T cell expansion is regulated by activated Gr-1+ splenocytes

CD4+ T cell proliferation depends on the balance between NO and extra-cellular superoxide (O2-). By reducing NO bio-availability, O2- promotes splenic T cell proliferation and immune response intensity. Here, we show that spleen cells from na?ve mice produced neither NO nor O2- during T cell activation, but Gr-1+ splenocytes from primed mice regulated Ag-specific T cell expansion via production of both molecules. Purified splenic Gr-1+ cells included mostly granulocytes at various stages of maturation, as well as monocytes. Activation or recruitment of regulatory Gr-1+ cells was dependent on immunization with CFA. Importantly, these regulatory cells were not detected in draining lymph nodes. These data suggest that innate Gr-1+ splenic cells regulate adaptive immunity.     

In situ recruitment of antigen-presenting cells by intratumoral GM-CSF gene delivery

Proper antigen presentation is paramount to the induction of effective and persistent antitumor immune responses. In a murine model of hepatic metastasis of colon cancer, we found that the numbers of in situ mature dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages in tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) were significantly increased in mice treated with the combination therapy of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase, interleukin 2, and GM-CSF genes when compared with control groups without GM-CSF treatment. Significantly higher levels of IFN-, MIP-1, mIL-12, and GM-CSF were detected in the tumor after the combination therapy. T cells isolated from the combination therapy–treated mice exhibited higher ex vivo direct CTL activity than those from other treatment groups. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) enriched from the TILs and liver of the combination therapy–treated mice induced higher levels of proliferation by the splenocytes from long-term surviving mice that had been cured of tumors at early time points (days 4 and 7) whereas significant APC activity was only observed in the spleen at the latter time point (day 7, 14) after the combination therapy. In contrast, APCs isolated from tk or tk + IL-2–treated mice did not induce any significant proliferation. Subcutaneous injection of fluorescence-labeled latex microspheres followed by the combination therapy showed a similar sequential trafficking of microspheres, day 4 after the combination therapy to tumor and day 14 to spleen. The results suggest that APCs recruited by intratumoral gene delivery of GM-CSF can capture antigens, mature to a stage suitable for antigen presentation, and subsequently migrate to the spleen where they can efficiently stimulate antigen-specific T cells.P.-Y. Pan and Y. Li contributed equally to this work.     

Detection of dermorphin-like immunoreactivity in immune tissues

Site-directed antibodies against synthetic relateddermorphin peptides have previously been produced andcharacterized. One of them, specifically recognizingthe crucial opioid message (the N-terminal part ofthe molecule Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly), was used in the presentstudy in order to detect and localize endogenousdermorphin-like molecules in immune tissues.Dermorphin-like peptides were found to be present inspleen and thymus of rat and mouse. The HPLCprofile of the immunoreactive material showeda major peak at a retention time of 32±1 min.Purification of immune cells by panning proceduresshowed that both B and T cells contained thisimmunoreactive material. Biochemical characterizationof the dermorphin-like immunoreactivity indicated thatthis material is a peptide resistant toaminopeptidase hydrolysis, suggesting the presence ofa putative D-amino acid residue or a residueconferring resistance to a proteolytic process.     

Roles of Prostaglandins D2 and E2 in Interleukin-1-Induced Activation of Norepinephrine Turnover in the Brain and Peripheral Organs of Rats

Abstract: Possible roles of prostaglandins (PGs) in interleukin-1 (IL-1)-induced activation of noradrenergic neurons were examined by assessing norepinephrine (NE) turnover in the brain and peripheral organs of rats. An intraperitoneal injection of human recombinant IL-1β accelerated NE turnover in the hypothalamus, spleen, lung, diaphragm, and pancreas. A similar increase in NE turnover was also observed after intracerebroventricular injection of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Pretreatment with indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor) abolished the IL-1-induced, but not the CRH-induced, increase in hypothalamic and splenic NE turnover. To elucidate which eicosanoid-cyclooxygenase product(s) is responsible for accelerating NE turnover, PGD₂, PGE₂, PGF_2α, U-46619 (stable thromboxane A₂ analogue), or carbacyclin (stable prostacyclin analogue) was administered intracerebroventricularly. Among them, PGE₂ was the only eicosanoid effective in increasing NE turnover in spleen, whereas PGD₂ was effective in the hypothalamus. The stimulative effect of PGD₂ was abolished by pretreatment with intracerebroventricular injection of a CRH antiserum. These results suggest that the action of IL-1 is mediated through PGD₂ production to activate the noradrenergic neurons in the hypothalamus, and through PGE₂ production to increase sympathetic nerve activity in spleen.     

Splenic marginal-zone macrophages and marginal metallophils in rats and mice

Summary The splenic macrophages of rats and mice were studied by light and fluorescence microscopy to determine their phagocytotic uptake of carbon and neutral polysaccharide (Fic-F), and their lysosomal enzyme activities. In rats, the large macrophages of the marginal zone (MZ) showed a moderate to strong acid phosphatase activity, and took up most of the Fic-F, even though they showed a weak phagocytotic activity to carbon particles. Red-pulp macrophages, however, ingested a large quantity of carbon particles, and are considered to be the major scavengers in the rat spleen. In contrast, the MZ macrophages in the mouse spleen were the major scavengers and showed a vigorous uptake of both carbon and Fic-F. In rats, the marginal metallophils (MM), located at the outer border of the periarterial lymphatic sheath and boundary between the MZ bridging channel and surrounding tissue, ingested Fic-F, whereas those located around the follicular area did not. In mice, on the other hand, the MM never ingested Fic-F. Lightly carbon-ladened small cells were constantly seen in the MZ of both rats and mice. They showed little acid phosphatase activity and did not ingest Fic-F. They were also present in the blood circulation.     

Depletion and repopulation of macrophages in spleen and liver of rat after intravenous treatment with liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate

Summary Rats received a single intravenous injection with liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP). This treatment resulted in the elimination of macrophages in spleen and liver within 2 days. Macrophages ingest the liposomes and are destroyed by the drug, which is released from the liposomes after disruption of the phospholipid bilayers under the influence of lysosomal phospholipases. Repopulation of macrophages in spleen and liver was studied at different time intervals after treatment. Macrophages in the liver (Kupffer cells) and red pulp macrophages in the spleen were the first cells to reappear, followed by marginal metallophilic macrophages and marginal-zone macrophages in the spleen. Different markers of the same cell did not reappear simultaneously. On the other hand, the same marker (recognized by the monoclonal antibody ED2) reappeared much more rapidly in the liver than in the spleen. The present results in the rat were different from those earlier obtained in the mouse. Red pulp macrophages were the first cells and marginal zone macrophages were the last cells to repopulate the spleen in both rodents after treatment with Cl2MDP liposomes. However, there was much more overlap in the repopulation kinetics of splenic macrophage subpopulations in the rat, when compared with the mouse.     

大剂量~(60)Co照射后残余造血干细胞增殖与分化性能的研究

本文报道了F_1小鼠经~(60)Co γ射线一次整体照射8.5 Gy后不同时间,骨髓CFU_s、GM-CFU_c、BMC、脾脏T淋巴细胞转化功能和外周血象的动态变化,以及对BFU-E、CFU-E进行了抽样检测。结果表明,照射后各项指标均呈指数级锐减,但下降幅度依各自不同的辐射敏感性而异。恢复的先后顺序是:BMC数和外周血象经过1个月即达正常;GM-CFU_c和CFU_s于2—4个月后逐渐恢复原来的数量;淋转功能直至3个月末仍为对照值的55%。应用Ara-C自杀率测出照射后CFU_s的增殖率持续高于正常,3个月末才回复常态。针对临界全致死剂量γ射线照射对小鼠造血细胞动力变化过程的观察,以及对残余造血干细胞增殖与多向分化能力的影响进行了分析和讨论,以期全面地揭示造血功能辐射损伤的基本规律。