Non-infected Macrophages Research Articles

Induction of specific cytotoxic lymphocytes in mice vaccinated with Brucella abortus RB51.

A safe, more sensitive, nonradioactive, neutral red uptake assay was adopted to replace the traditional 51Cr release assay for detection of Brucella-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Our studies indicated that Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccination of mice induced specific CTLs against both strain RB51- and strain 2308-infected J774.A1 macrophages but not against Listeria monocytogenes-infected J774.A1 cells. The antigen-specific cytotoxic activity was exerted by T lymphocytes but not by NK cells. CD3+ CD4+ T cells secreted the highest level of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and were able to exert a low but significant level of specific lysis of Brucella-infected macrophages. They also exerted a low level of nonspecific lysis of noninfected macrophages. In contrast, CD3+ CD8+ T cells secreted low levels of IFN-gamma but demonstrated high levels of specific lysis of Brucella-infected macrophages with no nonspecific lysis. These findings indicate that B. abortus strain RB51 vaccination of mice induces specific CTLs and suggest that CD3+ CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+ T cells play a synergistic role in the anti-Brucella activity.

Regulation of type 2 nitric oxide synthase by type 1 interferons in macrophages infected with Leishmania major.

We recently reported that the infection of macrophages with Leishmania major led to the release of type 1 interferons (IFN-alpha /beta ). Moreover, at day 1 of infection of mice with L. major, IFN-alpha /beta was required for the expression of type 2 (inducible) NO synthase (NOS2 or iNOS) which, however, was restricted to a few macrophages in the dermis. Here, we further characterized the regulation of NOS2 by IFN-alpha /beta. Macrophages that were either simultaneously or sequentially exposed to L. major promastigotes and IFN-alpha /beta expressed NOS2 and anti-leishmanial activity. In contrast, when high amounts of IFN-alpha /beta were used or when IFN-alpha /beta was added to the macrophages 2 h prior to the parasites, almost no induction of NOS2 was observed. After pretreatment with IFN-alpha /beta, tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear DNA binding of Stat1alpha, the degradation of the NF-kappaB inhibitor (IkappaBalpha and beta), and the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB were strongly impaired compared with macrophages exposed to IFN-alpha /beta and L. major simultaneously. Thus, IFN-alpha /beta exerts agonistic or antagonistic effects on the expression of NOS2 in macrophages infected with a microbial pathogen, depending on the sequence of the stimuli and the amount of IFN-alpha /beta added. The limited number of NOS2-positive macrophages at day 1 of infection in vivo might result from a blockage of non-infected macrophages by IFN-alpha /beta that is released by neighboring infected cells.

TNF-α and IL-10 Modulate the Induction of Apoptosis by Virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Murine Macrophages

Abstract The Bcg/Nramp1 gene controls early resistance and susceptibility of macrophages to mycobacterial infections. We previously reported that Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected (Mtb) B10R (Bcgr) and B10S (Bcgs) macrophages differentially produce nitric oxide (NO−), leading to macrophage apoptosis. Since TNF-α and IL-10 have opposite effects on many macrophage functions, we determined the number of cells producing TNF-α and IL-10 in Mtb-infected or purified protein derivative-stimulated B10R and B10S macrophages lines, and Nramp1+/+ and Nramp1−/− peritoneal macrophages and correlated them with Mtb-mediated apoptosis. Mtb infection and purified protein derivative treatment induced more TNF-α+Nramp1+/+ and B10R, and more IL-10+Nramp1−/− and B10S cells. Treatment with mannosylated lipoarabinomannan, which rescues macrophages from Mtb-induced apoptosis, augmented the number of IL-10 B10R+ cells. Anti-TNF-α inhibited apoptosis, diminished NO− production, p53, and caspase 1 activation and increased Bcl-2 expression. In contrast, anti-IL-10 increased caspase 1 activation, p53 expression, and apoptosis, although there was no increment in NO− production. Murine rTNF-α induced apoptosis in noninfected B10R and B10S macrophages that was reversed by murine rIL-10 in a dose-dependent manner with concomitant inhibition of NO− production and caspase 1 activation. NO− and caspase 1 seem to be independently activated in that aminoguanidine did not affect caspase 1 activation and the inhibitor of caspase 1, Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-acylooxymethylketone, did not block NO− production; however, both treatments inhibited apoptosis. These results show that Mtb activates TNF-α- and IL-10-dependent opposite signals in the induction of macrophage apoptosis and suggest that the TNF-α-IL-10 ratio is controlled by the Nramp1 background of resistance/susceptibility and may account for the balance between apoptosis and macrophage survival.

Apoptosis of cd4+ t cells induced after contact with hiv1-infected or non-infected macrophages

The hallmark of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV1) infection is the relentless destruction of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Indirect cell killing mechanisms are thought to play an outstanding role in lymphocyte depletion. One such proposed mechanism is the induction of apoptosis through cross-linking of the CD4 receptor by anti-CD4 antibodies or by the HIV1 envelope protein expressed at the surface of infected cells. Here we provide evidence that apoptosis is triggered in CD4+ lymphoblastoid cells (MT4) following cocultivation with monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) productively infected with the monocytotropic isolate HIV1 PAR. Blocking virus replication by AZT abrogates apoptosis of MT4 cells. Infected MDMs do not transmit virus infection to target cells. DNA nucleosomal fragmentation occurs at 46-66 h after starting cocultures. It is inhibited by the addition of neutralizing anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody (mAb), implying that the gp120/CD4 interaction triggers the apoptotic process. Cocultivating with MDMs, either infected or not, in the presence of anti-CD4 mAb Leu-3a, also leads to MT4 cell death, with DNA fragmentation being detected at 24-40 h. Leu-3a induced apoptosis does not require cross-linking of CD4 by anti-immunoglobulin, showing that MDMs provide an alternative to conventional cross-linking. Both the infected and the non-infected MDMs were found to stimulate 3H-thymidine incorporation in cocultivated MT4 cells.

Expression of functions by normal sheep alveolar macrophages and their alteration by interaction with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae

Normal sheep alveolar macrophages collected by bronchial lavage were exposed to live or heat-killed Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae organisms, and their capability to ingest Staphylococcus aureus and to elicit antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against sensitized chicken red blood cells was tested. Controls consisted of non-infected macrophages in M199 medium. In addition, the effect of M. ovipneumoniae on expression of surface molecules on these sheep alveolar macrophages was determined. The percentage of S. aureus ingested by nontreated sheep alveolar macrophages was significantly higher than that of infected macrophages. Live mycoplasmas were more effective in suppressing the ingestion of S. aureus by these macrophages than killed mycoplasmas. Both live and killed mycoplasma suppressed the cytolytic effect of the sheep alveolar macrophages to a similar degree. About 78% and 45% of the normal sheep alveolar macrophages had IgG and complement receptors, respectively. Infection of these macrophages with M. ovipneumoniae decreased significantly the expression of IgG receptors but had no effects on complement receptors. There were substantial increases in the expression of both MHC class I and class II by the mycoplasma-induced macrophages as compared with unstimulated macrophages. Live mycoplasmas were more effective in inducing expression of both classes than killed mycoplasmas. The results, taken together, suggest that M. ovipneumoniae induced alterations in macrophage activities and this may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of respiratory disease induced by the organism.

Neoglycosylated liposomes as efficient ligands for the evaluation of specific sugar receptors on macrophages in health and in experimental leishmaniasis.

Receptors interacting with terminal sugars as ligands are involved in the binding of Leishmania donovani promastigotes to the macrophage surface and their subsequent internalization. Mannose and glucose are specifically involved in the binding process. Decreased binding occurs to macrophages already infected with L. donovani either in vivo or in vitro. When mannose- or glucose-bearing liposomes are used as ligands the binding shows similar trends and the percentage inhibition of binding with mannose-bearing liposomes increases when compared to that for the glucose-bearing ones. The decreased binding of the ligand seems to be due to a decrease in the number of receptors after infection. The affinity of the ligands for the binding sites either on the normal macrophages or on the infected macrophages apparently remains the same. The results based on the incorporation of [3H]phenyl alanine and supported by the binding of glycosylated liposomes to both infected and non-infected macrophages suggest that protein synthesis, in general, is suppressed in L. donovani-infected macrophages thus affecting also mannose/glucose receptor protein synthesis, resulting in fewer receptors on the macrophage surface.

Cell-to-Cell Contact Not Soluble Factors Mediate Suppression of Lymphocyte Proliferation by Bovine Parainfluenza Virus Type 3

We have previously characterized the ability of parainfluenza virus type 3-infected (PIV-3) and noninfected bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) to support lymphocyte proliferation. While uninfected macrophages support proliferation of lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A), ovalbumin, and interleukin 2 (IL-2), lymphocyte [3H]thymidine incorporation was suppressed in the presence of PIV-3-infected BAM. Since viral infection of macrophages has been shown to alter arachidonic acid metabolism and cytokine secretion, we have determined if arachidonate metabolism or the lack of IL-1 and IL-2 mediated the suppression of lymphocyte proliferation by PIV-3. Inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism failed to reverse the suppressive effect of viral infection as did supplementation of cultures with bovine recombinant IL-1 beta, IL-2, or lymphocyte-conditioned medium. Further, lymphocytes proliferated normally when physically separated from virus infected BAM by a semipermeable membrane. Stimulation of lymphocytes in contact with infected BAM resulted in marked suppression of lymphocyte [3H]thymidine incorporation. Interactions between stimulated lymphocytes and PIV-3-infected BAM resulted in PIV-3 infection of lymphocytes. Virus infection of lymphocytes was confirmed ultrastructurally by the presence of characteristic parainfluenza virus inclusions and virus budding from lymphocyte plasma membranes. It was concluded that suppression of lymphocyte proliferation by PIV-3 is mediated in part by infection of stimulated lymphocytes during cell-to-cell contact with BAM.

Effects of two adenoviruses (type 1 and type 8) on functional properties of bovine alveolar macrophages in vitro

Summary Cultures of bovine alveolar macrophages were inoculated with type-1 and type-8 adenoviruses, initially isolated from calves with respiratory tract disease, and functional properties of the cells were observed over a period of 10 to 11 days. Both viruses replicated in macrophages; viral titers were low (< 3.75 log10 tcid5O/0.1 ml), and intranuclear inclusions were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 5 to 10% of the cells from 3 days after inoculation. Highest titers were induced by type-1 adenovirus, which also induced the greatest functional changes. Expression of Fc and complement receptors was reduced by both viruses, although the greatest effects were seen with type 1. Phagocytosis of Candida krusei cells was reduced following type 1 infection, whereas phagocytosis in type-8-infected cells was not different from that of noninfected macrophages. Ability to kill ingested Candida cells also was reduced following type-1 infection, whereas type-8-infected macrophages had lower killing ability only at 2 to 4 days after inoculation. Neither virus had substantial effects on the production of neutrophil chemotactic factors by the macrophages.

Swine leukocyte antigen and macrophage marker expression on both African swine fever virus-infected and non-infected primary porcine macrophage cultures

Swine leukocyte antigens (SLA) and a macrophage specific marker were monitored on porcine macrophages cultured with or without macrophage colony stimulatory factor (M-CSF) and on cells infected with African swine fever virus (ASFV). SLA expression was maximal either in the total cell extract or on the cell surface at 3–4 days of culture; after 4 days these values began to decrease. Fluorescence analyses of immunostained macrophages cultured with or without M-CSF indicated a major upward shift in the number of SLA Class I molecules on individual macrophages whereas for SLA Class II both a novel expression of Class II and an upward shift in the number of molecules per cell were evident. Infection of 3-day-old macrophage cultures with three different isolates of ASFV resulted in minor changes in surface expression of SLA Class I, SLA Class II, and macrophage markers. No differences in infection with ASFV was observed whether macrophages were SLA Class II positive or negative, nor was there blocking by anti-SLA Class I or Class II monoclonal antibodies of ASFV infection of cultured macrophages.

Macrophage activation by polymeric nanoparticles of polyalkylcyanoacrylates: activity against intracellular Leishmania donovani associated with hydrogen peroxide production.

Nanoparticles of polyalkylcyanoacrylates (PACA) can be useful carrier for the targeting of antileishmanial drugs into macrophages and also possess significant antileishmanial activity by themselves. No significant difference in antileishmanial activity could be detected between nanoparticles of five PACAs with differing alkyl side chains, suggesting that the main degradation products of PACA are not involved in their antileishmanial action. The effect of polyisohexylcyanoacrylate (PIHCA) on the induction of the respiratory burst in a macrophage-like cell line (J774G8) was assessed in non-infected macrophages and in macrophages infected with amastigotes of Leishmania donovani infantum, by measuring nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and hydrogen peroxide production. Phagocytosis of PIHCA nanoparticles led to a respiratory burst, which was more pronounced in infected than in uninfected macrophages. The production of reactive oxygen intermediates associated with the respiratory burst was inhibited by addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase to the cell suspensions. The addition of catalase to the culture medium together with PIHCA nanoparticles significantly reduced the antileishmanial activity of PIHCA. Moreover PIHCA nanoparticles did not induce interleukin-1 release by macrophages. It is suggested that the antileishmanial action of PIHCA and other PACA nanoparticles results from the activation of respiratory burst in macrophages.

Demonstration of fungal proteinase during phagocytosis ofCandida albicansandCandida tropicalis

The extracellular acid proteinase of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis was monitored in vitro during phagocytosis by murine peritoneal macrophages. Fungal blastospores were quickly ingested by the thioglycolate-elicited macrophages and the intracellular blastospores partly resisted killing and started to grow out after 6 h incubation, causing destruction of the macrophage. Proteinase antigen appeared on fungal cells after 30 min in culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. The antigen was detected on ingested blastoconidia and filamentous cells of C. albicans serotype A. The proteinase antigen was also expressed by blastoconidia of C. albicans serotype B but was missing on the filamentous cells of this serotype. Isolates of C. tropicalis behaved similarly to C. albicans serotype A. The acid proteolytic activity of Candida cells was confirmed by the haemoglobin test on culture supernatants. Lysates of infected and noninfected phagocytes showed a differential acid proteolytic activity; noninfected macrophages revealed rising activity, while infected macrophages showed a distinct reduction of activity. The proteolytic activity of lysates of noninfected cells is due to lysosomal cathepsin-D. Cathepsin-D was also most likely to be responsible for the declining proteolytic activity in lysates from infected phagocytes; such lysates contained increasing amounts of fungal proteinase antigen. The differential kinetics of this antigen and the total acid proteolytic activity in the lysates suggest a conflict between microbial and lysosomal hydrolases in infected phagocytes. The outcome of this conflict depends on the number and hydrolytic activity of the ingested yeasts and may be decisive in the progress of infection.

C-fos and tumor necrosis factor gene expression in Leishmania donovani-infected macrophages.

Leishmania donovani is an obligate intracellular protozoan which resides in macrophages and impairs a number of macrophage functions. We have undertaken to study this host cell-parasite interaction by examining the ability of L. donovani to impair the transmission of information from the cell surface to the nucleus and thus influence normal gene expression. We demonstrate that, in response to lipopolysaccharide, expression of both the c-fos and tumor necrosis factor genes was impaired in L. donovani-infected macrophages. Indomethacin reversed the parasite-mediated downregulation of the tumor necrosis factor gene but not the c-fos gene, suggesting that the impaired expression of these two genes occurred through different mechanisms. Direct stimulation of protein kinase C with oleoyl-2-acetoyl-3-glycerol did not abrogate inhibition of c-fos gene expression by L. donovani; however, L929 cell-conditioned medium induced a similar level of c-fos gene expression in both infected and noninfected macrophages. Impairment of c-fos gene expression by L. donovani thus appeared to be selective, depending on the external stimuli used to induce its expression. These data argue that L. donovani was capable of impairing macrophage gene expression in a selective rather than a general manner.

C-fos and Tumor Necrosis Factor Gene Expression in Leishmania donovani-Infected Macrophages

Leishmania donovani is an obligate intracellular protozoan which resides in macrophages and impairs a number of macrophage functions. We have undertaken to study this host cell-parasite interaction by examining the ability of L. donovani to impair the transmission of information from the cell surface to the nucleus and thus influence normal gene expression. We demonstrate that, in response to lipopolysaccharide, expression of both the c-fos and tumor necrosis factor genes was impaired in L. donovani-infected macrophages. Indomethacin reversed the parasite-mediated downregulation of the tumor necrosis factor gene but not the c-fos gene, suggesting that the impaired expression of these two genes occurred through different mechanisms. Direct stimulation of protein kinase C with oleoyl-2-acetoyl-3-glycerol did not abrogate inhibition of c-fos gene expression by L. donovani; however, L929 cell-conditioned medium induced a similar level of c-fos gene expression in both infected and noninfected macrophages. Impairment of c-fos gene expression by L. donovani thus appeared to be selective, depending on the external stimuli used to induce its expression. These data argue that L. donovani was capable of impairing macrophage gene expression in a selective rather than a general manner.

Macrophages, myeloperoxidase, and Mycobacterium lepraemurium.

Abstract In 1978, McKeever et al. [10], studying lepromatous tissues from Mycobacterium leprae-infected armadillos by cytochemical and electronmicroscopic technics, found a subpopulation of macrophages containing peroxisomes (probably monocytes), but not infected with bacilli, and a subpopulation of macrophages lacking peroxisomes and infected with bacilli. Both infected and noninfected macrophages displayed acid phosphatase activity that was more intense and less precisely localized in heavily infected and vacuolated macrophages than in moderately or noninfected cells. Then, in 1983, Gomez Estrada et al [5], looking for the presence of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in histiocytes, Kupffer cells, and PMN leukocytes of nodular lepromatous patients, found abundant M. leprae in the phagocytes of the lesions but they did not find MPO activity within these cells (except in one case of reactional leprosy). They also found that MPO activity was present in Kupffer’s cells and in PMN of patients and controls.

Heme requirement and acquisition by extracellular and intracellular stages of Leishmania mexicana amazonensis

The inability to synthesize heme, a well known metabolic defect of trypanosomatid protozoa, accounts for their growth requirement for heme compounds in vitro. We now extend this finding to a pathogen Leishmania mexicana amazonensis, especially the intracellular replicative stage of amastigotes in the macrophage. We measured the level of heme and its biosynthetic enzymes, aminolevulinate dehydratase and porphobilinogen deaminase in the parasites and in infected and non-infected macrophages of J774G8 line. Succinylacetone was used to inhibit heme biosynthesis. Leishmanias transform and grow only in medium containing either heme (usually supplied as hemin) or protoporphyrin IX (the latter is leishmanicidal at high concentrations). We detected 1.2, 8.5 and 25 pmol mg −1 protein of heme in amastigotes, promastigotes and macrophages, respectively. The activities of porphobilinogen deaminase and aminolevulinate dehydratase in macrophages were 70 and 2 400 pmol h −1 mg −1 protein, respectively. Leishmania-infected macrophages gave the same results and leishmanias had negligible activities of these enzymes. Succinylacetone at 10 −9-10 −3 M had no effect on leishmanias, but dose-dependently inhibited the activity of aminolevulinate dehydratase to a negligible level and lowered that of porphobilinogen deaminase in macrophages, resulting in a maximum of 66% reduction in intracellular heme. Amastigotes grew equally well in succinylacetone-treated and control untreated macrophages. The results suggest that L. m. amazonensis, incapable of heme biosynthesis, acquires heme exogenously from the culture medium, i.e., fetal bovine serum, independent of the heme synthesized by the macrophages.

Depletion of secondary lysosomes in mouse macrophages infected withLeishmania mexicana amazonensis: A cytochemical study

Leishmania amastigotes lodge and multiply within parasitophorous vacuoles, which can fuse with secondary lysosomes of the host macrophages. This study examines the effect of infection with amastigotes of L. mexicana amazonensis on the secondary lysosomes of mouse macrophage cultures. The cultures were stained for the activities of two lysosomal enzyme markers, acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase, and the light microscopic observations were supplemented by electron microscopy. Nearly all noninfected macrophages contained numerous stained secondary lysosomes. The number of such lysosomes was markedly reduced 24 h postinfection, and the reduction persisted for at least 10 days. Stained secondary lysosomes reappeared after the amastigotes were destroyed by exposure of the cultures to phenazine methosulfate or by placing them at 37.5 degrees C. The depletion of lysosomes shown by cytochemical methods may reflect a high rate of fusion of the lysosomes with the parasitophorous vacuoles, exceeding the rate of formation of new secondary lysosomes. Alternatively, the parasites may inhibit the synthesis of lysosomal hydrolases, or the assembly or formation of primary or secondary lysosomes.

Leishmania mexicana: Acid phosphatase ultrastructural cytochemistry of infected mouse macrophage cultures treated with phenazine methosulfate

Bone marrow-derived mouse macrophage cultures infected with Leishmania mexicana amazonensis amastigotes were given a 2-hr pulse with 10 μM phenazine methosulfate (PMS), a cationic electron carrier which destroys the intracellular parasites. Cultures were fixed at different times after the PMS pulse and processed for the detection of acid phosphatase (AcP) activity at the electron microscopic level. Only a small proportion of nontreated, infected macrophages stained for AcP. In contrast, 2 to 6 hr after exposure to PMS, many infected cells displayed AcP-positive lysosomes and parasitophorous vacuoles. This increased AcP reactivity paralleled the reduction in the percentage of morphologically intact parasites. In addition, qualitative observations indicated that while nontreated infected cells contained only few recognizable lysosomes, the lysosomal complement noticeably increased a few hours after exposure to PMS. Most intact intracellular amastigotes were not stained, but damaged parasites were often positive for AcP. Twenty hours after the PMS pulse, the percentage of AcP-positive macrophages dropped to the levels initially present in noninfected cultures and all of the parasites were destroyed. Exposure of noninfected macrophages to PMS did not affect their AcP reactivity.

Toxoplasma gondii: Calcium lonophore A23187-mediated exit of trophozoites from infected murine macrophages

The Ca 2+ ionophore A23187 consistently induced the exit of Toxoplasma gondii trophozoites from cultured macrophages which they had recently infected. Following exit of toxoplasmas, the host macrophages underwent degeneration. A23187 was active at concentrations higher than 0.25 μ M and the activity reached a plateau at the concentration of 1.0 μ M. Noninfected macrophages or those engulfing heat-killed toxoplasmas, or some other particles, were not affected by treatment with A23187. The toxoplasmas exiting host cells were capable of infecting and proliferating in normal macrophages. The A23187-mediated exit of toxoplasmas proceeded despite external Ca 2+ and was enhanced by the addition of ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) in the reaction mixture. On the other hand, the A23187-mediated exit of toxoplasmas was inhibited significantly by exogenous Mg 2+.

Superoxide production in pulmonary alveolar macrophages and killing of BCG by the superoxide-generating system with or without catalase.

The superoxide production of BCG-infected and noninfected alveolar macrophages was measured by superoxide dismutase-inhibitable nitro blue tetrazolium reduction. The cells were incubated with or without cell-free bronchial lavage fluid (pulmonary washings). When control alveolar macrophages were infected by BCG, superoxide production was decreased markedly, probably due to bacterial cytotoxic factors. In contrast, the production of superoxide in alveolar macrophages exposed to pulmonary washings was increased and not appreciably influenced by BCG infection. Superoxide production by alveolar macrophages was dependent on time and on the protein concentration in the pulmonary washings. In controls, it was inversely proportional to the infecting dose of BCG. We observed previously that alveolar macrophages activated by pulmonary washings inhibited intracellular growth of BCG. We now present evidence that enhanced production of superoxide contributes to such inhibition, especially in the presence of catalase at acid pH. These findings are pertinent to the defense of inflamed lungs, where serum and serum immunoglobulin G transuded from blood into alveolar spaces probably induce such activation on alveolar macrophages.