Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P10721 (c-kit)
 6,575 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Previously we have reported that rodent mast cells synthesize the mRNA encoding the alpha and beta integrin chains (alpha 4, beta 1 and beta 7) of the lymphocyte Peyer's patch adhesion molecule (LPAM)-1 and LPAM-2 lymphocyte homing receptors, and that they possess an alpha 4-containing integrin complex on their cell surface. In this report, we have examined the expression of these integrin chain genes by mature connective tissue mast cells (CTMC) and by bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) differentiated from bone marrow precursor cells in the presence of interleukin (IL)-3 and/or the c-kit ligand (also known as mast cell growth factor and stem cell growth factor). High levels of both the beta 7 and beta 1 transcripts were present in mature CTMC while those encoding the alpha 4 chain were absent. Similarly, when BMMC were grown in IL-3 for 28 days and analyzed for integrin chain transcripts, those specific for the alpha 4 chain were also diminished compared to beta 7 and beta 1 transcripts. To compare the expression of these integrin genes during mucosal mast cell and CTMC development, BMMC were derived in the presence of IL-3 alone, c-kit alone, or IL-3/c-kit together. These experiments indicated that c-kit inhibited the transcription of the beta 7 and Fc epsilon RI genes while enhancing alpha 4 transcript levels. The enhancement of alpha 4 levels, however, was abrogated with the addition of IL-3. Similarly, the c-kit-induced depression of beta 7 and Fc epsilon RI transcript levels was overcome by the addition of IL-3. These data suggest that the integrin complexes synthesized by the mast cells may differ depending upon their path of differentiation and that another alpha chain integrin may be synthesized to complex with the beta 7 and/or beta 1 chains.
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PMID:Modulation of integrin expression during mast cell differentiation. 138 93

The effects of recombinant human stem cell factor (SCF/c-kit ligand), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on erythroid colony formation by non-phagocytic mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34+ cells derived from normal human bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood (PB) and umbilical cord blood (CB) were studied using a methylcellulose culture containing recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo). BM-MNC generated the largest number of total erythroid colonies consisting of erythroid bursts and erythroid mixed colonies (E-Mix) in the presence of SCF, whereas PB-MNC produced the largest number with IL-3. No additive effect between SCF and IL-3 was observed in the erythroid colony formation by BM- or PB-MNC. These observations were reproducible in cultures with several independent samples and purified CD34+ cells, suggesting that in normal human adults the erythroid progenitors supported by SCF alone mainly reside in the BM but those supported by IL-3 alone are mainly circulating. IL-3 was the most potent promoter of the total erythroid colony formation by CB-MNC, but it had no cooperation with SCF. In contrast, SCF supported large numbers of E-Mix and showed significant cooperative activity with IL-3 in E-Mix formation. These findings were also confirmed using independent specimens and CD34+ cells. Outstanding E-Mix formation by the CB cells indicated that newborn infants contain significantly more immature circulating erythroid progenitors than adults. These observations will stimulate interest in the role of the c-kit-SCF system as an adhesion molecule in the ontogenetic development of hemopoiesis.
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PMID:Different responses of human marrow and circulating erythroid progenitors to stem cell factor, interleukin-3 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor. 751 46

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a hematopoietic growth factor produced by fibroblasts and endothelial cells that stimulates the growth of primitive hematopoietic cells. SCF triggers cell growth by binding to the c-kit receptor. Because endothelial cells can respond to certain hematopoietic growth factors, we tested human umbilical vein endothelial cells for display of the c-kit receptor and examined the effect of SCF on endothelial cell proliferation, adhesion molecule expression, and production of tissue factor. Quantitative binding experiments with 125I-SCF showed both high-affinity (Kd = 42 pmol/L) and low-affinity (Kd = 1.7 nmol/L) c-kit receptors. There were approximately 1,100 high-affinity c-kit receptors, and 5,400 low-affinity c-kit receptors per endothelial cell. Enzyme immunoassays showed that endothelial cells released soluble c-kit receptor and SCF. The transmembrane form of SCF was detected by indirect immunofluorescence analysis using monoclonal or polyclonal anti-SCF receptor antibodies. The addition of SCF (100 ng/mL) did not alter endothelial cell proliferation over a 7-day period. Similarly, there was no change in the release of tissue factor or expression of inducible endothelial adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1, endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay at 4 and 24 hours after SCF addition. The neutralizing anti-c-kit receptor monoclonal antibody SR-1 blocked binding of 125I-SCF to the c-kit receptor by 98% but did not alter endothelial cell proliferation or adhesion-molecule expression. c-kit receptors were also detected on adult endothelial cells lining small blood vessels in normal human lymph nodes. These data indicate that normal human endothelial cells produce SCF and show high-affinity c-kit receptors that have the capacity to dimerize. The lack of response to exogenous SCF may be because of intracellular activation of the c-kit receptor via autocrine production of SCF. Alternatively, SCF and c-kit may play a role other than stimulation of proliferation, adhesion-molecule display, or tissue factor production by endothelial cells. The production of soluble c-kit receptors by normal human endothelial cells may serve to regulate the bioactivity of SCF within the bone marrow microenvironment.
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PMID:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells display high-affinity c-kit receptors and produce a soluble form of the c-kit receptor. 751 42

We dissected the functions of the microenvironment of bone marrow (BM) and fetal liver (FL) at the cellular level by cloning individual stromal calls and characterizing their phenotypical and functional features. Stromal cell clones derived from FL are large in size (mean forward light scatter intensity [mFSC] of 450), express the surface antigen Thy-1 but not Sca-1 and 6 out of 6 are able to differentiate into fat accumulating adipocytes. BM derived stromal cell clones are either small (mFSC of 250) or large (mFSC of 450), express Sca-1 but not Thy-1 and only 2 out of 7 differentiate towards adipocytes. Heterogeneity in terms of vascular adhesion molecule-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and heat stable antigen expression was found among the different cell clones. Functional assays using long- and short-term cocultures of stromal and hematopoietic calls revealed: (1) the capacity of 8 out of 12 stromal cell clones to support the expansion of primitive hematopoietic progenitors (colony forming unit spleen day 12) more than 10 weeks. Fat accumulation but not expression of stem cell factor by stromal cells did correlate with this supportive function. (2) Better support of granulocyte maturation and proliferation by BM- compared to FL-derived stromal cell clones. However, stromal cell clones from both organs expressed macrophage-colony stimulating factor. (3) The ability of 4 out of 12 stromal cell clones (derived from both, FL and BM) to support the expansion of Interleukin-7 dependent pre-B cells from the BM. Pre-B cell growth stimulating factor was not restricted to supporters. (4) Mutual exclusiveness of myeloid and lymphoid support in that a given stromal cell clone supported either pre B-cell or granulocyte expansion. Experiments comparing the support of BM- and FL-derived hematopoietic progenitors showed identical responses of late (B220+/c-kit-) but strikingly different responses of early (B220+/c-kit+) pre-B cells, revealing different proliferation requirements for FL- versus BM- derived early pre-B cells in vitro.
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PMID:Hematopoietic supportive functions of mouse bone marrow and fetal liver microenvironment: dissection of granulocyte, B-lymphocyte, and hematopoietic progenitor support at the stroma cell clone level. 863 28

We have characterized the adhesion molecule HEMCAM, which is expressed by hemopoietic progenitors of embryonic bone marrow. HEMCAM belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and consists of the V-V-C2-C2-C2 Ig domains. There are three mRNA splice variants. One has a short cytoplasmic tail; another has a long tail; while the third seems to lack transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions. Except for the NH2-terminal sequence, HEMCAM is identical to gicerin, a molecular involved in neurite outgrowth and Wilm's kidney tumor progression in the chicken and it is significantly homologous with MUC18 a molecule involved in melanoma progression and metastasis in human beings. In the bone marrow the HEMCAM+ cell population contains c-kit+ subsets. HEMCAM+ cells coexpressing the receptor tyrosine kinase c-kit give rise to T cells at a frequency of 0.17 when injected intrathymically in congenic animals. As HEMCAM+, c-kit+ cells differentiate into myeloid and erythroid CFU's the double-positive cell population seems to contain precursors for multiple lineages. HEMCAM promotes cell-cell adhesion of transfected cells. Cross-linking of murine HEMCAM leads to cell spreading of T-lymphocyte progenitors adhering to the vascular adhesion molecules, PECAM-1 and VCAM-1. Thus, HEMCAM is likely to be involved in cellular adhesion and homing processes.
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PMID:HEMCAM, an adhesion molecule expressed by c-kit+ hemopoietic progenitors. 897 30

Three-color immunofluorescence cytometry was used to quantify the expression of different adhesion molecules on CD34+ cells of steady-state bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) after mobilizing with G-CSF (10 micrograms/kg/body weight) in nine cancer patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with subsequent autologous blood stem cell rescue. The expression rate of each adhesion molecule on CD34+ cells showed great inter-individual variations. High expression (> 50%) on CD34+ cells from PBSC and BM was found for CD58 (leukocyte function-associated antigen-3), CD31 (platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1), CD11a (leukocyte function-associated antigen-1) and CD49d (very late activation antigen-4); a moderate expression (20%-40%) was seen for CD49e (very late activation antigen-5), CD62L (leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion molecule), CD54 (ICAM-1) and CD117 (c-kit). c-kit, CD58, CD62L and CD49d were less expressed on CD34+ cells of PBSC than of BM, the difference being statistically significant for CD49d (p < 0.05). CD49e and CD37 were expressed more in PBSC than BM without being statistically significant. The mean fluorescence intensity for all adhesion molecules on CD34+ cells did not differ significantly between PBSC and BM. The significantly lower expression of CD49d on G-CSF-mobilized PBSCs might suggest that downregulation of this molecule may be involved in the process of peripheral stem cell mobilization.
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PMID:Difference between expression of adhesion molecules on CD34+ cells from bone marrow and G-CSF-stimulated peripheral blood. 947 47

The aim of this study was to identify the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoform expressed in freshly dispersed rabbit gastric smooth muscle cells and in cultured rabbit gastric, human intestinal, and guinea pig taenia coli smooth muscle cells. RT-PCR products of the predicted size (354 bp) were obtained with endothelial NOS (eNOS)-specific primers, but not neuronal NOS (nNOS)- or inducible NOS (iNOS)-specific primers, in all smooth muscle preparations except guinea pig taenia coli. Control RT-PCR studies showed absence of the endothelial markers, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and the interstitial cell marker, c-kit, from cultures of smooth muscle cells. Cloning and sequence analysis showed that the predicted amino acid sequence (117 residues) in rabbit and human smooth muscle cells differed by only one residue from that of human eNOS. Northern blot analysis, using the PCR-generated and cloned eNOS cDNA from rabbits and humans as probes, demonstrated the expression of eNOS mRNA (4.4 kb) in both species. eNOS, but not nNOS or iNOS, transcripts were localized by in situ RT-PCR in single, freshly dispersed rabbit gastric smooth muscle cells; expression was evident in the majority of cells in each preparation. We conclude that eNOS is selectively expressed in rabbit gastric and human intestinal smooth muscle cells. The results confirm functional evidence for the existence of a constitutive NOS in smooth muscle cells of the gut in different species, except for guinea pig taenia coli.
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PMID:Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in human and rabbit gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells. 968 62

In the mammalian testis, type A spermatogonia proliferate and differentiate into sperm under the tight control of both endocrine and paracrine factors. In order to study the complex process of spermatogenesis at the molecular level, an in vitro system must be devised in which type A spermatogonia can be cultured for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, cocultures including type A spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, which act as nurse cells to the developing germ cells, are desirable. We have developed a method for the specific isolation of type A spermatogonia using magnetic beads and antibodies that recognize the c-kit receptor or the homophilic adhesion molecule, Ep-CAM. Purified spermatogonia could survive for a period of 25 days when cocultivated on Sertoli cell monolayers. Moreover, we recently established Sertoli cell lines that produce growth factors that are essential for the maintenance of spermatogonia in a proliferative state. Some of these Sertoli cell lines are able to reorganize into tubular structures when cultivated on a layer of Matrigel as extracellular matrix. We show here that type A spermatogonia associate specifically with the Sertoli cell tubules, and are able to replicate their DNA in this environment. Thus, these in vitro culture systems could be used for the long-term culture of primary, nonimmortalized type A spermatogonia.
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PMID:Immunomagnetic isolation and long-term culture of mouse type A spermatogonia. 1145 67

Appropriate adhesion between bone marrow stem cells and the marrow microenvironment is necessary for hematopoiesis, since signals that promote maturation or apoptosis are transmitted from stromal cells to stem cells. In aplastic anemia (AA), interferon-gamma produced by stromal cells has more influence on the pathogenesis of marrow failure than interferon-gamma produced by lymphocytes. We evaluated the expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as very late antigen-4 (CD49d), and -5 (CD49e) or c-kit receptor (CD117), by CD34-positive bone marrow cells in patients with AA who achieved hematological complete remission after immunosuppressive therapy. Before treatment, CD34-positive cells showed markedly higher expression of CD49d and CD49e than cells from healthy controls, indicating the strong adhesion of stem cells to the bone marrow stroma. Expression of CD49d and CD49e was significantly decreased, reaching normal levels, after hematological recovery. These findings suggest that changes in adhesion molecule expression by stem cells are important in the pathology of AA.
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PMID:Adhesion molecule expression by bone marrow CD34-positive cells in aplastic anemia before and after immunosuppressive therapy. 1464 Nov 44

Feeding a low-protein (LP) diet to pregnant and lactating rats impairs pancreatic islet mass and insulin release in the offspring, leading to glucose intolerance as adults. We hypothesized that an LP diet changes the number of pancreatic endocrine precursor cells or cells supporting endocrine cell neogenesis. Pregnant rats were given LP (8% protein) or a control (20% protein) diet from conception until postnatal d 21. Cells containing nestin, CD34, or c-Kit were quantified in pancreata of the offspring. Stellate cells immunoreactive for nestin were seen to be adjacent to ductal epithelium and were resident within the islets. These were proliferative and immunonegative for cytokeratin 20, fibronectin, tyrosine hydroxylase, pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1, Nk homeodomain transcription factor 6.1, or insulin, but expressed vimentin. Approximately 20% of islet nestin-positive cells also expressed the endothelial cell marker platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1. Both ducts and islets also contained CD34- and c-Kit-positive cells with similar morphology to those expressing nestin. Offspring from rats fed the LP diet had significantly less nestin/CD34-positive cells and reduced expression of nestin mRNA. Within islets, there was an associated decrease in cell proliferation and in cells immunopositive for pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1. Nestin-positive cell number within islets correlated positively with the percent area of beta-cells. Supplementation of pregnant and lactating rats with taurine reversed the deficits in mean islet area and nestin-positive cells caused by the LP diet within the islets of the offspring. Nutritional programming of postnatal beta-cell mass may involve an altered abundance of cells expressing nestin and/or CD34, which may limit endocrine cell development.
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PMID:Low-protein diet during early life causes a reduction in the frequency of cells immunopositive for nestin and CD34 in both pancreatic ducts and islets in the rat. 1504 74


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