Molecular and biological properties of a macrophage colony-stimulating factor from mouse yolk sacs

A colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) has been partially purified and concentrated from mouse yolk sac-conditioned medium (YSCM). M-CSF appeared to preferentially stimulate CBA bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (GM-CFC) to differentiate to form macrophage colonies in semisolid agar cultures. By comparison, colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from mouse lung-conditioned medium (MLCM) stimulated the formation of granulocytic, mixed granulocytic-macrophage, and pure macrophage colonies. Mixing experiments indicated that both M-CSF and GM-CSF stimulated all of the GM-CFC but that the smaller CFC were more sensitive to GM-CSF and that the larger CFC were more sensitive to M-CSF. Almost all developing "clones" stimulated initially with M-CSF continued to develop when transferred to cultures containing GM-CSF. In the converse situation, only 50% of GM-CSF prestimulated "clones" survived when transferred to cultures containing M-CSF. All clones initially stimulated by M-CSF or transferred to cultures stimulated by M-CSF contained macrophages after 7 days of culture. These results suggest that there is a population of cells (GM-CFC) that are capable of differentiating to form both granulocytes and macrophages, but, once these cells are activated by a specific CSF (e.g. M-CSF), they are committed to a particular differentiation pathway. The pattern of CFC differentiation was not directly related to the rate of proliferation: cultures maximally stimulated by M-CSF produced mostly macrophage colonies, but the presence of small amounts of GM-CSF produced granulocytic cells in 30% of the colonies. Gel filtration, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and affinity chromatography with concanavalin A-Sepharose indicated that M-CSF from yolk sacs was a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 60,000. There was some heterogeneity of the carbohydrate portion of the molecule as evidenced by chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose.     

Intraclonal diversity of fibrosarcoma cells for the production of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

A new cell line was established from fibrosarcoma that had spontaneously developed in a mouse. The cells were maintained growing in culture for two years and constantly produced both macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Cloning of the cells by anchorage-independent colony formation gave subclones showing the activity of producing M-CSF and G-CSF in different proportions, whereas no subclone produced G-CSF without producing M-CSF simultaneously. Recloning of the bipotential subclones again gave clonal derivatives producing two types of CSF in various proportions. The observed heterogeneity of the cloned cells seems to be an epigenetic phenomenon, because the cells resumed the G-CSF producing activity in the absence of cell proliferation. After equilibrium was achieved, all of the subclones produced both M-CSF and G-CSF nearly in equal proportions. Tumorigenic and leukocytosis-inducing activity of the cloned cells was nearly comparable with the activity of the original tumor cells.     

Role of monocyte colony-stimulating factor in foam cell generation.

Recently, we reported that human monocyte colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) stimulates the clearance of lipoproteins containing apoB100 via both low density lipoprotein receptor-dependent and -independent pathways in target cells of M-CSF, and reduces plasma cholesterol level (Journal of Biological Chemistry, 265:12869-12875, 1990). This suggests a linkage of cytokines to the metabolic regulation of plasma cholesterol. Furthermore, we found a significant role of M-CSF in cholesterol metabolism of human monocyte-derived macrophages. M-CSF enhanced not only the uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein and oxidized low density lipoprotein in macrophages, but also the efflux of cholesterol from cholesterol-loaded macrophages. To elucidate in vivo effects of M-CSF on cholesterol efflux from tissues, we administered an intravenous injection of 3H-cholesterol (150 microCi) into WHHL rabbits 1 month before starting M-CSF treatment. We observed an increased cholesterol efflux from tissues to plasma high density lipoprotein after M-CSF treatment when cholesterol efflux was estimated as the change in specific radioactivity of plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. This result suggests that M-CSF can enhance the excretion of cholesterol from target cells of M-CSF, such as cholesterol-loaded macrophages in the arterial wall, and reduce the rate of atherogenesis.     

Identification of a high molecular weight macrophage colony-stimulating factor as a glycosaminoglycan-containing species.

Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with a 4.0-kilobase macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) cDNA express two different M-CSF species; one has an apparent molecular weight of 85,000 and is identified as a homodimer of a 43-kDa subunit, and the other has an indeterminate structure greater than 200 kDa. In this study, we investigated the structure of the high molecular weight M-CSF by immunochemical procedures. The high molecular weight M-CSF was easily purified, since it bound tightly to DEAE-Sephacel and eluted at a characteristically high salt concentration. The high molecular weight M-CSF migrated as a diffuse band of over than 200,000 on nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Analysis of the same samples under reducing conditions revealed that the larger species consisted of a heteromer of the 43- and 150-200-kDa M-CSF subunits. Digestion of the 150-200-kDa M-CSF subunit with chondroitinase, which degrades the chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan chain, yielded a 100 kDa band. This species was secreted instead of 150-200-kDa species when the cells were cultured in the presence of beta-D-xyloside, which inhibits the elongation of the chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan chain in proteoglycans, providing additional evidence for the existence of a chondroitin sulfate chain in the 150-200-kDa M-CSF subunit. Removal of O- and N-linked carbohydrate from the 150-200-kDa subunit yielded a polypeptide chain with a larger molecular mass (approximately 45 kDa) than that of the 43-kDa subunit (approximately 25 kDa). Collectively, these results indicate that the 150-200-kDa M-CSF subunit is a proteoglycan with a core protein that may be an alternatively processed form of M-CSF.     

Interleukin 1 stimulates human endothelial cells to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Endothelial cells are a potent source of hematopoietic growth factors when stimulated by soluble products of monocytes. Interleukin 1 (IL 1) is released by activated monocytes and is a mediator of the inflammatory response. We determined whether purified recombinant human IL 1 could stimulate cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells to release hematopoietic growth factors. As little as 1 U/ml of IL 1 stimulated growth factor production by the endothelial cells, and increasing amounts of IL 1 enhanced growth factor production in a dose-dependent manner. Growth factor production increased within 2 to 4 hr and remained elevated for more than 48 hr. To investigate the molecular basis for these findings, oligonucleotide probes for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and multi-CSF were hybridized to poly(A)-containing RNA prepared from unstimulated and IL 1-stimulated endothelial cells. Significant levels of GM-CSF and G-CSF, but not M-CSF or multi-CSF, mRNA were detected in the IL 1-stimulated endothelial cells. Biological assays performed on the IL 1-stimulated endothelial cell-conditioned medium confirmed the presence of both GM- and G-CSF. These results demonstrate that human recombinant IL 1 can stimulate endothelial cells to release GM-CSF and G-CSF, and provide a mechanism by which IL 1 could modulate both granulocyte production and function during the course of an inflammatory response.     

Differentiation of human monocytes in vitro with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage colony-stimulating factor produces distinct changes in cGMP phosphodiesterase expression

The cytokines macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) promote differentiation of monocytes into macrophages with distinct phenotypes and unique functional abilities. In this report, we characterize how monocytes and macrophages differentiated from monocytes with M-CSF and GM-CSF regulate their cGMP levels by controlling which phosphodiesterases (PDEs) and guanylyl cyclases (GCs) are expressed. We find that PDE1B and PDE2A are expressed at low levels in monocytes, but are the major cGMP PDEs expressed in macrophages. M-CSF differentiation triggers increased expression of PDE1B and PDE2A, while GM-CSF causes a large increase only in PDE1B. Based on PDE expression, we identified THP-1 and U937 cell lines as possible models for studying the roles of PDE1B and PDE2A in macrophage function. We additionally characterized changes in expression of GCs upon differentiation. We found that GM-CSF differentiation triggers a small decrease in soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and a large increase in GC-A, while M-CSF significantly decreases sGC.     

Promotive effect of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on long-term engraftment of murine hematopoietic stem cells

Large ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) sufficient for use in clinical applications has not been achieved, although the influence of some cytokines including SCF, IL-11, Flt3-L, and TPO for this purpose has been reported. We present evidence for an indirect effect of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) on expansion of murine HSCs. Fresh Lin(-/low) cells were isolated from Ly5.1 mouse bone marrow and cultured with or without M-CSF in the presence of SCF + IL-11 + Flt3-L or SCF + IL-11 + TPO for 6 days. The expanded cells were harvested and transplanted into lethally irradiated Ly5.2 recipients with competitor cells. Culture of Lin(-/low) cells with M-CSF significantly enhanced long-term engraftment. When the more enriched HSC populations of Lin(-/low) c-Kit(+) Sca-1(+) cells were used as a source of HSCs, such a promotive effect was not observed, in agreement with negative expression of the M-CSF receptor (c-Fms). However, co-culture with Lin(-/low) c-Fms(+) resulted in a significant increase of long-term engraftment. These results suggested that M-CSF is an indirect stimulator for ex vivo expansion of HSCs in the presence of SCF, IL-11, Flt3-L, and TPO. These observations provide new directions for ex vivo expansion and insight into new engraftment regulation through M-CSF signaling.     

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor induces tyrosine phosphorylation of SKAP55R adaptor and its association with actin

The production, survival, and function of monocytes and macrophages are regulated by the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF or CSF-1) through its tyrosine kinase receptor. M-CSF receptor activates multiple cytoplasmic pathways in which adaptor and scaffolding proteins play a central role. In this study, we showed that SKAP55-related (SKAP55R) adaptor protein is expressed in myeloid cells and macrophages and is rapidly and transiently tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to M-CSF. M-CSF induced SKAP55R association with other tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and with actin. When overexpressed in myeloid cells, SKAP55R decreased M-CSF-dependent proliferation without affecting differentiation. Altogether, these results demonstrate that SKAP55R adaptor is implicated in the M-CSF signaling pathway and suggest its role as a negative regulator of growth. Moreover, specific association between SKAP55R and actin support the idea that SKAP55R is implicated in the regulation of actin dynamics under the control of M-CSF.     

Properties of primary murine stroma induced by macrophage colony-stimulating factor

The ability of purified human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) to accelerate the formation of stromal cells from murine bone marrow cells was investigated. The liquid culture of the marrow cells with M-CSF resulted in the formation of monolayers of macrophages on day 7. When the M-CSF was removed on that day and the residual adherent cells were cultured in the absence of M-CSF for an additional 7 days, many colonies appeared with cells that were morphologically distinguishable from M-CSF-derived macrophages. The appearance of the colonies was dependent on the concentration of M-CSF used at the beginning of the culture. Each colony was isolated as a single clone and analyzed. All clones were negative for esterase staining. These cells did not express M-CSF receptor mRNA and did not show a mitogenic response to M-CSF. On the contrary, these cells could be stimulated to proliferate by fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor. The polymerase chain reaction analysis of these cells demonstrated constitutive expression of mRNA for M-CSF, stem cell factor, and interleukin (IL)-1, but not IL-3. Some clones expressed mRNA for granulocyte/M-CSF and IL-6. We also examined the ability of the cells to maintain murine bone marrow high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC) in a coculture system. Most of the clones showed a significant increase in total HPP-CFC numbers after 2 weeks of coculture, although the extent of stimulation differed among clones. These results suggested that the colonies established by M-CSF were composed of functional stromal cells that were phenotypically different from macrophages. J. Cell. Physiol. 173:1–9, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

M-CSF induces vascular endothelial growth factor production and angiogenic activity from human monocytes

The impact of the immune response in malignancy is poorly understood. While immune cells can destroy transformed cells, the targeting and accumulation of monocytes and macrophages at tumor sites may promote tumor metastases. The growth factor M-CSF is important in promoting monocyte survival. Since M-CSF(-/-) mice are protected against tumor metastases, we hypothesized that M-CSF induced monocytes to produce angiogenic factors that facilitate metastases. In this study we demonstrate that recombinant human M-CSF induces freshly isolated normal human monocytes to produce and release the growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a dose-dependent manner, which peaked at 5 days in culture. VEGF released by these monocytes is biologically active, as cell-free supernatants from these M-CSF-stimulated monocytes induced tube formation in HUVEC. Network formation by these HUVECs after treatment with supernatants from monocytes stimulated with M-CSF were inhibited by anti-VEGF, but not by the isogenic control, Abs. Collectively, these data support an important role for M-CSF and monocytes in VEGF production and angiogenesis.     

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression in retrovirally transduced cells is dependent upon both the adherence status of the target cells and its 5' flanking untranslated region

Numerous cell types retrovirally transduced with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) using LXSN-based vectors showed a variable expression of the transgene. Expression of M-CSF correlated with the cells' adherent status. Transduced adherent cells produced the M-CSF, whereas the non-adherent cells synthesized little M-CSF. Studies showed that the 5'-UTR of the M-CSF gene regulated transgenic M-CSF gene expression. Ligation of this 5'-UTR to the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (EGFP) caused the expression of EGFP to show the same dichotomy as previously seen with the M-CSF. Transgenic M-CSF was expressed within non-adherent cells when the 5'-UTR was removed from the LXSN vector. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that lesser production of M-CSF mRNA occurred within the non-adherent cells than in the adherent cells. This difference was eliminated when the 5'-UTR was removed from the retroviral vector. Our work suggests that this 5'-UTR of the M-CSF gene could be an important way to get transgenic expression within adherent cells, but not in non-adherent cells.     

Immunoreactive macrophage colony-stimulating factor is increased in atherosclerotic lesions of watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits after recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor therapy

Infiltration of monocytes into arteries is an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This recruitment is interpreted as enhancing lesion development, but it could also be a host response limiting lipid accumulation. The ability of macrophages to limit cholesterol uptake, however, can be reduced by the impaired mobility and metabolic activity associated with foam cell development. As lesions enlarge, foam cells die and become the nidus for the necrotic core. Treatments to improve viability might improve foam cell function and promote regression. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is vital to monocyte/macrophage differentiation, proliferation, and activation. We found that foam cells of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits had faint staining for M-CSF. Treatment of rabbits with recombinant human M-CSF (rhM-CSF) increased M-CSF staining, which correlated with reduced cholesterol content of these foam cells. Mol Reprod Dev 46:92–95, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Role of macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the differentiation and expansion of monocytes and dendritic cells from CD34+ progenitor cells

The present study focused on whether it is possible to expand monocytic cells from CD34⁺ progenitor cells by using macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in the absence and presence of mast cell growth factor (MGF) and IL-6. It was demonstrated that CD34⁺ cells differentiate without expansion to functional mature monocytic cells in the presence of M-CSF or combinations of M-CSF plus IL-6 and MGF. A different response pattern was observed for the number of clonogenic cells. The addition of IL-6 or both IL-6 and MGF to M-CSF containing cultures resulted in significant higher numbers of colony-forming unit-macrophage (CFU-M) as tested in clonogenic and³H-thymidine assays. Furthermore, M-CSF plus both IL-6 and MGF appeared to be the most potent combination to preserve the monocytic precursor in cell suspension culture assays. These results indicate that IL-6 and MGF in conjunction with M-CSF affect CD34⁺ cells especially at precursor level without distinct effect on the more mature stages. Secondly we studied whether M-CSF is only critical for the monocytic lineage or also affects dendritic cell (DC) development. Indeed, we were able to culture CD83⁺ DC from CD34⁺ progenitor cells in the presence of M-CSF in conjunction with TNF-α, IL-4, and MGF although their absolute number is almost threefold lower than the number of CD83⁺ cells yielded from GM-CSF plus TNF-α, IL-4, and MGF stimulated CD34⁺ cells.     

Association of Cbl with Fms and p85 in response to macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and its association with signal-transducing molecules in response to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) were analyzed by using cell lines which express the wild-type and a mutant M-CSF receptor, Fms. We found that in a clone, F723 TF-1 cells expressing mutant Fms in which tyrosine 723 had been substituted with phenylalanine, the M-CSF stimulation-dependent association between Cbl and Fms was markedly impaired. However, phosphorylation of Cbl and its association with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase were induced in these mutant cells as seen in the wild-type fms transfectant. These results suggest that phosphorylation of tyrosine 723 is particularly important for the recruitment of Cbl to the M-CSF receptor, but is not required for the phosphorylation and binding of Cbl to signal-transducing molecules such as p85.     

Cryopreservation induces macrophage colony stimulating factor from human periodontal ligament cells in vitro

Cryopreservation is used to protect vital periodontal ligaments during the transplantation of teeth. We investigated which gene products implicated in root resorption are upregulated in human periodontal ligament cells by cryopreservation, and whether cryopreservation affects the expression of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) in human periodontal ligament cells. We used customized microarrays to compare gene expression in human periodontal ligament cells cultured from teeth immediately after extraction and from cryopreserved teeth. Based on the result of these assays, we examined M-CSF expression in periodontal ligament cells from the immediately extracted tooth and cryopreserved teeth by real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence. We also investigated whether human bone marrow cells differentiate into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive osteoclasts when stimulated with RANKL (Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor κ B Ligand) together with any secreted M-CSF present in the supernatants of the periodontal ligament cells cultured from the various groups of teeth. M-CSF was twofold higher in the periodontal ligament cells from the rapid freezing teeth than in those from the immediately extracted group (p < 0.05). Cryopreservation increased M-CSF expression in the periodontal ligament cells when analyzed by real time PCR, ELISA, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence (p < 0.05). TRAP positive osteoclasts were formed in response to RANKL and the secreted M-CSF present in the supernatants of all the experimental groups except negative control. These results demonstrate that cryopreservation promotes the production of M-CSF, which plays an important role in root resorption by periodontal ligament cells.     

Human thymic epithelial cells produce granulocyte and macrophage colony-stimulating factors

The development of culture conditions for growing normal human thymic epithelial (TE) cells free from contamination with other stromal cells has allowed us to identify and characterize TE cell-derived cytokines. In this study, we report that cultured human TE cells produced CSF that supported the growth of clonal hematopoietic progenitor cells in the light density fraction of human bone marrow cells. Thymic epithelial supernatants (TES) induced growth of granulocyte/macrophage colonies (CFU-GM), mixed granulocyte/erythrocyte/monocyte/megakaryocyte colonies (CFU-GEMM), and early burst-forming unit erythroid colonies (BFU-E). In addition, TES induced differentiation of the promyelocyte leukemic cell line HL-60 and stimulated growth of both granulocyte (CFU-G) and monocyte (CFU-M) colonies from murine bone marrow cells. Using anion exchange column chromatography, pluripotent CSF activities in TES were separated and shown to be distinct from an IL-1-like cytokine that has been shown as a TE cell-derived cytokine (TE-IL-1). Colony-stimulating activity supporting the growth of bone marrow CFU-GEMM, BFU-E, and CFU-GM co-eluted at 150 to 180 mM NaCl. A separate peak of CFU-GM-stimulating activity eluted early in the gradient at 20 mM NaCl. In Northern blot analysis of enriched RNA, synthetic oligonucleotide probes complementary to human G-CSF and M-CSF coding sequence each hybridized with a single RNA species of 1.7 and 4.4 kb, respectively. These data suggest that normal human TE cells synthesize G-CSF and M-CSF that promote differentiation of non-lymphoid hematopoietic cell precursors.     

Effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on microglial responses to lipopolysaccharide and beta amyloid

A challenge for studies involving microglia cultures is obtaining sufficient cells for downstream experiments. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) has been used to improve yield of microglia in culture. However, the effects of M-CSF on activation profiles of microglia cultures are still unclear. Microglia activation is characterised by upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules and an inflammatory phenotype. The aim of this study is to demonstrate whether M-CSF supplementation alters microglial responses in resting and activated conditions. Microglia derived from mixed glia cultures and the BV-2 microglia cell line were cultivated with/without M-CSF and activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and beta amyloid (Aβ). We show M-CSF expands primary microglia without affecting microglial responses to LPS and Aβ, as shown by the comparable expression of MHC class II and CD40 to microglia grown without this growth factor. M-CSF supplementation in BV-2 cells had no effect on nitric oxide (NO) production. Therefore, M-CSF can be considered for improving microglia yield in culture without introducing activation artefacts.     

Antitumor effects of human recombinant macrophage colony-stimulating factor against rat brain tumors

The tumoricidal effects of M-CSF were examined using two subcutaneously-transplanted rat brain tumor cell lines, 9L and T9 gliomas. In rats treated with high-dose M-CSF (16 million U/kg administered for 4 days a week for 3 weeks), 9L glioma growth was inhibited by 81.9% following subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and by 70.5% after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection and T9 glioma growth was inhibited by 69.2% after i.p. injection. After short-term treatment with high-dose M-CSF (32 million U/kg administered s.c. for 6 consecutive days, 9L glioma growth was inhibited by 82.1%. All these inhibitory effects differed significantly compared with the respective untreated control groups. However, treatment with low-dose M-CSF (1.6 million U/kg administered s.c. for 4 days a week for 3 weeks) showed no significant effects against 9L and T9 glioma growth compared with the untreated controls. No significant effects of M-CSF against cell proliferation, measured as PCNA expression, were observed in any group. Significant hematopoietic effects on the leukocyte counts were observed only in the groups treated with high dose M-CSF. These results suggest that M-CSF at a high dose which produces hematopoietic effects on peripheral leukocytes inhibits the growth of gliomas. This inhibitory effect may have been due to a tumoricidal mechanism of M-CSF that depended on the production or release of some hematopoietic soluble factors, but was independent of PCNA expression by the tumors.Abbreviations BBB blood-brain barrier - G-CSF granulocyte colony-stimulating factor - GM-CSF granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor - hM-CSF human macrophage colony-stimulating factor - IFN interferon - IL-1 interleukin-1 - IL-6 interleukin-6 - M-CSF macrophage colony-stimulating factor - PCNA proliferating cell nuclear antigen - rhM-CSF recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor - TNF tumor necrosis factor