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Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280: R1037-R1044, 2001;
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Vol. 280, Issue 4, R1037-R1044, April 2001

Fcgamma -receptor signaling augments the LPS-stimulated increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels

Marion L. Refici1, Dennis W. Metzger2, Bernard P. Arulanandam2, Michelle R. Lennartz3, and Daniel J. Loegering1

1 Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, 3 Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research, and 2 Center for Immunology and Microbial Diseases, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York 12208


    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) has been shown to augment the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha ) levels. The present study evaluated the role of Fcgamma -receptor (Fcgamma R) signaling and complement activation in the effect of EIgG on the TNF-alpha response to LPS. The role of Fcgamma R was determined using FcR gamma -chain knockout mice that lack functional Fcgamma RI and Fcgamma RIII. In wild-type animals, EIgG caused a 16-fold augmentation of the serum TNF-alpha response to LPS, whereas there was no augmentation in the Fcgamma R-deficient animals. Heat-damaged erythrocytes also augmented the TNF-alpha response to LPS. This effect was absent in Fcgamma R-deficient animals. An IgG antibody against heated erythrocytes was detected in mouse serum. The complement activation caused by EIgG had little effect on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels as indicated by activation of complement with cobra venom factor or IgM-coated erythrocytes as well as studies with C5-deficient mice. These results indicate that Fcgamma R signaling primarily mediates the augmented serum TNF-alpha response to LPS caused by EIgG.

Fc receptor gamma -chain knockout mice; sepsis; heat-damaged erythrocytes; complement activation; C5 knockout mice; cobra venom factor


    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

PREVIOUS STUDIES FROM THIS laboratory have shown that the phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) alters several aspects of macrophage function. The phagocytosis of EIgG by isolated macrophages causes a depression of respiratory burst capacity and phagocytic function (21, 35). Phagocytosis of EIgG by macrophages in the liver and spleen is followed by a period of depressed in vivo macrophage clearance function (15, 18, 20, 33). This depression of clearance function was associated with increased mortality due to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Because tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha ) makes an important contribution to the lethal effects of LPS (41), it was reasoned that the increase in mortality due to LPS after EIgG phagocytosis was due, at least in part, to augmented TNF-alpha secretion. Indeed, Richard et al. (30) found that the injection of EIgG caused a 10-fold augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels.

Immune complexes such as EIgG could have an effect on the TNF-alpha response to LPS by Fcgamma -receptor (Fcgamma R) signaling and by activating complement in the blood. Several studies have shown that Fcgamma R signaling can induce the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages (5, 14, 16, 36). In addition, a recent study from this laboratory has shown that macrophages attached to immobilized IgG have an augmented TNF-alpha response to LPS (30). Complement activation in the blood generates anaphylatoxins (C5a and C3a) and ligands for complement receptors (CR; C3b and iC3b). C5a and C3a have been shown to activate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and augment LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion by macrophages (4, 8, 28). In addition, signaling via macrophage CR1 and CR3 can activate NF-kappa B and monocytes attached to surfaces coated with the CR3 ligand, fibrinogen, had augmented LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion (12, 40).

An area of interest of this laboratory is the potential contribution of thermal injury-induced erythrocyte phagocytosis to the altered macrophage function caused by this form of injury. Animal studies have shown that thermal injury primes macrophages for an augmented TNF-alpha response to LPS (11, 25-27). We have proposed that the priming of macrophages for cytokine secretion caused by thermal injury is mediated by the increased erythrocyte phagocytosis that is seen with this form of injury (30). This is clinically relevant because increased secretion of TNF-alpha in burn patients contributes to the development of multiple organ failure (7, 42). In addition, the ability of immune complexes to augment the TNF-alpha response to LPS may be important for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis where TNF-alpha secretion plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of the disease (13).

The present study examined the role of Fcgamma R signaling and complement activation in the in vivo priming effect of EIgG on TNF-alpha secretion. The role of Fcgamma R was investigated by using FcR gamma -chain knockout mice that lack functional Fcgamma RI and Fcgamma RIII. Heat-damaged erythrocytes were used as a model of thermal injury-induced erythrocyte phagocytosis. The role of complement activation was determined by activating complement with cobra venom factor (CVF) and IgM-coated erythrocytes (EIgM), both of which activate complement without ligating Fcgamma R. In addition, C5 knockout animals were used to determine the role of C5a in the priming effect of EIgG. The results show that the ability of EIgG and heat-damaged erythrocytes to augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels is absent in Fcgamma R-deficient animals and that complement activation can prime for TNF-alpha secretion but probably makes little contribution to the effect of EIgG.


    METHODS
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ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Animals. Male mice were used for all experiments. Swiss-Webster, C57BL/6, and C57BL/6 FcR gamma -chain knockout mice were obtained from Taconic Farms, and B10-D2 and B10-D2 C5-deficient mice were from Jackson Labs. Animals were anesthetized with halothane for all procedures. All experiments were carried out in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board for the care and use of laboratory animals at Albany Medical College.

Preparation of EIgG, EIgM, and heated erythrocytes. EIgG were prepared by incubating washed mouse erythrocytes with the IgG fraction of rabbit anti-mouse erythrocyte serum (Inter-cell Technologies) at a 1:10 dilution for 1 h. The EIgG erythrocytes were washed and injected at a dose of 2 × 1010/kg. Mouse erythrocytes that were incubated at 37°C for 1 h without IgG were also injected at a dose of 2 × 1010/kg. Controls received PBS (EIgG diluent).

IgM-coated mouse erythrocytes (EIgM) were prepared by incubating washed mouse erythrocytes with the IgM fraction of rabbit anti-mouse erythrocyte serum (Accurate) at a dilution of 1:10 for 1 h. The EIgM erythrocytes were washed and injected at a dose of 2 × 1010/kg.

Heat-damaged mouse erythrocytes (heated erythrocytes) were prepared by incubating mouse erythrocytes (5 × 109/ml) at 50°C for 15 min (33). These erythrocytes were washed and injected intravenously at a dose of 5 × 1010/kg. The heated erythrocytes were spherocytes but did not lyse during heating or subsequent washing.

Experimental protocol. Animals were injected intravenously with EIgG, heated erythrocytes, or EIgM (2 × 1010/kg) or an equal volume of PBS. LPS (Salmonella enteriditis, 2 mg/kg, Difco Labs) was injected intraperitoneally 2 h after erythrocyte injection, and serum samples were collected 2 h after LPS for TNF-alpha analysis. For erythrocyte localization studies, erythrocytes were labeled with 51Cr, and radioactivity in the liver and spleen was determined at the end of the experiment (2 h after LPS). The liver was perfused via the portal vein with 8 ml of warm PBS before removal.

CVF (Naja naja kaouthia, Sigma) was injected intravenously to induce complement activation. CVF was given 4 h before LPS, and serum samples were taken 2 h after LPS for TNF-alpha analysis. The extent of complement activation was assessed from serum C3 levels as previously described (30).

Antibody ELISA. IgG antibodies against heated erythrocytes were detected by ELISA essentially as described (2, 3). Briefly, microtiter plates (Nalge Nunc International) were coated overnight with 10 ug/ml poly-L-lysine, washed, and erythrocytes or heated erythrocytes (1 × l05/well) were allowed to adhere overnight (4°C). After being washed, the wells were blocked for 1 h at room temperature with PBS containing 5% FCS (HyClone Labs) and 0.1% Brij-35 (Sigma). Serial dilutions of mouse serum were incubated for 4 h at room temperature, the wells were washed, and goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated to alkaline phosphatase (Sigma) was incubated overnight at 4°C. Color was developed with p-nitrophenyl phosphatase substrate and read at 405 nm with an ELISA microplate reader.

TNF-alpha ELISA. The assay described by Richard et al. (30) was used. Briefly, the capture antibody was a monoclonal hamster anti-murine TNF-alpha (1 µg/ml) antibody. Standards and samples were incubated overnight, and the secondary antibody was a polyclonal rabbit anti-murine TNF-alpha . Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG was then added. Recombinant murine TNF-alpha was used for standards.

Statistics. Data are expressed as means ± SE. Comparisons were analyzed using ANOVA plus Newman-Keuls post hoc test for differences between groups. The level of confidence was placed at 95% for all experiments.


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Effect of EIgG on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. To take advantage of knockout mice with specific deficiencies to study the mechanism for the effect of EIgG on the TNF-alpha response to LPS, it was first necessary to establish optimal conditions for such studies in mice. Our previous work with rats demonstrated that the prior injection of EIgG caused about a 10-fold augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels (30). Initial studies evaluated the effect of EIgG on the time course of changes in the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in mice and determined the duration of the effect of EIgG on the TNF-alpha response to LPS. The time course of TNF-alpha changes was determined by studying separate groups of animals at 1, 2, and 3 h after the intraperitoneal injection of LPS. In animals that received PBS (intravenously), LPS (2 mg/kg) caused a characteristic large increase in serum TNF-alpha levels that peaked at 2 h (730 ± 140 pg/ml) (Fig. 1). The injection of EIgG (2 × 1010/kg) 2 h before LPS caused an augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels (Fig. 1). The augmentation was 12-fold at 1 h, 10-fold at 2 h, and 5-fold at 3 h after LPS. The injection of the same dose of erythrocytes not coated with IgG caused no change in the TNF-alpha response to LPS (data not shown). The duration of the effect of EIgG on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels was determined by injecting LPS at different times after EIgG. The augmentation of TNF-alpha levels was greatest (11-fold) when LPS was given 2 h after EIgG (Fig. 2). EIgG caused a threefold augmentation when LPS was given at 30 min after EIgG, and the augmentation was still substantial (7-fold) at 6 h after EIgG. The TNF-alpha response to LPS had returned to control levels by 24 h after EIgG. For subsequent studies, serum samples were taken at 2 h after LPS, and LPS was given 2 h after EIgG. Serum TNF-alpha levels were undetectable in animals that received EIgG only (data not shown).


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Fig. 1.   Effect of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels in mice. PBS or EIgG (2 × 1010/kg) was injected intravenously 2 h before the injection of LPS (2 mg/kg ip). In different groups of animals, serum samples were taken at 1, 2, or 3 h after the injection of LPS, and TNF-alpha levels were determined by ELISA. Values are means ± SE with 5-8 animals per group. *P < 0.05 compared with the respective PBS-LPS value.



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Fig. 2.   Effect of injecting EIgG at different times before LPS on the serum TNF-alpha response to LPS. EIgG (2 × 1010/kg) were injected intravenously at 0.5, 2, 6, and 24 h before LPS (2 mg/kg ip). Serum samples for TNF-alpha analysis were taken at 2 h after LPS injection. Controls received PBS intravenously 2 h before LPS. Values are means ± SE with 3-6 animals per group. *P < 0.05 compared with the control group.

Role of Fcgamma R in the effect of EIgG on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. FcR gamma -chain knockout animals were used to study the role of Fcgamma R signaling induced by EIgG phagocytosis in the augmentation of the serum TNF-alpha response to LPS. The wild-type animals responded to EIgG with a 16-fold augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels (Fig. 3). In contrast, EIgG did not cause a significant augmentation of serum TNF-alpha levels in FcR gamma -chain knockout animals. These results indicate that Fcgamma R is critical for the ability of EIgG to augment the TNF-alpha response to LPS in vivo.


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Fig. 3.   Effect of EIgG on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in Fc receptor (FcR) gamma -chain-deficient mice. Wild-type (C57BLK/6) or FcR-deficient (FcR gamma -chain knockout) mice were given either PBS or EIgG (2 × 1010/kg) intravenously 2 h before LPS (2 mg/kg ip). Serum samples were taken 2 h after LPS for TNF-alpha analysis. Values are means ± SE with 3-6 animals per group. The values are significantly different for the wild-type animals (P < 0.05).

The failure of EIgG to augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in FcR gamma -chain knockout animals was associated with low localization of EIgG in the liver and spleen. Liver localization of EIgG was 24.9 ± 5.6% of the injected dose in wild-type animals and was 7.1 ± 0.1% in the FcR gamma -chain knockout animals. Liver localization of erythrocytes not coated with IgG in wild-type animals was 5.5 ± 0.3%. Similarly, splenic localization of EIgG was 21.0 ± 1.2% in wild-type animals and 7.8 ± 0.9% in the knockouts. Splenic localization of erythrocytes in wild-type animals was 4.2 ± 0.3%. Thus liver and spleen localization of EIgG in Fcgamma R knockout animals was only slightly greater than that of erythrocytes in wild-type animals.

Effect of heat-damaged erythrocytes on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. It is known that thermal injury causes the phagocytosis of erythrocytes and primes macrophages for LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion (11, 15, 25-27, 29, 33). Heated erythrocytes were used as a model for thermal injury-induced erythrocyte phagocytosis. The prior injection of heated erythrocytes caused a 6.2-fold augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels (Fig. 4). The localization of heated erythrocytes in the liver and spleen was 25.9 ± 5.0 and 19.3 ± 2.6% of the injected dose, respectively. These results show that heated erythrocytes can prime for TNF-alpha secretion and suggest that the thermal injury-induced erythrocytes phagocytosis may contribute to the priming of macrophages for cytokine secretion.


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Fig. 4.   Effect of heat-damaged erythrocytes (heated E) on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in FcR gamma -chain-deficient mice. Wild-type (C57BLK/6) or FcR-deficient (FcR gamma -chain knockout) mice were given either PBS or erythrocytes that had been heated for 15 min at 50°C (2 × 1010/kg) intravenously 2 h before LPS (2 mg/kg ip). Serum samples were taken 2 h after LPS for TNF-alpha analysis. Values are means ± SE with 3-6 animals per group. The values are significantly different for the wild-type animals (P < 0.05).

FcR gamma -chain knockout animals were studied to determine the role of Fcgamma R in the ability of heated erythrocytes to augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. Heated erythrocytes did not cause a significant augmentation of the TNF-alpha response to LPS in FcR gamma -chain knockout animals (Fig. 4). Thus Fcgamma R signaling may mediate the priming effect of heated erythrocytes.

The role of Fcgamma R in the priming for TNF-alpha secretion caused by heated erythrocytes suggests that the phagocytosis of these erythrocytes was mediated by IgG. Indeed, it was found that more IgG bound to heated erythrocytes than to erythrocytes (Fig. 5). Although the increase in IgG binding was relatively small, a consistent two- to threefold greater IgG binding to heated erythrocytes was seen in three experiments. This observation is consistent with the presence of an IgG antibody against heated erythrocytes in normal mouse serum. The presence of such an antibody further supports the conclusion that Fcgamma R signaling mediates the priming for TNF-alpha secretion by heated erythrocytes.


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Fig. 5.   Binding of serum IgG to heated E. Erythrocytes (E) or heated E were allowed to adhere to wells coated with poly-L-lysine and then incubated with serial dilutions of normal mouse serum. Bound IgG was detected with a goat anti-mouse IgG antibody conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. Consistently greater IgG binding to heated E was found in 3 experiments. A representative experiment is shown. O.D., optical density.

Role of complement activation in the effect of EIgG on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. The ability of EIgG to activate complement in the blood may contribute to the augmentation of serum TNF-alpha levels. CVF was used to determine the effect of complement activation on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. CVF activates complement via the alternative pathway and will not result in ligation of Fcgamma R. The injection of CVF at doses of 2 or 20 U/kg caused a 2.8- and 8.9-fold augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels, respectively (Fig. 6). The 0.2-U/kg dose of CVF did not change the TNF-alpha response to LPS. CVF caused a dose-dependent decrease in serum C3 levels with the lowest dose causing a 10.2 ± 1.8% decrease (Fig. 6). By comparison, EIgG caused a 6.8 ± 2.2% decrease in serum C3 levels. LPS alone did not change the serum C3 levels (data not shown). These results indicate that complement activation can augment the serum TNF-alpha response to LPS, but the extent of activation caused by EIgG was probably insufficient to contribute to the priming effect of EIgG.


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Fig. 6.   Effect of cobra venom factor (CVF) on LPS-stimulated serum TNF-alpha and C3 levels. Mice were injected intravenously with PBS or the indicated doses of CVF 4 h before LPS (2 mg/kg ip). Serum samples were taken 2 h after LPS for TNF-alpha and C3 analysis. Values are means ± SE with 8 animals per group. *P < 0.05 compared with the 0 CVF group.

CVF activates complement in the fluid phase with the generation of C5a. C5-deficient animals were used to determine the role of this complement component in the EIgG-induced priming for TNF-alpha secretion. EIgG caused a 7.3-fold augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in the wild-type animals (Fig. 7). A similar level of augmentation was seen in the C5-deficient animals. These results show that the level to which EIgG induce the formation of C5a or the membrane attack complex does not play an important role in the augmentation of the TNF-alpha response to LPS.


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Fig. 7.   Effect of EIgG on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in C5-deficient mice. Wild-type (B10-D2) or C5-deficient mice were injected intravenously with either PBS or EIgG (2 × 1010/kg) 2 h before LPS (2 mg/kg ip). Serum samples were taken 2 h after LPS for TNF-alpha analysis. Values are means ± SE with 4-6 animals per group. *P < 0.05 compared with the respective control groups.

Studies with EIgM were carried out to determine the role of complement activation plus CR ligation without the associated Fcgamma R ligation induced by EIgG. EIgM activate complement in the blood, become coated with C3b/C3bi, bind to CRs on Kupffer cells, but do not interact with Fcgamma R. Initial organ-localization studies with EIgM demonstrated that liver localization decreased 50% between 7 min and 2 h after injection (data not shown). This is consistent with the binding of EIgM to CRs on Kupffer cells followed by release as the C3b/C3bi is degraded (18, 34). Liver localization of EIgM was 12.7 ± 1.5% of the injected dose 2 h after LPS. Liver uptake of erythrocytes was 7.1 ± 0.1%. Splenic uptake of EIgM (4.1 ± 0.6%) was not different from erythrocyte localization (4.2 ± 0.3%).

EIgM did not cause a significant augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels (Fig. 8). In this experiment, EIgG caused a 7.6-fold augmentation of the TNF-alpha response to LPS. Thus ligation of CRs and liver uptake of EIgM did not contribute the priming effect of EIgG. These findings are consistent with a primary role for Fcgamma R in the ability EIgG to augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels.


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Fig. 8.   Effect of EIgG or IgM-coated erythrocytes (EIgM) on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. Mice received an intravenous injection of either PBS, EIgG, or EIgM (2 × 1010/kg) followed 2 h later by an injection of LPS (2 mg/kg ip). Serum samples were taken 2 h after LPS for TNF-alpha analysis. Values are means ± SE with 5 or 6 animals per group. *P < 0.05 compared with the PBS group.


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The results presented in this paper show that Fcgamma R signaling plays an important role in the ability of EIgG to augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. This was established from the finding that the priming effect of EIgG was absent in FcR gamma -chain knockout mice. The primary role of Fcgamma R signaling was further demonstrated from studies showing that the complement activation caused by EIgG had little effect on the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. Complement activation with CVF and EIgM as well as the effect of EIgG in C5 knockout mice all indicate that complement activation due to EIgG has a weak effect on priming for TNF-alpha secretion.

Initial studies established that the prior injection of EIgG caused about a 10-fold augmentation of the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. These results are similar to those recently reported by Richard et al. (30) and an earlier study by Satoh et al. (32). In vitro studies have also shown that Fcgamma R signaling augments the TNF-alpha response to LPS in macrophages and that this effect is associated with an increase in TNF-alpha mRNA levels (31). Other in vitro studies have shown that Fcgamma R signaling in macrophages augments LPS-stimulated interleukin (IL)-10 secretion while inhibiting the IL-12 response (6, 37, 38). Sutterwala et al. (38) suggested that Fcgamma R signaling may reverse the proinflammatory response to LPS, however, our results with TNF-alpha indicate that Fcgamma R signaling may have a complex effect on the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS.

The ability of EIgG to augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels observed in mice was similar to that seen in rats (30). Organ localization of EIgG in mice was also similar to that previously seen in rats (18, 19). Electron microscopy of rat tissues established that the localization of EIgG in the liver represented phagocytosis by Kupffer cells with very few noningested EIgG detected in the liver (19). The establishment of a mouse model for these studies in our laboratory provided the basis for using mice with specific deficiencies to study the mechanism of the EIgG priming for TNF-alpha secretion.

EIgG did not augment the serum TNF-alpha response to LPS in FcR gamma -chain knockout animals. This finding indicates that signaling via Fcgamma RI and/or Fcgamma RIII is capable of augmenting the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. Further studies are required to identify which Fcgamma R mediates the priming effect. The low liver and spleen localization of EIgG in the knockout animals indicates that there was little phagocytosis of EIgG in these animals. This is consistent with the work by Clynes and Ravetch (9). FcR gamma -chain knockout animals express Fcgamma RII receptors, but because mice express only an inhibitory Fcgamma RII and the human Fcgamma RIIB does not mediate phagocytosis (1), it is not surprising that EIgG phagocytosis in FcR gamma -chain knockout animals is low.

We have proposed that the erythrocyte phagocytosis caused by thermal injury plays a role in the priming of macrophages for cytokine secretion that is seen with this form of injury (30). This hypothesis is based on four lines of evidence. First, thermal injury causes the phagocytosis of erythrocytes by macrophages in the liver and spleen (15, 29, 33). Second, thermal injury primes macrophages for TNF-alpha secretion (11, 25-27). Third, the phagocytosis of EIgG primes macrophages for an augmented TNF-alpha response to LPS (30). Fourth, the number of EIgG required to be phagocytosed to augment the serum TNF-alpha response to LPS is similar to the number of erythrocytes ingested following thermal injury in rats (18, 19, 30).

Heat-damaged erythrocytes were employed as a model for thermal injury-induced erythrocyte phagocytosis. Heated erythrocytes are taken up by the liver and spleen and have been shown to cause an increased mortality due to LPS in rats (33). Accordingly, the present study found that heated erythrocytes augmented the serum TNF-alpha response to LPS. In addition, the priming effect of heated erythrocytes was absent in FcR gamma -chain knockout animals. The presence of an IgG antibody against heated erythrocytes in normal mouse serum suggests that these erythrocytes become coated with IgG in the blood and that Fcgamma RI and/or Fcgamma RIII mediate the priming for TNF-alpha secretion induced by heated erythrocytes. This antibody may be similar to the natural IgG antibody against oxidatively stressed erythrocytes described by Lutz et al. (23). Complement components and phosphatidylserine on the surface may have contributed to the clearance of the heated erythrocytes (17, 23, 24). These results indicate that heated erythrocytes can prime for TNF-alpha secretion and suggest that thermal injury-induced erythrocyte phagocytosis may contribute to the macrophage priming induced by this form of injury.

Injection of EIgG causes activation of complement. The possibility that this complement activation contributed to the augmented TNF-alpha response to LPS caused by EIgG is based on the observations that C5a and ligation of CR1 and CR3 can activate NF-kB and prime macrophages for LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion (4, 8, 12, 28, 40). However, it was found that high doses of CVF were required for priming, C5-deficient mice had normal priming with EIgG, and EIgM did not prime, suggesting that complement activation plays only a minor role in the priming due to EIgG.

CVF causes complement activation via the alternative complement pathway in the fluid phase. Activation of complement in this way results in the generation of C5a without depositing significant concentrations of C3b/iC3b on erythrocytes or other cell surfaces. The higher doses of CVF augmented the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels, indicating that activation of complement alone can prime for TNF-alpha secretion. However, the extent of complement activation required to prime for TNF-alpha secretion exceeds that caused by EIgG because the lowest dose of CVF did not augment the TNF-alpha response to LPS but depleted C3 levels to the same extent as EIgG.

The role of C5 in the EIgG priming for TNF-alpha secretion was determined using mice that lacked this complement component. C5 knockout mice had a normal augmentation of the TNF-alpha response to LPS caused by EIgG. Thus the amount of C5a generated by EIgG in wild-type animals did not contribute to the priming for TNF-alpha secretion.

EIgM were used to determine the role of CR ligation in the priming effect of EIgG. EIgM activate complement, become coated with C3b/iC3b, bind CR on macrophages, but do not ligate Fcgamma R (18, 34). After an intravenous injection is given, EIgM bind to Kupffer cells, but because CRs are not highly phagocytic, some of the EIgM return to the blood as the complement components are degraded. It was found that EIgM did not augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. Thus the degree of CR ligation and complement activation caused by EIgM was insufficient to augment the TNF-alpha response to LPS.

Perspectives

The present study has shown that Fcgamma R signaling augments the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. The ability of Fcgamma R signaling to augment the TNF-alpha response to LPS may be relevant to diseases in which immune complexes could augment cytokine secretion in response to an infection and thereby initiate or exacerbate the condition. With atherosclerosis, immune complexes formed with antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoproteins may prime macrophages for an exaggerated response to infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae (10, 22). For arthritis, autoantibodies may prime synovial macrophages for infections that could initiate or exacerbate the condition (13, 39). Thus the combination of immune complex-induced Fcgamma R signaling and bacterial products may act synergistically to augment cytokine secretion. It was also found that heat-damaged erythrocytes were able to augment the TNF-alpha response to LPS in an Fcgamma R-dependent manner. This observation suggests that thermal injury-induced erythrocyte phagocytosis may prime macrophages for an exaggerated inflammatory response to sepsis or endotoxemia. Indeed, several studies have shown that macrophages removed from animals after thermal injury are primed for LPS-stimulated cytokine secretion (11, 25-27). An exaggerated inflammatory response is considered to contribute to the development of multiple organ dysfunction in burn patients (7, 42). Further studies are required to determine the effect of Fcgamma R signaling on the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines other than TNF-alpha as well as on the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion stimulated by LPS or sepsis.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank W. Hobb for secretarial assistance.


    FOOTNOTES

This study was supported by grants from National Institutes of Health (GM-50368, AI-41715, and HL-62120) and the New York State Affiliate of the American Heart Association (50893T).

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: D. J. Loegering, Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Mail Code 8, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208 (E-mail: loegerd{at}mail.amc.edu).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 30 June 2000; accepted in final form 5 December 2000.


    REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

1.   Aderem, A, and Underhill DM. Mechanisms of phagocytosis in macrophages. Annu Rev Immunol 17: 593-623, 1999[Web of Science][Medline].

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Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280(4):R1037-R1044
0363-6119/01 $5.00 Copyright © 2001 the American Physiological Society



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