Modulation of myeloid proliferation and differentiation by monoclonal
antibodies directed against a protein that interacts with the interleukin-3
receptor
DJ Tweardy, PA Morel, PL Mott, EW Glazer, HJ Zeh and M Sakurai
Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.
Hematopoietic cells can be transformed through the acquisition of autocrine
growth factor production. Because of their ability to inhibit autocrine
growth, antibodies directed against the growth factor or its receptor may
have therapeutic potential. However, these agents may also inhibit normal
cell development. We have developed two monoclonal antibodies, 4G8 and 2F2,
directed against a protein of 110 to 150 Kd that interacts with the
interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor (R) complex. These antibodies inhibit
IL-3-induced proliferation of nonleukemic and leukemic IL-3-dependent cell
lines, as well as the autonomous growth of WEHI-3B in vitro and in vivo.
These results suggest the possibility that anti-IL-3R antibodies may be
useful in the treatment of some leukemias. However, the effect of
anti-IL-3R antibodies on normal myeloid development in vitro has not been
examined. We examined the effect of 4G8 and 2F2 on the growth in vitro of
colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) colonies induced by
IL-3, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage
CSF (GM-CSF), and macrophage-CSF (M-CSF). Our results show that while 4G8
and 2F2 inhibited CFU-GM colony formation induced by IL-3, they augmented
colony formation induced by the other hematopoietins. 4G8 and 2F2 also
enhanced G-CSF-induced proliferation of 32Dc13 and GM-CSF-induced
proliferation of PT18, confirming that the effect on CFU-GM was a direct
effect. Finally, 4G8 and 2F2 inhibited G-CSF-induced differentiation of
32Dc13, similar to low levels of IL-3; yet, neither 4G8 nor 2F2 blocked
binding of G-CSF to its receptor. These results indicate that, in the
absence of IL-3 and in the presence of other hematopoietins, 4G8 and 2F2
can function as weak IL-3 agonists. These studies suggest that antibodies
such as 4G8 and 2F2, directed against components of the IL-3R, could
potentially augment myeloid growth in vivo, rather than inhibit myeloid
growth.
Volume 80,
Issue 2,
pp. 359-366,
07/15/1992
Copyright © 1992 by The American Society of Hematology