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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2000;68:97-103.)
© 2000 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

Suppression of TNF-{alpha} production in human mononuclear cells by an adenosine kinase inhibitor

Andreas Eigler, Verena Matschke, Gunther Hartmann, Simon Erhardt, David Boyle*, Gary S. Firestein* and Stefan Endres

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Innenstadt, University of Munich, Germany; and
* Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla

Correspondence: Stefan Endres, M.D., Clinical Pharmacology, Medizinische Klinik, University of Munich, Ziemssenstrasse 1, 80336 München, Germany. E-mail: EndresS{at}lrz.uni-muenchen.de


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Adenosine exerts potent anti-inflammatory activities through inhibition of cytokine synthesis by activated monocytes. Adenosine is rapidly phosphorylated intracellularly by adenosine kinase. GP515, an adenosine kinase inhibitor, prevents the phosphorylation of adenosine to AMP and thereby locally enhances the adenosine concentration. GP515 has exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects in several murine models of inflammation. In this study we investigated the effect of GP515 alone and in combination with exogenous adenosine or with rolipram, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on tumor necrosis factor {alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) synthesis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or whole blood. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 ng/mL)-stimulated PBMC were incubated in the absence or presence of these substances. GP515 alone showed a dose-dependent suppression of TNF-{alpha} production with an IC50 of 80 µM. The TNF-{alpha}-inhibiting effects of adenosine and GP515 were reversed in the presence of the cAMP antagonist (Rp)-cAMPS, supporting the hypothesis of a cAMP-mediated pathway. Combinations of GP515 with either adenosine or rolipram led to an additive inhibition of TNF-{alpha} synthesis. These experiments are the first to demonstrate efficacy of an adenosine kinase inhibitor in TNF-{alpha} suppression in cells of human origin. The findings form a basis to investigate these strategies in animal models of TNF-{alpha}-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases.

Key Words: cytokines • lipopolysaccharide • second messengers


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
The purine nucleoside adenosine has been shown to modulate inflammatory cell functions in vitro and in vivo. Adenosine inhibits a variety of neutrophil functions [1 , 2 ] and affects cytokine production in activated monocytes, including inhibition of tumor necrosis factor {alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) synthesis and induction of interleukin-10 (IL-10) production [3 4 5 ]. In studies of septic shock and pleural inflammation in mouse and rat models, adenosine and adenosine analogs revealed significant anti-inflammatory potency [6 ]. However, systemic administration of adenosine is accompanied by severe cardiovascular side effects limiting its therapeutic use.

Recently, potent anti-inflammatory activities of an inhibitor of the adenosine kinase (GP515) could be demonstrated without systemic side effects [7 , 8 ]. By inhibiting the rephosphorylation of adenosine to AMP through the adenosine kinase, GP515 prolongs the half-life of endogenously produced adenosine at inflamed sites and thereby locally enhances the adenosine concentration. Application of GP515 to mice had beneficial effects in models of septic shock [7 ] and other acute and chronic inflammatory diseases [8 ]. In vitro, GP515 attenuates human neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers [9 ] but its effects on cytokine production have not yet been investigated in cells of human origin.

We tested the effect of GP515 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-{alpha} and IL-10 synthesis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Elevated levels of TNF-{alpha} play a central role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Thus, its suppression is of pivotal clinical significance. Treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with inflammatory bowel disease, and with Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction with anti-TNF-{alpha} antibodies has shown a significant decrease of disease activity [10 11 12 ].

A number of endogenous and exogenous mediators of TNF-{alpha} inhibition have been identified in the last few years [13 ]. Among these, cAMP-elevating agents, i.e. adenosine and the specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram, have been shown to additionally induce synthesis of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in LPS-stimulated PBMC. IL-10 suppresses TNF-{alpha} synthesis [14 , 15 ], inhibits superoxide anion production [16 ], and reduces expression of adhesion molecules [17 ].

The aims of the present study were as follows: first, to investigate the effect of GP515 on TNF-{alpha} and IL-10 synthesis in human PBMC; second, to determine the role of cAMP in adenosine- and GP515-mediated effects on TNF-{alpha} synthesis by combination with the cAMP-antagonist (Rp)-cAMPS; third, to study the effect of combinations of GP515 with adenosine or rolipram on TNF-{alpha} and IL-10 synthesis.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Preparation of mononuclear cells
Peripheral blood was drawn in a heparinized syringe from healthy fasting volunteers who had been without medication for at least 2 weeks. The PBMC fraction was obtained by gradient centrifugation over Ficoll-Hypaque (Biochrom, Berlin, Germany), as described [18 , 19 ]. As a modification of the protocol, centrifugation was performed in tubes containing a horizontal porous filter disc over the Ficoll layer (Leucosep® tubes, Greiner, Frickenhausen, Germany) in order to facilitate layering of blood. PBMC were washed three times with 0.9% NaCl. CO2-equilibrated RPMI 1640 culture medium (Biochrom) was supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 10 mM HEPES buffer, 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 µg/mL streptomycin (all from Sigma, Munich, Germany), 1% endotoxin-free human albumin (Behringwerke, Marburg, Germany), and 1% heat-inactivated sterile human serum. PBMC were resuspended at 5.0 x 106/mL in this medium.

Preparation of the compounds
Adenosine (Adrekar®, Sanofi Winthrop, Munich, Germany) was purchased as intravenous solution for clinical use and was diluted with supplemented RPMI culture medium to the required concentrations. The specific adenosine kinase inhibitor GP515 [4-amino-1-(5-amino-5-deoxy-1-b-D-ribofuranosyl)-3-bromopyrazolo[3,4-D]pyrimidine, synthesized by Dr. Howard Cottam, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA] was dissolved in supplemented RPMI medium. GP515 is specific for adenosine kinase and does not inhibit other enzymes involved in adenosine metabolism, including adenosine deaminase and AMP deaminase, and it does not bind to A1 and A2 receptors or the nitrobenzylthioinosine-sensitive adenosine transporter [7 ]. Rolipram (specific type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor; kindly provided by Dr. Wachtel, Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) and LPS (from Escherichia coli 055:B5; Sigma) were freshly diluted from frozen aliquots with supplemented RPMI medium to their respective final concentrations. (Rp)-cAMPS (Rp-adenosine-3’,5’-cyclic phosphorothioate), a specific inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (Biolog Life Science Institute, Bremen, Germany), was purchased as lyophilisate and diluted in supplemented RPMI to the required concentrations. Cells were preincubated with (Rp)-cAMPS for 20 min before LPS stimulation and addition of the other compounds.

Cell stimulation
Experiments were carried out in duplicate. For induction of cytokines 100 µL LPS solution was added into wells of a 48-well culture plate (Falcon, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ) containing 100 µL of diluted compounds or supplemented culture medium as described above. Subsequent addition of 200 µL PBMC suspension gave a final volume of 400 µL with a final cell concentration of 2.5 x 106/mL and a final LPS concentration of 10 ng/mL. The incubation periods of 4, 6, and 20 h at 37°C in 5% CO2 and 90% humidified air were stopped by freezing plates at -80°C to obtain combined lysate plus supernatant.

Whole blood stimulation
Supplemented RPMI culture medium containing LPS (20 ng/mL) and diluted compounds was pipetted into 5-mL polypropylene tubes (1 mL/tube; Becton Dickinson). Heparinized whole blood was freshly drawn from healthy volunteers and added at 1 mL/tube. Tubes were mixed gently and incubated for 4 h at 37°C in 5% CO2 and 90% humidified air. After centrifugation at 1200 g, 4°C for 5 min supernatant was separated from cell pellet, centrifuged at 15,000 g, 4°C for 5 min to obtain platelet-free supernatant, and frozen at -80°C. Triton X-100 (500 µL; Boehringer, Mannheim, Germany) diluted in 0.9% NaCl to a 2% solution was added to 500 µL of the cell pellet to lyse cells, and the cell pellet was centrifuged at 15,000 g, 4°C for 10 min. Supernatant was separated from the pelleted cell debris and was stored at -80°C for measurement of cell-associated cytokines.

Measurement of TNF-{alpha}
TNF-{alpha} protein levels were determined after three freeze-thaw cycles with a human TNF-{alpha} sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) established in our laboratory.

Coating of microtiter plates
Microtiter plates (96-well; Nunc, Naperville, IL) were coated with a monoclonal antibody specific for recombinant human TNF-{alpha} (Endogen, Woburn, MA). The monoclonal antibody was diluted with coating buffer (distilled water adjusted to pH 9.6 by 50 mM Na2HPO4 and 5 M NaOH) to a concentration of 1 µg/mL. The dilution (200 µL/well) was pipetted into the plates. After a 48-h incubation period at 4°C plates were washed twice with 300 µL/well washing buffer [distilled water containing 50 mM Tris (Boehringer) at pH 7.2, 0.2% Tween 20 and 0.0005% Thimerosal (both from Sigma)] using an automatic washer (SLT Labinstruments, Crailsheim, Germany) and were incubated for 1 h at room temperature with 300 µL/well assay buffer (distilled water, 0.15 M NaCl, 50 mM Tris at pH 7.75, 0.01% Tween 40, 0.5% calf serum albumin, 0.05% calf gamma-globulin, and 20 µM diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, all from Sigma). Plates were washed once and kept at room temperature for 1 h to dry. Plates were taped and stored at -20°C.

Assay procedure
After having reached room temperature, plates were washed twice with washing buffer and were filled with 100 µL/well assay buffer. A standard curve was drawn from frozen aliquots [TNF-{alpha} lyophilisate (kindly supplied by the National Institute for Biologic Standards and Control, Potters Bar, UK) previously diluted with assay buffer to the required concentrations ranging from 31 to 2000 pg/mL]. Samples of the experiments were diluted with assay buffer. Standards or diluted samples (100 µL) were pipetted in duplicate into wells. Plates were shaken for 2 h at room temperature and then washed three times. A monoclonal Biotin-labeled antibody specific for human TNF-{alpha} (Endogen, Woburn, MA) was diluted to 25 ng/mL in assay buffer and pipetted at 200 µL/well followed by a similar 2-h incubation period and three washing steps. Plates were then incubated as described above for 30 min with 200 µL/well of a 1:8000 dilution of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin (Zymed Laboratories, San Francisco, CA), which binds to the Biotin-labeled antibody. After three washing steps plates were incubated with tetra-methylbenzidine (200 µL/well; TMB; DAKO, Carpinteria, CA). The chromogenic TMB is converted from a colorless solution to a blue solution by streptavidin. Substrate conversion was stopped after 15 min by adding 1 M H2SO4 (50 µL/well). An MRX Microplate Reader (Dynatech Laboratories, Denkendorf, Germany) was used with dual wavelengths of 450 and 570 nm to compare the absorbance of samples with that of TNF-{alpha} standards for determination of TNF-{alpha} concentrations. Results were given as means of duplicates.

Validity criteria
The lower detection limit of the TNF-{alpha} ELISA was 25 pg/mL. The intra-assay variation was 6.7% at 912 pg/mL TNF-{alpha} (n = 27 values), the interassay variation was 5.7% at 378 pg/mL TNF-{alpha}, and 1.2% at 43 pg/mL TNF-{alpha} (n = 29 assays). A comparison of the established TNF-{alpha} ELISA to a commercial TNF-{alpha} ELISA (Medgenix TNF-{alpha} EASIATM kit; BioSource Europe, Fleurus, Belgium) showed a correlation of r2 = 0.834.

Measurement of IL-10
IL-10 levels were quantified after one freeze-thaw cycle by a commercial human IL-10 ELISA (Laboserv, Staufenberg, Germany).

Viability testing
PBMC were incubated at 37°C in 5% CO2 and 90% humidified air in the presence or absence of LPS (10 ng/mL) and GP515 (0.2 µM up to 1 mM). After 1 h cells were assayed for viability by their capacity to reduce 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT; Sigma) to MTT-formazan [20 ]. Ten microliters of 5 mg/mL MTT were added and after a 4-h incubation period, samples were dissolved by the addition of 100 µL 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate (Sigma). Overnight incubation was followed by quantifying the reduced (blue) MTT at an optical density of 570 nm with 690 nm as the reference wavelength.

Flow cytometry
To identify subpopulations of PBMC phycoerythrin-labeled monoclonal antibodies (Immunotech, Marseilles, France) were used as described previously [21 ]. The mononuclear cell fraction contained monocytes (4.4%), T lymphocytes (64.7%), B lymphocytes (7.0 %), natural killer cells (16.0%), and other cells (7.9%) (means ± SEM of n = 3 donors). To assess toxicity of the applied compounds after the experimental incubation period, PBMC were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline and stained with propidium iodide (10 µg/mL; Sigma). Propidium iodide enters cells with defective cell membranes. Flow cytometric data were obtained as described [21 ].

Statistical analysis
Results are presented as means ± SEM. The paired two-tailed Student’s t test was performed for comparisons of means of TNF-{alpha} values. Differences were considered statistically significant for P < 0.050. In Figure 1A and B , and Figure 5, P values were corrected according to Bonferroni’s method for multiple comparisons. Statistical analyses were performed using Stat-View 5.4 software (Abacus Concepts, Calabasas, CA).



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Figure 1. Suppression of TNF-{alpha} production by adenosine in human PBMC. PBMC were stimulated with LPS (10 ng/mL) for 20 h in the presence of increasing concentrations of adenosine. Values represent the means ± SEM of six individual experiments. *Statistically significant difference (P < 0.050). P values were corrected according to the method of Bonferroni for multiple comparisons.

 

    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Dose-dependent suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis by adenosine and by GP515
Adenosine is able to inhibit TNF-{alpha} synthesis in human PBMC. Our experiments confirmed a dose-dependent suppression of TNF-{alpha} production (Fig. 1 ). Stimulation of PBMC with 10 ng/mL LPS led to a TNF-{alpha} concentration of 5.2 ± 1.4 ng/mL. Significant reduction of TNF-{alpha} synthesis to 3.8 ± 1.0 ng/mL was achieved in the presence of 1 µM adenosine. Ten micromolar adenosine showed half-maximal suppression of TNF-{alpha} production.

Addition of GP515 to LPS-stimulated human PBMC dose-dependently suppressed TNF-{alpha} production (Fig. 2 ). Stimulation of PBMC with 10 ng/mL LPS alone for 20 h induced a TNF-{alpha} synthesis of 3.8 ± 0.7 ng/mL (means ± SEM of n = 4 donors). Incubation in the presence of 10 µM GP515 showed significant suppression of TNF-{alpha} production to 3.3 ± 0.6 ng/mL (P = 0.019). The mean IC50 was calculated at 80 µM of GP515. In control experiments TNF-{alpha} concentrations in cells incubated without LPS were below 0.04 ng/mL.



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Figure 2. Suppression of TNF-{alpha} production by GP515 in human PBMC. PBMC were stimulated for 20 h with LPS (10 ng/mL) in the presence of GP515 at different concentrations. Columns represent the means ± SEM of four individual experiments.

 
Furthermore, GP515 dose-dependently inhibited TNF-{alpha} synthesis in human whole blood (data not shown). When 50 µM GP515 was added to LPS-stimulated whole blood, significantly reduced TNF-{alpha} production from baseline stimulation of 2.2 ± 0.5 ng/mL to 1.4 ± 0.3 ng/mL (P = 0.018) after 4 h of incubation (means ± SEM of n = 4 donors) was found. The IC50 was calculated at 90 µM of GP515.

To assess toxicity of GP515, we studied the ability of GP515-treated PBMC to reduce MTT to MTT-formazan. GP515 concentrations ranged from 0.2 µM up to 1 mM, incubation was carried out in the presence or absence of LPS (10 ng/mL). No changes in metabolic activity were detected, indicating viability of the cells (n = 2 donors; data not shown).

Reversal of adenosine- and GP515-mediated TNF-{alpha} suppression by the specific protein kinase A inhibitor (Rp)-cAMPS
To test the hypothesis of a cAMP-mediated pathway, LPS-stimulated human PBMC were incubated in the presence of adenosine or GP515 alone or in combination with 100 or 300 µM (Rp)-cAMPS, a cAMP antagonist and specific inhibitor of protein kinase A (Fig. 3A and B ). TNF-{alpha} levels reached 2.6 ± 0.3 ng/mL after a 4-h stimulation period with LPS alone. Adenosine (10 µM) reduced TNF-{alpha} synthesis to 1.6 ± 0.3 ng/mL. This effect was completely reversed to 2.6 ± 0.6 ng/mL TNF-{alpha} by 300 µM (Rp)-cAMPS. TNF-{alpha} suppression to 2.0 ± 0.2 ng/mL by 100 µM GP515 was equally reversed to 2.8 ± 0.5 ng/mL by 300 µM (Rp)-cAMPS (means ± SEM of n = 3 donors).



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Figure 3. Reversal of adenosine- and GP515-mediated TNF-{alpha} suppression by the cAMP antagonist (Rp)-cAMPS. Human PBMC were stimulated for 4 h with LPS (10 ng/mL) in the presence of adenosine (A) or GP515 (B) alone or in combination with the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A inhibitor (Rp)-cAMPS. Values represent the means ± SEM of three individual experiments.

 
Additive suppression of TNF-{alpha} production by the combination of GP515 with adenosine
In the following experiments the effect of a combination of 10 µM GP515 and 1 µM adenosine on TNF-{alpha} production in LPS-stimulated PBMC was investigated. The experiments were performed at different incubation periods (4, 6, and 20 h). The combination of GP515 and adenosine led to a more pronounced TNF-{alpha} suppression than each of the substances alone (measured at all time points investigated). The maximal TNF-{alpha} concentration 4 h after stimulation with 10 ng/mL LPS was 3.5 ± 0.5 ng/mL (Fig. 4 ). It was suppressed to 2.8 ± 0.5 ng/mL (P = 0.014) by 10 µM GP515, to 2.5 ± 0.5 ng/mL (P = 0.001) by 1 µM adenosine, and to 1.7 ± 0.3 ng/mL (P < 0.001) by the combination of both (means ± SEM of n = 6 donors). To exclude toxicity of the compounds, samples of one donor were tested for propidium iodide exclusion by flow cytometry. Cell viability of all samples was confirmed by propidium iodide exclusion (0.4–0.5% of the mononuclear cells were propidium iodide positive).



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Figure 4. Additive suppression of TNF-{alpha} formation by the combination of GP515 and adenosine. PBMC were stimulated for 4 h with LPS (10 ng/mL) in the presence of GP515, adenosine, or a combination of both. Values represent the means ± SEM of four individual experiments. Statistically significant differences of TNF-{alpha} concentrations were found between cells incubated with the combination of compounds and cells incubated with GP515 (P = 0.005) or adenosine (P = 0.007) alone.

 
Preincubation of PBMC with GP515 and adenosine for 30 min and subsequent stimulation with LPS for 4 and 6 h showed less suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis than simultaneous incubation of stimulus and inhibitors (n = 6 donors; data not shown).

Dose-dependent suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis by rolipram
The specific type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram is a potent inhibitor of TNF-{alpha} synthesis in human PBMC [22 , 23 ]. In our experiments, rolipram (10 nM, 100 nM, and 1 µM) dose-dependently suppressed TNF-{alpha} synthesis from 6.7 ± 1.6 ng/mL after stimulation with LPS alone to 5.3 ± 1.0, 4.0 ± 0.6, and 1.2 ± 0.2 ng/mL, respectively (Fig. 5 ). The mean IC50 was calculated at 120 nM.



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Figure 5. Suppression of TNF-{alpha} production by rolipram in human PBMC. PBMC were stimulated with LPS (10 ng/mL) for 20 h in the presence of rolipram at different concentrations. Values represent the means ± SEM of three individual experiments.

 
Additive suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis by the combination of GP515 with rolipram
Different combinations of GP515 with rolipram were examined at incubation times of 4 and 20 h. TNF-{alpha} suppression was not additive after 4 h and additive after 20 h. After 20 h of incubation (Fig. 6 ), LPS-stimulated TNF-{alpha} synthesis of 3.8 ± 0.7 ng/mL was reduced to 3.3 ± 0.6 ng/mL (P = 0.019) by 10 µM GP515 and to 2.0 ± 0.5 ng/mL (P = 0.012) by 100 nM rolipram. Simultaneous incubation with both substances inhibited TNF-{alpha} production to 1.3 ± 0.2 ng/mL (P = 0.010; means ± SEM of n = 4 donors). The samples of one donor were assayed for cell viability by quantifying propidium iodide uptake. Between 0.3 and 0.5% of the mononuclear cells were propidium iodide positive.



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Figure 6. Additive suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis by the combination of GP515 and rolipram. Human PBMC were stimulated for 20 h with LPS (10 ng/mL) in the presence of GP515, rolipram, or a combination of both. Values represent the means ± SEM of four individual experiments. There was a significant decrease in the TNF-{alpha} concentration from PBMC incubated with GP515 alone to PBMC incubated with the combination of GP515 and rolipram (P = 0.018).

 
Suppression of IL-10 production by GP515
Adenosine as well as rolipram are known for their ability to induce IL-10 synthesis in human PBMC [4 , 24 ]. We now investigated the effect of GP515 on IL-10 production in this cell system. Despite the inducing effect of adenosine on IL-10 production, the adenosine kinase inhibitor did not enhance but dose-dependently suppressed IL-10 synthesis (Fig. 7 ). In an incubation period of 20 h, LPS (10 ng/mL) stimulated IL-10 production to 395 ± 103 pg/mL. GP515 (100 µM) reduced IL-10 concentration to 204 ± 44 pg/mL (means ± SEM of n = 4 donors). The inhibitory effect of GP515 on IL-10 synthesis was not due to cytotoxicity as shown by MTT assay.



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Figure 7. Concentration-dependent suppression of IL-10 production by GP515. Human PBMC were stimulated for 20 h with LPS (10 ng/mL) in the presence of increasing concentrations of GP515. Columns represent the means ± SEM of four individual experiments. P values were corrected according to the method by Bonferroni for multiple comparisons.

 
In a combination of GP515 with rolipram the antagonizing effects of the two substances neutralized each other. After 20 h, rolipram (100 nM) enhanced IL-10 synthesis of LPS-stimulated PBMC from baseline production of 460 ± 97 to 590 ± 117 pg/mL (P = 0.005). GP515 (50 µM) suppressed IL-10 formation to 394 ± 86 pg/mL. The combination of both led to an IL-10 concentration of 499 ± 110 pg/mL similar to the IL-10 level after stimulation with LPS alone (means ± SEM of n = 6 donors; data not shown).


    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
The adenosine kinase inhibitor GP515 has been investigated in vitro and in animal models and exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study we could demonstrate for the first time suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis by GP515 in cells of human origin. GP515 led to significant TNF-{alpha} inhibition in both human PBMC and human whole blood. Cytotoxicity of GP515 was excluded by MTT assay. GP515- and adenosine-mediated suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis was reversed in the presence of the cAMP antagonist (Rp)-cAMPS, indicating that an increase of cAMP and activation of protein kinase A are involved in the signal transduction pathway. Combinations of GP515 with adenosine or with rolipram achieved additive suppression of TNF-{alpha} production in PBMC. Furthermore, GP515 suppressed IL-10 formation.

We could demonstrate reduced TNF-{alpha} synthesis by LPS-stimulated PBMC incubated in the presence of GP515. These findings are consistent with the results of a model of endotoxic shock in mice by Firestein et al. in which GP515 reduced plasma TNF-{alpha} concentrations [7 ]. Furthermore, GP515 suppressed carrageenan-induced TNF-{alpha} synthesis in air pouches on BALB/c mice in a study by Cronstein et al. [25 ]. GP515 has been shown to enhance endogenous adenosine concentrations [2 , 9 , 25 ]. Adenosine is generated as an end-product of ATP catabolism. In conditions of cellular stress such as inflammation or hypoxia the breakdown of ATP is enhanced and adenosine concentrations increase. In humans, adenosine has a short plasma half-life of less than 2 s [26 ], which is caused by rapid cellular uptake. Adenosine is metabolized intracellularly by both adenosine deaminase and by adenosine kinase, adenosine kinase being the major adenosine-metabolizing enzyme in conditions of physiological adenosine concentrations [3 , 26 ]. The adenosine kinase inhibitor GP515 inhibits the rephosphorylation of adenosine to AMP and thereby prolongs the half-life of adenosine. GP515 itself is not metabolized by adenosine deaminase [9 ].

The exact mechanism by which adenosine suppresses TNF-{alpha} synthesis in PBMC has not yet been elucidated. One hypothesized pathway includes binding to the adenosine A2 receptor [3 , 27 ] followed by elevation of the intracellular second messenger cAMP [3 , 5 , 27 , 28 ], which activates cAMP-dependent protein kinases A, resulting in TNF-{alpha} inhibition [29 30 31 32 ]. Another hypothesis suggests an A3 receptor-mediated and cAMP-independent pathway [33 ]. To investigate whether elevation of cAMP accounts for adenosine-mediated suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis, we studied the effect of the cAMP antagonist (Rp)-cAMPS in adenosine-treated PBMC. (Rp)-cAMPS specifically binds to type I and II protein kinases A and competitively inhibits their cAMP-induced activation [34 ]. In our experiments, (Rp)-cAMPS completely reversed adenosine-induced TNF-{alpha}-inhibition. These findings confirm the hypothesized signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, (Rp)-cAMPS similarly reversed GP515-mediated TNF-{alpha} suppression indicating the same pathway. GP515 itself does not bind to A2 receptors [7 ], but A2 receptors have been shown to mediate effects of GP515 [8 , 9 , 25 ]. Thus, our results indicate that the effect of GP515 on TNF-{alpha} suppression in PBMC is caused by increased endogenous adenosine concentrations that act via cAMP-dependent protein kinase A.

Because anti-inflammatory effects of GP515 are dependent on the presence of endogenous adenosine, GP515 acts preferentially at sites of inflammation where adenosine concentration is elevated. Thus, anti-inflammatory effects as well as possible side effects might be confined to the inflamed target tissue. This hypothesis is supported by a study by Rosengren et al. who applied GP515 in models of rat paw swelling and rat skin lesion [8 ]. Although GP515 exerted beneficial anti-inflammatory effects, no detrimental systemic side effects were observed. GP515 did not exhibit a reduction in heart rate or blood pressure in the treated animals as would have occurred after infusion of exogenous adenosine.

Rolipram is a highly specific and potent inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) type IV, which is the predominant PDE isoenzyme in monocytes. The TNF-{alpha}-suppressing activity of rolipram is supposed to be mediated by accumulation of intracellular cAMP [32 , 35 ]. In a previous study we could demonstrate that rolipram-induced TNF-{alpha} inhibition is reversed by adenosine deaminase and is therefore dependent on the presence of adenosine [5 ]. Thus, similar to GP515, rolipram might exert locally enhanced effects at sites with elevated endogenous adenosine concentrations. Combinations of GP515 with adenosine and of GP515 with rolipram showed additive suppression of TNF-{alpha} synthesis. Combinations of drugs frequently reveal clinical advantages because lower doses of the individual compounds are required with reduced side effects.

Although adenosine induces IL-10 synthesis in human PBMC, it was surprising that GP515 suppressed IL-10 production. However, it is known that significant increase of IL-10 synthesis in LPS-stimulated monocytes occurs only at high concentrations of adenosine (100 µM), as demonstrated by Le Moine et al. [4 ]. During infection or inflammation, adenosine is formed locally but remains in the nanomolar range or reaches low micromolar concentrations [27 ]. After application of GP515 in a murine air pouch model of inflammation adenosine did not exceed nanomolar concentrations [25 ]. In a whole blood model GP515 led to elevated adenosine concentrations of about 14 µM [2 ]. Thus, it is presumable that the amount of adenosine released from LPS-stimulated PBMC after incubation with LPS and GP515 was not sufficient to induce IL-10 synthesis. The mechanism of adenosine-mediated effects on IL-10 synthesis has not yet been clarified. Indeed, it has been shown that enhancement of IL-10 by adenosine is not caused by activation of A2 receptors [4 ]. Cytotoxic effects of GP515 leading to an unspecific down-regulation of cytokine production seem unlikely because reduction of MTT by PBMC incubated with GP515 showed no decrease in metabolic activity of the cells. Also, the reversal of GP515-mediated TNF-{alpha} suppression in the presence of (Rp)-cAMPS contradicts toxicity of the compound.

TNF-{alpha} is a necessary mediator of various inflammatory disease processes. Beneficial effects of anti-TNF-{alpha} antibodies in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction have demonstrated the proof of principle of anti-TNF-{alpha} strategies in clinical therapy [10 11 12 ]. Repeated administration of anti-TNF-{alpha} antibodies is, however, accompanied by adverse effects through endogenous antibody production against the antibodies applied. Adenosine, GP515, and rolipram interfere with the synthesis of TNF-{alpha} and represent an alternative approach to curtail TNF-{alpha}-mediated effects. The strategies of the present in vitro study are now under investigation in a mouse model of chronic colitis; preliminary results suggest a marked amelioration of disease activity [36 ].


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 
The authors thank Dr. Jochen Moeller, Dr. Britta Siegmund, Dr. Christoph Brunner, and Dr. Ulrich T. Hacker for helpful discussions and Angela Hackl for excellent technical assistance. Verena Matschke received a travel award from the European Cytokine Society to present parts of this work at the Second Joint Meeting of the International Cytokine Society and the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research, Jerusalem 1998. The results of this study are part of the medical thesis of Verena Matschke (Medizinische Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, in preparation). Andreas Eigler and Verena Matschke contributed equally to this study.

Received September 7, 1999; revised February 12, 2000; accepted February 15, 2000.


    REFERENCES
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 

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