IL-15 and GM-CSF stimulated macrophages enhances phagocytic activity in ENU induced leukemic mice

Murine splenic macrophage plays a decisive role in host immunity through phagocytosis against pathogens. It was reported that, macrophages also involves in phagocytosis of some tumour cells upon its activation initiated by certain cytokines produced by other immune cell or by indigenously treated. In this study, we have investigated the killing of leukemic blast cells by macrophages upon stimulated with IL-15 and GM-CSF alone or in combination in ENU challenged leukemic murine model. Along with, the release of TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ by macrophages were assayed by ELISA. NO production by macrophages was also investigated. The molecular expressions like GM-CSF and TLRs were investigated for better understand of macrophage-leukemic cell interaction. Result shows that in disease condition macrophages have poor phagocytic activities which may be due to less release of TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ by macrophages. This impaired phagocytic activity in leukemic mice was increase upon stimulation with IL-15 and GM-CSF.     

Tolerogenic dendritic cells induce antigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in insulin- and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-autoreactive T lymphocytes from type 1 diabetic patients

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDC) constitute a promising therapy for autoimmune diseases, since they can anergize T lymphocytes recognizing self-antigens. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) have autoreactive T cells against pancreatic islet antigens (insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 -GAD65-). We aimed to determine the ability of tDC derived from T1D patients to inactivate their insulin- and GAD65-reactive T cells. CD14 + monocytes and CD4 + CD45RA- effector/memory lymphocytes were isolated from 25 patients. Monocyte-derived DC were generated in the absence (control, cDC) or presence of IL-10 and TGF-β1 (tDC), and loaded with insulin or GAD65. DC were cultured with T lymphocytes (primary culture), and cell proliferation and cytokine secretion were determined. These lymphocytes were rechallenged with insulin-, GAD65- or candidin-pulsed cDC (secondary culture) to assess whether tDC rendered T cells hyporesponsive to further stimulation. In the primary cultures, tDC induced significant lower lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion than cDC; in contrast, tDC induced higher IL-10 production. Lymphocytes from 60% of patients proliferated specifically against insulin or GAD65 (group 1), whereas 40% did not (group 2). Most patients from group 1 had controlled glycemia. The secondary cultures showed tolerance induction to insulin or GAD65 in 14 and 10 patients, respectively. A high percentage of these patients (70–80%) belonged to group 1. Importantly, tDC induced antigen-specific T-cell hyporesponsiveness, since the responses against unrelated antigens were unaffected. These results suggest that tDC therapy against multiple antigens might be useful in a subset of T1D patients.     

Effect of Andrographis paniculata as an Adjuvant in Combined Chemo-Radio and Whole Body Hyperthermia Treatment—A Preliminary Study

Modulation of immune responses to alleviate disease has been of interest for a long time. Intraperitoneal administration of Andrographis paniculata extract along with whole body hyperthermia (WBH) was found to enhance the total WBC count in cyclophosphamide (CTX) and radiation treated animals when compared to untreated control animals. Maximum inhibition in the solid tumor development was observed when the CTX and radiation exposed animals were treated with extract in combination with whole-body hyperthermia. Similarly myeloperoxidase activity in tumor tissue from CTX and radiation-treated animals was also significantly inhibited when they were administered with Andrographis paniculata extract along with whole body hyperthermia. Moreover the production of cytokines such as IL-2 and GM-CSF, which was reduced after combined CTX and radiation treatment was significantly increased by the simultaneous treatment of extract and whole body hyperthermia. The elevated level of serum Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) level, after CTX and radiation treatment was also lowered significantly after the administration of extract and simultaneous exposure of whole-body hyperthermia with respect to untreated tumor-bearing animals.     

Agranulocytosis following infectious mononucleosis

A girl developed acute agranulocytosis (45/mm³), 37 days after the onset of infectious mononucleosis. The bone marrow showed myeloid hyperplasia with maturation arrest and erythroid hypoplasia. A normal amount of colony forming units of granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) colonies with a relative high number of clusters was observed. Neither anti-neutrophil antibodies nor circulating inhibitors of colony growth were found in serum. Granulocyte and macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activity in the patient's serum rose at this time. The agranulocytosis lasted 5 days and her clinical state soon improved. These results suggested that agranulocytosis was presumably not due to serum factors, including auto-antibodies and/or suppressive substances, and that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) had some direct or indirect effect on the marrow cells of the myeloid series.     

应用GM-CSF治疗恶性肿瘤化疗后白细胞减少的临床研究

本文研究总结了北医联合生物工程公司研制的GM-CSF，应用于恶性肿瘤化疗引起的白细胞减少12例，其白细胞减少时间较对照组缩短5天。对合并感染的病人有较明显的抗感染作用，降低了抗生素的作用时间，临床应用常规剂量未发生明显副作用。是肿瘤根治性化疗的抢救、保驾药品。     

Erythropoietin and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor allow acceleration and dose escalation of cyclophosphamide/epidoxorubicin/5-fluorouracil chemotherapy: a dose-finding study in patients with advanced breast cancer

 To verify whether the association of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and erythropoietin (EPO) would allow both the acceleration and the dose escalation of the cyclophosphamide/epidoxorubicin/5-fluorouracil (CEF) regimen as first-line therapy in advanced breast cancer patients, we conducted a dose-finding study. Cohorts of three consecutive patients received cyclophosphamide (Ctx, dose range 800 –1400 mg/m²), epidoxorubicin (Epidx, dose range 70–100 mg/m²), and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu, 600 mg/m², fixed dose) given as an intravenous bolus on day 1 every 14 days; GM-CSF at 5 μg/kg given as a subcutaneous injection from day 4 to day 11; and EPO at 150 IU/kg given as a subcutaneous injection three times a week. In no single patient was any dose escalation allowed. A total of 14 patients entered the study. At the 4th dose level (Ctx 1400 mg/m², Epidx 100 mg/m², 5-Fu 600 mg/m²), two patients had dose-limiting mucositis and one patient developed dose-limiting neutropenia. Therefore, the 3rd cohort received the maximum tolerated dose, i.e. Ctx at 1200 mg/m², Epidx at 90 mg/m², and 5-Fu at 600 mg/m², given every 18.5 (±2.5) days. Toxicity was moderate and manageable in an outpatient setting. Only 1 admission at the 4th dose level was required. Throughout the 4 dose levels there was no toxicity-related death; grade IV leukopenia ranged from 24% to 75% of cycles and grade IV thrombocytopenia ranged from 6% to 8%. No grade IV anemia was recorded. Increasing the doses of Ctx and Epidx while maintaining a fixed dose of 5-Fu with the support of both EPO and GM-CSF allows safe acceleration and dose escalation of CEF chemotherapy. Further controlled studies will evaluate the activity and efficacy of this strategy. Received: 8 October 1995/Accepted: 1 March 1996     

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor responses of oral epithelial cells to Candida albicans

Candida albicans is the principal fungal species responsible for oropharyngeal candidiasis, the most frequent opportunistic infection associated with immune deficiencies. Cytokines, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), are important in the generation of effective immunity to C. albicans. The purposes of this investigation were to determine whether C. albicans triggers secretion of GM-CSF by oral epithelial cells in vitro and to investigate mechanisms of host cell-fungal interactions that trigger such responses. Oral epithelial cell lines as well as primary oral mucosal epithelial cells were challenged with stationary phase viable C. albicans, added to human cell cultures at varying yeast:oral cell ratios. Yeast were allowed to germinate for up to 48 h and supernatants were analyzed for GM-CSF by ELISA. Fixed organisms, germination-deficient mutants and separation of yeast from epithelial cells using cell culture inserts were used to assess the effects of viability, germination and physical contact, respectively, on the GM-CSF responses of these cells. Two out of three cell lines and three out of six primary cultures responded to C. albicans with an increase in GM-CSF secretion. GM-CSF responses were contact-dependent, strain-dependent, required yeast viability and were optimal when the yeast germinated into hyphae.     

The influence of conditioned medium from mouse intestinal epithelial cells on the proliferative activity of crypt cells: role of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Background: The aim of this work was to study the influence of soluble factors produced by native mouse intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) on the proliferative activity of freshly isolated intestinal crypt cells. Methods: The crypt cells were cultured with either conditioned medium and its ultrafiltrates or recombinant mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the presence or absence of neutralizing anti-GM-CSF antibodies. GM-CSF in culture medium was identified by the electrochemiluminescence method. Results: It was demonstrated that the IEC conditioned medium contained GM-CSF. This cytokine led to both the upregulation and downregulation of crypt cell proliferative activity, depending on its concentration in the culture medium. The effect of native GM-CSF was reproduced with recombinant mouse GM-CSF: 25 and 5 ng/ml inhibited the proliferative activity, whereas 1 ng/ml led to its significant stimulation. Conclusions: Freshly isolated murine IECs produce GM-CSF, which plays a critical role in crypt cell proliferative activity in vitro. These results suggest the involvement of this factor in the regulation of the crypt proliferative zone, in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner. Received: February 25, 2002 / Accepted: July 26, 2002     

Efficient Retrovirus-mediated Cytokine-gene Transduction of Primary-cultured Human Glioma Cells for Tumor Vaccination Therapy

In order to realize a novel vaccination treatment for malignant gliomas using tumor cells genetically modified to express certain cytokines, it is essential to achieve an efficient gene transduction into primary cultured cells. We investigated the feasibility of preparing a glioma vaccine through retro-virus-mediated gene transduction. Glioma cells were cultured primarily from surgically resected tumor tissues of six patients. We obtained more than 1000-fold proliferation of cultures within eight weeks in all six cases. In vitro infection with a recombinant retrovirns GKlacZ carrying an Escherichia coli β -galsictosidase marker gene resulted in over 65% gene transfer to the primary cultured glioma cells. Further enrichment (∼90%) of transduced cells was possible by employing repeated infections or using vectors with neo marker gene. Two cytokine genes, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4, were introduced into glioma cells by sequential transduction with two single-expression GK vectors. The transduced glioma cells produced high levels of both cytokines. We also evaluated simultaneous introduction of two genes with double-expression GK vectors containing internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) or internal promoter (PGK). Although the cells transduced with double-expression vectors secreted both cytokines, the level of the gene product following IRES or PGK was 10 times lower than that of the upstream gene product. The transduced cells retained cytokine secretion in vitro for 14 days after 100 Gy irradiation. Our data indicate the feasibility of retrovirus-mediated preparation of gene-modified tumor vaccines from clinical glioma materials, which could be useful for potentiating antitumor immunity in glioma patients.