This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Werner-Felmayer, G. Articles by Wachter, H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Werner-Felmayer, G. Articles by Wachter, H.

Neopterin Formation and Tryptophan Degradation by a Human Myelomonocytic Cell Line (THP-1) upon Cytokine Treatment¹

Institute for Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Determination of neopterin [D-erythro-6-(1',2',3'-trihydroxypropyl)pterin] in body fluids is a powerful diagnostic tool in a variety of diseases in which activation of cellular immune mechanisms is involved, such as certain malignancies, allograft rejection, and autoimmune and infectious diseases. In vitro, neopterin is released into the supernatant by peripheral blood-derived monocytes/macrophages upon stimulation with -interferon. In parallel, cleavage of tryptophan by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is induced. We report here that the human myelomonocytic cell line THP-1 forms neopterin and degrades tryptophan upon treatment with -interferon. Like in macrophages -interferon and ß-interferon induce these pathways only to a much smaller degree. The action of interferons is enhanced by cotreatment with tumor necrosis factor , lipopolysaccharide, or dexamethasone. -Interferon-induced neopterin formation and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity are increased by raising extracellular tryptophan concentrations. The pattern of intracellularly formed pteridines upon stimulation with -interferon shows the unique characteristics of human monocytes/macrophages. Neopterin, monapterin, and biopterin are produced in a 50:2:1 ratio. Thus, the THP-1 cell line provides a permanent, easily accessible in vitro system for studying the induction and mechanism of neopterin formation.

¹ Supported by the Austrian Research Funds "Zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung," Project 6922.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 9/11/89. Revised 1/11/90.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. E. Schiff, J. Rae, T. R. Martin, B. H. Davis, and J. T. Curnutte Increased Phagocyte Fcgamma RI Expression and Improved Fcgamma -Receptor-Mediated Phagocytosis After In Vivo Recombinant Human Interferon-gamma Treatment of Normal Human Subjects Blood, October 15, 1997; 90(8): 3187 - 3194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. V. Deshpande, J.-M. Goust, A. K. Chakrabarti, E. Barbosa, E. L. Hogan, and N. L. Banik Calpain Expression in Lymphoid Cells J. Biol. Chem., February 10, 1995; 270(6): 2497 - 2505. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]