Augmentation of Interferon Production after Cell-Differentiation of U937 Cells by TPA

Persistent infections with mumps virus were established in several human lymphoid cells of T-cell origin (Molt-4, TALL-1, and CCRF-CEM) and human monocyte cells (U937 and THP-1). 2′,5′-Oligoadenylate synthetase (2–5AS) activity was demonstrated to be only slightly induced by interferon (IFN) or TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate) treatment in these cells. Treatment of the persistently infected cells with IFN or TPA did not stimulate an increase in the amount of synthetase mRNA. Induction of cell differentiation and augmentation of IFN production by TPA were demonstrated in U937 cells persistently infected with mumps virus (U937-MP). Similar results for IFN production were obtained from differentiated U937 cells. It is suggested that cell differentiation of U937 cells might be associated with the development of IFN inducibility.     

Gamma interferon augments Fc gamma receptor-mediated dengue virus infection of human monocytic cells.

It has been reported that anti-dengue antibodies at subneutralizing concentrations augment dengue virus infection of monocytic cells. This is due to the increased uptake of dengue virus in the form of virus-antibody complexes by cells via Fc gamma receptors. We analyzed the effects of recombinant human gamma interferon (rIFN-gamma) on dengue virus infection of human monocytic cells. U937 cells, a human monocytic cell line, were infected with dengue virus in the form of virus-antibody complexes after rIFN-gamma treatment. Pretreatment of U937 cells with rIFN-gamma resulted in a significant increase in the number of dengue virus-infected cells and in the yield of infectious virus. rIFN-gamma did not augment dengue virus infection when cells were infected with virus in the absence of anti-dengue antibodies. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) produced by peripheral blood lymphocytes from dengue-immune donors after in vitro stimulation with dengue antigens also augmented dengue virus infection of U937 cells. IFN-gamma did not augment dengue virus infections when cells were infected with virus in the presence of F(ab')2 prepared from anti-dengue immunoglobulin G. Human immunoglobulin inhibited IFN-gamma-induced augmentation. IFN-gamma increased the number of Fc gamma receptors on U937 cells. The increase in the percentage of dengue antigen-positive cells correlated with the increase in the number of Fc gamma receptors after rIFN-gamma treatment. These results indicate that IFN-gamma-induced augmentation of dengue virus infection is Fc gamma receptor mediated. Based on these results we conclude that IFN-gamma increases the number of Fc gamma receptors and that this leads to an augmented uptake of dengue virus in the form of dengue virus-antibody complexes, which results in augmented dengue virus infection.     

Cytokine-mediated induction of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expression and cell death in chronically infected U1 cells: do tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon selectively kill HIV-infected cells?

Infection with several DNA or RNA viruses induces a state of increased sensitivity to cell lysis mediated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), particularly in the presence of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). Infection of human cells with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may induce a similar phenomenon. However, TNF and IFN-gamma are known upregulators of HIV replication, raising the question of the potential role of these cytokines in the selective elimination of cells infected with this virus. The present study demonstrates that chronically infected U1 cells were killed with much greater efficiency by costimulation with TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma than their uninfected parental cell line U937. However, synergistic induction of viral expression also occurred in U1 cells as a consequence of treatment with the two cytokines. Cell death in U1 cells was not caused by the massive production of virions, in that costimulation with glucocorticoid hormones and TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma resulted in high levels of virion production without cytopathicity. To investigate the nature of the selective cytotoxic effect observed in U1 cells costimulated with TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma, a panel of uninfected cell clones was generated by limiting dilution of U937 cells and tested for response to TNF-alpha and/or IFN-gamma. In contrast to the uncloned bulk parental U937 cell line, most uninfected cell clones showed a very high susceptibility to being killed by TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Similar findings were obtained when both infected U1 cells and several uninfected U937 cell clones were costimulated with an anti-Fas monoclonal antibody in the presence of IFN-gamma, although, unlike cells stimulated with TNF-alpha, cells treated with anti-Fas antibody did not express virus. Therefore, the increased susceptibility to cytokine-mediated lysis observed in cell lines infected with HIV is likely due to the selection of preexisting cell clones rather than viral infection.     

Rabies virus replication in primary murine bone marrow macrophages and in human and murine macrophage-like cell lines: implications for viral persistence.

To determine whether rabies viruses replicate in macrophage or macrophage-like cells, several human and murine macrophage-like cell lines, as well as primary cultures of murine bone marrow macrophages, were incubated with the Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth (ERA) virus and several different street rabies viruses (SRV). ERA rabies virus replicated well in human monocytic U937 and THP-1 cells and murine macrophage IC-21 cells, as well as primary cultures of murine macrophages. Minimal replication was detected in murine monocytic WEHI-3BD- and PU5-1R cells, and ERA virus did not replicate in murine monocytic P388D1 or J774A.1 cells. A tissue culture-adapted SRV of bat origin also replicated in IC-21 and U937 cells. Non-tissue culture-adapted SRV isolated from different animal species, particularly bats, replicated minimally in U937, THP-1, IC-21 cells and primary murine bone marrow macrophages. To determine whether rabies virus replication is dependent upon the state of differentiation of the macrophage-like cell, human promyelocytic HL-60 cells were differentiated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). ERA rabies virus replicated in the differentiated HL-60 cells but not in undifferentiated HL-60 cells. Persistent infections were established in macrophage-like U937 cells with ERA rabies virus and SRV, and infectious SRV was isolated from adherent bone marrow cells of mice that had been infected 96 days previously. Virus harvested from persistently infected U937 cells and the adherent bone marrow cells had specifically adapted to each cell. This specificity was shown by the inability of the viruses to infect macrophages other than U937 cells and primary bone marrow macrophages, respectively. Virus titers of the persistently infected U937 cells fluctuated with extended cell passage. After 30 passages, virus released from the cells had lost virulence as shown by its inability to kill intracranially inoculated mice. However, the avirulent virus released from the persistently infected cells was more efficient in infecting and replicating in naive U937 cells than the virus which was used to establish the persistent infection. These results suggest that macrophages may serve as reservoirs of infection in vivo, sequestering virus which may subsequently be activated from its persistent state, resulting in clinical infection and death.     

Establishment of persistent infection with HIV-1 abrogates the caspase-3-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway in U937 cells

Treatment of 26L cells, a subclone obtained from U937 cells, with TNF-alpha or DNA-damaging agents such as teniposide (VM26) and camptothecin (CPT) induced morphologically and biochemically typical apoptotic changes, including the activation of procaspase-3. The cells persistently infected with HIV-1 (26L/HIV), however, showed a marked resistance to VM26 and CPT, whereas they hardly lost the sensitivity to TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis of 26L/HIV cells proceeded without the increase in caspase-3 activity, indicating that signaling for apoptosis in the infected cells proceeded through an alternative caspase-3-independent pathway which could respond to TNF-alpha but not to VM26 and CPT. The evidence that p-toluenesulfonyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone (a trypsin-like serine protease inhibitor) blocked VM26- and CPT-induced apoptotic changes but not TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis also supported the existence of the alternative TNF-alpha-inducible pathway. The results also suggest that a TLCK-sensitive protease is involved upstream of the procaspase-3 activation process and that the protease is essential for the progress of VM26- and CPT-induced apoptosis. The similar effect of HIV-1-productive infection on the apoptosis induced by the DNA-damaging agents was also confirmed by utilizing U1 cells, which are latently HIV-1-infected U937 cells. The cells became resistant to these agents after induction of the viral production by pretreatment with PMA. These results suggest that persistent HIV-1 infection blocks an apoptotic pathway triggered by DNA damaging agents through the inhibition of the procaspase-3 activation process.     

Oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase activity in cells persistently infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I).

Spontaneous production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was shown in several T-lymphoblastoid cell lines persistently infected with human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1). However, the produced IFN-gamma was not always associated with the induction of the antivirus state. The induction of oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase (2-5AS) by IFN was studied in five human T-cell lines persistently infected with HTLV-I (MT-1, MT-2, SMT-1, HUT 102 and OKM-2). Four cell lines are able to produce IFN-gamma spontaneously, while the OKM-2 cell line is not. Poor induction of 2-5AS was recognized in three (MT-1, MT-2 and SMT-1) of the four cell lines producing IFN-gamma, though the poor induction was improved after long-term cultivation of cells with IFN-alpha. On the contrary, in the OKM-2 cell line, significant activity of the enzyme was induced by IFN-alpha. Induction of 2-5AS was not correlated with cell growth inhibition, but with the antivirus state. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between IFN-gamma production and 2-5AS induction was demonstrated in these cell lines with the exception of HUT 102 cells.     

Role of Hexokinase-1 in the survival of HIV-1-infected macrophages

Viruses have developed various strategies to protect infected cells from apoptosis. HIV-1 infected macrophages are long-lived and considered reservoirs for HIV-1. One significant deciding factor between cell survival and cell death is glucose metabolism. We hypothesized that HIV-1 protects infected macrophages from apoptosis in part by modulating the host glycolytic pathway specifically by regulating hexokinase-1 (HK-1) an enzyme that converts glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. Therefore, we analyzed the regulation of HK-1 in HIV-1 infected PBMCs, and in a chronically HIV-1 infected monocyte-like cell line, U1. Our results demonstrate that HIV-1 induces a robust increase in HK-1 expression. Surprisingly, hexokinase enzymatic activity was significantly inhibited in HIV-1 infected PBMCs and in PMA differentiated U1 cells. Interestingly, we observed increased levels of mitochondria-bound HK-1 in PMA induced U1 cells and in the HIV-1 accessory protein, viral protein R (Vpr) transduced U937 cell derived macrophages. Dissociation of HK-1 from mitochondria in U1 cells using a pharmacological agent, clotrimazole (CTZ) induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspase-3/7 mediated apoptosis. Dissociation of HK-1 from mitochondria in Vpr transduced U937 also activated caspase-3/7 activity. These observations indicate that HK-1 plays a non-metabolic role in HIV-1 infected macrophages by binding to mitochondria thereby maintaining mitochondrial integrity. These results suggest that targeting the interaction of HK-1 with the mitochondria to induce apoptosis in persistently infected macrophages may prove beneficial in purging the macrophage HIV reservoir.     

Growth arrest of epithelial cells during measles virus infection is caused by upregulation of interferon regulatory factor 1

Natural infection with measles virus (MeV) is initiated when the virus reaches epithelial cells in the respiratory tract, oropharynx, or conjunctivae. Human epithelial cells infected with MeV frequently show growth suppression. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanisms for this suppression. The bronchiolar epithelial cell A549 showed growth arrest in G(0)/G(1) following MeV infection or treatment with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) was upregulated during MeV infection, although A549 did not produce IFN-gamma. Cells of the cervical squamous cell line SiHa persistently infected with various strains of MeV displayed slower growth than uninfected SiHa cells, although the growth rates varied depending on the MeV strain. Transfection of antisense-oriented IRF-1 cDNA released the MeV-infected SiHa cells from growth suppression. Although these infected cells did not produce IFN-gamma and suppressed IFN-alpha/beta-induced Jak1 phosphorylation, Jak1 was constitutively phosphorylated. The growth rates negatively correlated with levels of both IRF-1 expression and constitutively phosphorylated Jak1. These results indicate that MeV upregulates IRF-1 in a manner that is independent of IFN but dependent on the JAK/STAT pathway. This induction of IRF-1 appears to suppress cell growth, although the extent seems to vary among MeV strains.     

Hypoxic preconditioning induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemic injuries and its cPKCγ-mediated molecular mechanism

As of yet, pharmacological treatments of stroke are only met with mediocre results, which are either ineffective or confounded by adverse effects, thus calling for a better understanding of endogenous neuroprotective mechanism. Previously, we have demonstrated that the translocated activation of conventional protein kinase Cγ (cPKCγ) is involved in the development of cerebral hypoxic preconditioning (HPC), one of the most profound neuroprotective strategies. This study was designed to substantiate the role of cPKCγ and its signaling molecules in HPC-induced neuroprotection against subsequent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced permanent cerebral ischemic injuries. The effects of HPC and cPKCγ on cerebral ischemic injuries were studied by observing the changes in neurological deficits, infarct volume and neural cell apoptosis. cPKCγ membrane translocation (activation) and its interacting protein synapsin in the ischemic brain were examined by Western blot analysis. Proteomic approaches were employed to identify the cPKCγ-interacting proteins. We found that HPC could markedly attenuate MCAO-induced brain injuries and the decrease of cPKCγ membrane translocation, but cPKCγ inhibitor Go6983 could block HPC-induced neuroprotection. Among the 41 identified cPKCγ-interacting proteins, 17 up- and 6 down-regulated proteins were observed in cytosol or particulate fraction during HPC. In addition, the up-regulated synapsin could reciprocally co-precipitate with cPKCγ both in cytosol and particulate fractions, and Go6983 abolished HPC-induced inhibition on synapsin dephosphorylation in ischemic core and peri-infarct region (penumbra). This study is the first to report multiple cPKCγ-interacting proteins in HPC mouse brain and suggested that cPKCγ signaling molecules, especially the cPKCγ-synapsin pathway, might be responsible for HPC-induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemic injuries of mice.     

Proteomic analysis of cPKCβII-interacting proteins involved in HPC-induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia of mice

Hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) initiates intracellular signaling pathway to provide protection against subsequent cerebral ischemic injuries, and its mechanism may provide molecular targets for therapy in stroke. According to our study of conventional protein kinase C βII (cPKCβII) activation in HPC, the role of cPKCβII in HPC-induced neuroprotection and its interacting proteins were determined in this study. The autohypoxia-induced HPC and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced cerebral ischemia mouse models were prepared as reported. We found that HPC reduced 6 h MCAO-induced neurological deficits, infarct volume, edema ratio and cell apoptosis in peri-infarct region (penumbra), but cPKCβII inhibitors Go6983 and LY333531 blocked HPC-induced neuroprotection. Proteomic analysis revealed that the expression of four proteins in cytosol and eight proteins in particulate fraction changed significantly among 49 identified cPKCβII-interacting proteins in cortex of HPC mice. In addition, HPC could inhibit the decrease of phosphorylated collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2) level and increase of CRMP-2 breakdown product. TAT-CRMP-2 peptide, which prevents the cleavage of endogenous CRMP-2, could inhibit CRMP-2 dephosphorylation and proteolysis as well as the infarct volume of 6 h MCAO mice. This study is the first to report multiple cPKCβII-interacting proteins in HPC mouse brain and the role of cPKCβII-CRMP-2 in HPC-induced neuroprotection against early stages of ischemic injuries in mice.     

Increased human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expression in chronically infected U937 cells upon in vitro differentiation by hydroxyvitamin D3: roles of interferon and tumor necrosis factor in regulation of HIV production.

We have investigated the roles of cytokines in the modulation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) production in chronically infected U937 cells upon in vitro differentiation by hydroxyvitamin D3. HIV-infected U937 cells exhibited markedly lower levels of CD4 and HLA-DR antigens than uninfected cells did. Vitamin D3 induced a time-dependent macrophagelike differentiation, as determined by monitoring the expression of some surface antigens by means of the monoclonal antibodies OKM1, OKM5, OKM13, OKM14, OKT4, anti-HLA-DR, TecMG2, TecMG3, LeuM3, LeuM1, anti-HLA-DP, and anti-HLA-DQ. Treatment with hydroxyvitamin D3 resulted in a marked increase in HIV production compared with control cultures. Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected in the culture media, whereas interferon (IFN) was not generally found. Using the polymerase chain reaction technique, we found HIV-infected U937 cells to express detectable levels of mRNAs for alpha interferon (IFN-alpha), IFN-beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta. The addition of TNF resulted in a marked increase of HIV production, whereas IL-1 beta was ineffective. In contrast, both IFN-alpha and IFN-beta exerted some inhibitory effect on HIV production, which was more marked in vitamin D3-treated cultures than in untreated cultures. HIV production was significantly increased by antibodies to IFN-alpha in both untreated and vitamin D3-treated cultures. Anti-IFN-beta antibody increased HIV production only in vitamin D3-treated cells. In contrast, anti-TNF-alpha antibodies markedly decreased HIV production in both control and differentiating U937 cells. Vitamin D3 treatment resulted in a higher expression of TNF receptors in differentiating cells than in control HIV-infected cells. These data demonstrate a strong correlation between HIV production and macrophagelike differentiation in chronically infected U937 cells and suggest that endogenous IFN and TNF exert opposite effects in the regulation of virus production in both undifferentiated and vitamin D3-treated cell cultures.     

PI3K/AKT途径在大肠埃希菌诱导U937细胞凋亡中的作用

目的探讨PI3K/AKT信号转导通路在大肠埃希菌（Escherichia coli,E.coli）诱导的人巨噬细胞系U937细胞凋亡中的作用。方法利用Western blot分析检测E.coli感染不同时间后磷酸化及非磷酸化AKT的表达;预先用不同浓度的LY294002（PI3K途径抑制剂）处理U937细胞60min,观察E.coli感染30min后U937细胞的凋亡情况。结果随着感染时间的延长,磷酸化AKT的表达逐渐下降。加入PI3K的抑制剂LY294002后,U937细胞的凋亡率逐渐升高。结论PI3K/AKT信号转导通路参与了E. coli诱导的U937细胞凋亡过程。LY294002通过特异性地抑制PI3K/AKT活性增加E.coli诱导的U937细胞凋亡率。     

Hypoxic Preconditioning Attenuates Neuronal Cell Death by Preventing MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway Activation after Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia in Adult Rats

Our previous data indicated that hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) ameliorates transient global cerebral ischemia (tGCI)-induced neuronal death in hippocampal CA1 subregion of adult rats. However, the possible molecular mechanisms for neuroprotection of this kind are largely unknown. This study was performed to investigate the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)/extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in HPC-induced neuroprotection. tGCI was induced by applying the four-vessel occlusion method. Pretreatment with 30 min of hypoxia applied 1 day before 10 min tGCI significantly decreased the level of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in ischemic hippocampal CA1 subregion. Also, HPC decreased the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in degenerating neurons and astrocytes. However, the administration of U0126, a MEK kinase inhibitor, partly blocked MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by tGCI. Meanwhile, neuronal survival was improved, and glial cell activation was significantly reduced. Collectively, these data indicated that the MEK/ERK signaling pathway might be involved in HPC-induced neuroprotection following tGCI. Also, HPC resulted in a reduction of glial activation.     

Persistent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of monoblastoid cells leads to accumulation of self-integrated viral DNA and to production of defective virions.

Cell-free virus preparations from persistently infected monoblastoid cells (HU937) become progressively less infectious during long-term passage. This effect is specific for cell lines derived from U937 and is not observed in persistently infected T-cell lines. Reduced infectivity is correlated with accumulation of unusual, high-molecular-weight, extrachromosomal forms of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA. These DNA molecules contain multiple copies of the viral genome, and their structures are highly variable. Of 17 subclones of the HU937 cell line, 15 unique restriction fragment patterns were observed for the HIV-1 viral DNA. Structural analysis of these viral DNA species indicated that they were formed by sequential rounds of long terminal repeat-mediated integration of one circular DNA form into preexisting monomeric or multimeric structures. These viral DNA structures are termed nested self-integrates. Once formed, self-integrates prove to be stable and can be maintained for several months in culture. The unusual structures of HIV-1 DNA in persistently infected monoblastoid cells attest to an alternative to the accepted retrovirus life cycle. The self-integrated viral DNA species reported here may explain some aspects of the mechanism controlling establishment and maintenance of persistent HIV-1 infection in cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage.     

Increased leptin by hypoxic-preconditioning promotes autophagy of mesenchymal stem cells and protects them from apoptosis

Autophagy is the basic catabolic progress involved in cell degradation of unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components.It has been proven that autophagy could be utilized for cell survival under stresses.Hypoxic-preconditioning(HPC)could reduce apoptosis induced by ischemia and hypoxia/serum deprivation(H/SD)in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).Previous studies have shown that both leptin signaling and autophagy activation were involved in the protection against apoptosis induced by various stress,including ischemia-reperfusion.However,it has never been fully understood how leptin was involved in the protective effects conferred by autophagy.In the present study,we demonstrated that HPC can induce autophagy in BMSCs by increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and autophagosome formation.Interestingly,similar effects were also observed when BMSCs were pretreated with rapamycin.The beneficial effects offered by HPC were absent when BMSCs were incubated with autophagy inhibitor,3-methyladenine(3-MA).In addition,down-regulated leptin expression by leptin-shRNA also attenuated HPC-induced autophagy in BMSCs,which in turn was associated with increased apoptosis after exposed to sustained H/SD.Furthermore,increased AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and decreased mammalian target of rapamycin phosphorylation that were observed in HPC-treated BMSCs can also be attenuated by down-regulation of leptin expression.Our data suggests that leptin has impact on HPC-induced autophagy in BMSCs which confers protection against apoptosis under H/SD,possibly through modulating both AMPK and mTOR pathway.     

Role of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the control of the infection of monocyte-like cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)

The role of cytokines in the control of HCMV infection has been studied in THP-1 cells, a macrophage-like cell model and in MRC-5 cells. HCMV replication was studied by immune detection of viral immediate-early antigens (IEA) and virus yield was evaluated in MRC-5 cells by immunoperoxidase staining. Pretreatment of MRC-5 and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treated THP-1 cells with IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma for 24 hr prior to the infection reduced the number of infected cells and virus yield. A synergistic anti-CMV activity in synthesis of early proteins was obtained with these cytokines in combination with TNF-alpha in differentiated THP-1 cells only. Treatment of HCMV-infected differentiated THP-1 cells or MRC-5 cells with IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma alone had no inhibitory effect on virus replication, however the virus yield was reduced with ganciclovir. A synergistic anti-CMV activity in virus yield was obtained only when infected differentiated THP-1 cells were treated with ganciclovir in combination with IFN-gamma. The current study shows that IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma can play a role in the reduction of HCMV replication in macrophage-like cells and in the efficiency of therapies with ganciclovir in this cell type and that the anti-CMV effect of cytokines may be different in fibroblasts and in macrophage-like cells.     

Regulation of the expression of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line EoL-3.

The effects of several cytokines and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) on LFA-1 and ICAM-1 expression on a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-3, were investigated and compared with those of a human monocytic leukemia cell line, U937. EoL-3 cells expressed large amounts of LFA-1 and small amounts of ICAM-1, and their expression was regulated similarly in EoL-3 cells and U937 cells. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) enhanced ICAM-1 expression but not LFA-1 expression, and PMA augmented both LFA-1 and ICAM-1 expression. IFN-gamma and PMA showed an additive effect on ICAM-1 expression. These results collectively suggest that expression of LFA-1 and ICAM-1 is regulated differently and that IFN-gamma and PMA regulate the expression through different mechanisms. PMA but not IFN-gamma induced homotypic adhesion of EoL-3 and U937 cells, suggesting that PMA but not IFN-gamma activated the adhesive function of these cells. Staurosporin, an inhibitor of protein kinases (PKs), partly suppressed IFN-gamma- and PMA-augmented expression of ICAM-1 on EoL-3 and U937 cells, but did not affect PMA-augmented LFA-1 expression, suggesting that staurosporin-sensitive PKs are involved in IFN-gamma- and PMA-augmented ICAM-1 expression but not in PMA-augmented LFA-1 expression. The role of protein kinase C (PK-C) in these mechanisms was not revealed because a PK-C inhibitor, H-7, did not show any definitive effect on IFN-gamma- and PMA-induced expression of LFA-1 and ICAM-1. Moreover, cyclic AMP (cAMP)- and cGMP-dependent pathways were not shown to be involved in the augmentation of the expression of these molecules.