Expression and function of the early activation antigen CD69 in murine macrophages.

CD69, a member of the natural killer cell gene complex family of signal transducing receptors, represents one of the earliest activation antigens in human and murine lymphocytes. In contrast, human monocytes may express CD69 in a constitutive fashion. We have evaluated the expression and function of CD69 in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. CD69 expression as determined by flow cytometry was not constitutive but was induced by stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plus bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-alpha). Stimulation with LPS alone was equally effective. Infection with the protozoan parasite Leishmania did not induce CD69 expression nor influence CD69 up-regulation by IFN-gamma plus LPS. Induction of CD69 expression was significantly inhibited in the presence of prostaglandin E2 or dibutyryl-cAMP. Stimulation of macrophages with anti-CD69 monoclonal antibody in the presence of IFN-gamma induced both nitric oxide production and TNF-alpha release. Moreover, anti-CD69 stimulation of Leishmania-infected macrophages resulted in elimination of the intracellular parasite. These results suggest that CD69 is an activation antigen for murine macrophages and may serve as a signaling receptor for an as yet uncharacterized ligand.

Cytokines, nitrite/nitrate, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors, and procalcitonin concentrations: comparisons in patients with septic shock, cardiogenic shock, and bacterial pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the respective concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, soluble TNF receptors, nitrite/nitrate (NO2-/NO3-), and procalcitonin in the plasma of patients with septic shock, cardiogenic shock, and bacterial pneumonia without shock; and to assess the predictive value of these mediators in defining patients with septic shock. DESIGN: Cohort study, comparing normal volunteers (controls) and patients with septic shock, cardiogenic shock, and bacterial pneumonia. SETTING: A collaborative study among an intensive care unit, an emergency room, and three research laboratories. PATIENTS: Mediators were measured at various times in 15 patients with septic shock (during the shock phase and during the recovery phase), in seven patients with cardiogenic shock during the shock phase, and in seven patients with severe bacterial pneumonia on day 1 of admission. INTERVENTIONS: Blood samples were collected at various times during the course of the disease. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: TNF-alpha values were highest in the acute phase of septic shock (53 to 131 pg/mL during septic shock), while patients with bacterial pneumonia had intermediate concentrations (32 pg/mL). TNF-alpha concentrations were normal in patients with cardiogenic shock. IL-6 concentrations were highest in patients with acute septic shock (85 to 385 pg/mL). However, in contrast to TNF-alpha concentrations, IL-6 concentrations were normal in patients with bacterial pneumonia and increased in patients with cardiogenic shock (78 pg/mL). Soluble TNF receptors were increased in all three groups vs. controls, with the highest increase in patients with septic shock. NO2-/NO3- concentrations were highest (72 to 140 mM) in patients with septic shock, and were < 40 mM in the other groups of patients. Procalcitonin concentrations were only markedly increased in patients with septic shock (72 to 135 ng/mL, compared with approximately 1 ng/mL in the three other groups). The best predictive value for septic shock was found to be the measurements of NO2-/NO3- and procalcitonin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: These observations showed that increase of proinflammatory cytokines was a consequence of inflammation, not of shock. In this study comparing various shock and infectious states, measurements of NO2-/NO3- concentration and procalcitonin concentration represented the most suitable tests for defining patients with septic shock.

Involvement of a transforming-growth-factor-beta-like molecule in tumor-cell-derived inhibition of nitric-oxide synthesis in cerebral endothelial cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to exert cytotoxic effects on tumor cells. We have reported that EC219 cells, a rat-brain-microvessel-derived endothelial cell line, produced NO through cytokine-inducible NO synthase (iNOS), the induction of which was significantly decreased by (a) soluble factor(s) secreted by DHD/PROb, an invasive sub-clone of a rat colon-carcinoma cell line. In this study, the DHD/PROb cell-derived NO-inhibitory factor was characterized. Northern-blot analysis demonstrated that the induction of iNOS mRNA in cytokine-activated EC219 cells was decreased by PROb-cell-conditioned medium. When DHD/PROb cell supernatant was fractionated by affinity chromatography using Con A-Sepharose or heparin-Sepharose, the NO-inhibitory activity was found only in Con A-unbound or heparin-unbound fractions, respectively, indicating that the PROb-derived inhibitory factor was likely to be a non-glycosylated and non-heparin-binding molecule. Pre-incubation of DHD/PROb-cell supernatant with anti-TGF-beta neutralizing antibody completely blocked the DHD/PROb-derived inhibition of NO production by EC219 cells. Addition of exogenous TGF-beta 1 dose-dependently inhibited NO release by EC219 cells. The presence of active TGF-beta in the DHD/PROb cell supernatant was demonstrated using a growth-inhibition assay. Moreover, heat treatment of medium conditioned by the less invasive DHD/REGb cells, which constitutively secreted very low levels of active TGF-beta, increased both TGF-beta activity and the ability to inhibit NO production in EC219 cells. Thus, DHD/PROb colon-carcinoma cells inhibited NO production in EC219 cells by secreting a factor identical or very similar to TGF-beta.

Effect of PGE2 and of agents that raise cAMP levels on macrophage activation induced by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha.

The effect of prostaglandin (PG) E2 on macrophage activation by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was evaluated. Murine macrophages infected with Leishmania enriettii or Leishmania major were activated by exposure to IFN-gamma (10-50 U/ml) and TNF-alpha (30-3000 U/ml), leading to intracellular parasite destruction within 24-48 h. Leishmanicidal activity was markedly increased when activation was performed in the presence of PGE2 (10(-9)-10(-7) M) or arachidonate (10(-5) M, a PG precursor), concomitant with enhanced nitrite release and glucose oxidation through the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. Conversely, activation was reduced by indomethacin and hydrocortisone, two inhibitors of PG synthesis. Parasite killing and nitrite production were fully restored by exogenous PGE2, indicating that inhibition by these drugs was related to their ability to block PG production. PG can stimulate adenylate cyclase, thus raising intracellular cAMP levels. Accordingly, dibutyryl-cAMP, theophylline (which prevents cAMP breakdown), and forskolin (an activator of adenylate cyclase) all stimulated macrophage activation. Finally, PGE2 and cAMP enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA in response to IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, and this effect was inhibited by the cAMP antagonist 2'-O-methyl adenosine. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that PGE2 acts as a positive agonist in macrophage activation by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha via its capacity to modulate intracellular cAMP levels.

Tumor cells suppress cytokine-induced nitric-oxide (NO) production in cerebral endothelial cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial cells (EC) has been shown to exert cytotoxic activity on tumor cells. In order to analyze events involved in brain metastasis, the modulation of NO production in rat-brain-derived EC was investigated. NO release was increased by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 beta, lipopolysaccharide or forskolin in EC219 cells, a rat-brain-microvessel-derived EC line. Dexamethasone decreased NO release by cytokine-activated EC219 cells. Tumor cells (DHD/K12/PROb, a rat colon-carcinoma cell line) were highly adherent to EC219 cells, and adhesion was not modified by TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma, or by dexamethasone. Addition of tumor cells or tumor-cell-conditioned medium significantly inhibited NO release induced by any of the stimuli examined, but only if added during the initial phase of endothelial-cell activation. Tumor-derived suppression of NO release was also observed in primary cultures of cerebral EC. NO synthase (NOS) activity in cytosol extracts of the cerebral EC line was Ca(2+)-independent and required both NADPH and tetrahydrobiopterin. NOS activity was increased by TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, and significantly reduced by tumor-cell-conditioned medium. These results suggest that rat colon-carcinoma cells may have developed a protective mechanism involving the release of (a) soluble factor(s) which inhibit(s) NO production by cerebral EC.

Effect of increasing intravesicular pH on nitrite production and leishmanicidal activity of activated macrophages.

We examined the effect of bafilomycin A1 (BAF), an inhibitor of vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPases, on macrophages activation (measured as increased nitrite production and leishmanicidal activity) induced by interferon gamma alone or together with lipopolysaccharide or tumour necrosis factor alpha. BAF increased intravesicular pH and enhanced nitrite release by activated macrophages; however, the NO concentration necessary to kill parasites was higher in BAF-exposed than control macrophages, suggesting that microbicidal nitrogen derivatives were less active at alkaline pH. Antibody to tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibited BAF-induced nitrite production in interferon-activated cultures. To determine if enhanced NO synthesis was related to vesicular alkalinization, macrophages were incubated with the lysosomotropic bases NH4Cl and methylamine. These agents also increased intravesicular pH and nitrite production. Nitrite production was correlated with enhanced NO synthase activity in cytosolic extracts of the activated cells.

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein inhibits induction of macrophage nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide.

A recombinant (r) NH2-terminal fragment of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, rBPI23, was shown to inhibit murine macrophage nitric oxide (NO) production elicited by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Normal mouse plasma amplified NO synthesis (measured as NO2- release) at LPS concentrations of 1-10 ng/mL, and antibody to the plasma LPS-binding protein (LBP) partially inhibited NO2- release in the presence of normal mouse plasma. rBPI23 (1 microgram/mL) effectively inhibited LPS-dependent NO2- release in the presence or absence of normal mouse plasma. Fifty percent inhibition of IFN-gamma/LPS-elicited NO2- production or of binding of fluoresceinated LPS was obtained with approximately 0.2 microgram/mL rBPI23. These results provide a basis for studies of rBPI23 effects on NO synthase activity in murine models of gram-negative sepsis.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 regulation of macrophage activation depends on the triggering stimulus.

We have examined the effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the regulation of murine bone marrow-derived macrophage function. TGF-beta, added simultaneously with or up to 4 h before interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS), inhibited macrophage leishmanicidal activity, nitrite (NO2-) production, and secretion of prostaglandin E2. In contrast, no effect of TGF-beta could be demonstrated on macrophages stimulated with IFN-gamma plus tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) under the same conditions. These results suggested that TGF-beta inhibited LPS-induced triggering of macrophage activation, which was confirmed by studies with IFN-gamma-primed cells. Interestingly, when macrophages were pretreated with TGF-beta for 24 h, NO2- production in response to IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha was also inhibited. Although control and IFN-gamma/LPS-stimulated macrophages were found to secrete latent TGF-beta, only the IFN-gamma/LPS cultures produced biologically active TGF-beta. Significantly, active TGF-beta was present at concentrations shown earlier to inhibit macrophage function.

Induction of macrophage nitric oxide production by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha is enhanced by interleukin-10.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been reported to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and microbicidal activity of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated macrophages (M phi) by preventing the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) which serves as an autocrine activating signal. We have examined the effects of recombinant IL-10 on the capacity of IFN-gamma together with exogenous TNF-alpha to induce NO synthesis by bone marrow-derived M phi. Under these conditions and in contrast to its reported deactivating potential, IL-10 strongly enhanced NO synthesis measured as nitrite (NO2-) release (half maximal stimulation at approximately 10 U/ml). IL-10 further increased NO2- production by M phi stimulated in the presence of optimal concentrations of prostaglandin E2, a positive modulator of M phi activation by IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha. Increased steady state levels of NO synthase mRNA were observed in 4-h IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha cultures and enhanced NO2(-)-release was evident 24 h but not 48 h after stimulation. These results suggest that the effects of IL-10 on M phi function are more complex than previously recognized.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase activity of cloned murine microglial cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived diffusable molecule now believed to participate in multiple physiologic functions in the CNS including neurotransmission and the maintenance of vascular tone. Previously, we reported that cell lines obtained by retroviral immortalization of tissue macrophages (M phi) could be induced to synthesize nitrite (NO2-), a stable end product of the NO synthetic pathway. We have further characterized the induction and activity of this pathway in a panel of seven microglial clones derived from primary embryonic mouse brain cultures. Like M phi, these clones were found to release high levels of NO2- in response to recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) as a priming signal together with either bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or exogenous recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha). As previously demonstrated for M phi, phagocytosis of zymosan particles during induction of enzyme activity enhanced subsequent NO2- production, which is of interest in light of the postulated phagocytic role of microglia within the CNS. Biochemical characterization of enzyme activity in intact microglial clones and in isolated cytosolic fractions indicates that the microglial NO synthase present in these murine cell clones represents the M phi-like isotype. These findings suggest that microglial cells could represent a major source of NO within the CNS.

Enhancement of murine macrophage binding of and response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by LPS-binding protein.

We have studied the effects of highly purified rabbit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) on the ability of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages to respond to bacterial LPS. Macrophage responses studied include the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha, production of arginine-derived nitrite (NO2-), and killing of an intracellular pathogen, Leishmania enriettii. Macrophages from either CBA or LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice exhibited significantly greater sensitivity to LPS in the presence of LBP. Furthermore, both CBA and C3H/HeJ macrophages demonstrated an LBP-dependent enhancement of LPS binding. These results suggest that C3H/HeJ macrophages are capable of binding LPS-LBP complexes and support the hypothesis that hyporesponsiveness in this strain involves a step subsequent to LPS binding. Furthermore, these findings provide additional evidence of the important role played by the acute-phase plasma protein LBP in modifying host response to LPS.

Macrophage activation for intracellular killing as induced by a Ca2+ ionophore. Dependence on L-arginine-derived nitrogen oxidation products.

Mouse macrophages activated by interferon-gamma kill intracellular Leishmania by a process that depends on the generation of L-arginine-derived nitrogen oxidation products. Interferon-induced intracellular killing can be mimicked by exposure of macrophages to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in the presence of lipopolysaccharide. The mechanisms of this effect were therefore investigated. Destruction of the parasite was accompanied by accumulation of nitrite in the macrophage culture fluids. Leishmanicidal activity and nitrite production in cultures stimulated with ionophore A23187 and lipopolysaccharide were abrogated when cells were activated in medium containing arginase or the L-arginine analogues L-canavanine, guanidine or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. L-Arginine was required during the lipopolysaccharide-induced triggering phase only. Indeed, macrophage priming with ionophore A23187 in L-arginine-depleted medium led to full microbicidal activity and nitrite generation provided that L-arginine was present during subsequent triggering by lipopolysaccharide. Addition of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine to ionophore-activated macrophages increased O2- production on phorbol myristate stimulation, while inhibiting glucose oxidation through the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. Leishmanicidal activity and nitrite production were also inhibited when ionophore-treated cultures were incubated with excess iron, implying a role for iron as a defence mechanism against the toxicity of nitrogen derivatives. These results indicate that the ionophore-induced leishmanicidal activity occurs through a process similar to that evoked by interferon-gamma, i.e. the production of L-arginine-derived nitrogen oxidation products.

Phagocytosis enhances murine macrophage activation by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Previously, we reported that exposure of bone marrow-derived macrophages (M phi) to a phagocytic stimulus in the simultaneous presence of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induced these cells to generate nitrite (NO2-). This effect was achieved using both living (i.e. promastigotes of the protozoan parasite Leishmania enriettii) and inert (latex beads) particles. When the phagocytic stimulus was Leishmania, enhanced intracellular killing accompanied elevated NO2- secretion. As shown here, the capacity of phagocytosis to elicit NO2- production by IFN-gamma-treated M phi was inhibited by antibody to murine recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha), suggesting that phagocytosis enabled IFN-gamma to activate M phi via the induction of TNF-alpha as an autocrine second signal. M phi NO2- production in response to rIFN-gamma and either exogenous TNF-alpha or Leishmania was strongly enhanced by prostaglandin E2, consistent with such a mechanism. However, addition of either Leishmania promastigotes or latex beads to M phi cultures simultaneously exposed to both IFN-gamma and exogenous murine or human rTNF-alpha further potentiated activation as measured by NO2- release. Furthermore, anti-TNF antibody failed to inhibit M phi responses to rIFN-gamma and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of Leishmania; also exogenous rTNF-alpha did not significantly affect NO2- production by IFN-gamma/LPS cultures despite a strong enhancement by Leishmania. These results suggest that phagocytosis enhances M phi responses by a process more complex than the sole induction of TNF-alpha. Phagocytosis also increased M phi NO2- production elicited by IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha in L-arginine-deficient media. These results indicate that phagocytosis may be an important mechanism of up-regulating M phi microbicidal activity, and could be particularly relevant upon arginine depletion which occurs during an inflammatory response.

Mouse macrophage clones immortalized by retroviruses are functionally heterogeneous.

Murine macrophage clones were generated from thymus, spleen, brain, and bone marrow by in vitro immortalization with recombinant retroviruses carrying an avian v-myc oncogene. The cloned cell lines express F4/80 molecules, exert phagocytosis, have nonspecific esterase activity, and express class II molecules after interferon gamma activation. The macrophage clones are diploid and their karyotypes have remained stable for greater than 3 years in culture. After the macrophage clones were activated, their pattern of cytokine production was investigated. Functional heterogeneity in cytokine transcription was demonstrated: one of six liposaccharide-activated macrophages was unable to transcribe interleukin 1 alpha, whereas all of the liposaccharide-activated clones were able to transcribe tumor necrosis factor alpha. Interleukin 6 production was detected in three of six clones. The production of nitrite and tumor necrosis factor alpha as effector molecules of cytotoxicity was detected in all clones, thus showing that a single macrophage can exert more than one cytotoxic mechanism. The results indicate that immortalized and cloned macrophages have a differentially regulated expression of cytokine genes, adding further evidence for the existence of functional heterogeneity among cloned macrophages. This heterogeneity seems to derive from differentiation-related mechanisms rather than from external constraints.

Macrophage NO2- production as a sensitive and rapid assay for the quantitation of murine IFN-gamma.

Macrophage production of arginine-derived NO2- provides a simple method for detection and quantitation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in murine cell culture fluids. When the macrophage cell line RAW 264 is cultured overnight with IFN-gamma in the presence of 10 ng/ml LPS, NO2- release, as determined by a simple colorimetric assay, is proportional to the concentration of IFN-gamma and is inhibited by monoclonal antibody to IFN-gamma. A high degree of correlation was obtained when antigen stimulated T lymphocyte supernatants were tested for IFN-gamma by ELISA and the NO2- production assay.

Phagocytosis of Leishmania enhances macrophage activation by IFN-gamma and lipopolysaccharide.

This investigation describes the ability of Leishmania promastigotes to enhance activation of bone marrow-derived murine macrophages in vitro if added together with rIFN-gamma in the presence or absence of LPS. Activation was defined as the capacity for arginine-derived NO2- production and the killing of intracellular Leishmania. Enhanced NO2- production was observed for either CBA or C3H/HeJ macrophages undergoing phagocytosis at the time of activation. Other phagocytic stimuli including inert polystyrene latex beads were as effective as Leishmania. No correlation could be demonstrated between the enhanced NO2- release and secretion of products of the respiratory burst or PGE2. However, TNF-alpha secretion was elevated in cultures undergoing phagocytosis and a relationship between hexosemonophosphate shunt activity and NO2- levels was evident. These studies confirm and extend previous reports that phagocytosis plays an important role in the regulation of macrophage physiology.