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To evade opsonophagocytosis, Staphylococcus aureus secretes various immunomodulatory molecules that interfere with effective opsonization by complement and/or IgG. Immune-evasion molecules targeting the phagocyte receptors for these opsonins have not been described. In this study, we demonstrate that S. aureus escapes from FcγR-mediated immunity by secreting a potent FcγR antagonist, FLIPr, or its homolog FLIPr-like. Both proteins were previously reported to function as formyl peptide receptor inhibitors. Binding of FLIPr was mainly restricted to FcγRII receptors, whereas FLIPr-like bound to different FcγR subclasses, and both competitively blocked IgG-ligand binding. They fully inhibited FcγR-mediated effector functions, including opsonophagocytosis and subsequent intracellular killing of S. aureus by neutrophils and Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of tumor cells by both neutrophils and NK cells. In vivo, treatment of mice with FLIPr-like prevented the development of an immune complex-mediated FcγR-dependent Arthus reaction. This study reveals a novel immune-escape function for S. aureus-secreted proteins that may lead to the development of new therapeutic agents in FcγR-mediated diseases.

Here we demonstrate the inducible mouse Hsp72 binds markedly to lymphoid neoplastic macrophage-like P388D1 cells. To examine whether mouse CD40 can play a role in signaling exogenously administered HSP70 in a fashion similar to that of human CD40, we established mouse CD40-transfectants of both human 293 cells and murine-pro-B cell line Ba/F3. A small portion of mouse CD40 expressed on 293-derived transfectants was the mature form with a signal-transducible C-terminal domain, whereas a majority of expressed antigen showed the molecular size smaller than we expect. Flow cytometry showed that mouse Hsp72, but neither its deletion variants nor the related Escherichia coli DnaK, bound to the 293-derived transfectants regardless of CD40 expression. CD40 molecules expressed on the transfectants showed the binding of soluble form of CD40L but this binding was not inhibited by excess amount of HSP70. CD40L, but not any HSP70 recombinant proteins, stimulated the production of chemokine RANTES in the transfectants. Furthermore, no RANTES production was induced by HSP70-RCMLA complex in the transfectants, although it binds to 293-derived cells in a CD40-independent manner. No interaction between mouse CD40 and HSP70 recombinant proteins was detected by using the Ba/F3-derived transfectants that express the mature form of mouse CD40. The present results imply that mouse CD40 expressed on the transfectants differs from its human homolog in the binding of exogenously administered HSP70.

To investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) on acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and graft versus leukemia (GVL) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT), both bone marrow cells and BMMSC obtained after three to four weeks of culture from donor mice were transplanted into the recipient mice injected with acute lymphocytic leukemia cells 5 days before, the control group was injected with bone marrow cells alone. The survial time after allo-BMT was recorded; the general manifestation and pathological changes of aGVHD in recipient mice were observed; the effects of BMMSC on the quatity of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell in vivo after allo-BMT were evaluated by flow cytometry; chimerism was detected by sex chromosome. The results showed BMMSC could increase obviously the survival time, and delay onset of aGVHD, BMMSC could decrease the amount of CD4(+) T cell and increase CD8(+) T cell in vivo. It is concluded that cotransplantation of bone marrow cells with BMMSC from the same donor mice has GVL effect. BMMSC can alleviate aGVHD and maintain GVL effect after allo-BMT.

In transplanted mice, the P388 tumor grew better in castrated than in non castrated (NC) mice. The proportion of CD8+ in the blood was more numerous in NC mice. The T cell subsets (CD4+ and CD8+) were also high in the mice with small tumor tissue (<10 mg). The correlation observed between the tumor weight and T cell subset in PBL and in the mice with small tumors could confirm the important intervention of CD4+ and CD8+ cells to inhibit growth of tumor. Depo-testosterone (DT) injection reduced strongly weight and tumor growth in mice. On top of that, DT administration induced a significant increase in the percentage of blood CD8+ cells in grafted mice. The effect of DT was studied on the cell cycle progression, in tumor tissue of P388 tumor bearing BDF1 mice and in P388 murine leukemia cell line in culture. The cell cycle analysis in tumor tissue showed that DT decreased both the cells in S phase and the proliferating leukemic cells, with accumulation of cells in G0/G1 phase. The testosterone can inhibit the proliferation of leukemic cells with a pharmacological dose (10(-7) M). This growth inhibition, dose and time dependent, was associated with cell cycle arrest; P388 cells accumulates in G0/G1 phase. We also observed a correlation between tumor weight and the percentage of cells in G0/G1 and the relative number of cells in proliferative state (S + G2/M). To conclude, our experiments reported that testosterone prevents the growth of tumor: indirectly by modulation of subsets T cells distribution and directly by the alteration of the cell cycle.

Background: We showed that fucoidan, extracted from dietary seaweed, could inhibit tumor growth. However, the mechanism of Mekabu (Sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida) fucoidan antitumor activity and how it enhances the immune response remains unknown., Materials and Methods: We examined the effect of Mekabu fucoidan in P-388 tumor-bearing mice and in T cell-mediated NK cell activity in normal mice., Results: The survival of mice was prolonged when Mekabu fucoidan was administered for 4 days before tumor cell inoculation, compared with non-treated mice. Fucoidan significantly enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK cells and increased the amount of IFN-gamma produced by T cells up to about 2-fold compared with non-treated mice., Conclusion: The anti-tumor effect of Mekabu fucoidan appears to be mediated by IFN-gamma-activated NK cells.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are performed for cancer patients with the hope that dying cancer cells are safely scavenged by phagocytic cells such as macrophages. In this study, we examined cytokine production by macrophages during and after the phagocytosis of etoposide-treated P388 cells in vitro and in vivo. Etoposide caused apoptosis as early as 5 h after treatment, as assessed as to the exposure of phosphatidylserine, increase in membrane permeability and DNA ladder formation. Phagocytosis by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-treated THP-1 cells occurred marginally when P388 cells were treated with etoposide for 10 h, while it occurred significantly with P388 cells treated for 24 h, as evidenced by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. PMA-treated THP-1 cells produced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-8 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), but not anti-inflammatory cytokines among those tested at the mRNA level during and after the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. IL-8 and MIF were also produced at the protein level, and the IL-8 production was dependent on cell-to-cell contact when the plasma membranes of apoptotic cells were intact enough not to leak one of the cytoplasmic enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase. In addition, etoposide-treated P388 cells induced neutrophil infiltration as well as MIP-2 production upon injection into the peritoneal cavity of either normal mice or mice with sterile peritonitis. When macrophages ingesting and/or binding apoptotic P388 cells were isolated from the mice with sterile peritonitis using a cell sorter, they were found to produce MIP-2 upon culture.

Very little data exist on the mechanisms of innate immunity during the first days after syngeneic tumor inoculation. Nonspecific macrophage reaction precedes the development of specific immune response and is important for further tumor growth and stroma formation. We investigated two lymphoma cell lines of the same origin, differing in immunogenicity: non-immunogenic parental strain P388 and its highly immunogenic subline P388/adria. Early systemic inflammatory response resulted in the enhancement of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide production by peritoneal macrophages which was at a maximum on the first day after s.c. tumor inoculation and was observed in mice bearing either of these tumors independently of immunogenicity. It was followed by a transient elevation of the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines: TNF-alpha IL-6. In order to evaluate the role of inflammatory response, vaccinations with lethally irradiated lymphoma cells were performed. After two weekly injections, the mice were challenged s.c. with live tumor cells of the same subline. Effective vaccination with P388/adria lymphoma cells induced retardation of tumor growth in parallel with down-regulation of peritoneal macrophage activity and abrogation of serum cytokine release. Non-effective immunization with P388 cells influenced neither tumor growth nor macrophage functions and cytokine level. Thus, a positive correlation was found between down-regulation of the inflammatory response and inhibition of tumor growth. We suppose that, in efficiently immunized mice, special mechanisms exist which are responsible for down-regulation of the inflammatory reaction. Macrophage products may facilitate tumor cell survival by preventing apoptosis or participate in the activation of tumor neoangiogenesis. Suppression of these activities may serve as an important tool for the inhibition of tumor growth at the early stages of malignant transformation.

In the present study, we have investigated the possibility to engage the Yersinia outer protein E (YopE) as a carrier molecule for heterologous Ag delivery by the type III secretion system of Salmonella typhimurium. Defined secretion and translocation domains of YopE were fused to the immunodominant T cell Ags listeriolysin O and p60 of Listeria monocytogenes. In vitro experiments showed that S. typhimurium allows secretion and translocation of large hybrid YopE proteins in a type III-dependent fashion. Translocation and cytosolic delivery of these chimeric proteins into host cells, but not secretion into endosomal compartments, led to efficient MHC class I-restricted Ag presentation of listerial nonamer peptides. Mice orally vaccinated with a single dose of attenuated S. typhimurium expressing translocated hybrid YopE proteins revealed high numbers of IFN-gamma-producing cells reactive with listeriolysin O 91-99 or p60 217-225, respectively. This CD8 T cell response protected mice against a challenge with L. monocytogenes. In conclusion, these findings suggest that YopE is a versatile carrier molecule for type III-mediated foreign Ag delivery by Salmonella vaccine strains.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) is associated with both graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. In the present study, we examined the contribution of cytotoxic effector mechanisms, which are mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Fas ligand (FasL), or perforin, to GVHD and GVL effect in a murine BMT model. Bone marrow cells plus spleen cells (BMS) from wild-type, FasL-defective, or perforin-deficient donors were transferred into lethally irradiated recipients in the parent (C57BL/6) to F1 (C57BL/6 x DBA/2) BMT model with or without prior inoculation of DBA/2 leukemia L1210 or P815 mast cytoma cells. The effect of anti-TNF-alpha antibody administration was also examined. Whereas the defect or blockade of each cytotoxic pathway could ameliorate lethal acute GVHD, the GVL effect was differentially affected. The wild-type BMS recipients died of acute GVHD within 50 days without residual leukemia cells. The FasL-defective BMS recipients showed 60%< survival over 80 days without acute GVHD or residual leukemia cells. Administration of anti-TNF-alpha antibody resulted in early leukemia relapse and the recipients died within 25 days with massive leukemia infiltration in the liver. The perforin-deficient BMS recipients died within 60 days with residual leukemia cells. These results suggest that blockade of the Fas/FasL pathway could be used for ameliorating GVHD without impairing GVL effect in allo-BMT.

Treatment of a mouse macrophage cell line, P388D1, for 1 h with bacterial LPS caused a transient increase in the level of junB mRNA expression. These cells became refractory in terms of the junB gene response to exposure to a second round of LPS or lipid A, but not to PMA. The LPS-induced desensitized state was not due to the shortening of the half-life of junB mRNA, but was suggested, by nuclear run-on analysis, to be caused by reduction of junB gene transcription. Pretreating cells with herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, substantially inhibited LPS-induced expression of junB mRNA and decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of 38- to 42-kDa proteins, which comigrated with p38 and p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Parallel to down-regulation of junB mRNA expression, activation of the p38 MAP kinase was markedly reduced in LPS-tolerant cells, whereas activation of p42 MAP kinase was relatively constant. The specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, SB202190, potently inhibited LPS-induced junB mRNA expression. These results suggest that the LPS-induced desensitization of junB gene expression occurs at or upstream of the level of gene transcription and may be involved in a defective LPS-induced p38 MAP kinase pathway.

Uptake of Listeria monocytogenes by different mammalian cells like macrophages and epithelial cells is dependent on functional actin filaments and hence susceptible to inhibition by cytochalasin. Here we show that phagocytic uptake of L. monocytogenes by P388D1 macrophages is also highly sensitive to treatment with the microtubule depolymerizing drugs nocodazole and colchicine. This sensitivity is cell type specific and much less pronounced in bone marrow-derived macrophages and Caco-2 epithelial cells. In contrast to nocodazole and colchicine, the microtubule stabilizing drug taxol has no significant effect on the uptake of L. monocytogenes by all three cell types tested.

C/EBP alpha, -beta, and -delta are members of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein family of transcriptional regulators. All three of these factors are expressed by bone marrow-derived macrophages, with the DNA binding activity of C/EBP beta and -delta increased by treatment with LPS while that of C/EBP alpha is decreased. We have ectopically expressed each C/EBP protein in P388 lymphoblasts. The expression of any of these transcription factors is sufficient to confer the LPS-inducible expression of IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 to lymphoblasts, which normally lack C/EBP factors and do not display LPS induction of proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, the activities of C/EBP alpha, -beta, and -delta are redundant in regard to the expression of IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Since C/EBP beta-deficient mice have been reported to be largely normal in their expression of proinflammatory cytokines, it is likely that the lack of C/EBP beta is compensated for by the induction of C/EBP delta upon LPS treatment.

Replication of Ehrlichia risticii was inhibited in P388D1 cells when a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein or herbimycin A) was added after internalization of the organism at 3 h postinfection. Upon addition of genistein at day 1, 2, 3, or 4 postinfection, further proliferation of E. risticii was prevented. The inhibition was reversible, since regrowth of E. risticii occurred upon the removal of genistein. Genistein prevented spreading of E. risticii from P388D1 cells to THP-1 cells. Genistein did not prevent binding of [35S]methionine-labeled E. risticii to P388D1 cells but did prevent internalization of [35S]methionine-labeled E. risticii. 14CO2 production from L-[14C]glutamine in Percoll density gradient-purified E. risticii was not inhibited by genistein or herbimycin A, which suggests that these reagents did not directly inhibit ehrlichial energy metabolism. Double indirect immunofluorescence labeling with antiphosphotyrosine antibody and anti-E. risticii antibody revealed colocalization of tyrosine phosphoproteins with ehrlichial inclusions. There was, however, no colocalization of phosphotyrosine with phagosomes containing 0.5-microm-diameter fluorescent beads. Western immunoblot analysis revealed that 52- and 54-kDa proteins were tyrosine phosphorylated only in infected cells and that phosphorylation of these two proteins was reduced when infected cells were treated with genistein for 6 h. These results suggest that protein tyrosine phosphorylation is specific and essential for ehrlichial internalization, replication, and spreading in macrophages but not for binding.

Objective: To study the antileukemia efficacy of a combination of adoptive transfer of CD3AK cells, cyclophosphamide (CTX), and kappa-selenocarrageenan (KSC) in P 388 leukemic mice., Methods: CD3AK cells in normal DBA/2 murine splenocytes were induced with anti-CD3 antibody and low dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). The P 388 murine leukemia model was induced by i.p. injection of P 388 cells into normal DBA/2 mice. The tumor-bearing mice were administrated with adoptively transferred CD3AK Cells and/or CTX and/or KSC., Results: After tumor inoculation, the cellular immune function of P 388-bearing mice was supressed markedly. Adoptive transfer of CD3AK cells with low dose rIL-2 into the P 388 mice significantly enhanced the splenocyte proliferation (SP) induced by Con A, the NK cell activity and the splenocytic IL-2 production and prolonged their survival (45.19%); CTX (200 mg/kg) alone prolonged the survival of P 388-bearing mice (29.90%), but further decreased the immunodeficiency; combination of CTX and CD3AK passive transfer could prevent the reduction of SP, NK activity and IL-2 production in the leukemic mice and prolonged the survival (59.45%), combination of KSC and adoptively transfected CD2AK cells and/or CTX had a much better therapeutic efficacy for P 388 murine leukemia, 12.50%-75.00% of the leukemic mice were cured., Conclusion: KSC is a hopeful biological response modifier in cancer biotherapy, and tumor killing effector cells and chemotherapy plus BRM might be a promising candidate for human leukemia biotherapy.

Macrophages and their products may exert either inhibitory or stimulatory effects on malignant cells,thus preventing or supporting tumor growth, however, the mechanisms of this interaction are not fully understood. It was the aim of the present study to elucidate the role of macrophage activation during the growth and rejection of highly immunogenic murine leukemia P388/adria cell line which was made resistant by suboptimal treatment of mice with adriablastin during the serial passaging of parental P388 cells. The functional activity of peritoneal macrophages and the serum level of cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were studied in different groups of mice. Mice from group 1 (control) received saline. Mice from group 2 (tumor bearers) with fast subcutaneous (s.c) 100% tumor growth were compared with animals from group 3 that had been twice previously immunized with lethally irradiated P388/adria cells and later inoculated with viable tumor cells. Tumors grew in only 25% of group 3 animals with a significant delay. The activity of peritoneal macrophages was studied by NO2- production and the NBT-test. Both tests revealed the early high systemic activation of macrophages in group 2. This coincided with the elevation of serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels. This effect was not dependent on whether alive or lethally irradiated tumor cells were inoculated. The NO2- production by peritoneal macrophages correlated well with the dynamics of serum cytokine levels while the NBT-test did not. Studies on group 3 showed total abrogation of early macrophage and cytokine reactions. The production of inhibitory factors by macrophages in previously immunized mice is suggested. The fact that the early activation of macrophages and increase of serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines occurred in animals with fast growing tumors, which was decreased or absent in animals with tumor delay or rejections, allows us to suppose that this reaction plays more a supporting than a protecting role for tumor growth.

A cryptic splice donor site in the first intracytoplasmic (IC) exon of the murine Fc gamma RIIB gene generates a previously unknown Fc gamma RIIB isoform. Three membrane Fc gamma RIIB polypeptides of 37, 32, and 30 kDa were immunoprecipitated by Fc gamma RIIB-specific Abs, and three Fc gamma RIIB cDNAs of 1071, 987, and 930 bp were amplified by reverse transcriptase-PCR with Fc gamma RIIB-specific oligonucleotides from the mastocytoma cells P815. The 1071-bp cDNA contains all sequences of IC exons and encodes the 37-kDa Fc gamma RIIB1 isoform. The 930-bp cDNA lacks sequences of the first IC exon and encodes the 30-kDa Fc gamma RIIB2 isoform. The 987-bp cDNA has an 84-nucleotide deletion of the first IC exon 3' sequences. When stably transfected in the lymphoma B cells IIA1.6, or in the mast cells RBL-2H3, this cDNA encoded 32-kDa Fc gamma RIIB whose biologic properties were undistinguishable from those of Fc gamma RIIB1: they inhibited B cell activation when coaggregated to B cell receptors and capped when aggregated at 37 degrees C, but failed to mediate endocytosis or phagocytosis. Sequences responsible for capping and inhibition of internalization, previously assigned to sequences encoded by the first IC exon, can thus be mapped in the 19 N-terminal residues. These residues are highly conserved in human Fc gamma RIIB1. The 87-bp first IC exon of the human gene ends by a single splice site in the downstream intron and encodes a 19-amino acid insertion. The 32-kDa Fc gamma RIIB is the murine homologue of human Fc gamma RIIB1. We propose to name it Fc gamma RIIB1'. Fc gamma RIIB1' was expressed in myeloid and lymphoid cell lines, in normal spleen cells, and in resting or LPS-activated B cells.

To define glucocorticoid (GC)-regulated genes contributing to the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of GC, previous work from our laboratory revealed up-regulation of transcripts from endogenous type B mouse mammary tumour virus (Mtv) and type C murine leukaemia virus (Emv) loci by high dose GC treatment of P388D1 macrophage-like cells. This study demonstrates enhancement of expression from Mtv and Emv loci in P388D1 cells by more physiological hydrocortisone concentrations (1 microM), and shows direct transcriptional mode of regulation by blocking GC-mediated signal transduction at different levels. Furthermore, we found up-regulation of Emv mRNA steady-state levels in murine lymphoid lineage cells (T-like EL4 and BW5147 cells; B-like X63 cells) upon GC treatment. The Emv transcripts shown by us to be GC-up-regulated encode for the transmembrane envelope protein TM/p15E which is highly conserved in several retroviruses. TM/p15E and the p15E-like products found in humans exert immunosuppressive effects in different test systems. Thus, our findings raise the possibility that immunomodulation by GC might be mediated in part by enhanced expression of p15E(-like) products.

The thymuses and spleens from healthy and tumor-bearing (leukemia P 388 and Lewis' carcinoma) were morphometrically studied after a single administration of the antitumor agent nitrosomethylurea in doses of 96 and 4 mg/kg. When used both in the high and low doses, nitrosomethylurea had an immunomodulating effect, causing the activation of cell-mediated immunity in healthy and tumor-bearing (in early malignancy) animals when given in the small dose.

It was the aim of this study to compare drug-resistant sublines of the murine P388 in relation to resistance markers, the resistant phenotype and immunogenicity. Resistance to drugs either belonging to the MDR type (Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Mitoxantrone) or to the non-MDR type (Methotrexate) was generated in vivo in order to mimic the clinical situation. All resistant sublines expressed the mdr1 gene and the p-glycoprotein determined on m-RNA level or immunohistochemically, while no expression was registered in the parent P388. The rhodamine 123 fluorescence as marker for the energy dependent drug efflux pump was decreased only in the MDR-sublines, while the parent P388 and the Methotrexate-resistant line retained 100% or 90% of the dye, respectively. This indicates that the rhodamine efflux is a more function-related marker for MDR than the mdr1 gene and the pgp. The in vivo characterization of the sublines as regards their sensitivity to cytostatics revealed a clear-cut cross-resistance to MDR drugs in the MDR-lines, while the Methotrexate resistant subline was only cross-resistant to Cytarabine. In each resistant subline collateral sensitivity to certain but different cytostatics was observed. Experiments to overcome resistance by concomitant treatment with the modulators Nifedipine, Verapamil, Cyclosporin A and Chloroquin led to only limited success. The sublines P388/Mitox, P388/Vinc and P388/MTX developed immunogenicity which was never registered in the original P388. Vaccination with lethally irradiated drug-resistant cells resulted in a substantial rejection of viable tumor cells of the same line. With the P388/Mitox and P388/Vinc also an over-cross immunization was possible. This generation of immunogenicity as a concomitant characteristic of resistance should be considered as therapeutic potential also in the treatment of clinical cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is systemic administration of tumor localizing photosensitizers and subsequent irradiation with light of the appropriate wavelength. The combination of drug uptake in malignant tissues and selective delivery of laser-generated light provides effective therapy, with efficient tumor cytotoxicity and minimal normal tissue damage. There have been few studies of the effects of photoactivated photosensitizers on the host immune response. Since immunity is important in the control of tumor growth and spread, we have examined, in our laboratory, the effects of photoactivated phthalocyanines on the antitumor immune response. Immunosuppressed and normal mice bearing the MS-2 fibrosarcoma treated with 5 mg/kg of aluminum disulfonated phthalocyanine (AIS2Pc) and then the tumor mass exposed to laser light (100 mW/cm2 x 10 min) or treated with surgical excision of the tumor survived indefinitely, with no difference between the different groups. The survivors, tumor-free 100 days after the treatment modalities described above, were rechallenged with the parental MS-2. Some groups of surviving animals were immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide before the injection of the tumor. Resistance to rechallenge was evidenced only in normal surviving animals cured by PDT, while the immunodepressed surviving animals and animals cured by surgery died of tumor. Finally, mice, cured by PDT and tumor-free, rechallenged with L1210 and P388 murine leukemias did not survive. These results suggest that a potential and specific 'antitumor immunity' is induced by PDT with photoactivated AIS2Pc.

After activation by interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS), mouse peritoneal macrophages were cocultured with P388 parental cell line (P388/PRT) and its adriamycin (ADM)-, cisplatin(CDDP)-, cyclophosphamide(CPM)-, and mitomycin-C(MMC)-resistant cell lines for one day at effector:target ratios (E:T) of 10:1, 5:1, and 2:1. The direct 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cleavage assay and a new indirect MTT assay as well as clonogenic assay were used to quantitate activated macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity to these non-adherent leukemia targets. The results revealed that all the P388 cell lines can be suppressed efficiently by activated macrophages, but P388 CPM- and MMC-resistant cell lines (P388/CPM, P388/MMC) were more susceptible than P388/PRT while P388 ADM- and CDDP-resistant cell lines (P388/ADM, P388/CDDP) shared equal level of survival rates with P388/PRT. This study also showed that both non-activated and activated macrophages can produce formazan in a high level, which can interfere with the final results of direct MTT assay. The new indirect MTT assay can avoid such interference by separating the effectors from the targets before performing the MTT assay and reflects the real viability of the targets so the indirect MTT assay developed in this study could be a better way to examine cytostatic and cytotoxic effect of activated macrophages on non-adherent tumor cells in vitro.

Four bacteria-derived immunopotentiators were tested for their protective effect on a P-388 mouse lymphocytic leukemia model. The microbial test products were prepared from the following bacterial strains: ATCC 35983 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from a patient with IV catheter; ATCC 31874, a patented strain listed as Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from the urine of a cancer patient; ATCC 25615 Staphylococcus hominis obtained from a child with lymphocytic leukemia, and ATCC 25614 Staphylococcus warneri, an isolate from a patient with adenocarcinoma of the breast. A limited degree of protection and prolongation in survival time was observed in the animal group treated with the bacterial strain ATCC 31874.

The antitumor activity of the immunomodulator, Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS), was investigated using syngeneically transplanted P388 leukemia cells in a solid form. The s.c. growth of P388 tumors in DBA/2 mice was significantly suppressed by systemically administered N-CWS, and the effect was dose dependent. The antitumor effect of N-CWS was partially but significantly abrogated in splenectomized mice but not in T-cell or natural killer cell-deficient mice. Although spleen cells from mice treated with 1600 micrograms N-CWS contained no cytolytic activity, they exerted a significant cytostatic effect on P388 cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Splenic cytostatic activity did not reside in T- or natural killer cells, but in plastic adherent cell population, macrophages. The response to N-CWS immunotherapy appeared to be associated with the number of macrophages infiltrating into the tumor lesions, and this was confirmed by histological analysis showing that P388 tumors from N-CWS-treated mice were intensively and dominantly infiltrated by macrophages. Furthermore, these were shown to be strongly tumor necrosis factor-positive by immunohistochemical analysis. These findings indicate that macrophages are the main effector cells playing a critical role in the suppression of P388 tumor growth in DBA/2 mice, and that tumor necrosis factor produced by these cells may be involved in the macrophage-mediated cytostatic effect induced by N-CWS. The fact that N-CWS suppressed the growth of weakly immunogenic P388 cells in syngeneic DBA/2 mice even when it was systemically injected would support the clinical potential of this agent.

It was demonstrated in in vivo and in vitro experiments that interleukin-2, obtained by cultivation of donor lymphocytes and purified by gel filtration, induces the production of mouse and human killer lymphocytes possessing high cytolytic activity against tumor cells. Interleukin-2 does not cause irreversible changes of the physiological and morphologic indices of vital activity in mice.

A normally, relatively sensitive P 388 developed resistance within few passages (P 388/Mitox) by in vivo treatment with suboptimal doses (1 mg/kg i.v.) of mitoxantrone. This resistance remained stable over 50 generations without further drug treatment. Immunization with irradiated cells (30 Gy) 7 days before tumor challenge led to partial rejection, proving that there was a higher immunogenicity of the resistant line in comparison to the parenteral P 388 line. The P 388/Mitox showed cross-resistance towards doxorubicin, daunorubicin and vincristine. Cis-DDP and bleomycin had in the resistant line significantly better antineoplastic efficacy than in the source P 388 and should be taken into consideration as second-line therapy following development of clinical mitoxantrone resistance. Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, and the immunosuppressive agent ciclosporin A were able to overcome resistance partially, but the mechanisms are still unclear. The P 388/Mitox can be considered as an interesting in vivo model for further research concerning resistance mechanisms and reversal of resistance.

Several Ia+ tumor cell lines and peritoneal exudate macrophages were tested as accessory cells (AC) for the activation of antigen-specific T cells and for T-B cooperation. The macrophages and all the Ia+ tumor lines tested induced the release of lymphokines from T cells in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted fashion and reconstituted the antibody responses of AC-depleted spleen cells or of purified T and B cells. However, only the normal macrophages but none of the tumor lines induced carrier-specific T helper (Th) cells which help B cells for specific antihapten antibody responses by linked recognition. For T-B cooperation accessory cells were also required, but in contrast to Th cell activation any type of Ia+ AC (e.g. macrophage or tumor line) was effective. Strong MHC-restriction between the lymphocytes and the AC was seen if antigen-pulsed AC were added into the AC-depleted T-B cooperation cultures. If the AC and antigen were concomitantly added to the AC-depleted T-B cultures, MHC-restriction was less obvious. Concanavalin A supernatant reconstituted the response of AC-depleted T-B cultures provided antigen-specific Th cells and the hapten-carrier conjugate were present. If, however, tumor line-activated T cells were added instead of macrophage-induced Th cells, no cooperation with B cells took place even in the presence of Con A supernatant. The results obtained demonstrate a differential AC requirement for the induction of Th cells depending on the differentiation stage of the Th cells.

Splenic B cells from a variety of mouse strains could be depleted of accessory cells by removal of large cells through velocity sedimentation, followed by adherence to plastic and by passage over Sephadex G-10. Such accessory cell removal abolished the reactivity of the splenic B cells to the mitogen lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as measured by their capacity to polyclonally proliferate and mature to IgM-secreting cells. Accessory cells from different sources, such as peritoneal exudate cells, irradiated spleen cells, cells of the macrophage line P388 D1 and macrophages from a single colony grown from bone marrow precursors in semi-solid media in the presence of colony-stimulating factor all reconstituted LPS reactivity of the accessory cell-depleted B cells. Limiting dilutions of the cells of a single macrophage colony indicated that as little as 30 to 1000 macrophages can reconstitute the polyclonal response of 3 X 10(4) B cells to LPS. Not only activated macrophages, but also activated long-term helper T cell lines and T cell hybridomas, produced supernatant factors which could also restore responsiveness of depleted B cells to LPS.

T lymphocytes oxidized with the mitogen sodium periodate undergo a proliferative response when cultured in the presence of Ia+ accessory cells. However, the exact role(s) the accessory cells play in such a response has not been clearly defined. We have evaluated the role of Ia and the requirement for interleukin 1 (IL 1) in periodate mitogenicity by using the Ia+ cloned tumor cell lines P388AD (Ia+, IL 1 inducible) and P388NA (Ia+, IL 1 noninducible) as accessory cells. P388AD but not P388NA was able to supply accessory cell function to periodate-treated T cells, suggesting that Ia expression alone was not sufficient to reconstitute a response. Monoclonal anti-I-Ad and anti-I-Ed antibody blocked the accessory cell function of P388AD. In addition, monoclonal antibody GK 1.5, directed against the T cell determinant L3T4a, blocked the P388AD/periodate-treated T cell interaction, confirming that this interaction was restricted by class II molecules. Although Ia expression was required, the response was not major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted, because allogeneic as well as syngeneic macrophages were capable of supplying accessory cell function to periodate-treated T cells. Exogenous IL 1 alone was able to trigger periodate-treated T cells, suggesting that Ia was required for the induction of IL 1 synthesis by the accessory cells. Furthermore, purified IL 2, devoid of IL 1 activity, was able to fully reconstitute the proliferative response of accessory cell-depleted oxidized T cells to a level equal to that of whole spleen accessory cells or P388AD. These data suggest that periodate-treated T cells can proliferate with IL 1 alone and that Ia+ accessory cells in periodate-mediated T cell mitogenicity may function in the release of IL 1 and the induction of IL 2 synthesis by the T cells.

Functionally inducible CTL hybridomas were constructed by fusing alloantigen-specific T cells (C57BL/6 alpha-DBA/2) with cells from the rat thymoma line W/FU (C58NT)D. A cloned hybridoma line (KSH.4.13.6) that was specifically cytolytic in the presence of activated rat spleen cell supernatant fluid (rat Con A SN) lost activity when transferred to normal medium. However, a cytolytic activity could be reinduced by culturing KSH.4.13.6 cells in medium containing rat Con A SN or secondary mixed leukocyte culture SN. By using various sources of SN, it was found that cytolytic induction required two different factors. PMA-induced EL-4 SN and SN from antigen-activated cloned T cells, neither of which were capable of inducing cytolytic activity alone, were able to synergize in the cytolytic induction of KSH.4.13.6 IFN-gamma and IL 1 failed to induce cytolytic activity even in the presence of EL-4 SN. Furthermore, this hybridoma produced macrophage activating factor (MAF) upon culture in rat Con A SN, although MAF production could not be induced by either specific antigen or lectins. The kinetics of induction and loss of cytolytic activity mediated by rat Con A SN were similar to those of the induction of MAF production. However, EL-4 SN, which by itself was incapable of inducing cytolytic activity, was able to induce MAF production in the KSH.4.13.6 hybrid to an extent similar to that induced by rat Con A SN. These results suggest that the induction of cytolytic activity and of MAF production in this cloned hybridoma cell line are regulated by different mechanisms. Such a functionally inducible T cell hybrid may provide a tool for biochemical and molecular analysis of T cell function and regulation, and of the characterization of cytokines required for CTL differentiation.

The kinetics of cell-mediated immunity developed during the course of Leishmania major infection in resistant (C57BL/6) and susceptible (BALB/c) mice were determined by using in vitro bioassays. Cells isolated from the lymph nodes draining the infected footpads were assayed for their proliferative responses to leishmania antigens (promastigote and amastigote) or to concanavalin A (Con A). Although lymph node cells (LNC) from both mouse strains proliferated to mitogen and antigen early after infection, both C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice developed diminished in vitro proliferative reactivity within 3 to 5 wk after infection. LNC from both mouse strains recovered lymphoproliferative reactivity to Con A (week 6), but only C57BL/6 mice regained reactivity to leishmania antigens. BALB/c cells remained unresponsive to leishmania antigens throughout the subsequent course of the infection. Supernatants derived from cultures of LNC that had been stimulated with Con A or leishmania antigens were assayed for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by analyzing three distinct activities associated with IFN-gamma. Culture supernatants derived from leishmania antigen stimulation of LNC from infected C57BL/6 mice, but not BALB/c mice, were able to induce surface Ia on murine P388D1 cells. Ia-inducing activity was detectable in supernatants from C57BL/6 cells as early as 3 wk, and peaked by 5 wk after infection. Although cells from infected BALB/c mice never produced detectable IFN-gamma in response to leishmania antigens, LNC from both mouse strains produced readily detectable IFN-gamma in response to Con A throughout the course of infection. Culture supernatants that induced Ia on P388D1 cells were also capable of activating resident peritoneal macrophages to display leishmanicidal activity and of inhibiting encephalomyocarditis virus replication in murine fibroblasts. Each of these activities could be removed by prior incubation of the supernatants with rabbit heterologous anti-murine IFN-gamma sera or monoclonal rat-anti-murine IFN-gamma. The correlation of healer status with the capacity to generate IFN-gamma in vitro in response to leishmania antigens was examined in BALB/c mice that had been exposed to sublethal irradiation (550 rad) before infection. These animals have been previously shown to effectively resist L. major infection. Consistent with observations in the genetically resistant C57BL/6 mice, LNC from these animals demonstrated the capacity to respond to in vitro leishmania antigen stimulation with lymphoproliferation, and more importantly, by producing IFN-gamma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

We studied the effect of antibody on the growth of reovirus, serotypes 1 and 3, in P388D1, a continuous mouse macrophage-like cell line. Enhanced growth of virus was observed when cells were infected in the presence of nonneutralizing monoclonal antibodies or subneutralizing concentrations of either immune ascitic fluids or neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Both enhancement of viral growth and neutralization were accompanied by an antibody-mediated increase in binding of radiolabeled virus to P388D1 cells. Although neutralization was seen only with monoclonal antibodies directed toward the sigma-1 surface protein of the virus, enhancement was observed with two monoclonal antibodies directed toward other surface proteins. Trypsin treatment of P388D1 cells abrogated enhanced growth of virus mediated by a mouse IgG2a antibody; preincubation with P388D1 with human IgG1 but not IgG2 myeloma proteins also abrogated enhancement by immune ascitic fluid or monoclonal antibody. These observations are compatible with known properties of P388D1 Fc receptors and support the role of the Fc receptor in antibody-mediated infection.

A lymphocytic tumor of early B cell lineage, P388, and a mature macrophage tumor, P388D1, appear to have been derived from a common precursor based on identical immunoglobulin gene rearrangements and shared cell surface antigens. These cell lines may have resulted from differential maturation of a transformed cell that is an immediate cellular precursor to both the B cell and myeloid lineages. This supports earlier findings that suggest a close relationship between early B cell and myeloid differentiation pathways.

Previous studies showed that the depressed NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice was not due to the decrease of NK cell number. The results of this report indicate that the depressed NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice might be due to an inhibitory factor, which probably was secreted by tumor-cells. We found that sera and peritoneal exudates from S180 or P388 tumor-bearing mice were able to inhibit the normal NK cell activity. Spleen cells incubated with the peritoneal exudate for 24 hours before assay demonstrated significantly depressed NK activity. Treatment of peritoneal exudate with a large number of spleen cells did not alter the inhibitory effect of peritoneal fluid, indicating that the inhibitory factor might not be membrane antigen shedding from the tumor cells, but may be actively secreted by them.

In studies of viral immunotherapy of cancer, we found that NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice was usually below the normal level, a universal phenomenon in tumor-bearing animals and patients. Our data show that the depressed NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice was not due to a decrease of NK cell number. The percentage of NK cells in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice was much higher than that in normal mice. Using morphological and 3H-TdR uptake methods, we found that there were many NK blast cells in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice, and blastogenesis was sustained up to the day of death.

Two murine lymphomas, L5MF-22 of B10.129(5M) (H-2b) origin and P388 of DBA/2 (H-2d) origin, were inoculated into lethally irradiated hybrid (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1 (B6D2F1) mice (H-2b/H-2d). Marked localized graft resistance was found in the spleen and occasionally in the liver of recipient mice as a result of a non-T-dependent hybrid resistance (HR). Significant reduction of HR of B6D2F1 mice could be obtained when viable lymphoma cells were inoculated along with inactivated cells of the same tumor or of genetically related leukemias. These results suggest that in vivo competition for HR effectors can take place in mouse spleen and liver leading to a depression of the localized resistance.

The requirements for primary in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) development in cultures of purified rat splenic B cells have been examined. Rat B cells were directly responsive to the type 1 antigen trinitrophenyl-Brucella abortus (TNP-BA), but both T cells and adherent accessory cells were required for B cell responses to the type 2 antigen TNP-Ficoll and the T cell-dependent (TD) antigen sheep erythrocytes (SRBC). However, the cellfree supernatants from concanavalin A-induced spleen cells of rat or mouse origin replaced the requirement for T cells and macrophages, and resulted in PFC development in response to TNP-Ficoll and SRBC and augmented PFC numbers in response to TNP-BA. Culture supernatants from induced murine T cell and macrophage cell lines were used to partially deduce the molecular requirements for the support of PFC development by rat B cells to these three antigens. Supernatants from the EL-4 (EL-4 sup) and B151 K12 (B15 sup) T cell lines augmented TNP-BA responses, suggesting that B cell growth factor II (BCGF-II) mediated this effect. An admixture of purified interleukin 2 (IL 2) and B15 sup supported PFC development to SRBC; indicating that IL 2, BCGF-II, and the T cell-replacing factor in B15 sup (B15-TRF) were sufficient to support this response. In addition, the IL 2 plus B15 sup-supported anti-SRBC PFC response was increased by the addition of an interleukin 1-containing fraction from the supernatant of the macrophage line P388D1. PFC development in response to TNP-Ficoll had the most stringent requirements and only occurred in the presence of EL-4 sup and B15 sup (IL 2, BCGF-I, BCGF-II, EL-TRF, B15-TRF). These data indicate that different cellular and molecular requirements exist for PFC development in response to types 1, 2, and TD antigens by rat B cells.

By priming with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and subsequent immunization with L1210 leukemia cells to which purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) had been coupled, a resistance to L1210 leukemia but not to syngeneic P388 leukemia was induced in DBA/2 and CDF1 mice. Separate injections of mitomycin C-treated L1210 cells and PPD also induced the resistance, but it was established only when they were administered simultaneously. PPD-coupled cells seemed to play a more important role than BCG, since the immunoprophylaxis was observed when L1210 challenge was made at the sites of PPD-L1210 immunization, but was not observed when L1210 challenge was made at the sites of BCG priming.

We characterized an assay system to study the lymphokine-mediated induction of antigen-presenting ability in P388D1 cells. The ability of lymphokine-induced P388D1 macrophages to present antigen plus Id was measured by their ability to induce interleukin 2 production by antigen-specific, Id-restricted T cell hybridomas in the presence of the appropriate antigen. The production of IL 2 by the T cell hybridomas is known to be dependent on the expression of Ia antigens by the antigen-presenting cells. The results obtained suggest that a factor present in the supernatant of the T cell hybridoma FS7-20.6.18 is responsible for inducing the appearance of I-Ad and I-Ed on P388D1, measured by immunofluorescence, and the ability of the cell to present antigen in association with I-Ad or I-Ed. The factor mediating the induction of antigen-presenting ability is thought to be gamma-interferon, because the hybridoma FS7-20.6.18 is known to produce this lymphokine and the factor is sensitive to pH 2 incubation. gamma-Interferon produced by recombinant DNA technology was found to induce antigen-presenting ability in this assay; however, alpha- and beta-interferon were inactive. This observation suggests a unique immunoregulatory role for gamma-interferon. Using many T cell hybridomas in the assay, we were able to distinguish three groups: a) high avidity hybridomas that respond to antigen presented by uninduced P388D1 but show an enhanced response to antigen plus induced P388D1; b) medium avidity hybridomas that do not respond to antigen presented by uninduced P388D1; and c) low avidity hybridomas that show a limited response to antigen presented by induced P388D1, but the response of which increases if the P388D1 cells are induced for longer periods of time. These different patterns of response are believed to be dependent on the Ia antigen density expressed by the gamma-interferon-induced presenting cells, and suggest that the T cell receptors for Ag/Id display marked heterogeneity in their avidities for Ag/Id.

We have studied the activation of interleukin 1 (IL 1)-dependent and IL 1-independent T cell lines, specifically their capacity to produce and secrete interleukin 2 (IL 2). The IL 1-dependent T cell lymphoma LBRM33-1A5.47, which requires phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and IL 1 to produce IL 2, was compared with the IL 1-independent T cell lymphoma LBRM33-5A4 and T cell hybridomas DO-11.10/S4.4 and 3DO-54.8. The latter hybridomas do not require exogenous IL 1 to produce IL 2 in response to mitogens or ovalbumin (OVA)/I-Ad. Even though IL 1 is not required by these IL 1-independent T cell lines, we tested whether IL 1 could modulate their response but found no significant effect of exogenous IL 1. We then studied the activation of these T cell lines by the calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). In the case of the IL 1-dependent line LBRM33-1A5.47, there was a strong response when both A23187 and PMA were used simultaneously. We subsequently found that A23187 can replace PHA, and PMA can replace IL 1 in the activation of this cell line to IL 2 production. These observations suggest that the signal(s) provided by PHA and IL 1 involve at least in part a calcium flux, and activation of protein kinase C. Parallel experiments with the use of the IL 1-independent T cell lines showed a strong response to both agents when used simultaneously. A modest response observed to A23187 alone was always enhanced by the addition of PMA. No response was observed to PMA alone. IL 1-rich P388D1 supernatant could replace the enhancing effect of PMA in the response of the IL 1-independent T cell lines. We suggest that the activating signals provided by A23187 and PMA are at least part of the sequence of events that lead to production of IL 2 in either IL 1-dependent or IL 1-independent T cell lines. In IL 1-independent T cell lines, however, both of the activating signals studied may be delivered through stimulation of the Antigen-MHC T cell receptor.

The constitutive culture supernatant (SN) of the macrophage tumor line P388D1 (P388 SN) and the concanavalin A (Con A)-induced culture supernatant of the T cell hybridoma FS6-14.13 (FS6 Con A SN) were shown to contain nonspecific factors capable of inducing increased Ia expression by normal resting B cells in a dose-dependent manner. In six consecutive experiments the relative increase in Ia expression induced by P388 SN was 4.9 +/- 0.9, with FS6 Con A SN 10.7 +/- 1.5, and with a combination of both preparations 13.0 +/- 1.7. This increase in Ia expression was observed to occur in virtually all the B cells, reaching maximum levels within 24 h of culture. The interleukin-induced increase in B cell Ia expression occurred in the absence of ancillary signals provided by ligand-receptor Ig cross-linking and despite the fact that virtually all the control B cells, cultured in the absence of factors, remained in G0. These results suggest that functional receptors for at least some interleukins are expressed on normal resting B cells and their effects can be manifest in the absence of additional activating signals. The increased Ia expression induced by the nonspecific factor preparations was shown to be correlated with enhanced antigen-presenting capacity by the B cells to T cell hybridomas. The nature of the interleukins responsible for these effects remains to be definitively determined, however, the activity of FS6 Con A SN was shown to correlate with B cell growth factor activity and increased B cell Ia expression was not observed using interleukin 2 (IL-2) or interferon-gamma, prepared by recombinant DNA technology.

Thirteen IgG monoclonal antibodies to the envelope protein of 17D yellow fever virus (17D YF) were produced. All of the antibodies, whether type-specific to 17D YF or flavivirus cross-reactive, mediated antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of virus growth in P388D1 cells. There was no consistent relationship between ADE titres and the degree or pattern of neutralizing and/or haemagglutination inhibition activity. Monoclonal antibodies of different isotypes were used to investigate further the properties of P388D1 Fc receptors. The effects of trypsin treatment of P388D1 on ADE were similar to those previously described in experiments measuring direct binding of IgG proteins or rosetting of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) by macrophages, demonstrating sensitivity to digestion by trypsin of the Fc receptor for monomeric IgG2a but not for IgG2b. Aggregated myeloma proteins of IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes competed equally well with either IgG2a or IgG2b monoclonal antibodies to 17D YF in inhibition of ADE. However, selective inhibition by the homologous isotype was observed when rosetting by P388D1 of SRBC coated with IgG2a or IgG2b monoclonal antibodies was examined. These results may help to explain apparent discrepancies previously reported between experiments utilizing direct binding of IgG proteins and those using rosetting of antibody-coated SRBC to examine Fc receptor properties and indicate that immune complexes of virus and antibody resemble aggregated immunoglobulins with respect to macrophage Fc receptor function and differ from antibody-coated SRBCs.

The ability of an adherent Ia+, interleukin 1+ (IL-1) tumor cell line (P388AD) to present turkey gamma-globulin (TGG) to primed T lymphocytes was demonstrated and compared with normal antigen-presenting cells (APC) found in mouse spleen. P388AD tumor cells presented TGG to long-term cultures of TGG-reactive T cells (LTTC) and to lymph node-derived T cells which were enriched on nylon wool columns and subsequently depleted of endogenous antigen-presenting cells with anti-Ia antisera and complement. MHC-restricted antigen presentation by P388AD was observed when long-term cultures of TGG-reactive T cells were used as the responding T-cell population. Furthermore, antisera directed against I-region determinants expressed on the P388AD tumor cells inhibited TGG-specific T-cell proliferation in a dose-related fashion, suggesting a functional role for the tumor cell-associated Ia molecules. The kinetics of antigen presentation to LTTC by P388AD were similar to the kinetics observed for splenic APC, although the magnitude of the proliferative response to LTTC to TGG was generally lower when antigen (Ag) was presented by the tumor cells compared to splenic antigen-presenting cells (APC). However, the magnitude of T-cell proliferation of immune lymph node (LN) T cells was comparable when Ag was presented on tumor cells or splenic APC. Several experiments suggested that Ag uptake and/or processing may be less effective in P388AD tumor cells as compared to normal splenic APC. A nonadherent Ia+, IL-1- tumor cell line (P388NA), which was isolated from the same parental tumor as P388AD, was also tested for the ability to present Ag to primed T lymphocytes and Ag-reactive LTTC. In contrast, to P388AD, the nonadherent tumor cell failed to present TGG under identical culture conditions even though Ia molecules were expressed on the tumor cells and Ag uptake had occurred. However, the defect in Ag presentation by P388NA could be corrected if an exogenous source of purified interleukin 1 was supplied to the cultures. A unique opportunity thus exists with both the P388AD and P388NA tumor cell lines to decipher some of the molecular interactions leading to T-cell proliferation during antigen presentation.

Rabbit alveolar macrophages at high cell concentrations are inefficiently radiolabeled by the usual lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination method. Soluble macromolecules secreted by macrophages were found to inhibit the radioiodination of macrophages and other cells. A modified procedure is described which minimizes the presence of such inhibitory material and thereby considerably improves the radioiodination efficiency for both alveolar macrophages and the macrophage-like P388D1 cell line.

Single and multiple doses of Corynebacterium parvum ranging from 0.01 to 60 mg/kg as the total dose were tested at selected times against 10(6) P388 leukemia cells inoculated ip in BDF1 mice. The minimum dose needed for maximum protection was determined according to the ability of the treatment to produce an increase in the lifespan (ILS) of mice. The ip dose required after transplant for significant ILS was 40 mg/kg as the total dose. The administration of a single dose 2 days prior to implant produced maximum antitumor effects at 1 mg/kg, with all other doses above and below this level being significantly less effective. Protection was achieved before implant, with the following maximum ILS recorded for each dose and time: 1 mg/kg on Day -2 = 110%; 60 mg/kg on Day -5 = 70%; 10 mg/kg on Day -2 = 50%; and 0.1 and 0.01 mg/kg on either Day -2 or Day -5 = 25%-30%. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that 51Cr release after 1 mg/kg was more rapid in onset (peaking on Day 3 after treatment) than after 60 mg/kg (peaking on Day 5 after treatment). It was concluded that the proper adjustment of the dose and time of administration of C. parvum prior to tumor transplant enhanced antitumor activity of this immunopotentiator. Considerably higher doses were required after transplant for the desired effects to be achieved. The cytotoxicity studies demonstrated differences in tumor cell-killing which were dose-related and may be a contributing factor in the dose and time-related antitumor effects of C. parvum.

Metabolism of cyclophosphamide (Cy) by liver enzymes results in cytostatic products and acrolein, which exerts urotoxicity. Experiments were designed to determine which metabolites are responsible for Cy-induced immunomodulation. For this purpose, mice were treated simultaneously with Cy and N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a thiol compound which reacts with acrolein, and different immunological functions were assayed. Results show that NAC did not interfere with Cy effects on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), NK activity, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) or antibody production, indicating that modulation of these functions by Cy is mediated by its cytostatic metabolites.

The detergent lysate of plastic adherent cell population of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells from 100 individual Swiss mice was subjected to affinity chromatography on two different media, Sepharose coupled to heat-aggregated human IgG (IgG-Sepharose) and Sepharose coupled to the phosphatidylcholine analog, rac-1-(9-carboxyl)nonyl-2-hexadecylglycero-3 -phosphorylcholine (PC-Sepharose). Both IgG- and PC-binding proteins were further purified by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and isoelectric focusing in the presence of 6M urea. Both IgG- and PC-binding proteins thus purified appear to be homogeneous in size as well as charge properties. The IgG-binding proteins of a molecular weight of 25,000 had an isoelectric point of 4.8, whereas the PC-binding proteins of a molecular weight of 42,000 were more basic and had an isoelectric point of 6.0. Both materials retained their IgG-binding capabilities as judged by their inhibitory capacity of murine EA gamma rosetting systems. The subclass specificities of the IgG- and the PC-binding proteins were for IgG2a and IgG2b, respectively. The PC-binding proteins possessed a typical phospholipase A2 activity, which was maximal at pH 9.5, depended on Ca++, and was specific for cleavage of fatty acid from the sn-2 position of phosphatidylcholine. The binding of aggregated IgG2b to the PC-binding proteins caused the ninefold increase in noted enzymatic activity in the presence of, but not in the absence of, Ca++ (5mM). The IgG-binding proteins on the other hand, lacked any detectable phospholipase A2 activity. Thus, the biochemical and biological properties of the PC- and IgG-binding proteins isolated from murine peritoneal macrophages are essentially identical to those homologous proteins previously isolated from P388D1 cells [20].