Prevention of activated neutrophil adhesion to endothelium by soluble adhesion protein GMP140

Neutrophils and monocytes, but not lymphocytes, adhered strongly to plastic surfaces coated with GMP140, a protein of endothelial cells and platelets. This adhesion of neutrophils was mediated by GMP140 and not by the CD18 integrin complex. By contrast, GMP140 in solution inhibited the CD18-dependent adhesion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-activated neutrophils to plastic surfaces and resting endothelium, but not of resting neutrophils to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-activated endothelium. Thus, the binding of a soluble form of an adhesion protein selectively inhibited another set of adhesive events. Soluble GMP140 may be important in maintaining the nonadhesiveness of neutrophils in the circulation and may serve to limit inflammatory reactions.

IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor stimulate two distinct phases of adhesion in human monocytes

IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage CSF are hemopoietic growth factors involved in monocytopoiesis and functional stimulation of circulating blood monocytes. We demonstrate that both cytokines enhance the adhesion of purified human monocytes to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and to plastic surfaces. The stimulation seen was biphasic: an early phase detectable by 10 min, and a late phase seen after 9 h of in vitro culture. IL-3- and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF-stimulated adhesion was seen at concentrations as low as 6 pM, with maximal monocyte adhesion of up to 60% seen at concentrations of 60 pM and above. Both phases of stimulated adhesion were partially inhibited by a monoclonal antibody to CD18, the common beta-chain of the leukocyte functional Ag family of adhesion molecules, but not by an antibody to CD11b, the alpha-chain of MAC-1. However, a difference in the mechanism by which the early and late phases of stimulated adhesion arise could be shown by the use of cycloheximide as an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Although the late phase was totally dependent on de novo protein synthesis, early phase adhesion was not inhibited by cycloheximide, suggesting receptor redistribution or conformational change as the mechanism mediating enhanced adhesion at this time. These findings may be relevant to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease and may have implications for the clinical use of these cytokines.

IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor stimulate two distinct phases of adhesion in human monocytes

IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage CSF are hemopoietic growth factors involved in monocytopoiesis and functional stimulation of circulating blood monocytes. We demonstrate that both cytokines enhance the adhesion of purified human monocytes to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and to plastic surfaces. The stimulation seen was biphasic: an early phase detectable by 10 min, and a late phase seen after 9 h of in vitro culture. IL-3- and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF-stimulated adhesion was seen at concentrations as low as 6 pM, with maximal monocyte adhesion of up to 60% seen at concentrations of 60 pM and above. Both phases of stimulated adhesion were partially inhibited by a monoclonal antibody to CD18, the common beta-chain of the leukocyte functional Ag family of adhesion molecules, but not by an antibody to CD11b, the alpha-chain of MAC-1. However, a difference in the mechanism by which the early and late phases of stimulated adhesion arise could be shown by the use of cycloheximide as an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Although the late phase was totally dependent on de novo protein synthesis, early phase adhesion was not inhibited by cycloheximide, suggesting receptor redistribution or conformational change as the mechanism mediating enhanced adhesion at this time. These findings may be relevant to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease and may have implications for the clinical use of these cytokines.

A novel tumor necrosis factor-responsive transcription factor which recognizes a regulatory element in hemopoietic growth factor genes

A conserved DNA sequence element, termed cytokine 1 (CK-1), is found in the promoter regions of many hemopoietic growth factor (HGF) genes. Mutational analyses and modification interference experiments show that this sequence specifically binds a nuclear transcription factor, NF-GMa, which is a protein with a molecular mass of 43 kilodaltons. It interacts with different affinities with the CK-1-like sequence from a number of HGF genes, including granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte (G)-CSF, interleukin 3 (IL-3), and IL-5. We show here that the level of NF-GMa binding is induced in embryonic fibroblasts by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment and that the CK-1 sequence from the G-CSF gene is a TNF-alpha-responsive enhancer in these cells. The NF-GMa protein is distinct from another TNF-alpha-responsive transcription factor, NF-kappa B, by several criteria. Firstly, several NF-kappa B-binding sites, although having sequence similarity with the CK-1 sequence, cannot compete efficiently for NF-GMa binding to CK-1. Secondly, the CK-1 sequence from both G-CSF and GM-CSF does not respond to phorbol ester treatment as would an NF-kappa B-binding element. These results demonstrate that NF-GMa is a novel transcription factor inducible by TNF-alpha and binds to a common element in HGF gene promoters.

Human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) directly stimulates arachidonic acid release in human neutrophils

The ability of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) to directly stimulate phospholipid turnover from human neutrophils was studied. Stimulation with recombinant human (rH) TNF-alpha induced the release of significant amounts of radioactivity from [3H]arachidonic acid-labelled neutrophils. This stimulation was equipotent to that induced by the bacterial tripeptide formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP). The time of maximum stimulated release varied between donors, with the most common maximal stimulation being 45 min. Dose-response experiments indicated that 100-1000 U/ml rH TNF-alpha were required for the maximum stimulatory effect. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the supernatants revealed that the radioactivity was associated with arachidonic acid, but not with its metabolites, indicating that TNF-alpha stimulates the release of arachidonic acid from cellular phospholipids but does not stimulate its metabolism. A comparison of TNF-alpha with other cytokines indicated that stimulation of arachidonic acid release paralleled the 'priming' of neutrophils for enhanced superoxide production, raising the possibility that phospholipid turnover and priming of neutrophils are causally related.

Specific binding of human interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to human basophils

The human T cell-derived cytokines interleukin (IL)-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were examined for their ability to bind to human basophils. Basophils were obtained from the peripheral blood of a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia undergoing basophilic differentiation after purification on a density gradient of metrizamide. Binding studies with 125I-labeled IL-3 and 125I-labeled GM-CSF demonstrated that basophils express a single class of high-affinity receptors for each of these molecules. Saturation binding curves with 125I-labeled IL-3 revealed that IL-3 bound specifically to basophils, and analysis according to the method of Scatchard revealed that basophils express 800 to 900 receptors per cell with an apparent dissociation constant of 2.6 x 10(-11) mol/L. Saturation-binding curves with 125I-labeled GM-CSF revealed that basophils express 100 to 200 receptors per cell with an apparent dissociation constant of 4 x 10(-11) mol/L. The demonstration of high-affinity receptors for IL-3 and GM-CSF on human basophils suggests a role for these cytokines in the regulation of basophil function.

Blood leukocytes bind platelet glycoprotein (IIb-IIIa)' but do not express the vitronectin receptor

Within the integrin family of Arg-Gly-Asp(RGD)-binding adhesion receptors, the subfamily defined by the beta chain known as beta-3 or glycoprotein (GP)IIIa is known to contain two individual receptors. These are the GPIIb-IIIa complex of platelets, where the alpha chain of the heterodimer is GPIIb, and the vitronectin receptor (VnR) containing the alpha V subunit. The presence of either GPIIb-IIIa and/or the VnR on blood leukocytes has been controversial. We have investigated this problem by performing immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting studies with rabbit and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to each of the subunits of GPIIb-IIIa and the VnR. On cultured cells of different origin, it was established that almost all expressed the VnR but none had GPIIb-IIIa, and the only polypeptide associated with beta 3 was alpha V. Platelets expressed predominantly GPIIb-IIIa, and weakly, the VnR. Monocytes and neutrophils freshly isolated from blood did not express the VnR but bore on their surface a modified form of GPIIb-IIIa. This molecule appeared identical to GPIIb-IIIa but an epitope on GPIIb was masked on the intact cell and was only revealed after immunoblotting. We have termed this modified form of GPIIb-IIIa, GP(IIb-IIIa)'. With differentiation in culture, monocytes rapidly lost surface GP(IIb-IIIa)' and concurrently began to express the VnR. Evidence is presented that GP(IIb-IIIa)' is derived from particles released by activated platelets and is bound firmly to the leukocyte membrane. Its primary function does not seem to be to mediate attachment to matrix proteins; thus, although U937 cells bearing platelet-derived GP(IIb-IIIa)' bound fibrinogen in an RGD-dependent manner, isolated blood monocytes did not. It is suggested that this transfer of membrane proteins from platelets to monocytes and neutrophils may regulate the expression of the leukocyte VnR and also serve as a means of facilitating leukocyte procoagulant activity.

Synthesis and expression of the gene encoding human interleukin-3

To perform structure-function studies of human interleukin-3 (hIL-3) we have synthesized a cDNA encompassing the complete coding region of 484 bp. The strategy we employed involved construction of the cDNA in four sections. Each fragment contained six to ten oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Unique restriction sites were engineered to flank the natural sequence for cloning. Naturally occurring restriction sites were placed internally to these, to allow ligation of the four fragments. The gene was cloned into a modified pJL4 vector and expressed in COS cells. Biological assays of supernatants collected from these cells, for both mature cell function and proliferative activity, showed that synthetic hIL-3 had the same activity as that previously determined for recombinant hIL-3.

Recombinant human interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor show common biological effects and binding characteristics on human monocytes

Two human hemopoietic growth factors involved in monocytopoiesis, interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were studied for their ability to stimulate blood monocytes and to bind to the monocyte membrane. Both cytokines maintained monocyte/macrophage numbers during long-term culture and increased cell size as compared with controls. Effects on cell numbers were present at low cytokine concentrations (6 to 20 pmol/L), whereas enhanced 3H-thymidine incorporation was observed only at higher concentrations (greater than or equal to 60 pmol/L). Autoradiographic studies showed only 1% to 3% of stimulated monocytes with nuclear grains. These results suggest that the primary mechanism for IL-3 and GM-CSF-induced maintenance of monocyte/macrophage numbers in humans is through an effect on cell survival. Surface receptors for both IL-3 and GM-CSF were studied by using 125I-labeled recombinant human (rh) cytokines and performing Scatchard analyses. Both cytokines showed curvilinear Scatchard plots, and computer analyses favored a two-site binding model. High-affinity binding data for 125I rhIL-3 (Kd 7.7 to 38.2 pmol/L; receptor number/cell 95 to 580) and for 125I rhGM-CSF (Kd 4.7 to 38.9 pmol/L; receptor number/cell 8 to 67) show similar binding affinities for the two cytokines but a lower receptor number/cell for 125I rhGM-CSF. Low-affinity binding characteristics for 125I rhIL-3 (Kd 513 to 939 pmol/L; receptor number/cell 179 to 5,274) and for 125I rhGM-CSF (Kd 576 to 1,120 pmol/L; receptor number/cell 130 to 657) show a similar pattern for the two cytokines. Specificity of 125I rhIL-3 and 125I rhGM-CSF binding to monocytes was established by the ability of the homologous cytokine to inhibit binding and the inability of a range of other cytokines to compete at 100-fold excess molar concentration. It is important, however, that binding of 125I rhIL-3 was partially inhibited by rhGM-CSF and that rhIL-3 partially inhibited binding of 125I rhGM-CSF to the monocyte membrane under conditions shown to prevent receptor internalization. The degree of inhibition varied between 25% and 80% in different experiments, and quantitative inhibition experiments showed that 1,000-fold excess concentrations of competitor failed to inhibit binding of the heterologous ligand completely. These results demonstrate that human IL-3 and GM-CSF have similar effects on growth and survival of human monocytes in vitro and suggest that these and other common biological effects may be mediated either through a common receptor or through distinct receptors associated on the monocyte membrane.

Reciprocal inhibition of binding between interleukin 3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to human eosinophils

125I-labeled recombinant human interleukin 3 (IL-3) bound, at 4 degrees C, to a single class of high-affinity receptors on human eosinophils with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 470 pM, but it did not bind to human neutrophils. 125I-labeled recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) also bound to a single class of high-affinity receptors on eosinophils with an apparent Kd of 44 pM and on neutrophils with an apparent Kd of 70 pM. These binding characteristics were consistent with the biological activities of IL-3 and GM-CSF on eosinophils and with the lack of stimulation of neutrophil function by IL-3. Specificity studies under conditions shown to prevent receptor internalization showed that the binding of 125I-labeled IL-3 to eosinophils was partially inhibited by GM-CSF but not by other cytokines. Reciprocal experiments with 125I-labeled GM-CSF showed that IL-3 but not other cytokines partially inhibited binding to eosinophils. In contrast, the binding of 125I-labeled GM-CSF to neutrophils was not inhibited by IL-3 or other cytokines tested. Quantitative inhibition binding experiments on eosinophils showed that the reciprocal inhibition between IL-3 and GM-CSF was not complete up to a concentration of heterologous ligand of 100 nM. These results show that (i) IL-3 binds to eosinophils but not neutrophils and (ii) IL-3 and GM-CSF specifically interact on the surface of eosinophils, providing a possible mechanism for the overlapping activities of IL-3 and GM-CSF on these cells.

Regulation of human monocyte adherence by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was found to increase the adherence of purified peripheral blood monocytes to plastic surfaces and to monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. With plastic surfaces as a model 9-hr culture with GM-CSF was necessary for enhancement, and maximum levels were obtained after 24-hr stimulation. GM-CSF-stimulated adherence must require new RNA and protein synthesis because actinomycin D and cycloheximide abolished existing adherence and prevented further monocyte attachment. Interestingly, shorter incubations (1-2 hr) with cycloheximide increased adherence, suggesting a labile inhibitor. Formaldehyde fixation of monocytes but not of human vein endothelial cells abolished adherence, indicating the need for actively metabolizing monocytes. Thus, a hemopoietic growth factor, responsible for the proliferation and differentiation of monocytes, can also alter their adhesive characteristics. These observations may have important implications in pathological situations and in the in vivo use of GM-CSF.

The gene for human interleukin 7 (IL7) is at 8q12-13

The gene for human interleukin 7 (IL7) maps to chromosome 8 by Southern analysis of a somatic cell hybrid panel and to 8q12-q13 by in situ hybridization.

Carbohydrate-specific monoclonal antibodies bind to human granulocytes and stimulate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

Mouse monoclonal antibodies which specifically recognize human granulocytes are used to study the classification, differentiation, and function of these cells. Mouse monoclonal antibody WEM-G1 specifically binds to human neutrophils and eosinophils. It also affects granulocyte function by stimulating granulocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Biochemical studies presented here show that WEM-G1 recognizes the sugar sequence 3-fucosyllactosamine, Gal beta 1-4[Fuc alpha 1-3]GlcNAc. This sequence is present in granulocyte glycolipids and in glycoproteins of average approximate Mr 165,000 and 105,000. WEM-G1 is thus similar to other monoclonal antibodies that recognize this sequence on granulocytes and various other cells. Some of these 3-fucosyllactosamine-specific antibodies affect several other granulocyte functions. Knowledge of the biochemical structure of the WEM-G1 antigen suggested testing granulocyte function with other monoclonal antibodies of similar specificity. Antibodies recognizing both the identical oligosaccharide structure and a related sequence, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-R, were also found to stimulate granulocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

TGF beta down-regulates TLiSA1 expression and inhibits the differentiation of precursor lymphocytes into CTL and LAK cells

This study analysed the regulatory effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) on the expression of a 70,000 MW cell surface activation antigen, TLiSA1, involved in the differentiation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells from their precursor(s), and also examined the role of TGF beta in the generation of these functional cells. TGF beta was shown to suppress the expression of TLiSA1 and to inhibit, in a dose-dependent manner, the generation of both CTL and LAK cells when present from the beginning of mixed lymphocyte culture; the same inhibitory effect upon the development of cytotoxic effector cells was observed with a monoclonal antibody and with monospecific rabbit antibodies against the TLiSA1 protein. Antibody to TGF beta reversed the inhibitory effect of the cytokine on differentiation and on TLiSA1 expression. Exogenous IL-2 or, to a lesser extent, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) added to mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) augmented both TLiSA1 antigen expression and cytotoxic function by the resulting blast cells; the co-addition of TGF beta inhibited both of these cytokine-mediated effects. Similarly, it was shown that phytohaemagglutini (PHA)-induced lymphoblasts up-regulate their surface expression of TLiSA1 and exhibit increased LAK activity in response to IL-2, and TGF beta inhibited both of these events; this IL-2-induced increase in LAK cell function was also inhibited by antibodies to TLiSA1. It is suggested that TLiSA1 antigen expression is intimately linked to the differentiation of cytotoxic effector cells and that such differentiation may be a distinct process from IL-2-induced proliferation, although both events can be regulated by TGF-beta.

Human interleukin 4 regulates the phenotype of lymphocytes generated during mixed lymphocyte culture and inhibits the IL-2-induced development of LAK function in normal and leukaemic cells

This study examined the immunoregulatory role of recombinant interleukin 4 (IL-4), also known as B-cell stimulating factor 1, on the generation of cytotoxic effector cells from normal and leukaemic human blood mononuclear cells. When tested on cells from normal individuals, the addition of IL-4 to mixed lymphocyte cultures led to a dose-dependent proliferation of T-helper cells (CD3, 4 positive) with a concomitant decrease in phenotypic and functional cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. IL-4 also inhibited the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity when added at the beginning of mixed lymphocyte culture. When tested on mature leukaemic NK cells, IL-4 also inhibited the ability of IL-2 to induce LAK function using a short-term culture system. These results show that IL-4 acts on both normal and leukaemic cells and suggests that it acts at more than one level during the development of LAK function.

Recombinant human interleukin-3 stimulation of hematopoiesis in humans: loss of responsiveness with differentiation in the neutrophilic myeloid series

Recombinant human (rh) interleukin-3 (IL-3) stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid, granulocyte, macrophage, eosinophil (Eo), and mixed colonies as well as megakaryocytes from human bone marrow cells. rh IL-3 was a weaker stimulus than rh granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for day 14 myeloid cell colonies. At day 7 of incubation, rh IL-3 stimulated a few G, M, and Eo clusters but no colonies. This loss of responsiveness of myeloid cells to rh IL-3 was accentuated with further differentiation of the cells. rh IL-3 stimulated very few or no clones after five-day incubation with enriched promyelocytes and myelocytes, whereas rh GM-CSF was an efficient stimulus. Responsiveness to rh IL-3 was completely lost in postmitotic mature neutrophils. Incubation of these cells with rh IL-3 did not result in enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of tumor cells or superoxide anion production after stimulation with formyl-methyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), although they could be stimulated by rh GM-CSF. In addition, preincubation of neutrophils with different concentrations of rh IL-3 failed to increase or decrease their response to rh GM-CSF. In contrast to neutrophils, mature Eos could be stimulated by rh IL-3 to kill antibody-coated tumor cells. These results show that cells of the neutrophilic myeloid series lose their responsiveness to h IL-3 as they differentiate and suggest that although h IL-3 may be an important therapeutic agent to use for hematopoietic regeneration in vivo, the lack of stimulation of mature neutrophil function makes it an unlikely sole candidate as adjunct therapy for treatment of infectious diseases.

Endothelial adhesiveness for blood neutrophils is inhibited by transforming growth factor-beta

Adhesion of blood cells to endothelial cells is an essential component of all inflammatory responses. The capacity of the endothelium to support adhesion of neutrophils is increased by cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and endotoxin. Another cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), was a strong inhibitor of basalneutrophil adhesion and also decreased the adhesive response of endothelial cells to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The ability of cells to respond to TGF-beta was related to the duration of culture of endothelial cells after explantation from umbilical veins. TGF-beta is likely to serve an anti-inflammatory role at sites of blood vessel injury undergoing active endothelial regeneration.

Synergism between membrane gangliosides and Arg-Gly-Asp-directed glycoprotein receptors in attachment to matrix proteins by melanoma cells

The identification of specific cell surface glycoprotein receptors for Arg-Gly-Asp-containing extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin has focused attention on the role of gangliosides in this process. Is their involvement dependent or independent of the protein receptors? In attachment assays with cells from a human melanoma cell line, titration experiments with an antibody (Mel 3) with specificity for the disialogangliosides GD2 and GD3, used together with a synthetic peptide containing the cell binding sequence Arg-Gly-Asp, show that their joint effect is synergistic. Both the Mel 3 antibody and the synthetic peptide individually cause rapid detachment of melanoma cells from fibronectin substrate but, when used together, much smaller concentrations of both are required to achieve the same effect. The Mel 3 antibody was not nonspecifically reducing receptor binding to the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence since, in binding assays with radiolabeled peptide performed with cells in suspension, very little peptide is bound by the melanoma cells under these conditions but addition of Mel 3, an antibody of IgM isotype, causes a two- to threefold increase in specific binding. The simplest interpretation of these data is that the Mel 3 antibody is causing sufficient clustering of membrane gangliosides in local areas and producing a favorably charged environment to facilitate peptide binding by specific glycoprotein receptors.

Depression of immunity to Naegleria fowleri in mice by selective depletion of neutrophils with a monoclonal antibody

In an attempt to define the role of neutrophils in immunity to Naegleria fowleri in vivo, we examined the effects of treating immunized (with amoeba culture supernatant antigen) mice with the monoclonal antibody NIMP-R10, which binds to neutrophil complement receptor type 3bi (CR3) and causes selective neutrophil depletion in mice. Mice in the nonimmunized group challenged with amoebae all died by day 12, while 97% in the immunized group survived. By contrast, the immunized group treated with NIMP-R10 showed only 25% survival. The immunized group treated with "control" mouse ascites, WEM-G11, was highly resistant (90% survival). There was a significant neutrophil response in the nasal mucosa and olfactory lobes of immunized, NIMP-R10-treated mice, despite a marked degree of neutropenia similar to that seen in immunized, untreated mice. Nonimmunized mice showed virtually no neutrophil response. Despite this response in the NIMP-R10-treated mice, amoebic proliferation was not depressed, and there was no evidence of neutrophil degranulation or amoebic killing, despite the close apposition of large numbers of neutrophils to amoebae. The results indicate that neutrophils are necessary for the expression of immunity to N. fowleri.

Structure-function studies of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Identification of residues required for activity

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM CSF), a protein containing 127 amino acids, was chemically synthesized by using automated stepwise solid-phase methods. The unpurified synthetic hGM-CSF had the same range of actions on hemopoietic cells as the purified recombinant protein. The structural requirements for the activities of synthetic hGM-CSF were examined by the design and synthesis of fragments and analogs. The synthetic fragment, hGM-CSF (54-127), containing all four of the cysteine residues found in the intact protein, lacked detectable activity. Assays of fragments shortened at the N terminus showed that the residues 1-13 were not required for activity, but that the integrity of residues 14-25, particularly residues 16, 17, and 18, was critical for biologic activity. The 14-25 region is predicted to form the first alpha-helix in hGM-CSF. Synthetic peptides within the N-terminal 53 residue region lacked detectable activity. The synthetic analog hGM-CSF (1-121), which lacks the C-terminal 6 residues, had similar activity to hGM-CSF (1-127) indicating that residues 122-127 are not required for activity. An analog, [Ala88] hGM-CSF (14-96), which lacks the hydrophobic C-terminal region and 2 cysteine residues, had low but readily detectable activity suggesting that residues 14-96 are sufficient for detectable synthetic hGM-CSF activity, although the presence of residues 97-121 are required for full activity. No dissociation of the multiple biological activities of hGM-CSF was detected.

Structure-function studies of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Identification of residues required for activity

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM CSF), a protein containing 127 amino acids, was chemically synthesized by using automated stepwise solid-phase methods. The unpurified synthetic hGM-CSF had the same range of actions on hemopoietic cells as the purified recombinant protein. The structural requirements for the activities of synthetic hGM-CSF were examined by the design and synthesis of fragments and analogs. The synthetic fragment, hGM-CSF (54-127), containing all four of the cysteine residues found in the intact protein, lacked detectable activity. Assays of fragments shortened at the N terminus showed that the residues 1-13 were not required for activity, but that the integrity of residues 14-25, particularly residues 16, 17, and 18, was critical for biologic activity. The 14-25 region is predicted to form the first alpha-helix in hGM-CSF. Synthetic peptides within the N-terminal 53 residue region lacked detectable activity. The synthetic analog hGM-CSF (1-121), which lacks the C-terminal 6 residues, had similar activity to hGM-CSF (1-127) indicating that residues 122-127 are not required for activity. An analog, [Ala88] hGM-CSF (14-96), which lacks the hydrophobic C-terminal region and 2 cysteine residues, had low but readily detectable activity suggesting that residues 14-96 are sufficient for detectable synthetic hGM-CSF activity, although the presence of residues 97-121 are required for full activity. No dissociation of the multiple biological activities of hGM-CSF was detected.

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rH GM-CSF) regulates f Met-Leu-Phe receptors on human neutrophils

The regulation of mature human neutrophil function by recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rH GM-CSF) was studied. Preincubation of neutrophils with this CSF did not stimulate superoxide anion directly but enhanced the subsequent release of superoxide anion in response to stimulation with the bacterial product formylmethionylleucyl-phenylalanine (f Met-Leu-Phe). Enhanced superoxide anion production was evident by 5 min and reached a plateau at 30 min. In contrast, neutrophils preincubated with rH GM-CSF exhibited reduced chemotaxis under agarose in response to a gradient of f Met-Leu-Phe. The inhibition of neutrophil migration was dependent on the dose of rH GM-CSF and exhibited a time-course similar to the effect on superoxide production. Binding studies of f Met-Leu-[3H]Phe to purified human neutrophils revealed heterogeneous binding to unstimulated cells. Two affinity components were identified. The high-affinity component consisted of approximately 2000 sites/cell and had an average Kd of 4 +/- 2 nM (n = 6). The low-affinity component consisted of approximately 40,000 sites/cell and had an average Kd of 220 +/- 130 nM (n = 6). rH GM-CSF caused conversion to a linear Scatchard plot showing no significant change in total binding sites but a single Kd of 30 +/- 10 nM. These data indicate that rH GM-CSF may influence neutrophil responses to f Met-Leu-Phe by regulating the affinity of f Met-Leu-Phe receptors.

A new assay for the measurement of the attachment of neutrophils and other cell types to endothelial cells

A microassay for the detection of cellular adherence to monolayers of cultured human vascular endothelium has been developed that utilises the uptake by cells of the vital stain, Rose Bengal. Changes in the optical density as a result of increased attachment give an accurate measurement of the extent of cellular adherence. The assay utilises small numbers of endothelial cells to obtain confluent monolayers, is rapid (results available within 1.5 h from commencement), allows large numbers of investigations to be performed at the one time, eliminates the requirement for 51chromium or 111indium-labelled cells, and allows a wide variety of cell types including neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes and melanoma cells to be studied. Optimal concentrations of cells, fetal calf serum, of incubation and washing media, methods of removal of unattached cells and morphological assessment of the human umbilical vein endothelial cells are detailed. We report here the methodology of this new adherence assay with special reference to neutrophils using a range of stimulators that may regulate their attachment to endothelium.

The detection and initial characterization of colony-stimulating factors in synovial fluid

In this study which included 16 patients with inflammatory or non-inflammatory arthropathies, human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity was detected in synovial fluid. This was attributable to the presence of colony-stimulating factor(s) (CSF), as a direct action on human bone marrow progenitor cells was demonstrated using clone transfer experiments. Samples of synovial fluid also stimulated the growth of murine macrophage colonies and induced differentiation in the murine myelomonocytic leukemia cell line, WEHI-3B(D+), which are characteristic properties of human macrophage-CSF or granulocyte-CSF respectively. These findings and the results of preliminary fractionation procedures suggested that the colony-stimulating activity in synovial fluid was not explicable by the presence of any one of the well-characterized human CSF acting in isolation. This provides a new insight into the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthropathies and supports the hypothesis that CSF have important roles in vivo in addition to the regulation of haemopoiesis.

Interleukin-5 is at 5q31 and is deleted in the 5q- syndrome

Human interleukin-5 (IL-5) is a selective eosinophilopoietic and eosinophil-activating growth hormone. By in situ hybridization this gene is mapped to chromosome 5q23.3 to 5q32. It is shown to be deleted in two patients with the 5q-syndrome and in one patient previously diagnosed with myelodysplasia whose condition had progressed to acute myeloblastic leukemia. The clustering of other genes involved in hematopoiesis (IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, colony-stimulating factor 1) to the same region as IL-5 suggests a nonrandom localization and raises interesting questions concerning the evolution and regulation of these genes.