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Modulation of CD40L antigen expression in Jurkat cells: involvement of protein kinase C activity.

The CD40L expressed on activated CD4+ T cells delivers contact-dependent proliferative and anti-apoptotic signals to B lymphocytes. Little is known about molecular mechanisms of constitutive expression of CD40L on some non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, especially about involvement of two signal pathways regulating its expression in normal cells; one involving calcineurin, and the other protein kinase C. We analyzed by flow cytometry the effects of 6-hour stimulation of both pathways (stimuli: PMA and ionomycin) and their inhibitors: cyclosporin A and chelerythrine, on CD40L expression. Two Jurkat clones differing in CD40L surface expression: clone 217.6 (CD40L-) and 217.7 (CD40L+) were studied. Our experiments showed that high level of CD40L expression on the surface of 217.7 cells was reduced after stimulation with PMA. The same effect was observed for combination of PMA and chelerythrine or for PKC inhibitor alone. In 217.6 cells, only chelerythrine used alone induced low level of CD40L expression, while PMA and ionomycin were without effect. These results suggest that CD40L surface expression is mainly dependent on protein kinase C activity. By using PepTag Assay we have confirmed that in both Jurkat clones PKC activity is higher than in normal blood lymphocytes.

Alkaloids↗

[Activation of transcriptional factors stat5 and stat3 during human T-lymphocyte proliferation induced by different mitogenic stimuli].

The activation of closely related transcription factors STAT5alpha and STAT5beta is one of the key signalling events during interleukin-2-dependent stage of T-lymphocyte proliferation. Here, we investigate the activation of STAT5 and STAT3 family proteins on different stages of T-cell proliferative response to various mitogenic stimuli. The activation of STAT proteins was estimated according to their tyrosine phosphorylation. Isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated by phytogemagglutinin (PHA), or by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) with calcium ionophore--ionomycin, or by exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2). After activation of T-cells by PHA as well as by PDBu with ionomycin we observed phosphorylation of STAT5 not earlier than in 5 h. The maximum phosphorylation (by 10 times and more, as compared to control resting lymphocytes) was detected following 24 h of mitogen stimulation. In the lymphocytes pretreated by PHA in submitogenic concentration, exogenous IL-2 induces a proliferative response. High phosphorylation level of STAT5 was determined 10 min after addition of IL-2 and kept for the next 24 h. In contrast to STAT5, some basal phosphorylation of STAT3 was found in resting and PHA-pretreated T-cells. The profile of phosphorylation STAT3 during mitogen-induced activation is more leveled. An immunosuppressant cyclosporine A taken at antiproliferative concentration decreased phosphorylation of both STAT5 and STAT3 by 1.5-2.0 times at early stages, as well as at late stages of activation. A correlation between alteration in tyrosine phosphorylation level of STAT5 and the expression of the high affinity IL-5 receptor was established. Taken together, we report that the increased STAT5 phosphorylation can serve as a marker of T-lymphocyte entrance into IL-2-dependent stage of proliferation after T-cell activation by different mitogens.

Carcinogens↗

Nitrovasodilators and cGMP inhibit human platelet activation.

Endothelial relaxing factor has been identified as nitric oxide, formed from L-arginine by the soluble enzyme nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide inhibits platelet aggregation and adhesion by stimulating a soluble guanylate cyclase and increasing the intracellular concentration of cyclic GMP. Nitrovasodilators, such as sodium nitroprusside, release the active moiety, nitric oxide. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of sodium nitroprusside and of a permeable cGMP derivative on the aggregation and ATP secretion of human platelets stimulated with the protein kinase C activators 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol or 4 beta-phorbol-12- myristate-13-acetate. Human platelets were treated with lysine acetylsalicylate, washed and resuspended in Tyrode-buffered solution. ATP secretion was evaluated by luciferin-luciferase luminescence. Nitroprusside (4-40 microM) or 8-Br-cGMP (0.1-2.4 mM) inhibited both platelet aggregation and ATP secretion evoked by 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (40 microM) or 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13- acetate (4 nM) in a dose-dependent manner, in the presence of the selective inhibitor of cGMP phosphodiesterase, M&B 22948 (5 microM). The inhibitory effect of nitroprusside was reversed by hemoglobin, known to bind and inactivate nitric oxide. To study the calcium-dependent pathway, we treated platelets with the ionophore ionomycin. The ensuing aggregation and ATP secretion were rapid and were dependent on agonist concentration. Nitroprusside (4-40 microM) inhibited the aggregation evoked by ionomycin (0.4 microM) as well as ATP release, in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that cGMP is able to inhibit both the protein kinase C-dependent and the calcium-dependent pathways leading to platelet activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Dual mechanisms of inhibition by dopamine of basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated inositol phosphate production in anterior pituitary cells. Evidence for an inhibition not mediated by voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.

In primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells, dopamine inhibited basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated inositol monophosphate, bisphosphate, and trisphosphate production. This inhibition by dopamine can be resolved into two distinct components. One of the components was rapid and already present after 10 s. The other was slower, starting after 1 min, and was mimicked by nimodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist. The effects of dopamine and nimodipine were not additive on both basal and TRH-stimulated inositol phosphate production. Furthermore, the dopamine inhibition in the presence of TRH was much higher than the inhibition induced by nimodipine. It is thus likely that calcium entry through voltage-dependent calcium channels triggers a positive feedback on TRH stimulation of phospholipase C. However, depolarizing concentrations of K+ or BAY-K-8644, a voltage-dependent calcium channel agonist, had no effect on inositol monophosphate and bisphosphate accumulation. Ionomycin, even at a very high concentration (10 microM), had only a slight and transient effect on inositol phosphate formation. In addition, these agents did not affect the TRH dose-dependent stimulation of inositol phosphate production. These results suggest that the intracellular calcium concentrations that we measured under basal and TRH-stimulated conditions are sufficient to allow the maximal activity of phospholipase C which can be obtained under these two experimental conditions. In contrast, any decrease in the intracellular calcium concentration by a dihydropyridine antagonist, suppression of extracellular calcium, or inactivation of a voltage-dependent calcium channel by long term depolarization with K+ decreased the phospholipase C activities measured under basal and TRH-stimulated conditions. From these data it can be concluded that dopamine inhibits inositol phosphate production by two distinct mechanisms. The slow dopamine-induced inhibition of TRH-stimulated inositol phosphate production which is mimicked by nimodipine is likely because of an inhibition of a voltage-dependent calcium channel. This is substantiated further by the fact that ionomycin (10 microM) was able to reverse the nimodipine inhibitions as well as this slow component of dopamine inhibition. The nature of the rapid inhibition of TRH-stimulated inositol phosphate production induced by dopamine, but not by nimodipine, remains to be determined. It is suppressed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. This may suggest that this inhibition is related to blockade of non-dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

Functional insertion of the SV40 large T oncogene in cystic fibrosis intestinal epithelium. Characterization of CFI-3 cells.

Intestinal epithelial cells were isolated from a fetus with cystic fibrosis (CF) and transfected with a plasmid vector recombined with the ori- mutant of SV40. A population of proliferative cells was then subcloned and designated as CFI-3. These cells had a doubling time of 24 h and were maintained in culture for up to 25 passages. At passage 8, CFI-3 cells did not produce any tumors in nude mice. Northern blot and immunofluorescence studies indicated that the extended lifespan of CFI-3 cells results in genomic insertion of SV40 LT. Intestinal CFI-3 cells are epithelial, according to the expression of the human cytokeratin 18 gene and poorly differentiated by phase-contrast and electron microscopy. Functional membrane receptors activated by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), its natural analogue pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP-38), and isoproterenol were observed in CFI-3 cells. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the PstI KM19 site revealed that the cftr locus was identical in the chorionic villi and in CFI-3 cells. The manifestation of CF in this family was not related to the common mutation delta F508, since this fetus was heterozygous for the substitutions S549N and N1303K. Chloride transport, assessed by the 125I efflux, was induced in CFI-3 cells by the calcium inophore ionomycin, but not by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, and was inhibited by the chloride channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid. These results were confirmed in patch clamp studies in which the cpt cAMP analogue failed to stimulate membrane currents, while the calcium ionophore ionomycin stimulated inward currents. We conclude that intestinal CFI-3 cells retain the CF phenotype relating to defective regulation of Cl- channels, and therefore constitute a suitable model, 1) for elucidating the function of CFTR protein, 2) developing new therapeutic agents, and 3) correcting the CF defect by gene replacement therapy in vitro.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗

Recombinant human G-CSF and GM-CSF prime human neutrophils for superoxide production through different signal transduction mechanisms.

Recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulate neutrophil production from precursors in the marrow and enhance granulocyte functions in vitro. We studied the effects of G-CSF and GM-CSF on neutrophil superoxide production and secretion. G-CSF and GM-CSF alone stimulated neither superoxide production nor secretion, but both agents primed neutrophils for superoxide production stimulated by either N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or ionomycin. Optimal priming occurred with G-CSF at 5.3 ng/ml for 20 minutes and for GM-CSF at 1 ng/ml for 60 minutes. Priming by GM-CSF was more readily inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor ST638 but was unaffected by staurosporine. Conversely, G-CSF priming was inhibited by staurosporine but not by ST638. Neither protein kinase C translocation nor increased protein kinase C activity, however, were observed after G-CSF/GM-CSF treatment. Priming by G-CSF and GM-CSF was sensitive to pertussis toxin, suggesting the involvement of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins). Neutrophils from three siblings with cyclic neutropenia were studied to observe the effects of G-CSF treatment on neutrophil function in vivo; sibling 1 and sibling 2 were treated with G-CSF for 6 months, but sibling 3 was not in the treatment group. Compared with neutrophils from normal donors, neutrophils from sibling 1 and sibling 2 were primed in vivo for superoxide release stimulated by either ionomycin or FMLP. Superoxide released by neutrophils from sibling 3 was similar to control cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaloids↗

In vitro transcription faithfully reflecting T-cell activation requirements.

T-cell activation is a complex process mediated by cell membrane molecules including the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR), adhesive molecules, and cytokine receptors that collectively produce an increase in intracellular Ca2+, and activation of protein kinase C that initiate a genetic program resulting in immunologic function and irreversible differentiation. To understand how these cell membrane events are translated into a genetic regulatory cascade resulting in T-cell function, we have developed an in vitro transcription system, derived from Jurkat T-cells, which demonstrates inducible, cell-type-specific transcription following T-cell stimulation. Nuclear extracts from cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin, which activate protein kinase C and mimic physiological activation through the T-cell antigen receptor, transcribe an interleukin-2 (IL-2) enhancer (-326 to +24) template 5-fold more efficient than nuclear extracts from resting T-cells and severalfold more efficient than extracts from Jurkat cells treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or ionomycin alone. Further results demonstrate that in vitro transcription of the IL-2 enhancer is T-cell specific since nuclear extracts from rat liver and stimulated HeLa cells are unable to induce IL-2 transcription. The activation-dependent, T-cell-specific in vitro transcription system described here should facilitate the dissection of signals that emanate from the T-cell surface resulting in IL-2 transcription and T-cell activation.

Cells, Cultured↗

Modification of platelet and lymphocyte calcium handling and blood pressure by dietary sodium and calcium in genetically hypertensive rats.

Abnormal cellular calcium handling has been postulated to be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. To determine whether the blood pressure response to dietary manipulation of sodium level (as the chloride salt) and calcium level is associated with changes in cellular cation metabolism, the interactive effects of both dietary components on blood pressure and intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) in blood platelets and thymic lymphocytes, erythrocyte sodium content, and blood ionized calcium were examined in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Rats were fed low (0.3%) or high (3.1%) sodium and low (0.2%) or high (2.0%) calcium diet for 6 weeks. With the rats receiving the high sodium-low calcium diet, systolic blood pressure was higher than with other diets, among which no difference was detected. Both basal [Ca2+]i and ionomycin (50 and 150 nmol/L) stimulated [Ca2+]i in platelets, and in lymphocytes, were higher with the high sodium-low calcium diet than with the others. Thus the high sodium diet elevated blood pressure and increased [Ca2+]i in the resting and stimulated state in both cell lines with the low-calcium but not the high-calcium diet. The high-sodium diet was associated with increased sodium content of erythrocytes, whereas manipulations of dietary calcium level had no effect on erythrocyte sodium content. Dietary calcium level had more of an effect on blood ionized calcium than did dietary sodium level. In combined diet groups, blood pressure was positively, significantly correlated with basal and ionomycin-induced [Ca2+]i in platelets (r = 0.64 and 0.67, respectively) and in lymphocytes (r = 0.53 and 0.60, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

Amino acid protection of cultured kidney tubule cells against calcium ionophore-induced lethal cell injury.

Treatment of two cultured renal tubule epithelial cell lines, MDCK and LLC-PK1, with ionomycin produced rapidly evolving models of lethal cell injury characterized by increases of cytosolic free calcium to the microM level within 15 minutes followed by lactate dehydrogenase release and failure to exclude vital dyes that began between 30 and 60 minutes and became extensive after 60 minutes. The pattern of injury was similar when the mitochondrial uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, was added to ionomycin. Carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone alone produced severe ATP depletion but not lactate dehydrogenase release. Inclusion of glycine in the experimental medium at concentrations ranging from 0.25 mM to 5 mM did not affect the increases of cytosolic free calcium or ATP depletion but was protective against enzyme release and failure to exclude vital dyes for 180 minutes. Maximal protection was achieved at glycine concentrations between 1 and 5 mM. Several other small neutral amino acids including alanine, beta-alanine, L-serine, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid also had protective effects but, glucose, pyruvate, glutamate, glutamine, leucine, valine, and taurine did not. These data indicate that potent protective effects of glycine and other small neutral amino acids previously shown in fresh tubule preparations are fully expressed in cultured tubule cells of diverse origin when appropriate acute injury models are used and the protective effects are sustained for long durations. The suitability of cultured cell lines for prolonged exposure studies will provide a powerful way of further exploring mechanisms of these effects.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Defective thymic T cell activation by concanavalin A and anti-CD3 in autoimmune nonobese diabetic mice. Evidence for thymic T cell anergy that correlates with the onset of insulitis.

In nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, T cells play a major role in mediating autoimmunity against pancreatic islet beta-cells. We and others previously reported that age-related alterations in the thymic and peripheral T cell repertoire and function occur in prediabetic NOD mice. To study the mechanism responsible for these T cell alterations, we examined whether a defect exists in the thymus of NOD mice at the level of TCR-mediated signaling after activation by Con A and anti-CD3. We found that thymocytes from NOD mice respond weakly to Con A- and anti-CD3-induced proliferation, compared with thymocytes from control BALB/c, BALB.B, (BALB.B x BALB.K)F1, C57BL/6, and nonobese non-diabetic mice. This defect correlates with the onset of insulitis, because it can be detected at 7 to 8 weeks of age, whereas younger mice displayed a normal T cell responsiveness. Thymic T cells from (NOD x BALB/c)F1 mice, which are insulitis- and diabetes-free, exhibit an intermediate stage of unresponsiveness. This T cell defect is not due to a difference in the level of CD3 and IL-2R expression by NOD and BALB/c thymocytes, and both NOD CD4+ CD8- and CD4- CD8+ mature thymic T cells respond poorly to Con A. BALB/c but not NOD thymic T cells respond to Con A in the presence of either BALB/c or NOD thymic APC, suggesting that the thymic T cell defect in NOD mice is intrinsic to NOD thymic T cells and is not due to an inability of NOD APC to provide a costimulatory signal. The defect can be partially reversed by the addition of rIL-2 to NOD thymocytes. To determine whether a defect in signal transduction mediates this NOD thymic T cell unresponsiveness, we tested whether these cells elevate their intracellular free Ca2+ ion concentration in response to Con A. An equivalent Con A-induced increase in Ca2+ ion concentration in both NOD and BALB/c thymocytes was observed, suggesting a normal coupling between the CD3 complex and phospholipase C in NOD thymocytes. In contrast to their low proliferative response to Con A or anti-CD3, NOD thymocytes respond normally (i.e., as do BALB/c thymocytes) to the combinations of PMA plus the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin and PMA plus Con A but weakly to Con A plus ionomycin. Our data suggest that the age-related NOD thymocyte unresponsiveness to Con A and anti-CD3 results from a defect in the signaling pathway of T cell activation that occurs upstream of protein kinase C activation.

Age Factors↗

IL-8 gene expression and production in human peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets.

We have investigated IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 production in highly purified subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes. T cells stimulated with PHA, ionomycin, or PMA alone failed to express IL-8 mRNA. However T cells stimulated with a combination of PMA and ionomycin or PMA and PHA expressed IL-8 mRNA in a PMA dose-dependent manner and maximally after 3 to 6 h of culture. Induction of IL-8 mRNA appeared to be specifically in the CD4+ T cell subset. Surprisingly, however, T cells were not induced to secrete significant levels of IL-8 polypeptide, even in the presence of accessory monocytes. In addition, immunoprecipitation analysis of PMA/ionomycin-treated T cell lysates detected only minor levels of cellular IL-8 Ag thereby suggesting that in T cells, the production of IL-8 was inhibited at the posttranscriptional level. By contrast, CD3- large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were both induced to express IL-8 mRNA and secrete biologically active IL-8 upon specific stimulation with IL-2 and ligand (anti-CD16 mAb) for the NK cell receptor for IgG-Fc (CD16), or upon nonspecific stimulation with PMA. IL-2 and anti-CD16 mAb synergistically induced IL-8 expression in LGL. Other nonactivating LGL-specific mAb did not induce LGL IL-8 secretion. The amount of IL-8 produced by activated LGL was donor variable, but generally 5 to 10 times less than that secreted by monocytes. The ability of LGL to release IL-8 and a large number of other cytokines further supports the hypothesis that LGL may contribute to both inflammatory and immunologic responses.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Characterization of increased K+ permeability associated with the stimulation of receptors for immunoglobulin E on rat basophilic leukemia cells.

Aggregation of immunoglobulin E-receptor complexes on the surface of rat basophilic leukemia cells stimulates an increase in plasma membrane K+ permeability that is monitored as an increase in the rate of efflux of preloaded 86Rb+. A major component of this stimulated 86Rb+ efflux appears to be due to a Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel because it is inhibited by quinidine in parallel with the inhibition of degranulation and membrane potential repolarization, it is blocked by 0.1 mM La3+, and it is dependent on external Ca2+. Depolarization of the plasma membrane by carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone inhibits stimulated Ca2+ influx and prevents antigen-induced 86Rb+ efflux, and increased external Ca2+ partially restores 86Rb+ efflux under these conditions. In addition, potentiation of antigen-stimulated Ca2+ influx by pretreatment with cholera toxin increases the initial rate of stimulated 86Rb+ efflux. Another component of antigen-stimulated K+ efflux appears to be mediated by a guanine nucleotide-binding protein because pretreatment of rat basophilic leukemia cells with pertussis toxin decreases the initial rate of antigen-stimulated 86Rb+ efflux to 40% of that for the untreated cells. Stimulated 86Rb+ efflux is also observed when ionomycin is used to increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ and to trigger membrane depolarization. The efflux stimulated by ionomycin is inhibited by quinidine but not by pertussis toxin pretreatment; thus, it appears to occur through the Ca(2+)-activated K+ efflux pathway. It is proposed that these K+ efflux pathways serve to sustain the Ca2+ influx that is necessary for receptor-mediated triggering of cellular degranulation.

Animals↗

Cyclic AMP synergy with Ca2+ for production of IFN-gamma by a cytolytic T cell clone is post-transcriptional.

PGE2 or products increasing the intracellular concentration of cAMP (cAMP)i) had opposite effects on the induction of IFN-gamma in a CTL clone, depending on the inducing agent. Activation via the TCR was inhibited, whereas induction by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin was enhanced in the presence of agents increasing (cAMP)i. Synergy between Ca2(+)-dependent and cAMP-dependent pathways was independent of the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Low levels of IFN-gamma mRNA could be detected transiently after induction with ionomycin alone, whereas simultaneous induction with agents increasing (cAMP)i led to enhanced levels of IFN-gamma mRNA detectable up to 12 h. No IFN-gamma mRNA was detected when the CTL were activated with (cAMP)i-increasing agents alone or with PKC-activating agents such as PMA, suggesting that the transcriptional activation of the IFN-gamma gene was strictly dependent on the Ca2(+)-mediated and cyclosporin A-dependent event. Analyses of IFN-gamma mRNA transcription by "run-on" experiments on nuclei isolated after activation of the CTL indicated that the Ca2+ signal alone induces maximal transcription of the IFN-gamma gene, which is not increased by either PKC activation or an increase in cAMP, but that further processing or stabilization of the IFN-gamma precursor or mature mRNA require an additional signal, provided either via a PKC or via a PKA activation pathway. The data also suggest that a combination of inflammatory products leading to an increase in (Ca2+)i and to an increase in (cAMP)i may bypass the usually stringent control of T cell activation by the TCR/CD3 complex.

Animals↗

Intracellular Ca2+ pools in PC12 cells. Three intracellular pools are distinguished by their turnover and mechanisms of Ca2+ accumulation, storage, and release.

Three, non-cytosolic Ca2+ pools were characterized in intact PC12 cells. The first pool, sensitive to both inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and caffeine (Zacchetti, D., Clementi, E., Fasolato, C., Zottini, M., Grohovaz, F., Fumagalli, G., Pozzan, T., and Meldolesi, J. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 20152-20158) accounts for approximately equal to 200 microM of Ca2+/liter of cell water (less than 30% of total exchangeable Ca2+) and takes up Ca2+ from the cytosol via a Ca(2+)-ATPase, blocked by thapsigargin. A second pool, approximately equal to 400 microM/liter, is insensitive to both inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, caffeine, and thapsigargin and is released by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. This pool is probably heterogeneous and its intracellular localization and physiological roles remain undefined. The third pool, approximately equal to 170 mumoles of Ca2+/liter, was discharged by the combination of ionomycin together with a substance that collapsed intracellular pH gradients, such as monensin or NH4Cl. This indicates that the pool is acidic, at variance with the first two. When exocytosis was stimulated, the size of this pool declined, indicating its primary residence within secretory granules. In the conditions of our experiments no major transfer of Ca2+ among the pools seemed to occur. This is the first comprehensive description of non-cytosolic Ca2+ pools investigated in intact neurosecretory cells by non-invasive procedures.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Role of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in muscarinic and histamine receptor-mediated activation of guanylate cyclase in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells: assessment of the arachidonic acid release hypothesis.

This study evaluates the role of intracellular levels of Ca2+ [Ca2+]i in cyclic GMP formation mediated by muscarinic and histamine receptors in the mouse neuroblastoma clone N1E-115. Muscarinic agonists activated the turnover of phosphoinositides with a relative maximal response similar to that observed previously for cyclic GMP formation. Carbamylcholine induced a transient increase in inositol trisphosphate with a time course similar to that of cyclic GMP formation. In cells loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ probe fura-2/acetoxymethyl ester, carbamylcholine as well as histamine induced a rapid and transient rise in [Ca2+]i. The time course of the changes in [Ca2+]i induced by agonists as well as by ionomycin closely paralleled that of cyclic GMP formation. Chelation of [Ca2+]i by loading of N1E-115 cells with quin 2/acetoxymethyl ester inhibited cyclic GMP formation induced by agonists in a dose-dependent manner. When cyclic GMP formation induced by agonists was assayed after the cells were exposed to 3 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) for 2 min, the formation of cyclic GMP was not inhibited significantly; however, it was completely abolished after 30-min exposure to EGTA. Treatment of cells with phospholipase A2 had no effect on resting [Ca2+]i and only slightly increased cyclic GMP formation, in spite of the induction of a marked release of [3H]arachidonate. Moreover, the formation of cyclic GMP induced by ionomycin was inhibited by the addition of phospholipase A2. Melittin contaminated with phospholipase A2 activity induced a rapid and sustained increase in cyclic GMP formation, as well as unesterified [3H]arachidonate release. However, after inactivation of the phospholipase A2 activity of melittin, its ability to stimulate cyclic GMP formation was enhanced. Our data indicate that receptor agonists stimulate cyclic GMP formation in N1E-115 cells by activating the formation of inositol trisphosphate, which is followed by the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The evidence obtained does not support a major role for arachidonate release in receptor-mediated activation of guanylate cyclase. Conversely, it is consistent with an inhibitory role for arachidonic acid or its metabolites in this process.

Animals↗

CD27 induction on thymocytes.

CD27 mAb recognize a disulfide-linked homodimer of 55 kDa present in the majority of T cells and in a minor subpopulation of thymocytes. Although an increase of CD27 expression has been described in activated T cells, this Ag is poorly expressed in long term growing T cells. It has been also reported that CD27- becomes CD27+ upon activation. In the aim to better know the relationship between CD27 expression and the activation and maturation processes, the induction of this Ag in thymocytes was analyzed. The results obtained in this work show that: 1) CD27 is expressed only in thymocytes with high CD3 Ag density. 2) Its expression can be induced in low density CD3 CD4+ CD8+ cells by Con A and in low CD3 Ag density by PMA+ionomycin. 3) PMA alone or in combination with rIL-2 induces CD25 and CD71 expression but not CD27. 4) Unlike CD27, the Ag CD45RA, CD26, and CD76, which are present only in a minor thymocyte subpopulation, are not induced in double positive thymocytes. Because it has been reported that cyclosporin A interferes with thymocytes maturation and blocks the transition from double to single positive cells, its effect was measured on CD27 induction. Cyclosporin A did not inhibit CD25 expression induced by both Con A and PMA+ionomycin, but under these conditions it inhibited the induction of CD27. In this paper we discuss whether CD27 could be implicated in T cell maturation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Selective signal transduction through the CD3 or CD2 complex is required for class II MHC expression by human T cells.

Ag-dependent activation of human T cells results in high level expression of class II MHC molecules. As part of this process, Ag recognition by TCR generates a series of second signals including protein kinase C, tyrosine kinase, and Ca2+ mobilization. To investigate the role of these second messengers in class II MHC expression, purified T cells were first stimulated by PMA, ionomycin, OKT3 accompanied by IL-2, or the mitogenic anti-CD2 antibodies T112 and T113 and were then stained with FITC-conjugated anti-class I and -class II MHC antibodies for analysis by flow cytometry. OKT3 and IL-2 induced optimal expression of HLA-DR (DR) on 70% of T cells with high density. Despite their high mitogenicity, induction of class II MHC expression by PMA, even with co-stimulation by ionomycin, was reduced to less than 20% of T cells, with an intensity 50-fold lower than in OKT3/IL-2-stimulated T cells. Furthermore, PMA inhibited class II MHC expression by OKT3/IL-2-stimulated T cells in a dose-dependent manner and additional stimuli, such as IL-1, IL-4, IFN-gamma, TCR cross-linkers, or monocytes, did not restore class II MHC expression by PMA-activated T cells. DR beta mRNA analysis showed that the low induction of class II molecules by PMA extends to the transcriptional level. Interestingly, anti-T112 and anti-T113 induced not only proliferation of T cells but also DR expression on more than 90% of T cells. These results indicate that transduction of a specific signal, probably selective phosphorylation of the CD3 molecule, contributes to class II MHC induction in the process of T cell activation.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

Distinct mechanisms of regulation of protein kinase C epsilon by hormones and phorbol diesters.

In this study, we examined the effects of T cell activators on the regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes present in thymocytes. Using affinity-purified anti-PKC antisera, we determined that the major PKC isoforms in murine thymocytes are PKC beta and PKC epsilon. The CD4+/CD8+ thymocyte subset expressed high levels of both PKC beta and PKC epsilon, whereas the CD4-/CD8- subset expressed much less of both. PKC beta was down-regulated following treatment of thymocytes with phorbol 12-myristate acetate (PMA) (2 x 10(-8) M) or ionomycin (0.4 microM). In contrast, PMA did not induce the down-regulation of PKC epsilon. Ionomycin alone, however, induced PKC epsilon down-regulation, similar to its effect on PKC beta. Similar observations were made on a promonocytic cell line, U937, which expresses PKC alpha, PKC beta (Strulovici, B., Daniel-Issakani, S., Oto, E., Nestor, J., Jr., Chan, H., and Tsou, A.-P. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 3569-3576), and PKC epsilon. To facilitate the study of PKC beta and PKC epsilon, we established a Chinese hamster ovary cell line which expresses murine PKC epsilon in addition to endogenous PKC alpha and PKC beta. Both PKC isoforms (beta and epsilon) were mostly in particulate form. PMA treatment left the majority of immunoreactive PKC epsilon intact. By contrast, thrombin treatment caused the disappearance of particulate and cytosolic PKC epsilon (60% by 10 min and 80% by 1 h). PMA and thrombin promoted the down-regulation of PKC beta with similar kinetics (100% down-regulation by 3 h). These results indicate that: 1) thymocytes express PKC epsilon; and 2) this isozyme exhibits a novel form of regulation distinct from the other PKC isozymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗