CD70 (TNFSF7) is expressed at high prevalence in renal cell carcinomas and is rapidly internalised on antibody binding.

In order to identify potential markers of renal cancer, the plasma membrane protein content of renal cell carcinoma (RCC)-derived cell lines was annotated using a proteomics process. One unusual protein identified at high levels in A498 and 786-O cells was CD70 (TNFSF7), a type II transmembrane receptor normally expressed on a subset of B, T and NK cells, where it plays a costimulatory role in immune cell activation. Immunohistochemical analysis of CD70 expression in multiple carcinoma types demonstrated strong CD70 staining in RCC tissues. Metastatic tissues from eight of 11 patients with clear cell RCC were positive for CD70 expression. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated that binding of an anti-CD70 antibody to CD70 endogenously expressed on the surface of A498 and 786-O cell lines resulted in the rapid internalisation of the antibody-receptor complex. Coincubation of the internalising anti-CD70 antibody with a saporin-conjugated secondary antibody before addition to A498 cells resulted in 50% cell killing. These data indicate that CD70 represents a potential target antigen for toxin-conjugated therapeutic antibody treatment of RCC.

Proteomic analysis of the cell-surface membrane in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: identification of two novel proteins, BCNP1 and MIG2B.

B-cell-specific plasma-membrane proteins are potential targets for either small molecule or antibody-based therapies. We have sought to annotate proteins expressed at the cell surface membrane in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) using plasma-membrane-based proteomic analysis to identify previously uncharacterized and potentially B-cell-specific proteins. Proteins from plasma-membrane fractions were separated on one-dimensional gels and trypsinized fractions subjected to high-throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Using this method, many known B-cell surface antigens were detected, but also known proteins not previously described in this disease or in this cellular compartment, including cell surface receptors, membrane-associated enzymes and secreted proteins, and completely unknown proteins. To validate the method, we show that BLK, a B-cell-specific kinase, is located in the CLL-plasma-membrane fraction. We also describe two novel proteins (MIG2B and B-cell novel protein #1, BCNP1), which are expressed preferentially in B cells. MIG2B is in a highly conserved and defined gene family containing two plasma-membrane-binding ezrin/radixin/moesin domains and a pleckstrin homology domain; the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog (UNC-112) is a membrane-associated protein that colocalizes with integrin at cell-matrix adhesion complexes. BCNP1 is a completely unknown protein with three predicted transmembrane domains, with three alternatively spliced final exons. Proteomic analysis may thus define new potential therapeutic targets.

Ecological benefits of myrmecochory for the endangered chaparral shrub Fremontodendron decumbens (Sterculiaceae).

Fremontodendron decumbens grows in a single county in central California, USA. Prior research showed that its elaiosome-bearing seeds are dispersed by the harvester ant Messor andrei. I tested several hypotheses regarding the positive role of ant-mediated dispersal to F. decumbens: (1) Does ant-mediated seed dispersal facilitate seed escape from rodent predation?; (2) Does ant processing of seeds stimulate germination?; (3) Are ant middens more suitable microsites for seed or seedling survival in unburned chaparral areas?; and (4) Do survival benefits of dispersal occur post-fire in the form of differences in seedling survival probabilities and, if so, why? Results of tests of each hypothesis were: (1) similar percentages of seeds placed on ant middens and under F. decumbens shrub canopies were destroyed by rodents, but seeds from which elaiosomes had been removed were more likely to escape rodent predation; (2) seeds processed by ants did not germinate more readily than seeds removed directly from shrub branches; (3) seedling predation was a major cause of mortality in unburned chaparral on both ant middens and under shrubs, and overall seedling survival did not differ between the two microsites; (4) post-burn seedling survival was significantly greater for seedlings dispersed away from F. decumbens shrub canopies, because dispersed seedlings were both less likely to be killed by predators and more likely to be growing in a gap created by the fire-caused death of an established shrub. I concluded that the major ecological benefit to F. decumbens of ant-mediated seed dispersal was elevated post-fire seedling survival resulting from enhanced escape by dispersed seedlings from both predation and competition.

Nickel increases susceptibility of a nickel hyperaccumulator to Turnip mosaic virus.

Hyperaccumulated Ni can defend plant tissues against herbivores and pathogens. The effectiveness of this defense, however, has not been tested with a viral pathogen. Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) accumulation was studied in two serpentine species of Streptanthus with different Ni uptake abilities. Plants of a Ni hyperaccumulator, milk-wort jewelflower (S. polygaloides Gray), and a non-hyperaccumulator, plumed jewelflower (S. insignis Jepson), were grown on Ni-amended and unamended soils. Plants were inoculated with TuMV at three different phenological stages: basal rosette, bolting, and flowering. Susceptibility of experimental plants to TuMV was determined either by the magnitude of TuMV accumulation (measured by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) or by plant survival. Streptanthus polygaloides plants grown on high-Ni soil were more susceptible to TuMV than low-Ni S. polygaloides at all three phenological stages. All rosette and pre-bolt S. insignis plants were infected by TuMV, but survival and TuMV accumulation were not significantly affected by soil Ni. At flowering, only high-Ni S. polygaloides plants became infected. For S. polygaloides, elevated tissue Ni concentrations enhanced TuMV infection instead of defending plants from the virus. To reduce risks to nearby agricultural crops, future phytoremed. iation and phytomining operations using this species should incorporate management plans to prevent the creation of artificial reservoirs of TuMV inoculum.

MMP-2 release and activation in ovarian carcinoma: the role of fibroblasts.

The matrix metalloproteinase MMP-2 is up-regulated in epithelial cancers and its mRNA localizes to stromal fibroblasts. In this paper we show that co-culture of ovarian carcinoma cells with fibroblasts resulted in an enhanced release of proMMP-2 and TIMP-2 into the culture medium. Cell-cell interaction was a major factor in this response and carcinoma cells stimulated proMMP-2 release from fibroblasts but not vice versa. Collagen 1, in a dose-dependent fashion, induced activation of proMMP-2 by tumour-derived, but not normal, fibroblasts. Antibody to beta1 integrin also induced proMMP-2 activation by tumour-derived fibroblasts. The activation involved the processing of proMMP-2 by a membrane-bound metalloproteinase. We propose that, in the ovarian tumour microenvironment, interaction between tumour cells and fibroblasts may enhance fibroblast production of the proMMP-2 and TIMP-2. Collagen I, also present in the ovarian tumours, then induces these fibroblasts to activate proMMP-2 even in the presence of TIMP-2. This active MMP-2 can associate with the cell surface of tumour cells and fibroblasts and is used in the processes of tissue remodelling and invasion.

The effect of botulinum neurotoxins on the release of insulin from the insulinoma cell lines HIT-15 and RINm5F.

Western blotting of the insulin-secreting beta-cell lines HIT-15 and RINm5F with anti-SNAP-25 (synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa), anti-synaptobrevin, and anti-syntaxin 1 antibodies revealed the presence of proteins with the same electrophoretic mobility as found in neural tissue. Permeabilization of both of these insulinoma cell lines to botulinum neurotoxin A by electroporation resulted, after 3 days of culture, in the loss of approximately 90% of SNAP-25 immunoreactivity. A similar permeabilization of these cells with botulinum neurotoxin B resulted in the cleavage of approximately 90% of the synaptobrevin-like immunoreactivities. Botulinum neurotoxin F also cleaved approximately 90% of the synaptobrevin-like immunoreactivity in RINm5F cells. The permeabilization of both insulinoma cells to neurotoxin A resulted in a > 90% inhibition of potassium-stimulated, calcium-dependent insulin release. By contrast, permeabilization of the insulinoma cell lines to neurotoxin B resulted in only a approximately 60% inhibition of potassium-stimulated insulin release in HIT-15 cells, and neither neurotoxin B nor F caused inhibition in RINm5F cells. Thus HIT-15 and RINm5F cells contain the components of the putative exocytotic docking complex described in cells derived from the neural crest. In HIT-15 cells both SNAP-25 and synaptobrevin appear to be involved in calcium-dependent insulin secretion, whereas in RINm5F cells SNAP-25 but not synaptobrevin is involved.

Inhibition of ADP-ribosyltransferase increases synthesis of Gs alpha in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells and reverses iloprost-dependent heterologous loss of fluoride-sensitive adenylate cyclase.

Exposure of NG108-15 cells to 50 mM nicotinamide [an inhibitor of mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase] for 18 hr led to an increase in membrane associated Gs alpha measured either as cholera toxin substrate or by immunoblotting with a specific antiserum. Prolonged exposure of NG108-15 cells to iloprost is followed by homologous loss of iloprost sensitivity, and heterologous loss of fluoride-dependent activation of adenylate cyclase. Nicotinamide reversed the loss of fluoride sensitivity, but failed to restore iloprost-dependent activation of adenylate cyclase. These results with nicotinamide in NG108-15 cells contrasted with those from platelets, which also exhibit heterologous desensitization of fluoride sensitivity following prolonged exposure to iloprost. Treatment of platelets with 50 mM nicotinamide for 18 hr led to an increase of 75.0 +/- 19.4% in the amount of membrane associated cholera toxin substrate. However, there was no associated increase in the abundance of Gs alpha as determined by immunoblotting. Furthermore, in platelets there was no restoration by nicotinamide of the iloprost-dependent loss of fluoride-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. It follows that heterologous desensitization in platelets is accompanied by inactivation of Gs alpha, which is retained within the plasma membrane in its inactive state. The nicotinamide-dependent increase in the abundance of membrane associated cholera toxin substrate and immunoreactive Gs alpha in NG108-15 cells is associated with an increase of 72.0 +/- 20.3% in the levels of mRNA encoding Gs alpha. The capacity of nicotinamide to increase the abundance of membrane associated Gs alpha was reversed when the cells were cultured in the presence of 20 micrograms/mL cycloheximide. These results suggest that the ability of nicotinamide to increase the abundance of Gs alpha in NG108-15 cells is mediated by de novo protein synthesis.

Loss of responses to bradykinin, ATP or carbachol follows depletion of a shared pool of calcium ions.

Treatment of NCB-20 neuronal hybrid cells in culture with 100 microM ATP, 100 microM carbachol or 1 microM bradykinin is followed by a transient rise in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i). Exposure of these cells to any one of these three agonists (ATP, carbachol or bradykinin) is also followed by heterologous desensitization of responses mediated by either of the other two classes of agonist. The heterologous desensitization is not inhibited by Ro-31-2880 (a selective protein kinase C inhibitor), neither is it accompanied by a reduction in the receptor-dependent increase in inositol trisphosphate. Cells were pre-treated in the absence or presence of extracellular Ca2+ with 1 microM bradykinin, 100 microM carbachol or carrier alone, and thereafter exposed to 1 microM ionomycin. The results showed that pre-treatment with bradykinin or carbachol reduced the maximum increase in [Ca2+]i triggered by ionomycin. Exposure of cells to 1 microM ionomycin in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ totally eliminated the subsequent increase in [Ca2+]i mediated by bradykinin, ATP or carbachol. The results indicate that the heterologous desensitization that follows exposure to bradykinin, ATP or carbachol in NCB-20 cells is mediated by a reduction in a shared pool of intracellular calcium ions.

Sodium nitroprusside promotes NAD+ labelling of a 116 kDa protein in NG108-15 cell homogenates.

A 116 kDa protein in NG108-15 homogenates is labelled in the presence of [32P]NAD+. This protein was found to be poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated and appears to be a poly(ADP-ribosyl)transferase which has poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated itself. Sodium nitroprusside, an NO generating agent, also stimulates the labelling of this protein by [32P]NAD+, but this can only be seen in the presence of thymidine, which inhibits poly(ADP-ribosyl)transferase activity. Sodium nitroprusside also stimulates the labelling of this protein by [3H-nicotinamide]NAD+, indicating that NO facilitates the formation of an adduct between this protein and NAD+. The insensitivity of the linkage between the protein and NAD+ to mercuric ions indicates that the adduct does not involve thiol groups.

Gs alpha is a substrate for mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase of NG108-15 cells. ADP-ribosylation regulates Gs alpha activity and abundance.

NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma somatic hybrid cells were permeabilized in the presence of [32P]NAD+ and then cultured for 18 h. Resolution of the cell proteins on polyacrylamide gels revealed [32P]ADP-ribosylation of five major protein species with molecular mass values of 52 kDa, 44 kDa, 35 kDa, 30 kDa and 25 kDa. A similar pattern of labelling was also seen when NG108-15 cell membranes were incubated with [32P]NAD+ and hydrolysis of the product revealed mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Immunoprecipitation of these products with anti-Gs alpha antiserum revealed a single band identical to cholera toxin substrate. Culture of [32P]NAD(+)-loaded cells for 18 h in the presence of 50 mM-nicotinamide inhibited the eukaryotic mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase activity. Inhibition of the eukaryotic enzyme was also accompanied by an increase in the abundance of Gs alpha, whether measured by Western blotting with anti-Gs alpha antibody (two separate antisera) or by cholera toxin-dependent [32P]ADP-ribosylation. There was no accompanying change in the abundance of G beta. The increase in Gs alpha abundance in nicotinamide-treated NG108-15 cells was accompanied by a 2-fold increase in basal adenylate cyclase activity (measured in the presence of GTP), and by a smaller but significant increase in iloprost-dependent activation of adenylate cyclase. Receptor number or affinity was not affected by nicotinamide, since this treatment did not alter the binding parameters of [3H]iloprost to NG108-15 cell membranes. Short-term exposure of cells to nicotinamide for 1 h revealed no significant difference in either basal or agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. These results reveal that mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation of Gs alpha by eukaryotic ADP-ribosyltransferase modifies the abundance and activity of Gs alpha in NG108-15 cells, and hence may play a role in the hormonal regulation of cell function.

Opiate-dependent changes in the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to stimulatory agonists and 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate are independent of G protein abundance and eukaryotic ADP-ribosyltransferase activity in NG108-15 cells.

NG108-15 cells were exposed in culture to 1 microM [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkaphalin (DADLE) for 17 h. This treatment increased the maximum iloprost- and 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine-dependent activation of adenylate cyclase, as well as basal enzyme activity. In addition, there was an increase in the capacity of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity by direct interaction with the alpha-subunit of the Gi regulatory protein. A similar effect was observed if the cells were exposed to 10 microM carbachol. These treatments of NG108-15 cells did not alter the capacity of NaF to activate adenylate cyclase by direct interaction with Gs alpha. Exposure of NG108-15 cells to DADLE alone or DADLE plus carbachol had no effect on the capacity of pertussis toxin to ADP-ribosylate membrane proteins in these cells; neither was there any change in the activity of eukaryotic ADP-ribosyltransferase expressed in these cells. Under these conditions, the endogenous enzyme did not label any protein with a molecular mass similar to Gi alpha, 41 kDa. Treatment of the cells with DADLE or carbachol had no effect on the abundance of Gs alpha, Gi alpha, or G beta. The underlying mechanism for the changes in agonist-dependent stimulatory responses or Gpp(NH)p-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase remains obscure, but appears not to be mediated by eukaryotic ADP-ribosyltransferase activity or a change in the abundance of G proteins known to regulate adenylate cyclase.

Use of Chlamydiazyme on urine sediment for diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing of urine sediment in males has been FDA approved for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. We compared urine sediment testing to urethral or cervical swabs in 47 men and 219 women using a simpler technique than that recommended by the manufacturer. Sensitivity and specificity values of 88% and 97% for men and 29% and 98% for women, respectively, were found. Urine sediment testing is inadequate in women. However, urine sediment testing in men using our modified technique offers a rapid, accurate, and non-invasive approach which can effectively replace the use of urethral swabs throughout the military.

False-positive Chlamydiazyme results during urine sediment analysis due to bacterial urinary tract infections.

Our study examined whether urinary tract infections (UTIs) would cause false-positive results when urine sediment was tested with the Chlamydiazyme (CZ) system. Thirty-six infected urine samples and fifteen controls were studied. All controls were negative. Forty-seven percent of Escherichia coli UTIs (n = 30) and 100% of Klebsiella pneumoniae UTIs (n = 4) were positive on CZ testing of urine sediment. Nine E. coli UTIs positive by CZ were negative by direct fluorescent-antibody staining. When suspensions of the pure cultures were analyzed, 47% of E. coli and 100% of K. pneumoniae samples were CZ positive. False-positive results were not related to organism biotype or urine characteristics, including pH, specific gravity, and leukocyte count. We conclude that the presence of a UTI and also bacterial contamination must be ruled out prior to urine sediment testing.

Effects of pretreatment with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate on regulation of growth hormone and prolactin secretion from ovine anterior pituitary cells.

Tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) stimulates growth hormone (GH) and prolactin secretion from ovine anterior pituitary cells. Pretreatment of the cells with TPA abolishes this effect, presumably due to down-regulation of protein kinase C. Such pretreatment did not alter effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone or dopamine on prolactin secretion, suggesting no involvement of protein kinase C. Pretreatment with TPA attenuated actions of GH-releasing hormone on GH release (but not actions on cyclic AMP levels), possibly due to depletion of cellular stores of GH. Such pretreatment also attenuated inhibition of GH release by somatostatin, possibly due to phosphorylation of receptors or associated proteins by protein kinase C.

Actions of pertussis toxin on the inhibitory effects of dopamine and somatostatin on prolactin and growth hormone release from ovine anterior pituitary cells.

Forskolin and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate stimulate prolactin and GH release from ovine anterior pituitary cells cultured in vitro. Dopamine and somatostatin inhibit release of prolactin and GH respectively, after stimulation by these agents, but without effects on intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations. In each case the inhibitory effects were reversed by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin, in a dose-related fashion (1-100 ng/ml), again without affecting cyclic AMP levels. The results suggest that the inhibitory effects of dopamine and somatostatin in this system are mediated by one or more pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins, and that these act by a mechanism which does not involve inhibition of adenylate cyclase.