Potentiation of interferon induction of class I major histocompatibility complex antigen expression by human tumor necrosis factor in small cell lung cancer cell lines.

The response of class I major histocompatibility complex antigen expression to in vitro administration of interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was measured using class I major histocompatibility complex-deficient small cell lung cancer cell lines. Significant induction also was observed using gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) alone, whereas TNF-alpha alone yielded only modest induction. Classic small cell lung cancer cell lines NCI-H146 and NCI-H209 best demonstrated synergistic HLA and beta 2-microglobulin antigen induction with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha with the following dose schedule: 3-6 days of TNF-alpha (200 units/ml) followed by 48 h of IFN-gamma (100 IU/ml). Induction was quantitated using an 125I-Protein A radioimmunoassay. Synergistic induction of the HLA and beta 2-microglobulin surface antigens on NCI-H146 was also possible with alpha interferon and TNF-alpha but required a higher concentration of the interferon, i.e., 3-6 days of TNF-alpha (200 units/ml) followed by 48 h of alpha interferon (1000 units/ml). Small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H146 was further studied for expression of major histocompatibility complex messenger RNA using the optimal doses and sequence of addition of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha as indicated above. A significant induction with IFN-gamma alone and synergistic induction with both IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha was quantitated for both HLA-A2 and beta 2-microglobulin transcripts using Northern blot analysis. Incubation with relatively low subcytotoxic doses of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha also resulted in a marked synergistic decrease in c-myc message.

Estimation of cell survival by flow cytometric quantification of fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide viable cell number.

We report a flow cytometric method to quantify the number of viable cells remaining in suspension culture following exposure to cytotoxic drugs. Cell viability is assessed by flow cytometric measurement of cellular fluorescence after staining with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide in isotonic solution. The number of viable cells per ml of culture is determined by a timed count of viable cells and from knowledge of the flow cytometer sample flow rate. P388 murine or HL-60 human leukemia cells in culture were used as model systems. This method can quantify accurately viable cell concentrations in suspension culture from 100 cells/ml to 1 million cells/ml. The sensitivity of the method as a cytotoxicity assay increases if, following brief (1-4-h) exposure to drug, greater time is allowed for cell death and lysis to occur prior to flow cytometric counting of viable cells. If the viability assessment is deferred for at least 72 h following drug (daunorubicin, actinomycin D, vincristine) exposure, results were obtained approximating those obtained from the soft agar clonogenic assay or the colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. In studying the cytotoxic effects of vincristine, actinomycin D, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and daunorubicin on P388 or HL-60 cells sensitive and resistant to these agents, reasonable results were obtained by flow cytometric counting of viable cell number. We have been able to perform this flow cytometric viability assay with ease using bone marrow blast cells obtained from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. The method is facile, relatively rapid, and since it is ideal for studying cells in suspension culture, its potential as a predictor of chemotherapeutic response in leukemia warrants further evaluation.

IGFBP-3 gene expression and estrogen receptor status in human breast carcinoma.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF) I and II are potent mitogens for breast carcinoma proliferation. IGF-mediated proliferative activity can be markedly enhanced by the presence of specific IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGFBP-3 has been shown to enhance IGF-mediated growth in a number of systems. Studies have demonstrated IGFBP-3 secretion only in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast carcinoma cell lines while IGFBP-3 could not be detected in media conditioned by ER-positive cell lines. We investigated whether a relationship exists between ER status and IGFBP-3 mRNA expression in human breast carcinoma biopsy specimens. We have detected IGFBP-3 mRNA in breast carcinoma tissue obtained from patients utilizing in situ hybridization. Quantitation of IGFBP-3 mRNA levels was performed utilizing image cytometry. There was a significantly higher expression of IGFBP-3 mRNA in ER-negative breast carcinoma specimens when compared to the ER-positive specimens. Whether this higher expression of IGFBP-3 mRNA and presumed secretion of IGFBP-3 by ER-negative tumors play a role in the rapid proliferation and poor prognosis of these tumors remains to be determined.

Mechanisms of regulation of WAF1/Cip1 gene expression in human breast carcinoma: role of p53-dependent and independent signal transduction pathways.

WAF1/Cip1 was recently identified as the wild-type p53 target that appears to mediate the tumor suppressing effects of p53. We investigated the mechanisms of regulation of WAF1/Cip1 gene expression in human breast carcinoma (HBC) cells. Our results demonstrate that the HBC cells harboring wild-type p53 express 26-33-fold higher WAF1/Cip1 mRNA levels than the cells harboring mutant p53. The DNA damaging agent etoposide induced p53 accumulation only in cells harboring wild-type p53 yet it induced WAF1/Cip1 gene expression in cells carrying wild-type or mutant p53, suggesting the involvement of p53-dependent and independent signaling pathways in the regulation of WAF1/Cip1 gene expression. Serum starvation-induced growth arrest although not altering the endogenous p53 levels or its ability to transactivate the reporter gene, induced WAF1/Cip1 gene expression in cells carrying wild-type as well as mutant p53. These results further implicated the involvement of p53-independent signal transduction pathways in WAF1/Cip1 gene regulation. Our data also suggest that WAF1/Cip1 gene expression is tightly associated with cell cycle progression in cells containing either wild-type or mutant p53. WAF1/Cip1 expression was transiently induced in response to serum treatment and declined as the cells passed through the S-phase of the cell cycle. We thus provide evidence that the mechanisms of WAF1/Cip1 gene regulation involve p53-dependent and independent signaling pathways in HBC.

p53 independent G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis induced by a novel retinoid in human breast cancer cells.

The biological activity of a novel synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (AHPN) was investigated in human breast carcinoma (HBC) cells. Although capable of selective binding to the RAR gamma nuclear receptor, AHPN inhibited the growth of a number of HBC cell lines via RAR- or RXR-independent pathways. AHPN also inhibited the growth of the human leukemia cell line HL-60R which does not possess functional RARs. RA significantly inhibited AP-1 mediated gene activation in MCF-7 cells while AHPN displayed no such anti-AP-1 activity. Retinoids normally are cytostatic in their inhibition of breast carcinoma growth and permit cell proliferation upon their removal, wher as AHPN induced G0/G1 arrest within 6h followed by apoptosis. In MCF-7 cells that harbor wild type p53, AHPN-induced G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis was accompanied by p53-independent regulation of WAF1/CIP1 as well as bax mRNA levels while bcl-2 mRNA levels were decreased. In MDA-MB-231 cells which possess a mutant p53, AHPN-mediated G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis was also associated with a concomitant up regulation of WAF1/CIP1 mRNA while these cells did not express bax or bcl-2 messages. Thus AHPN represents a novel retinoid that induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis via a unique pathway which appears to involve activation of known downstream effectors of p53 in a p53-independent manner.

Could coenzyme Q10 affect hemostasis by inhibiting platelet vitronectin (CD51/CD61) receptor?

Improved cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been observed in several clinical studies of dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, ubiquinone). Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the effects of CoQ10. One attractive theory links ubiquinone with the inhibition of platelets. The effect of CoQ10 intake on platelet surface antigens, and certain hemostatic parameters was examined in 15 humans and 10 swine. Study participants received 100 mg of CoQ10 twice daily in addition to their usual diet for 20 days resulting in a three-fold increase of total serum CoQ10 level. We observed a decline in plasma fibronectin (-20.2%), thromboxane B2 (-20.6%), prostacyclin (-23.2%), and endothelin-1 (-17.9%) level. Significant inhibition of vitronectin receptor expression was observed consistently throughout ubiquinone treatment. Inhibition of the platelet vitronectin receptor is a direct evidence of a link between dietary CoQ10 intake, platelets, and hemostasis. These findings may contribute to the observed clinical benefits by a diminished incidence of thrombotic complications in such patients.

Reevaluation of T cell subset monitoring in cyclosporine-treated renal allograft recipients.

The predictive value of peripheral blood T cell subset monitoring in renal allograft recipients has been questionable, and there has been no information concerning the correlation of T cell subset changes with the clinical event related to cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical usefulness of serial T cell subset monitoring in 34 consecutive renal transplant patients treated with cyclosporine by determining the total peripheral lymphocyte count and T cell subset counts using Leu-4, Leu-3ab, and Leu-2a monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry up to 6 months after transplantation. The absolute counts of all cells were lower in transplanted patients than those of normal controls, but were not different from those of hemodialysis patients. During infection, the helper/suppressor (H/S) ratio and the cell counts, except for suppressor cells, decreased significantly. Within one week prior to rejection, all cell counts also decreased significantly. Furthermore, cell counts before steroid-resistant rejection were significantly lower than those before steroid-responsive rejection. In contrast, lymphocyte and T cell counts were increased significantly within one week prior to cyclosporine nephrotoxicity being diagnosed; the H/S ratio was not correlated with rejection or toxicity. These results indicate that H/S ratio is not associated with clinical events of renal allograft recipients, but serial lymphocyte and T cell subset counts can provide valuable information for the differentiation of rejection from cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, and also for predicting the outcome of the allograft rejection.

Further observations on infections of guinea pigs with Venezuelan encephalitis virus strains.

Guinea pigs from a Guatemalan colony died after subcutaneous inoculating of moderately small doses of equine-benign strains of Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus of hemagglutination-inhibition subtype I-E from enzootic habitats in Mexico and Guatemala. Thus these guinea pigs were unlike English short hair and inbred 13 guinea pigs, which usually survive infections with equine-benign VE strains of subtype I-E. We therefore caution others that not all strains of guinea pigs can be used to evaluate the potential equine virulence of VE viruses.

Transmission of Venezuelan encephalitis virus by naturally infected Culex (Melanoconion) opisthopus.

During August 1977 two of 975 Culex (Melanoconion) opisthopus collected from an enzootic marsh habitat on the Pacific coast of Guatemala transmitted VE virus to hamsters. Eight VE strains were isolated from Cu. opisthopus. The minimal level of VE infection in this species during July-August 1977 at La Avellana, Guatemala was 1/128 (8/1,021), and the prevalence of Cu. (Mel.) opisthopus transmitting VE virus was 1/487 (2/975). This mosquito was the predominant species attacking humans at that time, suggesting that Cu. opisthopus is a vector of VE virus to man as well as a vector in enzootic cycles in Guatemala. These studies establish Cu. opisthopus as the third proven enzootic vector of VE virus.

Studies of possible movement of Venezuelan encephalitis virus from an enzootic focus in Guatemala during 1971-1974.

During the wet seasons of 1972 and possibly 1971, sentinel horses became infected by Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus in a temporally and geographically progressive manner inland from an enzootic marsh focus of virus on the Pacific couast of southeastern Guatemala. During the wet seasons of 1972 and 1973, VE virus was detected by sentinel horses (and a sentinel hamster in 1972) in a small woods 10 km north of the marsh, but virus was undetectable there during the dry seasons of 1973 and 1974 and the wet season of 1974. Culex (Melanoconion) mosquitoes were found in this woods and at the marsh during August 1973. These observations are compatible with movement of VE virus from the marsh habitat during some wet seasons. However, virus activity in this region adjacent to the marsh was quantitatively unpredictable on a yearly basis and occurred in only very focal habitats during 1971 to 1974. Mechanisms of VE virus movement from the marsh are currently unknown, but bats are under study as a likely possibility.

Ecologic observations of Venezuelan encephalitis virus in vertebrates and isolations of Nepuyo and Patois viruses from sentinel hamsters at Pacific and Atlantic habitats in Guatemala, 1968-1980.

La Avellana and Puerto Barrios, two enzootic foci of Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus on the Pacific and Caribbean lowlands (respectively) of Guatemala have been studied over a 13-year period. Data from sentinel hamsters and guinea pigs and wild and domestic vertebrates are reported. VE virus strains were isolated from hamsters each period they were exposed during the rainy seasons 1968-1980 and at the end of the dry season 1974. Rates of isolation of VE virus ranged from 0.2%-5.7% hamster/days/exposure. All strains tested were free of epizootic virions. Although virus was isolated from sentinel guinea pigs, their deaths were not attributable to infection with VE virus. Antibody titers in 26 of 28 terrestrial mammals bled at La Avellana in 1971 were higher to enzootic than to epizootic VE strains. Thirty-seven percent of 109 residents of Puerto Barrios had antibody to VE virus. In 13 of 20 tested, antibodies were engendered by the enzootic strain. Nepuyo and Patois viruses were isolated from sentinel hamsters at both La Avellana and Puerto Barrios.

Mesenteronal infection threshold of an epizootic strain of Venezuelan encephalitis virus in Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus mosquitoes and its implication to the apparent disappearance of this virus strain from an enzootic habitat in Guatemala.

Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus is a vector of Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus at a marsh focus in Guatemala and has low mesenteronal thresholds for infection by and transmission of two enzootic strains of VE virus. In contrast, samples of natural populations and subsequent F2 and F4 generations of these mosquitoes have a high mesenteronal threshold for infection by an epizootic VE strain isolated at the same marsh during the end of the 1969 VE epidemic-equine epizootic. The resistance of Cu. (Mel). taeniopus to mesenteronal infection by this VE strain probably represents a key factor in the apparent disappearance of epizootic VE virus from the marsh focus following the 1969 outbreak.

Intestinal threshold of an enzootic strain of Venezuelan encephalitis virus in Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus mosquitoes and its implications to vector competency and vertebrate amplifying hosts.

The minimal intestinal dose of an enzootic strain of Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus for Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus mosquitoes caught at a marsh habitat of VE virus in Guatemala was less than five plaque forming units (pfu) of virus. Ingestion of this dose of virus in blood of viremic hamsters resulted in transmission of virus to other hamsters. This low intestinal threshold of an enzootic strain of VE virus indicates that the natural Guatemalan population of Cu. (Mel.) taeniopus can acquire VE virus from vertebrates that have viremia levels as low as 1,000-5,000 pfu/ml of blood, provided other factors do not limit virus interchange between mosquitoes and vertebrates.

Entomological studies at an enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus focus in Guatemala, 1977-1980.

The ecology of several potential mosquito vectors of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) alphavirus was studied in an enzootic focus of that virus on the Pacific coast of Guatemala over a four-year period. Four species-Culex taeniopus, Mansonia titillans, Culex nigripalpus and Aedes taeniorhynchus-were most prevalent during the wet season when transmission normally occurs. However, only Cx. taeniopus yielded VEE virus. The bloodfeeding patterns of these species revealed that Ae. taeniorhynchus and Ma. titillans fed almost exclusively on bovine and equine hosts. Conversely, Cx. nigripalpus was highly ornithophilic but occasionally fed on mammals. Cx. taeniopus exhibited a wide host range, utilizing both large and small mammals as well as birds and, rarely, reptiles. The versatility in feeding pattern displayed by this mosquito coupled with its ability to become infected with relatively low levels of enzootic VEE virus suggests that vertebrates other than rodents may serve as amplifying hosts in this habitat. Nepuyo virus was also isolated from Cx. taeniopus, suggesting that this mosquito might be an endemic vector of this rodent-associated bunyavirus. A single isolate of St. Louis encephalitis virus was made from Cx. nigripalpus.

Ecologic studies of Venezuelan encephalitis virus and isolations of Nepuyo and Patois viruses during 1968-1973 at a marsh habitat near the epicenter of the 1969 outbreak in Guatemala.

Ecologic studies of Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus at a marsh habitat near the epicenter of the 1969 outbreak in Guatemala revealed that the virus was enzootic there. VE virus was isolated yearly during 1968-1973 from sentinel hamsters exposed during the rainy seasons and from mosquitoes collected during July and August 1970. Hamsters yielded 41 strains of VE virus and virus was detected within 2 km of the edge of the marsh, in its interior, and at its western extreme 18 km from the central study site at La Avellana. One strain of virus came from a hamster that died in the dry season of January 1970. Culex mosquitoes yielded 20 strains of VE virus and Mansonia and Aedes one each. Culex (Melanoconion) and Aedes taeniorhynchus were most prevalent near the marsh. Hemagglutination-inhitibion (HI) and neutralization antibody tests of sera showed that wild terrestrial mammals (opossums and rodents), humans, and dogs, but not wild birds, were frequently infected. Seven of 16 susceptible residents of villages at the edge of the marsh developed antibodies without symptoms during an 18-month period between September 1971 and February 1973. Only 1 of 5 sentinel rabbits, and none of 30 sentinel chickens developed VE HI antibody during August-September 1971, a period when virus activity was readily detected by the use of sentinel hamsters. Five strains of group C arbovirus (one identified as Nepuyo) were recovered from sentinel hamsters during 1968 to 1970, and one strain of Nepuyo virus was isolated from the blood of a person with a febrile illness during 1972. Two strains of Patois group arboviruses were isolated from Culex mosquitoes during 1970.

Differential toxicity of Physalia physalis (Portuguese man-o'war) nematocysts separated by flow cytometry.

Flow cytometric separation of Physalia physalis nematocysts resulted in isolation of the two previously reported sizes of organelles measuring 10.6 and 23.5 nm in diameter. The venom of the smaller nematocysts, which are present in greater abundance, was lethal in vitro to chick embryonic cardiocytes at doses of 0.6 microgram protein/culture, whereas 20 micrograms protein prepared from the larger nematocysts was inocuous. SDS gel electrophoresis revealed common proteins of 69,000, 82,000 and 50,000-65,000 mol. wt in the nematocyst contents of both sizes of organelles.

Flow cytometric detection of jellyfish venom induced cytotoxicity.

Crude venoms of three poisonous jellyfish produce membrane depolarization as determined by the loss of fluorescence intensity of 3,3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine iodide loaded cells measured by flow cytometry. This method for detecting jellyfish cytotoxicity was reproducible and more sensitive than mouse lethality assays.

Overexpression of bcl-2 or bcl-XL fails to inhibit apoptosis mediated by a novel retinoid.

Overexpression of bcl-2 or bcl-XL has been found to inhibit the induction of apoptosis in malignant cells by a large number of agents including a wide variety of chemotherapeutic drugs. CD437 ¿6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4 hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid¿ is a novel retinoid that induces apoptosis in a number of malignant cells through a unique mechanism of action. The addition of 1 microM CD437 to HL-60/NEO cells resulted in capase 3 (CPP32) activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in 3 h whereas in bcl-2- or bcl-XL-overexpressing HL-60 cells CD437 induced CPP32 activation and PARP cleavage in 6 h. Although 50 and 300 nM CD437 were required to induce PARP cleavage in HL-60/NEO and HL-60/bcl-2, HL-60/bcl-XL cells, respectively, maximal apoptosis in both cell lines was achieved utilizing 300 nM CD437. All three cell lines, however, share identical dose-response curves in terms of their growth inhibition, suggesting that CD437-mediated inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis represent two distinct and separable processes. In addition, CD437 induces GI arrest as well as p21WAFI/CIPI mRNA expression in these cells despite the overexpression of bcl-2 or bcl-XL. CD437 induced mitochondrial instability as indicated by cytochrome c leakage into the cytoplasm in all three cell lines. CD437 also induced growth inhibition and apoptosis of an apoptosis-resistant variant of the HL-60 cell line (HCW-2), which switched expression from bcl-2 to bcl-XL. CD437-mediated apoptosis is not accompanied by downregulation of bcl-2 or bcl-XL or upregulation of bax. The reason for the inability of bcl-2 or bcl-XL overexpression to inhibit CD437-mediated apoptosis is unclear. The ability of CD437 to initiate apoptosis in a spectrum of malignant cells without interference from bcl-2 or bcl-XL overexpression suggests that CD437 may possess significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of malignancy.

Retinoid modulation of c-myc and max gene expression in human breast carcinoma.

Retinoic acid (RA) modulation of c-myc and max gene expression was investigated in human breast carcinoma (HBC) cell lines. Our results demonstrate that c-myc and max genes are differentially expressed in HBC cells which was accompanied by increases in [3H]-thymidine incorporation and percent of cells in the S phase of cell cycle. RA-mediated increase in c-myc mRNA levels were noticed as early as 30 min. and maximum levels were attained by 1 h. RA effect on max mRNA levels was slow and gradual with the maximum effect noticed by 48 h. Nuclear run-on assays demonstrated that RA mediated its effect by increasing the rate of transcription of both of these genes. We thus report for the first time that RA, during its growth inhibitory effects on MCF-7 HBC cells, positively regulates the gene expression of c-myc and max.

Flow cytometric DNA analysis of primary and concurrent metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Adequate flow cytometric DNA analysis comparing primary and concurrent metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has not been done in the past. The purpose of this study was to define any differences between the primary and concurrent metastasis of each patient with respect to flow cytometric parameters and histologic grade. Paraffin-embedded archival specimens from 28 patients with primary and metastatic tumors were prepared into nuclei and analyzed by flow cytometry using human lymphocyte standards. The mean DNA index was 0.82 for primary tumors and 0.83 for the metastases. Aneuploidy was found in 68 percent of primary tumors and in 82 percent of metastases. The percentage of cells in the proliferative fraction was 40.4 in the primary tumors and 24.5 in the metastases. A direct correlation was found between the differentiation of the primary and metastatic tumors. No survival difference was discovered among the flow cytometric parameters and histologic grade. We conclude that there is no difference between the primary and concurrent metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with regard to DNA index, aneuploidy, or histologic grade.