A phase I trial of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (OCT-43) following high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation

Association of Interleukin-1β-31C/T, -511T/C and -3954C/T Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Their Blood Plasma Level in Acquired Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic anemia (AA) is an immune-mediated disorder in which hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are targeted by a number of cellular and molecular pathways. This case control study aims to investigate the association of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) gene polymorphisms, (IL-1β-31, IL-1β-511 and IL-1β-3954) and their plasma levels with acquired AA. Genotyping was done by Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and IL-1β plasma levels were evaluated in peripheral blood using ELISA. Increased level of IL-1β was reported to be significant in cases as compared to controls. The susceptibility of developing AA was higher in the cases for IL-1β-3954 genotype. IL-1β-511 genotype showed significant association with the severity groups of AA. No significant association was noticed in responder versus non-responder group. Plasma level of IL-1β gene was found to be significantly higher in severe and very-severe group of AA versus control group. Our findings suggest that IL-1β gene and its genotypes might be involved in the pathophysiology of AA and play a central role in the etiopathogenesis of AA.

Development of an Interleukin-1β Vaccine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a key cytokine involved in inflammatory illnesses including rare hereditary diseases and common chronic inflammatory conditions as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggesting reduction of IL-1β activity as new treatment strategy. The objective of our study was to assess safety, antibody response, and preliminary efficacy of a novel vaccine against IL-1β. The vaccine hIL1bQb consisting of full-length, recombinant IL-1β coupled to virus-like particles was tested in a preclinical and clinical, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in patients with type 2 diabetes. The preclinical simian study showed prompt induction of IL-1β-specific antibodies upon vaccination, while neutralizing antibodies appeared with delay. In the clinical study with 48 type 2 diabetic patients, neutralizing IL-1β-specific antibody responses were detectable after six injections with doses of 900 µg. The development of neutralizing antibodies was associated with higher number of study drug injections, lower baseline body mass index, improvement of glycemia, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The vaccine hIL1bQb was safe and well-tolerated with no differences regarding adverse events between patients receiving hIL1bQb compared to placebo. This is the first description of a vaccine against IL-1β and represents a new treatment option for IL-1β-dependent diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00924105).

Preclinical efficacy and safety of an anti-IL-1β vaccine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Neutralization of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a promising new strategy to prevent the β-cell destruction, which leads to type 2 diabetes. Here, we describe the preclinical development of a therapeutic vaccine against IL-1β consisting of a detoxified version of IL-1β chemically cross-linked to virus-like particles of the bacteriophage Qβ. The vaccine was well tolerated and induced robust antibody responses in mice, which neutralized the biological activity of IL-1β, as shown both in cellular assays and in challenge experiments in vivo. Antibody titers were long lasting but reversible over time and not associated with the development of potentially harmful T cell responses against IL-1β. Neutralization of IL-1β by vaccine-induced antibodies had no influence on the immune responses of mice to Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In a diet-induced model of type 2 diabetes, immunized mice showed improved glucose tolerance, which was mediated by improved insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells. Hence, immunization with IL-1β conjugated to virus-like particles has the potential to become a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective therapy for the prevention and long-term treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Does thalidomide have an analgesic effect? Current status and future directions

Dramatic relief of pain and life-altering changes in quality of life in some patients treated with immunomodulators such as thalidomide compel us to look more closely at unconventional mechanisms that may be involved in propagation of persistent pain. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10 are the cytokines with the most evidence in pain modulation. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta seem to initiate neuropathic pain, IL-6 maintains such pain, and IL-10 inhibits this persistent pain. Thalidomide was found to be effective in animal models by inhibiting TNF-alpha production. Several case reports and case series in humans have demonstrated mixed results, with some patients having dramatic responses, especially in chronic intractable conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome. Thalidomide may be an alternative for some patients with intractable pain. However, use of thalidomide is limited by its neurotoxic and teratogenic effects. Newer analogues may significantly improve the risk/benefit of using such immunomodulators.

Toward complete laser ablation of melanoma contaminant cells in a co-culture outgrowth model via image cytometry

BACKGROUND

Contaminant cancer cells in autologous transplant tissue can cause relapse and the rates are unknown. A method capable of removing all contaminant cells with a high probability detected by cytomic analyses would be useful. Neither 100% cell purging nor techniques for measuring the probability of success have been developed. Here, we report a method for removing 100% of the cells under ideal staining conditions and quantify the probability of success.

METHODS

Laser ablation was combined with previously reported automated microscopy to purge contaminant cells and evaluate 100% ablation in a co-culture model of prestained mouse melanoma cells mixed with mouse NIH-3T3 cells. Melanoma passage efficiency was measured by: (1) micropipetting single cells into microtiter wells and (2) ablating all but one melanoma cell in co-cultures.

RESULTS

(74 +/- 5)% of single melanoma cells pipetted into microtiter plate wells divided at least once. With ablation of all but one contaminant cell in co-cultures, melanoma dominated in (62 +/- 8)% cultures in 21 days. With 100% ablation in six additional experiments, no melanoma outgrowth was observed, giving a >99.1% probability that all contaminant melanoma cells were purged.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully demonstrated a model for complete ablation within a defined probability using automated high-content image cytometry with ideal staining conditions. The results show that the instrumentation is capable of delivering 100% ablation at a defined probability and establishes the basis for further studies with clinical models wherein pretherapeutic cytomic analyses of unique cellular expression and/or morphological characteristics will be key for contaminant cancer cell identification.

Biological response modifiers as adjuncts to stem cell transplantation

Cytokines produced by immune and non-immune cells serve as potent mediators with the properties of signal cells that coordinate the immune response. They are delivered by cells either to the systemic circulation or to the local environment. They are being used at present in the field of stem cell transplantation (SCT) in order to improve transplant outcome. This paper reviews the existing data on pre-, peri- and post-SCT treatment with cytokines.

Treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor increases interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels during engraftment following allogeneic stem-cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

The effect of treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) plasma concentrations as well as the role of IL-1ra on leucocyte recovery and parameters of infection within the first 30 days after haematopietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) are not well known.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients undergoing myeloablative therapy followed by allogeneic SCT for various haematological disorders were either treated with (n = 18) or without (n = 9) G-CSF. IL-1ra plasma levels were serially determined by ELISA starting at day - 1 and continued until patients were engrafted.

RESULTS

Patients receiving G-CSF had significantly shorter neutropenic periods and significantly lower mean C-reactive protein serum levels during the first 3 weeks succeeding bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Importantly, starting at day + 11 and paralleling the rise of peripheral blood leucocytes, increasing IL-1ra plasma concentrations were observed in both treatment groups. However, the magnitude of the IL-1ra surge was far greater in the G-CSF treatment group. Peak IL-1ra plasma level observed on day + 19 was 882.3 +/- 879.2 pg mL(-1) (mean +/- SD) in patients receiving G-CSF compared with 285.8 +/- 175.2 pg mL(-1) (mean +/- SD) in patients not receiving G-CSF (P = 0.0130). Furthermore, a direct correlation of IL-1ra with peripheral blood leucocytes was verified by the Spearman rank test (P = 0.0025).

CONCLUSION

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mediated acceleration of neutrophil recovery following myeloablative therapy correlated with increased IL-1ra plasma concentrations. Our data suggest that IL-1ra constitutes an intrinsic component of the anti-inflammatory and neutrophil differentiating efficacy of G-CSF and, thus, IL-1ra may be required for the in vivo activity of G-CSF.

IL-1β Suppresses Prolonged Akt Activation and Expression of E2F-1 and Cyclin A in Breast Cancer Cells

Cell cycle aberrations occurring at the G(1)/S checkpoint often lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor growth. We recently demonstrated that IL-1beta inhibits insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I-induced cell proliferation by preventing cells from entering the S phase of the cell cycle, leading to G(0)/G(1) arrest. Notably, IL-1beta suppresses the ability of the IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase to phosphorylate its major docking protein, insulin receptor substrate-1, in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. In this study, we extend this juxtamembrane cross-talk between cytokine and growth factor receptors to downstream cell cycle machinery. IL-1beta reduces the ability of IGF-I to activate Cdk2 and to induce E2F-1, cyclin A, and cyclin A-dependent phosphorylation of a retinoblastoma tumor suppressor substrate. Long-term activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway, but not the mammalian target of rapamycin or mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, is required for IGF-I to hyperphosphorylate retinoblastoma and to cause accumulation of E2F-1 and cyclin A. In the absence of IGF-I to induce Akt activation and cell cycle progression, IL-1beta has no effect. IL-1beta induces p21(Cip1/Waf1), which may contribute to its inhibition of IGF-I-activated Cdk2. Collectively, these data establish a novel mechanism by which prolonged Akt phosphorylation serves as a convergent target for both IGF-I and IL-1beta; stimulation by growth factors such as IGF-I promotes G(1)-S phase progression, whereas IL-1beta antagonizes IGF-I-induced Akt phosphorylation to induce cytostasis. In this manner, Akt serves as a critical bridge that links proximal receptor signaling events to more distal cell cycle machinery.

Involvement of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 but not IL-8 in the development of heat hyperalgesia: effects on heat-evoked calcitonin gene-related peptide release from rat skin

Proinflammatory cytokines contribute to the development of inflammatory and neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia in many in vivo models. The rat skin model was used to investigate the effects of proinflammatory cytokines on the basal and heat-evoked release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from nociceptors in vitro. In contrast to the excitatory effects of cytokines observed in vivo, none of the cytokines tested evoked any calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release at normal skin temperature of 32 degrees C. However, the cytokines IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IL-6 but not IL-8 induced a pronounced and transient sensitization of the heat-evoked CGRP release from nociceptors in vitro. This heat sensitization was dose dependent, with EC(50) for IL-1 beta of 2.7 ng/ml and for TNF-alpha of 3.1 ng/ml. The maximum IL-1 beta effect reached almost 600% of the heat-evoked release, and the maximum TNF-alpha effect induced a rise in CGRP release of 350%. In contrast to IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, IL-6 did not induce heat sensitization when applied alone but was only effective in the presence of soluble IL-6 receptor. This suggests a constitutive expression of signaling receptors for TNF and IL-1 beta and the signal transduction molecule gp130 but not IL-6 receptor or IL-8 receptor. Furthermore, the acute cytokine signaling observed in the present study was independent of transcriptional pathways because sensitization occurred on short latency in vitro and under conditions that excluded chemotactic accumulation of immune cells from blood vessels. Our results demonstrate that interleukins may play an important role in the initiation of heat hyperalgesia in inflammation and neuropathy.

IL-1beta mediates diethyldithiocarbamate-induced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor production and hematopoiesis

Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) exhibits chemoprotective effects via reduced myelosuppression in mice treated with various chemotherapeutic agents. The mechanism of DDTC-mediated chemoprotection is believed to involve the induction and release of several cytokines, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In the present study the roles of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in DDTC-mediated G-CSF induction were examined using human long-term bone marrow cultures (hLTBMCs). Administration of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) to DDTC-treated hLTBMCs obviated the G-CSF induction profile and blocked the resultant colony proliferation, indicating that IL-1beta mediates DDTC-induced G-CSF release and hematopoiesis. IL-1beta mRNA levels were increased threefold over control following DDTC treatment of hLTBMCs, implying that DDTC induces IL-1beta at the level of transcription. Conversely, studies involving inhibition of DDTC-induced TNF-alpha synthesis, with the inhibitor MNX 160, had no effect on DDTC-induced G-CSF release or colony proliferation. These findings taken together strongly suggest that IL-1beta mediates the chemoprotective effects of DDTC.