Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor Suppresses Autologous Tumor Killing Activity of the Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in the Patients with Ovarian Carcinoma

Increased Levels of IGF-1 and Beta2-Microglobulin in Epithelial Lining Fluid of Preterm Newborns Developing Chronic Lung Disease: Effects of rhG-CSF

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is involved in regulating the TH-l/TH-2 balance, favoring the development of the TH-2 compartment which enhances fibrosis, one of the main characteristics of Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) in premature newborns. Limited data is available concerning a possible association between early epithelial lining fluid (ELF) concentrations of IGF-1 (total and free forms), IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), b2-microglobulin (B2M) and subsequent development of CLD in preterm neonates. If neutropenic, preterm neonates are frequently treated with recombinant human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (rhG-CSF). The objective of the study was to correlate ELF concentrations of IGF-1 and B2M during the first week of life both in non-neutropenic and in rhG-CSF-treated neutropenic preterm neonates, with subsequent development in CLD. Thirty preterm neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (6 with neutropenia) were studied. Eleven out of 24 non-neutropenic preterm infants (46%) and all of the six neutropenic subjects (100%) developed CLD. With the exception of first day values, there was a clear similarity in the behaviors of assayed molecules between non-neutropenic and neutropenic patients developing CLD. Non-neutropenic patients without CLD showed significantly lower values of free IGF-1 and B2M both on days 1 and 3. Total IGF-I and cell counts were different only on the 3rd day. Conclusions: 1) the mechanisms leading to CLD might be mediated by high levels of IGF-family molecules soon after birth 2) B2M could be a marker of increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cellularity with potential inflammatory properties 3) G-CSF treatment induces an increased synthesis of IGF-1 molecules by cells recruited in the lung, with possible enhancement of the fibrogenic mechanisms.

The effect of rhG-CSF on spleen transcriptome in mouse leukopenia model induced by cyclophosphamide

CONTEXT

RhG-CSF significantly elevates the otherwise reduced numbers of leukocytes following chemotherapy. However, prior work has predominantly focused on the effect of rhG-CSF on the hematopoietic system, and few studies have focused on the immune system.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the effect of rhG-CSF on the immune system transcriptome in a mouse leukopenia model that was induced by cyclophosphamide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cyclophosphamide leukopenia model was established in C57BL/6 mice, which were randomly divided into a normal control group (CK), a cyclophosphamide model group (CY) and a rhG-CSF treatment group (rhG-CSF). After 3 d of rhG-CSF treatment, a mouse gene expression microarray enabled evaluation of changes in the transcriptome in the mouse spleen.

RESULTS

About 3552 differentially expressed genes occurred among the three experimental groups, of which 74.9% (2659) concentrated on three gene expression patterns. Gene ontology and pathway analysis of 2659 differential genes showed that early in treatment when leukocyte counts remained low, rhG-CSF recovered the transcription of genes that were related to DNA damage repair and metabolism of nucleotides and amino acids. By contrast, rhG-CSF inhibited the transcription of genes involved in transendothelial migration and endocytosis, and dampened the transcription of genes associated with cell proliferation as compared with the CY group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that rhG-CSF recovered metabolism in immune cells, suppressed in vivo immune defense, and attenuated immune cell proliferation in a cyclophosphamide induced leukopenia model. Use of gene expression microarrays can macroscopically and systematically inform the mechanism of rhG-CSF on immune cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Interferon (IFN)-gamma production by decidual mononuclear cells (DMNC) is interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-12 dependent

PROBLEM

Th1-shifted immune response is believed to be harmful for successful pregnancy because of activation of maternal cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. However, its effects on Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated innate immune response are so far unknown and this study has been undertaken to address the issue.

METHOD OF STUDY

decidual tissues were obtained from 16 pregnant women undergoing elective termination during the first trimester pregnancy for socioeconomic reasons. Decidual Mononuclear Cells (DMNC) were stimulated with suboptimal doses of IL-2 and IL-12 with/without LPS, considered to be a TLR4 ligand, for 48 hr. Productions of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in culture supernatant were measured with ELISA.

RESULTS

(i) IFN-γ production was induced with LPS alone which was strongly up-regulated in the presence of IL-2 and IL-12. (ii) TNF-α was also induced by LPS but was not affected by the presence of IL-2 and IL-12.

CONCLUSION

IL-2 and IL-12 up-regulated the production of IFN-γ in DMNC through increasing their susceptibility to LPS. TNF-α production is independent of such a mechanism.

No cancer in cancers: Evolutionary trade-off between successful viviparity and tumor escape from the adaptive immune system

Some invertebrate species including the king crab and king squid enjoy relatively long lives of up to 20 years. Nevertheless, there are few reports of malignancies among invertebrate animals while there are many such reports in lower vertebrates such as in fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. Viviparity is characteristic of most mammalian species, although it has been observed in both vertebrate and non-vertebrate species. As adaptive immune responses evolved among the cartilaginous fishes by virtue of gene duplication, all viviparous vertebrates cope with specific immune responses to reject the fetal allograft. The escape mechanisms employed by both human and animal malignancies share common properties, which are also employed by feto-placental units, such as the expression of non-classical major histocompatibility antigens (HLA-E, HLA-F, and HLA-G in humans), accumulation of regulatory T cells, Th2-directed immune responses, Fas/FasL- and/or PD-1/PD-L1-induced apoptosis, and the expression of indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase which starves the local tryptophan supply that is indispensable for an effective cytotoxic T cells response. In humans, a single cancer cell requires 1-10 years to develop into a clinically remarkable tumor. For cancer cells, the genes encoding the immunoregulatory mechanisms employed by feto-placental units could be of value for escaping the host immune system. Taken together, these observations support the author's hypothesis that the evolution of viviparity resulted in an evolutionary trade-off that may have increased susceptibility to malignancies.