Biomedical subjects

M K Pearce

Publications and source records attributed to M K Pearce.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Local cytokine production in a murine model of Escherichia coli pyelonephritis.

Cytokines may play an important role in the regulation of host defense against local bacterial infections. We have evaluated the local production of cytokines in a BALB/c mouse model of Escherichia coli pyelonephritis. Kidneys, draining lymph nodes, and spleens, were harvested at specific time intervals after bladder inoculation with E. coli corresponding to the stages of renal infection, infiltration, and bacterial clearance seen in this model. The presence of messenger RNA for specific cytokines (interleukins 1 through 6, chemotactic factors, granulocyte and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) and beta, IFN gamma, transforming growth factor (TGF beta), and cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (CSIF)/IL-10) was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of reverse transcribed RNA. We have demonstrated mRNA encoding IL-1, IL-6, G-CSF, GM-CSF, TNF alpha, H400 (a protein homologous to a family of chemotactic factors and identical to MIP-1 beta), and CSIF/IL-10 in the kidney at 12 h and 1, 2, and 3 d after bacterial challenge. No signal was seen in normal animals or in mice after 5 d. This pattern of cytokine expression was observed only in renal tissues suggesting a localized response. IL-6 was present in the urine at 4 h with rapid resolution to baseline levels by 24 to 48 h. In contrast, IL-6 was not usually detectable in the serum. TNF alpha was not detectable in the serum or urine during the course of the infection. By immunohistochemical staining of kidney sections we have shown that IL-6 is produced predominantly by mesangial cells rather than by the inflammatory infiltrate. This study provides additional evidence utilizing novel techniques that specific cytokines are produced locally in response to bacterial infections. The time course of production demonstrated in this model supports the important role of cytokines in natural host resistance to local infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Structure-function relationships of interleukin-3. An analysis based on the function and binding characteristics of a series of interspecies chimera of gibbon and murine interleukin-3.

IL-3 is a glycoprotein cytokine involved in the hematopoietic response to infectious, immunologic, and inflammatory stimuli. In addition, clinical administration of recombinant IL-3 augments recovery in states of natural and treatment-related marrow failure. IL-3 acts by binding to high affinity cell surface receptors present on hematopoietic cells. To determine the site(s) at which IL-3 binds to it receptor, we analyzed a series of interspecies chimera of the growth factor for species-specific receptor binding and biological activity. The results suggest that IL-3 binds to its receptor and triggers a proliferative stimulus through two noncontiguous helical domains located near the amino terminus and the carboxy terminus of the molecule. To corroborate these findings, we have also mapped the binding epitopes of 10 mAb of human or murine IL-3, and have defined four distinct epitopes. Two of these epitopes comprise the amino-terminal receptor binding domain. A third epitope corresponds to the carboxy-terminal receptor interactive domain, and the fourth epitope, apparently not involved in the interaction of IL-3 and its receptor, lies between these sites. And on the basis of sandwich immunoassays using pairs of these mAbs, the two receptor interactive regions appear to reside in close juxtaposition in the tertiary structure of the molecule. These results provide a correlation of the structure-function relationships of IL-3 that should prove useful in evaluating the details of IL-3-IL-3 receptor interaction and in the rational design of clinically useful derivatives of this growth factor.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Lymphokine profile in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Immune reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) recapitulates immune ontogeny. At birth there is an imbalance in lymphokine production, with decreased production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) compared with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-2. We investigated whether a similar imbalance in lymphokine production occurs in BMT recipients within 6 months after transplantation. Our results show that BMT recipients not treated with immunosuppressive drugs have a decrease in IFN-gamma production and IL-2, in comparison with IL-4. This imbalance was likely to result from impaired signal transduction through surface receptors, because it was detectable on stimulation with Concanavalin A (ConA), but was overcome completely or largely by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) + ionophore, which bypass surface receptors and mimic the effects of second messengers. In contrast, lymphokine production in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine A, corticosteroids) was abnormal after stimulation with PMA and ionophore, as well as ConA. Thus, treated BMT recipients exhibit an additional deficit, which affects the signaling cascade down-stream of second messenger generation and results in impaired lymphokine production.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Augmentation of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression by ultraviolet irradiation is mediated by interleukin 1 in Pam 212 keratinocytes.

Keratinocytes are a potent source of a variety of cytokines including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In this study, we have shown that ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation augments GM-CSF mRNA expression by murine keratinocytes. This is reflected in the increased production of GM-CSF protein by these cells. In the same cell population, exposure to UVB irradiation increases interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) mRNA and IL-1 protein as detected by bioactivity. This increase in IL-1 alpha precedes the increase of GM-CSF mRNA. Addition of recombinant IL-1 alpha to the medium increases GM-CSF mRNA expression. Anti-IL-1 alpha antibodies can completely inhibit UV-augmented GM-CSF mRNA expression. These results demonstrate that UVB irradiation-induced augmentation of GM-CSF is mediated by UV-induced IL-1 alpha.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies protect against lethal Escherichia coli infection and lethal tumor necrosis factor-alpha challenge in mice.

Potentially fatal physiologic and metabolic derangements can occur in response to bacterial infection in animals and man. Recently it has been shown that alterations in the levels of circulating cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha occur shortly after bacterial challenge. To understand better the role of IL-6 in inflammation, we investigated the effects of in vivo anti-mouse IL-6 antibody treatment in a mouse model of septic shock. Rat anti-mouse IL-6 neutralizing mAb was produced from splenocytes of an animal immunized with mouse rIL-6. This mAb, MP5-20F3, was a very potent and specific antagonist of mouse IL-6 in vitro bioactivity, demonstrated using the NFS60 myelomonocytic and KD83 plasmacytoma target cell lines, and also immunoprecipitated radiolabeled IL-6. Anti-IL-6 mAb pretreatment of mice subsequently challenged with lethal doses of i.p. Escherichia coli or i.v. TNF-alpha protected mice from death caused by these treatments. Pretreatment of E. coli-challenged mice with anti-IL-6 led to an increase in serum TNF bioactivity, in comparison to isotype control antibody, implicating IL-6 as a negative modulator of TNF in vivo. Anti-TNF-alpha treatment of mice challenged i.p. with live E. coli resulted in a 70% decrease in serum IL-6 levels, determined by immunoenzymetric assay, compared to control antibody, thereby supporting a role for TNF-alpha as a positive regulator of IL-6 levels. We conclude that IL-6 is a mediator in lethal E. coli infection, and suggest that antagonists of IL-6 may be beneficial therapeutically in life-threatening bacterial infection.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed1989

Development of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for immunoassay and neutralization of human interleukin-4.

A rabbit antiserum to partly purified recombinant E. coli-expressed human interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been produced which neutralizes the T cell growth factor, B cell growth factor, and Fc epsilon R2/CD23 inducing activities of IL-4. The antiserum demonstrated sufficient avidity to immunoprecipitate labelled COS7-expressed recombinant human IL-4. In contrast, rabbits immunized with conjugates of various synthetic IL-4 oligopeptides produced antisera which recognized IL-4 in both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting formats, but failed to immunoprecipitate IL-4 from solution, or to neutralize bioactivity. Two rat monoclonal antibodies, 11B4, 22C10 were produced from a rat immunized with purified COS7 cell-expressed IL-4. These IgG2a antibodies recognized both E. coli-expressed and mammalian cell-expressed (COS7 and L cell) recombinant human IL-4 in solution (immunoprecipitation), as well as on solid phase (indirect ELISA and dot-blotting). The 11B4 antibody inhibited IL-4 bioactivity at an IC50 which was 25-50-fold in molar excess of factor. Both antibodies also recognized IL-4 bound to an immobilized rabbit IgG fraction of anti-IL-4. The 11B4 antibody was used to develop an immunoenzymetric assay capable of detecting less than 100 pg of analyte/ml. Supernatants from PBL, activated under varying conditions were tested for IL-4 levels. PHA and ConA were found to induce a relatively low degree of IL-4 production by these PBL. An approximately ten-fold greater level of IL-4 production was observed when they were stimulated with A23187 in combination with PMA. Various patient sera and cell line supernatants were also tested. These IL-4 immunoreagents are important tools for further studies of IL-4 immunobiology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Development of rat anti-mouse interleukin 3 monoclonal antibodies which neutralize bioactivity in vitro.

Several rat anti-mouse interleukin 3 (IL-3) monoclonal antibodies have been developed which inhibit the biologic activity of mouse IL-3. These antibodies were produced in rats immunized with preparations of purified, recombinant mouse IL-3, obtained from transiently transfected COS7 cell supernatant. Hybridomas secreting anti-IL-3 were selected initially either on the basis of their giving a positive signal in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or for their ability to inhibit the proliferation of the IL-3-dependent mouse mast cell line, MC/9. Neutralizing rat monoclonal IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies have been identified; these also block IL-3-induced proliferation of the NFS-60 and IC2 cell lines. These antibodies also blocked the IL-3-induced proliferation of mouse bone marrow-derived colony-forming units-culture suggesting that the same epitopes on IL-3 influence receptor recognition for both the proliferation of factor-dependent cell lines as well as normal bone marrow cells. Fab fragments produced from certain of the IgG2a-neutralizing antibodies blocked as well as the parent IgG. Antibody cross-blocking studies identified one neutralizing antibody apparently recognizing an epitope that was spatially distinct from those recognized by the other blocking antibodies tested. The development of these neutralizing rat monoclonal antibodies to mouse IL-3 should facilitate further investigation on the role of this factor in hemopoietic regulation.

Animals↗