Modulation of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptors on macrophages by tumor necrosis factor

The effect of murine rTNF-alpha on the binding of human 125I-rCSF-1 to murine thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) was investigated. At 4 degrees C, 125I-CSF-1 binding to PEM was inhibited by preincubation with human rCSF-1, but not by other cytokines. When PEM were incubated with various cytokines at 37 degrees C, murine rTNF-alpha caused greater than 90% decrease in 125I-CSF-1 binding. This decrease was time, temperature and TNF dose dependent, and was not affected by preincubation with cycloheximide. The reduction in CSF-1-binding activity was reversed by prolonged incubation at 37 degrees C even in the presence of TNF. However, PEM preincubated with TNF subsequently washing free of residual TNF resulted in a rapid recovery of CSF-1 binding. This recovery of CSF-1-binding activity required protein synthesis. Binding studies suggested that the decrease in 125I-CSF-1 binding was most likely caused by a reduction in the number of CSF-1 receptors. In addition, preincubation with TNF at 37 degrees C inhibited 125I-CSF-1 binding on mononuclear phagocytes, including the macrophage cell line J774, bone marrow-derived macrophages, and nonelicited macrophages from three different strains of mice. In contrast, 125I-murine rTNF-alpha binding to PEM was not inhibited by preincubation with CSF-1 at 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C. These data suggest that TNF may play a role in the modulation of receptor expression on blood cells, and may point to a role for this pleiotropic cytokine in the regulation of hemopoiesis.     

Up-regulation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptors in murine peritoneal exudate macrophages by both GM-CSF and IL-3.

Murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) display multiple CSF receptors. In this study, the expression of granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF receptors in PEM was studied. PEM displayed over 5000 single type, high affinity GM-CSF receptors/cell with a Kd = 38 to 42 pM and an apparent molecular mass of 86,000 Da. Treatment of PEM with low, but not high, concentrations of recombinant murine (rMu) GM-CSF continuously for 24 h resulted in a marked up-regulation of GM-CSF receptors in PEM. A similar up-regulation of GM-CSF receptors also was detected in PEM cultures treated with rMuIL-3 (1-100 ng/ml) for 24 h or longer, regardless the doses of rMuIL-3 added in this case. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding showed that the enhanced binding activities in both cases were due to an increase in total number of GM-CSF receptors rather than changes in receptor affinity. Contrariwise, treatment with recombinant human macrophage-CSF (greater than 100-1000 ng/ml) partially inhibited the expression of GM-CSF receptors in PEM. Removal of rMuGM-CSF from culture medium 24 h after treatment led to a further up-regulation of GM-CSF receptors over a 4 to 24-h period, depending on the doses of initial treatment. On the other hand, removal of rMuIL-3 from culture medium after prolonged treatment did not result in further increase in GM-CSF receptors. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide abrogated GM-CSF receptor up-regulation induced by both rMuIL-3 and rMuGM-CSF, whereas actinomycin D inhibited only the second (8-24 h) phase of GM-CSF receptor up-regulation induced by exposure to high concentrations rMuGM-CSF (10 ng/ml). These findings suggest that rMuGM-CSF and rMuIL-3 up-regulate GM-CSF receptors in PEM in part through similar or identical metabolic pathways and provide further evidence of a close linkage between IL-3 and GM-CSF receptors.     

IFN-gamma-induced L-arginine-dependent toxoplasmastatic activity in murine peritoneal macrophages is mediated by endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Activated murine peritoneal macrophages inhibit the intracellular proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii and produce a number of cytokines, such as TNF-alpha and IL-1. Both TNF-alpha and IL-1 have been reported to be involved in the immune response against various microorganisms, but the mechanisms responsible for these effects are not known. In the present study it was investigated whether endogenously produced TNF-alpha and IL-1 are involved in the activation of peritoneal macrophages by rIFN-gamma leading to toxoplasmastatic activity and the production of reactive nitrogen intermediates. The rIFN-gamma-induced toxoplasmastatic activity was inhibited by neutralizing antibodies against mouse TNF-alpha in a dose-dependent and time-dependent way, but neutralizing antibodies against mouse IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta did not affect this activity. Involvement of TNF-alpha in the induction of toxoplasmastatic activity was confirmed by our finding that rTNF-alpha in combination with a nonactivating concentration of rIFN-gamma inhibited the intracellular proliferation of T. gondii. No synergistic activity of rIL-1 and rIFN-gamma on the inhibition of T. gondii proliferation was found. Both rTNF-alpha and rIL-1 alpha alone inhibited the intracellular proliferation of T. gondii only slightly. Because it has been reported recently that activated macrophages produce reactive nitrogen intermediates that are essential in the induction of toxoplasmastatic activity, we investigated whether these intermediates are involved in the TNF-dependent induction of toxoplasmastatic activity. Neutralizing antibodies against mouse TNF-alpha inhibited also the release of NO2- by rIFN-gamma-activated macrophages almost completely. Macrophages incubated with rTNF-alpha in combination with a nonactivating concentration of rIFN-gamma released substantial amounts of NO2-, but rTNF-alpha and rIL-1 alpha alone, and the combination of rIL-1 alpha and a nonactivating concentration of rIFN-gamma induced only little NO2(-)-release by macrophages. To assess whether reactive nitrogen intermediates act directly or indirectly on the intracellular proliferation of T. gondii, macrophages were incubated with the L-arginine analog NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or the NADPH-inhibitor diphenylene iodonium, both inhibitors of the generation of reactive nitrogen intermediates. Good correlation was found between toxoplasmastatic activity and the release of NO2- during the 24-h activation period before infection of the macrophages with T. gondii, but no correlation was found between toxoplasmastatic activity and the release of NO2- during infection of the macrophages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Binding, internalization and degradation of colony-stimulating factor by peritoneal exudate macrophages

Iodinated colony-stimulating factor produced by L-cells (125I-CSF-1) binds specifically to murine peritoneal exudate macrophages. At 37 degrees C, the cell-bound 125I-CSF-1 was internalized and degraded very rapidly, with the appearance of radioactive iodotyrosine in the medium. At 0 degree C, the cell-bound 125I-CSF-1 was not internalized and degraded, nor did it dissociate from the membrane. The internalization and degradation at 37 degrees C could be blocked or reduced by the presence of phenylglyoxal, methylamine and NH4Cl. The chemical nature of the CSF-1 binding site is polypeptide as judged by its sensitivity to trypsin treatment. After the binding and degradation of unlabeled CSF-1, the exudate cells were no longer able to rebind freshly added 125I-CSF-1, indicating the removal of CSF-1 binding site. The binding capacity of these cells, however, could be restored by prolonged incubation at 37 degrees C but not at 0 degrees C in culture medium containing fetal calf serum.     

Interferon-induced inhibition of receptor-mediated endocytosis of colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) by murine peritoneal exudate macrophages

Apart from its characteristic antiviral activity, interferon (IFN) also exerts a variety of biologic effects on macrophages. We have studied the effect of IFN on the expression of the colony-stimulating factor receptors (CSF-1 receptors) by murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM). At 37 degrees C, murine IFN decreased the expression of the CSF-1 receptor activity in a time- and dose-dependent fashion by PEM from both endotoxin-sensitive (C3H/Sn) and endotoxin-resistant strains (C3H/HeJ) of mice. Scatchard analysis from the binding data suggests that the decreased expression of CSF-1 receptors is a result of decreased number of receptors rather than a decreased binding affinity. When IFN was incubated with anti-IFN before the addition to cultures, the effect was completely abolished indicating that this activity resides in the same molecules as IFN. The suppressed CSF-1 receptor activity on PEM by IFN appeared to be stable. Removal of added IFN never resulted in a full recovery of CSF-1 binding activity by PEM even after prolonged incubation (7 days). IFN also inhibited the receptor-mediated uptake and utilization of CSF-1 molecules by treated cells, which appeared to be a direct effect of the decreased number of CSF-1 receptors. Treatment of PEM with dexamethasone, prostaglandin, transferrin, insulin, or dibutyryl cAMP failed to suppress both the expression of CSF-1 receptors and CSF-1 utilization by PEM. These studies suggest that IFN may play a role in the regulation of both macrophage production and differentiation via the modulation of specific membrane receptors and inhibition of receptor-mediated CSF-1 endocytosis.     

Binding, internalization and degradation of colony-stimulating factor by peritoneal exudate macrophages

Iodinated colony-stimulating factor produced by L-cells (¹²⁵I-CSF-1) binds specifically to murine peritoneal exudate macrophages. At 37°C, the cell-bound ¹²⁵I-CSF-1 was internalized and degraded very rapidly, with the appearance of radioactive iodotyrosine in the medium. At 0°C, the cell-bound ¹²⁵I-CSF-1 was not internalized and degraded, nor did it dissociate from the membrane. The internalization and degradation at 37°C could be blocked or reduced by the presence of phenylglyoxal, methylamine and NH₄Cl. The chemical nature of the CSF-1 binding site is polypeptide as judged by its sensitivity to trypsin treatment. After the binding and degradation of unlabeled CSF-1, the exudate cells were no longer able to rebind freshly added ¹²⁵I-CSF-1, indicating the removal of CSF-1 binding site. The binding capacity of these cells, however, could be restored by prolonged incubation at 37°C but not at 0°C in culture medium containing fetal calf serum.     

Production of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor by cisplatin-treated murine peritoneal macrophages

Supernatants collected from cisplatin-treated macrophages demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity against actinomycin-D-treated L929 cells and also enhanced the thymocyte proliferation in response to concanavalin A, showing that cisplatin-treated macrophages release interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) into the culture supernatant. The supernatant collected from untreated macrophages showed little TNF and IL-1 activity. The release of TNF and IL-1 was observed to be dependent on the dose and duration of cisplatin treatment. Medium alone containing cisplatin did not enhance thymocyte proliferation and had little cytotoxic effect on actinomycin-D-treated L929 cells. Cisplatin-treated macrophage culture supernatants were chromatographed over a Superose 12 column on an FPLC system. TNF activity eluted in two major peaks with apparent molecular weights of 50-55 and 15-20 kilodaltons, respectively. The kinetics of IL-1 release was also studied. Maximum production and release of IL-1 were observed up to 24 h after cisplatin treatment and then gradually declined. Freeze-thaw lysates of cisplatin-treated macrophages also showed enhanced IL-1 activity. Paraformaldehyde (PFA)-fixed cisplatin-treated macrophages showed significantly enhanced cytotoxic activity against L929 cells as compared to PFA-fixed untreated macrophages. PFA-fixed cisplatin-treated macrophages also enhanced thymocyte proliferation. These results suggest that cisplatin treatment of murine macrophages also results in increased expression of membrane-associated IL-1 and TNF activity.     

Lipopolysaccharide inhibits the binding of colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) to murine peritoneal exudate macrophages

These studies demonstrate the potent effect of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) on the inhibition of iodinated colony-stimulating factor- (125I-CSF-1) binding by murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) from C3H/An and C57BL/6 mice. As small an amount as 0.1 ng/ml LPS is sufficient to cause a significant inhibitory effect; this effect is temperature-, time- and concentration-dependent. LPS, however, causes minimal or no inhibition of 125I-CSF-1-binding by PEM from LPS-resistant C3H/HeJ mice. Inhibition of 125I-CSF-1-binding does not appear to be a result of a direct occupancy by LPS of CSF-1 receptors present on the cell membrane and is most likely due to a progressive loss of available CSF-1-binding sites. The effect can be neutralized by the addition of the antibiotic polymyxin B, which binds to the lipid A portion of LPS. The action of LPS on PEM is transient; treated cells recover their 125I-CSF-1-binding activity whether or not LPS is later removed. The restoration of 125I-CSF-1-binding activity can be blocked completely by the addition of cyclohexamide. These findings suggest the rapid, LPS-induced disappearance of CSF-1 receptors from the cell surface may be related to the activation of macrophages by LPS.     

Keratinocyte-derived granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces DNA synthesis by peritoneal macrophages

Keratinocytes have been demonstrated to produce a number of cytokines, including growth factors such as the CSF IL-3. Circulating blood monocytes and some elicited macrophages retain a significant proliferative potential in response to colony-stimulating activity. Because a macrophage response is prominent in a variety of cutaneous immune reactions, we have studied the ability of conditioned media (CM) from a transformed murine keratinocyte cell line (PAM 212) and from normal murine keratinocytes to induce growth of peritoneal macrophages. CM from both normal and transformed keratinocyte cultures induces [3H]thymidine incorporation by thioglycollate-elicited, but not resident, peritoneal macrophages. IEF of PAM 212 CM reveals peaks of activity at pI 4.8 and less than or equal to 4.2. Analysis of CM by reversed-phase HPLC demonstrates active fractions that elute at 46 to 48% and 53 to 55% acetonitrile. The Mr of the 46 to 48% acetonitrile factor is 25 to 30 kDa by gel filtration HPLC. Polyclonal anti-granulocyte/macrophage (GM) CSF antibody blocks the induction of macrophage [3H]thymidine incorporation by factors with pI 4.8 and eluting at 46 to 48% acetonitrile but does not reduce the activity of crude CM or the factor eluting at 53 to 55% acetonitrile. Based on both physiochemical criteria and antibody neutralization, keratinocytes produce GM-CSF. Keratinocyte-derived factors, including GM-CSF, may play an important role in regulating cutaneous macrophage responses.     

Tumor-promoting phorbol esters inhibit the binding of colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) to murine peritoneal exudate macrophages

L-cell colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) is a sialoglycoprotein of molecular weight 70,000 daltons that specifically stimulates macrophage colony formation by single committed cells from normal mouse bone marrow and by various classes of more differentiated tissue-derived mononuclear phagocyte colony-forming cells (Stanley et al., 1978). CSF-1 interacts with target cells by direct and specific binding to membrane receptors (CSF-1 receptors) that are present only on cells of the mononuclear phagocyte series and their precursors. We studied the effect of tumor-promoting phorbol esters on the binding of 125I-labeled CSF-1 (125I-CSF-1) to murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM). Biologically active TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate) inhibits the binding of 125I-CSF-1 to its receptor on PEM. This inhibition exhibits temperature, time, and concentration dependence. At 37 degrees C, maximum inhibition occurred at about 10(-7) M; inhibition was 50% at 5 X 10(-9) M. At 0 degrees C, the inhibitory activity of TPA is diminished. The action of TPA on PEM is transient. Treated cells recover their 125I-CSF-1-binding activity whether TPA is later removed or not. The process of recovering CSF-1-binding activity is completely blocked by the addition of cycloheximide. When several phorbol derivatives were tested for their inhibitory activities, only biologically active phorbol esters were found to possess such activities. Furthermore, the inhibitory activities of various phorbol esters are proportional to their tumor-promoting activities. Inhibition appears to be due to a reduction in the total number of available CSF-1 receptors rather than a decrease in receptor affinity.     

Erythropoietin causes down regulation of colony-stimulating factor (CSF- 1) receptors on peritoneal exudate macrophages of the mouse

We have shown that erythropoietin (epo), the primary regulator of erythrocyte formation, diminished the binding to peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) of the principal macrophage growth regulator, colony- stimulating factor (CSF-1). The effect of epo on 125I-CSF-1 binding was dose-dependent; at a concentration of 1-2 U of epo/ml (10(-10) M), CSF- 1 binding was almost completely suppressed. Erythropoietin did not compete with CSF-1 for occupancy of the latter's receptors. The effect of epo on CSF-1 binding occurred at 37 degrees C but not at 2 degrees C, and during the continuous exposure of PEM to epo at 37 degrees C we found that CSF-1 binding reached a nadir at 1 h and recovered to pre- exposure levels in 7 h. Our novel results are consistent with the notion that specific receptors for epo exist on the cell surface of PEM and that binding of epo sets in motion a series of cellular events resulting in the internalization of CSF-1 receptors. Thus epo causes down regulation of CSF-1 receptors on PEM. We have previously shown that epo causes suppression of CSF-induced granulocyte-macrophage colony formation by mouse bone marrow cells. The results we present here provide a possible mechanism for these results.     

Cyclooxygenase-1-dependent prostaglandin synthesis modulates tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion in lipopolysaccharide-challenged murine resident peritoneal macrophages

Comprehensive studies of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in murine resident peritoneal macrophages (RPM) responding to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) revealed that the primary PGs produced by RPM were prostacyclin and PGE(2). Detectable increases in net PG formation occurred within the first hour, and maximal PG formation had occurred by 6-10 h after LPS addition. Free arachidonic acid levels rose and peaked at 1-2 h after LPS addition and then returned to baseline. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal PGE synthase levels markedly increased upon exposure of RPM to LPS, with the most rapid increases in protein expression occurring 2-6 h after addition of the stimulus. RPM constitutively expressed high levels of COX-1. Studies using isoform-selective inhibitors and RPM from mice bearing targeted deletions of ptgs-1 and ptgs-2 demonstrated that COX-1 contributes significantly to PG synthesis in RPM, especially during the initial 1-2 h after LPS addition. Selective inhibition of either COX isoform resulted in increased secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha); however, this effect was much greater with the COX-1 than with the COX-2 inhibitor. These results demonstrate autocrine regulation of TNF-alpha secretion by endogenous PGs synthesized primarily by COX-1 in RPM and suggest that COX-1 may play a significant role in the regulation of the early response to endotoxemia.     

Stimulatory effects of purified macrophage colony-stimulating factor on murine resident peritoneal macrophages

A purified preparation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) free of interferon and endotoxin activity was studied for its effects on resident murine peritoneal macrophages. M-CSF was found to induce profound morphologic alterations in resident macrophages. These changes included a marked increase in cell size, membrane ruffling, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. Further, after 72 hr of incubation with 1000 U/ml of M-CSF, there were significant increases in macrophage DNA synthesis as measured by autoradiography (P less than 0.001), and in macrophage monolayer protein content (P less than 0.01). None of these changes was seen in control macrophages or those exposed to recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN). Low activity levels of the ectoenzymes 5'-nucleotidase (5'NTD) and alkaline phosphodiesterase I (APD) have been associated with certain macrophage functions, particularly the expression of tumor cytotoxicity. Macrophage monolayers exposed to M-CSF demonstrated an unaltered level of 5'NTD activity from controls and a significantly increased level of APD activity (P less than 0.01) and did not demonstrate an increased ability to kill tumor cells, as measured by the 51Cr-release assay. On the other hand, IFN caused significant decreases in both 5'NTD (P less than 0.05) and APD (P less than 0.01) and also induced marked tumoricidal activity in macrophage monolayers. These results indicate that purified M-CSF induces highly specific alterations in the functional activity and morphologic appearance of resident macrophages and these changes are distinct from those induced by IFN.     

Oxidized low density lipoprotein suppresses the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA in stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages

In the present report we have examined expression of the gene encoding the inflammatory monokine TNF-alpha in murine peritoneal macrophages treated with different forms of low density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL modified by oxidation in vitro is unable to stimulate inflammatory gene expression in peritoneal macrophages. However, treatment of macrophage cultures with oxidized LDL for 6 h or more resulted in a concentration and time-dependent suppression of TNF-alpha mRNA expression induced in response to stimulation with either LPS or maleylated BSA. This suppression was maximal after 12 h of exposure to oxidized LDL and at a concentration of 100 to 200 micrograms LDL cholesterol/ml of culture medium. The suppressive effect was restricted to oxidatively modified LDL as treatment with native LDL or acetylated LDL did not affect TNF-alpha mRNA expression, despite the fact that both acetylated and oxidized LDL lead to intracellular lipid accumulation. The expression of maleyl albumin-stimulated TNF-alpha mRNA expression could be reproduced by lipid extracts of oxidized LDL provided to macrophages at the same cholesterol concentration as from the intact lipoprotein particle. Extracts from native LDL were ineffective. These results suggest that oxidized lipid accumulation in monocytes infiltrating the arterial wall may lead to the suppression of certain inflammatory functions which, in turn, may influence the development of mature atherosclerotic lesions.     

Effect of tumor necrosis factor and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor on neutrophil degranulation

Both TNF and and granulocyte/macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) can activate neutrophils. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of these cytokines on neutrophil degranulation. The secretion of lactoferrin of secondary granules and myeloperoxidase (MPO) of primary granules from single adherent human neutrophils was assayed by use of a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. Both rTNF and rGM-CSF caused secretion of lactoferrin in a dose-dependent manner. Both agents also caused secretion of MPO, but only in the presence of cytochalasin B. Preincubation with pertussis toxin inhibited rGM-CSF-induced secretion of both lactoferrin and MPO. rTNF-induced MPO secretion was also blocked by pertussis toxin, whereas lactoferrin secretion was only slightly affected. Neither rTNF nor rGM-CSF caused any detectable changes in the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ in fura-2-loaded cells. However, when neutrophils were loaded with increasing concentrations of quin-2 to buffer any local, not detectable, changes in the concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+, both rTNF- and rGM-CSF-induced secretion of lactoferrin and MPO were almost totally abolished at a relatively low quin-2 concentration. These results suggest a role of a regulatory G-protein and minute local changes in the concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in TNF- and GM-CSF-induced neutrophil degranulation.     

Modulation of receptors and cytotoxic response of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by various lectins

The effects of various lectins on the interaction of the human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180 with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) was investigated. rTNF-alpha is known to have cytotoxic effects on this tumor cell line and has been reported to interact with these cells through a single class of specific high affinity receptors (Kd = 0.45 nM; approximately 1790 binding sites/cell). Exposure of cells to concanavalin A (ConA) causes an approximately 2-fold increase in rTNF-alpha receptors without any significant change in their affinity constant (Kd = 0.36 nM; approximately 3662 binding sites/cell). This increase in receptor number is dependent on temperature, the time of exposure and dose of ConA, and does not require the synthesis of new proteins. In spite of an increased binding of rTNF-alpha to cells, the cell killing induced by rTNF-alpha is totally blocked by ConA. Cells are also protected by this lectin from the synergistic cytotoxic effects of rTNF-alpha and recombinant human interferon-gamma. Furthermore, it was also found that ConA decreases the rate of internalization and dramatically inhibits the release and degradation of rTNF-alpha by the cells. These results, overall, demonstrate that ConA increases total number of binding sites for rTNF-alpha but blocks the transduction of the signal for the cytotoxic response.     

IFN-gamma reduces specific binding of tumor necrosis factor on murine macrophages.

Because IFN-gamma is the main cytokine activating macrophages and TNF cooperates in this activation, we assessed TNF binding capacity during the course of murine macrophage activation by IFN-gamma. TNF binding to elicited macrophages increased with time, was maximal by 8 h of culture, and required de novo protein synthesis. 125I-TNF bound to about 40,000 sites/cell with a Kd of 1 x 10(-9) M. Cross-linking experiments performed with a bifunctional cross-linking agent revealed a specific band with a m.w. of 94,000. Preincubation of macrophages with IFN-gamma prevented the binding of TNF to receptors. This effect was dose-dependent and maximal at 100 U/ml. IFN-gamma also reduced specific TNF binding to preexisting receptors (50% inhibition in 3 h), but IFN-gamma did not change the internalization rate of TNF. These studies showed that the number of TNF receptors increased on macrophages vs maturation in culture and was negatively controlled by IFN-gamma.     

Structural studies on the murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a glycoprotein hemopoietic growth factor which regulates the production of granulocytes and macrophages. Reversed-phase microbore high-performance liquid chromatography was employed to purify a number of tryptic and Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase peptides generated from approximately 400 pmol G-CSF purified from medium conditioned by lungs from mice previously injected with endotoxin. N-Terminal amino-acid sequence analyses were performed on the parent polypeptide and on four tryptic peptides and one Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease peptide, yielding 68 unique amino-acid assignments; this corresponds to approximately 38% of the molecule.     

Production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by Smilacis rhizoma in mouse peritoneal macrophages

Using mouse peritoneal macrophages, we have examined the mechanism by which, Smilacis rhizoma (SR) regulates nitric oxide (NO) production. When SR was used in combination with recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma), there was a marked cooperative induction of NO production. However, SR had no effect on NO production by itself. The increased production of NO from rIFN-gamma plus SR-stimulated cells was almost completely inhibited by pre-treatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). Furthermore, treatment of peritoneal macrophages with rIFN-gamma plus SR caused a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. PDTC also decreased the effect of SR on TNF-alpha production significantly. These findings demonstrate that SR increases the production of NO and TNF-alpha by rIFN-gamma-primed macrophages and suggest that NF-kappaB plays a critical role in mediating these effects of SR.