Neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric behaviour defects arise from 14-3-3ζ deficiency.

Complex neuropsychiatric disorders are believed to arise from multiple synergistic deficiencies within connected biological networks controlling neuronal migration, axonal pathfinding and synapse formation. Here, we show that deletion of 14-3-3ζ causes neurodevelopmental anomalies similar to those seen in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder. 14-3-3ζ-deficient mice displayed striking behavioural and cognitive deficiencies including a reduced capacity to learn and remember, hyperactivity and disrupted sensorimotor gating. These deficits are accompanied by subtle developmental abnormalities of the hippocampus that are underpinned by aberrant neuronal migration. Significantly, 14-3-3ζ-deficient mice exhibited abnormal mossy fibre navigation and glutamatergic synapse formation. The molecular basis of these defects involves the schizophrenia risk factor, DISC1, which interacts isoform specifically with 14-3-3ζ. Our data provide the first evidence of a direct role for 14-3-3ζ deficiency in the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders and identifies 14-3-3ζ as a central risk factor in the schizophrenia protein interaction network.

Recombinant human interleukin 5 is a selective activator of human eosinophil function.

Human rIL-5 was found to selectively stimulate morphological changes and the function of human eosinophils. This molecule is thus a prime candidate for the selective eosinophilia and eosinophil activation seen in disease.

Murine eosinophil differentiation factor. An eosinophil-specific colony-stimulating factor with activity for human cells.

A purified murine lymphokine, eosinophil differentiation factor (EDF), was found to be a selective stimulus for the clonal proliferation and differentiation of murine eosinophil progenitor cells, establishing it as the murine eosinophil colony-stimulating factor (Eo-CSF). EDF was also active on human eosinophil progenitors and mature blood eosinophils, but had no effect on neutrophil or macrophage precursor cells, nor on blood neutrophils. In culture of human bone marrow cells, EDF stimulated equal numbers and equal sizes of eosinophil colonies to develop when compared with human placental conditioned medium, a source of human CSFs, suggesting that all responsive progenitor cells were stimulated. Clone transfer experiments and the linear relationship between number of bone marrow cells plated and colonies produced confirmed that the action of EDF was directly on eosinophil progenitor cells. EDF increased the capacity of human blood eosinophils, but not neutrophils, to kill antibody-coated tumor cells and to phagocytose serum-opsonized yeast cells. This functional activation was associated with the enhanced expression of functional antigens (GFA-1, GFA-2, and the receptor for C3bi) on eosinophils. The possession by EDF (Eo-CSF) of all the properties expected of a human eosinophil CSF raises the possibility that a human analog of this molecule exists, and is involved in the regulation of production and function of human eosinophils in vivo.

Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Regulation of N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine receptor affinity and function on human neutrophils.

Preincubation of neutrophils with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rH TNF-alpha) enhanced the subsequent release of superoxide anion in response to various concentrations of N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP). Enhanced superoxide anion production was evident by 5 min and had reached a plateau by 15 min. Not only was the total amount of superoxide anion released greater, but the rate of release was also enhanced threefold by rH TNF-alpha. In contrast, rH TNF-alpha reduced or abolished neutrophil locomotion under agarose in response to a gradient of FMLP. Binding studies of f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe to purified human neutrophils revealed a heterogeneous binding to unstimulated cells. The high affinity component consisted of approximately 2,000 sites per cell and had an average Kd of 2 +/- 0.7 nM (n = 4). The low affinity component consisted of approximately 40,000 sites per cell and had an average Kd of 180 +/- 50 nM (n = 4). rH TNF-alpha caused conversion to a linear Scatchard plot showing no significant change in total binding sites but a single Kd of 40 +/- 10 nM (n = 4). These data indicate that rH TNF-alpha may influence neutrophil responses to FMLP by regulating the affinity of FMLP receptors.

Deoxyribonucleic acid triplex formation inhibits granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene expression and suppresses growth in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemic cells.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a severe childhood malignancy. The autocrine production of GMCSF is believed to be responsible for the spontaneous proliferation of JMML cells. A nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)/Rel binding site within the GM-CSF gene promoter, termed the kappaB element, plays an important role in controlling transcription from the GM-CSF gene. We investigated the effect of an oligonucleotide GM3, directed to form a DNA triple helix across this kappaB element, on growth and GM-CSF production by JMML cells. Treatment of these cells, either unstimulated or induced by TNFalpha, with GM3 led to a significant and specific inhibition of both GM-CSF production and spontaneous colony formation. This constitutes the first report linking specific triplex-mediated inhibition of gene transcription with a functional outcome; i.e., cell growth. We observed the constitutive presence of NF-kappaB/Rel proteins in the nucleus of JMML cells. The constitutive and TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB/Rel complexes were identical and were composed mainly of p50 and c-Rel proteins. Treatment of the cells with a neutralizing anti-TNFalpha monoclonal antibody completely abrogated constitutive nuclear expression of NF-kappaB/Rel proteins. These results indicate that the aberrant, constitutive GM-CSF gene activation in JMML is maintained by TNFalpha-mediated activation of NF-kappaB/Rel proteins. Our findings identify the molecular basis for the autocrine TNFalpha activation of the GM-CSF gene in JMML and suggest potential novel and specific approaches for the treatment of this aggressive childhood leukemia.

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor stimulates in vitro mature human neutrophil and eosinophil function, surface receptor expression, and survival.

A purified recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rH GM-CSF) was a powerful stimulator of mature human eosinophils and neutrophils. The purified rH GM-CSF enhanced the cytotoxic activity of neutrophils and eosinophils against antibody-coated targets, stimulated phagocytosis of serum-opsonized yeast by both cell types in a dose-dependent manner, and stimulated neutrophil-mediated iodination in the presence of zymosan. In addition, rH GM-CSF enhanced N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine(FMLP)-stimulated degranulation of Cytochalasin B pretreated neutrophils and FMLP-stimulated superoxide production. In contrast, rH GM-CSF did not promote adherence of granulocytes to endothelial cells or plastic surfaces. rH GM-CSF selectively enhanced the surface expression of granulocyte functional antigens 1 and 2, and the Mo1 antigen. rH GM-CSF induced morphological changes and enhanced the survival of both neutrophils and eosinophils by 6 and 9 h, respectively. These experiments show that granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor can selectively stimulate mature granulocyte function.

Role of colony-stimulating factors in leucocyte responses to inflammation and infection.

Colony-stimulating factors play an important role in the function of mature blood cells and the promotion of their survival. There is increasing evidence to suggest that these factors participate in inflammatory reactions and in responses to infection.

Human interleukin-3 (IL-3) induces disulfide-linked IL-3 receptor alpha- and beta-chain heterodimerization, which is required for receptor activation but not high-affinity binding.

The human interleukin-3 receptor (IL-3R) is a heterodimer that comprises an IL-3 specific alpha chain (IL-3R alpha) and a common beta chain (beta C) that is shared with the receptors for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-5. These receptors belong to the cytokine receptor superfamily, but they are structurally and functionally more related to each other and thus make up a distinct subfamily. Although activation of the normal receptor occurs only in the presence of ligand, the underlying mechanisms are not known. We show here that human IL-3 induces heterodimerization of IL-3R alpha and beta c and that disulfide linkage of these chains is involved in receptor activation but not high-affinity binding. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to IL-3R alpha and beta c were developed which immunoprecipitated, in the absence of IL-3, the respective chains from cells labelled with 125I on the cell surface. However, in the presence of IL-3, each MAb immunoprecipitated both IL-3R alpha and beta c. IL-3-induced receptor dimers were disulfide and nondisulfide linked and were dependent on IL-3 interacting with both IL-3R alpha and beta c. In the presence of IL-3 and under nonreducing conditions, MAb to either IL-3R alpha or beta c immunoprecipitated complexes with apparent molecular weights of 215,000 and 245,000 and IL-3R alpha and beta c monomers. Preincubation with iodoacetamide prevented the formation of the two high-molecular-weight complexes without affecting noncovalent dimer formation or high-affinity IL-3 binding. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blotting (immunoblotting) demonstrated the presence of both IL-3R alpha and beta c in the disulfide-linked complexes. IL-3 could also be coimmunoprecipitated with anti-IL-3R alpha or anti-beta c MAB, but it was not covalently attached to the receptor. Following IL-3 stimulation, only the disulfide-linked heterodimers exhibited reactivity with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies, with beta c but not IL-3R alpha being the phosphorylated species. A model of IL-3R activation is proposed which may be also applicable to the related GM-CSF and IL-5 receptors.

Interleukin (IL)-10, but not IL-4 or IL-13, inhibits cytokine production and growth in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia cells.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) carries a poor prognosis. The endogenous production of cytokines by the JMML cells contributes to their growth and therapeutic resistance. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-13 inhibit cytokine production in monocytes. We have now studied whether these cytokines can inhibit JMML cell cytokine production, thereby potentially reducing the malignant cell load in this disorder. We found that IL-10, but not IL-4 or IL-13, dose dependently inhibited JMML cell production of the hemopoietic growth factors granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-1beta. Similarly, IL-10, but not IL-4 or IL-13, suppressed JMML colony formation and cell viability. This was not due to the absence of receptors because we could detect mRNAs for the IL-4 and the IL-13 receptor alpha subunits and the IL-2 common gamma subunit in JMML cells. Furthermore, the receptors were active since both IL-4 and IL-13 up-regulated surface expression of MHC class II and down-regulated CD14 antigens on JMML cells and monocytes. Unlike activated monocytes, the JMML cells did not produce IL-10. It is suggested that the loss of cytokine inhibitory effects of IL-4 and IL-13 could play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. On the other hand, the inhibition of cytokine production, growth, and viability of JMML cells by IL-10 suggests that this cytokine may have a therapeutic potential in JMML.

TGF-α and IL-6 plasma levels selectively identify CML patients who fail to achieve an early molecular response or progress in the first year of therapy.

Early molecular response (EMR, BCR-ABL1 (IS)⩽10% at 3 months) is a strong predictor of outcome in imatinib-treated chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients, but for patients who transform early, 3 months may be too late for effective therapeutic intervention. Here, we employed multiplex cytokine profiling of plasma samples to test newly diagnosed CP-CML patients who subsequently received imatinib treatment. A wide range of pro-inflammatory and angiogenesis-promoting cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were elevated in the plasma of CML patients compared with that of healthy donors. Most of these normalized after tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment while others remained high in remission samples. Importantly, we identified TGF-α and IL-6 as novel biomarkers with high diagnostic plasma levels strongly predictive of subsequent failure to achieve EMR and deep molecular response, as well as transformation to blast crisis and event-free survival. Interestingly, high TGF-α alone can also delineate a poor response group raising the possibility of a pathogenic role. This suggests that the incorporation of these simple measurements to the diagnostic work-up of CP-CML patients may enable therapy intensity to be individualized early according to the cytokine-risk profile of the patient.

The solution structure of the cytokine-binding domain of the common beta-chain of the receptors for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-3 and interleukin-5.

The haemopoietic cytokines, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-3 and interleukin-5 bind to cell-surface receptors comprising ligand-specific alpha-chains and a shared beta-chain. The beta-chain is the critical signalling subunit of the receptor and its fourth domain not only plays a critical role in interactions with ligands, hence in receptor activation, but also contains residues whose mutation can lead to ligand-independent activation of the receptor. We have determined the NMR solution structure of the isolated human fourth domain of the beta-chain. The protein has a fibronectin type III fold with a well-defined hydrophobic core and is stabilised by an extensive network of pi-cation interactions involving Trp and Arg side-chains, including two Trp residues outside the highly conserved Trp-Ser-Xaa-Trp-Ser motif (where Xaa is any amino acid) that is found in many cytokine receptors. Most of the residues implicated in factor-independent mutants localise to the rigid core of the domain or the pi-cation stack. The loops between the B and C, and the F and G strands, that contain residues important for interactions with cytokines, lie adjacent at the membrane-distal end of the domain, consistent with their being involved cooperatively in binding cytokines. The elucidation of the structure of the cytokine-binding domain of the beta-chain provides insight into the cytokine-dependent and factor-independent activation of the receptor.

Human GM-CSF receptor alpha-chain gene is highly polymorphic but not rearranged in AML.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) blast cells express haemopoietic growth factor receptors. However, their presence does not predict response to the cognate ligand in vitro. This suggests that haemopoietic growth factor receptor structure or function may be abnormal in some cases of acute myeloid leukaemia. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor alpha-chain gene (GM-CSF-R) has recently been localised to the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromosomes. A sex chromosome is lost in 25% of cases of AML FAB subtype M2. The loss of one allele of this gene may have some aetiological significance in AML if the other allele is altered leading to abnormal receptor structure, function or number. In this initial study, we have examined DNA from leukaemic cells of 29 patients with AML, including three with FAB subtype M2 with deletion of an X or Y chromosome for evidence of gross rearrangement of this gene. We report that although the gene is highly polymorphic for a number of restriction enzymes, we have found no evidence of gross rearrangement in AML.

Interaction of GM-CSF and IL-3 with the common beta-chain of their receptors.

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL-3) are cytokines active in both normal and abnormal hemopoiesis, inflammation, and immunity. Their biological activity is mediated via receptors that comprise a ligand-specific alpha chain and a beta chain that is common to the GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5 receptors. To understand the mechanism of action of GM-CSF and IL-3 in both normal and pathological conditions, we are seeking to define the structural elements required for ligand/receptor and receptor/receptor contact and their role in cellular activation. To this end we have identified a conserved motif in the first helix of GM-CSF, Glu21 that is critical for high affinity binding and biological activity. Charge-reversal mutagenesis of this residue generates a GM-CSF analogue that is devoid of biological activity and can antagonize the activity of wild-type GM-CSF. This probably results from the selective deficiency in interaction with the beta chain of the receptor and suggests that similar antagonists for IL-3 and IL-5 are also feasible. Complementary mutagenesis studies on the receptor beta chain have identified the putative B'-C' loop in the membrane-proximal domain as being critical for the high affinity binding of GM-CSF but not IL-3. Characterization of the specificity of sites of interaction between the ligands and receptors may permit the design of specific or genetic antagonists that may have important therapeutic implications.

Epitope diversity of monoclonal antibodies revealed by cross-species reactivity.

The epitope specificity of two monoclonal antibodies (MAb) which have the same functional activity has been studied. These two independently raised rat IgG2b MAb, NIMP-R10 and M1/70 (Springer et al., 1979), blocked the complement (C) receptor on mouse macrophages. Both MAb showed essentially the same binding pattern with mouse cells, binding to the same extent mouse eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils, a small proportion of spleen and bone marrow cells, but not thymocytes. That both MAb were apparently recognizing the same epitope was suggested from experiments in which MAb M1/70 inhibited the binding of MAb NIMP-R10. In addition, both MAb showed identity at the molecular level, precipitating the same molecules from the surface of mouse cells. However, NIMP-R10 and M1/70 could be shown to recognize different epitopes when they were tested on human cells. Thus, NIMP-R10 was found to bind to neutrophils and to large granular lymphocytes with natural killer cell activity but not to eosinophils or monocytes, while M1/70 bound to all of these cell types. It is suggested that inter-species testing may have general application in the analysis of antibody specificity.

Fractionated populations of normal human marrow cells respond to both human colony-stimulating factors with granulocyte-macrophage activity.

Populations of normal human colony-forming cells (blast cells) and cluster-forming cells (promyelocytes-myelocytes) were obtained from bone marrow by using the monoclonal antibody WEM G11 and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Both populations were shown to be responsive to both human colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) with granulocyte-macrophage activity (CSF alpha and CSF beta), with the cluster-forming cell population being more responsive to CSF beta than the colony-forming cell population. The clonal proliferation of promyelocytes-myelocytes was transient, and the clones generated were of subcolony size (less than 40 cells) regardless of the CSF used. Clone transfer experiments demonstrated that progeny of promyelocytes-myelocytes initiated using one stimulus (CSF alpha or CSF beta) were also responsive to the other stimulus.

Heterogeneity of recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-mediated enhancement of neutrophil adherence to endothelium.

Human recombinant (r) and chemically synthesized granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was found to enhance the attachment of neutrophils to monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by direct action upon the neutrophil. Using synthetic peptides of GM-CSF with truncated amino and carboxy termini, a region between amino acids 14 and 24 was found to be essential for neutrophil attachment. In analysis of the response of neutrophils from individual donors, a heterogeneity in their capacity to respond to GM-CSF by increased adherence was observed. The level of response to GM-CSF did not depend on receptor number. However, a positive correlation (r = 0.58) was found between the ability to respond to GM-CSF and the level of response to tumor necrosis factor--suggesting a link between the responses of neutrophils to these two cytokines. The stimulation of neutrophil adhesiveness to endothelial cells by rGM-CSF and the heterogeneity in donor response may have important implications for the clinical administration of GM-CSF.

Interleukin-3/erythropoietin fusion proteins: in vitro effects on hematopoietic cells.

Erythropoietin (Epo) acts synergistically with interleukin-3 (IL-3) to induce proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors. This synergy occurs at IL-3 concentrations that have little or no effect alone. To determine whether optimal expansion of erythroid cells results when they are targeted by a molecule with both IL-3 and Epo activities, fusion proteins were generated and analyzed. Expression vectors were constructed in which the coding regions of human IL-3 and Epo cDNAs were joined by either a short (2 to 3 amino acids) or long (23 amino acids) linker sequence and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Analysis of equilibrium binding properties of the IL-3 and Epo moieties revealed that in all fusion proteins each retained the ability to bind receptor. When IL-3 was connected to Epo by a short linker, the binding affinity of the IL-3 moiety was lower. In vitro proliferative activity of each moiety was observed on cell lines responsive to IL-3, Epo or a combination of the two cytokines. Fusion of IL-3 to Epo through its amino terminus was found to result in partial loss of its function. All the fusion proteins were biologically active on human bone marrow. When IL-3 was located at the amino domain of the protein, induction of erythroid colonies was similar to that of a mixture of IL-3 and Epo. These results indicate that biological integrity of both IL-3 and Epo can be maintained when these cytokines are fused, but that enhancement of erythropoiesis over that observed with a mixture of the two cytokines cannot be achieved by their fusion alone. Other requirements such as the coexpression of the IL-3 and Epo receptors and the sharing of a receptor subunit are likely to be needed for an optimal cell response to the fusion growth factors.

The functional basis of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, interleukin-3 and interleukin-5 receptor activation, basic and clinical implications.

The cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, interleukin-3 and interleukin-5 have overlapping activities on cells expressing their receptors. This is explained by their sharing a receptor signal transduction subunit, beta c. This communal signaling subunit is also required for high affinity binding of all three cytokines. Therapeutic approaches attempting to interfere or modulate haemopoietic cells using cytokines or their analogues can in some instances be limited due to functional redundancy amongst cytokines using shared receptor signaling subunits. Therefore, a better approach would be to develop therapeutics against the shared subunit. Studies examining the GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5 receptors have identified the key events leading to functional receptor activation. With this knowledge, it is now possible to identify new targets for the development of a new class of antagonist that blocks the biological activity of all the cytokines utilizing beta c. This approach may be extended to other receptor systems such as IL-4 and IL-13 where receptor activation is dependent on a common signaling and binding subunit.

Synthesis and expression of the gene encoding human interleukin-3.

To perform structure-function studies of human interleukin-3 (hIL-3) we have synthesized a cDNA encompassing the complete coding region of 484 bp. The strategy we employed involved construction of the cDNA in four sections. Each fragment contained six to ten oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Unique restriction sites were engineered to flank the natural sequence for cloning. Naturally occurring restriction sites were placed internally to these, to allow ligation of the four fragments. The gene was cloned into a modified pJL4 vector and expressed in COS cells. Biological assays of supernatants collected from these cells, for both mature cell function and proliferative activity, showed that synthetic hIL-3 had the same activity as that previously determined for recombinant hIL-3.

Functional neutrophils from long-term murine bone marrow cell cultures.

Murine bone marrow cell cultures that had been established for up to 26 weeks were harvested each week and found to provide functional neutrophils. Leukocytes harvested from the cultures were enriched for neutrophils using discontinuous Percoll density gradients. These cells mounted a chemiluminescence response to Proteus mirabilis in the presence of normal mouse serum (NMS). They killed several NMS-opsonised bacterial species, an activity that was blocked by a monoclonal antibody to the C3 receptor of mouse neutrophils. Cultured bone marrow neutrophils expressed both Fc and C3 receptors. C3 receptor expression could be augmented by exposure to the chemotactic peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe. We conclude that murine bone marrow cell cultures provide a useful source of functional neutrophils, and that their productivity can be sustained in long-term culture. As their receptor expression can be augmented from the resting state by exogenous stimuli, they represent a useful cell source in studies of neutrophil activation.