A community cluster of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus exhibiting cross-resistance to oseltamivir and peramivir in Japan, November to December 2013.

Six influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were detected in Sapporo, Japan, between November and December 2013. All six viruses possessed an H275Y substitution in the neuraminidase protein, which confers cross-resistance to oseltamivir and peramivir. No epidemiological link among the six cases could be identified; none of them had received neuraminidase inhibitors before specimen collection. The haemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the six viruses were closely related to one another, suggesting clonal spread of a single resistant virus.

Genetic analysis of novel avian A(H7N9) influenza viruses isolated from patients in China, February to April 2013.

Novel influenza viruses of the H7N9 subtype have infected 33 and killed nine people in China as of 10 April 2013. Their haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase genes probably originated from Eurasian avian influenza viruses; the remaining genes are closely related to avian H9N2 influenza viruses. Several characteristic amino acid changes in HA and the PB2 RNA polymerase subunit probably facilitate binding to human-type receptors and efficient replication in mammals, respectively, highlighting the pandemic potential of the novel viruses.

Characterization of antigenically and genetically similar influenza C viruses isolated in Japan during the 1999-2000 season.

Between October 1999 and May 2000, a total of 28 strains of influenza C virus were isolated in four Japanese prefectures: Yamagata, Miyagi, Saitama and Hiroshima. Antigenic analysis showed that the 28 isolates were divided into three distinct antigenic groups, and viruses belonging to different antigenic groups were co-circulating in each of the four prefectures. Phylogenetic analysis of the seven protein genes demonstrated that the viruses having a similar genome composition spread in various areas of Japan during the same period. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the influenza C viruses isolated in various areas of the world between the 1970s and 1980s were closely related to the contemporary Japanese viruses in all gene segments. These observations suggest that the influenza C viruses cause epidemics in some communities during the same season and that antigenically and genetically similar influenza C viruses spread throughout Japan and may be circulating worldwide.

Biochemical properties of the P42 protein encoded by RNA segment 6 of influenza C virus.

P42, encoded by a colinear transcript of Influenza C virus RNA segment 6 (M gene), is an integral membrane protein which is cleaved by signal peptidase to generate M1' and CM2 composed of N-terminal 259 amino acids and C-terminal 115 amino acids, respectively. Herein, the biochemical features of P42 were investigated. N-glycosylated form of P42, designated P44, forms disulphide-linked dimers and tetramers. P44 is transported to the Golgi apparatus, but not to the trans-Golgi, since P44 is completely sensitive to endoglycosidase H. P44 and P42 are unstable irrespective of N-glycosylation or oligomerization. 26S proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin prevented the degradation of P42 as well as M1', but not that of P44 efficiently, suggesting that P44 is degraded by another protease besides the 26S proteasome.

Detection of ion channel activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing Influenza C virus CM2 protein.

To demonstrate the ion channel activity of Influenza C virus CM2, we expressed this protein in oocytes of Xenopus laevis and measured whole cell currents by a two-electrode voltage-clamp method. It was found that the inward currents were induced upon hyperpolarizing the oocyte membranes. The amplitude of the currents increased slowly with time during the hyperpolarizing pulse, and the current-voltage relationship was nonlinear, having a slope that increased with the level of hyperpolarization. These results suggest strongly that CM2 forms a voltage-activated ion channel. The current amplitude was increased to a small extent by lowering the external pH. We also found that the anti-influenza A virus drug amantadine hydrochloride failed to attenuate the inward currents of CM2-expressing oocytes induced by hyperpolarization. The reversal voltage of tail currents was affected by the reduction of [Cl-], but neither by the change of [Na+] nor by that of [K+]. Furthermore, the amplitude of the inward currents was decreased by an anion channel blocker. The data presented here suggest that CM2 protein forms a voltage-activated ion channel permeable to chloride ion.

Location of a linear epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody S16 on the hemagglutinin-esterase glycoprotein of influenza C virus.

We reported previously that monoclonal antibody S16, which had been raised against the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoprotein of influenza C/Ann Arbor/1/50 (AA/50) virus, recognizes a linear epitope present on the HE molecules of all influenza C viruses examined except for viruses belonging to a lineage represented by Aichi/1/81 (AI/81). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of HE between viruses on the AI/81-related lineage and those on the others suggests that the epitope recognized by S16 is located in a region containing amino acid residue 403 and that a change from Glu to Lys at this position causes the loss of reactivity with the antibody. To prove it, the wild type (WT) HEs of AA/50 and AI/81 as well as their mutants with an amino acid substitution at residue 403 were expressed in CV-1 cells from the recombinant simian virus 40 (SV40) and tested for reactivity with S16 by immunoprecipitation. The results showed that the AA/50 virus WT and AI/81 virus mutant HEs (both having Glu at residue 403) were reactive with S16 whereas the AI/81 virus WT and AA/50 virus mutant HEs (both having Lys at residue 403) were not. Furthermore, we examined the reactivity of S16 with two synthetic peptides (corresponding to residues 397-409) that possess Glu and Lys at position 403, respectively, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results demonstrated that the former peptide but not the latter was reactive with S16. These observations support strongly the notion described above. During this study it was also found that S16 cross-reacts with large T antigen of SV40.

Influenza C virus CM2 protein is produced from a 374-amino-acid protein (P42) by signal peptidase cleavage.

Although unspliced mRNA from influenza C virus RNA segment 6 (M gene) has a single open reading frame capable of encoding a 374-amino-acid protein (Mr, 42,000), the major polypeptide synthesized from this mRNA species is the CM2 protein, with an Mr of 18,000. The present study was performed to investigate the mechanism by which CM2 is generated from the unspliced mRNA. It was reported previously that the 374-amino-acid protein (P42) is an integral membrane protein having two internal hydrophobic domains, one of which (residues 241 to 252) is followed by two sequences (252 Ile-Thr-Ser and 257 Ala-Ser-Ala) favorable for cleavage by signal peptidase. To examine the possibility that P42 is cleaved by signal peptidase after Ser residue 254 or Ala residue 259 to yield CM2, we constructed three mutated M gene cDNAs in which either or both of the two sequences were eliminated and tested their ability to synthesize CM2 in the transfected COS cells. The results showed that CM2 synthesis was blocked completely when the second recognition motif for signal peptidase was removed. It was also found that when the mRNA transcript of the wild-type M gene was translated in vitro, P42, but not CM2, was synthesized in the absence of dog pancreas microsomal membranes, whereas CM2, in addition to a polypeptide (designated M1') slightly larger than matrix protein (M1), was synthesized in the presence of microsomes. When the same experiment was done with the transcript of the mutated M gene in which the second recognition motif was removed, synthesis of CM2 could not be seen, even in the presence of microsomes. From these results, we conclude that cleavage of P42 by signal peptidase after Ala residue 259 produces CM2, composed of the C-terminal 115 amino acids, in addition to M1', composed of the N-terminal 259 amino acids.

Mutual education between hematopoietic cells and bone marrow stromal cells through direct cell-to-cell contact: factors that determine the growth of bone marrow stroma-dependent leukemic (HB-1) cells.

A stroma-dependent cell line (HB-1) was established from myelogenous leukemic cells of CBA/N mouse. Characterization of the cells showed that HB-1 proliferated on hematopoietic supportive stromal cells (MS-10), but did not survive or proliferate on hematopoietic nonsupportive cells (MS-K). Direct contact between HB-1 and MS-10 appears to be necessary for HB-1 to proliferate on MS-10. We found that interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) produced by MS-10 plays a major role in the survival and proliferation of HB-1. IL-11 did not support the proliferation of HB-1 cells by itself, but enhanced the proliferation of HB-1 cells in the presence of IL-1alpha. The expression of IL-1alpha and IL-11 was induced in MS-10 by the direct contact with HB-1 cells, and the expression of IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI) and interleukin-11 receptor (IL-11R) was induced in HB-1 cells by the attachment of the cells to MS-10. These findings show the existence of two-way interactions between HB-1 and MS-10.

Destruction of hematopoietic microenvironment by cytotoxic T cells.

Coculture of cytotoxic T cells (STIL-3 C5) derived from L8313 leukemic mice with hematopoietic supportive stromal cells (MS-5) resulted in the detachment of MS-5 cells from the culture dish, whereas helper T cells (STIL-3 DF) did not induce this detachment. The response of bone marrow (BM) adherent cells to the same treatment was similar to that of MS-5 cells. The detached cells were unable to proliferate further, and genomic DNA of these cells showed fragmentation, suggesting that hematopoietic stromal cells died of apoptosis. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that STIL-3 C5 cells, but not STIL-3 DF cells expressed perforin, granzyme A & B, and Fas ligand. Fas was expressed in MS-5, BM adherent cells, MS-K and NIH/3T3 cells, which do not support hematopoiesis. These data suggest that the aforementioned factors mediate induction of apoptosis in MS-5 cells induced by direct cell-to-cell interaction with STIL-3 C5. This may explain the mechanism responsible for the destruction of the hematopoietic microenvironment by cytotoxic T cells in L8313 leukemia, from which STIL-3 cells are derived; it also suggests that destruction of hematopoietic tissue may be caused by leukemic cytotoxic T cells in some cases of leukemia.

Strain specific production of a negative regulator of IL-3 (NIL-3): difference in the negative feedback mechanism of hemopoiesis among mouse strains.

The producing cells of the negative regulator of interleukin-3 (NIL-3) were investigated. The 5-fluorouracil-treated bone marrow cells did not produce NIL-3. The bone marrow cells of stem cell-depleted W/WV mouse did not produce the NIL-3, either. The production of NIL-3 was different among mouse strains. Mice of C3H/HeN, A/J and ICR strains produced NIL-3, but the C57BL/6 mice did not produce NIL-3. These results indicate that the negative feedback mechanism of hemopoiesis is different among mouse strains. In the present study, we could not definitely identify the NIL-3 producing cells, although the present results are suggestive that the stem cells in cycle are a NIL-3 producer. Instead, we found that hemopoietic regulatory mechanisms might be different among mouse strains, especially in C57BL/6 mice.

Gene expression of lipid binding protein transferred the ability of specific attachment of hemopoietic cells to non-supportive stromal cell line, MS-K.

In order to identify the cDNAs responsible for hemopoietic supportive activity, expression of mRNAs in hemopoietic supportive bone marrow stromal cells (MS-5) and non-supportive stromal cells (MS-K) were compared by the cDNA subtraction method. A subtracted MS-5-cDNA library, which contains cDNA clones corresponding to mRNAs present in MS-5 cells but not in MS-K cells, was constructed. Screening of subtracted MS-5-cDNA library resulted in the isolation of some clones. Two of them, lipid binding protein (LBP) and haptoglobin (Hp), were expressed specifically in MS-5 cells but not in MS-K cells. The genes of LBP and Hp were subcloned into mammalian expression vector and transfected into hemopoietic non-supportive stromal cells line, MS-K. Then LBP-expressing stable transformants (MS-K-LBP) and Hp-expressing transformants (MS-K-Hp) were cloned. A rosette formation assay was carried out to investigate whether or not the LBP and Hp cause MS-K cells to adhere to hemopoietic cells. MS-K-LBP formed rosettes with hemopoietic cells as MS-5 cells, although the MS-K-Hp and normal MS-K cells did not form rosettes. These data indicate that LBP expressed in hemopoietic supportive stromal cells is partly responsible for the adhesion of hemopoietic stem cells to stromal cells.

Separate control of the survival, the self-renewal and the differentiation of hemopoietic stem cells.

Hemopoietic stem cells adhere to hemopoietic supportive (MS-5) cells, but not to non-supportive (MS-K) cells. Although a soluble stem cell factor (SCF) was produced by both of these cell lines, little activity was detectable in the supernatant from the cultures of either of these cells, indicating that SCF might be compartmentalized within the extracellular matrix (ECM), and transferred directly to the stem cells via the ECM (44). To probe this possibility, we studied the transfer of SCF from the ECM and the subsequent support of the survival of the hemopoietic stem cells. A stem cell-enriched bone marrow cell fraction was overlaid on SCF-containing ECM. The stem cells survived and proliferated for some days without differentiation under these conditions, whereas stem cells overlaid on ECM without SCF died within a few days. Addition of interleukin-3 (IL-3) to the ECM that contains SCF, induced differentiation of the stem cells. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induced further differentiation of the stem cells, which was accompanied by a decrease in the number of colony-forming unit in spleen (CFU-S). These observations verified the above hypothesis, and indicated that the survival, the self-renewal, and the differentiation of hemopoietic stem cells can be separately controlled at least in vitro.

Induction of bcl-2 gene expression by intercellular information from hemopoietic supportive stromal cells to DA-1 cells.

When interleukin-3 (IL-3) dependent DA-1 cells were cultured on hemopoietic supportive stromal cells (MS-5), DA-1 cells survived and proliferated in the absence of detectable IL-3. Although IL-3 was not produced by the MS-5 cells, their production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was increased when they were co-cultured with DA-1 cells. This suggests that DA-1 cells transmit signals to stromal cells that enhance growth factor(s) production. Expression of bcl-2 by DA-1 cells was induced when they were co-cultured with MS-5 cells, suggesting that DA-1 cells express bcl-2 strongly in response to a signal produced by MS-5 cells. These data indicate the existence of a two-way interaction between DA-1 cells and hemopoietic supportive stromal cells.

Constitutive production of IL-6 in the anemic mice of W/Wv genotype.

IL-6 was found to be produced by bone marrow cell fraction enriched for hemopoietic stem cells in response to IL-3 stimulation. To confirm the production of IL-6 by hemopoietic stem cells, we studied the response of W/Wv mouse bone marrow cells to IL-3 stimulation in terms of IL-6 production. Genetically anemic mice of W/Wv genotype are known to be depleted of normal hemopoietic stem cells. Bone marrow cells of W/Wv mice produce IL-6 without IL-3 stimulation. But bone marrow cells of the litter mate (+/+) mice studied as controls do not produce IL-6 without stimulation. IL-3 induced the production of IL-6, GM-CSF and G-CSF from the bone marrow cells of +/+ mice. Gene expression of IL-6, GM-CSF, G-CSF and IL-3 in these mice was detected in total bone marrow cells after IL-3 stimulation. In contrast, bone marrow cells of C3H mice did not produce IL-3 even after IL-3 stimulation. Bone marrow cells of C3H mice reportedly produce a diffusible IL-3 inhibitor (NIL-3), but those of C57BL mice do not. Present findings indicate the strain-dependent differences in hemopoietic stimulating factor production. The constitutive IL-6 production in W/Wv mice might be due to a constant and strong demand for blood cell production of the anemic mice.

Induction of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) expression in bone marrow and fractionated marrow cell populations by interleukin 3 (IL-3): IL-3-mediated positive feedback mechanisms of granulopoiesis.

Interleukin 3 (IL-3) induces proliferation and differentiation of mast cell progenitors in vitro, whereas it induces granulocytosis in vivo. In this paper, a positive feedback mechanism of granulopoiesis was studied in order to elucidate the granulocytosis induced by IL-3 in mouse. IL-3 induced expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in total bone marrow cells and a marrow adherent cell population. In fractionated marrow cell populations, a different expression pattern of induction of IL-3 stimulation was observed; GM-CSF was expressed in macrophages and fraction 1 (P < 1.061) and 2(1.061 < P 1.074) of bone marrow cells fractionated by equilibrium density centrifugation, G-CSF was expressed in macrophages and fraction 2 and 3 (1.074 < P < 1.097), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in macrophages and fraction 1 to 3. These results indicate a hierarchical regulation of cytokine production and the existence of a positive feedback mechanism in granulopoiesis. IL-6, induced by IL-3, stimulates stem cells into cycle and induces stem cells to respond to IL-3. The stem cells differentiate to granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells by the combined effect of IL-3 and IL-6. IL-3 also induces GM- and G-CSF expression which in turn makes granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells differentiate to granulocytes. These factors organize a cytokine network in granulopoiesis.