These sources of antigens may be critical for the generation and maintenance of anti-HIV-1 immunity by DC.

No abstract

When platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) binds to its receptors a number of biochemical reactions are elicited in the cell. Several models have been presented for the effects of ligand-induced receptor conformation and aggregation on signal transduction but little is known about the direct effects on receptor diffusion. This study concerns the lateral mobility of PDGF receptors in fibroblasts. It was assessed with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), using rhodaminated receptor antibodies or Fab-fragments of the antibody as ligands. The aims of the investigation were: (a) to compare the lateral mobility of membrane receptors of human fibroblasts labelled with either antibodies against the PDGF receptor or Fab-fragments of the same antibodies, and (b) to study the effects of serum or PDGF on the mobility of the receptors. Human foreskin fibroblasts (AG 1523) were grown on coverslips either under standard or under serum-free conditions yielding "normal" and "starved" cells, respectively. Two parameters of the diffusion were evaluated; the diffusion coefficient (D) and the mobile fraction (R) of the receptors. We found that normal fibroblasts had a smaller diffusion coefficient and a lower mobile fraction compared to starved cells using antibodies for receptor labelling. The addition of PDGF, just before the measurement, increased the D and R for normal cells, while starved cells, showing higher initial values, displayed slightly reduced values of D and R. After the addition of serum, D increased and R remained low for normal cells, whereas for starved cells both D and R increased to upper limits of 11.0 x 10(-10) cm2s-1 and greater than 90% respectively. In general, the D and R values, both in normal and starved cells, were higher for cells labelled with Fab-fragments than for antibody-labelled cells. The results are discussed in relation to the natural complexity of the receptor, and how PDGF, serum, antibodies and Fab-fragments might interfere with receptor structure, aggregation state and membrane diffusion characteristics.

Growth factor receptors transmit biological signals for the stimulation of cell growth in vitro and in vivo and their autocrine stimulation may be involved in tumorigenesis. It is therefore, of great value to understand receptor reactions in response to ultraviolet (UV) light which certain normal human cells are invaribly exposed to during their growth cycle. UV irradiation has recently been shown to deplete antioxidant enzymes in human skin. The aims of the present study were a) to compare the lateral mobility of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) in cultured human keratinocytes and human foreskin fibroblasts, b) to investigate effects of ultraviolet B radiation on the mobility of EGF-R in these cells, and c) study the response of EGF-R on addition of antioxidant enzymes. The epidermal growth factor receptors were labeled with rhodaminated EGF, the lateral diffusion was determined and the fraction of mobile EGF-R assessed with the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). We found that human keratinocytes display a higher basal level of EGF-R mobility than human skin fibroblasts, viz. with diffusion coefficients (D +/- standard error of the mean, SEM) of 4.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(-10) cm2/s, and 1.8 +/- 0.2 x 10(-10) cm2/s, respectively. UVB-irradiated fibroblasts showed an almost four-fold increase in the diffusion coefficient; D was 6.3 +/- 0.3 x 10(-10) cm2/s. The keratinocytes, however, displayed no significant increase in receptor diffusion after irradiation; D was 5.1 +/- 0.8 x 10(-10) cm2/s. In both cell types the percentage of EGF-R fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, i.e. the fraction of mobile receptors, was significantly increased after irradiation. In keratinocytes it increased from 69% before irradiation to 78% after irradiation. Analogous figures for fibroblasts were 61% and 73%. The effect of UVB on fibroblast receptors was abolished by prior addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). It is concluded that UVB radiation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes can affect their biophysical properties of EGF-R. The finding that addition of antioxidant enzymes prevented the UVB effect in fibroblasts may indicate the involvement of reactive oxygen metabolites.

When the receptors for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) are activated they aggregate, become tyrosine-phosphorylated and elicit a cascade of down-stream signals, including mobilization of Ca2+ from intra- and extracellular stores. Receptor mobility in the plane of the membrane is a prerequisite for receptor aggregation and further signalling. Using human foreskin fibroblasts (AG 1523) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we therefore assessed the lateral mobility characteristics of PDGF-beta2 receptors by their diffusion coefficient (D), and fraction of mobile receptors (R). This was done on cells stimulated with either normal human serum (NHS) or PDGF under different Ca2+-conditions. The results suggest that both intra- and extracellular free Ca2+ influence the mobility characteristics of the PDGF-beta2 receptor. Interestingly, the extracellular Ca2+ seems to impose general restrictions on the mobility of receptors, since R increased when extracellular Ca2+ was quenched with EGTA, whereas intracellular clamping of Ca2+ transients with MABTAM (BAPT/AM) primarily affected D. When both intra- and extracellular Ca2+ were quenced, D remained low and R high, further supporting the proposition that they achieve distinct effects. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation with Erbstatin, partly inhibited the NHS effects and released PDGF-induced receptor immobilization. Ratio imaging with Fura-2 displayed that both NHS and PDGF induced changes in intracellular free [Ca2+]. In view of the present data it might have important effects on the state of the receptor in the membrane, for instance by regulating its lateral mobility, communication with other receptors and signalling functions in the membrane.