Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.7.7.6 (RNA polymerase)
34,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain amplification reactions (RT-PCR) were used to identify transcripts for HIV-1 structural and regulatory proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a cohort of 48 patients. At least one set of PCR primers was capable of detecting HIV-1 transcripts in 94% of patients. Unspliced gag-pol transcripts were detected with gag or pol primer sets in 60 and 63% of samples, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was noted between transcript identification with the gag primer set and the number of CD4-positive lymphocytes in the blood sample and the clinical stage of infection. Single-spliced env transcripts were identified in 44% of individuals. Multiple-spliced tat or nef transcripts were detected in 6.2 and 53% of individuals, respectively. These findings indicate that viral transcripts are expressed throughout the course of HIV-1 infection.
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PMID:Alterations in spliced and unspliced HIV-1-specific RNA detection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals with varying CD4-positive lymphocyte counts. 790 12

Nonparenchymal cells isolated from Fischer rat liver were separated into subpopulations by passage through a nylon wool column and/or culturing in a plastic plate. Besides typical Kupffer cells, we detected a unique population of cells (called PKu cells) which were plastic adherent but did not spread on a short term culture, were nonadherent on nylon wool, and were nonphagocytic, as opposed to Kupffer cells. Both Kupffer cells and PKu cells expressed CD4 (recognized with W3/25 mAb), CD8 (OX-8), a NK cell antigen (3.2.3), and a monocyte antigen (OX-41), as assessed by flow cytofluorometry. However, the proportion of cells bearing high densities of CD8 and 3.2.3 antigens was much larger for PKu cells than for Kupffer cells. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis of CD8 mRNA revealed that PKu cells expressed the CD8 alpha chain but not the beta chain. When PKu cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), they exhibited spreading and phagocytic activities, and showed a similar morphology to Kupffer cells in the spread form. Moreover, PMA treatment decreased the high density of CD8 antigen on PKu cells. These findings indicated that PKu cells present in normal rat liver are precursors of Kupffer cells.
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PMID:Pre-Kupffer like CD4/CD8 double positive mononuclear cells present in rat liver. 796 6

The fusogenic activities of enveloped-virus glycoproteins were analyzed by using a quantitative, sensitive, rapid, and highly versatile recombinant vaccinia virus-based assay measuring activation of a reporter gene upon fusion of two distinct cell populations. One population uniformly expressed vaccinia virus-encoded viral glycoproteins mediating specific binding and fusion activities; the other expressed the corresponding cellular receptor(s). The cytoplasm of one population also contained vaccinia virus-encoded bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase; the cytoplasm of the other contained a transfected plasmid with the Escherichia coli lacZ gene linked to the T7 promoter. When the two populations were mixed, cell fusion resulted in activation of the LacZ gene in the cytoplasm of the fused cells; beta-galactosidase activity was assessed by colorimetric assay of detergent cell lysates or by in situ staining. We applied this approach to study the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein (Env)-CD4 interaction. Beta-Galactosidase was detected within 1 h after cell mixing and accumulated over the next several hours. Cell fusion dependence was demonstrated by the strict requirement for both CD4 and functional Env expression and by the inhibitory effects of known fusion-blocking monoclonal antibodies and pharmacological agents. Quantitative measurements indicated much higher sensitivity compared with analysis of syncytium formation. The assay was used to probe mechanisms of the cell type specificity for Env-CD4-mediated fusion. In agreement with known restrictions, cell fusion occurred only when CD4 was expressed on a human cell type. Membrane vesicle transfer experiments indicated that CD4 initially produced in either human or nonhuman cells was functional when delivered to human cells, suggesting that the fusion deficiency with nonhuman cells was not associated with irreversible defects in CD4. We also demonstrated that the infectivity specificities of different human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates for peripheral blood lymphocytes versus continuous CD4+ cell lines were associated with corresponding fusion selectivities of the respective recombinant Env proteins. The assay enabled analysis of the fusogenic activity of the fusion glycoprotein/hemagglutinin-neuraminidase of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5. This system provides a powerful tool to study fusion mechanisms mediated by enveloped-virus glycoproteins, as well as to screen fusion-blocking antibodies and pharmacological agents.
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PMID:Fusogenic mechanisms of enveloped-virus glycoproteins analyzed by a novel recombinant vaccinia virus-based assay quantitating cell fusion-dependent reporter gene activation. 805 23

The multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) gene is a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter gene superfamily and may be partially responsible for clinical drug resistance. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to measure MRP mRNA in normal hematopoietic cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood as well as patients with high risk acute myelocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. All normal peripheral blood cells, regardless of cell lineage (CD4, CD8, CD14, CD15, CD19, CD56), expressed a similar basal level of MRP mRNA. Specimens from bone marrow containing mixed lineages also expressed a similar basal level of MRP expression. In patients with acute myelocytic leukemia, 10 of 12 (83%) of the specimens had detectable MRP mRNA, but the level of expression was similar to that of normal blood cells and low compared to a cell line known to overexpress MRP (H69/AR). All myeloma patients (12 of 12) had detectable MRP mRNA expression at levels comparable to normal peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. We conclude that MRP is commonly expressed in normal hematopoietic cells as well as certain hematopoietic malignancies. The therapeutic relevance of MRP expression is unknown, but these studies emphasize the importance of measuring MRP expression in normal cells as a point of reference and comparison for detection in malignant cells. We also recommend obtaining sequential specimens from patients, which may reveal an increased expression of MRP from baseline as the disease progresses and becomes resistant.
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PMID:Analysis of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) messenger RNA in normal and malignant hematopoietic cells. 806 63

In order to investigate the role of germ cells in the sexual transmission of immunodeficiency virus (HIV), spermatozoa from healthy HIV-seronegative men were incubated in vitro with HIV1. After washing, they were cocultured with peripheral blood leukocytes from seronegative blood donors. Reverse transcriptase assays and p24 antigen tests were performed in culture supernatants. Electron microscopy examination of these HIV-incubated spermatozoa was carried out, as well as the search for CD4 molecules on their surface. Although virus bound to and seemed to enter spermatozoa despite the absence of detectable CD4 epitopes on their surface, no replication of HIV was apparent. However, HIV particles on the surface of spermatozoa were capable of infecting CD4 T lymphocytes. Present results would seem to preclude artificial insemination between an HIV-seropositive man and an HIV-seronegative woman.
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PMID:Spermatozoa as potential carriers of HIV. 814 Feb 92

Recombinant vaccinia viruses (re-VVs) provide an extremely versatile method for the expression of foreign genes in a wide range of cultured cell types of different lineages and species. In the present report, we examine the utility of re-VV vectors for re-protein production in cultured human primary macrophages obtained through in vitro differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes. Primary macrophages supported early stages of the VV infection cycle, including morphologic cytopathic effect, shut-off of host protein synthesis and activation of early viral protein synthesis; however, late stages of infection were blocked, including synthesis of late viral proteins, replication of viral DNA, and production of infectious progeny virions. Abortive infection was observed with several independent VV strains. Using re-VVs containing Escherichia coli lacZ as a reporter gene, we assayed the activities of different classes of VV promoters. Consistent with the results noted above, human primary macrophages supported reporter gene expression driven by an early or intermediate VV promoter, but not by a late promoter; expression was obtained with synthetic bifunctional promoters containing early and/or intermediate components. Primary macrophages also supported the VV/bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase hybrid gene expression system. The utility of re-VV vectors for production of proteins of biological interest in human primary macrophages was demonstrated using re-VVs encoding human CD4 and the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 envelope glycoprotein.
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PMID:Expression of foreign genes in cultured human primary macrophages using recombinant vaccinia virus vectors. 819 48

The bcl-2 gene encodes an intracellular, membrane-associated protein that protects immature cortical thymocytes from a wide variety of apoptotic stimuli, including glucocorticoids, radiation, and anti-CD3 treatment. Since cortical thymocytes are the primary target cells for thymic positive and negative selection processes, and since these processes are associated with cell death, we evaluated the role of bcl-2 in T cell development in two ways. In the first approach, transgenic mice expressing high levels of Bcl-2 in cortical thymocytes were mated with H-Y T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice, the latter being a well-defined system for the study of positive and negative selection of T cells. We found that the bcl-2 transgene had a dramatic effect on positive selection. This was manifested by a greatly increased production of mature thymocytes that were highly skewed towards the CD4-8+ lineage. The change involving CD4-8+ thymocytes occurred not only in bcl-2 transgenic mice, but was also observed in H-Y TCR/bcl-2 doubly transgenic mice, regardless of whether the H-Y TCR was expressed in the selecting (H-2b) or nonselecting (H-2d) environments. Furthermore, a large proportion of CD4-8+ thymocytes produced in H-2b H-Y TCR/bcl-2 doubly transgenic female mice expressed endogenous TCR alpha chains rather than the transgenic TCR alpha chain. These observations are consistent with the model that high expression of Bcl-2 in cortical thymocytes overrides the normal apoptotic pathway. This then allows the selection of CD4-8+ thymocytes expressing TCRs that are otherwise nonselectable. However, the bcl-2 transgene did not protect CD4+8+ thymocytes expressing the male-specific TCR from deletion in male doubly transgenic mice. In the second approach, we determined the level of bcl-2 mRNA expression in populations of thymocytes defined by their CD4/CD8 phenotypes using quantitative reversed transcriptase PCR techniques. Our results indicate that bcl-2 mRNA was expressed at a high level in immature CD4-8- thymocytes and in mature CD4+8- thymocytes. There is a dramatic downregulation of bcl-2 mRNA in CD4+8+ thymocytes, particularly those expressing a low level of TCR. CD4+8+ thymocytes that upregulated their TCR, likely as a result of receiving positive selection signals, also upregulated bcl-2 mRNA. This observation suggests that rescue of immature thymocytes from the programmed cell death pathway by positive selection signals is accompanied by the upregulation of bcl-2 mRNA.
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PMID:The T cell receptor repertoire of CD4-8+ thymocytes is altered by overexpression of the BCL-2 protooncogene in the thymus. 827 Aug 61

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpu protein is a transmembrane phosphoprotein which induces rapid degradation of CD4 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To identify sequences in CD4 for Vpu-induced degradation, we generated four chimeric envelope glycoproteins having the ectodomain of HIV-1 gp160, the anchor domain of CD4, and 38, 25, 24, and 18 amino acids (aa) of the CD4 cytoplasmic domain. Using the vaccinia virus-T7 RNA polymerase expression system, we analyzed the expression of chimeric proteins in the presence and absence of Vpu. In singly transfected cells, the chimeric envelope glycoproteins having 38, 24, and 18 aa of the CD4 cytoplasmic domain were endoproteolytically cleaved and biologically active in the fusion of HeLa CD4+ cells. However, one of the chimeras having 25 aa of the CD4 cytoplasmic tail was retained in the ER using the transmembrane ER retention signal and was defective in membrane fusion. Furthermore, biochemical analyses of the coexpressing cells revealed that the Vpu protein induced degradation of the envelope glycoproteins having 38, 25, and 24 aa of the CD4 cytoplasmic tail and degradation occurred in the ER. Consequently, the fusion-competent glycoproteins did not induce the formation of syncytia in HeLa CD4+ cells expressing Vpu. However, the HIV-1 gp160 and chimeric envelope glycoprotein having the membrane-proximal 18 aa of the CD4 cytoplasmic tail were stable and fusion competent in cells expressing Vpu. In addition, we examined the stability of CD4 molecules in the presence of Vpu. Coexpression analyses revealed that the Vpu protein induced degradation of CD4 whereas mutant CD4 having the membrane-proximal 18 aa of the cytoplasmic domain was relatively stable in the presence of Vpu. Taken together, these studies have elucidated that the Vpu protein requires sequences or sequence determinants in the cytoplasmic domain of CD4 to induce degradation of the glycoproteins in the cell.
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PMID:Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpu protein induces degradation of chimeric envelope glycoproteins bearing the cytoplasmic and anchor domains of CD4: role of the cytoplasmic domain in Vpu-induced degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum. 835 Apr 11

The recombination activating gene, RAG-1, which is supposed to encode a molecule regulating V(D)J recombination, has been isolated. In the current study, the distribution of RAG-1 expression in human neoplastic hematopoietic cells was compared with the phenotypic and genotypic status of differentiation. Thirty-one hematopoietic cell lines (16 B-lineage, 9 T-lineage, 2 Hodgkin's disease, and 4 nonlymphoid cell lines) were investigated for the expression of human RAG-1 using the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RAG-1 was not expressed in nonlymphoid, Hodgkin's disease, or mature-stage lymphoid cell lines, but was present in some acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)/lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) cell lines. The investigation was extended to 45 cases of fresh ALL/LBL cells. The patterns of RAG-1 expression found in the cell lines and fresh ALL/LBL cells were similar. In B-lineage cells, the product of RAG-1 RT-PCR was detected in CD19+ CD10- CD20- CD5- stage (stage II, Nadler's classification) and was at the highest level in CD19+ CD10+ CD20- CD5- stage (stage III), but was absent or limited in CD19+ CD10+ CD20-+ CD5- (stage IV) or CD19+ CD10+ (or CD10-) CD5+. In stage II, monoclonal gene rearrangements of only the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) were found, whereas monoclonal gene rearrangements of both IgH and T-cell receptor (TCR)-beta chain were frequently noted in stages III and IV. The expression of CD20 or CD5 antigen apparently correlated with the decline of RAG-1 expression. In T-lineage cells, RAG-1 was highly expressed in CD3- CD4+ CD8+/CD3+ CD4+ CD8+ thymic stages, but was negative or only weakly expressed in the CD3- CD4- CD8- prothymic or early thymic stage, in which the TCR-beta gene was often germline, or the CD3+ CD4+ CD8- mature thymic stage. The relative levels of RAG-1 mRNA give an additional delineating frame to the schemes of lymphoid differentiation based on phenotypic and genotypic status. RAG-1 is exhibited by cells of the thymic stage capable of synthesizing TCR or expressing it on the cell surface. The weak or absent expression of RAG-1 in the prothymic or early thymic stage suggests that the contribution of RAG-1 to the gene rearrangement may differ quantitatively between TCR-delta/TCR-gamma and TCR-beta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Human recombination activating gene-1 in leukemia/lymphoma cells: expression depends on stage of lymphoid differentiation defined by phenotype and genotype. 839 73

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a major-histocompatibility-complex(MHC)-negative neuroectodermal tumour that is often infiltrated with lymphocytes. A detailed characterization of NB-associated tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has never been carried out. Here we have investigated the immunophenotype and the cytotoxic activities of TIL from nine and seven NB patients respectively. Furthermore, the T cell receptor (TcR) variability and the patterns of cytokine gene expression of fresh versus recombinant (r) interleukin (IL)-2-cultured TIL were studied in four NB cases. The results obtained showed the following: (1) freshly isolated TIL were comprised of a mixture of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells partially expressing HLA-DR and/or CD25. The CD4/CD8 ratio ranged from 0.5 to 5 in the different cases. Upon culture of TIL with rIL-2, an increased proportion of CD56+ and CD8+ lymphocytes was consistently observed; (2) IL-2-expanded TIL lysed natural-killer(NK)sensitive and lymphokine-activated-killer(LAK)-sensitive target cell lines; (3) reverse-transcriptase/polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) experiments showed that most TcR V beta genes were expressed both in fresh and in cultured TIL, suggesting that such cell populations were polyclonal; (4) interferon gamma, IL-4, IL-5, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, IL-8, IL-10 mRNA and, to a lesser extent, IL-2 mRNA were expressed by cultured TIL, as assessed by RT-PCR; the corresponding tumour samples consistently contained TNF alpha, IL-8 and IL-10 mRNA, whereas IL-2 and IFN gamma mRNA were faintly expressed in some NB tumours and IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA were never detected. A total of 90 clones were subsequently raised from IL-2-expanded TIL from six NB patients; 87/90 clones were of T cell lineage with a CD4+ or CD8+ immunophenotype, whereas the 3 remaining clones were of NK cell origin. Upon triggering of the CD3-TcR complex, 64% CD4+ and 77% CD8+ T cell clones killed the murine P815 mastocytoma cell line. Virtually no T cell clone lysed a LAK-sensitive NB cell line whereas 15% CD4+ and 17% CD8+ clones mediated NK-like activity against the K562 cell line. Finally, the patterns of cytokine production by CD4+ clones were roughly consistent with those of a T helper (TH) 1 profile and similar to those observed in CD8+ clones.
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PMID:Functional and molecular characterization of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and clones thereof from a major-histocompatibility-complex-negative human tumour: neuroblastoma. 864 Aug 45


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