Biomaterial Database

Gamma interferon is spontaneously released by alveolar macrophages and lung T lymphocytes in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. 1985

B W Robinson, and T L McLemore, and R G Crystal

Gamma interferon (IFN gamma) is a potent immune mediator that plays a central role in enhancing cellular immune processes. This study demonstrates that while lung mononuclear cells from normal individuals spontaneously release little or no interferon (less than 10 U/10(6) cells per 24 h), those from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis spontaneously release considerable amounts (65 +/- 20 U/10(6) cells per 24 h, P less than 0.02 compared to normals). Furthermore, cells from patients with active disease release far more interferon than those from patients with inactive disease (101 +/- 36 compared to 24 +/- 8 U/10(6) cells per 24 h, P less than 0.02). Characterization of this interferon using acid sensitivity, specific antibody inhibition, and target cell specificity criteria demonstrated that it was almost entirely IFN gamma. This spontaneous release of IFN gamma appeared to be compartmentalized to the lung of these patients in that their blood mononuclear cells spontaneously released little or no IFN gamma (P less than 0.02, compared to sarcoidosis lung mononuclear cells) and no IFN gamma was detected in their serum. Both lung T lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages contributed to the spontaneous release of IFN gamma by lung mononuclear cells from sarcoid patients; purified preparations of T lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages from these patients spontaneously released similar amounts of IFN gamma (56 +/- 21 and 32 +/- 11 U/10(6) cells per 24 h, respectively, P greater than 0.3). At least one role for IFN gamma in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis appeared to be related to activation of alveolar macrophages, as alveolar macrophages recovered from patients with active disease spontaneously killed [3H]uridine-labeled tumor cell targets (17.7 +/- 4.5% cytotoxicity compared with 2.8 +/- 0.9% in normals, P less than 0.02) and purified IFN gamma enhanced the ability of alveolar macrophages from sarcoidosis patients with inactive disease to kill similar targets (P less than 0.001, compared to alveolar macrophages cultured in medium alone). Treatment of sarcoid patients with corticosteroids, a therapy known to suppress the activity of the disease, caused a marked reduction in the level of spontaneous IFN gamma release by lung mononuclear cells compared with untreated patients (P less than 0.02), which suggests that the effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy in controlling active pulmonary sarcoidosis may, at least in part, be due to suppression of IFN gamma release.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007371	Interferon-gamma	The major interferon produced by mitogenically or antigenically stimulated LYMPHOCYTES. It is structurally different from TYPE I INTERFERON and its major activity is immunoregulation. It has been implicated in the expression of CLASS II HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGENS in cells that do not normally produce them, leading to AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Interferon Type II,Interferon, Immune,gamma-Interferon,Interferon, gamma,Type II Interferon,Immune Interferon,Interferon, Type II
D008171	Lung Diseases	Pathological processes involving any part of the LUNG.	Pulmonary Diseases,Disease, Pulmonary,Diseases, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Disease,Disease, Lung,Diseases, Lung,Lung Disease
D008262	Macrophage Activation	The process of altering the morphology and functional activity of macrophages so that they become avidly phagocytic. It is initiated by lymphokines, such as the macrophage activation factor (MAF) and the macrophage migration-inhibitory factor (MMIF), immune complexes, C3b, and various peptides, polysaccharides, and immunologic adjuvants.	Activation, Macrophage,Activations, Macrophage,Macrophage Activations
D008264	Macrophages	The relatively long-lived phagocytic cell of mammalian tissues that are derived from blood MONOCYTES. Main types are PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES; ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES; HISTIOCYTES; KUPFFER CELLS of the liver; and OSTEOCLASTS. They may further differentiate within chronic inflammatory lesions to EPITHELIOID CELLS or may fuse to form FOREIGN BODY GIANT CELLS or LANGHANS GIANT CELLS. (from The Dictionary of Cell Biology, Lackie and Dow, 3rd ed.)	Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophages,Macrophage,Macrophages, Monocyte-Derived,Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages,Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophage,Macrophage, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophage, Monocyte-Derived,Macrophages, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophages, Monocyte Derived,Monocyte Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophage
D008297	Male		Males
D011650	Pulmonary Alveoli	Small polyhedral outpouchings along the walls of the alveolar sacs, alveolar ducts and terminal bronchioles through the walls of which gas exchange between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood takes place.	Alveoli, Pulmonary,Alveolus, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Alveolus
D001980	Bronchi	The larger air passages of the lungs arising from the terminal bifurcation of the TRACHEA. They include the largest two primary bronchi which branch out into secondary bronchi, and tertiary bronchi which extend into BRONCHIOLES and PULMONARY ALVEOLI.	Primary Bronchi,Primary Bronchus,Secondary Bronchi,Secondary Bronchus,Tertiary Bronchi,Tertiary Bronchus,Bronchi, Primary,Bronchi, Secondary,Bronchi, Tertiary,Bronchus,Bronchus, Primary,Bronchus, Secondary,Bronchus, Tertiary
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000305	Adrenal Cortex Hormones	HORMONES produced by the ADRENAL CORTEX, including both steroid and peptide hormones. The major hormones produced are HYDROCORTISONE and ALDOSTERONE.	Adrenal Cortex Hormone,Corticoid,Corticoids,Corticosteroid,Corticosteroids,Cortex Hormone, Adrenal,Hormone, Adrenal Cortex,Hormones, Adrenal Cortex