Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Denis

Publications and source records attributed to M Denis.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Activated murine natural killer cells control growth of Mycobacterium lepraemurium in mouse macrophages; in vitro and in vivo evidence.

The role of natural killer cells (NK) in murine leprosy was investigated in vivo and in vitro. In a first set of experiments, it was found that IL-2 (interleukin-2) activated NK cells reduced Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) growth in mouse C57BL/J peritoneal macrophages which had phagocytosed low numbers (MOI of 10 : 1) of MLM (P less than 0.0001 at day 20). There was no cytotoxicity exerted by the NK cells against the infected cells in these conditions. Conversely, macrophages heavily infected with MLM (multiplicity of infection of 1000 : 1) were found to be susceptible to lysis by activated NK cells in vitro. In vivo, progressing murine leprosy was associated with a sharp increase in splenic NK cell activity, which was abrogated by treatment with a monoclonal antibody against NK cells. Administration of this monoclonal antibody against NK cells enhanced C57BL6/J mouse susceptibility to mouse leprosy, as seen by a decrease in survival time of mice infected with 10(7) MLM i.v. (81 days vs 110 days, P less than 0.0005). Overall, these findings suggest that NK cells may play an important role in resistance to leprosy, either by reducing MLM growth in macrophages or by lysing heavily infected macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cytokine modulation of Mycobacterium lepraemurium infection in mice; important involvement of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-2 and dissociation from macrophage activation.

Susceptible BALB/c and resistant A/J mice were infected by the intravenous route with 10(7) Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM), and mortality was followed in controls and in experimental animals infused i.p. with interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN gamma). BALB/c mice injected with buffer and 10(7) M. lepraemurium i.v. died significantly earlier than A/J mice (111 days vs 158 days, respectively P less than 0.001), confirming earlier reports. Infusion of IFN gamma (1 or 2 micrograms every day) led to no significant increase in survival of both strains of mice infected with M. lepraemurium. Injection of IL-2 (1 microgram/day) led to a moderate increase in survival time in both strains of mice (P less than 0.01) although not changing the differences between resistant and susceptible strains of mice. Injection of tumour necrosis factor (1 microgram/day) significantly enhanced survival time in both strains (P less than 0.001), although all infected mice eventually died. The beneficial effect of IL-2 and TNF alpha on progression of the disease was seen as a modest reduction in bacterial growth in the lymph nodes and livers of BALB/c mice injected subcutaneously (approximately a one-log reduction in bacterial numbers). There was no evidence that the beneficial effect seen in vivo in mice was related to superior macrophage activation, inasmuch as peritoneal macrophages from untreated infected mice released similar amounts of superoxide anion, upon PMA triggering, as macrophages from infected and cytokine-treated mice. Moreover, macrophages from infected mice responded better to IFN gamma than cells from uninfected mice, in terms of developing tumour cytotoxicity in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Recombinant interleukin-1 infusion increases resistance of BALB/c mice to murine leprosy.

BALB/c mice were infected by the subcutaneous route with 10(7) Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM), and the progression of the infection followed in mice injected i.p. with diluent or recombinant human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). It was observed that infusion of 1 microgram of IL-1 alpha per day led to a reduction of bacterial growth in the livers and popliteal lymph nodes of MLM injected mice (2-3-log reduction at 6 months, P less than 0.0001). There was no indication that IL-1 alpha infusion was acting by enhancing macrophage activation. Indeed, resident peritoneal macrophages from control infected mice were as competent as macrophages from infected mice treated with IL-1 alpha in generating superoxide anion (O2-) (approximately 400 nM O2-/h/mg at 2 months post-infection). Moreover, they were no more permissive than those of IL-1 alpha infused mice for MLM in vitro as both groups of cells allowed progressive MLM growth, i.e. a 20-fold enhancement of intramacrophage MLM growth. Infusion of IL-1 alpha during MLM infection was not associated with any abrogation of the suppression of the T-cell response to T-cell mitogens or specific stimulation with antigens which is complete at 1 month post-infection. It is concluded that IL-1 alpha has immunotherapeutic potential in leprosy with the mechanism(s) of action still unclear.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The effect of macrophage activation state on antigen presenting capability as defined by helper T-cell function.

Resident peritoneal cells were obtained from BALB/c mice and enriched for cells of the macrophage lineage by adherence onto 96 well tissue culture plates. Adherent cells were then exposed to various recombinant cytokines or supernatants from cell cultures, for 24 h. The ability of such adherent antigen presenting cells (APC) to support proliferation and development of helper function in T-lymphocyte populations, primed with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC), was examined. The addition of cytokines to the APC population did not enhance either proliferation of the T-cells nor helper function, assessed by assay of polyclonal IgG secretion in second cultures, beyond that obtained with control APC. The potent macrophage activators interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide caused a significant decrease in both parameters of T-cell activity. This effect was caused by a prostaglandin-mediated pathway inasmuch as indomethacin (1-5 microM) prevented it. Further analysis showed that this negative signal predominated until macrophages were diluted below 5% of the total cell population. At 0.5% macrophages, interferon-gamma stimulated APC function of these cells compared with untreated macrophages. Despite the relative difficulty in manipulating the T-cell response by attempted modulation of the APC with cytokines, the simple manoeuvre of incubation of otherwise responsive, primed T-cells with a high dose (10%) of SRBC during in vitro restimulation, caused the proliferation and helper function of these T-cells to be markedly decreased. This phenomenon was seen regardless of the cytokine used to stimulate the APC population. These studies further clarify the dual role the macrophage in regulation of T-cell responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b1) plays a detrimental role in the progression of experimental Mycobacterium avium infection; in vivo and in vitro evidence.

BALB/c mice were infected with 10(5) colony forming units (cfu) of Mycobacterium avium TMC 702 i.v. and the growth of the inoculum followed in the spleens of control mice. Other infected mice given weekly doses of 1 microgram of TGF-b1 or weekly doses of 2 mg of a rabbit antiserum against mouse TGF-b1 were evaluated for their resistance to M. avium TMC 702. Growth of M. avium in the spleens of mice given repeated doses of TGF-b1 (1 microgram weekly) was significantly higher than in the spleens of control mice starting at day 40 of infection. Similarly, growth of M. avium was significantly diminished (0.7 log difference at 80 days) in mice given infusions of anti-TGF-b1 (2 mg weekly). Macrophage activation status was similar in the three groups of mice, as seen by a comparable release of superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by peritoneal macrophages of infected mice. However, TGF-b1-pulsed peritoneal macrophages were found to be more permissive for M. avium growth in vitro than control macrophage monolayers. Overall, these results suggest that TGF-b1 plays a detrimental role in the progression of experimental M. avium infections, by an unclear mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Modulation of Mycobacterium avium growth in vivo by cytokines: involvement of tumour necrosis factor in resistance to atypical mycobacteria.

The protective mechanisms associated with resistance to atypical mycobacteria infections are not clear. In an effort to broaden our understanding of the mechanisms involved, susceptible mice were infected with a virulent strain of M. avium and various treatments were applied so as to modify the course of the disease. Treatment with an antiserum against tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) significantly enhanced the experimental infection, as judged by enumeration of colony-forming units (CFU) in the spleens and livers of infected mice, suggesting a role for TNF-alpha in resistance to M. avium. In other sets of experiments, recombinant cytokines were directly infused into infected mice. Infusion of recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) did not modify the experimental infection significantly, and infusion of interleukin-2 was also without effect. Injection of TNF-alpha enhanced resistance in susceptible animals, as seen by a reduction in the viable bacilli recovered from the spleens and livers. In a final set of experiments, we demonstrate that combinations of cytokines may induce strong resistance against M. avium, namely injection of 1 micrograms of interleukin-1 alpha and 1 micrograms of TNF-alpha at 5-day intervals which was seen to eradicate M. avium in both spleens and livers of susceptible BALB/c mice. Overall, our results suggest that induction of protection against M. avium by treatment with cytokines may be feasible, and that TNF-alpha may be a pivotal molecule in resistance to M. avium.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within human monocytes: activation by cytokines and calcitriol.

Human monocytes were isolated and their ability to harbour growth of virulent tubercle bacilli was assessed, in the presence or absence of various immunomodulators. Calcitriol (1,25(OH2), vitamin D3) alone, at doses of 10(-7)-10(-9) M endowed human monocytes with a significant ability to restrict intracellular growth of the tubercle bacilli. Crude immune lymphokines as well as recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) endowed monocytes with no tuberculostatic activity. Similarly, other recombinant cytokines tested, notably colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) all failed to stimulate anti-tuberculous properties, and even increased growth of the tubercle bacilli in monocytes, in the case of CSF-1. Conversely, incubation of crude lymphokines in combination with calcitriol led to total stasis of the growth of M. tuberculosis. Experiments with recombinant cytokines and immunologically active vitamins showed that a combination of IFN-gamma tumour necrosis factor-alpha and calcitriol induced a significant amount of intramonocyte killing of M. tuberculosis. Addition of this cocktail of factors to already infected monocytes led to substantial killing of tubercle bacilli. These sets of experiments establish clearly that combinations of recombinant cytokines and vitamins may induce substantial intramonocyte killing of M. tuberculosis. The mechanism involved in this killing activity was not clarified.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1991

Modulation of Mycobacterium lepraemurium growth in murine macrophages: beneficial effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Mycobacterium lepraemurium grew progressively in monolayers of Proteose Peptone-elicited macrophages from C57BL/6 mice. Treatment of macrophage monolayers with gamma interferon led to an enhancement of growth of M. lepraemurium in macrophages. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor led to restriction of mycobacterial growth in macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Interleukin-2 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor stimulate growth of a virulent strain of Escherichia coli.

The effect of human recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) and human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on the growth of a virulent strain of Escherichia coli in tissue culture medium and in untreated, normal mouse serum was investigated. Both of these cytokines enhanced the growth of the microorganism two- to threefold in tissue culture medium with or without additional fetal calf serum and in untreated mouse serum. IL-4 did not have any effect on the growth of this microbe under the conditions tested. That the enhancement of growth seen with recombinant IL-2 was due to the active cytokine was shown by the following data: (i) addition of an antibody to IL-2 abrogated the growth-promoting effect; (ii) the excipient buffer, which contained everything except the active cytokine, was inactive in modifying bacterial growth; and (iii) heat-inactivated recombinant IL-2 did not promote enhanced microbial growth. The enhancement of growth with IL-2 was significant with concentrations as low as 1 U/ml. Growth of an avirulent strain of E. coli was not stimulated by IL-2. Moreover, addition of IL-2 to growth virulent E. coli in tissue culture medium led to rapid removal of the cytokine from the medium. Collectively, these data suggest that cytokines may act as growth factors for some virulent bacteria.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1991

Recombinant murine beta interferon enhances resistance of mice to systemic Mycobacterium avium infection.

Susceptible BALB/c mice were infected with Mycobacterium avium TMC 702. Groups of mice were then infused with 10(4) U (approximately 400 U/h) of murine beta interferon (IFN-beta) via a minipump system, and the progression of the infection was assessed. Mice infused with IFN-beta showed superior resistance to infection, as determined by reduced bacterial growth in the livers and spleens of infected animals, (1-log reduction in bacterial CFU at 2 months postinfection; P less than 0.001). This was corroborated by the fact that resident peritoneal macrophages treated with IFN-beta in vitro (10(2) U/ml) were more bacteriostatic for M. avium TMC 702 than their untreated counterparts. Overall, these findings suggest an important role for IFN-beta in mycobacterial infections.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in murine macrophages and its modulation by cytokines; activation of bactericidal activity by interleukin-4 and interleukin-6.

Bone marrow derived macrophages were infected with a virulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes, and the ability of selected cytokines to modify the intracellular growth was assessed. Macrophage monolayers pretreated with either interferon-gamma or tumour necrosis factor were shown to exert a significant listericidal activity. Treatment of monolayers with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor led to no significant difference in the ability of Listeria to invade and multiply within these cells. Moreover, pulsing of macrophage monolayers with interleukin-6 (IL-6) led to a slight enhancement of Listeria growth in the macrophages, whereas interleukin-4 (IL-4) did not modify Listeria growth. In other sets of experiments, macrophage monolayers were treated with cytokines after phagocytosis of the bacteria. In these conditions, interferon-gamma endowed macrophages with only a modest ability to kill Listeria. Conversely, treatment of monolayers with IL-6 or IL-4 at the time of infection led to expression of high bactericidal activity. Collectively, these results suggest that macrophages may respond to different signals, which enhance their antimicrobial activity before or after infection. Furthermore, B-cell stimulatory factors (IL-4 and IL-6) are potent macrophage-activating molecules.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Recombinant interleukin-6 increases the intracellular and extracellular growth of Mycobacterium avium.

Human monocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of normal donors and allowed to differentiate in vitro into macrophages. The susceptibility of these cells to infection with a virulent Mycobacterium avium and its modulation by some soluble factors was monitored. The virulent strain of Mycobacterium avium grew progressively in untreated macrophage monolayers. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was tested for its ability to modulate the macrophage-mycobacteria interaction. Surprisingly, IL-6 was shown to increase M. avium growth in macrophage monolayers by twofold as compared with untreated cells, when added before or after infection. Moreover, addition of rIL-6 to replicating mycobacteria in vitro enhanced their growth two- to three-fold as compared with cultures treated with rIL-6 and a rabbit antiserum to rIL-6. Treatment with IL-6 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or IL-4 did not modify the growth promoting effect of IL-6 in human macrophages. Overall, our results suggest that IL-6 may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of infections with M. avium by promoting mycobacterial growth.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: whole Micropolyspora faeni or antigens thereof stimulate the release of proinflammatory cytokines from macrophages.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an allergic granulomatous interstitial lung disease resulting from a reaction of selected individuals to repeated inhalations of certain antigens. HP is characterized by chronic inflammation, and the development of the disease seems to be immunologically mediated. In farmer's lung, the source of provoking antigen has been found to be actinomycetes such as Micropolyspora faeni. In this study, we show that M. faeni, or antigens thereof, stimulate strong release of proinflammatory cytokines from blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages obtained from nonfarmer volunteers and naive mouse peritoneal macrophages. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) was produced by human alveolar macrophages and murine peritoneal macrophages in response to whole M. faeni and antigens thereof. IL-1 activity was detected in the supernatants at 12 h of incubation and was maximal by 24 to 36 h (200 to 400 U/ml of IL-1). A rabbit antiserum to IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta neutralized the thymocyte-stimulating activity of the supernatants. Moreover, M. faeni (1 to 100 micrograms of antigen) elicited a strong secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from human alveolar macrophages and monocytes as well as mouse peritoneal macrophages, where 1 micrograms of M. faeni elicited the secretion of approximately 100 U of TNF-alpha from 2 x 10(5) macrophages, and 100 micrograms stimulated the release of approximately 1,000 U of bioactive TNF-alpha. One particle of whole M. faeni per cell was sufficient to induce copious release of TNF-alpha from macrophages or monocytes (100 U of bioactive TNF-alpha; 1,000 pg/ml of antigenic TNF-alpha as seen by radioimmunoassay). Both IL-1 and TNF-alpha productions stimulated by M. faeni were not abrogated by inclusion of polymyxin B. We propose that the direct stimulation of cytokines by M. faeni or antigens thereof may play an important role in HP.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1991

Tumor necrosis factor plays an essential role in determining hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a mouse model.

We examined the importance of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in a mouse model of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Mice of the C57BL/6 strain were instilled intranasally 3 days/wk for 3 wk with 150 micrograms of the actinomycete Faenia rectivirgula (Micropolyspora faeni) to induce HP as a model of farmer's lung. This experimental model was associated with a progressive inflammation in the lungs of challenged mice, seen histologically as cellular infiltrates of large quantities of macrophages and lymphocytes and some neutrophils. The disease in challenged mice treated with a control rabbit serum was also associated with a substantial release of tumor TNF-alpha (up to 80 U/ml of TNF-alpha in the bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] at 3 wk after beginning of treatment) and interleukin-1, which peaked at 1 wk (approximately 300 U/ml) and diminished thereafter. A very large increase in BAL cell number (11-fold increase versus saline controls) and an enhanced release potential for TNF-alpha by alveolar macrophages was also seen. Lung fibrosis was also evident in challenged animals, as demonstrated by a 2-fold increase in hydroxyproline levels. Infusion of challenged mice with a rabbit polyclonal antibody against TNF-alpha (2 mg/wk) completely abrogated the disease, as mice so treated had normal lung histology. Anti-TNF-alpha blocked cellular recruitment in the lungs (only a 2-fold increase at week 3); it also completely abolished TNF-alpha secretion in the BAL and drastically reduced interleukin-1 levels in this fluid. Anti-TNF-alpha also abolished lung index increases and lung fibrosis, with both parameters similar to that of saline-instilled mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1991

[Pleuropulmonary cryptococcosis disclosing AIDS].

The authors report a case of AIDS revealed by pleuropulmonary cryptococcosis. The infection was diagnosed by culture of the pleural fluid and confirmed by microscopic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid, using Indian ink as stain. Apyrexia and return to normal of chest radiography were obtained with oral fluconazole. Twelve months after this episode the patient is alive and had no relapse under maintenance treatment with this drug.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

One-step 10(4)-fold purification of transformed glucocorticoid receptor. Method for purifying receptors associated with Mr ca. 90,000 heat-shock protein.

Chromatography of rabbit glucocorticoid-receptor complexes in the absence of sodium molybdate on a Mono Q anion-exchange column induces the transformation of the receptor and allows the resolution of the transformed and non-transformed molecular species. These abilities were used to design a new purification scheme for the glucocorticoid receptor from rabbit liver in its transformed state. Microgram amounts of receptor were obtained using this single-step procedure in less than 2 h. The purification yield was 50-60%. Immunoblot experiments showed that the glucocorticoid receptor was present as an Mr approximately 94,000 polypeptide in these preparations and represented 20-30% of the eluted proteins as determined by densitometric scanning analysis of silver-stained sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels. Finally, the purified receptor was able to interact quantitatively with bulk DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The transformed glucocorticoid receptor has a lower steroid-binding affinity than the nontransformed receptor.

High-salt treatment of cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor (GR) preparations reduces the steroid-binding ability of the receptor and induces the conversion of the receptor from a nontransformed (non-DNA-binding) 9S form to a transformed (DNA-binding) 4S entity. Therefore, we decided to investigate the possible relationship between these two phenomena. Steroid-free GR was converted from a 9S to a 4S form by exposure to 0.4 M NaCl. The binding of [3H]triamcinolone acetonide [( 3H]TA) to the 9S form was almost saturated at a concentration of 20 nM, whereas [3H]TA was hardly bound to the 4S form at this concentration. The 4S form was efficiently labeled at 200 nM. Scatchard analysis of the GR exposed to 0.4 M NaCl in the presence of 10 mM molybdate showed the presence of two types of binding sites with apparent dissociation constants of 0.52 +/- 0.07 and 64.1 +/- 16.2 nM, respectively. In the absence of molybdate, the ratio of the lower affinity site was increased, but the total number of binding sites was not modified. The GR with the low [3H]TA-binding affinity bound to DNA-cellulose even in its unliganded state, whereas the form with the high affinity did not. Immunoblot analysis using anti-GR monoclonal antibody revealed no difference in molecular size (Mr 94000) between the high- and low-affinity entities. These results indicate that the transformed GR has a reduced [3H]TA-binding affinity as compared to the nontransformed GR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenalectomy↗