Interferon-induced antiviral actions in Friend leukemia cells: role of membrane gangliosides

Antigen presentation by specifically sensitized macrophages in interferon-gamma induction

Antigenic stimulation of specifically sensitized T lymphocytes to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production requires the presence of macrophages. This study examines the ability of peritoneal macrophages from immunized mice to present the antigen to antigen-specific lymphocytes. Such cells presented purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin at concentrations as low as 0.1 micrograms/ml to sensitized T lymphocytes. In contrast, peritoneal macrophages from unimmunized animals required 1,000-fold higher concentrations of antigen to stimulate the same lymphocytes. The presentation of low concentrations of antigen by macrophage from immunized animals was significantly blocked by anti-immunoglobulin antibody, indicating that the surface immunoglobulin receptors were critically involved in this phenomenon. These results suggest that surface immunoglobulins serve to focus antigens onto specific macrophages and that such cells are highly efficient at presenting linked antigenic determinants to T cells. The implication of these findings for the mechanism of IFN-gamma induction are discussed.

The role of gangliosides in the interaction of a growth inhibitor with mouse LM cells

We have isolated and characterized glycopeptides, derived from mouse and bovine cerebral cortex cells, that inhibit protein synthesis and cell growth of normal but not transformed cells. The inhibitor binds to target cell surfaces, and gangliosides have previously been shown to influence cell sensitivity to the glycopeptides. Preincubation with 3.0 micrograms/ml ganglioside GM1 at 0 degrees C for 3 hr sensitized the mouse L-cell line to the inhibitor, as determined by protein synthesis assays. Preincubation of LM cells with ganglioside GM1 alone did not affect protein synthesis rates. In addition, the gangliosides GD1a and GM3 also sensitized the LM cells to the protein synthesis inhibitory effect of the glycopeptide inhibitor. Binding experiments were performed with 3T3 (sensitive) and LM (insensitive) cells to determine if sensitivity to the glycopeptide inhibitor was reflected in binding of the inhibitor to these cells. Binding of 125I-labeled inhibitor to 3T3 cells was maximal after 60 min at 0 degrees C and saturable at approximately 1 X 10(4) molecules/cell. Furthermore, binding of the inhibitor was dose-dependent, with half-maximal binding at 1.5-2.0 nM and saturation at 8.0-10.0 nM. Scatchard plot analysis indicated that the Kd was about 1 X 10(-9) M and that there are 1 X 10(4) receptors/cell. Binding of the inhibitor to LM cells was maximal after 30 min at 0 degrees C and saturation occurred at 5 X 10(3) molecules/cell. We then examined the possibility that gangliosides are the cellular receptor or co-receptor for the glycopeptide inhibitor. Binding of the inhibitor to ganglioside GM1 was first examined after the ganglioside had been preadsorbed to polystyrene tubes. These experiments indicated that the ganglioside did not bind the inhibitor. Ganglioside-containing liposomes from phosphatidylcholine or LM cell membrane components were also prepared; these artificial membranes did not bind appreciable amounts of the iodinated inhibitor. Competition experiments showed that the gangliosides GM1 and GD1a did not neutralize the protein synthesis inhibitory activity of the glycopeptides, indicating that gangliosides do not directly interact with the glycopeptide inhibitor. In addition, binding of the inhibitor to LM cells preincubated with ganglioside GM1 was studied. Although the binding of the inhibitor to LM cells was one-half that observed for 3T3 cells, incorporation of exogenous gangliosides into LM cells did not result in increased binding of the inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Generation of a soluble IFN-gamma inducer by oxidation of galactose residues on macrophages

Depletion of macrophages from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) caused a marked decrease in galactose oxidase and sodium periodate, but not a calcium ionophore, stimulated Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. Reconstitution of such depleted cultures with galactose oxidase treated macrophages, but not lymphocytes, restored IFN-gamma levels to those of control nonfractionated PBMC. Thus, galactose oxidase seemed to act on macrophages which in turn stimulated lymphocyte production of IFN-gamma. Unlike human cells which have terminal galactose residues on glycoproteins, murine cell glycoproteins terminate their oligosaccharide component in the order N-acetyl-neuraminic acid followed by D-galactose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, and glycoprotein. Galactose oxidase or sodium periodate only activated murine macrophages to stimulate lymphocyte IFN-gamma production after exposing D-galactose residues by the removal of the terminal N-acetyl-neuraminic acid residues with neuraminidase. Removal of such exposed terminal galactose residues with beta-galactosidase inhibited the effect of galactose oxidase on murine macrophages. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that oxidation of terminal galactose residues on macrophages is the initial site of action of galactose oxidase and sodium periodate. Studies with Boyden chambers have shown that galactose oxidase-treated macrophages released a soluble factor which stimulates lymphocyte production of IFN-gamma. Based on these findings, it appears that the oxidation of terminal galactose residues on the surface of macrophages leads to the induction and transmission of a soluble signal for lymphocyte production of IFN-gamma.

Inhibition of interleukin-2-dependent cytotoxic T-lymphocyte growth by gangliosides

Previous work has shown that exogenous gangliosides suppress lectin-induced T-lymphocyte mitogenesis in mixed populations of immune cells. As one potential cellular site of this inhibition, the influence of gangliosides on interleukin-2-dependent T-cell proliferation was tested, using cultures of cytotoxic T cells (strain CT-6). Incubation of CT-6 cells with mixed bovine brain gangliosides resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. Cell viability was unaffected by gangliosides, and the inhibition was totally reversed when the gangliosides were removed. Individual purified gangliosides were tested and GM2 was most inhibitory (I50 = 15 microM). GD1a and GT1b were somewhat less potent, whereas GM1 and GM3 were only weakly inhibitory. Various nonpolar lipids, sulfatides, and sialic acid did not inhibit CT-6 cell growth. The results suggest that a primary mechanism whereby gangliosides inhibit lectin-induced lymphocyte mitogenesis is by inhibition of the interleukin-2-stimulated proliferation of T cells in these cultures.

Biologic and biochemical differences between in vitro and in vivo passaged Friend erythroleukemia cells. II. Changes in cell surface glycoproteins associated with a highly malignant phenotype

Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC), serially passaged in vitro or by intraperitoneal injection in DBA/2 mice, exhibit markedly different tumorigenicity and capacity to metastasize. We have attempted to determine whether the differences in tumorigenicity between these two lines of FLC were correlated with any biochemical changes in their cell membranes. Although consistent modifications of FLC membrane gangliosides were detected after FLC multiplied in the peritoneum, the pattern of FLC gangliosides was not a stable characteristic and did not correlate with tumorigenicity. In contrast, analysis of FLC membrane glycoproteins by cell surface labelling techniques (i.e., galactose-oxidase-borohydride techniques and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-fluorography) or by metabolic labelling of glycoproteins with 3H-galactose, revealed consistent differences in the high MW region of the gels between parental in vitro passaged FLC (either 745 or 3Cl-8 cells) and clones derived from in vivo passaged cells. No significant differences in the membrane proteins were detected between in vitro and in vivo passaged FLC when lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-autoradiography were used. It is seen that repeated in vivo passages of FLC resulted in the appearance of different patterns of membrane glycoproteins and that these changes appeared to be associated consistently with the capacity of these cells to grow as tumor ascites and to metastasize to the liver and spleen.

Reversible resistance to the antiviral action of interferon observed in altered BHK cells resistant to HVJ (Sendai virus) infection. Brief report

Altered baby hamster kidney (BHK-R) cells which were subcultured in the continuous presence of HVJ (hemagglutinating virus of Japan--the Sendai strain of parainfluenza 1 virus) showed a resistance to the antiviral action of both type I and II interferons. No evidence for a direct inactivation of interferon molecules during incubation of BHK-R cells was obtained. After serial subculture of BHK-R cells in growth medium free of HVJ, surface membranes with the proper sialic acid residues were restored and the cells became susceptible to the interferon action. It is suggested that binding sites for interferons might be ranked above HVJ receptors in the "receptor gradient".

Receptors for human alpha interferon: are gangliosides involved?

Interferon (IFN) action on cells must begin with an interaction with cellular receptors. Binding and cross-linking experiments reported earlier with purified 125I-labeled recombinant human (Hu) IFN-alpha 2 have revealed that IFN-alpha 2 binds to a specific macromolecular receptor on human cells (Joshi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13884-13887, 1982). Based on indirect evidence such as neutralization of the antiviral action of IFN preparations by gangliosides and binding of IFNs to gangliosides coupled to solid supports, it has been suggested by various investigators that gangliosides may be a part of the IFN-alpha/beta receptors. Experiments presented here indicate that gangliosides could block the antiviral activity of HuIFN-beta, but not of HuIFN-alpha, although both species of IFN bound strongly to gangliosides coupled to poly-L-lysine-agarose. Furthermore, gangliosides did not inhibit the binding of 125I-labeled HuIFN-alpha 2 to specific receptors on human cells, and this binding was competed out by unlabeled HuIFN-alpha 2 and HuIFN-alpha(LE) which were preincubated with gangliosides. However, the capacity of HuIFN-beta to compete for the receptors was abolished by preincubation with gangliosides. These results were confirmed by cross-linking experiments to identify the IFN-receptor complex by gel electrophoresis. The results indicate that at least in the case of HuIFN-alpha species, the ganglioside binding is apparently not at the active site of the IFN molecules required for interaction with the receptors on the cell surface.

Interferon-induced increase in neuraminidase-releasable sialic acid and glycosphingolipid metabolism in mouse lymphoma and L1210 leukemic cell lines: correlation with susceptibility to natural killer cell-mediated lysis

Changes in sialoglycoconjugates and glycosphingolipid (GSL)5 metabolism were demonstrated in mouse EL4, P52 and YAC-1 lymphoma and L1210 leukemia cell lines treated with beta-interferon (IFN). Expression of cell surface (neuraminidase-releasable) sialic acid on IFN-treated cells was markedly elevated (three- to six-fold). The increase in neuraminidase-releasable sialic acid is contributed by sialoglycoproteins and particularly by cell-surface gangliosides in IFN-treated cells. Incorporation of [3H]-galactose into all GSL was elevated in IFN-treated cells. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of GSL of IFN-treated cells showed an increase in several GSL homologues with striking changes in ganglioside with chromatographic migration of GM2, GM1, and GD1a relative to control cells. IFN-treated tumor-cell lines became resistant to lysis by virus-induced IFN-activated natural killer (NK) cells, as shown previously, but addition of neuraminidase to IFN-treated and untreated cells caused only a moderate increase in NK-sensitivity. This suggests that IFN-mediated protection of target cells from NK lysis was not due to a preferential masking of target structure by elevated levels of sialic acid. These membrane-associated changes in GSL and sialic acid in IFN-treated cells may be potentially significant, because a correlation between certain GSL expression, sialic acid phenotype and susceptibility of target cells to NK-cell-mediated lysis have been found in several other systems.