Joan K. Brieland

Cytokine Networking in Lungs of Immunocompetent Mice in Response to Inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus

ABSTRACT Cytokine networking in the lung in response to inhaledAspergillus fumigatus was assessed using a murine model of primary pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompetent Crl:CF-1 mice. Inhalation of virulent A. fumigatus (6 × 106 CFU) resulted in the induction of interleukin 18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-12, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and/or lung tissue. Induction of immunoreactive IL-18 preceded induction of TNF-α protein, which preceded induction of immunoreactive IL-12 and IFN-γ. Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR analysis of infected lung tissue demonstrated that induction of IL-18 protein also preceded induction of pulmonary TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ mRNAs. Mice were subsequently treated with cytokine-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the IL-18 receptor (anti-IL-18R MAb), TNF-α (anti-TNF-α MAb), IL-12 (anti-IL-12 MAb), and/or IFN-γ (anti-IFN-γ MAb), and effects on intrapulmonary cytokine activity and growth of A. fumigatuswere assessed in infected lung homogenates. Simultaneous neutralization of IL-12 and IL-18 resulted in decreased levels of immunoreactive TNF-α, while neutralization of IL-18, TNF-α, or IL-12 alone or of IL-18 and IL-12 together resulted in decreased levels of immunoreactive IFN-γ. Simultaneous neutralization of IL-12 and IL-18 or neutralization of TNF-α alone or in combination with IL-12, IL-18, or IFN-γ also resulted in a significant increase inA. fumigatus CFU in lung tissue. Taken together, these results demonstrate that endogenous IL-18, IL-12, and TNF-α, through their modulatory effects on both intrapulmonary cytokine activity and growth of A. fumigatus, play key roles in host defense against primary pulmonary aspergillosis.

Comparison of Pathogenesis and Host Immune Responses to Candida glabrata and Candida albicans in Systemically Infected Immunocompetent Mice

ABSTRACT Cytokine-mediated host defense against Candida glabratainfection was compared to that against C. albicans, using immunocompetent murine models of systemic candidiasis. The pathogenesis of infection was evaluated morphologically and by culture of target organs, while the kinetics of induction of cytokine mRNAs and corresponding proteins were determined in kidneys by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and cytokine-specific murine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Systemic infection with C. glabrata resulted in a chronic, nonfatal infection with recovery of organisms from kidneys, while intravenous inoculation with C. albicans resulted in rapid mortality with logarithmic growth of organisms in kidneys and recovery of C. albicans from the spleen, liver, and lungs. Survival of C. glabrata-infected mice was associated with rapid induction of mRNAs and corresponding immunoreactive proteins for the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and the lack of induction of protein for the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In contrast, mortality in C. albicans-infected mice was associated with induction of mRNA and corresponding protein for IL-10 but delayed (i.e., TNF-α) or absent (i.e., IL-12 and IFN-γ) induction of immunoreactive proinflammatory cytokines. Mice were subsequently treated with cytokine-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to TNF-α, IL-12, or IFN-γ, and the effect on growth of C. glabrata in kidneys was assessed. Neutralization of endogenous TNF-α resulted in a significant increase in C. glabrata organisms compared to similarly infected mice administered an isotype-matched control MAb, while neutralization of endogenous IL-12 or IFN-γ had no significant effect on C. glabrata replication. These results demonstrate that in response to intravenous inoculation of C. glabrata, immunocompetent mice develop chronic nonfatal renal infections which are associated with rapid induction of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ. Furthermore, TNF-α plays a key role in host defense against systemic candidiasis caused by either C. glabrata or C. albicans, as the absence of endogenous TNF-α activity was associated with enhanced tissue burden in both infection models.

Oxazolidinones Inhibit Cellular Proliferation via Inhibition of Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis

ABSTRACT The oxazolidinones are a relatively new structural class of antibacterial agents that act by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. The oxazolidinones inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis, as shown by [35S]methionine incorporation into intact rat heart mitochondria. Treatment of K562 human erythroleukemia cells with the oxazolidinone eperezolid resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. The cells remained viable, but an increase in doubling time was observed with eperezolid treatment. Inhibition was reversible, since washing and refeeding of cells in the absence of compound resulted in a resumption of growth. The growth-inhibitory effect of the oxazolidinones did not appear to be cell type specific, and inhibition of CHO and HEK cells also was demonstrated. Treatment of cells resulted in a decrease in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I levels, consistent with an inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis. Eperezolid caused no growth inhibition of rho zero (ρ0) cells, which contain no mitochondrial DNA; however, the growth of the parent 143B cells was inhibited. These results provide a direct demonstration that the inhibitory effect of eperezolid in mammalian cells is the result of mitochondrial protein synthesis inhibition.

Ferrous iron release from transferrin by human neutrophil-derived superoxide anion: Effect of pH and iron saturation

The ability of superoxide anion (O2-) from stimulated human neutrophils (PMNs) to release ferrous iron (Fe2+) from transferrin was assessed. At pH 7.4, unstimulated PMNs released minimal amounts of O2- and failed to facilitate the release of Fe2+ from holosaturated transferrin. In contrast, incubation of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated PMNs with holosaturated transferrin at pH 7.4 enhanced the release of Fe2+ from transferrin eightfold in association with marked generation of O2-. The release of Fe2+ was inhibited by addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD), indicating that the release of Fe2+ was dependent on PMN-derived extracellular O2-. In contrast, at physiologic pH (7.4), incubation of transferrin at physiological levels of iron saturation (e.g. 32%) with unstimulated or PMA stimulated PMNs failed to facilitate the release of Fe2+. The effect of decreasing the pH on the release of Fe2+ from transferrin by PMN-derived O2- was determined. Decreasing the pH greatly facilitated the release of Fe2+ from both holosaturated transferrin and from transferrin at physiological levels of iron saturation by PMN-derived O2-. Release of Fe2+ occurred despite a decrease in the amount of extracellular O2- generated by PMNs in an acidic environment. These results suggest that transferrin at physiologic levels of iron saturation may serve as a source of Fe2+ for biological reactions in disease states where activated phagocytes are present and there is a decrease in tissue pH. The unbound iron could participate in biological reactions including promoting propagation of lipid peroxidation reactions or hydroxyl radical formation following reaction with phagocytic cell-derived hydrogen peroxide.

Transferrin: A Potential Source of Iron for Oxygen Free Radical-Mediated Endothelial Cell Injury

The ability of transferrin to potentiate oxygen free radical-mediated endothelial cell injury was assessed. 51Cr-labeled endothelial cells derived from rat pulmonary arteries (RPAECs) were incubated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence and absence of holosaturated human transferrin, and the effect of transferrin on H2O2-mediated endothelial cell toxicity was determined. Addition of holosaturated transferrin potentiated H2O2-mediated RPAEC cytotoxicity at concentrations of H2O2 greater than 10 microM, suggesting that transferrin may provide a source of iron for free radical-mediated endothelial cell injury. Free radical-mediated injury is dependent on non-protein-bound iron. The ability of RPAECs to facilitate the release of iron from transferrin was assessed. We determined that RPAECs facilitate the release of transferrin-derived iron by reduction of transferrin-bound ferric iron (Fe3+) to ferrous iron (Fe2+). The reduction and release of transferrin-derived Fe2+ were inhibited by apotransferrin and chloroquine, indicating a dependence on receptor-specific binding of transferrin to the RPAEC cell surface, with subsequent endocytosis, acidification, and reduction of transferrin-bound Fe3+ to Fe2+. The release of transferrin-derived Fe2+ was potentiated by diethyldithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD). In contrast, exogenous SOD did not alter iron release, suggesting that intracellular superoxide anion (O2-) may play an important role in mediating the reduction and release of transferrin-derived iron. Results of this study suggest that transferrin may provide a source of iron for oxygen free radical-mediated endothelial cell injury and identify a novel mechanism by which endothelial cells may mediate the reduction and release of transferrin-derived iron.

Human platelets mediate iron release from transferrin by adenine nucleotide-dependent and -independent mechanisms

We assessed the ability of platelet sonicates and mediators secreted by unstimulated and thrombin-stimulated platelets to facilitate the release of iron from transferrin. Platelet sonicates and platelet conditioned media potentiated the release of iron from transferrin. The rate of release of iron was dependent on the pH of the reaction and amount of platelet sample added. Conditioned media from thrombin-stimulated platelets was more effective in mediating the release of iron from transferrin than was conditioned media from unstimulated cells. The rate of iron released from transferrin following addition of ATP and ADP in amounts equivalent to that present in platelet conditioned media was significantly less than the rate of iron released following the addition of conditioned media from platelets. Depletion of ATP and ADP in platelet conditioned media by incubation with apyrase only partially inhibited their ability to enhance the rate of iron release from transferrin. These observations indicate that platelets enhance the release of iron from transferrin by adenine nucleotide-dependent and -independent mechanisms. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that platelets promote oxidant-induced tissue injury at sights of inflammation secondary to their ability to enhance the local release of iron from transferrin.

In Vitro Uptake of SCH 27899 (Evernimicin) by Rat Alveolar Macrophages

ABSTRACT The in vitro uptake of [14C]evernimicin ([14C]SCH 27899) by primary cultures of rat alveolar macrophages and hepatocytes was determined. Both cell populations exhibited linear rates of uptake. However, the initial rate of drug uptake by alveolar macrophages was about threefold higher than that by hepatocytes. These findings demonstrate that [14C]evernimicin is taken up by rat alveolar macrophages, supporting the likelihood that the drug is able to reach sites of infection.