GM-CSF and phorbol esters modulate GM-CSF receptor expression by independent mechanisms

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of proteins in cytokine signaling in hematopoiesis

The members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of proteins play important roles in signaling for various growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. Extensive work over the years has led to the identification of three major groups of PKC isoforms. These include the classic PKCs (PKCalpha, PKCbeta(I), PKCbeta(II), PKCgamma), the novel PKCs (PKCdelta, PKCepsilon, PKCeta, PKCmu, PKCtheta), and the atypical PKCs (PKCzeta, PKCiota/lambda). All these PKC subtypes have been shown to participate in the generation of signals for important cellular processes and to mediate diverse and, in some cases, opposing biologic responses. There is emerging evidence that these kinases also play key functional roles in the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis, and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. In this review, both the engagement of the various PKC members in cytokine and growth factor signaling and their role in the regulation of hematopoiesis are discussed.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and inflammatory stimuli up-regulate secretion of the soluble GM-CSF receptor in human monocytes: evidence for ectodomain shedding of the cell surface GM-CSF receptor alpha subunit

Soluble GM-CSF receptor alpha subunit (sGMRalpha) is a soluble isoform of the GMRalpha that is believed to arise exclusively through alternative splicing of the GMRalpha gene product. The sGMRalpha mRNA is expressed in a variety of tissues, but it is not clear which cells are capable of secreting the protein. We show here that normal human monocytes, but not lymphocytes, constitutively secrete sGMRalpha. Stimulation of monocytes with GM-CSF, LPS, PMA, or A23187 rapidly up-regulates the secretion of sGMRalpha in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating that secretion is also regulated. To determine whether sGMRalpha arose exclusively through alternative splicing of the GMRalpha gene product, or whether it could also be generated through ectodomain shedding of GMRalpha, we engineered a murine pro-B cell line (Ba/F3) to express exclusively the cDNA for cell surface GMRalpha (Ba/F3.GMRalpha). The Ba/F3.GMRalpha cell line, but not the parental Ba/F3 cell line, constitutively shed a sGMRalpha-like protein that bound specifically to GM-CSF, was equivalent in size to recombinant alternatively spliced sGMRalpha (60 kDa), and was recognized specifically by a mAb raised against the ectodomain of GMRalpha. Furthermore, a broad-spectrum metalloprotease inhibitor (BB94) reduced constitutive and PMA-, A23187-, and LPS-induced secretion of sGMRalpha by monocytes, suggesting that shedding of GMRalpha by monocytes may be mediated in part through the activity of metalloproteases. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that sGMRalpha is constitutively secreted by monocytes, that GM-CSF and inflammatory mediators up-regulate sGMRalpha secretion, and that sGMRalpha arises not only through alternative splicing but also through ectodomain shedding of cell surface GMRalpha.

Differential expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-3 receptor subunits on human CD34+ cells and leukemic cell lines

Cytokines transduce their signals through specific receptors. Receptors for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-3, and IL-5 share the common signal transducing subunit (beta c), whereas the alpha subunits function as specific ligand binding components. In this study we prepared specific mouse monoclonal antibodies against human GM-CSF receptor-alpha subunit (hGMR alpha) by immunizing mice with Ba/F3 cells transfected with hGMR alpha complementary DNA. Using these anti-hGMR alpha antibodies in combination with antibodies against IL-3 receptor-alpha (IL-3R alpha), beta c subunits, and c-kit, we examined expression patterns and modulation of these receptor subunits on several human hematopoietic cells, including CD34+ cells and leukemic cell lines. GMR alpha and IL-3R alpha were expressed on GM-CSF- and IL-3-responsive cell lines, such as TF-1 and UT-7, whereas the expression levels were much lower on UT-7E, a GM-CSF- and IL-3-unresponsive subline of UT-7. The GMR alpha subunit was expressed only on mature granulocytes and monocytes, and IL-3R alpha was expressed on monocytes but not on mature granulocytes, and none of these subunits were expressed on lymphocytes. For CD34+ cells, GMR alpha was expressed more abundantly on CD34+ CD33high cells than on CD34+ CD33low cells, whereas IL-3R alpha was expressed more abundantly on CD34+ CD33low cells than on CD34+ CD33high and CD34+ CD33neg cells. Slight but significant expression of the beta c subunit was detected on CD34+ cells. Expression of not only GMR alpha and IL-3R alpha subunits but also c-kit was specifically downregulated by 48-hour incubation with their respective ligands. Receptor transmodulation between GM-CSF, IL-3, and stem cell factor (or kit ligand) was not detected on CD34+ cells in 48-hour cultures. We also detected upregulation of these alpha subunits by IL-1 alpha and interferon-gamma on leukemic cell lines. Our study showed expression levels for each receptor subunit--including GMR, IL-3R, and c-kit on human bone marrow and peripheral blood cells and leukemic cell lines--and revealed differential regulation of the expression of the receptor subunits.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor production in human growth factor dependent M-07e cells

To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production in human myeloid leukaemic cells we studied GM-CSF gene transcription, mRNA expression and GM-CSF secretion in human growth factor dependent M-07e cells. GM-CSF transcript was detected in cells cultured in the presence of interleukin-3 (IL-3). GM-CSF or mast cell growth factor (MGF), whereas it was undetectable in growth factor deprived cells. Growth factor re-addition induced, within 2 h, the appearance of GM-CSF mRNA. Nuclear run-on experiments demonstrated that the increase of GM-CSF mRNA levels depends on GM-CSF gene transcription. The simultaneous addition, to deprived cells, of the growth factor, and of cycloheximide (CHX) for 2 h inhibited GM-CSF mRNA expression, suggesting the requirement for newly made proteins for GM-CSF gene transcription. By means of the M-07e bioassay, which allows the detection of GM-CSF, IL-3 and MGF activities, and neutralizing antibodies to each of these factors, GM-CSF activity was detected in the cell-free extract of both IL-3- and MGF-sustained cells and of cells deprived for 24 h. This finding demonstrates that M-07e cells produce and store biologically active GM-CSF in response to both IL-3 and MGF. In contrast, analysis of the growth stimulatory activity present in the culture supernatants revealed that MGF, unlike IL-3, is able to induce the secretion of consistent amounts of GM-CSF. Taken together, our results suggest that, in M-07e cells, GM-CSF gene transcription and GM-CSF production are mediated, unlike its secretion, by mechanisms shared by IL-3 and MGF.

Deregulation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor in murine macrophage cell line J774A.1

J774A.1 immortalized macrophage tumor cells display several phenotypes and functional capacities similar to that of murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM). Both populations display comparable number of M-CSF receptors. Yet the number of GM-CSF receptors on J774A.1 cells is only one-fourth that of PEM (1,500 vs. 6,000 per cell). Unlike J774A.1 cells, which constitutively express c-myc transcripts, normal PEM required rMuGM-CSF for the induction of c-myc expression. Nevertheless, the growth of J774A.1 cells can be further enhanced in the presence of exogenous rMuGM-CSF, rHuM-CSF, and rMuIL-3. Treatment with either rMuIL-3 (20 ng/ml) and rHuTGF-beta 1 (1.0 ng/ml) for 24 hr at 37 degrees C, markedly enhanced the expression of GM-CSF receptors on normal PEM but not leukemic J774A.1 cells. J774A.1 cells also did not respond by autologous upregulation of GM-CSF receptors as seen in PEM following treatment with rMuGM-CSF. Treatment with either pertussis toxin (20-100 ng/ml) or H-8 (50 microM) for 24 hr led to an enhanced expression of GM-CSF receptors on J774A.1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner but did not result in enhanced receptor expression on normal PEM. These findings suggest that the expression of GM-CSF receptors may be regulated by mechanisms involving Gi-proteins and their downstream elements, which in turn are linked to regulatory pathways of other cytokine receptors. In J774A.1 cells, such regulatory interaction may not exist.

Haemopoietic stem cell development to neutrophils is associated with subcellular redistribution and differential expression of protein kinase C subspecies

Multipotential FDCP-Mix A4 (A4) cells can be induced either to self-renew or to differentiate and develop into mature neutrophils in liquid culture, depending on the haemopoietic growth factors with which they are cultured. When cultured in low concentrations of interleukin 3 (IL-3, 1 unit/ml)) plus Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and Granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF), A4 cells proliferate with accompanying development to form cells which resemble mature, postmitotic neutrophils. The presence of high concentrations of IL-3 (100 units/ml) blocks the development of A4 cells even in the presence of GM-CSF plus G-CSF. A4 cell development to neutrophils is accompanied by major changes in the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) subspecies in these cells. The predominant subspecies present in multipotent A4 cells, as judged by direct chromatographic analysis, was the type III enzyme (alpha) subspecies, whereas in mature A4 cell neutrophils, the type II (beta I + beta II) enzymes were predominant. Phorbol esters added to immature A4 cells resulted in a proliferative response, but when added to postmitotic A4 cells resembling neutrophils they elicited a large increase in reactive oxygen intermediate production. This suggests that the type III (alpha) subspecies may mediate proliferative responses in stem cells, whilst the type II (beta I + beta II) enzymes are more important for the mature cell functions of postmitotic neutrophils. In cultures containing IL-3 (100 units/ml) both the type III, and also the type II subspecies were predominantly membrane-associated for prolonged periods (> 24 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The biology of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: effects on hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is one of a family of glycoprotein cytokines that have potent effects in stimulating the proliferation, maturation, and function of hematopoietic cells. Deriving its name from its ability to stimulate the formation of macroscopic colonies containing neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, or mixtures of these cell types, GM-CSF stimulates the proliferation and maturation of myeloid progenitors, as well as functionally activating mature neutrophils, eosinophils, and macrophages. As most of the effects observed using GM-CSF in vitro have been shown to occur in vivo either in animal models or in human subjects, it is important to consider that GM-CSF may also exert some biological effects on nonhematopoietic cells. In response to immunologic stimuli, immunologic surveillance cells and cells of the microenvironment are capable of producing GM-CSF. In vitro experiments indicate that GM-CSF production is tightly regulated. In that regard, GM-CSF is not present in measurable quantities in normal serum, but little is known about the in vivo process of GM-CSF production and regulation. The biologic capabilities of GM-CSF have triggered its widespread clinical use in situations where hematopoiesis is compromised. GM-CSF can act as a potent growth factor in vivo, increasing the number and enhancing the function of hematopoietic progenitors and mature cells. However, the precise in vivo effect that GM-CSF may have on normal and neoplastic cells of nonhematopoietic origin remains undefined. The full range of GM-CSF bioactivity is mediated following binding to its receptor. The presence of specific receptors for GM-CSF has been demonstrated in all responsive cells of hematopoietic lineage, as well as in nonhematopoietic cells, both responsive and unresponsive. In conclusion, a large body of work from a number of laboratories has defined the biology of GM-CSF. Currently available reagents and technology will provide additional insights into the biology of this molecule, thereby expanding our present definition and allowing us to explore the mechanisms regulating hematopoiesis.

Hematopoietic growth factor receptors

The molecular cloning for most of the hematopoietic growth factor receptors has been achieved over the past few years and revealed that they can by assigned to two discrete receptor families, namely the hematopoietic growth factor superfamily (HRS) and the receptor tyrosine kinase family (RTK). The members of the HRS, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSF-R), interleukin 3 receptor (IL-3-R), granulocyte CSF receptor (G-CSF-R) and erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R), share a common binding domain and the absence of a tyrosine kinase domain in their cytoplasmic portion. In some cases (e.g., GM-CSF-R), the high-affinity receptor structure is obtained through the association of the low-affinity binding chain (alpha chain) with an accessory protein (beta chain). It is conceivable that this protein might also represent the common subunit shared by GM-CSF-R and by IL-3-R when they are co-expressed to form the putative GM-CSF-R/IL-3-R complex. Although tyrosine phosphorylation following ligand receptor activation seems to be a common event in the HRS, its role in the signal transduction mechanisms is unknown. Due to the structural analogies among the members of this family any new insight into one particular receptor member, such as its subunit structure and its signal transduction pathways, will be generalizable to the other family members. The subclass III of the RTK family, including the CSF-1-R and c-kit, is characterized by an additional insert into the kinase domain that recognizes and binds protein substrates. Ligand induced activation of the kinase domain and its signaling potential are mediated by receptor oligomerization which stabilizes interactions between adjacent cytoplasmic domains and leads to activation of kinase function by molecular interaction. Interestingly, the receptors included in this subclass are the products of well known cellular proto-oncogenes. A large variety of structural alteration found in receptor-derived oncogene products may lead to constitutive activation of receptor signals that, consequently, result in the subversion of the mechanisms controlling the cell growth.