Interactions between interferon gamma and retinoic acid with transforming growth factor beta in the induction of immune recognition molecules

The cell-surface expression of major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens and the adhesion molecule intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is essential for target cell recognition by T lymphocytes. The expression of both classes of molecule is induced by various cytokines, notably interferon gamma (IFN gamma). Since transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) has been recently reported to antagonise HLA-DR induction by IFN gamma we have examined, using a number of murine and human cell lines, the effect of TGF beta on IFN gamma-induced MHC class I and class II and ICAM-1 expression. All of the cell lines tested expressed elevated class I MHC following IFN gamma treatment. Class II MHC induction was seen on most but not all of the cells, the exceptions being among a panel of human colorectal carcinoma cell lines. A striking difference between cells of different origin was noted in the response to TGF beta. TGF beta was found to antagonise IFN gamma-induced class I and class II MHC expression on C3H 10T1/2 murine fibroblasts, early-passage BALB/c mouse embryo fibroblasts, a murine oligodendroglioma cell line, and on MRC5 human fibroblasts and two human glioblastoma cell lines. Class II MHC was much more strongly inhibited (sometimes completely) than class I MHC. TGF beta also inhibited induction of class I MHC expression by IFN alpha. However, TGF beta did not inhibit class I or class II MHC induction by IFN gamma in any of the nine colorectal carcinoma cell lines, although two of five of the lines tested were growth-inhibited by TGF beta. On the other hand, human ICAM-1 induction by IFN gamma was not affected by simultaneous treatment with TGF beta in any of the cell lines. The down-regulation of IFN gamma-induced MHC antigens by TGF beta is not, therefore, the result of a general antagonism of IFN gamma. Retinoic acid has recently been reported to induce ICAM-1 expression on human tumour cells. We have confirmed this observation on MRC5, and the two human glioblastoma cell lines, however six colorectal carcinoma cell lines tested did not respond. In contrast to IFN gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression, retinoic-acid-induced ICAM-1 expression was inhibited by TGF beta on two of the three responsive lines.

Enhanced susceptibility of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum-treated K562 cells to lysis by peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphokine activated killer cells

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported that cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) exhibits various immunomodulating activities. The current study investigates the effect of CDDP on the susceptibility of K562 cells to lysis by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), natural killer (NK) cells, and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells.

METHODS

Cytotoxicity was determined by the 51Cr release assay.

RESULTS

Treatment of K562 cells with CDDP at 10 micrograms/ml or more for 3 hours or more enhanced their susceptibility to lysis by PBL. This CDDP-mediated enhancement of lysis was observed by PBL derived from healthy donors and from patients with urinary bladder tumor or with other malignant and nonmalignant urologic diseases. The CDDP-induced enhancement of K562 cell susceptibility to lysis by PBL also was observed when purified NK cells and LAK cells were used as effector cells. The CDDP analog, carboplatin, enhanced the susceptibility of K562 cells to lysis by PBL, but treatment with transdiamminedichloroplatinum (II) had no effect. Several experiments were done to investigate the mechanism of the enhanced susceptibility of CDDP-treated K562 cells to lysis by PBL. Treatment of K562 cells with CDDP had no effect on the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I, MHC Class II, neural cellular adhesion molecule, and leukocyte function antigen-1 on the tumor cells. The frequency of target cell conjugates to PBL was not changed by CDDP-treated K562 cells. Pretreatment of K562 cells with CDDP and lysosomotrophic agents (L-leucine-methyl-ester or chloroquine) abrogated their enhanced susceptibility to lysis by PBL. CDDP treatment of K562 cells did not augment their sensitivity to alpha-interferon, gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, or natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Treatment of effector cells with CDDP had no effect on their cytotoxic function.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that CDDP has a direct effect on the K562 target cells, rendering them more susceptible to lysis by PBL, NK cells, and LAK cells. In addition, the result suggest that CDDP-mediated enhancement of target cell lysis is not attributable to changes of surface membrane antigen expression or recruitment of precursor cells but to processing of CDDP by the cells. The possible mechanisms of the effect of CDDP on K562 cells and clinical implications are discussed.

Prognostic significance of a formalin-resistant nuclear proliferation antigen in mammary carcinomas as determined by the monoclonal antibody Ki-S1

Proliferative activity is a potential prognostic indicator of neoplastic cell growth. Usually the assessment of the tumor growth fraction requires specially processed or frozen tissue. We have raised a monoclonal antibody, Ki-S1, suitable for the detection of proliferating cells in routinely processed and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. A retrospective study was conducted on 83 mammary carcinoma patients with a median follow-up of 45.6 months. Ki-S1 positivity was significantly (P < 0.0001) correlated with the S-phase fraction. A high proliferative activity of more than 30% of tumor cells being Ki-S1-positive was significantly correlated with recurrence (P < 0.001). Cumulative survival was significantly reduced in the high Ki-S1 expressing subgroup. In a multivariate model including Ki-S1, lymph node metastases, tumor size, and progesterone receptor positivity, independent significant information was provided by Ki-S1. We conclude that in mammary carcinomas, Ki-S1-determined growth fraction represents a significant and independent prognostic predictor.

Effects of interferon gamma on the proliferation and modulation of cell-surface structures of human ovarian carcinoma cell lines

Platinum-containing regimens are very effective in the primary treatment of ovarian cancer. However, upon subsequent treatment most tumors develop multidrug resistance. The clinical application of biological response modifiers like interferon gamma (IFN gamma) in advanced ovarian cancer is therefore of increasing interest. Permanent ovarian cancer cell lines are suitable for investigating the mode of action and the potential clinical effectiveness of such response modifiers. IFN gamma is known to modulate many cellular functions. In this study it was compared for its antiproliferative and antigen-modulatory activity on the expression of tumor-associated (CA-125, HMFG, CEA) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigens as well as of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor on 20 newly established human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. IFN gamma in concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 U/ml was used to study its antigen-modulatory effect, and at additional 1 U/ml and 1000 U/ml to assess its antiproliferative effect on the cells. The cells were incubated with IFN for 4 days. Two cell lines showed strong antiproliferative activity even at minimal doses (up to 50 U/ml). Intermediate growth inhibition between 34% and 84% was observed in 15 cell lines with higher doses. Three lines were resistant to IFN gamma. Independent of the antiproliferative effect, IFN gamma enhanced the expression of MHC class I and MHC class II in nearly all cell lines. Upregulation was also observed for most of the tumor-associated antigens (TAA) and EGF receptor expression. A down-regulation was noticed but rarely. The fact that IFN gamma showed an antiproliferative activity on the majority of the cell lines is of clinical relevance. The in vitro modulation of cell-surface determinants by IFN gamma warrants special attention. The enhanced expression of TAA and MHC antigens can improve immunogenicity of the tumor cells and may explain the therapeutic effects observed under IFN therapy in ovarian cancer. By contrast, enhanced expression of the EGF receptor, often associated with poor patient survival rates, may be an undesirable side-effect of IFN therapy.

Modulation of tumour associated antigen expressed on human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines by recombinant interferon-alpha

Our earlier studies have shown that monoclonal antibody (Mab) 3F8E3 generated against a head and neck cancer cell line LICR-LON-HN2 showed reactivity with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) irrespective of the tissue of origin and identified antigens on SCC cell lines AW 13516 and AW 8507. The affinity constants (Ka) for binding of Mab 3F8E3 to AW 13516 and AW 8507 cell lines were 6.2 x 10(8) and 4.3 x 10(8) mol/l and it identified 6.8 x 10(4) and 3.77 x 10(4) sites/cell, respectively, as determined by Scatchard analysis. Treatment of both the cell lines with recombinant human interferon-alpha (rHu-IFN alpha) increased the binding affinity of the Mab but did not increase the number of binding sites on the SCC cell lines. Shedding of antigen recognised by the Mab in the culture supernatant of the cell lines was reduced after rHu-IFN alpha treatment. The results suggest that rHu-IFN alpha may bring about a firm anchorage of the tumour associated antigen on the SCC cells. Cells modulated with rHu-IFN alpha may serve as better targets for assessing cell mediated as well as Mab mediated cytotoxicity in oral cancer patients.

N-(4'-hydroxyphenylacetyl)palytoxin: a palytoxin prodrug that can be activated by a monoclonal antibody-penicillin G amidase conjugate

Palytoxin (PTX), one of the most toxic nonprotein molecules known, is cytotoxic at picomolar concentrations against a wide variety of cell types. In contrast to most cytotoxins, PTX exerts its activity extracellularly. A method for targeting PTX to tumor cells is described in which a monoclonal antibody-enzyme conjugate activates a PTX prodrug at surfaces of tumor cells. The prodrug, N-(4'-hydroxyphenylacetyl)palytoxin (NHPAP), was prepared by reacting PTX with an active ester of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. NHPAP was 1000 times less toxic than PTX to a panel of carcinoma and lymphoma cell lines. The cytotoxic activity of the combination of penicillin G amidase from Escherichia coli with NHPAP was equal to PTX. Two cell lines that were multidrug resistant showed no enhanced resistance to NHPAP +/- penicillin G amidase. Immunologically specific activation of NHPAP took place when H2981 cells (L6 antigen positive) were treated with the monoclonal antibody conjugate L6-penicillin G amidase followed by NHPAP. This system is distinguished from other prodrug activation schemes, since the released drug exerts its activity extracellularly, has high potency, and may be able to overcome the multidrug resistant phenotype.

Enhancement of tumor cell susceptibility to lymphokine-activated killer cells by treatment with the streptococcal preparation OK432

We investigated whether tumor cell lysis by LAK cells was augmented by treatment with OK432 in vitro. NK and LAK activity against K562 cells was not enhanced by their treatment with OK432. In contrast, the susceptibility of OK432-treated Daudi and KATO-III cells to lysis by LAK cells was enhanced. Succinate dehydrogenase activity and RNA synthesis were impaired in Daudi and KATO-III cells by treatment with OK432, and moreover the expression of HLA Class I antigen and beta 2-microglobulin was inhibited in OK432-treated KATO-III cells. Thus, it is suggested that the enhancement of the susceptibility of OK432-treated tumor cells with regard to succinate dehydrogenase activity, RNA synthesis, and HLA Class I antigen expression.

Modulation by interferon alpha and gamma of the expression of a melanoma-associated antigen detected by autologous antibody

Interferons (IFN) are known to alter the expression of histocompatibility and tumour-associated antigens. We have reported the isolation and purification of a 66-kD melanoma-associated antigen (MAA) that is recognized by the host. Competitive binding with MAA reduced autologous antibody binding to five melanoma cell lines, suggesting that a similar antigen is detected by other patients with melanoma. Nine melanoma cell lines were incubated for 3 days with 0.01-100 units/ml of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) or interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and the maximum titre of autologous antibody reactivity was determined by protein A haemadsorption. Incubation with IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma resulted in a decrease in maximum titre of autologous antibody reactivity directed against all melanoma cell lines. A 3-day incubation of three melanoma cell lines with IFN-gamma augmented the expression of HLA-DR, as has been reported by others. Incubation with spent media from autologous melanoma cells exposed to IFN-alpha inhibited autologous antibody binding less than control media from melanoma cells to which no IFN was added, indicative of decreased production or internalization of MAA. Conversely, incubation with spent media obtained after exposure to IFN-gamma inhibited autologous antibody binding to a greater degree than control spent media, consistent with increased shedding of antigen. These results suggest that IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma down-regulate the expression of MAA detected by autologous antibody by different mechanisms of action.

N-methylformamide effects on cell proliferation and antigenic pattern in HT-29 colon carcinoma cell line

The effects of the differentiating agent N-methylformamide (NMF) on cell proliferation and antigenic pattern of HT-29 colon carcinoma cells have been investigated. The cell line was cultured in the presence, or absence, of 1% NMF and tested for the above mentioned characteristics, both in vitro and after injection into nude mice. The percentage of cells in the various cell cycle compartments was estimated by flow cytometry. The presentation on the cell surface of molecules such as tumour associated antigens (TAAs), HLA class I molecules and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) was analysed by ELISA, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results demonstrate that NMF impairs HT-29 cell proliferation with a remarkable accumulation in the G0/G1 phases, as well as inducing a modification of the membrane antigenic pattern. The presence of NMF in the culture medium decreases the TAAs and EGF-R whereas HLA antigen maintains the same level of positivity in the two cell lines. These alterations are consistent with a different behaviour in vivo of the tumours originated from NMF treated and untreated cells. Tumours derived from NMF treated cells show a delay in the appearance and low levels of immunodetectable carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) molecules.

Cytotoxic in vitro function in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma before and after alpha-2b-interferon therapy. Effects of activation with recombinant interleukin-2

In this study the characteristics of the cytotoxic function in a series of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were analyzed and the possibility of modulating this capacity in vitro with the use of biologic response modifiers (BMR) such as alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was verified, with the ultimate goal of providing a rationale for a therapeutic approach to this disease with these molecules. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with advanced RCC were tested for natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity both before and after alpha-IFN therapy. In addition, surface markers of unstimulated and stimulated cells were analyzed and in vitro assays were performed to determine the proliferative capacity in response to the stimulus with rIL-2. During an evaluation before treatment, defective NK activity was observed that could be corrected by incubating the cells with rIL-2. In these subjects, LAK cells could be consistently generated after PBMC were activated with this cytokine in vitro. No changes in NK and LAK activity were found after alpha-IFN therapy. In contrast, treatment with alpha-IFN affected the proliferative response of PBMC to rIL-2, and a significant decrease in this in vitro capacity was observed during follow-up. The ability to restore NK activity and obtain an adequate LAK cytotoxicity from the PBMC of patients with RCC supports a therapeutic approach with BRM. However, the fact that this type of treatment affects the proliferative response of PBMC to rIL-2 must be considered when clinical trials are designed for patients with RCC.

Intraperitoneal administration of interferon-gamma to carcinoma patients enhances expression of tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 and carcinoembryonic antigen on malignant ascites cells

PURPOSE

The study was designed to determine whether in vivo interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) administration could enhance tumor antigen expression on the surface of human tumor cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight patients (six with ovarian and two with gastrointestinal tumors) with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with secondary malignant ascites were given weekly escalating doses of IFN-gamma (ie, 0.1 to 100 MU) intraperitoneally (IP) each week for 8 weeks. Tumor cells were isolated from the patients' ascites samples, which were collected three times per week: before and 24 and 48 hours post-IFN-gamma administration. The level of expression of tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was measured using flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

IFN-gamma administered IP dramatically increased TAG-72 (as measured by binding of anti-TAG-72 monoclonal antibodies [MoAbs] B72.3 and CC 49) and CEA (measured by MoAb COL-1) expression on the surface of the carcinoma cells. The ascites-derived tumor cells from seven of the eight patients constitutively expressed TAG-72, and the level of TAG-72 expression was increased by IFN-gamma in all seven patients, as evidenced by the enhanced binding of anti-TAG-72 MoAbs to the tumor-cell surface. In some cases, IFN-gamma treatment increased the percentage of MoAb B72.3-reactive tumor cells from 10% to greater than 90%, and those changes were further corroborated by similar increases in the MoAb staining intensity observed with immunoperoxidase analysis. In addition, ascites-derived tumor cells from two patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma also expressed enhanced CEA levels after IFN-gamma. The increased TAG-72 and CEA expression were observed at low IFN-gamma doses (ie, 0.1 to 1.0 MU), which were well tolerated by all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability of IFN-gamma given IP to increase TAG-72 and CEA expression on tumor cells in vivo provides additional argument for the use of the cytokine as an adjuvant to enhance MoAb binding to human carcinoma-cell populations.

Divergent effects of cytokines on human leukocyte antigen-DR antigen expression of neoplastic and non-neoplastic human thyroid cells

Apparently complex modulatory effects of alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been found in neoplastic human thyroid cells, which could possibly affect the final outcome in neoplastic disease. This was achieved by examining the influence of alpha-IFN, TNF, and EGF alone and in combination, on human leukocyte antigen-DR (DR) antigen expression and viability of neoplastic and non-neoplastic human thyroid cells in culture. alpha-IFN-induced DR antigen expression on non-neoplastic human thyroid cells, whereas TNF-alpha or EGF alone were ineffective. The addition of the same TNF-alpha concentrations (10 to 100 ng/ml) to alpha-IFN enhanced the expression of DR antigens compared with the effect of alpha-IFN alone. However, EGF inhibited alpha-IFN-induced DR on the same cells and at the same concentrations (10 to 500 ng/ml) at which the growth factor alone was ineffective. In contrast to the common pattern of cytokine effects on DR expression of all nonmalignant thyroid cell lines, neoplastic thyroid cell lines showed divergent responses to alpha-IFN, TNF-alpha, and EGF. In three malignant thyroid cell lines that were DR negative (follicular carcinoma WRO 82-1 and NRO 87-1 cell lines, and anaplastic carcinoma ARO 81-1), DR antigen could be induced by alpha-IFN and enhanced by TNF-alpha, whereas EGF was ineffective. In a fourth cell line (an anaplastic carcinoma SW1736) alpha-IFN, TNF-alpha, and EGF alone were capable of inducing DR, and a combination of either TNF-alpha and EGF with alpha-IFN potentiated DR induction. In a fifth neoplastic cell line (papillary carcinoma, NPA) that constitutively expressed surface DR, its expression was inhibited by both alpha-IFN and TNF-alpha and was not affected by EGF.

Androgen effect on prostate specific antigen secretion

Prolonged parenteral androgen therapy for 1 year resulted in the hypersecretion of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in a patient with no clinical evidence of prostate carcinoma, who had been treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES) for 9 years. The PSA level declined to normal values upon temporary discontinuation of androgen therapy and increased again upon resumption of treatment. This case seems to confirm the regulatory effect of androgens of PSA secretion and to suggest a possible "rebound" elevation of PSA in patients with androgen deprivation treated with testosterone replacement. The estrogen suppressed prostatic epithelial cells were able to respond to androgen stimulation with a steady increase in the PSA secretion and positive immunohistochemical PSA staining.

Modulation of ovarian carcinoma OV632 antigen by interferons

Interferons are known to modulate several cellular functions by the induction of different proteins. In our study interferon-gamma and -alpha augmented presentation of one specific ovarian cancer antigen recognized by the antibody OV632 on the cell surface on one of four ovarian carcinoma cell lines in vitro (HTB-77). The interferon-gamma effect reached a maximum after 24 of treatment. Both HLA-DR and OV632 antigen expression were increased by interferon-gamma on HTB-77 cells whereas the two cell lines OVCAR-3 and 2780, which respond to an interferon-gamma treatment with a reduced proliferation and induction of HLA-DR, and also the interferon-resistant CRL-1572 were found to be resistant regarding OV632 epitope modulation. The demonstration of OV632 expression provides an important insight into the potential regulatory mechanism governing this tumor marker.