Bleomycin binding sites on alveolar macrophages.

Previous work has demonstrated that bleomycin can directly stimulate alveolar macrophage secretion of fibroblast growth factors and monocyte chemotactic factors. In this study, rat alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage were examined for the presence of bleomycin binding sites, which might mediate this response. The results indicated that alveolar macrophages have specific, saturable, and reversible binding sites. Both high- and low-affinity binding sites were found; each macrophage possessed 6.7 x 10(4) high-affinity sites, with a Kd of 528 nM, and 2.2 x 10(6) low-affinity sites, with a Kd of 65 microM. The Kd of the high-affinity sites corresponds closely to the ED50 obtained from dose-response curves of the bleomycin-stimulated secretion of both fibroblast growth and monocyte chemotactic factors, suggesting that bleomycin stimulation of alveolar macrophage function responses may be mediated by bleomycin interaction with these sites.

A simple method for the purification of human peripheral blood monocytes. A substitute for Sepracell-MN.

Sepracell-MN has provided a simple, rapid means of isolating peripheral blood monocytes. However this product is no longer available. Consequentially we have developed a Percoll gradient which matches Sepracell-MN in simplicity and yield of monocytes. Using this Percoll gradient, an average of 7 x 10(6) monocytes with a purity of 83% were obtained from 30-40 ml of blood. These monocytes were at least 97% viable and responded to chemotactic stimuli in comparable numbers to those prepared using Sepracell-MN.

Anti-tumor activities of chondroitinase AC and chondroitinase B: inhibition of angiogenesis, proliferation and invasion.

In the current study, two specific glycosaminoglycan lyases, chondroitinase AC and chondroitinase B, were utilized to examine the roles of chondroitin sulfates and dermatan sulfate in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Melanoma cells (SK-MEL) or endothelial cells were treated with either medium or chondroitinase enzyme. Chondroitinase AC inhibited melanoma invasion and proliferation as well as endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis. Apoptosis of melanoma and endothelial cells, as measured by the activity of caspase-3, was also increased by chondroitinase AC, but not by chondroitinase B. Chondroitinase B inhibited endothelial and melanoma proliferation and invasion, but to a lesser extent than chondroitinase AC. Neither chondroitinase had a detectable effect on gelatinase secretion by melanoma cells. These results indicate that both chondroitin and dermatan sulfates regulate many cellular activities related to metastasis.

Inhibition of human dermal fibroblast proliferation by removal of dermatan sulfate.

In the current study, a glycosaminoglycan lyase, chondroitinase B, was used to study the role of dermatan sulfate proteoglycans on human dermal fibroblast proliferation. Pretreatment with chondroitinase B significantly decreased fibroblast proliferative responses to serum (20% to 55%). In contrast, heparinase III and chondroitinase AC were less effective in inhibiting fibroblast proliferation to serum. Analysis of glycosaminoglycans on chondroitinase B-treated fibroblasts confirmed that dermatan sulfate was removed from fibroblasts by this enzyme. Chondroitinase B treatment also decreased proliferation to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by 20% and reduced receptor binding by 25%. Heparinase III inhibited bFGF binding by 73%, but decreased proliferation to bFGF by only 21%. Chondroitinase AC had no effect on bFGF proliferation or binding. These data suggest that dermatan sulfate proteoglycans play a significant role in the control of human dermal fibroblast proliferation.

Continuous secretion of monocyte chemotactic factors and fibroblast growth factors by alveolar macrophages following a single exposure to bleomycin in vitro.

It has been shown in previous studies that alveolar macrophages incubated with bleomycin in vitro for 2 to 18 hours secrete monocyte chemotactic factors and fibroblast growth factors (MDGF). The purpose of the current experiments was to determine if alveolar macrophages similarly stimulated with bleomycin would continue to secrete these factors once the stimulus was removed. Alveolar macrophages from normal rats were exposed to bleomycin for 18 hours after which bleomycin was removed and macrophages maintained in culture for 35 days. Conditioned medium (CM) was collected and assayed at weekly intervals. In comparison with nonstimulated controls, bleomycin-stimulated macrophages secreted greater amounts of both monocyte chemotactic factors and MDGF for 35 days after exposure to bleomycin; with a significant difference noted between bleomycin and control macrophages for the first 21 days (P less than 0.02). In agreement with past work, the chemotactic activity in bleomycin-CM was due to fibronectin, as evidenced by the almost complete inhibition of activity by anti-fibronectin antibodies. The time course of secretion of chemotactic and growth factors after a single exposure to bleomycin in vitro was similar to that induced by in vivo exposure of macrophages to this drug. The data suggest that a similar direct activation of macrophages by bleomycin may promote the long-term production of these factors in vivo, resulting in continued monocyte recruitment and promotion of fibroblast proliferation in fibrotic lungs.

Differential effects of two fluorescent probes on macrophage migration as assessed by manual and automated methods.

Fluorescent probes have been utilized to label leukocytes for both in vivo and in vitro studies of cell migration; however, the effects of such probes on migration have not been determined. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two commonly used fluorescent probes on leukocyte chemotaxis. J774 macrophages were labeled with either calcein-acetoxymethyl ester (calcein-AM) or 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein, acetomethyl ester (BCECF-AM), then assayed for their ability to migrate to zymosan-activated serum (ZAS). Cell migration was quantified by two methods: visual counting of cells and measuring cell fluorescence. Using the cell counts, comparison of unlabeled and fluorescently labeled macrophages demonstrated that BCECF-AM decreased the number of cells responding to ZAS, while calcein-AM had essentially no effect. Neither probe significantly affected the number of cells migrating to medium alone. The inhibitory effects of BCECF-AM on cell migration increased with probe concentration (0.1-1.0 microM) and cell fluorescence. Cell viability was unaffected by either probe. In contrast to the results obtained by visual counting, measuring fluorescence of migrated cells did not reveal a significant difference between the chemotactic response of macrophages labeled with BCECF-AM and those labeled with calcein-AM. These experiments indicated that fluorescent probes can affect the chemotactic response and that inhibitory activity of these probes may not be detected when chemotaxis is quantified solely by automated methods.

Changes in the expression of MCP-1 receptors on monocytic THP-1 cells following differentiation to macrophages with phorbol myristate acetate.

Human monocytic THP-1 cells were differentiated to macrophages by incubation with 1.0 microM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 1 to 18 h; cells were then assayed for the ability to migrate to MCP-1. In comparison to undifferentiated monocytes, the chemotactic response of PMA-differentiated cells to MCP-1 decreased with treatment time. This loss of the chemotactic response to MCP-1 correlated with increased in cellular enzymes characteristic of differentiated macrophages. Receptors binding assays demonstrated a parallel decrease in specific binding of MCP-1 with increased incubation with PMA. Undifferentiated monocytes had 1175 +/- 387 receptors per cell with a Kd of 1.53 +/- 0.35 nM. Cells differentiated to macrophages with PMA rapidly lost the ability to bind MCP-1, with a significant decrease apparent following 3 h incubation with PMA. The reduction in specific binding of MCP-1 by M phi-THP-1 cells was due to a decrease in both receptor number and affinity; receptor number was reduced to 481 +/- 106 receptors/cells with a Kd of 3.16 +/- 0.7 nM on cells treated for 3 h with PMA. The demonstrated changes in receptor affinity and expression with differentiation may be a mechanism of controlling macrophage responsiveness to chemokines in inflammatory foci.

Monocyte chemoattractants in pigeon aortic atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis occurs in the aorta of White Carneau pigeons proximal to the celiac bifurcation, where monocyte adhesion and migration into lesions have been demonstrated. This study documents chemoattractants that might be responsible for monocyte adherence and migration. Ten-week-old pigeons were fed either a cholesterol-free (normal) diet or a 0.4% cholesterol diet for 12 or 24 weeks. Birds with a normal diet did not have lesions in the lesion-prone area of the aorta, whereas birds fed a cholesterol-containing diet had simple intimal foam-cell lesions (12 weeks) or foam-cell lesions complicated with extracellular lipid and fibrillar matrix material (24 weeks). Plasma cholesterol levels in birds on the cholesterol-containing diet were 780-1080 mg/dl versus 140-240 mg/dl in the normal diet control group(s) at necropsy. To assay for chemoattractants, tissue was collected from lesion-prone and nonsusceptible (nonlesion) areas of the aortas. Samples from the two types of regions were separately pooled, then homogenized and tested for chemoattractant activity for pigeon peripheral blood monocytes. Monocyte chemoattractants were demonstrated in lesion area homogenates from pigeons fed cholesterol for 12 or 24 weeks and also in analogous homogenates from pigeons fed a normal diet. Monocyte migration to lesion-prone homogenates was significantly greater than that to nonlesion area homogenates. The chemoattractants in homogenates were monocyte-specific. The chemoattractant activity in the birds fed cholesterol for 12 weeks was confined to the aqueous phase of lipid extracts. This activity was abolished by pronase but unaffected by heat (100 C, 30 minutes), which indicated that the chemoattractant(s) in these homogenates was heat-stable protein(s). Activity in lipid extracts of lesion area homogenates from birds fed a cholesterol-containing diet for 24 weeks was found in both the aqueous and organic phases, suggesting that these samples contained lipid as well as proteinaceous chemoattractants.

The effects of bleomycin on alveolar macrophage growth factor secretion.

Previous work in this laboratory has demonstrated increased secretion of fibroblast growth factor (MDGF) activity by alveolar macrophages obtained from mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanism by which bleomycin promotes this increase in MDGF secretion is not clear, however. The purpose of this study was to determine the direct effects of bleomycin on alveolar macrophages. Normal rat alveolar macrophages obtained by lavage were cultured in the presence or absence of bleomycin; conditioned media from these cultures were dialyzed to remove bleomycin and then assayed in vitro for MDGF activity. Alveolar macrophages incubated with 0.01 microgram to 1 microgram/ml bleomycin for 18 hours secreted significantly more MDGF than macrophages incubated without bleomycin. Viability of macrophages as determined by exclusion of trypan blue and release of LDH was unaffected by any dose tested. Maximal MDGF production was seen with bleomycin doses of greater than or equal to 0.1 microgram/ml. When alveolar macrophages were incubated with 0.1 microgram/ml bleomycin for 0.5-18 hours, MDGF activity was detected as early as 1 hour, with peak responses found at 4-8 hours. Macrophages stimulated with bleomycin continued to produce significant amounts of MDGF even after bleomycin was removed and replaced with fresh (bleomycin-free) media. MDGF secretion by bleomycin-stimulated alveolar macrophages was inhibited by cycloheximide, and the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors NDGA (nordihydroguairetic acid) and BW755c, indicating not only a requirement for protein synthesis but also for metabolites of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism for full expression of activity(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alveolar macrophage secretion of a 92-kDa gelatinase in response to bleomycin.

These experiments were conducted to study the possible involvement of macrophage-derived gelatinases in the bleomycin-induced model of pulmonary fibrosis. Normal rat alveolar macrophages and the rat alveolar macrophage cell line NR8383 were stimulated in vitro with 0-1.0 microgram/ml bleomycin for 18 h. Gelatinase activity in the medium was assayed on zymograms in which gelatin or collagen were used as substrates. Macrophages stimulated with 0.01-1.0 microgram/ml of bleomycin secreted significantly more of a 92-kDa gelatinase than did unstimulated controls. Addition of cycloheximide during stimulation decreased gelatinase activity by 86 +/- 4%, and activity was completely inhibited by the addition of EDTA to zymograms. This gelatinase degraded denatured type I collagen and native type IV collagen. Western blot analysis using a monoclonal mouse anti-rat antibody demonstrated that this enzyme was the same as a metalloproteinase secreted by rat mammary carcinoma cells. Gelatinase secreted by macrophages in fibrotic lungs may enhance macrophage migration through the lung and may also be active in the remodeling process.

Expression and secretion of transforming growth factor-beta by bleomycin-stimulated rat alveolar macrophages.

Bleomycin-induced fibrosis in rodents has been used extensively as a model of human pulmonary fibrosis. The influx of monocytes observed during the early stages of fibrosis is at least partially regulated by the elaboration of chemotactic factors in the lung. Exposure of alveolar macrophages (AM phi) to bleomycin either in vivo or in vitro stimulated secretion of monocyte chemotactic activity (MCA). This MCA has been previously characterized as being primarily due to fibronectin fragments. The present experiments revealed that bleomycin also induced AM phi to secrete a second chemotactic factor, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). However, the TGF-beta secreted by macrophages was in latent form, since no TGF-beta activity was detected unless AM phi conditioned medium (CM) was acid-activated. After acidification, chemotactic activity in CM from AM phi stimulated with bleomycin in vitro was increased by 3.6, whereas activity in AM phi CM from fibrotic rats increased by 2 and that of a bleomycin-stimulated AM phi cell line increased by 1.6. This acid-activatable chemotactic activity was inhibited by antibody to TGF-beta. Bleomycin-stimulated AM phi s secreted significantly more TGF-beta than did unstimulated controls. Further, in vitro exposure of AM phi to bleomycin induced TGF-beta mRNA expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with maximal mRNA being detected following a 16-h incubation with 1 microgram/ml bleomycin.

Costimulation of fibroblast collagen and transforming growth factor beta1 gene expression by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 via specific receptors.

Recent studies indicate potential roles of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in recruitment of monocytes to sites of inflammation. However, their increased expression does not always correlate with monocyte influx, suggesting other possible biological activities for this member of the C-C chemokine family. In view of its potential role in regulating extracellular matrix expression in fibrotic disorders, the effects of MCP-1 on lung fibroblast collagen expression were evaluated. Isolated rat lung fibroblasts were treated with increasing doses of MCP-1 for variable periods of time and examined for effects on collagen synthesis and expression of procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression. The results show that MCP-1 was able to stimulate collagen expression in these cells in a dose-dependent manner but required over 24 h for significant elevation to occur. In view of this delayed time course, the possibility of mediation via endogenous transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) was tested by the ability of anti-TGFbeta antibody to inhibit this MCP-1 stimulation of collagen expression. Significant but incomplete inhibition by this antibody was observed. Pretreatment of the cells with antisense but not by sense or missense TGFbeta1 oligodeoxyribonucleotides caused essentially complete inhibition of this MCP-1 stimulatory effect. Furthermore, MCP-1 treatment was found to also stimulate TGFbeta secretion and mRNA expression, which was also abolished by pretreatment with antisense TGFbeta1 oligodeoxyribonucleotides. The kinetics of TGFbeta expression indicates that significant increase preceded that for collagen expression. Binding studies using 125I-labeled MCP-1 indicated the presence of specific and saturable binding sites with a dissociation constant consistent with the dose response curves for stimulation of fibroblast collagen synthesis and TGFbeta activity by MCP-1. These results taken together suggest that MCP-1 stimulates fibroblast collagen expression via specific receptors and endogenous up-regulation of TGFbeta expression. The latter then results in autocrine and/or juxtacrine stimulation of collagen gene expression.

Secretion of monocyte chemotactic activity by alveolar macrophages.

The purpose of this study was to determine if alveolar macrophages (AMs) are a source of monocyte chemoattractants and the role bleomycin interaction with AMs may play in the recruitment of monocytes to the lung in a rodent model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. AMs isolated from rats with bleomycin-induced fibrosis secreted significantly greater amounts of monocyte chemoattractants than those isolated from normal rats. When AMs from normal rats were stimulated with bleomycin in vitro, monocyte chemotactic activity was secreted into the medium. Chemotactic activity secretion by AM stimulated with 0.01 to 0.1 micrograms/ml bleomycin was significantly higher than that of cells incubated in medium alone. This activity was truly chemotactic for monocytes, but caused only minimal migration of normal AMs. Bleomycin itself at concentrations of 1 pg/ml to 10 micrograms/ml had no monocyte chemoattractant activity. Characterization of the chemotactic activity in conditioned media (CM) from bleomycin-stimulated AM demonstrated that the major portion of the activity bound to gelatin, was heterogeneous, with estimated molecular weights of 20 to 60 kd, and was inactivated by specific antifibronectin antibody. These findings suggest that fibronectin fragments are primarily responsible for the monocyte chemotactic activity secreted by AMs. Through increased secretion of such chemotactic substances, AMs could play a key role in the recruitment of peripheral blood monocytes into the lung in inflammatory lung disease and fibrosis.

Thrombin-mediated release of lipids from pulmonary artery endothelial cells promotes neutrophil adherence.

We previously have described the ability of alpha-thrombin (the native procoagulant enzyme) to stimulate adherence of neutrophils to pulmonary artery endothelial cells. In the present study, we observed that conditioned medium factors released by alpha-thrombin (10(-8) M) treatment of cultured ovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells increased neutrophil adherence to naive pulmonary artery endothelial monolayers. This effect was independent of any residual alpha-thrombin present in the medium. In contrast to thrombin-induced neutrophil adherence, adherence of neutrophils mediated by the conditioned medium was not inhibited by the anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody 60.3, indicating a CD18-independent mechanism. The factors generated by the action of alpha-thrombin on endothelial cells also resulted in concentration-dependent neutrophil migration. The neutrophil adherence- and migration-promoting activities were isolated in the ether portion after extraction of the conditioned medium. Chromatographic analysis showed that the active components (which resolved into two peaks by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography) were relatively hydrophilic low molecular weight lipids without phosphorus or amino acids. Reconstitution of these peaks indicated that they mediated neutrophil adhesion and migration responses. The results indicate that lipid factors promoting neutrophil adhesion and migration are generated by the action of thrombin on pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The generation of these factors may contribute to the amplification of the lung inflammatory response after pulmonary intravascular coagulation induced by thrombin.