A secreted proform of neutrophil proteinase 3 regulates the proliferation of granulopoietic progenitor cells.

Myeloid leukemia cells, the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60, and a subpopulation of normal marrow cells produce a leukemia-associated inhibitor (LAI) that reversibly downmodulates DNA synthesis of normal granulopoietic progenitor cells colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM). We isolated an active 125-kD component of LAI from HL-60 conditioned medium (CM), subjected it to cyanogen bromide cleavage and show by amino acid sequencing of the resulting peptides that it consists of a complex of the serine proteinase inhibitor alpha1-antitrypsin and a 31-kD fragment that retained the S-phase inhibitory activity, but resisted sequencing. This finding suggested that the 31-kD fragment originated from one of the neutrophil serine proteases (ie, elastase, proteinase 3, or cathepsin G) produced by normal promyelocytes, as well as HL-60 cells, for storage in primary granules and partly secreted during synthesis as enzymatically inactive proforms. Immunoblot analysis showed that the 125-kD complex contained proteinase 3 (PR3), and immunoprecipitation of PR3 from HL-60 CM abrogated the S-phase inhibitory activity, whereas immunoprecipitation of cathepsin G or elastase did not. Immunoprecipitation of PR3 from CM of a subpopulation of normal marrow cells also abrogated the S-phase inhibitory effect. Furthermore, CM from rat RBL and murine 32D cell lines transfected with human PR3 both reduced the fraction of CFU-GM in S-phase with 30% to 80% at 1 to 35 ng/mL PR3, whereas CM of the same cells transfected with cathepsin G or elastase did not. Also, an enzymatically silent mutant of PR3 exerted full activity, showing that the S-phase modulatory effect is not dependent on proteolytic activity. Amino acid sequencing of biosynthetically radiolabeled PR3 showed that PR3 from transfected cells is secreted after synthesis as proforms retaining amino terminal propeptides. In contrast, mature PR3 extracted from mature neutrophils has only minor activity. The inhibitory effect of secreted PR3 is reversible and abrogated by granulocyte (G)- or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Experiments with highly purified CD34(+) bone marrow cells suggested that PR3 acts directly on the granulopoietic progenitor cells. These observations suggest a role for PR3 in regulation of granulopoiesis, and possibly in suppression of normal granulopoiesis in leukemia.

Physical constitution and biochemical characteristics of patients with electively diagnosed gallstone disease.

Physical characteristics and blood glucose and serum lipid concentrations were analysed in 196 patients with electively diagnosed cholelithiasis and 187 age and sex matched controls. A logistic regression analysis showed that women with cholelithiasis had more total body fat and were shorter than the female controls. There were no differences in anthropometric measurements between the men with gallstones and their controls. Patients of both sexes, however, had increased serum triglyceride and decreased serum cholesterol concentrations compared with control subjects.

Integrity of the gluteus medius after the transgluteal approach in total hip arthroplasty.

The postoperative integrity of the conjoined aponeurosis of the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis was studied in 97 consecutive total hip arthroplasties in 95 patients performed via a transgluteal approach. Metal markers were placed in the gluteal/vastus aponeurosis, one on each side of the suture line, and the integrity of the repair was assessed on radiographs taken immediately after surgery and 2 weeks, 2 months, and 1 year after operation. Separation between the markers occurred in about half of the patients, but gross separations were rare. Since most separations showed a progressive increment, elongation of the sutured aponeurosis might be a more common mechanism than perioperative injury to the neurovascular pedicle. Moreover, the degree of separation did not correlate with pain, and Trendelenburg gait was significantly increased only in the group of patients with a separation greater than 2.5 cm, indicating that a moderate gluteal elongation may be readily compensated for.

Evaluation of anamnestic data in patients referred for oral cholecystography.

The knowledge about how patients are selected for elective gallbladder investigations is limited. In this study the anamnestic data of 817 patients referred for an elective cholecystography have been compared with those of 789 matched controls. Other diseases in the medical history were commonly seen, and different gastrointestinal symptoms occurred frequently in the patients. Only 207 (23%) patients presented with a gallstone disease, and no symptom was commoner in these patients than in the patients with normal cholecystograms. The low positive yield could be due to liberal and unclear indications for oral cholecystography. Many gallstones detected this way may in fact be asymptomatic, which should be borne in mind when a cholecystectomy is considered.

Separation of DNA restriction fragments by ion-exchange chromatography on FPLC columns Mono P and Mono Q.

Separation of DNA restriction fragments by FPLC ion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q and Mono P columns was investigated. The columns were found to be particularly suitable for the separation of fragments up to 500-600 bp long. Larger fragments can also be separated although less effectively. We found the following practical working ranges for the parameters investigated: pH, 4 to 11; flow rate, 0.05 to 0.6 ml/min corresponding to separation times between 2 and 20 h. (better resolution is achieved at lower flow rates); gradient slope; between 0.5 mM eluting salt/ml buffer and over 5 mM/ml (better resolution is achieved at lower gradient slopes; eluting ionic strength was found to be independent of gradient slope); gradient composition, chloride salts of smaller monovalent cations eluted the DNA at lower ionic strengths but separations obtained were similar; additives, substances such as urea, formamide, and EDTA can be added without chromatographic effects; sample amount: amounts from 2.5 to 200 micrograms were applied, corresponding to single peak content of from 42 ng to 74 micrograms DNA. Yields were generally over 90% and the chromatographed DNA was fully accessible to restriction enzyme cleavage. Separations occurred predominantly according to DNA size, but AT-rich fragments were retarded in a predictable way.

Chemical crosslinking of elongation factor G to the 23S RNA in 70S ribosomes from Escherichia coli.

Elongation factor G was crosslinked to the 23S RNA of 70S Escherichia coli ribosomes with the bifunctional, cleavable reagent diepoxybutane (DEB). The EF-G-23S RNA complex was isolated and digested with ribonuclease A. After digestion, an RNA fragment, protected by EF-G was cleaved from the complex and isolated. The nucleotide sequence of this RNA fragment was determined by partial ribonuclease digestion. It proved to be 27 nucleotides long and it could be identified with residues 1055 to 1081 of the nucleotide sequence of E. coli 23S RNA. In the presence of thiostrepton, which prevents binding of EF-G to the ribosome, there was a dramatic decrease in the yield of this complex.

Chemical cross-linking of elongation factor G to both subunits of the 70-S ribosomes from Escherichia coli.

Ribosomal proteins situated at or near the binding site of elongation factor G (EF-G) on the Escherichia coli ribosome have been identified by use of the bifunctional, cleavable cross-linker, dimethyl-4,9-diaza-5,8-dioxo-6,7-dihydroxy-dodecanebisimidate. Five different bimolecular EF-G x ribosomal-protein complexes were isolated electrophoretically. The ribosomal proteins found in each of these complexes were identified as the 50-S-subunit proteins L6, L7/L12 and L14 and the 30-S-subunit proteins S12 and S19. In the presence of thiostrepton, which prevents binding of EF-G to the ribosome, there was a considerable decrease in the yield of each of these cross-linked complexes. The data suggest that EF-G is bound close to the ribosomal subunit interface.

RNA-protein complexes identified by crosslinking of polysomes.

The bifunctional cleavable reagent diepoxybutane was used to investigate the crosslinking of proteins to the 16S and 23S RNA in Escherichia coli ribosomes. The crosslinking patterns from polysomes, accumulated in the absence and presence of oxytetracycline, as well as reassociated 70S ribosomes were compared. The 30S proteins: S3, S4, S5, S7, S8, S9, S12, S13, S14 and S18 were recovered crosslinked to the 16S RNA and the 50S: proteins L1, L2, L4, L13, L14-L21, L15, L16, L17, L18-L23, L19-22-24, L27 and L28 were recovered crosslinked to the 23S RNA, in all three associated states. Proteins crosslinked to the RNA of the heterologous subunit and therefore considered to be at or near the ribosomal subunit interface were, for all three states, proteins S1, S4, S6, S9, S12, S13, S14 and S18 from the small subunit and proteins L16, L17, L20 and L27 from the large subunit. Finally, the recovery of intrasubunit crosslinks was measured for the isolated subunits. Additional crosslinked complexes were observed between 16S RNA and S1, S2 as well as S6 from the 30S subunit; and between 23S RNA and L10, L11, L7/12 from the 50S subunit.

RNA-protein neighbourhoods of the ribosome obtained by crosslinking.

It is possible to crosslink protein to nucleic acid with diepoxybutane which reacts mainly with the N-7 of guanine as well as the thiol and aminogroups in protein; the resulting crosslinked complexes are cleavable. When this reagent is applied to ribosomes, even under conditions that minimize the extent of reaction, at least half of the ribosomal proteins can be recovered crosslinked to one or other of the major ribosomal RNA species. In addition, one fourth of the proteins can be recovered crosslinked to the RNA of the heterologous ribosomal subunit. Some of the remaining proteins may also be crosslinkable to the RNA, but additional experiments are required to confirm this.

A procedure for isolation of spontaneous mutants with temperature sensitive of RNA and/or protein.

A procedure for the isolation of spontaneous temperature sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli has been developed. They are selected as survivors at high temperature against the combined killing effects exerted by a temperature inducible lambda prophage and either streptomycin plus ampillicin or ampicillin plus cycloserine. The mutants so obtained are blocked in vivo in the synthesis of RNA or protein or both at restrictive temperature.