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Biomedical subjects

C D Muller

Publications and source records attributed to C D Muller.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Lymphocyte-selective cytostatic and immunosuppressive effects of mycophenolic acid in vitro: role of deoxyguanosine nucleotide depletion.

Mycophenolic acid (MPA), an inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, in nanomolar concentrations blocks proliferative responses of cultured human, mouse and rat T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes to mitogens or in mixed lymphocyte reactions. The inhibitory effect of MPA on lymphocyte proliferation is reversed by addition to culture media of deoxyguanosine or guanosine but not by addition of deoxyadenosine or adenosine. The findings suggest that the principal mechanism of action of low concentrations of MPA is depletion of deoxyguanosine triphosphate which is required for DNA synthesis. In immunosuppressive doses, MPA does not affect the formation of IL-1 by LPS-activated human peripheral blood monocytes. Unlike cyclosporin A and FK-506, MPA does not inhibit the formation of IL-2 and the expression of the IL-2 receptor in mitogen-activated human T lymphocytes. MPA suppresses mixed lymphocyte reactions when added 3 days after their initiation. These findings suggest that MPA does not inhibit early responses of T and B lymphocytes to mitogenic or antigenic stimulation but blocks the cells at the time of DNA synthesis. The cytostatic effect of MPA is more potent on lymphocytes than on other cell types, such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. MPA also inhibits antibody formation by polyclonally activated human B lymphocytes. MPA is an immunosuppressive agent reversibly inhibiting proliferation of T and B lymphocytes and antibody formation, with a profile of activity different from that of other immunosuppressive drugs. Human T and B lymphocytic and promonocytic cell lines are highly sensitive to the antiproliferative effects of MPA, whereas the erythroid precursor cell line K562 is less susceptible. The effect of MPA on cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage could exert long-acting anti-inflammatory activity. MPA or analogues may have therapeutic utility in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, for prevention of allograft rejection and in lymphocytic or monocytic leukaemias and lymphomas.

Animals↗

Fate of ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase during phagocytosis of normal and mannosylated latex beads by murine macrophages.

In order to gain a better understanding of the role of ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase, an enzyme predominantly associated with phagocytic cells, we have studied its fate in murine macrophages (splenic, resident peritoneal and Kupffer cells) during phagocytosis of opsonized on mannosylated latex beads. In parallel, we have also monitored nucleotide pyrophosphatase, another ecto-enzyme of macrophages. Phagosomes were isolated by flotation in a discontinuous sucrose gradient and the enzyme activities were determined with fluorometric methods. Low levels of NAD+ glycohydrolase and nucleotide pyrophosphatase could be measured associated with the phagosomal fractions, eg, respectively less than 4.5% and 10% in spleen macrophages. The phagosomal activities originate from the plasma membrane, ie they were latent and inactivation of ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase with the diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid resulted in a marked decrease of this enzyme activity in the phagosomal fractions. Pre-labelling of the cell surface by [3H]-galactosylation indicated that NAD+ glycohydrolase is internalized to a lesser extent than an average surface-membrane unit. These results indicate that if ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase of macrophages can be internalized to a limited extent during phagocytosis of opsonized or mannosylated latex beads, this enzyme appears to be predominantly excluded from the surface area involved in the uptake of such particles.

Animals↗

Neo-mannosylated liposomes: synthesis and interaction with mouse Kupffer cells and resident peritoneal macrophages.

In order to target liposomes to cells expressing at their surface mannose receptors, e.g. mouse Kupffer cells and peritoneal macrophages, we have developed a new synthetic strategy which allows a chemically well defined preparation of neo-mannosylated vesicles. alpha-D-Thiomannopyranoside residues, substituted with a hydrophilic spacer arm and functionalized with a sulfhydryl group, were covalently coupled to preformed large unilamellar vesicles containing 4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyryl phosphatidylethanolamine. Liposomes, containing 15 mol% of mannosyl residues, were specifically aggregated with concanavalin A; this aggregation could be reversed by an excess of free methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside indicating that the surface ligands were freely accessible to the lectin. The neo-mannosylated liposomes presented in vitro an increased binding to cells possessing alpha-D-mannose specific binding sites. At 37 degrees C a specific binding, up to 9-fold compared to control vesicles, was observed. These neo-mannosylated vesicles represent attractive tools for targeting bio-active molecules to macrophage-associated diseases.

Animals↗

Characterization of surface markers of continuously growing murine resident macrophages.

Conditions have been described which allow an in vitro indefinite multiplication of differentiated murine macrophages (Lombard et al: Biol Cell 53, 219, 1985). R. and MAY-1 cell lines, which were obtained, respectively, from mouse (Balb/c) spleen and resident peritoneal macrophages, have been further characterized. They present at their surface, besides the Mac-1 antigen and Fc-receptor, a mannose receptor which was characterized for its binding properties. This receptor is responsive for a specific phagocytosis of mannosylated particles, i.e., mannosylated latex beads or oil droplets containing mannosylated bovine serum albumin. Moreover, R and MAY-1 cells present an ectoenzyme profile (NAD+ glycohydrolase and nucleotide pyrophosphatase) similar to those of the corresponding resident macrophages.

Animals↗

Latex beads phagocytosis capacity and ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase activity of rat brain microglia cells in vitro.

Conditions are described which allow the preparation in vitro of pure (greater than 95%) microglial cell cultures isolated from newborn rat brain. Such ameboid cells cultivated in vitro can efficiently phagocytize opsonized latex beads and are capable of ingesting more (100-200 beads of 1.1 micron diameter per cell) and larger (6.4 microns) particles than other nerve cells, such as oligodendrocytes and astroglia. The microglial cells also show an important ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase activity which is characteristic of phagocytic cells. We noted that the phagocytic capacity and ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase of these cells were correlated and increased notably during the in vitro culture. Microglia cultivated in vitro appear to be a good model to study the activation of phagocytic properties in the central nervous system and corresponding modulation by natural or pharmacological immunomodulators.

Animals↗

Targeting of liposomes by covalent coupling with ecto-NAD+-glycohydrolase ligands.

We have tested the feasibility of targeting liposomes via interaction with specific ecto-enzymes, i.e., enzymes which have their active site oriented to the external surface of the cell. 3,4-Dimethylpyridine adenine dinucleotide, a competitive inhibitor of ecto-NAD+-glycohydrolase, was substituted at N6 with a hydrophilic spacer arm, functionalized with a sulfhydryl group, and covalently linked to performed liposomes containing 4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyryl phosphatidylethanolamine. We show that compared to control vesicles, the binding of the conjugated liposomes was greatly increased (up to 5-fold) to cells presenting ecto-NAD+-glycohydrolase activity (Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, mouse peritoneal macrophages); in contrast, no specific binding was detected with hepatoma tissue culture cells, which lack this enzyme. Specific binding was found to depend on the ligand/lipid molar ratio of the vesicles and on the length of the arm. High concentrations of free 3,4-dimethylpyridine adenine dinucleotide virtually abolished the specific binding to cells of the targeted liposomes. Analysis of binding revealed that the ligand conjugated to the liposomes presented a functional affinity for 3T3 fibroblasts 15-fold superior to that of the free ligand.

Animals↗

Fluorometric determination of polystyrene latex: application to the measurement of phagosomes and phagocytosis.

Intrinsic fluorescence of polystyrene dissolved in organic solvents such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane was used to develop a sensitive method for the quantification of polystyrene latex beads. This method allows the assay of latex in the microgram range and is one order of magnitude more sensitive than the conventional spectrophotometric method. The fluorometric technique was used in the quantification of phagocytic latex particle uptake by macrophages and in the quantification of isolated phagosomal fractions.

Animals↗

Preparation of analogues of NAD+ as substrates for a sensitive fluorimetric assay of nucleotide pyrophosphatase.

1,N6-Etheno derivatives of pyridine analogues of NAD+ were synthesized, characterized and tested as substrates for a fluorimetric assay of nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9). Upon cleavage of their pyrophosphate bond, the fluorescence of pyridine-1,N6-ethenoadenine dinucleotide (epsilon PdAD+) and of 4-hydrazinocarbonyl-pyridine-1,N6-ethenoadenine dinucleotide (epsilon hy4PdAD+) increased respectively 15-and 73-fold, at pH 7.4. This property allows a convenient steady-state assay of nucleotide pyrophosphatase by continuous monitoring of reaction progress. Both compounds were good substrates of this class of enzyme. The relative insensitivity of the fluorescence of epsilon PdAD+ and epsilon hy4PdAD+ to pH changes allowed assays under conditions preserving cellular integrity. epsilon PdAD+ is useful as a substrate for measuring nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity on the outside of mammalian cells because it is not a substrate for the external NAD+ glycohydrolase. epsilon Hy4PdAD+ proved useful when high sensitivity was needed.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

NAD+ glycohydrolase, an ecto-enzyme of calf spleen cells.

By using a sensitive fluorimetric assay of NAD+ glycohydrolase (EC 3.2.2.6), we showed that calf spleen cells are able to hydrolyse 1,N6-etheno-NAD+ given in the medium. The observed rates of substrate hydrolysis and product accumulation in the medium are equivalent. Moreover, the splenocytes are able to cleave the nicotinamide-ribose bond of a water-soluble polymer of NAD+, and their NAD+ glycohydrolase activity is fully inhibited by a high-molecular-weight Blue Dextran. Selective permeation of the cellular membrane digitonin revealed an intracellular pool of NAD+ glycohydrolase, which accounts for 25% of the total activity. We conclude that NAD+ glycohydrolase associated with the splenocytes has the characteristics of an ecto-enzyme.

Animals↗

Effect of ammonia on endocytosis and cytokine production by immortalized human microglia and astroglia cells.

Ammonium acetate decreased in a concentration-dependent manner the phagocytic uptake of mannosylated latex microspheres and of yeast by immortalized human microglia (CHME-5) and astroglioma (GL-15) cells. In both cell lines ammonium acetate affected also the secretion of certain cytokines. The most conspicuous effects were the following: in both cell lines ammonium acetate enhanced greatly the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the absence of any other stimulus. in the human microglia cells ammonia decreased the constitutive secretion of interleukin-6, but it enhanced the stimulated (interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, gamma-interferon and gamma-interferon + tumor necrosis factor-alpha) secretion of interleukin-8. In the astroglioma cell line, the stimulated release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 was diminished by ammonium acetate. The magnitude of the ammonia-effect depended on the stimulating agent (lipopolysaccharide, interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, gamma-interferon). The results are discussed with regard to their potential importance in the pathogenesis of human diseases with elevated blood and brain ammonia concentrations.

Acetates↗

[How to test at once six cytokines in samples as small as 25 microl?].

Inflammatory and regulatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, -6, -8, -10 and -12) regulate both the humoral and cellular immune responses. Cytokines have diverse peripheral and central functions. They are critical mediators of protective host responses, including defense against microbial invasion and tumorigenesis. However, the production of specific proinflammatory cytokines must be tightly regulated and compartmentalized to prevent the overexpression of these molecules that can end in chronic inflammation and tissue injury. Many diseases like autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, arteriosclerosis, Crohn's disease), neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), tumor invasion and metastasis correlate with a deregulation in cytokine action. Thus, cytokines network provides an attractive and intensely competitive area of potential targets for therapeutic intervention. To monitor such secretion patterns in presence of putative drugs obtained by high throughput screening (HTS) some new techniques recently appeared on the market. We here compared results obtained by CBA (BD Cytometric Bead Array) to IC50 values obtained by classical sandwich Elisa. The complexity and cost of this new method is largely compensated by simultaneous testing of 6 cytokines in only 25 micro L of cell supernatant.

Flow Cytometry↗

Antitumoral properties and reduced toxicity of LPS targeted to macrophages via normal or mannosylated liposomes.

Neo-mannosylated liposomes have been prepared by coupling a mannose derivative bearing a hydrophilic spacer arm to preformed large unilamellar liposomes containing 4-(p-maleimidophenyl) butyryl-phosphatidylethanolamine. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was encapsulated in normal or neo-mannosylated liposomes; the neo-mannosylated vesicles showed specificity for the in vitro activation to toxicity of macrophages only in the case of differentiated macrophages presenting mannose receptors at their surface. In vivo, LPS entrapped in neo-mannosylated vesicles showed a reduced toxicity for animals hypersensitive to LPS. Moreover targeting of LPS to tissue macrophages with neo-mannosylated liposomes induced regression of experimental solid tumors in mice (EMT6 sarcoma, 3LL carcinoma) and was effective on lung metastases.

Animals↗