Increased interleukin-1 and modulation of interleukin-2 production by murine macrophages and lymphocytes treated with LF 1695

Previous results have demonstrated that lectin-induced T cell proliferation was potentiated or suppressed by LF 1695, a synthetic immunomodulator, depending on the dose used. Therefore the activity of this compound was investigated on murine IL-1 and IL-2 production. Adherent peritoneal cells, incubated with LF 1695, could secrete high levels of IL-1 with only a slight elevation in intracellular IL-1. This effect apparent at 5 and 10 μg/ml was linked to a transient state of activation. At low doses, LF 1695 increased IL-2 production by Con A-stimulated spleen cells. A decrease was found at higher doses only when cells were preincubated 20 h with the compound. In murine macrophages stimulated either by A 23187 or LPS PGE₂ synthesis was inhibited by LF 1695 even at low doses. However, supernatant LTB₄ level was increased in LF 1695-treated culture with a time-dependent effect. Therefore modulation of lectin-induced T cell proliferation by LF 1695 may be IL-2 production-mediated. Inhibition of the cycloxygenase and stimulation of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism may be responsible for this pattern of activity.     

Exploration and modulation of the chemotaxis of lymphocytes

Lymphocytes migrate and concentrate at inflammatory sites in part under the control of chemotactic factors. Lymphocyte chemotaxis has been studied in vitro using direct microscopic observation, the Boyden chamber technique and the migration under agarose or collagen gels. Various chemical compounds such as casein and cytokines such as interleukins 1 and 2 have been found to be chemotactic factors for lymphocytes. In addition, chemotaxis inhibitors have been described. Lymphocyte chemotaxis abnormalities have been described in various conditions: inflammation, auto-immune diseases, cancer. A better understanding of lymphocyte chemotaxis may provide a more specific therapeutic approach of such diseases.     

淫羊藿甙对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞体外增殖、吞噬和产生NO的影响

无菌分离小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,制备单细胞悬液,加入不同终浓度的淫羊藿甙孵育4 h后,加入细菌脂多糖LPS(终浓度20 mg/L)48 h后以MTT法检测其增殖;加药孵育4 h后,分别加入直径1μm和2μm的微球(终浓度1×1010/L),5 h后利用流式细胞术(FCM)检测吞噬情况;加入LPS(终浓度20 mg/L)24 h后Griess试剂盒检测巨噬细胞NO的量。结果显示ICA在终浓度1.5、3.0μmol/L时能明显抑制LPS刺激的巨噬细胞增殖(P<0.01)和NO的产生,并促进其吞噬微球的功能。提示ICA可能抑制LPS信号转导从而抑制巨噬细胞增殖,并且通过抑制其活化,下调iNOS有关的炎症因子,使NO减少;对于未活化的巨噬细胞,ICA可能通过上调其吞噬功能,增强固有免疫系统来抵御病原体侵入。     

Salmonella typhimurium-induced cytokine production and surface molecule expression by murine macrophages.

The influence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium) on co-stimulatory molecule expression, cytokine production and induction of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by murine macrophages (Mphi), as well as the influence of the phoP locus on these aspects of S. typhimurium-Mphi interaction, was characterized. Pulsing Mphi with S. typhimurium resulted in increased surface expression of MHC-I, MHC-II, CD86 and CD54. Furthermore, co-incubating S. typhimurium with Mphi resulted in interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production as well as iNOS induction while IL-12p70 was not detectable. Finally, although phoP did not influence the level of surface molecule expression or cytokine production by S. typhimurium-pulsed Mphi phoP did influence the level of iNOS induction. Together these data show that S. typhimurium interaction with Mphi activates these cells in ways that may enhance their ability to productively stimulate Salmonella-specific T cells following phagocytic processing and presentation of Salmonella antigens.     

Differential morphine tolerance development in the modulation of macrophage cytokine production in mice

Morphine has been shown to affect cell-mediated and humoral immune parameters. In this study, we investigated the capacity of in vivo acute and chronic morphine treatment to modulate interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 production by LPS and interferon-gamma-stimulated resident and thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages and the development of tolerance to these effects. One hour after the acute administration of 5, 10, and 20 mg/Kg morphine, a dose-related decrease of IL-10 and IL-12 levels was present. The pretreatment with naltrexone at doses up to 20 mg/Kg did not prevent the decrease of IL-10 and IL-12 induced by morphine. When the drug was administered chronically, a differential development of tolerance to the immune effects was observed. After 3 days of treatment, the effect of the acute challenge with 20 mg/Kg morphine on IL-12 was lost. In contrast, morphine-induced inhibition of IL-10 disappeared between 10 and 12 days of treatment, in parallel with tolerance to the antinociceptive effect. These results suggest that morphine treatment affects macrophage cytokine production and that tolerance affects this modulation differently.     

银杏内酯B对小鼠腹膜巨噬细胞体外增殖、吞噬及产生NO和ROS的影响

目的:银杏内酯B(GB)是已知的天然而强效的血小板激活因子(PAF)受体(PAFR)拮抗剂,本研究中GB对小鼠腹膜巨噬细胞的增殖、吞噬及产生NO和ROS的影响,初步探讨其潜在的免疫调节作用与机制,从而为临床应用提供可靠的实验依据。方法:分离纯化小鼠腹膜巨噬细胞(PM),以不同浓度的GB(1.25～20μmol/L)预孵后加以脂多糖(LPS)刺激并继续培养至相应时间点;以MTT法检测GB对PM活力及LPS诱导的增殖的影响;以荧光微球的摄入结合流式细胞术评价PM的吞噬作用;以Griess法检测GB对LPS诱导的NO释放的影响;以H2DCFDA标记结合流式细胞术检测PM的ROS水平。结果:LPS刺激后24 h时PM吞噬能力增强,ROS水平显著上升,并释放大量NO,至48 h时PM增殖明显,而经终浓度为5、10、20μmol/L GB在LPS刺激前对PM进行4 h预孵处理可以大幅下调PM对荧光微球的吞噬作用,显著降低PM的ROS水平及NO释放量,并能有效抑制PM的增殖。结论:GB能有效抑制LPS诱导的细胞增殖、吞噬作用、产生NO和ROS的水平,凭借GB对巨噬细胞的体外行为和功能的出色调节作用,理应将其作为天然的免疫抑制剂候选者进行更深入的研究。     

红景天苷对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞体外增殖、凋亡、吞噬、ROS和NO产生的影响

目的:研究红景天苷(Sal)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞体外增殖、凋亡、吞噬、胞内活性氧簇(ROS)及分泌一氧化氮(NO)的影响,初步探讨其对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞的免疫调节作用。方法:无菌分离小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,并制备单细胞悬液,以不同终浓度(80μmol/L、160μmol/L及320μmol/L)的Sal和巨噬细胞共培养4 h,再以脂多糖(LPS)和γ-干扰素(IFN-γ)进行共刺激。利用MTT比色法检测Sal对巨噬细胞体外增殖的影响。用放线菌酮(CHX)诱导巨噬细胞凋亡,用Sytox G reen染色结合荧光酶标仪检测Sal对CHX诱导巨噬细胞凋亡的影响。用流式细胞术(FCM)检测Sal对巨噬细胞吞噬功能的影响。用2-7-二氯氢化荧光素乙二脂(H2DCFDA)染色法结合荧光酶标仪检测Sal对胞内ROS产生的影响;用G riess反应检测Sal对巨噬细胞分泌NO的影响。结果:MTT比色法检测显示,终浓度为80、160、320μmol/L的Sal均可显著促进LPS+IFN-γ刺激巨噬细胞增殖(P<0.05)。荧光酶标仪检测Syto xG reen染色法的结果显示,160μmol/L的Sal可抑制CHX诱导的巨噬细胞凋亡(P<0.01)。FCM结果显示,各浓度的Sal均能促进单纯药物组和实验药物组LPS+IFN-γ刺激巨噬细胞的吞噬功能(P<0.05)。用荧光酶标仪检测DH2DCFDA染色结果表明,各浓度的Sal对LPS+IFN-γ刺激的巨噬细胞胞内ROS的产生均具有显著的抑制作用(P<0.01)。Griess反应检测NO含量的结果显示,各浓度的Sal对LPS+IFN-γ刺激巨噬细胞产生NO均具有促进作用(P<0.05)。结论:Sal对LPS和IFN-γ刺激的巨噬细胞增殖具有显著的促进作用,对CHX诱导的巨噬细胞凋亡具有显著的抑制作用,对静息态和活化态的巨噬细胞的吞噬功能均有增强作用,并能减少LPS和IFN-γ活化的巨噬细胞胞内ROS的产生;但能促进LPS和IFN-γ活化的巨噬细胞NO的分泌。     

Differential cytokine production associated with distinct phases of murine graft-versus-host reaction.

Previous studies which demonstrated that cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are essential for the development of graft-versus-host reaction (GvHR) did not establish whether the individual cytokines were responsible for distinct features of the disease. In this report, we show that IFN-gamma production is associated with the early proliferative phase of the disease, whereas the late, destructive phase correlates with production of TNF-alpha. These studies may assist in the development of specific immunotherapies aimed at individual aspects of immunologically mediated disease.     

Differential effects of cell adherence on LPS-stimulated cytokine production by human monocytes and macrophages

It is well known that adherence of monocytes (MO) to extracellular matrix substrates or tissue culture plastic activates these cells and induces the expression of a multitude of genes. Especially, it was described, that MO are primed by cell adhesion to produce higher amounts of some cytokines, e.g. interleukin (IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In order to investigate adherence-induced effects upon cytokine production, we seeded MO into tissue cultures and stimulated cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) simultaneously or at later time points. An increasing time-lag between cell adhesion and LPS-stimulation led to differential effects upon cytokine production: whereas TNF was upregulated (in accordance with reports by others), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was considerably down-regulated. In contrast, G-CSF production did not change, when cells were kept under non-adherent conditions in whole blood. In adherent cultures down-regulation of G-CSF could already be observed after two hours with a maximum after 24 h and was paralleled by a much lower abundance of G-CSF mRNA. Adhesion induced a significant suppression of G-CSF comparable to MO, if mature macrophages derived from MO in vitro were examined. Furthermore, two other cytokines, granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF and IL-6, were also down-regulated following adhesion. In conclusion, activation of mononuclear phagocytes by adhesion can lead to -priming- for the production of some cytokines and at the same time to -silencing- for the production of others.     

Differential impact of nicotine on cellular proliferation and cytokine production by LPS-stimulated murine splenocytes

The immunoregulatory effects of nicotine have not been fully clarified and the reported data are often conflicting. The present study investigated the role of nicotine as an immunomodulator of murine splenocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the endotoxin component of gram-negative bacteria. BALB/c female mice of two different ages, young (2-3 months) and old (18-22 months), were used. The cells were incubated with nicotine at two different time points, 3 h pre-incubation and concurrent incubation relevant to LPS stimulation, before further incubation for 48 or 72 h. Treatment of murine splenocytes with nicotine showed an impact on cellular proliferation as well as on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The results indicated that nicotine significantly inhibited cellular proliferation of murine splenocytes in a concentration-related manner (32, 64 and 128 microg/ml). Timing of nicotine exposure prior to LPS stimulation was critical in terms of immunological impact on cytokine production. TNF-alpha and IL-6 production were significantly enhanced by 1 microg/ml of nicotine when cells were pre-incubated with nicotine for 3 h compared to concurrent incubation relative to LPS stimulation. The alteration in cytokine production varied with the age of the mouse. TNF-alpha production was significantly inhibited by nicotine in young mice, while IL-6 production was significantly inhibited by nicotine in old mice. Since any immunomodulation that alters the profile of these cytokines may cause an imbalance in the immune system impinging on health status, these findings may be important when dealing with the concept of nicotine as a therapeutic agent.     

Hormonal modulation of endothelial NO production

Since the discovery of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and the subsequent identification of nitric oxide (NO) as the primary mediator of endothelium-dependent relaxations, research has focused on chemical and physical stimuli that modulate NO levels. Hormones represent a class of soluble, widely circulating chemical factors that impact production of NO both by rapid effects on the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) through phosphorylation of the enzyme and longer term modulation through changes in amount of eNOS protein. Hormones that increase NO production including estrogen, progesterone, insulin, and growth hormone do so through both of these common mechanisms. In contrast, some hormones, including glucocorticoids, progesterone, and prolactin, decrease NO bioavailability. Mechanisms involved include binding to repressor response elements on the eNOS gene, competing for co-regulators common to hormones with positive genomic actions, regulating eNOS co-factors, decreasing substrate for eNOS, and increasing production of oxygen-derived free radicals. Feedback regulation by the hormones themselves as well as the ability of NO to regulate hormonal release provides a second level of complexity that can also contribute to changes in NO levels. These effects on eNOS and changes in NO production may contribute to variability in risk factors, presentation of and treatment for cardiovascular disease associated with aging, pregnancy, stress, and metabolic disorders in men and women.     

Differential cytokine expression in acute and chronic murine graft-versus-host-disease

The relationship between acute and chronic graft -versus-host disease (GVHD) is not well understood. While both syndromes appear to result from recognition of host antigens by donor T cells, their pathological changes differ markedly. In light of the recent concept that helper T cells (Th) may be divided into two types based on their cytokine secretion profile and their ability to mediate cellular (Th1) or humoral (Th2) immunity, and considering the inflammatory nature of acute GVHD and the occurrence of significant B cell activation in chronic GVHD, we hypothesized that acute and chronic GVHD may be associated with differential cytokine production by activated T cells. To evaluate this hypothesis, we assessed expression of a range of cytokines in (C57BL/6 × DBA/2 )F₁ (B6D2F₁) recipients of C57BL/6 (acute GVHD), DBA/2 (chronic GVHD) or B6D2F₁ (control) spleen cells. The results reported here indicate that a wide range of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor β and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, are indeed differentially expressed in acute and chronic GVHD and support the concept that the pathology peculiar to acute or chronic GVHD may arise due to differential cytokine expression by activated Tcells.     

B lymphocytes regulate airway granulocytic inflammation and cytokine production in a murine model of fungal allergic asthma

Sensitization to fungi often leads to a severe form of asthma that is particularly difficult to manage clinically, resulting in increased morbidity and hospitalizations in these patients. Although B lymphocytes might exacerbate asthma symptoms through the production of IgE, these cells might also be important in the protective response against inhaled fungi. Through cytokine release and T-cell interactions, these lymphocytes might also influence the development and maintenance of airway wall fibrosis. J_H^−/− mice lack the JH gene for the heavy chain component of antibodies, which is critical for B-cell function and survival. These animals have facilitated the elucidation of the role of B lymphocytes in a number of immune responses; however, J_H^−/− mice have not been used to study fungal allergy. In this study, we examined the role of B lymphocytes using an Aspergillus fumigatus murine fungal aeroallergen model that mimics human airway disease that is triggered by environmental fungal exposure. We compared disease progression in sensitized wild-type BALB/c and J_H^−/− mice that were exposed to repeated fungal exposure and found no differences in airway hyperresponsiveness, overall pulmonary inflammation or collagen deposition around the large airways. However, the levels of the Th2-type cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 were significantly attenuated in the airways of J_H^−/− mice relative to the BALB/c controls. By contrast, levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-17A and IL-6 were significantly elevated in the J_H^−/− animals, and there was significantly more robust airway eosinophilia and neutrophilia than in control animals. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that B lymphocytes help to regulate granulocytic responses to fungal exposure in the pulmonary compartment.     

Differential effects of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 on nitric oxide production by murine macrophages

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 on nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Elicited or resident peritoneal macrophages (PMO) and a macrophage cell line Raw264.7 were primed by IL-4 or IL-10 for 6 hours, and were further incubated in the presence of interferon (IFN)-gamma and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 48 hours. NO2- accumulation in the supernatant of cultured cells was used as an indicator of NO production and was determined by the standard Griess reaction adapted for microplates. The amount of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the culture supernatants was determined with a commercially available ELISA kit. The absorbance was measured at 450 nm with a microplate photometer. RESULTS: IL-4 inhibited NO production by murine macrophages of different sources and the macrophage cell line Raw264.7. In contrast, different macrophage populations showed differential responses to IL-10. After stimulation with LPS or IFN-gamma, IL-10 suppressed NO production by elicited PMO but enhanced NO production by resident PMO or by Raw264.7. Both IL-4 and IL-10 inhibited the production of TNF-alpha, which has been shown to play a crucial role in NO production. In the presence or the absence of blocking antibody to TNF-alpha, IL-10 always enhanced NO production by resident PMO. This result suggests that the inhibition of TNF-alpha production and the enhancement of NO production by resident PMO stimulated with IL-10 are independent, coexisting events. CONCLUSIONS: Factors other than TNF-alpha have been suspected to influence NO production by macrophages, and this study indicates that IL-10 may be a candidate cytokine for resident PMO.     

Immunoglobulin and cytokine production by neonatal lymphocytes.

Growth and differentiation of cord blood B cells were studied using T cell-depleted populations. In the absence of in vitro activation, cord blood B cells proliferated in response to cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4); anti-mu-stimulated cord B cells had a lesser response to IL-2 than adult cells. IgM synthesis by cord blood B cells was enhanced by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and decreased by IL-2. In cultures activated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC), cord blood B cells produced lesser increases in IgM than adult B cells regardless of the cytokine added. Cord blood B cells produced no IgG or IgA with any cytokine preparation with or without SAC activation. Supernatants of cord blood T cells pulse-stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate contained less IL-2 and IL-6 and had less growth and differentiation activity than adult T cell supernatants. The results confirm a limited cord blood B cell response and also suggest a limitation in production of B cell stimulatory lymphokines by cord blood T cells.     

M2 polarization of murine peritoneal macrophages induces regulatory cytokine production and suppresses T‐cell proliferation

Bone‐marrow‐derived macrophages are divided into two phenotypically and functionally distinct subsets, M1 and M2 macrophages. Recently, it was shown that adoptive transfer of M2‐polarized peritoneal macrophages reduced the severity of experimental colitis in mice. However, it is still unclear whether peritoneal macrophages possess the same ability to be polarized to cells with functionally different phenotypes and cytokine production patterns as bone‐marrow‐derived macrophages. To address this question, we examined the ability of peritoneal macrophages to be polarized to the M1 and M2 phenotypes and determined the specific cytokine profiles of cells with each phenotype. We showed that peritoneal macrophages, as well as bone‐marrow‐derived macrophages, were differentiated into M1 and M2 phenotypes following stimulation with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4)/IL‐13, respectively. Following in vitro stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, M2‐polarized peritoneal macrophages predominantly expressed T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines and regulatory cytokines, including IL‐4, IL‐13, transforming growth factor‐β and IL‐10, whereas M1‐polarized peritoneal macrophages expressed negligible amounts of Th1 and pro‐inflammatory cytokines. ELISA showed that M2‐polarized peritoneal macrophages produced significantly more IL‐10 than M1‐polarized peritoneal macrophages. Notably, M2‐polarized peritoneal macrophages contributed more to the suppression of T‐cell proliferation than did M1‐polarized peritoneal macrophages. The mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines, including IL‐4 and IL‐13, increased in T‐cells co‐cultured with M2‐polarized macrophages. Hence, our findings showed that M2 polarization of peritoneal macrophages induced regulatory cytokine production and suppressed T‐cell proliferation in vitro, and that resident peritoneal macrophages could be used as a new adoptive transfer therapy for autoimmune/inflammatory diseases after polarization to the regulatory phenotype ex vivo.