Regulatory roles of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1-mediated pulmonary granuloma formation in the rat

Intravenous infusion of particulate yeast cell wall glucan into rats results in the synchronous development of angiocentric pulmonary granulomas that are composed almost entirely of monocytes and macrophages. Previous studies indicate that locally produced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is required for full granuloma development. Because tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) can induce MCP-1 production in a variety of cell types, we sought to determine their potential regulatory roles in this model. A single infusion of anti-TNF-α antibody at the time of glucan infusion (time 0) markedly reduced MCP-1 mRNA levels at 1 and 6 hours but not at later time points; there was no effect on granuloma size or number measured at 48 hours. When multiple infusions of anti-TNF-α antibody were administered over a 23-hour period (0 to 23 hours), MCP-1 mRNA was reduced through 24 hours, there was a significant reduction in peak bronchoalveolar lavage fluid MCP-1 activity at 48 hours, and there were marked reductions in granuloma size and number at 48 hours. Similar results were observed in animals that received infusions of anti-IL-1β. Infusion of anti-IL-1β at time 0 resulted in moderate reductions in MCP-1 mRNA at 1 and 6 hours and had no effect on granuloma size or number measured at 48 hours. When multiple infusions of anti-IL-1β were administered over a 23-hour period (0 to 23 hours), MCP-1 mRNA was reduced through 24 hours, there was a moderate reduction in peak bronchoalveolar lavage fluid MCP-1 activity at 48 hours, and there were marked reductions in granuloma size and number at 48 hours. A single infusion of anti-TNF-α and anti-1L-1β together at time 0 resulted in marked reductions in whole lung MCP-1 and mRNA at 1 and 6 hours, but not at 24 hours. Multiple combined infusions of anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-1β over a 23-hour period resulted in additive reductions in MCP-1 mRNA through 24 hours, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid MCP-1 activity at 48 hours, and granuloma size and number at 48 hours. These data suggest that locally produced TNF-α and IL-1β play regulatory roles in glucan-induced pulmonary granulomatous vasculitis through the modulation of local MCP-1 production.