IL-4 and IL-13 induce Lsk, a Csk-like tyrosine kinase, in human monocytes.

Lsk is a protein tyrosine kinase with homology to the COOH-terminal Src kinase (Csk). Unlike Csk that is ubiquitously expressed, Lsk has limited tissue distribution. Here we have examined the expression and regulation of Lsk and Csk in peripheral human monocytes. We have found that Lsk mRNA and protein were not expressed in resting monocytes but were induced by treatment with interleukin 4 (IL-4) or IL-13 but not by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) or IL-2. In fact, IFN-gamma, but not IL-2, efficiently blocked Lsk induction by IL-4 or IL-13. In contrast, Csk was constitutively present in human monocytes and was upregulated by IFN-gamma but not by IL-4 or IL-13. These results suggest that despite their structural similarities, Lsk and Csk may play distinct regulatory roles in monocyte functions elicited by cytokines, with Lsk functioning specifically within the context of a Th2-type immune response.

Regulation of JAK3 expression in human monocytes: phosphorylation in response to interleukins 2, 4, and 7.

The Janus family of kinases (JAKs) has been shown to be involved in the signal transduction of a number of cytokine receptors. Recently, we have cloned a novel JAK family member, JAK3, that is expressed in natural killer and activated T cells and is coupled functionally and physically to the interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor in these cells. Here we report that JAK3 was expressed at low but detectable levels in human monocytes. In contrast, JAK3 expression was strongly induced during activation by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) or lipopolysaccharide. Moreover, JAK3 became tyrosine phosphorylated in response to IL-2, IL-4, and IL-7 but not response to IFN-gamma or granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Together, these findings suggest that JAK3 is functionally important in activated monocytes and cells of the myeloid lineage and is involved in signaling responses of cytokines that use the common gamma-chain of the IL-2 receptor.

Circumpubertal growth spurt related to vertical dysplasia.

A longitudinal study of 32 individuals representing male and female open and deep bite was examined to determine the relationship between subjects who are characterized by proportionately large and small lower anterior face heights and adolescent facial growth spurts. Open bite individuals matured earlier than deep bite individuals. Morphologic differences between the groups were maintained during the adolescent growth spurt. Further studies are needed to examine the relationships between adolescent growth spurt to stature and somatotype.

The effect of bite-opening appliances on mandibular rotational growth and remodeling in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Previous experimental studies that have used a bite-block cemented to the maxillary dental arch have shown that the direction of growth of the maxillary complex is redirected in a superior and anterior direction for approximately 12 weeks but reassumes a normal inferior and anterior direction after that time. The purposes of this study were (1) to examine the effect of increased vertical dimension and altered mandibular posture on growth of the mandible and (2) to determine whether or not an alteration in chronic mandibular position alters mandibular intramatrix rotation. Eleven Macaca mulatta monkeys wore 15 mm vertical bite-opening appliances for 24 or 48 weeks. Nine untreated animals were used as controls. All animals received tantalum bone implants to facilitate cephalometric analysis. Serial lateral radiographs of the mandible were traced and superimposed on bone implants for each animal to determine overall changes in mandibular shape (gonial angle) and the location of bone remodeling. During normal growth, the gonial angle closed an average of 0.1 degrees over a 48-week period. In the experimental animals, the gonial angle opened 6.4 degrees (p less than 0.005) as a result of remodeling during the period that mandibular posture was altered. Once normal mandibular posture was restored, this process was reversed; the gonial angle once again became more acute over time, and remodeling along the body and ramus of the mandible was similar to that observed in control animals. These results suggest that mandibular growth and remodeling can be influenced by altered mandibular vertical posture.

Functional role for the myeloid differentiation antigen CD14 in the activation of human monocytes by IL-2.

Human monocytes express functional IL-2Rs and are directly activated by IL-2 to exert effector and secretory functions. In this study, we demonstrate that the myeloid differentiation Ag CD14 participates in monocyte activation by IL-2. Engagement of CD14 by specific mAbs resulted in the selective and dose-dependent suppression of IL-2-induced, but not of IFN-gamma-induced, monocyte tumoricidal activity. Furthermore, anti-CD14 mAbs effectively inhibited the secretion of IL-8 and IL-1beta in response to IL-2. Preincubation of monocytes with mAbs directed to selected epitopes on CD14 blocked the binding of IL-2 to the cell surface, providing a possible explanation for the inhibition of IL-2-triggered responses. A critical role for CD14 in IL-2-mediated monocyte activation was further demonstrated by experiments with the human U937 promonocytic cell line. These cells are negative for CD14 and unresponsive to IL-2 despite the expression of the beta and gamma subunits of the IL-2R. U937 cells acquired the capacity to respond to IL-2 following transfection with the human CD14 cDNA (U937/CD14). Stimulation of U937/CD14 cells with IL-2 up-regulated the constitutive levels of IL-8 mRNA, whereas no change in IL-8 mRNA basal expression was observed in control cells transfected with the vector alone (U937/Neo). Accordingly, increased secretion of IL-8 by U937/CD14, but not by U937/Neo cells, was detected following exposure to IL-2. Expression of IL-1beta was also augmented by IL-2 in U937/CD14 cells. These data provide the first evidence that CD14 expression is required for the response of monocytic cells to IL-2.

IL-4 inhibits IL-2-induced tumoricidal activity and secretory functions of human monocytes. Modulation of IL-2 binding and IL-2 receptor beta gamma chain expression.

Human monocytes express functional IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) and are directly activated by IL-2 to exert effector and secretory functions. In this study, we show that IL-4 selectively suppressed, in a dose-dependent manner, IL-2-induced monocyte tumoricidal activity, without affecting IFN-gamma-dependent cytotoxicity. This effect was specific because a neutralizing anti-IL-4 mAb completely restored IL-2-activated cytolysis. Furthermore, IL-4 effectively blocked the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by IL-2-stimulated monocytes. Binding studies with biotin-conjugated IL-2 demonstrated that monocyte stimulation with IL-2 increased IL-2 binding to the cell surface, and that treatment with IL-4 inhibited this augmentation, providing a possible explanation for the decreased responsiveness of monocytes to IL-2 in the presence of IL-4. However, IL-4 suppressive effects could not be ascribed to the down-regulation of the individual components of the IL-2R complex. In fact, co-treatment of monocytes with IL-2 and IL-4 increased the expression of IL-2R gamma chain above the levels induced by IL-2 alone, whereas it did not significantly affect the expression of IL-2R beta chain. Thus, the inhibition of IL-2 binding by IL-4 may be due to the recruitment of the gamma chain into the IL-4-IL-4R system, making it unavailable for participation in the formation of IL-2 binding sites. These findings provide the first evidence of the ability of IL-4 to suppress IL-2-mediated activation of human monocytes and suggest that IL-4 may play an important role in vivo as an inhibitory signal that controls the response of monocytes to IL-2.