Characterization of murine Flt4 ligand/VEGF-C.

Flt4 is a receptor protein tyrosine kinase that is expressed in the adult lymphatic endothelium and high endothelial venules. We have used a BIAcore assay to identify rodent and human cell conditioned media containing the ligand of Flt4 (Flt4-L). Receptor-based affinity chromatography was used to purify this growth factor, followed by amino acid sequencing and molecular cloning of the murine cDNA, the orthologue of human vascular endothelial growth factor-C and vascular endothelial growth factor related protein. The murine flt4-L gene was localized to chromosome 8 and demonstrated to be widely expressed. Flt4-L was found to have a hydrophobic signal sequence and a pro-peptide-like sequence that is removed to generate the mature N-terminus. In addition, the C-terminal region of Flt4-L has four repeats of a cysteine-rich motif that is presumably also proteolytically processed to generate the 21000 Mr polypeptide subunit of the Flt4-L homodimer. Recombinant Flt4-L activated Flt4 as judged by induction of tyrosyl phosphorylation, and induced mitogenesis in vitro of lymphatic endothelial cells.

Failure to detect interleukin (IL)-3 mRNA or protein in human keratinocytes: antibodies to granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor or IL-6 (but not IL-3) neutralize "IL-3" bioactivity.

Interleukin (IL)-3-like bioactivity has been found in culture supernatants from human and murine keratinocytes. However, there is controversy as to the presence of IL-3 mRNA in human keratinocytes. Using highly sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques, we examined human keratinocytes from four different donors (neonatal foreskins) and were unable to detect IL-3 mRNA or IL-3 protein. Despite successful amplification of DNA from an IL-3 cDNA, no product could be obtained by amplification of keratinocyte RNA treated with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Analysis of concentrated (up to 50-fold) supernatants failed to detect IL-3 protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Because ultraviolet radiation up-regulates many cytokines, we irradiated human keratinocytes with 300 J/m2 ultraviolet B and collected supernatants 24 h post-irradiation. Supernatants concentrated 50-fold were also negative for IL-3 protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. When assayed on the IL-3-responsive M-07e cell line, unirradiated supernatants stimulated M-07e proliferation 22-fold over background levels. Irradiated supernatants stimulated M-07e proliferation 128-fold. Neither the unirradiated nor the irradiated supernatant activity could be neutralized with antibody to human IL-3. However, incubation of irradiated supernatants with antibody to granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) reduced the M-07e proliferation by 90%. Antibodies against GM-CSF and IL-6 completely abrogated proliferation. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction confirmed a concomitant elevation of IL-6 (2.6- to 5.6-fold) and of GM-CSF mRNA (2.7- to 4.3-fold) at 6 and 24 h after ultraviolet B irradiation in keratinocytes, but no IL-3 amplification products could be detected. IL-3 mRNA was also not detected in adult keratinocytes. Even after stimulation by IL-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or phobol myristate acetate, IL-3 mRNA was not detected in either neonatal or adult human keratinocytes. We have been unable to detect IL-3 mRNA or IL-3 protein in human keratinocytes. The IL-3-like activity in human keratinocytes is mainly due to GM-CSF, with a small contribution from IL-6.

M-07e human leukemic factor-dependent cell line provides a rapid and sensitive bioassay for the human cytokines GM-CSF and IL-3.

We have isolated a subline of the M-07 human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, designated M-07e, that requires either interleukin-3 (IL-3) or granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for growth, even in the presence of fetal calf serum. This cell line will not grow long term in any other cytokine although it responds slightly to IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-9, and interferon-gamma. We have used the M-07e subline to develop a quantitative bioassay for the measurement of levels of either GM-CSF or IL-3. This assay is as sensitive to either factor as the human bone marrow colony assay (CFU-GM) or the chronic myelogeneous leukemic (CML) blast cell proliferation assay for these factors and is much more convenient and reliable than either. With this assay, as little as 25-50 pg/ml of either IL-3 or GM-CSF can be detected, a level that should render the assay useful for analysis of these molecules in samples from patients undergoing colony-stimulating factor therapy and from conditioned media from natural sources of the factors. In these cases, neutralizing antisera to each cytokine are required to demonstrate the specificity of the assay. This assay, in combination with quantitative immunoassays, should greatly facilitate the analysis of the roles of IL-3 and GM-CSF in regulating hematopoiesis both in patients and in natural sources of the cytokines.

Expression cloning of cDNA encoding a novel human hematopoietic growth factor: human homologue of murine T-cell growth factor P40.

We used functional expression cloning in mammalian cells to identify a cDNA clone encoding a hematopoietic growth factor that is mitogenic for the factor-dependent human megakaryoblastic leukemic cell line, MO7E. Analysis of the sequence of this cDNA revealed striking similarity to that of a recently reported novel murine growth factor for helper T-cell clones designated T-cell growth factor P40. The mRNA for the human P40 protein is expressed by several different human T-cell lines and by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. The recombinant protein displays substantial size heterogeneity typical of other glycoprotein cytokines. These properties plus the observation that this cytokine may well act within both the lymphoid and myeloid lineages warrant the designation of P40 as interleukin-9.

Human CSF-1: molecular cloning and expression of 4-kb cDNA encoding the human urinary protein.

A 4-kilobase complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding human macrophage-specific colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) was isolated. When introduced into mammalian cells, this cDNA directs the expression of CSF-1 that is structurally and functionally indistinguishable from the natural human urinary CSF-1. Direct structural analysis of both the recombinant CSF-1 and the purified human urinary protein revealed that these species contain a sequence of at least 40 amino acids at their carboxyl termini which are not found in the coding region of a 1.6-kilobase CSF-1 cDNA that was previously described. These results demonstrate that the human CSF-1 gene can be expressed to yield at least two different messenger RNA species that encode distinct but related forms of CSF-1.

Human IL-3 (multi-CSF): identification by expression cloning of a novel hematopoietic growth factor related to murine IL-3.

A cDNA clone encoding a novel hematopoietic growth factor activity produced by a gibbon T cell line has been identified using a mammalian cell expression cloning system. The sequence of this cDNA proved to have significant homology to the sequence encoding murine interleukin 3 (IL-3). The human gene, which was readily identified because of its high degree of homology to the gibbon sequence, also displayed significant homology with the murine IL-3 sequence. The recombinant gibbon IL-3 protein proved to have multipotent colony stimulating activity when tested with normal human bone marrow cells, proving that this primate hematopoietin is not only structurally but also functionally related to murine IL-3.

The subcommissural organ of Lacerta s. sicula Raf.: functional studies.

The secretory activity of the subcommissural organ (SCO) is affected by adrenalectomy, adrenalectomy + castration, and by an increase in ambient temperature in adrenalectomized and adrenalectomized + castrated animals. Adrenalectomy inhibits the activity of the SCO. After adrenalectomy + castration the decrease in the secretory activity of the SCO is more rapid. In contrast, an increase in the ambient temperature in adrenalectomized animals induces a recrudescence of the activity of the SCO. The increase in temperature in castrated + adrenalectomized lizards does not affect the inhibition produced by this type of surgical treatment. The histological changes are discussed on the basis of results obtained in the present study and in previous experiments.

Possible relationship between the activity of the adrenal gland and the subcommissural organ in the lizard Lacerta s. sicula Raf. Effects of ACTH Administration during winter.

In order to study the possible functional relationship between the adrenal gland and the subcommissural organ (SCO) in the lizard Lacerta s. sicula Raf., ACTH was administered to some specimens of this species in January when both the adrenal gland and the subcommissural organ have a very low activity. In comparison to untreated controls, the adrenals of animals treated with ACTH showed clear signs of stimulation, presenting enlarged blood vessels, very few lipid droplets, numerous polymorphic mitochondria and abundant tubular smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, a distinct increase in secretory material was observed in the subcommissural cells of specimens treated with ACTH. These cells showed large cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum filled with granular material in the basal region, numerous secretory granules of two types in the paical region and a reduced number of microvilli on the free cell surface. These findings, together with the results of preceding studies, lead the authors to the consideration that steroid hormones might play a role in the regulation of the secretory activity of the SCO.