PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Dhanani

Publications and source records attributed to S Dhanani.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Down-regulation of murine fibrosarcoma transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression by interleukin 7.

BACKGROUND: Cytokine genes encode proteins that modulate immune system responses. Modification of tumor cells by the introduction of cytokine genes has been used as a strategy to augment host immunity. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) gene transfer enhances the immune response to tumor cells and can result in tumor regression. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine produced by many tumors. We have previously reported that recombinant IL-7 decreases the expression of TGF-beta 1 by murine macrophages. PURPOSE: This study investigates the inhibition of tumor-derived TGF-beta 1 production as a possible mechanism for the enhanced antitumor immunity that accompanies IL-7 gene transfer. METHODS: A fibrosarcoma cell line (FSA-JmIL-7) genetically modified to produce IL-7 was used to evaluate the effects of IL-7 on tumor production of TGF-beta 1. The control cell line (FSA-Jneo) originated from the same parental fibrosarcoma cell line (FSA) and was produced by transduction with the same retroviral vector without the IL-7 gene. FSA-Jneo and FSA-JmIL-7 tumor cells were evaluated for the expression of TGF-beta 1 messenger RNA (mRNA). To determine if the observed change in TGF-beta 1 mRNA was associated with an alteration in protein secretion, we compared supernatants from tumor cell cultures for TGF-beta 1 production. Specific anti-TGF-beta 1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) was used to confirm the role of TGF-beta 1 in these assays. RESULTS: Compared with FSA parental and FSA-Jneo cells, FSA-JmIL-7 cells expressed TGF-beta 1 mRNA at a lower level. Compared with supernatants from FSA-Jneo cells, FSA-JmIL-7 supernatants contained consistently lower levels of TGF-beta 1 activity (P < .05). In addition, FSA-Jneo supernatants suppressed lymphocyte proliferation to a significantly greater degree than supernatants from FSA-JmIL-7 cells (P < .05). Studies with anti-TGF-beta 1 MAb added to the supernatants confirmed the role of TGF-beta 1 in inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that IL-7 gene transfer inhibits the production of TGF-beta 1 by tumor cells and thus may enhance the efficacy of the host's antitumor immune response. IMPLICATION: The regulation of endogenous tumor-derived cytokines in response to cytokine gene transfer may contribute to altered immune responses in the tumor microenvironment and thus may be an important additional parameter to assess in gene therapy.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha plays a central role in interleukin-2-induced pulmonary vascular leak and lymphocyte accumulation.

Administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) leads to pulmonary vascular leak. This form of pulmonary edema has previously been postulated to be due to the in vivo induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). To determine whether TNF-alpha plays a role in IL-2-induced pulmonary vascular leak, we performed in situ hybridization of lung sections and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages from IL-2-challenged mice. The results confirm an in situ upregulation of TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the lungs associated with vascular leak. In addition, a significant increase in TNF-alpha protein production was found in the lung following IL-2 administration, as measured by TNF-alpha-specific ELISA of lung supernatants (P = 0.028). Intravenous administration of a soluble TNF receptor significantly diminished IL-2-induced pulmonary vascular leak (P = 0.006). These findings confirm a central role for TNF-alpha in mediating the pulmonary vascular leak associated with IL-2 toxicity.

Animals↗

Interferon-alpha inhibits murine macrophage transforming growth factor-beta mRNA expression.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a multifunctional polypeptide is produced by a wide variety of cells and regulates a broad array of physiological and pathological functions. TGF-beta appears to play a central role in pulmonary fibrosis and may contribute to tumor-associated immunosuppression. Alveolar macrophages are a rich source of TGF-beta and are intimately involved in lung inflammation. We therefore chose to study TGF-beta regulation in murine alveolar macrophages as well as an immortalized peritoneal macrophage cell line (IC-21). Murine macrophages were incubated with cytokines to evaluate their role in regulating TGF-beta mRNA expression. We conclude that IFN-alpha downregulates TGF-beta mRNA expression in murine macrophages.

Animals↗

Down-regulation of macrophage transforming growth factor-beta messenger RNA expression by IL-7.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent inhibitor of immune responses. Macrophage-derived products, including TGF-beta, have been suggested as inhibitors of the antitumor immune response. We hypothesized that IL-7, a cytokine with antitumor properties, may exert its immunoregulatory effects in part through the down-regulation of TGF-beta. To test this hypothesis we analyzed IL-2-stimulated murine macrophage TGF-beta mRNA expression following exposure to IL-7 both in vitro and in vivo. IL-7 down-regulated IL-2-induced TGF-beta expression by macrophages in vitro, as well as after i.p. injections of IL-2 and IL-7 in vivo. The IL-7-mediated inhibition of TGF-beta mRNA expression did not require new protein synthesis and therefore appears to be a direct effect of IL-7. IL-7 had no significant effect on the stability of TGF-beta mRNA. Nuclear run-on assays revealed that the suppression of IL-2-induced TGF-beta gene expression by IL-7 is mediated at the level of transcription. Also, IL-7 decreased TGF-beta secretion as measured by bioassay. We conclude that IL-7 down-regulates TGF-beta and suggest that some of the proliferative and cytolytic activities mediated by cells exposed to IL-7 may be caused by a decrement in macrophage-derived TGF-beta.

Animals↗