New insights on disintegrin-receptor interactions: eristostatin and melanoma cells.

Viper venom disintegrins have been used frequently to study the cellular receptors which characterize various types of cells, including platelets, endothelial cells and cancer cells. While the majority of such analyses have pointed to involvement of integrin receptors alphavbeta3, alpha5beta1 or alphaIIbbeta3, this may not always be so. Eristostatin, from Eristocophis macmahoni, is a potent inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation as well as of human and murine melanoma metastases in mouse model systems. This disintegrin requires an RGDW motif, as well as an intact C-terminus, in order to interact with both platelets and four different types of melanoma cells. Eristostatin causes nonmetastatic SBc12 melanoma cells to show higher susceptibility to specific killing by NK-like TALL-104 cells. While it is known that eristostatin binds to alphaIIbbeta3 on platelets, the receptor with which eristostatin binds to the melanoma cells has not yet been identified.

Percent free PSA as an additional measure in a prostate cancer screen.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of the ratio of free prostate specific antigen to total prostate specific antigen (% fPSA) to aid in selection of subjects who would require follow-up studies. DESIGN: Retrospective, nonrandomized analysis measuring total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and free prostate specific antigen (fPSA) in serum from men enrolled in a community-based prostate cancer screening offered by the Cancer Outreach Program (COP), Christiana Care Health Systems (CCHS), Wilmington, DE. PARTICIPANTS Informed consent was obtained from 172 of the 231 eligible participants. Complete laboratory and follow-up data, excluding ethnic origin, was gathered from 157 participants; therefore, theoretical participation was 75% (172/231) while realized participation rate was 68% (157/231). Criteria for inclusion in this study included ambulatory men of age 40 and older with serum total PSA (tPSA) level >1.9 ng/mL and/or an enlarged or abnormal prostate by digital rectal examination (DRE). Subjects with a history of prostate cancer or prostatitis were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Laboratory tests to determine tPSA and fPSA were performed on serum samples obtained from consenting participants. Percent fPSA was calculated. Results of clinical findings with respect to each participant's DRE were recorded as normal, suggestive of a benign condition, such as benign prostate hyperplasia, or suspicious for prostate cancer. When available, transurethral ultrasound (TRUS) results and biopsy results were also noted. Each participant's results were evaluated and given one of the following diagnoses: Normal prostate (N), Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), or Prostate Cancer (PCa). RESULTS: Prevalence of cancer 3/157 = 0.0191; of BPH = 0.688; of N = 0.293. Median values for tPSA for each of these groups were as follows: N, 2.9 ng/mL; BPH, 3.0 ng/mL; and PCa, 6.3 ng/mL; (p = 0.079). Median values for fPSA were as follows: N, 0.6 ng/ mL; BPH, 0.5 ng/mL; PCa, 0.5 ng/mL; (p = 0.51). Median values for % fPSA were as follows: N, 19%; BPH, 17%; and PCa, 9%; (p = 0.01). Medians were found to differ for % fPSA measurements, but not for tPSA or fPSA values. DRE screening results of 110 subjects were reported as not normal indicating either an enlarged (n = 97) or abnormal prostate gland (n = 13). Nine subjects had normal DRE results with serum tPSA level above 4.0 ng/mL. Using the combination of DRE and tPSA > 4.0 ng/mL as criteria for the recommendation of follow-up studies, 119 of the participants would have been advised to seek additional testing. CONCLUSION: Using these two routine criteria, 119 (119/157; 76%) subjects would be candidates for follow-up procedures, such as transurethral ultrasound (TRUS) and/or sextant prostate biopsy. By adding % fPSA results of < 10% fPSA to tPSA results > 4.0 mg/mL as criteria for follow-up studies, specificity can be improved threefold with sensitivity unchanged. If an abnormal DRE suggestive of malignancy was included as part of the criteria, sensitivity of the diagnostic scheme would reach 100%. Using the triple diagnostic parameters of tPSA > 4.0 ng/mL, the ratio of free prostate specific antigen to total prostate specific antigen <10%, and an abnormal prostate DRE, 16 participants would be recommended for follow-up studies (16/157; 10%). This would eliminate 103 subjects from unnecessary and expensive testing.

A human melanoma metastasis-suppressor locus maps to 6q16.3-q23.

Loss, deletion or rearrangement along large portions of the long arm (q-arm) of chromosome 6 occurs in >80% of late-stage human melanomas, suggesting that genes controlling malignant characteristics are encoded there. Metastasis, but not tumorigenicity, was completely suppressed in the human melanoma cell line C8161 into which an additional intact chromosome 6 had been introduced by microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Our objective was to refine the location of a putative metastasis suppressor gene. To do this, we transferred an intact (neo6) and a deletion variant [neo6qdel; neo6(del)(q16.3-q23)] of neomycin-tagged human chromosome 6 into metastatic C8161 subclone 9 (C8161.9) by MMCT. Single cell hybrid clones were selected in G-418 and isolated. Following verification that the hybrids retained the expected regions of chromosome 6 using a panel of polymorphic sequence-tagged sites, the hybrids were tested for tumorigenicity and metastasis in athymic mice. As reported previously, intact, normal chromosome 6 suppressed metastasis whether tumor cells were injected i.v. or into an orthotopic (i.e., intradermal) site. In contrast, metastasis was not suppressed in the neo6qdel hybrids. Tumorigenicity was unaffected in hybrids prepared with either chromosome 6 donor. These data strongly suggest that a human melanoma metastasis suppressor locus maps between 6q16.3-q23 ( approximately 40 cM).

Brain tumor development in rats is associated with changes in central nervous system cytokine and neuropeptide systems.

Cytokines have roles in tumor biology and induce neurological manifestations. Cytokines produced in response to a brain tumor may generate neurological manifestations via paracrine action. We investigated cytokine modulation in an in vivo brain tumor model with behavioral, morphological, and molecular approaches. Rat C6 glioma cells were implanted into the third cerebral ventricle of Wistar rats, their behavior was monitored, and the development of an intracranial tumor of astrocytic origin was confirmed by histology and positive immunostaining for vimentin, S-100 protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Sensitive and specific RNase protection assays were used to analyze cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) in brain regions from anorexic brain tumor-bearing animals. Brain tumor formation was associated with significant increased levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-1 receptor type I, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 mRNAs in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. IL-1 receptor accessory proteins I and II mRNAs were increased in the cerebellum and hypothalamus. We also examined hypothalamic feeding-associated components: neuropeptide Y and proopiomelanocortin mRNAs were down-regulated, glycoprotein 130 mRNA levels were up-regulated, and leptin receptor (OB-R) mRNA levels were unchanged. These dissimilar profiles of mRNA expression suggest specificity of brain tumor-induced transcriptional changes. The data implicate cytokines as important factors in brain tumor-host interactions in vivo. The data also show that the C6 cell-induced glioma can be used as a behavioral-molecular model to study cytokine and neuropeptide modulation and action during the host biochemical and physiological responses to brain tumor development. Paracrine interactions seem pivotal because cytokine modulation was observed in various brain regions. These results also suggest that cytokine and neuropeptide changes during brain tumor progression are involved in brain tumor-associated neurological and neuropsychiatrical manifestations.

Modulation of TNF-alpha mRNA production in rat C6 glioma cells by TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IFN-alpha: in vitro analysis of cytokine-cytokine interactions.

Cytokines regulate the expression of other cytokines in the centrally derived rat C6 glioma cell line. However, the modulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, a pivotal proinflammatory cytokine) in C6 cells is unknown. Here we investigated the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in C6 glioma cells in response to TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The data show that (1) IL-1beta induced a significant upregulation of TNF-alpha mRNA; (2) the effect of IL-1beta on TNF-alpha mRNA expression was completely blocked by the concomitant application of IL-1Ra, which suggests specificity of IL-1beta action through the IL-1 signaling receptor; (3) no detectable modulation of TNF-alpha mRNA expression was observed with the individual applications of TNF-alpha, IL-6, or IFN-alpha; (4) the concomitant treatments of TNF-alpha + IL-1beta or TNF-alpha + IL-1beta + IL-6 strongly upregulated TNF-alpha mRNA expression, whereas the concomitant application of TNF-alpha + IL-6 or IL-1beta + IL-6 induced a moderate increase; and (5) IFN-alpha significantly attenuated induction of TNF-alpha mRNA by TNF-alpha + IL-1beta + IL-6. Thus, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IL-6 interact to upregulate TNF-alpha mRNA expression synergistically, and IFN-alpha acts as an inhibitory cytokine in C6 glioma cells. These findings also suggest that the rat C6 glioma cell line may be used as an in vitro model to characterize cytokine-cytokine interactions.

In vitro loss of heterozygosity targets the PTEN/MMAC1 gene in melanoma.

Gross genetic lesions of chromosome 10 occur in 30-50% of sporadic human melanomas. To test the functional significance of this observation, we have developed an in vitro loss of heterozygosity approach in which a wild-type chromosome 10 was transferred into melanoma cells, where there was selection for its breakage and regional deletion to relieve its growth suppressive effects. The overlap of these events was at band 10q23, the site of the recently isolated PTEN/MMAC1 tumor suppressor gene, suggesting it as a potential target. Although the gene was expressed in the parental cells, both of its chromosomal alleles contained truncating mutations. In vitro loss of heterozygosity resulted in loss of the chromosomally introduced wild-type PTEN/MMAC1, and ectopic expression of the gene caused cell growth suppression. Thus, this approach identified PTEN/MMAC1 as a target in malignant melanoma and may provide an alternative means to localizing tumor suppressor genes.

Suppression of human melanoma metastasis following introduction of chromosome 6 is independent of NME1 (Nm23).

Metastasis is suppressed more than 95% following microcell-mediated transfer of a single copy of neomycin-tagged human chromosome 6 (neo6) into the human melanoma cell lines C8161 and MelJuSo. Concomitant with metastasis suppression is upregulation of NME1 (Nm23-H1) mRNA and protein expression. The purposes of this study were to determine whether NME1 expression was responsible for metastasis suppression in neo6/melanoma hybrids, and whether genes on chromosome 6 regulate NME1. Using neo6/C8161 cells, transfection of CAT reporter constructs linked to the NME1 promoter failed to consistently induce CAT. Therefore, it does not appear that genes on chromosome 6 directly control transcription of NME1. Transfection and overexpression of NME1 in MelJuSo, under the control of the CMV promoter, resulted in 40-80% inhibition of lung metastasis following i.v. inoculation of 2 x 10(5) cells. Only one transfectant of C8161 subclone 9 (C8161cl.9) cells was suppressed for metastasis. Control transfections with pCMVneo or pSV2neo did not suppress metastasis in either cell line. Taken together, these data suggest that NME1 can reduce metastatic potential of some human melanoma cells; but, this inhibitory activity appears to be independent of the metastasis suppression following introduction of chromosome 6 into C8161 and MelJuSo human melanoma cell lines.

KiSS-1, a novel human malignant melanoma metastasis-suppressor gene.

BACKGROUND: Microcell-mediated transfer of chromosome 6 into human C8161 and MelJuSo melanoma cell suppresses their ability to metastasize by at least 95% without affecting their tumorigenicity. This observation demonstrates that the ability to metastasize is a phenotype distinct from tumor formation and suggests that tumorigenic cells acquire metastatic capability only after accumulating additional genetic defects. These results also imply that mutations of genes on chromosome 6 are among those late genetic changes responsible for metastatic potential. They further suggest that a melanoma metastasis-suppressor gene(s) is encoded on chromosome 6 or is regulated by genes on chromosome 6. PURPOSE: Our objective was to identify the gene(s) responsible for the suppression of metastasis in chromosome 6/melanoma cell hybrids. METHODS: A modified subtractive hybridization technique was used to compare the expression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), via an analysis of complementary DNAs (cDNAs), in metastatic cells (C8161 or MelJuSo) and nonmetastatic hybrid clones (neo6/C8161 or neo6/MelJuSo). RESULTS: A novel cDNA, designated KiSS-1, was isolated from malignant melanoma cells that had been suppressed for metastatic potential by the introduction of human chromosome 6. Northern blot analyses comparing mRNAs from a panel of human melanoma cells revealed that KiSS-1 mRNA expression occurred only in nonmetastatic melanoma cells. Expression of this mRNA in normal heart, brain, liver, lung, and skeletal muscle was undetectable by northern blot analysis. Weak expression was found in the kidney and pancreas, but the highest expression was observed in the placenta. The KiSS-1 cDNA encodes a predominantly hydrophilic, 164 amino acid protein with a polyproline-rich domain indicative of an SH3 ligand (binds to the homology 3 domain of the oncoprotein Src) and a putative protein kinase C-alpha phosphorylation site. Transfection of a full-length KiSS-1 cDNA into C8161 melanoma cells suppressed metastasis in an expression-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: These data strongly suggest that KiSS-1 expression may suppress the metastatic potential of malignant melanoma cells. IMPLICATIONS: KiSS-1 may be a useful marker for distinguishing metastatic melanomas from nonmetastatic melanomas.

Metastasis suppressed, but tumorigenicity and local invasiveness unaffected, in the human melanoma cell line MelJuSo after introduction of human chromosomes 1 or 6.

Progression of human melanoma toward increasing malignant behavior is associated with several nonrandom chromosomal aberrations, most commonly involving chromosomes 1, 6, 7, 9, and 10. We previously showed that introduction of human chromosome 6 into the highly metastatic human malignant melanoma cell line C8161 completely suppressed metastasis without altering tumorigenicity (Welch DR, Chen P, Miele ME, et al., Oncogene 9:255-262, 1994). Alterations of chromosome 1 are the most frequent chromosome abnormality observed in melanomas, and they frequently arise late in tumor progression. The purpose of the study presented here was to compare the effects of chromosomes 1 and 6 on malignant melanoma metastasis. By using microcell-mediated chromosome transfer, single copies of neo-tagged human chromosomes 1 or 6 were introduced into the human melanoma cell line MelJuSo. The presence of the added chromosome was verified by G banding of karyotypes, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and screening for polymorphic markers on each chromosome. The incidence and number of metastases per lung after intravenous or intradermal injection of parental MelJuSo cells was significantly (P<0.01) greater than those of hybrids containing either chromosome 1 or chromosome 6, although chromosome 1 was a less potent inhibitor of metastasis than chromosome 6. Cultures established from primary tumors and metastases remained neomycin resistant, suggesting that portions of the added chromosomes were retained. These results strengthen the evidence for the presence of a melanoma metastasis suppressor gene on chromosome 6. neo6/MelJuSo hybrids expressed 2.4- to 3.4-fold more of the melanoma differentiation-associated gene mda-6 (previously shown to be identical to WAF1/CIP1/Sdi1/CAP20) than parental metastatic cells. mda-6/WAF1 is among the candidate genes on chromosome 6. These results also demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of metastasis suppressor genes on human chromosome 1, although these genes appear to be less potent than the one encoded on chromosome 6.

Suppression of MDA-MB-435 breast carcinoma cell metastasis following the introduction of human chromosome 11.

To determine the relevance of genetic information on chromosome 11 in the development of metastatic breast tumors, we introduced a normal human chromosome 11 into the highly metastatic MDA-MB-435 breast carcinoma cell line via the microcell-mediated chromosome transfer technique. Although the MDA-MB-435 recipient cell line and four randomly selected microcell hybrid clones remained tumorigenic in nude mice, the hybrids were >95% suppressed for metastasis to lung and regional lymph nodes (p<0.01). We also tested whether chromosome 6 harbors a metastasis-suppressor gene for breast cancer as observed previously for human melanoma. Grouped together, the four neo6 microcell hybrids had no statistically significant reduction in the incidence or number of lung or lymph node metastases compared to the weakly metastatic, subcloned parent cell line, MDA-MB-453.7. Expression of nm23-H1 (NME1), a known metastasis-suppressor gene in this breast cancer cell line, did not correlate with metastasis suppression in the microcell hybrids. These results further demonstrate that control of metastasis is molecularly distinct from tumorigenic potential. They also indicate that chromosome 11 encodes a metastasis-suppressor gene for human breast cancer.

p53-independent increase in p21WAF1 and reciprocal down-regulation of cyclin A and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in bromodeoxyuridine-mediated growth arrest of human melanoma cells.

Differentially regulated expression of activators and inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) modulate cell cycle progression. In normal fibroblasts, these complexes consist of the cdk inhibitor p21WAF1/PCNA/G1 cyclin/cdk. We now show that bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd), a thymidine analogue and radiation sensitizer, inhibits growth and activity of cyclin A-cdk2 kinase in metastatic C8161 and nonmetastatic neo 6.3/C8161 human melanoma cells. Inhibition is not due to altered levels of cyclin D or catalytic cdk2 but involves a decrease in cyclin A and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, paralleled by higher levels of p21WAF1 without increases in p53. In contrast to serum starvation, which prevents accumulation of cyclins A and D in normal fibroblasts, such treatment did not down-regulate either cyclin in these melanoma cells, implying an aberrant control for G1 cyclins in these tumor cells. However, cyclin A was decreased by BrdUrd, suggesting that this pyrimidine analogue arrests melanoma cells at a G1 transition point, unlike that of serum starvation. This is the first report indicating that the antitumor therapeutic action of BrdUrd may be mediated by a p53-independent reciprocal effect on activators and inhibitors of cdk kinases.

Highly metastatic 13762NF rat mammary adenocarcinoma cell clones stimulate bone marrow by secretion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin-3 activity.

Circulating neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte levels rise 50-fold in 13762NF tumor-bearing rats in proportion to the tumor's metastatic potential. Purified tumor-elicited neutrophils enhance metastasis of syngeneic tumor cells when co-injected intravenously; however, circulating and phorbol ester-activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils do not. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the source of tumor-elicited neutrophils in metastatic tumor-bearing rats. We examined the bone marrow in rats bearing tumors of poorly, moderately, and highly metastatic cell clones. Marrow from rats with highly metastatic tumors had increased cellularity (100%), myeloid to erythroid ratio (10:1), and megakaryocytes compared with control rats (cellularity, approximately 80%; myeloid to erythroid ratio, 5:1), with marrows from rats with moderately metastatic tumors having intermediate values. This suggested production of a colony-stimulating factor by the metastatic cells. To confirm this, bone marrow colony formation from control and tumor-bearing rats was compared. Colony number increased in proportion to the metastatic potential of the tumor. Conditioned medium from metastatic cells supported growth of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin-3-dependent 32Dcl3 cell line, but media from nonmetastatic or moderately metastatic cells did not. Antibodies to murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor neutralized 32Dcl3 growth in tumor cell conditioned medium. These results suggest production of a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or interleukin-3-like activity by highly metastatic 13762NF clones and implicate a possible role for colony-stimulating factors in regulating the metastatic potential of mammary adenocarcinoma cell clones.

SOD2 (MnSOD) does not suppress tumorigenicity or metastasis of human melanoma C8161 cells.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, encoded by the SOD2 gene mapping to chromosome 6q25) has been implicated as a tumor suppressor and as a metastasis suppressor in some tumor cell lines. We showed that introduction of an intact chromosome 6 into the metastatic melanoma cell line C8161 completely suppressed metastasis but did not affect tumorigenicity (Welch et al., (1994) Oncogene 9:255). The purpose of this study was to test whether SOD2 is the gene responsible for metastasis suppression. MnSOD protein levels of C8161 (measured by Western blot), before and after transfer of chromosome 6, showed no correlation with metastatic potential. To determine whether the lack of correlation was due to mutant, nonfunctional SOD2, a highly metastatic subclone of C8161 (C8161c1.9) was transfected with functional SOD2 or vector control (pSFFV). Metastatic potential and tumorigenicity were unchanged. Southern and Northern blots confirmed the presence of the transfected SOD2; however, total MnSOD protein and antioxidant activity were not significantly altered. These results suggest that levels of MnSOD are highly regulated within C8161 melanoma cells and that SOD2 does not suppress tumor formation nor metastatic potential in all human melanomas.

Suppression of human melanoma metastasis by introduction of chromosome 6 may be partially due to inhibition of motility, but not to inhibition of invasion.

Active cellular motility and invasion play essential roles in metastasis. Introduction of normal, neo-tagged human chromosome 6 (neo6) into highly metastatic human melanoma cell line C8161 results in complete suppression of metastasis in vivo. To understand the mechanism by which metastasis was inhibited in neo6/C8161 hybrids, two in vitro assays, pseudopod protrusion and Membrane Invasion Culture System, were used to measure motility and invasion, respectively. neo6/C8161 hybrids are much less motile although they remained invasive, indicating that a metastasis-suppressor gene(s) on human chromosome 6 may regulate cellular motility, thereby inhibiting metastasis.

Enhanced metastatic ability of TNF-alpha-treated malignant melanoma cells is reduced by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) antisense oligonucleotides.

Treating human malignant melanoma cells with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) causes a dose- and time-dependent increase in surface expression of ICAM-1. Increased ICAM-1 expression corresponds to greater binding of human leukocyte functional antigen-1 (CD11a/CD18)-expressing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to C8161 monolayers, suggesting that cytokine-treated melanoma cells would be more metastatic due to PBMC-tumor cell emboli. The purpose of this study was: (1) to test whether TNF-alpha-treated human melanoma cells are indeed more metastatic than untreated C8161 and (2) to determine whether ICAM-1 plays a role in metastasis of C8161. When surface ICAM-1 expression is upregulated, formation of lung metastases in nude mice increases 1.5- to 4-fold (P < 0.05) for human melanoma cell lines C8161, MeWo, and A375. Treatment of C8161 with ICAM-1 phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides using cationic lipids results in > 90% inhibition of ICAM-1 surface expression as determined by ELISA and flow cytometry. Antisense ICAM-1-treated cells form 41-64% fewer metastases than sham-treated cells. Metastasis does not increase when antisense-treated melanoma cells are exposed to TNF-alpha. However, treatment of C8161 with antisense 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) oligonucleotides inhibits metastases 39% in Lipofectin-treated cells, but does not inhibit TNF-alpha-induced upregulation of experimental metastases. Similar experiments were performed to measure PBMC adhesion to antisense oligonucleotide-treated C8161 cells; however, TNF-alpha-inducible increase in adhesion was unaffected by ICAM-1 or 5-LO antisense oligonucleotides. These results demonstrate that ICAM-1 is involved in melanoma metastasis, but probably not at the step of PBMC adhesion to C8161 cells.

Microcell-mediated transfer of chromosome 6 into metastatic human C8161 melanoma cells suppresses metastasis but does not inhibit tumorigenicity.

Structural alterations of chromosome 6, including del(6q), are often associated with metastatic melanoma; therefore, we hypothesized that a metastasis-suppressor gene could be coded on human chromosome 6. Highly metastatic C8161 human malignant melanoma cells exhibit chromosomal changes typical of late-stage melanomas. Using microcell-mediated chromosome transfer, a copy of a normal human chromosome 6 was introduced into C8161. Three randomly selected hybrid clones (neo6/C8161.1, neo6/C8161.2 and neo6/C8161.3) were assayed for metastasis in athymic nude mice. All controls - parental C8161 cells, randomly-selected single cell clones, neo-transfected cell clones, neo11/C8161.2 and neo11/C8161.3 - were tumorigenic (270/272 mice) and metastatic (208/272 mice). neo6/C8161 hybrid cells were still tumorigenic (91/93 mice) but were not metastatic (0/195 mice). The presence of the added chromosomes was verified in cultured and tumor cells by amplification of polymorphic (CA)n markers using PCR-RFLP. The neo6/C8161 hybrids display growth and morphological patterns of more differentiated cells than C8161. In Northern blot analysis an inverse relationship between metastatic ability and metastasis-suppressor gene, nm23-H1, expression is observed - with clone neo6/C8161.1 expressing the highest level of nm23 transcripts, neo6/C8161.2 and neo6/C8161.3 expressing intermediate levels, and barely detectable levels are seen in C8161. Collectively, these results suggest that a malignant melanoma metastasis-regulatory gene may be located on human chromosome 6. These results further demonstrate that tumorigenicity and metastatic ability are distinct phenotypes.

Hormonal and immunological regulation of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

A newly developed method for assaying 2', 5'-oligoadenylate (2, 5A) synthetase activity by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was applied to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal subjects, HIV-positive subjects, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Sex differences were observed in 2, 5A synthetase activity of PBMC from normal young adults, males having eightfold higher activities of this enzyme than females. Moreover, compared to values for postmenopausal (PM) females receiving estrogen replacement, untreated PM females had higher activities. Collectively, these results suggest that estrogen downregulates 2, 5A synthetase activity. Activities of 2, 5A synthetase were investigated in two disease states associated with altered immune function. In one patient with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy increased 2, 5A synthetase activity twofold. In addition, combined therapy with interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFN-alpha increased 2, 5A synthetase activities in eight of nine patients with RCC. Therefore, in patients receiving immunotherapy with IL-2 and IFN-alpha, our new assay could contribute to evaluation of immune stimulation. In general, studies in vitro confirmed these observations; however, exposure of PBMC from RCC patients revealed that in vitro IL-2 failed to induce this enzyme activity as it did in PBMC from normal volunteers.