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Biomedical subjects

A Altman

Publications and source records attributed to A Altman.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Molecular cloning and characterization of PKC theta, a novel member of the protein kinase C (PKC) gene family expressed predominantly in hematopoietic cells.

Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases play a key role in regulating the differentiation and growth of diverse cell types and, to date, the cloning of seven mammalian PKC genes encoding eight distinct isoforms has been reported. Here we describe the molecular cloning and deduced primary structure of a cDNA encoding a novel PKC isoform, termed PKC theta, which was isolated in the course of attempts to identify PKC genes that are expressed selectively in hematopoietic cells. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers corresponding to conserved sequence motifs, which distinguish the PKC family from other protein kinases, were employed in polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to amplify partial core sequences of putative PKC genes from a human peripheral blood lymphocyte-derived cDNA library. DNA sequencing of selected clones revealed several PKC-related sequences, including one that, on the basis of sequence comparison with known PKC isoforms, represented a novel PKC isoform. The complete cDNA sequence was determined by anchored PCR cloning and sequencing the entire coding sequence, using cDNA derived from a human leukemic T cell line (Jurkat). Included within this approximately 2.7-kilobase pair cDNA is an open reading frame of 2,118 nucleotides encoding a putative 82-kDa protein. The deduced primary structure contains consensus sequences characteristic of protein kinase catalytic domains and, based on its amino acid sequence and domain structure, is a member of the PKC family. PKC theta displays the highest homology to PKC delta, lacks the Ca(2+)-binding C2 domain and, thus, belongs to the subfamily of Ca(2+)-independent PKC enzymes which also includes the delta, epsilon, zeta, and eta isoforms. RNase protection assays and semiquantitative PCR analysis indicated that, although PKC theta transcripts are expressed ubiquitously, the highest levels are found in hematopoietic tissues and cell lines, including T cells and thymocytes. In contrast, the expression levels in the brain and testes are considerably lower, and no transcripts were detected in several human carcinoma cell lines. A rabbit antiserum raised against a unique (V3 domain) bacterially expressed PKC theta fragment immunoprecipitated specifically an 82-kDa protein from Jurkat cell lysates. Thus, PKC theta represents an additional member of the PKC family, and its predominant expression in hematopoietic cells suggests that it may play a role in signal transduction and growth regulatory pathways unique to these cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition of phorbol ester-induced T cell proliferation by bryostatin is associated with rapid degradation of protein kinase C.

The bryostatins (Bryo) represent a group of immunomodulators that counteract the tumor-promoting effects of PMA. In contrast to the mitogenic effect of PMA on human peripheral blood T lymphocytes, Bryo was nonmitogenic and, furthermore, it inhibited PMA-induced T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner when added up to 2 days after PMA. Because both Bryo and PMA bind to, and activate, protein kinase C (PKC), we compared their effects on PKC expression and activity in human PBL or leukemic T cells (Jurkat). After treatment for 5 to 60 min, both Bryo and PMA were found to: a) activate PKC in vitro with similar dose-response curves; b) induce a nearly complete cytosol-to-membrane translocation of enzymatically active, Ca(2+)-dependent PKC and of distinct immunoreactive PKC isoforms in intact PBL; and c) stimulate similar patterns of protein phosphorylation. After a longer, 20-h treatment with PMA (20 nM), a considerable portion of PKC was still membrane-associated, and the total amount of immunoreactive PKC was not reduced considerably. In contrast, Bryo induced a marked loss of cellular immunoreactive PKC, including PKC-alpha and -beta. These results were paralleled by measurements of total cytosol- or membrane-associated PKC enzymatic activity. Thus, substantial PKC activity was associated with the particulate fraction of PMA-, but not Bryo-stimulated PBL. Furthermore, inhibition of PMA-induced T cell proliferation by Bryo also correlated with a reduction in the amount of cytosolic and membrane-bound immunoreactive PKC and enzymatic activity, demonstrating the dominance of Bryo over PMA. We propose that Bryo inhibits PMA-induced T cell proliferation by causing rapid degradation of PKC, reflecting a requirement of persistent PKC stimulation (lasting approximately 48 h) for the activation of human T cells and progression through the cell cycle.

Bryostatins↗
PubMed1993

Replication of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) DNA in agroinoculated leaf discs from selected tomato genotypes.

The leaf disc agroinoculation system was applied to study tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) replication in explants from susceptible and resistant tomato genotypes. This system was also evaluated as a potential selection tool in breeding programmes for TYLCV resistance. Leaf discs were incubated with a head-to-tail dimer of the TYLCV genome cloned into the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In leaf discs from susceptible cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum) TYLCV single-stranded genomic DNA and its double-stranded DNA forms appeared within 2-5 days after inoculation. Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) efficiently transmitted the TYLCV disease to tomato test plants following acquisition feeding on agroinoculated tomato leaf discs. This indicates that infective viral particles have been produced and have reached the phloem cells of the explant where they can be acquired by the insects. Plants regenerated from agroinfected leaf discs of sensitive tomato cultivars exhibited disease symptoms and contained TYLCV DNA concentrations similar to those present in field-infected tomato plants, indicating that TYLCV can move out from the leaf disc into the regenerating plant. Leaf discs from accessions of the wild tomato species immune to whitefly-mediated inoculation, L. chilense LA1969 and L. hirsutum LA1777, did not support TYLCV DNA replication. Leaf discs from plants tolerant to TYLCV issued from breeding programmes behaved like leaf discs from susceptible cultivars.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗
PubMed1992

Predominant expression and activation-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 2 in B lymphocytes.

The triggering of T- or B-cell antigen-specific receptors is accompanied by rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of distinct cellular substrates, one of which is the gamma 1 isoform of inositol phospholipid-specific phospholipase C (PLC-gamma 1). This phosphorylation event, mediated by a putative protein tyrosine kinase coupled to the antigen receptor, probably stimulates the enzymatic activity of PLC-gamma 1, thereby promoting inositol phospholipid hydrolysis and other downstream signal transduction events. Recently, another ubiquitously expressed PLC isoform, PLC-gamma 2 (which shares 50.2% amino acid homology with PLC-gamma 1), has been identified. PLC-gamma 2-specific antibodies were used to evaluate the distribution and potential signaling role of this isoform in lymphocytes. Here, we report that, in contrast to T lymphocytes that express predominantly PLC-gamma 1, the major isoform expressed in murine and human resting B cells is PLC-gamma 2. Among B-cell tumor lines, all five murine B-lymphoma lines tested and one of six human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines also expressed predominantly PLC-gamma 2. However, three other human lines preferentially expressed PLC-gamma 1, and two others displayed similar levels of the two PLC-gamma isoforms. Furthermore, the triggering of B-cell surface immunoglobulin by anti-receptor antibodies was accompanied by a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 2, which peaked after 5 min of stimulation. Conversely, and in agreement with recent reports, triggering of the T-cell antigen receptor complex led to the predominant phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 on tyrosine. These findings identify PLC-gamma 2 as a substrate for a B-cell putative protein tyrosine kinase coupled to the antigen receptor and suggest that its tyrosine phosphorylation constitutes a critical and early event in B-cell activation and, furthermore, that PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2 may participate in similar but distinct signal transduction pathways in lymphocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Antigen analog-major histocompatibility complexes act as antagonists of the T cell receptor.

A novel mechanism for inhibition of T cell responses is described. Using the recognition of the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) 307-319 peptide in the context of DR1 class II major histocompatibility complex molecules, we have found that nonstimulatory analogs of the HA peptide preferentially inhibit HA-specific T cells in inhibition of antigen presentation assays. This antigen-specific effect could be generalized to another DR1-restricted peptide, Tetanus toxoid 830-843. Direct binding and cellular experiments indicated that the mechanism responsible was distinct from competition for binding to DR1 molecules. Likewise, negative signaling and induction of T cell tolerance could also be excluded as effector mechanisms. Thus, the most likely mechanism for this effect is engagement of antigen-specific T cell receptors by DR1-peptide analog complexes, which results in antigen-specific competitive blocking of T cell responses by virtue of their capacity to compete with DR1-antigen complexes for binding to the T cell receptor.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

Interactions between growth hormone and dexamethasone in skeletal growth and bone structure of the young mouse.

The present study investigated the interactions of growth hormone (GH) and glucocorticoid on skeletal growth and bone structure in young mice. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible prevention by GH of the damage inflicted by dexamethasone (Dex) at sites of skeletal growth and ossification. Dex (1 mg/kg) with or without rat GH (rGH) or bovine GH (bGH), 1 mg/kg, was given for 4 weeks, from age 3-7 weeks, to female ICR mice. Tibiae, humerus, and vertebrae were analyzed morphometrically and biochemically. Growth, as determined by the mouse weight, tibial length, and humerus protein content was found to be compromised by dexamethasone. This was prevented by rGH or bGH. The epiphyseal growth plate width, trabecular bone volume, cortical bone width, mineral bone content, and alkaline and acid phosphatase activity were decreased by dexamethasone. These were prevented by rGH or by bGH. The findings of the present study suggest that in the mouse, GH can decrease or even avoid some of the pathological features in growing bones inflicted by high-dose glucocorticoid treatment.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

Phorbol ester synergizes with Ca2+ ionophore in activation of protein kinase C (PKC)alpha and PKC beta isoenzymes in human T cells and in induction of related cellular functions.

Studies described herein were designed to examine the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), and a Ca2+ ionophore (ionomycin), singly or in combination, on the activation and expression of the Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes (alpha, beta and gamma) at the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in T cells. These two agents induce the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes by mimicking the action of inositol phospholipid-derived second messengers normally generated by triggering of the antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TcR)/CD3 complex. TPA-induced T-cell proliferation, expression of interleukin-2 receptor-alpha subunit (IL-2R alpha) and transferrin receptor, CD3 down-regulation and, lastly, the cytosol-to-membrane PKC translocation (determined by an enzymatic assay or by immunoblotting with a cross-reactive anti-PKC peptide antibody) were all facilitated by ionomycin. Immunoblots with isoenzyme-specific anti-PKC monoclonal antibodies demonstrated expression of immunoreactive PKC alpha, PKC beta and PKC gamma proteins that were translocated to the membrane upon TPA plus ionomycin stimulation. Resting T cells expressed abundant levels of mRNA for PKC alpha and PKC beta, but very low levels (relative to brain) of PKC gamma. TPA increased by two- to threefold the expression of PKC beta, but not of PKC alpha or PKC gamma, mRNA within 12 hr of stimulation. Ionomycin synergized with TPA in increasing the expression of PKC alpha and PKC beta mRNA. The two agents also synergized in inducing expression of additional activation/growth-associated genes, namely the c-myc protooncogene, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and IL-2R alpha. Ionomycin alone was inactive (or marginally active) in all of these assays. The translocation of distinct Ca(2+)-dependent PKC isoenzymes to the membrane and the up-regulation of PKC alpha and beta mRNA suggest that at least these two isoenzymes are involved in discrete steps of the pathway leading to T-cell activation and proliferation. Moreover, the combined effects of TPA and ionomycin on T-cell function and cell-surface antigen expression appear to be due, at least in part, to their synergistic activation of distinct PKC isoenzyme(s).

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1991

Effect of protein kinase C activating tumor promoters on metastases formation by fibrosarcoma cells.

The involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in regulation of cellular properties related to tumor cell invasiveness was tested in a murine methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma tumor cell model. A metastatic clone (IE7) derived from the T10 fibrosarcoma was found to possess 30 and 90% more cytosolic and membrane-bound PKC, respectively, compared with the IC9 metastatic clone. Intravenous injection of IE7 but not IC9 cells resulted in lung tumor formation. Long-term (3 months) treatment of IE7 cells with 500 ng/ml phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) resulted in a 4-fold reduction in total PKC activity and increase in the tumor cell metastatic ability. Short-term (2h) PDB treatment induced cytosol-to-membrane PKC translocation and decreased the IE7 cells' ability to form hematogenous metastases. Treatment of IC9 cells with PDB did not render them metastatic. To test the possible involvement of distinct PKC isoenzymes in the determination of metastatic properties, we stained the cells with appropriate anti-PKC antibodies followed by FACS analysis. IC9 and IE7 cells exhibited similar levels of fluorescent intensity when stained with either anti-PKC alpha or anti-PKC beta antibodies. The relative proportion of PKC alpha and PKC beta was not changed following short-term PDB treatment of cells, but the intensity of staining was reduced 1.5- to 2-fold following long-term PDB treatment of both cell types. The results indicate that phorbol ester-induced alterations in PKC levels and subcellular distribution affect the metastatic ability of tumor cells and suggest that tumor promoting agents that promote induction of primary tumors may also affect tumor spread by regulating hematogenous metastases formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

T cell antigen receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C requires tyrosine phosphorylation.

Triggering of the antigen-specific T cell receptor-CD3 complex (TCR-CD3) stimulates a rapid phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids, resulting in the production of second messengers and in T cell activation and proliferation. The role of tyrosine phosphorylation in these events was investigated with a tyrosine protein kinase (TPK) inhibitor, genistein. At doses that inhibited TPK activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of the TCR zeta subunit, but not phospholipase C activity, genistein prevented TCR-CD3-mediated phospholipase C activation, interleukin-2 receptor expression, and T cell proliferation. These findings indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation is an early and critical event that most likely precedes, and is a prerequisite for, inositol phospholipid breakdown during receptor-mediated T cell activation.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1990

Selective post-transcriptional down-regulation of protein kinase C isoenzymes in leukemic T cells chronically treated with phorbol ester.

Binding to, and activation of, protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol ester (PE) tumor promoters may underlie their tumor-promoting activity. To study the effects of long-term PE treatment on regulation of cellular PKC, we adapted the human leukemic T cell line, Jurkat (JK), to continuous growth in the presence of PE. Such cells (JKPE) displayed loss of CD2 and CD3 cell surface molecules, known to play an important role in agonist-stimulated T cell activation, unresponsiveness to stimuli that induce interleukin 2 (IL2) receptor expression or IL2 production, change in the expression of several cell cycle-regulated genes, and a 6-fold reduction in cellular PKC enzymatic activity. This reduction was accompanied by the disappearance of a major approximately 82-kDa immunoreactive protein in JKPE cytosol when cell extracts were immunoblotted with a polyclonal anti-PKC peptide antibody cross-reactive with the PKC isoenzymes, alpha, beta, and gamma. Analysis with additional anti-peptide antibodies specific for alpha, beta, or gamma PKC indicated that all three types of PKC are expressed in JK cells; however, JKPE cells lost a major approximately 82 kDa immunoreactive cytosolic protein detectable with anti-PKC alpha antibody. In contrast, levels of expression and subcellular distribution of immunoreactive PKC beta and PKC gamma, as well as levels of mRNA specific for the three PKC isoenzymes, were not significantly affected by chronic PE treatment. These results indicate that PE-mediated reduction of PKC in JKPE cells is selective and occurs at the protein, not mRNA, level, and support the notion that distinct isoenzymes encoded by the PKC multigene family may be independently regulated. Moreover, the correlation between phenotypic and functional changes on one hand, and the selective reduction of PKC alpha on the other, raises the possibility that expression of CD2 and/or CD3 and functional activation in JKPE cells are preferentially regulated by PKC alpha.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Dephosphorylation and activation of the T cell tyrosine kinase pp56lck by the leukocyte common antigen (CD45).

pp56lck, encoded by the lck proto-oncogene, is a non-receptor tyrosine protein kinase (TPK) found in all T lymphocytes. A significant fraction of pp56lck is tightly associated with the cytoplasmic domains of CD4 and CD8 glycoproteins, suggesting an important role for it in thymic development and T cell activation. We have studied the regulation of the tyrosine kinase activity of pp56lck and found recently that it becomes rapidly activated in isolated T cell membranes by an endogenous mechanism apparently involving a phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase). Moreover pp56lck was activated upon addition of isolated CD45 (leukocyte common antigen), a major membrane PTPase, and activation was absent in T cell mutants lacking CD45. Here, we address in more detail the mechanisms of pp56lck activation by the CD45 PTPase and show that this event is time-dependent, sensitive to Na3VO4 (which blocks the PTPase activity of CD45), and is accompanied by dephosphorylation of a regulatory tyrosine residue (Tyr-505) near the C-terminus of pp56lck. This provides a molecular mechanism for regulation of the catalytic activity of pp56lck by CD45, which thus is likely to be the physiological activator of pp56lck. Activation of pp56lck by the CD45 PTPase may underlie many of the reported immunomodulatory effects of antibodies to CD45, and provides further support for the notion that CD45-mediated tyrosine dephosphorylation plays a critical role in T cell activation and growth.

Antigens, Differentiation↗