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Biomedical subjects

R Hromas

Publications and source records attributed to R Hromas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cutting edge: IL-17F, a novel cytokine selectively expressed in activated T cells and monocytes, regulates angiogenesis and endothelial cell cytokine production.

A novel secreted cytokine, termed IL-17F, was cloned using nested RACE PCR. This cytokine bears homology to IL-17. IL-17F was expressed only in activated CD4(+) T cells and activated monocytes. Recombinant human IL-17F did not stimulate the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors or the migration of mature leukocytes. However, it markedly inhibited the angiogenesis of human endothelial cells and induced endothelial cells to produce IL-2, TGF-beta, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mzf1 controls cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.

MZF1 is a transcription factor belonging to the Krüppel family of zinc finger proteins, expressed in totipotent hemopoietic cells as well as in myeloid progenitors. Here we have inactivated Mzfi1 by gene targeting. Mzf1(-/-) mice develop lethal neoplasias characterized by the infiltration and complete disruption of the liver architecture by a monomorphic population of cells of myeloid origin reminiscent of human chloromas. Mzf1 inactivation results in a striking increase of the autonomous cell proliferation and of the ability of Mzf1(-/-) hemopoietic progenitors to sustain long-term hemopoiesis. These findings demonstrate that Mzf1 can act as a tumor/growth suppressor in the hemopoietic compartment.

Animals↗

Fusion AML1 transcript in a radiation-associated leukemia results in a truncated inhibitory AML1 protein.

AML1 is a transcription factor that is essential for normal hematopoietic development. It is the most frequent target for translocations in acute leukemia. Recently, fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to identify a novel syndrome of radiation-associated secondary acute myelogenous leukemia that had AML1 translocations. Using polymerase chain reaction, the AML1 fusion transcript was isolated from the patient who had a t(19;21) radiation-associated leukemia. The AML1 gene is fused out of frame to chromosome 19 sequences, resulting in a truncated AML protein bearing the DNA binding domain but not the transcriptional activation domain. This fusion AML1 protein functions as an inhibitor of the normal AML1 protein. (Blood. 2001;97:2168-2170)

Acute Disease↗

Chemokine regulation of normal and pathologic immune responses.

Chemokines are small basic proteins that are the major mediators of all leukocyte migration. There are at least 46 distinct chemokines, and 19 chemokine receptors, making it easily the largest cytokine family. Chemokines can be both beneficial and harmful, by either stimulating an appropriate immune response to microbial invasion, or by mediating pathologic tissue destruction in many types of human disease. Chemokines have been implicated in the tissue destruction seen in autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis, allograft rejection, and neoplasia. Chemokines also play essential roles in normal lymphocyte trafficking to primary and secondary lymphoid organs for antigen presentation and lymphocyte maturation. Chemokines also regulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell homing and proliferation. Therefore, it is likely that chemokines will become important targets for pharmacologic intervention in a wide variety of human diseases in the future.

Animals↗

Identification of two new translocations that disrupt the AML1 gene.

The AML1 gene, located at chromosome 21q22, encodes a component (CBFalpha2) of a heterodimeric transcription factor complex termed core binding factor (CBF), which binds to DNA and activates gene expression. Chromosomal rearrangements may lead to disruption of this gene and development of acute leukemia. Twelve AML1 translocations have been identified to date, and include sites on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Here we report two new translocations involving AML1 in acute myeloid leukemia, in which the disruption of the AML1 gene was documented by GTG banding cytogenetic studies and metaphase and interphase FISH analysis. These chromosomal breakpoints identified as harboring new fusion partners for AML1 are at 2p11.2 and 20q13.1. The two patients in who these translocation were identified were elderly males with newly diagnosed AML. These patients shared the same poor outcomes reported for other rare AML1 translocations.

Acute Disease↗

A novel syndrome of radiation-associated acute myeloid leukemia involving AML1 gene translocations.

AML1 is a transcriptional activator that is essential for normal hematopoietic development. It is the most frequent target for translocations in acute leukemia. We recently identified 3 patients in whom pancytopenia developed almost 50 years after high-level radiation exposure from nuclear explosions during or after World War II. In all 3 patients, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) eventually developed that had similar characteristics and clinical courses. Cytogenetics from the 3 patients revealed a t(1;21)(p36;q22), a t(18;21)(q21;q22), and a t(19;21)(q13.4;q22). By fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), all 3 translocations disrupted the AML1 gene. Two of these AML1 translocations, the t(18;21) and the t(19;21), have not been reported previously. It is possible that the AML1 gene is a target for radiation-induced AML. (Blood. 2000;95:4011-4013)

Acute Disease↗

The CC chemokine CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC/Exodus 3 mediates tumor rejection of murine breast cancer cells through NK cells.

CK beta-11 chemoattracts T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, macrophage progenitors, and NK cells and facilitates dendritic cell and T cell interactions in secondary lymphoid tissues. We hypothesized that expression of CK beta-11 in tumor cells may generate antitumor immunity through these interactions. After transduction with the retroviral vector L(CK beta 11)SN, the murine breast cancer cell line C3L5 (C3L5-CK beta 11) showed expression of retroviral mRNA by Northern analysis and production of functional CK beta-11 by chemotaxis of human NK cells to C3L5-CK beta 11 supernatant. Only 10% of mice injected with C3L5-CK beta 11 developed tumors, compared with 100% of mice injected with a transduced control C3L5 line (C3L5-G1N). Importantly, the in vitro growth characteristics of the CK beta-11-transduced cell line were unaffected, suggesting the difference in growth in vivo was a result of chemokine production. Vaccination with C3L5-CK beta 11 partially protected animals from parental C3L5 challenge. Immunodepletion with anti-asialo-GM1 or anti-CD4 during C3L5-CK beta 11 vaccination significantly reduced CK beta-11 antitumor activity compared with control and anti-CD8-treated groups. Splenocytes from NK-depleted animals transferred the acquired immunity generated with C3L5-CK beta 11 vaccination, while splenocytes from the CD4-depleted animals did not. These results indicate, for the first time, that expression of CK beta-11 in a breast cancer cell line mediates rejection of the transduced tumor through a mechanism involving NK and CD4+ cells. Furthermore, CK beta-11-transduced tumor cells generate long-term antitumor immunity that requires CD4+ cells. These studies demonstrate the potential role of CK beta-11 as an adjuvant in stimulating antitumor responses.

Animals↗

The exodus subfamily of CC chemokines inhibits the proliferation of chronic myelogenous leukemia progenitors.

Chemokines are a family of related proteins that regulate leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissue and play important roles in disease processes. Among the biologic activities of chemokines is inhibition of proliferation of normal hematopoietic progenitors. However, chemokines that inhibit normal progenitors rarely inhibit proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). We and others recently cloned a subfamily of CC chemokines that share similar amino-terminal peptide sequences and a remarkable ability to chemoattract T cells. These chemokines, Exodus-1/LARC/MIP-3alpha, Exodus-2/SLC/6Ckine/TCA4, and Exodus-3/CKbeta11/MIP-3beta, were found to inhibit proliferation of normal human marrow progenitors. The study described here found that these chemokines also inhibited the proliferation of progenitors in every sample of marrow from patients with CML that was tested. This demonstration of consistent inhibition of CML progenitor proliferation makes the 3 Exodus chemokines unique among chemokines. (Blood. 2000;95:1506-1508)

Cell Division↗

Regulation of human natural killer cell migration and proliferation by the exodus subfamily of CC chemokines.

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in innate and adaptive immune responses to obligate intracellular pathogens. Nevertheless, the regulation of NK cell trafficking and migration to inflammatory sites is poorly understood. Exodus-1/MIP-3alpha/LARC, Exodus-2/6Ckine/SLC, and Exodus-3/MIP-3beta/ELC/CKbeta-11 are CC chemokines that share a unique aspartate-cysteine-cysteine-leucine motif near their amino terminus and preferentially stimulate the migration of T lymphocytes. The effects of Exodus chemokines on human NK cells were examined. Exodus-1, -2, and -3 did not induce detectable chemotaxis of resting peripheral blood NK cells. In contrast, Exodus-2 and -3 stimulated migration of polyclonal activated peripheral blood NK cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Exodus-2 and -3 also induced dose-dependent chemotaxis of NKL, an IL-2-dependent human NK cell line. Results of modified checkerboard assays indicate that migration of NKL cells in response to Exodus-2 and -3 represents true chemotaxis and not simply chemokinesis. Exodus-1, -2, and -3 did not induce NK cell proliferation in the absence of other stimuli. Nevertheless, Exodus-2 and -3 significantly augmented IL-2-induced proliferation of normal human CD56(dim) NK cells. In contrast, Exodus-1, -2, and -3 did not affect the cytolytic activity of resting or activated peripheral blood NK cells. Expression of message for CCR7, a shared receptor for Exodus-2 and -3, was detected in activated polyclonal NK cells and NKL cells but not resting NK cells. Taken together, these results indicate that Exodus-2 and -3 can participate in the recruitment and proliferation of activated NK cells. Exodus-2 and -3 may regulate interactions between T cells and NK cells that are crucial for the generation of optimal immune responses.

Cell Division↗

Efficient retrovirus-mediated transfer of the multidrug resistance 1 gene into autologous human long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells.

Pre-clinical studies indicate that efficient retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells can be achieved by co-localizing retroviral particles and target cells on specific adhesion domains of fibronectin. In this pilot study, we used this technique to transfer the human multidrug resistance 1 gene into stem and progenitor cells of patients with germ cell tumors undergoing autologous transplantation. There was efficient gene transfer into stem and progenitor cells in the presence of recombinant fibronectin fragment CH-296. The infusion of these cells was associated with no harmful effects and led to prompt hematopoietic recovery. There was in vivo vector expression, but it may have been limited by the high rate of aberrant splicing of the multidrug resistance 1 gene in the vector. Gene marking has persisted more than a year at levels higher than previously reported in humans.

Adolescent↗

Regulation of naïve fetal T-cell migration by the chemokines Exodus-2 and Exodus-3.

We and other workers have recently isolated three novel CC chemokines termed Exodus-1/LARC/Mip-3alpha, Exodus-2/6Ckine/SLC/TCA4, and Exodus-3/Mip-3beta/CKbeta11/ELC. These chemokines share an amino terminal Asp-Cys-Cys-Leu sequence, unique among all chemokines. They also selectively regulate migration of adult T cells. Indeed, there is evidence that Exodus-2 and -3 are critical for adult T-cell adhesion to high endothelial venules in lymph nodes, a rate-limiting step for T-cell trafficking through nodal tissue. Less is known of the factors controlling migration of naïve human fetal T cells. We tested whether these chemokines could regulate chemotaxis in cord blood T-cell populations, and compared that efficacy with normal peripheral blood adult T cells. The findings indicated that naive CD45RA+ cord blood T-cell migration is stimulated by Exodus-2 and -3, and CD4+ cord blood T cells are attracted preferentially by Exodus-2 or -3 as compared with CD8+. Exodus-2 and -3 are likely to be critical in regulating the flux of naive CD4 + fetal T-cell population of secondary lymphoid tissue.

Adult↗

Isolation of ALP, a novel divergent murine CC chemokine with a unique carboxy terminal extension.

Chemokines are a family of related proteins that regulate leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissue and play important roles in many disease processes. Chemokines are divided into two major groups, CC or CXC, based on their sequence around the amino terminal cysteines. We report here, the isolation of a novel murine CC chemokine termed ALP for its amino terminal peptide sequence. This novel chemokine is distantly related to other CC chemokines (37% identity with murine Exodus-1/LARC/Mip-3alpha), but has a unique carboxy terminal extension. It is expressed preferentially in testis, heart, and liver, which is atypical for CC chemokines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of CC, CXC, C, and CX3C chemokines on proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells, and insights into SDF-1-induced chemotaxis of progenitors.

Chemokines have been implicated in the regulation of stem/progenitor cell proliferation and movement. The purpose of the present study was to assess a number of new chemokines for suppressive activity and to delve further into SDF-1-mediated chemotaxis of progenitor cells. This report extends the list of chemokines that have suppressive activity against immature subsets of myeloid progenitors stimulated to proliferate by multiple growth factors to include: MCP-4/CK beta-10, MIP-4/CK beta-7, I-309, TECK, GCP-2, MIG and lymphotactin. The suppressive activity of a number of other chemokines was confirmed. Additionally, pretreatment of the active chemokines with an acetylnitrile solution enhanced specific activity of a number of these chemokines. The new chemokines found to be lacking suppressive activity include: MCP-2, MCP-3, eotaxin-1, MCIF/HCC-1/CK beta-1, TARC, MDC, MPIF-2/eotaxin-2/CK beta-6, SDF-1 and fractalkine/neurotactin. Overall, 19 chemokines, crossing the CC, CXC, and C subgroups, have now been found to be myelosuppressive, and 14 chemokines crossing the CC, CXC and CX3C subgroups have been found to lack myelosuppressive activity under the culture conditions of our assays. Because of the redundancy in chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions, it is not yet clear through which chemokine receptors many of these chemokines signal to elicit suppressive activities. It was also found that SDF-1-induced chemotaxis of progenitors can occur in the presence of fibronectin (FN) and extracellular matrix components and that FN effects involve activation of beta 1-, and possibly alpha 4-, integrins.

Animals↗

Cloning of BRAK, a novel divergent CXC chemokine preferentially expressed in normal versus malignant cells.

Chemokines are a family of related proteins that regulate leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissue and play important roles in many disease processes. Chemokines are divided into two major groups, CC or CXC, based on their sequence around the amino terminal cysteines. We report the PCR cloning of a novel human chemokine termed BRAK for its initial isolation from breast and kidney cells. This novel chemokine is distantly related to other CXC chemokines (30% identity with MIP-2alpha and beta) and shares several biological activities. BRAK is expressed ubiquitously and highly in normal tissue. However, it was expressed in only 2 of 18 cancer cell lines. BRAK is located on human chromosome 5q31.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genesis, a Winged Helix transcriptional repressor, has embryonic expression limited to the neural crest, and stimulates proliferation in vitro in a neural development model.

A novel repressor of the Winged Helix (formerly HNF-3/Forkhead) transcriptional regulatory family, termed Genesis (also called HFH2), was previously found to be exclusively expressed in primitive embryonic cell lines. In this study in situ cRNA hybridization experiments revealed that Genesis was expressed during embryogenesis only in developing neural crest cells. Its expression diminished upon their terminal differentiation into sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons. Based on that finding, Genesis was retrovirally transduced into pluripotent N-Tera-2 clone D1 (NT2/D1) teratocarcinoma cells, which are a well-described in vitro model of neural development. Retinoic acid (RA) treatment will drive these cells to differentiation toward the neuronal lineage and cause an increase in expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 protein, which leads to an inhibition in cellular proliferation. Although RA-induced expression of neuronal differentiation markers was not influenced by forced overexpression of Genesis in NT2-D1 cells, proliferation of Genesis-transduced cells continued following RA treatment. RA was unable to induce the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in the Genesis-transduced cells, but Go/G1 tumor suppressor p53 expression was induced normally. Therefore, Genesis may play a role in the regulation of primitive neural crest development by preventing terminal quiescence through inhibition of p21 protein expression. These data also lend evidence for the hypothesis that proliferation and differentiation pathways are not irrevocably linked, but can function independently.

Animals↗

A positive effect of p21cip1/waf1 in the colony formation from murine myeloid progenitor cells as assessed by retroviral-mediated gene transfer.

p21cip1/waf1 is a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor. We have previously reported stimulation of p21cip1/waf1 by steel factor and GM-CSF in a factor dependent cell line and of p21cip1/waf1 involvement in hematopoiesis in vivo in p21cip1/waf1 gene knockout (-/-) mice. To further assess a role for increased p21cip1/waf1 in hematopoietic progenitor cells, we developed the retroviral vector L(p21cip1)SN to transcriptionally regulate p21cip1/waf1 from the Mo-MLV LTR. L(p21cip1)SN and the control vector LXSN were used to transduce murine bone marrow progenitor cells from p21cip1/waf1 (-/-) and littermate control (+/+) mice, as well as from other mouse strains. Hematopoietic colony formation by transduced cells was assessed in semi-solid culture medium with multiple growth factors. Myeloid colony formation by bone marrow cells from p21cip1/waf1 (-/-) mice was significantly lower than that by (+/+) mouse cells. Transduction of cells with LXSN had no effect on colony formation: however, (-/-) cells transduced with L(p21cip1)SN formed significantly greater numbers of colonies than either LXSN-transduced (-/-) or (+/-) cells. Moreover, L(p21cip1)SN-transduced (+/+) cells formed significantly more colonies than LXSN-transduced (+/+) cells. Increased cloning efficiency of progenitors from normal strains of mice induced by L(p21cip1)SN compared to LXSN-transduced cells was seen whether unseparated or highly purified populations of Sca1+ Lin- marrow cells were used. Gene transfer of L(p21cip1)SN increased the size and number of cells per colony, as well as the number of colonies compared to LXSN gene transfer. No colonies grew from non-transduced, LXSN-, or L(p21cip1)SN-transduced cells when no growth factors were added to the cultures. These results document the positive effect of p21cip1/waf1 in the proliferation and/or differentiation of the murine myeloid progenitor cells that lead to colony formation.

Animals↗

Rapid engraftment after allogeneic transplantation using CD34-enriched marrow cells.

Bone marrow cells expressing the surface antigen CD34 comprise approximately 1% of harvested marrow and are highly enriched for marrow progenitor cells, including the cells believed to be responsible for long-term engraftment following bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Selection of CD34-expressing cells was applied in allogeneic BMT (alloBMT) to decrease the number of T lymphocytes in the infused marrow in an attempt to prevent severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We report 14 patients who underwent HLA-identical sibling-matched alloBMT with marrow-enriched for CD34 cells using the Isolex 300 SA device. Patients received total body irradiation, thiotepa, cyclophosphamide, antithymocyte globulin and methylprednisolone prior to marrow infusion. No post-transplantation immunosuppressive therapy was given except for a 5-week course of steroids. The purity of the infused marrow was 64.9+/-6.0% (mean +/- s.e.m.) CD34-positive cells and patients received a mean of 1.24+/-0.21 x 10(6) CD34 cells/kg. A mean of 9.4+/-1.7 x 10(4) CD3 T cells/kg were present in the CD34-enriched product, representing a 2.7+/-0.1 log depletion. There were no graft rejections and patients achieved a sustained absolute granulocyte count of >500 in a median of 10.5 days and a sustained platelet engraftment of >20000 untransfused in a median of 27 days. Patients were discharged a median of 21.5 days after marrow infusion. There were no instances of grade III or IV graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and no unexpected adverse events during the transplant hospitalization. With a median follow-up of 12 months, the estimated 100 day survival is 86+/-9%. CD34 selection in alloBMT permits rapid engraftment without unanticipated toxicities.

Adolescent↗