Inhibition Of Tumor Necrosis Factor Production Research Articles

Expression of subunits of the 19S complex and of the PA28 activator in rat skeletal muscle.

A precise knowledge of the role of subunits of the 19S complex and the PA28 regulator, which associate with the 20S proteasome and regulate its peptidase activities, may contribute to design new therapeutic approaches for preventing muscle wasting in human diseases. The proteasome is mainly responsible for the muscle wasting of tumor-bearing and unweighted rats. The expression of some ATPase (MSS1, P45) and non ATPase (P112-L, P31) subunits of the 19S complex, and of the two subunits of the PA28 regulator, was studied in such atrophying muscles. The mRNA levels for all studied subunits increased in unweighted rats, and analysis of MSS1 mRNA distribution profile in polyribosomes showed that this subunit entered active translation. By contrast, only the mRNA levels for MSS1 increased in the muscles from cancer rats. Thus, gene expression of the proteasome regulatory subunits depends on a given catabolic state. Torbafylline, a xanthine derivative which inhibits tumor necrosis factor production, prevented the activation of protein breakdown and the increased expression of 20S proteasome subunits in cancer rats, without reducing the elevated MSS1 mRNA levels. Thus, the increased expression of MSS1 is regulated independently of 20S proteasome subunits, and did not result in accelerated proteolysis.

Induction of tumor necrosis factor production from monocytes stimulated with mannuronic acid polymers and involvement of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, CD14, and bactericidal/permeability-increasing factor.

Well-defined polysaccharides, such as beta1-4-linked D-mannuronic acid (poly[M]) derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, induce monocytes to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) through a pathway involving membrane CD14. In this study we have investigated the effects of soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and bactericidal/permeability-increasing factor (BPI) on poly(M) binding to monocytes and induction of TNF production. We show that LBP increased the TNF production from monocytes stimulated with poly(M). Addition of sCD14 alone had only minor effects, but when it was added together with LBP, a rise in TNF production was seen. BPI was found to inhibit TNF production from monocytes stimulated with poly(M) in the presence of LBP, LBP-sCD14, or 10% human serum. Binding studies showed that poly(M) bound to LBP- and BPI-coated immunowells, while no significant binding of poly(M) to sCD14-coated wells in the absence of serum was observed. Binding of poly(M) to monocytes was also examined by flow cytometry, and it was shown that the addition of LBP or 10% human serum clearly increased the binding of poly(M) to monocytes. BPI inhibited the binding of poly(M) to monocytes in the presence of LBP, LBP-sCD14, or 10% human serum. Our data demonstrate a role for LBP, LBP-sCD14, and BPI in modulating TNF responses of defined polysaccharides.

Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Pentoxifylline on ICAM-1 Expression on Human Polymorphonuclear Granulocytes

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a cytokine-inducible adhesion molecule, expressed on cells of multiple lineages at the site of inflammation. Cytofluorometric analysis revealed that CD16-positive peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs, neutrophils) expressed ICAM-1 on their surface, and it was upregulated by in vitro stimulation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), GM-CSF and Staphylococcus aureus. The S. aureus-induced stimulation of ICAM-1 expression was inhibited by pentoxifylline (PTX). As TNF is a potent inducer of ICAM-1 expression, it is concluded that in these experiments the inhibition of TNF production by PTX concomitantly resulted in the inhibition of the upregulation of ICAM-1. However, the inhibition of granulocyte apoptosis by PTX might be of importance in this process. The present study provides evidence that cytokine-stimulated neutrophils are able to express the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 and this may allow ICAM-1-positive neutrophils to physically interact with LFA-1-positive inflammatory cells. The preliminary results demonstrate that the basal expression of ICAM-1 on PMNs of septic patients is higher than that in the case of normal blood donors. Further studies will elucidate the in vivo relevance of cytokine-induced neutrophil ICAM-1 expression and the potential role of its inhibition by PTX in inflammatory response disorders.

Mechanism of inhibition of tumor necrosis factor production by chlorpromazine and its derivatives in mice

In previous work, we reported that chlorpromazine inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in endotoxin lipopolysaccharide-treated mice, and protects against lipopolysaccharide toxicity. Chlorpromazine is used as an antipsychotic and has several effects on the central nervous system. It acts on different neurotransmitter receptors and has other biochemical activities some of which, like inhibition of phospholipase A 2, might be responsible for the inhibitory effect on TNF production. To investigate the role of these actions in the inhibition of TNF production by chlorpromazine, we have synthesized some chlorpromazine derivatives that do not have central activities. Some of these analogs have lost their affinity for various receptors and their phospholipase A 2 inhibitory activity, but still inhibit TNF production. No correlation was found between TNF inhibition and the ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) synthase, whereas a good correlation was evident between TNF inhibition and antioxidant activity.

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, attenuates endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor production by monocytes

In order to determine whether gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor with anticoagulant properties, is useful for the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome, we examined its effect on endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury in rats. Prospective, randomized, controlled study. Research laboratory at a university medical center. Male Wistar rats (180 to 220 g.) Animals received intravenous infusions of endotoxin (5 mg/kg iv) or saline (control). Pulmonary vascular injury was assessed 6 hrs after administration of endotoxin in terms of the increase in vascular permeability. Rats received gabexate mesilate (10 mg/kg ip), heparin, antithrombin III, an inactive derivative of activated factor X (a selective inhibitor of thrombin generation), or N-[2-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-propionyloxy) phenylsulfonylamino] benzoyl] aminoacetic acid (ONO-5046) (a potent granulocyte elastase inhibitor) 30 mins before endotoxin administration. Leukocytopenia was induced by administration of methotrexate. The effects of the gabexate mesilate on the function of activated neutrophils and the production of tumor necrosis factor -alpha (TNF-alpha) by endotoxin-stimulated monocytes were examined in vitro using neutrophils and monocytes prepared from healthy human volunteers. Pulmonary vascular permeability was determined by measuring the vascular leakage of intravenously administered 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin. Intravenous administration of endotoxin significantly increased pulmonary vascular permeability. Gabexate mesilate significantly inhibited pulmonary vascular injury observed 6 hrs after the administration of endotoxin. Pulmonary vascular injury was not attenuated by the administration of heparin, heparin plus antithrombin III, or the inactive derivative of activated factor X, but pulmonary vascular injury was significantly attenuated in animals with methotrexate-induced leukocytopenia and in those animals treated with N-[2-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-propionyloxy) phenylsulfonylamino] benzoyl] aminoacetic acid. Gabexate mesilate in concentrations of 10(-4) to 10(-3) M inhibited the release of granulocyte elastase and leukocyte aggregation stimulated by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and the opsonized zymosan-activated production of superoxide radical by neutrophils in vitro. Gabexate mesilate significantly inhibited the endotoxin-induced increase in the serum concentration of TNF-alpha in vivo and, at a concentration of 10(-8) M, the production of TNF-alpha by endotoxin-stimulated monocytes in vitro. Our findings suggest that gabexate mesilate attenuated endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury mainly by inhibiting TNF-alpha production by monocytes, which may play a central role in sepsis-related lung injury.

Temporal regulation by adrenergic receptor stimulation of macrophage ( MΦ)-derived tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production post-LPS challenge

Macrophage (MΦ) responsiveness can be regulated by various mediators, including those which emanate from, and mimic, the sympathetic nervous system. Whereas β-adrenergic agonists suppress, α 2-adrenergic agonists augment lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production and gene expression. The susceptibility of MΦs to regulation of LPS-induced TNF production and mRNA accumulation was examined following β-adrenergic and α 2-adrenergic receptor activation at specific time points post-LPS challenge. Complete Freund's adjuvant-elicited murine MΦs were incubated with LPS (30 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of adrenergic agonists or antagonists. We assessed the susceptibility of immunologically-activated MΦs to adrenergic receptor regulation: a) during the l h delay in the production of TNF after LPS-stimulation, and b) during the rapid increase in TNF production which follows. Disparate responsiveness of MΦs to adrenergic drugs was observed during this time course of TNF production and TNF mRNA accumulation. In particular, while the concomitant addition of an α 2-adrenergic antagonist and LPS resulted in 45% suppression of TNF production, this selective blockade of α 2-adrenergic receptors on MΦs was equally effective throughout the first 45 min post-LPS challenge. After this initial period, the α 2-adrenergic receptor became progressively less responsive as demonstrated by the delayed addition of yohimbine (10 −5 M) post-LPS challenge. The addition of the selective α 2-adrenergic agonist UK-14304 (10 −7 M) to LPS-activated MΦs augmented TNF mRNA accumulation. However, this augmentation was even greater when the addition of the α 2-adrenergic agonist was delayed post-LPS challenge. It was also shown that the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (10 −6 M) produced maximum suppression of TNF production within the first 1.5 h post-LPS challenge. Suppression by isoproterenol (10 −6 M) of TNF mRNA accumulation occurred throughout the 2-h period assessed post-LPS stimulation of MΦs. The decline in isoproterenol-induced regulation was accompanied by an elevation in β 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA accumulation. Furthermore, suppression of TNF production induced by a maximum concentration of isoproterenol was observed at various LPS concentrations (0.001–1000 ng/ml), although this was not as pronounced a suppression as demonstrated for dibutyryl cAMP. These results demonstrate that the susceptibility of MΦs to adrenergic receptor regulation changes throughout the time period necessary for gene activation and ultimate release of TNF. Thus, the production of TNF during LPS-dependent disease states may be regulated by adrenergic mediators throughout different temporal windows, better explaining the role played by the nervous system.

A glucocorticoid receptor-independent mechanism for neurosteroid inhibition of tumor necrosis factor production

We investigated the effect of two neurosteroids, pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in vivo and in vitro. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (0.3–30 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited serum TNF induced by lipopolysaccharide (2.5 μg/mouse, i.p.), without affecting the induction of serum corticosterone. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (0.2–5 μg/mouse) also inhibited brain TNF induced by i.c.v. lipopolysaccharide (2.5 μg/mouse). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and pregnenolone (10 −6–10 −4 M) inhibited TNF production in vitro by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells or by the human THP-1 cell line, suggesting that this action might also be relevant in humans. We obtained two lines of evidence that neurosteroids do not inhibit TNF via the glucocorticoid receptor. (1) Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and pregnenolone did not activate the α 1-acid glycoprotein promoter, a typical effect of glucocorticoids mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor, while strong activation of this promoter was observed with dexamethasone. (2) The inhibitory effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and pregnenolone on TNF production was not reversed by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, mifepristone (RU38486). On the contrary the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone, a classical glucocorticoid and inhibitor of TNF synthesis, was completely reversed by RU38486.

A Novel Platelet Activating Factor Antagonist, SM-12502, Attenuates Endotoxin-induced Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Acute Pulmonary Vascular Injury by Inhibiting TNF Production in Rats

Adult respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation are important pathologic conditions affecting the outcome of patients with sepsis. To elucidate the possible therapeutic efficacy of SM-12502, a novel platelet activating factor antagonist, on acute lung injury and disseminated intravascular coagulation in sepsis, we investigated the effect of SM-12502 on an endotoxin (ET)-induced septic model in rats. SM-12502 prevented ET-induced increases in pulmonary vascular permeability and ET-induced histologic changes, such as leukocyte infiltration and pulmonary interstitial edema, 6 h following the administration of ET (5 mg/kg). SM-12502 also inhibited the decrease in fibrinogen and the increase in fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products observed following ET administration. SM-12502 prevented increases in the serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) 90 min following ET administration in vivo, and significantly inhibited the production of TNF-alpha by ET-stimulated monocytes in vitro. These findings suggest that SM-12502 attenuates the actions of endotoxin by the inhibition of TNF production.

Antioxidants attenuate endotoxin-induced activation of alveolar macrophages

Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) stimulation of tissue-fixed macrophages induces the generation of toxic oxidants. However, recent studies also implicate redox changes in both the signal transduction pathways for cytokine genes and the generation of physiologically active arachidonic acid metabolites. Because cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites initiate and perpetuate deleterious systemic inflammatory responses, we tested whether macrophage activation could be modulated by antioxidants. Rabbit alveolar macrophages were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage, isolated, treated with the antioxidants vitamin E or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and stimulated with an optimal dose of LPS (10 ng/ml). Assays were performed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF), procoagulant activity, and prostaglandin E2. Total cellular RNA was extracted for Northern blot analysis of TNF messenger RNA. Exposure of the macrophage to the antioxidants vitamin E and NAC inhibited TNF production, accumulation of TNF messenger RNA, procoagulant activity expression, and prostaglandin E2 production. Macrophage signal transduction of LPS is dependent on the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates that can be blocked both at the level of the lipid membrane (vitamin E) and at the intracellular level (NAC). This suggests a potential therapeutic role for antioxidants is disease states such as adult respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure syndrome, which are characterized by excessive macrophage activation.

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Inhibits Brain and Peripheral Tumor Necrosis Factor Production and, When Coadministered with Its Soluble Receptor, Protects Mice From Lipopolysaccharide Toxicity

The receptor of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) contains the signal transduction protein gp130, which is also a component of the receptors of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF), IL-11, and oncostatin M. This suggests that these cytokines might share common signaling pathways. We previously reported that CNTF augments the levels of corticosterone (CS) and of IL-6 induced by IL-1 and induces the production of the acute-phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA). Since the elevation of serum CS is an important feedback mechanism to limit the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor (TNF), we have investigated the effect of CNTF on both TNF production and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) toxicity. To induce serum TNF levels, LPS was administered to mice at 30 mg/kg i.p. and CNTF was administered as a single dose of 10 micrograms/mouse i.v., either alone or in combination with its soluble receptor sCNTFR alpha at 20 micrograms/mouse. Serum TNF levels were the measured by cytotoxicity on L929 cells. In order to measure the effects of CNTF on LPS-induced TNF production in the brain, mice were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with 2.5 micrograms/kg LPS. Mouse spleen cells cultured for 4 hr with 1 microgram LPS/ml, with or without 10 micrograms CNTF/ml, were also analyzed for TNF production. CNTF, administered either alone or in combination with its soluble receptor, inhibited the induction of serum TNF levels by LPS. This inhibition was also observed in the brain when CNTF and LPS were administered centrally. In vitro, CNTF only marginally affected TNF production by LPS-stimulated mouse splenocytes, but it acted synergistically with dexamethasone (DEX) in inhibiting TNF production. Most importantly, CNTF administered together with sCNTFR alpha protected mice against LPS-induced mortality. These data suggest that CNTF might act as a protective cytokine against TNF-mediated pathologies both in the brain and in the periphery.

OXIDANTS AUGMENT ENDOTOXIN INDUCED ACTIVATION OF ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES

Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) stimulation of macrophages (M phi) induces the generation of toxic reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI); however, recent studies implicate intracellular redox changes in signal transduction pathways for cytokines. To test whether oxidant stress modulates M phi activation, rabbit alveolar M phi were exposed to the following: diamide (oxidizes intracellular glutathione); glucose oxidase (generates hydrogen peroxide); or xanthine oxidase (generates superoxide), before lipopolysaccharide. Supernatants were assayed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and cell lysates were assayed for procoagulant activity (PCA). TNF mRNA was analyzed by Northern blot. M phi exposure to diamide and glucose oxidase augmented TNF production, PCA expression, and TNF mRNA accumulation; however, xanthine oxidase exposure inhibited TNF production while augmenting PCA expression. M phi signal transduction can be enhanced by increasing cellular oxidant stress. The differential response of TNF versus PCA suggests the existence of distinct redox-sensitive signal transduction pathways. These data define a mechanism by which oxidants generated during inflammation may modulate M phi function.

Inhibition by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol of tumor necrosis factor alpha production by mouse and human macrophages

Suppression by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by macrophages has not been reported previously. The present study evaluated the effect in vitro of THC on soluble TNF-α production by cultured murine peritoneal macrophages. THC at 5 or 10 μg/ml added to medium [RPMI 1640 containing 10 ng LPS/ml, mouse IFN-γ (100 u/ml), and 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA)] used to induce TNF significantly decreased TNF-α production by BALB/c mouse macrophages. Macrophages pretreated with THC at 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 μg/ml in protein-free medium for 3 h at 37°C, prior to TNF induction, also showed a decreased ability to produce TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing the protein concentration from 0.5 to 5% BSA in the medium which was used to induce TNF prevented the inhibitory activity of THC. Human peripheral blood adherent cells treated with THC-containing medium produced less TNF-α than controls that were not exposed to THC. Thus, our data provide evidence that THC can inhibit TNF production by mouse and human macrophages. The drug's activity is concentration dependent and is related to the amount of serum protein in the medium used to induce this cytokine.

Pentoxifylline inhibits interleukin-2-induced toxicity in C57BL/6 mice but preserves antitumor efficacy.

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) mediates the regression of metastatic cancer but clinical use has been limited due to associated toxicities. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important mediator of IL-2 toxicity and may have a limited role in IL-2 antitumor efficacy. Because pentoxifylline (PTXF) inhibits TNF production, we hypothesized that PTXF would ameliorate IL-2 toxicity without compromising antitumor efficacy. Four groups of female C57BL/6 mice with pulmonary metastases from a 3-methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (MCA-105) and four groups of nontumored mice were treated every 6 h for 4 d by intraperitoneal injections of either IL-2 alone, IL-2 and PTXF, PTXF alone, or equal volumes of saline. Upon completion of therapy, we found that PTXF suppressed many of the IL-2-induced effects including TNF production, lymphocytic infiltration of multiple organs, multiple organ edema, hepatic dysfunction, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Tumor response was determined 21 d after cessation of therapy by quantitating the number and surface area of pulmonary metastases. PTXF preserved antitumor efficacy while reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by IL-2 treatment. These data strongly support the use of PTXF in extending the therapeutic index of IL-2 in the treatment of cancer.

Inhibition of Production of Tumor Necrosis Factor by Monoclonal Antibodies to Lipopolysaccharides

Murine monoclonal antibodies to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from rough J5 mutant of Escherichia coli O111:B4 protected D-galactosamine-treated mice against lethal effects of LPS and provided protection in an experimental infection model with live E. coli. Three previously prepared anti-LPS antibodies were evaluated for ability to inhibit LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion. In vivo, TNF production was induced in mice treated with D-galactosamine and challenged with LPS. Two antibodies (D6B3 and D6B4) decreased serum TNF levels and prevented lethal effects of LPS. Nonprotective anti-LPS antibody (D9A2) and an unrelated antibody to neomycin did not reduce circulating TNF levels after LPS challenge. Pretreatment of mice with D6B3 and D6B4 protected mice from infection with E. coli and prevented serum TNF increases induced by E. coli infection. In nonprotected animals, high levels of TNF were detected in serum 3-6 h after infection; animals died within 24 h. In vitro, addition of protective antibodies to macrophage cultures at initiation of LPS stimulation inhibited TNF production. Nonprotective antibody D9A2 failed to block LPS-induced TNF production.

Protective anti-lipopolysaccharide monoclonal antibodies inhibit tumor necrosis factor production

Elevated systemic levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have been directly correlated with increased mortality during experimental gram-negative bacterial sepsis. Although monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin, LPS) decrease TNF production in vitro and enhance survival in vivo, the precise relationship between inhibition of TNF secretion and protective capacity has not been defined. We hypothesized that protective anti-LPS mAbs inhibited LPS-stimulated TNF production. To test this hypothesis, we first produced and characterized three anti-LPS mAbs. We then examined the ability of these mAbs to decrease TNF secretion in an in vitro assay using cells from the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Subsequently, we assessed the protective capacities of these anti-LPS mAbs in a murine mucin peritonitis model of sepsis using live Escherichia coli 0111:B4 bacterial challenge. Our results demonstrated that those anti-LPS mAbs that decreased LPS-stimulated TNF secretion in vitro were protective in vivo. We concluded that inhibition of TNF secretion in vitro reflected protective capacity and that anti-LPS mAbs may confer protection via abrogation of macrophage TNF secretion. Inhibition of TNF production in vitro may provide a valuable test that may facilitate the selection of protective anti-LPS mAbs.

Membrane potential modulates release of tumor necrosis factor in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophages.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated synthesis of macrophage gene products such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is controlled by different signaling pathways. We investigated intracellular free Ca2+ (Ca2+ic) and the membrane potential as early cellular responses to LPS and their role in the synthesis and release of TNF. In peritoneal macrophages and in the RAW 269 mouse macrophage cell line, LPS and its biologically active moiety lipid A stimulated TNF synthesis but exerted no significant effects on these early cellular responses using Fura-2/Indo-1 to measure Ca2+ic and bis-oxonol, as well as the patch-clamp technique to monitor membrane potential. In contrast, the platelet-activating factor transiently induced both an increase in Ca2+ic and cell membrane depolarization but no significant TNF release. Increased extracellular K+ concentrations or K(+)-channel blockers, such as quinine, tetraethylammonium, or barium chloride, inhibited the LPS-stimulated release of TNF alpha, as well as the accumulation of cell-associated TNF alpha as found by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis, but did not inhibit TNF alpha mRNA accumulation. Concentrations of quinine (greater than 125 microM) or of enhanced extracellular K+ (25-85 mM) required to inhibit TNF production both significantly depolarized macrophages. These results indicate a lack of ion transport activities as early cellular responses of macrophages to LPS but suggest an important regulatory role of the membrane potential on the posttranscriptional synthesis and release of TNF in macrophages.

Inhibition of endotoxin-induced macrophage tumor necrosis factor expression by a prostacyclin analogue and its beneficial effect in experimental lipopolysaccharide intoxication.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein produced in large quantities by endotoxin-activated macrophages, has been implicated as an important mediator of the lethal effect of endotoxin. A stable prostacyclin analogue (iloprost) was investigated for its ability to interfere with TNF secretion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. It could be demonstrated by bioassays that LPS-induced TNF production was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner when macrophages were treated with iloprost at the time of LPS stimulation. Northern blot analysis revealed that iloprost inhibited TNF production at the transcription level. In vivo, endotoxin-induced mortality rates in galactosamine-sensitized mice could be significantly (P less than .05) reduced by iloprost administration. It is assumed that prostacyclin modulates endotoxin-induced and TNF-mediated inflammation in septic shock.

FK 506 reduces the injury experienced following renal ischemia and reperfusion.

The effect of FK 506 pretreatment on renal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury was investigated. Adult male rats were assigned to one of two groups (20 animals each). Group 1 (controls) received 0.5 mL saline while group 2 received FK 506 (0.3 mg/kg) intravenously 24 h prior to the induction of renal ischemia. After a 60-min period of ischemia of the right kidney, a left nephrectomy was performed. Blood for BUN, creatinine, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was obtained prior to ischemia and on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10. All surviving animals were sacrificed at day 10. FK 506 pretreatment reduced the serum levels of BUN (p less than .02), creatinine (p less than .02) and TNF (p less than .05) as compared to that seen in controls. Based upon these data, it appears that: (a) renal ischemia induces the release of TNF; (b) FK 506 pretreatment inhibits TNF production; and (c) FK 506 reduces renal injury association with I/R.

Misoprostol but not antacid prevents endotoxin-induced gastric mucosal injury

Many of the complications of septic shock are believed to be a consequence of elevated circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which is an important mediator of tissue injury. Prostaglandins (PGs) of the E series have recently been reported to inhibit TNF production in vitro. We investigated the in vivo effect of misoprostol, a PGE1 analog, on endotoxin-induced gastric mucosal injury and TNF production. For the gastric mucosal injury studies, groups of animals were pretreated with intragastric misoprostol (100 and 200 micrograms/kg) or with antacid (2 ml/animal of Maalox Plus) 30 min prior to a challenge with intravenous E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 5.0 mg/kg. Stomachs were examined 3 hr after LPS. Systemic endotoxin alone induced microscopic edema, vascular congestion, and polymorphonuclear (PMN) infiltration of the gastric mucosa. Pretreatment with misoprostol, but not with antacid, significantly and dose-dependently reduced the gastric mucosal injury. For the TNF studies, groups of rats were given either misoprostol (100 or 200 micrograms/kg, intragastric), or saline 1 hr prior to LPS challenge. Serum samples were obtained 1.5 hr after LPS challenge. Misoprostol dose-dependently and significantly (P less than 0.01) inhibited TNF activity. We conclude that misoprostol is a potent inhibitor of TNF systemic production and inhibits the gastric mucosal injury induced by endotoxemia. These studies suggest a potentially important therapeutic role for misoprostol in inflammatory diseases in which TNF exerts a contributory role.

Cross-reactive murine monoclonal antibodies directed against the core/lipid A region of endotoxin inhibit production of tumor necrosis factor

Two murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the core/lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin, LPS) were derived from mice immunized with either Escherichia coli J5 or Salmonella minnesota Ra, Rb, Rc, or Re heat-killed organisms or LPS. These mAbs were selected on the basis of their ability to cross-react against a panel of gram-negative bacterial LPS using Western immunotransblot analysis. We hypothesized that these anti-LPS mAbs directed against the conserved core region of LPS would inhibit LPS-induced macrophage tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by neutralizing LPS derived from different gram-negative bacteria. To test this hypothesis, unelicited peritoneal macrophages were treated with either mAb 5G11 (deep core/lipid A specificity, broad LPS cross-reactivity) or mAb 5B11 (intermediate core specificity, limited LPS cross-reactivity). Macrophages were then challenged with a panel of LPS, and TNF activity was measured by the use of the L929 cytotoxicity assay. MAb 5G11 significantly inhibited TNF production against a panel of different types of LPS, but mAb 5B11 did not. In addition, mAb 5G11 did not inhibit TNF production due to isolated lipid A stimulation, suggesting that mAb 5G11 neutralized LPS by binding primarily to the deep core region of LPS. MAb 5G11 was also able to inhibit TNF production if added within 10 min of LPS stimulation but had no effect at 30 min, suggesting that macrophage stimulation may be irreversible during even the early stages of the response to LPS. These findings provide further evidence that cross-reactive epitopes within the deep core/lipid A region of LPS are highly associated with the biologically mediated effects of LPS and provide a rationale for the clinical use of anti-LPS mAbs which may inhibit the deleterious host mediator-induced effects of endotoxemia.