Augmentation of the antileukemia potency of total-body irradiation (TBI) by a novel P-site inhibitor of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK).

A novel spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) P-site inhibitor, 1,4-Bis (9-O dihydroquinidinyl) phthalazine/hydroquinidine 1,4-phathalazinediyl diether (C-61), (but not vehicle) markedly enhanced H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis of primary leukemia cells from each of five relapsed B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, as measured by in vitro TUNEL assays. A highly radiation-resistant subclone of the murine B-lineage leukemia cell line BCL-1 was next used to investigate the in vivo radiosensitizing effects of C-61. C-61 enhanced the antileukemia potency of 7 Gy total-body irradiation (TBI) in the context of syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at 20% of its nonobservable adverse effect level (NOAEL) that does not exhibit detectable single-agent activity against BCL-1 leukemia in vivo. Based on this preclinical proof-of-principle study, we hypothesize that the incorporation of C-61 into the pretransplant TBI regimens of patients with recurrent or high-risk B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will help overcome the radiochemotherapy resistance of their leukemia cells and thereby improve their treatment response and survival outcome after BMT.

Stimulation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in leukemia and lymphoma cells exposed to low energy electromagnetic fields.

We examined the effects of low energy electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on the BTK kinase activity in B18-2 ([Btk-, rBTK(wt)] DT40) chicken lymphoma B cells and NALM-6 leukemic pre-B cells. Exposure of B 18-2 cells to EMF resulted in activation of BTK within 1 to 15 minutes in 8 of 8 independent experiments with stimulation indexes ranging from 1.2 to 13.3. While in some experiments the BTK stimulation was transient, in others the BTK activity continued to be significantly elevated for up to 4 hours. Similarly, exposure of NALM-6 cells to EMF resulted in activation of BTK within 30 minutes in 7 of 7 experiments with stimulation indexes ranging from 1.2 to 7.4. Stimulation of BTK activity in EMF exposed cells was associated with enhanced phosphoinositide turnover and increased inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) production in 7 of 13 experiments with DT40 cells and 7 of 13 experiments with NALM-6 cells. The likelihood and magnitude of an IP3 response after EMF exposure were similar to those after BCR ligation on DT40 cells and CD19 ligation on NALM-6 cells. These results confirm and extend our previous studies regarding EMF-induced biochemical signaling events in B-lineage lymphoid cells.

Targeting Janus kinase 3 in mast cells prevents immediate hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis.

Janus kinase 3 (JAK3), a member of the Janus family protein-tyrosine kinases, is expressed in mast cells, and its enzymatic activity is enhanced by IgE receptor/FcepsilonRI cross-linking. Selective inhibition of JAK3 in mast cells with 4-(4'-hydroxylphenyl)-amino-6, 7-dimethoxyquinazoline) (WHI-P131) blocked the phospholipase C activation, calcium mobilization, and activation of microtubule-associated protein kinase after lgE receptor/FcepsilonRI cross-linking. Treatment of IgE-sensitized rodent as well as human mast cells with WHI-P131 effectively inhibited the activation-associated morphological changes, degranulation, and proinflammatory mediator release after specific antigen challenge without affecting the functional integrity of the distal secretory machinery. In vivo administration of the JAK3 inhibitor WHI-P131 prevented mast cell degranulation and development of cutaneous as well as systemic fatal anaphylaxis in mice at nontoxic dose levels. Thus, JAK3 plays a pivotal role in IgE receptor/FcepsilonRI-mediated mast cell responses, and targeting JAK3 with a specific inhibitor, such as WHI-P131, may provide the basis for new and effective treatment as well as prevention programs for mast cell-mediated allergic reactions.

Electromagnetic field-induced stimulation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase.

Here we present evidence that exposure of DT40 lymphoma B-cells to low energy electromagnetic fields (EMF) results in activation of phospholipase C-gamma 2 (PLC-gamma2), leading to increased inositol phospholipid turnover. PLC-gamma2 activation in EMF-stimulated cells is mediated by stimulation of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a member of the Src-related TEC family of protein tyrosine kinases, which acts downstream of LYN kinase and upstream of PLC-gamma2. B-cells rendered BTK-deficient by targeted disruption of the btk gene did not show enhanced PLC-gamma2 activation in response to EMF exposure. Introduction of the wild-type (but not a kinase domain mutant) human btk gene into BTK-deficient B-cells restored their EMF responsiveness. Thus, BTK exerts a pivotal and mandatory function in initiation of EMF-induced signaling cascades in B-cells.

TXU (anti-CD7)-pokeweed antiviral protein as a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus.

We have evaluated the clinical potential of TXU (anti-CD7)-pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) immunoconjugate (TXU-PAP) as a new biotherapeutic anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) agent by evaluating its anti-HIV type 1 (anti-HIV-1) activity in vitro, as well as in a surrogate human peripheral blood lymphocyte-severe combined immunodeficient (Hu-PBL-SCID) mouse model of human AIDS. The present report documents in a side-by-side comparison the superior in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity of TXU-PAP compared to the activities of zidovudine, 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine, unconjugated PAP, and B53-PAP, an anti-CD4-PAP immunoconjugate. Notably, TXU-PAP elicited potent anti-HIV activity in the Hu-PBL-SCID mouse model of human AIDS without any side effects and at doses that were very well tolerated by cynomolgus monkeys. Furthermore, plasma samples from TXU-PAP-treated cynomolgus monkeys showed potent anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro.

Stimulation of Src family protein-tyrosine kinases as a proximal and mandatory step for SYK kinase-dependent phospholipase Cgamma2 activation in lymphoma B cells exposed to low energy electromagnetic fields.

Here, we present evidence that exposure of DT40 lymphoma B cells to low energy electromagnetic field (EMF) results in a tyrosine kinase-dependent activation of phospholipase Cgamma2 (PLC-gamma2) leading to increased inositol phospholipid turnover. B cells rendered PLC-gamma2-deficient by targeted disruption of the PLC-gamma2 gene as well as PLC-gamma2-deficient cells reconstituted with Src homology domain 2 (SH2) domain mutant PLC-gamma2 did not show any increase in inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate levels after EMF exposure, providing direct evidence that PLC-gamma2 is responsible for EMF-induced stimulation of inositol phospholipid turnover, and its SH2 domains are essential for this function. B cells rendered SYK-deficient by targeted disruption of the syk gene did not show PLC-gamma2 activation in response to EMF exposure. The C-terminal SH2 domain of SYK kinase is essential for its ability to activate PLC-gamma2. SYK-deficient cells reconstituted with a C-terminal SH2 domain mutant syk gene failed to elicit increased inositol phospholipid turnover after EMF exposure, whereas SYK-deficient cells reconstituted with an N-terminal SH2 domain mutant syk gene showed a normal EMF response. LYN kinase is essential for the initiation of this biochemical signaling cascade. Lymphoma B cells rendered LYN-deficient through targeted disruption of the lyn gene did not elicit enhanced inositol phospholipid turnover after EMF exposure. Introduction of the wild-type (but not a kinase domain mutant) mouse fyn gene into LYN-deficient B cells restored their EMF responsiveness. B cells reconstituted with a SH2 domain mutant fyn gene showed a normal EMF response, whereas no increase in inositol phospholipid turnover in response to EMF was noticed in LYN-deficient cells reconstituted with a SH3 domain mutant fyn gene. Taken together, these results indicate that EMF-induced PLC-gamma2 activation is mediated by LYN-regulated stimulation of SYK, which acts downstream of LYN kinase and upstream of PLC-gamma2.

The development and validation of a competitive, microtiter plate enzymeimmunoassay for human albumin in urine.

We have described a fast, simple and sensitive microtiter scale, solid phase, competitive enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for the determination of urinary albumin. The albumin used in the test system was purified by the combination of PEG precipitation and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. In this EIA, microtiter plates were coated with rabbit antihuman albumin IgG, and incubated with HRP-albumin conjugate with either sample or standards. O-phenylenediamine (OPD) and H2O2 solution was used as substrate for HRP. Results obtained correlate well (r = 0.994) with those of an in-house RIA in which same antibody and standards were used as in EIA. The present assay covers the range of 0.5 to 10 mg/L and can be performed in 2 hours. The detection limit was 0.15 mg/L of albumin. Within-assay coefficient of variation was 8.1% and 6.6% and between-assay variation was 10.6% and 8.6% at 1.25 and 2.5 mg/L respectively.

Effects of prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulin-G therapy on humoral and cellular immune components and their functions in burned patients.

In this study on patients with thermal trauma, we examined the effects of standard therapy plus prophylactic polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) treatment on humoral and cellular contents, cell phenotype and function of the immune system, and compare these with those found in patients receiving only standard therapy. The quantitative, peripheral-blood mononuclear cell panel shows a decrease in the total number of T-lymphocytes and an increase in the natural killer (NK) cells of standard therapy patients 3 weeks following the burn. We found that intravenous IgG treatment does not have an important effect on T lymphocytes and the proportion of their subpopulations, but rather causes a significant decrease in the number of B lymphocytes and an increase in the number of NK cells. When comparing the DNA synthetic response to mitogenic and antigenic stimuli in patient's T and B lymphocytes using phytohaemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen or allogenic mixed cells in separate in vitro cell cultures, the highest suppressive effect of thermal trauma is seen in the cells derived from the patients who had been given prophylactic IgG therapy. The presented data confirm that thermal trauma causes an immunosuppressive effect and indicate that prophylactic polyclonal IgG therapy increased the quantitative and functional suppression of the specific immune system while additionally increasing the cellular levels of the non-specific immune system, each system having been previously stimulated by thermal trauma.

Engagement of the CD19 receptor on human B-lineage leukemia cells activates LCK tyrosine kinase and facilitates radiation-induced apoptosis.

As presently reported, both ionizing radiation and engagement of the CD19 receptor are capable of inducing apoptosis in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. In both instances, activation of tyrosine kinases appears to be a proximal and mandatory step, since it can be prevented by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. This common biochemical signaling pathway involves the rapid activation of the Src family tyrosine kinase LCK (p56lck), which is physically associated with the CD19 receptor, and enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple substrates leading to stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover, and activation of protein kinase C. Importantly, engagement of the CD19 receptor promoted radiation-induced apoptosis in radiation-resistant B-lineage ALL cells in a cell type-specific fashion. Our results prompt the hypothesis that clonogenic B-lineage ALL blasts with an inherent or acquired resistance to radiation could be radiosensitized in clinical settings using anti-CD19 MoAb B43 or its homoconjugate as adjuncts.

Signal transduction through the CD19 receptor during discrete developmental stages of human B-cell ontogeny.

We present evidence that the CD19 receptor is functionally operative and transmits pleiotropic signals throughout the pro-B, pre-pre-B, pre-B, early B, and mature B cell stages of human B-cell ontogeny. The signaling ability of CD19 does not depend on the existence of a functional B-cell antigen receptor complex (ARC). In B-cell precursors (BCP) lacking a functional ARC, CD19 is physically and functionally associated with Src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTK). The engagement of the CD19 receptor on BCP with a high affinity anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody (mAb) or its homoconjugate rapidly activates the associated PTK and results in tyrosine phosphorylation of CD19. Moreover, this proximal PTK activation step triggers downstream stimulation of several different intracellular messenger systems. Remarkably, CD19 becomes rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues upon engagement of several other surface receptors as well, suggesting that it may function as a common response element linked via tyrosine phosphorylation to multiple BCP/B-cell receptors and signaling pathways. Furthermore, in all B-lineage lymphoid cell populations, co-approximation of the receptors CD19 and CD72 (ligand for the CD5 T-cell receptor) generates a stronger signal than the engagement of either individual receptor. These convergent observations constitute a strong argument for an important regulatory function of CD19 in human BCP and prompt the hypothesis that the CD19 receptor may play an important role in cognate interactions between B- and T-lineage lymphoid compartments as well as the coordinate production of BCP at multiple stages of human B-cell ontogeny.

Tyrosine phosphorylation is a mandatory proximal step in radiation-induced activation of the protein kinase C signaling pathway in human B-lymphocyte precursors.

Ionizing radiation triggers a signal in human B-lymphocyte precursors that is intimately linked to an active protein-tyrosine kinase regulatory pathway. We show that in B-lymphocyte precursors, irradiation with gamma-rays leads to (i) stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover; (ii) downstream activation by covalent modification of multiple serine-specific protein kinases, including protein kinase C; and (iii) activation of nuclear factor kappa B. All of the radiation-induced signals were effectively prevented by the protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A. Thus, tyrosine phosphorylation is an important and perhaps mandatory proximal step in the activation of the protein kinase C signaling cascade in human B-lymphocyte precursors. Our report expands current knowledge of the radiation-induced signaling cascade by clarifying the chronological sequence of biochemical events that follow irradiation.

Stimulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphoinositide turnover, and multiple previously unidentified serine/threonine-specific protein kinases by the Pan-B-cell receptor CD40/Bp50 at discrete developmental stages of human B-cell ontogeny.

CD40/Bp50 B-cell receptor has been implicated as having an important function for the regulation of human B-cell growth and maturation as well as antigen-driven selection of tonsillar B-cells in germinal centers. The purpose of the present study was to examine the biochemical events triggered by the engagement of the CD40 receptor in human B-lineage lymphoid cells corresponding to discrete developmental stages of human B-cell ontogeny. The engagement of the CD40 receptor on pro-B-, pre-pre-B-, pre-B-, or activated mature B-cells but not on resting mature B-cells with the agonistic anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody G28-5 resulted in enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of four distinct phosphoproteins with molecular masses of 67, 72, 96, and 113 kDa and induced a rapid increase in the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Further, we have identified five electrophoretically distinct renaturable CD40-regulated serine/threonine-specific protein kinases (PK120, PK93, PK76, PK55, and PK48) that showed markedly increased in vitro activity after CD40 stimulation. Protein kinase C inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7) abrogated the stimulation of the in vitro activity of PK120, PK93, PK55, and PK48 and attenuated the stimulation of the in vitro activity of PK76 in response to the engagement of the CD40 receptor but did not influence the enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular substrates after CD40 stimulation. Notably, genistein and herbimycin A, two potent inhibitors of tyrosine-specific protein kinases, not only abrogated the CD40-induced enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation on the 67-, 72-, 96-, and 113-kDa substrates, but they also inhibited the CD40-induced stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover as well as the CD40-induced increase of the in vitro activity of renaturable serine/threonine-specific protein kinases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Engagement of interleukin-7 receptor stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphoinositide turnover, and clonal proliferation of human T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

The purposes of this study were to examine the biologic effects of the engagement of the interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) with recombinant human interleukin-7 (rhIL-7) in immunophenotypically distinct T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts and to elucidate the biochemical nature of the IL-7R-linked transmembrane signal in rhIL-7-responsive T-lineage ALL blast populations. In the absence of costimulants, rhIL-7 stimulated the in vitro proliferation and colony formation of freshly isolated leukemic blasts from six to eight T-lineage ALL patients with a mean plating efficiency of 196 +/- 53 (background subtracted) colonies/10(5) blasts plated. Stimulation of T-lineage ALL blasts with rhIL-7 resulted in markedly enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of six distinct phosphoproteins with molecular weights of 57, 72, 98, 123, 150, and 190 Kd, and induced a rapid increase in the production of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5-P3), which was inhibitable by the tyrosine-specific protein kinase inhibitor genistein, but not by the serine/threonine-specific protein kinase C inhibitor H7. Similarly, rhIL-7 stimulated Ins-1,4,5-P3 production in CEM-1.3 T-lineage ALL cells and this stimulation was inhibitable by the tyrosine-specific protein kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A, but not by H-7. Thus, the transmembrane signal triggered by engagement of the IL-7R is intimately linked to a functional tyrosine-specific protein kinase pathway and stimulates the phosphoinositide (PI) turnover and proliferation of T-lineage ALL blasts. The presented data confirm and extend previous studies on the expression of functional IL-7R on T-lineage ALL blasts and support the hypothesis that IL-7 may play an important regulatory role in the biology of T-lineage ALL.

Interleukin 7 receptor engagement stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation, inositol phospholipid turnover, proliferation, and selective differentiation to the CD4 lineage by human fetal thymocytes.

The purposes of this study were to elucidate the effects of recombinant human interleukin 7 (rhIL-7) on proliferation as well as differentiation of human fetal thymocytes and to analyze the biochemical nature of the IL-7 receptor-linked transmembrane signal. In the absence of costimulants, rhIL-7 stimulated the in vitro proliferation and colony formation of CD4+CD8+ double-positive immature fetal thymocytes. Furthermore, rhIL-7 promoted partial differentiation of immature thymocytes with a selective advantage for the development of CD4+CD8- single-positive thymocytes. Our observations suggest that IL-7 likely has an important regulatory role during the earliest stages of human T-cell ontogeny. Stimulation of fetal thymocytes with rhIL-7 resulted in enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of three distinct phosphoproteins with molecular masses of 72, 98, 123, and 190 kDa and induced a rapid and biphasic increase in the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which was inhibitable by the tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor genistein. Thus, the transmembrane signal triggered by engagement of the IL-7 receptor is intimately linked to a functional tyrosine protein kinase pathway and stimulates the inositol phospholipid turnover and proliferation, as well as selective differentiation to the CD4 lineage, by human fetal thymocytes.

Interleukin 7 receptor ligation stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation, inositol phospholipid turnover, and clonal proliferation of human B-cell precursors.

Functional interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptors are expressed on the surface of multiphenotypic, biphenotypic, and immature B-lineage human lymphoid precursor cells with germ-line immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes but not on more mature B-lineage lymphoid cells with rearranged and/or expressed immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes. Thus, IL-7 may have an important regulatory role during the earliest stages of human B-cell ontogeny. The engagement of the surface IL-7 receptors on immature B-cell precursor cells with recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) results in enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple phosphoproteins, stimulates inositol phospholipid turnover and DNA synthesis, and promotes their clonal proliferation. These effects are (i) specific for rhIL-7, since rhIL-3, rhIL-4, rhIL-5, rhIL-6, and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor do not elicit similar activities on IL-7 receptor-positive human pro-B cells; and (ii) mediated by IL-7 receptors, since they are not observed in IL-7 receptor-negative B-lineage lymphoid cell populations. rhIL-7-induced tyrosine phosphorylation on the 35-, 53-, 55-, 62-, 69-, 76-, 94-, 150-, 170-, and 190-kDa substrates as well as rhIL-7-induced stimulation of inositol phospholipid turnover are abrogated by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. These results demonstrate that the IL-7 receptor on immature human B-cell precursor populations is intimately linked to a functional tyrosine kinase pathway and tyrosine phosphorylation is an important and perhaps mandatory step in the generation of the IL-7 receptor-linked transmembrane signal.