Calcium-induced activation of the rat vascular myocyte Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1.

An established intermediate phenotype of human hypertension and diabetic nephropathy is an elevation of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity, but the mechanism for this is unclear. This phenotype is maintained in vascular myocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) compared with the normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY). Since intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) following agonist stimulation were elevated in cells from both hypertensive humans and SHR, we have examined the role of calcium-calmodulin (CaM) in the mechanism of increased NHE activity in vascular myocytes of SHR by determining the activity and phosphorylation state of NHE isoform-1 (NHE-1) in cells from SHR and WKY when [Ca2+]i was elevated by the ionophores A23187 or ionomycin. NHE activity was measured using fluorometry and NHE-1 phosphorylation by immunoprecipitating the exchanger from 32P-orthophosphate-labeled cells with a polyclonal NHE-1-specific antibody. The ionophore A23187 increased [Ca2+]i in both cell types to approximately 700 to 800 nmol x L(-1), and led to stimulation of NHE-1 activity only in WKY myocytes, with no effect on SHR cells. An inhibitor of CaM kinase II (KN-62) failed to abolish stimulation of NHE-1 by A23187 in WKY cells, and had no effect on unstimulated NHE-1 activity in both cell types. Ionomycin also elevated [Ca2+]i in both cell types to approximately 1,000 nmol x L(-1) and activated NHE-1 activity in only WKY cells. Activation of NHE-1 in WKY cells by an increased [Ca2+]i was not mediated by an increase in NHE-1 phosphorylation, whether in the presence or absence of KN-62. The elevated NHE-1 phosphorylation in SHR cells was not affected by elevated [Ca2+]i or KN-62. Calmodulin-agarose beads bound NHE-1 extracted from SHR cells to a lesser extent than that from WKY cells. We conclude that calcium-induced NHE-1 activation in WKY cells was not mediated by CaM kinase II. The elevated NHE-1 activity and phosphorylation of SHR cells was not further modulated by increased [Ca2+]i, and was also independent of CaM kinase II. Non-phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms of activation of NHE-1 may therefore be responsible for alterations of NHE-1 activity in these cells, such as the direct binding of CaM to NHE-1. This direct binding of CaM to NHE-1 may be impaired in SHR compared with WKY cells.

Phorbol ester activation of the rat vascular myocyte Na(+)-H(+) exchanger isoform 1.

Vascular myocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) demonstrate elevated Na(+)-H(+) exchanger activity associated with increased cell proliferation and hyperresponsiveness to agonists such as phorbol esters. Since the Na(+)-H(+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) is stimulated by protein kinase C, we have investigated the effects of phorbol esters on NHE-1 activity and its phosphorylation in vascular myocytes of these rats. SHR cells demonstrated a larger alkalinization response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate than Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) cells. Kinetic analyses indicated that whereas 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate increased the maximal transport capacity of NHE-1 in both cell types, affinity for H+ was increased in WKY cells and cooperativity for H+ at the internal modifier site was reduced in SHR cells. In neither cell type was the subcellular distribution of NHE-1 altered by phorbol ester stimulation. NHE-1 phosphorylation was markedly reduced in WKY cells stimulated by the phorbol ester, an effect abolished by inhibition of protein kinase C. In contrast, NHE-1 phosphorylation in quiescent SHR cells was approximately double that of WKY cells and was reduced after phorbol ester treatment. Inhibition of protein kinase C in SHR cells led to a marked elevation of NHE-1 phosphorylation that was not associated with a change in the exchanger activity, but WKY cells exhibited a small, insignificant rise in NHE-1 phosphorylation. Thus, the kinetic responses of NHE-1 to phorbol esters in vascular myocytes of these rat strains are different, the changes in exchanger kinetics of SHR resembling those described in human hypertension. NHE-1 phosphorylation has an inverse relationship with protein kinase C activity. However, modulation of NHE-1 phosphorylation may not be associated with concurrent alterations in activity, indicating a role for non-phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms.

Glucose-induced changes in activity and phosphorylation of the Na+/H+ exchanger, NHE-1, in vascular myocytes from Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Increased Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity has been demonstrated in cells from patients with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. Vascular myocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) also exhibit increased NHE activity as compared with cells from the normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY). The interaction of increased glucose concentrations with NHE activity is unclear. The effect of glucose on NHE activity, NHE-1 (isoform 1) protein expression, and phosphorylation of cultured vascular myocytes from these rat strains was thus investigated. NHE activity was determined fluorometrically with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). A rabbit NHE-1-specific polyclonal antibody was used (1) to measure NHE-1 abundance in Western blots of cell extracts and (2) for immunoprecipitating 32P-labeled NHE-1. Cells from SHR exhibited increased NHE activity and NHE-1 phosphorylation as compared with cells from WKY, with similar NHE-1 protein content per cell. Incubation in 25 mmol.L-1 glucose for 24 hours led to increased NHE activity only in WKY cultures, with no change in NHE-1 protein but a concomitantly reduced NHE-1 phosphorylation. Changes in NHE activity in WKY cells were reversed by inhibition of protein kinase C. Incubation of SHR cells with 25 mmol.L-1 glucose did not enhance the increased NHE activity or NHE-1 phosphorylation present in these cells. Thus, high glucose levels have disparate effects on NHE activity and NHE-1 phosphorylation in cells from different rat strains. The glucose-induced increase in NHE-1 turnover number in WKY cells is not mediated by an increase in its direct phosphorylation, but is dependent on protein kinase C.

Phosphorylation and activity of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 of immortalized lymphoblasts in diabetic nephropathy.

In both essential hypertension and diabetic nephropathy (DN), the ubiquitous cellular Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) exhibits altered kinetics with increased transport activity. The mechanism for this phenotype and its dependence on the presence of serum are unknown, but increased lymphoblast NHE activity in DN has been attributed to a defect in post-translational processing of NHE-1 rather than an increased cellular exchanger number. Phosphorylation of NHE-1 has been proposed to play a role in its activation in a variety of cell models. We have examined, therefore, the role of NHE-1 phosphorylation and the effect of serum in determining the increased NHE-1 activity in lymphoblasts from patients with DN. Cells from these patients exhibited increased NHE activity in the presence and absence of fetal calf serum (range 42-59%, P < 0.005, analysis of variance) and an increased proliferation rate (P < 0.01) when compared with cells from both normoalbuminuric diabetic patients and non-diabetic control subjects. However, NHE-1 abundance was very similar among all groups in the presence and absence of serum, indicating that increased NHE activity in cells of nephropathy patients was due to an increased turnover number. This nephropathy phenotype was not accompanied by an increased net phosphorylation of NHE-1 in the presence or absence of serum. Our findings suggest that increased NHE-1 activity in cells of DN patients is independent of the presence of serum and is not attributable to altered NHE-1 phosphorylation. Additional post-translational mechanisms for activation of NHE-1, therefore, may be involved.

Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 abundance in skin fibroblasts of type I diabetic patients with nephropathy.

In diabetic nephropathy and essential hypertension, the cellular Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) exhibits increased activity. Whether this reflects increased numbers of NHE isoform-1 (NHE-1) transporters or increased turnover per molecule has not been established. We have used a specific polyclonal antibody directed toward the C-terminal of NHE-1 to measure NHE-1 content in cultured skin fibroblasts from diabetic patients with (DN) and without (DCON) nephropathy and normal controls (CON). NHE-1 content in fibroblasts from DN subjects was significantly less than that in the other two groups. This suggests that increased NHE activity in diabetic nephropathy is attributed to increased NHE-1 turnover per site rather than increased NHE-1 expression.

Na(+)-H+ exchanger isoform 1 phosphorylation in normal Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Increased activity of the cellular Na(+)-H+ exchanger (NHE) has been documented in various cell types in essential hypertension and in vascular myocytes of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The mechanism underlying this abnormality is unclear. Because the NHE can be activated by phosphorylation, we examined phosphorylation of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) as one possible mechanism for its increased turnover number in cultured vascular myocytes of the SHR. A polyclonal rabbit antibody against a fusion protein consisting of beta-galactosidase and the C-terminus of NHE-1 was used to immunoprecipitate 32P-labeled NHE-1 from cell extracts of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat vascular myocytes in the absence and presence of 10% fetal calf serum. Immunoprecipitates were separated by SDS-PAGE, and 32P-labeled NHE-1 was quantified from autoradiographs. Similar amounts of NHE-1 protein were detected on Western blots of the cultured vascular myocytes from SHR and WKY rats. In quiescent cells, NHE-1 was significantly more phosphorylated in SHR myocytes than in WKY myocytes (2.17 +/- 0.06-fold enhancement [mean +/- SEM]; P < .001, n = 8). The addition of fetal calf serum to quiescent cells had no significant effect on the phosphorylation of NHE-1 in SHR myocytes. However, NHE-1 phosphorylation fell transiently in serum-treated WKY myocytes, with recovery to control levels after 20 minutes. Measurement of NHE activity using fluorometry confirmed elevated activity in the quiescent SHR myocytes compared with WKY myocytes. Fetal calf serum led to further enhancement of NHE activity in both cell types. These findings suggest that the increased NHE activity in quiescent SHR myocytes may be correlated with enhanced NHE-1 phosphorylation and that serum stimulates NHE activity in both cell types without a further increase in total NHE-1 phosphorylation, indicating a role for non-phosphorylation-dependent regulatory mechanisms.

Na(+)-H+ antiporter phenotype, abundance, and phosphorylation of immortalized lymphoblasts from humans with hypertension.

Previous studies have demonstrated an elevated Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity in various cell types from patients with essential hypertension. The phenotype of an increased maximal transport capacity is preserved in Epstein-Barr virus immortalized lymphoblasts from hypertensive patients. The mechanisms underlying this abnormality are unclear. In this study, we used lymphoblasts from hypertensive patients and normotensive control subjects with and without a family history of hypertension to determine (1) Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity using fluorometry with the pH indicator 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, (2) Na(+)-H+ exchanger isoform 1 abundance with specific polyclonal antibodies, and (3) Na(+)-H+ exchanger phosphorylation by immunoprecipitation of the 32P-labeled transporter. Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity (in millimoles per liter per minute) measured when pHi was clamped at 6.0 was significantly higher in cells from hypertensive patients (18.8 +/- 0.6, P < .001) and those subjects with a family history of hypertension (16.4 +/- 0.6, P < .001) compared with normotensive control subjects (12.9 +/- 0.6). Exchanger abundance was identical in all three groups of subjects, indicating that increased activity in the hypertensive group was due to an elevated turnover number of the exchanger. Na(+)-H+ exchanger phosphorylation in quiescent cells was significantly elevated in cells from hypertensive patients (1.58 +/- 0.16, P < .001) compared with control subjects (1.00 +/- 0.07), and cells from normotensive subjects with a hypertensive family history showed intermediate values (1.23 +/- 0.14). Identical changes in Na(+)-H+ exchanger function and phosphorylation have been demonstrated in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Glucose-induced changes in turnover of Na+/H+ exchanger of immortalized lymphoblasts from type I diabetic patients with nephropathy.

Increased cellular Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity has been demonstrated in type I diabetic patients with nephropathy. Such patients also have a previous history of poor glycemic control. The interaction between hyperglycemia and changes in NHE activity remains obscure. Therefore, we examined the effects of media containing 5 and 25 mmol/l glucose on the increased NHE activity and turnover number in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts from patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with normoalbuminuric diabetic and nondiabetic control subjects. NHE activity was determined fluorometrically, and NHE isoform 1 (NHE-1) density was measured with specific polyclonal antibodies. In the presence of 5 mmol/l glucose, cells from patients with diabetic nephropathy exhibited higher NHE activity with intracellular pH clamped to 6.0 compared with diabetic and nondiabetic control subjects (P < 0.005 for both), due to a higher turnover number of NHE-1. Incubation in 25 mmol/l glucose for 48 h caused an increase in NHE activity (P < 0.001) and turnover number (P < 0.01) in the diabetic nephropathy group only, with no significant change in the diabetic or nondiabetic control groups. The rate constants for cell proliferation and NHE activity or turnover number were correlated when cells were cultured in 5 mmol/l glucose (r = 0.34 and 0.32, respectively; P < 0.05) or 25 mmol/l glucose media (r = 0.66 and 0.65, respectively; P < 0.001). We conclude that only lymphoblasts from the diabetic nephropathy group show an increase in NHE activity and turnover number under conditions mimicking hyperglycemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Culture density and the activity, abundance and phosphorylation of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 in human fibroblasts.

The Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) is a ubiquitous membrane glycoprotein present on most eukaryotic cells. Its activity, abundance and phosphorylation are regulated by a variety of growth factors and agonists. Although cell contact and inhibition of proliferation may reduce its activity, little is known of the influence of cell culture density on these measurements. The effect of culture density on the intracellular pH (pHi) and activity of NHE-1 of human MRC5 fibroblasts was thus investigated using fluorometry with BCECF, NHE-1 abundance with western blotting and NHE-1 phosphorylation using specific polyclonal antibodies. Proliferating cells in low density cultures had lower pHi and NHE-1 activity (per litre of cell water) than contact inhibited confluent cultures. Such cells in low density cultures were larger than those in very confluent cultures. NHE-1 activity per cell and NHE-1 protein abundance also showed an increasing trend with culture density. However, the turnover number of NHE-1 remained at around 3000 s-1 in low density and sub-confluent cultures, only decreasing in very confluent cultures. Moreover, NHE-1 phosphorylation declined with increased culture density. Cell culture density has profound effects on NHE-1 activity, abundance and turnover number, with associated changes in NHE-1 phosphorylation.

Activity and density of the Na+/H+ antiporter in normal and transformed human lymphocytes and fibroblasts.

The turnover number for the sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) has been determined in human lymphocytes and MRC5 fibroblasts and in their virally transformed counterparts. Using fluorometric methods, we have determined the intracellular pH and Na+/H+ antiport activity of these cells. Intracellular pH was elevated in both lines of transformed cells. In contrast, Na+/H+ antiport activity was apparently unchanged in simian virus 40-transformed MRC5 fibroblasts (MRC5 SV1 TV1 28.9 +/- 5.2 mM/min compared with MRC5 fibroblasts 26.5 +/- 5.3 mM/min) but slightly increased in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts (16.7 +/- 1.0 mM/min compared with lymphocytes 13.5 +/- 2.3 mM/min, P < 0.05). With the use of specific antisera to NHE-1, viral transformation was associated with a decreased number of NHE-1 molecules per cell in fibroblasts (from 441,504 +/- 53,428 to 64,745 +/- 7,151 sites/cell, P < 0.001) but an increased number in lymphocytes (from 14,066 +/- 3,100 to 22,474 +/- 4,050 sites/cell, P < 0.01). The NHE-1 density per cell yielded very similar turnover numbers for NHE-1 in the untransformed cells (lymphocytes, 3,161 +/- 833 cycles/s; MRC5 fibroblasts, 3,026 +/- 441 cycles/s), which were significantly elevated in the transformed cells (lymphoblasts, 8,471 +/- 1,177 cycles/s; MRC5 SV1 TV1, 10,521 +/- 2,299 cycles/s, P < 0.001 compared with untransformed cells). We conclude that viral transformation has different effects on Na+/H+ antiport activity and NHE-1 density per cell in different cell types, but the turnover number of NHE-1 is significantly increased after viral transformation, which correlates with the increased proliferation rate of these transformed cells.

Sodium-hydrogen antiporter protein in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mechanism of increased Na-H antiport activity in tissues of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) by measuring the amount of sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) in cultured vascular and striated muscle cells, and in ex vivo tissue extracts of membranes from the brain, heart, kidney and skeletal muscle. METHODS: A polyclonal rabbit antibody was raised against a fusion protein consisting of a section of the carboxyl tail of NHE-1 and beta-galactosidase. Cell extracts were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and proteins were transferred to supported nitrocellulose. NHE-1 was detected by Western blotting and quantified by densitometry. RESULTS: Cultured aortic and striated muscle cells from SHR contained similar amounts of NHE-1 on Western blots to those from control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat cells. Ex vivo extracts of crude membranes from SHR tissues also contained quantities of NHE-1 similar to those from WKY rat tissues. CONCLUSION: The increased Na-H antiport activity observed in SHR cells in vitro and in vivo is not due to an increased amount of NHE-1 protein in SHR cells. This suggests that in this model of hypertension the increased transport activity results from an increased turnover number per NHE-1 molecule.

Abnormal Na+/H+ antiporter phenotype and turnover of immortalized lymphoblasts from type 1 diabetic patients with nephropathy.

Cellular Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity is elevated in type 1 diabetic patients with nephropathy and patients with essential hypertension. The characteristics of this NHE phenotype in hypertension (raised Vmax and a lowered Hill coefficient) are preserved in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts from hypertensive patients. In this study, we have determined NHE kinetics in cultured lymphoblasts from diabetic patients with and without nephropathy, with nondiabetic controls, using fluorometry with the pH indicator 2,7'-bis-(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein and estimation of NHE isoform 1 (NHE-1) density with specific polyclonal antibodies. The Vmax of NHE was elevated significantly, and the Hill coefficient for internal H+ binding was lowered in cells from patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with both normal controls and normoalbuminuric diabetic patients. NHE-1 density as measured by Western blotting was similar in all groups. The turnover number of NHE-1 was thus elevated in cells from nephropathy patients. This phenotype in cells from diabetic nephropathy patients resembles that in essential hypertension and suggests that such patients may have a predisposition to hypertension. Moreover, as these changes persist in cultured lymphoblasts in vitro, these cells should provide a cell culture model to further define the basic mechanisms leading to NHE activation in diabetic nephropathy.

Hyaluronic acid regulates the function and distribution of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in bone marrow stromal cultures.

Treatment with steroid is necessary for adult human bone marrow-derived stroma to support hemopoiesis in vitro. We have investigated the effect of the steroid methylprednisolone on the glycosaminoglycans produced by adult bone marrow stroma. Methylprednisolone did not significantly alter the amount of sulfated glycosaminoglycans produced but the amount of the nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronic acid (HA), was dramatically decreased by the steroid. Culturing methylprednisolone-treated stroma with exogenous HA reduced the proportion of sulfated glycosaminoglycans incorporated into the cell layer and increased the proportion secreted into the medium. It also reduced the capacity of the stroma to bind and stimulate blast colony-forming cells. In fetal liver stroma, methylprednisolone did not decrease the amount of HA or alter the type of heparan sulfate produced. Thus, the ability of stroma cells to respond to steroid and the amount of HA in the extracellular matrix may vary in different marrow microenvironments. This may have functional consequences regarding their abilities to support hemopoiesis.

Potential mechanisms of action of interferon-alpha in CML.

Treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) adequately controls the leukemic cell mass in the majority of newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the degree of response ranges from no 'hematologic' response to complete suppression of the leukemic clone. The mechanism(s) by which IFN-alpha elicits these responses is unknown, but in vitro studies have indicated that IFN-alpha might function by (1) selective toxicity against the leukemic clone, (2) enhancement of 'immune' regulation, and (3) modulation of bone marrow microenvironmental regulation of hematopoiesis. Using in vitro clonogenic assays we were unable to demonstrate that IFN-alpha selectively inhibited the proliferation of CML progenitor cells. We also found no difference in the expression of LFA-3 on normal or CML CD34+ cells. However, by panning and co-culturing hematopoietic cells on monolayers of bone marrow stromal cells, grown with and without IFN-alpha, we found that IFN-alpha enhanced the adhesion of CML progenitors to stromal cells, whereas adhesion by normal progenitor cells was essentially unaffected. This enhanced adhesion by CML progenitor cells was associated with a reduction in neuraminic acid levels in the extracellular matrix overlying stromal cells. Therefore, it is possible that one of the mechanisms by which IFN-alpha exerts its regulatory effect on the leukemic clone is through enhancement of hematopoietic cell-microenvironmental cell interactions.

Synthesis and deposition of glycosaminoglycans in the murine hemopoietic stromal line S17: modulators of the hemopoietic microenvironment.

The murine hemopoietic stromal cell line S17 can support either myelopoiesis or lymphopoiesis depending on the culture conditions (i.e., the presence of steroid or mercaptoethanol). The glycosaminoglycans are important components of the extracellular matrix, which influence hemopoietic cell proliferation. Accordingly, glycosaminoglycans have been compared under different growth conditions. Under myeloid conditions (with steroid) a higher proportion of the sulfated glycosaminoglycans was incorporated into the cell layer and the extracellular matrix was increased, whereas synthesis was reduced under lymphoid conditions (with mercaptoethanol). The inclusion of steroid or mercaptoethanol did not alter the nature of the heparan sulfate synthesized as shown by DEAE anion-exchange chromatography, cleavage with specific enzymes and resolution of the digestion products by gel electrophoresis (oligomapping), and glycosaminoglycan size. The major species of sulfated proteoglycan synthesized under the different growth conditions (200 and 110 kd for the culture supernatant and 110, 71, and 38 kd for the cell layer) were shown to be very similar by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Although no qualitative difference was found biochemically between the major glycosaminoglycans/proteoglycans, scanning electron microscopy revealed major differences in the pattern of deposition of the glycosaminoglycans. Under myeloid conditions, a rich fibrous matrix covered the cell layer, whereas under lymphoid conditions glycosaminoglycan was sparsely deposited. The arrangement of the extracellular matrix may have important consequences for myelo- and lymphopoiesis.

Binding of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells to marrow stromal cells involves heparan sulfate.

Blast colony-forming cells (BI-CFC) and pre-colony-forming unit-granulocyte, monocyte (CFU-GM) in human bone marrow bind to marrow-derived stromal layers grown in the presence of methylprednisolone (MP+), but do not bind to stroma grown without MP (MP-). The BI-CFC bind to stroma and form colonies when overlaid with agar; the pre-CFU-GM bind to stroma and release CFU-GM into the supernatant culture medium (delta assay). These two classes of progenitor may represent similar stages of hematopoietic cell development. Their binding to stroma depends on the presence of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HS-PG) in the extracellular matrix secreted by the stromal cells. Here, we have analyzed the functional and biochemical properties of HS-PG isolated from MP+ and MP- stromal cultures. HS-PG or isolated HS glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains partially blocked progenitor cell binding when they were added to the 2-hour binding phase of the BI-CFC or delta assays. Gel electrophoresis of HS-PG resolved more bands in matrix preparations from MP+ cultures than in preparations from MP- cultures. The blocking activity of the eluted MP+ HS-PG bands depended partly on the amount of GAG attached to the protein core and presumably partly on the structure of the core itself. Time course studies demonstrated that the HS-dependent phase of the binding interaction was limited to the first 30 to 60 minutes of the 2-hour binding phase. The different blocking effects of MP+ and MP- HS indicate that they have different biochemical properties. The HS-GAG in MP+ stroma has a higher degree of sulfation and a greater negative charge to mass ratio compared with MP- HS-GAG. Variations in HS may determine specific binding by hematopoietic progenitor cells and a heparan sulfate receptor is envisaged as acting in concert with further cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on the progenitor cell surface.

Deficiency of a phosphatidylinositol-anchored cell adhesion molecule influences haemopoietic progenitor binding to marrow stroma in chronic myeloid leukaemia.

The interactions between haemopoietic progenitor cells and marrow stromal cells that are essential for the regulation of normal haemopoiesis are defective in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The presence of primitive progenitor cells (blast colony-forming cells, Bl-CFC) in the blood of patients with CML is reflected by their reduced capacity to bind to marrow derived stromal layers in vitro. Whereas normal bone marrow Bl-CFC bind irreversibly to cultured stromal layers (and none are found in normal blood), the Bl-CFC in CML bind transiently and then detach. The normal cell adhesion mechanism is partially sensitive to treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (Pl-PLC), indicating the participation of a phosphatidylinositol (Pl)-linked structure; however, when CML cells were treated with Pl-PLC it had no effect on progenitor binding. Two other Pl-linked structures, decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and lymphocyte function associated antigen-3 (LFA-3) were normally expressed on CD34 positive CML cells and normally susceptible to Pl-PLC treatment. The treatment of normal cells with Pl-PLC, to mimic the situation in CML, resulted in the indiscriminate and inefficient binding of Bl-CFC to stroma. Moreover, treatment of the normal cells with 5637 conditioned medium (CM), which contains haemopoietic growth factors, also reduced the binding capacity of normal Bl-CFC; 5637CM treatment did not alter the expression of DAF. It is proposed that a Pl-linked cell adhesion molecule (CAM) is deficient in CML as a consequence of the constitutive activation of ABL kinase whilst, in normal cells, CAMs attached in this manner are responsible for efficient adhesion to stroma and are regulated by growth factors.

Interferon-alpha overrides the deficient adhesion of chronic myeloid leukemia primitive progenitor cells to bone marrow stromal cells.

Primitive blast colony-forming cells (BI-CFC) from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients are defective in their attachment to bone marrow-derived stromal cells compared with normal BI-CFC. We investigated the effect of recombinant interferon-alpha 2a (IFN-alpha) on this interaction between hematopoietic progenitor cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells by culturing normal stromal cells with IFN-alpha (50 to 5,000 U/mL). At 50 U/mL we found that: (1) the capacity of stromal cells to bind two types of CML primitive progenitor cells (BI-CFC and long-term culture-initiating cells) was increased; and (2) the amount of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the stromal layer was increased. However, sulfated GAGs were not directly involved in binding CML BI-CFC, unlike binding by normal BI-CFC, which is sulfated GAG-dependent. Neuraminidase-treated control stromal cells bound an increased number of CML BI-CFC, reproducing the effect of IFN-alpha, whereas the binding to IFN-alpha-treated stromal cells was unaffected by neuraminidase treatment. Thus, the enhanced attachment by primitive CML progenitor cells to INF-alpha-treated stromal cells might be due to changes in the neuraminic acid composition in the stromal cell layer. Our in vitro evidence may provide insights into the mechanism of action of IFN-alpha in vivo. Prolonged administration may alter the marrow microenvironment in some patients such that it can restrain the aberrant proliferation of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive stem cells while permitting Ph-negative stem cells to function normally.

Interferon-alpha alters the distribution of CFU-GM between the adherent and nonadherent compartments in long-term cultures of chronic myeloid leukemia marrow.

We studied the effect of recombinant interferon-alpha 2a (IFN alpha) on the interaction between stromal cells and granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) from the marrow of normal individuals and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in chronic phase in long-term bone marrow cultures using preformed stromal layers. These stromal layers were established with marrow cells from normal allogeneic donors and grown to confluence in the presence or absence of IFN alpha at low concentration (100 U/ml). The number of CML CFU-GM localized within IFN alpha-treated stromal layers was significantly greater than the corresponding number localized within control stromal layers. Conversely, the distribution of normal CFU-GM between the adherent and nonadherent compartments was unaffected by IFN alpha treatment of the stromal layer. Preincubation of CML marrow cells with IFN alpha did not alter this distribution, so the observed effect of IFN alpha must be due to a primary action on stromal layers. Thus, in addition to its well known antiproliferative effect, IFN alpha enhances the capacity of marrow stromal cells to bind and/or retain CML progenitor cells, and the resulting restoration of normal regulatory control may be the basis for the selectivity of IFN alpha in CML.

Subpopulations of chondrocytes from different zones of pig articular cartilage. Isolation, growth and proteoglycan synthesis in culture.

Articular cartilage varies in ultrastructure and composition with distance from the articular surface. We have cultured chondrocytes from different zones of pig articular cartilage and investigated whether there are intrinsic differences in their behaviour that might account for the variation observed in intact tissue. On isolation, cells from the upper third of the cartilage were smaller than those of the lower third, but this difference was not maintained in culture. Upper zone cells attached and spread more slowly than lower zone cells; morphological differences between the two populations could be seen for several weeks. The growth rates of the two populations were similar, but upper zone cells reached a lower confluent density. Levels of protein synthesis were similar for both populations, but upper zone cells deposited less proteoglycan in the cell layer. On isolation, the percentage of upper zone cells that stained positive with MZ15, a monoclonal antibody to keratan sulphate, was smaller than the percentage of lower zone cells, but this difference was lost after several days in culture. Nevertheless, the keratan sulphate content of proteoglycan synthesised by lower zone chondrocytes at high density was greater than of that synthesised by upper zone cells. The proportion of nonaggregating proteoglycan was greater in upper than lower zone cartilage and this difference was also observed in long-term cultures. proteoglycans were further characterised by composite and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by immunoblotting; differences detected in cartilage extracts were not, however, maintained in culture; instead, the small proteoglycans synthesised by both upper and lower zone cells varied with plating density. Finally, alkaline phosphatase, a marker of hypertrophic, calcifying cartilage, was only expressed in lower zone cultures. We conclude that some of the observed heterogeneity of articular cartilage reflects intrinsic differences between the cells of different zones, whereas some may reflect the response of chondrocytes to different environmental conditions.