17α-Ethinylestradiol rapidly alters transcript levels of murine coagulation genes via estrogen receptor α.

BACKGROUND: Oral estrogen use is associated with changes in plasma levels of many coagulation proteins. OBJECTIVE: To gain more insight into the underlying mechanism of estrogen-induced changes in coagulation. METHODS: Ovariectomized female mice were used to study the impact of oral 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE) on plasma coagulation, hepatic coagulation gene transcript levels, and dependence on estrogen receptor (ER) α and ERß. RESULTS: Ten days of oral EE treatment resulted in significantly reduced plasma activity levels of factor (F)VIII, FXII, combined FII/FVII/FX and antithrombin, whereas FIX activity significantly increased. Regarding hepatic transcript levels, oral EE caused significant decreases in fibrinogen-γ, FII, FV, FVII, FX, FXII, antithrombin, protein C, protein Z, protein Z inhibitor and heparin cofactor II mRNA levels, whereas FXI levels significantly increased and transcript levels of FVIII, FIX, protein S and α(2) -antiplasmin remained unaffected. All EE-induced coagulation-related changes were neutralized by coadministration of the non-specific ER antagonist ICI182780. In addition, ERα-deficient mice lacked the EE-induced changes in plasma coagulation and hepatic transcript profile, whereas ERß-deficient mice responded similarly to non-deficient littermate controls. A crucial role for the ER was further demonstrated by its rapid effects on transcription, within 2.5-5 h after EE administration, suggesting a short chain of events leading to its final effects. CONCLUSIONS: Oral EE administration has a broad impact on the mouse coagulation profile at the level of both plasma and hepatic mRNA levels. The effects on transcription are rapidly induced, mostly downregulatory, and principally mediated by ERα.

Molecular genetic analysis of the human dihydrofolate reductase gene: relation with plasma total homocysteine, serum and red blood cell folate levels.

Disturbances in folate metabolism may increase the risk of certain malignancies, congenital defects and cardiovascular diseases. The gene dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is primarily involved in the reduction of dihydrofolate, generated during thymidylate synthesis, to tetrahydrofolate in order to maintain adequate amounts of folate for DNA synthesis and homocysteine remethylation. In order to reveal possible variation that may affect plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), serum folate and red blood cell (RBC) folate levels, we sequenced the DHFR coding region as well as the intron-exon boundaries and DHFR flanking regions from 20 Caucasian individuals. We identified a 9-bp repeat in the 5'-upstream region that partially overlapped with the 5'-untranslated region, and several single-nucleotide polymorphisms, all in non-coding regions. We screened subjects for the 9-bp repeat (n=417), as well as the recently reported 19-bp deletion in intron 1 (n=330), and assessed their associations with plasma tHcy, serum and RBC folate levels. The 19-bp del/del genotype was associated with a lower plasma tHcy (-14.4% [95% confidence interval: -23.5 to -4.5], P=0.006) compared with the wild-type genotype. This may suggest that intracellular folate levels are affected.

Microparticle-associated tissue factor activity: a link between cancer and thrombosis?

BACKGROUND: Cancer, in particular mucinous adenocarcinoma, is associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Tissue factor (TF), initiator of coagulation, plays a central role in the paradigm that clotting and tumor growth form a vicious circle, in which hypercoagulability facilitates the aggressive biology of cancer and vice versa. Expression of TF in tumors is associated with poor differentiation and poor prognosis. PATIENT/METHODS: We investigated the association between clinically manifest VTE and procoagulant properties of circulating microparticles (MP) isolated from blood of unselected pancreatic and breast adenocarcinoma patients' consecutive subjects, who presented with ultrasound or CT-scan confirmed VTE, and healthy subjects. RESULTS: Patients with disseminated breast and pancreatic cancer had significantly increased levels of MP-associated TF activity compared with healthy controls, subjects with idiopathic acute VTE and non-metastatic cancer patients. Patients with both high MP-associated TF-activity and MP-associated epithelial mucin (MUC1) had a lower survival rate at 3-9 months follow-up than those with low TF-activity and no MUC1 expression: the likelihood of survival was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.19- 0.94) for an individual with these two predictor variables present, after adjustment for other factors (age cohort, type of cancer, VTE) in the Cox proportional hazards model. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an important role for MP-associated TF and MUC1 in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in disseminated mucinous adenocarcinoma patients. Future studies should reveal the mechanism underlying the observed associations.

Oral transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by muscle of experimentally infected pigs.

The current study was performed to determine if porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) could be transmitted to pigs by feeding muscle tissue obtained from recently infected pigs. Muscle obtained from pigs infected with either a European strain (EU donor pigs) or American strain (US donor pigs) of PRRSV was fed to PRRSV-free receiver pigs. The donor pigs were slaughtered 11 days post-infection (dpi). PRRSV was detected by conventional virus isolation in muscle at 11 dpi from 7 of 12 EU donor pigs and 5 of 12 US donor pigs. In contrast to conventional virus isolation, all muscle samples from infected pigs were positive for viral nucleic acid by PCR, except for muscle from one animal infected with the American strain of PRRSV. Five hundred grams of raw semimembranosus muscle from each of the donor pigs was fed over a 2 days period (250 g per day) to each of two receiver pigs (48 receiver pigs). The receiver pigs were housed separately in five groups. One of the five groups was fed muscle obtained from US donor pigs that was also spiked with the American strain of PRRSV. Sentinel pigs were placed in-contact with the group of receiver pigs fed spiked muscle. All receiver pigs became viraemic by 6 days post-feeding (dpf). There was evidence of horizontal transmission with sentinel pigs, in-contact with receiver pigs, becoming viraemic. The study demonstrates that PRRSV could be infectious through the oral route via the feeding of meat obtained from recently infected pigs.

Safety and protective efficacy of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome recombinant virus vaccines in young pigs.

Three porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) recombinants, generated by mutagenesis of an infectious cDNA clone of the Lelystad virus (LV) isolate, were tested for their safety and protective efficacy as potential PRRSV vaccines in pigs. Recombinant vABV688 contains two amino acid substitutions in the minor structural protein GP(2) resulting in improved growth on cell line CL2621; in recombinant vABV707 the region encoding the ectodomain of the major unglycosylated membrane protein M has been replaced by that of the murine lactate dehydrogenase-elevating arterivirus; recombinant vABV746 lacks the six C-terminal amino acids of the nucleocapsid protein N. First, we determined the safety of these recombinant viruses by monitoring the stability of the introduced mutations in 8-week-old pigs. We showed that the introduced genomic mutations were maintained throughout the viraemic period. Second, the protective efficacy of immunization with the recombinant viruses against challenge with a homologous and a heterologous PRRSV strain was determined in two pigs and compared with the efficacy of vABV437, a virus derived from the parental LV cDNA. The viraemia in pigs immunized with the recombinant viruses was reduced compared to pigs immunized with vABV437. In addition, the length of viraemia was reduced in the sentinel pigs that were introduced into the groups immunized with vABV746, vABV688, and vABV707, however, all of the sentinel pigs became infected. Pigs immunized with vABV707 and vABV437 were protected against challenge with homologous virus LV-Ter Huurne and transmission of the latter virus. None of the immunized pigs were protected against heterologous challenge with the virulent US isolate SDSU#73, but the vABV707- and vABV746-immunized pigs were protected against transmission of this virus from challenged pigs. In conclusion, the obtained viral recombinants are interesting candidates to be further explored for their use as vaccines against PRRSV.

Virological kinetics and immunological responses to a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection of pigs at different ages.

The objective of this study was to measure the effect of two variables (pig age and virus strain) on selected responses (clinical signs, viraemia, virus excretion and seroconversion) of pigs following exposure to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Therefore, young (6 till 8 weeks old) and old (6 months old) pigs were infected with 3 different PRRSV strains, i.e. LV ter Huurne (LVTH), LV4.2.1 and SDSU#73. Regardless of the strain used for exposure, young pigs were more susceptible to infection as shown by a higher number of viraemic and virus excreting pigs. Strain differences were also evident. LV ter Huurne induced virus excretion in a higher number of pigs and with a higher virus titre, whereas SDSU#73 induced most severe clinical signs. LV4.2.1 induced viraemia and virus excretion in a low number of pigs. The kinetics of the antibody response differed per virus strain. The results presented here are useful in developing a less expensive standardised infection model, consisting of young pigs intranasally infected with a virulent PRRSV strain, to study the efficacy of new vaccine strains.

Kirkinine, a new daphnane orthoester with potent neurotrophic activity from Synaptolepis kirkii.

The bioassay-guided fractionation of a dichloromethane extract from the roots of Synaptolepis kirkii using neuronal viability as a model allowed the isolation of the new daphnane orthoester kirkinine (1a) as a powerful neurotrophic constituent.

Mammalian GFRalpha -4, a divergent member of the GFRalpha family of coreceptors for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family ligands, is a receptor for the neurotrophic factor persephin.

Four members of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family have been identified (GDNF, neurturin, persephin, and enovin/artemin). They bind to a specific membrane-anchored GDNF family receptor as follows: GFRalpha-1 for GDNF, GFRalpha-2 for neurturin, GFRalpha-3 for enovin/artemin, and (chicken) GFRalpha-4 for persephin. Subsequent signaling occurs through activation of a common transmembrane tyrosine kinase, cRET. GFRalpha-4, the coreceptor for persephin, was previously identified in chicken only. We describe the cloning and characterization of a mammalian persephin receptor GFRalpha-4. The novel GFRalpha receptor is substantially different in sequence from all known GFRalphas, including chicken GFRalpha-4, and lacks the first cysteine-rich domain present in all previously characterized GFRalphas. At least two different GFRalpha-4 splice variants exist in rat tissues, differing at their respective COOH termini. GFRalpha-4 mRNA is expressed at low levels in different brain areas in the adult as well as in some peripheral tissues including testis and heart. Recombinant rat GFRalpha-4 variants were expressed in mammalian cells and shown to be at least partially secreted from the cells. Persephin binds specifically and with high affinity (K(D) = 6 nm) to the rat GFRalpha-4 receptor, but no cRET activation could be demonstrated. Although the newly characterized mammalian GFRalpha-4 receptor is structurally divergent from previously characterized GFRalpha family members, we suggest that it is a mammalian orthologue of the chicken persephin receptor. This discovery will allow a more detailed investigation of the biological targets of persephin action and its potential involvement in diseases of the nervous system.

Binding of GDNF and neurturin to human GDNF family receptor alpha 1 and 2. Influence of cRET and cooperative interactions.

The members of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family signal via binding to the glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins, the GDNF family receptors alpha (GFRalpha), and activation of cRET. We performed a detailed analysis of the binding of GDNF and neurturin to their receptors and investigated the influence of cRET on the binding affinities. We show that the rate of dissociation of (125)I-GDNF from GFRalpha1 is increased in the presence of 50 nm GDNF, an effect that can be explained by the occurrence of negative cooperativity. Scatchard plots of the ligand concentration binding isotherms reveal a pronounced downward curvature at low (125)I-GDNF concentrations suggesting the presence of positive cooperativity. This effect is observed in the range of GDNF concentrations responsible for biological activity (1-20 pm) and may have an important role in cRET-independent signaling. A high affinity site with a K(D) of 11 pm for (125)I-GDNF is detected only when GFRalpha1 is co-expressed with cRET at a DNA ratio of 1:3. These results suggest an interaction of GFRalpha1 and cRET in the absence of GDNF and demonstrate that the high affinity binding can be measured only when cRET is present.

High levels of factor IX increase the risk of venous thrombosis.

Elevated plasma levels of factor VIII (> 150 IU/dL) are an important risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Factor VIII is the cofactor of factor IXa in the activation of factor X. The risk of thrombosis in individuals with an elevated factor IX level is unknown. This study investigated the role of elevated factor IX levels in the development of DVT. We compared 426 patients with a first objectively diagnosed episode of DVT with 473 population controls. This study was part of a large population-based case-control study on risk factors for venous thrombosis, the Leiden Thrombophilia Study (LETS). Using the 90th percentile measured in control subjects (P(90) = 129 U/dL) as a cutoff point for factor IX levels, we found a 2- to 3-fold increased risk for individuals who have factor IX levels above 129 U/dL compared with individuals having factor IX levels below this cutoff point. This risk was not affected by adjustment for possible confounders (age, sex, oral contraceptive use, and high levels of factor VIII, XI, and vitamin K-dependent proteins). After exclusion of individuals with known genetic disorders, we still found an odds ratio (OR) of 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-3.9). The risk was higher in women (OR: 2.6, CI: 1.6-4.3) than in men (OR: 1.9, CI: 1.0-3.6) and appeared highest in the group of premenopausal women not using oral contraceptives (OR: 12.4, CI: 3.3-47.2). These results show that an elevated level of factor IX is a common risk factor for DVT. (Blood. 2000;95:3678-3682)

Mimicking rubella virus particles by using recombinant envelope glycoproteins and liposomes.

The envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2 of rubella virus (RV) were engineered to display the FLAG epitope tag and a polyhistidine tag, at their amino and carboxy termini, respectively. These modified envelope proteins were produced in Sf9 insect cells utilizing baculovirus expression vectors, the E1 and E2 vectors giving rise to protein products of about 58 and 42 kDa, respectively. The recombinant proteins were purified by immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography and reconstituted into liposomes via their hydrophobic transmembrane anchors. The liposomes were prepared by detergent dialysis in the presence of europium-DTPA chelate, enabling the subsequent measurement of the binding of the resultant proteoliposomes to the antibodies by time resolved fluorescence. RV mimicking proteoliposomes were recognized by antibodies specific for the E1 and E2 proteins, as well as the FLAG epitope tag. This type of virosome may prove useful for studies on the basic biological events of an RV infection or as diagnostic reagents.

Identification of residues in the Gla-domain of human factor IX involved in the binding to conformation specific antibodies.

The binding of Ca2+ induces a conformational change in factor IX which can be monitored with conformation specific antibodies. Anti-FIX:Mg(II) antibodies recognize a conformational epitope (FIX') that can be induced by several metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Ba2+, while anti-FIX:Ca(II) antibodies recognize a conformational epitope (FIX*) that can be only induced by Ca2+ and Sr2+ ions (Liebman et al., J. Biol. Chem., vol. 262 (1987) pp. 7605-7612). The latter conformation is essential for the function of factor IX. In this study we tried to identify residues in the Gla-domain of factor IX which are involved in binding to anti-factor IX:Mg(II) and anti-factor IX:Ca(II) antibodies. For this we substituted residues in recombinant human factor IX for those of factor X or factor VII. The substitution of residues 1-40 of factor IX by those of factor VII eliminated binding to both types of antibodies. Re-introduction of factor IX specific residues increased the binding to conformation specific anti-factor IX antibodies, but reduced the binding to conformation specific anti-factor VII antibodies, indicating that the structural integrity of the Gla-domain was not seriously affected by the mutations. We provide evidence that residues 33, 39 and 40 of human factor IX are important for binding to anti-factor IX:Mg(II) antibodies, while residues 1-11 are important for binding to anti-factor IX:Ca(II) antibodies.

Baculoviral display of the green fluorescent protein and rubella virus envelope proteins.

The ability to display heterologous proteins and peptides on the surface of different types of bacteriophage has proven extremely useful in protein structure/function studies. To display such proteins in a eucaryotic environment, we have produced a vector allowing for fusion of proteins to the amino-terminus of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) major envelope glycoprotein, gp64. Such fusion proteins incorporate into the baculoviral virion and display the FLAG epitope tag. We have further produced recombinant baculoviruses displaying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the rubella virus envelope proteins, E1 and E2. The incorporation of the GFPgp64, E1gp64, and E2gp64 fusion proteins into the baculovirus particle was demonstrated by western blot analysis of purified budded virus. This is the first report of the display of the GFP protein or the individual rubella virus spike proteins on the surface of an enveloped virus. Such a eucaryotic viral display system may be useful for the display of proteins dependent on glycosylation for activity and for targeting of recombinant baculoviruses to novel host cell types as a gene transfer vehicle.

Identification and sequence analysis of the integration site of transposon TCp3.2 in the genome of Cydia pomonella granulovirus.

Recently, we described the isolation and characterisation of the novel lepidopteran transposon TCp3.2, which was found to be inserted into the genome of a spontaneous mutant of the baculovirus Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV). Transposon TCp3.2, which is a member of the Tcl/mariner superfamily, is an apparently defective copy which became stably integrated into the viral genome (Jehle et al., 1997. J. Mol. Evol., in press). In this study, we located, cloned and sequenced a genomic region of 2.5 kb of CpGV which encompasses the insertion site of TCp3.2. The TCp3.2 was inserted at a TA dinucleotide as it is typical for many Tcl/mariner-like transposons. The TA insertion site was localised within a non-translated region downstream of the homologous gene of baculovirus late expression factor 2 (lef-2). Additionally, three other complete open reading frames (ORF35Ra, ORF35Rb, and ORF36L) with unknown functions were identified. Transposon insertion into intergenic regions of viral genomes may contribute to the genotypic variability of baculoviruses without any phenotypic effect.

Factor IX Zutphen: a Cys18-->Arg mutation results in formation of a heterodimer with alpha 1-microglobulin and the inability to form a calcium-induced conformation.

Factor IX Zutphen is a variant factor IX molecule isolated from the blood of a patient with severe haemophilia B. The molecular defect in factor IX Zutphen is a Cys18-->Arg mutation as a result of a T-->C transition at residue 6427 of the factor IX gene of the patient. The mutation disrupts the disulphide bond in the Gla-domain between Cys18 and Cys23. The remaining free cysteine residue results in the formation of a 95 kDa complex with alpha 1-microglobulin through an intermolecular disulphide bond. The same complex circulates at high levels in plasma of carriers of the mutation. The variant molecule has a calcium-binding defect, which is shown not to be caused by incomplete gamma-carboxylation. Factor IX Zutphen can not bind to phospholipids and can not be activated by factor XIa or by factor VIIa-tissue factor complex. Two sequential metal ion-dependent conformational transitions (factor IX-->factor IX'-->factor IX*) have been proposed for human factor IX [Liebman (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7605-7612], based upon the metal ion requirements for binding to anti-factor IX:Mg(II) antibodies, which are specific for the factor IX' conformation, and anti-factor IX:Ca(II) antibodies, which are specific for the factor IX* conformation. We used these conformation-specific antibodies, and antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 35-50 of human factor IX [anti-factor IX(35-50)] to study the metal ion-induced conformation of factor IX Zutphen. The disruption of the disulphide bond in the Gla-domain, maybe in combination with the complex with alpha 1-microglobulin, destabilized the factor IX' conformation. The formation of the factor IX* conformation was prevented independent of the presence of alpha 1-microglobulin. The disulphide bond in the Gla-domain is therefore essential for the calcium-dependent conformation and function of factor IX.

Immunotherapy of an experimental adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

We have developed and tested a fractionated, purified and deproteinized emulsion of a mycobacterial cell wall (MCW) and report on a controlled study of this compound in the treatment of the experimental R3327-H adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The intraperitoneal route of administration was found ineffective at the weekly dose of 500 micrograms. The intratumoral administration of 1000 micrograms of MCW exhibited significant antitumor activity. Tumors larger than 2.2 cm.3 in volume showed evidence of temporary regression, but no cures were recorded in these animals. Complete tumor regression was found in 50% of the rats with tumor volumes less than 2.2 cm.3 at the onset of treatment. The animals in this group not responding initially were treated with a second 3-week course of MCW which resulted in complete tumor regression in one-half of the animals, for a total cure rate, in the smaller tumor cohort, of 75%. Mycobacterial cell wall is an effective biological response modifier in the Dunning R3327-H adenocarcinoma of the prostate in Copenhagen rats. Additional studies to elucidate the effect of the compound in relation to dose and tumor volume are underway.

Beta 2-glycoprotein I deficiency and the risk of thrombosis.

beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2-GP I) is a plasma protein with a high affinity for negatively charged surfaces. In vitro this protein shows a variety of anticoagulant properties (inhibition of contact activation and platelet dependent prothrombinase activity). Therefore we studied the possibility that a hereditary beta 2-GP I deficiency is a risk factor for (familial) thrombophilia. Plasma beta 2-GP I levels were measured in healthy volunteers and four different groups of patients with (familial) thrombophilia. In these 5 groups the prevalence of beta 2-GP I deficiency (i.e. beta 2-GP I antigen less than 77%) was found to be very similar (6.8-12.5%) and statistically not significantly different. This observation suggests that beta 2-GP I deficiency in itself is not a risk factor for thrombosis. One thrombophilic patient was found to be homozygous deficient of beta 2-GP I. The transmission of the defect in his family followed autosomal inheritance. One of his brothers was also homozygous deficient and at the age of 35 years still free of thromboembolic complications. The possibility that beta 2-GP I deficiency could be an additional risk factor for the development of thrombophilia in families with protein C deficiency was evaluated in a panel of 70 unrelated patients with clinically dominant protein C deficiency. The prevalence of beta 2-GP I deficiency in this group of patients (12.8%) was very similar to that in other groups of normals and patients. Moreover, there was no difference in the frequency of beta 2-GP I deficiency in symptomatic and asymptomatic protein C deficient patients.

Heerlen polymorphism of protein S, an immunologic polymorphism due to dimorphism of residue 460.

We recently developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for total protein S (PS) antigen using the monoclonal antibody S-12. During the screening of thrombophilic patients we identified a patient, who was using marcoumar, with 0% PS by monoclonal ELISA and 23% PS by polyclonal ELISA. Further analysis of this patient and his family showed that the patient was a compound heterozygote for type 1 PS deficiency and for an abnormal PS molecule (PS-Heerlen) that was not recognized by the S-12 antibody. Similar observations were made in two sisters from an unrelated Dutch family. Subsequent studies showed that PS Heerlen has a slightly lower molecular weight (71,000) than normal PS (73,000), binds normally to C4b-binding protein, and retains full activated protein C cofactor activity. The alteration in the PS Heerlen molecule was identified as a substitution of Ser460 by Pro, which is due to a unique T---C transition in exon 13 of the active PS-alpha gene. The substitution occurs in the consensus sequence for the potential N-linked glycosylation of Asn458. Digestion with N-glycanase showed that normal PS probably contains three N-linked oligosaccharide side chains, while PS Heerlen contains only two (Asn458 not glycosylated?). Segregation analysis in the two original families showed that the presence of the genetic abnormality was always associated with the PS-Heerlen phenotype. The frequency of the PS-Heerlen allele was found to be 0.52% in the general population and 0.67% in a population of patients with unexplained thrombophilia. There is no evidence that the PS Heerlen allele is associated with an increased risk for thrombosis.