Involvement of L-DNase II in nuclear degeneration during chick retina development.

During the development of the neural retina, 50% of the neurons die physiologically by apoptosis. In the chick embryo, the apoptotic wave starts at E8 and ends at E18, with a peak at E11. The onset of apoptosis is accompanied by the activation of several degradative enzymes.

Sarcolectin (SCL): structure and expression of the recombinant molecule.

Interferons (IFNs) are major cytokines, responsible for down-regulating cell growth and for promoting cell differentiation. The sarcolectin (SCL) protein presented here blocks in the cells the established IFN-dependent interphase and stimulates DNA synthesis, probably in co-ordination with more specific growth factors or hormones. The SCL-DNA structure is closely related to that of cytokeratine K2C7 intermediate filaments, but the SCL is a monomer, or sometimes a dimer, which is excreted into the serum, where it is frequently bound to albumin.

Sarcolectin: complete purification for molecular cloning.

A great variety of vertebrate cells contain detectable amounts of lectins, able to stimulate the initiation of cellular DNA synthesis. One of them, sarcolectin (SCL) can block interferon (IFN) action, by inhibiting the synthesis and the expression of the IFN dependent secondary proteins. As a result, the IFN-induced antiviral state is abolished in the cells, which likely facilitates their replication.

Localization and structure of v-mos in transformed mouse fibroblasts reverted by long-term interferon treatment to nonmalignancy.

We have reported previously that Moloney virus-transformed cells, when treated for over 200 passages in the presence of low concentrations of mouse interferon-alpha/beta, can be reverted to a stable nonmalignant status. The cells recover full contact inhibition and are unable to raise tumors when grafted in nude mice. In the present report, we show that whether reverted or malignant, these cells contain deleted v-mos oncogenes, which have lost 392 nucleotides.

Developmental expression of nitric oxide synthase isoform I and III in chick retina.

During our studies on the multiple possible functions of nitric oxide (NO) in chick retinal development and physiology, we have demonstrated the presence and the activity of NO synthase (NOS-I and III) in certain neuronal populations (photoreceptors, amacrine cells in the inner nuclear and ganglion cells) and also in synaptic-rich regions in the developing chick retina. Both enzymes, detected by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, appeared between embryonic days 6 and 12, and followed a spatial and temporal pattern of expression which correlated with the differentiation of the neuronal layers. Evaluation of the conversion of [3H]-labeled arginine to [3H]-citrulline, confirmed the presence of a calcium-dependent NOS activity in the cytosolic and particulate retinal extracts during the development.

Involvement of DNase II in nuclear degeneration during lens cell differentiation.

The characterization of DNase II and DNase I activity was undertaken to discriminate their different roles in physiological nuclear degradation during lens fiber cell differentiation. The activity of both nucleases determined in a new assay allows to discriminate DNase II from DNase I in the same extract. In fibers, both types of nuclease activities are found and appear higher than in epithelial cells.

Retinoic acid-induced heparin binding protein (RIHB) binds to embryonal chondrocytes and cartilage primarily via proteoglycans.

Retinoic acid-induced heparin binding protein (RIHB) is a highly basic, secreted polypeptide expressed during early chick embryogenesis. We have characterized the binding of 125I-labeled RIHB to embryonal chondrocytes in culture. No saturable, high-affinity binding can be observed on these cells.

[Mechanism of proliferation of cells transformed by the Moloney mouse sarcoma virus after stable reversion to a non-malignant state].

Prolonged interferon (IFN) treatment can convert Moloney sarcoma-transformed mouse Balb C fibroblasts to a stable non-malignant status. The cells recover a number of differentiated features, which are maintained even when IFN is permanently omitted from the tissue culture medium. We show here that reversion could be at least in part attributed to constitutive IFN beta synthesized only in the reverted cells.

Retinoic acid-induced heparin-binding factor (RIHB) mRNA and protein are strongly induced in chick embryo chondrocytes treated with retinoic acid.

Retinoic acid-induced heparin-binding factor (RIHB) is a highly basic polypeptide expressed during early chick embryogenesis. We have examined the induction of RIHB by retinoic acid in chondrocytes isolated from the sterna of Day 15 chick embryos and the effects of exogenous RIHB on these cells. There is an induction of RIHB mRNA in chondrocytes which is dose dependent, with maximal levels of expression observed with concentrations of retinoic acid in the 10(-6) M range.

Sarcolectin and interferon in the regulation of cell growth.

Sarcolectin is an endolectin present in a great variety of conjunctival tissues (muscles, cartilage, sarcomas), but also in brain or placental extracts of vertebrates, including primates. When purified to electrophoretical homogeneity as a 65-kd protein, it agglutinates cells and has an affinity for simple sugars. In addition, it is able to inhibit the synthesis of interferon (IFN)-dependent secondary proteins and to restore cells to their status ad primum.

Interferon- and sarcolectin-dependent cellular regulatory interactions.

Interferons, via specific membrane-bound receptors, induce various cellular functions of which antiviral protection is the most extensively studied. We have previously reported the existence of interferon antagonists (referred to as sarcolectins) in various tissue extracts from placental blood, cartilage, brain, muscle, or from sarcomas. These sarcolectins have been fully characterized and purified to homogeneity.

Detection of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) RNA in the central nervous system of infected mice by in situ hybridization.

Using in situ hybridization with a cloned DNA probe specific for the VSV G protein, viral RNA was detected and localized in CNS tissue of mice infected i.c. with either wild or ts G 31 VSV mutant.

Cell distribution and antigenic properties of mammalian sarcolectins.

Sarcolectins are present in a great variety of tissues from mammalian origin. Such substances were observed to be secreted from cultures of human embryonic fibroblasts, human osteosarcoma and rat Rous sarcoma transformed cells and could be extracted from TG 180 Crocker Sarcoma or normal human placenta. All sarcolectins tested here, were comparable by their physicochemical properties to those previously reported in hamster or human sarcomas.

Role of VSV G antigen in the development of experimental spongiform encephalopathy in mice.

The ts G31 VSV mutant induced spongiform encephalopathy without any inflammatory response when injected i.c. into the mouse.

Detection of an interferon antagonist, sarcolectin, in human sarcomas and muscles.

In a variety of human sarcomas we detected the presence of a sarcolectin which reversed an established antiviral protection induced by interferon (IFN). For the same protein concentration, this biological activity was significantly increased when compared to that of normal muscles. All the biological characteristics were comparable to those of a sarcolectin found in hamster tissues; namely the capacity to agglutinate cells and its inhibition by specific sugars, migration in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel, and pepsin, heat and sodium dodecyl sulfate stability.

Early nuclear structural changes of transformed human amniotic cells (WISH) in presence of type IV collagen detected by the nuclear refringency assay.

An early nuclear activation of transformed human amniotic epithelial (WISH) cells triggered by type IV collagen is visualized by a modification of the nuclear refringency obtained by mercury binding on condensed chromatin. This phenomenon is quantified by the nuclear refringency test. The nuclear activation of WISH cells by basement membrane collagen is also shown by the DNase I sensitivity of chromatin and by the measurement of mRNA synthesis.

Sarcolectin: an interferon antagonist extracted from hamster sarcomas and normal muscles. Isolation, characterization, and purification.

In the present work we show that sarcoma and normal hamster tissues contain a protein which agglutinates normal and transformed cells. The inhibition of agglutination by galacturonic acid and occasionally by fucose suggests a resemblance of this protein with vegetal lectins. When added 5 h after interferon, the crude semipurified and electrophoretically homogeneous preparations reduce within 20 h the antiviral state pre-established by interferon.

[Role of interferon in the phenotypic reversion of transformed cells: loss of malignancy].

Transformation of cells by oncogenic RNA viruses is related to a number of significant changes in cell morphology and functions. The most common features of transformed cells are essentially the decrease of cell adhesiveness and the loss of contact inhibition. These changes are probably associated with an alteration of the cytoskeleton together with a marked modification in the number and distribution of membrane and extracellular matrix components.

Interferon effect on collagen and fibronectin distribution in the extracellular matrix of murine sarcoma virus-transformed cells.

The transformation of murine BALB/c embryonic fibroblasts by murine sarcoma virus, Moloney strain, followed by prolonged treatment with murine interferon, resulted in the appearance of a new cell population (MSV-IF+). These MSV-IF+ cells are characterized by the recovery of a normal phenotype, contact inhibition, and lack of colony formation in agar. This phenotypic change of the MSV-IF+ cells is associated to the neosynthesis of a dense fibrous matrix beyond the cell periphery.

Chemical characterization and functional role of human glomerular basement membrane components.

Subfractions of human glomerular basement membrane isolated by enzymatic procedures were analyzed for their chemical structure and biological activity. Pepsin or collagenase digestion of purified basement membranes released three groups of components: collagenous and noncollagenous fractions and also a mixed material consisting of a proteolysis-resistant association between collagen sequences and heteropolysaccharidic glycopeptides. These different fractions were explored in vitro for their ability to interact with cell membranes.

Role of membrane receptors in the biological effects of interferon.

The model of IFN receptor system which we initially proposed in 1973 is now better documented. The receptor system seems to consist of an IFN species specific glycoprotein, which could be the high affinity receptor (30) to which IFN has to bind in order to act. The glycoprotein is thus the activator site.