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Suppression of adjuvant arthritis in rats by oral administration of type II collagen in combination with type I interferon.

The oral administration of 3 micrograms but not 300 micrograms of type II collagen (CII) significantly suppressed adjuvant arthritis in rats that was induced by immunization with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Feeding 5000 units of type I interferon was also effective in downregulating the disease. More suppression of adjuvant arthritis was observed when both CII and interferon were orally given. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to M. tuberculosis were inhibited in interferon- but not in CII-fed animals. There were no delayed responses to CII in M. tuberculosis-immunized rats fed either CII or interferon. However, the delayed response to M. tuberculosis plus CII was significantly reduced by CII as well as interferon given orally. Feeding both CII and interferon was more effective in suppressing the delayed responses to M. tuberculosis plus CII. A similar suppression was observed in proliferative responses of lymph-node cells to M. tuberculosis, CII, or M. tuberculosis plus CII in-vitro. These results suggest that the suppression of adjuvant arthritis by oral administration of CII is due to tolerance to CII in which a bystander suppression mechanism appears to be involved. Orally administered interferon seems to suppress nonspecifically cellular immune responses. The oral administration of CII in combination with interferon may be a novel way to treat T cell-mediated diseases.

Administration, Oral↗

Structure of the human type-I interferon gene cluster determined from a YAC clone contig.

A map of the type-I interferon gene cluster located on the short arm of human chromosome 9 (9p) has been constructed using a contig of YAC clones. This map contains 26 interferon (IFN) genes and pseudogenes, and it accounts for all, except one, of the IFN sequences previously reported by other authors, plus a new IFNW pseudogene. The most distal gene on 9p is IFNB, and the most proximal one is IFNWP19. The direction of transcription for the 20 most distal IFN sequences is toward the telomere and for the 6 most proximal sequences, toward the centromere. Several regions of the cluster show evidence of ancestral duplication events. Some of these events may be explained by unequal crossing over between adjacent tandem genes. The location of several breakpoints within the cluster, from deletions associated with leukemias and gliomas, was also determined.

Base Sequence↗

Type I interferons and the innate immune response--more than just antiviral cytokines.

The role of type I interferon (referred to as IFN in this review) in early antiviral immunity is well known. More recently IFN has been shown to be a potent regulator of adaptive immunity. It is now becoming clear that a broad range of viruses, bacteria and even parasites express ligands capable of stimulating a growing number of signalling pathways that results in, often subtype specific, induction of IFN. Of particular interest are the signalling pathways associated with the Toll-like receptors. This family of receptors, each able to induce signals in response to a variety of ligands, initiates the pro-inflammatory response. They also contain members that have the capacity to induce IFN, making use of, and perhaps promoting the evolution of its pleiotropic responses. Greater knowledge of the events that result in induction of IFN is necessary in understanding the specificity of expression of an increasingly complex and important aspect of our immune system. This may reveal to us further therapeutic opportunities, either in the use of IFN or in the manipulation of their expression. This review details the established knowledge and recent advances made in understanding how and under what circumstances the IFNs are expressed, starting with brief overviews of IFN and Toll-like receptors before following the molecular processes from induction of IFN, activation of the JAK-STAT pathway and finally the expression of interferon stimulated genes and their functions.

Animals↗

Type I interferon [corrected] gene induction by the interferon regulatory factor family of transcription factors.

Induction of type I interferons (IFNs) by viruses and other pathogens is crucial for innate immunity, and it is mediated by the activation of pattern-recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors and cytosolic receptors such as RIG-I and MDA5. The type I IFN induction is primarily controlled at the gene transcriptional level, wherein a family of transcription factors, interferon regulatory factors (IRFs), plays central roles. Here, we summarize the recent studies on IRFs, providing a paradigm of how genes are ingeniously regulated during immune responses. We also consider some evolutional aspects on the IFN-IRF system.

Animals↗

Knockout and reconstitution of a functional human type I interferon receptor complex.

The functional subunits of the human Type I interferon (IFN) receptor complex have not been defined. Using site-specific recombination in a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), we have produced a deletion within the human IFN-alpha receptor (Hu-IFN-alpha R1) gene which eliminates exon II of the gene. This deletion effectively eliminates the MHC Class I antigen induction and antiviral activity previously reported for this fully functional parental YAC clone (Soh, J., Mariano, T. M., Lim, J.-K., Izotova, L., Mirochnitchenko, O., Schwartz, B., Langer, J., and Pestka, S. (1994c) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 18102-18110). We have successfully reconstituted this activity by expression of the cDNA encoding the Hu-IFN-alpha R1 component (Uzé, G., Lutfalla, G., and Gresser, I. (1990) Cell 60, 225-234) in cells containing the YAC with this deletion. The Hu-IFN-alpha R1 subunit thus plays a critical role in the functional human Type I IFN receptor complex, whose components are encoded on this YAC. In addition, as binding of ligands is retained in the cells containing the YAC with the deletion, it is clear a second subunit encoded on the YAC is responsible for ligand binding activity. This system will now allow the identification of additional subunits involved in the response to the Type I IFNs and the functional significance of each.

Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast↗

Type I interferon resistance in a colorectal cancer cell line is associated with a more aggressive phenotype in vivo.

A type I interferon resistant variant (beta-MIP101) of the poorly differentiated human colon cancer cell MIP101 has a more aggressive phenotype in vivo in the nude mouse. Subcutaneous tumours grew at twice the rate of MIP101, but with similar morphology. beta-MIP101 also produced liver metastases at a higher frequency. beta-MIP101 tumours were diploid while MIP101 tumours were aneuploid. Both cell lines had doubling times of approximately 25 h in vitro.

Animals↗

In psoriasis lesional skin the type I interferon signaling pathway is activated, whereas interferon-alpha sensitivity is unaltered.

The epidermal phenotype as observed in psoriatic skin results from inflammation and abnormal proliferation and terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Mice deficient for interferon regulatory factor-2, a repressor of interferon signaling, display psoriasis-like skin inflammation. The development of this phenotype is strictly dependent on type I interferon (interferon-alpha/beta) signaling. The aim of this study was to assess the involvement of interferon-alpha/beta in the pathogenesis of human psoriasis. In psoriatic skin, we measured an increased expression of components that play central and crucial roles in interferon-alpha/beta signal transduction. Culturing keratinocytes or healthy skin biopsies with recombinant interferon-alpha stimulated this signaling pathway; however, this did not induce the expression of markers that are generally used to define the psoriasis phenotype. Furthermore, skin from psoriasis patients responded identically to interferon-alpha stimulation, demonstrating that psoriatic skin does not have an aberrant sensitivity to type I interferon. We conclude that in psoriatic lesional skin the type I interferon signaling pathway is activated, despite an unaltered interferon-alpha sensitivity. Our data furthermore show that type I interferon, in contrast to interferon-gamma, does not act directly on keratinocytes to induce a psoriatic phenotype. Thus, if the observed activated type I interferon signaling is indeed functionally involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, its contribution might be indirect, putatively involving other cell types besides keratinocytes.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of a domain of a human type I interferon receptor protein involved in ligand binding.

Two monoclonal antibodies that recognize different epitopes of the extracellular domain of one of the proteins that constitute the type I interferon receptor were used to delineate the interferon binding site. Antibody 64G12 both inhibits the binding of radiolabeled interferon-alpha 2 and IFN-alpha 8 to their cell surface receptors and neutralizes the antiviral and antiproliferative actions of all the type I interferons tested, including IFN-beta, IFN-omega, and human leukocyte IFN, a mixture of different interferon-alpha isotypes. Antibody 34F10 recognizes the type I interferon receptor with an affinity similar to that of the MAb 64G12 but does not inhibit either the binding or the biologic activity of any of the type I interferons tested. Both antibodies recognize a protein of 105 +/- 5 kD from either Daudi or Ly28 cells. Immunoprecipitation following surface iodination demonstrated that the neutralizing MAb recognizes a protein of 105 kD and the nonneutralizing MAb a protein of 110 kD in extracts of Daudi cells. A second less intense band was also detected by both antibodies. Cross-linking of IFN-alpha 2 to its receptor before immunoprecipitation prevented the neutralizing antibody from immunoprecipitating the receptor protein, but the nonneutralizing MAb was still able to recognize a 140 kD protein corresponding to the cross-linked interferon-receptor protein complex. Thus, an interferon binding domain appears to be localized in a region between amino acids 23 and 229 of the extracellular domain of a transmembrane protein that forms part of the type I interferon receptor complex containing the epitopes recognized by each antibody.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Characterization of the type I interferon locus and identification of novel genes.

The human type I interferon (IFN) genes are clustered on human chromosome 9p21 and the mouse genes are located in the region of conserved synteny on mouse chromosome 4. We have identified two novel mouse Ifna genes (Ifna12, Ifna13) and Ifnl2 (IFN-like 2, a homologue of Limitin/IFN-like 1). Another type I IFN gene was designated Ifne1. Mouse Ifne1 was expressed in ovaries and uterus but not in tissues of hematopoietic origin. IFN-epsilon1 has general structural characteristics of a type I IFN. These studies represent the first detailed annotation of the mouse type I IFN locus, and the products of these novel genes may have important functions in reproduction and host defense.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Type I interferons in combination with bacterial stimuli induce apoptosis of monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Both type I interferons (IFNs) as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) individually compromise selected monocytic or dendritic cell (DC) functions. This study investigates the influence of these agents on the differentiation and the regulation of cell death of monocyte-derived DCs generated in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus interleukin-4 (IL-4). It is reported that excessive apoptosis occurred rapidly in monocyte-derived DC cultures, if IFN-alpha or IFN-beta was added in combination with LPS or lipoteichoic acid (LTA). The small fraction of cells surviving in such cultures displayed a mature DC phenotype with expression of CD83, CD80, and CD86. IL-10 was found in the supernatants of monocyte-derived DC cultures, if supplemented with LPS or IFN-alpha plus LPS but not in control cultures. When monocyte-derived DCs were generated in the presence of IFN-alpha without LPS, these cells displayed an immature DC phenotype with a reduction of cell recovery but no overt apoptosis. However, the addition of LPS, LTA, LPS plus IFN-gamma, or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plus prostaglandin E2 to such cells again resulted in the rapid induction of apoptosis in the majority of cells, together with a reduced production of IL-12 p70 and TNF-alpha. Together, these data indicate an exquisite sensitivity of monocyte-derived DCs to activation-induced cell death if generated in the presence of IFN-alpha, indicating the existence of an important mechanism of immunosuppression caused by IFN-alpha-inducing agents, such as viral or bacterial stimuli. (Blood. 2001;98:736-742)

Apoptosis↗

Both type I and type II interferons down-regulate human tumor necrosis factor receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep G2. Role of protein kinase C.

It is well known that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma; type II) potentiates various responses of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in a wide variety of cells and that this potentiation is accompanied by the up-regulation of TNF receptor synthesis. In the present studies we examined the regulation of TNF receptors by type I and type II IFNs in a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HEP G2. Exposure of these cells to IFN-gamma led to a decrease in TNF receptor number (4029 vs. 2719 sites/cell) without any change in the receptor affinity (0.96 nM vs. 1.1 nM). The effect was time and dose-dependent. Like IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha and IFN-beta (type I) down-modulated the TNF receptors on these cells. The effect of IFNs on the TNF receptors was inhibited by staurosporin, a protein kinase C (PK-C) inhibitor. Furthermore, by the use of receptor-specific antibodies, we found that the IFN-dependent decrease was primarily due to the p60 form of the TNF receptor. Our results presented are the first to demonstrate that IFNs can also down-modulate TNF receptors in certain cells and that this effect is mediated through PK-C.

Alkaloids↗

Localization of type I interferon in murine trophoblast and decidua during decidual formation.

Mouse trophoblast and decidua were examined by means of immunohistochemistry to define the localization of type I interferon. The decidua were stained for type I interferon at the time of implantation. The strong reaction was first observed in the primary decidual zone on day 5 and subsequently in the secondary decidual zone on day 6. After day 10, the decidua basalis and decidua capsularis showed a strong reaction. At the one-cell stage, embryos were weakly labelled, but a positive reaction was recognized in compacted morulae. Blastocysts on days 3 and 4 were positive in trophoblast and inner cell mass and a strong reaction was observed in the primitive endoderm on day 4. The visceral endoderm on day 5 and the trophoblast on day 6 were positive. After day 10, the trophoblast giant cells, labyrinth, visceral yolk sac and fetal blood cells gave a positive reaction. This study is the first demonstration of type I interferon localization in situ in mouse trophoblast and decidua during decidual formation.

Animals↗

Efficacy of low-dose oral use of type I interferon in cytomegalovirus infections in vivo.

Oral administration of type I interferons (IFNs; murine IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) reduces early replication of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) in both the spleen and liver of MCMV-infected BALB/c mice. Examination of a range of doses of IFN (1 to 1000 IU) showed that 10 IU administered daily for 1 week prior to virus infection was optimal for inhibition of MCMV replication. Furthermore, low-dose orally administered IFN (10 IU/day) was effective in mice challenged with lethal and sublethal virus inocula. The antiviral efficacy of low-dose orally administered IFN was not restricted by either the route of virus inoculation or the mouse genotype. Analysis by immunohistochemistry of IFN-alpha receptor-bearing cells of the gastrointestinal tract revealed predominant staining of perivascular smooth muscle and the lamina propria of the anterior tongue, small intestine and rectum. These tissues, dense in IFN-alpha receptor-bearing cells, are likely to be the sites of interaction of the orally administered IFNs with the mucosal immune system. In conclusion, we propose that low-dose oral use of type I IFN therapy may have broad applications in the treatment of CMV infections.

Administration, Oral↗

Different activities of type I interferons on hepatitis B virus core promoter regulated transcription.

The type I interferons (IFNs) are a group of closely related cytokines which have different signal transduction pathways and different biological activities. Using transient transfection of human hepatoma cells with reporter plasmids containing the firefly/renilla luciferase genes under the control of the HBV-Enhancer (Enh) I, Enh II and core promoter we have investigated the biological activities of 10 recombinant (r) type I IFNs on transcription. Low concentrations of IFN (0.025 ng/ml) had a significant and specific inhibitory effect but the potencies of the different recombinant type I IFNs differed markedly with IFNalpha8 and IFNbeta being six-fold more potent than the least effective subtype (IFNalpha1). However, the addition of IFNalpha5-the subtype produced predominantly in the human liver-did not cause any synergistic effects.The non-natural consensus IFN displayed a more pronounced inhibition of HBV-regulated transcription than IFNalpha8 or IFNalpha2 but not IFNbeta. The INF-induced inhibitory effect was not dependent on the presence of the HBV-Enh1 and in particular of an interferon stimulated response element (ISRE)-like sequence. The characterization of different effects among type I interferons on HBV-regulatory elements may implicate an IFN-subtype-specific role for the pathogenesis and treatment of HBV-infection.

Cell Line↗

Type I interferons inhibit maturation and activation of mouse Langerhans cells.

Type I interferons (IFN) have an essential role in antiviral defense, and they are produced upon viral infection in a variety of cells. IFN-alpha/beta treatment of immature dendritic cells (DC) is known to induce their phenotypic and functional maturation, but it remains unclear whether stimulation by this cytokine family influences the functions and maturation of Langerhans cells (LC). We used highly enriched (>95%) LC directly isolated from BALB/c mouse skin and addressed this issue, comparing LC with splenic CD11c(+) DC. Type I IFN-treated LC exhibited impaired ability to produce IL-12 and inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, whereas IL-10 production was not augmented. In splenic DC, the production of inflammatory cytokines was rather enhanced by type I IFN treatment. With regard to chemokines, in both LC and splenic DC, type I IFN upregulated the production of inflammatory chemokines, such as CXCL10, CXCL11, CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5. Strikingly, IFN-beta treatment reduced the expression of CD40, CD54, CD80, and CD86 on LC, whereas IFN-beta-treated splenic DC showed enhanced expression of these molecules. Furthermore, IFN-beta-treated LC had impaired costimulatory activity for anti-CD3-induced proliferation of T cells. Finally, treatment with IFN-alpha/beta reduced the migratory capacity of LC to CCL21. These results indicate that type I IFN inhibit maturation and activation of LC in a direct manner. Our observations may provide a novel explanation for the reported inability of LC to act as potent antigen-presenting cells in cutaneous and mucosal viral infection.

Animals↗

Type I interferon gene therapy protects against cytomegalovirus-induced myocarditis.

Type I interferons (IFNs) are produced early in response to viral infection and modulate adaptive immunity. Previously we demonstrated localized protection against murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection in IFN DNA-inoculated mice. Here we examine the effect of seven IFN subtypes (IFNA1, A2, A4, A5, A6, A9 and B), administered by DNA inoculation, on systemic MCMV infection and myocarditis. IFN transgene expression altered the pathogenesis of MCMV infection with regard to virus titre and myocarditis. IFNA6 treatment reduced MCMV replication whilst IFNA5 and A2 enhanced virus replication. IFNA6, A9, and B treatment inhibited acute myocarditis. A T helper type 1-like, antibody and cytokine, response correlated with decreased virus titre and myocarditis. In addition, IFNA6 was able to reduce chronic cardiac inflammation. This research into the effectiveness of seven type I IFNs, using DNA gene therapy, highlights the need for correct subtype usage in the treatment of disease. We demonstrate effective subtypes for treatment in both the acute and chronic phases of MCMV infection and the resultant development of myocarditis.

Acute Disease↗

Type I interferon differential therapy for erythroleukemia: specificity of STAT activation.

Type I interferons (IFNs), pleiotropic cytokines with antiviral, antiproliferative, apoptotic, and immunoregulatory functions, are efficacious in the treatment of malignancies, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases. Binding of these cytokines to their cognate receptor leads to activation of the Jak-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway and altered gene expression. This signal pathway has been intensely studied using human IFN-alpha 2 and IFN-beta. However, there are over 14 human IFN-alpha subtypes and over 10 murine IFN-alpha subtypes, with a single IFN-beta subtype in both species. J2E cells are immortalized at the proerythroblast stage of development and produce a rapid and fatal erythroleukemia in vivo. These cells retain the ability to respond to erythropoietin in vitro by proliferating, differentiating, and remaining viable in the absence of serum. Here, we show that J2E cells are also functionally regulated differentially by IFN subtype treatment in vitro. A novel finding was the selective activation of STAT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) molecules by different subtypes binding the IFN receptor. These findings indicate distinct effects for individual type I IFN subtypes, which are able to differentially activate members of the STAT and MAPK family. Finally, we investigated the efficacy of IFN naked DNA therapy in treating J2E-induced erythroleukemia in athymic nude mice. IFN subtypes differentially regulated the onset of erythroleukemia with delayed onset and increased survival, possibly via a reduction in cell viability, and enhanced antiproliferative and apoptotic effects observed for IFNA6 and IFNA9 treatment, respectively. Moreover, these data highlight the necessity to choose the best IFN subtype in disease treatment.

Animals↗

Enhancement of mouse natural killer cell activity by type II interferon.

It is likely that interferons are key molecules in the physiological regulation of natural killing (NK) activity. This assumption is based on the strong enhancing effect exerted by type I interferon on NK cells. The aim of this study was to examine whether type II interferon, released upon activation of T lymphocytes by a mitogen, had the same enhancing effect. Crude PHA-induced interferon was purified on affinity chromatography columns (Blue Sepharose), and the eluted fractions were tested in parallel for antiviral activity and for in vitro boosting effect on spleen cell natural cytotoxicity. We found that both activities were unseparable. Acid pretreatment of purified type II interferon, as well as addition of anti-type II interferon serum, greatly decreased the enhancement of the spleen cell cytotoxic response. Responder cells to type II interferon are NK cells (surface Ig-negative, Thy-1-negative, devoided of acid Fc receptors) as assessed by classical spleen cell fractionation procedures based on cell surface markers. Comparison between the dose-response curves obtained with type I and type II interferons suggest that both interferon preparations stimulate NK activity in a comparable manner. We could conclude that interferon molecules (type I as well as type II) display a positive immunoregulatory function on NK cells.

Animals↗