Kazuhiko Kuwahara

Persistent expression of the full genome of hepatitis C virus in B cells induces spontaneous development of B-cell lymphomas in vivo

Extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection occur in 40%-70% of HCV-infected patients. B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a typical extrahepatic manifestation frequently associated with HCV infection. The mechanism by which HCV infection of B cells leads to lymphoma remains unclear. Here we established HCV transgenic mice that express the full HCV genome in B cells (RzCD19Cre mice) and observed a 25.0% incidence of diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (22.2% in males and 29.6% in females) within 600 days after birth. Expression levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as 32 different cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, were examined. The incidence of B-cell lymphoma was significantly correlated with only the level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor α subunit (sIL-2Rα) in RzCD19Cre mouse serum. All RzCD19Cre mice with substantially elevated serum sIL-2Rα levels (> 1000 pg/mL) developed B-cell lymphomas. Moreover, compared with tissues from control animals, the B-cell lymphoma tissues of RzCD19Cre mice expressed significantly higher levels of IL-2Rα. We show that the expression of HCV in B cells promotes non-Hodgkin-type diffuse B-cell lymphoma, and therefore, the RzCD19Cre mouse is a powerful model to study the mechanisms related to the development of HCV-associated B-cell lymphoma.

Involvement of a rapamycin-sensitive pathway in CD40-mediated activation of murine B cells in vitro

Activation of resting B cells requires an initial triggering of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and secondary stimuli through various cytokine receptors and B cell activation molecules including CD40. We found that activation of B cells through CD40 is selectively inhibited by an immunosuppressant drug, rapamycin. This effect of rapamycin on anti-CD40-mediated activation of B cells was observed using three different in vitro assays. Rapamycin suppressed the anti-CD40-induced proliferation of splenic B cells, suppressed differentiation to surface IgMhigh/IgDlow B cells, and inhibited an anti-CD40-mediated prevention of apoptosis induced by BCR cross-linkage of WEHI-231 cells. We next examined several known CD40 signal transduction pathways to identify the target of rapamycin in stimulated B cells. Rapamycin did not inhibit the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) induced by anti-CD40 stimulation nor the activation of immediate nuclear transcription factors of NF-kappaB. Therefore, rapamycin affects a novel element of the CD40 signal transduction pathway which influences the proliferation, differentiation, and prevention of apoptosis of B cells.

Structure, expression, and chromosomal localization of the human gene encoding a germinal center-associated nuclear protein (GANP) that associates with MCM3 involved in the initiation of DNA replication

A 210kDa protein named GANP is upregulated in germinal center (GC)-B cells in the spleen of antigen-immunized mouse. We studied a human ganp gene (hganp) encoding a putative polypeptide of 1980 amino acids. The carboxyl-terminal 721-amino-acid sequence of hGANP is identical to Map80, that is presumably generated by alternative splicing of hganp/Map80 gene. The genomic segment carrying hganp and Map80 genes was isolated, and the chromosomal location was determined on 21q22.3. Northern blot analysis with RNAs from various organs demonstrated a single band of 7kb hganp mRNA, which suggests a preferential transcription of hganp gene from the hganp/Map80 locus. The hGANP expression was upregulated in GCs of the tonsil, as demonstrated by in-situ RNA hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses. The hGANP, with the domain (Map-box) capable of binding to MCM3 in B cells, might be involved in regulation of cell-cycle progression and DNA replication of GC-B cells.

A novel serum carbohydrate marker on mucin 5AC: Values for diagnostic and prognostic indicators for cholangiocarcinoma

The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is increasing globally. Currently, there is no powerful marker for the diagnosis of CCA, which has led to late diagnosis and poor patient outcome. This study was designed to establish a new monoclonal antibody (MoAb) for detecting a serum marker associated with CCA.

Increased Expression of Germinal Center–Associated Nuclear Protein RNA-Primase Is Associated with Lymphomagenesis

Lymphomas arise containing abnormalities of various differentiation stage-specific molecules. In the study reported here, we have shown abnormal up-regulation of germinal center B cell-associated GANP in various human lymphomas including mantle cell, diffuse large B cell, and Hodgkin lymphoma, by immunohistochemical analysis. To study the role of GANP in lymphomagenesis, we generated mutant mice (ganp-Tg) that express the transgenic ganp gene under immunoglobulin enhancer and promoter control. Ganp-Tg mice showed a high incidence of lymphomagenesis (29.5%) after aging with a non-B/non-T cell surface phenotype having slight CD45R/B220 expression and Ig transcripts of rearranged VH-DH-JH IgH loci. Lymphomas generated in ganp-Tg mice displayed similar pathologic characteristics to mouse reticulum cell neoplasm or Hodgkin lymphoma-like lesions. The VH sequences of individual mice showed that the tumors proliferated from a single clone or oligoclones, as is found in human diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphoma. These results suggest that GANP overexpression is a causative factor in the generation of B lymphomas.

MCM3-binding GANP DNA-primase is associated with a novel phosphatase component G5PR.

Background: GANP, carrying DNA‐primase and MCM3‐binding domains, is up‐regulated in germinal centre B cells. To understand the regulatory function of GANP upon MCM complex, we searched for GANP‐associated molecules by yeast two‐hybrid screening.

CA-S27: a novel Lewis a associated carbohydrate epitope is diagnostic and prognostic for cholangiocarcinoma.

Early and specific diagnosis is critical for treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In this study, a carbohydrate antigen‐S27 (CA‐S27) monoclonal antibody (mAb) was established using pooled CCA tissue‐extract as immunogen. The epitope recognized by CA‐S27‐mAb was a new Lewis‐a (Lea) associated modification of MUC5AC mucin. A Soybean agglutinin/CA‐S27‐mAb sandwich ELISA to determine CA‐S27 in serum was successfully developed. High level of CA‐S27 was detected in serum of CCA patients and could differentiate CCA patients from those of gastro‐intestinal cancers, hepatomas, benign hepatobiliary diseases and healthy subjects with high sensitivity (87.5%) and high negative predictive value (90.4%). The level of serum CA‐S27 was dramatically reduced after tumor removal, indicating tumor origin of CA‐S27. Patients with high serum CA‐S27 had significantly shorter survivals than those with low serum CA‐S27 regardless of serum MUC5AC levels. Fucosyltransferase‐III (FUT3) was shown to be a regulator of CA‐S27 expression. Suppression of CA‐S27 expression with siRNA‐FUT3 or neutralization with CA‐S27 mAb significantly reduced growth, adhesion, invasion and migration potentials of CCA cells in vitro. In summary, we demonstrate that serum CA‐S27, a novel carbohydrate antigen, has potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers for CCA patients. CA‐S27 involves in promoting cell growth, adhesion, migration and invasion of CCA cells.

Production of two novel monoclonal antibodies that distinguish mouse lymphatic and blood vascular endothelial cells

We produced two novel rat monoclonal antibodies (LA102 and LA5) to identify mouse lymphatic vessels and blood vessels, respectively. We characterized the two antibodies as to the morphological and functional specificities of endothelial cells of both types of vessels. The antibodies were produced by a rapid differential immunization of DA rats with collagenase- and neuraminidase-treated mouse lymphangioma tissues. LA102 specifically reacted with mouse lymphatic vessels except the thoracic duct and the marginal sinus of lymph nodes, but not with any blood vessels. In contrast, LA5 reacted with most mouse blood vessels with a few exceptions, but not with lymphatics. LA102 recognized a protein of 25–27xa0kDa, whereas LA5 recognized a molecule of 12–13xa0kDa. Neither antibody recognized any currently identified lymphatic or vascular endothelial cell antigens. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the antigens recognized by LA102 and LA5 were localized on both luminal and abluminal endothelial cell membranes of each vessel type. Interestingly, LA102 immunoreactivity was strongly expressed on pinocytic or transport vesicle membrane in the cytoplasm of lymphatic endothelium. Besides endothelial cells, both antibodies also recognized some types of lymphoid cells. Since, the LA102 antigen molecule is expressed on some lymphoid cells, it may play important roles in the migration of lymphoid cells and in some transport mechanisms through lymphatic endothelial cells.

A T cell activation antigen, Ly6C, induced on CD4+ Th1 cells mediates an inhibitory signal for secretion of IL-2 and proliferation in peripheral immune responses

A T cell activation antigen, Ly6C, is considered to be involved in the autoimmunity of some autoimmune‐prone mice; however, the function of Ly6C remains largely unknown. We prepared a rat anti‐mouse Ly6C monoclonal antibody (mAb) (S14) that inhibits the proliferation of peripheral T cells stimulated with anti‐CD3 mAb in vitro. S14 mAb, the specificity of which is confirmed by a cDNA transfectant, recognizes Ly6C antigen preferentially expressed on a part of CD8+ T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrates that Ly6C appears on CD8+ T cells in the conventional T cell‐associated area of BALB/c but not of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, confirming the absence of Ly6C+ T cells in NOD mice. Addition of soluble S14 mAb to the culture does not influence the proliferation of T cells in vitro; however, the S14 mAb coated on the plate clearly inhibits the proliferation and IL‐2 production of anti‐CD3‐stimulated peripheral T cells. The T cells are arrested at the transitional stage from G0/G1 to S+G2/M phases, but they are not induced to undergo apoptotic changes in vitro. This inhibitory signal provided through the Ly6C molecule inhibited IL‐2 secretion in a subpopulation of the activated CD4+ T cells. Ly6C is expressed on T cell clones of both Th1 and Th2 cells, but the cytokine secretion from Th1 clones is preferentially inhibited. These results suggest that Ly6C mediates an inhibitory signal for secretion of cytokines from Th1 CD4+ T cells, potentially causing the inhibition of immune response in peripheral lymphoid tissues.

Efficacy of anti-CD47 antibody-mediated phagocytosis with macrophages against primary effusion lymphoma

BACKGROUNDnRecently, the critical role of CD47 on the surface of resistant cancer cells has been proposed in their evasion of immunosurveillance. Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a subtype of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma that shows serous lymphomatous effusion in body cavities, especially in advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). PEL is resistant to conventional chemotherapy and has a poor prognosis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of anti-CD47 antibody (Ab) on PEL in vitro and in vivo.nnnMETHODSnSurface CD47 of PEL cell lines was examined by flow cytometry. Efficacy of knocking down CD47 or anti-CD47 Ab-mediated phagocytosis against PEL was evaluated using mouse peritoneal macrophages and human macrophages in vitro. Primary PEL cells were injected intraperitoneally into NOD/Rag-2/Jak3 double-deficient (NRJ) mice to establish a direct xenograft mouse model.nnnRESULTSnSurface CD47 of PEL cell lines was highly expressed. Knocking down CD47 and anti-CD47 Ab promoted phagocytic activities of macrophages in a CD47 expression-dependent manner in vitro. Treatment with anti-CD47 Ab inhibited ascite formation and organ invasion completely in vivo compared with control IgG-treated mice.nnnCONCLUSIONnCD47 plays the pivotal role in the immune evasion of PEL cells in body cavities. Therapeutic antibody targeting of CD47 could be an effective therapy for PEL.