Macrophage colony-stimulating factor is required for human monocyte survival and acts as a cofactor for their terminal differentiation to macrophages in vitro

Functional competence as well as phenotype heterogeneity of macrophages depend on the completion of their maturation pathway. Differentiation of committed myeloid progenitor cells is induced by colony-stimulating factors (CSF), but no consistent data exist on which factor(s) induce the terminal maturation from the circulating blood monocyte to the mature macrophage. In vitro, monocyte to macrophage transformation occurs in the presence of serum and can be followed by the expression of the maturation-associated antigens gp65-MAX.1, gp68-MAX.3, and CD51. We describe that the differentiation-inducing activity in serum cannot be replaced by any of the known and available purified recombinant cytokines. In the absence of serum monocytes die in suspension cultures while surviving as non-differentiating cells when cultured adherent to plastic. In serum-free suspension cultures survival can be significantly improved by the addition of recombinant human macrophage (rhM)-CSF whereas other cytokines do not. At any stage of serum-free adherent culture, monocyte to macrophage differentiation can be induced rapidly by the addition of serum, whereas cytokines (rhM-CSF, recombinant human granulocyte macrophage [rhGM]-CSF, recombinant human granulocyte [rhG]-CSF, recombinant human interleukin [rhIL]-1, rhIL-3, rhIL-4, rhIL-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interferon [IFN]-alpha, IFN-gamma) alone or in combination are not effective. Serum-induced maturation, however, was suppressed in the presence of neutralizing anti-M-CSF antibodies. In addition to phenotype analysis, the secretory repertoire of rhM-CSF cultured monocytes was analyzed in comparison to serum cultured monocytes which further characterized them to be immature cells, i.e., low release of maturation-associated products such as alpha-2-macroglobulin, neopterin, fibronectin, and TNF-alpha, but high IL-6 secretion, an attribute of blood monocytes. We conclude that for monocyte survival in vitro the presence of endogenous M-CSF and possibly other autocrine factors elicited by cell adherence are required for the induction of macrophage maturation; however, yet undefined additional factor(s) are necessary. They are present in serum and may act in conjunction with M-CSF but are distinct from all known cytokines. Our in vitro system may be useful in the screening and discovery of these serum factor(s).     

Effects of adherence, activation and distinct serum proteins on the in vitro human monocyte maturation process

Elutriator-purified human monocytes were cultured in a serum-free (SF) medium, and various serum proteins and functional activating agents were assessed for their effects on the in vitro maturation of human monocytes to macrophages. Following 3 days of suspension culture in Teflon labware, 60% of the monocytes were easily recovered. When varying concentrations of human AB serum (HuAB) were employed, human monocyte maturation progressed rapidly; the kinetics of this maturation process during cell suspension culture were very similar to the pattern observed following adherence culture. In contrast, when SF medium was employed, a marked retardation of the monocyte maturation process was observed; this could not be attributed to any changes in cell recovery and/or viability. Thus, cells could be maintained in their monocytoid form for 3 days when cultured in SF medium. When HuAB was added after 3 days of culture, human monocyte maturation into macrophages proceeded at a normal rate. We attempted to characterize certain of the serum protein(s) found in HuAB which promoted the monocyte maturation process. Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) was found to be the most potent serum protein in increasing 5'-N activity and decreasing peroxidase activity of suspension cultured monocytes. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and albumin (Alb) were shown not to have significant monocyte maturation activity. Heat-treated human gamma globulin and IgG purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were shown to have patterns identical with that of untreated HGG and IgG with regard to promoting monocyte maturation; F(ab')2 was not an active maturation promoter, indicating the need for an intact Fc portion of the IgG molecule. Fibrinogen and fibronectin also had maturation promoting activity. Finally, addition of the potent monocyte functional activators, muramyl dipeptide (MDP), polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidilic acid (Poly I:C), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) had no effect on the monocyte maturation process. Thus, neither cell adherence or activation appear to be critical for the monocyte to macrophage maturation process. Instead, we hypothesize that in addition to proper nutritional support, a group of serum proteins (unified mainly by their ability to interact with monocyte membrane receptors) appear to be the principal promoters of this process.     

Role of prostaglandin E and interferon in secretion of colony-stimulating factor by murine macrophages after in vitro treatment with biological response modifiers

We have evaluated the possible role of biological response modifiers (BRMs) in myelopoiesis by investigating BRM modulated secretion of hematopoietic growth factors and inhibitors. Here, we report the evidence of augmented secretion of granulocyte and/or macrophage colony stimulating factors (CSF) by murine resident peritoneal macrophages after in vitro incubation with murine interferons (alpha, beta-mIFN; beta-mIFN; gamma-mIFN), poly ICLC (polyriboinosinic-polycytidylic acid poly-L-lysine), BM 41.332 (2-cyano-1-[(2-methoxy-6-methyl-pyridin-3yl)-methyl]-aziridine) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The secretion of CSF appears to be independent of the ability of the BRMs to induce IFN, as shown by the use of neutralizing antibodies against mIFN. The antiproliferative effects of IFN also did not block the BRM induced effects of CSF. The combination of alpha, beta-mIFN and poly ICLC or LPS and poly ICLC at suboptimal concentrations resulted in additive, but not synergistic effects on CSF secretion by macrophages. Histological examination of the colonies induced indicated the presence of two types of CSF, namely CSF1 and CSF3, which give rise to pure macrophage and granulocyte colonies respectively. In parallel to their effect on CSF secretion, these BRMs also caused a considerable increase in secretion of prostaglandins of the E series (PGE) by macrophages. However, the production of PGE did not interfere or influence CSF secretion, since the inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase with indomethacin (10(-7) molar) 3 h before stimulation with poly ICLC, alpha, beta-mIFN, or LPS, inhibited the secretion of PGE by macrophages without affecting the secretion of CSF. Macrophages, stimulated by one of the active BRMs for 24 h, could not be restimulated by any of these agents to again secrete significant amounts of CSF or PGE, even after a 2 day resting phase. Other drugs tested (diethyldithiocarbamate, maleic anhydride divinyl ether, azimexone) failed to stimulate the in vitro secretion of significant amounts of CSF and PGE. The results presented here indicate that several BRMs can be utilized to stimulate macrophages to secrete the myelopoietic growth factor CSF, thus supporting the concept that these BRMs might be of value in reconstituting or promoting impaired granulocyte and monocyte/macrophage function.     

Differences in adsorption of serum proteins and production of IL-1ra by human monocytes incubated in different tissue culture microtiter plates

In vitro cell culture models can be of great value in order to further analyze the regulatory mechanisms underlying the inappropriate function of the immune system in diseases such as autoimmunity and cancer. Cell culture conditions have to be well controlled in a way that they mirror the in vivo situation. The objective of this study was to compare tissue culture microtiter plates from different manufacturers with respect to their ability to support monokine production by human monocytes cultured in human serum. Tissue culture ware, made of polystyrene, undergoes treatment by the manufacturers to make the surface more suitable for culture of adherent cell populations. It is possible that quality differences in this treatment can lead to variations in protein binding properties and thereby influence the adherence and functional properties of monocytes. We measured spontaneous interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) production by peripheral blood monocytes, cultured in human serum, in five different microtiter plates made for adherent cell culture. Culture in plates from two of the five manufacturers resulted in significantly lower amounts of secreted IL-1ra. IL-1ra release by human monocytes can be induced by adherent IgG cross-linking membrane receptors for the Fc part of IgG (FcgammaR). We found that reduced IL-1ra production coincided with a reduced capacity for binding of serum IgG in one case. Furthermore, this brand of microtiter plate also displayed the lowest level of adsorption of human albumin. We conclude that the protein adsorption properties of the plastic tissue culture ware have to be taken into consideration when assessing monokine production by human monocytes in vitro.     

人脾脏树突状细胞的分离纯化与鉴定

目的　建立人脾脏体外培养树突状细胞的新方法。方法　人脾脏细胞悬液培养 2h后获得贴壁的单核细胞 ,加入重组人粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子 (rhGMCSF) 10 0 μg/L或rhGMCSF 10 0 μg/L +重组人白细胞介素 4 (rhIL 4 ) 5 0 0k/L ,体外培养 1周 ,收集悬浮细胞 ,以流式细胞仪分析细胞表型及抗原内吞能力 ,alloMLR检测细胞抗原呈递功能。结果　以细胞因子培养 7d生成的悬浮细胞 ,2 0 %～ 80 %表达树突状细胞特异性标志CD1a ,表达高水平的MHC Ⅱ、B71、B72分子 ,具有较强的抗原内吞能力 ,抗原内吞能力及T淋巴细胞活性与人外周血单核细胞培养获得的DC相似。结论　从人脾脏获得的贴壁的单核细胞 ,体外以rhGMCSF +rhIL 4培养 ,可以获得极其大量的树突状细胞     

The effect of complement in adherent immune complexes on Fc and C3 receptor expression in human monocytes.

The effect of complement in surface-bound immune complexes on the expression of Fc and C3 receptors in membranes of adherent human monocytes was examined. Monocytes were isolated from mononuclear leucocyte preparations by adherence to substrates containing fibrin, fibrin with immune complexes (containing rabbit IgG antibodies), or fibrin with immune complexes and mouse complement. Fc or C3 receptors on the top or exposed surface of the monocytes were detected by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes coated with IgG (EA) or IgM and complement (EAC). Monocytes adherent to surface-bound immune complexes exhibited an absence of EA rosette-forming ability without any change in EAC rosettes. This specific loss of Fc receptor function was induced more easily in freshly-isolated monocytes than in cells maintained in suspension culture for up to 7 days. The presence of complement in the immune complex substrates did not reverse the decrease in Fc receptors seen with freshly-isolated or cultured monocytes. Monocytes adherent to immune complexes and complement exhibited a decrease in C3 receptor function. This decrease was more readily induced in cells cultured for three days in the presence of serum than in freshly-isolated monocytes. Experiments performed with EAC or immune complex substrates relatively enriched in C3b or C3bi indicated that C3b in the substrate induced a decrease in monocyte C3b receptors and C3bi led to a decrease in C3bi receptors. No evidence was found for C3d receptors on the human monocytes although these receptors on a subpopulation of human lymphocytes appeared to be altered in a similar fashion.     

The effect of gamma interferon on IL-1 secretion of in vitro differentiated human macrophages

After being cultured overnight, human monocytes lose their ability to secrete interleukin-1 (IL-1) when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, when these monocytes were cultured for up to 9 days with various concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), these cells were found to retain their ability to secrete appreciable amounts of IL-1 on LPS stimulation. However, the effect was observed only if the monocytes were exposed to the IFN before LPS stimulation and simultaneous addition of IFN and LPS to macrophages was ineffective. This effect of IFN-gamma was related to the concentration of IFN added to the cultures and was completely neutralized by a monoclonal antibody to IFN-gamma. In addition to inducing IL-1 secretion, IFN-gamma also appeared to increase the overall production of IL-1, since reinduction of IL-1 secretion was not associated with a decrease in intracellular IL-1 content. When these macrophages were initially cultured with IFN-gamma, washed, and further cultured with IFN free medium, these macrophages were found to progressively lose their capacity to secrete IL-1 in response to LPS. Conversely, when monocytes were initially cultured in medium free of IFN, washed, and then further cultured in new medium, but now containing IFN-gamma, these macrophages were found to regain their capacity to secrete IL-1. However, the amount of reinduced IL-1 secretion decreased as the length of the initial culture period without IFN increased, with less than optimal IL-1 secretion occurring if monocytes were allowed to mature for 6 days before IFN-gamma pretreatment. In summary, these studies suggest that IFN-gamma may be important in enhancing IL-1 production and secretion by maturing macrophages and tissue macrophages and consequently may play a role in regulating the accessory cell activity of these cells for a variety of immune responses in vivo.     

B cells capable of spontaneous IgG secretion in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis: dependency on local IL-6 production.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients contains B cells capable of spontaneous IgG secretion in vitro. This study analyses the function and regulation of these cells. CSF cells obtained from nine MS patients actively produced IgG during 2-3 days in culture, and the activity decreased when CSF cells were cultured in serum-free medium. CSF cells from four controls did not secrete detectable IgG in vitro. Further experiments revealed that IL-6 played a role on MS CSF IgG-secreting cells, as can be deduced from the following findings: (i) the addition of exogenous IL-6, but not of other cytokines, to serum-free cultures restored missing CSF cell IgG secretion (ii) the inclusion of anti-IL-6, but not of control, blocking MoAb reduced IgG secretion by CSF cells in fetal calf serum (FCS)-containing cultures; and (iii) CSF cells were capable of active IL-6 production in the presence of FCS. These results suggest that endogenous IL-6 production by MS CSF cells seems to be responsible for inducing CSF IgG-secreting B cells to reach terminal differentiation.     

Differential ability of human blood monocyte subsets to release various cytokines

We have shown that two human monocyte subsets can be isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors; these subsets possess different morphological, cytochemical, functional, and in vivo trafficking properties [1]. In this report, these two subsets were further characterized. One subset (intermediate monocytes, IM) has been shown to have significantly lower acid phosphatase activity and total cellular protein content as well as lower peroxidase activity when compared with another subset (regular monocytes, RM). The overall activation status of the two subsets (as determined by their alkaline phosphodiesterase activity) was identical. We also examined the capacity of these subsets to release various cytokines with or without polyriboinosinic and polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) stimulation. There was no appreciable difference in their ability to release interferon (IFN), interleukin 1 (IL-1), and prostaglandin E (PGE) without stimulation, while IM produced slightly, but significantly, higher amounts of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) than RM. The amount of IFN released by IM in response to poly I:C was approximately three times higher than the amount of IFN released by RM. IL-1 was also released in higher amounts by IM than by RM in response to poly I:C. IM were also found to release more CSF than RM in response to poly I:C. In contrast, it was noted that IM secrete significantly less PGE response to poly I:C than do RM. These findings indicate that two purified human monocyte subsets, distinguishable by maturation markers, differ significantly in their ability to release various cytokines after stimulation; this difference may be relevant to potential in vivo roles of these immunoregulatory cells.     

Gamma interferon production by combinations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, and cultured macrophages.

Mitogen-induced interferon (IFN) production was studied using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and subpopulations of lymphocytes, monocytes, and cultured macrophages. Cell populations were prepared in suspension to permit quantitative analysis of the interactions among different cell types. After stimulation by staphylococcal enterotoxin A, nylon column-purified lymphocytes produced only 5% as much IFN as the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from which they were prepared. When lymphocytes were supplemented with as little as 2% monocytes, IFN production increased two- to eightfold; with the addition of up to 20% monocytes, IFN production increased further, to levels approximating those of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Monocytes alone produced no or very little IFN. Macrophages were derived from monocytes by culturing in vitro for 7 days. The addition of 2 to 5% autologous macrophages augmented IFN production to the same extent as 2 to 5% monocytes. However, more macrophages consistently resulted in less, rather than more, IFN, so that lymphocytes with 20% monocytes produced three- to eightfold more IFN than did lymphocytes with 20% macrophages. Thus, whereas the addition of monocytes over a broad dose-response range (2 to 20%) progressively augmented IFN production, macrophages showed an optimal effect at 2 to 5%, with higher percentages being inhibitory. The IFN induced by stimulation with staphylococcal enterotoxin A was characterized as IFN-gamma by its resistance to neutralization by antibody to IFN- alpha and its inability to induce antiviral protection in embryonic bovine trachea cells.     

Potent influence of bovine serum proteins in experimental dendritic cell-based vaccination protocols

Typically autologous dendritic cells (DCs) intended for vaccination are generated from bone marrow derived stem cells or blood monocytes, loaded with antigen and introduced into the organism. However, addition of serum to DC culture medium is often necessary. Thus, serum proteins will be taken up and presented by the DCs together with other antigens. If heterologous serum is used, some of the serum proteins might be antigenic and thus induce a strong immune response when introduced in the recipient. We used the murine model of malignant melanoma, B16, to investigate the consequences of addition of fetal calf serum (FCS) to the medium for culturing murine DCs. The results showed that vaccination of mice with DCs cultured in vitro in the presence of FCS but in the absence of extraneous tumour antigens, protected the mice from challenge with B16 tumour cells similarly cultured in FCS. This protection could not be elicited by vaccination with FCS alone. Interestingly, the protective effect of DC vaccination was abolished when the challenging B16 tumour cells were free of serum proteins. Thus, these results show that DCs grown in the presence of FCS are able to induce immunity, which may be mistaken to be tumour immunity.     

Cytotoxicity of human and baboon mononuclear phagocytes against schistosomula in vitro: induction by immune complexes containing IgE and Schistosoma mansoni antigens.

Normal human blood monocytes, pre-incubated at 37 degrees C with sera from patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni, strongly adhered to S. mansoni schistosomula in vitro, whereas no significant adherence was induced by sera from uninfected individuals. Comparable adherence occurred with normal baboon blood monocytes or peritoneal macrophages when these cells were incubated with sera from S. mansoni-infected baboons. Adherence of macrophages to schistosomula was associated with damage to the larvae, as estimated by a 51Cr release technique. Neither adherence nor cytotoxicity was induced by pre-incubation of the schistosomula, instead of the monocytes, with immune serum. The relevant factor in immune serum was heat-labile, but was not a complement component. Absorption and ultracentrifugation experiments showed that immune complexes, containing S. mansoni-specific IgE antibody and soluble parasite antigens, produced monocyte or macrophage adherence and cytotoxicity. Similar observations have been reported previously in the rat model. Since the production of large amounts of IgE is a predominant feature of schistosome infections in man and experimental animals, it is possible that this new mode of mononuclear phagocyte activation could act as an immune effector mechanism against S. mansoni.     

C-reactive protein (CRP) induces chemokine secretion via CD11b/ICAM-1 interaction in human adherent monocytes

Several studies support C-reactive protein (CRP) as a systemic cardiovascular risk factor. The recent detection of CRP in arterial intima suggests a dual activity in atherosclerosis as a circulating and tissue mediator on vascular and immune cells. In the present paper, we focused on the inflammatory effects of CRP on human monocytes, which were isolated by Ficoll-Percoll gradients and cultured in adherence to polystyrene, endothelial cell monolayer, or in suspension. Chemokine levels, adhesion molecule, and chemokine receptor expression were detected by ELISA, flow cytometry, and real-time RT-PCR. Migration assays were performed in a Boyden chamber. Stimulation with CRP induced release of CCL2, CCL3, and CCL4 in adherent monocytes through the binding to CD32a, CD32b, and CD64, whereas no effect was observed in suspension culture. This was associated with CRP-induced up-regulation of adhesion molecules membrane-activated complex 1 (Mac-1) and ICAM-1 on adherent monocytes. Blockade of Mac-1/ICAM-1 interaction inhibited the CRP-induced chemokine secretion. In addition, CRP reduced mRNA and surface expression of corresponding chemokine receptors CCR1, CCR2, and CCR5 in adherent monocytes. This effect was a result of chemokine secretion, as coincubation with neutralizing anti-CCL2, anti-CCL3, and anti-CCL4 antibodies reversed the effect of CRP. Accordingly, a reduced migration of CRP-treated monocytes to CCL2 and CCL3 was observed. In conclusion, our data suggest an in vitro model to study CRP activities in adherent and suspension human monocytes. CRP-mediated induction of adhesion molecules and a decrease of chemokine receptors on adherent monocytes might contribute to the retention of monocytes within atherosclerotic lesions and recruitment of other circulating cells.     

Degradation of Solubilized [3H] Elastin by Intact Human Monocytes Stimulated by Immune Complexes in Vitro

A simple assay is described that permits determination of elastolytic activity released from human monocytes. The substrate, solubilized [3H]elastin, is coated onto cell culture dishes. Blood monocytes are allowed to adhere, and during subsequent serum-free culture, radioactive degradation products of elastolysis are released into the culture medium. Using this assay we have demonstrated an elastolytic activity by normal human monocytes of 20 +/- 2 ng elastin/hour/3 X 10(6) mononuclear cells. Contaminating granulocytes and lymphocytes do not cause any significant elastolysis. On stimulation with immune complexes in vitro, the monocytes respond with an enzymatic burst that is 3.6 times the basic enzyme activity. This assay could be a useful tool in the evaluation of elastolytic activity of cells from other sources as well as from human monocytes.     

HEK 293 cell suspension culture using fibronectin-adsorbed polymer nanospheres in serum-free medium

Previously, we reported on suspension culture of anchorage-dependent animal cells using plain polymer nanospheres in serum-containing medium. For commercial cell culture, it is more advantageous to use serum-free medium than serum-containing medium. To culture anchorage-dependent animal cells using polymer nanospheres in serum-free medium, the nanospheres need to be coated with cell adhesion proteins. In this study, we utilized fibronectin-adsorbed polymer nanospheres for suspension culture of anchorage-dependent animal cells in serum-free medium. Fibronectin was adsorbed onto poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanospheres (433 nm in average diameter) by immersing the nanospheres in fetal bovine serum. The nanospheres were used to culture human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells in serum-free medium in stirred suspension bioreactors. Nanospheres attached between HEK 293 cells and promoted cell aggregate formation compared with culture without nanospheres. Most cells in the aggregates were viable over a 10-day culture period. Importantly, the use of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanospheres promoted the cell growth significantly, compared with culture without nanospheres (3.8- vs 1.8-fold growth). The nanosphere culture method developed in this study removes the time-consuming and costly process of adaptation of anchorage-dependent animal cells to suspension culture in serum-free medium. This culture method may be useful for the large-scale suspension culture of various types of anchorage-dependent animal cells in serum-free medium.     

Prostaglandin E Synthesis and Release by Murine Macrophages and Human Monocytes After in Vitro Treatment with Biological Response Modifiers

Abstract

Prostaglandins of the E series (PGE), produced by mononuclear phagocytes, have many biological activities and are involved in the regulation of myelopoiesis and of the cytotoxic activities of macrophage (M+) and natural killer (NK) cells. Since one of the possible effects of biological response modifiers (BRMs) on immune regulation might be modulation of PGE production, resident peritoneal murine M+ (mMψ) and elutriated human blood mono-cytes (hM) were incubated with BRMs and the supernatants were then assayed for PGE. Control mMψ produced about 4.9 ng PGE/10⁵ mMψ over a 24 hr period. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1-5 μg/ml), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid complexed with poly-L-lysine (Poly ICLC, 0.1-10 μg/ml) and murine α,β-interferon, (IFN, 10-1000 μ/ml) all caused a highly significant increase in PGE-secretion. BM41.332, a 2–cyanoaziridine (25-50 μg/ml), was found to be less stimulatory, whereas the pyran copolymer MVE-2 (25-50 μg/ml), and Azimexone (25–50 μg/ml) had marginal effects on PGE-production. Kinetic studies showed that the plateau of PGE-production by mMψ occurred during the first 24 hr of incubation, and mMψ which were washed after a 24 hr incubation period could not be restimulated to produce more PGE. PGE release by hM was increased after stimulation with LPS, Poly ICLC and BM41.332, whereas human IFNs (α and β) induced a slight decrease in PGE production. As in the murine studies, Azimexone and MVE-2 had no detectable effect. The ability of some BRMs to augment PGE-secretion by mMψ and hM may contribute to their negative effects on host responses, such as suppression of NK cell activity.     

Modulation of dendritic cell differentiation and cytokine secretion by the hydatid cyst fluid of Echinococcus granulosus

Chronic infection by Echinococcus granulosus results in establishment of fluid-filled cysts (hydatid cysts) in liver or lungs of infected hosts, which can escape destruction by the host immune system for long periods. This study explores the modulation by hydatid cyst fluid of the in vitro human monocyte to dendritic cell (DC) transition induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Addition of the fluid to adherent peripheral blood monocytes cultured in GM-CSF/IL-4 stimulates release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and IL-6. Exposure of differentiating DC to the fluid during the 7-day culture in GM-CSF/IL-4 impairs their subsequent ability to secrete IL-12, IL-6 or PGE2 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. This inhibition is not dependent on the initial release of PGE2. The presence of hydatid cyst fluid also modulates the phenotype of the cells generated during culture, resulting in increased CD14 expression and decreased expression of CD1a. Finally, hydatid fluid can stimulate predifferentiated DC to mature, as evidenced by release of IL-12 and IL-6, and by up-regulation of class II major histocompatibility complex and CD86. The possible role of dendritic cell modulation in regulating the host immune response to hydatid cysts is discussed.     

A study of serum free medium culture on the cloning efficiency of human bone marrow myeloid and erythroid progenitors

Thirteen different combinations of serum-free media were tested to assess their suitability to replace serum containing medium for in vitro culture of human hemopoietic progenitors (CFU-GM and BFU-E). Bone marrow samples from patients with and without hematological diseases were tested. All tested media supported the growth of CFU-GM and BFU-E colonies, however our results have shown that the cloning efficiency of all commercially available serum-free media tested was lower (mean 18% and 12% of controls for CFU-GM and BFU-E respectively) and the colony size was smaller than those in serum-containing medium. In the serum-free cultures, there was no linear relationship between the colony numbers and cell concentration plated. Depletion of T-lymphocytes and monocytes did not improve the cloning efficiency of the serum-free medium culture. Furthermore, the addition of high concentration of insulin, transferrin and other supplements to the serum-free media did not improve the cloning efficiency. These results have indicated that the currently available commercial serum-free media do not provide optimal requirements for hemopoietic progenitor cell cultures and that other factors contained in serum are essential for their optimal growth.     

Prostaglandin E2 stimulates the production of vascular endothelial growth factor through the E-prostanoid-2 receptor in cultured human lung fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are the major mesenchymal cells present within the interstitium of the lung and are a major source of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which modulates the maintenance of pulmonary microvasculature. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) acts on a set of E-prostanoid (EP) receptors that activate multiple signal transduction pathways leading to downstream responses. We investigated the modulation by PGE(2) of VEGF release by human lung fibroblasts. Human lung fibroblasts were cultured until reaching 90% confluence in tissue culture plates, after which the culture media were changed to serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, with or without PGE(2), and with specific agonists or antagonists for each EP receptor. After 2 days, culture media were assayed for VEGF by ELISA. The results demonstrated that PGE(2) and the EP2 agonist ONO-AE1-259-01 significantly stimulated the release of VEGF in a concentration-dependent manner. Agonists for other EP receptors did not stimulate the release of VEGF. The stimulatory effect of PGE(2) was blocked by the EP2 antagonist AH6809, but was not blocked by antagonists for other EP receptors. The protein kinase-A (PKA) inhibitor KT-5720 also blocked the stimulatory effect of PGE(2). The increased release of VEGF induced by PGE(2) was accompanied by a transient increase in the concentration of VEGF mRNA. These findings demonstrate that PGE(2) can modulate the release of VEGF by human lung fibroblasts through its actions in the EP2 receptor/PKA pathway. This activity may contribute to the maintenance of pulmonary microvasculature in the alveolar wall.