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Biomedical subjects

W Fiers

Publications and source records attributed to W Fiers.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Cloned human interferon-gamma, but not interferon-beta or -alpha, induces expression of HLA-DR determinants by fetal monocytes and myeloid leukemic cell lines.

The antigen presenting function of macrophages and other accessory cells requires the cell surface expression of class II major histocompatibility antigens, e.g., HLA-DR. It has been shown that gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma), a T cell product, can regulate macrophage HLA-DR expression. The effect of absolutely pure or cloned IFN-gamma upon fetal monocytes that do not strongly express DR has not been studied. We have utilized cloned IFN-gamma, IFN-beta, and IFN-alpha preparations to examine the differential effects of these molecules upon the expression of HLA class I (HLA-A,B) and class II determinants by fetal monocytes as well as by myeloid leukemic cell lines. We report that cloned human IFN-gamma induces the expression of HLA-DR and -A,B antigens on cells that normally express low quantities of these molecules, including human fetal monocytes and two (ML-1 and HL-60) but not a third (U-937) myeloid leukemic cell lines. These findings suggest that the acquisition of class II HLA molecules upon fetal tissues and perhaps antigen presenting function is dependent upon IFN-gamma. In contrast, IFN-beta and -alpha induced the expression of HLA-A,B but not HLA-DR antigens by these cells. Thus, these data indicate that the expression of HLA-DR molecules that is vital for monocyte/macrophage and T cell interaction is stimulated by the lymphokine IFN-gamma, and that the effects of IFN-gamma are distinctive from IFN-alpha or -beta.

Aging↗
PubMed1984

Human cytolytic T lymphocyte interactions with vascular endothelium and fibroblasts: role of effector and target cell molecules.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against cell surface structures have been used to identify several molecules involved in the interaction of human cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) with lymphoid and other bone marrow-derived targets. In allograft rejection or in graft-vs-host disease, however, major cellular targets are vascular and stromal cells, especially endothelium. Yet little is known about whether the same cell surface molecules are involved in the interactions of CTL with these cell types. We assessed the ability of mAb against effector or target cell structures to inhibit cytolysis of susceptible, cultured human vascular endothelium or dermal fibroblasts by a cloned human CTL line. Using mAb reactive with T3, T4, LFA-1, LFA-2, LFA-3, and HLA-DR, we found a qualitatively similar but quantitatively different pattern of inhibition of cytolysis as previously established for lymphoid targets by using the same CTL clone. These results have two implications: 1) the target cell structures recognized by CTL molecules such as T4, LFA-1 and LFA-2 are present on diverse cell types; and 2) the relative importance of such interactions may vary with target cell type. Furthermore, our studies provide several insights into the mechanisms of the interacting molecules. Our model system, and the use of pathophysiologically important target cells, may be useful for further analysis of CTL-mediated immune injury.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1983

Codon usage and mistranslation. In vivo basal level misreading of the MS2 coat protein message.

The coat protein of the small RNA virus MS2 shows charge heterogeneity in vivo. In most strains there is a basic satellite of the native protein. We have shown that this basic satellite is greatly diminished or absent in strains with the streptomycin-resistant allele, rpsL, a mutation which leads to increased translational accuracy. Further, the satellite is present in cells where the coat protein is encoded by duplex DNA. Tryptic digests of the satellite show that it contains new lysine-containing peptides which appear to be the same as those found in derivatives of coat protein which have a lysine for asparagine substitution. Sequencing of the NH2-terminal 19 amino acids of the satellite protein shows that the asparagine codon AAU at amino acid 12 is misread approximately 8 times more frequently than the AAC at amino acid 3. We conclude that the satellite species is the result of basal level lysine for asparagine substitution. These substitutions are most likely caused by preferential misreading of AAU codons at a frequency of approximately 5 X 10(-3), 10-fold higher than the average error frequency.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Inducible high level synthesis of mature human fibroblast interferon in Escherichia coli.

We have obtained high level synthesis in Escherichia coli of mature human fibroblast interferon using a plasmid vector that was designed to allow easy coupling of a DNA coding region to the initiator AUG of the replicase gene of the RNA phage MS2 cloned downstream of phage lambda's leftward promoter. The activity of the promoter can be regulated by temperature. Induced cells accumulated the interferon up to 4% of the total cellular protein. The biological activity of the product amounted to 4 X 10(9) international units per litre of culture. The synthesis of human fibroblast interferon was shown to drastically inhibit the growth rate of the bacterial host.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1983

Complete nucleotide sequence of the influenza B/Singapore/222/79 virus hemagglutinin gene and comparison with the B/Lee/40 hemagglutinin.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of the human type B influenza virus B/Singapore/222/79 is presented. Comparison with the only other known sequence of a B hemagglutinin (B/Lee/40) shows that antigenic drift in type B HA genes is essentially the same as already observed within the influenza A H3 subtype, i.e., an accumulation of point mutations. The main difference is that the apparent evolution is significantly slower, most likely due to the cumulative effect of a lower occurrence in the population (slower evolution) and/or less immunological pressure. There is a striking cluster of changes at positions 127 until 137 of the HA1 subunit which may represent one of the antigenic sites of the molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Molecular cloning of human interleukin 2 cDNA and its expression in E. coli.

A recombinant plasmid containing human interleukin 2 (IL2) cDNA was identified in a cDNA library constructed from mRNA derived from PHA-TPA induced splenocytes. Using this cDNA as a hybridization probe, a DNA fragment containing the IL2 gene was isolated from a collection of hybrid phages derived from human genomic DNA. A unique reading frame was identified from the nucleotide sequence derived from these plasmids coding for a polypeptide of 153 amino acids and containing a putative signal sequence of 20 amino acids. A mature polypeptide starting with either Met-Ala-Pro or Met-Pro was expressed in E. coli under control of the E. coli trp promoter or using a combination of the phage lambda PL promoter and a ribosome binding site derived from phage Mu. The bacterial IL2 polypeptide had a molecular weight of 15,000 daltons and accounted for more than 10% of the total E. coli proteins in fully induced cells; it was biologically active in the T-cell specific DNA synthesis assay, even after recovery from a SDS-containing polyacrylamide gel.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Human fibroblast interferon RNA transcripts of different sizes in poly(I).poly(C) induced cells.

Northern blot analysis reveals that total RNA from human fibroblastoid cells (MG 63) induced with poly(I).poly(C) under conditions of IFN-beta production, contains predominantly a +/- 1,200 nucleotide long poly (A) mRNA (mRNA.M) which hybridizes with a Hu IFN-beta cDNA specific probe. But hybridization with this probe also enabled the detection of a polyadenylated RNA (RNA.I) with a length of between 3.5 kb-3.8 kb, representing 0.6% of the total hybridizable cellular RNA in superinduced cells. Mapping shows that the RNA.I contains all the sequence information present in mRNA.M. Furthermore, it also hybridizes to sequences, located downstream from the IFN-beta gene up to 2.5 kb beyond its poly A attachment site, while no hybridization to fragments located upstream of the IFN-beta mRNA cap site was observable. Hence this RNA.I corresponds to a transcript that starts at the same position as the major mRNA.M but which extends up to 2.5 kb beyond the 3'-end of mRNA.M where another polyadenylation signal is located.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1983

Changes in gene expression and protein phosphorylation in murine cells, transformed or abortively infected with wild type and mutant simian virus 40.

The mechanism of SV40-induced cellular transformation was investigated by two-dimensional gel analysis of 35S- and 32P-labeled proteins of various cells. These included rat and mouse cells, either transformed or abortively infected by SV40 wild type, small t deletion mutants, and a large T temperature-sensitive mutant. Synthesis, turnover, or (de)phosphorylation of multiple protein spots was found to be reproducibly and quantitatively influenced by the transformed and/or infected status. Several of these alterations were attributable to the biological activity of either large T or small t antigen. Most changes in 35S-labeled proteins corresponded to a decreased intensity of the gel spots in transformed cells, while hyperphosphorylated proteins were more common than hypophosphorylated ones. About half of the polypeptide alterations in 35S-and 32P-labeled SV40-transformed rat cells, including a set of 35S-labeled small t-dependent changes were shared by Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells. In contrast, small t-dependent (de)phosphorylation was rarely detected. Phosphoamino acid analysis of selected phosphoprotein spots of rat cells and alkaline hydrolysis of whole two-dimensional gels did not reveal any evidence for increased tyrosine-specific phosphorylation after SV40-induced transformation. Abortively infected mouse cells showed many protein alterations, also observed in stably transformed cells. However, the latter cells contained additional changes, also affecting several phosphoproteins and possibly related to the establishment of transformation. These findings are discussed in relation to the biological functions, known or presumed, for SV40 large T and small t antigens during transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Ia expression by vascular endothelium is inducible by activated T cells and by human gamma interferon.

We have used monoclonal antibody binding, measured by radioimmunoassay, fluorescence flow cytometry, and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry, to measure expression of Ia antigens on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells. Under standard culture conditions, HUVE cells do not express Ia antigens. However, treatment of primary HUVE cultures with phytohemagglutinin induces the expression of Ia antigens. Every endothelial cell in the culture becomes Ia-positive and endothelial cells appear to synthesize Ia. HLA-A,B is concomitantly increased. The expression of Ia appears to be mediated by T cells because (a) pretreatment of primary HUVE cultures with OKT3 plus complement blocks the action of the lectins but not of medium conditioned by lectin-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells; (b) co-culture of endothelial cells with allogeneic T cells, in the absence of lectin, also induces endothelial Ia; and (c) human immune (gamma) interferon, produced by Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the human gamma interferon gene, directly induces endothelial Ia. During co-culture with lymphocytes, about one-third of the endothelial cells are Ia-positive after 24 h and all of the endothelial cells are Ia-positive by 72 h. Proliferation of allogeneic T cells starts by 96 h and peaks at 144 h. Thus, endothelial Ia appears sufficiently early to be a determinant for the proliferation of allogeneic T cells. Inducible expression of Ia by endothelium may be important both for allograft rejection and for recruitment of circulating T cells into the site of an immune response.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1983

Cloning and structure of the human interleukin 2 chromosomal gene.

Southern hybridization using 32P-labelled human interleukin 2 (IL2) cDNA probes revealed the existence of a single human IL2 gene. Five clones containing the human IL2 chromosomal gene were isolated from two different human DNA libraries cloned in either lambda Charon 4A or L47 phages. Analysis of the clones showed that they contained different, overlapping portions of human DNA which were derived from the same chromosomal segment. Restriction fragments which hybridized with labelled IL2 cDNA probes were subcloned into plasmid pUR250 and the sequence and organization of the IL2 gene was determined. It contains three introns, 90 bp, +/- 2400 bp and +/- 1900 bp in length, respectively. The organization of the genomic clone resembles that of another lymphokine, interferon-gamma, but no clear homology was found by comparing either the coding sequence or the 5'- and 3'-flanking sequences of the two genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Improved plasmid vectors with a thermoinducible expression and temperature-regulated runaway replication.

Improved expression vectors have been constructed which are derived from runaway-replication mutants of plasmid R1 and carry the strong leftward promoter (pL) of bacteriophage lambda. The activity of this promoter is controlled by a temperature-sensitive repressor, product of the phage gene cI cloned on a compatible plasmid. Heat induction leads to amplification of the plasmid copy number and at the same time turns on the promoter. At a short distance downstream from the promoter, unique EcoRI, BamHI, XbaI and HindIII sites are present. This system was used for high level expression of the T4 DNA-ligase gene; 3 h after induction the ligase amounted to about 20% of total cellular protein.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1983

Expression and characterization of the product of a human immune interferon cDNA gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Cotransformation with two plasmids, one [pSV2-IFN-gamma] encoding human immune interferon (Hu IFN-gamma) and the other [pAdD26SV(A)-3] encoding mouse dihydrofolate reductase, has been used to establish Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines that secrete high levels of Hu IFN-gamma. Hu IFN-gamma production by the transformed CHO cell lines E-10B and E-10C reached approximately 50,000 units/ml of culture medium, which compares favorably with that of stimulated lymphocytes. Furthermore, as the Hu IFN-gamma cDNA gene used in these studies is under the transcriptional control of the simian virus 40 early promoter, Hu IFN-gamma production is constitutive and thus does not require induction. CHO-produced Hu IFN-gamma migrates as two bands corresponding to molecular weights of 25,000 and 21,000 on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels. These two species are shown to be the products of a single gene. As the molecular weight of native Hu IFN-gamma is around 55,000, it is likely to be a dimer. We have shown that the subunits of such a dimer cannot be linked by a disulfide bridge(s). Hu IFN-gamma from CHO cells is likely to be glycosylated and this should now permit comparison of the biological activities of glycosylated and nonglycosylated (bacterially produced) Hu IFN-gamma in animal studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Improved localization of phosphorylation sites in simian virus 40 large T antigen.

The location of phosphorylation sites in the large T antigen of simian virus 40 has been studied both by partial chemical cleavage and by partial proteolysis of various forms of large T. These included the full-size wild-type molecule with an apparent molecular weight of 88,000, deleted molecules coded for by the mutants dl1265 and dl1263, and several shortened derivatives generated by the action of a cellular protease. These molecules differed from each other by variations in the carboxy-terminal end. In contrast, a ubiquitous but minor large T form with a molecular weight of 91,000 was found to be modified in the amino-terminal half of the molecule. In addition to the phosphorylation of threonine at position 701 (K.-H. Scheidtmann et al., J. Virol. 38:59-69, 1981), two other discrete domains of phosphorylation were recognized, one at either side of the molecule. The amino-terminal region was located between positions 81 and 124 and contained both phosphothreonine and phosphoserine residues. The carboxy-terminal region was located between approximate positions 500 and 640 and contained at least one phosphoserine residue but no phosphothreonine. The presence in the phosphorylated domains of large T of known recognition sequences for different types of protein kinases is discussed, together with possible functions of large T associated with these domains.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1983

Metabolic turnover of phosphorylation sites in simian virus 40 large T antigen.

Four (groups of) phosphorylation sites exist in the large T antigen of simian virus 40, and they involve at least two serine and two threonine residues (Van Roy et al. J. Virol. 45:315-331, 1983). All the phosphorylation sites were found to be modified and again dephosphorylated at discrete rates, with phosphoserine residues having the highest turnover rate. The measured half-lives ranged between 3 h (for the carboxy-terminal phosphoserine site) and 5.5 h (for the amino-terminal phosphothreonine site). The influence of four temperature-sensitive A mutations on phosphorylation of large T antigen was also examined. At restrictive temperature, phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal phosphoserine in mutated large T antigen was found to be particularly impaired. These data emphasize the physiological importance of the latter phosphorylation site.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1983

Simian virus 40 mutants carrying extensive deletions in the 72-base-pair repeat region.

Simian virus 40 mutants were constructed with deletions at the late side of the origin of DNA replication by partial Bal 31 digestion at the SphI site or at the PvuII site. Some of these mutants lost virtually all of both 72-base-pair repeat segments ("enhancer" sequences) and exhibited a decrease in viability from 20-to 300-fold; one particular mutant, dl1852, even showed a reduction of almost 10(4)-fold. The very poorly growing deletion mutants were unstable and gave rise to DNA rearrangements upon further growth. An essential region for viability, at least in the absence of a 72-base-pair repeat, was revealed at the distal side of the 72-base-pair elements (L250 through L272). The effect of the deletions on T-antigen expression was measured, and the decreased viability of the mutants correlated with the impairment of T-antigen expression in all cases. The study of these mutants also revealed that the 72-base-pair repeats are not required for late transcription.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Use of monoclonal antibodies to detect human placental alkaline phosphatase.

Convenient, sensitive, and specific solid-phase immunoassays involving monoclonal antibody are described for the determination of human placental alkaline phosphatase (hPLAP). An endogenous enzyme immunoassay combined the specificity of the immunological and the enzymatic reactions. Alternatively, a solid-phase "sandwich" radioimmunoassay involving immobilized polyclonal rabbit anti-hPLAP in combination with iodinated monoclonal antibody provided some additional advantages. Both tests can be used to detect hPLAP from various sources, e.g., in human sera during pregnancy or as a tumor marker. The radioimmunoassay detected an increase in hPLAP at nine weeks of gestation. We discuss the use of monoclonal antibodies for the differentiation of different alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme types by electrophoresis on starch gel.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗