PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

V C Broudy

Publications and source records attributed to V C Broudy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Interaction of human bone marrow fibroblasts with megakaryocytes: role of the c-kit ligand.

Human kit ligand (KL), also known as stem cell factor (SCF), steel factor, or mast cell growth factor, is a recently identified hematopoietic growth factor whose receptor is the product of the c-kit proto-oncogene. Alternative splicing of the pre-mRNA of KL/SCF results in secreted and membrane-bound forms of the protein. We and others have recently shown that the c-kit gene product is expressed on human megakaryocytes and that soluble KL/SCF in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-3 (IL-3), or IL-6 increased megakaryocyte progenitor colony formation (CFU-MEG) and stimulated mature megakaryocytes. Here we show that adhesion of human megakaryocytes to bone marrow stromal fibroblasts, which express the membrane-bound form of KL/SCF (mKL/SCF), is mediated in part by the interaction between mKL/SCF and the c-kit protein. This interaction also results in marrow fibroblast-stimulated proliferation but not an increase in ploidy of megakaryocytes; when the two cell types were separated by a transoluble membrane, proliferation did not occur. Adhesion and proliferation of human megakaryocytes to an immortalized murine stromal cell line SI/SI lacking the KL/SCF gene was impaired, whereas transfection of SI/SI cells with human mKL/SCF significantly increased both adhesion and proliferation. Marrow stromal fibroblast mKL/SCF may serve both as an adhesion structure and as a growth-potentiating factor for megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.

Animals

Nonhematopoietic tumor cell lines express stem cell factor and display c-kit receptors.

Human stem cell factor (SCF) acts in the presence of other growth factors to stimulate the growth of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. These effects are performed by activation of the SCF receptor, c-kit. Because of the potential use of SCF in patients undergoing chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, the effect of SCF on nonhematopoietic tumors requires investigation. To determine whether human tumor cell lines display c-kit receptors, we performed binding experiments with 125I-SCF on a breast carcinoma cell line (Du4475), a gastric carcinoma cell line (KATO III), a melanoma cell line (HTT144), as well as two small cell lung carcinoma cell lines (H69 and H128). The biologic effect of SCF on tumor cell lines was assessed by its ability to stimulate tritiated thymidine uptake and to enhance colony growth in methylcellulose. The breast carcinoma cell line, Du4475, as well as two small cell lung carcinoma cell lines, H69 and H128, exhibit high-affinity c-kit receptors with approximate binding affinities of 40, 100, and 90 pmol/L, respectively. The number of high-affinity receptors per cell ranged from 700 to 9,500. The gastric carcinoma cell line, as well as the melanoma cell line, showed trace binding of 125I-SCF. In the presence of SCF alone, or in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or interleukin-3, there was less than a 17% increase in the colony growth of Du4475, H69, or H128 cell lines. Postulating that the lack of growth response could be secondary to endogenous SCF production by the tumor cell lines, we used an RNAse protection assay to determine whether the tumor cell lines contain SCF messenger RNA (mRNA). In addition, we tested tumor cell line supernatants for the presence of secreted SCF protein by enzyme immunoassay, and analyzed the tumor cell lines for membrane-bound SCF by indirect immunofluorescence. Our results show that the Du4475, H69, and H128 cell lines, as well as a melanoma cell line (HTT144), have multiple copies of SCF mRNA. Soluble SCF protein was detected in the cell supernatants in the Du4475 and H69 cell lines and SCF was found on the surface of all four cell lines. These data show that some human solid tumor cell lines display high-affinity c-kit receptors and produce SCF, which can be detected on the cell surface. These results suggest the possibility that autocrine production of SCF by c-kit receptor-bearing tumor cells may enhance cell growth in tumor cell lines.

Animals

Blasts from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia express functional receptors for stem cell factor.

Stem cell factor (SCF) acts in concert with lineage-specific growth factors to stimulate the growth of hematopoietic colonies. To determine if neoplastic human hematopoietic cells would also respond to SCF, we cultured marrow mononuclear cells from 20 patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and two normal donors with SCF, interleukin 3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or combinations of growth factors in semisolid medium, and assessed colony growth. SCF receptors (c-kit receptors) were quantitated by equilibrium binding studies with 125I-SCF, and binding parameters were estimated using the ligand program. The cellular distribution of c-kit receptors was determined by autoradiography. Our results show that SCF alone or in combination with IL-3 or GM-CSF increased both the number and size of colonies in 10 of the patients. Receptors for SCF were identified on the blasts from all 20 AML patients. The number of receptors ranged from 600 to 29,000 per cell. In the majority of patients, both high- and low-affinity binding sites were identified. Neither the number of receptors per cell nor the finding of one or two classes of receptors correlated with growth response to SCF. Autoradiographic analysis of 125I-SCF binding to normal marrow mononuclear cells revealed grains associated with blasts and megakaryocytes. Grain counts on blasts from 10 AML patients and on normal marrow blasts suggested that high-affinity c-kit receptor expression on AML blasts is lower than or similar to that of normal blasts. These results identify c-kit receptors on human AML blasts, and indicate that SCF acts synergistically with IL-3 or GM-CSF to stimulate colony growth from the marrow cells of a portion of patients with AML.

Autoradiography

Further phenotypic characterization and isolation of human hematopoietic progenitor cells using a monoclonal antibody to the c-kit receptor.

A mouse antihuman monoclonal IgG2a antibody, termed stem cell receptor-1 (SR-1), specific for a determinant of the c-kit ligand receptor (KR), was used as an immunologic probe to analyze KR expression by human bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells. Monoclonal antibodies to CD34 and HLA-DR were used in a multicolor staining protocol in conjunction with SR-1 to further define the phenotypes of various classes of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Expression of KR (SR-1+) on hematopoietic progenitor cells identified subpopulations of cells expressing CD34 (CD34+). While one-half of the CD34- and HLA-DR-expressing cells (CD34+ HLA-DR+) expressed the KR (SR-1+), one-third of the CD34+ cells that lacked HLA-DR expression (CD34+ HLA-DR-) were SR-1+. The CD34+ HLA-DR+ SR-1+ cell population contained the vast majority of the more differentiated progenitor cells, including the colony-forming unit (CFU) granulocyte-macrophage; burst-forming unit-erythrocyte; CFU-granulocyte, erythrocyte, macrophage, megakaryocyte; and the CFU-megakaryocyte. The overall progenitor cell cloning efficiency of this subpopulation was greater than 31%. By contrast, the CD34+ HLA-DR- SR-1+ cell population contained fewer of these more differentiated progenitor cells but exclusively contained the more primitive progenitor cells, the BFU-megakaryocyte, high proliferative potential-colony-forming cell, and long-term bone marrow culture-initiating cell. The overall progenitor cell cloning efficiency of this subpopulation was greater than 7%. Both the CD34+ HLA-DR- and CD34+ HLA-DR+ cell subpopulations lacking KR expression contained few assayable hematopoietic progenitor cells. Long-term bone marrow cultures initiated with CD34+ HLA-DR- SR-1+ but not CD34+ HLA-DR- SR-1- cells, which were repeatedly supplemented with c-kit ligand (KL) and interleukin-3, generated assayable progenitor cells of at least 2 lineages for 10 weeks. These experiments demonstrate the expression of the KR throughout the hierarchy of human hematopoietic progenitor cell development. We conclude from our data that the KL and KR play a pivotal role in cytokine regulation of both the primitive and more differentiated human hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Familial and congenital polycythemia in three unrelated families.

Three families with polycythemia inherited through apparently different modes are described. Secondary causes of polycythemia were ruled out. Erythropoietin (EPO) levels were normal or low, even after phlebotomy. In vitro erythroid colony growth in standard assay cultures containing EPO was normal; however, in the absence of added EPO, a few progenitors from most of the affected individuals were able to generate recognizable colonies of mature erythroblasts, although these were smaller and proportionately less numerous than seen in polycythemia vera (PV). To search for EPO-receptor changes as a possible pathophysiologic mechanism, we examined, by Southern blot analysis, genomic DNA samples from affected and nonaffected family members, as well as three patients with PV. Two different probes, derived from the human EPO-receptor, were used. We found no evidence for chromosomal rearrangements or gene amplification in hereditary polycythemia or PV patients. Further, no nucleotide sequences were found that were homologous to the Friend spleen focus-forming virus glycoprotein gp55, which has been shown to bind to and activate the murine EPO-receptor. Functional studies examining number and binding affinity of the EPO-receptor on erythroid progenitors from three hereditary polycythemia patients demonstrated no abnormalities. We conclude that the mechanism(s) for the erythrocytosis in familial and congenital polycythemia and in PV may not involve the EPO-receptor and, therefore, may result from alterations of postreceptor responses.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate

Isolation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the human c-kit receptor.

Stem cell factor (SCF) stimulates the growth of burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) and colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) by binding to a specific cell surface receptor. The receptor for SCF is encoded by the protooncogene c-kit. After immunizing mice with the human erythroleukemia cell line OCIM1, we obtained a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that recognizes the human c-kit receptor. This MoAb, designated SR-1, blocks binding of 125I-human SCF to the c-kit receptor, and neutralizes the biologic effects of SCF in hematopoietic colony assays. With few exceptions, c-kit expression was identified on all hematopoietic and lymphoid cell lines tested by indirect immunofluorescent analysis using SR-1 and by binding studies with 125I-SCF. SR-1 recognizes a small fraction of normal bone marrow mononuclear cells, and these cells have the morphologic appearance of blasts. Colony assays show that BFU-E and CFU-GM display the c-kit receptor. SR-1 does not cross-react with murine c-kit protein, indicating that the binding epitopes of the human and murine c-kit receptors are antigenically distinct. This MoAb may be useful to characterize the spectrum of cells that display the c-kit receptor and to further define the role of SCF in hematopoiesis.

Animals

Absence of abnormalities of c-kit or its ligand in two patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

As Diamond-Blackfan anemia shares clinical features with W and Steel defects in mice, we investigated the possibility that this human disorder might result from an abnormality of the c-kit receptor or its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF). For these studies, full nucleotide sequences for coding regions of c-kit and SCF were generated for two Diamond-Blackfan anemia patients and were normal. Similarly, the kds of SCF receptors on their marrow cells (31 pmol/L, 43 pmol/L) were comparable with those found in three normal controls (50 pmol/L, 55 pmol/L, 27 pmol/L). Serum SCF concentrations were 6.9 ng/mL in patient A, 14.6 ng/mL in patient B, who has been in hematologic remission since adolescence, and 2.7 ng/mL in the 3-year-old daughter of patient B, who also has Diamond-Blackfan anemia but is transfusion-dependent. It is possible that the SCF level in patient B increased with puberty, leading to her remission. These data provide evidence that Diamond-Blackfan anemia does not result from structural abnormalities of c-kit or SCF.

Adult

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

Isolation of c-kit receptor-expressing cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and fetal liver: functional properties and composite antigenic profile.

To define the cellular targets for c-kit ligand (KL) and to study their functional properties and composite antigenic profile, we isolated cells expressing c-kit receptor (KR) from bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood, and fetal liver (FL) using immunoadherence to a recently obtained antibody (SR-1) against the human KR. Cells isolated by this approach (designated SR-1Ad) have the morphology of blasts and represent 1% to 4% of the original BM or FL populations. SR-1Ad cells from either source are highly enriched in progenitors (12% to 73%) and respond to KL in distinct patterns. In SR-1Ad cells from BM, the greatest impact of KL stimulation is on burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E), whereas in SR1-Ad cells from FL, the most significant KL effect is on a mixed erythroid/nonerythroid progenitor (erythroid/macrophage, colony-forming unit-mix [CFU-Mix]). When antibody SR-1 is continually present in culture, it neutralizes the effects of added KL. Furthermore, in the absence of added KL, it greatly diminishes the erythropoietin- and interleukin-3-dependent BFU-E growth in BM; whereas in FL, a wider spectrum of inhibition is observed, with CFU-Mix most severely curtailed. SR-1Ad cells coexpress other progenitor-associated antigens in a combination reflecting the dominant presence of erythroid progenitors (high expression of CD34, DR, CD38, and Ep-1; low expression of CD33). Several cytoadhesion molecules, ie, alpha L/beta 2 and alpha 4/beta 1 integrins, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and homing cell adhesion molecule 1, are also coexpressed. Our data provide new information on the isolation and characterization of KR expressing cells from normal, adult, and fetal hematopoietic tissues. On these biologically relevant target cells, the impact of ligand-induced stimulation or antibody-mediated ablation of KR function has been gauged.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase

Characterization of the structure of the erythropoietin receptor by ligand blotting.

Erythropoietin (Epo) regulates the growth and differentiation of erythroid cells by binding to a specific receptor. We characterized the native Epo receptor on erythroleukemia cell lines by ligand blotting. Solubilized cell membrane proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred onto nitrocellulose, and probed with 125I-Epo. Specificity was demonstrated by inhibition of 125I-Epo binding by unlabeled excess Epo but not other peptide growth factors and by the cellular distribution of the Epo binding protein. A single membrane protein of 61 Kd +/- 4 Kd was sufficient to bind 125I Epo in both human (OCIM2, K562) and murine (GM979, Rauscher, DA-1) cell lines. This finding is consistent with the predicted size of the Epo receptor from the murine cDNA clone. However, chemical crosslinking of 125I-Epo to its receptor has identified two Epo binding proteins of 105 Kd and 85 Kd. This difference may occur because the receptor is size fractionated before Epo binding in the ligand blot, but after Epo binding in crosslinking studies. Ligand blotting demonstrates that the native Epo receptor is composed of a single 61-Kd Epo binding protein, and suggests the presence of additional proteins of 20 to 25 Kd that associate with the receptor after Epo binding.

Animals

Erythropoietin receptor characteristics on primary human erythroid cells.

Erythropoietin (EP) exerts its effects on erythropoiesis by binding to a cell surface receptor. We examined EP receptor expression during normal human erythroid differentiation and maturation from the burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) to the reticulocyte level. In contrast to previous studies, we assessed EP receptor number and affinity in erythroid precursors immunologically purified from fresh bone marrow aspirates or fetal liver samples and in reticulocytes purified from peripheral blood. EP receptors were quantitated by equilibrium binding experiments with 125I EP. We found that purified primary erythroblasts from both adult and fetal sources exhibited a single high-affinity (kd 100 pmol/L) binding site for EP under our experimental conditions, and 135 or 250 receptors per cell, respectively. Reticulocytes were devoid of EP receptors. We compared these data to in vitro-derived BFU-E progeny at both early and late stages of maturation. Cultured BFU-E progeny also displayed a single class of receptors of slightly lower affinity (210 to 220 pmol/L). Preparations enriched in colony-forming units-erythroid (CFU-E) and proerythroblasts (day 9 BFU-E progeny) displayed approximately 1,100 receptors per cell, whereas populations containing mature erythroblasts (day 14 BFU-E progeny) exhibited approximately 300 receptors per cell. Furthermore, information from binding experiments was complemented by autoradiography in both enriched BFU-E preparations, cultured BFU-E progeny (days 9 and 14), and marrow mononuclear cells. These studies are consistent with a peak in EP receptor expression at the CFU-E/proerythroblast stage and a decrease with further maturation to undetectable levels at the reticulocyte stage. These data examining EP receptor characteristics on freshly isolated erythroid precursor cells complement previous data on EP receptor biology using culture-derived erythroblasts.

Autoradiography

Stem cell factor is encoded at the Sl locus of the mouse and is the ligand for the c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor.

We have cloned a partial cDNA encoding murine stem cell factor (SCF) and show that the gene is syntenic with the Sl locus on mouse chromosome 10. Using retroviral vectors to immortalize fetal liver stromal cell lines from mice harboring lethal mutations at the Sl locus (Sl/Sl), we have shown that SCF genomic sequences are deleted in these lines. Furthermore, two other mutations at Sl, Sld and Sl12H, are associated with deletions or alterations of SCF genomic sequences. In vivo administration of SCF can reverse the macrocytic anemia and locally repair the mast cell deficiency of Sl/Sld mice. We have also provided biological and physical evidence that SCF is a ligand for the c-kit receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence

Muramyl dipeptide induces production of hemopoietic growth factors in vivo by a mechanism independent of tumor necrosis factor.

Monocyte products including TNF and IL-1 can stimulate hemopoietic growth factor production in vitro and in vivo. Endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice have a cellular defect in the regulation of TNF production and provide a model in which to examine the relative importance of TNF and IL-1. To assess the relative role of TNF and IL-1, we injected the synthetic bacterial cell wall derivative muramyl dipeptide (MDP) or LPS into C3H/HeJ mice. Both MDP and LPS stimulated hemopoietic growth factor production in a dose-dependent manner. Northern blot analysis of splenic and lung mRNA revealed that MDP treatment induced granulocyte-macrophage CSF and macrophage-CSF transcripts, whereas LPS treatment induced macrophage-CSF transcripts. Messenger RNA for granulocyte-CSF, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 was not detected in control or treated mice. MDP treatment induced IL-1 mRNA but not TNF mRNA, and TNF bioactivity was not detected in the serum of MDP-treated mice. In contrast, LPS treatment induced TNF production. These results identify the hemopoietic growth factors induced by MDP and LPS in vivo, and suggest that MDP stimulates growth factor production by a mechanism independent of TNF.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine

Dynamics of erythropoietin receptor expression on erythropoietin-responsive murine cell lines.

We examined erythropoietin receptor expression in two murine cell lines, B6SUtA and DA-1, that respond to erythropoietin in different ways. While B6SUtA cells undergo erythroid differentiation with limited proliferation after addition of erythropoietin, DA-1 cells show only a proliferative response. Equilibrium binding experiments with 125I-erythropoietin revealed that both B6SUtA and DA-1 cells express a single class of erythropoietin receptors. In the absence of erythropoietin, B6SUtA cells exhibited 145 receptors per cell with a dissociation constant (kd) of 380 pmol/L. Six days after induction with erythropoietin, the B6SUtA cells displayed 310 receptors per cell without a change in binding affinity; exposure to erythropoietin also increased cellular hemoglobin content. DA-1 cells adapted to erythropoietin-dependent growth over a period of months and exhibited a progressive increase in erythropoietin receptor expression, from 85 per cell (kd = 540) to 550 per cell (kd = 530), although the cells remained uniformly benzidine-negative. We interpret the data with B6SUtA cells to indicate that early erythroid differentiation stages are attended by an increase in erythropoietin receptor display, coordinate with the initiation of expression of erythroid-specific genes. In contrast, the results with DA-1 cells are most compatible with clonal selection as the mechanism underlying enhanced receptor expression. Thus, display of the erythropoietin receptor is dynamic and can be modulated during the course of erythropoietin-induced differentiation.

Cell Differentiation

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-beta (lymphotoxin) stimulate the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and IL-1 in vivo.

A number of cell types have been shown to elaborate hematopoietic growth factors in response to inflammatory mediators in vitro. To determine if this response occurs in vivo, we have administered levels of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) found during an inflammatory reaction to mice. Using Northern blot analysis to detect tissue levels of hematopoietic growth factor-specific transcripts, and specific biologic and immunologic assays to detect the presence of colony-stimulating factors in the serum, we have found that TNF-alpha and TNF-beta induce the transcription and production of granulocyte-macrophage-CSF, macrophage-CSF, and IL-1. These findings provide an in vivo mechanism for the hematopoietic response to inflammation.

Animals

Recombinant human erythropoietin: purification and analysis of carbohydrate linkage.

Erythropoietin was purified to homogeneity from the culture medium of a baby hamster kidney cell line stably transfected with a human erythropoietin gene. A three-step procedure was used, which included affinity chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, and reverse-phase chromatography. Purity of the protein was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino-terminal sequence analysis. Overall recovery was 35%. The biological activity of purified recombinant erythropoietin was similar to that of the native hormone in vitro. The purified recombinant hormone contained N-linked carbohydrate at residues 24, 38, and 83, and and O-linked carbohydrate at residue 126.

Amino Acids

Identification of the receptor for erythropoietin on human and murine erythroleukemia cells and modulation by phorbol ester and dimethyl sulfoxide.

Erythropoietin, a glycoprotein that regulates erythropoiesis, initiates its biological effects by binding to a cell-surface receptor. Little is known about the structure of the erythropoietin receptor and the events that follow binding of erythropoietin to its receptor, in part because of the difficulty of obtaining sufficient quantities of cells that express the erythropoietin receptor. We used both iodinated and metabolically labeled erythropoietin to characterize the receptor on a variety of erythroleukemia cell lines not previously tested, and we have identified both human and murine cell lines that display large numbers of erythropoietin receptors. Both erythropoietin-responsive and -nonresponsive cell lines exhibit a single class of binding sites. The human erythroleukemia cell line OCIM1 exhibits approximately 3000 erythropoietin receptors per cell with a Kd of 280 pM. The erythropoietin-responsive Rauscher red 5-1.5 murine erythroleukemia cell line displays approximately 1700 receptors per cell with a Kd of 440 pM. The GM979 murine erythroleukemia cell line has approximately 1600 receptors per cell with a Kd of 660 pM. Induction of the erythroid phenotype by dimethyl sulfoxide or its suppression by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was accompanied by an increase or decrease, respectively, in erythropoietin receptor number. Affinity crosslinking of labeled erythropoietin to the receptor identified two proteins corresponding to estimated molecular masses of 95 and 105 kDa. The OCIM1, Rauscher, and GM979 erythroleukemia cell lines provide a useful model for the study of postreceptor signaling events, as well as a convenient source for purification of the erythropoietin receptor.

Animals

Interleukin 1 stimulates human endothelial cells to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Endothelial cells are a potent source of hematopoietic growth factors when stimulated by soluble products of monocytes. Interleukin 1 (IL 1) is released by activated monocytes and is a mediator of the inflammatory response. We determined whether purified recombinant human IL 1 could stimulate cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells to release hematopoietic growth factors. As little as 1 U/ml of IL 1 stimulated growth factor production by the endothelial cells, and increasing amounts of IL 1 enhanced growth factor production in a dose-dependent manner. Growth factor production increased within 2 to 4 hr and remained elevated for more than 48 hr. To investigate the molecular basis for these findings, oligonucleotide probes for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and multi-CSF were hybridized to poly(A)-containing RNA prepared from unstimulated and IL 1-stimulated endothelial cells. Significant levels of GM-CSF and G-CSF, but not M-CSF or multi-CSF, mRNA were detected in the IL 1-stimulated endothelial cells. Biological assays performed on the IL 1-stimulated endothelial cell-conditioned medium confirmed the presence of both GM- and G-CSF. These results demonstrate that human recombinant IL 1 can stimulate endothelial cells to release GM-CSF and G-CSF, and provide a mechanism by which IL 1 could modulate both granulocyte production and function during the course of an inflammatory response.

Biological Products