Comparative evaluation of stress-induced depression of normal killer activity in old and young animals and its elimination by interferon

The data are presented on the comparative evaluation of a poststress decrease in the activity of normal killer cells, determined in the test of the release of 41Cr from target cells YAC-1 in young and old CBA mice after 6-hour immobilization. The use of mouse leukocyte interferon and poly I . poly C acid has been shown to be highly effective for the restoration of the activity of normal killer cells in young animals after its stress-induced suppression, while in old animals these immunomodulators have proved to be considerably less effective in restoring the activity of natural killer cells at the period following the stress. The probable role of disturbances, affecting the functional properties of the normal killer cell population in old animals, in the mechanism of the poststress decrease of natural cell-mediated immunity is discussed.     

Growth of tumor cells with different sensitivities for murine natural killer cells in young and adult athymic nude mice

Of four tumor cell lines, the murine YAC lymphoma, the human K562 lymphoma, and the human prostatic carcinomas PC3 and PC93, the susceptibility to murine natural killer (NK) cells as well as the tumorigenicity in young (3.5-4 weeks old) and in adult (8-10 weeks old) nude mice were studied. In young nude mice, which exhibited a lower level of NK cell activity than adult nude mice, the formation of solid tumors after inoculation of tumor cell suspensions occurred more frequently and with a shorter time lag than in adult animals. These effects were observed not only with the NK-sensitive YAC cells, but also with the relatively NK-insensitive PC3 and PC93 cells, indicating that also factors other than NK cell susceptibility may influence the growth of tumor cells in nude mice. Therefore, the use of young nude mice may enhance the rate of success of heterotransplantation of human tumors, regardless of the NK cell susceptibility of the tumor cells.     

Effect of host age upon interleukin-2-mediated anti-tumor responses in a murine fibrosarcoma model

Summary The age-associated decline in immune function may be an important factor in both the pathogenesis of neoplastic diseases and the response to immunopharmacological therapies. With the increased efforts to develop immunotherapy with such agents as interferon and interleukin-2 (IL-2), the question of the effect of host age upon response is of practical importance. Phase I and phase II clinical trials of IL-2 have included primarily young patients, and toxicity and efficacy have not been reported with specific reference to host age. In this study, we examined young and old mice with regard to in vitro natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell functions. We also assessed the effects of exogenously administered recombinant human IL-2 in tumor-bearing mice of various ages. We found that natural killer cell function was demonstrably lower in old mice but that LAK cell function was comparable (young versus old). Furthermore, IL-2 treatment was successful in increasing survival time in old mice, similar to results in young mice. Our observations allow the prediction that immune senescenceper se does not preclude successful anti-neoplastic treatment with IL-2.Supported by VA Merit Award (WBE) and a grant from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School     

Retarded myogenic cell replication in regenerating skeletal muscles of old mice: an autoradiographic study in young and old BALBc and SJL/J mice

The patterns of skeletal muscle precursor cell replication after crush injury were compared by the use of autoradiographic techniques, in young (4-week-old) and old (39-week-old) BALBc and SJL/J mice. Similar comparisons were made between cut and crush lesions in old BALBc muscle. Muscle precursor cell replication commenced at 18–24 h after injury in both young and old muscles from both strains of mice. In young BALBc muscle the peak of myogenic activity at 60 h was 36 h earlier than in old mice. SJL/J muscle responded more rapidly than did BALBc: in young SJL/J the peak myogenic activity was at 46 h (14 h earlier than in young BALBc muscle), and in old SJL/J muscle the peak activity at 72 h was 24 h earlier than in old BALBc muscle. In all mice (both young and old) myogenic cell replication was substantially reduced by 120 h after injury. A comparison of the timing of muscle precursor cell replication in cut and crush lesions in old BALBc mice revealed a more rapid response in the cut lesion: this difference between the lesions in comparable with data from identical lesion in 6-8-week-old BALBc mice (McGeachie and Grounds 1987). However, the peak of myogenic replication in the older mice in the present study was some 26–36 h later than in the younger 6-8-week-old mice. These experiments show that, whilst muscle precursor cell replication commences at approximately the same time (about 24 h) after injury in young and old mice, the peak level of activity is delayed by some 24–36 h in old mice. In addition, the SJL/J mouse strain responds more rapidly and prolifically to muscle injury than does the BALBc strain.     

Action of diucifon-treated syngeneic splenic cells of mice on the magnitude of the immune response

It was demonstrated previously that treatment of lymphocytes with the immunostimulant diucifon leads to the secretion of a substance having the biological activity of T cell growth factor. The present work demonstrates that injection into mice on the day of immunization of spleen syngeneic cells treated with diucifon increases the immune response 3-5-fold as compared to the action of untreated cells. Injection of spleen cells incubated without diucifon on day 3 after immunization significantly increases the immune response as compared with control. The cells treated with diucifon and injected at the same time reduce the immune response as compared with the action of spleen cells incubated without diucifon. The data obtained can be used during immunostimulant therapy.     

Lasting effects of an impairment of Th1-like immune response in γ-irradiated mice: A resemblance between irradiated mice and aged mice

Although one of the several chronic effects of ionizing radiation is aging, there are no experimental data on radiation-induced immunological aging. The most interesting change in aging was a helper T (Th) 1/Th2 imbalance. We investigated chronic effect on immune responses after ionizing radiation and its effects in irradiated mice were compared with those of aged mice. The 2-month-old mice received a whole-body irradiation of 5 Gy. At 6 months after irradiation, we compared the immune functions of the irradiated mice with those of normal mice of the same age and with those of older. Interferon (IFN)-γ and antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G2a level were lower in the irradiated mice than in normal mice of same age, showing similar levels to those of old normal mice. In contrast, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 and antigen-specific IgG1 level were increased in irradiated mice when compared with the same aged-normal mice. Next, we investigated the low expression of IL-12p70, IL-12 receptors and IL-18 receptors in irradiated and old mice. Also, the decrease of natural killer cell activity was intensified in the irradiated mice, showing lower than values to those of old mice. Interestingly, in irradiated mice, the absolute numbers and the percentages of natural killer (NK) cells was extremely decreased. But the absolute numbers of Th cells and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in old mice were significantly decreased. In conclusion, an immunological imbalance by the whole-body irradiation of 5 Gy induces to persist in the long term, resulting in the similar results with aging. Our results suggest that the downregulation of the Th1-like immune response shown in old mice rapidly occurred through exposure of ionizing radiation.     

Age-related decline in the lethal hit but not the binding stage of cytotoxic T-cell activity in mice

The activity of allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) declines with aging, as measured at the population level in chromium release assays, and is associated with a decreased proliferative response to the inducing alloantigens. At the single cell level, no difference was noted between target binding cells obtained from alloantigen-stimulated spleen cells of young and old mice. However, a consistent, large, and significant difference was observed between CTL generated from the spleens of young and old mice in the percentage of bound effector cells with lysed targets, i.e., the percentage of killer cells. These results show age-related changes in the lethal hit stage and not the binding stage of CTL activity. This change could be used as a probe to identify the important mechanism(s) which mediates CTL activity.     

Natural killer-type lysis of thymocytes from young mice by normal spleen cells in vitro

Normal spleen cells from 6- to 10-week-old mice, enriched for natural killer (NK) cells on a discontinuous polyvinylpyrrolidone-silica (Percoll) gradient, lyse thymocytes of young mice (less than or equal to 19 days old) in a short-term 51Cr release assay. The highest NK-type activity was found in band 3 (density less than or equal to 1.077 g/ml) of a four-step gradient. In some experiments band 2 (density less than or equal to 1.070 g/ml) also showed NK activity. Activity was not unequivocably detectable in cells before separation or in bands 1 and 4. These results also show that the thymocyte sensitivity is dependent on the age of the target cell. Sensitivity of very young thymocytes (less than or equal to 7 days old) was higher than that of thymus cells from 8- to 19-day-old donors. Moreover, it seemed that syngeneic target thymocytes were lysed more effectively than allogeneic. Thus, an NK-type cell population may have the ability to lyse immature thymic target cells at an early stage of their differentiation. This could be of importance as a physiological mechanism for controlling the T cell repertoire and its reactivity.     

Natural killer cell activity in mice infected with Acanthamoeba culbertsoni]

The natural killer cell activity of splenocytes and TBC, active NK cells, recycling capacity of natural killer cells were observed by means of both the 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay and single cell cytotoxicity assay against YAC-1. C3H/HeJ mice were infected intranasally with 1 x 10(4) or 1 x 10(5) trophozoites of pathogenic Acanthamoeba culbertsoni. The infected mice showed mortality rate of 34% in 1 x 10(4) group and 65% in 1 x 10(5) group, and mean survival time was 16.40 +/- 3.50 and 13.20 +/- 4.09 days respectively. The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells of the 2 groups was significantly higher than that of non-infected mice from the 12th hour to the 2nd day after infection, showing the highest on the first day. On the 10th day after infection, the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells was significantly suppressed as compared with that of the control. There was no significant difference in NK cell cytotoxicity between two infected groups. The target-binding capacity and active NK cells of natural killer cells in 1 x 10(5) trophozoite infected mice was significantly increased on the 12th hour and the first day after infection as compared with the control group. Maximal recycling capacity (MRC) was not changed during the observation period. The present results indicated that the elevation of natural killer cell activity in the mice infected with A. culbertsoni was due to elevation of target-binding capacity and increased active NK cells of natural killer cells, and not due to the maximal recycling capacity of the individual NK cell, and there was no difference between two experimental dose groups.     

The effect of transportation stress on splenic natural killer cell activity in C57BL/6J mice

Splenic natural killer cell activity and plasma corticosterone levels were measured in air- and truck-transported C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus) on days 0, 1, 3 and 5 post-arrival. These data are important in determining adequate stabilization periods for transported animals before studies involving natural killer cells are begun. Three control groups (phosphate buffered saline, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, and hydrocortisone injected mice) were stabilized in the animal facilities 3 weeks before the start of experiments. Natural killer activity in transported mice was reduced significantly (p less than 0.05) on day 0 and returned to normal levels by 24 hours. Plasma corticosterone levels were increased significantly (p less than 0.005) on day 0 and returned to control levels by day 1, correlating inversely with splenic natural killer activity. This study indicates that stress resulting from transportation causes a short-term decrease in the splenic natural killer cell activity of mice, and this decrease may be related to the increased plasma corticosterone levels induced by the stressful event. We conclude that mice should be stabilized at least 24 hours before experiments involving the natural killer cell system are begun.     

Exercise stress and murine natural killer cell function

Male C3He mice were trained to run on a treadmill (final speed, slope, and duration of 30 m/min, 8 degrees, 30 min/day, 5 days/week, respectively) for 10 weeks or they remained sedentary. At the end of the training program, half of the mice were sacrificed and half were given a single bout of exercise to exhaustion (50% stepwise increases in final running speed for 2-min intervals). Splenic catecholamine concentrations, splenic natural killer cell cytolytic activity against YAC-1 tumor targets, and frequency of asialo GM1 (a murine natural killer cell surface glycolipid)-positive splenocytes were assessed. Exhaustive exercise in both trained and untrained mice reduced the in vitro killing of tumor targets by splenic natural killer cells relative to killing by splenocytes from mice which did not undergo the acute exercise bout (P less than 0.05). The frequency of asialo GM1-positive splenocytes was also reduced in the exhaustively exercised animals (P less than 0.05). Training alone, without the additional stress of exhaustive exercise, reduced the frequency of asialo GM1-positive splenocytes relative to a sedentary condition (P less than 0.05), but did not compromise natural killer cell cytolytic activity against the tumor targets. Splenic epinephrine concentrations in the exhaustively exercised animals were elevated 3- to 5-fold above the concentrations observed in trained and sedentary mice. These results suggest that a single, acute exercise bout reduces the capacity of splenic natural killer cells to kill tumor targets in vitro and that training enhances splenic natural killer cell cytolytic activity, on a per cell basis, against tumor targets.     

Opposing influence of age on the growth and colony-forming ability of mouse melanoma B16 and mammary adenocarcinoma: Correlation with natural killer activity

Summary C57Bl and CBA mice of different ages (6, 12, 26 or 35 weeks) received intramuscular inocula of melanoma B16 or mammary adenocarcinoma (MCa), respectively. Median survival time was shorter, the younger the recipients. Tumor enlargement was correspondingly retarded in older mice. This was associated with decrease of natural killer (NK) activity in the spleens. However, the cytotoxicity against fresh syngeneic tumor cells, increased with age in CBA mice. In contrast to the growth of intramuscular tumors, the ability of intravenously injected B16 or MCa cells to form nodules in the lungs was significantly superior in old animals (35 weeks or more), with low levels of NK activity, than in young ones (6 weeks) with high levels of NK activity. Stimulation of NK activity by poly(I) · poly(C) reduced the number of MCa colonies by 50% in the lungs of old mice, but had no effect on colony-forming ability in young animals. The observed association of tumor growth with age and NK activity levels may reflect (a) an interplay of tumor-inhibiting and tumor-promoting effects of NK cells, changing with age, and (b) the accessibility of tumor cells, inoculated intramuscularly or captured in the lungs, to these influences.     

Effects of overexpression of growth hormone on T cell activity in transgenic mice

Growth hormone plays a key role in the maturation and maintenance of the immune response, however, the effects of chronic high circulating concentrations of the hormone on the immune system is poorly understood. Transgenic mice overexpressing bovine growth hormone (b-GH) gene, fused to the rat phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase promoter (PEPCK), with very high plasma concentration of heterologous b-GH and their littermate normal siblings were used. Spleen cellularity, percentages of total T lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ cells, ratio of T cell subpopulations, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity were examined in male transgenic mice and normal littermate mice at 2 and 6 months of age. The number of splenic lymphocytes was greater in transgenic mice than in matched normal littermates at both ages. The NK cell activity was lower in transgenic mice than in the matched normal littermates at both ages, with the lowest values found in older mice. The b-GH transgenic mice had lower percentages of T cells at both ages, however, in young transgenic mice, the percentage of CD4+ cells was reduced while percentage of CD8+ cells was increased in comparison to normal controls. Both basal and mitogen-induced proliferation capacity of splenocytes were reduced in PEPCK-b-GH-25 mice as compared to normal littermates of both ages. Proliferative indexes in response to concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin were markedly decreased in 6 month old PEPCK-b-GH-25 mice as compared to littermate controls or younger mice. These results indicate that overexpression of b-GH in mice is associated with decreased T cell function and that these abnormalities are age-dependent.     

A new human pancreatic carcinoma cell line developed for adoptive immunotherapy studies with lymphokine-activated killer cells in nude mice

Summary A human tumor cell line designated SU.86 has been established from a moderate-to-poorly differentiated pancreatic carcinoma of ductal origin specifically for adoptive immunotherapy studies. This line was characterized as to its ability to be lysed in vitro by autologous and allogeneic lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) and natural killer cells and to grow in nude mice. SU.86 has been growing continuously in cell culture for more than 100 passages since 22 September 1986. Transplantation orthotopically and heterotopically into athymic Swiss nude mice showed that tumor take was 100% in the orthotopic position when young (4 to 6 wk old) mice were used and 0% when adult (8 wk old) mice were used (P=0.004). In the heterotopic position (subcutaneous), tumor take was 100% in neonate (2 to 3 wk old) and young mice and 50% in adults. The rate of tumor growth was inversely correlated with age (P<0.001). The histologic pattern is similar to that observed in most human pancreatic carcinomas with pseudoglandular structures and frequent mitotic figures. SU.86 has a doubling time of 77 h in vitro and produces carcinoembryonic antigen, 594 ng/10⁶ cells in 3 d. Chromosomal analysis shows heterogeneity with two notable cell subpopulations. The cell line is moderately sensitive to lysis by LAK cells in a standard, 4-h chromium-51 release assay (35.4±4.0%). When grown together with LAK cells in vitro, it is lysed completely in culture in 8 to 15 d, depending on the serum concentration.     

Influence of dietary restriction and aging on natural killer cell activity in mice

Natural killer cells (NK) are believed to defend against tumor growth. Because rodents subjected to dietary restriction without malnutrition live longer and develop spontaneous tumors less often or later in life than unrestricted controls, we measured NK activity in restricted and in unrestricted mice. An age-related decline in NK responses to YAC-1 tumor target cells was detected in both groups. NK responses for control mice were highest in 2- to 3-mo-old mice, sharply reduced in middle-age mice (14 to 15 mo), and slightly reduced further in old mice (30 to 33 mo). At all ages the response of restricted mice was less than that of controls. However, after injection with Poly I:C (which increases NK activity), old restricted mice showed NK cytolysis not different from young mice on either diet, and substantially higher responses than old unrestricted mice. In addition, restricted mice showed increased in vitro generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to YAC-1 and P815 compared with age-matched controls. Restricted mice may better resist cancer via an NK system very responsive to induction signals coupled with a CTL system more effective than that of unrestricted controls.     

Effect of aging on antimicrobial immunity: old mice display a normal capacity for generating protective T cells and immunologic memory in response to infection with Listeria monocytogenes

Old (19 to 30 mo) and young adult (11 to 16 wk) AB6F1 mice of both sexes were compared in terms of their capacity to resist infection with Listeria monocytogenes. The LD50 was found to be two to four times higher for old than for young mice, and the time to death was longer for old mice. Enumeration of bacteria in the livers and spleens showed that old mice restricted growth of Listeria more effectively than young mice during the preimmune phase of infection, the difference being detectable as early as 12 to 24 hr after bacterial inoculation. Therefore, to ensure a similar level of infection in old and young mice, old mice had to be given a larger inoculum. Indeed, it was found that, provided the size of the bacterial inoculum was adjusted to make the level of immunizing infection the same, old mice generated similar levels of anti-Listeria immunity as young mice, as measured by their ability to generate splenic T cells capable of adoptively immunizing young recipients against lethal challenge infection. Furthermore, the level of memory immunity to reinfection 28 to 117 days after immunizing infection was similar in old and young mice. The results indicate, therefore, that old mice have no defect in their capacity to generate T cell-mediated anti-Listeria immunity.     

Induction of natural killer cell activity and perforin and granzyme B gene expression following continuous culture of short pulse with interleukin-12 in young and old mice

Anticancer immunotherapy with cytokines is often limited by the occurrence of severe toxicity, particularly in older age groups, which are characterized by a reduced tolerance to antineoplastic therapies. We, and others, have recently demonstrated the efficacy of pulsing procedures with IL-2 as a new therapeutic strategy to induce antitumor cytotoxic cells. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of IL-12 on NK cell activity in young and old mice and to investigate the possibility of inducing NK cytotoxicity and perforin and granzyme B gene expression through a brief exposure of spleen lymphocytes from young and old mice to IL-12. Pulsed lymphocytes were compared with non-pulsed cells cultured continuously in IL-12. IL-12 was able to boost both endogenous and IL-2-induced NK cell activity in young and old mice; the levels of cytotoxicity were lower in old than in young animals although the relative increase of IL-12 plus IL-2 versus IL-2 alone was greater for old mice. Comparable levels of NK cell activity were obtained in pulsed (5 min-1 hour) and non-pulsed lymphocytes from both young and old mice after one or three days of culture. The efficacy of the pulsing procedure was evident in both endogenous and IL-2-induced NK cytotoxicity. The mRNA encoding perforin and granzyme B were markedly and similarly enhanced in both IL-12-pulsed and non-pulsed lymphocytes in comparison with control cells. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of IL-12 pulsing in inducing antitumor cytotoxic cells, suggesting the possibility of using IL-12 pulsing, alone or in combination with IL-2, in the immunotherapy of both young and old subjects.     

低能量激光照射对小鼠脾脏NK细胞活性影响的试验研究

目的：研究能量激光照射对小鼠NK细胞活性的影响,以便从NK细胞活性的角度阐明其免疫调节效应。方法：以BALB／c小鼠为研究对象,应用7.337J/cm^2,11．00J/cm^2,14．67J/cm^2,22．00J/cm^2和36．67J/cm^2五种剂量的氦氖激光作小鼠内眼角照射,连续照射8d,并于照射开始后第3d,6d,9d,13d和第17d,动脉监测实验鼠脾脏NK细胞活性。结果：以日剂量为7.33J/cm^2,11.00J/cm^2,14.67J/cm^2和22.00J/cm^2LELI照射小鼠四个剂量组均可增强NL细胞的活性（P＜0．01或P＜0．05）,但其峰值的出现随着LELI剂量的增大而加快,22．00J/cm^2剂量组在第3d就达到峰值,而其余三组则分别在第9d或第13d时达到峰值,与相相反,大剂量36.6J/cm^2ELEI组NK活性则表现出明显的抑制效应。结论：适当剂量的低能量激光照射剂可对小鼠脾脏NK细胞活性产生增强效应,而过大剂是LELI则产生抑制效应。     

Stimulation of murine natural killer cells by weak electromagnetic waves in the centimeter range]

Irradiation with electromagnetic waves (8.15-18 GHz, 1 Hz within, 1 microW/cm2) in vivo increases the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells of rat spleen. In mice exposed for 24-72 h, the activity of natural killer cells increased by 130-150%, the increased level of activity persisting within 24 h after the cessation of treatment. Microwave irradiation of animals in vivo for 3.5 and 5 h, and a short exposure of splenic cells in vitro did not affect the activity of natural killer cells.     

The activity of natural killer cells in healthy and tumor-bearing mice after treatment with low-intensity laser light

The effect of low-intensity laser light on the activity of natural killer cells from healthy and tumor-bearing mice was studied. Skin in the zone of the thymus or hind limb was illuminated, the remaining body surface being screened. The illumination was carried out for 30 days, with the duration of a single exposure being 1 min and intervals between the exposures being 48 h. The effect of laser light depended on the location of the illuminated area. It was shown that the exposure of the thymus of healthy animals for 20 and 30 days leads to a significant decrease in the activity of natural killer cells. On the contrary, the illumination of the limb for 10 or 20 days increased the activity of natural killer cells; but when hind limbs were treated for 30 days, the activity of natural killer cells decreased. Whereas tumor growth increased the natural killer cell activity, the illumination of tumor-bearing mice lowered the adaptive antitumoral resistance by decreasing the activity of natural killer cells.