title: Modulation of in vitro monocyte cytokine responses to Leishmania donovani. Interferon-gamma prevents parasite-induced inhibition of interleukin 1 production and primes monocytes to respond to Leishmania by producing both tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1.
abstract: Cytokines produced by mononuclear cells are important regulatory and effector molecules and evidence has been presented to support a role at least for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in host defense against Leishmania. In the present study, we examined the production of TNF-alpha and interleukin 1 (IL-1) by resting and IFN-gamma-primed peripheral blood monocytes infected in vitro with Leishmania donovani. Monocytes produced neither IL-1 nor TNF-alpha during challenge with Leishmania. Cells preinfected with Leishmania synthesized normal amounts of TNF-alpha, but had diminished production of IL-1 in response to stimulation with either S. aureus or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The induction by S. aureus or LPS of IL-1 beta mRNA accumulation in infected cells was normal despite diminished intracellular or supernatant IL-1 protein and bioactivity. Thus, inhibition of IL-1 production by Leishmania most probably reflected diminished translation of IL-1 beta mRNA. Pretreatment of cells with IFN-gamma abrogated infection-induced inhibition of IL-1 production and primed cells for the production of both IL-1 and TNF-alpha upon subsequent exposure to Leishmania. These results indicate that L. donovani has evolved the capacity to infect mononuclear phagocytes, without stimulating the production of two potentially host-protective monokines. The ability of IFN-gamma to prime monocytes to produce TNF-alpha and IL-1 in response to infection with Leishmania and to prevent inhibition of IL-1 production may have implications for immunotherapy with this lymphokine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia School of Medicine, Canada.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Reiner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: McMaster
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Burchett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma