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The Na/Ca exchanger has been examined with respect to its molecular biology, its cellular function, and its role in excitation-contraction coupling. The Na/Ca exchanger plays a central part in excitation-contraction coupling, setting the level of sarcoplasmic reticular calcium and contributing to the triggering of sarcoplasmic reticular calcium release. Functional biophysical studies with isolated single cells and caged calcium provide evidence that the Na/Ca exchanger works as a two step sequential transporter. In the heart there are about 250 exchangers.mu-2, operating at a turnover rate of up to about 2500.s-1, with the exchanger carrying -2.56 charges under normal conditions. The Na/Ca exchanger has been recently cloned from diverse mammalian species and several tissues and is largely conserved. It is clear, however, that the function of the Na/Ca exchanger is different in the different tissues. Thus work is in progress in several laboratories, including ours, to determine how the Na/Ca exchanger achieves its tissue specific function. Several modulatory motifs have been seen in studies of the exchanger that may explain some of the tissue specific differences. Interestingly the modulation of the Na/Ca exchanger (for example, by protons, sodium, calcium, ATP, calmodulin) seems to arise from interactions with the intracellular loop.

Tumour antigen targeted antibodies (mAbs) can induce natural killer (NK) cells to kill tumours through antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) upon engagement of NK cell expressed FcγRIIIa. FcγRIIIa polymorphisms partially dictate the potency of the ADCC response. The high affinity FcγRIIIa-158-valine (V) polymorphism is associated with more potent ADCC response than the low affinity FcγRIIIa-158-phenylalanine (F) polymorphism. Because approximately 45% of patients are homozygous for the FcγRIIIa-158-F polymorphism (FF genotype), their ability to mount ADCC is impaired. We investigated whether a novel mAb capable of binding multiple antigen specific targets and engaging multiple low affinity FcγRIIIa receptors could further enhance ADCC against colon cancer in vitro. Specifically, we generated a novel anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody (termed a stradobody) consisting of an unmodified Fab sequence and two Immunoglobulin G, subclass 1 (IgG1) Fc domains separated by an isoleucine zipper domain and the 12 amino-acid IgG2 hinge. The stradobody framework induced multimerisation and was associated with increased binding to the EGFR and FcγRIIIa. From a functional perspective, when compared to an unmodified anti-EGFR mAb with a sequence identical to cetuximab (a commercially available anti-EGFR mAb), stradobodies significantly enhanced ADCC. These effects were observed using both KRAS wild type HT29 and KRAS mutant SW480 colon cancer cells as targets, and by NK cells obtained from healthy donors and a cohort of patients with colon cancer. These data suggest that high avidity cross-linking of multiple tumour surface antigens and multiple NK cell associated FcγRIIIa molecules can enhance ADCC and partially overcome impaired ADCC by FF genotype individuals in vitro.

CD137 (4-1BB)-mediated costimulation plays an important role in directing the fate of Ag-stimulated T cells and NK cells, yet the role of CD137 in mediating B cell function is unknown. We found that CD137 is expressed in vitro on anti-Ig–stimulated peripheral blood B cells and in vivo on tonsillar B cells with an activated phenotype. In vitro CD137 expression is enhanced by CD40 stimulation and IFN-γ and is inhibited by IL-4, -10, and -21. The expression of CD137 on activated human B cells is functionally relevant because engagement with its ligand at the time of activation stimulates B cell proliferation, enhances B cell survival, and induces secretion of TNF-α and -β. Our study suggests that CD137 costimulation may play a role in defining the fate of Ag-stimulated human B cells.

Antibody based manipulation of the CD137 (4-1BB) co-signaling pathway is an attractive option for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. We developed a chimeric anti-human CD137 monoclonal antibody (GG) and characterized its function. As a component of planned preclinical studies, we evaluated the binding of GG to activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cynomolgus macaque and baboon against human. Interestingly, GG only recognized human CD137, while a commercial anti-CD137 mAb (4B4-1), recognized activated PBMCs from both human and non-human primates (NHP). Subsequent analysis revealed that the amino acid sequence of CD137 is largely conserved between primate species ( approximately 95% identical), with the extracellular domain differing by only 9-10 amino acids. Based on these data, we generated mutant constructs in the extracellular domain, replacing NHP with human CD137 sequences, and identified 3 amino acids critical for GG binding. These residues are likely part of a conformational epitope, as a peptide spanning this region is unable to block mAb binding. These data demonstrate that subtle sequence variations of defined co-stimulatory molecules amongst primate species can be employed as a strategy for mapping residues necessary for antibody binding to conformational epitopes.

CD137 (4-1BB) is a costimulatory mol-ecule that can be manipulated for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Although it is known that agonistic antibodies (mAbs) against CD137 enhance the rejection of murine tumors in a natural killer (NK) cell– and T cell–dependent fashion, the mechanism for NK dependence is poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the ability of 2 different glycoforms of a chimerized antihuman CD137 mAb, an aglycosylated (GA) and a low fucose form (GG), to react with human NK cells. Both mAbs bound similarly to CD137 and partially blocked the interaction between CD137 and CD137 ligand. However, unlike GA mAb, immobilized GG mAb activated NK cells and enhanced CD137 expression. These effects were seemingly dependent on Fc interaction with putative Fc receptors on the NK-cell surface, as only the immobilized Fc-fragment of GG was required for CD137 expression. Furthermore, CD137 expression could be enhanced with antibodies directed against non-CD137 epitopes, and the expression levels directly correlated with patterns of Fc-glycosylation recognized to improve Fc interaction with Fcγ receptors. Our data suggest that CD137 can be enhanced on NK cells in an Fc-dependent fashion and that expression correlates with phenotypic and functional parameters of activation.

Background— The Na-Ca exchanger (NCX) is a critical calcium efflux pathway in excitable cells, but little is known regarding its autonomic regulation. Methods and Results— We investigated β-adrenergic receptor and muscarinic receptor regulation of the cardiac NCX in control and heart failure (HF) conditions in atrially paced pigs. NCX current in myocytes from control swine hearts was significantly increased by isoproterenol, and this response was reversed by concurrent muscarinic receptor stimulation with the addition of carbachol, demonstrating “accentuated antagonism.” Okadaic acid eliminated the inhibitory effect of carbachol on isoproterenol-stimulated NCX current, indicating that muscarinic receptor regulation operates via protein phosphatase–induced dephosphorylation. However, in myocytes from atrially paced tachycardia-induced HF pigs, the NCX current was significantly larger at baseline but less responsive to isoproterenol compared with controls, whereas carbachol failed to inhibit isoproterenol-stimulated NCX current, and 8-Br-cGMP did not restore muscarinic responsiveness. Protein phosphatase type 1 dialysis significantly reduced NCX current in failing but not control cells, consistent with NCX hyperphosphorylation in HF. Protein phosphatase type 1 levels associated with NCX were significantly depressed in HF pigs compared with control, and total phosphatase activity associated with NCX was significantly decreased. Conclusions— We conclude that the NCX is autonomically modulated, but HF reduces the level and activity of associated phosphatases; defective dephosphorylation then “locks” the exchanger in a highly active state.

The sodium-calcium exchanger, NCX1, is a ubiquitously expressed membrane protein essential in calcium homeostasis for many cells including those in mammalian heart and brain. The function of NCX1 depends on subcellular ("local") factors, the phosphorylation state of NCX1, and the subcellular location of NCX1 within the cell. Here we investigate the molecular organization of NCX1 within the cardiac myocyte. We show that NCX1 is dynamically phosphorylated by protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent phosphorylation in vitro. We also provide evidence that the regulation of this phosphorylation is attributed to the existence of an NCX1 macromolecular complex. Specifically, we show that the macromolecular complex includes both the catalytic and regulatory subunits of PKA. However, only the RI regulatory subunit is found in this macromolecular complex, not RII. Other critical regulatory enzymes are also associated with NCX1, including protein kinase C (PKC) and two serine/threonine protein phosphatases, PP1 and PP2A. Importantly, the protein kinase A-anchoring protein, mAKAP, is found and its presence in the macromolecular complex suggests that these regulatory enzymes are coordinately positioned to regulate NCX1 as has been found in diverse cells for a number of channel proteins. Dual immunocytochemical staining showed the colocalization of NCX1 protein with mAKAP and PKA-RI proteins in cardiomyocytes. Finally, leucine/isoleucine zipper motifs have been identified as possible sites of interaction. Our finding of an NCX1 macromolecular complex in heart suggests how NCX1 regulation is achieved in heart and other cells. The existence of the NCX1 macromolecular complex may also provide an explanation for recent controversial findings.

1The transcript of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger gene NCX1 undergoes alternative splicing to produce tissue-specific isoforms. The cloned NCX1 isoforms were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied using a two-electrode voltage clamp method to measure Na+-Ca2+ exchanger activity. 2The cardiac isoform (NCX1.1) expressed in oocytes was less sensitive to depolarizing voltages and to activation by [Ca2+]i than the renal isoform (NCX1.3). 3The cardiac isoform of NCX1 is more sensitive to activation by protein kinase A (PKA) than the renal isoform which may be explained by preferential phosphorylation. The cardiac isoform of NCX1 is phosphorylated to a greater extent than the renal isoform. 4The action of PKA phosphorylation which increases the activity of the cardiac isoform of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger in oocytes was confirmed in adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes by measuring Na+-dependent Ca2+ flux. 5We conclude that alternative splicing of NCX1 confers distinct functional characteristics to tissue-specific isoforms of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger.

Unique ATP-inhibitable K+ channels (KATP) in the kidney determine the rate of urinary K+ excretion and play an essential role in extracellular K+ balance. Here, we demonstrate that functionally similar low sulfonylurea affinity KATP channels are formed by two heterologous molecules, products of Kir1.1a and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) genes. Co-injection of CFTR and Kir1.1a cRNA into Xenopus oocytes lead to the expression of K+ selective channels that retained the high open probability behavior of Kir1.1a but acquired sulfonylurea sensitivity and ATP-dependent gating properties. Similar to the KATP channels in the kidney but different from KATP channels in excitable tissues, the Kir1.1a/CFTR channel was inhibited by glibenclamide with micromolar affinity. Since the expression of Kir1.1a and CFTR overlap at sites in the kidney where the low sulfonylurea affinity KATP are expressed, our study offers evidence that these native KATP channels are comprised of Kir1.1a and CFTR. The implication that Kir subunits can interact with ABC proteins beyond the subfamily of sulfonylurea receptors provides an intriguing explanation for functional diversity in KATP channels.

In vitro assessment of lymphocyte and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity typically employs density gradient centrifugation and magnetic cell separation to isolate effector cells, and chromium release to assess cytotoxicity. In order to improve the rapidity and scalability of in vitro cytotoxicity assessment, we evaluated the efficacy of a protocol utilizing tetrameric antibody complexes and SepMate™ isolation tubes to negatively select NK cells (TACs/Sep), and calcein-AM release to measure cytotoxicity. We compared the efficiency and accuracy of this protocol to a conventional approach employing density gradient centrifugation and magnetically labeled antibodies (DG/MACS) to isolate NK cells and chromium release to measure cytotoxicity. The TACs/Sep method significantly decreased the time required for NK cell isolation (1h vs. 4h), but resulted in higher red blood cell contamination. NK cell activation marker expression (including CD94, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp46, DNAM-1, 2B4, KIR2DL1/S1, KIR2DL2/L3, intracellular granzyme B, and perforin) was similar when comparing NK cells isolated by the TACs/Sep or DG/MACS methods, but the TACs/Sep method induced higher expression of CD16. In vitro cytotoxicity against HT29 colon cancer and K562 leukemia cells was not affected by the isolation method. Lastly, by combining the TACs/Sep NK cell isolation method with calcein-acetoxymethyl diacetylester (calcein-AM) release, the time required to assess in vitro cytotoxicity was reduced by 33% (4h) compared to protocols employing DG/MACS and chromium release. Altogether, these results provide the foundation for the development of a rapid, high throughput functional assay, and make it practical for the multiplexing of downstream applications, such as flow cytometric analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

We describe an analysis of the NCX1 gene and show that various tissues express different alternatively spliced forms of the gene. Alternative splicing has been confirmed by the genomic analysis of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger gene. We also describe the Drosophila Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger as having many of the same structural characteristics of the mammalian exchangers and this locus as possibly undergoing alternative splicing in the same region that has been described in the NCX1 gene. The general structure of the exchangers is similar to that of the alpha-subunit of the (Na(+)+ K+)-A Pase. Finally, sequence comparison of the various molecules demonstrates that structural characteristics of these molecules are more strongly conserved than the primary sequence of these products.

Introduction: Soluble immune aggregates bearing intact Fc fragments are effective treatment for a variety of autoimmune disorders in mice. The better to understand the mechanisms by which Fc-bearing immune complexes suppress autoimmunity, and to develop a platform for clinical translation, we created a series of fully recombinant forms of polyvalent IgG2a Fc, termed stradomers, and tested their efficacy in a therapeutic model of collageninduced arthritis (CIA) and preventive models of both idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and graft-versushost disease (GVHD). Methods: Stradomers were created by engineering either the human IgG2 hinge sequence (IgG2H) or the isoleucine zipper (ILZ) onto either the carboxy or amino termini of murine IgG2a Fc. Multimerization and binding to the canonical Fc receptors and the C-type lectin SIGN-RI were evaluated by using sodium dodecylsulfatepolymerase chain reaction (SDS-PAGE) and Biacore/Octet assays. The efficacy of stradomers in alleviating CIA and preventing ITP and GVHD was compared with “gold standard” therapies, including prednisolone and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). Results: Stradomers exist as both homodimeric and highly ordered sequential multimers. Higher-order multimers demonstrate increasingly stable associations with the canonic Fcg receptors (FcgRs), and SIGN-R1, and are more effective than Fc homodimers in treating CIA. Furthermore, stradomers confer partial protection against platelet loss in a murine model ITP, but do not prevent GVHD. Conclusion: These data suggest that fully human stradomers might serve as valuable tools for the treatment of selected autoimmune disorders and as reagents to study the function of Fc:FcR interactions in vivo.

A sensitive, highly resolvable, and quantitative method was designed to analyse the diversity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified transcripts which possess length polymorphism. A reverse transcriptase-PCR technique was used to amplify rearranged T cell antigen receptor (TCR) transcripts isolated from human blood. Oligonucleotide primers specific for conserved TCR V and C region sequences were used in PCR, with one of the primers end-labeled with 32 P. Amplified cDNA products were analyzed by polyacrylamide sequencing gel electrophoresis with an M13mp18 sequencing ladder as a size marker. 32 P-labeled products were detected by either autoradiography or PhosphorImager. The method allowed determination of the sizes of PCR products with the precision of one nucleotide. The resolution using this technique was much higher than by electrophoresis in agarose gel with ethidium bromide staining. The sizes of PCR products determined by sequencing gel electrophoresis were consistent with the lengths of nucleotide sequences obtained after subcloning PCR products in competent bacterial cells. Analysis of PCR products by sequencing gel electrophoresis was more rapid and as accurate as nucleotide sequence analysis in determining the relative ratios of TCR mRNA in mixtures of T cell clones. The method is applicable for analysis of both rearranged TCR and immunoglobulin genes.

We have analyzed the gene structure that gives rise to tissue-specific isoforms of the Na/Ca exchanger. Five distinct isoforms of the Na/Ca exchanger from rabbit brain, kidney, and heart have been identified previously to which we now add a new brain isoform. Reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction, library screening, and sequence analysis of cDNA coding regions indicate that the only significant alteration of the Na/Ca exchanger cDNA in rabbit brain, kidney, and heart isoforms is located in the carboxyl end of the putative intracellular loop of the protein, a region recently linked to ionic and metabolic regulation of the Na/Ca exchanger. Additionally, we find that the Na/Ca exchanger isoforms found in lung and skeletal muscle may arise from among these same six isoforms. Examination of the gene structure of the Na/Ca exchanger in rabbit indicates how the single gene that encodes for the Na/Ca exchanger is alternatively spliced to give rise to the five rabbit isoforms. Specifically, sequence analysis of the intron-exon boundaries reveals the presence of two "mutually exclusive" exons in conjunction with four "cassette" exons in the region of the Na/Ca exchanger gene that codes for the carboxyl end of the predicted intracellular loop region. This unusual arrangement of exons in the Na/Ca exchanger gene could allow for the generation of up to 32 different Na/Ca exchanger mRNAs and accounts for the isoforms identified to date.

The gene for H-2K class I major histocompatibility antigen on the bm8 variant was cloned and the DNA sequence compared with the parental gene. Sequence analysis demonstrated that seven nucleotides were changed with respect to the parental gene sequence spanning 24 nucleotides. These changes represent an alteration of four amino acids from the parent protein. As this mutation occurred in a single generation, a potential donor gene for such a complex mutation was suggested and identified. The Q4 gene class I-like molecule has a stretch of 95 nucleotides of identity in the region of the bm8 mutation. Genomic Southern analysis of the mutant and parental DNA with a gene-specific oligonucleotide demonstrated that the potential donor gene Q4 is a likely candidate sequence for such an event. The amino acid alterations for the H-2K bm8 mutation are discussed in consideration of the three-dimensional structure of the characterized human class I glycoprotein.

ConclusionDespite considerable experimental effort, it is not possible to state unequivocally that with aging there occur some intrinsic changes in B cells. We have some indication that the number of pre-B cells may be affected in the bone marrow of the aged. If these changes extend to a decrease of the actual number of pluripotent stem cells, then this would indeed contribute to a lack of self-renewing capacity and affect the total peripheral B cell population. In those instances when actual precursor cell frequencies have been enumerated, even though for the majority of antigen systems studied B cell precursor frequency decreases in the aged, the responding B cells showed no individual functional decline (i.e., amount of antibody synthesized). Evidence has been obtained that changes in regulatory mechanisms are responsible, in part, for the decline in the immune response of the aged. This is particularly obvious when VH gene usage in antibody is compared between the total available repertoire (i.e., fol...

Purpose: The expression of CD56, a natural killer cell–associated molecule, on αβ T lymphocytes correlates with their increased antitumor effector function. CD56 is also expressed on a subset of γδ T cells. However, antitumor effector functions of CD56+ γδ T cells are poorly characterized.Experimental Design: To investigate the potential effector role of CD56+ γδ T cells in tumor killing, we used isopentenyl pyrophosphate and interleukin-2–expanded γδ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors.Results: Thirty to 70% of expanded γδ T cells express CD56 on their surface. Interestingly, although both CD56+ and CD56− γδ T cells express comparable levels of receptors involved in the regulation of γδ T-cell cytotoxicity (e.g., NKG2D and CD94), only CD56+ γδ T lymphocytes are capable of killing squamous cell carcinoma and other solid tumor cell lines. This effect is likely mediated by the enhanced release of cytolytic granules because CD56+ γδ T lymphocytes expressed higher levels of CD107a compared with CD56− controls following exposure to tumor cell lines. Lysis of tumor cell lines is blocked by concanamycin A and a combination of anti-γδ T-cell receptor + anti-NKG2D monoclonal antibody, suggesting that the lytic activity of CD56+ γδ T cells involves the perforin-granzyme pathway and is mainly γδ T-cell receptor/NKG2D dependent. Importantly, CD56-expressing γδ T lymphocytes are resistant to Fas ligand and chemically induced apoptosis.Conclusions: Our data indicate that CD56+ γδ T cells are potent antitumor effectors capable of killing squamous cell carcinoma and may play an important therapeutic role in patients with head and neck cancer and other malignancies.

Senescent and suppressor T cells are reported to be increased in select patients with cancer and are poor prognostic indicators. Based on the association of these T cells and poor outcomes, we hypothesized that tumors induce senescence in T cells, which negatively effects antitumor immunity. In this report, we show that human T cells from healthy donors incubated with tumor for only 6 h at a low tumor to T-cell ratio undergo a senescence-like phenotype, characterized by the loss of CD27 and CD28 expression and telomere shortening. Tumor-induced senescence of T cells is induced by soluble factors and triggers increases in expression of senescence-associated molecules such as p53, p21, and p16. Importantly, these T cells are not only phenotypically altered, but also functionally altered as they can suppress the proliferation of responder T cells. This suppression requires cell-to-cell contact and is mediated by senescent CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations, which are distinct from classically described natural T regulatory cells. Our observations support the novel concept that tumor can induce senescent T cells with suppressor function and may effect both the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. ©2008 American Association for Cancer Research. Fil: Montes, Carolina Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina Fil: Chapoval, Andrei I.. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos Fil: Nelson, Jonas. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos Fil: Orhue, Vbenosa. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos Fil: Zhang, Xiaoyu. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos Fil: Schulze, Dan H.. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos Fil: Strome, Scott E.. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos Fil: Gastman, Brian R.. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos

Frequencies of 25 immunoglobulin heavy-chain and kappa light-chain variable (VH + V kappa) gene-family pairings expressed in splenic B-cell populations were determined by hybridization of VH- and V kappa-family-specific DNA probes to mitogen-induced B-cell colonies from C57BL/6 mice or hybridomas derived from BALB/c and NZB mice. Both analyses support the conclusion that VH and V kappa gene families pair without bias; as would be expected for random association, the frequencies of specific VH + V kappa pairs may be estimated by the product of the independent VH and V kappa frequencies. Based upon the frequencies at which 9 VH and 12 V kappa gene families are expressed, we calculated the expected usage for approximately 100 VH + V kappa family pairings in neonatal and adult C57BL/6 mice. Variability in the expression of such VH + V kappa pairings is considerable; pairs representing greater than 10% to less than 0.01% of the splenic B-cell population occur. This variability is most pronounced in the neonate, where 6 VH + V kappa family pairs account for nearly 40% of all mitogen-reactive B cells. As the neonate matures, the distribution of frequencies for VH + V kappa pairings becomes more nearly uniform. This process may underlie the patterned acquisition of humoral immune responsiveness.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is an important Ca2+ transport mechanism in virtually all cells in the body. There are three genes that control the expression of NCX in mammals. There are at least 16 alternatively spliced isoforms of NCX1 that target muscle and nerve and other tissues. Here we briefly discuss three remarkable regulatory issues or "conundrums" that involve the most prevalently expressed gene, NCX1. (1) How is NCX1 regulated by phosphorylation? We suggest that the macromolecular complex of NCX1 plays a critical role in the regulation of NCX. The role of the macromolecular complex and evidence supporting its existence and functional importance is presented. (2) Can there be transport block of a single "mode" of NCX1 transport by drugs or therapeutic agents? The simple answer is "no." A brief explanation is provided. (3) How can NCX1 knockout mice live? The answer is "by other compensatory regulatory mechanisms." These conundrums highlight important features in NCX1 and lay the foundation for new experiments to elucidate function and regulation of NCX1 and provide a context for investigations that seek to understand novel therapeutic agents.

Sodium/calcium (Na+/Ca2+) exchangers are membrane transport systems that regulate Ca2+-homeostasis in many eukaryotic cells. In olfactory and vomeronasal sensory neurons ligand-induced olfactory signal transduction is associated with influx and elevation of intracellular Ca2+, [Ca2+]i. While much effort has been devoted to the characterization of Ca2+-related excitation and adaptation events of olfactory chemosensory neurons (OSNs), much less is known about mechanisms that return [Ca2+]i to the resting state. To identify proteins participating in the poststimulus Ca2+-clearance of mouse OSNs, we analyzed the expression of three potassium (K+)-independent (NCX1, 2, 3) and three K+-dependent (NCKX1, 2, 3) Na+/Ca2+ exchangers. In situ hybridization showed that mRNAs of all six Na+/Ca2+ exchangers coexist in neurons of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems, and that some are already detectable in the embryo. Of these, NCX1 and NCKX1 represent the most and least abundant mRNAs, respectively. Moreover, immunohistochemistry revealed that the NCX1, 2, and 3 proteins are expressed in nearly all neurons of the olfactory epithelium, the vomeronasal organ, the septal organ of Masera, and the Grueneberg ganglion. These three exchanger proteins display different expression profiles in dendrites, knobs, and plasma membranes of OSNs and in sustentacular cells. Furthermore, we show that NCX1 mRNA in rat olfactory mucosa is expressed as 8 alternative splice variants. This is the first comprehensive analysis of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger expression in the mammalian olfactory system. Our results suggest that Ca2+-extrusion by OSNs utilizes multiple different Na+/Ca2+ exchangers and that different subtypes are targeted to different subcellular compartments. J. Comp. Neurol. 501:944–958, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) protein is the major cardiac calcium extrusion mechanism and is upregulated in heart failure (HF). NCX expression level and functional activity as regulated by β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation in swine with and without tachycardia-induced heart failure were studied. The Ni 2+ -sensitive NCX current was measured in myocytes from HF and control animals in the basal state or in the presence of isoproterenol, forskolin, 8-Br-cAMP, okadaic acid, or protein phosphatase type 1. Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase in both the 120-kDa (29%) and 80-kDa (69%) fragments in HF ( P P P

Alternative splicing of RNA transcripts is a general characteristic for NCX genes in mammals, mollusks, and arthropods. Among the family of three NCX genes in mammals, the NCX1 gene contains six exons, namely, A, B, C, D, E, and F, that make up the alternatively spliced region. Studies of the NCX1 gene transcripts suggested that 16 distinct gene products can be produced from the NCX1 gene. The exons A and B are mutually exclusive when expressed. Generally, exon A-containing transcripts are predominantly found in excitable cells like cardiomyoctes and neurons, whereas exon B-containing transcripts are mostly found in nonexcitable cells like astrocytes and kidney cells. Other alternatively spliced exons (C-F) appear to be cassette-type exons and are found in various combinations. Interestingly, exon D is present in all characterized transcripts. The alternatively spliced isoforms of NCX1 show tissue-specific expression patterns, suggesting functional adaptation to tissues. To investigate functional differences among alternatively spliced isoforms of NCX1, we expressed an exon A-containing transcript present in cardiac tissue (NCX1.1) and an exon B-containing transcript found in the kidney (NCX1.3) in Xenopus oocytes. We demonstrated that the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers expressed by exon A- and exon B-containing transcripts display differences in activation by PKA and by [Ca(2+)](i). We also observed that these two isoforms show differences in voltage dependence. Surprisingly, the alternatively spliced isoforms of NCX1 display greater functional differences among themselves than the products of different gene loci, NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3.

Phosphocholine (PC) is the immunodominant epitope found on the surface ofStreptococcus pneumoniae(SPn). T15-idiotype Abs, whose heavy (H) chain variable region is encoded by theV1gene, are dominant in the anti-PC response in adult mice and protect mice from lethal pneumococcal infection. The ability of anti-PC Abs using H chains other than theV1H chain to protect against pneumococcal infection remains controversial. We generated V1−/−knockout mice to determine whether protective anti-PC Abs could be produced in the absence of theV1gene. No anti-PC Abs were produced in V1−/−mice immunized with avirulentSPn; however, PC-BSA binding Abs were induced after immunization with PC-keyhole limpet hemocyanin but at significantly lower levels than those in wild-type mice. These Abs provided poor protection against virulentSPn; thus, −/−mice survived challenge with 104bacteria as compared with 100% survival of V1+/+mice. The anti-PC Abs in V1−/−mice were heteroclitic, binding to nitrophenyl-PC better than to PC. None of nine hybridomas produced from V1−/−mice provided passive protection. However, the V1−/−mice produced normal amounts of Ab toSPnproteins that can partially protect mice againstSPn. These data indicate that theV1gene is critical for the production of anti-PC Abs providing optimum protection against infection withSPn, and the V1−/−mice could be useful in unmasking epitopes other than the immunodominant PC epitope onSPncapable of providing cross protection.

The interaction of Fc fragments of antibodies with the Fcgamma receptors is an essential checkpoint in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Specific polymorphisms at position 158 enhance FcgammaRIIIa affinity for IgG1 and are associated with improved clinical outcome in lymphoma patients treated with IgG1 anti-CD20 antibody. The role of ADCC in the therapeutic effects of the alpha-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mAb, cetuximab, in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is poorly defined. We employed three SCCHN cell lines to test two hypotheses: (1) SCCHN is susceptible to cetuximab-mediated ADCC, (2) efficacy of ADCC is associated with polymorphisms at position 158 of FcgammaRIIIa.FcgammaRIIIa-158 polymorphisms were determined for healthy donors, and their purified NK cells were used as effector cells against three SCCHN cell lines in ADCC assays. Cytotoxicity levels were compared for each polymorphism class. Proliferation and cell cycle assays were done to examine the direct effects of cetuximab.Our results indicate that SCCHN is susceptible to cetuximab-mediated ADCC in vitro. NK cytotoxic efficiency correlates with donor 158-polymorphisms in FcgammaRIIIa. Overall cytotoxicity was greatest for individuals having a single V allele when compared to homozygous F/F individuals; the cumulative percent cytotoxicity for each polymorphism among the cell lines was 58.2% V/V, 50.6% V/F, and 26.1% F/F (P0.001). Additionally, the presence of a V allele correlated with superior natural cytotoxicity against NK sensitive targets.These data have both prognostic and therapeutic relevance and support the design of a prospective trial to determine the influence of FcgammaRIIIa polymorphisms on the clinical outcome of patients with SCCHN treated with alpha-EGFR mAbs.

Although inhibition of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger normally increases [Ca2+]i in neonatal cardiac myocytes, application of the inhibitor Ni2+ appears to reduce [Ca2+] measured by fluo-3. To investigate how the apparent reduction in [Ca2+]i occurs we examined Ca2+ transport by the human Na+/Ca2+ exchanger expressed in Sf9 cells. Transport of Ca2+ by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was examined using a laser-scanning confocal microscope and the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fluo-3, and the electrogenic function was determined by measuring the Na+/Ca2+ exchange current (INaCa) using patch clamp methods. INaCa was elicited with voltage-clamp steps or flash photolysis of caged Ca2+. We show significant expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger function in Sf9 cells infected with a recombinant Baculovirus carrying the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. In addition to measurements of INaCa, characterization includes Ca2+ transport via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and the voltage dependence of Ca2+ transport. Application of Ni2+ blocked INaCa but, contrary to expectation, decreased fluo-3 fluorescence. Experiments with infected Sf9 cells suggested that Ni2+ was transported via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger at a rate comparable to the Ca2+ transport. Once inside the cells, Ni2+ reduced fluorescence, presumably by quenching fluo-3. We conclude that Ni2+ does indeed block INaCa, but is also rapidly translocated across the cell membrane by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger itself, most likely via an electroneutral partial reaction of the exchange cycle.

The Na+/Ca2+exchanger is a major transporter of Ca2+in neurons and glial cells. The Na+/Ca2+exchanger gene NCX1 expresses tissue-specific isoforms of the Na+/Ca2+exchanger, and the isoforms have been examined here quantitatively using primary cultures of astrocytes and neurons. We present a PCR-based quantitative method, quantitative end-labeled reverse transcription-PCR (QERT-PCR), to determine the relative amounts of the NCX1 isoforms present in these cells. Six exons (A, B, C, D, E, and F) are alternatively spliced to produce the known NCX1 isoforms. Three exon B-containing isoforms (BDEF, BDF, and BD) are the predominant transcripts in primary rat cortical astrocytes and in C6glioma cells. In contrast, exon A-containing isoforms (ADF and AD) are the predominant transcripts in primary rat hippocampal neurons. Functional differences between full-length constructs of NCX1 containing either the astrocyte isoform BD or the neuron isoform AD were examined in aXenopusoocyte expression system. Although both isoforms function normally, the activity of the AD isoform can be increased 39% by activation of protein kinase A (PKA), whereas that of the BD isoform is not affected. We conclude that specific NCX1 isoforms are expressed in distinct patterns in astrocytes and neurons. Furthermore, the activity of a neuronal (but not glial) isoform of the Na+/Ca2+exchanger can be altered by the activation of the PKA pathway.

The causes of observed deficiencies to the humoral immune response in aged humans are unknown. Since a major source of antibody diversity is generated at the VH-D-JH junctional regions of the immunoglobulin heavy chain, we determined whether differences in junctional diversity are manifested with aging. We compared the CDR3 regions of IgM heavy chain transcripts isolated from young adult and aged humans. A PCR assay that measures CDR3 length in the majority of mu-heavy chains showed the same average size and normal range of CDR3 length in aged individuals as observed in young adults. To characterize the features of junctional diversity of aged adults in more detail, we determined the CDR3 sequences of a subset of the mu-heavy chain repertoire that utilizes members of the VH 5 family. In general CDR3 length, D family usage, and JH gene usage were similar in aged compared to young adults. Thus, in contrast to dramatic changes in heavy chain junctional diversity associated with fetal to adult development, no major differences were found between young and aged adults. Since the CDR3 repertoire generated in aged individuals appears to be as diverse as that observed in younger adults, the decline in humoral immunocompetence with aging cannot be attributed to a restriction in heavy chain junctional diversification processes.

cDNAs for the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger from Drosophila melanogaster (Dmel/Nck) have been cloned by homology screening using the human heart Na+/Ca2+ exchanger cDNA. The overall deduced protein structure for Dmel/Nck is similar to that of mammalian Na+/Ca2+ exchanger genes NCX1 and NCX2, having six hydrophobic regions in the amino terminus separated from six at the carboxy-terminal end by a large intracellular loop. Sequence comparison of the Drosophila exchanger cDNAs with NCX1 and NCX2 Na+/Ca2+ exchangers are approximately 46% identical at the deduced amino acid level. Consensus phosphorylation sites for both protein kinase C and protein kinase A are present on the intracellular loop region of the Dmel/Nck. Alternative splicing for the Dmel/Nck gene is suggested in the same intracellular loop region as demonstrated for NCX1. Functionally, the Drosophila Na+/ Ca2+ exchanger expressed in oocytes differs from expressed mammalian NCX1 with regard to Ca2+ transport in Ca2+/ Ca2+ exchange and the effect of monovalent-dependent Ca2+/ Ca2+ exchange. The Dmel/Nck gene maps to chromosome 3 (93A-B) using in situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes, the same position as the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, a related transporter. We conclude that, although extracellular Na+ concentration-dependent Ca2+ transport is subserved by both human and Drosophila Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, there are clear and important differences in the transporters, which should be useful in deducing how the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger protein function depends on its structure.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was first identified nearly three decades ago in heart [1] and in nerves [2]. It has been identified in virtually every tissue by functional tests or by molecular or immunological techniques [3–12]. The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger is located in the plasma membrane and serves to extrude calcium from the cytosolic compartment. Nevertheless, it can transport ions in either direction. The direction of transport depends on the electrochemical gradient for sodium and calcium ions across the plasmalemmal membrane since the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger uses the electrochemical gradients to power its transport activity. It transports three sodium ions in one direction and counter-transports one calcium ion (in the opposite direction). Consequently, a net positive charge moves in the direction of sodium transport and transport of sodium and calcium by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger is both voltage-sensitive and electrogenic [3,4,13].

The cardiac (versus retinal rod) Na/Ca exchanger gene has been cloned, sequenced and shown by RNA analysis to be present in diverse tissues. Analysis of published sequences shows that a single isoform is found in heart tissue from many species (NACA1 isoform). We provide evidence here by ribonuclease (RNase) protection assays and by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with sequence analysis that a new isoform encoding the Na/Ca exchanger is present in renal tissue. This isoform (NACA3) reveals a 7-amino acid deletion in the tested region compared with the NACA2 isoform described by Reilly and Shugrue [Am. J. Physiol. 262 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 31): F1105-F1109, 1992] and is the dominant exchanger transcript in kidney. Analysis of the sequence of all isoforms indicates that the differences in the isoforms reside in the large intracellular loop region of the protein. Alternative splicing of a single Na/Ca exchanger message may be responsible for these tissue-specific transcripts.

Short DNA sequence motifs have been demonstrated to interact with DNA binding proteins and regulate flanking genes. The short nature and the lack of continuity of many of these DNA binding sites make it difficult to develop an approach to characterize genes that have the same flanking sequences. We tested various oligonucleotide combinations using an immunoglobulin variable region gene family as a model amplification system. One successful amplification strategy used an oligonucleotide containing two known noncontiguous short sequences connected by random insertion of all four bases to maintain the appropriate spacing. A second approach used an oligonucleotide having a single short homologous sequence with the addition of all four bases randomly placed at the 5′ end to increase the extent of homology. Both strategies will permit the priming of members of a specific gene family, with the two short sequences bridged by all four bases randomly added being more efficient in the amplification process.

To the Editor : We read the report of Lin et al. ([1][1]) with great interest. The authors suggest that observed increases in the Ni2+-sensitive bidirectional current after exposure of the mouse, rat, and guinea pig myocytes to isoproterenol were in fact not attributable to changes in the Na+/Ca2+

The cDNA that encodes the human Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCXl) involved in regulation of intracellular calcium levels has been isolated from a cardiac cDNA library. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization, the human cDNA was mapped to chromosome region 2p23→p22 by co-hybridization with fluorescinated alu517-PCR amplified total human DNA to obtain an R-banding pattern.

The filter paper disc method for cloning inducible lymphocytes was used to census the splenic B cell population of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice for the expression of three VH gene-families, VH X-24, -Q52, and -J558. B cell colonies, arising from single founder lymphocytes, were identified by in situ hybridization with VH family- and C mu-specific cDNA probes. Some 6.7 X 10(4) C mu+ colonies were screened. Among C57BL/6- or BALB/c-derived colonies, approximately 3% were VH X-24+, approximately 19% were VH Q52+, and approximately 54% were VH J558+. These frequencies are consistent with a process of equiprobable expression for individual VH segments, and provide direct evidence that normal splenic B lymphocytes use a process of random genetic combinatorics to generate the antibody repertoire.

The gene for the H-2K class I antigen of the bm1 variant was cloned and analyzed at the DNA level and compared with the previously cloned parent B6/Kh gene. Sequence determination and comparative restriction endonuclease studies indicate that Kbm1 is derived from the Kb gene. Seven nucleotide changes within a 13-nucleotide stretch distinguish the mutant from the parent gene and result in amino acid differences at positions 152, 155, and 156 in the antigen. The data confirm previously reported changes at amino acid positions 155 and 156 (arginine to tyrosine and leucine to tyrosine, respectively) and extend the altered region to include two nucleotides encoding a glutamate to alanine substitution at amino acid 152, a change not detected by the protein studies because of limitations of the methods used. The DNA sequence encoding this region of the Kbm1 glycoprotein is identical to the DNA sequence of at least one other known class I gene in the mouse, a finding consistent with the hypothesis that the mutation was not a random event but may be the result of a block transfer of information by a copy mechanism analogous to gene conversion. As the sequence analysis of the coding region for the first 273 amino acid residues shows identity between parent and mutant except for the seven nucleotide changes, all variant-parent functional differences must depend only on the cluster of three amino acid differences in the second domain of the Kb glycoprotein.

The time of replication during the S phase in a murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cell line was determined for immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region C alpha, C gamma 2b and C mu sequences whose boundaries are defined by EcoR1 restriction endonuclease sites (EcoR1 segments). Logarithmically growing cultures of MEL cells with an S phase of about 7.5 hours were pulse labelled with 20 micrograms/ml of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR). The cells were then fractionated by centrifugal elutriation into 10-12 distinct populations containing cells in different stages of the cell cycle. Flow microfluorimetric (FMF) analysis of DNA content, measurements of cell volume and autoradiography after 3H-thymidine pulse labelling were used to determine position in the cell cycle. Fractions were pooled to represent four selected intervals of S in which BU-DNA was synthesized for 2.5 hrs or less. Newly replicated DNA which had incorporated BUdR into one strand was isolated, cleaved with EcoR1, and separated on neutral Cs2S04 gradients. Equal amounts of BU-DNA replicated during these four intervals of S were electrophoresed in 0.8% agarose gels, transferred to diazotized aminobenzyloxymethyl paper and hybridized with 32p probes containing the C alpha, C gamma 2b and C mu genes and flanking sequences. The relative amounts of segments replicated were assessed by quantitation of the appropriate bands on the autoradiograms by microdensitometry. The results indicate that the 2.8 kb C alpha, 6.6 kb C gamma 2b and 12 kb C mu EcoR1 segments in these MEL cells replicated during defined intervals of the first half of the S phase. The order of replication of these EcoR1 segments as the cells proceeded through S was C alpha, C gamma 2b, C mu, corresponding to the linear order of the genes determined by restriction endonuclease mapping.

The H-2Kbgene is a member of the large major histocompatibility complex class I gene family. Since many members of this family cross-hybridize with class I cDNA probes, the cloned H-2Kbgene was identified by hybridization with specific oligonucleotide probes. This clone was definitively shown to encode the H-2Kbpolypeptide by partial DNA sequencing and by serological and tryptic peptide analyses of the expressed product.

The mechanisms responsible for the periodic accumulation and decay of histone mRNA in the mammalian cell cycle were investigated in mouse erythroleukemia cells, using a cloned mouse H3 histone gene probe that hybridizes with most or all H3 transcripts. Exponentially growing cells were fractionated into cell cycle-specific stages by centrifugal elutriation, a method for purifying cells at each stage of the cycle without the use of treatments that arrest growth. Measurements of H3 histone mRNA content throughout the cell cycle show that the mRNA accumulates gradually during S phase, achieving its highest value in mid-S phase when DNA synthesis is maximal. The mRNA content then decreases as cells approach G2. These results demonstrate that the periodic synthesis of histones during S phase is due to changes in the steady-state level of histone mRNA. They are consistent with the conventional view in which histone synthesis is regulated coordinately with DNA synthesis in the cell cycle. The periodic accumulation and decay of H3 histone mRNA appear to be controlled primarily by changes in the rate of appearance of newly synthesized mRNA in the cytoplasm, determined by pulse-labeling whole cells with [3H]uridine. Measurements of H3 mRNA turnover by pulse-chase experiments with cells in S and G2 did not provide evidence for changes in the cytoplasmic stability of the mRNA during the period of its decay in late S and G2. Furthermore, transcription measurements carried out by brief pulse-labeling in vivo and by in vitro transcription in isolated nuclei indicate that the rate of H3 gene transcription changes to a much smaller extent than the steady-state levels of the mRNA or the appearance of newly synthesized mRNA in the cytoplasm. The results suggest that post-transcriptional processes make an important contribution to the periodic accumulation and decay of histone mRNA and that these processes may operate within the nucleus.

Genetic interaction as a mechanism for the generation of mutations is suggested by recurrent, multiple nucleotide substitutions that are identical to nucleotide sequences elsewhere in the genome. We have sequenced the mutant K gene from the bm6 mouse, which is one of a series of eight closely related, yet independently occurring mutants known collectively as the "bg series." Two changes from the Kb gene are found, positioned 15 nucleotides apart: an A-to-T change and a T-to-C change in the codons corresponding to amino acids 116 and 121, resulting in Tyr-to-Phe and Cys-to-Arg substitutions, respectively. Hybridization analysis with an oligonucleotide specific for the altered Kbm6 sequence identifies one donor gene, Q4, located in the Qa region of the H-2 complex. The two altered nucleotides that differentiate Kbm6 and Kb are present in Q4 in a region where Kb and Q4 are otherwise identical for 95 nucleotides, delineating the maximum genetic transfer between the two genes. Because the Kbm6 mutation arose in an homozygous mouse these data indicate that the Q4 gene contains the only donor sequence and demonstrates that Q-region gene sequences can interact with the Kb gene to generate variant K molecules.

VH gene segments represent the products of the repeated duplication and subsequent diversification of a primordial V gene element. It is widely assumed that natural selection, operating via pathogens, has played the dominant role in this process. Here, we screen some 3.7 x 10(4) C mu+ colonies of mitogen-activated B cells for the production of antibodies specific for phosphorylcholine or hen egg lysozyme and expression of the VH X-24, S107, Q52, or J558 gene families. These gene families were expressed at frequencies proportional to their genomic complexity among both unselected and antigen-specific C mu+ colonies. Thus, the capacity to encode equivalent antibody-combining sites is dispersed uniformly among VH families. This result suggests that individual VH genes have not evolved to address specific antigens.

The analysis of H-2K products from spontaneously generated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) mutants and of the primary structure of other class I antigens suggests the genetic hypothesis that diversity in the MHC results from a copy mechanism analogous to gene conversion. The hypothesis was tested by making precise structural predictions about three partially characterized MHC mutants (bm1, bm3, and bm8). The predictions were based on consensus sequences among class I genes that differ from H-2Kb in the same region of the molecule as do the Kb mutants. In two cases (bm3 and bm8) we successfully predicted the correct amino acid substitution at positions known to be altered but for which the specific nature of the substitution had not been determined. In two additional cases (bm1 and bm8) we predicted and found both new mutation sites and the specific amino acid substitutions. The positions and identifications of the variant amino acids were determined by radiolabeled amino acid sequence analysis and DNA restriction endonuclease analysis. The interaction of MHC genes through a copy mechanism to generate diversity permits the introduction of multiple nucleotide base substitutions into class I sequences by a single genetic event. Such a mechanism may account in part for the large structural divergence among alleles of MHC loci and the high degree of MHC polymorphism among wild mice.