Inherent potential for production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by human intestinal macrophages.
OBJECTIVE
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by the macrophages in intestines appears to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). However, it is reported that resident intestinal macrophages (both colonic and small-bowel) do not produce TNF after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. It has not yet been proven whether or not intestinal macrophages have an inherent potential to produce TNF. The purpose of this study is to answer this question.


METHODS
Colonic macrophages were isolated from lamina propria of human large intestine and stimulated with a variety of substances: LPS, a lipid A derivative (ONO-4007), killed Streptococcus bacterial body (OK-432), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and lectins (pokeweed mitogen and Sarcophaga lectin).


RESULTS
Colonic macrophages were phenotypically negative for CD14 and positive for CD68 and produced very little TNF in response to LPS, as reported previously. Of the substances tested, only Sarcophaga lectin, which is a defense protein of fleshflies (Sarcophaga peregrina), induced TNF production by the intestinal macrophages. In addition, when the colonic macrophages were cultured on immunoglobulin-A-coated dishes, their characteristic response to LPS was altered, and they produced TNF at a level 6.6 times higher than when on collagen-coated dishes.


CONCLUSIONS
Colonic macrophages have an inherent ability to produce TNF. Activation of colonic macrophages by unknown substances may contribute to the induction of TNF production, which causes the intestinal inflammation of CD.
Nakata
Kazue
K
Institute for Health Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima, 770-8514, Japan.
Inagawa
Hiroyuki
H
Nishizawa
Takashi
T
Honda
Teruko
T
Kohchi
Chie
C
Tonomoto
Yasuhito
Y
Yoshimura
Hiroshi
H
Nagasue
Naofumi
N
Natori
Shynji
S
Terada
Hiroshi
H
Soma
Gen-Ichiro
G
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010844:Picibanil / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D003094:Collagen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D019476:Insect Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D010844:Picibanil; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C043030:20kDa lectin protein, Sarcophaga; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C082161:lipopolysaccharide A