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Biomedical subjects

D L Granger

Publications and source records attributed to D L Granger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Urinary nitrate excretion in relation to murine macrophage activation. Influence of dietary L-arginine and oral NG-monomethyl-L-arginine.

Murine macrophage oxidation of L-arginine guanidino nitrogen to nitrite/nitrate yields an intermediate effector, possibly nitric oxide, with antimicrobial activity. Total body nitrogen oxidation metabolism (NOM) was measured in vivo by determining the urinary nitrate excretion of mice ingesting a chemically defined nitrite/nitrate-free diet. As reported previously, mycobacterial infection with bacillus Calmétte-Guerin led to a large increase in urinary nitrate excretion. This increase was temporally related to macrophage activation in vivo. The substrate for macrophage nitrogen oxidation metabolism in vitro, L-arginine, was deleted from the diet without ameliorating the urinary nitrate excretion response induced by BCG. This suggested that L-arginine was synthesized endogenously because there are no other known natural substrates for NOM. A competitive inhibitor of NOM, the L-arginine analog, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine was fed to mice in their drinking water. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine ingestion blocked both basal and bacillus Calmétte-Guerin-induced urinary nitrate excretion over a 2-4 week time span. These experimental conditions should prove useful for further investigation on the role of macrophage NOM in host defense against intracellular microorganisms.

Animals

Inhibition of Cryptococcus neoformans replication by nitrogen oxides supports the role of these molecules as effectors of macrophage-mediated cytostasis.

Activated macrophages are able to inhibit the replication of intracellular microbes and tumor cells. In the murine system, this cytostatic effect is associated with the oxidation of L-arginine to L-citrulline, nitrite, and nitrate and is thought to be mediated by an intermediate of this reaction, possibly nitric oxide (NO.). By exposing replicating Cryptococcus neoformans cells to conditions under which NO. is chemically generated, we have observed a cytostatic effect similar to that caused by activated murine macrophages. Nitric oxide is formed as a decomposition product of nitrite salts in acidic, aqueous solutions. Although C. neoformans replicates well in the presence of high nitrite concentrations at physiologic pH, its growth in acidic media can be inhibited by the addition of low concentrations of sodium nitrite. The degree of cytostasis is dependent on both the pH and the nitrite concentration of the NO. generating solution. The cytostatic effector molecule appears to be a gas since, in addition to inhibiting C. neoformans replication in solution, it is able to exert its inhibitory effect across a gas-permeable but ion-impermeable membrane. At high nitrite concentrations, a fungicidal effect occurs. We propose that the growth inhibition of C. neoformans upon exposure to chemically generated NO. or some related oxide of nitrogen represents a cell-free system simulating the cytostatic effect of activated murine macrophages.

Cryptococcus neoformans

Opsonic activity of cerebrospinal fluid in experimental cryptococcal meningitis.

The role of antibody in protection against infection with Cryptococcus neoformans is undefined. In this paper we describe the development of opsonic activity in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rabbits in response to cryptococcal meningitis. The opsonin appeared to be immunoglobulin G (IgG); the activity was heat stable, copurified with the IgG fraction during protein A separation, and could be absorbed by encapsulated cryptococci. Immunosuppression with cyclosporine could be administered to prevent or allow in vivo deposition of IgG on the polysaccharide capsule of yeast in the CSF. Both early and late cyclosporine regimens resulted in prolonged, severe meningeal infections corresponding to the complete absence of in vitro opsonic activity in the CSF. While the production of opsonic antibody is part of the successful host response against C. neoformans in the central nervous system of rabbits, the presence of specific immunoglobulin by itself is insufficient for complete protection.

Animals

Human alveolar and peritoneal macrophages mediate fungistasis independently of L-arginine oxidation to nitrite or nitrate.

Human alveolar macrophages (HAM) from 28 normal volunteers were found to inhibit replication of Cryptococcus neoformans. Conditions under which fungistasis occurred were different than those required for mouse peritoneal macrophage-mediated fungistasis. Inhibition of fungal replication by mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) requires that the macrophages are activated and that the cocultures of C. neoformans and macrophages be done in the presence of serum, L-arginine, and endotoxin. During MPM-mediated fungistasis and tumor cell killing, L-arginine is oxidized to NO2-, NO3-, and L-citrulline. In addition, MPM have arginase activity that converts L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea. HAM-mediated fungistasis was similar to that mediated by MPM in terms of the serum requirement, but HAM did not require L-arginine or endotoxin. HAM did not produce NO2- or NO3- detectable by colorimetric and bioassay, nor did HAM produce L-citrulline or L-ornithine from 14C-radiolabeled L-arginine as detectable by reverse-phase ion-pairing HPLC of macrophage-C. neoformans coculture supernatants. HAM had no detectable arginase activity, hence there was no evidence for L-arginine nitrogen metabolism in HAM. HAM-mediated fungistasis was not enhanced by endotoxin or by recombinant human interferon-gamma (rHIFN-gamma). The combination of endotoxin and rHIFN-gamma inhibited the fungistatic effect of HAM. Human peritoneal macrophages (HPM) from women undergoing laparoscopy were tested for fungistasis and L-arginine nitrogen oxidation. Partial inhibition of cryptococcal replication occurred; however, there was no evidence of L-arginine metabolism to NO2- or NO3-.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arginine

Metabolic fate of L-arginine in relation to microbiostatic capability of murine macrophages.

L-arginine is required for the fungistatic action of murine macrophages in vitro. To further investigate this requirement, L-arginine metabolism by macrophages was measured under conditions where fungistasis either succeeded or failed. Macrophage fungistasis correlated with metabolism of L-arginine to citrulline, nitrite, and nitrate. The metabolic rate was dependent on extracellular L-arginine concentration, reaching a maximum of 67 nmol nitrite/h per mg protein. It accounted for one-third of arginine consumed by fungistatic macrophages. Equimolar amounts of citrulline and total nitrite plus nitrate accumulated in medium. This was consistent with the hypothesis that one of the equivalent guanidino nitrogens of L-arginine was oxidized to both nitrite and nitrate leaving L-citrulline as the amino acid reaction product. The analogue, NG-mono-methyl-L-arginine, selectively inhibited nitrogen oxidation and it was shown previously that it inhibited fungistatic capability. Resident macrophages were not fungistatic and their nitrogen oxidation was low. Once macrophages began producing nitrite/nitrate, protein synthesis was not required during the next 8 h for either fungistasis or nitrogen oxidation. Two-thirds of L-arginine consumption was due to macrophage arginase yielding L-ornithine and urea, which accumulated in medium. This activity was dissociated from macrophage fungistasis. Nitrogen oxidation metabolism by macrophages is linked to a mechanism that inhibits proliferation of fungi. This may involve synthesis of an intermediate compound(s) that has antimicrobial properties.

Animals

Mitochondrial iron loss from leukemia cells injured by macrophages. A possible mechanism for electron transport chain defects.

Activated macrophages inhibit replication of murine lymphoblastic leukemia L1210 cells without lysis. This inhibition of replication is associated with abnormalities of mitochondrial electron transport at the level of NADH dehydrogenase (NADH-DH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). The mechanism of inhibition is unknown, although it has been demonstrated that as NADH-DH and SDH activity is lost, iron is released from cells. Because both NADH-DH and SDH contain numerous iron-sulfur clusters, damage to these structures may be one result of injury by activated macrophages. L1210 cells were labeled with 55Fe and co-cultivated with activated murine peritoneal macrophages (injured L1210 cells). At 48 h, injured L1210 cells had released 83 +/- 8% (mean +/- SEM of 55Fe activity into the media, compared with 25 +/- 4% release from control and 37 +/- 7% from nondividing mitomycin C-treated control cells. All cells were greater than 90% viable. These differences were also reflected in the iron content of the cells. Mitochondria were then separated by centrifugation after cell disruption and 55Fe activity was found to be similarly decreased in both mitochondrial and nonmitochondrial fractions of injured L1210 cells. To further characterize the changes in mitochondrial iron content, mitochondrial proteins from injured and control L1210 cells were separated by IEF and 55Fe activity of gel slices was determined. There was selective loss of 55Fe activity in the area of the gel corresponding to SDH and NADH-DH, suggesting that iron loss from iron-sulfur clusters may occur in L1210 cells injured by activated macrophages. Iron uptake into L1210 cells after removal from macrophages showed a rapid large influx of radioactive iron. L1210 cells in contact with macrophages appear to develop an iron-depleted state, which is dependent on the continued presence of macrophages.

Animals

Cerebrospinal fluid macrophage response to experimental cryptococcal meningitis: relationship between in vivo and in vitro measurements of cytotoxicity.

The functional abilities of macrophages from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have so far been little studied. We examined the acquisition of activation characteristics by CSF macrophages during the course of experimental cryptococcal meningitis. CSF macrophages developed the ability for increased reactive oxidative intermediate (H2O2) production and tumor and fungal cytotoxicity. Despite having been activated, CSF macrophages could not inhibit the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro. Immunosuppression with cyclosporine, which eliminates the natural resistance of rabbits to cryptococcal meningitis, did not prevent or diminish H2O2 production by CSF macrophages but did reduce their tumoricidal activity. Activation of CSF macrophages appears to be an integral part of the central nervous system immune response to C. neoformans in this model, but alone is insufficient to eliminate C. neoformans from the central nervous system.

Animals

Specific amino acid (L-arginine) requirement for the microbiostatic activity of murine macrophages.

The microbiostatic action of macrophages was studied in vitro employing peritoneal cytotoxic macrophages (CM) from mice acting against Cryptococcus neoformans cultured in Dulbecco's medium with 10% dialyzed fetal bovine serum. Fungistasis was measured using electronic particle counting after lysis of macrophages with detergent. Macrophage fungistasis failed in medium lacking only L-arginine. Complete fungistasis was restored by L-arginine; restoration was concentration dependent, maximal at 200 microM. Deletion of all other essential amino acids did not abrogate fungistasis provided that L-arginine was present. Of twenty guanido compounds, including D-arginine, only three (L-arginine, L-homoarginine, and L-arginine methylester) supported fungistasis. Known activators or mediators of macrophage cytotoxicity (endotoxin, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor) did not replace L-arginine for CM-mediated fungistasis. The guanido analogue NG-monomethyl-L-arginine was a potent competitive inhibitor of CM-mediated fungistasis giving 50% inhibition at an inhibitor/L-arginine ratio of 1:27. Although CM completely blocked fungal reproduction via an L-arginine-dependent mechanism, the majority of the dormant fungi remained viable. Thus, this mechanism is viewed as a microbiostatic process similar or identical to the tumoristatic effect of macrophages. This suggests the production of a broad spectrum biostatic metabolite(s) upon consumption of L-arginine by cytotoxic macrophages.

Animals

Effects of antifungal agents and gamma interferon on macrophage cytotoxicity for fungi and tumor cells.

The activated macrophage may play a central role in host effector mechanisms against invading fungi. Here we demonstrate the importance of the activation state of murine macrophages for both fungistatic and fungicidal activity. Host factors such as gamma interferon and microbial products such as endotoxin can interact synergistically to initiate this cytotoxicity. This activated state may be aided by antifungal agents such as amphotericin B. Both a methyl ester derivative of amphotericin B and liposomal amphotericin B Both a methyl ester derivative of amphotericin B and liposomal amphotericin B potentiated macrophage activation but were less potent than amphotericin B. Other available antifungal agents such as azole compounds and flucytosine did not possess this ability to interact with the intrinsic macrophage effector mechanisms. However, ketoconazole and itraconazole avidly bind to macrophages as the biologically active drug. The azole-loading of macrophages may be a factor in macrophage cytotoxicity for fungi.

Animals

Efficacy of immune therapy in early experimental Naegleria fowleri meningitis.

Naegleria fowleri meningoencephalitis is usually fatal in humans despite treatment. As a new approach, we tested intracisternal passive immune therapy in rabbits with amebic meningoencephalitis by using antinaegleria immune serum, an immunoglobulin G fraction, and a newly developed monoclonal antibody to N. fowleri. Both the immune serum and an immunoglobulin G fraction isolated from it by affinity chromatography provided a consistent, although temporary, protective effect, shown by prolongation of survival (P = 0.001). Multiple doses of immune serum further prolonged survival (P = 0.005). The protective effect of serum was retained after heating to 56 degrees C. We then developed a monoclonal antibody to N. fowleri which provided similar protection. Passive intracisternal antibody therapy might serve as an adjunctive component in the treatment of amebic meningoencephalitis.

Amebiasis

Growth inhibition of Cryptococcus neoformans by human alveolar macrophages.

Macrophage cytotoxicity for Cryptococcus neoformans was investigated by culturing human alveolar macrophage (AM) with a thin-capsuled clone of C. neoformans in a polypropylene culture tube assay system. Yeast replication was quantitated by electronic particle counting after detergent lysis of AM and viability by quantitative plate counts. Under appropriate conditions, fungal replication was inhibited in the presence of human AM. This effect persisted over the 48-h time course that was evaluated. During this period, organisms in medium alone proliferated rapidly, doubling their number every 4 h. Human AM did not require endotoxin, fetal calf serum, or specific rabbit anticryptococcal antibody for fungistasis. Under these conditions, microscopic evaluation of a cytocentrifuge preparation of AM-yeast cocultures, stained by a modified Giemsa technique, revealed all the fungi to be extracellular. In the presence of 10% fresh human serum, AM phagocytized C. neoformans and exhibited fungicidal activity. Tumor necrosis factor did not affect the replication rate of the yeast. These findings suggest that there may be at least 2 mechanisms by which human AM protect against C. neoformans. One is serum-independent and extracellular and results in fungistasis, and the other is dependent on a serum factor and leads to intracellular inhibition of growth and possibly killing of the organism.

Blood

Macrophage-mediated fungistasis: requirement for a macromolecular component in serum.

Peritoneal macrophages from Mycobacterium bovis- or Toxoplasma gondii-infected mice cultured in vitro in Dulbecco's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and endotoxin stopped replication of Cryptococcus neoformans for 30 hr, whereas yeast cells cultured alone reproduced with a 3.0-hr doubling time. Without at least 5% FBS, macrophage fungistasis was poor. FBS without macrophages enhanced the growth rate of cryptococci. Macrophages preincubated in vitro for 24 hr without serum became fungistatic when challenged with cryptococci in medium with FBS but were not fungistatic without FBS. Macrophages preincubated in medium with FBS were never subsequently fungistatic. Dialyzed, heated (56 degrees C, 30 min), or delipidated FBS supported macrophage fungistasis, whereas FBS heated at 70 degrees C for 30 min did not. FBS contained no measurable opsonic activity for C. neoformans. Inclusion of endotoxin and/or murine IFN-gamma over wide concentration ranges did not substitute for FBS. Ultrafiltration estimation of FBS activity localized to 50 to 150 Kd. By gel filtration chromatography, FBS activity ran in the 25 to 100 Kd range. Dye-ligand affinity chromatography on Cibacron blue agarose gel dissociated the FBS activity from the albumin and lipoprotein fractions. Anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel revealed activity in the first fraction eluting at low ionic strength, pointing to a protein(s) with an isoelectric point toward neutral. Activated macrophages can prevent microbial replication within host tissues; the local environment is critical for fulfillment of this important physiologic function. These results point to a macromolecular factor(s) present in serum that is essential for full fungistatic capability of activated macrophages.

Animals

Macrophage-mediated fungistasis in vitro: requirements for intracellular and extracellular cytotoxicity.

Macrophage cytotoxicity for Cryptococcus neoformans was investigated by culturing mouse peritoneal macrophages with a thin-capsuled clone of cryptococcus under conditions permitting efficient phagocytosis. Yeast replication was quantitated by electronic particle counting after detergent lysis of macrophages, and viability was determined by quantitative plate counts. Under appropriate conditions, reproduction was completely inhibited; stasis began at 2 hr after addition of yeasts and lasted for 30 hr. During this time organisms in medium alone proliferated rapidly, doubling their number every 2.5 hr. After removal from macrophages, 60 to 100% of macrophage-inhibited cryptococci formed colonies, indicating that the cytotoxic effect was primarily fungistatic. When yeast cells were removed from macrophages, replication recommenced within 5 hr. Supernatant medium from fungistatic co-cultures was not inhibitory for fresh yeast cells. Conditions required for complete fungistasis were 1) peritoneal macrophages induced by peptone from BCG-infected mice, 2) endotoxin in nanogram per milliliter range added to serum-containing cell culture medium, 3) confluent macrophage monolayers, and 4) macrophage:cryptococci ratios of 20 to 100:1. Fungistasis occurred without phagocytosis but was more efficient when cryptococci were engulfed. For efficient fungistasis, macrophages must differentiate to and be maintained in the activated state. These results with yeast cells agree with the known requirements for macrophage effector function against neoplastic target cells.

Animals

Virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. Regulation of capsule synthesis by carbon dioxide.

Cryptococcus neoformans is variably encapsulated in vitro, whereas in tissues it develops a large capsule. We observed that cells of a strain with thin capsules, when growing in a standard fungal culture medium, became heavily encapsulated when incubated in serum-free cell culture medium (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DME]). Capsule size was quantitated physically by measuring cell volume, and chemically by determining the content of a capsular monosaccharide, glucuronate. The CO2/HCO-3 couple stimulated capsule development, resulting in visible enlargement by 3 h after exposure to high CO2/HCO-3. The amount of capsule per cell was directly proportional to the total millimolar CO2/HCO-3 concentration between 24 and 2.4 mM at pH 7.35, but at constant PCO2 (40 torr) and varying [HCO-3], the cells were heavily encapsulated down to pH 6.8. Concentration of CO2/HCO-3 in the physiologic range increased elaboration of polysaccharide into the medium and slowed the cell generation time from 2 to 6 h. Four other first-passage clinical isolates were all heavily encapsulated in DME with CO2/HCO-3, but variably encapsulated in DME without CO2/HCO-3. Exposure of yeast to increased CO2/HCO-3 caused a marked reduction in complement-mediated phagocytosis by mouse macrophages. A stable clone was isolated which contained capsular polysaccharide, but lacked the CO2-inducible phenotype. This clone was avirulent for steroid-treated rabbits. Thus, the prevailing CO2 concentration in mammalian tissues may be one stimulus for capsular polysaccharide synthesis. This could serve as an adaptive mechanism favoring parasite survival in the host.

Animals

Immunotherapy with nonviable microbial components.

Structural components of microorganisms have been studied for immunopotentiating effect with the aid of transplantable (line 10) tumors in syngeneic guinea pigs. Microbial components were associated with oil droplets, suspended in Tween-saline, and injected intralesionally. BCG cell walls, given in this way, produced regression and cure of 50-60% of established tumors, as did viable BCG. Lipid extraction markedly reduced the tumor-regressing potency of cell walls, but P3, a trehalose mycolate present in the extract, restored full activity to the cell wall residue. P3 alone was nonsensitizing and had no antitumor activity, but it enhanced the latter property of various other microbial products. For example, the cure rates produced by cell walls of M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. phlei, or M. smegmatis were enhanced from 20-60% to as much as 90% by addition of P3. P3 also conferred antitumor activity on products from unrelated microbes, such as cell walls of E. coli, and in combination with endotoxins from rough Re mutant salmonellae, it produced cure rates of up to 93%. These results suggest that P3 is essential to the immunopotentiating activity of mycobacteria and that it may be broadly applicable in immunotherapy of cancer with microbial agents.

Animals