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Oligoclonal immunoglobulin heavy-chain and T-cell receptor delta rearrangements persist in a recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia with one immunoglobulin kappa rearrangement as a clonal marker.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs) represent the clonal expansion of a lymphoid precursor cell. Therefore, all cells of an ALL should have identical antigen receptor gene rearrangements. In a patient with diploid ALL of the B-cell precursor immunophenotype, seven different clonal rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes (IgH) were identified, implying the presence of oligoclonal populations. All of these rearrangements were only detectable after a modification of the polymerase chain reaction for the complementarity determining region of the IgH genes using V(H) gene framework 3 and (H) consensus primers. Sequence analysis showed that these rearrangements were completely unrelated to each other. Only two of these rearrangements were detectable by Southern blot analysis. Quantification and single-cell analysis confirmed the high frequency of these latter two rearrangements, as well as their presence in the same clonal population. The other rearrangements characterized less than 5% of the leukemic population. In addition, two T-cell receptor Vdelta2-Ddelta3 (TCRdelta) rearrangements were identified, both at a similar frequency. However, they were derived from different cells. An Igkappa rearrangement represented the only clonal marker in this leukemia. All of the Ig and TCRdelta rearrangements, with the exception of one IgH rearrangement, remained stable throughout the course of the disease. The persistence of such a great number of distinct IgH rearrangements at different quantities within the leukemic population and of the two biclonal TCRdelta rearrangements is compatible with the presence of a clonal disease that is defined by the Igkappa rearrangement.

Adolescent↗

Single cell lineage analysis in human focal cortical dysplasia.

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a developmental malformation of the human cerebral cortex that is closely associated with epilepsy. Dysplastic, 'balloon' and heterotopic neurons that comprise FCD are heterogeneous cell populations that exhibit abnormal morphologies. A pivotal unanswered question is how these cell types are generated during cortical development. As a strategy to define the lineage relationships between cells in FCD, the size of a heterozygous trinucleotide (CAG) repeat sequence within the X-chromosome encoded androgen receptor (XAR) mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and direct sequencing in single, microdissected cells from six female patients with FCD compared with control cortex. As a consequence of X-chromosome inactivation, only one of the two XAR alleles is expressed in all somatic cells, and cell types derived from distinct progenitors will express XAR CAG repeat lengths of differing size. Disparate XAR CAG repeat lengths were detected with equal frequency in single dysplastic, 'balloon' and heterotopic neurons in FCD whereas the XAR CAG repeats lengths in control cortex were identical in 70-80% of closely apposed neurons. These results support a random X-inactivation pattern in FCD. We propose that dysplastic, 'balloon' and heterotopic neurons in FCD derive from a population of progenitor cells or post-mitotic neurons during cortical development.

Adult↗

Characteristics of prolactin secretion in normal and estrogen-treated pituitaries of rats at the single cell level: analysis by reverse hemolytic plaque assay.

We studied PRL release from individual pituitary cells in normal and estrogen (E2)-treated female Fischer 344 rats by means of a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. In this assay, the area of the hemolytic plaque around a pituitary cell is proportional to the amount of hormone secreted from the cell. Multimodal distribution of the plaque area was observed in normal pituitary cells, and was unchanged in the course of aging. In E2-treated pituitary cells, bimodal distribution was found. The heterogeneity of the distribution pattern (functional heterogeneity) and PRL secretion from a single pituitary cell decreased in association with the length of E2 treatment. The mean plaque area for the E2-treated pituitary cells was smaller than that for the normal pituitary cells. These results suggest that in E2-treated pituitary cells, the functional heterogeneity and PRL release from a single cell decrease as tumorigenesis progresses.

Animals↗

Effect of altered membrane fluidity on NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. I. Selective inhibition of the recognition or post recognition events in the cytolytic pathway of NK cells.

NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity results from membrane interactions between NK effector and target cells. The role of membrane fluidity in these events is not known. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of changes in membrane lipid fluidity of NK effector and NK-sensitive target cells on the lytic pathway of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Fluidity was modulated by various lipids and measured by fluorescence polarization. NK effector cells treated with phosphatidylcholine complexed with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed increased membrane fluidity. This fluidization of the effector cell membrane resulted in a significant inhibition of cytotoxic activity in the 51Cr-release assay. Single cell analysis revealed that the inhibition was due to a decrease in the frequency of NK target conjugates and reduced killing of conjugated targets. Rigidification of the NK effector cell membranes by treatment with cholesteryl hemisuccinate complexed with PVP and BSA also resulted in inhibition of cytotoxicity. This inhibition was post binding, because binding was increased and lysis was abrogated. Fluidization of K562 target cell membranes caused a slight but insignificant increase in their lysis by NK cells without affecting the binding step. On the other hand, rigidification of K562 membranes decreased the sensitivity of these target cells to lysis. Single cell analysis revealed that this inhibition of NK lysis is post binding, because the frequency of killers was significantly decreased. It was also shown that membrane rigidification of target cells that were programmed for lysis during the lethal hit stage and subsequently separated from effector cells, rendered the programmed cells resistant to killing during the killer cell-independent lysis step. These results demonstrate that fluidization or rigidification of the plasma membrane of either effector or target cells affect different stages of the NK cell-mediated cytolytic events.

Adult↗

Analysis of single cells with capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

Recent results with on-line capillary electrophoresis (CE) electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry suggest that CE/ESI-FTICR can provide a powerful technique for micro-sample analyses owing to the inherent sensitivity of the technique and the enhanced information content derived from high-performance mass measurements. Using micro-sampling methods and ion accumulation techniques based on quadrupolar excitation, we demonstrate that adequate sensitivity exists to characterize the hemoglobin from a single human erythrocyte (approximately 450 amol). In these studies mass spectra with average mass resolution in excess of 45 000 (FWHM) were obtained for both the alpha- and beta chain of hemoglobin following in-column lysing of a single erythrocyte.

Cyclotrons↗

High throughput analysis of TCR-beta rearrangement and gene expression in single T cells.

Analysis of T-cell receptor beta chain (TCR-beta) rearrangement is essential to investigate T-cell responses in human autoimmune diseases, infection and cancer. Since the TCR-beta locus contains 55 variable (V) region gene segments, multiple assays have been necessary to determine TCR-beta rearrangements of individual T cells. We established a seminested rtPCR method for single T-cell analysis with two sets of degenerate primers covering 76 and 24% of the TCR-Vbeta genes, respectively. The specificity of the approach was validated by screening cDNAs obtained from T-cell clones (TCC) with defined TCR-beta rearrangement. We applied the method successfully to profile TCR-beta rearrangement of single T cells sorted from body fluids or dissected tissue. Concomitant analysis of other gene transcripts allowed determining phenotype and function of TCR-beta-defined single T cells. Our fast, cost-efficient and high throughput approach will facilitate studies on T-cell responses in human diseases.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Two distinct non-T helper type 2 interleukin-4+ cell subsets in mice as revealed by single-cell cytokine analysis.

We have previously defined four murine CD4+ peripheral T cell subsets, fractions (Fr.) I-IV, based on expression of the 6C10 and 3G11 determinants (Hayakawa, K. and Hardy, R. R., J. Exp. Med. 1988. 168: 1825). These subsets also show distinctive levels of other cell surface markers: the two minor subsets, Fr. III and Fr. IV, are both CD45RBlow/-, L-selectin (Mel-14)- and CD44hi, characteristic of secondary T cells. The patterns and levels of cytokine production by individual cells in each subset were determined by bioassay for interleukin (IL)-2/IL-4 or IL-4/interferon (IFN)-gamma production after anti-CD3 stimulation. Our data revealed that these four phenotypically defined subsets largely coincide with clusters of cells showing uniform distinctive cytokine profiles, i.e. IL-2+/IFN-gamma-/IL-4- (Fr. I and Fr. II, L-selectin+), IL2+/IFN-gamma +/IL-4+ (Fr. III, L-selectin-), and IL-2-/IFN-gamma low/-/IL-4+ (Fr. IV, L-selectin-). Besides these subsets, an L-selectin-negative cell subfraction within Fr. II appears to represent a transitional population between the IL-2+/IFN-gamma-/IL-4- stage and the IL-2+/IFN-gamma +/IL-4+ stage. Taken together, these results demonstrate the presence of two IL-4+ secondary T cell subsets with distinct cytokine production patterns, and show that the majority of IL-4+ cells found in healthy adult laboratory mice co-produce IFN-gamma, and thus are not typical T helper type 2 cells.

Animals↗

A microfluidic-based system for analysis of single cells based on Ca2+ flux.

A microfluidic format-based system has been developed for in situ monitoring of the calcium flux response to agonists using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The assay is based on measuring the fluorescent intensity of the calcium-sensitive indicator, Fluo-4 AM, and was performed in a modified glass chip channel, whose surface was functionalised using a silanisation method with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) (enabling the cells to be immobilised on the channel surface). CHO cells calcium flux response was measured for different agonists over a range of concentrations. Cells and reagents were introduced into the chip in a continuous flow as a series of plugs in a given sequence.

Aniline Compounds↗

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha decreases neutrophil chemotaxis to N-formyl-1-methionyl-1-leucyl-1-phenylalanine: analysis of single cell movement.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine produced by mononuclear cells in response to endotoxin, inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis. We analyzed the effects of TNF-alpha on the orientation and movement of individual neutrophils in a chemoattractant gradient. Neutrophils, treated or untreated with TNF-alpha, were observed migrating in a gradient of the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-1-methionyl-1-leucyl-1-phenylalanine (fMLP) on a specially constructed chamber (Zigmond bridge). The movement of these cells was videotaped, digitized, and then tracked using a newly designed computer algorithm. The data obtained from this algorithm were then utilized to calculate distance traveled, speed and ability to polarize and migrate in a directed manner for each individual cell. TNF-alpha-treated cells behaved like cells not exposed to fMLP in that they failed to orient in a chemotactic gradient and moved in a manner similar to randomly migrating cells. This study provides unique observations of the effect of TNF-alpha on multiple parameters of PMN migration.

Algorithms↗

Protective effects of differentiation inducers on natural killer sensitivity of K 562 cells: Analysis at a single-cell level.

K 562 cells induced to differentiate by sodium butyrate (SB) or 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were studied for their capacities to be bound and killed by large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in a single-cell cytotoxicity assay in agarose. After SB treatment, K 562 cells were less efficient in binding to LGL, whereas the frequency of killer cells among bound LGL was unaffected. When TPA was used to induce K 562 differentiation, the binding of LGL to their target and the lytic efficiency of the bound LGL were both diminished when compared to control K 562 cells. It has been demonstrated that the expression of structures involved in the binding of natural killer (NK) effectors to their targets could be correlated with the target-differentiation stage. It is shown that phorbol-ester treatment can also affect NK target structures involved in the killing step.

Animals↗

Human immunoglobulin variable region gene analysis by single cell RT-PCR.

This protocol describes application of single cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to the study of human immunoglobulin V region usage. The procedure begins with separation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from human blood. The PBMC are stained with the B cell selective marker, anti-CD19. Stained B cells are sorted by flow cytometry and deposited, consecutively, one cell into each of an array of tubes. cDNA for one or more antibody variable regions (VH and/or VL) is synthesized with a primer (or primers) complementary to sequence(s) within the constant region (Cmu, Cgamma, Ckappa and/or Clambda). The cDNA is used as template for PCR amplification with gene or gene family specific primers. A second PCR is then performed with two nested primers to increase both the specificity and quantity of V region PCR products. The purified PCR products are sequenced directly and aligned to V region germline database and the Genbank database. Single cell RT-PCR is a fast and convenient way to analyze V region gene expression. It avoids the bias that may be introduced into V region cDNA library construction by the presence of highly variable levels of mRNA in different cells. The PCR products are obtained in quantities that can be cloned into bacterial expression vectors for production of recombinant V region protein domains.

Adult↗

From silencing to gene expression: real-time analysis in single cells.

We have developed an inducible system to visualize gene expression at the levels of DNA, RNA and protein in living cells. The system is composed of a 200 copy transgene array integrated into a euchromatic region of chromosome 1 in human U2OS cells. The condensed array is heterochromatic as it is associated with HP1, histone H3 methylated at lysine 9, and several histone methyltransferases. Upon transcriptional induction, HP1alpha is depleted from the locus and the histone variant H3.3 is deposited suggesting that histone exchange is a mechanism through which heterochromatin is transformed into a transcriptionally active state. RNA levels at the transcription site increase immediately after the induction of transcription and the rate of synthesis slows over time. Using this system, we are able to correlate changes in chromatin structure with the progression of transcriptional activation allowing us to obtain a real-time integrative view of gene expression.

Animals↗

DNA damage by hydroquinone in human white blood cells: analysis by alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis.

The genotoxicity of hydroquinone (HQ) in human white blood cells was investigated by means of alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). The exposure of purified lymphocytes to HQ (0.5-50 microg/ml) produced significant and dose-related increases in DNA migration; conversely, no induction of DNA damage was observed in leukocytes after in vitro treatment of whole blood samples (100-500 microg/ml). Similar differences in DNA damage between whole blood samples and purified lymphocytes were observed after treatments with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 50 microM). The DNA damaging activity of HQ was significantly (p<0.001, U-test) inhibited by exogenous catalase (250 U/ml), indicating the generation of peroxides in the mechanism of genotoxicity of HQ. Parallel experiments using the standard SCGE protocol, and an acellular method entailing the lysis of cells before HQ treatment, provided fairly similar results, indicating that HQ oxidation does not require endogenous metabolism. Experiments to compare the effectiveness of HQ in the induction of single-strand breaks and alkali-labile sites in resting cells and micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked cells indicate that despite the extensive DNA damage detected by SCGE immediately after treatment, a significant excess of micronuclei is not observed after stimulation and in vitro cultivation. These data explain the apparent discrepancy between the high DNA damaging potential of HQ in human lymphocytes, as revealed by SCGE, and the relatively low activity reported in most cytogenetic assays with HQ on the same cell type.

Adult↗

Laser-induced fluorescence technique for DNA and proteins separated by capillary electrophoresis.

Recent developments in capillary electrophoresis (CE) in conjunction with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) using long-wavelength (maximum excitation wavelength>500 nm) dyes are reviewed. These dyes are particularly of interest when conducting the analyses of biopolymers by CE-LIF using He-Ne lasers. These systems are benefited from low background, low costs, easy maintenance, and compactness. Derivatizations of DNA and proteins with fluorescent or nonfluorescent chemicals can be carried out prior to, during, or after separations. With the advantages of sensitivity, rapidity, and high efficiency, the applications of CE-LIF to the analysis of polymerase chain reaction products, DNA sequencing, trace analysis of proteins, and single cell analysis have been presented.

DNA↗