Biomedical subjects

M Reale

Publications and source records attributed to M Reale.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Increased transforming growth factor-beta production and gene expression by peripheral blood monocytes of hypertensive patients.

Cultured human peripheral blood monocytes are known to secrete and express transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a multifunctional cytokine that can be involved in myocardial and vascular remodeling. In addition, monocytes/macrophages have been demonstrated to be colocalized with fibrosis of hypertrophied heart and in the vascular wall of hypertensive vessels. In this study, we tested TGF-beta production and mRNA expression in peripheral blood monocytes from hypertensive patients with myocardial hypertrophy and increased carotid myointimal thickness with respect to healthy normotensive control subjects. We found an increased TGF-beta activity in the conditioned medium of monocytes from hypertensive patients compared with control subjects as evaluated by inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation by mink lung epithelial cells (-83% and -18% in hypertensive and normotensive subjects; P<.001). Western blot analysis confirmed a significant difference in the amount of TGF-beta protein secreted in the conditioned medium of hypertensive patients compared with that of normotensive subjects. Finally, we also observed a 4.2- and 5.5-fold increase in the amount of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 transcripts, respectively. Our results indicate an upregulation of the TGF-beta system in the peripheral blood monocytes of hypertensive patients with cardiovascular structural changes, suggesting a possible role of TGF-beta monocyte production in hypertensive disease.

Biological Assay↗

PubMed1996

Human recombinant interleukin-1 beta induces thromboxane A2 release in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages and platelets: effect of IL-1 receptor antagonist.

Prostaglandins and thromboxanes (Txs) are produced by polymorphonuclears (PMNs) and macrophages (Mphis) in response to various stimuli. PMNs were separated from other human blood cells and Mphis were separated from rat peritoneal lavage. In this paper we show that human recombinant interleukin-1 (hrIL-1) can stimulate the release of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) by PMNs and Mphis. In addition, we have shown that aggregation of PMNs may occur when calcium ions (7 mM) and hrIL-1 (100 ng/ml) are added to the cell preparation, but not when Ca2+ alone, hrIL-1 alone, or first hrIL-1 then calcium are added to the cell preparation. The treatment of human platelets with hrIL-1 shows that after 15 min incubation TxB2 is released. In addition, we compared the aggregation of platelets caused by ADP with that caused by hrIL-1. Human recombinant IL-1 at a concentration of 100 ng/ml also causes little aggregation of platelets, in this case the aggregation is reversible. In conclusion, hrIL-1 beta stimulates TxB2 release in PMNs, Mphis and platelets and this effect increases with addition of Ca2+ ions. The mixture of hrIL-1 and Ca2+ causes little aggregation of PMNs. In monocyte suspensions, pretreated with human recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) 500 ng/ml for 10 min and then treated with LPS or hrIL-1 beta 10 micrograms/ml, the release of TxB2 was partially inhibited. IL-1ra may play a significant role in the control of IL-1 and LPS induction in the release of TxB2.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed1996

Effect of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) on histamine and serotonin release by rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) and peritoneal mast cells.

Recently, it has been appreciated that cultured mast cells are significant sources of cytokines. However, the role of interkeukin-1 (IL-1) on mast cells and/or basophil degranulation is still unclear. In this report we provide evidence that rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBLC) cultured with a natural inhibitor of IL-1, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) (500 ng/ml) for 48 h, strongly inhibited the spontaneous release of serotonin (5HT) and histamine (from 22.50 to 43.49%), compared to untreated cells (control). When IL-1RA-treated and untreated RBLC were stimulated with a secretagogue (anti-IgE), no difference was found in the percent of 5HT and histamine release. Moreover, in another set of experiments using rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) treated and untreated with IL-1RA, we found that IL-1RA did not affect the release of 5HT or histamine, even when the secretagogue anti-IgE or compound 48/80 (C48/80) were used. The present studies describe an additional biological activity of IL-1RA, inhibiting histamine and 5HT release from RBLC cultures.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Generation of TNF alpha, IFN gamma, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-10 in mouse serum from trichinellosis: effect of the anti-inflammatory compound 4-deoxypyridoxine (4-DPD).

Infections caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis is characterized in the host by an inflammatory response with cytokine production. In these studies we have detected TNF alpha, IL-6, IFN gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in the serum of 10 mice infected with T. spiralis. Moreover, we detected, for the first time, these cytokines in the serum of mice treated with 4-DPD, a potent antagonist of vitamin B6 coenzyme which has anti-inflammatory properties. 4-DPD was used at 100, 400, 800 micrograms/bolus for 20 days, starting one day before the infection. After 15 days of T. spiralis infection, TNF alpha reached a maximum level, while IL-6 was maximal after 7 days, IFN gamma at 20 days and IL-4 at 14 days. IL-10 was not affected by the T. spiralis infection. When the animals were treated with 4-DPD at the reported dosages and infected with T. spiralis the inhibition of TNF alpha and IL-6, were dose-dependent in the first 7 days while IL-4 was reduced only at 400-800 micrograms/bolus. 4-DPD-treated mice did not statistically (P > 0.05) affect the generation of IFN gamma. In healthy animals the production of cytokines were not measurable, just as it was in non-infected animals treated with 4-DPD. The increase of cytokines such as, TNF alpha and IL-6 may be related to the severity of the disease, boosting the host's resistance to the pathogen and inhibiting parasite survival. In addition, the augmentation of IL-4 production enhances T and B cells and macrophage responses and may stimulate T-cell antibody-mediated response to the pathogen. 4-DPD, an inhibitor of IL-1 and inflammatory reactions, proved to be most effective on TNF alpha and IL-6, which are mainly produced by macrophages.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in human monocytes.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the key rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of prostanoids from arachidonic acid. Two isoforms of COX have been described in mammalian cells, referred to as cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-1 is a constitutively expressed enzyme; COX-2 is an inducible enzyme that appears to be expressed in inflamed tissue and following exposure to growth factors or cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1). The aim of the present study was to test if the antagonism on the binding of IL-1 to its cell-surface receptor by human recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1ra) may control the COX mRNA expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by human monocyte cultures. Northern blot studies showed that hrIL-ra (500 ng/ml) had a strong inhibitory effect on inducible COX activity. The effect was evident after 6 hr incubation (2.7-fold decrease of mRNA COX-2 transcripts); and about a threefold decrease at 24hr incubation. A non-significant effect was observed with COX-1 transcripts. Induced PGE2 production by monocyte cultures treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) was strongly inhibited in the presence of hrIL-1ra (500 ng/ml). In addition, a significant inhibition of COX-2 protein expression, as evaluated by Western blotting, was also observed. These data suggest that hrIL-1ra may be the key mediator in the down-regulation of the COX-2 inducible pathway.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1996

Cysteinyl leukotriene D4 induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation: a possible role in myointimal hyperplasia.

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (i.e. LTC4, LTD4), produced by activated leukocytes or by transcellular metabolism may act at different levels on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) during inflammatory process or atherosclerosis. We studied the effect of LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 on the in vitro proliferation of rat VSMC, measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell count. LTD4 had a stronger stimulatory effect on [3H]-thymidine incorporation than LTC4, whereas LTE4 was inactive. The effect of LTD4 on [3H]-thymidine incorporation was dose-dependent, with the maximal activity at 10(-6) M. The stimulatory activity of LTD4 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by MK-571, a specific LTD4 receptor antagonist. In addition, MK-571 (1 mg/kg/day) given for at least 1 day after injury in a model of balloon catheter injury of rat carotid artery, provided effective inhibition of myointimal VSMC proliferation, with a 58% reduction of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake in the neointima and 69% reduction of neointimal thickening. Our data support the importance of inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and suggest a possible role for cysteinyl leukotrienes, specifically LTD4, in the control of VSMC proliferation.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

The down-regulation of IL-6-stimulated fibrinogen steady state mRNA and protein levels by human recombinant IL-1 is not PGE2-dependent: effects of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA).

Infections, trauma and inflammatory processes induce a host response with increases in a large group of structurally and functionally diverse plasma proteins. Parental administration of foreign proteins also induce an increase in plasma fibrinogen. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a monocyte-derived mediator and has regulatory effects on acute phase protein genes which result in the induction of fibrinogen synthesis in primary hepatocytes, while the addition of interleukin-1 (IL-1) exerts a negative modulating influence on the IL-6-stimulated fibrinogen. In order to understand the mechanisms by which IL-1 inhibits IL-6-stimulated fibrinogen transcription and translation, and since IL-1 is believed to act through PGE2 stimulation, we have studied the influence of PGE2 in IL-6 or IL-1, alone and in combination, on Fg mRNA expression (by Northern blot analysis) and the influence of PGE2, indomethacin, and arachidonic acid on Fg secretion. Moreover, since human recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1ra) is a strong inhibitor of IL-1 induced IL-1 transcription and translation and has an inhibitory effect on PGE2, we have studied the effects of IL-1ra on the down-regulation of IL-6 stimulated fibrinogen by IL-1, using an Fg ELISA method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMed1995

Modulation of rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation by cysteinyl leukotriene D4: a role for mediation of interleukin 1.

Recent studies suggest the involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in the progression of atherosclerosis. Cysteinyl leukotrienes and cytokines could orchestrate this progression by acting on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In cultures of rat VSMC, proliferation was modulated by cysteinyl leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and LTD4, but not LTE4. Co-culturing LTD4 with VSMC produced an increased cell proliferation as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation studies (200%) as well as cell counts (70%), using LTD4 at 10(-6)M compared to controls. LTD4 exerted its effect through an interleukin 1 (IL-1)-dependent autocrine regulatory mechanism. When IL-1 was inhibited by using a receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and a polyclonal antibody to IL-1, we found an inhibition of VSMC proliferation. The increase of VSMC proliferation was associated with the autocrine production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) concomitant to LTD4 stimulation (55.5 +/- 2.5 pg/ml in controls and 177 +/- 0.5 pg/ml in 10(-6)M LTD4). These results may shed new light on the mechanism of inflammatory involvement during atherogenesis, suggesting that the control of cysteinyl leukotrienes may be important in inflammatory processes involving IL-1.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Cysteinyl-leukotriene D4 induced IL-1 beta expression and release in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vascular cells, including smooth muscle cells (VSMC), may release interleukin 1 (IL-1) and transcribe its genes for both isoforms. Previous studies have shown that cysteinyl-leukotrienes can modulate cytokine production by monocytes and a cytokine-eicosanoid network has been suggested during atherosclerosis. In this study the effects of cysteinyl-leukotriene D4 (LTD4) on IL-1 beta production and IL-1 beta mRNA expression were tested on rat VSMC. LTD4 showed a significant dose-dependent (from basal production of 55 +/- 15 pg/ml to maximal production of 177 +/- 14 pg/ml) and time-dependent (peaking at 24 h 16 +/- 54 pg/ml) increase of IL-1 beta immunoreactivity in the supernatants of conditioned medium and cell lysates. Furthermore, LTD4 induced an increased mRNA expression which began at 1 h and peaked at 12 h incubation time. The production of IL-1 beta was inhibited by MK-571 (from 145 +/- 12 to 60 +/- 10 pg/ml), a specific receptor antagonist of LTD4 and partially reduced by IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 ra) (from 160 +/- 12 to 85 +/- 5 pg/ml). These experiments suggest that cysteinyl-leukotrienes, potentially produced in the vascular wall by leukocytes or by transcellular metabolism, may be involved in local IL-1 production.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1995

Synergistic activation of serum amyloid A (SAA) by IL-6 and IL-1 in combination on human Hep 3B hepatoma cell line. Role of PGE2 and IL-1 receptor antagonist.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) protein is a major acute phase reactant in human and many other species. Infections and traumatic inflammation are characterized by a rapid increase of SAA; its concentration in the plasma may augment many-fold. Cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-6 are considered mediators of acute phase protein synthesis. The most accredited mechanism of action of IL-1 in inflammatory diseases is the stimulation of PGE2 release, which is highly dependent on the concentration of IL-1. In this study we found that human Hep 3B hepatoma cells treated with the combination of hrIL-6 (10ng/ml) plus hrIL-1 (1ng/ml) produced an augmentation in steady-state levels of SAA mRNA (87%) compared to hrIL-6 (10ng/ml) plus PGE2 (5 microM), which induced an increase of only 33%, compared to IL-6 alone, while cells treated with hrIL-6 plus PGE2 (0.5 microM) had a similar effect as hrIL-6 did alone. Moreover, the addition of exogenous PGE2 (5 microM) to the cell cultures produced no significant increase in concentration of SAA mRNA compared to the control. In addition, according to the data obtained by the blot analysis we also found, by ELISA method, that hrIL-6 acts in synergism with hrIL-1 on SAA protein secretion in human Hep 3B hepatoma cell cultures after 48 h incubation. In fact, the cell cultures treated with hrIL-6 plus hrIL-1 caused a higher release approximately 1.5-4-fold of SAA protein than the cells treated with IL-6 plus PGE2 5 microM or IL-1 + PGE2 5 microM, respectively. The synergistic effect of hrIL-6 plus hrIL-1 beta was inhibited by hrIL-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1ra) 50 micrograms/ml, a protein which specifically binds to the IL-1 receptor and is structurally similar to IL-1 beta but with no IL-1-like activity; while indomethacin (5 microM) was ineffective. These results strongly suggest that the synergism between hrIL-6 plus hrIL-1 on the transcription and the protein release of SAA release is not due to a PGE2-dependent process in human Hep 3B hepatoma cells. This finding highlights a specific biological effect of IL-1 not in relation to PGE2, suggesting a specific mechanism of action for IL-1 in regulating acute phase protein synthesis.

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMed1995

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 provokes mast cell aggregation and [3H]5HT release.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and MCP-3, the most active and representative compounds of the CC chemokine family, are proinflammatory cytokines that attract and activate specific types of leucocytes. We have used highly purified isolated rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) cultured for different lengths of time with and without MCP-1 (200, 100, 50 and 25 nM). Our data clearly show that MCP-1 (200 nM) causes a marked release of [3H]serotonin ([3H]5HT and histamine, which reach a peak at 40 min of incubation (56.6 +/- 5.3 and 34.7 +/- 6 above the control, respectively). In dose-response experiments, MCP-1 (200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.12 nM) provoked a dose-dependent release of [3H]5HT and histamine from RPMC, which was maximum at 200 nM. After preparation of the histidine decarboxylase (HDC) probe, a Northern blot analysis was determined for HDC mRNA. After 4 hr, steady-state levels of HDC mRNA were induced in a dose-dependent manner by MCP-1 (200-25 nM), compared to the controls. However, MCP-1 failed to prime RPMC in [3H]5HT and histamine release when C48/80 (0.05 micrograms/ml) or anti-IgE was used. In contrast, murine interleukin-3 (IL-3) in combination with MCP-1 (200 and 100 nM) provoked a greater release of histamine and [3H]5HT than the compounds alone. Moreover, RPMC treated with MCP-1 (200 nM) showed, under light microscopy (20x), greater clump formation, a phenomenon absent in the controls (untreated cells). The electron microscope studies revealed that treatment with MCP-1 (200 nM) promoted binding of RPMC and clearly demonstrated a communication between the cytoplasms of adjacent mast cells. Our report describes additional biological activities for MCP-1, suggesting for the first time that this human monocyte chemoattractant plays a fundamental role in histamine and serotonin release and cell aggregation in rat peritoneal mast cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Reduced human lymphocyte blastogenesis and enhancement of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by L-carnitine.

Carnitine is associated with lipid synthesis and its deficiency may lead to cardiomegaly with parenchymal lipid in the heart, kidney and liver. In our study we found that pretreatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with serial dilutions of L-Carnitine (100 micrograms/ml-1 pg/ml) inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, lymphocyte DNA synthesis stimulated with PHA (20 micrograms/ml). L-Carnitine did not have any effect on resting PBMC. The maximum inhibition was found at 10 micrograms/ml of L-Carnitine. Moreover, in a time-course study and using an enzymatic analysis (ATP monitoring reagent), L-Carnitine enhanced ATP production on PBMC treated and untreated with PHA, reaching a maximum effect at 30 min incubation. In another set of experiments PBMC were treated with L-Carnitine alone and in combination with PHA, and the percent of receptors CD3, CD4, and CD8 were calculated with flow cytometry. After the cell incubation with L-Carnitine, the percent of all receptors studied did not change compared to L-Carnitine-untreated cells (controls). These data suggest that L-Carnitine inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, lymphocyte blastogenesis induced by PHA, probably through the enhancement of ATP synthesis, which is considered an inhibitor of phospholipase C activity and a suppressor in lymphocyte cultures.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1994

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin potentiates monocyte responses to lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1, but not interleukin-6 in bladder cancer patients.

During the past decade, particular attention has been focused on treatment of bladder cancer patients with the bacterial agent bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). In these studies, bladder cancer patients were instilled with BCG (75 mg/50 ml) once per week for 6 weeks, 1-2 weeks following trans-urethral resection of the bladder. Cystoscopy was performed after 6 weeks and, unless tumor progression was present, monthly treatments were given for 1 year. Blood was drawn 2 h after the last instillation, and monocytes were isolated (5 x 10(6) cells/ml) and treated, or not, with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (20 microgram/ml) for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) release. The levels of monokines were determined by a monokine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results clearly show that, after 18 h incubation, macrophages from BCG-treated bladder cancer patients produced from 2.8- to 1.9-fold and from 2.0- to 1.3-fold greater amounts of TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha respectively, compared to macrophages from healthy controls, 5-fold higher than bladder cancer patients not treated with BCG. IL-6 was not affected. In another set of experiments macrophages (5 x 10(6) cells/ml) from healthy subjects were pretreated, or not, with BCG (100 micrograms/ml) overnight and treated, or not, with LPS 20 microgram/ml alone and in combination with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) 250 ng/ml. Macrophages treated with BCG had a strong stimulatory effect on IL-1 alpha release (9.45 ng/ml) while LPS was less effective (3.59 ng/ml). The combination of BCG plus LPS produced an additive effect on IL-1 alpha release (13.71 ng/ml) compared to the effect of the compound alone. The addition of IL-1ra (250 ng/ml) to BCG was not effective, while when IL-1ra was added to BCG plus LPS only a partial inhibition of IL-1 alpha release was found (9.83 ng/ml), compared to BCG plus LPS without IL-1ra (13.71 ng/ml). These effects seem to be related to the inhibition of IL-1 alpha stimulated with LPS, but not BCG. The priming effect of BCG exerted on LPS-stimulated monocyte production of TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha from bladder cancer patients led us to study the possible modulation of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein in the serum of BCG-treated cancer patients. The plasma levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein were higher (approximately twice) in BCG-treated patients compared to values obtained in untreated patients or healthy controls. We conclude that the beneficial immunotherapeutic effects of BCG in bladder cancer patients are related to its capacity to prime macrophages to enhance the release of TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha, but not IL-6 in response to physiological secondary stimuli, or through the direct stimulation of BCG on IL-1 alpha or TNF alpha, which are directly involved in the killing of cancer cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Inhibition of granuloma formation induced by potassium permanganate in the mouse by a specific human recombinant receptor antagonist for interleukin-1 (hrIL-1ra).

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a polypeptide which mediates several systemic changes associated with infection, inflammation and injury, such as fever, neutrophilia, increased acute phase protein synthesis, and arachidonic acid metabolites. Recently, a natural inhibitor of IL-1 has been cloned, called IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), which prevents Escherichia coli-induced shock in rabbits and blocks PGE2 induced by IL-1. In this report we study the effect of human recombinant (hr) IL-1ra on chronic inflammation induced by dorsal injections of 200 microliters of a 1:40 saturated crystal solution of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in mice. After 7 days, all mice developed a subcutaneous granulomatous tissue indicative of a chronic inflammatory response, at the site of injection. KMnO4-treated mice, injected intraperitoneally twice with hrIL-1ra, 20 micrograms/dose (the first at the same time of induction of the granuloma and the second 24 hr later), show significant decreases in size and weight of the granuloma when compared to mice not treated with hrIL-1ra (controls); the inhibitory effect was approximately 32-46 and 25-51%, respectively. In addition, in all mice treated with hrIL-1ra, there was a strong inhibition of PGE2 and LTB4 on assay of freshly minced granuloma tissue. Moreover, when hrIL-1 beta (1.0 ng/ml) or LPS (100 ng/ml) were added overnight to the minced granuloma tissue cultures, these compounds enhanced the production of LTB4 and PGE2 from the untreated mice, whereas in IL-1ra-treated mice they failed. In the histological studies of the granuloma, animals treated with hrIL-1ra show a lesser degree of mononuclear cell (MC) accumulation. The inhibitory effect of hrIL-1ra on PGE2 production was also confirmed on peritoneal macrophages from untreated mice, stimulated overnight with hrIL-1 beta or LPS in vitro. The resulting inhibition was dose-dependent. In these studies we show, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory effect of hrIL-1ra on chronic inflammation as assessed by the inhibition of granuloma formation, PGE2, LTB4, and white cell accumulation in inflamed tissue.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist inhibits calcium accumulation in in vivo chronic granuloma induced by potassium permanganate.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a monokine that exerts multiple biological activity, including immunity and inflammation. Moreover, IL-1 is involved in Ca2+ release causing hypercalcemia and bone resorption. Recently, a 22 kDa natural inhibitor to IL-1 called interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) has been described in human fluids, which specifically binds IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta receptors. In this study, we found that experimental granuloma induced by subcutaneous injections (0.2 ml) of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) 1:40 saturated crystal solution, after 7 days was strongly inhibited in size, weight and calcium content (measured as dry ash weight by incineration of granuloma tissue) compared with untreated controls, in mice treated intraperitoneally with IL-1ra (20 micrograms/bolus) given twice; the first at the same time of the induction of the granuloma and the second 24 hours later. In addition, leukotriene B4 and prostaglandin E2 were also inhibited in fresh granuloma of mice treated with IL-1ra. Taken together, these findings conclude for the first time, that the accumulation of calcium in chronic inflammatory states is strongly inhibited by IL-1ra, which decreases tissue calcergy and can potentially be useful for the treatment of calcium-related inflammatory diseases and malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Human recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1RA) inhibits prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) generation but not alkaline phosphatase activity in in vivo chronic granulomatous tissue induced by KMnO4.

Interleukin-1, a soluble polypeptide, plays an important role in inflammatory reactions by increasing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) generation. Human recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1ra) is a natural inhibitor of IL-1 which blocks its activity in several inflammatory states. In these studies we found that hrIL-1ra (250 mg/ml) inhibits the generation of PGE2, as measured by RIA method, in minced mouse granuloma tissue (700 mg) treated overnight with LPS (10-1000 ng/ml) or hrIL-1 beta (0.1-10 ng/ml). In addition, we show that hrIL-1ra (250 ng/ml) strongly inhibited IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, as measured by ELISA method, in the minced granuloma tissue treated overnight with LPS 1 micrograms/ml or IL-1 beta (10 ng/ml). The granuloma tissue induced in mice by a dorsal subcutaneous injection (0.2 ml) of a saturated solution (1:40 dilution) of KMnO4 crystals, presented an alkaline phosphatase activity which was not inhibited by two intraperitoneal administrations of hrIL-1ra 20 micrograms/200 ml bolus injections (given at the same time as KMnO4 injection and one 24 h later). These results show for the first time that hrIL-1ra blocks PGE2, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta but not alkaline phosphatase activity, which is a marker in growing bone and in calcific and inflamed tissue.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1993

Human recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) inhibits leukotriene B4 generation from human monocyte suspensions stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

The effect of human recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1Ra) on leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release was investigated in activated human monocyte cultures. To stimulate LTB4 generation, LPS was used as an agonist. Detection was performed with the highly sensitive radioimmunoassay method. The cells were treated with scalar concentrations using LPS at 1-1000 ng/ml for different periods of time. The greater LTB4 stimulation was found at LPS 100 ng/ml for 18 h incubation time. Preincubation of monocytes with cytochalasin B (CB) (5 micrograms/ml) for 15 min augmented the release of LTB4 when LPS was used. A dose-dependent inhibition was found when human monocytes were pretreated for 10 min with hrIL-1Ra at different concentrations (0.25-250 ng/ml) and then treated with LPS 100 ng/ml for 18 h. Maximum inhibition was observed at the highest concentration of hrIL-1Ra (250 ng/ml). Macrophages treated with a non-selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), used at 10 microM, added 15 min before LPS 100 ng/ml, produce a dose-dependent inhibition of LTB4. Cells pretreated with arachidonic acid, at various concentrations (10(-9)-10(-5) M) for 10 min and then treated with LPS 100 ng/ml for 18 h, were also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by hrIL-1Ra in their production of LTB4. The inhibition of LTB4 release by hrIL-1Ra, in LPS-stimulated human monocytes, may suggest an important modulatory role for this new cytokine (monokine) in inflammation and immunity and may hold future therapeutic implications for diseases involving LTB4 as a mediator.

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMed1993

Leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) potentiates human macrophage aggregation and activation responses to calcium ionophore A23187 and directly induces leukotriene B4 and thromboxane A2 release.

Aggregation studies have become a useful criterion for analyzing leukocyte motility and activation in vitro. The T-cell-derived lymphokine human leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) is a modulator of many important polymorphonuclear (PMN) functions in addition to aggregation such as chemotaxis, lysosomal degranulation, phagocytosis, bactericidal killing, augmented antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), induction of neutrophil Fc-gamma, complement type-1 and FMLP receptors, and production of superoxide and H2O2. Our investigations focused on the ability of LIF to modulate the aggregation of macrophages (MO) induced by calcium ionophore A23187. The ionophore A23187 directly induced potent aggregation of macrophages, which was markedly enhanced when the cells were pretreated with LIF. However, the addition of LIF in the absence of other costimuli did not directly induce MO aggregation. LIF was shown to enhance PMN aggregation induced by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP), but did not augment the aggregation of FMLP-stimulated macrophages, indicating a cellular specificity of aggregation-inducing costimuli following LIF priming. Additional cytokines examined for possibly inducing MO aggregation were interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6); all proved to be incapable of inducing aggregation directly, nor did they enhance the effect of A23187 ionophore on macrophage aggregation. Additionally, we found that LIF can directly stimulate MO to activate specific pathways of the arachidonic acid cascade, inducing the synthesis and release of thromboxanes and leukotriene B4. LIF did not augment the potent ability of A23187 to induce increased production of LTB4 or TxA2 by human MO. These new results coupled with our previously published data indicate that LIF can enhance the activation of both MO and PMN leukocytes when exposed to either A23187 or FMLP, respectively. Moreover, these data suggest that LIF can contribute directly to monocyte-macrophage leukocyte activation, in addition to PMN activation, during inflammatory responses, resulting in greater cell aggregation, activation, and specific proinflammatory arachidonic acid product release.

Calcimycin↗