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H Nakauchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Nakauchi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Duplication of the CD8 beta-chain gene as a marker of the man-gorilla-chimpanzee clade.

In earlier studies we have found that the gene encoding the CD8 beta chain is duplicated in man. We demonstrate here that the duplicated genes are both located on chromosome 2. We have also studied the moment of the duplication event relative to the evolution of higher primates by using genomic DNA of a panel of primates. Our data strongly suggest that duplication occurred after the orangutan lineage had split and before the chimpanzee, gorilla, and man clade diverged, some 8-9.5 million years ago. This result makes the CD8 beta-chain gene duplication a convenient marker for the study of the evolution of higher primates.

Animals↗

CD4dull+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in murine bone marrow.

CD4+ cells comprise approximately 3% to 6% of murine bone marrow (BM) cells. The majority are CD4dull+, but there are two distinct sub populations: CD4 brightly positive Gr-1- cells (CD4hiGr-1-) and CD4+ Gr-1+ cells (CD4loGr-1lo). CD4hiGr-1- cells are considered to be mature T cells by cell surface antigen expression and morphology. CD4loGr-1lo cells, which comprise approximately 0.6% of the BM cells, express small amount of B220 and Thy1 antigens. Interestingly, colony-forming units (CFU)-spleen and CFU-C are not enriched in this population. However, when injected into lethally irradiated mice, CD4loGr-1lo cells were shown to differentiate into T-cell, B-cell, and myelo-monocyte lineages when assayed 26 weeks after transplantation. Furthermore, donor-derived CD4loGr-1lo cells were present in the recipients' BM at least 16 weeks after transplantation. These observations suggest that murine CD4loGr-1lo cells in BM have self-renewal capability and retain the ability to differentiate into at least three lineages in long-term hematopoiesis.

Animals↗

Different effects of substitutions at residues 224 and 228 of MHC class I on the recognition of CD8.

Previous studies indicated that weak xenoresponse to HLA class I by mouse T cells is due to the inefficient interaction of mouse CD8 with the alpha 3 domain of HLA class I. The present study using chimeric H-2Kb molecules with recombinant alpha 3 domain between H-2Kb and HLA-B7 as well as single amino acid mutants of H-2Kb demonstrated that each substitution at residues 224 and 228 affects recognition of CD8-dependent mouse CTL clones. On the other hand, reactivity of IL-2-producing H-2Kb-specific T cell hybridoma transfected with mouse CD8 alpha was abrogated by substitution at residue 224 but not by that at residue 228. This indicates that the substitution at residue 228 affects recognition of CD8-dependent CTL but does not critically affect binding of CD8 to MHC class I molecules, although residue 224 abrogates binding of CD8. The model structure of the alpha 3 domain of H-2Kb suggests that the substitution at residue 224 induces conformational change of CD8 binding loop, whereas minimum structure change by the substitution at residue 228 is expected. It is therefore speculated that minimum structure change of CD8 binding loop by substitution at residue 228 may influence binding affinity of CD8, which abrogates recognition of CD8-dependent CTL but not IL-2 production of the CD8-dependent T cell hybridoma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequential analysis of hematopoietic reconstitution achieved by transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells.

We confirmed that murine hematopoietic stem cells express the c-kit molecule but not lymphohematopoietic lineage markers. These lineage marker-negative c-kit-positive (Lin- c-kit+) cells were further divided according to the uptake of rhodamine-123 (Rh-123). Approximately 1,000 Lin- c-kit+ rhodamine-123dull cells, which contained 4.0 +/- 1.3 and 12.5 +/- 1.9 day 8 and day 12 spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S), respectively, rescued the 100% of lethally irradiated mice. One third of these cells formed colonies in the presence of interleukin-3 plus erythropoietin. The time course of the hematopoietic reconstitution of this primitive hematopoietic stem cell fraction was investigated by using Ly-5 congenic mice. Although myeloid cells and B lymphocytes were detected in the peripheral blood 2 to 3 weeks after transplantation, T lymphocytes were not detected until 4 weeks after transplantation. It is generally assumed that myeloid cells and B lymphocytes grow in the bone marrow and that T lymphocytes must pass through the thymus. For the first 2 to 3 weeks after transplantation, donor-type T lymphocytes were not dominant in the thymus, and most donor type cells were CD4/CD8 double-negative or double-positive (including CD4low and CD8low). Four weeks after transplantation, donor-type T lymphocytes were dominant and the ratio of CD4/CD8 cells had recovered to the normal pattern. However, significant numbers of T lymphocytes were detected in the peripheral blood at this stage. Sequential analysis of hematopoietic reconstitution from primitive stem cells demonstrates that myeloid and B-lymphoid lineages occurred earlier than that of the T-lymphoid lineages.

Animals↗

Enrichment of interleukin-2-responsive natural killer progenitors in human bone marrow.

Natural killer (NK) cells can be cultured in interleukin-2 (IL-2)-containing medium from selected human bone marrow (BM) cells obtained after the elimination of mature T and NK cells. To isolate and characterize IL-2-responsive NK progenitors in the selected BM cells, we investigated the expression of IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) on these cells. Neither CD25 (IL-2R alpha) nor IL-2R beta antigen was observed on the selected BM cells before culture. However, CD25+ cells without detectable levels of IL-2R beta antigen appeared 24 hours after culture in IL-2-containing medium. Cells were sorted from each fraction of the selected BM cells 24 hours after culture after staining with anti-CD33, anti-CD34, and anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies. The generation of NK cells (CD3- CD56+ cells) and NK activity were observed only from the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell fraction after culture in IL-2-containing medium. The frequency of IL-2-responsive NK progenitors relative to the fraction was 1/231 (95% confidence range, 1/156 to 1/289), which corresponded to the frequency relative to the total number of selected BM cells when the frequency relative to the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell-fraction was converted according to the percentage of these cells in the total number of selected BM cells. These results indicated that IL-2-responsive NK progenitors were enriched in the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell fraction.

Bone Marrow↗

Changes in hematopoiesis-supporting ability of C3H10T1/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts during differentiation.

To investigate the functional change of stromal cells along with differentiation, we used a differentiation-inducible mouse embryo fibroblast cell line, C3H10T1/2 (10T1/2). Stably determined preadipocyte and myoblast cell lines were established after a brief exposure of 10T1/2 cells to 5-azacytidine. These cell lines terminally differentiated into adipocytes and myotubes, respectively, under appropriate conditions. The hematopoiesis-supporting ability of each 10T1/2-derived cell line was examined by coculture with FACS-sorted murine hematopoietic stem cells (Thy-1lo c-kit+ Lin-). The number of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) was slightly reduced after 7 days of culture with parent 10T1/2 fibroblasts, whereas a marked increase in CFU-GM number was observed when the cells were cultured on preadipocytes. Mature adipocytes and myogenically determined cell lines, on the other hand, did not support CFU-GM growth. Further, Northern analysis showed that the preadipocyte cell line acquired the ability to produce a significant amount of stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leukemia inhibitory factor, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNAs in response to IL-1 or lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Terminal adipocytic differentiation resulted in reduced ability to express these cytokine mRNAs. Similarly, highest IL-6 activity was detected in the supernatant of preadipocyte culture, whereas adipocytes did not secrete IL-6 even after IL-1 stimulation. Interestingly, hematopoiesis-nonsupporting myoblasts and myotubes also expressed abundant SCF mRNA, suggesting that SCF, per se, may not be sufficient for stem cell growth and survival. The 10T1/2-derived cell lines could provide a valuable tool to aid in the analysis of stromal cell development and the search for novel stromal factors.

Adipose Tissue↗

Clonal deletion of thymic mature T cells induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin B in murine fetal thymus organ culture.

The present study aims at investigating the intrathymic maturational stage of T cells at which clonal deletion can be induced. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was added to organ cultures of murine fetal thymus lobes at various time points of culture, and V beta 8-expressing cells were assayed on day 14. V beta 8 low-expressing (V beta 8lo) cells were reduced to 40-60% of the control receiving no SEB, though the reduction was ambiguous when SEB was given on day 13. In marked contrast, V beta 8 high-expressing (V beta 8hi) cells were virtually completely deleted in all groups including the group given SEB on day 13. Most of the V beta 8hi cells that were deleted by 24 h of treatment with SEB were shown to be of the CD4+8- mature phenotype, though CD4-8+V beta 8hi cells were also deleted. It was further shown that the thymic V beta 8hi CD4+8- cells recovered from organs cultured for 14 days without SEB responded to immobilized anti-V beta 8 monoclonal antibody, indicating that V beta 8hi cells, which were highly sensitive to clonal deletion, were functionally competent mature T cells. These results strongly suggest that the thymus is capable of eliminating all T cells recognizing antigen present in the thymus regardless of the maturational stage of T cells.

Animals↗

Cyclosporin A inhibits the decrease of CD4/CD8 expression induced by protein kinase C activation.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a powerful immunosuppressive drug widely used in transplantation medicine. A major effect of CsA is inhibition of the differentiation of immature double-positive (DP) CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes into mature single-positive (SP) CD4+ CD8- or CD4- CD8+ thymocytes. The mechanisms underlying the changes in CD4/CD8 expression during normal differentiation of thymocytes and the way CsA interferes with this differentiation process are still unknown. Here we show that protein kinase C (PKC) activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) causes a decrease of both CD4 and CD8 expression at the cell surface level and at the mRNA level in a CD4+ CD8+ T cell line and in freshly isolated thymocytes. A PKC inhibitor, staurosporin, interferes with the differentiation from DP to SP in fetal thymus organ culture system. These data suggest that the alternation of CD4/CD8 expression from DP to SP is dependent on PKC activation. CsA blocks this decrease of CD4/CD8 expression by PMA in vitro. Moreover, this PMA effect is also blocked by treatment with cycloheximide. These results suggest that the reduction of CD4/CD8 expression requires de novo synthesis of a protein(s) induced in response to a signal conveyed by activated PKC. CsA may block the transition from DP to SP by inhibition of CD4/CD8 down-regulation induced by PKC activation.

Animals↗

Binding of c-Myb to the core sequence of the CD4 promoter.

We identified a regulatory region of the mouse CD4 promoter by both in vivo and in vitro analysis. The results of transient transfection assays indicated that the dominant transcription activating element within the CD4 promoter is located at -82 to -42. Elimination of this element, by linear deletion or specific mutation, significantly reduced transcriptional activity from this promoter. DNase I footprinting and gel mobility shift assays confirmed that the region -90 to -64 acts as the binding site of a specific nuclear factor, designated NF-CD4. In this region, an 11 bp core motif (CAACAACTGGG; -82 to -72) was found to be sufficient for the binding and transcriptional activation of the NF-CD4. This motif contains a consensus sequence for binding of c-Myb and proteins with helix-loop-helix structures. Indeed, bacterially-synthesized c-Myb specifically binds to this motif for NF-CD4. Furthermore, binding of NF-CD4 to the promoter region was specifically inhibited by the addition of anti-Myb antibodies. The evidence strongly suggests that c-Myb binds, in a sequence-specific fashion, to the core region of the CD4 promoter defined by functional assays and that this proto-oncogene product appears to play a role in the complex regulation of CD4 gene expression during T cell development.

Animals↗

IL-5 receptor positive B cells, but not eosinophils, are functionally and numerically influenced in mice carrying the X-linked immune defect.

Mouse IL-5 (mIL-5) acts on B cells and eosinophils to induce growth and differentiation through the mIL-5 specific receptor (mIL-5R). The functional high-affinity mIL-5R is a heterodimer composed of alpha and beta chains. We investigated the expression of mIL-5R and the responsiveness of B cells and eosinophils to mIL-5 in X-linked immunodeficient (xid) mice. mIL-5R expression analyzed by using mAbs specific for alpha and beta chains revealed that xid B cells had fewer mIL-5R alpha +mIL-5R beta + than BALB/c B cells. In particular, a decrease in the number of peritoneal mIL-5R+ B cells among Ly-1 B cells (known as B-1 cells) was remarkable. Furthermore, the frequency of precursors of mIL-5 responsive B cells in xid mice was approximately 100-fold lower than that of BALB/c mice. Interestingly, sorted mIL-5R+ peritoneal B cells from xid mice displayed a low response to mIL-5. Intraperitoneal injection of mIL-5 into BALB/c mice induced polyclonal IgM production and an increase in the number of eosinophils. The same regimen failed to induce an increase in the same parameters in xid mice. However, xid mice showed mIL-5-induced eosinophilia in peripheral blood to a similar extent as BALB/c mice. Eosinophils from mIL-5-injected xid mice expressed both alpha and beta chains of mIL-5, and responded to mIL-5 with prolonged in vitro survival.

Animals↗

Two alternative forms of cDNA encoding CD34.

By expression cloning using FACS, we have isolated cDNA clones encoding human CD34 from a megakaryoblastoid cell line. The predicted amino acid sequence of CD34 revealed the type I transmembrane protein consisted of a leader peptide (31 residues), an extracellular domain (258 residues), a transmembrane domain (23 residues) and a cytoplasmic domain of 73 residues. In addition, a second form of cDNA that has 194 bp insertion in the cytoplasmic region was isolated. The analysis of genomic DNA showed that this sequence is inserted between the predicted transmembrane and cytoplasmic exons due to an alternative usage of an imperfect 5' splice acceptor site in the 5' flanking region of the cytoplasmic exon. The insertion brings a stop codon so that the protein encoded by this type of mRNA has only 16 residues in the cytoplasmic domain. This truncated form of CD34 molecule can be expressed on the cell surface, and its expression seems to change in association with cell differentiation. A search of the National Biomedical Research Foundation Protein Sequence Database (NBRF) with the Predicted amino acid sequence of CD34 did not reveal homology to any known protein. Thus, the CD34 molecule represents a novel type of cell surface molecule that may have a role in early differentiation process of hematopoietic stem cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vivo and in vitro stem cell function of c-kit- and Sca-1-positive murine hematopoietic cells.

c-kit is expressed on hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells, but not on lymphohematopoietic differentiated cells. Lineage marker-negative, c-kit-positive (Lin-c-kit+) bone marrow cells were fractionated by means of Ly6A/E or Sca-1 expression. Lin-c-kit+Sca-1+ cells, which consisted of 0.08% of bone marrow nucleated cells, did not contain day-8 colony-forming units-spleen (CFU-S), but 80% were day-12 CFU-S. One hundred cells rescued the lethally irradiated mice and reconstituted hematopoiesis. On the other hand, 2 x 10(3) of Lin-c-kit+Sca-1- cells formed 20 day-8 and 11 day-12 spleen colonies, but they could not rescue the lethally irradiated mice. These data indicate that Lin-c-kit+Sca-1+ cells are primitive hematopoietic stem cells and that Sca-1-cells do not contain stem cells that reconstitute hematopoiesis. Lin-c-kit+Sca-1+ cells formed no colonies in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6), and only 10% of them formed colonies in the presence of IL-3. However, approximately 50% of them formed large colonies in the presence of IL-3, IL-6, and SCF. Moreover, when single cells were deposited into culture medium by fluorescence-activated cell sorter clone sorting system, 40% of them proliferated on a stromal cell line (PA-6) and proliferated for more than 2 weeks. In contrast, 15% of the Lin-c-kit+Sca-1-cells formed colonies in the presence of IL-3, but no synergistic effects were observed in combination with SCF plus IL-6 and/or IL-3. Approximately 10% proliferated on PA-6, but most of them degenerated within 2 weeks. The population ratio of c-kit+Sca-1+ to c-kit+Sca-1- increased 2 and 4 days after exposure to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). These results are consistent with the relative enrichment of highly proliferative colony-forming cells by 5-FU. These data show that, although c-kit is found both on the primitive hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors, Sca-1+ cells are more primitive and respond better than Sca-1- cells to a combination of hematopoietic factors, including SCF and stromal cells.

Animals↗

Beta-chain broadens range of CD8 recognition for MHC class I molecule.

It is known that the alpha-chain of CD8 binds to a negatively charged loop composed of residues 223 to 229 on MHC class I Ag and that binding of CD8 alpha enhances Ag recognition of T cells. We have recently shown that the mouse CD8 alpha homodimer does not bind to either the HLA class I alpha 3 domain or a mutant of H-2Kb Ag containing a substitution of glutamine for methionine at residue 224, which brings this residue toward the human consensus. Here we report a complementary study of the CD8 beta-chain. The functional role of the CD8 beta-chain was analyzed by using four T cell hybridoma lines expressing mouse CD8 alpha and transfected with the mouse CD8 beta gene. As compared with the lines expressing only CD8 alpha, allorecognition of the chimeric H-2Kb Ag that contains the HLA class I alpha 3 domain was enhanced in lines expressing both CD8 alpha and -beta. This enhancement was blocked by either anti-CD8 mAb or anti-HLA class I alpha 3 domain mAb. In addition, we show that CD8 alpha beta binds the H-2Kb mutant Ag at residue 224. These results suggest that the beta-chain allows the CD8 alpha beta heterodimer to recognize the chimeric H-2Kb Ag. A model for the role of the beta-chain is presented.

Animals↗

A truncated erythropoietin receptor that fails to prevent programmed cell death of erythroid cells.

A form of the human erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) was identified in which the cytoplasmic region is truncated by alternative splicing. The truncated form of the receptor (EPOR-T) is the most prevalent form of EPOR in early-stage erythroid progenitor cells, but the full-length EPOR (EPOR-F) becomes the most prevalent form in late-stage progenitors. EPOR-T can transduce a mitogenic signal. However, cells transfected with EPOR-T are more prone to programmed cell death than those expressing EPOR-F. EPOR-F may transduce a signal to prevent programmed cell death that is independent of the mitogenic signal, and alternative splicing of the EPOR gene may have an important role in erythropoiesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence for the existence of two parallel differentiation pathways in the thymus of MRL lpr/lpr mice.

MRL mice homozygous for the lpr/lpr gene develop a massive lymphadenopathy caused by the accumulation of CD4-CD8-, Thy-1-positive T cells that express B220. This phenotypically unusual T cell population coexists with normal, B220- T cells in lpr/lpr animals. To investigate the origin and differentiation pathway of B220+ T cells, the expression of a panel of developmentally regulated cell surface markers including TCR, CD4, CD8, Thy-1, and B220 was examined. Thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes from lpr/lpr mice were analyzed by four-color flow cytometry. The results showed that both B220+ and B220- thymocytes contained all of CD4-CD8-, CD4+CD8+, and CD4 or CD8 single positive T cell subpopulation in the lpr thymus. Expression of the V beta 11 TCR, measured by flow cytometry and reverse polymerase chain reaction, was demonstrated in lpr thymus. However, the number of T cells expressing V beta 11 was greatly reduced in both the B220+ and B220- T cell populations in lymph node, spleen, and liver. Taken together, the data provide evidence for maturation and selection of a distinct population of B220+ T cells in the thymus of MRL lpr/lpr mice.

Animals↗

Level of ETB receptor mRNA is down-regulated by endothelins through decreasing the intracellular stability of mRNA molecules.

Using ROS17/2 rat osteosarcoma cells as a model system, we examined the possibility that endothelin (ET)-induced down-regulation of ETB receptor was accompanied by a decrease in levels of ETB receptor mRNA. Northern blot analysis showed that low doses of ET-1 and ET-3 caused a transient decrease in ETB receptor mRNA in the cells. The maximum decrease in the levels of ETB receptor mRNA (80%) occurred after 2-4 h of exposure of the cells to ETs and was followed by a gradual recovery to control levels by 24 h. The effects were dose-dependent (EC50-1 nM), and ET-1 and ET-3 were almost equipotent in eliciting the response. The addition of either ionomycin, a Ca2+ ionophore, or phorbol dibutyrate, a protein kinase C activator, mimicked the effect of ETs. These results suggested that ETs-induced down-regulation of ETB receptor mRNA was mediated by the activation of ETB receptor and that it may have involved ETB receptor coupled second messenger pathways. We also showed that ETB receptor mRNA had a long intracellular life span which suggested that ETs-induced down-regulation of ETB receptor mRNA may have been due to a decrease in the stability of mRNA, rather than inactivation of the transcription of mRNA.

Animals↗

Expression and function of adhesion molecules on human hematopoietic stem cells: CD34+ LFA-1- cells are more primitive than CD34+ LFA-1+ cells.

Advances in fluorescence-activated cell sorter technology have brought about multicolor analysis of cell phenotypes. To clarify the phenotypes of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), we initially prepared novel antibodies against CD34 and labeled one of them (4A1) with allophycocyanin (APC). With this, we analyzed the phenotypes of CD34+ HSCs and showed that primitive HSCs or CD34+CD33- cells expressed adhesion molecules such as CD43, CD44, CD11a, CD11c, CD18, and leukocyte adhesion molecule (LAM-1). The more primitive hematopoietic cells or CD34+CD38- cells also expressed CD11a and CD18 with an incidence of 20% to 30%. To clarify the role of adhesion molecules in HSCs, we examined the colony forming capacity after long-term culture with allogeneic irradiated stromal layers. Among CD34+CD33- cells, CD18+ cells gave rise to colony-forming cells (CFCs) on stromal layers, but reached a maximum at week 2, after which the number of generated CFCs decreased. On the other hand, CD18- cells generated less CFCs than CD18+ cells at 2 to 3 weeks, but increased after 4 weeks of culture. When CD18 or CD11a antibody was added to a coculture system of CD34+CD33- cells with stromal layers, the number of generated CFCs decreased significantly compared with the no antibody control. Leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) (CD11a/CD18) was expressed on some populations of hematopoietic cells and contributed to the proliferation by interacting with stromal cells. However, more primitive cells capable of reconstituting hematopoiesis did not express LFA-1. These data provide a rationale for the administration of anti-LFA-1 antibody after bone marrow transplantation for reducing the graft failure.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

CD4 and CD8 regulate interleukin 2 responses of T cells.

To characterize the T-cell surface molecules involved in regulation of T-cell interleukin 2 (IL-2) responses, we established several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that inhibit IL-2 responses of freshly isolated CD8+ T cells and the IL-2-dependent cell line CTLL-2. Here we show that two inhibitory mAbs are directed against Lyt-2 (CD8 alpha). In fact, all anti-Lyt-2 mAbs tested were able to inhibit the IL-2 response of the Lyt-2- and L3T4-deficient cell line HT-2 after transfection with a Lyt-2 cDNA clone. Similarly, anti-L3T4 mAbs inhibited the IL-2 response of CD4-transfected HT-2 cells. These inhibitory effects of anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs occur on normal T lymphocytes, since they also were observed with CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell blasts, and are specific for IL-2 responses, since IL-4 responses of CD4- and CD8-transfected HT-2 cells were not affected by the anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs. The inhibitory effects of anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 mAbs could not be explained by interference with IL-2 binding and depended on CD4 and CD8 crosslinking, because F(ab')2 or Fab plus crosslinking second antibody, but not Fab alone, were effective. A mutant Lyt-2 molecule lacking the cytoplasmic region that mediates p56lck binding could not mediate the inhibitory effect upon crosslinking. These results suggest that CD4 and CD8 mediate negative regulation of T-cell IL-2 responses via cytoplasmically associated p56lck.

Animals↗