Molecular cloning and characterization of lysosomal sialic acid O-acetylesterase.

O-Acetylation and de-O-acetylation of sialic acids have been implicated in the regulation of a variety of biological phenomena, including endogenous lectin recognition, tumor antigenicity, virus binding, and complement activation. Applying a strategy designed to identify genes preferentially expressed in active sites of embryonic hematopoiesis, we isolated a novel cDNA from the pluripotent hematopoietic cell line FDCPmixA4 whose open reading frame contained sequences homologous to peptide fragments of a lysosomal sialic acid O-acetylesterase (Lse) previously purified from rat liver, but with no evident similarity to endoplasmic reticulum-derived acetylesterases. The expressed Lse protein exhibits sialic-acid O-acetylesterase activity that is not attributable to a typical serine esterase active site. lse expression is spatially and temporally restricted during embryogenesis, and its mRNA levels correlate with differences in O-acetylesterase activity described in adult tissues and blood cell types. Using interspecific backcross analysis, we further mapped the lse gene to the central region of mouse chromosome 9. This constitutes the first report on the molecular cloning of a sialic acid-specific O-acetylesterase in vertebrates and suggests novel roles for the 9-O-acetyl modification of sialic acids during the development and differentiation of mammalian organisms.

Induction of c-fos by an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody.

The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) or a monoclonal antibody to the human EGF receptor on c-fos and c-myc gene expression was examined in KB epidermoid carcinoma cells. EGF increased c-fos transcripts within 30 min and c-myc transcripts within 6-24 hours. The antibody transiently increased c-fos expression within 30 minutes, but did not alter expression of c-myc. Cycloheximide potentiated the c-fos induction by both EGF and antibody. C-fos induction by antibody was less consistent, and was of briefer duration and lesser intensity than the induction by EGF. Nuclear transcription of c-fos decreased in cells treated with EGF or antibody, indicating that c-fos induction by EGF or antibody resulted from post-transcriptional mechanisms.

Effects of epidermal growth factor on transferrin receptor phosphorylation and surface expression in malignant epithelial cells.

The transferrin (Tf) receptor is a major transmembrane protein which provides iron for normal and malignant cell growth. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been reported to rapidly and transiently alter the number of surface Tf receptors in normal and transformed epithelial cells. To investigate mechanisms of EGF-induced changes in surface Tf display, EGF effects on surface Tf receptors were compared in two cell lines which differ in their number of EGF receptors and growth responses to EGF. In cloned A431 cells with high receptor numbers which are growth-inhibited by EGF, EGF caused a 50% decrease in Tf receptor expression after 30 min. In contrast, EGF induced a rapid, transitory increase (within 5 min) in the number of surface Tf receptors on KB carcinoma cells which returned to basal levels by 15 min. The observed changes in Tf receptor display were due to altered receptor distribution and not changes in ligand affinity or total cellular transferrin receptor pools. Anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody blocked effects of EGF on transferrin receptor expression. Since the antibody is internalized and causes EGF receptor down-regulation, effects on transferrin receptor expression were independent of these events. EGF-induced alterations in Tf receptor display occurred even when cells were pretreated with colchicine, suggesting that changes in surface Tf binding were not mediated by cytoskeletal components. Na orthovanadate, which mimics some early cellular effects of EGF, duplicated EGF's effects on A431 Tf receptors, but had no effect on KB cells, suggesting these responses occur by differing mechanisms. To determine whether EGF caused changes in Tf receptor phosphorylation, 32P-labelled Tf receptors were immunoprecipitated after EGF treatment. After exposure to EGF, A431 cells showed no change in Tf phosphorylation, but KB cells showed a transient, 6-fold increase in transferrin receptor phosphorylation on serine residues. In both A431 and KB cells, phorbol ester (PMA) also increased phosphorylation on transferrin receptors, but had little effect on surface Tf receptor expression. In malignant cell lines, EGE induces rapid, variable changes in transferrin receptor expression and phosphorylation which differ from the effects of PMA. These early responses to EGF appear to differ with the cell type and correlate poorly with alterations in Tf receptor phosphorylation. These results suggest Tf receptor phosphorylation does not regulate Tf receptor display in all cells.

EGF induces cell cycle arrest of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells.

The human carcinoma cell line A431 is unusual in that physiologic concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibit proliferation. In the presence of 5-10 nM EGF proliferation of A431 cells is abruptly and markedly decreased compared to the untreated control cultures, with little loss of cell viability over a 4-day period. This study was initiated to examine how EGF affects the progression of A431 cells through the cell cycle. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA in EGF-treated cells reveals a marked change in the cell cycle distribution. The percentage of cells in late S/G2 increases and early S phase is nearly depleted. Since addition of the mitotic inhibitor vinblastine causes accumulation of cells in mitosis and prevents reentry of cells into G1, it is possible to distinguish between slow progression through G1 and G2 and blocks in those phases. When control cells, not treated with EGF, are exposed to vinblastine, the cells accumulate mitotic figures, as expected, and show progression into S, thus diminishing the number of cells in G1. In contrast, no mitotic figures are found among the EGF-treated cells in the presence or absence of vinblastine, and progression from G1 into S is not observed, as the number of cells in G1 remains constant. These results suggest that there are two EGF-induced blocks in cell cycle transversal; one is in late S and/or G2, blocking entry into mitosis, and the other is in G1, blocking entry into S phase. After 24 hours of EGF treatment, DNA synthesis is reduced to less than 10% compared to untreated controls as measured by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine or BrdU. In contrast, protein synthesis is inhibited by about twofold. Although inhibition of protein synthesis is less extensive, it occurs 6 hours prior to an equivalent inhibition of DNA synthesis. The rapid decrease in protein synthesis may result in the subsequent cell cycle arrest which occurs several hours later.

Mechanisms of growth inhibition by anti-transferrin receptor monoclonal antibodies.

In previous studies, an immunoglobulin A, anti-transferrin receptor antibody (42/6) inhibited growth of a variety of normal and malignant human hemopoietic cells. To determine its mechanism of growth inhibition, we compared effects of 42/6 and B3/25, an immunoglobulin G anti-transferrin receptor antibody which does not inhibit lymphocyte growth, on transferrin (TF) binding and uptake. As in previous studies, affinity constants of TF and anti-TF receptor antibodies for human TF receptors at 4 degrees C were similar, but the number of calculated binding sites was higher for the antibodies. Antibody B3/25 did not inhibit TF binding at either 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C. At 4 degrees C, antibody 42/6 inhibited TF binding to normal, mitogen-stimulated mononuclear cells. However, TF did not inhibit 42/6 binding, suggesting 42/6 inhibited TF binding by noncompetitive, possibly steric, mechanisms. When cells were simultaneously exposed to labeled TF and unlabeled anti-TF receptor antibodies at 37 degrees C, 42/6 inhibited TF binding only slightly. Initial uptake of antibodies and TF at 37 degrees C was rapid, but when mononuclear cells or HL60 cells were cultured with either 42/6 or B3/25 for 2 days, TF binding and immunoreactive TF receptor sites decreased. However, TF bound to cells cultured with B3/25 continued to enter the cell, whereas cells cultured with 42/6 would no longer take up bound TF. Studies using HL60 cells grown with soluble iron in lieu of TF showed that changes in TF binding sites and TF uptake were not secondary to growth inhibition. We conclude that incubation with both inhibitory (42/6) and noninhibitory (B3/25) anti-TF receptor antibodies results in decreased TF binding sites. However, exposure to 42/6 also inhibits TF uptake and causes growth inhibition by iron deprivation. Monoclonal antibodies to receptors transporting critical nutrient molecules, such as iron, may inhibit cell growth by blocking ligand access to the cell's interior.

Role of transferrin, Fe, and transferrin receptors in myeloid leukemia cell growth. Studies with an antitransferrin receptor monoclonal antibody.

In previous studies, antitransferrin receptor antibody 42/6 inhibited growth of normal granulocyte/macrophage progenitors and some malignant myeloid cells. In these studies, leukemia cell lines cultured without serum and fresh leukemia cells were used to investigate the roles of Fe, transferrin receptors, and transferrin in leukemia cell growth, and mechanisms of 42/6 inhibition and resistance. HL60 and KG-1 leukemia cells grown in serum-free medium were inhibited by 42/6. In contrast to results in fetal calf serum (FCS), soluble Fe (ferric nitriloacetate) reversed 42/6 growth inhibition of serum-free HL60 cells. When HL60 cells were adapted for growth in serum-free, transferrin-free medium, they became refractory to 42/6 growth inhibition. By using radiolabeled transferrin and 42/6, HL60 cells cultured in FCS and transferrin displayed similar quantities of transferrin receptors (29,000-30,000/cell) and similar Kd's (3.8-4.9 X 10(-9) M). Cells grown in transferrin-free medium showed a similar Kd (3.1 X 10(-9) M), but fewer transferrin binding sites (5,000/cell). Transferrin-independent cells contained a log higher concentration of intracellular ferritin. For both FCS and serum-free HL60 cells, calculated affinities for 42/6 were lower (5.7-10.0 X 10(-9) M), but the number of binding sites was three- to fourfold higher. To investigate further the relationship between receptor display and antibody inhibition in proliferating normal and malignant myeloid cells, simultaneous immunofluorescence was used to determine the cell cycle status of transferrin receptor-positive cells. Malignant cells in S + G2/M displayed approximately 50% of the amount of transferrin receptors detected in normal dividing colony-stimulating factor-stimulated marrow cells. Receptor display by dividing cells from two patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia was variable. When HL60 cells were exposed to dimethyl sulfoxide, transferrin receptor display decreased, and 42/6 growth inhibition was abrogated or greatly diminished. The presence of 42/6 did not prevent dimethyl sulfoxide-induced HL60 differentiation in serum-containing or serum-free cultures. We conclude that human leukemia cells require Fe for growth and that 42/6 inhibits transferrin-dependent cells by Fe deprivation. Some dividing normal and differentiating malignant cells display reduced transferrin receptors, and can also escape antibody inhibition. The increased ferritin levels and decreased transferrin receptors in transferrin-independent HL60 cells confirm the inverse relationship between cell ferritin content and transferrin receptor display. These studies indicate a critical role for Fe in leukemia cell growth and possible roles in cellular differentiation.

Inhibition of human lymphocyte proliferation by monoclonal antibody to transferrin receptor.

A monoclonal antibody, 42/6, which blocks the binding of transferrin to its receptor on the cell membrane, inhibits proliferation of human lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin. Anti-receptor antibody B3/25, which does not block transferrin binding, does not alter the mitogenic response. Addition of soluble iron, in the form of ferric nitrilotriacetic acid, results in partial reversal of inhibition. Lymphocytes in the quiescent phase of the cell cycle at the time of 42/6 antibody addition are unable to traverse S phase, whereas cells actively proliferating when antibody is added are sensitive to its inhibitory effects throughout all phases of the cell cycle. Inhibition is static rather than cidal, since it can be reversed by removal of antibody after up to 48 hr of exposure.

On the mechanism for formation of RNA . DNA complexes from lymphocytes.

Early intermediates in DNA synthesis by human lymphocytes were studied for the possible association of RNA with nascent DNA. Nucleic acid extracts from cells pulse-labeled with [3H] uridine contain RNA that is associated with DNA in Cs2SO4 equilibrium density gradients. The amount of RNA bound to DNA was greatly reduced by repeated denaturation and equilibrium centrifugation. An apparently similar complex between RNA and DNA was formed in reconstruction experiments in which purified [3H] uridine-labeled RNA was mixed with purified DNA. The association between RNA and DNA could be eliminated in the reconstruction experiments and greatly reduced in extracts from pulse-labeled cells by denaturation and equilibrium centrifugation in the presence of formaldehyde. These studies demonstrate that noncovalent bonding between RNA and DNA can account for most, and possibly all, of the RNA with density close to DNA in Cs2SO4 gradients of nascent DNA preparations. In addition, the results indicate that ribonucleotide, demonstrated by other methods to be covalently bound to nascent DNA, must constitute less than 1/5 of the total nucleotide in the molecule.