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Biomedical subjects

M F Lipscomb

Publications and source records attributed to M F Lipscomb.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin in an in vivo model of endothelial activation.

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin (or endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule 1) are inducible endothelial cell adhesion molecules that play a role in the recruitment of leukocytes into sites of inflammation. Information about the spatial and temporal pattern of induced expression of these leukocyte adhesion molecules in vivo is limited. This study reports the expression profile of VCAM-1 and E-selectin in various mouse tissues after lipopolysaccharide administration. Using rat complementary DNA probes for VCAM-1 and E-selectin, Northern blot analysis showed a marked increase in transcript levels for both adhesion molecules in lung, heart, and kidney. Maximal transcript levels for both VCAM-1 and E-selectin were observed at 3-6 hours and declined to low, constitutive levels of expression at 48 hours. Consistent with the Northern blot results, immunoperoxidase analysis revealed focal endothelial cell expression of VCAM-1 in control animals. Following lipopolysaccharide administration, VCAM-1 expression increased dramatically in all vascular beds examined, although the response was heterogeneous. Widespread induced expression of VCAM-1 on cells other than vascular endothelium was not seen. Neither basal nor induced expression correlated with leukocyte adhesion. Signals other than the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules are required in vivo for leukocyte infiltration in this murine model of systemic endothelial activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The role of T lymphocytes in pulmonary microbial defense mechanisms.

Understanding how lung immunity develops against pulmonary pathogens should lead to more rational approaches in vaccine design and to the use of recombinant cytokines in lung disease. T lymphocytes are central to the development of effective immune responses; therefore, understanding how lung immunity develops will require a study of how and where T cells respond to respiratory antigens. Our laboratory has helped define the phenotype and function of lung dendritic cells, which likely play an essential role in stimulating naive T cells to respond to antigens. We found that both interstitial and alveolar macrophages can regulate the function of these cells, the former to enhance activity, the latter to suppress. In addition, we developed a murine pulmonary infection model using the fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, in which T-cell-mediated immunity is essential for effective host clearance of the organism. The role of T cells in this model is to recruit and activate effector cells to resolve the lung infection; both CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets are required for optimal effector cell recruitment. These studies are summarized as examples of current approaches to understanding pulmonary immunity.

Animals↗

Immunity to a pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection requires both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

The role of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mediating pulmonary clearance of a cryptococcal infection was investigated. Intratracheal inoculation of BALB/c and C.B-17 mice with a moderately virulent strain of Cryptococcus neoformans (52D) resulted in a pulmonary infection, which was cleared by a T cell-dependent mechanism. During this clearance, there was a significant influx of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells into the lungs. Depletion of CD4+ T cells by injections of CD4-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) prevented pulmonary clearance and also resulted in significant colonization of the brain and spleen of infected mice. CD4 depletion did not prevent the influx of CD8+ T cells into the lungs. Surprisingly, depletion of CD8+ T cells by mAb also ablated pulmonary clearance. CD8-depleted mice also had a small but significant increase in brain and spleen colony-forming unit compared to control mice by the end of the study. CD4+ T cell pulmonary influx was independent of the presence of CD8+ T cells. The lungs of T cell-depleted mice were examined histologically. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells each mediated a degree of inflammatory influx seen in the lungs of infected mice and raised the possibility that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells may synergize to generate the inflammatory response in the lungs. Numerous phagocytized but intact cryptococci were seen in the inflammatory foci of CD8-depleted mice but not in control or CD4-depleted mice. We propose that CD4+ T cells may recruit and activate effector phagocytes while CD8+ T cells predominantly function to lyse cryptococcus-laden unactivated phagocytes similar to the function of CD8+ T cells during listeria and mycobacteria infections.

Animals↗

Monocyte accessory cell function in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Previous studies suggested that peripheral blood monocytes (Mo) from HIV-infected patients were poor accessory cells (AC), although most of these studies were limited by using autologous T cells as responders. Using allogeneic T cells from uninfected volunteers as responders, the current studies demonstrate that Mo from infected individuals were comparable to Mo from uninfected volunteers as AC in Con A and pokeweed mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation assays, but were inferior to normal Mo in stimulating a mixed leukocyte reaction. This deficiency was not explained by HIV Mo-induced suppression of lymphoproliferation or by death of responding CD4 lymphocytes induced by HIV transmission from infected Mo in 6-day MLR cultures. Mo from HIV-infected patients retained the ability to stimulate mumps-specific T cell lines in response to antigen, demonstrating that Mo from these individuals could process and display antigen on their cell surface in association with a functional DR molecule. Taken together these results suggest that Mo from HIV-infected patients (i) retain the ability to act as AC in T cell responses to mitogenic signals or to stimulate already activated antigen-specific T cells, but (ii) fail to stimulate resting and/or unprimed T cells in response to alloantigen and perhaps de novo antigen exposure. It is possible this Mo defect may have an adverse effect on the immune responsiveness of HIV-infected individuals.

Adult↗

T cell-mediated immunity in the lung: a Cryptococcus neoformans pulmonary infection model using SCID and athymic nude mice.

T cells are important in systemic anticryptococcal defenses, but a role in controlling an initial pulmonary infection has not been demonstrated. A murine model with intratracheal inoculation was developed to study the acquisition and expression of pulmonary T cell-mediated immunity against Cryptococcus neoformans. Infections with four strains of C. neoformans (305, 68A, 613D, and 52D) in two strains of mice (BALB/c and C57BL/6) were examined. Unencapsulated strain 305 and slowly growing strain 68A were readily controlled apparently by nonimmune pulmonary defenses, and no extrapulmonary dissemination was detected. Strain 613D grew progressively in the lungs and disseminated to the brain and spleen. Strain 52D initially grew rapidly in the lungs and disseminated to the spleen, but a clearance mechanism developed in the lungs after day 7 postinfection and in the spleen after day 28. SCID and athymic nude mice were unable to clear a strain 52D pulmonary infection, and a lethal disseminated infection occurred. Pulmonary clearance could be adoptively transferred into SCID mice infected with strain 52D by use of immune T cells from the spleen and lungs and hilar lymph nodes of infected immunocompetent donors. Furthermore, pulmonary clearance was almost 100-fold better in SCID mice that received immune T cells from the lungs and hilar lymph nodes than in those that received immune T cells from the spleen, even though equivalent levels of delayed-type hypersensitivity were transferred by both cell populations. These adoptive transfer studies suggested that the lung and hilar lymph node T cells from immune animals either are enriched in such a way as to mediate protective immunity or home to the lungs better than do splenic T cells.

Animals↗

Characterization of murine lung dendritic cells: similarities to Langerhans cells and thymic dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent accessory cells (AC) for the initiation of primary immune responses. Although murine lymphoid DC and Langerhans cells have been extensively characterized, DC from murine lung have been incompletely described. We isolated cells from enzyme-digested murine lungs and bronchoalveolar lavages that were potent stimulators of a primary mixed lymphocyte response (MLR). The AC had a low buoyant density, were loosely adherent and nonphagocytic. AC function was unaffected by depletion of cells expressing the splenic DC marker, 33D1. In addition, antibody and complement depletion of cells bearing the macrophage marker F4/80, or removal of phagocytic cells with silica also failed to decrease AC activity. In contrast, AC function was decreased by depletion of cells expressing the markers J11d and the low affinity interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R), both present on thymic and skin DC. AC function was approximately equal in FcR+ and FcR- subpopulations, indicating there was heterogeneity within the AC population. Consistent with the functional data, a combined two-color immunofluorescence and latex bead uptake technique revealed that lung cells high in AC activity were enriched in brightly Ia+ dendritic-shaped cells that (a) were nonphagocytic, (b) lacked specific T and B lymphocyte markers and the macrophage marker F4/80, but (c) frequently expressed C3biR, low affinity IL-2R, FcRII, and the markers NLDC-145 and J11d. Taken together, the functional and phenotypic data suggest the lung cells that stimulate resting T cells in an MLR and that might be important in local pulmonary immune responses are DC that bear functional and phenotypic similarity to other tissues DC, such as Langerhans cells and thymic DC.

Animals↗

Depletion of CD4+ (L3T4+) lymphocytes in vivo impairs murine host defense to Cryptococcus neoformans.

T cell-mediated immunity has been shown to play an important role in the host defense to Cryptococcus neoformans. Infections due to C. neoformans are increased in patients with AIDS who are deficient in the CD4+ subset of T lymphocytes. Thus, the effect of CD4+ (L3T4+) lymphocyte depletion on murine host defenses to C. neoformans was studied. The mAb GK 1.5 was administered to mice, and CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion was confirmed by the analysis of T cell subsets in blood, spleen, lymph node, and lung. Evidence of a functional defect was confirmed by demonstrating that the splenocytes of treated mice were unable to proliferate in response to class II incompatible spleen cells. Furthermore, delayed type hypersensitivity to C. neoformans was abrogated by CD4+ lymphocyte depletion. Mice depleted of CD4+ lymphocytes were inoculated with a virulent strain of C. neoformans by the i.v. or the intratracheal route. After i.v. inoculation of C. neoformans, the survival of mice depleted of CD4+ lymphocytes was reduced (27.8 +/- 1.8 vs 36.0 +/- 3.1 days, p less than 0.04). After intratracheal inoculation, C. neoformans disseminated from the lung to extrapulmonary organs. Dissemination occurred earlier in mice depleted of CD4+ lymphocytes compared to mice that received control antibody, and the burden of C. neoformans in extrapulmonary organs was greater in mice depleted of CD4+ lymphocytes than control mice. Surprisingly, there was no increase in the burden of C. neoformans in the lungs of CD4+ lymphocyte-depleted mice. Survival of mice inoculated with C. neoformans and depleted of CD4+ lymphocytes was reduced compared to control mice and was related to the increased rate of accumulation of organisms in the brains of treated mice. The mean survival of GK 1.5-treated mice was 34.1 +/- 0.9 days compared to control mice with a mean survival of 40.6 +/- 9 days (p less than 0.001). These data suggest that CD4+ lymphocytes play a prominent role in the host defense of infections due to C. neoformans, that CD4+ lymphocytes are required in extrapulmonary organs for optimal clearance of C. neoformans and that CD4+ lymphocytes are critical for survival of mice infected with C. neoformans.

Animals↗

Mononuclear cells from human lung parenchyma support antigen-induced T lymphocyte proliferation.

We have previously demonstrated that there is a subpopulation of loosely adherent pulmonary mononuclear cells that can be isolated from minced and enzyme-digested lung tissue with a potent capacity to stimulate allogeneic T lymphocyte proliferation. We now demonstrate that these cells are also capable of stimulating an autologous mixed leukocyte reaction (AMLR) and presenting antigen to autologous T lymphocytes. These loosely adherent mononuclear cells (LAM) were more effective than either alveolar macrophages or monocytes as antigen-presenting cells. Depletion of phagocytic or Fc receptor-positive cells from the LAM population enhanced the stimulation of an reaction AMLR while preserving antigen-induced T lymphocyte proliferation. These results indicate that there are nonphagocytic, Fc receptor-negative accessory cells in human lung parenchyma capable of activating resting T cells in an AMLR and supporting antigen-specific T lymphocyte proliferation. The identity of these cells is uncertain, but the data strongly suggest that the cell is not a classical monocyte-derived macrophage. These antigen-presenting cells may be critical in the initiation of immune responses within the lung.

Antigens, Viral↗

Separation of potent and poorly functional human lung accessory cells based on autofluorescence.

Human alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage are usually poor accessory cells in in vitro lymphoproliferation assays. However, we recently described a subpopulation of pulmonary mononuclear cells, obtained from minced and enzyme-digested lung, which were potent stimulators of allogeneic T-lymphocyte proliferation. These cells were enriched in loosely adherent mononuclear cell (LAM) fractions, but further study of these accessory cells was hampered by the heterogeneous nature of LAM. It was observed that in the majority of lung tissue sections, most alveolar macrophages were autofluorescent, whereas most interstitial HLA-DR positive cells were not. Therefore autofluorescence was utilized to fractionate LAM in an attempt to remove alveolar macrophages and selectively purify interstitial accessory cells. LAM were separated by flow cytometry using forward and side scatter to exclude lymphocytes, and red autofluorescence to obtain brightly autofluorescent (A pos) and relatively nonautofluorescent (A neg) mononuclear cells. Although both populations contained over 80% HLA-DR positive cells, A pos cells were poor accessory cells, whereas A neg cells were extremely potent stimulators of a mixed leukocyte reaction at all stimulator ratios tested. When A pos cells were added to A neg cells, T-cell proliferation was markedly suppressed in the majority of experiments. Morphologically, A pos cells appeared similar to classical alveolar macrophages with 95% of the cells being large and intensely nonspecific esterase positive. In contrast, the majority of A neg were smaller, B-cell antigen-negative, nonspecific esterase negative, and had a distinctive morphology on Wright-stained smears. We conclude that fractionation of LAM based on autofluorescence is a powerful tool to isolate and characterize lung mononuclear cells that act either as stimulators or as suppressors of immune responses in the lung.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

Treatment of murine cryptococcosis with cyclosporin-A in normal and athymic mice.

We previously demonstrated that prophylactic Cyclosporin-A (Cs-A) treatment of mice enhanced survival after inoculation of Cryptococcus neoformans by both the intratracheal (IT) and intravenous (IV) routes. In the present studies, we determined whether an established infection due to C. neoformans could be treated with Cs-A. Mice inoculated IT develop a prominent pulmonary infection with late dissemination to distant organs. The survival of mice infected by the pulmonary route that received Cs-A subcutaneously was prolonged in both immunologically intact and congenitally T-cell-deficient mice (athymic nude mice). In normal mice that received Cs-A, growth of C. neoformans was arrested in the lung, spleen, kidney, and liver, and the rapid rate of accumulation of organisms in the brain was slowed as compared to that of control mice. In nude mice, the organisms continued to increase in all organs although at a considerably slower rate than in untreated control nude mice. Mice given C. neoformans IV developed infection in the brain at the time of inoculation. When an inoculum was deposited in the brains of normal mice by giving the organism IV and Cs-A treatment initiated 3 days later, mice receiving Cs-A did not demonstrate a reduced number of C. neoformans in the brain as compared to untreated control mice. Thus, Cs-A was effective for treatment of extraneural cryptococcal infection in normal mice, but it was unable to reduce cryptococcal replication in the central nervous system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Enhanced accessory cell function by alveolar macrophages from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus: potential role for depletion of CD4+ cells in the lung.

Mononuclear phagocytes, including alveolar macrophages (AM), can be infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Acting as accessory cells (AC), AM could infect CD4 lymphocytes through cell-to-cell contact and by inducing T cell proliferation, which increases lymphocyte susceptibility to infection. Using normal allogeneic T cells as responders, AM from infected individuals demonstrated an enhanced ability to stimulate a Con A and pokeweed mitogen lymphocyte proliferation assay compared with normal AM. Exogenous IL 1 enhanced the stimulation of a mitogen response by normal AM, but not from HIV-positive individuals, suggesting increased levels of this cytokine may explain the observed enhancement. However, increased IL 1 secretion by AM from HIV-infected patients could not be demonstrated, either in a bioassay or antigenically using an ELISA for IL-1 beta. Syncytia formation was observed when AM from asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals were cultured with normal T cells, suggesting viral transmission was occurring. Finally, in individual patients the stimulation of a mitogen response was inversely correlated with the CD4/CD8 ratio and total CD4 count, suggesting that enhanced AC function and CD4 cell depletion may be related in vivo. These findings indicate that enhanced AM accessory cell function is seen in HIV-infected individuals and could be a potential mechanism for CD4 cell depletion in the lung.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Lung defenses against opportunistic infections.

This review has examined the possible role of CMI in providing protection against three pathogens that can be opportunists in the lung. Monoclonal antibodies that identify the cellular components of the immune response and recombinant cytokines are important tools to better understand how pulmonary immunity is regulated. Although not discussed in detail, recombinant microbial antigens are useful for understanding various aspects of protective immunity and immunosuppression as well as for advancing vaccine development. There are important problems to address in order to continue steady progress in understanding pulmonary defenses, including some of those mentioned in this brief review. There should be an increased use of infectious models that more closely mimic naturally occurring infections, and comparisons should be made between results obtained with parenteral versus intrapulmonary routes of infection.

Animals↗

Cyclosporin A inhibits the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans in a murine model.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a frequent opportunistic infectious agent in patients with decreased T-lymphocyte-mediated immune function, including those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Cyclosporin A (CsA), a potent inhibitor of T-lymphocyte function, was administered subcutaneously to mice to study the pathogenesis of C. neoformans infections in the setting of impaired T-cell function. Surprisingly, survival was prolonged indefinitely in animals that received immunosuppressive doses of CsA following either intratracheal or intravenous inoculations of C. neoformans. Furthermore, following intratracheal inoculation, mice treated with CsA cleared C. neoformans from their lungs more rapidly than did control mice. CsA directly inhibited the growth of C. neoformans when it was added to cultures in vitro at concentrations comparable to the blood levels achieved in experimental mice. Thus, CsA inhibited both in vitro and in vivo growth of C. neoformans. While these results must be extended to studies in humans, these data suggest that patients who now receive CsA-immunosuppressive therapy may be fortuitously protected against infections with C. neoformans. Furthermore, research into cyclosporin derivatives may yield compounds with less immunosuppressive properties and enhanced antifungal activity.

Animals↗

Pulmonary interstitial fibrosis induced in hapten-immune hamsters.

A model for pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (PIF) based on cell-mediated immune response is described. Animals were primed for contact hypersensitivity responses by skin painting with trinitrophenol (TNP), but instead of challenging with the antigen on the skin, animals were challenged with a single intratracheally administered dose of the immunizing hapten. Primed animals developed inflammation followed by pulmonary fibrosis, as determined by histologic examination. Furthermore, immunized animals developed an increase in hydroxyproline (as an indirect measure of collagen synthesis) that could be recovered from the lung by 7 days after an intratracheal challenge with TNP. The increase in hydroxyproline within the lung persisted through 30 days. The response was specific because little or no fibrosis or increase in collagen deposition was observed in immune animals that were challenged with an unrelated hapten (dinitrophenol). Unimmunized animals demonstrated a slight increase in hydroxyproline in the lung 7 days after challenge, but with time the collagen content of these control animals approached normal levels. These studies demonstrate that a specific cell-mediated immune response to a hapten within the lung can induce pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.

Animals↗

Mononuclear cells in human lung parenchyma. Characterization of a potent accessory cell not obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage.

Human alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage are usually poor accessory cells for antigen-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation and poor stimulators of allogeneic mixed leukocyte reactions (MLR) when compared to peripheral blood monocytes. In contrast, cells harvested from minced lungs are good stimulators of a MLR. We have characterized the accessory cells obtained after enzymatic digestion of human lung tissue. Pulmonary mononuclear cells were separated from the dissociated lung cell mixture on Ficoll-Hypaque. Loosely adherent cells (LAM) were obtained after an overnight incubation on plastic culture dishes of initially adherent mononuclear cells. LAM were significantly more effective than were pulmonary mononuclear cells (p less than 0.05), firmly adherent cells (p less than 0.05), alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (p less than 0.05), or monocytes (p less than 0.05) in stimulating allogeneic resting T-cells. Addition of indomethacin and catalase markedly improved T-cell proliferation induced by LAM. Enrichment for Fc receptor negative or for nonphagocytic cells further enhanced the MLR-stimulating capacity of LAM. Phase-contrast studies demonstrated an enrichment in cells compatible with dendritic cells in LAM as compared to firmly adherent cells. We conclude that there are potent accessory cells in human lung that are loosely adherent, Fc receptor negative, and poorly phagocytic, and thus are dissimilar from classic macrophages. We hypothesize that cells similar to dendritic cells might play a role in the initiation of immune responses in lung parenchyma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Natural killer cell function in human lung is compartmentalized.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a subpopulation of lymphocytes capable of killing a variety of neoplastic targets. NK can limit pulmonary metastases in animal models and could be important mediators of tumor defense in human lung. Previous studies in humans have suggested, however, that pulmonary NK cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are functionally inert. We purified lymphocytes from human lung tissue and compared the NK activity of these cells with lymphocytes purified from peripheral blood. The activity of NK cells obtained from minced whole lung specimens was comparable to that found in peripheral blood. Monoclonal antibodies to 2 markers found on peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were utilized to determine the phenotype of pulmonary NK cells. Lymphocytes expressing Leu 11b were responsible for pulmonary NK activity as all NK function was abrogated by pretreatment with anti-Leu 11b and complement. In contrast, lymphocytes expressing Leu 7 had little NK activity. Although the frequency of lymphocytes expressing Leu 7 or Leu 11 in blood was comparable, there were significantly more (p less than 0.001) Leu 7+ lymphocytes in the lung than Leu 11+ cells. Immunofluorescent staining of lung tissue demonstrated that LGL expressing Leu 11 were confined largely to the lung interstitium, whereas LGL expressing Leu 7 were frequently located in alveoli and larger airways. These findings suggest that NK function is present in the human lung and that it is compartmentalized with the NK-active Leu 11+ lymphocytes located primarily in the lung interstitium.

Adult↗

Role of natural killer cells in resistance to Cryptococcus neoformans infections in mice.

Previous studies have suggested a possible role for natural killer (NK) cells in resistance to some fungal infections, including Cryptococcus neoformans infections. The role of NK cells in early clearance of C neoformans from tissues and in long-term survival was studied in mice following intravenous inoculations of the organism. Mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 antiserum to temporarily reduce NK activity demonstrated an increase in colony-forming units (CFU) of C neoformans in the lung 24 hours after an intravenous inoculation of the organism. CFU in liver, spleen, kidney, and brain were not different in anti-asialo GM1 antiserum-treated versus control mice. An NK-specific reagent, anti-NK 1.1 monoclonal antibody, was used to deplete mice of NK cells in vivo for at least 14 days without affecting other natural defenses. The number of C neoformans retained in the lungs 24 hours after inoculation of the organism was significantly greater in NK cell-depleted mice than in controls, although CFU in other organs were unaffected. Following the intravenous inoculation of C neoformans, the survival of anti-NK 1.1-treated mice was not different from control mice. The effect of NK cell activity on resistance to C neoformans was also determined after an intratracheal inoculation of the organism. Mice pretreated with anti-NK 1.1 demonstrated no increases in CFU in the lungs, spleen, or brain as compared with controls. These data indicate that NK cells can play a role in vivo in early resistance against C neoformans if the organism is delivered via the intravenous route. However, NK cells do not play a role in either determining survival after an intravenous inoculation nor in resistance during an infection acquired via the respiratory tract.

Animals↗