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Biomedical subjects

L J van Tits

Publications and source records attributed to L J van Tits.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

TNF receptors in murine Candida albicans infection: evidence for an important role of TNF receptor p55 in antifungal defense.

TNF mediates multiple biologic activities through two distinct cell surface receptors, TNFR-p55 and TNFR-p75. TNF plays an important role in nonspecific resistance against the fungus Candida albicans. We used transgenic mice deficient for TNFR-p55 or TNFR-p75 to investigate the role of the TNFR in antifungal defense. Mice deficient for TNFR-p55 have highly impaired ability to clear infection with C. albicans and readily succumb to the infection. Also mice deficient for TNFR-p75 had a significant reduction in their ability to clear the fungus although lethality was not increased. These data demonstrate that TNFR-p55 in particular, but also TNFR-p75, plays a definite role in defense against infection with C. albicans. In NMRI mice, infection with C. albicans resulted in a significant systemic release of soluble (s)TNFR-p75. Cyclophosphamide-induced granulocytopenia led to a reduction of sTNFR-p75 release, whereas levels of bioactive TNF in response to fungal infection were increased. Release of sTNFR-p55 was not affected by induction of granulocytopenia. These observations suggest that granulocytes are a source of sTNFR-p75, possibly contributing to regulation of TNF activity during infection with C. albicans.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Tumor necrosis factor: function, release and clearance.

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) is a multifunctional cytokine. It plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several diseases. Recently, it has been discovered that TNF is circulating in two different forms, a bioactive form and an immunologically detectable form. These two forms of TNF show different clearance kinetics. The immunological form is supposed to be an inactivated TNF protein. For this inactivation, proteolytic degradation or TNF binding by inactivating proteins is necessary. In this review we have focused on TNF inactivation by TNF binding proteins. Recent data show that there are soluble TNF receptors circulating which can bind and inactivate TNF. These receptors are membrane-bound TNF receptors which have been proteolytically cleaved from the cell membrane. Two TNF receptors are circulating, the soluble TNF receptor of 55 kDa (P55) and the receptor of 75 kDa (P75). The receptors are held responsible not only for inactivation of the TNF, but also for the clearance of TNF. Recent data show that the kidney is the most important organ for TNF clearance, followed by the liver. All other organs are of less importance. In this review, function, release, and clearance of TNF are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Human lymphotoxin has at least equal antitumor activity in comparison to human tumor necrosis factor but is less toxic in mice.

Because of the severe toxicity of systemically applied tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in cancer patients, considerable efforts have been made to construct mutant TNF molecules, which retain antitumor activity, but display less toxicity. We compared tumor suppression in relation to the toxic effects of human TNF and human lymphotoxin (LT) in mice. The genes for these two cytokines were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Intraperitoneal injection of parental and gene modified CHO cell lines producing similar amounts of biologically active TNF or LT, respectively, into nude mice showed that CHO-TNF cells killed the mice more rapidly than parental cells, but that CHO-LT tumor bearing mice lived significantly longer than mice injected with parental cells. Injection of the cells subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice allowed direct comparison of tumor suppression and toxic effects of the two cytokines. Both TNF and LT produced by the tumor effectively suppressed tumor growth by an indirect mechanism, LT being at least as effective as TNF. However, mice bearing CHO-TNF cells either died rapidly or developed cachexia, as shown by weight loss. In contrast, mice injected with CHO-LT cells never rapidly died and became cachectic much later than CHO-TNF cell injected animals, though serum levels of LT were higher than those of TNF. Analysis of soluble forms of TNF receptors (TNF-R1 and TNF-R2) in sera of tumor bearing mice showed that soluble TNF-R1 was downregulated in both CHO-TNF and CHO-LT, in comparison with CHO-neo cell injected mice and to normal SCID mice. The soluble form of TNF-R2 was induced by CHO cell lines. In CHO-TNF cell injected SCID mice, serum levels were significantly increased, whereas in mice injected with CHO-LT cells, serum levels of soluble TNF-R2 were decreased. Together, our results show a higher therapeutic index of LT compared with TNF.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Evidence for exclusive role in signalling of tumour necrosis factor p55 receptor and a potentiating function of p75 receptor on human endothelial cells.

The current study was undertaken to investigate the role of TNF-R75 in regulation of E-selectin and ICAM-1 expression by TNF on HUVEC. To this end, we used agonistic anti-TNF-R75 antibodies, being mAb MR2-1 and polyclonal antibodies anti-TNF-R75 (pAb75). The agonistic properties of these antibodies were ascertained by the costimulatory capacity in a T-cell proliferation assay. These anti-TNF-R75 antibodies bound effectively to HUVEC, as evidenced in binding studies using 125I-TNF, but they did not induce or enhance E-selectin or ICAM-1 expression as did agonistic anti-TNF-R55 antibodies. In contrast, both MR2-1 and pAb75 inhibited specifically TNF-induced E-selectin and ICAM-1 expression, but not activation by IL-1 or LPS. These results support the hypothesis, that in cells responding to TNF via the signalling pathway of the TNF-R55, the extracellular part of TNF-R75 captures TNF and delivers it to TNF-R55, resulting in an enhanced response to TNF.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1995

Influence of Duraflo II heparin-treated extracorporeal circuits on the systemic inflammatory response in patients having coronary bypass.

Cardiopulmonary bypass generates a systemic inflammatory response, including the activation of leukocytes, contributing to postoperative morbidity. To evaluate whether the use of heparin-treated extracorporeal circuits could reduce the inflammatory reaction in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, we conducted a prospective clinical study on 14 patients having coronary artery bypass in whom perfusion was done randomly with either Duraflo II heparin-treated circuits or with nontreated circuits. In both groups systemic heparinization was performed before cardiopulmonary bypass. The use of heparin-treated circuits resulted in a reduction of systemic inflammatory activation during cardiopulmonary bypass. This was reflected by lower plasma levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (p < 0.05) and of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 (p < 0.05), manifest after release of the aortic crossclamp. Furthermore, 6 and 12 hours after aortic crossclamp release significantly lower levels of the soluble E-selectin (p < 0.05) were observed in the Duraflo II group. In patients in whom noncoated circuits were used, a significant decrease in circulating soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (p < 0.05) was found early during bypass. All these observations suggest that the use of a heparin-treated extracorporeal circuit reduces the systemic inflammatory activation and may after the leukocyte-endothelium interaction.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗
PubMed1995

Pattern of cytokines and pharmacomodulation in sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture compared with that induced by endotoxin.

The production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and IL-6 and their pharmacomodulation were evaluated in a model of polymicrobial sepsis induced in mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and were compared with the effects of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) treatment. LPS levels rose as early as 1 h after CLP and increased further after 2 and 21 h. TNF-alpha was detectable in serum, spleen, liver, and lungs during the first 4 h, with a peak 2 h after CLP. IL-1 beta was measurable in serum after 24 h, and levels increased significantly in spleen and liver 4 and 8 h after CLP. IL-6 levels increased significantly in serum throughout the first 16 h after CLP. These cytokines were detectable after LPS injection, with kinetics similar to those after CLP but at a significantly higher level. To cast more light on the differences between these two animal models of septic shock, we studied the effects of different reference drugs. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (DEX); ibuprofen (IBU), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase; and NG-nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, significantly reduced survival, while chlorpromazine (CPZ) and TNF did not affect it. Only the antibiotics and pentoxifylline significantly increased survival in mice with CLP. However, CPZ and DEX protected the mice from LPS mortality. On inhibiting TNF-alpha with DEX, CPZ, or pentoxifylline, survival was reduced, unchanged, and increased, respectively, and on increasing TNF-alpha with IBU and TNF, survival was decreased or unchanged, respectively, suggesting that the modulation of this cytokine does not play a significant role in sepsis induced by CLP, unlike treatment with LPS. The negative effects of IBU and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine suggest a protective role by prostaglandins and nitric oxide in sepsis induced by CLP.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Independent down-regulation of central and peripheral tumor necrosis factor production as a result of lipopolysaccharide tolerance in mice.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces a variety of central and peripheral effects that are largely mediated by cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Peripheral (intravenous [i.v.]) administration of LPS (2.5 micrograms per mouse) induced TNF levels in the serum and spleen but not in the brain, while central (intracerebroventricular [i.c.v.]) administration of LPS induced TNF production both in the brain and in the periphery. Mice challenged with LPS after LPS pretreatment (35 micrograms per mouse, intraperitoneally, as a single dose on day -3 or as a 4-day treatment on days -5 to -2) were unresponsive in terms of induction of serum TNF. When peripherally LPS-tolerant mice (where LPS pretreatment was given intraperitoneally) were challenged with an i.c.v. dose of LPS, brain (but not serum) TNF was still produced, meaning that the LPS-tolerant state was confined to the periphery. However, if LPS pretreatment was given i.c.v. (35 micrograms, as a single dose), the brain, like the periphery, became LPS tolerant in terms of TNF production. We investigated how tolerance to LPS affected two of its actions, decrease in food intake and induction of serum corticosterone (CS). After an i.v. challenge in peripherally LPS-tolerant mice, no decrease in food intake was observed, but this response was still elicited by an i.c.v. challenge. LPS tolerance reduced the CS response to i.v. and i.c.v. challenge. These results suggest that LPS-induced decrease in food intake might be a fully central effect, while the increase of serum CS might be due to both central and peripheral actions.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Adrenoceptors on blood cells in patients with primary hypertension: correlation with blood pressure and related variables.

OBJECTIVE: Alterations in platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptor and mononuclear leucocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor characteristics in primary hypertension have been extensively studied. The results of the reports have not been consistent, possibly because of the small number of subjects in most of the studies. We therefore studied the blood-cell adrenoceptor characteristics in a relatively large group of primary hypertensive and normotensive subjects. DESIGN: Platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptor characteristics were compared in 65 hypertensive and 51 normotensive subjects. Mononuclear leucocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor characteristics were compared in 72 hypertensives and 67 normotensives. Untreated hypertensive subjects were selected from the outpatient clinic and the normotensive controls were recruited by a newspaper announcement. METHODS: Platelets and mononuclear leucocytes were isolated from blood samples obtained after at least 10 min supine rest. The alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenoceptor characteristics were determined with [3H]-rauwolscine and [125I]-(-1)cyanopindolol, respectively. Correlations between the adrenoceptor characteristics and clinical parameters of the subjects were studied. RESULTS: No differences in alpha 2- or beta 2-adrenoceptor densities were observed between the two groups. However, a significantly lower equilibrium dissociation constant for [3H]-rauwolscine was observed in the hypertensive group. The correlations between the adrenoceptor characteristics and clinical parameters were weak and mostly not statistically significant. The results were compared with the most relevant studies in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: From our study and the literature, we conclude that blood-cell adrenoceptor characteristics are unchanged in primary hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effects of ketotifen on human lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo.

The effects of the antiasthmatic drug ketotifen (CAS 34580-13-7) on human mononuclear leukocytes were studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro ketotifen concentration-dependently inhibited mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. High ketotifen concentrations also inhibited T-lymphocyte mitogen- and adenosine triphosphate stimulated increases in intracellular Ca2+ in lymphocytes and the U937 human monocyte precursor cell line, respectively; this involved inhibition of both Ca2+ influx and intracellular mobilization. In in vivo experiments, treatment of healthy volunteers with 1 mg ketotifen b.i.d. for 7 d did not alter the number or subset composition of circulating lymphocytes. Moreover, the mitogen-stimulated in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes obtained before and after ketotifen treatment in vivo was similar. It is concluded that high ketotifen concentrations can inhibit the activation of resting lymphocytes in vitro but standard ketotifen treatment does not notably affect the number of function of circulating lymphocytes in vivo.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Dissociation between phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated generation of inositol phosphates and Ca2+ increase in human mononuclear leucocytes.

We have tested whether phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated generation of inositol phosphates (IP) and increases in intracellular Ca2+ can be dissociated in human mononuclear leucocytes. Lowering the incubation temperature from 37 degrees to 25 degrees C decreased PHA-stimulated IP generation by more than 80%, but only marginally affected PHA-stimulated Ca2+ increases. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, PHA did not stimulate IP generation or Ca2+ increases, although PHA binding to its acceptor sites was not impaired. Increasing extracellular Ca2+ up to 0.15 mM enhanced PHA-stimulated PHA generation but this increase was attenuated by further increasing extracellular Ca2+ to 2.6 mM. Increasing extracellular Ca2+ to 0.3 mM also enhanced PHA-stimulated Ca2+ increases, and further increasing extracellular Ca2+ did not affect it. Co-treatment with 100 microM-prostaglandin E2 completely abolished PHA-stimulated IP generation, but inhibited Ca2+ increases by only 20-30%. These results could be explained by IP-generation-independent Ca2+ increases or by non-linear coupling of IP generation to Ca2+ increases. Since the PHA concentrations required to increase Ca2+ were greater than those required for IP generation, the latter hypothesis can be excluded. Furthermore, the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin increased intracellular Ca2+ and weakly stimulated IP generation, but with very similar concentration-response relationships. Our data suggest that PHA-stimulated IP generation and Ca2+ increases in human mononuclear leucocytes mainly occur independently of one another rather than sequentially.

Calcium↗
PubMed1991

Adrenoceptors on blood cells from patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

1. alpha 2-Adrenoceptors on platelet membranes and beta 2-adrenoceptors on lymphocytes were studied in 24 patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and in 24 age- and sex-matched control subjects. In two subgroups, a standardized mental arithmetic test and a finger-cooling test were performed. 2. Baseline blood pressure, heart rate and forearm blood flow did not differ between the two groups. 3. Baseline skin microcirculation (laser Doppler flux) was decreased in primary Raynaud's phenomenon (19 +/- 15 arbitrary units) compared with control subjects (33 +/- 14 arbitrary units) (P less than 0.01). 4. Baseline plasma noradrenaline concentration (2.00 +/- 1.44 versus 1.16 +/- 0.36 nmol/l) and alpha 2-adrenoceptor density (301 +/- 119 versus 210 +/- 82 fmol/mg) were increased in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon in comparison with the control subjects. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor density/beta 2-adrenoceptor density ratio in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon was, with a value of 0.37 +/- 0.04, higher than in the control subjects, where a value of 0.25 +/- 0.02 was measured (P less than 0.001). Plasma adrenaline concentration, beta 2-adrenoceptor density and the antagonist affinity to both receptor subtypes did not differ between both groups under baseline conditions. 5. Whereas during the finger-cooling test no differences were seen in the responses of the parameters measured, the mental arithmetic test induced an increase in laser Doppler flux in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and a decrease in the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cyclic AMP counteracts mitogen-induced inositol phosphate generation and increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in human lymphocytes.

1. The effects of increases in intracellular adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) on mitogen-induced generation of inositol phosphates and increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration were investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNL). 2. The mitogens concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) concentration-dependently stimulated generation of inositol phosphates. Catecholamines inhibited this process with an order of potency: isoprenaline greater than adrenaline greater than noradrenaline indicating involvement of beta 2-adrenoceptors. This order of potency was also consistent with the catecholamine potencies for stimulating the generation of cyclic AMP. 3. In addition to catecholamines, the cyclic AMP formation-stimulating agents prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and forskolin concentration-dependently inhibited mitogen-induced inositol phosphate generation, too. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of isoprenaline was potentiated by co-incubation with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine demonstrating that these inhibitory effects were mediated by cyclic AMP. 4. Con A and PHA concentration-dependently increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in human MNL (assessed by the fluorescent indicator dye Fura-2). This increase was almost completely blocked by chelation of extracellular Ca2+, demonstrating influx rather than mobilization from intracellular stores. 5. The elevation of intracellular Ca2+ was not blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, 100 ng ml-1, for 16 h. 6. Isoprenaline, PGE1, and forskolin, however, inhibited the mitogen-stimulated elevation of intracellular Ca2+. This inhibition was enhanced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitors isobutylmethylxanthine and Ro 20-1724, demonstrating mediation by cyclic AMP. 7. We conclude that catecholamines and other cyclic AMP increasing agents can inhibit mitogen-stimulated generation of inositol phosphates and elevation of intracellular Ca2+ in resting human MNL.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Beta 2-adrenoceptor up-regulation in relation to cAMP production in human lymphocytes after physical exercise.

The effect of isotonic bicycle exercise on beta 2-adrenoceptors and cAMP production in lymphocytes was studied. The origin of the newly exposed receptors was studied by measuring radioligand binding in the presence of hydrophylic or lipophylic 'cold' ligands. During exercise beta 2-adrenoceptor density increased from 1207 +/- 144 to 1776 +/- 152 sites/cell (56 +/- 14%). Isoprenaline induced an increase in cAMP synthesis, which was 68 +/- 15% higher than those values measured before the test. Forskolin did not induce a higher increase in cAMP production after exercise. The increase in receptor density seems not to be due to a transfer of internalized receptors to the membrane surface. We conclude that physical exercise induces an up-regulation of beta 2-adrenoceptors on lymphocytes and that these adrenoceptors are functional.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The relationship between adrenaline and beta 2-adrenoceptors on human lymphocytes.

To study the relation between plasma adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NA) and the beta 2-adrenoceptor number (Bmax) on lymphocytes these variables were measured in the following three groups: a) In 67 normotensive volunteers after a rest period of at least 15 min. b) In 10 essential hypertensive (HT) and 10 age and sex matched normotensive (NT) subjects before and after a standardized bicycle exercise test (BE). c) In 10 bilaterally adrenalectomized females (AF) and 10 healthy age matched females (NF) before and after a mental arithmetic test (MA). Significant correlations were found between AD and Bmax in NT (r = 0.30, P = 0.015) and between the proportional increase in AD and the proportional increase in Bmax after BE (r = 0.60, P less than 0.005). The MA induced elevation of Bmax was blunted after adrenalectomy. All these findings point to a relation between AD and beta 2-adrenoceptor regulation.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1990

Cyclic AMP antagonizes mitogen-induced accumulation of inositol phosphates in human peripheral mononuclear leucocytes in vitro.

The effect of intracellular increases of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on the accumulation of inositol phosphates (IPs) in response to various mitogens in vitro in human peripheral mononuclear leucocytes (MNL) was investigated. The beta-adrenoceptor agonists inhibited mitogen-induced IPs-accumulation by about 30-50% with a rank order of potency isoprenaline greater than adrenaline much greater than noradrenaline. This rank order corresponded with the order of potency of the beta-adrenoceptor agonists to generate cAMP. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist-induced inhibition of IPs-accumulation in response to mitogen could be completely prevented by the beta 2-adrenoceptor selective antagonist ICI 118,551, but not by the beta 1-adrenoceptor selective antagonist CGP 20712A. Furthermore, the isoprenaline-induced inhibition of IPs-accumulation in response to mitogen could be enhanced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX. We conclude that cAMP antagonizes mitogen-induced IPs-accumulation in human peripheral MNL in vitro.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1990

Effects of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on beta 2-adrenoceptor density and proliferative responses of human lymphocytes.

We studied the effects of insulin (0.1 IU/kg BW, iv)-induced hypoglycemia on lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor function, lymphocyte subset distribution, and proliferative response to mitogen stimulation in 10 healthy volunteers. Thirty minutes after insulin injection plasma glucose levels were markedly decreased; concomitantly, plasma epinephrine levels had increased about 10-fold; plasma norepinephrine levels, however, increased only moderately. Lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor density and the cAMP response to 10 mumol/L isoproterenol stimulation were elevated; lymphocyte Ts/c-cells had increased, whereas Th-cells had decreased, resulting in a decrease in the Th-/Ts/c-cell ratio from 1.7 to 1.0. These changes were accompanied by a significantly reduced lymphocyte proliferative response (measured as [3H]thymidine uptake) to mitogen stimulation. Two hours after insulin injection plasma catecholamines, lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor function, lymphocyte subset distribution, and proliferative responses had returned to nearly preinsulin levels. We conclude that acute vigorous increases in endogenous epinephrine evoked by insulin-induced hypoglycemia are associated with increases in lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor function, redistribution of lymphocyte subsets, and an (at least transiently) attenuated in vitro immune responsiveness.

Adult↗