Mouse Macrophage-like Cell Research Articles

Non-serum-dependent chemotactic factors produced by Candida albicans stimulate chemotaxis by binding to the formyl peptide receptor on neutrophils and to an unknown receptor on macrophages.

Serum-free culture filtrates of six Candida species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were found to contain chemoattractants for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and a mouse macrophage-like cell line, J774. The chemotactic factors differed for the PMN and J774 cells, however, in terms of heat stability, kinetics of liberation by the yeast cells, and divalent cation requirements for production. The chemoattractant in Candida albicans culture filtrates appeared to act through the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) of PMNs, since it was found to induce chemotaxis of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that were expressing the human FPR but did not induce chemotaxis of wild-type CHO cells. The C. albicans culture filtrates also induced migration of PMNs across confluent monolayers of a human gastrointestinal epithelial cell line, T84; migration occurred in the basolateral-to-apical direction but not the reverse direction, unless the epithelial tight junctions were disrupted. J774 cells did not migrate toward the formylated peptide (fMet-Leu-Phe; fMLF), and chemotaxis toward the C. albicans culture filtrate was not inhibited by an FPR antagonist (t-butoxycarbonyl-Met-Leu-Phe), suggesting that a different receptor mediated J774 cell chemotaxis. In conclusion, we have identified a receptor by which a non-serum-dependent chemotactic factor (NSCF) produced by C. albicans induced chemotaxis of PMNs. Additionally, we have shown that NSCF was active across epithelial monolayers. These findings suggest that NSCFs produced by C. albicans and other yeast species may influence host-pathogen interactions at the gastrointestinal tract mucosal surface by inducing phagocytic-cell infiltration.

Suppression of prostaglandin synthesis by arachidonic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid in a macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7, treated with LPS.

In a mouse macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7, increasing the arachidonic acid (AA) content, by culturing cells with AA, caused profound AA release, irrespective of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treatment, while lowering the AA content, by culturing cells with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), decreased it compared with the level in non-modified control cells. However, the release of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), which had been generated from AA in response to LPS-treatment, was significantly decreased in both AA- and EPA-treated cells. Furthermore, although the amount of PG endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGHS-2) increased following LPS-treatment in all cases, both AA- and EPA-treatment caused a reduction of PGHS activity in LPS-treated cell lysates. Also, the addition of EPA or preincubation with AA in an in vitro PGHS assay system involving an LPS-treated, un-modified macrophage lysate, resulted in rapid inhibition of PGHS activity. These results suggest that both AA- and EPA-treatment inhibit PGD2 synthesis by inactivating PGHS-2 without affecting induction of the protein, and that the increase or decrease in AA content following AA- or EPA-treatment correlates simply with the level of AA release but not with that of PGD2 formation.

Exposure of macrophage-like cells to titanium particles does not affect bone resorption, but inhibits bone formation

We examined the capacity of culture supernatants of macrophage-like cells exposed to titanium particles to influence bone formation and bone resorption, our aim being to elucidate the mechanism of implant loosening. A mouse macrophage-like cell line, J774, was exposed to titanium particles and the concentrations of prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1α, and interleukin-6 in the supernatants were measured. Titanium particles stimulated the J774 cells to release tumor necrosis factor-α, whereas prostaglandin E2, interleukin-1α and interleukin-6 concentrations remained low. The bone resorptive activity of the supernatants was measured by determining 45Ca release from cultured pre-labeled newborn mouse calvariae. The culture supernatants of J774 cells exposed to titanium particles showed no significant difference in bone resorptive activity in mouse calvariae from that of culture supernatants of J774 cells not exposed to titanium particles. The bone-forming activity of the supernatant was evaluated by determining bone nodule formation and alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured mouse calvaria cells. The bone-forming activity of the supernatants exposed to titanium particles was significantly decreased compared with the supernatants of unexposed J774 cells. This inhibition was reversed by the addition of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α neutralizing antibody. We conclude that tumor necrosis factor-α released from J774 cells exposed to titanium particles played an important role in the inhibition of bone formation rather than in the stimulation of bone resorption.

RANK Is the Essential Signaling Receptor for Osteoclast Differentiation Factor in Osteoclastogenesis

Osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF) is a ligand for osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory factor/osteoprotegerin (OCIF/OPG), and mediates an essential signal for osteoclastogenesis. Soluble-form ODF binds directly to osteoclast progenitors, suggesting the presence of a membrane-bound receptor for ODF (ODFR) on the cells. To understand the ODF-mediated signal transduction mechanism in osteoclastogenesis, we molecularly cloned ODFR from a mouse macrophage-like osteoclast progenitor cell line, C7. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that ODFR is identical to RANK, a recently identified member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, which is involved in the regulation of dendritic cell function. A polyclonal antibody against the extracellular domain of RANK induced osteoclastogenesis in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). In contrast, both a genetically engineered soluble RANK and Fab fragment of the antibody blocked the binding of ODF to RANK and ODF-mediated osteoclastogenesis. These results indicate that RANK is the signaling receptor essential for ODF-mediated osteoclastogenesis.

Characterization of the LPS-Stimulated Expression of EP2 and EP4 Prostaglandin E Receptors in Mouse Macrophage-like Cell Line, J774.1

The expression of prostaglandin (PG) E receptor subtypes were characterized in J774.1, a mouse macrophage-like cell line. EP2- and EP4-mRNAs were found to be expressed. The expression of EP2 mRNA increased by the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a dose-dependent manner. EP2 mRNA rapidly increased by more than 5-fold of the control level at 1 h, and decreased after 4 h. EP4 mRNA increased by only 2-fold of the control at 2 h. Gamma interferon inhibited both basal and LPS-induced expression of EP2 mRNA but did not affect the expression level of EP4 mRNA. When tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) accumulation was measured after the treatment ofthe cells with LPS for 90 min, PGE2was found to inhibit this accumulation, but butaprost, an EP2-selective agonist, did not. When TNF-α release was measured after the treatment of the cells with LPS for 8 h, accumulation was inhibited by butaprost as well as PGE2. These results indicated that the inhibitory effects of PGE2on TNF-α production are mediated by EP2 and EP4 in macrophages, and that expression regulation of EP2 and EP4 in macrophages is quite different.

Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Desensitization ofjunBGene Expression in a Mouse Macrophage-Like Cell Line, P388D1

AbstractTreatment of a mouse macrophage cell line, P388D1, for 1 h with bacterial LPS caused a transient increase in the level of junB mRNA expression. These cells became refractory in terms of the junB gene response to exposure to a second round of LPS or lipid A, but not to PMA. The LPS-induced desensitized state was not due to the shortening of the half-life of junB mRNA, but was suggested, by nuclear run-on analysis, to be caused by reduction of junB gene transcription. Pretreating cells with herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, substantially inhibited LPS-induced expression of junB mRNA and decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of 38- to 42-kDa proteins, which comigrated with p38 and p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Parallel to down-regulation of junB mRNA expression, activation of the p38 MAP kinase was markedly reduced in LPS-tolerant cells, whereas activation of p42 MAP kinase was relatively constant. The specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, SB202190, potently inhibited LPS-induced junB mRNA expression. These results suggest that the LPS-induced desensitization of junB gene expression occurs at or upstream of the level of gene transcription and may be involved in a defective LPS-induced p38 MAP kinase pathway.

Ascorbate-Dependent Enhancement of Nitric Oxide Formation in Activated Macrophages

Macrophages activated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines produce nitric oxide through the induction ofiNOSgene expression. Ascorbate increased NOx (nitrite and nitrate) formation by approximately 40% in a mouse macrophage-like cell line, J774.1, activated with LPS and interferon-γ. Ascorbate alone exhibited no inductive activity toward NO formation.NG-Monomethyl-l-arginine inhibited nitrite formation in cells activated in the presence or absence of ascorbate. Northern and Western blotting analyses showed that bothiNOSmRNA and protein steady-state levels were increased approximately twofold in cells activated in the presence of ascorbate compared to in cells activated only with the inducers. These data suggest that ascorbate increased NO production by increasing the amount of iNOS in the activated macrophages.

Bioluminescence as a reporter of intracellular survival of Bordetella bronchiseptica in murine phagocytes.

The uptake and persistence of Bordetella bronchiseptica was characterized in murine phagocytes by using a novel bioluminescence-based reporter system. A mini-Tn5 promoter probe carrying the intact lux operon from the terrestrial bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens which allowed measurement of light output without the addition of exogenous substrate was constructed. It was used to create a pool of bioluminescent fusion strains of B. bronchiseptica. The internalization and persistence in murine macrophages of a constitutive bioluminescent strain of B. bronchiseptica was monitored by luminometry and by fluorescence and electron microscopy. The number of bacteria internalized, in a microfilament-dependent process, by a mouse macrophage-like cell line after 2 h was approximately 1% of the inoculum for several different multiplicities of infection (MOI). At an MOI of <500:1 (bacteria to macrophages), viable numbers of intracellular bacteria declined over a 4-day period. However, at an MOI of >/=500:1, long-term survival was enhanced, with viable bacteria recovered up to 4 days postinfection with little decline in numbers, indicating that a critical population size may have been essential for intracellular persistence. No evidence of macrophage killing by intracellular bacteria was detected over the 4-day period. Intracellular bioluminescent B. bronchiseptica organisms in mouse peritoneal cells were detected at 24 and 48 h after intraperitoneal injection of mice. Bioluminescence is shown to act as a convenient real-time technique for monitoring of intracellular survival of B. bronchiseptica in vitro and may provide a suitable means for examining the role of long-term intracellular survival of the bacterium in the host.

Nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of the ability of Rickettsia prowazekii to infect mouse fibroblasts and mouse macrophagelike cells.

The role of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathway in inhibiting the ability of Rickettsia prowazekii to initially infect (invade) mouse cytokine-treated, fibroblastic L929 cells and macrophagelike RAW264.7 cells and the ability of nitric oxide (NO) to damage isolated rickettsiae were investigated. Substantial amounts of nitrite (a degradation product of NO) were produced and the initial rickettsial infection was suppressed in cultures of L929 cells treated with crude lymphokine preparations (LK) or with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) plus tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) but not in L929 cell cultures treated with IFN-gamma alone or TNF-alpha alone. The NOS inhibitors N(G)-methyl-L-arginine and aminoguanidine both inhibited nitrite production and prevented the suppression of the initial rickettsial infection. Antibody-mediated neutralization of the IFN-gamma in the LK also inhibited both nitrite production and suppression of the initial rickettsial infection. Cultures of RAW264.7 cells treated with IFN-gamma plus lipopolysaccharide exhibited suppression of the initial rickettsial infection, and the suppression was relieved by aminoguanidine. Addition of oxyhemoglobin (a scavenger of extracellular NO) during the rickettsial infection alleviated the suppression of the initial rickettsial infection observed in appropriately treated L929 cells and RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the oxyhemoglobin restored the rickettsia-mediated, rapid killing of the treated RAW264.7 cells. Incubation of isolated rickettsiae with NO inhibited their ability to infect L929 and IFN-gamma-treated RAW264.7 cells and to rapidly kill IFN-gamma-treated RAW264.7 cells. In contrast, incubation of L929 cells with a solution that contained NO and/or degradation products of NO did not affect their ability to be infected by rickettsiae. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that NO released from appropriately stimulated potential host cells kills extracellular rickettsiae and thus prevents the rickettsiae from infecting the cells.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on mammalian phospholipase D activity

Curcumin, the major yellow pigment of turmeric ( Curcuma longa), has strong anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. We examined the effects of curcumin on enzyme activities of the following phospholipases in a cell-free system: G protein-mediated phospholipase D (PLD), phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, and phospholipase A 2 from mouse macrophage-like cell line J774.1 cells, sphingomyelinase from bovine brain, and phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. Curcumin inhibited several types of phospholipases, most effectively PLD among those tested. It also inhibited 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced PLD activation in intact J774.1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic action of curcumin is partly due to the inhibition of PLD.

Localization of lactoferrin in placenta and fetal membranes

We studied the binding of cationic liposomes, including didodecyl N-(α-(trimethylammonio)acetyl)-D-glutamate chloride (TMAG), to a mouse macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 to clarify which molecules contribute to the binding of TMAG liposomes to the cell surface. Several types of TMAG liposomes encapsulating [3H]inulin, intra-aqueous markers of liposomes, were prepared and their binding characteristics were compared with those of neutral and negatively charged liposomes. The binding of TMAG liposomes to cells was superior to those of neutral and negatively charged liposomes and increased with increasing TMAG content. Scatchard plots for the binding of TMAG liposomes to the cells were approximately linear, indicating a single class of binding sites. Pretreatment of the cell surface with heparinase, heparitinase, chondroitinase ABC, or neuraminidase did not reduce the binding of TMAG liposomes. These results suggested that neuraminic acid and glycosami-noglycan on the cell surface have little contribution to TMAG liposome binding. Pretreatment of the cells with trypsin reduced the binding of TMAG liposomes in a concentration-dependent manner but did not detach the cells from the culture plates. In addition, α-chymotrypsin pretreatment had no effect even up to 5 μg/mL Post-treatment with trypsin enhanced the release of TMAG liposomes from the cell surface in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrated that TMAG liposomes bind to trypsin-sensitive proteins on the cell surface.

Contribution of Trypsin-Sensitive Proteins to Binding of Cationic Liposomes to the Mouse Macrophage-like Cell Line RAW264.7

We studied the binding of cationic liposomes, including didodecyl N-(α-(trimethylammonio)acetyl)-D-glutamate chloride (TMAG), to a mouse macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 to clarify which molecules contribute to the binding of TMAG liposomes to the cell surface. Several types of TMAG liposomes encapsulating [3H]inulin, intra-aqueous markers of liposomes, were prepared and their binding characteristics were compared with those of neutral and negatively charged liposomes. The binding of TMAG liposomes to cells was superior to those of neutral and negatively charged liposomes and increased with increasing TMAG content. Scatchard plots for the binding of TMAG liposomes to the cells were approximately linear, indicating a single class of binding sites. Pretreatment of the cell surface with heparinase, heparitinase, chondroitinase ABC, or neuraminidase did not reduce the binding of TMAG liposomes. These results suggested that neuraminic acid and glycosami-noglycan on the cell surface have little contribution to TMAG liposome binding. Pretreatment of the cells with trypsin reduced the binding of TMAG liposomes in a concentration-dependent manner but did not detach the cells from the culture plates. In addition, α-chymotrypsin pretreatment had no effect even up to 5μg/mL Post-treatment with trypsin enhanced the release of TMAG liposomes from the cell surface in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrated that TMAG liposomes bind to trypsin-sensitive proteins on the cell surface.

Cloning, Expression, and Catalytic Mechanism of Murine Lysophospholipase I

A lysophospholipase (LysoPLA I) has been purified and characterized from the mouse macrophage-like P388D1 cell line (Zhang, Y. Y, and Dennis, E. A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9965-9972). This enzyme has now been sequenced, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The enzyme contains 230 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 24.7 kDa. It has a high helical content in its predicated secondary structure, which is also indicated in its CD spectrum. The cloned LysoPLA I was purified to homogeneity from the transformed E. coli cells by a gel filtration column and an ion exchange column. The specific activity of the purified protein is 1. 47 micromol/min.mg toward 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine at pH 8.0 and 40 degrees C, corresponding to the reported value of 1.3-1.7 micromol/min.mg for the protein purified from the P388D1 cells. In addition, the cloned protein cross-reacted with an antibody raised against LysoPLA I also purified from the P388D1 cells. The deduced LysoPLA I sequence contains a well conserved GXSXG motif found in the active site of many serine enzymes, and the activity of the LysoPLA I was irreversibly inhibited by the classical serine protease inhibitor diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis was employed to change Ser-119 in the GXSXG motif to an Ala. The resulting mutant protein lost all of its lysophospholipase activity, even though it had the same overall protein conformation as that of the wild-type LysoPLA I. Therefore, LysoPLA I has been demonstrated to be a serine enzyme with Ser-119 at the active site.

Effects of Oligodeoxynucleotides on the Physicochemical Characteristics and Cellular Uptake of Liposomes

We studied the effects of a phosphodiester oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), which is antisense to the site in the neighborhood of the AUG initiation codon of the mouse tumor necrosis factor α gene (TNF-α), on the physicochemical characteristics and the cellular association of three types of liposomes with different surface charges. The physicochemical characteristics of the liposomes changed after adding ODN. When the ODN/lipid molar ratio was ~0.15 in cationic (TMAG) liposomes [consisting of N-(α-trimethylammonioacetyl)didodecyl-D-glutamate chloride (TMAG), dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC), and dioleolylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) in a 1:2:2 ratio], but not in neutral and negatively charged liposomes, then the liposomes aggregated and fused. At higher molar ratios, these changes in TMAG liposomes were not evident. In addition, ODN inverted the ζ-potential of TMAG liposomes from positive to negative at an ODN/lipid molar ratio of ~0.15. Therefore, the aggregation and fusion induced by ODN could be explained by a lower surface charge repulsion between TMAG liposomes. On the other hand, the association of ODN with RAW264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage-like cell line, was very slight. The cellular association of ODN was significantly enhanced compared with neutral and negatively charged liposomes by encapsulation in TMAG liposomes. The ODN added to liposome suspensions did not affect the rate and extent of TMAG liposome cellular association, even at an ODN/lipid molar ratio of ~0.15. These results indicate that the lipid composition and ODN/lipid molar ratio are critical for the physicochemical characteristics of cationic liposomes. However, the changes had less influence on the cellular uptake properties of cationic liposomes.

Cytotoxicity to macrophages of tetrandrine, an antisilicosis alkaloid, accompanied by an overproduction of prostaglandins

Tetrandrine, an anti-inflammatory immunosuppressive bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid of Chinese herbal origin, is widely used to treat silicosis and interferes with the regulation of calcium in many cell types. We investigated its effect on the cellular integrity of macrophages and on their ability to generate prostaglandins and nitric oxide, mediators of inflammation with immunomodulatory roles. Tetrandrine at 10 −7 M to 10 −4 M caused dose- and time-dependent loss of cell viability of mouse peritoneal macrophages, guinea-pig alveolar macrophages and mouse macrophage-like J774 cells. Loss of viability (50%) occurred within 1–3 hr and required ≈5 × 10 −6 M tetrandrine. Loss of macrophage viability after tetrandrine treatment was accompanied by the generation of large amounts of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2), to levels 285–877% of control. Coincubation with indomethacin abolished PGE 2 generation, but did not prevent cell death. Tetrandrine did not cause generation of nitric oxide. Verapamil also reduced the viability of mouse peritoneal macrophages and J774 cells, but did not cause PGE 2 overproduction, except at 10 −4 M in mouse peritoneal macrophages. In macrophages cultured with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ to induce the generation of large amounts of both PGE 2 and nitric oxide, tetrandrine reduced mediator release and their forming enzymes (cyclo-oxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase), secondary to cytotoxicity. The predominant action of tetrandrine is to exert a cytotoxic effect on macrophages, perhaps by interfering with calcium homeostasis; this leads to overproduction of immunomodulatory but proinflammatory prostaglandin. This may be relevant to its protective actions in human fibrosing silicosis, in which there is alveolar macrophage involvement.

Delayed release of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid and kinetic changes in prostaglandin H synthase activity on the induction of prostaglandin H synthase-2 after lipopolysaccharide-treatment of RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells.

In a mouse macrophage-like cell line, RAW264.7, arachidonic acid was cleaved within 30 min of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treatment. However, prostaglandin (PG) synthesis did not accompany this cleavage, being delayed by 4 h, although significant PGH synthase (PGHS) activity was detected in the lysate of LPS-nontreated cells. The K(m) value of this basal PGHS activity toward arachidonic acid was more than one hundred-fold higher than that for the lysate of cells treated with LPS for 4 h. Changes in the sensitivity of the PGHS activity to nonsteroidal antinflammatory drugs after LPS-treatment also suggested induction of PGHS with different properties from that in the case of basal PGHS. The concomitant increase in PGH synthase (PGHS) activity with the induction of PGHS-2 protein after LPS-treatment suggested a contribution by PGHS-2 to the delayed synthesis of PGs in LPS-treated macrophage cells. As for PGHS in the control cells without LPS-treatment, a different K(m) value from that of PGHS-1 and the lack of cross-reactivity to anti-PGHS-1 antibodies suggested that this basal PGHS was different from the typical PGHS-1. The lower affinity of this enzyme for arachidonic acid might be the reason for the failure to release PGs by the cells without LPS-treatment.

Novel Group V Phospholipase A2 Involved in Arachidonic Acid Mobilization in Murine P388D1 Macrophages

Four related genes encode four different secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes in mammals, namely the well described Group I and IIA enzymes and the more recently described Groups IIC and V. A large body of research has putatively demonstrated that the Group IIA sPLA2 is involved in diverse pathologic processes, such as rheumatoid arthritis, septic shock, intestinal neoplasia, and epidermal hyperplasia, as well as in cellular signaling by regulating the formation of arachidonate-derived lipid messengers. However, we demonstrate herein the involvement of another sPLA2, i.e. the Group V sPLA2, in arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin production in the mouse macrophage-like cell line P388D1. Abundant message for Group V sPLA2 was detected in both resting and activated cells. In contrast, Group IIA sPLA2 message was undetectable as analyzed by Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, blockage of Group V sPLA2 gene expression by antisense RNA oligonucleotides resulted in inhibition of prostaglandin E2 production as well as reduction of the amount of sPLA2 protein at the cellular surface. Collectively, these results uncover Group V sPLA2 as a novel effector involved in arachidonic acid-mediated signal transduction.

Effect of sterical stabilization on macrophage uptake in vitro and on thickness of the fixed aqueous layer of liposomes made from alkylphosphocholines

A serious problem using liposomes for therapeutic purposes is the fast removal from blood circulation by components of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) most likely after opsonization of the vesicles. This study was performed to quantify the reduction in macrophage uptake in vitro of sterically stabilized liposomes (PEG-liposomes) prepared from hexadecylphosphocholine, cholesterol and poly(ethylene glycol 2000) distearoylphosphoethanolamine (PEG 2000DSPE) for the first time. The uptake was determined using HPC-liposomes of different defined size (125, 250 and 1000 nm) without and with sterical stabilization by incorporating 5 mol% of PEG 2000DSPE. HPTS was used as fluorescence marker allowing the discrimination between general uptake and the part of liposomes internalized into the low pH-compartment (Daleke, L.D., Hong, K. and Papahadjopoulos, D. (1990) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1024, 352–366). Liposomal uptake by J774 mouse macrophage-like cells was time-dependent. Both the uptake and internalization were clearly reduced for PEG-liposomes compared to plain liposomes. Sterical stabilization reduced the general uptake of liposomes in vitro by more than 50% and the internalization by about 50–60%. PEG-liposomes additionally showed a delay in internalization into the macrophages during the first 6 h. Size of used liposomes had only a minor influence on liposomal uptake but highest concentration of lipid was found for large multilammelar vesicles (MLV). The fixed aqueous layer thickness (FALT) was determined by zeta potential measurements of plain and sterically stabilised HPC-liposomes (100 nm) in solutions of different ion concentrations. The calculation of the thickness was based on the linear correlation between ln ζ (zeta-potential) and κ (Debye Hückel-Parameter). FALT was calculated and found to be for plain HPC-liposomes 0.83 ± 0.17 nm and for PEG-HPC-liposomes 3.57 ± 0.17 nm. Exchange of the HPC by an alkylphospholipid with different head group has no or only minor effect (PEG-OPP-liposomes 3.44 ± 0.31 nm). Thus the reduced uptake of HPC-LUVET correlates with an increased thickness of the fixed aqueous layer around these liposomes and could support the hypothesis that the thickness is an important property responsible for preventing opsonization and resulting finally in a reduced macrophage uptake.

Bisphosphonates induce apoptosis in mouse macrophage-like cells in vitro by a nitric oxide-independent mechanism.

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are an important class of antiresorptive drugs used in the treatment of bone diseases, including osteoporosis. Although their mechanism of action has not been identified at the molecular level, there is substantial evidence that BPs can have a direct effect on osteoclasts by mechanisms that may lead to osteoclast cell death by apoptosis. BPs can also inhibit proliferation and cause cell death in macrophages in vitro. We have now shown that the toxic effect of BPs on macrophages is also due to the induction of apoptotic, rather than necrotic, cell death. Morphological and biochemical features that are definitive of apoptosis (chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and endonuclease-mediated internucleosomal cleavage of DNA) could be identified in mouse macrophage-like J774 and RAW264 cells, following treatment with 100 microM pamidronate, alendronate, and ibandronate for 24 h or more. Clodronate was much less potent, even at 2000 microM, while 2000 microM etidronate did not cause apoptosis. Apoptosis was not due to increased synthesis of nitric oxide and could not be prevented by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases. Since macrophages, like osteoclasts, are particularly susceptible to BPs, these observations support the recent suggestion that the mechanism by which BPs inhibit bone resorption may involve osteoclast apoptosis. Furthermore, the macrophage-like cell lines used in this study may be a convenient model with which to identify the molecular mechanisms by which BPs promote apoptosis in osteoclasts. Induction of macrophage apoptosis by BPs in vivo may also account, at least in part, for the anti-inflammatory properties of BPs as well as the ability of BPs to cause an acute phase response.

Entry and intracellular survival of group B streptococci in J774 macrophages.

The mouse macrophage-like cell line J774 was used to analyze opsonin-independent entry and survival of group B streptococci (GBS). Efficient entry of GBS in J774 cells occurred within 5 min postinfection, and streptococci persisted intracellularly without loss of viability for at least 8 h. At 24 h postinfection, 30% of the total intracellular GBS was recovered from macrophages. Inhibition studies using different biochemical modulators of cellular functions showed that bacterial entry seemed to involve nonglycosylated J774 surface structures different from known receptors such as fibronectin-binding integrins. Internalization of GBS by J774 cells occurred by a microfilament-dependent phagocytosis-like process also involving participation of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Prior opsonization of GBS with human serum containing anti-GBS antibodies did not affect bacterial entry but significantly reduced the intracellular survival of GBS. Transmission electron microscopic analysis confirmed these findings and demonstrated that both opsonized and nonopsonized bacteria were contained within phagosomes during the whole infection period. Transmission electron microscopy further revealed that decreased intracellular survival rates of opsonized GBS appeared to be due to increased lysosomal activities of the macrophages. These results suggest that in the absence of opsonins, GBS are able to enter and persist efficiently in macrophages by evading intracellular antibacterial activities commonly associated with opsonin-mediated uptake.