Interleukin 13 inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 production in primary blood-derived human macrophages in vitro

Cytokines in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and other infectious diseases

The pathogenesis of several infectious diseases is frequently related not only to their etiological agents of viral, bacterial, or parasitic nature, but also to the host immune response. Both inflammatory responses and specific immune responses to the invading microorganisms are controlled by complex networks of intercellular signalling molecules, namely cytokines. This rapidly growing family of mediators includes lymphokines, interleukins, and molecules such as tumor necrosis factors and interferons. Patterns of cytokine production from antigen- or allergen-specific T lymphocytic cell clones have been identified, firstly in animal models and subsequently in man, and are commonly referred to as TH0, TH1, and TH2 profiles. The predominance of one of these profiles strongly influences the type of immune response (humoral versus cellular) and, at least in some experimental models, whether the immune response is protective or harmful. This is most convincingly demonstrated in models of parasitic diseases, but has also been hypothesized to be involved in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Earlier studies on human immunodeficiency virus infection revealed that the replicative capacity of this retrovirus, like the herpes viruses, is strongly influenced by the cytokine milieu of infected cells. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of human immunodeficiency virus expression by human cytokines are examples of the complex interdigitation of viruses with the host immune system.

Regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and cytokine gene expression in myeloid cells by NF-kappa B/Rel transcription factors

CD4+ macrophages in tissues such as lung, skin, and lymph nodes, promyelocytic cells in bone marrow, and peripheral blood monocytes serve as important targets and reservoirs for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. HIV-1-infected myeloid cells are often diminished in their ability to participate in chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing. HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells can lead to the expression of surface receptors associated with cellular activation and/or differentiation that increase the responsiveness of these cells to cytokines secreted by neighboring cells as well as to bacteria or other pathogens. Enhancement of HIV-1 replication is related in part to increased DNA-binding activity of cellular transcription factors such as NF-kappa B. NF-kappa B binds to the HIV-1 enhancer region of the long terminal repeat and contributes to the inducibility of HIV-1 gene expression in response to multiple activating agents. Phosphorylation and degradation of the cytoplasmic inhibitor I kappa B alpha are crucial regulatory events in the activation of NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity. Both N- and C-terminal residues of I kappa B alpha are required for inducer-mediated degradation. Chronic HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells leads to constitutive NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity and provides an intranuclear environment capable of perpetuating HIV-1 replication. Increased intracellular stores of latent NF-kappa B may also result in rapid inducibility of NF-kappa B-dependent cytokine gene expression. In response to secondary pathogenic infections or antigenic challenge, cytokine gene expression is rapidly induced, enhanced, and sustained over prolonged periods in HIV-1-infected myeloid cells compared with uninfected cells. Elevated levels of several inflammatory cytokines have been detected in the sera of HIV-1-infected individuals. Secretion of myeloid cell-derived cytokines may both increase virus production and contribute to AIDS-associated disorders.

Th1 cells specific for HIV-1 gag p24 are less efficient than Th0 cells in supporting HIV replication, and inhibit virus replication in Th0 cells

This report provides three lines of evidence to suggest that T-helper type 1 (Th1) and type 0 (Th0) cells could play an opposing role in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Using a panel of Th1 and Th0 clones specific for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) gag p24, derived from seronegative volunteers immunized with gag p24: Ty virus-like particles, a Th1 clone specific for tuberculin (PPD), and a Th0 clone derived by random activation from the same volunteer, we have demonstrated the following differences in the capacity of these clones to regulate the in vitro replication of HIV. (1) Th1 clones were less efficient than Th0 clones in supporting HIV replication, both in their resting state (by 10-1000-fold) and after antigen activation (by five to 100-fold). Furthermore, the infectious titre of HIV recovered from the Th0 population was more than 1000-fold higher than virus from the Th1 population, and the number of HIV-infected Th0 cells was five to 16 times higher than the number of infected Th1 cells. (2) Antigen- or mitogen-activated Th1, but not Th0 clones, inhibited HIV in bystander CEM-4 cells. Th1 cells also inhibited HIV in autologous and allogeneic Th0 cells. The level of inhibition in these experiments ranged from 50% to 100% and was three to 10-fold higher and more sustained in the presence of p24-specific clones compared to the PPD-specific Th1 clone. The capacity of Th1 cells to inhibit HIV in neighbouring cells was also reflected in the reduced replication of HIV in the clones immediately after antigen activation compared to unstimulated cells. Kinetic studies of virus production, cytokine release and proliferation showed that inhibition of HIV was associated with peak cytokine release and preceeded proliferation. (3) The Th1 clones had higher cytolytic potential than the Th0 clones. Therefore, the HIV inhibitory activity of Th1 cells could be partly due to cell to cell killing. These data demonstrate the opposing effects of Th1 and Th0 cells on the in vitro replication of HIV, and suggest that Th1 cells might be important in immunity whereas Th0/Th2 cells might lay a role in promoting disease.

Differential effects of recombinant human interleukin-13 on the in vitro growth of human haemopoietic progenitor cells

Effects of recombinant human interleukin (IL)-13 on in vitro haemopoiesis from non-adherent mononuclear cells (NAMC) or highly enriched CD34+ cells of human cord blood (CB) were studied. IL-13 significantly increased megakaryocyte (MK) colony formation from either NAMC or CD34+ cells cultured in a plasma clot system supplemented with aplastic anaemia serum (AAS) and phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood leucocyte-conditioned medium (PHA-LCM) in a dose-dependent manner. Experiments using a modified plasma clot culture, in which normal AB serum and various cytokines were added to replace AAS and PHA-LCM, demonstrated an increased MK colony number in the presence of IL-13, especially in combination with IL-3. However, IL-13 had no stimulatory effect, but rather a slight inhibitory effect in some cases on granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony formation in both plasma clot cultures. Furthermore, the growth of GM progenitor cells in a methylcellulose culture system in the presence of IL-3, GM-CSF, Epo, G-CSF or in combination was significantly inhibited by the addition of IL-13. On the other hand, high concentrations (100 ng/ml) of IL-13 were needed to cause a slight inhibition on the growth of BFU-E-derived colonies under the same methylcellulose culture. These results indicate that IL-13, alone and synergistically with the effect of IL-3, promotes MK colony formation, but it inhibits the growth of GM and erythroid progenitor cells in vitro.

Isolation of an IL-13-dependent subclone of the B9 cell line useful for the estimation of human IL-13 bioactivity

A novel sub-clone of the B9 hybridoma cell line (B9-1-3) has been selected by cloning following continuous culture in rhIL-13. This cell line shows an increased sensitivity to both hIL-13 and mIL-4 compared to the parental B9 cell line. The proliferative response to IL-13 can be blocked with an anti-IL-4 receptor monoclonal antibody but not with the soluble IL-4 receptor, suggesting that IL-13- and IL-4-binding receptor subunits are distinct but form part of a common receptor complex. Although the B9-1-3 cell line is still sensitive to picogrammes of IL-6, it can be used to measure IL-13 in the presence of IL-6 by inclusion of excess neutralizing IL-6 antibody. This cell line should thus prove useful both in measuring the IL-13 bioactivity and for the dissection of the molecular nature of the IL-13:IL-4 receptor complex.

Interleukin-13 inhibits protein kinase C-triggered respiratory burst in human monocytes. Role of calcium and cyclic AMP

Interleukin-13 (IL-13), a novel cytokine produced by activated lymphocytes modulates some monocyte functions, but no data is available concerning the signal transduction pathway. We show here, the inhibitory effect of IL-13 on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-triggered reactive oxygen intermediate production in human monocytes and the signals involved in this response. Our results show that IL-13 produces rapid and transient phosphoinositide hydrolysis and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Furthermore, IL-13 induces intracellular cAMP accumulation through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent Ca2+ mobilization. Metabolic inhibitors were used to relate the first steps in signaling pathways to the inhibitory effect of IL-13 on TPA-triggered reactive oxygen intermediate production. Indeed, inhibitors of phospholipase C (neomycin), intracellular Ca2+ mobilization (8-[N,N-diethylamino]-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride), adenylate cyclase (delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol), and protein kinase A (N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide) impair the IL-13 inhibitory response. Altogether these observations indicate that modulatory effect of IL-13 on the TPA-induced oxidative burst is the result of the intracellular cAMP accumulation through an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ mobilization-dependent pathway.

Characterization and comparison of the interleukin 13 receptor with the interleukin 4 receptor on several cell types

We describe here the characterization of the interleukin (IL) 13 receptor and a comparison with the IL-4 receptor on different cell types. Several, but not all, of the IL-4 receptor-positive cells showed specific IL-13 binding, which was always completely displaced by IL-4. In the IL-13 receptor-positive cells, the IL-13 either completely or partially displaced the labeled IL-4. Further characterization of the IL-13 receptor in two cell lines, COS-3 and A431, representative of the groups of complete and partial displacement of IL-4 by IL-13, respectively, showed that the IL-13 binds with high affinity (Kd approximately 300 pM) to both cells and that the number of binding sites is, in COS-3 cells, equivalent to that for IL-4 and, in A431 cells, is smaller than that for IL-4. Cross-linking of labeled IL-13 yielded, on COS-3 cells, two affinity-labeled complexes of 220 and 70 kDa, and on A431 cells, one complex of 70 kDa; labeled IL-4 yielded on both cells the same pattern of three complexes of 220, 145, and 70 kDa. Altogether, these results suggest that the IL-13 receptor may be constituted by a subset of the IL-4 receptor complex associated with at least one additional protein.

Dissection of macrophage differentiation pathways in cutaneous macrophage disorders and in vitro

Macrophages play important roles in immunity and inflammation, and in allergic, granulomatous and neoplastic diseases. Here, we present the indepth results of an ongoing study of macrophage differentiation pathways in cutaneous macrophage disorders and in vitro. Up to now, a total of 40 cases of cutaneous macrophage disorders (histiocytoses and granulomas) and related diseases were examined using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to macrophage differentiation antigens (mAb MS-1, mAb alpha CD1a, mAb alpha CD34, mAb RM 3/1, mAb alpha CD11c, mAb alpha CD36, mAb MAC 387, mAb 27E10, polyclonal antibodies alpha MRP-8 and -14, mAb alpha CD68, mAb 25F9, mAb DRC1-R4/23, and mAb 1F10). Of these, MS-1 high molecular weight protein, synthesized by non-continuous sinusoidal endothelial cells and highly dendritic perivascular macrophages in normal human organs, is the most specific macrophage differentiation marker. MS-1 high molecular weight protein is selectively expressed by cutaneous non-Langerhans cell histocytoses, and proves to be a valuable diagnostic tool for these diseases. MS-1 high molecular weight protein is not found in Langerhans cell histiocytosis cells, epithelioid cells in sarcoidosis, and palisading histiocytes in granuloma annulare. MS-1+ macrophages may be found intermingled in cellular type dermatofibroma and in foreign body granulomas; they differ from MS-1+ non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis cells by their highly dendritic morphology, and thus rather resemble the MS-1+ macrophages in normal skin. RM 3/1 antigen shows a similar, but broader expression pattern including non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses, xanthelasmata palpebrarum, foreign body granulomas, granuloma annulare, and cellular type dermatofibroma. Moreover, xanthelasmata palpebrarum paradigmatically represent a class of macrophage lesions with strong RM 3/1, but little MS-1 antigen expression. In sarcoidosis, RM 3/1+ macrophages are only found at the very periphery of epithelioid cell granulomas. In contrast, 25F9 antigen is strongly and consistently expressed in epithelioid cells of sarcoidosis, and in foreign body granulomas. In cultured human monocytes/macrophages, RM 3/1 antigen is expressed early on, while MS-1 high molecular weight protein and 25F9 antigen are late and very late macrophage differentiation antigens, respectively. Expression of RM 3/1 antigen and MS-1 high molecular weight protein is inducible by glucocorticoid and interleukin-4, and less so by interleukin-13 and interleukin-10, and combinations thereof, while 25F9 antigen seems to be less influenced by these agents. Interferon-gamma (and less so tumor necrosis factor-alpha) inhibit expression of all three antigens in cultured human monocytes/macrophages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The Th1-Th2 hypothesis of HIV infection: new insights

In their earlier, much quoted, viewpoint article, Mario Clerici and Gene Shearer examined the role of T helper 1 (Th1)- and Th2-type responses in immune dysregulation associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In this article, they consider the complications of a Th1-Th2 model raised by the nomenclature, discuss the issue of cytokine production by non-T cells, and compare data obtained from T-cell clones with heterogeneous populations of leukocytes from patients. They define Th-cell responses and cytokine profiles as 'type 1' and 'type 2', and reemphasize the importance of strong cellular immune responses, along with the cytokines that augment and maintain such responses, in protective immunity against HIV infection and AIDS progression. Finally, they present a model of activation-induced, cytokine-modulated, programmed cell death as a major factor in the pathogenesis of HIV infection and AIDS.

Interference of interleukin-10 with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in primary monocyte-derived macrophages

Previously we demonstrated an inhibitory effect of interleukin-4 (IL-4) on establishment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in primary macrophages. The reported similarities between the biological effects of IL-4 and IL-10 prompted us to study the effect of IL-10 on HIV-1 replication. Treatment of primary macrophages with IL-10 resulted in inhibition of HIV-1 infection. This inhibitory effect was specific for macrophages, since IL-10 did not interfere with HIV-1 replication in primary T cells. Semiquantitative PCR analysis excluded an inhibitory effect of IL-10 on virus entry and reverse transcription. Effects of IL-10 on HIV-1 long terminal repeat-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity also could not be demonstrated in a transient expression system in primary derived macrophages. In agreement with this, Northern (RNA) blot analysis demonstrated equal amounts of viral RNA species irrespective of IL-10 treatment, also excluding an inhibitory effect on elongation of virus transcription. Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) treated with IL-10 after HIV-1 inoculation showed accumulation of apparently mature p24 protein suggestive of an inhibitory effect at the level of virus assembly. IL-10 treatment of MDM prior to HIV-1 inoculation did not result in accumulation of p24 protein. Immunoblot analysis indeed showed the absence of mature p24 and gp120 but accumulation of the Pr53 gag-encoded protein in HIV-1-inoculated, IL-10-pretreated MDM, suggesting an inhibitory effect at the level of protein processing. A combination of IL-4 and IL-10 resulted in a cumulative inhibitory effect on HIV-1 replication in MDM. The recent observation that in the course of HIV-1 infection a shift occurs in the production of IL-2/gamma interferon toward enhanced IL-4 and IL-10 production and the reported shift from preferential macrophage-tropic towards preferential T-cell-tropic HIV-1 variants with progression of disease suggest that cytokines have an important role in the in vivo regulation of HIV-1 tropism.

Interleukin 10 blocks HIV replication in macrophages by inhibiting the autocrine loop of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 induction of virus

Human interleukin 10 is a pleiotropic cytokine capable of suppressing cytokine production from macrophages and T cells; in addition, it exerts complex regulatory effects on CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, vascular endothelial cells, and B lymphocytes. Levels of IL-10 are elevated in HIV-infected individuals, suggesting that this cytokine may play a role in the suppression of T cell and monocyte/macrophage function typical of HIV disease. In this article, IL-10 blocked HIV-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 secretion and inhibited HIV replication in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). The inhibition by IL-10 was correlated with a block in endogenous TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion from HIV-infected MDMs.

Interleukin 13 and interleukin 4 protect bronchoalveolar macrophages from productive infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

In this study, we examined the impact of the predominantly Th2-type lymphokines interleukin 13 (IL-13) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) on acute infection of human bronchoalveolar macrophages with a macrophage-tropic isolate of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Addition of 0.01-10 ng of IL-4 or IL-13 per milliliters significantly blocked HIV-1 replication in infected cells, judging from levels of reverse transcriptase and p24 antigen in the supernatants of infected cells. Both IL-4 and IL-13 were almost as efficient as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in preventing HIV-1 replication, when given in equivalent amounts. Moreover, neither IL-13 nor IL-4 interfered with the IFN-gamma-mediated enhancement of anti-HIV-1 activity in alveolar macrophages. Both IL-4 and IL-13 interfered with enhanced replication of HIV-1 in macrophages pulsed with the growth factor granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Interleukin 13 also prevented HIV-1 release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a cocultivation experiment with feeder cells from a seronegative subject. These data suggest that Th2-derived lymphokines have significant anti-HIV-1 activity in cells of the macrophage lineage, although they may enhance the susceptibility of HIV-1-infected subjects to some opportunistic pathogens.

Ultraviolet irradiation and cytokines as regulators of HIV latency and expression

The ability of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to persist and replicate in human CD4+ T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes is under the control of both virally encoded proteins and a variety of host-related factors. Ultraviolet (UV) light has been shown to induce transcription and expression of HIV. Both DNA damage and repair and DNA damage/repair-independent pathways caused by UV irradiation lead to expression of proviral HIV genomes via activation of the cellular transcription factor NF-kappa B. Transgenic mice that contain either long terminal repeat (LTR)-reporter genes or HIV genomes, either full length or deleted in the gag-pol region, express RNA and proteins at the epidermal level, particularly after UV irradiation. Furthermore, UV-triggered release of soluble factors capable of inducing expression of HIV in non-irradiated cells has been observed. Among other host factors, the functional network of pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines has been demonstrated to act as a potent regulator of HIV replication, at least in different in vitro systems of infection.

Interleukin 13 elicits a subset of the activities of its close relative interleukin 4

Interleukin 13 (IL-13) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) are two closely related proteins produced by activated T cells. IL-4 is a well characterized mediator of various aspects of the immune response, including anti-inflammatory effects on monocytes and macrophages, regulation of B cell function, T cell growth, and regulation of adhesion molecule expression on endothelial cells. IL-13, a more recently characterized cytokine, appears to exhibit IL-4-like activities on monocytes, macrophages and human B cells, but has no effect on T cells. While there is a close parallel between IL-4 activities on human and mouse cells, IL-13 activities in these two systems appear to differ substantially with a notable absence of effect on mouse B cells. This review briefly summarizes the current state of knowledge of the interrelated activities of IL-13 and IL-4, explores the basis of these effects at the receptor level and attempts to rationalize the existence of these close relatives via differences in their production by T cells.

HIV-1 induces tumour necrosis factor and IL-1 gene expression in primary human macrophages independent of productive infection

Cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1 beta may play a role in immunopathogenesis of AIDS. We studied early effects (0.5-48 h) of monocytotropic (ADA) or lymphotropic (IIIB) strains of HIV-1 on TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA expression in primary human macrophages by a semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Three-day-old monocyte-derived macrophages were exposed either to tissue culture supernatants containing virus (at multiplicity of infection (m.o.i.) of 0.05) or to control supernatants free of virions and gp120. ADA strain, but not IIIB, replicated in primary tissue culture-differentiated macrophages (TCDM). Soluble CD4 (sCD4) was used to inhibit binding of both strains to macrophages. We found that TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta gene expression was induced by both strains 0.5-3 h after addition of virus, and that enhanced expression of both cytokines was inhibited by sCD4. We conclude that CD4-dependent binding to the cell surface is sufficient to enhance TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA, whereas productive viral replication in primary human macrophages is not required. Therefore, similar pathways regulate gene expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta by macrophages during initial infection by HIV-1 in vitro.

Interleukin 13, an interleukin 4-like cytokine that acts on monocytes and B cells, but not on T cells

Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is a recently described protein secreted by activated T cells which is a potent in vitro modulator of human monocyte and B-cell functions. The data, reviewed here by Gerard Zurawski and Jan de Vries, shows that IL-13 shares biological activities with IL-4, their genes are closely linked in both the human and mouse genomes, and there is sequence homology between IL-13 and IL-4 proteins. Although the cloned IL-4 receptor protein (IL-4R) does not bind IL-13, it appears that the functional IL-4R and IL-13R share a common subunit that is important for signal transduction.

Multifactorial nature of human immunodeficiency virus disease: implications for therapy

The immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease are extremely complex; the disease process is multifactorial with multiple overlapping phases. Viral burden is substantial and viral replication occurs throughout the entire course of HIV infection. Inappropriate immune activation and elevated secretion of certain cytokines compound the pathogenic process. Profound immunosuppression ultimately occurs together with a disruption of the microenvironment of the immune system, which is probably unable to regenerate spontaneously. Thus, therapeutic strategies in HIV disease must not be unidimensional, but rather must be linked to the complex pathogenic components of the disease and must address where feasible each of the recognized pathogenic processes for the possibility of therapeutic intervention.