Nucleoside Hydrolase NH 36: A Vital Enzyme for the Leishmania Genus in the Development of T-Cell Epitope Cross-Protective Vaccines

NH36 is a vital enzyme of the DNA metabolism and a specific target for anti-Leishmania chemotherapy. We developed second-generation vaccines composed of the FML complex or its main native antigen, the NH36 nucleoside hydrolase of Leishmania (L.) donovani and saponin, and a DNA vaccine containing the NH36 gene. All these vaccines were effective in prophylaxis and treatment of mice and dog visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The FML-saponin vaccine became the first licensed veterinary vaccine against leishmaniasis (Leishmune®) which reduced the incidence of human and canine VL in endemic areas. The NH36, DNA or recombinant protein vaccines induced a Th1 CD4+IFN-γ+ mediated protection in mice. Efficacy against VL was mediated by a CD4+TNF-α T lymphocyte response against the NH36-F3 domain, while against tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) a CD8+ T lymphocyte response to F1 was also required. These domains were 36-41 % more protective than NH36, and a recombinant F1F3 chimera was 21% stronger than the domains, promoting a 99.8% reduction of the parasite load. We also identified the most immunogenic NH36 domains and epitopes for PBMC of active human VL, cured or asymptomatic and DTH+ patients. Currently, the NH36 subunit recombinant vaccine is turning into a multi-epitope T cell synthetic vaccine against VL and TL.

NH36 and F3 Antigen-Primed Dendritic Cells Show Preserved Migrating Capabilities and CCR7 Expression and F3 Is Effective in Immunotherapy of Visceral Leishmaniasis

Physical contact between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cell lymphocytes is necessary to trigger the immune cell response. CCL19 and CCL21 chemokines bind to the CCR7 receptor of mature DCs, and of T cells and regulate DCs migration to the white pulp (wp) of the spleen, where they encounter lymphocytes. In visceral leishmaniasis (VL), cellular immunosuppression is mediated by impaired DC migration due to the decreased chemokine secretion by endothelium and to the reduced DCs CCR7 expression. The Leishmania (L.) donovani nucleoside hydrolase NH36 and its C-terminal domain, the F3 peptide are prominent antigens in the generation of preventive immunity to VL. We assessed whether these vaccines could prevent the migrating defect of DCs by restoring the expression of CCR7 receptors. C57Bl6 mice were vaccinated with NH36 and F3 and challenged with L. (L.) infantum chagasi. The F3 vaccine induced a 100% of survival and a long-lasting immune protection with an earlier CD4+Th1 response, with secretion of higher IFN-γ and TNF-α/IL-10 ratios, and higher frequencies of CD4+ T cells secreting IL-2+, TNF-α+, or IFN-γ+, or a combination of two or the three cytokines (IL-2+TNF-α+IFN-γ+). The CD8+ T cell response was promoted earlier by the NH36-vaccine, and later by the F3-vaccine. Maximal number of F3-primed DCs migrated in vitro in response to CCL19 and showed a high expression of CCR7 receptors (26.06%). Anti-CCR7 antibody treatment inhibited DCs migration in vitro (90%) and increased parasite load in vivo. When transferred into 28-day-infected mice, only 8% of DCs from infected, 59% of DCs from NH36-vaccinated, and 84% of DCs from F3-vaccinated mice migrated to the wp. Consequently, immunotherapy of infected mice with F3-primed DCs only, promoted increases in corporal weight and reductions of spleen and liver parasite loads and relative weights. Our findings indicate that vaccination with F3-vaccine preserves the maturation, migration properties and CCR7 expression of DCs, which are essential processes for the generation of cell-mediated immunity. The F3 vaccine is more potent in reversing the migration defect that occurs in VL and, therefore, more efficient in immunotherapy of VL.

Deficiency of base excision repair enzyme NEIL3 drives increased predisposition to autoimmunity

Alterations in the apoptosis of immune cells have been associated with autoimmunity. Here, we have identified a homozygous missense mutation in the gene encoding the base excision repair enzyme Nei endonuclease VIII-like 3 (NEIL3) that abolished enzymatic activity in 3 siblings from a consanguineous family. The NEIL3 mutation was associated with fatal recurrent infections, severe autoimmunity, hypogammaglobulinemia, and impaired B cell function in these individuals. The same homozygous NEIL3 mutation was also identified in an asymptomatic individual who exhibited elevated levels of serum autoantibodies and defective peripheral B cell tolerance, but normal B cell function. Further analysis of the patients revealed an absence of LPS-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA) protein expression, a known cause of immunodeficiency. We next examined the contribution of NEIL3 to the maintenance of self-tolerance in Neil3-/- mice. Although Neil3-/- mice displayed normal B cell function, they exhibited elevated serum levels of autoantibodies and developed nephritis following treatment with poly(I:C) to mimic microbial stimulation. In Neil3-/- mice, splenic T and B cells as well as germinal center B cells from Peyer's patches showed marked increases in apoptosis and cell death, indicating the potential release of self-antigens that favor autoimmunity. These findings demonstrate that deficiency in NEIL3 is associated with increased lymphocyte apoptosis, autoantibodies, and predisposition to autoimmunity.

Genetic cause of immune dysregulation - one gene or two?

Some autoimmune disorders are monogenetic diseases; however, clinical manifestations among individuals vary, despite the presence of identical mutations in the disease-causing gene. In this issue of the JCI, Massaad and colleagues characterized a seemingly monogenic autoimmune disorder in a family that was linked to homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the endonuclease Nei endonuclease VIII-like 3 (NEIL3), which has not been previously associated with autoimmunity. The identification of an unrelated healthy individual with the same homozygous mutation spurred more in-depth analysis of the data and revealed the presence of a second mutation in a known autoimmune-associated gene. Animals lacking Neil3 had no overt phenotype, but were predisposed to autoantibody production and nephritis following exposure to the TLR3 ligand poly(I:C). Together, these results support further evaluation of the drivers of autoimmunity in supposedly monogenic disorders.

Expression and purification of an engineered, yeast-expressed Leishmania donovani nucleoside hydrolase with immunogenic properties

Leishmania donovani is the major cause of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), now recognized as the parasitic disease with the highest level of mortality second only to malaria. No human vaccine is currently available. A 36 kDa L. donovani nucleoside hydrolase (LdNH36) surface protein has been previously identified as a potential vaccine candidate antigen. Here we present data on the expression of LdNH36 in Pichia pastoris and its purification at the 20 L scale to establish suitability for future pilot scale manufacturing. To improve efficiency of process development and ensure reproducibility, 4 N-linked glycosylation sites shown to contribute to heterogeneous high-mannose glycosylation were mutated to glutamine residues. The mutant LdNH36 (LdNH36-dg2) was expressed and purified to homogeneity. Size exclusion chromatography and light scattering demonstrated that LdNH36-dg2 existed as a tetramer in solution, similar to the wild-type recombinant L. major nucleoside hydrolase. The amino acid mutations do not affect the tetrameric interface as confirmed by theoretical modeling, and the mutated amino acids are located outside the major immunogenic domain. Immunogenic properties of the LdNH36-dg2 recombinant protein were evaluated in BALB/c mice using formulations that included a synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, together with a microparticle delivery platform (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)). Mice exhibited high levels of IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies that were reactive to both LdNH36-dg2 and LdNH36 wild-type. While the point mutations did affect the hydrolase activity of the enzyme, the IgG antibodies elicited by LdNH36-dg2 were shown to inhibit the hydrolase activity of the wild-type LdNH36. The results indicate that LdNH36-dg2 as expressed in and purified from P. pastoris is suitable for further scale-up, manufacturing, and testing in support of future first-in-humans phase 1 clinical trials.

Adaptive immunity against Leishmania nucleoside hydrolase maps its c-terminal domain as the target of the CD4+ T cell-driven protective response

Nucleoside hydrolases (NHs) show homology among parasite protozoa, fungi and bacteria. They are vital protagonists in the establishment of early infection and, therefore, are excellent candidates for the pathogen recognition by adaptive immune responses. Immune protection against NHs would prevent disease at the early infection of several pathogens. We have identified the domain of the NH of L. donovani (NH36) responsible for its immunogenicity and protective efficacy against murine visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Using recombinant generated peptides covering the whole NH36 sequence and saponin we demonstrate that protection against L. chagasi is related to its C-terminal domain (amino-acids 199-314) and is mediated mainly by a CD4+ T cell driven response with a lower contribution of CD8+ T cells. Immunization with this peptide exceeds in 36.73±12.33% the protective response induced by the cognate NH36 protein. Increases in IgM, IgG2a, IgG1 and IgG2b antibodies, CD4+ T cell proportions, IFN-γ secretion, ratios of IFN-γ/IL-10 producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and percents of antibody binding inhibition by synthetic predicted epitopes were detected in F3 vaccinated mice. The increases in DTH and in ratios of TNFα/IL-10 CD4+ producing cells were however the strong correlates of protection which was confirmed by in vivo depletion with monoclonal antibodies, algorithm predicted CD4 and CD8 epitopes and a pronounced decrease in parasite load (90.5-88.23%; p = 0.011) that was long-lasting. No decrease in parasite load was detected after vaccination with the N-domain of NH36, in spite of the induction of IFN-γ/IL-10 expression by CD4+ T cells after challenge. Both peptides reduced the size of footpad lesions, but only the C-domain reduced the parasite load of mice challenged with L. amazonensis. The identification of the target of the immune response to NH36 represents a basis for the rationale development of a bivalent vaccine against leishmaniasis and for multivalent vaccines against NHs-dependent pathogens.

Protection of susceptible BALB/c mice from challenge with Leishmania major by nucleoside hydrolase, a soluble exo-antigen of Leishmania

Leishmania major culture-derived, soluble, exogenous antigens have been shown to be a source of vaccine targets for the parasite. We have previously reported that L. major culture-derived, soluble, exogenous antigens can immunize BALB/c mice against challenge with L. major. However, the molecule(s) involved in this protection was not known. We describe the potential of one component of soluble exogenous antigens (recombinant nucleoside hydrolase) to vaccinate mice against challenge with L. major. We found that recombinant nucleoside hydrolase vaccinated BALB/c mice against a subsequent challenge with L. major. Protection was manifested by a significant decrease in lesion size (as much as a 30-fold reduction) and parasite burden (as much as a 71-fold reduction). Protection was achieved whether recombinant nucleoside hydrolase was administered to mice in the presence or absence of adjuvant (interleukin-12). Finally, protection was accompanied by an increase in interferon-gamma production but a decrease in interleukin-10 production by vaccinated animals in response to challenge with L. major.

Evaluation of immune responses and protection induced by A2 and nucleoside hydrolase (NH) DNA vaccines against Leishmania chagasi and Leishmania amazonensis experimental infections

Several antigens have been tested as vaccine candidates against Leishmania infections but controversial results have been reported when different antigens are co-administered in combined vaccination protocols. Immunization with A2 or nucleoside hydrolase (NH) antigens was previously shown to induce Th1 immune responses and protection in BALB/c mice against Leishmania donovani and L. amazonensis (A2) or L. donovani and L. mexicana (NH) infections. In this work, we investigated the protective efficacy of A2 and NH DNA vaccines, in BALB/c mice, against L. amazonensis or L. chagasi challenge infection. Immunization with either A2 (A2-pCDNA3) or NH (NH-VR1012) DNA induced an elevated IFN-gamma production before infection; however, only A2 DNA immunized mice were protected against both Leishmania species and displayed a sustained IFN-gamma production and very low IL-4 and IL-10 levels, after challenge. Mice immunized with NH/A2 DNA produced higher levels of IFN-gamma in response to both specific recombinant proteins (rNH or rA2), but displayed higher IL-4 and IL-10 levels and increased edema and parasite loads after L. amazonensis infection, as compared to A2 DNA immunized animals. These data extend the characterization of the immune responses induced by NH and A2 antigens as potential candidates to compose a defined vaccine and indicate that a highly polarized type 1 immune response is required for improvement of protective levels of combined vaccines against both L. amazonensis and L. chagasi infections.

Effect of N- and C-terminal deletions on the RNA N-glycosidase activity and the antigenicity of karasurin-A, a ribosome-inactivating protein from Trichosanthes kirilowii var. japonica

Karasurin-A, from root tubers of Trichosanthes kirilowii var. japonica, is a type I ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) that displays activity of RNA N-glycosidase to remove an adenine in the conserved sarcin/ricin loop of the largest RNA in the ribosome. We expressed recombinant proteins of karasurin-A and its various mutants with N- or C-terminal deletions in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with maltose-binding protein (MBP), and compared their enzymatic activities and antigenicities. Muteins of karasurin-A generated by deleting either the first 100 N-terminal or the last 30 C-terminal amino acid residues lost activity of RNA N-glycosidase. The mutant proteins whose 80 N-terminal or 20 C-terminal amino acids were deleted could depurinate rRNA although the activities were decreased drastically. The antigenicities of the recombinant proteins were considerably reduced by deleting 20 amino acid residues from either N- or C-terminal regions.

Induction of cytokines by toxins that have an identical RNA N-glycosidase activity: Shiga toxin, ricin, and modeccin

Shiga toxin (Stx) has an A1-B5 subunit structure, and the A subunit is an RNA N-glycosidase that inhibits cellular protein synthesis. We previously reported that in Caco-2 cells Stx induced cytokines and that the RNA N-glycosidase activity was essential for the cytokine induction. It is known that the binding of the Stx-B subunit to its receptor glycolipid, Gb3, mediates an A subunit-independent signal in some types of cells, but the involvement of this signal in the cytokine induction is unclear. In this study, we investigated whether RNA N-glycosidase itself induces cytokines. IL-8 production was enhanced by Stx, ricin, and modeccin, three toxins that inhibit protein synthesis through an identical RNA N-glycosidase activity, but not by two other types of protein synthesis inhibitors, diphtheria toxin and cycloheximide. The RNA N-glycosidase-type toxins showed a similar induction pattern of cytokine mRNAs. Brefeldin A, a Golgi apparatus inhibitor, completely suppressed the cytokine induction by the toxins. Analysis by using inhibitors of toxin binding and also Stx-B subunit showed that the cytokine-inducing activity was independent of Gb3-mediated signaling. These results indicate that RNA N-glycosidase itself induces the cytokine production and that intracellular transport of toxins through the Golgi apparatus is essential for the activity.

Preparation and primary application of monoclonal antibodies against a novel ribosome-inactivating protein Moschatin from pumpkin seeds

Plant ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) have multiple biological functions, and have been widely used in the studies on biomedical and agronomic applications. Moschatin is a novel single-chain RIP recently purified from pumpkin seeds, and it has been successfully applied to construct the immunotoxin that can selectively kill the cultured human melanoma cells. Six stable strains of hybridomas (2H8, 4A8, 5B6, 6F8, 4H10 and 6C2) that can secrete high specific monoclonal antibodies against Moschatin have been successfully prepared using hybridoma technique. The isotypes of these monoclonal antibodies are IgG1, IgG1, IgG1, IgG1, IgG2a and IgGM. Their affinity constants were determined to be 1.42x10(8), 2.71x10(8), 8.72x10(7), 2.06x10(8), 1.36x10(8) and 1.51x10(8) M(-1) in a sequent order, measured by non-competitive ELISA. The monoclonal antibody 4A8 has been used to detect Moschatin in Western blot. An immunoaffinity gel, which consisted of a monoclonal antibody 4H10 and Sepharose 4B, was prepared and used to purify Moschatin from pumpkin seeds crude extract.

Human uracil-DNA glycosylase deficiency associated with profoundly impaired immunoglobulin class-switch recombination

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a 'master molecule' in immunoglobulin (Ig) class-switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM) generation, AID deficiencies are associated with hyper-IgM phenotypes in humans and mice. We show here that recessive mutations of the gene encoding uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG) are associated with profound impairment in CSR at a DNA precleavage step and with a partial disturbance of the SHM pattern in three patients with hyper-IgM syndrome. Together with the finding that nuclear UNG expression was induced in activated B cells, these data support a model of CSR and SHM in which AID deaminates cytosine into uracil in targeted DNA (immunoglobulin switch or variable regions), followed by uracil removal by UNG.

HER/erbB receptors as therapeutic targets of immunotoxins in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells

Human rhabdomyosarcoma cells express HER/erbB growth factors receptors. Receptors belonging to this family are overexpressed and play a role in many types of epithelial and neural cancer and have been selected as targets for cancer therapy. In this paper EGF-R, HER-2 and HER-3 receptors were tested as therapeutic targets of immunotoxins in human rhabdomyosarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma cells were treated with indirect immunotoxins consisting in primary specific murine monoclonal antibodies recognizing EGF-R, HER-2 and HER-3 followed by secondary F(ab')2 antimouse immunoglobulin linked to saporin-S6, a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) from the seeds of Saponaria officinalis. The indirect immunotoxin targeting EGF-R caused a significant inhibition in cell growth and protein synthesis and a strong increase in apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma cells, whereas indirect immunotoxins against HER-2 and HER-3 were ineffective. The toxic activity of anti-EGF-R immunotoxin was also observed on rhabdomyosarcoma cells expressing low level of EGF-R. EGF-R could be a novel therapeutic target of immunotoxins in human rhabdomyosarcoma.

Involvement of mammalian OGG1(MMH) in excision of the 8-hydroxyguanine residue in DNA

8-Hydroxyguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, abbreviated as 8-OH-G or 8-oxoG) is the site of a frequent mutagenic DNA lesion produced by oxidative damage. MutM of E. coli and OGG1 of Saccharomyces cervisiae are known to possess 8-OH-G glycosylase and apurinic (AP) site lyase activity. cDNA clones of four isoforms (types 1a, 1b, 1c, and 2) of human OGG1 homologs (hMMH) were isolated. In order to examine whether expression of hMMH (hOGG1) protein actually occurs in human cells, we prepared type 1a specific antibody, and by using this antibody, we showed that type 1a protein isolated from HeLaS3 has 8-OH-G glycosylase/lyase activity. Furthermore, we showed that type 1a protein is a major enzyme for repair of the 8-OH-G lesion in human cells. In our second study, we generated a mouse line carrying an inactivated mutant Mmh allele by targeted gene disruption. Liver extracts of Mmh homozygous mutant mice were found to have loss of the nicking activity for the 8-OH-G site. In addition, the amount of endogenous 8-OH-G in liver DNA of the homozygous mice increased linearly with age, reaching 7-fold increase in 14 week old mice, over that of wild-type or heterozygous mice. Furthermore, when homozygous mice were fed the oxygen radical-forming agent KBrO3, to provide oxidative stress, the level of 8-OH-G in kidney DNA was tremendously increased: more than 200-fold as that of control mice without oxidative stress after 12 weeks of age. These results indicate that Ogg1/Mmh plays an essential role in the repair of the 8-OH-G residue in DNA produced by oxidative stress.

Mammalian Ogg1/Mmh gene plays a major role in repair of the 8-hydroxyguanine lesion in DNA

8-Hydroxyguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, abbreviated as 8-OH-G or 8-oxoG) is the site of a frequent mutagenic DNA lesion produced by oxidative damage. MutM of E. coli and OGG1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are known to possess 8-OH-G glycosylase activity and apurinic (AP) site lyase activity to repair 8-OH-G lesions. Recently, cDNA clones of four isoforms (types 1a, 1b, 1c, and type 2) of human OGG1 homologs (hMMH) were isolated. However, it is unknown whether expression of endogenous hMMH proteins actually occurs in mammalian cells. We have chosen two approaches to clarify this issue. First, using hMMH type 1a-specific antibody and cells overexpressing tag-fused hMMH type 1a, we found that hMMH type 1a protein is in fact expressed in many types of human cells, showing that endogenous hMMH type 1a protein has 8-OH-G glycosylase/AP lyase activity. Furthermore, we have shown that upon antibody-mediated depletion of hMMH type 1a protein in a whole-cell extract, most of the AP lyase activity is lost, indicating that hMMH type 1a protein is a major enzyme for repair of 8-OH-G lesion in human cells. In our second approach we have generated a mouse line carrying a mutant Mmh allele by targeted gene disruption. Mmh homozygous mutant mice were found to be physically normal in appearance, but to have lost the nicking activity for substrate DNA containing 8-OH-G in liver extracts. In addition, the amount of endogenous 8-OH-G in liver DNA of the homozygous mutant mice at 8 weeks of age was 3-fold higher compared with wild-type or heterozygous mice. A further increase of 8-OH-G up to 7-fold was observed in 14-week-old animals. These results indicate that exposure of DNA to internal oxidative species constantly produces the mutagenic DNA adduct 8-OH-G in mice, and that Mmh plays an essential role in the repair of this type of oxidative DNA damage.

Expression of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase is reduced and associated with neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease brain

Recent studies have confirmed the role of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine accumulation in AD brain has been discussed, but few studies of DNA repair enzymes in AD brain have been done. Further, a relationship between mitochondrial function and oxidative stress has been noticed. In this study, to evaluate the repair mechanism for oxidative DNA damage in AD brain, we investigated brain tissues from autopsy cases of AD and control cases using an antibody against the mitochondrial form of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1-2a), an enzyme that repairs 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine. hOGGI-2a is expressed mainly in the neuronal cytoplasm in both AD and control cases in regionally different manners. Expression of hOGG1-2a is decreased in the orbitofrontal gyrus and entorhinal cortex in AD compared to that in control cases. Immunoreactivity to hOGG1-2a is associated with neurofibrillary tangles, dystrophic neurites and reactive astrocytes in AD. Our results indicate that the repair enzyme for oxidative damage in mitochondrial DNA may not function appropriately in AD, and thus oxidative DNA damage in mitochondria may be involved in the pathomechanism of AD.

Excision of deaminated cytosine from the vertebrate genome: role of the SMUG1 uracil-DNA glycosylase

Gene-targeted mice deficient in the evolutionarily conserved uracil-DNA glycosylase encoded by the UNG gene surprisingly lack the mutator phenotype characteristic of bacterial and yeast ung(-) mutants. A complementary uracil-DNA glycosylase activity detected in ung(-/-) murine cells and tissues may be responsible for the repair of deaminated cytosine residues in vivo. Here, specific neutralizing antibodies were used to identify the SMUG1 enzyme as the major uracil-DNA glycosylase in UNG-deficient mice. SMUG1 is present at similar levels in cell nuclei of non-proliferating and proliferating tissues, indicating a replication- independent role in DNA repair. The SMUG1 enzyme is found in vertebrates and insects, whereas it is absent in nematodes, plants and fungi. We propose a model in which SMUG1 has evolved in higher eukaryotes as an anti-mutator distinct from the UNG enzyme, the latter being largely localized to replication foci in mammalian cells to counteract de novo dUMP incorporation into DNA.

Autoantibody to DNA excision repair enzyme hMYH in a patient with rheumatic disease

We screened a human HepG2 cell cDNA expression library using serum from a patient with rheumatic disease. This serum had immunofluorescence reactivity to nuclei with a homogeneous staining pattern and to punctuate nuclear aggregates, chromosomal metaphase plate, midbody, and cytoplasmic bridge. YT1, the longest cDNA clone isolated, has sequence identity to hMYH, the human homologue of the Escherichia coli excision repair enzyme, DNA adenine glycosylase MutY. YT1 is a truncated cDNA of 1619 bp, encoding amino acids 22-535, and contains a full-length 3'-UTR sequence. We were unable to express a bacterial malE fusion protein incorporating amino acids 22 to 535 of hMYH. Consequently, we generated two additional malE fusion proteins of hMYH encoding amino acids 1-120 (pMAL-c2:hMYH(1-120)) and amino acids 121-535 (pMAL-c2:hMYH(121-535)). The patient serum immunoblotted only pMAL-c2:hMYH(1-120), suggesting that the autoepitope(s) is restricted to amino acids 22-120 of hMYH, and detected a protein of approximately 59-kDa in total HeLa and nuclear extracts consistent with reactivity to hMYH. Affinity-purified autoantibodies to pMAL-c2:hMYH(1-120) reacted by immunoblot to pMAL-c2:hMYH(1-120), with no reactivity to pMAL-c2:hMYH(121-535). By immunofluorescence, these antibodies displayed staining of nuclei. This is the first report of autoantibodies to hMYH in a patient with rheumatic disease. We were able to identify hMYH reactivity in relatively small cohorts of sera collected from rheumatoid factor-positive patients (6 of 18) and dsDNA-positive patients (1 of 18), with no reactivity detected in serum collected from 9 healthy subjects.

Expression of the Fpg protein of Escherichia coli in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: effects on spontaneous mutagenesis and sensitivity to oxidative DNA damage

The biological relevance of oxidative DNA damage has been unveiled by the identification of genes such as fpg of E. coli or OGG1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both Fpg and Ogg1 proteins are DNA glycosylases/AP lyases that excise 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-OxoG) and 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-N-methylformamidopyrimidine (Me-FapyG) from damaged DNA. Although similar, the enzymatic and biological properties of Fpg and Ogg1 proteins are not identical. Furthermore, the Fpg and Ogg1 proteins do not show significant sequence homologies. In this study, we investigated the ability of the Fpg protein of E. coli to complement phenotypes thought to be due to oxidative DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To express Fpg in yeast, the coding sequence of the fpg gene was placed under the control of a strong yeast promoter in the expression vector pCM190 to generate the pFPG240 plasmid. The Ogg1-deficient yeast strain CD138, ogg1::TRP1, was transformed with pFPG240 and the expression of Fpg was measured. Expression of Fpg in yeast harboring pFPG240 was revealed by efficient release of Me-FapyG and cleavage of 8-OxoG-containing duplexes by cell free protein extracts. The production of the Fpg protein in yeast cells was further demonstrated by immunoblotting analysis using anti-Fpg antibodies. Fpg expression suppresses the spontaneous mutator phenotype of ogg1- yeast for the production of canavanin resistant mutants (CanR) and Lys+ revertants. Fpg expression also restores the capacity of plasmid DNA treated with methylene blue plus visible light (MB-light) to transform the yeast ogg1- rad1- double mutant.

Pea chloroplast glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase has uracil glycosylase activity

Pea (Pisum sativum) chloroplastic glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.13) was tested for uracil DNA glycosylase activity. It was found that both the chloroplast and the recombinant subunit B dehydrogenases remove uracil from poly(dA[3H]dU). The glycosylase activity of the recombinant subunit B enzyme and that of a truncated form corresponding in length to subunit A were associated with the dehydrogenase activity in gel-filtration experiments. Both activities of the chloroplast enzyme were inhibited by antisera raised against recombinant subunit B, and both activities of the recombinant subunit B enzyme were inhibited by antisera raised against pea chloroplast glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase. Antisera raised against Escherichia coli uracil glycosylase did not affect the glycosylase activity of the recombinant subunit B enzyme. The glycosylase pH activity profile of the chloroplast dehydrogenase was unique. It is distinct from the dehydrogenase pH activity profile and from the pH activity profiles of other plant glycosylases. The glycosylase activity, but not the dehydrogenase activity, of the recombinant subunit B enzyme was inhibited by uracil. Pyridine nucleotides stimulated the glycosylase activity. To our knowledge this is the first example of a nonhuman glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase, and of an NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase, that exhibits uracil glycosylase activity.

Human MMH (OGG1) type 1a protein is a major enzyme for repair of 8-hydroxyguanine lesions in human cells

8-Hydroxyguanine (8-OH-G) is the site of a frequent mutagenic lesion of DNA, produced by oxidative damage. MutM of E. coli and OGG1 of Saccharomyces cervisiae are known to possess 8-OH-G glycosylase activity and apurinic (AP) site lyase activity to repair 8-OH-G lesions. Recently, cDNA clones of human OGG1 homologues (hMMH) of four isoforms (type 1a, type 1b, type 1c, and type 2) were isolated. However, it is unknown whether expression of endogenous hMMH proteins actually occurs in mammalian cells. Here using hMMH type 1a-specific antibody and cells overexpressing tag-fused hMMH type 1a, we show the expression of hMMH type 1a protein in many types of human cells and show that endogenous hMMH type 1a protein has 8-OH-G glycosylase/AP lyase activity. Furthermore, we show that upon depletion of hMMH type 1a protein in a whole cell extract by its antibody, most of the AP lyase activity is lost, indicating that hMMH type 1a protein is a major enzyme for repair of 8-OH-G lesions in human cells.

Repair of oxidized bases in the extremely radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans

Deinococcus radiodurans is able to resist and survive extreme DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation and many other DNA-damaging agents. It is believed that it possesses highly efficient DNA repair mechanisms. To characterize the repair pathway of oxidized purines in this bacteria, we have purified, from crude extracts, proteins that recognize these oxidized bases. We report here that D. radiodurans possesses two proteins excising the oxidized purines (formamidopyrimidine and 8-oxoguanine) by a DNA glycosylase-a purinic/apyrimidine lyase mechanism. Moreover, one of those proteins is endowed with a thymine glycol DNA glycosylase activity. One of these proteins could be the homolog of the Escherichia coli Fpg enzyme, which confirms the existence of a base excision repair system in this bacteria.

Detection of Tritrichomonas foetus by PCR and DNA enzyme immunoassay based on rRNA gene unit sequences

Tritrichomonas foetus is the causative agent of bovine tritrichomonosis, a sexually transmitted disease leading to infertility and abortion. Diagnosis is hampered by putative contamination of samples with intestinal or coprophilic trichomonadid protozoa which might be mistaken for T. foetus. Therefore, we developed a PCR test optimized for applicability in routine diagnosis. Amplification is based upon primers TFR3 and TFR4 directed to the rRNA gene units of T. foetus. In order to avoid potential carryover contamination by products of previous amplification reactions, conditions were adapted to the use of the uracil DNA glycosylase system. Furthermore, documentation and interpretation of results were facilitated by including a DNA enzyme immunoassay for the detection of amplification products. Specificity was confirmed with genomic material from different related trichomonadid protozoa. The high sensitivity of the test allowed the detection of a single T. foetus organism in diagnostic culture medium or about 50 parasites per ml of preputial washing fluid. The present methods are thus proposed as (i) confirmatory tests for microscopic diagnosis following diagnostic in vitro cultivation and (ii) a direct T. foetus screening test with diagnostic samples.

Augmented expression of a human gene for 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (MutM) in B lymphocytes of the dark zone in lymph node germinal centers

B cells that mediate normal, T cell-dependent, humoral immune responses must first pass through germinal centers (GCs) within the cortex of antigenically stimulated lymph nodes. As they move through the dark zone and then the light zone in the GC, B cells are subjected to somatic hypermutation and switch recombination within their rearranged immunoglobulin genes and also participate in a number of other processes that control development into memory cells or cells specialized for antibody secretion. To investigate the molecular mechanisms that contribute to B cell development within GCs, we constructed a recombinant DNA library enriched for cDNAs derived from human genes expressed in B cells at this site. This library was found to contain a cDNA structurally and functionally related to genes in bacteria and yeast for the DNA repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase. Northern blot analysis indicated that the human gene is expressed as two alternatively spliced messenger RNAs within GC B cells at levels greatly exceeding that found in other tissues. In situ hybridization studies revealed that expression of this gene is most abundant within the dark zones of GCs. Both the function and localized expression of this gene suggest that it may play a role in somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes.

CD38 ligation results in activation of the Raf-1/mitogen-activated protein kinase and the CD3-zeta/zeta-associated protein-70 signaling pathways in Jurkat T lymphocytes

CD38 ligation with the specific mAb IB4 induced early and late signaling events in Jurkat T cells, as judged by the transient induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma1, c-Cbl, zeta-associated protein (ZAP)-70, Shc, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-2 (Erk-2) as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and increased expression of the activation Ag CD69. In addition, CD38 ligation induced Ras-dependent events such as Erk-2 mobility shift and increased Erk-2 kinase activity. Further evidence that Erk-2 activation is regulated by CD38 ligation was obtained indirectly with the observed induction of Raf-1, Lck, and Sos-1 mobility shifts, processes that are believed to be dependent, at least in part, on MAP kinase activation. Using a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, or a protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro-31-8220, we found that the anti-CD38-induced Erk-2 activation is both protein tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C dependent. CD38 ligation also resulted in increased CD3-zeta tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with ZAP-70. CD38 ligation in a Jurkat Lck-deficient mutant, JCam1, failed to induce substrate tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Erk-2. These data indicated that in Jurkat T cells, CD38 receptor triggering results in Lck-regulated activation of both Raf-1/MAP kinase and CD3-zeta/ZAP-70/phospholipase C-gamma1 signaling pathways.

CD38 ligation in human B cell progenitors triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of CD19 and association of CD19 with lyn and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

CD38 is a 45-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed in lymphoid progenitors. Ligation of CD38 with specific Abs inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human immature B cells. CD38 ligation also triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of syk, c-cbl, and phospholipase C-gamma and activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K). In the present study, we investigated whether the cell surface membrane molecules used in B cell receptor-mediated signaling, such as Ig alpha, Ig beta, and CD19, could be involved in the CD38-mediated signaling cascade. In the B cell receptor-negative immature B cell lines RS4;11, 380, and REH, Ig alpha and Ig beta were expressed exclusively in the cytoplasm and were not tyrosine phosphorylated after CD38 ligation. By contrast, CD19 was markedly tyrosine phosphorylated and was associated with lyn and PI3-K. PI3-K activation appears to be directly linked to the growth-arresting effects of CD38 ligation, which are reduced by PI3-K inhibitors. Ligation of either CD38 or CD19 resulted in a similar pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation; both signaling pathways caused tyrosine phosphorylation of c-cbl. Levels of CD38 surface expression were not affected by prolonged incubation with anti-CD19 Ab, while CD19 expression markedly decreased. These results indicate that CD19 is a major component of the CD38 signaling cascade in B cell precursors, serving as a cell surface membrane docking site for cytoplasmic kinases. CD38 and CD19 are not physically linked, but activate an overlapping set of kinases in human immature B cells.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum-associated and protein kinase C-regulated ADP-ribosyl cyclase in cardiac muscle

Two types of ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity were distinguished in dog and rat cardiac muscles by measuring the enzymatic conversion of NGD (as an NAD analog) into the fluorescent product cyclic GDP-ribose in cardiac muscle subcellular fractions. Both types of activity were confined to membrane fractions isolated from microsomes by sucrose gradient centrifugation. One of the activities co-purified with fractions that were enriched in sarcolemma (SLM), as evidenced by immunodetection of the dihydropyridine receptor, while the other activity was found to co-precipitate with the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), that was identified on the basis of its immuno-staining with a ryanodine receptor monoclonal antibody. In certain aspects, the plasma membrane-bound ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity resembled the characteristics of CD38 or CD38-like proteins: it was sensitive to thiols and lectins and was recognized by a monoclonal anti CD38 antibody. The SR enzyme had apparently distinct properties, as it was insensitive to both thiols and lectins and was not recognized by the CD38 antibody. In addition, the SR-associated ADP-ribosyl cyclase was inhibited by endogenous protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent phosphorylation in both dog and rat cardiac SR. The PKC-modulated SR ADP-ribosyl cyclase we describe here might be a principal component of the signal transduction machinery that is responsible for regulation of the intracellular levels of cADPR.

Potentiation of chemotactic peptide-induced superoxide generation by CD38 ligation in human myeloid cell lines

CD38 is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein possessing an NAD+ glycohydrolase activity in its extracellular domain. We previously reported that the ligation of CD38 by a monoclonal antibody (mAb), HB-7, induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins including p120(c-cbl) in differentiated human myeloid cell lines and that the phosphorylated p120(c-cbl) is capable of binding to phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. In the present study, we found that the agonistic anti-CD38 mAb markedly potentiates superoxide generation stimulated by chemotactic formyl-Met-Leu-Phe receptors in the CD38-producing cells. HB-7 neither generated superoxide by itself nor enhanced the cell response induced by phorbol 12-myristate acetate, indicating that the potentiating action of the anti-CD38 mAb is specific for the stimulation by the GTP-binding protein (G1)-coupled membrane receptors. The potentiation by HB-7 was abolished by prior treatment of the cells with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, pertussis toxin, or a potent PI 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. HB-7 also enhanced the product formation of PI 3-kinase in response to the chemotactic receptor stimulation, without significant changes in the receptor-stimulated accumulations of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, arachidonate release, and intracellular Ca2+. These results indicate that the CD38-induced tyrosine phosphorylation has a cross-talk with the chemotactic receptor/G1-mediated signal transduction pathway resulting in the enhancement of superoxide generation, probably through the activation of PI 3-kinase.

Mouse CD38 is down-regulated on germinal center B cells and mature plasma cells

Germinal center formation is the result of antigenic stimulation of B cells in a T cell-rich area. B cells cycle through the germinal centers, and a small percentage survive to become plasma cells or memory B cells. The transformation from a mature B cell into a germinal center B cell and finally into a terminally differentiated B cell is not well understood. Human CD38 is highly expressed on both germinal center B cells and plasma cells, and is useful in delineating these B cell subsets and in understanding the signaling events involved in the development of these B cells. To determine whether CD38 expression on activated germinal center B cells and postgerminal center B cells influences germinal center differentiation, we studied the expression of CD38 in the mouse. CD38 is expressed on follicular B cells in the Peyer's patches but is down-regulated on germinal center B cells located within the Peyer's patches. CD38dim/-B220+ germinal center B cells are also found in the spleens of immunized but not control mice, suggesting that Ag-stimulated germinal center formation is involved in the production of CD38dim/-B220+ B cells. Furthermore, mature plasma cells isolated from in vitro LPS cultures do not express CD38, but do contain high levels of cytoplasmic Ig. These results are in contrast to studies in humans in which CD38 is not found on follicular B cells but is highly expressed on germinal center B cells and plasma cells.

Mapping of the catalytic and epitopic sites of human CD38/NAD+ glycohydrolase to a functional domain in the carboxyl terminus

We reported that 1) ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase (NADase) activity induced upon differentiation of HL-60 cells is localized on the extracellular carboxyl-terminal side of CD38 and that 2) CD38 ligation by specific mAbs is followed by protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the cells. The strategy selected for identifying the relevant catalytic domains of the molecule relies upon the production in COS-7 cells of carboxyl-terminal deletion mutants of CD38. The mutants with fewer than 15 amino acids deleted at the carboxyl terminus of the 300-amino acid wild-type molecule maintained NADase activity, whereas those with more than 27 amino acids deleted did not. The general inference is that the carboxyl-terminal 273-285 sequence bears the site of enzyme activity. Introduction of site-directed mutation of a conserved cysteine residue (Cys275), located in the 273-285 sequence, completely abolished NADase activity. The second issue resolved in this work is the definition of an epitope of the agonistic anti-CD38 mAbs. To this aim, a panel of selected anti-CD38 mAbs was tested using these mutants and various CD38 fragments as the target in immunoblot analyses. All of the epitopes recognized by mAbs inducing protein tyrosine phosphorylation were mapped on an identical site containing the carboxyl-terminal sequence of 273-285. The conclusion is that the discrete carboxyl-terminal sequence identified in the present study not only plays a key role in its ecto-NADase activity, but actually constitutes the epitopes exploited by the agonistic anti-CD38 mAbs for transmembrane signaling.

Role of the human CD38 molecule in B cell activation and proliferation

Human CD38 is a surface molecule which has been attributed the function of a signaling channel leading to cellular activation and proliferation, an ectoenzyme with multiple function as well as an inducer of Ca2+ mobilization from cytoplasmic stores. The effect mediated by CD38 have been studied in different cell populations: the results obtained in human B cells are apparently contradictory, with CD38 simultaneously leading to apoptosis in early B cells while increasing survival in cells derived from lymph node germinal center. Other effects recently reported concern a different potential in terms of signaling in early B cells and derived cell lines or in more detailed disease models of human leukemia, namely B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. To complete the picture of the effects mediated by CD38 in the B cell compartment, we have studied the signals elicited by ligation of the human molecule in mature B cells from circulating pool and also from spleen of normal individuals. The information obtained completes the picture of CD38 and mature B cells, where we also studied the contribution of relevant cytokines involved in maintenance and differentiation of these normal cells, namely IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6. Our results indicate that human CD38 plays a key role as a co-receptor in mature B cells from normal individuals.

Selective induction of CD73 expression in human lymphocytes by CD38 ligation: a novel pathway linking signal transducers with ecto-enzyme activities

CD73 is a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored purine salvage enzyme (ecto-5'-nucleotidase (ecto-5'-NT), E.C. 3.1.3.5) whose expression on lymphocytes is dependent on their differentiation state and function. CD73 behaves as an agonistic molecule in signaling via the CD3/TCR and CD2 pathways and is associated with CTL generation, IgG production, and activation of resting naive CD8+ T cells. CD73 deficiency has been reported in a variety of patients with impaired T and/or B cell function. Thus, CD73 holds promise as a molecular target for intervention in the immune system, but the mechanisms regulating its expression are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the regulation of CD73 expression in human lymphocytes. CD38, another cell surface differentiation Ag with ecto-enzyme activities (NAD+ glycohydrolase, ADP-ribosyl cyclase, and cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) hydrolase), was found to specifically induce CD73 expression in T and B cell lines as well as in normal adult T and NK cells, cord blood T cells, and thymocytes. CD38 cross-linking induced a rapid export to the cell surface of pre-formed CD73 derived from an intracellular pool and not from de novo biosynthesis. This translocation was dependent on protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity and lasted approximately eight hours, after which CD73 was removed from the cell surface by enzymatic cleavage. CD73 was not induced by other agents that activate T cells and CD73 was the only GPI-anchored molecule up-regulated by CD38 ligation out of six analyzed. These results document a novel pathway in human lymphocytes leading from CD38 ligation to CD73 expression, which may result in the rapid acquisition of new functions, including increased purine salvage, increased sensitivity to Ag-induced activation, and the generation of adenosine (Ado) for Ado receptor signaling.

Association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with the proto-oncogene product Cbl upon CD38 ligation by a specific monoclonal antibody in THP-1 cells

We reported that ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase activity induced upon differentiation of HL-60 cells with retinoic acid is localized on the extracellular domain of CD38 and that CD38 ligation by a specific monoclonal antibody, HB-7, is followed by rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins including a proto-oncogene product, Cbl. In the present study, we investigated intracellular signaling linked to the HB-7-induced Cbl phosphorylation in dibutyryl cAMP-treated THP-1 cells. The 85-kDa regulatory subunit (p85) of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase was immunoprecipitated with anti-Cbl antibody in a manner dependent on the tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl. PI 3-kinase activity was also observed in the immunoprecipitated fractions containing tyrosine-phosphorylated Cbl. The phosphorylated form of Cbl, which had been separated from the CD38-stimulated cells, was capable of directly binding to a recombinant p85 fused to glutathione S-transferase. Thus, the direct association of tyrosine-phosphorylated Cbl with PI 3-kinase, possibly leading to the kinase activation, appeared to be involved in intracellular signaling caused by the CD38 ligation.

Identification and characterization of an active soluble form of human CD38 in normal and pathological fluids

Human CD38 is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in lymphocyte activation and adhesion to endothelium. The ectocellular domain of the molecule possesses properties of a bifunctional enzyme catalyzing both the synthesis from NAD+ and the hydrolysis of the calcium-releasing metabolite cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR). Surface expression of CD38 (mCD38) is rapidly and almost completely down-modulated upon ligation by specific mAb in cells from different lineages. The data presented here also show that, in addition to the existence of a mCD38, a soluble form of CD38 (sCD38) is detectable in the cell culture supernatant of allo-activated T lymphocytes and of several tumor cell lines. sCD38 is also present in vivo and is assayable in normal (fetal serum and amniotic fluid) and pathological (serum and ascites from patients with multiple myeloma, and serum from patients with AIDS) biological fluids. Immunoaffinity chromatography, SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses with mAb and polyclonal antibodies, along with metabolic labeling, yield a body of data concerning the structure of sCD38, which displays a M(r) of 39 kDa. Native sCD38 maintains the ability to inhibit the binding activity of different anti-CD38 mAb and still catalyzes the synthesis and the hydrolysis of cADPR at the same ratio observed with mCD38. Furthermore, cross-linking experiments indicate that the purified soluble molecule binds a 120 kDa molecule expressed by monocytoid cells and identified as a candidate ligand for human mCD38.

Secretion of IFN-gamma, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-10 cytokines after activation of human purified T lymphocytes upon CD38 ligation

Human CD38, a surface glycoprotein expressed by different immunocompetent cells, is associated with distinct transmembrane signaling molecules and plays a key role in the synthesis of cyclic ADP-ribose, a calcium-mobilizing compound. This study reports that CD38 ligation by specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) in purified peripheral blood T cells is followed by secretion of discrete cytokines. IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IFN-gamma, and IL-10 mRNA expression were constant findings. Low levels of IL-2 mRNA were also detected in CD38-activated T lymphocyte cultures of all subjects studied. Low levels of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA were detected in the majority of CD38-activated T cultures. Moreover, CD38 mediated cytokine induction does not require T cell proliferation or the addition of antigen presenting cells. In conclusion, human CD38 runs an activation pathway in purified T cells which operates through the induction of a cytokine profile shared by Th1 or Th2 cells.

Extended long-term culture reveals a highly quiescent and primitive human hematopoietic progenitor population

Long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) are hematopoietic progenitors able to generate colony-forming unit-cells (CFU) after 5 to 8 weeks (35 to 60 days) of culture on bone marrow (BM) stroma and represent the most primitive progenitors currently detectable in vitro. We have recently reported that long-term cultures initiated with CD34+CD38- cells from BM or cord blood are able to continue generating CFU for at least 100 days, ie, beyond the standard LTC-IC period. In this report, single-cell cultures from cord blood and retroviral marking of cord blood and BM were used to study whether the subpopulation of CD34+CD38- cells able to generate CFU beyond 60 days ("extended long-term culture-initiating cells" or ELTC-IC) are functionally distinct from LTC-IC in terms of timing of initial clonal proliferation and generative capacity. All cord blood LTC-IC formed clones of greater than 50 cells by day 30. In contrast, cord blood ELTC-IC proliferated later in culture, 50% forming clones after day 30. Although efficient retroviral marking of LTC-IC was seen (25% to 45%), marking of ELTC-IC was inefficient (< 1%), consistent with a more quiescent progenitor population. There was a positive correlation between time of clonal proliferation and generative capacity. ELTC-IC generated threefold to fourfold more progeny than did LTC-IC (P < .002). These studies show that there is a functional hierarchy of progenitors in long-term culture which correlates with their level of quiescence. By extending the LTC-IC assay, a more primitive progenitor may be studied that may be functionally closer to the human long-term repopulation stem cell in vivo.

Anti-CD38 prevents the development of the adaptive response induced by X-rays in human lymphocytes

Irradiation of human lymphocytes (1 cGy X-rays, 37 degrees C) evoked an approximately 30% decrease in the frequency of micronuclei upon subsequent X-irradiation (1.5 Gy). The response was reflected in a lower micronucleus frequency but not in the DNA repair rate measured by the comet assay directly after the challenge dose. Treatment of lymphocytes with anti-CD38 antibody 1 h before irradiation with the adaptive dose prevented the development of the adaptive response measured as micronuclei frequency, but adaptation was not reflected in a lower rate of DNA repair, measured by the alkaline version of the 'comet' assay. In lymphocytes that were anti-CD38-treated and irradiated and or irradiated with the adaptive dose the rate of DNA repair was not changed. However, the mean DNA damage level in adapted anti-CD38-treated lymphocytes was significantly lower than that in the control lymphocytes at all time points. We conclude that ligation of CD38 by antibody initiates signalling that prevents the development of the adaptive response induced by X-rays. Lower chromosome damage revealed by the cytokinesis block-micronucleus test in the adapted lymphocytes is unrelated to DNA repair rate.

The mechanism of interleukin 4-induced down-regulation of CD38 on human B cells

Exposure of Farage, a human B-cell line, to interleukin 4 (IL4) reduced the amount of CD38 antigen on the surface of the cells and in cell lysates. No evidence was obtained for accelerated breakdown, shedding, or internalization of CD38 molecules following IL4 treatment, nor the accumulation of CD38 molecules in the cell interior. The inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide (CXM) diminished the down-regulation of CD38 induced by IL4. CXM decreased the expression of CD38 in Farage cells with arrested mitosis, and IL4 failed to further reduce CD38 expression. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of serine/threonine protein kinases, and H7 (1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine), a preferential inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), abrogated the effect of IL4 on CD38, while inhibitors of other serine protein kinases W7 (N-(aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfoamide) and H8 (N-(2-[methylamino]ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide) failed to interfere with the effect of IL4. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of PKC, resembled IL4 in decreasing the expression of CD38, and either staurosporine or H7 abolished this effect. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, increased the expression of CD38, but failed to abrogate the inhibitory effect of IL4 on CD38. It is concluded that serine/threonine protein kinases mediated the IL4-induced down-regulation of the expression of CD38 molecules in B cells.

Human CD38, a cell-surface protein with multiple functions

Human CD38 is a nonlineage-restricted type II transmembrane glycoprotein that has emerged as a multifunctional protein in recent years. It can serve as an ectoenzyme that catalyzes the synthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic ADP-ribose, a recently identified Ca2+ mobilizing agent that acts independently of inositol triphosphate. The enzymatic functions of CD38 probably contribute to an array of its immunoregulatory functions. The release of soluble CD38 and the ability of membrane-bound CD38 to become internalized in response to appropriate stimuli suggest that extracellular and intracellular roles for this protein are equally plausible. Ligation of CD38 with agonistic antibodies induces diverse effects in hematopoietic cells that range from growth stimulation to induction and prevention from apoptosis, induction of cytokines, activation of kinases, and phosphorylation of certain proteins. These observations suggest that CD38 may serve as receptor for an as yet unidentified ligand. Other molecules that share significant structural and functional homology to CD38 have been identified in humans and mice, suggesting that these molecules may represent a new family of proteins. Understanding the role of CD38 in certain pathological conditions such as myeloma, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, and HIV infection may provide insight into its physiological functions.

Anti-dsDNA production coincides with concurrent B and T cell activation during development of active disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

The objective was to serially analyse T and B cell activation in relation to autoantibody production during the development of relapses in SLE. In a prospective study we serially analysed, by flow cytometry, T cell activation in relation to B cell activation and anti-dsDNA production in quiescent SLE and during the development of a clinical relapse. In addition, we related changes in T and B cell activation to changes in levels of anti-dsDNA and total IgG. During periods with clinically quiescent disease, the expression of activation markers on T cells (IL-2R and HLA-DR) and B cells (CD38) was persistently higher in SLE than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Percentages of CD20+ CD38+ B cells were related to levels of total IgG (P < 0.02), but not to levels of anti-dsDNA. Development of disease activity was paralleled by an increase in the percentages of CD4+ T cells (P < 0.005) and CD20+ CD38+ B cells (P < 0.001), which were interrelated. Increases in B cell activation were related to increases in levels of anti-dsDNA (P < 0.005), but not to changes in total IgG levels. B cells expressing high levels of CD38 spontaneously produced IgG class anti-dsDNA in vitro. Persistence of activated B cells during periods with clinically quiescent disease in SLE seems to underly hypergammaglobulinaemia but not anti-dsDNA production. Prior to clinical disease activity, further activation of T and B cells occurs, which is paralleled by rises of anti-dsDNA but not of total IgG. This suggests that the production of anti-dsDNA is a T cell-dependent antigen-driven process, which is independent of the polyclonal activation of the immune system inherent to the disease.

Differential cytokine effects on primitive (CD34+CD38-) human hematopoietic cells: novel responses to Flt3-ligand and thrombopoietin

A high proportion of the CD34+CD38- cells in normal human marrow are defined as long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) because they can proliferate and differentiate when co-cultured with cytokine-producing stromal feeder layers. In contrast, very few CD34+CD38- cells will divide in cytokine-containing methylcellulose and thus are not classifiable as direct colony-forming cells (CFC), although most can proliferate in serum-free liquid cultures containing certain soluble cytokines. Analysis of the effects of 16 cytokines on CD34+CD38- cells in the latter type of culture showed that Flt3-ligand (FL), Steel factor (SF), and interleukin (IL)-3 were both necessary and sufficient to obtain an approximately 30-fold amplification of the input LTC-IC population within 10 d. As single factors, only FL and thrombopoietin (TPO) stimulated a net increase in LTC-IC within 10 d. Interestingly, a significantly increased proportion of the CFC produced from the TPO-amplified LTC-IC were erythroid. Increases in the number of directly detectable CFC of > 500-fold were also obtainable within 10 d in serum-free cultures of CD34+CD38- cells. However, this required the presence of IL-6 and/or granulocyte/colony-stimulating factor and/or nerve growth factor beta in addition to FL, SF, and IL-3. Also, for this response, the most potent single-acting factor tested was IL-3, not FL. Identification of cytokine combinations that differentially stimulate primitive human hematopoietic cell self-renewal and lineage determination should facilitate analysis of the intracellular pathways that regulate these decisions as well as the development of improved ex vivo expansion and gene transfer protocols.

Induction of CD38/NADase and its monoclonal antibody-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in human leukemia cell lines

We previously reported that CD38 characterized as an ecto-enzyme of NAD+ glycohydrolase (NADase) was specifically induced by retinoic acid (RA) in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells and that anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins in the RA-differentiated cells. In the present study, we found that CD38/NADase was induced in human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells not only by RA but also by dibutyryl cAMP, which had no effect on the induction of CD38 in HL-60 cells. Similarly in the RA-differentiated HL-60 cells, tyrosine phosphorylation by anti-CD38 mAb was also observed in the CD38-expressing THP-1 cells, regardless of whether CD38 was induced by RA or dibutyryl cAMP. Such tyrosine phosphorylation was, however, not observed in human lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells which had been treated by RA to produce CD38. Thus, the induction of CD38/NADase appeared to be not limited for RA-dependent differentiation and not always linked to protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in human leukemic cell lines.

Expression of murine CD38 defines a population of long-term reconstituting hematopoietic stem cells

Using a monoclonal antibody to murine CD38, we showed that a population of adult bone marrow cells that expressed the markers Sca-1 and c-kit but lacked the lineage markers Mac-1, GR-1, B220, IgM, CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD5 could be subdivided by the expression of CD38. We showed that CD38high c-kit+ Sca-1+, linlow/-cells sorted from adult bone marrow cultured with interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, and kit-L produced much larger colonies in liquid culture at a greater frequency than their CD38low/- counterparts. In addition, we found that CD36low/ - cells contained most of the day-12 colony-forming units-spleen (CFU-S) but were not long-term reconstituting cells, whereas the population that expressed higher levels of CD38 contained few, but significant, day-12 CFU-S and virtually all the long-term reconstituting stem cells. Interestingly, the CD38high Sca-1+ c-kit+ linlow/- cells isolated from day-E14.5 fetal liver were also found to be long-term reconstituting stem cells. This is in striking contrast to human hematopoietic progenitors in which the most primitive hematopoietic cells from fetal tissues lack the expression of CD38. Furthermore, because antibodies to CD38 could functionally replace antibodies to Thy-1.1 in a stem cell purification procedure, the use of anti-CD38 may be more generally applicable to the purification of hematopoietic stem cells from mouse strains that do not express the Thy-1.1 allele.

Alterations in the immune response of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects treated with an HIV-specific protease inhibitor, ritonavir

Effects of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 protease inhibitor, ritonavir, were evaluated in 21 patients enrolled in a phase I/II study. The magnitude and rates of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte increase, changes in subsets of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, and proliferative responses to mitogen and antigens were analyzed. Significant increases were noted in CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts; numbers of CD4CD45RO lymphocytes increased significantly by week 1 of therapy. Increases in the CD4CD45RA subset were observed at week 4. Reductions in the percentage of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes expressing CD38 were noted. Increases in proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin were noted in 6 of 7 patients and correlated with duration of virus load suppression. Increased responses to recall antigens and to HIV-specific proteins were observed. Treatment with ritonavir produced alterations in the immune system that included changes in T cell subset distribution and increases in CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte numbers and of lymphocyte function.

Lymphocyte subsets, apoptosis, and cytokines in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Whether immunologic abnormalities correlate with fatigue severity and functional impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was investigated. Blood mononuclear cells were immunophenotyped and circulating ex vivo-produced cytokines were measured in 76 CFS patients and 69 healthy matched controls. Expression of CD11b on CD8 cells was significantly decreased in CFS patients. However, the previously reported increased expression of CD38 and HLA-DR was not confirmed. There was no obvious difference in apoptosis in leukocyte cultures, circulating cytokines, and ex vivo production of interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and IL-1 receptor antagonist. Endotoxin-stimulated ex vivo production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-beta was significantly lower in CFS. The immunologic test results did not correlate with fatigue severity or psychologic well-being was measured by Checklist Individual Strength, Beck Depression Inventory, and Sickness Impact Profile. Thus, these immunologic tests cannot be used as diagnostic tools in individual CFS patients.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the c-cbl proto-oncogene product mediated by cell surface antigen CD38 in HL-60 cells

The human cell surface antigen CD38 is a 46-kDa type II transmembrane glycoprotein with a short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain and a long Cys-rich C-terminal extracellular one. We demonstrated previously that the extracellular domain of CD38 has NAD+ glycohydrolase (NADase) activity and that the ecto-form NADase activity induced in HL-60 cells during cell differentiation by retinoic acid is due to CD38. In the present study, we investigated the intracellular signaling mediated by CD38 in retinoic acid-differentiated HL-60 cells with an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. The addition of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody to the cells induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the cellular proteins with molecular weights of 120,000, 87,000, and 77,000. An increase in tyrosine kinase activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates of the cells was also observed after the addition of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Moreover, one of the prominent tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins stimulated by the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody was identified as the c-cbl proto-oncogene product, p120c-cbl. These results indicated that tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, including p120c-cbl, is possibly involved in transmembrane signaling mediated by CD38.

CD38 ligation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Bruton tyrosine kinase and enhanced expression of interleukin 5-receptor alpha chain: synergistic effects with interleukin 5

Mouse CD38 has been implicated in the regulation of both B-cell proliferation and protection of B cells from irradiation-induced apoptosis. CD38 ligation on B cells by CS/2, an anti-mouse CD38 monoclonal antibody, induced proliferation, IgM secretion, and tyrosine phosphorylation of Bruton tyrosine kinase in B cells from wild-type mice. B cells from X chromosome-linked immunodeficient mice did not respond at all to anti-CD38 antibody, although CD38 expression on these B cells was comparable to that on wild-type B cells. We infer from these results that Bruton tyrosine kinase activation is involved in B-cell triggering after cross-linkage of CD38. Analysis of the synergistic effects of various cytokines with CD38 ligation on B-cell activation revealed that interleukin 5 (IL-5) showed the most potent effect on B-cell proliferation, Blimp1 gene expression, and IgM production. These synergistic effects were not seen with B cells from X chromosome-linked immunodeficient mice. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that CD38 ligation increased surface expression of the IL-5-receptor alpha chain on B cells. These data indicate that CD38 ligation increases IL-5 receptor alpha expression and synergizes with IL-5 to enhance Blimp1 expression and IgM synthesis.

Cross-linking of CD38 molecules induced expression of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and HLA-DR on human thymocytes

CD38 is a 45 KD glycoprotein which is mainly expressed on early lymphoid progenitors and plasma cells. Role and function of CD38 on thymocytes and plasma cells has not yet been elucidated. By cross-linking of CD38 molecules using a specific monoclonal antibody on thymocytes and a neoplastic T cell line (Jurkat), it was shown that percentage of HLA-DR and IL-2R molecules is significantly upregulated. Moreover, CD11a and CD18 were among two adhesion molecules which showed a sharp increase in expression, whereas no changes on expression of CD11b, CD44 and CD54 were detected. Spontaneous proliferation of Jurkat cell line after addition of different concentrations of CD38 monoclonal antibody was unchanged.

Murine CD38: an immunoregulatory ectoenzyme

CD38 is an ectoenzyme that utilizes NAD+ and is expressed by many cells of hematopoietic origin. Antibodies to CD38 potentiate many biological activities on lymphocytes, including induction of murine B-cell proliferation. In this article, Frances Lund and colleagues summarize information concerning the expression, enzymatic activity and signal transduction pathway utilized by murine CD38.

Stimulation of germinal center B lymphocyte proliferation by an FDC-like cell line, HK

To identify the signals given to the germinal center (GC) B cells by FDC, we have established an FDC-like cell line, HK. HK cells have the important functions of FDC, which are the preferential binding and stimulation of GC B cells. Cell-cell interaction between IgD- B cells and HK cells resulted in the rescue of these cells from apoptosis, whereas the majority of unbound B cells or B cells cultured in the absence of HK cells underwent apoptosis. We investigated the effects of HK cells on the subpopulations of tonsillar B lymphocytes that are at different stages of maturation and differentiation. The subpopulations of tonsillar B cells were purified by panning and/or MACS according to the surface expression of IgD, CD38, and CD44. Although HK cells alone did not stimulate B cell proliferation, HK cells in the presence of either anti-mu or anti-CD40 significantly enhanced the proliferation of B cells. The data show that HK cells preferentially bind, rescue, and stimulate GC B cells (IgD-CD38+) generating CD38-CD44+ memory B cells. The costimulation activity of HK cells is also provided in a form of soluble factor(s). Hence, the phenotypic and functional analysis of HK cells suggests that these cells may be derived from FDC.