Synergy of interleukin 3 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in stimulating clonal growth of acute myelogenous leukemia blasts is the result of induction of secondary hematopoietic cytokines by tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Colony growth of leukemic colony-forming units (L-CFU) obtained from patients with primary acute myelogenous leukemia stimulated with recombinant human interleukin 3 (rh IL-3) is significantly potentiated when recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (rh TNF-alpha) is present in cultures. The costimulatory activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is dose dependent and maximum at TNF-alpha concentrations of 10 ng/ml. At high density, L-CFU proliferatively respond to TNF-alpha stimulation in the absence of exogenous rh IL-3. Studies of the mechanism of action of rh TNF-alpha on acute myelogenous leukemia L-CFU growth suggest that TNF-alpha acts by inducing release of growth stimulatory hematopoietic cytokines by the leukemic cells themselves, including IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF), granulocyte CSF, and IL-6. Treatment of L-CFU cultures, with neutralizing antibodies to IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, granulocyte-macrophage CSF, granulocyte CSF, and IL-6 to eliminate the endogenous source of these factors is associated with significant inhibition of the synergistic interplay of TNF-alpha and IL-3.     

Discrete roles of cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6 in tumor promotion and cell transformation.

Based on our previous results, which pointed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as the essential cytokine in tumor promotion in mouse skin, we present here three principal findings related to the specific roles of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 in tumor promotion (using TNF-alpha- and IL-6-deficient mice) and in BALB/3T3 cell transformation: i) The previously reported residual tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in TNF-/- mice was confirmed by experiments with TNF+/+ and TNF-/- 129/Svj mice of the same strain, using two-stage carcinogenesis experiments. TPA produced tumors in 100% of TNF+/+ and 78% of TNF-/- mice at 20 weeks, and the average number of tumors per mouse was 11.1 in the former group and 2.1 in the latter. Judging from the expression of various inflammatory cytokine genes in TNF+/+ and TNF-/- mice, the residual tumor promoting activity of TPA in TNF-/- mice may be dependent on expression of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta genes. ii) Tumor promotion by TPA and okadaic acid in IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- C57/BL6 mice was studied, with TPA producing tumors in 57.1% of IL-6+/+ and 40.0% of IL-6-/- mice at 20 weeks, and okadaic acid in 40.0% of IL-6+/+ and 53.3% of IL-6-/- mice. Thus, there was no significant difference between TPA or okadaic acid tumor promotion in either group. In addition, expression of IL-6 gene in skin of both types of mice suggested that IL-6 is not the essential cytokine in tumor promotion, since it can be replaced by other cytokines. iii) In transformed clones of BALB/3T3 cells induced by TNF-alpha alone, IL-1alpha gene expression was induced after transformation by TNF-alpha had occurred, which did not occur in parental cells. Expression patterns of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-10, along with TGF-beta, were similar in both parental and transformed cells. Considering all these results, we conclude that various cytokines have discrete roles in tumor promotion and cell transformation.     

Effects of growth factors on the antiproliferative activity of tumor necrosis factors

Tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) are a class of cytokines secreted by activated effector cells involved in host defense against tumor progression. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and recombinant human transforming growth factor-alpha (rHuTGF-alpha) were shown to interfere with the in vitro antiproliferative effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) and -beta on a human cervical carcinoma cell line, ME-180. The inhibitory effect could be observed at EGF or rHuTGF-alpha concentrations of 100 pg/ml, and was maximal between 1 and 10 ng/ml. This response was not due to down regulation of the TNF receptor or to alteration of the affinity of TNF-alpha for its receptor. Since the antiproliferative effect of recombinant human interferon-gamma was not significantly affected by the presence of EGF or rHuTGF-alpha, the inhibition was specific for recombinant TNFs and was not due solely to enhanced proliferation induced by the growth factors. Neither growth factor had a substantial protective effect on the synergistic cytotoxicity observed when tumor cells were exposed simultaneously to rHuTNF-alpha and recombinant human interferon-gamma. TGF-beta can also interfere with the antiproliferative effects of rHuTNF-alpha in vitro. At concentrations of less than 1 ng/ml, TGF-beta significantly antagonized the cytotoxic effects of rHuTNF-alpha on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Since EGF, platelet-derived growth factor, and TGF-beta all enhanced NIH 3T3 cell proliferation, but only TGF-beta interfered with rHuTNF-alpha cytotoxicity, the protective effects of TGF-beta were not related in a simple manner to enhanced cell proliferation. rHuTGF-alpha and TGF-beta did not have a significant protective effect against rHuTNF-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity on two other tumor cell lines, BT-20 and L-929 cells. Based upon these observations we suggest that growth factors might enhance tumor growth in vivo by a combination of distinct mechanisms: (a) by autocrine stimulation tumor cell growth; and/or (b) by interfering with normal effector mechanisms of host defense.     

Interleukin-1 beta induces tumor necrosis and early morphologic and metabolic changes in transplantable mouse tumors. Similarities with the anti-tumor effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha or beta

Peri-tumoral injection of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta in mice transplanted s.c. with Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC) resulted in marked inhibition of tumor growth and increased survival. However, in vitro treatment of FLC (745 or 3Cl-8) with IL-1 beta barely inhibited cell multiplication. IL-1 beta, injected into established solid tumors, induced marked morphologic changes. Vascular congestion and focal extravasation of erythrocytes were observed as early as 6 hr after injection with IL-1 beta of FLC and L1210 tumors and HeJ16 fibrosarcomas. Focal areas of disaggregation of tumor cells and tumor necrosis were observed 6 and 24 hr after IL-1 injection. These morphologic changes were similar to those observed in FLC tumors or HeJ16 fibrosarcomas treated with TNF-alpha or beta. These cytokines determined morphological changes in tumor blood vessels of FLC tumors within 1 hr of injection. Freshly dissected FLC tumors and their tissue extracts were studied by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, shortly after peri-tumoral injection of IL-1 beta or TNF-beta. After 6 hr, both cytokines induced a 3-fold reduction in the levels of two catabolites, glycerophosphorylcholine and glycerophosphorylethanolamine, an accumulation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and a more than 10-fold increase in the choline/phosphorylcholine ratio. These results are similar to those reported for TNF-alpha, and can be interpreted on the basis of an activation of glycerophosphorylcholine phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.2) and partial inhibition of choline kinase (EC 2.7.1.32). IL-1 beta and TNF-beta (like TNF-alpha) also induced alkaline shifts (0.10-0.25 units) in the average intratumoral pH value. We suggest that alterations of tumor blood vessels may be the primary events in solid tumors treated with IL-1 beta or TNF. Such alterations lead to early changes in tumor metabolism and subsequent tumor cell degeneration.     

Expression of hematopoietic growth factor RNAs in human mesenchymal cells from various organs.

Experiments were undertaken to study expression of hematopoietic growth factor RNAs in mesenchymal cells from a variety of organs including bone marrow, foreskin, gingiva, and lung. Cells from each organ had negligible expression of RNAs coding for granulocyte (G), macrophage (M), and granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony stimulating factor (CSF), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), and IL-6. Fibroblasts from each tissue had a comparable ability to express the same cytokine RNAs. Surprisingly, the stimuli for expression of G-CSF RNA was disparate from the stimuli for expression of the other cytokine RNAs. While IL-1 beta enhanced accumulation of G-CSF RNA, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) did not. In contrast, IL-1 beta, TNF, and TPA equally stimulated increased levels of M-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-1 beta and IL-6 RNAs.     

Growth regulation of the AML-193 leukemic cell line: evidence for autocrine production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and inhibition of GM-CSF-dependent cell proliferation by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha)

The human leukemic cell line AML-193 was tested for its proliferative response to endogenously produced autocrine factors and to a variety of cytokines and colony-stimulating factors. Cells grown in the absence of GM-CSF incorporated tritiated thymidine, and this was partially reversed by adding neutralizing anti-GM-CSF antibodies to the culture medium, suggesting that it was due, at least in part, to autocrine GM-CSF production. This was confirmed by immunopurification of a GM-CSF-like activity from cell supernatant of AML-193 cells grown in serum free medium in the absence of exogenous GM-CSF. When AML-193 cells were cultured with GM-CSF in combination with other cytokines, Interleukin-1 alpha and beta (IL-1 alpha and beta), Interleukin-3 (IL-3), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), none of them affected the concentration of GM-CSF required to induce 50% of maximum proliferation (D50). However, the maximum proliferation induced by GM-CSF alone was drastically decreased by IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF alpha. Inhibition caused by exposure of the AML-193 to IL-1 for up to 24 hr was reversible, ruling out a direct cytotoxic effect.     

Retinoic Acid potently stimulates the production of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor in the human monocytic thp-1 cell-line

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) potently induces the production of several cytokines in THP-1 cells pretreated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). We report that all-trans retinoic acid (tRA) synergizes with LPS to enhance the production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in PMA-treated cells, whereas the production of granulocyte-macrophage CSF, interleukin 1-beta (IL-1-beta), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is minimally affected by tRA. The interaction between LPS and tRA on G-CSF production is not due to IL-1-beta or TNF-alpha present in the culture medium during LPS and tRA treatment because neutralization of n-1-beta and TNF-alpha activity does not inhibit the synergy between LPS and tRA. However, exogenous IL-1-beta, but not TNF-alpha, also synergizes with tRA on G-CSF production, suggesting that LPS and IL-l-beta can independently interact with tRA to stimulate G-CSF production.     

Tumor necrosis factor, but not other hematopoietic growth factors, prolongs the survival of hairy cell leukemia cells.

In order to determine the growth factor requirements of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) cells, we studied the in vitro effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL) 1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, B-cell growth factor (BCGF), GM-CSF, PHA-stimulated lymphocyte-conditioned media (CM), and 5637 bladder carcinoma CM on HCL cells obtained from spleens of patients with HCL. Mononuclear cells from a normal donor, obtained at post-traumatic splenectomy, served as a control. TNF prolonged the survival of HCL cells obtained from five different HCL patients when compared to cells cultured in control media alone, although cell proliferation could be demonstrated in only two of the five. HCL cells stained negative for the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) both before and after 4 weeks in culture. BCGF, 5637 CM, and PHA-stimulated lymphocyte CM also prolonged the survival of HC25 and HC56 cells, although not to the same degree as TNF. Cells cultured in BCGF, however, stained positive for EBNA. None of the other recombinantly produced or purified cytokines prolonged the survival of the leukemic cells. With the exception of IL-2, none of the growth factors studied prolonged the survival of purified normal spleen (NS) cells over a 4-week period of time when compared to NS cells incubated in media alone. TNF prolonged the survival of HC25 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and a highly purified antibody to TNF abrogated the effects of TNF. HC25 cells incubated in the presence of control media alone did not constitutively produce TNF mRNA; however, incubation of the cells in the presence of TNF for 48 h induced the cells to express TNF message. We conclude that TNF is important in prolonging the survival of HCL cells, and thus may be important in the pathogenesis of this disease.     

Experimental cancer cachexia: the role of host-derived cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor alpha evaluated in gene knockout, tumor-bearing mice on C57 Bl background and eicosanoid-dependent cachexia

MCG 101 tumors were implanted sc. on wild-type C57 Bl and gene knockout mice to evaluate the role of host-produced cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, IFNgamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1, and TNF receptor 2] to explain local tumor growth, anorexia, and carcass weight loss in a well-defined model with experimental cachexia. Indomethacin was provided in the drinking water to explore interactions between host and tumor-derived prostaglandins and proinflammatory cytokines for tumor growth. Wild-type tumor-bearing mice developed cachexia because of rapid tumor growth, which were both attenuated in IL-6 gene knockouts. Similar findings were observed after provision of anti-IL-6 to wild-type tumor-bearing mice. Alterations in food intake were not directly related to systemic IL-6 but rather secondarily to IL-6-dependent tumor growth. The absence of host-derived IL-12, IFN-gamma, or the TNF receptor 1 or receptor 2 gene did not attenuate tumor growth or improve subsequent cachexia. Thus, carcass weight loss was not improved by the omission of host cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-12, or IFN-gamma) except for IL-6. Systemic indomethacin provision decreased plasma prostaglandin E2 in five of six groups of gene knockout tumor-bearing mice, which was associated with improved carcass weight in these groups. Indomethacin seemed to improve food intake to a similar extent in both wild-type and gene knockouts, which agree with the speculation that eicosanoids are more important to explain anorexia than host cytokines. Our results demonstrate that host- and tumor-derived cytokines and prostaglandins interact with tumor growth and promote cachexia in a more complex fashion than usually presented based on previous information in studies on either anti-cytokine experiments in vivo or on gene knockouts with respect to a "single cytokine model." Overall, host cytokines were quantitatively less important than tumor-derived cytokines to explain net tumor growth, which indirectly explains subsequent cachexia and anorexia.     

Coordinated induction of autocrine tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 in normal human monocytes and the implications for monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity

Cytokine production and cytotoxicity for tumor cells are two important aspects of monocyte function and the inflammatory response against tumors and infectious agents. In the present studies we provide direct evidence at the mRNA and protein levels for the existence of autocrine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and its importance as a mediator of human monocyte cytotoxicity for WEHI-164 tumor cells. The induction of TNF and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) mRNA by exogenous TNF or IL-1 beta, as determined by Northern blot analysis, is time dependent in normal human monocytes isolated by countercurrent elutriation. With either TNF or IL-1 beta as the stimulus, TNF mRNA is induced first, peaks within 1-3 h, and declines to nearly undetectable levels by 9 h. TNF mRNA accumulation is enhanced in the presence of cycloheximide indicating that de novo protein synthesis is not required for maximal TNF mRNA induction. In contrast, IL-1 beta mRNA is induced later, peaks at 3-9 h, and remains considerably elevated at 18 h. IL-1 beta mRNA accumulation is partially suppressed in the presence of cycloheximide. TNF and IL-1 beta protein production as assayed by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays correlates well with respective mRNA induction. Both TNF and IL-1 beta enhance monocyte cytotoxicity as single agents; however, their combined effect is less than additive. When both agents are combined, TNF mRNA levels, as assessed by densitometric analysis of slot blots, are approximately equal to those induced by TNF alone. In contrast, IL-1 beta mRNA levels are additive. Our studies provide evidence for highly coordinated and interrelated pathways of autocrine TNF and IL-1 induction in human monocytes and demonstrate the role of TNF and IL-1 in regulating monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity for tumor cells.     

Role of endogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 for experimental tumor growth and the development of cancer cachexia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate to what extent tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1 may explain the development of experimental cancer cachexia. For this purpose, C57BL/6J mice bearing a transplantable low differentiated rapidly growing tumor were passively immunized every other day with rabbit or rat neutralizing immunoglobulins against either TNF-alpha (anti-TNF) or against an interleukin 1 receptor (anti-IL-1r). Anti-IL-1r in itself had no agonistic effect to the type I, T-cell/fibroblast IL-receptor. Tumor-bearing mice receiving either preimmune antiserum or nonimmune rat hybridoma IgG served as controls. Anti-TNF and anti-IL-1r inhibited tumor growth significantly, as measured by a lower wet and dry tumor weight at the end of 11 days of antiserum treatment (P less than 0.05). The acute phase response in tumor-bearing animals, measured as an increase in liver weight, hepatic RNA content, and increases in plasma concentrations of circulating IL-6, serum amyloid P, transferrin, complement (C3), and a decrease in plasma albumin, were unaffected by the specific antiserum treatments. Food intake, which declined significantly in pre/nonimmune injected tumor-bearing controls, was significantly improved in tumor-bearing animals immunized against TNF-alpha or the IL-1r. Whole body lipid content showed a trend to improvement in specifically immunized animals (P less than 0.07). The effects on whole body fat-free dry weight were insignificant, although numerically higher in specifically immunized tumor-bearing animals. The combination of anti-TNF and anti-IL-1r antiserum had no additive effects compared to single antiserum treatment suggesting that the two antibody treatments acted through a common mechanism. Cultured tumor cells, established from growing tumors, were sensitive to anti-TNF and anti-IL-1r, which both reduced tumor growth in vitro. This inhibitory effect by the antiserum could in part be reversed by the addition of recombinant IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha. We conclude that both TNF and IL-1 are involved in tumor growth and thus the progression of cancer cachexia. It seems as if the role of TNF and IL-1 was to promote tumor growth rather than restrict tumor growth in the present model. In this sense both TNF and IL-1 may act as tumor growth factors.     

Induction of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in phorbol ester-sensitive (SENCAR) and resistant (B6C3F1) mice

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), the most potentskin tumor promoter known, evokes significant inflammatory responsesin mouse skin after topical application. Infiltrating inflammatorycells have been hypothesized to contribute to genetic damagein epidermal cells through the generation of reactive oxygenintermediates (ROIs), thus facilitating the development of tumors.Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), smallmol. wt cytokines produced by macrophages (MPs), are known tohave important roles in the inflammatory process. Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-triggered release of IL-1 and TNF was determined in culturesupernatants of splenic MPs from phorbol ester-sensitive (SENCAR)and resistant (B6C3F1) mice following topical application of8 µg of TPA twice in one week. The findings reported hereinindicated that topical application of TPA primed splenic MPsfrom both SENCAR and B6C3F1 mice in a quantitatively similarmanner for the production of IL-1 and TNF; in addition, therelease of IL-1 and TNF by splenic MPs from control (naive oracetone-dosed) SENCAR and B6C3F1 mice in response to LPS-triggeringin vitro was not significantly different. Therefore, the productionand release of these cytokines by activated MPs does not correlatewith the reported strain-dependent susceptibilities to TPA-inducedinflammation and/or tumor promotion.     

The therapeutic potential of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor on hematopoietic stem cells.

Dose intensity is emerging as a crucial determinant of success in cytotoxic cancer therapy; however, myelosuppression presents as one of the major complications encountered with increased dose intensity. Therefore, investigators are looking at the use of cytokine administration in combination with cytotoxic therapy to overcome this problem. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) have been shown to be beneficial in protecting the hematopoietic system from radiation and chemotherapy. In this report, we give an overview of studies using IL-1 and TNF-alpha as protective agents and discuss possible mechanisms involved in their protective action. Mice pretreated with IL-1 and/or TNF-alpha were shown to be protected from the lethal effects of radiation and it has been suggested that the mechanism for this protection may be through the production of the antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase. Similarly, aldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme important in the metabolic pathway of cyclophosphamide compounds, has been implicated as being important in the protection of hematopoietic cells from 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide. While IL-1 and TNF-alpha stimulate both of these enzymes, other mechanisms are probably also operative for other forms of chemotherapy, i.e. IL-1 and TNF-alpha were shown to protect hematopoietic progenitors from phenylketophosphamide, a cyclophosphamide derivative that is not metabolized by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase. Furthermore, malignant as well as normal cells may possess receptors for these cytokines; therefore, IL-1 and TNF-alpha will have to be selective in their protection. They must be capable of protecting normal hematopoietic cells while rendering malignant cells susceptible to the toxic actions of the chemotherapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Proinflammatory cytokines block growth of breast cancer cells by impairing signals from a growth factor receptor

Neutralization of endogenous growth factors and administration of exogenous bioactive cytokines are two distinct biological antitumor strategies that show promise for treatment of cancer patients. In this report, we provide evidence to link both strategies as an integrative approach to cancer therapy. We tested the hypothesis that proinflammatory cytokines block growth of transformed cells by inhibiting key intracellular signaling events after activation of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) tyrosine kinase receptor. IGF-I stimulates DNA synthesis in MCF-7 cells by 15-fold. This increase is significantly inhibited by TNF (tumor necrosis factor) -alpha at 0.1 ng/ml and is reduced by 80% at 100 ng/ml. Similarly, both IL (interleukin) -1beta and IL-6 significantly reduce the ability of IGF-I to promote DNA synthesis. Flow cytometry confirmed that all three of the cytokines inhibit IGF-I-induced DNA synthesis by preventing cells from entering the S phase of the cell cycle, leading to G(0)/G(1) arrest. Although none of the cytokines alone are cytotoxic to transformed epithelial cells in the absence of serum, TNF-alpha significantly inhibits the antiapoptotic property of IGF-I in protecting MCF-7 cells from DNA fragmentation. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta act by inhibiting the IGF-I receptor from tyrosine phosphorylating insulin receptor substrate-1 without affecting tyrosine kinase activity of the IGF-IR itself. These data support the novel idea that the major inhibitory properties of proinflammatory cytokines on growth of breast cancer cells are manifested prominently in the presence of growth factors. These data also highlight growth factor receptor adaptor molecules, such as insulin receptor substrate-1, rather than the receptors themselves as targets for antitumor therapeutic strategies.     

Interleukin 1 and tumour necrosis factor alpha may be responsible for the lytic mechanism during anti-tumour antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Antibodies are thought to bring about tumour cell lysis by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), but the exact mechanism is not well elucidated. Monocytes are known to be important mediators of anti-tumour ADCC and are also known to secrete the cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), both of which have been shown to bring about tumour cell lysis. We examined the release of these cytokines during ADCC and attempted to elucidate which components of the ADCC reaction were necessary for cytokine production. We measured TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta in supernatants collected from a standard ADCC assay using each of the anti-colorectal antibodies m17-1A, c17-1A and cSF25. We found that there was significant TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta release during ADCC mediated by each of these three antibodies and that the magnitude of cytokine release seemed to reflect the degree of tumour cell lysis produced by each antibody. Furthermore, we found that effector cells, target cells and a specific anti-tumour antibody were necessary for this to occur. The presence of only some of the components of the reaction or of an irrelevant antibody produced little or no TNF-alpha or IL-1 beta. We conclude that TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta are released when an effector and tumour target cell are united by a specific tumour antibody and that these cytokines may be important in bringing about tumour cell lysis during the ADCC reaction.     

Synergy of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 2 in the activation of human cytotoxic lymphocytes: effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 2 in the generation of human lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity

Human lymphocytes can respond to interleukin 2 (IL-2) under serum-free conditions with generation of major histocompatibility locus-unrestricted oncolytic activity. This function has been named lymphokine activated killing (LAK). Although IL-2 is sufficient for the development of LAK, this function can be regulated positively by the addition of tumor necrosis factor alpha or beta (TNF-alpha or -beta). The cytotoxic synergy observed with TNF enables production of optimal LAK function at a 10-fold lower IL-2 concentration. Neither TNF-alpha nor -beta is able to induce LAK function in the absence of IL-2. Using TNF-alpha as a model, we demonstrate that (a) the cytotoxic synergy occurs with both fresh human tumors and cell lines; (b) the degree of IL-2/TNF-alpha synergy, for most peripheral blood lymphocyte donors, is dependent upon the IL-2 concentration used for activation with the most striking synergy observed at lower IL-2 doses; (c) synergy is specific for TNF-alpha and can be abrogated by neutralizing antibody against this cytokine; (d) addition of high-dose neutralizing antibody to IL-2 alone-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes can reduce the cytotoxicity capacity of these effectors suggesting an immunoregulatory role for endogenous TNF-alpha; and (e) TNF-alpha addition to IL-2-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes does not increase proliferation or cell recovery but does result in enhanced IL-2 receptor expression. Collectively, our results suggest that TNF-alpha (and -beta) have immunopotentiating roles in the amplification of non-major histocompatibility locus-restricted lymphocyte effector function.     

Modulation of colony stimulating factor-(CSF) dependent growth of acute myeloid leukemia by tumor necrosis factor.

In this study we demonstrate that tumor necrosis factors (TNF alpha and TNF beta) are potent modulators of the in vitro proliferation of human AML cells. Blast cells from 11 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) were incubated with recombinant TNF alpha or TNF beta in serum-free 3H-TdR uptake and colony culture systems in the presence or absence of recombinant interleukin-3 (IL-3), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), G-CSF, or M-CSF. Depending on the supplemented CSF, TNF could upregulate or suppress AML blast proliferation. Enhancement of AML growth by TNF was observed in the presence of IL-3 (in 9 of 11 cases in 3H-TdR assay; 6 of 9 cases in colony assay) and GM-CSF (in 8 of 11 cases in 3H-TdR assay; 4 of 9 cases in colony assay). In certain cases in which IL-3 or GM-CSF alone was unable to induce proliferative responses of AML cells, the simultaneous addition of TNF elicited colony growth and DNA synthesis suggesting a synergistic action between TNF and IL-3 or GM-CSF. In contrast, TNF suppressed G-CSF-induced growth (9 of 10 cases in 3H-TdR assay; 5 of 6 cases in colony assay). TNF could also stimulate DNA synthesis (in 2 of 11 cases) or colony formation (in 2 of 9 cases) in AML cultures without the addition of other growth factors. Experiments with neutralizing antibodies and specific radioimmunoassays for individual CSFs showed that the synergistic and antagonistic effects of TNF on AML growth could not be attributed to a release of one of these CSFs by the AML cells. The opposing consequence of exposure of AML blasts to TNF are of interest in view of our understanding of the pathophysiology of AML growth and the in vivo application of recombinant cytokines in AML patients.     

Enhancement of antiproliferative effects of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on human prostate cancer LNCaP cells by coculture with normal fibroblasts through secreted interleukin-6.

The cell-cell interactions between tumor cells and stromal cells are considered to be important in the regulation of tumor development at primary and metastatic secondary sites. We studied the effects of various cytokines on the cell-cell interactions between androgen-dependent LNCaP or androgen-independent PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines and normal fibroblasts using a co-culture system. Among the tested combinations of cytokines and fibroblasts, strong modulations of cytokine actions were seen in coculture with human normal fibroblasts WI-38. While interleukin (IL)-1beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) partially suppressed LNCaP cell growth in monoculture, each cytokine completely inhibited it in the case of coculture with WI-38 cells. On the other hand, they did not inhibit PC-3 cell growth significantly, regardless of monoculture or coculture. Conditioned medium prepared from WI-38 cells pretreated with IL-1beta or TNF-alpha also strongly inhibited LNCaP cell growth. In the conditioned medium, marked IL-6 secretion was induced from WI-38 cells by IL-1beta or TNF-alpha. Furthermore, neutralizing antibodies to IL-6 or IL-6 receptor abrogated the antiproliferative effects of IL-1beta- and TNF-alpha-pretreated WI-38 conditioned medium. These results demonstrate that the antiproliferative effects of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha on prostate cancer cells are enhanced by coculture with normal fibroblasts through some diffusible factor(s), such as IL-6, from the stimulated fibroblasts.     

Tumor necrosis factor stimulates epithelial tumor cell motility.

Cellular motility is a critical function in embryonic development, tissue repair, and tumor invasion. We used assays of scattering (epithelial colony dispersion), cell migration, and cell invasion to study cytokine-regulated motility in epithelial and carcinoma cell lines. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) stimulated motility in 12 of 14 cell lines in one or more assay systems. The motility-stimulating activity of TNF did not correlate with its antiproliferative activity. In lines whose migration was stimulated by both TNF and scatter factor (SF), a fibroblast-derived cytokine which stimulates epithelial cell motility, saturating concentrations of TNF plus SF induced greater migration than either agent alone. Anti-TNF monoclonal antibody blocked TNF- but not SF-stimulated motility. While various other factors (basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin 6, interleukin 2, colony-stimulating factor 1) had little or not motility-stimulating activity, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), a tumor-promoting phorbol ester, scattered and/or stimulated migration in all cell lines studied. Combinations of saturating concentrations of TNF plus PMA or of SF plus PMA induced greater migration than did any agent alone. These findings suggest that (a) carcinoma cell motility may be mediated by multiple biochemical pathways and (b) TNF stimulates epithelial motility by a mechanism different from that of SF and PMA. In vivo, TNF might enhance invasiveness of some carcinomas or stimulate epithelial wound healing.