Biosynthesis of C4 by mouse peritoneal macrophages. II. Comparison of C4 synthesis by resident and elicited cell populations

Five elicited macrophage populations synthesized one-third to one-tenth as much hemolytically active C4 when compared with resident peritoneal macrophages. This decrease in functional C4 activity was not caused by inhibitors or protease activity in the elicited macrophage supernatants. Analysis of C4 antigen indicated a similar reduction in the elicited cells compared with the resident macrophages. A defect in precursor processing or secretion was deemed unlikely because the intracellular C4 precursor was appropriately reduced in the elicited cells. We postulate that mouse resident peritoneal macrophages are a pluripotent cell population with broad capabilities in regard to the initiation of the inflammatory response. In contrast, elicited or activated macrophages may be more specialized cells, with one manifestation of this being the "down" regulation of C4 synthesis.     

Production of arachidonic acid metabolites by operationally defined macrophage subsets

The antitumor activity and arachidonic acid metabolism of operationally defined macrophage populations was examined. Macrophages from mice injected with (strain BCG) or with pyran-copolymer were cytotoxic for tumor cells. The major arachidonic acid metabolite of these cells was PGE₂. Neither resident nor elicited macrophages were cytotoxic. However, elicited macrophages as well as macrophages from BCG injected mice inhibited tumor cell growth. The production of arachidonic acid metabolites by elicited cells, while low initially, was followed by a rapid increase in PGE₂. The major metabolites of resident cells were PGE₂ and prostacyclin. The cAMP:cGMP ratio correlated with the metabolic activity of the cells.     

Prostaglandin regulation of macrophage function: Effect of endogenous and exogenous prostaglandins

The expression of macrophage antitumor activity and the production of prostaglandins (PG) by operationally defined macrophage populations differed under varying culture conditions. Culture conditions that caused increased PGE₂ production by activated macrophages resulted in an inhibition of their tumoricidal activity. In contrast, production of high levels of PGE₂ by resident and elicited macrophages was associated with an increase in antitumor activity. The activation of resident or elicited cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could be blocked by indomethacin. Treatment of these macrophages with PGE₂ alone also resulted in their activation and subsequent tumor cell destruction. Activation of resident and elicited macrophages by LPS appears to be mediated by PGE₂.     

Production of arachidonic acid metabolites by operationally defined macrophage subsets

The antitumor activity and arachidonic acid metabolism of operationally defined macrophage populations was examined. Macrophages from mice injected with Mycobacterium bovis (strain BCG) or with pyran-copolymer were cytotoxic for tumor cells. The major arachidonic acid metabolite of these cells was PGE2. Neither resident nor elicited macrophages were cytotoxic. However, elicited macrophages as well as macrophages from BCG injected mice inhibited tumor cell growth. The production of arachidonic acid metabolites by elicited cells, while low initially, was followed by a rapid increase in PGE2. The major metabolites of resident cells were PGE2 and prostacyclin. The cAMP:cGMP ratio correlated with the metabolic activity of the cells.     

Activated macrophages mediate interferon-independent inhibition of herpes simplex virus

Activated macrophages exhibit extrinsic antiviral activity (inhibition of virus replication in other cells) which may involve mechanisms similar to macrophage antitumor activity or macrophage-mediated immunosuppression. Peritoneal macrophages elicited in mice by Corynebacterium parvum vaccine suppressed the growth of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in infected cells by an interferon-independent mechanism. This was demonstrated by expression of activity against HSV-infected xenogeneic (Vero) cells. Culture supernatant fluids also did not mediate antiviral activity, and did not contain detectable levels of interferon (< 3 IU/ml). Moreover, antiviral activity was not affected by the presence of anti-mouse interferon IgG. Antiviral activity was expressed at 12–16 hr after infection, at the end of the first cycle of virus replication. Cell contact was required for optimal activity. No enhanced adsorption or phagocytosis of HSV by C. parvum macrophages could be detected nor was macrophage cytotoxicity responsible for the activity. Cytotoxicity (⁵¹Cr release) by macrophages for virus infected cells was low (< 6% specific cytotoxicity), and was not significantly higher with C. parvum macrophages than with resident macrophage controls. Although C. parvum macrophages were not cytotoxic at the macrophage-host cell ratio employed, they did significantly inhibit uptake of [³H]leucine by the host Vero cells. This suggests that inhibition of host cell metabolism by the macrophage, similar to macrophage immunosuppression, may be responsible for the antiviral activity in this system.     

Changes in the macrophage population of the rat superior cervical ganglion after postganglionic nerve injury

Following peripheral nerve transection, a series of biochemical changes occurs in axons and Schwann cells both at the site of lesion and distal to it. Macrophages differentiated from monocytes that invade the area in response to transection (elicited macrophages) and, perhaps, also macrophages normally present in the tissue (resident macrophages) play important roles in these changes. In addition, nerve transection produces changes in the cell bodies of axotomized neurons and their surrounding glial cells, located at some distance from the lesion. To determine whether macrophages might play a role in the changes occurring in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) after axotomy, we examined the presence of macrophages before and after axonal damage. The monoclonal antibodies ED1, ED2, and OX6 were used, each of which recognizes a somewhat different population of macrophages. Ganglia from normal rats contained a population of resident cells that were ED2+ but very few that were ED1+. Within 2 days after the postganglionic nerves were transected, the number of ED1+ cells increased substantially, with little change in immunostaining for ED2. These data, in combination with published studies on other tissues, suggest that ED1 in the SCG is selective for elicited macrophages and ED2 for resident macrophages. OX6 immunostaining was prominent in normal ganglia but also increased significantly after axotomy, suggesting that it reflects both macrophage populations. Systemic administration of 6-hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin that causes the destruction of sympathetic nerve endings, also produced an increase in ED1 immunostaining. Thus, the change in ED1 immunostaining in the SCG does not require surgery, with the attendant servering of local blood vessels and connective tissue, but rather only the disconnection of sympathetic neurons from their end organs. The time course of the invasion of monocytes after axotomy indicates that this process is not required to trigger the biochemical changes occurring in the ganglion within the first 24 h. On the other hand, the existence of a resident population of macrophages raises the possibility that changes in those cells might be involved. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mitosis of resident macrophages in the adult rat testis

Resident macrophages are maintained at a comparatively high, yet stable, tissue concentration in the adult rat testis. After destruction of Leydig cells by ethane dimethane sulphonate treatment, the number of resident macrophages increases briefly and then decreases to below normal values, but returns to normal after the reappearance of Leydig cells. The mechanisms by which the adult testicular macrophage population is maintained, either by monocyte recruitment or by mitosis of the resident macrophages, have not been examined. An immunohistochemical dual labelling approach using a specific monoclonal antibody for resident macrophages, ED2, and markers of mitotic activity (bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was used to investigate resident macrophage proliferation in Bouin's-fixed paraffin wax-embedded adult rat testes. Detection of the normally fixation sensitive antigen recognized by ED2 was achieved by using a decreased fixation time and antigen retrieval. Peaks of resident macrophage mitotic activity were observed during the phases of macrophage proliferation immediately after ethane dimethane sulphonate treatment and during the recovery phase associated with Leydig cell restoration. These data demonstrate that resident macrophages have the capacity to proliferate within the adult rat testis and, thus, this population of resident macrophages is maintained, at least in part, by mitotic division in situ.     

Kinetic analysis of superoxide anion production by activated and resident murine peritoneal macrophages

Using a continuous spectrophotometric assay, we have monitored the formation of superoxide anion (O₂^?) by activated and resident murine peritoneal macrophages. Macrophages elicited by injection with Corynebacterium parvum, as well as resident macrophages from untreated mice, were kept in suspension culture overnight to eliminate short-lived, contaminating neutrophils. Cytochemical analysis of the cultured macrophages disclosed that essentially all of the activated macrophages reduced nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye vigorously. In contrast, only 18% of the resident macrophages demonstrated vigorous NBT reduction; the remainder of the resident macrophages reduced NBT very weakly. Kinetic analysis of macrophage O₂^? formation revealed that activated macrophages exposed to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) produced O₂^? at a 13-fold greater maximum rate than resident macrophages. The decline in the rate of O₂^? production with time by activated macrophages was also greater than that of resident macrophages. The data indicate that the greater O₂^? production by activated macrophage populations is due to (i) the presence of an increased percentage of macrophages that respond to PMA with vigorous O₂^? production, and (ii) an increased maximum rate of O₂^? formation by these macrophages.     

Inducible expression of murine IP-10 mRNA varies with the state of macrophage inflammatory activity

We have examined the expression of inducible inflammatory genes in murine macrophages from different tissues and at different stages of inflammatory activity. Although i.v. administration of IFN-gamma (10,000 U/mouse) strongly induced expression of IP-10 mRNA in the adherent cell population of the spleen, thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages were essentially unresponsive at the same dose. In contrast, D3 mRNA was expressed in both cell populations. This differential sensitivity of IP-10 mRNA expression was not restricted to stimulation by IFN-gamma as it was also seen when LPS (25 micrograms/mouse) was administered i.v. Expression of JE and KC mRNA, which encode cytokines related to IP-10, were also differentially expressed in elicited peritoneal macrophages from mice injected with LPS. Differential sensitivity was at least partially related to the state of macrophage activation because IP-10 mRNA was highly inducible in resident but not thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages. The eliciting agent was also an important determinant because proteose-peptone-elicited peritoneal macrophages were nearly as sensitive as splenic macrophages with respect to expression of IP-10 mRNA. IFN-gamma treatment induced IP-10 and D3 mRNA rapidly and transiently with the same time course in the spleen. IP-10 mRNA was not induced by IFN-gamma in TG-elicited macrophages regardless of the time after treatment. This differential expression of IP-10 was a consequence of different concentration requirements for IFN-gamma in the two cell types; thioglycollate-elicited macrophages required five- to 10-fold more IFN-gamma than did resident cells to achieve comparable IP-10 mRNA levels whether the agent was provided in vitro or in vivo. Thus variable sensitivity for induction of IP-10 mRNA was a characteristic of the macrophage itself and was not mediated by other cellular or molecular elements present in the inflammatory peritoneal cavity. The reduced sensitivity to IFN-gamma or LPS for expression of IP-10, JE, and KC mRNA as compared with TNF-alpha or D3 mRNA suggests that this distinct pattern of regulation may be restricted to members of these two related cytokine gene families that exhibit cell-type specific chemoattractant activity.     

Macrophage binding of cells resistant and sensitive to contact-dependent cytotoxicity

We compared macrophage binding and killing of F5b cells to the binding and killing of P815 mastocytoma cells and to several other nontransformed and transformed cell lines. Formalin fixation of elicited or activated macrophages did not affect binding of F5b or 3T3 cells but did abrogate binding of P815 cells. However, formalin fixation abrogated resident macrophage binding of F5b and 3T3 cells. Therefore, depending on the type of macrophage or target cell, formalin fixation may affect binding. Only the binding of P815 cells was dependent upon activation; macrophage binding of target cells F5b and 3T3 was not. Even though macrophages bound F5b and 3T3 cells, macrophages only mediated contact-dependent cytotoxicity against F5b cells. Macrophages did not kill 3T3 cells. Experiments also compared macrophage binding and killing of the uv-light-induced tumor cell lines 1422, 2237, and 2237a46. Only the cell line 2237a46 was susceptible to contact-dependent killing. Both 1422 and 2237 cells were resistant. In contrast, cell lines 2237a46 and 1422 were bound by activated macrophages while 2237 cells were bound poorly.     

Activation of lysosomal enzymes in chemotactically elicited rat peritoneal macrophages

Activation profile of lysosomal enzymes in rat peritoneal macrophages elicited in response to three stimulants, thioglycollate (TG), protease peptone (PP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied from 0 to 6 days. Macrophages elicited in response to LPS were larger in number and heterogeneous in nature while TG and PP induced cells were comparatively more homogeneous. Maximum elicitation of macrophages in response to the three stimulants, though at different degrees, was observed around 3 days. This could be correlated to increased blood monocytes. The progressive activation of macrophages reflected in corresponding decrease in total cellular protein content and increase in the activities of their lysosomal enzymes. The catalytic activities of aryl sulphatase, beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin D increased several fold (2-8 fold) over the resident values. TG elicited cells possessed the highest enzyme activities, followed by PP and LPS elicited ones. Beta-Glucuronidase was the most stimulated (4-8 fold) of the enzymes studied. The cellular catalytic activities of these enzymes were also enhanced 2- to 4-fold compared to the resident levels in the TG and PP elicited macrophages. Though the enzyme catalytic activities were increased in the LPS treated cells, their cellular levels remained below the resident activities in all the three enzymes studied. The results indicate that the events related to the elaboration of these macrophage lysosomal enzymes in vivo are subject to selective modulation and are stimulus specific.     

Suppression of lymphokine production: II. Macrophage-dependent inhibition of production of macrophage activating factor

The ability of different populations of macrophages to affect the production of macrophage activating factor (MAF) by stimulated T lymphocytes was investigated. We found that activated macrophages, infiltrating MSV-induced regressing tumors or macrophages recovered from the peritoneum of mice injected with Corynebacterium parvum, were able to actively suppress the production of MAF. MAF production by antigen-stimulated MSV-immune or -alloimmune spleen cells and by normal spleen cells stimulated by Con A was susceptible to macrophage-dependent suppression to a similar extent. In contrast, resident macrophages or those elicited by light mineral oil or proteose-peptone did not affect MAF production. While suppressor macrophages added at the time of the lymphocyte stimulation inhibited MAF production, the same cells added 4–6 hr after stimulation were ineffective. Therefore, it seems that the macrophages suppressed the early events of lymphocyte activation leading to MAF production. Suppressor macrophages, by inhibiting MAF production, may limit the expansion of the cytotoxic activity. This regulation of macrophage functions, mediated by the effects of suppressor macrophages on T lymphocytes, could be responsible for an insufficient antitumor cytotoxic response by macrophages.     

Production of cyclooxygenase products and superoxide anion by macrophages in response to chemotactic factors

Mononuclear phagocytes are known to play a key role in various phlogistic reactions by synthesizing and releasing products that may potentiate or inhibit inflammatory processes. The expression of these products appears to be dependent on the source of the macrophage population as well as the stimulus employed. We have studied superoxide anion (O-2) production as well as the generation of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and TXB2 from resident, oil-elicited and thioglycollate-induced peritoneal macrophages in mice in the presence and absence of chemotactic peptides. Production of O-2, occurred only in elicited macrophages stimulated with high concentrations of FMLP or C5a; resident cells stimulated with either of the chemotactic peptides were completely unresponsive. Although resident peritoneal macrophages incubated with chemotactic peptides did not generate O-2, these cells did secrete significant levels of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and TXB2 in response to C5a. FMLP had no stimulatory effect. Elicited macrophages generated increased levels of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha when incubated with C5a. However, production of TXB2 was not stimulated. FMLP was inactive in stimulating PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and TXB2 in all types of macrophages studied. These studies indicate a heterogeneity in the production of inflammatory mediators from various macrophage populations in response to chemotactic factors.     

Negative correlation between maorophage proooagulant and migraion ability in the course of inflammation

The importance of macrophage procoagulant activity (PCA) to cell migration is presumed. In this study we assayed the relationship between the two functions in guinea-pig peritoneal resident macrophages and cells elicited by a sterile inflammation induction, which lasted up to 6 days. The findings pointed to an in vivo induction of PCA in macrophages, which declined with time during inflammation. A clear negative correlation between PCA and random migration ability was demonstrated. Our results suggest that the local induction of coagulation by macrophages may immobilize the cells at the site of inflammation.     

Glycogen synthesis in resident and thioglycollate-elicited rat peritoneal exudate cells

The values of the A0.5 for glucose-6-P, apparent Km for UDPglucose and -/+glucose-6-P activity ratio are similar for glycogen synthase derived from rat resident and thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages; the specific activity is 7-fold higher for the enzyme from thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. The rate of incorporation of [14C]glucose into macrophage glycogen is 7-fold greater in the elicited population that that in the resident one; the values of the S0.5 for glucose are similar. The in vitro activation of glycogen synthase proceeds at a greater rate and extent for the enzyme from elicited macrophages; thus, phosphatase activity may be reduced in resident macrophages relative to that in thioglycollate-elicited ones.     

Acetyl-LDL stimulates macrophage-dependent plasminogen activation and degradation of extracellular matrix

The ability of acetyl-LDL to stimulate macrophage-dependent plasminogen activation and degradation of extracellular matrix was examined. We have found that expression of plasminogen activator activity in response to the scavenger receptor ligand varied among cell populations. Exposure to acetyl-LDL stimulated plasminogen activator expression by cells which constitutively released low levels of activator. These include a virally transformed macrophage-like cell line (RAW246.7), concanavalin A and C. parvum-activated macrophages. The stimulation of plasminogen activator activity was independent of cellular lipid accumulation since nonlipoprotein inhibitors of acetyl-LDL binding to the scavenger receptor stimulated activator expression in great excess to that observed with acetyl-LDL. In contrast, acetyl-LDL was unable to induce soluble plasminogen activator activity in cells which normally do not express it. These include a macrophage-like cell line (J774A.1) and resident peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, acetyl-LDL was unable to modulate the copious secretion of activator by inflammatory macrophages elicited with thioglycolate. When macrophages were tested for their ability to degrade smooth muscle cell derived matrix, solubilization by resident, elicited, and activated cells was variously increased in the presence of plasminogen. Furthermore, exposure to acetyl-LDL enhanced plasmin-dependent degradation by resident cells and activated cells, whereas matrix degradation by elicited cells was unaffected.     

Macrophage activation to kill Leishmania tropica: defective intracellular killing of amastigotes by macrophages elicited with sterile inflammatory agents

Resident peritoneal macrophages and macrophages elicited by injection of C3H/HeN mice with sterile inflammatory agents were exposed to amastigotes of Leishmania tropica in vitro and treated with lymphokines. Resident macrophages developed the capacity to kill intracellular parasites; microbicidal activity of activated resident cells ranged between 60 and 80%. In contrast, inflammatory macrophages responded poorly to lymphokines for intracellular killing of amastigotes; microbicidal activity of cells elicited with chronic inflammatory agents ranged between 0 and 45%. Defective intracellular killing of L. tropica by inflammatory macrophages was independent of the agent used to elicit the cells, but was clearly associated with the number of immature macrophages in the population. That intracellular killing capacity may reflect the presence of a killing mechanism in tissue-derived cells that is not yet developed in undifferentiated macrophages is supported by studies with peripheral blood monocytes: these cells were also incapable of eliminating intracellular amastigotes in the presence of potent activating factors. These observations on inflammatory macrophage interactions with amastigotes may provide important insights into the chronic nature of leishmanial disease.     

Production of cyclooxygenase products and superoxide anion by macrophages in response to chemotactic factors

Mononuclear phagocytes are knwon to play a key role in various phlogistic reactions by synthesizing and releasing products that may potentiate or inhibit inflammatory processes. The expression of these products appears to be dependent on the source of the macrophage population as well as the stimulus employed. We have studied superoxide anion (O₂⁻) production as well as the generation of PGE₂, PGF_2α, and TXB₂ from resident, oil-elicited and thiogylcollate-induced peritoneal macrophages in mice in the presence and absence of chemotactic peptides. Production of O₂⁻, occurred only in elicited macrophages stimulated with high concentrations of FMLP or C5a; resident cells stimulated with either of the chemotactic peptides were completely unresponsive. Although resident peritoneal macrophages incubated with chemotactic peptides did not generate O₂⁻, these cells did secrete significant levels of PGE₂, PGF_2α, and TXB₂ in response to C5a. FMLP had no stimulatory effect. Elicited macrophages generated increased levels of PGE₂ and PGF_2α when incubated with C5a. However, production of TXB₂ was not stimulated. FMLP was inactive in stimulating PGE₂, PGF_2α, and TXB₂ in all types of macrophages studied. These studies indicate a heterogeneity in the production of inflammatory mediators from various macrophage populations in response to chemotactic factors.