Granulocyte-macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Transcripts Research Articles

TNF-α alters the inflammatory secretion profile of human first trimester placenta

Implantation and subsequent placental development depend on a well-orchestrated interaction between fetal and maternal tissues, involving a fine balanced synergistic cross-talk of inflammatory and immune-modulating factors. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has been increasingly recognized as pivotal factor for successful pregnancy, although high maternal TNF-α levels are associated with a number of adverse pregnancy conditions including gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus. This study describes effects of exogenously applied TNF-α, mimicking increased maternal TNF-α levels, on the secretion profile of inflammation associated factors in human first trimester villous placenta. Conditioned culture media from first trimester villous placental explants were analyzed by inflammation antibody arrays and ELISA after 48 h culture in the presence or absence of TNF-α. Inflammation antibody arrays identified interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL4, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as the most abundantly secreted inflammation-associated factors under basal culture conditions. In the presence of TNF-α, secretion of GM-CSF, CCL5, and IL-10 increased, whereas IL-4 and macrophage CSF levels decreased compared with controls. ELISA analysis verified antibody arrays by showing significantly increased synthesis and release of GM-CSF and CCL5 by placental explants in response to TNF-α. Immunohistochemistry localized GM-CSF in the villous trophoblast compartment, whereas CCL5 was detected in maternal platelets adhering to perivillous fibrin deposits on the villous surface. mRNA-based in situ padlock probe approach localized GM-CSF and CCL5 transcripts in the villous trophoblast layer and the villous stroma. Results from this study suggest that the inflammatory secretion profile of human first trimester placenta shifts towards increased levels of GM-CSF, CCL5, and IL10 in response to elevated maternal TNF-α levels, whereas IL-6 and IL-8 remain unaffected. This shift may represent a protective mechanism by human first trimester villous placenta to sustain trophoblast function and dampen inflammatory processes in the intervillous space.

Ovalbumin enhances YKL-40, IL-5, GM-CSF, and eotaxin expression simultaneously in primarily cultured mouse tracheal epithelial cells

Epithelial inflammation and eosinophil infiltration are crucial for the pathogenesis of asthma. Many inflammatory mediators, such as YKL-40, interleukin -5 (IL-5), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and eotaxin, are important for the development of allergic airway inflammation. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of treatment with ovalbumin (OVA) on the levels of those inflammatory mediators in primarily cultured mouse tracheal epithelial cells. Mouse tracheal epithelial cells were isolated and identified by immunofluorescent staining; the isolated mouse tracheal epithelial cells expressed cytokeratins. Treatment with OVA for 24 or 48 h significantly increased the relative levels of YKL-40, IL-5, GM-CSF, and eotaxin mRNA transcripts and YKL-40, IL-5, GM-CSF, and eotaxin proteins secreted in the supernatants of cultured cells, as compared with that in the untreated control cells (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). The levels of YKL-40 expression were correlated positively with the levels of IL-5, GM-CSF, and eotaxin expression in the OVA-treated cells. These data indicated that treatment with OVA simultaneously enhanced YKL-40, IL-5, GM-CSF, and eotaxin expression in the cultured mouse tracheal epithelial cells in vitro. These inflammatory mediators may synergistically contribute to the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation, and this study may help to understand the role of YKL-40 in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Tristetraprolin Mediates Interferon-γ mRNA Decay

Tristetraprolin (TTP) regulates expression at the level of mRNA decay of several cytokines, including the T cell-specific cytokine, interleukin-2. We performed experiments to determine whether another T cell-specific cytokine, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), is also regulated by TTP and found that T cell receptor-activated T cells from TTP knock-out mice overproduced IFN-gamma mRNA and protein compared with activated T cells from wild-type mice. The half-life of IFN-gamma mRNA was 23 min in anti-CD3-stimulated T cells from wild-type mice, whereas it was 51 min in anti-CD3-stimulated T cells from TTP knock-out mice, suggesting that the overexpression of IFN-gamma mRNA in TTP knock-out mice was due to stabilization of IFN-gamma mRNA. Insertion of a 70-nucleotide AU-rich sequence from the murine IFN-gamma 3'-untranslated region, which contained a high affinity binding site for TTP, into the 3'-untranslated region of a beta-globin reporter transcript conferred TTP-dependent destabilization on the beta-globin transcript. Together these results suggest that TTP binds to a functional AU-rich element in the 3'-untranslated region of IFN-gamma mRNA and mediates rapid degradation of the IFN-gamma transcript. Thus, TTP plays an important role in turning off IFN-gamma expression at the appropriate time during an immune response.

Genome-wide Analysis Identifies Interleukin-10 mRNA as Target of Tristetraprolin

Tristetraprolin (TTP) is an RNA-binding protein required for the rapid degradation of mRNAs containing AU-rich elements. Targets regulated by TTP include the mRNAs encoding tumor necrosis factor-alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and immediate early response 3. To identify novel target mRNAs of TTP in macrophages, we used a genome-wide approach that combines RNA immunoprecipitation and microarray analysis. A list was compiled of 137 mRNAs that are associated with TTP with an estimated accuracy on the order of 90%. Sequence analysis revealed a highly significant enrichment of AU-rich element motifs, with AUUUA pentamers present in 96% and UUAUUUAUU nonamers present in 44% of TTP-associated mRNAs. We further show that IL-10 is a novel target regulated by TTP. IL-10 mRNA levels were found to be elevated because of a reduced decay rate in primary macrophages from TTP(-/-) mice. Our study demonstrates the importance of experimental approaches for identifying targets of RNA-binding proteins.

GM-CSF induction in human lung fibroblasts by IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and macrophage contact.

Fibroblast-derived cytokines may play crucial roles in airway inflammation. In this study, we analyzed expression of the inflammatory cytokine, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a major eosinophilopoietin, by normal human lung fibroblast (NHLF) cells and its regulation by monokines and macrophage contact. NHLFs were stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and were cocultured with the U937 myelomonocytic cell line. The expression of GM-CSF transcripts was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and GM-CSF protein was detected by ELISA. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), an important transcription factor for inflammatory gene expression, was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Both IL-1beta and TNF-alpha significantly enhanced the production of GM-CSF by NHLF. Coculturing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with NHLF induced GM-CSF expression. This phenomenon was also seen on coculturing U937 cells or membranes derived from U937 with NHLF but was inhibited when the two types of cells were separated, suggesting a need for cell-cell contact. U937 membranes, as well as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. These data support a prominent role for macrophage-fibroblast interactions in airway inflammation and fibrosis.

IL-4 and -5 prime human mast cells for different profiles of IgE-dependent cytokine production.

Mast cells (MC) are stem cell factor-dependent tissue-based hematopoietic cells with substantial functional heterogeneity. Cord blood-derived human MC (hMC) express functional receptors for IL-5, and IL-5 mediates stem cell factor-dependent comitogenesis of hMC in vitro. Although IL-5 is not required for normal hMC development, we considered that it might prime hMC for their high-affinity Fc receptor for IgE (FcvarepsilonRI)-dependent generation of cytokines, as previously demonstrated for IL-4. Compared with hMC maintained in stem cell factor alone, hMC primed with IL-5 expressed 2- to 4-fold higher steady-state levels of TNF-alpha, IL-5, IL-13, macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor transcripts 2 h after FcvarepsilonRI crosslinking and secreted 2- to 5-fold greater quantities of the corresponding cytokines, except IL-13, at 6 h. Unlike IL-4, IL-5 priming did not enhance FcvarepsilonRI-dependent histamine release. Thus, IL-5 augments cytokine production by hMC by a mechanism distinct from that of IL-4 and with a different resultant profile of cytokine production. These observations suggest a potentially autocrine effect of IL-5 on hMC for amplification of allergic immune responses, in addition to its recognized paracrine effects on eosinophils, and implicate both IL-4 and IL-5 in the modulation of the hMC phenotype.

Arsenic can mediate skin neoplasia by chronic stimulation of keratinocyte-derived growth factors

Although numerous epidemiological studies have shown that inorganic arsenicals are human skin carcinogens, there is currently no accepted mechanism for its action or an established animal model for its study. We observed increased mRNA transcripts and secretion of keratinocyte growth factors, including granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in primary human epidermal keratinocytes cultured in the presence of low micromolar concentrations of sodium arsenite. Total cell numbers, as well as c-myc expression and incorporation of [3H]thymidine, both indicators of cell proliferation, were also elevated in keratinocyte cultures treated with sodium arsenite. As an in vivo model, the influence of arsenic on mouse skin tumor development was studied in transgenic TG.AC mice which carry the v-Ha-ras oncogene, and can serve as a genetically initiated model for skin carcinogenesis. Following low-dose application of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a marked increase in the number of skin papillomas occurred in transgenic mice receiving arsenic in the drinking water as compared to control drinking water. Papillomas did not develop in arsenic-treated transgenic mice that had not received TPA or arsenic-treated wild-type FVB/N mice, suggesting that arsenic is neither a tumor initiator or promoter but rather an enhancer. Injection of anti-GM-CSF antibodies following application of TPA in transgenic mice reduced the number of papillomas. Consistent with that observed in human keratinocyte cultures, increases in GM-CSF and TGF-alpha mRNA transcripts were found within the epidermis of arsenic-treated mice when compared to controls within 6 weeks of treatment. These results suggest that arsenic enhances papilloma development via the chronic stimulation of keratinocyte-derived growth factors and represents the first example of a chemical carcinogen that acts in this manner. These studies suggest that in vitro studies with human keratinocyte cultures examined in conjunction with TG.AC transgenic mice can provide a useful model for examining the tumor enhancing properties of environmental chemicals.

Cytokine mRNA repertoire of articular chondrocytes from arthritic patients, infants, and neonatal mice

Articular chondrocytes from nine arthritic patients, five infants, and Balb/c neonatal mice were analyzed for the presence of various cytokine mRNAs by a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Four cytokine mRNAs, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-11, and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), were detected in all human chondrocytes, regardless of source. IL-10, IL-12p35, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) transcripts were found in at least 12 of the 14 human samples. IL-13, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and TNF-beta mRNAs were found more predominantly in infant samples and in samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with samples from patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Another group of cytokine mRNAs, IL-1 (alpha, beta), IL-4, IL-5, and IL-7, were only weakly expressed in some human samples. The cytokine transcripts that were not found were IL-2, IL3, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). Because of the large array of cytokine transcripts detected, human chondrocyte preparations were further purified by reacting them with a monoclonal antibody specific to chondrocyte differentiation antigen and subjecting them to fluorescent-activated cell sorting. A similar array of cytokines was found between the sorted and unsorted chondrocytes, although TNF-alpha, G-CSF and GM-CSF transcripts appeared to be upregulated during the sorting process. Human chondrocytes that dedifferentiated into fibroblasts (a 40-day and a 77-day culture) no longer expressed mRNAs for IL-1, G-CSF, GM-CSF, and TNF-alpha, but all other cytokine mRNAs remained detectable. Although certain phenotypic characteristics were lost, including reactivity to chondrocyte-specific monoclonal antibodies and morphological features, chondrocytes in long-term culture still expressed cytokine mRNAs. As expected, more consistent results were obtained when seven preparations of chondrocytes from neonatal Balb/c mice were examined using available cytokine primers. They contained IL-1, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-12, GM-CSF, M-CSF, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta mRNAs but lacked IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma mRNAs. Future experiments to define conditions by which these cytokine protein products are expressed are needed to help assess their roles in chondrocyte biology and in disease states.

AUTOCRINE GROWTH-FACTOR SECRETION AFTER TRANSFORMATION OF HUMAN CYTOKINE-DEPENDENT CELLS BY VIRAL AND CELLULAR ONCOGENES

The effects of viral and cellular oncogenes on a human erythroleukemic cell line (TF-1) were investigated. The TF-1 cell line required granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for growth but this factor-dependency was abrogated by the constitutive expression of either viral (v-fms, v-Ha-ras and v-src) or cellular oncogenes (BCR-ABL and Delta N-raf). Furthermore the overexpression of the human insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor could substitute the dependency on GM-CSF with a requirement for either IGF-1 or insulin as a proliferative signal. An autocrine cytokine, (GM-CSF) was found in the supernatant of cells transformed by Delta N-raf (and to a lesser extent in cells infected with other oncogenes. The level of GM-CSF secreted by the Delta N-raf transformants was sufficient to support the proliferation of the parental cell line. GM-CSF mRNA transcripts were detected in the Delta N-raf-infected but not in the parental cells. No structural alterations of the GMCSF locus were seen in these cells. Together these observations indicated that overexpression of a raf oncogene resulted in the expression of GM-CSF transcripts. The rates of glucose transport were elevated above basal levels by GMCSF and by oncogene expression indicating that this pivotal control point of metabolism correlated with mitogenesis and malignant transformation. These studies indicate the importance of raf in growth regulation as its deregulation can lead to autocrine synthesis of cytokines in certain hematopoietic cells. Furthermore these results suggest a synergy between oncogene and cytokine gene regulation leading to autocrine growth factor expression and tumor progression.

Irradiation Increases Expression of GM-CSF in Human Fibroblasts by Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Regulation

Fibroblasts produce a variety of cytokines including granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). GM-CSF is pivotal for proliferation and function of myeloid cells. In this report, we describe the regulation of GM-CSF gene by irradiation in human fibroblasts. We found that fibroblasts constitutively produced GM-CSF; irradiation markedly increased the production of GM-CSF. The increase in GM-CSF transcripts by irradiation was both time- and dose-dependent. Moreover, irradiation increased GM-CSF mRNA in cells with prolonged exposure to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). WI38 fibroblasts constitutively produce low levels of IL-1. Induction of GM-CSF mRNA by irradiation was partially blocked by anti-IL-1 antibodies. On the other hand, inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis did not affect induction of GM-CSF RNA. Transcriptional run-on analysis showed that irradiation increased the rate of GM-CSF transcription. Stability studies of GM-CSF mRNA in these cells showed that half-life (t-12) increased from <20 rain in unirradiated cells to >100 min in irradiated cells. These findings suggest that the increase in GM-CSF mRNA observed after irradiation is regulated by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Our results indicate that induction of GM-CSF gene by irradiation requires de novo protein synthesis and increased levels of GM-CSF transcripts also occur through a pathway distinct from protein kinase C activation.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency with Selective T-Cell Cytokine Genes

ABSTRACT: A 4-y-old female with severe combined immunodeficiency disease had normal numbers of T cells in her circulation and normal T-cell subsets. However, her T cells proliferated poorly to mitogens and did not proliferate to antigens or to anti-CD3 MAb. IL-2 receptor expression was normal, but IL-2 synthesis was undetectable. The addition of recombinant IL-2 to a mitogen-stimulated culture resulted in normalization of the proliferative response. Northern blot analysis of total RNA derived from the patient's T cells revealed a weak or absent expression of mRNA coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5. In contrast, there were normal amounts of mRNA coding for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Tumor necrosis factor and IL-6 production were also normal. Nuclear run-on transcriptional assays revealed markedly decreased levels of newly initiated nuclear transcripts coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 and normal levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor transcripts in the patient relative to control lymphocytes. Gel retardation assays suggest that the NFAT-1 nuclear transcription complex is abnormal in this patient. These results indicate that the patient suffers from a defect that affects the transcription of multiple T-cell lymphokines and suggest that abnormalities affecting the production of T-cell lymphokines may underlie some of the primary immunodeficiency diseases.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency with Selective T-Cell Cytokine Genes

ABSTRACT: A 4-y-old female with severe combined immunodeficiency disease had normal numbers of T cells in her circulation and normal T-cell subsets. However, her T cells proliferated poorly to mitogens and did not proliferate to antigens or to anti-CD3 MAb. IL-2 receptor expression was normal, but IL-2 synthesis was undetectable. The addition of recombinant IL-2 to a mitogen-stimulated culture resulted in normalization of the proliferative response. Northern blot analysis of total RNA derived from the patient's T cells revealed a weak or absent expression of mRNA coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5. In contrast, there were normal amounts of mRNA coding for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Tumor necrosis factor and IL-6 production were also normal. Nuclear run-on transcriptional assays revealed markedly decreased levels of newly initiated nuclear transcripts coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 and normal levels of granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor transcripts in the patient relative to control lymphocytes. Gel retardation assays suggest that the NFAT-1 nuclear transcription complex is abnormal in this patient. These results indicate that the patient suffers from a defect that affects the transcription of multiple T-cell lymphokines and suggest that abnormalities affecting the production of T-cell lymphokines may underlie some of the primary immunodeficiency diseases.

Irradiation increases levels of GM-CSF through RNA stabilization which requires an AU-rich region in cancer cells

Granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor that stimulates a wide range of myeloid hematopoietic cells; RNAs coding for many oncogenes and cytokines including GM-CSF have a very short half-life. The motif of AUUA is a highly conserved sequence in the 3'untranslated regions (3'UTR) of these transcripts and is repeated a number of times in these short-lived cytokines and oncogenes. These sequences play a major role in controlling stability of these transcripts. Human cancer cells were transfected with a chimeric rabbit β-globin gene linked to either a 58 bp sequence of the AT-rich region from GM-CSF or a control sequence. We have found that irradiation stimulates accumulation of GM-CSF, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1 β RNAs. In addition, this accumulation of GM-CSF was at least, in part, a result of increased stabilization of GM-CSF transcripts. Further experiments showed that irradiation increased levels of the chimeric β-globin transcripts containing AUUUA sequences from GM-CSF, but not those containing the control sequences. Our results suggest that irradiation increases expression of GM-CSF RNA and that posttranscriptional stabilization requiring AUUUA sequences probably is in part one of the mechanisms producing the increased levels of GM-CSF RNA by irradiation.

Inducible expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis FACTOR-α, and INTERFERON-γ in two human cytotoxic leukemic T-cell lines

We investigated the ability of the TALL-103/2 and TALL-104 leukemic cell lines to produce lymphokines in response to activation signals, such as tumor cells and anti-CD3 (OKT3) or -CD2 (B67.1) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) or both. Both cell lines were found to produce high levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The latter lymphokine is induced by lysable tumor cells and by immobilized OKT3 and B67.1 mAb only in the presence of interleukin (IL-2). IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha are induced upon CD3 but not CD2 stimulation, both in the presence and absence of IL-2. Interestingly, the B67.1 mAb amplifies the OKT3-induced responses by 2- to 10-fold, bringing the IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels of production up to 200 U/ml. Thus, simultaneous triggering of the CD2 and CD3 signaling pathways results in a very efficient lymphokine release. Of all the tumor cell lines tested as inducers, only K562 cells are able to stimulate the production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in TALL-103/2 and TALL-104 cells, especially upon culture in IL-2. Lymphokine mRNA expression after stimulation with mAb or K562 cells peaks at 2 h in both cell lines. No messages are detectable in TALL-103/2 cells at 8 h, whereas in TALL-104 cells, IFN-gamma and GM-CSF transcripts are still present at 8 and 20 h, respectively. The inducible and highly regulatable expression of lymphokine release by these cell lines provides a unique model for studying mechanisms of lymphokine induction by different biological agents.

Novel immune deficiencies: Defective transcription of lymphokine genes

A 4-year-old female with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) had normal numbers of T cells in circulation and normal T cell subsets. However, her T cells proliferated poorly to mitogens and did not proliferate to antigens or to anti-CD3 mAb. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor expression was normal but IL-2 synthesis was undetectable. The addition of recombinant IL-2 to a mitogen-stimulated culture resulted in normalization of the proliferative response. Northern blot analysis of total RNA derived from the patient's T cells revealed a weak or absent expression of mRNA coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5. In contrast, there were normal amounts of mRNA coding for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Tumor necrosis factor and IL-6 production was also normal. Nuclear run on transcriptional assays revealed markedly decreased levels of newly initiated nuclear transcripts coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 and normal levels of GM-CSF transcripts in patient relative to control lymphocytes. These results indicate that the patient's T cells suffered from a defect affecting the transcription of multiple T cell lymphokines and suggest that abnormalities affecting the production of T cell lymphokines may underlie some of the primary immunodeficiency diseases.

Novel immune deficiencies: defective transcription of lymphokine genes

A 4-year-old female with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) had normal numbers of T cells in circulation and normal T cell subsets. However, her T cells proliferated poorly to mitogens and did not proliferate to antigens or to anti-CD3 mAb. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor expression was normal but IL-2 synthesis was undetectable. The addition of recombinant IL-2 to a mitogen-stimulated culture resulted in normalization of the proliferative response. Northern blot analysis of total RNA derived from the patient's T cells revealed a weak or absent expression of mRNA coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5. In contrast, there were normal amounts of mRNA coding for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Tumor necrosis factor and IL-6 production was also normal. Nuclear run on transcriptional assays revealed markedly decreased levels of newly initiated nuclear transcripts coding for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 and normal levels of GM-CSF transcripts in patient relative to control lymphocytes. These results indicate that the patient's T cells suffered from a defect affecting the transcription of multiple T cell lymphokines and suggest that abnormalities affecting the production of T cell lymphokines may underlie some of the primary immunodeficiency diseases.

TheIn SituExpression of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) mRNA at the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is produced by cells in the placenta, is known to be a growth factor for trophoblast cells in vitro and when injected into pregnant mice at risk for mid-gestation fetal resorption, dramatically lowers the fetal death rate while stimulating placental and fetal growth. We describe here the localization of GM-CSF mRNA expression in murine placenta by in situ hybridization. It is found in small round cells (lymphoid-like) and endothelial cells in the maternal decidua. In addition, GM-CSF transcripts are located in cells of the spongiotrophoblast zone (trophoblast-like cells), but not in the labyrinthine zone. These results indicate that GM-CSF may be influencing the growth and function of the fetal placenta in a paracrine-autocrine manner. These results support earlier observations that link GM-CSF production during pregnancy to decidual T-lymphocytes and further suggest a placental source within the invasive trophoblast.

Expression of the c‐fes proto‐oncogene in granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor‐dependent acute myelogenous leukemia cells grown autonomously

In the present article, we show that 6 of 69 acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) samples exhibited autonomous in vitro growth that was dependent on endogenous granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Cytoplasmic RNA harvested from all 6 leukemia specimens contained GM-CSF transcripts easily detectable by mRNA hybridization. All 6 GM-CSF-expressing leukemia samples simultaneously displayed high levels of transcripts for the c-fes proto-oncogene previously shown to be expressed in GM-CSF sensitive myeloid cells, whereas only 2 of the 48 AML samples not expressing GM-CSF accumulated c-fes mRNA. Seven of additional 14 GM-CSF-expressing specimens showed specific signals upon RNA hybridization with the c-fes probe, but failed to grow autonomously. These results suggest that c-fes and GM-CSF genes may be coordinately regulated in AML blasts and that GM-CSF-mediated growth autonomy may be linked to c-fes expression.

Interleukin‐1 and interleukin‐2 control granulocyte‐ and granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor gene expression and cell proliferation in cultured acute myeloblastic leukemia

In vitro proliferation of leukemic cells purified from 10 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) was analyzed in basal conditions or in the presence of exogenous recombinant (r) Interleukin (IL) 1. In parallel, blasts from 5 of these patients were studied for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) mRNA. IL-1 augmented the spontaneous AML cell proliferation in all cases and induced de novo expression or increased amounts of GM-CSF and/or G-CSF transcripts in 4 of the 5 cases evaluated. IL-1-induced AML cell proliferation was modulated by neutralizing anti-GM-CSF or anti-G-CSF antibodies in those cases in which CSF mRNAs were induced or increased by exogenous cytokine. In the same cases, biosynthetic labelling and immunoprecipitation studies using monospecific anti-GM-CSF antibodies showed that IL-1 also increased the levels of GM-CSF protein synthesis. Addition of neutralizing anti-IL-1 antibodies to AML cell cultures completely abolished ongoing GM-CSF synthesis, suggesting that endogenous IL-1 is needed to maintain autocrine production of CSFs. The effects of rIL-2 were investigated in a larger series of 21 patients. The cytokine reduced spontaneous AML cell proliferation in 8 cases. It caused complete disappearance of GM-CSF mRNA in 1 case, and marked reduction of G-CSF mRNA in 2 cases. Increased AML cell proliferation was observed in 2 of 21 cases. These findings suggest that expression of CSF genes and cell proliferation in AML are under the control of different cytokines acting in autocrine or paracrine fashion.

Rat Tracheal Epithelial Cells Produce Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor

It is unknown whether local resident cells of the upper airway are able to regulate the number and function of phagocytic cells by the secretion of cytokines. We undertook to determine if tracheal epithelial cells (TEC) produce the potent cytokine granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and how TEC-derived GM-CSF might be regulated. Conditioned media (TEC-CM) from 7- to 21-day-old primary cultures of rat TEC contained material with bioactivity similar to GM-CSF. This bioactivity was increased in conditioned medium from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated (1 microgram/ml) TEC. Molecular characterization of bioactivity revealed a molecular weight of 27 to 44 kD by gel-filtration high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and elution at 44 to 50% acetonitrile by reverse-phase HPLC, similar to that of authentic GM-CSF. The biologic activity of TEC-CM was completely blocked by a goat polyclonal anti-GM-CSF antibody. With in situ hybridization using a murine GM-CSF cDNA probe, more than 95% of the adherent TEC population expressed GM-CSF transcripts, and the number of transcripts was significantly increased by LPS (1 microgram/ml, 48 h). TEC appear to produce a cytokine that is functionally, biochemically, and antigenically indistinguishable from GM-CSF. The ability of TEC to produce GM-CSF suggests that these cells may play a role in modulating the inflammatory response in the airway.