Differentiation-linked leukemogenesis in lymphocytes.

Most human lymphoid malignancies preserve a pattern of gene expression reflecting their proliferative activity and the development level of clonal expansion and maturation arrest. Characteristics of leukemia and other cancer cells frequently considered to reflect aberrant differentiation may more often reflect clonal selection of cell types that are normally infrequent and transitory. The differentiation status of progenitor or mature lymphoid cells influences which genetic elements are at risk of being exploited, via mutation, recombination, or deletion, for clonal advantage. These alterations may frequently arise spontaneously as a consequence of the unique developmental and functional programs of lymphoid cells and have as a major phenotypic consequence the stabilization of transitory cellular phenotypes.

Lymphocyte antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus: studies with heterologous antisera.

Rabbit antisera were produced against pooled living lymphocytes from 25 patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lymphocytes collected at plasmapheresis or venipuncture were frozen in liquid nitrogen and later coated with rabbit antibody to normal human tonsils and normal thymocytes immediately before intravenous immunization of rabbits. Antisera were subsequently extensively absorbed with normal human tonsillar cells, thymocytes, peripheral blood lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and leukocytes from patients with myelogeneous and lymphatic leukemia until residual base-line immunofluorescent staining of normal human lymphocytes using F(ab)2' of whole antisera averaged less than 5%. Absorbed pepsin-digested antisera detected membrane antigens which were markedly increased (mean 32%) on lymphocytes from patients with active SLE (P less than 0.05). Membrane antigens reacting with absorbed, pepsin-digested antisera were present on both T and B cells but, in most instances, predominated on T cells. Control observations using absorbed pepsin-digested antisera to normal human lymphocytes or peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed no similar specificity. SLE patients treated with moderate or high dose corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents (cytoxan or azathioprine) appeared to lose lymphocyte antigens detected by these reagents. Control studies with other connective tissue disease patients, miscellaneous hospitalized subjects, or normal controls showed low levels of reactivity (2-5%). SLE lymphocyte membrane antigens uniquely increased during active disease; this may represent neoantigens or alterations associated with the disease itself.

A non-T, non-B human leukemia cell line (NALM-1): establishment of the cell line and presence of leukemia-associated antigens.

A permanent hematopoietic cell line, designated NALM-1, was established from the peripheral blood of a patient who was in blastic crisis of Ph1-positive chronic myleocytic leukemia. By means of a panel of specific xenoantisera, the NALM-1 cells were found to express a specific antigen of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and blast leukemia-associated antigen. The cells exhibited no cell-surface receptors for sheep erythrocytes, IgG, or complement; neither cell-surface immunoglobulins nor cytoplasmic immunoglobulin were observed. Furthermore, normal T-cell or B-cell antigens, detectable by the antisera used in this study, were not found in the NALM-1 line.

Analysis of the clinical and biological significance of lymphoid phenotypes in acute leukemia.

Analysis of leukemic cell phenotypes using cell surface antigens and various enzymes indicates that acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a biologically heterogeneous disease consisting of four major subclasses with additional subsets existing within these subclasses. These different types of ALL appear to reflect sequential stages of early lymphocyte ontogeny. There is a strong association between cell phenotype and first remission duration in ALL (p trend less than 0.0001) and an equally strong correlation between remission duration and white blood cell count at presentation. If common ALL and thymic ALL (T-ALL) are compared after adjustment of white blood cell counts, then the prognostic differences between these two major subclasses almost disappear (p = 0.38). It is suggested, therefore, that an immunological (and enzymatic) phenotype of ALL subclasses may not be an independent correlate of prognosis but nevertheless is linked to other differentiation-linked features, especially growth rate and sites of clonal expansion (e.g., marrow versus thymus), which critically influence the size of the clonogenic leukemic population and its associated evolutionary status with respect to drug resistant mutants at the time of diagnosis and introduction of therapy. An extensive library of monoclonal antibodies has been used to further define the phenotypic heterogeneity of T-and non-T All. Several of the antigenic structures identified by these monoclonal antibodies have been isolated and characterized. T-ALL can be dissected into several subsets corresponding to stages of intrathymic differentiation. Non-T ALL (null-ALL, common ALL, and B-ALL) all have a phenotype indicative of B-lineage affiliation indicating that "non-T, non-B" ALL may originate from B-cell precursors in bone marrow. A cell type is identified in normal bone marrow which has the same identical monoclonal antibody-defined phenotype as common ALL and may provide the target cell for this disease.

Restricted oncogenicity of BCR/ABL p190 in transgenic mice.

A chimeric BCR/ABL oncogene encoding the p190 protein has been introduced into the mouse germline using microinjection of one-cell fertilized eggs. Founder and progeny transgenic animals, when becoming ill, were found to develop lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma which was transplantable to compatible recipients. Lymphoblasts were arrested at the pre-B stage of development. Expression of BCR/ABL was not detected in peripheral blood during the early stages of leukemia but became evident as the disease progressed. However, the transgene was expressed early in development in bone marrow and was also transcribed in nonhematopoietic tissues although this did not result in tumorigenesis. These results strongly suggest that the oncogenicity of BCR/ABL is limited to hematopoietic cells, including pre-B cells or their progenitors.

A lack of a functional NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase allele is selectively associated with pediatric leukemias that have MLL fusions. United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study Investigators.

Rearrangements and fusion of the MLL gene with various alternative partner genes occur in approximately 80% of infant leukemias and are acquired during fetal hemopoiesis in utero. Similar MLL gene recombinants also occur in topoisomerase II-inhibiting drug-induced leukemias. These data have led to the suggestion that some infant leukemia may arise via transplacental fetal exposures during pregnancy to substances that form cleavable complexes with topoisomerase II and induce illegitimate recombination of the MLL gene. A structural feature shared by many topoisomerase II-inhibiting drugs and other chemicals is the quinone moiety. We assayed, by PCR-RFLP, for a polymorphism in an enzyme that detoxifies quinones, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), in a series (n = 36) of infant leukemias with MLL rearrangements versus unselected cord blood controls (n = 100). MLL-rearranged leukemias were more likely to have genotypes with low NQO1 function (heterozygous CT or homozygous TT at nucleotide 609) than controls (odds ratio, 2.5; P = 0.015). In contrast, no significant allele bias was seen in other groups of pediatric leukemias with TEL-AML1 fusions (n = 50) or hyperdiploidy (n = 29). In the subset of infant leukemias that had MLL-AF4 fusion genes (n = 21), the bias increase in low or null function NQO1 genotypes was more pronounced (odds ratio, 8.12; P = 0.00013). These data support the idea of a novel causal mechanism in infant leukemia involving genotoxic exposure in utero and modulation of impact on a selective target gene by an inherited allele encoding a rate-limiting step in a carcinogen detoxification pathway.

Transplacental chemical exposure and risk of infant leukemia with MLL gene fusion.

Infant acute leukemia (IAL) frequently involves breakage and recombination of the MLL gene with one of several potential partner genes. These gene fusions arise in utero and are similar to those found in leukemias secondary to chemotherapy with inhibitors of topoisomerase II (topo-II). This has led to the hypothesis that in utero exposures to chemicals may cause IAL via an effect on topo-II. We report a pilot case-control study of IAL across different countries and ethnic groups. Cases (n = 136) were population-based in most centers. Controls (n = 266) were selected from inpatients and outpatients at hospitals serving the same populations. MLL rearrangement status was derived by Southern blot analysis, and maternal exposure data were obtained by interviews using a structured questionnaire. Apart from the use of cigarettes and alcohol, very few mothers reported exposure to known topo-II inhibitors. Significant case-control differences were apparent for ingestion of several groups of drugs, including herbal medicines and drugs classified as "DNA-damaging," and for exposure to pesticides with the last two being largely attributable, respectively, to one nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, dipyrone, and mosquitocidals (including Baygon). Elevated odds ratios were observed for MLL+ve (but not MLL-ve) leukemias (2.31 for DNA-damaging drugs, P = 0.03; 5.84 for dipyrone, P = 0.001; and 9.68 for mosquitocidals, P = 0.003). Although it is unclear at present whether these particular exposures operate via an effect on topo-II, the data suggest that specific chemical exposures of the fetus during pregnancy may cause MLL gene fusions. Given the widespread use of dipyrone, Baygon, and other carbamate-based insecticides in certain settings, confirmation of these apparent associations is urgently required.

Association of the human type C retrovirus with a subset of adult T-cell cancers.

To determine whether the human T-cell lymphoma-leukemia virus (HTLV) is associated with particular cancers, patient sera were surveyed for HTLV-specific antibodies. An association was seen with aggressive cancers of mature T-cells, specifically Japanese adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and T-cell lymphosarcoma cell leukemia (TLCL), a similar cancer of Caribbean blacks. Ninety to 100% of these patients possessed HTLV-specific antibody. Forty-seven and 20% of relatives of ATL and TLCL patients, respectively, and 12 and 4% of healthy donors from ATL and TLCL endemic areas were also antibody positive. Visceral organ involvement, hypercalcemia, and skin manifestation, features of ATL and TLCL, were often seen in other antibody-positive patients. Childhood cancers, most cutaneous T-cell and all non-T-cell leukemias and lymphomas, myeloid leukemias, Hodgkin's disease, and solid tumors were not associated with HTLV. Healthy United States donors and European patients with non-malignant diseases were antibody negative. HTLV is thus associated with a subtype of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma, clustered in viral endemic areas, with apparent racial and geographic predilection.

ts BCR-ABL kinase activation confers increased resistance to genotoxic damage via cell cycle block.

Using a temperature-sensitive mutant of the p210 BCR-ABL gene, transfected into a growth factor-dependent cell line (BaF3), we show that transient BCR-ABL kinase expression increases single cell and clonogenic resistance to apoptosis arising from genotoxic damage induced by ionizing radiation and VP-16/etoposide. This effect is achieved in the absence of any detectable changes in the levels of BCL-2, BAX or BCL-x proteins and is independent of proliferative, MAP kinase-dependent effects of BCR-ABL kinase. In contrast to parental cells that transiently arrest in G2 and then apoptose, p210 BaF3 cells show a pronounced and sustained G2 arrest following radiation coupled with enhanced phosphorylation of cdc2. A cell cycle block in early M phase induced by the mitotic spindle poison, nocodazole, does not provide protection from apoptosis. Reversal of G2 arrest by caffeine abolishes the protective effect of BCR-ABL kinase. These data provide further insight into the transforming properties of BCR-ABL and are relevant to the clinical intransigence of Ph-positive leukaemias.

An E mu-BCL-2 transgene facilitates leukaemogenesis by ionizing radiation.

Clonogenic murine B cell precursors are normally ultrasensitive to apoptosis following genotoxic exposure in vitro but can be protected by expression of an E mu-BCL-2 transgene. Such exposures are likely to be mutagenic. This in turn suggests that a level of in vivo genotoxic exposure that usually has minimal pathological consequences might become leukaemogenic when damaged cells fail to abort by apoptosis. If this were to be the case, then the cell type that becomes leukaemic and the chromosomal/molecular changes that occur would also be of considerable interest. We tested this possibility by exposing E mu-BCL-2 and wild-type mice of differing ages to a single dose of X-irradiation of 1-4 Gy. Young (approximately 4-6 weeks) transgenic mice developed leukaemia at a high rate following exposure to 2 Gy but adult mice (4-6 months) did not. Exposure to 4 Gy produced leukaemia in both young and adult transgenic mice but at a higher frequency in the former. Leukaemic cell populations showed clonal rearrangements of the IGH gene but in most cases analysed had immunophenotypic features of an early B lympho-myeloid progenitor population which has not previously been recorded in radiation leukaemogenesis. Molecular cytogenetic analysis of leukaemic cells by banded karyotype and FISH revealed a consistent double abnormality: trisomy 15 plus an interstitial deletion of chromosome 4 that was confirmed by LOH analysis.

Clonal characteristics of acute lymphoblastic cells derived from BCR/ABL p190 transgenic mice.

The clonal and immunophenotypic characteristics of blood leukemic cells from BCR/ABL p190 transgenic mice were investigated. All cell populations evaluated in vivo and in vitro had B-lymphocyte progenitor immunophenotypes. Immunoglobulin (JH) rearrangement patterns provided evidence for clonal diversification at different sites in vivo. Multiple clones were established in vitro from two of these mice (nos. 730 and 753). These cells expressed BCR/ABL p190 protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and were highly malignant on transfer to secondary recipients. Cells independently cloned in vitro shared identical immunophenotypes and clonal IgH rearrangements, but these were distinct from those of the dominant clones in the mouse from which they were derived. Nevertheless, in vitro clones from mouse no. 753 had an abnormal karyotype (chromosome 14 trisomy) in common with the dominant clone in blood, providing evidence for a hierarchy or clonal selection in vivo and in vitro. Two sets of in vitro clones proliferated independently of exogenous growth factors and stroma and released autocrine interleukin 7 growth factor activity. These data provide evidence for rapid divergent clonal evolution and selection of B-cell progenitors initiated by BCR/ABL p190, followed by other, secondary genetic events mirroring similar changes in the equivalent, highly malignant human leukemia Philadelphia (Ph)-positive/B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Studies on the glycolipids of sheep thymus and of normal and concanavalin A-stimulated sheep peripheral lymphocytes.

The neutral glycolipids and gangliosides of sheep thymus and of sheep peripheral lymphocytes were compared. The patterns of both of these major classes of glycolipids were more complex in thymus than in the lymphocytes. The incorporation of radioactivity from D-[1-14C]galactose into the individual glycolipids of control and concanavalin A-stimulated sheep peripheral lymphocytes was also studied. A marked enhancement of incorporation into trihexosylceramide and an alteration of the pattern of incorporation into gangliosides were noted in the mitogen-treated cells. The results suggest that significant alterations of glycolipid composition and metabolism may occur during at least certain stages of lymphocyte differentiation.

Biochemical characterisation of leukaemia-associated antigen p24 defined by the monoclonal antibody BA-2.

The leukaemia-associated cell surface antigen p24/BA-2 is a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 24,000. Treatment with glycosidases or exposure of cells to tunicamycin failed to show any change in the molecular weight of the antigen when examined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, it failed to bind to lectin affinity columns of concanavalin A, lentil lectin or ricinus communis lectin. This is consistent with the absence of N-asparagine linked oligosaccharide chains on the antigen. Pulse-chase labelling of protein p24 shows a post-translational modification resulting in a molecular weight increase of approx. 500-1000. Alkaline treatment resulted in a decrease in molecular weight of approximately the same amount, suggesting that p24 contain some O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide. Protein p24 has a basic pI of 7.3 which is unchanged after neuraminidase treatment. Protein P24/Ba-2 cannot be labelled by either the lipophilic photoactivatable nitrene reagent, hexanoyldiiodo-N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)tyramine, or with [32P]phosphate. This suggests that the molecule is non-integral in nature and that it does not form an intimate association with the lipid matrix. Identical molecular weights, when reduced and non-reduced antigens were compared, suggest that it contains no internal disulphide linkages and failure to detect any other band on gradient gel SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from 5-15% suggests that is is not strongly associated with any other structure.

A computer program for interpreting immunophenotypic data as an aid to the diagnosis of leukemia.

A computer program has been developed for interpreting the immunophenotypic data obtained in cases of leukemia. It has been designed as a logic program, and its reasoning is based entirely on that used by one experienced immunologist. For each case the program gives a conclusion (qualified if necessary), a summary of the underlying reasoning, and suggestions for any further investigations that may be of benefit. Its performance has been considered acceptable for every one of 400 past cases, and these include various uncommon and atypical conditions.

Ionising radiation and leukaemia potential risks: review based on the workshop held during the 10th Symposium on Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis and Treatment of Leukemia and Lymphomas at Hamburg, Germany on 5 July 1997.

Unexplained clusters of childhood leukaemia have generated concern that they may be causally related to environmental exposure to ionising radiation. The workshop provides in-depth examination of the aetiology of childhood leukaemia, patterns of clustering exhibited by cases and the influence of exposure to ionising radiation. Special attention has been focussed on the EUROCLUS study of clustering of childhood leukaemia and monitoring of populations exposed to contamination following the Chernobyl accident. There is insufficient evidence to conclude that environmental ionising radiation exposure is a causative agent for small clusters such as that reported in the vicinity of the Krümmel nuclear facility

An infectious etiology for common acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood?

Childhood leukemia is a biologically and clinically diverse disease and is likely to arise via a number of etiological pathways. The common, B-cell precursor, form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cALL) accounts for the peak of childhood leukemia at 2-5 years of age. Recent epidemiological data, reviewed here, indicate that risk of cALL is increased by higher socio-economic status, isolation, and other community characteristics suggestive of abnormal patterns of infection during infancy. These data are compatible with the emerging concept that cALL may be a rare response to common infection(s).

The hemopoietic stem cell antigen, CD34, is encoded by a gene located on chromosome 1.

Using Southern blotting to analyze DNA from a set of human-rodent hybrids, we have mapped the CD34 gene to chromosome 1q.

Rapid positive selection of CD34+ cells using magnetic microspheres coated with monoclonal antibody QBEND/10 linked via a cleavable disulphide bond.

Positive selection of CD34+ cells has applications in diagnostic pathology, in peripheral blood and bone marrow transplantation, and in studies on the function and regulation of primitive haemopoietic stem cells. Antibody-coated magnetic microspheres (dynabeads) can be used to isolate these cells by positive selection procedures. However, the advantages of using dynabeads in some positive selection protocols are compromised by the retention of the beads on the cells. We present a protocol which allows the rapid chemical release of the beads from positively sorted cells. The murine immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 CD34 antibody, QBEND/10, was immobilised onto dynabeads as part of a three-layered immune complex: QBEND/10 was attached to F(ab')2 anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody fragments, which were immunologically bound to a mouse IgG1 myeloma protein. The myeloma protein covalently bonded the triplex to the beads. Thus, disulphide bonds in the hinge region of the F(ab')2 could be reduced with 10 microM dithiothreitol and CD34+ cells released within 20 min. Purified cells can be re-phenotyped by multiple markers and subsets identified. Purity of 97%, recovery of > 50%, and viability over 90% of the CD34+ cells was readily achieved. Furthermore, granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells were retained in the positive fraction. This methodology can be used to purify other cell types, including T and B lymphocytes.

Structural and partial amino acid sequence analysis of the human hemopoietic progenitor cell antigen CD34.

Monoclonal antibodies of the CD34 class all recognize a monomeric cell surface antigen of approximately Mr 110,000 which is selectively expressed on human hemopoietic progenitor cells. This structure can be readily surface-labeled with [125I]actoperoxidase and by periodate-[3H]borohydride, but it labels only weakly with [35S]methionine, [35Sl]cysteine, 3H-amino acids, or 3H-mannose, even after prolonged labeling periods. However, the antigen is more efficiently labeled by [3H]glucosamine. Lectin binding studies, sensitivity to certain glycosidases, and gel filtration analysis of glycans released by alkaline hydrolysis indicate that this glycoprotein contains several complex-type N-linked glycans as well as several highly sialylated O-linked glycans. Western blotting experiments show that various CD34 antibodies fail to efficiently detect desialylated and/or de-N-glycosylated forms of the antigen. Experiments involving the use of tunicamycin, together with metabolic labeling studies, strongly suggest that this structure "turns over" very slowly in vivo. The CD34 antigen is not detectably labeled by 32P-phosphate in vivo, nor are immune complexes containing it associated with phosphokinase activity in vitro. Sequential immunoprecipitation and Western blotting studies indicate that this antigen is not a member of the leukosialin/sialophorin family despite the fact that these molecules share several structural similarities. Partial amino acid analysis of highly purified CD34 antigen revealed no significant sequence similarity with any previously described structures.

Molecular lesion in chronic granulocytic leukemia is highly conserved despite ethnic and geographical variation.

Leukemic cell DNA from patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic granulocytic leukemia in the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and South Africa and of diverse ethnic origins all have identifiable molecular rearrangements of the breakpoint cluster region on chromosome 22 band q11 when screened with an appropriate DNA probe. This result reinforces the highly conserved nature of the molecular lesion in chronic granulocytic leukemia and its suitability as a diagnostic marker for the disease. Since the assay can be performed by sample referral on relatively small numbers of nondividing frozen or dead cells, it is ideally suited for large scale epidemiological and clinical studies, particularly in developing countries where karyotyping services are not readily available.