[Myelodysplastic syndromes. Epidemiology, molecular and morphological characteristics and risk stratification]

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise a spectrum of clonal stem cell disorders which are currently defined according to the classification scheme of the revised 2008 WHO classification but which may be further refined in the future. The clinical presentation is often characterized by unexplained isolated or multiple peripheral blood cytopenias resulting in anemia, bleeding events or increased susceptibility to infections. The generally hypercellular, but rarely hypocellular and occasionally fibrotic bone marrow shows dysplastic features in ≥ 10 % of cells of at least one of the hematopoietic lineages. These features and enhanced apoptosis, stem cell senescence and immunologic dysregulation result in ineffective hematopoiesis. Diagnostics in MDS relies on complementary consideration of hematological, morphological and cytogenetic/molecular parameters. Methods include marrow and peripheral blood cytology, cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), trephine bone marrow biopsy examination, immunophenotyping and the evaluation of molecular markers by established and new techniques. Mutations affecting growth factor receptors, cell cycle and apoptosis regulators, intracellular signaling, transcription factors, epigenetic regulation and the splicosome are involved in MDS pathogenesis and progression.

Evidence of clonality in chronic neutrophilic leukaemia

BACKGROUND

Chronic neutrophilic leukaemia (CNL) is a rare myeloproliferative disorder of elderly patients characterised by sustained neutrophilia and splenomegaly. The diagnosis of CNL requires the exclusion of BCR/ABL positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and of leukaemoid reactions (LRs). The differentiation between CNL and LR is problematic because both conditions share similar morphological features; it is also important because patients with CNL generally have a poor prognosis.

AIMS

To determine whether CNL and LR could be distinguished on the basis of different clonality patterns.

METHODS

Blood samples from 52 women were studied using the human androgen receptor gene assay (HUMARA).

RESULTS

Monoclonality was found in the neutrophils in all 17 patients with different myeloproliferative syndromes (MPSs), including those with CNL. In four of the patients with CNL, autologous T cells were also monoclonal, suggesting that they belonged to the neoplastic clone. This finding was in contrast to other MPSs in which T cells were almost always polyclonal. Of nine patients with clinically suspected LR, the neutrophils of five were polyclonal, whereas three patients had monoclonal neutrophils, suggesting that they might be in the process of developing an MPS. Among 26 healthy blood donors, 20 had polyclonal neutrophils and five showed skewed clonality patterns. One case of LR and one normal blood donor were scored "not informative" at the HUMARA locus.

CONCLUSIONS

Clonality studies of blood neutrophils using HUMARA aid in distinguishing female patients with monoclonal CNL from those with LR. For the diagnosis of CNL, monoclonality of the neutrophils should be demonstrated whenever possible.

Innate T-cell immunity in HIV infection: the role of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes

There is growing interest in the use of innate immune reactions in the therapy and prophylaxis of various diseases. Natural T (NT) lymphocytes that recognize infected cells or microbial compounds without the classical genetic restriction by polymorphic MHC molecules are crucial components of innate immunity. NT cells bearing the Vgamma9Vdelta2 T-cell receptor (TCR) are broadly reactive against intracellular pathogens, can lyse human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected cells, and release cytokines capable of regulating HIV replication. The potent antiviral activities of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells may help to contain viral spread during acute HIV infection and/or to prevent the establishment of viral persistence. Substantial changes in the composition and function of circulating gammadelta T-cell pools occur in HIV-infected patients. These changes a) may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of opportunistic infections and neoplasms, and b) are partly reversed by highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). In addition to direct antiviral activities, activated gammadelta T cells influence dendritic cell maturation and the adaptive alphabeta T-cell response. Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells can be stimulated in vivo and in vitro by various nonpeptidic antigens (NpAgs) and recent animal experimental data suggest that activated Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells may help to control SIV replication. Currently, NpAgs are being assessed as potential therapeutic agents in AIDS, tuberculosis and certain cancers susceptible to Vgamma9Vdelta2 T-cell effector mechanisms.

[Coincidence of chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. A rare phenomenon?]

In 1986 we diagnosed chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF) in a 45-year-old asymptomatic patient with hepatosplenomegaly. In 1996 splenectomy was performed because of hypersplenism, and chemotherapy with hydroxyurea was initiated. In 1999 generalised lymphadenopathy of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) developed. A trephine biopsy showed leukaemic bone marrow infiltration. On heteroduplex analysis we found a clonal rearrangement of IgH in the leukaemic lymphocytes. The coincidence of chronic myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative diseases in the same patient is a rare phenomenon. According to the relevant literature, seven cases with a combination of CIMF/CLL have been reported. Possible pathomechanisms for the development of such coincidences are: 1) a bilineage manifestation of a pluripotent stem cell proliferation, 2) independent proliferations of two distinct cell lines under a common leukaemogenic stimulus or 3) an accidental association. These coincidence cases often showed a mild clinical course and also in our case, the patient is still alive and in a stable disease condition 16 years after the initial diagnosis.

[Clonality as a criterion in the differential diagnosis of chronic neutrophilic leukaemia]

Chronic neutrophilic leukaemia (CNL) is a rare BCR/ABL negative myeloproliferative disorder of elderly patients, showing sustained neutrophilia and splenomegaly. Differentiation between CNL and leukaemoid reactions (LR) is problematic since both conditions share similar morphological features but is essential because CNL patients generally have a poor prognosis. We studied blood samples from 10 female patients with CNL or LR using the HUMARA assay to determine clonality patterns in neutrophils. T-lymphocytes of the patients were investigated as an internal control cell population. In all five CNL patients the neutrophils, and in four of them also T-lymphocytes were monoclonal, indicating that the latter may also originate from the neoplastic clone. In LR patients the neutrophils and T-lymphocytes were generally polyclonal except in one patient showing monoclonal neutrophils suggesting that this patient might be in the process of developing a myeloproliferative disorder. In females clonality studies of blood neutrophils using HUMARA aid in distinguishing patients with monoclonal CNL from polyclonal LR.

An acidic microenvironment inhibits antitumoral non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxicity: implications for cancer immunotherapy

Local immunosuppression may explain the failure of an effective immune response against solid tumors. Although it is well known that the interstitial pH is significantly lower in solid tumors than in normal tissue, only a few studies in the mouse system have investigated the influence of this acidic milieu on the anti-tumoral cytotoxic response. Here the authors report the suppression of human non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxicity against tumor cells by an acidic extracellular pH (pHe). Unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, and natural killer cell clones were used as effector cells. According to pH measurements in solid tumors, representative pH values of 7.2 to 5.3 were chosen during the cytotoxic assays. Target cell lysis was measured using two nonradioactive fluorometric methods, namely two-color flow cytometry and a modified calcein-release assay, which allowed cell-mediated cytotoxicity to be measured and compared with that in adherent targets. Using K562, Daudi, or Raji as suspended target cell lines, the cytotoxic activity of unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and of LAK cells was markedly reduced by a decreasing pHe. An extracellular pH of 5.8 to 5.3 resulted in a nearly complete loss of the cytotoxic response. This pHe-dependent impairment of the killing activity could also be shown for killer cells stimulated with interleukins-7 and -12, phytohemagglutinin, or lipopolysaccharide. The lytic potential of homogeneous natural killer cell clones as effectors was also strictly influenced by the surrounding pH. The pHe dependence of the non-MHC-restricted killer cell functions against tumor cells seems to be a general phenomenon, because the cytolytic activity of LAK cells against six human adherent tumor cell lines (HeLa, HepG2, LS174T, LS174Te, MCF-7, and RT112) was also clearly reduced under acidic conditions. To initiate the killing process, adhesion molecules play an important role in recognition and binding of the target cell. However, flow cytometric analysis revealed that the expression pattern of relevant adhesion molecules was unaffected by acidic pHe. In conclusion, these data clearly indicate an inhibition of non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity against tumor cells by an acidic pHe, which may contribute to the failure of immunosurveillance against solid tumors. Consequently, efforts to enhance the anti-tumoral cytotoxicity by immunotherapies may have limited success.

Stimulation of cytotoxic T cells against idiotype immunoglobulin of malignant lymphoma with protein-pulsed or idiotype-transduced dendritic cells

Because of their hypervariable regions and somatic mutations, the antigen receptor molecules of lymphomas (idiotypes) are tumor-specific antigens and attractive targets for antilymphoma immunotherapy. For the optimal induction of human idiotype-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL), idiotype was presented to CD8(+) peripheral blood mononuclear cells by monocyte-derived autologous dendritic cells (DC) after the endocytosis of idiotype protein or by idiotype-expressing DC. Recombinant idiotype was obtained as a functionally folded Fab fragment by periplasmic expression in Escherichia coli. Idiotype-expressing DC were generated by transduction with recombinant Semliki forest virus vectors encompassing heavy- or light-chain idiotype genes. Autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines stably transfected with Epstein-Barr virus-based idiotype expression vectors were used as target cells to detect idiotype-specific lysis. CTL stimulated with idiotype-loaded DC showed strong specific, CD8-mediated, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted cytotoxicity against autologous heavy- and light-chain idiotype. In contrast, stimulation with idiotype-transduced DC resulted in only moderate natural killer cell activity. These data confirm the existence of idiotype-specific CTL in patients with lymphoma, define a "good manufacturing practice"-compatible protocol for the generation of these cells without the requirement of viable lymphoma cells, and favor the processing of exogenous antigen over DC transduction for the induction of MHC I-restricted CTL against idiotypes with unknown antigenicity. (Blood. 2000;95:1342-1349)

Rapid expression cloning of human immunoglobulin Fab fragments for the analysis of antigen specificity of B cell lymphomas and anti-idiotype lymphoma vaccination

An expression system for rapid and standardized production of human recombinant immunoglobulin Fab fragments in E. coli was developed. Functional folding of the Fab fragments was accomplished by the dicistronic expression vector pFab.gammakappa containing specialized leader sequences to direct the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains to the periplasmic bacterial space. A C-terminal hexahistidine tag of the Fd chain facilitated metal affinity chromatography and purification to homogeneity as assessed by SDS PAGE and silver staining. Specific antigen recognition by a hybridoma-derived Fab fragment was indistinguishable from that of the corresponding monoclonal antibody. This protocol may be useful for analysis of the antigen specificity of human B cells and for convenient production of lymphoma-derived idiotype protein for vaccination strategies. To obtain unmodified immunoglobulin cDNA sequences from small human biopsies for insertion into pFab.gammakappa, oligo(dG)-tailed cDNA was amplified with an oligo(dC)- and nested mu or kappa constant region-specific primers. Using single sets of primers for each class of immunoglobulin transcripts, the products of this anchored PCR reflected the relative abundance of the starting cell population and permitted reliable identification of clonal, lymphoma-derived sequences for subsequent expression cloning.

In vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection pregnancies after successful transport of oocytes by airplane

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility of a transport IVF program involving air transportation of oocytes.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Regional hospital (Hôpital de Chicoutimi) and University Infertility Center (McGill Reproductive Center, Montreal).

PATIENT(S)

The first series of patients referred for IVF or IVF and ICSI, for a variety of indications, who opted for inclusion in the transport IVF program.

INTERVENTION(S)

The IVF-ET with ovarian stimulation and oocyte collection at the peripheral unit and transport of the oocytes by airplane to the McGill Reproductive Center where IVF or ICSI was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Clinical pregnancy.

RESULT(S)

Seven couples, in the first series, underwent nine cycles of transport IVF treatment. Two also underwent ICSI. There were two clinical pregnancies.

CONCLUSION(S)

Transport IVF using air travel is possible and opens the possibility for this type of program to be implemented in large countries with scattered populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Pro-inflammatory and T cell inhibitory cytokines are secreted at high levels in tumor cell cultures of human renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to assess cytokine secretion in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to identify cytokines contributing to the immunomodulatory effect of tumor cells.

METHODS

Cytokine secretion in the supernatant of primary tumor cell cultures (PTCC) and corresponding cell lines (CL) was assayed using ELISA. Tumor cells were characterized by morphology, immunocytochemistry, and flow-cytometric analysis. Tumor-cell-induced T cell activation was determined by coculture of gamma delta and alpha beta T cell clones with tumor CL.

RESULTS

We assessed the cytokine secretion of tumor cells from 27 PTCC and their corresponding CL (3/27) of RCC. We found that RCC predominantly produced both pro-inflammatory and T-cell-inhibitory cytokines, such as IL-8, IL-6, GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and TGF-beta 1. CL were adapted to serum-free medium which may prove as a useful tool in future studies of cytokine secretion in RCC. In addition, we used gamma delta and alpha beta T cell clones to assess the immunomodulatory effect of tumor cells from RCC and found that predominantly gamma delta T cells were activated by RCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that RCC produce large amounts of both pro-inflammatory and T-cell-inhibitory cytokines that potentially could influence the immune response of the host, especially tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells.

Cell lines transfected with the TAP inhibitor ICP47 allow testing peptide binding to a variety of HLA class I molecules

The immediate early protein ICP47 of the Herpes simplex virus is known to block the human transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP), thereby creating a TAP-deficient phenotype in any human cell transfected with the corresponding cDNA. Exploiting this inhibitory activity, we constructed a selection of human cell lines each co-expressing one of the cDNAs of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles HLA-A*1101, A24, A*3101, A*6601, B8 and B*1516, and the cDNA encoding the ICP47 molecule. The cell lines generated showed diminished HLA class I surface expression and the inhibition of the TAP function was confirmed in peptide translocation assays. The addition of specific exogenous peptide ligands restored the expression of the corresponding HLA class I molecules. Thus, the ICP47 transfectants provide us with a tool to closely examine peptide-HLA class I interactions, to confirm HLA class I ligand motifs and to test peptides predicted to bind.

Novel molecular and cellular strategies in cancer therapy

Tumor initiation and progression results from several subsequent mutations in genes that control cellular proliferation and differentiation. Neoplasia may lead to the expression of antigens that may be derived from such oncogenes or the activation of other cellular or viral genes that may represent tumor associated antigens. This review summarizes the present understanding of these mechanisms in an effort to design new therapeutic strategies.

Control of B cell lymphoma recognition via natural killer inhibitory receptors implies a role for human Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells in tumor immunity

The Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell receptor (TCR) is expressed by most human gammadelta T cells. We show here that cytotoxic T lymphocytes of the Vgamma9/Vdelta2 subset, but not of the Vdelta1 subset of human gammadelta T cells, express natural killer inhibitory receptors (KIR) with specificity for different HLA class I alleles that down-regulate TCR-mediated signaling in response to HLA class I-expressing B cell lymphomas. Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell clones with a T helper cell phenotype lack KIR and produce lymphokines in response to most human B cell lymphomas, just as they do upon recognition of the HLA class I-deficient human Burkitt's lymphoma Daudi. Thus, human Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells have an innate specificity for nonpolymorphic cell surface structures expressed by many lymphoma cells and their cytotoxic activity is controlled by KIR. These results imply a general role of human Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells in the defense against hematopoietic tumors that is distinct from NK cells.

Functional gamma delta T-lymphocyte defect associated with human immunodeficiency virus infections

BACKGROUND

Antiviral cellular immune responses may influence immunological homeostasis in HIV-infected persons. Recent data indicate that V gamma 9/V delta 2 T lymphocytes display potent cytotoxic activities against human cells infected with certain viruses including HIV. Understanding the role of gamma delta T cells in the course of HIV infection may be helpful for designing novel treatment strategies for HIV-associated disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The constitutive recognition of Daudi cells and monoethyl pyrophosphate (Etpp) by peripheral blood V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells was assessed using a proliferation assay. The cytotoxicity of Daudi-stimulated lymphocyte populations was measured by chromium release assays. The HIV infectivity for gamma delta T cell clones was determined by measuring the levels of HIV p24 in cell supernatants. The effect of in vitro HIV-infection on cytokine mRNA production by gamma delta T cell clones was assessed by PCR.

RESULTS

The constitutive proliferative responses of peripheral blood V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells and the lytic functions of Daudi-expanded lymphoid cells from HIV+ persons were substantially diminished in comparison with those of HIV-seronegative persons. These alterations were present in asymptomatic HIV+ persons prior to substantial alpha beta CD4+ T cell loss. Productive HIV infection of gamma delta T cells in vitro had no measurable effect either on their proliferative response to Daudi stimuli or on the expression of cytokine mRNAs for IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13.

CONCLUSIONS

The constitutive responsiveness of V gamma 9/V delta 2 T lymphocytes to Daudi and Etpp is severely altered in HIV+ persons. HIV infection of gamma delta T cells in vitro does not substantially change their cytokine expression or antigenic response.

Recognition by human Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells of melanoma cells upon fusion with Daudi cells

Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells, unlike other tumor cell lines, stimulate human T cells coexpressing the variable (V) region genes TCRG-V9 and V TCRD-V2 to proliferate and secrete lymphokines. Hybrids, derived by the fusion of Daudi cells with the human melanoma cell line MZ2-MEL 2.2, retain the morphology of melanoma cells. Unlike the parental melanoma cell line, these Daudi x MZ2-MEL 2.2 hybrids stimulate secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by CD4-positive Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T-cell clones. Whereas the stimulator phenotype of Daudi cells behaves as a dominant trait in Daudi x melanoma hybrids, the expression of B-cell differentiation markers is suppressed. Thus, the gamma/delta T-cell ligand expressed by Daudi cells behaves as a dominant tumor antigen in Daudi x melanoma hybrids and is unrelated to the differentiated B-cell phenotype. Dominant expression of the Daudi ligand for human Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells in these hybrids may provide a basis for defining the stimulatory principle at the molecular level.

In vitro differentiation of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells toward distinct dendritic cell subsets of the birbeck granule and MIIC-positive Langerhans cell and the interdigitating dendritic cell type

We have demonstrated recently that Birbeck granule-positive Langerhans cells (LC) can be derived from CD34+ peripheral blood progenitor cells in the presence of a seven-cytokine cocktail (CC7-7). Here, we show that the sequential use of early-acting hematopoietic growth factors, stem cell factor, interleukin (IL)-3, and IL-6, followed on day 8 by differentiation in the two-factor combination IL-4 plus granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (CC4GM) is more efficient and allows the cells to be arrested in the LC stage for more than 1 week while continuous maturation occurs in CC7-7. Maturation of LC to interdigitating dendritic cells (DC) could specifically be induced within 60 hours by addition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (20 ng/mL) or lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/mL). Using LC that had been enriched to greater than 90% CD1a+ cells by an immunoaffinity column, we were able to define clear-cut differences between LC and DC that corroborate data of the respective cells derived from epithelial borders (LC) or from lymph nodes (LN) and spleen (DC). Thus, molecules and functions involved in antigen (AG) uptake and processing were highly expressed in LC, while those involved in AG presentation were at maximum in DC. LC were CD1a+2 DR+2, CD23+, CD36+, CD80-, CD86-, and CD25-, while DC were CD1a+/- DR+3, CD23-, CD36-, CD80+, CD86+2, and CD25+, CD40 and CD32 were moderately expressed and nearly unchanged on maturation, in contrast to monocyte-derived DC. Macropinocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran was dominant in LC, as were multilamellar major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II compartments (MIICs), which were detected by electron microscopy. The functional dichotomy of these cell types was finally supported by testing the AG-presenting cell function for tetanus toxoid to primed autologous T-cell lines, which was optimal when cells were loaded with AG as LC and subsequently induced to become DC.

Generation of antigen-presenting cells for soluble protein antigens ex vivo from peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in cancer patients

Peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic cells (PBPC) mediate hematopoietic reconstitution in cancer patients after autologous transplantation and can be expanded ex vivo in the presence of colony-stimulating factors. This study shows that functionally active antigen-presenting cells (APC) for soluble proteins are generated and expanded in these PBPC cultures. CD34+ cells were cultured ex vivo in medium containing stem cell factor, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-3, IL-6, and erythropoietin (EPO). The cells from these cultures developed into very potent APC of tetanus toxoid and purified derivative of tuberculin for autologous T cells in vitro. The antigen-presenting capacity of these cell was maintained for at least 38 days of culture. These APC resembled immature cells of the myelomonocytic cell lineage by surface marker, immunocytochemistry and ultrastructural analysis. Such APC might be able to present antigens from certain tumors to the immune system.

T cell tumours of disparate phenotype in mice transgenic for Rbtn-2

RBTN2 is a LIM domain protein which can be activated by the translocation t(11;14)(p13;q11) in childhood T cell acute leukaemia. Transgenic mice were examined in which rbtn2 protein is expressed in the T cell lineage. An average of 72% of these mice developed T cell tumours before 18 months of age, compared with 9% in transgenic mice expressing the related gene Rbtn-1. Rbtn2-induced tumours first appeared at 5 months of age and were clonal. They displayed a range of phenotypes, the most notable being CD3/CD45R double-positive cells. Tumours expressing either T cell receptor alpha/beta or gamma/delta heterodimers were found. Thus rbtn2 can promote tumours within a range of T cell types and maturities. The latency period before tumour development indicates that secondary events must occur before the onset of overt malignancy.

Clonal evolution of malignant and non-malignant T cells carrying t(14;14) and t(X;14) in patients with ataxia telangiectasia

People with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) are at a higher than normal risk of T cell leukaemia and often have either non-malignant or malignant T cells with chromosomal abnormalities, typically t(14;14), inversion 14 or more rarely t(X;14). This provides a chance to study the pre-leukaemic phase of the disease. T cells have been studied with either t(14;14)(q11;q32.1) or t(X;14)(q28;q11) from two AT sisters of which the latter developed T cell leukaemia. The telomeric breakpoint of the t(14;14) was cloned and found to occur at 14q32.1 where known tumour-associated breakpoints are located, but the patient remains asymptomatic for leukaemia. Analysis of T cell populations in both patients showed that the cells containing the translocation became oligoclonal with respect to T cell receptor beta rearrangement and complete T cell receptor beta clonality was only established in the patient with t(X;14) by onset of overt disease. Therefore in these chronic diseases, chromosomal translocations can precede T cell receptor rearrangement suggesting a role for these abnormalities as early events of malignant outgrowth.

Human peripheral gamma delta T cells are stimulated by Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma and not by any other Burkitt's lymphoma tested

Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells have molecules on their surface which can stimulate proliferation of human gamma delta T cells, while Raji, another Burkitt's lymphoma, cannot stimulate human gamma delta T cells. Human peripheral gamma delta T cells, coexpressing the V gamma 9/V delta 2 chains of the T cell receptor, lyse Daudi cells but not Raji cells. Here, we have screened four other Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines (HH514, DG75, Ramos, and Wilson), as well as cells derived from a fresh Burkitt's lymphoma, to see if any of them can be recognized by human gamma delta T cells. Leukemia-derived lines MOLT-4, CEM, and K562 have also been included in these studies. Among the Burkitt's lymphomas tested, only Daudi, DG75, and HH514 could be lysed by V gamma 9/V delta 2+ T cell clones derived from the peripheral blood of healthy donors. These T cell clones were also able to lyse the NK sensitive leukemia lines K562 and MOLT-4. When bulk cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors were cultured with different Burkitt's lymphoma or leukemia cell lines, only Daudi stimulated the outgrowth of gamma delta T cells. Similarly, only Daudi cells could stimulate proliferation of gamma delta T cell clones, and the response was enhanced significantly in the presence of interleukin-2. These data and our prior observations showing the use of the V gamma 9/V delta 2 TCR type by Daudi-reactive human gamma delta T cells indicate that Daudi cells are not representative of other Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines.

The chromosomal translocation t(X;14)(q28;q11) in T-cell pro-lymphocytic leukaemia breaks within one gene and activates another

Chromosomal translocation t(X;14)(q28;q11) has been observed in patients with pro-lymphocytic T-cell leukaemia (T-PLL). In two cases of T-PLL, one of which was associated with Ataxia telangiectasia (AT), the chromosomal break occurred in two different introns of a gene c6.1A, located at the Xq28 locus. Fusion transcripts, consisting of 5' sequences of c6.1A and the TCR alpha constant (C) region, were expressed at high levels in the leukaemic cells from both patients, but in only one case did this fusion generate an in-frame c6.1A-C alpha mRNA. However, the breaks within c6.1A seem to affect another gene, c6.1B, which is transcribed from the same CpG rich island as c6.1A but in the opposite transcriptional orientation. The c6.1B gene is not damaged by the translocation but is transcribed in both T-PLL cases. Furthermore, c6.1B may lack protein coding capacity and thus this translocation might result in a novel mechanism in tumorigenesis. In any event, this is the first cloned gene which is implicated in pathogenesis of chronic/pro-lymphocytic leukaemia of the T-cell lineage.

Modulation of target-cell culture conditions alters susceptibility to lymphocyte-mediated lysis

The culture conditions of the immortalized human breast cell line, 184B5, can be manipulated to evaluate conditions that influence target lysis by activated immune effector cells. Exponentially growing 184B5 cells (EXP) are more susceptible than growth-factor-deprived (removal of epidermal growth factor and bovine pituitary extract) 184B5 cells (GFD) to lysis by lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, activated natural killer (NK) clones, and activated gamma/delta receptor expressing T-cell clones. LAK-cell lysis of contact-inhibited 184B5 cells is similar to lysis of GFD, while 184B5 cells with severe nutrient deprivation are more easily lysed than GFD by LAK cells. In a cold target inhibition assay with LAK effector populations, EXP are better inhibitors than GFD against several targets. Further analysis of the mechanism by which changes of in vitro culture conditions alter target-cell susceptibility to immune-mediated lysis may assist therapeutic strategies that involve combinations of standard therapies with biologic approaches.

Human peripheral gamma delta T cells recognize hsp60 molecules on Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells

Studies with the use of polyclonal rabbit antiserum reactive with 60-kDa heat shock proteins (hsp60) suggested that hsp60-related molecules could be found on the surface of Daudi cells and were involved in their recognition by certain human gamma delta T cells. The present study confirms this finding by using a mAb specifically recognizing hsp60. This mAb can block outgrowth of human gamma delta T cells in response to stimulation with Daudi and in response to an extract of the mycobacteria H37Ra. This anti-hsp60 mAb stains the surface of Daudi cells, but does not stain either Raji or EBV-transformed B cells, cells which do not stimulate gamma delta T cell outgrowth. Anti-hsp60 mAb could immunoprecipitate a 60-kDa molecule from the H37Ra extract but was unable to precipitate this 60-kDa molecule if the mAb was first absorbed on Daudi cells. This mAb also precipitated a 60-kDa molecule from the surface of Daudi cells which shows an electrophoretic mobility pattern consistent with hsp60. These experiments demonstrate that human gamma delta T cells recognize hsp60-related epitopes on the surface of Daudi cells and within mycobacterial extracts.

Human peripheral gamma delta T cells recognize hsp60 molecules on Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells

Studies with the use of polyclonal rabbit antiserum reactive with 60-kDa heat shock proteins (hsp60) suggested that hsp60-related molecules could be found on the surface of Daudi cells and were involved in their recognition by certain human gamma delta T cells. The present study confirms this finding by using a mAb specifically recognizing hsp60. This mAb can block outgrowth of human gamma delta T cells in response to stimulation with Daudi and in response to an extract of the mycobacteria H37Ra. This anti-hsp60 mAb stains the surface of Daudi cells, but does not stain either Raji or EBV-transformed B cells, cells which do not stimulate gamma delta T cell outgrowth. Anti-hsp60 mAb could immunoprecipitate a 60-kDa molecule from the H37Ra extract but was unable to precipitate this 60-kDa molecule if the mAb was first absorbed on Daudi cells. This mAb also precipitated a 60-kDa molecule from the surface of Daudi cells which shows an electrophoretic mobility pattern consistent with hsp60. These experiments demonstrate that human gamma delta T cells recognize hsp60-related epitopes on the surface of Daudi cells and within mycobacterial extracts.

A multigene family on human chromosome 12 encodes natural killer-cell lectins

We previously isolated a series of cDNA clones designated NKG2-A, B, C, and D from a human natural killer (NK) cell library. These transcripts encode a family of type II integral membrane proteins having an extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent lectin domain. The predicted peptides share structural similarities and amino acid sequence similarity with known receptor molecules. In this report, the genomic organization and mRNA expression of each of the genes were studied by using transcript-specific probes. Southern blot experiments reveal that the probes cross-hybridize with a maximum of five genes at high stringency. By probing a Southern blot prepared from a series of hamster/human hybrid somatic cell lines, we demonstrated that all of the hybridizing fragments occur on human chromosome 12. No gene rearrangement and little restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was observed with these probes. mRNA expression of the NKG2 genes occurred in NK cells and some T cells but not in other hematopoietic cell types or in other tissues tested. Each of the transcripts occurred in all three of the NK cell lines tested: however, the genes were differentially regulated in T cells. NKG2-D was expressed in nine of fourteen T-cell clones or lines in the panel, whereas NKG2-A/B was expressed in three and NKG2-C was expressed in only one. Expression of each of the transcripts was upregulated following T-cell growth factor (TCGF)-induced activation of a cloned NK cell. The limited distribution of these proteins and their sequence similarity with known receptor molecules suggest that they may function as receptors on human NK cells.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma induced in transgenic mice by the RBTN1 and RBTN2 LIM-domain genes

Two members of the RBTN gene family, RBTN1/Ttg-1 and RBTN2/Ttg-2, were found by their association with T-cell tumour-specific chromosomal translocations and are thought to be involved in the aetiology of such T-cell tumours. Here a transgenic mouse model is described in which T-cell tumours are induced by the presence of RBTN1 and RBTN2 transgenes that direct expression in thymus-derived cells. The latency period for lymphoid tumour appearance is variable, and tumours occur in a small proportion of transgenic animals that develop T-cell acute lymphoblastic malignancies. No significant increase in the rate of tumour development was observed in RBTN1 transgenic mice infected with Moloney murine leukaemia virus, nor did tumours arise in mice bearing a construct in which RBTN1 was expressed from the insulin transcriptional promoter. These data, which provide formal proof of the oncogenic activity of these genes, suggest that aberrant expression of transcription factor genes, such as RBTN1 and RBTN2, functions in tumour aetiology by disturbing some aspect of T-cell differentiation.

Molecular analysis of a new translocation, t(X;14)(q28;q11), in premalignancy and in leukaemia associated with ataxia telangiectasia

The disease ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a multifaceted disorder in which patients have an increased chance of developing a T-cell leukaemia, often with abnormalities of chromosome 14, but sometimes with rare translocations, like t(X;14)(q28;q11). We describe the cloning of the breakpoint of one such novel t(X;14) from an A-T patient. The translocation breaks within the T cell receptor alpha chain gene on chromosome 14 at band q11 and in a region of the X chromosome, within about 1 Mb of the telomere of the long arm. The patient subsequently developed T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL), and molecular examination showed that the tumour cells carried the same t(X;14) breakpoint as that cloned from the premalignant cells. The same breakpoint could be detected in blood samples taken as much as 5 years prior to diagnosis of T-PLL. This suggests a role for the abnormality in the tumour development in this patient but implies that other mutational events were necessary for overt disease to become manifest.

Immunoglobulin VH-T cell receptor C alpha fusion mRNA resulting from chromosome inversion include the T cell-associated 5' exon ET

A human T cell lymphoma has been described in which an inversion of chromosome 14 results in fusion of an immunoglobulin heavy chain VH with a T cell receptor J alpha segment, potentially resulting in a chimeric protein with immunoglobulin VH region recognition plus T cell receptor effector functions. Examination of the mRNA species expressed from the IgT gene in this lymphoma shows a variety of forms but all IgT mRNA include the T cell-specific exon, ET, previously located in the distal part of the VH locus. In such mRNA species, the normal leader exon of the Ig VH segment, which encodes most of the hydrophobic signal peptide, is replaced by the short ET exon encoding mainly non-hydrophobic residues. Two forms of this mRNA exist which lack the Ig VH leader sequence and thus potentially yield non-membrane proteins in the T cell lymphoma.

MHC-unrestricted cytotoxic and proliferative responses of two distinct human gamma/delta T cell subsets to Daudi cells

Human V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells, the major subset of gamma/delta T cells in peripheral blood of adults, mediate proliferative and cytotoxic responses to Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells without previous in vitro exposure to Daudi. Our experiments show that some gamma/delta T cells coexpressing V gamma 9 and V delta 1 genes also react to Daudi cells in cytotoxic and proliferative assays. Expression of V gamma 9 is not sufficient for the recognition of Daudi cells because most gamma/delta T cells expressing V delta 1 paired with V gamma 9 or other V gamma genes neither kill Daudi cells nor proliferate to Daudi. V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells do not proliferate to other cell lines such as K562 or Molt4 that are sensitive to MHC-unrestricted cytolysis by NK cells and by most IL-2-activated gamma/delta T cell clones. Cold target inhibition assays demonstrate that Daudi cells are stronger inhibitors than K562 and Molt4 of MHC-unrestricted lysis by V gamma 9/V delta 2 clones. However, cold Daudi cells are relatively weaker inhibitors of MHC-unrestricted lysis by NK cell clones, most gamma/delta T cell clones expressing V delta 1 and alpha/beta T cell clones. Thus, recognition by V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells and certain V gamma 9/V delta 1 T cells of Daudi appears to involve a specific triggering pathway that is distinct from recognition by these gamma/delta T cells of Molt4, K562, and other target cells. NK cell clones and most other gamma/delta and alpha/beta T cell clones derived from the same normal volunteer blood donors do not show this specific interaction with Daudi cells. These data show that distinct subsets of human gamma/delta T cells recognize Daudi cells and support the idea that the gamma/delta TCR may be directly involved.

MHC-unrestricted cytotoxic and proliferative responses of two distinct human gamma/delta T cell subsets to Daudi cells

Human V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells, the major subset of gamma/delta T cells in peripheral blood of adults, mediate proliferative and cytotoxic responses to Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells without previous in vitro exposure to Daudi. Our experiments show that some gamma/delta T cells coexpressing V gamma 9 and V delta 1 genes also react to Daudi cells in cytotoxic and proliferative assays. Expression of V gamma 9 is not sufficient for the recognition of Daudi cells because most gamma/delta T cells expressing V delta 1 paired with V gamma 9 or other V gamma genes neither kill Daudi cells nor proliferate to Daudi. V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells do not proliferate to other cell lines such as K562 or Molt4 that are sensitive to MHC-unrestricted cytolysis by NK cells and by most IL-2-activated gamma/delta T cell clones. Cold target inhibition assays demonstrate that Daudi cells are stronger inhibitors than K562 and Molt4 of MHC-unrestricted lysis by V gamma 9/V delta 2 clones. However, cold Daudi cells are relatively weaker inhibitors of MHC-unrestricted lysis by NK cell clones, most gamma/delta T cell clones expressing V delta 1 and alpha/beta T cell clones. Thus, recognition by V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells and certain V gamma 9/V delta 1 T cells of Daudi appears to involve a specific triggering pathway that is distinct from recognition by these gamma/delta T cells of Molt4, K562, and other target cells. NK cell clones and most other gamma/delta and alpha/beta T cell clones derived from the same normal volunteer blood donors do not show this specific interaction with Daudi cells. These data show that distinct subsets of human gamma/delta T cells recognize Daudi cells and support the idea that the gamma/delta TCR may be directly involved.

Are gamma delta T cells important for the elimination of virus-infected cells?

Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) gamma delta T cells were identified using a monoclonal antibody. The relative representation of gamma delta T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, lymph nodes, and spleen resembles that of Homo sapiens. The analysis of function and specificity revealed further significant similarities between the simian and human gamma delta T-cell systems. Since both human and monkey gamma delta T lymphocytes can effectively lyse cells infected with immunodeficiency viruses, it is possible that the primate gamma delta T-cell systems contribute to antiviral immunosurveillance.

Recognition by human V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells of a GroEL homolog on Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells

All human gamma delta T cells coexpressing the products of the variable (V) region T cell receptor (TCR) gene segments V gamma 9 and V delta 2 recognize antigens from mycobacterial extracts and Daudi cells. Exogenous and endogenous ligands on the cell surface, homologous to the groEL heat shock family, induced reactivities that resembled superantigen responses in this major subset of human peripheral blood gamma delta T cells. Stimulation of human V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells is not restricted by human leukocyte antigens (HLA), including nonpolymorphic beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M)-associated class Ib molecules. These data may be important for understanding the role of gamma delta T cells in autoimmunity and in responses to microorganisms and tumors.

Human V gamma 9-V delta 2 T cell receptor-gamma delta lymphocytes show specificity to Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells

Peripheral blood TCR-gamma delta cells with different functional V gamma or V delta gene rearrangements represent two nonoverlapping subsets. The major subset uses the V gamma 9 and the V delta 2 gene segments and the minor subset the V delta 1 gene segments in its functional TCR rearrangement. Upon in vitro activation, these TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes display MHC-unrestricted lytic activity, against a wide variety of tumor cells of distinct histologic origin. Here we show that fresh TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes that express a V gamma 9-V delta 2 encoded TCR display a specific proliferative response to Daudi, Burkitt's lymphoma cells. Moreover, cloned V gamma 9-V delta 2 lymphocytes show the capacity to lyse Daudi cells, whereas none of the cloned V gamma 1 TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes shows such specificity. Nucleotide diversity at the V-D-J junction of the TCR-V delta 2 gene did not contribute to this Daudi cell specificity. Comparison of the MHC-unrestricted cytolytic capacities of the V gamma 9-V delta 2 and the V delta 1 clones using a panel of distinct types of tumor target cells showed that on average, the level of MHC unrestricted lysis of V gamma 9-V delta 2 clones against these tumor cells exceeded that of V delta 1 clones. However, in contrast to all these tumor cell lines, only the Daudi cells showed such an absolute distinction in susceptibility to lysis by V gamma 9-V delta 2 and V delta 1 clones. V gamma 9-V delta 2 clones that were generated with a stimulator cell other than Daudi did not lyse their stimulator cells but nevertheless showed specific cytolysis of Daudi cells. The specific proliferation to and cytolysis of Daudi cells of the entire V gamma 9-V delta 2 subpopulation of TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes is reminiscent of a superantigen response.

Human V gamma 9-V delta 2 T cell receptor-gamma delta lymphocytes show specificity to Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells

Peripheral blood TCR-gamma delta cells with different functional V gamma or V delta gene rearrangements represent two nonoverlapping subsets. The major subset uses the V gamma 9 and the V delta 2 gene segments and the minor subset the V delta 1 gene segments in its functional TCR rearrangement. Upon in vitro activation, these TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes display MHC-unrestricted lytic activity, against a wide variety of tumor cells of distinct histologic origin. Here we show that fresh TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes that express a V gamma 9-V delta 2 encoded TCR display a specific proliferative response to Daudi, Burkitt's lymphoma cells. Moreover, cloned V gamma 9-V delta 2 lymphocytes show the capacity to lyse Daudi cells, whereas none of the cloned V gamma 1 TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes shows such specificity. Nucleotide diversity at the V-D-J junction of the TCR-V delta 2 gene did not contribute to this Daudi cell specificity. Comparison of the MHC-unrestricted cytolytic capacities of the V gamma 9-V delta 2 and the V delta 1 clones using a panel of distinct types of tumor target cells showed that on average, the level of MHC unrestricted lysis of V gamma 9-V delta 2 clones against these tumor cells exceeded that of V delta 1 clones. However, in contrast to all these tumor cell lines, only the Daudi cells showed such an absolute distinction in susceptibility to lysis by V gamma 9-V delta 2 and V delta 1 clones. V gamma 9-V delta 2 clones that were generated with a stimulator cell other than Daudi did not lyse their stimulator cells but nevertheless showed specific cytolysis of Daudi cells. The specific proliferation to and cytolysis of Daudi cells of the entire V gamma 9-V delta 2 subpopulation of TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes is reminiscent of a superantigen response.