Reconstitution of a functional interleukin (IL)-7 receptor demonstrates that the IL-2 receptor γ chain is required for IL-7 signal transduction

The interleukin (IL)-2 receptor γ chain has recently been shown to be a component of the IL-7 and IL-4 receptors. Using a transient transfection assay and the trans-activation of reporter gene constructs which are under the control of cytokine-responsive promoter elements, we have studied signal transduction through the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R). The reporter gene expression was not stimulated by receptors that contained the cytoplasmic domain of the IL-7R, either as intact IL-7R or as part of a chimeric receptor. However, co-expression of the IL-7R with the IL-2 receptor γ chain was able to stimulate gene activation. For maximal stimulation the intact cytoplasmic domains of each chain was required.     

Molecular cloning of a ligand for the inducible T cell gene 4-1BB: a member of an emerging family of cytokines with homology to tumor necrosis factor

4-1BB is an inducible T cell antigen that shows sequence homology to members of an emerging family of cytokine receptors, including those for tumor necrosis factor and nerve growth factor. To aid in the analysis of the function of 4-1BB we have utilized a soluble form of the molecule as a probe to identify and clone the gene which encodes its ligand. The ligand for 4-1BB is a type II membrane glycoprotein that has homology to tumor necrosis factor, lymphotoxin, and the ligands for CD40 and CD27, all of which are themselves ligands to receptors in this superfamily. The gene for 4-IBB is on mouse chromosome 4 and maps close to the p80 form of the tumor necrosis factor receptor as well as the gene for CD30. The gene for 4-IBB ligand maps to mouse chromosome 17, but considerably distal to the tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin genes. Interaction of 4-1BB with its ligand induces the proliferation of activated thymocytes and splenic T cells, a response which is mimicked on similar cell populations stimulated with an antibody to 4-1BB.     

Silencing the major apple allergen Mal d 1 by using the RNA interference approach

BACKGROUND: Apple allergy is dominated by IgE antibodies against Mal d 1 in areas where birch pollen is endemic. Apples with significantly decreased levels of Mal d 1 would allow most patients in these areas to eat apples without allergic reactions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to inhibit the expression of Mal d 1 in apple plants by RNA interference. METHODS: In vitro -grown apple plantlets were transformed with a construct coding for an intron-spliced hairpin RNA containing a Mal d 1-specific inverted repeat sequence separated by a Mal d 1-specific intron sequence. The presence of the construct in transformants was checked by PCR. Expression of Mal d 1 in leaves was monitored by prick-to-prick skin testing in 3 patients allergic to apples and by immunoblotting with a Mal d 1-reactive mAb and with IgE antibodies against Mal d 1. RESULTS: After transformation, plantlets were selected on the basis of having a normal phenotype and growth rate. With PCR, in 6 of 9 selected plantlets, the presence of the gene-silencing construct was demonstrated. By skin prick test it was shown that a wild-type plantlet had significantly ( P < .05) higher allergenicity than 5 of the transformants. Reduction of expression of Mal d 1 was confirmed by immunoblotting. In wild-type and unsuccessful transformants, a strong band was detected with Mal d 1-reactive mAb 5H8 at the expected apparent M r of 17 kDa. This band was virtually absent in the transformants that carried the gene-silencing construct. With human IgE antibodies, the same observations were made. CONCLUSIONS: Mal d 1 expression was successfully reduced by RNA interference. This translated into significantly reduced in vivo allergenicity. These observations support the feasibility of the production by gene silencing of apples hypoallergenic for Mal d 1.     

Mixed hepatoblastoma in an adult

We report a case in an elderly adult of a highly malignant liver tumor with blastoid features that resembled hepatoblastoma. A liver tumor with a diameter of 23 cm was removed in a 78-year-old woman. The tumor showed highly differentiated epithelial hepatocellular and poorly differentiated epithelial and mesenchymal components. The blastoid nature and pluripotent differentiation potential were supported by immunohistologic analysis and suggest an origin of a poorly differentiated pluripotent hepatic cell with the potential to mature. We believe that this case of a mixed hepatoblastoma in an adult should be added to the growing number of presumed hepatic precursor cell neoplasms in adults.     

Untersuchungen über die spezifische und quantitative Erfassung des Liquor-γ-Globulins mit der Zinksulfatfällung

Zusammenfassung Die Frage der quantitativen und elektiven Erfassung des Liquor--Globulins mit der vonRoboz u. Mitarb. beschriebenen Zinksulfatfällung wurde an Modellversuchen mit reinem -Globulin und Albumin und an der elektrophoretischen Auftrennung des mit Zinksulfat aus Liquor präzipitierten Proteins untersucht. Aus reinen -Globulinlösungen wurden in Abhängigkeit zu der in Ansatz gebrachten -Globulinmenge nur 18–46% gefällt. Das Elektrophoresediagramm der mit Zinksulfat gefällten Liquorproteine zeigte, daß neben einer Anreicherung des -Globulins eine Fällung sämtlicher Liquorproteine zustande kam. Die elektrophoretische Auftrennung der im Überstand der Fällung verbliebenen Eiweißkörper ließ neben den übrigen Fraktionen noch eine deutliche -Globulinbande erkennen. Eine elektive und quantitative Fällung des Liquor--Globulins mit der Zinksulfatmethode konnte demnach nicht nachgewiesen werden.Herrn Dozent Dr.H. Bauer danke ich für die Anregung und Unterstützung bei Durchführung dieser Untersuchungen.     

Light-activated ion channels for remote control of neuronal firing

Neurons have ion channels that are directly gated by voltage, ligands and temperature but not by light. Using structure-based design, we have developed a new chemical gate that confers light sensitivity to an ion channel. The gate includes a functional group for selective conjugation to an engineered K(+) channel, a pore blocker and a photoisomerizable azobenzene. Long-wavelength light drives the azobenzene moiety into its extended trans configuration, allowing the blocker to reach the pore. Short-wavelength light generates the shorter cis configuration, retracting the blocker and allowing conduction. Exogenous expression of these channels in rat hippocampal neurons, followed by chemical modification with the photoswitchable gate, enables different wavelengths of light to switch action potential firing on and off. These synthetic photoisomerizable azobenzene-regulated K(+) (SPARK) channels allow rapid, precise and reversible control over neuronal firing, with potential applications for dissecting neural circuits and controlling activity downstream from sites of neural damage or degeneration.     

Specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in gene therapy

 Cytotoxic T lymphocytes possess the capacity to lyse target cells which express antigens on their surface recognized by the T cell receptor. These cells are crucial in the body’s defense against foreign antigens. It has long been a goal of tumor biology to utilize T cells, specialized in the elimination of unwanted cells, for the treatment of cancer. The killing activity of T lymphocytes is restricted to specific antigen-presenting cells. For this reason the use of cytotoxic T cells in the elimination of cancer cells is limited to cancer cells which present neoantigens on their surface. To circumvent this limitation we describe a procedure in which the ζ component of the T cell receptor is genetically manipulated and equipped with an extracellular recognition domain. Introduction of a chimeric gene, consisting of the ζ chain of the T cell receptor and a single-chain antibody domain, into cytotoxic T lymphocytes results in T cells with a predetermined recognition specificity for particular tumor cells. The MHC restriction of target cell recognition can be avoided and tumor cells recognized by the single chain antibody domain can be recognized and lysed. Retroviral-mediated gene transduction was used to introduce chimeric ζ chain constructs into primary T cells of mice. The cocultivation of retrovirus producing helper cells with in vitro activated T lymphocytes led to a high gene transduction efficiency into primary T cells. These primary T cells assumed a predetermined specificity for target cell recognition and lysis. The production and provision of tumor cell specific T lymphocytes might not be sufficient to eradicate large tumors in vivo. Using a Schwannoma cell line, we showed that transplanted tumors secrete transforming growth factor β and thereby stifle the action of lymphocytes. We suggest that a coordinated strategy including the suppression of tumor cells specific antilymphocyte action and the provision of tumor cell specific T cells might be required to successfully eliminate tumor cells in vivo. Received: 13 September 1996 / Accepted: 30 October 1996