The teaching of pathology at St. George's Hospital Medical School, London.
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Curriculum↗
Biomedical subjects
T J Chambers
Publications and source records attributed to T J Chambers.
A new approach for calcitonin determination based on target cell responsiveness.
We report the development and validation of three microbioassays for calcitonin based on calcitonin-induced inhibition of the activity of isolated osteoclasts. Having precisely quantified osteoclast motility, spreading and bone resorptive activity, we have applied stringent analytical procedures to define assay characteristics. We have found that the appropriately transformed responses significantly regress on log dose of the peptides. Furthermore, potency estimates obtained using calcitonins from three species (human, salmon and a synthetic analogue of eel calcitonin) have been found to be consistent with those obtained using conventional calcitonin bioassays. In addition, the assays are remarkably sensitive (detection limit 10(-15) M), highly specific and precise. We have determined plasma levels of bioactive calcitonin on samples from patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma; these are several-fold lower than those obtained using our routine calcitonin radioimmunoassay. Our study thus, forms the basis of an entirely new approach for the determination of 'biologically active' calcitonin, and we envisage that such target cell-specific assays could become useful microanalytical methods.
Animals↗
Production of yellow fever virus proteins in infected cells: identification of discrete polyprotein species and analysis of cleavage kinetics using region-specific polyclonal antisera.
Flavivirus proteins are produced by translation of a single long open reading frame and a complex series of cotranslational and post-translational proteolytic cleavages. To study these processing events in yellow fever virus (YF)-infected cells, polyclonal antisera recognizing C, prM, E, NS1, NS2B, NS3, NS4B, and NS5 were generated using peptide and fusion protein immunogens. Evidence suggests that production of the structural protein precursors involves rapid cotranslational processing consistent with signalase cleavages. The synthesis of the NS1 glycoprotein involves cleavage of polyprotein precursors (t1/2 approximately 10 minutes) which probably contain portions of the NS2A gene product. Endoglycosidase F treatment or labeling in the presence of tunicamycin suggests that YF prM and NS1 each have two N-linked oligosaccharides. NS2B is produced without any identifiable precursors or associated polyprotein species. Processing of the NS3-4-5 region is complex and occurs rapidly. A series of polyproteins can be detected whose molecular weights correlate with the cleavage sites defined by available N-terminal amino acid sequence data. However, convincing precursor-product relationships between these polyproteins and the mature NS3 and NS5 proteins could not be demonstrated. In contrast, NS4B appears to be produced by cleavage of a discrete precursor believed to be NS4AB. N-terminal sequence data for the putative NS4AB product has tentatively defined the NS3-4A cleavage site. A scheme for in vivo processing of the YF polyprotein is presented and discussed.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Gallium inhibits bone resorption by a direct effect on osteoclasts.
Gallium nitrate has been used clinically to treat cancer-related hypercalcemia. It has been suggested that gallium may reduce calcium release from bone by inhibiting bone resorption, but the mechanism(s) involved remain to be elucidated. Therefore, we have examined the effect of gallium on bone resorption in vitro using osteoclasts isolated from neonatal rat long bones cultured on slices of cortical bone. Gallium nitrate (0.01-100 micrograms/ml) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of bone resorption. Morphological studies showed that even (100 micrograms/ml) gallium nitrate induced no light microscopical change in osteoclast morphology and did not affect their survival on bone slices. Pretreatment of bone slices with gallium nitrate (100 micrograms/ml for 18 h), followed by extensive washing also inhibited subsequent osteoclastic bone resorption. These results suggest that gallium can be adsorbed onto the calcified surface of bone and inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption.
Animals↗
Detection of osteomalacia in British Asians: a comparison of clinical score with biochemical measurements.
1. In a prospective study of 160 Asian outpatients, plasma calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone were compared with a clinical score to determine which measurements singly or in combination were most useful in the detection of osteomalacia. 2. Bone biopsies were performed in 45 of 48 patients considered to be at risk of osteomalacia. Of the 39 quantifiable bone biopsies, nine showed unequivocal osteomalacia, 13 were judged to be borderline and 17 biopsies were normal. 3. The clinical score was highly sensitive, identifying eight of nine patients with osteomalacia, but not specific, six of 17 normal patients having an abnormal score. 4. Plasma parathyroid hormone was the best single biochemical test for identifying osteomalacia. By using a discriminant function based on parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, it was possible to classify 96% cases correctly; a discriminant function utilizing calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase was successful in 85% of cases. It was not possible to discriminate between histological groups on the basis of plasma 25-hydroxy-vitamin D values. 5. We confirm that the clinical score is a useful and inexpensive screening test for osteomalacia in British Asians. In those patients with an abnormal score we suggest that parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase are measured. Where both parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase are high, in the absence of hypercalcaemia, histological osteomalacia is extremely likely.
Adult↗
Evidence that the N-terminal domain of nonstructural protein NS3 from yellow fever virus is a serine protease responsible for site-specific cleavages in the viral polyprotein.
Sequence homology and molecular modeling studies have suggested that the N-terminal one-third of the flavirvirus nonstructural protein NS3 functions as a trypsin-like serine protease. To examine the putative proteolytic activity of NS3, segments of the yellow fever virus genome were subcloned into plasmid transcription/translation vectors and cell-free translation products were characterized. The results suggest that a protease activity encoded within NS2B and the N-terminal one-third of yellow fever virus NS3 is capable of cis-acting site-specific proteolysis at the NS2B-NS3 cleavage site and dilution-insensitive cleavage of the NS2A-NS2B site. Site-directed mutagenesis of the His-53, Asp-77, and Ser-138 residues of NS3 that compose the proposed catalytic triad implicates this domain as a serine protease. Infectious virus was not recovered from mammalian cells transfected with RNAs transcribed from full-length yellow fever virus cDNA templates containing mutations at Ser-138 (which abolish or dramatically reduce protease activity in vitro), suggesting that the protease is required for viral replication.
Capsid↗
Flavivirus genome organization, expression, and replication.
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Amino Acid Sequence↗
Purification and characterization of a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase from human osteoclastomas.
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase is one of the major enzymes produced and secreted by osteoclasts. To obtain sufficient enzyme for biochemical characterization, we have purified this enzyme from human osteoclastomas by sequential chromatography on SP-Sephadex, CM-Sephadex, hydroxylapatite, Sephadex G-150 and concanavalin A-Sepharose. The purification over the original tumour extract was about 2000-fold, with a yield of 10%. The enzyme appeared to be homogeneous when assessed by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Both gel filtration and SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicated an Mr of about 30,000. The reduced and alkylated enzyme consists of two subunits with Mrs of 15,000 and 17,500. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of both subunits indicates that there is a high degree of identity between the osteoclastoma enzyme and similar enzymes purified from spleen and uterus. Using 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate as substrate, the specific activity of the purified enzyme was 387 units.mg-1, and the Km was 284 microns. The pH optimum was 5.7. Unlike similar enzymes purified from human and bovine bone, osteoclastoma acid phosphatase is not activated by reducing agents (2-mercaptoethanol or ascorbic acid). The enzyme contains 4.8 mol of Fe2+/3+, 0.3 mol of Mn2+ and 1.7 mol of Mg2+ per mol of enzyme. Although the enzyme loses 50% of its activity in the presence of EDTA, it is not inhibited by the iron chelator 1,10-phenanthroline. However, the enzyme is activated to a small extent by Mn2+ and Mg2+. Using a variety of substrates and inhibitors, we demonstrate that there are differences between the osteoclastoma acid phosphatase and the enzyme purified from other sources.
Acid Phosphatase↗
Production and characterisation of immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from a CGRP receptor-positive cloned osteosarcoma cell line (UMR 106.01).
A subclone of an osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cell line (UMR 106.01) has recently been shown to possess specific binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) linked to adenylate cyclase. The present study provides the first demonstration for the production of immunoreactive CGRP from CGRP-receptor positive osteosarcoma cells. Mean immunoreactive CGRP levels were 15 pmol/g and 1 pmol/l for acid extracts of cells and cell-exposed media respectively. On gel filtration and high performance liquid chromatography, a major proportion of immunoreactive CGRP was found to co-elute with synthetic rat CGRP(1-37). Only negligible quantities of calcitonin were detected in cell extracts or cell-exposed supernatant. The production of authentic CGRP from a CGRP-receptor positive tumour suggests that the peptide may have autocrine effects on its producer cell.
Animals↗
Bone matrix stimulates osteoclastic differentiation in cultures of rabbit bone marrow cells.
Cells showing osteoclastic characteristics have not been identified outside bone. Because osteoclasts originate from an extraosseous source, this suggests that identifiable osteoclastic features do not develop until the precursors enter bone, where the local microenvironment may signal osteoclastic differentiation or maturation. We assessed the influence of bone matrix on osteoclastic differentiation by incubating bone marrow cells, after removal of pre-existing osteoclasts, on plastic coverslips or slices of devitalized cortical bone. We found that there was a threefold increase in the number of osteoclast-specific MAb-positive cells on the bone matrix compared with plastic coverslips. The number of MAb-positive cells correlated with the extent of excavation of the surface of the bone slices. Multinuclearity correlated with MAb-positive cell density, and for any given density the proportion of MAb-positive cells that were multinucleate was similar on plastic and bone. We conclude that, in the presence of 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3, bone matrix stimulates the generation of osteoclasts but has no demonstrable influence on the fusion of mononuclear osteoclastic precursors.
Animals↗
Effect of arachidonic acid metabolites on bone resorption by isolated rat osteoclasts.
Arachidonic acid metabolites (eicosanoids) have major effects on bone but their role is unclear. Many are known to stimulate bone resorption in organ culture, but paradoxically, previous work has suggested that at least some of them act as direct inhibitors of osteoclastic function. In an attempt to clarify the role of eicosanoids in bone physiology, we have defined the duration of action and relative potencies of prostaglandin (PG) E1 and E2 and have extended the range of eicosanoids tested on isolated osteoclasts. We have found that PGE1 and PGE2 inhibited bone resorption by isolated osteoclasts for at least 6 h. Inhibition was followed by recovery to control, not supranormal levels. Bone resorption was inhibited in the range 10(-5)-10(-9) M for PGE1 and PGE2, and the rank order as resorption inhibitors was PGE1 greater than 6-keto PGE1 greater than PGE2 greater than PGA2 greater than PGB2. None of the products of lipoxygenase metabolism showed a significant direct effect. The effects of PGE1 and PGE2 were not antagonistic. Prostaglandin production does not seem to be implicated as a second messenger for the action of calcitonin. Although inhibition of osteoclasts by PGs was less prolonged than that observed in the presence of calcitonin, the sensitivity of osteoclasts to inhibition by PGs, and the duration of the effect without subsequent direct stimulation, suggests that inhibition of osteoclastic resorption is a major physiological role of PG production in bone.
Animals↗
Generation of osteoclasts from hemopoietic cells and a multipotential cell line in vitro.
Osteoclasts are the cells that resorb bone. It is generally presumed, on the basis of indirect experiments, that they are derived from the hemopoietic stem cell. However, this origin has never been established. We have developed an assay for osteoclastic differentiation in which bone marrow cells are incubated in liquid culture on slices of cortical bone. The bone slices are inspected in the scanning electron microscope after incubation for the presence of excavations, which are characteristic of osteoclastic activity. We have now incubated bone marrow cells at low density, or a factor-dependent mouse hemopoietic cell line (FDCP-mix A4) with 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (a hormone which we have previously found induces osteoclastic differentiation) with and without murine bone marrow stromal cells, or with and without 3T3 cells, on bone slices. Neither the bone marrow cells nor the bone marrow stromal cells alone developed osteoclastic function even in the presence of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. However, extensive excavation of the bone surface was observed, only in the presence of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, on bone slices on which bone marrow stromal cells were cocultured with low-density bone marrow cells or the hemopoietic cell line. Similar results were obtained when the bone marrow stromal cells were killed by glutaraldehyde fixation; 3T3 cells were unable to substitute for stromal cells. These results are strong evidence that osteoclasts derive from the hemopoietic stem cell and suggest that although mature osteoclasts possess neither receptors for nor responsiveness to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, the hormone induces osteoclastic function through a direct effect on hemopoietic cells rather than through some accessory cell in the bone marrow stroma. The failure of 3T3 cells, which enable differentiation of other hemopoietic progeny from this cell line, to induce osteoclastic differentiation suggests that bone marrow stroma possesses additional characteristics distinct from those that induce differentiation of other hemopoietic cells that are specifically required for osteoclastic differentiation.
Animals↗
Osteoclasts are present in the giant cell variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
We assessed the osteoclast-like giant cells in a giant cell-rich variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) for characteristics which are specific for osteoclasts, including excavation of bone and binding of osteoclast-specific monoclonal antibodies. Excavations characteristic of osteoclastic activity were found when the bone slices were inspected in the scanning electron microscope after incubation. Two monoclonal antibodies which bind specifically to osteoclasts showed strong membrane reactivity. These results provide strong evidence for the osteoclastic nature of the giant cells in this variant of the MFH. Osteoblasts are known to control the function of the osteoclast, and since there is bone formation present in at least half of the giant cell-rich variant of MFH it may be that it is the cells with properties peculiar to osteoblasts within the tumour which are responsible for the recruitment of the osteoclasts.
Animals↗
Optimal bone resorption by isolated rat osteoclasts requires chloride/bicarbonate exchange.
We have examined the effect of DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene sulfonic acid) a potent, specific and irreversible inhibitor of chloride/bicarbonate exchange on bone resorption by disaggregated rat osteoclasts, using an in vitro bone slice assay. DIDS inhibited bone resorption in concentration dependent fashion, without affecting osteoclast viability or survival on bone slices. The role of anion exchange in the resorptive process is discussed.
4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
Yellow fever virus proteins NS2A, NS2B, and NS4B: identification and partial N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis.
A series of fusion proteins corresponding to the hydrophobic ns2 and ns4 regions of yellow fever virus (YF) were generated in Escherichia coli using trpE fusion vectors. Antisera to ns2 and ns4 region fusion proteins recognize virus-specific proteins of 15 and 27 kDa, respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the 27-kDa protein indicates that the N-terminus of YF NS4B immediately follows a signalase-like cleavage site. Additional sequence data generated by microsequence analysis of labeled proteins immunoprecipitated with mouse hyperimmune antisera have identified the 15-kDa protein as NS2B and an additional 20-kDa viral protein as NS2A. Comparison of the sequences adjacent to the N-termini of these viral proteins suggests that three distinct types of cleavage events are involved in processing the hydrophobic YF ns2 and ns4 regions. These include cleavage after a short side chain amino acid to generate the N-terminus of NS2A, cleavage after two arginine residues to produce the N-terminus of NS2B, and a cleavage site consistent with the specificity of signalase to generate the N-terminus of NS4B. Analysis of virus-specific protein patterns in several different mammalian cell lines and in Aedes albopictus cells suggests that the same cleavage sites are used in different hosts. These findings are discussed in relation to the processing of flavivirus polyproteins.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
Dichloromethylenebisphosphonate (Cl2MBP) inhibits bone resorption through injury to osteoclasts that resorb Cl2MBP-coated bone.
Dichloromethylenebisphosphonate (Cl2MBP, formerly Cl2MDP) inhibits bone resorption in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism by which it inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption has not been established. To investigate this, osteoclasts were isolated from rat long bone and incubated with Cl2MBP (10(-9)-10(-5) M) on bone slices. Bone resorption was assessed as plan area resorbed after 6 and 24 h by scanning electron microscopy. Although Cl2MBP inhibited bone resorption in the first 6 h of culture, inhibition was more marked in the incubation period between 6 and 24 h. This pattern of accelerating inhibition is unlike the pattern we have observed using other resorption-inhibitors, and suggested resorption-mediated osteoclast injury. In keeping with this, we found reduced numbers of osteoclasts, and morphological features of cell injury and degeneration of osteoclasts, after incubation with Cl2MBP on bone slices. Bone seemed to be an essential component in Cl2MBP-mediated injury, since osteoclast numbers and morphology on plastic coverslips were unaffected by the bisphosphonate. Moreover, bone slices preincubated with Cl2MBP showed similar effects on resorption and morphology to cultures in in which osteoclasts on bone were continuously immersed in Cl2MBP. Neither non-resorptive cells (macrophages, UMR 106 cells), nor osteoclasts prevented from resorption by calcitonin, showed evidence of cytotoxicity after incubation on bone slices with Cl2MBP. These results suggest that even relatively high concentrations of Cl2MBP in the fluid phase do not affect osteoclasts, nor does contact with Cl2MBP-coated bone surfaces, but that injury to osteoclasts, and a consequent reduction in bone resorption, occurs when osteoclasts excavate bone surfaces upon which Cl2MBP is adsorbed.
Animals↗
Generation of osteoclastic function in mouse bone marrow cultures: multinuclearity and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase are unreliable markers for osteoclastic differentiation.
The osteoclast is the cell that resorbs bone. It is known to derive from hemopoietic precursors, and a series of recent experiments has used enumeration of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleate cells that develop in cultures of hemopoietic tissue as a means to analyze the regulation of osteoclast generation. These multinucleate cells have never been definitively characterized as osteoclasts, however, and we elected to assess the relationship among bone resorption (the primary function of the osteoclast), TRAP, and multinuclearity in mouse bone marrow cultures. Mouse bone marrow cells and peritoneal macrophages were incubated on plastic coverslips or bone slices for up to 14 days in the presence or absence of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3]. Osteoclast generation, as judged by bone resorption, occurred in marrow cell cultures only in the presence of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3. However, TRAP-positive multinuclear cells developed both with and without the hormone. The multinuclear cells bound F4/80, a marker for macrophages that does not bind to osteoclasts. Peritoneal macrophages became multinucleate and developed TRAP positivity in culture to levels similar to those in freshly isolated osteoclasts, especially with 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3, but remained nonresorptive. In cultures of marrow cells incubated with 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 bone resorption was more extensive than could readily be accounted for by the number of multinucleate cells present, and the size of excavations and extent of resorption suggested a major contribution by mononuclear cells with osteoclastic function. Thus, while TRAP and multinuclearity are reliable markers for osteoclastic phenotype in bone, they are unreliable markers in culture. Experiments designed to evaluate the regulation of osteoclast generation through enumeration of TRAP-positive multinucleate cells formed in bone marrow cultures will not only overstate, to an unknown and probably variable degree, the number of multinucleate osteoclasts that develop, but will also fail to even identify what may be a considerable and more substantial population of mononuclear cells that possess osteoclastic characteristics.
Acid Phosphatase↗
Glucocorticoids impair bone resorptive activity and viability of osteoclasts disaggregated from neonatal rat long bones.
It is generally believed that glucocorticoids cause osteoporosis through a combination of decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption. However, the direct effect of glucocorticoids on osteoclasts has not been determined. We therefore tested the effects of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone on bone resorption by osteoclasts disaggregated from neonatal rat long bones. Hydrocortisone and dexamethasone caused a dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption in the range 10(-7) to 10(-5) M, and 10(-9) to 10(-6) M, respectively, at concentrations likely to occur during therapy and disease. Inhibition of bone resorption was found to be associated with impaired osteoclast survival: osteoclast numbers were reduced to approximately 25% of control values by 10(-6) M hydrocortisone and 10(-7) M dexamethasone. Osteoclast cytotoxicity by glucocorticoids was completely antagonized by progesterone, which itself had no effect on osteoclast survival. Analysis of the time course of these inhibitory effects showed a nonsignificant reduction in survival by 6 h and marked inhibition of survival by 12 h. We could detect no specific changes in osteoclast morphology in association with this impaired viability. The relative potencies of the glucocorticoids for impairment of osteoclast viability was similar to their relative affinities for binding the glucocorticoid receptor, and this, together with inhibition by progesterone, suggests a receptor-mediated mechanism. Such a receptor-mediated cytotoxic action of glucocorticoids has only previously been reported with lymphoid cells. The sensitivity of osteoclasts to the lethal effects of glucocorticoids suggests that glucocorticoids may have a role in physiology as inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption.
Animals↗