Lymphoma Namalwa Cells Research Articles

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) decrease the expression of recombination-activating genes (RAG1 and RAG2) in human B lymphoma Namalwa cells

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are omnipresent and have been shown to induce a wide range of adverse effects, including hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity and immunotoxicity. So far, little information is available about the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of PFASs, including those related to their immunotoxicity. Reported immunotoxic effects of PFASs include decreased antibody responses in experimental animals and humans, indicating that PFASs may, among others, affect B cell function. In the present study, we first assessed the effects of PFOA on the transcriptome of the human Namalwa B cell line using RNA seq analysis. Gene expression changes, analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, pointed to various cellular processes affected by PFOA, including ‘B cell development’ and ‘Primary immunodeficiency signaling’. Interestingly, PFOA decreased the expression of RAG1 and RAG2, genes involved in immunoglobulin and T cell receptor V(D)J recombination. As a next step, time- and concentration-dependent changes in the expression of RAG1 and RAG2 upon exposure to PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and PFOS were studied through RT-qPCR analysis. Analysis with the concentration–response modeling software PROAST resulted in the following potency ranking: PFNA > PFOA > PFOS > PFHxS. Altogether, the present in vitro study provides insights into the effects of selected PFASs on B cells, identifying RAG1 and RAG2 expression as possible relevant targets that may play a role in the immunotoxicity of PFASs.

5-Azacytidine Suppresses the Expression of Tissue-Specific Oct-1 Isoform in Namalwa Burkitt’s Lymphoma Cell Culture

Overexpression of the transcription factor POU2F1 (Oct-1) increases the malignant potential of the tumor and determines the unfavorable prognosis for both solid and hematological cases of the disease in human carcinogenesis. The Oct-1 level determines the rate of development of the disease in acute myelodysplastic leukemia (AML), and a decrease in its expression significantly delays the development of leukemia in mice; however, a complete knockout of Oct-1 leads to the death of the animals. POU2F1 (Oct-1) is expressed as several isoforms transcribed from alternative promoters. They include both ubiquitous and tissue-specific isoforms. It was shown that in Burkitt’s lymphoma Namalwa cells 5-azacytidine specifically suppresses the expression of the tissue-specific isoform Oct-1L mRNA (level of Oct-1L is abnormally increased in these cells), while not causing changes in the amount of the ubiquitous isoform Oct-1A mRNA. These results show that it is possible to selectively reduce the transcription level of the Oct-1L isoform aberrantly expressed in human tumor cells.

Novel function of scutellarin in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis of human Burkitt lymphoma Namalwa cells

Anti-lymphoma therapy continues to present a major challenge. Even though cytotoxic therapy, immunotherapy and molecularly targeted therapy have been used in the clinic to treat the disease, effective anti-lymphoma drugs are still needed. In this study, we explored novel anti-lymphoma agents and found that scutellarin, an active component of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb Erigeron breviscapus, executed an anti-lymphoma effect. Scutellarin diminished the proliferation of B-lymphoma Namalwa cells in vitro and inhibited lymphoma growth in Namalwa cell-xenotransplanted mice without obvious toxicity. A mechanism study showed that scutellarin at doses of less than 10 μM induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 transition without the induction of cell apoptosis, which was accompanied by down-regulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4 expression. In contrast, scutellarin at concentrations of 15 μM or above promoted Namalwa cell apoptosis, which was partially associated with the activation of caspases. These results suggest that scutellarin is a new potential anti-lymphoma candidate.

Commonalities Between pDCs and B Cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are a subpopulation of dendritic cells that secrete large amounts of interferons (IFNs) in response to stimuli that activate the Toll-like receptors TLR9 or TLR7. The C-type lectin blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA2) is uniquely expressed by pDCs, and antibodies that bind BDCA2 inhibit IFN production in response to TLR signaling. Cao et al . found that the abundance of BDCA2 at the cell surface was increased, and signaling was reconstituted in Jurkat cells or a mouse T cell hybridoma cell line when the cells were also transfected to express the γ subunit of the Fcε receptor (FcεR1γ) but not when BDCA2 was coexpressed with the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) adaptor DAP12 or the related protein DAP10. Analysis of the mRNA and protein abundance of signaling proteins associated with either B cell receptor (BCR) or T cell receptor (TCR) signaling revealed that the signaling cascade of isolated human pDCs most resembled that downstream of BCRs and included the B cell-specific adaptor B cell linker (BLNK, also known as SLP-65 or BASH). Studies with stably transfected human Burkitt lymphoma Namalwa cells (expressing BDCA2, FcεR1γ, and IRF7, a necessary downstream factor) showed that antibody-mediated cross-linking of BDCA2 inhibited IFN production in response to TLR9, TLR7, or TLR8 activation. Thus, BDCA2 appears to use the FcεR1γ as the ITAM adaptor to signal through a BCR-like signaling pathway to mediate inhibition of TLR signaling in pDCs. W. Cao, L. Zhang, D. B. Rosen, L. Bover, G. Watanabe, M. Bao, L. L. Lanier, Y.-J. Liu, BDCA2/FCεRIγ complex signals through a novel BCR-like pathway in human plasmacytoid dendritic cells. PLoS Biol. 5 , e248 (2007). [PubMed]

Procaspase-2S inhibits procaspase-3 processing and activation, preventing ROCK-1-mediated apoptotic blebbing and body formation in human B lymphoma Namalwa cells

Procaspase-2S has been reported to selectively prevent membrane blebbing and apoptotic body formation in human monocytic-like leukemic U937 cells after etoposide (VP-16) treatment (Droin et al., Oncogene 20. 260-269, 2001). Here, we show that procaspase-2S overexpressed in human B lymphoma Namalwa cells inhibits procaspase-3 processing and activation, preventing cleavage and activation of Rho GTPase-associated ROCK-1 kinase. Failure of ROCK-1 activation in Namalwa cells correlates with a sustained delay in the appearance of membrane blebbing and apoptotic body formation after VP-16 treatment. Reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicate that procaspase-2S binds to procaspase-3, but not procaspase-2L and -9 in untreated and VP-16-treated Namalwa cells. These data suggest that procaspase-2S-mediated anti-apoptotic effects are associated with inhibition of the processing and activation of procaspase-3 in VP-16-treated cells.

Mosquito cells bind and replicate hepatitis C virus.

Several studies have demonstrated some hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in lymphocyte and hepatocyte cell lines such as in African green monkey Vero cells. The aim of the present study was to select other cell lines able to bind and replicate HCV. Human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 cells, human lymphoma Namalwa cells, Vero and mosquito AP61 cells were inoculated with HCV-positive plasma, washed six times and examined for the presence of the viral genome at different times post infection, using an RT-PCR method. Binding of HCV to cells was estimated by HCV RNA detection in cells 2 hr after inoculation and in the last wash of these cells. Successive virus passages in cells were carried out. All the cells studied were able to bind HCV but only AP61 and Vero cells provided evidence of replication and production of infectious virus: virus RNA was detected during 28 days post-infection in four successive virus passages. CD81 molecules, a putative HCV receptor, were detected by cytofluorometric analysis. Vero cells express CD81 molecules whereas these molecules were not detected on AP61 cells. It is suggested that other receptors are involved in HCV binding to Vero and AP61 cells.

Characterization of Bax-ς, a Cell Death-Inducing Isoform of Bax

The Ced-9/Bcl-like family of genes codes for proteins that have antiapoptotic and proapoptotic activity. Several Bax isoproteins have been detected by 2-D gel electrophoresis, and a novel human member, designated as Bax-ς, has been identified and cloned from human cancer promyelocytic cells. Bax-ς contains BH-3, BH-1, and BH-2 domains, putative α-5 and α-6 helices, and the carboxy-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane domain but lacks amino acids 159 to 171 compared to Bax-α. mRNA expression analysis by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and RNase protection assays have revealed that Bax-ς is expressed in a variety of human cancer cell lines and normal tissues. To investigate the potential role of Bax-ς in apoptosis, first its effects were compared to those of Bax-α by transient expression in human B lymphoma Namalwa cells. Both Bax-ς and Bax-α promoted apoptosis, as detected by DNA fragmentation and morphological analysis by electron microscopy. The apoptosis induced by Bax-ς and Bax-α was correlated with their expression, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. In a yeast two-hybrid system, Bax-ς interacted with several Ced-9/Bcl family members but had no affinity for the human Egl-1 homologs Bik and Bad and the Ced-4 homolog Apaf-1. In human cells, Bax-ς function was counteracted by Bcl-xL overexpression, and co-immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that Bax-ς was associated with Bcl-xL. Furthermore, Bax-ς overexpression increased cell death induced by various concentrations of genotoxic agents with the most pronounced effect occurring at low camptothecin and vinblastine dose levels. Our results suggest that Bax-ς, a novel variant of Bax, encodes a protein with a proapoptotic effect and mode of action similar to those of Bax-α.

Mosquito cells bind and replicate hepatitis C virus

Several studies have demonstrated some hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in lymphocyte and hepatocyte cell lines such as in African green monkey Vero cells. The aim of the present study was to select other cell lines able to bind and replicate HCV. Human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 cells, human lymphoma Namalwa cells, Vero and mosquito AP61 cells were inoculated with HCV-positive plasma, washed six times and examined for the presence of the viral genome at different times post infection, using an RT-PCR method. Binding of HCV to cells was estimated by HCV RNA detection in cells 2 hr after inoculation and in the last wash of these cells. Successive virus passages in cells were carried out. All the cells studied were able to bind HCV but only AP61 and Vero cells provided evidence of replication and production of infectious virus: virus RNA was detected during 28 days post-infection in four successive virus passages. CD81 molecules, a putative HCV receptor, were detected by cytofluorometric analysis. Vero cells express CD81 molecules whereas these molecules were not detected on AP61 cells. It is suggested that other receptors are involved in HCV binding to Vero and AP61 cells. J. Med. Virol. 64:6–12, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Bax-alpha promotes apoptosis induced by cancer chemotherapy and accelerates the activation of caspase 3-like cysteine proteases in p53 double mutant B lymphoma Namalwa cells.

Stable transfected human p53 (mt/mt) B lymphoma Namalwa variant lines showing differential expression of the Bax-alpha protein were derived under hygromycin selection. Overexpression of Bax-alpha in these variant cells accelerates cell death induced by short or continuous treatments with various concentrations of camptothecin, etoposide, vinblastine and shows no accelerating cell death activity in cis-platinum and paclitaxel-treated cells. Activation of apoptosis and oligonucleosome-sized DNA fragmentation was observed in the variant lines with more pronounced effect in cells containing high level of Bax-alpha protein. These results suggest that increased cell death mediated by anticancer drugs correlates with Bax-alpha level of expression and that Bax-alpha sensitizes Namalwa cells treated at low drug concentrations. The extent of DNA synthesis inhibition following DNA topoisomerase inhibitor treatments was similar in control and all transfected Namalwa cells suggesting that Bax-alpha acts downstream of DNA topoisomerase-mediated DNA strand breaks. To define further the relation between Bax-alpha expression and apoptosis activation, kinetics of caspase activation was measured in drug-treated cells. Caspase activities were measured using specific fluorogenic peptide derivatives DABCYL-YVADAPV-EDANS and Ac-DEVD-AMC, substrates of the caspase 1-like and caspase 3-like families, respectively. In control and Bax-alpha transfected Namalwa cells no increase in caspase 1-like activity was detected following camptothecin and etoposide treatments. In contrast, a significant difference in Ac-DEVD-AMC hydrolysis activity was observed in Bax-alpha transfected Namalwa cells compared to that of control Namalwa cells after camptothecin and etoposide treatment. Increased caspase 3-like activity correlated also with poly(ADPribosyl) polymerase cleavage. Taken together, these results suggest that Bax-alpha sensitize B lymphoma cells to series of anticancer drugs and accelerates the activation of apoptotic protease cascade.

Monoclonal Antibodies against Human Neurotrophin-3

Hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against human neurotrophin-3 (hNT-3) were established using recombinant hNT-3 produced in CHO cells and E. coli as immunogens. Of the five MoAbs obtained, MoAb 3w3 showed the highest antibody titer and also best neutralized NT-3 activity as measured by the survival of chick embryonic day-8 dorsal root ganglia neurons. A sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for NT-3 was established with solid phase MoAb 3W3 and the Fab′ fragment of MoAb 3W3 conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. The detection limit was 2.7pg/well of NT-3 and no cross-reactivity with nerve growth factor up to 100ng/well was observed. Using this EIA system we have screened a variety of cell lines for NT-3 production. Among these tested, only human Burkitt′s lymphoma Namalwa cells were found to be producing NT-3.

Inhibition of tumor growth in vivo with a soluble CD44-immunoglobulin fusion protein.

CD44H is the principal cell surface receptor for hyaluronate, which is a major glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix. Expression of CD44H is enhanced in a variety of malignant tumors and correlates with tumor aggressiveness, supporting the notion that interaction between CD44H and hyaluronate may play an important role in tumor growth and dissemination. In this report we show that in vivo tumor formation by human lymphoma Namalwa cells, stably transfected with CD44H, can be suppressed by a soluble human CD44H-immunoglobulin fusion protein. Disruption of the interaction between CD44H and its physiologic ligands may provide a novel strategy for controlling tumor growth in vivo.

Purification and characterization of immunoglobulin production stimulating factor-II? derived from Namalwa cells

Two immunoglobulin production stimulating factors (IPSF) have been found in human Burkitt's lymphoma Namalwa cells. One IPSF named IPSF-II alpha was purified and identified as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as previously reported. We report here purification, identification and characterization of IPSF-II beta. IPSF-II beta was purified by the serial use of ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydrophobic interaction column chromatography, anion-exchange column chromatography and gel filtration. The IPSF-II beta was estimated as a 46 KD monomeric polypeptide by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE. Partial amino acid sequence of the 46 KD protein was analyzed for 26 amino acid residues. The sequence very closely coincided with enolase (EC 4.2.1.11) derived from various origins and, it was completely homologous with that of human enolase alpha-chain. Rabbit muscle enolase stimulated IgM production of hybridoma lines, and IPSF-II beta had the enzymic activity. These results suggested that IPSF-II beta was alpha-enolase or its isozyme. IPSF activities of IPSF-II beta was stable in alkaline conditions whereas the enzymic activity was rapidly lost in alkaline conditions. Though IPSF-II beta stimulated IgM production of both human-human and mouse-mouse hybridoma lines in serum-free condition, it partially suppressed IgE production of mouse-mouse hybridoma lines.

Immunoglobulin production stimulating factor-II alpha (IPSF-II alpha) is glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase like protein.

Amino acid sequence of the 36 KD protein which is the active subunit of immunoglobulin production stimulating factor-II alpha (IPSF-II alpha) derived from Burkitt's lymphoma Namalwa cells was analyzed for the 20 amino acids from N-terminus. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein coincided very closely with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD; EC 1.2.1.12) derived from various origins. Especially, it was completely homologous with that of human liver GPD. Several GPD's derived from human erythrocyte, rabbit muscle and Bacillus stearothermophilus also stimulated IgM production of hybridomas, as well as IPSF-II alpha. Conversely, IPSF-II alpha had GPD enzymic activity as strong as rabbit muscle and B. stearothermophilus, and stronger than human erythrocyte GPD. These results suggested that 36 KD subunit of IPSF-II alpha was a GPD, or GPD like protein. The level of mRNA for IgM was not enhanced by IPSF-II alpha in hybridoma cells, though the IgM productivity of the cell was remarkably stimulated by the protein, indicating that IPSF-II alpha does not stimulate immunoglobulin production by enhancement of transcription.