Expression of the nlsLacz gene in dendritic cells derived from retrovirally transduced peripheral blood CD34+ cells. (17/2131)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gene transfer and expression of exogenous genetic information coding for an immunogenic protein in antigen presenting cells (APCs) can promote an immune response. This was investigated by retroviral transfer of a marker gene into CD34+ derived APCs. DESIGN AND METHODS: To achieve long term expression of a specific transgene in APCs, G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cell populations were retrovirally transduced with the bacterial nlsLacZ, a marker gene used here as a model, in the presence of IL-3, IL-6, GM-CSF and SCF prior to being induced to differentiate into dendritic and macrophage cells by GM-CSF and TNF-a. RESULTS: Addition of IL-4 was found to induce dendritic differentiation preferentially by inhibiting proliferation and differentiation of the macrophage lineage. As assessed by X-Gal staining, LacZ gene expression was observed in cells from both the dendritic lineage (CD1a+/CD14-) which still exhibits the highest immunostimulatory activity in mixed lymphocyte reaction and from the macrophage lineage (CD1a-/ CD14+). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study sets out the possibility of transducing dendritic and macrophage progenitors present in the CD34+ cell population and in using a marker gene such as nlsLacZ to study gene expression in antigen presenting cell compartments.  (+info)

Tetrameric complexes of human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G bind to peripheral blood myelomonocytic cells. (18/2131)

The nonclassical MHC class I molecule human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is selectively expressed on fetal trophoblast tissue at the maternal-fetal interface in pregnancy. It has long been suggested that HLA-G may inhibit maternal natural killer (NK) cells through interaction with particular NK cell receptors (KIRs). To investigate interactions of HLA-G, we constructed phycoerythrin-labeled tetrameric complexes of HLA-G refolded with a self-peptide. These HLA-G tetramers failed to bind to NK cells and cells transfected with CD94/NKG2 and killer immunoglobulin-like NK receptors. In contrast, HLA-G tetramers did bind to peripheral blood monocytes, staining a CD16(+)CD14(mid) subset with greater intensity. On transfectants, HLA-G tetramers bound to inhibitory immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT)2 and ILT4 receptors. However, staining in the presence of antibodies reactive with ILT receptors revealed that the interaction of HLA-G tetramers with blood monocytes was largely due to binding to ILT4. These results suggest that the primary role of HLA-G may be the modulation of myelomonocytic cell behavior in pregnancy.  (+info)

Endotoxin interactions with lipopolysaccharide-responsive cells. (19/2131)

Recent work has identified two proteins that work together to enable many cell types to respond to endotoxin. These two proteins, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding protein (LBP) and CD14, also participate in cellular internalization of endotoxin, which may occur independently of cellular activation. Current work with antibodies to LBP and CD14 as well as "knockout" mice in the context of LPS-initiated endotoxic shock suggests that inhibition of this pathway could be therapeutically useful. These observations point to the need to identify new molecules that mediate LPS-initiated transmembrane signaling and internalization of LPS-protein complexes.  (+info)

Lipopolysaccharide structure influences the macrophage response via CD14-independent and CD14-dependent pathways. (20/2131)

CD14, a protein expressed on the surface of monocytes and neutrophils, is a major receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Studies with normal and CD14-deficient macrophages show that responses to low concentrations of LPS require expression of CD14, whereas responses to high concentrations of LPS are CD14-independent. Since LPS isolated from different bacterial species shows structural variability, studies were performed to determine whether differences in LPS structure influence CD14-dependent and CD14-independent responses. Studies with LPS purified from Escherichia coli, Salmonella abortus subspecies equi, Salmonella minnesota, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Neisseria meningitidis, Bacteroides fragilis, and Rhodobacter sphaeroides show that the strongest CD14-dependent responses require a typical O-antigen, long carbohydrate chains, at least 6 acyl chains in their lipid A, and 2-phosphorylated Kdo moieties; wild-type LPS lacking a typical O-antigen and containing short carbohydrate chains and 2-phosphorylated Kdo moieties induces the strongest CD14-independent response.  (+info)

Escherichia coli and Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide interactions with CD14: implications for myeloid and nonmyeloid cell activation. (21/2131)

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative bacterium, is an etiologic agent for adult periodontitis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) released from this bacterium can react with numerous host cell types. P. gingivalis LPS stimulates tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1beta secretion from monocytes (myeloid) but does not elicit E-selectin expression from human endothelial cells (nonmyeloid). In contrast, Escherichia coli LPS facilitates expression of these inflammatory mediators through CD14-dependent pathways on both myeloid and nonmyeloid cells. LPS binding studies have revealed that although P. gingivalis and E. coli LPSs bind to CD14 differently, this fact does not adequately explain the lack of endothelial cell activation by P. gingivalis LPS. Rather, LPS binding site and blocking monoclonal antibody epitope mapping studies have suggested that CD14 presents a charged surface that captures different microbial ligands by electrostatic interactions. We propose that human endothelial cells do not respond to P. gingivalis LPS because of their inability to "recognize" CD14-P. gingivalis LPS complexes.  (+info)

Induction of prostaglandin release from macrophages by bacterial endotoxin. (22/2131)

This review summarizes the role of the monocytic responses to lipopolysaccharide as it relates to periodontal disease severity. Data are presented which illustrate that the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secreted by systemic peripheral blood monocytes in culture, in the presence of bacterial endotoxins, are highly correlated with the levels observed in the gingival crevicular fluid. Furthermore, the different periodontal diagnostic categories have varying levels of monocytic and crevicular fluid PGE2, in juxtaposition with clinical disease severity. These data are consistent with the concept that there is close synchrony between the systemic responsiveness of peripheral blood monocytes with regard to prostanoid synthesis and the local levels of mediator present within the gingival crevice.  (+info)

Proteolysis of monocyte CD14 by human leukocyte elastase inhibits lipopolysaccharide-mediated cell activation. (23/2131)

Human leukocyte elastase (HLE), a polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) serine proteinase, is proteolytically active on some membrane receptors at the surface of immune cells. The present study focused on the effect of HLE on the expression of CD14, the main bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor at the surface of monocytes. HLE exhibited a time- and concentration-dependent downregulatory effect on CD14 surface expression. A 30-minute incubation of 3 microM HLE was required to display 95% disappearance of the receptor. This downregulation resulted from a direct proteolytic process, not from a shedding consecutive to monocyte activation as observed upon challenge with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). To confirm that CD14 is a substrate for HLE, this enzyme was incubated with recombinant human CD14 (Mr approximately 57,000), and proteolysis was further analyzed by immunoblot analysis. Cleavage of the CD14 molecule was directly evidenced by the generation of short-lived fragments (Mr approximately 47,000 and 30,000). As a consequence of the CD14 proteolysis, a decrease in the responsiveness of monocytes to LPS was observed, as assessed by measuring tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) formation. This inhibition was only observed with 1 ng/ml of LPS, i.e., when only the CD14-dependent pathway was involved. At a higher LPS concentration, such as 10 microgram/ml, when CD14-independent pathways were operative, this inhibition was overcome. The direct proteolysis by HLE of the membrane CD14 expressed on monocytes illustrates a potential anti-inflammatory effect of HLE through inhibition of LPS-mediated cell activation.  (+info)

A new promoter polymorphism in the gene of lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14 is associated with expired myocardial infarction in patients with low atherosclerotic risk profile. (24/2131)

Recent findings suggest that inflammation plays a role in atherosclerosis and its acute complications. Cellular response in infections with Gram-negative bacteria is mediated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which activates monocytes to expression of cytokines, growth factors, and procoagulatory factors via LPS receptor CD14. Endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells are stimulated by a complex of LPS and soluble CD14. In this study, LPS receptor CD14 was analyzed to find genetic variants and check them for an association with coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction (MI). When screening the CD14 gene by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, a promoter polymorphism was detected and confirmed as a T-to-C exchange at position -159. We determined the genotypes of 2228 men who had undergone coronary angiography for diagnostic purposes. Within the total study group there was no significant association of either genotype with MI or coronary artery disease. However, in a subgroup with low coronary risk (normotensive nonsmokers), a relative risk for MI in probands homozygous for the T allele could be evaluated (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.4; P<0.05). The association was even stronger in low-risk patients older than 62 years (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.6 to 9.0; P<0.01). In conclusion, we describe a new CD14 promoter polymorphism that is associated with MI, especially in older patients with a low atherosclerotic risk profile.  (+info)