IL-4 inhibits H2O2 production and antileishmanial capacity of human cultured monocytes mediated by IFN-gamma

The effect of IL-4 on the IFN-gamma-induced state of activation of cultured human monocytes was investigated with regard to their ability to produce hydrogen peroxide and their antileishmanial capacity towards the intracellular parasite Leishmania donovani. IL-4 was found to inhibit the IFN-gamma-dependent hydrogen peroxide production of monocytes. Treatment of monocytes with IFN-gamma (200 to 600 U/ml) for 48 h increased the hydrogen peroxide production fourfold above background. Coincubation of the monocytes with IL-4 (1 to 1000 U/ml) and IFN-gamma (200 to 600 U/ml) inhibited this increase by 50 to 100%. IL-4 alone did not modulate the hydrogen peroxide production of monocytes. Pretreatment of monocytes with IL-4 for 20 min to 3 h was already effective in preventing the IFN-gamma response. Addition of IL-4 not later than 6 h after the start of incubation with IFN-gamma was necessary for an optimal inhibitory effect. IL-4 also inhibited the IFN-gamma-induced antileishmanial capacity of monocytes: IFN-gamma (1000 U/ml) induced a 54 +/- 10% reduction in the number of parasites. Monocytes treated with combinations of IL-4 (100 to 1000 U/ml) and IFN-gamma (1000 U/ml) were unable to reduce the parasite numbers. IL-4 alone did not alter the uptake of Leishmania donovani nor induce antileishmanial activity. These results demonstrate that IL-4 disables human cultured monocytes to respond to IFN-gamma activation.     

Human monocyte activation for cytotoxicity against intracellular Leishmania donovani amastigotes: induction of microbicidal activity by interferon-gamma

Macrophages are pivotal cells in interactions of man and leishmania. Leishmanial disease results from intracellular infection of macrophages: parasitized cells are seen in smears or biopsy specimens of lesions; macrophages cultured in vitro support replication of parasites. Paradoxically, parasite destruction is also mediated by macrophages, which become highly cytotoxic after exposure to immune lymphocytes or their lymphokine (LK) products. The precise molecular mechanisms by which lymphocytes or LK induce macrophage activation for leishmanicidal activity, however, are not yet known. We analyzed interactions of leishmania amastigotes with human monocytes cultured in vitro as a nonadherent cell pellet. Leishmania donovani and L. major replicated in freshly isolated monocytes. Monocytes treated with greater than 200 IU/ml of the LK, human Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), destroyed tumor cells and L. donovani, but not L. major. Phorbol myristate acetate, endotoxic bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and recombinant human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta did not induce cytotoxicity. The time course for induction of cytotoxicity contrasted sharply with that of previously described monocyte antileishmanial activity: IFN-gamma induced cytotoxicity even when added after infection with L. donovani; induction of cytotoxicity did not require that IFN-gamma be present throughout the period of culture after infection: a 30-min preinfection pulse of IFN-gamma was sufficient to induce 70% of maximal activity; and freshly isolated monocytes and cells cultured for up to 4 days in vitro prior to infection and IFN-gamma treatment were equally responsive to IFN-gamma. These studies provide convincing evidence for intracellular cytotoxicity for L. donovani by freshly isolated human monocytes. This system provides an important base for further analysis of induction and expression of cytotoxic mechanisms against leishmania and other intracellular organisms that cause human disease.     

In vitro and in vivo activation of human mononuclear phagocytes by interferon-gamma. Studies with normal and AIDS monocytes

To determine the potential immunotherapeutic role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) as a mononuclear phagocyte-activating agent, we examined the effector cell function of peripheral blood monocytes from healthy donors and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients after either in vitro and/or in vivo treatment with recombinant (r) IFN-gamma. When assayed immediately after a 24-hr in vitro pulse with 300 U/ml, normal and AIDS monocytes behaved similarly with little augmentation of their intrinsically high levels of H2O2 release and activity against Toxoplasma gondii; in contrast, activity toward the more resistant intracellular pathogen, Leishmania donovani, was appreciably enhanced by rIFN-gamma. In addition, upon testing 4 to 6 days after in vitro pulsing, both normal and AIDS monocytes showed clear evidence of persistent activation in all three assays. The capacity of IFN-gamma to similarly activate monocytes in vivo was confirmed in all ten treated AIDS patients by examining cells before and after 24-hr infusions of 0.03 and 0.5 mg of rIFN-gamma/square meter (M2) of body surface area. For postinfusion monocytes tested after 1 day in culture, H2O2 release and antitoxoplasma activity were essentially unchanged, but antileishmanial effects were augmented. After 5 to 7 days in culture, monocytes from treated patients showed 3.2- to 5.9-fold increases in H2O2-releasing capacity and increases of 49 to 68% and 35 to 61% in intracellular activity against T. gondii and L. donovani, respectively. These results indicate that the human monocyte can be induced by rIFN-gamma to express signs of both immediate and persistent activation and suggest that, as a direct activator of mononuclear phagocytes, rIFN-gamma may also have potential as an immunotherapeutic agent for patients with intracellular infections.     

A lymphokine distinct from interferon-gamma that activates human monocytes to kill Leishmania donovani in vitro

Human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a T cell lymphokine (LK), activates monocytes to kill many intra- and extracellular pathogens. In fact, previous reports assert that all activity in LK for macrophage activation is due to IFN-gamma. To test this assertion, we examined monocyte interactions with amastigotes of Leishmania donovani after treatment with recombinant DNA or affinity-purified leukocyte IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma containing LK. Cells treated with at least 200 IU/ml IFN-gamma were microbicidal for L. donovani. Analysis of IFN-gamma dose responses for induction of microbicidal activity by recombinant IFN-gamma (r-IFN-gamma) and LK, however, documented a striking difference: LK was 25-fold more efficient than r-IFN-gamma at equivalent IFN-gamma titers. This large difference suggested that monocyte activation factor(s) in LK may not be IFN-gamma. Rabbit anti-IFN-gamma completely inhibited antiviral activity in LK but did not abrogate the ability to induce monocyte cytotoxicity against leishmania. Furthermore, removal of IFN-gamma from LK by monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma affinity chromatography or by treatment with anti-IFN-gamma followed by staphylococcal protein A chromatography also did not inhibit LK activity. Fractionation of LK on Sephadex G-100 revealed two activity peaks: one in the 50,000 to 60,000 m.w. range coincident with IFN-gamma, and the other at 25,000 to 30,000 daltons with no IFN-gamma. These studies document LK physicochemically and antigenically distinct from IFN-gamma that activate monocytes to kill L. donovani. Such novel factors may have broad import for the study of macrophage-mediated host defenses and for development of immunotherapeutic regimens.     

Experimental visceral leishmaniasis: production of interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma, tissue immune reaction, and response to treatment with interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma

During the first 2 to 4 weeks of progressive visceral infection with the intracellular protozoan, Leishmania donovani, spleen cells from BALB/c mice failed in response to leishmanial antigen to produce either of the activating T cell-derived lymphokines, interleukin 2 (IL 2) or gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). Four weeks after infection, however, antigen-induced IL 2 and IFN-gamma secretion emerged and coincided with the onset of control over parasite replication and the subsequent killing of greater than 80% of intrahepatic L. donovani. The development of this immunosecretory activity correlated with the hepatic tissue response at the site of parasitized Kupffer cells. This response progressed from Kupffer cell fusion (week 1) to fusion plus a mononuclear cell infiltrate (week 2) to well-organized granuloma formation (weeks 4 to 8). In contrast, T cell-deficient nude BALB/c mice exerted no control over L. donovani, their spleen cells failed to generate antigen-induced IFN-gamma, and at 4 weeks, their livers were devoid of any tissue reaction. Since spleen cells from 2-week infected normal mice did not produce antigen-stimulated IL 2 or IFN-gamma, these mice were treated with recombinant (r) lymphokines. Various protocols using both high and low dose human rIL 2 had no antileishmanial effect. Hepatic parasite replication was completely halted, however, by macrophage-activating doses of murine rIFN-gamma. These results reemphasize that an intact T cell-dependent response is required for successful defense against L. donovani, indicate that this immune response can be measured at both the cellular (secretory) and tissue levels, and confirm that IFN-gamma can exert an antileishmanial effect in vivo.     

Successful therapy of lethal murine visceral leishmaniasis with cystatin involves up-regulation of nitric oxide and a favorable T cell response

The virulence of Leishmania donovani in mammals depends at least in part on cysteine proteases because they play a key role in CD4(+) T cell differentiation. A 6-fold increase in NO production was observed with 0.5 microM chicken cystatin, a natural cysteine protease inhibitor, in IFN-gamma-activated macrophages. In a 45-day BALB/c mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis, complete elimination of spleen parasite burden was achieved by cystatin in synergistic activation with a suboptimal dose of IFN-gamma. In contrast to the case with promastigotes, cystatin and IFN-gamma inhibited the growth of amastigotes in macrophages. Although in vitro cystatin treatment of macrophages did not induce any NO generation, significantly enhanced amounts of NO were generated by macrophages of cystatin-treated animals. Their splenocytes secreted soluble factors required for the induction of NO biosynthesis, and the increased NO production was paralleled by a concomitant increase in antileishmanial activity. Moreover, splenocyte supernatants treated with anti-IFN-gamma or anti-TNF-alpha Abs suppressed inducible NO generation, whereas i.v. administration of these anticytokine Abs along with combined therapy reversed protection against infection. mRNA expression and flow cytometric analysis of infected spleen cells suggested that cystatin and IFN-gamma treatment, in addition to greatly reducing parasite numbers, resulted in reduced levels of IL-4 but increased levels of IL-12 and inducible NO synthase. Not only was this treatment curative when administered 15 days postinfection, but it also imparted resistance to reinfection. These studies provide a promising alternative for protection against leishmaniasis with a switch of CD4(+) differentiation from Th2 to Th1, indicative of long-term resistance.     

Acquired resistance and granuloma formation in experimental visceral leishmaniasis. Differential T cell and lymphokine roles in initial versus established immunity.

In naive BALB/c mice, acquisition of resistance to Leishmania donovani and formation of antileishmanial tissue granulomas are linked expressions that require both L3T4+ and Lyt 2+ cells as well as both IL-2 and IFN-gamma. To determine the mechanisms of established resistance to L. donovani, rechallenged immune BALB/c mice were treated with T cell- and lymphokine-depleting mAb or cyclosporin A. In the liver, resistance to rechallenge was inhibited by treatment with anti-Lyt 2 but not anti-L3T4 mAb. Resistance was also impaired by anti-IL-2 treatment but not by anti-IFN-gamma mAb. The hepatic granulomatous response to rechallenge, however, was not impaired by either anti-Lyt 2 or anti-IL-2 mAb nor by anti-L3T4 or anti-IFN-gamma treatment. In contrast, cyclosporin A suppressed granuloma formation but not antileishmanial activity. These results indicate a particularly important antileishmanial host defense role for Lyt 2+ cells and IL-2 in sensitized animals, and when compared to prior observations in L. donovani-infected naive mice, suggest that 1) discrete T cell- and lymphokine-dependent mechanisms are involved in initial acquisition of resistance vs established immunity, 2) more than one mechanism can mediate the development of tissue granulomas, and 3) granuloma formation by itself may not be required nor necessarily sufficient to confer antimicrobial activity.     

Human mononuclear phagocyte antiprotozoal mechanisms: oxygen-dependent vs oxygen-independent activity against intracellular Toxoplasma gondii

To determine if the oxygen-dependent and -independent antiprotozoal mechanisms with which the human mononuclear phagocyte is equipped to act against Leishmania donovani operate against other intracellular parasites, oxidatively intact and deficient cells were challenged with Toxoplasma gondii. Fresh monocytes and lymphokine- or gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma)-activated macrophages from normal individuals killed 35% and 50% of T. gondii within 6 hr, respectively, and each of these cell populations inhibited the replication of surviving parasites 20 hr after infection. This activity was associated with the capacity to release large amounts of H2O2 (572 to 971 nmol/mg) and to respond to toxoplasma ingestion with respiratory burst activity. Impairing the ability to generate oxygen intermediates by glucose deprivation or treatment with superoxide dismutase, catalase, or mannitol inhibited toxoplasmacidal activity by greater than 80% and permitted a 2.6- to 4.3-fold increase in the number of intracellular toxoplasmas. In contrast to normal cells, fresh monocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) killed less than 8% of toxoplasmas and exerted 50% less toxoplasmastatic activity. However, although associated with the induction of only modest toxoplasmacidal effects (18 to 20% killing), lymphokine stimulation did induce CGD monocytes and macrophages as well as oxidatively inactive human endothelial cells to display near normal levels of toxoplasmastatic activity. Similar to oxygen-dependent mechanisms, the enhancement of oxygen-independent activity by crude lymphokines could be abolished by a monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma antibody and could be achieved by treatment with recombinant IFN-gamma alone. Unstimulated CGD monocytes, however, were found to lose all antitoxoplasma activity after two days in culture, whereas normal cells continued to effectively inhibit T. gondii replication, suggesting that oxygen-independent responses may not actually be required for the normal monocyte to act against T. gondii. Taken together with previous findings with L. donovani, these results indicate that the human mononuclear phagocyte possesses an oxygen-independent antiprotozoal mechanism and that its effects can be enhanced by lymphokines (IFN-gamma), but that nevertheless this cell's primary response to intracellular protozoa is largely oxygen dependent.     

IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis and microbicidal activity in monocytes harboring the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii require membrane TNF and homotypic cell adherence

IFN-gamma is critical for the protection against intracellular bacteria through activation of the antimicrobial machinery of phagocytes. Coxiella burnetii, the etiological agent of Q fever, is a strictly intracellular bacterium that inhabits monocytes/macrophages. We previously showed that IFN-gamma induced C. burnetii killing by promoting the apoptosis of infected monocytes. We show in this study that IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis of infected monocytes was characterized by a time- and dose-dependent activation of caspase-3. IFN-gamma-mediated caspase-3 activation and C. burnetii killing depend on the expression of membrane TNF. Indeed, TNF was transiently expressed on the cell surface of infected monocytes a few hours after IFN-gamma treatment. In addition, anti-TNF Abs inhibited IFN-gamma-mediated caspase-3 activation whereas soluble TNF had no effect on infected cells. Concomitantly, IFN-gamma induced homotypic adherence of C. burnetii-infected monocytes. The latter required the interaction of beta(2) integrins with CD54. When adherence was disrupted by pipetting, by a combination of Abs specific for CD11b, CD18, and CD54, or by an antisense oligonucleotide targeting CD18 mRNA, both cell apoptosis and bacterial killing induced by IFN-gamma were inhibited. Thus, adherence via CD54/beta(2) integrins together with membrane TNF are required to eliminate C. burnetii-infected cells through cell contact-dependent apoptosis. Our results reveal a new component of the antimicrobial arsenal mobilized by IFN-gamma against infection by intracellular bacteria.     

Macrophage activation for antileishmanial defense by an apparently novel mechanism

Activation of macrophages by lymphokines (including interferon-gamma; IFN-gamma) is presently considered to be a major host defense mechanism against a number of intracellular microorganisms. In a series of earlier studies that made use of mice undergoing spontaneous resolution of footpad infections with Leishmania major, we obtained evidence suggesting that a subpopulation of Leishmania-sensitized lymph node T lymphocytes could activate antimicrobial effects in Leishmania-infected macrophages by an apparently lymphokine-independent mechanism. These effector lymphocytes are not cytotoxic to host cells, and their effects are antigen specific and genetically restricted. To more rigorously investigate this apparently novel mechanism of macrophage activation, we examined the effect of blocking lymphokine production with cyclosporin A (CSA) on the capacity of these effector lymphocytes to exert macrophage activating function. Although CSA blocked lymphokines that activate antileishmanial effects, it did not inhibit the antimicrobial capacity of the effector lymphocytes. We also confirmed that IFN-gamma is the major macrophage-activating lymphokine that induces antileishmanial effects; treatment of lymphokine-containing supernatants with anti-IFN-gamma antibody markedly reduced their antimicrobial effects. In contrast, treatment of effector lymphocytes with this antibody failed to reduce their macrophage-activating capacity. We conclude that there exists an apparently novel macrophage-activating mechanism for antimicrobial defense that is independent of soluble lymphokine mediators.     

Leishmania donovani: cellular and humoral immune responses after primary and challenge infections in squirrel monkeys, Saimiri sciureus

Cellular and humoral immune responses were studied in squirrel monkeys after primary and challenge infection with a Khartoum strain (WR 378) of Leishmania donovani. Each of 7 squirrel monkeys, Saimiri sciureus, was inoculated intravenously with 5 X 10(7) amastigotes/kg body weight, and one other monkey (control) was inoculated with uninfected hamster spleen homogenate. Five infected monkeys recovered from visceral leishmaniasis and two infected monkeys died. Three of the five squirrel monkeys which recovered from the primary infection demonstrated acquired resistance when challenged with an intravenous inoculation of 1.0 X 10(8) amastigotes of L. donovani/kg of body weight. Each of these same three monkeys, the two remaining monkeys which recovered from the primary infection and an uninfected control monkey, were challenged subsequently with an intradermal injection of 2.2 X 10(7) promastigotes of L. braziliensis panamensis (WR539) and developed cutaneous lesions. The reactivity of peripheral blood leukocytes from infected squirrel monkeys to phytohemagglutinin was depressed 2 to 10 weeks after infection, and the reactivity to concanavalin A was not affected. Data on responses to pokeweed mitogen were inconclusive. Reactivity to leishmanial antigens was detected at 12 weeks after infection, which coincided with a marked decrease or disappearance of parasites in liver imprints. Two of five surviving squirrel monkeys developed weak delayed skin test responses to leishmanin antigens after 23 weeks; the three remaining monkeys were anergic during the primary infection but developed strong delayed skin test responses to leishmanin antigens at 7 weeks after a challenge with L. donovani. All squirrel monkeys inoculated with L. donovani developed a hyperproteinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and a reversal of the albumin/globulin ratio between 4 to 18 weeks after infection. Plasma IgM and IgG levels were increased between 2 to 18 weeks after infection; much of this increase was due to IgG. Class-specific antileishmanial antibodies, with generally low IgM and high IgG titers, reached a maximum after 14 and 16 weeks, respectively. A correlation was observed between concentration of gamma-globulins and plasma IgM and IgG levels, but not gamma-globulin concentrations and maximum titers of class-specific antileishmanial antibodies. Squirrel monkeys challenged with L. donovani again developed hyperproteinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and increased concentrations of plasma IgM and IgG which correlated with high titers of IgG class-specific antileishmanial antibody 4 weeks after reinoculation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

NK cells regulate CD8+ T cell effector function in response to an intracellular pathogen

We studied the role of NK cells in regulating human CD8+ T cell effector function against mononuclear phagocytes infected with the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Depletion of NK cells from PBMC of healthy tuberculin reactors reduced the frequency of M. tuberculosis-responsive CD8+IFN-gamma+ cells and decreased their capacity to lyse M. tuberculosis-infected monocytes. The frequency of CD8+ IFN-gamma+ cells was restored by soluble factors produced by activated NK cells and was dependent on IFN-gamma, IL-15, and IL-18. M. tuberculosis-activated NK cells produced IFN-gamma, activated NK cells stimulated infected monocytes to produce IL-15 and IL-18, and production of IL-15 and IL-18 were inhibited by anti-IFN-gamma. These findings suggest that NK cells maintain the frequency of M. tuberculosis-responsive CD8+IFN-gamma+ T cells by producing IFN-gamma, which elicits secretion of IL-15 and IL-18 by monocytes. These monokines in turn favor expansion of Tc1 CD8+ T cells. The capacity of NK cells to prime CD8+ T cells to lyse M. tuberculosis-infected target cells required cell-cell contact between NK cells and infected monocytes and depended on interactions between the CD40 ligand on NK cells and CD40 on infected monocytes. NK cells link the innate and the adaptive immune responses by optimizing the capacity of CD8+ T cells to produce IFN-gamma and to lyse infected cells, functions that are critical for protective immunity against M. tuberculosis and other intracellular pathogens.     

Activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo by interferon-gamma

To determine the role of IFN-gamma in the activation of resident mouse peritoneal macrophages, crude macrophage-activating lymphokines were incubated with a monoclonal anti-murine IFN-gamma antibody. This treatment abolished the capacity of mitogen-induced lymphokines to enhance either H2O2 release or activity against the intracellular protozoa Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania donovani. All macrophage-activating factor detected by these assays was also removed by passing the lymphokines over a Sepharose column to which the monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma antibody had been coupled. Therefore, pure murine rIFN-gamma was tested both in vitro and in vivo as a single activating agent. After 48 hr of pretreatment in vitro with 0.01 to 1 antiviral U/ml, macrophage H2O2-releasing capacity was enhanced an average of 6.4-fold; half-maximal stimulation was induced by 0.03 U/ml. Resident macrophages infected with T. gondii half-maximally inhibited parasite replication after 24 hr of preincubation with 0.14 U/ml of rIFN-gamma, and near complete inhibition was achieved by pretreatment with 100 U/ml. Half-maximal leishmanicidal activity was induced by 0.08 U/ml of rIFN-gamma, and 67 to 75% of intracellular L. donovani amastigotes were killed after macrophages were preincubated with 10 to 100 U/ml. Eighteen hours after parenteral injection of rIFN-gamma, peritoneal macrophages displayed a dose-dependent enhancement of H2O2-releasing capacity and antiprotozoal activity. Half-maximal enhancement required 85 to 250 U or rIFN-gamma given i.p. Peritoneal macrophages were also activated by rIFN-gamma injected i.v. and intramuscularly. These results suggest that, in the mouse model, IFN-gamma is likely to be a primary factor within mitogen-induced lymphokines responsible for activating macrophage oxidative metabolism and antiprotozoal activity, and indicate that rIFN-gamma is a potent activator of these effector functions both in vitro and in vivo. These findings provide a rationale for evaluating rIFN-gamma in the treatment of systemic intracellular infections, and indicate that murine models are appropriate for such studies.     

Autocrine type I IFN and contact with endothelium promote the presentation of influenza A virus by monocyte-derived APC

Purified monocytes infected with influenza A virus do not become mature dendritic cells (DCs) and they present viral peptides poorly to autologous memory T cells. In this study, we investigated whether influenza A-infected monocytes matured to DCs with a high capacity to stimulate T cells when they were infected with influenza A virus in a model tissue setting wherein they were cocultured with endothelium grown on a type I collagen matrix. Intercellular interactions with endothelium strongly promoted the Ag-presenting capacity of monocyte-derived cells infected with influenza A virus, and the heterologous coculture system also enhanced production of IFN-alpha by monocytes in the absence of plasmacytoid cells. Production of IFN-alpha in the presence of endothelium correlated with monocyte differentiation to mature DCs and their ability to stimulate proliferation and IFN-gamma production by autologous T cells. Monocyte-derived cells that developed into migratory DCs promoted proliferation of influenza A virus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells, whereas those that developed into macrophages promoted proliferation of CD8(+) T cells only. This onset of APC activity could be partially blocked with Ab to the IFN-alphabeta receptor when monocytes were infected with UV-treated virus, but neutralizing this pathway was inconsequential when monocytes were infected with live virus. Thus, type I IFN and direct contact with endothelium promote development of influenza A virus-presenting activity in monocyte-derived cells in a setting in which this differentiation does not depend on plasmacytoid cells. However, when infected with live influenza virus, the role of type I IFN in mediating differentiation and Ag-presenting capacity is expendable, apparently due to other mechanisms of virus-mediated activation.     

Antileishmanial activity and immune modulatory effects of tannins and related compounds on Leishmania parasitised RAW 264.7 cells

The antileishmanial and immunomodulatory potencies of a total of 67 tannins and structurally related compounds were evaluated in terms of extra- and intra-cellular leishmanicidal effects and macrophage activation for release of nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon (IFN)-like activities. Their effects on macrophage functions were further assessed by expression analysis (iNOS, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18). With few exceptions, e.g., caffeic acid derivatives, these polyphenols revealed little direct toxicity for extracellular promastigote Leishmania donovani or L. major strains. In contrast, many polyphenols appreciably reduced the survival of the intracellular, amastigote parasite form in vitro. Upon activation, e.g., by immune response mediators such as IFN-gamma, macrophages may transform from permissive host to leishmanicidal effector cells. Our data from functional bioassays suggested that the effects of polyphenols on intracellular Leishmania parasites were due to macrophage activation rather than direct antiparasitic activity. Gene expression analyses not only confirmed functional data, they also clearly showed differences in the response of infected macrophages when compared to that of noninfected cells. Conspicuously, infected macrophages showed augmented and prolonged activation of host defense mechanisms, indicating that parasitised macrophages were exquisitely predisposed or "primed" to react to activating molecules such as polyphenols. This promotive effect may be of special benefit, e.g., stimulation of the non-specific immune system selectively at the site of infection and when needed. Although these data provide the basis for an immunological concept of plant polyphenols for their beneficial effects in various infectious conditions, in vivo experiments are essential to prove the therapeutic benefits of polyphenolic immunomodulators.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae-infected monocytes exhibit increased adherence to human aortic endothelial cells

Interactions between monocytes and endothelial cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and monocyte adhesion to arterial endothelium is one of the earliest events in atherogenesis. Work presented in this study examined human monocyte adherence to primary human aortic endothelial cells following monocyte infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, an intracellular pathogen associated with atherosclerosis by a variety of sero-epidemiological, pathological and functional studies. Infected monocytes exhibited enhanced adhesion to aortic endothelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of C. pneumoniae with heat did not effect the organism's capacity to enhance monocyte adhesion, suggesting that heat-stable chlamydial antigens such as chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (cLPS) mediated monocyte adherence. Indeed, treatment of monocytes with cLPS was sufficient to increase monocyte adherence to endothelial cells, and increased adherence of infected or cLPS-treated monocytes could be inhibited by the LPS antagonist lipid X. Moreover, C. pneumoniae-induced adherence could be inhibited by incubating monocytes with a mAb specific to the human beta 2-integrin chain, suggesting that enhanced adherence resulted from increased expression of these adhesion molecules. These data show that C. pneumoniae can enhance the capacity of monocytes to adhere to primary human aortic endothelial cells. The enhanced adherence exhibited by infected monocytes may increase monocyte residence time in vascular sites with reduced wall shear stress and promote entry of infected cells into lesion-prone locations.     

The hamster as a model of human visceral leishmaniasis: progressive disease and impaired generation of nitric oxide in the face of a prominent Th1-like cytokine response

Active human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is characterized by a progressive increase in visceral parasite burden, cachexia, massive splenomegaly, and hypergammaglobulinemia. In contrast, mice infected with Leishmania donovani, the most commonly studied model of VL, do not develop overt, progressive disease. Furthermore, mice control Leishmania infection through the generation of NO, an effector mechanism that does not have a clear role in human macrophage antimicrobial function. Remarkably, infection of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) with L. donovani reproduced the clinicopathological features of human VL, and investigation into the mechanisms of disease in the hamster revealed striking differences from the murine model. Uncontrolled parasite replication in the hamster liver, spleen, and bone marrow occurred despite a strong Th1-like cytokine (IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF/lymphotoxin) response in these organs, suggesting impairment of macrophage effector function. Indeed, throughout the course of infection, inducible NO synthase (iNOS, NOS2) mRNA or enzyme activity in liver or spleen tissue was not detected. In contrast, NOS2 mRNA and enzyme activity was readily detected in the spleens of infected mice. The impaired hamster NOS2 expression could not be explained by an absence of the NOS2 gene, overproduction of IL-4, defective TNF/lymphotoxin production (a potent second signal for NOS2 induction), or early dominant production of the deactivating cytokines IL-10 and TGF-beta. Thus, although a Th1-like cytokine response was prominent, the major antileishmanial effector mechanism that is responsible for control of infection in mice was absent throughout the course of progressive VL in the hamster.     

Stimulus-response coupling in monocytes infected with Leishmania. Attenuation of calcium transients is related to defective agonist-induced accumulation of inositol phosphates.

Mononuclear phagocytes infected with Leishmania have been shown to have defective responses to extracellular stimuli. To investigate the potential relationship of these findings to alterations in calcium-dependent signaling pathways, the regulation of [Ca2+]i concentrations was examined in human peripheral blood monocytes infected with amastigotes of Leishmania donovani. Measurements of [Ca2+]i in fura-2-loaded monocytes were made at the single cell level by microfluorimetry. In normal monocytes, resting [Ca2+]i was 56 +/- 2 nM (mean +/- SEM). In contrast, in monocytes infected with Leishmania there was an approximately twofold increase in basal [Ca2+]i (122 +/- 5 nM, p less than 0.01 vs control). Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin before infection did not abrogate infection-induced increases in basal [Ca2+]i, suggesting that this effect was not mediated via the activation of a G protein coupled to phospholipase C. However, elevated resting [Ca2+]i did correlate with increased rates of 45Ca2+ uptake by infected monocytes. As expected, in response to treatment with 10(-7) M FMLP, control monocytes showed rapid net increases in [Ca2+]i of 303 +/- 19 nM. In contrast, net transients of [Ca2+]i in infected monocytes in response to FMLP were attenuated to only 137 +/- 9 nM (p less than 0.01 vs control). This result was not related to excess buffering of [Ca2+]i in infected cells as both control and infected monocytes showed equivalent transients of [Ca2+]i in response to the calcium ionophore A23187. Rather, inhibition of agonist-induced calcium release in infected cells appeared related to defective generation of second messenger because compared to control cells labeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol, little accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was detected in infected monocytes. Attenuation of inositol phosphate accumulation and calcium release in response to chemotactic peptide correlated with decreased FMLP-induced superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production by infected monocytes. These results provide direct evidence for defective regulation of [Ca2+]i and calcium-dependent signaling in Leishmania-infected monocytes and provide a basis for understanding abnormalities in activation-related responses that involve signaling through Ca(2+)-regulated pathways.     

Cell contact-mediated macrophage activation for antileishmanial defense. II. Identification of effector cell phenotype and genetic restriction

Host defense in cutaneous leishmaniasis, due to Leishmania tropica, is largely--if not exclusively--cell mediated. We observed in vitro that draining lymph node lymphocytes from L. tropica-infected C57BL/6 mice activate L. tropica-infected macrophages to kill the intracellular parasites (leishmanicidal effect). Because direct cell contact between lymphocytes and infected macrophages is required to achieve a maximum leishmanicidal effect, this effect cannot be attributed solely to lymphokines. Furthermore, because effector lymphocytes induced no detectable damage to infected macrophages, the effect also differs from conventional lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. The present study identifies the phenotype of the effector lymphocyte and assesses the genetic restriction of the lymphocyte-macrophage interaction. Nylon wool column-enriched T lymphocytes from infected mice activate macrophages for antileishmanial effects; treatment of lymphocytes with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody plus complement abolishes this capacity. Furthermore, treatment with anti-Lyt-1 antibody plus complement (but not with anti-Lyt-2 plus complement) likewise abolishes the effector capacity of the lymphocytes. Parallel studies reveal that the percentage of Lyt-1+2- cells present in draining lymph nodes increases during the course of infection and reaches a peak with the onset of spontaneous resolution of the infection. Syngeneic, but not allogeneic, combinations of lymphocytes and infected macrophages result in macrophage activation. Furthermore, treatment of cells with appropriate anti-Ia monoclonal antibody abrogates the antileishmanial effects. These results indicate that Lyt-1+2- lymphocytes obtained from mice with spontaneously healing L. tropica infections can exert antileishmanial effects in vitro. This effect is genetically restricted--most likely to the I region of the MHC--and requires direct cell contact. The temporal relationship between the appearance of these effector lymphocytes in mice and the onset of disease resolution argues that they may also exert these antileishmanial effects in vivo.     

Development and evaluation of tripalmitin emulsomes for the treatment of experimental visceral leishmaniasis

The antifungal and antileishmanial agent amphotericin B (AmB) was formulated in tripalmitin based nanosize lipid partices (emulsomes) for macrophage targeting for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Emulsomes were modified by coating them with macrophage-specific ligand (O-palmitoyl mannan, OPM). The antileishmanial activity of AmB (0.5 and 1?mg/kg) was investigated in-vivo against VL by the inhibition of parasitic load in the spleen of L. donovani infected hamsters after intraperitoneal injections of AmB-Doc (Mycol), plain emulsomes (TPEs) and OPM coated emulsomes (TPEs-OPM). The formulations were found to be less effective at the dose of 0.5?mg/kg. At the dose of 1?mg/kg, formulation TPEs-OPM eliminated intracellular amastigotes of L. donovani within splenic macrophages more efficiently (62.76?±?3.54 % parasite inhibition) than the formulation TPEs (42.68?±?2.36 % parasite inhibition) (P?相似文献