IL-6 and IL-8 responses of colorectal cancer in vivo and in vitro cancer cells subjected to simvastatin.

Recent investigations suggest that proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 are involved in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), whereas statins, primarily used to decrease high levels of blood cholesterol, exhibit pleiotropic effects on carcinogenesis. In the present study we compared the expression of IL-8 and IL-6 in tissue samples of tumor and adjacent normal colon mucosa obtained from patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). The analysis of mRNAs expression for these proinflammatory cytokines determined by RT-PCR showed a higher level of IL-8-mRNA in tumor tissue than in normal mucosa, while IL-6 was similarly expressed in tumor and normal tissue. The mean values of serum levels of both IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in CRC patients than in healthy volunteers. Surgical removal of the tumor resulted in a prompt decrease of serum level of IL-8 already on the third day, whereas IL-6 level was transiently increased to become lower only after 7-10 days. Treatment of CRC with simvastatin (80 mg/day for 14 days) led to a significant decrease of serum IL-6, while the IL-8 level was less affected. The in vitro experiments on colorectal cancer-derived cell lines (HT-29 and Caco-2) demonstrated that application of simvastatin decreased generation of both IL-6 and IL-8. The differences in response of serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 after tumor removal and treatment with simvastatin are novel observations suggesting distinct pathological roles of the two cytokines in CRC development. We conclude that 1) colorectal carcinogenesis is accompanied by increased synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8; 2) simvastatin therapy results in a decrease in serum level of proinflammatory cytokines, especially IL-6 in CRC and 3) simvastatin inhibits release of IL-8 and IL-6 from colorectal cell lines.

Transcription factors as targets of the anti-inflammatory treatment. A cell culture study with extracts from some Mediterranean diet plants.

During the inflammatory response at least 2 transcription factors, NF-kappaB and AP-1, are involved in the altered profile of gene expression. We used human hepatoma (HepG2) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as a model system: NF-kappaB and AP-1 were activated by the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 in the absence or presence of 21 selected plant extracts and the effect was evaluated by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In both types of cells activation of NF-kappaB by IL-1 was significantly inhibited by extracts from Scandix australis and Artemisia alba, whereas extracts from Amaranthus sp., Eryngium campestre, Thymus pulegioides and Reichardia picroides elicited cell-type dependent response. The IL-1-induced AP-1 activation was diminished by extracts from Scandix australis, Amaranthus sp. and Artemisia alba more potently in HUVEC, while extracts from Urospermum picroides and Scandix pecten-veneris in HepG2 cells. Inhibitory activities of plant extracts towards cytokine activated NF-kappaB and AP-1 depend to some extent on the order of addition of IL-1 and plant extract to the cell culture, but the mechanism of action of extract components is not clear: although plant polyphenols may participate they are unlikely to be the only mediators, and MAP kinases were found generally not involved in down-regulation of transcription factors activity by plant extracts.

Differential responses of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells to anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10.

Recombinant preparations of human anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10, inhibited LPS-induced synthesis of TNFalpha and IL-6 in the whole human blood tested in vitro. These cytokines also inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 and TNF mRNA accumulation in isolated human blood monocytes/macrophages. On the other hand, similar concentrations of IL-4 and IL-13 (but not IL-10) enhanced synthesis of IL-6 in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In human hepatoma HepG2 cells IL-4 and IL-13 (but not IL-10) inhibited IL-6-induced synthesis of haptoglobin. These differential responses to the tested anti-inflammatory cytokines were observed at mRNA and protein levels and may reflect cell specificities in signalling pathways and gene expression. When HUVEC and HepG2 cells were cultured together and stimulated with LPS the addition of IL-4 or IL-13 resulted in the reduction of LPS-induced and IL-6-mediated haptoglobin synthesis. Thus in co-culture the inhibitory effects of IL-4 or IL-13 on HepG2 cells prevail over stimulation of IL-6 synthesis in HUVEC.

Rooperol tetraacetate decreases cytokine mRNA levels and binding capacity of transcription factors in U937 cells.

We have previously described inhibition of the synthesis of three acute-phase inflammatory cytokines in human and rat macrophages by acetate esters of rooperol, a dicatechol of plant origin. Analysing the mechanism of anticytokine activity of rooperol, we compared levels of TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNAs in the human promonocytic U937 cell line pretreated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and incubated with rooperol tetraacetate (RTA) alone or in combination with LPS (500 ng/ml). It was found that 10 microM RTA decreased the levels of cytokine mRNAs both in the presence and absence of LPS, suggesting pretranslational inhibition of cytokine synthesis. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA) showed that RTA may influence cytokine mRNA expression by decreasing the binding activity of transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1.

Rooperol, an inhibitor of cytokine synthesis, decreases the respiratory burst in human and rat leukocytes and macrophages.

Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence was measured in fresh whole human blood, or human neutrophils isolated from heparinized blood, human alveolar macrophages and rat alveolar macrophages stimulated with bacterial endotoxin (LPS). Tetraacetate esters of rooperol, a dicatechol showing anticytokine activity, added to cells simultaneously with LPS inhibited the respiratory burst. The effective concentrations of rooperol were in the range of 1-10 muM depending on cell type and corresponded well with inhibition of nitric oxide production by rat alveolar macrophages. Thus rooperol may reduce some effects of excessive phagocytic activity and inflammatory reaction but by quenching free radicals production may also diminish the resistance to bacterial infections.

Curdlan sulphate modulates protein synthesis and enhances NF-kappaB and C/EBP binding activity in HepG2 cells.

In human hepatoma HepG2 cell line curdlan sulphate enhances basal and interleukin-6-stimulated fibrinogen and antichymotrypsin (ACT) synthesis, slightly increases basal ceruloplasmin production and exerts only minor effects on alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor and transferrin. Curdlan sulphate may, at least in part, affect protein synthesis at a pretranslational level, as the expression of ACT mRNA was found to be increased, whereas intracellular enzyme, manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA level was decreased in the cell culture treated with curdlan sulphate. Gel mobility shift analysis revealed that curdlan sulphate increases the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB and C/EBP, suggesting that these transcription factors may participate in the regulatory effects of curdlan sulphate in HepG2 cells.

Cytokine production in human and rat macrophages and dicatechol rooperol and esters.

The ability of dicatechol rooperol and esters to inhibit the production of cytokines in endotoxin-stimulated human alveolar macrophages, human blood monocyte/macrophages, histiocytic cell line U937, and rat alveolar macrophages was examined in vitro. Rooperol derivatives inhibited the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6. Of the esters tested on human cells, rooperol diacetate and tetraacetate were more potent inhibitors of cytokine production (IC50 in the range of 10-20 microM) than rooperol disulphate (IC50 in the range of 25-75 microM). The acetate esters also inhibited cytokine production in rat alveolar macrophages, whereas the sulphate had little effect. Rooperol and acetate esters, in the same concentration range, decreased the production of nitric oxide by rat alveolar macrophages stimulated by endotoxin. These concentrations of rooperol had no effect on cell viability, as indicated by incorporation of 14C-labelled leucine into macrophage proteins and their content of lactate dehydrogenase. The results obtained suggest that rooperol esters are potentially useful antiinflammatory agents.

Hepatocyte growth factor and retinoic acid exert opposite effects on synthesis of type 1 and type 2 acute phase proteins in rat hepatoma cells.

Rat hepatoma cells H-35 cultured in serum-free medium were exposed to interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), retinoic acid (RA), or a mixture of these factors. Production of acute phase proteins, responding to IL-6 alone (type 2) or to the mixture of IL-6 and IL-1, was assessed by electroimmunoassay and the corresponding mRNAs were compared by Northern blot analysis. HGF enhanced IL-6-induced synthesis of alpha-2-macroglobulin but reduced synthesis of C3 complement and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein. Retinoic acid reduced the response to IL-6 of alpha-2-macroglobulin but enhanced that of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and especially of C3 complement. In general, changes in protein secretion were correlated with the contents of their corresponding cellular mRNAs. These results indicate that hepatocyte growth factor can enhance basal or IL-6-induced gene expression of type 2 and reduce the expression of type 1 acute phase proteins, whereas the action of retinoic acid is opposite. The modulation of acute phase response by HGF and RA likely involves transcriptional factors and regulatory sequences in the genes coding for these two types of acute phase proteins.

Origin of circulating acute phase cytokines: modified proteins may trigger IL-6 production by macrophages. Preliminary report.

Human peripheral blood monocytes isolated by centrifugation with Mono-Poly resolving medium, and human alveolar macrophages obtained by lung lavage during fiberoscopic bronchoscopy, were cultured in RPMI containing 2% foetal calf serum. The cultures were exposed to modified human proteins: alpha-1-antitrypsin cleaved with papain, fibrinogen degradation products (fraction D) purified from plasmin digest, and non-enzymatically glycosylated (glycated) serum albumin. Conditioned macrophage media were tested for the contents of acute phase cytokines by bioassay with hepatoma cells, and the concentration of interleukin-6 was determined with ELISA. Modified proteins stimulated macrophages to produce acute phase cytokines and the response was not abrogated by polymyxin B in distinction to stimulation of macrophages by endotoxin. Our data indicate that some proteolytically damaged proteins or the end glycosylation products formed in pathological states (acute inflammation, diabetes) may be responsible for the appearance of cytokines in the circulation.

Comparative properties of human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor glycosylation variants.

Variant forms of human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha-1-PI), obtained by the treatment of human Hep G2 cells with specific inhibitors of glycosylation were tested for both inhibitory activity and heat stability. All were found to have the same second-order association rate with human neutrophil elastase, indicating a lack of importance of the carbohydrate moiety. In contrast, incompletely glycosylated forms of alpha-1-PI were found to be heat sensitive relative to the mature protein, suggesting a role for carbohydrate in protein stabilization.

Serpins: structure and mechanism of action.

The Serpins are a major family of proteins, most of which are involved in the regulation of proteinase activity. Current data indicate that inhibitor function is dependent on formation of tight, but reversible binary complexes, with carbohydrate being unimportant for this function. The reaction takes place in a reactive site loop common to all Serpins, with the key residue for complex formation being in the P1 reactive site position. However, other contact residues are also involved as shown by the variation in specificity in a number of animal proteins with the same P1 residue. The role of other amino acid residues in Serpins which aid in conferring specificity has not yet been established. However, the availability of methods for obtaining site specific mutations should soon make it possible to determine other contact points required for Serpin function, thus allowing for the design of inhibitors which are singularly targeted with a high reaction rate towards a given proteinase.

Effects of dexamethasone and insulin on the acute phase response of Morris hepatoma cells and of rat hepatocytes in culture.

Dexamethasone and insulin stimulate production of several plasma proteins in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes but inhibit their production in primary cultures of Morris hepatoma cell line 7777W. The acute phase response elicited in cultured cells by crude cytokines from activated rat peritoneal macrophages is considerably higher in hepatocytes in the presence of hormones, and especially of dexamethasone. In hepatoma cells the hormones enhance the cytokine-induced formation of fibrinogen and cysteine proteinase inhibitor but are without significant effect on suppression of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein synthesis by macrophage supernatants.

Alpha 1 acid glycoprotein in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Some aspects of sugar moiety structure and metabolism.

The pure alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) preparation from streptozotocin diabetic rat sera showed diminished sialic acid content and lower ratios of galactose to mannose and galactose to fucose. In vivo incorporation of 14C-leucine and 3H-galactose into AGP of control and diabetic animals was studied 30, 60 and 120 min after administration of the radioisotopic precursors. The changed 14C/3H ratio in AGP of diabetic rats suggested disturbed glycosylation of AGP in this disease. Similar activity of UDP-galactose 4-epimerase in control and diabetic rat liver was found suggesting that this enzyme has no influence on the decreased level of serum protein bound galactose.