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Biomedical subjects

M Glaccum

Publications and source records attributed to M Glaccum.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Reversible defects in natural killer and memory CD8 T cell lineages in interleukin 15-deficient mice.

C57BL/6 mice genetically deficient in interleukin 15 (IL-15(-/-) mice) were generated by gene targeting. IL-15(-/-) mice displayed marked reductions in numbers of thymic and peripheral natural killer (NK) T cells, memory phenotype CD8(+) T cells, and distinct subpopulations of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). The reduction but not absence of these populations in IL-15(-/-) mice likely reflects an important role for IL-15 for expansion and/or survival of these cells. IL-15(-/-) mice lacked NK cells, as assessed by both immunophenotyping and functional criteria, indicating an obligate role for IL-15 in the development and functional maturation of NK cells. Specific defects associated with IL-15 deficiency were reversed by in vivo administration of exogenous IL-15. Despite their immunological defects, IL-15(-/-) mice remained healthy when maintained under specific pathogen-free conditions. However, IL-15(-/-) mice are likely to have compromised host defense responses to various pathogens, as they were unable to mount a protective response to challenge with vaccinia virus. These data reveal critical roles for IL-15 in the development of specific lymphoid lineages. Moreover, the ability to rescue lymphoid defects in IL-15(-/-) mice by IL-15 administration represents a powerful means by which to further elucidate the biological roles of this cytokine.

Animals↗

RANK is essential for osteoclast and lymph node development.

The physiological role of the TNF receptor (TNFR) family member, RANK, was investigated by generating RANK-deficient mice. RANK(-/-) mice were characterized by profound osteopetrosis resulting from an apparent block in osteoclast differentiation. RANK expression was not required for the commitment, differentiation, and functional maturation of macrophages and dendritic cells from their myeloid precursors but provided a necessary and specific signal for the differentiation of myeloid-derived osteoclasts. RANK(-/-) mice also exhibited a marked deficiency of B cells in the spleen. RANK(-/-) mice retained mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues including Peyer's patches but completely lacked all other peripheral lymph nodes, highlighting an additional major role for RANK in lymph node formation. These experiments reveal that RANK provides critical signals necessary for lymph node organogenesis and osteoclast differentiation.

Animals↗

Mice lacking the type I interleukin-1 receptor do not lose bone mass after ovariectomy.

We measured the effects of ovariectomy on the bone mass of mice that lacked type I interleukin-1 receptor (IL-I R1 -/- mice) in two genetic backgrounds (C57BL/6 x 129/Sv and C57BL/6) to investigate the role of interleukin-1 in the actions of estrogen on bone. At three weeks after surgery, ovariectomized wild-type mice decreased trabecular bone volume in the proximal humerus by 70% in a C57BL/6 x 129/Sv background and 48% in a C57BL/6 background compared to sham-operated controls. In contrast, there was no significant decrease in trabecular bone mass in IL-1 R1 -/- mice after ovariectomy. The estrogen status of all groups was confirmed by measurement of uterine wet weight. These results demonstrate that a functional IL-1 response pathway is required for mice to lose trabecular bone mass after ovariectomy in this model and they imply that IL-1 is an important mediator of the effects of ovariectomy on bone mass. Hence, therapeutic interventions that block the effects of IL-1 on bone may be beneficial for treating diseases of rapid bone loss such as post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Animals↗

Interleukin-6 expression and histomorphometry of bones from mice deficient in receptors for interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor.

We examined the roles of interleukin-1 Type I receptor (IL-1R1) and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) in bone metabolism using mice rendered deficient in these receptors by gene targeting. Sections of decalcified paraffin-embedded calvariae and humeri from 11- to 12-week-old mice deficient in IL-1 Type I receptor (IL-1R1-/-) or TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1-/-) were examined by histomorphometry. Wild-type mice (C57BL/6J x 129/J, WILD) served as controls. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in primary osteoblastic and bone marrow stromal cell cultures in response to parathyroid hormone (PTH, 100 ng/ml), IL-1 alpha (10 ng/ml), and TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) was also examined. IL-1R1-/- and TNFR1-/- mice were viable and appeared phenotypically normal. However, the body weights of the IL-1R1-/- mice were 30% less than WILD, while the TNFR1-/- mice weighed 30% more than WILD mice of equivalent age. Calvariae and humeri of IL-1R1-/- and TNFR1-/- mice were normal with respect to trabecular bone volume, osteoclast number, osteoclast surface, growth plate widths, and cortical thickness. Receptor deficiency was confirmed by determining the ability of PTH, IL-1 alpha, and TNF-alpha to stimulate IL-6 in the media of primary calvaria-derived osteoblastic cell cultures from CD-1 and cytokine receptor-deficient mice. After 24 h of treatment, IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha did not stimulate IL-6 production in osteoblasts from IL-1R1-/- and TNFR1-/- mice, respectively. In contrast, PTH increased IL-6 levels in the cells from all mice. IL-6 protein levels in bone marrow supernatants and conditioned media from untreated bone marrow stromal cells were undetectable in WILD, IL-1R1-/-, and TNFR1-/- mice. PTH, IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha increased IL-6 mRNA and protein production in the WILD bone marrow stromal cells. In contrast, PTH and TNF-alpha increased IL-6 mRNA and protein levels in IL-1R1-/- bone marrow stromal cells while IL-1 alpha had no effect. These findings demonstrate that normal bone development in mice can occur in the absence of IL-1R1 or TNFR1 expression.

Animals↗

Active interleukin-1 receptor required for maximal progression of acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' aim was to determine the requirement for an active interleukin (IL)-1 receptor during the development and progression of acute pancreatitis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Interleukin-1 is a pro- inflammatory cytokine that has been shown to be produced during acute pancreatitis. Earlier animal studies of moderate and severe pancreatitis have shown that blockade of this powerful mediator is associated with attenuated pancreatic destruction and dramatic increases in survival. The exact role played by IL-1 and the requirement for activation of its receptor in the initiation and progression of pancreatitis is unknown. METHODS: Conventional and IL-1 receptor "knockout" animals were used in parallel experiments of acute pancreatitis induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulean (50 microg/kg every 1 hour X 4). The conventional mouse strain had the IL-1 receptor blocked prophylactically by means of a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (10 mg/kg injected intraperitoneally every 2 hours). The second mouse strain was genetically engineered by means of gene targeting in murine embryonic stem cells to be devoid of type 1 IL-1 receptor (IL-1 receptor knockout). Animals were killed at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours, with the severity of pancreatitis determined by serum amylase, lipase, and IL-6 levels and blind histologic grading. Strain-specific controls were used for comparison. RESULTS: The genetic absence of the IL-1 receptor or its pharmacologic blockade resulted in significantly attenuated pancreatic vacuolization, edema, necrosis, inflammation, and enzyme release. Serum IL-6, a marker of inflammation severity, was dramatically decreased in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of the IL-1 receptor is not required for the development of pancreatitis but apparently is necessary for the maximal propagation of pancreatic injury and its associated inflammation.

Acute Disease↗

IL-1 type I receptor mediates acute phase response to turpentine, but not lipopolysaccharide, in mice.

This study examined the role of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) type I receptor (IL-1RtI) in the acute phase response (APR) to inflammation in mice. Turpentine (100 microliters/mouse) injected subcutaneously induced fever, lethargy, body weight loss, and anorexia in IL-1RtI wild-type mice. Knockout mice lacking the IL-1RtI were resistant to these effects of turpentine, supporting a role for this receptor in the APR to local inflammation. The intraperitoneal injection of a low (50 micrograms/kg) or high (2.5 mg/kg) dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced similar APRs in IL-1RtI wild-type and knockout mice. IL-1RtI knockout mice were resistant to the APR induced by peripherally injected murine IL-1 beta, suggesting that it is not the interaction of endogenous IL-1 beta with IL-1RtII that induces an APR to LPS in these mice. We speculate that the absence of IL-1RtI in these knockout mice results in the sensitization of other cytokine pathways to mediate the APR to LPS.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Light isomerizes the chromophore of bacteriorhodopsin.

The primary photochemical event in the two light-transducing pigments whose chromophore is retinal, rhodopsin or bacteriorhodopsin, is a source of controversy. It was originally proposed that the primary photoevent in the bleaching of rhodopsin is the photoisomerization of the chromophore from 11-cis to all-trans retinal. Photochemical considerations suggested that a photoisomerization is the primary event in both rhodopsin and bacteriorhodopsin. However, this description of bacteriorhodopsin's photochemistry has been questioned. To elucidate this problem, we determined the isomeric conformation of retinal for two of the photolytic intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin, using a method that enables us to extract chromophores from the photocycle intermediates L and M at low temperatures (-74 degrees C), and have determined the isomeric conformation of the extracted retinals by HPLC. Here we provide direct evidence that isomerization of the chromophore has taken place in two of the early photocycle intermediates (L and M) of bacteriorhodopsin.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗