Association between monoamine oxidase A activity in human male skin fibroblasts and genotype of the MAOA promoter-associated variable number tandem repeat.

Among fifteen male skin fibroblast cultures from eleven donors ranging in age from less than 1 year to 90 years old, the specific activity of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) differed 515-fold. Each culture had one of the two most common alleles (three or four 30-bp repeats) at the variable number tandem repeat locus positioned 1.2 kb upstream from MAOA exon 1 (uVNTR). The mean MAO-A activity in cultures with three uVNTR repeats was significantly lower than that in cultures with four repeats (1.6 +/- 1.1 and 13 +/- 12 nmol/h per milligram, respectively; P=0.032). MAO-A expression was confined to a cell sub-population varying from 0.5% to 90% of cells in different cultures. The mean specific activity in MAO-A+ cells (whole culture specific activity divided by the proportion of immunopositive cells) was lower for cultures with three repeats than for those with four (7.2 +/- 3.1 and 23.9 +/- 9.5 nmol/h per milligram protein, respectively; P=0.0013), with no overlap in activity between genotypes. Finding lower MAO-A activity in cultures with three uVNTR repeats compared to those with four is consistent with published evidence that MAO-A promoter constructs bearing three repeats have lower transcriptional activity in transfected neuroblastoma and choriocarcinoma cells. The uVNTR genotype may be a common genetic determinant of significant individual differences in oxidizing capacity for critical MAO-A substrates, which include serotonin, norepinephrine, and tyramine.

Relationship between monoamine oxidase (MAO) A specific activity and proportion of human skin fibroblasts which express the enzyme in culture.

Total deficiency of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) in affected males of a single, human kindred appears to be associated with mild mental retardation and significant behavioral anomalies. Though total MAO-A deficiency appears to be rare, the extent and significance of individual variation in monoamine oxidase A activity in human populations is unclear. Since MAO-A activity is undetectable in blood cells, most systematic surveys of individual variation MAO-A activity have compared enzyme activity in human fibroblasts cultured from skin biopsies. Surprisingly, MAO-A activity in skin fibroblast cultures from unrelated donors ranges over 100-fold. It has been suggested that this extreme variation in fibroblast MAO-A activity between donors reflects individual, genetic variation in the regulation of MAO-A in fibroblasts. I have found from studies with immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry that the proportion of MAO-A+ cells in fibroblast cultures is (a) highly variable between cultures, (b) a reproducible characteristic of each culture and (c) the primary factor responsible for variation in MAO-A specific activity in whole cell, skin fibroblast homogenates. It has been shown previously that MAO-A activity of a skin fibroblast culture is relatively constant with continued passage prior to cellular senescence. Therefore, these new data raise the possibility that MAO-A expression is confined to a functionally distinct subset of human skin fibroblasts.

Effect of atrophy and contractions on myogenin mRNA concentration in chick and rat myoblast omega muscle cells.

The skeletal rat myoblast omega (RMo) cell line forms myotubes that exhibit spontaneous contractions under appropriate conditions in culture. We examined if the RMo cells would provide a model for studying atrophy and muscle contraction. To better understand how to obtain contractile cultures, we examined levels of contraction under different growing conditions. The proliferation medium and density of plating affected the subsequent proportion of spontaneously contracting myotubes. Using a ribonuclease protection assay, we found that exponentially growing RMo myoblasts contained no detectable myogenin or herculin mRNA, while differentiating myoblasts contained high levels of myogenin mRNA but no herculin mRNA. There was no increase in myogenin mRNA concentration in either primary chick or RMo myotubes whose contractions were inhibited by depolarizing concentrations of potassium (K+). Thus, altered myogenin mRNA concentrations are not involved in atrophy of chick myotubes. Depolarizing concentrations of potassium inhibited spontaneous contractions in both RMo cultures and primary chick myotube cultures. However, we found that the myosin concentration of 6-d-old contracting RMo cells fed medium plus AraC was 11 +/- 3 micrograms myosin/microgram DNA, not significantly different from 12 +/- 4 micrograms myosin/microgram DNA (n = 3), the myosin concentration of noncontracting RMo cells (treated with 12 mM K+ for 6 d). Resolving how RMo cells maintained their myosin content when contraction is inhibited may be important for understanding atrophy.

Missense mutation in exon 7 of the common gamma chain gene causes a moderate form of X-linked combined immunodeficiency.

Clinical and immunologic features of a recently recognized X-linked combined immunodeficiency disease (XCID) suggested that XCID and X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) might arise from different genetic defects. The recent discovery of mutations in the common gamma chain (gamma c) gene, a constituent of several cytokine receptors, in XSCID provided an opportunity to test directly whether a previously unrecognized mutation in this same gene was responsible for XCID. The status of X chromosome inactivation in blood leukocytes from obligate carriers of XCID was determined from the polymorphic, short tandem repeats (CAG), in the androgen receptor gene, which also contains a methylation-sensitive HpaII site. As in XSCID, X-chromosome inactivation in obligate carriers of XCID was nonrandom in T and B lymphocytes. In addition, X chromosome inactivation in PMNs was variable. Findings from this analysis prompted sequencing of the gamma c gene in this pedigree. A missense mutation in the region coding for the cytoplasmic portion of the gamma c gene was found in three affected males but not in a normal brother. Therefore, this point mutation in the gamma c gene leads to a less severe degree of deficiency in cellular and humoral immunity than that seen in XSCID.

Norrie disease and MAO genes: nearest neighbors.

The Norrie disease and MAO genes are tandemly arranged in the p11.4-p11.3 region of the human X chromosome in the order tel-MAOA-MAOB-NDP-cent. This relationship is conserved in the mouse in the order tel-MAOB-MAOA-NDP-cent. The MAO genes appear to have arisen by tandem duplication of an ancestral MAO gene, but their positional relationship to NDP appears to be random. Distinctive X-linked syndromes have been described for mutations in the MAOA and NDP genes, and in addition, individuals have been identified with contiguous gene syndromes due to chromosomal deletions which encompass two or three of these genes. Loss of function of the NDP gene causes a syndrome of congenital blindness and progressive hearing loss, sometimes accompanied by signs of CNS dysfunction, including variable mental retardation and psychiatric symptoms. Other mutations in the NDP gene have been found to underlie another X-linked eye disease, exudative vitreo-retinopathy. An MAOA deficiency state has been described in one family to date, with features of altered amine and amine metabolite levels, low normal intelligence, apparent difficulty in impulse control and cardiovascular difficulty in affected males. A contiguous gene syndrome in which all three genes are lacking, as well as other as yet unidentified flanking genes, results in severe mental retardation, small stature, seizures and congenital blindness, as well as altered amine and amine metabolites. Issues that remain to be resolved are the function of the NDP gene product, the frequency and phenotype of the MAOA deficiency state, and the possible occurrence and phenotype of an MAOB deficiency state.

The promoter of the human monoamine oxidase A gene.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A (EC 1.4.3.4) oxidizes norepinephrine and serotonin and is expressed in a cell type-specific manner. Evidence that MAO A deficient males in a large Dutch kindred suffer from mild mental retardation and occasional episodes of impulsive-aggressive behavior makes it important to understand how the human MAO A promoter is regulated. Workers in multiple laboratories have isolated and characterized protein-coding sequences of the human MAO A gene and the DNA region where mRNA synthesis is initiated. After summarizing our published findings concerning where transcription of the human MAO A gene is initiated, I summarize representative results of transient expression assays aimed at assessing whether some potential gene regulatory agents affect the expression of luciferase from MAO A promoter reporter constructs when transfected into a mouse L cell line which expresses MAO A. These studies revealed no specific regulatory effects of serum, dexamethasone or a stable cyclic-AMP analogue on the human MAO A promoter introduced.

A new look at the promoter of the human monoamine oxidase A gene: mapping transcription initiation sites and capacity to drive luciferase expression.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A (EC 1.4.3.4) oxidizes norepinephrine and serotonin and is expressed in a cell type-specific manner. Recent evidence that MAO A-deficient males in a large Dutch kindred suffer from mild mental retardation and occasional episodes of impulsive aggressive behavior makes it important to understand how the human MAO A promoter is regulated. Conventional primer extension analyses of MAO A mRNA in earlier studies predicted incorrect transcription initiation sites for the human MAO A promoter. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) readily detected MAO A mRNA initiated 5' to -135 bp but not 5' to -226 bp (5' to the ATG initiation codon). PCR-assisted primer extension and RNase protection assays reveal that most MAO A mRNA is initiated between -30 and -40, which resembles a eukaryotic initiator element. Depending on the tissue source, a minor, variable proportion of MAO A mRNAs is initiated more distally at approximately -95 and -136, within the more proximal of two 90-bp GC-rich tandem repeats. Genomic DNA segments spanning -4 to -200 and -465 or -935, but not -4 to -82, drive robust luciferase expression in mammalian cells. We conclude that (a) the primary transcription initiation site occurs at a putative initiator (lnr) element located between -30 and -40, with a minor, tissue-specific proportion of additional initiation near -95 and -136; and (b) MAO A-luciferase reporter constructs that contained all the known transcription initiation sites exhibited no evidence for inhibitory cis elements between -200 and at least -935. The apparent inhibitory activity previously reported for sequences 5' to the most proximal PvuII site may have resulted from the use of partial promoter constructs that omitted the putative lnr element.

Monoamine oxidase: distribution in the cat brain studied by enzyme- and immunohistochemistry: recent progress.

Localization of MAO-containing neurons, fibers and glial cells has been described by recent progress in MAO histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. It does not necessarily correspond to those containing monoamines. MAO-A is demonstrated in many noradrenergic cells, but it is hardly detectable in DA cells. Increase of 5-HT and DA concentration after inhibition of MAO-A indicates the possible existence of MAO-A in such neuronal structures. MAO-A is also undetectable in neurons containing 5-HT, a good substrate for MAO-A. These neurons contain MAO-B. There still remain contradictions to be solved in future. MAO is present in astroglial cells, in which monoamines released in extracellular space may be degraded. In glial cells, MAO may also play a role to regulate concentration of telemethylhistamine and trace amines. Such cells appear to transform MPTP to MPP+, a neurotoxin for nigral DA neurons.

Histaminergic system in the cat hypothalamus with reference to type B monoamine oxidase.

It is known that histamine (HA) and type B monoamine oxidase (MAO-B), an enzyme involved in its metabolism, are present in the posterior hypothalamus, but the sites where MAO-B intervenes in HA metabolism remain uncertain. The present study examined and compared the detailed distribution and morphology of neurons immunoreactive to HA (HA-ir) and MAO-B (MAO-B-ir) in the cat hypothalamus. HA-ir neurons were localized almost exclusively in the posterior hypothalamus with the largest group in the tuberomammillary nucleus and adjacent areas. MAO-B-ir staining was detected in the vast majority of HA-ir neurons, suggesting that the degradation of tele-methylhistamine (t-MHA), the direct metabolite of HA, may occur within these cells. Nevertheless, a few HA-ir cells showed no detectable or very weak MAO-B-ir labeling; a small group of neurons containing MAO-B alone was detected in the area dorsolateral to the caudal part of the arcuate nucleus. Numerous HA-ir axons and terminal-like structures were distributed unevenly in virtually all hypothalamic regions. One of their principal trajectories ascended through the ventrolateral part of the hypothalamus and rostrally formed an axon column, which ascended into the preoptic area and contributed fibers to the diagonal band of Broca and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Other HA-ir axons passed laterally, dorsal to the zona incerta or ventrally through a narrow zone dorsal to the optic tract. Numerous long HA-ir axons coursed dorsomedially from the ventrolateral posterior hypothalamus to the dorsal hypothalamic area. Many are oriented vertically to the thalamus in the midline. MAO-B-ir axons and fibers were detectable throughout the hypothalamus and overlapped the areas distributing HA-ir fibers. They were, however, weaker in staining intensity and apparently fewer than the HA-ir fibers. MAO-B-ir glial cells were numerous in all hypothalamic structures rich in HA-ir fibers. These results suggest that the metabolism of t-MHA may also occur within HA terminals and glial cells.

Problems with the measurement of monoamine oxidase A protein concentration in mitochondrial preparations. Revised molecular activities and implications for estimating ratios of MAO A:MAO B molecules from radiochemical assay data.

There are significant discrepancies in the literature concerning the concentration of monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) from a number of tissue sources. Therefore, we compared the two principal techniques that have been used for quantitation of MAO A protein concentration: (1) titration of the enzyme with the MAO A-selective inhibitor clorgyline, and (2) saturation of the enzyme with [3H]-pargyline followed by immunoprecipitation with an MAO A-specific monoclonal antibody. To determine which of the two techniques was likely to yield more reliable values for MAO A, MAO A protein concentrations in the same preparations were determined by quantitative immunoblotting. [3H]Pargyline binding and quantitative immunoblotting yielded comparable values which were markedly lower than those obtained by titration of MAO A with unlabeled clorgyline. Therefore, clorgyline titration can seriously overestimate the concentration of MAO A protein in mitochondrial preparations. Since many literature values for the molecular activity of MAO A have relied upon enzyme concentrations determined by clorgyline binding, we reevaluated the molecular activities of MAO A and B for five important substrates. The ratio, MAO A molecular activity:MAO B molecular activity decreased in the order: serotonin (35:1) greater than tryptamine (12:1) greater than tyramine (3.3:1) greater than dopamine (2.4:1) greater than benzylamine (1:23). No comparable ratio was determined for beta-phenylethylamine because of its previously described substrate inhibition of MAO B, although it is oxidized faster by MAO B over a wide range of concentrations. Comparison of molecular activities and Km values for MAO A and B showed that with the exception of benzylamine and beta-phenylethylamine, MAO A oxidizes the other tested substrates faster than MAO B over a wide range of concentrations. Therefore, measured ratios of MAO A:MAO B activity are generally greater than the ratios of MAO A:MAO B molecules in the preparations.

Immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of type B monoamine oxidase in histamine-containing neurons in the posterior hypothalamus of cats.

Using a double immunostaining method, we demonstrated that type B monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) immunoreactivity was present in virtually all histamine (HA)-immunoreactive neurons in the posterior hypothalamus of the cat. Not all MAO-B-positive neurons, however, displayed HA immunoreactivity: a minor group of neurons immunoreactive for MAO-B alone was observed in the area dorsolateral to the caudal arcuate nucleus. The results suggest that the degradation of tele-methylhistamine might occur within the intraneuronal structures of histaminergic neurons.

Probing the topography of free and polymeric Ig-bound human secretory component with monoclonal antibodies.

Secretory component (SC), an integral membrane protein expressed on basolateral surfaces of secretory epithelial cells, mediates the transport of polymeric Ig (PIg) into external secretions. The ectoplasmic segment of SC is released into secretions either in a free form (FSC) or bound to PIg as secretory IgA or IgM. The topography of human SC in its free and PIgA-bound form was studied by using mAb directed against each form of SC. Competition experiments identified a minimum of nine SC epitopes, one of which was dependent on an N-glycosidic moiety. Three of the polypeptide-derived epitopes were displayed on denatured, reduced, and alkylated SC, whereas the others were fully or partially dependent on the native conformation of SC. Epitopes recognized by the latter class of antibodies were mapped to discrete domains of SC, based on amino acid sequence and antibody-binding analysis of limited proteolytic fragments. One of the mAb (6G11), which was directed against an epitope on domain I of SC, inhibited the binding of FSC to PIgA. Overall, our results provide evidence that a region within domain I, as well as protease-sensitive interdomain regions of FSC, become masked or altered when SC binds to PIgA. Furthermore, the binding of SC to PIgA results in conformational changes, or formation of combinatorial epitopes, involving regions within domains II and III of SC but not domain V.

Distribution of type B monoamine oxidase immunoreactivity in the cat brain with reference to enzyme histochemistry.

We studied the detailed distributions and morphology of structures immunoreactive to type B monoamine oxidase, and compared them with those stained by monoamine oxidase enzyme histochemistry in the brain of cats treated with or without colchicine. By means of the indirect immunohistochemical method in conjunction with type B monoamine oxidase monoclonal antibody, we demonstrated type B monoamine oxidase immunoreactivity in neuronal cell bodies, fibers and astroglial cells in the cat brain. As expected, the distribution of type B monoamine oxidase-immunoreactive cell bodies overlapped that of serotonin-containing ones in the lower brainstem and midbrain, as well as that of histaminergic ones in the posterior hypothalamus. We found novel cell groups containing type B monoamine oxidase in the areas described below. Intense type B monoamine oxidase-immunopositive and enzymatically active neurons, corresponding to liquor-contact ones, were discovered in the wall of the central canal of the spinomedullary junction. Weak immunoreactivity was identified in neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, parvocellular reticular formation and locus coeruleus complex, which have been reported to contain type A monoamine oxidase enzymatic activity. Type B monoamine oxidase-immunostaining in these structures was enhanced by treatment with colchicine. In addition, lightly immunostained cells were distinguished in the caudal portion of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, area of tuber cinereum, retrochiasmatic area, and rostral portion of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus after colchicine treatment. These cells also displayed monoamine oxidase activity; however, it was difficult to enzymatically characterize their nature due to its weak activity and sensitivity to inhibitors of both A and B. Distinct type B monoamine oxidase-immunoreactive fibers and terminal-like dots were abundant in the whole brain, particularly in the central gray, dorsal pontine tegmentum, interpeduncular and pontine nuclei, nucleus of the solitary tract and dorsal motor nucleus of vagus, where dense innervations of serotonergic fibers have been reported. Their immunoreactive density increased after colchicine treatment, but monoamine oxidase enzymatic reaction did not. An intense immunoreactivity could be seen in many glial cells in parts of the brain including myelinated axon pathways. The densest accumulation of such labeled glial cells was found in the central gray, inferior olive, medial geniculate body, substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area of Tsai, retrorubral area, hypothalamus, thalamus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. In contrast, the striatum contained less numerous type B monoamine oxidase-immunoreactive and enzymatically active astroglial cells in comparison with the other structures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amine handling properties of human carcinoid tumour cells in tissue culture.

Carcinoid tumour tissue from two patients was removed from lymph node metastases during surgery. Under sterile conditions the cells were prepared for tissue culture, and grew in clusters for a period of 3-4 weeks. Using immunofluorescence the neoplastic cells were investigated for the presence of various antigens characteristic for other amine handling cell types (adrenal medullary cells, adrenergic neurons, endocrine cells); thus, the presence of catecholamine synthesizing enzymes, 5-HT, MAOs, neuron specific enolase, synaptophysin, chromogranin A and neurofilaments was demonstrated in the carcinoid tumour cells. Also ?-adrenoceptor-like immunoreactivity was present, as was NGF-like immunoreactivity. The amine handling properties were investigated by measuring spontaneous and drug-induced release of 5-HT into the culture medium. Reserpine enhanced the 5-HT levels in the medium, and this was further potentiated by the MAO-inhibitor nialamide or the membrane pump blocker imipramine. The 5-HT synthetic capacity was pronounced, as indicated by measuring the cumulative 5-HT release into the medium after frequent changes of media (at 1 h intervals). If media were changed every 4 d 5-HT levels reached a saturation. In the fluorescence microscope the effect of reserpine in depleting the 5-HT stores was slow; at 24 h of reserpine presence in the media many cells still contained strong 5-HT fluorescence (partly with an agranular appearance) while some cells appeared depleted. Thus, there was a striking difference between individual cells in the reaction to reserpine. ?-Adrenoceptor activation with isoprenaline released 5-HT into the medium in a dose-dependent manner, not blocked by propranolol. This indicates unusual properties of the ?-adrenoceptor, also demonstrated to be present on these neoplastic cells by immunocytochemistry.

Isolation, characterization, and application of monoclonal antibodies to rat tyrosine hydroxylase.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; EC 1.14.16.2) activity in crude extracts of rat pheochromocytoma, rat brain, and bovine adrenal medulla can be immunoprecipitated in an indirect assay by monoclonal antibodies prepared against partially purified rat pheochromocytoma TH. One of these monoclonal antibodies, TH-2D8-2, can be used for immunocytochemical localization of TH in cell bodies, dendrites, and axons in catecholaminergic neurons (e.g., cells in the substantia nigra) of rat brain and in the cell body, neurites, and growth cones of rat pheochromocytoma cells after treatment with nerve growth factor. When linked to Affi-gel 10, this monoclonal antibody can also be used for immunoaffinity purification of rat and bovine TH. These results suggest that TH-2D8-2 is a valuable reagent with which to investigate the localization, physiological regulation, and function of this important enzyme.

Characterization and quantitation of monoamine oxidases A and B in mitochondria from human placenta.

Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) A and B, flavin-containing enzymes found in the outer mitochondrial membrane, oxidize many important biogenic and xenobiotic amines. The two enzymes are expressed in many tissues, with some tissues containing primarily one form and others containing both. Although MAO in placental mitochondria is widely reported to be type A, some investigators have reported low levels of MAO B activity as well. Because placenta is considered the preferred source for purification of type A MAO, we have reinvestigated placental MAO by immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies and active site labeling with the MAO-specific ligand [3H]pargyline. We have confirmed that placental mitochondrial preparations contain MAO A and low but significant MAO B catalytic activity, as judged by accepted pharmacological criteria (deprenyl-sensitive beta-phenylethylamine and benzylamine oxidation). Immunoblotting revealed polypeptides of sizes expected for both MAO A and B subunits in preparations of placental mitochondria, as well as in preparations of MAO A purified extensively from placenta by partitioning between dextran and polyethylene glycol polymers and chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. Both MAO A and B active sites could be quantitated in placenta by labeling mitochondrial preparations with the MAO-specific affinity ligand [3H] pargyline, followed by immunoprecipitation with MAO A- and MAO B-specific monoclonal antibodies. These results indicate that MAO B activity and protein is consistently present in mitochondrial preparations of human placenta.

Localization of distinct monoamine oxidase A and monoamine oxidase B cell populations in human brainstem.

Monoclonal antibodies, specific for either monoamine oxidases A or B, were used to determine the localization of monoamine oxidase in the human brain. Two distinct populations of neurons were detected by immunocytochemical staining. Neurons in regions rich in catecholamines were positive for monoamine oxidase A, including the nucleus locus coeruleus, the nucleus subcoeruleus and the medullary reticular formation. In these regions, monoamine oxidase A could be co-localized with the synthetic enzyme, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. Neurons in the substantia nigra and the periventricular region of the hypothalamus, areas rich in dopamine neurons, stained for monoamine oxidase A but with much less frequency and intensity. The major accumulation of monoamine oxidase B-positive neurons was observed in the same regions in which monoamine oxidase B is found to co-localize with serotonin in monkey tissues, including the nucleus raphe dorsalis and the nucleus centralis superior. In addition, both monoamine oxidase A and B were localized in distinct populations of neurons in the lateral and tuberal regions of the hypothalamus, a region shown recently to contain histamine neurons in rats. Some glial cells were stained throughout the brain for monoamine oxidase A or B suggesting that glia are capable of either expression or uptake of these proteins.

Immunocytochemical localization of monoamine oxidases A and B in human peripheral tissues and brain.

Monoamine oxidases (MAO; EC 1.4.3.4.) A and B occur in the outer mitochondrial membrane and oxidize a number of important biogenic and xenobiotic amines. Monoclonal antibodies specific for human MAO A or B and immunocytochemical techniques were used to visualize the respective enzymes in human placenta, platelets, lymphocytes, liver, brain, and a human hepatoma cell line. MAO A was observed in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of term placenta, liver, and a subset of neurons in brain, but was not observed in platelets or lymphocytes, which are known to lack type A enzyme. MAO B was observed in platelets, lymphocytes, and liver, but not in placenta, which contains little or no MAO B. MAO B was also observed in a subset of neurons in the brain that was distinct from that which contained MAO A. MAO A and MAO B were also observed in some glia. Unlike most tissues examined, liver cells appeared to contain both forms of the enzyme. These studies show that MAO A and MAO B can be specifically visualized by immunocytochemical means in a variety of human cells and tissues and can provide a graphic demonstration of the high degree of cell specificity of expression of the two forms of the enzyme.