SLC/CCL21-mediated anti-tumor responses require IFNγ, MIG/CXCL9 and IP-10/CXCL10

BACKGROUND: SLC/CCL21, normally expressed in high endothelial venules and in T cell zones of spleen and lymph nodes, strongly attracts T cells and dendritic cells (DC). We have previously shown that SLC/CCL21-mediated anti-tumor responses are accompanied by significant induction of IFNγ and the CXC chemokines, monokine induced by IFNγ (MIG/CXCL9) and IFNγ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10/CXCL10). RESULTS: We assessed the importance of IFNγ, IP-10/CXCL10 and MIG/CXCL9 in SLC/CCL21 therapy. In vivo depletion of IP-10/CXCL10, MIG/CXCL9 or IFNγ significantly reduced the anti-tumor efficacy of SLC/CCL21. Assessment of cytokine production at the tumor site showed an interdependence of IFNγ, MIG/CXCL9 and IP-10/CXCL10; neutralization of any one of these cytokines caused a concomitant decrease in all three cytokines. Similarly, neutralization of any one of these cytokines led to a decrease in the frequency of CXCR3(+ve )T cells and CD11c(+ve )DC at the tumor site. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the full potency of SLC/CCL21-mediated anti-tumor responses require in part the induction of IFNγ, MIG/CXCL9 and IP-10/CXCL10

Chemokine and inflammatory cytokine changes during chronic wound healing

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75761/1/j.1524-475X.1997.50405.x.pd

CXCR2 is critical for dsRNA-induced lung injury: relevance to viral lung infection

BACKGROUND: Respiratory viral infections are characterized by the infiltration of leukocytes, including activated neutrophils into the lung that can lead to sustained lung injury and potentially contribute to chronic lung disease. Specific mechanisms recruiting neutrophils to the lung during virus-induced lung inflammation and injury have not been fully elucidated. Since CXCL1 and CXCL2/3, acting through CXCR2, are potent neutrophil chemoattractants, we investigated their role in dsRNA-induced lung injury, where dsRNA (Poly IC) is a well-described synthetic agent mimicking acute viral infection. METHODS: We used 6–8 week old female BALB/c mice to intratracheally inject either single-stranded (ssRNA) or double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into the airways. The lungs were then harvested at designated timepoints to characterize the elicited chemokine response and resultant lung injury following dsRNA exposure as demonstrated qualititatively by histopathologic analysis, and quantitatively by FACS, protein, and mRNA analysis of BAL fluid and tissue samples. We then repeated the experiments by first pretreating mice with an anti-PMN or corresponding control antibody, and then subsequently pretreating a separate cohort of mice with an anti-CXCR2 or corresponding control antibody prior to dsRNA exposure. RESULTS: Intratracheal dsRNA led to significant increases in neutrophil infiltration and lung injury in BALB/c mice at 72 h following dsRNA, but not in response to ssRNA (Poly C; control) treatment. Expression of CXCR2 ligands and CXCR2 paralleled neutrophil recruitment to the lung. Neutrophil depletion studies significantly reduced neutrophil infiltration and lung injury in response to dsRNA when mice were pretreated with an anti-PMN monoclonal Ab. Furthermore, inhibition of CXCR2 ligands/CXCR2 interaction by pretreating dsRNA-exposed mice with an anti-CXCR2 neutralizing Ab also significantly attenuated neutrophil sequestration and lung injury. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that CXC chemokine ligand/CXCR2 biological axis is critical during the pathogenesis of dsRNA-induced lung injury relevant to acute viral infections

Stromal Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) and CXCR4 in renal cell carcinoma metastasis

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by organ-specific metastases. The chemokine stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) and its receptor CXCR4 have been suggested to regulate organ-specific metastasis in various other cancers. On this basis, we hypothesized that the biological axis of CXCL12 via interaction with its receptor, CXCR4, is a major mechanism for RCC metastasis. We demonstrated that CXCR4 was significantly expressed on circulating cytokeratin+ RCC cells from patients with known metastatic RCC. We detected up-regulation of CXCR4 mRNA and protein levels on a human RCC cell line by either knockdown of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor protein, or incubating the cells under hypoxic conditions. The enhanced CXCR4 expression was mediated through the interaction of the Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) with the promoter region of the CXCR4 gene. Furthermore, the expression of CXCR4 on human RCC directly correlated with their metastatic ability in vivo in both heterotopic and orthotopic SCID mouse models of human RCC. Neutralization of CXCL12 in SCID mice abrogated metastasis of RCC to target organs expressing high levels of CXCL12; without altering tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, or tumor-associated angiogenesis. Therefore, our data suggest that the CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis plays an important role in regulating the organ-specific metastasis of RCC

Mast cells produce ENA‐78, which can function as a potent neutrophil chemoattractant during allergic airway inflammation

The inflammatory response during allergic airway inflammation involves the recruitment of multiple leukocyte populations, including neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. All of these populations likely contribute to the pathology observed during repeated episodes of allergic airway inflammation. We have examined the role of a human neutrophil‐specific chemokine (C‐x‐C), ENA‐78, in a model of allergic airway responses and identified murine mast cells as a cellular source of an ENA‐78‐like molecule. Within this allergic airway model, neutrophil infiltration into the airway occurs within 4–8 h post‐allergen challenge, persists within the airway until 24 h, and resolves by 48 h post‐challenge. Neutrophil influx precedes the eosinophil infiltration, which peaks in the airway at 48 h post‐allergen challenge. In this study the production of ENA‐78 from challenged lungs demonstrated a significant increase in the allergen‐,but not vehicle‐, challenged lungs. In vivo neutralization of ENA‐78 by passive immunization demonstrated a significant decrease in peak neutrophil infiltration at 8 h, with no effect on the eosinophil infiltration at 48 h post‐challenge. Because ENA‐78 has been shown to be chemotactic for neutrophils and given the involvement of mast cell degranulation in allergic responses, we examined mast cells for the presence of ENA‐78. Cultured mast cells spontaneously released ENA‐78, but on activation with IgE + antigen, NG‐L‐arginine methyl ester or compound 48/80 produced significantly increased levels of ENA‐78. Supernatants from sonicated MC‐9 mast cells induced an overwhelming influx of neutrophils into the BAL by 4 h post‐intratracheal injection into mice, suggesting that the mast cell is a significant source of neutrophil chemotactic factors. Mast cell supernatant‐mediated neutrophil infiltration was substantially decreased by preincubation of the supernatant with antibodies specific for ENA‐78. These data indicate a major neutrophil chemotactic protein produced by mast cells during allergic responses may be mast cell‐derived ENA‐78. J. Leukoc. Biol. 63: 746–751; 1998.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141710/1/jlb0746.pd

CXC chemokines in angiogenesis

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141036/1/jlb0001.pd

Mechanism and biological significance of constitutive expression of MGSA/GRO chemokines in malignant melanoma tumor progression

By reverse transcriptaseâ polymerase chain reaction, enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry, MGSAâ α, â β, â γ, and CXCR2 mRNA expression and proteins are detected in 7 out of 10 human melanoma lesions. The biological consequence of constitutive expression of the MGSA/GRO chemokine in immortalized melanocytes was tested in SCID and nude mouse models. Continuous expression of MGSA/GROâ α, â β, or â γ in immortalized melanâ a mouse melanocytes results in nearly 100% tumor formation for each of the clones tested, whereas clones expressing only the neomycin resistance vector form tumors <10% of the time. Moreover, antibodies to the MGSA/GRO proteins slow or inhibit the formation of tumors in the SCID mouse model and block the angiogenic response to conditioned medium from the tumorâ producing clones. Transcription of the MGSA/ GRO chemokines is regulated by an enhancesomelike complex comprised of the nuclear factorâ κB (NFâ κB), HMG(I)Y, IUR, and Sp1 elements. In Hs294T melanoma cells the half life of the IκB protein is shortened in comparison to normal retinal epithelial cells, facilitating the endogenous nuclear localization of NFâ κB. We propose that this endogenous nuclear NFâ κB, working in concert with the 115â κDa IURâ binding factor, promotes constitutive expression of MGSA/GRO genes. J. Leukoc. Biol.62: 588â 597; 1997.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141559/1/jlb0588.pd

The tumorigenic and angiogenic effects of MGSA/GRO proteins in melanoma

Continuous expression of the MGSA/GROα, β, or γ chemokine bestows tumorâ forming capacity to the immortalized murine melanocyte cell line, melanâ a. The mechanism for this transformation is unclear, although both autocrine and paracrine processes are possible because melanâ a cells as well as endothelial cells express a low level of the receptor for this ligand. To further define the role of MGSA/GRO proteins in melanocyte transformation, two types of experiments were designed to neutralize the biological effects of MGSA/GRO in the transfected melanâ a clones: (1) the effect of neutralizing antiserum to MGSA/GRO proteins on melanâ a tumor growth was assessed; (2) the tumorâ forming capacity of melanâ a clones expressing ELR motifâ mutated forms of MGSA/GRO with compromised receptor affinity was compared to the tumorâ forming capacity of clones expressing wildâ type MGSA/GRO. These experiments revealed that SCID mice inoculated with MGSA/GROαâ or γâ expressing melanâ a cells and subsequently treated with antiserum to the respective chemokine exhibited decreased tumor growth. This reduction in tumor growth was accompanied by declining angiogenic activity in MGSA/GROγâ expressing tumors. Moreover, athymic nude mice injected with melanâ a cells expressing ELRâ mutant forms of MGSA/GROα exhibited markedly impaired tumorâ forming capacity compared with those mice injected with melanâ a clones expressing wildâ type MGSA/GRO. These data suggest that continuous expression of MGSA/GRO proteins may facilitate tumor growth by stimulating the growth of microvessels into the tumor (paracrine) and by affecting melanocyte growth (autocrine). J. Leukoc. Biol. 67: 53â 62; 2000.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142059/1/jlb0053.pd

The Stromal Derived Factor–1/CXCL12–CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 Biological Axis in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Metastases

Non-small cell lung cancer is characterized by a specific metastatic pattern. The mechanism for organ-specific metastasis is poorly understood, although evidence has suggested that the chemokine stromal derived factor-1 (CXCL12) and its cognate receptor CXCR4 may regulate breast cancer metastasis. We hypothesized that the CXCL12-CXCR4 biological axis is important in mediating non-small cell lung cancer metastases. Our results indicate that both non-small cell lung cancer tumor specimens resected from patients and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines express CXCR4, but not CXCL12. Non-small cell lung cancer cell lines undergo chemotaxis in response to CXCL12.CXCL12-CXCR4 activation of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines showed intracellular calcium mobilization and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation with enhanced extracellular signal-related kinase-1/2 phosphorylation without change in either proliferation or apoptosis. Target organs in a murine model that are the preferred destination of human non-small cell lung cancer metastases elaborate higher levels of CXCL12 than does the primary tumor; and suggest the generation of chemotactic gradients. The administration of specific neutralizing anti-CXCL12 antibodies to severe combined immunodeficient mice expressing human non-small cell lung cancer abrogated organ metastases, without affecting primary tumor-derived angiogenesis. These data suggest that the CXCL12-CXCR4 biological axis is involved in regulating the metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer