Monocyte Tumoricidal Activity Research Articles

IL-2 signaling in human monocytes involves the phosphorylation and activation of p59hck.

The activating properties of IL-2 and the structure of the IL-2R on human monocytes are well characterized. However, relatively little is known about the biochemical mechanisms involved in IL-2 signal transduction in these cells. We investigated the role of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) in the activation of monocytes by IL-2. Incubation of monocytes with the PTK inhibitor herbimycin A (HA) resulted in the dose-dependent suppression of IL-2-induced monocyte tumoricidal activity. This inhibition was rather potent, as a concentration of HA as low as 0.5 microM caused a complete abrogation of cytolytic activity. Furthermore, HA markedly suppressed the ability of IL-2 to induce IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 mRNA expression and protein secretion by monocytes. Anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting demonstrated that IL-2 induced a rapid and time-dependent increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins of molecular masses ranging from 35 to 180 kDa. Interestingly, IL-2 caused a significant up-regulation of the constitutive levels of hck PTK mRNA and protein relative to medium-treated cells as well as an increase in p59hck tyrosine phosphorylation. Finally, we demonstrated by in vitro kinase assay that the specific activity of p59hck PTK was also induced by IL-2 in monocytes. Thus, these data show that the activation of PTKs is required for the triggering of monocyte effector and secretory functions by IL-2 and strongly suggest that p59hck is a key participant in IL-2 signaling in human monocytes.

Functional role for the myeloid differentiation antigen CD14 in the activation of human monocytes by IL-2.

Human monocytes express functional IL-2Rs and are directly activated by IL-2 to exert effector and secretory functions. In this study, we demonstrate that the myeloid differentiation Ag CD14 participates in monocyte activation by IL-2. Engagement of CD14 by specific mAbs resulted in the selective and dose-dependent suppression of IL-2-induced, but not of IFN-gamma-induced, monocyte tumoricidal activity. Furthermore, anti-CD14 mAbs effectively inhibited the secretion of IL-8 and IL-1beta in response to IL-2. Preincubation of monocytes with mAbs directed to selected epitopes on CD14 blocked the binding of IL-2 to the cell surface, providing a possible explanation for the inhibition of IL-2-triggered responses. A critical role for CD14 in IL-2-mediated monocyte activation was further demonstrated by experiments with the human U937 promonocytic cell line. These cells are negative for CD14 and unresponsive to IL-2 despite the expression of the beta and gamma subunits of the IL-2R. U937 cells acquired the capacity to respond to IL-2 following transfection with the human CD14 cDNA (U937/CD14). Stimulation of U937/CD14 cells with IL-2 up-regulated the constitutive levels of IL-8 mRNA, whereas no change in IL-8 mRNA basal expression was observed in control cells transfected with the vector alone (U937/Neo). Accordingly, increased secretion of IL-8 by U937/CD14, but not by U937/Neo cells, was detected following exposure to IL-2. Expression of IL-1beta was also augmented by IL-2 in U937/CD14 cells. These data provide the first evidence that CD14 expression is required for the response of monocytic cells to IL-2.

IL-4 inhibits IL-2-induced tumoricidal activity and secretory functions of human monocytes. Modulation of IL-2 binding and IL-2 receptor beta gamma chain expression.

Human monocytes express functional IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) and are directly activated by IL-2 to exert effector and secretory functions. In this study, we show that IL-4 selectively suppressed, in a dose-dependent manner, IL-2-induced monocyte tumoricidal activity, without affecting IFN-gamma-dependent cytotoxicity. This effect was specific because a neutralizing anti-IL-4 mAb completely restored IL-2-activated cytolysis. Furthermore, IL-4 effectively blocked the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by IL-2-stimulated monocytes. Binding studies with biotin-conjugated IL-2 demonstrated that monocyte stimulation with IL-2 increased IL-2 binding to the cell surface, and that treatment with IL-4 inhibited this augmentation, providing a possible explanation for the decreased responsiveness of monocytes to IL-2 in the presence of IL-4. However, IL-4 suppressive effects could not be ascribed to the down-regulation of the individual components of the IL-2R complex. In fact, co-treatment of monocytes with IL-2 and IL-4 increased the expression of IL-2R gamma chain above the levels induced by IL-2 alone, whereas it did not significantly affect the expression of IL-2R beta chain. Thus, the inhibition of IL-2 binding by IL-4 may be due to the recruitment of the gamma chain into the IL-4-IL-4R system, making it unavailable for participation in the formation of IL-2 binding sites. These findings provide the first evidence of the ability of IL-4 to suppress IL-2-mediated activation of human monocytes and suggest that IL-4 may play an important role in vivo as an inhibitory signal that controls the response of monocytes to IL-2.

Inhibitory Cytokine Circuits Involving Transforming Growth Factor-β, Interferon-γ, and Interleukin-2 in Human Monocyte Activation

We have previously reported that transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6) induction by IL-2 and IL-1 in fresh human monocytes. We investigated the effects of TGF-beta 1 on the expression of tumoricidal activity induced by IL-2 or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in human monocytes. We showed that TGF-beta 1 specifically inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, IL-2-induced but not IFN-gamma-induced monocyte tumoricidal activity. The inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1 on IL-2-activated monocytes were not caused by down-modulation of the IL-2 receptor beta (IL-2R beta) because the treatment of monocytes with IL-2 and TGF-beta 1 increased IL-2R beta mRNA expression. However, we found that TGF-beta 1 down-modulated IL-2-induced IL-2R gamma mRNA, which may be responsible for the TGF-beta 1 inhibition of monocyte activation by IL-2. The resistance of the IFN-gamma-induced activation to the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1 could be caused by the ability of IFN-gamma to decrease TGF-beta 1 receptor expression, as shown by cross-linking experiments. Overall, these results showed that TGF-beta 1 is a powerful inhibitor of IL-2- but not of IFN-gamma-induced activation of monocytes to a cytotoxic stage. This differential effect may be attributed to modulation of cytokine receptor expression.

Inhibitory cytokine circuits involving transforming growth factor-beta, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-2 in human monocyte activation

We have previously reported that transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF- beta 1) inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6) induction by IL-2 and IL-1 in fresh human monocytes. We investigated the effects of TGF-beta 1 on the expression of tumoricidal activity induced by IL-2 or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in human monocytes. We showed that TGF-beta 1 specifically inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, IL-2-induced but not IFN-gamma- induced monocyte tumoricidal activity. The inhibitory effects of TGF- beta 1 on IL-2-activated monocytes were not caused by down-modulation of the IL-2 receptor beta (IL-2R beta) because the treatment of monocytes with IL-2 and TGF-beta 1 increased IL-2R beta mRNA expression. However, we found that TGF-beta 1 down-modulated IL-2- induced IL-2R gamma mRNA, which may be responsible for the TGF-beta 1 inhibition of monocyte activation by IL-2. The resistance of the IFN- gamma-induced activation to the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1 could be caused by the ability of IFN-gamma to decrease TGF-beta 1 receptor expression, as shown by cross-linking experiments. Overall, these results showed that TGF-beta 1 is a powerful inhibitor of IL-2- but not of IFN-gamma-induced activation of monocytes to a cytotoxic stage. This differential effect may be attributed to modulation of cytokine receptor expression.

Induction of cytokine messenger RNA and secretion in alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes from patients with lung cancer receiving granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor therapy : Thomassen MJ, Ahmad M, Barna BP, Antal J, Wiedemann HP, Meeker et al. Department of Pulmonary Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195-5038. Cancer Res 1991;51:857–862

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) promotes the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Although preliminary data are available from clinical trials, the effect of GM-CSF on gene expression of immunocompetent cells in treated patients has not been studied. We previously demonstrated that in vitro treatment with GM-CSF also enhances maturation-related anti-tumor activities in mononuclear phagocytes. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of in vivo recombinant GM-CSF therapy on alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes, to determine if these cells demonstrated differential expression of cytokine genes, cytokine production, and tumoricidal activity. Alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes were isolated from 13 patients receiving a range of GM-CSF doses (60-250 micrograms/m2/day) by continuous infusion over a 2-week period. Both monocytes and macrophages were isolated prior to therapy and at day 10 of the infusion. Monocytes, in addition, were isolated on day 3 of infusion. Results indicated that GM-CSF therapy enhanced expression of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1, and interleukin 6 mRNA in both monocytes and alveolar macrophages. Differential responses, however, were observed in cytokine secretion; monocytes demonstrated enhanced secretion of all three cytokines by day 3 of treatment, but alveolar macrophages showed only enhanced interleukin 6 secretion at day 10. Monocyte tumoricidal activity after in vitro lipopolysaccharide stimulation was also significantly elevated by day 3 of treatment, but at day 10 activity was not statistically different from pretreatment values in either monocytes or alveolar macrophages. These data indicate that GM-CSF exerts striking time-dependent modulatory effects on gene expression and functional activities of monocytes and alveolar macrophages in vivo, although the responses of the two cell types differ with respect to cytokine secretion.

Involvement of leukocyte (β2) integrins (CD18/CD11) in human monocyte tumoricidal activity

Appropriately activated mononuclear phagocytes mediate contact-dependent tumoricidal activity. Adhesion structures involved in contact-dependent tumor cytotoxicity have not been defined. The present study was aimed at identifying the adhesion structures involved in the tumoricidal activity of activated (IFN-gamma + LPS) human monocytes. Tumor cells of different histological origin were used as targets in a 48-hr cytolysis assay. Anti-CD18 (integrin beta 2 chain) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) substantially (50-80%) inhibited human monocyte cytotoxicity. When the role of different a-chains was studied, anti-alpha L (CD11a, LFA1), anti-alpha M (CD11b, Mac-1) and anti-alpha X (CD11c, p150,95) caused marginal inhibition, but the effect of the 3 combined was comparable to that of anti-CD18. Anti-CD18 MAb did not affect the release of various cytotoxic molecules (e.g. TNF) by activated human monocytes. Activated monocytes showed augmented binding to target cells and anti-CD18 MAb inhibited the binding of resting and activated monocytes to tumor target cells. While IFN-gamma alone augmented expression of leukocyte integrins and LPS had no effect, the 2 activation signals, combined for optimal stimulation of tumoricidal activity, resulted in no appreciable increase in these leukocyte adhesion molecules, as assessed by flow cytometry. Our results suggest that the augmented CD18-dependent binding of activated monocytes on tumor cells depends mainly upon changes in the adhesive properties of these molecules rather than upon increased numbers on the cell surface. Anti-ICAM-1 MAb significantly reduced monocyte cytotoxicity on tumor cells, which is consistent with a role of the CD11/CD18 adhesion pathway. These results implicate "activated" leukocyte (beta 2) integrins (CD11/CD18) as important adhesion molecules in the contact-dependent tumoricidal activity of human monocytes.

Monocyte tumoricidal activity and tumor necrosis factor production in patients with malignant brain tumors.

Monocyte-mediated tumoricidal activity, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) secretion and gene expression were examined in astrocytoma patients, patients with other types of brain tumors (primary or metastatic), and normal individuals. The spontaneous monocyte-mediated tumoricidal activity of either patient group against an astrocytoma cell line was significantly greater than normal. There was no difference between patient groups. When monocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in vitro, tumoricidal activity increased in all patient groups. Patient monocyte activity tested shortly (48 h) after surgery was not different from that before surgery. Both spontaneous and stimulated monocyte cytocidal activities were tumor-cell-restricted: melanoma and astrocytoma cells were equally susceptible but non-neoplastic glial cells were not affected. Examination of monocyte TNF alpha secretion and mRNA expression indicated that patient activity was comparable to or greater than normal. These results demonstrate that, despite steroid therapy, circulating monocytes in astrocytoma and other brain tumor patients retain intact functional activity.

Phase I trial of liposomal muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine in cancer patients.

Twenty-eight evaluable patients with metastatic cancer refractory to standard therapy received escalating doses of muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (MTP-PE) (.05 to 12 mg/m2) in phosphatidylserine (PC):phosphatidylcholine (PS) liposomes (lipid:MTP-PE) ratio 250:1). Liposomal MTP-PE (L-MTP-PE) was infused over 1 hour twice weekly; doses were escalated within individual patients every 3 weeks as tolerated for a total treatment duration of 9 weeks. Routine clinical laboratory parameters, acute phase reactants and various immunologic tests were monitored at various time points during treatment. Toxicity was moderate (less than or equal to grade II) in 24 patients with chief side effects being chills (80% of patients), fever (70%), malaise (60%), and nausea (55%). In four patients L-MTP-PE treatment was deescalated due to severe malaise and recurrent fever higher than 38.8 degrees C. The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was 6 mg/m2. Significant (P less than .05) increases in WBC count, absolute granulocyte count, ceruloplasmin, beta 2-microglobulin, c-reactive protein, monocyte tumoricidal activity, and serum IL-1 beta were found. Significant decreases in serum cholesterol were also observed. Clearance of intravenously (iv)-infused technetium-99 (99mTc)-labeled liposomes containing MTP-PE in four patients was biphasic; gamma camera scans revealed uptake of radiolabel in liver, spleen, lung, nasopharynx, thyroid gland, and tumor (two patients). No objective tumor regression was seen. In view of its definite immunobiologic activity and lack of major toxicity, additional phase II and adjuvant trials of L-MTP-PE are warranted.

Enhancement of human monocyte tumoricidal activity by recombinant M-CSF.

Activated monocytes are an important component of immunologic defense against neoplastic disease. A variety of agents capable of inducing tumoricidal activity have been described, including bacterial LPS, IFN-gamma, IL-1, IL-2, TNF, and GM-CSF. We now show that pretreatment of monocytes with recombinant human macrophage-specific colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) augments the tumoricidal activity of human peripheral blood monocytes induced by other activating agents. Monocytes were preincubated for three days with M-CSF at 10(3) U/ml, washed, and treated for an additional two days with secondary activators. Tumoricidal activity was measured in a 6-h 51Cr-release assay using NK-resistant WEHI 164 cells that had been treated with actinomycin D. Pretreatment of monocytes with M-CSF significantly increased tumoricidal activity induced by LPS, IFN gamma, LPS plus IFN gamma, and LPS plus PMA. Pretreatment with IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, or GM-CSF was not as effective as M-CSF in increasing tumoricidal activity. Enhanced tumoricidal activity was directly correlated to the increased TNF production resulting from M-CSF pretreatment. TNF antiserum completely blocked tumoricidal activity, demonstrating that TNF was responsible for the M-CSF-mediated increase in tumor cell lysis. M-CSF pretreatment also enhanced non-TNF mediated tumoricidal activity by monocytes, as seen by increased killing of the TNF-resistant target P815. This study demonstrated that in addition to the role of M-CSF in the proliferation and differentiation of monocyte/macrophage precursors, M-CSF also augments an effector function of mature blood monocytes.

Human Granulocyte-Monocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Interleukin 3 Stimulate Monocyte Cytotoxicity Through a Tumor Necrosis Factor-Dependent Mechanism

Human colony-stimulating factors (CSF) exert multiple effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and function of myeloid lineage cells. In this study, the effects of three recombinant human CSFs (granulocyte-monocyte CSF [GM-CSF], interleukin 3 [IL-3], and granulocyte CSF [G-CSF]) on antibody-independent monocyte tumoricidal activity were investigated by using WEHI 164 fibrosarcoma cells as monocyte-sensitive targets. None of the CSFs directly induced monocyte cytotoxicity, although both GM-CSF and IL-3 were found to significantly enhance monocyte killing in response to a second stimulatory event (endotoxin). No effect was seen with G-CSF. Antitumor necrosis factor antibody completely abolished CSF-enhanced monocyte cytotoxicity, which suggests that this effect was mediated through increased release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). As previously shown for GM-CSF, IL-3 was found to induce cytoplasmic accumulation of TNF messenger RNA (mRNA) after 18 hours of exposure. These results suggest that GM-CSF and IL-3 may stimulate monocyte killing indirectly by enhancing expression of TNF mRNA, thereby leading to augmented TNF protein secretion in response to a second activation signal.

Human granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor and interleukin 3 stimulate monocyte cytotoxicity through a tumor necrosis factor- dependent mechanism

Human colony-stimulating factors (CSF) exert multiple effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and function of myeloid lineage cells. In this study, the effects of three recombinant human CSFs (granulocyte- monocyte CSF [GM-CSF], interleukin 3 [IL-3], and granulocyte CSF [G- CSF]) on antibody-independent monocyte tumoricidal activity were investigated by using WEHI 164 fibrosarcoma cells as monocyte-sensitive targets. None of the CSFs directly induced monocyte cytotoxicity, although both GM-CSF and IL-3 were found to significantly enhance monocyte killing in response to a second stimulatory event (endotoxin). No effect was seen with G-CSF. Antitumor necrosis factor antibody completely abolished CSF-enhanced monocyte cytotoxicity, which suggests that this effect was mediated through increased release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). As previously shown for GM-CSF, IL-3 was found to induce cytoplasmic accumulation of TNF messenger RNA (mRNA) after 18 hours of exposure. These results suggest that GM-CSF and IL-3 may stimulate monocyte killing indirectly by enhancing expression of TNF mRNA, thereby leading to augmented TNF protein secretion in response to a second activation signal.

Impaired oxidative burst does not affect human monocyte tumoricidal activity.

Human peripheral blood monocytes have been shown to lyse neoplastic cells selectively. It has been suggested that the oxidative burst may mediate monocyte tumoricidal activity. Two patients with chronic granulomatous disease were studied. The first patient had no detectable secretion of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion after stimulation with 100 ng/ml PMA. Nevertheless, his tumoricidal activity measured against K562 targets in 4-hr 51Cr-release assays by using highly purified monocytes was reproducibly above the 95th percentile of the normal population. His monocytes lysed WEHI-164 targets pretreated with 1 microgram/ml Actinomycin D with similar efficiency. Another patient whose oxidative burst was 15% of normal nevertheless killed Daudi targets efficiently. In addition, oxygen-deprived monocytes of normal donors manifested normal tumoricidal activity, despite failure to produce any detectable oxidative burst after PMA stimulation. We conclude that reactive oxygen metabolites are not the primary mediators of tumor cytolysis by human peripheral blood monocytes.