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B B Aggarwal

Publications and source records attributed to B B Aggarwal.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

The effects of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor on glioma-derived cell lines: cellular proliferation, cytotoxicity, morphological and radioreceptor studies.

To determine whether tumor necrosis factor is of potential value for the treatment of human malignant gliomas, we studied the effects of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF-alpha) on the morphology, incorporation of tritiated thymidine, and proliferation of 5 established cell lines derived from human malignant gliomas and 3 normal human brain cell cultures. A radioreceptor analysis for rTNF-alpha was performed on all cell lines and cultures. Two of the 5 human glioma cell lines (SF-188 and U 343 MG-A) demonstrated a marked decrease (60% or less of untreated controls) in the uptake of tritiated thymidine when treated with rTNF-alpha at a concentration of 40 U/ml; rTNF-alpha at 100 U/ml had antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects on both cell lines. The growth and proliferation of cell lines SF-126 and U 251 MG were not affected by rTNF-alpha even at high concentrations (5,000 U/ml). The growth and proliferation of SF-539 were affected to an intermediate degree. A colony-forming efficiency assay corroborated the results of the proliferation studies: SF-126 was relatively resistant (surviving fraction of 0.9 at 500 U/ml) and SF-188 was relatively sensitive (surviving fraction of 0.08 at 500 U/ml) to the cytotoxic effects of rTNF-alpha. Time-sequence electron microscopy showed that rTNF-alpha at a concentration of 500 U/ml caused ultrastructural changes in SF-188, including increased intracytoplasmic vesiculation, swelling and degeneration of mitochondria, loss of cell:cell junctional complexes, and fragmentation of the plasma membrane. Studies with 125I-rTNF-alpha showed a variable degree of binding in all cell lines and cultures. SF-188, a highly sensitive cell line, demonstrated the strongest binding of 125I-rTNF-alpha (3,400 receptors/cell with high affinity; kd = 0.27 nM), while SF-126, a highly resistant cell line, had the weakest binding (809 receptors/cell; kd = 0.25 nM). We conclude that there is a spectrum of antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity among glioma-derived tumor cell lines exposed to rTNF-alpha. An increased number of rTNF-alpha receptors appears to be a necessary but insufficient condition to explain the antiproliferative effects observed in some glioma-derived cell lines.

Cell Division↗

Characterization of the in vitro and in vivo species preference of human and murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

The species preference of human and murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was evaluated in human and murine systems for cytotoxic/cytostatic effects and receptor binding in vitro and murine systems for toxicity and antitumor activity in vivo. The in vitro cytotoxic/cytostatic effects of both species TNF-alpha on human and murine cell lines as well as the receptor binding studies using 125I-labeled recombinant human TNF-alpha demonstrated homologous species preferences. Species preference of TNF-alpha was also apparent in toxicity studies with BALB/c nu/nu and CB6F1 mice, and antitumor responses of CB6F1 mice to s.c. Meth A sarcoma implants. Moreover the growth of Meth A sarcoma implanted i.p. was not inhibited by either human or murine TNF-alpha. These results are discussed in view of the potential for underestimation of the biological potency of TNF-alpha from heterologous sources.

Animals↗

Amplified expression of the HER2/ERBB2 oncogene induces resistance to tumor necrosis factor alpha in NIH 3T3 cells.

Functional characterization of oncogene products that induce cellular transformation has progressed rapidly in recent years. However, less is known about the mechanism(s) by which the transformed cells may escape destruction by host immune defenses and form tumors. A recently described oncogene that has an important association with aggressive human breast carcinoma is "HER2," for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The oncogene has also been called NGL and human c-erbB-2 (ERBB2). In this paper we show that amplification of HER2 oncogene expression can induce resistance of NIH 3T3 cells to the cytotoxic effects of recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF-alpha) or macrophages. Resistance is accompanied by an increased dissociation constant for rTNF-alpha binding to high-affinity receptors on the HER2-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. The resistance phenotype is independent of transformation since NIH 3T3 cells transformed by the activated human homologue of the Harvey-ras oncogene (HRAS) retain high-affinity binding sites for rTNF-alpha as well as sensitivity to its cytotoxic effects. These results suggest that HER2 may potentiate tumorigenesis by inducing tumor cell resistance to host defense mechanisms.

Animals↗

Effect of phorbol esters on down-regulation and redistribution of cell surface receptors for tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

The effects of various phorbol esters on the interaction of human cells with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) was investigated. Preexposure of several different types of cells with only biologically active tumor promoter, i.e. 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), inhibited the specific binding of rTNF-alpha to its receptor. The reduction in specific binding of TNF-alpha was observed only by PMA but not with several other phorbol esters tested. 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, which is an analogue of the natural protein kinase C activator, diacylglycerol, was active in down-regulating TNF-alpha receptors but only at 1000 times concentration than PMA. Scatchard analysis of the binding data on U-937 cells revealed that PMA caused a decrease in high affinity cell surface receptor number (approximately 8300 versus approximately 2500 binding sites/cell) without any significant change in the dissociation constant (0.38 nM versus 0.32 nM). This decrease in receptor number is dependent on temperature, the time of exposure, and dose of PMA. Greater than 95% of the specific binding of 125I-TNF-alpha could be abolished within 10 min by preexposure of cells to 10 nM PMA at 37 degrees C. The down-regulation of receptors by PMA occurred only at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C, suggesting a probable internalization of the receptors. The specific binding of TNF-alpha to detergent-solubilized cell extracts remained unchanged after exposure of cells to PMA. The rates of dissociation of TNF-alpha from the cell surface and the rate of internalization was not significantly affected by PMA, but the rate of disappearance from cell interior and its appearance into the medium was slightly enhanced by PMA. PMA did not alter the rate of degradation of the TNF-alpha nor cause the shedding of receptors into the medium. Approximately 70% of TNF-alpha cell surface receptors could be regenerated within 16 h after PMA removal. These results suggest the involvement of PMA-activated protein kinase C in down-regulation and redistribution of TNF-alpha receptors.

Cell Line↗

Modulation of the growth of transformed cells by human tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma.

Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) inhibited growth of the cervical carcinoma cell line, ME-180neo, at doses greater than 50 units/ml, but stimulated the growth of these cells at low doses (0.1-10 units/ml). ME-180neo variants selected for resistance to the cytotoxic effects of rHuTNF-alpha retained the ability to be growth stimulated at all concentrations tested. ME-180neo cells and the rHuTNF-alpha-resistant ME-180neo variants possessed equivalent steady state numbers of TNF-alpha receptors with similar Kd values. Recombinant human interferon-gamma (rHuIFN-gamma) augmented the rHuTNF-alpha-induced cytotoxic response of ME-180neo cells and overcame the resistance of the ME-180neo variants to rHuTNF-alpha cytotoxicity. In separate experiments we were able to show that the number of TNF-alpha binding sites on both rHuTNF-alpha-sensitive and -resistant ME-180neo cells was similar and was increased by treatment with rHuIFN-gamma. These results suggest that the growth stimulation of tumor cells mediated by rHuTNF-alpha can be dissociated from the cytotoxic response and that these responses are not related to the number or affinity of TNF-alpha binding sites.

Cell Division↗

Tumor necrosis factors alpha and beta differ in their capacities to generate interleukin 1 release from human endothelial cells.

The capacity of the tumor necrosis factors, TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, products of activated macrophages and lymphocytes, respectively, to stimulate interleukin 1 (IL-1) release from endothelial cells derived from human umbilical veins was examined in vitro. Recombinant TNF-alpha caused IL-1 release by 4 hr with maximal levels of 17 U/ml by 24 hr; half-maximal stimulation occurred at approximately 80 pM. In contrast, recombinant TNF-beta was a relatively poor stimulus for IL-1 release. Even at concentrations as high as 600 pM, only 3 U of IL-1/ml were recovered; maximal IL-1 release (10 to 12 U/ml) required up to 5 nM TNF-beta. Natural, glycosated human TNF-beta was comparable in activity to recombinant TNF-beta. TNF-beta did not directly inhibit the IL-1 comitogenesis assay, nor was there evidence that TNF-beta induced the release of an IL-1 inhibitor, in that supernatants generated in the presence of TNF-beta did not inhibit thymocyte proliferation to a recombinant IL-1 standard. Binding of the recombinant TNF to endothelial monolayers was assessed by using [125I]TNF-alpha in competition studies with cold TNF-alpha and TNF-beta. Binding of TNF-alpha was half-maximal at 80 pM with an average of 664 receptors/cell and Kd = 0.043 nM. Although TNF-beta was capable of fully competing for [125I]TNF-alpha binding, half-maximal binding occurred at 800 pM TNF-beta. These data suggest that the TNF receptors on human endothelial cells may reflect the structural differences between these two homologous cytokines.

Cells, Cultured↗

Induction of receptors for tumor necrosis factor-alpha by interferons is not a major mechanism for their synergistic cytotoxic response.

We have investigated the effects of various interferons on the receptors for recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) and also their effects on rTNF-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity on human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180. Preincubation of cells with interferon (IFN)-gamma causes a concentration- and time-dependent increase in rTNF-alpha receptor number without any change in the affinity constant of the receptors. The increase in receptor number is caused only by IFN-gamma and not by IFN-alpha or IFN-beta. Approximately 4-6 h of preincubation with IFN-gamma are required for maximum increase in rTNF-alpha binding to the cells, and this increase can be abolished by inhibitors of protein synthesis, suggesting de novo synthesis of rTNF-alpha receptors. The half-life of both uninduced and induced receptors of rTNF-alpha is approximately 2 h, indicating a rapid turnover. The binding of rTNF-alpha to the cells can also be eliminated by pretreatment of cells with trypsin. Following the removal of trypsin, binding of rTNF-alpha gradually increases, and this requires the synthesis of new proteins. The cytotoxic effect of rTNF-alpha on ME-180 cells is potentiated severalfold by the addition of either IFN-alpha, -beta, or -gamma. However, at similar concentrations, relatively higher potentiation of rTNF-alpha cytotoxicity is observed with IFN-gamma as compared to IFN-alpha and IFN-beta. The pre-exposure of cells to IFNs is as effective as co-exposure in enhancing cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha. The induction of TNF-alpha receptors by IFNs is observed in different cell types regardless of their sensitivity to TNF-alpha, suggesting that increase in receptor number alone is not sufficient for the enhanced cytotoxic response. Because the enhancement of cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha is observed by all IFNs but receptor induction in ME-180 cells occurs only with INF-gamma and because metabolic inhibitors which down-regulate TNF-alpha receptors also enhance cytotoxic response, we suggest that the induction of TNF-alpha receptor by IFNs is not a major mechanism of synergism between these cytokines.

Cell Line↗

Characterization of the antitumor activities of human tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the comparison with other cytokines: induction of tumor-specific immunity.

We have investigated the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) against Meth A sarcoma. Meth A sarcoma cells were found to a) be relatively insensitive in vitro to rHuTNF-alpha, and b) express low numbers of TNF-alpha receptors. Intraperitoneally implanted Meth A sarcoma was insensitive to the antitumor effects of rHuTNF-alpha. In contrast, rHuTNF-alpha was highly efficacious against subcutaneously implanted Meth A sarcoma. Biodistribution studies with 125I- or 3H-labeled rHuTNF-alpha demonstrated that, after intravenous administration, the majority of the labeled rHuTNF-alpha localized in the kidney, lungs, and liver. Only low levels of radiolabel were found in subcutaneous Meth A implants. These results support the in vitro data on the low number of TNF-alpha receptors on Meth A sarcoma cells. The ability of rHuTNF-alpha to induce regression of established (7 days) subcutaneous Meth A implants, positively correlated with the degree of both macroscopic and microscopic tumor necrosis. In addition, recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-beta (lymphotoxin) and recombinant murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced similar levels of necrosis. Other lymphokines with known antitumor activities, recombinant human interferon-gamma, murine interferon-gamma, and human interleukin 1 alpha, failed to induce detectable necrosis of Meth A sarcoma. Mice which had rejected subcutaneous Meth A sarcoma implants after rHuTNF-alpha treatment and which were later challenged subcutaneously with Meth A sarcoma or other noncross-reacting chemically induced sarcomas were found to be specifically immune to Meth A sarcoma. In addition, low levels of cytotoxic antibodies reactive to Meth A sarcoma were detected in the sera of 21 of 30 Meth A immune mice. Histological evaluation of the hemorrhagic tumor necrosis induced by rHuTNF-alpha suggests that the primary lesion is vascular, possibly directly on the endothelial cells. The mechanisms involved in the generation of specific cell-mediated antitumor immunity in this model are at present unknown.

Animals↗

Identification of human uromodulin as the Tamm-Horsfall urinary glycoprotein.

The primary structure of human uromodulin, a 616-amino acid, 85-kilodalton glycoprotein with in vitro immunosuppressive properties, was determined through isolation and characterization of complementary DNA and genomic clones. The amino acid sequence encoded by one of the exons of the uromodulin gene has homology to the low-density-lipoprotein receptor and the epidermal growth factor precursor. Northern hybridization analyses demonstrate that uromodulin is synthesized by the kidney. Evidence is provided that uromodulin is identical to the previously characterized Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein, the most abundant protein in normal human urine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of growth factors on the antiproliferative activity of tumor necrosis factors.

Tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) are a class of cytokines secreted by activated effector cells involved in host defense against tumor progression. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and recombinant human transforming growth factor-alpha (rHuTGF-alpha) were shown to interfere with the in vitro antiproliferative effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) and -beta on a human cervical carcinoma cell line, ME-180. The inhibitory effect could be observed at EGF or rHuTGF-alpha concentrations of 100 pg/ml, and was maximal between 1 and 10 ng/ml. This response was not due to down regulation of the TNF receptor or to alteration of the affinity of TNF-alpha for its receptor. Since the antiproliferative effect of recombinant human interferon-gamma was not significantly affected by the presence of EGF or rHuTGF-alpha, the inhibition was specific for recombinant TNFs and was not due solely to enhanced proliferation induced by the growth factors. Neither growth factor had a substantial protective effect on the synergistic cytotoxicity observed when tumor cells were exposed simultaneously to rHuTNF-alpha and recombinant human interferon-gamma. TGF-beta can also interfere with the antiproliferative effects of rHuTNF-alpha in vitro. At concentrations of less than 1 ng/ml, TGF-beta significantly antagonized the cytotoxic effects of rHuTNF-alpha on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Since EGF, platelet-derived growth factor, and TGF-beta all enhanced NIH 3T3 cell proliferation, but only TGF-beta interfered with rHuTNF-alpha cytotoxicity, the protective effects of TGF-beta were not related in a simple manner to enhanced cell proliferation. rHuTGF-alpha and TGF-beta did not have a significant protective effect against rHuTNF-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity on two other tumor cell lines, BT-20 and L-929 cells. Based upon these observations we suggest that growth factors might enhance tumor growth in vivo by a combination of distinct mechanisms: (a) by autocrine stimulation tumor cell growth; and/or (b) by interfering with normal effector mechanisms of host defense.

Animals↗

Human tumour necrosis factors: structure and receptor interactions.

Activation of lymphoid and myeloid cells causes the production of factors cytotoxic to various tumour cell types in vitro and in vivo. We have investigated the biochemistry, molecular biology and mechanism of action of two such factors. The factor derived from a myeloid cell line was named TNF-alpha (previously referred to as TNF) and that derived from lymphoid cells named TNF-beta (previously called lymphotoxin). Both proteins were purified from the conditioned media of the human cell lines and sequenced. Structural information revealed that TNF-alpha is 157 amino acid residues long and contains one disulphide bond. TNF-beta is a glycoprotein of 171 amino acids that contains no cysteine residues. Protein sequence information was used to isolate and characterize cDNAs for TNF-alpha and TNF-beta by recombinant DNA methods. The expression of the cDNAs in Escherichia coli made available large quantities of these proteins for biological studies. The two proteins are 31% identical and 52% homologous to each other. The genes for both cytokines are approximately three kilobases in size and are closely linked on human chromosome six. TNF-alpha and TNF-beta both bind to various cell types via a single class of high affinity receptors. On most cells the same receptor is recognized by both cytokines. The receptors for TNF-alpha can be up-regulated by both interferons and lectins. Up-regulation of receptors by interferons is accompanied by synergistic enhancement of the biological response whereas up-regulation by lectins results in an antagonistic response. Besides antiproliferative effects, both cytokines exhibit direct antiviral effects on infection by both DNA and RNA viruses.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

Receptor binding and activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

The interaction of highly purified recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) with human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) was investigated. Binding of 125I-rTNF-alpha to PMN reached maximum levels in 30 min at 37 degrees C and in 2 h at 4 degrees C. Scatchard analysis of competitive binding data indicated approximately 6000 receptor sites per cell and a Kd of 1.37 nM. Binding data at 37 degrees C indicated a rapid internalization of rTNF-alpha. Following this receptor-mediated interaction, recombinant TNF-alpha was found to inhibit the migration of PMNs under agarose and to enhance PMN production of superoxide anion (O-2) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, rTNF-alpha-activated PMNs caused a marked disruption of human umbilical-vein-derived endothelial cell monolayers and caused inhibition of their proliferative activities. These data substantiate the role of TNF-alpha as an activator of PMN functions and indicate that PMN/TNF-alpha/endothelial cell interactions may play a major role in inflammatory reactions.

Binding, Competitive↗

Monoclonal antibodies to human tumor necrosis factors alpha and beta: application for affinity purification, immunoassays, and as structural probes.

Monoclonal antibodies were produced against two structurally related tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), TNF-alpha (previously called tumor necrosis factor) and TNF-beta (previously called lymphotoxin). The potential of these antibodies for the purification of TNFs, the development of specific immunoassays, and for defining the antigenic and functional domains of these cytokines was investigated. None of the monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, or reacted with synthetic peptides which represented several of the regions of homology between these cytokines. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies were utilized as immunoadsorbents to purify recombinant TNF-alpha and TNF-beta from E. coli lysates. TNFs purified by this method were greater than 98 percent pure by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and exhibited specific activities that were the same as TNFs isolated from natural sources using conventional chromatographic techniques. In addition, specific ELISA assays were developed that could detect less than 1 ng/ml of TNF-alpha or TNF-beta, and in contrast to bioassays, could discriminate between these related cytokines.

Animals↗

Modulation of receptors and cytotoxic response of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by various lectins.

The effects of various lectins on the interaction of the human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180 with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) was investigated. rTNF-alpha is known to have cytotoxic effects on this tumor cell line and has been reported to interact with these cells through a single class of specific high affinity receptors (Kd = 0.45 nM; approximately 1790 binding sites/cell). Exposure of cells to concanavalin A (ConA) causes an approximately 2-fold increase in rTNF-alpha receptors without any significant change in their affinity constant (Kd = 0.36 nM; approximately 3662 binding sites/cell). This increase in receptor number is dependent on temperature, the time of exposure and dose of ConA, and does not require the synthesis of new proteins. In spite of an increased binding of rTNF-alpha to cells, the cell killing induced by rTNF-alpha is totally blocked by ConA. Cells are also protected by this lectin from the synergistic cytotoxic effects of rTNF-alpha and recombinant human interferon-gamma. Furthermore, it was also found that ConA decreases the rate of internalization and dramatically inhibits the release and degradation of rTNF-alpha by the cells. These results, overall, demonstrate that ConA increases total number of binding sites for rTNF-alpha but blocks the transduction of the signal for the cytotoxic response.

Cell Line↗

Natural killer-sensitive targets stimulate production of TNF-alpha but not TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) by highly purified human peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes.

Highly purified populations of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) have been shown to mediate natural killer (NK) cell activity. The mechanism of target cell killing by NK cells is as yet undefined; however, it has been postulated that such killing may involve soluble cytotoxic factors produced and secreted by NK cells. The data presented show that NK-sensitive, but not NK-resistant, tumor cell lines induce highly purified populations of human LGL to produce factors with cytotoxic and/or cytostatic activities. We have identified one of these factors as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and have shown that production of this factor is enhanced by recombinant human interferon-gamma (rHuIFN-gamma). We have also examined the role of TNF-alpha in the cytotoxic function of NK cells. The data show that although highly purified LGL populations produce low levels of TNF-alpha, the cytotoxic/cytostatic activity of this lymphokine on tumor target cells does not correlate with the cytotoxic activity of highly purified populations of LGL on tumor target cells. Furthermore, NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity is not reliably inhibited by antibodies directed against various epitopes of recombinant human TNF-alpha and/or recombinant TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) or rHuIFN-gamma. These data show that although TNF-alpha is produced by highly purified NK-containing LGL cell populations, this factor does not appear to be responsible for NK cell cytotoxicity against classical NK target cells such as Molt-4 or K562. We suggest that NK function can be attributed to a combination of factors rather than to a single factor alone, and that at least two major phenomena are involved in LGL function: the rapid cytotoxic events which lead to the cell lysis measured in classical in vitro NK assays such as against K562; and the release of factors such as TNF-alpha with cytotoxic/cytostatic activities which would inhibit the growth of invading tumor cells in vivo.

Animals↗

Interferons and tumor necrosis factors have similar catabolic effects on 3T3 L1 cells.

The effect of a variety of cytokines on lipid metabolism in 3T3 L1 mouse fibroblasts and adipocytes was studied. Uptake of [3H]acetate by adipocytes and heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase activity was inhibited after treatments of the cells with picomolar concentrations of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (rHuTNF-alpha), human tumor necrosis factor beta (rHuTNF-beta, also called lymphotoxin), murine interferon-gamma (rMuIFN-gamma), and a human hybrid interferon-alpha [rHuIFN-alpha 2/alpha 1 (Bgl II)]. Recombinant human interferon-gamma (rHuIFN-gamma), natural human colony-stimulating factor (HuCSF), and human interleukin 2 (HuIL-2) had no effect. Similar though less-marked suppression of [3H]acetate uptake by cytokines was seen in 3T3 L1 fibroblasts. Cytokines inhibited the incorporation of [3H]acetate into both membrane and storage lipids in the adipocytes. In addition to blocking lipid uptake and synthesis, rHuTNF-alpha and -beta, and rMuIFN-gamma stimulated the release of free fatty acid into the medium from adipocytes. Binding studies suggest that rHuTNF-alpha and rHuTNF-beta compete for the same cell-surface receptor on 3T3 L1 adipocytes, while rMuIFN-gamma binds to a separate receptor. The binding of rTNF-alpha to both adipocytes and fibroblasts can be significantly enhanced by preexposure of the cells to rMuIFN-gamma. There appear to be both high- and low-affinity receptors for rHuTNF-alpha on adipocytes, whereas fibroblasts exhibit a single class of high-affinity receptors. These results suggest that a variety of structurally distinct cytokines possess lipid mobilization activity, which may be of critical importance to the host in defense against infection or malignancy.

Acetates↗

Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha: effects on proliferation of normal and transformed cells in vitro.

Modulation of the growth of human and murine cell lines in vitro by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) and recombinant human interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) was investigated. rTNF-alpha had cytostatic or cytolytic effects on only some tumor cell lines. When administered together with rIFN-gamma, rTNF-alpha showed enhanced antiproliferative effects on a subset of the cell lines tested. In contrast to its effects on sensitive tumor cells, rTNF-alpha augmented the growth of normal diploid fibroblasts. Variations in the proliferative response induced by rTNF-alpha were apparently not due to differences in either the number of binding sites per cell or their affinity for rTNF-alpha. These observations indicate that the effects of rTNF-alpha on cell growth are not limited to tumor cells, but rather that this protein may have a broad spectrum of activities in vivo.

Animals↗