The role of leukemia inhibitory factor in tubal ectopic pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Ectopic pregnancy is unique to humans and a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. The etiology remains unknown however factors regulating embryo implantation likely contribute. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has roles in extravillous trophoblast adhesion and invasion and is present in ectopic implantation sites. We hypothesised that LIF facilitates blastocyst adhesion/invasion in the Fallopian tube, contributing to ectopic pregnancy. METHODS: We immunolocalised LIF receptor (R) in tubal ectopic pregnancy (N = 5). We used an oviduct cell line (OE-E6/E7) to model Fallopian tube epithelial cells and a trophoblast spheroid co-culture model (HTR-8/SVneo cell line formed spheroids) to model blastocyst attachment to the Fallopian tube. We examined LIF signaling pathways in OE-E6/E7 cells by Western blot. The effect of LIF and LIF inhibition (using a novel LIF inhibitor, PEGLA) on first-trimester placental outgrowth was determined. RESULTS: LIFR localised to villous and extravillous trophoblast and Fallopian tube epithelium in ectopic pregnancy. LIF activated STAT3 but not the ERK pathway in OE-E6/E7 cells. LIF stimulated HTR-8/SVneo spheroid adhesion to OE-E6/E7 cells which was significantly reduced after PEGLA treatment. LIF promoted placental explants outgrowth, while co-treatment with PEGLA blocked outgrowth. DISCUSSION: Our data suggests LIF facilitates the development of ectopic pregnancy by stimulating blastocyst adhesion and trophoblast outgrowth from placental explants. Ectopic pregnancy is usually diagnosed after 6 weeks of pregnancy, therefore PEGLA may be useful in targeting trophoblast growth/invasion. CONCLUSION: LIF may contribute to the development of ectopic pregnancies and that pharmacologically targeting LIF-mediated trophoblast outgrowth may be useful as a treatment for ectopic pregnancy.

Functional analysis of Asb-1 using genetic modification in mice.

The Asbs are a family of ankyrin repeat proteins that, along with four other protein families, contain a C-terminal SOCS box motif, which was first identified in the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins. While it is clear that the SOCS proteins are involved in the negative regulation of cytokine signaling, the biological roles of the other SOCS box-containing families are unknown. We have investigated Asb-1 function by generating mice that lack this protein, as well as mice that overexpress full-length or truncated Asb-1 in a wide range of tissues. Although Asb-1 is expressed in multiple organs, including the hematopoietic compartment in wild-type mice, Asb-1(-/-) mice develop normally and exhibit no anomalies of mature blood cells or their progenitors. While most organs in these mice appear normal, the testes of Asb-1(-/-) mice display a diminution of spermatogenesis with less complete filling of seminiferous tubules. In contrast, the widespread overexpression of Asb-1 in the mouse has no apparent deleterious effects.

Placental defects and embryonic lethality in mice lacking suppressor of cytokine signaling 3.

Mice lacking suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) exhibited embryonic lethality with death occurring between days 11 and 13 of gestation. At this stage, SOCS3(-/-) embryos were slightly smaller than wild type but appeared otherwise normal, and histological analysis failed to detect any anatomical abnormalities responsible for the lethal phenotype. Rather, in all SOCS3(-/-) embryos examined, defects were evident in placental development that would account for their developmental arrest and death. The placental spongiotrophoblast layer was significantly reduced and accompanied by increased numbers of giant trophoblast cells. Delayed branching of the chorioallantois was evident, and, although embryonic blood vessels were present in the labyrinthine layer of SOCS3(-/-) placentas, the network of embryonic vessels and maternal sinuses was poorly developed. Yolk sac erythropoiesis was normal, and, although the SOCS3(-/-) fetal liver was small at day 12.5 of gestation (E12.5), normal frequencies of erythroblasts and hematopoietic progenitor cells, including blast forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) and, colony forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) were present at both E11.5 and E12.5. Colony formation for both BFU-E and CFU-E from SOCS3(-/-) mice displayed wild-type quantitative responsiveness to erythropoietin (EPO), in the presence or absence of IL-3 or stem cell factor (SCF). These data suggest that SOCS3 is required for placental development but dispensable for normal hematopoiesis in the mouse embryo.

Negative regulators of cytokine signaling.

The interaction of a cytokine with its specific cell surface receptor triggers the activation of intracellular signaling pathways that ultimately program the cellular response. Although the specific components and actions of the pathways driving these responses, such as the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway, are relatively well defined, it is becoming clear that important mechanisms exist to restrain these signaling cascades. This review discusses the key biochemical actions and biological roles of the phosphatase SHP-1, the protein inhibitors of activated STATs (PIAS) and the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) protein family in the negative regulation of cytokine signal transduction.

Reassessment of interactions between hematopoietic receptors using common beta-chain and interleukin-3-specific receptor beta-chain-null cells: no evidence of functional interactions with receptors for erythropoietin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, or stem cell factor.

Mice lacking both the gene encoding the shared receptor for granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and IL-5 common beta-chain (B(c)) and the gene for the IL-3 specific receptor (BIL3) were generated. This was achieved by targeting the B(c) locus in embryonic stem cells that were heterozygous for a null mutation of BIL3. Cells from mice generated with the doubly targeted embryonic stem cells were unresponsive to all 3 cytokines. Considerable previous data suggested a role for common beta-chain (beta(c)) in modulating signaling of cytokines including erythropoietin (EPO), G-CSF, and stem cell factor (SCF). However, bone marrow cells from mice lacking beta(c) and beta(IL3) showed normal responsiveness to these cytokines. Thus, there was no evidence for a biologically significant interaction between signaling via beta(c) or beta(IL3) and signaling by EPO, G-CSF, or SCF. Previously documented biochemical phenomena, including receptor transmodulation, receptor transphosphorylation, and even direct physical interaction, involving the beta(c)/beta IL-3 receptor systems do not reflect genuine interactions of physiological significance in primary hematopoietic cells. This study provided results that challenge conclusions previously established using a variety of biochemical assays. (Blood. 2000;96:1588-1590)

Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 preferentially binds to the SHP-2-binding site on the shared cytokine receptor subunit gp130.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) is one member of a family of intracellular inhibitors of signaling pathways initiated by cytokines that use, among others, the common receptor subunit gp130. The SH2 domain of SOCS-3 has been shown to be essential for this inhibitory activity, and we have used a quantitative binding analysis of SOCS-3 to synthetic phosphopeptides to map the potential sites of interaction of SOCS-3 with different components of the gp130 signaling pathway. The only high-affinity ligand found corresponded to the region of gp130 centered around phosphotyrosine-757 (pY757), previously shown to be a docking site for the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2. By contrast, phosphopeptides corresponding to other regions within gp130, Janus kinase, or signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins bound to SOCS-3 with weak or undetectable affinity. The significance of pY757 in gp130 as a biologically relevant SOCS-3 docking site was investigated by using transfected 293T fibroblasts. Although SOCS-3 inhibited signaling in cells transfected with a chimeric receptor containing the wild-type gp130 intracellular domain, inhibition was considerably impaired for a receptor carrying a Y-->F point mutation at residue 757. Taken together, these data suggest that the mechanism by which SOCS-3 inhibits the gp130 signaling pathway depends on recruitment to the phosphorylated gp130 receptor, and that some of the negative regulatory roles previously attributed to the phosphatase SHP-2 might in fact be caused by the action of SOCS-3.

Backbone dynamics measurements on leukemia inhibitory factor, a rigid four-helical bundle cytokine.

The backbone dynamics of the four-helical bundle cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) have been investigated using 15N NMR relaxation and amide proton exchange measurements on a murine-human chimera, MH35-LIF. For rapid backbone motions (on a time scale of 10 ps to 100 ns), as probed by 15N relaxation measurements, the dynamics parameters were calculated using the model-free formalism incorporating the model selection approach. The principal components of the inertia tensor of MH35-LIF, as calculated from its NMR structure, were 1:0.98:0.38. The global rotational motion of the molecule was, therefore, assumed to be axially symmetric in the analysis of its relaxation data. This yielded a diffusion anisotropy D(parallel)/D(perpendicular) of 1.31 and an effective correlation time (4D(perpendicular) + 2D(parallel))(-1) of 8.9 ns. The average values of the order parameters (S2) for the four helices, the long interhelical loops, and the N-terminus were 0.91, 0.84, and 0.65, respectively, indicating that LIF is fairly rigid in solution, except at the N-terminus. The S2 values for the long interhelical loops of MH35-LIF were higher than those of their counterparts in short-chain members of the four-helical bundle cytokine family. Residues involved in LIF receptor binding showed no consistent pattern of backbone mobilities, with S2 values ranging from 0.71 to 0.95, but residues contributing to receptor binding site III had relatively lower S2 values, implying higher amplitude motions than for the backbone of sites I and II. In the relatively slow motion regime, backbone amide exchange measurements showed that a number of amides from the helical bundle exchanged extremely slowly, persisting for several months in 2H2O at 37 degrees C. Evidence for local unfolding was considered, and correlations among various structure-related parameters and the backbone amide exchange rates were examined. Both sets of data concur in showing that LIF is one of the most rigid four-helical bundle cytokines.

Ligand-specific utilization of the extracellular membrane-proximal region of the gp130-related signalling receptors.

The receptor gp130 is used by the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-type cytokines, which include IL-6 and leukaemia-inhibitory factor (LIF). To investigate the role of the three extracellular membrane-proximal fibronectin-type-III-like (FNIII) modules of gp130 and the related receptor for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSFR) in cytokine signal transduction we have transfected into murine myeloid M1-UR21 cells the chimaera (GR-FNIII)gp130, which contains the membrane-proximal FNIII modules of the G-CSFR on a gp130 backbone, and its complement, the chimaera (gp130-FNIII)GR. Whereas the binding affinities of (125)I-labelled IL-6 to (GR-FNIII)gp130, or of (125)I-Tyr1,3-G-CSF to (gp130-FNIII)GR, were similar to wild-type gp130 and wild-type G-CSFR, respectively, (125)I-LIF failed to bind with high affinity to (GR-FNIII)gp130. In assays measuring differentiation the (gp130-FNIII)GR cells were fully responsive to G-CSF, whereas the (GR-FNIII)gp130 cells responded fully to the agonistic anti-gp130 monoclonal antibody (mAb) B-S12, but not to IL-6 or LIF. Neutralizing mAbs that recognize the membrane-proximal FNIII modules of gp130 or the G-CSFR differentially interfered with signalling by B-S12, LIF and G-CSF. The data suggest that B-S12 and G-CSF induce the correct orientation or conformation for signalling by the wild-type and chimaeric homodimeric receptors, that the membrane-proximal region of gp130 is important for the correct formation of the signalling IL-6-IL-6 receptor-gp130 complex and that this region is also involved in LIF-dependent receptor heterodimerization and signalling.

SOCS1 is a critical inhibitor of interferon gamma signaling and prevents the potentially fatal neonatal actions of this cytokine.

Mice lacking suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) develop a complex fatal neonatal disease. In this study, SOCS1-/- mice were shown to exhibit excessive responses typical of those induced by interferon gamma (IFNgamma), were hyperresponsive to viral infection, and yielded macrophages with an enhanced IFNgamma-dependent capacity to kill L. major parasites. The complex disease in SOCS1-/- mice was prevented by administration of anti-IFNgamma antibodies and did not occur in SOCS1-/- mice also lacking the IFNgamma gene. Although IFNgamma is essential for resistance to a variety of infections, the potential toxic action of IFNgamma, particularly in neonatal mice, appears to require regulation. Our data indicate that SOCS1 is a key modulator of IFNgamma action, allowing the protective effects of this cytokine to occur without the risk of associated pathological responses.

Leukemia inhibitory factor is an autocrine survival factor for Schwann cells.

Schwann cells play a major role in promoting nerve survival and regeneration after injury. Their activities include providing neurotrophic factors and increasing the production of extracellular matrix components and cell surface adhesion molecules to promote axon regeneration. Following nerve transection, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is up-regulated by Schwann cells at the injury site. LIF receptors are also up-regulated at the nerve injury site, but their cellular localization and function have not been fully characterized. We demonstrate that Schwann cells express mRNAs for LIF and the LIF receptor components LIF receptor subunit beta and glycoprotein 130 in vitro. We also show that although LIF is not required for the genesis of Schwann cells, it can potentiate the survival of differentiated Schwann cells in the context of neuregulin support. Not only does exogenous LIF promote survival under these conditions, but addition of the soluble LIF receptor (LIF binding protein) and anti-LIF antibodies significantly reduced cell survival, suggesting that LIF exerts autocrine effects. These results suggest that Schwann cell survival following nerve injury is potentially modulated by LIF.

Aberrant hematopoiesis in mice with inactivation of the gene encoding SOCS-1.

Mice with homozygous inactivation of the gene encoding the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) protein die within 21 days of birth with low body weight, fatty degeneration and necrosis of the liver, infiltration of the lung, pancreas, heart and skin by macrophages and granulocytes and a profound depletion of T- and B-lymphocytes. In the present study, SOCS-1 -/- mice were found to have a moderate neutrophilia, and reduced platelet and hematocrit levels. Replacement of the SOCS-1 gene by a lac-Z reporter gene allowed documentation by FACS sorting that at least a proportion of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells transcribe SOCS-1. Most hematopoietic progenitor cell frequencies were normal in -/- marrow as were the size and cellular content of colonies formed by -/- progenitor cells in response to various stimulating factors. However, there was an increased frequency of macrophage progenitor cells in -/- mice and, abnormally, one quarter of all progenitor cells were located in the liver. Progenitor cells from -/- mice were hyper-responsive to stimulation by GM-CSF but not by M-CSF or Multi-CSF (IL-3). Progenitor cells from -/- mice were also hypersensitive to inhibition by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the degree of inhibition varying markedly with the stimulating factor used. The suppressive effects of IFN-gamma therefore appear to involve interactions with particular growth factor-initiated signals in -/- cells--interactions that are strongly modulated by the action of the SOCS-1 protein.

The conserved SOCS box motif in suppressors of cytokine signaling binds to elongins B and C and may couple bound proteins to proteasomal degradation.

The suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of proteins act as intracellular inhibitors of several cytokine signal transduction pathways. Their expression is induced by cytokine activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway and they act as a negative feedback loop by subsequently inhibiting the JAK/STAT pathway either by direct interaction with activated JAKs or with the receptors. These interactions are mediated at least in part by the SH2 domain of SOCS proteins but these proteins also contain a highly conserved C-terminal homology domain termed the SOCS box. Here we show that the SOCS box mediates interactions with elongins B and C, which in turn may couple SOCS proteins and their substrates to the proteasomal protein degradation pathway. Analogous to the family of F-box-containing proteins, it appears that the SOCS proteins may act as adaptor molecules that target activated cell signaling proteins to the protein degradation pathway.

Expression of BCR - ABL in M1 myeloid leukemia cells induces differentiation without arresting proliferation.

The mechanism leading to the expanding population of maturing myeloid cells which characterises chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remains obscure. Because of its ability to mimic the proliferative and cell survival functions of hematopoietic growth factors, we hypothesized that the oncogene activated in CML, BCR-ABL, might also influence differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of expressing BCR-ABL on the myeloid differentiation of murine M1 leukemic cells, which cease dividing and differentiate into macrophages in the presence of the cytokines leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or interleukin (IL)-6. We found that BCR-ABL induced macrophage differentiation in M1 cells, accompanied by increased expression of macrophage cell surface markers and the acquisition of phagocytic ability. interestingly, clones of M1 cells which expressed BCR-ABL remained in cell cycle and were refractory to the growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by IL-6 or LIF in parental M1 cells. These cells also expressed inappropriately high levels of c-MYC mRNA for their degree of differentiation, which may have been important in maintaining cellular proliferation. These data suggest that BCR-ABL can stimulate both differentiation and proliferation and that these characteristics may contribute to the phenotype observed in CML.

Receptor clearance obscures the magnitude of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor responses in mice to endotoxin or local infections.

Marrow cells from mice lacking high-affinity receptors for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; betac-/- mice) were shown to bind and internalize much less GM-CSF than cells from normal (betac+/+) mice. betac-/- mice were used to determine the effect of negligible receptor-mediated clearance on detectible GM-CSF responses to the intravenous injection of endotoxin or the intraperitoneal injection of casein plus microorganisms. Unlike the minor serum GM-CSF responses to endotoxin seen in betac+/+ mice, serum GM-CSF levels rose 30-fold to 9 ng/mL in betac-/- mice even though loss of GM-CSF in the urine was greater than in betac+/+ mice. Organs from betac-/- and betac+/+ mice had a similar capacity to produce GM-CSF in vitro, as did peritoneal cells from both types of mice when challenged in vitro by casein. However, when casein was injected intraperitoneally, betac-/- mice developed higher and more sustained levels of GM-CSF than did betac+/+ mice. The data indicated that receptor-dependent removal of GM-CSF masks the magnitude of GM-CSF responses to endotoxin and local infections. Because of this phenomenon, serum GM-CSF concentrations can be a misleading index of the occurrence or nonoccurrence of GM-CSF responses to infections.

Mutational analyses of the SOCS proteins suggest a dual domain requirement but distinct mechanisms for inhibition of LIF and IL-6 signal transduction.

SOCS-1 (suppressor of cytokine signaling-1) is a representative of a family of negative regulators of cytokine signaling (SOCS-1 to SOCS-7 and CIS) characterized by a highly conserved C-terminal SOCS box preceded by an SH2 domain. This study comprehensively examined the ability of several SOCS family members to negatively regulate the gp130 signaling pathway. SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 inhibited both interleukin-6 (IL-6)- and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-induced macrophage differentiation of murine monocytic leukemic M1 cells and LIF induction of a Stat3-responsive reporter construct in 293T fibroblasts. Deletion of amino acids 51-78 in the N-terminal region of SOCS-1 prevented inhibition of LIF signaling. The SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 N-terminal regions were functionally interchangeable, but this did not extend to other SOCS family members. Mutation of SH2 domains abrogated the ability of both SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 to inhibit LIF signal transduction. Unlike SOCS-1, SOCS-3 was unable to inhibit JAK kinase activity in vitro, suggesting that SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 act on the JAK-STAT pathway in different ways. Thus, although inhibition of signaling by SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 requires both the SH2 and N-terminal domains, their mechanisms of action appear to be biochemically different.

Anterograde transport of leukemia inhibitory factor within transected sciatic nerves.

Disappointing functional recovery following peripheral nerve repair can be improved by neurotrophic growth factors. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is unique in that it has independent neurotrophic and myotrophic actions. The aim of this study was to explain this finding by establishing the existence of anterograde axonal transport of LIF from the site of nerve division to denervated muscles. Using 125I LIF, administered topically via an entubulation repair of divided rat sciatic nerve, we monitored its subsequent distribution by measuring the radioactivity associated with nerve segments and denervated muscles. We established that LIF preferentially accumulated in denervated muscles, a process we could reduce by 70% after tightly ligating the intervening nerve, confirming the presence of anterograde axonal transport. This was most likely an active mode of transport that ceased approximately 24 h after nerve division, establishing a narrow clinical time frame within which the myotrophic action of LIF could be optimized following nerve repair.

Functional analysis of mature hematopoietic cells from mice lacking the betac chain of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor.

Mice with a null mutation of the betac chain of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and IL-5 receptors (betac-null mice) develop an alveolar proteinosis-like lung disease. The pathogenesis of this disease is uncertain and, although a defect in alveolar macrophage function has been postulated, no previous analysis of mature hematopoietic cells in mice with alveolar proteinosis has been reported. Therefore, we undertook a functional analysis of the mature hematopoietic cell compartment in betac-null mice. In addition, we reexamined the roles of the GM-CSF receptor chain and the betac chain in signaling by GM-CSF. Neutrophils and macrophages from betac-null mice were capable of normal survival and phagocytosis in the absence of stimulus and of similar levels of nitric oxide production in response to interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide. GM-CSF-mediated augmentation of survival, phagocytosis, and hydrogen-ion production were absent in neutrophils from betac-null mice. Interestingly, we were unable to show any ability of the GM-CSF receptor -chain alone to mediate glucose transport in these cells. In keeping with the betac-null mice lung pathology, examination of lavage fluid from the lungs of betac-null mice showed increased cellularity. This was caused by an increase in the number of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages. Large foamy cells in the lavage fluid from betac-null mice were identified as macrophages using immunohistochemistry. Functional analysis showed that these betac-null alveolar macrophages were capable of phagocytosis but uptake of colloidal carbon and cellular adhesion were reduced. In summary, mature hematopoietic cells with a null mutation of the betac receptor were unable to perform GM-CSF-mediated hematopoietic cell functions including glucose transport, but responded normally to a range of other ligands.

The box-1 region of the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor alpha-chain cytoplasmic domain is sufficient for hemopoietic cell proliferation and differentiation.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that acts on a variety of cell types and regulates cell proliferation and differentiation. The functional receptor for LIF is composed of LIFR alpha-chain (LIFRalpha) and gp130 both of which are shared in the functional receptors for oncostatin M, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and cardiotrophin-1. By using stable transfection of wild-type or cytoplasmic deletion mutants of LIFRalpha together with full-length gp130 into Ba/F3 cells, we found that cells expressing gp130 and an extensively deleted mutant LIFRalpha containing only the box-1 region were capable of proliferating in response to LIF, although LIF-dependent long term growth of these cells was seriously impaired. Using a similar strategy to generate WEHI-3BD+ cells expressing gp130 and wild-type or truncation mutants of LIFRalpha, studies revealed that the box-1 region of the LIFRalpha was also sufficient for LIF-dependent induction of different aspects of differentiation, including up-regulation of macrophage surface marker expression, morphological change, and cell migration in agar culture. However, the C-terminal region of the LIFRalpha, although not essential for intracellular signaling, was important for efficient receptor-mediated ligand internalization. In summary, the membrane-proximal box-1 region plays a dominant role in LIF-induced signal transduction of both proliferation and differentiation.

Liver degeneration and lymphoid deficiencies in mice lacking suppressor of cytokine signaling-1.

SOCS-1, a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family, was identified in a genetic screen for inhibitors of interleukin 6 signal transduction. SOCS-1 transcription is induced by cytokines, and the protein binds and inhibits Janus kinases and reduces cytokine-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 and the gp130 component of the interleukin 6 receptor. Thus, SOCS-1 forms part of a feedback loop that modulates signal transduction from cytokine receptors. To examine the role of SOCS-1 in vivo, we have used gene targeting to generate mice lacking this protein. SOCS-1(-/-) mice exhibited stunted growth and died before weaning with fatty degeneration of the liver and monocytic infiltration of several organs. In addition, the thymus of SOCS-1(-/-) mice was reduced markedly in size, and there was a progressive loss of maturing B lymphocytes in the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood. Thus, SOCS-1 is required for in vivo regulation of multiple cell types and is indispensable for normal postnatal growth and survival.