Ronald A. Craig

Plasmid transfer in Streptococcus faecalis: Production of multiple sex pheromones by recipients

In a previous report (1978, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 75, 3479-3483), we showed that recipient strains of Streptococcusfaecalis excrete a heat-stable substance (sex pheromone) which induces donor cells carrying certain conjugative plasmids to become adherent, generating the cell-to-cell contact necessary for plasmid transfer. Since donors themselves could be induced to aggregate or “clump” by recipient filtrates, the substance was referred to as “clumping-inducing agent” (CIA). In this report, we present a simplified assay for CIA and determine the level of activity in filtrates prepared at various stages of growth. We also present evidence that recipient cells produce multiple pheromones, each specific for donors harboring a particular class of plasmids. Whereas a recipient that acquires a conjugative plasmid no longer produces the corresponding CIA, it still produces CIAs specific for donors with different conjugative plasmids. In addition, an analysis of 100 clinical isolates of S. faecalis showed that drug-resistant strains are significantly more likely to respond to and produce CIA activities than drug-sensitive strains. A model is discussed describing the relationships of sex pheromones to the mating process.

Protective effects of anti-C5a in sepsis-induced thymocyte apoptosis

Multiorgan apoptosis occurs during sepsis. Following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in rats, thymocytes underwent apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. C5a blockade dramatically reduced thymocyte apoptosis as measured by thymic weight, binding of annexin V to thymocytes, and laddering of thymocyte DNA. When C5a was generated in vivo by infusion of purified cobra venom factor (CVF), thymocyte apoptosis was significantly increased. Similar results were found when CVF was injected in vivo during the early stages of CLP. In animals 12 hours after induction of CLP, there was an increase in the activities of caspase-3, -6, and -9, but not caspase-1 and -8. Cytosolic cytochrome c levels increased by twofold, whereas mitochondrial levels showed a 50% decrease. Western blot analysis revealed that the content of Bcl-X(L) (but not of Bcl-2, BAX, Bad, and Bim) significantly decreased in thymocytes after CLP. C5a blockade in the sepsis model almost completely inhibited caspase-3, -6, and -9 activation, significantly preserved cytochrome c in the mitochondrial fraction, and restored Bcl-X(L) expression. These data suggest that systemic activation of complement induces C5a-dependent apoptosis of thymocytes and that the blockade of C5a during sepsis rescues thymocytes from apoptosis.

Pilot Clinical Trial of Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor GDC-0449 (Vismodegib) in Combination with Gemcitabine in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Purpose: The hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is a key regulator in tumorigenesis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and is upregulated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cancer stem cells (CSCs). GDC-0449 is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of the HH pathway. This study assessed the effect of GDC-0449–mediated HH inhibition in paired biopsies, followed by combined treatment with gemcitabine, in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Experimental Design: Twenty-five patients were enrolled of which 23 underwent core biopsies at baseline and following 3 weeks of GDC-0449. On day 29, 23 patients started weekly gemcitabine while continuing GDC-0449. We evaluated GLI1 and PTCH1 inhibition, change in CSCs, Ki-67, fibrosis, and assessed tumor response, survival and toxicity. Results: On pretreatment biopsy, 75% of patients had elevated sonic hedgehog (SHH) expression. On posttreatment biopsy, GLI1 and PTCH1 decreased in 95.6% and 82.6% of 23 patients, fibrosis decreased in 45.4% of 22, and Ki-67 in 52.9% of 17 evaluable patients. No significant changes were detected in CSCs pre- and postbiopsy. The median progression-free and overall survival for all treated patients were 2.8 and 5.3 months. The response and disease control rate was 21.7% and 65.2%. No significant correlation was noted between CSCs, fibrosis, SHH, Ki-67, GLI1, PTCH1 (baseline values or relative change on posttreatment biopsy), and survival. Grade ≥3 adverse events were noted in 56% of patients. Conclusion: We show that GDC-0449 for 3 weeks leads to downmodulation of GLI1 and PTCH1, without significant changes in CSCs compared with baseline. GDC-0449 and gemcitabine were not superior to gemcitabine alone in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 20(23); 5937–45. ©2014 AACR.

Isolation and structure of the bacterial sex pheromone, cAD1, that induces plasmid transfer in Streptococcus faecalis

The Streptococcus faecalis sex pheromone cAD1, which is involved in the conjugative transfer of the hemolysin plasmid pAD1, has been isolated and its structure determined. Its M r is 818 and its amino acid sequence is H‐Leu‐Phe‐Ser‐Leu‐Val‐Leu‐Ala‐Gly‐OH. A replicate of the pheromone synthesized by the liquid phase method showed the same biological activity and Chromatographie behavior as the isolated cAD1. Pheromone activity was detectable at a concentration of ~ 5 × 10−11 M.

Cysteamine Effects on Monoamines, Dopamine-β-Hydroxylase and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

Cysteamine (beta-mercaptoethylamine, MEA) is a naturally occurring sulfhydryl compound that depletes pituitary PRL, causes a reduction in brain and gut somatostatin (SRIF), and suppresses norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) synthesis by inhibition of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). SRIF inhibits GH and TSH secretion, whereas, NE and EPI facilitate their release. The objectives of this investigation were to: (1) determine the dose-response and time course of DBH inhibition by MEA in vivo and in vitro, and correlate these findings with MEA tissue levels and (2) assess the function of SRIF and NE/EPI in regulation of episodic GH and TSH secretion using MEA. Animals were administered MEA (75-300 mg/kg, s.c.) and hypothalamic levels of dopamine (DA), NE, EPI, serotonin (5-HT) and MEA were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrochemical detection. DBH activity was measured in vitro after exposure to MEA +/- N-ethylmaleimide (NEMI). Chronically cannulated rats were administered MEA (100 or 300 mg/Kg) and serial blood samples were removed in undisturbed animals, and after 30 min swimming stress. Cannulated rats with bilateral lesions of the ventromedial/arcuate nuclei (VMN/ARC) were administered MEA (150 mg/kg). MEA caused a dose-related decrease in NE/EPI nd in increase in DA at doses greater than or equal to 150 mg/kg. Tissue MEA was highest at 4 h (679 +/- 64 pM/mg tissue), but still measureable after 24 h. MEA inhibited DBH in vitro (95% inhibition at 10(-3) M); NEMI blocked inhibition. Stress-induced GH supression and corticosterone release were partially blocked by a low dose of MEA (100 mg/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of tumor necrosis factor-α on the in vitro maturation of tumor-reactive effector T cells

Culture methods that enhance the anti-tumor reactivity of primed T cells would be important in adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. Using several different syngeneic murine tumor models, the authors evaluated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) exposure on tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells during in vitro activation. Mice were inoculated with weakly immunogenic (i.e., MCA 205, MCA 207 sarcoma) or the poorly immunogenic (i.e., D5 melanoma) tumor cells, and TDLN cells were harvested 9 or 10 days later for activation by an anti-CD3/ interleukin-2 culture procedure. Human recombinant TNF-a (25 ng/mL) added during the activation culture resulted in a two-fold increase in interferon-γ release (type 1 response) and a significant reduction of interleukin-10 (type 2 response) after tumor antigen stimulation. In an adoptive transfer model, TNF-α-cultured TDLN cells mediated significantly greater regression of established tumor than did TDLN cells cultured in the absence of TNF-a in five of five experiments. Neutralization of interleukin-10 monoclonal antibody further augmented the therapeutic efficacy of TNF-α-cultured TDLN cells. These studies document the ability of TNF-a to selectively promote a type 1 over a type 2 response in a bulk population of tumor-primed T cells during in vitro activation.

Donor cell cycling, trafficking, and accumulation during adoptive immunotherapy for murine lung metastases.

Adoptive cellular immunotherapy treats metastatic cancer by infusing cultured T cells derived from resected tumors or primed lymph nodes. The infused cells must accumulate in metastatic lesions to suppress growth; however, this process and the resulting clinical response are dynamic and evolve during the days and weeks following cell infusion. This study used novel experimental techniques to determine the fate of infused, cultured tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells during the treatment of murine pulmonary micrometastases. After infusion, the cultured TDLN cells accumulated in the pulmonary vasculature, systemic lymph nodes, and spleen. Donor cells were initially confined to alveolar capillaries with no movement into metastases. Within 4 h, TDLN cells began migrating across pulmonary postcapillary venules and first appeared within metastases. After 24 h, most donor cells in the lung were associated with tumor nodules. Donor cell proliferation within the lung and lymphoid organs was detected within 24 h of infusion and continued throughout the 5-day period of observation. Furthermore, those proliferating in lymphoid organs trafficked back to the tumor-bearing lungs, accounting for ∼50% of the donor cells recovered from these sites after 5 days. Finally, donor T cells entering metastases both early (within 1–2 days) and late (after 2 days) suppressed tumor growth, but the early recruits accounted for most of the therapeutic response. Thus, cultured TDLN cells migrate directly into tumor-bearing organs and seed the recirculating pool of lymphocytes after infusion. Small fractions of the later differentiate in lymphoid organs and migrate into the lungs but appear less effective than effector cells in the initial bolus.

Subset-Specific Reductions in Lung Lymphocyte Accumulation Following Intratracheal Antigen Challenge in Endothelial Selectin-Deficient Mice

We previously demonstrated induction and expression of CD62E and CD62P in the lungs of mice primed and then challenged with intratracheal (i.t.) SRBC. The current study examined accumulation of endogenous lymphocytes in the lungs of endothelial E- and P-selectin-deficient (E−P−) mice after i.t. SRBC challenge. Compared with syngeneic wild-type (wt) mice, E−P− mice showed an 85–95% decrease in CD8+ T cells and B cells in the lungs at both early and late time points. In contrast, CD4+ T cell accumulation was reduced by ∼60% early, but equivalent to wt levels later. Surprisingly, many γδ T cells were found in lungs and blood of E−P− mice but were undetectable in the lungs and blood of wt mice. Absolute numbers of peripheral blood CD4, CD8, and B lymphocytes in E−P− mice equaled or exceeded the levels in wt mice, particularly after challenge. Trafficking studies using αβ T lymphoblasts confirmed that the recruitment of circulating cells after challenge was markedly reduced in E−P− mice. Furthermore, Ag priming occurred normally in both the selectin-deficient and wt mice, because primed lymphocytes from both groups transferred Ag sensitivity into naive wt mice. Lung production of mRNA for six CC and two CXC chemokines after challenge was equivalent by RT-PCR analysis in wt and E−P− mice. Therefore, reduced lung accumulation of αβ T cells and B cells in E−P− mice did not result from reduced delivery of circulating lymphocytes to the lungs, unsuccessful Ag priming, or defective pulmonary chemokine production. Selectin-dependent lymphocyte recruitment into the lungs following i.t.-SRBC challenge is subset specific and time dependent.

Tumor-Specific Responses in Lymph Nodes Draining Murine Sarcomas Are Concentrated in Cells Expressing P-Selectin Binding Sites

Tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells develop substantial antitumor activity after activation on immobilized αCD3 and culture in low-dose IL-2. This study found that the minor subset of TDLN T cells expressing binding sites for the adhesion receptor P-selectin (Plighigh T cells) produced T lymphoblasts with the most tumor-specific IFN-γ synthesis in vitro and antitumor activity following adoptive transfer in vivo. The Plighigh T cells constituted <25% of the cells with the phenotype of recently activated cells including high levels of CD69, CD44, or CD25, and low levels of CD62L. The cultured Plighigh TDLN were 10- to 20-fold more active against established pulmonary micrometastases than cultured unfractionated TDLN, and >30-fold more active than cultured TDLN cells depleted of the Plighigh fraction before expansion (Pliglow cells). Tumor-specific IFN-γ synthesis in vitro paralleled the antitumor activities of the cultured fractions in vivo, implying that increased Tc1 and Th1 effector functions contributed to the tumor suppression. Neither nonspecific interaction with the P-selectin chimera used for sorting nor endogenous costimulatory activity in the Plighigh fraction accounted for the marked increase in antitumor activities after culture. The cultured Plighigh fraction contained a variety of potential effector cells; however, the CD8 and CD4 subsets of αβ T cells accounted for 95–97% of its antitumor activity. The authors propose that P-selectin sorting increased antitumor activities by concentrating Tc1 and Th1 pre-effector/effector cells before culture.

Hypothalamic Monoaminergic Activity and Pituitary Function in Male Rats with Estrogen-Induced Pituitary Hyperplasia

The mechanism by which estrogen enhances prolactin (PRL) secretion and induces hyperplasia of lactotrophs is not defined clearly. The objective of this study was to examine hypothalamic monoaminergic PRL regulatory systems and pituitary hormone secretion in the early and later stages of estrogen-induced hyperprolactinemia and pituitary hyperplasia. Dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) turnover were determined in microdissected brain regions 3 and 30 days after a single subcutaneous dose of estradiol (2 mg) to male ACI rats. Plasma samples were collected in animals with indwelling intra-atrial cannulae. 3 days after estrogen there was a significant increase in plasma PRL, pituitary PRL and growth hormone (GH), and DA turnover in the median eminence and arcuate nucleus. Plasma concentrations and pituitary content of PRL increased at 30 days. The responsiveness of PRL to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was enhanced at both times. Concentrations of DA decreased considerably in the median eminence and arcuate nucleus by 30 days, and turnover decreased in the median eminence. 5-HT turnover was not affected in the early stages of hyperprolactinemia. Plasma GH increased and TSH was unchanged, even though pituitary content of both hormones decreased at 30 days. Estrogen had no effect on plasma corticosterone. These findings support the hypothesis that estrogen induces pituitary hyperplasia by antagonizing DA inhibition of PRL-secreting cells and by enhancing their responsiveness to TRH.