Increased voluntary exercise in mice deficient for tumour necrosis factor-alpha and lymphotoxin-alpha

BACKGROUND

The endogenous mediators playing a role in the sensing of fatigue and cessation of exercise are yet to be characterized. We hypothesized that proinflammatory cytokines, in particular tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and lymphotoxin-alpha (LT) transmit signals leading to fatigue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were placed in a cage with a freely rotating exercise wheel and allowed to adapt for 24 h. The running distance was measured for two additional periods of 24 h. The effects of the administration of intravenous anti-TNF antibodies, intracerebral recombinant TNF, or intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were also determined.

RESULTS

Compared to normal littermates, the voluntary daily running distance was 1.8-fold greater in mice with a disruption of the gene for TNFalpha, and 3-fold greater in mice with a gene disruption for both TNFalpha and LT. Intravenous administration of a monoclonal antibody against murine TNFalpha did not affect the running distance of wild-type mice, whereas administration of TNF intracerebrally reduced by 4-fold the voluntary running distance of the animals. This demonstrates that fatigue is mediated by TNFalpha expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and not by increased peripheral TNFalpha concentrations. TNFalpha and LT are strong inducers of prostaglandins, but mice with disrupted prostaglandin or prostacyclin receptors exhibited running distances not significantly different from their wild-type littermates. Thus, signalling molecules other than prostaglandins mediate the effect of TNFalpha and LT on exercise capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding that exercise capacity is controlled by TNFalpha is the first to define the endogenous mediators of fatigue, and may have important implications for diseases with impaired exercise tolerance.

Synergistic effects of tumour necrosis factor α and lymphotoxin α during lethal endotoxaemia

Background

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α and lymphotoxin (LT) α are members of the TNF family which bind to the same receptors and which play a crucial role in the modulation of the immune response. Their differential and possible redundant roles during lethal endotoxaemia have been investigated in mice deficient in either TNF-α (TNF–/–) or TNF-α and LT-α (TNF–/– LT–/– double knockout) mice.

Methods

TNF–/– or TNF–/– LT–/– mice were injected intravenously with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1 or 2 mg per mouse. Circulating levels of interleukin (IL) 1α and 1β were measured 3 h after the LPS challenge, and mortality rates were calculated.

Results

When LPS 1 mg per mouse was used, 80 per cent of the wild-type mice succumbed, whereas none of the TNF–/– or TNF–/– LT–/– mice died (P < 0·01). However, when LPS 2 mg per mouse was administered, the mortality rate in the control and TNF–/– mice was 100 per cent, whereas none of the TNF–/– LT–/–mice died (P < 0·01), suggesting that the absence of LT-α has an additional protective effect in lethal endotoxaemia. In comparison to the wild-type control mice, 3 h after the LPS challenge, the circulating concentrations of IL-1α were 47 and 55 per cent lower in the TNF–/– and TNF–/– LT–/–mice respectively. Moreover, circulating concentrations of IL-1β were 40 per cent lower in the TNF–/– mice, but 71 per cent lower in the TNF–/– LT–/– mice compared with the wild-type controls.

Conclusion

TNF-α and LT-α act synergistically during lethal endotoxaemia, and immunomodulation of both TNF-α and LT-α should be considered in experimental and clinical settings.

Lethal Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium endotoxemia is mediated through different pathways

Despite the differences in the molecular structure between lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Salmonella typhimurium, the potential differences in their biological effects in vivo have not been investigated. In the present study, TNF and LT double knock-out (TNF-/-LT-/-) mice were almost as susceptible as TNF+/+LT+/+ controls to S. typhimurium LPS, but they were significantly more resistant to lethal endotoxemia induced by E. coli or K. pneumoniae LPS. The effect was not due to endotoxin-associated proteins. In the knock-out mice, this difference in lethality was accompanied by decreased interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production after challenge with E. coli LPS, whereas after S. typhimurium LPS more IL-1 and IFN-gamma were produced. In contrast, more IL-10 was produced after challenge of mice with E. coli LPS than with S. typhimurium LPS. The hypothesis that a combination of pro-inflammatory cytokines is responsible for the mortality after S. typhimurium LPS was suggested by experiments in mice deficient in IL-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE-/- mice). ICE-/-mice, lacking mature IL-1beta and IL-18, but also defective in IFN-gamma and TNF production, were completely protected against both E. coli and S. typhimurium LPS. Experiments in Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 defective mice suggested that the difference is not due to differential activation of TLR4. In conclusion, TNF and LT play a central role in the lethality due to E. coli LPS, whereas the lethal effects of S. typhimurium LPS are mediated through mechanisms also involving other cytokines such as IFN-gamma, IL-1 and IL-18.

Interleukin-18 induces production of proinflammatory cytokines in mice: no intermediate role for the cytokines of the tumor necrosis factor family and interleukin-1beta

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is not only a co-stimulus for the induction of interferon-gamma but also has direct proinflammatory effects by inducing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1, IL-8 and IL-6. However, the cascade of events leading to induction of cytokines by IL-18 is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether murine IL-18 stimulates production of proinflammatory cytokines, and to assess whether induction of second-wave cytokines such as IL-6 by IL-18 is driven by intermediary induction of endogenous cytokines of the TNF family or IL-1beta. When mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated in vitro with recombinant murine IL-18, there was a dose-dependent induction of TNF, IL-1alpha, and IL-1beta. IL-6 synthesis was also strongly induced by IL-18 and, as revealed by studies in knockout mice, this production was not dependent on interactions between endogenous cytokines of the TNF/TNF receptor family: TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin-alpha, Fas/Fas ligand (L) or CD40/CD40L. Moreover, the induction of IL-6 was also independent of endogenous IL-1beta, as macrophages isolated from IL-1beta deficient mice produced normal amounts of IL-6 after stimulation with IL-18. In conclusion, murine IL-18 has pleiotropic proinflammatory activities by inducing production of TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, which could have important consequences for the pathophysiology of infectious and autoimmune diseases.

Soluble murine IL-1 receptor type I induces release of constitutive IL-1 alpha

IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of many infectious and noninfectious inflammatory diseases. To reduce IL-1 toxicity, extracellular domains of the soluble (s) IL-1R are shed from cell membranes and prevent triggering of cell-bound receptors. We investigated to what extent murine sIL-1RI can neutralize the IL-1 produced by LPS-stimulated macrophages. When mouse peritoneal macrophages were incubated with LPS, addition of sIL-1RI significantly inhibited the bioactivity of IL-1. Stimulation of cells with sIL-1RI alone induced no bioactive IL-1. When immunoreactive cytokine concentrations were measured with specific radioimmunoassays, sIL-1RI alone appeared to induce a significant release of IL-1 alpha in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was independent of new protein synthesis. The production of IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha was not influenced by sIL-1RI. There was no interference of sIL-1RI with the IL-1 alpha radioimmunoassay. In mice, an i.v. injection of sIL-RI alone induced a rapid release of IL-1 alpha, but not of TNF-alpha or IL-1 beta. Treatment of mice with sIL-1RI improved the survival during a lethal infection with Candida albicans. In conclusion, sIL-1RI induces a rapid release of IL-1 alpha from cells, as well as into the systemic circulation. Although this IL-1 alpha may be inactivated in circulation by the same sIL-1RI, this phenomenon probably has immunostimulatory effects at local levels where the sIL-1RI-induced IL-1 alpha acts in a paracrine or autocrine manner.

Apolipoprotein E knock-out mice are highly susceptible to endotoxemia and Klebsiella pneumoniae infection

Lipoproteins are able to neutralize bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and thereby inhibit the proinflammatory cytokine response. In a previous study, we demonstrated that hypercholesterolemic low density lipoprotein receptor knock-out (LDLr-/-) mice are protected against lethal endotoxemia and gram-negative infection. In the present study we investigated the susceptibility of apolipoprotein E knock-out mice (apoE-/-) to LPS and to Klebsiella pneumoniae. These mice have increased plasma lipoprotein concentrations in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-sized fraction. Despite 8 -fold higher plasma cholesterol levels compared to controls, and in contrast to LDLr-/- mice, apoE-/- mice were significantly more susceptible to endotoxemia and to K. pneumoniae infection. Circulating TNFalpha concentrations after intravenously injected LPS were 4 - to 5-fold higher in apoE-/- mice, whereas IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 did not differ. This TNF response was not due to an increased cytokine production capacity of cells from apoE-/- mice, as ex vivo cytokine production in response to LPS did not differ between apoE-/- and control mice. The LPS-neutralizing capacity of apoE-/- plasma was significantly less than that of controls. Most likely, the absence of apoE itself in the knock-out mice explains the failure to neutralize LPS, despite the very high cholesterol concentrations.

Increased interleukin-1alpha and interleukin-1beta production by macrophages of low-density lipoprotein receptor knock-out mice stimulated with lipopolysaccharide is CD11c/CD18-receptor mediated

Immune mechanisms, including production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF), play an important role in early atherogenesis. The study of the mechanisms responsible for the increased cytokine production capacity of hypercholesterolemic hosts is therefore crucial for finding new strategies aimed to stop the development of atherosclerosis. We assessed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine production of macrophages from low-density lipoproteins (LDL)-receptor knock-out (LDLR-/-) mice, which have a seven- to ninefold higher plasma LDL concentration. Macrophages of LDLR-/- mice produced approximately twofold more IL-1alpha and IL-1beta in response to LPS when compared with macrophages of control mice (LDLR+/+). TNF-alpha synthesis was only slightly increased. Removal of CD14 by phospholipase C treatment of cells decreased cytokine production by 50% (IL-1) to 80% (TNF), but the differences between LDLR-/- and LDLR+/+ remained the same. In contrast, treatment of cells with anti-CD11c monoclonal antibody inhibited the IL-1alpha and IL-1beta production in LDLR-/- mice towards normal values, while no effect could be seen on TNF. In conclusion, LDLR-/- macrophages stimulated with LPS synthesize more IL-1alpha and IL-1beta than controls and this phenomenon is mediated by the CD11c/CD18 receptor.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice are protected against lethal endotoxemia and severe gram-negative infections

Lipoproteins can bind lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and decrease the LPS-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated the effect of increased plasma concentrations of low-density-lipoproteins (LDL) on survival and cytokine production after a lethal challenge with either LPS or live Gram-negative bacteria in LDL receptor deficient mice (LDLR-/-). The LDLR-/- mice challenged with LPS had an eightfold increased LD50 when compared with the wild type controls (C57Bl/6J), while tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) plasma concentrations were decreased twofold. LDLR-/- mice had significantly lower and delayed mortality than control mice after infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. No differences in the outgrowth of bacteria in the organs were present between the two groups, while circulating cytokine concentrations were decreased twofold in LDLR-/- mice. In contrast, the LPS-stimulated in vitro production of cytokines by peritoneal macrophages of LDLR-/- mice was significantly increased compared with controls. This increase was associated with enhanced specific binding of LPS to the macrophages of LDLR-/- mice. In conclusion, endogenous LDL can protect against the lethal effects of endotoxin and Gram-negative infection. At least part of this protection is achieved through decreased in vivo production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in spite of increased cytokine production capacity.