Showing papers by "Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research published in 1993"

Tyrosine phosphorylation of DNA binding proteins by multiple cytokines

Abstract: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and IFN-gamma regulate gene expression by tyrosine phosphorylation of several transcription factors that have the 91-kilodalton (p91) protein of interferon-stimulated gene factor-3 (ISGF-3) as a common component. Interferon-activated protein complexes bind enhancers present in the promoters of early response genes such as the high-affinity Fc gamma receptor gene (Fc gamma RI). Treatment of human peripheral blood monocytes or basophils with interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, IL-10, or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activated DNA binding proteins that recognized the IFN-gamma response region (GRR) located in the promoter of the Fc gamma RI gene. Although tyrosine phosphorylation was required for the assembly of each of these GRR binding complexes, only those formed as a result of treatment with IFN-gamma or IL-10 contained p91. Instead, complexes activated by IL-3 or GM-CSF contained a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein of 80 kilodaltons. Induction of Fc gamma RI RNA occurred only with IFN-gamma and IL-10, whereas pretreatment of cells with GM-CSF or IL-3 inhibited IFN-gamma induction of Fc gamma RI RNA. Thus, several cytokines other than interferons can activate putative transcription factors by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Molecular dynamics simulations of a lipid bilayer and of hexadecane: an investigation of membrane fluidity

Abstract: Molecular dynamics simulations of a fluid-phase dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayer in water and of neat hexadecane are reported and compared with nuclear magnetic resonance spin-lattice relaxation and quasi-elastic neutron scattering data. On the 100-picosecond time scale of the present simulations, there is effectively no difference in the reorientational dynamics of the carbons in the membrane interior and in pure hexadecane. Given that the calculated fast reorientational correlation times and the "microscopic" lateral diffusion of the lipids show excellent agreement with the experimental results, it is concluded that the apparently high viscosity of the membrane is more closely related to molecular interactions on the surface rather than in the interior.

The rpsL gene and streptomycin resistance in single and multiple drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract: The recent emergence of indolent and rapidly fatal drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has renewed interest in defining the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in the tubercle bacilli. In this report, we have examined the mechanism of resistance to streptomycin (Sm) in M. tuberculosis through the cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene encoding the ribosomal S12 protein (rpsL gene) from streptomycin-resistant strains and their streptomycin-sensitive parental strains. We have demonstrated that five singly SmR M. tuberculosis strains and an SmR isolate that has reduced sensitivity to multiple antibiotics have identical point mutations at codon 43 of the rpsL gene. Mutations at this same site confer SmR in Escherichia coli. In contrast, two other multiple drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains that are resistant to Sm have rpsL genes that have the same nucleotide sequence as their drug-sensitive parent strains, suggesting that different resistance mechanisms are involved in these strains.

IL-10 inhibits apoptotic cell death in human T cells starved of IL-2.

Abstract: IL-10 was originally described as an inhibitory factor produced by murine Th2 lymphocytes that suppresses IFN-gamma production by activated murine Th1 lymphocytes. In this study, we have analyzed the effect of human IL-10 on human T cell death induced by IL-2 deprivation. IL-2-dependent T lymphocytes rapidly die when deprived of IL-2. This cell death was found to involve loss of cell volume, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation, all characteristic of apoptosis. After 2 days incubation in culture medium without IL-2, the viability of TM11 cells (a tetanus toxoid-specific T cell line) and of activated peripheral blood T cells decreased from > 98% to 34.3 (+/- 2.9) and 39.7 (+/- 5.5%) respectively. Addition of purified human IL-10 (100 U/ml) to these IL-2-starved cells significantly improved cell viability (66.0 +/- 6.0 and 73.1 +/- 12.3% respectively, P = 0.0051). This protective effect of IL-10 was dose-dependent and was neutralized by the anti-human IL-10 mAb 19F1. It was neither accompanied by T cell growth stimulation as judged by [3H]thymidine incorporation nor neutralized by anti-IL-2 or anti-IL-2 receptor (CD25) antibodies. Analysis of DNA after separation on agarose gels revealed that IL-10 inhibits DNA fragmentation in IL-2-starved T cells. T cells protected from death by IL-10 were indistinguishable from IL-10-untreated viable T cells in the ability to proliferate in response to IL-2. Thus, another property of IL-10 is to promote the survival of IL-2-dependent T cells otherwise destined to die by apoptosis.

Interleukin-6 production in posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease.

Abstract: IL-6, a multifunctional cytokine produced by monocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, promotes the growth of EBV-immortalized B cells in vitro and renders these cells tumorigenic in athymic mice. In the present study, serum/plasma IL-6 bioactivity was found to be abnormally elevated, albeit transiently, in 17 of 18 solid organ transplant recipients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), with a mean maximal level of 196.7 U/ml. This represents a 16.4 increase above the normal mean (11.3 U/ml). In contrast, only 3 of 10 solid organ transplant recipients with uncomplicated courses posttransplant had abnormally elevated serum/plasma IL-6 bioactivity (mean maximal level 41.4 U/ml, P = 0.0007). When transferred to single cell culture, the 11 PTLD tissues produced 640 to 1.25 x 10(6) IL-6 U/ml in the culture supernatant, with a mean maximal level of 35,025 IL-6 U/ml. Cell separation experiments demonstrated that the adherent cells, identified as non-B cells, were the principal source of IL-6 production in vitro by PTLD tissue. Control cultures of inflammatory lymphoid tissue negative for lymphoproliferative disease as well as of PBL from patients with acute EBV-induced infectious mononucleosis consistently produced < 10 IL-6 U/ml. Thus, IL-6 is produced at high levels by PTLD tissues and may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of PTLD.

In vitro activation of the transcription factor gamma interferon activation factor by gamma interferon: evidence for a tyrosine phosphatase/kinase signaling cascade.

Abstract: antibody orprotein tyrosine phosphatase prevented theassembly ofthetranscription complex, indicating thatitsformation required phosphorylation oftyrosine residues. Furthermore, thetyrosine phosphatase inhibitors phenylarsine oxide andzincchloride alsoinhibited GAF formation invitro, butonlyifthese agents were addedtocell homogenates before IFN-ywas added. The addition ofeither agent5minafter IFN-yhadno effect. Theseresults provide thefirst evidence foran IFNq-yregulated tyrosine phosphatase/kinase signaling cascade thatpermitsthiscytokine toactivate the transcription ofan early-response gene.

Ca2+ ionophore A23187-dependent stabilization of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor messenger RNA in murine thymoma EL-4 cells is mediated through two distinct regions in the 3'-untranslated region.

Abstract: We analyze the role of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in the induction of GM-CSF mRNA expression in EL-4 thymoma cells Northern analysis shows that A23187 increases the half-life of GM-CSF mRNA To identify potential Ca2+ response elements in the GM-CSF mRNA, we produced stable transfectants containing pRSV-CAT (EL-4cat) or hybrid constructs in which most of the GM-CSF 3'-untranslated region (EL-4gm) or the adenosine-uridine boxes alone (EL-4au) were placed in a downstream position from the CAT coding region A23187 induces a 44-fold increase in CAT activity in EL-4cat cells and a 210-fold and 48-fold increase in CAT activity in EL-4gm and EL-4au cells, respectively Actinomycin D chase experiments in transfected cells demonstrate that A23187 increases the half-life of CAT mRNA from 15 min to 3 h in EL-4au cells and more than 3 h in EL-4gm cells, suggesting that the effect of Ca2+ is mediated predominantly by the adenosine-uridine boxes with a smaller contribution from upstream regions To map these upstream regions, we transfected cells with constructs containing mutations of the 3'-untranslated region With two of these mutations, corresponding to a region located about 160 bases upstream of the adenosine-uridine boxes, CAT activity was induced only 50-fold compared to 200-fold in EL-4gm cells These data indicate that two regions within the GM-CSF 3'-untranslated region interact to modulate Ca2+ effects on GM-CSF mRNA half-life

IL-4 attenuates the transcriptional activation of both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma-induced cellular gene expression in monocytes and monocytic cell lines.

Abstract: The interaction of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma with monocytes results in several actions that significantly influence the course of an immune response. Many of these effects are proinflammatory and can contribute to the degree of tissue injury at a site of inflammation. Whereas recent investigations target IL-4 as a T cell product that can antagonize some of the responses induced by IFN, little is known regarding the mechanisms involved. We have taken advantage of two well defined systems: the transcriptional activation of the cellular genes ISG-54 by IFN-alpha and IP-10 by IFN-gamma. IL-4 treatment of both the monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, and normal peripheral blood monocytes resulted in inhibition of IFN-induced RNA levels for both genes. Nuclear run-on assays in THP-1 cells indicated that the effects of IL-4 were due to the inhibition of the transcriptional activation of these genes by both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma. This inhibition was not due to alteration in the binding characteristics of IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma to the cell. In the IFN-alpha system, we were able to show that IL-4 treatment resulted in reduced formation of the transcriptional activator, IFN-stimulated gene factor 3. This reduction appears to be the result of a defect in the ability of IFN alpha to activate the IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 alpha component of IFN-stimulated gene factor 3.

Preparation, characterization, and immunogenicity of meningococcal lipooligosaccharide-derived oligosaccharide-protein conjugates.

Abstract: A method was developed for coupling carboxylic acid-containing oligosaccharides (OS) to proteins. An OS was isolated from Neisseria meningitidis group A strain A1 lipooligosaccharide (LOS). This LOS has no human glycolipid-like lacto-N-neotetraose structure and contains multiple immunotypes, including L8, found in group B and C strains. The carboxylic acid at 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid of the OS was linked through adipic acid dihydrazide to tetanus toxoid. The molar ratio of the OS to tetanus toxoid in three conjugates ranged from 11:1 to 19:1. The antigenicity of the OS was conserved in these conjugates, as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an inhibition ELISA with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to A1 LOS. These conjugates induced immunoglobulin G antibodies to A1 LOS in mice and rabbits. The immunogenicity of the conjugates in rabbits was enhanced by use of monophosphoryl lipid A plus trehalose dimycolate as an adjuvant. The resulting rabbit antisera cross-reacted with most of 12 prototype LOSs and with LOSs from two group B disease strains, 44/76 and BB431, in an ELISA and in Western blotting (immunoblotting), which revealed a 3.6-kDa reactive band in these LOSs. The rabbit antisera showed bactericidal activity against homologous strain A1 and heterologous strains 44/76 and BB431. These results indicate that conjugates derived from A1 LOS can induce antibodies against many LOS immunotypes from different organism serogroups, including group B. OS-protein conjugates derived from meningococcal LOSs may therefore be candidate vaccines to prevent meningitis caused by meningococci.

The immunodominant 90-kilodalton protein is localized on the terminal tip structure of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Abstract: Immunoblot analysis of convalescent-phase sera of experimentally infected chimpanzees or monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to the 90- and 40-kDa proteins of Mycoplasma pneumoniae indicated that both proteins were present in cytadsorbing, pathogenic strains PI-1428, M129, and FH but absent in noncytadsorbing, nonpathogenic strain M129-B176. Adsorption of convalescent-phase chimpanzee sera with virulent strain PI-1428 removed reactivity, whereas adsorption with avirulent strain M129-B176 did not remove reactivity to these two proteins. By using proteolysis and specific MAbs, we demonstrated that the 90- and 40-kDa proteins were surface exposed. Immunoelectron microscopy employing specific MAbs showed that the 90-kDa protein is localized on the terminal tip attachment apparatus. However, the MAb specific for the 40-kDa protein failed to indicate a similar localization. Nevertheless, these data, taken together, indicate that the immunodominant 90- and 40-kDa proteins are surface exposed, are localized on the terminal tip apparatus, and might be involved in the attachment mechanism.

Econazole inhibits thapsigargin-induced platelet calcium influx by mechanisms other than cytochrome P-450 inhibition.

Abstract: Cytochrome P-450 has been suggested as a mediator of the signal between depleted platelet calcium stores and an increase in plasma membrane permeability to calcium which follows depletion of the stores. This hypothesis is based on the observations that inhibitors of cytochrome P-450, such as the imidazole antifungal agents, also inhibit influx of a calcium surrogate (manganese) into calcium-depleted platelets. We tested the effects of econazole and of a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, carbon monoxide (CO), on thapsigargin (TG)-induced platelet 45Ca2+ influx. TG specifically depletes internal calcium stores and activates store-regulated calcium influx. Econazole blocked 45Ca2+ influx when it was added before TG (IC50 11 microM). Econazole at a concentration (20 microM) that inhibited 83% of TG-induced calcium influx was not inhibitory to TG-induced calcium efflux from 45Ca(2+)-loaded platelets, and did not affect calcium fluxes in resting platelets. This econazole concentration was also inhibitory to calcium influx even when it was added after the stores had been calcium-depleted by EGTA and TG for 15 min and the signal to increase calcium influx had already been generated. Inhibition of cytochrome P-450 with CO bubbled through platelet suspensions did not change calcium influx in resting cells and potentiated TG-induced calcium influx (160% of control calcium accumulation at 20 min). This effect appeared to be concentration-dependent, such that a 5 min exposure to CO produced a greater influx potentiation than a 3 min exposure. These observations indicate that (1) cytochrome P-450 does not mediate store-regulated calcium influx, and (2) econazole probably inhibits store-regulated calcium influx by an alternative mechanism, such as interaction with plasma membrane calcium channels.

Vinculin is a major platelet protein that undergoes Ca 2+ -dependent tyrosine phosphorylation

Abstract: When intracellular Ca2+ pools are released during platelet stimulation by thrombin, elevation of platelet cytosolic Ca2+ concentration induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a 130 kDa protein, and refilling the pools mediates dephosphorylation of this protein [Vostal, Jackson and Shulman (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 16911-16916]. In the present work the 130 kDa protein was identified as vinculin by the following criteria. (1) It is detected on protein immunoblots of thrombin-activated platelets by both monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine and anti-vinculin antibodies. (2) Removal of N-linked sugars with peptide-N-glycosidase or reduction did not change the molecular mass of vinculin or of the 130 kDa protein on SDS/PAGE. (3) The 130 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein associates with Triton-soluble fraction of platelets as does vinculin. (4) The 130 kDa protein immunoprecipitated by anti-vinculin monoclonal antibody reacts with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody; when immunoprecipitated by anti-phosphotyrosine antibody it reacts with anti-vinculin antibody. (5) The 130 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein and vinculin focus isoelectrically at pI 5.4-5.8. Our finding that vinculin is a major platelet protein that undergoes Ca(2+)-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation during platelet activation may provide clues to the function of this protein.

Quantitative aspects of the mutant analysis by PCR and restriction enzyme cleavage (MAPREC).

Abstract: Quantitation of virus revertants by PCR and restriction enzyme cleavage may give nonlinear results and, in some cases, produce artifacts caused by nucleotide misincorporation and heteroduplex formation, occurring during PCR. Modifications of the procedure allowed us to overcome these problems and develop a highly sensitive and reliable method of mutant quantitation. This procedure can be used to assess the quality of live vaccines and to study heterogeneity of viral and bacterial populations.

Isolation of Proteins for Microsequence Analysis

Abstract: This unit presents a method for determining the amino-terminal sequence of polypeptides or proteins. It is particularly appropriate for large fragments of insoluble or hydrophobic proteins or proteins that cannot be purified to >90% molar purity without electrophoresis. If the protein is blocked at the amino terminus, chemical cleavage or partial enzymatic digestion must be performed prior to electrophoresis. Upon isolation, the internal amino acid sequence is analyzed as described.

Inhibition of Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin-mediated cell adherence with monoclonal antibodies

Abstract: Filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), a 220-kDa protein located on the surface of Bordetella pertussis , is one of the major cell adhesins of this bacterium. We have produced three hybridoma cell lines that express monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against FHA: X3C, X3E and X4B. The anti-FHA mAbs X3C and X3E reacted with 220-kDa FHA protein bands on Western blots. The mAb X4B, which reacted with FHA in ELISA, did not bind to FHA in a Western blot assay. All three mAbs seemed to be directed to the same epitope or to epitopes in close proximity as suggested by competition ELISAs. All three mAbs were able to inhibit the adherence of Chinese hamster ovary cells to purified FHA, and they could also inhibit the FHA-mediated agglutination of goose red blood cells. The attachment of B. pertussis to epithelial cell monolayers was inhibited by the mAb X3C. These antibodies are very useful probes to identify the presence of FHA in bordetellae species and in clinical reagents such as pertussis vaccines, and to characterize the functional domains of this important bacterial adhesin.

Theoretical studies of relaxation of a monomeric subunit of HIV-1 protease in water using molecular dynamics.

Abstract: The dynamic behavior of one 99-residue subunit of the dimeric aspartyl protease of HIV-1 was studied in a 160 psec molecular dynamics simulation at 300 K in water. The crystal structure of one of the identical subunits of the dimer was the starting point, with the aqueous phase modeled by 4,331 explicit waters in a restrained spherical droplet Analysis of the simulations showed that the monomer displayed considerable flexibility in the interfacial portions of the flap (the region which folds over the substrate), the N- and C-0termini, and, to a lesser extent, the active site. The flap undergoes significant motion as an independent rigid finger, but without the cantilever previously reported hi a simulation of the dimer. The N-terminus displayed the greatest fluctuational disorder whereas the C-terminus exhibited the greatest root mean square movement from the crystal structure. The central core of the monomer had a heavy-atom root mean square deviation from the initial structure of about 3.0 A during the latter half of the simulation. Although this is larger than the 1.6 A found for comparable simulations of typical globular proteins, the general features of the tertiary structure were preserved over the course of the simulation. Overall, these results indicate that the relaxed structure obtained in these simulations may provide a better model for the tertiary structure of the solvated HIV-1 protease monomer than the subunit conformation seen in the X-ray crystallographic structure of the dimer. Except in the flap region, the design of compounds intended to interfere with dimerization should take this relaxation and the flexibility of the solvated monomer, especially at the termini, into account. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Assessment of the viral RNA sequence heterogeneity for control of OPV neurovirulence.

Abstract: By using sensitive mutant analysis by PCR and restriction enzyme cleavage we have found that among several positions that differ between the wild-type and attenuated type 3 poliovirus genomes, only two positions, 472 and 2493, showed variability in vaccine lots. Of these two, only position 472 correlates with neurovirulence in monkeys, while the abundance of revertants at position 2493 indicated the type of seed virus and the passage level. Conditions of cell culture influence the rate of mutant selection, suggesting that some cellular factor(s) may be involved in selection of 472-C. Determination of 472-C content predicts which vaccine lots would fail the monkey neurovirulence test. These results imply that the PCR method can be used for optimization of manufacturing conditions.