Histiocytic Lymphoma U937 Cells Research Articles

Lipopolysaccharide Inhibits TNF-Induced Apoptosis: Role of Nuclear Factor-κB Activation and Reactive Oxygen Intermediates

AbstractLPS, a component of the cell wall in Gram-negative bacteria, induces inflammation and septic shock syndrome by stimulating various inflammatory cytokines including TNF. How LPS affects the TNF-mediated cellular responses, however, is not understood. In this study, the effect of LPS on TNF-mediated apoptosis in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells was investigated. We found that treatment of cells with LPS completely abolished TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and activation of caspase-3. LPS-chelating antibiotic, polymyxin B, suppressed the antiapoptotic activity, indicating the specificity of the effect. Within minutes, LPS through CD14 induced the activation of NF-κB, degradation of IκBα (inhibitory subunit of NF-κB) and IκBβ, and nuclear translocation of p65. An antioxidant, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, which blocked LPS-induced NF-κB activation, also abolished the antiapoptotic effects of LPS at the same time. Besides TNF, the apoptosis induced by taxol and okadaic acid was also sensitive to LPS-induced NF-κB activation, whereas that induced by H2O2, doxorubicin, daunomycin, vincristine, and vinblastine was NF-κB insensitive. Tumor cells that constitutively expressed NF-κB also showed resistance to the apoptotic effects of TNF, taxol, and okadaic acid, but sensitivity to all other agents, indicating the critical role of NF-κB in blocking apoptosis induced by certain agents. Overall, these results indicate that LPS induces resistance to the apoptotic effects of TNF and other agents, and that NF-κB activation, whether induced or constitutive, inhibits this apoptosis.

Interleukin-4 Down-regulates Both Forms of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor and Receptor-mediated Apoptosis, NF-κB, AP-1, and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase: COMPARISON WITH INTERLEUKIN-13

The activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a proinflammatory cytokine, is regulated by a number of other cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4. How IL-4 regulates various activities of TNF is not fully understood. In the present report, we investigated the effect of IL-4 on the cell surface TNF receptors in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells. Pretreatment of cells with IL-4 down-regulated TNF receptors in a dose- and time-dependent manner; an almost 90% decrease occurred with 10 ng/ml IL-4 treatment for 24 h. Scatchard analysis revealed that the decrease was due to receptor number and not affinity. IL-13, which shares a common receptor subunit and various biological activities with IL-4, had no effect on TNF receptors. IL-4's effect on TNF receptors was not cell type-specific, since decreases also occurred on various epithelial and T cells. Both the p60 and p80 forms of the TNF receptor were down-regulated to the same extent. Western blot showed that IL-4 induced shedding of the TNF receptors. The decrease of TNF receptors by IL-4 was accompanied by down-regulation of TNF-induced activities, including cytotoxicity, caspase-3 activation, NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase induction. Wortmannin reversed the IL-4-induced TNF receptor down-regulation and all other measured cellular responses, indicating a critical role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Rapamycin also blocked the effect of IL-4-induced regulation, thus suggesting the role of p70 S6 kinase. Overall, our results suggest that TNF receptor down-regulation by IL-4 plays a critical role in the antagonistic effects of IL-4 on TNF-induced cellular responses and that this mechanism differs from that of IL-13.

Tetracycline derivatives induce apoptosis selectively in cultured monocytes and macrophages but not in mesenchymal cells.

Evidence for a non-antibiotic activity displayed by certain tetracycline derivatives is presented. This activity is a selective cytotoxicity toward cells of the monocytic lineage (the human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cell line and the mouse macrophage line RAW264) but not toward various cells of a mesenchymal lineage (including primary ovine articular chondrocytes and meniscal cells, murine calvarial osteoblasts and MG-63 osteosarcoma cells, and primary human neonatal foreskin fibroblasts). Cells were incubated with various chemically modified tetracycline derivatives (CMTs) or doxycycline for 24 hrs at a range of concentrations between zero and 50 micrograms/mL in both serum-containing and serum-free culture conditions. Assessment of cell viability by means of the MTT assay demonstrated a potent dose-dependent cytotoxic effect induced by compound CMT-3 and a less potent effect induced by doxycycline, but no apparent cytotoxic effect in the presence of either CMT-2 or CMT-5. Cytospin preparations analyzed by the labeling of DNA fragments indicated the same trends and suggested that cell death was via an apoptotic mechanism. The cytotoxic potency of these tetracyclines toward cells of the monocytic lineage could be diminished but not abolished by either the presence of 10% fetal calf serum within the culture medium, or pre-treatment with phorbol esters to promote a more macrophage-like phenotype. These data provide evidence that, in addition to well-characterized antibiotic and MMP-inhibitory characteristics, tetracyclines may function by a novel mechanism to induce selective apoptosis.

Evidence That Protein Kinase Cε Mediates Phorbol Ester Inhibition of Calphostin C- and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Apoptosis in U937 Histiocytic Lymphoma Cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) activators, such as the tumor-promoting phorbol esters, have been reported to protect several cell lines from apoptosis induced by a variety of agents. Recent evidence suggests that PKCepsilon is involved in protection of cardiac myocytes from hypoxia-induced cell death (Gray, M. O., Karliner, J. S., and Mochly-Rosen, D. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 30945-30951). We investigated the protective effects of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on U937 histiocytic lymphoma cells induced to undergo apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or by the specific PKC inhibitor calphostin C. U937 cells were transiently permeabilized with a peptide (epsilonV1-2) derived from the V1 region of PKCepsilon that has been reported to specifically block translocation of PKCepsilon. The epsilonV1-2 peptide blocked the inhibitory effect of TPA on both TNF-alpha- and calphostin C-induced apoptosis. A scrambled version of epsilonV1-2 and a peptide reported to inhibit PKCbeta translocation (betaC2-4) had no effect on the ability of TPA to inhibit apoptosis. These results suggest that PKCepsilon is required for the protective effect of TPA in TNF-alpha- and calphostin C-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, calphostin C reduced membrane-associated PKCepsilon activity and immunoreactivity, suggesting that PKCepsilon may play an important role in leukemic cell survival.

Acquisition of cellular resistance to 9-nitro-camptothecin correlates with suppression of transcription factor NF-kappa B activation and potentiation of cytotoxicity by tumor necrosis factor in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells.

Resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents is a major problem in cancer therapy. Continuous exposure of human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells to 9-nitro-camptothecin (9NC), an inhibitor of the nuclear DNA topoisomerase I, induces resistance to this drug. Because of the involvement of the nuclear factor NF-kappa B in the expression of several growth regulatory genes, we examined the activation of this transcription factor in 9NC-resistant U-937 cells. We found that resistance to increasing concentrations of 9NC correlated with resistance to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-dependent activation of NF-kappa B. However, the constitutive synthesis of NF-kappa B proteins remained unaffected. Cellular resistance was not unique to TNF, as other activators of NF-kappa B, including interleukin-1, phorbol ester and hydrogen peroxide, also had no effect. There was no difference between 9NC-sensitive and -resistant cells in the activation of NF-kappa B by okadaic acid. Other transcription factors, including AP-1 and Oct-1, were not affected in the resistant cells. When examined for the inhibitory subunit of NF-kappa B (I kappa B alpha), resistant cells showed a faster rate of resynthesis than the control. Interestingly, although 9NC resistance correlated with resistance to TNF-dependent NF-kappa B activation, TNF-dependent cytotoxicity in these cells was enhanced by several hundred fold despite a significant decrease in the number of TNF receptors. In conclusion, our results suggest that NF-kappa B activation may play a role in tumor cell killing by 9NC but not by TNF.

G1 arrest of U937 cells by onconase is associated with suppression of cyclin D3 expression, induction of p16INK4A, p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP and decreased pRb phosphorylation.

Onconase is a 12 kDa protein homologous to pancreatic RNase A isolated from amphibian oocytes which shows cytostatic and cytotoxic activity in vitro, inhibits growth of tumors in mice and is in phase III clinical trials. The present study was aimed to reveal mechanisms by which onconase perturbs the cell cycle progression. Human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells were treated with onconase and expression of cyclins D3 and E, as well as of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) p16INK4A, p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1 (all detected immunocytochemically) was measured by multiparameter flow cytometry, in relation to the cell cycle position. Also monitored was the status of phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) by a novel method utilizing mAb which specifically detects underphosphorylated pRb in individual cells. Cell incubation with 170 nM onconase for 24 h and longer led to their arrest in G1 which was accompanied by a decrease in expression of cyclin D3, no change in cyclin E, and enhanced expression of all three CKIs. pRb was underphosphorylated in the onconase arrested G1 cells but was phosphorylated in the cells that were still progressing through S and G2/M in the presence of onconase. The cytostatic effect of onconase thus appears to be mediated by downregulation of cyclin D3 combined with upregulation of p27KIP1, p16INK4A and p21WAF1/CIP1, the events which may prevent phosphorylation of pRb during G0/1 and result in cell arrest at the restriction point controlled by Cdk4/6 and D type cyclins.

HIV-Tat Protein Activates c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase and Activator Protein-1

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 tat (HIV-tat) protein, like other proinflammatory cytokines (such as TNF), activates a wide variety of cellular responses, some of which play a critical role in progression of HIV infection. Whether HIV-tat, like TNF, also activates c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the transcription factor activator protein (AP)-1 is not known. We show that treatment of human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells with the HIV-tat protein causes activation of JNK and AP-1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Transfection of a T cell line, H9 cells with the HIV-tat gene also resulted in an activation of JNK that was not further increased by treatment of cells with exogenous HIV-tat protein. Neutralizing Ab against HIV-tat inhibited the HIV-tat-mediated JNK activation. The activation of JNK by HIV-tat appears to be mediated through generation of free radical species, since pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) abolished the effect. Overall our results demonstrate that HIV-tat activates JNK and AP-1, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of AIDS.

Binding of human urokinase-type plasminogen activator to its receptor: residues involved in species specificity and binding.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (UPA), particularly when bound to its receptor (UPAR), is thought to play a major role in local proteolytic processes, thus facilitating cell migration as may occur during angiogenesis, neointima and atherosclerotic plaque formation, and tumor cell invasion. To facilitate understanding of the need and function of the UPA/UPAR interaction in cell migration and vascular remodeling, we changed several amino acid residues in UPA so as to interfere with its interaction with its receptor. The receptor-binding domain of UPA has been localized to a region in the growth factor domain between residues 20 and 32. Since the binding of UPA to UPAR appears to be species specific, we used the differences in amino acid sequences in the growth factor domain of UPA between various species to construct a human UPA variant that does not bind to the human UPAR. We substituted Asn22 for its mouse equivalent Tyr by site-directed mutagenesis. This mutant UPA had similar plasminogen activator characteristics as wild-type UPA, including its specific activity and interaction with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. However, no UPA/UPAR complexes could be observed in cross-linking experiments using DFP-treated 125I-labeled mutant UPA and lysates of various cells, including U937 histiocytic lymphoma cells, phorbol myristate acetate-treated human ECs, and mouse LB6 cells transfected with human UPAR cDNA. In direct binding experiments, DFP-treated 125I-labeled mutant UPA could not bind to phorbol myristate acetate-treated ECs, whereas wild-type UPA did bind. Furthermore, a 25-fold excess of wild-type UPA completely prevented the binding of DFP-treated 125I-labeled wild-type UPA to the human receptor on transfected LB6 cells, whereas an equal amount of mutant UPA had only a very small effect. In ligand blotting assays, very weak binding of mutant UPA to human UPAR could be observed. Changing Asn22 into the other amino acid residues alanine or glutamine had no effect on binding to UPAR on human ECs. The functional integrity of the growth factor domain in the non-receptor binding Asn22Tyr mutant is suggested by the fact that binding of this mutant to a murine UPAR can be restored after additional mutations in the growth factor domain, Asn27,His29,Trp30 to Arg27,Arg29,Arg30. We conclude that Asn22 and Asn27,His29,Trp30 in human UPA are key determinants in the species-specific binding of the enzyme to its receptor and that changing Asn22 into Tyr results in a UPA mutant with strongly reduced binding to UPAR.

In vitro inhibition of binding of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by monoclonal antibody to TNF receptor on glioma cell and monocyte.

The use of monoclonal antibodies to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, the TNF-p55 receptor (TNF-p55R) and the TNF-p75 receptor (TNF-p75R), was evaluated to reduce the effects of TNF caused by binding to TNF-p75R. Competitive binding of anti-TNF-p55R (mAbp55R) and anti-TNF-p75R monoclonal antibodies (mAbp75R) with iodine-125-labeled TNF-alpha to GL-9 glioma cells and U937 histiocytic lymphoma cells was evaluated. The effects of mAbp55R and mAbp75R on the growth suppression by TNF-alpha of GL-9 cells and TNF-alpha production in U937 cells were also examined. mAbp75R bound to U937 cells competitively with TNF-alpha and suppressed TNF-alpha production by U937, but had no effect on the growth inhibition of GL-9 human glioma cell by TNF-alpha in vitro. These findings suggest that co-administration of TNF-p75R antagonist with TNF-alpha may decrease the toxicity of TNF-alpha administration resulting in a better therapeutic result.

Expression of the Zn finger gene, EVI-1, in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The EVI-1 gene encodes a Zn finger, DNA binding protein previously detected in some acute myelogenous leukemias (AML) and myelodysplasias (MDS), but not in normal marrow or cord blood cells. Experimental studies suggest EVI-1 blocks cellular differentiation by binding to GATA-1 or other specific DNA sequences controlling gene expression, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of some AMLs. To further define potential roles for EVI-1 in leukemia pathogenesis, we studied its regulation in acute promyelocytic leukemias (APL). Seven of 11 APL cases expressed EVI-1 RNA detected by RNA PCR at diagnosis, and expression was detected in two additional cases after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Two of four cases studied at relapse also expressed EVI-1 RNA. To investigate regulation of EVI-1 expression in APL, we examined its expression in the NB4 APL cell line. NB4 cells did not express EVI-1 under basal conditions, but expressed EVI-1 after ATRA-induced differentiation. When NB4 cells were exposed to ATRA and transferred to cultures with N,N'-hexamethylene-bis-acetamide (HMBA), differentiation occurred but EVI-1 RNA was not detected, indicating that EVI-1 expression was not required for terminal, NB4 differentiation. ATRA-resistant NB4 cells were obtained by continuous culture in gradually increasing concentrations of ATRA. These cells did not express markers of differentiation but continued to express EVI-1 for several weeks even after ATRA withdrawal. To assess whether expression of the APL PML-RAR alpha fusion gene alone was sufficient for ATRA induction of EVI-1, the PML-RAR alpha gene cDNA was expressed in U937 histiocytic lymphoma cells. ATRA treatment of PML-RAR alpha-transfected or control U937 cells did not induce EVI-1 expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the EVI-1 gene is consistently expressed in APL cells either constitutively or after ATRA treatment. ATRA represents the first biologically active agent shown to specifically regulate EVI-1 expression in blood cells. In contrast to previous studies in AML and MDS, the pattern of EVI-1 expression suggests it may facilitate rather than inhibit myeloid differentiation during ATRA treatment. However, effects of EVI-1 expression are likely to be complex, and expression in ATRA-resistant APL cells may indicate multiple roles for this gene.

2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (cladribine) and its analogues are good substrates and potent selective inhibitors of Escherichia coli purine-nucleoside phosphorylase.

2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (CldAdo), a nucleoside that has proven useful in the treatment of several chronic lymphoid malignancies, and its analogue, 2-bromo-2'-deoxyadenosine, are both effective inhibitors of the bacterial (Escherichia coli) purine-nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), with Ki values of 4.5 microM and 6.3 microM, respectively. The examination of a series of base-modified analogues of CldAdo has shown that several other compounds have similar inhibitor properties, and has indicated that 6-benzyloxy-2-chloro-9-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purine is the most potent inhibitor with a Ki value of 0.5 microM, competitive with respect to inosine (Ino). CldAdo itself and its base-modified analogues, discounting those substituted at C(8), are also substrates for the E. coli PNP and undergo rapid glycosidic bond cleavage. CldAdo is degraded with substrate efficiency, i.e. Vmax/Km similar to that observed for Ino (130%), although the individual kinetic constants, Km and Vmax, are both approximately an order of magnitude lower than for Ino. All compounds tested are totally inactive as substrates and inhibitors for mammalian (calf spleen) PNP and therefore constitute a new class of potent selective, although cleavable, inhibitors of bacterial phosphorylases. 8-Bromo-2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine and 8-thio-2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine are the only base-modified CldAdo derivatives showing inhibitory activity against MOLT-3 (acute T-cell leukemia) and U-937 (histiocytic lymphoma) cells and, as shown in this study, are resistant to degradation by E. coli PNP. The above-mentioned results suggest that both analogues could be effective as oral cytotoxic agents that are noncleavable by enteric bacteria.

Retinoids Downregulate Both p60 and p80 Forms of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors in Human Histiocytic Lymphoma U-937 Cells

Because retinoids are known to modulate the growth and differentiation effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), we investigated the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) on the cell surface expression of TNF receptors in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells. RA decreased the specific binding of 125I-labeled TNF to these cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The maximal decrease occurred when cells were treated with 1 mumol/L RA for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. Scatchard analysis of the binding indicated that the decrease by RA was caused by a decrease in receptor number and not by a decrease in affinity. The downmodulation of TNF receptors was also confirmed by covalent receptor-ligand cross-linking studies. Receptor-mediated internalization of the ligand was also found to be decreased on treatment of cells with RA. Northern blot analysis also indicated a decrease in the transcript of the receptor. By using antibodies specific to either the p60 or p80 form of the TNF receptor, we found that both receptors were downregulated by RA. RA treatment also decreased TNF receptors on acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1. Other analogues of RA, specifically 9-cis-RA, (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8- tetrahydro-2-naphthalenyl)-1-propenyl]-benzoic acid (TTNPB), and 3-methyl-TTNPB, which differ in their specificity towards different RA receptors, were also active in downregulating TNF receptors. 3-Methyl-TTNPB, which is more specific for the RXR form of the RA receptor, was found to be most potent. The downregulation of TNF receptors by RA correlated with the downmodulation of the antiproliferative effects of TNF against U-937 cells. Overall, our results indicate that RA downmodulates both the p60 and p80 form of the TNF receptor on cells of myeloid origin, which correlates with the cellular response.

Role of tumor necrosis factor receptors in the activation of nuclear factor kappa B in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been shown to mediate numerous cellular responses through its interaction with two distinct types of receptor. However, the relationship between TNF receptor and the biological response is not well understood. Modulation of the number of cell surface receptors by various agents has shown a lack of direct correlation with biological responses to the cytokine. In this report, we used several approaches to investigate the relationship between TNF receptor number and an early response in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells. When we examined the activation of the nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), an event mediated by TNF within 10-15 min, we discovered a correlation between TNF receptor occupancy up to a certain threshold and the extent of activation of the transcription factor. In addition, by kinetically down-regulating TNF receptor expression with phorbol esters, cycloheximide, or trypsin, we determined that receptors were necessary for transduction of the TNF signal. However, 10-25% of total receptors were sufficient for optimum induction of the NF-kappa B signal. When examined in different cell lines, the activation of an early biological response was found to be related not only to the TNF receptor number but also to the type of TNF receptor. These results, overall, suggest that although TNF receptors are essential for induction of NF-kappa B, a small percentage is sufficient to fully transduce this signal.

Role of sulfhydryl groups in induction of cell surface down-modulation and shedding of extracellular domain of human TNF receptors in human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells.

The interaction of different polypeptide growth factors with their cell surface receptors, which are typically rich in cysteine, is modulated by sulfhydryl (SH) reagents. Because the extracellular domain of both human TNFRs are likewise rich in cysteine residues, we examined the effect of SH reagents on these receptors in human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells, which express both p60 and p80 forms. Iodoacetamide induced down-regulation of cell surface TNFRs in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Down-regulation was complete at 10 mM IAA for 1 h at 37 degrees C. The decrease was minimal at 4 degrees C. The down-modulation was also observed with other cell-permeable and -impermeable thiol reagents. The expression of other cell surface molecules such as CD3, CD11b, CD23, and CD25 were not affected. IAA induced the down-regulation of TNFR on cells of both epithelial and myeloid origin. With the use of receptor-specific Abs, we found that the kinetics of down-modulation of the p60 and p80 receptors by IAA were very similar. We also found that down-modulation was not a result of internalization but rather of the shedding of the receptors, as ascertained by receptor-ligand cross-linking analysis, immunoassay, Western blot analysis, and ligand-blot analysis. When TNFRs with a molecular mass of 80 kDa disappeared from the cell surface, a 42-kDa polypeptide appeared in the medium. Thus, we demonstrate that SH reagents down-regulate TNFRs by inducing shedding of both receptors from the cell surface, most likely by activating an endopeptidase that cleaves the receptor.

Expression and Biochemical Characterization of Human Protein Kinase C‐θ

In this study, the recently identified human protein kinase C-theta (PKC-theta) isoform has been biochemically characterized in detail. An antiserum raised against the unique V3 domain of PKC-theta identified an 80-kDa protein in all human T-cell lines tested, in erythroleukemia K562 cells and in histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells, but not in a B-lymphoma line (Raji) or in several melanoma, carcinoma, schwanoma or astrocytoma lines, confirming, at the protein level, its predominant expression in hematopoietic cell lines, in particular T cells. Immunoreactive PKC-theta was detected almost exclusively in the cytosolic compartment of unstimulated Jurkat T cells. Stimulation with phorbol ester, however, caused rapid translocation to the membrane. In order to compare the properties of PKC-theta with a representative member of the Ca(2+)-dependent PKC enzymes, full-length cDNAs encoding PKC-theta or PKC-alpha were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells, and recombinant enzymes were partially purified via a six-histidine peptide tag. The catalytic activity of these PKC enzymes was assayed against distinct substrates in the absence and presence of known PKC cofactors. Significant differences were found with respect to activation requirements and substrate preferences between PKC-theta and PKC-alpha. Both enzymes were stimulated by phospholipid and phorbol ester, and were active towards a PKC-derived substrate peptide corresponding to the pseudosubstrate site of PKC. In contrast to PKC-alpha, however, full activation of PKC-theta did not require Ca2+, and its basal activity towards histone H1 was not stimulated by lipid cofactors. Additionally, a myelin-basic-protein-(MBP)-derived peptide, which was readily phosphorylated by PKC-alpha, was a poor substrate for PKC-theta. Similar to PKC-alpha, transient PKC-theta overexpression in murine EL4 thymoma cells caused an approximately 2.5-fold increase in the phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced transcriptional activation of an interleukin-2 promoter-reporter gene construct. The unique expression and functional properties of PKC-theta suggest that it may play a specialized role in T-cell signaling pathways.

Physical and functional association of a serine-threonine protein kinase to the cytoplasmic domain of the p80 form of the human tumor necrosis factor receptor in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) binds two distinct cell surface receptors designated p60 and p80. Our previous studies indicate that a protein kinase from U-937 cells binds to and phosphorylates the p60 receptor. While the p80 receptor is phosphorylated in vivo, no association of a protein kinase has been described. We employed a fusion protein comprising of glutathione S-transferase and the cytoplasmic domain of the p80 receptor (GST-p80CD) to identify cellular proteins that might associate with this receptor. From 35S- and 32P-labeled cells, a protein of 59 kDa bound specifically to GST-p80CD. In vitro kinase reactions indicated that serine/threonine protein kinase activity associated with GST-p80CD and causes its phosphorylation. Additionally, a 59-kDa phosphoprotein was also identified after kinase reactions of proteins bound to GST-p80CD. This kinase activity required either Mg2+ or Mn2+ for optimal activity, and it phosphorylated myelin basic protein, histone H2B, and also the cytoplasmic domain of the p60 receptor. Treatment of cells with TNF increased the p80 receptor-associated kinase activity by 200%. In summary, our results provide evidence of a novel ligand-activated serine/threonine protein kinase that associates with the cytoplasmic domain of the p80 receptor and causes the phosphorylation of both forms of the TNF receptor. This p80 TNF receptor-associated protein and the associated kinase described here are referred to as p80-TRAP and p80-TRAK, respectively.

Identification of a protein kinase associated with the cytoplasmic domain of the p60 tumor necrosis factor receptor.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been shown to bind two distinct receptors, designated p60 and p80, with high affinity, resulting, within minutes, in phosphorylation of several proteins. The receptors themselves do not exhibit protein kinase activity nor have any associated proteins been identified. We employed the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein system consisting of the cytoplasmic domain of p60 (GST-p60CD delta 1) as a probe to help us identify receptor-associated proteins from human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cells. We found that a protein of approximately 52 kDa (pp52) bound to GST-p60CD delta 1 from [35S]methionine- and 32P-labeled cells. The associated protein was phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues. Furthermore, we identified serine/threonine kinase activity associated with p60CD delta 1 that required either Mn2+ or Mg2+ for optimal activity. The preferred substrates for this kinase, in addition to p60CD delta 1, included casein and histone H1, but not histone H2B, myelin basic protein, enolase, or the cytoplasmic domain of p80. As was the case in U-937 cells, p60CD delta 1-associated kinase activity was also identified in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells and human foreskin fibroblasts. TNF stimulation of MCF-7 and foreskin fibroblasts for 5-15 min induced approximately 50 and 240% increases in phosphorylation of p60CD delta 1, respectively. Thus, our results provide the first evidence for protein kinase activity that is specifically associated with the cytoplasmic domain of the p60 form of the TNF receptor and causes its phosphorylation. This p60 TNF receptor-associated protein and the associated kinase described here are referred to as p60-TRAP and p60-TRAK, respectively.

Relative Quantification of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme mRNA in Human Smooth Muscle Cells, Monocytes, and Lymphocytes by the Polymerase Chain Reaction

A method was developed for relative quantification of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA in as few as 100 cells. After reverse transcription of total RNA to cDNA, multiplexed polymerase chain reaction with two sets of primers amplified ACE cDNA and that of an internal standard glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) simultaneously. By adjusting primer pair concentrations, both ACE and GAPDH were amplified with constant efficiencies. Macrophage-like U937 histiocytic lymphoma cells expressed ACE mRNA constitutively. Freshly isolated human monocytes did not express ACE mRNA initially, but after 4 days in culture had 8% of the amount found in U937 cells. After phorbol ester stimulation, monocytes transcribed ACE at levels comparable to U937 cells. Human smooth muscle cells had ninefold more ACE mRNA than 4-day monocytes, but 30% less than U937 cells. In contrast, a mixed population of lymphocytes was devoid of ACE mRNA.

Vortex flow filtration of mammalian and insect cells.

The use of vortex flow filtration for harvesting cells or conditioned medium from large scale bioreactors has proven to be an efficient, low shear method of cell concentration and conditioned medium clarification. Several 8-10 L batches of the human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cell line (ATCC CRL 1593) were concentrated to less than 1 L by vortex flow filtration through a 3.0 microns membrane. An aggressive filtration regimen caused a 17% loss of cell viability and a 32% loss of IL-4 receptor binding capacity when compared to a batch centrifuged control. A reduction of the rotor speed from 1500 to 500 RPM and reduction of system back pressure from 10 to 0 PSIG resulted in cell viability and IL-4 binding capacity comparable to the control. Several 10 L batches of baculovirus infected Sf-9 cells were also concentrated to less than 1 L by vortex flow filtration through a 3.0 microns membrane. SDS-PAGE analysis of filtrate samples showed that aggressive filtration caused cell damage which led to contamination of the process stream by cellular lysate. When rotor speed was reduced to 500 RPM and system back pressure was reduced to 0 PSIG, the amount of contaminating lysate proteins in filtrate samples was comparable to a batch centrifuged control.

Homologous down-regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor down-modulates cellular hormone responsiveness in human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells.

One of the determinants of cellular responsiveness to glucocorticoid hormone is the concentration of the receptor protein. It is well-known that cellular receptor levels are down-regulated by the cognate ligands, but the biological significance of this homologous down-regulation of the receptor has not yet been completely understood. We showed that in human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U937 the cellular glucorticoid receptor was homologously down-regulated by means of both ligand binding and Western immunoblot experiments. Reduction of the receptor was saturable, and the receptor levels tended to return to the levels before treatment after 3-day culture in the presence of the hormone. Next, using the cells which were pretreated with the hormone for 0 to 3 days, hormonal inducibility of the transiently-transfected reporter gene and the inhibitory effect of the hormone on cellular 3-O-methyl glucose uptake were determined. Hormonal inducibility of the reporter gene was progressively reduced, and thereafter tended to be restored, apparently in accordance with the cyclic change in amount of the receptor. The glucose uptake inhibiting effect of the hormone also revealed this cyclic pattern. In summary, in U937 cells glucocorticoid receptor was homologously down-regulated and may play a pivotal role in attenuating hormone responsiveness.