Virus-transformed Cells Research Articles

Copy number increase of 1p36.33 and mitochondrial genome amplification in Epstein–Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines

Array CGH has been applied to detect chromosomal aberrations in cancer and genetic diseases. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-infected B lymphocytes are transformed to continuously proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), which are a very common genome resource for human genetic studies. We used bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) array CGH to assess a chromosomal aberration of LCLs in EBV-induced B-cell transformation. At early passages, LCLs exhibited a greater copy number variation in 1p36.33 compared to primary B-cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the increase in the copy number in 1p36.33. Because a segment of 1p36.33 is nearly identical to a part of the mitochondrial DNA, this increase was attributed to an increase in the copy number of mitochondrial DNA. The expression levels of mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes were elevated in the LCLs, which is consistent with the increased copy numbers of mitochondrial DNA, suggesting that increased mitochondrial biogenesis is indicative of the progression of EBV-mediated B-cell transformation. In addition, our array CGH of LCLs revealed potential copy number polymorphisms of chromosomal segments among Korean populations. Taken together, these findings suggest that LCLs in the early passages preserve the chromosomal integrity of primary B-cells at the cytogenetic level during EBV-transformed B-cell immortalization, except for a copy number variation in 1p36.33 due to increased mitochondrial DNA copy numbers. Thus, analyses of array CGH profiles of diseases should take into account the potential for copy number variation of 1p36.33.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) expression and hepatitis C virus–related chronic hepatitis

The response to antiviral therapy is lower in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients with genotype 1 than in those with genotype 2. Overexpression of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) gene in liver tissue is associated with a poorer treatment outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral genotype 1. Also, insulin resistance has been implicated in nonresponse to an anti-HCV treatment. To understand why HCV genotype 1 patients respond differently, we investigated SOCS3 gene expression, metabolic syndrome (MS), and the response to therapy in a cohort of patients with HCV-related hepatitis. A total of 198 patients (108 with genotype 1 and 90 with genotype 2) treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin were consecutively enrolled in the study. We measured SOCS3 expression in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from peripheral lymphocytes of a subset of 130 patients. MS was more frequent in genotype 1 patients than in genotype 2 patients (P < 0.01). Nonresponders (P < 0.01), MS (P < 0.001), and genotype 1 (P < 0.001) were significantly related to SOCS3 overexpression. However, SOCS3 levels were higher in nonresponders also, regardless of the genotype (P < 0.01). In a univariate analysis, the genotype (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001), SOCS3 (P < 0.001), and MS (P < 0.001) were significantly related to the response to therapy. However, in a multivariate analysis, SOCS3 was the only independent predictor of the response (odds ratio = 6.7; P < 0.005). We speculate that SOCS3 expression per se may influence the response to antiviral therapy and that the genotype 1b virus might induce its up-regulation. This may account for the different responses to therapy between genotype 1-infected and genotype 2-infected patients.

Quantitative analysis of human leucocyte antigen expression during culture of Epstein-Barr virustransformed cell lines using the Dako QIFIKIT

Pre-existing donor-specific human leucocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies in renal allograft recipients result in hyperacute and accelerated graft failure. These antibodies can be detected in flow cytometric assay systems using HLA-characterised Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B-lymphocyte cell lines. Confident assay performance is predicated by the expression of HLAs on the EBV-transformed B-cell line surface. Surface HLA expression of three EBV-transformed B-cell lines that had previously been used as part of a potential organ recipient serum screening panel at St James’ University Hospital, Leeds, are assessed for changes in the level of HLA expression over the nominal culture duration of eight days using the QIFIKIT (Dako, Denmark), a quantitative flow cytometry kit for assessing cell surface antigens. A comparison of the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the known antigen levels of the beads via a calibration graph permits determination of the antibody binding capacity of the cell lines. Results showed that HLA expression is not consistent throughout the cell culture, with optimal expression occurring during day 2 of culture. Inconsistent HLA expression demonstrated during the cell culture means that no assumption of the level of HLA expression can be made, and that cell lines used as part of a screening panel should have their HLA expression in cell culture determined.

Novel Pathway for Induction of Latent Virus from Resting CD4+T Cells in the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/Macaque Model of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Latency

Although combination therapy allows the suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viremia to undetectable levels, eradication has not been achieved because the virus persists in cellular reservoirs, particularly the latent reservoir in resting CD4(+) T lymphocytes. We previously established a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/macaque model to study latency. We describe here a novel mechanism for the induction of SIV from latently infected resting CD4(+) T cells. Several human cell lines including CEMx174 and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines mediated contact-dependent activation of resting macaque T cells and induction of latent SIV. Antibody-blocking assays showed that interactions between the costimulatory molecule CD2 and its ligand CD58 were involved, whereas soluble factors and interactions between T-cell receptors and major histocompatibility complex class II were not. Combinations of specific antibodies to CD2 also induced T-cell activation and virus induction in human resting CD4(+) T cells carrying latent HIV-1. This is the first demonstration that costimulatory signals can induce latent virus without the coengagement of the T-cell receptor, and this study might provide insights into potential pathways to target latent HIV-1.

The C‐terminus of murine S100A9 protein inhibits hyperalgesia induced by the agonist peptide of protease‐activated receptor 2 (PAR2)

S100A9 protein induces anti-nociception in rodents, in different experimental models of inflammatory pain. Herein, we investigated the effects of a fragment of the C-terminus of S100A9 (mS100A9p), on the hyperalgesia induced by serine proteases, through the activation of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2). Mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia induced by PAR2 agonists (SLIGRL-NH2 and trypsin) was measured in rats submitted to the paw pressure or plantar tests, and Egr-1 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in rat spinal cord dorsal horn. Calcium flux in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK), which naturally express PAR2, in Kirsten virus-transformed kidney cells, transfected (KNRK-PAR2) or not (KNRK) with PAR2, and in mouse dorsal root ganglia neurons (DRG) was measured by fluorimetric methods. mS100A9p inhibited mechanical hyperalgesia induced by trypsin, without modifying its enzymatic activity. Mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia induced by SLIGRL-NH2 were inhibited by mS100A9p. SLIGRL-NH2 enhanced Egr-1 expression, a marker of nociceptor activation, and this effect was inhibited by concomitant treatment with mS100A9p. mS100A9p inhibited calcium mobilization in DRG neurons in response to the PAR2 agonists trypsin and SLIGRL-NH2, but also in response to capsaicin and bradykinin, suggesting a direct effect of mS100A9 on sensory neurons. No effect on the calcium flux induced by trypsin or SLIGRL in HEK cells or KNRK-PAR2 cells was observed. These data demonstrate that mS100A9p interferes with mechanisms involved in nociception and hyperalgesia and modulates, possibly directly on sensory neurons, the PAR2-induced nociceptive signal.

Expression of P2 receptors in human B cells and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines

BackgroundEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection immortalizes primary B cells in vitro and generates lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), which are used for several purposes in immunological and genetic studies. Purinergic receptors, consisting of P2X and P2Y, are activated by extracellular nucleotides in most tissues and exert various physiological effects. In B cells, especially EBV-induced LCLs, their expression and function have not been well studied. We investigated the expression of P2 receptors on primary human B cells and LCLs using the quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for revealing the gene expression profile of the P2 receptor subtypes and their changes during transformation.ResultsThe mRNA transcripts of most P2 receptors were detected in primary B cells; the expression of P2X3 and P2X7 receptors was the lowest of all the P2 receptors. By contrast, LCLs expressed several dominant P2 receptors – P2X4, P2X5, and P2Y11 – in amounts similar to those seen in B cells infected with EBV for 2 weeks. The amount of most P2 subtypes in LCLs or EBV-infected B cells was lower than in normal B cells. However, the amount of P2X7 receptor expressed in LCLs was higher. Protein expression was studied using Western blotting to confirm the mRNA findings for P2X1, P2X4, P2X7, P2Y1, and P2Y11 receptors. ATP increased the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by enhancing the Ca2+ influx in both B cells and LCLs in a dose-dependent manner.ConclusionThese findings describe P2 receptor expression profiles and the effects of purinergic stimuli on B cells and suggest some plasticity in the expression of the P2 receptor phenotype. This may help explain the nature and effect of P2 receptors on B cells and their role in altering the characteristics of LCLs.

A Role for Intercellular Antigen Transfer in the Recognition of EBV-Transformed B Cell Lines by EBV Nuclear Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cells

The CD4+ T cell response to EBV may have an important role in controlling virus-driven B lymphoproliferation because CD4+ T cell clones to a subset of EBV nuclear Ag (EBNA) epitopes can directly recognize virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) in vitro and inhibit their growth. In this study, we used a panel of EBNA1, 2, 3A, and 3C-specific CD4+ T cell clones to study the route whereby endogenously expressed EBNAs access the HLA class II-presentation pathway. Two sets of results spoke against a direct route of intracellular access. First, none of the clones recognized cognate Ag overexpressed in cells from vaccinia vectors but did recognize Ag fused to an endo/lysosomal targeting sequence. Second, focusing on clones with the strongest LCL recognition that were specific for EBNA2- and EBNA3C-derived epitopes LCL recognition was unaffected by inhibiting autophagy, a postulated route for intracellular Ag delivery into the HLA class II pathway in LCL cells. Subsequently, using these same epitope-specific clones, we found that Ag-negative cells with the appropriate HLA-restricting allele could be efficiently sensitized to CD4+ T cell recognition by cocultivation with Ag-positive donor lines or by exposure to donor line-conditioned culture medium. Sensitization was mediated by a high m.w. antigenic species and required active Ag processing by recipient cells. We infer that intercellular Ag transfer plays a major role in the presentation of EBNA-derived CD4 epitopes by latently infected target cells.

Comparison of 12 Reference Genes for Normalization of Gene Expression Levels in Epstein-Barr Virus-Transformed Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines and Fibroblasts

Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-LCLs) and skin fibroblasts are often used to establish or confirm the effect of mutations on gene expression levels. Relative quantification of gene expression is usually achieved by comparison of the expression level of a gene of interest with that of a suitable reference gene. Hence, the choice of reference gene is critical in all experiments that require normalization of expression data. For normalization of gene expression levels in both EBV-LCLs and skin fibroblasts, we compared six common reference genes (ACTB, GAPDH, GUSB, HPRT1, PPIB, and TFRC) with six alternative reference genes (CLK2, COPS5, PCYT1A, RAD51L1, RNF10, and RNF111). The alternative genes were selected on the basis of their stability in expression levels in EBV-LCLs according to microarray data. The 12 genes were ranked according to stability in expression levels based on the standard deviation (SD) of the cycle threshold (Ct), geNorm, NormFinder, and the SD of the comparative cycle threshold (DeltaDeltaCt). In addition, we predicted the validity of an observed difference in expression level of a gene of interest between two samples when a specific reference gene is used. In our dataset, GUSB and CLK2 were the best choices as reference genes for EBV-LCLs and fibroblasts, respectively. For almost all reference genes, expression level differences of <2-fold between two samples were most likely not significant (p > 0.05). GAPDH for EBV-LCLs and GAPDH and HPRT1 for fibroblasts should not be used for normalization in these cell lines because of their variability in expression levels.

Diagnostic Strategy for the Detection of Dystrophin Gene Mutations in Asian Patients and Carriers Using Immortalized Cell Lines

Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy are X-linked recessive diseases of muscle degeneration caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. More than half of our local Asian patients have point mutations that cannot be detected by conventional multiplex polymerase chain reaction deletion screening. This study aimed to develop mutational screening and carrier detection for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy using protein truncation analysis from Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocyte cell lines. Messenger ribonucleic acid was extracted from fresh lymphocytes and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocyte cell lines of 14 patients. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed in 11 overlapping segments, followed by in vitro protein translation and truncation analysis. DNA sequencing was carried out for the corresponding complementary DNA regions, which showed aberrant truncated protein products. Carrier studies using this method were also performed for two families. Half of the patients had frame-shifting deletions, and the remaining seven patients showed point mutations, of which four were novel. These mutations were detected in messenger ribonucleic acid extracted from both fresh lymphocytes and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocyte cell lines. Carrier status was confirmed in one family and was found to be negative in the other family studied. Protein truncation analysis is an efficient method of screening truncating point mutations from immortalized lymphocyte cell lines from patients. This approach not only serves to prove the pathogenicity of both deletion- and nondeletion-type mutations; it is also effective for carrier detection. The use of such cell lines obviates the need for repeated blood and muscle sampling in patients and offers a perpetual source of messenger ribonucleic acid that can be used long after the patient's demise.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of the mouse cell line WMP2 by spectral karyotyping and multicolor banding applying murine probes

The Moloney murine leukemia virus-transformed suspension cell line WMP2 is derived from wild mice (Mus musculus) of the WMP/WMP strain. These mice carry nine pairs of metacentric Robertsonian translocation chromosomes. As the chromosomes of the wild-type mouse are all acrocentric, metaphase spreads of the WMP2 cells seam to be highly suited for physical gene mapping. Here we studied the WMP2 line using spectral karyotyping (SKY) combined with new established mouse specific multicolor banding (mcb) probes for the chromosomes X, 3, 4, 6 and 18. SKY revealed that the WMP2 cell line developed further four derivative chromosomes. After application of mcb five previously unrecognizable intrachromosomal rearrangements with 9 breakpoints were detected for the studied chromosomes.

The CLN9 Protein, a Regulator of Dihydroceramide Synthase

A new variant of a group of pediatric neurodegenerative diseases known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) or Batten disease has been identified. It is termed CLN9-deficient. CLN9-deficient fibroblasts have a distinctive phenotype of rapid growth and increased apoptosis and diminished levels of ceramide, dihydroceramide, and sphingomyelin. Transfection with CLN8 but not other NCL genes corrected growth and apoptosis in CLN9-deficient cells, although the entire CLN8 sequence was normal. CLN8 is one of the TRAM-Lag1-CLN8 proteins containing a Lag1 motif. The latter imparts (dihydro)ceramide synthase activity to yeast cells. Transfection with the yeast gene Lag1 Sc and the human homolog LASS1 increased ceramide levels and partially corrected growth and apoptosis in CLN9-deficient cells. LASS2,-4,,-5, and -6 also corrected growth and apoptosis. Dihydroceramide levels and dihydroceramide synthase activity were markedly diminished in CLN9-deficient cells. Sequencing of LASS1, LASS2, LASS4, LASS5, and LASS6 genes was normal, and expression levels were increased or normal in CLN9-deficient cells by reverse transcription-PCR. N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), a dihydroceramide synthase activator, corrected growth and apoptosis and increased dihydroceramide synthase activity. Ceramide levels dropped further, and there was no increase in de novo ceramide synthesis, probably due to the effects of 4-HPR as activator of dihydroceramide synthase and inhibitor of dihydroceramide desaturase. Fumonisin B1, a dihydroceramide synthase inhibitor, exaggerated the CLN9-deficient phenotype of accelerated growth, decreased ceramide and increased apoptosis. This was neutralized by 4-HPR. We conclude that the CLN9 protein may be a regulator of dihydroceramide synthase and that 4-HPR could be developed as a treatment for CLN9-deficient patients.

Stable Isotope Tagging of Epitopes

Identification of peptides presented in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules after viral infection is of strategic importance for vaccine development. Until recently, mass spectrometric identification of virus-induced peptides was based on comparative analysis of peptide pools isolated from uninfected and virus-infected cells. Here we report on a powerful strategy aiming at the rapid, unambiguous identification of naturally processed MHC class I-associated peptides, which are induced by viral infection. The methodology, stable isotope tagging of epitopes (SITE), is based on metabolic labeling of endogenously synthesized proteins during infection. This is accomplished by culturing virus-infected cells with stable isotope-labeled amino acids that are expected to be anchor residues (i.e. residues of the peptide that have amino acid side chains that bind into pockets lining the peptide-binding groove of the MHC class I molecule) for the human leukocyte antigen allele of interest. Subsequently these cells are mixed with an equal number of non-infected cells, which are cultured in normal medium. Finally peptides are acid-eluted from immunoprecipitated MHC molecules and subjected to two-dimensional nanoscale LC-MS analysis. Virus-induced peptides are identified through computer-assisted detection of characteristic, binomially distributed ratios of labeled and unlabeled molecules. Using this approach we identified novel measles virus and respiratory syncytial virus epitopes as well as infection-induced self-peptides in several cell types, showing that SITE is a unique and versatile method for unequivocal identification of disease-related MHC class I epitopes.

Long-Term Preservation of Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) of Natural Killer Cells Amplified In Vitro From the Peripheral Blood of Breast Cancer Patients After Chemotherapy

Twenty percent of breast cancer adenocarcinomas overexpress the oncogene c-erb-2 that is recognized by the humanized anti-Her2/neu monoclonal antibody Herceptin. Results from clinical studies suggest that antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is involved in the clinical response of Herceptin-treated patients. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the possibility of amplifying in vitro the CD3-/CD16+ natural killer (NK) cell subset that mediates ADCC from breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from six breast cancer patients taken 2 months after chemotherapy completion were co-cultured with an autologous irradiated Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) for 4-6 weeks. These LCL + IL2 activated cultures (ACs) were tested for ADCC potential, and their CD3/CD16 NK proportion was quantified. Among the ACs, the proportion of CD3-/CD16+ NK cells increased up to 64% over the first 2 weeks of culture and the ACs continued to expand for 1 month thereafter. Control and patient ACs displayed ADCC activity (tested in the presence of Rituximab against the autologous LCL to take into account any possible effect of inhibitory NK receptors) as well as against the MCF-7(Her2/neu) breast cancer cell line in the presence of Herceptin. This ADCC activity was maintained during the entire culture period. In conclusion, chemotherapy in breast cancer patients does not obviate the possibility of amplifying in vitro the NK cell subset that mediates ADCC. Consequently, adoptive transfer of lymphocytes mediating ADCC can be considered using this protocol to test its benefit in patients under Herceptin treatment.

DNA repair capacity measured by high throughput alkaline comet assays in EBV-transformed cell lines and peripheral blood cells from cancer patients and healthy volunteers

We collected peripheral blood (PB) from 556 patients with various types of cancer who had undergone radiotherapy and from 81 healthy volunteers. We exposed whole PB and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBLs) derived from the PB mononucleocytes to X-irradiation (5 Gy). Using the alkaline comet assay, we measured the immediate DNA damage and, at 15 min, the % residual damage. In PB, the immediate damage was similar in patients and healthy volunteers while the % residual damage (mean ± S.D.) was significantly higher in patients with breast (54.3 ± A23.9), cervical (54.7 ± A23.9), head/neck (56.8 ± A24.4), lung (60.1 ± 23.5), or esophageal cancers (59.5 ± A33.7) than in healthy donors (42.9 ± 19.6) ( P < 0.05). We did not observe such differences in the EBV-transformed cell lines. Thus, radiation sensitivity of fresh PB cells measured by the alkaline comet assay was related to cancer status.

Differential expression of LFA-3, Fas and MHC Class I on Ad5- and Ad12-transformed human cells and their susceptibility to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells

Adenovirus (Ad) E1A is a potent oncogene and has been shown to deregulate the expression of a large number of cellular genes leading to cellular transformation. Here we have analysed the expression of several immunomodulatory molecules on the surface of a set of human cell lines transformed with either Ad12 or Ad5. Human cells transformed with Ad12 demonstrated reduced expression of cell surface LFA-3, Fas and MHC class I when compared to Ad5-transformed cells. Furthermore, Ad12-transformed human cell lines demonstrated greater susceptibility to lysis by lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, compared to Ad5-transformed human cell lines. In contrast, previous studies with rodent cells showed that both Ad5- and Ad12-transformed rat cells were susceptible to LAK cells. Thus, transformation of human cells with Ad5 or Ad12 results in differences in the expression of immunomodulatory molecules on the cell surface and differential recognition of these virus-transformed cells by immune effector cells.

Susceptibility of B lymphocytes to adenovirus type 5 infection is dependent upon both coxsackie–adenovirus receptor and αvβ5 integrin expression

Human lymphocytes are resistant to genetic modification, particularly from recombinant adenoviruses, thus hampering the analysis of gene function using adenoviral vectors. This study engineered an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell line permissive to adenovirus infection and elucidated key roles for both the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor and alphavbeta5 integrin in mediating entry of adenoviruses into these cells. The work identified a strategy for engineering B cells to become susceptible to adenovirus infection and showed that such a strategy could be useful for the introduction of genes to alter lymphoblastoid-cell gene expression.

Yin and Yang of Myocardial Transforming Growth Factor-β 1

Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of chronic myocardial failure and mortality in the United States.1 After myocardial infarction (MI), the heart undergoes a well-characterized process of deleterious structural and molecular remodeling, marked by ventricular dilation, infarct wall thinning, and replacement fibrosis, with a corresponding progressive impairment of contractile function.2 Recent work has suggested that supplementation of myocardial cells with exogenous bone marrow–derived stem cell populations may have the potential to regenerate lost cardiomyocytes and slow, or even reverse, the remodeling process.3 Although the importance of both postinjury myocardial remodeling and regeneration are well accepted, the critical mechanisms that underlie these processes remain unclear. As insight into the biology of myocardial injury and dysfunction increases, the role of stress-activated cytokines has achieved particular prominence.4 Two articles in this issue of Circulation highlight the importance of the stress-activated cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, in mediating the complex processes of cardiac remodeling and regeneration. See pp 2430 and 2438 First isolated >20 years ago, TGF-β was identified from sarcoma cells based on its ability to potentiate the transforming and proliferative actions of epidermal growth factor on non-neoplastic fibroblasts.5,6 Since then, the TGF-β family has grown rapidly and at present consists of >30 structurally related members, including TGF-β1. This diverse cytokine superfamily has been subgrouped according to sequence similarity and specific downstream signaling pathways into the TGF-β/activin/nodal family and the bone morphogenic protein/growth and differentiation factor/Muellerian inhibiting …

UV-C Light Induces Raft-associated Acid Sphingomyelinase and JNK Activation and Translocation Independently on a Nuclear Signal

The initiation of UV light-induced signaling in mammalian cells is largely considered to be subsequent to DNA damage. Several studies have also described ceramide (CER), a lipid second messenger, as a major contributor in mediating UV light-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and cell death. It is demonstrated here that UV-C light irradiation of U937 cells results in the activation and translocation of a Zn2+-independent acid sphingomyelinase, leading to CER accumulation in raft microdomains. These CER-enriched rafts aggregate and play a functional role in JNK activation. The observation that UV-C light also induced CER generation and the externalization of acid sphingomyelinase and JNK in human platelets conclusively rules out the involvement of a nuclear signal generated by DNA damage in the initiation of a UV light response, which is generated at the plasma membrane.

Allele-specific transcript quantification detects haplotypic variation in the levels of the SDF-1 transcripts

It has been suggested that SDF1-G801A, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the SDF1 gene, is associated with susceptibility to diseases such as AIDS and type-I diabetes. However, experimental studies examining the effect of SDF1-G801A on SDF-1 expression have not supported its functional importance. In this study, to examine whether other polymorphisms have a cis-acting effect on SDF1 expression, we carried out haplotype analyses of the SDF1 gene and the allele-specific transcript quantification utilizing Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines with heterozygous genotype for SDF1-G801A. Haplotype-based analyses on the proportion of the allele-specific transcripts revealed the presence of haplotypes associated with a decreased amount of the transcripts. In addition, we observed haplotypic variation in response to dibutyl cyclic AMP and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate that enhances the levels of SDF-1 transcripts probably through activation of transcription factors. Showing evidence that polymorphisms other than the SDF1-G801A have a cis-acting effect on expression of SDF-1 transcripts, the results of this study contribute to the interpretation of previous disease-association studies and to the selection of SNP markers for future studies. As shown in this study, allele-specific transcript quantification coupled with haplotype analyses can be an effective tool for detecting cis-acting polymorphisms in expressional regulation.

Immunization against a low‐frequency human platelet alloantigen in fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is not a single event: characterization by the combined use of reference DNA and novel allele‐specific cell lines expressing recombinant antigens

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is caused by maternal immunization against a fetal platelet (PLT) alloantigen. In cases of FNAIT attributed to low-frequency PLT alloantigens, the laboratory diagnosis is often hampered by the lack of adequate PLTs. Three families with maternal immunization against fetal PLT antigens were analyzed. In Family 1, previous immunization of another female or woman has been observed. In Families 2 and 3, newborns presented with the typical clinical picture of FNAIT. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct sequencing with reference to DNA from Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines. Antibodies were characterized by glycoprotein (GP)-specific immunoassay with a panel of stable Chinese hamster ovary cell lines expressing low-frequency alloantigens. In three families, maternal immunization associated with the low-frequency alloantigens human PLT antigen (HPA)-8bw (Sra), HPA-11bw (Groa), and HPA-13bw (Sita) was identified. Maternal serum samples showed positive reactions in an antigen capture assay with cell lines carrying recombinant GP IIb/IIIa (HPA-8bw and -11bw) or GPIa/IIa (HPA-13bw), respectively. These results could be confirmed by genotyping analysis of fathers and newborns. This study demonstrates that cases of FNAIT attributed to low-frequency PLT alloantigens cannot be regarded as single events. The availability of reference DNA and cell lines expressing recombinant PLT alloantigens can facilitate their identification.