Lymphotoxin and an associated 33-kDa glycoprotein are expressed on the surface of an activated human T cell hybridoma

A human T cell hybridoma, II-23.D7, was induced with phorbol ester to express a surface form of lymphotoxin (LT, TNF-beta) and an associated 33-kDa glycoprotein. The LT epitopes were detected by surface immunofluorescence staining and by immunoprecipitation from radioiodinated or biosynthetically labeled cells with the use of anti-rLT polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. The epitopes detected by the antibody were related to LT because adsorption of the anti-rLT with PMA-activated II-23.D7 cells resulted in the removal of the neutralizing titer of the anti-rLT antiserum. Immunoprecipitation of surface radioiodinated II-23.D7 cells revealed two bands of 25 kDa and 33 kDa that were specifically precipitated with anti-rLT, but not anti-rTNF antibodies. Enzymatic digestion with glycanases showed both proteins to have N-linked carbohydrate, with O-linked sugar limited to the 25-kDa protein. To determine the biochemical relationship between these proteins, the two LT-like forms were purified from detergent-solubilized II-23.D7 cells by immunoaffinity chromatography. Peptide mapping using CNBr cleavage showed the 25-kDa surface form to be identical to rLT, whereas the 33-kDa protein was different. Biosynthetic labeling studies showed that p33 contained both methionine and cysteine, whereas the p25 contained only methionine. Thus, the surface LT form lacks a leader peptide indicating an anchoring mechanism distinct from that described for membrane TNF. The nature of the attachment of this LT form to the membrane surface is not clear, however, neither TNF receptor binding nor lipid linkages appear to be involved. The accessory protein, p33, may anchor LT to the surface. These findings identify a new characteristic of LT and point toward an additional pathway by which T lymphocytes may mediate cytolytic activity and regulate inflammatory processes.

Tumor necrosis factor. Alpha and beta subtypes appear in circulation during onset of sepsis-induced lung injury

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may be involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) associated with septicemia. Therefore, we measured plasma TNF activity during sepsis and development of lung injury in a porcine model of ALI. Plasma samples were obtained from anesthetized saline-infused control pigs (n = 10) and those infused for 1 h with live Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10(8) organisms/ml, 0.3 ml/20 kg/min) (n = 16). TNF activity was measured in plasma using the L929 fibroblast cytolytic assay. L929 cytotoxicity caused by TNF-alpha or TNF-beta was determined in plasma by measuring the cytotoxicity neutralized by TNF antisera. No significant TNF activity was detected in control pig plasma. In septic pigs, TNF activity appeared in plasma 15 min after onset of septicemia and remained elevated throughout the experiment (6.1 +/- 10.2% to 80.0 +/- 5.0%, 15 and 300 min, respectively). The appearance of pulmonary arterial hypertension, increased lung water, decreased lung compliance, and deteriorating gas exchange was correlated with the rise in plasma TNF activity, which reached a peak at 90 to 120 min in septic pigs. Our results provide evidence that both TNF subtypes are present in plasma during septicemia. Anti-TNF-alpha and anti-TNF-beta neutralized TNF activity in whole septic plasma at 15, 30, and 45 min after onset of septicemia, and the antibodies blocked TNF activity in serially diluted septic plasma at all time points up to 210 min of sepsis. TNF activity in septic plasma at 210 to 300 min was not neutralized entirely by TNF antisera.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A simple nonisotopic in vitro bioassay for LT and TNF employing sodium fluoride-treated L-929 target cells that detects picogram quantities of LT and TNF and is as sensitive as TNF assays done with ELISA methodology

We have developed a highly sensitive in vitro bioassay for lymphotoxin (LT) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). This system employs a monolayer of 20,000 L-929 target cells in each well of 96-well microplates that are incubated in dilutions of LT and TNF at 37 degrees C for 20-24 h, after which the viability of the L-929 target cells is assessed by spectrophotometric techniques. We find that incorporation of 2 mM NaF increases the sensitivity of L-929 cells to lysis by 10(3)-10(4) x for LT and 10(4)-10(5) x for TNF. This method allows the regular detection of less than 1-5 pg of bioactive protein. ELISA assays did not detect synthetic TNF and TNF fragments that were not biologically active in this assay. The L-929 bioassay requires no isotopes, is very reproducible, is as sensitive as ELISA techniques, and detects only biologically active LT and TNF.

Lymphotoxin in human middle ear cholesteatoma

The progressive growth of epidermis appears to be a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. How this growth is encouraged is still not well understood. In the present study, lymphotoxin was found in human middle ear cholesteatoma tissues by the immunoperoxidase method using rabbit anti-human lymphotoxin immunoglobulin G (IgG). Lymphotoxin was localized in the epithelium and connective tissues of the cholesteatomas studied. The epithelium of normal external ear canal skin was lightly stained, but the stain was much weaker than that of the cholesteatomas. In vitro, recombinant human lymphotoxin stimulated proliferation, protein synthesis, and terminal differentiation of basal keratinocytes. These findings suggest that lymphotoxin may be one of the mediators involved in the development of cholesteatoma.

Soluble immunologic products in scleroderma sera

To investigate the role of immune mechanisms in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc), we measured the levels of selected cytokines and soluble immune markers in patient sera. Forty-two patients and 14 matched healthy controls are the subject of this report. In the SSc group, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was found in 8/42 (29 +/- 539 pg/ml, mean level +/- SD) and lymphotoxin in 36/42 (1:409-1:200, serum dilution). Interleukin beta (IL-1 beta) was observed in 23/42 (44 +/- 29, U/ml). IL-2 was identified in 36/42 patients with a mean level of 286 +/- 406 U/ml, soluble interleukin-2 receptor in 42/42 (1055 +/- 393, U/ml), soluble CD4 antigen in 27/42 (1:10-1:320, serum dilution), and CD8 in 42/42 (470 +/- 134, U/ml). TNF, lymphotoxin, IL-1 beta, Il-2, and CD4 were not detected in the control group. IL-2 receptor levels in control subjects were 520 +/- 171 U/ml, significantly lower than those of scleroderma (P less than 0.001), and CD8 levels (582 +/- 140) were significantly higher than in scleroderma (P less than 0.05). The data suggest an ongoing activation of immune cells, particularly the CD4+ subset in SSc and indicate a potential role for the released mediator TNF, IL-1 beta, and lymphotoxin in the disease process.

Expression of membrane-associated lymphotoxin/tumor necrosis factor-beta on human lymphokine-activated killer cells

A membrane-associated lymphotoxin (LT)-related molecule was detected on human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells by flow cytometric analysis. Kinetic analysis revealed that the LT antigenicity on LAK cells appeared at 9 h after the beginning of culture and was maintained thereafter. By autoradiography, the molecular weight of membrane LT was estimated to be 31 kD and/or 62 kD.

Immunomodulating cytokines in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis: production of tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin by mononuclear cells in vitro

The immunomodulating cytokines, tumour necrosis factor/cachectin (TNF) and lymphotoxin (LT) are thought to play an essential role as mediators of inflammatory reactions. To evaluate the role of TNF and LT in atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis, we investigated their production by mononuclear cells (MNC) in vitro. The 24-h supernatants of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated and unstimulated MNC from 26 patients with AD and 20 with psoriasis and from 17 non-atopic healthy controls were tested for the concentrations of TNF and LT using an ELISA technique. In patients with AD, TNF levels were significantly decreased in the supernatant of PHA-stimulated (P less than or equal to 0.005) and LPS-stimulated (P less than or equal to 0.02) MNC in comparison to controls. There was no significant difference in TNF production between psoriatic patients and the control group. Release of LT in the supernatant of PHA-stimulated MNC by patients and controls did not differ significantly. There was no significant spontaneous production of TNF and LT by MNC of patients and controls. These studies indicate that different immunomodulating mechanisms are responsible for triggering the inflammatory response in AD and psoriasis.

Natural killer cell-mediated lysis of herpes simplex virus-infected fibroblasts: inability to detect soluble factors that contribute to lysis

We investigated the role of soluble factors in natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells. Supernatants generated by incubating human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with HSV-infected human fibroblasts contained tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lysed uninfected U937 cells, but not HSV-infected fibroblasts. U937 cells, but not HSV-infected fibroblasts, were lysed when exposed to recombinant TNF (rTNF) for 18 hr. NK cell-mediated lysis of HSV-infected fibroblasts was not inhibited by addition of anti-TNF or anti-lymphotoxin (LT) antibodies to cytotoxicity assays. Thus, a role for soluble factors, and in particular TNF and LT, in NK cell-mediated lysis of HSV-infected cells could not be demonstrated.

Enhanced cytotoxicity in the rheumatoid joint

The cytotoxic cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or cachectin and lymphotoxin (LT), are mediators of bone resorption and of inflammation and may have relevance in rheumatoid arthritis. Using mononuclear cells (MC) isolated from matched peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we examined the generation of cytotoxic activity in a bioassay capable of detecting both TNF and LT. Synovial fluid mononuclear cells (MC) released significantly more cytotoxic activity than did matched PBMC, both spontaneously and following activation with phytohemagglutinin P (PHA). When PB and SFMC were stimulated with the combination of PHA plus phorbol-12-myristate acetate (PMA), the resulting culture supernatants possessed comparable cytotoxic activity. Neutralization studies employing anti-cytokine antibodies indicated that TNF represented 43 and 59% of the cytotoxic activity in the PHA plus PMA-induced culture supernatants from PB and SF, respectively. Since no inhibition was noted with antibodies to LT, the nature of the remaining approximately 50% of the cytotoxic activity was not determined. In PB and SF culture supernatants, obtained both spontaneously and following PHA activation, the concentration of TNF measured by ELISA significantly correlated with the level of cytotoxicity. As with the cytotoxic activity, the concentration of TNF was greater in the PHA-stimulated supernatants from SF than from PB. These observations suggest that TNF in the SF may contribute to the inflammation and bone destruction observed in rheumatoid arthritis.

Induction of tumor necrosis factor in human peripheral-blood mononuclear cells by proteolytic enzymes

We could demonstrate that polyenzyme preparations as well as bromelain and papain stimulate the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human peripheral-blood mononuclear cell cultures in a time-dependent manner. We give evidence that immunomodulation and especially the release of cytokines may contribute to the therapeutic effect of these preparations.

An autocrine growth factor constitutively produced by a human lymphoblastoid B-cell line is serologically related to lymphotoxin (TNF-beta)

Conditioned medium of a human lymphoblastoid B-cell line RPMI-6410t contains a factor sufficient for maintainance and growth of these cells. At the same time RPMI-6410t cells secrete a soluble factor cytotoxic towards mouse L929 cells. Production of these activities by RPMI-6410t cell line and its subclones is significantly enhanced after activation with phorbol mirystate acetate (PMA). Both activities can be neutralized by antiserum raised against recombinant lymphotoxin (rTNF-beta) but not by antibodies against tumor necrosis factor (rTNF-alpha). Northern analysis showed the presence of lymphotoxin mRNA which is further induced after PMA treatment. These data suggest that both autocrine growth factor and cytotoxic activities correspond to the same molecule(s) probably identical to 25 kD lymphotoxin (TNF-beta).

An enzyme immunoassay for human lymphotoxin

A highly sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for human lymphotoxin (hLT) has been developed. The assay is based upon a sandwich system employing two kinds of anti-hLT antibodies with neutralizing activity. One of them was mouse monoclonal antibody raised against Escherichia coli-derived recombinant hLT with a deletion of 20 amino-terminal amino acids and used as labelled antibody. The other was rabbit antibody raised against the carboxyl-terminal portion of hLT and used as solid-phase antibody. The EIA employing such a combination was able to detect less than 50 pg/ml of hLT, showing that this method was approximately 5-10 times higher sensitivity than the conventional bioassay employing L929 cell-lysis. The mean recovery of hLT added to serum specimens was 101% and the coefficients of variation were 3.3-7.8% (intra-assay) and 2.9-17.2% (interassay). There was a good correlation between the present EIA and the bioassay (r = 0.93).

Bispecific antibody-producing hybrid hybridoma and its use in one-step immunoassays for human lymphotoxin

A hybrid hybridoma cell line secreting a bispecific monoclonal antibody (MAb) was constructed by fusing horseradish peroxidase (HRPO)-immunized mouse splenocytes with previously established mouse hybridomas secreting anti-human lymphotoxin (hLT). This cell line was grown in ascitic fluid in mice to obtain large quantities of hybrid MAbs and a bispecific antibody, reacting with both HRPO and hLT, was separated from the monospecific antibody or other inactive immunoglobulin populations by hydroxylapatite chromatography. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the bispecific antibody molecule contained two different types of heavy and light chains of both anti-HRPO and anti-hLT origin. The bispecific antibody was used to establish one-step enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) employing competitive and sandwich systems. The simple sandwich EIA was able to detect 1-100 U/ml of hLT and there was good correlation (r = 0.96) between hLT concentrations measured by the one-step EIA and a bioassay using L929 cell-lysis.

A two-site sandwich immunoradiometric assay of human lymphotoxin with monoclonal antibodies and its applications

Three monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs L49-15, L81-11 and L238-14) were raised against recombinant human lymphotoxin (rLT) derived from E. coli containing the cDNA sequence specifying LT. MoAb L81-11 strongly neutralised the cytotoxicity of LT derived either from E. coli or the RPMI 1788 lymphoblastoid cell line, whilst the other two MoAbs were only weakly neutralising in this respect. L81-11 and L238-14 MoAbs bound to different antigenic determinants on the rLT molecule, but neither bound to other lymphokines such as the structurally related tumour necrosis factor (TNF). As such, these MoAbs were ideal reagents for immunoassay of LT and a very sensitive, highly specific immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) was developed. This assay was rapid to perform and was capable of detecting as little as 10 pg/ml of LT. Application of the LT IRMA in combination with previously developed human gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and human TNF-specific IRMA (Crane et al., 1985; Meager et al., 1987) permitted independent estimations of these three substances to be carried out in parallel. By these means, it was found that RPMI 1788 produced both LT and TNF, but not IFN-gamma. Extensive analyses on cytokine (monokine and lymphokine) preparations derived from a variety of activated lymphocytes are also reported. Co-production of LT, TNF and IFN-gamma was a common finding, even occurring in alloantigen-specific T helper cell clones.

[Induction of a cytotoxic factor into the peritoneal fluid (PCF) by OK-432. II. Physicochemical and immunological characteristics of PCF]

A cytotoxic factor (PCF = peritoneal cytotoxic factor) was strongly induced by the injection of LPS into the peritoneal fluids of mice which had been previously primed with OK-432. The similarity in biological activity of PCF, TNF and lymphotoxin led us to study the relationships among the three. When incubated with LPS, the macrophages from the mice primed with OK-432 induced PCF, whereas the lymphocytes did not. These results indicate that PCF is different from lymphotoxin. PCF appears to be identical to Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in the serum for the following reasons: The two factors are similar in their modes of cytotoxic action in vitro. Both factors have a tumor-necrotizing effect when injected into tumor-bearing mice. Both are produced from macrophages. They are similar in their physicochemical characteristics. The cytotoxic activity of PCF was totally abolished by anti-TNF serum.

Induction and characterization of lymphotoxins from tumor promoter-synergized, lectin-stimulated human lymphocytes in vitro

The tumor promoters mezerein and phorbol myristate acetate, and the phorbol diesters phorbol diacetate, phorbol dibenzoate, and phorbol didecanoate synergistically enhanced the production of lymphotoxin (LT) by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood or tonsil and adenoid lymphocytes. LT production was elevated 2-20-fold, depending on such parameters as the nature of the promoter and dose, the lectin dose, and the lymphocyte source. The increased LT levels were primarily due to enhanced production of the alpha-light (alpha L) class of LT. The alpha L-class obtained from supernatants from promoter-synergized, lectin-stimulated lymphocyte cultures was compared with the alpha L from lectin-stimulated cultures. They were indistinguishable by molecular sieving on Ultrogel AcA44, were both composed primarily of the alpha 2-subclass as determined by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, and were immunologically cross-reactive. Lectin-affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and on lentil-lectin--Sepharose revealed that both alpha L preparations were dominated by components with affinity for these matrices. Affinity chromatography on alkyl sorbents also indicated very similar hydrophobicities. Chromatofocusing of the alpha L preparations demonstrated a comparable pattern of isoelectric points. Thus, the use of these drugs in lectin-stimulated human lymphocyte cultures provides an effective means for significantly increasing the yield of alpha L-LT suitable for biochemical purification and analysis, and biological testing in vitro.

Leukoregulin, a direct-acting anticancer immunological hormone that is distinct from lymphotoxin and interferon

Human lymphokine preparations can directly lyse or suppress proliferation of human tumor cells or can enhance the susceptibility of human tumor cells to lysis mediated by natural killer lymphocytes. In the past, these antitumor activities were attributed to lymphotoxin. This study demonstrates, however, that these human lymphokine antitumor cell activities are biochemically separable from lymphotoxin and are properties of a lymphokine which was named leukoregulin because it is produced by lymphocytes and it regulates target cell physiology and growth. Leukoregulin obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography and isoelectric focusing was free of detectable lymphotoxin, interferon, interleukins 1 and 2, and macrophage-activating factor activities. Leukoregulin has an apparent molecular weight of 135,000 as measured by linear gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration chromatography and has isoelectric pHs of approximately 5.3 and 7.5. The molecular weight of leukoregulin, determined in the dissociating conditions of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was 32,000. Flow cytometric analysis showed that tumor cell lysis, growth inhibition, and enhancement of susceptibility to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity by leukoregulin were accompanied by rapid alterations in tumor cell membrane permeability. Lymphotoxin from human peripheral blood leukocytes and highly purified lymphotoxin from RPMI 1788 human lymphoblastoid cells lysed murine alpha-L929 tumor cells but did not possess any of the direct acting antihuman tumor cell cytostatic, cytolytic, or natural killer cell enhancing activities that leukoregulin exhibited against a broad spectrum of human tumor cell lines. The dual modes of the anticancer actions of leukoregulin, direct cytotoxicity and indirect enhancement of natural killer cell cytotoxicity, make leukoregulin a unique-acting lymphokine and suggest several ways in which leukoregulin may be used as a therapeutic agent against cancer.

Rapid colorimetric assay for cell viability: application to the quantitation of cytotoxic and growth inhibitory lymphokines

A rapid colorimetric microtiter assay has been developed to detect cytotoxic lymphokines produced by human lymphocytes activated with lectins or tumor cells. The viability of lymphotoxin-treated target cells was detected using a tetrazolium dye that is reduced to a blue formazan by living but not dead cells. The amount of dye formed was quantitated using a microplate spectrophotometer (ELISA plate reader) and visual observations confirmed the amount of formazan dye produced was directly proportional to the number of viable target cells. The advantages of using this colorimetric method are that it requires no washing steps or radioisotopes and its precision and rapidity. Optimal conditions were established using the murine L929 and human ESH -5L cell lines as target cells for detecting lymphotoxins produced by human lymphocytes. The data indicate that the L929 cell line was 10-50-fold more sensitive than the ESH -5L line to the lytic activity of cytotoxins produced by human phytohemagglutinin-P-activated T lymphocytes, or the cytotoxins produced by peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with various tumor cell lines. This assay system was also useful in detecting antibodies capable of neutralizing lymphotoxin activity and thus should be a suitable method to aid in the molecular characterization of these lymphokines.

A lymphocytotoxic factor(s) in plasma of patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome: partial characterization

The incidence, relationship to clinical disease, and physical characteristics of a plasma cytotoxic factor(s) were studied in steroid-responsive minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and other renal diseases. Plasma activity was found in 76% of 67 children with MCNS and in 67% of 9 children with focal segmental sclerosis (FSS). Of 31 normal adults and children and 7 adults with membranous glomerulonephritis, only 1 individual had toxic plasma. In MCNS, degree of plasma activity was not related to clinical disease, prednisone dosage, or serum levels of IgG or alpha-2-macroglobulin. The active factor(s) was found more frequently in plasma than in serum, was heat stable and nondialyzable by selected filtration, and was approximately 100,000 to 300,000 molecular weight. By DEAE column chromatography, activity coincided with fractions containing IgA and IgM but not IgG. While the nature of the plasma factor(s) has not been identified, these data indicate that MCNS plasma may adversely affect lymphocyte viability by a slow process of cytotoxicity requiring 24 or more hr, and that such plasma activity occurs frequently in children with MCNS and also with the more severe FSS.

Production of lymphotoxin, IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha, beta by murine T cell lines and clones

The PCl-6 T cell line, derived from mice sensitized by skin painting with picryl chloride (PCl), shows antigen dependence for DNA synthesis and for lymphotoxin (LT) production. These cells produce LT, but not interferon (IFN), when exposed to 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid- (TNBS) coupled syngeneic spleen cells. Concanavalin A (Con A) induces IFN production by PCl-6 cells, and IFN levels, but not LT titers, are increased by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). These results support the noncoordinate regulation of these two lymphokines. Line 32, a T cell growth factor- (TCGF) dependent T cell line and its Ly-1.2+, 2.2- derivative clone, 32H1, produce both antiviral and antiproliferative activity after exposure to several different mitogens. Tests for acid lability, sensitivity to anti-mouse IFN-alpha, beta antisera, and antiproliferative activity on non-mouse target cells indicates that an Ly-1+ clone, in the absence of both TCGF and accessory cells, can produce at least three separate lymphokine activities after Con A exposure: IFN-gamma (Type II), IFN-alpha, beta (Type I), and LT.

T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against HBsAg-coated Chang cells in patients with chronic hepatitis: evidence for cytotoxicity mediated by delayed hypersensitivity T cell reaction

T lymphocytes from 7 (21%) of 34 patients with chronic hepatitis showed positive cytotoxicity against HBsAg-coated Chang cells. This positivity was observed in HBsAg-negative patients having positive blast transformation responses to HBsAg, as well as in patients convalescing and recovered from acute B hepatitis. Levels of S-GPT in these patients were not different from those showing no cytotoxicity. T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against HBsAg-coated hepatocytes in HBsAg-negative patients thus may have no significant pathogenetic role in destruction of hepatocytes and may represent anamnestic response of sensitized T lymphocytes to HBsAg. Positive cytotoxicity against HBsAg-coated Chang cells was also found in 3 of 17 patients with HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis. All positive cases exhibited blast transformation responses to HBsAg and low HBsAg titers in their sera. Levels of S-GPT in these patients were significantly higher than in those showing no cytotoxicity, suggesting possible presence of T cell-mediated liver cell damage in these patients. T lymphocytes from asymptomatic HBsAg carrier showed no cytotoxicity to HBsAg-coated hepatocytes and no blast transformation responses of lymphocytes to HBsAg. From the results of the parallel occurrence of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity and blast transformation responses to HBsAg, and of presence of lymphotoxin in the supernatant co-cultured HBsAg and cytotoxicity-positive lymphocytes, it seemed likely that T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in our system might be mediated by lymphokine produced by T cells as a result of delayed hypersensitivity reaction in vitro.