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Biomedical subjects

S A Burstein

Publications and source records attributed to S A Burstein.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Analysis of megakaryocyte ploidy in patients with thrombocytosis.

The DNA content of bone marrow megakaryocytes was analyzed in 24 patients with myeloproliferative disorders, 23 patients with secondary thrombocytosis and 15 normal volunteers using 2-color flow cytometry. Compared with normal controls, the majority of patients with secondary thrombocytosis, polycythemia vera and essential thrombocytosis exhibited a relative increase in higher ploidy (greater than 16N) cells. In contrast, patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia exhibited an increase in lower ploidy cells (less than 16N), with a modal DNA content of 8N. Patients with myeloproliferative disorders tended to show a decrease in the 16N megakaryocyte population compared with patients with secondary thrombocytosis. No correlation between ploidy distribution and platelet count was observed.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1989

Flow cytometric analysis of megakaryocytes from patients with abnormal platelet counts.

Megakaryocytes (MKs) from 40 patients with quantitative platelet disorders and 19 normal volunteers were analyzed by flow cytometry for size, fine cell internal structure and granularity, membrane expression of the glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex, and for ploidy distribution. Analysis was performed on unfractionated minimally manipulated marrows obtained from routine bone marrow aspirates. MKs were labeled with a fluorescent lineage-specific monoclonal antibody to the GPIIb/IIIa complex followed by DNA staining with propidium iodide. Eight hundred to 3,000 MKs were analyzed in each sample. The modal ploidy distribution in normals was 16N, comprising about half of the megakaryocytic population, with 22.6% of the cells less than or equal to 8N and 22.0% greater than or equal to 32N. Twelve thrombocytopenic patients with decreased marrow MKs on biopsy (mean platelet count [MPC] 44,600/microliters) showed an increase in low ploidy cells with 53.2% less than or equal to 8N (P less than .01); cell size was reduced in three patients when compared to normal cells of identical ploidy (P less than .05). Eight thrombocytopenic patients with enhanced platelet destruction (with normal or increased MKs on biopsy and shortened platelet survival; MPC 41,400/microliters) showed an increased proportion of high ploidy cells greater than or equal to 32N to 39.2% (P less than .01). Increased cell size and granularity were found in four of these patients (P less than .05). Six patients with thrombocytopenia secondary to multiple mechanisms affecting both platelet production and destruction (MPC 66,700/microliters) showed no shift in ploidy. Four patients with primary thrombocytosis (two with thrombocythemia and two with polycythemia vera; MPC 822,500/microliters) showed a marked shift toward high ploidy cells with 42.3% greater than or equal to 32N and 7.6% greater than or equal to 64N cells (P less than .01). The shift was accompanied by a marked increase in cell size and granularity in the patients with thrombocythemia. Ten patients with thrombocytosis secondary to chronic blood loss, malignant or inflammatory disorders (MPC 714,000/microliters), showed variable distributions with four patients exhibiting a shift in ploidy to the right similar to that found in the patients with increased platelet destruction. Based upon the present data, flow cytometric ploidy distribution may be diagnostically useful in thrombocytopenic patients by discriminating between disorders of platelet production and destruction. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1989

Human interleukin 6 is a direct promoter of maturation of megakaryocytes in vitro.

The response of cells of the murine megakaryocytic lineage to human interleukin 6 (IL-6) was assessed in serum-depleted cultures using a variety of biological assays. IL-6 alone had no influence on megakaryocytic colony formation but augmented the numbers of these colonies induced by the multipotent colony-stimulating factor interleukin 3. However, in liquid marrow cultures, IL-6 alone promoted marked increments in megakaryocytic size and the activity of acetyl-cholinesterase, a marker enzyme of the lineage. Moreover, IL-6 induced a significant shift toward higher ploidy classes when megakaryocytic DNA was quantitated by flow cytometry. To determine whether the influence of IL-6 on megakaryocytic maturation was direct, the factor was added to cultures of single megakaryocytes isolated from megakaryocytic colonies. Fifty-four percent of these cells increased in size compared with 19% of those grown without IL-6. The data show that human IL-6 is a potent direct-acting growth factor for murine megakaryocytes with activity promoting maturation of that lineage.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Menstrual cyclic thrombocytopenia.

We studied three patients with cyclic thrombocytopenia which occurred in phase with the menstrual cycle. The platelet count in each patient reached a nadir of 5-20 x 10(9)/l at the onset of menses. Thrombocytopenia was associated with bruising, epistaxis and menorrhagia and was followed 5-14 d later by normal or elevated platelet counts (up to 900 x 10(9)/l). Repeat bone marrow examinations performed at the time of reduced platelet counts showed megakaryocytic hyperplasia. 111In-platelet-disappearance from the circulation was measured in one patient; T50, time to half activity, was shortened to 0.7 d during the period of thrombocytopenia and was prolonged to 3.2 d when the platelet count increased (normal platelet T50 is about 4.8 d). In two of three patients platelet-associated anti-glycoprotein Ib autoantibodies were present and remained elevated despite normalization of the platelet count. In both of two patients the decrease in platelet count at the onset of menses was associated with an increase in the expression of monocyte Fc gamma receptors. Based on the reported capacity of oestrogenic hormones to modulate macrophage Fc gamma receptor expression, we propose that hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle may alter the Fc gamma receptor-mediated clearance of antibody-coated platelets by macrophages, modulate platelet survival, and cause cyclic thrombocytopenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effect of red cell hypertransfusion on thrombocytopoietic regeneration following irradiation and bone marrow transplantation in the mouse.

To examine the influence of suppressed erythropoiesis on platelet recovery following marrow injury, C57B1/6 mice were given red cell transfusion or Ringer's citrate. Twenty-four hours later, the animals were given either lethal (9 Gy) irradiation followed by syngeneic marrow or sublethal (3.5 Gy) irradiation and allowed to recover. The adequacy of erythroid suppression was shown by a marked decline in erythroid colony-forming cells (CFU-E) in both marrow and spleen. In both irradiation groups, platelet counts were lower in the hypertransfused mice when compared to nontransfused controls. This decrease in platelet count was observed irrespective of the degree of polycythemia or the time of observation. To determine whether red cell hypertransfusion also affects megakaryocytopoiesis, megakaryocyte colony-forming cells (CFU-MK), megakaryocyte numbers in femoral marrow sections, and megakaryocyte volumes were measured. An increase in CFU-MK-derived colonies was observed in the marrows of hypertransfused animals in both irradiation groups, and in the spleen in the group which received 3.5 Gy. Megakaryocyte numbers and volumes in femoral marrow sections were increased in the hypertransfused mice given 3.5 Gy, but not in the group given 9 Gy. The data show that despite complex effects on megakaryocytes and their progenitors, red cell hypertransfusion delays rather than enhances platelet recovery.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Erythropoietin and megakaryocytopoiesis.

To determine if erythropoietin influences megakaryocytopoiesis, the purified recombinant human hormone (rEpo) was added to serum-free liquid cultures of murine marrow. A dose-related increment in acetylcholinesterase (AchE) production was observed. To assess if increments in this relatively megakaryocyte-specific enzyme marker were mediated by a direct hormone-megakaryocyte interaction rather than via an accessory cell population, rEpo was added to cultures of isolated single megakaryocytes. A significant, dose-related increase in cell size was noted in the presence of the hormone, accompanied by a high probability of an increase in cellular DNA content. The data show that rEpo does directly influence some aspects of megakaryocytic maturation, although the physiologic significance of this effect remains unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Flow cytometric analysis of normal human megakaryocytes.

Megakaryocytes from normal routine human bone marrow aspirates were analyzed by flow cytometry for size, fine cell structure and granularity, membrane expression of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa and ploidy. Marrow cells were initially enriched for megakaryocytes by a Percoll density gradient and megakaryocytes were labeled with a fluoresceinated monoclonal antibody directed to the GPIIb/IIIa complex. The cells were fixed with paraformaldehyde and stained with propidium iodide (PI) for DNA quantitation. Using two-color flow cytometry, megakaryocytes were identified by their high membrane immunofluorescence and their ploidy was determined according to the relative fluorescence intensity of the PI. Forward light scatter (FSC), correlating with cell size, 90 degrees side light scatter (SSC), reflecting primarily cell internal fine structure and granularity, and total cell membrane fluorescence were examined. To evaluate independently the relationship between size and cell membrane fluorescence obtained by flow cytometry, megakaryocytes were sorted directly on slides and analyzed by a laser-based anchored cell analyzer (ACAS). There was a strong correlation among size, SSC, and the level of membrane fluorescence. The mean diameter of megakaryocytes was 28.1 +/- 12.3 micron. The modal ploidy distribution was 16N with approximately one-fifth of the cells less than or equal to 4N. The mean FSC and SSC levels increased with increasing ploidy. However, the marked overlap observed between the ranges of these parameters in adjacent ploidy classes suggested that size and SSC increase continuously rather than by discrete steps as is characteristic for ploidy. The total surface membrane fluorescence was correlated with cell size (r = 0.98) as measured by FSC or directly by the ACAS (r = 0.85), and with cell ploidy (r = 0.99) indicating an augmentation in total membrane GPIIb/IIIa expression with an increase in cell size and ploidy. However, estimated GPIIb/IIIa fluorescence density was inversely correlated with FSC suggesting that the GPIIb/IIIa surface epitope density is decreased with increasing cell maturity. We conclude that flow cytometry is a useful technique for the rapid analysis of human megakaryocytes obtained by marrow aspiration, and should be applicable to studies of pathologic states.

Bone Marrow Cells↗
PubMed1987

Transfection of a factor-dependent cell line with the murine interleukin-3 (IL-3) cDNA results in autonomous growth and tumorigenesis.

The factor dependent murine myeloid line 32D c15 was transfected by electroporation with a murine interleukin-3 (IL-3) cDNA expression plasmid bearing the murine metallothionein-I promoter element. Factor-independent cell growth was readily obtained, and was shown to be accompanied by the production of biologically active IL-3. Three cell lines, growing autonomously and secreting IL-3 activity into their supernatants were established. S-1 nuclease analysis was employed to demonstrate that the introduced plasmid and not the endogenous IL-3 gene was the source of the IL-3 in one of these lines. The transfected IL-3 secreting cell lines, but not the parental factor-dependent 32D c15 cells, were uniformly able to induce tumors in syngeneic mice. These results indicate that the conversion to a malignant phenotype of a "partially transformed" cell line may be achieved by one additional dominant genetic event, such as the acquisition of autocrine growth factor secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Monitoring of cyclosporine therapy with in vitro biological assays.

We examined the correlation between cyclosporine (CsA) levels and in vitro assays of immune function and hematopoiesis. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), mitogen responses, suppressor cell (SC), cell-mediated lympholysis (CML), and erythroid colony (EC) assays were studied in dogs, and in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis was studied in mice. Serum CsA concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. After oral or intramuscular CsA dosing, lymphocyte proliferation, as measured by MLR, inversely correlated with in vivo serum CsA concentration. MLR responses decreased rapidly, and nearly complete inhibition coincided with peak CsA levels. While CsA concentration-related suppression of lymphocyte stimulation was also observed in mitogen-stimulated cultures, results were less predictable and similar to results with in vitro CsA addition, and higher serum CsA levels were required to achieve comparable suppression. In vivo serum or in vitro CsA levels greater than 300 ng/ml completely inhibited the development of cytotoxic effector cells but had no measureable effect on the expression of suppressor cells in the same cultures. Furthermore, CsA serum also caused concentration-related inhibition of EC growth. The addition of human embryonic kidney-conditioned medium, however, abrogated CsA-related inhibition of EC growth, which suggested that CsA indirectly inhibited EC growth, presumably by interfering with CsA-sensitive accessory cells. This was supported by studies in an in vitro model of murine megakaryocytopoiesis. In normal conditioned medium, megakaryocyte colonies were unaffected by the presence of CsA. However, when cells were cultured in conditioned medium prepared in the presence of CsA, profound inhibition of megakaryocyte growth was observed. These studies show that biologic assays can be used reliably to measure concentration-related changes in immunosuppressive activity of CsA. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of pharmacodynamic monitoring of CsA therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Human recombinant erythropoietin promotes differentiation of murine megakaryocytes in vitro.

To determine if erythropoietin affects megakaryocytopoiesis, we measured acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, a marker of the murine megakaryocytic lineage, after the addition of human recombinant erythropoietin to serumless murine bone marrow cultures. Erythropoietin increased AchE activity substantially. Moreover, when the hormone was added to serumless cultures of 426 isolated single megakaryocytes derived from megakaryocytic colonies, erythropoietin induced a significant increase in the diameters of these cells. From a Bayesian analysis of the likelihood that some megakaryocytes increased in DNA content during the culture period, we estimate that 61% of the cells increased in ploidy. These data indicate that the action of erythropoietin is not restricted to the erythroid lineage.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1987

Purification of human megakaryocytes by fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

For direct studies of growth control, a method was developed to purify viable human megakaryocytes to homogeneity from routine normal bone marrow aspirates. An initial separation of marrow over a 1.050 g/mL Percoll density cut was used to enrich megakaryocytes. After washing, the cells were specifically labeled with a fluoresceinated monoclonal antibody or F(ab')2 fragment to the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex. Megakaryocytes were selectively sorted by using Becton Dickinson FACStar flow cytometer on the basis of a fluorescence intensity greater than 50-fold that of control cells. To increase resolution and purity the sorting rate was adjusted to one cell in 13 formed drops, and negative events that coincided with positive ones were aborted. Two thirds of the isolated cells were large, morphologically recognizable megakaryocytes with a forward light scatter fourfold that of the main cell population. Microscopic examination showed these cells to be greater than or equal to 98% megakaryocytes with a diameter of 20 to 46 microns and a ploidy range of 2N to 64N with a mode of 16N. The small highly fluorescent cells were 10 to 21 microns in diameter, and their ploidy range from 2N to 32N with main ploidy classes of 2N and 4N. The majority of these small cells also positively reacted with monoclonal antibody to platelet GPIb. The isolated cells were cultured in either Iscove's or leucine, lysine-deficient RPMI 1640 medium with 10% human plasma. The cells were maintained in culture more than three days and were capable of synthesis of both DNA and protein as assessed by radiolabeled thymidine and amino acid incorporation. Moreover, the isolated megakaryocytes were capable of responding to recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The data show that human megakaryocytes can be purified from routine marrow aspirates on the basis of a lineage marker and that they are capable of growth in vitro.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Type beta transforming growth factor is a potent inhibitor of murine megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro.

To investigate the potential role of platelets in the inhibition of megakaryocytopoiesis, freeze-thawed extracts of human platelets were added to serumless liquid cultures of murine marrow. When acetylcholinesterase (AchE), a marker of megakaryocytic differentiation in mice, was assayed, a significant inhibition of enzymatic activity was noted in cultures containing the equivalent of greater than 5 X 10(6) solubilized platelets per milliliter. Freeze-thawed extracts of granulocytes had significantly less inhibitory effect than did platelets. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), a growth factor known to be inhibitory to some cell lineages and to be found at relatively high concentrations in platelets, was then added to liquid marrow cultures. A similar inhibition of AchE activity was detected when cultures were stimulated with mitogen-stimulated conditioned medium. The effect was potent with 50% inhibition of AchE activity observed at 4 pmol TGF-beta/L. To determine if TGF-beta inhibited specifically one aspect of megakaryocytic differentiation, the factor was added to isolated single megakaryocytes in serumless culture induced by interleukin 3 (IL3) to increase in size. The number of megakaryocytes increasing in size in response to IL 3 exposure was reduced from 68% to 20% when both factors were simultaneously added to cultures. Colony assays showed that megakaryocytic and granulocyte-macrophage colony detection was inhibited at picomolar concentrations of the factor. These data suggest that TGF-beta is a potent in vitro inhibitor of the murine megakaryocytic lineage, although its effects are not limited to this lineage.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1986

Separation of human megakaryocytes by state of differentiation on continuous gradients of Percoll: size and ploidy analysis of cells identified by monoclonal antibody to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa.

Human bone marrow was separated on continuous Percoll density gradients to analyze the distribution of cells of the megakaryocytic lineage. Megakaryocytes were identified by indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody (LJP4) specific to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) complex of platelets. Neither endothelial cells nor monocytes expressed the epitope identified by this antibody. Simultaneous measurement of size and ploidy were made on 2,359 GPIIb/IIIa-positive cells. The smallest cells were located in the most dense fractions where 81% of all 2N and 66% of 4N cells were found at densities greater than or equal to 1.050 g/mL. The largest cells were detected in the least dense fractions, with 70% of 16N, 78% of 32N, and 100% of 64N cells found at densities less than 1.050 g/mL. Ninety-four percent of all GPIIb/IIIa-positive cells less than 14 micron in diameter were found at densities greater than 1.050 g/mL. An exception to this inverse relationship was observed in the uppermost gradient fractions where an anomalous distribution of size and ploidy was found. Megakaryocytic viability was identified as being greater than 90% in all fractions. The data show that megakaryocytic differentiation as assessed by size and ploidy varies inversely with Percoll density. Separation of marrow on continuous Percoll gradients may be a useful method to separate megakaryocytes at different stages of differentiation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

Interleukin 3 promotes the differentiation of isolated single megakaryocytes.

Interleukin 3 (IL3) promotes the proliferation of murine hematopoietic progenitor cells, including the megakaryocytic colony-forming cell (CFU-MK). To determine whether IL3 influences more differentiated cells in the murine megakaryocytic lineage, IL3 was added to microcultures of single megakaryocytes isolated from CFU-MK-derived colonies. After two days of culture, cell diameter and DNA content were analyzed. Eighty-five percent of cells initially between 12 and 20 micron in diameter increased in size in response to IL3, while only 12% of these cells increased in size in its absence. The percentage of cells responding to IL3 varied inversely with the size of the initial cells. The culture procedure did not alter the relatively linear relationship between size and ploidy, suggesting that increments in cell size are accompanied by increased ploidy. After three days of culture, acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was assayed. A small but significant increment in AchE activity was observed in the presence of IL3. The data show that, at least in vitro, IL3 is a differentiation-promoting factor of the murine megakaryocytic lineage.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1986

Interleukin 3 promotes maturation of murine megakaryocytes in vitro.

A fluorescence assay for the quantitation of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) has been adapted for measurement of megakaryocytic maturation in short-term serum-free cultures of murine marrow. When marrow cells were cultured for 3 days in the presence of pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cell conditioned medium (PWM-SCM) under serum-free conditions, AchE production was found to be related to the concentration of PWM-SCM. Interleukin 3 (IL3), a purified glycoprotein promoting the proliferation of several early hematopoietic progenitors including megakaryocytic colony-forming cells, also induced AchE production in a dose-responsive manner. The response to IL3 was linearly related to the number of cells cultured. When marrow was first subjected to plastic adherence and the nonadherent cells then separated on Percoll gradients, a small megakaryocyte-enriched population markedly depleted of colony-forming cells and large megakaryocytes, responded to IL3 in a similar dose-responsive manner. A significant amount of AchE was produced in the absence of any added factors. The data show that AchE production can be measured in 3-day serum-free cultures, and suggest that IL3, a factor promoting megakaryocytic proliferation in vitro, also promotes maturation.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1985

Quantitation of megakaryocytopoiesis in liquid culture by enzymatic determination of acetylcholinesterase.

A method has been developed to quantitate megakaryocytopoiesis in culture by measuring acetylcholinesterase synthesized in vitro. Murine marrow cells, treated with diisopropylfluorosphosphate (DFP) to inactivate initial acetylcholinesterase (AchE) present in megakaryocytes and contaminating blood, were set up in Iscove's medium supplemented with 15% DFP-treated horse serum +/- pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cell conditioned medium (PWM-SCM) in 96-well microplates. Following the culture period, Triton X-100, dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid (DTNB), and acetylthiocholine iodide were added to each well. AchE synthesized in culture cleaved acetylthiocholine to thiocholine, which stochiometrically reduced the colorless indicator DTNB to a highly colored product. Thirty minutes following the addition of substrate, the plates were assayed for activity with a vertical recording photometer. When platelets, freshly prepared bone marrow cells, or cultured marrow were assayed by this method, a linear relationship was observed between optical density (OD) and the number of cells assayed. Moreover, a linear relationship between the number of AchE-positive megakaryocytes determined histochemically and AchE activity determined spectrophotometrically was observed. Red cells exhibited no activity. Inhibitor studies demonstrated that the activity measured was true AchE. Separation of marrow by density gradient centrifugation showed that the megakaryocyte enriched fraction contained all the AchE while the megakaryocyte depleted fraction contained none. From the data we conclude that this rapid, semiautomated method quantitates megakaryocytic AchE synthesis in culture, and that this method will be a useful assay system for the detection of factors that influence megakaryocytopoiesis.

Acetylcholinesterase↗