Franz Oesch

GRANULOCYTE-MACROPHAGE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR ENHANCES IMMUNE RESPONSES TO MELANOMA-ASSOCIATED PEPTIDES IN VIVO

Peptide epitopes derived from differentiation antigens of the melanocyte lineage were recently identified in human melanomas as targets for MHC‐restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The characterization of multiple CTL‐defined antigenic determinants has opened possibilities of development of antigen‐targeted vaccines. In the present study, we determined CTL reactivity against melanoma‐associated peptides derived from Melan A/MART‐I, tyrosinase, and gp100/Pmel17 in 3 HLA‐A2+ melanoma patients. Then, we assessed the immune responses to synthetic melanoma‐associated peptides injected intradermally. After 3 cycles of immunization with peptide alone, we used systemic GM‐CSF as an adjuvant during the fourth cycle of immunization. Enhanced DTH reactions and CD8+ CTL responses were observed after treatment with systemic GM‐CSF. Immunohistochemical characterization of DTH‐constituting elements revealed infiltrates of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and strong expression of IL‐2 and γIFN, suggesting the activation of CD4+ Thl and CD8+ CTL by peptides presented by MHC‐class‐I molecules of dermal APC. Objective tumor regression was documented in all patients. We conclude that systemic GM‐CSF enhances immune responses to melanoma‐associated peptides and supports CTL‐mediated tumor rejection in vivo.

Immunoselection in vivo: independent loss of MHC class I and melanocyte differentiation antigen expression in metastatic melanoma.

Peptides derived from melanocyte differentiation antigens have been identified as targets for MHC class I‐restricted cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in human melanoma. Regression of antigen‐expressing tumors as well as selection of antigen‐loss variants in the presence of antigen‐specific CTLs have previously been reported. In the present study, we determined the expression of the melanocyte differentiation antigens Melan A/MART‐I and tyrosinase by mRNA analysis and by immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) A103 and T311. Co‐expression of Melan A/MART‐I and tyrosinase was detected by both methods in 18/20 melanomas tested. However, immunohistochemistry provided additional information on intensity and microheterogeneity of antigen expression that cannot be detected by mRNA analysis as a molecular basis for the escape from CTL recognition of antigen‐negative tumor cells. Comparative analysis of repeated biopsies of metastatic lesions in 5 HLA‐A2+ patients showed a gradual loss of Melan A/MART‐I expression in 4/5 and of tyrosinase in 2/5 samples in association with tumor progression. However, 3 of these patients had growing antigen‐positive tumors in the presence of antigen‐specific CTLs. This led us to assess the expression of MHC class I, the essential restriction element for CTL recognition, and of HLA‐A2. We found an unexpectedly high frequency of MHC class I‐negative tumors (9/20). Loss of MHC class I expression was detected in 3/5 progressive tumors and isolated loss of HLA‐A2 in 1/5 tumors. Our results suggest that strategies enhancing the expression of MHC class I and tumor‐associated antigens need to be considered in attempts at making vaccination more effective. Int. J. Cancer, 71:142–147, 1997.

Genotoxicity investigations on nanomaterials: Methods, preparation and characterization of test material, potential artifacts and limitations—Many questions, some answers

Nanomaterials display novel properties to which most toxicologists have not consciously been exposed before the advent of their practical use. The same properties, small size and particular shape, large surface area and surface activity, which make nanomaterials attractive in many applications, may contribute to their toxicological profile. This review describes what is known about genotoxicity investigations on nanomaterials published in the openly available scientific literature to-date. The most frequently used test was the Comet assay: 19 studies, 14 with positive outcome. The second most frequently used test was the micronucleus test: 14 studies, 12 of them with positive outcome. The Ames test, popular with other materials, was less frequently used (6 studies) and was almost always negative, the bacterial cell wall possibly being a barrier for many nanomaterials. Recommendations for improvements emerging from analyzing the reports summarized in this review are: Know what nanomaterial has been tested (and in what form); Consider uptake and distribution of the nanomaterial; Use standardized methods; Recognize that nanomaterials are not all the same; Use in vivo studies to correlate in vitro results; Take nanomaterials specific properties into account; Learn about the mechanism of nanomaterials genotoxic effects. It is concluded that experiences with other, non-nano, substances (molecules and larger particles) taught us that mechanisms of genotoxic effects can be diverse and their elucidation can be demanding, while there often is an immediate need to assess the genotoxic hazard. Thus a practical, pragmatic approach is the use of a battery of standard genotoxicity testing methods covering a wide range of mechanisms. Application of these standard methods to nanomaterials demands adaptations and the interpretation of results from the genotoxicity tests may need additional considerations. This review should help to improve standard genotoxicity testing as well as investigations on the underlying mechanism and the interpretation of genotoxicity data on nanomaterials.

Inverse relationship of melanocyte differentiation antigen expression in melanoma tissues and CD8+ cytotoxic‐T‐cell responses: Evidence for immunoselection of antigen‐loss variants in vivo

Antigenic peptides derived from differentiation antigens of the melanocyte lineage were recently identified in human melanomas as targets for MHC‐restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). CTL directed against peptides derived from the Melan A/MART‐1, tyrosinase and gp100/Pmel17 antigens can be detected in melanoma patients and in healthy controls. The presence of defined antigenic peptides and corresponding precursor CTL in patients with metastatic melanoma opens perspectives for the development of antigen‐specific tumor vaccines. In this study, we examined the expression of Melan A/MART‐1, tyrosinase and gp100/Pmel17 in fresh melanoma tissues of HLA‐A2+ patients and the spontaneous CTL reactivity against antigenic peptides derived from these antigens. Our results demonstrate an inverse correlation of antigen expression and CTL response to Melan A/MART‐1 and tyrosinase were induced by intradermal immunization with synthetic nona‐ or deca‐peptides derived from these antigens. Metastases increasing in size over time showed a loss of Melan A/MART‐1 expression in the presence of CTL in one patient. The regression of a metastasis with persistent tyrosinase expression was observed in the other patient after the induction of CTL, reactive against tyrosinase. We conclude that CTL responses against melanocyte differentiation antigens may mediate regression of antigen‐positive tumors and select for antigen‐loss variants in vivo.

CRYOPRESERVED PRIMARY HEPATOCYTES AS A CONSTANTLY AVAILABLE IN VITRO MODEL FOR THE EVALUATION OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL DRUG METABOLISM AND ENZYME INDUCTION

The use of primary hepatocytes is now well established for both studies of drug metabolism and enzyme induction. Cryopreservation of primary hepatocytes decreases the need for fresh liver tissue. This is especially important for research with human hepatocytes because availability of human liver tissue is limited. In this review, we summarize our research on optimization and validation of cryopreservation techniques. The critical elements for successful cryopreservation of hepalocytes are (1) the freezing protocol, (2) the concentration of the cryoprotectant [10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)], (3) slow addition and removal of DMSO, (4) carbogen equilibration during isolation of hepatocytes and before cryopreservation, and (5) removal of unvital hepatocytes by Percoll centrifugation after thawing. Hepatocytes of human, monkey, dog, rat, and mouse isolated and cryopreserved by our standard procedure have a viability ≥ 80%. Metabolic capacity of cryopreserved hepatocytes determined by testosterone hydroxylation, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-de-ethylase (EROD), 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD), glutathione S-transferase, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, sulfotransferase, and epoxide hydrolase activities is ≥60% of freshly isolated cells. Cryopreserved hepatocytes in suspension were successfully applied in short-term metabolism studies and as a metabolizing system in mutagenicity investigations. For instance, the complex pattern of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites including phase II metabolites formed by freshly isolated and cryopreserved hepatocytes was almost identical. For the study of enzyme induction, a longer time period and therefore cryopreserved hepatocyte cultures are required. We present a technique with cryopreserved hepatocytes that allows the induction of testosterone metabolism with similar induction factors as for fresh cultures. However, enzyme activities of induced hepatocytes and solvent controls were smaller in the cryopreserved cells. In conclusion, cryopreserved hepatocytes held in suspension can be recommended for short-term metabolism or toxicity studies. Systems with cryopreserved hepatocyte cultures that could be applied for studies of enzyme induction are already in a state allowing practical application, but may be further optimized.

New Hepatocyte In Vitro Systems for Drug Metabolism: Metabolic Capacity and Recommendations for Application in Basic Research and Drug Development, Standard Operation Procedures

Primary hepatocytes represent a well-accepted in vitro cell culture system for studies of drug metabolism, enzyme induction, transplantation, viral hepatitis, and hepatocyte regeneration. Recently, a multicentric research program has been initiated to optimize and standardize new in vitro systems with hepatocytes. In this article, we discuss five of these in vitro systems: hepatocytes in suspension, perifusion culture systems, liver slices, co-culture systems of hepatocytes with intestinal bacteria, and 96-well plate bioreactors. From a technical point of view, freshly isolated or cryopreserved hepatocytes in suspension represent a readily available and easy-to-handle in vitro system that can be used to characterize the metabolism of test substances. Hepatocytes in suspension correctly predict interspecies differences in drug metabolism, which is demonstrated with pantoprazole and propafenone. A limitation of the hepatocyte suspensions is the length of the incubation period, which should not exceed 4 hr. This incubation period is sufficiently long to determine the metabolic stability and to allow identification of the main metabolites of a test substance, but may be too short to allow generation of some minor, particularly phase II metabolites, that contribute less than 3% to total metabolism. To achieve longer incubation periods, hepatocyte culture systems or bioreactors are used. In this research program, two bioreactor systems have been optimized: the perifusion culture system and 96-well plate bioreactors. The perifusion culture system consists of collagen-coated slides allowing the continuous superfusion of a hepatocyte monolayer with culture medium as well as establishment of a constant atmosphere of 13% oxygen, 82% nitrogen, and 5% CO2. This system is stable for at least 2 weeks and guarantees a remarkable sensitivity to enzyme induction, even if weak inducers are tested. A particular advantage of this system is that the same bioreactor can be perfused with different concentrations of a test substance in a sequential manner. The 96-well plate bioreactor runs 96 modules in parallel for pharmacokinetic testing under aerobic culture conditions. This system combines the advantages of a three-dimensional culture system in collagen gel, controlled oxygen supply, and constant culture medium conditions, with the possibility of high throughput and automatization. A newly developed co-culture system of hepatocytes with intestinal bacteria offers the possibility to study the metabolic interaction between liver and intestinal microflora. It consists of two chambers separated by a permeable polycarbonate membrane, where hepatocytes are cultured under aerobic and intestinal bacteria in anaerobic conditions. Test substances are added to the aerobic side to allow their initial metabolism by the hepatocytes, followed by the metabolism by intestinal bacteria at the anaerobic side. Precision-cut slices represent an alternative to isolated hepatocytes and have been used for the investigation of hepatic metabolism, hepatotoxicity, and enzyme induction. A specific advantage of liver slices is the possibility to study toxic effects on hepatocytes that are mediated or modified by nonparenchymal cells (e.g., by cytokine release from Kupffer cells) because the physiological liver microarchitecture is maintained in cultured slices. For all these in vitro systems, a prevalidation has been performed using standard assays for phase I and II enzymes. Representative results with test substances and recommendations for application of these in vitro systems, as well as standard operation procedures are given.

Structure of Aspergillus niger epoxide hydrolase at 1.8 Å resolution: implications for the structure and function of the mammalian microsomal class of epoxide hydrolases

BACKGROUND Epoxide hydrolases have important roles in the defense of cells against potentially harmful epoxides. Conversion of epoxides into less toxic and more easily excreted diols is a universally successful strategy. A number of microorganisms employ the same chemistry to process epoxides for use as carbon sources. RESULTS The X-ray structure of the epoxide hydrolase from Aspergillus niger was determined at 3.5 A resolution using the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method, and then refined at 1.8 A resolution. There is a dimer consisting of two 44 kDa subunits in the asymmetric unit. Each subunit consists of an alpha/beta hydrolase fold, and a primarily helical lid over the active site. The dimer interface includes lid-lid interactions as well as contributions from an N-terminal meander. The active site contains a classical catalytic triad, and two tyrosines and a glutamic acid residue that are likely to assist in catalysis. CONCLUSIONS The Aspergillus enzyme provides the first structure of an epoxide hydrolase with strong relationships to the most important enzyme of human epoxide metabolism, the microsomal epoxide hydrolase. Differences in active-site residues, especially in components that assist in epoxide ring opening and hydrolysis of the enzyme-substrate intermediate, might explain why the fungal enzyme attains the greater speeds necessary for an effective metabolic enzyme. The N-terminal domain that is characteristic of microsomal epoxide hydrolases corresponds to a meander that is critical for dimer formation in the Aspergillus enzyme.

Sequence similarity of mammalian epoxide hydrolases to the bacterial haloalkane dehalogenase and other related proteins. Implication for the potential catalytic mechanism of enzymatic epoxide hydrolysis

Direct comparison of the amino acid sequences of microsomal and soluble epoxide hydrolase superficially indicates that these enzymes are unrelated. Both proteins, however, share significant sequence similarity to a bacterial haloalkane dehalogenase that has earlier been shown to belong to the α/β hydrolase fold family of enzymes. The catalytic mechanism for the dehalogenase has been elucidated in detail [Verschueren et al. (1993) Nature 363, 693‐698] and proceeds via an ester intermediate where the substrate is covalently bound to the enzyme. From these observations we conclude (i) that microsomal and soluble epoxide hydrolase are distantly related enzymes that have evolved from a common ancestral protein together with the haloalkane dehalogenase and a variety of other proteins specified in the present paper, (ii) that these enzymes most likely belong to the α/β hydrolase fold family of enzymes and (iii) that the enzymatic epoxide hydrolysis proceeds via a hydroxy ester intermediate, in contrast to the presently favoured base‐catalyzed direct attack of the epoxide by an activated water.

The apparent ubiquity of epoxide hydratase in rat organs.

Abstract Using the recently developed sensitive assay with [3H] benzo [a] pyrene 4,5-oxide as substrate, epoxide hydratase was shown to be present in 26 rat (Sprague-Dawley) organs and tissues investigated. Only blood showed no detectable activity, which indicates that the low enzyme activity found in some organs is not due to the presence of blood components in the tissues. In earlier studies with a less sensitive assay, epoxide hydratase activity was detected only in rat liver and kidney but not in organs such as muscle, spleen, heart and brain. Epoxide hydratase was also measured in 6 organs of the mouse (NMRI). The distribution pattern was quantitatively quite different in the two species. The sp. act. in the rat were in the order liver > testis > kidney > lung > intestine ∼- skin. In the mouse, very surprisingly, testis had the highest specific epoxide hydratase activity. Moreover, the order of sp. act. in the mouse organs was remarkably different from that in the rat, namely testis > liver > lung > skin > kidney > intestine. The fact that the sp. act. in kidney was much lower than in lung or skin is most striking. Pretreatment of rats with Aroclor 1254 (a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls) increased the epoxide hydratase activity in the liver to 175 per cent of the control level. However, the enzyme activity in the 13 extrahepatic tissues investigated was not significantly changed. In organs possessing sufficiently high enzyme levels, epoxide hydratase activity was also measured with styrene oxide as substrate. The ratio of the sp. act. of the two substrates was very similar in rat liver, kidney, lung and lestis. This supports the assumption that in these organs a single enzyme is responsible for the hydration of both substrates—as was earlier shown by several methods for the rat liver.

Carbonyl reductase provides the enzymatic basis of quinone detoxication in man.

Enzymes catalyzing the two-electron reduction of quinones to hydroquinones are thought to protect the cell against quinone-induced oxidative stress. Using menadione as a substrate, carbonyl reductase, a cytosolic, monomeric oxidoreductase of broad specificity for carbonyl compounds, was found to be the main NADPH-dependent quinone reductase in human liver, whereas DT-diaphorase, the principal two-electron transferring quinone reductase in rat liver, contributed a very minor part to the quinone reductase activity of human liver. Carbonyl reductase from liver was indistinguishable from carbonyl reductase previously isolated from brain (B. Wermuth, J. biol. Chem. 256, 1206 (1981] on the basis of molecular weight, isoelectric point, immunogenicity, substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity. The purified enzyme from liver catalyzed the reduction of a great variety of quinones. The best substrates were benzo- and naphthoquinones with short substituents, and the K-region orthoquinones of phenanthrene, benz(a)anthracene, pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene. A long hydrophobic side chain in the 3-position of the benzo- and naphthoquinones and the vicinity of a bay area or aliphatic substituent (pseudo bay area) to the oxo groups of the polycyclic compounds decreased or abolished the ability of the quinone to serve as a substrate. Non-k-region orthoquinones of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were more slowly reduced than the corresponding K-region derivatives. The broad specificity of carbonyl reductase for quinones is in keeping with a role of the enzyme as a general quinone reductase in the catabolism of these compounds.