Differentiation induced by the c-Mpl cytokine receptor is blocked by mutant Shc adaptor protein.

c-Mpl, a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily, induces both proliferative and differentiation responses when stimulated with its ligand thrombopoietin (TPO). To examine signal transduction pathways associated with differentiation versus proliferation, 32D clone 3 cells, a murine interleukin 3-(IL-3)-dependent cell line capable of granulocytic differentiation, were engineered to express human c-Mpl (designated 32DM.2). Human TPO-containing medium was produced by transient transfection of 293 cells. Treatment of 32DM.2 cells with human TPO induced cellular aggregates within 12 h of exposure to ligand. 32DM.2 cells maintained in the presence of TPO did not change in cell number over a 72-h period and acquired characteristics of granulocytic differentiation as evidenced by metamyelocytic cellular morphology. The differentiation effect of TPO was observed in the absence and presence of the mitogen IL-3. Evaluation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation following exposure to ligand revealed that TPO stimulation induced an elevated level of tyrosine phosphorylation of the adaptor protein Shc when compared with IL-3. However, treatment of 32DM.2 cells with TPO did not result in the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). To evaluate the potential role of Shc in c-Mpl differentiation, we transfected 32DM.2 cells with a mutant Shc gene that lacked the region coding for the phosphotyrosine interaction domain (delta PI-Shc). Expression of the delta PI-Shc protein in 32DM.2 cells blocked the TPO differentiation response with no effect on IL-3-stimulated proliferation. These studies demonstrate that c-Mpl-induced differentiation results from the activation of signal transduction pathways that are dominant to the IL-3 proliferative response and independent of the Ras/MAPK signal transduction pathway. The ability of the delta PI-Shc protein to block TPO-induced differentiation implicates Shc as a mediator of signal transduction pathways leading to differentiation, which is distinct from its role as a mediator in activating the Ras/MAPK pathway.

Transgenic mice containing a human heavy chain immunoglobulin gene fragment cloned in a yeast artificial chromosome.

We have developed a method for the introduction of yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) into transgenic mice. An 85 kilobase (kb) fragment of the human heavy chain immunoglobulin gene was cloned as a YAC, and embryonic stem cell lines carrying intact, integrated YACs were derived by co-lipofection of the YAC with an unlinked selectable marker. Chimaeric founder animals were produced by blastocyst injection, and offspring transgenic for the YAC were obtained. Analysis of serum from these offspring for human heavy chain antibody subunits demonstrated expression of the YAC-borne immunoglobulin gene fragment. Co-lipofection may prove to be a highly-successful means of producing transgenic mice containing large gene fragments in YACs.

Inhibitors of transcription and translation act synergistically with tumor necrosis factor to cause the activation of phospholipase A2.

In this report we have examined the ability of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) to induce the activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the cell line C3HA, a murine 3T3-like cell line which is normally resistant to TNF-induced cytolysis but can be sensitized with inhibitors of transcription and translation. Our results show that TNF is normally unable to induce the activity of PLA2 in this cell, as measured by the release of [3H]arachidonic acid. We find, however, that in the presence of either actinomycin D (Act D) or cycloheximide (CHI), TNF is indeed able to induce phospholipase activity and that the TNF-induced activation of PLA2 occurs 2-4 h before the onset of 51Cr release. The release of [3H]arachidonic acid was inhibited by 40-50% by pretreatment with 1 microM dexamethasone. Treatment with dexamethasone also inhibited cytolysis by 40-50% indicating that the CHI-dependent, TNF-induced activation of PLA2 is a cause, not an effect of cytolysis. The ability of TNF to induce the activity of PLA2 was also tested in two other cell types which are resistant to TNF except in the presence of Act D or CHI: SK-MEL-28, a human melanoma-derived cell line, and pVBETK-1cl15.2, an SV40-transformed murine L cell line. Our results were the same, treatment with a combination of Act D and TNF or CHI and TNF was required to cause activation of PLA2.

The exposure of murine macrophages to alpha 2-macroglobulin 'fast' forms results in the rapid secretion of eicosanoids.

The exposure of [3H]arachidonate-radiolabelled murine peritoneal macrophages to alpha 2-macroglobulin-methylamine or alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin but not native alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) results in the rapid secretion of [3H]eicosanoids. Resident peritoneal macrophages stimulated with 0.1 microM alpha 2M-methylamine exhibited an enhanced secretion within 10 min. The ability of alpha 2M 'fast' forms to stimulate secretion of [3H]eicosanoids was similar to that observed in the presence of the murine macrophage chemoattractant platelet-activating factor. As observed for total [3H]eicosanoid secretion, alpha 2M 'fast' forms also rapidly enhanced the secretion of the cAMP-elevating prostanoid, prostaglandin E2, from resident peritoneal macrophages. Stimulated secretion of prostaglandin E2 in response to 0.1 microM alpha 2M-methylamine was less rapid than that observed using 0.1 microM platelet-activating factor. Similar amounts of secreted prostaglandin E2 were present in media of macrophage cultures after 1 h exposure to the two stimuli. In the presence of 0.1 microM alpha 2M-methylamine, secreted prostaglandin E2 remained elevated, compared to the appropriate buffer control, for at least 24 h. The present results indicate that receptor recognition of alpha 2M 'fast' forms by macrophages results in the rapid stimulation of eicosanoid secretion and suggest that secretion of prostaglandin E2 and other eicosanoids may be involved in the ability of alpha 2 M 'fast' forms to regulate various macrophage functional responses.

IFN-gamma potentiates the accumulation of diacylglycerol in murine macrophages.

Activation of mononuclear phagocytes for a variety of functional responses is potentiated by prior exposure to IFN-gamma. Inasmuch as protein kinase C has been suggested to mediate several of these responses, we have examined the effects of IFN-gamma exposure on subsequent accumulation of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). Exposure of murine macrophages to IFN-gamma (greater than 4 h) results in an increase in basal DAG as well as potentiating DAG accumulation in response to the macrophage chemoattractant, platelet-activating factor (PAF). An increased DAG accumulation was similarly observed in response to PMA and ionomycin. Our results further indicate that the increased DAG accumulation during activation of macrophages is unlikely to involve alterations in phosphatidylinositol metabolism. PAF-stimulated production of [3H]inositol phosphates was not altered by the prior exposure of macrophages to IFN-gamma. Similarly, IFN-gamma did not potentiate the ability of PAF to cause an increase in cytosolic calcium. Our data indicate that phosphatidylcholine metabolism may be involved in IFN-gamma-regulated DAG accumulation. Exposure of [3H]choline-labeled macrophages to IFN-gamma resulted in an increase in the basal level of aqueous [3H]choline metabolites as well as potentiating the production of [3H]choline in response to PAF, PMA, and ionomycin. Our results thus suggest that the potentiated protein kinase C-mediated responses occurring during macrophage activation may be due to potentiated DAG accumulation independent of potentiated phosphatidylinositol metabolism.

Involvement of protein kinase C in platelet-activating factor-stimulated diacylglycerol accumulation in murine peritoneal macrophages.

Incubation of murine peritoneal macrophages with platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-O-alkyl(C16 + C18)-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine) results in the rapid accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) and mobilization of intracellular calcium (Prpic, V., Uhing, R. J., Weiel, J. E., Jakoi, L., Gawdi, G., Herman, B., and Adams, D. O. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 107, 363-372). We have further investigated the relationship of phosphoinositide metabolism to accumulation of DAG and the possible involvement of protein kinase C in the accumulation of DAG in response to PAF. DAG accumulation proceeds at a slower rate than the accumulation of either [3H] inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or total [3H]inositol phosphates. Accumulation of DAG from additional precursors is suggested from both an estimation of the mass of total inositol phosphates produced and the accumulation of [3H]choline in response in PAF. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged pretreatment with phorbol ester or inhibition of the enzyme with sphingosine inhibited the PAF-generated accumulation of DAG at 10 min by approximately 80%. Under the same conditions, no inhibition of PAF-stimulated generation of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was observed. Similar inhibition was observed when 10 microM ionomycin or 0.1 microM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate were used to stimulate accumulation of DAG. The results suggest that PAF stimulates the accumulation of DAG from source other than phosphatidylinositol metabolism in peritoneal macrophages and that this occurs subsequent to the activation of protein kinase C.

Role of Na+/H+ exchange by interferon-gamma in enhanced expression of JE and I-A beta genes.

The rapid transductional sequences initiated by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on binding to its receptor regulate functional and genomic responses in many cells but are not well defined. Induction of macrophage activation is an example of such functional and genomic changes in response to IFN-gamma. Addition of IFN-gamma to murine macrophages, at activating concentrations, produced rapid (within 60 seconds) alkalinization of the cytosol and a concomitant, rapid influx of 22Na+. Amiloride inhibited the ion fluxes and the accumulation of specific messenger RNA for two genes induced by IFN-gamma (the early gene JE and the beta chain of the class II major histocompatibility complex gene I-A). The data indicate that IFN-gamma initiates rapid exchange of Na+ and H+ by means of the Na+/H+ antiporter and that these amiloride-sensitive ion fluxes are important to some of the genomic effects of IFN-gamma.