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In the human B cell line P493-6 two mitogenic signals, the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and myc, can be independently regulated by means of an estrogen receptor fusion construct or an inducible expression vector, respectively. Shut off of EBNA2, either in the presence or absence of myc, leads to a significant increase in enzymatic activity and surface expression of ecto-5´-nucleotidase (CD73) as well as an increased adenosine receptor response in cyclic AMP formation. Shut off of myc expression has a small additional positive effect on CD73 activity. Among the four different subtypes of adenosine receptors, the A2a receptor exclusively is subject to regulation in this system, which is substantiated by pharmacologic data (specific agonists and inhibitors), as well as on the mRNA level. With up-regulated CD73 and A2a, cells also respond to 5´-AMP with increased cyclic AMP formation. Turn on of EBNA2 has the reverse effect of repression of CD73 and A2a expression. The time course of both induction and repression of CD73 and A2a is rather slow. Key words: A2a mRNA / 5´-AMP / c-myc / Cyclic AMP / EBNA2.Excretion of ATP into the extracellular space under physiological conditions and its subsequent breakdown by a cascade of ecto-nucleotidases has been well established in various tissues and cell types. The enzymes involved, among others an ecto-apyrase (CD39) and the ecto-5´-nucleotidase CD73, have been studied on molecular, structural and functional levels (

Hypoxanthine‐guanine‐phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPR Tase; ECC 2.4.2.8) has been purified from rat brain 650‐fold to about 50 per cent purity by conventional methods. An isoenzyme pattern of at least three components is observed on DEAE‐cellulose chromatography. On polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis only one sharp band of enzyme activity can be detected. The apparent Km‐value determined for phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) is about 0.2 mM. The product, GMP, and also GDP, GTP, UMP, CMP, AMP and ATP are competitive inhibitors with respect to PRPP. Inhibition by a number of other nucleotides has also been investigated. Studies on the development of enzyme activity in the brain of the young rat show that a rapid increase occurs during the first 15‐20 days of life and reaches a plateau thereafter. The regional distribution of HGPRTase activity in adult rat brain is more homogenous than that reported for human brain. The enzyme is predominantly a constituent of the soluble supernatant fraction, but can also be found in carefully washed synaptosomes. An antiserum against rat brain HGPRTase obtained from rabbits inhibits this enzyme to about 30 per cent of control activity, but does not crossreact with HGPRTases from rabbit or human erythrocytes.

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Several monoclonal antibodies directed against the human CD14 antigen have been established. We now report that the antibody My4, but not LeuM3, reacts with porcine monocytes. Among porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), 14.6% of the cells stain with the CD14 antibody My4, which is similar to the percentage obtained with the antiporcine monocyte antibody 74-22-15. Two-colour immunofluorescence reveals that My4 and 74-22-15 antigens are coexpressed on the same cells, and cell sorter-purified My4+ cells exhibit the morphology of monocytes. Whole blood analysis (which also shows staining of granulocytes) reveals that the average percentage of My4+ monocytes amongst all leucocytes is 5.8% with 580 cells/microliters. Furthermore, porcine peritoneal macrophages (PM) and alveolar macrophages (AM), both stain for My4, with a four-fold lower level on AM. Treatment of cells with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C decreases My4 staining, but does not affect staining with antibody 74-22-15. Immunoprecipitation with the My4 antibody from surface labelled pig mononuclear cells demonstrates a 54 kDa band similar to human CD14, and Western blotting with pig serum demonstrates two bands similar to the alpha and beta forms of human soluble CD14. Finally, the My4 antibody is capable of blocking lipopolysaccharide- (LPS)-induced interleukin-6 production in isolated PBMC. These data show that the My4 antibody recognizes genuine CD14 on porcine monocytes and macrophages.

We have studied the clinical courses of 69 patients with blastic crises of Philadelphia chromosome positive CML to identify parameters that were associated with an increased response rate or survival. Cytogenetic analysis at the time of blastic transformation revealed additional chromosome changes in 70% of the patients tested. Bone marrow fibrosis was detected in 58% of evaluable patients. Lymphoblastic transformation was seen in 28% of the patients tested with cell surface marker analysis. The value of 5'-nucleotidase as a marker for distinguishing lymphoid from non-lymphoid blast crisis was confirmed. Of 57 evaluable patients, 23 (40%) responded to therapy (CR/PR longer than 14 days). Median survival was 75 days. Longer survival was related to the following factors: Ph1-chromosome as the only detectable cytogenetic abnormality; lymphoblastic transformation; no bone marrow fibrosis; high percentage of blasts and promyelocytes in the bone marrow, and response to therapy. No prognostic significance was associated with age, sex, Tdt, LDH, spleen size, duration of the chronic phase of the disease, white blood cell count, Hb, platelet count and percentages of basophils, eosinophils, erythroblasts and blasts and promyelocytes in the peripheral blood. These data confirm the poor prognosis of patients with blastic crisis of CML treated by conventional chemotherapy.

Human placental ecto-5'-nucleotidase is specifically detected on Western blots using poly- or monoclonal antibodies. In two-dimensional electrophoresis 5'-nucleotidase, purified as well as membrane bound, is resolved in up to 13 isoforms distinguished by a different content of neuraminic acid. These forms span a range of molecular masses of about 67-71 kDa and of isoelectric points of 5.8-7.0. Chemical cross-linking of the purified enzyme with either homoor heterobifunctional reagents yields a dimer of about 140 kDa exclusively. On the other hand treatment of plasma membranes with the same reagents results in a crosslinking product of 5'-nucleotidase of about 97 kDa. The partner of the enzyme subunit in this crosslink, a protein of about 30 kDa, is unknown. Using specific antibodies the cytoskeletal components actin and tropomyosin were excluded as possible candidates.