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Biomedical subjects

E S Kleinerman

Publications and source records attributed to E S Kleinerman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Human monocytes selectively bind to cells expressing the tumorigenic phenotype.

The characteristics of the binding of human monocytes to tumor cells were studied by a newly developed microassay. First, we determined the kinetics and optimal conditions of the binding. Monocytes recognized and bound to tumor cells very rapidly within 10-20 min of cellular interaction. Binding was also more efficient at 37 degrees C suggesting that active metabolism of monocytes is required. Second, we determined that selective binding of monocytes to cells with tumorigenic phenotypes occurs. For this purpose, lymphocytic leukemia cell lines versus normal lymphocytes, and tumorigenic versus nontumorigenic hybrids from the same parental lines were compared as the targets of the binding assay. In both cases, neoplastic cells were selectively bound by monocytes. Although tumor cells were bound rapidly and selectively by monocytes, initial recognition and binding did not necessarily lead to subsequent tumor cell lysis. This is based on the observation that some tumorigenic parental and hybrid lines were avidly bound by monocytes yet not subsequently killed in a cytotoxicity assay.

Cell Adhesion↗

Phase I trial of liposomal muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine in cancer patients.

Twenty-eight evaluable patients with metastatic cancer refractory to standard therapy received escalating doses of muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (MTP-PE) (.05 to 12 mg/m2) in phosphatidylserine (PC):phosphatidylcholine (PS) liposomes (lipid:MTP-PE) ratio 250:1). Liposomal MTP-PE (L-MTP-PE) was infused over 1 hour twice weekly; doses were escalated within individual patients every 3 weeks as tolerated for a total treatment duration of 9 weeks. Routine clinical laboratory parameters, acute phase reactants and various immunologic tests were monitored at various time points during treatment. Toxicity was moderate (less than or equal to grade II) in 24 patients with chief side effects being chills (80% of patients), fever (70%), malaise (60%), and nausea (55%). In four patients L-MTP-PE treatment was deescalated due to severe malaise and recurrent fever higher than 38.8 degrees C. The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was 6 mg/m2. Significant (P less than .05) increases in WBC count, absolute granulocyte count, ceruloplasmin, beta 2-microglobulin, c-reactive protein, monocyte tumoricidal activity, and serum IL-1 beta were found. Significant decreases in serum cholesterol were also observed. Clearance of intravenously (iv)-infused technetium-99 (99mTc)-labeled liposomes containing MTP-PE in four patients was biphasic; gamma camera scans revealed uptake of radiolabel in liver, spleen, lung, nasopharynx, thyroid gland, and tumor (two patients). No objective tumor regression was seen. In view of its definite immunobiologic activity and lack of major toxicity, additional phase II and adjuvant trials of L-MTP-PE are warranted.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

Activated human blood monocytes trigger the antitumor activity of blood polymorphonuclear cells.

The purpose of these studies was to determine whether human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC) can be directly activated by lymphokines or bacterial products to lyse tumorigenic cells under in vitro conditions. Preparations of PMNC with different levels of purity were isolated by countercurrent elutriation. PMNC were incubated with recombinant interferon gamma and muramyldipeptide, with lipopolysaccharide, or with the synthetic lipopeptide CGP 31362. Only PMNC preparations containing 3-5% mononuclear cells lysed allogeneic melanoma cells. Homogeneous populations of PMNC did not. The addition of 5% monocytes to homogeneous populations of PMNC triggered PMNC-mediated tumor lysis. Cell-to-cell contact was not required in this process since culture supernatant of blood monocytes incubated with lipopolysaccharide (but not with medium) could trigger tumor cell lysis by PMNC. PMNC lysed both allogeneic tumorigenic (melanoma) and allogeneic nontumorigenic (fibroblast) cells, whereas activated monocytes lysed only tumorigenic cells. In conclusion, PMNC are triggered to lyse target cells by blood monocytes activated by bacterial products or by lymphokines.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

In vitro and in vivo effect of adriamycin therapy on monocyte activation by liposome-encapsulated immunomodulators.

The purpose of these studies was to determine the effect of Adriamycin (ADR) on the ability of liposome-encapsulated immunomodulators to activate human blood monocytes to the tumoricidal state. We undertook these experiments because we envisioned using encapsulated activators in addition to chemotherapy to destroy pulmonary micrometastases in patients with osteosarcoma (OS). Prior to the initiation of such therapy, it was important to determine whether chemotherapy interferes with monocyte function. First, human peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from normal donors and preincubated with ADR (0.5-500 ng/ml) for 1 h and then washed prior to the addition of free or liposome-encapsulated activators. After 18-24 h incubation, the activating agents were washed off and [125I]IdUrd-labeled A375 melanoma cells were added. Lysis of radiolabeled tumor cells was quantified 72 h later. Monocytes were also incubated with ADR for 24 h in the presence of free or liposome-encapsulated activators and their cytotoxicity quantified. ADR had no effect on the ability of either free or liposome-encapsulated agents to activate monocyte tumoricidal function. We also studied the in vivo effect of ADR therapy on monocyte function in nine patients with OS. At the time of diagnosis and 1 month after ADR therapy (75 mg/m2) patient monocytes could be activated to the tumoricidal state by liposome-encapsulated agents at levels equal to or greater than pretherapy levels. Monocytes isolated from four patients with OS 1 day after ADR therapy and then activated by liposome-encapsulated agents also demonstrated tumoricidal activity. These studies indicated that the monocytes isolated from osteosarcoma patients treated with ADR can be activated in vitro to kill tumor cells and that additional therapy with liposome-encapsulated immunomodulators may be combined with ADR in the treatment of metastatic pulmonary OS.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Effect of recombinant granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor on human monocyte activity in vitro and following intravenous administration.

The purpose of these studies was to examine the antitumor properties of blood monocytes from patients undergoing a phase I trial with recombinant granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF). Peripheral blood monocytes from 7 patients receiving various doses of rGM-CSF by continuous infusion were isolated prior to therapy and at various times during the 2-wk infusion. Monocytes/cubic centimeter of blood increased in a dose-dependent fashion in patients receiving rGM-CSF. However, activation of monocyte-mediated tumorilytic properties was seen in only 1 of 7 patients. rGM-CSF administration also did not stimulate interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor production by blood monocytes. The failure to detect monocyte-mediated tumoricidal activation was not secondary to an inherent "defect" in the patients' monocytes because in vitro incubation with lipopolysaccharide alone or human recombinant gamma-interferon plus muramyl dipeptide resulted in monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity and in the secretion of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor. rGM-CSF in vitro also did not stimulate the tumoricidal function of normal monocytes or the secretion of interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor. We concluded that systemic administration of rGM-CSF did not result in routine activation of monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity but did result in a dose-dependent rise in the number of circulating monocytes. Because these monocytes could be activated in vitro, we propose that, in an adjuvant therapy setting, rGM-CSF be combined with other activating agents to increase the pool of potential killer cells.

Cells, Cultured↗

Cytotoxic liposomes: membrane interleukin 1 presented in multilamellar vesicles.

Paraformaldehyde-fixed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human monocytes produced significant lysis of the human melanoma cell line A375. The cytotoxic activity was retained following treatment of the fixed monocytes with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) antibodies but was specifically inhibited by a mixture of anti-TNF and anti-interleukin 1 (anti-IL 1) antibodies. A375 cells were also killed by plasma membranes purified from LPS-activated human blood monocytes. This activity was specifically inhibited by anti-IL 1 alpha antibodies, but only partially inhibited by anti-IL 1 beta antibodies. CHAPS detergent-extracted plasma-membrane IL 1 in its soluble form or associated with lyophilized liposomes was also able to kill A375 cells, and this antitumor activity was inhibited by anti-IL 1 antibodies. These results suggest that membrane IL 1, primarily IL 1 alpha, was cytotoxic for the A375 cells. CKS-17, a peptide synthesized with homology to a highly conserved region of the immunosuppressive retroviral envelope protein P15E, when covalently bound to BSA partially inhibited the IL 1 activities of tumor cell cytotoxicity and T-cell clone proliferation, displayed by purified plasma membranes, detergent-extracted membrane IL 1, or membrane IL 1 associated with liposomes. These findings indicate that cytotoxic membrane IL 1 can be solubilized by detergent, bound to the surface of liposomes, and specifically inhibited by anti-IL 1 antibodies or the immunosuppressive peptide CKS-17.

Cell Membrane↗

A synthetic peptide homologous to the envelope proteins of retroviruses inhibits monocyte-mediated killing by inactivating interleukin 1.

The synthetic peptide CKS-17 has homology to a highly conserved region of the immunosuppressive retroviral envelope protein P15E, to envelope proteins of HTLV I, II, III, and to that encoded by an endogeneous C-type human retroviral DNA. CKS-17 inhibits the immune response of lymphocytes and the respiratory burst of human monocytes. Because P15E-related antigens are present in human malignant cell lines and cancerous effusions, we sought to determine the effect of CKS-17 on monocyte-mediated tumor cell lysis. Lysis of A375 tumor cells by lymphokine or lipopolysaccharide-activated human monocytes was inhibited by 10 microM CKS-17 (control, 79%; CKS-17-treated, 19%). Another synthesized peptide, CS-2, which has partial homology to CKS-17, failed to block monocyte-mediated killing. Thus, the inhibition by CKS-17 appeared to be specific. Because interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a cytocidal factor produced by activated monocytes, we also investigated the effect of CKS-17 on IL-1 production by monocytes and on direct IL-1-mediated cytotoxicity. CKS-17 did not block production or secretion of IL-1 by lipopolysaccharide- or interferon-gamma-activated monocytes. However, the direct cytocidal activity of both recombinant IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta against A375 tumor cells was blocked by CKS-17. The cytotoxic activity of IL-1 was inhibited by CKS-17 if (a) IL-1 was preincubated with CKS-17 for 1 hr at 37 degrees C or (b) the A375 cells were incubated with CKS-17 for 1 hr prior to the addition of IL-1. CKS-17 also blocked IL-1-induced proliferation of murine thymocytes, the D10 T cell line, and an IL-1-responsive astrocytoma cell line. These data suggest that CKS-17 may be a potent inhibitor of IL-1.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗

B-cell line-derived interleukin 1 is cytotoxic for melanoma cells and promotes the proliferation of an astrocytoma cell line.

We have previously described a unique molecular species of Interleukin 1 spontaneously produced by a human EBV-transformed B-cell line. This IL 1 shares a number of biological activities with monocytic IL 1 although its NH2-terminal amino-acid sequence is different from both IL 1 alpha and beta. In the present study we have investigated the activity of this B-cell IL 1 in two recently reported new assays for interleukin 1. We found that this B-cell IL 1 is able to promote the proliferation of the human astrocytoma cell line U373 in a dose dependent manner. We also describe that B-cell IL 1 is directly cytotoxic for a melanoma cell line, A375, but not for the tumor necrosis factor target cell, the murine transformed fibroblast line L929. These studies should prove useful in analysing structure-function relationships of the various IL 1 species, when the primary sequence of B-cell IL 1 becomes available.

Animals↗

Activation or suppression of the tumoricidal properties of monocytes from cancer patients following treatment with human recombinant gamma-interferon.

The purpose of these studies was to examine the antitumor properties of blood monocytes from patients undergoing phase I trials with recombinant human gamma-interferon (rIFN-gamma). Thirty-one patients with different malignancies were divided into three major treatment groups. The first group of patients received rIFN-gamma by a 6-h i.v. infusion. Activation of blood monocytes was dependent upon the dose of rIFN-gamma administered. The second group of patients received IFN-gamma by a continuous 24-h i.v. infusion. In general, this treatment did not produce antitumor activity in blood monocytes. The third group of patients received daily i.m. injections of rIFN-gamma. Daily i.m. administrations of 0.25-0.5 mg rIFN-gamma/m2/day produced significant activation of antitumor properties in the patients' monocytes, whereas the daily i.m. administrations of 1 mg IFN-gamma/m2/day did not. In fact, the blood monocytes from these patients did not even respond to optimal activating stimuli in vitro. We conclude that the systemic administration of appropriate amounts of IFN-gamma can activate blood monocytes of cancer patients to become tumor cytotoxic. High doses of the same biological should be avoided since it can actually suppress the desired effect. For biologicals with immunostimulatory activity the concept that "more drug is better" may not be operative.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗

Human monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against herpes simplex virus-infected cells: activation of cytotoxic monocytes by free and liposome-encapsulated lymphokines.

Human peripheral blood monocytes were incubated with free or liposome-encapsulated human lymphokines containing macrophage-activating factor (MAF) and tested for their effect on herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected target cells. Activated monocytes lysed allogeneic HSV type 2 (HSV-2)-infected whole human embryo cells and xenogeneic BALB/c mouse embryo cells (10E2) without any significant effect on uninfected cells, as measured by release of 51Cr from target cells after 18 h of cocultivation. Kinetic studies revealed that lysis of virus-infected cells occurred by 10 h following cocultivation with activated monocytes. The inability of free MAF or supernatants from MAF-activated monocytes to lyse HSV-2-infected cells suggested that direct monocyte-target cell contact is required for monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity of the virus-infected cells. Monocytes activated with MAF suppressed the production of HSV-2 and HSV-1 from virus-infected cells more than control monocytes did. In addition, monocytes treated with liposome-encapsulated MAF selectively destroyed HSV-2-infected cells but left uninfected cells unharmed. The capacity of liposome-encapsulated immunomodulators to activate human monocytes to selectively lyse HSV-2-infected cells has potential therapeutic benefit and should be evaluated in vivo.

Cells, Cultured↗

Intracellular activation of human and rodent macrophages by human lymphokines encapsulated in liposomes.

Cell-free culture supernatant fluids rich in macrophage-activating factor (MAF) activity were obtained from mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNL). The MAF preparations were incubated with human peripheral blood monocytes, rat alveolar macrophages (AM), and mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM). Only human monocytes were rendered tumorilytic against the human A375 melanoma cells, whereas rat AM or mouse PEM were not activated to lyse their respective syngeneic tumor targets. In contrast, once entrapped in multilamellar liposomes, the human MAF activated the human and rodent macrophages to become tumoricidal. The MAF activity was not due to contamination with endotoxins nor to the presence of gamma interferon. These data suggest that in contrast to macrophage surface receptors, which are species specific, the intracellular target sites for human MAF may cross species barriers.

Animals↗

Human lymphokine preparations which generate tumoricidal properties of human monocytes in vitro may be distinct from gamma interferon.

The purpose of these studies was to determine whether stimulated human lymphocytes produce lymphokines distinct from IFN gamma, that can activate human blood monocytes to lyse tumor cells. We undertook this investigation because of the controversy concerning whether MAF and IFN gamma are the same molecule. Crude lymphokine preparations prepared from normal human mononuclear cells incubated with Con A and rich in MAF activity also contained 1000 U/ml IFN gamma as measured by the virus neutralization assay. However, the induction of tumoricidal activity in monocytes by the lymphokine preparation could be dissociated from the IFN gamma activity, based on the following data: (1) Heat treatment (100 degrees C for 2 min) removed the antiviral activity of the lymphokine yet did not diminish its MAF-like activity when measured in a 72 h cytotoxicity assay against 125I IUdR-labeled human A375 melanoma cells. (2) Likewise, treatment of this lymphokine preparation with a twofold excess of anti-IFN gamma antibody neutralized antiviral activity but once again had no effect on its ability to activate monocyte tumoricidal function. In contrast, both heat treatment and anti-IFN gamma antibody abolished monocyte activation by equivalent units of human recombinant IFN gamma. Taken together, these data suggest that there is a molecule(s) distinct from IFN gamma which can activate human monocytes for tumoricidal function. Furthermore, this dissociation of MAF and IFN gamma activity was dependent on the use of a long-term (72 h) assay, since activation of tumoricidal activity in an 18-24 h assay appeared to be attributable solely to IFN gamma.

Cell Line↗

Activation of monocyte-mediated tumoricidal activity in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The purpose of these studies was to determine whether peripheral blood monocytes from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with Kaposi's sarcoma could be activated to lyse human tumor target cells in vitro. Monocytes were isolated and incubated for 24 hours in vitro with either medium (control), a crude mitogen-induced lymphokine preparation (MAF), or endotoxin before the addition of [125I]IUdR-labeled A375 melanoma target cells. Cytolysis was determined 72 hours later. Twelve (100%) of 12 patients tested had monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity values that were comparable to those of normal individuals. Recombinant human gamma interferon (IFN gamma) activated both normal and AIDS monocyte-mediated tumoricidal function only when combined with lypopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, mononuclear cells from ten AIDS patients were also tested for their ability to secrete MAF and IFN gamma in response to a mitogenic stimulus. Lymphokines generated from all ten patients contained substantial amounts of IFN gamma (100 to 2,500 U/mL); however, three of these ten lymphokine preparations failed to activate normal monocytes to lyse tumor cells. These results suggest that monocyte-mediated tumoricidal function of AIDS patients is intact and thus suggest new approaches for the therapy of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Lysis of tumor cells by human blood monocytes by a mechanism independent of activation of the oxidative burst.

Tumorilytic human blood monocytes recognize and destroy neoplastic cells by a mechanism that is nonphagocytic and requires cell-to-cell contact. The mechanism of cytolysis subsequent to binding is controversial. Release of reactive oxygen intermediates by activated rodent macrophages has been suggested as an important mechanism for tumor cell lysis in some short-term cytotoxicity assays. We examined whether oxygen intermediates are also responsible for mediating the lysis of adherent human tumor cells in a long-term (72-h) tumoricidal assay. Human blood monocytes were incubated with medium, concanavalin A-stimulated lymphokine [macrophage-activating factor (MAF)], lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, or human recombinant gamma interferon for 24 h prior to the addition of [125I] iododeoxyuridine-labeled A375 melanoma cells. The following evidence indicated that monocyte-mediated tumor cell lysis was independent of superoxide anion (O2-) and H2O2 production: (a) although human blood monocytes incubated for 24 h with gamma interferon produced twice as much O2- as control or MAF-treated monocytes, gamma interferon did not activate monocyte tumoricidal activity unless combined with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, 0.2 ng/ml or more; (b) incubating the monocytes with 10 nM phorbol myristate acetate for 0.5 h stimulated O2- production but no cytotoxicity; (c) the cytolytic activity of MAF-treated monocytes was not decreased in the presence of catalase or superoxide dismutase; and (d) finally, peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from six patients with chronic granulomatous disease, activated by MAF or lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, and then assayed for tumoricidal activity. While these activated chronic granulomatous disease monocytes did not produce O2- or H2O2, tumor cell lysis was normal in all six patients. Hence, lysis of tumor cells in a 72-h assay is not dependent upon the generation of O2- and/or H2O2 and is intact in chronic granulomatous disease monocytes.

Catalase↗

Role of interleukin 1 in promoting human monocyte-mediated tumor cytotoxicity.

Human peripheral blood monocytes from normal donors obtained by separation on a Percoll gradient showed considerable cytotoxicity against tumor cells when preincubated in vitro for 24 hr with human monocyte-derived interleukin 1 (IL 1). In contrast, monocytes after pretreatment in medium alone had low cytotoxic activity. All the IL 1 preparations, including IL 1 which was purified by high-performance liquid column chromatography (HPLC), as well as crude culture supernatant from human monocytes promoted monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in the same dose-dependent manner as the thymocyte growth-promoting activity. There was no endotoxin or interferon (IFN) activity in the highly purified IL 1, suggesting that IL 1 itself was the active moiety. The effect of IL 1 on monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was partially inhibited by indomethacin, whereas pretreatment of monocytes with prostaglandin (PG) E1 or E2 rather than IL 1 also resulted in substantial monocyte cytotoxicity. Thus, the effect of IL 1 on monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity is presumably mediated by PGE. Since fresh monocytes that were not preincubated exhibited levels of spontaneous cytotoxic activity similar to that of monocytes preincubated with IL 1, it seemed likely that the effect of IL 1 was to maintain the spontaneous level of activity rather than to induce cytotoxic activity. To elucidate this possibility, monocytes were first preincubated in medium alone for a longer period, and after losing their spontaneous activity they were further incubated with or without IL 1. Such "aged" monocytes did not develop cytotoxic activity in response to IL 1 but did in response to other agents known to induce macrophage cytotoxicity, such as endotoxin or lymphokine-containing supernatants. Therefore, the major effect of IL 1 actually seemed to prolong the cytotoxic state of monocytes. These results also suggest that IL 1 released by macrophages or monocytes may play a role in host defense against neoplastic cells by acting on monocytes as an autostimulating factor.

Cell Adhesion↗

Synergism between human recombinant gamma-interferon and muramyl dipeptide encapsulated in liposomes for activation of antitumor properties in human blood monocytes.

Highly purified human blood monocytes, isolated by centrifugal elutriation under endotoxin-free conditions, were activated in vitro by combining subthreshold amounts of human recombinant gamma-interferon (r-IFN-gamma) and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) to become tumor cytotoxic against allogeneic A375 melanoma cells. Only intact r-IFN-gamma and MDP produced synergism for human monocyte activation. Neither pH 2-treated r-IFN-gamma and intact MDP nor heat-treated IFN-gamma and intact MDP, nor intact IFN-gamma and the biologically inactive stereoisomer of MDP, N-acetylmuramyl-D-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, produced activation of blood monocytes. The encapsulation of intact r-IFN-gamma and MDP within the same preparation of multilamellar liposomes was synergistic for monocyte activation. These data show that synergism for monocyte activation can be produced by human r-IFN-gamma and MDP produced synthetically can be simultaneously delivered to monocytes. Because both r-IFN-gamma and MDP can now be produced in large standardized quantities their synergism for activation of tumoricidal properties in human monocytes could be of clinical significance.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

Abrogation of species specificity for activation of tumoricidal properties in macrophages by recombinant mouse or human interferon-gamma encapsulated in liposomes.

Highly purified human blood monocytes, isolated by continuous Percoll density gradients under endotoxin-free conditions, and mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) were activated in vitro by the combination of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and recombinant interferon-gamma (r-IFN-gamma) to become tumoricidal against their respective tumorigenic target cells. The activation of human monocytes or mouse PEM by free unencapsulated r-IFN-gamma and MDP was species specific: human r-IFN-gamma activated human blood monocytes to lyse allogeneic melanoma cells, but did not activate mouse PEM. Mouse r-IFN-gamma activated mouse PEM to lyse syngeneic melanoma cells, but did not activate cytotoxic properties in human monocytes. The encapsulation of either mouse or human r-IFN-gamma with MDP within the same liposome preparation produced synergistic activation of cytotoxic properties in both PEM and monocytes without apparent species specificity. The activation of tumoricidal properties in macrophages by r-IFN-gamma and MDP occurred as a consequence of intracellular interaction. We base this conclusion on the data showing that whereas free r-IFN-gamma and MDP did not activate macrophages pretreated with pronase, liposome-encapsulated r-IFN-gamma and MDP did. Moreover, the i.v. injection of liposomes containing human or mouse r-IFN-gamma and MDP produced in vivo activation of mouse alveolar macrophages. These data suggest that in contrast to activation with free r-IFN-gamma, which requires binding to macrophage surface receptors, the intracellular interaction of r-IFN-gamma, which produces tumoricidal activity in macrophages, is not species specific.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

Human monocytes activated by immunomodulators in liposomes lyse herpesvirus-infected but not normal cells.

Highly purified peripheral blood monocytes from normal human donors were activated in vitro by incubation with liposomes containing immunomodulators such as recombinant human gamma interferon, human lymphokines, or muramyl dipeptide. The ability of liposomes containing immunomodulators to activate monocytes to a cytotoxic state capable of discriminating between virus-infected and uninfected cells was shown by activated monocytes recognizing and destroying herpes simplex virus type 2-infected cells while leaving uninfected cells unharmed .

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗