Correlation between the susceptibility of E. coli to phagocytosis and their ability to invade HeLa cells in vitro.

The susceptibility of several strains of E. coli to phagocytic killing by polymorphonuclear lencocytes and the ability of the same strains to invade HeLa cells were studied. It was found that only the strains resistant to killing by leucocytes were able to penetrate and multiply within HeLa cells.     

The impact of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 depletion on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity and responses to radiation

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) has been identified as a determinant of sensitivity to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. Here, the consequences of its depletion on cell survival, PARP activity, the recruitment of base excision repair (BER) proteins to DNA damage sites, and overall DNA single-strand break (SSB) repair were investigated using isogenic HeLa stably depleted (KD) and Control cell lines. Synthetic lethality achieved by disrupting PARP activity in Cdk5-deficient cells was confirmed, and the Cdk5^KD cells were also found to be sensitive to the killing effects of ionizing radiation (IR) but not methyl methanesulfonate or neocarzinostatin. The recruitment profiles of GFP-PARP-1 and XRCC1-YFP to sites of micro-irradiated Cdk5^KD cells were slower and reached lower maximum values, while the profile of GFP-PCNA recruitment was faster and attained higher maximum values compared to Control cells. Higher basal, IR, and hydrogen peroxide-induced polymer levels were observed in Cdk5^KD compared to Control cells. Recruitment of GFP-PARP-1 in which serines 782, 785, and 786, potential Cdk5 phosphorylation targets, were mutated to alanines in micro-irradiated Control cells was also reduced. We hypothesize that Cdk5-dependent PARP-1 phosphorylation on one or more of these serines results in an attenuation of its ribosylating activity facilitating persistence at DNA damage sites. Despite these deficiencies, Cdk5^KD cells are able to effectively repair SSBs probably via the long patch BER pathway, suggesting that the enhanced radiation sensitivity of Cdk5^KD cells is due to a role of Cdk5 in other pathways or the altered polymer levels.     

Detection of human antigens on the surface of mouse cells transformed by chromosome transfer]

Mouse embryo cells, transformed in vitro by the transfer of chromosomes from HeLa human tumour cells, express a surface antigen (s) also found on HeLa cells. This antigen(s), which has been detected both by indirect immunofluoresence and by a 125I-protein A binding assay, is not an antigen(s) shared by both Human and Mouse cells.     

Cytotoxicity of ethyl methanesulfonate in mice spermatogonia.

Enumeration of different types of spermatogonia, following a single i.p. administration of different doses of ethyl methanesulfonate in mice, showed a survival of A1-A4 and in spermatogonia is markedly reduced due to cell killing while the remaining types of spermatogonia were affected marginally. The cell killing effect was dose-dependent, and replenishment of these cells was observed by the end of one cycle of the seminiferous epithelium comprising of 8.5 days.     

Effects of the antiprotease Trasylol on peripheral blood leucocytes.

Binding of the antiprotease Trasylol to human peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) was demonstrated at the ultrastructural level using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. This also revealed endocytosis of membrane bound Trasylol by PMNs. Trasylol inhibited PHA- and ConA-induced lymphocyte stimulation, and was cytotoxic to unstimulated cells.     

Effect of cell synchronization techniques on polyamine content of HeLa cells

Summary Synchronized cultures of mitotic HeLa cells were obtained by different protocols and the polyamine content of these cells determined. It was found that the method of synchronization can significantly change the polyamine content of the mitotic cells, and can also alter the time course of polyamine accumulation during the subsequent cell cycle.I acknowledge the receipt of a Medical Research Council studentship.     

Melatonin antagonizes colchicine-induced mitotic arrest.

Melatonin, in concentrations up to 10(-3) M, showed no effect on mitosis in cultures of HeLa or KB cells. However, when melatonin at 10(-4) M was preincubated with HeLa cells prior to addition of 10(-7) M colchicine, a reduction in the mitotic index, in comparison to colchicine alone, was observed.     

Cytotoxicity of ethyl methanesulfonate in mice spermatogonia

Summary Enumeration of different types of spermatogonia, following a single i.p. administration of different doses of ethyl methanesulfonate in mice, showed that survival of A₁–A₄ and in spermatogonia is markedly reduced due to cell killing while the remaining types of spermatogonia were affected marginally. The cell killing effect was dose-dependent, and replenishment of these cells was observed by the end of one cycle of the seminiferous epithelium comprising of 8.5 days.     

Libération d'un composant du complément par des leucocytes humains in vitro

Summary Human blood leucocytes were shown to liberate active C1q in vitro. An agarose gel containing sensitized sheep red cells and a serum depleted of C1q has been used to detect C1q activity. A population of mononucleated cells which display such activity could be isolated by centrifugation on an albumin gradient.

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Ce texte est le résumé d'une communication faite à la Société Suisse de Biochimie le 17 mai 1969.     

Relationship between polyamine accumulation and RNA biosynthesis and content during the cell cycle

Polyamine accumulation was related to RNA biosynthesis and content during the cell cycle of CHO-K1 and HeLa cells. The highest correlations were observed between polyamine accumulation and RNA content. Feeding, serum-starved cultures of embryonic chick fibroblasts, which exhibit a 3-fold increase in RNA content, demonstrated that RNA content was most closely paralleled by spermidine content.     

Leukozytenemigrationsfördernde Wirkung durch Leukozytenschädigung

Summary Leukocytic cells after slight damage produce stimulation of migration of other normal leucocytes; normal leukocytes inhibit to some extent migration of other normal leukocytes, killed leukocytes have no effect. The significance of this result is, that secondary accumulation of leukocytes with not primary chemotactic substances may be explained by the interaction of damaged leukocytes.     

Melatonin antagonizes colchicine-induced mitotic arrest

Summary Melatonin, in concentrations up to 10^–3 M, showed no effect on mitosis in cultures of HeLa or KB cells. However, when melatonin at 10^–4 M was preincubated with HeLa cells prior to addition of 10^–7 M colchicine, a reduction in the mitotic index, in comparison to colchicine alone, was observed.This work was supported by PHS Grant No. CA 16425.     

Die Beeinflussung der Leukozytenphagozytose mit Phlorrhizin

Summary In the rat the intraperitoneally administered phlorrhizin significantly reduces the phagocytosis of bacteria by leucocytes, as determined by thePlatonow-Ludány-Vajda method, with the mean decrease being — 33.5%. The effect is reversible. The phenomenon appears to be due to an alteration of carbohydrate metabolism in the leucocytes. The experiments supply new evidence supporting the view that alongside biophysical factors (surface effects) also cellular metabolic processes may play important roles in the phagocytotic activity of leucocytes.     

Modification of human adenovirus type 7 after culture in guinea pig brain cells in vitro]

Multiplication of human adenovirus 7 (Ad7) is restricted in subcultures of adult Guinea Pig brain cells. It was however possible to recover enough infectious virus to purify it, and to study its properties. Several properties are similar to that of Ad 7 produced in HeLa cells but differences in sensitivity to cesium chloride and in its polypeptide composition were found.     

Die Wirkung des Hydrocortisons auf die infektionsbedingte lokale Leukozytenansammlung

Summary The aggregation of leucocytes provoked in the peritoneal cavity of the white mouse by intraperitoneal injection of livingE. coli is inhibited by large doses of hydrocortisone. At the same time, the animal's susceptibility to infection is enhanced. The aggregation of leucocytes induced by injection of a bacterial extract containing lipopolysaccharides is inhibited in a similar manner. The effect of hydrocortisone sets in rapidly and subsides within 24 h. The inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone on the lipopolysaccharid effect on leucocytes seems to be an important factor in the influence of hydrocortisone on the infectious process.     

Divergent effects of hyperosmolality on stress-response (heat shock) protein expression in cultured human tumor cells: an immunocytochemical study

Exposing cells to adverse conditions usually elicits expression of stress-response (heat shock) proteins (srp). Here we show that hyperosmolar growth conditions do not uniformly affect srp expression in MCF-7 and HeLa S3 cells, derived from carcinoma of the breast and cervix, respectively. Thus, whereas srp 27 expression was increased in MCF-7, but not in HeLa S3, the opposite was the case with srp 72. On the other hand, hyperosmolality did not induce B-crystallin or ubiquitin in either cell line. These findings show that srp expression by the human tumor cells studied is non-coordinate, suggesting that each srp is independently modulated.     

Effects of prednisolone and butyrate on agglutinability of HeLa cells by concanavalin A

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - Agglutinability by concanavalin A was measured with HeLa65 cells grown with prednisolone or sodium butyrate, 2 compounds that increase the activity of the...     

Effects of the antiprotease Trasylol® on peripheral blood leucocytes

Summary Binding of the antiprotease Trasylol^® to human peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) was demonstrated at the ultrastructural level using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. This also revealed endocytosis of membrane bound Trasylol by PMNs. Trasylol inhibited PHA- and Con A-induced lymphocyte stimulation, and was cytotoxic to unstimulated cells.One of us (D.J.T.) is supported by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., from whom we also acknowledge a generous supply of Trasylol.     

Relationship between polyamine accumulation and RNA biosynthesis and content during the cell cycle

Summary Polyamine accumulation was related to RNA biosynthesis and content during the cell cycle of CHO-K1 and HeLa cells. The highest correlations were observed between polyamine accumulation and RNA content. Feeding, serumstarved cultures of embryonic chick fibroblasts, which exhibit a 3-fold increase in RNA content, demonstrated that RNA content was most closely paralleled by spermidine content.I acknowledge the receipt of a Medical Research Council studentship.