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Sixteen patients with metastatic stage IV melanoma were treated with use of intravenous infusions of dendritic cells (DC) derived by incubation of plastic-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with IL-4 and GM-CSF for 8 days in serumless AIM-V medium, followed by overnight pulsing with peptides. The tyrosinase368-376 (370D) and gp100(209-217 (210M)) peptides restricted to HLA class I A*0201 each differed from wild type by one amino acid modified to increase HLA binding. Median age was 49, with nine men and seven women. All patients, except one, had visceral disease. Patients received escalating doses of peptide-pulsed DCs at 10e7, 3 x 10e7, and 10e8 cells/dose twice at 2 weeks apart, with toxicity and clinical and immune responses as the principal endpoints. The first infusion of DCs was fresh, and frozen DCs were given for the second infusion of each cycle. Mean DC purity by flow cytometry was 49%, with a mean HLA-DR level of 57%, CD86 of 41%, CD58 of 46%, and mean CD14 cells of 0.9%. Toxicity was minimal, with two patients having transient grade III DC-related toxicity. Ten patients received one cycle of treatment and six patients received two cycles of treatment. One patient had a complete remission (CR) of lung and pleural disease after two cycles of DC therapy. Two additional patients had stable disease and two patients had mixed responses. Overall immunity was assessed by recall skin testing with peptides, gamma interferon ELISA assays of peptide specific cytolytic T cell (CTL) stimulated twice with peptide, IL-2, and IL-7 over 24 days, and peptide-specific tetramer assays performed before and after vaccination. Five of 16 patients had an immune response to gp100 or tyrosinase by gamma interferon ELISA assay; four of five were clinically stable or had tumor regression. These data suggest that melanoma antigen peptide-pulsed DC given intravenously are not toxic, and regression or stability of tumor appeared to correlate with the detection of a peptide-specific immune response in the peripheral blood.

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Twenty-five patients with high-risk resected stages IIB, III, and IV melanoma were immunized with a vaccine consisting of the minimal epitope, immunodominant 9-amino acid peptide derived from the MART-1 tumor antigen (AAGIGILTV) complexed with incomplete Freund's adjuvant. The last three patients received the MART-1(27-35) peptide with incomplete Freund's adjuvant mixed with CRL 1005, a block copolymer adjuvant. Patients were immunized with increasing doses of the MART-1(27-35) peptide in a Phase I trial to evaluate the toxicity, tolerability, and immune responses to the vaccine. Immunizations were administered every 3 weeks for a total of four injections, preceded by leukapheresis to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells for immune analyses, followed by a post-vaccine leukapheresis 3 weeks after the fourth vaccination. Skin testing with peptide and standard delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test reagents was also performed before and after vaccinations. Local pain and granuloma formation were observed in the majority of patients, as were fevers or lethargy of grade 1 or 2. No vaccine-related grade III/IV toxicity was observed. The vaccine was felt to be well tolerated. Twelve of 25 patients were anergic to skin testing at the initiation of the trial, and 13 of 25 developed a positive skin test response to the MART-1(27-35) peptide. Immune responses were measured by release of IFN-gamma in an ELISA assay by effector cells after multiple restimulations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of MART-1(27-35) peptide-pulsed antigen-presenting cells. An ELISPOT assay was also developed to measure more quantitatively the change in numbers of peptide-specific effector cells after vaccination. Ten of 22 patients demonstrated an immune response to peptide-pulsed targets or tumor cells by ELISA assay after vaccination, as did 12 of 20 patients by ELISPOT. Nine of 25 patients have relapsed with a median of 16 months of follow-up, and 3 patients in this high-risk group have died. Immune response by ELISA correlated with prolonged relapse-free survival. These data suggest a significant proportion of patients with resected melanoma mount an antigen-specific immune response against a peptide vaccine and support further development of peptide vaccines for melanoma.

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Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells which stimulate strong proliferative and cytolytic T cell responses. Stimulation of CD40 on dendritic cells by its ligands and anti-CD40 antibodies induces maturation and enhances DC stimulatory ability. In order to understand the mechanism by which ligand:CD40 interactions augment DC function, we assessed the role of T cell stimulatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-15 in the function of DC stimulated with soluble trimeric CD40L, a recombinant fusion protein incorporating three covalently linked extracellular CD40L domains (huCD40LT). Peripheral blood derived DC treated with huCD40LT and/or IFN-gamma were used to stimulate T cell responses in vitro to specific antigens. DC treated with huCD40LT or IFN-gamma/huCD40LT stimulated enhanced T cell proliferation to CASTA, a soluble protein from C. albicans, induced T cells with augmented antigen-specific lysis, and increased the yield of antigen-specific IFN-gamma-producing T cells. IL-15 production by DC was enhanced in cultures treated with huCD40LT and correlated with expansion of antigen-specific cytolytic T cells. Addition of a neutralizing anti-IL-15 monoclonal antibody inhibited the expansion of viral and tumor antigen-specific T cells stimulated by IFN-gamma and huCD40LT-treated DC. In contrast, this enhanced stimulatory ability of DC did not appear to depend on synthesis of IL-12 since huCD40LT treatment stimulated the generation of antigen-specific cytokine producing and cytolytic T cells without increased IL-12 production. Addition of anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody did not inhibit expansion of these cells. These data suggest that production of IL-15 but not IL-12 is an important factor in the enhanced immunostimulatory ability of huCD40LT-treated DC.

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The laminin family of extracellular matrix glycoproteins plays a major role in cell migration and differentiation and in tumor cell invasion. As previously shown, the laminin deposited by normal and malignant rat liver epithelial cells in their extracellular matrix (ECM) and into their ECM migration tracks does not contain a typical (EHS-like) alpha 1 heavy chain. By RT-PCR screening we have now identified two alpha chains among a total of five additional laminin chains produced by these cells. Three of the newly identified chains were not previously known for the rat. Their sequences have been deposited in the EMBL nucleotide sequence data bank. The alpha 5 chain now identified is expressed at comparably high levels by both the normal and the malignant liver epithelial cells. The chain is also expressed in fetal liver together with the alpha 2 and beta 2 chains, but it is only vestigially expressed in the mature organ as shown by RT-PCR. These results suggest for alpha 5 a role in development and production of the chain by only a small subset of cells in adult liver. At the level of detection used, no changes were observed in regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy. In addition to the alpha 5 chain, the cultured cells express the beta 1 and beta 2 light chains, indicating the expression of more than one laminin isoform by the same cell line. The expression of the alpha 5 chain and of the other new non-EHS isoform chains was also analyzed in various tissues. The malignant liver epithelial cells, but not their nontumorigenic parental cells, also express, in addition to the alpha 5 chain the alpha 2 chain, which is expressed at high level by the NBT II bladder carcinoma cell line, suggesting a relationship with malignancy.

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The program "molecular weights" allows a fast and easy estimation of molecular weights (M(r)), isoelectric point (pI) values and band intensities directly from scanned, polyacrylamide gels, two-dimensional protein patterns and DNA gel images. The image coordinates of M(r) and pI reference standards enable the program to calculate M(r) and pI values in a real time manner for any cursor position. The program requires NIH-Image for Macintosh computers and includes automatic band detection coupled with a densitometric evaluation.

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Precision-cut slices of normal adult rat liver maintained in serum-free medium remain hormone- and endotoxin-responsive for at least 48 h. They respond to glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) with the induction of the gluconeogenic enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), as determined by enzymatic activity and by the increase in enzyme protein. Furthermore, endotoxin (LPS) induced nitric oxide synthase II (i-NOS), and this induction is repressed, similarly to the in vivo situation, by dexamethasone (DEX). All increases are inhibited by cycloheximide (CHX). The length of the period of responsiveness suggests that this organ culture system might be generally useful for studying the modulation of liver gene expression by physiological and pathological influences.

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Constitutively migrating malignant rat liver epithelial cells obtained by Ha ras transformation exhibit a fibroblastoid phenotype in vitro. The cells deposit the anti-adhesive extracellular matrix (ECM) protein tenascin into their ECM migration tracks. The serum-free medium conditioned by these constitutively migrating cells contains an epithelial migration-stimulating activity (eMSA) that is neither cell-type-, nor species-specific. This eMSA fractionates in the range of 30 to 50 kDa and binds to Mono-Q, Mono-S, and with low affinity to heparin-Sepharose. The conditioned medium also induces the expression of the serine proteinase inhibitor PAI-1. Both migration and expression of PAI-1 are inhibited by cyclic AMP, as previously shown for the migration of the non-transformed liver epithelial cells induced by several growth factors that act through tyrosine kinase receptors. These results suggest that the eMSA might act through signal transduction pathways similar to those of the growth factors previously studied. It is postulated that the eMSA, through both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, is at least partially responsible for the malignant phenotype of the transformants.

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The analysis of migration and gene expression patterns of normal and Ha-ras transformed rat liver epithelial cells revealed differences of diagnostic relevance. The normal cells are induced to migrate by EGF/TGF alpha and to express a set of secreted proteins including fibronectin, EIP-1/PAI-1, and MEP cathepsin L, which the malignant, constitutively migratory cells express constitutively. Only the transformed cells produce proteins of Mr 58/60,000 identified by peptide sequencing as stromelysin-1. The constitutively migratory cells produce invasive tumors and, after intravenous injection, metastatic colonies in the lung ('experimental metastasis'). The results demonstrate specific differences between the migration/invasion of normal and malignant epithelial cells, with PAI-1 as a general biochemical marker for migration/invasion. Constitutive migration and the described gene expression pattern are proposed as in vitro indicators of an invasive phenotype. EGF inducibility of the transformed cells to maximal migration and to an increased expression of stromelysin indicates susceptibility to a paracrine stimulation of malignancy.

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Isolated seminiferous tubules of rat testis contain considerable urokinase-inhibiting activity. An immunohistological analysis revealed the presence of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) in the basement membrane as well as in the interior of the tubules. Distribution and intensity of the intratubular immunoreactivity depends on the stage of the seminiferous cycle. A relatively weak signal is present around elongated nuclei of spermatids at the beginning of chromatin condensation. The signal intensity increases in the course of differentiation until a maximum is reached at stages VII-VIII. In these stages PAI-1 immunoreactivity is localised around the nuclei of the late spermatids as well as along their tails. Spermatozoa in the ductus epididymis also strongly react with the PAI-1-specific antiserum, suggesting that the inhibitor remains associated with the germ cells after spermiation and during maturation in the epididymis. In intact mature spermatozoa isolated from epididymis cauda by "swimming-up' in non-capacitation medium, PAI-1 antigen is localised on the plasma membrane surrounding the head. In addition, in fixed and permeabilised cells the immunoreactivity is detectable in the acrosome and in the tail. Possible functions of PAI-1 in spermatogenesis, sperm motility and sperm-egg interaction are discussed.

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The primary structures and molecular homogeneity of recombinant human epidermal growth factors from different suppliers were characterized and their biological activities evaluated by a standard DNA synthesis assay. Molecular weight determinations using 252Cf-plasma-desorption and electrospray mass spectrometry in combination with N- and C-terminal sequence analysis and determination of intramolecular disulfide bridges revealed that one recombinant protein had the correct human-identical structure (54 aa residues; 6347 Da). In contrast, a second recombinant protein (7020 Da) was found to contain a pentapeptide (KKYPR) insert following its N-terminal methionine. This structural variant showed a significant reduction in its capacity to stimulate DNA synthesis.

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Induction of rat liver epithelial cell migration by epidermal growth factor (EGF) changes the expression pattern of secreted proteins. The expression of the early induced glycoprotein EGF-inducible protein No. 1 (EIP-1) correlates with the migratory behavior of both normal and Ha-ras-transformed, tumorigenic cells and is deposited into the ECM migration tracks. The sequence of two clones from a cDNA library of EGF-induced cells and the amino terminal sequence of the purified protein revealed that EIP-1 is identical to rat plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Based on the migration-linked expression pattern of EIP-1/PAI-1 it is proposed that the inhibitor is required for the migration of these cells, but not sufficient to stimulate it.

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Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen for most cultured cells and has previously been shown to induce the migration of rat liver epithelial cells. We have now demonstrated that under migration-inducing conditions EGF does not stimulate cell proliferation, but causes instead a transient inhibition of DNA synthesis. Analysis at the single-cell level by [3H]thymidine autoradiography indicated that in 40-50% of the EGF-treated cell population the entry into S phase is delayed. The simultaneous demonstration of migration tracks by laminin immunofluorescence revealed that the transient inhibition of DNA synthesis is not restricted to the migratory cells. The effect is also observed with the stationary subpopulation and appears, therefore, to be independent of the induction of migration. The independence of both processes was further supported by showing that induction of migration by EGF proceeds undisturbed in cells blocked in S phase by aphidicolin. These results indicated that for rat liver epithelial cells the induction of migration by EGF has priority over cell proliferation. The data also emphasize the need for a time-course analysis when studying factors that stimulate or inhibit DNA synthesis or cell proliferation.

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The expression of laminin chains was analyzed in normal and Ha-ras1-transformed rat liver epithelial cells. The normal, nontumorigenic cells were induced to migrate by epidermal growth factor, whereas the Ha-ras1-transformed, malignant derivatives migrate constitutively. None of these cells express a typical (EHS-like) laminin A chain. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]-methionine-labeled liver cell lysates with an antibody against EHS-laminin revealed B1 and B2 chains and, in addition, two high Mr polypeptides. These polypeptides were not recognized by the antibody in immunoblots, suggesting that they might constitute alternative laminin A chains. Analysis of the expression of all three laminin chains at the RNA and protein level revealed that the pattern of expression of the stationary cells does not differ from that of the migratory ones and is also not influenced by epidermal growth factor. These results indicate that expression of a typical laminin A chain by rat liver epithelial cells is not required for the secretion and deposition of the protein in the extracellular matrix. The data also indicate that an EHS-like laminin A chain is not required for the migration of these epithelial cells.

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The migration of rat liver epithelial cells induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) was inhibited by cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cholera toxin, but not by cGMP, cAMP and cholera toxin also inhibited the expression of the EGF/transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha-inducible protein EIP-1 (Mr 47,000), but not that of other proteins induced by the growth factor. cAMP therefore specifically and selectively represses the EGF-induced expression of this protein, which by synthesis in the presence of tunicamycin and by enzymatic treatments was shown to be N-glycosylated and sialylated. The close correlation of the expression of EIP-1 with the growth factor-induced migration suggests that this glycoprotein is involved in the cellular translocation process. Modulation of cell migration and of EIP-1 expression through increased intracellular concentrations of cAMP indicate that factors operating through this signal system can modulate the phenotypic and gene expression changes mediated by the EGF-receptor. Identification of the ligand(s) that can cause the cAMP-mediated effects might be an important step towards understanding the regulation of liver cell migration in vivo.

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The transcription of phage Mu DNA during the lysogenic state has been quantitatively analysed. For this purpose pulse-labelled RNA from two lysogens and from their nonlysogenic parental strains were hybridized to non-overlapping Mu DNA restriction fragments covering the whole phage genome. The data revealed that all regions of the prophage are transcribed at low rates and that phage promoters are involved in this transcription. For this study an improved assay for quantitative filter hybridization was employed. The high sensitivity and reproducibility that can be obtained with the assay make it suitable for the quantitative analysis of minute amounts of mRNA.

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Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces fibronectin (FN) and FN mRNA in rat liver epithelial cells, under conditions where the factor also induces the cells to migrate. Newly synthesized protein is secreted into the medium and deposited as substratum-bound extracellular matrix. The levels of mRNA and the amount of protein synthesized are not influenced by cyclic AMP or dexamethasone, factors that have been found to modulate FN expression in other cells. However, the cells are sensitive to the factors, suggesting a cell-specific regulation. The EGF-induced RNA contains the sequences EIIIA and EIIIB characteristic of cellular fibronectin.

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The transcription of temperate phage Mu throughout lytic development was analysed quantitatively by hybridization of pulse-labelled RNA to full-length Mu DNA and to plasmids that define Mu DNA segments covering the whole phage genome. The transcription rate (i.e. binding data corrected for the incorporation rate of the radioactive precursor, for the size of the DNA template, and for the number of phage genomes present in the bacterium at the time of analysis) revealed three defined phases of Mu transcription: early (0 to 9 min), intermediate (between 9 and the interval 14 to 17 min) and late (from the interval 14 to 17 min onward). The analysis also revealed that the region comprising the genes involved in phage morphogenesis was organized into two independent 'late' transcription units.

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Rat liver epithelial cells are induced to migrate by epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) in serum-free medium supplemented with insulin. Immunohistological staining of the migration tracks containing laminin and fibronectin has allowed a quantitative analysis of the process. The growth factor-induced migration is relatively slow, but very efficient. Between 24 and 48 h after exposure to EGF (or TGF-alpha), 50 to 70% of the cells have migrated away from their site of initial attachment and spreading. This delayed effect of the interaction of the receptor with its ligands is associated with changes in gene expression, but is not associated with a stimulation of cell proliferation. In serum-free medium supplemented with insulin, the cells secrete six major proteins, as revealed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The media of cultures supplemented with insulin plus EGF (or TGF-alpha) contain in addition two new proteins and an increased amount of fibronectin. One secreted protein is synthesized in significantly reduced amounts. The most conspicuously EGF-induced protein (EIP-1; Mr 47,000) is detected within 2 h, depends on the continued presence of the growth factor, and has not been detected as bound to the substratum. The stringent regulation of EIP-1 suggests that this gene product might participate in the modulation of the changes induced by the growth factor. The system is being used for the further analysis of the regulation of gene expression by EGF and of the migration of normal and neoplastically transformed epithelial cells.

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Infection of Mu-sensitive bacteria with a recombinant lambda phage that carries the EcoRI.C fragment from the immunity end of wild type Mu DNA causes filamentous growth. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cell-division cycle was inhibited at, or prior to, the initiation of septation. The filamentation does not occur after infection of Mu-immune bacteria or after infection with a phage carrying the same EcoRI.C fragment, but with an IS1 insertion in gene B of Mu, showing that either gpB and/or some non-essential functions (e.g. kil) mapping downstream from the insertion are required for the inhibition of cell division. These data and previously published evidence suggest that in the "killing" of E. coli K12 by early Mu functions expressed from the cloned EcoRI.C fragment, two components have to be distinguished: one, a highly efficient elimination of plasmid DNA carrying the early Mu genes, and second, a series of interactions with host functions conducent to an inhibition of cell division. It is suggested that functions normally involved in the SOS reaction participate in the inhibition of cell division by early Mu functions. Infected bacteria synthesize the replication protein B (MR 33000) of Mu, which was found by cell fractionation experiments to be associated with the inner cell membrane. The role of this association for filamentous growth and for the integrative replication of the phage is discussed. The recombinant phage might be useful as a tool for the study of the E. coli cell division cycle.

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