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Phase Ib trial of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor combined with murine monoclonal antibody R24 in patients with metastatic melanoma
Chachoua A; Oratz R; Liebes L; Alter RS; Felice A; Peace D; Vilcek J; Blum RH
R24, a murine monoclonal antibody, has been shown to mediate complement- and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of melanoma tumor targets. We conducted a Phase Ib clinical trial using granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and R24 in 20 patients with metastatic melanoma. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that treatment with GM-CSF could up-regulate monocyte and granulocyte ADCC and that the combination of GM-CSF plus R24, which mediates ADCC, would lead to enhanced anti-tumor activity in patients with melanoma. GM-CSF was administered by subcutaneous injection daily for 21 days at a dose of 150 micrograms/m2/day. R24 was administered by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8-15 at three dose levels: 0, 10, and 50 mg/m2/day. All 20 patients received one cycle of treatment only. Immune parameters measured were monocyte and granulocyte direct cytotoxicity and ADCC. All patients were evaluable for toxicity. Fifteen patients were evaluable for immune response. Treatment with GM-CSF alone was well tolerated. Toxicity from the combination of GM-CSF plus R24 included diffuse urticaria, nausea and vomiting, hypertension, and hypotension. Hypotension was the dose-limiting toxicity. Two patients on the 50-mg/m2/day dose level of R24 achieved a partial response lasting 2+ and 5+ months. Treatment with GM-CSF led to a statistically significant enhancement of monocyte and granulocyte direct cytotoxicity and ADCC. The maximally tolerated dose of R24 given at this schedule combined with GM-CSF is < 50 mg/m2/day. We conclude that GM-CSF given by subcutaneous injection at 150 micrograms/m2 x 21 days can enhance effector cell ADCC and direct cytotoxicity and that the combination of GM-CSF and R24 can be therapeutic
PMID: 7804528
ISSN: 1067-5582
CID: 6590
Involvement of the IRF-1 transcription factor in antiviral responses to interferons
Kimura T; Nakayama K; Penninger J; Kitagawa M; Harada H; Matsuyama T; Tanaka N; Kamijo R; Vilcek J; Mak TW; et al
The mechanisms underlying interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral states are not well understood. Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is an IFN-inducible transcriptional activator, whereas IRF-2 suppresses IRF-1 action. The inhibition of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) replication by IFN-alpha and especially by IFN-gamma was impaired in cells from mice with a null mutation in the IRF-1 gene (IRF-1-/- mice). The IRF-1-/- mice were less resistant than normal mice to EMCV infection, as revealed by accelerated mortality and a larger virus titer in target organs. The absence of IRF-1 did not clearly affect replication of two other types of viruses. Thus, IRF-1 is necessary for the antiviral action of IFNs against some viruses, but IFNs activate multiple activation pathways through diverse target genes to induce the antiviral state
PMID: 8009222
ISSN: 0036-8075
CID: 15533
TSG-6, an arthritis-associated hyaluronan binding protein, forms a stable complex with the serum protein inter-alpha-inhibitor
Wisniewski HG; Burgess WH; Oppenheim JD; Vilcek J
TSG-6 is a secreted 35-kDa glycoprotein, inducible by TNF and IL-1. The N-terminal portion of TSG-6 shows sequence homology to members of the cartilage link protein family of hyaluronan binding proteins. The C-terminal half of TSG-6 contains a so-called CUB domain, characteristic for developmentally regulated proteins. High levels of TSG-6 protein are found in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and some other arthritic diseases. Here we show that TSG-6 readily formed a complex with a protein present in human, bovine, rabbit, and mouse serum. This complex was stable during SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, and in the presence of 8 M urea. The protein that binds TSG-6 was purified from human serum and identified as inter-alpha-inhibitor (I alpha I) by N-terminal microsequencing. Microsequencing of the complex itself revealed the presence of TSG-6 and two of the three polypeptide chains of I alpha I (bikunin and HC2). Experiments with recombinant TSG-6 and I alpha I purified from human serum showed that the TSG-6/I alpha I complex is rapidly formed even in the apparent absence of other proteins at 37 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C. The TSG-6/I alpha I complex was cleaved by chondroitin sulfate ABC lyase, suggesting that cross-linking by chondroitin sulfate is required for the stability of the complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
PMID: 7516184
ISSN: 0006-2960
CID: 6555
Monocyte activation following systemic administration of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
Chachoua A; Oratz R; Hoogmoed R; Caron D; Peace D; Liebes L; Blum RH; Vilcek J
Twenty-four patients with solid malignancies were treated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on a Phase 1b trial. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of GM-CSF on peripheral blood monocyte activation. GM-CSF was administered by subcutaneous injection daily for 14 days. Immune parameters measured were monocyte cytotoxicity against the human colon carcinoma (HT29) cell line, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, and in vitro TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta induction. All patients were evaluable for toxicity. Fifteen patients were evaluable for immunologic response. Treatment with GM-CSF led to a statistically significant enhancement in direct monocyte cytotoxicity against HT29 cells. There was no increase in serum TNF-alpha or IL-1 beta and no consistent in vitro induction of TNF-alpha or IL-1 beta from monocytes posttreatment. Treatment was well tolerated overall. We conclude that treatment with GM-CSF can lead to enhanced monocyte cytotoxicity. Further studies are in progress to evaluate the effect of GM-CSF on other parameters of monocyte functions
PMID: 8032545
ISSN: 1067-5582
CID: 12982
TSG-6, AN ARTHRITIS-ASSOCIATED HYALURONAN-BINDING PROTEIN, FORMS A STABLE COMPLEX WITH INTER-ALPHA-INHIBITOR VIA A GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN CROSS-LINK [Meeting Abstract]
WISNIEWSKI, HG; BURGESS, WH; OPPENHEIM, JD; VILCEK, J
ISI:A1994MV41201160
ISSN: 0730-2312
CID: 52588
Activation of NF-kappa B may be necessary but is not sufficient for induction of H-2 antigens by TNF in J558L murine myeloma cells
Wolchok JD; Goodman AR; Vilcek J
We have investigated the role of the transcription factor NF-kappa B in the induction of H-2 antigens by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in murine J558L myeloma cells. An earlier report suggested that J558L cells may have a defect in NF-kappa B activation in response to some stimuli. Treatment of J558L cells with either TNF or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B, as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Both TNF and LPS activated the same NF-kappa B nuclear complexes, composed of the p50 and p65 subunits. LPS mediated a stronger and more sustained activation of NF-kappa B than TNF. In contrast, TNF induced higher levels of H-2 antigen surface expression than did LPS, suggesting that activation of NF-kappa B is not sufficient for optimal enhancement of H-2 expression. An inhibitor of NF-kappa B activation, pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC), dramatically reduced the induction of H-2 antigen by TNF, supporting the view that NF-kappa B is required for TNF-induced H-2 antigen expression. Constitutive levels of H-2 antigen expression on the cell surface and of nuclear NF-kappa B also decreased after PDTC treatment. However, PDTC had a smaller inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NF-kappa B activation and H-2 antigen expression, suggesting that TNF and LPS activate NF-kappa B by somewhat different pathways
PMID: 8283141
ISSN: 0741-5400
CID: 56603
TSG-6: a TNF-, IL-1-, and LPS-inducible secreted glycoprotein associated with arthritis
Wisniewski HG; Maier R; Lotz M; Lee S; Klampfer L; Lee TH; Vilcek J
TSG-6 (TNF-stimulated gene 6) was originally discovered by differential screening of a cDNA library prepared from TNF-stimulated human diploid FS-4 fibroblasts. We show that the 35-kDa protein encoded by TSG-6 was undetectable in the medium of untreated FS-4 cultures, whereas its production reached approximately 1400 and 700 ng/10(6) cells after 24-h treatment with IL-1 or TNF, respectively. Stimulation of TSG-6 protein and mRNA levels was also demonstrated in normal human mononuclear cells by treatment with TNF and, especially, by LPS. In view of the inducibility of TSG-6 by inflammatory cytokines and its earlier demonstrated affinity for hyaluronan, we examined the presence of TSG-6 protein in the synovial fluids from patients with various forms of arthritis. TSG-6 protein was undetectable in the joint fluids of persons with no known history of arthritis, but high levels of TSG-6 oere demonstrated in the synovial fluids of a majority of arthritis patients. TSG-6 protein was also detected in the sera of some of the arthritis patients, albeit at concentrations that were less than in the joint fluids. To investigate the source of TSG-6 in the synovial fluids, we examined the production of TSG-6 protein in cultures of synovial cells. Synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients produced TSG-6 protein constitutively, and this production was increased by treatment with TNF or IL-1, but not with TGF-beta. Steady-state levels of TSG-6 mRNA were also increased in synoviocytes after treatment with TNF or IL-1. The presence of high levels of TSG-6 protein in the synovial fluids of arthritis patients and its inducibility by inflammatory cytokines in fibroblasts, mononuclear cells, synoviocytes, and chondrocytes suggest a role for TSG-6 in arthritis and inflammation
PMID: 8245487
ISSN: 0022-1767
CID: 6553
Construction and initial characterization of a mouse-human chimeric anti-TNF antibody
Knight DM; Trinh H; Le J; Siegel S; Shealy D; McDonough M; Scallon B; Moore MA; Vilcek J; Daddona P; et al
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases including septic shock, cachexia, graft-versus-host disease and several autoimmune diseases. Monoclonal antibodies directed against TNF provide an attractive mode of therapeutic intervention in these diseases. We have generated a murine monoclonal antibody (A2) with high affinity and specificity for recombinant and natural human TNF. To increase its therapeutic usefulness, we used genetic engineering techniques to replace the murine constant regions with human counterparts while retaining the murine antigen binding regions. The resulting mouse-human chimeric antibody should have reduced immunogenicity and improved pharmacokinetics in humans. Molecular analysis of light chain genomic clones derived from the murine hybridoma suggests that two different alleles of the same variable region gene have rearranged independently and coexist in the same hybridoma cell. The chimeric A2 antibody (cA2) exhibits better binding and neutralizing characteristics than the murine A2 which was shown to contain a mixture of two kappa light chains. The properties of cA2 suggest that it will have advantages over existing murine anti-TNF antibodies for clinical use
PMID: 8232330
ISSN: 0161-5890
CID: 15534
Mice that lack the interferon-gamma receptor have profoundly altered responses to infection with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and subsequent challenge with lipopolysaccharide
Kamijo R; Le J; Shapiro D; Havell EA; Huang S; Aguet M; Bosland M; Vilcek J
Mice with a targeted disruption of the interferon gamma receptor gene (IFN-gamma R0/0 mice) and control wild-type mice were inoculated with the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) strain of Mycobacterium bovis. BCG infection was not lethal for wild-type mice whereas all IFN-gamma R0/0 mice died approximately 7-9 wk after inoculation. Histological examination at 2 and 6 wk after BCG inoculation showed that livers of IFN-gamma R0/0 mice had higher numbers of acid-fast bacteria than wild-type mice, especially at 6 wk. In parallel, the livers of IFN-gamma R0/0 mice showed a reduction in the formation of characteristic granulomas at 2 wk after inoculation. Injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 2 wk after BCG inoculation was significantly less lethal for IFN-gamma R0/0 mice than for wild-type mice. Reduced lethality of LPS correlated with a drastically reduced production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the IFN-gamma R0/0 mice. Interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and IL-6 levels in the serum were also significantly reduced in the IFN-gamma R0/0 mice after BCG infection and LPS challenge. The greatly reduced capacity of BCG-infected IFN-gamma R0/0 mice to produce TNF-alpha may be an important factor in their inability to resist BCG infection. These results show that the presence of a functional IFN-gamma receptor is essential for the recovery of mice from BCG infection, and that IFN-gamma is a key element in the complex process whereby BCG infection leads to the sensitization to endotoxin
PMCID:2191201
PMID: 8376946
ISSN: 0022-1007
CID: 13065
Tumor necrosis factor-induced activation and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in human fibroblasts
Vietor I; Schwenger P; Li W; Schlessinger J; Vilcek J
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine whose many demonstrated actions include effects on cell growth and differentiation. TNF treatment of cells is known to lead to a rapid increase in serine/threonine phosphorylation of many cellular proteins, but the kinases responsible remain largely unidentified. We show that TNF treatment induces a rapid and transient increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity in the human diploid FS-4 cell line, for which TNF is known to be mitogenic. TNF-induced activation of MAPK was demonstrated by its enhanced ability to phosphorylate myelin basic protein in vitro and by a characteristic shift in the electrophoretic mobility of MAPK proteins. MAPK activation was accompanied by a significant increase of MAPK phosphorylation on tyrosine residues, which was demonstrated by 32P labeling of cells and isolation of the labeled proteins after immunoprecipitation with antibodies to phosphotyrosine, and by direct immunoblotting of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-fractionated unlabeled cell lysates with antibodies to phosphotyrosine. The pp42 and pp44 MAPK were the only proteins whose tyrosine phosphorylation was demonstrably increased in FS-4 cells after TNF treatment. MAPK activation is likely to represent an important component in the cascade of signals that link TNF receptors to various TNF-elicited cellular responses
PMID: 7689564
ISSN: 0021-9258
CID: 13073