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B R Williams

Publications and source records attributed to B R Williams.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

The interaction of interferon-alpha and -gamma: regulation of (2-5)A synthetase activity.

The interaction of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on the induction of antiviral, growth inhibitory, and (2-5)A synthetase activities was investigated in T98G and A549 cells. Synergistic or inhibitory effects which were host-cell dependent were seen with both simultaneous and sequential IFN treatments. Interestingly, IFN-gamma 1 pretreatment affected the levels of IFN-alpha-induced (2-5)A synthetase activity differently in the two cell types. In T98G cells, sequential treatment resulted in an overall decrease in induction of enzyme activity that was not observed in A549 cells. Receptor binding assays and measurements of steady-state mRNA levels indicated that this effect of IFN-gamma pretreatment does not occur at the level of either receptor expression or induction of transcription of the low-molecular-weight form of (2-5)A synthetase.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1988

Expression of interferon-induced genes in different tissues of mice.

In vivo responses to interferon (IFN) in mice were determined by measuring the steady-state levels of induced mRNAs following injection of IFN and poly(I)-poly(C). With cDNA probes for mouse 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5A synthetase) and 1-8, constitutive expression of the corresponding mRNA was detectable in different organs of normal C3H/He mice. These mRNA levels were increased by as much as 15-fold over control levels in various tissues, including the brain, after IFN and poly(I)-poly(C) treatment, coincident with increases in 2-5A synthetase enzyme activity. The basal activity level of this enzyme could be reduced in normal mice by treatment with anti-mouse IFN (alpha + beta) antibody. This treatment also reduced the levels of 2-5A synthetase and 1-8 mRNAs. Thus, physiological levels of circulating IFN maintain elevated levels of IFN-induced mRNAs in mice. Furthermore, changes in 2-5A synthetase enzyme activity reflect the changes in gene expression in vivo.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1988

Presence of transcription regulatory elements within an intron of the virus-inducible murine TIMP gene.

The expression of the gene for the murine tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) is induced in response to viruses, growth factors, and phorbol esters. In this report we show that the accumulation of TIMP mRNA after Newcastle disease virus induction is caused by transcriptional activation of the gene. Comparison of the sequences of cDNA and genomic clones along with RNase protection and primer extension analyses revealed that the murine TIMP gene possesses multiple cap sites and that the exon 1 consists exclusively of 5'-noncoding sequences. We observed that DNA regions analogous to those found upstream of the virus-inducible interferon genes are present within intron 1 of the TIMP gene. To investigate the possible role of TIMP intron 1 in gene expression, we used a functional assay based on the transfection of plasmids in which the DNA segment to be tested is placed in proximity to a marker gene driven by the heterologous herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter. Our results indicate that TIMP intron 1 contains DNA sequence elements capable of modulating the activity of a heterologous promoter in two different ways: (i) by enhancing constitutive expression and (ii) by conferring virus inducibility. These results suggest that intron 1 may be involved in the transcriptional regulation of TIMP gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Downregulation of interferon alpha but not gamma receptor expression in vivo in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Interferons (IFN) elicit antiviral and antineoplastic activities by binding to specific receptors on the cell surface. In evaluating the role of IFN as therapeutic agents in AIDS, we investigated the expression of IFN alpha and gamma receptors on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from patients with AIDS, ARC, and heterosexual control subjects using radioiodinated IFN alpha 2 and IFN gamma. The binding characteristics of the 125I-IFN alpha and gamma to PBM were analyzed to determine receptor numbers and dissociation constants. PBM from controls expressed 498 +/- 247 IFN alpha receptor sites/cell (n = 17). However, eight patients with ARC and seven patients with AIDS had a mean number of IFN alpha receptor/cell of 286 +/- 235 (P less than 0.05) and 92 +/- 88 (P less than 0.001), respectively. This was consistent with elevated levels of serum acid-labile IFN alpha and cellular 2-5A synthetase activity in patients. Treatment of PBM from the AIDS patients with exogenous IFN alpha in vitro resulted in minimal 2-5A synthetase induction in comparison to controls. In contrast, the expression of IFN gamma receptors in ARC (n = 5) and AIDS (n = 4) patients remained normal. Thus the decrease in IFN alpha receptor expression and consequent hyporesponsiveness to IFN alpha raises the question of the usefulness of IFN alpha therapy in end-stage AIDS. The normal expression of IFN gamma receptors in AIDS patients suggests that IFN gamma may prove useful in attempts to provide immune reconstitution.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1987

Roles of globotriosyl- and galabiosylceramide in verotoxin binding and high affinity interferon receptor.

The cellular specificity of the Escherichia coli-derived verotoxin is of particular interest because of its extreme toxicity and high selectivity toward certain primate cells. The human Burkitt lymphoma cell line (Daudi) is highly susceptible to the cytotoxicity of verotoxin and contains large amounts of the verotoxin-binding glycolipids on its surface. A mutant selected from Daudi cells for verotoxin resistance was found to be deficient in the verotoxin-binding glycolipids, globotriosylceramide and galabiosylceramide, and failed to bind verotoxin to its surface; interestingly, these mutant cells were found to be cross-resistant to inhibition of growth by alpha-interferon. Mutant cells also lack the high affinity component of alpha-interferon binding. These observations suggest that, in addition to providing the functional cell-surface receptor for verotoxin, these glycolipids may also play a role in the modulation of the affinity of alpha-interferon for its membrane protein receptors.

Bacterial Toxins↗
PubMed1987

Characterization and expression of a murine gene homologous to human EPA/TIMP: a virus-induced gene in the mouse.

A genomic clone encompassing the entire coding region of a murine gene homologous to human erythroid potentiating activity/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (EPA/TIMP) was isolated and sequenced. Based on alignment with human EPA/TIMP cDNAs we deduce a structure comprising five exons and four introns extending over 4.3 kb of DNA. In mouse and hamster cell lines transcription from this gene and interferon genes is induced by Newcastle Disease virus (NDV). Examination of the 5'-flanking sequences of the gene reveals a set of repeated elements with structural similarity to those previously described as inducer-responsive elements in the human IFN-beta 1 gene. The 4.3-kb DNA fragment encompassing the homologous murine EPA/TIMP gene was transfected into human T98G cells and transfectants tested for NDV inducibility. In contrast to the endogenous human gene, the integrated murine EPA/TIMP gene was NDV-inducible and TIMP activity was detectable in the cell culture fluid.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Recombinant human interferon alpha-2 and juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia: cell receptor binding, enzymatic induction, and growth suppression in vitro.

Recombinant human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN alpha 2) was studied to determine its potential as a therapeutic agent for the lethal monocytic malignancy of infancy, juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML). In sharp contrast to cell cultures of normal marrow, specimens from two patients with JCML yielded an excessive and rapid proliferation of monocyte-macrophage elements without growth factor in clonogenic assay and in liquid culture. Using IFN alpha 2 labeled with 125I, the characteristics of IFN binding to cultured JCML monocyte-macrophages and their receptor site numbers were determined. IFN binding to cells from both patients disclosed two components: a high-affinity of 120 and 430 sites/cell, and a lower affinity of 1230 and 2500 sites/cell, respectively. In control studies, normal blood mononuclear cells or tonsillar B-lymphocytes displayed only a high-affinity component. Brief exposure of JCML cells to IFN alpha 2 in vitro resulted in a sharp increase in the IFN-induced enzyme 2-5A synthetase, indicating the ability of JCML cells to respond metabolically. Dose-response studies performed in a clonogenic assay showed a dose-dependent growth inhibition of JCML monocyte-macrophage colonies using IFN alpha 2 at concentrations of 10(2)-10(5) U/ml. These studies provide new information on the biological characteristics of JCML malignant cells, and suggest that IFN may be useful for treatment of this disorder.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1986

Differential human interferon alpha receptor expression on proliferating and non-proliferating cells.

The expression of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) receptors was studied on a variety of human cells, using monoiodinated IFN-alpha 2 probes. Steady-state binding at 4 degrees C revealed a single class of non-interacting IFN receptor on peripheral blood lymphocytes, and tonsillar B lymphocytes, which are both known to be G0/G1 resting cell populations. The binding affinity of this class of receptor was found to be on the order of 5 X 10(-10) M, expressed as an apparent dissociation constant (Kd). However, cells proliferating either in culture or in vivo were found to express a heterogeneity in IFN-alpha 2 binding. Such binding could be objectively resolved (by a version of the LIGAND program of P. Munson) into a two-site receptor model. Hill plots of binding to proliferating cells indicated a negative cooperativity in the interaction of IFN and receptor. The high-affinity component, expressed on proliferating cells, typically exhibits a Kd of (1-10) X 10(-11) M, while the lower-affinity component indicates a Kd of (1-10) X 10(-9) M. Furthermore, the low-affinity component is apparently expressed on the order of 10-200 times the copy number, per cell, of the high-affinity site. Affinity-labeling experiments revealed that, in addition to the 140-160-kDa IFN-binding complex reported by others, both the proliferating and non-proliferating cell populations possess a novel IFN-binding component of 60 kDa.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1986

Transcriptional regulation of interferon-responsive genes is closely linked to interferon receptor occupancy.

We show that human glioblastoma cells, moving from exponential growth into a state of density-dependent growth arrest, demonstrate a 7-fold drop in the total number of alpha-IFN-receptors expressed per cell. This loss of receptor activity was not seen when cells were grown in the presence of anti-alpha-IFN-monoclonal antibody. The active binding sites expressed on the arrested cell population were of reduced affinity for IFN, relative to the high-affinity sites expressed on the growing cells, resulting in a 3-fold lower initial rate of IFN-binding to the arrested cells. We exploited this difference to investigate the relationship between IFN receptor binding and induced gene transcription. As determined by nuclear run-off assays, the transcriptional response of both the gene family 1-8 and 2-5A synthetase to IFN treatment also showed a 3-fold reduction in density-arrested cells. Longer-term (0-8 h) induction and down-regulation of gene transcription in IFN-treated cells closely followed the binding to, and down-regulation of, cell surface-localized IFN receptors. Furthermore, inhibition of the intracellular breakdown of IFN did not affect transcriptional responses to IFN. Thus transcription of these IFN-induced genes is closely linked to surface receptor occupancy and is most likely mediated by transmembrane signals alone.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

Interferon-regulated human 2-5A synthetase gene maps to chromosome 12.

The low-molecular-weight human 2-5A synthetase gene has been assigned to chromosome 12 using rodent-human somatic cell hybrids and filter hybridization analysis of cell hybrid DNA. A cDNA probe representing almost all the coding sequences of the 2-5A synthetase gene hybridizes to four fragments of human DNA digested with the restriction enzyme EcoR1. By correlating the presence of these fragments in somatic cell hybrid DNA with the human chromosome content of the hybrids, the 2-5A synthetase gene can be mapped to chromosome 12. This contrasts with a previous assignment of this gene to chromosome 11 using an enzyme activity assay. The reason for this discrepancy remains unclear.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Early immune response in healthy and immunocompromised subjects with primary varicella-zoster virus infection.

Events in pathogenesis and immunity during primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection were examined in 64 healthy subjects and 21 immunocompromised patients. Activation of the interferon system and activation of circulating T lymphocytes were early immune responses that occurred during the incubation period in some healthy subjects. Elevated levels of 2-5A synthetase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and detection of serum alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) were present in the majority of healthy subjects who had acute primary VZV infection. Expression of HLA-DR antigen occurred on circulating T lymphocytes from subjects with acute VZV infection. The early production of VZV-specific IgG or IgM antibodies did not correlate with the severity of the clinical infection, but the detection of T lymphocyte proliferation to VZV antigen within three days after the appearance of the varicella exanthem was associated with milder illness. The mean VZV-specific lymphocyte transformation for subjects with less than 100 lesions/m2 was 7.5 +/- 10.43 SD compared with 1.4 +/- 1.85 SD for those with greater than 400 lesions/m2 (P less than .05). Only one (7.7%) of 13 immunocompromised patients had early VZV-specific lymphocyte transformation compared with 19 (42%) of 45 healthy subjects (P less than .05). The rapid host response to primary VZV infection was associated with rapid termination of viremia in healthy subjects; VZV was isolated from only 11% of peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples cultured within 48 hr after the appearance of the exanthem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Clinical and in vitro antiproliferative properties of recombinant DNA-derived human interferon-alpha 2.

The properties of the recombinant DNA-derived human leukocyte interferon, HuIFN alpha 2, were studied in patients with advanced leukemia or lymphoma. In vitro, HuIFN alpha 2 induced an increased activity of 2-5A synthetase in leukemic and in control cells indicating cellular responsiveness to IFN. HuIFN alpha 2 also produced a dose-responsive decline in marrow leukemia blast progenitor colony growth, and in normal hematopoietic colony formation in vitro, confirming its antiproliferative effect. A course of intravenous therapy given to a lymphoma patient produced a modest decline in peripheral white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts; higher, more frequent doses in a second patient induced a profound drop in WBC's, neutrophils, and platelets. When the leukemia patients were given an intravenous course of HuIFN alpha 2 as a sole agent, blast cytoreduction was seen in peripheral blood in three patients, and in marrow of one patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Elevated 2-5A synthetase levels could be detected after therapy. No modulation of leukemic cell markers was seen after in vitro or in vivo treatment with HuIFN alpha 2, implying that the cytoreduction was not linked to blast cell differentiation. These studies suggest that this subtype of recombinant DNA-derived IFN has antileukemic properties, and indicates the possibilities for IFN as an adjunctive form of therapy in leukemia.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1986

Regulation of interferon receptor expression in human blood lymphocytes in vitro and during interferon therapy.

Interferons (IFN) elicit antiviral and antineoplastic activities by binding to specific receptors on the cell surface. The binding characteristics of IFN to human lymphocytes were studied using IFN alpha 2 labeled with 125I to high specific activity. The specific binding curves generated were analyzed by the LIGAND program of Munson and Rodbard to determine receptor numbers. The number of receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and tonsillar B-lymphocytes (TBL) from normal individuals were 505 +/- 293 (n = 10) and 393 +/- 147 (n = 3) respectively. When these cells were preincubated in vitro with unlabeled IFN alpha 2, the receptor number decreased to 82 +/- 45 and 61 +/- 16 respectively. Receptor binding activities recovered gradually over a period of 72 h when the cells were incubated in IFN-free medium. This recovery of receptors could be blocked by the addition of actinomycin D to the incubation medium. A similar decrease in receptor expression was observed in vivo in PBL from patients being treated daily with 5 X 10(6) units/m2 per d of IFN alpha 2 by subcutaneous injection, for acute lymphoblastic leukemia or papilloma virus infections. Receptor numbers in PBL in vivo were further reduced concurrent with the progression of IFN therapy. Thus the reduction in IFN receptor expression observed in vitro can be demonstrated in vivo. These studies indicate that monitoring IFN receptor expression in vivo can provide information regarding the availability of IFN receptors at the cell surface for the mediation of IFN actions during the course of IFN therapy.

Dactinomycin↗
PubMed1985

Human 2-5A synthetase: characterization of a novel cDNA and corresponding gene structure.

The enzyme 2-5A synthetase is induced in cultured cells in response to interferon (IFN) treatment. A lambda gt10 cDNA library of mRNA from IFN-induced Daudi lymphoblastoid cells was screened with oligonucleotide probes. Several overlapping cDNAs were isolated and shown to be derived from the human synthetase gene using filter selection and oocyte microinjection assays. The nucleotide sequence of one of these, cDNA 8-2, extended the 2-5A synthetase sequence already described 72 bp in the 5' direction but was found to differ significantly in coding sequence at the 3' end. The longest cDNA isolated (6-2) was approximately 1.4 kb. By Northern hybridization analysis single mRNAs of 1.7 kb were detected in Daudi and T98G (glioblastoma) cells. However, in HeLa cells, four mRNAs ranging in size from 1.5 to 3.5 kb were found, one of which differed at the 3' end. Analysis of both phage and cosmid genomic clones and comparison with genomic DNA indicate that there is a single gene for 2-5A synthetase, comprising at least six exons and five introns, which can undergo a novel form of alternative RNA processing depending on cell type.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1985

Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to a human interferon-induced double-stranded RNA-binding Mr 68,000 protein kinase.

One of the interferon-induced proteins thought to be involved in the antiviral effects of interferon is a double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase. This paper reports the development of a monoclonal antibody, 10A5, that recognizes a protein that co-migrates with the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase at an approximate molecular weight of 68,000. Levels of this protein and of the protein kinase activity increase 3-fold on interferon treatment of T98G cells. The specificity of the monoclonal antibody was determined by ELISA, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation procedures. Furthermore, immunoaffinity chromatography of an interferon-induced T98G cell extract previously phosphorylated in the presence of double-stranded RNA and radiolabeled ATP resulted in the specific elution of a phosphorylated Mr 68,000 protein from the monoclonal antibody 10A5-Sepharose column. Monoclonal antibody 10A5 recognizes both native and denatured protein kinase, independent of double-stranded RNA binding or phosphorylation, and should therefore serve as a useful tool in analyzing the role of the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase in the mechanism of interferon action.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1985

Elevated levels of interferon-induced 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase in generalized persistent lymphadenopathy and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The levels of the 2'-5' oligoadenylate enzyme synthetase in extracts of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC) were measured and compared with synthetase levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs) from healthy heterosexual and homosexual controls. The mean basal synthetase level in heterosexual and homosexual controls was 14 +/- 13 and 12 +/- 9 pmol per hr/10(5) PBMs, respectively. Thirteen individuals with AIDS had a mean basal level of 129 +/- 75 pmol. Serial levels were persistently elevated in six of these individuals over a one- to 10-month period. Twelve of the 13 individuals had antibodies to human T cell lymphotrophic virus-III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV). Thirty-three individuals with ARC had a mean basal synthetase level of 68 +/- 84 pmol. Thirty-two of the 33 had antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV. Eleven (33%) have had consistently normal synthetase levels (less than 2 SD above the mean for the homosexual controls, i.e., 30 pmol) over a three- to nine-month follow-up period. Fourteen (42%) had persistently elevated levels over the same period; four (29%) of these developed AIDS during the follow-up period. Eight have had fluctuating levels but have remained clinically well. These studies suggest that persistently elevated synthetase levels in individuals with ARC and antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV indicate progressive virus-induced disease activity. Elevated synthetase levels may be an important prognostic indicator of increased risk of progression to AIDS.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗