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The release of IL-1beta as an active, mature cytokine requires proteolytic processing by caspase-1, which is recruited to signaling complexes that facilitate its autocatalytic proteolysis and activation. Caspase-1 processing has been characterized in human monocyte and murine macrophage model systems, and comparative analyses indicate significant mechanistic differences in caspase-1 activation by these cell types. In this study, we used an in vitro processing assay to compare caspase-1 activation in THP-1 human monocytes vs. Bac1.2F5 murine macrophages. These in vitro caspase-1 and IL-1beta processing reactions indicated a higher rate of constitutive caspase-1 activation in lysates from THP-1 vs. Bac1 cells. Transfer of small amounts of THP-1 lysate to Bac1 lysate rapidly increased in vitro procaspase-1 and proIL-1beta processing in the latter preparation. The transferable activation factor(s) was heat-labile, > or =10 kDa, and unaffected by immunodepletion of procaspase-1 from the THP-1 lysate. This transactivating effect of THP-1 lysate on processing in Bac1 lysates could be mimicked by addition of purified recombinant human caspase-1. The constitutive caspase-1 and IL-1beta processing reactions in THP-1 lysates were insensitive to pharmacological blockade by the tyrphostin, AG126, and the phospholipase A2 inhibitor bromoenol lactone (BEL); contrarily, the same processing reactions were inhibited in lysates from Bac1 cells pretreated with either AG126 or BEL. These observations indicate significant biochemical differences in the assembly and regulation of caspase-1 signaling complexes within human monocyte and murine macrophage models of inflammatory activation. These differences need to be considered when comparing or pharmacologically manipulating IL-1beta processing and release in various model systems.

Regulation of P2X7 receptor expression is of interest because activation of this receptor by extracellular ATP triggers maturation and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in monocytes and macrophages. We report that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) synergistically induce P2X7R mRNA and functional responses in the human THP-1 monocytic cell line. Induction was dose dependent, with maximal functional activity requiring 1000 units/mL IFN-gamma and 10 ng/mL TNF-alpha and incubations of 36-72 h. The up-regulation of P2X7R function by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma was markedly attenuated by coincubation with prostaglandin E2 or the cell permeant cyclic AMP analog dibutryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP). Bt2cAMP did not significantly alter P2X7 function in HEK-293 cells stably transfected with the human P2X7 cDNA, indicating that Bt2cAMP does not exert a generalized effect on P2X7R synthesis or downstream signal transduction. These studies demonstrate that elevated cAMP negatively modulates P2X7R expression.

In previous studies we have demonstrated that extracellular ATP (and UTP), acting through P2-purinergic receptors, can stimulate the inositol phospholipid signaling system in neutrophils and monocytes, as well as in neutrophil/monocyte progenitor cells. In this study we have examined the ability of extracellular nucleotides to modulate the phenotype of myelomonocytic progenitor cells. As model systems, we utilized the established HL-60 promyelocytic and U937 promonocytic human cell lines which were cultured in the continuous presence of nucleotides known to be potent agonists for P2-purinergic receptors. When cultured for 5 days with ATP gamma S (a phosphatase resistant analog of ATP) plus 10% fetal bovine serum, both HL-60 cells and U937 cells expressed several (but not all) phenotypic characteristics of differentiated phagocytes. In HL-60 cells these characteristics were (1) increased intracellular calcium mobilization in response to formylated chemotactic peptides, (2) a reduction in cell size with a decreased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, (3) a sharply reduced rate of proliferation, (4) a reduction in the percentage of cells expressing surface transferrin receptors, and (5) an increase in the percentage of cells expressing the type 1 complement receptor (CR1). In U937 cells these characteristics were (1) increased intracellular calcium mobilization in response to formylated chemotactic peptides and platelet activating factor, (2) a reduced rate of proliferation, (3) a reduction in the percentage of cells expressing surface transferrin receptors, and (4) increases in the percentage of cells expressing both type 1 (CR1) and type 3 (CR3) complement receptors. During the first 12-24 hr after exposure to ATP gamma S, HL-60 cells showed no obvious changes in morphology, viability, or the levels of beta-actin mRNA, but did show (1) a 4-fold increase in chemotactic peptide-induced Ca2+ mobilization, and (2) a greater than 90% decrease in c-myc mRNA levels. Significantly, when HL-60 cells were treated under serum-free conditions, the ability of ATP to enhance expression of functional FMLP receptors could be dissociated from the inhibitory effects of adenine nucleotides on cell proliferation observed in serum containing media. Moreover, treatment of serum-free HL-60 cultures with UTP, another P2-purinergic receptor agonist, also resulted in enhanced expression of functional FMLP receptors.

Human amnion is hypothesized to be a target tissue for hormone messages from the fetus regarding labor. We have previously demonstrated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release in amnion after treatment with phorbol and oxytocin, but other potential agonists of the inositol phospholipid/protein kinase-C system have not been investigated. The effects of extracellular ATP on cytosolic calcium concentration [( Ca2+])i) inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation, and PGE2 production were studied in cultured human amnion cells. Intracellular free calcium [Ca2+]i was measured using the fluorescent dye fura-2. Addition of 0.01-30 microM ATP resulted in a [Ca2+]i transient which peaked within 15 sec and returned to baseline over 10 min. UTP (1 microM) was more effective than ATP (1 microM); [Ca2+]i levels rose from 233 to 2880 nM (UTP) and 2320 nM (ATP). A reduced effect was observed with other nucleotides in a rank order of agonist potency of ITP greater than CTP greater than ADP greater than GTP greater than TTP. No effect was seen with AMP, cAMP, or adenosine. This is consistent with P2 purinoceptors, as described in other tissues. ATP (100 microM) also dramatically increased IP accumulation. Inositol triphosphate, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol monophosphate were increased 7-, 9-, and 16-fold respectively. The agonist potency order of other nucleotides for IP accumulation was the same as that of [Ca2+]i. Pharmacological concentrations of ATP (1 mM) were required to increase PGE2 production. Many other nucleotides were equally effective at this concentration. ATP activates the phospholipase-C system in human amnion, as demonstrated by the increase in [Ca2+]i and inositol phosphates. The physiological significance of purinergic stimulation of this tissue remains unclear.

It has been postulated that fetal hormonal signals act upon amnion to trigger labor via prostaglandin (PG) production. Human amnion epithelial cell cultures were established to test the effects of potential activators of the inositol phospholipid-protein kinase-C effector system on intracellular inositol phosphate turnover, intracellular free calcium ([ Ca2+]i), and PGE2 production. Oxytocin provoked 3-, 2.5-, and 4-fold increases in inositol triphosphate, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol monophosphate, respectively. [Ca2+]i, measured with the fluorescent dye fura-2, was stimulated by oxytocin and vasopressin (oxytocin greater than vasopressin) in a dose-dependent manner. The [Ca2+]i transient produced by oxytocin reached a peak in 15 sec, followed by a slow return to baseline over 10 min. Preincubation with phorbol 12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA) markedly blunted the oxytocin-induced transient. No [Ca2+]i transient was seen with leukotrienes, PG, serotonin, angiotensin, or alpha- or beta-adrenergic agents. PGE2 production increased 30- to 50-fold with phospholipase-C and PMA, and 10-fold with the calcium ionophore A23187. Oxytocin and vasopressin produced 10- and 3-fold PGE2 increases, respectively. Increased PGE2 production induced by PMA, oxytocin, and A23187 was first seen after 8 hr of incubation and reached maximal levels at 24 h. Minimal PGE2 stimulation occurred with agents that produced no [Ca2+]i transient. Direct activators of the inositol phospholipid-protein kinase-C system in human amnion induce large increases in PGE2 in human amnion cells. Oxytocin and vasopressin are hormonal activators of this system in these cells, as demonstrated by their effects on inositol phosphate turnover and [Ca2+]i. These hormones also increase PGE2 production and may influence labor by stimulating PGE2 production in amnion through the inositol phospholipid-protein kinase-C system.