Association of Ig L chain-like protein lambda 5 with a 16-kilodalton protein in mouse pre-B cell lines is not dependent on the presence of Ig H chain protein.

Using a polyclonal rabbit antiserum against recombinant mouse lambda 5 protein, we determined that the pre-B cell specific mouse lambda 5 gene encodes a 22-kDa protein. The lambda 5 protein, which is related to conventional Ig lambda L chain proteins forms a complex with Ig mu H chain protein and an as yet unidentified 16-kDa protein (p16) in mu+ pre-B cell lines carrying a functionally rearranged VH-DH-JH allele. In pre-B cell lines which carry DH-JH rearrangements and do not express mu H chain protein, lambda 5 protein is associated with p16. Thus the expression of lambda 5 protein precedes the expression of intact mu H chain protein. This suggests the existence of developmentally regulated protein complexes involving the Ig L chain-like protein lambda 5 and p16 in mu- pre-B cells; lambda 5, p16, and Ig H chain protein in mu+ pre-B cells and Ig H chain and conventional Ig L chain proteins in B cells and plasma cells.

Further enrichment and analysis of rat CFU-s.

Using the monoclonal antibody W3/13, which recognizes a determinant expressed on a sialoglycoprotein, rat marrow cells with the phenotype Thy-1 antigen upper 20% positive (Ox720) and high molecular weight leukocyte common antigen negative (Ox22-) were separated into W3/13 dim (W3/13d) and W3/13 bright (W3/13b) subpopulations by single-laser cell sorting. The spleen colony-forming unit (CFU-s) was found in the W3/13d fraction. A 468-fold enrichment of CFU-s was achieved. Only 20% of the Ox720, Ox22-, and W3/13d cells were in the S phase of the cell cycle as compared to 56% of Ox720, Ox22-, and W3/13b cells. Using Indo-1, it was not possible to demonstrate increases in cytosolic Ca++ levels within the enriched CFU-s population by colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) or interleukins 1, 2, and 3. However, challenge with the Ca++ ionophore, ionomycin, demonstrated apparent heterogeneity of intracellular Ca++ management within the enriched CFU-s population. The source of this heterogeneity is not known. Only a 12-day CFU-s was detected in the rat, and it was predominantly, but not exclusively, a Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) dull cell.

Megakaryocytic and erythrocytic lineages share specific transcription factors.

Erythroid-specific genes contain binding sites for NF-E1 (also called GF-1 and Eryf-1; refs 1-3 respectively), the principal DNA-binding protein of the erythrocytic lineage. NF-E1 expression seems to be restricted to the erythrocytic lineage. A closely related (if not identical) protein is found in both a human megakaryocytic cell line and purified human megakaryocytes; it binds to promoter regions of two megakaryocytic-specific genes. The binding sites and partial proteolysis profile of this protein are indistinguishable from those of the erythroid protein; also, NF-E1 messenger RNA is the same size in both the megakaryocytic and erythroid cell lines. Furthermore, point mutations that abolish binding of NF-E1 result in a 70% decrease in the transcriptional activity of a megakaryocytic-specific promoter. We also find that NF-E2, another trans-acting factor of the erythrocytic lineage, is present in megakaryocytes. Transcriptional effects in both lineages might then be mediated in part by the same specific trans-acting factors. Our data strengthen the idea of a close association between the erythrocytic and the megakaryocytic lineages and could also explain the expression of markers specific to the erythrocytic and megakaryocytic lineages in most erythroblastic and megakaryoblastic permanent cell lines.

Immunomagnetic depletion of CD6+ cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood.

Depletion of donor CD6+ cells in HLA-identical allogeneic bone marrow transplantation has been reported to reduce graft-versus-host disease without interfering with engraftment. We have established an immunomagnetic cell separation technique capable of producing a 2-3 log depletion of CD6+ cells. Median recovery of CD6- cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells was 65-70%, and cell viability was unaffected. Significant numbers of CD2+, CD3+ cells responsive to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), OKT3, recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), and allogeneic cells remained after depletion, and the number of cells able to respond to stimulation with PHA and IL-2 in vitro was reduced by only 1-2 log. These observations are not easily reconciled with the ability of CD6 depletion to prevent GVHD, but raise the question whether the depletion causes a sufficient reduction of the T cell load or removes a critical T cell subset.

Expression of retinoic acid receptor mRNA in hematopoietic cells.

Retinoic acid (RA) has profound effects upon the proliferation and differentiation of many hematopoietic cells. The mechanism by which RA acts is unclear. Recently, several retinoic acid receptors (RAR) have been cloned. We studied expression of RAR-alpha mRNA by RNA blots in hematopoietic cells blocked at different stages of differentiation. All hematopoietic cells expressed RAR-alpha mRNA (3.4, 4.5 kb) including KG-1 (myeloblasts); HL-60 (promyelocytes); ML3, THP-1, U937 (myelomonoblasts and monoblasts); K562 (erythroblasts); and S-LB1 (T-lymphocytes). In addition, transformed cells from four non-hematopoietic tissues also expressed RAR-alpha mRNA. Steady-state levels of RAR-alpha mRNA were not affected by induction of terminal differentiation of HL-60 cells to either granulocytes or macrophages. Furthermore, both actively proliferating and resting lymphocytes from the same individuals expressed equal concentrations of RAR-alpha mRNA. Taken together, data suggest that level of expression of RAR-alpha mRNA is not related to cellular proliferation. We also showed that exposure to ligand (all-trans retinoic acid) did not change levels of RAR-alpha mRNA in three different cell types. Half-life of RAR-alpha mRNA was short (0.7 h) as determined by measuring decay of message after addition of actinomycin D. Consistent with this finding, accumulation of RAR-alpha mRNA increased in cells of three lines as their protein synthesis was inhibited. In summary, hematopoietic cells of different lineages and stages of differentiation constitutively express RAR-alpha mRNA. This expression is unaffected either by terminal differentiation or cell cycle. The RAR-alpha mRNA is short-lived and super-inducible by a protein synthesis inhibitor.

Tumor necrosis factor mediates autocrine growth inhibition in a chronic leukemia.

Autocrine production of growth factors may contribute to the rapid and fatal proliferation of acute hematologic malignancies. We have investigated whether the more controlled growth of less aggressive malignancies such as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) may be associated with autocrine production of growth inhibitory factors. TNF inhibits the growth of both normal and leukemic hemopoietic progenitor cells. We find that exogenous TNF reduces the viability and DNA synthesis of purified myeloid cells from patients with CML and inhibits myeloid colony formation by patient progenitor cells. However, unlike progenitor cells from normal donors, patient myeloid progenitor cells also constitutively express mRNA for TNF and secrete functional TNF protein in culture. This endogenous TNF impedes the growth of CML cells because anti-TNF mAb shown to neutralize bioactive human TNF increases CML cell DNA synthesis whereas non-neutralizing anti-TNF mAb has no effect. Production of TNF by CML cells is not associated with production of lymphotoxin (TNF-beta), IL-1 or IL-6. TNF-mediated autocrine growth inhibition may contribute to the maintenance of the stable, chronic phase of this disease and similar mechanisms may operate in other malignancies to limit tumor proliferation. Competition between autocrine growth promoting and inhibiting factors may underlie the observed differences in biologic behavior between acute and chronic malignancies.

T cell receptor expression on immature thymocytes with in vivo and in vitro precursor potential.

Immature CD8-CD4- double-negative (DN) thymocytes differentiate intrathymically into CD8+CD4- and CD8-CD4+ thymocytes and migrate to the periphery. This differentiation proceeds through several intermediate phenotypic changes in the expression of CD8 and CD4. We have recently established the existence of a CD8loCD4lo cell population in murine thymus that can repopulate the irradiated thymus in vivo and differentiate rapidly in vitro to CD8+CD4+ double-positive (DP) cells. The CD8loCD4lo cells score as DN upon direct cytofluorometric analysis, yet are distinct from true DN cells by various criteria. Experimental evidence strongly suggests that they are descendants of true DN in the maturation pathway. In the experiments presented here, we further characterize this CD8loCD4lo thymocyte population. Northern blot and RNA protection analysis reveal that these cells transcribe full length mRNA for the T cell receptor (TcR)alpha chain, unlike the less mature interleukin 2 receptor-positive DN thymocytes. Surface expression of the TcR-associated CD3 molecule occurs on approximately 15% of these cells at low levels characteristic of immature cells. In the course of in vitro differentiation a vast majority (approximately 80%) of these cells convert to CD8+CD4+ and significant numbers of the brightly staining DP convertants (11%-34% on day 1 and 48%-68% on day 2) express immature levels of CD3. Our results indicate that CD8lo, CD4lo cells might be the first thymic subset to rearrange TcR alpha chain genes and express TcR alpha/beta heterodimer on the surface at levels characteristic of immature cells. Furthermore, the surface expression of TcR persists on the in vitro progeny of these thymocytes.

B7, a new member of the Ig superfamily with unique expression on activated and neoplastic B cells.

The human B cell restricted activation antigen B7 identifies an in vivo primed subpopulation of B cells that demonstrate an accelerated response to triggers of B cell activation and proliferation. The cDNA encoding B7 was molecularly cloned by cDNA expression. The identity of the B7 cDNA was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation of a 44/54-kDa protein from B7 transfected COS cells. The sequence of the B7 polypeptide predicts a type I membrane protein of 262 amino acids with eight potential N-linked glycosylation sites in the extracellular region and a short, highly positively charged cytoplasmic tail. The extracellular region is homologous to the Ig gene superfamily and consists of two contiguous Ig-like domains. The first Ig domain has the characteristics of a variable domain and the second that of a constant region domain. B7 mRNA was detected only on anti-Ig activated B lymphocytes and not in other hematopoietic cells. After in vitro activation of B cells with anti-Ig, B7 mRNA was maximally expressed between 4 and 12 h with four RNA transcripts of 1.7, 2.9, 4.2, and 10 kb. The 2.9-kb mRNA predominated in in vitro-activated B cells whereas the 1.7-kb mRNA was most abundant in tumor cells of B cell origin. B7 expression was confined to several histologically defined subgroups of B cell malignancies. The majority of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were B7+ whereas the B cell leukemias and circulating non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were generally negative. These results demonstrate that the B7 gene encodes a unique molecule belonging to the Ig superfamily and that B7 expression is limited to normal activated B cells and noncirculating B cell malignancies.

Monoclonal antibodies reactive with the T cell receptor zeta chain: production and characterization using a new method.

We have developed a novel method for the production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with lineage-restricted intracellular Ag. Using this technique, we have produced a panel of antibodies that react specifically with permeabilized T lymphocytes but not with permeabilized B lymphocytes or native T cells. One of these antibodies, designated TIA-2, was found to react with greater than 98% of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Immunoblotting experiments showed TIA-2 to recognize a 32 kd protein that was reduced to 16 kDa in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Immunoprecipitates analyzed on non-reducing/reducing diagonal polyacrylamide gels showed the homodimeric structure recognized by TIA-2 to be associated with additional structures whose pattern closely resembled that of the T cell receptor complex. When immunoprecipitates formed using antibodies reactive with CD3 epsilon were immunoblotted with TIA-2, the homodimeric TCR zeta chain was specifically recognized. Using TIA-2 as a TCR zeta specific reagent, we show that whole cell expression of this TCR subunit is dramatically reduced following exposure to mAb reactive with CD3. mAb reactive with activating epitopes of CD2 were also capable of down-modulating the expression of TCR zeta, but to a lesser degree. Exposure to Con A or IL-2, on the other hand, did not reduce the whole cell expression of TCR zeta. Given the central importance of TCR zeta in the expression of a functionally competent Ag receptor, its reduced expression in response to certain activating stimuli is likely to play an important role in regulating T cell responsiveness.

TdT+/nonlymphoid antigen+ acute leukemias: immunologic and karyotypic monitoring during therapy and at relapse suggests the transformation of a bipotential stem cell.

Immunophenotype and karyotype were monitored in 19 adult acute leukemia patients with blast cell populations expressing terminal transferase (TdT) and nonlymphoid antigens either at presentation or at relapse. Three patterns of immunophenotypic course were observed when following the patients through at least one, sometimes two (six patients), or three relapses (one patient). Induction chemotherapy induced predominantly TdT+ leukemias with a minor monoblastic component to become TdT-negative, purely monoblastic without clinical response or change in karyotype in five patients (group 1). In group 2, relapse was associated with the disappearance (four patients) or the appearance of TdT+/nonlymphoid antigen+ features (four patients). In two instances, new nonrandom cytogenetic abnormalities, in one case, evolution of an initial abnormal cytogenetic clone, were found at relapse. Six patients (group 3) presented and relapsed with identical TdT+ myeloblastic, promyeloblastic, monoblastic immunophenotype and karyotype. In general, FAB classification did not reflect expression of TdT in nonlymphocytic leukemias or the presence of nonlymphoid blast features in lymphocytic leukemias. Lymphoid-specific antigens in addition to TdT were not detected in any of the cases at the time of nonlymphoid antigen expression. In 11 of the 19 patients, simultaneous expression of TdT and myeloid or monocytic antigens could be demonstrated at the single cell level using double-fluorescence staining. These follow-up data are best consistent with a drug-induced maturation drive of a TdT+/monocytic (majority of cases) or TdT+/myelocytic leukemic stem cell with its differentiation commitment being influenced by chemotherapy or by other as yet undefined conditions predisposing to proliferation of the leukemic cell at relapse.

Pseudoleukemia in Down's syndrome. Analysis of immunophenotype and gene rearrangement.

This report demonstrates a case of transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) evolving in a patient with Down's syndrome. A diagnosis was established after the patient's blast cell count decreased considerably three weeks after the initial leukemic phase. The blast population in the authors' case expressed Leu-9 (CD7), 6D1, and TdT+. Cytochemistries showed some of the blast population to be peroxidase positive and Sudan black positive. Platelet peroxidase by electron microscopic examination showed some positive blasts. Therefore, surface markers and cytochemical studies in this case suggested an abnormal proliferation involving a pluripotential stem cell capable of expressing myeloid and lymphoid characteristics. Cytogenetics was performed at birth and showed 47,XY,+21/48,XY,+21,+mar, confirming the diagnosis of Down's syndrome. The origin of the chromosomal fragment was uncertain. It was of interest that during the remission phase of his pseudoleukemia there was a concomitant decrease in the extra chromosomal fragment. Immunoglobulin and T-cell antigen receptor gene rearrangement studies showed only germline patterns, indicating that the lymphoid cells in the blast population were not clonally expanded. Therefore, immunoglobulin and T-cell antigen receptor rearrangement analysis and immunophenotyping are extremely valuable techniques in distinguishing between TAM and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients with Down's syndrome.

Identity of Leu-19 (CD56) leukocyte differentiation antigen and neural cell adhesion molecule.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is a membrane glycoprotein expressed on neural and muscle tissues that is involved in homotypic adhesive interactions. We have demonstrated that N-CAM also is expressed on hematopoietic cells, and is recognized by the anti-Leu-19 mAb. Leu-19 is preferentially expressed on NK cells and T lymphocytes that mediate MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity, but is also present on some myeloid leukemia cell lines. On NK cells, T cells, the KG1a.5 hematopoietic cell line, and a neuroblastoma cell line, Leu-19 is a approximately 140-kD polypeptide with N-linked carbohydrates and abundant sialic acid residues. Sequential immunoprecipitation and peptide mapping demonstrated that the Leu-19 and N-CAM molecules expressed on leukocyte and neuroblastoma cell lines are similar structures. These findings suggest that the Leu-19 antigen on leukocytes may be involved in cell adhesion, analogous to the function on N-CAM on neural cells.

Expression of the three myeloid cell-associated immunoglobulin G Fc receptors defined by murine monoclonal antibodies on normal bone marrow and acute leukemia cells.

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have been prepared recently that recognize the three cell-surface receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin (Ig), termed Fc gamma RI (MoAb 32.2), Fc gamma R II (MoAb IV-3), and Fc gamma R III (MoAb 3G8) that are expressed on selected subsets of non-T lymphocyte peripheral blood leukocytes. In the blood, Fc gamma R I is expressed exclusively on monocytes and macrophages, Fc gamma R II on granulocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, platelets, and B cells, and Fc gamma R III on granulocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. We have examined the expression of these molecules on normal bone marrow (BM) cells and on leukemia cells from the blood and/or BM in order to determine their normal ontogeny as well as their distribution on leukemic cells. BM was obtained from six normal volunteers and from 170 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. Normal BM cells were found to express Fc gamma R I, II, and III with the following percentages: 40%, 58%, and 56%, respectively. Cell sorting revealed that both Fc gamma R I and Fc gamma R II were detectable on all subclasses of myeloid precursors as early as myeloblasts. Cell sorting experiments revealed that 66% of the granulocyte-monocyte colony-forming cells (CFU-GM) and 50% of erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) were Fc gamma R II positive with only 20% and 28%, respectively, of CFU-GM and BFU-E were Fc gamma R I positive. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells expressed the three receptors with the following frequency (n = 146): Fc gamma R I, 58%; Fc gamma R II, 67%; and Fc gamma R III, 26% of patients. Despite the fact that Fc gamma R I is only expressed on monocytes among blood cells, AML cells without monocytoid differentiation (French-American-British [FAB]M1, M2, M3, M6) were sometimes positive for this receptor. However, Fc gamma R I was highly correlated with FAB M4 and M5 morphology (P less than .001). Fc gamma R II was also correlated with FAB M4 and M5 morphology (P = .003). Cells from 11 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were negative for Fc gamma R I, but six cases were positive for Fc gamma R II and III (not the same patients). These studies demonstrate that Ig Fc gamma R are acquired during normal differentiation in the BM at or before the level of colony-forming units. In addition, we show that acute leukemia cells commonly express Fc gamma R.

KU 812: a pluripotent human cell line with spontaneous erythroid terminal maturation.

A human leukemic cell line KU 812 was recently established and described as a basophilic cell line. In the present study we show that KU 812 and two of its clones are at least bipotent: in addition to a minor component of basophils, the majority of KU 812 cells belongs to the erythroid cell lineage with a significant percentage (about 15%) of mature hemoglobinized erythroblasts. This terminal differentiation is associated with the synchronized synthesis of the main erythroid proteins, including glycophorins, spectrin beta chain, band 3, and hemoglobin. The predominant hemoglobins are adult, fetal, and Bart's hemoglobin. Adult hemoglobin represented up to 75% of all hemoglobins in the KU 812 F clone in passages containing a high number of mature erythroblasts. Transcripts of all human globin chains were present with ten times less embryonic chain messenger RNA (mRNA) than alpha-, beta- or gamma-chain mRNA. Hemin slightly increased the total hemoglobin production of the cell line, especially gamma-globin chain synthesis, but did not modify the percentage of hemoglobinized cells. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) had a complex effect, inducing a proportion of KU 812 cells to adhere to the plastic culture flask. The adherent cell fraction expressed a very low level of specific erythroid proteins, but their ultrastructure was consistent with immature erythroid cells. In contrast, approximately 40% of the nonadherent cells were mature erythroid cells. Cell-sorting experiments showed that this paradoxic effect of PMA is mostly due to cell selection, the more mature cells being unable to adhere. In addition, KU 812 F was found to be sensitive to erythropoietin, which slightly increased its plating efficiency range (from 0% to 50%) in semisolid medium and enhanced hemoglobin accumulation twofold. In binding experiments using 125I erythropoietin, a single class of high-affinity Epo receptors (Kd: 250 pM) was detected by binding with a density of 205 receptors per cell. The KU 812 cell line is therefore a unique model for studying cell commitment toward different hematopoietic lineages and erythroid differentiation.

Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in infants with Rh hemolytic disease.

To assess the incidence and mechanisms of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in neonates with Rh hemolytic disease, we studied 20 consecutive patients with this condition who were born at our hospital. All five patients with severe disease (hydrops) had neutropenia and thrombocytopenia before and after exchange transfusions. Two of six patients with moderately severe disease (not hydropic but requiring exchange transfusion) had neutropenia; all six had thrombocytopenia. Of nine patients with mild disease (not treated with exchange transfusions), two had neutropenia but none had thrombocytopenia. The mean platelet volume was low or normal (7.5 +/- 0.2 ft) in the patients with thrombocytopenia, and the neutropenia was not accompanied by a "left shift" (ratio of immature to total neutrophils 0.26 +/- 0.03, mean +/- SEM). In two severely affected patients, erythroid progenitor levels were elevated and their proliferative rates (tritiated thymidine suicide) were increased, whereas their granulocyte-macrophage progenitor levels and the proliferative rates of those progenitors were diminished. In a severely affected patient, the in vitro maturation of multipotent progenitors was altered, with production of a greater than normal proportion of normoblasts (p less than 0.01) but fewer neutrophils (p less than 0.02) and megakaryocytes (p less than 0.03). It appears that the marked increase in erythropoiesis in fetuses with Rh hemolytic disease can be accompanied by a down-modulation of neutrophil and platelet production.

Stem cells: a tree model.

A tree model is presented in order to illustrate the hypotheses that earlier stem cells will respond differently than later progenitors to the same stimuli. Experimental data and decision analysis tools are shown to demonstrate the concept.

T-cell nonmalignant clonal proliferation in ataxia telangiectasia: a cytological, immunological, and molecular characterization.

Cytogenetically abnormal T-cell nonmalignant clones are a characteristic feature of ataxia telangiectasia (AT). Here, we study a t(14;14) clone from a patient with AT, and provide a cytological, immunological, and molecular characterization. This cellular population is clonal at the molecular level, but is phenotypically heterogeneous, with CD4+CD8+ and CD4-CD8+ cells. Although these cells do not divide in the peripheral blood, a majority of them are found in G1 phase and express the membrane antigen 4F2, a very early marker of activation. Many similarities are found between this nonmalignant AT clone and T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia at the morphologic, cytogenetic, and immunologic levels, despite the different clinical courses associated with these proliferations. We hypothesize that the t(14;14) translocation is linked to the abnormal morphology and immunophenotype of the AT clone cells, but that this translocation confers only a preactivated state to the cells. A complete malignant transformation would then be due to secondary events.