Phenotypic analysis of human myeloma cell lines

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation, primarily in bone marrow, of a clone of plasma cells. The nature of the stem cells feeding the tumoral compartment is still unknown. To investigate this special point, we have studied the phenotypes of nine well-known human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) and compared them with those of normal lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Twenty-four clusters of differentiation involved in B lymphopoiesis were investigated using a panel of 65 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). For each cluster, the percentage of positive cells and the antigen density were determined, giving rise to a "quantitative phenotype". We thus classified the HMCLs into two different groups: those with cytoplasmic mu chains (c mu+) and those without (c mu-). In the first (c mu+) group, comprising seven cell lines, the HMCLs had a phenotype of pre-B/B cells close to that of Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines. They expressed low densities of surface mu chains, without detectable cytoplasmic or surface light chains. Three of them were infected with the Epstein Barr virus (EBV). These c mu+ HMCLs bore most of the B-cell antigens except CD23. They expressed the CALLA antigen (CD10) and lacked the plasma-cell antigen PCA1. In contrast, LCLs expressed surface light chains, high densities of CD23, low densities of PCA1 antigen, and no CD10 antigen. The c mu- HMCLs had a plasma-cell phenotype, lacking most of the B-cell antigens and expressing high densities of PCA1 antigen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Detection of membrane and soluble interleukin-6 receptor in lymphoid malignancies

Summary. We studied the membrane expression of the gp80 chain of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) by quantitative flow cytometry in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and leukaemic centrocytic lymphoma using a panel of seven monoclonal antibodies. IL-6R was detected in 18/26 CLL cases and 4/7 lymphoma cases, with a mean antigen density <3000 molecules/cell. Multiple labelling experiments confirmed the IL-6R expression by neoplastic cells. Specific mRNA was found by RT-PCR in neoplastic cells. A specific ELISA test was designed using two anti-IL-6 receptor MAbs to measure the serum soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) in CLL (n = 48), B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; n = 40), and monoclonal gammopathy (MG; n = 32). SIL-6R was higher in CLL (170±12.6ng/ml) in NHL (160 ± 12ng/ml) and MG patients (183±23ng/ml) than in age-matched controls (100 ±5.6 ng/ml; P < 0.001) and higher in high-grade than low-grade NHL. No correlation was noted with a previous treatment. Among CLL cases the patients classified as stage B according to the Binet's staging of the disease had the highest sIL-6R values, thus suggesting a link with tumour cell mass.     

Autocrine regulation of proliferation of cerebellar granule neurons by nerve growth factor

Premigratory cerebellar granule neurons, which highly express nerve growth factor (NGF), low (gp75^NGFR) and high (gp140^trkA) affinity NGF receptors, were used as a physiological model to investigate the effects of NGF on neuronal replication. Studies in vivo and on cultures showed that NGF stimulates DNA synthesis, mitotic activity and related cell acquisition by initiating the entry of cells into the S phase and regulating their time in the G1 and S phases. The NGF-induced effects were blocked in vivo and in vitro by both monoclonal anti-NGF and anti-gp75^NGFR antibodies. These results clearly demonstrate that NGF is essential for the crucial first step of cerebellar ontogenesis and support the idea that low affinity receptors are involved in the biological response, possibly by interacting with gp140^trkA. By comparison with a number of well known mitogens, the high affinity form could be the main transducer of the mitogenic signal pathway. The early developing cerebellum appears therefore to be the first autocrine (and/or paracrine) model of NGF action on neurogenesis in the CNS. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

<Emphasis Type="Bold">La plateforme Cancer info : une réponse au besoin d’information des patients et de leurs proches</Emphasis> (in partie II : Un parcours personnalisé et coordonné pour mieux répondre aux besoins des patients)

The National cancer Institute, in partnership with the National league against cancer, produces Cancer Info, an information platform for patients and close relatives. Because qualitative information helps patients become actors of their care program, Cancer Info proposes reliable, accurate and up-to-date information, accessible through three complementary ways: a help line, a collection of free guides and a dedicated section on the INCa website. The contents, designed as a mirror image of the recommendations for health professionals, concern cancers, their treatments and life with cancer. In order to assess if Cancer Info meets its publics and their needs, Cancer Info has been evaluated through a large satisfaction survey. As decided in the Cancer Plan 2014–2019, the Institute also published a call for proposals for associations, in order to support and develop complementary information offers.     

Biogenesis of the vitronectin receptor in human endothelial cell: evidence that the vitronectin receptor and GPIIb-IIIa are synthesized by a common mechanism

Human endothelial cells express a membrane glycoprotein alpha beta heterodimer similar to the human platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex (GPIIb-IIIa). This noncovalently associated complex is the vitronectin receptor (VNR). These two receptors belong to the cytoadhesin family and share the same beta subunit. They express different recognition specificities: platelet GPIIb-IIIa is a receptor for fibrinogen, fibronectin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF), whereas VNR is a receptor for vitronectin, and is possibly a receptor for fibrinogen and vWF. We analyzed the biosynthesis of the endothelial cell VNR. Our data show that VNR alpha is a two-chain protein which is biosynthesized as a single-chain precursor: the pro-VNR alpha. Pro-VNR alpha forms a complex with VNR beta, and this association occurs prior to the Golgi-mediated processing of the oligosaccharide side chains. Mature VNR beta is glycosylated by not fully processed oligosaccharide side chains because it remains endoglycosidase H (endo H) sensitive, even when the complex is expressed on the cell surface. This characteristic appears as a common feature for the members of the cytoadhesin family. These results indicate that although VNR and GPIIb-IIIa are biosynthesized in different cells, their expression is controlled by similar mechanisms, providing further support for the concept that the cytoadhesin family constitutes a distinct group of adhesion receptors.