Chinese Hamster Ovary Fibroblasts Research Articles

Hydroxyethyl methacrylate–methyl methacrylate (HEMA–MMA) copolymers for cell microencapsulation: Effect of HEMA purity

Thermoplastic copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) (molar ratio: 75/25 HEMA-MMA) were synthesized using HEMA containing different amounts of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) to investigate their suitability for cell microencapsulation. Pure HEMA (0.0% EGDMA) was obtained with preparative chromatography to prepare a linear copolymer. Microcapsules (with a diameter of 300-400 μm) were readily made with the copolymers by interfacial precipitation. Smaller and more transparent capsules were obtained using the copolymer prepared from purer HEMA. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts, as model cells, were microencapsulated in the linear copolymer. The CHO cells survived the microencapsulation process and the metabolic activity of the encapsulated cells increased within the 14 days observation period.

Transcription from the P2 promoter of the growth hormone receptor gene involves members of the Sp transcription factor family

The P2 promoter of the gene for growth hormone receptor is developmentally regulated and is differentially active in a number of tissues. Little is known about the identity of the transcription factors that participate to effect this pattern of transcription. Deletion analysis and transient transfection were used to localize a previously identified cis-acting element within the sheep P2 promoter to between positions -99 and -87. Gel mobility-shift assays with nuclear extracts from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) fibroblasts revealed that this sequence encompasses an atypical binding site for both Sp1 and two isoforms of Sp3. A gel mobility-shift scan of promoter sequences between -88 and +21 indicated the existence of three other binding sites for Sp1 and Sp3. One of these, designated site II and found by using a probe spanning -74 to -54, corresponds to a classical GC box consensus sequence. Site III (-63 to -41) and site IV (-27 to -5) harbour atypical Sp1/Sp3-binding sequences. Site-directed mutagenesis of site II or site IV decreased promoter activity by approx. 40%, whereas a promoter construct incorporating both mutations exhibited negligible (approx. 1%) activity. Co-transfection of expression plasmids encoding either Sp1 or Sp3 significantly transactivated reporter gene activity from a P2 promoter construct carrying all four Sp1/Sp3-binding sites (8-fold compared with 7.1-fold induction respectively). Sp1 is known to interact with a variety of other transcription factors to regulate the transcription of a number of differentially expressed genes. The identification of four binding sites for Sp1 and Sp3 within the P2 promoter of the gene for growth hormone receptor might point to other factors that interact to regulate the activity of this promoter in different tissues during foetal and post-natal development.

The CD14 Ligands Lipoarabinomannan and Lipopolysaccharide Differ in Their Requirement for Toll-Like Receptors

Mammalian Toll-like receptor (TLR) proteins are new members of the IL-1 receptor family that participate in activation of cells by bacteria and bacterial products. Several recent reports indicate that TLR proteins mediate cellular activation by bacterial LPS via a signaling pathway that is largely shared by the type I IL-1 receptor. We previously showed that Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts engineered to express CD14 (CHO/CD14) were responsive to LPS, but not to a distinct CD14 ligand, mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan (LAM). These CHO/CD14 cells were subsequently found to possess a frame-shift mutation within the TLR2 gene which resulted in their inability to express functional TLR2 protein. Thus, we hypothesized that TLR2, but not TLR4, was necessary for LAM signaling. In this paper we show that CHO/CD14 cells engineered to express functional TLR2 protein acquired the ability to be activated by LAM. Similarly, overexpression of TLR2 in murine macrophages conferred enhanced LAM responsiveness. Together, our data demonstrate that the distinct CD14 ligands LAM and LPS utilize different TLR proteins to initiate intracellular signals. These findings suggest a novel receptor signaling paradigm in which the binding of distinct ligands is mediated by a common receptor chain, but cellular activation is initiated via distinct signal-transducing chains that confer ligand specificity. This paradigm contrasts with many cytokine receptor complexes in which receptor specificity is conferred by a unique ligand-binding chain but cellular activation is initiated via shared signal-transducing chains.

Transcription from the P2 promoter of the growth hormone receptor gene involves members of the Sp transcription factor family

The P2 promoter of the gene for growth hormone receptor is developmentally regulated and is differentially active in a number of tissues. Little is known about the identity of the transcription factors that participate to effect this pattern of transcription. Deletion analysis and transient transfection were used to localize a previously identified cis-acting element within the sheep P2 promoter to between positions -99 and -87. Gel mobility-shift assays with nuclear extracts from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) fibroblasts revealed that this sequence encompasses an atypical binding site for both Sp1 and two isoforms of Sp3. A gel mobility-shift scan of promoter sequences between -88 and +21 indicated the existence of three other binding sites for Sp1 and Sp3. One of these, designated site II and found by using a probe spanning -74 to -54, corresponds to a classical GC box consensus sequence. Site III (-63 to -41) and site IV (-27 to -5) harbour atypical Sp1/Sp3-binding sequences. Site-directed mutagenesis of site II or site IV decreased promoter activity by approx. 40%, whereas a promoter construct incorporating both mutations exhibited negligible (approx. 1%) activity. Co-transfection of expression plasmids encoding either Sp1 or Sp3 significantly transactivated reporter gene activity from a P2 promoter construct carrying all four Sp1/Sp3-binding sites (8-fold compared with 7.1-fold induction respectively). Sp1 is known to interact with a variety of other transcription factors to regulate the transcription of a number of differentially expressed genes. The identification of four binding sites for Sp1 and Sp3 within the P2 promoter of the gene for growth hormone receptor might point to other factors that interact to regulate the activity of this promoter in different tissues during foetal and post-natal development.

Membrane-Anchored Forms of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Binding Protein Do Not Mediate Cellular Responses to LPS Independently of CD14

Inflammatory responses of myeloid cells to LPS are mediated through CD14, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor that binds LPS. Since CD14 does not traverse the plasma membrane and alternatively anchored forms of CD14 still enable LPS-induced cellular activation, the precise role of CD14 in mediating these responses remains unknown. To address this, we created a transmembrane and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored form of LPS-binding protein (LBP), a component of serum that binds and transfers LPS to other molecules. Stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblast and U373 astrocytoma cell lines expressing membrane-anchored LBP (mLBP), as well as separate CHO and U373 cell lines expressing membrane CD14 (mCD14), were subsequently generated. Under serum-free conditions, CHO and U373 cells expressing mCD14 responded to as little as 0.1 ng/ml of LPS, as measured by NF-kappaB activation as well as ICAM and IL-6 production. Conversely, the vector control and mLBP-expressing cell lines did not respond under serum-free conditions even in the presence of more than 100 ng/ml of LPS. All the cell lines exhibited responses to less than 1 ng/ml of LPS in the presence of the soluble form of CD14, demonstrating that they are still capable of LPS-induced activation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that mLBP, a protein that brings LPS to the cell surface, does not mediate cellular responses to LPS independently of CD14. These findings suggest that CD14 performs a more specific role in mediating responses to LPS than that of simply bringing LPS to the cell surface.

Membrane Expression of Soluble Endotoxin-binding Proteins Permits Lipopolysaccharide Signaling in Chinese Hamster Ovary Fibroblasts Independently of CD14

The activation of phagocytes by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Gram-negative sepsis. Although the interaction between CD14 and LPS is a key event in the signaling cascade, the molecular mechanism by which cellular activation occurs remains obscure. We hypothesized that the main function of CD14 was to bind LPS and transfer it to a second receptor, which then initiates the subsequent signal for cellular activation. Thus, surface binding of LPS to the cell membrane would be the critical step that CD14 carries out. To test this hypothesis, we examined the activity of two other proteins known to bind LPS, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein. We found that when these normally soluble proteins were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary-K1 fibroblasts as glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, both could substitute for CD14 in initiating LPS signaling. Pharmacological studies with synthetic lipid A analogues demonstrated that these surface expressed LPS-binding proteins had characteristics that were qualitatively identical to membrane CD14. These data support the hypothesis that a receptor distinct from CD14 functions as the actual signal transducer and suggest that surface binding of LPS to the cell membrane is the crucial first step for initiating downstream signaling events.

Transcriptional Activation of the Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 2 Gene by Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein/Adipocyte Determination and Differentiation Factor 1

To identify genes that are transcriptionally activated by sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), we utilized mRNA differential display and mutant cells that express either high or low levels of transcriptionally active SREBP. This approach identified stearoyl-CoA desaturase 2 (SCD2) as a new SREBP-regulated gene. Cells were transiently transfected with reporter genes under the control of different fragments of the mouse SCD2 promoter. Constructs containing >199 base pairs of the SCD2 proximal promoter were activated following incubation of cells in sterol-depleted medium or as a result of co-expression of SREBP-1a, SREBP-2, or rat adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 (ADD1). Electromobility shift assays and DNase I footprint analysis demonstrated that recombinant SREBP-1a bound to a novel cis element (5'-AGCAGATTGTG-3') in the proximal promoter of the SCD2 gene. The finding that the endogenous SCD2 mRNA levels were induced when wild-type Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts were incubated in sterol-deficient medium is consistent with a role for SREBP in regulating transcription of the gene. These studies identify SCD2 as a new member of the family of genes that are transcriptionally regulated in response to changing levels of nuclear SREBP/ADD1. In addition, the sterol regulatory element in the SCD2 promoter is distinct from all previously characterized motifs that confer SREBP- and ADD1-dependent transcriptional activation.

Nerve growth factor processing and trafficking events following TrkA-mediated endocytosis.

We expressed the high affinity nerve growth factor receptor TrkA in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts to study nerve growth factor (NGF) trafficking and processing events following receptor-mediated ligand internalization in a nonneuronal and p75 minus cell line. These stable clonal cell lines express approximately 2.5 x 10(5) TrkA receptors and bind 125I-NGF with high affinity (Kd = 4 x 10(-10) M). The TrkA receptors are autophosphorylated on tyrosine residues upon NGF stimulation and are capable of tyrosine phosphorylating downstream signaling molecules. The t1/2 of 125I-NGF internalization is 5 min, and the probability of an occupied TrkA receptor internalizing within 1 min at 37 C is 9.8%. By 2 h following endocytosis, less than 10% of internalized 125I-NGF is degraded, as determined by TCA precipitation. Thirty minutes following ligand endocytosis, endocytosed 125I-NGF is delivered back to the cell surface and released by the cell (retroendocytosis), possibly by remaining associated with recycling TrkA receptors. We measured the effect of acidification on 125I-NGF-TrkA association and found that, at pH 6, 40% of 125I-NGF remains bound. Thus, NGF may remain associated with the TrkA receptor at low pH conditions in the endosome and can thereby be targeted back to the plasma membrane for release by the cell. 1) TrkA, in the absence of p75, is fully capable of mediating 125I-NGF endocytosis; 2) internalized 125I-NGF is slowly and inefficiently degraded; 3) following internalization, 125I-NGF is retroendocytosed; and 4) the ability of 125I-NGF to remain receptor-associated during acidic conditions may provide a mechanism for its retroendocytosis via recycling TrkA vesicles.

CD11/CD18 Leukocyte Integrins: New Signaling Receptors for Bacterial Endotoxin

Exaggerated responses by phagocytes to bacterial endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] may result in the sepsis syndrome. While a number of LPS-binding proteins have been identified on immune cells, only CD14 has been definitively shown to be involved in signal transduction in response to LPS. The β2 leukocyte integrins are a family of transmembrane receptors whose expression is restricted to leukocytes. Among their many functions, the β2 integrins are phagocytic receptors that bind a variety of bacterial products, including LPS. We hypothesize that this binding results in signal transduction. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblast cell lines expressing the CD11a/CD18 or CD11b/CD18 antigen were engineered by gene transfection. The cell lines were stimulated with LPS. LPS-induced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Heterologous expression of CD11a/CD18 and CD11b/CD18 in otherwise LPS-nonresponsive fibroblasts imparted the ability to respond to LPS. Responses to LPS were observed at levels of LPS of 100 ng/ml, as were responses to whole Gram-negative bacteria. The CD11/CD18 leukocyte integrins mediate cellular responses to the LPS component of Gram-negative bacteria. CD11/CD18-mediated responses of cells to LPS are likely to affect the phagocytosis, intracellular trafficking, and killing of invading bacteria as well as to help mediate cytokine responses during endotoxemia. The development of novel therapies to prevent the end-organ damage frequently observed during sepsis will require an understanding of these complex cellular events.

Adipose differentiation-related protein is an ubiquitously expressed lipid storage droplet-associated protein

The adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) was first characterized as a mRNA induced early during adipocyte differentiation (Jiang, H. P., and G. Serrero. 1992. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 89:7856-7860). The present study demonstrates that ADRP mRNA is expressed in a variety of tissues and cultured cell lines. Immunocytochemical examination revealed that ADRP localizes to neutral lipid storage droplets in cultured murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes, murine MA-10 Leydig cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts, and human HepG2 hepatoma cells; the association of ADRP with lipid droplets was confirmed by subcellular fractionation of MA-10 Leydig cells. In addition to ADRP, steroidogenic cells and adipocytes express the perilipins, a family of lipid droplet-associated proteins that share a highly related sequence domain with ADRP. ADRP and perilipins co-localize on lipid droplets in MA-10 Leydig cells. While ADRP was found on small lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and early differentiated adipocytes, it was absent in maturing adipocytes. In contrast, perilipins were absent early during differentiation, but were found on small and large lipid droplets at later stages. The transition in surface protein composition of adipocyte lipid droplets from ADRP to perilipins occurred 3 days after the initiation of differentiation when cells displayed co-localizatioin of both proteins on the same lipid droplets. The specific localization of adipose differentiation-related protein to lipid droplets in a wide variety of cells suggests that ADRP plays a role in management of neutral lipid stores.

Evidence that angiotensin II and lipoxygenase products activate c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.

The effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) to activate c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) was studied in a Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast cell line overexpressing the rat vascular type-1a Ang II receptor (CHO-AT1a). Ang II treatment induced a time-dependent activation of JNK. Ang II (10(-7) mol/L) activated JNK activity, with a peak at 30 minutes (9.39 +/- 2.52-fold, n = 7, P < .02 versus control), which was maintained until 3 hours (2.7 +/- 0.65-fold, n = 3, P < .02 versus control). Ang II-induced JNK activation at 30 minutes was inhibited by a specific lipoxygenase (LO) pathway inhibitor, cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-alpha-cyanocinnamate (1 mumol/L) by 87.5% (n = 4, P < .01 versus Ang II-induced JNK activity). The direct addition of 12-HETE also induced a time-dependent JNK activation. 12-HETE (10(-7) mol/L) activated JNK activity, with a peak at 10 minutes (3.43 +/- 0.87-fold, n = 6, P < .02 versus control), which remained elevated until 1 hour. These results suggest that the LO pathway is a mediator of Ang II-induced JNK activation. 15-HETE can also activate JNK at 5 minutes, but this activity was reduced at 30 minutes and could not be seen at 1 hour, indicating that the time course was different from that seen with 12-HETE. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, was used to perturb intracellular reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) levels to assess the role of endogenous ROIs in regulating JNK activity. Pretreatment of cells with 500 mumol/L NAC for 1 hour attenuated approximately 50% of Aug II-induced JNK activation, suggesting that ROIs, at least partially, mediate Ang II-induced JNK activation. Furthermore, 12-HETE-induced JNK activation was reduced by approximately 90% by NAC. Finally, pertussis toxin completely blocked 12-HETE-induced JNK activation, suggesting that Gi-protein signaling participates in 12-HETE-induced effects. These results suggest that LO activation plays a role in mediating Ang II-induced JNK activation in part by altering the redox tone and Gi-protein signaling of cells.

Dual effects of LPS antibodies on cellular uptake of LPS and LPS-induced proinflammatory functions.

Human phagocytes recognize bacterial LPS (endotoxin) through membrane CD14 (mCD14), a proinflammatory LPS receptor. This study tested the hypothesis that anti-LPS Abs neutralize endotoxin by blocking cellular uptake through mCD14. Ab-associated changes in the uptake and cellular distribution of FITC-LPS were assessed by flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy in human CD14-transfected Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts (CHO-CD14 cells) and human peripheral blood monocytes. LPS core- and O-side chain-specific mAbs inhibited mCD14-mediated LPS uptake by both cell types in the presence of serum. O-side chain-specific mAb concurrently enhanced complement-dependent LPS uptake by monocytes through complement receptor-1 (CR1) and uptake by CHO-CD14 cells involving another heat-labile serum factor(s) and cell-associated recognition molecule(s). Core-specific mAb inhibited mCD14-mediated uptake of homologous and heterologous LPS, while producing less concurrent enhancement of non-mCD14-mediated LPS uptake. The modulation by anti-LPS mAbs of mCD14-mediated LPS uptake was associated with inhibition of LPS-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) translocation and TNF-alpha secretion in CHO-CD14 cells and monocytes, respectively, while mAb enhancement of non-mCD14-mediated LPS uptake stimulated these activities. LPS-specific Abs thus mediate anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory functions, respectively, by preventing target cell uptake of LPS through mCD14 and augmenting uptake through CR1 or other cell receptors.

Induction and distribution of damage in CHO-K1 and the X-ray-sensitive hamster cell line xrs5, measured by the cytochalasin-B-cytokinesis block micronucleus assay.

The micronucleus assay holds promise as a method for determining clastogenic effects of particular agents and for examining relative sensitivities of eukaryotic cells to such clastogens. In the following work, a detailed examination of the induction of micronuclei in radio-resistant Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts (CHO-K1) and the DNA double-strand break repair-defective daughter cell line, xrs5, was performed. Cells were exposed to gamma-irradiation, bleomycin, etoposide, camptothecin and the restriction endonuclease PvuII. By a simplified statistical analysis of data, information on the expression of chromosomal damage, the distribution of damage and the role of cell cycle effects on damage expression was obtained from a relatively small number of cells. All 5 clastogens resulted in elevated levels of micronuclei in xrs5 compared to CHO-K1. An analysis of the distribution of micronuclei within treated populations revealed differences between the modes of damage. Significant deviation from the expected values indicated that expression of micronuclei does not follow an expected Poisson distribution. The frequencies of binucleated cells indicated micronucleus frequencies do not always correlate with inhibition of cell cycle progression. This work also demonstrates that caution is required in the interpretation of data obtained through micronucleus assays. In particular, it does not appear possible to proscribe simple numerical values of relative sensitivity or clastogenicity based on the relative number of micronuclei induced alone.

Identification of phosphatidylinositol mannoside as a mycobacterial adhesin mediating both direct and opsonic binding to nonphagocytic mammalian cells.

The molecular basis for the binding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to nonphagocytic cells, which are readily infected in vitro, and the in vivo significance of this interaction are incompletely understood. Of six cell types tested, we found that only two, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts and primary porcine aortic endothelial cells, were able to bind M. tuberculosis H37Rv efficiently in vitro. Binding to both CHO and endothelial cells was markedly (three- to fivefold) enhanced by 10 to 20% human or bovine serum, suggesting that the bacteria were coated by a serum opsonin. Preincubation with individual candidate opsonins revealed that recombinant human mannose-binding protein (rMBP), fibronectin, and transferrin were each able to enhance binding threefold. Preincubation of bacteria in serum depleted of mannan-binding lectins or in genetic MBP-deficient serum resulted in enhancements that were only approximately 60 and 58%, respectively, of that produced by preincubation in control serum. In contrast, serum depleted of fibronectin or transferrin retained its opsonizing capacity, suggesting that the latter two are not significant opsonins in whole serum. Binding of M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis to both CHO and endothelial cells in the presence or absence of serum was blocked (60 to 70%) by a monoclonal antibody, MAb 1D1, selected for recognition of intact bacilli. The 1D1 antigen was purified from mycobacterial cell walls and chemically identified as a polar phosphatidylinositol mannoside (PIM). Latex beads coated with purified 1D1 antigen bound to CHO cells, which was enhanced threefold by serum and abolished by periodate treatment, suggesting a requirement for the PIM mannoses in opsonic adhesion. This was likely mediated, at least in part, by serum MBP, as rMBP bound strongly to 1D1 antigen in both thin-layer chromatography overlay and plate binding assays, the latter in a mannan-inhibitable manner. This is the first demonstration that mycobacterial PIMs can function as adhesins for binding to nonphagocytic cells, both directly and after opsonization with serum proteins, including MBP.

Analysis of ion transport perturbations caused by hu MDR 1 protein overexpression.

In previous work [Luz et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 7239-7249; Roepe et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 11008-11015] we measured changes in Cl- and HCO3--dependent pHi regulation for LR73 Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts overexpressing mu MDR 1 protein. However, only one clonal cell line overexpressing the protein but not previously exposed to chemotherapeutic drug (i.e., a "true" transfectant) was examined, since very few MDR cell lines of this nature have been constructed. Recently [Hoffman et al. (1996) J. Gen. Physiol. 108, 295-313] we derived a series of true LR73/hu MDR 1 transfectants that are valuable for defining the MDR phenotype mediated by MDR protein alone, without the additional complexities introduced by exposing cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Several independently derived clones from these and additional transfection experiments exhibit expression of MDR protein that is higher than that found in other true transfectants, and that is similar to the highest level of overexpression yet recorded for drug selected MDR cells. We examined altered Cl--dependent pHi regulation for these clones using improved single-cell photometry (SCP) techniques. Short-term isotonic Cl- substitution experiments performed in the presence of CO2/HCO3- reveal that mild overexpression of hu MDR 1 protein alters anion exchange (Cl-/HCO3- exchange or AE) for LR73 cells, as expected on the basis of previous work [Luz et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 7239-7249]. Interestingly, we now find that several independently selected high-level MDR 1 overexpressing clones acidify quite extensively upon isotonic exchange of Cl- and then rapidly alkalinize upon restoring normal [Cl-]. These data suggest that MDR protein may effectively compete against AE. The MDR protein effect is not dependent on HCO3-/CO2 or K+, is partially inhibited by verapamil, is completely inhibited by substituting K+ or N-methylglucamine (NMG+) for Na+ in the SCP perfusate but is not affected by 100 microM levels of amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide, or stilbene. ATP depletion inhibits the MDR 1 effect. We are unable to restore normal AE activity for the MDR clones via manipulation of Cl- or HCO3- gradients. We thus suggest that MDR protein overexpression provides a novel Na+- and Cl--dependent pathway for transmembrane H+ transport. From analysis of ion dependency and inhibitor sensitivities, we conclude the transport is not via altered regulation of any known K+/H+, Na+/H+, or Cl-/HCO3- antiporters, Na+:K+:2Cl-, Na+:K+:2HCO3-, K+:HCO3-, or Na+:HCO3- co-transporters, or any combination of these. Thus, it appears to represent a novel ATP and Na+-dependent Cl-/H+ antiport process that (1) may be directly mediated by the MDR protein, (2) may represent the modulation of one or more currently unidentified ion transport proteins by MDR protein, (3) may be due to some combination of direct ion transport and regulation of ion transport, or (4) may represent unusual passive H+ movement in response to a novel Cl--dependent electrical perturbation that occurs during our Cl- substitution protocol. The results have important implications for understanding drug resistance mediated by MDR 1 overexpression, as well as the physiologic function of endogenously expressed MDR protein.

Amidophosphoribosyltransferase limits the rate of cell growth-linked de novo purine biosynthesis in the presence of constant capacity of salvage purine biosynthesis.

Factors controlling relative flux rates of the de novo and salvage pathways of purine nucleotide biosynthesis during animal cell growth are not fully understood. To examine the relative role of each pathway for cell growth, three cell lines including CHO K1 (a wild-type Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast cell line), CHO ade -A (an auxotrophic cell line deficient of amidophosphoribosyltransferase (ATase), a presumed rate-limiting enzyme of the de novo pathway), and CHO ade -A transfected with human ATase cDNA (-A+hATase) resulting in 30-350% of the ATase activity of CHO K1, were cultured in purine-rich or purine-free media. Based on the enzyme activities of ATase and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, the metabolic rate of the de novo and salvage pathways, the rate of cell growth (growth rate) in three cell lines under various culture conditions, and the effect of hypoxanthine infusion on the metabolic rate of the de novo pathway in rat liver, we concluded the following. 1) In -A+hATase transfectants, ATase activity limits the rate of the de novo pathway, which is closely linked with the growth rate. 2) Purine nucleotides are synthesized preferentially by the salvage pathway as long as hypoxanthine, the most essential source of purine salvage, can be utilized, which was confirmed in rat liver in vivo by hypoxanthine infusion. The preferential usage of the salvage pathway results in sparing the energy expenditure required for de novo synthesis. 3) The regulatory capacity of the de novo pathway (about 200%) was larger than that of the salvage pathway (about 20%) with constant hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity.

Degradation of Amyloid β-Protein by a Metalloprotease Secreted by Microglia and Other Neural and Non-neural Cells

Amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is the major component of neuritic (amyloid) plaques in Alzheimer's disease, and its deposition is an early and constant event in the complex pathogenetic cascade of the disease. Although many studies have focused on the biosynthetic processing of the beta-amyloid precursor protein and on the production and polymerization of Abeta, understanding the degradation and clearance of Abeta has received very little attention. By incubating the conditioned medium of metabolically labeled Abeta-secreting cells with media of various cultured cell lines, we observed a time-dependent decrease in the amount of Abeta in the mixed media. The factor principally responsible for this decrease was a secreted metalloprotease released by both neural and non-neural cells. Among the cells examined, the microglial cell line, BV-2, produced the most Abeta-degrading activity. The protease was completely blocked by the metalloprotease inhibitor, 1,10-phenanthroline, and partially inhibited by EDTA, whereas inhibitors of other protease classes produced little or no inhibition. Substrate analysis suggests that the enzyme was a non-matrix metalloprotease. The protease cleaved both Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 peptides secreted by beta-amyloid precursor protein-transfected cells but failed to degrade low molecular weight oligomers of Abeta that form in the culture medium. Lipopolysaccharide, a stimulator of macrophages/microglia, activated BV-2 cells to increase their Abeta-degrading metalloprotease activity. We conclude that secreted Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 peptides are constitutively degraded by a metalloprotease released by microglia and other neural cells, providing a potential mechanism for the clearance of Abeta in brain tissue.

ATP dependence of Na+/H+ exchange. Nucleotide specificity and assessment of the role of phospholipids.

We studied the ATP dependence of NHE-1, the ubiquitous isoform of the Na+/H+ antiporter, using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique to apply nucleotides intracellularly while measuring cytosolic pH (pHi) by microfluorimetry. Na+/H+ exchange activity was measured as the Na(+)-driven pHi recovery from an acid load, which was imposed via the patch pipette. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts stably transfected with NHE-1, omission of ATP from the pipette solution inhibited Na+/H+ exchange. Conversely, ATP perfusion restored exchange activity in cells that had been metabolically depleted by 2-deoxy-D-glucose and oligomycin. In cells dialyzed in the presence of ATP, no "run-down" was observed even after extended periods, suggesting that the nucleotide is the only diffusible factor required for optimal NHE-1 activity. Half-maximal activation of the antiporter was obtained at approximately 5 mM Mg-ATP. Submillimolar concentrations failed to sustain Na+/H+ exchange even when an ATP regenerating system was included in the pipette solution. High ATP concentrations are also known to be required for the optimal function of other cation exchangers. In the case of the Na/Ca2+ exchanger, this requirement has been attributed to an aminophospholipid translocase, or "flippase.". The involvement of this enzyme in Na+/H+ exchange was examined using fluorescent phosphatidylserine, which is actively translocated by the flippase. ATP depletion decreased the transmembrane uptake of NBD-labeled phosphatidylserine (NBD-PS), indicating that the flippase was inhibited. Diamide, an agent reported to block the flippase, was as potent as ATP depletion in reducing NBD-PS uptake. However, diamide had no effect on Na+/H+ exchange, implying that the effect of ATP is not mediated by changes in lipid distribution across the plasma membrane. K-ATP and ATP gamma S were as efficient as Mg-ATP in sustaining NHE-1 activity, while AMP-PNP and AMP-PCP only partially substituted for ATP. In contrast, GTP gamma S was ineffective. We conclude that ATP is the only soluble factor necessary for optimal activity of the NHE-1 isoform of the antiporter. Mg2+ does not appear to be essential for the stimulatory effect of ATP. We propose that two mechanisms mediate the activation of the antiporter by ATP: one requires hydrolysis and is likely an energy-dependent event. The second process does not involve hydrolysis of the gamma-phosphate, excluding mediation by protein or lipid kinases. We suggest that this effect is due to binding of ATP to an as yet unidentified, nondiffusible effector that activates the antiporter.

Gene-specific nuclear and mitochondrial repair of formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase-sensitive sites in Chinese hamster ovary cells

This study examines the capacity of a mammalian cell to repair, at the gene level, DNA base lesions generated by photoactivation of acridine orange. Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts were exposed to acridine orange and visible light, and gene-specific DNA repair was measured in the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene and in the mitochondrial genome. DNA lesions were recognized by Escherichia coli formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG) which removes predominantly 8-oxodG and the corresponding formamidopyrimidine ring opened bases, and subsequently cleaves the DNA at the resulting apurinic site. FPG-recognized DNA lesions increased linearly with increasing photo-activation of AO, while cell survival was not affected by light alone and was negligibly affected by preincubation with AO in the dark. The frequency of induction of FPG-sensitive DNA damage by photoactivation of AO was similar in the transcribed and non-transcribed nuclear DNA as well as in the mitochondrial DNA. FPG-sensitive sites in the DHFR gene were repaired quickly, with 84% of adducts repaired within 4 h. The lesion frequency, kinetics and percent of repair of non-transcribed genomic DNA did not differ significantly from repair in the active DHFR gene up to 1 h postexposure. At late time points, transcribed DNA was repaired faster than the non-transcribed DNA. Mitochondrial DNA was efficiently repaired, at a rate similar to that in the active nuclear DNA.

Attenuation of collagen-induced arthritis in mice by treatment with vector cells engineered to secrete interleukin-13.

The anti-inflammatory effects of the recently identified cytokine interleukin (IL)-13 on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was explored and compared to those of IL-4 using systemic administration of these cytokines via two injections of xenogeneic vector cells transfected with a plasmid construct. CIA was induced in DBA/I mice by immunization with native bovine type II collagen (CII). Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts transfected with the mouse IL-13 or IL-4 genes were inoculated subcutaneously on days 10 and 25 post-priming with CII and mice were monitored for signs of arthritis by observers unaware of the status of the animal. Incidence and severity of CIA were significantly reduced in the groups of mice treated with IL-13 and IL-4 gene-transfected CHO cells compared to control groups receiving nontransfected cells. Expression of various cytokines in spleen cells from individual mice was assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction at different times after immunization. Our data show that IL-13-induced suppression of CIA coincided with a decreased TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the spleen of treated animals. This may explain at least partially the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-13 in CIA. Thus, our results may have important implications for the clinical use of T helper (Th)1/TH2 modulatory cytokines as therapeutic agents in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.