Auto-protective redox buffering systems in stimulated macrophages

Background

Macrophages, upon encounter with micro-organisms or stimulated by cytokines, produce various effector molecules aimed at destroying the foreign agents and protecting the organism. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are front line molecules exerting strong cytotoxic activities against micro-organisms and many cells, including macrophages themselves. Using cells of the murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or interferon (IFN-γ), which induce strong endogenous NO production, we examined by which mechanisms a fraction of activated macrophages protect themselves from nitrosative stress and manage to escape destruction?

Results

We observed that survivors (10–50% depending on the experiments) had acquired a resistant phenotype being capable to survive when further exposed in vitro to an apoptosis inducing dose of the NO donor compound DETA-NO. These cells expressed an increased steady-state levels of Mn SOD, CuZn SOD and catalase mRNA (130–200%), together with an increased activity of the corresponding enzymes. Intracellular concentration of glutathione was also increased (× 3.5 fold at 6 hours, still maintained × 5.2 fold at 48 hours). Neither mRNA for glutathione peroxydase, γ-glutamylcysteine synthase and glutathione reductase, nor thioredoxine and thioredoxine reductase, were significantly modified. Additional experiments in which RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS and/or IFN-γ in the presence of relatively specific inhibitors of both Mn and Cu/Zn SOD, aminotriazol (ATZ) catalase inhibitor and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) glutathione inhibitor, showed that inhibiting LPS-induced up-regulation of intracellular redox buffering systems also prevented acquisition of the resistant phenotype.

Conclusions

Our data suggest a direct causal relationship between survival of a fraction of macrophages and a up-regulation of key sets of auto-protective intracellular redox buffering systems, occurring simultaneously with modulation of expression of apoptotic molecules of the Bcl₂-Bcl-_XL/Bax-Bad family.     

Inhibition of tumor growth by histoincompatible cells expressing interleukin-2.

Murine tumor cells engineered to express IL-2 have been shown to be rejected by the syngeneic host, which is then protected against a subsequent tumorigenic challenge. To assess whether IL-2 has to be produced by the tumor cells themselves, or whether its local delivery would be sufficient to promote such beneficial effects, the syngeneic tumor cells were co-inoculated with allogeneic or xenogeneic cells secreting IL-2, selected after gene transfection. In several murine systems, it was observed that this is an efficient approach for controlling the growth of the syngeneic tumor. However, animals which rejected the tumor were not protected against a subsequent challenge. Several lines of evidence indicate that NK cells play a major role in tumor rejection induced by the IL-2 expressing histoincompatible vector cells. Thus, while local delivery of IL-2 in the vicinity of a tumor might not be sufficient to promote a systemic long-term specific antitumor immune response, it can control the growth of the primary syngeneic tumor. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of using genetically engineered histoincompatible cells (which are rejected by the host's immune system) as a transient delivery system in vivo.     

Control of B cell lymphoma recognition via natural killer inhibitory receptors implies a role for human Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells in tumor immunity

The Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell receptor (TCR) is expressed by most human γδ T cells. We show here that cytotoxic T lymphocytes of the Vγ9/Vδ2 subset, but not of the Vδ1 subset of human γδ T cells, express natural killer inhibitory receptors (KIR) with specificity for different HLA class I alleles that down-regulate TCR-mediated signaling in response to HLA class I-expressing B cell lymphomas. Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell clones with a T helper cell phenotype lack KIR and produce lymphokines in response to most human B cell lymphomas, just as they do upon recognition of the HLA class l-deficient human Burkitt's lymphoma Daudi. Thus, human Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells have an innate specificity for nonpolymorphic cell surface structures expressed by many lymphoma cells and their cytotoxic activity is controlled by KIR. These results imply a general role of human Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells in the defense against hematopoietic tumors that is distinct from NK cells.     

Activation by PHA of CD8 lymphocytes into clonal colony forming cells: Role of interleukin-1

Monoclonal T cell colonies can be grown in agar culture from quiescent T lymphocytes under PHA stimulation, provided that (1) a low number of T lymphocytes (5 × 10⁴/ml) is seeded, (2) IL-2 is added to the culture, and (3) a high number of accessory B cells (5 × 10⁵/ml) is present in contact with the T lymphocytes. Under these culture conditions the colony progenitors can be ascribed to the CD4 subset, whereas CD8 lymphocytes do not generate colonies. This finding is surprising since both CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes may be cloned in liquid culture. We now report the appropriate conditions required to grow cytotoxic CD8 lymphocyte colonies in agar. CD8 colony growth is dependent upon IL-2-IL-2 receptor interaction and is inhibited by anti-IL-2 receptor antibodies. In addition to PHA, accessory B cells and IL-2, an additional signal provided by recombinant IL-1 is necessary for CD8 colony formation. Exogenous IL-1 can be replaced by irradiated CD4 lymphocytes which stimulate the expression of membrane IL-1 activity in the accessory B cells. In addition, colony growth from quiescent but not preactivated CD8 lymphocytes is inhibited by anti-IL-1 antibodies. Altogether, the data show that an IL-1 signal is required for the induction of IL-2 responsive IL-2 receptors on quiescent CD8 colony forming cells.     

Epstein-Barr virus-containing B-cell line produces an interleukin 1 that it uses as a growth factor

We report the establishment of a spontaneous interleukin 1 (IL-1)-producing subclone derived from the human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-containing B-lymphoblastoid cell line (721 LCL) and show that the IL-1 produced by this B-cell subclone is distinct from other types of IL-1. The parental cell line 84.5, a deletion mutant of the 721 LCL cell line, can be induced to produce IL-1 activity when stimulated by certain inducers such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in the presence of fetal calf serum. From this parental 721/84.5 clone, a subclone, termed 3B6, has been developed. This 3B6 subclone has an immature B-cell phenotype, expresses only HLA class II DP subregion antigens, and spontaneously releases IL-1 in the culture supernatant with relatively few inhibitory molecules under serum-free culture conditions. The 3B6-derived IL-1 was purified from 3B6 conditioned medium with a three-step procedure. The molecular weight of this IL-1 is 13,500, and the isoelectric point values are pH 4.9 and 5.1 without any component focusing near pH 7. The N-terminal amino acid sequence differs markedly from those reported for the two IL-1 species produced by monocytes. The purified material shares several biological properties with monocyte IL-1, since it could induce the proliferation of murine thymocytes, the production of interleukin 2 by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated cloned HSB2 T cells, and the proliferation of human fibroblasts. However, this IL-1 activity could not be blocked by polyclonal anti-monocytic IL-1 antibodies, and, more importantly, it was not pyrogenic in rabbits. Finally, it promotes the growth of B-cell clones derived from the parental 721/84.5 lines in the absence of fetal calf serum, which suggests that it could act as an autocrine growth factor in this Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line.     

Mixed lymphocyte reactivity of human lymphocytes primed in vitro. I. Secondary response to allogenic lymphocytes.

In order to study the mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity of human lymphocytes primed in vitro, a nucleopore culture chamber technique allowing human lymphocytes to be cultured for a period of at least two weeks has been developed. During the primary culture period in nucleopore chambers, human lymphocytes were sensitized against mitomycin-treated allogenic stimulating cells. It was shown that the stimulated lymphocytes underwent a blastogenic reaction and the results suggest a reversion to the state of small, resting, primed lymphocytes. In vitro primed lymphocytes displayed allogenic memory. This was characteristic of a secondary response, which is shown by the following: 1) acceleration, the peak of thymidine incorporation occurring on day 4,2) specificity, the accelerated response was observed only when the primed lymphocytes were confronted with the cell used for priming. Contact with a third party cell did not produce this kind of activation. 3) Amplitude; the peak DNA synthesis response was greater than that of unprimed lymphocytes cultivated for the same length of time.     

Close genetic relationships between determinants of the HLA-D region detected by MLR-I, MLR-II, and B-lymphocyte serology.

The human Ia equivalent (Ly-Li system) or a very closely linked gene plays a preponderant role in secondary MLR, and also has an additive effect on the intensity of the primary MLR. PLTs developed in Li phenoidentity seem to detect still other determinants.