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D Benjamin

Publications and source records attributed to D Benjamin.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Human B cell lines express the interferon gamma gene.

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production has been attributed exclusively to activated T cells and NK cells. We sought to determine whether human B cells express IFN-gamma. We studied 28 B cell lines including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)+ normal lymphoblastoid B cell lines (N = 7), EBV+ B cell lines derived from patients with Burkitt's lymphoma with (N = 6) or without AIDS (N = 8), as well as seven EBV- B cell lines. All cell lines were studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We detected constitutive expression of IFN-gamma in every B cell line. The tumor promoters PMA and teleocidin appeared to enhance this IFN-gamma expression in nearly every B cell line. The 517 bp amplicons spanning the entire protein coding region of the IFN-gamma mRNA from three representative lines were sequenced, definitively establishing that B cell IFN-gamma is identical to IFN-gamma from activated T cells and is not altered by derivation of the B cell lines from AIDS patients or by EBV status. Detection of IFN-gamma in the entire panel of EBV+ and EBV- cell lines suggests that the IFN-gamma gene is broadly expressed by human B cells. Our data imply that human B cells can be activated to produce IFN-gamma, further enmeshing B cells in the dynamics of immunoregulation.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Human B-cell TNF-beta microheterogeneity.

The production of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta by human B-cell lines was studied at both the molecular and biological levels. The 24 B-cell lines studied included EBV+ cell lines (n = 13), EBV- cell lines (n = 8), and AIDS-associated B-cell lines (AABCL) (n = 3) which are EBV+/HIV-. Whereas radioimmunoprecipitation using TNF-alpha antisera detected 17-kDa TNF-alpha as expected, similar studies with anti-TNF-beta antisera revealed TNF-beta microheterogeneity. In the AABCL three bands with approximate MW of 26, 24, and 22 kDa were detected under reducing conditions, and in the non-AABCL, two bands only with 26 and 22 kDa were observed. To determine whether the size heterogeneity of TNF-beta is due to glycosylation, TNF-beta deglycosylation studies were done in two AABCL (PA682BM-2, PA682PE-1) and one non-AABCL (IM-1178). As control, the normal lymphoblastoid B-cell line RPMI-1788, which is known to secrete TNF-beta with MW 25 and 20 kDa, has been used. Deglycosylation studies using N-glycanase + neuraminidase + O-glycanase reduced the various bands in all cell lines to one band with 18.6 kDa, which is compatible with the TNF-beta backbone. In attempt to determine whether the differential glycosylation of TNF has any functional significance, all 24 cell lines were studied for TNF secretion and for TNF neutralization by monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies to TNF-alpha and TNF-beta. Constitutive secretion of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta has been detected only in the three AABCL. Following activation with the tumor promoter teleocidin, the secretion of both TNFs has been triggered in 2/8 EBV- cell lines and in 8/13 EBV+ non-AABCL. Using rabbit polyclonal antibodies to human TNF-alpha and to human TNF-beta, only little if any neutralization of these TNFs has been shown. Our data suggest that the differences in glycosylation of B-cell-derived TNFs may account for the incomplete neutralization, and may influence the cytotoxic biological activity of this lymphokine.

Amidohydrolases↗

Size heterogeneity of human lymphotoxin is due to O-linked glycosylation.

Lymphotoxin (LT), a cytokine with antiviral and antitumor activities, is produced by activated T- and B-lymphocytes. The molecular weight (MW) of this glycoprotein has been reported to be 24 and 25 kDa for the mature molecule and 18.6 kDa for the recombinant form. Here we report that various human T- and B-cell lines as well as freshly stimulated T and B cells release LT molecules of different sizes, ranging from 23 to 27 kDa by SDS polyacrylamide gele electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis. Although individual cell lines produce LT of characteristic size, no firm association between the different MW forms with either the B or the T cell lineage could be established. The size heterogeneity of LT is due to O-linked glycosylation since only the removal of both N- and O-linked sugar residues but not removal of N-linked sugar residues alone, reduces the size of all forms to around 18.6 kDa, which corresponds to the calculated MW of the recombinant form of human LT.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Restricted T cell expression of IL-2/IFN-gamma mRNA in human inflammatory disease.

It has been difficult to demonstrate functionally distinct T cell populations in humans on the basis of cytokine secretion. As previous investigators have examined the T cell cytokine profile from immunized animals, we examined whether Th1 or Th2 type T cells could be identified in the peripheral blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune compartments from subjects with or without inflammatory diseases. Using limiting dilution analysis and growth with PHA and IL-2/IL-4, we directly cloned a total of 177 T cells from the peripheral blood and CSF of seven subjects, four with inflammatory disease and three control subjects, and examined the cytokine message profile after stimulation with ionomycin and PMA. We found that most clones from both the peripheral blood and CSF express IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma, or TNF-alpha cytokine mRNA after activation with ionomycin and PMA. All T cell clones tested produced TNF-alpha mRNA, and all but 14 produced IFN-gamma mRNA. As reported previously, Th0 cells, which produced IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-5 mRNA, were found in most subjects. In striking contrast, Th1 cells, which expressed IL-2 and IFN-gamma but not IL-4 or IL-5 mRNA, were present in both peripheral blood and CSF of subjects with inflammatory disease but not found in peripheral blood or CSF of subjects without systemic inflammation. Th2 cells, expressing IL-4 and IL-5 but not IFN-gamma or IL-2 mRNA, were not found in any subject. These data present the first evidence for Th1 T cell clones in humans that may be associated with systemic inflammation.

Antigens, CD↗

Common T-cell receptor V beta usage in oligoclonal T lymphocytes derived from cerebrospinal fluid and blood of patients with multiple sclerosis.

T-cell populations were investigated in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. Individual T cells were directly cloned from the cerebrospinal fluid and blood before in vitro expansion, and their clonotypes were compared by Southern blot analysis of the rearrangement patterns of their T-cell receptor beta chain and gamma chain genes. This allowed the determination of whether two T cell clones shared the same T-cell receptor and thus arose from identical, clonally expanded (oligoclonal) progenitor T cells. As an extension of previous studies, oligoclonal T-cell clones were identified in both cerebrospinal fluid and blood populations in 5 of 9 patients with inflammatory demyelinating disease among a total of 486 blood and cerebrospinal fluid T-cell clones. In contrast, no clonally expanded T-cell populations were found among a total of 424 clones derived from either blood of 4 normal control subjects or blood and cerebrospinal fluid of 8 patients with other neurological diseases. Analysis of T-cell receptor V beta genes among 4 oligoclonal T-cell populations derived from 3 patients with multiple sclerosis demonstrated common usage of the V beta 12 gene segment. These data suggest that oligoclonal T cells share similar specificities and that clonal expansion may have resulted from specific stimulation by an antigen. Moreover, identical clones between blood and cerebrospinal fluid were observed in 3 of 9 patients with demyelinating disease, thus providing further evidence of an equilibrium between peripheral and central nervous system immune compartments.

Adolescent↗

Heterogeneity in interleukin (IL)-1 receptors expressed on human B cell lines. Differences in the molecular properties of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta binding sites.

IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta although distantly related at the primary sequence level, bind to the same Mr 80,000 IL-1 receptor on various cell types. Several lines of evidence indicate, however, that the IL-1 receptor on B cells and T cells differ. By binding experiments with 125I-IL-1, marked heterogeneity in IL-1 receptor binding was observed in 13 of 24 B cell lines studied. This was classified into three categories: (I) in nine cell lines, 125I-IL-1 alpha binding revealed high (kD = 10(-10) M) and low affinity (kD = 10(-8) M) IL-1 alpha receptors, whereas 125I-IL-1 beta binding showed one class only with intermediate affinity (kD = 10(-9) M); (II) in three cell lines selective binding with 125I-IL-1 beta was observed; (III) in one cell line only, 125IL-1 alpha and 125I-IL-1 beta bind to a single class of IL-1 receptors as has been described for most cell types. Cross-linking with 125I-IL-1 alpha or 125I-IL-1 beta demonstrated their specific binding to Mr 80,000 and to Mr 68,000 in cell lines in categories I and III, whereas for those in category II, binding to the IL-1 receptor was confined to 125I-IL-1 beta. The expression of two subsets of IL-1 alpha receptors but only one class of IL-1 beta receptors was further confirmed in kinetic studies. Internalization at 37 degrees C demonstrated that only 19% of IL-1 beta was internalized and that binding with IL-1 alpha was entirely cell surface. Flow cytometry studies showed that IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta do not influence B cell surface antigen expression, suggesting that the ability of IL-1 to influence B cell proliferation is not mediated via direct binding to the IL-1 receptor only.

Antigens, CD↗

Human B cells express two types of interleukin-1 receptors.

Several reports demonstrate that interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), although distantly related at the primary sequence level, bind to the same receptor. This raises the question of what separation, if any, there might be between their biologic activities. Receptor binding assays and cross-competition studies in three Epstein Barr virus (EBV) positive cell lines showed that a subset of IL-1 receptors may bind IL-1 alpha preferentially and that a separate subset may bind IL-1 beta preferentially. Crosslinking studies with 125I-IL-1 alpha or 125I-IL-1 beta demonstrated the expression of both relative molecular mass (Mr) 80,500 IL-1 receptor, known to be T cell-specific, and Mr 69,500 IL-1 receptor, recently detected on B-cell lineage only. Whether the high affinity binding sites correspond to Mr 80,500 and the low affinity binding sites to Mr 69,500 remains to be elucidated.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Elevated plasma concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, a putative endogenous inhibitor of the tritiated imipramine binding site, in depressed patients.

The plasma concentration of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, a putative endogenous inhibitor of the site labeled by tritiated imipramine, was measured by a radial immunodiffusion assay in 36 normal human volunteers and 51 drug-free patients who fulfilled DSM-III criteria for major depression. The depressed patients exhibited a significant elevation in the plasma concentration (+/- SEM) of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (79.6 +/- 4 mg/dL) when compared with the age- and sex-matched controls (61.7 +/- 3 mg/dL). Fourteen of the 51 patients with major depression had plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations that were higher than the highest values of the normal controls. There was no relationship between plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations and sex or affinity of platelet tritiated imipramine binding of either the normal volunteers or the depressed patients. In the depressed patients, there was a significant positive correlation between plasma concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and postdexamethasone plasma cortisol concentrations, and two measures of depression severity, the Montgomery-Asberg Rating Scale for Depression and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, and a significant negative correlation with age. These data provide the first evidence of alterations of an endogenous inhibitor of the tritiated imipramine binding site/serotonin transporter in depressed patients.

Adult↗

T-T cell interactions are mediated by adhesion molecules.

The mechanism by which T cells signal other T cells is not well defined. This was investigated by studying the ability of circulating T cells to induce the proliferation of autologous T cell clones. Peripheral blood T cells activated by cross-linking of the CD3/T cell receptor complex, which increased the expression of cell adhesion molecules LFA-1, LFA-3 and ICAM-1, induced the proliferation of autologous T cell clones. Irradiated antigen-activated peripheral blood T cells could also induce the proliferation of T cell clones which could not recognize that antigen. T-T cell activation required cell contact, was not major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted and was blocked by monoclonal antibodies directed against adhesion molecules CD2 and LFA-3 but was not blocked by antibody to class II MHC determinants. As CD2 is the natural ligand for LFA-3, increased expression of T cell surface adhesion molecules LFA-1, ICAM-1 and particularly LFA-3 during an inflammatory response may rapidly recruit T cells that are activated through the CD2 pathway. These results allow a simplified model to explain how relatively few antigen/MHC-specific T cells can recruit large numbers of non-antigen-specific T cells in the generation of an inflammatory response and postulates a novel role of the CD2 molecule in T cell immune function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Frequency analysis of CD4+CD8+ T cells cloned with IL-4.

The coexpression of both CD4 and CD8 molecules on T cells occurs in the peripheral blood at a low frequency and can be generated transiently on CD4+ peripheral blood T cells by treatment with lectin which induces CD8 biosynthesis and cell surface expression. We have cloned T cells in a nonselective fashion from normal subjects in the presence of either IL-2, rIL-4 and IL-2, or rIL-4 and have examined the phenotypic expression of CD4 and CD8. The addition of excess rIL-4 increased the expression of CD8 on the surface of CD4+ T cell clones but did not increase CD4 expression on CD8+ T cell clones. There were three patterns of CD4 and CD8 expression observed: high density CD8 with no CD4 expression; high density CD4 with low CD8 expression; or high density CD4 with higher cell surface CD8 expression which was regulated by the presence of rIL-4. CD4+ T cell clones originally cultured in IL-2 and rIL-4 and subsequently grown in IL-2 alone exhibited decreased expression of the CD8 molecule. The increased expression of CD8 did not correlate with NK activity or lectin-dependent cytotoxicity in an antigen independent system. In addition, rIL-4 alone or in combination with IL-2 appeared to accelerate the growth curve of T cell clones as compared to IL-2 alone. These results show that IL-4 can upregulate CD8 expression on CD4+ T cell clones while not effecting CD4 expression on CD8+ T cell clones. As class I MHC is the ligand for the CD8 molecule, expression of CD8 induced by IL-4 on CD4+ T cells may allow for increased nonspecific cell to cell contact during the course of an inflammatory response.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

Differential effects of teleocidin on TNF alpha receptor regulation in human B cell lines: relationship to coexpression of IL-2 and IL-1 receptors and to lymphokine secretion.

We have studied 23 human B cell lines for TNF alpha receptor reactivities and TNF secretion. High affinity TNF alpha receptors with a wide range of 200 to 7200 receptor sites/cell and an average kD of approximately 10(-10) M were detected in 22 of 23 cell lines. Following activation with the tumor promoter teleocidin, changes in TNF alpha receptor binding were classified into three categories: (I) Downregulation of TNF alpha receptors (n = 15); (II) Upregulation of TNF alpha receptors (n = 5); and (III). No change of TNF alpha receptor binding (n = 3). Constitutive secretion of TNF was detected in 2 cell lines only, and teleocidin triggered TNF secretion in an additional 10 cell lines in category I. Although this suggests possible association between TNF alpha receptor downregulation and secreted TNF, 48-hr kinetic studies demonstrated that TNF alpha receptors were downregulated at approximately 1 hr after activation with teleocidin, whereas TNF secretion was detected only at 24 hr. TNF alpha receptor regulation did not seem to be influenced by secreted IL-1 and/or B cell IL-2-like molecule as well, but correlates with coexpression of IL-1 and IL-2 receptors. Dissecting the complexity between these three types of lymphokine receptors and their corresponding lymphokines suggest that TNF alpha receptor regulation is influenced by IL-2 receptors and/or IL-1 receptors coexpressed on the same cell, and that cross-talk between B cell lymphokine receptors exists.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Expression of low-, intermediate-, and high-affinity IL-2 receptors on B cell lines derived from patients with undifferentiated lymphoma of Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's types.

IL-2 receptors on T cells exist in at least three forms which differ in their ligand-binding affinity. The low-affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) consists of the 55-kDa Tac protein (p55 alpha), the intermediate-affinity site corresponds to the 70-kDa molecule (p70 beta), and the high-affinity IL-2R consists of a noncovalent heterodimeric structure involving both p55 alpha and p70 beta. We studied 24 B cell lines (8 EBV-negative and 16 EBV-positive) for IL-2R expression in the presence or absence of the tumor promoter, teleocidin. 125I-IL-2 radioreceptor binding assays and crosslinking studies demonstrated the sole expression of p55 alpha in EBV-negative cell lines only, whereas p55 alpha present in EBV-positive cell lines was always associated with p70 beta to construct high-affinity IL-2R. p70 beta was not detected in any of the EBV-negative cell lines, but was expressed on most of the EBV-positive cell lines (13 of 16). Our data also indicate that the expression of p55 alpha and p70 beta by radiolabeling correlates with their expression in flow cytometry, and that a large excess of p55 alpha is required to construct high-affinity IL-2R. Coexpression of p55 alpha and p70 beta on human B cells contributed to constructing high-affinity IL-2R hybrid complex as shown by (i) rapid association rate contributed by p55 alpha and slow dissociation rate by p70 beta; (ii) teleocidin's ability to induce p55 alpha on cell lines which express p70 beta only, resulting in appearance of high-affinity IL-2R; (iii) blocking p55 alpha by anti-Tac mAb in cell lines which constitutively express high-affinity IL-2R eliminated both high- and low-affinity components. The existence of low, intermediate, and high IL-2R on human B cells bears important future implications for understanding the mechanism of IL-2 signaling and the role of IL-2 in B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation.

B-Lymphocytes↗

The effects of 5-HT1B characterizing agents in the mouse elevated plus-maze.

Although the serotonergic system has been implicated in the modulation of anxiety states, the specific receptor subtypes that mediate these states require clarification. The effects of drugs that act preferentially at 5-HT1B receptors were evaluated on the behavior elicited in the elevated plus-maze, an animal model of anxiety. Variations in the intensity of light affected mouse behavior in the plus-maze; lower light intensity increased the entries to and time spent on the open arm in a manner similar to that seen with stress-attenuating circumstances. Opposite effects were observed in high light-intensity, similar to effects seen under elevated stress conditions. Chlordiazepoxide produced increased entries and time spent on the open arm, whereas pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) produced opposite effects. The preferential 5-HT1B agents TFMPP and mCPP exhibited a profile similar to PTZ. The effects of TFMPP in the plus-maze were reversed by chlordiazepoxide, but not by the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil, which suggests that this effect is not directly mediated by benzodiazepine receptors. The decreased entries and time spent on the open arm of the maze following TFMPP or mCPP administration was possibly mediated by an antagonistic action at 5-HT1B receptors, since this effect was reversed by the selective 5-HT1B agonist CGS 12066B. The present study further demonstrates the utility of mouse behavior in the elevated plus-maze as a model for identifying anxio-modulatory substances.

Animals↗

Maternal drug use and risk of childhood nonlymphoblastic leukemia among offspring. An epidemiologic investigation implicating marijuana (a report from the Childrens Cancer Study Group).

The Childrens Cancer Study Group conducted a case-control study designed to assess in utero and postnatal exposures in children with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL). Analyses were performed for reported maternal use of medications and drugs in the year preceding and during the index pregnancy of the 204 case-control pairs. An 11-fold risk (P = 0.003) was found for maternal use of mind-altering drugs just prior to or during the index pregnancy. Compared with ANLL cases not exposed to marijuana, exposed cases were significantly younger at diagnosis of ANLL (P less than 0.01) and were more often of the myelomonocytic and monocytic subtypes (P less than 0.01). Use of antinausea medication for more than 11 weeks was also associated with a significantly elevated relative risk of 2.81 and a dose-response relationship was noted (P = 0.05 for trend). These results suggest that maternal drug use of marijuana may have an etiologic role in childhood ANLL and may be specific for morphologically defined subgroups.

Adolescent↗

Mechanisms of immune memory. T cell activation and CD3 phosphorylation correlates with Ta1 (CDw26) expression.

The Ta1 (CDw26) Ag distinguishes a subset of circulating T lymphocytes that is the major population proliferating to recall Ag challenge. Unlike receptors for growth factors such as IL-2 and transferrin, the Ta1 Ag is present on T cell lines and clones irrespective of cell cycle. The appearance of Ta1 on T cells that respond to recall Ag allowed us to investigate activation requirements that may be associated with T cell immune memory. Ta1+ peripheral blood T cells were induced to proliferate by mAb recognizing either the invariant chains of the TCR, or by pairs of mitogenic antibodies directed to the CD2 molecule. In contrast, Ta1- cells were not stimulated by these antibodies. In addition, Ta1-cells did not proliferate maximally after addition of the phorbol ester PMA in combination with the calcium ionophore Ionomycin, suggesting that the intracellular targets of these agents may not be fully active. Anti-CD3-induced elevation of intracellular calcium levels was equivalent in the two subpopulations, suggesting that calcium mobilization mechanisms were intact. In contrast, PMA-induced phosphorylation of TCR CD3 chains was significantly greater in Ta1+ cells as compared to Ta1- T cells. Taken together, our results indicate that Ta1 expression, which is associated with T cell activation and memory, may be causally related to TCR and CD2-mediated activation mechanisms. The PMA inducible TCR phosphorylation in Ta1+ memory cells associated with their increased ability to proliferate after CD3/TCR or CD2 stimulation suggests that intracellular phosphorylation events may be causally associated with T cell immune memory.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

Human B cell lines can be triggered to secrete an interleukin 2-like molecule.

To determine whether human B cells can be triggered to secrete interleukin 2 (IL-2), 19 tumor cell lines derived from patients with undifferentiated lymphomas of Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's types and 6 normal lymphoblastoid cell lines were tested. Cells were grown in the presence or absence of the new tumor promoter teleocidin, and culture supernatants were assayed for IL-2 activity using the standard CTLL-2 assay. Teleocidin (10 ng/ml) triggered IL-2 secretion in 7/8 (87%) EBV-negative lymphoma cell lines of American origin and in 6/6 (100%) normal lymphoblastoid cell lines, but in only 1/6 (16%) EBV-positive tumor cell lines of American origin. Teleocidin had no effect on 5/5 (0%) African Burkitt's cell lines. IL-2 secretion was not detected in control supernatants. IL-2 secretion correlated with the induction of IgM secretion and was linked to both EBV status and karyotype. The following similarities in the functional biological characteristics of T cell and B cell IL-2 suggest that B cell IL-2 is not a factor which mimics IL-2 activity in the CTLL-2 assay: (i) neutralization of IL-2 by anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibody (DMS-1); (ii) elution of IL-2 following its adsorption to CTLL-2 cells; (iii) determination of the MW of IL-2 by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis; and (iv) ability of B cell IL-2 to support T cell proliferation and blocking of this activity by anti-tac monoclonal antibody. cDNA probes for T cell IL-2, however, did not detect IL-2 mRNA in B cells. The cell lines were also found to constitutively express IL-2 receptors detected by anti-tac monoclonal antibody, and to secrete soluble IL-2 receptors measured by ELISA. Our results imply that under certain circumstances, B cells can be triggered to secrete IL-2 or an IL-2-like molecule and thus influence T cell activation and proliferation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗