Kenneth J. Pennline

The inhibitory effects of topically active glucocorticoids on IL-4, IL-5, and interferon-γ production by cultured primary CD4+ T cells

This study was conducted to directly compare the in vitro efficacy and potency of several glucocorticoids in inhibiting T-cell cytokine production. The glucocorticoids tested were fluticasone propionate, budesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, and beclomethasone dipropionate, which are currently inhaled therapies for the treatment of allergic airway disease. Also used were betamethasone phosphate and the newly developed mometasone furorate. With a novel cell culture system, purified peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from normal donors were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 and soluble anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies to induce high levels of IL-4, IL-5, and interferon-gamma. By cell sorting, it was found that the IL-5 produced originated from memory cells, whereas both memory and naive cells produced interferon-gamma. Mometasone and fluticasone inhibited IL-5 and IL-4 similarly (mometasone IL-5 inhibitory concentration of 50% = 0.27 +/- 0.1 nmol/L and IL-4 = 0.19 +/- 0.08 nmol/L). For both cytokines, the results indicate that mometasone and fluticasone were more potent than beclomethasone, triamcinolone, budesonide, and betamethasone. Of clinical importance is the finding that all steroids demonstrated less efficacy versus interferon-gamma than IL-4 and IL-5. Glucocorticoid reduction of Th2 cytokines with lesser effects on interferon-gamma would serve to reverse the exaggerated Th2 response that contributes to pathophysiology observed in allergic disease. Therefore the use of topically active glucocorticoids with low systemic bioactivity for the treatment of allergic inflammation may be particularly effective in modulating the cytokine activity that is an important component of the allergic response.

Cytokine gene expression in mice undergoing chronic graft-versus-host disease☆

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can be induced in B6D2F1 mice by injection of parental DBA/2 lymphoid cells. Stimulation of donor T cells by host MHC antigens leads to the stimulation of host B cells. Little is known of the lymphokines produced during such a reaction. This study was designed to directly measure the levels of mRNA for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10, as well as several other genes, using semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Semiquantitative PCR was reproducible and signals generated were dependent on the amount of specific RNA or cDNA in each reaction. Early during the progression of GVHD (2 days after the first injection of parental cells) there was little increase in IL-10 mRNA, a slight increase in IL-4 mRNA, and a dramatic increase in IL-2 mRNA. In addition, IL-2 bioactivity was demonstrated in supernatants from GVH splenocytes cultured in vitro for 24 h. Later in the response (1 week after the second and final injection of parental cells) IL-4 mRNA levels were elevated as they were earlier while IL-10 mRNA levels were dramatically increased. IL-2 mRNA levels were no different in mice undergoing GVHD than in normal mice at this time. IFN-gamma mRNA was detectable both early and late, although at similar levels in normal mice and mice undergoing GVHD. At both times examined, IL-4 was below the limits of detection by bioassay and IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were below the limits of detection by ELISA. Further studies showed that a majority of the IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA found elevated in GVH mice were produced by Thy1.2+ T cells, with small amounts from B220+ B cells. In addition, the detectable IFN-gamma mRNA found in GVH mice at this later time also was produced by Thy1.2+ T cells, with small amounts from B220+ B cells.

ALLO-7: A new fluorescent tandem dye for use in flow cytometry

This report describes the development of a novel tandem dye by combining allophycocyanine (APC) and cyanine dye indotricarbocyanine (CY7) to create ALLO-7 for use in flow cytometry. The APC donor fluorophore was excited at 647 nm and, through resonance energy transfer to the CY7 acceptor, produced fluorescence at > 780 nm. To test the applicability of this tandem in single and multicolor immunofluorescence, a streptavidin conjugate of the tandem (SA-ALLO-7) was used for the detection of cell surface antigens on human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) by indirect immunofluorescence. Human PBL were stained with CD4/ GaM-APC, CD3-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), CD14-phycoerythrin (PE), CD19-energy-coupled dye (phycoerythrin-Texas Red) (ECD), and CD8-biotin with SA-ALLO-7 and analyzed for fluorescence on a FACS Vantage using dual-laser excitation (488 and 647 nm). The results indicated that the percentage of cells positive for each of the surface antigens was comparable for single-color controls and multicolor samples. The ALLO-7 fluorescence, which was collected with a 730-shortpass dichroic mirror and a 790/50-bandpass filter, was clearly resolved from the APC fluorescence and that from FITC, PE, and ECD. The SA-ALLO-7 exhibited minimal nonspecific binding to PBL monocytes. However, the specific binding of the tandem to high-density antigens was clearly identified by positive fluorescence. This unique tandem reagent, ALLO-7, provided the capability for dual-color immunofluorescence with a 647-nm laser line (or a helium neon laser at 633 nm) and provides the potential to perform three-color analysis with a dye-head laser (Texas Red, APC, ALLO-7).

Tracking of murine spleen cells in vivo: detection of PKH26-labeled cells in the pancreas of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice.

Flow cytometry was used to track the in vivo migration of PKH26-labeled donor spleen cells from diabetic NOD mice that were injected into non-diabetic recipient NOD mice. Flow cytometric analysis of recipient mouse tissues revealed that the donor cells were present in the peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes 24 h following injection and could still be detected after 28 days. PKH26(+) cells were also detectable in the pancreas 7 days after injection. Phenotypic analysis of the PKH26(+) cells that migrated into these target organs and tissues showed that the major cell population detected was Thy1.2(+) T-lymphocytes, predominantly the Thy1.2(+)/L3T4(+) subpopulation, but Thy1.2(+)/Lyt2(+) cells as well as B220(+) cells (B lymphocytes) were also present.

Inhibitory effects of recombinant human interleukin 10 on disease manifestations in a P-->F1 model of acute graft versus host disease.

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with both antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. In the present study, we have examined the effects of recombinant human IL-10 (rHuIL-10) on the development of acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) in unirradiated (C57B1/6JxA/J) F1 recipients of parental A/J lymphocytes. rHuIL-10 (2.5 to 100 micrograms/mouse administered subcutaneously) caused a significant reduction in splenomegaly in GVH mice. GVH splenocytes exhibited an augmented capacity to produce IFN-gamma when stimulated in culture with Con A or LPS. The IFN gamma produced in response to LPS stimulation was found to be derived from CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with little or no contribution from the NK1.1+ subpopulation of the GVH spleen. Treatment with IL-10 in vivo was found to diminish the capacity of splenocytes to produce IFN gamma when stimulated with LPS but not with Con A. IL-10 did not protect GVH mice from a lethal dose of LPS but caused a marked reduction in the serum TNF alpha response triggered by the LPS challenge. We conclude that IL-10 may be useful in controlling those clinical manifestations of acute GVHD that arise as a result of the activities of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN gamma and TNF alpha.

Effects of single intravenous doses of recombinant human interleukin-10 on subsets of circulating leukocytes in humans

Recombinant human interleukin-10 (rhIL-10) is a potent and specific immunomodulatory agent which inhibits endotoxin-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production by monocytes, blocks T-lymphocyte activation by antigen presenting cells, and modulates T(H)1/T(H)2 balance in immune responses. In previous clinical trials, rhIL-10 administered to healthy volunteers induced rapid and transient elevations of neutrophil and monocyte counts and reductions of lymphocyte counts in addition to suppression of endotoxin-stimulated whole blood cytokine synthesis. We sought to better characterize the effects of rhIL-10 on immunophenotypically defined subsets of circulating leukocytes that could be relevant to its immunomodulatory effects. Healthy volunteers were given single doses of 10 microg/kg rhIL-10 (n = 8) or equivalent placebo (n = 4) by intravenous injection. Significant changes of circulating leukocytes included transiently increased neutrophils and monocytes with parallel increases of CD33+ and CD14+ cells. Total lymphocytes as well as total CD3+, CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD8+ cells transiently decreased. Mean fluorescence intensity of CD11a (integrin alpha-chain subunit of lymphocyte function antigen-1, LFA-1) on lymphocytes transiently but significantly decreased, suggesting a mechanism for transient alteration of lymphocyte trafficking. In addition, mean fluorescence intensity of HLA-DR (major histocompatibility class II) on CD14+ cells (predominantly monocytes) transiently but significantly decreased, implying a possible alteration of antigen presenting function. Further study will be required to elucidate the immunomodulatory roles and potential clinical significance of these hematologic changes in therapeutic trials of rhIL-10 in patients with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Inhibition of collagen II-induced arthritis in mice--a comparison of the effects of Sch 24937, immunosuppressants and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on the clinical expression of disease.

Previous studies from this laboratory have described Sch 24937 as a potent immunosuppressive agent that is particularly effective in suppressing humoral immune responses in mice. These findings prompted an evaluation of the effects of Sch 24937 in type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice where disease manifestations include the development of a strong humoral response to the collagen antigen. Sch 24937 reduced the incidence and severity of arthritis in collagen sensitized mice which appeared to be directly related to the immunosuppressive properties of the drug. However in contrast to the steroid betamethasone which also exhibited immunosuppressive activity, Sch 24937 did not prevent the changes occurring in the lymphocyte population of the draining lymph nodes of mice immunized with type II collagen. While the exact mechanism of the immunosuppressive activity of Sch 24937 remains to be elucidated, its mode of action in suppressing arthritis differs at least to some extent from that of a steroid.

Inhibition of graft-vs-host induced immunodeficiency with immunosuppressive therapy

The pathologic features of the acute graft-vs-host disease occurring in unirradiated (C57Bl/6 X A/J)F1 mice injected intravenously with lymphocytes from the C57Bl/6 parent are similar to those reported for other parental----F1 hybrid combinations. When stimulated in culture with concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharide or alloantigen, spleen cells from B6AF1 mice that had been injected 11 days previously with B6 lymphocytes exhibited proliferative responses that were drastically reduced in comparison to the responses of spleen cells from F1 hosts injected with syngeneic lymphocytes. IL2 production in GVH spleen cell cultures was also diminished. Proliferative responses and IL2 production were partially restored in mice given immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine, cyclosporin A or Sch 24937 a drug whose inhibitory effects on cellular and humoral immune responses in mice have recently been described. Phenotypic analyses by flow cytometry of the GVH splenocyte population indicated that the most consistent change in the GVH spleen was the appearance of an Lyt2+ L3T4+ T cell subset which in the majority of experiments was accompanied by an increase in cells expressing only the Lyt2 antigen. Both subpopulations were reduced in mice that had recovered immunological responsiveness following immunosuppressive therapy. The results suggest that in this GVH model the development of an immunodeficient state is directly related to the induction of an active T suppressor cell population and that such cells are effectively eliminated from the splenocyte population following treatment with some immunosuppressive drugs.