. Remarkably, ectopic coexpression of Myb and NF-M proteins in erythroid cells or fibroblasts was sufficient to induce endogenous markers of myeloid differentiation, like the mim-1 and lysozyme genes. Our results indicate that c-Myb and NF-M proteins act as a bipartite, combinatorial signal that regulates the expression of myeloid-specific genes, even in heterologous cell types.

The ribosome modulates nascent protein folding

Proteins are synthesized by the ribosome and generally must fold to become functionally active. Although it is commonly assumed that the ribosome affects the folding process, this idea has been extremely difficult to demonstrate. We have developed an experimental system to investigate the folding of single ribosome-bound stalled nascent polypeptides with optical tweezers. In T4 lysozyme, synthesized in a reconstituted in vitro translation system, the ribosome slows the formation of stable tertiary interactions and the attainment of the native state relative to the free protein. Incomplete T4 lysozyme polypeptides misfold and aggregate when free in solution, but they remain folding-competent near the ribosomal surface. Altogether, our results suggest that the ribosome not only decodes the genetic information and synthesizes polypeptides, but also promotes efficient de novo attainment of the native state.

Overexpression of trigger factor prevents aggregation of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli

To examine the effects of overexpression of trigger factor (TF) on recombinant proteins produced in Escherichia coli, we constructed plasmids that permitted controlled expression of TF alone or together with the GroEL-GroES chaperones. The following three proteins that are prone to aggregation were tested as targets: mouse endostatin, human oxygen-regulated protein ORP150, and human lysozyme. The results revealed that TF overexpression had marked effects on the production of these proteins in soluble forms, presumably through facilitating correct folding. Whereas overexpression of TF alone was sufficient to prevent aggregation of endostatin, overexpression of TF together with GroEL-GroES was more effective for ORP150 and lysozyme, suggesting that TF and GroEL-GroES play synergistic roles in vivo. Although coexpression of the DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE chaperones was also effective for endostatin and ORP150, coexpression of TF and GroEL-GroES was more effective for lysozyme. These results attest to the usefulness of the present expression plasmids for improving protein production in E. coli.

Interaction of estrogen and progesterone in chick oviduct development. II. Effects of estrogen and progesterone on tubular gland cell function

The effects of estrogen and progesterone on the function of chick oviduct tubular gland cells have been studied. Such function, as measured by the increase in specific cell products such as lysozyme and ovalbumin, requires the continuous presence of estrogen or progesterone. Withdrawal of hormone results in a rapid cessation of function and an involution of the oviduct accompanied by rapid decreases in total weight, lysozyme, and RNA. During such involution, tubular gland cells per se persist, as evidenced by a lack of comparable decrease in total DNA content and by histological demonstration of tubular gland cells. When estrogen administration is reinstituted, preexisting tubular gland cells rapidly synthesize ovalbumin and lysozyme without requiring new DNA synthesis. Administration of progesterone also stimulates the function of such cells. Furthermore, the effects of estrogen and progesterone are synergistic on the synthesis of lysozyme and ovalbumin, whereas progesterone antagonizes the estrogen-evoked formation of tubular gland cells. It is suggested that such complex interactions of estrogen and progesterone on oviduct development and function result from differences in responsiveness of the various cell types present in the tissue.

Macrophage plasminogen activator: induction by concanavalin A and phorbol myristate acetate

The synthesis and secretion of plasminogen activator by cultured macrophages can be induced and stimulated by concanavalin A and by phorbol myristate acetate, and inhibited by such agents as glucocorticoids, mitotic inhibitors and compounds affecting cAMP metabolism. By the manipulation of stimulatory and inhibitory influences, enzyme production can be modulated continuously over a 200 fold range. In the same way, the proportion of cells that secrete detectable levels of enzyme can be varied from 1-90%. No comparable modulation of lysozyme or acid hydrolase production is observed under the same conditions. These results suggest that the physiological control of macrophage plasminogen activator production is achieved by the interacting effects of mutually antagonistic stimuli; this emphasizes the utility of this enzyme for the study of regulatory phenomena, including those relating to inflammation.

Paneth cell differentiation in the developing intestine of normal and transgenic mice

Paneth cells represent one of the four major epithelial lineages in the mouse small intestine. It is the only lineage that migrates downward from the stem-cell zone located in the lower portion of the crypt of Lieberkühn to the crypt base. Mature Paneth cells release growth factors, digestive enzymes, and antimicrobial peptides from their apical secretory granules. Some of these factors may affect the crypt stem cell, its transit-cell descendants, differentiating villus-associated epithelial lineages, and/or the gut microflora. We used single and multilabel immunocytochemical methods to study Paneth cell differentiation during and after completion of gut morphogenesis in normal, gnotobiotic, and transgenic mice as well as in intestinal isografts. This lineage emerges coincident with cytodifferentiation of the fetal small intestinal endoderm, formation of crypts from an intervillus epithelium, and establishment of a stem-cell hierarchy. The initial differentiation program involves sequential expression of cryptdins, a phospholipase A2 (enhancing factor), and lysozyme. A dramatic increase in Paneth cell number per crypt occurs during postnatal days 14-28, when crypts proliferate by fission. Accumulation of fucosylated and sialylated glycoconjugates during this period represents the final evolution of the lineage's differentiation program. Establishment of this lineage is not dependent upon instructive interactions from the microflora. Transgenic mice containing nucleotides -6500 to +34 of the Paneth cell-specific mouse cryptdin 2 gene linked to the human growth hormone gene beginning at its nucleotide +3 inappropriately express human growth hormone in a large population of proliferating and nonproliferating cells in the intervillus epithelium up to postnatal day 5. Transgene expression subsequently becomes restricted to the Paneth cell lineage in the developing crypt. Cryptdin 2 nucleotides -6500 to +34 should be a useful marker of crypt morphogenesis and a valuable tool for conducting gain-of-function or loss-of-function experiments in Paneth cells.

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the major peptidoglycan hydrolase of Lactococcus lactis, a muramidase needed for cell separation

A gene of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363 encoding a peptidoglycan hydrolase was identified in a genomic library of the strain in pUC19 by screening Escherichia coli transformants for cell wall lysis activity on a medium containing autoclaved, lyophilized Micrococcus lysodeikticus cells. In cell extracts of L. lactis MG1363 and several halo-producing E. coli transformants, lytic bands of similar sizes were identified by denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels containing L. lactis or M. lysodeikticus cell walls. Of these clearing bands, corresponding to the presence of lytic enzymes with sizes of 46 and 41 kDa, the 41-kDa band was also present in the supernatant of an L. lactis culture. Deletion analysis of one of the recombinant plasmids showed that the information specifying lytic activity was contained within a 2,428-bp EcoRV-Sau3A fragment. Sequencing of part of this fragment revealed a gene (acmA) that could encode a polypeptide of 437 amino acid residues. The calculated molecular mass of AcmA (46,564 Da) corresponded to that of one of the lytic activities detected. Presumably, the enzyme is synthesized as a precursor protein which is processed by cleavage after the Ala at position 57, thus producing a mature protein with a size of 40,264 Da, which would correspond to the size of the enzyme whose lytic activity was present in culture supernatants of L. lactis. The N-terminal region of the mature protein showed 60% identity with the N-terminal region of the mature muramidase-2 of Enterococcus hirae and the autolysin of Streptococcus faecalis. Like the latter two enzymes, AcmA contains C-terminal repeated regions. In AcmA, these three repeats are separated by nonhomologous intervening sequences highly enriched in serine, threonine, and asparagine. Genes specifying identical activities were detected in various strains of L. lactis subsp. lactis and L. lactis subsp. cremoris by the SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis detection assay and PCR experiments. By replacement recombination, an acmA deletion mutant which grew as long chains was constructed, indicating that AcmA is required for cell separation.

Biosynthetic incorporation of 15N and 13C for assignment and interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of proteins

The use of isotopic substitution is a time-honoured method for simplifying the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of biological macromolecules. For example, the biosynthetic incorporation of a heteronucleus such as15N or13C into a specific amino acid residue in a protein followed by direct observation of the15N or13C NMR spectrum could provide a means to specifically observe a given amino acid type in that protein. By observation of the chemical shift or relaxation properties as a function of pH, ligand concentration, etc. a number of important conclusions concerning the pKavalues of specific residues, the affinity of the protein for various ligands, or dynamic properties of the protein can be deduced. (See Henryet al.1986a,b; 1987 for an elegant modern example). In such situations, direct observation of the heteronucleus is a powerful means to observe environmental changes (Niuet al.1979) but often these measurements are not readily interpretable in terms of alterations of protein structure. Although proton-proton dipolar interactions (NOEs) typically provide the richest source of such structural information, these interactions are not monitored in most experiments which directly observe the heteronucleus.

The individual regulation of granule protein mRNA levels during neutrophil maturation explains the heterogeneity of neutrophil granules

The in vivo mRNA levels for 16 granule proteins during neutrophil differentiation were determined to address the question of whether the synthesis of granule proteins is regulated individually or blockwise. RNA was extracted from peripheral blood granulocytes and three different populations of neutrophil precursors isolated from human bone marrow by Percoll density centrifugation. The mRNA levels in relation to the maturation of the cells were determined by Northern blot for the 12 matrix proteins myeloperoxidase, proteinase-3, elastase, defensin, lactoferrin, NGAL, hCAP-18, transcobalamin-I, SGP28, gelatinase, lysozyme, and serglycin and the 4 membrane proteins CD68, CD11b, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine receptor, and CD35. This panel of transcripts ensured that markers for all exocytosable organelles of the neutrophil were included in the study. A highly differentiated distribution of mRNAs for granule proteins was demonstrated that can explain the heterogeneity of the intracellular storage granules and secretory vesicles of the neutrophil. Furthermore, the individual distribution of these transcripts provides the basis for a more detailed assessment of neutrophil maturation than that obtained by morphological studies or the use of a single marker protein for azurophil, specific, and gelatinase granules.

Interaction of estrogen and progesterone in chick oviduct development. I. Antagonistic effect of progesterone on estrogen-induced proliferation and differentiation of tubular gland cells

Daily administration of estrogen to immature female chicks results in marked oviduct growth and appearance of characteristic tubular gland cells which contain lysozyme. Although a rapid increase in total DNA and RNA content begins within 24 hr, cell specific protein, lysozyme, is first detectable after 3 days of estrogen. Progesterone administered concomitantly with estrogen antagonizes the estrogen-induced tissue growth as well as appearance of tubular gland cells and their specific products, lysozyme and ovalbumin. When the initiation of progesterone administration is delayed for progressively longer periods (days) during estrogen treatment, proportionally greater growth occurs with more lysozyme and tubular gland cells after 5 days of total treatment. Progesterone does not inhibit the estrogen-stimulated increase in uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and water by oviduct occurring within 24 hr or the estrogen-induced increase in total lipid, phospholipid, and phosphoprotein content of serum. The above results of progesterone antagonism can best be explained by the hypothesis that progesterone inhibits the initial proliferation of cells which become tubular gland cells but does not antagonize the subsequent cytodifferentiation leading to the synthesis of lysozyme and ovalbumin once such cell proliferation has occurred.

Structural determinants of protein dynamics: analysis of 15N NMR relaxation measurements for main-chain and side-chain nuclei of hen egg white lysozyme

15N-labeled hen lysozyme has been studied by 2D and 3D NMR in order to characterize its dynamic behavior. The resonances of all main-chain amide nitrogen atoms were assigned, as were resonances of nitrogen atoms in 28 side chains. Relaxation measurements for the main-chain and arginine and tryptophan side-chain 15N nuclei used standard methods, and those for the 15N nuclei of asparagine and glutamine side chains used pulse sequences designed to remove unwanted relaxation pathways in the NH2 groups. The calculated order parameters (S2) show that the majority of main-chain amides undergo only small amplitude librational motions on a fast time scale (S2 > or = 0.8). Increased main-chain motion (0.5 < S2 < 0.8) is observed for a total of 19 residues located at the C-terminus, in loop and turn regions, and in the first strand of the main beta-sheet. Order parameters derived for the side chains range from 0.05 to 0.9; five of the six tryptophan residues have high order parameters (S2 > or = 0.8), consistent with their location in the closely packed core of the protein, whereas the order parameters between 0.05 and 0.3 for arginine residues confirm increased side-chain mobility at the protein surface. Order parameters for the side chains of asparagine and glutamine residues range from 0.2 to 0.8; high values are found for side chains that have low solvent accessible surfaces and well-defined chi 1 values, as measured by 3J alpha beta coupling constants. Many of the main-chain and side-chain groups with low order parameters have higher than average temperature factors in X-ray crystal structures and increased positional uncertainty in NMR solution structures. They also tend to lack persistent hydrogen bond interactions and protection against amide hydrogen exchange. The most significant correlations are found between residues with low order parameters and high surface accessibility in both crystal and solution structures. The results suggest that a lack of van der Waals contacts is a major determinant of side-chain and main-chain mobility in proteins.

Site-specific incorporation of novel backbone structures into proteins

A number of unnatural amino acids and amino acid analogs with modified backbone structures were substituted for alanine-82 in T4 lysozyme. Replacements included alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids, N-alkyl amino acids, and lactic acid, an isoelectronic analog of alanine. The effects of these electronic and structural perturbations on the stability of T4 lysozyme were determined. The relatively broad substrate specificity of the Escherichia coli protein biosynthetic machinery suggests that a wide range of backbone and side-chain substitutions can be introduced, allowing a more precise definition of the factors affecting protein stability.

A range of CD4 T cell tolerance: partial inactivation to organ-specific antigen allows nondestructive thyroiditis or insulitis

T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice specific for hen egg lysozyme (HEL) were crossed with mice expressing HEL on the thyroid epithelium, on pancreatic islet beta cells, or systemically. Depending on the pattern of HEL expression, deletion of double-positive thymocytes ranged from minimal to complete, and peripheral CD4 cells exhibited graded reduction in TCR expression, in vitro responsiveness, and in vivo helper ability. CD4 cells were least tolerant in TCR/thyroid-HEL and TCR/islet-HEL mice, which developed an extensive lymphocytic thyroiditis or insulitis that nevertheless did not eliminate HEL-expressing endocrine cells. Autoreactive CD4 clones thus escape the thymus under a range of circumstances, retain sufficient function to initiate subclinical autoimmune inflammation when self-antigens are concentrated in the thyroid or pancreas, and may regulate progression of subclinical inflammation to destructive autoimmune disease.