Differential responsiveness to constitutive vs. inducible chemokines of immature and mature mouse dendritic cells. (57/1033)

Upon exposure to immune or inflammatory stimuli, dendritic cells (DC) migrate from peripheral tissues to lymphoid organs, where they present antigen. The molecular basis for the peculiar trafficking properties of DC is largely unknown. In this study, mouse DC were generated from CD34+ bone marrow precursors and cultured with granulocyte-macrophage-CSF and Flt3 ligand for 9 days. Chemokines active on immature DC include MIP1alpha, RANTES, MIP1beta, MCP-1, MCP-3, and the constitutively expressed SDF1, MDC, and ELC. TNF-alpha-induced DC maturation caused reduction of migration to inducible chemokines (MIP1alpha, RANTES, MIP1beta, MCP-1, and MCP-3) and increased migration to SDF1, MDC, and ELC. Similar results were obtained by CD40 ligation or culture in the presence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. TNF-alpha down-regulated CC chemokine receptor (CCR)1, CCR2, and CCR5 and up-regulated CCR7 mRNA levels, in agreement with functional data. This study shows that selective responsiveness of mature and immature DC to inducible vs. constitutively produced chemokines can contribute to the regulated trafficking of DC.  (+info)

Divergent roles of tumor necrosis factor and platelet-activating factor in endotoxin-induced release of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta in chimpanzees. (58/1033)

A platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist reduced the release of macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta (MIP-1beta) during endotoxemia in chimpanzees but did not influence the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody completely prevented MCP-1 release and simultaneously enhanced the secretion of MIP-1beta. Levels of MIP-1beta and MCP-1 release were differentially regulated during endotoxemia.  (+info)

Surfactant protein A down-regulates proinflammatory cytokine production evoked by Candida albicans in human alveolar macrophages and monocytes. (59/1033)

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) has been implicated in the regulation of pulmonary host defense and inflammatory events. We analyzed the impact of SP-A on the Candida albicans-induced cytokine response in human alveolar macrophages (AM) and its precursor cells, the monocytes, which rapidly expand the alveolar mononuclear phagocyte pool under inflammatory conditions. Both recombinant human SP-A and natural canine SP-A were employed. SP-A dose-dependently down-regulated the proinflammatory cytokine response of AM and monocytes to both viable and nonviable Candida, including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. In contrast, SP-A did not affect the baseline liberation of these cytokines. The release of the antiinflammatory cytokines IL-1 receptor antagonist and IL-6 was not inhibited by SP-A under baseline conditions and in response to fungal challenge. The inhibitory effect of SP-A on proinflammatory cytokine release was retained upon reassembly of the apoprotein with natural surfactant lipids and in the presence of serum constituents, for mimicry of plasma leakage into the alveolar space. It was not reproduced by the homologous proteins complement component C1q and type IV collagen. It was independent of Candida-SP-A binding and phagocyte C1q receptor occupancy, but apparently demanded SP-A internalization by the mononuclear phagocytes, effecting down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokine synthesis at the transcriptional level. We conclude that SP-A limits excessive proinflammatory cytokine release in AM and monocytes confronted with fungal challenge in the alveolar compartment. These data lend further credit to an important physiological role of SP-A in regulating alveolar host defense and inflammation.  (+info)

Mycobacterium-induced transmesothelial migration of monocytes into pleural space: role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in tuberculous pleurisy. (60/1033)

The pleural mesothelium is a dynamic cellular membrane with multiple key functions. It plays a pivotal role in pleural inflammation through its release of several cytokines and the expression of cell-surface molecules. The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in the pleural mesothelium of patients with active pleural tuberculosis and the role of ICAM-1 in monocyte transmigration across pleural mesothelium during tuberculous inflammation was investigated. Results indicate pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) express ICAM-1 in tuberculous pleuritis. When PMCs were stimulated with bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in vitro, they expressed ICAM-1 in a time-dependent manner. Monocyte transmigration was higher across PMC monolayers that had been stimulated with BCG. Blocking ICAM-1 on BCG-activated PMC monolayers inhibited monocyte transmigration against chemotactic gradient generated by macrophage inflammatory protein 1-alpha or monocyte chemotactic protein-1. These results indicate that ICAM-1 expression in PMCs facilitates monocyte transmigration during tuberculous pleural inflammation.  (+info)

Signaling through CD43 induces natural killer cell activation, chemokine release, and PYK-2 activation. (61/1033)

Natural killer (NK) cell activation is the result of a balance between positive and negative signals triggered by specific membrane receptors. We report here the activation of NK cells induced through the transmembrane glycoprotein CD43 (leukosialin, sialophorin). Engagement of CD43 by specific antibodies stimulated the secretion of the chemokines RANTES, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, and MIP-1beta, which was prevented by treatment of cells with the specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Furthermore, signaling through CD43 increased the cytotoxic activity of NK cells and stimulated an increase in the tyrosine kinase activity in antiphosphotyrosine immune complexes of NK cell lysates. PYK-2 was identified among the tyrosine kinase proteins that become activated. Hence, PYK-2 activation was observed after 20 minutes of CD43 stimulation, reached a maximum after 45 to 60 minutes, and decreased to almost basal levels after 120 minutes of treatment. Together, these results demonstrate the role of CD43 as an activation molecule able to transduce positive activation signals in NK cells, including the regulation of chemokine synthesis, killing activity, and tyrosine kinase activation.  (+info)

Spontaneous and antigen-induced production of HIV-inhibitory beta-chemokines are associated with AIDS-free status. (62/1033)

The beta-chemokines RANTES, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, and MIP-1beta suppress infection by macrophage-tropic strains of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) by binding and down-regulating the viral coreceptor, CCR5. Accordingly, we have examined whether higher levels of CCR5 ligands are associated with a more favorable clinical status in AIDS. A cross-sectional study of 100 subjects enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study at the Baltimore site was conducted to measure chemokine production and lymphocyte proliferation by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Statistical analyses of the data revealed that the production of HIV-suppressive beta-chemokines by HIV antigen-stimulated PBMC was significantly higher in HIV-positive subjects without AIDS compared with subjects with clinical AIDS. Increased chemokine production was also correlated with higher proliferative responses to HIV antigens. Both parameters were significantly lower in the AIDS versus non-AIDS group. Notably, significantly higher levels of MIP-1alpha were also observed with unstimulated PBMC from seronegative subjects at risk for HIV infection released as compared with seropositive and non-Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study seronegative subjects. The association of chemokine production with antigen-induced proliferative responses, more favorable clinical status in HIV infection, as well as with an uninfected status in subjects at risk for infection suggests a positive role for these molecules in controlling the natural course of HIV infection.  (+info)

CCR5 and CXCR4 chemokine receptor expression and beta-chemokine production during early T cell repopulation induced by highly active anti-retroviral therapy. (63/1033)

Expression of chemokine receptors and beta-chemokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined in HIV-1-infected individuals before and after highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and their relationship to viral load, T cell phenotype and the expression of immunological activation markers was examined. We found that the expression of CCR5 is up-regulated in HIV-1-infected individuals while CXCR4 appears down-regulated on both CD4 and CD8 T cells compared with normal controls. These alterations are associated with the high levels of viral load. In addition, a relationship was observed between the degree of immune activation and chemokine receptor expression on T cells. However, after 3 months of combined anti-retroviral regimen, expression of CXCR4 significantly increased while CCR5 decreased when compared with pretherapy determinations. This was seen in strict association with a dramatic decrease of viral load and an increase of both CD45RA+/CD62L+ (naive) and CD45RA-/CD62L+ or CD45RA+/CD62L- (memory) T cells accompanied by a significant decrease of the expression of immune activation markers such as HLA-DR and CD38. At enrolment, both spontaneous and lectin-induced RANTES, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) and MIP-1beta production by PBMC were higher in HIV-1-infected individuals compared with normal controls, although differences for MIP-1beta were not statistically significant. However, RANTES and MIP-1alpha production decreased during HAART at levels closer to that determined with normal controls, while MIP-1beta production was less consistently modified. These data indicate that the expression of chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 and the production of beta-chemokines are altered in HIV-infected individuals, and suggest that their early modifications during HAART reflect both the peripheral redistribution of naive/memory T cell compartments and the decrease in levels of T cell activation. Such modifications in the expression of host determinants of viral tropism and the production of anti-viral molecules may play a role in the emergence of virus variants when a failure of HAART occurs.  (+info)

Defects in the generation of IFN-gamma are overcome to control infection with Leishmania donovani in CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 5-, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha-, or CCR2-deficient mice. (64/1033)

We investigated the immune responses in mice lacking CCR2, CCR5, or macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), a ligand for CCR5, in two situations: following T cell stimulation or after challenge with Leishmania donovani, an intracellular microbe whose control is dependent on a Th1 immune response. Mice deficient in CCR5, MIP-1 alpha, or CCR2 had reduced IFN-gamma responses following ligation of the TCR. Reduced IFN-gamma responses following PMA and ionomycin were also observed in CD8+ T cells of CCR5-/- and CCR2-/- mice. During the early phases of infection, all three knockout mice had low Ag-specific IFN-gamma responses. However, this reduced IFN-gamma response was overcome during a state of persistent Ag stimulation (chronic infection), and was not associated with an adverse parasitologic outcome in any of the gene-targeted mouse strains. To the contrary, during the late phase of infection, an exaggerated Ag-specific IFN-gamma response was evident in CCR5-/- and MIP-1 alpha-/- mice, and this correlated with an enhanced control of parasite replication. Although granuloma formation was abnormal in each of the knockout mice, there was no correlation between the number or architecture of the granulomas and parasite burden. Collectively, these findings indicate an important role for CCR5, MIP-1 alpha, and CCR2 in granulomatous inflammation, and that CCR5 and MIP-1 alpha, possibly acting through CCR5, might play a deleterious role in the outcome of chronic L. donovani infection. Our data also suggest that there might be cross-talk between TCR and chemokine receptor signaling pathways.  (+info)