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T Hartung

Publications and source records attributed to T Hartung.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Immunomodulatory action of G-CSF in a rat model of endotoxin-induced liver injury: an intravital microscopic analysis of Kupffer cell and leukocyte response.

In contrast to the anticipation that in sepsis granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) would overactivate the nonspecific immune system by recruiting and priming leukocytes with consequent aggravation of inflammatory tissue lesions, recombinant (r) G-CSF pretreatment was protective in various experimental non-neutropenic models of inflammation. The mechanisms of protection, however, are not fully understood. Using intravital fluorescence microscopy, we show that rG-CSF enhances leukocyte endothelial cell interaction within the microvasculature of normal rat livers, whereas rG-CSF pretreatment of animals exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) attenuates the LPS-induced leukocytic response, including stasis in sinusoids as well as rolling and adherence in postsinusoidal venules with subsequent tissue infiltration. Moreover, rG-CSF, which did not affect Kupffer cell activity in normal rat livers, reduced the immediate activation of Kupffer cells on LPS exposure, as indicated in vivo by the delayed adherence/phagocytosis of intra-arterially administered latex particles associated with attenuation of proinflammatory cytokine release (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6). Finally, rG-CSF reduced LPS-induced nutritive perfusion failure and hepatocellular excretory dysfunction. This study provides evidence for a distinct, possibly tumor necrosis factor alpha-dependent modulation of LPS-induced cellular response within the liver by rG-CSF, thereby achieving protection against microcirculatory perfusion failure and hepatic dysfunction.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

Overactivation of the immune system by translocated bacteria and bacterial products.

Gut-derived bacteria and their constituents, namely endotoxins, contribute to the pathogenesis of septic multi-organ failure. Ischemia, trauma, chronic inflammation, immunosuppression or reduced blood flow in the gut are conditions that enhance bacterial translocation, which in turn activates the non-specific immune system, i.e. macrophages and granulocytes to release mediators of inflammation such as cytokines, eicosanoids and degranulation products. Besides blood leukocytes, the liver macrophage population (Kupffer cells), the majority of macrophages in the organism, is a central part of the defense. When overactivated this system can turn against the host, resulting in inflammatory organ damage such as liver injury. A variety of cell and animal models was used to characterize the response of blood and liver leukocytes stimulated by bacteria and bacterial wall preparations. Inflammatory hepatocytotoxicity was studied in vivo as well as in a coculture model of Kupffer cells and hepatocytes. A combination of tumor necrosis factor-mediated apoptosis and interleukin-1-mediated necrosis was identified as a crucial mechanism of endotoxin-inducible hepatocytotoxicity in vitro. Lactulose is believed to reduce bacterial translocation and could thus limit the adverse overactivation of the non-specific immune system. In addition, lactulose at high concentrations inhibited Kupffer cell release of inflammatory mediators and protected hepatocytes against macrophage toxicity. The clinical significance of this observation deserves further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Endotoxin-inducible granulocyte-mediated hepatocytotoxicity requires adhesion and serine protease release.

In primary cultures of Kupffer cells and hepatocytes, human granulocytes potentiated toxicity of endotoxin about 1000-fold. Granulocyte elastase activity was found to correlate with toxicity. The serine protease inhibitors alpha1-antitrypsin, eglin C, and aprotinin protected against toxicity. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced cytotoxicity and elastase release, whereas neutralization of TNF-alpha blocked both events. We conclude that TNF-alpha formed by Kupffer cells activates granulocytes. Experiments in cultures where cells were separated by membranes permeable to mediators indicated that cell contact is needed for toxicity. Scanning electron microscopy showed granulocytes adhering to and interdigitating with hepatocytes. Using liver cells from ICAM-1-deficient mice had no effect on toxicity. However, neutralizing CD31 inhibited toxicity and elastase release but not granulocyte adhesion. Our findings demonstrate that adhesion of granulocytes is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the synergistic interaction of endotoxin-stimulated liver macrophages and granulocytes in the proteolytic killing of hepatocytes.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed1996

Control of fecal peritoneal infection in mice by colony-stimulating factors.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) recruits and primes neutrophilic granulocytes. The role of endogenous and exogenous G-CSF was examined in a murine fecal peritoneal infection model characterized by rapid production of high levels of circulating G-CSF. Pretreatment with anti-murine G-CSF for 5 days reduced neutrophil counts by 50% and sensitized mice to sublethal peritonitis. There were more aerobic bacteria in livers of antiserum-pretreated animals but fewer neutrophils in peritoneal cavities. Pretreatment with 100 micrograms/kg recombinant murine G-CSF intravenously for 2 days raised neutrophil counts 5-fold and significantly protected animals against lethal peritonitis. A similar prophylactic administration of murine granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF neither augmented leukocyte numbers nor protected infected mice. These results show a dissociation between the pharmacologic properties of GM-CSF and G-CSF and demonstrate the crucial role of endogenous G-CSF in controlling neutrophil-dependent defense against bacterial invasion in infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Testing of immunomodulatory properties in vitro.

The immune response of different species to a given stimulus varies considerably. The in vitro evaluation of immunomodulatory properties of test compounds therefore prompts the use of human cells. We have conducted experiments on human whole blood incubations which offer the advantages of few preparation artefacts, natural cell environment and easy performance. Ten different immune stimuli were used to initiate leukocyte mediator release. Out of > 20 factors as readout, each and every stimulus released a unique set of factors with different kinetics and concentration dependences. We also used liver macrophages as an alternative cellular model. In this model, over-activation of the macrophages by endotoxin released a toxic combination of factors which killed co-cultured hepatocytes. Co-culture experiments were carried out with primary rat as well as with human liver cells to check for common mechanisms. Furthermore, we added human neutrophil granulocytes to these co-cultures which synergized with the macrophages in killing hepatocytes. Since a similar cellular interaction exists in vivo, this extended cell system bears additional characteristics of the in vivo situation. Therefore, these in vitro models of basic mechanisms of inflammation might be suitable for the evaluation of pro- and anti-inflammatory properties of test compounds.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1995

Effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment on ex vivo blood cytokine response in human volunteers.

We explored the ex vivo alteration in the cytokine release of stimulated blood taken from healthy volunteers treated subcutaneously with 480 micrograms granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In a double-blind, controlled, randomized study with 21 volunteers who received G-CSF once or twice 24 hours apart, we measured lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible release of various cytokines and soluble receptors at different times after treatment. At day 1 after a single dose of G-CSF, mediator release was also initiated with muramyl dipeptide, Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A, lipoteichoic acid, streptolysin O, complement factor C5a, phytohemagglutinin, or phorbol myristate acetate. In blood from G-CSF-treated subjects, our major findings were (1) a maximal 12-fold increase in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) release and an increase of both the p55 and p75 soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors; (2) a reduction in TNF release when using all the various stimuli described except LPS; (3) an increase in G-CSF and, to lesser extent, in IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 release; and (4) an attenuation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF release. Our findings demonstrate that the major effect of G-CSF treatment is a change in the responsiveness of blood towards a variety of stimuli, which we interpret as a shift toward an antiinflammatory cytokine response.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMed1992

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment protects rodents against lipopolysaccharide-induced toxicity via suppression of systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Pretreatment with recombinant human granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) protected mice in two different models of septic shock. Intravenous injection of 250 micrograms/kg G-CSF to mice prevented lethality induced by 5 mg/kg LPS. Injection of 50 micrograms/kg G-CSF protected galactosamine-sensitized mice against LPS-induced hepatitis. In either case, this protection was accompanied by a suppression of LPS-induced serum TNF activity. In contrast, when galactosamine-sensitized mice were pretreated with 50 micrograms/kg murine recombinant granulocyte/macrophage CSF instead of G-CSF and subsequently challenged with LPS, serum TNF activity was significantly enhanced and mortality was increased. The suppressive effect of G-CSF on LPS-induced TNF production was also demonstrated in rats. In vivo, no TNF was detectable in the blood of LPS-treated rats, which had been pretreated with G-CSF. Ex vivo, alveolar macrophages, bone marrow macrophages, Kupffer cells, or peritoneal macrophages prepared from G-CSF-treated rats produced significantly less TNF upon stimulation with LPS than corresponding populations from control rats. However, when these macrophage populations were incubated with G-CSF in vitro, LPS-induced TNF production was unaffected. These data suggest that the G-CSF-mediated suppression of TNF production is not a direct effect of G-CSF on macrophages. To examine whether, independent of the protection against LPS, G-CSF treatment still activated neutrophils, it was demonstrated that granulocytes from G-CSF-treated rats were primed for PMA-induced oxidative burst and for ionophore/arachidonic acid-stimulated lipoxygenase product formation. The experiments of this study support the notion that G-CSF is a negative feedback signal for macrophage-derived TNF-alpha production during Gram-negative sepsis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Endotoxin-inducible cytotoxicity in liver cell cultures--II. Demonstration of endotoxin-tolerance.

Endotoxins from gram negative bacteria, central mediators of septic shock, share the characteristic property of inducing tolerance against their own action. This work investigates whether a corresponding ex-vivo tolerance can be observed in a cellular system with endotoxin-inducible hepatocytoxicity. The following experimental approaches were chosen in order to induce an endotoxin-unresponsive state prior to cell preparation: (1) pretreatment of rats with endotoxin, (2) partial hepatectomy, (3) use of neonatal rats and (4) pretreatment of rats with silica. An in-vivo protection against endotoxin-induced liver injury was obtained by all of these four measures: cells prepared from these groups of animals showed greatly diminished sensitivity towards endotoxin-induced hepatocytotoxicity in vitro. The suppressed endotoxin sensitivity after silica pretreatment was partially restored in vitro by the addition of native Kupffer cells (KC). Isolated KC of all but the endotoxin-pretreated animals secreted tumor necrosis factor-alpha in response to endotoxin. It is concluded that different types of tolerance can be distinguished: (a) impairment of macrophage functions (silica pretreatment), (b) hepatocyte unresponsiveness (neonatal rats and hepatectomy) and (c) impaired macrophage function combined with hepatocyte unresponsiveness (endotoxin-pretreated rats).

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The role of leukotriene D4 in septic shock models.

Septic shock is a major complication during the treatment of intense care patients. A similar pathologic state can be experimentally induced in rodents by application of endotoxins. There is circumstantial as well as direct evidence for a participation of leukotriene D4 in this experimental multiorgan failure. Due to liver-specific sensitivation by galactosamine endotoxin-induced multiorgan failure can be experimentally transposed to a single organ, i.e. hepatic failure. Data presented here show a participation of the eicosanoid leukotriene D4 in either model of sepsis. We have recently described a cellular system modelling endotoxin-induced hepatic failure. In this system based on the coculture of hepatocytes and nonparenchymal liver cells leukotriene D4 is required for the development of cytotoxicity. It is concluded that the three models share pivotal mechanistic principles and might be used complementary to each other in order to study underlying molecular events.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Endotoxin-inducible cytotoxicity in liver cell cultures--I.

It is known that rodents challenged with a combination of galactosamine and endotoxin develop a fulminant hepatitis within several hours. Until now, no in-vitro correlate for this organ-specific lesion has been described. Here, in-vitro conditions have been developed which allow examination of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin)-inducible cell injury to hepatocytes. Under these in-vitro conditions (RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% calf serum, 40% oxygen tension) which require the presence of functionally intact Kupffer cells, a concentration-dependent lactate dehydrogenase release is inducible by different lipopolysaccharides in hepatocyte cultures from Fischer rats. It can be abrogated by polymyxin B. These co-cultures secreted tumor necrosis factor-alpha into the medium upon a lipopolysaccharide stimulus. The presence of a tumor necrosis factor-alpha antiserum reduced the major part of the endotoxin-inducible cytotoxicity. Similarities in vitro and in vivo of the cytotoxic potency of various endotoxin species and the different responsiveness of hepatocytes from two different rat strains support that this co-culture system might be useful for studying endotoxin-inducible lesions in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Piperidine renin inhibitors: from leads to drug candidates.

Non-peptidomimetic renin inhibitors of the piperidine type represent a novel structural class of compounds potentially free of the drawbacks seen with peptidomimetic compounds so far. Synthetic optimization in two structural series focusing on improvement of potency, as well as on physicochemical properties and metabolic stability, has led to the identification of two candidate compounds 14 and 23. Both display potent and long-lasting blood pressure lowering effects in conscious sodium-depleted marmoset monkeys and double transgenic rats harboring both the human angiotensinogen and the human renin genes. In addition, 14 normalizes albuminuria and kidney tissue damage in these rats when given over a period of 4 weeks. These data suggest that treatment of chronic renal failure patients with a renin inhibitor might result in a significant improvement of the disease status.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Whole blood cytokine response as a measure of immunotoxicity.

Immunotoxicity, although increasingly recognized as a potential hazard, still lacks standardized in vivo and in vitro models. The considerable species differences and species-specific effects in immune responses prompt the development of human in vitro test systems. Immunotoxic reactions comprise activation (inflammatory processes, autoaggressive processes, pyrogenicity), sensitization (priming, idiosyncratic reactions) and impairment of immune responses (anergy, immunosuppression). We have previously studied a human whole blood system which allows the study of the release of inflammatory cytokines in response to a variety of stimuli. This model allows the assessment of this basic immune mechanism without preparation artefacts and relatively small interindividual variances. We have used this model previously to assess pyrogens, namely type (1) immunotoxic reactions. The model also proved to be suitable for immunopharmacological studies in vitro as well as ex vivo. Here, we studied the suitability of the test system to study type (3) immunotoxic effects. In order to also allow ex vivo studies, we have transferred the system to murine blood. This report summarizes our own use of this model with special emphasis on immunotoxicological studies. Our own listed bibliography gives access to the variety of applications of the human whole blood model since its introduction in 1982.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of genetically engineered cells for assessing CYP2D6-related polymorphic effects.

As an example of advanced testing in the field of metabolism in an industrial environment, the introduction of some novel approaches, including the use of genetically engineered cell lines for assessing CYP 2D6-related polymorphic effects is illustrated. In this paper, it is demonstrated that novel in vitro test systems can be developed by using these genetically engineered cell lines for evaluating the potential risks associated with proprietary drugs (especially if their metabolism depends to a high extent on CYP 2D6). Moreover, it is demonstrated that, by the use of these in vitro methods, issues such as polymorphism, for which no animal models are available, can be assessed in such a way that predictions can be made on adverse effects which, up to now, could only be detected during clinical trials. Through the use of these new biotechnological in vitro metabolism models, clinically relevant data can be obtained for a scientifically-based human risk assessment, and animal use can be reduced.

Animal Testing Alternatives↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of the European centre for the validation of alternative methods (ECVAM) in the validation of (Q)SARs.

Under the current chemicals legislation, the regulatory use of structure-activity relationships (SARs) and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), collectively referred to as (Q)SARs, for the assessment of chemicals is limited, partly due to concerns about the extent to which (Q)SAR estimates can be relied upon. On 29 October 2003, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal that foresees the introduction of a new regulatory system for chemicals called REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals), which will impose equivalent information requirements on both new and existing chemicals. For reasons of practicality, cost-effectiveness and animal welfare, it is envisaged that (Q)SARs will play an important role in the assessment of some 30,000 existing chemicals for which further information may be required under the REACH system. It will therefore be essential that the (Q)SAR models used will produce reliable estimates. To overcome the barriers in the acceptance of (Q)SARs for regulatory purposes, it is widely acknowledged that there needs to be international agreement on the principles of (Q)SAR validation, and that the process of (Q)SAR validation should be managed by independent organisations, with a view to providing independent advice to the regulators who make decisions on the acceptability of (Q)SARs. The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), which is part of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), has a well-established role in providing independent scientific and technical advice to European policy makers. This paper describes progress made at an international level regarding the principles of validation, and explains the role of ECVAM regarding the practical validation of (Q)SARs.

Animal Testing Alternatives↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The prospects for using (Q)SARs in a changing political environment--high expectations and a key role for the European Commission's joint research centre.

Recent policy developments in the European union (EU) and within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have placed increased emphasis on the use of structure-activity relationships (SARs) and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), collectively referred to as (Q)SARs, within various regulatory programmes for the assessment of chemicals and products. The most significant example within the EU is the European commission's proposal (of 29 October 2003) to introduce a new system for managing chemicals (called REACH), which calls for an increased use of (Q)SARs and other non-animal methods, especially for the assessment of low production volume chemicals. Another development within the EU is the Seventh Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive, which foresees the phasing out of animal testing on cosmetics, combined with the imposition of marketing bans on cosmetics that have been tested on animals after certain deadlines. At the same time, the Existing Chemicals programme within the OECD is investigating ways of increasing the use of chemical category approaches, which depend heavily on the use of (Q)SARs, activity-activity relationships and read-across. Such developments are placing an enormous challenge on industry, regulatory bodies, and on the European commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), which is responsible for providing independent scientific advice to policy makers in the European Commission and the Member States. This paper reviews the different scientific and regulatory purposes for which reliable (Q)SARs could be used, and describes the current work of the JRC in providing scientific support for the development, validation and implementation of (Q)SARs.

Animal Experimentation↗