Modulation of IFN-γ production by TNF-α in macrophages from the tumor environment: Significance as an angiogenic switch

Aspirin 15cH has Different Effects on Morphology and Function of Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged RAW 264.7 Macrophages In Vitro Compared to a Pharmacological Dose of Aspirin

INTRODUCTION

Aspirin is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide. It is known to present antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic actions, making it extremely useful in a wide range of clinical contexts. Interestingly, homeopathically prepared Aspirin 15cH has been found to have a pro-thrombotic effect in rats, raising the hypothesis that Aspirin 15cH could also modulate the activity of inflammatory cells in different pathological processes.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to assess what effect Aspirin 15cH has on RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro.

METHODS

The effects of Aspirin 15cH on biochemical and morphological activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages were evaluated. These effects were compared with unchallenged macrophages (negative control), untreated LPS-stimulated macrophages, macrophages treated with succussed water (vehicle control), or aspirin 200 µg/mL (pharmacological inhibitor of LPS activity). Cell morphology (adhered cell area and cytoskeleton arrangements), cell viability, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) expression, and the production of nitric oxide, cytokines and intracellular reactive oxygen species were assessed.

RESULTS

Aspirin 15cH reduced the number of cells expressing TLR-4 on the surface (p = 0.03) and induced a "columnar" morphology of macrophage pseudopods, indicating changes in cytoskeleton arrangement. When cells were treated with both Aspirin 15cH and LPS, cell morphology became heterogeneous, suggesting that sub-populations of cells had differing sensitivities to LPS or Aspirin 15cH. Exposure of the cells to LPS alone, succussed water or aspirin 200 µg/mL produced effects consistent with the literature.

CONCLUSION

Aspirin 15cH, aspirin 200 µg/mL, LPS and succussed water appear to act as independent stimuli able to induce different patterns of macrophage response. Aspirin 15cH induced changes suggestive of M2 polarization of the macrophages (i.e., toward a wound healing or tissue repair, rather than inflammatory, phenotype). These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in further specific studies.

Total Saponin from Root of Actinidia valvata Dunn Inhibits Hepatoma 22 Growth and Metastasis In Vivo by Suppression Angiogenesis

The root of Actinidia valvata dunn has been widely used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), proved to be beneficial for a longer and better life in China. In present work, total saponin from root of Actinidia valvata Dunn (TSAVD) was extracted, and its effects on hepatoma H22-based mouse in vivo were observed. Primarily transplanted hypodermal hepatoma H22-based mice were used to observe TSAVD effect on tumor growth. The microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are characterized factors of angiogenesis, which were compared between TSAVD-treated and control groups. Antimetastasis effect on experimental pulmonary metastasis hepatoma mice was also observed in the study. The results demonstrated that TSAVD can effectively inhibit HCC growth and metastasis in vivo, inhibit the formation of microvessel, downregulate expressions of VEGF and bFGF, and retrain angiogenesis of hepatoma 22 which could be one of the reasons.

Chemotherapeutic candidate inducing immunological death of human tumor cell lines

The immunological death induction by EY-6 on the human tumor cell lines was screened. Human colon carcinoma (HCT15, HCT116), gastric carcinoma (MKN74, SNU668), and myeloma (KMS20, KMS26, KMS34) cells were died by EY-6 treatment with dose-dependent manner. CRT expression, a typical marker for the immunological death, was increased on the EY-6-treated colorectal and gastric cancer cells. Interestingly, the effects on the myeloma cell lines were complicated showing cell line dependent differential modulation. Cytokine secretion from the EY-6 treated tumor cells were dose and cell-dependent. IFN-γ and IL-12 secretion was increased in the treated cells (200% to over 1000% of non-treated control), except HCT116, SNU668 and KMS26 cells which their secretion was declined by EY-6. Data suggest the potential of EY-6 as a new type of immuno-chemotherapeutics inducing tumor-specific cell death. Further studies are planned to confirm the efficacy of EY-6 including in vivo study.

Transplantable subcutaneous hepatoma 22a affects functional activity of resident tissue macrophages in periphery

Tumors spontaneously develop central necroses due to inadequate blood supply. Recent data indicate that dead cells and their products are immunogenic to the host. We hypothesized that macrophage tumor-dependent reactions can be mediated differentially by factors released from live or dead tumor cells. In this study, functional activity of resident peritoneal macrophages was investigated in parallel with tumor morphology during the growth of syngeneic nonimmunogenic hepatoma 22a. Morphometrical analysis of tumor necroses, mitoses and leukocyte infiltration was performed in histological sections. We found that inflammatory potential of peritoneal macrophages in tumor-bearing mice significantly varied depending on the stage of tumor growth and exhibited two peaks of activation as assessed by nitroxide and superoxide anion production, 5'-nucleotidase activity and pinocytosis. Increased inflammatory reactions were not followed by the enhancement of angiogenic potential as assessed by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mRNA expression. Phases of macrophage activity corresponded to the stages of tumor growth characterized by high proliferative potential. The appearance and further development of necrotic tissue inside the tumor did not coincide with changes in macrophage behavior and therefore indirectly indicated that activation of macrophages was a reaction mostly to the signals produced by live tumor cells.

Antiangiogenic activity of ursolic acid

Angiogenesis, the formation of new capillaries from preexisting vessels, is essential for tumor progression. Ursolic acid inhibited the tumor-associated capillary formation in C57BL/6 mice induced by highly metastatic B16F-10 melanoma cells. The levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), NO, and proinflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced in ursolic acid-treated animals compared with those in control animals. The diminished expressions of VEGF and iNOS genes in B16F-10 melanoma cells treated with nontoxic concentrations of ursolic acid support these observations; the serum TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1) and IL-2 (interleukin-2) levels were significantly elevated after the ursolic acid treatment. Nontoxic concentrations of ursolic acid toward human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were determined by MTT (methylthiazol tetrazolium) assay, and these nontoxic concentrations were selected for the in vitro studies. Nontoxic concentrations of ursolic acid inhibited vessel growth from the rat aortic ring. (3)H-thymidine proliferation assay clearly showed the inhibitory effect of ursolic acid on the proliferation of HUVECs in vitro. Ursolic acid significantly inhibited endothelial cell migration and invasion. The role of metalloproteinases has been shown to be important in angiogenesis; therefore, gelatin zymography was performed to determine whether ursolic acid affected protease activity. Gelatin zymographic analysis showed the inhibitory effect of ursolic acid on the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9. The above observation shows the antiangiogenic activity of ursolic acid.

A synergistic role for IL-1beta and TNFalpha in monocyte-derived IFNgamma inducing activity

Although much is known about classic IFNgamma inducers, little is known about the IFNgamma inducing capability of inflammasome-activated monocytes. In this study, supernatants from LPS/ATP-stimulated human monocytes were analyzed for their ability to induce IFNgamma production by KG-1 cells. Unexpectedly, monocyte-derived IFN inducing activity was detected, but it was completely inhibited by IL-1beta, not IL-18 blockade. Moreover, size-fractionation of the monocyte conditioned media dramatically reduced the IFNgamma inducing activity of IL-1beta, suggesting that IL-1beta requires a cofactor to induce IFNgamma production in KG-1 cells. Because TNFalpha is known to synergize with IL-1beta for various gene products, it was studied as the putative IL-1beta synergizing factor. Although recombinant TNFalpha (rTNFalpha) alone had no IFNgamma inducing activity, neutralization of TNFalpha in the monocyte conditioned media inhibited the IFNgamma inducing activity. Furthermore, rTNFalpha restored the IFNgamma inducing activity of the size-fractionated IL-1beta. Finally, rTNFalpha synergized with rIL-1beta, as well as with rIL-1alpha and rIL-18, for KG-1 IFNgamma release. These studies demonstrate a synergistic role between TNFalpha and IL-1 family members in the induction of IFNgamma production and give caution to interpretations of KG-1 functional assays designed to detect functional IL-18.

Elevation of Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity by Dimethyladenosine from Silkworm Pupae in Aged Rats

This study examined the mechanisms underlying the effects of the vasorelaxation active substance (VAS), dimethyladenosine-5’-L-arabinose, and its partial purification fraction on nitric oxide synthase in improving erectile dysfunction with particular focus on the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathways. Two rat models, 9-month-old SD rats and 11-month-old SD rats, were given VAS (40 mg/kg per day) for 4 days, The aqueous fraction of silworm male pupae extract; semi-purified VAS (100 mg/kg per day) for 10 days, respectively. The NOS activities of the following three enzymes were examined: neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor on endothelial cells (VEGF) and anti-inflammation effect of Tumor necrosis factor-α. The results showed increases in the nitric oxide synthase activities. Western blotting of the tissue homogenate showed an increase in the nNOS level in the brain and tongue, and an increase in the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) level in penis. However, there was little association with VEGF production in HUVEC endothelial cells and no relationship with TNF-α which showed low levels.

[Immunology in schizophrenic disorders]

This manuscript deals with whether immune-mediated mechanisms of inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. A model is presented which integrates psychoneuroimmunologic findings and actual results from pharmacological, neurochemical, and genetic studies in schizophrenia. A pivotal role in the neurobiology of schizophrenia is played by dopaminergic neurotransmission, which is modulated by influences of the glutamatergic system. The decreased function of the glutamate system described in schizophrenia seems primarily mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonism. Kynurenine acid is the only known endogenous NMDA receptor antagonist. In higher concentrations it blocks the NMDA receptor, but in lower concentrations it blocks the nicotinergic acetylcholin receptor, which has a prominent role in cognitive functions. Therefore, higher levels of kynurenine acid may explain psychotic symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. Several findings point out that prenatal infection, associated with an early sensitisation of the immune system, may result in an imbalance of the immune response (type 1 vs type 2) in schizophrenia. This immune constellation leads to inhibition of the enzyme indoleamin dioxigenase (IDO). It and tryptophane 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) both catalyse the degradation from tryptophan to kynurenine. Due to the inhibition of IDO, tryptophan is metabolised to kynurenine primarily by TDO. In the CNS, TDO is located only in astrocytes, which are in particular activated in schizophrenia and in which kynurenine acid is the final product and can not be further metabolised. Therefore kynurenine acid accumulates in the CNS of schizophrenics and - due to its NMDA-antagonistic properties - leads to cognitive dysfunction and psychotic symptoms. This model describes the pathway of immune-mediated glutamatergic-dopaminergic dysregulation, which may lead to the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia. Therapeutic consequences (e.g. cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors) are discussed.