Phospholipase C-coupled receptors and activation of TRPC channels.

The canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) cation channels are mammalian homologs of the photoreceptor channel TRP in Drosophila melanogaster. All seven TRPCs (TRPC1 through TRPC7) can be activated through Gq/11 receptors or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) by mechanisms downstream of phospholipase C. The last decade saw a rapidly growing interest in understanding the role of TRPC channels in calcium entry pathways as well as in understanding the signal(s) responsible for TRPC activation. TRPC channels have been proposed to be activated by a variety of signals including store depletion, membrane lipids, and vesicular insertion into the plasma membrane. Here we discuss recent developments in the mode of activation as well as the pharmacological and electrophysiological properties of this important and ubiquitous family of cation channels.

Oligomeric state of the colon carcinoma-associated glycoprotein GA733-2 (Ep-CAM/EGP40) and its role in GA733-mediated homotypic cell-cell adhesion.

The GA733-2 antigen (GA733) is a homotypic calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule (CAM) present in most normal human epithelial cells and gastrointestinal carcinomas. Because oligomerization of some CAMs regulates cell adhesion and signal transduction, the correlation between GA733 oligomeric state and cell-cell adhesion was investigated. Sedimentation equilibrium studies showed that full-length (-FL) GA733 exists as dimers and tetramers in solution, whereas the GA733 extracellular domain (-EC) is a monomer. The Kd of GA733-FL is less than 10 nm for the monomer-dimer association, whereas the dimer-tetramer association is about 1000-fold weaker (Kd approximately 10 microm). Chemical cross-linking of purified GA733-FL in solution resulted in a major product corresponding to GA733 dimers, and minor amounts of trimers and tetramers. However, GA733-EC cross-linked under the same conditions was consistently a monomer. Chemical cross-linking of dissociated colon carcinoma cells produced predominantly GA733 dimers, whereas cross-linking of cells in monolayers yielded some tetramers as well. GA733-FL retained its cell-cell adhesion function as shown by inhibition of cell aggregation, whereas monomeric GA733-EC was inactive. These data show that GA733 exists predominantly as high affinity noncovalent cis-dimers in solution and on dissociated colon carcinoma cells. The lower affinity association of dimers to form tetramers is most likely the head-to-head interaction between GA733 cis-dimers on opposing cells that represents its cell-cell adhesion activity.

Efficient laboratory-scale production of monoclonal antibodies using membrane-based high-density cell culture technology.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are important tools used in basic research as well as in the imaging and therapy of cancer. Many countries have limited the use of animals for large-scale production of MAbs, obliging laboratories to find efficient in vitro alternatives to ascites production. In this report we describe a protocol for laboratory-scale production of MAbs by culturing hybridoma cells in the two-chamber cell culture device CELLine 1000. This culture flask supports high cell densities (10(7)-10(8) cells/ml) and generates high concentrations of MAbs (0.7-2.5 mg/ml). Two hybridomas producing MAbs directed against the gastrointestinal antigen GA733-2, GA733 MAb and CO17-1A MAb, were evaluated over culture periods of up to two months using several alternative conditions. Two different sets of conditions are reported; the first using serum-supplemented medium (20% v/v) and the second using serum-free medium (SFM). Average weekly yields of the purified MAbs in serum-supplemented medium were 24 mg and 33 mg, and in SFM were 21 mg and 17 mg for GA733 MAb and CO17-1A MAb, respectively. Experimental variables that can affect antibody production and economy include: nutrient medium and cell compartment medium compositions (cell line dependent), the proportion of the cell compartment medium harvested every 3 days (50% to 80% with 80% optimal) and the frequency of nutrient medium changes (3 to 9 days with 6 days as most cost effective). Protein-A Sepharose purification followed by antigen-specific affinity purification showed that MAbs obtained from serum-supplemented cultures contain less than 0.6% of bovine IgG contamination, while MAbs obtained from serum-free cultures contained no extraneous IgG. In addition, MAbs from both culture media were fully active (essentially 100%) as measured by their ability to bind to an antigen column. In contrast, the same MAbs purified from ascites using Protein-A-Sepharose typically contained a major portion of inactive IgG. This in vitro method for laboratory-scale production of MAbs (10 to 500 mg) proved to be simple, reproducible and cost effective. It represents a useful alternative to the in vivo production of MAbs in mice.

Reciprocal regulation of protein tyrosine kinases p56lck and p59fyn, and altered tyrosine phosphorylation in murine AIDS.

Murine AIDS (MAIDS), caused by a defective murine leukemia virus, is a severe lymphoproliferative disease associated with profound immunodeficiency and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Most subsets of lymphocytes, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, are refractory to mitogen stimulation. As a first step to examine proximal signal transduction in the infected mice, Western and Northern blot analyses were performed, and showed that p56lck is dramatically decreased at the protein as well as the mRNA level in the lymph nodes (LN). In contrast, p59(fyn) and its mRNA were slightly increased in the LN of the same mice. Similar results were obtained with purified T cells. Interestingly, the thymus of the infected animals did not show any abnormality regarding p56(lck) or p59(fyn). Tyrosine phosphorylation was constitutively increased in the infected mice and was barely amplified by anti-CD3 mAb stimulation. A similar pattern was observed when tyrosine phosphorylation was selectively examined at the level of ZAP-70. Our results suggest that a reciprocal regulation of p56(lck) and p59(fyn) protein tyrosine kinases, previously described in various models of anergy, could also be involved in the pathogenesis of MAIDS.

Decreased protein levels of the c-Cbl protooncogene in murine AIDS.

Murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS) can be viewed as a lymphoproliferative disease which involves B cells as well as T cells from spleen and lymph nodes while thymus and Peyer's patches do not participate in the process. The 120-kDa protooncogene product c-Cbl was initially cloned from the murine Cas NS-1 B cell lymphoma. It is a main target of immunoreceptor (TCR and BCR)-mediated protein tyrosine kinase activity. Moreover, recent data suggest that c-Cbl might play a crucial role in the regulation of cell proliferation through regulation of GTP-binding proteins. Therefore, the involvement of c-Cbl was evaluated in the lymphoproliferative disease induced by the MAIDS virus. The expression of the c-Cbl protein was dramatically reduced in the lymph node of infected mice while it remained normal in the thymus. In contrast, the expression of actin, TCR-zeta chain, ZAP-70, and p59(fyn) remained similar in controls and infected mice. Identical results were obtained with sorted B cells and T cells. Surprisingly, a B cell lymphoma line derived from late stage MAIDS mice displayed a normal level of c-Cbl.

Peyer's patches in murine AIDS: dissociation between lymphoproliferation and anergy.

RadLV-Rs infection induces a murine immunodeficiency syndrome associated with a dramatic enlargement of spleen and lymph nodes. Surprisingly, the lymphoproliferation excludes thymus and Peyer's patches (PP). To understand the cellular interactions underlying lymphoproliferation further, the authors investigated the fate of PP in RadLV-Rs infected mice. The atrophy of PP was mostly due to the depletion of B cells, while the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was increased. Nevertheless, B cell phenotype was modified with the emergence of lymphocytes with a low expression of B220 in infected PP. T cells characterized by a memory/activated phenotype in control PP did not undergo phenotypical changes after viral infection (i.e. regarding Thy-1 and CD44 expression). Despite the absence of lymphoproliferation, PP T and B cells displayed altered responses to mitogens in vitro. Finally, alterations of the expression of adhesion molecules and vascular addressins could not explain the atrophy of PP by a reduced homing to this lymphoid site. B cells and T cells from normal PP are clearly different from lymph nodes (LN) lymphocytes. The authors propose that the particular functional state which characterizes PP lymphocytes influences the B cell/T cell crosstalk necessary for RadLV-Rs-induced lymphoproliferation.

Subset-specific analysis of calcium fluxes in murine AIDS.

Infection of susceptible strains of mice with the Duplan strain of murine leukemia viruses induces a syndrome called MAIDS (murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) characterized by immunodeficiency and lymphoproliferation. In addition to a complete refractoriness of most subsets of lymphocytes to mitogen stimulation, the development of phenotypic abnormalities occurs such as the appearance of an abnormal CD4+ T cell subset lacking membranes Thy-1. This study was performed to compare the calcium responses during the early stages of MAIDS (week 9 or earlier) between T cells and B cells and between CD4+Thy-1- and CD4+Thy-1+ T cells. B cells were strikingly less affected than T cells: their baseline [Ca2+]i did not significantly increase, and their calcium response to anti-IgM antibody and concanavalin A (Con A) was partially maintained. In contrast, the response to Con A was completely abolished in T cells. Interestingly, calcium mobilization in response to membrane receptor-independent stimuli such as ionophores and thapsigargin was strongly inhibited in T cells, while no such inhibition was found in B cells. In comparison with their CD4+Thy-1+ counterparts, CD4+Thy-1- T cells had blunted calcium responses in controls, as well as in infected mice. However, CD4+Thy-1+ T cells were also strikingly altered, suggesting that the loss of membrane Thy-1 could be associated with, but not directly responsible for abnormalities of calcium responses in CD4+ T cells from RadLV-Rs-infected mice.

Further characterization of cytotoxic T cells generated by short-term culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes with interleukin-2 and anti-CD3 mAb.

In this study we have specifically investigated the participation of T cells in the cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) activated by interleukin-2 (IL-2, 50 U/ml) alone or in combination with an anti-CD3 mAb (BMA030, 10 ng/ml, IgG2a). Purified CD3+ T cells, incubated in the presence of the anti-CD3 mAb for 4 days, mediated a cytotoxic activity against HL60 and U937 tumor cell lines. Several findings suggested the involvement of a redirected-cytotoxicity phenomenon, since the lytic process was restricted to target cell lines bearing the high-affinity Fc gamma receptor (Fc gamma RI) and T lymphocytes stimulated by IL-2 alone did not lyse these cell lines. Furthermore, anti-CD3 mAb F(ab')2, anti-CD3 IgG1 (UCHT1), phytohemagglutinin or staphylococcal enterotoxin A did not induce a similar cytotoxic activity in T lymphocytes. The cytotoxic process occurred in the presence of a very low level of anti-CD3 antibodies (in the nanomolar range). The cytotoxic activity of T cells stimulated by IL-2 or by IL-2 + BMA030, against OVCAR-3 cells (MOv18+ ovarian tumor cell line), was also compared in the presence of a bispecific antibody OC/TR, anti-CD3 x MOv18). The stimulation by IL-2 + BMA030 induced approximately a twofold higher cytotoxic activity than IL-2-activated T cells. This could be related to the state of activation of effector cells stimulated by IL-2 + BMA030, since the phenotypic analysis showed an increased proportion of T cells expressing several activation/differentiation markers (CD25, HLA-DR, CD45R0, adhesion molecules). These findings could be applied to the design of therapeutic protocols using anti-CD3 x antitumoral bispecific antibodies.

Improved four-color flow cytometry method using fluo-3 and triple immunofluorescence for analysis of intracellular calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) fluxes among mouse lymph node B- and T-lymphocyte subsets.

A visible-light, dual-laser, flow cytometric method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of intracellular ionized calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and three cell-surface markers (CD4, CD8, and Thy-1.2 antigens) by using the calcium probe fluo-3 and using R-phycoerythrin (PE), peridinin chlorophyll-alpha protein (PerCP), and allophycocyanin (APC) conjugated monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). This improved method was used in the analysis of [Ca2+]i mobilization upon in vitro stimulation with mitogenic lectins [phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (ConA)], anti-CD3 MoAbs, or A23187 calcium ionophore in the heterogeneous lymph node cell populations from healthy C57BL/Ka mice. The present results show that the calcium responses were heterogeneous and dependent on the cellular immunophenotype, not only on lectins or anti-CD3 MoAbs stimulation, but also on the receptor-independent A23187 ionophore stimulation. An in situ fluo-3 calibration method (using A23187 and metabolic poisons in Ca2+ /EGTA buffers with known free calcium concentrations) indicated a resting [Ca2+]i in lymphocytes of 103 +/- 23 nM (mean +/- S.D.) but with significant differences between the [Ca2+]i in B cells and in all of the T-cell subsets (CD4+Thy-1+, CD4+Thy-1-, and CD8+T cells). Both the B cells and the T-cell subsets showed an increase of fluo-3 fluorescence upon in vitro stimulation with ConA or PHA, but the calcium mobilization following lectin stimulation was time delayed in all T-cell subsets. Only the T cells, including the CD4+Thy-1- subset, responded to anti-CD3 MoAbs. The percentage of responding cells upon stimulation with ConA was higher in T cells than in B cells. By contrast, PHA gave a higher response in B cells. After stimulation with different mitogens, [Ca2+]i increased in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets. However, the percentage of responding cells was far higher in the CD4+Thy-1+ subset than in the CD4+Thy-1- or the CD8+T-cell subsets. The stimulation with A23187 ionophore induced a higher calcium response in B cells than in T cells. Interestingly, it also induced greater Ca2+ mobilization in CD4+ than in CD8+T cells. These results demonstrate the potential use of fluo-3 simultaneously with three fluorescein (FITC)-compatible fluorochromes. This technique may be useful for investigating the role of the CD4+Thy-1-T cells, a rare subset that is abnormally expanded in a murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (murine AIDS).