Effect of interleukin 2, interferon-gamma, and mitogens on the production of tumor necrosis factors alpha and beta

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were induced by recombinant interleukin 2 and mitogens to secrete two distinct cytotoxic polypeptides, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta), previously called lymphotoxin. Treatment of PBMC with recombinant human interleukin 2 (rIL 2) or mitogens in combination with recombinant human interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) resulted in augmented production of both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta. rIFN-gamma alone had no effect on production of either cytotoxic polypeptide. TNF-alpha was produced within 2 to 3 hr after induction and was the major cytotoxin produced by PBMC during the first 48 hr of culture, after which time TNF-beta became the predominant species. TNF-beta was first secreted into the media after 8 hr of induction. Enhanced levels of both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta were seen when the PBMC were separated into adherent and nonadherent cells. Both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta were induced in different tumor cell lines of hematopoietic origin. The results demonstrate that the production of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta can be enhanced by two lymphokines, IL 2 and IFN-gamma.     

In vivo antitumor effects of murine interferon- γ -inducing factor/interleukin-18 in mice bearing syngeneic Meth A sarcoma malignant ascites

Interferon-γ-inducing factor/interleukin-18 is a novel cytokine that reportedly augments natural killer (NK) activity in human and mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures in vitro and has recently been designated IL-18. In this study, IL-18 exhibited significant antitumor effects in BALB/c mice challenged intraperitoneally (i.p.) with syngeneic Meth A sarcoma when administered i.p. on days 1, 2 and 3 after challenge. Intravenous (i.v.) administration also induced antitumor effects in the tumor-bearing mice; however, subcutaneous (s.c.) administration did not. When mice were twice pretreated with 1 μg IL-18 3 days and 6 h before tumor challenge, all mice survived whereas control mice died within 3 weeks of challenge. Inhibitory effects on Meth A cell growth in vitro were not observed with either IL-18 or interferon γ. The effects of IL-18 pretreatment were abrogated by abolition of NK activity after mice had been injected with anti-asialo GM1 antibody 48 h before and, 24 h and 72 h after tumor challenge. Mice pretreated with IL-18 and surviving tumor challenge resisted rechallenge with Meth A cells but could not reject Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, and spleen cells from the resistant mice, but not control mice, exhibited cytotoxic activity against Meth A cells in vitro after restimulation with mitomycin C-treated Meth A cells for 5 days. The effector cells in the spleen cell preparations from resistant mice appear to be CD4⁺ cells because cytolytic activity was significantly inhibited after depletion of this subset by monoclonal antibodies and complement. In conclusion, IL-18 exhibits in vivo immunologically (primarily NK) mediated antitumor effects in mice challenged with syngeneic Meth A sarcoma and induces immunological memory and the generation of cytotoxic CD4⁺ cells. Received: 17 September 1996 / Accepted: 8 November 1996     

The activation of the early chemiluminescent response of human neutrophils by joint treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and the calcium ionophore A-23187]

The influence of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and calcium ionophore A23187 on luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence capacity (CL) of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) has been studied. The CL response of TNF-alpha treated PMN is amplified by lucigenin, but not luminol. TNF-alpha and A23287 synergistically induced both the luminol- and lucigenin-dependent early CL response. The combination of A23187 and activator of protein kinase C--phorbol (myristoyl-13-acetyl)--also provoked early CL response. While the combination of TNF-alpha and A23187 decreased late CL response compared to A23187 alone. The obtained results suggests that synergistic CL response of PMN induced by TNF-alpha and A23187 is connected with activation of protein kinase by TNF-alpha.     

Natural killer-sensitive targets stimulate production of TNF-alpha but not TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) by highly purified human peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes

Highly purified populations of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) have been shown to mediate natural killer (NK) cell activity. The mechanism of target cell killing by NK cells is as yet undefined; however, it has been postulated that such killing may involve soluble cytotoxic factors produced and secreted by NK cells. The data presented show that NK-sensitive, but not NK-resistant, tumor cell lines induce highly purified populations of human LGL to produce factors with cytotoxic and/or cytostatic activities. We have identified one of these factors as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and have shown that production of this factor is enhanced by recombinant human interferon-gamma (rHuIFN-gamma). We have also examined the role of TNF-alpha in the cytotoxic function of NK cells. The data show that although highly purified LGL populations produce low levels of TNF-alpha, the cytotoxic/cytostatic activity of this lymphokine on tumor target cells does not correlate with the cytotoxic activity of highly purified populations of LGL on tumor target cells. Furthermore, NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity is not reliably inhibited by antibodies directed against various epitopes of recombinant human TNF-alpha and/or recombinant TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) or rHuIFN-gamma. These data show that although TNF-alpha is produced by highly purified NK-containing LGL cell populations, this factor does not appear to be responsible for NK cell cytotoxicity against classical NK target cells such as Molt-4 or K562. We suggest that NK function can be attributed to a combination of factors rather than to a single factor alone, and that at least two major phenomena are involved in LGL function: the rapid cytotoxic events which lead to the cell lysis measured in classical in vitro NK assays such as against K562; and the release of factors such as TNF-alpha with cytotoxic/cytostatic activities which would inhibit the growth of invading tumor cells in vivo.     

Lymphokine release, suppressor cell generation, cell surface markers, and cytotoxic activity in cancer patients receiving natural interleukin-2

We monitored patients treated for 5 days with continuous infusion of increasing doses (3 to 6 x 10(6) U/d) of natural interleukin-2 (IL-2). CD16+, CD25+, and CD56+ cells increased after treatment. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels, but not interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels, increased during IL-2 treatment, but spontaneous and IL-2-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion in vitro remained abnormally low. However, mitogen-stimulated TNF-alpha release was normal. Mitogen-stimulated, but not IL-2-stimulated, IFN-gamma release was strongly depressed. Low spontaneous and IL-2-stimulated cytotoxicity on K562 or Daudi increased after treatment. Low suppressor cell generation also normalized after treatment. This appears to be the first reported study of immunologic monitoring of cancer patients treated with natural rather than recombinant IL-2.     

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit activates dendritic cells and enhances antitumor immunity

Activation of dendritic cells (DC) is crucial for priming of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), which have a critical role in tumor immunity, and it is considered that adjuvants are necessary for activation of DC and for enhancement of cellular immunity. In this study, we examined an adjuvant capacity of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB), which is non-toxic subunit of cholera toxin, on maturation of murine splenic DC. After the in vitro incubation of DC with rCTB, the expression of MHC class II and B7-2 on DC was upregulated and the secretion of IL-12 from DC was enhanced. In addition, larger DC with longer dendrites were observed. These data suggest that rCTB induced DC maturation. Subsequently, we examined the induction of tumor immunity by rCTB-treated DC by employing Meth A tumor cells in mice. Pretreatment with subcutaneous injection of rCTB-treated DC pulsed with Meth A tumor lysate inhibited the growth of the tumor cells depending on the number of DC. Moreover, intratumoral injection of rCTB-treated DC pulsed with tumor lysate had therapeutic effect against established Meth A tumor. Immunization with DC activated by rCTB and the tumor lysate increased number of CTL precursor recognizing Meth A tumor. The antitumor immune response was significantly inhibited in CD8+ T cell-depleted mice, although substantial antitumor effect was observed in CD4+ T cell-depleted mice. These results indicated that rCTB acts as an adjuvant to enhance antitumor immunity through DC maturation and that CD8+ T cells play a dominant role in the tumor immunity. Being considered to be safe, rCTB may be useful as an effective adjuvant to raise immunity for a tumor in clinical application.     

Effector phenotypes and mechanisms of antitumor immune reactivity of tumor-immunized and tumor-bearing mice in two syngeneic tumors.

By using two different syngeneic tumors, Meth A sarcoma and RL male 1 lymphoma of BALB/c origin, the present study was designed to investigate the subset(s) of T cells mediating in vivo antitumor immune responses and some of the effector mechanisms of in vivo protective immunity in BALB/c mice immunized against tumor or bearing tumor. Spleen cells from the mice immunized against Meth A tumor or bearing Meth A tumor inhibited the growth of Meth A tumor in the Winn assay. In the Meth A-immunized mice, L3T4+ (CD4+) cells played a major role in mediating the inhibitory activity against Meth A tumor growth, whereas in the Meth A-bearing mice, the antitumor protective immunity was mediated by both L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ (CD8+) cells. Spleen cells from the Meth A-immunized or Meth A-bearing mice were not able to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) directed against Meth A tumor after the in vitro restimulation of spleen cells with mitomycin C (MMC)-treated Meth A cells, while fresh spleen cells from the Meth A-immunized or Meth A-bearing mice were able to induce the strong delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to Meth A tumor. The DTH response to Meth A tumor was mediated by L3T4+ cells in the Meth A-immunized mice and by both L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ cells in the Meth A-bearing mice. In the similar experiments performed in the RL male 1 lymphoma, the antitumor activity in spleen cells from the RL male 1-immunized or RL male 1-bearing mice depended on Lyt-2+ but not L3T4+ cells in the Winn assay. When spleen cells from the RL male 1-immunized or RL male 1-bearing mice were cultured with MMC-treated RL male 1 cells for 5 days, an appreciable CTL response to RL male 1 tumor was induced. These results suggest that the nature of tumor and/or tumor antigens determines which T cell subset is required to exhibit the protective immunity against tumor and thus the different effector mechanisms could be induced in the different tumor models. Furthermore, these data support the conclusion that antitumor T cell responses are affected by the immune state of host to tumor.     

Effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the stimulus-coupled responses of neutrophils and their modulation by various inhibitors.

Preincubation of human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (HPPMN) with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) enhanced the formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP)-induced superoxide (O2-.) generation in a concentration- and preincubation time-dependent manner. The enhancement was very high for the FMLP- or opsonized zymosan (OZ)-induced O2-. generation, but was low for arachidonic acid (AA)- and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced O.2- generation. The rHuTNF-alpha has no effect on the steady state of intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) nor on the membrane potential of neutrophils. The rHuTNF-alpha-primed FMLP-induced O2-. generation was inhibited by nicotineamide (NA), pertussis toxin (PT), and by the tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor, genistein, but was enhanced by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-3-methyl-piperazine). The inhibitory actions of NA and PT were also observed in in vivo primed guinea pig peritoneal neutrophils (GPtPMN). However, FMLP-induced O2-. generation of GPtPMN was enhanced by genistein, but was inhibited by H-7. These data indicate that TNF-alpha does not induce changes in [Ca2+]i nor in membrane potential of HPPMN, and that TNF-alpha-primed FMLP-induced O.2- generation of HPPMN is coupled with ADP-ribosylation and activation of G-proteins, and that protein kinases, especially TK, seem to exert an important role in the priming action of TNF.     

High serum levels of TNF-alpha after its administration for isolation perfusion of the limb.

In a phase II study, 18 patients with locally spreading melanoma or sarcoma of lower limb were treated by isolation perfusion (ILP) with hyperthermia and local infusion of high dose of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) (4 mg). Bioactive TNF-alpha and interleukin 6 (IL-6) serum levels were measured serially. In the limb, TNF-alpha rapidly reached a plateau at 2 mu/ml, while IL-6 appeared later and progressively increased until the end of ILP. In the systemic circulation TNF-alpha rose up to a median concentration of 31 ng/ml after 1 hour, then decreased and became negligible after 6 hours. IL-6 peaked only after 5 hours after start of ILP (median: 36.7 ng/ml). In patients with substantial leakage towards systemic circulation, both cytokines peaked higher and earlier as compared with patients with minimal leakage. No correlation was found between cytokine levels and severity of side effects which in all cases were reversible. We conclude that high dose TNF-alpha infusion in ILP results in extremely high levels of bioactive TNF-alpha in the systemic circulation without irreversible side effect, and provokes a delayed blood release of large amounts of IL-6; there was a correlation between leakage from the limb during procedure and the magnitude of systemic cytokines levels.     

Protection against murine tuberculosis by an attenuated recombinant Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strain that secretes the 30-kDa antigen of Mycobacterium bovis BCG

A recombinant (r-) Salmonella typhimurium aroA vaccine that secretes the naturally secreted protein of Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG, Ag85B, by means of the HlyB/HlyD/TolC export machinery (termed p30 in the following) was constructed. In contrast to r-S. typhimurium control, oral vaccination of mice with the r-S. typhimurium p30 construct induced partial protection against an intravenous challenge with the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, resulting in similar vaccine efficacy comparable to that of the systemically administered attenuated M. bovis BCG strain. The immune response induced by r-S. typhimurium p30 was accompanied by augmented interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels produced by restimulated splenocytes. These data suggest that the HlyB/HlyD/TolC-based antigen delivery system with attenuated r-S. typhimurium as carrier is capable of inducing an immune response against mycobacterial antigens.     

Induction by mycoplasmas of tumor necrosis factor-alpha from macrophages

Several species of mycoplasmas including M. pneumoniae, the causative agent of human respiratory infection, were investigated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induction. The cytotoxic activity to Meth A cells of peritoneal macrophages purified from BALB/c mice was enhanced markedly when cultured with either viable or nonviable mycoplasmas. The supernatant of macrophage culture mixed with mycoplasmas, M. pneumoniae or A. laidlawii, showed a potent cytotoxic activity to TNF-alpha-sensitive but not to TNA-alpha-insensitive L cells. Addition of anti-TNA-alpha antiserum inhibited completely the cytotoxic activity of the supernatant, indicating that the cytotoxic activity is due mostly to TNF-alpha. These results strongly suggest that mycoplasmas possess an activity to induce TNF-alpha, which enhances the cytotoxic activity of macrophages and prevent infection with mycoplasmas in vivo.     

Anti-tumor activity of an enzymatically synthesized alpha-1,6 branched alpha-1,4-glucan, glycogen

Oral administration of an enzymatically synthesized alpha-1,4:1,6-glycogen (ESG) at a dose of 50 mug/ml significantly prolonged the survival time of Meth A tumor-bearing mice. ESG also significantly stimulated macrophage-like cells (J774.1), leading to augmented production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) and the ratio of branch linkage (BL) of ESG were 149,000 and 8.1% respectively. beta-Amylase-treated ESG, however, lost J774.1-activating activity although inhibited subcutaneous growth of Meth A tumor cells admixed with it. Its DPw and BL changed to 126,000 and 20% respectively. Partially degraded amylopectin [(AP), DPw: 110,000, BL; 5.1] was also effective at stimulating J774.1, but its activity was lower than that of ESG. Other alpha-glucans [cycloamylose (CA), enzymatically synthesized amylose (ESA), highly branched cyclic dextrin (HBCD), and beta-amylase-treated HBCD], of which DPw was lower than that of ESG, showed no J774.1-activating activity and weaker anti-tumor activity.     

Synergistic action of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor with endotoxins or nontoxic poly A:U against solid Meth A tumors in mice

Summary Antitumor effects of i.v. injected human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) against solid Meth A tumors in mice appeared to be critically dependent on the dose and were limited by its toxicity. Extensive necrosis and complete cures were only induced by doses having untoward effects, such as diarrhea, hypothermia, ruffled fur, and lethargy. Murine tumor necrosis serum (TNS, 0.5 ml) had about the same antitumor potential and induced all side effects except diarrhea. More extensive necrosis and approximate doubling of the incidence of complete regression in the absence of gross side effects were observed upon administration of a low dose of rTNF combined with detoxified endotoxin, nontoxic poly A:U, or submicrogram doses of toxic endotoxin. The separate constituents had little antitumor effects, if any at all. Increasing the dose of toxic endotoxin resulted in a further potentiation of necrosis, overt toxicity, but no cures. Muramyl dipeptide and interferon / did not potentiate effects of rTNF. In vitro growth of Meth A cells was not inhibited by toxic endotoxin, rTNF or the combination, although TNS was highly inhibitory. Data show that therapeutic effects of rTNF and its synergy with endotoxin are not due to direct effects on the tumor cells and that the extent of prompt in vivo tumor necrosis does not predict the course of tumor growth. Therapeutic effects of both TNS and toxic endotoxin probably involve a synergy between low levels of TNF and other factors/effects induced by endotoxin. Detoxified endotoxin and poly A:U probably induce the latter effects and little or no TNF, so explaining the absence of side effects, their weak antitumor potential, and their powerful synergistic action with rTNF. A role for interferon / as an induced synergistic factor is not likely. Muramyl dipeptide and TNF might share properties needed for synergy with endotoxins. Present address: Department of Immunotoxicology, State University of Utrecht, Biltstraat 172, 3572 BP Utrecht, The Netherlands     

Uptake of hyaluronan in hepatic endothelial cells is not directly affected by endotoxin and associated cytokines

The uptake of hyaluronan (HYA) labeled with 3H in its acetyl group was measured in cultured liver endothelial cells from normal rats and from rats previously treated with sublethal doses of Escherichia coli endotoxin (ET). Replicate cultures were also exposed to recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1) or interferon-gamma for 1 to 3 h before the measurement of hyaluronan uptake. Under all conditions, HYA was absorbed by endothelial cells at rates consistent with receptor-mediated absorption. In cells exposed to HYA 20 h after isolation, rate of uptake was less than half the rate in cells exposed 6 or 7 h after isolation. Cellular uptake of HYA was neither reduced nor enhanced by any of the treatments with cytokines. Prior exposure of the cell donors to ET caused a three-fold increase in their plasma HYA but did not alter the subsequent rate of cellular HYA uptake in vitro, either with or without added treatment with TNF-alpha or IL-1. It was concluded that the elevation of plasma HYA caused by septicaemia or by the experimental administration of ET or TNF-alpha cannot be attributed to direct interference with HYA receptors on hepatic endothelial cells.     

Tumor necrosis factor induces resistance of macrophages to Legionella pneumophila infection

Legionella pneumophila is an ubiquitous opportunistic intracellular pathogen that replicates readily in thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from genetically susceptible A/J mice. Treatment of macrophage cultures in vitro with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced resistance of the macrophages to infection by Legionella as compared with control macrophages treated with medium alone. Addition of small amounts of monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha restored susceptibility of the macrophages. Furthermore, antibody to the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) alpha/beta increased resistance, but recombinant IL-1 had little effect. Such decreased susceptibility to Legionella growth in anti-IL-1 antibody-treated cultures corresponded with enhanced levels of TNF-alpha in the supernatants of the treated cells. An antibody to another proinflammatory cytokine with known immunoregulatory properties (i.e., IL-6) had little or no effect on the ability of the macrophages to be infected by Legionella and, furthermore, treatment with recombinant IL-6, similar to recombinant IL-1, did not modify the ability of the cells to be infected in vitro. These results indicate that TNF-alpha is important in controlling L. pneumophila replication, and IL-1 can regulate TNF-alpha levels, affecting susceptibility of macrophages to infection with an intracellular opportunistic pathogen like Legionella.     

Interferon-gamma, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induce CD11a mRNA and protein via Na+/H+ exchange and protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms in tissue macrophages

Previously CD11a or leukocyte function-associated antigen alpha-1 was found to be induced at the surface protein level in thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma. To investigate this induction further, Northern blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to examine the role of second messengers in CD11a gene product induction by these agents. Here I report that CD11a RNA and cell surface protein induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are sensitive to inhibition of protein kinase C, while insensitive to inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange. CD11a induction by interferon-gamma conversely is sensitive to inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange and insensitive to inhibition of protein kinase C. These observations indicate that CD11a may be induced by multiple and separate second messenger systems in primary macrophages.     

TNF-alpha in vivo stimulates apoptosis in fibroblasts through caspase-8 activation and modulates the expression of pro-apoptotic genes

Apoptosis of matrix producing cells is common among many inflammatory diseases. The goal of the present study was to examine the apoptotic effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on fibroblastic cells in vivo and to investigate the role of different caspases in this process. This was accomplished in vivo by subcutaneous injection of TNF-alpha in mice. The direct effects of TNF-alpha on fibroblast apoptosis were studied in vitro with normal diploid human fibroblasts. The results indicate that TNF-alpha in vivo induces apoptosis of fibroblasts. By RNase protection assay, we demonstrated that TNF-alpha stimulates expression of 12 apoptotic genes. Fluorometric studies demonstrated that TNF-alpha in vivo predominantly increased caspase-8 and -3 activity and by use of specific inhibitors, the activation of caspase-3 was shown to be initiated by caspase-8 with only a minor contribution from caspase-9. Thus, TNF-alpha acts to modulate the expression of many genes that favors apoptosis of fibroblastic cells, which is dependent mostly upon signaling through caspase-8.     

Expression of developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus 1 was induced by tumor-derived factors including VEGF

Developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus 1 (Del1) is a new angiogenic molecules expressed specifically in early embryonic endothelial cells. We investigated the relationship between Del1 and tumor cell-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Dunn osteosarcoma cells and high- and low-metastatic murine sarcoma cells did not express Del1. However, the expression of Del1 was observed in these primary tumor tissues and the pulmonary metastatic tissues after subcutaneous inoculation in vivo. Every tumor cell-conditioned medium containing VEGF induced the expression of Del1 in murine lung microvascular endothelial (MLE) cells, although control MLE cells did not express Del1. The anti-mouse VEGF monoclonal antibody inhibited the induction of the Del1 expression. In addition, mouse recombinant interleukin-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha also induced Del1 in MLE cells. Del1 may play an important role in tumor angiogenesis through the effects of tumor-derived factors including VEGF.