Application of chromatographic methods to the analysis of macrophage factors induced by Nocardia opaca cell walls

Immunomodulation by bacterial fractions

The cells of Nocardia opaca are a source of potent immunostimulating substances, differing in solubility and in the presence or absence of peptidoglycan. Three classes of N. opaca fractions have been investigated: (1) NDCM (Nocardia delipidated cell mitogen), the starting fraction; (2) PG (peptidoglycan)-containing fractions: CW (cell walls), PG, and fractions containing soluble PG derivatives such as NWSM (Nocardia water soluble mitogen) and NSPD (Nocardia soluble peptidoglycan derivative); and (3) soluble fractions devoid of PG, such as NWSMP (NWSP-pellet) and CyI (cytoplasmic membrane). This report summarizes our results on the relationship between the structure of N. opaca fractions and their stimulatory activities on mouse, rabbit, germ-free piglet and human lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages. The studies of biological properties of these compounds are the result of an extensive collaborative effort of several teams.

Antitumoral activity of an immunomodulatory fraction of Nocardia opaca: mechanism of action

Immunomodulatory substances have been used as antineoplastic agents in experimental and human systems. Many of these agents were derived from microorganisms. Several biologically active fractions have been isolated from Nocardia. These derivatives were shown to induce interferon production, to activate natural killer cells and macrophages and to exert an antitumoral effect. We attempted to examine the mechanism of the antitumoral activity of the Nocardia water-soluble mitogen (NWSM). The tumor tested was the Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL). Regular histological examination and identification of the cellular immune reaction by monoclonal antibodies against macrophages (Mac 1 antigen), B- (IgG expressing) and T-lymphocytes (anti-Lyt-1), analysed by flow cytometry, were performed on samples of the tumor site and of the spleen. Intratumoral administration of the immunomodulators resulted in a massive accumulation of inflammatory cells around the tumor in mice treated with NWSM. The thick rim of infiltrating cells consisted of macrophages and lymphocytes, while the nontreated tumor was found to provoke only a scanty lymphocyte infiltration. Macrophages were, therefore, present at the tumor site and were directly implicated in the antitumoral effect of the Nocardia immunomodulator. T-lymphocytes were also observed at the site of the tumor. The spleen reaction consisted of marked extramedullary hematopoiesis and enlarged follicles containing prominent germinal centres (assessed also by a FACS-demonstrated increase in B-lymphocytes). In view of the inefficiency of chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced cancer, it is of major importance to explore alternative cancer treatment modalities. Immunotherapy is a particularly interesting alternative since it can potentially affect metastatic disease.

Treatment of radiation disease by Nocardia fraction: possible effect of inflammatory cytokines

Nocardia delipidated cell mitogen (NDCM) derived from Nocardia opaca, given 2 h after whole-body gamma irradiation (2.5 Gy) to germ-free piglets in amounts of 1 mg/kg via a stomach tube, prevented the loss of B-cells in the spleen, intestinal mucosa, and mesenteric lymph nodes when recorded on day 8 after irradiation. NDCM and/or formolized Enterococcus faecalis strain (Ef) applied intraperitoneally also 2 h after irradiation increased the survival rate in mice irradiated with 8.3 Gy and 8.5 Gy doses. The number of nucleated bone marrow cells and the content of RNA in the spleen were significantly higher in rats given immunostimulators NDCM and Ef after irradiation with 5.0 Gy. The effect is presumed to be a consequence of stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines.

Protein tyrosine kinases and TNF alpha secretion in human monocytes

The role of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) in TNF alpha secretion by human monocytes was investigated in this report. We showed that an immunomodulator such as Nocardia lysozyme digest (NLD) and a particulate agonist, zymosan, stimulated an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several endogenous substrates including 53-56 kDa protein which was the predominant phosphoprotein. In addition, NLD and zymosan induced TNF alpha secretion which was impaired by a PTK inhibitor, tyrphostin. We suggest that a cascade of kinases including PTK is involved in NLD and zymosan signalling.

Nocardia fractions, NLD and NWSM, induce tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion in human monocytes: role of protein kinase C

Nocardia lysozyme digest (NLD) and Nocardia water-soluble mitogen (NWSM) are two fractions derived from Nocardia opaca. In this report, we demonstrated that both fractions elicited significant secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in human monocytes. Supernatants from monocytes stimulated with NWSM and low concentrations of NLD displayed a cytotoxic activity against TNF-alpha-sensitive L929 cells, but supernatants from monocytes stimulated with high concentrations of NLD failed to lyse L929 cells. This latter phenomenon might be related to the secretion of an inactive form of TNF-alpha or the release of an inhibitor of TNF-alpha cytotoxic activity. Since it is well established that protein kinase C (PKC) plays a major role in the signaling of several monocyte activators, we investigated the putative role of PKC in cytokine synthesis induced by NLD and NWSM fractions. TNF-alpha secretion in response to both Nocardia fractions was inhibited by sphingosine, staurosporine and calphostin C, known PKC inhibitors, as well as by a PKC depletion procedure. In addition, NLD and NWSM induced a transient increase in [3H]phorbol dibutyrate binding, which assessed the activation of PKC. The data suggest the involvement of PKC in the signaling of NLD and NWSM fractions leading to the synthesis and the secretion of TNF-alpha by human monocytes.