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Biomedical subjects

C Boyer

Publications and source records attributed to C Boyer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Excimer laser assisted angioplasty. Immediate results in the treatment of complex coronary lesions].

Transluminal coronary angioplasty (TCA) with pulsed excimer laser (CVX 300 Spectranetics) was performed in 89 patients (age 63.7 years); CCS I: 6; CCS II: 12; CCS III: 40; CCS IV: 31; instable: 58%. There was a previous history of myocardial infarction (MI) in 27 cases, TCA (9 restenoses) in 24 cases, 19 bypass graft procedures, 13 failures of TCA. The lesions (n = 90) affected the left main coronary artery: 1 case; the left anterior descending artery: 37 cases; the left circumflex: 8 cases; the right coronary: 28 cases and there were saphenous vein grafts in 16 cases. The lesions were classified B2 (ACC/AHA) in 56 cases and type C in 34 cases. There were 24 lesions > 10 mm, 15 > 20 mm; calcification in 49 cases; excentric in 65 cases; ostial in 9 cases; affecting bifurcations in 13 cases; affecting collateral vessels in 16 cases; chronic occlusions in 12 cases and restenoses of stents in 4 cases. Multifiber catheters: 1.4 mm (50), 1.7 mm (41) and 2 mm (3), were used to deliver energies of 43.3 mj/m2 (+/- 8.1 mj) with an average of 5.2 +/- 1.2 applications persite, and 2.7 +/- 1.1 passages. A balloon dilatation was performed after laser angioplasty in 96% of cases. The following results were observed: success of laser angioplasty (20% reduction of stenosis) in 95.5%, a successful procedure (residual stenosis less than 50% without major complications) in 95.5%, and a clinical success (no pathological Q wave or non-Q wave infarction, bypass graft, or repeat TCA): 92.1%. The following complications were observed: death = 0, non-Q wave infarction 2.2%, emergency bypass surgery in 1 case with Q wave infarction: 1.1%. The use of laser angioplasty may be proposed in the following indications: long, moderately calcified lesion, ostial lesions, complete occlusions, bypass graft disease, failure of angioplasty. In addition to these indications, we propose the treatment of restenosis on stents. The main disadvantage of the Excimer Laser is the poor cost/benefit ratio, given the relatively small number of indications.

Aged↗

Two signaling pathways can lead to Fas ligand expression in CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones.

As shown previously, a given cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone (KB5.C20) could be induced to express the Fas ligand (FasL) by either T cell receptor (TCR) engagement or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ionomycin stimulation. In contrast, another CTL clone (BM3.3) has now been found to exert Fas-based cytotoxicity only after TCR engagement, but not after PMA/ionomycin stimulation. This suggested the existence of a PMA-insensitive, antigen-induced pathway leading to FasL expression. The inability of PMA to promote Fas-based cytotoxicity in BM3.3 cells was correlated with a defect in expression of the classical protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms alpha and beta I. In KB5.C20 cells depleted of PMA-sensitive PKC isoforms and thus no longer responsive to PMA, Fas-based cytotoxicity could still be induced via the TCR/CD3 pathway. On the other hand, a requirement for phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) selectively in this TCR/CD3-induced pathway was demonstrated by specific inhibition with wortmannin. These results suggest that FasL expression when induced via the TCR/CD3 involves PI3K, and when induced by PMA/ionomycin requires the expression of PMA-sensitive PKC isoforms absent in clone BM3.3. Additional data suggest that in neither case was NF-kappa B activation implicated in FasL expression.

Androstadienes↗

TCR-associated zeta-Fc epsilon RI gamma heterodimers on CD4-CD8- NK1.1+ T cells selected by specific class I MHC antigen.

The origin of autoreactive CD4-CD8- T cells is largely unknown. In TCR transgenic (Tg) mice expressing the cognate class I MHC antigen, CD4-CD8- T cells differed depending on characteristics of Tg-TCR/antigen interaction. Tg-TCR/CD3lo CD4-CD8- T cells expressing the NK1.1 marker were observed only for a Tg-TCR whose stimulation by antigen was independent of CD8. Unlike normal T cells, which have essentially TCR-associated zeta homodimers, these cells had a high proportion of TCR-associated zeta-Fc epsilon RI gamma heterodimers. They were also characterized by an unusually high content of Fc epsilon RI gamma mRNA and low content of mRNA encoding CD3 epsilon, CD3 gamma, CD3 delta, and zeta. Based on their phenotype and selection requirements, it is proposed that CD4-CD8- thymic precursor cells can be driven along the CD4-CD8-NK1.1+ pathway following coreceptor-independent TCR signaling at an intrathymic stage when Fc epsilon RI gamma and CD3 components are coexpressed.

Animals↗

Molecular size of the functional complex and protein subunits of the renal phosphate symporter.

The oligomeric structure of the rabbit renal brush-border membrane sodium/phosphate cotransporter was examined with the radiation inactivation and fragmentation technique. The size of its functional complex (its "radiation inactivation size") was estimated from the rate of decay of its sodium-dependent transport activity as a function of the radiation dose. A radiation inactivation size of 223 +/- 42 kDa was obtained. The polypeptide constituting the monomeric unit of the Na1+/Pi symporter was detected by immunoblotting with polyclonal anti-peptide antibodies directed against the 14 amino acid C-terminal portion of the symporter molecule. Its apparent molecular size estimated by comparison with standards following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 64,000. This value is in good agreement with its known molecular mass of 51,797 Da calculated from the amino acid sequence deducted from the nucleotide sequence of its gene since this protein is probably glycosylated. The loss of labeling intensity of the polypeptide of M(r) = 64,000 was also measured as a function of radiation dose. The molecular size calculated from these data (its "target size") was 165 +/- 20 kDa. The target size estimated for the rat phosphate cotransporter was 184 +/- 46 kDa, and its previously reported radiation inactivation size was 234 +/- 14 kDa. These results strongly suggest that the renal Na1+/Pi cotransporter exists as an oligomeric protein, probably a homotetramer. The fact that the values obtained for the target size are about 3/4 those obtained for the radiation inactivation size of these cotransport proteins indicates that their subunits are closely associated since most of their subunits appear to be fragmented by a single ionizing radiation hit.

Animals↗

Evidence for protein tyrosine kinase involvement in ligand-induced TCR/CD3 internalization and surface redistribution.

Triggering of the TCR/CD3 complex can lead to its internalization and modulation from the cell surface. In the present study, we address the question of the dependence of internalization on protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activation. With use of an activating anti-clonotypic (anti-Ti) mAb on a CTL clone, we have shown that the PTK inhibitors genistein and tyrphostin 25 delayed anti-Ti-induced internalization, but did not affect fluid phase protein uptake or transferrin receptor cycling. Confocal microscopy with use of fluorescent anti-Ti mAb revealed that the inhibition of TCR internalization corresponded to the induction of large patches that were localized in cell membrane areas depleted of polymerized actin, the formation of which was dependent on the combined action of the anti-Ti mAb and the PTK inhibitors. In contrast to the effect of these PTK inhibitors, depletion of Src-like PTKs by T cell pretreatment with herbimycin A led to an increased rate of anti-Ti-induced internalization. Internalization induced by the monovalent Fab fraction of anti-Ti mAb was similarly affected by the PTK inhibitors, although the extent of induced internalization was less by approximately one-half. An analysis of substrates phosphorylated in kinase assays on TCR/CD3 immunoprecipitates of the CTL, which were activated by anti-Ti mAb in both the absence and presence of genistein, identified protein bands in which phosphorylation or association with CD3 was inhibited in the presence of genistein. Thus, a genistein-sensitive PTK activity seems to control ligand-induced TCR/CD3 complex redistribution and internalization.

Actins↗

Immunodetection and characterization of proteins implicated in renal sodium/phosphate cotransport.

Polyclonal antibodies raised against the 14-amino acid C-terminal portion of the rabbit renal brush-border membrane Na+/Pi cotransporter, as deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned NaPi-1 gene, were used for Western blot analysis of renal brush-border membrane proteins from rat, rabbit and beef. Proteins of 65 kDa from the rat, 64 kDa from the rabbit, and 38, 66, 77, 92, 110, 176 and 222 kDa from the beef were specifically labelled. The affinity of the antibodies was much greater, however, for the proteins of the rat and rabbit than for those of the beef. The rat 65-kDa antigen was readily detected in brush-border membranes isolated from kidney cortex, but was absent from the basolateral membrane and the cytosolic and microsomal fractions of this tissue, in agreement with the subcellular localization of the Na+/Pi cotransporter. This antigen was however several-fold more abundant in the juxtamedullary portion of the cortex than in the outer portion. Despite a strong stimulation in phosphate transport, a low-phosphate diet had little influence on the amount of antigen detected. An additional peptide-displaceable band corresponding to a protein of 250 kDa appeared when beta-mercaptoethanol was omitted during electrophoresis, in agreement with the possibility that disulfide bonds may be involved in the regulation of renal phosphate transport activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

T cell receptor-induced Fas ligand expression in cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones is blocked by protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors and cyclosporin A.

Fas/APO-1 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family of proteins that induces apoptosis when cross-linked with monoclonal antibody (mAb) or with its physiological ligand. Recently, both a perforin-based and a Fas-based mechanism have been proposed to account for T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In the present study we used a murine CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone (KB5 C20) specific for H-2Kb and a T cell receptor (TcR)-negative variant of the same clone (2005-D4) to test (i) whether the same cell can exert both cytotoxic effector mechanisms and (ii) the role of TcR engagement in the induction of Fas-based cytotoxicity. We demonstrate that both the TcR+ and TcR- clones were able to express the Fas ligand after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ionomycin, and that TcR engagement of the KB5.C20 clone by means of antigen-bearing cells or of its anticlonotypic mAb (Désiré-1), which leads to Ca(2+)-dependent, presumably perforin-based, cytotoxicity, was also able to induce Fas-based cytotoxicity. In addition, using inhibitors we investigated the signal transduction pathway(s) involved in the induction of Fas-based cytotoxicity and expression of the Fas ligand mRNA in the CTL clones. The involvement of src-like protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) in Fas ligand induction through TcR engagement, was strongly suggested by inhibition with the src-like PTK inhibitor herbimycin A. Inhibition of Fas ligand induction by genistein, a more general TPK inhibitor, even upon stimulation by PMA plus ionomycin, suggested the possible involvement of PTK activities downstream of protein kinase C (PKC) in Fas ligand induction in CTL. Finally, the implication of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin in Fas ligand induction was demonstrated by the partial inhibition of Fas ligand induction with cyclosporin A. Thus, in CTL clones, Fas ligand expression is inducible by TcR engagement through a pathway similar to that involved in expression of some lymphokine genes.

Animals↗

A novel gene encoding a B-box protein within the BRCA1 region at 17q21.1.

A novel cDNA clone was isolated using a polyclonal serum directed against partially purified ovarian carcinoma antigen CA125. The deduced peptide sequence lacked membrane protein characteristics expected for CA125 but encompassed a B-box/coiled coil motif present in many genes with transformation potential. The gene was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization within the minimum region known to contain the familial breast/ovarian carcinoma gene, BRCA1. YAC and cosmid clones were isolated and used to refine the location of this gene adjacent and proximal to the RNU2 locus. The exon structure of the gene was determined. Extensive SSCP and sequence analysis of over 100 tumour and normal DNAs from familial and sporadic breast cancers and sporadic ovarian cancers failed to detect mutations in the coding region of this gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Developmental control of T-cell receptor internalization.

Since TCR/CD3 modulation may be involved in induction of T cell tolerance to self antigens, we compared ligand-induced TCR/CD3 internalization by a CTL clone and by immature thymocytes and mature T cells from mice bearing the same TCR alpha beta as transgene. The ligand used is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for the receptor expressed by the clone and transgenic mice (anti-Ti mAb). CD8+ splenocytes triggered by anti-Ti mAb internalize the ligand-TCR/CD3 complex at a low rate, through a mechanism inhibited by the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor genistein and by staurosporine, a potent but non selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. This pattern of inhibition was similar to that observed in the CTL clone. Anti-Ti mAb induced TCR/CD3 internalization in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes at a high rate, through a mechanism which was insensitive to either genistein or staurosporine. In the CTL clone, genistein was shown to inhibit TCR/CD3 surface redistribution preceeding internalization. To characterize the PTK possibly involved in this step, we analyzed TCR/CD3 associated kinases in mature T splenocytes and thymocytes. Kinase activities present in anti-Ti mAb immunoprecipitates phosphorylated the CD3 components gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta in both cell types although the intensity was stronger in splenic than in thymocyte extracts, whereas the phosphorylation of 70, 14 and 12kD substrates was more pronounced in thymocytes than in splenocytes. Comparable amounts of CD3 components were coprecipitated with and phosphorylated by p56lck and p59fyn respectively, in both cell types.

Alkaloids↗

[Strangulated urethral prolapse in a young woman: a rare urological emergency].

Total prolapse of the urethral mucosa in women is an uncommon lesion, observed at the two extremes of reproductive life. Strangulation of urethral prolapse is a rare complication whose emergency treatment is essentially surgical. The authors report a case of strangulated urethral prolapse in a 43-year-old woman, for which several pathophysiological mechanisms can be proposed: first delivery by forceps, poorly repaired perineal tear, untreated early menopause at the age of 40 years. Urethral prolapse in elderly women has become much less common since the introduction of hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Other physiopathogenic factors may be responsible for this prolapse, such as thrombosis of the juxtameatal submucosal veins, laxity between the mucosa and submucosa or uretrodetrusor dyssynergia. The diagnosis of strangulated urethral prolapse is based on the discovery of a very painful, violaceous, inflammatory circular mucosal tumour surrounding the urethral meatus. If rapid reduction of the prolapse is not obtained with systemic and topical oestrogen therapy, the strangulated mucosal flap must be resected surgically, followed by apposition of the urethral mucosal and submucosal planes. This suture, in tissues which are always inflamed, must be calibrated and the urine must be drained by bladder catheter for about ten days. Meatal stricture is the principal complication of this surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Tumors of the testis in children].

Tumours of the testicle are rare in children (about one case in 100,000 male children). Their histological type usually leads to favourable outcome. We report here our series of 12 cases together with an analysis of the large published series in order to review the prognosis and therapeutic indications which depend on the histology. The most frequent intratesticular tumours in the child are nonseminoma malignant germ cell tumours. At birth the tumour is usually a mature or mixed teratoma. Between the ages of 1 and 3 years the most frequently observed tumour arises from the vitelline sac representing about 50% of all tumours of the testicle in the child. From 3 years to puberty, paratesticular rhabdomyocarsomas and Leydig cell tumours are the most frequently encountered. Finally, at puberty, tumours of the testicle are the same as those observed in the adult, notably seminomas which are not observed before puberty. Other tumours occur only exceptionally. Orchiectomy after ligature of the spermatic cord is the usual treatment. Complementary chemotherapy and node dissection are not required as first intention therapy when the tumour is well localized (complete exeresis, no lymph node invasion, no pulmonary metastasis), but are reserved for relapse or residual tumours revealed by a secondary rise in alpha foetoprotein levels or by extension from the initial site. A present, in 80% of the patients with localized tumours, outcome is favourable without lymph node dissection or chemotherapy. The three-year survival rate is approximately 90%.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

T cell development in mice lacking the CD3-zeta/eta gene.

The CD3-zeta and CD3-eta polypeptides are two of the components of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) which contribute to its efficient cell surface expression and account for part of its transducing capability. CD3-zeta and CD3-eta result from the alternative splicing of a single gene designated CD3-zeta/eta. To evaluate the role of these subunits during T cell development, we have produced mice with a disrupted CD3-zeta/eta gene. The analysis of thymocyte populations from the CD3-zeta/eta-/- homozygous mutant mice revealed that they have a profound reduction in the surface levels of TCR complexes and that the products of the CD3-zeta/eta gene appear to be needed for the efficient generation and/or survival of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Despite the almost total absence of mature single positive thymocytes, the lymph nodes from zeta/eta-/- mice were found to contain unusual CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ single positive cells which were CD3-. In contrast to the situation observed in the thymus, the thymus-independent gut intraepithelial lymphocytes present in zeta/eta-/- mice do express TCR complexes on their surface and these are associated with Fc epsilon RI gamma homodimers. These results establish an essential role for the CD3-zeta/eta gene products during intrathymic T cell differentiation and further emphasize the difference between conventional T cells and thymus-independent gut intraepithelial lymphocytes.

Animals↗

Comparative analysis of phosphotyrosyl polypeptides in normal and leukemic human T lymphocytes activated via CD3 or CD2.

Phosphotyrosyl polypeptides induced following CD3- or CD2- specific antibody stimulation were analysed in different human T cell lines by immunoblotting or by immunoprecipitation of 32P-labelled cell lysates using a phosphotyrosine-specific monoclonal antibody. In Jurkat cells, resting peripheral T lymphocytes, T lymphoblasts, CD8+ T lymphoblasts and a CD4+ T cell clone, CD3 stimulation induced a strong but transient tyrosine phosphorylation of at least 15 polypeptides. However, in peripheral T cells and T blasts, the kinetics of phosphorylation were considerably slower than in Jurkat cells. The pattern of phosphotyrosyl polypeptides induced by CD3 stimulation was similar, although some differences were noted between normal T cells and Jurkat, especially at the level of the extent of phosphorylation. As had been previously reported for Jurkat T cells, a qualitatively similar tyrosine phosphorylation response was induced upon CD2 or CD3 stimulation in each of the analysed T cell populations, suggesting that CD3 and CD2 share a common pathway of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activation. In HPB. ALL leukemia T cells (which express very low levels of CD45), both CD3 and CD2 stimulation induced only very weak protein tyrosyl phosphorylation. However, a 50 kDa polypeptide, which was part of an inducible doublet in Jurkat or normal T lymphocytes, was constitutively tyrosyl-phosphorylated in the HPB. ALL line. These results suggest that there is a common pathway of early PTK activation following CD3- or CD2-mediated stimulation in mature T cells, whether they express surface CD4 or CD8, and also that the PTK may be differently regulated in different T cell populations leading to different kinetics or intensity of tyrosyl phosphorylation.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

An evaluation of an AIDS risk reduction education and skills training (ARREST) program.

PURPOSE: With the increasing rate of HIV infection among adolescents, there is an urgent need for interventions that will provide teenagers with information, the ability to make decisions, and the assertiveness and communication skills required for effective prevention and risk reduction. This study evaluated an AIDS Risk Reduction Education and Skills Training (ARREST) program designed for adolescents, ages 12-16 years. METHODS: Eighty-seven inner-city, African-American (36%) and Latino (55%) adolescents were recruited from community-based after-school programs, and randomly assigned to either the ARREST intervention or a wait-list control group. Adolescents assigned to the ARREST intervention participated in three 90-minute intervention sessions. ARREST was evaluated by comparing pre- and post-test scores on a battery of self-report measures and videotaped role-play simulations. RESULTS: Analyses revealed significant post-test differences between the ARREST and wait-list control groups, with teens in the ARREST group demonstrating significant changes in knowledge and negative attitudes about HIV/AIDS, perception of risk, and appropriate concern about contracting AIDS. Most importantly, adolescents in the ARREST group demonstrated a significant increase in behavioral skills for negotiating prevention and risk reduction, and resisting peer pressures to engage in risk-related sexual and drug-use behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: ARREST was effective in meeting its short-term objectives for changes in knowledge and behavioral skills, which are important prerequisites for behavior change. Replication with long-term follow-up assessment is needed, however, to determine this intervention's effectiveness at changing risk-related sexual and drug-use behaviors.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

OVX1 radioimmunoassay complements CA-125 for predicting the presence of residual ovarian carcinoma at second-look surgical surveillance procedures.

PURPOSE: At second-look surgical surveillance procedures, normal CA-125 levels can be associated with persistent disease in 50% to 60% of patients. A novel radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been evaluated for the ability to identify patients with persistent disease who have normal levels of CA-125. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The OVX1 double-determinant assay used a murine monoclonal antibody to detect an epitope on a high-molecular weight mucin-like glycoprotein. RESULTS: Apparently healthy individuals had serum OVX1 levels of 2.23 +/- 2.48 U/mL (mean +/- SD). Elevated serum OVX1 levels (> 7.2 U/mL) were found in 5% of 184 normal individuals and in 70% of 93 epithelial ovarian cancer patients with clinically evident disease. Among sera from these ovarian cancer patients, OVX1 was elevated in 68% of 76 samples with CA-125 levels more than 35 U/mL and in 76% of 17 samples with CA-125 levels less than 35 U/mL. In serum samples obtained at the time of positive second-look laparotomy, 59% of 41 patients with CA-125 levels less than 35 U/mL had elevated OVX1 antigen levels, whereas 41% of 22 patients with CA-125 levels more than 35 U/mL had elevated serum OVX1 levels. In patients with negative second-look laparotomies, false-positive results were eliminated by increasing the threshold of OVX1 to 10.5 U/mL. At this level, 32% of 41 patients with positive second-look operations had an elevated OVX1 level, despite a normal CA-125 level. When used in combination, CA-125 (> 35 U/mL) and OVX1 (> 10.5 U/mL) detected persistent disease in 56% of 63 patients with positive surveillance procedures, compared with 35% when CA-125 was used alone (P < .05). CONCLUSION: An elevated OVX1 level can alert oncologists to the possibility that ovarian cancer has persisted, despite the return of CA-125 to a normal range.

Animals↗

Role of CD3 delta in surface expression of the TCR/CD3 complex and in activation for killing analyzed with a CD3 delta-negative cytotoxic T lymphocyte variant.

The TCR is composed of two chains (alpha/beta) containing variable regions associated at the cell surface with invariant chains (CD3 gamma-, delta-, epsilon-, and zeta/eta chains). The latter control assembly and surface expression of the TCR/CD3 complex, as well as its cytoplasmic association with signal transduction relays. In differentiated CTL, stimulation through the TCR leads to the transcriptional activation of genes coding secreted cytokines such as gamma-IFN as well as transcription-independent activation of the lytic machinery. It is not known which of the CD3 components is necessary to transduce the required signals. CD3 gamma- and delta-chains have high sequence homology, in particular in their cytoplasmic domain, and it has been proposed that alpha beta gamma epsilon zeta and alpha beta delta, epsilon zeta may be expressed and function in signal transduction independently. Here, we characterize a CTL clone that has selectively lost expression of the CD3 delta mRNA. This results in expression of partial CD3 complexes devoid of TCR alpha beta chains at the surface of the clone, which are not functional for activation of cytolysis or for gamma-IFN production. Transfection of the clone with either the native or a cytoplasmic exon-deleted CD3 delta gene restores full TCR/CD3 surface expression as well as Ag- or CD3-mediated activation for killing and for gamma-IFN production, indicating that the CD3 delta chain is essential for surface expression of the TCR alpha beta, but that the CD3 delta cytoplasmic portion is not required either for complex assembly or for signal transduction involved in the functions studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Delineation of immunoreactive, conserved regions in the external glycoprotein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Immunization of mice and rats with purified external glycoprotein gp120 from two divergent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates resulted in the development of seven hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies able to recognize regions of gp120 which are common among divergent strains of HIV-1. These monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with env glycoproteins from one African (Rutz), one Haitian (RF), and three North American viral isolates, namely IIIB, MN, and 451 by either immunoblot or radioimmunoprecipitation assays. All recognized denatured gp120 in immunoblots with the exception of one which required a conformationally intact glycoprotein for reactivity. The gp120 epitopes identified by these antibodies were mapped by screening of an env gene library in the lambda gt11 expression system. Three out of four epitopes were found to reside in the amino-terminal half of gp120 (Cys9 to Cys35, Thr44 to Glu72 and Val108 to Met130), the other was located in the middle region (Thr221 to Ser255). By virtue of their extent of cross-reactivity these reagents might provide a unique resource for the detection of new viral isolates related to HIV-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

T cell receptor/CD3 complex internalization following activation of a cytolytic T cell clone: evidence for a protein kinase C-independent staurosporine-sensitive step.

The fate of the T cell receptor (TcR)/CD3 complex was examined on a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone (KB5.C20) activated either via binding of an anti-TcR monoclonal antibody (mAb) or by a Ca2+ ionophore and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). After binding of the anti-TcR mAb, electron microscopy revealed internalization through coated vesicles followed by slow degradation of the antibody as shown by use of radiolabeled mAb. The influence of activation on TcR/CD3 internalization was analyzed. The Ca2+ ionophore alone had no effect on internalization, whereas PMA induced an accelerated internalization of anti-TcR mAb. PMA-induced internalization was dependent on protein kinase C (PKC) as shown by its absence in PKC-depleted cells or in the presence of the PKC inhibitor staurosporine. Anti-TcR mAb-induced internalization was maintained in PKC-depleted cells, but unexpectedly remained sensitive to inhibition by staurosporine. The monovalent anti-TcR mAb Fab fragment is non-stimulatory for the CTL. It was poorly internalized but its internalization was induced by PMA. Surprisingly, on PKC-depleted cells, the Fab was internalized more readily than in untreated cells and this internalization was sensitive to inhibition by staurosporine. Inhibition of PMA-induced phosphorylation of gamma and epsilon subunits of CD3 was demonstrated after depletion of PKC or in the presence of staurosporine, confirming that PKC function was inhibited in those conditions. Cross-linking of the TcR via plastic-coated anti-TcR mAb led to phosphorylation of CD3 gamma and epsilon and also of zeta, known to be phosphorylated on tyrosines. All of these phosphorylation events were inhibited by treatment with staurosporine. Our results indicate that staurosporine inhibits the receptor internalization induced by anti-TcR mAb by means other than inhibition of PKC, suggesting that other kinases may control a step of this internalization process.

Alkaloids↗