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Biomedical subjects

E Yefenof

Publications and source records attributed to E Yefenof.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Antitumor effects of ketoconazole and trifluoperazine in murine T-cell lymphomas.

In vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of ketoconazole (KTZ), trifluoperazine (TFP), and combinations of both drugs were examined in cell lines established from radiation leukemia virus (RadLV)-induced T-cell lymphomas. KTZ inhibited [3H]-thymidine incorporation in the tumor cells in vitro; 50% inhibition of DNA synthesis was observed at concentrations of 4-7 micrograms/ml. [3H]-thymidine uptake in bone-marrow and spleen cells prepared from healthy mice was also inhibited by KTZ, but 50% inhibition was observed only at a concentration of 50 micrograms/ml. Stimulation of spleen cells with concanavalin A led to an increase in their sensitivity to the inhibition of DNA synthesis by KTZ. The tumor-cell lines varied in their sensitivity to the inhibition of DNA synthesis by TFP, and the effects of TFP on DNA synthesis in bone-marrow and spleen cells were similar to those observed in the tumor cells. Synergistic, additive, or less than additive effects of the drug combinations on the inhibition of DNA synthesis in vitro were observed both in tumor cells and in bone-marrow cells. In vivo experiments were conducted on groups of C57BL/6 (B6) mice that were inoculated s.c. with tumor cells and then treated with i.p. injections of KTZ, TFP or both. Control groups were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Each of the drugs alone as well as their combinations caused a significant delay in the appearance of palpable tumors, a decrease in tumor size, and a marked prolongation of survival. The concentrations of the drugs used in in vivo experiments did not affect the WBC counts in the peripheral blood of healthy mice. KTZ is currently used for the treatment of prostatic cancer because of its inhibitory effect on testosterone biosynthesis. The results of the present study indicate the hormone-independent chemotherapeutic potential of KTZ, TFP, and combinations of the two drugs.

Animals↗

Potentiation of T cell immunity against radiation-leukemia-virus-induced lymphoma by polysaccharide K.

C57BL mice inoculated with radiation leukemia virus (RadLV) develop preleukemic cells long before the onset of leukemia. These cells are potentially immunogenic but fail to elicit an immune response in the host because of the appearance of virus-specific suppressor T cells. We have studied the effect of polysaccharide K (PSK) on the generation of RadLV-specific cell-mediated immune responses in vitro. Long-term exposure to PSK in culture potentiated the ability of immunized T cells to respond to a RadLV-induced lymphoma. It also abrogated the suppressive activity of suppressor T cells and simultaneously boosted the ability of reactive T cells to respond. The dual immunostimulating activity of PSK resulted in the generation of T cytotoxic lymphocytes that could lyse lymphoma cells in vitro. The results suggest that PSK could be used as a prophylactic immune response modifier in preleukemia.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Alternative complement pathway activation by HIV infected cells: C3 fixation does not lead to complement lysis but enhances NK sensitivity.

HIV infected T and monocytic cell lines could activate and fix C3 fragments when incubated in human serum under conditions allowing for activation of the alternative complement pathway. Normal T lymphocytes incubated with HIV could also activate and fix C3. This activity was, at least in part, the property of the virus itself since cell-free HIV could efficiently activate C3. The C3 activating HIV infected cells were resistant to complement-mediated lysis, even after prolonged incubation periods. However, their sensitivity to cell-mediated natural killing increased, presumably due to their interaction with complement receptor bearing NK lymphocytes. The results suggest that the alternative complement pathway may contribute to the depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes during HIV infection in vivo.

Cell Line↗

Activation and fixation of C3 by human B cell lines is enhanced by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Human B cell lines were tested for the capacity to convert C3 to C3b/iC3b through the alternative C pathway (ACP) and to fix the generated C3 fragments. The panel of lines included four Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative Burkitt's lymphomas and their sublines converted with two EBV strains: the prototype B958 (B virus) and the nontransforming P3HR-1 (P virus). Comparison of these groups of parallel lines (derived from a single patient) showed that the EBV-carrying cells were more efficient in activation and fixation of C3. All cell lines activated C3 with higher efficiency when treated with interferon gamma or tumor necrosis factor alpha. After treatment, the comparative relationships between the sublines changed. The treated EBV-negative and the P virus converted sublines showed similar levels of ACP activation, while the B virus carrying sublines were more efficient. The amounts of bound C3 fragments on the activating cells correlated with the ACP efficiencies. In accordance with the elevated ACP activation capacity of the cells after cytokine treatment, the amounts of C3 fragments detected on their surfaces were higher. Among the lines tested, only two (BL28 and Ramos) were sensitive to C-mediated lysis. The lytic sensitivity of these two lines increased after treatment with the cytokines. The results indicate, therefore, that the cytokine-induced increase in ACP activation by Burkitt's lymphoma line is not sufficient to overcome resistance to C lysis.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Potentiation of NK cytotoxicity by antibody-C3b/iC3b heteroconjugates.

The interaction of two Burkitt lymphoma lines, Raji and Rael, with human C and NK cells was analyzed. Raji cells activate the alternative C pathway (ACP) and then bind C3 fragments. Consequently, the cells become more sensitive to lysis by CR3-bearing NK cells but not to C lysis. In contrast, Rael cells are poor ACP activators, do not bind C3 fragments, and are therefore resistant to C-dependent NK lysis. As suggested earlier, the difference between Raji and Rael could be attributed to the presence or absence of CR2, respectively, on their surface. To potentiate C- and NK-dependent lysis of target cells, we generated heteroconjugates composed of a murine antitransferrin receptor mAb and of human C C3b or iC3b. Antibody-C3b conjugates induced C3 deposition on Rael cells and elevated C3 deposition on Raji cells in human serum. Both Raji and Rael cells coated with antibody-C3b conjugates were efficiently lyzed by the cytolytic ACP in human serum. This conjugate had a small enhancing effect on target cell lysis by NK cells which could be markedly increased by combined treatment of the target cell with antibody-C3b conjugate and C5-depleted human serum. On the other hand, antibody-iC3b conjugates efficiently potentiated lysis of target cells by NK cells in the absence of serum. The iC3b-directed cytotoxicity was mediated by CR3-bearing NK effector cells. Anti-C3 but not anti-mouse Ig antibodies abrogated the activity of the antibody-iC3b conjugate. These results further demonstrate that NK cytotoxicity may be potentiated by opsonizing the target cells with C3 fragments and suggest that antibody-C3b/iC3b conjugates could be potent tools for targeting and potentiation of the lytic action of both C and NK cells against tumor cells.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Control of primary and secondary antibody responses by cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for a soluble antigen.

BALB/c mice immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) develop Thy-1+ and CD8+, KLH-specific cytotoxic T cells (Tc). Such Tc cells can lyse TNP-specific B cells activated with TNP-KLH, but not with TNP-ovalbumin. Cytotoxicity was inhibited by anti-H-2K/D antibodies, but not by anti-Ia antibodies, suggesting a major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted killing. Selective enrichment for virgin and memory TNP-specific B cells revealed that the latter cells were relatively resistant to lysis by KLH-specific Tc cells. Depletion of CD8+ T cells from cultures of TNP-specific virgin B cells activated with TNP-KLH and KLH-primed T cells, increased the titer of anti-TNP antibodies in the culture supernatants. This increase was reduced if KLH-primed CD8+ T cells were added to the culture 1 day before its termination. Anti-TNP antibody secretion by memory B cells activated in the same manner was not affected by depletion or addition of CD8+ cells. These results suggest that Tc cells are generated following immunization with a soluble antigen which may participate in the down-regulation of primary B cell responses.

Animals↗

Contribution of CR3, CD11b/CD18 to cytolysis by human NK cells.

The complement receptor CR3 molecule functions in direct intercellular contacts mediated by its beta chain, CD18. Similarly to the Fc receptor (CD16), CR3 is a marker of human natural killer cells. We have shown that opsonization of NK targets with iC3b leads to their increased lytic sensitivity. Opsonization could be achieved by incubating certain B and T cell lines in human serum. The expression of CR2 was a prerequisite for C3 fragment fixation. The CR2 negative cell line, P3HR1 could be opsonized by incubation in human serum when induced to express the EBV envelope glycoprotein gp350. C3b or iC3b could also be deposited artificially on cell surfaces by chemical coupling to surface reactive antibodies. Similarly to the function of macrophages and monocytes, contact with opsonized targets exclusively through the iC3b binding site of CR3 did not seem to trigger NK function. We attempted to clarify the functional role of other CR3 ligands. The beta chain of the molecule, CD18, was essential to the NK effect. The NK targets did not seem to interact with the beta-glucan binding epitope on the alpha chain of CR3, CD11b. On the other hand, the cytolytic function could be enhanced through this epitope with the appropriate ligand.

Antigens, CD↗

Ligands of CR2 do not interfere with C3 fragment fixation or enhanced NK sensitivity of Raji cells treated with human serum.

Raji cells activate the alternative complement pathway (ACP) and fix C3 fragments when incubated in human serum (HS). Earlier experiments have shown that CR2 molecules are involved in this phenomenon and the opsonized cells have elevated sensitivity to the lytic effect of CR3-bearing NK cells. We show here that Raji cells treated with CR2 site-specific ligands, (C3d, OKB-7 and HB-5 mAbs, and a synthetic peptide which binds to CR2) generated and bound C3 fragments after exposure to HS. The elevated lytic sensitivity of HS-treated cells was not altered by the presence of the various CR2 ligands. Thus, the membrane-bound C3 fragments are not fixed at the C3dg receptor binding site.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Requirement of leukocytic cell adhesion molecules (CD11a-c/CD18) in the enhanced NK lysis of iC3b-opsonized targets.

Treatment of Raji or Daudi cells with human serum under conditions which allow the alternative pathway of C activation results in their C3-opsonization and enhanced sensitivity to NK-mediated lysis. The effector lymphocytes have low buoyant density, carry CD16 and HNK1 markers as well as the CD11a-c/CD18 leukocytic cell adhesion molecules. One of these molecules, made up of CD11b-CD18 (alpha- and beta-chains), is also the receptor for iC3b. We studied the role of the cell adhesion molecules in the NK effect on targets with and without C3-fragments. We focused on the E/T interaction of opsonized cells in the presence of anti CD18 mAb. mAb directed to the CD11a molecule caused 0 to 30% inhibition of the lysis of both non-opsonized and opsonized cells whereas the mAb antibody directed to the CD11c molecule had no effect. Reagents reactive with the iC3b binding site of CD11b (alpha-chain of the CR3) molecule did not alter the lysis of non-opsonized targets whereas they abrogated the C3-mediated increment of the Nk effect on opsonized cells. Two mAb preparations, 60.3 and IB4, directed to the CD18 chain shared by the three cell adhesion molecules abrogated in a dose-dependent way the lysis of both non-opsonized and opsonized targets. The 60.3 mAb inhibited the iC3b binding site of CR3 (despite its localization on the alpha-chain) and in accordance it inhibited the binding of lymphocytes to the opsonized target also. The IB4 did not affect this site and in accordance it inhibited only partially the binding of effectors to the C3 fragment carrying Raji, nevertheless it inhibited their lysis. This result indicates that the iC3b-CR3 bridge is insufficient for triggering the lysis in absence of the contact through the adhesion molecules.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Elevated NK-mediated lysis of Raji and Daudi cells carrying fixed iC3b fragments.

Raji and Daudi cells were opsonized with C3b, iC3b, and C3d fragments by using purified complement components. The sensitivity of C3-opsonized cells to lysis mediated by low density blood lymphocytes was studied. Raji and Daudi cells carrying C3b or C3d fragments were lysed with similar efficiencies as the nonopsonized cells. The presence of iC3b on the target surface imposed elevated NK sensitivity. The iC3b-mediated enhancement of NK lysis was inhibited when iC3b fragments or rabbit anti-human C3 antibodies were included into the lytic assays. These results indicate that the iC3b fragments fixed on the targets bind to the CR3 on the lymphocytes. Results obtained in immobilized conjugate-lytic assays showed that iC3b-opsonized targets interact more readily with the lymphocytes. This was reflected by the elevated proportion of lymphocytes that were bound to the iC3b-carrying targets. The proportions of conjugates in which target damage occurred were similar with the control and with the iC3b-carrying cells. It seems therefore that opsonization of targets with iC3b leads to recruitment of effector lymphocytes due to contact with their CR3. However, once the effector-target contact is established, the triggering of lytic function does not seem to be influenced by the iC3b/CR3 bridge.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Lymphocytes stimulated by allogeneic B cell lines cleave the third component of complement and fix C3 fragments. Their nonspecific lytic capacity is elevated against complement receptor type 2-carrying targets.

Human blood lymphocytes stimulated in mixed cultures by allogeneic B cell lines were shown to cleave C3 molecules. The B cell lines were derived from Burkitt lymphoma patients: 1) established from their EBV-negative lymphoma, 2) the EBV-positive sublines converted in vitro, and 3) lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) i.e., B lymphocytes transformed in vitro by EBV. These cell lines differed considerably in their capacity to stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes. The split products of C3 were detected in the supernatants and on the surface of the activated lymphocytes at levels which correlated with the strength of stimulation. Lymphocytes cultured with LCL had the highest levels of thymidine incorporation blast transformation, C3 cleavage, and C3 fragment fixation. Lymphocytes exposed to the EBV-negative Burkitt lymphomas were stimulated weakly and their C3-activating capacity was low. Irrespective of the efficiency of lymphocyte stimulation induced in the cultures, 60 to 70% of the blasts were found to fix C3 fragments. The majority of the lymphocytes which fixed C3 fragments were T blasts that carried the CD3 marker and expressed IL-2R (CD25). CD4 and CD8 cells were represented with equal frequency in the C3-fragment fixing and C3-fragment negative populations. Pre-exposure of the MLC-activated lymphocytes to human serum increased their cytotoxic capacity toward CR type 2-carrying targets. The enhanced lysis was abrogated by F(ab)2 rabbit anti-human C3d or rabbit anti-CR type 2 antibodies. The results suggest that the C3 fragments fixed on the lymphocytes bind to CR on the targets and elevate the avidity of binding between the two interacting cells. This was also indicated by an increase in the frequency of lymphocyte-target conjugates.

Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte↗

Cytofluorometric analysis of thymic interdigitating cells from C57BL/6 mice prior and after leukemogenic X-irradiation.

The thymus is populated by various Ia+ cell populations, including epithelial cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Thymic cell suspensions were stained with an anti-Ia antibody and shown by cytofluorometry to contain a small number of strongly Ia+ cells characterized by a large diameter. The cell population was separated with the aid of the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) and characterized. They were shown to express high levels of membranal Ia antigens; they demonstrated ATPase activity and displayed the ultrastructural features characteristic of the previously described thymic interdigitating cells. C57BL/6 mice were submitted to various regimens of X-irradiation. Whereas exposure to a single dose of X-irradiation was followed by an increase in the percentage of strongly Ia+ cells, exposure to a leukemogenic regimen of fractionated X-irradiation led to a decrease in the percentage and absolute numbers of these cells in the thymus. Of the C57BL/6 mice that were irradiated with fractionated X-irradiation, 77% developed leukemia. Intravenous injection of syngeneic bone marrow one day following the last irradiation or protection of the femur during irradiation prevented both the appearance of leukemia and the disappearance of interdigitating cells. Therefore an inverse correlation between the presence of thymic dendritic cells and the incidence of leukemia in C57BL/6 mice could be demonstrated. These findings are discussed in relation to the putative role of dendritic cells in the thymus.

Animals↗

The elevated natural killer sensitivity of targets carrying surface-attached C3 fragments require the availability of the iC3b receptor (CR3) on the effectors.

Human serum-treated Raji and Daudi cells were shown to bind C3 fragments on their surface as a consequence of their capacity to activate C via the alternative pathway. C3 molecules were detectable on the cell surfaces up to 24 h after serum exposure. The C3 fragment-coated cells showed increased sensitivity to spontaneous lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. The effector lymphocytes involved in the enhanced cytotoxicity were NK cells with low buoyant density, carrying both CR3 and FcR. Blocking of the FcR and CR3 with F(ab)2 fragments from Leu-11c or Leu-15 mAb, respectively, did not influence the lysis of targets that did not carry C3 fragments. In contrast, the accessibility of CR3 on the effector lymphocytes was essential for the C3 fragment-mediated enhancement of cytotoxicity. In addition to the Leu-15 antibody, N-acetyl-D-Glucosamine, a compound known to block iC3b binding to CR3, also abrogated the C3 fragment-imposed effect. Our previous experiments showed that the C3 fragments bind to acceptor sites on target cells. The present experiments show that the C3 fragments fixed onto the target bind to CR3 on effector cells. These data substantiate the hypothesis that the bivalent C3 fragments, which are fixed on the targets, promote their interaction with lytic lymphocytes by bridging the two cells.

Binding Sites↗

Elevated NK sensitivity of Raji cells carrying acceptor-bound C3 fragments.

The majority of cell lines derived from Burkitt lymphomas carry CR2 on their plasma membrane cell lines of haematopoietic origin can activate C3 present in human serum through the alternative pathway. However, only the lines that carry CR2 were shown to bind C3 fragments. This bond can be either fixation to acceptor sites or attachment to the CR. Our studies with Raji cells showed that when the possibility for the covalent acceptor bond was eliminated by using methylamine (MA)- or zymosan-treated serum, considerably lower amounts of C3 were bound. In the zymosan-treated serum C3 fragments are present that can bind to receptors but their capacity for acceptor bond is absent. These results indicate that when Raji cell are incubated in human serum some of the generated C3 fragments are bound to acceptors and a lower proportion through the specific interaction with complement receptors. Pretreatment of the CR2 carrying cell lines with human serum elevated their sensitivity to the lytic effect of human blood lymphocytes. We showed in this work that MA-treated serum did not induce this elevation. Zymosan-treated serum under conditions that excluded activation of the residual native C3 molecules, i.e., in the presence of EDTA, did not have the enhancing effect either. These results suggest that the increased lytic efficiency imposed by human serum was due to cleavage of C3 molecules by Raji and fixation of the C3 fragments by acceptor sites. Natural killer cells carry CR3; therefore it is likely that the attached C3 fragments bind also to the effector cells. The C3 molecules could elevate thereby the avidity between the target and the lytic lymphocytes. The observation that C3 fragments are not bound to the surface of CR2 negative lines in spite of their capacity to activate C3 suggests that the receptor molecule is either involved in the activation and/or serves also as an acceptor.

Complement C3↗

Comparison of monocyte and complement mediated haemolysis of human A1 erythrocytes: the relationship between antibody, target and effector concentrations in the induction of lysis.

Haemolysis of sensitized A1 erythrocytes by blood monocytes or complement was measured under conditions where antibody, complement, target and effector concentrations varied relatively to each other. When sensitization was limiting, cell-mediated lysis remained constant with increasing red cell number. When antibody was in excess and complement was limiting, complement-mediated lysis remained constant with increasing red cell number. These effects could be explained if a non-homogeneous expression of A1 antigens on individual erythrocytes is assumed. Considering that the capacity of antibody to bind to the antigen is random and uniform, at high dilution of antibody only those erythrocytes with sufficiently high antigen density will be appropriately sensitized for cell-mediated lysis. At antibody excess binding sites are saturated, and therefore the number and distribution of cell bound antibodies reflect the number and distribution of antigens. The fact that under such conditions increasing target concentrations did not reduce lysis induced by a suboptimal complement concentration also argues for an uneven antigen distribution among erythrocytes.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Clonal analysis of radiation leukemia virus-induced leukemic and preleukemic murine cells.

Clonality of radiation leukemia virus (RadLV)-induced thymic lymphomas was determined by detection of rearrangements in the genetic locus coding for the beta chain of the T-cell receptor (T beta). Unique T beta rearrangements were detected in four of six lymphomas. Two of the T beta-rearranged thymic lymphomas and two in which such a rearrangement was not detected had a biallelic deletion of C beta 1. With an anti-RadLV monoclonal antibody it was found that 1-2 days after virus inoculation more than one-third of the cells in the thymus were infected by the virus. The frequency of virus-positive cells gradually declined and persisted at 1-2% until the appearance of a clonal lymphoma at which time virtually all the cells in the thymus were virus positive. Transfer of thymocytes from a single, preleukemic mouse 21 days post-virus inoculation into several adoptive recipients resulted in donor-type thymic lymphomas in the majority of the mice. T beta rearrangement analysis revealed that these lymphomas were clonal and derived from different potentially leukemic (preleukemic) cells in the thymus of the donor mouse. Eleven of 15 lymphomas had a biallelic deletion of C beta 1. These results suggest that clonal, RadLV-induced thymomas are selected from an oligoclonal, RadLV-infected preleukemic T-cell population.

Alleles↗