Incorporation of a calixarene-based glucose functionalised bolaamphiphile into lipid bilayers for multivalent lectin recognition.

The synthesis, characterization and inclusion in liposomes of a glucosylated bolaamphiphile built on a calix[4]arene scaffold are described. The new glucocalixarene bolaamphiphile destabilizes bilayers of saturated lipids whereas it rigidifies those of unsaturated lipids, thus reducing leakage of calcein from the liposome internal aqueous compartment. Moreover, from fluorescence and turbidimetry experiments it was found that the glucose units of bolaamphiphile 1 functionalised liposomes allow a specific multivalent interaction with the tetrameric glucose binding protein Concanavalin A. These results therefore represent a novel strategy to functionalise liposomes with saccharides, exploiting multivalent glycosylated ligands to be used in the preparation of drug delivery systems potentially able to target specific lectins.

HIV-1 gp120 stimulates the production of beta-chemokines in human peripheral blood monocytes through a CD4-independent mechanism.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 on the expression of beta-chemokines in cultured monocytes/macrophages. Treatment of either freshly isolated 1-day-cultured monocytes or 7-day-cultured monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) with recombinant gp120-IIIB resulted in a specific and dose-dependent enhancement of secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta, and RANTES as well as a clear-cut increase in transcript accumulation. The expression of these mRNA was increased, but not superinduced, in the presence of cycloheximide. beta-Chemokine secretion was also induced after exposure of monocyte cultures to gp120-JRFL and aldrithiol-2-inactivated R5 and X4 HIV-1 strains, retaining conformational and functional integrity of envelope proteins. In contrast, no beta-chemokine secretion was triggered by X4 and R5 gp120 or aldrithiol-2-inactivated virus treatment of monocytoid cell lines that were fully responsive to LPS. The gp120-mediated effect was independent of its interaction with CD4, as preincubation with soluble CD4 did not abrogate beta-chemokine induction. Moreover, triggering of CD4 receptor by a specific Ab did not result in any beta-chemokine secretion. Interestingly, engagement of CCR5 and CXCR4 receptors by specific Abs as well as treatment with CCR5 and CXCR4 ligands induced beta-chemokine secretion. On the whole, these results indicate that HIV-1 stimulates monocytes/macrophages to produce beta-chemokines by a specific interaction of gp120 with HIV-1 coreceptors on the cell membrane. The expression of these related polypeptides may represent an important cellular response for regulating both the extent of viral infection and the recruitment of immune cells.

IFN-beta stimulates the production of beta-chemokines in human peripheral blood monocytes. Importance of macrophage differentiation.

We investigated the effect of IFN-beta on beta-chemokine expression in differentiating human peripheral blood monocytes. MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta were constitutively expressed in 1 day-cultured monocytes, and their secretion increased with time in culture despite any change in mRNA accumulation. IFN-beta treatment of differentiating monocytes resulted in a marked and dose-dependent increase of beta-chemokine secretion, which was regulated differently with respect to the differentiation stage. In particular, IFN-beta upregulated MCP-1 secretion in monocytes at all stages of differentiation although its effect was significantly higher in 1-day cultured monocytes as compared to monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). In contrast, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta secretion was up-regulated by IFN-beta only in MDM. Although MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta mRNA expression was up-regulated by IFN-beta in both 1 day-cultured monocytes and MDM, no correlation was found between mRNA level and protein secretion. These results suggest that the regulation of beta-chemokine secretion in monocytes/macrophages by IFN-beta occurred through different mechanisms, involving both a direct effect of this cytokine on chemokine gene expression and translational/post-translational steps of regulation more likely linked to the differentiation process. This finding reveals a novel role for this cytokine in the recruitment of specific cell types during the immune response, which may be relevant in the control of viral infections in vivo.

IFN-alpha and IL-18 exert opposite regulatory effects on the IL-12 receptor expression and IL-12-induced IFN-gamma production in mouse macrophages: novel pathways in the regulation of the inflammatory response of macrophages.

We characterized the IL-12 response of mouse macrophages in terms of modulation of IFN-gamma production by cytokines (IFN-alpha and IL-18) and regulation of IL-12 receptor expression. Beta1 and beta2 IL-12R chain mRNA expression increased with time in culture in the absence of exogenous stimulation, with concomitant acquisition of responsiveness to IL-12 for IFN-gamma production. Expression of the IL-12R beta1 chain mRNA was increased further following IL-12 treatment as a consequence of IFN-gamma expression. IL-12 response was regulated differentially by IFN-alpha and IL-18. Neutralization of endogenous type I IFN increased IFN-gamma secretion, whereas exogenous IFN-alpha reduced it. In contrast, IL-18 enhanced IFN-gamma mRNA accumulation and IFN-gamma secretion in IL-12-stimulated, but not -untreated, cultures. The opposite effects exerted by IFN-alpha and IL-18 mirror their mutual capacity of regulating-in a negative or positive manner, respectively-the expression of the IL-12R beta1 chain. We suggest that differential regulation of IL-12 response by IFN-alpha and IL-18 can represent previously unrecognized regulatory mechanisms for maintaining suitable levels of differentiation/activation in macrophages.

Inhibition of the constitutive and induced IFN-beta production by IL-4 and IL-10 in murine peritoneal macrophages.

We had previously reported that freshly harvested peritoneal macrophages (PM) are in a type I IFN-mediated antiviral state, which is lost during in vitro culture of PM, concomitantly with a progressive decline in the expression of IFN-beta. We report herein that in vitro culture of PM in the presence of IL-4 or IL-10 results in an enhanced decay of the IFN-beta-mediated antiviral state to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Moreover, IL-4 and IL-10 inhibited the production of type I IFN induced by LPS or NDV infection, as assessed by IFN production and induction of IFN-mediated antiviral state. The accumulation and physiological turnover of IFN-beta mRNA was not affected by IL-4 or IL-10. Finally, neither IL-10 nor IL-4 exerted any inhibitory effect on the antiviral activity induced by exogenous type-I IFN. These results suggest that Th2 cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-10, act as negative regulators of the type I IFN-mediated antiviral response in PM and may represent stop signals for the constitutive or induced type I IFN expression in PM.

Regulation of chemokine/cytokine network during in vitro differentiation and HIV-1 infection of human monocytes: possible importance in the pathogenesis of AIDS.

The monocyte/macrophage lineage represents heterogeneous cell populations characterized by major differences in the phenotype and functional activities. These cells are a major source of soluble factors, such as cytokines and chemokines, which can both affect HIV replication and AIDS pathogenesis. Although monocytes/macrophages are unanimously considered important targets of HIV-1 infection, the HIV-induced alterations in their physiological functions at different stages of differentiation are still matter of debate. In this article, we review our data on the regulation of chemokine/cytokine network with regard to macrophage differentiation and HIV-1 infection, in comparison with studies from other groups. The ensemble of the results emphasizes that: 1) macrophages markedly differ with respect to monocytes for a variety of responses potentially important in the pathogenesis of HIV infection; and 2) the experimental conditions can influence the HIVmonocyte/macrophage interactions, reflecting the possible in vivo existence of a spectrum of responses among macrophage populations.

Loss of CCR2 expression and functional response to monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) during the differentiation of human monocytes: role of secreted MCP-1 in the regulation of the chemotactic response.

Human peripheral blood monocytes differentiate into macrophages when cultured in vitro for a few days. In the present study, we investigated the expression of C-C chemokine and CXCR4 receptors in monocytes at different stages of differentiation. Culturing of monocytes for 7 days resulted in a progressive decrease of the mRNA that encodes for CCR2 and CCR3, whereas the expression of mRNA for other chemokine receptors (CCR1, CCR4, CCR5, and CXCR4) was not substantially affected. The loss of CCR2 mRNA expression in 7-day-cultured macrophages was associated with a strong reduction in the receptor expression at the plasma membrane, as well as in the monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) binding, as compared with freshly isolated monocytes. Furthermore, the biologic response to MCP-1, as measured by intracellular calcium ions increase and chemotactic response, was lost in 7-day-cultured macrophages. Differentiation of monocytes into macrophages also resulted in an increased secretion of MCP-1 that, at least in part, was responsible for the downmodulation of its receptor (CCR2). The loss of CCR2 expression and the parallel increase of MCP-1 secretion triggered by differentiation may represent a feedback mechanism in the regulation of the chemotactic response of monocytes/macrophages.

IL-12 induces IFN-gamma expression and secretion in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

We previously reported that resting mouse peritoneal macrophages (PM) constitutively express low levels of IFN-gamma, whose production is consistently enhanced by exogenous IFN-gamma. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-12 on the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus and on IFN-gamma gene expression in mouse PM. The addition of IL-12 to freshly explanted PM resulted in the persistence of an antiviral state to vesicular stomatitis virus, while control PM progressively became permissive for virus replication after 3 to 4 days in culture. The IL-12-induced antiviral state was inhibited by Abs to IFN-gamma, suggesting that endogenous IFN-gamma was largely responsible for this antiviral response. Moreover, IL-12 induced a consistent secretion of IFN-gamma, especially in cultured PM. The IL-1 2-induced antiviral state and IFN-gamma production were observed using PM from various strains of mice, including LPS-defective C3H/HeJ, NK-deficient bg/bg, DBA/2, Swiss (CD1), and Swiss nude mice treated or not with anti-asialo GM1 Abs. A 4-h treatment with IL-12 was sufficient to induce a marked accumulation of IFN-gamma mRNA, which was greater in cultured PM than in freshly harvested cells. Lastly, immunofluorescence studies in IL-12-stimulated macrophages clearly showed an enhancement of immunoreactive IFN-gamma compared with basal levels in cells exhibiting a macrophage (i.e., F4/80-positive) phenotype. Together, these findings demonstrate that IL-12 can directly stimulate mouse PM to produce IFN-gamma. We suggest that IL-12-induced IFN-gamma production by macrophages can play some role in the generation of the antiviral and immunoregulatory effects of IL-12.

Induction of cytokines by HIV-1 and its gp120 protein in human peripheral blood monocyte/macrophages and modulation of cytokine response during differentiation.

We previously reported that in vitro culture of human peripheral blood monocytes resulted in a time-dependent differentiation into macrophages and in an enhanced capacity for producing certain cytokines [i.e., tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-beta (IFN-beta)] in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). HIV-1 infection or gp120 treatment of monocyte/macrophages resulted in the induction of low levels of IFN-beta, which were very effective in restricting viral replication in 7-day cultured macrophages but not in freshly isolated cells. This enhanced response of macrophages was due to a higher sensitivity of these cells to the antiviral effect of IFN-beta. Consistent with this finding, 7-day cultured macrophages exhibited higher levels of type I IFN receptors than 1-day cultured monocytes. Treatment of monocyte/macrophages with gp120 also caused a marked increase in IL-10 secretion, regardless of the differentiation state. No IL-12 secretion was detected in monocyte/macrophage cultures treated with gp120 alone. However, consistent IL-12 secretion was found in 7-day cultured macrophages primed with IFN-beta and subsequently stimulated with gp120. Macrophages responded more efficiently than monocytes to the priming effect of IFN-beta for IL-12 production. This was consistent with a stronger antiviral response against vesicular stomatitis virus by these cells as well as with a higher expression of IFN-beta receptors. The finding that the acquisition of the macrophage phenotype is associated with an increased capacity to respond to environmental signals (such as type I and type II IFNs) underlines the importance of the differentiation process for the selection of a certain repertoire of responses that may allow these cells to have important functions in vivo.

Induction of cyclins E and A in response to mitogen removal: a basic alteration associated with the arrest of differentiation of C2 myoblasts transformed by simian virus 40 large T antigen.

We previously showed that C2 myoblasts transformed by simian virus 40 large T antigen (SVLT) stop the myogenic process after the induction of myogenin and of high Rb levels; the induced Rb, however, becomes notably phosphorylated. We have analyzed the protein levels and activities of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) in untransformed C2 cells and in transformants of either SVLT or the cytoplasmic mutant NKT1 (which permits differentiation) upon a shift from growth medium (GM) to mitogen-poor differentiation medium (DM). After the shift, cdk4 levels remained constant and cdk6 levels decreased in all cell types; cdk2 minimally increased only in SVLT cells. Cyclin D1 was downregulated in DM in all cell types, and cyclin D3 was upregulated (albeit less strongly in SVLT cells than in the others). In contrast, a dramatic difference between SVLT cells and the other cells was observed for cyclins E and A, which essentially disappeared (as protein and RNA) in normal C2 and NKT1 cells upon the shift from GM to DM, whereas they increased in SVLT cells. Concurrently, cdk2 activity ceased in C2 and NKT1 cells in DM, whereas it persisted at 20% of the GM level in SVLT cells. cdk4 activity was detectable in all cells only in GM. Cyclin E and A induction thus appeared to sustain enough Rb phosphorylation to interfere with tissue-specific expression, with cdk activity not high enough to activate cyclin self-regulation. In DM, cdk2 complexed to D3 was underphosphorylated in all cells, and SVLT allowed strong inductions of p21 and p27 without affecting their complexes with cdks.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 stimulates cytomegalovirus replication in monocytes: possible role of endogenous interleukin-8.

Recombinant gp120, but not other human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) structural proteins, dose-dependently stimulates human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early antigen (IEA) expression and infectious virus yield in freshly isolated normal monocytes infected with HCMV. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognizing the gp120 V3 loop, as well as V3 loop octameric multibranched peptides and antibody to galactocerebroside, but not sCD4, abrogate the gp120 stimulation of IEA expression, suggesting that the effect involves V3 loop-galactocerebroside interaction and is not mediated by CD4. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) gene expression is enhanced in monocytes treated with gp120 at the level of both mRNA and released protein. Exogenous IL-8 could replace gp120 in the stimulation of HCMV infection, while a MAb capable of neutralizing IL-8 activity abrogates the gp120-induced HCMV stimulation. These data indicate that HIV-1 glycoprotein induces stimulation of productive infection of monocytes with HCMV and that such stimulation may be mediated by the upregulation of IL-8 gene expression. This is the first evidence that HIV-1 may affect HCMV replication indirectly, via the interaction of gp120 with the monocyte membrane, in the complete absence of retroviral replication, through the stimulation of IL-8 release. Because in HIV-1-infected individuals, HCMV infection is frequently activated and the levels of circulating IL-8 are enhanced, these findings may be pathogenetically relevant.

Induction of interleukin-12 (IL-12) by recombinant glycoprotein gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in human monocytes/macrophages: requirement of gamma interferon for IL-12 secretion.

We studied the effects of the gp120 glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 on the expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in human monocytes and in monocyte-derived macrophages. Induction of the mRNA for both the p35 and p40 subunits of IL-12 was observed in both cell types after gp120 treatment. We then evaluated cytokine secretion by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which recognizes only the IL-12 heterodimer. No IL-12 was detected in monocytes/macrophages treated with gp120 alone. A consistent IL-12 secretion was found in macrophages primed with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and subsequently treated with gp120. Low levels of IL-12 were occasionally observed in IFN-gamma-primed monocytes stimulated with gp120. The greater response of macrophages than of monocytes to the priming effect of IFN-gamma was consistent with the finding that IFN-gamma induced a much stronger antiviral state to vesicular stomatitis virus in macrophages than in monocytes. These data indicate that gp120 is an inducer of IL-12 expression in monocytes/macrophages and that IFN-gamma is an essential cofactor for IL-12 secretion, especially in differentiated macrophages.

The essential role of endogenous IFN alpha/beta in the anti-metastatic action of sensitized T lymphocytes in mice injected with Friend erythroleukemia cells.

Adoptive transfer of splenic T lymphocytes from DBA/2 mice immunized against Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC) inhibited the development of visceral metastases and increased the survival time of DBA/2 mice challenged i.v. with parental FLC 24 hr to 2 months later. Immune spleen cells were ineffective in mice pre-treated with potent neutralizing antibody to mouse IFN alpha/beta (but not to IFN gamma), demonstrating the essential participation of endogenous IFN alpha/beta in the inhibitory action of immune T lymphocytes against FLC metastases. These findings suggest that the reported inability of immune T lymphocytes to exert an anti-FLC effect in immunodeficient DBA/2 mutant beige (bg/bg) mice (unless these mice had also been treated with IFN alpha/beta), may have been due to lower levels of endogenous IFN alpha/beta in DBA/2 bg/bg mice than in normal DBA/2+/bg mice. Experimental results in support of this hypothesis are presented.

The inhibition of cultured myoblast differentiation by the simian virus 40 large T antigen occurs after myogenin expression and Rb up-regulation and is not exerted by transformation-competent cytoplasmic mutants.

We have investigated the mechanism by which the simian virus 40 large T antigen (SVLT) interferes with the differentiation of C2 myoblasts. SVLT mutants, defective either in the Rb binding site, near the N-terminal end, in a region that affects binding to p53, or in the nuclear transport signal, were also employed to determine whether the interference was especially dependent on these functional domains. It was found that wild-type (wt) SVLT strongly inhibited the terminal differentiation of mouse C2 myoblasts, but this arrest occurred only after the synthesis of myogenin, an initial step in biochemical differentiation. Neither the synthesis nor some basic activities of MyoD appeared to be affected by wt SVLT. In these transformants, mitogen depletion elicited an increase in the Rb level comparable to that in normal C2 cells; wt SVLT, however, promoted the phosphorylation of a large part of the induced Rb. Mutations affecting nuclear transport were far more critical for the ability to interfere with myogenic differentiation than were those affecting the transforming potential; cytoplasmic SVLT expression was fully compatible with the terminal differentiation of C2 cells, despite enabling them to grow in semisolid medium, thus showing that the myogenesis-inhibiting property can be dissociated from transforming competence. The remaining SVLT mutants presented different degrees of ability to inhibit differentiation (as shown by the expression of tissue-specific markers in transformants). The inhibiting mutants, including the Rb binding site mutant, were able to promote a higher state of Rb phosphorylation than that observed in either normal cells or cytoplasmic-SVLT transformants.

Induction of interleukin-10 by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and its gp120 protein in human monocytes/macrophages.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and its gp120 protein on interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression in cultured human monocytes/macrophages. Infection of either 1-day monocytes or 7-day monocyte-derived macrophages with HIV-1 strain Ba-L resulted in clear-cut accumulation of IL-10 mRNA at 4 and 24 h. Likewise, treatment of these cells with recombinant gp120 induced IL-10 mRNA expression and caused a marked increase in IL-10 secretion. Monoclonal antibodies to gp120 strongly inhibited recombinant gp120-induced IL-10 secretion by monocytes/macrophages. Moreover, the addition of IL-10 to monocytes/macrophages resulted in a significant inhibition of HIV-1 replication 7 and 14 days after infection. On the whole, these results indicate that HIV-1 (possibly through its gp120 protein) up-regulates IL-10 expression in monocytes/macrophages. We suggest that in vivo production of IL-10 by HIV-primed monocytes/macrophages can play an important role in the early response to HIV-1 infection.

Role of endogenous interferon-beta in the restriction of HIV replication in human monocyte/macrophages.

In vitro culture of human monocytes results in a time-dependent differentiation into macrophages. Monocyte/macrophages were infected with HIV-1Ba-L at different times after isolation and subsequent culture. When 7-day macrophages were infected in the presence of antibodies to interferon-beta (IFN-beta), a significant increase in HIV-1 p24 release was observed. This effect was not detected in 1-day monocytes. Treatment of 7-day cultured macrophages with HIV-1 rgp120 resulted in resistance to vesicular stomatitis virus infection. This rgp120-induced antiviral state was neutralized in the presence of antibodies to IFN-beta. The overall results indicate that the infection of monocyte/macrophages with HIV-1 results in the induction of IFN-beta, which, in turn, inhibits HIV-1 expression in macrophages. The finding that HIV-1 itself (possibly through its gp120) can induce a potent antiviral factor (IFN-beta) in macrophages underlines the complex physiological function of these cells in maintaining normal homeostasis in vivo in response to virus infection.

Induction of beta interferon by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and its gp120 protein in human monocytes-macrophages: role of beta interferon in restriction of virus replication.

In vitro cultivated human monocytes show a time-dependent differentiation into macrophages, characterized by an increased expression of macrophage-specific antigens. Monocytes-macrophages were infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strain Ba-L (HIV-1Ba-L) at different stages of differentiation. When 7-day cultured macrophages were infected in the presence of antibodies to beta interferon (IFN-beta), a significant increase in HIV-1 p24 release was detected. This effect was not observed in 1-day monocytes. This finding suggests that IFN-beta secreted by the infected macrophages inhibits p24 release. Treatment of cultured macrophages with recombinant gp120 (rgp120) protein resulted in the induction of IFN-beta mRNA and in an antiviral state to vesicular stomatitis virus. This rgp120-induced antiviral state was largely neutralized by antibodies to IFN-beta, whereas anti-IFN-alpha antibodies were ineffective. In cultured macrophages, 0.1 IU of IFN-beta per ml was sufficient to induce a marked inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus yield, whereas this dose was ineffective in 1-day monocytes. These results indicate that (i) HIV-1 (possibly in part through its gp120 protein) induces low levels of IFN-beta in macrophages and (ii) this IFN-beta is very effective in inducing an antiviral state in differentiated macrophages.

Limits of transforming competence of SV40 nuclear and cytoplasmic large T mutants with altered Rb binding sequences.

Multiple amino acid substitutions were introduced into the SV40 large T region that harbors the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) binding site and the nuclear transport signal, changing either one or both of these determinants. Mutant activities were examined in a set of assays allowing different levels of transforming potential to be distinguished; phenotypic changes in established and pre-crisis rat embryo fibroblasts (REFs) were detected under isogenic cell conditions, and comparisons made with other established rodent cells. The limit of the transforming ability of mutants with important substitutions in the Rb binding site fell between two transformation levels of the same established rat cells. Such cells could be induced to form dense foci but not agar colonies (their parental pre-crises REFs, as expected, were untransformed either way). Nonetheless, agar colony induction was possible in other cell lines, such as mouse NIH3T3 and (for one of the mutants) rat F2408. All these mutants efficiently immortalized pre-crisis REFs. The transforming ability of cytoplasmic mutants appeared to depend on the integrity of the Rb-binding sequence to approximately the same extent as that of the wild-type large T, although evidence of in vivo Rb-cytoplasmic large T complexes was not found. The presence or absence of small t was critical when the transforming task of mutants was near the limit of their abilities.

[Leuconostocs in raw milk: isolation and identification of species rapidly utilizing lactose]. / Leuconostocs en leche cruda: aislamiento e identificación de especies de utilización rápida de lactosa.

Fast lactose fermenting Leuconostoc species and subspecies were isolated from raw milk. Samples were obtained from dairy farms of the surroundings of Buenos Aires city. A lactose, non selective, isolation medium was employed (YCL). Differentiation of leuconostocs from Lactobacillus viridescens and L. confusus was avoided on account of the use of this medium. 801 typical colonies of lactic acid bacteria were selected from YCL agar; 710 of them were identified as lactic acid bacteria from which 114 strains belonged to the genus Leuconostoc. These last strains were then tested for species and subspecies differentiation by dextran production and sugar fermentation. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum and L. lactis were identified. Four strains identified as Leuconostoc spp do not belong to any known species.