Transmission of two novel mutations in a pedigree with familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency: structure-function relationships and studies in a compound heterozygous proband.

Two novel mutations were identified in a compound heterozygous male with lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency. Exon sequence determination of the LCAT gene of the proband revealed two novel heterozygous mutations in exons one (C110T) and six (C991T) that predict non-conservative amino acid substitutions (Thr13Met and Pro307Ser, respectively). To assess the distinct functional impact of the separate mutant alleles, studies were conducted in the proband's 3-generation pedigree. The compound heterozygous proband had negligible HDL and severely reduced apolipoprotein A-I, LCAT mass, LCAT activity, and cholesterol esterification rate (CER). The proband's mother and two sisters were heterozygous for the Pro307Ser mutation and had low HDL, markedly reduced LCAT activity and CER, and the propensity for significant reductions in LCAT protein mass. The proband's father and two daughters were heterozygous for the Thr13Met mutation and also displayed low HDL, reduced LCAT activity and CER, and more modest decrements in LCAT mass. Mean LCAT specific activity was severely impaired in the compound heterozygous proband and was reduced by 50% in individuals heterozygous for either mutation, compared to wild type family members. It is also shown that the two mutations impair both catalytic activity and expression of the circulating protein.

Goldfish cones secrete a two-repeat interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein.

Vitamin A and fatty acids are critical to photoreceptor structure, function, and development. The transport of these nutrients between the pigment epithelium and neural retina is mediated by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). IRBP, a 133-kDa (human) glycolipoprotein, is the major protein component of the extracellular matrix separating these two cell layers. In amphibians and mammals, IRBP consists of four homologous repeats of about 300 amino acids which form two retinol and four fatty acid-binding sites. Here we show that IRBP in teleosts is a simpler protein composed of only two repeats. Western blot analysis shows that goldfish IRBP is half the size (70 kDa) of IRBP in higher vertebrates. Metabolic labeling studies employing Brefeldin A taken together with in situ hybridization studies and the presence of a signal peptide show that goldfish IRBP is secreted by the cone photoreceptors. The translated amino acid sequence has a calculated molecular weight of 66.7 kDa. The primary structure consists of only two homologous repeats with a similarity score of 52.5%. The last repeats of human and goldfish IRBPs are 69.1% similar with hydrophobic regions being the most similar. These data suggest that two repeats were lost during the evolution of the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii), or that the IRBP gene duplicated between the emergence of bony fish (Osteichthyes) and amphibians. Acquisition of a multirepeat structure may reflect evolutionary pressure to efficiently transport higher levels of hydrophobic molecules within a finite space. Quadruplication of an ancestral IRBP gene may have been an important event in the evolution of photo-receptors in higher vertebrates.

Painful ophthalmoplegia caused by hemangiopericytoma of the cavernous sinus.

Progressive, painful ophthalmoplegia developed in a 34-year-old man. MRI scan revealed an enhancing mass in the left cavernous sinus. Histologic examination of resected tumor revealed reticulin staining and cytologic features of hemangiopericytoma. Characteristics of intracranial hemangiopericytoma are reviewed.

The T-cell CD2 determinant mediates inhibition of erythropoiesis by the lymphokine cascade.

We examined the role of the T-cell antigen CD2 in the regulation of erythropoiesis by the lymphokine cascade. T-cell interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors (p55) were induced via triggering of the antigen receptor-associated CD3 epitope. Before CD3 triggering T cells were preincubated with a CD2-blocking (Leu-5b) or isotype control antibody. T-cell pellets were employed during incubation to facilitate interaction between T-cell LFA-3 and CD2. CD2 blockade caused a 66% to 79% inhibition of p55 expression after three to six days of culture with IL-2. Next we assessed the effect of CD2 blockade on IL-2. Next we assessed the effect of CD2 blockade on IL-2-induced inhibition of BFU-E in autologous cocultures containing CD3-triggered T cells. IL-2 caused a dose-dependent inhibition (52% to 92%) of BFU-E in the presence but not in the absence of CD3-triggered T cells. T-cell CD2 blockade prior to CD3 triggering caused a 65% to 87% abrogation of IL-2-induced inhibition of BFU-E at 10 to 10(2) U/mL IL-2. Preincubation of CD3-triggered T cells with isotype control antibody had no effect on IL-2-induced erythroid inhibition. Day 3 supernatants from CD3-triggered T cells or CD2-blocked, CD3-triggered T cells established in the presence of IL-2 were next assessed for modulation of BFU-E. CD3-triggered T-cell supernatants caused a 77% +/- 9% inhibition of BFU-E. Blockade of CD2 caused a 95% abrogation of T-cell-mediated BFU-E inhibition. In addition, CD2 blockade reduced interferon-gamma (IF gamma) release (84 to 128 U/mL) from CD3-triggered T cells by 81% at day 3 of culture. In control experiments, the addition of IF gamma-neutralizing monoclonal antibody to CD3-triggered T-cell supernatant established in the presence of IL-2 caused 75% abrogation of IL-2 inhibition of BFU-E. We conclude that blockade of the CD2 T-cell determinant induces down modulation of (a) T-cell p55 IL-2 receptor expression, (b) IL-2-induced inhibition of BFU-E, and (c) IL-2-induced marrow T-cell IF gamma release. These data suggest that the T-cell CD2 determinant can exert a regulatory effect on the control of erythropoiesis by the lymphokine cascade.

Receptor-specific modulation of myelopoiesis by recombinant DNA-derived interleukin 2.

T cells and T cell-derived lymphokines have been implicated in the regulation of myelopoiesis. This study examines the regulatory effects of recombinant DNA-derived human IL 2 on the phagocyte progenitor cell (CFU-GM), utilizing a receptor-specific model for T cell regulation of myelopoiesis. IL 2 receptors were induced on immunopurified marrow T cells by triggering the T cell antigen receptor complex with CD3 monoclonal antibody. IL 2 receptor expression was assessed by cytofluorography with IL 2 receptor monoclonal antibody. IL 2 receptor-positive and IL 2 receptor-negative marrow T cells were cocultured with autologous adherent and T cell-depleted marrow mononuclear cells in the absence and presence of various concentrations of IL 2. In the presence of IL 2 receptor-positive T cells, IL 2 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of CFU-GM (86% at 10(2) U/ml). IL 2 did not inhibit CFU-GM in the absence of T cells or in the presence of IL 2 receptor-negative T cells. The addition of IL 2 receptor blocking monoclonal antibody completely abrogated IL 2-induced inhibition of CFU-GM. Conditioned media prepared from IL 2 receptor-positive marrow T cells in the presence of IL 2 also inhibited CFU-GM expression from marrow NAB-T cells (50% +/- 16). In contrast, conditioned media from IL 2 receptor-positive T cells prepared in the absence of IL 2 or from IL 2 receptor-negative T cells prepared in the presence or absence of IL 2 did not significantly affect CFU-GM growth. IL 2 receptor-positive, but not IL 2 receptor-negative, T cells released large amounts (190 +/- 60 U/10(6) cells X ml-1) of IFN-gamma but only low amounts of tumor necrosis factor beta (less than 10 U/ml) in response to IL 2. In control experiments, recombinant DNA-derived IFN-gamma caused a 37% +/- 19 inhibition of CFU-GM in the presence of resting T cells and adherent cells. However, IFN-gamma failed to inhibit CFU-GM in the presence of activated (IL 2 receptor-positive) T cells, indicating that release of IFN-gamma cannot solely explain IL 2-induced inhibition of CFU-GM. The addition of neutralizing IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody partially abrogated IL 2-induced inhibition of CFU-GM (41 to 60%) in the presence of CD3-triggered T cells, suggesting that although IFN-gamma participates in IL 2-induced inhibition of myelopoiesis, it is not the sole mediator of that inhibition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)