Heterogeneity of Mononuclear Phagocytes

Presence and interaction of inflammatory cells in the spleen of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., infected with Francisella noatunensis

Serious infectious diseases, accompanied by macrophage-dominated chronic inflammation, are common in farmed Atlantic cod. To increase knowledge relating to morphological aspects of such inflammatory responses, cod were challenged with Francisella noatunensis, an important bacterial pathogen of this fish species. Tissue and cell dynamics in the spleen were examined sequentially over 60 days. Small clusters of mainly macrophage-like cells (MLCs) staining for non-specific esterase and acid phosphatase developed with time. These foci were transiently infiltrated by pleomorphic proliferating cells of unknown nature and by granulocyte-like cells (GCLCs) staining for peroxidase and lysozyme. The latter cell type, which appeared to be resident in the red pulp of control fish, migrated into the inflammatory foci of infected fish. Cells expressing genes encoding IFN-γ and IL-8 increased in number during the study period. Bacteria were detected only in the MLCs and their number increased despite the extensive inflammation. Our results demonstrate an intimate spatial relationship in inflammatory foci between at least three cell types. The presence of GCLCs, together with MLCs, suggests pyogranulomatous inflammation as a more appropriate descriptive term than granulomatous inflammation.

Myeloid blasts are the mouse bone marrow cells prone to differentiate into osteoclasts

Cells of the myeloid lineage at various stages of maturity can differentiate into multinucleated osteoclasts. Yet, it is unclear which developmental stages of this lineage are more prone to become osteoclasts than others. We investigated the osteoclastogenic potential of three successive stages of myeloid development isolated from mouse bone marrow. Early blasts (CD31hi/Ly-6C-), myeloid blasts (CD31+/Ly-6C+), and monocytes (CD31-/Ly-6Chi), as well as unfractionated marrow cells, were cultured in the presence of M-CSF and receptor activator of NF-B ligand (RANKL), and the differentiation toward multinucleated cells and their capacity to resorb bone was assessed. Myeloid blasts developed rapidly into multinucleated cells; in only 4 days, maximal numbers were reached, whereas the other fractions required 8 days to reach maximal numbers. Bone resorption was observed after 6 (myeloid blasts and monocyte-derived osteoclasts) and 8 (early blast-derived osteoclasts) days. This difference in kinetics in osteoclast-forming capacity was confirmed by the analysis of osteoclast-related genes. In addition, the myeloid blast fraction proved to be most sensitive to M-CSF and RANKL, as assessed with a colony-forming assay. Our results show that osteoclasts can develop from all stages of myeloid differentiation, but myeloid blasts are equipped to do so within a short period of time.

Relaxin promotes clustering, migration, and activation states of mononuclear myelocytic cells

Monocytes are leukocytic precursors of macrophages, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts, with critical roles in inflammation and tumor biology. Tumors can elicit signals that activate monocytes to extravasate, infiltrate tumors, and differentiate into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which can modulate host immune surveillance. In order to assess whether relaxin can influence monocyte activation status, we assessed its ability to alter cell-cell clustering and cytokine expression of the monocytic cell line THP-1. Here we report that relaxin can induce time- and substrate-dependent homotypic cell-cell clustering of monocytes. In addition, we demonstrate that relaxin can suppress macrophage migration in an adenylate cyclase-independent, nitric oxide synthase-dependent fashion. We confirm relaxin-induced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression and regulation of M1/M2 cytokine profiles. By stimulating monocyte activation and modulating inflammatory cytokine expression and migratory activity of resulting macrophages in response to endotoxin exposure, relaxin may be a critical regulator of the macrophage activation state that regulates the TAM phenotype.

Differentiation of C2D macrophage cells after adoptive transfer

C2D macrophage cells protect immunocompromised mice from experimentally induced pneumonias after intraperitoneal (i.p.) adoptive transfer. These macrophage cells are immature and display minimal activity in vitro. Therefore, we wanted to understand how adoptive transfer affected these cells. We believe that the in vivo environment affects the phenotypic and functional characteristics of macrophages that help maintain the physiological integrity of the host. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the trafficking patterns and cellular changes of the established macrophage C2D cell line after adoptive transfer. We examined phenotypic changes of the C2D macrophage cells in vivo with and without stimulation with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). After in vivo i.p. adoptive transfer, C2D macrophage cells trafficked to the lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow of recipient mice. The cells were detected for as long as 2 months, and the cells expressed increased levels of CD11b, c-fms, and F4/80 on their surface, becoming more differentiated macrophages compared to cells maintained in vitro. Upon in vivo stimulation with IFN-gamma, c-fms levels decreased while Gr-1 levels increased compared to in vivo, unstimulated, phosphate-buffered saline-injected controls. These responses were independent of the genetic backgrounds of the recipient mice. These data support the hypothesis and indicate that C2D macrophage cells respond to in vivo signals that are absent during in vitro culture.

Vaccine-associated granulomatous inflammation and melanin accumulation in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., white muscle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of variably sized pigmented foci encountered in fillets of farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. The material was sampled on the fillet production line and on salmon farms from fish with an average size of 3 kg from various producers. The fish had been routinely vaccinated by injection. Gross pathology, histology, immunohistochemistry using antisera against major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II beta chain and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the changes. Macroscopically, melanized foci were seen penetrating from the peritoneum deep into the abdominal wall, sometimes right through to the skin, and also embedded in the caudal musculature. Histological investigation revealed muscle degeneration and necrosis, fibrosis and granulomatous inflammation containing varying numbers of melano-macrophages. Vacuoles, either empty or containing heterogeneous material, were frequently seen. The presence of abundant MHC class II+ cells indicated an active inflammatory condition. TEM showed large extracellular vacuoles and leucocytes containing homogeneous material of lipid-like appearance. The results showed that the melanized foci in Atlantic salmon fillet resulted from an inflammatory condition probably induced by vaccination. The described condition is not known in wild salmon and in farmed salmon where injection vaccination is not applied.

Amphibia Kupffer cells

Amphibia Kupffer cells (i.e., liver resident macrophages) show many common characteristics when compared with Mammalia Kupffer cells: filopodia, microvillous-like structures, lamellipodia, fuzzy coat, coated vesicles, bristled vacuoles, nonspecific esterase activity, and pinocytotic and phagocytic activity are present both in Amphibia and Mammalia Kupffer cells. On the other hand, some differences are present between Kupffer cells of both zoological classes: phagocytosed red cells and their derivatives, iron-protein complexes, and lipofuscin bodies are normally present in Amphibia Kupffer cells, but absent in the same cells of healthy mammals. Worm-like structures are not seen in Amphibia and endogenous peroxidase activity is very weak in these animals compared with Mammalia. The most important difference lies in the ability of Amphibia Kupffer cells to produce melanins: in fact the tyrosinase gene is expressed, "melanosome centers" are present, and dopa oxidase activity is demonstrable.

UVB irradiation modulates systemic immune responses by affecting cytokine production of antigen-presenting cells

The immunosuppressive effects of UVB irradiation have been well documented. The production of cytokines by keratinocytes is considered to play a major role in the induction of local as well as systemic immunosuppression. It is thought that partly due to the interaction of locally produced cytokines with antigen-presenting cells (APC) systemic effects, like antigen-specific tolerance, can be induced. In this study we examined the effect of UVB irradiation on cytokine profiles of peripheral APC as well as the functional consequences. Our results indicate that UVB irradiation impairs T(h)1-mediated immune responses in vivo by suppression of the systemic IL-12p70 production. Splenic APC from UVB-exposed mice showed an enhanced production of prostaglandin E(2), IL-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha after in vitro stimulation. Also, spleen cells from UVB irradiated IL-4(-/-) mice showed increased IL-6 levels. These APC were less efficient in inducing IFN-gamma production by CD4(+) T cells and suppressed IgM production by B cells. We conclude that the altered cytokine profile of peripheral APC can be responsible for the systemic effects of UVB irradiation on the T(h)1/T(h)2 balance as well as on B cell responses.

Some macrophages kill Listeria monocytogenes while others do not

It is not known why some macrophages can kill certain microbes, such as the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), while other macrophages cannot. Perhaps listericidal activity is a property of macrophages at specific stages of differentiation; may be the ability to kill this bacterium is regulated by the microenvironment of the cell: or it is possible that other regulatory forces are important. We describe here three characteristics that distinguish macrophages which can kill L. monocytogenes from those which cannot. First, listericidal macrophages must have neither too much nor too little intracellular iron-they must have an intermediate amount. Second, the receptor a macrophage uses to phagocytose L. monocytogenes seems to influence the intracellular fate of this bacterium. And third, macrophages which have cell-surface interleukin-10 (IL-10), a known downregulator of macrophage function, cannot kill L. monocytogenes. These traits of macrophages and their effects on listericidal activity are reviewed here, and the possibility that these properties might interact to control macrophage bactericidal activity is discussed.

Development and heterogeneity of macrophages and their related cells through their differentiation pathways

Macrophages are a heterogeneous population differing in their site of location, morphology and function. They develop from hematopoietic stem cells originating in both fetal and bone marrow hematopoiesis. In yolk sac and early hepatic hematopoiesis, primitive/fetal macrophages develop from hematopoietic stem cells, bypassing the stage of monocytic cells (monoblasts, promonocytes and monocytes), possess proliferative capacity and differentiate into resident macrophages in tissues in late ontogeny. Monocytic cells develop in hepatic hematopoiesis after the development of primitive/fetal macrophages, then move into the bone marrow in late ontogeny, forming a monocyte-derived macrophage population in tissues. Like monocytes, the monocyte-derived macrophages have no proliferative potential and are short-lived, whereas the resident macrophages are long-lived in tissue, possess proliferative capacity and can be sustained by self-renewal. In adult life, the bone marrow releases macrophage precursors (immature myeloid cells) and monocytes into peripheral blood, but normally not monoblasts or promonocyts. The myeloid precursor cells migrate into tissues and differentiate into resident macrophages or related cells in situ due to macrophage differentiation or growth factors, such as M-CSF and GM-CSF, produced in situ and/or supplied humorally. Monocytes, however, migrate into tissues in response to inflammatory stimuli and differentiate into exudate macrophages. The distinct differentiation pathways of monocyte/macrophages, resident macrophages, other macrophage subpopulations, and macrophage-related cells are reviewed together with the heterogeneity of macrophage precursor cells.

Mouse microglial cell lines differing in constitutive and interferon-gamma-inducible antigen-presenting activities for naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

We developed a panel of non-virus transformed cell lines derived from individual microglial precursors residing in the brains of normal mice. These colony stimulating factor-1-dependent cell lines are B7-1+ (CD80), Mac-1+, Mac-2+, Mac-3+, CD45+, MHC class I+, colony stimulating factor-1 receptor+, and they ingest antibody-coated particles. However, the cell lines differ in their expression of B7-2 (CD86), F4/80, Ly-6C and MHC class II molecules. They also differ in their ability to constitutively process and present antigens to naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, memory CD4+ and CD8+, and in the manner by which interferon gamma modulates their antigen-presenting activities. These cell lines should be valuable as models for studies on the immunobiology of the microglia.

Proliferation of mature and immature subpopulations of bronchoalveolar monocytes/macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes

A continuous influx of peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) to the lung is thought to maintain the local population of alveolar macrophages (AM). However, local proliferation of a small subpopulation of AM has been demonstrated in animal studies and in humans. AM exhibit a great heterogeneity with regard to their morphology (cell size, shape of nucleus), immunophenotype (expression of CD14 and RFD9 antigen), and function. Part of this heterogeneity may be explained by the presence of different maturation stages of AM, ranging from small immature, CD14+ RFD9- PBM-like cells to large, CD14- RFD9+ mature AM. These findings prompted us to study whether proliferation of PBM and AM is related to their stage of maturation. The expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 was studied in AM from both healthy volunteers and patients suffering from sarcoidosis. Using double immunofluorescence staining, we studied proliferation of immature, CD14+ AM, and mature, RFD9+ AM in sarcoidosis, and we compared this with PBM. A significantly larger percentage of AM in general expressed Ki-67 antigen in sarcoidosis (3.0 (median); range 1.1-5.5) as compared with healthy volunteers (0.8; 0.2-1.3). In sarcoidosis, proliferation was observed in both the immature and the mature subpopulation of AM. Proliferating PBM were rarely observed [less than 0.2% of the CD14+ mononuclear cells (MNC)] both in healthy volunteers and sarcoidosis patients. A small subpopulation of PBM showed a weak expression of RFD9 antigen (less than 1% of MNC). Interestingly, proliferation of PBM was concentrated in this subpopulation (15% of the RFD9+ MNC). These data show that even mature AM, which are generally thought to be terminally differentiated cells with little capacity to replicate, are able to proliferate, whereas a relatively very low percentage of their precursors in the blood circulation proliferates. Furthermore, the findings suggest that lung tissue in sarcoidosis creates an environment which promotes proliferation of monocytic cells. Pulmonary alveolar macrophages (AM) were originally recognized as phagocytosing scavenger cells (Ham & Cormack 1979), but presently they are also known to initiate and regulate inflammatory and immunological processes in several lung diseases (Herscowitz 1985, Unanue & Allen 1987, Sibille & Reynolds 1990). AM are thought to represent more mature cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system, and to be derived from peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) (Van Furth 1982, Ginsel 1993). As AM are continuously lost (mainly through a transport from the peripheral airways, via the trachea to the pharynx), the local AM population must be constantly replenished.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Distinct mouse bone marrow macrophage precursors identified by differential expression of ER-MP12 and ER-MP20 antigens

The characterization of early branch points in the differentiation of leukocytes requires identification of precursor cells in the bone marrow. Recently, we produced two monoclonal antibodies, ER-MP12 and ER-MP20, which in two-color flow-cytometric analysis divide the murine bone marrow into six defined subsets. Here we show, using fluorescence-activated cell sorting followed by macrophage colony-stimulating factor-stimulated culture in soft agar, that precursors of the mononuclear phagocyte system reside only within the ER-MP12hi20-, ER-MP12+20+ and ER-MP12-20hi bone marrow subsets. Together, these subsets comprise 15% of nucleated bone marrow cells. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the macrophage precursors present in these subsets represent successive stages in a maturation sequence where the most immature ER-MP12hi20- cells develop via the ER-MP12+20+ stage into ER-MP12-20hi monocytes.

Transient inducible events in different tissues: in situ studies in the context of the development and expression of the immune responses to intracellular pathogens

Intracellular pathogens whether facultative like Mycobacterium sp., e.g. Bacillus Calmette Guérin, Listeria monocytogenes or strictly intracellular like Leishmania sp. initiate either asymptomatic infectious processes or disease depending both on factors of the host (genetic as well as environmental ones) and the infectious/pathogenic agents. In this contribution, we first summarized informations which justify to develop in situ analysis to decipher the sequential events that result in different modes/classes of immune responses. How the mode of the immune response is determined remains a main question to address. Although it has recently become clear, in vitro, that immunocompetent cells and their cytokines are critical to set on a stable mode of immune response, acting on naive T cells, this area deserves more in vivo studies. Indeed, peripheral T cells, at different stages of differentiation, may exist in vivo (a) naive/virgin, (b) experienced, (c) effector T cells, depending on the level of stimulation of the immune system by either endogenous or exogenous (e.g. gut flora) signals. The three chosen examples illustrate our contributions in this field focusing on three different non-lymphoid tissues which may become infected: bone marrow (Bacille de Calmette Guérin), liver (Listeria monocytogenes), skin (Leishmania major). These three illustrations also allow to attract attention on the interest of using mice of genetically different strains the immune response of which is set up under different modes.

How does gamma-interferon mediate resistance to Listeria monocytogenes?

Gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) seems to be required for resistance to Listeria monocytogenes in vivo, but acts early in infection, before apparent T cell involvement. The early role of IFN-gamma is unknown, but might include enhancing antigen presentation, inducing secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha and helping early precursor macrophages to express nonspecific listericidal activity.