TSG-14 transgenic mice have improved survival to endotoxemia and to CLP-induced sepsis

Tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene 14 (TSG-14)/PTX3 was identified originally as a TNF-alpha and IL-1beta-stimulated gene from normal, human foreskin fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, respectively. TSG-14 gene encodes a 42-kDa-secreted glycoprotein with a carboxy-terminal half that shares homology with the entire sequence of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), acute-phase proteins of the pentraxin family. Some experimental evidence suggests that TSG-14 plays a role in inflammation, yet its function and mechanism of action remain unclear. We have generated transgenic mice that overexpress the murine TSG-14 gene under the control of its own promoter. From eight transgenic founders, two lineages were derived and better characterized: Tg2 and Tg4, carrying two and four copies of the transgene, respectively. TSG-14 transgenic mice were found to be more resistant to the endotoxic shock induced by LPS and to the polymicrobial sepsis caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Moreover, macrophages derived from the transgenic mice produced higher amounts of nitric oxide in response to IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and LPS as compared with macrophages from wild-type animals, and the augmented response appears to be the consequence of a higher responsiveness of transgenic macrophages to IFN-gamma. The data shown here are the first in vivo evidence of the involvement of TSG-14 in the inflammatory process and suggest a role for TSG-14 in the defense against bacterial infections.

Differential regulation of TSG-14 expression in murine fibroblasts and peritoneal macrophages

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-stimulated gene 14 (TSG-14, also termed PTX3) encodes a secreted glycoprotein whose carboxy-terminal half shares sequence similarity with the pentraxin family of acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P component). We compared TSG-14 mRNA expression in cultures of murine BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts and thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages. TNF and interleukin-1 (IL-1) potently induced TSG-14 expression in 3T3 fibroblasts but not in peritoneal macrophages. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicited TSG-14 expression in both cell types, but induction in 3T3 cells and macrophages showed several distinct characteristics. Whereas in 3T3 fibroblasts TSG-14 mRNA was rapidly up-regulated by LPS, expression in macrophages was substantially delayed. Furthermore, cycloheximide greatly reduced LPS-induced TSG-14 mRNA up-regulation in macrophages but not in 3T3 cells. Finally, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma; but not IFN-alpha/beta) inhibited LPS-induced TSG-14 expression in macrophages and not in 3T3 fibroblasts. The antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate inhibited LPS-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and TSG-14 expression in macrophages. In contrast, IFN-gamma did not inhibit NF-kappaB function as measured by IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta degradation, IkappaB-alpha resynthesis, or electrophoretic mobility shift analysis. Inhibition of LPS-induced TSG-14 mRNA expression by IFN-gamma in macrophages was also observed in the presence of cycloheximide and in cells from STAT1 null mice, suggesting that IFN-gamma inhibits TSG-14 expression through an unconventional mechanism.

Long pentraxins: an emerging group of proteins with diverse functions

The earliest described pentraxins, C reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), are cytokine-inducible acute phase proteins implicated in innate immunity whose concentrations in the blood increase dramatically upon infection or trauma. The highly conserved family of pentraxins was thought to consist solely of approximately 25 kDa proteins. Recently, several distinct larger proteins have been identified in which only the C-terminal halves show characteristic features of the pentraxin family. One of the recently described "long" pentraxins (TSG-14/PTX3) is inducible by TNF or IL-1 and is produced during the acute phase response. Other newly identified long pentraxins are constitutively expressed proteins associated with sperm-egg fusion (apexin/p50), may function at the neuronal synapse (neuronal pentraxin I, NPI), or may serve yet other, unknown functions (NPII and XL-PXN1). Evidence obtained by molecular modeling and by direct physicochemical analysis suggests that TSG-14 protein retains some characteristic structural features of the pentraxins, including the formation of pentameric complexes.

Promoter structure and transcriptional activation of the murine TSG-14 gene encoding a tumor necrosis factor/interleukin-1-inducible pentraxin protein

Human TNF-stimulated gene 14 (TSG-14) encodes a secreted 42-kDa glycoprotein that shows significant homology to proteins of the pentraxin family, which includes the acute phase reactants C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P component. Levels of TSG-14 protein (also termed PTX-3) become elevated in the serum of mice and humans after injection with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, but in contrast to conventional acute phase proteins, the bulk of TSG-14 synthesis in the intact organism occurs outside the liver. In the present study we cloned and partially sequenced murine genomic TSG-14 DNA. Analysis of the coding region predicts a high degree of amino acid sequence homology between murine and human TSG-14 (88 and 75% identity in the first and second exons, respectively). The promoter of the TSG-14 gene lacks consensus sequences for either a TATA box or CCAAT box. Primer extension analysis and S1 nuclease protection assay revealed one major transcription start site, situated within a consensus sequence for an initiator element. Sequence analysis of a approximately 1.4-kilobase pair fragment of the 5'-flanking region of the TSG-14 gene revealed the presence of numerous potential enhancer binding elements, including six NF-IL6-like sites, four AP-1, one AP-2, one NF-kB, two Sp1, two interferon-gamma-activated sites (GAS), one Hox-1.3, and five binding sites for Ets family members. Transfection of BALB/c 3T3 cells with promoter DNA fragments linked to the luciferase reporter gene revealed that the 5'-flanking region of the TSG-14 gene comprises elements that can mediate a basal level of transcription and inducibility by TNF.

The development of peripheral TNP-tolerance and suppressor function in Xenopus laevis, the South African clawed toad

In adult Xenopus laevis, inducer- and effector-suppressor functions are located in the spleen. These peripheral suppressor functions must be established at this location near the end of metamorphosis, since both functions are in the thymus in premetamorphic and in developmentally-blocked metamorphosing larvae. This study examined whether TNP-conjugated self-antigens resulting from exposure to trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), will stimulate TNP-tolerance in premetamorphic, metamorphic, and in developmentally-blocked metamorphosing larvae. Premetamorphic and developmentally-blocked larvae produce little TNP-tolerance or peripheral suppressor function. However, when TNBS exposure includes the late stages of the metamorphic period, both TNP-tolerance and splenic anti-hapten suppressor function are demonstrable. Removal of suppressor function with cyclophosphamide prevents expression of tolerance, thus, they are functionally related. Suppressor function and tolerance both differentiate during the late metamorphic stages when new adult antigens are being expressed and incorporated into a library of self.

Relationship of TSG-14 protein to the pentraxin family of major acute phase proteins

TNF-stimulated gene-14 (TSG-14) encodes a secreted glycoprotein with significant sequence homology to C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), members of the pentraxin family of acute phase proteins. TSG-14 mRNA was elevated in human FS-4 fibroblasts by treatment with TNF, IL-1, or bacterial LPS, and weakly by dexamethasone. Abs to recombinant TSG-14 immunoprecipitated a 42-kDa protein from the culture supernatants of TNF- or IL-1-stimulated FS-4 cells. TSG-14 protein was also inducible in the Hep3B human hepatoma cell line by TNF, IL-1, IL-6, or dexamethasone. CRP protein, identified by immunoprecipitation of a 25-kDa band with Abs to CRP, was induced in Hep3B cells by IL-1, IL-6, or dexamethasone. Immunoprecipitations with polyclonal Abs to TSG-14 and CRP suggested that the two proteins are immunologically cross-reactive. Appearance of TSG-14 protein was demonstrated in the serum of mice after injection with LPS. No TSG-14 mRNA was detected in the liver of LPS-injected mice, suggesting that hepatocytes are not the major site of TSG-14 synthesis. Thus, in the intact organism the main cellular sources of TSG-14 and classical acute phase proteins appear to be different.

Relationship of TSG-14 protein to the pentraxin family of major acute phase proteins

TNF-stimulated gene-14 (TSG-14) encodes a secreted glycoprotein with significant sequence homology to C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), members of the pentraxin family of acute phase proteins. TSG-14 mRNA was elevated in human FS-4 fibroblasts by treatment with TNF, IL-1, or bacterial LPS, and weakly by dexamethasone. Abs to recombinant TSG-14 immunoprecipitated a 42-kDa protein from the culture supernatants of TNF- or IL-1-stimulated FS-4 cells. TSG-14 protein was also inducible in the Hep3B human hepatoma cell line by TNF, IL-1, IL-6, or dexamethasone. CRP protein, identified by immunoprecipitation of a 25-kDa band with Abs to CRP, was induced in Hep3B cells by IL-1, IL-6, or dexamethasone. Immunoprecipitations with polyclonal Abs to TSG-14 and CRP suggested that the two proteins are immunologically cross-reactive. Appearance of TSG-14 protein was demonstrated in the serum of mice after injection with LPS. No TSG-14 mRNA was detected in the liver of LPS-injected mice, suggesting that hepatocytes are not the major site of TSG-14 synthesis. Thus, in the intact organism the main cellular sources of TSG-14 and classical acute phase proteins appear to be different.

Activation of NF-kappa B may be necessary but is not sufficient for induction of H-2 antigens by TNF in J558L murine myeloma cells

We have investigated the role of the transcription factor NF-kappa B in the induction of H-2 antigens by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in murine J558L myeloma cells. An earlier report suggested that J558L cells may have a defect in NF-kappa B activation in response to some stimuli. Treatment of J558L cells with either TNF or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B, as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Both TNF and LPS activated the same NF-kappa B nuclear complexes, composed of the p50 and p65 subunits. LPS mediated a stronger and more sustained activation of NF-kappa B than TNF. In contrast, TNF induced higher levels of H-2 antigen surface expression than did LPS, suggesting that activation of NF-kappa B is not sufficient for optimal enhancement of H-2 expression. An inhibitor of NF-kappa B activation, pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC), dramatically reduced the induction of H-2 antigen by TNF, supporting the view that NF-kappa B is required for TNF-induced H-2 antigen expression. Constitutive levels of H-2 antigen expression on the cell surface and of nuclear NF-kappa B also decreased after PDTC treatment. However, PDTC had a smaller inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NF-kappa B activation and H-2 antigen expression, suggesting that TNF and LPS activate NF-kappa B by somewhat different pathways.

Advantages of treatment of ascites without sodium restriction and without complete removal of excess fluid

Two modifications of the standard method of treatment of ascites in chronic liver disease were investigated in three separate randomised trials involving a total of 201 patients. These modifications were (1) an unrestricted sodium intake and (2) limitation of diuresis to partial removal of ascites, to the point of relief of abdominal tension. Mean serum sodium fell significantly in all patient groups receiving the low sodium diet and did not fall in the groups given an unrestricted diet. Mean serum urea nitrogen rose significantly in the patient groups undergoing complete diuresis and did not change in the groups undergoing partial diuresis. Mean serum uric acid rose only in the groups undergoing complete diuresis. We concluded that the advantages of these two modifications of therapy of ascites were increased dietary palatability and decreased likelihood of hyponatraemia and of rise in serum urea nitrogen and uric acid. Disadvantages included dissatisfaction of patients over incomplete clearing of ascites, occasional difficulty in performing diagnostic studies because of prolonged ascites, and unsuitability of a high sodium intake in patients whose ascites is highly refractory to treatment.