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Biomedical subjects

R Blumenthal

Publications and source records attributed to R Blumenthal.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Fusion of Mycoplasma fermentans strain incognitus with T-lymphocytes.

The ability of Mycoplasma fermentans (strain incognitus) to fuse with cultured lymphocytes was investigated and the fusion process was characterized. Fusion was measured using an assay to determine lipid mixing based on the dequenching of the fluorescent probe, octadecylrhodamine (R18), that was incorporated into the mycoplasma cells. Fusion of M. fermentans was detected with both CD4+ (Molt 3) and CD4- (12-E1) cells. The amount of fusion induced was relatively low and ranged from 5-10% with either cell culture. When primary peripheral blood lymphocytes were used the fusion yield was somewhat higher, reaching 12% of the cell population. Similar findings were obtained with fluorescent microscopy analysis suggesting that a predetermined, but unidentified subpopulation of cultured lymphocytes, were being fused. The rate of fusion was temperature dependent. Following a short lag period fusion at 37 degrees C was virtually completed in 60 min. The lymphocytes remained intact throughout the fusion process, as determined by the Trypan blue staining procedure. Fusion was almost completely inhibited by anti-M. fermentans antisera and by pretreatment of M. fermentans cells with proteolytic enzymes, suggesting that a surface-exposed proteinaceous component is involved in the fusion process.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Kinetics of HIV-1 interactions with sCD4 and CD4+ cells: implications for inhibition of virus infection and initial steps of virus entry into cells.

The mechanisms of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) entry into CD4+ cells and HIV-1 inactivation by sCD4 were studied by analyzing the kinetics of inhibition of viral infection by sCD4 and the kinetics of fusion of CD4+ cells with intact virions labeled with the lipid fluorophore octadecylrhodamine (R18). sCD4 inhibited HIV-1 infection much more effectively when preincubated with virus prior to interaction with CD4+ cells than when mixed simultaneously with virions and cells. The kinetics of inhibition of infection was much slower at 4 degrees and at low sCD4 concentrations than at 37 degrees and at high sCD4 concentrations. In the absence of sCD4, attachment of virus to cells leading to productive infection occurred within 10-30 min. Fusion of the virions with cells started after a 1-2 min lag time and was complete within 15 min. In high-density cell suspensions (5 x 10(7) cells/ml), even very high sCD4 concentrations (100 micrograms/ml) failed to block viral infection during simultaneous mixing of cells, sCD4 and HIV-1. We conclude that the kinetics of sCD4-virus interaction and the competition of sCD4 with the cell surface associated CD4 for the virus are crucial factors in the inhibition of HIV-1 infection by sCD4. These results provide insight into mechanisms of viral penetration into cells and should be considered when designing new approaches for AIDS therapy.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1992

LFA-1 adhesion molecules are not involved in the early stages of HIV-1 env-mediated cell membrane fusion.

A recently developed sensitive assay to examine the early stages of HIV-1 env-mediated cell fusion is based on the redistribution of fluorescent dyes between membranes and cytoplasm of adjacent cells, monitored by fluorescence video microscopy. This assay demonstrated that membrane fusion can occur under conditions where no syncytia are formed. Fusion started earlier than syncytia formation and was not very sensitive to HIV-1 env+/CD4+ cell ratios. In the current study, this assay was used to determine the role of LFA-1 in HIV-1 env-mediated membrane fusion and syncytia formation. CD4- LFA-1- Epstein-Barr virus transformed lines from two leukocyte adhesion deficiency patients were infected with recombinant vaccinia expressing gp120/41 (HIV-IIIB), and cocultured with CD4+ subclones of the human T cell line CEM, which were generated by chemical mutagenesis and express either normal (LFA-1+), or low levels of LFA-1 (LFA-1lo). It was found that the LFA-1lo T-cell clone formed much smaller and fewer syncytia compared to the LFA-1+ subclones, but both clones fused equally well with the gp120/41 expressing LFA-1- B cells as monitored by redistribution of fluorescent dyes. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies against the LFA-1 molecules reduced the number of syncytia formed but had no effect on membrane fusion. These findings demonstrate that the adhesion molecule LFA-1 does not play a crucial role in the early events of HIV-1 env-mediated cell membrane fusion, but may contribute to the later events leading to giant cell formation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Correlation between kinetics of soluble CD4 interactions with HIV-1-Env-expressing cells and inhibition of syncytia formation: implications for mechanisms of cell fusion and therapy for AIDS.

OBJECTIVES: To study the kinetics of the interactions between soluble (s) CD4 and HIV-1-Env-expressing cells in relation to subsequent events leading to cell fusion and inhibition of syncytia formation. DESIGN: Vaccinia-HIV-1 (Env)-infected CD4- T-cells were used to study the kinetics of sCD4-gp120/41 interactions and syncytia formation (with CD4+ T-cells) under identical conditions. METHODS: sCD4 association and dissociation rates for HIV-1-Env-expressing cells, and quantification of sCD4-induced gp120 shedding was determined by a quantitative flow cytometry assay. Syncytia inhibition was measured in the continuous presence of sCD4, or after washing of HIV-1-Env-expressing cells following pre-incubation with sCD4. RESULTS: The kinetics of syncytia inhibition correlated with sCD4 binding when sCD4 was maintained during the culture. When Env-expressing cells, which had been pre-incubated with sCD4, were washed to remove unbound sCD4, no syncytia formation inhibition was observed, even following sCD4-induced shedding of greater than 50% of surface gp120 molecules. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of syncytia inhibition seen after removal of unbound sCD4, even after pre-incubation of cells under saturation and gp120 shedding conditions, indicated that sufficient numbers of fusogenic molecules remained on the sCD4-treated cells. In addition, fast dissociation of pre-bound sCD4 occurred in culture. These results are important for understanding HIV-1-Env-mediated cell fusion and AIDS therapy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Kinetics of soluble CD4 binding to cells expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein.

The high-affinity interaction between the envelope glycoprotein (gp120-gp41) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and its receptor, CD4, is important for viral entry into cells and therapeutical approaches based on the soluble form of CD4 (sCD4). Using flow cytometry, we studied the kinetics of binding of sCD4 to gp120-gp41 expressed on the cell surface. sCD4 binding was dependent on sCD4 concentration and temperature and exhibited bimolecular reaction kinetics. Binding was very slow at low sCD4 concentrations (below 0.2 micrograms/ml) and low temperatures (below 13 degrees C) but increased sharply with increasing temperature. The rate constant for association at 37 degrees C (1.5 x 10(5) M-1 s-1) was 14-fold higher than at 4 degrees C, but the affinity of sCD4 to membrane-bound gp120-gp41 was not significantly affected. The activation energy at higher temperatures (28 to 37 degrees C) was less than at lower temperatures (4 to 13 degrees C). After long periods of incubation, we observed a decrease of surface-bound sCD4 and gp120, even at low temperatures, which was attributed to sCD4-induced shedding of gp120. The rate of gp120 shedding was much lower than the rate of sCD4 binding and was dependent on sCD4 concentration and temperature. The finding that sCD4 binding is slow, especially at low sCD4 concentrations, can be of critical importance for efficient blocking of viral infection by sCD4 and should be considered when designing new protocols in the therapy of AIDS patients.

CD4 Antigens↗
PubMed1992

Interactions of CD4+ plasma membrane vesicles with HIV-1 and HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-expressing cells.

To study interactions between the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp120-gp41) and the receptor in the target membrane, CD4, a new experimental system utilizing CD4-carrying plasma membrane vesicles (CD4 PMVs) was developed. CD4 PMVs were prepared by hypotonic lysis of HeLa cells expressing CD4 after infection with recombinant vaccinia virus containing the CD4 cDNA. The CD4 PMVs carried up to 680 CD4 molecules per vesicle. Their fusion with cells expressing gp120-gp41 after infection with recombinant vaccinia virus was monitored by fluorescence video microscopy by using lipophilic fluorescent dyes. Fluorescence changes as a result of fusion occurred within 30 min at 37 degrees C, and little fluorescence changes were seen with cells expressing the noncleaved HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp160). The preincubation of CD4 PMVs with HIV-1 reduced its infectivity 10-fold. The CD4 PMVs were more effective in inhibiting syncytia formation than sCD4. These results demonstrate that CD4 PMVs could be used to study the mechanisms of HIV-1 envelope-mediated fusion and have the potential to inactivate HIV-1.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Interaction of influenza hemagglutinin amino-terminal peptide with phospholipid vesicles: a fluorescence study.

We have studied tryptophan fluorescence from a 20-residue synthetic peptide corresponding to the amino terminal of the HA2 subunit of the influenza virus hemagglutinin protein, a putative "fusion" peptide. Decay-associated spectra have been obtained at pH 7.4 and at pH 5 (the optimal pH for influenza virus fusion) in the presence and absence of liposomes. We demonstrate that a blue shift in the total steady-state fluorescence spectrum upon binding to liposomes is due to a movement in characteristic emission wavelength and increased lifetime of one of the resolved spectral components. In contrast, a further shift after lowering the pH is the product of a redistribution in the relative amplitudes of spectral components. Also, each decay component is quenched by spin-labels or anthroxyl groups normally located within the hydrocarbon interior of the membranes. Calculations are presented leading to an estimate of the distance of the tryptophan residue from the bilayer center, suggesting that the tryptophan residues are at or near the hydrocarbon-polar interface. No gross positional change was detected between pH values. Rotational depolarization is shown to be retarded by liposome binding, more so at low pH.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Uncoupling of Ca2+ transport from ATP hydrolysis activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase.

In reconstituted rabbit skeletal muscle (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase proteoliposomes, Ca(2+)-uptake is decreased by more than 90% with T2 cleavage (Arg-198). However, no difference in the ATP dependence of hydrolysis activity is seen between SR and trypsin-treated SR. A large decrease in E-P formation and hydrolysis activity of the enzyme appear only at T3 cleavage, which represents the cleavage of A1 fragment to A1a + A1b forms. The disappearance of hydrolysis activity due to digestion is prior to the disappearance of E-P formation. No significant difference is found in the passive Ca2+ efflux between control SR and tryptically digested SR in the absence of Mg2+ + ruthenium red or in the presence of ATP. However, the passive Ca2+ efflux rate for tryptically digested SR is much larger than control SR in the presence of Mg2+ + ruthenium red. These results show that the Ca2+ channel cannot be closed after trypsin digestion of SR membranes by the presence of the Ca2+ channel inhibitors, Mg2+ and ruthenium red. In the reconstituted proteoliposomes, the Ca2+ efflux rates are the same regardless of digestion (T2); also, efflux is not affected by the presence or absence of Mg2+ + ruthenium red. These results indicate that T2 cleavage causes 'uncoupling' of the 'Ca(2+)-pump' from ATP hydrolytic activity. A theoretical model is developed in order to fit the extent of tryptic digestion of the A fragment of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase polypeptide with the loss of Ca(2+)-transport. Fits of the theoretical equations to the data are consistent with that Ca(2+)-transport system appears to require a dimer of the polypeptide (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Single cell fusion events induced by influenza hemagglutinin: studies with rapid-flow, quantitative fluorescence microscopy.

Fusion of individual human erythrocytes to fibroblasts expressing the influenza virus hemagglutinin Cells were attached to coverslips fitted in a specially designed flow chamber mounted on a microscope stage, and fusion was triggered by rapid acidification to pH less than 5.2. Fusion between single cell pairs was monitored by a fluorescence increase due to redistribution of fluorescent dyes between either membrane or cytoplasmic compartments of fusing cells. The single cell fusion events were broadly heterogenous in lag times, rise times, and overall shape of the curves. Lag times obtained with a water-soluble dye were within the range obtained with a water-soluble dye were within the range obtained with the membrane-bound fluorophores, (10-160 s). Fusion was both all-or-nothing and irreversible, in that once dye redistribution in any cell commenced, it completed, regardless of pH. Short pulses of pH 4.9 for 6-10 s led to about half of the cell pairs fusing, but pulses greater than 14 s were as effective as constant low pH. Pulses that were too short to trigger fusion did not partially activate nor deactivate the fusion process, as shown by the ability of a second acidification to cause fusion of the same cells, with similar lag times. These results indicate that the overall hemagglutinin-mediated fusion process is composed of at least two stages, one required for commitment of the hemagglutinin to a fusogenic state that is pH-dependent and a maturation stage that is pH-independent.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Reconstituted viral envelopes--'Trojan horses' for drug delivery and gene therapy?

Reconstituted viral envelopes (RVEs) are formed by solubilizing intact virus in detergent and reassembling the envelope on removal of detergent. RVEs can be formed in the presence of agents that become encapsulated and can then be utilized in vitro and in vivo for drug delivery, cell destruction, transfer of membrane components, and as vectors for genetic engineering. The problems with biotechnological applications of RVEs and possible strategies for overcoming them are discussed in this article.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Initial stages of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-mediated cell fusion monitored by a new assay based on redistribution of fluorescent dyes.

Membrane fusion is an essential step in the infection of permissive cells with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Infected cells frequently fuse with each other, and then progress to form multinucleated giant cells (syncytia). To gain insight into mechanisms of HIV env-mediated membrane fusion, we developed a new assay for studying the initial events. The assay is based on the redistribution of fluorescent markers between membranes and cytoplasm of adjacent cells examined by means of fluorescence video microscopy. Membrane fusion between HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp120/41) expressing effector cells and CD4+ target cells was observed 90 min after the association of cells, whereas the first syncytia only became apparent after 5 h. Moreover, membrane fusion events were observed under conditions where no syncytia were detected, for example, when the effector:target cell ratio was greater than 100:1, or less than 1:100. A significant number of cells with fused membranes were not involved in the syncytia. In order to determine whether quantitative differences in receptor expression might influence the extent of membrane fusion, we used laboratory-selected variants of CEM cells that differ in their expression of CD4. We found that CD4 is required on the target membrane for HIV env-mediated membrane fusion, but its extent is only partially dependent on CD4 surface concentration. The ability of those CEM variants to take part in HIV env-mediated membrane fusion did not correlate with their capacity to form syncytia. These findings indicate that additional steps are needed to form syncytia after membrane fusion.

CD4 Antigens↗
PubMed1991

Delay time for influenza virus hemagglutinin-induced membrane fusion depends on hemagglutinin surface density.

We have studied the kinetics of low-pH-induced fusion between erythrocyte membranes and membranes containing influenza virus hemagglutinin by using assays based on the fluorescence dequenching of the lipophilic dye octadecylrhodamine. Stopped-flow mixing and fast data acquisition have been used to monitor the early stages of influenza virus fusion. We have compared this with the kinetics observed for fusion of an NIH 3T3 cell line, transformed with bovine papillomavirus, which constitutively expresses influenza virus hemagglutinin (GP4f cells). Virus and GP4f cells both display a pH-dependent time lag before the onset of fluorescence dequenching, but of an order of magnitude difference, ca. 2 s versus ca. 20 s. We have adopted two strategies to investigate whether the difference in lag time reflects the surface density of acid-activated hemagglutinin, able to undergo productive conformational change. (i) Hemagglutinin expressed on the cell surface requires proteolytic cleavage with trypsin from an inactive HAO form; we have limited the extent of proteolysis. (ii) We have used infection of CV-1 cells with a recombinant simian virus 40 bearing the influenza virus hemagglutinin gene. The surface expression of hemagglutinin is a function of time postinfection. For low-pH-induced fusion of both types of cell with erythrocytes, the lag time decreases with increasing hemagglutinin densities. Our results do not indicate a cooperative phenomenon at the level of the principal rate-determining step. We also show in the instance of virus fusion, that the magnitude of the delay time is a function of the target membrane transbilayer lipid distribution. We conclude that for a given amount of pH-activated hemagglutinin per unit area of membrane, the kinetics of fusion is determined by nonspecific physical properties of the membranes involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of erythrocyte transbilayer phospholipid distribution on fusion with vesicular stomatitis virus.

To identify the specific component(s) in the target membrane involved in fusion of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), we examined the interaction of the virus with human erythrocyte membranes with asymmetric and symmetric bilayer distributions of phospholipids. Fusion was monitored spectrofluorometrically by the octadecylrhodamine dequenching assay. Fusion of VSV with lipid-symmetric erythrocyte ghosts was rapid at 37 degrees C and low pH, whereas little or no fusion was observed with lipid-asymmetric ghosts. Conversion of phosphatidylserine in the lipid-symmetric ghost membrane to phosphatidylethanolamine by means of the enzyme phosphatidylserine decarboxylase did not alter the target membrane's susceptibility to VSV fusion. Spin-labeled phospholipid analogues with phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylcholine headgroups incorporated into the outer leaflet of lipid-asymmetric erythrocytes did not render those membranes fusogenic. Electron spin resonance spectra showed an increased mobility of a phosphatidylcholine spin-label incorporated into the outer leaflet of lipid-symmetric erythrocyte ghosts as compared to that of lipid-asymmetric ghosts. These results indicate that the susceptibility to VSV fusion is not dependent on any particular phospholipid but rather is related to packing characteristics of the target membrane.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed1990

Gating kinetics of pH-activated membrane fusion of vesicular stomatitis virus with cells: stopped-flow measurements by dequenching of octadecylrhodamine fluorescence.

To identify the initial stages of membrane fusion induced by vesicular stomatitis virus, we performed stopped-flow kinetic measurement with fluorescently labeled virus attached to human erythrocyte ghosts that contained symmetric bilayer distributions of phospholipids. Fusion was monitored spectrofluorometrically using an assay based on mixing of the lipid fluorophore octadecylrhodamine. At 37 degrees C and pH values near the threshold for fusion, a lag phase of 2 s was observed. The lag time decreased steeply as the pH decreased, while the initial rate of fusion showed the reverse functional dependence on pH. The observed rapid fluorescence changes resulted from fusion of virus bound to the target, and the time lags were not due to association-dissociation reactions between virus and target. For a given pH value, the temperature dependence of the lag time was similar to that of the initial rate of fusion. The results were fitted to a multistate model similar to that resulting from ion channel gating kinetics. The model allows testing of hypotheses concerning the role of cooperativity and conformational changes in viral spike glycoprotein-mediated membrane fusion.

Animals↗