APO-1(CD95)-dependent and -independent antigen receptor-induced apoptosis in human T and B cell lines

Certain B and T cell lines respond to activation signals, e.g.through the antigen receptor, by undergoing apoptotlc cell death.In T cells it has been recently shown that TCR-mediated apoptosisinvolves APO-1/Fas (CD95) receptor-ligand interaction. To investigatewhether the TCR-CD3 complex can trigger alternative apoptosispathways we generated subclones of the T cell line Jurkat whichwere completely resistant towards APO-1-mediated apoptosis.These Jurkat^R cells differed phenotypically from sensitive parentalJurkat^S cells only by the lack of APO-1 protein expression.Although Jurkat^R cells responded normally to anti-CD3 stimulationby expression of APO-1 ligand they failed to undergo anti-CD3-inducedapoptosis. Thus, in Jurkat cells APO-1 -mediated apoptosis wasthe main, and might be the only, mechanism for anti-CD3-inducedcell death. However, BL-60 B cells, highly sensitive to anti-IgM-inducedapoptosis, did not use the APO-1 receptor-ligand system becausethey failed to express APO-1 ligand mRNA. Taken together, ourresults suggest that malignant T and B cell lines may use APO-1receptor-ligand-dependent and -independent antigen receptor-inducedapoptosis pathways respectively. Similarly, differential pathwaysmay be used by T and B cell subsets.     

抗人CD20单克隆抗体诱导Daudi细胞凋亡的功能研究

目的　观察由基因重组抗原制备的抗人CD2 0单克隆抗体 (CD2 0 McAb) 1- 2 8对B淋巴瘤细胞的促凋亡作用 ,并探讨其作用机理。方法　利用流式细胞术测定所获 1- 2 8单抗对标准CD2 0 FITC单抗的竞争抑制作用及对胞内游离钙的影响 ;通过电镜观察其诱导Daudi细胞凋亡后形态上的改变 ,免疫印迹实验显示Daudi细胞凋亡后功能上的变化。结果　 1- 2 8能明显竞争标准CD2 0 FITC单抗与Daudi细胞表面CD2 0分子的结合。电镜结果证实了 1- 2 8能够促进Daudi细胞发生凋亡的结论 ;实验结果显示Daudi细胞与 1- 2 8作用后胞内游离钙浓度明显升高 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,细胞内Bcl 2蛋白和caspase酶原的表达量下降 ,而Bax蛋白和caspase酶原降解的活性产物表达增加。结论　 1- 2 8能竞争结合Daudi细胞表面的CD2 0分子并诱导其发生凋亡     

Expression profiles of the duplicated matrix metalloproteinase-9 genes suggest their different roles in apoptosis of larval intestinal epithelial cells during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role in development and/or pathogenesis through degrading extracellular matrix (ECM) components. We have previously shown that Xenopus MMP-9 gene is duplicated. To assess possible roles of MMP-9 and MMP-9TH in X. laevis intestinal remodeling, we here analyzed their expression profiles by in situ hybridization and show that their expression is transiently up-regulated during thyroid hormone-dependent metamorphosis. Of interest, MMP-9TH mRNA is strictly localized in the connective tissue and most highly expressed just beneath the larval epithelium that begins to undergo apoptosis. On the other hand, cells expressing MMP-9 mRNA become first detectable in the connective tissue and then, after the start of epithelial apoptosis, also in the larval epithelium. These results strongly suggest that MMP-9TH is responsible in the larval epithelial apoptosis through degrading ECM components in the basal lamina, whereas MMP-9 is involved in the removal of dying epithelial cells during amphibian intestinal remodeling.     

API2-MALT1融合基因变异体在粘膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区B细胞淋巴瘤中的分布及凋亡的关系

目的探讨API2-MALT1融合基因变异体在粘膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区B细胞淋巴瘤(extranodal marginal zone B—cell lymphoma of mucosa—associated lymphoid tissue，MALT)中的分布特点及其转录与肿瘤凋亡的关系。方法将逆转录-聚合酶链反应和巢式聚合酶链式反应结合，检测62例不同部位MALT淋巴瘤中API2-MALT1融合基因的多种变异体；通过TdT介导脱氧核苷酸缺口末端标记技术进行肿瘤细胞的原位凋亡检测；通过逆转录-聚合酶链反应和免疫组化染色检测API2的mRNA和蛋白水平。结果62例MALT淋巴瘤中28例检出API2-MALT1融合基因(45．16％)，为变异体A1446-M1123或A1446-M814，但未检出A1446-M541和A1446-M1150。A1446-M1123(18／28)的检出明显多于A1446-M814(10／28)。融和基因转录在甲状腺MALT淋巴瘤中检出最低，在其它部位的分布无差异。在API2-MALT1^ 组(API2-MALT1mRNA表达阳性组)肿瘤凋亡水平明显高于API2-MALT1^-组(API2-MALT1mRNA表达阴性组)，API2的mRNA和蛋白水平低于阴性组。A1446-M1123^ 与A1446-M814^ 病例之间凋亡和API2的变化无差异。结论MALT淋巴瘤中t(11；18)(q21；q21)的发生有部位差异，A1446-M1123可能是中国人MALT淋巴瘤中API2-MALT1融合基因变异体的主要类型。API2-MALT1融合基因转录与MALT淋巴瘤的凋亡水平和API2的变化有关。     

Increase in tonsillar germinal centre B-1 cell numbers in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients and reduced susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis

IgAN is a common form of primary glomerulonephritis and also a disease of tonsillar focal infection. The comprehensive mechanism underlying this disease remains to be defined. To better understand its pathogenesis, we investigated tonsillar CD5+ B cells (B-1 cells) with respect to IgA synthesis. Germinal centre (GC) B cells were isolated from the tonsils of IgAN patients and the number of B-1 cells in the GC determined by flow cytometry. GC B-1 and B-2 (CD5- B) cells were purified by cell sorter, the cells were incubated with agonist anti-CD40 MoAb and the ability for antibody production by B-1 and B-2 cells determined by ELISPOT assay. GC B-1 cells and B-2 cells were incubated with agonist anti-Fas MoAb, and apoptosis in GC B-1 cells and B-2 cells was analysed by flow cytometry. Although B-1 cells do not usually take part in the GC reaction, an increase in B-1 cell numbers was observed in the GC of tonsils from IgAN patients. These B-1 cells were likely IgA1 antibody-producing cells, since the prominent IgA subclass in IgAN is generally considered to be IgA1. Although Fas-dependent apoptosis is essential for the elimination of activated B cells, these B-1 cells showed a reduced susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis. It is conceivable that activated B-1 cells may survive in the GC due to impaired apoptosis and thus produce abnormal antibodies. These findings suggest that the immune responses of B-1 cells in the tonsillar GC could thus have an impact on the pathogenesis of IgAN.     

Melanosis of the appendix: common in the paediatric age group

AIMS: The objective of this study was to assess apoptotic activity in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and its prognostic value in hydatidiform mole (HM). METHODS AND RESULTS: Expression of the specific caspase cleavage site within cytokeratin 18 was assessed immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibody M30 CytoDeath in 12 spontaneous abortions, 22 partial and 57 complete HM, eight choriocarcinoma (CCA) and 28 normal placentas. The M30 immunoreactivity occurred predominantly in the syncytiotrophoblasts. A significantly higher M30 index in HM and CCA was found when compared with normal placentas and spontaneous abortions (P < 0.001). The M30 index of those HM which spontaneously regressed was significantly higher than those HM which developed persistent disease requiring chemotherapy (P < 0.001). The M30 index correlated with another apoptotic index previously detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) (P = 0.007) and the proliferation index assessed by the Ki67 antigen (P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that apoptosis is important in the pathogenesis of GTD. Assessment of apoptotic activity in HM by the M30 index may be considered as an alternative prognostic indicator for predicting the clinical behaviour.     

CD44 stimulation down-regulates Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis of lung cancer cells

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play a major role in the rejection of tumor cells, but tumor rejection does not always occur in vivo, indicating that defects in anti-tumor immune responses may be common. We here document a novel function for CD44--using lung cancer cells, we showed that stimulation of CD44 reduced Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis: (i) lung cancer cells expressed high levels of CD44; (ii) engagement of CD44 on the cells by a specific antibody or fragmented hyaluronan reduced Fas expression; (iii) CD44 cross-linking reduced Fas-mediated apoptosis; (iv) stimulation of CD44 on lung cancer cells decreased IFN-gamma production by autologous CTL; and (v) CD44 stimulation prevented killing of lung cancer cells by autologous CTL. Based on these findings, we postulate a new concept--that interaction of CD44 on lung cancer cells with fragments of extracellular hyaluronan present in the surrounding extracellular matrix reduces Fas expression as well as Fas-mediated apoptosis of cancer cells. This leads to reduced susceptibility of the cells to CTL-mediated cytotoxicity through the Fas-Fas ligand pathway.     

Early effects of cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) on tumor progression and programmed death of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells

We studied the effects of cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) on different pathways of cell death in cultured Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vitro and on subsequent growth of transplanted tumor in vivo. One-hour incubation with the cytostatic modulated apoptosis in cell culture. However, exposure of cell culture to a minimal effective concentration of cis-platinum(II)diammine dichloride promoted the growth of transplanted tumor.     

Adhesion to fibronectin via alpha4 integrin (CD49d) protects B cells from apoptosis induced by serum deprivation but not via IgM or Fas/Apo-1 receptors

Apoptosis is a regulated event crucial to the development and proliferation of normal and malignant B cells. We have studied the role of signals delivered via alpha4 integrin on apoptosis triggered by three different pathways on these cells. For apoptosis induced by serum deprivation, culturing B cells on the recombinant fibronectin fragment H89, a known ligand for alpha4beta1 integrin, resulted in statistically significant (P < 0.005) higher viability values (68%, 65% and 67%) for Ramos, Nalm-6 and EHEB cells, respectively, than culturing cells on poly lysine (42%, 42% and 48%). An antialpha4 MoAb reverted the protecting effect, thus confirming that it was due specifically to alpha4 engagement. Similarly, cells cultured on FN-III4-5, a recently identified fibronectin region which binds activated alpha4 integrin, also showed statistically significant higher viability than poly lysine cultures. Alpha4 engagement however, did not prevent apoptosis induced on Ramos cells via surface IgM. Adhesion of IM-9 cells, a myeloma cell line carrying functional Fas receptors, to the H89 fragment neither increased cell viability upon triggering apoptosis via Fas when compared to poly lysine. These results indicate that alpha4 signalling may overcome B cell apoptosis induced by the lack of growth factors but does not seem to affect the IgM or Fas apoptotic pathways, thus suggesting different intracellular mechanisms for these processes.