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T A Hamilton

Publications and source records attributed to T A Hamilton.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Cyclosporine improves psoriasis in a double-blind study.

In a double-blind trial, 21 patients with severe plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive oral cyclosporine, 14 mg/kg/d, or its vehicle. After four weeks of therapy the 11 cyclosporine recipients had the following response to treatment: two had total clearing and six improved markedly, two moderately, and one minimally; whereas ten vehicle-treated patients showed no change or minimal improvement. Vehicle-treated patients, after a switch to cyclosporine for four weeks, demonstrated impressive improvement similar to that seen in patients who initially received only cyclosporine. Moderate or marked improvement or total clearing was noted in 17 (81%) of 21 and 20 (95%) of 21 after one and four weeks of therapy, respectively. Mitotic figures and leukotriene B4 levels in lesions decreased 86% and 64%, respectively, after seven days of cyclosporine therapy. Mononuclear (including activated T cells) and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltrates were markedly reduced in lesions of all patients after seven days of cyclosporine therapy. These results suggest that psoriasis may have an immunologic basis mediated by activated T cells and/or other immune cells; if a long-term regimen with a favorable efficacy-side effect ratio can be determined, cyclosporine would be a significant advance in the treatment of psoriasis.

Adult↗

Analysis of deficiencies in IFN-gamma-mediated priming for tumor cytotoxicity in peritoneal macrophages from A/J mice.

The functional and biochemical responses of macrophages derived from the A/J mouse strain to IFN-gamma have been studied. As compared to macrophages obtained from C57BL/6 strain mice, cells from mice of the A/J strain are deficient in their response to IFN-gamma for acquisition of tumoricidal competence. This deficiency was not due to reduced expression of surface receptors for IFN-gamma or to altered affinity of the receptor for its ligand. IFN-gamma recently has been shown to enhance the potential activity of protein kinase C (PKc) and to modulate the efflux of intracellular Ca2+ in macrophages from C57BL/6 mice. Neither of these two biochemical changes were induced in macrophages derived from A/J mice. Functional competence could, however, be pharmacologically induced in both C57BL/6- and A/J-derived macrophages by combined treatment with an ionophore plus phorbol myristic acetate, which increase intracellular Ca2+ and stimulate PKc, respectively. Although the exact nature of the deficit in A/J strain mice has not been defined, the present findings indicate that it lies between the expression of receptor and the modulation of PKc activity and Ca2+ levels. Furthermore, the data provide support for the notion that these molecular changes are important components of the stimulus-response coupling process in IFN-gamma-mediated activation of macrophages.

Animals↗

Treatment of murine peritoneal macrophages with bacterial lipopolysaccharide alters expression of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes.

Expression of the c-fos, c-myc, and c-fms proto-oncogenes has been studied in thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After incubation with LPS (20 ng/ml), a transient and rapid induction of the expression of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes could be observed, whereas the RNA levels for c-fms were not affected. Treatment with lipid A, the active moiety of the LPS molecule, increased the c-fos and c-myc expression to a comparable degree. Similar induction of c-fos and c-myc was observed after treatment with phorbol myristate acetate, suggesting that this effect of LPS on murine macrophages might be mediated through stimulation of protein kinase C. Under similar experimental conditions, LPS treatment of macrophages did not trigger DNA synthesis. Treatment with LPS blocked DNA synthesis in macrophages treated with L cell-conditioned medium containing colony-stimulating factor. Thus changes in c-fos and c-myc expression may be elements in the complex series of biochemical events that contribute to macrophage activation and are not necessarily related to induction or priming for cellular proliferation.

Animals↗

Cytolytic interactions between murine macrophages, tumor cells, and monoclonal antibodies: characterization of lytic conditions and requirements for effector activation.

Because of recent successes in inducing the effective rejection of neoplasms in vivo by administration of monoclonal antibodies (MAb), we analyzed lytic interactions in vitro that occur between macrophages and several combinations of tumor targets and MAb that can lead to such successful immunotherapy. Murine macrophages, interacting with MAb of the IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 isotypes directed against SW-1116 carcinoma cells, destroyed the tumor targets efficiently over 24 to 48 hr in vitro. Lysis was dependent on both concentration of the MAb and density of the macrophages. Binding and lysis of the targets in the presence of MAb of the IgG2a isotype was dependent on intact Fc gamma 2aR on the macrophages; target binding was necessary but not sufficient for subsequent lysis. The lytic step appeared to have an oxidative basis, at least in part, as shown by inhibition of lysis with a nonspecific scavenger of H2O2 or under either anaerobic or glucose-deprived conditions. TG-elicited or pyran-elicited macrophages, which are incompletely activated for antibody independent kill of tumor cells, were effective in mediating ADCC. By contrast, macrophages fully activated for direct cytolysis by administration of BCG or Propionibacterium acnes in vivo or by MAF and LPS in vitro, had diminished capacity for ADCC. A spectrum of five other tumor cells and antibodies, four of which are also involved in successful models of immunotherapy in vivo, were also killed over 48 hr more effectively by thioglycolate-elicited than by BCG-activated macrophages. Taken together, the data indicate that macrophages can lyse tumor cells in an ADCC reaction that has application to some models of the destruction of tumors in vivo, but that the lysis is slow and requires the macrophages to be activated in a specific way(s).

Animals↗

Phorbol esters and calcium ionophore can prime murine peritoneal macrophages for tumor cell destruction.

Murine macrophages from sites of inflammation develop toward tumoricidal competence by exposure to a macrophage-activating factor such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). To explore the biochemical transductional events initiated by IFN-gamma, peritoneal macrophages from C57BL/6J mice elicited by various sterile irritants were treated in vitro with two pharmacologic agents that mimic the action of certain second messengers. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and the ionophore A23187 cooperatively reproduced the ability of IFN-gamma to prime macrophages for tumoricidal function. Neither agent alone was able to prime macrophages. The two agents acted on the macrophages, and target susceptibility to kill was not altered by PMA and A23187. Only active phorbol esters, which are known to bind and stimulate protein kinase C, were able to cooperate with A23187 to induce priming. A cell-permeable synthetic diacylglycerol (sn-1,2-dioctanoyl glycerol) could also prime for cytolysis. In the presence of PMA, A23187, and EGTA, addition of Ca++ was sufficient for priming, whereas the addition of Mg++ was much less efficient. Priming by IFN-gamma, however, was not blocked by EGTA. Efflux of 45Ca++ from preloaded cells was significantly increased by A23187 and by IFN-gamma. Quin-2/AM, an intracellular chelator of Ca++, blocked priming by IFN-gamma. In summary, the data suggest that priming of macrophages for tumoricidal function by IFN-gamma involves, at least in part, alterations in protein kinase C and in levels of intracellular Ca++.

Animals↗

LPS induces altered phosphate labeling of proteins in murine peritoneal macrophages.

Covalent modification of proteins via phosphorylation is a well-documented mechanism whereby intracellular events are controlled by external stimuli. Treatment of thioglycollate-elicited, C57Bl/6 murine peritoneal macrophages with nanogram quantities of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) consistently results in altered 32Pi labeling of a specific set of proteins (e.g., proteins of 67, 37, 33, and 28 kD), as measured by autoradiography after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Induction of this pattern of phosphorylation is duplicated by the lipid A moiety of LPS. The LPS-stimulated changes in phosphate labeling are both dose- and time-dependent. Of various pharmacologic agents tested, the phosphorylation pattern induced in macrophages by the tumor promoter phorbol myristic acetate shows similarity to the pattern induced by LPS. Analysis of pp 28 and pp 37 from both LPS- and PMA-treated macrophages by limited proteolysis demonstrates that these phosphoproteins are structurally related and that the sites of phosphorylation are similar for both treatment conditions. Macrophages from the genetically LPS-unresponsive C3H/HeJ strain show no alteration in their pattern of phosphorylation after treatment with LPS. Control macrophages, from C3H/HeN mice, respond to LPS in a fashion identical to that seen in C57Bl/6 macrophages. Pretreatment of macrophages with IFN-gamma potentiates the effect of LPS (i.e., yields a level of altered phosphate labeling greater than that observed with LPS or PMA alone). Together, the data indicate that LPS causes altered phosphate labeling of a defined set of proteins, and that the circumstances of this response are consistent with a possible role in coupling LPS-initiated signals to the induction of functional competence in macrophages.

Animals↗

Effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on protein synthesis in murine peritoneal macrophages: relationship to activation for macrophage tumoricidal function.

Early biochemical events in the response of murine peritoneal macrophages to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been examined (i.e., 0-4 hr after initiation of treatment). At concentrations of 10 ng/ml or less, LPS stimulated the new or enhanced synthesis of a series of at least six polypeptides of 85, 80, 75, 65, 57, and 38 kD. This effect was dependent upon the lipid A moiety of LPS as lipid A itself could induce the changes and the effect of LPS could be blocked by inclusion of polymixin B sulfate in the culture medium. The effect was specific for LPS in that other endotoxin-free agents known to alter macrophage physiology could not produce the same changes. The time course of LPS stimulation of macrophage protein synthesis was remarkable in that the synthesis of all six proteins was transient even in the continued presence of LPS, being first detected approximately 1 hr after exposure and no longer apparent by 8-10 hr after treatment was initiated. Furthermore, both pulse-chase and cumulative radiolabeling studies indicated that at least two of the proteins (85 and 38 kD) were short-lived and did not accumulate in LPS-treated cells, suggesting the possibility that they participate in a regulatory rather than a functional role. Macrophage tumoricidal activation involves cooperation in response to two independent signals; interferon gamma and LPS. Pretreatment of macrophages with interferon gamma increased the sensitivity of macrophages to LPS-stimulated protein synthesis by one to two orders of magnitude documenting such cooperativity in molecular terms. The LPS-induced stimulation of specific protein synthesis could be reproduced by treatment of macrophages with heat killed Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive, endotoxin-negative bacterial stain which has been shown to substitute effectively for LPS in macrophage tumoricidal activation. Furthermore, reversible inhibition (i.e., treatment with cycloheximide) of protein synthesis during LPS treatment abrogated the acquisition of tumoricidal function. These results identify an early biochemical response to LPS which may be a necessary component of the intracellular transduction of signals which regulate macrophage functional development.

Animals↗

Regulation of respiratory burst in murine peritoneal macrophages: differential sensitivity to phorbol diesters by macrophages in different states of functional activation.

Activation of macrophages either in vivo or in vitro can modulate the capacity to generate and secrete reactive oxygen intermediates including H2O2 and O2-. Thus, the cellular and biochemical components requisite for execution of the respiratory burst must be regulated during the activation process. In the present report, we have examined murine peritoneal macrophages in different stages of activation for their sensitivity to stimulants of respiratory burst known to activate protein kinase c (i.e., phorbol dibutyrate or diacylglycerol). The results demonstrated that more highly activated macrophages showed, in addition to greater magnitude of H2O2 or O2- production, a two- to fourfold greater sensitivity to these stimuli. While more active macrophages also exhibited a higher rate of H2O2 secretion, the time at which secretion was measured did not account for or modulate the heightened sensitivity. The increased sensitivity to stimulation was dependent upon the stage of activation and not on the agent used to elicit the macrophages. Increased sensitivity of the more active macrophage populations was also seen when physiologic stimuli (i.e., insoluble immune complexes or unopsonized zymosan) were used. These findings indicate that macrophage activation for H2O2 secretion modulates the sensitivity to stimulation such that more H2O2 is produced in a shorter time and at a lower concentration of stimulus, thereby heightening the inflammatory response in several independent ways. Because all the stimuli employed in the present study have in common the ability to activate protein kinase c (either directly or indirectly), the data also suggest that this form of macrophage activation may involve, at least in part, modulation of the stimulus-response coupling mechanisms which utilize this enzyme.

Animals↗

Biochemical models of interferon-gamma-mediated macrophage activation: independent regulation of lymphocyte function associated antigen (LFA)-1 and I-A antigen on murine peritoneal macrophages.

IFN-gamma can induce the expression of both class II histocompatibility antigens (Ia) and the lymphocyte function associated (LFA)-1 antigen on murine peritoneal macrophages. We have examined the molecular changes which lead to altered expression of these two cell surface proteins to determine whether they are regulated by similar or independent mechanisms. While I-A antigen expression can be induced or enhanced by treatment of macrophages with either phorbol diesters and/or the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, these agents had no effect upon expression of LFA-1 under similar conditions. Macrophages from the A/J strain mouse exhibit a deficiency in their sensitivity to IFN-gamma which is seen in our studies as an inability of IFN-gamma to elevate I-A antigen expression. However, expression of I-A could be modulated in these cells by treatment with either phorbol diesters or A23187. In contrast, IFN-gamma could induce LFA-1 antigen on A/J derived macrophages and this was not affected by either phorbol or A23187. Thus these two antigens, despite coordinate expression in response to IFN-gamma in normal mouse strains, are clearly regulated independently. These results suggest that IFN-gamma generates at least two independent molecular events in macrophages which ultimately modulate the expression of cell surface proteins important to the performance of activated functions.

Animals↗

Immunosuppression following 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene exposure in B6C3F1 mice--II. Altered cell-mediated immunity and tumor resistance.

We have previously demonstrated that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) produce a marked decrease in spleen weight, spleen and bone marrow cellularity and the number of IgM plaque forming cells generated in response to a T-dependent antigen. Exposure to DMBA, but not B[a]P, increased susceptibility to challenge with PYB6 tumor cells and Listeria monocytogenes suggesting that DMBA produces immune impairment involving cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and tumor resistance mechanisms. In this study, female B6C3F1 mice received total doses of 5, 50 and 100 micrograms DMBA/g of body weight in ten subcutaneous injections of 0.5, 5, or 10 micrograms/g over a 2 week period and CMI and tumoricidal functions were examined 3-5 days following the final injection of DMBA. DMBA exposed mice exhibited suppressed splenic cellularity (decreased 62%) and decreased numbers of resident peritoneal cells (down to 47% of control), although the proportion of T cell and T cell subsets, B cells and macrophages in spleens from exposed mice was not altered. Lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to mitogens was suppressed up to 49% with PHA, 48% with Con A and 76% with LPS. The response to alloantigens in unidirectional mixed lymphocyte culture was depressed as much as 73% following exposure to DMBA. Tumor cytolysis mediated by cytotoxic T cells (CTL) was impaired at doses of 50 and 100 micrograms DMBA/g body weight (88-95% suppressed respectively) as was natural killer cell (NK)-mediated tumor cytolysis (24% and 55% suppressed). Antibody-dependent cytotoxicity was significantly depressed in the highest exposure group. Peritoneal macrophage accumulation was decreased in DMBA-treated mice, but the macrophages present were pushed towards activation. The ability of DMBA-exposed mice to eliminate intravenously injected B16F10 tumor cells from the lungs was not impaired. Since NK- and M phi-mediated tumor cytotoxicity are thought to be primarily responsible for pulmonary elimination of B16F10 melanoma cells, the extent of NK suppression observed following DMBA exposure appeared to be insufficient to alter in vivo B16F10 pulmonary elimination. In contrast, the loss of the CTL tumoricidal response correlated with an increased frequency of tumors following challenge with PYB6 tumor cells.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil on neutrophil and epidermal fatty acids. Modulation of clinical course of psoriatic subjects.

Findings from an eight-week fish oil-supplemented diet given to 13 psoriatic patients demonstrated that eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5,n3 [EPA]) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6,n3 [DCHA]) are rapidly incorporated into the sera, neutrophils, and epidermis of participating patients, and that the incorporation of EPA and DCHA into epidermal lipids increased with weeks of supplementation with minimal alteration of arachidonic acid (AA) in the epidermal lipids. Global clinical evaluation showed that eight patients demonstrated mild to moderate improvement in their psoriatic lesions. Improved clinical response correlated with high EPA/DCHA ratios attained in epidermal tissue specimens. These findings underscore the need for further investigations into the role of dietary n3 fatty acids, particularly the possibility of pentaenoic acid as a potential protective agent and/or therapeutic adjunct for the clinical management of psoriasis.

Adult↗

Interferon-gamma modulates protein kinase C activity in murine peritoneal macrophages.

The content of Ca2+-, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity (protein kinase C) in murine peritoneal macrophages treated with recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) has been investigated. Protein kinase C activity was solubilized by nonionic detergent extraction of sonicated cells and separated by high performance liquid chromatography on a TSK 4000 SW gel filtration column. The enzyme eluted from the column in a molecular weight range of 60-80 X 10(3) and was identified by virtue of Ca2+ and phospholipid requirements. Macrophages treated with recombinant IFN-gamma exhibited a substantial increase in total protein kinase activity which could be accounted for entirely by increased protein kinase C activity. This activity was enhanced as much as 5-fold over that seen in untreated macrophages and was specific for IFN-gamma in that other agents known to signal changes in macrophage function had no effect. The time required for the elevation of kinase activity was identical to that required for induction of other functions by IFN-gamma in macrophages. These observations suggest that protein kinase C may be a focus of regulatory action in IFN-gamma-mediated macrophage activation.

Animals↗

Characterization of protein kinase C activity in interferon gamma treated murine peritoneal macrophages.

Macrophage activation for tumoricidal and microbicidal functions can be achieved in part by treatment with recombinant interferon gamma (IFN gamma) in vitro. We have previously demonstrated that IFN gamma treatment of murine peritoneal macrophages results in a two- to five-fold increase in the activity of Ca++, phospholipid dependent protein kinase C (Hamilton et al., J. Biol. Chem., 260:1378, 1985). We now report that this effect was not dependent upon continuing protein synthesis since treatment with cycloheximide under conditions where normal protein synthesis was inhibited by greater than 95% had no effect upon the development of increased enzyme activity. Examination of Ca++ and phospholipid requirements revealed no differences between enzyme isolated from control or IFN gamma treated cells. Similarly, protein kinase C from control and IFN gamma-treated cells could not be distinguished in terms of the diacylglycerol (DG) or phorbol diester (PMA) concentration required for stimulation of activity. Kinetic analysis of the ATP (as substrate) concentration dependence revealed that both control and treated enzyme preparations (either basal or stimulated) had comparable Km values. Maximum velocity (Vmax) was increased both by IFN gamma treatment and also by stimulation with DG or PMA. The major difference which could be discerned between protein kinase C derived from control versus IFN gamma-treated macrophages was the magnitude of the response to DG or PMA; IFN gamma treatment increased the stimulation index (i.e., ratio of basal to stimulated activity) by a factor of two to four fold. These results suggest that IFN gamma treatment leads to reversible modulation of existing protein kinase C resulting in increased catalytic efficiency when exposed to an appropriate stimulant.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Biochemical models of gamma-interferon action: altered expression of transferrin receptors on murine peritoneal macrophages after treatment in vitro with PMA or A23187.

The number of transferrin receptors in thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages is markedly depressed after exposure to murine gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) in vitro. This change has been used as a model system to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of IFN gamma signal transduction. We observed that the downshift of the transferrin receptor could be mimicked by exposure to the calcium ionophore (A23187) or the potent tumor promoter, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Saturation binding studies on thioglycollate (TG)-elicited peritoneal macrophages after exposure to A23187 or PMA showed the reduced expression of transferrin binding activity attributable to a decrease in the total number of cellular transferrin receptors and not an alteration in receptor-ligand affinity, in agreement with previous results obtained after exposure to IFN gamma. The loss of transferrin receptors in response to A23187 or PMA was dose dependent, and the kinetics of the change were identical to those observed with IFN gamma treatment. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate or 4-beta-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, both biologically active phorbol esters, also induced reduced expression of transferrin receptors, whereas nonesterified phorbol or 4-alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, an inactive phorbol ester, had no effect on transferrin receptor expression. Finally, PMA and A23187, when used together, acted cooperatively to modulate transferrin receptor expression when both agents were present at subthreshold concentrations. These results, taken together, suggest that elevation of intracellular Ca++ levels and/or stimulation of protein kinase C are involved in the response of macrophages to IFN gamma.

Animals↗

gamma-Interferon enhances the secretion of arachidonic acid metabolites from murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated with phorbol diesters.

Macrophage activation in vivo has been associated with qualitative and quantitative alterations in the release and metabolism of arachidonic acid. In the present study, we examined the effect of in vitro macrophage activation with recombinant gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) on arachidonic acid secretion induced by exposure to a variety of stimulating agents. Secretion stimulated by challenge with unopsonized zymosan, insoluble immune complexes, the calcium ionophore A23187, or combinations thereof was unaltered in IFN-gamma-treated macrophages. However, when phorbol diesters active as tumor promoters were employed as challenge agents, arachidonate secretion was enhanced as much as 10-fold over that seen in nonactivated controls. The enhanced secretory response to PMA was detectable as early as 1 hr after exposure to IFN-gamma, reached a maximum within 3 to 6 hr, and subsequently declined to control levels even in the continued presence of the agent. Treatment with IFN-gamma did not alter the pattern of individual metabolites produced by macrophages challenged with either zymosan or PMA. Finally, the sensitivity to phorbol diesters was also increased by treatment with IFN-gamma (ED50 reduced from 35 ng/ml to 4 ng/ml). Thus, IFN-gamma could prime macrophages for a substantially amplified response to phorbol esters. Because the cellular mediator of PMA action has been identified as a Ca++, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, a role for this enzyme in macrophage functional development is indicated.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Regulation of the Fc-receptor-mediated respiratory burst: treatment of primed murine peritoneal macrophages with lipopolysaccharide selectively inhibits H2O2 secretion stimulated by immune complexes.

The effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the Fc-receptor-mediated respiratory burst in murine peritoneal macrophages has been examined. After treatment overnight with small quantities of LPS, macrophages exhibited dramatic diminution of their capacity to generate and secrete H2O2 when triggered with immune complexes. The effect of LPS treatment was dependent on the state of macrophage functional activation; only cells that were primed or fully activated in vivo or were treated with interferon-gamma in vitro were sensitive to this effect of LPS. The LPS-mediated loss of secretory function was both dose and time dependent and could be reproduced with the lipid A moiety of LPS. The effect was selective for H2O2 secretion triggered through the Fc receptor; the respiratory burst stimulated by phorbol diesters remained unaltered. Furthermore, LPS treatment did not alter either binding or ingestion of radiolabeled immune complexes in parallel with the change in H2O2 secretion, indicating that the suppressive effect was not due to compromised endocytic function. These results indicate that LPS treatment of primed macrophages regulates the function of Fc receptors and may uncouple receptor occupancy from generation and secretion of H2O2.

Animals↗