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Biomedical subjects

H J Ryser

Publications and source records attributed to H J Ryser.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Selective killing of Fc-receptor-bearing tumor cells through endocytosis of a drug-carrying immune complex.

A soluble immune complex was used as a drug carrier targeted to Fc-receptor-positive cells. Two receptor-positive tumor cell lines, WEHI-3 and M5076, were exposed to methotrexate-human serum albumin conjugate (MTX-HSA) in the presence and absence of anti-HSA antiserum. Both cell types were killed by 30 nM MTX when the drug conjugate was given in the presence of antiserum but were totally unaffected in the absence of antiserum. Drug-free HSA given with antiserum had no effect. Both cell lines responded similarly despite their marked difference in phagocytotic activity. One of the two lines, M5076, is defective in MTX transport and hence resistant to free MTX. Since this line would not be affected by MTX released extracellularly from MTX-HSA, its susceptibility implies that MTX is released inside cells, after endocytosis of the complex, and that endocytosis circumvents the transport defect. Two cell lines lacking Fc receptors (CHO and L929) were not influenced by the drug complex. The pharmacologic effect is mediated by a specific ligand-receptor interaction, since Fc receptor-positive cells are protected by an excess of unconjugated HSA and by the addition of a small amount of staphylococcal protein A, which binds to the Fc portion of IgG. These data demonstrate that Fc receptors can be exploited for cellular drug delivery using a common antigen-antibody complex as a drug carrier.

Animals↗

Heparin interaction with cultured cells: possible role of fibronectin in uncoupling surface binding and endocytosis.

Cellular uptake of 3H-heparin by cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells does not follow the pattern that would be expected on the basis of binding kinetics. It is essentially non-saturable and its low pinocytotic index is consistent with fluid-phase endocytosis, while surface binding is saturable and suggests the presence of specific receptors. Most of the surface-bound heparin is released into the medium and only minimal amounts are internalized when temperature is shifted from 0 degree to 37 degrees C. This uncoupling of surface binding and endocytosis may be due to the binding of heparin to an external surface macromolecule that is only loosely attached to the plasma membrane, and may therefore escape endocytosis. Fibronectin is a likely candidate to provide that type of binding site. Heparin has been found to bind specifically to a number of mammalian cells (Kjellen et al., 1977; Glimelius et al., 1978; Shanberge et al., 1976; Fabian et al., 1978), but no attempt was made in those studies to distinguish between surface binding and cellular uptake. Heparin is transported into cells when complexed to other macromolecules (Fabian et al., 1978; Shen and Ryser, 1981; Morad et al., 1982) and does then exert some cellular effects (Shen and Ryser, 1981). Despite the wide clinical use of heparin, little is known about its membrane transport and intracellular effects, although endocytosis of other polyanions has been shown to inhibit phago-lysosomal fusion in macrophages (Geisow et al., 1980).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The cellular uptake of horseradish peroxidase and its poly(lysine) conjugate by cultured fibroblasts is qualitatively similar despite a 900-fold difference in rate.

When horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is conjugated to poly(L-lysine) of molecular weight (MW) 13,000, its transport into cultured L929 fibroblasts in 1 hour at 37 degrees C is increased 918-fold. The kinetics of uptake are linear with time and concentration, reflecting a process of nonreceptor-mediated adsorptive endocytosis. Neither HRP-poly(Lys) conjugate nor free poly(Lys) of any size cause any increase in fluid phase endocytosis. All evidence indicates that the covalently bound poly(Lys) increases the binding of HRP to the cell surface and that this adequately accounts for an increased internalization occurring at a steady rate. In the absence of Ca++, both surface binding and uptake of the conjugate, but not of free HRP, are decreased. Cytochalasin B does not significantly inhibit the transport of either form of HRP. The half-lives of HRP and HRP-poly(Lys) are 7.6 and 5.6 hours, respectively, when measured over a period of 12 hours. Electron microscopic analysis of cells that have ingested comparable amounts of HRP shows that the intracellular localization of free and conjugated HRP are comparable and that both are found inside the same array of structures. Thus HRP, which binds very poorly to the cell surface and is considered a fluid-phase marker for the "contents" of pinocytotic vesicles, and HRP-poly(Lys), which binds very strongly to the cell surface and is considered a membrane marker for adsorptive endocytosis, are taken up along the same endocytotic pathway. Moreover, despite the fact that neither markers are transported by receptor-mediated endocytosis, both are seen in structures that were described as receptosomes. It appears, therefore, that the pathways utilized in receptor-mediated transport are available to all other forms of pinocytosis.

Animals↗

Poly(L-lysine) has different membrane transport and drug-carrier properties when complexed with heparin.

Methotrexate (MTX) conjugated to a Mr 3000 poly(L-Lys) markedly inhibits the growth of Pro-3 MtxRII5-3 Chinese hamster ovarian cells, a mutant line known to be drug resistant because of defective MTX transport. In these cells, membrane transport of [3H]MTX-poly(Lys) is sharply decreased by addition of 0.5- to 2.5-fold heparin but remains at 15-20% of control in 2.5- to 50-fold heparin excess. Heparin addition at first markedly inhibits but, at high concentration, restores the growth inhibitory effect of MTX-poly(Lys). In excess heparin, MTX-poly(Lys) is transported as a heparin complex. Because reduced transport (15-20%) is sufficient to cause a 90% inhibition of cell growth, MTX-poly(Lys) apparently gains pharmacologic potency when compared to heparin. This gain can be related to a greater inhibitory effect on dihydrofolate reductase and to a different mode of transport. The inhibitory effect of MTX-poly(Lys) on dihydrofolate reductase in vitro is increased nearly 100-fold in the presence of excess heparin but remains less than that of free MTX. Unlike that of MTX-poly(Lys), the transport of MTX-poly(Lys)-heparin has the characteristics and efficiency of a receptor-mediated process. It proceeds by endocytosis but is not, as in the case of uncomplexed conjugate, followed by the intracellular generation of pharmacologically active breakdown products that would account for cytotoxicity. These observations raise the possibility that at least part of the MTX-poly(Lys)-heparin reaches cellular dihydrofolate reductase in the form of macromolecular complexes that escape from entrapment in endocytotic structures. Our data illustrate a way to overcome drug resistance by taking advantage of the specific uptake of a macromolecular drug carrier. They offer a method of drug delivery in which heparin improves selectivity and decreases the unwanted toxicity inherent to polycationic carriers.

Animals↗

Conjugation of methotrexate to poly (L-lysine) as a potential way to overcome drug resistance.

Methotrexate (MTX) was conjugated through a carbodiimide-catalyzed reaction to poly (L-lysines) of various molecular sizes at a ratio of approximately one molecule per 27 lysyl residues. These conjugates were tested on cultured, Chinese hamster, ovary cells known to be drug resistant because of a deficient methotrexate transport. The cellular uptake of conjugated drug far exceeded the uptake of free drug in both drug sensitive and resistant lines. The conjugated drug inhibited the growth of the transport-deficient cells at concentrations at which free drug had no effect. The conjugate failed to inhibit dihydrofolate reductase in vitro. This and other evidence indicate that the strong pharmacologic effect of the MTX-poly(Lys) conjugate is due to the intracellular--presumably intralysosomal--hydrolysis of its polymeric backbone followed by the release inside the cell of an active form of MTX. This conclusion is supported by data obtained with conjugates using poly(D-lysine) as a carrier. This optical isomer is not susceptible to common proteolytic enzymes and MTX-poly(D-Lys) has not growth inhibitory effect whatever on either transport proficient or deficient CHO-cells. MTX-poly(L-lys) can thus be seen as a lysosome-activated drug.

Animals↗

Conjugation of poly-L-lysine to albumin and horseradish peroxidase: a novel method of enhancing the cellular uptake of proteins.

The carbodiimide-catalyzed conjugation of a 6700 molecular weight fragment of poly-L-lysine to radiolabeled human serum albumin or to horseradish peroxidase enhances the membrane transport of each protein into cultured mouse fibroblasts approximately 11- and 200-fold, respectively. At least 50% of the peroxidase activity remained after conjugation. Trypsinization and carbamylation of the two conjugates demonstrates that the enhancement of their cellular uptake is related to their poly-L-lysine content. Simple addition to the medium of comparable amounts of free poly-L-lysine has no effect on the transport of either native protein. Addition of poly-L-ornithine (molecular weight 200,000) at 3-30 microgram/ml, a condition known to cause enhancement of 125I-labeled human serum albumin uptake by mouse sarcoma cells, has no visible effect on the cellular uptake of native horseradish peroxidase. The intracellular localization of the enzyme-poly-L-lysine conjugate can be demonstrated cytochemically by either light or transmission electron microscopy. A concentration of conjugate that increases the uptake more than 200-fold does not cause any detectable morphological change suggestive of cell toxicity. Furthermore, because poly-L-lysine is an excellent substrate for intracellular proteolytic enzymes, it can be expected to be broken down and reutilized in the cell.

Biological Transport↗

Conjugation of methotrexate to poly(L-lysine) increases drug transport and overcomes drug resistance in cultured cells.

Methotrexate and [(3)H]methotrexate were conjugated through a carbodiimide-catalyzed reaction to a 70,000 molecular weight poly(L-lysine) in molar ratios of approximately 13 to 1. The cellular uptake of labeled conjugate was far in excess of the uptake of free drug in cells that were either proficient or deficient in methotrexate transport. The conjugate markedly inhibited the growth of PRO(-)3 Mtx(RII) 5-3 Chinese hamster ovary cells, which are known to be drug resistant by virtue of a deficient methotrexate transport. The cells, however, were not inhibited by the same concentrations of free poly(Lys) and free drug. The 100-fold difference in drug concentration needed to inhibit the mutant cells and their corresponding wild type was totally abolished by exposing the methotrexate-resistant cells to methotrexate-poly(Lys). That the drug is carried into the resistant cells as intact drug-poly(Lys) is evident also from the fact that the conjugate is rendered inactive by brief trypsinization in vitro. Because the conjugate fails to inhibit dihydrofolate reductase (5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate: NADP(+) oxidoreductase; EC 1.5.1.3) in vitro, it must be concluded that the strong growth inhibitory effect of the conjugate is due to the intracellular hydrolysis of its polymeric backbone, followed by the release inside the cell of a pharmacologically active form of methotrexate. Our date show that in methotrexate-resistant cells the intracellular release of active drug after uptake of conjugate is of the same order of magnitude as the uptake of free drug by transport-proficient cells and, hence, that the drug resistance due to deficient transport can be totally overcome.

Biological Transport↗

Polynucleotide aggregates enhance the transport of protein at the surface of cultured mammalian cells.

It was known that polycationic polymers enhance the entry of macromolecules into cells. We now show that polynucleotides may have similar effects, when used as large aggregates. Poly(1-vinylcytosine):polyinosinic acid, an inducer of interferon production in human cells, can cause at 40 mug/ml a 75-fold enhancement of albumin uptake by sarcoma cells in culture. Most of this activity (85%) is related to the presence of aggregates retained by 0.65 mu millipore membranes. The prior finding that enhancers of albumin transport have increasing effects with increasing molecular sizes may thus extend to complexes of supramolecular sizes.

Adsorption↗

Cellular uptake of soluble and aggregated ferritin: distinction between pinocytosis and phagocytosis.

Cellular uptake of ferritin amounting to 0-5 mug/mg cell protein or more can be measured colorimetrically on the basis of ferritin-iron content. 131I-serum albumin, soluble ferritin and aggregated ferritin used in equimolar concentrations are taken up differently by Sarcoma SI80 cells in culture. The net uptakes in 2 h at 37 degrees C are 0-065, 4-3 and 24-7 mug/mg cell protein or 0-93, 8-0 and 45-7 mumol, respectively. Albumin uptake is not inhibited by a 26-fold molar ferritin excess but is significantly inhibited by a 43-fold excess. The transport mechanism of the ferritins differs from that of albumin in that it is significantly inhibitable by 2 times 10(-4) M monoiodoacetate. Soluble ferritin contains small aggregates which are removed by filtration through Millipore membranes of 0-05, 0-1 and 0-22 mum. When the 0-1-mum filtrate is re-examined, uptake is no longer inhibited by iodoacetate. Since it can be inferred from other work that albumin is taken up by pinocytosis and ferritin aggregates by phagocytosis, the difference in susceptibility to inhibition is proposed as a way to distinguish pinocytosis from phagocytosis. Ferritin may form larger visible aggregates in culture medium. The transport mechanism of this aggregated ferritin differs from that of soluble unfiltered ferritin in that it causes concomitant enhancement of albumin uptake. Albumin transported by virtue of this effect becomes partially susceptible to iodoacetate. Thus, in addition to a distinction between pinocytosis and phagocytosis, our data single out 2 forms of albumin transport and 3 forms of ferritin transport.

Azides↗

Uptake of protein by mammalian cells: an underdeveloped area. The penetration of foreign proteins into mammalian cells can be measured and their functions explored.

Although it is accepted on the basis of biological and morphological evidence that mammalian cells will take up macromolecules, little is known about the kinetics, the specificity, and the functions of this uptake. With labeled proteins used as models, it is found that the transport proceeds at very low rates, requires little energy, and is markedly enhanced by polybasic compounds. Molecular charge and size are important factors: cells clearly favor cationic macromolecules of large molecular weights. Neither factor, however, can fully account for the selectivity detected in the uptake of different proteins. Ingested albumin undergoes rapid and extensive degradation. This fact suggests that macromolecules have only a limited chance to express their biological activity in target cells, a finding that is relevant also to the role of foreign nucleic acids and the possibility of achieving genetic transformation in animal cells. There are concrete indications, however, that in spite of their short half-life, proteins can act as carriers, as precursors of active agents, and as regulators of metabolic functions in host cells. They may also be important in the control of growth and differentiation. These functions of exogenous proteins are still largely unexplored.

Adenoviridae↗