cathepsin-g and Leukemia--Myeloid

The primary granule proteins (PGP) of myeloid cells are a source of multiple antigens with immunotherapeutic potential for myeloid leukemias. Therefore, we developed a method to induce T-cell responses to PGP protein sequences. We found that gene-transfected antigen-presenting cells efficiently expand functionally competent PGP-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells. The system was optimized using T-cell responses to autologous CD40-activated B cells (CD40-B) transfected with a cytomegalovirus pp65-encoding expression vector. To generate leukemia-specific T cells, expression vectors encoding the PGP proteinase 3 (PR3), human neutrophil elastase, and cathepsin-G were transfected into CD40-B cells to stimulate post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation T cells from five patients with myeloid and three with lymphoid leukemias. T-cell responses to PGP proteinase 3 and human neutrophil elastase were observed in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells only in patients with myeloid leukemias. T-cell responses against cathepsin-G occurred in both myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemias. T cells from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and from a posttransplant CML patient, expanded against PGP, produced IFN-gamma or were cytotoxic to the patient's CML cells, demonstrating specific antileukemic efficacy. This study emphasizes the clinical potential of PGP for expansion and adoptive transfer of polyclonal leukemia antigen-specific T cells to treat leukemia.

Topics: Antigen-Presenting Cells; B-Lymphocytes; Cathepsin G; Cathepsins; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD40 Antigens; CD40 Ligand; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cells, Cultured; Gene Expression; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukocyte Elastase; Lymphocyte Activation; Myeloblastin; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Serine Endopeptidases; Transfection

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the accumulation of abnormal promyelocytes in the bone marrow (BM), and by the presence of a reciprocal chromosomal translocation involving retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha). To date, five RARalpha partner genes have been identified in APL. NuMA-RARalpha was identified in a pediatric case of APL carrying a translocation t(11;17)(q13;q21). Using a construct containing the NuMA-RARalpha fusion gene driven by the human cathepsin G promoter (hCG-NuMA-RARalpha), two transgenic mouse lines were generated. Transgenic mice were observed to have a genetic myeloproliferation (increased granulopoiesis in BM) at an early age, and rapidly developed a myeloproliferative disease-like myeloid leukemia. This leukemia was morphologically and immunophenotypically indistinguishable from human APL, with a penetrance of 100%. The phenotype of transgenic mice was consistent with a blockade of neutrophil differentiation. NuMA-RARalpha is therefore sufficient for disease development in this APL model.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Nuclear; Base Sequence; Cathepsin G; Cathepsins; Cell Cycle Proteins; DNA Primers; Genotype; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins; Nuclear Proteins; Receptors, Retinoic Acid; Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; Serine Endopeptidases

We used flow cytometry to measure the activities of cathepsin G and elastase. The activity of elastase in neutrophils from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was significantly lower than that in neutrophils from the control group (P<.001). Patients with low elastase activity were significantly susceptible to infection (P<. 05). Our study suggests that analyzing antibacterial enzymes is useful in evaluating the prognosis of patients with MDS.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cathepsin G; Cathepsins; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Neutrophils; Pancreatic Elastase; Prognosis; Serine Endopeptidases; Survival Analysis

The effects of brefeldin A, monensin, and the weak base NH4Cl on the biosynthesis and processing of cathepsin G and neutrophil elastase of myeloid cells were investigated. Monoblast-like U-937 cells were biosynthetically labeled with [35S]methionine, followed by subcellular fractionation, immunoprecipitation, and analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Brefeldin A inhibited proteolytic processing, intracellular transport, and secretion. The effects were reversible inasmuch as removal of brefeldin A resulted in a normal pattern of processing and transfer to high-density organelles, corresponding to lysosomes, and restitution of constitutive secretion of precursor forms. Both cathepsin G and neutrophil elastase acquired resistance to endoglycosidase-H, suggesting that conversion to complex oligosaccharide side chains also occurs in the presence of brefeldin A. Monensin and NH4Cl inhibited final proteolytic processing, indicating either that acidification is necessary for directing cathepsin G and neutrophil elastase to lysosomal-like organelles or that the protease(s) responsible for processing requires an acid pH. We conclude that pH-dependent proteolytic processing of cathepsin G and neutrophil elastase occurs in post-Golgi structures and that transfer to lysosomes or an immediately prelysosomal compartment is mandatory for complete processing.

Topics: Ammonium Chloride; Antifungal Agents; Biological Transport; Brefeldin A; Cathepsin G; Cathepsins; Cyclopentanes; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukocyte Elastase; Monensin; Pancreatic Elastase; Peroxidase; Serine Endopeptidases; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Strong vimentin-degrading activity was found in a mouse myelomonocytic leukemic cell line, M1. When M1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophage-like cells, this degrading activity decreased, while expression of the vimentin gene increased as reported previously [Tsuru, A., Nakamura, N., Takayama, E., Suzuki, Y., Hirayoshi, K. and Nagata, K. (1990) J. Cell Biol. 110, 1655-1664]. This activity was not due to calpain, which was reported to degrade vimentin, because it was independent of the presence or absence of Ca2+. This activity was revealed to be strongly associated with membranes by differential-centrifugation experiments. To identify this protease, purification of the degradation enzyme was performed. A membrane fraction was prepared and extracted with a buffer containing Triton X-100, then subjected to column chromatography using carboxymethyl-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose. Quantitative analysis using the purified protease revealed that the specificity of this protease was more than 1000-fold higher for vimentin than for bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin and actin. Four protein bands expressing the activity were finally identified by SDS/PAGE. Amino-terminal sequences of these four proteins were identical, suggesting lower-molecular-mass proteins were degradative products. Furthermore, it was revealed that the sequence had the highest similarity with that of human cathepsin G. This result was consistent with the cathpsin-G-like properties of the purified protease, such as the optimum pH and the specificities for inhibitors. The purified protease degraded a synthetic substrate for cathespin G, succinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-phenylalanyl-p-nitroanilide, with a comparable specific activity to human cathespin G and was specifically detected with anti-(human cathepsin G) serum in immunoblot analysis. The purified protease thus belongs to the 'cathepsin G family', and perhaps is a mouse homologue of human cathepsin G.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Blotting, Western; Calcium; Cathepsin G; Cathepsins; Cations, Divalent; Cell Differentiation; Cell Membrane; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Endopeptidases; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Protease Inhibitors; Sequence Alignment; Serine Endopeptidases; Substrate Specificity; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vimentin

Eight cases of myelosarcoma without acute leukaemia at time of diagnosis were reviewed and biopsies were immunostained using antibodies reacting with myeloid/monocytic markers. Initial tumour location included lymph nodes, paranasal sinuses, nasopharyngeal and/or orbital regions and other extranodal locations. Three cases developed acute myeloblastic leukaemia within 1-9 months. Diagnosis was correct in four of the cases, in the other cases a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was initially diagnosed. Morphological examination showed a blastic but variable appearance of the tumours. In a few cases cytoplasmic granulation was present. Chloroacetate esterase was present in all cases. In paraffin sections cathepsin G. elastase or lysozyme were present in all cases except one. In frozen material from four of the cases, the myeloid markers CD 11c and CD 33 were present (all cases) and CD 13 and Ki M8 in 3/4 cases.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; Cathepsin G; Cathepsins; Female; Humans; Infant; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Serine Endopeptidases