The novel cytokine interferon-gamma-inducing factor ("interleukin-18") is produced by macrophage-like cells in mice with endotoxin shock and induces the production of interferon-gamma by T cells in vitro. To determine the physiological role for mouse interferon-gamma-inducing factor, we studied its tissue distribution in several organs (intestine, spleen, thymus, kidney, and liver) in healthy mice of different ages, including fetal stages. Activity of the cytokine in the organ extracts of adult mice was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the cellular distribution of interferon-gamma-inducing factor in organs from fetal and adult mice was determined by immunohistochemistry. Intestinal extracts of adult mice showed the highest concentrations among the organs studied. Other organ extracts of adult mice showed lower concentrations of the cytokine. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that interferon-gamma-inducing factor was localized in the cytoplasm of intestinal epithelial cells from fetal and adult mice. These results show for the first time that intestinal epithelial cells may be the main producers of interferon-gamma-inducing factor under normal physiological conditions and suggest that its constitutive expression in intestinal epithelial cells may have an important role in the induction of mucosal immunity.

Tryptanthrin, a bioactive ingredient of Polygonum tinctorium Lour., is a member of the Indigo plant family and has potent cytocidal effects on various human leukemia cells in vitro. At low concentrations, tryptanthrin enhanced the expression of cell differentiation (CD) markers in human monocytic (U-937) and promyelocytic (HL-60) leukemia cells indicative of differentiation to monocytes/macrophages. Furthermore, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reductive and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (NBE) activities were markedly increased after treatment. Tryptanthrin was more potent than dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at inducing U-937 cell differentiation into monocytes/macrophages. After treatment with higher concentrations of tryptanthrin for 24 h, cytoplasmic vacuolation and destruction of mitochondria were observed. The leukemia cells died via apoptosis 48 h after treatment. Cytoplasmic vacuolation and apoptotic changes correlated with the dysfunction of mitochondria. Electron microscopic observations revealed marked swelling and destruction of mitochondria after exposure of the leukemia cells to tryptanthrin. Exposure to tryptanthrin enhanced Fas-induced apoptosis and increased caspase-3 activity before induction of apoptosis. These results show that low concentrations of tryptanthrin can induce differentiation of leukemia cells but higher concentrations will kill leukemia cells through apoptosis, possibly through a caspase-3/Fas antigen pathway.

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