Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells rescue neonatal CPAP-induced airway hyperreactivity.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a primary non-invasive mode of respiratory support for preterm infants. However, emerging evidence suggests CPAP could be an underlying contributor to the unintended pathophysiology of wheezing and associated airway hyperreactivity (AHR) in former preterm infants. The therapeutic benefits of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated in a variety of animal models and several clinical trials are currently underway to assess their safety profiles in the setting of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). In the present study, using a mouse model of neonatal CPAP, we investigated whether conditioned medium harvested from cultures of human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) could rescue the CPAP-induced AHR, based upon previous observations of their anti-AHR properties. Newborn mice (male and female) were fitted with a custom-made mask for delivery of daily CPAP 3 h/day for the first 7 postnatal days. At postnatal day 21 (two weeks after CPAP ended), lungs were removed, precision-cut lung slices were sectioned and incubated for 48 h in vitro in conditioned medium collected from cultures of three different hMSC donors. As expected, CPAP resulted in AHR to methacholine compared to untreated control mice. hMSC conditioned medium from the cultures of all three donors completely reversed AHR. These data reveal potential therapeutic benefits of hMSC therapy, which may be capable of rescuing the long-term adverse effects of neonatal CPAP on human airway function.

Protein adsorption and cellular adhesion and activation on biomedical polymers.

The design and development of new biomedical polymers for clinical application in devices, prostheses, and artificial organs requires a basic and fundamental understanding of biological interactions with biomedical polymers. Efforts in our laboratory have been directed towards appreciating the humoral and cellular interactions which govern protein adsorption and cellular adhesion and activation on biomedical polymers. Information and data are presented on protein adsorption from whole human blood, complement activation and receptors, and monocyte/macrophage adhesion and activation with growth factor release. Supported by experimental evidence, concepts regarding protein/polymer, cell/polymer, cell/protein/polymer, and cell/cell interactions as they are related to in vivo events are presented.

Absence of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (Cftr) from myeloid-derived cells slows resolution of inflammation and infection.

The absence or reduction of CFTR function causes CF and results in a pulmonary milieu characterized by bacterial colonization and unresolved inflammation. The ineffectiveness at controlling infection by species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa suggests defects in innate immunity. Macrophages, neutrophils, and DCs have all been shown to express CFTR mRNA but at low levels, raising the question of whether CFTR has a functional role in these cells. Bone marrow transplants between CF and non-CF mice suggest that these cells are inherently different; we confirm this observation using conditional inactivation of Cftr in myeloid-derived cells. Mice lacking Cftr in myeloid cells overtly appear indistinguishable from non-CF mice until challenged with bacteria instilled into the lungs and airways, at which point, they display survival and inflammatory profiles intermediate in severity as compared with CF mice. These studies demonstrate that Cftr is involved directly in myeloid cell function and imply that these cells contribute to the pathophysiological phenotype of the CF lung.

Functional versus quantitative comparison of IL-1 beta from monocytes/macrophages on biomedical polymers.

Studies utilizing a quantitative assay, radioimmunoassay, and a biological activity assay, the murine thymocyte proliferation assay, to analyze IL-1 beta cytokine production by monocytes/macrophages on biomedical polymers have been carried out. Results indicate that the quantitative analysis of IL-1 beta on biomedical polymers and protein-adsorbed biomedical polymers is not indicative of and does not correlate with the results of the biological activity assay. IL-1 beta secreted from human monocytes/macrophages on Biomer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Dacron, polyethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, and control polystyrene with and without the preadsorption of physiological concentrations of human IgG, fibrinogen, and/or fibronectin was assayed. Quantitative levels of IL-1 beta suggest a greater functional response than that observed in the biological thymocyte proliferation assay when the polymers were studied directly or preadsorbed with IgG. On the other hand, preadsorption with fibrinogen or fibronectin resulted in high functional activity for IL-1 beta with low quantitative levels of IL-1 beta. The lack of correlation between the functional and biological activity assays suggests the presence of other cytokines or antagonists which modulate the biological activity of IL-1 beta.

Fibroblast stimulation by monocytes cultured on protein adsorbed biomedical polymers. I. Biomer and polydimethylsiloxane.

The studies presented in this paper evaluate the modulatory role of protein pre-adsorbed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Biomer on the secretion of fibroblast stimulating growth factors from human monocytes/macrophages. The results of these studies show that Biomer and PDMS selectively activate human monocytes to produce fibroblast "progression-like" and to a lesser extent "competence-like" stimulating growth factors. Polydimethylsiloxane stimulated the monocytes/macrophages to produce more "progression-like" fibro-blast stimulating growth factors than Biomer. The induction of "competence-like" fibroblast stimulating activity from the monocytes was enhanced by preadsorption of PDMS with human derived fibrinogen, fibronectin, IgG, hemoglobin, or albumin. This phenomenon was not observed with protein pre-adsorbed Biomer. These studies support the hypothesis that protein pre-adsorbed polymers will selectively modulate monocyte/macrophage activation and induction of growth factors which have the potential to participate in tissue-implant interactions in vivo.

Protein adsorption of biomedical polymers influences activated monocytes to produce fibroblast stimulating factors.

The studies presented in this manuscript were based upon the hypothesis that monocytes/macrophages selectively produce cytokines and growth factors due to their interactions with polymers and proteins which are adsorbed to their surfaces. These factors in turn selectively influence the ability of fibroblasts to proliferate. The factors which influence fibroblast proliferation were released from monocytes incubated with polymers: Biomer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene (PE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), Dacron, and control polystyrene with and without preadsorption with physiological concentrations of IgG, fibrinogen, fibronectin, hemoglobin, or albumin. No simple correlation was found between adsorbed protein, biomedical polymer, and the ability of monocytes to produce growth factors and cytokines which influence fibroblast proliferation. This is evidence for selective protein-polymer interactions which in turn selectively activate monocytes to produce variable cell cycle competence and progression factors controlling fibroblast growth.

Plasma protein adsorbed biomedical polymers: activation of human monocytes and induction of interleukin 1.

These studies involved the evaluation of human monocyte/macrophage activation by biomedical polymers coated with human blood proteins. The biomedical polymers were polyethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, woven Dacron fabric, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, Biomer, and tissue culture treated polystyrene as the control. They were adsorbed with human blood proteins: albumin, fibrinogen, fibronectin, hemoglobin, and gamma globulin. The protein adsorbed polymers were evaluated for their potential to activate the monocyte/macrophage cellular population in vitro as assessed by the induction of the monocyte/macrophage inflammatory mediator, Interleukin 1 (IL1). Suppression of IL1 was observed when protein adsorbed polymers were compared to the appropriate protein adsorbed control. Protein adsorbed polymers, when compared to polymers without protein adsorption, stimulated IL1 production. The data presented in this manuscript show the level of induction and secretion of IL1 was dependent on the biomedical polymer and the protein adsorbed, as well as the requirement of lipopolysaccharide. These results show differential interactions occur between the proteins, monocytes/macrophages, and biomedical polymers which alter activation and induction of IL1.

Altered respiratory epithelial cell cytokine production in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Reports that lung inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) might precede infection raise the possibility that the excessive inflammatory response in lungs of patients with CF might be directly related to defects in epithelial cell cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the relationship of epithelial cell cytokine production to CF lung disease. METHODS: Immunofluorescence and cultures of freshly obtained bronchial epithelial cells and ELISA for IL-10, IL-8, and IL-6 were used to study alterations in epithelial cell cytokine production. RESULTS: Fresh bronchial epithelial cells from healthy control subjects (HCs) secreted 98 +/- 20 pg/mL of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 when placed in primary culture in vitro but little or no IL-8 or IL-6. In contrast, fresh epithelial cells from patients with CF did not secrete detectable IL-10 but produced 38 +/- 17 pg/mL IL-8 and 40 +/- 17 pg/mL IL-6. These data correlated very well with the immunofluorescence data. The correlation between the immunofluorescent staining of fresh bronchial epithelial cells from both the HCs and patients with CF and the concentrations of cytokines in epithelial lining fluid suggests a reciprocal relationship between anti-inflammatory (IL-10) and proinflammatory (IL-6 and IL-8) cytokine production by the epithelial cells in HCs versus patients with CF. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in epithelial cell cytokine production in the lungs of patients with CF may contribute to the excessive local inflammation.

Cytokine and growth factor production by monocytes/macrophages on protein preadsorbed polymers.

These studies evaluate the effect of biomedical polymers: Biomer, polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS), polyethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), Dacron, and the control polystyrene with or without adsorbed proteins IgG, fibrinogen, and fibronectin on the ability of activated human monocytes/macrophages to produce Interleukin 1 Beta (IL-1-B), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-A). Monocytes/macrophages incubated on biomedical polymers with or without protein preadsorption produce variable levels of IL-1-B, IL-6, and TNF-A dependent on the polymer and adsorbed protein. IL-6 was produced in the greatest quantity and was the most influenced by protein adsorption. ePTFE and PDMS polymers were least stimulating while polystyrene was the most stimulating of monocyte activity. Adsorbed IgG consistently altered the ability of the polymers to activate monocytes/macrophages to produce cytokines. These studies provide important insight into conditions which modulate monocyte/macrophage activity in response to protein preadsorbed biomedical polymers.

Protein adsorption and macrophage activation on polydimethylsiloxane and silicone rubber.

Static and dynamic human blood adsorption studies on polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, and silicone rubber show that these materials are similar, but not identical, in their protein adsorption behavior. Fibrinogen, immunoglobulin G, and albumin were the predominant proteins identified on the material surfaces with fibronectin, Hageman factor (factor XII), and factor VIII/vWF adsorbing at intermediate levels. While the protein adsorption characteristics for the two materials were similar, higher levels of the respective proteins were identified on silicone rubber compared to PDMS. Monocytes/macrophages incubated on PDMS, silicone rubber and low density polyethylene, LDPE, with or without protein adsorption produced variable levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha dependent on the polymer and adsorbed protein. PDMS showed lower levels of the cytokines when compared to the polystyrene control and polyethylene. Protein preadsorption on the PDMS, polystyrene, and LDPE surfaces showed lower levels of cytokines when compared to the respective quantities produced with no protein adsorption suggesting a passivating effect by the protein adsorption phenomenon on monocyte/macrophage activation. Preadsorption of IgG, fibrinogen or fibronectin decreased the quantitative expression of IL-1 beta but increased the functional activity in the thymocyte proliferation assay indicating the presence of monocyte/macrophage activation products which either downregulated the activity of IL-1 beta or upregulated thymocyte proliferation in an independent fashion.

Normal bronchial epithelial cells constitutively produce the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, which is downregulated in cystic fibrosis.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent regulatory cytokine that decreases inflammatory responses and T-cell stimulation. We have found that respiratory epithelial lining fluid (ELF) from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) contains significantly less soluble IL-10 than ELF of healthy control subjects. Although macrophages from the chronically infected lungs of CF patients appear to be one source of IL-10, little or no intracellular IL-10 was found in bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages from healthy control subjects, suggesting that there must be another source of this cytokine in healthy lungs. We found that bronchial epithelial cells from healthy control subjects constitutively produce IL-10, which appears to be downregulated in CF patients. It is thus likely that the bronchial epithelium plays an important role in regulating the local immune response, producing IL-10 to decrease inflammation in the healthy lung. Conversely, downregulation of epithelial IL-10 production in CF airways may contribute to enhancing local inflammation and tissue damage.

Inflammatory cytokines in cystic fibrosis lungs.

Chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa continues to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Several characteristics of CF, including the excessive influx of neutrophils into the airways, cachexia, and hyperglobulinemia, could reflect the effects of cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha). We hypothesized that these pro-inflammatory cytokines, produced by alveolar macrophages in response to pseudomonas and/or other microorganisms, promote the destructive inflammatory process in the lung. We evaluated bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and BAL macrophages from 22 CF patients and 13 healthy control (HC) subjects, measuring soluble TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8 and the regulatory molecules TNF soluble receptor (TNF-sR), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and IL-10 (cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor). Levels of the proinflammatory cytokines were higher in CF versus HC BAL (p < or = 0.05 for IL-1, TNF, and IL-8; p = 0.06 for IL-6). In contrast, HC BAL contained significantly more IL-10 than CF BAL (p < 0.05), but TNF-sR and IL-1Ra were similar. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated a higher percentage of CF than control BAL macrophages expressing intracellular cytokines (p < 0.05). Thus, enhanced macrophage production of proinflammatory cytokines and decreased production of the regulatory molecule IL-10 may have important roles in the pathogenesis of CF lung disease.

IL-10 attenuates excessive inflammation in chronic Pseudomonas infection in mice.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response associated with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa endobronchial infection. Compared with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from healthy subjects, lavage fluid from patients with CF contains elevated proinflammatory cytokines but negligible amounts of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). We sought to determine whether IL-10 deficiency results in increased local and systemic morbidity in mice with chronic endobronchial infection with P. aeruginosa embedded in agar beads and to determine if exogenous IL-10 might reduce these effects. Infected IL-10 knockout mice had more severe weight loss (p = 0.04) and increased area of lung inflammation (28 +/- 4 versus 10 +/- 2%, p < 0.002) but no alterations in bacterial burden compared with wild-type mice. Infected CD-1 mice treated with IL-10 had improved survival (p = 0. 035), less severe weight loss (p < 0.005), fewer bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophils (3 x 10(5)/ml versus 5 x 10(6)/ml, p < 0.02), and decreased area of lung inflammation (11 +/- 2 versus 35 +/- 7%, p < 0.01) but no alterations in bacterial burden compared with placebo-treated mice. These data suggest that IL-10 is an important regulator of the inflammatory response to P. aeruginosa endobronchial infection and that further investigation into the use of IL-10 in CF is warranted.

A cationic region of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A-chain (Arg159-Lys160-Lys161) is required for receptor binding and mitogenic activity of the PDGF-AA homodimer.

Platelet-derived growth factor-AA and -BB homodimers and -AB heterodimers bind with high affinity to the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) alpha-receptor. Basic polypeptides such as polylysine and protamine sulfate compete with PDGF for receptor binding, suggesting a role for ligand positive charge in the binding interaction. A pentapeptide amino acid sequence with a cationic tripeptide core is perfectly conserved between the A- and B-chains (Val158-Arg159-Lys160-Lys161-Pro162) and was therefore considered as a possible alpha-receptor-binding domain. We have investigated the functional importance of positive charge within this region of the PDGF A-chain by using site-directed mutagenesis to convert the cationic core amino acids to the acidic sequence triglutamic acid. cDNAs encoding wild-type (PDGF-AAwt) and charge mutant (PDGF-AAcm) proteins were expressed following stable transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells. Proper assembly and secretion of PDGF-AAcm was verified by metabolic labeling with [35S]cysteine, immunoprecipitation, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis under nonreducing and reducing conditions. PDGF-AAcm was secreted as two major species of disulfide-linked A-chain homodimers identical in molecular mass to those observed for PDGF-AAwt (32 and 35 kDa). Secreted PDGF-AAwt and PDGF-AAcm proteins were purified to homogeneity and subjected to structural and functional analyses. Compared to purified PDGF-AAwt, PDGF-AAcm displayed a marked reduction in both binding affinity for PDGF alpha-receptors and mitogenic activity in Swiss 3T3 cells. Large reductions were also observed in the ability of semipurified PDGF-AAcm to stimulate calcium influx and the production of inositol phosphates. Measurement of circular dichroism spectra of highly purified PDGF-AAcm and PDGF-AAwt revealed no significant difference in secondary structure. Collectively, these results indicate that the cationic Arg159-Lys160-Lys161 region plays a critical role in the biological activity of PDGF-AA by direct participation in ligand binding to the PDGF alpha-receptor.