Biomedical subjects

J Gauldie

Publications and source records attributed to J Gauldie.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Transfer of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene to rat lung induces eosinophilia, monocytosis, and fibrotic reactions.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pleiotropic cytokine whose expression is increased in numerous respiratory diseases, particularly in asthma. However, the role of GM-CSF in the pathogenesis of these conditions in vivo remains unclear. Here, we report the functional activities of GM-CSF highly expressed in rat lung after intrapulmonary transfer of the gene coding for murine GM-CSF by using an adenoviral vector. This high, transient expression of GM-CSF led to the sustained but self-limiting accumulation of eosinophils and macrophages associated with tissue injury in the lung followed by varying degrees of irreversible fibrotic reactions observed in later stages. These results suggest that GM-CSF plays a previously unrealized role in the development of respiratory conditions characterized by eosinophilia, granuloma and/or fibrosis and provide the rationale for targeting this molecule in these diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Construction of a double recombinant adenovirus vector expressing a heterodimeric cytokine: in vitro and in vivo production of biologically active interleukin-12.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine that plays an important role in the development of cellular immunity. Clinical applications for this lymphokine include resolution of infectious disease, cancer immunotherapy, and boosting cellular immunity in AIDS patients. When using IL-12 and other cytokines therapeutically, an approach designed to obtain localized cytokine expression would be beneficial, because this could reduce the problem of systemic toxicity. As a means of developing a suitable delivery vehicle for IL-12, we have produced double-recombinant adenovirus vectors containing the p35 subunit cDNA of murine IL-12 in early region 1 of adenovirus type 5 and the cDNA for p40 in early region 3 (AdmIL-12). Cell lines infected with AdmIL-12 produced up to 42,000 units of IL-12/10(6) cells per 24 hr. Biological activity of the virally expressed product was demonstrated in vitro through its ability to induce proliferation of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphoblasts and to stimulate natural killer (NK) activity in naive splenocytes. Mice injected intraperitoneally with these vectors displayed serum IL-12 levels that increased proportionately with the amount of virus administered. IL-12 production in vivo caused a dose-dependent increase in splenic and lung NK cell activity. This work represents the first demonstration of a double-recombinant adenovirus vector expressing a functional heterodimeric protein. The results of these studies support the use of AdmIL-12 as an efficient delivery vehicle for IL-12, and direct studies of its ability to modulate cellular immunity in vivo are currently underway.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed1996

Gene transfer for cytokine functional studies in the lung: the multifunctional role of GM-CSF in pulmonary inflammation.

Using adenoviral-mediated gene transfer techniques, the murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) transgene is efficiently targeted to and highly expressed by the respiratory epithelium of rat lung. This lung tissue-directed expression of GM-CSF induces accumulation of both eosinophils and macrophages at early stages and an irreversible fibrotic reaction at later stages. These tissue responses to GM-CSF appear to be distinct from those induced by other proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), or RANTES overexpressed in the lung. These findings clearly demonstrate that GM-CSF is more than a hematopoietic cytokine in the lung and may play a pivotal role in the multiple pathological processes underlying numerous respiratory illnesses, including asthma. In this overview, the differences in tissue responses induced by GM-CSF and other individual cytokines are highlighted. In addition, the mechanisms by which GM-CSF and other individual cytokines are highlighted. In addition, the mechanisms by which GM-CSF contributes to the development of eosinophilia, macrophage granuloma, and fibrosis are discussed in conjunction with the recent findings from us and others.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Regulation of signal transducer, GP13O and the LIF receptor in acute inflammation in vivo.

Recently we examined the expression of the IL-6 receptor (gp80) in three different models of acute inflammation [Geisterfer et al., 1993, Cytokine 5:1]. To continue these studies, we examined the mRNA expression of signal transducing molecule, gp130, and the LIF-R as associated members of a receptor family. Rats were treated with either Freund's complete adjuvant (FA) via intraperitoneal injection, LPS via intravenous injection, or turpentine via subcutaneous injection. The levels of gp130 and LIF-R mRNA expression had a maximum 2-3-fold increase over a 24 h period. However, the time of the maximum increase differed depending on the treatment the rats received. FA treated rats had a maximum induction of gp130 mRNA levels of 2.2-fold (for the 7.5 kb transcript) and 1.3-fold (for the 9.0 kb transcript) at 12 h. LPS treated rats had a maximum increase at 3 h where message levels increased 2.5-fold (7.5 kb) and 1.2-fold (9.0 kb). Turpentine-injected rats showed little difference in gp130 mRNA levels at any time after injection compared to controls. Maximum LIF-R mRNA levels also differed depending on the type of treatment the rats received. FA-injected rats showed a 2.1-fold mRNA increase at 3 h, whereas LPS treated rats show a maximum 2.4-fold increase at 18 h. Turpentine-injected rats showed little increase in mRNA levels compared to controls. Injection of purified recombinant rat IL-6 (rIL-6) had little effect on LIF-R mRNA levels, but had a dramatic inducing effect on gp130 mRNA levels. Rats were also injected (i.p.) with Dexamethasone (Dex) and this had no effect on either gp130 or LIF-R mRNA level expression. These in vivo results indicated that IL-6 has a major role in the regulation of its own receptors, IL-6R (gp80), and gp130, and the onset of acute phase response. We found that the maximum IL-6R (gp80), gp130 and LIF-R mRNA levels peaked at different times depending on the type of acute inflammation induced in the rat. It seems that various combinations of cytokines and hormones are released depending on the type of acute inflammation, and these in turn regulate the expression of diverse receptors on the hepatocyte, resulting in different acute phase kinetics in the various models of inflammation.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

Vector-derived expression of recombinant rat interleukin-6.

Rat interleukin-6 (IL-6) cDNA, coding for an important inflammation- and immune-regulatory polypeptide cytokine, was cloned into the novel expression vector pH6EX3 which directs the synthesis of inserted genes as a fusion protein with histidine hexapeptide (HH). The resultant vector (pRIL6.992) was shown to produce significant amounts of recombinant rat IL-6 fusion protein with HH at its N-terminus in various strains of Escherichia coli. The expression of the HH-IL-6 fusion protein was demonstrated to be under the control of the tac promoter and could be induced by IPTG. This protein was isolated from bacterial inclusion bodies and purified to homogeneity in a one-step procedure by affinity chromatography using a nickel-chelating column. The HH-IL-6 fusion protein isolated in this manner was biologically active as determined by hepatocyte stimulation and B9 hybridoma growth assays. Further, this activity was neutralized with a polyclonal antiserum raised against rat IL-6 protein generated in a novel fashion from rabbits infected with a recombinant human type-5 adenovirus vector expressing rat IL-6 protein (Ad5E3rIL6). The recombinant HH-IL-6 protein was then used to boost Ad5E3rIL6-immunized rabbits. This resulting antiserum was shown to neutralize recombinant and natural rat and murine IL-6 bioactivity in vitro and was useful in Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry of rat IL-6.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed1996

Murine cardiotrophin-1 stimulates the acute-phase response in rat hepatocytes and H35 hepatoma cells.

Mouse cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a hypertrophy-inducing factor for cardiac myocytes and interacts with cell surface receptors that incorporate the signaling molecule gp130. Because other cytokines utilizing this receptor subunit stimulate acute-phase protein synthesis, we tested cardiotrophin-1 in in vitro assays of protein synthesis by primary rat hepatocytes, rat hepatoma cells (H35), and human hepatoma cells (HepG2). CT-1 showed a dose-dependent induction of protein synthesis by primary rat hepatocytes, with effective concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 ng/ml. Production of a number of acute-phase proteins, including alpha 1-cysteine proteinase inhibitor ( alpha 1-CPI), alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-Pi), alpha 2-macroglobulin, and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, was markedly increased at 48 and 72 h of cytokine stimulation. In rat H35 cells, CT-1 stimulated alpha 1-Pi and alpha 1-CPI protein production and upregulated alpha 1-CPI mRNA levels with similar potency. Compared with other IL-6-type human cytokines at optimal concentrations in parallel assays, CT-1 induced similar levels of acute-phase proteins as human oncostatin M (OM) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), whereas human IL-6 induced the greatest levels of alpha 1-CPI or alpha 1-Pi production by H35 cells. When tested on human HepG2 cells, murine CT-1 was far less effective, in that it stimulated alpha 1-antichymotrypsin production only at very high concentrations (100 ng/ml) but did not alter haptoglobin or alpha 1-Pi. Human OM and IL-6 were effective at lower concentrations and induced much higher levels of acute-phase protein synthesis, whereas LIF activity was similar to that to CT-1. These results show that murine CT-1 is a strong acute-phase mediator for rat hepatocytes in vitro and its activity is similar to LIF on rat hepatocytes, H35 cells, and HepG2 cells.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed1996

Characterization and biologic activities of recombinant rat soluble interleukin-6 receptor.

The soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) consists of the extracellular domain of the membrane-bound IL-6 receptor (gp80) found on many types of cells. Contrary to most other soluble cytokine receptors, it possesses in vitro agonistic properties, yet its physiologic role remains unknown. We have generated a cDNA encoding the rat sIL-6R and have expressed and purified the protein using Escherichia coli and baculovirus systems. Analysis of purified protein by electrophoresis and silver staining showed a single band migrating at 35 kDa for E. coli (nonglycosylated) and at 47 kDa for baculovirus-derived material. The purified protein is biologically active, as determined by the ability to convert human hepatoma cells (HepG2) from nonresponsive to responsive to rat IL-6 and induce acute-phase protein synthesis. Most important, we show that rat sIL-6R directly induces proliferation of the IL-6-dependent murine hybridoma cell line (B9) in an IL-6-like manner, with 50% proliferation induced by 100 ng/ml of baculovirus-derived receptor protein. Physiologic concentrations of sIL-6R dramatically enhance the sensitivity of B9 cells to IL-6, indicating that the bioassay for IL-6 is susceptible to modulation by the presence of sIL-6R in rodent serum samples. This sIL-6R-dependent B9 cell proliferation is fully abrogated by antibodies directed against rodent IL-6 and indicates autocrine production of low amounts of IL-6 by the B9 cell line.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1996

Recombinant human adenovirus with rat MIP-2 gene insertion causes prolonged PMN recruitment to the murine brain.

Single injections of recombinant cytokines/chemokines into tissue have provided insights into their possible roles during the inflammatory response. Adenoviral technology may allow us to mimic the in vivo situation more closely, with protein generated in a continuous but transient fashion. Replication-deficient human type 5 adenovirus containing a rat macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) gene insertion and cytomegalovirus promoter was injected into the mouse brain to investigate the inflammatory response to continuous overproduction of MIP-2. Adenovirus with a LacZ gene insertion expressing beta-galactosidase was used as a control. At doses of 10(4) to 10(7) plaque-forming units, a minimal inflammatory response was detected to the LacZ virus, with leukocyte recruitment that was restricted to the injection site. A dose of 10(7) plaque-forming units of both the LacZ and the MIP-2 vector produced extensive transgene product expression that persisted for at least 7 days. Astrocytes, recognized by their morphology, were the predominant cell type expressing MIP-2 and beta-galactosidase. A dose of 10(7) plaque-forming units of MIP-2 vector caused dramatic polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) recruitment to the brain parenchyma after 2 days. PMN recruitment was still observed after 4 and 7 days, but had become more localized to the injection site and was associated with numerous foam-like macrophages. At both 2 and 7 days the blood-brain barrier was breached in the region of leukocyte recruitment. Despite the extent of leukocyte recruitment there were no overt signs of neuronal degeneration or demyelination. Our findings demonstrate that continuous production of MIP-2 in the CNS results in persistent PMN recruitment to the brain parenchyma with no evidence of tachyphylaxis. The lack of PMN recruitment to the brain parenchyma following CNS injury may be a result of deficient production of PMN chemoattractants.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed1996

Metabolic changes in rats during a continuous infusion of recombinant interleukin-1.

The effects of recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1), given as a continuous infusion for 6 days, on host responses were determined in rats. The development of fever, change in food intake and body weight, and key components of the acute-phase response in energy and protein metabolism were assessed. The effects of IL-1 were compared with those observed in a matched pair-fed group (semistarved), to distinguish the contribution from anorexia, and in a group that received IL-1 for 4 h acutely. IL-1 significantly increased core temperature, plasma levels of IL-6, and acute-phase protein production and decreased food intake and the circulating zinc level. The catabolic effects of IL-1 on nitrogen loss and muscle protein breakdown were independent of, and additive to those from malnutrition. The changes in energy expenditure, cumulative urinary nitrogen, and hydroxyproline excretion in the chronic IL-1 group were increased over semistarved animals. Finally, changes in muscle protein kinetics were only seen with chronic IL-1 infusion, and the changes in acute-phase protein were greater.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1996

Elafin/elastase-specific inhibitor in bronchoalveolar lavage of normal subjects and farmer's lung.

Secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) and alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1(PI)) cannot fully explain the total neutrophil elastase (NE) inhibitory capacity detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, suggesting the existence of other NE inhibitor(s). In the present study, we measured the concentrations of elafin, a newly described, low-molecular-weight serine proteinase inhibitor, SLPI, and alpha1(PI) in BAL fluids from eight healthy subjects, 13 asymptomatic farmers, seven farmers with active farmer's lung (FL), and seven farmers with previous (Ex) FL. In addition to SLPI and alpha1(PI), elafin was present in BAL fluids from control subjects and asymptomatic farmers, 13 (7-31) and 12 (7-67) mmol/mol of albumin (median and range) respectively. Elafin concentration increased significantly to 105 (38-207) mmol/mol of albumin in farmers with active FL and was also elevated in farmers with Ex FL. Elafin levels were highly correlated with lung inflammatory cell numbers, especially lymphocytes, and the decrease in single-breath diffusion capacity (DLCO). Elafin and SLPI were linked to yet uncharacterized proteins in BAL fluids. In conclusion, elafin is a constituent of BAL fluid from normal subjects and is found in enhanced concentrations in FL and in farmers with lymphocytic alveolitis. This suggests that elafin may play a role in lung homeostasis and inflammation.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Adenoviral gene transfer of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 in rat lung.

Replication-defective adenoviral vectors are capable of localized transfer and expression of incorporated gene product in lung tissue. We have constructed an adenoviral vector that expresses rat macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, a C-X-C chemokine specifically chemotactic for neutrophils, Supernatants from 293 cells, infected with the adenoviral MIP-2 (ADMIP-2) construct, showed potent chemotactic activity and the ability of the ADMIP-2 vector to transcribe and make functional protein was confirmed. In vivo analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from rats after intratracheal instillation of ADMIP-2 (10(9) plaque-forming units) showed a 10-fold increase in the absolute number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as opposed to rats treated with an equal titer of an E1-disabled control virus expressing firefly luciferase (ADCA-18). Neutrophils constituted 65% of total BAL cells with alveolar macrophages being the other major cell type recovered. Rat MIP-2 protein was increased (nanograms per milliliter) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid over a period of 7 days in ADMIP-2-treated animals. MIP-2 mRNA was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis in lung tissue, and histological analysis confirmed the presence of massive localized tissue neutrophilia. Evidence of chronic tissue injury and repair (ie, fibrosis) was not detected up to 2 weeks after the neutrophil infiltrate had resolved, subsequent to decreased chemokine presence. Adenoviral gene transfer proved an effective tool for the assessment of lung tissue expression of this chemokine in vivo and is useful in developing rodent models of tissue neutrophilia.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed1995

Steroid inhibition of cytokine-mediated vasodilation after warm heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral vasodilation, a potentially adverse effect of warm heart surgery, may be mediated by the perioperative release of cytokines. Corticosteroids may abolish cytokine production and vasodilation. We investigated cytokine production and its inhibition by steroids in patients undergoing elective coronary bypass surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-five patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass received either preoperative steroid (Solumedrol 250 mg IV, n = 16) or no steroid (n = 9, control group). Blood samples were obtained serially for 24 hours and assayed for interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). In the control patients, the IL-6, TNF, and IL-8 levels were elevated postoperatively and peaked between 3 and 6 hours after surgery (IL-6, 1330 +/- 295 [mean +/- SEM] pg/mL; TNF, 18.4 +/- 9.8 pg/mL; and IL-8, 150 +/- 51 pg/mL). Cytokine release was abolished in patients receiving preoperative corticosteroid (IL-6, 75 +/- 38 pg/mL; TNF, 2.6 +/- 0.5 pg/mL; and IL-8, 33 +/- 6.7 pg/mL; P < .05). Patients receiving steroid premedication had higher arterial pressure, lower cardiac index, and higher systemic vascular resistance, indicating less vasodilation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that cytokine production occurs after normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Preoperative administration of steroids abolishes cytokine release and vasodilation.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗

PubMed1995

IL-6 stimulates vitronectin gene expression in vivo.

We tested the hypothesis that vitronectin (Vn) is regulated as an acute phase reactant in response to inflammatory stimuli. In initial experiments, Vn levels were measured during the surgically induced acute phase response in humans. The plasma concentration of Vn increased approximately twofold following elective orthopedic surgery and remained elevated up to 5 days. To examine the mechanism(s) of increased Vn synthesis, hepatic Vn mRNA expression and serum levels were examined in three rat models of acute inflammation: LPS (i.v.), CFA (i.p.), or turpentine (s.c.) injection. The serum concentration of Vn increased approximately twofold 24 h following treatment with turpentine. The expression of Vn mRNA in the liver increased markedly as early as 3 h after treatment in these models and remained elevated up to 18 h. Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from fractionated liver cells derived from rats treated with LPS indicated that Vn was mainly expressed in hepatocytes, but not in the endothelial or nonparenchymal cell fractions. To analyze the individual effects of raised corticosterone and IL-6 levels on the expression of hepatic Vn mRNA, rats were injected (i.p.) with either dexamethasone or purified recombinant rat IL-6. Vn mRNA expression was elevated within 1 h after IL-6 injection, whereas dexamethasone-injected rats showed unchanged Vn expression. Vn mRNA also was increased in rats chronically injected with IL-6. These results indicate that the Vn gene is up-regulated in acute and chronic inflammation, and this induction is primarily mediated by IL-6.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Intratumoral injection of an adenovirus expressing interleukin 2 induces regression and immunity in a murine breast cancer model.

Rodent tumor cells engineered to secrete cytokines such as interleukin 2 (IL-2) or IL-4 are rejected by syngeneic recipients due to an enhanced antitumor host immune response. An adenovirus vector (AdCAIL-2) containing the human IL-2 gene has been constructed and shown to direct secretion of high levels of human IL-2 in infected tumor cells. AdCAIL-2 induces regression of tumors in a transgenic mouse model of mammary adenocarcinoma following intratumoral injection. Elimination of existing tumors in this way results in immunity against a second challenge with tumor cells. These findings suggest that adenovirus vectors expressing cytokines may form the basis for highly effective immunotherapies of human cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1995

Adenovirus vectors for cytokine gene expression.

Recombinant Adenovirus type 5 constructs containing IL-6 cDNA can be used to infect cells in vitro and obtain a high level of IL-6 expression and secretion into culture media. Furthermore, Ad5-IL-6 viruses can also be used to infect Balb/c mice or Sprague-Dawley rats and obtain a high level of IL-6 expression that is sustained over a period of 3-5 days. Intratracheal infection was accompanied by dramatic increases in virus-encoded IL-6 mRNA levels in rat lung tissue, raised levels of IL-6 detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and in serum, and IL-6-dependent sequelae such as liver acute phase responses. This occurs in a tissue-specific manner, depending on routes of infection by the virus. Rat lungs showed a prominent expansion (10 fold in numbers) of all classes of lymphocytes, including B cells, T helper cells (CD4+) and CTL (CD8+) at day 7 after infection which resolved significantly by day 12. Thus the associated biological effects of viral vector mediated IL-6 over-expression was also transient in nature. Other tissues can be infected with Ad5 and thus can also be induced to express selected genes in a transient fashion. We are currently examining the potential for Ad recombinant cytokine vectors in therapy for cancer and for bone marrow reconstitution after transplantation. Thus the use of recombinant Ad5 vectors may have a broad application in the study of cytokine function and possibly in future therapy as a transient gene transfer approach.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed1995

Cytokines oncostatin M and interleukin 1 regulate the expression of the IL-6 receptor (gp80, gp130).

The steady-state mRNA levels of the interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R, gp80) and its signal transducing molecule, gp130, were examined in the rat hepatoma cell line, H-35, stimulated by cytokines IL-6, IL-1, oncostatin M (OSM) and/or Dexamethasone (Dex). In contrast to our previous findings in vivo [Geisterfer et al., 1993, Cytokine, 5:1] in vitro Dex seemed to be the major stimulator of IL-6R mRNA expression, whereas IL-6 seemed to have little effect on the expression of its own receptor mRNA levels. However, the presence of other cytokines influenced the Dex mediated stimulation of IL-6R expression. OSM stimulated IL-6R mRNA levels. At 6 h, cells stimulated with OSM showed a 2.1-fold increase in IL-6R mRNA expression. This stimulation was additive with the Dex-mediated stimulation of IL-6R mRNA levels. In contrast, IL-1 inhibited the Dex-mediated stimulation of IL-6R mRNA. At the same time, IL-1 stimulated the presence of a second smaller mRNA transcript. This mRNA species contained the extracellular domain but lacked both the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the IL-6R, suggesting alternate splicing, possibly coding for a soluble form of gp80. Unlike the gp80 IL-6R molecule, the expression of the gp130 molecule normally expressed as two species of mRNA was not regulated to any major extent in vitro. IL-1 and OSM stimulated both mRNA bands (7.5 and 9.0 kb) approximately 2-fold, whereas IL-6 stimulated mainly the upper 9.0 kb mRNA band.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1995

The use of adenoviral vectors for gene therapy and gene transfer in vivo.

Adenoviral vectors have proven to be excellent vehicles for gene delivery in vivo to a wide range of cell types. These vectors have been used to transfer genes such as CFTR to correct the defect in cystic fibrosis and, more recently, to supply serum blood factors and genetically modify tumors to enhance therapy.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed1994

Adenovirus-mediated cytokine gene transfer at tissue sites. Overexpression of IL-6 induces lymphocytic hyperplasia in the lung.

The biologic function of cytokines may be best studied in the context of a defined tissue site. To establish a model for studying the function of IL-6 at local tissue sites, we targeted the IL-6 transgene into the bronchial epithelium in the lung of Sprague-Dawley rats by intratracheal administration of a recombinant human type 5 adenovirus with rat IL-6 cDNA incorporated into the E3 region of the viral genome. This approach led to a highly compartmentalized overexpression of the IL-6 transgene and production of bioactive protein within the lung for about 7 days post-infection. Associated with this overexpression of IL-6 was the development of profound local lymphocytic hyperplasia around day 7, characterized by the dramatic expansion of bronchial associated lymphoid aggregates and massive lymphocytic infiltration in the pulmonary parenchyma. Concurrently, there were strikingly increased numbers of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. The majority of these lymphocytes were found to be CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T and CD3+CD4+ helper T cells with the remaining being primarily a small number of CD45R+ B cells. In addition, there was moderate bronchial and alveolar epithelial hyperplasia associated with lymphocytic hyperplasia. However, all of these changes subsided concomitant with the decrease in IL-6 expression and the lung seemed normal at 12 to 14 days post-infection. Thus, our study provides a tissue-specific transient transgene model for investigating cytokine functions in vivo and demonstrates that IL-6 has a profound stimulatory effect on the local lymphoid tissue in the lung.

Adenoviruses, Human↗