Frans M.A. Hofhuis

Peyer's Patch M Cells Derived from Lgr5+ Stem Cells Require SpiB and Are Induced by RankL in Cultured “Miniguts”

ABSTRACT Peyers patches consist of domains of specialized intestinal epithelium overlying gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Luminal antigens reach the GALT by translocation through epithelial gatekeeper cells, the so-called M cells. We recently demonstrated that all epithelial cells required for the digestive functions of the intestine are generated from Lgr5-expressing stem cells. Here, we show that M cells also derive from these crypt-based Lgr5 stem cells. The Ets family transcription factor SpiB, known to control effector functions of bone marrow-derived immune cells, is specifically expressed in M cells. In SpiB−/− mice, M cells are entirely absent, which occurs in a cell-autonomous fashion. It has been shown that Tnfsf11 (RankL) can induce M cell development in vivo. We show that in intestinal organoid (“minigut”) cultures, stimulation with RankL induces SpiB expression within 24 h and expression of other M cell markers subsequently. We conclude that RankL-induced expression of SpiB is essential for Lgr5 stem cell-derived epithelial precursors to develop into M cells.

Reconstructing the human hematopoietic niche in immunodeficient mice: opportunities for studying primary multiple myeloma

Interactions within the hematopoietic niche in the BM microenvironment are essential for maintenance of the stem cell pool. In addition, this niche is thought to serve as a sanctuary site for malignant progenitors during chemotherapy. Therapy resistance induced by interactions with the BM microenvironment is a major drawback in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and bone-metastasizing solid tumors. To date, studying these interactions was hampered by the lack of adequate in vivo models that simulate the human situation. In the present study, we describe a unique human-mouse hybrid model that allows engraftment and outgrowth of normal and malignant hematopoietic progenitors by implementing a technology for generating a human bone environment. Using luciferase gene marking of patient-derived multiple myeloma cells and bioluminescent imaging, we were able to follow pMM cells outgrowth and to visualize the effect of treatment. Therapeutic interventions in this model resulted in equivalent drug responses as observed in the corresponding patients. This novel human-mouse hybrid model creates unprecedented opportunities to investigate species-specific microenvironmental influences on normal and malignant hematopoietic development, and to develop and personalize cancer treatment strategies.

Effects of variation in time and dose of cyclophosphamide injection on delayed hypersensitivity and antibody formation

Abstract A single injection of Cyclophosphamide (CY) in a dose of 300 mg of CY/kg of mice resulted in enhanced delayed hypersensitivity (DH) when administered between at least 7 days prior to and 15 days after intracutaneous (ic) immunization of sheep red blood cells in Freunds complete adjuvant. The maximal enhancement occurred when CY was applied 8 hr before the antigen. Using the latter interval, the effect of varying the dose of CY before ic or intraperitoneal (ip) injections of antigen was studied. Combined with ic immunization, increasing doses of CY resulted in increasing DH. The ip route of immunization needed CY in amounts of at least 100 mg/kg to augment DH to a detectable level. The enhancing effect of lower doses of CY was more pronounced when the interval between immunizing and eliciting injections was reduced. Administration of 300 or 200 mg of CY/kg before ip immunization suppressed the antibody formation, when measured S and 7 days later. A dose of 100 mg of CY/kg caused a suppression of antibody formation on Day 5, but an enhancement on Day 7. With this dose, a maximal enhancement of DH was found on both days. The results suggest that CY interferes with more than one regulatory mechanism of the immune response.

Endotoxin-induced antitumor activity in the mouse is highly potentiated by muramyl dipeptide

The ability of aqueous solutions of various endotoxin preparations, muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and combinations of endotoxin and MDP, to induce necrosis and regression of subcutaneous Meth A transplants in mice and their toxicity were studied. While intravenously injected toxic endotoxins, in contrast to a detoxified preparation and to MDP, induced considerable necrosis and regression of their own, addition of MDP potentiated the antitumor potential of both toxic and detoxified endotoxins to the same high degree. Detoxified endotoxin combined with MDP, however, was far less toxic than toxic preparations alone or combined with MDP. This indicates that toxicity is not directly related to therapeutic potential.

Antitumour activity of endotoxin, concanavalin A and poly I: C and their ability to elicit tumour necrosis factor, cytostatic factors, and interferon in vivo

SummaryConcanavalin A, endotoxin, poly I : C, and tumour necrosis serum (TNS) were compared for antitumour activity against Meth A sarcoma transplanted in syngeneic BALB/c mice and their capacity to induce tumour necrosis factor (TNF), heat-stable cytostatic factors, and heat-labile interferon in the blood of normal and Corynebacterium parvum-pretreated mice. All the agents induced hyperemia and inhibition of mitosis at 4 h, and by 24 h many tumours had a dark necrotic centre. Subsequent tumour growth was inhibited and in some of the treated mice tumours regressed completely. Poly A : U and normal mouse serum did not induce regression and their effects were less marked in all other respects, suggesting that these events may be linked. The necrotizing effects of concanavalin A and poly I : C are unlikely to be mediated by TNF, because neither agent could mimic endotoxin in eliciting RNase-resistant necrotizing and regressing activity in the serum of mice pretreated with C. parvum. Poly I : C did not induce strong cytostatic activity in the sera of C. parvum-treated mice, and for this and other reasons these factors are unlikely to be responsible for the observed effects. Concanavalin A, endotoxin, and poly I : C induced high levels of serum interferon but purified interferon had only weak antitumour activity in the Meth A system, suggesting that interferon may not be the mediator.From these and other data it is concluded that there is no clear relationship between the capacity of the agents to induce tumour necrosis and their capacity to elicit TNF, cytostatic factors, and interferon.

Killed Listeria monocytogenes vaccine becomes protective on addition of polyanions

IN the interaction between macrophages and intracellular parasites, microbial components which prevent phagosome–lysosome fusion1,2 have a decisive role. The resistance to faculative intracellular parasite Listeria monocytogenes is a form of cell-mediated immunity3, as it can be passively transferred with viable lymphoid cells4. Resistance to listeria infection can be induced by sublethal numbers of viable listeria5,6. Induction of resistance by non-viable listeria, however, is effective only after repeated injections of listeria preparations in combination with lipopolysaccharides7. Lipopolysaccharide is cytotoxic against macro-phages8,9, suggesting that the difference in processing of viable and dead microorganisms by macrophages might explain the induction of resistance by vaccine of live and not of dead bacteria. Impairing macrophage activity might result in a processing of dead listeria advantageous for the induction of resistance. We show here that killed L. monocytogenes vaccine becomes protective when the polyanions dextran sulphate (DS 500, molecular weight 500,000, Serva) and suramin (Bayer) are added. These polyanions are known to inhibit phagosome–lysosome fusion in macrophages2,10. Moreover, dextran sulphate is a potent adjuvant for both humoral11 and cell-mediated responses12. The latter might be particularly important in view of the requirement of cell-mediated immunity for resistance to listeria3.

CD28/CTLA4 double deficient mice demonstrate crucial role for B7 co-stimulation in the induction of allergic lower airways disease

Background The existence of a third B7‐1/B7‐2 receptor was postulated in a recent study using a novel mouse strain lacking both CD28 and CTLA4 (CD28/CTLA4−/−).

Endotoxin-induced release of tumour necrosis factor and interferon in vivo is inhibited by prior adrenoceptor blockade

SummaryThe effect of α- and β-adrenoceptor blocking agents on endotoxin-induced release of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and of interferon in the circulation of Corynebacterium parvum-treated mice was the subject of this study. TNF was quantified after injection of TNF containing heated serum (TNS) into Meth A sarcoma-bearing mice by determining colour, extent, and incidence of haemorrhagic necrosis. The release of TNF was weakly inhibited by the competitive α-blocker phentolamine and the β-blocker propranolol. The non-competitive α-blocker phenoxybenzamine inhibited to a higher degree. Endotoxin-induced elicitation of growth-inhibiting principles into TNS was antagonized by propranolol and phenoxybenzamine. Administration of adrenaline before endotoxin inhibited the elicitation of TNF and growth-inhibitory activities, which indicates tachyphylaxis. The release of interferon was effectively inhibited by both α-adrenoceptor blockers but not by propranolol. The interferon was heat-labile. The results indicate that endotoxin-induced TNF and interferon are separate factors, elicited in different ways. As both α-blockers do not only inhibit reactions at the α-adrenergic receptor but also reactions at the serotonin receptor and in the case of phenoxybenzamine also at the choline receptor, it is suggested that endotoxin-induced release of the anti-tumour factors is controlled by reactions mediated by one or more of these receptors. It is suggested that the inhibition of TNF release by propranolol may be due to the membrane-stabilizing activity of this agent.

Regulation of the immune response by macrophages

Regulation of the immune response by macrophages was studied with cellular resistance to Listeria monocytogenes as parameter. The use of agents which suppress macrophage activity during the induction-phase of immunity enabled the induction of protective immunity with killed listeria. Fractionation of the cell content of listeria yielded an RNAse sensitive fraction which in a dose of 300 ng and in combination with the cationic surfactant dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide induced protective immunity against listeria.

Muramyl dipeptide analogues as potentiators of the antitumor action of endotoxin

SummaryThe potentiation of endotoxin-induced necrosis and regression of solid syngeneic Meth A tumors in mice previously observed following administration of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) was investigated further by use of various muramyl peptide analogues and two unrelated synthetic adjuvants, viz. the pluronic polyol L121 and dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) instead of MDP. All agents were administered in aqueous solution by the IV route. None of the muramyl peptide analogues nor L121 or DDA had any strong antitumor action of their own. Two 6-O-acylated muramyl peptides (L2-MDP and B30-MDP) and muramyl dipeptide stearoyllysine [MDP-Lys (L18)] clearly potentiated endotoxin-induced necrosis and regression. In contrast, MDP with L- instead of D-isoglutamine was completely inactive. Optimal activity of B30-MDP and MDP-Lys (L18) was only achieved by adding of suitable amounts of a nonionic surfactant. L121 and DDA could not replace muramyl peptides as potentiating agent. The combination of endotoxin, MDP, and L121 caused complete tumor regression in all mice, but was highly toxic.On the basis of the data in the literature on the biological response-modifying activities of the agents used it is concluded that the potentiating activity of muramyl peptides cannot yet be related to their immunoadjuvant action or their capacity to activate macrophages or to enhance nonspecific bacterial resistance.