Modulation of antibody-mediated glomerular injury in vivo by bacterial lipopolysaccharide, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-1

We have investigated the effects of LPS, human rTNF (hrTNF) and human rIL-1 beta (hrIL-1 beta) pretreatment on the intensity of antibody-mediated injury in vivo by using a passive model of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody-mediated nephritis in rats. The experiments show that all three pretreatments exacerbate injury in this model whether judged by albuminuria or the prevalence of glomerular capillary thrombi. The effect on albuminuria was dose dependent with all three treatments. The lowest effective dose of LPS was 0.025 microgram while those for hrTNF and hrIL-1 beta were 0.4 microgram and 0.5 microgram, respectively. All three pretreatments also increased the prevalence of glomerular capillary thrombi which were rare in rats injected with anti-GBM antibodies without pretreatment. LPS pretreatment appeared to be more effective in causing glomerular capillary thrombi than hrTNF or hrIL-1 beta and this was reflected in the correlations between albuminuria and the proportion of glomeruli with capillary thrombi. This relation was linear for all three pretreatments but the slope was appreciably greater for rats pretreated with LPS (0.37) when compared with results from rats given either hrTNF (0.22) or hrIL-1 beta (0.29). Pretreatment of nephritic rats with both cytokines increased the slope to 0.42 demonstrating a synergistic effect. The synergism of hrTNF with hrIL-1 beta was also demonstrated by the effective doses needed to induce albuminuria which was evident in rats treated with 0.05 microgram of IL-1 beta and 0.4 microgram of TNF. Neither the cytokines nor LPS caused clinical, morphologic, or biochemical evidence of renal toxicity when given alone in the dose used here but they did cause a transient increase in the number of neutrophils marginated in glomerular capillaries. Pretreatment of rats with LPS or cytokines increased the glomerular neutrophil influx after anti-GBM antibodies by roughly sixfold. Our experiments show that TNF and IL-1 can increase the severity of glomerular injury in nephritis; they may be important in modulating glomerular injury clinically.     

Neuropeptide regulation of inflammatory and immunologic responses. The capacity of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone to inhibit tumor necrosis factor and IL-1-inducible biologic responses

Administration of the pituitary hormone alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) to mice was found to inhibit a number of IL-1 and TNF-inducible biologic responses in situ. The ability of either IL-1 or TNF to cause fever, enhance plasma levels of acute phase proteins, and increase the numbers of peripheral blood neutrophils was inhibited by the simultaneous peripheral administration of this neuropeptide. In addition, alpha-MSH reversed the depressive influences of IL-1 or TNF on the effector phase of contact hypersensitivity (CH) responses in animals given an adoptive transfer of primed lymphocytes from hapten-sensitized donors. Intracerebral injection of nanogram quantities of alpha-MSH inhibited the ability of peripherally administered IL-1 or TNF to induce both fever and neutrophilia without affecting the increase in plasma levels of serum amyloid P and fibrinogen. Also, nanogram quantities of alpha-MSH given intracerebrally to normal mice did not reverse the depressed CH responses observed after peripheral IL-1 or TNF administration. These findings suggest that both fever and neutrophilia are linked to the direct action of IL-1 or TNF on the brain. This was supported by the observation that an intracerebral injection of IL-1 or TNF in low doses increased core body temperature and circulating neutrophil numbers without affecting plasma levels of acute phase proteins or CH responsiveness. Our results provide additional support for the hypothesis that bidirectional control exists between elements of the neuroendocrine and immune systems.     

Modulation of tumor necrosis factor by microbial pathogens

In response to invasion by microbial pathogens, host defense mechanisms get activated by both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune responses. TNF (tumor necrosis factor) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine expressed by activated macrophages and lymphocytes that induces diverse cellular responses that can vary from apoptosis to the expression of genes involved in both early inflammatory and acquired immune responses. A wide spectrum of microbes has acquired elegant mechanisms to overcome or deflect the host responses mediated by TNF. For example, modulatory proteins encoded by multiple families of viruses can block TNF and TNF-mediated responses at multiple levels, such as the inhibition of the TNF ligand or its receptors, or by modulating key transduction molecules of the TNF signaling pathway. Bacteria, on the other hand, tend to modify TNF-mediated responses specifically by regulating components of the TNF signaling pathway. Investigation of these diverse strategies employed by viral and bacterial pathogens has significantly advanced our understanding of both host TNF responses and microbial pathogenesis. This review summarizes the diverse microbial strategies to regulate TNF and how such insights into TNF modulation could benefit the treatment of inflammatory or autoimmune diseases.     

IL-4 regulates endothelial cell activation by IL-1, tumor necrosis factor, or IFN-gamma.

Alteration in the surface membrane of endothelial cells (EC) is a feature of endothelial activation both at sites of inflammation in vivo and after stimulation with cytokines in vitro. The effects of stimulating EC with IL-1 or TNF include enhanced adhesiveness for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and T cells, the induction of EC leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) expression, and the increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and the 1.4C3 Ag. In contrast, IFN-gamma stimulation increases EC binding of T cells but not PMN and enhances ICAM-1 expression but not ELAM-1 or 1.4C3 Ag expression. Recently we have reported that the T cell-derived cytokine IL-4 also increases EC adhesiveness for T cells but not PMN. In this study we have examined the effect of IL-4 on the expression of several cytokine-inducible EC activation Ag, by using a previously described ELISA technique. IL-4 modulation of activation Ag expression was concentration dependent, optimal at around 100 U/ml, and exhibited a unique pattern compared to that seen with the other cytokines. Although, IL-4 stimulation increased 1.4C3 Ag expression (p less than 0.001), it significantly inhibited constitutive ICAM-1 expression (p less than 0.01) and did not induce ELAM-1. Furthermore, IL-4 exhibited significant synergy with IL-1 or TNF in inducing 1.4C3 Ag expression (p less than 0.001) but inhibited the increased expression of ICAM-1 produced by IL-1, TNF, or IFN-gamma (p less than 0.01) and inhibited the induction of ELAM-1 by IL-1 and TNF (p less than 0.001). In contrast, IL-4 had no effect on the expression of EC HLA-class I, -DR, -DP, or -DQ and neither enhanced nor inhibited the effect of IFN-gamma on the expression of these molecules. Finally, although IL-4 alone caused little if any shape change in EC monolayers, it strongly synergized with TNF or IFN-gamma in causing a change in shape to a more fibroblastic morphology. These observations indicate that IL-4 increases EC adhesiveness for T cells by the induction of a different adhesion molecule to ICAM-1. Furthermore, the ability of IL-4 to both enhance and inhibit the expression of activation Ag on EC already activated by IL-1, TNF, or IFN-gamma suggests that it may be important in altering the quality of inflammatory responses such as may occur during the development and maintenance of chronic or immune-mediated inflammation.     

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.     

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.     

Stimulation of lymphocyte migration by endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, and interferon

Since several studies have demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) enhanced lymphocyte binding to endothelial cells in vitro, we examined the effects of these agents on lymphocyte migration in vivo. Small peritoneal exudate lymphocytes (sPEL), which perferentially migrate into inflammatory sites, were radiolabeled with 111In and injected iv into rats. The id injection of LPS was a strong stimulus for the migration of these cells into the skin. TNF alpha was also a good stimulator of lymphocyte migration, while TNF beta and IL-1 alpha were weak or nearly inactive. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that migration to TNF was rapid, with a peak at 6 hr, followed by a steady decline, while migration to LPS was sustained for 24 hr. TNF alpha, TNF beta, and IL-1 alpha, when combined with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or IFN-alpha/beta produced striking synergistic increases in lymphocyte migration. Combinations of the TNFs and IL-1 had less than additive effects, as did combinations of the IFNs. Qualitatively similar migration responses were found when spleen T cells instead of sPEL were studied.     

The effects of IL-1, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor on polymorphonuclear leukocyte Fc gamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis. IL-2 down-regulates the effect of tumor necrosis factor

It has been reported that the Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from patients with acute bacterial infections is markedly enhanced when compared with healthy controls. Inasmuch as several potent cytokines are known to be involved in inflammatory and infectious processes, we studied the effects of three such cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-2, and TNF-alpha) on normal PMN Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis. IL-1 beta and TNF alpha both caused a significant increase in the ingestion of EIgG by adherent PMN. In combination, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha had an additive effect, even when each was used at its optimal concentration. In contrast to the enhancing effects mediated by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, IL-2 alone had no significant effect on PMN phagocytosis. Notably, however, IL-2 at a concentration of 10(4) U/ml partially inhibited TNF-alpha-mediated enhancement of phagocytosis by decreasing TNF binding to the PMN cell surface. This inhibitory effect of IL-2 on TNF was reversed by anti-IL-2 antibody and mAb directed against the low affinity IL-2R (anti-Tac), whereas mAb directed against the intermediate affinity receptor (mik-beta 1) had no such effect. These findings may have important physiologic implications, because patients receiving IL-2 therapy have been shown to have increased susceptibility to infection.     

P48 induces tumor necrosis factor and IL-1 secretion by human monocytes

Bacterial products are potent stimulators of TNF and IL-1 release, however, the factors that regulate cytokine secretion in the absence of bacterial products are not well defined. P48 is a cytokine recently identified in the supernatant of the human null cell leukemia cell line Reh, which induces differentiation and cytolytic activity in HL-60 cells. P48 has been purified to homogeneity and is distinct from TNF-alpha TNF-beta, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and macrophage CSF. In the present study we examined the ability of P48 to stimulate cytokine release by human peripheral blood monocytes. P48 stimulated the secretion of TNF and IL-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Priming the monocytes with IFN-gamma enhanced P48-induced cytokine release but was not a requirement for secretion. Cytokine secretion was in response to P48 and was not caused by endotoxin contamination. The cytokine-inducing activity of P48 was extremely sensitive to heat treatment but could not be eliminated by using polymyxin B. Polyclonal antisera to P48 completely blocked the cytokine-inducing activity. P48 may be an important new member of the cytokine network involved in the regulation of cytokine secretion by monocytes.     

Modulation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptors on murine peritoneal exudate macrophages by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Modulation of granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) receptors on murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) by various cytokines was investigated. At 4 degrees C, 125I-G-CSF receptor binding on PEM reached a plateau after 6 h and was specifically competed by unlabeled human rG-CSF but not by other cytokines, including human rG-CSF-1, murine recombinant granulocyte-macrophage CSF, murine rIFN-gamma, human rIL-1 beta, and murine rTNF-alpha. 125I-G-CSF bound to PEM has a half-life of 30 min at 37 degrees C. Preincubation of PEM with murine rTNF, murine recombinant granulocyte-macrophage CSF, CSF-1, or G-CSF for 30 min at 37 degrees C resulted in partial reduction of 125I-G-CSF binding capacity, whereas IL-1 or IFN-gamma did not inhibit G-CSF binding. Further studies indicated that reduction of G-CSF binding caused by TNF was a dose- and time-dependent process and did not require FCS. The reduction was transient, and receptor binding was recovered by incubation at 37 degrees C for 8 h. The recovery of G-CSF binding was inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide. In addition, G-CSF binding studies suggested that the TNF-induced decrease in G-CSF binding to PEM was probably due to a reduction in receptor number rather than receptor affinity. Modulation of G-CSFR by TNF was also observed on nonelicited macrophages from various strains of mice. Our results demonstrate a physiologic response of G-CSFR on macrophages that is modulated by TNF. This phenomenon may play an important, as yet unknown, role in the macrophage inflammatory response.     

C5a-mediated leukotriene B4-amplified neutrophil chemotaxis is essential in tumor immunotherapy facilitated by anti-tumor monoclonal antibody and beta-glucan

Intravenous and orally administered beta-glucans promote tumor regression and survival by priming granulocyte and macrophage C receptor 3 (CR3, iC3bR and CD11b/CD18) to trigger the cytotoxicity of tumor cells opsonized with iC3b via anti-tumor Abs. Despite evidence for priming of macrophage CR3 by oral beta-glucan in vivo, the current study in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice showed that granulocytes were the essential killer cells in mAb- and oral beta-glucan-mediated tumor regression, because responses were absent in granulocyte-depleted mice. Among granulocytes, neutrophils were the major effector cells, because tumor regression did not occur when C5a-dependent chemotaxis was blocked with a C5aR antagonist, whereas tumor regression was normal in C3aR(-/-) mice. Neutrophil recruitment by C5a in vivo required amplification via leukotriene B(4), because both C5a-mediated leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity and tumor regression were suppressed in leukotriene B(4)R-deficient (BLT-1(-/-)) mice.     

Modulation of adipocyte differentiation by tumor necrosis factor and transforming growth factor beta

Cultured TA1 adipocytes treated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) lose intracytoplasmic lipid and, over a period of days, come to resemble their predifferentiated progenitors (preadipocytes). To examine the extent to which this phenotypic reversion represents a return to a less differentiated cell, we examined three major characteristics that distinguish preadipocytes from adipocytes: (a) pattern of gene expression; (b) hormonal requirement for accelerated adipogenesis; and (c) pattern of protein synthesis. We found that within hours of TNF addition to adipocytes, mRNAs for genes whose expression is augmented during adipogenesis decreased to predifferentiated levels; in addition, like preadipocytes, TNF-treated adipocytes required exposure to hormones to accelerate adipogenesis. Further, the pattern of protein synthesis seen on polyacrylamide gels reverted to that seen before differentiation. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) also caused a rapid decrease in expression of adipose genes when added to fully differentiated cells, an effect that was achieved by treatment with either TGF-beta 1 or TGF-beta 2. These effects were seen in the absence of a demonstrable proliferative response to either TNF or TGF-beta. Thus characteristics that define the "terminally" differentiated state in adipocytes are subject to modulation by environmental influences.     

Biphasic platelet-activating factor synthesis by human monocytes stimulated with IL-1-beta, tumor necrosis factor, or IFN-gamma

The capacity of IL-1-beta, TNF, and IFN-gamma to stimulate platelet-activating factor (PAF) synthesis by human monocytes is examined in our report. All three cytokines induced PAF synthesis in a novel biphasic pattern with peaks of PAF synthesis 1 to 2 and 6 to 8 h after stimulation of the monocytes. In contrast, calcium ionophore A23187 elicited a single peak of early PAF synthesis. PAF in the early peak was largely retained intracellularly whereas PAF in the late peak was largely released into culture fluids. Combinations of cytokines were subadditive or antagonistic in inducing PAF synthesis. Cycloheximide inhibited the late peak of PAF synthesis indicating that protein synthesis is required for synthesis of the phospholipid PAF. Specific antibodies to TNF or IL-1-beta inhibited the late peak of PAF synthesis induced by IFN-gamma indicating that late PAF synthesis is dependent on cytokine synthesis. The quantities of PAF produced by cytokine-activated monocytes are sufficient to activate human monocytes. Thus, these studies suggest that PAF may mediate in part monocyte activation by cytokines.     

Regulation of lymphocyte tumor necrosis factor receptors by IL-2

Activated lymphocytes are known to express TNF receptors. The precise stimuli involved in induction and regulation of these receptors have not been elucidated. Our findings demonstrate that IL-2, alone and in serum-free conditions, can trigger and regulate TNF receptor expression on normal lymphocytes. Flow cytometric analyses demonstrated that the receptor was rapidly induced on CD4, CD8, and CD16+ cells after IL-2 stimulation. Receptors increased with culture duration, became maximal between days 5 and 9, and were maintained for 18 to 20 days in the presence of IL-2. By using 125I-TNF and FITC-TNF binding, we present evidence that IL-2 concentration determines the magnitude of lymphoid TNF receptor expression--influencing both the percentage of TNF-positive cells within the population and the number of receptors/cell. Collectively, our results are persuasive for consideration of IL-2 as a central mediator in the regulation of lymphocyte TNF receptors.     

Modulation of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1-dependent NF-kappaB activity by mPLK/IRAK

The innate immune response is an important defense against pathogenic agents. A component of this response is the NF-kappaB-dependent activation of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and cell adhesion molecules like E-selectin. Members of the serine/threonine innate immune kinase family of proteins have been proposed to mediate the innate immune response. One serine/threonine innate immune kinase family member, the mouse Pelle-like kinase/human interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (mPLK/IRAK), has been proposed to play an obligate role in promoting IL-1-mediated inflammation. However, it is currently unknown whether mPLK/IRAK catalytic activity is required for IL-1-dependent NF-kappaB activation. The present study demonstrates that mPLK/IRAK catalytic activity is not required for IL-1-mediated activation of an NF-kappaB-dependent signal. Intriguingly, catalytically inactive mPLK/IRAK inhibits type 1 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-dependent NF-kappaB activation. The pathway through which mPLK/IRAK mediates this TNF response is TRADD- and TRAF2-independent. Our data suggest that in addition to its role in IL-1 signaling, mPLK/IRAK is a component of a novel signal transduction pathway through which TNF R1 activates NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression.     

Activated protein C inhibits tumor necrosis factor and macrophage migration inhibitory factor production in monocytes

The precise regulatory mechanisms of amplification and downregulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the inflammatory response have not been fully delineated. Although activated protein C (APC) and its precursor protein C (PC) have recently been reported to be promising therapeutic agents in the management of meningococcal sepsis, direct evidence for the anti-inflammatory effect remains scarce. We report that APC inhibits in vitro the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), two known cytokine mediators of bacterial septic shock, from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytes. The THP-1 monocytic cell line, when stimulated with LPS and concomitant APC, exhibited a marked reduction in the release of TNF and MIF protein in a concentration-dependent manner compared to cells stimulated with LPS alone. This effect was observed only when incubations were performed in serum-free media, but not in the presence of 1-10% serum. Serum-mediated inhibition could only be overcome by increasing APC concentrations to far beyond physiological levels, suggesting the presence of endogenous serum-derived APC inhibitors. Inhibition of MIF release by APC was found to be independent of TNF, as stimulation of MIF release by LPS was unaltered in the presence of anti-TNF antibodies. Our data confirm that the suggested anti-inflammatory properties of APC are due to direct inhibition of the release of the pro-inflammatory monokine TNF, and imply that the anti-inflammatory action of APC is also mediated via inhibition of MIF release.     

Inhibition by IL-1 of endothelial cell activation induced by tumor necrosis factor or lymphotoxin

Previous studies in this and other laboratories have demonstrated that IL-1, lymphotoxin (LT), and TNF rapidly stimulate a number of proinflammatory properties in cultured endothelial cells (EC) including cell-surface procoagulant activity and increased adhesivity for lymphocytes, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In addition, we have demonstrated that LT and TNF, but not IL-1, stimulate increases in EC RNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and cellular volumes, changes which may correspond to the hypertrophy of EC seen at sites of inflammation in vivo. It is reported here that both human rIL-1 alpha and rIL-1 beta totally inhibit the increases in EC RNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and cell volumes induced by either TNF or LT. As little as 0.1 ng/ml of either IL-1 was sufficient to totally block the activation of EC induced by 100-fold higher concentrations (10 ng/ml) of either LT or TNF. The relevance of these findings to the regulation of inflammatory responses is discussed.