Reuven Tirosh

A Selective Impairment of the IL-2 System in Lymphocytes of Patients with Glioblastomas: Increased Level of Soluble IL-2R and Reduced Protein Tyrosine Phosphorylation

The occurrence of brain tumors is associated with broad suppression of the immune system function; however, the mechanisms involved in this impairment are not fully characterized. In this study, we have examined mechanisms involved in diminished T lymphocyte reactivity in patients with glioblastomas as compared to patients with other types of brain tumors. We found that the proliferative response of T lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3 was significantly reduced in these patients as compared to patients with meningiomas, oligodendrogliomas and healthy individuals. Stimulated T cells appear to express lower levels of the alpha-subunit (p55) of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), and increased levels of soluble IL-2R in cell supernatants, whereas no significant differences were observed in the level of the beta (p75)- or gamma-subunits. In addition, we found that competent T cells of glioblastoma patients exhibit lower levels of tyrosine phosphorylation in response to IL-2 as compared with cells of healthy donors. The decrease in the levels of IL-2 and its receptor was selective since no significant changes were observed in the secretion of other Th1- and Th2-derived cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-4) and the expression of their respective receptors. These results indicate that the diminished response of T cells obtained from patients with glioblastomas may be due to a selective defect in the production of IL-2 and in the expression of functional IL-2R due to a decreased expression of the membranal IL-2R alpha and to lower levels of tyrosine phosphorylation in response to IL-2.

Differential aspects in ratio measurements of [Ca2+]i relaxation in cardiomyocyte contraction following various drug treatments

This study is concerned with the analysis of the time dependency of [Ca(2+)](i), monitored by indo-1-AM, via the ratiometric time response curve R(t) as measured during contractions of spontaneous or electrical stimulated cardiomyocytes (in culture). A mathematical formulation which describes the relaxation phase of R(t) was developed. By fitting formulation to the measured data of R(t), the extraction of characteristic parameters is feasible, which may reflect the factors regulating intracellular Ca concentration. The usefulness of the suggested formulation was examined by monitoring changes induced in those parameters following the exposure of the myocytes to different drugs, among which are: caffeine, ryanodine, thapsigargin db, cyclic AMP, isoprenaline, doxorubicin, and Cl-IB-MECA.

Tracing apoptosis and stimulation in individual cells by fluorescence intensity and anisotropy decay.

Presented is the use of fluorescence lifetime (FLT), anisotropy decay, and associated parameters as differential indicators of cellular activity. A specially designed combination of a frequency mode based time resolved microscope and a picoliter well-per-cell array have been used to perform temporal measurements in individual cells under various biological conditions. Two biological models have been examined: mitogenic activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in Jurkat T cells (JTC). The FLT of fluorescein stained PBMC was found to increase from 4+/-0.02 to 4.5+/-0.025 ns due to mitogenic activation, whereas during apoptosis in fluorescein stained JTC, the FLT remained constant. Notably, the rotational correlation times changed in both models: decreased in PBMC from 2.5+/-0.08 to 2+/-0.1 ns, and increased in JTC from 2.1+/-0.07 to 3.3+/-0.09 ns. FLT and rotational correlation time were used to calculate the steady state fluorescence anisotropy (FA) which was compared to directly measured FA values. The present study suggests that in addition to bioindication, the said parameters can provide valuable information about cellular mechanisms that may involve complex molecular diffusion dynamics, as well as information about structural changes that a cellular fluorophore undergoes in the course of cell activation.

Decrease of intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization (IFFP) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes undergoing stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and anti-CD3 antibody

Summry— In the present study we describe the induction of changes in intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization (IFFP) in lymphocytes undergoing activation with a variety of stimulants. These stimulants included the lectins phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin (ConA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and anti‐CD3 antibody. Changes in IFFP were detected in individual cells using the Cellscan apparatus. Our results show that by employing mitogenic concentrations of PHA, as revealed in a [3H]‐thymidine incorporation assay, a decrease in the IFFP in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) occurred within 40 min. ConA and anti‐CD3 affected similarly IFFP, whereas PWM, a B lymphocyte lectin, had no effect on IFFP at the concentrations employed. Kinetic analysis revealed that changes in IFFP occurred within 20–40 min after exposure to the stimulants and lasted for 24 h. Our results show that stimulants which activate CD3+ lymphocytes caused immediate changes in IFFP, in an enriched population of human PBL. The possible mechanisms involved in IFFP modulation following exposure to selected stimulants are discussed.

Lymphocyte fluorescence polarization measurements with the cellscan system: Application to the SCM cancer test

The SCM (Structuredness of Cytoplasmic Matrix) cancer test, a procedure based on detection of differences in lymphocyte activation between individuals with and without cancer, has remained controversial with inconsistent results reported by different authors. As originally described, the test includes two technically demanding steps, the first a lymphocyte separation procedure and the second a series of fluorescence polarization measurements. The Cellscan, a high-precision static cytometer system has been configured to perform the SCM test. The apparatus facilitates the polarization measurements and can analyze cells separated using simpler procedures than were originally described. Using methods and diagnostic criteria adapted for the Cellscan system, the SCM test correctly classified > 90% of patients with cancer and > 90% of individuals without cancer.

Adaptation of the cellscan technique for the SCM test in breast cancer

The value of the SCM (Structuredness of Cytoplasmic Matrix) cancer test, a procedure based on the detection of differences in lymphocyte activation in the presence and absence of cancer, has remained controversial, with inconsistent results having been reported among investigators. The Cellscan, a high-precision static cytometer system, has been designed to perform the SCM test; the apparatus facilitates the polarisation measurements and can examine cells which have been separated by simpler procedures than were originally described. In this study, using methods and diagnostic criteria adapted for the Cellscan system in a hospital environment, the SCM test correctly classified over 90% (76/80) of patients with breast cancer and differentiated over 90% (72/73) of individuals without cancer.

Cell activation influences cell staining kinetics

Stimulation of cells has so far been observed, among other methods, by the decrease of the intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization (IFFP). It is shown that the rate constant of leakage of the fluorescent marker out of the cells increases with stimulation much more significantly than the polarization decreases; thus it might provide a more sensitive method to observe cells stimulation. It is also shown that due to negligible leakage of the marker out of the cells shortly after initiation of the staining of the cell suspension, the fluorescein fluorescence polarization (FFP) of the cell suspension, is very close to IFFP.

Infection of K562 Cells with Influenza A Virus Increases Their Susceptibility to Natural Killer Lysis

Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in the natural immunity against tumor cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that infection of the NK-sensitive tumor cell line K562 with influenza A virus caused a substantial increase in lysis of up to sevenfold when compared to noninfected cells. Similar to NK cells, IL-2-activated killer cells exhibited higher lytic activity against virus-infected K562 cells. This effect of the virus correlated with the increase in the expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on K562 cells. Changes in the susceptibility to NK lysis were accompanied by alterations, within minutes, in the cytoskeleton as detected by intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization measured on the Cellscan, a static cytometer. The possible role of iCAM-1 and the cytoskeleton in the cytotoxic response of NK cells is discussed.

Prelytic stimulation of target and effector cells following conjugation as measured by intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization

The aim of the present study was to detect prelytic intracellular changes induced in target and effector cells following their conjugation at room temperature. Changes in the cytoplasmic matrix were measured by means of intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization (IFFP) using the Cellscan apparatus. Both natural killer and lymphocyte activated killer cells were used as effector cells, while K562 and Daudi cell lines were used as targets. The results show that following their conjugation, both the effector and the target cells show significant reductions (>10%) in IFFP values. Changes in IFFP were induced by specific interaction and only between viable cells. No evidence of fluorescein transfer from a stained cell to its nonstained counterpart was found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that effector-target interaction is monitored on an individual cell basis within a population, by means of IFFP measurements. In addition, in order to explain the physical phenomena, measurements of physical parameters which might affect the IFFP, such as changes in osmolality and pH, were performed and discussed.

Carboxyfluorescein as a fluorescent probe for cytoplasmic effects of lymphocyte stimulation

The application of carboxyfluorescein (CF), as an impermeable fluorescent probe for lymphocyte stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), is investigated by following a decrease in the degree of fluorescence polarization. Since CF does not enter the mitochondria, the present results indicate that the measured effect of stimulation occurs in the cytoplasm. The results also reveal that the fluorescence yield of intracellular CF is smaller than that of extracellular CF. Moreover, the degree of fluorescence polarization of intracellular CF is inversely related to its concentration. Following cell disruption, fluorescence intensity increases and polarization decreases. These effects might indicate a weak or reversible association of intracellular CF with cytoplasmic proteins.