Unique proteomic signatures distinguish macrophages and dendritic cells

Monocytes differentiate into heterogeneous populations of tissue macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) that regulate inflammation and immunity. Identifying specific populations of myeloid cells in vivo is problematic, however, because only a limited number of proteins have been used to assign cellular phenotype. Using mass spectrometry and bone marrow-derived cells, we provided a global view of the proteomes of M-CSF-derived macrophages, classically and alternatively activated macrophages, and GM-CSF-derived DCs. Remarkably, the expression levels of half the plasma membrane proteins differed significantly in the various populations of cells derived in vitro. Moreover, the membrane proteomes of macrophages and DCs were more distinct than those of classically and alternatively activated macrophages. Hierarchical cluster and dual statistical analyses demonstrated that each cell type exhibited a robust proteomic signature that was unique. To interrogate the phenotype of myeloid cells in vivo, we subjected elicited peritoneal macrophages harvested from wild-type and GM-CSF-deficient mice to mass spectrometric and functional analysis. Unexpectedly, we found that peritoneal macrophages exhibited many features of the DCs generated in vitro. These findings demonstrate that global analysis of the membrane proteome can help define immune cell phenotypes in vivo.     

Effect of polyamine synthesis inhibitors separately and in combination with epidermal growth factor on fusion of lysosomes with phagosomes and F-actin level in mouse peritoneal macrophages

Effects of polyamine (PA) synthesis inhibitors--alpha-difluoromethylornithinchloride (DFMO) and alpha-methylornithinchloride (MO)--separately or in combination with the epidermal growth factor (EGF)--on lysosome-phagosome fusion (P-LF) and F-actin content in murine peritoneal macrophages were studied using fluorescent dye Acridine orange for lysosome labelling, FITC-phalloidin for F-actin, and yeast cells as a target. DFMO and MO significantly inhibited P-LF and decreased F-actin content in murine peritoneal macrophages. A combination of DFMO and MO with EGF failed to inhibit P-LF or to decrease F-actin content in these cells. The results obtained with DFMO and MO suggested new cellular targets of their effects. These results may be extended to cancer research to provide a rationale for clinical trials using combinations of EGF with DFMO or MO.     

Complement receptor phenotypes of culture-derived murine macrophages

The distribution of complement receptors CR1 and CR3 among macrophages derived from cultures of bone marrow, blood, and elicited or normal peritoneal cell population was studied. Cells and colonies from the first three sources had a common phenotype, CR1 + 3 ?, whereas those from the noram peritoneal populations had either CR1 + 3 ? or CR1 + 3 +. The former phenotype characterized spindle-shaped as well as epithelial-like macrophages; the latter was essentially restricted to colonies made up of the epithelioid cells. Both morphologic features and the CR phenotypes remained stable throughout the culture period. These phenotypic differences might be explaniend by the presence of at leas two clonally derived types of macrophages.     

Mouse gridlock: no aortic coarctation or deficiency,but fatal cardiac defects in Hey2 -/- mice

Gridlock (grl) is one of the first mutations characterized from the large zebrafish mutagenesis screens, and it results in an arterial (aortic) maturation defect, which was proposed to resemble aortic coarctation, a clinically important human malformation. While the grl mutation appears to be a hypomorph, grl knockdown experiments have shown even stronger effects on arterial development. We have generated a knockout of the murine Hey2 (gridlock) gene to analyze the mammalian phenotype. Surprisingly, Hey2 loss does not affect aortic development, but it instead leads to a massive postnatal cardiac hypertrophy with high lethality during the first 10 days of life. This cardiomyopathy is ameliorated with time in surviving animals that do not appear to be manifestly impaired during adult life. These differences in phenotypes suggest that changes in expression or function of genes during evolution may lead to quite different pathological phenotypes, if impaired.     

Zinc requirement during meiosis I-meiosis II transition in mouse oocytes is independent of the MOS-MAPK pathway

Zinc is essential for many biological processes, including proper functioning of gametes. We recently reported that zinc levels rise by over 50% during oocyte maturation and that attenuation of zinc availability during this period could be achieved using the membrane-permeable heavy metal chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN). This zinc insufficiency resulted in formation of large polar bodies, failure to establish metaphase II arrest, and impaired establishment of cortical polarity. As these phenotypes resemble those of MOS null oocytes, we examined the impact of zinc insufficiency on the MOS-MAPK pathway. Reduced levels of both MOS protein and phosphorylation of MAP2K1/2 are observed in zinc-insufficient oocytes; however, these differences appear only after completion of the first meiotic division. In addition, activation of the downstream effector of the MOS pathway, MAPK3/1, is not affected by zinc insufficiency, and reduced MOS levels are observed only with the presence of TPEN after the first polar body extrusion. These data are inconsistent with the hypothesis that reduced MOS mediates the observed phenotype. Finally, MOS overexpression does not rescue the phenotype of zinc-insufficient oocytes, confirming that the observed disruption of asymmetric division and spindle abnormalities cannot be attributed to impaired MOS signaling. Zinc-insufficient oocytes do not increase maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity following the first meiotic division, and increasing MPF activity through expression of nondegradable cyclin B1 partially rescues the ability of zinc-insufficient oocytes to enter metaphase II. Although we have shown that zinc has a novel role in the meiotic cell cycle, it is not mediated through the MOS-MAPK pathway.     

Selective induction of enhanced complement receptor 3 activity on murine macrophages

A high proportion of murine resident peritoneal macrophages bear complement receptors 1 and 3 (CR1, CR3) which bind C3b and iC3b components of complement, respectively. By contrast, macrophages derived from bone marrow, blood, and the elicited peritoneal exudate are predominantly CR1+3. To determine if the microenvironment of the normal peritoneal cavity influences CR3 phenotype, we studied the effects of lavage from the cavity on cultures of primary peritoneal exudate macrophages, and on macrophages derived from progenitors in the bone marrow, blood, and peritoneal exudate. The cell-free peritoneal lavage (CFPL), after 24 hr of culture, induced CR3 on primary and culture-derived populations of peritoneal exudate macrophages but had no effect on the CR3 phenotype of macrophages derived from bone marrow or blood. The CR3-inducing activity in CFPL was abolished by heating at 70 degrees C for 30 min and by trypsin, and was not affected by adsorption with EA(IgM)iC3b indicator cells, demonstrating that it is not soluble CR3. Finally, exudate macrophages exposed to CFPL required at least 24 hr before they expressed CR3; such macrophages regenerated CR3 after the receptors were removed by trypsin. The selective effect of the activity in CFPL for peritoneal exudate macrophages indicates that the local microenvironment of the peritoneal cavity can influence the expression of CR3.     

The evolution of reproductive character displacement conflicts with how sexual selection operates within a species

Processes that affect the evolution of female preferences or male display traits involved in mating decisions in different geographic areas have the potential to result in within-species divergence. This could occur via reinforcement of mate recognition in species using the same traits for species recognition and sexual selection. Sympatric individuals experience reinforcement of female preferences and male display traits, whereas allopatric individuals do not, creating the potential for divergent sexual selection in sympatric and allopatric populations. Sexual selection operates on the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of Drosophila serrata, and reinforcement on the CHCs of populations sympatric with D. birchii. Here, we manipulate sexual selection in D. serrata populations generated by hybridizing natural sympatric and allopatric populations. Under the influence of sexual selection, male CHCs evolved from an intermediate phenotype to resemble an allopatric phenotype, which was driven by female choice. Additionally, female choice resulted in evolution of an allopatric female preference, so that allopatric males were preferred to sympatric males. Allopatric CHCs and preferences represent a sexual selection optimum via female choice. Sympatric populations display suboptimal phenotypes relative to their allopatric conspecifics. The combination of reinforcement and sexual selection can therefore generate divergence in female preferences and male display traits.     

HLA-DR expression on human peritoneal macrophages in vivo and in vitro

Qualitative, semi-quantitative (immuno-electronmicroscopy), and quantitative (radioimmunoassay) measurements were made of the in vivo and in vitro expression of HLA-DR on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients' peritoneal macrophages (M phi) and on healthy persons' blood monocytes (MO). In vivo, great variation is seen in both the qualitative and (semi-) quantitative expression of HLA-DR in peritoneal M phi. After culturing for 5 to 20 h, CAPD patients' M phi with low to intermediate numbers of HLA-DR molecules per cell (25-80 x 10(3] showed a two- to threefold enhancement of HLA-DR expression. This enhancement was determined for the total peritoneal cell (PC) population and for the adherent subpopulation of peritoneal M phi and blood MO. CAPD patients whose cells initially had high numbers of HLA-DR molecules (80-110 x 10(3] showed no or only slight enhancement of HLA-DR expression when cultured.     

Human adipose tissue macrophages display activation of cancer-related pathways

Obesity is associated with a significantly increased risk for cancer suggesting that adipose tissue dysfunctions might play a crucial role therein. Macrophages play important roles in adipose tissue as well as in cancers. Here, we studied whether human adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) modulate cancer cell function. Therefore, ATM were isolated and compared with monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) from the same obese patients. ATM, but not MDM, were found to secrete factors inducing inflammation and lipid accumulation in human T47D and HT-29 cancer cells. Gene expression profile comparison of ATM and MDM revealed overexpression of functional clusters, such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction (especially CXC-chemokine) signaling as well as cancer-related pathways, in ATM. Comparison with gene expression profiles of human tumor-associated macrophages showed that ATM, but not MDM resemble tumor-associated macrophages. Indirect co-culture experiments demonstrated that factors secreted by preadipocytes, but not mature adipocytes, confer an ATM-like phenotype to MDM. Finally, the concentrations of ATM-secreted factors related to cancer are elevated in serum of obese subjects. In conclusion, ATM may thus modulate the cancer cell phenotype.     

Role of polyamines in gibberellin-induced internode growth in peas

To determine the requirement for polyamines in gibberellin (GA) induced internode growth polyamine content was measured in internodes of peas of various internode phenotypes (slender, tall, dwarf, nana) with and without applied gibberellin (GA₃) and polyamine synthesis inhibitors. Polyamines were assayed as dansyl derivatives which were separated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry. The amounts of polyamines in the different genetic lines of peas, which differed in internode lengths and extractable GA content, correlated with the extent of internode elongation. High polyamine concentrations were associated with young internodes and decreased with internode expansion. Extremely short internodes of nana plants without GA exhibited equal or higher amine concentrations relative to internodes of other lines of peas and GA-stimulated nana seedlings. The polyamine synthesis inhibitors, α-difluoromethylornithine and α-difluoromethylarginine, independently or in combination, inhibited polyamine accumulation and internode elongation of tall peas and GA-stimulated nana plants. Agmatine and putrescine restored growth and endogenous polyamine content to variable degrees. However, exogenous polyamines were not effective in promoting growth unless intracellular amines were partially depleted.

These results suggest that polyamines do not have a role in cell elongation, but may be required to support cell proliferation. Polyamines do not mediate the entire action of GA in internode growth of peas since GA induction of growth involves both cell division and cell elongation, whereas polyamines appear to affect cell division only.

     

Murine monocytes express transferrin receptors: evidence for similarity to inflammatory macrophages

Nonionic detergent extracts of murine monocytes contain a specific, high-affinity binding site for the serum glycoprotein transferrin. The binding activity was saturable and specific for 125I-labeled transferrin. The transferrin-receptor content of monocytes was compared with that of resident peritoneal macrophages and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. Whereas resident cells showed no detectable activity, inflammatory macrophages and monocytes both bound transferrin to a similar degree. The calculated dissociation constant (2.3 X 10(-10)) and the number of sites per monocyte (11,400) compared favorably with those reported for transferrin receptors on inflammatory macrophages. Thus, based on the expression of the transferrin receptor, murine monocytes resemble murine inflammatory peritoneal macrophages rather than resident tissue macrophages.     

Induction of tumoricidal activated macrophages by a liposome-encapsulated glycolipid, trehalose 2,3,6'-trimycolate from Gordona aurantiaca

A mycolic acid-containing glycolipid, trehalose 2,3,6'-trimycolate, prepared from a non-pathogenic acid-fast bacterium Gordona aurantiaca, was shown to induce strong tumoricidal activity in peritoneal exudate cells by intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of liposome-encapsulated preparations. The mycolic acid derivative containing a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids rendered macrophages cytotoxic against syngeneic mastocytoma cells in the absence of endotoxin, for over 14 days after the injection. The macrophages were ascertained to be at low intracellular levels of a lysosomal enzyme beta-galactosidase and an ectoenzyme alkaline phosphodiesterase, a specific pattern as previously described for "primed macrophages". However the culture supernatants of the peritoneal exudate cells were not cytotoxic.     

Induction of tumoricidal activated macrophages by a liposome-encapsulated glycolipid, trehalose 2,3,6,'-trimycolate from Gordona aurantiaca

Abstract A mycolic acid-containing glycolipid, trehalose 2,3,6'-trimycolate, prepared from a non-pathogenic acid-fast bacterium Gordona aurantiaca , was shown to induce strong tumoricidal activity in peritoneal exudate cells by intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of liposome-encapsulated preparations. The mycolic acid derivative containing a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids rendered macrophages cytotoxic against syngeneic mastocytoma cells in the absence of endotoxin, for over 14 days after the injection. The macrophages were ascertained to be at low intracellular levels of a lysosomal enzyme β-galactosidase and an ectoenzyme alkaline phosphodiesterase, a specific pattern s previously described for "primed macrophages". However the culture supernatants of the peritoneal exudate cells were not cytotoxic.     

Enhanced leukotriene C4 synthase activity in thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages

The utilization of LTA4 by peritoneal macrophages (MO) obtained from untreated rats (control) as well as by those elicited from rats was investigated at designated intervals (on days 3, 7, and 14) following the intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate (TG). On day 7 following the injection the elicited MO converted LTA4 to LTC4 at the highest rate while the resident MO showed the lowest rate. The conversion of LTA4 to LTC4 and LTB4 was next examined by using each MO lysate. The apparent LTC4 synthase activity was significantly higher in the MO lysate both on day 3 and day 7, with the latter being the highest value obtained. The GSH S-transferase activity in each lysate using as the substrate, DNCB was significantly lower on day 3 but significantly higher on day 7 as compared to control values. However, this elevated activity was less variable than that observed with LTC4 synthase. The possible implication for these observations is discussed.     

Preadipocyte conversion to macrophage. Evidence of plasticity

Preadipocytes are present throughout adult life in adipose tissues and can proliferate and differentiate into mature adipocytes according to the energy balance. An increasing number of reports demonstrate that cells from adipose lineages (preadipocytes and adipocytes) and macrophages share numerous functional or antigenic properties. No large scale comparison reflecting the phenotype complexity has been performed between these different cell types until now. We used profiling analysis to define the common features shared by preadipocyte, adipocyte, and macrophage populations. Our analysis showed that the preadipocyte profile is surprisingly closer to the macrophage than to the adipocyte profile. From these data, we hypothesized that in a macrophage environment preadipocytes could effectively be converted into macrophages. We injected labeled stroma-vascular cells isolated from mouse white adipose tissue or 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line into the peritoneal cavity of nude mice and investigated changes in their phenotype. Preadipocytes rapidly and massively acquired high phagocytic activity and index. 60-70% of preadipocytes also expressed five macrophage-specific antigens: F4/80, Mac-1, CD80, CD86, and CD45. These values were similar to those observed for peritoneal macrophages. In vitro experiments showed that cell-to-cell contact between preadipocytes and peritoneal macrophages partially induced this preadipocyte phenotype conversion. Overall, these results suggest that preadipocyte and macrophage phenotypes are very similar and that preadipocytes have the potential to be very efficiently and rapidly converted into macrophages. This work emphasizes the great cellular plasticity of adipose precursors and reinforces the link between adipose tissue and innate immunity processes.     

Potential sources of Triatoma infestans reinfesting peridomiciles identified by morphological characterization in Los Llanos,La Rioja,Argentina

The presence of Triatoma infestans in habitats treated with insecticides constitutes a frequent problem in endemic areas. Basing our study on the hypothesis that descendants of a residual population should be more similar to the pre-treatment population than to any other, we compared the indications of two quantitative morphological approaches. This study seeks to find the origin of 247 T. infestans from three populations found in two chicken coops and a goat corral after treatment with insecticides. The results obtained by quantitative morphology suggest that the T. infestans found between three-34 months after the application of insecticides formed mixed populations with insects derived from residual foci and neighbouring habitats. Our analyses also showed the presence of a phenotype which does not resemble neither the pre-treatment phenotype nor the one from neighbouring populations, suggesting the presence of a particular post-treatment phenotype. The heads size showed some variations in males from different populations and remained unchanged in females, which reinforces the hypothesis of an intraspecific competition for food with priority for females. This article presents, for the first time, the combined analysis of geometric morphometry of heads and antennal phenotypes to identify the composition of reinfesting populations.     

IFN-gamma is critical to the control of murine autoimmune encephalomyelitis and regulates both in the periphery and in the target tissue: a possible role for nitric oxide.

NO and IFN-gamma have normally been considered cytotoxic and proinflammatory molecules, respectively, in the setting of the central nervous system inflammatory disease autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Using mice lacking the ligand binding chain of the IFN-gamma receptor (IFNgammaR-/-), we have previously shown that IFN-gamma is not essential for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide (MOG35-55) induced EAE expression but is in fact essential for its down-regulation. Here we examined the downstream molecular and cellular mechanism(s) of IFN-gamma regulation and demonstrate that neither IL-4 nor IL-10 appear to play a role in down-regulation nor do various lymphoid cell populations. Cells of the macrophage lineage are key to down-regulation as evidenced by the fact that peritoneal exudate cells from IFNgammaR+/+ mice inhibit Ag-driven proliferation of IFNgammaR-/- lymphocytes, whereas IFNgammaR-/- peritoneal exudate cells do not. High levels of reactive nitrogen intermediates are detected in the former cultures but not the latter, and the inhibition of proliferation is reversible with an inhibitor of inducible NO synthase, indicating a key role for NO in down-regulation. Studies with bone marrow chimeras indicate that down-regulation occurs not only systemically but also within the target tissue. These data suggest that IFN-gamma down-regulates EAE by inducing inducible NO synthase and subsequently NO production, both by macrophages in the periphery and, by inference, microglia and astrocytes in the target tissue.     

Concanavalin A is mitogenic for resident peritoneal macrophages

Con A, a known T-cell mitogen, is also mitogenic for resident peritoneal macrophages. The stimulated cells morphologically resemble macrophages and are actively phagocytic. The concentration of con A (30 micrograms/ml) required to stimulate 3H-TdR incorporation is ten times that required for T-cell activation. Con A must be present throughout the entire culture period to produce the maximum effect, and con A-depleted supernatant fluids from con A-stimulated cells cannot replace the con A requirement. Stimulation of 3H-TdR incorporation occurs after a 48-hour lag period and is maximal on the fifth to seventh day of culture. At the peak of the response, 20-30% of the macrophages can be stimulated to incorporate 3H-TdR, but little or no increase in the total number of cells present in the culture occurs. This and pulse-chase experiments indicate that only a single cycle of replication occurs in the stimulated cells. Con A-responsive peritoneal macrophages appear to be a distinct subpopulation and might play a different role in the interaction with T cells and B cells in the immune response than the con A-non-responsive cells.     

First description of color variations in the annual killifish Millerichthys robustus,and preliminary observations about its geographical distribution

Millerichthys robustus is the only annual killifish distributed in America with phenotypic color variations, not yet described. Accordingly, we first describe the color pattern in both sexes to define its phenotypical variations. We then analyze the frequency of these phenotypes on a geographical scale, in four localities that represent opposite points of Millerichthys’s distribution in the Mexican southeast. Color analysis based on the RGB system allowed us to define five-color phenotypes in males continuously distributed in various perceptual units between two extreme colors (yellow-red): yellow, moderate orange, dark orange, strong orange and red. These color patterns found in M. robustus could be attributed to melanin, carotenoid, and pteridine pigments. The orange phenotypes was present in all localities studied. The yellow phenotype was present only in northeastern and northwestern locations, and the red phenotype was present only in northern populations. Female color variations were observed in the number of ocelli (from 1 to 15) at the base of the caudal peduncle and dorsal region. Ocelli have been associated with anti-predator functions because they resemble the eyes of vertebrates, thus shifting the target of predator attacks to less vital body parts. Females with 3 ocelli were the most frequent phenotype, and females with 13–15 ocelli occurred only in the northern populations. We concluded that male and female of M. robustus are not randomly distributed along their distribution range, which suggest that color phenotypes may react differently to biotic and abiotic factors that probably determine their distribution and frequency within the studied population.

     

Pulmonary alveolar macrophages express a polyamine transport system

Polyamine transport is an important mechanism by which cells regulate their intracellular polyamine content. It is well established that the lung has a high capacity for polyamine transport, and recently the polyamine putrescine has been shown to be selectively accumulated into the type II pneumocyte of rabbit lung slices (Saunders et al.: Lab. Invest., 95:380-386, 1988). In addition, it has been suggested that there may be more than one polyamine transport system in lung tissue (Byers et al.: Am. J. Physiol., 252:C663-C669, 1987). In the present study, we have examined whether there are differences in the distribution of putrescine and spermidine uptake activities in isolated rabbit lung cells. We report that pulmonary alveolar macrophages have a greater rate of uptake of both putrescine and spermidine than the total lung cell population. Kinetic analysis of the polyamine uptake system present in macrophages showed putrescine uptake consisted of a saturable (Km = 2.1 microM) and nonsaturable component whilst spermidine uptake consisted of both a high- and a low-capacity saturable component (Km = 0.16 microM and 1.97 microM, respectively). The rate of polyamine transport was similar to those reported for many proliferative or tumor cell-lines and appears to be greater than any other major lung cell type. Inhibition studies of the transport of polyamines into pulmonary alveolar macrophages suggested that the uptake of both putrescine and spermidine was mediated by the same system, which could not be described by simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The transport appears to be reversible due to significant efflux. This is the first study to describe the presence of multiple polyamine transport systems in pulmonary alveolar macrophages.