Stromal-derived factor-1 in human tumors recruits and alters the function of plasmacytoid precursor dendritic cells.

Dendritic-cell (DC) trafficking and function in tumors is poorly characterized, with studies confined to myeloid DCs (DC1s). Tumors inhibit DC1 migration and function, likely hindering specific immunity. The role of plasmacytoid DCs (DC2s) in tumor immunity is unknown. We show here that malignant human ovarian epithelial tumor cells express very high levels of stromal-derived factor-1, which induces DC2 precursor (preDC2) chemotaxis and adhesion/transmigration, upregulates preDC2 very late antigen (VLA)-5, and protects preDC2s from tumor macrophage interleukin-10-induced apoptosis, all through CXC chemokine receptor-4. The VLA-5 ligand vascular-cell adhesion molecule-1 mediated preDC2 adhesion/transmigration. Tumor preDC2s induced significant T-cell interleukin-10 unrelated to preDC2 differentiation or activation state, and this contributed to poor T-cell activation. Myeloid precursor DCs (preDC1s) were not detected. Tumors may weaken immunity by attracting preDC2s and protecting them from the harsh microenvironment, and by altering preDC1 distribution.

Acute upregulation of CCR-5 expression by CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients treated with interleukin-2. ANRS 048 IL-2 Study Group.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of HIV-infected patients with interleukin (IL)-2 causes a sustained increase in CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts, involving both naive and memory cells. However, the short-term immunological effects of IL-2, which may shed light on the mechanism of immune reconstitution by this cytokine, are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acute effect of IL-2 on circulating T-lymphocyte subpopulations and their expression of chemokine receptors. DESIGN AND METHODS: Flow cytometry, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and chemokine receptor function experiments were performed before and after 5 days of IL-2 administration in 30 HIV-infected patients. RESULTS: IL-2 induced an acute lymphopenia of both naive and memory T-helper (TH) lymphocytes. This was associated with a large increase in CC-chemokine receptor (CCR)-5 and CCR-2b expression by TH cells. Before IL-2 treatment, CCR-5 was mostly produced by CD62L- memory TH lymphocytes. After 5 days of IL-2 administration, the level of CCR-5 mRNA in circulating cells was 18.6 times higher than before treatment (P < 0.002). CCR-5 expression was upregulated in CD62L- memory TH lymphocytes, but also in CD62L+ memory and in naive (CD62L+ CD45RO-) TH lymphocytes. IL-2 treatment also increased the function of CCR-5 in TH cells. CONCLUSIONS: Chemokine receptors are involved in trafficking of lymphocytes. The IL-2-induced upregulation of chemokine receptors in TH cells may thus play a role in the acute effects of this cytokine in TH lymphocyte redistribution.

Interleukin-6 biosynthesis in human preovulatory follicles: some of its potential roles at ovulation.

In the present work we explored cellular sites of interleukin-6 (IL-6) biosynthesis in human follicular aspirates from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization therapy and the effects of this cytokine on oocyte fertilization and granulosa cell (GC) steroidogenesis. Biological IL-6 activity from 20-40 IU/mL was present in follicular fluids from 22 patients; it was also detected in 10 of 22 supernatants of cultured oocyte-cumulus complexes and in cumulus cell and GC cultures. Biological IL-6 activity in oocyte-cumulus complex cultures was not related to fertilization rates. Total ribonucleic acid was isolated from follicular aspirates and GC-enriched preparations. After reverse transcriptase and polymerase chain reaction cycles using oligonucleotide primers corresponding to known cDNA sequences for IL-6, a 126-basepair band characterized the amplification product of IL-6 transcripts on gel electrophoresis. To localize IL-6 messenger ribonucleic acid, in situ hybridization analysis was performed using a [35S]IL-6 riboprobe. The distribution of transcripts was more dense (15% vs. 3% stained cells) in GC-enriched preparations, which contained more than 95% GCs, than in original follicular preparations, which contained 20-40% viable GCs; it was not significantly modified by the presence of macrophage contaminants. The expression of IL-6 protein was assessed by positive immunohistological stainings. Biological IL-6 activity was higher, and in situ hybridization signals were more dense and more intense in 24-h GC cultures than in 72-h GC cultures, suggesting that IL-6 biosynthesis was transiently induced. Under experimental conditions of low IL-6 endogenous levels in cultures, adding recombinant human IL-6 from 10-200 IU/mL had no effect on progesterone production or aromatase activity in GC cultures free of macrophages, whereas in GC cultures including macrophage contaminants, stimulatory effects on basal and hCG-stimulated progesterone production and on basal and FSH-stimulated aromatase activities were observed. The present study provides strong support for the view that IL-6 is produced by GCs in the preovulatory follicle at the time of ovulation. In addition, we showed that IL-6 might be an intraovarian regulatory factor concerned with steroidogenesis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces interleukin-6 mRNA and protein in human granulosa luteinizing cells via protein tyrosine kinase without involving ceramide.

This study examines how interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression by human luteinizing granulosa cells is regulated. IL-6 was assayed in culture supernatants, mRNA in cells by in situ hybridization and by a competitive reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). TNF alpha (100 pg-1 ng/ml) induced IL-6 mRNA and protein. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (50 nM) mimicked this effect. DibutyrylcAMP (1 mM) and 10 microM forskolin. C2-, C6- and C8-ceramide (15 microM), all had no effect. The inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), genistein (100 micrograms/ml) reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) effects. The inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) (staurosporine, 10 nM), of phospholipase C (U73122, 2 microM), of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), (indomethacin 30 microM, mepacrin 50 microM, nordihydroguaiaretic acid 10 microM, ONO-RS-082 3,5 microM), none prevented it. Hence, IL-6 is induced by TNF alpha via activation of PTK. Protein kinase A, phosphoinositide and conventional PKC, sphingomyelin and PLA2 pathways are not implicated.

Timing of nuclear maturation and cumulus dissociation in human oocytes stimulated with clomiphene citrate, human menopausal gonadotropin, and human chorionic gonadotropin.

The maturation of the preovulatory human follicle larger than 16 mm is described between 0 and 36 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. The nuclear evolution of the oocyte is timed: prophase at 14 hours, germinal vesicle breakdown at 15 hours, metaphase I at 20 hours; metaphase II is complete by 35 hours. The quantified expansion of the cumulus is related to nuclear evolution. Almost complete expansion may already be observed 18 hours before ovulation (20 hours after hCG). The specific action of clomiphene citrate, human menopausal gonadotropin, and hCG stimulation on the granulosa induces a more rapid luteinization than is found after other means of stimulation or in spontaneous cycles. Oocytes from follicles less than or equal to 16 mm on preovulatory ovaries often show a reaction to hCG that may be related to their subsequent quality.

Mature and immature oocytes in large and medium follicles after clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin stimulation without human chorionic gonadotropin.

After ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate combined with human menopausal gonadotropin, 24 large (greater than 16 mm) and 16 medium (7 to 15 mm) human follicles were classified according to plasmatic estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), and histology of the follicle and oocytes (in thin sections). An asynchronism of several hours between the stage of development of the largest and large cohort follicles is observed; overripeness of oocyte cumulus complex (OCC) is revealed. An asynchronous response to gonadotropins in granulosa and cumulus is also seen in the cohort of medium follicles of the same ovary, but not resumption of nuclear maturation of the oocyte. The efficiency of these oocytes after fertilization is discussed.

Quantification of cytokine gene expression by competitive PCR using a colorimetric assay.

Competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a new technique allowing quantification of cytokine gene expression from either experimental or clinical samples. In this assay, a time-consuming step is the quantification of amplified products. To improve this step, we set up a colorimetric assay in which the amplified product from either the cDNA or the competitor can be reliably quantified. Using this approach, which can be completely automatized, up to 320 PCR products can be quantified each day. In this report, we describe the quantification of IL-10 mRNA molecules as compared to that of beta-actin mRNA molecules. The sensitivity of the quantification was 7.7 x 10(7) molecules for the amplified beta-actin cDNA and the amplified IL-10 cDNA, corresponding to approximately 9.6 pg amplified beta-actin cDNA and 11 pg amplified IL-10 cDNA, respectively. The intra-assay variation coefficient was < 12%. This technique can be readily extended to all cytokines, and it thus allows routine monitoring of cytokine gene expression, either from experimental samples or from clinical trials.

Spontaneous production of interleukin-10 by B lymphocytes and monocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) production by B lymphocytes has previously been demonstrated for malignant cells and for in vitro activated normal B cells. Spontaneous in vivo production of IL-10 by normal B lymphocytes has only been demonstrated in mice, in which autoreactive Ly 1 + B cells are involved. In the present study, spontaneous expression of the IL-10 gene by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was investigated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a human disease involving autoreactive B cells. Of the 47 SLE patients tested by coupled reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, 34 scored positive, contrasting with only 1 positive out of 34 normal subjects (p < 0.001). Spontaneous in vitro production of IL-10 by PBMC, determined using an ELISA assay, was 33 times higher in SLE than in controls (2623 +/- 728 pg/ml vs 79.3 +/- 34.5 pg/ml, respectively) (p < 0.001). The level of production of IL-10 in SLE was unrelated to either clinical or biological markers of disease activity. Among PBMC, monocytes and B lymphocytes both contributed to IL-10 production, whereas T cells did not. IL-10 overproduction in SLE suggests that this Th2-type interleukin plays a role in the production of autoantibodies through pathways involving both paracrine production by monocytes and autocrine IL-10 production by autoreactive B cells.

Pretreatment expression of the perforin gene by circulating CD8(+) T lymphocytes predicts biochemical response to interferon-alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

It would be of great value to be able to predict, before the initiation of treatment, which patients with hepatitis C virus-induced chronic hepatitis will be cured by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Competitive RT-PCR was used to evaluate spontaneous expression of the perforin gene, a marker of cytotoxic cell activation, by circulating mononuclear cells in 17 patients undergoing IFN-alpha treatment. IFN-alpha increased perforin gene expression (p < 0.003), but this was not correlated with outcome. In contrast, pretreatment perforin gene expression levels were higher in the 8 patients with a sustained biochemical response after treatment than in the 9 non-responsive patients (p = 0.01). This factor predicted favorable clinical outcome with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 89%. Thus, pretreatment immunological status has a major influence on the ability of IFN-alpha to cure chronic hepatitis C, and the evaluation of perforin gene expression may help to select patients that will benefit from IFN-alpha treatment.

Leukocytes and the kidney contribute to interstitial inflammation in lupus nephritis.

Interstitial leucocyte infiltration, a prominent feature of lupus nephritis, predicts deterioration of renal function. We used two models of lupus nephritis in mice, one with chronic spontaneous disease and the other with acute interferon-alpha (IFN alpha)-mediated disease. The latter is characterized by the virtual absence of interstitial infiltration. In vivo migration assays showed that splenic leukocytes from spontaneously nephritic mice tended to migrate into non-inflamed syngeneic kidneys. This was enhanced if the recipient kidneys were already inflamed. Kidneys from both chronically and acutely nephritic mice showed similar ability to recruit splenic leukocytes from chronically diseased mice. Leukocytes from acutely diseased mice, however, failed to migrate into chronically inflamed kidney. Compared with those with chronic nephritis, the kidneys of acute nephritic mice expressed less of the inflammatory chemokine CXCL13/BLC. Moreover, leukocytes from acute nephritic mice displayed impaired migration, in vitro, to T-cell chemokine attractants. This study links leukocyte infiltration to both kidney chemokine expression, and leukocyte chemotaxis to kidney-expressed chemokines.

Dendritic cell recruitment in lesions of human and experimental pulmonary hypertension.

In the present study, the hypothesis that dendritic cells (DCs), key players in immunity and tolerance, might be involved in the immunopathology of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) was tested. The phenotype and localisation of DCs were characterised by immunohistochemistry and double-labelling immunofluorescence in lung samples from controls, human IPAH patients and an experimental pulmonary hypertension model (monocrotaline-exposed rats). As compared with controls, morphometric analysis demonstrated increased numbers of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-positive cells in muscular pulmonary arteries in IPAH and OX-62-positive DCs in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. In human samples, the mean+/-SEM number of DC-SIGN-positive cells.artery(-1) of 100-300 microm diameter was 1.4+/-0.4 in controls versus 26.4+/-2.7 in IPAH. In rats, the number of OX-62-positive cells.artery(-1) of 50-150 microm diameter was 0.5+/-0.2 in controls, and 0.7+/-0.5, 3.1+/-0.5 and 8.4+/-0.6 at day 7, 14 and 28 after monocrotaline exposure, respectively. Human complex lesions of muscular pulmonary arteries showed transmural DC infiltration. Phenotyping revealed an immature DC profile in human and experimental pulmonary hypertension. The results support the concept that immature dendritic cells accumulate in remodelled pulmonary vessels and hence could be involved in the immunopathology of pulmonary hypertension.

Fractalkine-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation in pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is characterised by a progressive increase in pulmonary arterial resistance due to endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation resulting in chronic obstruction of small pulmonary arteries. There is evidence that inflammatory mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of human and experimental pulmonary hypertension. The aim of the study was to address the role of fractalkine (CX3CL1) in the inflammatory responses and pulmonary vascular remodelling of a monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension model. The expression of CX3CL1 and its receptor CX3CR1 was studied in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension by means of immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR on laser-captured microdissected pulmonary arteries. It was demonstrated that CX3CL1 was expressed by inflammatory cells surrounding pulmonary arterial lesions and that smooth muscle cells from these vessels had increased CX3CR1 expression. It was then shown that cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells expressed CX3CR1 and that CX3CL1 induced proliferation but not migration of these cells. In conclusion, the current authors proposed that fractalkine may act as a growth factor for pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Chemokines may thus play a role in pulmonary artery remodelling.

Dexamethasone and IL-10 stimulate glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper synthesis by human mast cells.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids (GCs) decrease tissue mast cell (MC) number and prevent their activation via their high-affinity IgE receptor. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) is one of the GC-induced genes, which inhibits the functions of the transcriptional activators AP-1 and NF-kappaB. GILZ appears to be a critical actor in the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of GCs in human T lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. AIMS OF THE STUDY: We investigated whether GILZ was produced by human MCs and whether GILZ synthesis was stimulated by GCs. We also investigated whether GILZ production was modulated by (i) IL-10, because of its common immunosuppressive properties with GCs, (ii) histamine because of its pro-inflammatory properties and (iii) IL-4 and IL-5 because of their ability to favour MC survival and proliferation with SCF. METHODS: The human MC lines HMC-1 5C6 and LAD-2, and cord blood-derived MCs (CB-MCs) were cultured alone or in the presence of GCs, IL-10, histamine, IL-4 or IL-5. The expression of GILZ was evaluated by using RT-PCR, Western blotting or immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: We found that human MC lines and CB-MCs constitutively produce GILZ. We also show that GCs and IL-10 stimulate GILZ production by human MCs. Our present results indicate that histamine, IL-4 and IL-5 alone or in combination with SCF do not downregulate GILZ production by MCs. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that GCs and IL-10 stimulate GILZ production by human MCs. As GILZ mediates anti-inflammatory effects of GCs in immune cells, we speculate that GILZ could account for the deactivation of MCs by GCs and IL-10.

Macrophage and granulosa interleukin-1 beta mRNA in human ovulatory follicles.

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) may be active in the ovary at ovulation and may be produced by immune and non-immune cells. This study evaluates the production of IL-1 beta by granulosa cells and macrophages from the human ovulatory follicle. The concentrations of IL-1 beta and IL-1 beta mRNA were measured in follicular aspirates taken from patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization and in cultures of cells from aspirates. Macrophages were detected by immunocytochemistry and by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The macrophages were removed from granulosa cell preparations immediately or after the cells have been cultured for 24 h. IL-1 beta was detected by radioimmunoassay and transcripts were detected by RT-PCR and by in-situ hybridization on cytospun preparations using a [35S]IL-1 beta riboprobe. IL-1 beta and IL-1 beta mRNA were found in follicular aspirates, in granulosa luteal cell preparations containing macrophages and in highly purified granulosa cell preparations after removal of macrophages by all the methods used. Both macrophages and granulosa cells contained high concentrations of IL-1 beta transcripts. Moreover, the number of IL-1 beta reactive cells in granulosa cell preparations cultured for 24 h with 10-15% macrophages before removal was twice that of granulosa cells cultured without macrophages. Thus, both granulosa cells and macrophages are actively involved in the ovarian production of IL-1 beta at ovulation and the ability of granulosa cells to produce IL-1 beta may require ovarian macrophages.

Effects of varying doses of HCG on the evolution of preovulatory rabbit follicles and oocytes.

To determine the effects of insufficient or excessive doses of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) on ovulation, varying single doses from 5 to 100 IU were administered to 40 does in oestrus. A total of 371 preovulatory follicles and oocytes were observed. Low doses of HCG (5-10) started resumption of meiosis, but no ovulation occurred. Higher doses progressively induced nuclear maturation (prometaphase, metaphase I, metaphase II). Simultaneously increasing doses initiated ovulation of some of the follicles, then of most of the follicles. Unruptured follicles, mostly with oocytes in metaphase II were frequent and depending on the dose, these were preovulatory, haemorrhagic or luteinized. The administration of different doses demonstrated the possible dissociation of several mechanisms leading to ovulation. The induction of nuclear maturation requires lower doses of HCG than luteinization. Follicular rupture requires even higher doses. Premature luteinization induces intrafollicular ovum retention without (LUF syndrome) or with follicular rupture. These mechanisms of ovulation explain the effects of blunted luteinizing hormone surges or inadequate HCG administration.

Early cytokine and chemokine gene expression in lymph nodes of macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus is predictive of disease outcome and vaccine efficacy.

Competitive PCR was used to evaluate the expression of cytokine, granzyme B, and chemokine genes in lymph nodes of macaques recently infected with the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) pathogenic molecular clone SIVmac239 (n = 16), the nonpathogenic vaccine strain SIVmac239 delta nef (n = 8), and the nonpathogenic molecular clone SIVmac1A11 (n = 8). For both SIVmac239 and its nef-deleted derivative, strong expression was observed as early as 7 days postinfection for interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, gamma interferon, and IL-13. The levels of gene induction were equally intense for both viruses despite a lower viral load for SIVmac239 deltanef compared with that for SIVmac239. However, the nature of the cytokine network activation varied with the viral inocula. Primary infection with SIVmac239 was characterized by a higher level of IL-4, IL-10, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, MCP-1, and RANTES gene expression and a lower level of IL-12 and granzyme B gene expression compared with infection with SIVmac239 delta nef. Thus, infection with nef-deleted SIV was associated with a preferential Th1 versus Th2 pattern of cytokine production. Infection with SIVmac1A11 was characterized by a delayed immune response for all markers tested. The unique patterns of cytokine and chemokine gene expression in lymph nodes correlated nicely with the pathogenic potential of the SIV strains used as well as with differences in their ability to serve as protective vaccines.

Acute activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes in interleukin-2-treated HIV-infected patients. ANRS-048 IL-2 Study Group. Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA.

CD8+ T lymphocytes play a key role in the control of HIV infection, through both cytotoxic and noncytotoxic mechanisms. To study in vivo effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment on this cell compartment, the level of activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes was evaluated before and just after 5-day administration of IL-2 in 16 HIV-infected patients. The serum level of soluble CD25 and of soluble CD8 significantly increased following IL-2 administration. The number of mRNA molecules coding for perforin and granzyme B, two enzymes that are contained in granules of cytotoxic cells, also significantly increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in purified CD8+ cells (p < .001). Variations of plasma HIV viremia and perforin gene expression following IL-2 administration were inversely correlated (p = .023), suggesting that IL-2-induced activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes contributes to limit HIV replication in vivo. In contrast to perforin and granzyme B gene expression, IL-2 administration did not increase the expression of macrophage inhibitory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), MIP-1beta, and regulated-on-activation normal T-expressed and secreted (RANTES) genes. These findings indicate that CD8+ T lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients are acutely activated by IL-2 treatment, which may improve long-term control of HIV infection.

Deregulation of the expression of the fractalkine/fractalkine receptor complex in HIV-1-infected patients.

Fractalkine is the only member of the CX3C chemokine family. Polymorphism of the fractalkine receptor gene may influence the prognosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but the nature of the cells expressing fractalkine or its receptor in HIV-infected patients remains unknown. We show that, in contrast to HIV-uninfected individuals, a large number of cells expressed fractalkine in T-cell zones of lymph nodes from HIV-infected patients. CD83(+) mature and CD123(+) plasmacytoid dendritic cells as well as plasma cells are involved in this increased expression of fractalkine. Increased numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and plasma cells were present in T-cell zones of HIV-infected patients. CD83(+) dendritic cells were present in similar number in HIV-infected patients and controls, but an increased fraction of these cells produced fractalkine in HIV-infected patients. Many plasma cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue from HIV-infected patients also produced fractalkine, whereas few cells produced fractalkine in the gut of controls. The fraction of CD45RO(+) and CD45RO(-) T helper (Th) cells expressing the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 was higher in HIV-infected patients than in healthy individuals, and these cells were abnormally sensitive to fractalkine stimulation. This increased response correlated with HIV viremia, and it returned to normal levels in patients successfully treated with antiretroviral drugs. The increased expression of the fractalkine/fractalkine receptor complex associated with HIV infection may affect adhesion and migration of Th lymphocytes and their interaction with dendritic cells. Thus, it may influence the equilibrium between depletion and renewal of the Th lymphocyte compartment.