PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

C R Maliszewski

Publications and source records attributed to C R Maliszewski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Monocyte-mediated tumoricidal activity via the tumor necrosis factor-related cytokine, TRAIL.

TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) is a molecule that displays potent antitumor activity against selected targets. The results presented here demonstrate that human monocytes rapidly express TRAIL, but not Fas ligand or TNF, after activation with interferon (IFN)-gamma or -alpha and acquire the ability to kill tumor cells. Monocyte-mediated tumor cell apoptosis was TRAIL specific, as it could be inhibited with soluble TRAIL receptor. Moreover, IFN stimulation caused a concomitant loss of TRAIL receptor 2 expression, which coincides with monocyte acquisition of resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. These results define a novel mechanism of monocyte-induced cell cytotoxicity that requires TRAIL, and suggest that TRAIL is a key effector molecule in antitumor activity in vivo.

Antineoplastic Agents

Distinct dendritic cell subsets differentially regulate the class of immune response in vivo.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are unique in their ability to stimulate T cells and initiate adaptive immunity. Injection of mice with the cytokine Flt3-ligand (FL) dramatically expands mature lymphoid and myeloid-related DC subsets. In contrast, injection of a polyethylene glycol-modified form of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) into mice only expands the myeloid-related DC subset. These DC subsets differ in the cytokine profiles they induce in T cells in vivo. The lymphoid-related subset induces high levels of the Th1 cytokines interferon gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 but little or no Th2 cytokines. In contrast, the myeloid-related subset induces large amounts of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, in addition to interferon gamma and IL-2. FL- or GM-CSF-treated mice injected with soluble ovalbumin display dramatic increases in antigen-specific antibody titers, but the isotype profiles seem critically dependent on the cytokine used. Although FL treatment induces up to a 10, 000-fold increase in ovalbumin-specific IgG2a and a more modest increase in IgG1 titers, GM-CSF treatment favors a predominantly IgG1 response with little increase in IgG2a levels. These data suggest that distinct DC subsets have strikingly different influences on the type of immune response generated in vivo and may thus be targets for pharmacological intervention.

Adoptive Transfer

Prevention of peripheral tolerance by a dendritic cell growth factor: flt3 ligand as an adjuvant.

Injections of soluble proteins are poorly immunogenic, and often elicit antigen-specific tolerance. The mechanism of this phenomenon has been an enduring puzzle, but it has been speculated that tolerance induction may be due to antigen presentation by poorly stimulatory, resting B cells, which lack specific immunoglobulin receptors for the protein. In contrast, adjuvants, or infectious agents, which cause the release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1beta in vivo are believed to recruit and activate professional antigen-presenting cells to the site(s) of infection, thereby eliciting immunity. Here we show that administration of Flt3 ligand (FL), a cytokine capable of inducing large numbers of dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo, (a) dramatically enhances the sensitivity of antigen-specific B and T cell responses to systemic injection of a soluble protein, through a CD40-CD40 ligand-dependent mechanism; (b) influences the class of antibody produced; and (c) enables productive immune responses to otherwise tolerogenic protocols. These data support the hypothesis that the delicate balance between immunity and tolerance in vivo is pivotally controlled by DCs, and underscore the potential of FL as a vaccine adjuvant for immunotherapy in infectious disease and other clinical settings.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Inhibition of platelet function by recombinant soluble ecto-ADPase/CD39.

Excessive platelet accumulation and recruitment, leading to vessel occlusion at sites of vascular injury, present major therapeutic challenges in cardiovascular medicine. Endothelial cell CD39, an ecto-enzyme with ADPase and ATPase activities, rapidly metabolizes ATP and ADP released from activated platelets, thereby abolishing recruitment. Therefore, a soluble form of CD39, retaining nucleotidase activities, would constitute a novel antithrombotic agent. We designed a recombinant, soluble form of human CD39, and isolated it from conditioned media from transiently transfected COS-1 cells and from stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Conditioned medium from CHO cells grown under serum-free conditions was subjected to anti-CD39 immunoaffinity column chromatography, yielding a single approximately 66-kD protein with ATPase and ADPase activities. Purified soluble CD39 blocked ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro, and inhibited collagen-induced platelet reactivity. Kinetic analyses indicated that, while soluble CD39 had a Km for ADP of 5.9 microM and for ATP of 2.1 microM, the specificity constant kcat/Km was the same for both substrates. Intravenously administered soluble CD39 remained active in mice for an extended period of time, with an elimination phase half-life of almost 2 d. The data indicate that soluble CD39 is a potential therapeutic agent for inhibition of platelet-mediated thrombotic diatheses.

Adenosine Diphosphate

The MHC class I binding proteins LIR-1 and LIR-2 inhibit Fc receptor-mediated signaling in monocytes.

The MHC class I binding proteins leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LIR)-1 and -2 recognize a similar broad spectrum of HLA-A, -B and -C alleles but are differentially expressed in lymphocytes, monocytes, and dendritic cells. In monocytes, phosphorylation of LIR-1 and LIR-2 results in the binding of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. Coligation of either LIR with Fcgamma receptor I (CD64) inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of the associated Fc receptor gamma chain and Syk molecules, as well as intracellular calcium mobilization. These findings suggest that LIR-1 and LIR-2 function as unique MHC class I receptors involved in the inhibition or down-modulation of monocyte activation signals, particularly those mediated through the receptors for IgG, IgE and IgA.

Alleles

Developmental pathways of dendritic cells in vivo: distinct function, phenotype, and localization of dendritic cell subsets in FLT3 ligand-treated mice.

We have recently shown that Flt3 ligand administration dramatically increases dendritic cell (DC) numbers in various mouse tissues. This has enabled the identification of distinct mature DC subpopulations. These have been designated: population C (CD11c(bright) CD11b(bright)), D (CD11c(bright) CD11b(dull)), and E (CD11c(bright) CD11b(negative)) This report demonstrates that the mature DC subsets (C, D, and E) from Flt3 ligand-treated mice differ with respect to phenotype, geographic localization, and function. The myeloid Ags CD11b, F4/80, and Ly-6C are predominantly expressed by population C, but not D or E. In addition, a subset of population C-type DC expresses 33D1 and CD4. In contrast, DC within population D and E selectively express the lymphoid-related DC markers CD8alpha, DEC 205, CD1d, as well as CD23, elevated levels of CD117 (c-kit), CD24 (HSA), CD13, and CD54. Immunohistology indicates that the different DC subsets reside in distinct microenvironments, with populations D and E residing in the T cell areas of the white pulp, while DC within population C localize in the marginal zones. These DC subpopulations showed different capacities to phagocytose FITC-zymosan and to secrete IL-12 upon stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus cowan I strain + IFN-gamma + granulocyte-macrophage-CSF. Population C-type DC were more phagocytic but secreted little inducible IL-12 while population D- and E-type DC showed poor phagocytic capacity and secreted considerably higher levels of IL-12. These results underscore the importance of viewing DC development in vivo, as an interplay between distinct lineages and a maturational dependence on specific microenvironmental signals.

Animals

The endothelial cell ecto-ADPase responsible for inhibition of platelet function is CD39.

We previously demonstrated that when platelets are in motion and in proximity to endothelial cells, they become unresponsive to agonists (Marcus, A.J., L.B. Safier, K.A. Hajjar, H.L. Ullman, N. Islam, M.J. Broekman, and A.M. Eiroa. 1991. J. Clin. Invest. 88:1690-1696). This inhibition is due to an ecto-ADPase on the surface of endothelial cells which metabolizes ADP released from activated platelets, resulting in blockade of the aggregation response. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) ADPase was biochemically classified as an E-type ATP-diphosphohydrolase. The endothelial ecto-ADPase is herein identified as CD39, a molecule originally characterized as a lymphoid surface antigen. All HUVEC ecto-ADPase activity was immunoprecipitated by monoclonal antibodies to CD39. Surface localization of HUVEC CD39 was established by confocal microscopy and flow cytometric analyses. Transfection of COS cells with human CD39 resulted in both ecto-ADPase activity as well as surface expression of CD39. PCR analyses of cDNA obtained from HUVEC mRNA and recombinant human CD39 revealed products of the same size, and of identical sequence. Northern blot analyses demonstrated that HUVEC express the same sized transcripts for CD39 as MP-1 cells (from which CD39 was originally cloned). We established the role of CD39 as a prime endothelial thromboregulator by demonstrating that CD39-transfected COS cells acquired the ability to inhibit ADP-induced aggregation in platelet-rich plasma. The identification of HUVEC ADPase/CD39 as a constitutively expressed potent inhibitor of platelet reactivity offers new prospects for antithrombotic therapeusis.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

An ecto-ATPase and an ecto-ATP diphosphohydrolase are expressed in rat brain.

Extracellular nucleotides acting as signaling molecules are inactivated by hydrolysis catalyzed by ecto-nucleotidases. ATP is sequentially degraded via ADP and AMP to adenosine. Enzymes that can be involved in the extracellular hydrolysis chain are ecto-ATP diphosphohydrolase (ecto-apyrase), ecto-ATPase, ecto-ADPase and 5'-nucleotidase. Mammalian ecto-ATP diphosphohydrolase is a member of a family of apyrases sharing four "apyrase conserved regions" that presumably participate in the formation of the catalytic site. We report the presence of ecto-ATP diphosphohydrolase in rat brain and the primary structure of a new mammalian member of the apyrase family. Expression in CHO cells shows that it represents an ecto-ATPase. As revealed by Northern analysis of rat tissues, the ecto-ATPase is co-expressed with ecto-ATP diphosphohydrolase in heart, kidney, spleen, thymus, lung, skeletal muscle and brain. Signals for both ecto-nucleotidases are very weak in liver. mRNAs for both proteins are present in PC12 cells, suggesting that the two nucleotidases may be co-expressed in the same neural cell. Using computer-aided sequence analysis, primary structure and membrane topography are compared with those of other members of the apyrase family.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

CD40-CD40 ligand interactions are critical in T-B cooperation but not for other anti-viral CD4+ T cell functions.

CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction is required for the generation of antibody responses to T-dependent antigens as well as for the development of germinal centers and memory B cells. The role of the CD40-CD40L interaction in the induction of antigen-specific. Th cells and in mediating Th cell effector functions other than cognate help for B cells is less well understood. Using CD40- and CD40L-deficient mice together with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and vesicular stomatitis virus as viral model antigens, this study corroborates earlier findings that no lg isotype switching of virus-specific antibodies was measurable upon infection of CD40- or CD40L-deficient mice. In contrast, in vivo induction of virus-specific CD4+ T cells measured by proliferation and cytokine secretion of primed virus-specific Th cells in vitro was not crucially dependent on the CD40-CD40L interaction. In addition, virus-specific Th cells primed in a CD40-deficient environment, adoptively transferred into CD40-competent recipients, were able to mediate lg isotype switch. Th-mediated effector functions distinct from and in addition to T-B collaboration were analyzed in CD40- and CD40L-deficient and normal mice: (a) local inflammatory reactions upon LCMV infection mediated by LCMV-specific Th cells were not dependent on a functional CD40-CD40L interaction, (b) cytokine-mediated protection by CD4+ T cells primed by vesicular stomatitis virus against a challenge infection with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus was found to be equivalent in CD40L-deficient and normal mice. Thus, CD40-CD40L interaction plays a crucial role in T-B interactions for Th-dependent activation of B cells but not, or to a much lesser extent, in T cell activation, antigen-specific Th cell responses in vitro, and for interleukin-mediated Th cell effector functions in vivo.

Animals

Recombinant IL-4 treatment augments resistance to Borrelia burgdorferi infections in both normal susceptible and antibody-deficient susceptible mice.

Recent evidence suggests that T cells and their associated cytokines critically influence outcome in mice experimentally infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the causative agent of human Lyme disease. In vivo T cell subset and cytokine depletion studies suggest that CD4+ T cell-derived IL-4 plays a critical role in control of spirochete growth in vivo, whereas CD8+ T cell-derived IFN-gamma appears to promote disease, particularly in susceptible mouse strains. To further investigate the immunologic basis of protection and the role of IL-4, we have examined the effects of early rIL-4 treatment on outcome in susceptible mice infected with Bb. In this study, we show that administration of rIL-4 to susceptible C3H mice during the first week of infection with Bb leads to early control of their infections, as evidenced by significant reductions in joint swelling at wk 5, 6, and 7 postinfection, and in the numbers of spirochetes recovered from their joints and skin at wk 7 when compared with sham-treated mice. Increased resistance in rIL-4-treated mice was accompanied by significant reductions in their in vitro splenic Bb-specific IFN-gamma responses and in serum levels of specific IgG2a and IgG3 Abs and significant increases in specific IgG1 Abs. We also show that the inherent susceptibility of Ab-deficient, C57BL/6-IgM knockout (B6-MKO) mice to Rh infection is intermediate relative to C57BL/6 severe combined immunodeficient (B6-SCID) mice (susceptible) or normal C57BL/6 mice (resistant), confirming the importance of both Ab-dependent and Ab-independent, T cell-dependent immune mechanisms in control of Bb infections. The additional finding that early treatment with rIL-4 significantly reduced the severity of Bb infections in B6-MKO mice indicates that IL-4 may augment anti-spirochetal immunity via an Ab-independent mechanism.

Animals

CD40 ligand is required for protective cell-mediated immunity to Leishmania major.

The CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) signaling process is a pivotal component of multiple immunoregulatory pathways. Although the role that CD40L plays in humoral immune responses is fairly well defined, its function(s) in cell-mediated responses in vivo has not been established. We investigated this issue by assessing the course of Leishmania major infection in CD40L knockout (CD40LKO) mice that were generated on a resistant background. In response to parasite challenge, CD40LKO mice developed ulcerating cutaneous lesions and failed to mount a vigorous Th1-like response. The impaired Th1-like response appears to be related to a defect in the ability of CD40LKO T cells to induce the production of IL-12 from macrophages. Treatment with exogenous IL-12 prevented disease progression in CD40LKO mice, and administration of recombinant CD40L provided partial protection against infection. Thus, a protective cell-mediated immune response to L. major appears to be dependent upon CD40L-induced IL-12 secretion by antigen-presenting cells.

Animals

IFN-gamma is a potent inducer of Ig secretion by sort-purified murine B cells activated through the mIg, but not the CD40, signaling pathway.

IFN-gamma has been shown to either stimulate or inhibit Ig secretion. No studies have yet addressed the basis for these seemingly conflicting properties nor whether IFN-gamma acted directly at the level of the B cell to mediate its effects. Thus, we studied the ability of IFN-gamma to regulate Ig secretion in sort-purified, resting murine B cells that were >99% Ig+, activated either through membrane Ig using unconjugated or dextran-conjugated anti-IgD antibodies (alphadelta-dex) or through CD40 using soluble or membrane CD40 ligand (CD40L). B cells activated with alphadelta-dex proliferated but do not secrete Ig, even in the presence of IL-1 + IL-2. We demonstrate that IFN-gamma only when added subsequent to B cell stimulation with alphadelta-dex, but not unconjugated anti-IfD antibody, plus IL-1 + IL-2 induces up to 100-fold enhancements in Ig secretion and in the numbers of Ig-secreting cells. The predominant Ig isotype secreted is IgM, with IgG3 and IgG2a comprising the majority of non-IgM antibody. IFN-gamma must act in concert with IL-2 for stimulation of Ig secretion. Further, IFN-gamma synergizes with IL-3 + granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor for induction of Ig synthesis. IFN-gamma also enhances IgA syntheses by transforming growth factor-beta-induced membrane IgA+ cells. By contrast, 125IIFN-gamma fails to stimulate Ig secretion in B cells activated with CD40L in the presence or absence of IL-1 + IL-2 or IL-4. However, the combination of CD40L and alphabeta-dex is strongly synergistic for IFN-gamma-induced Ig secretion. Thus, these data establish that IFN-gamma can act directly on the B cell to induce Ig synthesis without the participation of any other cell and demonstrates that the mode of activation of the B cell plays an important role in directing the action of IFN-gamma.

Animals

Involvement of p59fynT in interleukin-5 receptor signaling.

Previous studies implicate the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) p59fyn in the propagation of signals from the B cell antigen receptor. To elucidate the functions of this kinase, we examined B cell responsiveness in mice engineered to lack the hematopoietic isoform of p59fyn. Remarkably, antigen receptor signaling was only modestly defective in fynTnull B cells. In contrast, signaling from the interleukin (IL)-5 receptor which ordinarily provides a comitogenic stimulus with antiimmunoglobulin, was completely blocked. Our results document the importance of p59fynT in IL-5 responses in B cells, and they support a general model for cytokine receptor signal transduction involving the simultaneous recruitment of at least three families of PTK.

Animals

IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor strongly induce Ig secretion by sort-purified murine B cell activated through the membrane Ig, but not the CD40, signaling pathway.

Sort-purified resting murine B cells proliferate in response to dextran-conjugated anti-IgD Abs (alpha delta-dex) but fail to secrete significant amounts of Ig even after the addition of IL-1 + IL-2. We show that either IL-3 or granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) stimulates 10- to 50-fold enhancements in IgM secretion by sort-purified B cells treated with alpha delta-dex + IL-1 + IL-2, and that the combined actions of IL-3 and GM-CSF are typically greater than additive. Both IL-3 and GM-CSF act primarily as B cell differentiation factors, although IL-3 induces a modest enhancement in cellular outgrowth. The enhancing effects of IL-3 and GM-CSF require multivalent Ag receptor cross-linkage, mediated by alpha delta-dex, as neither cytokine induces IgM secretion in the presence of unconjugated anti-IgD Abs. Although both alpha delta-dex and IL-1 + IL-2 are required for optimal IL-3- and GM-CSF-mediated IgM secretion, both IL-3 and GM-CSF stimulate a modest IgM secretory response by cells activated with alpha delta-dex alone. In this regard, supernatant from either an activated CD4+ Th1 or Th2 clone potently induces IgM secretion by alpha delta-dex + IL-1 + IL-2-activated B cells and this is due, in large part, to the presence in these supernatants of either IL-3 and/or GM-CSF. Neither IL-3 nor GM-CSF stimulates significant IgM secretion by B cells activated through the CD40 signaling pathway alone, although the combination of CD40 and membrane Ig signaling leads to a strong enhancement of the IL-3 + GM-CSF-mediated IgM synthesis above that obtained with membrane Ig signaling alone. The demonstration that IL-3 and GM-CSF act directly as differentiation factors for B cells activated through their Ag receptor establishes a novel cytokine pathway for induction of humoral immunity.

Animals

IL-4 treatment can cure established gastrointestinal nematode infections in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice.

We examined the ability of a long acting formulation of IL-4 (IL-4/anti-IL-4 mAb complexes) to limit established infections of normal and immune deficient mice with two nematode parasites: Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. IL-4, at a dose of 5 to 20 micrograms every 3 to 4 days, rapidly decreased egg production and, over a period of 6 to 9 days, terminated infection in H. polygyrus-inoculated BALB/c mice. IL-4 treatment also considerably decreased egg production in H. polygyrus-inoculated CB.17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice and terminated infection in N. brasiliensis-inoculated SCID mice and anti-CD4 mAb-treated BALB/c mice. IL-4 was less effective at limiting H. polygyrus infection if administrated when parasites were in larval stages than if administered after adult worms had developed. The effects of IL-4 were inhibited completely by an mAb that specifically blocks the mouse IL-4R. These observations demonstrate that IL-4 can limit the fecundity and survival of gastrointestinal nematode parasites through effects on the host that are independent of the specific immune system.

Animals

Abnormal B-cell function in HTLV-I-tax transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice that carry the HTLV-I Tax gene develop an exocrinopathy with some similarities to Sjoegren's syndrome. Our experiments reveal that these mice have lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly composed primarily of B lymphocytes, as well as abnormal levels of secreted immunoglobulins. To gain insight into whether the lymphadenopathy manifested by these transgenic mice was the result of induction of cytokines by Tax, we utilized cell lines from these mice to study in vitro B-cell responses. Conditioned media (CM) derived from the cell lines caused B-cells to proliferate when a second signal, surface Ig cross-linking, was provided. The CM also caused a marked enhancement of IgM secretion by spleen cells or by purified B-cells treated with supplemental cytokines. The B-cell proliferative response and enhanced IgM secretion have not been attributed to a known cytokine. These results suggest that the CM from the cell lines contain a factor(s) involved in novel pathways of B-cell growth and differentiation that may participate in the pathologic development of autoimmune disease.

Animals

Regulation of murine B cell growth and differentiation by CD30 ligand.

A ligand for CD30 has been recently cloned, and has been shown to have sequence homology with the tumor necrosis factor family of cytokines. CD30 ligand (CD30L) was found to be induced on helper T cell clones, and its receptor was expressed on freshly isolated and activated murine B cells. Recombinant murine CD30L was found to share many functional properties with CD40 ligand (CD40L) in the regulation of murine B cell growth and differentiation in vitro. CD30L stimulated B cell proliferation, antigen-specific antibody production, and polyclonal immunoglobulin secretion in a cytokine-dependent manner. In particular, the stimulation of B cell proliferation by CD30L required interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, induction of anti-sheep red blood cell antibody-secreting B cells by CD30L required IL-2 and IL-5, and optimal induction of polyclonal immunoglobulin secretion required IL-4 and IL-5. Under these conditions, the polyclonal secretion of IgG1, IgA, IgG3 and IgE was induced. The induction of immunoglobulin secretion by CD30L was independent of CD40L, as B cells from CD40L deficient-mice responded normally to CD30L treatment. We conclude that CD30L is a potent mediator of B cell growth and differentiation in vitro and may play a role in cognate T cell-B cell interactions.

Animals