Peptide dose, MHC affinity, and target self-antigen expression are critical for effective immunotherapy of nonobese diabetic mouse prediabetes.

Cross-reactive T cells that recognize both Tep69 (dominant nonobese diabetic (NOD) T cell epitope in ICA69 (islet cell autoantigen of 69 kDa)) and ABBOS (dominant NOD T cell epitope in BSA) are routinely generated during human and NOD mouse prediabetes. Here we analyzed how systemic administration of these mimicry peptides affects progressive autoimmunity in adoptively transferred and cyclophosphamide-accelerated NOD mouse diabetes. These models were chosen to approximate mid to late stage prediabetes, the typical status of probands in human intervention trials. Unexpectedly, high dose (100 microg) i.v. ABBOS prevented, while Tep69 exacerbated, disease in both study models. Peptide effects required cognate recognition of endogenous self-Ag, because both treatments were ineffective in ICA69null NOD congenic mice adoptively transferred with wild-type, diabetic splenocytes. The affinity of ABBOS for NOD I-A(g7) was orders of magnitude higher than that of Tep69. This explained 1) the expansion of the mimicry T cell pool following i.v. Tep69, 2) the long-term unresponsiveness of these cells after i.v. ABBOS, and 3) precipitation of the disease after low dose i.v. ABBOS. Disease precipitation and prevention in mid to late stage prediabetes are thus governed by affinity profiles and doses of therapeutic peptides. ABBOS or ABBOS analogues with even higher MHC affinity may be candidates for experimental intervention strategies in human prediabetes, but the dose translation from NOD mice to humans requires caution.

Nasopharyngeal brush biopsies and detection of nasopharyngeal cancer in a high-risk population.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an important tumor in many countries. Ethnic and regional factors strongly influence disease risk. NPC is usually diagnosed late in disease development, and 10-year survival rates are as low as 10%. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a possibly causative agent, is present in all cells of essentially all undifferentiated NPCs. We wished to determine the following: 1) whether an ambulatory nasopharyngeal brush biopsy could provide sufficient tumor cell DNA for the detection of EBV and 2) whether the detection of EBV in this locale reflects the presence of tumor cells or simply EBV carrier status. METHODS: We collected nasopharyngeal tissue via ambulatory brush biopsies from 21 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and from 157 subjects with other otolaryngologic complaints. The majority of study subjects were from high-risk populations. Sample DNA was analyzed for the presence of EBV genomic sequences by use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Ninety-six percent of samples yielded sufficient DNA for PCR amplification. Nineteen of 21 patients with NPC brushed positive for EBV DNA, while all but two (1.3%) of 149 informative control subjects were negative for EBV (two-sided P<.0001). One of the EBV-positive control subjects had an EBV-positive inverted sinonasal papilloma; the other EBV-positive control subject exhibited no overt clinical disease. CONCLUSION: Demonstration of EBV DNA in nasopharyngeal brush biopsy specimens detects NPC with a sensitivity of at least 90% (95% confidence interval = 89.63%-91.32%) and a specificity of approximately 99% (95% confidence interval = 98.64%-98.68%). This technique merits further testing as a possible ambulatory screening strategy in high-risk populations.

The physiologic reservoir of Epstein-Barr virus does not map to upper aerodigestive tissues.

The human Epstein-Barr herpesvirus (EBV) has distinct oncogenic potential, but with over 90% of the adult world population infected, malignancy is a rare outcome of carrier status. However, EBV's association with over half of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas as well as several solid tumors, notably nasopharyngeal carcinoma, makes EBV-linked malignancies one of the largest single cancer entities. EBV is a B-lymphotropic virus, well controlled by surveillant T cells in immunocompetent hosts. To determine the presence and site of principal virus reservoirs is a likely prerequisite for understanding the etiology of EBV-associated tumors. Its near 100% association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma led to postulates that the upper aerodigestive tract tissue may be common sites of persistent latent or low-grade replicating infection. Using a protocol designed to avoid viral crosscontamination, the authors employed polymerase chain reaction to detect genomic EBV DNA sequences in 231 biopsies from different mucosal sites in the upper aerodigestive tract, as well as from salivary gland tissue and neck nodes in individuals not suspected to have EBV-related malignancy. Only two samples, one from oral cavity mucosa and one from parotid gland tissue, were positive for EBV. The observation that oropharyngeal tissue is not the principal EBV reservoir has mechanistic implications for the development of EBV-positive tumors in that locale.

Role of Epstein-Barr virus in fine-needle aspirates of metastatic neck nodes in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) frequently is initially seen with regional node dissemination. Preliminary investigations suggest that the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes in neck metastases from an occult primary may be diagnostic and predictive of NPC. The goal of this study was to test this proposition. METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of EBV DNA in fine-needle aspirate (FNA) samples obtained from malignant neck nodes. Control samples were obtained from other locations in the head and neck. PATIENTS: The patients in this study were evaluated at the Toronto Princess Margaret Hospital, a province-wide tertiary-care cancer treatment center. Of the 23 patients evaluated with malignant neck masses, 6 had NPC, 5 patients had metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary, and 12 patients served as controls with other known head and neck carcinomas. One of the patients initially diagnosed as an unknown primary later demonstrated NPC. FNA specimens were also obtained from 24 normal parotid, submandibular, or thyroid glands for comparison. RESULTS: In the samples with sufficient DNA for analysis, EBV was detected in 5 of 5 neck nodes from patients with known NPC. EBV was also detected in the neck node of a patient who went on to develop NPC and in a cervical node from 1 of 2 patients in whom the primary tumor remained unknown. None of the evaluable control neck nodes of FNA controls from other sites demonstrated EBV. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the utility of NPC-diagnostic EBV gene amplification in FNA samples of neck metastases and suggest that the presence of the EBV genome in FNA samples of neck nodes is predictive of the presence of NPC.

A majority of inverted sinonasal papillomas carries Epstein-Barr virus genomes.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) and various strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) has been examined previously. Yet there is little consensus regarding the incidence or role of HPV in IP. The possible role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which, like HPV, is a DNA virus linked to human lymphoid and epithelial malignancies, was investigated. METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect EBV genomic sequences in surgical specimens of IP, in benign nasal polyps, and various control tissues. The IP specimens were similarly examined for the presence of HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. RESULTS: EBV DNA was found in 13 of 20 IP specimens (65%) and none of the 10 control tissues. Nine of the 20 specimens contained HPV DNA, and 5 of 20 specimens contained both EBV and HPV. CONCLUSIONS: These results imply a previously unsuspected role for Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of sinonasal inverted papilloma.

Epstein-Barr virus and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: bringing molecular genetics strategies to head and neck oncology.

In this article, we consider the tools of molecular genetics and strategies that have, or likely will have, an impact in otolaryngology, either as diagnostic tools or as strategies, with more far-reaching applications in tumour therapy, relapse monitoring, and ultimately, approaches to tumour prevention. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Detection of the virus following gene amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can provide a diagnostic tumour marker, both in primary and metastatic sites. NPC can be considered as a model disease on which molecular genetics is and likely will be of considerable impact. NPC is characterized by the presence of a genetically stable, viral agent of proven oncogenicity. The presence of attractive experimental systems for the study of EBV-associated tumours and their accessibility may combined with new molecular approaches towards diagnostic and, eventually, therapeutic improvements in the treatment of this clinically ominous malignancy.

Epstein-Barr virus surveillance after renal transplantation.

At least 1% of organ transplant recipients develop Epstein-Barr virus-positive, often fatal lymphomas. EBV-positive cells accumulating in some organ transplant recipients were suggested to predict EBV+ lymphoma risk but no prospective study has been reported. We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect EBV genomic sequences in successive blood samples of 60 kidney recipients before and up to 11 years after renal transplantation. Xenotransplantation of EBV-positive patient and -negative control samples into mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) was used to assess the tumor risk inherent in these samples. Despite single EBV+ cell detection sensitivity, none of the control samples was positive for EBV genomic sequences. In nearly 2/3 of patients EBV genomic DNA was detectable 3-6 months after transplantation for about 3 months. No patient developed lymphoma. Lymphocytes from 8 EBV-genome positive patients and 10 healthy donors were engrafted into 38 SCID mice. Human B cell lymphoma developed in 75% of the control grafts within about 3 months. In striking contrast, none of the patient grafts developed lymphoma despite the large numbers of EBV+ cells initially transplanted. Patient lymphocyte grafts were resistant to injection of live EBV, while in control lymphocyte grafts this caused lymphoma development within 3 weeks. We conclude that a 100-1000-fold expansion of circulating EBV+ B cell pools occurs frequently after organ transplantation and that it is balanced by effective EBV immunosurveillant functions resistant to immunosuppression. The mere detection of EBV genomic material was not predictive of lymphoma development.

Reversion of the SCID phenotype by human T cell grafts. Development of cross-species immunocompetence.

Due to defective recombinase function, mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) lack functional lymphocytes and can accept human lymphoid xenografts. Xenografted animals (SCIDhum) are thought to provide a neutral environment for in vivo studies of normal, malignant or HIV-infected human cells. SCIDhum often develop endogenous, EBV+ lymphomas in the graft and in the our study two-thirds of 142 SCIDhum mice did so. Surprisingly, one-third of animals developed reversion of the SCID phenotype rapidly after human T cell engraftment. 90% of tumors occurred in nonrevertant and only 10% in revertant mice. These revertant animals showed immunologic tolerance for normal human B lymphocytes, maintained stable levels of mouse and human IgM and IgG. In addition, they generated competent mouse T cells able to kill transformed (EBV+) but not fresh B cells from the same donor nor unrelated human B cell lines. The tolerance for human lymphoid cells and the cross-species antitumor competence of host T lymphocytes imply unexpected recognition and selection events. Rather than a neutral "bioreactor," these observations mark the SCID host as potentially active participant in a composite immune system generated by xenografting.

Viral interleukin 10 is critical for the induction of B cell growth transformation by Epstein-Barr virus.

We have used an efficient cDNA subtraction library procedure to identify newly induced genes in human B lymphocytes infected for 6 h with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Among the genes identified by automated sequencing of a random subset of clones from this library, one coded the EBV BCRF1 open reading frame, which specifies the viral interleukin 10 gene (vIL-10). This molecule is highly homologous to human (h)IL-10 and was previously thought to represent a "late" viral gene expressed only during the lytic phase of virus replication. Using gene amplification by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of B cell RNA obtained at varying times after infection, we detected vIL-10 expression within a few hours of EBV infection, followed, 20-30 h later by expression of hIL-10. Expression of both genes continued beyond the initial transformation phase (5-10 d) and was present in all transformed cell lines tested. When added at the time of viral infection, antisense (but not sense) oligonucleotides for vIL-10 mRNA (cytosolic half-life, approximately 6 h) prevented subsequent B cell transformation. The antisense effect was highly specific, leaving the expression levels of other transformation-related genes intact. Addition of exogenous (h)IL-10 rescued the transformation process in antisense-treated cells. Our observations establish vIL-10 as a new latency gene with a directly transformation-prerequisite function.

Unexpected patterns of Epstein-Barr virus gene expression during early stages of B cell transformation.

Following Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) binding to its CD21 cell surface receptor, virus internalization, nuclear translocation, and circularization of the viral episome were found to occur within 30 min, immediately preceding the expression of EB nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1 and -2 and latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 and -2 genes. Early viral gene expression was unaffected by blockade of the virus induced, transformation-prerequisite cellular activation pathway (Ca2+ currents, tyrosine phosphorylation, induction of p56lck, hsp70, and hsp90). Despite life times of only 3 h, antisense (but not sense) oligonucleotides for the above latency genes prevented subsequent transformation. Any one antisense oligonucleotide dramatically depleted transcripts not only of the target gene, but of all other latency genes. The blocking effect of antisense oligonucleotides allowed us to identify a new transformation-prerequisite latency gene near the fused termini. The concerted regulation of EBV gene expression is highly unusual and unexplained but our results imply critical, perhaps regulatory roles for initial latency gene transcripts themselves.

Detection of viral sequences by internally calibrated gene amplification.

Inherent pitfalls of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can become serious difficulties when transferring research applications to high-volume routine procedures such as biofermentation process control and clinical diagnostics. Difficulties include 1) the danger of accidental sample contamination with positive control templates; 2) variable amplification due to positional effects in thermocycler blocks and unequal primer efficiency for sense/anti-sense strands; and 3) the need for reliable controls, which provide confidence for reporting negative reactions. Using the PCR detection system for Epstein-Barr virus as a model, we have developed a quick process to generate mutant internal co-amplification templates. These can be used for titration of amplification sensitivity. More importantly, single tube co-amplification without titrations allows determination of the minimum sensitivity achieved in each individual reaction; critical information when reporting negative diagnostic results. Mutant and native fragments are easy to distinguish by size, and sample cross contamination can be readily identified. The system should be easily adaptable to gene amplification procedures, which aim to routinely detect the presence of a given gene fragment in a controlled fashion.

The growth transformation of human B cells involves superinduction of hsp70 and hsp90.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a latent human herpes virus associated with a range of malignant and non-malignant disorders. EBV binds to CD21 virus receptors on B lymphocytes and growth transforms these cells; in susceptible (e.g., immunodeficient) hosts such cells rapidly expand into fatal lymphomas. Virus binding and infection trigger a cascade of cellular events which are transformation prerequisite and analogous to non-oncogenic cell activation events but which differ in several quantitative or qualitative respects. Unique trans-membrane Ca2+ currents, Na+/H+ exchange, as well as tyrosine phosphorylation and p56lck-gene induction suggest that even early on the transformation process has oncogenic specificity. In this report we describe that two additional cellular gene families, the stress proteins hsp70 and hsp90, are coordinately induced at mRNA and protein levels and, quite different from hsp induction by thermal stress, this induction is dependent on EBV-induced trans-membrane Ca2+ currents. Blockade of hsp induction prevents transformation. The kinetics and induction prerequisites set this response well apart from reported responses to thermal or viral stress protein induction. Like p56lck-, hsp induction is purely a post-receptor binding event and not dependent on expression of any viral gene. The induction kinetics, with a peak at approximately 12-16 hr and subsequent decline to control levels, considerably extend the chronological map of elements in the CD21-dependent branch of the transformation pathway and suggest a specific role of induced hsp different from the cell cycle-related functions observed in other cell systems.

Exogenous but not endogenous EBV induces lymphomas in beige/nude/xid mice carrying human lymphoid xenografts.

Epstein--Barr virus (EBV) is a latent human herpes virus that growth-transforms EBV receptor/CD21+ B cells and is associated with several high-frequency malignancies. Reactivation of latent EBV occurs in approximately 1/3 of organ graft recipients and a majority of AIDS patients; EBV-positive B lymphoproliferative lesions represent often fatal complications in organ transplantation and late-stage AIDS. Although such lymphomas can arise from endogenous virus, the high tumor risk in EBV-seronegative transplant recipients implies de novo infection, in particular virus transmission with intra-graft B lymphocytes. Since SCID mice engrafted with human lymphocytes (SCIDhum) typically develop endogenous EBV+ (human) tumors in their graft it is difficult to study exogenous virus transmission in this model. We here demonstrate that beige/nude/xid mice engrafted with human lymphoid cells (BNXhum) selectively accept human B but not T cell grafts. Unexpectedly these mice fail to develop endogenous lymphomas observed in SCIDhum mice engrafted in parallel. However, injection of as few as less than 500 EBV particles produces rapidly fatal, polyclonal lymphomas in BNXhum animals. This virus sensitivity of BNXhum approaches conditions for EBV transmission with organ grafts.

The tyrosine kinase lck is critically involved in the growth transformation of human B lymphocytes.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) exposure of human B lymphocytes induces rapid, Ca(2+)-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of two cytosolic proteins, one likely the CD21 EBV receptor and another unknown species of 55-60 kDa. We now identify the latter protein as the tyrosine kinase lck (p56lck). In T cells many activation events reduce the high constitutive p56lck expression levels typical for that lineage, and they induce the appearance of a 60-kDa lck species. We now demonstrate that in B cells exposed to EBV the at best low constitutive p56lck expression levels are rapidly and transiently up-regulated without generation of 60-kDa lck. lck-specific antisense oligonucleotides block p56lck induction and prevent subsequent B cell activation and immortalization whereas B cell activation by nononcogenic agents was unaffected. We propose that p56lck superinduction is a transformation prerequisite which signals entry into the oncogenic growth transformation process.

EBV utilizes a unique activation pathway for the transformation of human B cells.

EBV growth-transforms primate B lymphocytes and directly causes mono/multiclonal B cell lymphomas in vulnerable hosts. In this report we demonstrate that the degree of B cell transformability is not quantitatively determined at the level of either the saturable, transformation-prerequisite virus receptors or of the actual viral cell entry process. Instead, post-receptor binding events [Na+/H+ exchange, Ca2+ flux, tyrosine phosphorylation of two proteins (55-60/130-140 kd)] were identified as critical determinants of transformability. The presence of competent virus in transformable cells was per se insufficient for transformation: blockade of Ca2+ fluxes (or the antiport) generates virus-loaded cells that express viral genes but remain untransformed. Delayed induction by ionomycin of appropriately sized Ca2+ fluxes ([Ca2+]i greater than 180 less than 400 nM) re-starts transformation processes in EGTA-blocked, virus-loaded cells, perhaps providing a model for the study of virus re-activation. Overall, EBV induces unique cellular activation events different from non-oncogenic lymphocyte mitogens/activators, and, given the oncogenic potential of transformed cells in susceptible hosts, we hypothesize that these events describe a novel oncogenic transformation pathway.

Beta-1,4-mannosyl-glycoprotein beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity in human B and T lymphocyte lines and in tonsillar B and T lymphocytes.

beta-1,4-mannosyl-glycoprotein beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GlcNAc-T III) catalyzes the incorporation of a "bisecting" N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residue in beta 1-4 linkage to the beta-linked mannose of the core of asparagine linked-protein bound oligosaccharides (N-glycans). The activity of GlcNAc-T III was determined in Triton X-100 extracts of four human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B-cell lines, in four T-cell lines originally established from lymphocytes of patients with acute lymphatic leukemia, and in human tonsillar B and T lymphocytes. The four EBV-transformed B-cell lines showed appreciable GlcNAc-T III activities (ranging from 3.4 to 19.0 nmol.h-1.mg protein-1), while the tonsillar resting B lymphocytes had much less activity (0.68 nmol.h-1.mg protein-1). The four T-cell lines and the tonsillar T lymphocytes had negligible GlcNAc-T III activities (ranging from 0.02 to 0.25 nmol.h-1.mg protein-1). Enzyme product was identified by high resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and methylation analysis. This is the first demonstration of GlcNAc-T III activity in human lymphocytes. The presence of GlcNAc-T III in B-cell lines correlates with the reported occurrence of bisecting GlcNAc residues in the oligosaccharides of human immunoglobulins G, A1, M, and D, tonsillar class II antigens, and membrane glycoproteins from B lymphocytes. The negligible GlcNAc-T III activity of the four human T-cell lines and of tonsillar T lymphocytes agrees with the reported absence of bisected structures in N-glycans from human T lymphocyte membrane glycoproteins.

Activation of Na+/H+ exchange and the expression of cellular proto-oncogenes in mitogen- and phorbol ester-treated lymphocytes.

It has been suggested that an intracellular alkalinization, resulting from stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange, is a necessary step and perhaps the signal leading to cellular proliferation in cells stimulated by mitogens. This hypothesis was tested by measuring the early stages of the proliferative cascade in cells where antiport activity was precluded by omission of Na+ or by the addition of potent amiloride analogs. To circumvent possible nonspecific effects due to long incubations under these conditions, an early response to mitogens, the increased level of c-fos mRNA, was monitored. In rat thymic lymphocytes, the increase in the level of c-fos RNA induced by the combination of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and ionomycin was unaffected by inhibition of the antiport with 5-(N-ethyl-N-propyl)amiloride. Increased c-fos RNA was also observed in the absence of Na+ and when alkalinization was prevented by means of nigericin. Similar results were obtained with phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human T lymphocytes. Moreover, although the lectin stimulated the antiport in these cells, an alkalinization was not observed, due to the concomitant occurrence of an acidifying process. It was concluded that the stimulation of the Na+/H+ antiport that accompanies the addition of mitogens is neither sufficient nor necessary for the initiation of cellular proliferation.

Induction of human B cell proliferation and differentiation by the combination of phorbol ester and ionomycin.

Phorbol esters and Ca2+ ionophores are known to mimic intracellular messengers involved in cell activation. We studied the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and ionomycin on tonsil and peripheral blood-derived B lymphocytes. We show that TPA and ionomycin are co-mitogenic and induce B lymphocyte differentiation. Although TPA in high concentrations is mitogenic to B lymphocytes by itself, submitogenic concentrations of TPA in combination with ionomycin trigger 50% of B lymphocytes to synthesize DNA. Stimulation of B lymphocytes with TPA plus ionomycin resulted in increased magnitude and a shift in the kinetics of c-fos and c-myc expression compared with either agent used alone. Activation markers such as the transferrin and interleukin 2 (IL2) receptors were markedly increased after 24 h incubation with TPA and ionomycin. In parallel to the rapid proliferative burst, we observed evidence for B lymphocyte differentiation with an increase in the number of cells expressing cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (Ig) and the disappearance of the B1 surface marker. Since the cells remained surface Ig+ and secreted only small quantities of Ig, our results suggest that the combination of TPA and ionomycin is a potent inducer of B cell proliferation and early differentiation; terminal differentiation to an Ig-secreting state, however, is not achieved.

Transmembrane ion fluxes during activation of human T lymphocytes: role of Ca2+, Na+/H+ exchange and phospholipid turnover.

The importance of increases in [Ca2+]i, stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange, and turnover of membrane phospholipids as signals for mitogen-induced activation of human T cells has been reviewed. In the presence of optimal concentrations of lectin and appropriately presented antigen, T cells increase [Ca2+]i, secrete IL2, express IL2 receptors and later divide. An increase in [Ca2+]i is critical for IL2 secretion in contrast to the requirements for IL2 receptor expression and IL2-IL2 receptor interaction. Treatment of T cells with TPA appears to bypass the requirement for an increase in [Ca2+]i for IL2 secretion and cell proliferation, indicating that various mitogens can trigger T cells through both [Ca2+]i-dependent and [Ca2+]i-independent pathways. Influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular milieu appears essential for the induced increase in [Ca2+]i associated with IL2 secretion. These increases in [Ca2+]i, which are correlated with the degree of lymphoproliferation and IL2 secretion, are sensitive to changes in membrane potential. The changes in [Ca2+]i are not mediated by the opening of voltage-gated K+ channels but the nature of the potential-sensitive event remains to be determined. The membrane potential effects may be mediated through the gating of a putative Ca2+ channel or by affecting the inward electrochemical Ca2+ gradient. It is clear that lymphoid cells of both T and B lineage possess a functional Na+/H+ antiport, which plays a central role in the regulation of pHi. It is also generally agreed that the antiport can be stimulated by mitogens, co-mitogens and by agents that induce differentiation. The meaning of this stimulation is not, however, entirely understood. It may be an essential signal or link in the series of events triggered by the binding of ligands to their membrane receptors. Alternatively, it may represent an ancillary event, intended to increase H+ ejection in anticipation of an increased metabolic rate. Finally, a third possible reason for the stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange could be to increase the osmotic content of the cells, inducing cell swelling that may be an early requirement for cellular growth. Indeed, amiloride-sensitive cellular swelling has been detected electronically following treatment of T lymphocytes with TPA (Grinstein et al. 1985a). PHA is a potent activator of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. In other cell types, receptors are coupled to phospholipase C by a G protein(s). However, the transducing mechanism in human peripheral blood lymphocytes does not appear to be a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein(s).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Volume regulation of natural killer cells under hypotonic stress: comparison with T and B cell subpopulations.

In response to hypotonic stress, human T and B cells vary in the ability to adjust their volume. Whereas T cells exhibit a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) under these conditions, B cells do not. We studied the ability of peripheral blood-derived natural killer (NK) cells to regulate their volume in this way. Percoll density gradient purified NK subpopulation showed variable RVD which suggested the presence of mixtures of regulatory and non-regulatory cells within these subgroups. Further purification by flow cytometry into Leu 7+ and Leu 11+ cells showed that these NK cells displayed RVD similar to thymocytes but distinct from B cells and more mature T cells. These data support the hypothesis that NK cells may be derived from T cell precursors which, upon differentiation to NK cells, retain the RVD characteristic of pre-T cells. This finding may also be useful in further characterizing neoplastic clones which display NK-like activity but phenotypic heterogeneity.