Antimicrobial activity of a macrophage cell line generated in vitro with v-raf/v-myc oncogenes.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
E Blasi
Publications and source records attributed to E Blasi.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion by splenocytes of Candida albicans infected mice.
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Animals↗
Generation of macrophage cell line from fresh bone marrow cells with a myc/raf recombinant retrovirus.
We have studied the effects of infection of fresh murine bone marrow (BM) cells by recombinant retroviruses carrying v-raf and v-myc oncogenes, either alone or in combination. Viruses containing v-raf or v-myc alone failed to induce BM proliferation in 24 out of 27 experiments performed so far, only the J2 virus containing both v-raf and v-myc oncogenes induced BM proliferation. Exogenous growth factors (GF) were not required to sustain the mitogenic effect of J2 virus. Infection with retroviruses carrying only v-raf or v-myc did not induce BM cell growth, indicating that co-expression of the two oncogenes was needed to provide the mitogenic signal(s) for BM proliferation. The kinetics of growth of the J2 virus-infected cells (J2 cells) were characteristically biphasic. The initial burst of proliferation was always followed by a quiescent phase culminating in cell death, which could not be reversed by addition of exogenous GF. In contrast, active proliferation of the quiescent monolayers could be restored by addition of dextran-based beads to the cultures, showing that the growth arrest of J2 cells was a reversible process. J2 cells actively growing in the presence of CT-beads could be expanded and cloned and subsequently grew continuously independent of the CT-beads. Eighteen clones obtained from different infections were all macrophages (M phi) by morphological criteria and all of them expressed the same membrane phenotype compatible with M phi, demonstrating that J2 virus infection leads to immortalization of the same BM-derived monocytic subpopulation. When injected in vivo, J2 cells produced histiocytic tumors in nude mice, but did not grow in immunocompetent syngeneic mice. The cells induced to proliferate in vitro in response to J2 virus infection appeared to be limited to the BM compartment, since spleen cells, thymocytes, peritoneal M phi and liver large granular lymphocytes did not grow in vitro in response to J2 virus. The immortalization of BM cells by J2 virus infection represents a novel reproducible experimental system to deliberately generate M phi lines, which proliferate in response to viral oncogenes and do not require exogenous GF to initiate or to sustain their continuous proliferation.
Animals↗
In vitro proliferation of human large granular lymphocytes with v-raf/v-myc recombinant retrovirus.
The effect of infection with a retrovirus carrying v-raf/v-myc oncogenes (J2 virus) on the in vitro proliferation of human large granular lymphocytes (LGL) was investigated. LGL infected with J2 virus (J2LGL), unlike uninfected cells, grew with a proliferation peak eight days after infection. Such cells retained the morphology and functional properties typical of LGL. Furthermore, 5% of J2LGL produced virus the day after infection, whereas non-virus production was detectable five days later. These data indicate that J2 virus provides a transient mitogenic signal for LGL.
Cell Division↗
Inhibition of retroviral mRNA expression in the murine macrophage cell line GG2EE by biologic response modifiers.
We immortalized the GG2EE macrophage (M phi) cell line by infection of freshly isolated bone marrow cells with the recombinant J2 retrovirus carrying v-raf and v-myc oncogenes. We investigated the expression of J2 virus mRNA in relationship with the proliferative ability and tumoricidal activity of GG2EE cells exposed to biologic response modifiers (BRM). Calcium ionophore (Ca2+I), picolinic acid (PA), or IFN-gamma were employed to activate GG2EE cells. Each BRM was due to inhibit the proliferation of GG2EE cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas only Ca2+I or the combined treatment with PA plus IFN-gamma induced tumoricidal GG2EE cells. J2 virus mRNA expression was not affected by PA or IFN-gamma, but it was dramatically decreased by Ca2+I or PA plus IFN-gamma. These results indicated that the expression of J2 mRNA can be inhibited in GG2EE cells by appropriate BRM such as Ca2+I or IFN-gamma plus PA. In contrast, the expression of 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA was augmented to similar levels by treatment of the GG2EE cells with IFN-gamma alone or in combination with PA. The down-regulation of J2 mRNA expression was not associated with the antiproliferative activity of the BRM but rather with their ability to induce tumoricidal activity. These results suggest that the process of activation of tumoricidal macrophages also triggers a mechanism(s) of resistance to viral mRNA expression. Moreover, the finding that IFN-gamma or PA inhibit cell proliferation but not J2 mRNA expression indicates that the intracellular targets of these BRM are intact, independent from and unaffected by J2 virus expression.
Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
Tumor formation by a murine macrophage cell line immortalized in vitro by v-raf and v-myc oncogenes.
Murine bone marrow cells immortalized in vitro by the J2 recombinant retrovirus bearing the v-raf and v-myc oncogenes have the functional and phenotypic characteristics of macrophages. The present study was designed to determine whether these cells are tumorigenic in athymic or euthymic mice. One cloned cell line (GG2EE), that had been previously derived and characterized was used for this purpose. The results demonstrated that GG2EE cells were tumorigenic in allogeneic athymic BALB/c mice at doses of 1 x 10(4) to 1 x 10(7) cells per mouse regardless of the route administration. All mice utlimately died of progressive tumor growth. Conversely, the GG2EE cells were nontumorigenic or transiently tumorigenic in syngeneic euthymic C3H/HeJ mice. Further studies in BALB/c athymic mice demonstrated that the GG2EE cells were directly tumorigenic since ascites tumors (GG2EE-V) that developed expressed the H-2k surface phenotype of the injected GG2EE cells, excluding the possibility that the J2 virus constitutively produced by GG2EE cells caused in vivo transformation and therefore tumors of host cell origin. The in vivo passaged cells continued to express the M1/69, MAC-1, MAC-2, F4/80, Fc receptor and Ly5.1 antigens characterically expressed on the parental line. Biological properties including interferon-gamma-induced Ia expression, phagocytosis, and activation for cytotoxicity were also retained following in vivo passage. These results demonstrated that J2 virus-immortalized GG2EE cells were directly tumorigenic in athymic mice in vivo and that the macrophage phenotype was maintained in these neoplastic cells. These observations suggest that this tumor model may be valuable for the study of macrophage function as well as therapeutic approaches to oncogen-expressing retrovirus-induced tumors.
Animals↗
Erythroid differentiation and modulation of c-myc expression induced by antineoplastic drugs in the human leukemic cell line K562.
The human leukemia cell line K562 expresses constitutively high levels of c-myc mRNA and can be induced to differentiate along the erythroid lineage. Treatment of K562 cells with the antineoplastic drugs 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and daunomycin causes differentiation into hemoglobin-producing cells. The differentiation process is associated with an early block of cellular proliferation occurring during the first 24 h of treatment. RNA synthesis is progressively reduced to 20 to 30% of the control levels after 3 days of exposure to the drugs. Dot and Northern blot analyses were performed to evaluate the levels of c-myc or globin mRNA during the differentiation of K562. Daunomycin and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, despite their distinct chemical nature, induced similar modulation of mRNA levels. Globin mRNA did not change during the first 24 h of culture and began to increase after 48 h of treatment with drugs, reflecting the kinetic of appearance of hemoglobin-producing cells. In contrast, a transient decrease of c-myc mRNA was observed after the first 24 h of drug treatment, followed by a return to normal levels of c-myc mRNA after 48 h of treatment. Thus, the expression of c-myc mRNA in K562 did not reflect their proliferative activity nor their stage of differentiation. We speculate that the transient down-regulation of c-myc mRNA may be an initial event in the erythroid differentiation of K562.
Cell Differentiation↗
IL 1 induction by murine T cell clones: detection of an IL 1-inducing lymphokine.
T cell activation is widely believed to depend on interleukin 1 (IL 1) provided by antigen (Ag)-presenting cells (APC). Because IL 1 is not a constitutive product of APC, we examined the features of its production during the interaction of murine T cell clones and APC. We observed that IL 1 was detectable in supernatants of most myoglobin-specific T cell clones grown with APC and Ag. Two of these T cell clones induced exceptionally high levels of IL 1 in their supernatants, and these same clones demonstrated the unusual restriction to I-Ek, which is a low responder type for sperm whale myoglobin. One of these clones was characterized additionally as to the mechanism of IL 1 induction. This clone rapidly stimulated IL 1 production in the APC population (detectable at 4 hr of co-culture) or in macrophages (M phi) or a M phi-like cell line. IL 1 induction was Ag dependent and H-2 restricted. Induction was radioresistant, both on the part of the T cell and of the IL 1 producer. The IL 1-induction process was attributable to a lymphokine produced by the T cell clone. This lymphokine was distinct from IFN-gamma, TNF and CSF-1 and may account for a principal mechanism of T----APC signalling. The induced IL 1 was the same in size, co-mitogenicity, and pyrogenicity as lipopolysaccharide-induced IL 1.
Animals↗
A murine macrophage cell line, immortalized by v-raf and v-myc oncogenes, exhibits normal macrophage functions.
In vitro immortalized cell lines with the morphology and phenotype of mature macrophages (M phi) have been generated by infecting freshly isolated bone marrow cells from C3H/HeJ mice with a recombinant retrovirus carrying v-raf and v-myc oncogenes. All of the clones obtained had M phi-like phenotypes, and one such clone, GG2EE, has been compared to normal M phi to ascertain the effects of immortalization on the expression of the biological functions of the lines. GG2EE cells expressed cytotoxic activity against L5178Y, P815 or RL male 1 target cells in response to stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes; in contrast, they failed to kill YAC-1 target cells. GG2EE cells did not constitutively express I-A or I-E antigens; nevertheless, I region-coded antigens could be induced by IFN-gamma treatment. GG2EE cells produced interleukin 1 upon stimulation with a T cell-derived lymphokine; they were weakly phagocytic, yet became highly phagocytic following IFN-gamma treatment. Since c-fos mRNA is augmented in peritoneal exudate M phi by protein kinase C activators but not by IFN-gamma, we evaluated the effects of calcium ionophore, phorbol myristate acetate, L-alpha-1-oleoyl-2-acetoyl-sn-3 glycerol (OAG) and IFN-gamma on the levels of c-fos mRNA in GG2EE cells. We found that calcium ionophore, PMA and OAG stimulation enhanced the expression of c-fos mRNA, but IFN-gamma treatment did not. The kinetics of c-fos induction in GG2EE cells were also comparable to those observed in peritoneal exudate M phi. Overall, the GG2EE cell line has the same biological properties as normal tissue M phi. Because it is capable of both constitutive and inducible M phi-like functions, this cell line provides a valuable tool for studying the molecular mechanisms controlling induction and/or expression of biological activities in M phi. It is striking that a cell line immortalized in vitro by two oncogenes, v-raf and v-myc, behaves, according to the criteria mentioned above, like a normal M phi population.
Animals↗
Regulation of bone marrow cell survival in short-term cultures: a new macrophage function.
The involvement of macrophages (M phi) in the regulation of bone marrow (BM) cell survival in short-term cultures was studied. We developed a system to measure the survival of fresh BM cells in vitro, by evaluating 111indium (111In) release from prelabeled BM cells. 111In release was proportional to cell death and inversely related to the number of trypan blue excluding cells. Upon 24 hr of culture in conventional medium, more than 50% of BM cells died. In order to investigate whether BM cell death could be reduced by coculture with other cell types, 111In-labeled BM cells were incubated for 24 hr with peritoneal M phi, thymocytes (THY), or polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and then assayed for their survival. We found that coculture of BM cells with M phi dramatically increased BM survival, whereas THY or PMN consistently failed to enhance BM survival. The ability to promote BM cell survival, here designated nurse activity, represented a novel function of M phi and was further characterized. The stage of activation of M phi did not influence their nurse activity, since M phi elicited in vivo by proteose-peptone, thioglycollate, or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, as well as resident M phi unstimulated or activated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide, equally sustained survival of BM cells. BM-derived M phi (adherent cells from BM cultures maintained in 20% L-cell-conditioned medium for 14 days) were equally effective in exerting nurse activity. Moreover, nurse activity was also exerted across the histocompatibility barriers. Supernatants from M phi cultures or killed M phi were ineffective. We propose that the nurse effect of M phi on BM is a primitive function that may play an important role in the development of the hemopoietic system.
Animals↗
Comparison of five short-term assays that measure nonspecific cytotoxicity mediated to tumor cells by activated macrophages.
Five different short term assays (less than 48 h) used to measure macrophage-mediated, nonspecific cytotoxicity were compared under similar conditions in the same laboratory using the same reagents. The purpose was to determine the extent to which results were comparable. Three of the assays were dependent on the release of a radioisotope to measure cytotoxicity, one was dependent on cell counting, and the last was dependent on flow cytometric quantification of remaining viable tumor target cells after they had been exposed to macrophages. The variables examined were the following: three different populations of macrophages; four different kinds of target cells; two types of radioisotopes; and two different agents that trigger the expression of cytolytic activity by primed macrophages. Recombinant gamma interferon was used as the priming agent in all the experiments. There was unexpectedly good agreement between the results of the various assays. No differences were found among the different macrophage populations, the isotopes or the triggering agents. Perhaps the most important finding was that differences in target cell susceptibility to killing by activated macrophages, which were apparent in assays of less than 24 h duration, disappeared when the same kinds of targets were compared in assays of greater than 40 h duration. The results of this study are an important first step toward standardizing the way in which macrophage-mediated, nonspecific cytotoxicity is measured in short-term assays, laboratory to laboratory.
Cell Line↗
The strain of mouse and assay conditions influence whether MuIFN-gamma primes or activates macrophages for tumor cell killing.
Investigators from two different laboratories have compared several variables in the short-term macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity assays used by each group to study the role of MuIFN-gamma in macrophage activation. The findings suggest that the capacity of MuIFN-gamma to activate macrophages without the need for a second triggering stimulus is related to assay conditions and, most especially, the strain of mouse used to provide the macrophages.
Animals↗
Modulation of polymorphonucleate-mediated cytotoxicity against Candida albicans by thymosin alpha 1.
In the present work we analyze the effects of thymosin alpha 1 treatment on the number and the candidacidal activity of murine polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The data we obtained showed that the treatment with thymosin alpha 1 (100 micrograms/Kg s.c.) 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 days before the assay may result in a significant numerical augmentation of circulating polymorphonucleates in the peripheral blood, as well as of their candidacidal activity when measured in vitro in both a 4-h cytotoxicity assay and a CFU inhibition assay against Candida albicans microorganisms. On the other hand, a single dose of thymosin alpha 1 (500 micrograms/Kg s.c.) 3 days before the assay resulted in a significant decrease of the candidacidal activity of mouse polymorphonucleates. The data are discussed with regard to the immunomodulating capacity of thymosin alpha 1 and to our previously reported observations concerning the ability of the drug to modulate the resistance against systemic Candida albicans infection.
Animals↗
Role of protein synthesis in the activation of cytotoxic mouse macrophages by lymphokines.
The role of protein synthesis during the activation of macrophages (M phi) by lymphokines (LK) was studied. Peritoneal murine macrophages elicited by proteose-peptone (pM phi) were activated with LK (supernatants from normal mouse spleen cells pulsed with concanavalin A) and tested for cytotoxicity in an 18 hr assay against 111In-labeled L5178Y lymphoma target cells. Reversible (cycloheximide and puromycin) or poorly reversible (emetine and pactamycin) inhibitors of protein synthesis were added during activation, and their effects on pM phi-mediated cytotoxicity and pM phi protein synthesis were measured. Minimal concentrations of inhibitors, reducing the rate of protein synthesis by more than 90% without toxic effects on macrophages, were chosen. Exposure of pM phi to LK for 2 to 18 hr in the presence of reversible inhibitors of protein synthesis did not affect the induction of cytolytic activity, indicating that protein synthesis was not required during the activation period. In contrast, activation of macrophages for 2 hr in the presence of poorly reversible inhibitors of protein synthesis resulted in a considerable reduction of cytolytic activity. The impairment of cytotoxic activity was also evident when pM phi were treated with such drugs during the first 2 hr of an 18 hr exposure to LK or when LK-activated macrophages were treated for 2 hr with the drugs before the addition of the targets. These results demonstrate that active protein synthesis is not required during the exposure of pM phi to LK, but that new proteins have to be synthesized to allow the expression of the cytotoxic activity in LK-activated pM phi.
Animals↗
Potent activation of mouse macrophages by recombinant interferon-gamma.
The ability of recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to activate mouse macrophages was investigated. The use of recombinant IFN-gamma has the advantage of being devoid of contaminating lymphokines. Two preparations of IFN-gamma were utilized, one which was not glycosylated and which was highly purified from Escherichia coli another which was glycosylated and which was from transfected COS-7 monkey cells. Both preparations of recombinant IFN-gamma activated murine macrophages to kill lymphoma and melanoma tumor targets, suggesting that glycosylation of the protein or the presence of other mammalian proteins is not essential for activation. Significant levels of cytolytic activity were induced from IFN-gamma (1 to 10 units/ml). This activity was undiminished by treatment of the IFN-gamma preparations with polymixin B at doses which neutralized endotoxin (50 micrograms/ml). Similarly, IFN-gamma, at low concentrations, induced an inhibition of migration by macrophages. Based on antiviral activity, IFN-gamma was shown to be 100 to 1000 times more potent than was IFN-beta as a macrophage-activating agent. Taken together, these results demonstrate that murine IFN-gamma is a macrophage-activating factor which is effective at physiological concentrations. Of particular interest is the observation that the nonglycosylated E. coli-derived IFN-gamma is active and therefore may be of value for therapeutic studies, since it can be easily produced in large amounts.
Animals↗
Requirement for protein synthesis for induction of macrophage tumoricidal activity by IFN-alpha and IFN-beta but not by IFN-gamma.
Peritoneal mouse macrophages elicited by proteose-peptone (pM phi) were treated in vitro with IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, or IFN-gamma in the presence or absence of cycloheximide (Cy), a reversible inhibitor of protein synthesis, and were assayed for cytolytic activity against tumor cells. Inhibition of protein synthesis during treatment of pM phi with IFN-alpha or IFN-beta prevented the development of cytotoxic activity. In contrast, IFN-gamma was fully capable of inducing cytotoxic pM phi in the presence of Cy. Moreover, pM phi treated with mixtures of IFN in the presence of Cy were activated for cytotoxicity only by IFN-gamma together with IFN-alpha or IFN-beta, but not by IFN-alpha plus IFN-beta. These results indicate that the activation of pM phi by IFN-gamma is independent of new protein synthesis, whereas the activation of pM phi by IFN-alpha and/or IFN-beta requires active protein synthesis, suggesting that the mechanism of induction of cytotoxic pM phi by IFN-gamma differs from that by the other types of IFN.
Animals↗
Correlation between in vivo and in vitro studies of modulation of resistance to experimental Candida albicans infection by cyclophosphamide in mice.
Mice receiving a single injection of cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg) 1 to 6 days before inoculation with viable Candida albicans showed an increased susceptibility to the challenge accompanied by a reduction in peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes as well as in spleen cellularity. Several immunological in vitro functions also appeared to be dramatically depressed. Most of these hematological and functional parameters returned to control values by day 9 after cyclophosphamide administration, at a time when resistance to C. albicans infection appeared to be unchanged. However, when exposure to cyclophosphamide occurred 12 to 21 days before inoculation with the live yeast, enhanced resistance was observed with the majority of the animals surviving challenge. To gain some insight into the mechanisms underlying this late increase in resistance to C. albicans infection after cyclophosphamide administration, we analyzed a series of immunological functions, including the in vitro candidacidal activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and plastic-adherent and nonadherent spleen cells as well as the activity of natural killer cells and alloreactive T lymphocytes. The results show that a numerical rebound of blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils and the appearance of a highly candidacidal cell population in the spleen may be among the factors underlying the late increase in resistance to C. albicans after administration of cyclophosphamide.
Animals↗
Comparison between natural reactivity (NR) against Candida albicans and natural killer (NK) activity against YAC-1 tumour cells.
Cytotoxic activity against Candida albicans was measured in vitro in a 4-h 51Cr-release assay. The levels of reactivity correlated well with the number of polymorphonuclear cells in the effector population, being augmented by the enrichment of polymorphonuclear granulocytes. To exclude the possible role of contaminating natural killer cells, natural killer activity against tumour cells was compared with natural reactivity against Candida albicans in vitro. The findings indicate that there are many differences between these reactivities including organ and strain distribution, age dependency, adherence to nylon, and susceptibility to modulation by immuno-adjuvants and to treatment with anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum plus complement. These data further define in vitro polymorphonucleate-mediated cytotoxicity against Candida albicans on the basis of the above-mentioned criteria and clearly demonstrate that this in vitro reactivity could not be due to the presence of contaminating natural killer cells in the effector cell population.
Age Factors↗