B-cell-derived interleukin-1 (IL-1)-like factor. II. Sources, effects, and biochemical properties

A variety of types of human B-cell lines were evaluated for their ability to produce interleukin 1 (IL-1)-like factors. All of the eight Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B lymphocyte lines, three of four of the EBV+ lymphoma lines, only three of seven of the EBV- lymphoma lines, and none of the three tested myeloma lines secreted some IL-1 activity. The IL-1-like factor produced by the cell lines was detected on the basis of its thymocyte comitogenic and/or fibroblast proliferative activities. Injections of partially purified IL-1-like factor from one of the EBV-transformed B-lymphocyte lines also induced the appearance of an acute phase protein (haptoglobin) in the serum of C3H/HeJ mice. These biological activities are identical with those of monocyte-derived IL-1. Thymocyte comitogenic activity and fibroblast proliferation activity from one of the EBV-B cell line-derived IL-1-like activities were not dissociable by biochemical procedures, including HPLC gel filtration and HPLC anion-exchange chromatography. However, the IL-1-like factor from one of the EBV-B lymphocyte cell lines was larger in size (25 kDa) and more acidic (pI 5.5) than monocyte-derived IL-1.     

Role of ornithine decarboxylase in the regulation of cell growth by IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine synthesis, and polyamines are required for cell growth. As an approach to clarifying the mechanism of action IL-1, the effects of IL-1 on ODC activity were examined in various cell lines whose proliferation was either suppressed or enhanced by IL-1. The proliferation of all cell types used in these experiments was markedly suppressed by a specific ODC inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO), substantiating the crucial role of ODC activity for cell proliferation. ODC activity also was considerably suppressed by IL-1 in those cells on which IL-1 exerts an antiproliferative effect, such as a human melanoma cell line (A375) and malignant human mammary cell lines (MCF-7 and T-47D). On the other hand, ODC activity was stimulated in cells that are stimulated to proliferate in response to IL-1, such as a mouse helper T cell line (D10.G4.1), a NK cell-like cell line (YT), and a human glioblastoma cell line (U373 MG). The effect of IL-1 on ODC activity preceded and directly correlated in a dose-dependent manner with its effect on DNA synthesis. Furthermore, putrescine, a product of the ODC reaction and a precursor of polyamines, was able to overcome most, but not all, the antiproliferative action of IL-1 in A375 melanoma cells, which were the most sensitive to suppression by IL-1. However, putrescine did not reverse the cytostatic effect of IL-1 on MCF-7 and T-47D cell lines. In contrast, putrescine, like IL-1, exhibited some co-mitogenic activity on D10.G4.1 cells. Because the biological activities of TNF and IL-1 show considerable overlap, the effect of TNF on ODC activity also was examined. TNF had an antiproliferative effect on A375 cells and stimulated the proliferation of U373 MG cells. The ODC activity in A375 cells was suppressed by TNF, and the ODC activity in U373 MG cells was stimulated by TNF. Putrescine also partially overcame the inhibitory effect of TNF. These results suggest that the regulation of ODC activity may be a key component in the antiproliferative and proliferative action of IL-1 and TNF in some tumor cell types.     

Loss of IL-6 receptor expression in cervical carcinoma cells inhibits autocrine IL-6 stimulation: abrogation of constitutive monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production

IL-6 is synthesized in human papilloma virus (HPV)-transformed cervical carcinoma cell lines and is supposed to stimulate these cells in an autocrine manner. We studied IL-6 production and responsiveness in nonmalignant HPV-transformed keratinocytes and cervical carcinoma cells in detail. IL-6 was detected in cervical carcinomas in situ. Correspondingly, HPV-positive carcinoma cell lines expressed high IL-6 levels. However, these carcinoma cell lines showed low responsiveness to IL-6 as revealed by low constitutive STAT3 binding activity, which was not further enhanced by exogenous IL-6. In contrast, in vitro-transformed nonmalignant keratinocytes without endogenous IL-6 production strongly responded to exogenous IL-6 with activation of STAT3. STAT3 protein expression levels were comparable in both responsive and nonresponsive cell lines. Also, gp130, the upstream signal-transducing receptor subunit conveying IL-6 signals into the cell, was expressed in all tested cell lines. However, the IL-6 binding subunit gp80 was lost in the malignant cells. Addition of soluble gp80 was sufficient to restore IL-6 responsiveness in carcinoma cells as shown by enhanced activation of STAT3 binding activity. As a consequence of the restored IL-6 responsiveness, carcinoma cells strongly produced the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Our data demonstrate that cervical carcinoma cells producing high amounts of IL-6 only weakly respond to IL-6 in an autocrine manner due to limited gp80 expression. While production of IL-6 might contribute to a local immunosuppressive effect, silencing an autocrine IL-6 response prevents constitutive production of the mononuclear cell-attracting chemokine MCP-1. Both mechanisms might help the tumor to escape the immune system.     

Human interleukin 10 receptor 1/IgG1-Fc fusion proteins: immunoadhesins for human IL-10 with therapeutic potential

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is produced by various types of human cancer, including malignant melanoma, and plays an important role in negative regulation of cell-mediated immune responses against tumors. We have developed chimeric molecules (immunoadhesins), combining the extracellular domain of human interleukin 10 receptor 1 (IL-10R1) with the Fc regions of human IgG1 heavy chain and investigated their capability of blocking the biological activities of human IL-10. Monomeric and dimeric immunoadhesins (IL-10R1/IgG1) constructs were tested for capturing human IL-10 and blocking its biological activities. Plasmid vectors that contained the IL-10 immunoadhesin constructs were directly transfected into human melanoma cell lines. Transfection of plasmid vectors into melanoma cell lines resulted in capturing of exogenously added as well as endogeneously produced IL-10. The supernatants obtained from an IL-10 non-producing melanoma cell line transfected with monomeric IL-10 immunoadhesin plasmids most efficiently captured exogenously added IL-10, compared to those obtained with the dimeric IL-10R1/IgG1 plasmid vector. Transfection of IL-10-producing melanoma cells with the monomeric IL-10 immunoadhesin plasmids totally captured endogenously produced IL-10 and enhanced T cell responses against allogeneic melanoma cells. Furthermore, purified monomeric IL-10 immunoadhesin protein showed IL-10 capturing efficacy compatible with that of IL-10-specific monoclonal antibodies. Collectively, these studies indicate that IL-10 immunoadhesins, especially in monomeric form, are potent inhibitors of biological activities of IL-10 and suggest that these molecules, alone or in conjunctions with other immunotherapeutic approaches, can be utilized for the immuno-targeting of IL-10 producing tumors. M. Terai and Y. Tamura contributed equally to this work. Yutaka Tamura and Eiko Otsuka are listed as inventors in the pending patent application for IL-10 Immunoadhesins (PCT/JP2004/013090).     

Comparison of the cytostatic and cytolytic activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1 alpha in human malignant cell lines.

The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) share many properties, including in-vitro cytotoxicity. Because cytotoxicity can result from either cytolytic or cytostatic activity, and because differentiating between these activities may have clinical relevance, we determined the cytostatic and cytolytic activity of TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha for the human cell lines ME-180, SiHa (cervical carcinomas) and A375 (melanoma). Results of these analyses showed that IL-1 alpha mediated cytostatic activity only for A375 cells. IL-1 alpha was not cytolytic in the presence or absence of protein synthesis inhibitors. TNF-alpha was cytostatic for A375 and ME-180 cells, and although TNF-alpha was not cytolytic in the absence of protein synthesis inhibitors, it was cytolytic in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors. These results suggest that the difference between the cytolytic and cytostatic activities of IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha may have therapeutic implications for the use of these biological response modifiers in the treatment of gynecological malignancies.     

Biological activity of interleukins-28 and -29: comparison with type I interferons

Despite binding to receptors distinct from those of type I interferons (IFNs), human interleukins-28A, -28B and -29 (IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29; alternatively named IFN lambda-2 {IFN-lambda2}, IFN-lambda3 and IFN-lambda1, respectively, or collectively, type III IFNs), a small family of three structurally-related cytokines, are, like IFNs, known to induce antiviral activity. To further biologically characterize IL-28A and IL-29, we compared their activities with those of IFNs in a range of human cell lines. We found that they induced antiviral activity in fewer cell lines and more weakly than IFNs; also IL-28A was less active than IL-29. Additionally, we showed IL-28A and IL-29 induced reporter genes--protein MxA promoter linked to luciferase, or interferon stimulated response element (ISRE) linked to secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP)--more weakly than IFN. Antiproliferative activity was induced by IFNs in most cell lines, but only in one human glioblastoma cell line, LN319, was dose-dependent IL-29-growth inhibition demonstrable. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quantification of messenger (m) RNA of IL-28/29 receptor subunits, IL-28Ralpha and IL-10Rbeta, indicated variable expression levels; although their expression was highest in the responsive LN319 cell line, lower but significant expression of both mRNAs was found in relatively unresponsive cell lines. In conclusion, we found IL-28A and IL-29 act similarly to IFNs, but are less effective generally and have activity in a more limited range of cell lines.     

The role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in regulating interleukin-10 gene expression in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines

In malignant B lymphoma cells interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression is frequently upregulated. This effect is thought to support to the malignant transformation of these cells and to be a potential target for pharmacotherapy. To define better the mechanism for upregulation of the IL-10 gene, we tested the association between IL-10 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in several Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infected and non-infected Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines. The all BL cell lines expressed IL-10 and IL-10 receptor mRNAs, and produced IL-10. p38 MAPK was constitutively phosphorylated in the cytoplasm of the BL cell lines. We further analyzed molecular effects of p38 MAPK on IL-10 expression in Akata cells. Exogenous IL-10 lead rapidly to phosphorylation of Jak1 and Tyk2 as transducers of signals of IL-10, and promoted growth of Akata cells in a dose-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of cytoplasmic p38 MAPK in Akata cells was reduced by the serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7). A specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB203580, blocked simultaneously STAT3 DNA-binding activity, and IL-10 mRNA expression, IL-10 production, and then the cell growth was inhibited. These results indicate that the p38 MAPK pathway is functionally linked to IL-10 gene expression and supports the view that the constitutive activation of cytoplasmic p38 MAPK in BL cells is a step in the upregulation of IL-10 gene expression and lymphomagenesis.     

7TD1细胞及其克隆对IL-6的反应性和依赖性

比较了基础所和北医大提供的两株7TD1细胞。选择北医大细胞株进行克隆,筛选出对IL-6增殖反应性和依赖性较强的3株细胞(7TD1 MC1、7TD1 MC4、7TD1MC5)。其中,7TD1 MC5细胞的反应曲线呈典型的“倒S”形,对IL-6有很好的反应性和依赖性。MTT比色法显示了与~3H-TdR掺入法一致的结果,采用7TD1 MC5细胞及MTT比色法测定IL-6生物活性,可减少仪器测试的费用和避免放射性污染。确定了培养基中IL-6的最适浓度(2ng/ml)。细胞传代培养和冻存6个月,7TD1 MC5细胞对IL-6的反应性和依赖性均无明显变化。     

Interleukin-6 undergoes transition from paracrine growth inhibitor to autocrine stimulator during human melanoma progression [published erratum appears in J Cell Biol 1993 Apr;121(2):following 477]

The ability to penetrate the dermal basement membrane and subsequently proliferate in the underlying mesenchyme is one of the key steps in malignant progression of human melanomas. We previously undertook studies aimed at assessing how normal dermal fibroblasts (one of the main cellular components of mesenchyme) may affect the growth of human melanoma cells and facilitate the overgrowth of malignant subpopulations (Cornil, I., D. Theodorescu, S. Man, M. Herlyn, J. Jambrosic, and R. S. Kerbel. 1991. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 88:6028- 6032). We found that melanoma cell lines from early-stage (metastatically incompetent) lesions were growth inhibited whereas those from advanced-stage (metastatically competent) lesions were stimulated under the same conditions by co-culture with fibroblasts; conditioned medium from such cells gave the same result. Subsequent studies using biochemical purification and neutralizing antibodies revealed the inhibitory activity to be identical to interleukin-6 (IL- 6). We now report that addition of purified recombinant human IL-6 resulted in a growth inhibition in vitro by G1/G0 arrest of early, but not advanced stage melanoma cells. Despite this alteration in response there was no significant difference in melanoma cell lines of varying malignancy in respect to their expression of genes encoding the IL-6 receptor, or gp130, the IL-6 signal transducer. Scatchard analysis also revealed similar [125I]IL-6 binding activities in both IL-6 sensitive and resistant groups. However, studies of IL-6 production indicated that five out eight IL-6 melanoma cell lines known to be resistant to exogenous IL-6-mediated growth inhibition constitutively expressed mRNA for IL-6; they also secreted bioactive IL-6 into culture medium. To assess the possible role of this endogenous IL-6 in melanoma cell growth, antisense oligonucleotides to the IL-6 gene were added to cultures of melanoma cells. This resulted in a significant growth inhibition only in cell lines that produced endogenous IL-6. In contrast, neutralizing antibodies to IL-6 were ineffective in causing such growth inhibition. This indicates that endogenous IL-6 may behave as a growth stimulator by an intracellular ("private") autocrine mechanism. Thus, a single cytokine, IL-6, can switch from behaving as a paracrine growth inhibitor to an autocrine growth stimulator within the same cell lineage during malignant tumor progression. Such a switch may contribute to the growth advantage of metastatically competent melanoma cells at the primary or distant organ sites and thereby facilitate progression of disease.     

Enrichment of Foxp3+ CD4 regulatory T cells in migrated T cells to IL-6- and IL-8-expressing tumors through predominant induction of CXCR1 by IL-6

Analysis of cytokine and chemokine production by tumor cell lines including five lung cancers, a malignant mesothelioma, and a malignant melanoma recently established in our laboratory showed rather high production of IL-8 in all tumors and IL-6 in one lung cancer, the malignant mesothelioma, and the malignant melanoma. We investigated the migration of PBMCs to these tumor cells using Transwell plates and showed enrichment of Foxp3(+) CD4 regulatory T cells (Tregs) in migrated T cells to both IL-6- and IL-8-producing tumors. Marked induction of CXCR1 expression on Foxp3(+) CD4 Tregs by IL-6 followed by IL-8-mediated migration appeared to be responsible for enriched migration. Frequent production of IL-8 by the tumors and Treg migration to those tumors through induction of IL-8R expression by IL-6 is one of the mechanisms for tumor escape.     

Tumor necrosis factor is a survival and proliferation factor for human myeloma cells

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major survival factor for malignant plasma cells. In patients with multiple myeloma (MM), cell lines whose survival and proliferation are dependent upon addition of exogenous IL-6 have been obtained. We show here that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is also a survival factor for myeloma cell lines, although less potent than IL-6. The survival activity of TNF-alpha is not affected by anti-IL-6 or anti-gp130 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). TNF-alpha also induces myeloma cells in the cell cycle and promotes the long-term growth of malignant plasma cell lines. As TNF-alpha is produced in patients with MM and associated with a poor prognosis, these results suggest that anti-TNF-alpha therapies could be useful in this disease.     

人胎脾细胞IL-2和IL-6的产生及其与NK细胞功能发育的关系

人类胚胎发育时期,脾细胞IL-2和IL-6的产生及其与NK细胞功能发育关系的研究结果表明,胚胎20周龄前IL-2的活性和NK活性细胞基本缺乏,但可分泌低水平的IL-6;随个体发育,IL-2、IL-6的产生和NK细胞活性均逐渐增强,三者间呈直线正相关关系(r>0.86);出生前,IL-6的产生和NK细胞活性显著低于成人组(p<0.01),而IL-2的产生巳达成人水平(p>0.05)。最后,对在胚胎发育过程中IL-2和IL-6的产生,及其与NK细胞功能发育间的关系进行了讨论。     

Antiproliferative activity of some 1,4-dimethylcarbazoles on cells that express estrogen receptors: part I

Several 9H-carbazole derivatives are used for various pharmacological applications. Many of these compounds demonstrated cytotoxic and anticancer activities. In this work, we have investigated the cytotoxic activity of some substituted carbazoles against cancer cell lines (MCF-7, and ISK). The derivative 2a showed the highest inhibitory activity against both cell lines.     

Identification of interleukin-6 as an autocrine growth factor for Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B cells.

Autocrine growth factors are believed to be important for maintenance of an immortalized state by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), because cell-free supernatants of EBV-immortalized cell lines promote the proliferation of autologous cells and permit their growth at low cell density. In this study, we provide evidence for the existence of two autocrine growth factor activities produced by EBV-immortalized lines distinguished by size and biological activities. Much of the autocrine growth factor activity in lymphoblastoid cell line supernatants resided in a low-molecular-weight (less than 5,000) fraction. However, up to 20 to 30% of the autocrine growth factor activity resided in the high-molecular-weight (greater than 5,000) fraction. While the nature of the low-molecular-weight growth factor activity remains undefined, the high-molecular-weight growth factor activity was identified as interleukin-6 (IL-6). Culture supernatants from six EBV-induced lymphoblastoid cell lines tested contained IL-6 activity, because they promoted proliferation in the IL-6-dependent hybridoma cell line B9. In addition, a rabbit antibody to human IL-6 neutralized the capacity of the high-molecular-weight (greater than 5,000) fraction of a lymphoblastoid cell line supernatant to promote growth both in autologous EBV-immortalized cells and in B9 cells. Similarly, this high-molecular-weight autocrine growth factor activity was neutralized by a monoclonal antibody to human IL-6. Furthermore, characteristic bands, attributable to IL-6, were visualized in supernatants of each of four EBV-induced lymphoblastoid cell lines after immunoprecipitation with a rabbit antiserum to human IL-6. Thus, in addition to its previously reported properties, IL-6 is an autocrine growth factor for EBV-immortalized B cells cultured under serum-free conditions.     

Establishment of two continuous T-cell strains from a single plaque of a patient with mycosis fungoides

Summary From a plaque biopsy of a patient with mycosis fungoides, two different continuous cell lines were established by including both IL-2 and IL-4 in culture medium. Both continuous cell lines appeared with characteristic chromosome markers after approximately 40 cell population doublings. The initial karyotype recognized in T cells from the skin biopsy was 46,XY and the karyotypes of the continuous cell strains were 46,XY, -18, + i(18q) and another with multiple chromosome aberrations as described in Sezary T-cell leukemia. Phenotyping with monoclonal antibodies and T-cell receptor analysis indicates that the latter cell strain represents a minority of T-cells in the plaque. Due to its many chromosomal aberrations it probably represents the malignant cell, which may be a central cell in the immune stimulation taking place in the skin.     

Suppression of interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptor expression in Jurkat cells stably expressing the human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein.

The Jurkat T cell line was stably transfected with an Epstein-Barr virus-based episomal replicon designed to express high levels of the HIV-1 Tat protein. After selection in hygromycin B, high-level Tat activity was detected in 3 of 18 transfected cell lines. After stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), Tat transfectants with high Tat expression showed diminished expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (IL-2R) when compared to untransfected Jurkat cells or Jurkat cell lines transfected with the parent control plasmid. Sublines derived from the high-level Tat transfectants with reduced Tat activity showed normalization of PHA/PMA-induced IL-2 expression. Northern analysis showed diminished expression of IL-2 and IL-2R mRNA in the stimulated Tat transfectants. Inhibition of IL-2 and IL-2R expression by the HIV-1 Tat protein may contribute to the immune suppression that characterizes HIV-1 infection.     

Growth of AKR T cell leukemia lyphoblasts in medium containing interleukin 2 (IL-2)

Summary Long-term cloned mouse leukemic T cell lines were established in vitro using interleukin-2 (IL-2) conditioned media. The cell lines were tested for retention of both antigenic expression and tumorigenicity, as well as for growth characteriztics. Several important findings resulted from these studies. A reliable method was developed for consistent success in the culturing and cloning of leukemic T cell lines. Cultured cells from IL-2-dependent lines were found to retain their original histocompatibility and differentiation antigen characteristics for up to 2 yr. Mortality patterns, comparing long-term cloned leukemic T cell lines with fresh AKR leukemia cells, showed that the cloned cells had greater tumorigenicity. An especially interesting finding was that cell lines established both from different mice and from a single organ of an individual mouse were heterogeneous with respect, to antigenic makeup, cell growth kinetics, and tumorigenicity. Finally, because of their dependence on IL-2, the cloned tumor cell lines provided excellent index cells to quatify IL-2 activity. Supported by Grants CA-20484 and CA-26245, from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services and grants from the Briggs and Stratton Corporation Foundation, the Evan and Marion Helfaer Foundation, the Kearney and Trecker Foundation, the MACC Fund, the Miller Foundatione and the Stackner Family Foundation. This study represents partial fulfillment for a Ph.D. in Biology from the Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.