Development of atopic dermatitis in mice transgenic for human apolipoprotein C1.

Mice with transgenic expression of human apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) in liver and skin have strongly increased serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids, indicative of a disturbed lipid metabolism. Importantly, these mice display a disturbed skin barrier function, evident from increased transepidermal water loss, and spontaneously develop symptoms of dermatitis including scaling, lichenification, excoriations, and pruritus. Histological analysis shows increased epidermal thickening and spongiosis in conjunction with elevated numbers of inflammatory cells (eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages, and CD4+ T cells) in the dermis. In addition, affected mice have increased serum levels of IgE and show abundant IgE(+) mast cells in the dermis. Partial inhibition of disease could be achieved by restoration of the skin barrier function with topical application of a lipophilic ointment. Furthermore, the development of atopic dermatitis in these mice was suppressed by corticosteroid treatment. These findings in APOC1(+/+) mice underscore the role of skin barrier integrity in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.

Responses to donor lymphocyte infusion for acute lymphoblastic leukemia may be determined by both qualitative and quantitative limitations of antileukemic T-cell responses as observed in an animal model for human leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation is largely unsuccessful in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To allow identification of the causes of this failure, we established an animal model of DLI in human ALL. METHODS: NOD/scid mice were inoculated with primary human ALL cells. Cells from five different patients were studied. After engraftment, DLI was performed by infusion of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical donor T cells or HLA-disparate donor T cells. RESULTS: DLI resulted in expansion of activated, leukemia-reactive T cells in all donor-patient combinations. After 40 days of expansion, T cells abruptly declined in numbers and displayed loss of cytotoxicity. At this moment, remissions were observed in three of five donor-patient combinations. In animals engrafted with the two unresponsive ALL, remissions could be achieved when HLA-disparate DLI was given. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the inefficacy of DLI in ALL may be due to the limitation of the proliferative capacity of ALL-reactive T cells and that the antileukemic efficacy during the limited time span of proliferation depends on the antigenic disparity between the donor and the patient. The model can be used to study whether alternative strategies may result in more sustained antileukemic responses after DLI in ALL.

Reduced stem cell mobilization in mice receiving antibiotic modulation of the intestinal flora: involvement of endotoxins as cofactors in mobilization.

Since endotoxins are potent inducers of stem cell mobilization, we hypothesized that their presence in the gut may play a role in cytokine-induced mobilization. To address this possibility we added ciprofloxacin and polymyxin B to the drinking water of Balb/c mice mobilized with either interleukin-8 (IL-8), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), or flt3 ligand (FL). The yield of colony-forming units (CFUs) was significantly reduced in all mice treated with these antibiotics when compared with controls (IL-8: 192 +/- 61 vs 290 +/- 64, P <.05; G-CSF: 1925 +/- 1216 vs 3371 +/- 1214, P <.05; FL: 562 +/- 213 vs 1068 +/- 528, P <.05). Treatment with ciprofloxacin eliminated only aerobic Gram-negative bacteria from the feces without effect on mobilization. Polymyxin B treatment did not result in decontamination but significantly reduced the number of mobilized hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) most likely due to the endotoxin binding capacity of polymyxin B. More than 90% of the gastrointestinal flora consists of anaerobic bacteria. Elimination of the anaerobic flora by metronidazol led to a significantly reduced number of mobilized HPCs when compared with controls (IL-8: 55 +/- 66 vs 538 +/- 216, P <.05). Germ-free OF1 mice showed a significantly reduced mobilization compared with their wild-type controls (IL-8 controls: 378 +/- 182, IL-8 germ free: 157 +/- 53, P <.05). Finally, we performed reconstitution experiments adding Escherichia coli-derived endotoxins to the drinking water of decontaminated mice. This resulted in partial restoration of the IL-8-induced mobilization (67 +/- 28 vs 190 +/- 98.1, P <.01). Our results indicate that endotoxins serve as cofactors in cytokine-induced mobilization. Modification of the endotoxin content by antibiotic treatment may affect the yield of cytokine-induced mobilization.

Enhancement of G-CSF-induced stem cell mobilization by antibodies against the beta 2 integrins LFA-1 and Mac-1.

The beta 2 integrins leukocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a) and macrophage antigen-1 (Mac-1, CD11b) have been reported to play a role in the attachment of CD34(+) cells to stromal cells in the bone marrow. When administered prior to interleukin-8 (IL-8), anti-LFA-1 antibodies completely prevent the IL-8-induced mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in mice. Here, we studied the role of anti-beta 2 integrin antibodies in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-induced mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Administration of antibodies against the alpha chain of LFA-1 or against the alpha chain of Mac-1 followed by daily injections of G-CSF for more than 1 day resulted in a significant enhancement of mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells when compared with mobilization induced by G-CSF alone. Also, the number of late (day 28) cobblestone area-forming cells in vitro was significantly higher after mobilization with anti-LFA-1 antibodies followed by 5 microg G-CSF for 5 days than with G-CSF alone (119 +/- 34 days vs 17 +/- 14 days), indicating mobilization of repopulating stem cells. Pretreatment with blocking antibodies to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54), a ligand of LFA-1 and Mac-1, did not result in an effect on G-CSF-induced mobilization, suggesting that the enhancing effect required an interaction of the beta 2 integrins and one of their other ligands. Enhancement of mobilization was not observed in LFA-1-deficient (CD11a) mice, indicating that activated cells expressing LFA-1 mediate the synergistic effect, rather than LFA-1-mediated adhesion.

Neutrophils are indispensable for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization induced by interleukin-8 in mice.

The CXC chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8) induces rapid mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Previously we showed that mobilization could be prevented completely in mice by pretreatment with neutralizing antibodies against the beta2-integrin LFA-1 (CD11a). In addition, murine HPCs do not express LFA-1, indicating that mobilization requires a population of accessory cells. Here we show that polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) serve as key regulators in IL-8-induced HPC mobilization. The role of PMNs was studied in mice rendered neutropenic by administration of a single injection of antineutrophil antibodies. Absolute neutropenia was observed up to 3-5 days with a rebound neutrophilia at day 7. The IL-8-induced mobilizing capacity was reduced significantly during the neutropenic phase, reappeared with recurrence of the PMNs, and was increased proportionally during the neutrophilic phase. In neutropenic mice, the IL-8-induced mobilizing capacity was restored by the infusion of purified PMNs but not by infusion of mononuclear cells. Circulating metalloproteinase gelatinase B (MMP-9) levels were detectable only in neutropenic animals treated with PMNs in combination with IL-8, showing that in vivo activated PMNs are required for the restoration of mobilization. However, IL-8-induced mobilization was not affected in MMP-9-deficient mice, indicating that MMP-9 is not indispensable for mobilization. These data demonstrate that IL-8-induced mobilization of HPCs requires the in vivo activation of circulating PMNs.