Pure populations of human basophilic granulocytes were obtained from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) blood by negative selection using a mixture of monoclonal antibodies and complement. '25Iradiolabeled recombinant human interleukin 3 (rhIL-3) bound to purified basophils in a specific manner. Quantitative binding studies and Scatchard plot analyses performed on samples from two donors revealed the presence of a single class of high-affinity IL-3 binding sites (500 and 2100 sites per cell; dissociation constant at equilibrium, 230 and 160 pmol/liter, respectively). Purified CML basophils maintained in suspension in the presence of rhIL-3 (100 units/ml) incorporated up to 12 times more [Hlthymidine than basophils in control cultures. Furthermore, after preincubation in vitro with rhIL-3 (100 units/mi) for 30 min, normal blood basophils released 2-to 3-fold more histamine than basophils pretreated with control medium when exposed to various concentrations ofan anti-IgE antibody. Together, these results show that rhIL-3 binds to a specific receptor on blood basophils and is a regulator of basophil function.

Increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) is associated with a variety of chronic inflammatory conditions, making its expression and function a target for therapeutic intervention. We have recently identified CAM741, a derivative of a fungus-derived cyclopeptolide that acts as a selective inhibitor of VCAM1 synthesis in endothelial cells. Here we show that the compound represses the biosynthesis of VCAM1 in cells by blocking the process of cotranslational translocation, which is dependent on the signal peptide of VCAM1. CAM741 does not inhibit targeting of the VCAM1 nascent chains to the translocon channel but prevents translocation to the luminal side of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), through a process that involves the translocon component Sec61beta. Consequently, the VCAM1 precursor protein is synthesized towards the cytosolic compartment of the cells, where it is degraded. Our results indicate that the inhibition of cotranslational translocation with low-molecular-mass compounds, using specificity conferred by signal peptides, can modulate the biosynthesis of certain secreted and/or membrane proteins. In addition, they highlight cotranslational translocation at the ER membrane as a potential target for drug discovery.

Cell recognition molecules play a crucial role in the regulation of immune cells. We recently found that mast cells (MCs) express leukocyte recognition molecules, including ICAM-1 antigen, a natural ligand of LFA-1. We here report that interleukin 4 (IL-4), a pleiotropic cytokine and mast cell differentiation factor, selectively promotes expression of surface ICAM-l antigen and ICAM-1 mRNA in human MCs. IL-4 also up-regulates ICAM-1 antigen in cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage but has no effect on ICAM-1 antigen expressed on basophils, fibroblasts, or lymphocytes. The increase in expression of mast cell/macrophage ICAM-1 antigen induced by IL-4 may contribute to the accumulation of leukocytes and facilitate cell-contact-dependent regulation of immune cells in infammed tissues.Mast cells (MCs) are primarily located in mucosal and perivascular areas of various tissues. They are known to play an important role in allergic events and immune reactions and may accumulate at sites of inflammation together with attracted leukocytes (1). Increasing evidence suggests that cell surface molecules play a significant role in the accumulation, distribution, and regulation of leukocytes in inflammatory reactions (2). We recently found that MCs express leukocyte recognition molecules such as Pgp-1 antigen (CD44) or ICAM-1 antigen (CD54) (3).Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a pleiotropic immunomodulator active on various cells of hemopoietic origin (4). Previous studies have shown that IL-4 is a differentiation factor for MCs (5,6). We here provide evidence that IL-4, in addition, is involved in the regulation of MC ICAM-1 antigen.MATERIALS AND METHODS Cells. The human mast cell line HMC-1 was established from a patient suffering from MC leukemia (7). Other cell lines used are listed in Table 2. Primary cells were obtained from patients by standard techniques after informed consent was given. MCs were enriched from lung (bronchiogenic carcinoma, n = 4), juvenile foreskin (n = 3), ascitic fluid (n = 4), and gastrointestinal mucosa (n = 2). Lung MC (n = 2) and chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) basophils (n = 2) were highly purified (90-98% purity) by negative selection using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and complement (8). Mononuclear blood cells (MNCs) were obtained from two normal donors, from two chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, and from two CGL patients. In addition, tonsillar B cells, cultured umbilical vein endothelial cells, and lung fibroblasts were analyzed. Cells were cultured in complete RPMI medium supplemented with 1o fetal calf serum in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air and 37°C.Cytokines. Recombinant human IL-4 (rhIL-4) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells was purified by ion-exchange chromatography essentially as described by Widmer et al. (9). Purified rhIL4 had a specific activity of 0.3 x 107 units/mg as defined by the amount of IL-4 required for half-maximal growth of T blasts precultured with 50 ng of rhIL-2 per ml and 1 ,ug of phytohemagglutinin per ml for 5 days. rhIL-2, rhIL-3, rhIL-8, ...

The effect of recombinant human (rh) cytokines, interleukin-1 alpha (IL- 1 alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4 (IL- 4), granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), monocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), interferon-alpha (IF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IF-gamma), and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha) on differentiation and function of metachromatic cells (MCS) was studied. Among all cytokines tested, rh interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) selectively induced a significant formation of MCS (IL-3: 1.1 +/- 0.6 x 10(5) v control: 0.02 +/- 0.15 x 10(5) MCS/mL suspension) and dose dependent increase in formation of intracellular histamine (IL-3, 100 U/mL: 95 +/- 23 ng/mL v control: 1.8 +/- 0.8 ng/mL) in a bone marrow suspension culture system (analyzed on day 14 of culture). Besides MCS, formation of eosinophils was observed in this culture system in the continuous presence of rhIL-3, whereas IL-3 pulse-stimulation for three hours and subsequent exposure to control medium induced growth of MCS but not of eosinophils. By combined immunofluorescence/toluidine blue staining, MCS were found to express a cell surface marker profile that corresponds to the immunological phenotype of peripheral blood basophils (MY-7(CD13)+, VIM12(CD11b)+, VIM2+, MAX1-, MAX24- and YB5B8- ). Furthermore, cultured MCS expressed surface membrane receptors for IgE and could be triggered for nontoxic histamine release by a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody. To evaluate a possible influence of IL-3 on basophil function, studies were extended to freshly obtained blood basophils (healthy volunteers, n = 3). However, like all other cytokines tested, rhIL-3 failed to induce basophil histamine release. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that IL-3 is a differentiation factor for human basophils.

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By chemical cross-linking experiments we show that at physiologically relevant concentrations IL-8 and NAP-2 monomers are in an equilibrium with dimers and even oligomers (KD approximately 300-800 nM). Oligomerization seems to be more prevalent for IL-8 than for NAP-2. The form in which IL-8 and NAP-2 bind to their specific receptors was analyzed in binding experiments with COS-1 cells expressing IL-8 receptor A or B in recombinant forms. Both receptors were cloned from the human myeloid leukemic cell line AML-193. Type A receptor had high affinity for IL-8 (KD approximately 4 nM) and low affinity for NAP-2 (KD > or = 700 nM), whereas the type B receptor was of equally high affinity (KD approximately 2 nM) for both IL-8 and NAP-2. However, IL-8 receptor B could bind specifically three to four times more IL-8 than NAP-2, and NAP-2 was a weak competitor for IL-8 binding to the same receptor. In addition, IL-8, but not NAP-2, could be cross-linked to dimers when bound to IL-8 receptor B. We suggest from these findings that IL-8, but not NAP-2, binds as a dimer and oligomer to IL-8 receptor.

Inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) and bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were shown to shift the hemostatic balance of the endothelial cell (EC) surface in favor of procoagulant activities by inducing tissue factor (TF) expression and downregulation of thrombomodulin (TM). In the present study, the effects of IL-4 on these regulatory mechanisms were investigated using cultured human umbilical vein EC. TM downregulation induced by the pyrogens IL-1 (100 U/mL), TNF (500 U/mL), and LPS (20 micrograms/mL) to less than 50% of TM activity of untreated cells during a 12-hour incubation period was completely neutralized when these mediators were coincubated with IL-4 (100 U/mL). In accordance with TM surface activity, TM messenger RNA was decreased by IL-1, TNF, and LPS to less than 40% of untreated cells; this effect was in part antagonized by IL-4. No influence of IL-4 on EC tissue factor induction by IL-1, TNF, and LPS was found. Binding studies using 125I- radiolabeled IL-4 suggest that EC express a single class of high- affinity binding sites (kd = 3.2 pmol/L; 2,000 to 2,500 receptors per cell). These results show that IL-4, in part, protects the EC surface against pyrogen-induced procoagulant changes. Transcriptional regulatory mechanisms seem to be involved in EC surface TM regulation.

To investigate the degree of similarity between picornavirus proteases, we cloned the genomic cDNAs of an enterovirus, echovirus 9 (strain Barty), and two rhinoviruses, serotypes 1A and 14LP, and determined the nucleotide sequence of the region which, by analogy to poliovirus, encodes the protease. The nucleotide sequence of the region encoding the genome-linked protein VPg, immediately adjacent to the protease, was also determined. Comparison of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences with other available picornavirus sequences showed remarkable homology in proteases and among VPgs. Three highly conserved peptide regions were identified in the protease; one of these is specific for human picornaviruses and has no obvious counterpart in encephalomyocarditis virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, or cowpea mosaic virus proteases. Within the other two peptide regions two conserved amino acids, Cys 147 and His 161, could be the reactive residues of the active site. We used a statistical method to predict certain features of the secondary structures, such as alpha helices, beta sheets, and turns, and found many of these conformations to be conserved. The hydropathy profiles of the compared proteases were also strikingly similar. Thus, the proteases of human picornaviruses very probably have a similar three-dimensional structure.