Publications by authors named "Knowles B"

A cell line derived from the biopsy of a human hepatocellular carcinoma which retains the differentiated phenotype of the liver parenchymal cell is described. Comparison of the integration sites of hepatitis B virus within the cellular genome of the biopsy specimen and within the genome of the multiply-passaged cell line reveals five stable sites of viral integration in the host cell genome. Multiple chromosome abnormalities are found in this cell line, some in the same area of the genome in which abnormalities were found in other human hepatomas.

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A monoclonal antibody recognizing an epitope of the external domain of the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was used to localize this protein in selected normal human tissues. Two patterns of reactivity were recognized: strong linear or granular cell surface staining, and granular cytoplasmic staining. In one tissue, the endometrium, a change in the reaction pattern associated with changes in hormonal stimulation was observed.

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Many strains within the 22 serotypes of Bacillus thuringiensis produce crystal delta-endotoxins with slight differences in their insecticidal toxicity spectrum in vivo. Since the basis of this specificity is unknown, we chose to compare the activity of delta-endotoxins from three strains: B. thuringiensis var.

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The lepidopteran-specific P1 delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 was activated in vitro using insect gut proteases and found to be highly specific for the lepidopteran cell line Choristoneura fumiferana CF1 among a wide range of lepidopteran and dipteran cell lines tested. The toxicity of P1 against CF1 cells is inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), and the lectins soybean agglutinin (SBA) and wheat-germ agglutinin.

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The native crystal delta-endotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. colmeri, serotype 21, is toxic to both lepidopteran (Pieris brassicae) and dipteran (Aedes aegypti) larvae. Solubilization of the crystal delta-endotoxin in alkaline reducing conditions and activation with trypsin and gut extracts from susceptible insects yielded a preparation whose toxicity could be assayed in vitro against a range of insect cell lines.

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The hypothesis tested was that a particular glycoconjugate(s) in the exposed cell-surface membrane of susceptible insect cells acts as a receptor and/or modulator for the specific interaction with the protoxin/activated toxin of the delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki. As candidates, the total neutral and acidic fraction glycolipids, and the isolated neutral glycosphingolipid components, were screened for binding activity by the thin layer chromatogram overlay technique.

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Biosynthesis of the receptor for epidermal growth factor was investigated in two human tumor-derived cell lines, Hep 3B and A431. When grown in the presence of tunicamycin, both cells expressed a receptor-related species p135, the presumptive aglycosylated form of the biosynthetic precursor, gp145, of the mature form of the receptor, gp165, expressed at the cell surface. Two additional receptor-related species, p115 and p70, were detected when A431, but not Hep 3B, cells were treated with tunicamycin.

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Two globoseries antigens (antigens borne on carbohydrate chains containing globoside), SSEA-3 and SSEA-4, were found on the red cells of the majority of people, but were absent from cells of rare p and Pk individuals which lack globoside. In addition, SSEA-4 was absent from red cells of Luke(-) individuals which nevertheless express the P antigen (globoside) and SSEA-3. The name LKE is proposed for the red cell antigen detected by the Luke serum and by MC813-70, the monoclonal antibody defining SSEA-4.

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Primary mouse cells transformed by adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) expressed negligible amounts of class I antigens H-2K, -D, and -L on the cell surface and were capable of forming tumors in syngeneic animals, whereas cells transformed by Ad5 continued to express class I antigens and were nontumorigenic. Cells from a tumor, generated by injection of Ad12-transformed mouse cells into a syngeneic mouse, also expressed low levels of H-2 antigens, indicating that this phenotype is maintained in vivo. In all Ad12-transformed cells, synthesis of the H-2 heavy chain was not detected whereas the beta 2-microglobulin light chain was synthesized.

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Early mouse embryos undergo several morphogenetic processes, such as compaction, trophoblast attachment, and endoderm formation that can be studied in vitro. Several polyspecific and monospecific antisera have been used to perturb these processes in a nontoxic, reversible fashion. One of the antibody-defined molecules, cell CAM 120/80, promotes epithelial cell adhesion, embryo compaction, and endoderm formation.

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Cell lines transformed by simian virus 40 mutant F8dl (deleted from 0.168 to 0.424 map units, corresponding to the carboxy-terminal 62% of the wild-type simian virus 40 large tumor antigen) are tumorigenic in nude mice.

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T4-binding globulin (TBG) is a glycoprotein synthesized by the liver and is the principal carrier of T4 and T3 in serum. In this report, we demonstrate that the Hep G2 cell line, derived from a human hepatoblastoma, synthesizes and secretes TBG, the properties of which were characterized. Hep G2 cells secreted TBG into the medium after more than 100 transfers in tissue culture conditions.

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A monoclonal IgM antibody (anti-SSEA-1) and its divalent antigen-binding peptic fragment [F(ab')2 mu] were compared as in vivo tumor localization reagents in mouse teratocarcinomas. F(ab')2 mu is cleared more rapidly than whole antibody from the whole body, blood, and all tested organs (t1/2 for whole antibody approximately 18 hr; t1/2 for F(ab')2 mu, 12 hr). A corresponding average improvement in tumor-to-tissue ratio is observed 48 hr after injection and earlier.

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A human hepatoma cell line (HepG-2) was probed for the presence of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) using an antiserum to human plasma LCAT. Double immunodiffusion analysis using antiserum to human plasma LCAT revealed a single precipitin line in the sonicated cell homogenate. This precipitin line showed a reaction of identity with highly purified plasma LCAT.

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The single site of integration of hepatitis B virus in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep 3B 2-1/7 was found to segregate with human chromosome 12 in somatic cell hybrids. Analysis of metaphase spreads of Hep 3B 2-1/7 following in situ hybridization with pHBV revealed integration at 12q13----q14, a location that coincides with a fragile site, fra (12q13). The possible significance of this location to the development of hepatocellular carcinomas is discussed.

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Monoclonal antibodies reacting exclusively with laminin of human origin and a polyclonal antibody reacting with both murine and human laminin were used to immunohistochemically study the extracellular matrix of four human tumors grown as xenografts in nude mice: a lung carcinoma and a yolk sac carcinoma because they produced cell associated laminin in vitro; and two hepatocellular carcinomas which did not produce cell associated laminin in vitro. The extracellular matrix of the xenografts of the lung carcinoma and the yolk sac carcinoma contained laminin of both human and murine origin. Xenografts of liver carcinoma contained only laminin of mouse origin.

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An antigen expressed by most human cells, but not erythrocytes, has been defined by a murine monoclonal antibody, TRA-2-10. This antigen is expressed on the surface of human-mouse somatic cell hybrids, and segregation analysis indicates that it is controlled by a gene located on human chromosome 1. From lysates of most human cells, surface-labelled with 125I, TRA-2-10 immunoprecipitates two polypeptides with molecular weights in the range of about 55 000 to 73 000 depending upon the cell line.

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The mechanism of hepatic catabolism of human low density lipoproteins (LDL) by human-derived hepatoma cell line HepG2 was studied. The binding of 125I-labeled LDL to HepG2 cells at 4 degrees C was time dependent and inhibited by excess unlabeled LDL. The specific binding was predominant at low concentrations of 125I-labeled LDL (less than 50 micrograms protein/ml), whereas the nonsaturable binding prevailed at higher concentrations of substrate.

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Human and mouse embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells lines were compared with several cell lines of a more differentiated phenotype for their relative sensitivities to the cytotoxic effects of cis-platinum (cis-diamine-dichloroplatinum; CDDP); EC lines were among the most sensitive. Furthermore, several markers of EC cell differentiation were not induced by CDDP, irrespective of the concentration of the drug used. These data provide an explanation for the relative sensitivity of the EC cells in non-seminomatous germ-cell tumors to cis-platinum therapy.

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Using human-specific antibody reagents, we have examined the biosynthesis of the epidermal growth factor receptor in human epidermoid carcinoma-derived A431 cells. Four Mr species (Mr = 70,000, 95,000, 135,000, and 145,000) are detected when cells are subjected to a brief pulse of L-[35S]methionine; an Mr = 165,000 species is detected after 45-60 min of exposure of cells to radiolabel. In pulse-chase experiments, the four lower Mr species appear to bear a precursor relation to the Mr = 165,000 protein.

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A murine antiserum with specificity for the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was used to investigate EGF receptor function. The IgG fraction of this antiserum displayed no EGF-like mitogenic activity, even when cross-linking was ensured by sequential treatment with rabbit anti-(mouse IgG). The interaction of antibody with solubilized purified EGF receptor was characterized in detail.

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The distribution of the stage-specific embryonic antigen SSEA-3 was studied immunohistochemically on postimplantation mouse embryos. This carbohydrate antigen, identified as an epitope of a globo-series ganglioside isolated from human teratocarcinoma cells (Kannagi et al., 1983, J.

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The two delta-endotoxins comprising the Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD1 insecticidal protein crystal were separated. The lepidopteran-specific protoxin was activated in vitro and its mechanism of action investigated.

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The expression of the carbohydrate structure defined by monoclonal antibody to murine stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1) was examined, using immunofluorescence, in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of normal fetal and adult human colon and human colonic adenocarcinoma. SSEA-1 was expressed in all human colonic adenocarcinoma tissues examined, although in some cases the staining was heterogeneous. In normal human colonic mucosa, under the conditions used, faint staining was seen in the lower crypts and in only 26% of the crypts examined.

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