Internalization of IgE receptors on rat basophilic leukemic cells by phorbol ester. Comparison with endocytosis induced by receptor aggregation.

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) can induce a rapid and significant decrease in the expression of IgE receptors on RBL-2H3 cells. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed that the down-regulation is due to internalization of receptors. The endocytotic response to PMA shares several characteristics with endocytosis induced by immunochemical aggregation of surface-bound monomeric IgE: the rates of internalization both have a t1/2 of about 5 min, a maximum of 35% of the surface-bound IgE can be endocytosed by the action of PMA (50% by receptor aggregation), endocytosis is sustained for at least up to 60 min, neither stimulus requires extracellular Ca2+ and endocytosis induced by either stimulus is an active process, i.e., is dependent on temperature and cellular energy. Biochemical studies revealed some differences between the endocytotic responses to the two stimuli. After prolonged treatment of cells with dexamethasone, only endocytosis induced by PMA is inhibited. Cells depleted of protein kinase C by prolonged exposure to PMA can sustain a significant endocytotic response to aggregation of IgE receptors, but become completely desensitized to PMA. These data suggest that different biochemical pathways mediate the signals from the two stimuli and that protein kinase C is directly involved in endocytosis induced by PMA but does not have a major role in endocytosis induced by receptor aggregation.

IgE-immunotoxins. II. IgE-ricin A-chain.

In order to develop a reagent capable of killing cells with high-affinity IgE Fc receptors, such as mast cells and basophils, ricin A-chain (the toxic portion of ricin) was conjugated to rat IgE myeloma protein, IR 162, via derivatization of the IgE by n-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) thus creating an IgE-immunotoxin. Monensin (10(-7)-10(-8)M), a carboxylic ionophore, facilitated IgE-ricin A-chain (3 X 10(-7)M) toxicity in a dose-related fashion ith significant reductions in [3H]leucine incorporation compared to cells exposed only to monensin. This enhanced toxicity could be inhibited by the addition of both anti-ricin A-chain or anti-IgE, suggesting that different routes of intracellular processing may play a role in determining the toxicity of the IgE-ricin A-chain conjugate. Ricin B-chain (5 X 10(-7) and 5 X 10(-8)M) added to free ricin A-chain (10(-6)-10(-8)M) reproducibly facilitated toxicity, and this toxicity could be inhibited (30-90%) by lactose (50 mM). Ricin B-chain also facilitated IgE-ricin A-chain (2.75 X 10(-8)M) toxicity; however, this toxicity was not affected by lactose. The data suggest that ricin B-chain potentiates the cytosolic access of internalized IgE-immunotoxin and that the binding and internalization of the toxin was mediated via the IgE Fc receptor. A second type of IgE-ricin A-chain conjugate was synthesized whereby both IgE and ricin A-chain were derivatized with SPDP. RBL cells were killed in a dose-dependent manner by this IgE-ricin A-chain conjugate (2.5 X 10(-6)-2.5 X 10(-9)M) without requiring the addition of monensin or ricin B-chain. These data indicate that the intracellular route and processing of internalized immunotoxin is critical to eliciting toxicity.

Comparative evaluation of the effect of pharmacological agents on endocytosis and coendocytosis of IgE by rat basophilic leukaemia cells.

The aggregation of IgE bound to rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL) cells leads to the exocytosis of mediators, the endocytosis of the antigen-aggregated mouse IgE anti-DNP, as well as the coendocytosis of some unaggregated monomeric rat IgE (IR162) and/or unbound receptors. We describe here the relative effect on endocytosis and coendocytosis of various pharmacological agents that block or enhance exocytosis. We have previously shown that, unlike exocytosis, endocytosis by RBL and normal rat mast cells was independent of extracellular calcium. We show here that the presence of calcium chelators or antagonists also had no effect on endocytosis of cross-linked IgE. However, coendocytosis of non-cross-linked IgE was partially inhibited by the elimination of extracellular calcium and the addition of calcium chelators such as EDTA or EGTA-Mg2+. Moreover, the addition of calcium antagonists such as Ni2+ and Co2+ (5 mM) to an incubation mixture containing Ca2+ (1 mM) resulted in the complete inhibition of coendocytosis without affecting endocytosis. Other inhibitors of exocytosis such as sodium azide (10-2M), quercetin (10-4M) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10-2 M) blocked coendocytosis completely but had no effect on endocytosis. Sodium azide (10 mM) in combination with 2-deoxyglucose (10 mM) effectively inhibited (90%) endocytosis. Cytochalasin B (10-4 M), which was shown to enhance serotonin release, had no effect on the extent of endocytosis or coendocytosis observed 20 min after the initiation of aggregation. Thus, in RBL cells, endocytosis, coendocytosis and exocytosis exhibit distinguishable sensitivities to some pharmacological drugs.

Recycling of receptor-bound IgE by rat basophilic leukemia cells.

Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells have receptors for immunoglobulin E (IgE). We previously showed that unlike some other ligands, the binding of monomeric rat or mouse IgE to RBL cells does not induce endocytosis. However, aggregation of the cell-bound, monomeric mouse IgE anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) with DNP-protein conjugates leads to endocytosis of the aggregated mouse IgE and to the co-endocytosis of some unaggregated monomeric rat IgE. In this study we analyzed and compared the fate of co-endocytosed and endocytosed IgE. We found that co-endocytosed rat IgE recycled back to the cell surface within 3 to 4 hr. In contrast, endocytosed, immunochemically cross-linked, receptor-bound mouse IgE anti-DNP was partially degraded and was released into the medium, with no observable recycling of receptors, by 3 hr. However, addition of the hapten, DNP-lysine, resulted in rapid recycling (t1/2 10 min) of the endocytosed receptor-bound IgE to the plasma membrane and blocked additional endocytosis. Recycling of the endocytosed mouse IgE was more pronounced when the hapten was added to cells within 20 min of the initiation of endocytosis. When the hapten was added to the cells at later times (60 to 180 min), progressively less IgE recycled to the surface. This may reflect shuttling of the internalized IgE from a 'prelysosomal' to a 'lysosomal' compartment. Thus we provide evidence for recycling of monomeric IgE receptor complexes, sorting between cross-linked and non-cross-linked IgE receptor complexes, the freeing of receptor-bound monomeric IgE from the endocytosed immune-complexed IgE, and the apparent dependence of the recycling efficiency upon intracellular localization.

Endocytosis of aggregated immunoglobulin G by rat basophilic leukemia cells; rate, extent, and effects on the endocytosis of immunoglobulin E.

Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells have distinct receptors for IgE and IgG. We assessed the endocytosis of chemically and immunochemically cross-linked mouse-IgG and its influence on the simultaneous endocytosis of IgE. We found that at 37 degrees C, aggregates of IgG and IgE were endocytosed at about the same rate with one-half of the maximal endocytosis occurring in 5 to 13 min, and the efficiency of endocytosis for both ligands ranging from 40 to 70%. We also found that endocytosis of cross-linked IgE and IgG occurred simultaneously and neither ligand significantly affected the rate or extent of endocytosis of the other. The cells accumulated the cross-linked IgG, and then released it to the extracellular environment, at a rate (less than 3%/hr) slower than the released endocytosed IgE (greater than 10%/hr). Using an assay that discriminates between unbound and receptor-bound oligomeric IgG, we found that oligomeric IgG is endocytosed with its receptor, and that the bulk of the ligand remains bound to its receptor for greater than 120 min after endocytosis. The differences in the rate of release of endocytosed IgG vs IgE suggests that the intracellular fate or pathway of these two oligomeric ligands may differ.

The fate of IgE bound to rat basophilic leukemia cells. IV. Functional association between the receptors for IgE.

Rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) have receptors for immunoglobulin E (IgE) and immunoglobulin G (IgG). These receptors for IgE mediate the endocytosis of chemically or immunochemically cross-linked IgE but not monomeric IgE. However, unoccupied receptors were endocytosed with cross-linked IgE. To further assess the degree and specificity of the observed coendocytosis, we exposed cells carrying monomeric rat IgE and monomeric mouse IgE anti-DNP to a DNP-protein conjugate. We found that up to 30% of the surface-bound monomeric rat IgE redistributed at 0 to 4 degrees C and was then internalized at 37 degrees C with the immunochemically cross-linked mouse IgE. To assess the specificity of the coendocytosis, we exposed cells carrying monomeric rat IgE to immunochemically cross-linked mouse IgG. We found that the binding, patching, and endocytosis of cross-linked mouse IgG had no effect on the monomerically bound rat IgE. The rate of coendocytosis was the same as the rate of endocytosis (t 1/2 3 to 5 min). The extent of coendocytosis depended on the extent of endocytosis but was relatively insensitive to changes in the ratio between mouse and rat IgE over a broad range. These results indicate that some of the receptors for IgE are associated in a specific fashion.

The receptor for immunoglobulin E on rat basophilic leukemia cells: effect of ligand binding on receptor expression.

We have evaluated the effect of ligand binding on expression of the receptor for IgE on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells. RBL cells were grown in the presence or absence of 131I-labeled IgE and sometimes were also surface labeled with 125I. We found that cells grown in the presence of IgE continued to accumulate receptors at the surface and thus the apparent amount of cell-associated IgE continued to increase. The results obtained suggest that, in the presence of IgE, the elimination of the receptor from the surface was halted or slowed significantly (approximately equal to 80%) while insertion into the membrane of previously synthesized receptor continued.

Soluble and particulate forms of rat catechol-O-methyltransferase distinguished by gel electrophoresis and immune fixation.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was visualized in homogenates and subcellular fractions of rat tissues, including liver and brain, by gel electrophoresis, electrophoretic transfer of proteins to nitrocellulose (Western blotting), and immune fixation with antiserum to highly purified soluble rat liver COMT. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of all tissue homogenates examined revealed three major immune-specific proteins with apparent molecular weights 23,000, 26,000, and 66,000 (23K, 26K and 66K). Centrifugation of homogenates at 100,000 X g for 60 min resulted in the enrichment of the 26K species protein in the pellet whereas the 23K and 66K proteins were the predominant forms in the supernatant. The 66K protein appeared in variable amounts depending on the tissue being examined and the length of transfer of protein and is assumed to be an "aggregate" of the smaller form(s). The 26K protein was essentially the only immunoreactive species seen in a purified preparation of rat liver outer mitochondrial membrane. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) under denaturing conditions and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of brain and liver fractions showed that the 23K protein was resolved into three bands of pI 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, whereas the 26K protein had a pI of 6.2. Analysis of COMT activity in slices from nondenaturing IEF gels indicated that the pI 5.1-5.3 species are biologically active; the pI 6.2 species could not be detected under these conditions. COMT activity was demonstrated, however, in outer mitochondrial membranes from rat liver, which contain predominantly the 26K, pI 6.2 immunoreactive species. The major form of COMT in all rat tissues examined is "soluble" with an apparent Mr of 23K and a pI of 5.2. The nature of the modifications giving rise to pI 5.1 and 5.3 forms of this enzyme are not clear, nor is the relationship between the 23K and 26K forms. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship of immunoreactive forms of COMT to each other, their intracellular location, and their functional significance.

The fate of IgE bound to rat basophilic leukemia cells. III. Relationship between antigen-induced endocytosis and serotonin release.

We have previously shown that, unlike monomeric IgE, chemically derived dimers, trimers, and heavier oligomers of IgE were internalized efficiently. This finding suggested that endocytosis, like mediator release, is triggered by cross-linking of the cell surface receptors for IgE. In the present study, we analyzed the temporal and functional relationships between the two events. We used rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-HR+-2H3) and rat peritoneal mast cells, which were allowed to bind monomeric 125I mouse IgE hybridoma anti-dinitrophenyl (HI-DNP-E-26-82), and the polyvalent antigen 131I-dinitrophenylated human serum albumin (DNP15-HSA). We found that at 37 degrees C, 50% of the cell surface-bound immune complexes were internalized rapidly (t1/2 3 to 5 min) by RBL-HR+-2H3 cells with only minimal reduction (1/3) in the extent of internalization when very few of the receptors (approximately 5%) were saturated with IgE. Normal mast cells internalized cell surface-bound immune complexes at a similar rate (t1/2 4 to 5 min). Unlike serotonin release, internalization was independent of extracellular calcium and continued to increase as the ratio of DNP15-HSA to IgE increased 10- to 100-fold over the ratio required for optimal histamine release. In the RBL cells, internalization preceded serotonin release, reaching a peak at about 10 min, while the release (t1/2 13 to 19 min) continued for up to 60 min. Presumably, some of the cross-linked IgE internalized less effectively and continued to trigger serotonin release. The reverse relationship between the rates of internalization and release (t1/2 less than 1 min) was found in normal rat mast cells. We conclude that although cross-linking of two or more receptors triggered both endocytosis and exocytosis, the two events are not necessarily sequential.

The behavior of the solubilized receptor for immunoglobulin E in polyethylene glycol-detergent solutions: characterization and potential applications.

We studied the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the solubility of the receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE) in non-ionic detergent extracts of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells. We found that the precipitation patterns of free and IgE-bound receptor were identical but differed from that of unbound IgE. Thus, 85 to 95% of the free receptor and the IgE-receptor complexes precipitated at 13% PEG in the presence of 0.5% Nonidet P-40, whereas 95% of the unbound IgE remained soluble. A similar degree of differentiation between the precipitation of receptor-bound and unbound IgE was found when we used extracts and PEG solutions prepared with several non-ionic and/or neutral detergents. The intact IgE-receptor complex with the full complement of subunits (alpha, beta, gamma) precipitated more efficiently than the IgE-alpha-chain-complex. The presence of phospholipids, which were previously shown to be important for preservation of the association between the receptor subunits, enhanced the efficiency of precipitation of the IgE-receptor complex. The presence of PEG also had an effect on the solubility of cellular phospholipids and some of the detergents, although the effect of PEG on either could not be directly related to its effect on the solubility of the IgE-receptor complex. The radioiodinated receptor for IgE, much like other radioiodinated RBL cell membrane proteins, was soluble (greater than or equal to 95%) at approximately 7% PEG but could be specifically and efficiently precipitated from crude cell extracts, in the presence of 7% PEG upon the addition of anti-receptor immunoglobulins alone. Using mouse anti-dinitrophenyl IgE antibody, we found that unlike unbound antigen (DNP-BGG) or the IgE-receptor complex, the detergent-solubilized DNP-BGG-IgE-receptor complex was insoluble at 7% PEG. Consequently, PEG can be employed in assays to quantitate the soluble receptor, and to immunoprecipitate it specifically and directly. Moreover, the use of PEG can facilitate the distinction between unbound antigen and antigen-IgE-receptor complex as well as between the latter and IgE-receptor complex.

The fate of IgE bound to rat basophilic leukemia cells. II. Endocytosis of IgE oligomers and effect on receptor turnover.

We have assessed the internalization of variously sized oligomers of IgE bound to rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells by measuring their accessibility to the extracellular environment, and by direct visualization of the radiolabeled ligands. We also followed the fate of the internalized ligands and their receptors, as well as the fate of the free receptor on cells internalizing oligomers. In contrast to monomeric IgE, surface-bound oligomeric IgE was internalized. Notably, dimers provided an effective signal for internalization, although larger oligomers seem to be internalized more efficiently. In our experiments, 48% of the cell-bound dimers and 67% of the trimers were eliminated from the cell surface in 180 min. One-half of the maximal internalization observed with dimers and trimers occurred in 25 and 11 min, respectively. Release of radioactivity into the supernatant followed internalization; the released radioactivity did not bind to fresh cells and was only partially TCA-precipitable. Radioactive ligands remaining associated with the cells were unchanged as judged by m.w; they also were shown to remain receptor-bound. During either internalization or release of substantial amounts of the originally cell-bound oligomers, there was no increase in IgE-binding activity. In contrast, there was a transient drop (25%) in the number of free surface receptors suggesting internalization of the free receptors together with the oligomer-occupied receptor. Cells that failed to release histamine (RBL-I) processed dimeric and trimeric IgE similarly to histamine-releasing (RBL-2H3) cells. We conclude that dimeric and trimeric IgE are internalized by RBL cells and later are released to the medium in a partially degraded form. The ligand-bound receptor seems to be internalized with the ligand, along with some free receptor, and does not appear to be reusable or to recycle rapidly to the cell surface.

Comparison of the receptors for IgE of various rat basophilic leukaemia cell lines. II. Studies with different anti-receptor antisera.

Receptors for IgE of rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL) cells, maintained in different laboratories were isolated by means of various anti-receptor antisera, and characterized by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Most antisera were shown to react with a receptor designated H and which, as shown previously, could be isolated by IgE-Sepharose but not by a combination of IgE and anti-IgE. Only two highly purified anti-receptor antibody preparations, which had been purified by adsorption to and elution from rat basophilic leukaemia cells, reacted primarily with a second kind of receptor molecule which had previously been designated R. Some indirect evidence was obtained which suggests that H is a highly immunogenic molecule. It was confirmed that the apparent molecular weight of H-like molecules varied on different RBL cell lines.

Comparison of the receptors for IgE of various rat basophilic leukaemia cell lines. I. Receptors isolated by IgE-sepharose and IgE and anti-IgE.

REceptors for IgE of rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL) cells, maintained in different laboratories were isolated by means of IgE-Sepharose or IgE and anti-IgE, and characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All cell lines were found to be associated with a receptor molecule (R) which could be isolated either with IgE-Sepharose or IgE and anti-IgE and a second receptor (H) which could only be isolated with the aid of IgE-Sepharose. The relative amounts of these two molecules, as isolated from surface iodinated cells, varied from the RBL cell line to the other and their apparent molecular weights were not identical on all cell lines. Since comparisons were made on the same gel using receptors isolated from cells labelled with different isotopes of iodine, differences in molecular weight must be considered as being intrinsic and not due to methodological variations. These results provide an explanation why differences were observed among receptors for IgE as characterized in various laboratories. In spite of the fact that the various RBL cell lines originated from the same chemically-induced tumour they have, over the years, undergone changes which are reflected in the receptors for IgE.

IgE-induced histamine release from rat basophilic leukemia cell lines: isolation of releasing and nonreleasing clones.

The rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cell lines were cloned and the various sublines compared for their chromosome number, IgE-mediated histamine release and for IgE surface receptors. It was found that cell lines started from tumors at different times vary in both their chromosome number and their ability to release histamine by an IgE-mediated reaction. RBL-I and III have approximately 44 chromosomes and did not respond to an IgE-mediated reaction. RBL-II and RBL-IV have 68-73 chromosomes and showed moderate levels of histamine release (percent release mean = 5 +/- 2 and 10 +/- 4, respectively). The cloning of the RBL-IV line resulted in some sublines which were excellent histamine releasers (range 39-100%) and some which were relatively refractory (less than 10%) to IgE-mediated histamine release. These clones did not differ significantly in chromosome number. Recloning the releasing lines gave rise to poor releasers, whereas the recloning of poor releasers did not produce good releasers indicating that the mutational drift in culture is toward loss of histamine-releasing capacity. The number of IgE receptors and the rate of IgE association and dissociation were similar for the different cell lines. The study failed to disclose significant molecular weight differences in the IgE receptor from the various clones and sublines indicating that the failure to release probably does not reside in the receptor. The various cloned sublines are phenotypically stable, and the isolation of excellent histamine-releasing sublines are useful for studies of the complex phenomenon of the histamine release.

The fate of IgE bound to rat basophilic leukemia cells.

The present study investigates the fate of the cell-bound IgE by using a well-characterized rat basophilic leukemia cell line and a purifed IgE myeloma protein. Both histamine-releasing and nonreleasing cell lines were examined. In both cases, no evidence for cell-mediated IgE catabolism could be elicited. Both the dissociated IgE and the receptors remained intact for prolonged periods of time, as demonstrated by binding assays. Internalization and/or recycling of membrane-bound IgE could not be demonstrated by E. M. autoradiography. We found only limited time-dependent changes in accessibility to anti-IgE antibody, trypsin, or elution at low pH (2.9 to 3.1). A biphasic dissociation of cell-bound 125I-IgE during incubation in the presence of excess unlabeled IgE was reproducibly observed; the more slowly dissociated IgE was also less readily dissociated at pH 3.4. These studies lead us to conclude that, in vitro, IgE resides in a functional orientation on the surface of RBL-1 cells, for prolonged periods of time.

Triggering of cultured neoplastic mast cells by antibodies to the receptor for IgE.

Cell surface receptors for IgE were isolated from detergent lysates of iodinated, IgE-saturated, rat basophilic leukemia cells by precipitation with anti-IgE antibodies followed by chromatography at acid pH. The isolated material showed a single 125I-band (m.w. approximately 58,000) on gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and was used to immunize a rabbit. The resulting anti-serum was reacted with lysates of surface iodinated mouse or rat tumor mast cells. Analysis of the precipitates on (10%) gel electrophoresis revealed one major peak comprising greater than 80% of the detectable counts and having an estimated m.w. of approximately 58,000. The antiserum reacted with detergent-solubilized and cell-bound receptors in the presence or absence of excess IgE; it also inhibited the binding of 125I-IgE. Cultured mouse mastocytoma cells never exposed to IgE released 3H-serotonin when incubated with F(ab')2, but not Fab' fragments of the antiserum, which had been rigorously freed of IgE and anti-IgE. The release was inhibited in the presence of excess IgE, was Ca++ dependent, and equaled 80% of the maximum obtained with IgE and anti-IgE. We conclude that aggregation of the receptors for IgE provides the critical signals for cell activation.

Cell cycle and morphological changes during growth and differentiation of a rat basophilic leukemia cell line.

Cells of the rat basophilic leukemia cell line RBL-1 differentiated maximally when permitted to achieve growth arrest in a high-density stationary phase, in which the cell number is constant, and the cells are arrested in a G phase of the cycle. Features of differentiation are the accumulation of large basophilic granules and increases in membrane receptors for immunoglobulin E. However, changes in histamine content did not parallel granule development or changes in immunoglobulin receptor concentration. During rapid "forced exponential" growth, the cell number doubles every 8 hr, 50% of the cells are in S phase, and differentiation is minimal.

Cell cycle-associated changes in receptors for IgE during growth and differentiation of a rat basophilic leukemia cell line.

The rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-1) showed an inverse relationship between growth rate and expression of receptor activity for IgE. After prolonged exponential growth, the number of receptors per cell stabilized at 4-6 times 10-5. Cells in stationary cultures, which are arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, continued to accumulate up to 0.9-1.7 times 10-6 receptors/cell with no increase in volume. Upon resuspension in fresh medium at low density, these cells were shown to lose up to 70% of the receptor activity within 4 h. Assessment of cultures synchronized by double thymidine block and cells fractionated by centrifugation of a Ficoll gradient indicated that the RBL-1 cells acquire receptors in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. No accumulation of active receptors occurred during the S and G2 phases, though the average cell volume increased. Cell division resulted in a drop in number of receptors per cell while the number of cell-bound receptors in the culture remained unchanged. This indicates that during mitosis receptors were simply distributed to daughter cells.