Colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor protein expression is a specific marker for goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) macrophage progenitors and their differentiated cell types

Signaling through the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) mediates the proliferation, differentiation, and activation of macrophages and their progenitors. In this study we report on the use of an anti-goldfish CSF-1R antibody to specifically recognize a population of CSF-1R positive cells from goldfish tissues. Furthermore, using our previously characterized primary kidney macrophage culture system, we show that CSF-1R positive cells include monocytes, macrophages, and their progenitor cells. Freshly isolated progenitor cells had a higher median florescent intensity ratio than those progenitor cells cultured for up to four days. The decrease in CSF-1R expression on the progenitor cells coincides with the appearance and development of monocytes and macrophages. Monocytes were consistently CSF-1R⁺ and maintained the high level of CSF-1R expression as they developed into macrophages. Like that of mammalian systems, CSF-1R is expressed on all macrophage sub-populations (progenitors, monocytes, macrophages), and CSF-1R expression increases with macrophage development in teleosts.     

Growth factors of lower vertebrates: characterization of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) macrophage colony-stimulating factor-1

Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) regulates mononuclear cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The functions of CSF-1 are well documented in mammals; however, little is known about CSF-1 biology in lower vertebrates. This is the first report on the identification and functional characterization of a fish CSF-1 molecule expressed highly in the spleen and in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated monocytes. Goldfish CSF-1 is a 199-amino acid protein that possesses the required cysteine residues to form important intra-chain and inter-chain disulfide bonds that allow CSF-1 to form a functional homodimer and to interact with its high affinity receptor, CSF-1R. Recombinant goldfish CSF-1 formed a homodimer and bound to the soluble goldfish CSF-1R. The addition of the recombinant CSF-1 to sorted goldfish progenitor cells, monocytes, and macrophages induced the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages and the proliferation of monocyte-like cells. The proliferation of these cells was abrogated by addition of an anti-CSF-1R antibody as well as the soluble CSF-1R. The ability of the soluble CSF-1R to inhibit CSF-1-induced proliferation represents a novel mechanism for the regulation of CSF-1 function.     

The effect of human recombinant macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) on the murine mononuclear phagocyte system in vivo

Human recombinant macrophage CSF (CSF-1) was administered i.v. to mice. After four daily injections there was a dose-dependent increase in the responsiveness of bone marrow cells from the treated animals to CSF-1 in vitro. At the highest dose tested (20,000 U/day) there was a selective 10-fold increase in the circulating population of mature monocytes. CSF-1 treatment also increased the macrophage content of the liver and peritoneal cavity and caused splenomegaly. The macrophages isolated from the peritoneum of CSF-1-treated animals were larger and expressed higher levels of the macrophage-specific F4/80 Ag. These data demonstrate that CSF-1 can act as a circulating regulator of the mononuclear phagocyte system.     

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) induces pro-inflammatory gene expression and enhances antimicrobial responses of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) macrophages

We report on the regulation of pro-inflammatory functions of goldfish macrophages and induction of gene expression by recombinant goldfish CSF-1 (rgCSF-1). Recombinant goldfish TNFα-2 (rg TNFα-2), rgIFNγ but not rgTGFβ induced time-dependent increase of CSF-1 expression in macrophages. Treatment of goldfish macrophages with rgCSF-1 increased expression of several immune genes including CXCL-8 (= IL-8), CCL-1, TNFα-1, TNFα-2, IL-1β-1, IL-1β-2, IL-12-p35, IL-12-p40, IFN, IL-10 and iNOS A and B. The rgCSF-1 treatment did not significantly alter the mRNA levels of TGFβ and NRAMP in macrophages up to 48 h post treatment. However, at 72 h post treatment, the expression of TGFβ increased whereas that of NRAMP decreased. The treatment of macrophages with rgCSF-1 enhanced their respiratory burst and nitric oxide responses that were abrogated after addition of soluble CSF-1 receptor (sCSF-1R) to cell cultures. Macrophages exhibited a concentration-dependent chemotactic response toward rgCSF-1 as well as an increase in phagocytic activity that was abrogated after addition of sCSF-1R to cell cultures. Our results indicate that in addition to being an important growth factor of goldfish macrophages, rgCSF-1 also plays a central role in the regulation of their pro-inflammatory responses.     

Role of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the regulation of murine alveolar macrophage proliferation and differentiation

Granulocyte/macrophage (GM)-CSF is one of the hemopoietic growth factors that stimulates neutrophilic granulocyte and macrophage production by bone marrow progenitor cells. In this study, the effect of GM-CSF on the growth and differentiation of murine pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) was investigated. In the presence of GM-CSF, normal murine PAM were induced to proliferate and develop into macrophage colonies with a dose-response curve similar to that of bone marrow GM colony-forming cells. PAM also responded to CSF-1, a lineage-restricted growth factor, but required much higher doses of CSF-1 and a longer incubation time for optimal colony formation. The proliferative response of PAM to CSF-1, however, was greatly enhanced by the concurrent addition of low doses of GM-CSF. In contrast, low doses of CSF-1 failed to potentiate the proliferative response of PAM to GM-CSF. Macrophages derived from GM-CSF cultures were rounder and less stretched and possessed less FcR-mediated phagocytic activity than cells produced in CSF-1 cultures. A study with hydrocortisone-induced monocytopenia showed that nearly one half of lung macrophages may be sustained by local proliferation of PAM without the continuous migration of blood monocytes. This study suggests that GM-CSF may play a major role in the production of PAM by two modes of action, 1) direct stimulation of cell proliferation and 2) enhancement of their responsiveness to CSF-1, thereby producing more mature and functionally competent macrophages.     

Colony-stimulating factor-induced monocyte survival and differentiation into macrophages in serum-free cultures

The role of mononuclear phagocyte-specific colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) in human monocyte to macrophage differentiation was investigated. The addition of 1000 U/ml of CSF-1 to serum-free monocyte cultures resulted in monocyte survival comparable to that in cultures containing 5% AB serum, whereas cells in serum- and CSF-1-free medium lost their viability in 3 to 5 days. The requirement for CSF-1 coincided with the time (40 to 64 hr of culture) when the major changes in morphology and biochemical function took place in monocytes undergoing differentiation into macrophages. If CSF-1 was removed from the cultures before this time, death of the monocytes resulted. In cultures containing CSF-1, as in serum containing cultures, the lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase was enhanced 10- to 20-fold by day 4 to 5. Superoxide production in response to phorbol myristic acetate was maintained in CSF-1 cultured monocytes, but declined with time in monocytes cultured in serum. The expression of monocyte-macrophage antigens p150.95 (LeuM5), OKM1, LeuM3, Fc receptors (32.2), and HLA-DR had increased in CSF-1 containing cultures at day 4. When antigen expression was analyzed at day 2 to 3, when cell size and 90 degrees scatter characteristics were still identical to control serum-free cultures, only p150.95, HLA-DR and FcR expression were enhanced by CSF-1. Low amounts of lipopolysaccharide (0.1 ng/ml) were found to enhance monocyte survival in the absence of added CSF-1. Lipopolysaccharide-containing cultures were found to produce CSF-1 (up to 450 U/ml, as detected by radioimmunoassay). Lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram/ml), however, did not induce enhanced expression of the maturation-related antigens. Based on these observations we conclude that CSF-1 is enhancing human monocyte survival and is involved in the events leading to the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages.     

Macrophage growth factor CSF-1 stimulates human monocyte production of interferon, tumor necrosis factor, and colony stimulating activity

CSF-1, a macrophage colony stimulating factor that causes proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells, may also have effects on mature cells. Human peripheral blood monocytes were used to examine this possibility. Monocytes, separated from normal blood by density centrifugation and adherence, were incubated for 3 days with or without CSF-1 (1,000 U/ml, purified from the MIA PaCa pancreatic carcinoma line). The two groups of cells were then washed and tested for the ability, when induced, to produce several factors. When induced for 2 days with LPS and PMA, the monocytes produced a factor that was cytotoxic to L929 cells, and this factor was completely neutralized by polyclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor. The cells preincubated with CSF-1 consistently produced an average of 12 times more of this factor than cells not exposed to CSF-1. Monocytes induced with LPS and PMA also produced a colony stimulating activity, as measured by colony formation when using mouse bone marrow. Cells preincubated with CSF-1, washed, and induced with LPS and PMA produced more than three times as much activity compared with control monocytes. When monocytes were induced with poly-I.C, 22-fold higher levels of interferon were produced by the cells exposed to CSF-1. These results show that CSF-1 has direct stimulating effects on mature human monocytes, and suggest that the macrophage growth factor may have clinical application in the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.     

Regulation of colony-stimulating factor 1-dependent macrophage precursor proliferation by type beta transforming growth factor

Transforming growth factor (TGF) type beta, a potent growth modulator, has recently been shown to inhibit the proliferation and function of several types of immune cells. This report investigates the effect of human platelet purified TGF-beta on CSF-1-induced proliferation in liquid cultures. We used two cell types to study TGF-beta effects, bone marrow precursors and a c-myc partially transformed CSF-1-dependent macrophage cell line designated BMM-8. We found that CSF-1-dependent proliferation of both cell types was strongly inhibited by TGF-beta in a dose-dependent manner. Approximately 1.6 and 8 pM TGF-beta inhibited 50% of CSF-1 proliferation of the bone marrow precursors and BMM-8, respectively. Inhibition appeared to be reversible, as bone marrow and BMM-8 cells proliferated in response to CSF-1 after preincubation of the cells in TGF-beta. Interestingly, inhibition of hematopoietic cells was observed only after a lag period of 24 to 48 h after onset of cultures. TGF-beta inhibition was partially diminished when increasing amounts of CSF-1 were added to the cultures. TGF-beta inhibition did not involve secondary inhibitory factors such as IFN or PG, both of which have been previously shown to suppress CSF responsiveness. Finally, flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle indicated that within 48 h, TGF-beta-treated BMM-8 cells were prevented from entering S phase. These results suggest that TGF-beta may play an important role in the negative regulation of macrophage production.     

Stimulation of macrophage growth and multinucleated cell formation in rat bone marrow cultures by insulin-like growth factor I

In this study the effects of rhIGF-I on macrophage differentiation and growth have been studied using liquid suspension cultures of rat bone marrow cells. IGF-I stimulated macrophage growth in a dose-dependent manner, a maximum response was found at a concentration of 20 ng/ml. IGF-I effects could be ascribed to stimulation of both postmitotic and proliferating cells. A remarkable finding was that IGF-I induced formation of multinucleated cells (MNC). The MNC resembled macrophage-like cells (AcP, NSE positive). A monoclonal antibody to rhIGF-I significantly inhibited IGF-stimulated macrophage growth and MNC formation. A specific antibody to mouse CSF-1 reduced IGF-stimulated macrophage growth in mouse bone marrow cultures indicating that IGF-I effects could, at least in part, be ascribed to endogenous production of CSF-1. These findings indicate that IGF-I in concert with locally induced CSF-1 can influence the differentiation and growth of bone marrow-derived macrophages.     

Interleukin 3 (IL 3) regulates the in vitro proliferation of both blood monocytes and peritoneal exudate macrophages: synergism between a macrophage lineage-specific colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) and IL 3

The effect of interleukin 3 (IL 3) on regulation of macrophage proliferation was examined. Although IL 3 alone stimulates the colony formation in bone marrow cells, it fails to stimulate the colony formation by both peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) and blood monocytes. However, IL 3 greatly enhances the proliferative capacity of both PEM and monocytes in responding to suboptimal concentrations of CSF-1. At supraoptimal concentrations of CSF-1, IL 3 did not increase the number of colonies, but greatly increased colony size. Kinetic studies showed that IL 3 enhances CSF-1-induced macrophage proliferation by shortening the cell doubling time. Monocytes were more sensitive to the action of IL 3 and possessed higher proliferative potential than PEM. Binding studies with radioactive labeled CSF-1 (125I-CSF-1) showed that IL 3 treatment induced an increased expression of CSF-1 receptor activity by PEM which appears to be a result of increased number of available receptor sites. The effect of IL 3 on the expression of receptor activity is both dose- and time-dependent. IL 3 also augments the rate of receptor-mediated CSF-1 endocytosis by PEM which appears to be a direct result of increased expression of CSF-1 binding sites. These results demonstrate that, in addition to stimulating the growth and differentiation of several blood cell lineages by hemopoietic stem cells, IL 3 also possesses the ability to modulate CSF-1 receptors, thereby affecting proliferation of more mature blood monocytes and tissue-derived macrophages.     

The colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor is expressed on dendritic cells during differentiation and regulates their expansion

The lineage of dendritic cells (DC), and in particular their relationship to monocytes and macrophages, remains obscure. Furthermore, the requirement for the macrophage growth factor CSF-1 during DC homeostasis is unclear. Using a transgenic mouse in which the promoter for the CSF-1R (c-fms) directs the expression of enhanced GFP in cells of the myeloid lineage, we determined that although the c-fms promoter is inactive in DC precursors, it is up-regulated in all DC subsets during differentiation. Furthermore, plasmacytoid DC and all CD11c(high) DC subsets are reduced by 50-70% in CSF-1-deficient osteopetrotic mice, confirming that CSF-1 signaling is required for the optimal differentiation of DC in vivo. These data provide additional evidence that the majority of tissue DC is of myeloid origin during steady state and supports a close relationship between DC and macrophage biology in vivo.     

Human macrophage colony-stimulating factor heterogeneity results from alternative mRNA splicing, differential glycosylation, and proteolytic processing

The single gene for human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, or CSF-1) generates multiple mRNA species that diverge within the coding region. We have characterized translation products of these mRNA species from native and recombinant sources. Immunoblots of reduced native M-CSF indicate that multiple glycosylated species ranging from 25 kd to 200 kd are secreted by human monocytes and cell lines. In contrast, CV-1 cells expressing a short M-CSF clone secrete only 24 kd recombinant M-CSF. Synthetic peptide antibodies were developed to distinguish between secreted recombinant M-CSF from long and short mRNA splicing variants. Immunoblot analysis indicates that alternative mRNA splicing generates some M-CSF protein heterogeneity. Most secreted MIA PaCa-2 M-CSF reacts with long-clone-specific antibody. Lectin affinity chromatography shows that variable glycosylation contributes significantly to MIA PaCa-2 M-CSF size heterogeneity. In addition, cell lysates also contain larger M-CSF species that apparently undergo proteolytic processing before secretion. The data indicate that M-CSF protein heterogeneity results from both pre- and post-translational processing.     

The nature of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated hemopoiesis, colony stimulating factor (CSF) requirement for colony formation, and the effect of TPA on [125I]CSF-1 binding to macrophages

The tumor-promoting phorbol diester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was found to act both independently of and synergistically with the mononuclear phagocyte specific colony stimulating factor (CSF-1) to stimulate the formation of macrophage colonies in cultures of mouse bone marrow cells. In contrast, TPA did not synergize with other CSF subclasses that stimulate the formation of eosinophil, eosinophil-neutrophil, neutrophil, neutrophil-macrophage, and macrophage colonies, nor with either of the two factors required for megakaryocyte colony formation, megakaryocyte CSF, and megakaryocyte colony potentiator. In serum-free mouse bone marrow cell cultures TPA retained the ability to independently stimulate macrophage colony formation. However, TPA-stimulated colony formation was suboptimal and delayed in serum-free cultures that could support optimal colony formation in the presence of CSF-1. In addition, TPA did not directly compete with [125I]CSF-1 at 4 degrees C for its specific, high-affinity receptor on mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages. However, a 2-hour preincubation of the cells with TPA at 37 degrees caused almost complete loss of the receptor. Thus, TPA is able to mimic CSF-1 in its effects on CSF-1 responsive cells in some aspects (the spectrum of target cells, the morphology of resulting colonies, and the ability to down-regulate the CSF-1 receptor) but it is not able to mimic CSF-1 in other ways (TPA alone cannot stimulate the full CSF-1 response, TPA does not stimulate the most primitive CSF-1 responsive cells, and TPA does not bind to the CSF-1 receptor).     

Arterial colony stimulating factor-1 influences atherosclerotic lesions by regulating monocyte migration and apoptosis

Previous studies have shown that colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) deficiency dramatically reduced atherogenesis in mice. In this report we investigate this mechanism and explore a therapeutic avenue based on inhibition of CSF-1 signaling. Lesions from macrophage colony stimulating factor-1 (Csf1)^+/− mice showed increased numbers of apoptotic macrophages, decreased overall macrophage content, and inflammation. In vitro studies indicated that CSF-1 is chemotactic for monocytes. Bone marrow transplantation studies suggested that vascular cell-derived, rather than macrophage-derived, CSF-1 is responsible for the effect on atherosclerosis. Consistent with previous studies, CSF-1 affected lesion development in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that pharmacological inhibition of CSF-1 might achieve similar results. Indeed, we observed that treatment of hyperlipidemic mice with a CSF-1 receptor kinase inhibitor inhibited plaque progression. This observation was accompanied by a reduction in the expression of adhesion factors (ICAM-1), macrophage markers (F4/80), inflammatory cytokines (Il-6, Il-1β), and macrophage matrix degradation enzymes (MMP-9). We conclude that the M-CSF pathway contributes to monocyte recruitment and macrophage survival and that this pathway is a potential target for therapeutic intervention.     

Roles of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family in macrophage responses to colony stimulating factor-1 addition and withdrawal.

Colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) (or macrophage CSF) is involved in the survival, proliferation, differentiation, and activation of cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Because the mitogen-activated protein kinase family members extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase are widely implicated in such cellular functions, we measured their activity in growing and growth-arrested cultures of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM), as well as their stimulation by saturating concentrations of CSF-1. ERK activity was approximately 2-fold higher in cycling BMM compared with growth-arrested BMM; in addition, CSF-1-stimulated BMM DNA synthesis was partially inhibited by PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK activation, suggesting a role for a mitogen-activated protein-ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK pathway in the control of DNA synthesis but surprisingly not in the control of cyclin D1 mRNA or c-myc mRNA expression. The suppression of BMM apoptosis by CSF-1, i.e. enhanced survival, was not reversed by PD98059, suggesting that a MEK/ERK pathway is not involved in this process. Using a quantitative kinase assay, it was found that CSF-1 gave a slight increase in BMM p38 activity, supporting prior data that CSF-1 is a relatively weak stimulator of inflammatory cytokine production in monocytes/macrophages. Relatively high concentrations of the p38 inhibitor, SKB202190, suppressed CSF-1-stimulated BMM DNA synthesis. No evidence could be obtained for the involvement of p38 activity in BMM apoptosis following CSF-1 withdrawal. We were not able to show that CSF-1 enhanced BMM JNK-1 activity to a significant extent; again, no role could be found for JNK-1 activity in the BMM apoptosis occurring after CSF-1 removal.     

Colony-stimulating factor 1 activates protein kinase C in human monocytes.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) is required for the survival, proliferation and differentiation of monocytes. We previously demonstrated that the CSF-1 receptor is linked to a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and that the induction of Na+ influx by CSF-1 is a pertussis toxin-sensitive event. The present studies have examined activation of protein kinase C as a potential intracellular signaling event induced by the activated CSF-1 receptor. The results demonstrate that CSF-1 stimulates translocation of protein kinase C activity from the cytosol to membrane fractions. This activation of protein kinase C was sensitive to pretreatment of the monocytes with pertussis toxin. Lipid distribution studies demonstrated that phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major phospholipid in human monocytes. Moreover, the results indicate that CSF-1 stimulation is associated with decreases in PC, but not in phosphatidylinositol (PI), levels. The absence of an effect of CSF-1 on PI turnover was confirmed by the lack of changes in inositol phosphate production. In contrast, CSF-1 stimulation was associated with increased hydrolysis of PC to phosphorylcholine and diacylglycerol (DAG) in both intact monocytes and cell-free assays. Furthermore, the increase in PC turnover induced by CSF-1 was sensitive to pertussis toxin. The results also demonstrate that the induction of Na+ influx by CSF-1 is inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine and the isoquinoline derivative H7, but not by HA1004.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

CSF-1-induced resistance to viral infection in murine macrophages

Murine peritoneal thioglycollate-elicited macrophages were cultured for 3 days in the presence or absence of highly purified human macrophage colony stimulating factor (CSF-1). The cells were then challenged with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) for 24 hr. Ability to resist viral infection was measured in two ways. First, macrophage viability after infection with VSV was measured by washing to remove dead cells, staining the remaining cells with crystal violet, and reading absorbance. Second, a yield reduction assay was used to measure viral replication in the macrophage cultures. Cells treated with CSF-1 (500 to 2000 U/ml) and infected with VSV looked similar microscopically to uninfected cells and had absorbance values twofold to threefold higher than those of infected cultures not treated with CSF-1. The CSF-1-treated cultures also had a virus titer one log lower than that of the untreated cultures. Treatment with partially purified murine CSF-1 induced a similar reduction in virus titer, whereas other murine CSF tested (purified murine GM-CSF, lung-conditioned medium that contains GM-CSF and G-CSF, and WEHI-3B-conditioned medium as a source of IL 3) had little to no effect on virus titer. Antibody to murine IFN-alpha/beta added to the macrophage cultures inhibited the protective effect of CSF-1, indicating that the CSF-1 effect was due to induction of endogenous IFN. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (1 ng/ml) had some protective effect, which was blocked with polymyxin B. Polymyxin B did not inhibit the effect of CSF-1.