Membrane-bound TNF supports secondary lymphoid organ structure but is subservient to secreted TNF in driving autoimmune inflammation

Mice without secreted TNF but with functional, normally regulated and expressed membrane-bound TNF (memTNF(Delta/Delta) mice) were created by knocking-in the uncleavable Delta 1-9,K11E TNF allele. In contrast to TNF-deficient mice (TNF(-/-)), memTNF supported many features of lymphoid organ structure, except generation of primary B cell follicles. Splenic chemokine expression was near normal. MemTNF-induced apoptosis was mediated through both TNF-R1 and TNF-R2. That memTNF is suboptimal for development of inflammation was revealed in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Disease severity was reduced in memTNF(Delta/Delta) mice relative to wild-type mice, and the nature of spinal cord infiltrates resembled that in TNF(-/-) mice. We conclude that memTNF supports many processes underlying lymphoid tissue structure, but secreted TNF is needed for optimal inflammatory lesion development.

HNMP-1: a novel hematopoietic and neural membrane protein differentially regulated in neural development and injury

The hnmp-1 (hematopoietic neural membrane protein) gene encodes a protein with striking similarity to the tetra-transmembrane-spanning protein encoded by pmp22. hnmp-1 was cloned from an elutriated human monocyte library and is expressed in various human hematopoietic and lymphoid lineages as well as adult mouse spleen and thymus. In the mouse nervous system, HNMP-1 mRNA is temporally expressed by Schwann cells during sciatic nerve myelination. Dorsal root ganglia sensory and spinal cord alpha-motoneurons acquire HNMP-1 protein selectively throughout development. In the fiber tracts of the spinal cord and in sciatic nerve, HNMP-1 protein is axon-associated. Additionally a rapid and sustained level of HNMP-1 expression is observed in response to acute PNS injury. HNMP-1 is constituitively induced in sciatic nerve of Trembler J mice, which are mutant for pmp22 and have a demyelinating/hypomyelinating phenotype. The expression pattern of HNMP-1 suggests a possible role for this molecule during active myelination.

Interleukin-6 is required for a protective immune response to systemic Escherichia coli infection

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multipotential cytokine detected in the serum of patients or experimental animals undergoing bacterial sepsis. To date, the role of IL-6 in gram-negative sepsis models has been controversial. We have used IL-6-deficient mice to investigate the role of IL-6 during virulent Escherichia coli infection and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mortality. In this report we describe an increased susceptibility of IL-6-deficient mice to E. coli infection in terms of mortality and accumulation of viable bacteria in tissues, indicating a protective role for IL-6 during the immune response against E. coli. In contrast, mortality rates of IL-6-deficient mice and control animals undergoing LPS-induced shock did not differ, indicating that IL-6 was inconsequential for survival in this model. Furthermore, we have shown that neutrophils were crucial for resistance to E. coli in normal mice. IL-6-deficient mice were unable to efficiently induce neutrophilia in the bloodstream immediately following challenge with E. coli, in contrast to a characteristic neutrophilia induced in control animals. Prophylactic treatment of the mutant animals with recombinant IL-6 protein reverted both the deficit of neutrophilia and the accumulation of bacteria in tissues. These data clarify the role of IL-6 as protective in virulent E. coli infection and suggest that the protective effect may be at least partially mediated through neutrophils.

Interleukin-6-deficient mice are highly susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes infection: correlation with inefficient neutrophilia

We have produced interleukin-6 (IL-6)-deficient mice to examine, in vivo, the wide variety of biological activities attributed to this multifunctional cytokine. To investigate the role of IL-6 during infectious disease, IL-6-deficient mice were challenged with sublethal doses of Listeria monocytogenes, a facultative intracellular bacterium. While normal control animals were able to clear the infection, mutant animals exhibited a high mortality rate and showed uncontrolled replication of the bacteria in the spleen and liver at 2 and 3 days postinfection. Sections of infected tissues showed an increase in the number and severity of inflammatory foci. All aspects of this phenotype in the mutant animals were completely reverted upon administration of recombinant murine IL-6 (rIL-6). Various parameters of natural killer (NK) cell and macrophage function were unaffected in the challenge of the mutant animals. However, IL-6-deficient animals failed to mount peripheral blood neutrophilia in response to listeriosis, whereas control animals displayed a prominent neutrophilia in the blood at 24 and 48 h postinfection. Additionally, we analyzed the efficacy of rIL-6 in protecting animals devoid of lymphocytes or devoid of neutrophils during listeriosis. Administration of rIL-6 was protective to animals devoid of lymphocytes, suggesting that the rIL-6 protective effect was not mediated through lymphocytes. In contrast, control and mutant animals depleted of neutrophils were refractory to the rIL-6 protective effect. These data suggest that IL-6 is critical early during listeriosis, perhaps acting by stimulating neutrophils either directly or indirectly. Additionally, these data show a promising therapeutic potential for rIL-6 administration during opportunistic infection.

Lymphopenia in interleukin (IL)-7 gene-deleted mice identifies IL-7 as a nonredundant cytokine

Interleukin (IL)-7 is a potent stimulus for immature T and B cells and, to a lesser extent, mature T cells. We have inactivated the IL-7 gene in the mouse germline by using gene-targeting techniques to further understand the biology of IL-7. Mutant mice were highly lymphopenic in the peripheral blood and lymphoid organs. Bone marrow B lymphopoiesis was blocked at the transition from pro-B to pre-B cells. Thymic cellularity was reduced 20-fold, but retained normal distribution of CD4 and CD8. Splenic T cellularity was reduced 10-fold. Splenic B cells, also reduced in number, showed an abnormal population of immature B cells in adult animals. The remaining splenic populations of lymphocytes showed normal responsiveness to mitogenic stimuli. These data show that proper T and B cell development is dependent on IL-7. The IL-7-deficient mice are the first example of single cytokine-deficient mice that exhibit severe lymphoid abnormalities.