Phagocytosis enhances murine macrophage activation by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Previously, we reported that exposure of bone marrow-derived macrophages (M phi) to a phagocytic stimulus in the simultaneous presence of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induced these cells to generate nitrite (NO2-). This effect was achieved using both living (i.e. promastigotes of the protozoan parasite Leishmania enriettii) and inert (latex beads) particles. When the phagocytic stimulus was Leishmania, enhanced intracellular killing accompanied elevated NO2- secretion. As shown here, the capacity of phagocytosis to elicit NO2- production by IFN-gamma-treated M phi was inhibited by antibody to murine recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha), suggesting that phagocytosis enabled IFN-gamma to activate M phi via the induction of TNF-alpha as an autocrine second signal. M phi NO2- production in response to rIFN-gamma and either exogenous TNF-alpha or Leishmania was strongly enhanced by prostaglandin E2, consistent with such a mechanism. However, addition of either Leishmania promastigotes or latex beads to M phi cultures simultaneously exposed to both IFN-gamma and exogenous murine or human rTNF-alpha further potentiated activation as measured by NO2- release. Furthermore, anti-TNF antibody failed to inhibit M phi responses to rIFN-gamma and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of Leishmania; also exogenous rTNF-alpha did not significantly affect NO2- production by IFN-gamma/LPS cultures despite a strong enhancement by Leishmania. These results suggest that phagocytosis enhances M phi responses by a process more complex than the sole induction of TNF-alpha. Phagocytosis also increased M phi NO2- production elicited by IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha in L-arginine-deficient media. These results indicate that phagocytosis may be an important mechanism of up-regulating M phi microbicidal activity, and could be particularly relevant upon arginine depletion which occurs during an inflammatory response.     

Thrombin enhancement of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines such as IL-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activate vascular endothelium to express leukocyte adhesion molecules that promote polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) migration and to synthesize tissue factor, thus making the endothelium a procoagulant surface. alpha-Thrombin, generated during coagulation, also activates endothelial cells. Since all these processes are likely involved in inflammation, the effect of alpha-thrombin on PMNL interaction with cytokine activated endothelium was investigated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human umbilical vein endothelium was grown on polycarbonate filters to investigate the effects interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), TNF-alpha, and alpha-thrombin on PMNL transendothelial migration quantitated with 51Cr-labeled PMNL, and on endothelial monolayer permeability, quantitated with 125I-labeled albumin (HSA). To evaluate the expression of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecules, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on human umbilical vein endothelium monolayers. The effect of thrombin on PMNL accumulation and plasma exudation in inflammation was studied in a rabbit dermal model, using 51Cr-labeled blood leukocytes and [125I]HSA respectively. RESULTS: On resting human umbilical vein endothelium, alpha-thrombin induced a transient increase (2.5- to 4-fold) in monolayer permeability lasting 30 minutes. Slight but significant transendothelial migration of 51Cr-labeled PMNL was induced by alpha-thrombin (7.4 +/- 0.6% of cells added, unstimulated = 1.9 +/- 0.4%), although this response was less than that induced by f-norLeu-Leu-Phe (17%), IL-1 alpha (29%) or TNF-alpha (21%). alpha-Thrombin enhanced the initial rate of IL-1, TNF-alpha and f-norLeu-Leu-Phe induced PMNL transendothelial migration in an additive or supradditive manner (e.g., with IL-1 alpha+alpha-thrombin, migration was 58% greater than additive at 15 to 30 minutes, p < 0.001). Catalytically inactivated alpha-thrombin, D-phenylalanyl-L-propyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone and diisopropyl-fluorophosphate alpha-thrombin, did not enhance migration or permeability. In dermal inflammation in rabbits, alpha-thrombin (10 units/site) induced an increase in plasma protein exudation, with only a mild infiltration of PMNL. However, alpha-thrombin synergistically enhanced the PMNL infiltration induced by IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, but not that induced by zymosan activated plasma (C5a) or IL-8 (neutrophil-activating peptide-1). These measurements were confirmed histologically. Investigations into the mechanisms of the enhancement of PMNL migration indicated that individually vascular permeability changes, prostaglandins, platelet activating factor, and P-selectin expression did not account for the observation effects. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha-thrombin may have a role in synergistically enhancing PMNL infiltration at sites of inflammation, in part via enzymatic action on the cytokine activated endothelium. The mechanisms involved in this effect are likely a complex interaction.     

Phagocytosis of opsonized yeast induces tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA accumulation and protein release by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

In this report we show that phagocytosis of yeast particles opsonized with IgG (Y-IgG) by human polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) results in the selective induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) messenger RNA (mRNA) and release of its mature protein. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was also found able to induce TNF-alpha secretion by PMN, but was a less potent stimulus compared with Y-IgG. There was no evidence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression in PMN after phagocytosis of Y-IgG or in response to LPS, whereas IL-6 mRNA expression and secretion were induced by either stimulus in monocytes. These findings demonstrate that a physiological function such as phagocytosis modulates the gene expression for a cytokine in PMN and shed new light on the understanding of the pathogenesis of the inflammatory process.     

Inhibition of phospholipase D blocks activation of fibrinogen-adherent neutrophils by tumor necrosis factor.

Tumor necrosis factor stimulates fibrinogen-adherent neutrophils to produce a dramatic oxidative burst; the resulting superoxide and other products may contribute to tissue damage in severe infection. Inhibitors of the phospholipase D pathway blocked this activation without affecting cell adherence or nonspecific activation by phorbol myristate acetate. The phospholipase D pathway appears to be involved in the activation of adherent neutrophils by tumor necrosis factor, and this pathway may be a target for modulation of tumor necrosis factor's effects.     

Sequential chemotactic and phagocytic activation of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) chemotax to a foreign entity. When the chemoattractants' origins are reached, specific receptors bind to the invader's surface, initiating phagocytosis, phagosome formation, and fusion with granule membranes, generating the bactericidal oxidative burst, and releasing lytic enzymes, specific peptides, and proteins. We explored the initial signaling involved in these functions by observing na?ve, unprimed PMN in suspension using fluorescent indicators of cytoplasmic signals (Delta[Ca(2+)](i) and DeltapH(i)) and of bactericidal entities (oxidative species and elastase) exposed to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and/or multivalent immune complexes (IC). fMLP and IC each initiate a rapid transient rise in [Ca(2+)](i), mostly from intracellular stores, simultaneously with a drop in pH(i); these are followed by a drop in [Ca(2+)](i) and a rise in pH(i), with the latter being due to a Na(+)/H(+) antiport. The impact of a second stimulation depends on the order in which stimuli are applied, on their dose, and on their nature. Provided that [Ca(2+)](i) is restored, 10(-7) M fMLP, previously shown to elicit maximal Delta[Ca(2+)](i) but no bactericidal functions, did not prevent the cells' responses with Delta[Ca(2+)](i) to a subsequent high dose of fMLP or IC; conversely, cells first exposed to 120 mug/ml IC, previously shown to elicit maximal Delta[Ca(2+)](i) and bactericidal functions, exhibited no subsequent Delta[Ca(2+)](i) or DeltapH(i) to either stimulus. While exposure to 10(-7) M fMLP, which saturates the PMN high-affinity receptor, did not elicit bactericidal release from these na?ve unprimed PMN in suspension, 10(-5) M fMLP did, presumably via the low-affinity receptor, using a different Ca(2+) source.     

Serum amyloid A-induced mRNA expression and release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in human neutrophils

Recently, we described the effect of the acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) on the mRNA expression and release of IL-8 in neutrophils [Mediators Inflamm. 12 (3) (2003) 173]. Here, we expand this earlier study, focusing on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) m-RNA expression and protein release. Our findings indicate that SAA stimulates the rapid expression and release of TNF-alpha from cultured human blood neutrophils. The release of TNF-alpha from SAA-stimulated neutrophils is strongly suppressed by the addition of the antioxidants N-acetyl-L-cysteine, alpha-mercaptoethanol, glutathione, the antiinflammatory dexamethasone and the compounds wortmannin (a PI3K inhibitor), PD98059 (a MEK-1 inhibitor) and SB203580 (a p38 inhibitor). Monocytes also responded to SAA by releasing TNF-alpha. These data are congruent with the increasing evidence of the role of SAA in modulating inflammatory and immune responses, possibly contributing to the pool of cytokines produced in acute inflammation and in chronic diseases.     

Silica-induced apoptosis in murine macrophage: involvement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nuclear factor-kappaB activation

Although it is clearly established that surfactant protein A (SP-A) is secreted by type II pneumocytes as a component of pulmonary surfactant, its secretion pathway as well as its subcellular localization in the human lung are uncertain. We therefore studied the intracellular and intra-alveolar localization of SP-A in eight adult human lungs by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. Only type II pneumocytes could be identified as SP-A positive cells within the parenchymal region. SP-A was localized mainly in small vesicles and multivesicular bodies close to the apical plasma membrane. Only few lamellar bodies were weakly labeled at their outer membranes. Stereologic analysis showed this weak signal to be due to specific labeling. In the alveolar space, lamellar body-like surfactant forms in close proximity to tubular myelin were labeled for SP-A at their periphery. The strongest SP-A labeling was found over tubular myelin figures. Labeling for SP-A was also found in close association with the surface film and unilamellar vesicles. Our results support the hypothesis that, in the human lung, SP-A is mainly secreted into the alveolar space via an alternative pathway that largely bypasses the lamellar bodies. After secretion, the outer membranes of unwinding lamellar bodies become enriched with SP-A when tubular myelin formation is initiated. SP-A may also be involved in the transition of tubular myelin into the surface film.     

Dendritic cell differentiation and proliferation: enhancement by tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Dendritic cells (DCs) are a diverse group of hematopoietic-derived cells that play a prominent role in initiating the body's immune response. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) aids CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells in the development of DCs. In this study, we aimed to further define the relationship between TNFalpha and DC maturation. CD34+ stem cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and cultured using granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, stem cell factor, and varying concentrations of TNFalpha. An anti-TNF receptor 1 (anti-TNFR1) antibody was used to show the specificity of TNFalpha. Flow cytometry and light microscopy analyses were performed at days 0, 7, and 14 of culture, revealing mature DCs at all concentrations of TNFalpha by day 14, excluding those with anti-TNFR1 bound to the cell's TNF receptor 1. DCs possessed a characteristic veiled appearance and were consistent with a DC panel of surface markers. TNFalpha was essential to the development of DCs, as those with bound anti-TNFR1 were virtually unable to develop into DCs. Increasing TNFalpha enhanced the survival of culturing stem cells and resulted in a parallel increase in day 14 DCs. Although increases in TNFalpha produced more DCs, these cells were not as phenotypically mature, expressing less CD80 than those receiving only a single initial dosage of TNFalpha. These studies support the prevalence of large numbers of DCs under inflammatory conditions, such as the rheumatoid joint, where local concentrations of TNFalpha are high.     

TNF-α在热疗降低胶质瘤侵袭性过程中的作用

 目的 探讨肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)在热疗抑制肿瘤侵袭性过程中的作用。方法 热处理大鼠恶性胶质瘤细胞(C6细胞)和胶质瘤大鼠后,放射免疫法监测培养液和脑胶质瘤组织内TNF-α的浓度;免疫组化法检测经热疗/ TNF-α/生理盐水处理过的胶质瘤组织内增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)蛋白的表达。利用Transwell构建肿瘤侵袭模型,通过结晶紫染色法检测肿瘤侵袭性。电镜观察C6恶性胶质瘤大鼠肿瘤血管内皮细胞的凋亡。结果 热疗可增加C6细胞培养液和胶质瘤大鼠肿瘤组织内的TNF-α含量及降低胶质瘤侵袭性,均于热疗后120min时达高峰(P＜0.01)。热疗与TNF-α单独作用于胶质瘤大鼠后,均可引起胶质瘤大鼠肿瘤血管内皮细胞的凋亡。且TNF-α引起内皮细胞的凋亡水平与热处理后C6细胞培养液中TNF-α含量一致。结论 热疗可能是通过增加TNF-α引起肿瘤血管内皮细胞凋亡而抑制了肿瘤侵袭性。     

Bradykinin-induced blood-tumor barrier opening is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Bradykinin has been shown to increase the permeability of blood-tumor barrier (BTB) selectively. This study was performed to determine whether tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was involved in the regulation of this biological process. We found that the levels of TNF-alpha mRNA and heat shock factor-1 (HSF1) protein in C6 cells were markedly up-regulated by bradykinin via real-time RT-PCR and Western blot methods. And the most obvious increase of HSF1 protein and TNF-alpha mRNA in C6 cells were observed at 5 min and 10 min of bradykinin perfusion, respectively. In addition, the radioactivity of TNF-alpha in C6 cells' culture fluid also mostly increased at 15 min of bradykinin perfusion. And the Evans blue content of brain tumor tissues in rats and the concentration of TNF-alpha reached the maximum at 15 min of bradykinin perfusion. Our results suggested that the bradykinin-mediated BTB permeability increase is due to accelerated release of TNF-alpha, which could cause the increase of BTB permeability by promoting to the release HSF1 from neurospongioma cells.     

Modulation of human peripheral blood eosinophil function by tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Eosinophils are important effectors in helminthic parasitic infection. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) has been implicated as a mediator in the host response to parasitic infection and enhances eosinophil-mediated helminthotoxicity. We have examined the direct effects of recombinant human (rh) TNF on eosinophil functions of degranulation and oxidative metabolism. This report describes the minimal effects of rhTNF-alpha on eosinophil superoxide anion generation and enzyme secretion, which do not satisfactorily explain the observed increases in helminthotoxicity. In contrast to other cell types, eosinophils are unique in their differential responses to interleukin-1 beta and TNF.     

Human neutrophils activated by interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha kill Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites in vitro

The interaction between cytokine-activated human neutrophils and Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites was studied as well as the mechanism(s) involved. Treatment of neutrophils with rIFN-gamma alone allowed them to kill 30% of E. histolytica trophozoites; however, rIFN-gamma and rTNF-alpha pretreatments in combination increased neutrophil killing to 70%. In the absence of direct contact between neutrophils and amebae, rIFN-gamma-treated neutrophils were shown to kill 70% of amebae, and rIFN-gamma- and rTNF-alpha-treated neutrophils killed 97% of amebae. Neutrophil enhancement of amebicidal activity following cytokine treatments was correlated with increased neutrophil resistance to amebic contact-dependent killing and was shown to be 73% H2O2 dependent.     

肿瘤坏死因子 α抑制剂对妊娠的影响

 肿瘤坏死因子 α（TNF-α）是类风湿关节炎（RA）发病和维持关节慢性滑膜炎症反应的最重要的致炎性细胞因子之一，它在 T 细胞依赖的炎症性肠病（IBD）发病机制中也起着十分重要的致炎作用。大量临床研究证实，TNF-α抑制剂（TNFAI）可改善 RA 患者关节功能，减少 RA临床活动性，并延缓关节损坏的进展^[1]。各种 TNFAI 也逐渐用于治疗其他风湿性疾病，如银屑病、幼年特发性关节炎、强直性脊柱炎等。某些 TNFAI 被证明对难治性 IBD 有效。目前经美国 FDA 批准上市的 TNFAI 类药物共有 3 种，它们是依那西普（Etanercept，商品名Enbrel），英利西单抗（Infliximab，商品名 Remicade）和阿达木单抗（Adalimumab，商品名Humira）。依那西普是 II 型TNF受体（TNFR-II）与 IgG1-Fc 的融合蛋白，用药方式为皮下注射。英利西单抗是由人 IgG1-Fc 和鼠 Ig 可变区组成的嵌合体 TNF-α 单抗，阿达木单抗是人源 IgG1 型 TNF-α 单抗，这2 种药物均经静脉注射给药[1]。TNFAI的主要不良反应有注射部位反应、感染、肿瘤、淋巴增殖性疾病、神经脱髓鞘病变以及狼疮样综合征^[1]。由于风湿性疾病多累及生育年龄女性，同时以 TNFAI 为代表的生物制剂应用越来越广泛，TNFAI 对妊娠是否有影响日益受到临床关注。我们复习了2007 年 2 月1日以前 PubMed 中关于上述 3 种 TNFAI对妊娠影响的临床观察文献，现综述如下。......     

肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）在肝再生中的作用

肝脏具有强大的再生能力,多种细胞因子和生长因子参与了肝再生过程的调控。其中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）在肝细胞再生中都发挥着不可或缺的作用。本文就TNF-α在启动肝再生、促进或抑制肝细胞凋亡调控机制的研究进展作一综述。     

Endocytosis of uncleaved tumor necrosis factor-alpha in macrophages

Activated monocytes and macrophages secrete the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is produced as a 26 kd transmembrane protein that is cleaved to release a 17 kd soluble protein. TNF-alpha in both forms is biologically active. The intracellular trafficking of membrane-associated TNF-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse macrophages was assessed after treatment with the metalloprotease inhibitor BB-3103, which prevents the cleavage of pro-TNF-alpha. Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies showed sustained expression of cell-associated TNF-alpha in the presence of the inhibitor. Cell immunoreactivity and surface biotinylation revealed that uncleaved TNF-alpha accumulated on the cell surface and was endocytosed, appearing in intracellular vesicles. Perturbation of post-Golgi traffic blocked the surface expression of 26 kd TNF-alpha. Tracking a bolus of TNF-alpha over time in cycloheximide-treated cells confirmed that uncleaved TNF-alpha is first transported to the cell surface and subsequently endocytosed. Vesicular structures immunoreactive for TNF-alpha were identified as endosomes by double labeling. The secretory and membrane-associated endocytic trafficking of TNF-alpha provides a mechanism for modulating the quantity of biologically active 26 kd TNF-alpha expressed on macrophages, allowing regulation of paracrine and autocrine responses.     

Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in Mycobacterium-induced granuloma formation in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-deficient mice

To study the role of TNF-alpha in mycobacterial infection, we generated TNF-alpha-knockout (KO) mice, in which the third and fourth exons of the TNF-alpha gene were disrupted. The C57BL/6 KO mice were injected with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Kurono or avirulent bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Pasteur (10(6) colony-forming units), through the tail veins. The major organs were removed at weekly intervals, and morphologic observation, assays of IL-1, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression, and colony counts in the lungs and spleen were performed. Peritoneal macrophages from BCG- and H37Rv strain-treated mice produced significant levels of nitric oxide after stimulation in vitro. Formation of abscesses was seen only in the Kurono-treated groups, and these abscesses contained large numbers of mycobacteria. The administration of recombinant TNF-alpha significantly ameliorated the mycobacterial lesions. IFN-gamma mRNA was expressed significantly in virulent H37Rv-treated groups with time, and the number of mycobacterial colonies per unit weight increased remarkably with time. Nitric oxide production was not observed in H37Rv-treated groups but was seen in BCG-treated groups. We concluded that TNF-alpha played an important role in protective immunity against virulent mycobacteria. Because avirulent mycobacteria did not induce granulomas in TNF-alpha-KO mice, TNF-alpha played an indirect role in granuloma formation.