Single chain Fv: a ligand in receptor-mediated gene delivery.

We have used an anti-human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) single chain Fv (scFv) to deliver reporter genes to epithelial cells in vitro. The scFv was constructed from a monoclonal antibody directed against pIgR and a cysteine residue was added at the carboxyl end to facilitate its conjugation to polylysine (polyK) via the heterobifunctional cross-linker SPDP. ScFv-cys was expressed in Drosophila S2 cells and purified to homogeneity using conventional column chromatography. ScFv-polyK, and polyK as control, were condensed with a DNA expression plasmid containing the luciferase reporter gene driven by the CMV promoter into unimolecular (with respect to DNA) complexes under high salt conditions. Target cells were MDCK cells transfected with human pIgR and repeatedly sorted for high-level receptor expression, with untransfected MDCK cells as control. Receptor-bearing MDCK cells were readily transfected by scFv-cys containing, pIgR directed complexes, and expression could be blocked by addition of excess human secretory component (SC), the extracellular portion of pIgR. In contrast, MDCK cells that did not express pIgR were not transfected. Nontargeted complexes were not effective in transfecting MDCK cells with or without pIgR. Targeted complexes also transfected human tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture, corroborating the pIgR-mediated gene delivery. These data indicate that a scFv directed against human pIgR can direct foreign genes specifically into receptor-bearing cells in vitro. We have expressed and purified a ligand that is efficient and specific in pIgR-mediated gene delivery.

Transport of bifunctional proteins across respiratory epithelial cells via the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor.

Neutrophil elastase (NE) contributes to progression of the lung disease characteristic of cystic fibrosis (CF). We developed a strategy that permits the delivery of alpha(1)-antitrypsin (alpha(1)-AT) to inaccessible CF airways by targeting the respiratory epithelium via the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). A fusion protein consisting of a single-chain Fv directed against human secretory component (SC) and linked to human alpha(1)-AT was effectively transported in a basolateral-to-apical direction across in vitro model systems of polarized respiratory epithelium consisting of 16HBEo cells transfected with human pIgR complementary DNA, which overexpress the receptor, and human respiratory epithelial cells grown in primary culture at an air-liquid interface. When applied to the basolateral surface, the anti-SC Fv/alpha(1)-AT fusion protein penetrated the respiratory epithelia, with transcytosis of the fusion protein being related to the amount of SC detected at the apical surface. Significantly less fusion protein crossed the cells in the opposite direction. In addition, because the antihuman SC Fv/alpha(1)-AT fusion protein was transported vectorially and deposited into the small volume of apical surface fluid, the antiprotease component of this protein was concentrated atop the epithelium. Thus, in cell models, this system is capable of concentrating the antiprotease of the fusion protein, in the thin film of epithelial surface fluid to a level expected to be therapeutic in the airways of many patients with CF.

In vitro transport of active alpha(1)-antitrypsin to the apical surface of epithelia by targeting the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), the intense host inflammatory response to chronic infection largely accounts for the progressive pulmonary disease, and ultimately death. Neutrophils are the prominent inflammatory cells in the lungs of patients with CF, and large amounts of neutrophil elastase (NE) are released during phagocytosis. Besides having direct effects on structural elastin, NE stimulates the release of proinflammatory mediators from the respiratory epithelium and is a potent secretogogue. Therapeutic use of elastase inhibitors in CF has been complicated by difficulties in delivery to the critical site in the airway-the surface of the epithelium. We describe a unique strategy to protect the respiratory epithelial cell surface directly by capitalizing on the nondegradative transcytotic pathway of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). A recombinant fusion protein was constructed consisting of an antihuman pIgR single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody linked to human alpha(1)-antitrypsin (A1AT), an inhibitor of NE. The recombinant scFv-A1AT fusion protein bound specifically to the pIgR on the basolateral surface of an epithelial cell monolayer, and was transported and released into the apical medium where the A1AT domain was capable of forming an inactivation complex with NE. Thus, A1AT linked to an antihuman pIgR scFv was delivered in receptor-specific fashion from the basolateral to apical surface and was released as an active antiprotease, indicating that it is feasible to deliver therapeutic proteins to the apical surface of epithelia by targeting the pIgR.

cAMP does not regulate [Ca2+]i in human tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture.

Human tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture respond to different receptor agonists with different peak intracellular calcium concentrations. From resting concentration 138 +/- 13 nM, bradykinin (0.1 microM) produces an increase to a maximum of 835 +/- 195 nM, histamine (10 microM) to 352 +/- 51 nM, and ATP (5-500 microM) to more than 1500 nM. Nine of 14 cultures also responded to isoproterenol (10 microM), though with a smaller increase, to 210 +/- 29 nM. A response was observed with isoproterenol, and epinephrine, but not norepinephrine, phenylephrine or methoxamine, was inhibited by propranolol but not phentolamine, and so this appeared to be a beta-adrenergic response. However, no response could be detected to adenosine, prostaglandin E2 or forskolin, agents that activate adenylate cyclase, or to permeant analogs of cAMP (CPT-cAMP or db-cAMP). The intracellular calcium response to isoproterenol did not follow either the time-course or the desensitization pattern of the cAMP response. Thus, this response to isoproterenol is not mediated by cAMP. No relation was demonstrated between cAMP production by other agonists and the response of intracellular calcium. Pretreatment with agents that increase cAMP did not affect the calcium responses to ATP or bradykinin. Thus, cAMP does not regulate intracellular calcium concentration in human tracheal epithelial cells. The variation in peak intracellular calcium responses to various agonists may be explained by the presence of multiple second messengers (other than cAMP), multiple intracellular pools of calcium, or cell heterogeneity. The agonists tested had the same relative potency in cells from patients with cystic fibrosis as in non-cystic fibrosis cells.

Tracheal epithelial cell fatty acid composition modulates prostaglandin E2 and cAMP production.

Tracheal epithelial (TE) cells from both rabbits and humans, when cultured in defined serum-free media without lipid supplements, develop fatty acid profiles significantly different from freshly isolated epithelium, including a markedly decreased cellular content of arachidonic acid (AA). In rabbit TE cells, supplementation of media with a phospholipid-rich lipoprotein extract (Excyte III) plus 1 microM bovine serum albumin-complexed AA (Excyte/AA) restored the fatty acid composition of the cultured cells more similar to that of native airway epithelium than did supplementation of media with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS). In human TE cells, Excyte/AA or 5% FBS increased AA content, but neither lipid supplement completely "normalized" the fatty acid profiles. Compared with lipid-unsupplemented cultures, basal production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was increased by approximately four- to eightfold in rabbit and human TE cells supplemented with 5% FBS or Excyte/AA. In Excyte/AA-supplemented human TE cells, PGE2 production induced by 5 microM calcium ionophore A23187 was more than threefold greater than that of companion ionophore-stimulated unsupplemented monolayers, but PGE2 production was similar in both culture conditions in response to 10 microM exogenous AA. Thus increased cellular content and availability of AA, rather than changes in cyclooxygenase activity, appear to be responsible for the elevated PGE2 production in Excyte/AA-supplemented human TE cells. Secondary effects of lipid supplementation were also observed; Excyte/AA-supplemented human TE cells produced significantly less adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in response to exogenous PGE2 and isoproterenol than did lipid-unsupplemented cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amiloride antagonizes beta-adrenergic stimulation of cAMP synthesis and Cl- secretion in human tracheal epithelial cells.

Amiloride, a potent blocker of the sodium channel in airway epithelium, has been administered by aerosol as a therapeutic agent for cystic fibrosis. Because amiloride in high concentration has been reported to interfere with cell functions, including adrenergic responses, we tested the ability of amiloride to inhibit beta-adrenergic responses in human tracheal epithelial cells. Amiloride (10(-4) M), applied from the basolateral surface of a cell monolayer, inhibited the changes in transepithelial potential and short circuit current to isoproterenol (10(-6) M). The stimulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) synthesis by isoproterenol was inhibited in dose-dependent fashion by amiloride (P = 0.007 by multivariate ANOVA with multiple samples correction). Amiloride did not affect baseline transepithelial potential, short circuit current, basal cAMP levels, cAMP response to prostaglandin E2, or basal adenylate cyclase activity measured directly in membrane preparations. Therefore, it is unlikely that amiloride exerts a nonspecific toxic effect on adenylate cyclase, receptor-cyclase coupling, or substrate or cofactor supply. The binding of [125I]iodocyanopindolol (ICYP), a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, to membranes from human tracheal epithelial cells could be displaced by amiloride with IC50 = 410 microM; displacement was 70% at 10(-3) M amiloride. These data are most consistent with the hypothesis that amiloride inhibits beta-adrenergic responses in airway epithelial cells by occupying beta-adrenergic receptor sites. Therapeutic administration of amiloride should take into account its affinity for adrenergic receptors.

Adenosine 3:5' cyclic monophosphate synthesis by human tracheal epithelial cells.

Intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulates many critical differentiated functions of tracheal epithelial cells. An in vitro model system for reliable study of cAMP metabolism in these cells has been developed. Viable tracheal epithelial cells could be recovered from greater than 50% of necropsy specimens. Culture success rate was not significantly affected by age of subject, endotracheal intubation, or time between death and autopsy, although most specimens were obtained within 24 h of death. Human tracheal epithelial cells grown in primary culture displayed a typical histologic epithelial appearance, and the ultrastructure showed microvilli, junctional complexes, and tonofilaments. The cells uniformly stained with fluorescent antibody to cytokeratin, and expressed receptors for isoproterenol and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Human tracheal epithelial cells grown serum-free in an equal volume mix of Ham's F12 medium and Dulbecco's minimal essential medium containing growth supplements (Medium A) and cholera toxin (CT) had higher basal cAMP levels and greater increase in intracellular cAMP in response to phosphodiesterase inhibition than cells grown in Medium A without CT. Cells grown in Medium A without CT had similar morphology and grew at a comparable rate but attached to the culture substratum less readily than cells grown in Medium A with CT. Cells grown in Medium A without CT had less cAMP response to phosphodiesterase inhibition, less rapid accumulation of cAMP, and greater proportional response to receptor-mediated stimulation of cAMP production compared to cells grown with CT, though the final cAMP levels achieved were comparable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Beta-adrenergic receptors on human tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture.

Human tracheal epithelial cells in suspension, whether obtained by brushing at bronchoscopy or from necropsy specimens by proteolytic digestion and EDTA treatment, increase adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production in response to isoproterenol. These cells in primary culture also respond to beta-adrenergic agonists in order of potency isoproterenol greater than epinephrine greater than norepinephrine. The response is inhibited by propranolol or ICI 118551 (a beta 2-adrenergic selective blocker) but not by atenolol (a beta 1-adrenergic blocker). Binding of [125I]iodocyanopindolol (ICYP) to membranes was rapid, stereoselective, and saturable and displayed receptor density 8.0 +/- 4.6 fmol/mg protein (mean 228 receptors/cell) and a dissociation constant (KD) for ICYP of 35 +/- 14 pM for freshly isolated cells and a KD of 25 +/- 13 pM and receptor density of 17 +/- 17 fmol/mg protein for cells in culture. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for atenolol was 470 microM and for ICI 118551 was 0.012 microM. Analysis of the ICI 118551 displacement curve indicates that greater than 90% of the receptors are of the beta 2-adrenergic class. Prostaglandins E1 or E2, vasoactive intestinal peptide, carbachol, phenylephrine, or platelet-activating factor did not affect either the maximal cAMP response or the isoproterenol dose-response relationship. Neither clonidine nor epinephrine plus propranolol altered cellular cAMP content, and cyclooxygenase inhibition did not change the cAMP response to epinephrine. We conclude that in human tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture, adrenergic stimulation affects cAMP levels only through beta 2-adrenergic receptors and that modulation of this system by platelet-activating factor or muscarinic, alpha 1-, or alpha 2-adrenergic agents does not occur.

Ageing and the alpha 2-adrenergic system of the platelet.

1. Platelets taken from healthy unmedicated subjects over 65 years of age display less inhibition of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) synthesis by noradrenaline than do platelets taken from young adults aged 18-25 years (P less than 0.03). The inhibition of cyclic AMP production by noradrenaline (10(-5) mol/l) correlates negatively with age over the range 18-92 years (r = -0.338, n = 108, P less than 0.005). The reduced cyclic AMP inhibition by noradrenaline in the elderly is not explained by basal cyclic AMP levels or degree of stimulation of platelets by PGE1, which do not differ between young and elderly subjects. The reduction itself is small, though, and cannot be demonstrated for a more potent agonist, adrenaline. 2. Despite the reduced noradrenaline response in the cyclic AMP system in the aged, platelet aggregation in response to alpha 2-adrenergic agents is normal or even slightly increased. Aggregation responses to adrenergic agents correlate well with aggregation responses to adenosine 5'-diphosphate, suggesting that the effector system is a major determinant of the aggregation response. 3. alpha 2-Adrenoceptor number measured by Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding of [3H]yohimbine to platelet membranes is comparable in young and old subjects, and does not correlate with age. The KD for [3H]yohimbine does not correlate with age. The IC50 for noradrenaline displacing [3H]yohimbine is comparable in young and elderly subjects. Therefore the reduced inhibition of cyclic AMP production by noradrenaline in platelets from elderly subjects is not explained by changes in alpha 2-adrenoceptor number, or agonist- or antagonist-binding properties, but may reside in the coupling of receptor to cyclase.