Microglia, unique myeloid cells residing in the brain parenchyma, represent the first line of immune defense within the central nervous system. In addition to their immune functions, microglial cells play an important role in other cerebral processes, including the regulation of synaptic architecture and neurogenesis. Chronic microglial activation is regarded as detrimental, and it is considered a pathogenic mechanism common to several neurological disorders. Microglial activation and function have been extensively studied in rodent experimental models, whereas the characterization of human cells has been limited due to the restricted availability of primary sources of human microglia. To overcome this problem, human immortalized microglial cell lines have been developed. The human microglial clone 3 cell line, HMC3, was established in 1995, through SV40-dependent immortalization of human embryonic microglial cells. It has been recently authenticated by the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC®) and distributed under the name of HMC3 (ATCC®CRL-3304). The HMC3 cells have been used in six research studies, two of which also indicated by ATCC® as reference articles. However, a more accurate literature revision suggests that clone 3 was initially distributed under the name of CHME3. In this regard, several studies have been published, thus contributing to a more extensive characterization of this cell line. Remarkably, the same cell line has been used in different laboratories with other denominations, i.e., CHME-5 cells and C13-NJ cells. In view of the fact that “being now authenticated by ATCC®” may imply a wider distribution of the cells, we aimed at reviewing data obtained with the human microglia cell line clone 3, making the readers aware of this complicated nomenclature. In addition, we also included original data, generated in our laboratory with the HMC3 (ATCC®CRL-3304) cells, providing information on the current state of the culture together with supplementary details on the culturing procedures to obtain and maintain viable cells.

Results obtained indicate that bindarit beneficial effects in experimental arthritis are correlated to MCP-1 and TNF-alpha inhibition and suggest that the control of cytokines and chemokines production can have considerable relevance as regards strategies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

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Accepted ManuscriptTitle: Effects of AF3442 [N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.Page 1 of 36 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p *Graphical AbstractPage 2 of 36 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 and 100 M (38±14%, P<0.05, and 69±5%, P<0.01, respectively). Up to 100 M, the other prostanoids were not significantly affected. In conclusion, AF3442 is a selective mPGES-1 inhibitor which reduced monocyte PGE 2 generation also in the presence of plasma proteins. Pharmacological inhibition of mPGES-1 did not translate into redirection of PGH 2 metabolism towards other terminal PG synthases in monocytes. The functional relevance of this observation deserves to be investigated in vivo.

PGs are potent mediators of pain and inflammation. PGE synthases (PGES) catalyze the isomerization of PGH(2) into PGE(2). The microsomal (m)PGES-1 isoform serves as an inducible PGES and is responsible for the production of PGE(2), which mediates acute pain in inflammation and fever. The present study was designed to investigate the regulation of expression of mPGES-1 in polarized phagocytes, which represent central, cellular orchestrators of inflammatory reactions. Here, we report that human peripheral blood monocytes did not express mPGES-1. Exposure to LPS strongly induced mPGES-1 expression. Alternatively activated M2 monocytes-macrophages exposed to IL-4, IL-13, or IL-10 did not express mPGES-1, whereas in these cells, IL-4, IL-13, and to a lesser extent, IL-10 or IFN-gamma inhibited LPS-induced, mPGES-1 expression. It is unexpected that polymorphonuclear leukocytes expressed high basal levels of mPGES-1, which was up-regulated by LPS and down-regulated by IL-4 and IL-13. Induction of mPGES-1 and its modulation by cytokines were confirmed at the protein level and correlated with PGE(2) production. Cyclooxygenase 2 expression tested in the same experimental conditions was modulated in monocytes and granulocytes similarly to mPGES-1. Thus, activated M1, unlike alternatively activated M2, mononuclear phagocytes express mPGES-1, and IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10 tune expression of this key enzyme in prostanoid metabolism. Neutrophils, the first cells to enter sites of inflammation, represent a ready-made, cellular source of mPGES-1.

BackgroundBlockade of Prostaglandin (PG) E2 production via deletion of microsomal Prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) gene reduces tumor cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo on xenograft tumors. So far the therapeutic potential of the pharmacological inhibition of mPGES-1 has not been elucidated. PGE2 promotes epithelial tumor progression via multiple signaling pathways including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we evaluated the antitumor activity of AF3485, a compound of a novel family of human mPGES-1 inhibitors, in vitro and in vivo, in mice bearing human A431 xenografts overexpressing EGFR. Treatment of the human cell line A431 with interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) increased mPGES-1 expression, PGE2 production and induced EGFR phosphorylation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expression. AF3485 reduced PGE2 production, both in quiescent and in cells stimulated by IL-1β. AF3485 abolished IL-1β-induced activation of the EGFR, decreasing VEGF and FGF-2 expression, and tumor-mediated endothelial tube formation. In vivo, in A431 xenograft, AF3485, administered sub-chronically, decreased tumor growth, an effect related to inhibition of EGFR signalling, and to tumor microvessel rarefaction. In fact, we observed a decrease of EGFR phosphorylation, and VEGF and FGF-2 expression in tumours explanted from treated mice.ConclusionOur work demonstrates that the pharmacological inhibition of mPGES-1 reduces squamous carcinoma growth by suppressing PGE2 mediated-EGFR signalling and by impairing tumor associated angiogenesis. These results underscore the potential of mPGES-1 inhibitors as agents capable of controlling tumor growth.

Interleukin (IL) 6, an autocrine growth factor for mesangial cells, and chemokines, which are released from activated mesangial cells and induce leukocyte infiltration, play a critical role in the progression of immune system mediated renal diseases. Since the reciprocal relationship between IL-6 and chemokines in renal inflammation has been barely investigated, we have analyzed whether IL-6 (500 ng/ml), alone or in combination with the soluble form of its receptor (sIL-6R, 200 ng/ml), can induce normal human mesangial cells (NHMC) to release alpha and/or beta chemokines: MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1), IL-8, Rantes (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), and MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein 1α). Whereas IL-6 or sIL-6R alone were ineffective in inducing significant chemokine release from NHMC, the simultaneous treatment with IL-6 and sIL-6R showed a significant interaction, leading to a strong synergic effect on MCP-1 synthesis and release without exerting any relevant activity on IL-8, Rantes, or MIP-1α. Consistently with the unresponsiveness to IL-6, mRNA and protein expression analysis of the two subunits which form the functional IL-6 receptor showed that NHMC express only the gp130 signal-transducing chain and not the subunit-specific IL-6R (gp80). These findings support an unexpected role of the IL-6 system in kidney inflammatory reactions through the selective regulation of monocyte recruitment.

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