Macrophage cytokines render WEHI-3B tumor cells susceptible to cytostasis by prostaglandins

Abstract The growth of the murine myelomonocytic leukemia tumor, WEHI-3B, has been shown to be inhibited by a two-step treatment: first, incubation for one hour with either interleukin-1 (human recombinant IL-1α or tumor necrosis factor (human recombinant TNF-α); second, subsequent exposure to prostaglandins. Preincubation with IL-1 rendered the tumor cells more susceptible to subsequent treatment with either prostaglandin E2 or to the stable synthetic analogue of prostacyclin DC-PGI2. Preincubation with TNF-α rendered the tumor cells more susceptible to further treatment with PGE2 but not with DC-PGI2. Preconditioning of the tumour cells with either IL-1α or TNFα did not affect cytostasis by subsequent culture of tumor cells in presence of either one of the cytokines. It is concluded that the interactions between macrophage cytokines and prostaglandins in enhancement of antitumor activity might imply first binding or induction of certain modifications in the tumor cells by the cytokines which render the cells more susceptible to exposure to prostaglandins

Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor determine the fatal or non-fatal course of endotoxic shock

Abstract The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in endotoxin-induced shock was investigated in pigs receiving 5 μg kg− of Escherichia coli endotoxin (LPS) during 60 min of continuous infusion into the superior mesenteric artery. LPS concentration in aortic plasma, as determined by a chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test, reached a peak of approximately 1000 ng 1−1 during LPS infusion, and declined rapidly after discontinuation of the infusion. Serum TNF levels were determined by a bioassay using the L929 murine transformed fibroblast line. Eight of the 17 animals infused with LPS died within 30 min after beginning LPS administration, while the other 9 pigs survived beyond the experimental observation period of 3 h, although they were in a state of shock. No difference in LPS concentration was found between the survivors and the non-survivors. However, the serum TNF levels in non-survivors were significantly higher than in survivors when measured at 30 min after beginning LPS administration. In survivors, the peak increase in serum TNF levels was measured at 60 min after the beginning of LPS injection and returned rapidly to the baseline values. Although the role of TNF inducing rapid death seems to be dominant, the hemodynamic, hematology and blood chemistry disturbances seen during shock continued in survivors long after the return of TNF to baseline levels. These findings indicate that besides TNF other mediators are also involved in the LPS infusion-induced shock

Production of inflammatory mediators by human macrophages obtained from ascites

Ascites is a readily available source of human macrophages (Mø), which can be used to study Mø functions in vitro. We characterized the mediators of inflammation produced by human peritoneal Mø (hp-Mø) obtained from patients with portal hypertension and ascites. The production of the cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was found to be lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration dependent (0–10 μg/ml) with a maximal production at 10 μg/ml and also dependent on the time of exposure to the stimulus (0–36 h). IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α production after LPS administration reached a plateau at 24 h. In vitro stimulation for 24 h with LPS does not influence the eicosanoid production from endogenous arachidonate. 13 min of exposure of the cells to the calcium ionophore A23187 gives a significant increase in eicosanoid production from both exogenous and endogenous arachidonate. The main eicosanoids produced are the 5-lipoxgenase products LTB4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE). The increase in production of the other eicosanoids is not significant. The eicosanoid production depends on the stimulus concentration. The optimal A23187 concentration is 1 μM. Oxygen radical production was measured in the Mø by a flowcytometric method. The fluorescence intensity of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated and dihydro-rhodamine 123 loaded. hp-Mø increases significantly after 15 min. We conclude that LPS stimulation of hp-Mø from liver disease results in similar production of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, but that the profile of the eicosanoid production of these Mø stimulated with LPS and A23187 differs from Mø of other origin and species

Levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, eicosanoids and cytokines in ascites of patients with liver cirrhosis, peritoneal cancer and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

The levels of the eicosanoids leukotriene B4, prostaglandin E2, prostacycline and thromboxane B2, the cytokines interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were measured in ascites and plasma samples of patients with liver cirrhosis (53), peritoneal cancer (26) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (10) to assess their value as a possible diagnostic and prognostic parameter in the course of the disease. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, of the eicosanoids prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4, and the protein concentration in ascites were all significantly elevated in ascites of patients with peritoneal cancer in comparison to ascites of patients with liver cirrhosis. In ascites of patients with spontaneous bacterial infection interleukin-6 concentration was significantly elevated and the protein concentration was significantly lower in comparison to the other two groups. None of these parameters, however, seems to be of practical use as a diagnostic parameter, as there is an overlap between all the levels of these mediators in ascites of liver cirrhosis, peritoneal cancer and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis group. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 levels were much higher in plasma than in ascites, in contrast to interleukin-6 levels which were much higher in ascites than in plasma. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in ascites correlated with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in plasma (r = 0.6926, P = 0.0001). Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, interleukin-6 and the number of polymorphonuclear cells in peritoneal fluid correlated during episodes of infection in patients with a peritonitis. For this reason soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and interleukin-6 could be of prognostic value for patients with peritonitis