Biomedical subjects

F D Finkelman

Publications and source records attributed to F D Finkelman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Effects of interleukin 12 on immune responses and host protection in mice infected with intestinal nematode parasites.

The cytokine interleukin (IL) 12 stimulates T cell and natural killer cell production of interferon (IFN) gamma and inhibits T cell production of IL-4. We investigated the effects of IL-12 on cytokine gene expression, immunoglobulin (Ig)E, mucosal mast cell, and eosinophil responses, and the course of infection in mice inoculated with the nematode parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, as well as the IFN-gamma dependence of these effects. IL-12 stimulated IFN-gamma and IL-10 gene expression during primary and secondary N. brasiliensis infections and inhibited IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-9 gene expression during primary infections but had little inhibitory effect during secondary infections. IL-12 inhibited IgE, mucosal mast cell, and blood and tissue eosinophil responses during primary infections, but only eosinophil responses during secondary infections. IL-12 enhanced adult worm survival and egg production during primary, but not secondary infections. IL-12 needed to be administered by day 4 of a primary infection to inhibit IgE and mucosal mast cell responses, and by day 6 to strongly inhibit eosinophil responses and to enhance worm survival and fecundity. Anti-IFN-gamma mAb inhibited the effects of IL-12 on IgE secretion, intestinal mucosal mastocytosis, and parasite survival and fecundity, but did not affect IL-12 inhibition of eosinophilia. These observations indicate that IL-12, if administered during the initiation of eosinophilia. These observations indicate that IL-12, if administered during the initiation of an immune response, can change the response from one that is characterized by the production of T helper (Th)2-associated cytokines to one characterized by the production of Th-1 associated cytokines. However, IL-12 treatment has less of an effect once the production of Th2-associated cytokines has become established. In addition, our results provide evidence that Th2-associated responses protect against, and/or Th1-associated responses exacerbate, nematode infections.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Antigen presentation is enhanced by targeting antigen to the Fc epsilon RII by antigen-anti-Fc epsilon RII conjugates.

Targeting Ag to the Fc epsilon RII by Ag-specific IgE has been shown to be an efficient means of enhancing Ag presentation by B cells to Ag-specific T cells. To take advantage of the Fc epsilon RII as a targeting molecule and to investigate whether IgE was required for mediation of the enhanced stimulation, Ag was covalently coupled to anti-Fc epsilon RII by using heterobifunctional crosslinking reagents. These Ag-Ab conjugates were used with T cell lines specific for the Ags, OVA (BB6.5) or rabbit gamma-globulin (CDC35 and D1.6), and splenic B cells to examine both B cell and T cell proliferation in vitro. Significant presentation of Ag-anti-Fc epsilon RII conjugates was apparent at doses of Ag 1,000- to 10,000-fold lower than seen with unconjugated Ag alone. Ag presentation with the use of anti-Fc epsilon RII-Ag conjugates was as good as or better than conjugates with Ab to the adhesion molecule Pgp-1 or control Ab in T cell proliferation and better than those conjugates in B cell proliferation assays (10- to 100-fold). Anti-Fc epsilon RII-Ag conjugates were clearly more effectively presented than Ag-anti-Fc gamma RII conjugates (> 100-fold). Mouse Fc epsilon RII is presently known to be expressed on B cells and follicular dendritic cells and these in vitro results suggest that the conjugates would be useful tools for investigating the role of IgE-mediated B cell Ag presentation in vivo. BALB/c mice immunized with OVA-anti-Fc epsilon RII conjugates made a quite significant OVA-specific IgG1 response and a detectable IgE response. No detectable Ab was produced in response to OVA alone and a minimal response was seen when an isotype-matched control conjugate was used. Thus, the results indicate that Fc epsilon RII targeting is operative both in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Induction of B cell and T cell tolerance in vivo by anti-CD23 mAb.

T cell tolerance can be induced by B cell presentation of Ags to naive T cells. To further characterize this mechanism of T cell tolerance induction, we have investigated the effects of injecting mice with an intact rat IgG2a Ab, which binds to the B cell low-affinity Fc epsilon receptor (CD23), on the responsiveness of B cells and T cells to rat IgG2a. Our observations indicate that 1) intravenous, subcutaneous, or intraperitoneal injection of this Ab induces antigen-specific B cell and T cell tolerance; 2) both forms of tolerance are induced more completely by injection of rat IgG2a anti-CD23 mAb than by injection of an equal dose of a control rat IgG2a Ig; and 3) reduced responsiveness to Ag is seen as early as 1 to 3 days after anti-CD23 mAb injection and reaches maximum levels by 7 days after injection. Although tolerance induced by the injection of soluble proteins has been reported to be characterized by reduced production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, but normal production of IL-4, injection of mice with rat IgG2a anti-mouse CD23 mAb greatly decreases the IL-4 response to a rat IgG2a immunogen that normally induces a large IL-4 response.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

In vivo activation of naive T cells by antigen-presenting B cells.

In vivo experiments were performed to determine if the cross-linking of mlg on antigen-presenting B cells could induce them to present Ag to naive T cells in a stimulatory rather than a tolerogenic fashion. Mice were injected with a foreign mAb to a B cell Ag (Fc epsilon RII or CR1), and/or a self-anti-IgD mAb. Injection of either mAb alone failed to induce an Ab response; however, simultaneous injection of the foreign anti-B cell mAb plus the self-anti-IgD mAb stimulated a large response. Inasmuch as injection of the anti-IgD mAb should not have facilitated transfer of the foreign mAb to dendritic cells, this observation suggests that cross-linking of B cell mlg can induce B cells to acquire the ability to present Ag to naive T cells in an activating manner. Furthermore, when injected with anti-IgD mAb, both foreign anti-B cell mAbs were more potent in inducing Ab responses in this system than were isotype-matched control mAbs, consistent with the hypothesis that T cells were activated by Ag-presenting B cells. Results of dose-response and cell transfer studies, however, suggested that stringent cross-linking of B cell mlg on large numbers of B cells is required for B cell Ag presentation to induce T cell activation rather than tolerance. Therefore, these observations suggest that professional APCs usually are required to activate naive T cells, and that B cell Ag presentation can only activate naive T cells under unusual circumstances.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Immunoglobulin signal transduction guides the specificity of B cell-T cell interactions and is blocked in tolerant self-reactive B cells.

The specificity of antibody (Ab) responses depends on focusing helper T (Th) lymphocyte signals to suitable B lymphocytes capable of binding foreign antigens (Ags), and away from nonspecific or self-reactive B cells. To investigate the molecular mechanisms that prevent the activation of self-reactive B lymphocytes, the activation requirements of B cells specific for the Ag hen egg lysozyme (HEL) obtained from immunoglobulin (Ig)-transgenic mice were compared with those of functionally tolerant B cells isolated from Ig-transgenic mice which also express soluble HEL. To eliminate the need for surface (s)Ig-mediated Ag uptake and presentation and allow the effects of sIg signaling to be studied in isolation, we assessed the ability of allogeneic T cells from bm12 strain mice to provide in vivo help to C57BL/6 strain-transgenic B cells. Interestingly, non-tolerant Ig-transgenic B cells required both allogeneic Th cells and binding of soluble HEL for efficient activation and Ab production. By contrast, tolerant self-reactive B cells from Ig/HEL double transgenic mice responded poorly to the same combination of allogeneic T cells and soluble HEL. The tolerant B cells were nevertheless normally responsive to stimulation with interleukin 4 and anti-CD40 Abs in vitro, suggesting that they retained the capacity to respond to mediators of T cell help. However, the tolerant B cells exhibited a proximal block in the sIg signaling pathway which prevented activation of receptor-associated tyrosine kinases in response to the binding of soluble HEL. The functional significance of this sIg signaling defect was confirmed by using a more potent membrane-bound form of HEL capable of triggering sIg signaling in tolerant B cells, which markedly restored their ability to collaborate with allogeneic Th cells and produce Ab. These findings indicate that Ag-specific B cells require two signals for mounting a T cell-dependent Ab response and identify regulation of sIg signaling as a mechanism for controlling self-reactive B cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Effects of IL-12 on in vivo cytokine gene expression and Ig isotype selection.

The effects of murine rIL-12 on cytokine gene expression and Ig secretion were studied in vivo. In untreated mice IL-12 enhanced IFN-gamma and IL-10 gene expression and protein secretion, reduced base line IL-3 and IL-4 gene expression, and increased serum IgG2a concentration. In mice that had been injected with goat anti-mouse IgD antibody (G alpha M delta) to induce increases in IL-3, IL-4, and IL-10 gene expression and serum IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 concentrations, the simultaneous injection of IL-12 enhanced IFN-gamma and IL-10 gene expression and suppressed IL-3 and IL-4 gene expression and serum IgG and IgE responses. Anti-IFN-gamma mAb neutralized most, but not all, IFN-gamma produced by mice treated with G alpha M delta and IL-12. Anti-IFN-gamma mAb enhanced IL-3 and IL-4 gene expression, did not affect IL-10 or IFN-gamma gene expression, and increased serum IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 levels, but had relatively little effect on serum IgE in these mice. In contrast to its effects in G alpha M delta-treated mice, IL-12 failed to inhibit the IgE response to G alpha M epsilon antibody, which stimulates mIgE+ B cells to secrete IgE. These observations demonstrate that: 1) IL-12 may limit its own effects by inducing the production of a cytokine (IL-10) that down-regulates both IL-12 production and IL-12-induced IFN-gamma production; 2) IL-12 inhibits the production of at least one cytokine, IL-3, that is not generally regarded to be strictly Th1- or Th2-associated; 3) IL-12 inhibits switching to IgE secretion to a greater extent than it inhibits switching to other Ig isotypes; and 4) the in vivo effects of IL-12 are, to a large extent, IFN-gamma-dependent.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Cytokine-mediated regulation of chronic intestinal helminth infection.

Most inbred strains of mouse infected with the intestinal nematode Trichuris muris are resistant to infection expelling the parasite before adult worms establish. However, a few susceptible strains exist that are incapable of worm expulsion and harbor chronic infections of mature adult worms. Analyses of in vitro cytokine production by cells from the draining lymph node (mesenteric lymph node) have indicated that expulsion phenotype is tightly correlated with the selective expansion of helper T cells (Th) of the Th1 or Th2 cell subset within the mesenteric lymph node, resulting in susceptibility and resistance to T. muris, respectively. We have now confirmed and extended our in vitro observations in a series of experiments involving the in vivo manipulation of host cytokine levels. Depletion of interferon (IFN)-gamma in normally susceptible mice resulted in expulsion of the parasite, representing the first evidence for a role for IFN-gamma in the establishment of chronic helminth infection. Blocking interleukin (IL)-4 function in normally resistant animals prevented the generation of a protective immune response allowing adult stages of the parasite to develop. Conversely the administration of IL-4 to a normally susceptible host facilitated expulsion and indeed enabled established adult worms to be expelled when administered late in infection. In all cases assessment of a variety of in vivo parameters indicative of a Th1- or Th2-type response (parasite-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G2a and the parasite-specific IgG1, total IgE levels and intestinal mastocytosis, respectively) demonstrated that the in vivo modulation of a Th1- or Th2-specific cytokine allowed the reciprocal Th cell subset to expand and become dominant with dramatic consequences for worm expulsion.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Toxocara canis: failure to find IgE receptors (Fc epsilon R) on eosinophils from infected mice suggests that murine eosinophils do not kill helminth larvae by an IgE-dependent mechanism.

Eosinophils obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from the lungs of mice infected with Toxocara canis were characterized by flow cytometry with respect to cytophilic antibodies and surface Fc receptors. Freshly harvested BAL eosinophils were negative for sIgM, sIgA, sIgE, and Fc epsilon RII. These eosinophils were positive for sIgG1 and Fc gamma RII, although not all Fc gamma RIIs contained bound ligand. Culturing eosinophils for 24 or 48 hr with exogenous IgE and/or IL-4 did not induce IgE binding capacity or Fc epsilon RII expression. IL-4 did not decrease Fc gamma RII expression but did decrease ligand binding capacity by Fc gamma RII. These findings are in marked contrast to the results of studies characterizing the surface of both human and rat eosinophils and may indicate different functional activities for mouse BAL eosinophils in helminth infections.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Effect of anti-interferon-gamma monoclonal antibody treatment on the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in resistant mouse strains.

Immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP) in complete Freund's adjuvant failed to induce experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in six resistant mouse strains studied: A/J, BALB/c C3H/HeJ, AKR, NZW and DBA/2. However, treatment of challenged mice with anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) monoclonal antibody (mAb) induced severe EAE in mice of all strains except AKR. Furthermore, anti-IFN-gamma mAb treatment led to increased disease incidence and severity in BALB/c mice challenged with the MBP peptide87-103, known to be encephalitogenic for the susceptible SJL strain. In three strains tested, anti-IFN-gamma mAb enhanced passively induced EAE in the A/J and C3H/HeJ but not in the BALB/c mice. All mice with clinically overt EAE had widespread histological lesions characterized by mononuclear cell infiltrates and focal demyelination. The results indicate that resistant strains are genetically capable of developing EAE, and that IFN-gamma can contribute to disease resistance.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Th1 and Th2 cell-associated cytokines in experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

In experimental Leishmania donovani infection in BALB/c mice, initial susceptibility gives way to T-cell-dependent acquired resistance and eventual control over visceral infection. Since various cytokines appear to underlie the host response to Leishmania infection, we examined infected liver tissue for gene expression of cytokines associated with Th1 (gamma interferon [IFN-gamma] and interleukin-2 [IL-2]) and Th2 cells (IL-4 and IL-10). By Northern (RNA) blot analysis, only IFN-gamma mRNA expression was detected in livers of infected euthymic mice. To determine whether activation of Th1 cells develops selectively in this model, qualitative PCR analysis was used. These results indicated that mRNAs for IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 were all induced by L. donovani infection. The potentially negative Th2 cell-associated response did not appear to play a functional role, however, since resistance was acquired, anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody treatment did not accelerate control over visceral infection, and serum immunoglobulin E levels remained low. As judged by PCR analysis, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNAs were also expressed under three other conditions without apparent effect: in naive euthymic mice treated with IL-2, which induces leishmanicidal activity; in rechallenged immune mice, which resist reinfection; and in nude mice, which fail to control L. donovani. These results suggest that, like other Leishmania species, L. donovani infection may trigger a potentially suppressive Th2 cell-associated cytokine response. However, in T-cell-intact mice able to control L. donovani, this response either is insufficient to influence outcome or more likely is overshadowed by the Th1 cell response.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

In vivo biological effects of recombinant soluble interleukin-4 receptor.

We investigated the role of soluble interleukin-4 receptor (sIL-4R) as a regulator of IL-4 mediated activities in vivo. Administration of recombinant sIL-4R to mice resulted in (i) prolonged survival of heterotopic cardiac allografts; (ii) decreased popliteal lymph node enlargement in response to allogeneic cells; and (iii) inhibition of IgE secretion in response to anti-IgD treatment. Transgenic mice constitutively expressing elevated levels of biologically active sIL-4R displayed prolonged cardiac allograft survival compared with control animals. However the sIL-4R transgenic mice were capable of mounting normal antigen-specific IgE responses despite the presence in serum of up to 3 micrograms/ml sIL-4R. Surprisingly, coadministration of IL-4/sIL-4R or IL-4/anti-IL-4 mAb complexes caused a superinduction of IgE secretion in anti-IgD-treated normal mice and subsequently in other IL-4-dependent biological activities. Thus, recombinant sIL-4R can not only antagonize functions mediated by endogenous IL-4, but also potentiate the biological activity of exogenously administered IL-4. These dual roles may have possible clinical implications for the recombinant molecule, as well as for natural sIL-4R immunoregulation.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

IFN inhibits inflammatory responses and protective immunity in mice infected with the nematode parasite, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

Mice infected with the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) develop responses associated with enhanced production of IL-4 (increased serum IgE levels and intestinal mucosal mastocytosis) and IL-5 (tissue and peripheral blood eosinophilia). The antagonistic effects of IFN on IL-4-mediated responses prompted an examination of the effects of IFN on the host response to Nb. Treatment with rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma induced a marked increase in parasite egg production (fecundity) in BALB/c mice infected with Nb and delayed intestinal expulsion of adult worms. Treatment with rIFN-alpha or rIFN-gamma also inhibited the rise in peripheral blood eosinophilia that follows inoculation with Nb, and the intensity of pulmonary perivascular tissue eosinophilia. However, Nb-induced increases in serum IgG levels and intestinal mastocytosis were only temporarily delayed by IFN. Induction of endogenous IFN production by injection of fixed Brucella abortus into mice infected with Nb also resulted in an increased worm fecundity and delayed adult worm expulsion. These effects were ablated when mice given Brucella abortus also received injections of neutralizing anti-IFN antibodies. Thus, IFN inhibit host protective immunity to Nb, perhaps by interfering with the production and effects of Th2 cytokines.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Germline and productive C epsilon gene expression during in vivo IgE responses.

In vitro studies have established that Ig isotype switching typically involves deletion of CH genes that are located between VDJ and the CH gene that will be expressed, and is preceded by transcription of a germline (g) form of that CH gene. Increases in g epsilon transcript levels are induced by the cytokine IL-4, and always precede switching to IgE. To evaluate whether a similar relationship occurs in vivo, we examined IL-4 mRNA, g epsilon RNA, productive (p) epsilon mRNA, and serum IgE levels in two in vivo systems: one in which the injection of anti-IgD antibody induces mIgD+ B cells to switch to the expression of IgE and to secrete this isotype, and a second in which the injection of anti-IgE antibody stimulates IgE secretion by B cells that had been induced to express membrane IgE by earlier treatment with anti-IgD antibody. Increases in IL-4 transcript levels in anti-IgD-injected mice were followed within 24 h by increases in g epsilon RNA, and, one to two days later, by increased p epsilon mRNA and serum IgE levels. IL-4 antagonists blocked the g epsilon and p epsilon RNA and serum IgE responses in these mice, whereas the injection of otherwise untreated mice with IL-4 stimulated, within 24 h, a large increase in g epsilon RNA levels, followed 1-2 days later by a small increase in p epsilon mRNA. Injection of anti-IgD-primed mice with anti-IgE antibody also stimulated increases in IL-4, g epsilon and p epsilon RNA levels; however, the increases in IL-4 and g epsilon RNA were considerably smaller, and the increases in p epsilon mRNA and serum IgE considerably larger, than those observed in anti-IgD antibody-injected mice. IL-4 antagonists blocked the anti-IgE antibody-induced g epsilon RNA response, but not the p epsilon mRNA or serum IgE responses. Thus, IL-4 is required for the induction of g epsilon RNA in at least two in vivo systems, increased g epsilon RNA levels precede increases in p epsilon RNA levels in vivo as in vitro, and neither IL-4 nor g epsilon RNA is required to induce B cells that have already switched to IgE expression to differentiate into IgE-secreting cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Anti-cytokine antibodies as carrier proteins. Prolongation of in vivo effects of exogenous cytokines by injection of cytokine-anti-cytokine antibody complexes.

Anti-cytokine antibodies that block interactions between cytokines and cytokine receptors have been used to inhibit endogenous cytokine function. However, injection of mice with mixtures of IL-4 and either of two neutralizing anti-IL-4 mAb, at a cytokine/anti-cytokine mAb molar ratio of approximately 2:1, enhances and prolongs in vivo IL-4 activity, as measured by induction of increased spleen cell Ia expression. Although splenocyte Ia expression returns to baseline two days after mice are injected with free IL-4, soluble IL-4-anti-IL-4 mAb complexes still induce several-fold increases in Ia expression 3 days after injection. Complexes that contain as little as 400 ng of IL-4 have considerable in vivo stimulatory activity, and a maximal effect on splenocyte Ia expression is induced by injection of 2 micrograms of complexed IL-4. The stimulatory effect of IL-4-containing complexes on splenocyte Ia expression can be blocked by increasing the ratio of anti-IL-4 mAb to IL-4, by injection of anti-IL-4R mAb, and by in vivo aggregation of the complexes. Complexes of IL-4 with a non-neutralizing anti-IL-4 mAb do not have increased IL-4 agonist activity in vivo. These observations are most consistent with the possibility that neutralizing anti-IL-4 mAb act as carrier proteins that increase the in vivo half-life of IL-4 by preventing its excretion, and possibly, by preventing modification of its active site. The enhanced agonist effect of IL-4-anti-IL-4 mAb complexes is not unique; complexes of IL-3 with a neutralizing anti-IL-3 mAb have a greatly increased ability, compared with free IL-3, to stimulate mucosal mastocytosis, and complexes of IL-7 with a neutralizing anti-IL-7 mAb have a greatly increased ability, compared with free IL-7 or IL-7 complexed with a non-neutralizing anti-IL-7 mAb, to stimulate an increase in pre-B cell number. These observations suggest that complexes of cytokines and neutralizing anti-cytokine mAb may provide a generally useful way to increase the magnitude and duration of cytokine effects in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Inhibition of murine B and T lymphopoiesis in vivo by an anti-interleukin 7 monoclonal antibody.

The effects of interleukin 7 (IL-7) on the growth and differentiation of murine B cell progenitors has been well characterized using in vitro culture methods. We have investigated the role of IL-7 in vivo using a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-7. We find that treatment of mice with this antibody completely inhibits the development of B cell progenitors from the pro-B cell stage forward. We also provide evidence that all peripheral B cells, including those of the B-1 and conventional lineages, are derived from IL-7-dependent precursors. The results are consistent with the rapid turnover of B cell progenitors in the marrow, but a slow turnover of mature B cells in the periphery. In addition to effects on B cell development, anti-IL-7 treatment substantially reduced thymus cellularity, affecting all major thymic subpopulations.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

A primary intestinal helminthic infection rapidly induces a gut-associated elevation of Th2-associated cytokines and IL-3.

The immune response that is characteristic of parasitic helminth infections includes components associated with immediate-type hypersensitivity: elevated serum IgE, eosinophilia, and intestinal mast cell hyperplasia. In infection with the parasitic nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, IL-4 mediates protective immunity, suggesting the presence of a host-protective Th2 response. In this investigation, we examined early stages of immune responsiveness to H. polygyrus infection to determine whether and at what stage a specific Th2-like pattern first appears. Using a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay, we analyzed changes in IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, and IL-10 gene expression in the spleen, mesenteric lymph node, and Peyer's patch at various time points after infection. Our results demonstrate a highly specific and reproducible pattern of cytokine gene expression that remains localized to the enteric region. By 6 h after infection, IL-5 and IL-9 mRNA were elevated in the Peyer's patch and IL-3 was elevated by 12 to 24 h after infection. IL-4 RNA became elevated by 4 to 6 days after infection, but little change was observed in IFN-gamma, IL-2, or IL-10 mRNA levels. The early increases in IL-3, IL-5, and IL-9 gene expression after infection were probably T cell-independent, inasmuch as they were observed in Peyer's patches of congenitally athymic mice and anti-CD4, anti-CD8 mAb-treated conventional mice. However, treatment with these mAb considerably decreased cytokine gene expression 6 days after infection, and 8 days after infection, increased IL-4 gene expression in mesenteric lymph node cells was restricted to the CD4+ population. Thus, H. polygyrus infection induces cytokine gene expression that is restricted to some Th2-associated cytokines, is initiated by a T-independent response, and culminates in a T-dependent response.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Recombinant soluble murine IL-4 receptor can inhibit or enhance IgE responses in vivo.

This study examines the effects of soluble IL-4R (sIL-4R) administration on IgE production in vivo by using an anti-IgD injection model. Anti-IgD-treated mice were given various doses of sIL-4R or anti-IL-4 mAb over a 3-day period and serum IgE levels were determined by ELISA on day 9. The sIL-4R inhibited IgE production by up to 85%. Anti-IL-4 mAb administration resulted in comparable levels of inhibition at considerably lower doses. The disparity in efficacy between sIL-4R and anti-IL-4 mAb was likely the result of differences in the biodistribution and in vivo half-life of the two IL-4-binding proteins. The specificity of the sIL-4R inhibitory effect was assessed by mixing sIL-4R with various concentrations of IL-4 before injection. Exogenous IL-4 partially overcame the inhibitory effect of high-dose sIL-4R or anti-IL-4 mAb. Unexpectedly, coadministration of suboptimal concentrations of anti-IL-4 mAb or sIL-4R with IL-4 resulted in superinduction of the IgE response. This stimulatory effect was dose dependent for both IL-4 and the IL-4 cognates and was not seen in the absence of exogenous IL-4 over the entire concentration range tested for either sIL-4R or anti-IL mAb. The results indicate that sIL-4R can block IgE secretion by neutralizing endogenous IL-4. Furthermore, sIL-4R can enhance, in a dose-dependent manner, the biologic effects of exogenously administered IL-4, presumably by altering the biodistribution of the cytokine. These findings suggest two alternative applications for cytokine-binding proteins, i.e., 1) as antagonists of biologic activities of endogenously produced cytokines and, 2) as vehicles for cytokine delivery.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1993

IL-4 induction of IgE class switching by lipopolysaccharide-activated murine B cells occurs predominantly through sequential switching.

Resting murine B cells activated with bacterial LPS co-express membrane (m)IgG1 and mIgE upon stimulation with IL-4. In this report, we combine both cellular and molecular approaches to elucidate the mechanism underlying this co-expression. We demonstrate that an anti-IgG1 antibody specifically and selectively inhibits IgE secretion (approximately 70%) by LPS + IL-4-stimulated B cells, which provides functional evidence for mIgG1 expression by precursors of IgE-secreting cells. The IgG1 and IgE secretory responses are separated temporally by approximately 16 h, with IgE production developing later than IgG1. A similar delay is observed in the appearance of mIgE+ cells suggesting that class switching to IgG1 precedes that to IgE. In the sort-purified, mIgG1+mIgE+ B cell population approximately 25% of cells expressed cytoplasmic (c) (secretory) IgG1 and approximately 15% expressed cIgE at the time of their isolation. However, only a small percent of the mIgG1+mIgE+ cells co-expressed cIgG1 and cIgE, further suggesting a temporal separation in IgG1 and IgE secretion within individual cells, but indicating that single cells can co-secrete these two Ig isotypes. Furthermore, the absolute level and rate of increase of IgG1 secretion by mIgG1+mIgE+ cells, upon their isolation and reculture, is lower than that for mIgG1+mIgE- cells suggesting a loss of CH gamma 1 expression in the former population. Analysis of total, unselected circular DNA excision products in LPS + IL-4-activated B cells demonstrates that most, if not all, of the DNA encoding the IgG1 constant heavy gene (CH gamma 1) (i.e., products of a class switch to IgE) have been rearranged. Collectively this data provides strong evidence at both the cellular and molecular level that the predominant mode of switching to IgE in response to in vitro stimulation by LPS + IL-4 is from IgM to IgG1 to IgE.

Animals↗