Inhibition of tumor cell growth by Schiff bases of hydroxysemicarbazide.

The inhibitory activities of Schiff bases of hydroxysemicarbazide (HSC) against eight human and murine tumor cell lines and one non-cancer cell line were studied using MTS/PES microculture tetrazolium and methylene blue assays. Compounds 1 (1-[9-(10-methylanthryl)methylene]-4-HSC), 2 (1-[2-hydroxy-3,5-dibromobenzylidene]-4-HSC) and 3 (1-[2,3,4-trihydroxybenzylidene]-4-HSC), which have been shown to be active against murine leukemia L1210 cells in our laboratories, inhibited human leukemia CCRF-CEM cells with similar IC50s ranging from 2.7 to 7.0 microM. Of the compounds tested against attached tumor cell lines (B16, CHO, HT29, ZR75) at 50 microM concentration, compound 1 showed the strongest inhibition, followed by 4 (1-[2-(5-nitrothienyl)methylene]-4-HSC), 2 and 5 (1-[2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzylidene]-4-HSC) with more than 50% inhibition. The IC50s of compound 1 were found to range from 2.7 to 12 microM against the attached tumor cell lines examined. As compared with hydroxyurea, compound 1 had more favorable selectivity against tumor cells. Further more, compound 1 was found to have IC50s of 2.8 and 6.5 microM against hydroxyurea-resistant and gemcitabine-resistant KB cells, respectively, but had no cross-resistance with hydroxyurea and gemcitabine (two known ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors acting at different sites of the same enzyme). In conclusion, several Schiff bases of HSC showed inhibition of tumor cell growth at micromolar concentration and had no cross-resistance with hydroxyurea-resistant KB cells.

Matrix metalloproteinases in dog brains exhibiting Alzheimer-like characteristics.

We have previously reported that the amount of the neuronal matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) MMP-9, capable of cleaving beta-amyloid,-40 predominantly at Leu34-Met35, is increased in a latent form in hippocampal specimens from AD patients and have suggested that the lack of activation of this enzyme may contribute to the deposition of beta-amyloid in plaques. The current study addresses whether similar matrix proteinases are detectable in amyloid-positive and -negative brain specimens of aged beagles. Using quantitative zymography, three major neutral proteinases with molecular masses of 60, 95, and 280 kDa were readily detected. These enzymes have the characteristics of MMPs because they were inhibited by EDTA and 1, 10-phenanthroline, and their activities were restored by addition of both Ca2+ and Zn2+. The 95- and 280-kDa proteinases cross-reacted with specific monoclonal antibodies to human MMP-9 (gelatinase B; EC 3.4. 24.35). Canine MMP-9 was latent because activation by organomercurial treatment resulted in a characteristic decrease in molecular mass. Statistical analysis revealed no difference in the 60-kDa proteinase activity in amyloid-positive and -negative brain specimens. However, significantly increased amounts of latent MMP-9 were observed in amyloid-positive brain specimens (p < or = 0.05) compared with amyloid-negative brain specimens. The observations document that changes in MMP-9 expression in amyloid-positive beagle brains are similar to those reported in the human Alzheimer's disease hippocampus and suggest the possibility that insufficient activation of MMP-9 may contribute to beta-amyloid accumulation, a hypothesis that needs to be further investigated.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is synthesized in neurons of the human hippocampus and is capable of degrading the amyloid-beta peptide (1-40).

We reported earlier that the levels of Ca2+-dependent metalloproteinases are increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) specimens, relative to control specimens. Here we show that these enzymes are forms of the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9 (EC3.4.24. 35) and are expressed in the human hippocampus. Affinity-purified antibodies to MMP-9 labeled pyramidal neurons, but not granular neurons or glial cells. MMP-9 mRNA is expressed in pyramidal neurons, as determined with digoxigenin-labeled MMP-9 riboprobes, and the presence of this mRNA is confirmed with reverse transcriptase PCR. The cellular distribution of MMP-9 is altered in AD because 76% of the total 100 kDa enzyme activity is found in the soluble fraction of control specimens, whereas only 51% is detectable in the same fraction from AD specimens. The accumulated 100 kDa enzyme from AD brain is latent and can be converted to an active form with aminophenylmercuric acetate. MMP-9 also is detected in close proximity to extracellular amyloid plaques. Because a major constituent of plaques is the 4 kDa beta-amyloid peptide, synthetic Abeta1-40 was incubated with activated MMP-9. The enzyme cleaves the peptide at several sites, predominantly at Leu34-Met35 within the membrane-spanning domain. These results establish that neurons have the capacity to synthesize MMP-9, which, on activation, may degrade extracellular substrates such as beta-amyloid. Because the latent form of MMP-9 accumulates in AD brain, it is hypothesized that the lack of enzyme activation contributes to the accumulation of insoluble beta-amyloid peptides in plaques.

Matrix metalloproteinases in the neocortex and spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and zymography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and control brain and spinal cord specimens. Three major bands of enzyme activity (70, 100, and 130 kDa) were consistently observed and were subsequently identified as MMP-2 (70 kDa; also known as EC 3.4.24.24 or gelatinase A) and MMP-9 (100 and 130 kDa; also known as EC 3.4.24.35 or gelatinase B). Immunohistochemical studies established the presence of MMP-2 in astrocytes and MMP-9 in pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex and motor neurons in the spinal cord of ALS patients. Although a significant decrease in MMP-2 activity was noticed in the ALS motor cortex, statistically significant increases in MMP-9 (100-kDa) activity were observed in ALS frontal and occipital cortices (BA10 and 17) and all three spinal cord regions when compared with control specimens. The highest MMP-9 (100-kDa) activities in ALS were found in the motor cortex and thoracic and lumbar cord specimens. The abnormally high amount of MMP-9 and its possible release at the synapse may destroy the structural integrity of the surrounding matrix, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of ALS.

The 84-kDa form of human matrix metalloproteinase-9 degrades substance P and gelatin.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is secreted from cells and, once activated, is thought to degrade collagen in the extracellular matrix. Because collagen is not readily localized where neurons have been shown to produce MMP-9 in the human brain, the ability of this enzyme to degrade bioactive peptides was investigated with representative tachykinin peptides [substance P (SP), neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and kassinin]. Latent MMP-9 (94 kDa) was purified from the human cell line HL-60 and converted to an intermediary active form (84 kDa) with p-aminophenylmercuric acetate. This active form of MMP-9 degraded SP with a kcat/Km of 170 mM-1 min-1, which is 30-fold greater than the previously reported value for a representative collagen-derived peptide. The major digestion products were identified as SP and SP, which were derived from cleavage of the Gln6-Phe7 bond. Minor products were also generated from cleavage of the Gly9-Leu10 bond. The other representative tachykinin peptides were cleaved at rates > 10-fold slower than that of SP. The 84-kDa peptidase was also active as a gelatinase. Longer treatment of MMP-9 with p-aminophenylmercuric acetate caused the conversion of the 84-kDa enzyme to the established 68-kDa active form; however, the rate of SP degradation did not increase. Because MMP-9 is produced by neurons of the CNS, these results suggest a possible regulatory role for the enzyme in interacellular communication by altering the availability of bioactive peptides.

Characterization of neutral proteinases from Alzheimer-affected and control brain specimens: identification of calcium-dependent metalloproteinases from the hippocampus.

Three neutral proteinases from human hippocampal tissue have been identified and partially characterized using substrate gel electrophoresis. The proteinases showed activity when gelatin was used as the substrate, but had no detectable activity against casein. Based on the results of inhibition studies and the calcium requirements, it was concluded that the activities were due to calcium-dependent metalloproteinases. The apparent molecular weights were 130,000 (MP-130), 100,000 (MP-100), and 70,000 (MP-70). Half-maximal activities were observed with 20 microM Ca2+ for MP-130, 40 microM Ca2+ for MP-100, and 800 microM Ca2+ for MP-70. In the presence of Ca2+, Zn2+ reestablished the activities of the three metalloproteinases at a lower concentration than did either Co2+ or Mn2+. One millimolar Al3+ inhibited 67% of the MP-70 activity, but did not affect the MP-100 and MP-130 activities. An analysis of Alzheimer-affected hippocampal and control samples showed that the specific activity (in units per milligram of sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble protein) of MP-70 varied less than the activities of MP-100 and MP-130 between the two groups. Although p-amino-phenylmercuric acetate (p-APMA) increased the activities of MP-70 by 70% in both groups of specimens, the resulting activities from Alzheimer samples were greater than those from control samples (p less than 0.01). A wide range of MP-100 specific activity was observed in both groups, and its mean activity was higher in Alzheimer-affected samples (p less than 0.05). Treatment with p-APMA increased the activity of MP-100 only 25% in both groups of tissue samples. MP-130 activity was detected predominantly in Alzheimer-affected hippocampal specimens, and treatment with p-APMA failed to increase its activity in both the control and the Alzheimer-affected specimens. The results demonstrate an elevated level of metalloproteinase activities, capable of degrading tissue matrix components, in the hippocampus from postmortem Alzheimer patients.

Differential release of active proteinase inhibitors by two rat mammary adenocarcinoma variants possessing different metastatic potentials.

The ability of tumor cells to express elevated levels of proteinases capable of degrading tissue matrix and basement membrane components in vitro has been correlated to their invasive and metastatic potential. Many in vitro invasion assays have been performed either in the presence of serum or with tumor cells that had been previously grown in serum. Since serum contains large amounts of active proteinase inhibitors, their presence could complicate interpretations. We have, therefore, attempted to measure the amounts of serine proteinase inhibitors released into culture medium by two rat mammary adenocarcinoma metastatic variants selected in vitro for serum-independent growth and differing in their in vivo metastatic behavior. Concentrated spent media (CSM) derived from cultures of poorly metastatic MTLn2(T42D) and highly metastatic MTLn3(T17D) tumor cells, grown in the presence and absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 20-24 h, were compared for the presence of serine proteinase inhibitors capable of inactivating alpha-chymotrypsin. Our results show that when MTLn2(T42D) and MTLn3(T17D) tumor cells were exposed to FBS, the CSM of MTLn2(T42D) exhibited nearly 5-fold greater amounts of active proteinase inhibitors than that of MTLn3(T17D). The amount of proteinase inhibitory activity detected in the CSM of tumor cells not exposed to FBS was not eliminated but declined by 82% and 37% for MTLn2(T42D) and MTLn3(T17D), respectively. Analysis for enzyme-inhibitor (E-I) complex formation by nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography confirmed the kinetic results and revealed that the major inhibitor present in CSM/FBS of both variants forms a heat- and sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable E-I complex with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 79,000, identical to that formed when FBS or purified alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor is incubated with [alpha-125I]chymotrypsin. E-I complexes with apparent molecular weights of 44,000 and 50,000 were formed from CSM/bovine serum albumin of MTLn3(T17D) and MTLn2(T42D), respectively, that were not detected when [alpha-125I]chymotrypsin was incubated with bovine serum albumin. We infer from these observations that, in culture, poorly metastatic MTLn2(T42D) tumor cells, as compared to their highly metastatic MTLn3(T17D) counterparts, exhibit an increased capacity to retain and subsequently release significantly greater amounts of serum-derived active proteinase inhibitors. Moreover, the detection of proteinase activity by kinetic analysis and E-I complexes by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography in CSM prepared from cultures not exposed to FBS indicates that both variants have the capacity to produce their own inhibitors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Induction of erythroid differentiation in human leukemic K-562 cells by membrane-directed action of adriamycin covalently bound to microspheres.

Covalent coupling of Adriamycin (ADR) to polyglutaraldehyde microspheres focuses the drug action to the plasma membrane which leads to growth inhibition and also to induction of erythroid differentiation in human leukemic K-562 cells without any evidence of cellular internalization of the drug-microsphere complexes. As observed with the free drug, a reduction in cell growth by the coupled drug correlated with a recruitment of differentiating cells. Treatment of sensitive cells with ADR-microspheres results in 40% of cells containing hemoglobins as determined by benzidine staining at 87% growth inhibition. Similar treatment of ADR-resistant cells produces 24% of benzidine-positive cells at 72% growth inhibition. Furthermore, free and coupled forms of ADR stimulate heme synthesis 12- and 20-fold. Hemoglobin analysis of ADR-polymer induced cells demonstrates additional embryonic (Gower-2, X, Portland) and fetal (F) types of hemoglobin in comparison to uninduced cells which synthesize only small amounts of Gower-1 in sensitive cells and Gower-1 plus hemoglobin X in resistant cells. In addition, free and bound forms of Adriamycin differ markedly in the relative proportion of hemoglobin types that they induce. Free and coupled forms of ADR produce an increase in the gamma-globin mRNA synthesis in sensitive K-562 cells. These results demonstrate that both ADR-sensitive and -resistant K-562 cells can be induced to differentiate at the cell surface by ADR-microspheres and that this induction differs qualitatively from that of free ADR.

Phenotypic variations dictate the intracellular compartmentalization of doxorubicin in normal human bone marrow cells.

In vitro accumulation of doxorubicin in intracellular compartments of normal bone marrow cells was studied with the use of fluorescent microscopy. Both the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments had distinguishable drug accessibility in the diverse hemopoietic series and in different stages of maturation of each lineage. Nuclei appeared to be more sheltered in the myelogranulocytic series than in the nucleated erythroid cells. Nuclei of activated phagocytic cells of the myelogranulocytic series and macrophages appeared to be the least accessible to doxorubicin uptake. These observations establish that phenotypic variations dictate the patterns of anthracyclines' subcellular compartmentalization. They also suggest that the molecular mechanism contributing to the intracellular trafficking of doxorubicin deserves more substantial investigation that may contribute to our understanding of drug resistance and sensitivity.

Proteolytic activity associated with the nuclear scaffold. The effect of self-digestion on lamins.

The inner aspect of the nuclear envelope is supported by a peripheral framework called the nuclear scaffold, which consists of both structural and functional proteins. Its major structural components, lamins A-C, form a highly polymerized and insoluble fibrous matrix during interphase of the cell cycle. Functional constituents of the scaffold include the 46-kDa nucleoside triphosphatase which is thought to participate in nucleocytoplasmic transport of mRNA. This 46-kDa component shares an amino-terminal sequence with lamins A and C, indicating that proteolytic remodeling of the nuclear scaffold may contribute to the generation of nucleoside triphosphatase activity (Clawson, G. A., Lackey, A., and Tökés, Z. A. (1988) Exp. Cell Res. 176, 180-186). We report here that neutral protease activity intimately associated with the nuclear scaffold is also a functional constituent. This activity has a considerable selectivity for lamins as shown by self-digestion of scaffold preparations, and it may participate in the remodeling of the nuclear scaffold after treatment with carcinogens.

Neurotoxicity and dermatotoxicity of cyanomorpholinyl adriamycin.

The highly lipophilic cyanomorpholinyl adriamycin (CMA) is the most potent antineoplastic anthracycline yet described. CNS distribution and toxicity were examined after i.v. administration of CMA to mice. At doses greater than or equal to 0.1 mg/kg, a neurotoxic syndrome including ataxia, hypokinesia, and tremors appeared. At doses of less than or equal to 0.05 mg/kg, which have been reported to be antineoplastic, no neurotoxicity was observed. On histopathologic examination, no changes were observed in the brain, spinal cord, or dorsal root ganglia. Unlike adriamycin (ADR), which rapidly appears in the nuclei of several tissues, CMA showed no fluorescence, suggesting a different cellular microcompartmentalization. The i.d. injection of CMA disclosed a 200-fold increase in toxicity compared with that of adriamycin. In comparisons of CMA and ADR, neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity occurred equally only at higher doses; however, the dermatotoxicity and antineoplastic activity of CMA were increased several hundred-fold.

The 46-kDa nucleoside triphosphatase of rat liver nuclear scaffold represents the N-terminal portion of lamins A/C.

The major nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) of rat liver nuclear scaffold (NS) or envelope, which is thought to participate in nucleocytoplasmic transport, has been identified via photoaffinity labeling as a 46-kDa polypeptide. This 46-kDa protein was purified by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and cleaved with trypsin. The resulting peptides were purified by HPLC and five were microsequenced. All five peptides appear to be derived from the N-terminal region of lamins A/C. Subsequent experiments with photolabeled NS showed that the 46-kDa polypeptide was selectively immunoprecipitated by antiserum specific to lamins A/C and by affinity-purified anti-lamin antibodies. Photolabeling of nuclei prepared in the presence of protease inhibitors showed predominant labeling of the 46-kDa polypeptide, suggesting that it is an integral nuclear constituent and not an artifact produced during NS preparation. Use of protease inhibitors throughout purification of NS increased the specificity of photolabeling of the 46-kDa band by significantly reducing photolabeling of smaller molecular weight components, which arise by proteolysis. Anti-lamin antibodies also produced a significant inhibition of NTPase activity in NS. These results suggest that the N-terminal portion of lamins A/C represents the 46-kDa NTPase, which, according to previous reports, may participate in RNA transport.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of proteinase inhibitor alpha-1-antichymotrypsin in normal human central nervous system.

The presence of alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, a serine proteinase inhibitor with a high affinity for cathepsin G, is demonstrated in the normal human central nervous system (CNS) by immunohistochemical techniques. Paraffin-embedded normal human CNS tissue from five adult, two fetal, one neonatal and three newborn autopsies were stained with monospecific rabbit antibodies to human alpha-1-antichymotrypsin using biotinylated goat anti-rabbit antibodies and an avidinbiotin-peroxidase complex. Positive immunostaining was seen in neurons and glial cells in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord of the adults. The epithelium of the adult choroid plexus had the most intense staining in apical granular organelles corresponding in position to lysosomes or secretory granules. Ependymal cells, particularly those near the choroid plexus, were immunostained. The fetal CNS had no alpha-1-antichymotrypsin staining. Limited staining of choroid plexus, ependyma, and frontal lobe was found in the newborns. Immunostaining in the neonatal temporal lobe was only found in the choroid-plexus epithelium. These observations establish a widespread distribution of this proteinase inhibitor in the normal human CNS. Developmental regulation of this inhibitor in the human CNS is also indicated.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis of 2-hydroxy-1H-isoindolediones as new cytostatic agents.

A series of 16 derivatives of 2-hydroxy-1H-isoindole-1,3-diones was designed and synthesized as potential antitumor agents. The cytostatic activity against L1210 cell growth of these compounds was studied, and their IC50 values were found to be in the range of 10(-4) to 10(-8) M. Quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis of these compounds showed that the inhibitory effect was well correlated with the electronic and the lipophilic parameters. Derivatives having a substituent with strongly electron-donating properties at the 6-position showed enhanced inhibitory activity while compounds having an electron-withdrawing group at the same position showed lower activity.

Preferential expression of a Mr 155,000 milk-fat-globule membrane glycoprotein on luminal epithelium of lobules in human breast.

An integral membrane glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 155,000 and isoelectric points ranging from 7.2 to 7.6 has been found to be predominantly expressed on the apical plasma membrane of luminal epithelial cell lining the lobules and terminal ducts in breast. The glycoprotein was purified to homogeneity from human milk-fat-globule membrane and was termed MFGM-gp 155. Polyclonal antibodies were raised which specifically reacted to a single component that electrophoretically comigrated with this glycoprotein in immunoblotting experiments. These antibodies appear to recognize epitopes which are expressed on the protein segment of the glycoprotein. Using an indirect immunohistological method, the glycoprotein was localized predominantly on the apical plasma membrane of luminal epithelial cells lining the alveoli of normal breasts. The expression of the antigen was maintained in both morphologically well- and poorly differentiated lobular carcinoma cells. The antigen was weakly detectable on normal epithelial cells lining the terminal ducts and malignant cells of infiltrating ductal and medullary carcinomas. Expression of the glycoprotein is not organ specific as it is detectable in normal epithelial cells of kidney, pancreas, salivary gland, and stomach and in malignant cells of colon and stomach. The antibodies did not react with large ductal, myoepithelial, stromal, endothelial, epidermal squamous epithelial cells, melanocytes, eccrine sweat glands and ducts, sebaceous glands, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes in breast and skin tissues. Thus, antibodies to this glycoprotein appear to be useful phenotype markers to study differentiation of mammary epithelial cells and the pathogenesis of different histological types of mammary carcinomas, including Paget's disease and signet-ring cell carcinoma of mammary gland.

Expression of an active proteinase inhibitor, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, by human breast epithelial cells.

The synthesis of an active proteinase inhibitor, gp 66, by human breast epithelial cells is reported. This glycoprotein is identical to serum alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, which inhibits proteinases that cleave at hydrophobic residues. Immunohistological studies show the in vivo expression on normal secretory and ductal epithelial cells and on primary and metastatic adenocarcinomas. Immunoaffinity-purified gp 66 from MCF-7 culture supernatants is an active inhibitor of chymotrypsin as determined in a fluorogenic enzyme assay and can form stable 88 kDa enzyme-inhibitor complexes. The synthesis of a functional inhibitor may represent the epithelial cell's attempt to stabilize its extracellular milieu.

Immunohistochemical localization of keratin in human prostate.

The localization of keratin was investigated in normal human prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatic adenocarcinoma using immunohistochemical technique on frozen tissue sections. The purpose of this study was to identify changes in the distribution patterns of keratin due to malignancy. In normal and benign tissue specimens, keratin was detected in the cytoplasm of basal cells and glandular epithelial cells. In the glandular epithelial cells keratin was found as a deposit of fine granules. In the basal cells, the positive staining for keratin had a uniform distribution in the scanty cytoplasm. In specimens of prostatic adenocarcinoma, the basal cells retained a strong positive reaction for keratin. The shapes and the distributions of basal cells were markedly different in malignant specimens. Basal cells formed a discontinuous layer and surrounded the population of neoplastic cells in tissue sections containing the cribriform patterns. The cells expressed characteristic protrusions into extracellular spaces between the cancer cells. Keratin-positive granules were demonstrated in the adenocarcinoma cells as well. These granules had slightly smaller sizes and were distributed randomly. The study demonstrates that the immunohistochemical localization of keratin provides a refinement for the characterization of cells in tissue sections of prostate.

Generation and immunohistological characterization of human monoclonal antibodies to mammary carcinoma cells.

The purpose of this study was to identify human antibodies generated against autologous breast tumor cells by the host's immune response. Accordingly, lymphocytes from lymph nodes of seven different patients with metastatic breast carcinomas were immortalized by fusing them with a nonsecreting variant of murine myeloma cells. The screening for binding of antibodies to tumor cells was performed by indirect immunoperoxidase staining of paraffin-embedded tissue sections of the autologous tumor. The selected hybrid cells, after being cloned three times, were stable for the secretion of immunoglobulins for over 2 years. A total of 81 human immunoglobulin-producing clones was obtained from an initial 595 wells with hybrid growth. Nine of these clones produced immunoglobulin M, none of which showed detectable binding to tissue antigens in breast. Seventy-two clones produced immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies, and 15 of these showed preferential binding to breast carcinoma cells. Three of these immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies were subjected to detailed immunohistological evaluations. Using these antibodies at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 ng/tissue section, the morphologically normal mammary epithelial cells could be discriminated from their malignant counterparts. The antibodies showed diffuse staining of cytoplasmic components in the malignant counterparts. Under these conditions, lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and stromal cells in breast tissues were unstained. The antibodies showed variable reactivity with malignant epithelial cells of colon and stomach, and with normal epithelial cells lining the renal tubules and sebaceous glands in skin. Antigenic heterogeneity of malignant mammary epithelial cells was revealed. The antibodies may have value in the characterization of tumor-associated antigens responsible for inducing autologous immune responses.

Localization of alpha-1 acid glycoproteins in human myocardium.

alpha-1 acid glycoproteins become elevated in the patient's serum within a few hours after an acute myocardial infarction. Previous reports have suggested a correlation between the magnitude of this elevation and infarct size as estimated by enzyme markers. Correlation has also been observed between the mortality following infarction and appearance of elevated alpha-1 acid glycoproteins. We now report that these glycoproteins are detectable in normal myocardium using immunohistochemical techniques. Diminished amounts are observed in necrotic tissue in acute myocardial infarcts. Ultrastructural localization by immunoelectron microscopy using sections of normal myocardium established the presence of alpha-1 acid glycoproteins primarily at the cell surface in the region of the sarcolemma. The observations suggest that myocardium may directly contribute to the elevation of serum alpha-1 acid glycoproteins after an infarct, and the assessment of these components may serve as an additional serum marker.

Immunohistochemical study of the expression of human milk fat globule membrane glycoprotein 70.

Human milk fat globule membrane, which is said to derive from apical plasma membrane of secretory epithelial cells in breast, was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-two:dimensional gel electrophoresis. More than 35 components were detected in the gels. One of the major glycoproteins with an apparent molecular weight of 70,000, human milk fat globule membrane glycoprotein, was purified to homogeneity. The pattern of distribution of this glycoprotein in tissues was studied using polyclonal rabbit antibodies to the purified component. The localization of the antigen was accomplished by an indirect immunoperoxidase staining method. Normal mammary epithelial cells display this antigen mostly on the apical plasma membrane, whereas poorly differentiated breast carcinoma cells retained it predominantly in the cytoplasm. These observations suggest that the proper insertion of this glycoprotein into an apical membrane domain may be impaired in malignant tumor cells. In addition, a small population of tumor cells in each case examined failed to express detectable amounts of this component, indicating the presence of antigenic heterogeneity among the tumor cell population.