Characterization of interleukin-15 (IL-15) and the IL-15 receptor complex

IL-15 interacts with a heterotrimeric receptor that consists of the and subunits of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) as well as a specific, high-affinity IL-15-binding subunit, which is designated IL-15R. Since both the and the subunits of the IL-2R are required for signaling by either IL-2 or IL-15, it is not surprising that these cytokines share many activitiesin vitro. However, the differential expression of these cytokines and the chains of their receptors within various tissues and cell types suggests that IL-2 and IL-15 may perform at least partially distinct physiological functions. The production of IL-15 by macrophages, and possibly other cell types, in response to environmental stimuli and infectious agents suggests that IL-15 may play a role in protective immune responses, allograft rejection, and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.     

Neuropeptides stimulate production of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in human dental pulp cells

Objective:Orthodontic tooth movement causes inflammatory reactions in the periodontal membrane and dental pulp. It has been reported that substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), both sensory neuropeptides, are manifested in the dental pulp of rats during experimental tooth movement, suggesting that they might be involved in the dental pulp inflammation during orthodontic tooth movement. However, the relationships between neuropeptides and pro-inflammatory cytokines have not been fully elucidated.Materials and methods:Human dental pulp (HDP) fibroblasts were prepared from 6 healthy young volunteers (3 males, 3 females; 15–25 years old) during the course of orthodontic treatment. HDP cells were incubated for 24 h in fresh medium containing 2% FCS in the presence of various concentrations of CGRP (10^–12 to 10^–4 M) and SP (10^–12 to 10^–4 M), and the levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- present in the media were determined using commercially available high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.Results:We examined the effects of stimulation by these neuropeptides on the production of inflammatory cytokines in HDP fibroblasts, and found that the levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF- increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. However, the neuropeptides did not act synergistically to increase cytokine secretion in HDP cells or significantly modify LPS-induced cytokine production by HDP cells.Conclusions:Our results suggest that human pulp fibroblasts may be involved in the progress of inflammation in pulp tissue during orthodontic tooth movement, as they produced large amounts of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF- following stimulation with neuropeptides.Received 2 March 2003; returned for revision 14 July 2003; accepted by M.J. Parnham 17 December 2003     

Inflammatory cytokine levels in paw tissues during development of rat collagen-induced arthritis: Effect of FK506, an inhibitor of T cell activation

Objective and design: To characterize rat collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) on the basis of levels of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 in paw tissues, and further investigate the effect of FK506 (tacrolimus), a potent inhibitor of T cell activation, on cytokine levels.Methods: CIA was induced in female Lewis rats. The volume of hindpaws was measured before and after collagen immunization. TNF-, IL-1 and IL-6 levels in paw tissue extracts were determined by ELISA. Proteoglycan contents of cartilage in femoral heads was measured as an indication of cartilage destruction. To assess the effect of FK506 on inflammatory cytokine levels, rats were orally treated with 5 mg/kg of FK506 from days 14–21.Results: TNF- a level in paw tissues did not significantly change compared to levels found before collagen immunization, throughout development of CIA. In contrast, IL-1 and IL-6 levels in paw tissues significantly increased between day 14 and day 28 after collagen imuninization, when the arthritis was at a developed stage. Therapeutic treatment with FK506 reduced the elevated level of IL-6, but not IL-1, in paw tissue. FK506 treatment was effective in suppressing paw swelling and also recovering the loss of proteoglycan contents in the cartilage.Conclusions: Levels of IL-1 and IL-6, but not TNF- , in paw tissue were upregulated in association with the development of arthritis in rat CIA. These results suggest that IL-1 and IL-6, rather than TNF- , may play important roles at local inflammatory sites in producing joint destruction in rat CIA. FK506 may improve arthritis in established stages of CIA, by reducing the elevated level of IL-6.Received 4 March 2004; returned for revision 2 April 2004; accepted by M. J. Parnham 9 April 2004     

mmLDL通过p38 MAPK通路上调小鼠肠系膜动脉ET受体

目的:探讨弱氧化修饰低密度脂蛋白(mm LDL)是否通过激活p38 MAPK炎症通路上调小鼠肠系膜动脉内皮素(ET)A型(ETA)和B型(ETB)受体。方法:将昆明小鼠分为正常对照组(尾静脉注射生理盐水)、mm LDL组(尾静脉注射mm LDL)、LDL组(尾静脉注射LDL)、mm LDL+SB 203580组(尾静脉注射mm LDL及腹腔注射p38 MAPK抑制剂SB 203580)和mm LDL+DMSO组(尾静脉注射mm LDL及腹腔注射DMSO)。微血管张力描记仪记录ETB受体激动剂角蝰毒素6c和ET-1引起肠系膜动脉收缩的量效曲线;RT-q PCR检测ETB受体、ETA受体和白细胞介素(IL-6)的m RNA表达;ELISA检测血清IL-6的水平;Western blot检测ETB受体、ETA受体、IL-6、p38 MAPK、p-p38MAPK、NF-κB和p-NF-κB的蛋白水平。结果:mm LDL引起ETB受体和ETA受体介导的血管收缩反应显著增强(P<0.01),ETB受体、ETA受体和IL-6的m RNA和蛋白表达显著增加(P<0.01),p-p38 MAPK和p-NF-κB蛋白水平显著升高(P<0.01),血清中IL-6水平显著升高(P<0.01);腹腔注射SB 203580抑制了mm LDL的作用。mm LDL引起的IL-6血清浓度升高分别与ETB受体和ETA受体介导的最大收缩率呈正相关。结论:mm LDL通过激活p38 MAPK通路及下游NF-κB转录因子,提高炎症因子IL-6血清水平,增加小鼠肠系膜动脉IL-6、ETA受体和ETB受体表达,增强ETA受体和ETB受体介导的血管收缩功能。     

瘤型麻风动物模型的NK细胞活性的体外测定

本文报道了瘤型麻风小鼠模型中脾脏NK细胞活性的体外测定,以及加入外源性IL-2对这一活性的影响。结果表明,随着感染时间的延长,小鼠脾脏中NK细胞活性逐渐降低。感染1月小鼠的NK细胞活性明显低于正常小鼠,感染3月小鼠的NK细胞活性较感染1月小鼠更低(P值均<0.01)。将含有IL-2的上清液加入NK细胞活性检测系统中,发现外源性IL-2可逆转感染小鼠的NK细胞活性,使其恢复达正常水平。结合IL-2与NK细胞活性在免疫调节中的作用,对瘤型麻风动物模型的特殊表现作了讨论。     

白细胞介素11基因治疗促进造血的实验研究

白细胞介素１１是一种具有广泛生物学功能的造血生长因子，体内体外实验均显示ＩＬ－１１具有显著的造血促进作用。为了探讨ＩＬ－１１基因治疗应用于造血功能低下疾病的可能性，构建了含人ＩＬ－１１ｃＤＮＡ的逆转录病毒载体，并转染小鼠成纤维系ＮＩＨ－３Ｔ３，经是筛选获得３株表达ＩＬ－１１ 转染细胞亚克隆。     

Ageing and genetic control of immune responsiveness

Ageing is associated with a progressive decline of immune responsiveness to exogenous antigens and increasing incidence of autoimmune phenomena [1,2]. Many studies have been focussed on the mechanisms of the immunologic features of ageing. Alterations in cellular components of the immune system rather than in the extracellular milieu seem to account for most of the variations of immune competence in ageing [3].     

Number of interleukin-4- and interferon-γ-secreting human T cells reactive with tetanus toxoid and the mycobacterial antigen PPD or phytohemagglutinin: distinct response profiles depending on the type of antigen used for activation

The enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay has been proven to be an efficient and sensitive method for the enumeration of single cells secreting antibodies or cytokines. Here we have used this method to determine the number of interleukin-4 (IL-4)- and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-producing cells in in vitro secondary responses to tetanus toxoid (TT) and the mycobacterial antigen (purified protein derivative; PPD) or the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). PHA-induced IL-4 and IFN-γ secretion was well correlated suggesting polyclonal activation of cells. This was not the case with the specific antigens, where PPD preferentially induced IFN-γ- and very few IL-4-producing cells, while TT-induced both IL-4 and IFN-γ. These differences are probably a reflection of the types of immunity the two antigens induce, mycobacteria preferentially inducing a cell-mediated T helper type 1 (Th 1) type of immunity, while immunity to tetanus is an antibody-dependent, Th 2 type of response. In individuals recently boosted with TT, a significant increase in both IL-4- and IFN-γ-producing cells in response to TT was seen at day 7 after boost, followed by decline. This was in contrast to what was seen in response to PPD where an increase of IFN-γ-producing cells after the TT boost at day 7 persisted for at least 14 days. These results suggest that after an in vivo boost both antigen-specific and nonspecific T cells are activated and that antigen-specific cells home to other organs and therefore may be difficult to demonstrate in the circulation. Our data show that the ELISPOT assay is a powerful tool for determining the frequency of cells secreting cytokines. The assay has several advantages over other assays since it is sensitive, measures the number of actually secreting cells, and avoids the problems of binding of cytokines to their cell-bound or soluble receptors.     

Increased phagocytic capacity of the blood,but decreased phagocytic activity per individual circulating neutrophil after an ultradistance run

The effect of a long strenuous endurance exercise on the phagocytic function of neutrophils was examined. 9 athletes [7 males, 2 females, age: 36–68 years, body mass: 64 (SD 10) kg, height: 175 (SD 10) cm] completed a competetive 100 km run in 8:07 (median value; range: 7:29–9:50 hours). In a whole blood assay the phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli, the receptor density of the Fc receptor 3 (CD16) and the complement receptor 3 (CD11b, direct immunofluorescence) of neutrophils were measured on a per cell basis by flow cytometry before and up to 3 hours after the race. The phagocytic rate (percentage of neutrophils incorporating bacteria) was unchanged after exercise, whereas the phagocytic activity (number of incorporated bacteria per cell) was significantly reduced by –34 (SD 8) % (Wilcoxon test, P<0.001). The total phagocytic capacity of the blood increased 2-3fold post exercise. The surface antigen expressions of CD11b and CD16 were unaffected by the ultradistance run. The results indicate either a reduced phagocytic function of neutrophils on a single cell basis or the mobilization of neutrophils of the marginal pool with a lower phagocytic activity. However, after a long endurance exercise the phagocytotic capacity of the blood was enhanced due to increased cell concentrations.