Interferon‐γ and tumor necrosis factor induce the L‐arginine‐dependent cytotoxic effector mechanism in murine macrophages*

Abstract

We tested several monokines and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) to determine whether they induce the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism in cultured murine macrophages. Recombinant interferon-γ (rIFN-γ) and recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) synergize to induce nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) synthesis from L-arginine as well as to cause inhibition of the iron-dependent enzyme aconitase in macrophages. Unlike rTNF, recombinant interleukin 1 (rIL1) and rIL6/B cell stimulatory factor 2 (rIL 6/BSF-2) did not act as cofactors when added to macrophages in the presence of rIFN-γ. rIFN-γ plus MDP induced the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism in murine macrophages. However, induction by rIFN-γ plus MDP was inhibited by anti-rTNF antibodies which suppressed both NO₂⁻/NO₃⁻ synthesis and aconitase inhibition. This result indicates that endogenously produced TNF is involved in the induction of the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism when MDP is the co-stimulant with rIFN-γ. In contrast, anti-rTNF antibodies did not fully suppress the effect of combining rIFN-γ and lipopolysaccharide, suggesting that, in this case, activation of the L-arginine-dependent effector pathway may involve more than induction of TNF synthesis by the macrophages. These results provide information, at a biochemical level, on a mechanism through which combination of IFN-γ and TNF can modulate macrophage functions involved in the control of cell proliferation.