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Biomedical subjects

A Panet

Publications and source records attributed to A Panet.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Effects of interferon and encephalomyocarditis virus on in vitro development of preimplantation mouse embryos with and without the zona pellucida.

Development of preimplantation mouse embryos, with or without the zona pellucida, in the presence of interferon (IFN) and mouse encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus was studied using the in vitro culture method. The embryos (2- to 8-cell stages) were obtained from superovulated mice and cultured in modified Witten's medium under paraffin oil in 5% CO2 in air at 37 degrees C. Removal of the zona pellucida does not affect the subsequent development of the embryos: 90% of embryos with and 87% of embryos without the zona pellucida reached the morula-early blastocyst stages. Mouse IFN (10(4) units/ml) had no inhibitory effect on the developmental ability of the preimplantation embryos with or without the zona pellucida: 88 and 89% of the embryos in each group, respectively, reached the morula-early blastocyst stages. The preimplantation mouse embryos were sensitive to the embryotoxic effect of EMC virus: at a multiplicity of 20 infection particles per embryo the development of 43% of embryos was inhibited. The zona pellucida had no significant protective effect: Its removal changed only slightly the susceptibility of the preimplantation embryos to this virus. Pretreatment of embryos with IFN did not protect them from the embryotoxic effect of EMC virus. This work indicates that preimplantation mouse embryos appear to be resistant for both the antiviral and antiproliferative activities of IFN.

Animals↗

Synthesis of herpes simplex virus proteins in interferon-treated human cells.

Pretreatment of HeLa cells with human interferon (IFN) resulted in the inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication. We examined the stages in the replication of HSV type 1 and type 2 that were affected by IFN. The rate of synthesis of the HSV immediate-early (alpha) proteins was inhibited in IFN-pretreated HeLa cells. The subsequent inductions of HSV early (beta) genes, determined by measuring the levels of cytoplasmic mRNA specific for the thymidine kinase, as well as the DNA polymerase enzyme activity, were also suppressed in the IFN-pretreated cells. These results indicate that IFN inhibits HSV replication primarily at a very early step, either prior to, or during the synthesis of alpha-proteins.

Genes, Viral↗

Interferon enhances prostacyclin production by cultured vascular endothelial cells.

The effects of interferon (IFN) on the arachidonate metabolism and physiological functions of cultured endothelial cells and blood platelets have been examined. Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells were found to be sensitive to the antiviral and antiproliferative activities of human leukocyte (alpha) IFN and to increase their capacity to synthesize prostacyclin (PGI2) upon exposure to IFN. Several observations indicate that IFN stimulates PGI2 synthesis at the level of the enzymes phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase: (a) PGI2 production was dependent upon the supply of exogenous arachidonic acid or the liberation of endogenous cellular arachidonate by ionophore A23187, but was not observed when IFN-treated cells were exposed to the endoperoxide prostaglandin H2. (b) IFN had no effect on the spontaneous release of PGI2 into the culture medium during the incubation period (24-72 h). (c) The stimulatory effect of IFN on PGI2 production was inhibited by both glucocorticoids and indomethacin. The effect of IFN on platelet prostaglandin metabolism was also investigated. Incubation of platelet-rich plasma with IFN had no effect on platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 production. The biological significance of the findings presented in this paper may be considered in view of the protective role of PGI2 in the vessel wall and the fact that infection with certain viruses induces endothelial damage both in man and experimental animal models.

Animals↗

Regulation of the antiviral and anticellular activities of interferon by exogenous double-stranded RNA.

The effects of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) on interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral and anticellular activities was investigated by introducing poly(I)-poly(C) into mouse L-cells. Coprecipitation of dsRNA with calcium phosphate enabled its efficient penetration into cells in culture. Rate of cellular protein synthesis was inhibited by dsRNA only in cultures pretreated with IFN. Moreover, the anticellular effect of IFN, as measured by the inhibition of cell DNA synthesis, was also enhanced by dsRNA. The kinetics of dsRNA-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis were relatively slow as compared with the inhibitory effect of 2'-5' oligoadenylic acid (2'5'A), which was also introduced into cells by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation technique. To analyze the effects of dsRNA on the antiviral state induced by IFN, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC), replications were followed by measuring viral-specific RNA synthesis in the cell. Introduction of dsRNA after the infection had no effect on VSV and EMC replication in control cells, and it enhanced, to a small extent, the antiviral state of cells pretreated with IFN. In contrast, introduction of 2'5'A into virus-infected cells inhibited VSV and EMC replications regardless of IFN pretreatment. This work demonstrated that the role of dsRNA in regulating the antiviral and anticellular activities of IFN could be studied by introducing exogenous dsRNA into cells in culture by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation technique.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

Inhibition by interferon of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase and DNA polymerase in infected and biochemically transformed cells.

The induction of thymidine kinase (TK) and DNA polymerase was inhibited by interferon (IFN) in mouse L-cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The inhibitory activity of IFN at this early stage of HSV-1 replication was followed by a reduced virus yield and was dependent on the multiplicity of infection. The expression of a cloned thymidine kinase (tk) gene of HSV-1, in biochemically transformed L-cells (LTK+), was not affected by IFN. These same LTK+ cells, however, developed an antiviral state since, upon HSV-1 infection, the induction of TK and DNA polymerase of the replicating virus was inhibited by IFN. Furthermore, IFN inhibited the transactivation of the HSV-1 tk gene in the biochemically transformed LTK+ cells, which followed infection by a virus mutant defective in the tk gene (HSV-1 TK-). This transactivation is dependent on expression of immediate-early HSV-1 alpha-genes. These results indicate that IFN inhibits HSV-1 replication at an early step prior to DNA synthesis. In addition, IFN displays a differential effect on the HSV-1 thymidine kinase gene, either when part of the replicating virus or when expressed as a cellular gene in biochemically transformed cells.

Animals↗

A unique sequence in murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat functions as a termination signal for transcription in Escherichia coli.

Moloney murine leukemia virus DNA fragments were subcloned into two plasmids downstream of active promoters to detect termination sequences for transcription initiated at these promoters. Two of the viral DNA fragments (2,050 and 595 base pairs) were able to block transcription when inserted in one orientation but not when inserted in the other. These two viral DNA fragments contained long terminal repeat sequences. Deletion of 84 base pairs from the U-3 and R regions in the long terminal repeat removed the transcription termination activity.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Isolation and characterization of an interferon-resistant cell line deficient in the induction of (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase activity.

To screen for cells with different sensitivities to interferon (IFN), NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts were subcloned and examined for their response to IFN treatment. Of 30 clones tested, 2 appeared to be relatively resistant to IFN, since the replication of both vesicular stomatitis virus and mengovirus was not inhibited, even in the presence of 1,000 U of IFN per ml. One resistant (A10) and one sensitive (A5) clone were further analyzed. In both clones, murine leukemia virus replication was equally inhibited by IFN, indicating the presence of functional receptors for IFN in the resistant clone. Using the (2'-5')oligoadenylate (2-5A) radiobinding assay, we could demonstrate that both clones contained the RNase L protein. Furthermore, this enzyme appears to be active, since a similar reduction in the rate of protein synthesis was evident after the introduction of exogenous 2-5A to the cells. We also analyzed the activity of another enzyme in the 2-5A pathway, namely, 2-5A synthetase. In the sensitive cells (A5), the induction of enzyme activity was proportional to the IFN concentration used, reaching a maximum of more than a 10-fold increase over the background of untreated cells. However, little if any induction over the basal activity was observed in the resistant cells (A10) when similar doses of IFN were used. It is thus probable that the lack of induction of 2-5A synthetase activity by IFN in A10 cells is at least partly responsible for their relative resistance to IFN treatment.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

Differential inhibition of DNA polymerase and RNase H activities of the reverse transcriptase by phosphonoformate.

Three potential inhibitors of reverse transcriptase activities, phosphonoformate (PF), phosphonoacetate (PAA), and ethyl-diethyl phosphonoformate (Et-PF), were compared in this study. Only PF was found to inhibit the DNA polymerase activity of the purified reverse transcriptase of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) and avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). The degree of DNA polymerase inhibition was linear with PF concentration; 50% inhibition was achieved at 10 muM. Whereas PF inhibited both the RNA and DNA dependent DNA polymerase activities, the RNase H activity of the reverse transcriptase was unaffected. Both the endogenous DNA polymerase activity in detergent disrupted virus and the activity of the purified enzyme with the isolated virus genome 70S RNA were inhibited by PF. However, higher concentrations of PF were needed to inhibit the endogenous reaction. The inhibition by PF appeared to be reversible and noncompetitive with respect to the substrate deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP). Addition of PF after the initiation of DNA synthesis immediately arrested the reaction.

Animals↗

A mouse cell line, which is unprotected by interferon against lytic virus infection, lacks ribonuclease F activity.

A mouse cell line, NIH 3T3, does not respond to some of the activities of interferon. Even after treatment with high concentrations of interferon the replication of lytic viruses, such as encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is not inhibited in these cells. In contrast, interferon treatment of these same cells results in the inhibition of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMuLV) production. We have analyzed enzymatic pathways which are induced by interferon in these cells. After interferon treatment, the level of the (2'-5')oligoadenylate [(2'-5)An] synthetase activity and the phosphorylation of the 67000-dalton protein (P1) are enhanced in NIH 3T3 cells to approximately the same level as interferon-sensitive mouse L-cells. Moreover, NIH 3T3 and L-cells, contain approximately the same levels of enzymes which inactivate (2'-5')An. Both exogenously added (2'-5')A3 or double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) failed to inhibit protein synthesis in NIH 3T3 extracts even though they were potent inhibitors of L-cell extract-directed protein synthesis. Direct measurements of the (2'-5')An-dependent ribonuclease F (RNase F) failed to detect such activity in NIH 3T3 cells. Our results, therefore, suggest that the presence of RNase F activity is necessary for the interferon-induced antiviral activity against EMCV and against VSV. The induction of protein kinase activity by interferon treatment of NIH 3T3 cells appears to have no direct effect on EMCV and VSV replication.

Animals↗

Dissociation of interferon effects on murine leukemia virus and encephalomyocarditis virus replication in mouse cells.

Two subclones of Swiss mouse cells infected with Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) were tested for their response to interferon (IFN). Whereas M-MuLV production in the two subclones was inhibited to the same extent, one of the subclones was significantly more sensitive to IFN when the antiviral effect was measured by replication of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. The same subclone was also more sensitive to the anticellular activities of IFN. Additionally, NIH 3T3 cells infected with M-MuLV were completely resistant to IFN actions when EMC virus replication or the anticellular activities were tested. However, under the same conditions, M-MuLV production was completely inhibited by IFN. These results indicate that IFN may affect cell growth functions and EMC replication through mechanisms different from those by which MuLV production is inhibited.

Animals↗

Reconstitution of a deoxyribonuclease I-sensitive structure on active genes.

Chicken erythrocyte nuclei have been labeled in the active regions of the chromosome by using the nick translation reaction. In this procedure, accessible areas of the genome are preferentially nicked by the action of pancreatic DNase I and subsequently labeled by using DNA polymerase I from Escherichia coli. These nuclei were employed as a substrate for studying the factors responsible for maintaining the special chromatin conformation of the overall population of active genes. Treatment of nuclei with 0.35 M NaCl resulted in the loss of DNase I sensitivity in the active genes, but this sensitivity could be restored when nuclei were reconstituted with the NaCl eluate. Further purification of the released factors revealed that the HMG (high-mobility group) proteins HMG-14 and HMG-17 are involved in maintaining the conformation of the active regions. These factors are not tissue specific and seem to be involved in the chromosomal structure of most of the active genes.

Animals↗

Quantification of newly synthesized virus RNA in moloney murine leukaemia virus-infected cells.

A technique for the isolation and characterization of newly transcribed murine leukaemia virus RNA in chronically infected cells has been developed. Cellular RNA was pulse labelled with 3H-uridine and virus-specific sequences were annealed with an excess of mercurated complementary DNA. Based on the affinity between mercurated cDNA and sulphydryl-Sepharose, the hybrid was specifically selected by affinity column chromatography. The specificity of this method was dependent on the purity of the cDNA and it was necessary to remove non-viral sequences from the cDNA in order to isolate virus-specific RNA. Between 0.5 and 0.8% of the labelled RNA in Moloney MuLV-infected rat cells and 1.5% of the labelled RNA in Moloney MuLV-infected NIH Swiss mouse cells were virus-specific. Using this methodology, the effect of the cell cycle on the transcriptional activity of proviral genes was investigated. Cultures of Moloney MuLV-infected rat cells arrested in Go phase of the cell cycle released reduced quantities of virus, but continued to synthesize virus RNA. The pools of virus RNA and p30 antigen in the Go-arrested cells equalled the pools in actively dividing cells. These results suggested that post-transcriptional events controlled virus production in the Go-arrested cells.

Animals↗

Activation of the endogenous proviral genes in mouse cells is not followed by increased sensitivity to deoxyribonuclease I digestion.

The disposition of chromosome proteins about the endogenous proviral DNA of BALB-c mouse has been studied. The sensitivity of the endogenous proviral DNA sequences to deoxyribonuclease I (DNaseI) was analysed in BALB-c mouse tissues (liver and spleen) and in the cell line JLS-V9 which does not produce virus. On all of these preparations the endogenous proviral DNA was as sensitive to DNase I digestion as total chromatin. Since the proviral genes in JLS-V9 cells were silent, it was of interest to study possible changes in the chromatin structure following virus induction by iododeoxyuridine. We could not detect any increase in the sensitivity of the endogenous proviral DNA to DNase I digestion following induction. The induction was very efficient, however, since 60% of the cells responded to produce intracellular virus antigens.

Animals↗