A generic method for the production of cell lines expressing high levels of 7-transmembrane receptors.

G-protein-coupled or 7-transmembrane receptors (7TMRs) are often studied after heterologous expression in mammalian cells such as COS-7, CHO-K1, or HEK-293s. In this paper, we describe the development of a rapid and generic method for producing stable Chinese hamster ovary cell lines expressing high levels of recombinant 7TMRs by N-terminal tagging these proteins with the hemagglutinin (HA) sequence. To illustrate the broad applicability of this technique, we have presented data from cell lines expressing a glycoprotein hormone receptor for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR), CXC- (CXCR-2), and CC-chemokine (CCR-1) receptors and peptide receptors from the somatostatin (SSTR1, 2, 5) and neuropeptide Y (NPY-Y2, -Y4 Rs) families. Typically, cell lines with a receptor density of 1 to 15 pmol/mg protein are produced with this method. The presence of the HA tag does not adversely affect the binding or functional activity of the receptors.

Ligand binding kinetics of IL-2 and IL-15 to heteromers formed by extracellular domains of the three IL-2 receptor subunits.

Studies on the binding of IL-2 to its receptor (IL-2R) have generally been limited to receptors expressed on cell surfaces. This has hampered detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies at the molecular level. We have prepared the soluble extracellular domains of all three receptor subunits (called alpha, beta and gamma) by recombinant techniques and have used these to perform detailed kinetic studies of their binding properties using the technique of surface plasmon resonance. We describe a novel approach whereby the receptors are assembled on an antibody surface, being held by an epitope engineered into the C-terminus of each of these domains. Thus the receptors are oriented naturally leading to homogeneous ligand binding kinetics. We have characterized the interactions of the heteromeric complexes of these subunits with mouse and human IL-2 and their analogs, as well as the recently discovered cytokine, IL-15. We have also studied the extracellular domains of the mouse receptor subunits for the first time and have used these as well as mouse-human hybrid receptors to probe the mechanism of assembly of these complexes. We show that no additional proteins are required to reproduce the properties of these complexes in vitro. In addition, kinetic studies with site-specific analogs of IL-2 and the mouse-human receptor hybrids clearly indicate that the extracellular domains of alpha and beta can together readily bind ligand with kinetic properties distinct from those of the constituent subunits. In contrast, a complex containing ligand and the extracellular domains of beta and gamma was comparatively difficult to assemble and required prolonged exposure to IL-2. Our method enabled us to calculate the stoichiometry of these complexes and to determine that anchoring these subunits is necessary to efficiently drive complex formation. The kinetic and equilibrium differences between the mouse and human receptor complexes, and between IL-2 and IL-15 binding to these receptors clarify the roles of the alpha and gamma subunits in the differential response of cells to different cytokines that may be present simultaneously in the environment.

Generation of a water-soluble oligomeric ectodomain of the Rous sarcoma virus envelope glycoprotein.

Sequences encoding the transmembrane domain of the Rous sarcoma virus envelope (Env) glycoprotein were deleted and replaced with sequences that signal addition of a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchor. Stable NIH 3T3 cell lines expressing either the wild-type transmembrane-anchored Env or the Env chimera with a GPI tail were established. The GPI-anchored envelope glycoprotein is expressed, oligomerized, and transported to the cell surface in a manner identical to that of its wild-type transmembrane-anchored counterpart. The GPI-linked protein is quantitatively removed from the cell surface by treatment with phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C. The phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C-released, water-soluble Env glycoprotein ectodomain retains the wild-type oligomeric structure and provides a useful tool for studying the subgroup-specific binding and fusion activities of a prototypic retroviral Env glycoprotein.

Recognition of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte receptors for leukotriene B4 by rabbit anti-idiotypic antibodies to a mouse monoclonal antileukotriene B4.

Rabbit anti-idiotypic IgG antibodies to the combining site of a mouse monoclonal IgG2b antibody to leukotriene B4 (LTB4) cross-reacted with human polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte receptors for LTB4. Anti-idiotypic IgG and Fab both inhibited the binding of [3H]LTB4, but not [3H]N-formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP), to PMN leukocytes with similar concentration-effect relationships, whereas neither nonimmune rabbit IgG nor Fab had any inhibitory activity. At a concentration of anti-idiotypic IgG that inhibited by 50% the binding of [3H] LTB4 to PMN leukocytes, the antibodies preferentially recognized high affinity receptors. Anti-idiotypic IgG and Fab inhibited PMN leukocyte chemotactic responses to LTB4, but not fMLP, with concentration-effect relationships resembling those characteristic of the inhibition of binding of [3H] LTB4, without altering the LTB4-induced release of beta-glucuronidase. Chemotaxis and increases in the cytoplasmic concentration of calcium equal in magnitude to those elicited by optimal concentrations of LTB4 were attained at respective concentrations of anti-idiotypic IgG equal to and 1/25 the level required for inhibition of binding of [3H]LTB4 by approximately 50%. Thus, the anti-idiotypic antibodies bound to PMN leukocyte receptors for LTB4 with a specificity, preference for high affinity sites, and capacity to alter PMN leukocyte functions that were similar to LTB4.

Alterations in human leukocyte function induced by ingestion of eicosapentaenoic acid.

Two groups of six adults with persistent asthma, who were identical clinically, received 0.1 or 4 g of purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) daily for 8 weeks. Both doses increased significantly the generation of leukotriene B5 (LTB5) from EPA by polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear leukocytes, while only the high dose decreased leukocyte arachidonic acid (AA) and the generation of LTB4 and prostaglandin E2 from AA. Only the high dose led to inhibition of PMN leukocyte chemotaxis to multiple stimuli by a mean of 57-70% (P less than 0.01), without altering monocyte chemotaxis, the production of platelet-activating factor by mononuclear leukocytes, or the IgE-dependent release of histamine from basophils. Both doses of EPA increased the responses of T lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin by a mean of 73% or more (P less than 0.01) without modifying the numbers of helper and suppressor T lymphocytes. EPA affects the functions of several types of leukocytes critical to inflammation and immunity.

Endogenous somatostatin-like peptides of rat basophilic leukemia cells.

The tetradecapeptide somatostatin (SOM 14) and a 28-amino acid biosynthetic precursor (SOM 28) are constituents of diverse neuroendocrine tissues that are released by noxious stimuli from a subset of sensory nerve endings, and substantially modify the functions of basophils and mast cells. SOM-like factors were detected initially in the fluid phase of suspensions of immunologically challenged rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL), and were purified from ethanol/0.2 M acetic acid (3/1, v/v) extracts of replicate portions of 3 X 10(9) RBL. Sephadex G-25 columns resolved factors of over 10,000, 2000 to 4000, and 300 to 1200 daltons that are antigenically related to SOM 14, as assessed by a radioimmunoassay specific for SOM 14. Only the two larger factors were detected by a radioimmunoassay for SOM 28(1-14), which binds to prepro-SOM and SOM 28 but not SOM 14. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography distinguished the two smaller SOM peptides of RBL from SOM 28 and SOM 14, respectively. Amino acid analyses showed major differences in composition between the 2000 to 4000 dalton SOM of RBL and SOM 28. Picomolar to nanomolar concentrations of both of the smaller SOM peptides of RBL inhibited the IgE-dependent release of histamine from basophils to the same extent as SOM 14. The finding of 3 to 5 ng of structurally unique SOM-like peptides per 10(8) RBL suggests that endogenous mechanisms analogous to those of specialized sensory neurons may regulate the expression of hypersensitivity.