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Biomedical subjects

W C Greene

Publications and source records attributed to W C Greene.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Rearrangement and expression of immunoglobulin genes and expression of Tac antigen in hairy cell leukemia.

The origin and exact stage of differentiation of the neoplastic cells that comprise hairy cell leukemia have remained uncertain. As Ig heavy and light chain genes must both undergo a DNA rearrangement during B-cell development but rarely do so within other hematopoietic lineages, we examined these genes in this leukemia. The neoplastic cells of all eight cases demonstrated rearranged heavy and light chain genes and, in two cases examined, contained the corresponding mRNA for heavy and light chain Ig. Consistent with this B-cell genotype, all cases displayed cell surface HLA-DR and B-cell-associated antigens. Unexpectedly, all cases demonstrated cell surface Tac antigen, which previously had been restricted predominantly to select T-cell malignancies and activated T cells. Prior studies suggested that the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody recognized a peptide associated with the binding of interleukin 2 (T-cell growth factor) in such T cells. Immunoprecipitation with anti-Tac and NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed an antigen on leukemic hairy cells with a Mr of 53,000-57,000, identical in size to the receptor on activated T cells. This apparent biphenotypic status might reflect a transformation-associated expression of the Tac antigen in this leukemia. Alternatively, hairy cell leukemia may be a malignancy of a unique stage of normal B-cell differentiation in which the Tac antigen is expressed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Characterization of the human receptor for T-cell growth factor.

Anti-Tac monoclonal antibody has been identified as a putative antibody against the receptor for T-cell growth factor (TCGF). We now show that: (i) TCGF blocks 85% of 3H-labeled anti-Tac binding to phytohemagglutinin-activated lymphoblasts and (ii) both anti-Tac and anti-TCGF immunoprecipitate a protein band that appears to represent TCGF crosslinked to its receptor on HUT-102B2 cells. In HUT-102B2 cells, the TCGF receptor is a Mr 50,000 glycoprotein with internal disulfide bond(s) and a pI of 5.5-6.0, and it represents approximately equal to 0.05% of total cellular de novo protein synthesis. It contains a peptide of Mr 33,000 that is processed to a mature form that includes N-linked and O-linked sugars and sialic acid.

Cell Line↗

Monoclonal lupus autoantibody secretion by human-human hybridomas. Selection of hybrids by conventional and novel techniques.

Autoantibody-secreting hybridomas were produced by somatic cell fusion of B lymphocytes from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus with two different human myeloma lines. Selection of hybrids formed from one of these cell lines was performed by using aminopterine-containing culture medium as this cell line was deficient in hypoxanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT). The second myeloma line was not HGPRT-deficient but instead was treated with diethylpyrocarbonate, which assured death of unfused myeloma cells. This novel technique has wide applicability. Hybridomas were found to secrete antibodies to native DNA and to extractable nuclear antigen. The binding specificities of one IgM anti-DNA antibody was characterized and found to be specific for double-stranded DNA and had particular binding affinity for poly(dG) . poly(dC).

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Blockade of the interleukin-2 receptor by anti-Tac antibody: inhibition of human lymphocyte activation.

We have previously shown that monoclonal anti-Tac antibody inhibits the proliferation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) dependent human continuous T cell lines. Further, we have shown that anti-Tac specifically blocks greater than 95% of the binding of radiolabeled II-2 to a continuous T cell line. In view of these data, we suggested that anti-Tac antibody may bind to and block the human T cell receptor for IL-2. We now report the effects of anti-Tac on the activation of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes. We find that anti-Tac: 1) blocks T cell proliferation induced by soluble antigens (80-90%), autologous antigens (90%) and alloantigens (75-90%); 2) partially inhibits T cell proliferation induced by mitogenic lectins, including Concanavalin A (50-88%), pokeweed mitogen (40-87%), and phytohemagglutinin (20-80%); 3) abrogates (greater than 95%) the generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes in allogeneic cell cocultures, but does not inhibit killing by cytolytic T lymphocytes once formed; 4) and inhibits T cell dependent pokeweed mitogen activated B cell immunoglobulin production (78-95%). We further demonstrate that anti-Tac inhibition of proliferation is not secondary to diminished production of IL-2. Finally, in antigen induced T cell proliferative assays, we demonstrate that the addition of highly purified IL-2 reverses the inhibitory effects of anti-Tac. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that anti-Tac recognizes the human IL-2 receptor and illustrate ways in which this antibody can be used to modulate the human immune response.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Interferon-mediated inhibition of human polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis.

Human lymphoblastoid IFN suppressed human polyclonal Ig synthesis in a dose-related manner, with 71% mean inhibition of antibody production found when 1000 units of IFN were added to the cultures. This suppression was demonstrated to be mediated by an electrophoretically pure preparation of IFN. Furthermore, IFN inhibition of both the T-dependent and the T-independent polyclonal activators was not the result of direct cellular cytotoxicity. IFN-mediated suppression of human polyclonal Ig production does not result from induction of T suppressor cells, and in a T helper cell-independent system this inhibition appears to result from either a direct action on the B cells or an indirect effect via monocytes.

Antibody Formation↗

Characterization of a soluble suppressor of human B cell function produced by a continuous human suppressor T cell line. II. Evidence for suppression through a direct action of CTC-SISS-B on human B cells.

CTC-SISS-B is an antigen-nonspecific suppressive lymphokine elaborated by an interleukin 2-dependent suppressor T cell line that produces noncytotoxic inhibition of human B cell but not T cell function. Like SISS-B, a soluble suppressive lymphokine present in the supernatants of Con A-activated peripheral blood T cell cultures, CTC-SISS-B is of 60,000 to 90,000 m.w., and its action is blocked by the simple sugar L-rhamnose. CTC-SISS-B inhibits human B cell Ig production and proliferation through a direct interaction with human B cells rather than through indirect effects on immunoregulatory T cells or monocytes. CTC-SISS-B suppression occurs through inhibition of an early event(s) in B cell activation since proliferation and Ig production by established human B cell lines are not inhibited by this lymphokine. Despite sharing many biochemical and biologic properties, CTC-SISS-B and gamma-interferon appear to be distinct mediators.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Production of human suppressor T cell hybridomas.

To study human T cell suppression of immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis with homogeneous populations of immunoregulatory cells, human suppressor T cell hybridomas were prepared by somatic cell fusion of concanavalin A-activated peripheral blood T cells with hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase-(HGPRT, EC 2.4.2.8) deficient human leukemic CEM T cells. After selection in hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) medium and cloning by limiting cell dilution, two human T cell hybridomas were identified that produced 60 to 80% suppression of in vitro polyclonal immunoglobulin production when cocultured with pokeweed mitogen- (PWM) stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Further, one of the suppressor T cell hybridomas constitutively secreted a soluble suppressor factor(s) (TsF) of m.w. 70,000 to 85,000 daltons, which produced reversible noncytotoxic inhibition of lectin-activated B cell Ig production. In contrast, this TsF did not inhibit lectin- or antigen-induced T cell proliferation, nor did it interfere with the generation or effector function of cytotoxic T cells. Additional studies indicated that this Tsf acts directly on B cells or monocytes rather than indirectly modulating the activity of immunoregulatory T cells. In summary, these studies suggest that techniques of somatic cell fusion may provide a valuable approach to further study human immunoregulatory cell-cell interactions as well as provide a source of sufficient quantities of important lymphokines for further purification and characterization.

Cell Division↗

Characterization of a soluble suppressor of human B cell immunoglobulin biosynthesis produced by a continuous human suppressor T cell line.

A human suppressor T cell maintained in long-term culture with conditioned medium containing interleukin 2 elaborates a suppressor factor(s) that specifically inhibits human polyclonal B cell immunoglobulin biosynthesis. This soluble immune suppressor supernate of immunoglobulin production (CTC-SISS-B) shares a number of features with the previously described suppressive mediator elaborated by concanavalin A-activated human peripheral T cells (SISS-B) including: (a) the inhibition by a noncytotoxic mechanism, (b) the suppression of immunoglobulin biosynthesis either through direct action on the B cell or indirect action via the monocyte, (c) the loss of inhibition in the presence of the monosaccharide L-rhamnose, (d) the elaboration by cells irradiated with 500 ro 2,000 rad, and (e) molecular weights of 60,000--90,000. Furthermore, the suppression by this mediator appears to be specific for B cell immunoglobulin production in that CTC-SISS B has no effect on T cell proliferation to mitogens, antigens, an allogeneic cells or on T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These data indicate that one possible mechanism of suppressor T cell inhibition of human immunoglobulin production is via the generation of a lectinlike suppressor lymphokine that interacts with defined saccharide determinants on the cell surface of either the B cell or monocyte.

Animals↗

Stimulation of immunoglobulin biosynthesis in human B cells by wheat germ agglutinin. I. Evidence that WGA can produce both a positive and negative signal for activation of human lymphocytes.

Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), previously regarded strictly as a nonmitogenic or anti-mitogenic lectin, can under appropriate conditions markedly stimulate in vitro synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulin (Ig) by human B lymphocytes. Stimulation of Ig production by WGA is 1) confined to a narrow lectin dose range (2 to 10 micrograms/ml; 2) abrogated by the simple sugar N-acetyl-D-glucosamine but not by a variety of other monosaccharides; 3) effective only after early additions of WGA within the initial 72 hr of 12-day cultures; 4) detected in the presence of B and T cells but not B cells alone; and 5) polyisotypic in nature, as indicated by augmented synthetic rates of Ig in each of 3 major classes (IgG, IgA, and IgM). With few exceptions, WGA produces equivalent or greater rates of Ig production as obtained in cultures activated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), a well-recognized T-dependent polyclonal activator of human B cells. Furthermore, periperal blood lymphocytes from select individuals that respond weakly to PWM are markedly stimulated with WGA. In contrast to these stimulatory effects of WGA on Ig production by lymphocytes exposed to low lectin concentrations, addition of WGA in amounts greater than 15 micrograms/ml to PWM-stimulated human lymphocyte cultures produces marked suppression of the expected level of Ig synthesis. These data indicate that varying doses of WGA can produce contrasting stimulatory and inhibitory effects on human B cell metabolism.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Soluble suppressor supernatants elaborated by concanavalin A-activated human mononuclear cells. I. Characterization of a soluble suppressor T cell proliferation.

When activated with the mitogenic lectin, concanavalin A, a subset of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells differentiate into potent suppressor cells that negatively modulate both cellular and humoral immune reactions. In addition to inhibitory cell-cell interactions, these regulatory cells elaborate a soluble immune suppressor supernatant (SISS) containing at lest 2 distinct suppressor factors. One of these factors, SISS-T, inhibits mitogen- and antigen-stimulated T cell proliferation, whereas the other, SISS-B, inhibits B cell immunoglobulin production. Characteristics of the latter inhibitor are reported in the companion paper. Properties of the soluble suppressor of T cell proliferation (SISS-T) include: 1) a m.w. of 30 to 45,000, 2) inhibition by a noncytotoxic mechanism, 3) instability at 56 degrees C, 4) loss of activity in the presence of the monosaccharide N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and retention on N-acetyl-D-glucosamine affinity columns, 5) binding to the same surface glycoprotein receptors recognized by the lectins wheat germ agglutinin and Agaricus bisporus lectin, which produce similar inhibition of mitogen- or antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, 6) elaboration by cells irradiated with 500 and 2000 R but not 6000 R, 7) a minimum requirement for 24 hr of lectin stimulation for production, and 8) elaboration by adherent cells or alternatively cellular collaboration requiring the participation of adherent cells. These data indicate that human suppressor cells are capable of modulating T cell function via the production of a soluble saccharide-specific factor(s) that interacts with defined surface glycoprotein or glycolipid receptors. These same receptors recognized by the suppressive endogenous lectin are also activated by selected exogenous nonmitogenic lectins that produce similar inhibition of T cell metabolism.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Soluble suppressor supernatants elaborated by concanavalin A-activated human mononuclear cells. II. Characterization of a soluble suppressor of B cell immunoglobulin production.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) activated with the mitogenic lectin concanavalin A (Con A) elaborate a soluble immune suppressor supernatant (SISS) that contains at least 2 distinct suppressor factors. One of these, SISS-B, inhibits polyclonal B cell immunoglobulin production whereas the other, SISS-T, suppresses T cell proliferation to both mitogens and antigens. The latter mediator is discussed in the companion paper. Characteristics of the human soluble suppressor of B cell immunoglobulin production (SISS-B) include: 1) inhibition by a noncytotoxic mechanism, 2) loss of activity in the presence of the monosaccharide L-rhamnose, 3) appearance within 8 to 16 hr after the addition of Con A, 4) elaboration by cells irradiated with 500 or 2000 rads, 5) production by highly purified T cells, 6) stability at pH 2.5 but instability at 56 degrees C, and 7) m.w. of 60 to 80,000. These data indicate that after Con A activation, selected T cells not only become potent suppressor cells, but also generate a soluble saccharide-specific factor(s) that inhibits polyclonal immunoglobulin production by human B cells.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Opposing effects of mitogenic and nonmitogenic lectins on lymphocyte activation. Evidence that wheat germ agglutinin produces a negative signal.

In an effort to clarify the mechanism by which certain plant lectins induce lymphocyte activation, we have studied amino acid (amino[14C]isobutyric acid) uptake in purified human lymphocytes exposed to mitogenic and nonmitogenic lectins. In confirmation of earlier work, mitogenic lectins (concanavalin A and two phytohemagglutinins) produced a dose-related, 2- to 10-fold increase in aminoisobutyric acid transport. Changes occurred as early as 2 hours and reached a maximum after 18 hours. The stimulation by concanavalin A was inhibited by alpha-methyl-D-mannoside but not by other selected monosaccharides, indicating that the effect is modulated through specific carbohydrate receptors. In contrast to the stimulation with concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin, the nonmitogen wheat germ agglutinin inhibited aminoisobutyric acid transport, both in the presence and absence of the mitogenic lectins. The inhibition was seen over a broad wheat germ agglutinin dose range, was prevented by N-acetylglucosamine, a known inhibitor of wheat germ agglutinin binding, and did not appear to be associated with cytotoxicity. Comparative binding studies with radiolabeled concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin demonstrated that differences in transport occurred in cells containing comparable numbers of bound lectin molecules indicating that the failure of wheat germ agglutinin to stimulate a response was not a result of ineffective binding. The lack of stimulation by wheat germ agglutinin was not due to its inability to interact multivalently with membrane receptors since this lectin is divalent, produces capping and agglutination, and continues to inhibit aminoisobutyric acid transport even after the minimum valence was increased to 4 by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. In contrast both divalent and tetravalent concanavalin A produced stimulation. Competitive binding studies with soluble wheat germ agglutinin or lectin attached to 300 A latex spheres revealed little or no competition for binding sites with radiolabeled concanavalin A, suggesting the two lectins are interacting with different receptors. This was further suggested by kinetic studies of aminoisobutyric acid transport which indicated that wheat germ agglutinin was probably affecting both the Vmax and Km of transport, whereas concanavalin A affected only the Vmax. While the mechanism by which concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin produce opposing effects on amino acid transport is not clear, since the two lectins appear to be interacting with different surface receptors we would suggest that they are perturbing microanatomically and functionally different domains on the lymphocyte plasma membrane.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗