Preexposure of murine macrophages to CpG oligonucleotide results in a biphasic tumor necrosis factor alpha response to subsequent lipopolysaccharide challenge.

Bacterial DNA and synthetic oligonucleotides containing CpG sequences (CpG-DNA and CpG-ODN) provoke a proinflammatory cytokine response (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-12 [IL-12], and IL-6) and increased mortality in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged mice via a TNF-alpha-mediated mechanism. It was hypothesized that preexposure of macrophages to CpG-ODN would result in an increased TNF-alpha response to subsequent LPS challenge in vitro. Using the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7, we demonstrated both a rapid proinflammatory cytokine response (TNF-alpha) and a delayed inhibitory cytokine response (IL-10) with CpG-ODN. Preexposure of macrophages to CpG-ODN for brief periods (1 to 3 h) augmented TNF-alpha secretion and mRNA accumulation following subsequent LPS challenge (1 microg/ml). However, prolonged preexposure to CpG-ODN (6 to 9 h) resulted in suppression of the TNF-alpha protein and mRNA response to LPS. The addition of anti-IL-10 antibody to CpG-ODN during preexposure resulted in an increase in the LPS-induced TNF-alpha response over that induced by CpG-ODN preexposure alone. Thus, while brief preexposure of macrophages to CpG-ODN augments the proinflammatory cytokine response to subsequent LPS challenge, prolonged preexposure elicits IL-10 production, which inhibits the TNF-alpha response. Although the initial proinflammatory effects of CpG-DNA are well established, the immune response to CpG-DNA may also include autocrine or paracrine feedback mechanisms, leading to a complex interaction of proinflammatory and inhibitory cytokines.

Enhanced murine macrophage TNF receptor shedding by cytosine-guanine sequences in oligodeoxynucleotides.

The immunomodulatory role of unmethylated cytosine-guanine sequences (CpG) in bacterial DNA has been well documented. We have previously demonstrated that murine macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells respond to CpG DNA with an increase in the proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-alpha, in both a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In addition, CpG DNA stimulates a significant, though delayed, secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Because TNF-alpha and TNFR (TNFRI and II) expression are tightly regulated responses, we hypothesized that CpG containing oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) would also affect TNFRI and II shedding. Using both murine peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells, we demonstrated a significant, time-dependent increase in soluble TNFRI and TNFRII production with CpG ODN stimulation. RAW 264.7 cells treated with CpG ODN had a transient increase in membrane TNFRII expression, but not TNFRI. Both types of TNFR mRNA were also up-regulated by CpG ODN, and addition of the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D abrogated the effect of CpG ODN on TNFR mRNA and protein expression. Addition of anti-IL-10 and anti-TNF-alpha Abs did not change these results. The addition of plate-bound anti-TNF receptor Abs to this system increased the amount of bioactive TNF, implying that these receptors are acting as inhibitors of TNF activity. These results suggest that the de novo, non-IL-10- and non-TNF-alpha-dependent transcription, translation, and shedding of TNFRs are additional potential counterinflammatory effects of CpG DNA.

Hemolytically active (acylated) alpha-hemolysin elicits interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) but augments the lethality of Escherichia coli by an IL-1- and tumor necrosis factor-independent mechanism.

Many pathogenic Escherichia coli produce the toxin alpha-hemolysin (Hly), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have all been recognized as important effector molecules during infections by gram-negative organisms. Despite the characterization of many in vitro effects of hemolysin, no direct relationship has been established between hemolysin, LPS, proinflammatory cytokine production, and E. coli-induced mortality. Previously, we have shown in vivo that hemolysin elicits a distinct IL-1alpha spike by 4 h into a lethal hemolytic E. coli infection. Using three transformed E. coli strains, WAF108, WAF270, and WAH540 (which produce no Hly [Hlynull], acylated Hly [Hlyactive], or nonacylated Hly [Hlyinactive], respectively), we sought to determine the specific roles of hemolysin acylation, LPS, IL-1, and TNF in mediating the lethality of E. coli infection in mice. WAF270 was 100% lethal in BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, and C57BL/6 mice; in mice pretreated with antibody to the type 1 IL-1 receptor; in type 1 IL-1 receptor-deficient mice; and in dual (type 1 IL-1 receptor-type 1 TNF receptor)-deficient mice at doses which were nonlethal (0%) with both WAF108 and WAH540. At lethal doses, WAF270 killed by 6 +/- 2.3 h while WAF108 and WAH540 killed at 36 +/- 9.4 and 36 +/- 13.8 h, respectively. These differences in mortality were not due to IL-1 or TNF release, and the enhanced expression of LPS, which corresponded to Hly expression, was not likely the primary factor causing mortality. We demonstrate that bacterial fatty acid acylation of hemolysin is required in order for it to elicit IL-1 release by monocytes and to confer its virulence on E. coli.

Improved clinical outcomes with liver transplantation for hepatitis B-induced chronic liver failure using passive immunization.

OBJECTIVE: The goals were to summarize the results of liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B disease (HBV) at the University of Virginia, correlate pretransplant viral markers with posttransplant hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) requirements, and identify the relation between viral protein in the liver and clinical reinfection. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Liver transplantation is an accepted treatment for end-stage liver disease from chronic HBV infection, although lifelong antiviral treatment (with HBIg or antiviral agents) is still necessary. Patients with evidence of active viral replication (detectable serum HBV-DNA or e antigen) at the time of transplant have a higher rate of allograft infection. Whether clinically stable patients receiving HBIg immunoprophylaxis have detectable viral products in their grafts remains unknown. METHODS: Forty-four transplants performed for HBV disease at the University of Virginia since March 1990 were reviewed. Most patients underwent aggressive passive immunoprophylaxis with HBIg to maintain serum HBV surface antibody (HBsAb) levels > or =500 IU/l for the first 6 months after the transplant, and > or =150 IU/l thereafter. Patients had viral markers quantified, underwent pharmacokinetic analysis of HBsAb levels to adjust dosing, and were biopsied routinely every 3 to 6 months and when indicated. RESULTS: Forty-four transplants were performed in 39 patients. Actual 1-year and 3-year graft survival was 95% and 81%, respectively, and 1-year and 3-year patient survival was 98% and 96%, respectively. After the adoption of indefinite HBIg prophylaxis, nine grafts became infected (all in recipients positive for HBV e antigen). Three occurred within 8 weeks of transplantation and were associated with a short HBsAb half-life and a wild-type virus. Six occurred >8 months after the transplant, and most of these were associated with viral mutation. Quantification of pretransplant markers was an overall poor predictor of HBIg requirements after the transplant. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated transient low-level expression of core protein in the liver in 23% of patients without serum or clinical evidence of recurrent hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS: An excellent outcome is possible after liver transplantation for chronic HBV disease using HBIg dosed by pharmacokinetic parameters. Currently, quantification of pretransplant serum markers of the HBV antigen load does not predict the intensity of posttransplant treatment required for good clinical outcomes. Because HBV is not eradicated from the patient, some form of indefinite antiviral therapy continues to be warranted.

Neocarzinostatin-induced DNA base release accompanied by staggered oxidative cleavage of the complementary strand.

Treatment of an end-labeled DNA restriction fragment with the nonprotein chromophore of neocarzinostatin induced lesions which, after treatment with endonuclease IV or putrescine, were expressed as site-specific double-strand breaks. Analysis of the termini at cleavage sites in each strand showed that the neocarzinostatin-induced lesions consisted of an apurinic/apyrimidinic site plus a closely opposed break in the complementary strand. The break always occurred opposite the base two positions upstream from the apurinic/apyrimidinic site and had the 3'-phosphate and 5'-aldehyde termini characteristic of neocarzinostatin-induced breaks. This positioning suggests that neocarzinostatin simultaneously attacks two DNA sugars on opposite edges of the minor groove. The sequence specificity for formation of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites with closely opposed breaks reflected that of neocarzinostatin-induced mutagenesis. The potent mutagenicity of these lesions may be attributable to the presence of closely opposed damage in both DNA strands.

Effect of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases and polyamines on DNA treated with bleomycin and neocarzinostatin: specific formation and cleavage of closely opposed lesions in complementary strands.

Bleomycin and neocarzinostatin induce modified apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites by oxidation of the sugar moiety in DNA. In order to quantitatively assess the susceptibility of these lesions to repair endonucleases, drug-treated 3H-labeled colE1 DNA was mixed with 14C-labeled heat-depurinated DNA, and endonuclease-susceptible sites in the mixture were titrated with various AP endonucleases or with polyamines. Single- and double-strand breaks were quantitated by determining the fractions of supercoiled, nicked circular, and linear molecules. Exonuclease III and endonucleases III and IV of Escherichia coli, as well as putrescine, produced a nearly 2-fold increase in single-strand breaks in bleomycin-treated DNA, indicating cleavage of drug-induced AP sites. The bleomycin-induced AP sites were comparable to heat-induced sites in their sensitivity to E. coli endonucleases III and IV but were cleaved by exonuclease III only at high concentrations. Bleomycin-induced AP sites were much more sensitive to cleavage by putrescine than heat-induced sites. Treatment with putrescine or very high concentrations of endonuclease III also increased the number of double-strand breaks in bleomycin-treated DNA, suggesting a minor class of lesion consisting of an AP site accompanied by a closely opposed break in the complementary strand. These complex lesions were resistant to cleavage by endonuclease IV. However, when colE1 DNA was treated with neocarzinostatin, subsequent treatment with putrescine, endonuclease IV, or very high concentrations of endonuclease III produced a dramatic increase in double-strand breaks but no detectable increase in single-strand breaks. These results suggest that virtually all neocarzinostatin-induced AP sites are accompanied by a closely opposed strand break.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mutagenesis of bleomycin-damaged lambda phage in SOS-deficient and repair endonuclease-deficient Escherichia coli.

Previous DNA sequence analysis of bleomycin-induced forward mutations in repackaged lambda phage has suggested SOS-dependent replicative bypass of oxidized apyrimidinic sites as a possible mechanism of mutagenesis. In order to evaluate this hypothesis further, frequencies of mutation to a clear-plaque phenotype were compared for bleomycin-damaged phage grown in various repair-deficient strains of Escherichia coli. Survival of bleomycin-damaged phage was virtually identical in all host strains. Studies in SOS-deficient strains indicated specific requirements for functional recA+ and umuC+ alleles in the generation of the majority of bleomycin-induced mutations, as well as a less stringent requirement for induction of the SOS response by ultraviolet irradiation of the host cells. These results are expected for mutagenesis resulting from apyrimidinic sites. However, the mutation frequency for bleomycin-damaged phage was the same whether the phage were grown in a wild-type strain or in strains deficient in apurinic/apyrimidinic repair endonucleases; this was true even for an nth-nfo-xth- strain lacking all three major apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases (endonuclease III, endonuclease IV, and exonuclease III). Likewise, phage grown in an endonuclease IV-overproducing strain showed the same mutation frequency as those grown in wild-type cells. These data suggest that either i) bleomycin-induced mutagenesis results from SOS-dependent bypass of lesions other than apyrimidinic sites or ii) the number of apyrimidinic sites available for SOS processing is virtually independent of the level of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activity in the cell. It is possible that a fraction of the apyrimidinic sites induced by bleomycin either are intrinsically resistant to repair or undergo secondary reactions that render them resistant.