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Recombinant tumor necrosis factor enhances the proliferative responsiveness of murine peripheral macrophages to macrophage colony-stimulating factor but inhibits their proliferative responsiveness to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a protein produced by activated macrophages in response to endotoxin. The effect of recombinant murine TNF (rMuTNF) on the growth of murine tissue-derived macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-M) which are responsive to both macrophage and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (M-CSF and GM-CSF), was studied. TNF alone did not stimulate macrophage proliferation but did prolong their survival in vitro. The proliferative response of CFU-M to M-CSF, however, was greatly enhanced by the presence of TNF. The enhancement effect of TNF is dose-dependent, reaching a maximum at approximately 50 U/mL. In contrast, the proliferative responsiveness of CFU-M to GM-CSF was inhibited by the concurrent addition of rMuTNF. Both effects appear to be caused directly by rMuTNF, rather than by the secondary factor(s) produced by TNF-treated macrophages. TNF treatment also induced a transient downmodulation of M-CSF receptors in cultured macrophages and accelerated their uptake and use of exogenous M-CSF, which may account for, at least in part, the enhanced proliferative activity in response to M-CSF. Short-term treatment (24 hours) was not sufficient to induce either an enhancing or an inhibitory effect upon CFU-M. This study suggests an autoregulatory role for TNF in the production of mature tissue macrophages by selectively enhancing their proliferative response to lineage specific growth factor, M-CSF.

Animals↗

Both granulocyte-macrophage CSF and macrophage CSF control the proliferation and survival of the same subset of alveolar macrophages.

The effect of granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF on the proliferation of murine pulmonary alveolar macrophages in vitro was investigated. About 20% of freshly isolated alveolar macrophages formed colonies in both liquid and soft agar cultures in the presence of GM-CSF. GM-CSF was also found to be capable of maintaining the survival of these colony-forming cells in vitro. Moreover, GM-CSF could substitute for CSF-1 in maintaining the survival of CSF-1-responding pulmonary alveolar macrophage colony-forming cells in the absence of CSF-1. The concentration of GM-CSF required for maintaining the survival of colony-forming cells without proliferation was much lower than that required for the proliferation of these cells in vitro. It also enhanced the CSF-1-dependent clonal growth of alveolar macrophages. These data suggest that the colony-forming cells that respond to GM-CSF are the same subset of macrophages that form colonies in the presence of CSF-1. GM-CSF did not inhibit the binding of 125I-CSF-1 to alveolar macrophages at 0 degrees C. However, the preincubation of macrophages with GM-CSF at 37 degrees C resulted in a transient down-regulation of CSF-1 binding activity.

Animals↗

Alveolar macrophages in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have glucocorticoid receptors, but glucocorticoid therapy does not suppress alveolar macrophage release of fibronectin and alveolar macrophage derived growth factor.

Although glucocorticoids are the most widely used therapeutic modality in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the administration of these agents infrequently arrests the progressive fibrosis of this disorder. In this context, the present study was designed to determine if the lack of effect of glucocorticoid therapy in IPF could be explained, in part, by a lack of effect of glucocorticoids on alveolar macrophage release of fibronectin and alveolar macrophage derived growth factor (AMDGF), mediators thought to play a role in the accumulation of fibroblasts associated with the fibrosis of this disease. Patients with IPF were studied in 2 groups, those receiving glucocorticoid therapy and those not receiving therapy. The release of fibronectin by alveolar macrophages of IPF patients was elevated compared to release of fibronectin from alveolar macrophages obtained from normal volunteers (p less than 0.01). However, the release of fibronectin was no different in treated and untreated patients with IPF (p greater than 0.2). Like fibronectin, the release of AMDGF by alveolar macrophages of IPF patients was elevated compared to release of AMDGF from alveolar macrophages obtained from normal volunteers (p less than 0.01), but there was no difference in treated and untreated IPF patients (p greater than 0.2). Sequential evaluation of IPF patients before and after glucocorticoid therapy demonstrated no impact of glucocorticoid therapy on alveolar macrophage release of fibronectin and AMDGF. The inability of glucocorticoids to suppress fibronectin and AMDGF release was not due to a lack of glucocorticoid receptors in IPF patients because alveolar macrophages from patients and from normal volunteers bound glucocorticoids similarly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Interleukin-10 contributes development of macrophage suppressor activities by macrophage colony-stimulating factor, but not by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Macrophages are known to possess suppressor activities in immune responses. To determine the effects of GM-CSF and M-CSF on the expression of macrophage suppressor activities, monocyte-derived macrophages cultured with GM-CSF (GM-Mphis) were compared with those cultured with M-CSF (M-Mphis) for antigen-specific proliferation and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by lymphocytes. Both GM-Mphis and M-Mphis equally suppressed lymphocyte proliferation, but only M-Mphis suppressed IFN-gamma production in response to purified protein derivative (PPD). M-Mphis, but not GM-Mphis, released IL-10 not only in the course of macrophage differentiation but also in response to PPD after maturation to macrophages. From the results that (i) exogenous IL-10 suppressed IFN-gamma production, but not proliferation of lymphocytes, and that (ii) neutralizing antibody to IL-10 reversed suppressor activities of M-Mphis on IFN-gamma production, but not lymphocyte proliferation, it appeared that IL-10 was the major factor responsible for suppression of IFN-gamma production. Thus, these results suggest that only M-CSF augments IL-10-dependent suppressor activity of macrophages on IFN-gamma production and that both GM-CSF and M-CSF induce IL-10-independent macrophage suppressor activity on lymphocyte proliferation.

Cells, Cultured↗

Dexamethasone enhances macrophage colony stimulating factor- and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor-stimulated proliferation of bone marrow-derived macrophages.

Glucocorticoids are effective repressors of the immune system. We have examined the effect of glucocorticoids on the proliferation of murine macrophages. Dexamethasone by itself did not affect proliferation of differentiated or undifferentiated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) and elicited peritoneal macrophages. However, dexamethasone enhanced the proliferation induced by macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) of these cells. The effect of dexamethasone was not restricted to M-CSF-dependent proliferation. Similarly, dexamethasone enhanced granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-dependent proliferation of BMM. In agreement, macrophages transfected with the glucocorticoid receptor showed an enhancement of M-CSF-dependent proliferation. The enhancement of proliferation by dexamethasone or the glucocorticoid receptor was abolished by RU 486, an antagonist of the glucocorticoid receptor. Moreover, the addition of antibodies against M-CSF inhibits the effect of dexamethasone, suggesting that dexamethasone increases the autocrine production of M-CSF. This only occurs when M-CSF or GM-CSF, which induce M-CSF, are present in the media. In tissues, dexamethasone may enhance macrophage proliferation and contribute to the resolution of the inflammatory states.

Animals↗

Differential utilization of Ras signaling pathways by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage CSF receptors during macrophage differentiation.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) independently stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of macrophages from bone marrow progenitor cells. Although the GM-CSF and M-CSF receptors are unrelated, both couple to Ras-dependent signal transduction pathways, suggesting that these pathways might account for common actions of GM-CSF and M-CSF on the expression of macrophage-specific genes. To test this hypothesis, we have investigated the mechanisms by which GM-CSF and M-CSF regulate the expression of the macrophage scavenger receptor A (SR-A) gene. We demonstrate that induction of the SR-A gene by M-CSF is dependent on AP-1 and cooperating Ets domain transcription factors that bind to sites in an M-CSF-dependent enhancer located 4.1 to 4.5 kb upstream of the transcriptional start site. In contrast, regulation by GM-CSF requires a separate enhancer located 4.5 to 4.8 kb upstream of the transcriptional start site that confers both immediate-early and sustained transcriptional responses. Results of a combination of DNA binding experiments and functional assays suggest that immediate transcriptional responses are mediated by DNA binding proteins that are constitutively bound to the GM-CSF enhancer and are activated by Ras. At 12 to 24 h after GM-CSF treatment, the GM-CSF enhancer becomes further occupied by additional DNA binding proteins that may contribute to sustained transcriptional responses. In concert, these studies indicate that GM-CSF and M-CSF differentially utilize Ras-dependent signal transduction pathways to regulate scavenger receptor gene expression, consistent with the distinct functional properties of M-CSF- and GM-CSF-derived macrophages.

Animals↗

Macrophage specific overexpression of the human macrophage scavenger receptor in transgenic mice, using a 180-kb yeast artificial chromosome, leads to enhanced foam cell formation of isolated peritoneal macrophages.

Macrophage scavenger receptors class A (MSR) are thought to play an important role in atherogenesis by mediating the unrestricted uptake of modified lipoproteins by macrophages in the vessel wall leading to foam cell formation. To investigate the in vivo role of the MSR in this process, a transgenic mouse model expressing both isoforms of the human MSR was generated. A 180-kb yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) containing the human MSR gene (MSR1) with 60- and 40-kb flanking sequence at the 5' and 3' end, respectively, was obtained by reducing the size of a 1050-kb YAC by homologous recombination. This 180-kb YAC was microinjected into mouse oocytes. In the resulting transgenic mice, high levels of mRNA for both type I and type II human MSR1 were detected in peritoneal macrophages and trace levels in other organs, known to contain macrophage-derived cells. Using an antibody against the human MSR, the Kupffer cells in the liver were shown to contain the MSR protein. In vivo clearance of acetyl-LDL was not changed in the MSR1-transgenic mice. However, in vitro studies using peritoneal macrophages from the transgenic mice showed a two-fold increased degradation of acetyl-LDL and cholesterolester accumulation concomitant with a four-fold increase in foam cell formation, as compared to wild-type macrophages. Thus, macrophage specific overexpression of the MSR may lead to increased foam cell formation, which is one of the initial and crucial steps in atherogenesis.

Animals↗

PAF and haematopoiesis. X. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor enhance platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase production by human blood-derived macrophages.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid autacoid with potent regulatory functions, is synthesized by stimulated monocytes. Macrophages are a source of the plasma acetylhydrolase activity (AHA) which regulates PAF concentrations. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) are involved in the differentiation and functions of cells from the monocytic/macrophagic lineage. This work reports that M-CSF and GM-CSF stimulated AHA production by human blood monocyte-derived macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After 7 days of culture without serum, a 6- and 4-fold increase was found in cells treated with M-CSF (1000 U/ml) and GM-CSF (50 ng/ml), respectively. M-CSF (up to 1000 U/ml) and GM-CSF (up to 10 ng/ml) did not induce PAF production by human blood monocytes. While GM-CSF (10 ng/ml) and interleukin-1 (10 U/ml) stimulated M-CSF production from monocyte-derived macrophages, PAF did not. These results indicate that M-CSF and GM-CSF enhance AHA production by human blood-derived macrophages cultured in low serum concentrations. Clearly the effects of growth factors on AHA production in vivo deserve to be assessed.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Proliferation, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor-receptor expression of alveolar macrophages in active sarcoidosis.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) in sarcoidosis display an enhanced mitotic activity. Immunocytochemical detection of the proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen revealed significant increase in the number of proliferating AM in active sarcoidosis as compared with inactive stages of disease. Macrophage proliferation may provide an additional marker of disease activity. Since growth of macrophages is regulated by hematopoietic growth factors, we examined the expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte M-CSF, and interleukin-3 by bronchoalveolar lavage cells in active sarcoidosis. Expression of granulocyte M-CSF or interleukin-3 genes could not be detected. AM in active sarcoidosis displayed M-CSF RNA to a comparable level like normal AM. They differed, however, in about 50% of cases analyzed, from normal AM by an enhanced level of c-fms proto-oncogene (M-CSF-receptor) expression. The enlarged proportion of proliferating AM in active sarcoidosis may be the result of an increased influx of strongly fms expressing macrophage precursors into the alveoli and autostimulation of macrophages by M-CSF.

Adult↗

Interactions among granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and IFN-gamma lead to enhanced proliferation of murine macrophage progenitor cells.

This report examines the actions of IFN-gamma on monocytopoiesis in murine liquid and semisolid bone marrow cultures. The proliferative response of bone marrow cells to macrophage CSF and granulocyte-macrophage CSF was assayed by measuring [3H]TdR uptake in a range of mouse strains. No interstrain difference in kinetics was observed for CSF-1 action, but GM-CSF acted significantly more rapidly on C57B1/6, Swiss, and to a lesser extent A/J mice than on BALB/c or CBA. IFN-gamma inhibited [3H]TdR incorporation elicited by CSF-1, and to a much lesser extent, GM-CSF. When the two CSF were added together, the effects were not additive; in fact, the response was the same as that seen with GM-CSF alone. When IFN-gamma was also added, the response was restored to the level seen with CSF-1 alone. In essence, the inhibitory actions of GM-CSF and IFN-gamma were mutually exclusive. The mechanism of these actions was investigated using colony assays. As expected, CSF-1 caused the formation of pure macrophage colonies, whereas GM-CSF stimulated production of macrophage, granulocyte, and mixed granulocyte macrophage colonies. When the two CSF were added in combination, the total colony count was greater than with either alone, but less than additive. The number of pure macrophage colonies was reduced to the number seen with GM-CSF alone. IFN-gamma reduced the number of colonies in the presence of CSF-1, but slightly increased the number with GM-CSF. In the presence of both CSF, IFN-gamma increased the colony count by around 25 to 40%, so that the numbers were greater than the combined total of CSF-1 plus GM-CSF added separately. Similar results were obtained in all mouse strains tested. The results suggest that the thymidine uptake data reflect changes in the number of progenitor cells responding rather than changes in cell cycle time. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility that coadministration of GM-CSF and CSF-1 could ameliorate the myelosuppressive actions of IFN-gamma in vivo, leading to more effective use of this agent as a biologic response modifier.

Animals↗

Comparison of the effects of IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor in supporting monocyte differentiation in culture. Analysis of macrophage antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Cultured human monocytes undergo a process of differentiation and maturation lasting 5 to 10 days that ultimately leads to the appearance of large macrophage-like cells. This differentiation is growth factor dependent: of all the cytokines tested, only macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte/macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF), and IL-3 proved capable of supporting the differentiation and the long term survival of the macrophage-like cells. Although all three cytokines yield cells with macrophage characteristics, cells developed in M-CSF have features distinct from those matured in either IL-3 or GM-CSF. At the morphologic level, the M-CSF-supported monocyte cultures yield elongated, spindle-shaped cells whereas those supported with IL-3 or GM-CSF yielded round cells with distinct nuclei. All three macrophage populations expressed similar levels of HLA-DR, CD11b, and CD11c, but the M-CSF-treated cultures yielded more CD14+ and CD16+ (Fc gamma RIII) cells. All three cell populations developed capacity for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as well as antibody-independent cytotoxicity with peak activity achieved after 8 to 12 days in culture. ADCC capacity developed earliest and the level of activity was usually greatest in the M-CSF-treated cultures, possibly correlating with the higher level of expression of CD16. Our findings indicate that any of these cytokines, but particularly M-CSF, may be useful clinically in enhancing the tumoricidal capacity of tumor-specific mAb through augmentation of macrophage capacity for ADCC.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

An assay for macrophage activating factor based on the adherence of oil-elicited guinea pig macrophages: characterization of a lymphokine-induced release of hydrogen peroxide from elicited macrophages.

A convenient procedure is described for assaying guinea pig macrophage activating factor (MAF) in lymphokine preparations. The assay utilizes oil-elicited peritoneal macrophages from strain 2 guinea pigs and measures the capacity of macrophage cultures pretreated with lymphokine or medium to release hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence and absence of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The PMA-induced release measures a maintenance of macrophage adherence and activation. A novel aspect is a lymphokine-dependent release of H2O2 which occurs in the absence of PMA and which differs from the PMA triggered release. The differentiation process into lymphokine responsive cells has been studied using macrophages elicited from 2-21 days after oil injection. In addition macrophage responsiveness was examined in different strains of guinea pigs.

Animals↗

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor is elevated in alveolar macrophages from sheep naturally infected with maedi-visna virus and stimulates maedi-visna virus replication in macrophages in vitro.

Infection by maedi-visna virus, a lentivirus of sheep, leads to chronic inflammatory reactions of various tissues. In this report we have analysed the role of specific cytokines in the disease process. A significant increase in expression of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA was observed in alveolar macrophages isolated from the lungs of naturally infected animals when compared with lungs of seronegative controls. Levels of GM-CSF mRNA expression in alveolar macrophages correlated with the presence of lung lesions, but there was no correlation of interleukin-10, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA levels in alveolar macrophages from animals with pulmonary lesions. In vitro investigation showed that GM-CSF in the range 0.1-10 ng/ml induced a significant increase in viral p25 production after 7 days in acutely infected blood monocyte-derived macrophages. The production of p25 peaked between 7 and 14 days exposure to 10 ng/ml of GM-CSF. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the level of viral DNA in monocyte-derived macrophages was dose-dependent following GM-CSF treatment in the range 0.1-100 ng/ml after 7 days. Viral mRNA expression was also enhanced. These findings indicate a role for GM-CSF in the pathogenesis of lymphoid interstitial pneumonia in infected animals.

Animals↗

Cell growth and differentiation in vitro in mouse macrophages transformed by a tsA mutant of simian virus 40. II. Changes in the distribution of DNA content during the reversible transition between macrophage and nonmacrophage states in the cultures of tsA640-transformed macrophages.

Cultures of mouse macrophage cell lines transformed by wild-type or the tsA640 mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40) show a reversible phenotypic transition between the nonmacrophage (proliferating phase) and the macrophage (stationary phase) states (Takayama, 1980; Tanigawa et al., 1983). Distribution of DNA content in the cultures of the tsA640-transformed macrophage lines in the process of the phenotypic transition was determined by flow cytometry. Taking the mean DNA content of mouse peritoneal macrophages as 1 unit in the scale of fluorescence intensity in the flow cytogram, the transformed macrophages showed, at 33 degrees C, two peaks, one located around the 1.0-unit position (peak 1.0) and the other around the 1.6-unit position (peak 1.6), and a plateau distribution continuing to 3.2 units. Peak 1.0 was predominant in the stationary-phase culture, whereas peak 1.6 was predominant in the proliferating-phase culture. Almost the entire population of the strictly resting culture, which was obtained by culturing the stationary-phase culture for a further 5 days at nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C), was phagocytic, and had accumulated at peak 1.0. Cells in peak 1.0 moved to peak 1.6 and to higher positions, after the strictly resting culture was sparsely reseeded and incubated at 33 degrees C. In contrast, the DNA content distribution of the successively proliferating cells, which were obtained by repeated passage of an extensively proliferating culture and none of which were phagocytic, was similar to that of proliferating hypotetraploid BALB/c3T3 fibroblasts with a G1 peak at 1.6 unit followed by a plateau containing S- and G2-phase cells. The peak 1.0 cell population appeared from the recloned population of the successively proliferating cells in company with the restoration of the culture condition-dependent phagocytic ability when cocultured with primary macrophages. Each peak in the flow cytogram reflected fairly well DNA content per cell as determined by other methods.

Animals↗

Expression of macrophage functions in hybrids of a myeloma cell line with inflammatory macrophages: evidence for negative control mechanisms in the expression of macrophage functions.

Mouse inflammatory macrophages from C57BL/6N mice were fused with BALB/c mouse-derived myeloma cells (the CANS series). The hybrids in the early period after cell fusion (8 weeks) showed no macrophage functions (chemotaxis, EA and EAC rosette-forming abilities, phagocytosis or lysozyme production). EA rosette-forming ability was observed when these hybrids were treated with trypsin, whereas other macrophage functions were not. After prolonged culture, the hybrids (12 clones of 13 randomly selected) showed all the macrophage functions along with chromosome loss. Myeloma cell functions (kappa light chain production) were found in the young hybrids soon after cell fusion but were absent in the aged hybrids. These results indicated that reexpression of macrophage properties, except for EA rosette-forming abilities, takes place after the loss of chromosomes or genes repressing the expression of macrophage functions.

Animals↗

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor-, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-, or IL-3-dependent survival of macrophages, but not proliferation, requires the expression of p21(Waf1) through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages proliferate in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, or IL-3, but undergo apoptosis in their absence. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)-1/2 blocks growth factor-dependent proliferation but not survival, indicating that the two processes require independent signaling pathways. Although M-CSF induces the activation of other kinase pathways, such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), these pathways are not required for proliferation. However, PI-3K is the only one necessary for the induction of survival, as demonstrated using the inhibitors LY294002 and Wortmannin. Growth factors also activate Akt kinase and a transient expression of the cdk inhibitor p21(Waf1), which inhibits apoptosis but is not required for proliferation. PI-3K inhibitors also block growth factor-dependent expression of p21(Waf1) and the activation of Akt. Moreover, the survival induced by cyclosporin A or decorin is also dependent on the PI-3K/Akt kinases and p21(Waf1). These findings demonstrate that the induction of p21(Waf1) through the PI-3K/Akt pathway is a general survival response of macrophages. Our results show that growth factors in macrophages use two pathways: one for proliferation, mediated by ERK, and the other for survival, which requires the PI-3K/Akt kinases and p21(Waf1).

Animals↗

Differential immunocompetence of macrophages derived using macrophage or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Macrophages derived in vitro from bone marrow progenitors (bone marrow-derived macrophages, BMDMs) using either macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as the myelopoietic stimulus display differential functional, morphological, and mRNA phenotypes. The data presented here demonstrate further that CSF-1- and GM-CSF-derived BMDMs differ in immunologic capacity. GM-CSF-derived BMDMs, when compared to CSF-1-derived BMDMs, showed greater cytolytic activity against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-resistant, but not TNF-alpha-sensitive, tumor targets. In contrast, CSF-1-derived BMDMs produced nitrite in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone, whereas GM-CSF-derived BMDMs required interferon gamma plus LPS treatment. The two BMDM populations also showed differential sensitivities to LPS for secretion of TNF-alpha and nitrite, but the maximal inducible amounts of these factors and prostaglandin E2 were similar between the BMDM populations. Lastly, GM-CSF-derived but not CSF-1-derived BMDMs showed an L-arginine-dependent listeriacidal activity. These results show that the functional heterogeneity of CSF-1- and GM-CSF-derived macrophages is limited and appears to result largely from differences in the activational signals required by each BMDM population to elicit a given function.

Animals↗

Macrophage chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha induce nitric oxide release and enhance parasite killing in Leishmania infantum-infected human macrophages.

Chemokines are a group of structurally defined small proteins that act as chemoattractants for leukocytes and are involved in many different biological activities, including leukocyte activation for antimicrobial mechanisms. We studied the effect of the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha on nitric oxide release and parasitocidal ability of peripheral blood-derived human macrophages in vitro infected with Leishmania infantum, zymodeme MON1. In infected human macrophages, treatment with MCP-1 or MIP-1 alpha significantly enhanced nitric oxide production and leishmanicidal ability, compared with untreated cells, to the same levels induced by interferon-gamma. Both nitric oxide release and parasitocidal ability of macrophages were significantly reduced by addition of L- N(G)monomethylarginine ( L-NMMA), which is a competitive inhibitor of the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway. These data suggest that MCP-1 and MIP-1 alpha mediate macrophage activation for nitric oxide release and subsequent parasite clearance, and thus may play a role in the containment of Leishmania infection.

Animals↗