Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Activity Research Articles

Infliximab

Infliximab is a chimaeric monoclonal antibody which binds to and inhibits the activity of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), a cytokine which is involved in the development of both Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. In patients with treatment-resistant Crohn's disease, infliximab was significantly more effective than placebo in the relief of symptoms. 50 to 89% of patients responded to infliximab and most of them also achieved remission. Patients showed signs of relapse 8 to 12 weeks after a single infusion but responded to additional infusions of the drug. Infliximab was also effective in closing the fistulae in 68% of patients with fistulising Crohn's disease; the response rate with placebo was 26%. Infliximab achieved a clinical response in 44 to 81% of patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis. Following a single infusion, symptom recurrence was evident after 6 to 12 weeks, but subsequent infusions re-established a clinical response. Concurrent methotrexate appeared to prolong the effects of infliximab in this patient group. Anti-infliximab and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies developed in some patients, particularly those who received multiple infusions of infliximab. Acute adverse events consistent with hypersensitivity occurred in some patients who received multiple infusions of infliximab. Infection occurred slightly more frequently with infliximab than with placebo. Infliximab appears to be an effective therapy for patients with treatment-resistant or fistulising Crohn's disease or refractory rheumatoid arthritis. The tolerability, long term efficacy and optimal dosage regimen need to be further defined in comparative trials before the full potential of infliximab is realised in these patients.

Resistance of spontaneously transformed Syrian hamster embryo cells and their malignant variants to cytotoxic activity of recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

To study the possible role of the host macrophages in the selection of tumor cells and tumor progression, a series of Syrian hamster tumor cell lines all originating from a single spontaneously transformed Syrian hamster embryo cell line (STHE strain) have been established. These STHE tumor cell variants, selected either in vitro with resident and lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages or in vivo, differ in tumorigenic and metastatic activity. The selected malignant STHE cells become resistant to cytotoxic activity of activated peritoneal macrophages and of exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Since activated macrophages are a known source for both cytotoxic agents H2O2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), the purpose of the present study was to define the sensitivity of the STHE tumor cell lines to a direct cytotoxic activity mediated by recombinant TNF-alpha in an attempt to understand the role of the cytokine in in vitro selection of a malignant STHE cells by activated macrophages. The spontaneously transformed STHE cells (selected in vivo and in vitro) as well as the hamster embryo cells transformed in vitro by a tumorigenic Rous sarcoma virus (Schmidt-Ruppin strain) were used as targets. TNF-alpha-sensitive mouse L929 cells were included in the study as a positive control. Sensitivity of actinomycin D-pretreated target cells studied for cytotoxic activity of a recombinant TNF-alpha was examined over 21 h with a crystal violet dye assay. It was found that, in contrast to L929 cells, the spontaneously transformed STHE cells as well as tumorigenic Rous sarcoma virus hamster embryo transformants, were all significantly resistant to the TNF-alpha-mediated cytolysis. This indicates that TNF-alpha is not the single factor responsible in in vitro selection of malignant STHE cell variants by activated macrophages. It appears that H2O2 is involved in the selection of the hamster macrophage-resistant STHE tumor cells.

Resistance of MCF7 human breast carcinoma cells to TNF-induced cell death is associated with loss of p53 function.

We have investigated the relationship between the development of tumor resistance towards the cytotoxic action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and p53 function, using the TNF-sensitive MCF7 human breast adenocarcinoma cell line and two TNF-resistant sublines, MCF7/R-A1 and MCF7/Adr. Use of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing shows that MCF7 has a wild-type p53 gene, whereas both TNF-resistant sublines exhibit mutant p53. This includes a point mutation R280K in MCF7/R-A1 cells, and a point mutation at the splicing acceptor site on the upstream border of exon 5 resulting in a 21 pb deletion in MCF7/Adr cells. These mutations result in loss of p53 capacity to transactivate FASAY (functional assay in yeast). In contrast to what is observed for parental MCF7 cells, treatment of resistant sublines with TNF or gamma-irradiation fails neither to induce the expression of the p53-regulated gene products p21waf1/CIP1 and MDM2, nor to arrest the cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Disruption of p53 wild-type function in MCF7 cells by transfection with human papillomavirus type-16 E6 gene, leads to abrogation of the cytotoxic, but not the cytostatic activity of TNF. Altogether, our results strongly suggest that wild-type p53 is involved in cytotoxic action of TNF, and point out that loss of p53 function contributes to resistance of tumor cell to TNF-induced killing.

Comparison of hypotensive response to aggregated IgG or to bacterial LPS in rats.

Rats treated with aggregated IgG (Aggr.) become "refractory" to the hypotensive action of a second dose of Aggr. The objective of this study was to assess the responsiveness of animals pretreated with Aggr. to bacterial LPS and vice versa. Female Wistar rats (250-300 g) were used. Each experiment was carried on at least 4 animals. A human IgG preparation containing 30% aggregates (10-16 mg/100 g) or E. coli serotype 0111.B4 (0.005-mg/100 g) was administered i.v. Certain groups of animals were pretreated with 1 mg/100 g GdCl3 or with 10 mg/100 g pentoxyphylline (PTX). Arterial blood pressure was monitored in the carotis-using a polyethylene cannula and an electronic tension meter. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) activity was estimated by the use of an L-929 cell cytotoxicity assay. Pretreatment of rats with a sublethal dose of LPS impaired the hypotensive reaction of the animals to Aggr. Rats male "refractory" to Aggr. reacted to the injection of LPS with hypotension and a second phase milder than in the controls. Hypotension could not be elicited by Aggr. in rats pretreated with GdCl3. The same pretreatment had no effect on the first phase of hypotension induced by intravenous injection of LPS, whilst a mitigation of the second phase was observed. Infusion of PTX immediately prior to Aggr. administration prevented the drop of blood pressure. A sizeable level of TNF-alpha was detected only later than blood pressure had reached its minimum level following Aggr. administration. Hypotension induced by LPS may involve a macrophage population broader than that responsible for the vascular action of Aggr. The data presented do not support a primary role for TNF-alpha in Aggr. induced hypotension.

Adipose tissue-derived tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity is elevated in older rats.

High levels of adipose tissue-derived tumor necrosis factor-alpha (AT-TNF) mRNA and protein have previously been associated with genetic models of obesity and insulin resistance. Because there are endogenous TNF inhibitors it is unknown if AT-TNF activity is also increased. We hypothesized that AT-TNF activity would increase in older animals because of an accumulation of fat mass. We chose to study 2 different-aged male Fischer 344 rats, 3-month-old (young) and 14-month-old (mature) because fat mass should be quite different but insulin action on glucose metabolism similar. Indeed, mature rats had over 1.5-fold more fat mass, but whole body insulin resistance, as estimated by fasting plasma insulin, was similar to young rats. Mature rats had twice as much AT-TNF activity as the young in both the epididymal (EPI) and retroperitoneal (Retro) fat pads (p < .0005). AT-TNF correlated with fasting plasma insulin in Retro only (r = .48, p = .04). AT-TNF activity strongly correlated with cell size in both EPI and Retro (r = .79 and .81, respectively, p < .0001). Because cytokines can be regulated at several levels, AT-TNF activity, protein, and mRNA were measured. AT-TNF protein levels were higher in young rats, suggesting that these animals may secrete an inhibitor that reduces AT-TNF activity. There were no significant differences in AT-TNF mRNA between groups. Since TNF has been shown to affect several key genes in tissue culture, mRNA for lipoprotein lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase, and Glut4 were measured. No differences were found between groups. In summary, AT-TNF activity increased in mature animals in relation to adipose cell size.

Induction of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α In Vivo by a Skin Irritant, Tributyltin, Through Activation of Transcription Factors: Its Pharmacological Modulation by Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Skin irritant reactions are under the control of a network of cytokines and lipid mediators. This study characterized the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induced by a skin irritant treatment, tributyltin (TBT), in mice through transcription factor activation and its pharmacologic modulation by anti-inflammatory agents. The ears of BALB/c mice were painted with different amounts of TBT (67-536 nmol in acetone) or with acetone alone. At different times thereafter, TNF production was analyzed both at the mRNA and protein level, by semiquantitative RT-PCR and L929 cytotoxicity assay, respectively. TBT induced rapid (1 h) TNF gene expression and protein synthesis. Maximal TNF production was observed 2 h after treatment. The production of TNF was paralleled by accumulation of skin water; this was partially prevented by intraperitoneal injection of antibody against murine TNF. These data indicate that skin irritation induced by TBT is attributable, in addition to the actions of other inflammatory mediators, to the action of keratinocyte-derived TNF. TNF production was preceded by a rapid (5 min) activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which was also maximal 30 min after treatment. TBT-induced accumulation of skin water and TNF production were significantly reduced by topical treatment with dexamethasone and pentamidine, two anti-inflammatory agents. Interestingly, dexamethasone, but not pentamidine, decreased TBT-induced NF-kappaB activation, confirming in vivo that the glucocorticoid receptor interacts functionally within the nucleus with other transcription factors opposing one another's activity.

Augmentation of production of TNF-alpha and anti-tumour activity by an amphotericin B preparation for clinical use in mice.

Effects of amphotericin B on production of endogenous tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and anti-tumour activity in mice was examined. Intravenous administration of Fungizone, an amphotericin B preparation complexed with deoxycholate, augmented the induction of endogenous TNF in response to a second stimulus with intravenous doses of FK23 (heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis). This augmentation was observed when more than 1.8 microg of Fungizone was injected intravenously before intravenous dosing of FK23. The time interval between priming injection of Fungizone and secondary injection of FK23 for the maximal effect was 3 h. Similar augmentation of TNF production was also observed in amphotericin B-primed and FK23-injected mice. Correspondingly, anti-tumour activity of the combined, intravenous injection of Fungizone and FK23 with a 3-h interval was examined. Growth of Meth A fibrosarcoma was clearly inhibited by this combination but not by administration of either one alone. These results suggest that amphotericin B is able to elicit anti-tumour activity, perhaps through activation of the immune system, and in particular augmentation of the induction of endogenous TNF.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated lactate production is linked to lactate dehydrogenase A expression and activity increase in porcine cultured Sertoli cells.

By using, as a model, cultured testicular immature Sertoli cells, the action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and the site of action of the cytokine on lactate production were studied. TNF alpha stimulated in a time- and dose-dependent manner (with an ED50 of 0.1 nM) Sertoli cell lactate production. Two major sites involved in TNF alpha action were identified. Firstly, TNF alpha was shown to increase the uptake of glucose substrate in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The maximal effect was observed after 24 h of treatment, with an ED50 of 0.1 nM. Secondly, TNF alpha increased the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) A isoform, which is involved in the conversion of pyruvate into lactate. This increase in LDH-A activity was detected at 12 h and was maximal after 24 h of treatment with TNF alpha. The stimulatory effect of the cytokine on the LDH-A isoform was observed with an ED50 of 0.05 nM. Such an increase in LDH-A activity was related to an increase in LDH-A expression, because TNF alpha stimulated LDH-A messenger RNA (size, 1.5 kilobases, determined by Northern blotting analysis). Together, assuming that in the seminiferous tubules, TNF alpha is produced by spermatids that use lactate for their energetic metabolism, we suggest that the cytokine may potentially represent a signal used by germ cells to enhance lactate production in Sertoli cells through, at least, a redistribution of LDH isoforms in favor of LDH-A.

Porins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa induce release of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 by human leukocytes.

The aim of this study was to examine the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa components to induce release of cytokines from human leukocytes. Human whole-blood cultures were incubated with several concentrations of purified P. aeruginosa products, including porins, exomucopolysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, and toxin A. Supernatants were assayed for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activities. All of the P. aeruginosa components except toxin A were able to stimulate the release of both cytokines. On a weight basis, porins were as effective as lipopolysaccharide and significantly more effective than exomucopolysaccharide in inducing IL-6 release (P < 0.05). Moreover, porins were more potent than either exomucopolysaccharide or lipopolysaccharide in inducing TNF-alpha release (P < 0.05). Further experiments using isolated leukocytes suggested that monocytes were the cell population predominantly responsible for the production of both cytokines. These data indicate that P. aeruginosa porins are able to induce significant cytokine production. These components may be responsible for the chronically overactive inflammatory response associated with persistent lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients.

Involvement of interleukin-1 in the differentiation-inducing activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on a murine myeloid leukemia (WEHI-3B JCS)

We have shown previously that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibits the growth and induces the differentiation of a murine myelomonocytic leukemia (WEHI-3B JCS cells) into macrophage-like cells. In this study, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we found that both endogenous interleukin-1 alpha and beta (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta) mRNA were up-regulated upon TNF-alpha induction. Exogenous IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta also inhibited the growth as well as induced the differentiation of JCS cells, with IL-1 beta exerting a greater growth-inhibitory effect. Neutralizing anti-IL-1 alpha, anti-IL-1 beta and anti-TNF-alpha antibodies were further used to elucidate the role of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in JCS cell differentiation. The results show that the IL-1 alpha-induced monocytic differentiation of JCS cells was effectively blocked by anti-IL-1 beta as well as anti-IL-1 beta antibodies and to a lesser extent by anti-TNF-alpha antibody. In contrast, the differentiation-inducing effect of IL-1 beta on JCS cells was only blocked by anti-IL-1 beta antibody but not by anti-IL-1 alpha or anti-TNF-alpha antibody. Finally, the TNF-alpha-induced monocytic differentiation of JCS cells was significantly blocked by anti-TNF-alpha and to a lesser extent by anti-IL-1 alpha and anti-IL-1 beta antibodies. Collectively, our results suggest that IL-1 beta alone may directly trigger JCS cell differentiation whereas the differentiation-inducing effect of IL-1 alpha may be via the endogenous production of IL-1 beta and/or TNF-alpha. In addition, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta may be involved, at least in part, in TNF-alpha-induced monocytic differentiation of the JCS leukemia cells.

Passive immunization against tumor necrosis factor-alpha impairs host defense during pneumococcal pneumonia in mice.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent cause of community-acquired pneumonia. We sought to determine the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia. Induction of pneumonia in C57B1/6 mice by intranasal inoculation with 10(6) colony-forming units (cfu) S. pneumoniae resulted in a sustained increase in TNF activity in lung homogenates reaching a plateau between 12 and 72 h (72 h: 185.49 +/- 54.41 ng/g), while plasma TNF activity remained low or undetectable. Treatment with a neutralizing anti-TNF monoclonal antibody 2 h before inoculation strongly reduced lung TNF activity, but only modestly diminished lung interleukin (IL)-1beta levels, and did not significantly influence lung IL-6, IL-10, and interferon-gamma concentrations. Anti-TNF-treated mice had fourfold more S. pneumoniae cfu isolated from lungs than control mice 40 h after inoculation (p < 0.05), although lung myeloperoxidase activities were similar in both treatment groups. Anti-TNF-treated mice died significantly earlier from pneumococcal pneumonia than control mice (p < 0.05). Endogenously produced TNF is important for host defense during pneumococcal pneumonia.

Dietary Fusarium Moniliforme Culture Material Induces in Vitro Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Like Activity in the Sera of Swine

Sera obtained from a group of pigs (n=5) fed a diet amended with fumonisin containing Fusarium moniliforme culture material was used to determine the levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF) activity by a functional bioassay utilizing the TNF sensitive WEHI 140 mouse fibrosarcoma cell line. Two pigs developed signs consistent with pulmonary edema which was confirmed by pathologic examination in only one pig. Significant, time dependent increases in TNF-like activity were observed in all pigs during the five days of the trial. Another group of pigs (n=5) was given a defined daily dose of the same culture material by gastric intubation. Two pigs developed fulminant pulmonary edema and sharp increases in TNF activity were observed during the 3 days of the trial in all pigs. In both cases the activity was not abrogated by addition of a neutralizing anti-human TNF monoclonal antibody suggesting that other factors may have been responsible for these effects, possibly the increased levels of sphingoid bases in the serum. Since the pig has become an important model in the study of TNF mediated endotoxic shock, these studies illustrate the relevance of certifying the absence of this important mycotoxin from corn based animal diets, specially if functional assays are used to monitor the activity of TNF in serum.

Antitumor activity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rH-TNF alpha) and liposome-entrapped rH-TNF alpha.

The antitumor activities of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rH-TNF alpha) and liposome-entrapped rH-TNF alpha were evaluated in various glioma cell lines and a rat brain T9 gliosarcoma model. rH-TNF alpha had a direct cytotoxic activity against various glioma cell lines in vitro, and indirect cytotoxic activity against gliosarcoma (T9) in vivo. Liposome-entrapped rH-TNF alpha had increased direct cytotoxic activity in vitro, and against experimentally induced brain tumors in vivo. The effects in vivo were probably due to vascular damage of the tumor vessels as shown by histological examination and activation of cytotoxic macrophages as shown in vitro. These results indicate that the general or local administration of liposome-entrapped rH-TNF alpha may become a useful adjunct treatment for malignant brain tumor.

Suppressed cell-mediated immunity and monocyte and natural killer cell activity following allogeneic immunization of women with spontaneous recurrent abortion.

Spontaneous recurrent abortion (SRA) has been treated by means of immunization with paternal or third-party white blood cells, yet the immunological basis for SRA and for the role of immunization protocols in pregnancy outcome remains controversial. To elucidate this question, nine women with SRA were immunized with paternal mononuclear cells and studied before and 2 weeks after immunization. Seven women who became pregnant gave birth to live newborns. Secretion of the T helper 1 cytokines IL-2 and interferon-gamma by patients, mononuclear cells decreased, while production of IL-10 increased. The levels of natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity were markedly decreased. Monocyte functions such as secretion of IL-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6, and cytotoxic activity decreased concurrently with elevations in IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta secretion. Production of IL-12, a pivotal regulatory cytokine, decreased. Furthermore, B7/1 expression on patients' mononuclear cells was downregulated. This resulted in a decrease in monocyte costimulatory activity of purified T cells with soluble anti-CD3, paralleled by a decline in allogeneic proliferative responses. These results suggest that the improved pregnancy success rate in women with SRA following immunization may be partly related to suppression of cell-mediated immunity and monocyte and natural killer cell activity.

Molecular mechanisms regulating TNF-alpha production by tumor-associated macrophages.

The molecular mechanisms that regulate the production and/or functional activity of intratumoral tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) remain poorly defined. To begin to address this issue we have examined the level of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein produced by macrophages present within immunogenic Fsa-R and non-immunogenic Fsa-N tumors grown in syngeneic Lps(d) C3H/HeJ and Lps(n) C3H/HeN mice. The results obtained indicate that macrophages isolated from tumors grown in Lps(d) C3H/HeJ mice express 5-10-fold less TNF-alpha than equivalent cells present in tumors grown in Lps(n) C3H/HeN mice. These data suggest that the mechanisms that operate within the tumor microenvironment to induce the production of TNF-alpha act, at least in part, via the same signal transduction pathway that is defective in Lps(d) C3H/HeJ mice. Interestingly, despite such differences in TNF-alpha production, tumors inoculated into C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice grew at a similar rate and contained an almost identical proportion of macrophages. Moreover, tumor cells purified from tumors grown in C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice produced similar quantities of the TNF-alpha-inducible cytokine GM-CSF. Thus, although differences in the level of TNF-alpha produced within tumors grown in C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice are readily demonstrable, such differences appear to have little direct impact on the outcome of tumor growth.

Actin-biding Protein-280 Binds the Stress-activated Protein Kinase (SAPK) Activator SEK-1 and Is Required for Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Activation of SAPK in Melanoma Cells

SEK-1, a dual specificity protein kinase that serves as one of the immediate upstream activators of the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), associates specifically with the actin-binding protein, ABP-280, in vitro and in situ. SEK-1 binds to the carboxyl-terminal rod segment of ABP-280, upstream of the ABP carboxyl-terminal dimerization domain. Activation of SEK-1 in situ increases the SEK-1 activity bound to ABP-280 without changing the amount of SEK-1 polypeptide bound. The influence of ABP-280 on SAPK regulation was evaluated in human melanoma cells that lack ABP-280 expression, and in stable transformants of these cells expressing wild type ABP, or an actin-binding but dimerization-deficient mutant ABP (ABPDeltaCT109). ABP-280-deficient cells show an activation of SAPK in response to most stimuli that is comparable to that seen in ABP-280-replete cells; ABP-280-deficient cells, however, fail to show the brisk tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activation of SAPK seen in ABP-replete cells and have an 80% reduction in SAPK activation by lysophosphatidic acid. Expression of the dimerization-deficient mutant ABP-280 fails to correct the defective SAPK response to lysophosphatidic acid, but essentially normalizes the TNF-alpha activation of SAPK. Thus, a lack of ABP-280 in melanoma cells causes a defect in the regulation of SAPK that is selective for TNF-alpha and is attributable to the lack of ABP-280 polypeptide itself rather than to the disordered actin cytoskeleton that results therefrom. ABP-280 participates in TNF-alpha signal transduction to SAPKs, in part through the binding of SEK-1.

Soluble complement receptor type 1 inhibited the systemic organ injury caused by acid instillation into a lung.

Acid aspiration into one lung causes contralateral lung injury and systemic organ injury; this injury is thought to be mediated by the sequestration of activated neutrophils. Recombinant human soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1) inhibits both the classical and alternative complement pathways; this study investigated the role of the complement system in unilateral acid lung injury by measuring the effects of administering sCR1 before or immediately after acid instillation. Anesthetized rats (n = 18 in each group) underwent tracheostomy and insertion of a cannula into the anterior segment of the left lung. Then either 0.1 ml 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl group) or 0.1 ml pH 7.4 phosphate buffered-saline (PBS group) was instilled. Fifteen minutes before (pre-sCR1 group) or 15 min after (post-sCR1 group) the acid was instilled, 10 mg/kg sCR1 was administered intravenously. Four hours after the acid instillation, rats were killed. In an additional 4 rats in each group, blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids obtained 1 h after the instillation of either acid or PBS were analyzed for tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity. The instillation of acid led to an increased wet-to-dry ratio of 5.2 +/- 0.1 in the acid-instilled lungs compared with their contralateral lungs (4.7 +/- 0.06). These values were greater than the values of 4.6 +/- 0.2 and 4.5 +/- 0.03 in the PBS-instilled lungs and their contralateral lungs, respectively (P < 0.05). The administration of sCR1 before or immediately after the instillation of acid did not attenuate the increase in the wet-to-dry ratio of the acid-instilled lungs. However, the small but consistent increase in the wet-to-dry ratio of the contralateral lungs was attenuated by the sCR1 infusions (P < 0.05). The instillation of acid increased the protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from the injured lungs (1,000 +/- 206 micrograms/ml) compared with the protein concentration measured in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from their contralateral lungs (254 +/- 55 micrograms/ml). The administration of sCR1 before or immediately after the instillation of acid did not decrease the protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from the acid-instilled lungs. The myeloperoxidase activity was increased in the acid-instilled lung, in their contralateral lung, and in the small intestines of the animals. The infusions of sCR1 before or immediately after the administration of acid led to significant decreases in the myeloperoxidase activities measured in the lungs and the intestines of the treated animals. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity was only increased (2.7 +/- 1.1 U/ml) in the animals that had received acid instillations. The infusions of sCR1, administered either before or immediately after the acid instillations, significantly decreased the measured tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity in the plasma (0.5 +/- 0.6 and 1.0 +/- 0.7 U/ml, respectively). The results suggest that the complement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the injury of the contralateral lung and of the small intestine after unilateral instillation of acid to the lung. Further investigation is warranted to determine the clinical utility of antiinflammatory agents in acid-induced lung injury.

Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors are Present in Human Vitreous and Shed by Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several retinal diseases. Soluble forms of the TNF receptors, p55 (55 kDa) and p75 (75 kDa), have recently been identified in biological fluids and may regulate TNF activity. The potential biological significance of these receptors for the human retina was examined by determining their presence in human vitreous and their release from eye cup explants in which the retina has been removed leaving an intact retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE). Normal human vitreous and conditioned medium from eye-cup HRPE explants demonstrated the presence of soluble p55 and p75. Soluble p55 was significantly more abundant than p75 in all vitreous samples ( P<0.03). Conditioned medium from eye-cup HRPE explants contained significantly more soluble p55 than p75 ( P<0.00002). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed the presence of soluble p55, and not p75, in conditioned medium from primary cultured HRPE cells. Activation of the protein kinase C pathway in these cells with the phorbol ester PMA significantly increased the release of soluble p55 ( P≤0.001); whereas, pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase C with calphostin-C significantly decreased the shedding of p55 ( P≤0.001). The results indicate that primary cultured HRPE cells shed p55 and regulate this shedding in part through the protein kinase C pathway. The presence of soluble TNF receptors within normal human vitreous and within conditioned medium from the eye-cup HRPE explant model suggests that these soluble receptors may have a biological function in the eye.

Induction of early-phase endotoxin tolerance in horses.

Six, clinically healthy horses, of mixed age and sex, were infused via a jugular venous catheter with 100 ml of pyrogenfree sterile saline (PFSS; 0.9% NaCl). Animals were infused with Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin (total dose = 50 ng/kg bwt), 24 (LPS-1) and 48 h (LPS-2) after PFSS infusion. Blood was collected before, and every 15 min after, each infusion for the first 8 h and then every 2 h for the following 14 h. Clinical responses (rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure) were determined before and every 4 h after each infusion for 20 h. Geometric mean anti-endotoxin antibody titres in serum samples, harvested just before each infusion, were unchanged over the course of the experiment. Serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) activity was estimated using a cytotoxic bioassay and WEHI 164 clone 13 murine fibrosarcoma cells as targets. Mean clinical parameter values and geometric mean serum TNF alpha activity at given time points were compared across the 3 infusions. Both LPS-1 and LPS-2 resulted in elevated mean rectal temperature at 4 h after infusion. However, duration of mean rectal temperature elevation was greater (P < 0.05) after LPS-1 (through 12 h) than after LPS-2 (through 8 h). More substantial increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed after LPS-1 than LPS-2 and mean systolic blood pressure after LPS-1 was elevated at 4 h when compared to PFSS (P < 0.05). Decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed at 16 h after both LPS infusions, when compared to PFSS infusion. Heart rate was increased, compared to PFSS, after both LPS-1 (8-12 h) and LPS-2 (4-12 h) (P < 0.05). No significant elevations in mean respiratory rate were observed after either LPS-1 or LPS-2 when compared to PFSS. However, at 4 h post infusion, mean respiratory rate after LPS-2 was greater (P < 0.05) than that after LPS-1. Serum TNF alpha activity was not detected after infusion of PFSS, but was detected after both LPS-1 and LPS-2. Serum TNF alpha activity was elevated earlier, was present in higher concentrations and persisted longer after LPS-1 than after LPS-2 (P < 0.05). The decreased duration of fever and attenuated serum TNF alpha response subsequent to successive sublethal LPS challenge observed in this study support the conclusion that these horses developed early-phase endotoxin tolerance (EPET) and, therefore, contributes to the understanding of the role of endotoxaemia in a number of clinical conditions in horses.

Paradoxical effect of clindamycin in experimental, acute toxoplasmosis in cats.

Cats were experimentally inoculated parenterally with the ME49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii to characterize the efficacies of two different dosages of orally administered clindamycin hydrochloride in the treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis. Concentrations of clindamycin hydrochloride at levels previously suggested to be inhibitory to T. gondii replication in vitro were achieved in the serum and aqueous humor but not in the cerebrospinal fluid. Antibiotic therapy, initiated 7 days after inoculation, resulted in no significant difference in the morphometric severity of ocular posterior segment lesions compared with that in the control groups. Treatment appeared to blunt T. gondii-specific immunoglobulin M production but had no significant effect on immunoglobulin G titers. Paradoxically, clindamycin administration was associated with increased morbidity and mortality from hepatitis and interstitial pneumonia, which are characteristic of generalized toxoplasmosis. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha activity was detected at moderate levels in all groups of cats and correlated with the severity of clinical disease. The results of the study suggest that clindamycin, when administered at this specific time interval following inoculation, does not ameliorate ocular lesions and has a detrimental effect on the clinical course of acute, experimental toxoplasmosis in cats. The factors responsible for and the relevance of this detrimental effect to naturally occurring toxoplasmosis in humans and pet cats were not clear from the study but may relate to an antibiotic-associated decrease in the antitoxoplasmic activity of phagocytic cells responsible for the control of T. gondii.