HIV impairs CD34+-derived monocytic precursor differentiation into functional dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) perform a basic role in the immune system by allowing the initiation of the primary T-cell-dependent immune response. Given previous indirect evidence that DC maturation and function are impaired by HIV, we have developed an in vitro culture system in order to verify the effect of HIV infection on DC function during the development from hematopoietic progenitors. Considering that monocytic (Mo) differentiating cells efficiently replicate monocytotropic HIV, we examined whether HIV-infected monocytic precursors (MoP) were able to generate functional DCs. CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) were induced along Mo differentiative pathway in liquid cultures and at an early stage of culture, MoP were infected with M-tropic BaL HIV strain, and after 2 days they were switched to DC differentiation with GM-CSF and IL-4. Derived DCs were actively infected, as detected by HIV-p24 production. HIV did not significantly affect cell viability, but induced a reduction in cell proliferation and an inefficient functional activity in terms of uptake capability and stimulation of allogenic T cells. These results indicate that HIV-infected MoP lost the capacity to generate functional DCs, and this may represent one of the many mechanisms of immunosuppression exploited by HIV.

Unilineage monocytopoiesis in hematopoietic progenitor culture: switching cytokine treatment at all Mo developmental stages induces differentiation into dendritic cells.

We have developed a new culture system whereby human hematopoietic progenitors purified from adult peripheral blood extensively proliferate and gradually differentiate into >95% pure monocytic (Mo) cells. At all developmental stages treatment with interleukin (IL)-4+granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or IL-4+c-Kit-ligand+FLT-3 ligand switched the Mo precursors into dendritic cells (DCs). The switching capacity decreased only at the end of the culture, when most Mo cells matured to macrophages. Moreover, the Mo precursors were highly susceptible to transduction with lentiviral vectors: once switched to DCs, they maintained the transgene expression, as well as the phenotype and function of the DC lineage. Our results provide new insight into the potential role of the Mo lineage as a reservoir of DCs in vivo. Furthermore, the methodology for transduction of Mo precursors provides a tool to generate genetically modified, normally functioning DCs potentially useful for immunotherapy.

Phorbol ester-induced disruption of the CD4-Lck complex occurs within a detergent-resistant microdomain of the plasma membrane. Involvement of the translocation of activated protein kinase C isoforms.

Recent studies have highlighted the existence of discrete microdomains at the cell surface that are distinct from caveolae. The function of these microdomains remains unknown. However, recent evidence suggests that they may participate in a subset of transmembrane signaling events. In hematopoietic cells, these low density Triton-insoluble (LDTI) microdomains (also called caveolae-related domains) are dramatically enriched in signaling molecules, such as cell surface receptors (CD4 and CD55), Src family tyrosine kinases (Lyn, Lck, Hck, and Fyn), heterotrimeric G proteins, and gangliosides (GM1 and GM3). Human T lymphocytes have become a well established model system for studying the process of phorbol ester-induced down-regulation of CD4. Here, we present evidence that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced down-regulation of the cell surface pool of CD4 occurs within the LDTI microdomains of T cells. Localization of CD4 in LDTI microdomains was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. PMA-induced disruption of the CD4-Lck complex was rapid (within 5 min), and this disruption occurred within LDTI microdomains. Because PMA is an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), we next evaluated the possible roles of different PKC isoforms in this process. Our results indicate that PMA induced the rapid translocation of cytosolic PKCs to LDTI microdomains. We identified PKCalpha as the major isoform involved in this translocation event. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that LDTI microdomains represent a functionally important plasma membrane compartment in T cells.

Unilineage megakaryocytic proliferation and differentiation of purified hematopoietic progenitors in serum-free liquid culture.

Cellular and molecular analysis of megakaryocytopoiesis has been hampered thus far by the lack of pure and abundant megakaryocyte (MK) cell populations. In this study, hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), stringently purified from peripheral blood, were induced to megakaryocytic differentiation/maturation in serum-free liquid suspension culture treated with a growth factor cocktail (interleukin-3 [IL-3], c-kit ligand, and IL-6) and/or recombinant mpl ligand (mpIL). In particular, (1) the growth factor cocktail induced the growth of a 40% MK population, ie, 4 x 10(4) cells at day 0 generated 2 x 10(5) MK at terminal maturation; (2) further addition of mpIL increased the MK purity level to 80% with a final yield of 4 x 10(5) MKs; (3) treatment with mpIL alone resulted in a 97% to 99% MK population, with a mild increase of cell number (to 1.5 x 10(5) cells). In mpIL-supplemented culture, morphological evaluation indicated the presence of putative mononuclear MK precursors and then of mature polynucleated platelet-forming MKs, peaking at days 5 and 12, respectively. Membrane phenotype analysis showed a gradual decrease of CD34+ HPCs, coupled with an inverse increase of MK-specific antigens (eg, CD61/62/42b) starting before mature MK detection by morphology analysis. In situ hybridization showed the expression of MK-specific von Willebrand gene in both MK precursors and mature MKs. Furthermore, MKs synthesize and secrete low but significant amounts of both IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Comparative culture studies were performed on purified bone marrow CD34+/38hi or CD34+/38lo cells stimulated by mpIL alone. Both populations generated a highly enriched MK progeny (62% and 93% MKs at day 12 of culture, respectively) but showed either little or no proliferation. In conclusion, the purified peripheral blood HPC differentiation culture system allows for growth of a relatively large number of highly purified or "pure" megakaryocytic precursors and then mature MKs, thus providing an in vitro experimental tool to dissect the cellular and molecular basis of megakaryocytopoiesis.

Multi-level effects of flt3 ligand on human hematopoiesis: expansion of putative stem cells and proliferation of granulomonocytic progenitors/monocytic precursors.

We have evaluated the effects of the flt3 receptor ligand (FL) on hematopoietic progenitors/stem cells (HPCs/HSCs) stringently purified from adult peripheral blood and grown in different culture systems. In these experiments HPCs/HSCs were treated with FL +/- kit ligand (KL) +/- monocyte colony-stimulatory factor (M-CSF). In clonogenetic HPC culture supplemented with interleukin-3 (IL-3)/granulomonocyte-CSF (GM-CSF)/erythropoietin (Epo), FL potentiates colony-forming unit (CFU)-GM proliferation in terms of colony number and size, but exerts little effect on burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) and CFU-granulocyte erythroid megakaryocyte macrophage (CFU-GEMM) growth, whereas KL enhances the proliferation of all HPC types; combined FL+KL +/- M-CSF treatment causes a striking shift of CFU-GM colonies from granulocytic to monocytic differentiation. In liquid suspension HPC culture, FL alone induces differentiation along the monocytic and to a minor extent the basophilic lineages, whereas M-CSF alone stimulates prevalent monocytic differentiation but little cell proliferation: combined M-CSF+FL treatment causes both proliferation and almost exclusive monocytic differentiation (97% monocytes in fetal calf serum-rich (FCS+) culture conditions, mean value). At primitive HPC level, FL potentiates the clonogenetic capacity of colony-forming units-blast (CFU-B) and high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC) in primary and secondary culture; KL exerts a similar action, and additive effects are induced by FL combined with KL. More important, addition of FL alone causes a significant amplification of the number of long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs), ie, putative repopulating HSCs, whereas this effect is not induced by KL. The FL effects correlate with flt3 mRNA expression in HPCs differentiating throught the erythroid or GM pathway in liquid suspension culture: (1) flt3 mRNA is expressed in freshly purified, resting HPCs; after growth factor stimulus the message (2) is abruptly down-modulated in HPC erythroid differentiation, but (3) is sustainedly expressed through HPC GM differentiation and abolished in GM precursor maturation. This pattern contrasts with the gradual downmodulation of c-kit through both erythroid and GM HPC differentiation. The results indicate that FL exerts a stimulatory action on primitive HPCs, including a unique expanding effect on putative stem cells, whereas its distal proliferative/differentiative action is largely restricted to CFU-GM and monocytic precursors. The latter effect is potentiated by KL and M-CSF, thus suggesting that the structural similarities of FL, KL, M-CSF, and their tyrosine kinase receptors may mediate positive interactions of these growth factors son monocytic differentiation.

Coordinate expression and developmental role of Id2 protein and TAL1/E2A heterodimer in erythroid progenitor differentiation.

The Id proteins and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins play major roles in specifying cell fate decisions in diverse biologic settings. A potential role for Id and TAL1/E2A bHLH genes in hematopoiesis has been suggested by studies on immortalized cell lines. However, it is uncertain whether these observations reflect normal hematopoiesis. We have investigated the expression pattern of Id2 and TAL1/E2A genes in liquid suspension culture of purified hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPCs) undergoing erythroid or granulopoietic differentiation in the first culture week and maturation to terminal cells in the second week. In quiescent, freshly purified HPCs, Id2 mRNA is detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), whereas TAL1 and E2A mRNAs are not. At the onset of erythroid differentiation, Id2 mRNA is downregulated, while E2A and TAL1 mRNAs are concomitantly upregulated: their expression is further increased at erythroblast level. Conversely, Id2 is not downmodulated in granulopoietic culture, except for a late decline at day 10 to 12, while TAL1 and E2A are only transiently induced in the first week of granulopoietic differentiation. The expression pattern of the TAL1/E2A heterodimer, as evaluated by mobility shift assay, is consistent with RT-PCR results (except for lower levels of the heterodimer in late erythroid maturation). TAL1 protein level, analyzed by Western blot, shows a pattern consistent with gelshift results. Functional experiments were performed on purified HPCs treated with phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to Id2 or TAL1 mRNA. The results are strictly consistent with the expression studies: anti-Id2 oligomer (alpha-Id2) causes a significant dose-dependent increase of erythroid colony formation, whereas alpha-TAL1 induces a selective dose-related inhibitory effect on erythroid colonies, as compared with untreated or scrambled oligomer-treated control HPCs. Finally, murine and human glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-Id2 polypeptides compete the TAL1/E2A-specific DNA binding activity when added to the nuclear extracts derived from erythroid culture cells, thus indicating biochemical and suggesting functional interaction of Id2 with the TAL1/E2A complex. These novel observations indicate a coordinate expression and function of an inhibitory Id protein (Id2) and a stimulatory bHLH/bHLH heterodimer (TAL1/E2A) in normal erythroid differentiation.

Modulation of retinoblastoma gene in normal adult hematopoiesis: peak expression and functional role in advanced erythroid differentiation.

The retinoblastoma (RB) gene specifies a nuclear phosphoprotein (pRb 105), which is a prototype tumor suppressor inactivated in a variety of human tumors. Recent studies suggest that RB is also involved in embryonic development of murine central nervous and hematopoietic systems. We have investigated RB expression and function in human adult hematopoiesis--i.e., in liquid suspension culture of purified quiescent hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) induced by growth factor stimulus to proliferation and unilinage differentiation/maturation through the erythroid or granulocytic lineage. In the initial HPC differentiation stages, the RB gene is gradually induced at the mRNA and protein level in both erythroid and granulopoietic cultures. In late HPC differentiation and then precursor maturation, RB gene expression is sustained in the erythroid lineage, whereas it is sharply downmodulated in the granulocytic series. Functional studies were performed by treatment of HPC differentiation culture with phosphorothioate antisense oligomer targeting Rb mRNA; coherent with the expression pattern, oligomer treatment of late HPCs causes a dose-dependent and selective inhibition of erythroid colony formation. These observations suggest that the RB gene plays an erythroid- and stage-specific functional role in normal adult hematopoiesis, particularly at the level of late erythroid HPCs.

HOXB gene expression and function in differentiating purified hematopoietic progenitors.

Intensive efforts have led to the development of methods for stringent purification of adult hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), particularly from peripheral blood (PB). The purification procedure previously reported by our group (Science, 1990) provided a high HPC frequency, but yielded a low HPC recovery (< or = 5-10%). We therefore developed an improved purification methodology based on "potentiated" negative immunobead selection (Step IIIP) by addition of anti-CD45, -11a and -71 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the previously utilized panel of mAbs. This simplified procedure consistently allows not only high level purification but also abundant recovery of early HPCs: the final Step IIIP cell population (0.95 x 10(6) cells/4 PB donors, mean value) features an 81% HPC frequency and a recovery of 45% of the initial HPCs. The purified HPCs bear the primitive HPC phenotype, i.e., they are consistently CD34+, largely CD33-/45RA-, and in part HLA-DR-/low/CD38-/low/Thy-1+. In optimized semi-solid culture, the purified erythroid/multipotent HPCs give rise to macroscopic colonies (10,000-150,000 cells/clone, > 0.5 mm size colonies). This purification methodology compares favorably with previously reported procedures in terms of combined HPC frequency and recovery: availability of a large number of highly purified, early HPCs will provide an experimental tool for analysis of the molecular/cellular basis of early hematopoiesis. We have investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the mRNA expression of homeobox B (HOXB) cluster genes in purified HPCs induced in liquid suspension culture to gradual erythroid or granulopoietic (largely eosinophilic) differentiation and maturation by differential growth factor (GF) stimulus. Only B3 is expressed in quiescent HPCs. After GF treatment B3 expression is enhanced in the initial 24 h and then through erythroid and granulopoietic differentiation and maturation. HOXB4 and B5 are induced at slightly later times and expressed through maturation in both lineages, while B6 is selectively induced in granulocytic differentiation. B2 is transiently expressed at low level in the granulopoietic pathway, while it is detected only in advanced stages of erythropoiesis; B7, B8 and B9 are essentially not detected. Functional studies were performed with antisense phosphorothioate oligomers to HOX mRNAs including: 1) anti-B3 oligomer (alpha-B3) treatment of purified HPCs induces a striking blockade of both erythroid and granulomonocytic colony formation, 2) alpha-B6 selectively and markedly inhibits granulomonocytic colony formation, 3) alpha-B4 and alpha-B5 cause a significant, less pronounced decrease of both colony types and finally, 4) alpha-B2 and alpha-B7, alpha-B9 exert little and no effect respectively.

Efficient transfer of selectable and membrane reporter genes in hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells purified from human peripheral blood.

We have utilized highly purified hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells (HPCs, HSCs) from normal peripheral blood to develop methodology for: (a) efficient transfer into HPCs of a non-hematopoietic membrane reporter, i.e., the nerve growth factor receptor complementary DNA; and (b) effective gene transduction of putative HSCs, i.e., cells initiating Dexter-type long-term culture (LTC-ICs). Purified HPCs induced into cycling by growth factors (interleukin 3, interleukin 6, c-kit ligand) were transduced with the N2 retroviral vector containing the neomycin resistance (neor) gene. More than 80% of transduced HPCs were resistant to the toxic G418 level. Thereafter, the HPCs were effectively transduced with the LNSN retroviral vector containing a nerve growth factor receptor complementary DNA; the nerve growth factor receptor was detected on > or = 18% of the transduced HPCs. These experiments provide a new tool from which (a) to monitor expression of a transduced membrane report on hematopoietic cells, particularly at the level of HPCs/HSCs, and (b) to characterize the transduced cells by double- and triple-labeling membrane antigen analysis. Purified HPCs/HSCs grown in Dexter-type LTC were transduced at 1 week by exposure to supernatant N2 retroviral particles in the absence of exogenous hematopoietic growth factors. The procedure, devoid of toxic effects, allowed an efficient neor transduction into LTC-ICs. Thus, we consistently detected neomycin-resistant mRNA in the clonal progeny of HPCs produced in LTC at 5-8 weeks in both the nonadherent and adherent fractions; this timing of expression coincides with that of HPC production by LTC-ICs, thereby indicating the effective transduction of the LTC-ICs. These experiments represent a first step toward development of preclinical models for gene transfer into human peripheral blood HSCs by complex retroviral vectors.

Coordinate expression and proliferative role of HOXB genes in activated adult T lymphocytes.

We investigated the expression of HOXB cluster genes in purified phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T lymphocytes from normal adult peripheral blood by reverse transcription PCR and RNase protection. These genes are not expressed in quiescent T cells, except for barely detectable B1 RNA. After the PHA stimulus, HOXB gene activation initiates coordinately as a rapid induction wave in the 3'-->5' cluster direction (i.e., from HOXB1 through B9 genes). Thus, (i) expression of the foremost 3'-located B1 and B2 genes peaks 10 min after PHA addition and then rapidly declines, (ii) activation of B3, B4, and B5 begins 10 min after PHA addition and peaks at later times (i.e., at 120 min for B5), (iii) B6, B7, and B9 are expressed at a low level starting at later times (45 to 60 min), and (iv) B8 remains silent. Treatment of PHA-activated T lymphocytes with antisense oligonucleotides to B2 or B4 mRNA causes a drastic inhibition of T-cell proliferation and a decreased expression of T-cell activation markers (i.e., interleukin 2 and transferrin receptors). Similarly, treatment of CEM-CCRF, Peer, and SEZ627 T acute lymphocytic leukemia cell lines with anti-B4 oligomer markedly inhibits cell proliferation. Finally, T cells stimulated by a low dosage of PHA in the presence of 1 microM retinoic acid show a marked increase of both HOXB expression, particularly B2, and cell proliferation. These studies provide novel evidence on the role of HOX genes in adult cell proliferation. (i) Coordinate, early activation of HOXB genes from the 3'-->5' cluster side apparently underlies T-cell activation. (ii) The expression pattern in adult PHA-activated T cells is strikingly similar to that observed in retinoic acid-induced teratocarcinoma cells (A. Simeone, D. Acampora, L. Arcioni, P. W. Andres, E. Boncinelli, and F. Mavilio, Nature (London) 346:763-766, 1990), thus suggesting that molecular mechanisms underlying HOX gene expression in the earliest stages of development may also operate in activated adult T lymphocytes.

c-fes expression in ontogenetic development and hematopoietic differentiation.

The c-fes protein (NCP92) is a tyrosine-specific protein kinase, capable of both autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of other substrates. We have analysed c-fes RNA expression in human/murine ontogenetic development and in homogeneous populations of embryonic and adult human hematopoietic cells. c-fes expression has been observed in rapidly proliferating embryonic-fetal tissues originating from different germinal layers, but not in adult non-hematopoietic tissues. In particular, a spatially and temporally regulated transcription was observed in the central nervous system and in developing cartilage. Expression in hematopoietic cells was evaluated in progenitors purified from embryonic-fetal liver and adult peripheral blood differentiating gradually and specifically along the erythroid or granulomonocytic lineage. In both embryonic and adult hematopoietic cells c-fes was abundantly expressed in undifferentiated progenitors of both lineages, as well as in differentiated granulomonocytic precursors, but not in erythroblasts. This expression pattern correlates with that of GM-CSF and in part IL-3 receptors (Testa et al., 1993 and our unpublished results). Altogether, these results suggest a possible role for c-fes in signal transduction, in both embryonic non-hematopoietic tissues and embryonic/adult hematopoietic cells, following interaction of growth factors with their tyrosine-kinase negative receptors (i.e., GM-CSF and IL-3 receptors in adult hematopoietic cells and other hypothetical growth factor(s) receptors during embryonic development.

Stringently purified human hematopoietic progenitors/stem cells: analysis of cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying early hematopoiesis.

Analysis of the cellular/molecular basis of the early steps of hematopoietic proliferation and differentiation is hindered by the rarity of hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells (HP/HSC). The intensive efforts devoted to the development of purification methods for early HP and HSC, although initially largely unsuccessful, have recently provided a high level of HP/HSC yield and/or recovery. The methodology developed by our group, recently improved, provides not only virtually complete purification, but also abundant recovery of early HP/HSC such as colony forming units granulocyte/erythroid/macrophage/megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM), burst forming units erythroid (BFU-E), CFU granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM)/CFU blast cells (CFU-B), and long-term culture initiating cells (LTC-IC) from adult peripheral and cord blood (CB). We have also developed a serum-free liquid suspension culture for unilineage erythroid (E), granulocytic (G) or monocytic (M) differentiation of stringently purified HP/HSC. These culture systems allow sequential collection and cellular/molecular analysis of discrete populations of hematopoietic cells at a homogenous stage of differentiation specifically along a unilineage pathway. These experimental tools have been utilized to investigate cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying early hematopoiesis. The transcription factor (TF) GATA-1 is considered to be the "master" gene of erythropoiesis. In highly purified HP/HSC undergoing E or GM differentiation, GATA-1 expression is characterized initially by proliferation-dependent activation and at later stages by sustained expression in the E pathway and suppression in the GM pathway. Hypothetically, similar on/off switches of lineage-restricted TF may underlie the binary fate decisions of early HP differentiation. The expression and modulation of hematopoietic growth factor receptors (HGFR) in early hematopoiesis have been extensively analyzed. The results suggest a model of transactivation cascade for HGFR such as interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R), IL-3R, GM colony stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSFR), and erythropoietin receptor (EpR), whereby each HGF upmodulates the R(s) for distal-acting HGF(s). Finally, we have investigated the effect of HGF on reactivation of hemoglobin F (HbF) in clonogenic or liquid suspension serum-free culture of purified adult HP. The results suggest that c-kit ligand (KL) plays a key role in the reactivation of HbF synthesis in adult life, and IL-3/GM-CSF potentiate this effect at low KL level. The KL-induced HbF reactivation is seemingly related to an enhanced proliferation of early E progenitors in their differentiation pathway.

Cellular and molecular studies on the early stages of human hematopoietic differentiation in culture of pure progenitors.

Methodology has been developed that enables virtually complete purification and recovery of early hematopoietic progenitors from human adult blood, a minority of which is multipotent and endowed with self-renewal capacities, i.e., exhibits stem cell properties. This report briefly reviews: (i) the key steps involved in the progenitor purification and assay procedure; (ii) the characterization of "pure" progenitors at the level of membrane antigen pattern and response to HGFs; (iii) the development of a liquid suspension culture for the pure progenitors, which allows synchronized and selective erythroid or GM differentiation, and hence may be utilized for the analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying early and late stages of hematopoiesis; (iv) the study of the expression and modulation of HGFRs expressed on progenitors.

Interleukin-2 bolus therapy induces immediate and selective disappearance from peripheral blood of all lymphocyte subpopulations displaying natural killer activity: role of cell adhesion to endothelium.

As early as 10-15 min after the start of a 30 min interleukin-2 (IL-2) infusion, a rapid, virtually complete disappearance of all natural killer (NK) lymphocyte subpopulations (including both CD3- CD56+ and CD3+ CD56+ cells with either alpha/beta or gamma/delta T-cell receptor) was observed from peripheral blood. In contrast, the number of T lymphocytes (CD3+ CD56-) was unmodified for at least 2 h after IL-2 injection. The IL-2-induced, rapid disappearance from peripheral blood of NK and NK-like lymphocytes may be related to their massive adherence to the activated endothelium. In this regard, IL-2 infusion caused a very rapid rise of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plasma concentration, whereas other cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were induced only at later times. In vitro experiments indicated that IL-2, either alone or better combined with TNF-alpha, exerts a rapid and selective stimulatory effect on NK adhesion to endothelial cells. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that the activation of NK lymphocytes induced by IL-2, alone or combined with TNF-alpha, plays a key role in mediating the massive and selective adherence of NK and NK-like cells following IL-2 bolus infusion.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms in early hematopoietic differentiation.

Recently developed methodology allows virtually complete purification and abundant recovery of hematopoietic progenitors from human adult peripheral blood (PB) (1). We have recently utilized the population of stringently purified progenitors to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the early steps of hematopoietic differentiation. Three aspects of these studies are briefly reported here.

Combined interleukin 1/interleukin 2 therapy of mice injected with highly metastatic Friend leukemia cells: host antitumor mechanisms and marked effects on established metastases.

Peritumoral injection of recombinant human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) in mice transplanted subcutaneously with Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC) resulted in a marked increase in survival time and inhibition of metastatic tumor growth in liver and spleen. In contract, IL-2 treatment alone did not significantly inhibit the development of FLC metastases. A synergistic antitumor effect was observed after combined IL-1/IL-2 therapy of these mice. The antitumor action of IL-1/IL-2 treatment was abolished or markedly reduced in mice treated with antibodies to CD4 or CD8 antigens, whereas antibodies to asialo-GM1 were ineffective. A clear-cut increase in the percentage of CD4+ cells was observed in the spleens of cytokine-treated mice on days 17 and 23. On day 23 of cytokine therapy, CD8+ cells were increased in both spleens and lymph nodes. On day 17, infiltrates of host-reactive cells (i.e., lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes) were observed in both spleen and liver from FLC-injected mice treated with IL-1/IL-2, in association with tumor cells. On days 17 and 23, spleen cells and cells recovered from mesenteric lymph nodes of IL-1/IL-2-treated mice exerted a potent antitumor effect as determined by Winn assay experiments. This antitumor activity was abolished by preincubation of spleen cells with anti-CD8 antibody, but not by treatment with antibodies to asialo-GM1; antibodies to CD4 exerted only a slight effect. Combined IL-1/IL-2 therapy was more effective on established (i.e., 6-7-d) FLC tumors than on early (i.e., 1-d) tumor-transplanted mice. IL-1/IL-2 treatments were also highly effective in increasing survival time of mice from which the subcutaneous primary tumors were excised 7 d after FLC injection. These data indicate that in mice injected with FLC, the antitumor effects of IL-1/IL-2 are mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ cells (but not NK cells), and suggest that this combined cytokine treatment may be effective against established metastatic tumors.

Long-term culture growth of CD4-CD8- lymphocytes exhibiting elevated non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic activity.

We have developed a culture system for "long-term" growth of human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells exhibiting an elevated, wide-spectrum anti-tumor cytotoxicity. The system allows the exponential growth of monocyte- and B-lymphocyte-depleted CD4-CD8- lymphocytes in the presence of human AB serum and recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) (2 x 10(2) U/ml) combined with interleukin (IL-1) beta (50 ng/ml). After 21 days in culture, these cells undergo massive amplification (i.e., the cell yield rises up to 30-120 times the starting values), and exhibit a marked anti-tumor cytotoxic activity against a panel of natural killer (NK)-resistant tumor cell lines. Interestingly, this activity correlates with the high level of perforin RNA. The membrane phenotypes of the final cell population, assessed by a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) indicate a mixed population comprising two cell types in variable proportions (i) NKH-1+, T cell receptor (TCR) alpha/beta-, TCR gamma/delta-, CD3-, Leu 23+; (ii) NKH-(+), TCR alpha/beta-, TCR gamma/delta+, CD3+, Leu 23+. This culture system may provide a tool for cellular and molecular studies on the mechanisms of anti-tumor cytotoxicity, as well as the basis for new adoptive immunotherapy protocols in advanced cancers.