Norepinephrine-mediated inhibition of antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocyte generation involves a beta-adrenergic receptor mechanism and decreased TNF-alpha gene expression.

We have previously shown that norepinephrine (NE) inhibits the in vitro generation of anti-MOPC-315 CTL activity by spleen cells from BALB/c mice rejecting a large MOPC-315 tumor as a consequence of low-dose melphalan (l -phenylalanine mustard (l -PAM)) treatment (l -PAM TuB spleen cells). Since TNF-alpha plays a key role in the generation of antitumor CTL activity in this system, we determined whether NE mediates this inhibition through inhibition of TNF-alpha production. Here, we show that NE inhibits the production of TNF-alpha protein and mRNA by l -PAM TuB spleen cells stimulated in vitro with mitomycin C-treated tumor cells. Flow cytometric analysis of intracellular expression of TNF-alpha revealed substantial NE-mediated decreases in the percentages of TNF-alpha+ cells among CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and F4/80+ activated macrophages. NE inhibition of CTL generation was largely overcome by addition of TNF-alpha to the stimulation cultures. When the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol was added to the stimulation cultures of l -PAM TuB spleen cells at a concentration that prevented NE-induced cAMP elevation, the NE-mediated decrease in TNF-alpha mRNA and NE-mediated inhibition of CTL generation were reversed. Collectively, these results suggest that NE inhibits antitumor CTL generation, at least in part, by inhibiting TNF-alpha synthesis through a mechanism(s) involving beta-adrenergic receptor signaling.

Mechanism of catecholamine-mediated destabilization of messenger RNA encoding Thy-1 protein in T-lineage cells.

The Ig superfamily cell surface glycoprotein Thy-1 expressed on immune cells and neurons of rodents and humans is hypothesized to function in cell adhesion and signal transduction in T cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. This study analyzes effects of cAMP and catecholamines on transcriptional Thy-1 gene expression. Incubation of murine thymocytes or S49 mouse thymoma cells with dibutyryl-cAMP, 8-bromo-cAMP, cholera toxin, norepinephrine, or isoproterenol caused time- and concentration-dependent decreases in levels of Thy-1 mRNA assayed by Northern hybridization or T2 nuclease protection. After 4 h of treatment with 500 microM dibutyryl-cAMP or 8-bromo-cAMP, 1 nM cholera toxin, 100 microM norepinephrine, or 100 microM isoproterenol, Thy-1 mRNA levels were 60 to 96% lower than those of controls. Norepinephrine-mediated decreases in Thy-1 mRNA levels were prevented by the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol (10 microM). Dibutyryl-cAMP and norepinephrine decreased the apparent half-life of S49 cell Thy-1 mRNA from >>6 h to 2 to 3 h, whereas nuclear run-on assays showed no cAMP or norepinephrine effect on de novo transcription of the Thy-1 gene. In mutant S49 cells lacking cAMP-dependent protein kinase A, neither dibutyryl cAMP nor norepinephrine affected Thy-1 mRNA levels. These observations show that exogenous cAMP and norepinephrine can induce decreases in steady state Thy-1 mRNA levels in T-lineage cells through posttranscriptional destabilization of Thy-1 mRNA, associated with protein kinase A-mediated protein phosphorylation. Catecholamine-mediated beta-adrenergic protein kinase A-dependent Thy-1 mRNA destabilization may be an example of a more general mRNA decay system regulating cellular responses to stress.

Oxidant inhibition of alphaLbeta2 integrin adhesion: evidence for coordinate effects on conformation and cytoskeleton linkage.

Dithiothreitol (DTT) and other dithiol antioxidants with closely spaced thiol pairs strongly activate leukocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1, alphaLbeta2 integrin) to bind intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Because direct biochemical modification of LFA-1 by DTT is not apparently involved, we investigated the possible role of a reduction-oxidation (redox)-sensitive adhesion-regulatory pathway. Phenylarsine oxide (PAO), an oxidant selectively reactive with closely spaced pairs of thiol groups, inhibited LFA-1-dependent adhesion of human natural killer and HSB2 T leukemia cells to murine cells expressing human ICAM-1. PAO also induced disappearance of a conformation-sensitive LFA-1 epitope recognized by KIM127 antibodies and promoted an increase in total apparent cytoskeleton-linked LFA-1 in which a novel cytochalasin D-resistant linkage was involved. Exposure of PAO-pretreated cells to DTT caused a decline in LFA-1/cytoskeleton linkages in conjunction with rapid restoration of KIM127 epitope expression and LFA-1 adhesive function. Implicating an intracellular site of action were findings that (1) an epitope-tagged PAO probe bound predominantly to intracellular proteins but not detectably to immunoprecipitation-purified LFA-1 chains, and (2) membrane permeant but not impermeant dithiol antioxidants reversed PAO adhesion-inhibitory effects. These results support the concept of a reversible redox-sensitive linkage between LFA-1 and cytoskeleton by which oxidants and antioxidants may exert profound opposing effects on LFA-1 conformation and adhesive function.

Mutations in the c-erbA beta 1 gene: do they underlie euthyroid fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition of widespread pain, stiffness, and fatigue, has proven unresponsive to drugs, the use of which is based on the 'serotonin-deficiency hypothesis'. An alternative hypothesis-failed transcription regulation by thyroid hormone-can explain the serotonin deficiency and other objective findings and symptoms of euthyroid fibromyalgia. Virtually every feature of fibromyalgia corresponds to signs or symptoms associated with failed transcription regulation by thyroid hormone. In hypothyroid fibromyalgia, failed transcription regulation would result from thyroid-hormone deficiency. In euthyroid fibromyalgia, failed transcription regulation may result from low-affinity thyroid hormone receptors coded by a mutated c-erbA beta 1 gene, yielding partial peripheral resistance to thyroid hormone. The hypothesis of this paper is that, in euthyroid fibromyalgia, a mutant c-erbA beta 1 gene (or alternately, the c-erbA alpha 1 gene) results in low-affinity thyroid-hormone receptors that prevent normal thyroid hormone regulation of transcription. As in hypothyroidism, this would cause a shift toward alpha-adrenergic dominance and increases in both cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-phosphate phosphodiesterase and inhibitory Gi proteins. The result would be tissue-specific hypothyroid-like symptoms despite normal circulating thyroid-hormone levels.

Evidence for a dithiol-activated signaling pathway in natural killer cell avidity regulation of leukocyte function antigen-1: structural requirements and relationship to phorbol ester- and CD16-triggered pathways.

Dithiothreitol (DTT) activation of the adhesive function of several different integrins suggests the existence of a common DTT-sensitive integrin regulatory element. Ui11/E3, a natural killer (NK) cell-resistant murine target cell line genetically engineered to constitutively express human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54) was used in a flow cytometric experimental model to evaluate DTT effects on the NK cell integrin adhesion molecule, leukocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1; alpha L beta 2, CD11a/CD18). DTT and several structurally related dithiol compounds elicited a dramatic elevation in conjugate formation that was dependent on target cell ICAM-1 expression, was blocked by LFA-1 alpha L or beta 2 chain-specific antibodies, and occurred in the absence of Ui11/E3 target cell exposure to DTT or quantitative changes in NK cell membrane LFA-1 expression. This avidity modulation of LFA-1 by DTT required actin polymerization, was abrogated by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C, involved activities of calyculin A- and okadaic acid-sensitive serine/threonine protein phosphatases PP-1 and/or PP-2A but not geldanamycin-sensitive tyrosine kinases, and differed with respect to kinetics and enzyme inhibitor sensitivity from LFA-1 activation promoted by cross-linking of NK cell CD16 or phorbol ester treatment. A key structural feature of DTT was the presence of two thiol groups, both reduced but not physically adjacent as in the nonstimulatory dithiol, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol. LFA-1 activation was not because of DTT chelation of Ca2+ or Zn2+. Immunoblotting studies identified multiple NK cell plasma membrane-associated proteins to be reduced by DTT under LFA-1-activating conditions, but similar effects were also promoted by reducing agent treatments that failed to alter adhesive function. Direct chemical modification of LFA-1 seemed an unlikely basis of activation because (1) DTT activated LFA-1 in HSB2 T cells without detectable disulfide reduction in LFA-1 alpha L or beta 2 chains immunoprecipitated from these cells and (2) DTT treatment of NK cells did not hinder binding of KIM127 and KIM185, monoclonal antibodies that recognize epitopes in the potentially DTT-susceptible cysteine-rich domain of the beta 2 chain. Thus, these results extended the range of DTT-activatible integrins to include NK cell LFA-1 and characterized for the first time signaling-associated enzymatic activities involved in DTT activation of NK cell LFA-1. Moreover, they suggested that structural features of DTT, particularly SH group spatial positioning, are important in LFA-activation for reasons other than cation chelation or disulfide reduction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

CD45-cross-linking stimulates IFN-gamma production in NK cells.

The in vitro demonstration of the ability of NK cells to secrete cytokines prompted in vivo studies that illustrated the importance of NK cell-derived cytokines in regulating immune responses. Cross-linking of CD16 on NK cells can stimulate cytokine production. CD16-independent interactions capable of stimulating cytokine production have also been described, but molecules mediating such stimulations remain to be biochemically defined. We report here that cross-linking of CD45 specifically stimulates IFN-gamma production in human NK cells. The NK cells used were IL-2-activated adherent NK cells and from the NK3.3 cell line. The ability of CD45 mAbs to stimulate NK cells appears not to be dependent on CD16, as CD45 mAbs of both IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes were equally stimulatory, as were F(ab')2 compared with whole anti-CD45 mAbs. Resting NK cells, like T cells, express predominantly CD45RA, whereas IL-2 activated adherent NK cells acquire expression of CD45RO. Abs specific for CD45RO, but not CD45RA, were able to stimulate IFN-gamma production in NK cells. It has been reported that one ligand for CD45RO is CD22 beta. We tested the ability of CD22-expressing transfectants to bind to and stimulate NK cells. Whereas NK cells bound to CD22 alpha and CD22 beta transfectants, this interaction was not inhibited by CD45RO Abs. In addition, neither of the CD22-transfectants were able to stimulate NK3.3 cells to secrete IFN-gamma. These observations collectively suggest that binding of NK3.3 cells to CD22 may be independent of CD45RO on NK3.3 cells.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in nevi and melanomas.

Expression of IGF-I mRNA and protein was evaluated in pigmented lesions by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. An IGF-I cDNA clone (phigf1) was subcloned into pBluescript KS II-. Both sense and antisense 35S riboprobes were prepared and used for in situ hybridization on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. Control hybridizations with a beta-actin probe were also performed. Grains were counted in 787-microns2 melanocytic areas of sections hybridized with the antisense IGF-I probe. Seven common nevi contained a mean of 218 grains; nine dysplastic nevi, a mean of 463 grains; eight early primary melanomas, a mean of 402 grains; five advanced primary melanomas, a mean of 217 grains; and nine metastatic melanomas, a mean of 194 grains. The differences between common and dysplastic nevus, common nevus and early melanoma, early and advanced primary melanoma, and early primary melanoma and metastatic melanoma were statistically significant. Keratinocytes also expressed abundant IGF-I message. IGF-I protein was demonstrable by immunohistochemistry in melanocytes and keratinocytes. These results suggest that progression-associated variation occurs in the net expression of IGF-I mRNA in melanocytic tumors.

CD54/ICAM-1 is a costimulator of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

The receptors and the array of cell adhesion molecules regulating MHC-unrestricted cytotoxic activity of NK cells toward tumor targets have not completely characterized. Antibody inhibition studies suggest roles for a number of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Recent studies suggest that CAMs can function to stabilize cell-to-cell interactions and/or to provide costimulatory signals that are crucial for T cell activation. It has been difficult to experimentally demonstrate that adhesion molecules also function as costimulators in NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We have developed an experimental system using cells transfected with genes encoding huICAM-1 and/or LFA-3 to investigate the function of adhesion molecules. Here we report that neither the expression of transfected ICAM-1 or LFA-3 alone nor the expression of both ICAM-1 and LFA-3, in the absence of MHC class I molecules, converts a murine cell line that is resistant to NK cell-mediated lysis into a susceptible one. We next tested the ability of ICAM-1 or LFA-3-mediated interactions to provide costimulation of NK cell cytolytic activity using a "three cell" experimental system comprising human NK cells, 51C-labeled target cells, and transfected mouse cells as a source of costimulation. The ability of NK cells to lyse K562 cells or anti-CD16-coated target cells was significantly enhanced by the addition of ICAM-1-transfected cells, whereas the addition of cells transfected with LFA-3 or irrelevant genes did not enhance lytic activity. Since the transfected huICAM-1 interacts with NK cells at sites spatially separate from the NK cell-target cell interactions, our data suggest that LFA-1-ICAM-1 or MAC-1-ICAM-1 interactions can provide remote costimulation, via signaling events, to induce cytotoxic activity in NK cells.

ICAM-1 and LFA-3 enhance the ability of anti-CD3 mAb to stimulate interferon gamma production in interleukin-2-activated T cells.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated killer cells, also referred to as lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, are stimulated by tumor cells to express cytotoxic activity and to also secrete cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). We previously reported that secretion of cytokines by IL-2-activated T cells (LAK-T cells) is dependent on the initial cross-linking of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3-molecular complex, but the cross-linking of accessory molecules, such as LFA-1, CD2, CD44 and CD45, on LAK-T cells can enhance this cytokine production. We have developed an approach involving interspecific gene transfer to define further the contributions of LFA-1 and CD2 to the activation of LAK-T cells. The genes for huICAM-1 (a ligand for LFA-1) and huLFA-3 (a ligand for CD2) were transfected singly and in combination into a null mouse melanoma background, and clonal populations of cells that stably express ICAM-1 and/or LFA-3 were derived. Expression of the introduced ICAM-1 and/or LFA-3 by transfected cells enhanced their ability to bind LAK-T cells; the LFA-1/ICAM-1-mediated binding was not further enhanced by activation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. ICAM-1- and/or LFA-3-transfected cells, in the presence of immobilized anti-CD3, exhibited a greater ability to stimulate IFN gamma secretion by LAK-T cells compared to the untransfected parental lines. This experimental system, which allows ICAM-1/LFA-1 and CD2/LFA-3 interactions to occur on the LAK-T cell at a site distal from the anti-CD3 signal, extends our understanding of LAK-T cell activation by establishing that both LFA-1/ICAM-1 and CD2/LFA-3 can mediate co-stimulation via adhesion and signaling events.

Stimulation of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta secretion in IL-2-activated T cells: costimulatory roles for LFA-1, LFA-2, CD44, and CD45 molecules.

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells are peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) that possess the ability to kill target cells in a non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted manner. Both NK and T cells can be stimulated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) to become LAK cells. We previously reported that the interaction of LAK cells with tumor cells also induces the secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The NK subset of LAK (LAK-NK) cells is stimulated by tumor cells to secrete IFN-gamma in a non-MHC-restricted manner while the T cell subset of LAK (LAK-T) cells is stimulated to secrete IFN-gamma upon cross-linking of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex. We here report that LAK-T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 mAbs and tumor cells secrete two additional cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-beta/lymphotoxin (TNF-beta). In addition, we demonstrate that at least four other structurally unrelated molecules, in addition to the TCR-CD3 complex, on LAK-T cells participate in the stimulation of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta production. These molecules are the lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), lymphocyte function associated antigen-2 (LFA-2), CD44, and CD45. LFA-1 is an integrin, LFA-2 is a member of the immunoglobulin supergene family, CD44 is homologous to the cartilage link proteins, and CD45 is a tyrosine phosphatase. Ligands to three of these molecules have been identified; ICAM-1, LFA-3, and hyaluronic acid binding to LFA-1, LFA-2, and CD44, respectively. LFA-1, LFA-2, and CD44 are reported to function both as adhesion molecules and as costimulators in resting T cells. Our data suggest that these three molecules enhance IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta production by augmenting LAK-T cell to tumor cell adhesion and also by functioning as costimulators.

Cytotoxic activity toward mouse melanoma following immunization of mice with transfected cells expressing a human melanoma-associated antigen.

B78H1 is a mouse melanoma cell line that is weakly antigenic in syngeneic mice. In an attempt to augment their immunogenicity, B78H1 cells were transfected with genomic DNA from a line of human melanoma cells expressing a 96-kDa melanoma-associated antigen (ICAM-1). A selective co-amplification procedure was employed that generated a population of transfected cells (Ui11) that expressed fivefold higher quantities of the melanoma-associated antigen than the cells from which the DNA was obtained. To test the transfected cells' relative capacity to generate a cellular immune response against B78H1 cells, Ui11 cells and B78H1 cells were administered (in parallel) to syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, susceptible to the growth of the melanoma. Each cell line (lethally irradiated beforehand) was injected intraperitoneally at weekly intervals into the mice. After two or three injections, a standard chromium-release assay was employed to detect the presence of cellular immunity toward B78H1 cells. The population of spleen cells from mice immunized with the transfected melanoma cells exhibited higher levels of cytotoxicity toward B78H1 cells than spleen cells from mice immunized with equivalent numbers of nontransfected cells. This observation is consistent with the notion that the transfected human melanoma-associated antigen acted as a "second antigen" capable of potentiating cellular immune responses against the weakly immunogenic determinants of the mouse melanoma cells. The introduction of genes for foreign antigens into weakly antigenic tumor cells may generate immunogens that can lead to augmented anti-tumor cellular immune responses.

Interspecific DNA-mediated transfer and amplification of a gene specifying a Mr 100,000 human melanoma-associated cell surface glycoprotein.

The gene that encodes the membrane-bound Mr 100,000 human melanoma-associated antigen (MAA) defined by mouse mAb 376.96, a leukocyte and fibroblast interferon-modulated glycoprotein having preferential distribution on melanoma and carcinoma cells, has been transfected into the mouse melanoma cell line B78H1 as a step toward molecular cloning and characterization of the MAA. Primary, secondary, and tertiary B78H1 transfectants expressing the Mr 100,000 MAA gene were generated by treatment with coprecipitated DNA from Mr 100,000 MAA+ human or transfectant mouse cells and they were detected by an indirect RBC rosetting assay. The Mr 100,000 MAA gene was also transferred into K-1735 mouse melanoma cells and into nonmalignant and malignant mouse fibroblast lines. The species immunoprecipitated by mAb 376.96 from human melanoma cells (Mr 100,000) and from mouse melanoma transfectant cells (Mr 97,000-100,000) were both converted to molecule(s) having an Mr of approximately 70,000 by enzymatic removal of asparagine-linked carbohydrate residues. Two independent secondary transformant clones of B78H1 cells express Mr 100,000 MAA antigenicity at levels significantly higher than those observed when one or two copies of the gene are present. Clone Mr 100,000 secondary-A spontaneously overexpresses Mr 100,000 MAA at least 5-fold and has greater than or equal to 10 times elevated levels of putatively Mr 100,000 MAA gene-associated human alu family repeat element (h-alu)-positive restriction fragments relative to "single" copy secondary transfectant cells. Clone Mr 100,000 secondary-B has increased copy number and expression of Mr 100,000 MAA as a consequence of a selective co-amplification procedure which is targeted to a mouse wild type dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene expression vector. This vector was co-introduced into B78H1 cells in addition to the DNA of Mr 100,000 MAA+ primary transfectant cells and the initially selected aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (neo) gene vector. Stepwise selections of a secondary Mr 100,000 MAA+ transfectant clone with increasing concentrations of the dihydrofolate reductase-inhibitory antimetabolite methotrexate led to progressive increases in copy numbers of the introduced dhfr gene and to parallel increases in h-alu sequences, in cellular levels of dihydrofolate reductase protein, and in cellular mAb 376.96 reactivity. Levels of these entities ultimately reached 50-fold, relative to levels expressed prior to amplification. The array of h-alu+ restriction fragments amplified in Mr 100,000 secondary-B cell DNA is very similar to that observed in Mr 100,000 secondary-A cell DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Human melanoma-associated antigens.

The rapid advance of the immunogenetic study of melanoma provides a continually evolving view of antigens of melanoma cells as topological expressions of somatic and germline events related to melanocytic malignancy. In particular, characterization of the repertoire of melanoma-associated antigens restricted to subsets of cells representing particular stages of development, differentiation, or malignancy has increased rapidly owing to the availability of monoclonal antibodies. Certain of these MAA are influenced, in their display on melanoma cells, by expression of cellular oncogenes, which may play a role in the etiology or the progression of cancer, whereas other subsets of MAA are responsive to modulation by alpha-, beta-, or gamma-IFNs. As information about the nature, the cell specificity of distribution, and the genetic linkages of MAAs continues to accrue, it is likely that certain MAA will be recognized as markers for somatic or germline chromosomal events or for classic mutations involved in the etiology and the progression of melanoma. Most importantly, increased biologic understanding of MAA is likely to be accompanied by further advances in currently promising efforts to exploit MAA and the corresponding MAbs for immunodiagnostic and immunotherapeutic ends. Demonstrated cloning of genes encoding two MAA and preliminary suggestion of successful isolation of the gene for a third MAA presage use of the formidable resources of recombinant DNA technology to further the immunogenetic study and the clinical utilization of these markers for melanoma.

Transfer and co-amplification of a gene encoding a 96-kDa immune IFN-inducible human melanoma-associated antigen. Preferential expression by mouse melanoma host cells.

An immune IFN-inducible human melanoma-associated glycoprotein Ag, 96-kDa MAA, having preferential distribution on metastases has been defined by mouse mAb CL203.4. To initiate molecular genetic analysis of 96-kDa MAA, the gene encoding the Ag was transfected into mouse B16 melanoma cell clone B78H1. Formation of B78H1-transfectant colonies expressing a surface Ag reactive with mAb CL203.4 in an immunorosetting assay was dependent on addition of chromosomal DNA from human melanoma cells [primary (1 degree) transfer] or from Ag-expressing transfectant cells (2 degrees, 3 degrees, 4 degrees transfer). The mAb CL203.4-reactive species expressed by the transfectant cells is a glycoprotein with a molecular mass 93-kDa, within the range of 93 to 96-kDa observed for the endogenous human Ag. In the presence of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation, both mouse melanoma transfectants and human melanoma cells express a 50- to 51-kDa antigenic species. Human alu family repeat sequences (h-alu) are present in the genomes of 3 degrees transfectant cells. Continued presence of these h-alu after dilution of extraneous human DNA by three cycles of transfection suggests their association with the transferred 96-kDa MAA gene. Use of a selective co-amplification procedure led to transfectant cells' increased expression of 96-kDa MAA and to commensurate increases in their content of presumed 96-kDa MAA gene-associated h-alu. Preferential DNA-mediated transferability of the 96-kDa MAA+ phenotype into B78H1 cells as compared with LMTK- mouse fibroblasts suggests host cell specificity of 96-kDa MAA gene expression.

DNA-mediated gene transfer of a human cell surface 170-kilodalton glycoprotein. Evidence for association with an endogenous murine protein.

We have previously reported the identification and characterization of two related human cell surface protein complexes, very common antigens 1 and 2 (VCA-1, VCA-2) (Kantor, R. R. S., Mattes, M. J., Lloyd, K. O., Old, L. J., and Albino, A. P. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 15158-15165). We now report the transfection of DNA sequences encoding the 170-kilodalton heterodimer of VCA-2 from human SK-RC-41 renal cancer cells to B78H1 mouse melanoma cells. B78H1 cells were cotransfected with high molecular weight renal cancer DNA and a plasmid vector containing the neomycin resistance gene. Antibiotic-resistant transfectants were screened for the expression of the 170-kDa heterodimer with mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) J143. Analysis of mAb J143-positive (J143+) transfectants showed that they expressed a 170-kDa heterodimer with an identical molecular weight, isoelectric point, two-dimensional peptide map, and spatial orientation of surface-exposed epitopes to the homologous 170-kDa species seen in human donor cells. The 170-kDa heterodimer in SK-RC-41 cells is associated with a 140-kDa (designated 140(1] polypeptide to form the VCA-2 complex. The 170-kDa complex and the 140(1)-kDa polypeptides are encoded by genes located on different human chromosomes. J143+ transfectants display a molecule of 140 kDa associated with the 170-kDa complex which is biochemically similar, but non-identical, to the human 140(1)-kDa polypeptide on VCA-2. This evidence supports our interpretation that the transfected human 170-kDa heterodimer associates with a murine counterpart of the human 140(1)-kDa polypeptide in J143+ transfectants.

Adeno-associated virus gene expression inhibits cellular transformation by heterologous genes.

In this paper we report that adeno-associated virus (AAV) genomes inhibit stable transformation by several dominant selectable marker genes upon cotransfection into mouse tissue culture cells. Cotransfection of AAV genomes also inhibited the expression of pSV2cat in transient assays. In both cases, the inhibitory effect was independent of AAV DNA replication but required the AAV p5 and p19 genes, which encode proteins required for AAV DNA replication and regulation of AAV gene expression. Finally, addition of a cloned E4 gene in the transfection experiments partially blocked the AAV-mediated inhibitory activities.

DNA-mediated transfer of human melanoma cell surface glycoprotein gp130: identification of transfectants by erythrocyte rosetting.

DNA sequences encoding a human melanoma membrane-bound sialoglycoprotein of 130,000 molecular weight (gp130) were introduced into a clonal derivative of mouse B-16 melanoma cells with the selectable neomycin resistance gene (aminoglycoside phosphotransferase). Mouse transfectants were identified by a rapid and precise screening method with mouse monoclonal antibodies and erythrocyte rosetting. The frequency of gp130 transfectants was approximately 1 in 2,000 to 5,000 colonies with neo+ cells. Analysis of secondary mouse transfectants has revealed that the transfected gp130 has a molecular weight, isoelectric point, intracellular processing, peptide map, and spatial orientation of surface-exposed epitopes indistinguishable from those seen with gp130 from human melanoma cells. In contrast to primary transfectants, secondary transfectants expressing gp130 lack demonstrable human repetitive sequences.

Efficient DNA-mediated transfer of selectable genes and unselected sequences into differentiated and undifferentiated mouse melanoma clones.

We have found that three phenotypically dissimilar mouse B16 melanoma subclones are competent recipients for DNA-mediated gene transfer. Two of these approach and a third, amelanotic clone B78H1, surpasses mouse LTK cells in frequencies of transferent colony formation after treatment with either of two codominantly selectable plasmid vectors, pSV2gpt or pGCcos3neo. Melanoma transferents incorporate both selectable plasmid-homologous sequences and substantial amounts of unselected donor DNA into their cellular DNAs. In addition they retain the distinctive states of differentiation characteristic of the untreated clones. Frequencies of pGCcos3neo-mediated transfer of neo gene-encoded antibiotic resistance into B78H1 can reach 10(-2) in response to treatment with as little as 15 ng plasmid/ml coprecipitate/dish. B78H1 cells readily give rise to "secondary" transferents for the neo gene after treatment with DNA from a "primary" B78H1 neo transferent. This gene transfer system has potential applications for study of regulation of melanoma and neural crest differentiation and malignancy.