The vast majority of T cells in man and mouse use the alpha/beta form of T cell receptor (TcR), and express either CD4 or CD8, whereas the small subset of gamma/delta T cells are usually CD4-CD8-. In contrast to man and mouse, the gamma/delta subset in sheep, defined here using an anti-gamma/delta monoclonal antibody (mAb), comprises 30%-60% of T cells. We show that gamma/delta T cells in sheep express a unique surface molecule termed T19 which is 215 kDa in size and unrelated to either CD45 or the TcR. The T19 molecule was expressed at a distinct stage during gamma/delta T cell ontogeny within the thymus, since gamma/delta thymocytes which appeared early in fetal ontogeny were T19- and also major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I- and localized almost exclusively to the outer cortex and cortex of the thymus. "Mature-type" gamma/delta thymocytes which emerged late in thymic development were T19+ and MHC class I+ and localized predominantly to the thymic medulla. The sequence of events indicated that these cells were most likely derived from the early gamma/delta thymocytes. These medullary gamma/delta thymocytes showed a very distinctive association with Hassall's corpuscles, suggesting a role for these structures in gamma/delta thymocyte maturation. In the periphery, T19 was expressed exclusively within the gamma/delta T cell subset, however some gamma/delta T cells were T19-. In particular, a large proportion of gamma/delta T cells within intestinal epithelium lacked T19, indicating a correlation between T19 expression and either function or homing patterns of gamma/delta T cells. Both T19+ and T19- gamma/delta T cells were CD2-, and expressed low levels of LFA-1 and CD5. In addition, gamma/delta T cells recirculated differently from other T cells, and appeared not to enter mesenteric lymph nodes at all from the blood. We propose that T19 is a maturation marker for gamma/delta T cells. In addition, the exclusive expression of T19 by gamma/delta T cells indicates that this molecule most likely serves a fundamental role in the interactions and function of gamma/delta T cells.

The small GTPase Rab4 is involved in endocytosis through sorting and recycling early endosomes. To better understand the role of Rab4 in regulation of vesicular trafficking, we searched for effectors that specifically interact with Rab4-Q67L, the GTP-bound form of Rab4. We cloned an ubiquitous 80-kDa protein, identical to CD2-associated protein/Cas ligand with multiple SH3 domains (CD2AP/CMS), that interacts with Rab4-Q67L in the yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro. CD2AP/CMS expressed in mammalian cells was localized to punctate structures and along actin filaments. None of the known markers of early endosomes [Early Endosomes Antigen 1 (EEA1), Rab5 and Rab11] colocalized with the CD2AP/CMS-positive vesicles. However, coexpression of Rab4-Q67L with CD2AP/CMS induces a significant enlargement of EEA1-positive early endosomes. Rab4, CD2AP/CMS and Rab7 colocalized in these modified endosomes. Coexpression of c-Cbl and CD2AP/CMS also resulted in an enlargement of early endosomes. Using various truncated forms of CD2AP/CMS, we demonstrate that early endosomes enlargement requires that CD2AP/CMS interacts with both Rab4 and c-Cbl. The expression of a truncated form of CD2AP/CMS that retains the ability to interact with Rab4 but not c-Cbl inhibits ligand-induced PDGF receptor degradation. We propose that CD2AP/CMS, through interactions with Rab4 and c-Cbl, controls early endosome morphology and may play a role in traffic between early and late endosomes, and thus in the degradative pathway.

We have studied the current-carrying ability and blocking action of various divalent cations in the Ca channel of Lymnaea stagnalis neurons. Changing the concentration or species of the permeant divalent cation shifts the voltage dependence of activation of the Ca channel current in a manner that is consistent with the action of the divalent cation on an external surface potential. Increasing the concentration of the permeant cation from 1 to 30 mM produces a twofold increase in the maximum Ca current and a fourfold increase in the maximum Ba current; the maximum Ba current is twice the size of the maximum Ca current for 10 mM bulk concentration. Correcting for the changing surface potential seen by the gating mechanism, the current-concentration relation is almost linear for Ba2+, and shows only moderate saturation for Ca2+; also, Ca2+, Ba2+, and Sr2+ are found to pass through the channel almost equally well. These conclusions are obtained for either of two assumptions: that the mouth of the channel sees (a) all or (b) none of the surface potential seen by the gating mechanism. Cd2+ blocks Lymnaea and Helix Ca channels at concentrations 200 times smaller than those required for Co2+ or Ni2+. Ca2+ competes with Cd2+ for the blocking site; Ba2+ binds less strongly than Ca2+ to this site. Mixtures of Ca2+ and Ba2+ produce an anomalous mole fraction effect on the Ca channel current. After correction for the changing surface potential (using either assumption), the anomalous mole fraction effect is even more prominent, which suggests that Ba2+ blocks Ca current more than Ca2+ blocks Ba current.

Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus strain 17810R to Cd2+ appears to be due to a plasmid-coded Cd2+ efflux system. Complete efflux of Cd2+ after transfer of preloaded cells into Cd2+-free medium occurred in the resistant strain 17810R, but not in the plasmidless derivative strain 17810S. Net efflux was blocked by 2,4-dinitrophenol, N,N,-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), and incubation at 4 degrees C. The inhibition of Cd2+ efflux by DCCD paralleled a stimulation of net uptake in the resistant cells by this agent. Cd2+ efflux by the resistant strain was accompanied by a reversal of inhibition of respiration, whereas in the sensitive strain, inhibition of respiration was not reversed after transfer to Cd2+-free medium. Net Cd2+ uptake by strain 17810R was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate. In Cd2+ contrast, Cd2+ uptake by the plasmidless strain 17810S was affected neither by p-chloromercuribenzoate nor by DCCD when added alone, but was blocked by a combination of these two agents. Valinomycin had no effect on the reduced Cd2+ uptake by the resistant strain, whereas nigericin stimulated uptake to values comparable to those of the untreated sensitive cells. With sensitive cells, valinomycin reduced Cd2+ uptake by about 50%, whereas nigericin was without effect. A possible mechanism of Cd2+ movements in both strains is discussed.

CD2 (T11, sheep erythrocyte receptor) is a surface antigen of the human T-lymphocyte lineage. cDNA clones encoding CD2 have been isolated by using the purified, denatured CD2 to raise a rat antiserum. Positive clones were recognized in a phage lambda gt11 expression library prepared from the human leukemia T-cell line J6. The DNA sequence contained an open reading frame encoding 360 amino acids. The N-terminal 24 amino acids were characteristic of a signal peptide and were followed by a region that matched all 25 residues of the CD2 N terminus previously determined by amino acid sequencing. The predicted amino acid sequence is consistent with that of a transmembrane glycoprotein containing three potential N-glycosylation sites on the N-terminal side of a 26-amino acid hydrophobic segment. There is a large cytoplasmic domain of 125 amino acids that is rich in proline and in basic residues. RNA blot-hybridization analysis demonstrated hybridization only in those T cells that were positive for surface CD2 antigen. There are limited regions of sequence similarity to members of the immunoglobulin supergene family.

OBJECTIVE

The expression of the accessory molecule <em>CD2</em>8 was compared in various populations of T and natural killer (NK) cells from HIV-1-negative and HIV-1-positive individuals and correlated with activation using mitogens in vitro.

METHODS

Multiparameter flow cytometric analysis using combinations of CD3 <em>CD2</em>8 and other markers was performed together with absolute cell counting in peripheral blood. Blast transformation and proliferative responses were also quantitated using the Cytoronabsolute after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and anti-CD3. <em>CD2</em>8- cells were also purified to confirm the observations.

RESULTS

In HIV-1-negative individuals>> 90% of CD3+ T cells were <em>CD2</em>8+ and responded to stimulation, while CD3- CD16+ CD57+ NK-like cells were <em>CD2</em>8- and failed to respond. In HIV-1-positive individuals the expression of <em>CD2</em>8 was greatly reduced and the proportion of CD3+<em>CD2</em>8- T cells expanded. CD8 lymphocytosis was caused entirely by the accumulation of <em>CD2</em>8- T cells and many of these expressed activation markers human lymphocyte antigen-DR, CD38 and CD45RO on their membrane and molecules such as TIA-1 and perforin, associated with cytolytic function, in their cytoplasm. The strong positive correlation (r = 0.66) between the lack of <em>CD2</em>8 expression and the poor proliferation from HIV-1-positive individuals was confirmed by demonstrating that only <em>CD2</em>8+ cells transformed into lymphoblasts and proliferated. Although the <em>CD2</em>8- including CD3+ T cells transiently expressed <em>CD2</em>5 (interleukin-2R alpha), they did not undergo blastogenesis or activation measured by bromodeoxyuridine uptake and died after 3-4 days in culture. These observations were confirmed in costimulation experiments with anti-<em>CD2</em> and anti-<em>CD2</em>8.

CONCLUSIONS

In HIV-1 infection activated CD3+<em>CD2</em>8- T cells accumulate but are unresponsive to mitogens and anti-<em>CD2</em>8. These cells appear to represent terminally differentiated effector cells which fail to respond to further stimuli because of the absence of a <em>CD2</em>8 second signal.

Two types of spontaneous filed potentials were recorded in rat hippocampal slices after addition of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 50 microM). One consisted of brief, epileptiform discharges that occurred at 0.6 +/- 0.2 sec-1 in the CA3 and CA1 areas. The other type occurred less frequently (0.036 +/- 0.013 sec-1) and was recorded in CA1, CA3, and dentate areas. It corresponded in all regions to an intracellular long-lasting depolarization (LLD; duration, 300-1200 msec; peak amplitude, 2-15 mV) that was abolished by bicuculline methiodide; therefore, it was mediated by GABAA receptors. Sectioning experiments and the occurrence of propagation failures indicated that LLDs could be initiated by any area of the slice. Furthermore, the propagation of LLDs did not follow any consistent or predictable pattern along known anatomical hippocampal pathways. Finally, neither the occurrence nor the propagation of LLDs was affected when excitatory synaptic transmission was blocked by NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists. In the presence of antagonists of glutamatergic receptors, LLDs disappeared after the omission of Ca2+ or the addition of Cd2+ to the perfusing solution, suggesting that synaptic transmission was required for their generation. These data indicate that 4-AP discloses both interictal epileptiform discharges and LLDs in the rat hippocampus. The first type of activity is presumably related to certain properties of CA3 pyramidal neurons and the neuronal circuit, whereas LLDs originate from the spontaneous, periodic activity of GABAergic interneurons located in any area of the hippocampus, and can propagate to the other areas by the use of nonsynaptic mechanisms. We propose that 4-AP reveals a novel type of interaction among GABAergic interneurons that is based on the accumulation and the dispersion of K+.

We previously reported (Ryu, S. H., Cho, K. S., Lee, K. Y., Suh, P. G., and Rhee, S. G. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 141, 137-144) that cytosolic fractions of bovine brain contain two phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC), PLC-I and PLC-II. In this paper purification procedures and properties of these two forms of enzyme are presented. The two enzymes exhibit similar substrate specificity. Both PLC-I and PLC-II catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP), and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Yet, they respond differently to activators such as Ca2+ and nucleotides and to inhibitory divalent metal ions such as Hg2+ and Cd2+. In addition, they are immunologically distinct as evidenced by the fact that monoclonal antibodies directed against either enzyme do not cross-react with the other. Their activities are Ca2+ concentration-dependent. PIP and PIP2 are better substrates than PI for both PLC-I and PLC-II when the concentration of Ca2+ is in the micromolar range. Study of the effect of nucleotides, such as GTP, guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate, guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, and ATP, on the activities of both isozymes with PIP2 as substrate revealed that (i) in the absence of Ca2+, PLC-I activity is enhanced by 400% by either GTP or ATP. In the presence of Ca2+ (a condition in which PLC-I exhibits much higher activity), the activation factor by nucleotides is diminished to approximately 140%. (ii) without Ca2+, PLC-II activity is too low to measure with or without added nucleotides. The effect of nucleotides on PLC-II activity is trivial in the presence of Ca2+. In addition, studies on the effect of metal ions on PI hydrolysis showed that the activities of both PLC-I and PLC-II are not affected by 50 microM of Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, or Ni2+. However, Hg2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ inhibited both PLC-I and PLC-II, with PLC-II exhibiting much higher sensitivity to these metal ions than PLC-I. For example, the value of I0.5 for Hg2+ inhibition is 0.2 microM for PLC-II and 1 microM for PLC-I. Cd2+ selectively inhibits PLC-II with a I0.5 value of 5 microM. Most of these metal ions' inhibition can be overcome by either dithiothreitol or EDTA.

BACKGROUND

Alefacept, human lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3/immunoglobulin 1 fusion protein, binds to CD2 molecules on the surface of activated T cells, selectively targeting memory-effector (CD45RO+) T cells, which comprise more than 75% of T cells in psoriatic plaques.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the efficacy and tolerability of intramuscular alefacept.

METHODS

International, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

METHODS

A total of 507 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.

METHODS

Placebo, 10 mg of alefacept, or 15 mg of alefacept administered once weekly for 12 weeks followed by 12 weeks of observation.

METHODS

Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI).

RESULTS

Alefacept treatment was associated with dose-related significant improvements in PASI from baseline. Throughout the study, a greater percentage of patients in the 15-mg group than in the placebo group achieved a significant reduction in PASI. Of patients in the 15-mg group who achieved at least 75% PASI reduction 2 weeks after the last dose, 71% maintained at least 50% improvement in PASI throughout the 12-week follow-up. There were no opportunistic infections and no cases of disease rebound.

CONCLUSIONS

Intramuscular administration of alefacept was a well-tolerated and effective therapy for chronic plaque psoriasis and thus represents a convenient alternative to intravenous dosing.

Recent discoveries in kidney research have given new insights into the molecular make-up of the glomerular filter and mechanisms of permselectivity. The identification of mutations in the genes for glomerular basement membrane type IV collagen has thus demonstrated the central role of the glomerular basement membrane as the structural skeleton of the glomerular capillary. Regional deterioration of this framework not only leads to proteinuria, but also to significant leakage of red blood cells into the urinary space. Tracer studies and the characterization of other glomerular basement membrane components, such as proteoglycans, have also emphasized the role of the glomerular basement membrane in the permselectivity process. However, more recent studies on nephrin, a key component of the slit diaphragm, as well as the podocyte and slit diaphragm-associated intracellular proteins, CD2-associated protein, podocin and alpha-actinin-4, have emphasized the role of the slit diaphragm as a central size-selective filtration barrier. These data have provided a completely new understanding of the mechanisms of proteinuria, both in inherited and acquired diseases. In this review, we present the recent progress made in the characterization of proteins that are important for glomerular permselectivity.

IL-12 is an important initiator of cellular immune responses. This involves a positive feedback mechanism via IFN-gamma, which is abrogated when the pathogen that induces IL-12 production by the macrophage has been cleared. Here, we studied IL-10 as an additional negative regulator of IL-12-induced immune responses. Our results showed that upon stimulation with CD2 mAb, IL-12 was capable of inducing human T cells to produce IL-10. IL-12 was able to induce IL-10 production in primary T cells in the absence or the presence of accessory cells and in short-term cultures of established T cell clones. Moreover, T cell clones that had been cultured for longer periods in the presence of IL-12, when restimulated in the absence of IL-12, still produced high amounts of IL-10. Furthermore, we demonstrated that IL-10-mediated inhibition of T cell proliferation was dose dependent and depended on the time of addition of IL-10 and on the IL-12 concentration in culture. IL-10 has been identified as a dominant inhibitor of IL-12 production by APCs. The finding that IL-12 is capable of potently inducing its own inhibitor shows that the immune system is equipped with an intrinsic negative feedback mechanism that limits ongoing T cell activation. This indicates that the kinetics of T cell responses seem to be regulated by the ratio of IL-12 and IL-10 levels, which may gradually decline during the immune response.

The DtxR protein from Corynebacterium diphtheriae is an iron-dependent repressor that regulates transcription from the tox, IRP1, and IRP2 promoters. A gene from virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was recently shown to encode a protein, here designated iron-dependent regulator (IdeR), that is almost 60% homologous to DtxR from C. diphtheriae. A 750-bp PCR-derived DNA fragment carrying the M. tuberculosis ideR allele was subcloned to both high- and low-copy-number vectors. In Escherichia coli, transcription from the C. diphtheriae tox, IRP1, and IRP2 promoters was strongly repressed by ideR under high-iron conditions, and ideR restored normal iron-dependent expression of the corynebacterial siderophore in the C. diphtheriae dtxR mutant C7(beta)hm723. The M. tuberculosis IdeR protein was overexpressed in E. coli and purified to near homogeneity by nickel affinity chromatography. Gel mobility shift experiments revealed that IdeR bound to a DNA fragment that carried the C. diphtheriae tox promoter/operator sequence. DNAse I footprint analysis demonstrated that IdeR, in the presence of Cd2+, Co2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, or Zn2+, protected an approximately 30-bp region on DNA fragments carrying the tox, IRP1, or IRP2 promoter/operator sequences. IdeR reacted very weakly in Western blots (immunoblots) with antiserum against the C. diphtheriae DtxR protein, suggesting that the immunodominant epitopes of DtxR may be located in its poorly conserved carboxyl-terminal domain.

In early human pregnancy, uterine decidual NK cells (dNK) are abundant and considered as cytokine producers but poorly cytotoxic despite their cytolytic granule content, suggesting a negative control of this latter effector function. To investigate the basis of this control, we examined the relative contribution to the cytotoxic function of different activating receptors expressed by dNK. Using a multicolor flow cytometry analysis, we found that freshly isolated dNK exhibit a unique repertoire of activating and inhibitory receptors, identical among all the donors tested. We then demonstrated that in fresh dNK, mAb-specific engagement of NKp46-, and to a lesser extent NKG2C-, but not NKp30-activating receptors induced intracellular calcium mobilization, perforin polarization, granule exocytosis and efficient target cell lysis. NKp46-mediated cytotoxicity is coactivated by CD2 but dramatically blocked by NKG2A coengagement, indicating that the dNK cytotoxic potential could be tightly controlled in vivo. We finally found that in dNK, mAb-specific engagement of NKp30, but not NKp46, triggered the production of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and GM-CSF proinflammatory molecules. These data demonstrate a differential, controlled role of NKp46- and NKp30-activating receptors expressed by dNK that could be critical for the outcome of pregnancy and the killing of uterine cells infected by pathogens.

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in immune surveillance against a variety of infectious microorganisms and tumors. Limited availability of NK cells and ability to expand in vitro has restricted development of NK cell immunotherapy. Here we describe a method to efficiently expand vast quantities of functional NK cells ex vivo using K562 cells expressing membrane-bound IL21, as an artificial antigen-presenting cell (aAPC). NK cell adoptive therapies to date have utilized a cell product obtained by steady-state leukapheresis of the donor followed by depletion of T cells or positive selection of NK cells. The product is usually activated in IL-2 overnight and then administered the following day. Because of the low frequency of NK cells in peripheral blood, relatively small numbers of NK cells have been delivered in clinical trials. The inability to propagate NK cells in vitro has been the limiting factor for generating sufficient cell numbers for optimal clinical outcome. Some expansion of NK cells (5-10 fold over 1-2 weeks) has be achieved through high-dose IL-2 alone. Activation of autologous T cells can mediate NK cell expansion, presumably also through release of local cytokine. Support with mesenchymal stroma or artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) can support the expansion of NK cells from both peripheral blood and cord blood. Combined NKp46 and CD2 activation by antibody-coated beads is currently marketed for NK cell expansion (Miltenyi Biotec, Auburn CA), resulting in approximately 100-fold expansion in 21 days. Clinical trials using aAPC-expanded or -activated NK cells are underway, one using leukemic cell line CTV-1 to prime and activate NK cells without significant expansion. A second trial utilizes EBV-LCL for NK cell expansion, achieving a mean 490-fold expansion in 21 days. The third utilizes a K562-based aAPC transduced with 4-1BBL (CD137L) and membrane-bound IL-15 (mIL-15), which achieved a mean NK expansion 277-fold in 21 days. Although, the NK cells expanded using K562-41BBL-mIL15 aAPC are highly cytotoxic in vitro and in vivo compared to unexpanded NK cells, and participate in ADCC, their proliferation is limited by senescence attributed to telomere shortening. More recently a 350-fold expansion of NK cells was reported using K562 expressing MICA, 4-1BBL and IL15. Our method of NK cell expansion described herein produces rapid proliferation of NK cells without senescence achieving a median 21,000-fold expansion in 21 days.

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms of action of polyclonal antithymocyte globulins (ATGs) are still poorly understood and the selection of doses used in different clinical applications (prevention or treatment of acute rejection in organ allografts, treatment of graft-versus-host disease, or conditioning for allogeneic stem cell transplantation) remains empirical. Low T-cell counts are usually achieved in peripheral blood during ATG treatment but the extent of T-cell depletion in lymphoid tissues is unknown.

METHODS

Experiments were conducted in cynomolgus monkeys using Thymoglobuline at low (1 mg/kg), high (5 mg/kg), and very high (20 mg/kg) doses.

RESULTS

ATG treatment induced a dose-dependent lymphocytopenia in the blood and a dose-dependent T-cell depletion in spleen and lymph nodes but not in the thymus, indicating a limited access of ATG to this organ. T-cell apoptosis in peripheral lymphoid tissues was the main mechanism of depletion. Remaining T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs were coated by antibodies and had down-modulated surface expression of CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD8 molecules, whereas their responsiveness in mixed leukocyte reaction was impaired. The survival of MHC-mismatched skin and heart allografts was prolonged in a dose-dependent fashion, despite the occurrence of a strong anti-ATG antibody response resulting in the rapid clearance of circulating ATGs.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that T-cell depletion is achieved rapidly and primarily in peripheral lymphoid tissues at high ATG dosage. Short ATG treatments could therefore be clinically evaluated when major peripheral T-cell depletion is required.

To determine events that transpire during the earliest stages of human T cell development, we have studied fetal tissues before (7 wk), during (8.2 wk), and after (9.5 wk to birth) colonization of the fetal thymic rudiment with hematopoietic stem cells. Calculation of the approximate volumes of the 7- and 8.2-wk thymuses revealed a 35-fold increase in thymic volumes during this time, with 7-wk thymus height of 160 microM and volume of 0.008 mm3, and 8.2-wk thymus height of 1044 microM and volume of 0.296 mm3. Human thymocytes in the 8.2-wk thymus were CD4+ CD8 alpha+ and cytoplasmic CD3 epsilon+ cCD3 delta+ CD8 beta- and CD3 zetta-. Only 5% of 8-wk thymocytes were T cell receptor (TCR)-beta+, < 0.1% were TCR-gamma+, and none reacted with monoclonal antibodies against TCR-delta. During the first 16 wk of gestation, we observed developmentally regulated expression of CD2 and CD8 beta (appearing at 9.5 wk), CD1a,b, and c molecules (CD1b, then CD1c, then CD1a), TCR molecules (TCR-beta, then TCR-delta), CD45RA and CD45RO isoforms, CD2CD2 was not expressed at the time of initiation of thymic lymphopoiesis, a second CD58 ligand, CD48, was expressed at 8.2 wk, suggesting a role for CD48 early in thymic development. Taken together, these data define sequential phenotypic and morphologic changes that occur in human thymus coincident with thymus colonization by hematopoietic stem cells and provide insight into the molecules that are involved in the earliest stages of human T cell development.

We have recently described a marrow stroma-dependent long-term culture system that supports differentiation of CD34+ human marrow primitive progenitors into natural killer (NK) cells. We postulate that CD7 expression may be an early event in commitment of hematopoietic progenitors to the NK lineage. Here we compare the characteristics of CD34+7- and CD34+7+ marrow cells cultivated in the stroma-based NK culture system. These CD34+ populations were further compared with a marrow derived, more committed, CD34-7+ progenitor to emphasize the continuum of NK development and to highlight differences between progenitors in our assays. No progenitor proliferated when plated in media without stroma, underscoring the importance of stroma in NK differentiation. Plating progenitor populations in interleukin-2 containing media directly on preestablished, allogeneic, irradiated marrow stroma for 5 weeks resulted in CD56+CD3- NK cells; however, characteristics of the cultured populations differed. Fold expansion and cloning efficiency of the CD34+7+ population, determined by a functional limiting dilution assay was significantly higher than of the CD34+7- or CD34+7+ populations. This suggests that the CD34+7+ population is highly enriched for an NK progenitor and a possible intermediate in NK lineage differentiation. Further dividing the CD34+7+ population by the relative fluorescence of CD7 into CD34+7+dim and CD34+7+bright populations showed that the CD34+7+bright population exhibited a significantly higher cloning frequency than parallel experiments with CD34+7+dim cells (11.8% +/- 2.4% v 2.4% +/- 0.7%, n = 6; P = .005). Plating of the more primitive CD34+7- population in a transwell system (which separates progenitors from stroma by a microporous membrane) prevents differentiation into NK cells. In contrast, plating of CD34+7+ progenitors in transwells resulted in generation of NK cells. These data suggest that primitive, but not more mature NK progenitors may require direct contact with stroma for the initial differentiation steps. Finally, differentiation of the NK progenitors in this stroma-dependent model results in expression of CD2 not present on any of the starting populations. This observation suggests that marrow stroma can stimulate CD2 expression on NK progenitors in a previously undescribed fashion that may be analogous to the thymic effect on CD2 expression in immature T lymphocytes. These observations identify early steps in the commitment of primitive marrow CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors to a lymphoid lineage and underscore the importance of coexpression of CD7 with CD34 as an early lymphoid commitment characteristic and direct progenitor-stroma interactions in this process.

The interaction of the T cell glycoprotein CD2 with one ligand, CD58, contributes to T cell function. We have identified CD59, a glycoprotein with complement-inhibitory function, as a second physiological ligand for CD2. Antibodies to CD59 inhibit CD2-dependent T cell activation in murine T cell hybridomas expressing human CD2. In an in vitro binding assay with purified CD58 and CD59, CD2+ cells bind not only immobilized CD58 but also CD59. With two complementary approaches, it was demonstrated that the binding sites on CD2 for CD58 and CD59 are overlapping but nonidentical. These observations suggest that direct interactions between CD2 and both CD58 and CD59 contribute to T cell activation and adhesion.

Neuromodulators are integral parts of a neuronal network, and unraveling how these substances alter neuronal activity is critical for understanding how networks generate patterned activity and, ultimately, behavior. In this study, we examined the cellular mechanisms underlying the excitatory action of substance P (SP) on the respiratory network isolated in spontaneously active transverse slice preparation of mice. SP produced a slow depolarization in all recorded inspiratory pacemaker and non-pacemaker neurons. Ion exchange experiments and blockers for different ion channels suggest that the slow depolarization is caused by the activation of a low-threshold TTX-insensitive cationic current that carries mostly Na+. The SP-induced slow depolarization increased tonic discharge in non-pacemaker neurons and primarily enhanced the frequency of bursting in Cd2+-insensitive pacemaker neurons. In the Cd2+-sensitive pacemaker neuron, the burst frequency was not significantly affected, whereas burst duration and amplitude were more enhanced than in Cd2+-insensitive pacemaker neurons. In a subset of non-pacemaker neurons that produced NMDA-dependent subthreshold oscillations, SP caused the production of bursts of action potentials. We conclude that the degree of pacemaker activity in the respiratory network is not fixed but dynamically regulated by neuromodulators such as SP. This finding may have clinical implications for Rett syndrome in which SP levels along with other neuromodulators are decreased in the brainstem.

Reorganization of the cortical cytoskeleton is a hallmark of T lymphocyte activation. Upon binding to antigen presenting cells, the T cells rapidly undergo cytoskeletal re-organization thus forming a cap at the cell-cell contact site leading to receptor clustering, protein segregation, and cellular polarization. Previously, we reported cloning of the human lymphocyte homologue of the Drosophila Discs Large tumor suppressor protein (hDlg). Here we show that a novel protein termed GAKIN binds to the guanylate kinase-like domain of hDlg. Affinity protein purification, peptide sequencing, and cloning of GAKIN cDNA from Jurkat J77 lymphocytes identified GAKIN as a novel member of the kinesin superfamily of motor proteins. GAKIN mRNA is ubiquitously expressed, and the predicted amino acid sequence shares significant sequence similarity with the Drosophila kinesin-73 motor protein. GAKIN sequence contains a motor domain at the NH(2) terminus, a central stalk domain, and a putative microtubule-interacting sequence called the CAP-Gly domain at the COOH terminus. Among the MAGUK superfamily of proteins examined, GAKIN binds to the guanylate kinase-like domain of PSD-95 but not of p55. The hDlg and GAKIN are localized mainly in the cytoplasm of resting T lymphocytes, however, upon CD2 receptor cross-linking the hDlg can translocate to the lymphocyte cap. We propose that the GAKIN-hDlg interaction lays the foundation for a general paradigm of coupling MAGUKs to the microtubule-based cytoskeleton, and that this interaction may be functionally important for the intracellular trafficking of MAGUKs and associated protein complexes in vivo.

Flagellin, the monomeric subunit of flagella, is an inducer of proinflammatory mediators. Bacterial flagellin genes have conserved domains (D1 and D2) at the N terminus and C terminus and a middle hypervariable domain (D3). To identify which domains induced proinflammatory activity, r6-histidine (6HIS)-tagged fusion constructs were generated from the Salmonella dublin (SD) fliC flagellin gene. A full-length r6HIS SD flagellin (6HIS flag) induced IkappaBalpha loss poststimulation and NF-kappaB activation in Caco-2BBe cells and was as potent as native-purified SD flagellin. IFN-gamma-primed DLD-1 cells stimulated with 1 microg/ml of 6HIS flag induced high levels of NO (60 +/- 0.95 microM) comparable to the combination of IL-1beta and IFN-gamma (77 +/- 1.2) or purified native SD flag (66.3 +/- 0.98). Selected rSD flagellin proteins representing the D1, D2, or D3 domains alone or in combination were tested for proinflammatory properties. Fusion proteins representing the D3, amino, or carboxyl regions alone did not induce proinflammatory mediators. The results with a recombinant protein containing the amino D1 and D2 and carboxyl D1 and D2 separated by an Escherichia coli hinge (ND1-2/ECH/CD2) indicated that D1 and D2 were bioactive when coupled to an ECH element to allow protein folding. This chimera, but not the hinge alone, induced IkappaBalpha degradation, NF-kappaB activation, and NO and IL-8 production in two intestinal epithelial cell lines. ND1-2/ECH/CD2-1 also induced high levels of TNF-alpha (900 pg/ml) in human monocytes comparable to native SD flagellin (991.5 pg/ml) and 6HIS flag (987 pg/ml). The potent proinflammatory activity of flagellin, therefore, resides in the highly conserved N and C D1 and D2 regions.

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes capable of killing tumour cells in a non-MHC restricted manner. NK cells do not express cell-surface CD3, or any known target recognition structure analogous to the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) heterodimers (alpha beta or gamma delta). Consistent with their lack of expression of a CD3-TCR complex, NK cells do not require prior sensitization or antigen presentation by accessory cells to specifically recognize their tumour targets. Although NK cells do not express CD3-TCR, they do express CD2, the target of an alternative activation pathway which is functional in both T cells and NK cells. In T cells, this alternative activation pathway utilizes some component of the CD3-TCR complex as a transducer molecule that is required for mitogenesis. The fact that NK cells are activated by this alternative pathway suggested that they might express a related subunit of the CD3-TCR complex capable of transducing the CD2-mediated signal. Here we show that human NK cells express the zeta-chain of the TCR complex in association with additional structures not included in CD3-TCR.

1. Catecholamines, adenosine, gonadotrophins, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and E-series prostaglandins all elicit K+ currents in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes. Evidence suggests that cyclic nucleotides act as intracellular messengers in the activation of this K+ conductance. Muscarinic agonists and some divalent cations (e.g. Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+) elicit slow oscillatory Cl- currents, which are activated through hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids and mobilization of intracellular calcium by inositol phosphates. 2. We investigated whether these membrane current responses were generated in the oocyte itself or in enveloping follicular cells which are coupled to the oocyte by gap junctions. Oocytes were defolliculated, either enzymatically using collagenase, or by manual dissection combined with rolling over poly-L-lysine-coated slides. Removal of follicular cells was checked using scanning electron microscopy. Membrane current responses of defolliculated oocytes were compared with responses seen in follicle-enclosed oocytes taken from the same ovary. 3. The K+ responses evoked by all the various hormones/neurotransmitters were either drastically reduced (greater than 90%) or abolished by defolliculation. K+ currents generated by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and by intraoocyte injection of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP), or guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate were similarly reduced in defolliculated oocytes. In contrast, oscillatory Cl- currents to acetylcholine and divalent cations were selectively preserved through defolliculation. 4. Injection of cyclic AMP (1-20 pmol) into defolliculated oocytes had little or no effect on oscillatory Cl- currents elicited by ACh. However, the calcium-dependent transient Cl- current, activated by depolarization of the oocyte membrane, was consistently potentiated (100-900%) by injections of cyclic AMP (1-10 pmol). 5. These experiments suggest that cyclic nucleotide-activated K+ currents arise essentially in follicular cells and are monitored within the oocyte through electrical coupling by gap junctions. Oscillatory Cl- responses evoked by ACh and divalent cations are produced largely or wholly in the oocyte itself.

1. Neurones were isolated from the CA1 region of the guinea-pig hippocampus and subjected to the whole-cell mode of voltage clamping, to determine the kinetics of voltage-gated Ca2+ channel activation. 2. Isolated neurones had an abbreviated morphology, having lost most of the distal dendritic tree during the isolation procedure. The electrical compactness of the cells facilitates voltage clamp analysis. 3. Block of sodium and potassium currents revealed a persistent current activated on depolarization above -40 mV, which inactivated slowly when the intracellular medium contained EGTA. The current was blocked by Co2+ and Cd2+, augmented by increases in Ca2+ and could be carried by Ba2+, suggesting that the current is borne by Ca2+. 4. Steady-state activation of the Ca2+ current was found to be well described by the Boltzman equation raised to the second power. 5. The open channel's current-voltage (I-V) relationship rectified in the inward direction and was consistent with the constant-field equation. 6. The kinetics of Ca2+ current onset followed m2 kinetics throughout the range of its activation. Tail current kinetics were in accord with this model. A detailed Hodgkin-Huxley model was derived, defining the activation of this current. 7. The kinetics of the currents observed in this regionally and morphologically defined class of neurones were consistent with the existence of a single kinetic class of channels.