Hemoglobin synthesis in somatic cell hybrids: globin gene expression in hybrids between mouse erythroleukemia and human marrow cells or fibroblasts.

Somatic cell hybrids were generated by fusion of mouse erythroleukemia cells either to mouse L cells (B82), human fibroblasts (W1-18 VA2), or human marrow fractions enriched in erythroblasts. The hybrid cells were examined for globin gene expression by benzidine staining to detect cytoplasmic hemoglobin, and by molecular hybridization of cellular RNA to globin complementary DNA (cDNA) to detect globin messenger RNA (MRNA). The fibroblast (human or mouse) times erythroleukemia cell hybrids grown in monolayer retained most of the chromosomes of each parent. Neither cytoplasmic hemoglobin nor globin mRNA was detected in dimethylsulfoxide-treated fibroblast times erythroleukemia hybrid cells, indicating extinction of hemoglobin synthesis prior to the formation of cytoplasmic mRNA. The human marrow times mouse erythroleukemia hybrid cells grown in suspension culture contained only a few human chromosomes and exhibited low levels of hemoglobin synthesis which were amplified by 2% dimethylsulfoxide. Mouse (but not human) globin mRNA was demonstrated in these hybrid cells. The results suggest that somatic cell hybrids may be useful in searching for genetic factors which regulate activity of the globin genes.     

Regulation of human fetal and adult globin genes in mouse erythroleukemia cells

We have examined whether transfected mouse erythroleukaemia (MEL) cells can be used to examine differential expression of human gamma- and beta-globin genes. These cells, which express only their adult globin genes, will transcribe the human adult beta gene but not the fetal gamma genes when they are introduced on an intact human chromosome 11 by cell fusion. However, MEL cells stably transfected with the human A gamma gene attached to one of the active elements (HS2) of the beta-globin locus control region (LCR) readily produce gamma-globin mRNA in amounts equivalent to those seen with a comparable beta gene insert. When both beta and gamma genes are attached to HS2, equal amounts of beta A gamma mRNAs are produced, irrespective of the gene order. Furthermore, when HS2 is inserted into the 5' end of a 40-kb cosmid containing the G gamma A gamma-117 delta beta genes in their normal chromosomal organization (but with the Greek HPFH -117 A gamma gene mutation), it directs expression of readily detectable amounts of G gamma A gamma and beta-globin mRNAs in MEL cells. Therefore, under these circumstances we have observed no competition between beta and gamma genes for expression in MEL cells. These findings suggest that MEL cells are capable of perpetuating regulatory information involved in developmental control when it is provided by an intact chromosome, but are incapable of reconstructing such information on transfected DNA.     

Regulation of human embryonic globin genes zeta 2 and epsilon in stably transformed mouse erythroleukemia cells.

Previous work has suggested that the promoter regions of the human embryonic zeta 2 and epsilon globin genes contain negative regulatory regions that could play a role in the repression of these genes in postembryonic erythroblasts. We have examined this possibility by studying the expression of these genes in mouse erythroleukemia cells, an adult erythroid cell line that might be expected to contain repressor molecules that would bind to the putative negative regulatory regions. When attached to appropriate upstream regulatory elements (alpha HS-40 and beta HS1,2) both the zeta and epsilon genes were expressed in these cells at a low level, but no increase in expression was observed when similar constructs lacking the proposed negative regulatory sequences were introduced into these cells. These results cast doubt on the possibility that these sequences play a major role in the developmental repression of the embryonic globin genes, unless they function only in a normal chromosomal organization.     

Hemoglobin biosynthesis in juvenile erythroleukemia: Evidence of imbalanced globin chain synthesis

Summary In three young patients with erythroleukemia in whom a partial reversion to the fetal pattern of erythropoiesis occured there was found additionally an imbalance of globin chain synthesis. The synthesis of - plus -chains exceeded that of the -chains. In contrast, physiologic hemoglobin F production occuring in newborn infants and increased hemoglobin F production due to rapidly regenerating erythropoiesis in hereditary spherocytosis and after acute erythroblastopenia are characterized by a well balanced globin chain synthesis. These studies indicate that in distinct cases of juvenile erythroleukemia the genuine reversion to fetal erythropoiesis may be associated not only with a depression of hemoglobin synthesis but also with an imbalanced globin chain synthesis. Unlike adult cases of erythroleukemia without reversion to fetal erythropoiesis the imbalance of globin chain synthesis seems to be a more generalized phenomenon in these cases of juvenile erythroleukemia which is not confined to a particular red cell population.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Schr 86/14 and Ga 148/5     

v-abl activates embryonic globin gene expression in mouse erythroleukemia cells.

The Philadelphia chromosome translocation, which is present in 90-95% of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients, involves translocation of the c-abl protooncogene to chromosome 22 and is accompanied by activation of embryonic globin gene expression in the K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line. To test directly if the protein products of the translocated c-abl protooncogene can activate embryonic globin gene expression, we transfected the v-abl oncogene (which shares the property of autophosphorylation with the translocated c-abl protooncogene) into mouse erythroleukemia cells. v-abl-transfected mouse erythroleukemia cells, which contained multiple copies of the v-abl transgenome, exhibited activation of mouse embryonic globin gene expression. These results suggest that the translocated c-abl protooncogene of the Philadelphia chromosome translocation is central to the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia and that it may result in the activation of embryonic globin genes in some chronic myelogenous leukemia cell lines.     

Activation of phenotypic expression of human globin genes from nonerythroid cells by chromosome-dependent transfer to tetraploid mouse erythroleukemia cells

Chromosome-dependent gene transfer mediated by cell fusion was used to show that it is possible to activate phenotypic expression of human alpha globin genes derived from nonerythroid cells. Hybrid cells containing the human alpha globin structural genes were derived by fusion of populations of adult human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (devoid of identifiable erythroid cells) with adenine phosphoribosyl-transferase-deficient mouse erythroleukemia cells that contained close to a tetraploid complement of mouse chromosomes. The hybrid cells retained a near tetraploid complement of mouse chromosomes but had lost 80% of the chromosomes of the human parent cell. All of these hybrid cells and their subclones, which contained human chromosome 16, exhibited synthesis of human alpha globin chains. Human alpha globin mRNA was also demonstrated to be present in one of these hybrid cells by RNA.cDNA molecular hybridization analysis. We conclude that the mechanism responsible for restricting expression of the human globin genes in nonerthroid cells is not irreversible, at least for those globin structural genes that are actively transcribed in erythroid cells during adult life. Moreover, some genetic factor or process in the tetraploid mouse erythroleukemia cell is, under the conditions of our experiments, capable of reactivating phenotypic expression (production of globin chains) of human globin genes derived from nonerythroid hematopoietic cells after chromosome-dependent gene transfer.     

Loss of mouse chromosomes in somatic cell hybrids between HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and mouse peritioneal macrophages.

Somatic cell hybrids between mouse peritioneal macrophages and HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cells lose mouse chromosomes and retain the entire complement of human chromosomes. In contrast, somatic cell hybrids between cells derived from two different mouse continuous cell lines and HT-1080 human cells were found to lose human chromosomes preferentially. Loss of mouse chromosomes is not a general property of hybrids between mouse macrophages and transformed human cells; the hybridization of mouse macrophages with cells derived from five different human fibroblast lines transformed by simian virus 40 resulted in the production of hybrid clones that preferentially lost human chromosomes.     

Stable transfer and expression of exogenous human globin genes in human erythroleukemia (K562) cells.

To study the expression of globin genes in human cells, human epsilon-globin genes were transferred into a K562 cell line, Bos, which synthesizes very low amounts of epsilon-globin mRNA. A plasmid (pSV2neo-epsilon) containing a complete epsilon-globin gene and 2 kilobases (kb) of 5' flanking DNA as well as a neomycin-resistance gene and a simian virus 40 origin of replication was transfected into Bos cells; the compound G418, a neomycin analogue, was used to select transformed cells. The presence of unique bands by DNA restriction analysis shows that 11 of 14 of the G418-resistant clones have at least one copy of an integrated epsilon-globin gene. RNA expression measured by RNA blotting shows significantly more epsilon-globin mRNA sequences than in untransfected Bos cells in 10 of 11 lines; in most lines, epsilon-globin mRNA was additionally increased in the presence of hemin. In two lines, epsilon-globin mRNA expression with hemin was comparable to that of a high epsilon-globin producing cell line, K562 clone 2. The one G418-resistant line without epsilon-globin genes had no epsilon-mRNA expression. The high epsilon-mRNA expression in several of the lines suggests that exogenous epsilon-globin genes with only 2-kb 5' flanking DNA may be sufficient to be appropriately expressed in these homologous erythroid cells. These results have implications for the potential success of transfer of normal human genes to human bone marrow cells as an approach to the treatment of inherited anemias.     

Hemin-independent control of globin synthesis in Friend erythroleukemia cells induced to differentiate.

A hemin-independent translational inhibitor that prevents synthesis of rabbit globin when uninduced Friend leukemia (FL) cell and rabbit reticulocyte lysates are mixed [Cimadevilla, J. M. & Hardesty, B. (1975) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 63, 931-937] cannot be detected in FL cells induced to differentiate. Mixing of lysates of FL cells induced with hexamethylene bisacetamide or aminonucleoside of puromycin and rabbit reticulocytes does not cause inhibition of rabbit globin synthesis. Induction also results in the cells acquiring sensitivity to the inhibitor from uninduced FL cells. A reduction in total protein synthesis is observed when uninduced and induced FL cell lysates are mixed. Inhibition does not result from competition by an excess of uninduced FL cell mRNA species for the translational machinery because uninduced FL cell lysates retain their inhibitory activity after treatment with micrococcal nuclease. Rabbit globin mRNA recovered from rabbit reticulocyte lysates that have been incubated with lysates of uninduced FL cells can still be translated effectively, indicating that inhibition does not result from modification of other species of mRNA by uninduced FL cell lysates. A switch to hemin-dependent translational control does not follow induction of differentiation. The rate of amino acid incorporation in induced FL cell lysates--like that in uninduced FL cell lysates--is unaffected by omission of exogenous hemin from the system. Its presence is not required to prevent activation of heme-regulated inhibitor. From these data, it is clear that the control of protein synthesis in FL cells--whether or not they are induced--is different from that regulated by hemin in normal erythroid cells.     

Genetics of somatic mammalian cells: genetic, immunologic, and biochemical analysis with Chinese hamster cell hybrids containing selected human chromosomes.

Through hybridization of specific Chinese hamster cell auxotrophs with human cells and selection in media lacking the nutritional supplements required by the former cells, a series of stable hybrid clones can be prepared. These hybrids have genomes consisting of a common part--the complete or almost complete set of Chinese hamster chromosomes, plus a variable part--one or a few human chromosomes. The identity of the human chromosomes can be varied by utilizing different Chinese hamster auxotrophs and the appropriate selective media. The human chromosomes present can be determined by a combination of cytogenetic analysis with chromosome banding and testing for specific human marker genes. Hybrids containing single human chromosomes 11 and 12 and the combination of both 11 and 12 are described. The system appears to lend itself to various studies such as identification of human cell surface antigens, determination of their chromosomal loci, measurement of their distribution among cells of normal human tissues, study of interrelations among syntenic and asyntenic genes, and mutational analysis of the human genome.     

Translation of human globin mRNA: globin synthesis in cells containing Hb Leiden.

Most structurally abnormal hemoglobins are present in smaller amounts than HbA in the erythrocytes of heterozygous subjects. In the presence of a hemoglobinopathy, alpha and beta globin synthesis remains balanced with equal production of the two types of chains. In reticulocytes of subjects with Hb Leiden (beta 6 or 7 glu leads to 0) there is greater production of alpha than beta globin in vitro (beta/alpha = 0.67), and slightly more beta A is synthesized than beta Leiden (beta A/beta Leiden = 1.28). Differences in specific mRNA content, rates of initiation of chain synthesis, or rates of chain elongation could be responsible for such differential polypeptide synthesis. In the present study, the ribosomal assembly of beta A, beta Leiden, and alpha globin chains was examined in peripheral blood. The translation times of the three chains did not differ significantly (average times: beta A = 65.4 sec, beta Leiden = 70.8 sec, alpha = 53.5 sec). These results indicated that an altered rate of translation was not the source of the anomalous globin synthesis observed in vitro in cells containing Hb Leiden. The experiments suggested that the observed imbalance in alpha/beta production was due to either differential rates of initiation of globin chain synthesis or quantitative differences in the amounts of the specific mRNAs present in the cells.     

Chromosomal localization of human β globin gene on human chromosome 11 in somatic cell hybrids

We have successfully used a DNA.cDNA molecular hybridization assay to directly determine the presence or absence of human beta globin gene sequences in 20 human-mouse somatic cell hybrids, each of which contained a different subset of human chromosomes. The assay is specific for the individual human globin genes and will detect the presence of a globin gene if the relevant chromosome is present in only 10% of the cells of a hybrid population. The content of human chromosomes in each hybrid clone was characterized by Giemsa 11 staining, Giemsa trypsin-Hoechst 33258 staining, and by the use of 22 independent isozyme markers for 17 different human chromosomes. All human chromosomes were present in one or more cell lines devoid of the human beta globin gene except for 6, 8, 9, 11, and 13. Among these latter chromosomes, only chromosome 11 was present in the six hybrid clones that contained the human beta globin gene. In fact, chromosome 11 was the only human chromosome that was present in all of the six hybrid clones found to be positive for the human beta globin gene. Two sister clones, 157-BNPT-1 and 157-BNPT-4, had similar subsets of human chromosomes except that 11 was present only in 157-BNPT-4. 157-BNPT-4 contained the human beta globin gene while 157-BNPT-1 did not. DNA from three hybrid lines was also annealed to purified human gamma globin cDNA; two lines positive for human beta globin gene sequences also contained human gamma globin gene sequences while one line was negative for both beta and gamma gene sequences. On the basis of these results, the human beta and gamma globin genes have been assigned to human chromosome 11.     

Expression of human and suppression of mouse nucleolus organizer activity in mouse-human somatic cell hybrids.

Most mouse-human somatic cell hybrids show preferential loss of human chromosomes, absence of human 28S ribosomal RNA, and suppression of human nucleolus organizer activity, as visualized by the Ag-AS silver histochemical stain. In contrast, the mouse-human hybrids studied here show preferential loss of mouse chromosomes. The hybrids were made by fusion of HT-1080-6TG human fibrosarcoma cells with BALB/c mouse peritoneal macrophages or strain 129 mouse teratocarcinoma cells. The Ag-AS staining method shows nucleolus organizer activity of chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21 (rarely), and 22 in the human parent and chromosomes 12, 15, 16 (rarely), and 18 in the BALB/c mouse parent. In the hybrid cells the human nucleolus organizer regions are active, as shown by Ag-AS staining and involvement in "satellite association." The mouse nucleolus organizer regions are not stained by the Ag-AS method even though mouse chromosomes 12, 15, and 18 are present in the BALB/c hybrids and at least one copy of each mouse chromosome is present in the teratocarcinoma-derived hybrids. Thus, in these mouse-human hybrids, unlike those that lose human chromosomes, only human nucleolus organizer activity is expressed, and mouse nucleolus organizer activity is suppressed.     

Changes in gene expression associated with induced differentiation of erythroleukemia: protooncogenes, globin genes, and cell division.

Hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA)-induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC) is a multistep process involving an early latent period during which a number of metabolic changes have been detected, but the cells are not yet committed irreversibly to differentiate. Commitment is defined as the capacity of MELC to go on to express the program of terminal cell division and gene expression (such as the accumulation of globin mRNA) upon removal of the HMBA from the culture. In the presence of HMBA, a small proportion of MELC are committed by 10-12 hr and greater than 90% by 48-60 hr. The present study shows that, during the initial 4 hr of culture, HMBA causes a marked decrease in c-myb and c-myc and an increase in c-fos mRNA levels. With continued culture, the decrease in c-myb and the increase in c-fos mRNA persists, while c-myc mRNA returns to control levels before the time that MELC begin to show irreversible differentiation. Dexamethasone, which blocks expression of HMBA-induced MELC differentiation, does not alter the early pattern of changes in protooncogene mRNA nor the sustained elevation of c-fos, but it does inhibit the continued suppression of c-myb allowing c-myb to return toward control levels. Hemin, which induces MELC to accumulate globins but does not initiate commitment to terminal cell division, does not alter these protooncogene mRNA levels. These studies suggest that, although the early decrease in c-myb and c-myc and increase in c-fos mRNAs may be involved in the multistep events leading to differentiation, the continued suppression of c-myb is critical for HMBA-induced MELC commitment to terminal cell division.     

Differential effects of chemical inducers on expression of beta globin genes in murine erythroleukemia cells.

Murine erythroleukemia cells are induced to erythrodifferentiate by polar compounds such as dimethyl sulfoxide and hexamethylene bisacetamide as well as by fatty acids such as butyric acid and propionic acid. The effect of these inducers on the expression of two beta globin genes, betamaj and betamin, during the course of differentiation of the cells has been examined. After 4 days of culture with hexamethylene bisacetamide or dimethyl sulfoxide, the betamaj-containing hemoglobin (Hbmaj) predominates. By contrast, in the presence of butyric acid or propionic acid, after 4 days of culture, relatively equal amounts of Hbmaj and Hbmin are found. When cultured with dimethyl sulfoxide or hexamethylene bisacetamide, murine erythroleukemia cells synthesize more betamaj than betamin, while about equal amounts of the two globins are synthesized in the presence of butyric acid. When poly(A)-containing RNA from the cells exposed to different inducers is translated in a wheat germ cell-free system, the ratio of betamaj to betamin synthesized reflects that in whole cells. In a strain of murine erythroleukemia cells resistant to dimethyl sulfoxide (DR-10), the preferential stimulation of betamaj synthesis by hexamethylene bisacetamide of the betamin synthesis by butyric acid is more pronounced than with the dimethyl sulfoxide-sensitive cells (DS-19). These data suggest that polar compounds and fatty acids cause different expression of the betamaj and betamin genes in murine erythroleukemia cells.     

Cytoplasmic synthesis of globin RNA in differentiated murine erythroleukemia cells: possible involvement of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Three lines of evidence indicate that RNA-dependent RNA synthesis occurs in mouse erythroleukemia cells. The first involves labeling studies with [3H]uridine and shows a greater initial labeling rate of globin RNA in the cytoplasm than in the nucleus. Labeled globin RNA found in the cytoplasm after a very short pulse with tritiated uridine is of the "mature" 9S size while labeled globin RNA in the nuclei is exclusively in the form of 15S precursor molecules, suggesting that cytoplasmic globin RNA is not of nuclear origin. A high concentration of actinomycin D has no effect on the initial rate of labeling of cytoplasmic globin RNA, supporting this conclusion. Other experiments showed that the labeling of cytoplasmic globin RNA does not involve end addition to preexisting globin RNA. The second line of evidence is the identification of globin RNA minus strand in the cytoplasm of differentiated murine erythroleukemia cells by hybridization with single-stranded DNA probes containing the strand of the same sense as globin mRNA. This material has the same electrophoretic mobility as globin RNA and hybridizes with probes containing only the 5' part or only the 3' part of the gene suggesting that it is a full size copy of globin RNA. Finally, in murine erythroleukemia cells an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity is detected by using poly(A) . oligo(U) as a template-primer combination. This activity increases significantly after induction, suggesting that it is differentiation specific.     

DNA methylation and regulation of the human beta-globin-like genes in mouse erythroleukemia cells containing human chromosome 11.

The human beta-globin gene is expressed--but the human fetal (gamma) and embryonic (epsilon) globin genes are not--in an induced mouse erythroleukemia cell line (M11-X) that contains most of human chromosome 11. A 24-hr exposure of M11-X cells to 5-azacytidine before induction causes "global" DNA hypomethylation but selective activation of the human gamma-globin genes. Genomic DNA is remethylated 2-3 days after exposure to 5-azacytidine, but sequences near the human and mouse globin genes remain hypomethylated, suggesting that the remethylation process is inhibited in these regions.