Immune cell dynamics deconvoluted by single-cell RNA sequencing in normothermic machine perfusion of the liver.

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has emerged as an innovative organ preservation technique. Developing an understanding for the donor organ immune cell composition and its dynamic changes during NMP is essential. We aimed for a comprehensive characterization of immune cell (sub)populations, cell trafficking and cytokine release during liver NMP. Single-cell transcriptome profiling of human donor livers prior to, during NMP and after transplantation shows an abundance of CXC chemokine receptor 1+/2+ (CXCR1+/CXCR2+) neutrophils, which significantly decreased during NMP. This is paralleled by a large efflux of passenger leukocytes with neutrophil predominance in the perfusate. During NMP, neutrophils shift from a pro-inflammatory state towards an aged/chronically activated/exhausted phenotype, while anti-inflammatory/tolerogenic monocytes/macrophages are increased. We herein describe the dynamics of the immune cell repertoire, phenotypic immune cell shifts and a dominance of neutrophils during liver NMP, which potentially contribute to the inflammatory response. Our findings may serve as resource to initiate future immune-interventional studies.

Raf-1 protein is required for growth factor-induced proliferation of hematopoietic cells.

Raf-1 is a 74-kD serine/threonine kinase located in the cell cytoplasm that is activated by phosphorylation in cells stimulated with a variety of mitogens and growth factors, including hematopoietic growth factors. Using c-raf antisense oligonucleotides to block Raf-1 expression, we have established that Raf-1 is required for hematopoietic growth factor-induced proliferation of murine cell lines stimulated by growth factors whose receptors are members of several different structural classes: (a) the hematopoietin receptor family, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3, IL-4, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and erythropoietin; (b) the tyrosine kinase receptor class, including Steel factor and CSF-1; and (c) IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, and oncostatin M, whose receptors include the gp130 receptor subunit. Although results of previous experiments had suggested that IL-4 does not phosphorylate or activate the Raf-1 kinase, c-raf antisense oligonucleotides inhibited IL-4-induced proliferation of both myeloid and T cell lines, and IL-4 activated Raf-1 kinase activity in an IL-4-dependent myeloid cell line. In colony assays, c-raf antisense oligonucleotides completely inhibited colony formation of unseparated normal murine bone marrow cells stimulated with either IL-3 or CSF-1 and partially inhibited cells stimulated with GM-CSF. In addition, c-raf antisense oligonucleotides completely inhibited both IL-3- and GM-CSF-induced colony formation of CD34+ purified human progenitors stimulated with these same growth factors. Thus, Raf-1 is required for growth factor-induced proliferation of leukemic murine progenitor cell lines and normal murine and human bone marrow-derived progenitor cells regardless of the growth factor used to stimulate cell growth.

Immune response-associated production of neopterin. Release from macrophages primarily under control of interferon-gamma.

Neopterin, a compound derived from GTP, represents a precursor molecule of biopterin that is an essential cofactor in neurotransmitter synthesis. We have recently reported that in vivo as well as in vitro immune responses are accompanied by an increased release of neopterin and that this phenomenon can be used for the biochemical monitoring of diseases accompanied by hyperimmune stimulation. This article deals with the cellular origin and the control of this immune response-associated neopterin release in vitro. Using highly purified or monoclonal cellular reagents we demonstrate that macrophages (M phi) stimulated with supernatants from activated T cells release large amounts of neopterin into culture supernatants. Further experiments involving induction of neopterin release from M phi with various human recombinant interferons (IFNs) or neutralization of the effect of T cell supernatants with various monoclonal anti-IFN antibodies revealed immune IFN as the active principle. It thus appears that a metabolic pathway so far exclusively known in context with the generation of an essential cofactor of neurotransmitter-synthesis during immune responses is also activated in M phi under stringent control by immune IFN-like lymphokines.

The ins and outs of Raf kinases.

Raf kinases are signal-integrating enzymes that have the ability to switch tyrosine kinase signalling to serine/threonine phosphorylation and connect growth factor receptors with transcription factors. The connection involves a cascade of protein kinases that is essential for cellular proliferation and differentiation of species ranging from worms to humans. This cascade also mediates transformation by most oncogenes.

The effect of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) on ischemia/reperfusion injury in cardiac transplantation.

We investigated the role of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) in ischemia/reperfusion injury in cardiac transplantation. SLPI-/- mouse hearts and wild-type (WT) controls were transplanted immediately or after 10 h of cold ischemia (CI). Recombinant SLPI (rSLPI) was added to the preservation solution or given systemically. After evaluation of myocardial performance, grafts were investigated for histology, SLPI, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, NF-kappaB and protease expression at indicated time points. Early myocardial contraction was profoundly impaired in SLPI-/- hearts exposed to CI and associated with high intra-graft protease expression. Systemic administration of rSLPI had no effect, however, when SLPI was added to the preservation solution, myocardial contraction was restored to normal. At 10 days, inflammation, myocyte vacuolization and necrosis were significantly more severe in SLPI-/- hearts. SLPI gene expression was detected in WT mice at 12 and 24 h and was significantly higher after CI. SLPI protein was observed at 24 h and 10 days. High intra-graft concentrations of SLPI after administration of rSLPI were inversely correlated with protease levels early and TGF-beta expression late after reperfusion. SLPI plays a crucial role in early myocardial performance and postischemic inflammation after cardiac transplantation. A dual inhibitory effect on protease and TGF-beta expression might be the underlying mechanism.

Specific function of B-Raf in mediating survival of embryonic motoneurons and sensory neurons.

Embryonic sensory and motoneurons depend on neurotrophic factors for survival. Here we show that their survival requires B-Raf, which, in this function, cannot be substituted by C-Raf. Sensory and motoneurons from b-raf-deficient mice do not respond to neurotrophic factors for their survival. However, these primary neurons can be rescued by transfection of a b-raf expression plasmid. In contrast, c-raf-deficient neurons survive in response to neurotrophic factors, similarly to neurons from wild-type mice. This points to an essential and specific function of B-Raf in mediating survival of sensory and motoneurons during development.

Differential regulation of Raf-1 and B-Raf and Ras-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by cyclic AMP in PC12 cells.

Growth factor stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in fibroblasts is inhibited by cyclic AMP (cAMP) as a result of inhibition of Raf-1. In contrast, cAMP inhibits neither nerve growth factor-induced MAP kinase activation nor differentiation in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Instead, in PC12 cells cAMP activates MAP kinase. Since one of the major differences between the Ras/Raf/MAP kinase cascades of these cell types is the expression of B-Raf in PC12 cells, we compared the effects of cAMP on Raf-1 and B-Raf. In PC12 cells maintained in serum-containing medium, B-Raf was refractory to inhibition by cAMP, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In contrast, both B-Raf and Raf-1 were inhibited by cAMP in serum-starved PC12 cells. The effect of cAMP is thus dependent upon growth conditions, with B-Raf being resistant to cAMP inhibition in the presence of serum. These results were extended by studies of Rat-1 fibroblasts into which B-Raf had been introduced by transfection. As in PC12 cells, B-Raf was resistant to inhibition by cAMP in the presence of serum, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In addition, the expression of B-Raf rendered Rat-1 cells resistant to the inhibitory effects of cAMP on both growth factor-induced activation of MAP kinase and mitogenesis. These results indicate that Raf-1 and B-Raf are differentially sensitive to inhibition by cAMP and that B-Raf expression can contribute to cell type-specific differences in the regulation of the MAP kinase pathway. In contrast to the situation in PC12 cells, cAMP by itself did not stimulate MAP kinase in B-Raf-expressing Rat-1 cells. The activation of MAP kinase by cAMP in PC12 cells was inhibited by the expression of a dominant negative Ras mutant, indicating that cAMP acts on a target upstream of Ras. Thus, it appears that a signaling component upstream of Ras is also require for cAMP stimulation of MAP kinase in PC12 cells.

Apoptosis suppression by Raf-1 and MEK1 requires MEK- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent signals.

Two Ras effector pathways leading to the activation of Raf-1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) have been implicated in the survival signaling by the interleukin 3 (IL-3) receptor. Analysis of apoptosis suppression by Raf-1 demonstrated the requirement for mitochondrial translocation of the kinase in this process. This could be achieved either by overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 or by targeting Raf-1 to the mitochondria via fusion to the mitochondrial protein Mas p70. Mitochondrially active Raf-1 is unable to activate extracellular signal-related kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2 but suppresses cell death by inactivating the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member BAD. However, genetic and biochemical data also have suggested a role for the Raf-1 effector module MEK-ERK in apoptosis suppression. We thus tested for MEK requirement in cell survival signaling using the interleukin 3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line 32D. MEK is essential for survival and growth in the presence of IL-3. Upon growth factor withdrawal the expression of constitutively active MEK1 mutants significantly delays the onset of apoptosis, whereas the presence of a dominant negative mutant accelerates cell death. Survival signaling by MEK most likely results from the activation of ERKs since expression of a constitutively active form of ERK2 was as effective in protecting NIH 3T3 fibroblasts against doxorubicin-induced cell death as oncogenic MEK. The survival effect of activated MEK in 32D cells is achieved by both MEK- and PI3K-dependent mechanisms and results in the activation of PI3K and in the phosphorylation of AKT. MEK and PI3K dependence is also observed in 32D cells protected from apoptosis by oncogenic Raf-1. Additionally, we also could extend these findings to the IL-3-dependent pro-B-cell line BaF3, suggesting that recruitment of MEK is a common mechanism for survival signaling by activated Raf. Requirement for the PI3K effector AKT in this process is further demonstrated by the inhibitory effect of a dominant negative AKT mutant on Raf-1-induced cell survival. Moreover, a constitutively active form of AKT synergizes with Raf-1 in apoptosis suppression. In summary these data strongly suggest a Raf effector pathway for cell survival that is mediated by MEK and AKT.

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine couples Ras to activation of Raf protein kinase during mitogenic signal transduction.

We have investigated the relationship between hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and activation of the Raf-1 protein kinase in Ras-mediated transduction of mitogenic signals. As previously reported, cotransfection of a PC-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) expression plasmid bypassed the block to cell proliferation resulting from expression of the dominant inhibitory mutant Ras N-17. In contrast, PC-PLC failed to bypass the inhibitory effect of dominant negative Raf mutants, suggesting that PC-PLC functions downstream of Ras but upstream of Raf. Consistent with this hypothesis, treatment of quiescent cells with exogenous PC-PLC induced Raf activation, even when normal Ras function was blocked by Ras N-17 expression. Further, activation of Raf in response to mitogenic growth factors was blocked by inhibition of endogenous PC-PLC. Taken together, these results indicate that hydrolysis of PC mediates Raf activation in response to mitogenic growth factors.

The JNK/SAPK activator mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) transforms NIH 3T3 cells in a MEK-dependent fashion.

Mixed lineage kinases (MLKs) form a family of serin/threonine protein kinases with multiple protein/protein interaction domains (SH3, Cdc42 Rac interactive binding sequence, leucine zipper, and proline rich region), the physiological roles of which are largely unknown. We show that overexpression of wild type MLK3 leads to morphological transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and growth in soft agar. Consistent with this transforming potential, we demonstrate that MLK3 strongly induces transcription from a reporter construct that is driven by a composite AP-1-/Ets-1-enhancer element in HEK 293 cells. In the same cell system, MLK3 preferentially activates the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and to a lesser degree the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Activation of the latter can be further enhanced by coexpression of wild type MEK1 and is blocked by the synthetic MEK inhibitor PD 098059 or a kinase-dead MEK1 mutant. Immunoprecipitated MLK3 catalyses the phosphorylation of MEK1 in vitro, but this phosphorylation leads only to a marginal activation. In support of these data, we also show that MEK1 is highly phosphorylated in vivo on Ser 217/221 in MLK3-transformed fibroblasts, whereas activating ERK phosphorylations are barely detectable. Nevertheless, MLK3-transformed NIH 3T3 fibroblasts are partially reverted when activation of MEK is specifically blocked with PD 098059. Our combined data show that although MLK3 is primarily an activator of the JNK/SAPK pathway, overexpression of the wild type protein leads to a transformed phenotype in NIH 3T3 cells that can be partially reversed by a synthetic MEK inhibitor. We conclude that the ERK pathway is necessary for MLK3-mediated transformation.

The Bag-1 inhibitor, Thio-2, reverses an atypical 3D morphology driven by Bag-1L overexpression in a MCF-10A model of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Mammary MCF-10A cells seeded on reconstituted basement membrane form spherical structures with a hollow central lumen, termed acini, which are a physiologically relevant model of mammary morphogenesis. Bcl-2-associated athanogene 1 (Bag-1) is a multifunctional protein overexpressed in breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ. When present in the nucleus Bag-1 is predictive of clinical outcome in breast cancer. Bag-1 exists as three main isoforms, which are produced by alternative translation initiation from a single mRNA. The long isoform of Bag-1, Bag-1L, contains a nuclear localisation sequence not present in the other isoforms. When present in the nucleus Bag-1L, but not the other Bag-1 isoforms, can interact with and modulate the activities of estrogen-, androgen- and vitamin D-receptors. Overexpression of Bag-1 mRNA in MCF-10A is known to produce acini with luminal filling reminiscent of ductal carcinoma in situ. As this mRNA predominantly overexpresses the short isoform of Bag-1, Bag-1S, we set out to examine whether the nuclear Bag-1L isoform is sufficient to drive premalignant change by developing a Bag-1L-overexpressing MCF-10A model. Two clones differentially overexpressing Bag-1L were grown in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultures and compared with an established model of HER2-driven transformation. In 2D cultures, Bag-1L overexpression reduced proliferation but did not affect growth factor responsiveness or clonogenicity. Acini formed by Bag-1L-overexpressing cells exhibited reduced luminal clearing when compared with controls. An abnormal branching morphology was also observed which correlated with the level of Bag-1L overexpression, suggesting further malignant change. Treatment with Thio-2, a small-molecule inhibitor of Bag-1, reduced the level of branching. In summary, 3D cultures of MCF-10A mammary epithelial cells overexpressing Bag-1L demonstrate a premalignant phenotype with features of ductal carcinoma in situ. Using this model to test the small-molecule Bag-1 inhibitor, Thio-2, reveals its potential to reverse the atypical branched morphology of acini that characterizes this premalignant change.

Cot protooncoprotein activates the dual specificity kinases MEK-1 and SEK-1 and induces differentiation of PC12 cells.

Mitogenic signals initiated at the plasma membrane are transmitted to the nucleus through an intricate signalling network. We identified the protooncoprotein Cot as a new component of mitogenic signalling cascades, which activates both the classic cytoplasmic cascade and the SAPK stress pathway. Wildtype and activated Cot phosphorylate and activate MEK-1 and SEK-1 in vitro. These findings are consistent with the sequence homology between Cot and the rat gene Tpl-2. Expression of oncogenic Cot in 293, NIH3T3 and PC12 cells leads to in vivo phosphorylation of endogenous c-Jun and Erk-1/2 suggesting that the serine/threonine kinase Cot functions beside c-Raf-1 and Mos as a direct activator of MEK-1. Furthermore, we have examined the biological effects of Cot on the phenotype of fibroblastic and neuronal cells. In order to test a potential c-Raf-1 dependency of Cot transformation, the effect of oncogenic Cot on Raf revertant CHP25 cells was determined. Cot could restore the transformed phenotype indicating that Cot transformation is not dependent on active c-Raf-1 and that Cot is not a target for the putative Raf inhibitor, which is presumably active in the revertant cell line. Expression of oncogenic versions of Raf as well as v-Mos leads to differentiation of PC12 cells. Cot also induces neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells. These data are consistent with the role of Cot in the classic mitogenic cascade and suggest that the simultaneously activated JNK/SAPK stress pathway has no antagonistic effects in this context.

Activation of NF-kappa B by oncogenic Raf in HEK 293 cells occurs through autocrine recruitment of the stress kinase cascade.

Raf-1 kinase has been implicated in the induction of NF-kappa B activity by serum growth factors, phorbol ester and PTK oncogenes. Here we show that Raf activation of NF-kappa B, as measured in reporter gene assays, occurs indirectly and requires the stress kinase cascade. The stress pathway presumably becomes activated through induction of an autocrine loop by activated Raf (Raf-BXB) as suramin, the tyrphostin AG1478 and a dominant negative mutant of the EGF-R blocked NF-kappa B activation. Raf-BXB synergizes with SAPKs and a dominant negative mutant of SEK significantly reduces activation of NF-kappa B consistent with a role of this signaling pathway in the activation of NF-kappa B.

Independent control of cell survival by Raf-1 and Bcl-2 at the mitochondria.

Bcl-2 family proteins play a critical role in the regulation of cell survival by controlling the activation of the cell death executing caspase machinery. Recent work demonstrated that they also provide a link between growth factor signaling and cell survival control. Raf-1 has been identified initially as an essential component of the mitogenic Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade. However, expression of oncogenic Raf-1 also efficiently suppresses apoptotic cell death. This process requires mitochondrial translocation of Raf-1 which can be achieved either by co-expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 or by fusion with the transmembrane domain of the yeast outer mitochondrial membrane protein Mas 70p. It is currently unclear how mitochondrial Raf-1 prevents apoptosis. One possible mechanism involves the phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bad resulting in the restoration of Bcl-2 function. Alternatively, the role of Bcl-2 could be limited to the mitochondrial translocation of Raf-1 and survival signaling by Raf-1 is Bcl-2 independent. To test for the mutual requirement of Raf-1 and Bcl-2 in apoptosis suppression the individual proteins were singly tested for survival activity in a genetic background which precludes the expression of the other. The results obtained in these studies demonstrate that ablation of Raf-1 or Bcl-2 expression in fibroblast cells significantly increases the sensitivity towards doxorubicin induced cell death. Reversion of the mutant phenotype could be achieved in either case by introducing a functional bcl-2 gene or a mitochondria targeted version of oncogenic Raf-1, demonstrating that each protein by itself is sufficient to confer protection. Our data thus suggest the existence of two separate pathways of survival signaling at the mitochondria controlled either by Bcl-2 or by Raf-1.

Transformation by Raf and other oncogenes renders cells differentially sensitive to growth inhibition by a dominant negative c-jun mutant.

In NIH3T3 cells expressing active Raf-1 protein serine/threonine kinase (PSK) c-jun expression is constitutive while c-fos expression is attenuated. This alteration prompted us to determine whether oncogene transformation would render cells differentially sensitive to growth inhibition by a dominant negative mutant of c-jun, TAM 67. Growth inhibition was observed in three types of assays: (1) transfection of TAM 67 into cells stably transformed by a variety of oncogenes, (2) cotransfection of TAM 67 with oncogene expression plasmids into NIH3T3 cells and (3) titration of oncogene-expressing retroviruses on cells stably expressing TAM 67. The results clearly demonstrate that Raf-1 dependent oncogenes, which include receptor protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs)-, intracellular PTKs- and Ras-derived genes share the Raf phenotype of constitutive c-jun expression, attenuated c-fos induction, and high sensitivity to growth suppression by TAM 67. Additionally, the intracellular PSK oncogene, mos and the nuclear oncogenes c-myc, c-fos, and SV40 T antigen were TAM 67-sensitive for transformation. This universal pattern of altered growth regulation in oncogene transformed fibroblast cell lines highlights the potential usefulness of c-jun based inhibitors for control of tumor cell growth.

Strict regulation of c-Raf kinase levels is required for early organogenesis of the vertebrate inner ear.

Regulation of organogenesis involves a dynamic balance of the mechanisms regulating cell division, differentiation and death. Here we have investigated the pattern of expression of c-Raf kinase in the inner ear during early developmental stages and the consequences of manipulating c-Raf levels by misexpression of c-raf viral vectors in organotypic cultures of otic vesicle explants. We found that otic vesicles expressed c-Raf and its level remained constant during embryonic days 2 and 3 (E2-E3). c-Raf activity was increased in response to insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and the activation by IGF-I of the c-Raf kinase pathway was a requirement to turn on cell proliferation in the otic vesicle. Overexpression of c-raf in E2.5 explants increased the proliferative response to low serum and IGF-I and blocked differentiation induced by retinoic acid. The increase in c-Raf levels also prevented nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent induction of programmed cell death. Consistent with these results, the expression of a dominant negative c-Raf mutant potentiated retinoic acid action and decreased the rate of cell proliferation. We conclude that a strict control of c-Raf levels is essential for the co-ordination of the biological processes that operate simultaneously during early inner ear development.

Raf revertant cells resist transformation by non-nuclear oncogenes and are deficient in the induction of early response genes by TPA and serum.

A revertant cell line was generated from v-raf transformed NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. These cells, termed CHP25, express a functional v-raf oncogene. However, they are non-tumorigenic, do not form colonies in soft agar and possess a flat morphology. CHP25 cells are resistant to re-transformation by sis, ras, tyrosine kinase- as well as serine/threonine kinase-encoding oncogenes suggesting that Raf functions downstream of most membrane associated signal transducers. In contrast to v-raf transformed cells, in which the endogenous Raf-1 protein kinase is constitutively activated, v-Raf in CHP25 cells does not activate endogenous Raf-1 kinase. Since mitogen regulation of Raf-1 kinase in CHP25 cells is intact, we conclude that CHP25 cells are blocked at the level of Raf-1 substrate phosphorylation. Consistent with this interpretation CHP25 cells show specific alterations of early gene induction. The serum induction of c-fos and junD as well as the serum and TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) induction of junB and egr-1 are almost completely abolished. Only v-fos can transform CHP25, whereas c-fos, v-myc, c-jun and junB are ineffective. These data suggest that the lesion responsible for the revertant phenotype of CHP25 cells is the inability to activate the AP-1 complex. We conclude that Raf-1 signaling is essential for transformation of NIH/3T3 cells by peripheral oncogenes and for regulation of a subset of early response genes by TPA and serum growth factors.

Susceptibility and resistance to J3V1 retrovirus-induced murine plasmacytomagenesis in reconstituted severe combined immunodeficient mice.

To date much is known about the genetics of susceptibility and resistance to plasmacytoma induction in mice, however little is known about the cellular aspects of these phenotypes. The complexity of plasmacytomagenesis allows for susceptibility and resistance to reflect differences in B cells, T cells, accessory cells and/or stromal elements contributing to the disease process. Alternatively, these phenotypes may result from differential abilities to affect events critical to plasmacytomagenesis, such as myc deregulation. To address these possibilities, the v-myc-raf-containing retrovirus, J3V1, was used to induce plasmacytomas (PCTs) in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice reconstituted with susceptible (Balb/c) and/or resistant (DBA/2) cells. The results demonstrate that Balb/c bone marrow (BM)-reconstituted SCID mice yielded PCTs of donor origin, while DBA/2 BM-reconstituted mice did not. Mice reconstituted with both DBA/2 BM and Balb/c peripheral lymphocytes, as well as those reconstituted with Balb/c peripheral lymphocytes alone, also yielded only Balb/c PCTs. These results indicate that: (1) a microenvironment supportive of plasmacytomagenesis is insufficient to allow PCT development among resistant cells; (2) DBA/2 BM-derived cells do not suppress plasmacytomagenesis by target cell elimination or microenvironment destruction; (3) resistance is not solely attributable to the inability of DBA/2 B cells to deregulate myc; and (4) potential PCT targets reside in a number of lymphoid tissues. Taken together, these results demonstrate that a major aspect of resistance/susceptibility to plasmacytomagenesis is dictated by the genotype of the target B cell.

Regulation of c-myc expression by Ras/Raf signalling.

The c-myc gene is induced upon growth factor stimulation of arrested cells. The interaction of a mitogen with a transmembrane receptor triggers a variety of parallel signal transduction cascades. In order to analyse the role of the Ras/Raf cascade in the regulation of c-myc expression we have established fibroblast cell lines harboring conditional systems activating or inhibiting this pathway. Fusion of the c-Raf-1 kinase domain with the hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor (c-Raf-1-BxB-ER) provides a 4-hydroxytamoxifen regulated form of the oncogenic c-Raf-1 kinase. We have generated NIH3T3 cells stably expressing the chimeric Raf protein (N-BxB-ER). 4-hydroxytamoxifen mediated activation of the fusion protein in serum starved N-BxB-ER induces the expression of the c-myc gene within 2-6 h. Deletion of the c-Raf-1 kinase domain generates a mutant c-Raf-1 protein (c-Raf-1-C4B), which can directly interact with the effector domain of the Ras protein and thereby block Ras mediated signalling. We have established a NIH3T3 based cell line expressing the c-Raf-1-C4B protein under the control of a tetracycline responsive promoter (N-C4B-tet). Serum starved cells expressing the c-Raf-1-C4B protein exhibit a significantly reduced induction of c-myc expression following serum stimulation compared to the same cells not expressing the Ras inhibitor. The induction of c-myc mRNA following the activation of the isolated Raf/Mek/Erk cascade in addition to the partial inhibition of serum mediated induction of c-myc expression in the presence of the Ras inactivating c-Raf-1-C4B mutant strongly indicates an involvement of the Ras/Raf pathway in the regulation of c-myc expression.

v-raf suppresses apoptosis and promotes growth of interleukin-3-dependent myeloid cells.

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is required for the proliferation, survival and differentiation of myeloid progenitors. In the absence of IL-3, murine myeloid 32D.3 cells accumulate in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and subsequently undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that enforced expression of the v-raf oncogene suppresses apoptosis of myeloid 32D.3 cells following the withdrawal of IL-3. Surprisingly, steady state levels of Bcl-2, an oncogene known to suppress apoptosis, were not dependent upon IL-3 in 32D.3 cells and its levels were not augmented in v-raf clones. This suggests that ability of v-raf to suppress apoptosis in the absence of ligand is either Bcl-2 independent or that v-raf kinase promotes Bcl-2 function. v-raf also promoted growth of these cells in the presence of IL-3. v-raf clones proliferated at an increased rate due to a shortened G1 phase and had decreased requirements for IL-3 for growth. Therefore, transformation of myeloid cells by v-raf involves signaling pathways which promote both cell cycle progression and cell survival.