Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Kannagi

Publications and source records attributed to R Kannagi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 encoded Tax protein transactivates alpha 1-->3 fucosyltransferase Fuc-T VII, which synthesizes sialyl Lewis X, a selectin ligand expressed on adult T-cell leukemia cells.

Leukemia cells in patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and related cell lines strongly express the carbohydrate determinant sialyl Lewis X, a ligand for selectins. Its expression is thought to be related closely to the extravascular infiltration of the leukemia cells. Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the etiological agent of ATL, produces Tax protein, which is implicated in leukemogenesis through its transactivating effect on various cellular genes. In this study we investigated the transactivating effect of HTLV-1 Tax on the alpha 1-->3 fucosyltransferase Fuc-T VII, the putative rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of sialyl Lewis X in human leukocytes using JPX-9 cells. JPX-9 is a subclone of a non-ATL human lymphocytic leukemia cell line, Jurkat, and was established by introducing a metallothionein promoter-driven Tax expression plasmid. The JPX-9 cells as well as parental Jurkat cells did not express Fuc-T VII mRNA under normal culture conditions. When cultured in the presence of 10 microM CdCl2, Tax was induced and a significant amount of the Fuc-T VII message was ascertained by Northern blotting. The amount of the message was 24.5 times as much as was detected in non-treated cells, and was comparable to that which appeared by TPA stimulation of the cells, which is supposed to simulate the sequence of events occurring in normal activation of T lymphocytes activated by more physiological stimuli. Sialyl Lewis X determinant was expressed at the surface of CdCl2-treated cells, while the determinant was not detectable on either unstimulated JPX-9 or parental Jurkat cells. These results indicate that expression of sialyl Lewis X on leukemic cells in patients with ATL is at least partly due to the transactivation of the Fuc-T VII gene induced by the HTLV-1 Tax, and suggest that this leads to the accelerated extravascular infiltration of ATL cells.

Cadmium Chloride↗

Sulfated sialyl Lewis X, the putative L-selectin ligand, detected on endothelial cells of high endothelial venules by a distinct set of anti-sialyl Lewis X antibodies.

Endothelial cells of high endothelial venules (HEV) in human peripheral lymph nodes expressed a distinct type of sialyl Lewis X antigen, which was detected preferentially with a set of anti-sialyl Lewis X antibodies, 2F3, 2H5 and HECA-452 in immunohistochemistry, while another set of anti-sialyl Lewis X antibodies, FH-6 and CSLEX-1, failed to detect it. The adhesion of cells expressing L-selectin to HEV was inhibited by members of the former set of antibodies in Stamper-Woodruff assays performed on frozen sections of human peripheral lymph nodes. Transfection of a cultured endothelial cell line with a human alpha1-->3 fucosyltransferase, Fuc-T VII, resulted in the expression of a distinct type of sialyl Lewis X antigen having the reactivity similar to that of HEV; i.e., the antigen appearing on the transfectant clone was detectable only with the set of 2F3, 2H5 and HECA-452, but not with the set of FH-6 and CSLEX-1. Treatment of transfectant cells with sodium chlorate, a metabolic inhibitor of sulfation, resulted in reactivity to the members of the latter set of antibodies, suggesting that sulfation of sialyl Lewis X moiety was the cause of the discrepancy in the reactivity of the anti-sialyl Lewis X antibodies. When tested against various authentic sulfated sialyl Lewis X determinants, 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis X and 6,6'-bis-sulfo sialyl Lewis X were found to be reactive to the antibodies, 2F3, 2H5 and HECA-452, but not with antibodies FH-6 and CSLEX-1, suggesting that the distinct type of sialyl Lewis X determinant on the HEV endothelial cells and Fuc-T VII-transfected endothelial cell clone are mainly 6-sulfo and/or 6,6'-bis-sulfo sialyl Lewis X determinants.

Animals↗

Laboratory diagnosis of anemia and related diseases using multivariate analysis.

To establish a simple computer program for the laboratory diagnosis of anemia and related diseases, multivariate analyses were applied to the results of routine hematological laboratory tests obtained from 48 patients and 51 healthy volunteers. The patients studied were limited to those who had not been treated hematologically by the time of their first visit to our hospital, and their first data obtained in our laboratory were analyzed. Final diagnoses were aplastic anemia (AA) in 21, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 14, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in 3, polycytemia vera (PV)in 3, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in 7. Eight parameters, WBC, RBC, Hb, Ht, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and PLT, were transformed to normal distribution and then applied to principal component analysis to evaluate their independence. Very close relationships were observed between Ht and Hb, and between MCV and MCH. One each of these pairs was selected by discriminant analysis and two sets, RBC, MCH, Hb, PLT, and WBC, and RBC, MCV, Ht, PLT, and WBC, were obtained. Two canonical components gave good discrimination of these five diseases and also of normal subjects. When disease prediction was made using this analysis, 37 of 48 patients (77.1%) were predicted correctly, and furthermore, when two disease predictions were allowed, all patients were diagnosed properly. Some overlaps were observed in this two-dimensional coordinate system, especially of AA and MDS, and also with normal subjects. To improve the system further, the additional parameters of age and sex were added to construct a three-dimensional analysis which resulted in much clearer discrimination. The whole procedure described is being developed with subjects who are not taking medication. Subsequently, the general application of this analytical procedure should be limited to only those not on medications. In conclusion, this is in essence a demonstration project; however, this trial of laboratory diagnosis using routine hematological laboratory results appears to be promising. Further extension of the study by increasing numbers of patients and disorders studied, including secondary anemias, will allow the design of diagnostic software for use with personal computers at the sites of primary care.

Adult↗

Carbohydrate-mediated cell adhesion involved in hematogenous metastasis of cancer.

The carbohydrate determinants, sialyl Lewis A and sialyl Lewis X, which are frequently expressed on human cancer cells, serve as ligands for a cell adhesion molecule of the selectin family, E-selectin, which is expressed on vascular endothelial cells. These carbohydrate determinants are involved in the adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelium and thus contribute to hematogenous metastasis of cancer. The initial adhesion mediated by these molecules triggers activation of integrin molecules through the action of several cytokines and leads to the extravasation of cancer cells. Cancer cells also produce humoral factors that facilitate E-selectin expression on endothelial cells. The degree of expression of the carbohydrate ligands at the surface of cancer cells is well correlated with the frequency of hematogenous metastasis and prognostic outcome of patients with cancers. The alteration of glycosyltransferase activities that leads to the enhanced expression of these carbohydrate ligands on cancer cell surface are currently being investigated.

Animals↗

Involvement of hepatocyte growth factor in increased integrin expression on HepG2 cells triggered by adhesion to endothelial cells.

Adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelium is an important step in haematogenous metastasis of cancer. A human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2, strongly adheres to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) through the interaction of E-selectin and its carbohydrate ligand sialyl Lewis X. In this study, we investigated alteration in integrin expression on HepG2 cells, which follows the selectin-mediated initial adhesion of HepG2 cells to HUVECs. Expression of alpha2beta1 integrin was markedly increased when the HepG2 cells adhered to HUVECs. Among the tested cytokines that are known to be produced by endothelial cells, recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (rHGF) could replace the effect of HUVECs, and a similar increase in integrin expression was observed by the addition of 20 ng ml-1 rHGF to HepG2. The increment of alpha2beta1 integrin expression was significantly inhibited by anti-HGF neutralizing antibody treatment. HepG2 cells expressed alpha2, alpha6, beta1, and beta4 integrin subunits, but expression of integrins other than alpha2beta1 was not affected by the rHGF treatment. The rHGF treatment of HepG2 cells resulted in augmented adhesion to immobilized collagen. This augmentation in adhesion to collagen was completely blocked by the addition of anti-alpha2- or anti-beta1-integrin antibody. In double-chamber chemoinvasion experiments, transmigration of the HepG2 cells through extracellular matrix (ECM) gel was significantly accelerated by co-cultivation with HUVECs. A similar level of enhancement in transmigration activity of the cancer cells was observed by the addition of rHGF. Our interpretation of the results described above is that the cancer cells received stimulation from cytokines, such as HGF, presented by vascular endothelial cells, following the initial adhesion of cancer cells via selectins. This resulted in the secondary increment in the expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as the alpha2beta1 integrin, and led to the augmented adhesive activities of cancer cells towards extracellular matrices at vascular walls. We suggest that this sequence of events is involved in the facilitated migration of some cancer cells to extravascular tissues.

Antibodies↗

Increased level of circulating adhesion molecules in the sera of breast cancer patients with distant metastases.

The adhesion of circulating cancer cells to the vascular endothelium is an important at step in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer. E-selectin expressed on endothelial cells and carbohydrate ligands expressed on cancer cells mediate this adhesion. We investigated the clinical significance of such cell adhesion molecules in breast cancer. The cytosol concentration of sialyl Lewis(x) was found more elevated in cancerous tissue than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissue. In the serum, sialyl Lewis(x) and soluble E-selectin were seen elevated in patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancer, especially in those with distant metastases. From the above, we have concluded that sialyl Lewis(x) and soluble E-selectin could be used as tumor markers with a close relationship to the metastasis of breast cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

[Effects of carcinostatic agents in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer].

The experimental studies in vitro and in vivo were performed to investigate the effects of carcinostatic agents in the adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells. Certain carcinostatic agents induce the expression of E-selectin on endothelial cells and enhance the expression of carbohydrate ligands on cancer cells. Consequently, increased adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells was observed by the treatment of carcinostatic agents. In the trans-splenic hepatic metastasis model using nude mice, the augmentation of cancer metastasis was observed by the treatment of carcinostatic agents. From the above, we concluded that carcinostatic agents may increase the metastatic ability of cancer cells in patients with cancer.

Animals↗

Suppression of sialyl Lewis X expression and E-selectin-mediated cell adhesion in cultured human lymphoid cells by transfection of antisense cDNA of an alpha1-->3 fucosyltransferase (Fuc-T VII).

The antisense cDNA approach was used to identify the endogenous fucosyltransferase species responsible for synthesis of the sialyl Lewis X (NeuAcalpha2-->3 Galbeta1-->4[Fucalpha1-->3]GlcNAcbeta1-->R) determinant in human lymphoid cells. The cultured human adult T-cell leukemia cell line, ED40515-N, expressed the message of alpha1-->3 fucosyltransferase (Fuc-T) IV and VII, with a low level of the Fuc-T III and VI message, and manifested the sialyl Lewis X as well as Lewis X (Galbeta1-->4 [Fucalpha1-->3]GlcNAcbeta1-->R) determinant at the cell surface. Transfection of this cell line with the pRc/CMV vector containing an antisense human Fuc-T VII construct (pRc/CMV/5'FT7AS) resulted in a significant decrease of endogenous Fuc-T VII message and a marked reduction in the cell surface expression of sialyl Lewis X determinant as well as a reduction in the enzymatic activity of alpha1-->3 fucosyltransferase against sialylated type 2 chain substrate. This was accompanied by diminution of cell adhesive activity toward E-selectin on interleukin-1beta-treated endothelial cells. These results indicated that the synthesis of the sialyl Lewis X determinants that were functionally active as E-selectin ligands was mainly mediated by Fuc-T VII in these lymphoid cells. On the other hand, the message of Fuc-T IV showed no significant change in the transfectant clones, and the surface expression of the Lewis X antigen as well as the enzymatic activity of alpha1-->3 fucosyltransferase against non-sialylated type 2 chain substrate was well preserved. The clear contrast between the diminished expression of sialyl Lewis X and the conserved manifestation of Lewis X in the transfectant clones suggested that the synthesis of sialyl Lewis X and that of Lewis X are independently regulated by different fucosyltransferases in human lymphoid cells. Fuc-T VII must be involved in the synthesis of sialyl Lewis X, while the synthesis of Lewis X is mediated by an enzyme other than Fuc-T VII, most probably Fuc-T IV.

Adult↗

Characterization of a T cell line specific to an anti-Id antibody related to the carbohydrate antigen, sialyl SSEA-1, and the immundominant T cell antigenic site of the antibody.

The stage-specific embryonic Ag-1 (SSEA-1) is a carbohydrate Ag and regarded as an onco-developmental Ag. Sialyl SSEA-1 Ag, the sialylated form of SSEA-1, is frequently expressed in human cancer cells as well as in murine cancer cells. A mAb, FH-6, was shown to specifically recognize the Ag. We have generated five anti-Id Abs directed to the paratope-related idiotopes of the FH-6 Ab. One of these anti-Id Abs, Id-F2, increased the survival of host mice that were inoculated with Meth-A cells expressing the sialyl SSEA-1 Ag. To clarify the exact mechanism underlying the antitumor effect of the anti-Id Ab, we established a T cell line that recognized Id-F2 in association with MHC class II molecules. The T cell line was CD4+V beta 8+, and produced IL-2, exhibiting helper activity for B cells. The VH CDR2 region of the Id-F2 amino acid sequences turned out to be strongly immunogenic to T cells. When the immune complexes, consisting of the sialyl SSEA-1 Ag, FH-6, and Id-F2, were formed at the Meth-A cell-surface, the T cell line showed a strong proliferative response. The possible roles played by such T cell subsets in the anti-tumor effect are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Increased expression of integrins by heparin-binding EGF like growth factor in human esophageal cancer cells.

The adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelium is an important step in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer. The authors investigated the alteration of integrin expression in human esophageal cancer cells, following the selectin-mediated initial adhesion to endothelial cells. The expression of alpha2 beta1 and alpha3 beta1 integrins in esophageal cancer cells (TE-1 and T.Tn), strongly expressing EGF-receptors, were markedly increased by the addition of the heparin-binding EGF like growth factor (HB-EGF). The increase of integrin expression in esophageal cancer cells was inhibited by the addition of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein. HB-EGF treatment of esophageal cancer cells resulted in the augmentation of cancer cell adhesion to immobilized collagen. When esophageal cancer cells were co-cultured with endothelial cells, similar levels of augmentation of cancer cell adhesion to collagen were observed. The augmentation of cancer cell adhesion to collagen was inhibited by the addition of anti-HB-EGF neutralizing antibody. Our interpretation of the results described above is that the cancer cells receive stimulation from cytokines, such as HB-EGF, produced by endothelial cells, following initial adhesion of cancer cells via selectins. This results in a secondary increase in the expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as the beta1 integrin family, and leads to augmentation in the adhesive activities of cancer cells at vessel walls. We postulate that this sequence of events involves the enhanced transmigration of cancer cells to extravascular tissues, following the selectin-mediated adhesion to the endothelium.

Antibodies↗

Adhesion of Human Breast Cancer Cells to Vascular Endothelium Mediated by Sialyl Lewis &supx; /E-selectin.

The adhesion molecules involved in the attachment of breast cancer cells to endothelial cells were investigated in vitro. All six human breast cancer cell lines expressed sialyl Lewis &supx; antigen(s-Le &supx;). Only two cell lines expressed sialyl Lewis&supa; antigen. A correlation was found between the degree of s-Le&supx; expression and the attachment of cancer cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) activated by IL-1beta. Monoclonal antibodies against s-Le &supx; or E-selectin inhibited this adhesion. These findings suggest that s-Le &supx; on the surface of cancer cells and E-selectin on the surface of endothelial cells play roles in adheision of breast cancer cells to vascular endothelium.

Journal Article↗

Induction of sialyl Lewis(X) on the surface of cultured rat vascular endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes by hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro.

Neutrophils adhere to and roll on vascular endothelial cells (VECs) through interaction of selections and their carbohydrate ligands in the early stages of inflammation; this adhesion is then later strengthened through interaction of integrins on neutrophils with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on endothelial cells. Recent, as yet unpublished studies showed that myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion caused rapid expression of sialyl Lewis(X) (SLe(X)), one of the carbohydrate ligands of selections, on VECs and cardiac myocytes and that an anti-SLe(X) monoclonal antibody (MAb) significantly reduced myocardial reperfusion injury in vivo, In the present study, to investigate whether or not ischaemia/reperfusion itself can induce the expression of SLe(X) on VECs and cardiac myocytes, the expression of SLe(X) on cultured rat VECs and cardiac myocytes was examined by treatment with hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro, because ischaemia/ reperfusion stimuli may partly be due to hypoxia/reoxygenation. The expression of SLe(X) was induced rapidly and temporarily on the surface of cultured rat cardiac myocytes and VECs by hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro. This strongly suggests that the expression of SLeX on the surface of myocardial cells is induced initially and directly by ischaemia/reperfusion, which results in the rolling attachment of neutrophils in the early stages of myocardial reperfusion injury.

Animals↗

Expression of sialyl Lewis(X) in rat heart with ischaemia/reperfusion and reduction of myocardial reperfusion injury by a monoclonal antibody against sialyl Lewis(X)

Neutrophils which infiltrate into the myocardial tissue subjected to ischaemia, followed by reperfusion, play a major role in myocardial reperfusion injury. It is known that early rolling attachment of neutrophils is mainly mediated by the selection family of cell-adhesion molecules and that this adhesion is then strengthened through the interaction of integrins and intercellular adhesion molecule-1. To investigate the role of sialyl Lewis(X) (SLe(X)), which is a ligand of all three members of the selections, in myocardial reperfusion injury, the expression of SLe(X) was examined in rat hearts subjected to 30 min of ischaemia followed by reperfusion. The effects were also analysed of in vivo administration of an anti-SLe(X) monoclonal antibody (MAb) on myocardial necrosis in a rat model of myocardial reperfusion injury. Reperfusion of ischaemic myocardial tissue resulted in enhanced expression of SLe(X) on the luminal surface of vascular endothelial cells (VECs), as well as cardiac myocytes. Furthermore, the in vivo administration of an anti-SLe(X) MAb significantly reduced the extent of the myocardial infarction developed after 30 min of ischaemia followed by 48 h of reperfusion. These findings indicate that SLe(X) plays a critical role in the development of myocardial reperfusion injury and offer a potentially useful immune therapy to protect against this injury.

Animals↗

Elevation of an alpha(1,3)fucosyltransferase activity correlated with apoptosis in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29.

We studied changes in the carbohydrate expression following apoptotic cell death induced by treatment with interferon (IFN)-gamma and anti-Fas antibody using human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. An apoptotic cell death of HT-29 accompanied with typical DNA fragmentation was observed when the cells, were cultured sequentially with IFN-gamma and anti-Fas antibody. In flow cytometric analyses, the expression of Le(x) and Le(y) antigen was strongly and slightly enhanced, respectively, on the cell surface in accordance with the apoptosis. When the fucosyltransferase (Fuc-T) activities of the lysates from the treated cells were examined relative to those from untreated cells, a 2.5-fold increase of alpha(1,3)-Fuc-T activities and a slight increase of alpha(1,2)-Fuc-T activities were observed, but little or no increase of alpha(1,4)-Fuc-T activity was detected. In Northern blot analyses using probes for Fuc-T III, IV, V, VI and VII genes, strong RNA messages for Fuc-T III, V and/or VI and a weak RNA message for Fuc-T IV were detected in the untreated HT-29 cells. On the other hand, in the treated cells, the messages for Fuc-T III, V and/or VI were found to almost disappear and the 2.3 kb message for Fuc-T IV was observed to elevate 2.8-fold. Therefore, we suggest that the strongly increased expression of Le(x) antigen found on the HT-29 cell surface might be involved in the process of apoptosis, and that the enhancement of the antigen expression seems to result from the increased activity of alpha(1,3)-Fuc-T encoded mainly by the Fuc-T IV gene.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Carbohydrate antigens as cell adhesion molecules].

Some cell surface carbohydrate determinants such as sialyl Lewis A and sialyl Lewis X serve as ligands for the cell adhesion molecules called selectins. These carbohydrate determinants are involved in the adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelial cells during the course of hematogenous metastasis of cancer. This review considers primary adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells mediated by carbohydrate-selectin interaction followed by the secondary involvement of the classical cell adhesion molecules called integrins in extravasation of cancer cells. Alteration in the glycosyltransferase activities that induce the accelerated synthesis of abnormal carbohydrate determinants on cancer cells is also discussed.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

[Biological malignant potential and carbohydrate antigens in breast cancer].

We investigated the association of expression of carbohydrate antigens with the degree of malignancy in breast cancer. When this expression was compared in the cancerous portion and adjacent non-cancerous portion in each of the patients, increased expression of type2 carbohydrate antigens were found in cancerous portions. The prognosis of patients in whom type2 carbohydrate antigens were increased in the cancerous portion was significantly poorer than in patients in whom they were not increased. The experimental studies, using cell lines derived from human breast cancer, resulted that the adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelial cells was mediated by sialyl Lewis(x) via E-selectin. Moreover, it was suggested that there were the induction of E-selectin expression on the endothelial cells by cancer cells and secondary adhesional system following the initial adhesion mediated by E-selectin and carbohydrate ligands. Consequently, it appears that the role that carbohydrates play in metastasis as cell adhesion molecules, is the underlying the relationship between the expression of carbohydrates and the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗