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J D Saffer

Publications and source records attributed to J D Saffer.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Expression of class II-MHC antigens by tumor-associated and peritoneal macrophages: systemic induction during tumor growth and tumor rejection.

It was shown previously that combination therapy of tumor-bearing mice resulted in amplification of antitumor responses at the site of tumor rejection and involved some of the classical components of the immunological network. As a continuation of this work, we now show that amplification of immune responses involves an increase in class II-MHC antigen (Ia) expression both at the tumor site and peripherally in the peritoneal cavity. Of further interest, however, was the observation that there was also an increase in Ia expression by tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and peritoneal macrophages (PMs) in mice bearing progressing tumors. In these experiments, Ia expression by TAM and PMs was assessed in C57BL/6J mice bearing the progressing syngeneic MCA/76-9 sarcoma as well as in mice that had received combination therapy consisting of an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CY) and an intravenous injection of tumor-sensitized T lymphocytes (immune cells). When progressing tumors were analyzed, it was seen that by the fourth day after tumor cell implantation, 45-60% TAM expressed Ia, a level that was sustained throughout the course of tumor growth. The treatment of tumor-bearers with CY had no effect on Ia expression by TAM. However, the number of Ia-expressing TAM increased significantly after combination therapy and, as the tumors regressed, reached a peak of up to 100% in the second week after therapy. TAM were shown by Northern blot hybridization to contain mRNA encoding for the Ia beta chain. When Ia expression by PMs was assessed, it was seen that during tumor progression there was an increased expression of Ia over background (from less than 10 to about 40%), beginning 9-12 days after tumor cell implantation and continuing for the duration of the experiments. This was not influenced by CY injection. Combination therapy significantly increased the number of PMs expressing Ia (up to 80%). Ia expression by PMs could be induced rapidly in vivo by injecting normal B6 mice intraperitoneally (ip) with T cells isolated from tumors induced to regress by combination therapy. PMs isolated up to 15 days after injection were shown to express Ia. Moreover, the ip injection of a mixture of specific MCA/76-9 tumor cells and these tumor-associated lymphocytes resulted in a more rapid rate and a higher level of Ia expression by PMs compared with the level induced by either treatment alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Microwave-field-driven acoustic modes in DNA.

The direct coupling of a microwave field to selected DNA molecules is demonstrated using standard dielectrometry. The absorption is resonant with a typical lifetime of 300 ps. Such a long lifetime is unexpected for DNA in aqueous solution at room temperature. Resonant absorption at fundamental and harmonic frequencies for both supercoiled circular and linear DNA agrees with an acoustic mode model. Our associated acoustic velocities for linear DNA are very close to the acoustic velocity of the longitudinal acoustic mode independently observed on DNA fibers using Brillouin spectroscopy. The difference in acoustic velocities for supercoiled circular and linear DNA is discussed in terms of solvent shielding of the nonbonded potentials in DNA.

DNA, Bacterial↗
PubMed1985

Transcription factor Sp1 recognizes promoter sequences from the monkey genome that are simian virus 40 promoter.

A 440-base-pair fragment of African green monkey genomic DNA shares homology with the transcriptional regulatory region of simian virus 40 (SV40) and has been reported to direct transcription in vivo. We find that two regions within this fragment bind the promoter-specific cellular transcription factor Sp1 and are protected in DNase protection ("footprinting") experiments. As in SV40, binding occurs in regions containing multiple copies of the sequence GGGCGG. These regions, when fused to the proximal, or "TATA box," element of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter, are able to direct Sp1-dependent transcription in vitro. The finding that Sp1 is capable of productive interaction with sequences taken from a cellular promoter supports the idea that Sp1 may play a role in modulating transcription of cellular genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Transcription from SV 40-like monkey DNA sequences.

The ability of an African green monkey genomic segment, homologous to the regulatory region of SV40, to promote transcription in monkey cells has been investigated. Genomic transcripts from CV-1 cells hybridize to both strands of this SV40-like segment. Further examination of the promoter potential of the SV40-like segment using expression vectors suggests that the SV40-like region contains at least part of the necessary information for promoting transcription in both directions. In addition, the latter experiments suggest that sequences several hundred nucleotides away in the genome modulate the transcription initiating at multiple sites in the SV40-like segment.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Unusual class of Alu sequences containing a potential Z-DNA segment.

A potential Z-DNA sequence, (dA-dC)9, has been found to replace the customary A-rich region in the middle of an Alu family member in the African green monkey genome. This Alu, bounded by imperfect direct repeats, also contains an unusual 3' end and may be a member of a large subfamily of such sequences.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The phosphorylation of high mobility group proteins 14 and 17 and their distribution in chromatin.

The phosphorylation of the high mobility group (HMG) proteins has been investigated in mouse Ehrlich ascites, L1210 and P388 leukemia cells, human colon carcinoma cells (HT-29), and Chinese hamster ovary cells. HMG 14 and 17, but not HMB 1 and 2, were phosphorylated in the nuclei of all cell lines with a serine being the site of modification for both proteins in Ehrlich ascites cells. Phosphorylation of HMG 14 and 17 was greatly reduced in cultured cells at plateau phase in comparison to log phase cells, suggesting that modification of HMG 14 and 17 is growth-associated. However, phosphorylation was not linked to DNA synthesis, since incorporation of 32P did not vary through G1 and S phase in synchronized Chinese hamster ovary cells. Treatment of HT-29 or Ehrlich ascites cells with sodium butyrate reduced HMG phosphorylation by 30 and 70%, respectively. The distribution of the phosphorylated HMG proteins in chromatin was examined using micrococcal nuclease and DNase I. 32P-HMG 14 and 17 were preferentially associated with micrococcal nuclease-sensitive regions as demonstrated by the release of a substantial fraction of the phosphorylated forms of these proteins under conditions which solubilized less than 3% of the DNA. Short digestions with DNase I did not show a marked release of 32P-HMG 14 or 17.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Reversible phosphorylation of a nucleosome binding protein that stimulates transcription of nucleosome deoxyribonucleic acid.

A nonhistone chromosomal protein (D-55) of Mr 55000 has been isolated in homogeneous form from calf thymus by using the standard salt-extraction procedures for the isolation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins followed by hydroxyapatite chromatography. D-55 is further characterized as coming from the group of nonhistone chromosomal proteins easily phosphorylated by an endogenous nuclear protein kinase. The kinase incorporates 1 mol of phosphate per mol of protein from [gamma-32P]ATP. The unphosphorylated form of D-55 binds to DNA, histones, and nucleosomes. Phosphorylation of D-55 does not significantly alter the binding of D-55 to DNA but greatly enhances its binding to histones and nucleosomes. Binding of D-55 to reconstituted nucleosomes enhances transcription of the nucleosome DNA by E. coli RNA polymerase by approximately 100-fold, to a level approximately 4 times that observed with naked calf thymus DNA as template. Phosphorylation of D-55 abolishes this enhancement. Binding of D-55 produces no apparent alteration in nucleosome structure as assayed by nuclease digestion patterns. In contrast, phospho-D55 alters nucleosome structure significantly.

Amino Acids↗