Down regulation of myelopoiesis by mediators inhibiting the production of macrophage-derived granulomonopoietic enhancing activity (GM-EA).

Monocyte-derived lipid-containing macrophages (MDLMs) constitutively synthesize a granulomonopoietic enhancing activity (GM-EA) that potentiates the function of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity (GM-CSA). In the study reported, we show that GM-EA is distinct from interleukin-1 (IL-1) in biochemical and functional properties and that its production is negatively regulated by several mediators. Thus, MDLM cultures pretreated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma, 3 to 900 U/mL), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 10(-13) to 10(-8) mol/L), or lactoferrin (LF, 10(-13) to 10(-8) mol/L) invariably produced less GM-EA than untreated controls. The relative potency of inhibition was in the order of IFN-gamma greater than or equal to PGE2 greater than LF. The extent of the inhibitory effects was proportional to dosage and the duration of treatment and could be observed following only a brief exposure (two hours) of the MDLMS to physiologic doses of the mediators. Under optimal conditions, IFN-gamma (300 U/mL for 24 to 48 hours) and PGE2 (10(-9) mol/L for 24 to 48 hours) could totally abrogate the ability of the MDLMs to produce GM-EA. However, the drug-inhibited MDLMs could be reactivated to produce GM-EA by treatment with zymosan (60 micrograms/mL). These results demonstrate that a mechanism for the control of myelopoiesis by mediators such as IFN-gamma, PGE2, and LF may involve the inhibition of GM-EA production. Furthermore, this negative feedback control is reversible and can be overridden when a proper stimulatory signal is given.