Blockade of BCL-2 proteins efficiently induces apoptosis in progenitor cells of high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients.

Deregulated apoptosis is an identifying feature of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Whereas apoptosis is increased in the bone marrow (BM) of low-risk MDS patients, progression to high-risk MDS correlates with an acquired resistance to apoptosis and an aberrant expression of BCL-2 proteins. To overcome the acquired apoptotic resistance in high-risk MDS, we investigated the induction of apoptosis by inhibition of pro-survival BCL-2 proteins using the BCL-2/-XL/-W inhibitor ABT-737 or the BCL-2-selective inhibitor ABT-199. We characterized a cohort of 124 primary human BM samples from MDS/secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) patients and 57 healthy, age-matched controls. Inhibition of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins was specifically toxic for BM cells from high-risk MDS and sAML patients, whereas low-risk MDS or healthy controls remained unaffected. Notably, ABT-737 or ABT-199 treatment was capable of targeting the MDS stem/progenitor compartment in high-risk MDS/sAML samples as shown by the reduction in CD34(+) cells and the decreased colony-forming capacity. Elevated expression of MCL-1 conveyed resistance against both compounds. Protection by stromal cells only partially inhibited induction of apoptosis. Collectively, our data show that the apoptotic resistance observed in high-risk MDS/sAML cells can be overcome by the ABT-737 or ABT-199 treatment and implies that BH3 mimetics might delay disease progression in higher-risk MDS or sAML patients.

Activation of the 55 kDa TNF receptor is necessary and sufficient for TNF-induced liver failure, hepatocyte apoptosis, and nitrite release.

The systemic inflammatory response is characterized by release of circulating TNF which may cause multiorgan failure including septic liver failure. We studied TNF signaling in an appropriate in vitro system with primary murine hepatocyte cultures from normal and genetically altered animals. Either one of the three different TNF species, huTNF-alpha, huTNF-beta, or muTNF-alpha (at concentrations > 1 ng/ml) induced direct hepatocytotoxicity preceded by DNA fragmentation in cells prepared from wild-type C57BL mice. TNF-induced cytotoxicity was preceded by oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Further cellular responses to TNF exposure were induction of nitric oxide synthase and secretion of serum amyloid A. None of the above events occurred in hepatocytes lacking the gene for the 55-kDa TNF receptor (TNF-R1), even after stimulation with > 1 micrograms/ml TNF. However, selective stimulation of the TNF-R1 in wild-type hepatocytes with huTNF-alpha elicited a pattern of responses essentially similar to that seen with muTNF-alpha. We obtained analogous results when we examined the hepatotoxicity of TNF in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice, i.e., DNA fragmentation and liver failure was noted in wild-type mice, whereas TNF-R1-deficient mice were completely resistant. We conclude that the TNF-R1 is not only necessary, but also sufficient for TNF signaling in murine hepatocytes.

Tumor necrosis factor-induced hepatic DNA fragmentation as an early marker of T cell-dependent liver injury in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The injection of mice with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody causes activation of T lymphocytes and leads to a lethal shock syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate T cell-dependent, cytokine-mediated target cell death that leads to organ injury. METHODS: Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody or staphylococcal enterotoxin B was injected into mice sensitized by D-galactosamine. Liver injury was assessed biochemically and histologically, and circulating cytokines were determined. RESULTS: Mice sensitized with D-galactosamine developed severe liver injury within 8 hours after injection of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody or staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Apoptotic bodies and chromatin condensation were detectable 5 hours after anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody challenge. DNA fragmentation in the liver preceded the increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity. Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody induced the release of tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines. Passive immunization against tumor necrosis factor or pretreatment with immunosuppressive drugs protected mice from liver injury. Liver injury associated with apoptotic cell death and DNA fragmentation was also noted in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice injected with staphylococcal enterotoxin B. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor necrosis factor-induced hepatic apoptosis followed by necrosis may represent a general pathomechanism of T-cell shock models using D-galactosamine-sensitized mice.

Enhanced release of interleukin-10 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors as novel principles of methylxanthine action in murine models of endotoxic shock.

The immunomodulating capacity of the methylxanthine A802715 (5-hydroxy-5-methyl)hexyl-3-methyl-7-propylxanthin) was investigated in various murine models of endotoxemia and compared with that of the chemically related reference compound pentoxifylline. At a dose of 180 mg/kg both compounds protected mice against a lethal shock dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (5 mg/kg) in nonsensitized mice and against LPS (5 micrograms/kg)-initiated liver failure in D-galactosamine (700 mg/kg)-sensitized animals. The methylxanthines attenuated systemic release of endogenous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon-gamma during endotoxic shock, and potently up-regulated early production of circulating interleukin-10 and interleukin-6. Treatment of mice with A802715 alone induced levels of circulating soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-R p55 and p75) 3- to 4-fold higher than those of controls. This increase was additive to the one elicited by LPS. Moreover, pentoxifylline and A802715 prevented liver injury due to intravenous injection of recombinant TNF in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice. In primary cultures of murine hepatocytes, A802715 (500 microM) as well as other cAMP-raising compounds conferred protection from TNF cytotoxicity. We concluded that, in addition to a direct target cell protection via an increase in intracellular cAMP, methylxanthines prevented the systemic toxicity of LPS in mice by a further principle, i.e., by a shift of the humoral response to LPS in favor of an enhanced release of immunosuppressive cytokines.

[Insulin and glucagon secretion of the preserved dog pancreas]. / Die Insulin- und Glukagonsekretion des konservierten Hundepankreas.

Well defined results can be obtained quickly by in vitro test concerning the preservation effect of the preserved dog's pancreas. Clinical and chemical parameters were received during the hypothermic perfusion respectively during the refrigerant storage. The in vitro function tests were carried out after the preservation by insulin and glucagon stimulation. The results showed that the A and B cells of the dog's pancreas are completely able to function after a preservation of 24 hours. Thereby a strong formation of edemas by releasing high enzyme activities is caused during the mechanical perfusion of the organs. The simple refrigerant storage of the pancreata therefore, is the more suitable preservation form for organ transplantations.

Phylogenetic relationships of Bacteria based on comparative sequence analysis of elongation factor Tu and ATP-synthase beta-subunit genes.

Comparative sequence analyses were performed on 14 genes encoding bacterial elongation factors EF-Tu and 7 genes encoding the beta-subunit of bacterial F1F0 type ATP-synthases. The corresponding predicted amino acid sequences were compared with published primary structures of homologous molecules. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed from both data sets of aligned protein sequences and from an equivalent selection of 16S rRNA sequences by applying distance matrix and maximum parsimony methods. The EF-Tu data were in very good agreement with the rRNA data, although the resolution within the EF-Tu tree was reduced at certain phylogenetic levels. The resolution power of the ATPase beta-subunit sequence data were more reduced than those of the EF-Tu data. In comparison with the 16S rRNA tree there are minor differences in the order of adjacent branchings within the ATPase beta-subunit tree.