Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Peschle

Publications and source records attributed to C Peschle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Unilineage megakaryocytic proliferation and differentiation of purified hematopoietic progenitors in serum-free liquid culture.

Cellular and molecular analysis of megakaryocytopoiesis has been hampered thus far by the lack of pure and abundant megakaryocyte (MK) cell populations. In this study, hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), stringently purified from peripheral blood, were induced to megakaryocytic differentiation/maturation in serum-free liquid suspension culture treated with a growth factor cocktail (interleukin-3 [IL-3], c-kit ligand, and IL-6) and/or recombinant mpl ligand (mpIL). In particular, (1) the growth factor cocktail induced the growth of a 40% MK population, ie, 4 x 10(4) cells at day 0 generated 2 x 10(5) MK at terminal maturation; (2) further addition of mpIL increased the MK purity level to 80% with a final yield of 4 x 10(5) MKs; (3) treatment with mpIL alone resulted in a 97% to 99% MK population, with a mild increase of cell number (to 1.5 x 10(5) cells). In mpIL-supplemented culture, morphological evaluation indicated the presence of putative mononuclear MK precursors and then of mature polynucleated platelet-forming MKs, peaking at days 5 and 12, respectively. Membrane phenotype analysis showed a gradual decrease of CD34+ HPCs, coupled with an inverse increase of MK-specific antigens (eg, CD61/62/42b) starting before mature MK detection by morphology analysis. In situ hybridization showed the expression of MK-specific von Willebrand gene in both MK precursors and mature MKs. Furthermore, MKs synthesize and secrete low but significant amounts of both IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Comparative culture studies were performed on purified bone marrow CD34+/38hi or CD34+/38lo cells stimulated by mpIL alone. Both populations generated a highly enriched MK progeny (62% and 93% MKs at day 12 of culture, respectively) but showed either little or no proliferation. In conclusion, the purified peripheral blood HPC differentiation culture system allows for growth of a relatively large number of highly purified or "pure" megakaryocytic precursors and then mature MKs, thus providing an in vitro experimental tool to dissect the cellular and molecular basis of megakaryocytopoiesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Inhibition of erythro-myeloid differentiation by constitutive expression of a DNA binding-deficient c-myb mutant: implication for c-myb function.

The c-myb proto-oncogene encodes a nuclear protein involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and development. Myb protein contains a DNA binding and a transactivating domain thought to mediate its biologic properties. The DNA binding domain consists of three repeats (R1, R2, and R3), each containing a highly conserved motif of tryptophan residues. A c-myb mutant (DR1-myb) lacking the last 46 amino acids of R1 and 23 amino terminal residues of R2, a region homologous to the ADA-2 yeast transcriptional adaptor, lost DNA binding ability, but remained able to transactivate the human heat-shock promoter. Transfection of murine 32D and murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cell lines with DR1-myb caused inhibition of cellular differentiation induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), respectively. A second c-myb mutant (D-ADA2-myb) lacking the first 23 amino acids of R2, also lost DNA binding and transactivation activity, but did not inhibit DMSO-induced differentiation of MEL transfected cells. These findings suggest that deletion of R1 activates a DNA binding-independent mechanism of c-myb function, which may involve interaction of Myb with cellular factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Overexpression of DR-nm23, a protein encoded by a member of the nm23 gene family, inhibits granulocyte differentiation and induces apoptosis in 32Dc13 myeloid cells.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia evolves in two clinically distinct stages: a chronic and a blast crisis phase. The molecular changes associated with chronic phase to blast crisis transition are largely unknown. We have identified a cDNA clone, DR-nm23, differentially expressed in a blast-crisis cDNA library, which has approximately 70% sequence similarity to the putative metastatic suppressor genes, nm23-H1 and nm23-H2. The deduced amino acid sequence similarity to the proteins encoded by these two latter genes is approximately 65% and includes domains and amino acid residues (the leucine zipper-like and the RGD domain, a serine and a histidine residue in the NH2- and in the COOH-terminal portion of the protein, respectively) postulated to be important for nm23 function. DR-nm23 mRNA is preferentially expressed at early stages of myeloid differentiation of highly purified CD34+ cells. Its constitutive expression in the myeloid precursor 32Dc13 cell line, which is growth-factor dependent for both proliferation and differentiation, results in inhibition of granulocytic differentiation induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and causes apoptotic cell death. These results are consistent with a role for DR-nm23 in normal hematopoiesis and raise the possibility that its overexpression contributes to differentiation arrest, a feature of blastic transformation in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Coordinate expression and developmental role of Id2 protein and TAL1/E2A heterodimer in erythroid progenitor differentiation.

The Id proteins and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins play major roles in specifying cell fate decisions in diverse biologic settings. A potential role for Id and TAL1/E2A bHLH genes in hematopoiesis has been suggested by studies on immortalized cell lines. However, it is uncertain whether these observations reflect normal hematopoiesis. We have investigated the expression pattern of Id2 and TAL1/E2A genes in liquid suspension culture of purified hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPCs) undergoing erythroid or granulopoietic differentiation in the first culture week and maturation to terminal cells in the second week. In quiescent, freshly purified HPCs, Id2 mRNA is detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), whereas TAL1 and E2A mRNAs are not. At the onset of erythroid differentiation, Id2 mRNA is downregulated, while E2A and TAL1 mRNAs are concomitantly upregulated: their expression is further increased at erythroblast level. Conversely, Id2 is not downmodulated in granulopoietic culture, except for a late decline at day 10 to 12, while TAL1 and E2A are only transiently induced in the first week of granulopoietic differentiation. The expression pattern of the TAL1/E2A heterodimer, as evaluated by mobility shift assay, is consistent with RT-PCR results (except for lower levels of the heterodimer in late erythroid maturation). TAL1 protein level, analyzed by Western blot, shows a pattern consistent with gelshift results. Functional experiments were performed on purified HPCs treated with phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to Id2 or TAL1 mRNA. The results are strictly consistent with the expression studies: anti-Id2 oligomer (alpha-Id2) causes a significant dose-dependent increase of erythroid colony formation, whereas alpha-TAL1 induces a selective dose-related inhibitory effect on erythroid colonies, as compared with untreated or scrambled oligomer-treated control HPCs. Finally, murine and human glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-Id2 polypeptides compete the TAL1/E2A-specific DNA binding activity when added to the nuclear extracts derived from erythroid culture cells, thus indicating biochemical and suggesting functional interaction of Id2 with the TAL1/E2A complex. These novel observations indicate a coordinate expression and function of an inhibitory Id protein (Id2) and a stimulatory bHLH/bHLH heterodimer (TAL1/E2A) in normal erythroid differentiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

IFN-beta selectively down-regulates transferrin receptor expression in human peripheral blood macrophages by a post-translational mechanism.

We evaluated the effect of IFN-beta on the expression of transferrin receptor (TfR) during the in vitro differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes to macrophages. IFN-beta exerted a strong inhibitory effect on the expression of TfR. As little as 0.1 IU/ml was sufficient to induce a 40% reduction of transferrin (Tf) binding sites on 7-day cultured macrophages. Scatchard plot analysis revealed that this impaired Tf binding in IFN-beta-treated macrophages was not due to a decreased affinity of the TfR for its ligand but to a reduction in the number of cell surface TfR. IFN-gamma did not exert any significant effect on the expression of TfR, even though it was capable of partially reverting the inhibitory effect of the IFN-beta on Tf binding. To understand the mechanism by which IFN-beta inhibited TfR expression, we examined the expression of TfR mRNA, 125I-Tf binding to detergent-solubilized cells, and TfR cellular distribution. The results of these experiments showed that IFN-beta caused neither a significant alteration of the expression of TfR mRNA nor a decrease of the total content of TfR molecules. Moreover, immunofluorescence analysis of TfR localization indicated that TfR was clustered in an intracellular compartment in IFN-beta-treated macrophages. These data demonstrate that IFN-beta is capable of dramatically down-modulating TfR in macrophages by post-translational mechanisms (i.e., by sequestering this receptor in intracellular compartments).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Modulation of retinoblastoma gene in normal adult hematopoiesis: peak expression and functional role in advanced erythroid differentiation.

The retinoblastoma (RB) gene specifies a nuclear phosphoprotein (pRb 105), which is a prototype tumor suppressor inactivated in a variety of human tumors. Recent studies suggest that RB is also involved in embryonic development of murine central nervous and hematopoietic systems. We have investigated RB expression and function in human adult hematopoiesis--i.e., in liquid suspension culture of purified quiescent hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) induced by growth factor stimulus to proliferation and unilinage differentiation/maturation through the erythroid or granulocytic lineage. In the initial HPC differentiation stages, the RB gene is gradually induced at the mRNA and protein level in both erythroid and granulopoietic cultures. In late HPC differentiation and then precursor maturation, RB gene expression is sustained in the erythroid lineage, whereas it is sharply downmodulated in the granulocytic series. Functional studies were performed by treatment of HPC differentiation culture with phosphorothioate antisense oligomer targeting Rb mRNA; coherent with the expression pattern, oligomer treatment of late HPCs causes a dose-dependent and selective inhibition of erythroid colony formation. These observations suggest that the RB gene plays an erythroid- and stage-specific functional role in normal adult hematopoiesis, particularly at the level of late erythroid HPCs.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

In vitro human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection of purified hematopoietic progenitors in single-cell culture.

Uni- or multi-lineage suppression of hematopoiesis is observed in the majority of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. The mechanism(s) underlying these abnormalities is not understood: particularly, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells (HPCs/HSCs) is highly controversial. We report that CD34+ HPCs from adult peripheral blood (PB) are in part CD4+ and susceptible to in vitro HIV infection. Primitive CD34+ HPCs were approximately 80% purified from PB. Double labeling for CD34 and CD4 membrane antigens was shown for 5% to 20% of the purified cells, thus suggesting their potential susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. The enriched HPC population, challenged with purified or unpurified HIV-1 strains, was cloned in unicellular methylcellulose culture. The single colonies generated by erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E), granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM), and granulocyte-erythroid-macrophage-megakaryocyte colony-forming units (CFU-GEMM) were analyzed for the presence of HIV, ie, for gag DNA, tat mRNA, and p24 protein by PCR, reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. In the first series of experiments incubation of HPCs with HIV-1 at multiplicities of infection (MOI) ranging from 0.01 to 10 TCID50/cell consistently yielded an 11% to 17% infection efficiency of BFU-E-generated colonies, thus indicating the sensitivity of HPCs to in vitro HIV infection. An extensive series of experiments was then performed on HPCs challenged with HIV at 0.1 MOI level. In the initial studies proviral gag sequences were detected in 9.2% of 121 analyzed CFU-GM colonies. In further experiments tat mRNA was monitored in 17% and 23% of BFU-E and CFU-GM colonies, respectively, but never in CFU-GEMM clones. Finally, 12% of CFU-GM clones and rare erythroid bursts were shown to be positive for the p24 viral protein. In control studies, purified HPCs grown in liquid suspension culture were induced to terminal unilineage erythroid, monocytic, or granulocytic differentiation: monocytes were consistently HIV-infected, whereas mature-terminal erythroblasts and granulocytes were not. Our observations indicate that a minority of primitive HPCs, but not of the multipotent type, is susceptible to in vitro HIV infection. These observations may reflect on the in vivo hematopoietic impairment in AIDS patients; more important, they provide an experimental model for studies on HIV hematopoietic infection and in vitro tests for anti-HIV HSC gene therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Promyelocytic leukemia-specific PML-retinoic acid alpha receptor fusion protein interferes with erythroid differentiation of human erythroleukemia K562 cells.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a t(15;17) chromosomal translocation with breakpoints within the retinoic acid alpha receptor (RAR alpha) gene on 17 and the PML gene, which encodes a putative transcription factor, on 15. A PML-RAR alpha fusion protein is formed as a consequence of the translocation. We show here that expression of the PML-RAR alpha protein in K562 erythroleukemia cells results in a reduced expression of erythroid differentiation markers and a reduced sensitivity to the erythroid differentiative action of heme. Overexpression of RAR alpha, but not of PML, elicited a similar inhibition of K562 erythroid differentiation. These findings indicate that overexpression of either RAR alpha or PML/RAR alpha interferes with erythroid differentiation and support the hypothesis that RAR alpha is involved in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis and alteration of the RAR alpha signaling by PML/RAR alpha is implicated in the promyelocytic leukemogenesis.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1995

Prognostic significance of interleukin 6 serum levels in patients with ovarian cancer.

High levels of IL-6 were found in 50% of 114 patients with primary ovarian cancer. IL-6 sensitivity was lower than that of CA 125, and the combination of both assays did not increase the sensitivity of CA 125 alone. However, elevated IL-6 serum levels were correlated with a poor prognosis since patients with low IL-6 levels had a better survival than patients with high IL-6 levels (P = 0.0009). Multivariate analysis revealed that IL-6 positivity has an independent value.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The costimulatory molecule B7 is expressed on human microglia in culture and in multiple sclerosis acute lesions.

B7 is a costimulatory molecule which is expressed on antigen-presenting cells and which plays a pivotal role in T cell activation and proliferation. To elucidate mechanisms regulating intracerebral immune responses, expression of B7 was examined in cultured microglial cells and in brain tissue from control and multiple sclerosis patients. Using immunocytochemical and polymerase chain reaction techniques, we show that B7 was expressed in cultured microglial cells from the human embryonic brain. Microglia also bound the soluble form of the B7 receptor CTLA-4 (CTLA-4-Ig). B7 gene expression and binding of anti-B7 antibodies and CTLA-4-Ig increased after treatment with interferon-gamma. B7 was not inducible in human astrocytes. Human microglia expressed other costimulatory molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, LFA-1 and LFA-3. In sections of multiple sclerosis brains, B7 immunoreactivity was detected on activated microglia and infiltrating macrophages within active lesions. In chronic lesions, only perivascular cells were stained. B7 immunoreactivity was undetectable in sections from Alzheimer's disease or normal brain tissue. These data suggest that B7 may be involved in T cell activation and lesion development in multiple sclerosis and that the regulated expression of B7 on microglia may contribute to the local stimulation of T cell proliferation and effector functions.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Overexpression of the zinc finger protein MZF1 inhibits hematopoietic development from embryonic stem cells: correlation with negative regulation of CD34 and c-myb promoter activity.

Zinc finger genes encode proteins that act as transcription factors. The myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) gene encodes a zinc finger protein with two DNA-binding domains that recognize two distinct consensus sequences, is preferentially expressed in hematopoietic cells, and may be involved in the transcriptional regulation of hematopoiesis-specific genes. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis of human peripheral blood CD34+ cells cultured under lineage-restricted conditions demonstrated MZF1 expression during both myeloid and erythroid differentiation. Sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the CD34 and c-myb genes, which are a marker of and a transcriptional factor required for hematopoietic proliferation and differentiation, respectively, revealed closely spaced MZF1 consensus binding sites found by electrophoretic mobility shift assays to interact with recombinant MZF1 protein. Transient or constitutive MZF1 expression in different cell types resulted in specific inhibition of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity driven by the CD34 or c-myb 5'-flanking region. To determine whether transcriptional modulation by MZF1 activity plays a role in hematopoietic differentiation, constructs containing the MZF1 cDNA under the control of different promoters were transfected into murine embryonic stem cells which, under defined in vitro culture conditions, generate colonies of multiple hematopoietic lineages. Constitutive MZF1 expression interfered with the ability of embryonic stem cells to undergo hematopoietic commitment and erythromyeloid colony formation and prevented the induced expression of CD34 and c-myb mRNAs during differentiation of these cells. These data indicate that MZF1 plays a critical role in hematopoiesis by modulating the expression of genes involved in this process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Differential expression and functional role of GATA-2, NF-E2, and GATA-1 in normal adult hematopoiesis.

We have explored the expression of the transcription factors GATA-1, GATA-2, and NF-E2 in purified early hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) induced to gradual unilineage erythroid or granulocytic differentiation by growth factor stimulus. GATA-2 mRNA and protein, already expressed in quiescent HPCs, is rapidly induced as early as 3 h after growth factor stimulus, but then declines in advanced erythroid and granulocytic differentiation and maturation. NF-E2 and GATA-1 mRNAs and proteins, though not detected in quiescent HPCs, are gradually induced at 24-48 h in both erythroid and granulocytic culture. Beginning at late differentiation/early maturation stage, both transcription factors are further accumulated in the erythroid pathway, whereas they are suppressed in the granulopoietic series. Similarly, the erythropoietin receptor (EpR) is induced and sustainedly expressed during erythroid differentiation, although beginning at later times (i.e., day 5), whereas it is barely expressed in the granulopoietic pathway. In the first series of functional studies, HPCs were treated with antisense oligomers targeted to transcription factor mRNA: inhibition of GATA-2 expression caused a decreased number of both erythroid and granulocyte-monocytic clones, whereas inhibition of NF-E2 or GATA-1 expression induced a selective impairment of erythroid colony formation. In a second series of functional studies, HPCs treated with retinoic acid were induced to shift from erythroid to granulocytic differentiation (Labbaye et al. 1994. Blood. 83:651-656); this was coupled with abrogation of GATA-1, NF-E2, and EpR expression and conversely enhanced GATA-2 levels. These results indicate the expression and key role of GATA-2 in the early stages of HPC proliferation/differentiation. Conversely, NF-E2 and GATA-1 expression and function are apparently restricted to erythroid differentiation and maturation: their expression precedes that of the EpR, and their function may be in part mediated via the EpR.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Combined vitamin D3/retinoic acid induction of human promyelocytic cell lines: enhanced phagocytic cell maturation and hybrid granulomonocytic phenotype.

Studies on the effect of retinoic acid (RA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin (D3) on the differentiation of leukemic cells have provided insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hematopoietic cell differentiation. We have evaluated the combined effect of these chemical inducers on the differentiation of HL-60 and AML-193 promyelocytic leukemia cell lines. Simultaneous RA+D3 addition potentiated leukemic cell maturation up to mature phagocytic cells. Interestingly, AML-193 cells induced with D3 and RA displayed a typical neutrophilic morphology while exhibiting properties specific to monocytic cells, e.g., high expression of CD14 membrane antigen, capacity to bind bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and monocytic-specific esterase activity; this hybrid granulomonocytic (GM) phenotype was not observed upon initial incubation with one inducer and later addition of the other. Parallel control studies were performed with purified normal GM progenitors, triggered by interleukin 3+GM-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) in FCS-rich or -free clonogenic culture, by GM-CSF+M-CSF in FCS-rich clonogenic culture, and by M-CSF in liquid suspension culture. The progenitors grown in the first condition generate exclusively G clones, even upon addition of D3 and/or RA. The progenitors grown in the second and third culture conditions generate either G and M clones (second culture condition) or a population of cells composed by a majority of monocytes (third culture condition); the D3 addition did not modify this differentiation pattern, whereas RA or RA+D3 addition elicited a marked inhibition of monocytic differentiation. These observations suggest that the development of a hybrid GM phenotype is restricted to the progeny of bipotent GM leukemic precursors.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1994

Coordinate expression and proliferative role of HOXB genes in activated adult T lymphocytes.

We investigated the expression of HOXB cluster genes in purified phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T lymphocytes from normal adult peripheral blood by reverse transcription PCR and RNase protection. These genes are not expressed in quiescent T cells, except for barely detectable B1 RNA. After the PHA stimulus, HOXB gene activation initiates coordinately as a rapid induction wave in the 3'-->5' cluster direction (i.e., from HOXB1 through B9 genes). Thus, (i) expression of the foremost 3'-located B1 and B2 genes peaks 10 min after PHA addition and then rapidly declines, (ii) activation of B3, B4, and B5 begins 10 min after PHA addition and peaks at later times (i.e., at 120 min for B5), (iii) B6, B7, and B9 are expressed at a low level starting at later times (45 to 60 min), and (iv) B8 remains silent. Treatment of PHA-activated T lymphocytes with antisense oligonucleotides to B2 or B4 mRNA causes a drastic inhibition of T-cell proliferation and a decreased expression of T-cell activation markers (i.e., interleukin 2 and transferrin receptors). Similarly, treatment of CEM-CCRF, Peer, and SEZ627 T acute lymphocytic leukemia cell lines with anti-B4 oligomer markedly inhibits cell proliferation. Finally, T cells stimulated by a low dosage of PHA in the presence of 1 microM retinoic acid show a marked increase of both HOXB expression, particularly B2, and cell proliferation. These studies provide novel evidence on the role of HOX genes in adult cell proliferation. (i) Coordinate, early activation of HOXB genes from the 3'-->5' cluster side apparently underlies T-cell activation. (ii) The expression pattern in adult PHA-activated T cells is strikingly similar to that observed in retinoic acid-induced teratocarcinoma cells (A. Simeone, D. Acampora, L. Arcioni, P. W. Andres, E. Boncinelli, and F. Mavilio, Nature (London) 346:763-766, 1990), thus suggesting that molecular mechanisms underlying HOX gene expression in the earliest stages of development may also operate in activated adult T lymphocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

c-kit ligand reactivates fetal hemoglobin synthesis in serum-free culture of stringently purified normal adult burst-forming unit-erythroid.

We have analyzed the reactivation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis under rigorous in vitro conditions, ie, in mature erythroblasts generated by erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) stringently purified from normal adult peripheral blood and grown in fetal calf serum(FCS)-free semisolid or liquid phase culture. In clonogenetic dishes, graded amounts of c-kit ligand (KL) were added together with saturating levels of erythropoietin (Ep) and variable amounts of interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (IL-3/GM-CSF), ie, high or low level, or no IL-3/GM-CSF addition. In all conditions, KL induced a sharp, dose-dependent increase in the percentage of F cells and HbF content from nearly normal levels (< 10% and < 2.5%, respectively, at 0.1 and 1 ng/mL) up to 40% to 50% and 10% to 15% at 100 to 200 ng/mL. This increase was not associated with significant differences of burst number or stage of maturation at the time of analysis (as evaluated on the basis of percent mature erythroblasts and Hb content per cell). However, the KL-induced reactivation of HbF synthesis was strictly and directly correlated with a sharp increase of colony size, ie, cell number per burst. Addition of large amounts of IL-3 and GM-CSF (10 to 100 U and 1 to 10 ng/mL, respectively) significantly potentiated the KL-induced reactivation of HbF, as compared with low levels (0.1 U and 0.01 to 0.1 ng) or no addition of these growth factors: this increase was highly significant at low KL doses (ie, 1 to 10 ng/mL). Single-burst analysis showed that the KL-induced HbF reactivation occurs homogeneously in the erythroid colonies within each of these culture conditions. We have analyzed the effect of KL in liquid phase BFU-E culture treated with the IL-3/GM-CSF/Ep combination at sequential times until terminal erythroid maturation: KL causes a sharp increase in the percentage of F cells and HbF content in all stages of maturation, whereas the IL-3/GM-CSF/Ep combination alone has a markedly lower effect. These results suggest that KL plays a key role in the reactivation of HbF synthesis in adult life, whereas IL-3/GM-CSF potentiate this effect at low KL levels. The KL-induced HbF reactivation is seemingly related to an enhanced proliferation of erythroid progenitors in the erythropoietic differentiation pathway.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Production of hemolymphopoietic cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, colony-stimulating factors) by normal human astrocytes in response to IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Astrocyte-enriched populations were established from human embryonic brain analyzed for their ability to synthesize cytokines potentially relevant for mechanisms of inflammation and immunity in the brain. Unstimulated astrocytes did not secrete significant IL-6, IL-8, macrophage CSF (M-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), or granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF), as determined by specific ELISA and/or bioassay. With the exception of M-CSF mRNA, transcripts for the above factors were not detected in unstimulated astrocytes. On exposure of human astrocytes to IL-1 beta, high levels of IL-6, IL-8, M-CSF, G-CSF, and GM-CSF mRNAs were detected; moreover, active secretion of all the above cytokines was demonstrated. TNF-alpha was also able to stimulate IL-6, IL-8, M-CSF, GM-CSF, and G-CSF synthesis and secretion, but was generally less potent than IL-1 beta. No IL-3 mRNA or protein was detected in unstimulated or cytokine-treated astrocytes. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNAs and proteins were not detected in unstimulated astrocytes, but were present in very small amounts after stimulation with TNF-alpha/IL-1 beta. No IL-6, M-CSF, GM-CSF, G-CSF, or IL-8 were induced by IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha in early primary cultures, which mainly contain undifferentiated neuronal/glial progenitor cells. These studies demonstrate for the first time the production of multiple cytokines by normal human astrocytes stimulated in culture by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. The capacity of human astrocytes to synthesize and release cytokines active on hemolymphopoietic cells supports the concept that these cells play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses in a variety of brain pathologies.

Astrocytes↗
PubMed1992

Developmental switching of messenger RNA expression from the human alpha-globin cluster: fetal/adult pattern of theta-globin gene expression.

The alpha-globin gene cluster contains four functional globin genes, zeta, alpha 2, alpha 1, and theta. The developmental regulation of the embryonic zeta and fetal/adult alpha 2- and alpha 1-globin genes is well characterized at the level of protein synthesis. The developmental pattern of the theta-globin gene is not well characterized due to the inability to detect its encoded protein. Direct analysis of the globin switching at the steady-state messenger RNA (mRNA) level has been hampered by the difficulty in obtaining quantities of embryonic and early fetal mRNA sufficient for analysis. We analyzed the relative levels of the steady-state zeta-, alpha-, and theta-globin mRNAs in yolk sac in 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-week postconception embryonic liver, and in cord and adult blood reticulocytes. We show that the switch in the alpha-globin gene cluster from the embryonic to fetal/adult pattern of expression begins at 5 to 6 weeks of gestation. Both the theta- and alpha-globin genes show similar patterns of developmental control that are reciprocal to zeta. alpha-globin RNA is barely detectable or undetectable at 5 weeks, and increases in the 6- to 8-week period, while theta-globin mRNA shows a parallel increase at 5 to 8 weeks postconception and is expressed in cord blood and adult reticulocytes. These data show that the theta-globin gene represents a fetal/adult gene, albeit expressed at a low level.

Adult↗