Retroviral mediated transfer and expression of exogenous genes in primary lymphoid cells: assaying for a viral transactivator activity in normal and malignant cells

In this report we describe the use of recombinant retroviruses to characterize the activity of an exogenous promoter in primary cells obtained from patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. The infection of a variety of cultured and primary lymphoid cells with a recombinant retrovirus containing a histone promoter-driven beta-galactosidase gene is shown to result in the expression of beta-galactosidase in 50% to 100% of the cells. A similar infection with a recombinant retrovirus containing the beta-galactosidase gene with an adenovirus E2 promoter, results in beta-galactosidase activity in a limited number of cultured and primary cells. Since the adenovirus E2 promoter has been well characterized and is known to be regulated by transactivators encoded by many viruses, the activity of this promoter in specific cell types is discussed in reference to both the biology of the cell and the possible presence of as yet undetected viral gene products.

Retroviral mediated gene transfer into bone marrow progenitor cells: use of beta-galactosidase as a selectable marker

Recombinant retroviruses have been utilized as vectors for gene transfer in model systems of gene therapy. Since many of these model systems require the transplantation of genetically modified primary cells it is important to devise methods which will allow the rapid and efficient selection for transplantation of only the cells which are capable of expressing high levels of the transferred gene. This report describes the use of beta-galactosidase as such a selectable marker. Bone marrow progenitors are infected with a recombinant retrovirus encoding beta-galactosidase. Using a fluorescence assay for beta-galactosidase we demonstrate that it is possible to use cell sorting to enrich for cells which will form bone marrow colonies that express high levels of beta-galactosidase. This rapid and non-toxic selection of bone marrow cells may facilitate attempts to achieve gene therapy in a variety of model systems.

Cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide with autologous bone marrow transplantation in refractory Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a dose-finding study

Cyclophosphamide, carmustine (BCNU), and etoposide (VP-16) (CBV) is a widely used conditioning regimen in autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) of patients with refractory and relapsed lymphoma. However, the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of these agents when used in combination has not been systematically explored. We treated 58 patients (28 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL], 30 with Hodgkin's disease [HD]) at seven dose levels of CBV. Doses were cyclophosphamide 4,500 to 7,200 mg/m2, BCNU 450 to 600 g/m2, and VP-16 1,200 to 2,000 mg/m2. The MTD was cyclophosphamide 7,200 mg/m2, BCNU 450 mg/m2, and VP-16 2,000 mg/m2. Six hundred milligrams per square meter of BCNU was associated with five of 18 cases of interstitial pneumonitis versus two of 40 at 450 mg/m2 (P = .02). Treatment-related mortality was 5% at dose levels less than or equal to the MTD and 22% at the highest dose. In this heavily pretreated patient population, most of whom had high volume residual disease, complete responses (CRs) to CBV and ABMT occurred in 25% of assessable patients with NHL and 43% of patients with HD. Thirteen of 28 patients with NHL and 14 of 30 with HD remain free from disease progression with median follow-up of 212 and 215 days, respectively. CBV can be administered with acceptable toxicity over a wide range of doses to patients with refractory and relapsed lymphoma.

On the origin of the elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels after adrenal stimulation in hyperandrogenism

Hyperandrogenic women appear to demonstrate an exaggerated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP) response to adrenal stimulation which is not due to the marked 21-hydroxylase deficiency of late-onset adrenal hyperplasia (LOAH). Furthermore, in hyperandrogenism the ovary also appears to secrete excessive amounts of 17-HP. It is not clear to what extent the elevated 17-HP levels after ACTH stimulation are due to extraadrenal production of the steroid. This investigation was undertaken to assess the adrenal contribution to the elevated 17-HP levels after ACTH stimulation observed in non-LOAH hyperandrogenism. One hundred and sixty consecutive unselected women with hirsutism and/or hyperandrogenic oligomenorrhea formed the clinical population. Excluded were 4 women with LOAH and all patients with hyperprolactinemia. For the purpose of investigating the relationship between adrenal response and clinical symptoms, hyperandrogenic patients were divided into 3 subgroups: hirsute only (n = 23), hirsute oligomenorrheic (n = 84), and oligomenorrheic only (n = 24). Subclassification for an additional 29 patients (18%) with hyperandrogenemia was not possible, since their symptomatology was not clearly stated in the record. However, these individuals were included in the patient group as a whole. Controls consisted of 21 healthy, regularly menstruating, nonhirsute female volunteers. Both patients and controls underwent acute adrenal stimulation with 1 mg ACTH-(1-24), and serum was obtained before and 30 min after ACTH administration. Hyperandrogenic patients had higher mean basal total testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHS), 17-HP, and LH/FSH levels, but not cortisol (F), compared to normal subjects (P less than 0.02). Oligomenorrheic only women had higher mean A and progesterone (P) levels than other hyperandrogenic patients (P less than 0.02). No correlation was noted between body mass index (BMI) and the levels of DHS, P, or A, while a weak positive association was noted between the BMI and the mean T (r = 0.31; P less than 0.002) and a weak negative correlation between the mean F and BMI (r = -0.21; P less than 0.05). The mean 17-HP level 30 min after ACTH administration (17-HP30) was significantly higher in hyperandrogenic women than in normal subjects whether analyzed in separate subgroups or together and was due to the higher basal 17-HP levels. Basal 17-HP correlated with the circulating levels of T, A, and P, steroids largely of ovarian origin. Alternatively, the net increment in 17-HP from 0-30 min after ACTH (delta 17-HP30) was not significantly higher in hyperandrogenic women than normal subjects and did not correlate with the basal levels of T, A, and P. Neither the basal level of 17-HP nor its response to ACTH correlated with circulating DHS levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Equilibrium kinetics of the new experimental anti-tumour compound SK&F 104864-A in aqueous solution

The equilibrium kinetics of lactone ring hydrolysis in the new experimental anti-tumour compound SK&F 104864-A. (S)-dimethylaminomethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin hydrochloride, have been studied. Only one product is formed, SK&F 105992. A stability-indicating HPLC method has been optimized to perform the analysis. The pH is the main factor influencing equilibrium; at pH greater than or equal to 10 the lactone ring is quantitatively opened while at pH values less than or equal to 4 the lactone form is exclusively present. Other parameters, such as buffer ions and ionic strength, do not influence equilibrium. Complexation with dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin stabilizes the lactone form. Other cyclodextrins do not show this stabilization.

Differential effects of catecholamine antagonists on ethanol-induced excitation in mice

Catecholamine antagonists were assessed for their effects on ethanol-induced motor excitation. Motor excitation was measured in male Swiss-Webster mice using an open-field apparatus. Mice were treated with several doses of ethanol and at each dose, mice were pretreated with pimozide, a dopamine D2 antagonist, Schering 23390, a dopamine D1 antagonist, phenoxybenzamine, a noradrenergic alpha-1 antagonist, or yohimbine, a noradrenergic alpha-2 antagonist. Each mouse was subjected to only one dose regimen, and all injections were given IP. Ethanol produced an increase in locomotor activity. The degree to which pimozide attenuated ethanol excitation decreased with increasing ethanol dosage. At the highest dose of ethanol, pimozide increased ethanol excitation. Schering 23390 attenuated ethanol-induced excitation only at doses which affected motor activity per se. Phenoxybenzamine produced a dose-dependent reduction in ethanol excitation. Yohimbine had its greatest effects at the medium dose (4.0 mg/kg). These observations seem to indicate a role for both the dopamine D2 receptor and the noradrenergic alpha-1 receptor in ethanol-induced motor excitation.

Regulation of hematopoiesis

Normal hematopoiesis is a well-regulated process in which the generation of mature blood elements occurs from a primitive pluripotent stem cell in an ordered sequence of maturation and proliferation. Regulation occurs at the level of the structured microenvironment (stroma), via cell-cell interactions and by way of the generation of specific hormones and cytokines: erythropoietin, interleukin 3, granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin 5, interleukin 4, and other less well-defined factors, including the megakaryocyte growth factors. Understanding of this complex process has revealed insights into the pathophysiology of human disease and provided a theoretical framework for the therapeutic use of bone marrow transplantation and potential gene transfer therapy. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials suggest that the hematopoietic growth factors may represent a significant new group of therapeutic reagents for patients with hematological and oncologic disease.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the new antitumour drug SK&F 104864-A (NSC 609699) in plasma

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay is described for the determination of the new, investigational antitumour drug SK&F 104864-A and its lactone ring opened form (SK&F 105992). The analytical methodology reported here involves a protein precipitation step with methanol as sample pretreatment procedure. The instability of the drug necessitates that the plasma fraction is obtained within 5 min after blood sampling by centrifugation, immediately followed by protein precipitation with cold methanol (-30 degrees C). The methanolic extract can be stored at -30 degrees C for several days without deterioration of the analyses. Stability data of the drug and its lactone ring opened metabolite in plasma and after methanolic extraction are discussed. The parent drug and the metabolite are separated by reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatography on a LiChrosorb RP-18 column, using methanol-water eluent (pH 6.0) with sodium dioctylsulphosuccinate (DOSS) as ion-pairing agent and fluorescence detection. The proposed method has been validated and, subsequently, implemented in a phase I clinical trial for pharmacokinetic evaluation of the new cytotoxic agent.

Relationship between thyroid autoantibody spectrotype and IgG subclass

The relationship between spectrotype and IgG subclass of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) has been investigated using sera from Hashimoto and Graves' patients. Isoelectric focussing (IEF) was carried out in gels over the range pI 3.5-9.5 followed by transblotting to nitrocellulose and probing the filters using 125I-labelled TPO and Tg. As has been shown previously for Tg antibodies, TPO antibody focussed over different pI values in different patients but the spectrotypes for individuals were constant over 2-5 years. Further, the pI values for TPO and Tg autoantibodies appeared to be related to IgG subclass, for example IgG1 Tg antibodies tended to focus nearer the cathode (pI 8.0-9.5) than IgG4 antibodies (pI 6.5-8.5) while antibodies of subclasses IgG1 + 2 + 4 produced spectrotypes covering a broad pI range (5.7-9.5). Consequently, it seems likely that the characteristic spectrotypes described by others for Tg autoantibodies, and those we now report for TPO antibodies, reflect the IgG subclass "fingerprints" which we suggest may be a measure of the ability of an individual to respond to different epitopes on these two thyroid antigens.

Monoclonal and oligoclonal gammopathy after bone marrow transplantation

Serial serum protein electrophoreses were performed on 60 patients undergoing allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). More than 50% of patients (31 of 60) developed transient oligoclonal and monoclonal gammopathies that appeared an average of 84 days posttransplantation (range 27 to 336 days) and persisted an average of 175 days (range 14 to 652 days). Immunofixation analysis revealed 82% of the M components to be of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) type and 18% to be IgM; 56% were kappa and 44% were lambda. A strong correlation between development of graft versus host disease (GVHD) and appearance of M components was observed (73% incidence in GVHD patients v 27% in non-GVHD patients, P = .0003). Two of the three syngeneic graft recipients also developed monoclonal gammopathies. Evidence of oligoclonal circulating B-cell populations was found in 68% of patients posttransplantation by flow cytometric B-cell clonal excess assay. No correlation of recovery of particular B- or T-lymphocyte subsets and development of M components was seen. The development of transient oligoclonal and monoclonal gammopathies after transplantation may be a ubiquitous finding reflecting recapitulation of early B-cell ontogeny.

Hematopoiesis in vitro coexists with natural killer lymphocytes

The role of natural killer (NK) lymphocytes in the regulation of human hematopoiesis is controversial. NK-mediated inhibition of colony formation of hematopoietic progenitor cells has been irregularly reported for various cell lineages. In an effort to clarify such disparate findings, we studied the interaction of clearly defined NK and partially purified progenitor cell populations. Cell sorter purified CD16 positive blood NK cells and enriched autologous marrow progenitors were co-incubated at various lymphocyte to marrow cell ratios and then cultured in methylcellulose. There was no inhibition of myeloid, erythroid, or mixed colony formation. Similarly, activation of CD16 positive lymphocytes by interleukin-2 (IL-2) before co-incubation and co-culture did not result in inhibition of colony formation. Furthermore, in a newly designed assay system, we demonstrated that NK cells, which did not modulate colony-formation, remained capable of recognizing and killing rare K562 target cells seeded within the marrow cell population. Our results indicate that unstimulated and IL-2 activated isolated blood NK cells coexist with functioning autologous marrow progenitors in vitro.

Glutathione-coated cadmium-sulfide crystallites in Candida glabrata

Cadmium-sulfide crystallites form in the yeast Candida glabrata cultured in the presence of cadmium salts. The particles function to sequester and detoxify intracellular cadmium ions. The crystallites are peptide-coated, but the coating peptide varies with the nutrient conditions of the growth medium. When cultured in rich nutrient broth the yeast forms intracellular CdS particles coated with a mixture of glutathione and the gamma-glutamylcysteine dipeptide. In contrast, cultures in synthetic minimal medium yield particles coated with polymerized gamma EC peptides of general structure (gamma-Glu-Cys)n-Gly. Glutathione/gamma-glutamylcysteine particles exhibit properties analogous to quantum, semiconductor-type crystallites. The optical properties are dependent on particle size, and irradiation results in photoluminescence and photoreduction not observed in bulk CdS mineral. Aerobic irradiation leads to particle decomposition presumably via oxidation of the sulfide ions within the crystallite.

Highly sensitive assays of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin and to thyroid peroxidase

These highly sensitive assays are based on the interaction between thyroid autoantibodies and 125I-labeled autoantigens. Serum samples are incubated with labeled thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or thyroglobulin (Tg) to allow the formation of antibody-labeled antigen complexes. The complexes are then precipitated by addition of solid-phase Protein A. In the presence of high concentrations of TPO antibody or Tg antibody, more than 50% of the respective labeled antigen was precipitated, whereas only 1-2% was precipitated in the absence of autoantibody. Interassay CVs were 3.2% and 5.7%, respectively, for the anti-TPO and anti-Tg assays. There was no cross-reactivity between Tg antibody and TPO antibody. Results correlated highly significantly with results from other assay systems based on antigen-coated cells or plastic supports, but the assays described here were considerably more sensitive. Scatchard analysis of the assay data provided information on the affinity and serum concentration of TPO autoantibodies (ka approximately 10(9) L/mol and concentrations up to 1 g/L) and Tg autoantibodies (ka approximately 4 x 10(10) L/mol and concentrations up to 1 g/L). Overall, these assays provide a sensitive, precise, and convenient system for measuring and investigating the properties of thyroid autoantibodies.

Highly sensitive assays of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin and to thyroid peroxidase

These highly sensitive assays are based on the interaction between thyroid autoantibodies and 125I-labeled autoantigens. Serum samples are incubated with labeled thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or thyroglobulin (Tg) to allow the formation of antibody-labeled antigen complexes. The complexes are then precipitated by addition of solid-phase Protein A. In the presence of high concentrations of TPO antibody or Tg antibody, more than 50% of the respective labeled antigen was precipitated, whereas only 1-2% was precipitated in the absence of autoantibody. Interassay CVs were 3.2% and 5.7%, respectively, for the anti-TPO and anti-Tg assays. There was no cross-reactivity between Tg antibody and TPO antibody. Results correlated highly significantly with results from other assay systems based on antigen-coated cells or plastic supports, but the assays described here were considerably more sensitive. Scatchard analysis of the assay data provided information on the affinity and serum concentration of TPO autoantibodies (ka approximately 10(9) L/mol and concentrations up to 1 g/L) and Tg autoantibodies (ka approximately 4 x 10(10) L/mol and concentrations up to 1 g/L). Overall, these assays provide a sensitive, precise, and convenient system for measuring and investigating the properties of thyroid autoantibodies.

Flow cytometric surface light chain analysis of lymphocyte-rich effusions. A useful adjunct to cytologic diagnosis

The cytologic diagnoses in 49 body cavity fluids from 46 patients, of whom 30 had a clinical diagnosis of lymphoma or lymphatic leukemia, and 16 patients with benign inflammatory or reactive conditions, were compared to flow cytometric surface immunoglobulin light chain analysis (kappa-lambda analysis [KLA]). The results of both tests were correlated with clinical outcome and all available information from biopsy, autopsy, and additional cell marker studies. When the diagnoses by both cytologic analysis and KLA were in agreement (57.1% of cases), there were no false-negative or false-positive results. Overall, false-positive and false-negative rates were, respectively, 6.1% and 12.2% with cytologic study, and 4.1% and 4.1% with KLA. Sixteen samples were from patients with small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) and small cleaved lymphoma, which had a false-negative rate of 37.5% by cytologic study, and only 6.2% by KLA. There was one false-positive result by KLA among the benign effusions. These findings indicate that KLA is a powerful adjunct to the cytologic evaluation of lymphocyte-rich effusions, especially in cases of lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by small lymphocytes, in which the cytologic diagnosis is frequently difficult.

Human thyroglobulin autoantibodies of subclasses IgG2 and IgG4 bind to different epitopes on thyroglobulin

IgG autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (Tg) in the serum of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease only recognize a very limited number of epitopes, probably between four and six (Nye, Pontes De Carvalho & Roitt, 1980) on the large Tg molecule (660,000 MW), but attempts to characterize the epitopes have been unsuccessful so far (Male et al., 1985). The distribution of Tg autoantibodies between the IgG subclasses also tends to be restricted and individual patients possess characteristic 'fingerprints' of high affinity IgG1 and/or IgG4 Tg antibodies with smaller amounts of IgG2 Tg antibody (McLachlan et al., 1987, 1988). We have therefore investigated the possibility that Tg autoantibodies of different IgG subclasses interact with different epitopes on Tg.

Administration of a GABA antagonist selectively attenuates an ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion

Pretreatment with the GABA antagonist picrotoxin attenuated the development of an ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA), while no effect of this compound was observed on the development of an amphetamine-induced CTA. These findings suggested some specificity of the effects of picrotoxin to the psychopharmacological properties of ethanol related to CTA. On the other hand, the benzodiazepine inverse agonist, Ro15-4513, purported to a specific ethanol antagonist, was shown to attenuate both an ethanol- and amphetamine-induced CTA. The results support the notion that ethanol intoxication may be mediated in part by GABAergic mechanisms. These GABA-mediated properties of ethanol may in fact underlie the development of an ethanol-induced CTA.

The effect of recombinant erythropoietin on intracellular free calcium in erythropoietin-responsive cells

We have investigated whether recombinant erythropoietin (r-Epo) elicits a change in intracellular free calcium (IFC) in purified Epo-responsive cells in spleens of mice treated with phenylhydrazine. Colony-forming units (CFU-E) were prepared by negative selection through immunologic panning. Anti-Forssman, Mac-1, Ia, and HSA antibodies were used to eliminate nonhematopoietic progenitors. After two pannings, 29 +/- 1.5% (mean +/- 1 SD) of the recovered cells were CFU-E. IFC was measured by labeling cells with the fluorescent dye Indo-1 and analyzing them on a flow cytometer from 15 seconds to 30 minutes after the addition of agonist. At each step of the panning procedure, there was no effect of r-Epo (0 to 10 U/mL) on IFC even in the larger cells that are predominantly CFU-E. As a positive control, calcium ionophore (A23187) significantly increased IFC in greater than 90% of the spleen cells enriched in CFU-E. During growth of CFU-E in methylcellulose, the calcium ionophore did not affect the r-Epo-dependent formation of erythroid colonies. EGTA inhibited the formation of erythroid colonies. This inhibition appeared to be the result of a toxic effect of the chelator because the colony growth could not be restored when Ca2+ was added to the cultures in the presence of the EGTA. We conclude that the biologic action of Epo on responsive erythroid cells does not depend on acute changes in IFC.

A large proportion of T lymphocytes lack CD5 expression after bone marrow transplantation

The lymphocyte cell surface molecule CD5 (T1, Leu 1, Tp67 in the human; Ly 1 in the mouse) is expressed on the majority of circulating T lymphocytes and a small population of B cells. We have analyzed CD5 expression on repopulating T cells in the peripheral blood of patients after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The frequency of CD3+ T cells that lack expression of CD5 is dramatically increased after BMT compared with the normal population. The percent of total CD3+ CD5- cells correlated with the presence of graft versus host disease and with time following transplant, but did not correlate with age, diagnosis, preparative regimen, T-cell depletion of the marrow, major histocompatibility complex compatibility, or the presence or absence of interstitial pneumonitis. Furthermore, the total number and percent of CD8+ CD5- cells was increased following BMT. CD3+ cells from BMT patients were sorted for the presence or absence of CD5 expression. CD3+ CD5- cells were capable of interleukin-2 production and of mediating cytolysis following lectin stimulation. We conclude that CD3+ CD5- T cells are functional and represent a significant proportion of circulating cells in patients after BMT.

Arteriovenous malformation of the mandible and its treatment: a case report

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can be life-threatening lesions and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of most radiolucent lesions of the jaws. The clinical and radiographic presentation of an AVM of the mandible and its treatment is reported. Diagnosis of the lesion was confirmed by arteriography, and the lesion was treated surgically by enbloc resection. The bony defect was successfully grafted with a porous hydroxyapatite block.