Both gamma delta T cells and NK cells inhibit the engraftment of xenogeneic rat bone marrow cells and the induction of xenograft tolerance in mice.

In murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation recipients, treatment of the hosts with a nonmyeloablative regimen, including depleting anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs, allows establishment of long-term mixed chimerism and donor-specific tolerance. However, in the xenogeneic rat-to-mouse combination, additional anti-Thy1.2 and anti-NK1.1 mAbs are required. We have now attempted to identify the xenoresistant mouse cell populations that are targeted by anti-NK1.1 and anti-Thy1.2 mAbs. C57BL/6 (B6) wild-type, B6 TCRbeta(-/-), and B6 TCRdelta(-/-) mice received anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs, followed by 3 Gy of whole body irradiation, 7 Gy of thymic irradiation, and transplantation of T cell-depleted rat bone marrow cells. Anti-NK1.1 and anti-Thy1.2 mAbs were additionally administered to some groups. Increased rat chimerism was observed in TCRdelta(-/-) mice treated with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, and anti-NK1.1 mAbs compared with similarly treated TCRbeta(-/-) mice. In TCRbeta(-/-) mice, but not in TCR delta(-/-) mice, donor chimerism was increased by treatment with anti-Thy1.2 mAb, indicating that CD4(-)CD8(-)TCRgammadelta(+)Thy1. 2(+)NK1.1(-) cells (gammadelta T cells) are involved in the rejection of rat marrow. In addition, chimerism was enhanced in both TCRbeta(-/-) and TCRdelta(-/-) mice treated with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, and anti-Thy1.2 mAbs by the addition of anti-NK1.1 mAb to the conditioning regimen. Donor-specific skin graft prolongation was enhanced by anti-Thy1.2 and anti-NK1.1 mAbs in TCRdelta(-/-) mice. Therefore, in addition to CD4 and CD8 T cells, gammadelta T cells and NK cells play a role in resisting engraftment of rat marrow and the induction of xenograft tolerance in mice.

Effects of abnormal-sterol accumulation on Ustilago maydis plasma membrane H+-ATPase stoichiometry and polypeptide pattern.

Accumulation of 14alpha-methylated sterols or delta8-sterols in Ustilago maydis affected three aspects of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. Proton transport was reduced in delta8-sterol-accumulating samples, due to an altered H+/ATP stoichiometry. ATP hydrolytic activity was increased, but no direct correlation with the extent or type of abnormal sterol accumulated could be drawn. Finally, Western blot analysis with antibodies against yeast PMA1 revealed a second lighter band (99-kDa band) in all samples from abnormal-sterol-accumulating sporidia. The conclusions are that the 99-kDa band and a reduced stoichiometry are directly linked to the presence of abnormal sterols, while changes in hydrolytic activity are linked only indirectly.

Purification of pea nodule symbiosomes using an aqueous polymer two-phase system.

Symbiosomes were obtained from mature pea (Pisum sativum cv. Argona) root nodules infected with Rhizobium leguminosarum strain (biov. viciae 3841) and purified using an aqueous polymer two-phase system (APS). The APS consists of a mixture of polymers, usually dextran T500 and poly(ethylene glycol) 3350, prepared as aqueous solutions on a weight per weight basis, where each fraction distributes according to their surface characteristics. Results of ATPase activity, cytochrome c oxidase activity, glucan synthase II activity, NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase activity, NO3(-)-sensitive ATPase activity, transport of [14C]malate vs. [14C]glutamate and MAC 57 antigen analysis showed that the APS method provided intact symbiosomes with low bacteroid, plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum and/or mitochondria contamination. No complicated equipment is needed and the method was simple and fast, compared with other purification techniques.

Ca(2+)-ATPase-driven calcium accumulation in Ustilago maydis plasma membrane vesicles.

Ca2+ transport has been measured across plasma membrane vesicles isolated from cells of Ustilago maydis. This transport was found to be ATP- (or to a lesser extent GTP) and Mg(2+)-dependent. Inconsistent release of Ca2+ from intact vesicles was obtained using the calcium ionophore A23187. However, Ca2+ was released by Triton X-100 in a concentration-dependent manner. Transport was inhibited by vanadate (> 50%) and erythrosin B (about 50%), I50 being about 10 microM for both inhibitors. In the presence of the protonophores CCCP or gramicidin, partial inhibition of Ca2+ transport (about 20%) was observed, but the Ca(2+)-channel blockers, nifedipine, diltiazem and verapamil had no effect, although the latter inhibited proton transport. The results indicate that Ca2+ transport in U. maydis is regulated by a P-type ATPase with similar properties to that found in higher plants.

Lipid composition and proton transport in Penicillium cyclopium and Ustilago maydis plasma membrane vesicles isolated by two-phase partitioning.

Plasma membranes have been isolated and purified from two species of fungi, Penicillium cyclopium and Ustilago maydis, using a two-phase aqueous polymer technique. The membranes were characterised using marker enzyme assays (e.g., vanadate-sensitive (Mg(2+)-K+)-ATPase and glucan synthetase II) and lipid composition (sterol enrichment, increased phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine ratio, and the absence of diphosphatidylglycerol). The proton-pumping activities of the plasma membrane-bound H(+)-ATPases from these species were compared. H(+)-ATPase activity was found to be greater in U. maydis than in P. cyclopium, which was attributed to differences in orientation of the plasma membrane vesicles. There was evidence to suggest the presence of redox chain activity in the plasma membranes of both species.