The excess numbers of peritoneal macrophages in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor transgenic mice are generated by local proliferation.

Mice transgenic for the hemopoietic growth factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), exhibit a sustained elevation of GM-CSF levels and a 50-100-fold elevation of peritoneal macrophage cell numbers. The excess cell numbers were found to be generated in pre-adult life, with numbers remaining relatively constant thereafter. In the pre-adult period, no abnormalities were noted in the number or composition of blood, bone marrow, or spleen cells, the type or number of GM progenitor cells in the marrow or spleen, or the rate of appearance of newly formed monocytes in the peripheral blood. Peritoneal macrophages in pre-adult transgenic mice exhibited elevated mitotic activity and, after tritiated thymidine labeling, a more rapid accumulation of labeled progeny. The increase in peritoneal macrophage cell numbers appears, therefore, to be based on a GM-CSF-induced increase in local proliferative activity by peritoneal macrophages. This increased activity declined at the age of 8-10 wk, in parallel with a change in the morphology of the transgenic macrophages and an increase in binucleate and multinucleate macrophages arising by cell fusion. This change in macrophage phenotype was restricted to the transgenic mice and may therefore be a consequence of continued overstimulation by GM-CSF.

Enhancement of human blood eosinophil cytotoxicity by semi-purified eosinophil colony-stimulating factor(s).

Purified human blood eosinophils, when incubated in human placental conditioned medium (a source of colony-stimulating factors) [CSF]) demonstrate an enhanced ability to damage antibody- or complement-coated schistosomula. This enhancement represents a 4- to 10-fold increase of eosinophil schistosomicidal ability and a 10-fold lowering of the threshold for antibody or complement required in the killing reaction. The activity that enhances eosinophil cytotoxicity and the eosinophil colony-stimulating activity in the placental conditioned medium are eluted in the same fraction (CSF-alpha) after chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and phenyl-Sepharose columns, suggesting that these two activities might be associated with the same molecule. CSF-alpha enhances the adherence step of the killing reaction: antibody-coated larvae were frequently found covered by several layers of eosinophils in tubes containing CSF-alpha. Such a degree of adherence was rarely seen in control tubes lacking CSF-alpha. This enhancement of the eosinophil adherence is detectable 45-60 min after addition of CSF-alpha to the culture. It is not affected by washing the cells after a short time of preincubation with CSF-alpha, and it occurs in the absence of protein synthesis, whereas colony-stimulating activity requires continuous protein synthesis and ceases when CSF is removed from the culture. Finally, CSF-alpha enhances the temperature-dependent reaction that insures the irreversibility of eosinophil attachment to schistosomula. These observations suggest that eosinopoietic factors could be responsible for some of the modified properties of blood eosinophils in eosinophilic individuals.

Genetic deletion of murine SPRY domain-containing SOCS box protein 2 (SSB-2) results in very mild thrombocytopenia.

The SSB family is comprised of four highly homologous proteins containing a C-terminal SOCS box motif and a central SPRY domain. No function has yet been ascribed to any member of this family in mammalian species despite a clear role for other SOCS proteins in negative regulation of cytokine signaling. To investigate its physiological role, the murine Ssb-2 gene was deleted by homologous recombination. SSB-2-deficient mice were shown to have a reduced rate of platelet production, resulting in very mild thrombocytopenia (25% decrease in circulating platelets). Tissue histology and other hematological parameters were normal, as was the majority of serum biochemistry, with the exception that blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were decreased in mice lacking SSB-2. Quantitative analysis of SSB mRNA levels indicated that SSB-1, -2, and -3 were ubiquitously expressed; however, SSB-4 was only expressed at very low levels. SSB-2 expression was observed in the kidney and in megakaryocytes, a finding consistent with the phenotype of mice lacking this gene. Deletion of SSB-2 thus perturbs the steady-state level of two tightly controlled homeostatic parameters and identifies a critical role for SSB-2 in regulating platelet production and BUN levels.

Suckling defect in mice lacking the soluble haemopoietin receptor NR6.

Cytokines control a variety of cellular responses including proliferation, differentiation, survival and functional activation, via binding to specific receptors expressed on the surface of target cells [1]. The cytokine receptors of the haemopoietin family are defined by the presence of a conserved 200 amino acid extracellular domain known as the haemopoietin domain [2]. We report here the isolation of NR6, a haemopoietin receptor that, like the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 (IL-12) [3] and the EBI3 gene induced by Epstein-Barr virus infection in lymphocytes [4], contains a typical haemopoietin domain but lacks transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Although in situ hybridisation revealed NR6 expression at multiple sites in the developing embryo, mice lacking NR6 did not display obvious abnormalities and were born in the expected numbers. Neonatal NR6(-/-) mice failed to suckle, however, and died within 24 hours of birth, suggesting that NR6 is necessary for the recognition or processing of pheromonal signals or for the mechanics of suckling itself. In addition, NR6(-/-) mice had reduced numbers of haemopoietic progenitor cells, suggesting a potential role in the regulation of primitive haemopoiesis.

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.

Transformation of murine fibroblasts by a retrovirus encoding the murine c-fms proto-oncogene.

The c-fms proto-oncogene is the growth factor receptor for the macrophage colony stimulating factor, M-CSF. In this paper we have investigated the inappropriate expression of c-fms within a species as a relevant model for analysing transformation, growth, and differentiation promoting activities of c-fms. A retroviral vector was constructed for the expression of the murine c-fms proto-oncogene in murine cells. Initial characterization of this vector was performed in fibroblasts. Infection of Balb/c 3T3 cells with the murine c-fms retrovirus resulted in high level expression of the gp140c-fms precursor and the gp165c-fms mature receptor protein on the cell surface and both proteins exhibited kinase activity. Up to 3.3 x 10(4) M-CSF receptors per cell were detectable. The c-fms retrovirus induced foci of morphologically transformed Balb/c cells that exhibited anchorage independent growth in soft agar and produced progressively growing tumors in syngeneic animals. The Balb/c cells synthesize and secrete M-CSF and therefore these results suggest an autocrine mechanism of transformation caused solely by the expression of a normal growth factor receptor in an inappropriate, endogenous M-CSF-producing cell.

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.

Expression and function of members of the cytokine receptor superfamily on breast cancer cells.

Receptors for the cytokines leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), oncostatin M (OSM), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and interleukin-11 (IL-11) are members of the structurally conserved hemopoietin receptor superfamily. In addition, they all share the transmembrane signalling protein gp130. In this paper the expression and function of this family of receptors in breast cancer cells was examined. RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that gp130 was expressed in 12/12 breast cell lines and the specific receptor alpha-chains for IL-6, LIF, IL-11 and CNTF were expressed in the majority of these cell lines. This was in contrast to other hemopoietin receptors. Examination of 50 clinical samples of malignant breast tissue by RT-PCR showed a similar pattern of expression of gp130 associated receptors. Treatment of breast cancer cell lines with OSM resulted in changes in cellular morphology. Cellular proliferation was inhibited following exposure to OSM (3/4 cell lines), IL-11 (2/4 cell lines), and by IL-6 and LIF (1/4 cell lines). Cell surface binding of LIF and OSM was also documented. The expression of these receptors in 12/12 cell lines and greater than 95% of clinical samples suggests that these molecules may be important in regulating the growth of breast cells.

Evolution of a mutant J2E erythroid cell line which does not respond to erythropoietin.

The recently derived J2E cell lines differentiate in response to erythropoietin. However, during the course of growth in culture, a subclone has emerged which fails to synthesize hemoglobin or show accelerated proliferation following hormonal stimulation. The inability to respond to erythropoietin is not due to autocrine production of the hormone by these cells. Moreover, it appears unlikely that the block occurs at the level of the erythropoietin receptor as the number of receptors per cell was only marginally reduced and both ligand binding and internalization were normal. It is likely, therefore, that the intracellular signal transduction mechanism is faulty or a defect in hemoglobin production has developed.

Clonal analysis of the actions of the murine leukemia inhibitory factor on leukemic and normal murine hemopoietic cells.

The in vitro actions of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) purified from Krebs tumor conditioned medium, were analyzed on murine leukemic M1 and WEHI-3B D+ cells and on normal hemopoietic progenitor cells. LIF has no observable effects on WEHI-3B D+ cells but rapidly induced macrophage differentiation and loss of clonogenicity in M1 cells, resulting in the formation of abortive clones or differentiating colonies of reduced size and number. These effects were observable within one to two cell divisions in the presence of LIF and were irreversible. Addition of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) but not granulocyte/macrophage-CSF, granulocyte-CSF, or multi-CSF reduced the LIF-induced suppression of colony numbers and size. G-CSF had a slower differentiation-inducing action on M1 cells than LIF but potentiated the differentiation-inducing effects of low concentrations of LIF. LIF had no colony-stimulating activity for normal granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells and did not alter their quantitative responsiveness to CSF. However, culture of normal progenitor cells in the presence of LIF, but initial absence of CSF, reduced the survival of these cells. The differing actions of LIF and G-CSF on M1 leukemic cells suggest the existence of distinct mechanisms for inducing macrophage differentiation in these leukemic cells.

Primary human myeloid leukemia cells: comparative responsiveness to proliferative stimulation by GM-CSF or G-CSF and membrane expression of CSF receptors.

In vitro clonal culture of leukemic cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) showed that cells from all subtypes tested could be stimulated to proliferate clonally either by purified recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or by human cross-reactive, purified murine granulocyte CSF (G-CSF). The responsiveness of AML populations to CSF stimulation was quantitatively variable but was within the heterogeneous range exhibited by normal granulocyte-monocyte progenitor cells. A general concordance was noted between the proliferative effects of GM-CSF and G-CSF on the individual leukemic populations. All AML populations tested specifically bound 125I-labeled murine G-CSF; the level of labeling varied widely and correlated with AML subtype. Labeling levels on individual labeled leukemic cells were within the heterogeneous range exhibited by normal cells, but significant numbers of blast cells in M2, M4, and M5 AMLs appeared to lack membrane receptors for G-CSF. The level of labeling with G-CSF did not correlate with the frequency of clonogenic cells able to be stimulated by G-CSF. The data emphasized that GM-CSF and G-CSF are equivalent proliferative stimuli for human myeloid leukemia cells. Further, despite the potential ability of G-CSF to suppress murine leukemic cells, many AML blast cells lack significant numbers of G-CSF receptors. These considerations warrant caution in future attempts to use G-CSF in the therapy of acute myeloid leukemia.

PGM-1: a transplantable murine leukemia of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells.

PGM-1 is a transplantable leukemia of C3H/HeJ mice growing as a population of undifferentiated blast cells with a predisposition to form subcutaneous tumors and to grow in lymphoid organs. Cell survival and proliferation in vitro are absolutely dependent on stimulation by hemopoietic growth factors, and up to 100% of tumor cells can form colonies of mature granulocytes and/or macrophages in semisolid cultures, the colonies containing no clonogenic cells. Most clonogenic cells in the leukemic population respond to stimulation by multi-colony-stimulating factor (IL-3) or GM-CSF, but some respond also to M-CSF, G-CSF, IL-4, IL-5, or IL-6. In their surface phenotype and proliferative characteristics in vitro, PGM-1 leukemic cells resemble normal granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells, and the leukemia may be a useful model for human chronic myeloid leukemia.

The biological consequences of excess GM-CSF levels in transgenic mice also lacking high-affinity receptors for GM-CSF.

GM-CSF transgenic mice were crossed with mice with homozygous inactivation of the gene encoding the common beta chain (beta c) of the GM-CSF receptor to produce mice with constitutively elevated GM-CSF levels but no high-affinity GM-CSF receptors. GM-CSF transgenic beta c -/- mice had exceptionally elevated serum GM-CSF levels but failed to develop the abnormal peritoneal cell population, eye destruction or tissue lesions characteristic of GM-CSF transgenic beta c +/+ mice. The alveolar proteinosis of beta c -/- mice was not altered in GM-CSF transgenic beta c -/- mice. Levels of GM-CSF mRNA in transgenic GM-CSF beta c -/- were elevated but lower than in transgenic beta +/+ mice and the higher serum GM-CSF levels were traced in part to the longer serum half-life of GM-CSF in beta c -/- than in beta c +/+ mice although urinary loss of GM-CSF was higher in beta c -/- than in +/+ mice. The data indicate that the transgenic phenotype was due to stimulation by GM-CSF and not an insertional effect, that low-affinity receptors are not capable of initiating tissue pathology even in the presence of excess GM-CSF levels and that autocrine production of GM-CSF by GM-CSF-responsive cells also fails to induce changes in these cells. The results support current dogma that the action of polypeptide regulators is mediated exclusively by activation of high-affinity membrane receptors.

The flt3/flk-2 ligand: receptor distribution and action on murine haemopoietic cell survival and proliferation.

In this study the distribution and quantitation of the flt3/flk-2 receptor was examined on bone marrow cells and defined haemopoietic subpopulations. Undifferentiated cells expressed the greatest numbers of flt3/flk-2 receptors: 19% of primitive lin-kit+sca-1+ bone marrow cells and 16% of fetal liver lin-aa4.1+ cells exhibited over 15 000 receptors per cell as determined by binding of the radiolabeled cognate ligand (flt3/flk-2 ligand, FL). Moderate binding was demonstrated on early B lymphocyte subsets (4400 receptors per cell) and very low levels were detected on monocytes. Binding was not detected on promyelocytes, myelocytes, promonocytes, metamyelocytes, polymorphonuclear cells, eosinophils or nucleated erythroid cells. FL enhanced the survival of primitive lin kit+sca-1+ cells with an efficacy s with an efficacy equivalent to stem cell factor (SCF). FL stimulated predominantly blast and granulocyte-macrophage colony formation in cultures of bone marrow cells by both direct and indirect mechanisms. Marked synergistic effects of FL with combinations of colony stimulating factors (CSFs) or interleukin-6 occurred in the proliferation of primitive lin-kit+sca-1+ cells, but not lin-kit+sca-1- progenitor cells. Surprisingly, recloning experiments revealed that FL plus IL-3 increased the generation of progenitor cells by lin-kit a-1- cells compared with SCF plus IL-3. Thus FL functions as a factor with both direct and indirect stimulatory activities directed to the expansion, maintenance of clonogenic potential, and possibly limited self-renewal, of early haemopoietic cells.

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.

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS): negative regulators of signal transduction.

SOCS-1 was originally identified as an inhibitor of interleukin-6 signal transduction and is a member of a family of proteins (SOCS-1 to SOCS-7 and CIS) that contain an SH2 domain and a conserved carboxyl-terminal SOCS box motif. Mutation studies have established that critical contributions from both the amino-terminal and SH2 domains are essential for SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 to inhibit cytokine signaling. Inhibition of cytokine-dependent activation of STAT3 occurred in cells expressing either SOCS-1 or SOCS-3, but unlike SOCS-1, SOCS-3 did not directly interact with or inhibit the activity of JAK kinases. Although the conserved SOCS box motif appeared to be dispensable for SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 action when overexpressed, this domain interacts with elongin proteins and may be important in regulating protein turnover. In gene knockout studies, SOCS-1(-/-) mice were born but failed to thrive and died within 3 weeks of age with fatty degeneration of the liver and hemopoietic infiltration of several organs. The thymus in SOCS-1(-/-) mice was small, the animals were lymphopenic, and deficiencies in B lymphocytes were evident within hemopoietic organs. We propose that the absence of SOCS-1 in these mice prevents lymphocytes and liver cells from appropriately controlling signals from cytokines with cytotoxic side effects.

Modulation by serum from irradiated and marrow transplanted mice of hemopoietic regeneration in mouse spleen organ cultures.

A spleen organ culture system has been used to analyse hemopoietic progenitor cell (CFC) regeneration in the C57BL mouse spleen following 800 rad whole-body irradiation and the injection of 10(7) syngeneic bone marrow cells. The linear regeneration pattern observed in vitro compared to an initial decrease followed by a rapid increase in CFC levels in vivo suggested a possible modulating influence of humoral factors in vivo on hemopoietic regeneration in the spleen. In agreement with this, addition of mouse serum collected at various time intervals after irradiation and transplantation to spleen organ cultures in vitro was able to reproduce accurately the kinetics of CFC regeneration seen in spleens in vivo. In addition the possible role played by colony stimulating factors (CSF) in the regulation of CFC regeneration in spleen organ cultures was investigated. No clear evidence was found for the importance of CSF in regulating the CFC regeneration in organ cultured spleens.

The suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins: important feedback inhibitors of cytokine action.

While positive effectors of cytokine signaling pathways are relatively well defined, negative regulation can be just as important but is poorly understood. The recently discovered suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of proteins has been implicated in the negative regulation of several cytokine pathways, particularly the receptor-associated tyrosine kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (AK/STAT) pathways of transcriptional activation. Biochemical studies revealed that inhibition can occur via a variety of mechanisms. SOCS proteins bind to tyrosine-phosphorylated residues of target proteins via their SH2 domains, then inhibit JAK activity through their N-terminal domains, and are thought to induce degredation of bound molecules through a conserved SOCS-box motif that interacts with the proteasome. SOCS protein expression is induced by a wide variety of cytokines with each member displaying varying kinetics of induction. Gene modification studies in mice have demonstrated that SOCS-1 has a clear role in the negative regulation of interferon-gamma signaling, while other SOCS family members have also been shown to be involved in the regulation of T cell, growth hormone, and erythropoietin signaling systems.

Binding characteristics and proliferative action of purified granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on normal and leukemic human promyelocytes.

The binding of purified 125I-labeled murine granulocyte colony stimulating factor (125I-G-CSF) to normal and leukemic human cells was examined. Normal neutrophils and their precursors demonstrated specific labeling with 125I-G-CSF, whereas eosinophils, lymphocytes, and erythroid cells did not. Normal human promyelocytes demonstrated the highest binding among hemopoietic cells. Human myeloid leukemic cells also demonstrated consistent specific labeling with 125I-G-CSF. Normal promyelocytes and chronic myeloid leukemia promyelocytes demonstrated only transient clonal proliferation in vitro when stimulated by G-CSF, but this was not always the case with acute promyelocytic leukemic cells. The qualitative responsiveness of normal and leukemic cells to G-CSF was very similar despite heterogeneity in receptor numbers on individual cells. A subset of acute promyelocytic leukemic cells appeared unresponsive to stimulation by GM-CSF.

Quantitative responsiveness of murine hemopoietic populations in vitro and in vivo to recombinant multi-CSF (IL-3).

Purified, bacterially synthesized, recombinant Multi-CSF (rMulti-CSF) exhibited in vitro proliferative effects identical to those of native Multi-CSF on a broad range of progenitor cells from normal murine bone marrow and on the continuous cell line FD-CP1. The injection into normal adult mice of 6-200 ng purified rMulti-CSF three times daily for six days induced dose-related rises in peritoneal macrophages, neutrophils, and eosinophils, and in the spleen weight and content of megakaryocytes, mast cells, and progenitor cells, some responses being detectable with the lowest dose injected. No Multi-CSF was detected in the serum, organ extracts, or organ-conditioned medium from normal or endotoxin-injected mice. While the data indicate that even small doses of injected rMulti-CSF can produce detectable hemopoietic changes in normal adult mice, the pattern of these changes and the failure to detect Multi-CSF in vivo raise doubts that Multi-CSF plays a significant role as a regulator of hemopoiesis in normal adult life.