Antibiotic susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila strains isolated in England and Wales 2007-17.

Objectives: Antibiotic susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila is poorly understood, with treatment of Legionnaires' disease often based on empirical choice. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility of L. pneumophila strains. Methods: Antibiotic susceptibility of 92 L. pneumophila strains isolated in England and Wales between 2007 and 2017 was determined using a microbroth dilution methodology for each agent tested. MICs and MBCs were determined and compared with published intracellular concentrations of each agent tested. Results: The MIC range of erythromycin was 0.06-1 mg/L, the MIC range of rifampicin was 0.0001 mg/L, the MIC range of ciprofloxacin was 0.004-0.25 mg/L and the MIC range of levofloxacin and moxifloxacin was 0.03-0.25 mg/L. The MBC range of erythromycin was 1-32 mg/L, but the MBC range of ciprofloxacin was the same as the MIC range. For levofloxacin and moxifloxacin the MBC range was elevated by one dilution and two dilutions, respectively. Typically, intracellular bronchial secretion concentrations of erythromycin might be expected to reach a suitable level to exceed the MIC range; however, 91 of 92 (98.9%) isolates had an MBC below the expected intracellular concentrations, which indicated erythromycin may have variable efficacy. MIC and MBC values of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin were below achievable intracellular levels within bronchial secretions. Comparison of the MIC/MBC correlation showed very little clustering for erythromycin, but strong clustering for levofloxacin and to a lesser extent ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: Use of the MIC/MBC linkage analysis seems an appropriate way forward for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and supports current guidance recommending levofloxacin for the treatment of Legionnaires' disease.

PBDE-47 and PBDE mixture (DE-71) toxicities and liver transcriptomic changes at PND 22 after in utero/postnatal exposure in the rat.

Pentabromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE) are found in human tissue, in household dust, and in the environment, and a particular concern is the potential for the induction of cancer pathways from these fat-soluble persistent organic pollutants. Only one PBDE cancer study has been conducted and that was for a PBDE mixture (DE-71). Because it is not feasible to test all PBDE congeners in the environment for cancer potential, it is important to develop a set of biological endpoints that can be used in short-term toxicity studies to predict disease outcome after long-term exposures. In this study, PBDE-47 was selected as the test PBDE congener to evaluate and compare toxicity to that of the carcinogenic PBDE mixture. The toxicities of PBDE-47 and the PBDE mixture were evaluated at PND 22 in Wistar Han rat (Crl: WI (Han)) pups after in utero/postnatal exposure (0, 0.1, 15, or 50 mg/kg; dams, GD6-21; pups, PND 12-PND 21; oral gavage daily dosing). By PND 22, PBDE-47 caused centrilobular hypertrophy and fatty change in liver, and reduced serum thyroxin (T4) levels; similar effects were also observed after PBDE mixture exposure. Transcriptomic changes in the liver included induction of cytochrome p450 transcripts and up-regulation of Nrf2 antioxidant pathway transcripts and ABC membrane transport transcripts. Decreases in other transport transcripts (ABCG5 & 8) provided a plausible mechanism for lipid accumulation, characterized by a treatment-related liver fatty change after PBDE-47 and PBDE mixture exposure. The benchmark dose calculation based on liver transcriptomic data was generally lower for PBDE-47 than for the PBDE mixture. The up-regulation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and changes in metabolic transcripts after PBDE-47 and PBDE mixture exposure suggest that PBDE-47, like the PBDE mixture (NTP 2016, TR 589), could be a liver toxin/carcinogen after long-term exposure.

Cylindrospermopsin toxicity in mice following a 90-d oral exposure.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a toxin associated with numerous species of freshwater cyanobacteria throughout the world. It is postulated to have caused an episode of serious illnesses in Australia through treated drinking water, as well as lethal effects in livestock exposed to water from farm ponds. Toxicity included effects indicative of both hepatic and renal dysfunction. In humans, symptoms progressed from initial hepatomegaly, vomiting, and malaise to acidosis and hypokalemia, bloody diarrhea, and hyperemia in mucous membranes. Laboratory animal studies predominantly involved the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route of administration and confirmed this pattern of toxicity with changes in liver enzyme activities and histopathology consistent with hepatic injury and adverse renal effects. The aim of this study was designed to assess subchronic oral exposure (90 d) of purified CYN from 75 to 300 µg/kg/d in mouse. At the end of the dosing period, examinations of animals noted (1) elevated organ to body weight ratios of liver and kidney at all dose levels, (2) treatment-related increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, (3) decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and cholesterol concentrations in males, and (4) elevated monocyte counts in both genders. Histopathological alterations included hepatocellular hypertrophy and cord disruption in the liver, as well as renal cellular hypertrophy, tubule dilation, and cortical tubule lesions that were more prominent in males. A series of genes were differentially expressed including Bax (apoptosis), Rpl6 (tissue regeneration), Fabp4 (fatty acid metabolism), and Proc (blood coagulation). Males were more sensitive to many renal end points suggestive of toxicity. At the end of exposure, toxicity was noted at all dose levels, and the 75 µg/kg group exhibited significant effects in liver and kidney/body weight ratios, reduced BUN, increased serum monocytes, and multiple signs of histopathology indicating that a no-observed-adverse-effect level could not be determined for any dose level.

Patterns of cryptic host specificity in duck lice based on molecular data.

Documenting patterns of host specificity in parasites relies on the adequate definition of parasite species. In many cases, parasites have simplified morphology, making species delimitation based on traditional morphological characters difficult. Molecular data can help in assessing whether widespread parasites harbour cryptic species and, alternatively, in guiding further taxonomic revision in cases in which there is morphological variation. The duck louse genus Anaticola (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae), based on current taxonomy, contains both host-specific and widespread species. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences of samples from this genus were used to document patterns of host specificity. The comparison of these patterns with morphological variations in Anaticola revealed a general correspondence between the groups identified by DNA sequences and morphology, respectively. These results suggest that a more thorough taxonomic review of this genus is needed. In general, the groups identified on the basis of molecular data were associated with particular groups of waterfowl (e.g. dabbling ducks, sea ducks, geese) or specific biogeographic regions (e.g. North America, South America, Australia, Eurasia).

Racial Differences in DNA-Methylation of CpG Sites Within Preterm-Promoting Genes and Gene Variants.

Objective To evaluate the role DNA methylation may play in genes associated with preterm birth for higher rates of preterm births in African-American women. Methods Fetal cord blood samples from births collected at delivery and maternal demographic and medical information were used in a cross-sectional study to examine fetal DNA methylation of genes implicated in preterm birth among black and non-black infants. Allele-specific DNA methylation analysis was performed using a methylation bead array. Targeted maximum likelihood estimation was applied to examine the relationship between race and fetal DNA methylation of candidate preterm birth genes. Receiver-operating characteristic analyses were then conducted to validate the CpG site methylation marker within the two racial groups. Bootstrapping, a method of validation and replication, was employed. Results 42 CpG sites were screened within 20 candidate gene variants reported consistently in the literature as being associated with preterm birth. Of these, three CpG sites on TNFAIP8 and PON1 genes (corresponding to: cg23917399; cg07086380; and cg07404485, respectively) were significantly differentially methylated between black and non-black individuals. The three CpG sites showed lower methylation status among infants of black women. Bootstrapping validated and replicated results. Conclusion for Practice Our study identified significant differences in levels of methylation on specific genes between black and non-black individuals. Understanding the genetic/epigenetic mechanisms that lead to preterm birth may lead to enhanced prevention strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality by eventually providing a means to identify individuals with a genetic predisposition to preterm labor.

Blood gene expression signatures predict exposure levels.

To respond to potential adverse exposures properly, health care providers need accurate indicators of exposure levels. The indicators are particularly important in the case of acetaminophen (APAP) intoxication, the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. We hypothesized that gene expression patterns derived from blood cells would provide useful indicators of acute exposure levels. To test this hypothesis, we used a blood gene expression data set from rats exposed to APAP to train classifiers in two prediction algorithms and to extract patterns for prediction using a profiling algorithm. Prediction accuracy was tested on a blinded, independent rat blood test data set and ranged from 88.9% to 95.8%. Genomic markers outperformed predictions based on traditional clinical parameters. The expression profiles of the predictor genes from the patterns extracted from the blood exhibited remarkable (97% accuracy) transtissue APAP exposure prediction when liver gene expression data were used as a test set. Analysis of human samples revealed separation of APAP-intoxicated patients from control individuals based on blood expression levels of human orthologs of the rat discriminatory genes. The major biological signal in the discriminating genes was activation of an inflammatory response after exposure to toxic doses of APAP. These results support the hypothesis that gene expression data from peripheral blood cells can provide valuable information about exposure levels, well before liver damage is detected by classical parameters. It also supports the potential use of genomic markers in the blood as surrogates for clinical markers of potential acute liver damage.

Parallel evolution in the major haemoglobin genes of eight species of Andean waterfowl.

Theory predicts that parallel evolution should be common when the number of beneficial mutations is limited by selective constraints on protein structure. However, confirmation is scarce in natural populations. Here we studied the major haemoglobin genes of eight Andean duck lineages and compared them to 115 other waterfowl species, including the bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) and Abyssinian blue-winged goose (Cyanochen cyanopterus), two additional species living at high altitude. One to five amino acid replacements were significantly overrepresented or derived in each highland population, and parallel substitutions were more common than in simulated sequences evolved under a neutral model. Two substitutions evolved in parallel in the alpha A subunit of two (Ala-alpha 8) and five (Thr-alpha 77) taxa, and five identical beta A subunit substitutions were observed in two (Ser-beta 4, Glu-beta 94, Met-beta 133) or three (Ser-beta 13, Ser-beta 116) taxa. Substitutions at adjacent sites within the same functional protein region were also observed. Five such replacements were in exterior, solvent-accessible positions on the A helix and AB corner of the alpha A subunit. Five others were in close proximity to inositolpentaphosphate binding sites, and two pairs of independent replacements occurred at two different alpha(1)beta(1) intersubunit contacts. More than half of the substitutions in highland lineages resulted in the acquisition of serine or threonine (18 gains vs. 2 losses), both of which possess a hydroxyl group that can hydrogen bond to a variety of polar substrates. The patterns of parallel evolution observed in these waterfowl suggest that adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia has resulted from selection on unique but overlapping sets of one to five amino acid substitutions in each lineage.

Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology of the Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis).

Skull specimens from 836 kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) were examined macroscopically according to predefined criteria; 559 specimens were included in this study. The study group consisted of 248 (44.4%) females, 267 (47.8%) males and 44 (7.9%) specimens of unknown sex; 128 (22.9%) skulls were from young adults and 431 (77.1%) were from adults. Of the 23,478 possible teeth, 21,883 teeth (93.2%) were present for examination, 45 (1.9%) were absent congenitally, 405 (1.7%) were acquired losses and 1,145 (4.9%) were missing artefactually. No persistent deciduous teeth were observed. Eight (0.04%) supernumerary teeth were found in seven (1.3%) specimens and 13 (0.06%) teeth from 12 (2.1%) specimens were malformed. Root number variation was present in 20.3% (403/1,984) of the present maxillary and mandibular first premolar teeth. Eleven (2.0%) foxes had lesions consistent with enamel hypoplasia and 77 (13.8%) had fenestrations in the maxillary alveolar bone. Periodontitis and attrition/abrasion affected the majority of foxes (71.6% and 90.5%, respectively). Nine-hundred and fifty-eight (4.4%) teeth were fractured, a large proportion (41.8%) of which were characterized as complicated crown fractures. Sixty-six periapical lesions from 52 (9.3%) skulls were found. A considerable portion of foxes (5.9%) showed evidence of low-grade temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. Overall, kit foxes share dental pathology similar to that of the grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus).

Quantitative trait loci for seedling and adult plant resistance to Stagonospora nodorum in wheat.

Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB) caused by Stagonospora nodorum is a severe disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in many areas of the world. S. nodorum affects both seedling and adult plants causing necrosis of leaf and glume tissue, inhibiting photosynthetic capabilities, and reducing grain yield. The aims of this study were to evaluate disease response of 280 doubled haploid (DH) individuals derived from a cross between resistant (6HRWSN125) and susceptible (WAWHT2074) genotypes, compare quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seedling and adult plant resistance in two consecutive years, and assess the contribution of QTL on grain weight. Flag leaves and glumes of individuals from the DH population were inoculated with mixed isolates of S. nodorum at similar maturity time to provide accurate disease evaluation independent of morphological traits and identify true resistance for QTL analysis. Fungicide protected and inoculated plots were used to measure relative grain weight (RGW) as a yield-related trait under pathogen infection. The lack of similar QTL and little or no correlation in disease scores indicate different genes control seedling and adult plant disease and independent genes control flag leaf and glume resistance. This study consistently identified a QTL on chromosome 2DL for flag leaf resistance (QSnl.daw-2D) and 4BL for glume resistance (QSng.daw-4B) from the resistant parent, 6HRWSN125, explaining 4 to 19% of the phenotypic variation at each locus. A total of 5 QTL for RGW were consistently detected, where two were in the same marker interval for QSnl.daw-2D and QSng.daw-4B indicating the contribution of these QTL to yield related traits. Therefore, RGW measurement in QTL analysis could be used as a reliable indicator of grain yield affected by S. nodorum infection.

Effect of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor blockade on plasticity of frontal cortex after cholinergic deafferentation in rat.

Cholinergic projections from the nucleus basalis play a critical role in cortical plasticity. For instance, cholinergic deafferentation increases dendritic spine density and expression of the GluR1 subunit of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate receptor in frontal cortex. Acetylcholine modulates glutamatergic activity in cortex, and the N-methyl-d-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptor plays a role in many forms of synaptic plasticity. To assess whether N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors mediate the increase in GluR1 and spine density resulting from cholinergic deafferentation, we examined the effect of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor blockade on nucleus basalis lesion-induced upregulation of GluR1 and dendritic spines. Rats received unilateral sham or 192 IgG saporin lesions of the nucleus basalis. Half of the rats in each group were treated with the N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist MK-801 or phosphate-buffered saline. Two weeks later, brains were processed for either immunohistochemical staining of the GluR1 subunit or Golgi histology. In layer II-III of frontal cortex, neuronal GluR1 expression was assessed using an unbiased stereological technique, and spine density was assessed on basilar branches of pyramidal neurons. GluR1 expression was increased after nucleus basalis lesion, but this increase was prevented with MK-801. Similarly, nucleus basalis-lesioned animals had significantly higher spine densities, and this effect was also prevented by treatment with MK-801. Thus, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor blockade prevented both GluR1 and spine density upregulation following cholinergic deafferentation, suggesting that these effects are N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated.

Drug resistance in Chinese hamster ovary cells during recovery from severe hypoxia.

Chinese hamster ovary cells exposed to hypoxia developed an 80-fold resistance to a subsequent 1-hour exposure to doxorubicin (ADR) in air. Recovery in air before drug exposure resulted in loss of resistance. Cells exposed to hypoxia for 20 hours followed by a 15-hour recovery were still twofold to threefold more resistant than aerobic cells to a short pulse of ADR. A subpopulation of cells was generated that was at least twice as large as aerobic cells and contained greater than normal G2-M DNA content. This subpopulation showed no resistance to a continuous exposure to either ADR or methotrexate, nor was it more resistant to a pulse of ADR than the remaining cells with normal DNA content. Our data indicate that hypoxia can produce significant ADR resistance. However, conditions resulting in overproduced DNA did not cause significant additional resistance.

Effects of specific active immunization on tumor recurrence following primary tumor resection in WF rats with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced bowel cancer.

Primary gastrointestinal tumors were induced in male WF rats by 16 weekly sc injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine [(DMH) CAS: 540-73-8; 20 mg/kg/wk]. Twenty-four to 28 weeks after the start of DMH injections, all rats were surgically explored and gastrointestinal tumors were resected. Rats with no remaining microscopic disease after operation were immunized with one of four tumor isografts. The first isograft, DMH-W163, is a poorly differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma explanted from a colon cancer in a DMH-treated animal. It has been shown to possess antigens that cross-react with other DMH-induced bowel adenocarcinoma isografts. The second isograft, DMH-W49, is a carcinosarcoma explanted from a DMH-treated primary colon cancer. It has intermediate antigenic cross-reactivity with other colon adenocarcinoma isografts in the WF model. The third isograft, DMH-W15, is a sarcoma explanted from a DMH-induced colon cancer that does not possess antigens cross-reactive with other DMH-induced colon adenocarcinomas. The fourth isograft, SPK, is a spontaneous (non-DMH-induced) renal cell carcinoma that is immunogenic but should not contain tissue-type-specific antigens cross-reacting with the bowel cancers. Immunized rats received three sc weekly injections of 1 X 10(3) irradiated cells. Concomitant control rats received no immunization after resection of the primary tumor. Within 24 weeks of primary tumor resection, 12 of 16 (75%) rats not immunized had tumor recurrence. Only 8 of 24 (34%) rats immunized with DMH-W163 had tumor recurrence (P less than .025 compared to controls). Fifty percent of animals (10/20) immunized with the carcinosarcoma DMH-W49 had a recurrence. Animals immunized with the non-cross-reacting DMH-W15 sarcoma isograft had a recurrence rate similar to that of controls (16/20, 75%). The rats immunized with SPK were not protected from recurrence. Twelve of 19 (63%) had a recurrence at or near the suture line within 24 weeks following primary tumor resection. These results confirm that adjuvant immunotherapy can decrease the rate of recurrence following primary tumor resection in this model. In addition, immunogens that possessed tissue-type-specific antigens were more effective in preventing tumor recurrence than those that did not.

Identification of material with paternal HLA antigen immunoreactivity from purported circulating immune complexes in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Circulating immune complex(es) (CIC) have been shown to rise progressively only when patients with hydatidiform molar pregnancy enter gonadotropin-documented remission. The CIC in 3 patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN)--1 with hydatidiform mole and 2 with choriocarcinoma--were characterized. Their clinical course was monitored by serial antigen-nonspecific polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000-CIC assay and simultaneous human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) assay from presentation until sustained gonadotropin-documented remission. As serial HCG progressively decreased to normal following surgical or chemotherapeutic reduction in tumor burden, PEG-CIC concurrently rose. Serum obtained at or near peak PEG-CIC levels was precipitated by 3.75% PEG 6000 and fractionated by column chromatography on Sephadex G-200 (exclusion limit, greater than 600,000 mol wt) in glycine-HCl and 1 M NaCl buffer at pH 2.8. None of the 5 elution fractions obtained from the 3 patients contained HCG or anti-HCG activity. However, in the hydatidiform molar patient, fractions 1 through 3 (mol wt greater than 67,000--and containing immunoglobulin) were shown to competitively inhibit complement-dependent antibody lysis on 1 of 4 paternal HLA haplotype (AW32) targets. In 2 of the 3 patients studied, low-molecular-weight fractions (not containing immunoglobulin) significantly inhibited reference anti-HLA binding of antisera directed against only 1 of 4 paternal HLA haplotypes. The immunospecificity of this inhibition was confirmed by criss-cross control assays in which elution fractions obtained from both of these patients were tested for inhibition of lymphocytolysis of both sets of paternal lymphocytes. None of these fractions were immunoreactive to maternal HLA haplotypes. Further analysis of serum from the hydatidiform molar patient revealed that no free complement-fixing antibody against paternal antigens could be found by conventional screening assays in unfractionated patient sera. Three of 4 paternal HLA antigens or non-complement-fixing anti-HLA immunoglobulin was detected in unfractionated pretreatment, treatment, and remission sera of the hydatidiform molar patient. Only in this patient's remission sera was unbound AW32 antigen or non-complement-fixing anti-AW32 antibody detected. These data demonstrate the successful characterization of at least 1 specific antigen fractionated from a tumor-associated immune complex. The implication that some patients with GTN may recognize and react to immunogenic paternal HLA antigens as part of their successful response to therapy for trophoblastic tumor is discussed.

Circulating immune complex levels in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

The clinical course, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels, and serial circulating immune complex (CIC) levels in 21 patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) were correlated for the evaluation of the relationship between CIC levels and trophoblastic tumor burden. CIC levels were normal in 18 of 21 patients at the time of presentation, and 2 of 3 patients who presented with elevated CIC levels had significant comorbid disease (toxemia and hepatitis). Nine patients were followed into gonadotropin remission, and all 9 developed an increase in CIC levels at the time of remission. It was concluded that CIC, at least as measured by two antigen-nonspecific techniques, is generally not elevated at initial presentation in the patient with GTN; this lack of an elevation is probably due to marked tumor antigen excess. Thus the in vivo importance of CIC as a "blocker" of host antitumor response at this stage is doubtful. After effective treatment as HCG levels return to normal, the demonstrated elevation in serial levels of CIC may reflect a return of adequate host immune response at a time of minimal tumor burden.

Serial circulating immune complex levels and mitogen responses during progressive tumor growth in WF rats.

Inbred male WF rats were given im injections of one of two antigenically and histologically distinct syngeneic tumor isografts, adenocarcinoma DMH-W 163 or spontaneous renal cell carcinoma SPK. Serum and peripheral blood lymphocytes were harvested from tumor-bearing and normal age-matched controls before and after isograft challenge at weekly intervals. Serial circulating immune complex (CIC) levels were quantitated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) insolubilization. T-cell mitogen responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) were followed serially. Tumor growth was measured at least weekly. PEG-CIC values rose early after tumor injection, increased with tumor growth, and declined in some animals just before death. Mitogen response to PHA was significantly decreased in isografted tumor-bearing rats, particularly at later stages of tumor development, compared to normal uninoculated controls. Responses to Con A were variable, and suppression was not always seen in tumor bearers. In animals that did not have progressive tumor growth after isograft injection, PEG-CIC levels did not change and responses to PHA were not suppressed. Patterns of CIC change and responses to PHA were not affected by differences in tumor histology or growth rates. Thus serial CIC levels measured by the PEG assay correlate with tumor growth and precede nonspecific suppression of T-cell mitogenic response in these animal tumor models.

Induction of tumorigenicity and lack of in vitro growth requirement for 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate by transfection of murine melanocytes with v-Ha-ras.

A nontumorigenic line of murine melanocytes, Mel-ab, has been transfected with the v-Ha-ras gene under transcriptional control of the Moloney murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat. Transfectants produced rapidly growing undifferentiated melanomas in recipient mice. The inhibition of melanin production in transformed cells, observable both in vitro and in vivo, suggests that ras may affect melanocyte cytodifferentiation. Mel-ab cells require the continual presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, or other activators of protein kinase C, for in vitro growth. Transfectants expressing v-Ha-ras no longer manifested this requirement and were actually growth inhibited by the addition of protein kinase C activators. These results are consistent with the notion that ras acts via the protein kinase C pathway in conferring autonomous growth on Mel-ab cells.

Protein kinase C down-regulation, and not transient activation, correlates with melanocyte growth.

The nontumorigenic, immortal line of murine melanocytes, Mel-ab, requires the continual presence of biologically active phorbol esters for growth (R.E. Wilson et al., Cancer Res., 49:711-716, 1989). Comparable treatments of B16 murine melanoma cells result in partial inhibition of cell proliferation. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the modulation of growth of cells from these two melanocytic cell lines has been investigated. Significant levels of PKC were present in quiescent Mel-ab cells as determined by Western blotting, whereas no immunoreactive protein was detected in cell extracts from either proliferating Mel-ab or B16.F1 cells. Phosphorylation of a Mr 80,000 protein, which by one- and two-dimensional gel analysis comigrated with the known Mr 80,000 protein substrate of PKC in fibroblasts, was induced in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-stimulated quiescent Mel-ab cells but not in proliferating Mel-ab cells or B16.F1 melanoma cells. Direct measurement of PKC activity in these cells demonstrated a 10-fold greater level of activity in quiescent Mel-ab cells (262 +/- 50 pmol/min/mg SD) compared with growing cells (22.8 +/- 11.8 pmol/min/mg SD). An intermediate level of activity was detected in proliferating B16.F1 melanoma cells (148.5 +/- 20.4 pmol/min/mg SD). The subcellular distribution of PKC was dependent upon the growth state of the cells such that quiescent Mel-ab cells displayed a higher level of activity in the cytosol, whereas growing Mel-ab cells displayed greater activity in the particulate fraction. Like many other transformed lines, B16.F1 melanoma cells constitutively expressed the majority of enzyme activity in the particulate fraction. Measurement of [3H]phorbol ester binding in intact cells paralleled the PKC activation data such that quiescent Mel-ab cells displayed binding of 1612 +/- 147 cpm/10(6) cells, whereas proliferating Mel-ab and B16.F1 melanoma cells displayed binding of 652 +/- 28 and 947 +/- 81 cpm/10(6) cells, respectively. Membrane-permeant diacylglycerol analogues, which activated but did not down-regulate PKC, were devoid of growth-stimulating effects on melanocytes, even in the presence of the specific diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor, R59022. Together, these data show that PKC down-regulation, and not activation, correlates with the growth of melanocytes in culture.

Adoptive immunotherapy of human cancer using low-dose recombinant interleukin 2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells.

The adoptive transfer of recombinant-methionyl human interleukin 2 (rIL-2)-activated autologous peripheral blood mononuclear lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells to cancer patients is being evaluated as an alternative to conventional cancer therapy. We have independently developed an alternative regimen to previously reported adoptive immunotherapy protocols using rIL-2 and LAK cells which features the prolonged administration of low-dose rIL-2 (30,000 units/kg) and an automated, entirely enclosed system of peripheral blood cell procurement, culture, harvest, and reinfusion of activated cells. The cell culture system was tested with a murine tumor model in which LAK cells generated in plastic culture bags were reinfused into tumor-bearing mice. Tumor regression was as effective with cells activated in the bags as in conventional culture flasks. Twenty-eight cancer patients were treated for 5 consecutive days with low-dose rIL-2, followed by leukapheresis, infusion of LAK cells, and prolonged IL-2 administration. At least 50% tumor regression was observed in 46% of all patients treated. These data imply that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells retain fully their capacity for rIL-2-induced activation and effector cell function under this alternative approach, and further, that a low-dose rIL-2 regimen with markedly reduced toxicities can be as effective as high-dose rIL-2 regimens if low-dose rIL-2 is given for a prolonged period of time following LAK cell infusion.

Polyoma middle T abrogates TPA requirement of murine melanocytes and induces malignant melanoma.

We have transfected the polyoma middle T oncogene into an immortal murine melanocyte cell line, Mel-ab. This highly pigmented line is phorbol ester (TPA) dependent for in vitro growth, suggesting activation and/or down regulation of Protein Kinase C (PKC) is essential for mitogenesis. Moreover, cells of this line do not form tumours when injected subcutaneously into immunocompetent or immunoincompetent mice. Here we show that PyMT alone is sufficient to produce TPA-independence and transformation to the tumourigenic state in transfected Mel-ab cells. Western blot analysis shows that middle T overcomes the TPA requirement by a mechanism independent of PKC down regulation though this does appear to occur when Mel-ab cells are grown continuously in TPA. These results suggest that PyMT is not exerting its transforming effect by PKC down regulation, but conceivably at some later stage of second messenger signalling, possibly through PyMT-c-src protein kinase activity.

Early response gene signalling cascades activated by ionising radiation in primary human B cells.

We have used a panel of 13 protein kinase C-responsive immediate early gene probes to dissect the cellular signalling pathways activated by ionising gamma radiation in primary human B cells. Of these 13 genes, a delayed transient induction was observed for only 8: c-fos, c-jun, jun-B, jun-D, c-myc, ergI/krox 24 and two 'anonymous' genes, 3L3 and 19A. Expression of c-myc and c-fos mRNAs was paralleled by the appearance of their encoded proteins suggesting that these oncoproteins may couple radiation signalling to cellular responses. Of three protein kinase C-coupled transcription factors examined by gel retardation assay, (AP1, NF kappa B, EgrK/Krox24) only NF kappa B and, to a lesser extent, AP1 was stimulated in response to irradiation. These observations are not obviously compatible with a simple model invoking protein kinase C in radiation signalling in primary B cells and suggest that the pleiotropic effects of ionising radiation on this cell type are mediated through a distinct cellular signalling cascade.