Mizoribine protects against bleomycin-induced lung injury.

Bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung injury has become a model for studies of interstitial pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis. BLM induces lung injury in two phases: early inflammation characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs, followed by a late phase of fibrosis characterized by deposition of collagen. In this study, we examined the role of mizoribine (MZB) in the regulation of inflammatory tissue injury caused by BLM. We examined the role of MZB using a mouse model of BLM-induced lung injury. We demonstrated that mice subjected to instillation of BLM into the lungs had a significantly increased number of macrophages and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), but that those treated with MZB in the early phase showed a significant reduction in the total number of BALF macrophages and lymphocytes. However, MZB was unable to inhibit fibrosis in the late phase of BLM injury. Our findings suggest that MZB inhibits the proliferation of both lymphocytes and macrophages in the early phase of the BLM-induced acute inflammatory response, as well as its development and amplification, but does not inhibit fibrotic change in the late phase.

Enhanced suppression of pulmonary metastasis of malignant melanoma cells by combined administration of alpha-galactosylceramide and interleukin-18.

alpha-Galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) shows antitumor effects by activating natural killer (NK) cells indirectly through stimulation of the secretion of cytokines by NKT cells, whereas interleukin (IL)-18 shows antitumor effects by activating NK cells directly. In the present study, we examined the antitumor effect of the combined administration of alpha-GalCer and IL-18. An injection of NK cell-sensitive mouse B16 melanoma cells into a mouse tail vein produced pulmonary metastasis. The daily administration of alpha-GalCer or IL-18 alone for 4 days starting 1 day after the injection of B16 melanoma cells markedly suppressed the number of pulmonary metastatic foci, and their combined administration enhanced the antitumor effect compared with single administration. The antitumor effect of their combined administration was completely abolished by treatment of mice with anti-asialo GM1 serum, which depletes NK cells but not NKT cells. Combined administration of alpha-GalCer and IL-18 enhanced the cytotoxicity of NK cells and increased the number of NK cells in the lung. Analysis of NKT cell-dependent and NK cell-independent secretion of cytokines, to which NK cells can respond, showed that the administration of alpha-GalCer increased the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, interferon-gamma, IL-12, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-10, and the combined administration of alpha-GalCer and IL-18 enhanced the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, interferon-gamma, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor further but only slightly. These results show that IL-18 in combination with alpha-GalCer exerts an antitumor effect on NK cell-sensitive tumors primarily by the direct stimulation of NK cells by IL-18 and the indirect stimulation of NK cells by alpha-GalCer through its activation of NKT cells.

Transdifferentiation into biliary ductular cells of hepatocytes transplanted into the spleen.

AIMS: Transplantation of rat hepatocytes into the syngeneic rat spleen results in the appearance of cytokeratin (CK)7 and CK19 positive biliary cells that form ductules. We examined whether hepatocytes are the origin of these biliary ductular cells. METHODS: We transplanted rat dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) positive hepatocytes into the liver of retrorsine-treated and partially hepatectomised DPPIV negative rats, which resulted in proliferation of DPPIV positive hepatocytes in the liver. Two months later, hepatocytes were prepared from chimaeric livers of these rats and transplanted into the spleen of DPPIV negative rats. Four weeks later, the expression of DPPIV in CK7 positive ductules in the spleen was examined by immunofluorescent double-staining. RESULTS: In the spleen of DPPIV negative rats transplanted with hepatocytes prepared from the chimaeric livers, DPPIV was found to be expressed in some CK7 positive biliary ductules where only a fraction of cells expressed DPPIV, whereas in the spleen of DPPIV negative rats transplanted with hepatocytes from livers of DPPIV positive rats, DPPIV was expressed in all CK7 positive biliary ductules. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that hepatocytes transplanted into the spleen could transdifferentiate into biliary cells that aggregate to form ductular structures.

Protection of CD8+ T cells from activation-induced cell death by IL-18.

Role of IL-18 on proliferation and survival of CD8+ T cells, activated by immobilized anti-CD3 antibody (anti-CD3), was examined. Proliferation and survival of activated T cells, especially that of CD8+ T cells, were impaired by IL-18 deficiency [IL-18 knockout (KO)]. After 3 days of culture with anti-CD3, the number of living CD8+ T cells from IL-18KO mice was approximately 25% of that from wild-type (WT) mice but was increased to the same level as WT cells by the addition of IL-18. The expression of IL-18 receptors (IL-18Rs), particularly IL-18Rbeta chain, in naïve CD8+ T cells was very low but elevated after stimulation with anti-CD3. Blockade of IL-18R by anti-IL-18R antibody on activated WT CD8+ T cells resulted in reduction of living cells, suggesting that IL-18 promotes survival of proliferating CD8+ T cells. Levels of Bcl-2 in activated IL-18KO CD8+ T cells were lower than those in WT cells but were raised by exogenous IL-18. Blockade of IL-18R on WT CD8+ T cells decreased the expression of surface markers CD122 and CD94, which are related to cell viability, and the expression of these markers was increased by exogenous IL-18 in IL-18KO cells. These results suggest that IL-18 acts directly on activated CD8+ T cells through IL-18Rs and promotes their survival to expand the population.

Interleukin-18 prevents apoptosis via PI3K/Akt pathway in normal human keratinocytes.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pleiotropic cytokine expressed in both immune and non-immune cells. In the present study, we demonstrate an anti-apoptotic role of IL-18 in normal human neonatal foreskin epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK-F). Cultured NHEK-F spontaneously produced the active form of IL-18. Treatment of NHEK-F cells with anti-IL-18 receptor alpha-chain neutralizing antibody increased apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. Exogenous IL-18 augmented phosphorylation of Akt and activation of NF-kappaB. The promotion of Akt phosphorylation by IL-18 was abolished by LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, but not SN50, an NF-kappaB inhibitor, indicating that IL-18 functions via the PI3K/Akt pathway and independently of NF-kappaB. In addition, IL-18 was found to augment expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2, XIAP and glucose regulated protein78/BiP, while anti-IL-18 receptor alpha-chain neutralizing antibody suppressed expression of Bcl-2, XIAP, glucose regulated protein94 and protein disulfide isomerase. Taken together, these results indicate that IL-18 plays an important role in keratinocyte survival.

A role of the adrenal gland in stress-induced up-regulation of cytokines in plasma.

To reveal a pathway by which psychological/physical stresses influence host defense capability, responses to immobilization stress in mice were investigated, focusing on a multifunctional cytokine, interleukin-18 (IL-18). Immobilization stress induced interleukin-18 accumulation in plasma and in the adrenal gland. Inhibition on ACTH resulted in suppressed levels of IL-18 both in plasma and the adrenal gland. In hemi-adrenalectomized mice, plasma IL-18 levels after stress were lower than in sham-operated mice. This, together with the observation in stressed hemi-adrenalectomized mice that IL-6 levels in plasma were suppressed but up-regulated by recombinant IL-18, showed that the adrenal gland plays a crucial role in stress-related elevation of IL-6 in plasma via IL-18. Adrenal gland is highlighted as an organ connecting the psychological, endocrine, and immune systems. Controlling the secretion of IL-18 from the adrenal gland may serve as a possible preventative means against a stress-related disruption of host defenses.

Role of interleukin 18 in nitric oxide production and pancreatic damage during acute pancreatitis.

The release of the immunomodulator, interleukin 18 (IL-18) into sera early in acute pancreatitis (AP) corresponds to disease severity. IL-18 induces nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the pathophysiology of pancreatitis. The objective of this study was to clarify the role of IL-18 in pathogenesis and NO production during early AP using recombinant mouse (rm) IL-18 protein and IL-18 gene knockout (KO) mice. After pretreatment with phosphate-buffered saline or rmIL-18, wild-type (WT) or KO mice were injected intraperitoneally with phosphate-buffered saline (sham) or cerulein (AP) hourly for 3 h. Blood, pancreas, spleen, and liver were collected until 24 h after the first dose. Main outcome measures were serum IL-18, amylase and lipase levels, histological evaluation of the pancreas with parenchyma vacuolization of acinar cells, mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in the pancreas, and spleen, liver, and plasma NO metabolite level. Serum IL-18 was significantly increased immediately after induction of AP in WT mice. Serum amylase, lipase, and the numbers of acinar cells with parenchyma vacuolization were significantly higher in the group AP/KO than in the group AP/WT, but these parameters were improved by dose-dependent pretreatment with rmIL-18 administration in both groups. Pancreatic iNOS gene expression and plasma NO metabolites were significantly increased by 6 h after the initiation of AP, but were significantly lower in the group AP/KO than in the AP/WT mice. Pretreatment with rmIL-18 also significantly increased these levels in both groups. Splenic and hepatic iNOS expression was not changed after the initiation of AP in WT mice, whereas pretreatment with rmIL-18 also increased these levels. Administration of aminoguanidine, a selective iNOS inhibitor, before AP induction abolished the protective effect of pretreatment with rmIL-18 on pancreatic injury. IL-18 appears to protect the pancreas during early induced-induced AP in mice, probably through induction of NO release from an iNOS source. IL-18 may be a target for new AP therapeutics.

IL-18; a cytokine translates a stress into medical science.

Psychological/physical stresses have been reported to exacerbate auto-immune and inflammatory diseases. To clarify a mechanism by which non-inflammatory stresses disrupt host defenses, responses to immobilization stress in mice were investigated, focusing on the role of a multifunctional cytokine, interleukin-18 (IL-18). In the adrenal cortex, the stress induced IL-18 precursor proteins (pro-IL-18) via ACTH and a superoxide-mediated caspase-1 activation pathway, resulting in conversion of pro-IL-18 to the mature form which was released into plasma. Inhibitors of caspase-1, reactive oxygen species and P38 MAPK prevented stress-induced accumulation of plasma IL-18. These inhibitors also blocked stress-induced IL-6 expression. This, together with the observation that IL-6 was not induced in stressed-IL-18 deficient mice, showed that IL-6 induction by stress is dependent on IL-18. In stressed organisms, IL-18 may influence pathological and physiological processes. Controlling the caspase-1 activating pathway to suppress IL-18 levels may provide preventative means against stress-related disruption of host defenses.

Establishment of an Animal Model of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii Rats.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the side effects of bisphosphonate (BP) on tooth extraction socket healing in spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) rats, an established model of non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus, to develop an animal model of BP-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and SDT rats were randomly assigned to the zoledronic acid (ZOL)-treated groups (SD/ZOL or SDT/ZOL) or to the control groups (SD/control or SDT/control). Rats in the SD/ZOL or SDT/ZOL groups received an intravenous bolus injection of ZOL (35 µg/kg) every 2 weeks. Each group consisted of 6 rats each. Twenty-one weeks after ZOL treatment began, the left maxillary molars were extracted. The rats were euthanized at 2, 4, or 8 weeks after tooth extraction, and the total maxillae were harvested for histological and histochemical studies. RESULTS: In the oral cavity, bone exposure persisted at the tooth extraction site in all rats of the SDT/ZOL group until 8 weeks after tooth extraction. In contrast, there was no bone exposure in SD/control or SDT/control groups, and only 1 of 6 rats in the SD/ZOL group showed bone exposure. Histologically, necrotic bone areas with empty lacunae, microbial colonies, and less invasion by inflammatory cells were observed. The number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts was lower in the SDT/ZOL group than in the SD/control group. The mineral apposition rate was significantly lower in the SDT/ZOL group compared with the SD/control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the development of BRONJ-like lesions in rats and suggested that low bone turnover with less inflammatory cell infiltration plays an important role in the development of BRONJ.

Inhibition by interleukin-18 of the growth of Dunn osteosarcoma cells.

To examine the usefulness of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the treatment of osteosarcomas, the effect of IL-18 on the growth of Dunn osteosarcoma cells was investigated. Daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of mouse recombinant IL-18 (2 microg/mouse) suppressed the growth of Dunn osteosarcoma cells transplanted subcutaneously (s.c.) into syngeneic C3H mice. This IL-18-induced suppression was not affected by simultaneous treatment with anti-asialo GM1 serum, which inactivates natural killer (NK) cells. However, IL-18 failed to suppress the growth of Dunn osteosarcoma cells transplanted into BALB/c-nude mice devoid of T lymphocytes or C3H-gld/gld mice deficient in functional Fas ligand (FasL). IL-18 also failed to suppress the growth of Dunn osteosarcoma cells in vitro, although expression of IL-18 receptor mRNA and MyD88 mRNA as well as Fas mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). On the other hand, antimouse Fas antibody showed cytotoxicity against Dunn osteosarcoma cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. In addition, treatment of C3H mice with IL-18 enhanced the cytotoxic activity of CD8(+) T lymphocytes against Dunn osteosarcoma cells. These results indicate that IL-18 inhibits the growth of Dunn osteosarcoma cells in vivo by enhancing the cytotoxic activity of CD8(+) T lymphocytes through the FasL-Fas system.

Inflammatory liver steatosis caused by IL-12 and IL-18.

Acute fatty degeneration in the liver is caused by various agents, such as aspirin, valproic acid, and ibuprofen, that directly inhibit mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty acid and oxidative phosphorylation. Endogenous molecules, such as cytokines and hormones, are also known to mediate microvesicular steatosis in liver failure. In this study, we examined how interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18 cause steatosis in the liver. Administration of these cytokines in combination caused marked hepatosteatosis and weight loss in mice. There were marked increases in levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), nitrite (NO(2)/NO(3)), and fibrinogen in the circulation in these mice. On the other hand, the ATP concentration and blood flow in the liver were significantly reduced. These changes, except the production of IFN-gamma and NO, were partially inhibited by Z-VAD-fmk, a synthetic tripeptide inhibitor for NO-induced caspases. These results indicate that IL-12 and IL-18 may mediate inflammatory hepatosteatosis through impairment of the microcirculation, which leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocytes.

Interleukin-18 inhibits lodging and subsequent growth of human multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow.

An intravenous injection of ARH-77 cells (human multiple myeloma cell line) into mice with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID mice) results in lodging of tumor cells in the bone marrow of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and in their subsequent growth, the cells destroying bone and invading the spinal cord and surrounding tissues, and the mice show hind leg paralysis. Using this model, we investigated the effects of interleukin (IL)-18 on the lodging and subsequent growth of multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow. Mouse recombinant IL-18 (mIL-18) at 1 microg/mouse was daily injected according to protocols A and B. In protocol A, mIL-18 was injected from day 6 after tumor cell injection to examine the effect of mIL-18 on tumor growth, and in protocol B, it was injected from day 3 prior to tumor cell injection to day 3 after it to examine the effect of mIL-18 on lodging of tumor cells. The spread of a tumor was monitored as to the appearance of hind leg paralysis and the tumor area in a median longitudinal section of the vertebrae with the surrounding tissues. With protocol A, mIL-18 significantly and markedly decreased the cumulative rate of hind leg paralysis and the tumor area. This antitumor effect of mIL-18 was ascribed to its action on the activation of NK cells because mIL-18 exerted no significant effect when anti-asialo GM1 antiserum (a-ASGM1) was simultaneously injected to deplete the NK cell activity. With protocol B, mIL-18 also significantly and markedly decreased the cumulative rate of hind leg paralysis and the tumor area. However, most of this effect was not due to the action of mIL-18 on NK cells because mIL-18 showed a marked and significant effect with the administration of a-ASGM1. The present results indicate that mIL-18 inhibited the lodging and subsequent growth of multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow, and suggest that IL-18 is worth investigating further as to its usefulness as a therapy for multiple myeloma.

Cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in mice is mediated by chymase-activated angiotensin-aldosterone system and interleukin-18.

Mechanism(s) of cisplatin-induced acute renal failure, as manifested by increases in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, was evaluated in relation to production and activation of endogenous mediator(s) in mice. In interleukin (IL)-18-deficient (IL-18KO) mice, cisplatin failed to induce acute renal failure. Administration of recombinant IL-18 prior to cisplatin restored acute renal failure in IL-18KO mice. Accumulation of cisplatin in the kidney was not different in IL-18KO and wild-type (WT) mice, but, clearance of cisplatin was more rapid in IL-18KO mice than in WT mice. Cisplatin increased serum levels of aldosterone and angiotensin II in WT mice, but only angiotensin II levels in IL-18 KO mice. Administration of IL-18 augmented plasma levels of aldosterone and angiotensin II in WT mice. Eplerenone, an aldosterone receptor blocker, TY-51469, a chymase inhibitor and PD123319, a selective angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist, but not benazepril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and candesartan, a selective angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist improved acute renal failure caused by cisplatin, confirming involvement of IL-18, aldosterone and angiotensin II in cisplatin-induced, chymase-dependent acute renal failure in mice. These results show that IL-18, aldosterone and angiotensin II synergistically act to prolong the accumulation of cisplatin in the kidney, leading to acute renal failure. Combined therapy with inhibitors for chymase and aldosterone receptors or AT2 receptors might reduce acute renal failure induced by cisplatin.

Effect of IL-18 on expansion of gammadelta T cells stimulated by zoledronate and IL-2.

Zoledronate (Zol) has recently been shown to expand gammadelta T cells that play important roles in host defenses against infection and tumors. In this study, we examined effects of interleukin-18 (IL-18) on expansion of gammadelta T cells in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated by Zol and IL-2. The expansion of gammadelta T cells stimulated by Zol and IL-2 was strongly promoted by exogenous IL-18, and to the contrary, inhibited by neutralizing anti-IL-18 receptor antibody. The gammadelta T cells that expanded in the presence of Zol, IL-2, and IL-18 exhibited the phenotype of effector memory cells characterized by CD44 (+), CD27 (-), and CD45RA (-). In addition, they expressed NKG2D, perforin, CD94, CD25, and CD122, and 15% to 40% of them were positive for CD56. Incubation of gammadelta T cells in the presence with IL-18 produced GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha at much higher levels than those incubated without IL-18. They showed strong cytotoxicity against tumor cells including mesothelioma cells and inhibited growth of xenograft of mesothelioma in mice. These observations indicate that IL-18 can efficiently promote expansion of gammadelta T cells with potent antitumor activity.

Role of macrophages in the development of pancreatic islet injury in spontaneously diabetic torii rats.

Spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) rats were established from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat and are used as an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present study, the mechanism of the development of injury in the pancreas of these rats was examined focusing on the role of monocytes/macrophages. The number of lymphocytes and monocytes in the circulation of SDT rats increased with age, reaching a plateau at around 9 weeks of age and remaining at that level thereafter. The number of leukocytes in SDT rats was almost twice that of wild-type SD rats. Serum IL-18 levels began to increase at 8 weeks of age, forming a prominent peak at 9 weeks of age. In parallel with this, serum levels of NO2/NO3 showed an abrupt rise and decline. Spleen cells prepared from 9-week-old SDT rats expressed high levels of IFN-gamma in response to IL-18, while those from 9-week-old wild-type SD rats did not. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked infiltration of CD68+ cells in the islets of SDT rats. Treatment of SDT rats with Cl2MDP-liposomes reduced the number of monocytes as well as levels of NO2/NO3 in the circulation. Consistent with this, the number of infiltrated CD68+ cells in the islets was reduced in SDT rats treated with Cl2MDP-liposomes. These results suggest that macrophages are involved in pancreatic islet injury in SDT rats through excess production of NO induced by IL-18 which increases transitorily at around 9 weeks of age.

A role for IL-18 in human neutrophil apoptosis.

Decreased neutrophil apoptosis is associated with persistent inflammation, the severity of which correlates with serum IL-18 levels. IL-18 receptors as well as Toll-like receptors, including Toll-like receptor 4, a receptor for LPS, possess a highly conserved intracellular domain called "Toll-IL-1R domain" and activate overlapping signaling pathways. Here, we show that IL-18 modulates neutrophil apoptosis and compare its mechanism of action with LPS. We found that both IL-18 and LPS decreased neutrophil apoptosis in a similar dose- and time-dependent fashion. However, pretreatment with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 increased apoptosis more effectively in IL-18- than in LPS-stimulated cells, whereas the ERK inhibitor PD98059 had the same effect in both. In contrast, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 had no influence on apoptosis at all. Neutrophils constitutively expressed mRNA for IL-18 receptor beta, but little or no receptor alpha, both of which increased during coculture with either IL-18 or LPS in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Of the Bcl-2 family, antiapoptotic A1/Bfl-1 tended to increase on IL-18 and LPS stimulation, but was further increased despite increased apoptosis in the presence of MAPK inhibitors. Thus, human neutrophils can express mRNA for IL-18 receptors alpha and beta, and IL-18, like LPS, inhibits neutrophil apoptosis by activating PI3K and ERK pathways but not p38MAPK. However, PI3K may play more important role(s) in IL-18- than in LPS-induced inhibition of apoptosis. Mitogen-activated protein kinases seem to mediate antiapoptotic signals through factors other than Bcl-2 gene family expression.

IL-18 mediates the formation of stress-induced, histamine-dependent gastric lesions.

A role of IL-18 in the induction of gastric lesions by water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) was investigated. When wild-type BALB/c mice were exposed to WRS, levels of IL-18 in the serum and stomach increased rapidly with the development of acute gastric lesions. In IL-18-deficient mice [IL-18 knockout (KO) mice] similarly exposed to WRS, no gastric lesions were observed, but the administration of IL-18 before exposure to WRS resulted in the induction of WRS-induced gastric lesions. WRS enhanced gastric histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity with concomitant increases in gastric histamine content. In IL-18 KO mice, the WRS-induced elevation of gastric HDC activity and histamine levels was much less than that in wild-type mice, but it was augmented by prior administration of IL-18. Treatment of wild-type mice with cimetidine, a histamine H2 receptor antagonist, inhibited the formation of WRS-induced gastric lesions with no effect on the induction of gastric IL-18 by WRS. Levels of corticosterone, one of the stress indicators, were lower in IL-18 KO mice than in wild-type mice. The glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone had no effect on gastric IL-18 and histamine levels but aggravated the stress-induced gastric lesions, indicating that corticosterone was not involved in the IL-18-mediated formation of stress-induced gastric lesions. These results indicate that IL-18 is involved in the induction of gastric lesions by WRS through augmentation of HDC activity and production of histamine in the stomach.

Involvement of inducible nitric oxide synthase in blood flow decrease in vein induced by hen-egg white lysozyme.

Our in vivo assay system developed to search for allergy-preventive substances, assesses the blood flow decrease in tail vein microcirculation of mice subjected to sensitization with hen-egg white lysozyme (HEL). The blood flow decrease appears to be regulated by various factors such as nitric oxide (NO), thromboxane (TX) A(2), prostacyclin (PGI(2)) and endothelin (ET)-1 together with cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS). In this study, we examined in detail the roles of iNOS in this assay system using an iNOS knockout (KO) mouse. We found that the blood flow decrease in the HEL-sensitized iNOS KO mice was slightly weaker than that in their wild type (WT) mice. This blood flow decrease was not affected by a selective COX-1 inhibitor, a selective COX-2 inhibitor and a PGI(2) agonist unlike the case of the WT mice. However, it was inhibited by a nonselective NOS inhibitor, a specific TXA(2) synthase inhibitor and a specific ET-1 receptor blocker as in the case of the WT mice. The present results indicate that the blood flow decrease occurs via two pathways; one is an iNOS-independent response involving TXA(2) and ET-1, and the other is an iNOS-dependent response involving COX-1, COX-2 and PGI(2). cNOS appears to play some roles in the blood flow decrease and iNOS acts as an exacerbation factor. Our method using HEL-sensitized should be useful for searching for agents that can prevent allergy via new mechanisms.

Production of IL-13 in spleen cells by IL-18 and IL-12 through generation of NK-like cells.

Treatment of Nylon wool-passed cells (NWC) prepared from the spleen of C57BL/6 mice with IL-18 and IL-12, but not with IL-18 alone, resulted in induction of IFN-gamma, a Th1 cytokine, and GM-CSF at 24 h, and IL-13, a Th2 cytokine at 72 h. The induction of IL-13 was suppressed by anti-GM-CSF antibody, indicating involvement of GM-CSF in IL-13 production. When NWC incubated with IL-18 and IL-12 for 72 h ("primary treatment") were treated again with the same cytokines ("secondary treatment"), IL-13 was induced much more quickly than observed in the primary treatment. Flow cytometric analysis of NWC after the primary treatment showed marked increases in the CD4(-)CD8(-) non-T cell population bearing CD25(+), CD45RB(super high) and CD122(+). These cells were positive for CD49b but negative for NK1.1, indicating that they were not typical but NK-like cells. The NK-like cells produced IL-13 in response to the treatment with IL-18 alone, indicating that the generation of these cells in the primary treatment likely accounts for the quick production of IL-13 in the secondary treatment. These results show that IL-18 and IL-12 generates the NK-like cells in NWC by a process mediated by GM-CSF that are ready for producing IL-13.