Effects of lipid mediators on the synthesis of leukaemia inhibitory factor and interleukin 6 by human bone marrow stromal cells

mRNA levels of enzymes and receptors implicated in arachidonic acid metabolism in gliomas

BACKGROUND

Gliomas are tumors of the central nervous system derived from glial cells. They show cellular heterogeneity and lack specific diagnostic markers. Although a possible role for the eicosanoid cascade has been suggested in glioma tumorigenesis, the relationship between enzymes and receptors implicated in arachidonic acid metabolism, with histological tumor type has not yet been determined.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure and compare transcript levels of enzymes and receptors implicated in both lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways between oligodendrogliomas, astrocytomas, glioblastomas and mixed oligoastrocytomas.

RESULTS

Arachidonic acid metabolism-related enzymes and receptor transcripts (i) were underexpressed in classical oligodendrogliomas compared to astrocytomas and/or glioblastomas, (ii) differed between astrocytomas and glioblastomas and (iii) had an intermediate expression in mixed oligoastrocytomas.

CONCLUSIONS

mRNA levels of enzymes and receptors implicated both in lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways differed significantly in gliomas according to the histological type.

PAF-acetylhydrolase expressed during megakaryocyte differentiation inactivates PAF-like lipids

Platelet activating factor (PAF) and PAF-like lipids induce inflammatory responses in target cells. These lipid mediators are inactivated by PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). The PAF signaling system affects the growth of hematopoietic CD34(+) cells, but roles for PAF-AH in this process are unknown. Here, we investigated PAF-AH function during megakaryopoiesis and found that human CD34(+) cells accumulate this enzymatic activity as they differentiate toward megakaryocytes, consistent with the expression of mRNA and protein for the plasma PAF-AH isoform. Inhibition of endogenous PAF-AH activity in differentiated megakaryocytes increased formation of lipid mediators that signaled the PAF receptor (PAFR) in fully differentiated human cells such as neutrophils, as well as megakaryocytes themselves. PAF-AH also controlled megakaryocyte alpha(IIb)beta(3)-dependent adhesion, cell spreading, and mobility that relied on signaling through the PAFR. Together these data suggest that megakaryocytes generate PAF-AH to modulate the accumulation of intracellular phospholipid mediators that may detrimentally affect megakaryocyte development and function.

Platelet-activating factor and normal or leukaemic haematopoiesis

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid mediator with a wide range of actions on mature leukocytes, acts directly during early human haematopoiesis by affecting the growth of haematopoietic progenitors and indirectly, by modulating cytokine synthesis by bone marrow stromal cells. At this time, its role during leukaemic diseases remains speculative. The lack of membrane PAF receptor (PAF-R) on leukaemic blasts suggest that this receptor represents a marker of mature cells and its membrane induction a consequence of cell maturation. While the couple PAF/PAF-R has been largely studied using B cell lines, few results are available using B cells of patients with haematopoietic malignancies casting some doubts concerning the potential role (if any) of this molecule during leukaemic diseases.

The effect of cysteinyl leukotrienes on growth of eosinophil progenitors from peripheral blood and bone marrow of atopic subjects

BACKGROUND

The accumulation of eosinophils into the peripheral blood and airways of asthmatic subjects is, in part, dependent on cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs). However, the effect of cysLTs on peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil pro-genitor cells in allergic subjects is not known.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of leukotriene (LT) D(4) and LTE(4) and the cysLT(1) receptor antagonist montelukast on peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil-basophil progenitor growth and development in atopic subjects.

METHODS

Semisolid methylcellulose cultures for peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil-basophil colonies were counted after incubation with or without addition of LTD(4), LTE(4), and montelukast in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5.

RESULTS

Peripheral blood eosinophil-basophil colony-forming unit cultures grown in the presence of GM-CSF and bone marrow eosinophil-basophil colony-forming units grown in the presence of IL-5 were significantly increased by the addition of LTD(4) (0.1 micromol/L). This increase was suppressed by montelukast (1 micromol/L).

CONCLUSION

This study has demonstrated that the cysLT LTD(4) can stimulate proliferation of eosinophil hematopoietic progenitor cells in the presence of eosinophilopoietic cytokines. The suppressive effect by montelukast demonstrates that this is a cysLT(1) receptor-mediated effect.

Effect of cytokines and lipid mediators on the synthesis of interleukin 1 beta by human bone marrow stromal cells

This study investigates the production of interleukin (IL-)1beta by cultured human bone marrow stromal cells. RT-PCR experiments indicate that two-thirds of cultures constitutively express IL-1beta mRNA transcripts. Their cell-associated IL-1beta levels are elevated after stimulation with tumour necrosis factor (TNF-)alpha but not with cytokines such as IL-1alpha, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, SCF, G-CSF, M-CSF and TGF-beta or lipid mediators such as PGE2, LTB4, LXA4, LXB4, 12-HETE, 15-HETE and PAF. Addition of IL-4, but not IL-10 or TGF-beta, reduces the TNF-alpha-induced cell-associated IL-1beta. IL-1beta is never detected in bone marrow stromal cell supernatants whatever the stimulant added. In conclusion the pro-inflammatory molecule TNF-alpha stimulates bone marrow stromal cell-associated IL-1beta levels while the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 reduces the TNF-alpha-induced effect. These results strengthen the key regulatory role of IL-4 on the production of haematopoietic cytokines by human bone marrow stromal cells.

Effect of cytokines and growth factors on the macrophage colony-stimulating factor secretion by human bone marrow stromal cells

We have investigated the effect of growth factors, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines on the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) secretion by cultured human bone marrow stromal cells. Their production of M-CSF cultured in serum-free medium is enhanced in a time-dependent manner in response to tumour necrosis factor (TNF-)alpha and interleukin (IL-)4 but not to IL-1, IL-3, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, SCF, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), G-CSF, bFGF and transforming growth factor (TGF-)beta. The co-addition of IL-4 and TNF-alpha has a greater than additive effect on the secretion of M-CSF suggesting that they act synergistically. The anti-inflammatory molecules IL-10 and TGF-beta have no effect on the TNF-alpha-induced M-CSF synthesis by marrow stromal cells. In conclusion TNF-alpha and IL-4 are potent stimulators of the M-CSF synthesis by human bone marrow stromal cells, a result of importance regarding the role of M-CSF in the proliferation/differentiation of mononuclear-phagocytic cells and the role of marrow stromal cells as regulators of marrow haematopoiesis.

Differential stimulation by PGE(2) and calcemic hormones of IL-6 in stromal/osteoblastic cells

Formation of osteoclast-like cells in mouse bone marrow cultures induced by either 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)), parathyroid hormone (PTH) or prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), respectively, shows partial dependence on interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) activation. This suggests that locally produced IL-6 could be relevant for osteoclast formation. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3), PTH, and PGE(2) on IL-6 production in stromal/osteoblastic cell lines. It appeared that these bone resorptive factors differed widely in their ability to modulate IL-6 mRNA expression and, consequently, protein synthesis in each of the cell lines studied. While 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) was marginally effective only in ST2 cells, and PTH caused a 2- to 20-fold increase in IL-6 levels MC3T3-E1 and UMR-106 cells, PGE(2) enhanced IL-6 production in the ST2 and MC3T3-E1 cell line by two to three orders of magnitude, respectively, and also induced IL-6 in fibroblastic L929 cells. PGE(2)-stimulated IL-6 release from mesenchymal cells seems to be important for autocrine/paracrine control of osteoclast formation in health and disease.

Lipid mediators modulate the synthesis of interleukin 8 by human bone marrow stromal cells

Bone marrow stromal cells regulate marrow haematopoiesis by secreting interleukins (IL) such as IL-8. Lipid mediators modulate IL-8 synthesis in numerous cell types. We have investigated the effects of 5 lipid mediators (PAF, PGE(2), LTB(4), 12-HETE and 15-HETE) on the spontaneous and cytokine-induced IL-8 synthesis by human bone marrow stromal cells. By using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we demonstrate that these cells constitutively express IL-8 transcripts. By using a specific ELISA, we found that the production of IL-8 by marrow stromal cells is enhanced after stimulation with 12-HETE (1 microM) both in serum-free and serum-containing culture medium. LTB(4)(1 microM) enhances IL-8 production only in serum-supplemented medium. PAF, PGE(2)and 15-HETE (1 microM to 0.1 nM) have no effect on the spontaneous and serum-induced production of IL-8 by human bone marrow stromal cells. PGE(2)(1 microM or 10 nM) reduces marrow stromal cell IL-8 synthesis in response to IL-1alpha or TNF-alpha. In contrast, PAF, 12-HETE, 15-HETE and LTB(4)have no effect. In conclusion, various lipid mediators modulate the spontaneous, serum- or cytokine-induced IL-8 synthesis by bone marrow stromal cells, highlighting, for the first time, their potential role in the regulation of IL-8 production within the human bone marrow.

Prostaglandin E2 regulates macrophage colony stimulating factor secretion by human bone marrow stromal cells

Bone marrow stromal cells regulate marrow haematopoiesis by secreting growth factors such as macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) that regulates the proliferation, differentiation and several functions of cells of the mononuclear-phagocytic lineage. By using a specific ELISA we found that their constitutive secretion of M-CSF is enhanced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The lipid mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) markedly reduces in a time- and dose-dependent manner the constitutive and TNF-alpha-induced M-CSF synthesis by bone marrow stromal cells. In contrast, other lipid mediators such as 12-HETE, 15-HETE, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4 and lipoxin A4 have no effect. EP2/EP4 selective agonists (11-deoxy PGE1 and 1-OH PGE1) and EP2 agonist (19-OH PGE2) inhibit M-CSF synthesis by bone marrow stromal cells while an EP1/EP3 agonist (sulprostone) has no effect. Stimulation with PGE2 induces an increase of intracellular cAMP levels in bone marrow stromal cells. cAMP elevating agents (forskolin and cholera toxin) mimic the PGE2-induced inhibition of M-CSF production. In conclusion, PGE2 is a potent regulator of M-CSF production by human bone marrow stromal cells, its effects being mediated via cAMP and PGE receptor EP2/EP4 subtypes.

Arachidonic acid and freshly isolated human bone marrow mononuclear cells

Arachidonic acid (AA), a fatty acid found in the human bone marrow plasma, is the precursor of eicosanoids that modulate bone marrow haematopoiesis. To further our understanding of the role of AA in the bone marrow physiology, we have assessed its incorporation in human bone marrow mononuclear cells. Gas chromatography analysis indicates the presence of AA in their fatty acid composition. In bone marrow mononuclear cells, [3H]-AA is incorporated into triglycerides and is later delivered into phospholipids, a result not observed with blood mononuclear cells. Prelabelling-chase experiments indicate a trafficking of labelled AA from phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine. Stimulation of prelabelled bone marrow mononuclear cells with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) results in the release of a part of the incorporated labelled AA. Finally, exogenous AA (up to 1 microM) has no significant effect on cell growth. In conclusion, human bone marrow mononuclear cells participate to the control of marrow AA concentrations by incorporating AA into phospholipids and triglycerides. In turn, bone marrow mononuclear cells can release AA in response to the potent haematopoietic growth factor GM-CSF.