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The bcl-x gene, a bcl-2 family member, is highly regulated during lymphoid development, and its expression modulates apoptosis in lymphoid and other cell populations. Several forms of bcl-x mRNAs with different biologic functions have been described in rodents and humans. In this study, we have determined the organization and promoter region of the mouse bcl-x gene in an effort to understand the molecular basis for the different bcl-x mRNA species identified in tissues. We show that mouse bcl-x maps to the distal mouse chromosome 2 at approximately 89 cM, and exhibits a three-exon structure with an untranslated first exon and a facultative first intron. The coding region of bcl-xL is generated by the juncture of exons II and III through a splicing reaction, whereas bcl-xS is generated by an alternatively utilized donor splice site located within exon II. Analysis of multiple cDNAs and primer extension experiments revealed major transcription initiation sites in brain and thymus within a GC-rich region, with multiple Sp1-binding motifs located upstream of exon I. Another promoter was mapped to a 57-bp region localized upstream of the translation initiation codon by transfection of reporter constructs into FL5.12 and K562 cell lines. The remarkable similarity between the genomic regions of bcl-2 and bcl-x suggests that these genes have evolved from a common ancestral gene or through gene duplication.

Regulation of complement activation is essential in the prevention of damage to autologous tissue. This activity is mediated by the presence of specific complement regulatory proteins on the surface of host cells. In humans, one molecule involved in this regulation is a 70-kDa glycoprotein that has been designated decay-accelerating factor (DAF). We present the full-length cDNA sequence and chromosomal localization of the mouse genetic homologue of the human DAF gene. Interestingly, two classes of cDNA clones were obtained that, rather than representing alternately spliced mRNAs, were derived from two separate but closely related linked genes. Both genes encoded proteins with an amino-terminal signal sequence, followed by four short consensus repeats and a domain rich in serine and threonine. Hydrophilicity plots and alignment with human DAF predicted that one gene encoded a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored form of mouse Daf with 64% nucleotide and 47% amino acid identity to human DAF. The product encoded by the second gene was predicted to have an alternate amino-terminal signal sequence and carboxyl-terminal membrane-spanning and cytoplasmic domains. The two mouse Daf genes share 85% nucleotide and 78% amino acid identities, and have been designated Daf-glycosylphosphatidylinositol and Daf-transmembrane to reflect the two alternate mechanisms of membrane attachment. mRNA expression analysis indicated that the two mouse Daf genes were differentially expressed in the adult mouse. Chromosome localization studies mapped the mouse Daf genes to chromosome 1, where they segregated with the C4-binding protein (C4bp) gene.

An emerging body of data indicates that the protein mediator described originally as macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) exerts a central and wide ranging role in host inflammatory responses. MIF is a major constituent of corticotrophic cells within the anterior pituitary gland and is secreted into the circulation in a hormone-like fashion. MIF also exists performed in monocytes/macrophages and is a pivotal mediator in the host response to endotoxic shock. To gain further insight into the biologic expression of this protein that encompasses components of both the immune and the endocrine systems, we have cloned the mouse MIF gene and identified potential regulatory sequences present within the 5'-proximal promoter region. The gene for mouse MIF is located on chromosome 10, spans approximately 1 kb, and shares a high degree of structural homology with its human counterpart. Of note, the consensus enhancer/promoter motifs identified include both inflammatory/growth factor-related elements and sites associated with the genes for certain peptide hormones. We also report the structures of two MIF pseudogenes that account for early observations suggesting that mouse MIF is encoded by a highly homologous multigene family.

A20 is a cytokine-inducible primary response gene that encodes a protein that inhibits apoptosis. We cloned and characterized a murine A20 cDNA and mapped the gene to mouse chromosome 10, 3.5 centimorgans proximal to the c-myb locus. Using the murine cDNA, we conducted in situ hybridization studies to examine patterns of A20 expression in mouse embryos and postnatal tissues. Both temporally restricted and tissue-specific patterns of A20 expression were observed, with strikingly high levels in lymphoid organs, including the thymus, spleen, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Northern analysis using purified human lymphocyte populations demonstrated that A20 is constitutively expressed in both immature and mature thymocyte subpopulations, as well as in resting peripheral T cells. Activation leads to a down-regulation of A20 expression in both mature thymocytes and peripheral T cells. This pattern of expression and regulation differs markedly from that observed in prior studies with cell lines in which stimulation led to an induction of A20 expression. Additionally, this is the first demonstration of constitutive expression of A20 in primary cells. The data suggest a role for A20 in the function of the lymphoid system.

MRL-lpr/lpr mice spontaneously develop various manifestations of autoimmunity including an inflammatory arthropathy and immune complex glomerulonephritis. This study examines the role of nitric oxide, a molecule with proinflammatory actions, in the pathogenesis of MRL-lpr/lpr autoimmune disease. MRL-lpr/lpr mice excreted more urinary nitrite/nitrate (an in vivo marker of nitric oxide production) than did mice of normal strains and MRL-(+/+) and B6-lpr/lpr congenic strains. In addition, MRL-lpr/lpr peritoneal macrophages had an enhanced capacity to produce nitric oxide in vitro as well as increased nitric oxide synthase activity, and certain tissues from MRL-lpr/lpr mice had increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA and increased amounts of material immunoreactive for inducible NOS. Oral administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, prevented the development of glomerulonephritis and reduced the intensity of inflammatory arthritis in MRL-lpr/lpr mice. By using interspecific backcross mice, the gene for inducible NOS (Nosi) was mapped to mouse chromosome 11. This chromosomal localization was different from those loci that we have previously demonstrated to be linked to enhanced susceptibility to renal disease in an MRL-lpr/lpr cross. However, the chromosomal location of the NOS gene was consistent with an insulin-dependent diabetes locus identified in an analysis of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. These results suggest that elevated nitric oxide production could be important in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, and that treatments to block the production of nitric oxide or block its effects might be valuable therapeutically.

To further analyze CD10/NEP function in lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells using well characterized murine systems, we isolated the murine CD10/NEP homologue, determined its chromosomal location, and modeled the enzyme's active site. The murine CD10/NEP cDNA predicts a 750-amino acid (aa) type II integral membrane protein with 90% identity to the human CD10 sequence and 100% conservation of critical aa and functional motifs. The latter include the pentapeptide consensus sequence required for zinc binding and catalytic activity, additional aa associated with substrate binding, and the extracellular cysteines that participate in disulfide bonds required for enzymatic activity. Like its human homologue, murine CD10/NEP has multiple alternative 5'-untranslated region sequences. The gene is localized on the proximal half of murine chromosome 3. In Northern analysis, murine CD10/NEP transcripts are abundant in bone marrow stromal cells that support pre-B cell differentiation but are undetectable in representative Abelson transformed pre-B cell lines. The murine CD10/NEP active site was modeled by aligning critical conserved CD10/NEP residues with comparable residues in the active site of thermolysin, a bacterial metalloprotease with similar substrate specificity. The model predicts that the two enzymes have similar clefts that comprise the active site and permit zinc-dependent substrate interactions.

The IL-1R antagonist protein (IL-1RN/IL-1rn) is a member of the IL-1 family of inflammatory mediators. We have isolated and analyzed a mouse IL-1rn cDNA clone and established that the derived mouse IL-1rn protein sequence is highly homologous to the human counterpart molecule. Mouse IL-1rn mRNA may be induced in P388D1 monocytic cells with PMA and in mouse liver in vivo by development of an experimental inflammation via s.c. injection of azocasein. This latter observation implies the existence of an autocrine hepatic negative feedback loop that down-regulates the acute phase response and is itself induced at the same time as the major acute-phase proteins. The mouse Il 1rn gene was mapped to the proximal region of chromosome 2 between the centromere and Spna2; the other known members of the mouse IL-1 gene family, Il 1a and Il 1b, both map to the same chromosome, although not in close linkage.

Homology relationships between human and mouse genomes are very useful for identifying human or mouse homologs of disease traits that have been mapped in the other species. Conservation of genomic organization in human and mouse has long been recognized; however, detailed systematic examination of these relationships on a genome-wide scale has only recently become possible. This appendix presents tables of comparative genetic maps with homology groups for human and mouse chromosomes, sorted by human position. The map locations of 1416 loci (many of which are genes) have been determined, and at least 181 different conserved linkage groups have been defined. Human loci are arranged from the most telomeric marker on the long (q) arm to the most telomeric marker on the short (p) arm of the human chromosome.

To determine whether inheritance of Fcgamma receptor (FcgammaR) alleles conferring lower affinity for IgG binding increases the risk of developing lupus nephritis.We compared the frequency of low-affinity alleles of two FcgammaR polymorphisms (FcgammaRIIA and FcgammaRIIIA) among 235 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and proven nephritis (nephritis patients) and among 352 SLE patients with no evidence of renal disease (non-nephritis control subjects). The ethnic distribution of patients in the study was 49% Caucasian, 20% Hispanic, 17% Asian/Pacific Islander, 12% African American, and 2% from other ethnic groups. All patients were genotyped for the FcgammaRIIA-131R/H and FcgammaRIIIA-158V/F polymorphisms. We used contingency table analysis to compare allele and genotype distributions for nephritis patients and nonnephritis control subjects, including ethnic-specific strata. Multivariate logistic regression analyses included sex and disease duration as covariates.Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated a striking association between the low-affinity FcgammaRIIIA-158F allele and FF genotype and the risk of nephritis among Caucasians, but not among non-Caucasians (multivariate odds ratio [OR] 2.6 for Caucasians with FF genotype), (P = 0.0017). This association was even stronger among Caucasians with severe nephritis (OR 4.4, P0.0001). In contrast, inheritance of the low-affinity FcgammaRIIA-131R allele (and RR genotype) was not associated with an increased risk of lupus nephritis among any of the ethnic groups examined.The FcgammaRIIIA-158F allele is a major risk factor for the development of lupus nephritis among Caucasians, but not among non-Caucasians. These results suggest that ethnic variation is critical in defining the specific genetic factors underlying the pathogenesis of SLE, and they have important prognostic and therapeutic implications as well.

Ligation of the Fas receptor induces death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) formation, caspase activation, and subsequent apoptotic death of several cell types. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive group III Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines have a marked resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis, although expressing each of the DISC components, Fas/ APO-1-associated death domain protein (FADD), and caspase-8 (FLICE/MACH/Mch5). The apoptotic pathway distal to the DISC is intact because ceramide analogs, staurosporine, and granzyme B activate caspase-3 and induce apoptosis. Fas resistance was not explained by the putative death-attenuating caspase-8 isoforms. However, while Fas-activated cytosolic extracts from sensitive cells were capable of processing both procaspase-8 and procaspase-3 into active subunit forms, resistant cell extracts did not possess either of these activities. Accordingly, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed higher transcript levels for the FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP(L)) in resistant cells and the ratio of caspase-8 to FLIP(L) measured by competition RT-PCR analysis directly correlated with susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis of all cell lines. In addition, modification of the caspase-8/FLIP(L) ratio by caspase-8 or FLIP(L) overexpression was able to alter the susceptibility status of the cell lines tested. Our results imply that the relative levels of caspase-8 and FLIP(L) are an important determinant of susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis.

We report the primary structure of three novel, putative zinc metalloproteases designated ADAM-TS5, ADAM-TS6, and ADAM-TS7. All have a similar domain organization, comprising a preproregion, a reprolysin-type catalytic domain, a disintegrin-like domain, a thrombospondin type-1 (TS) module, a cysteine-rich domain, a spacer domain without cysteine residues, and a COOH-terminal TS module. These genes are differentially regulated during mouse embryogenesis and in adult tissues, with Adamts5 highly expressed in the peri-implantation period in embryo and trophoblast. These proteins are similar to four other cognate gene products, defining a distinct family of human reprolysin-like metalloproteases, the ADAM-TS family. The other members of the family are ADAM-TS1, an inflammation-induced gene, the procollagen I/II amino-propeptide processing enzyme (PCINP, ADAM-TS2), and proteins predicted by the KIAA0366 and KIAA0688 genes (ADAM-TS3 and ADAM-TS4). Individual ADAM-TS members differ in the number of COOH-terminal TS modules, and some have unique COOH-terminal domains. The ADAM-TS genes are dispersed in human and mouse genomes.

To determine the biological role of caudal-like homeobox gene CDX2, we constructed knockout mice in which its mouse homologue Cdx2 was inactivated by homologous recombination, placing a bacterial lacZ gene under the control of the Cdx2 promoter. Although the homozygous mutants died in utero around implantation, the heterozygotes were viable and fertile and expressed lacZ in the caudal region in early embryos and in the gut tissues in adults. The heterozygotes developed cecal and colonic villi by anteriorization and formed hamartomatous polyps in the proximal colon. The hamartoma started to develop at 11.5 days of gestation as an outpocket of the gut epithelium, which ceased to express the remaining Cdx2 allele. The outpocket then expanded as a partially duplicated gut but was contained as a hamartoma after birth. In adult mice, these hamartomas grew very slowly and took a benign course. None of them progressed into invasive adenocarcinomas, even at 1.5 years of age. Whereas the cecal and colonic villi expressed lacZ, the hamartoma epithelium did not, nor did it express Cdx2 mRNA from the wild-type allele. However, genomic DNA analysis of the polyp epithelium did not show a loss of heterozygosity of the Cdx2 gene, suggesting a mechanism of biallelic Cdx2 inactivation other than loss of heterozygosity. These results indicate that the Cdx2 haploin-sufficiency caused cecal and colonic villi, whereas the biallelic inactivation of Cdx2 triggered anomalous duplications of the embryonic gut epithelium, which were contained as hamartomas after birth.

To develop diagnostic criteria for a familial form of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), identify families with1 affected member, examine possible modes of inheritance, and determine linkage to potential candidate genes.Family members of probands with primary APS were analyzed for clinical and laboratory abnormalities associated with APS. Families withor =2 affected members were analyzed by segregation analysis and typed for candidate genetic markers.Seven families were identified. Thirty of 101 family members met diagnostic criteria for APS. Segregation studies rejected both environmental and autosomal recessive models, and the data were best fit by either a dominant or codominant model. Linkage analysis showed independent segregation of APS and several candidate genes.Clinical and laboratory criteria are essential to identify the spectrum of disease associated with APS. We believe a set of criteria was developed that can precisely define affected family members with APS. Modeling studies utilizing these criteria strongly support a genetic basis for disease in families with APS and suggest that a susceptibility gene is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. However, in these families, APS was not linked with HLA, Fas, or other candidate genes, including beta2-glycoprotein 1, HLA, T cell receptor beta chain, Ig heavy chain, antithrombin III, Fas ligand, factor V, complement factor H, IgK, and Fas.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) was recently mapped in a single report to the telomeric region of chromosome 19p (A. Hemminki et al., Nat. Genet., 15: 87-90, 1997). Our studies confirm this location and provide further localization of the PJS locus. In the five families examined, there were no recombinants with the marker D19S886. The multipoint log odds score at D19S886 is 7.52, and we found no evidence for genetic heterogeneity. We also found that all carriers expressed the PJS phenotype and no noncarriers displayed PJS sequellae, indicating complete penetrance with no sporadic cases.

Mxi1 is a basic region helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH/LZ) protein that, in association with Max, antagonizes Myc oncogenic activities. A possible mechanistic basis for Mxi1-mediated repression was provided by the recent demonstration that the repressive potential of Mxi1 correlates with its ability to physically associate with mSin3B, one of two mammalian homologues of the yeast transcriptional repressor SIN3. Here, we sought to characterize more fully the physical properties of the second homologue, mSin3A and to determine whether the recruitment of mSin3A by Mxi1 is indeed required for anti-Myc activity. Transient transfection of mammalian cells showed that the mSin3A protein can associate with the strong repressive isoform of Mxi1 (Mxi1-SR) and that, like other Myc superfamily members, both mSin3A and Mxi1-SR localize to the nucleus. From a developmental standpoint, a comparative analysis of Myc, Mxi1-SR and Sin3A expression during postnatal mouse development and in differentiating mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells revealed that dramatic and reciprocal changes in Myc and Mxi1-SR mRNA levels are accompanied by minimal stage-specific changes in mSin3A gene expression. This constant expression profile, coupled with the observation that over-expression of mSin3A does not augment the anti-Myc activity of Mxi1-SR in the rat embryo fibroblast (REF) transformation assay, suggests that mSin3A is not a limiting factor in the regulation of Myc superfamily function. Finally, a mSin3A-Mxi1 fusion protein, in which the amino terminal mSin3-interacting domain of Mxi1-SR was replaced with the full-length mSin3A, exhibited a level of repression activity equivalent to, or greater than, the level of repression obtained with Mxi1-SR. Taken together, these observations directly demonstrate that the amino-terminal repression domain of Mxi1-SR functions solely to recruit mSin3A and possibly other proteins like mSin3A and this association is necessary for the anti-Myc activity of Mxi1-SR.

Human CD7 (hCD7) is a 40 000 Mr member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily that is expressed early in natural killer (NK) and T-lymphocyte development. CD7 is involved in lymphocyte activation, as ligation of CD7 activates NK and TCRgammadelta T lymphocytes, and ligation of CD7 on TCRalphabeta T lymphocytes induces a non-mitogenic calcium flux. We have previously cloned and characterized the gene for human CD7 (hCD7) and have described its expression in transgenic mice. Recently a mouse cDNA homologous to hCD7 was reported, which we mapped to the corresponding mouse chromosomal location as hCD7. We now report the identification and characterization of a mouse CD7 (mCD7) genomic clone. We demonstrated that the mCD7 gene was similar both in size and structural organization to hCD7. Comparison of the 5' flanking sequences of the mCD7 and hCD7 genes revealed two regions of sequence similarity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay confirmed both of these regions to be sites of tissue-restricted protein binding in vitro. The more 3' similarity region also shared sequence with a region in the mouse Thy-1 gene 5' flanking region, suggesting that this sequence may be a cis-acting regulatory element common to all three genes. Thus, the promoter regions and exonic organization were similar in the human CD7, mouse CD7, and mouse Thy-1 genes.

L-Proline fulfills several of the classic criteria used to identify amino acid neurotransmitters, including the presence of a high affinity, Na(+)- (and Cl-)-dependent synaptosomal transport process and the Ca(2+)-dependent release of exogenously loaded radiolabeled L-proline from brain slices and synaptosomes after K(+)-induced depolarization. However, studies to define the role of L-proline in discrete pathways in the mammalian brain have been precluded by the inability to block its biosynthesis or high affinity transport in nervous tissue. We report the molecular cloning, functional expression, and chromosomal localization of a human brain-specific high affinity L-proline transporter (hPROT). The pharmacological specificity, kinetic properties, and ionic requirements of hPROT clearly distinguish this carrier from the other Na(+)-dependent plasma membrane carriers that transport L-proline. Multiple tissue Northern blot analysis revealed a prominent approximately 4-kb mRNA transcript in human brain tissue, whereas no specific hybridizing species were detected in peripheral tissue. An antipeptide antiserum directed against the carboxy-terminus of the predicted hPROT protein identified a single, broad immunoreactive protein of 68 kDa on immunoblots of synaptosomal membranes from various human brain regions. In contrast, no specific labeling was detected on immunoblots of membranes from human liver, kidney, or heart. A differential distribution of hPROT mRNA and protein was observed in the human corpus striatum, consistent with the hypothesis that the hPROT protein is synthesized in neuronal cell bodies in an extrastriatal location and axonally transported to the corpus striatum. These findings warrant the consideration of a synaptic regulatory role for this transporter and its presumed natural substrate, L-proline, in the mammalian central nervous system.

A20 is a cytokine-inducible primary response gene that encodes a protein that inhibits apoptosis. We cloned and characterized a murine A20 cDNA and mapped the gene to mouse chromosome 10, 3.5 centimorgans proximal to the c-myb locus. Using the murine cDNA, we conducted in situ hybridization studies to examine patterns of A20 expression in mouse embryos and postnatal tissues. Both temporally restricted and tissue-specific patterns of A20 expression were observed, with strikingly high levels in lymphoid organs, including the thymus, spleen, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Northern analysis using purified human lymphocyte populations demonstrated that A20 is constitutively expressed in both immature and mature thymocyte subpopulations, as well as in resting peripheral T cells. Activation leads to a down-regulation of A20 expression in both mature thymocytes and peripheral T cells. This pattern of expression and regulation differs markedly from that observed in prior studies with cell lines in which stimulation led to an induction of A20 expression. Additionally, this is the first demonstration of constitutive expression of A20 in primary cells. The data suggest a role for A20 in the function of the lymphoid system.

Expression of the mouse heat stable antigen (HSA or mouse CD24) shows tissue-specific as well as developmental regulation. During the maturation of several hematopoietic lineages, HSA expression is generally high in immature precursor cells and low or absent in terminally differentiated cells. We present evidence suggesting that this regulation of the HSA gene (Cd24a) occurs at the transcriptional level. In addition, sequence and methylation analysis of the Cd24a promoter revealed characteristics of both "housekeeping" and tissue-specific promoters, including a methylation-free, HpaII tiny fragment (HTF) island, multiple putative SP1 and AP-2 consensus binding sites, and a TATA box. Functional analysis of a 0.6-kilobase DNA fragment containing these elements fused to the CAT reporter gene in transient transfection experiments showed activity in both HSA expressing and non-expressing cell lines with a strength similar to that of the herpes-simplex virus-thymidine kinase promoter. Large fragments from the flanking region of the Cd24a promoter did not influence the ubiquitous nature of this promoter. Finally, we mapped the Cd24a, Cd24b, and Cd24c genes to mouse chromosomes 10, 8, and 14 respectively.

Recently, a novel subgroup of nuclear hormone receptors called RXRs implicated for retinoid-mediated gene regulation have been identified. RXRs appear to interact with many other nuclear hormone receptors and modulate their functions. We have mapped genetic loci Rxra, Rxrb, and Rxrg encoding three RXR subtypes, RXR alpha, RXR beta, and RXR gamma, respectively, using interspecific backcross mice. None of the Rxr loci cosegregated with each other or with the retinoic acid receptor loci (Rar) mapped previously. Rxra mapped to Chr 2 near the centromere, Rxrb mapped to the H-2 region of Chr 17, and Rxrg was tightly linked to the Pbx gene on distal Chr 1. These results underscore that RXR genes are dispersed in the genome.

To further analyze CD10/NEP function in lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells using well characterized murine systems, we isolated the murine CD10/NEP homologue, determined its chromosomal location, and modeled the enzyme's active site. The murine CD10/NEP cDNA predicts a 750-amino acid (aa) type II integral membrane protein with 90% identity to the human CD10 sequence and 100% conservation of critical aa and functional motifs. The latter include the pentapeptide consensus sequence required for zinc binding and catalytic activity, additional aa associated with substrate binding, and the extracellular cysteines that participate in disulfide bonds required for enzymatic activity. Like its human homologue, murine CD10/NEP has multiple alternative 5'-untranslated region sequences. The gene is localized on the proximal half of murine chromosome 3. In Northern analysis, murine CD10/NEP transcripts are abundant in bone marrow stromal cells that support pre-B cell differentiation but are undetectable in representative Abelson transformed pre-B cell lines. The murine CD10/NEP active site was modeled by aligning critical conserved CD10/NEP residues with comparable residues in the active site of thermolysin, a bacterial metalloprotease with similar substrate specificity. The model predicts that the two enzymes have similar clefts that comprise the active site and permit zinc-dependent substrate interactions.

Thrombospondin (TSP) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein whose expression has been associated with a variety of cellular processes including growth and embryogenesis. The recent discovery of the existence of a second mouse TSP gene necessitates careful examination of the discrete biochemical and functional properties associated with each molecule. In this report, the primary structures of human TSP, mouse TSP1 (mTSP1), mouse TSP2 (mTSP2), and chicken TSP are compared; and the expression of mTSP1 and mTSP2 during embryogenesis and growth factor-mediated cell proliferation is examined. The cloning and sequencing of the entire coding regions of mTSP1 and mTSP2 revealed considerable conservation of residues critical for TSP structure and function; these data suggest that TSP2 is capable of trimer formation and many of the same cell-surface and ligand interactions that mediate TSP function. Comparison of the various TSP sequences also allowed the assignment based on sequence homology of previously reported human TSP as TSP1 and chicken TSP as TSP2. mTSP2, like mTSP1, was shown to be a primary response gene when quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells were stimulated with serum, platelet-derived growth factor BB, basic fibroblast growth factor, or interleukin-1 beta. Interestingly, TSP1 and TSP2 exhibited markedly different tissue- and stage-specific patterns of mRNA expression during mouse embryogenesis, implying that the two TSP molecules possess discrete functional properties important for development. Additionally, the TSP genes (Thbs1 and Thbs2) were mapped to single loci on mouse chromosomes 2 and 17, respectively.

A cluster (D1Lub1) of a long-range repeat family was mapped to the proximal part of the Giemsa-negative band D in Chromosome 1 of Mus musculus and M. spretus by in situ hybridization with cloned probes of the long-range repeat family. By making use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms in DNAs from interspecific backcross mice, the cluster could be mapped to a position 5.3 +/- 2.1 cM distal to the Inha locus and the same distance proximal to the Bcl-2 locus. D1Lub1 was inseparable in 114 meiotic events from Acrg, Sag, and Akp-3. Taken together, the data may serve as a reference for coordinating the genetic and cytogenetic maps of Mus Chromosome 1. High-copy-number variants of the cluster, which appear cytogenetically as homogeneously staining regions at the same chromosome location, presumably arose by amplification of the long-range repeat family in situ.

The IL-1R antagonist protein (IL-1RN/IL-1rn) is a member of the IL-1 family of inflammatory mediators. We have isolated and analyzed a mouse IL-1rn cDNA clone and established that the derived mouse IL-1rn protein sequence is highly homologous to the human counterpart molecule. Mouse IL-1rn mRNA may be induced in P388D1 monocytic cells with PMA and in mouse liver in vivo by development of an experimental inflammation via s.c. injection of azocasein. This latter observation implies the existence of an autocrine hepatic negative feedback loop that down-regulates the acute phase response and is itself induced at the same time as the major acute-phase proteins. The mouse Il 1rn gene was mapped to the proximal region of chromosome 2 between the centromere and Spna2; the other known members of the mouse IL-1 gene family, Il 1a and Il 1b, both map to the same chromosome, although not in close linkage.

Melanoma growth stimulatory activity (Mgsa) is a polypeptide mitogen and a possible autocrine growth factor for melanoma and other tumor cells. A restriction fragment length variant of Mgsa was followed in interspecific backcross mic Mgsa was localized between Afp and Gus on mouse chromoson 5, distal to known loci affecting skin pigmentation.

Autoimmunity in mice with the lpr/lpr and gld/gld genotypes is accompanied by profound lymphadenopathy characterized by the presence of a massive expansion of an unusual T cell subset. The abnormal lymph node T cells were found to express TcR beta and TcR alpha transcripts of expected sizes. There was a 10-fold increase in the 1.3-kb TcR beta transcript and a twofold increase in TcR alpha gene expression, even though Thy-1 expression was in general similar to controls. A study of T cell receptor expression during ontogeny failed to reveal any striking differences between lpr/lpr and congenic mice. There was a strong correlation between TcR beta expression and c-myb expression; however, there was no necessary association of TcR beta and c-myb expression when various T cell lines were examined. Background genes were found to influence the expression of T cell receptor genes in lpr/lpr mice. AKR-lpr/lpr lymph node cells, but not cells from other lpr/lpr mice or AKR +/+ mice, had the predominance of the 1.0-kb TcR beta transcript, which represents the nonfunctional D-J TcR beta rearrangements. Lymph nodes from MRL-lpr/lpr mice, but not C57BL/6-lpr/lpr or AKR-lpr/lpr mice, were found to express small amounts of the TcR gamma transcript. In addition, MRL-lpr/lpr but not C57BL/6-lpr/lpr mice had an age-related decrease in thymic TcR beta expression along with a decrease in thymic c-myb expression. The current study extends the characterization of T cell gene expression abnormalities in peripheral T cells of gld/gld and lpr/lpr and describes certain similarities of these cells to immature thymocytes at a molecular level. Furthermore, it illustrates the complex interactions between "background genes" and genes responsible for lymphoproliferation, which in concert lead to specific molecular and cellular abnormalities.

An in vitro model was developed to study both primary and secondary proliferative responses of human lymphocytes to hapten-conjugated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Coculture of human lymphocytes with autologous trinitrophenyl (TNP)-conjugated stimulator cells resulted in primary proliferative responses. Subjects segregated into high and low primary responders with mean stimulation indices of 11 and 2.1, respectively. Restimulation of primed cells from high responder subjects 3 wk after initial sensitization generated secondary proliferative responses. To investigate the antigenic requirements for secondary stimulation, autologous TNP-conjugate primed responders were restimulated with both autologous and allogeneic TNP-conjugated stimulators. In all experiments restimulation with autologous conjugated cells yielded substantially greater proliferative responses than with allogeneic conjugates. Experiments were then performed to ascertain whether HLA determinant homology between primed responder and stimulator cells influenced the level of secondary responsiveness. Homology for HLA-A and B locus serologic determinants was not associated with enhanced responsiveness. In contrast, D region determinant homology, detected by B-cell antigen typing, showed a highly significant positive correlation with the magnitude of secondary responses. The data thus strongly suggest that for secondary proliferative responses to TNP, human T cells recognize hapten in association with HLA-D region determinants.

Proliferative responses of human lymphocytes primed in vitro to autologous TNP-cells were found to be associated with autologous D-region determinants irrespective of HLA-B locus antigens. Family studies of secondary TNP-conjugate proliferative responses demonstrated a gene dosage effect in this phenomenon. Moreover, co-culture with allogeneic cells did not affect the net TNP-conjugate proliferative responses of primed responder cells, suggesting that HLA-D region preference was due to a requirement for representation of TNP-molecules in association or combination with autologous MHC structures. Alloantigens were found to influence the sensitization of lymphocytes to autologous hapten-conjugated cells. Co-culture of allogeneic and TNP-modified autologous stimulator cells in primary cultures enhanced the secondary TNP proliferative response. Sensitization of human lymphocytes to allogeneic cells alone did not prime responses to autologous modified cells. However, priming lymphocytes to modified autologous cells potentiated responses to allogeneic cells. The data suggest a complex relationship between responses to alloantigens and modified autologous cells.

Two bcl-2 alleles have been identified in inbred strains of mice by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Analysis of a bcl-2 RFLP in a series of bilineal congenic strains (C.D2), developed as a tool for chromosomal mapping studies, revealed linkage of bcl-2 to the Idh-1/Pep-3 region of murine chromosome 1. The co-segregation of bcl-2 alleles with allelic forms of two other chromosome 1 loci, Ren-1,2 and Spna-1, in a set of back-cross progeny, positions bcl-2 7.8 cM centromeric from Ren-1,2.

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia is a disorder characterized by a sudden onset of constitutional symptoms and lymphadenopathy. Patients often have hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibodies, rashes, thrombocytopenia, or hemolytic anemia. Diagnosis requires a lymph node biopsy that shows architectural effacement, absence of germinal centers, arborization of postcapillary venules, and a polymorphous infiltrate that includes immunoblasts. Early in the disease, activated T cells in blood and lymph nodes stimulate B cells to proliferate and produce antibody. However, late in the disease, immune suppression may result from increased suppressor function. Clonal rearrangements, which are seen in all patients with regard to either the T-cell receptor beta-chain gene or immunoglobulin genes, have been followed by malignant transformation and frank lymphoma in some patients. Thus, this disorder stands partway between benign lymphoid proliferation and clonal lymphoid transformation. The prognosis of this disorder is poor; 75% of patients die within 2 years or develop a lymphoid malignancy. The rest usually go into a sustained remission. Current treatment with corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents is unsatisfactory, especially because of late immunosuppression and predisposition to infections.

A rat cDNA clone encoding a portion of phosphate-activated glutaminase was used to identify DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in sets of somatic cell hybrids and between wild-derived and inbred strains of mice. Segregation of rat and mouse chromosomes among somatic cell hybrids indicated assignment to rat chromosome 9 and mouse chromosome 1. Analysis of chromosome 1 alleles for several genes in an interspecific cross between Mus spretus and C3H/HeJ-gld/gld mice indicates that glutaminase can be positioned within 5.5 +/- 2.0 cM proximal to Ctla-4. Similarly, human-hamster somatic cell hybrids were examined for RFLPs, and four human EcoRI restriction fragments were found to hybridize with the rat glutaminase probe. Two of these restriction fragments cosegregated and mapped to human chromosome 2 in a region that is syntenic with mouse chromosome 1 and rat chromosome 9.

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is a multisubunit complex which has a dual function of antigen recognition and signal transduction. One of its invariant subunits, the zeta chain, has been shown to have a significant role in the expression and function of the TCR on the cell surface. The mouse and human zeta cDNAs share significant homologies to each other but are distinct from all of the previously characterized TCR components. We now report the isolation and structural analysis of the complete murine zeta gene. This gene spans at least 31 kilobases and divides into eight exons. The first exon, which is located at least 20 kilobases upstream from the second exon, codes for the 5'-untranslated region and most of the signal peptide. The second exon codes for the remainder of the signal peptide, the extracellular domain, the transmembrane domain, and the first three amino acids of the intracytoplasmic domain. Exons 3-7 encode the majority of the intracytoplasmic domain. The eight exon encodes the carboxyl-terminal 21 amino acids and the 3'-untranslated region. Four groups of mRNA initiation sites have been identified at approximately 140 base pairs upstream to the AUG codon. No TATA-like box has been detected. The gene is localized to the distal part of chromosome 1 in a linkage group highly conserved between man and mouse.

Mice and humans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been studied with regard to cellular, genetic and molecular genetic abnormalities. B cell hyperactivity and autoantibody production are the hallmarks of this illness. In humans with SLE, there is increased stem cell, B cell precursor and B cell proliferation. The same is true of NZB mice. In lpr/lpr and gld/gld mice, marked expansion of a subpopulation of T cells allows extrathymic terminal T cell maturation and secondary B cell hyperactivity. Androgens suppress these processes and polyclonal immune activators accelerate them. Three types of genes are identified: inducing genes, accelerating genes and background genes. These give rise to abnormal expression of various cellular oncogenes, T cell receptor genes and immunoglobulin genes. The data suggest that abnormal immune regulation plays a critical role in the development of SLE, with polyclonal B cell activation being common to both mice and humans with SLE. Different genetic and cellular abnormalities underlie the ultimate syndrome, the common denominator, generalized autoimmunity, that we call SLE.

Autoimmunity in mice with the lpr/lpr and gld/gld genotypes is accompanied by profound lymphadenopathy characterized by the presence of a massive expansion of an unusual T cell subset. The abnormal lymph node T cells were found to express TcR beta and TcR alpha transcripts of expected sizes. There was a 10-fold increase in the 1.3-kb TcR beta transcript and a twofold increase in TcR alpha gene expression, even though Thy-1 expression was in general similar to controls. A study of T cell receptor expression during ontogeny failed to reveal any striking differences between lpr/lpr and congenic mice. There was a strong correlation between TcR beta expression and c-myb expression; however, there was no necessary association of TcR beta and c-myb expression when various T cell lines were examined. Background genes were found to influence the expression of T cell receptor genes in lpr/lpr mice. AKR-lpr/lpr lymph node cells, but not cells from other lpr/lpr mice or AKR +/+ mice, had the predominance of the 1.0-kb TcR beta transcript, which represents the nonfunctional D-J TcR beta rearrangements. Lymph nodes from MRL-lpr/lpr mice, but not C57BL/6-lpr/lpr or AKR-lpr/lpr mice, were found to express small amounts of the TcR gamma transcript. In addition, MRL-lpr/lpr but not C57BL/6-lpr/lpr mice had an age-related decrease in thymic TcR beta expression along with a decrease in thymic c-myb expression. The current study extends the characterization of T cell gene expression abnormalities in peripheral T cells of gld/gld and lpr/lpr and describes certain similarities of these cells to immature thymocytes at a molecular level. Furthermore, it illustrates the complex interactions between "background genes" and genes responsible for lymphoproliferation, which in concert lead to specific molecular and cellular abnormalities.

We have described techniques for induction of primary and secondary human immune responses in vitro to lymphoid cells modified with trinitrophenyl, dinitrophenyl, and fluorescein isothiocyanate. Optimal secondary proliferative responses required the presentation of hapten on stimulator cells that shared HLA-D region determinants with the responder cell and/or the original stimulator cell. In contrast, hapten-specific cytotoxic responses assessed on modified allogeneic targets with no detected HLA homology with the responder were comparable in magnitude to those detected on modified autologous targets. Furthermore, secondary proliferative, but not cytotoxic, responses required presentation of Ia+ stimulator populations. Modified B cells, surface-immunoglobulin-negative, non T cells (null-cells), and Ia+ activated T cells all induced proliferative responses at least as effectively as equal numbers of hapten-conjugated macrophage/monocytes. Conversely, Ia(-) null cells and macrophages were entirely unable to stimulate. The data thus suggest that for proliferative responses, primed human T cells respond to modified lymphoid cells only when hapten is recognized in the context of Ia molecules.