No description available.

Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammation condition involving the accumulation of lipid-filled macrophages within the artery wall. Progression of the initial fatty streak to an advanced atherosclerotic plaque is characterized by the development of a necrotic core region containing cholesterol and dead cells. The oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and its subsequent uptake by macrophages to form foam cells are the key process in plaque formation. OxLDL is found within atherosclerotic plaque, and it is cytotoxic to a range of cells including macrophages through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induction of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the cytotoxic effects of oxLDL to U937 human monocyte-like cells. OxLDL caused a rapid concentration-dependent cell viability loss in U937 cells within 6 hours. The progression of oxLDL-induced cell death was found to be strongly correlated with the intracellular ROS production and intracellular glutathione (GSH) loss. OxLDL also caused a rapid loss of intracellular aconitase activity, indicating the impairment of the cellular metabolic function. The cytosolic calcium ion (Ca²⁺) level was also elevated by oxLDL, which could be from both intra- and extra-cellular sources. OxLDL also activated plasma membrane superoxide generation complex NADPH oxidase (NOX), and the progression of oxLDL-induced NOX activation was correlated with oxLDL-mediated ROS production, suggesting NOX is the major source of ROS. Further investigations using NOX inhibitors apocynin or diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) found that inhibition of NOX prevented oxLDL-induced cell viability loss, ROS production, GSH loss and aconitase activity decrease. The cytosolic Ca²⁺ elevation caused by oxLDL was also suppressed slightly by inhibiting NOX activity. These results clearly show that NOX is the major site of oxidative stress upon oxLDL activation, contributing to the oxLDL-induced cell death. This study also examined the protective effect of 7,8-dihydroneopterin (7,8-NP) on oxLDL-induced oxidative stress. 7,8-NP dramatically protected cells from oxLDL-induced cell viability loss, ROS generation and aconitase activity loss. 7,8-NP also inhibited oxLDL-induced cytosolic Ca²⁺ influx particularly after 3 hours. 7,8-NP did not inhibited mitochondrial aconitase activity decrease caused by oxLDL, nor inhibited mitochondrial ROS production. This indicates the protective effect of 7,8-NP against oxLDL damage could primarily in cytoplasm. The failure of 7,8-NP protection from oxLDL activating NOX suggests that the protection of 7,8-NP against oxLDL-induced oxidative stress was not due to the inhibition of NOX activation, but by radical scavenging activity of the NOX products.

Intracellular oxidative stress is induced by oxidised low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in macrophages. In the atherosclerotic lesions, this oxLDL dependent oxidative stress appears to cause macrophage cell death, a key process in the development of the necrotic core within the complex plaque. Macrophages are activated by γ-interferon to synthesise and release a potent antioxidant, 7,8-dihydroneopterin (7,8-NP), which has been previously shown to protect human monocyte-like U937 cells and human monocyte-derived macrophage (HMDM) cells from oxLDL cytotoxicity. This study examined whether oxLDL causes the loss of cellular metabolic function and whether 7,8-dihydroneopterin can prevent this loss of metabolic activity in U937 cells and HMDM cells. OxLDL prepared by copper oxidation caused cell death in both U937 and HMDM cells at concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0 mg/ml, respectively. Cell morphology showed the oxLDL caused a necrotic like death in both cells as indicated by cell swelling and lysis. The decrease in cell viability was only observed after the loss of intracellular glutathione (GSH) which occurred in the first 3 hours in U937 cells following oxLDL addition. The loss of GSH appeared to be due to the production of intracellular oxidants generated in response to the presence of the oxLDL. Within 3 hours of oxLDL addition to both cell types, there was a rapid and progressive shutdown of cell metabolism indicated by a significant decrease in the enzymatic activity of the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and a fall in lactate production and intracellular ATP levels. GAPDH activity was found to be inactivated rather than being lost from the cell. Gel electrophoresis with specific staining for oxidised proteins showed that the GAPDH had been oxidatively inactivated in the cells when oxLDL was present. Unlike GAPDH, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was not inactivated by the oxidation but was lost from the cells due to cell lysis. The observed rate of glycolysis failure was similar in both cell types except the HMDM cells did not lose lactate, LDH activity and cell viability until 6 hours compared to 3 hours with the U937 cells. The rate of oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured in U937 cells by taking cells at set time points and placing them in the respirometers to measure the VO2. U937 cells were found to increase their VO2 with incubation but this increase was inhibited in the presence of oxLDL within 3 hours. The addition of the 7,8 dihydroneopterin above 100 μM to both the U937 and HMDM cells significantly inhibited the oxLDL-induced loss of cell viability. GAPDH activity loss was also inhibited while lactate production was maintained. The 7,8-dihydroneopterin also prevented the decrease in the VO2 in oxLDL-treated U937 cells. OxLDL was labelled with fluorescent DiI to measure the uptake of oxLDL by HMDM cells. The incorporation of DiI into oxLDL was found to make it non-cytotoxic, possibly due to DiI’s antioxidant properties. Studies were therefore conducted using either a mixture of oxLDL and DiI labelled oxLDL (DiI-oxLDL) at non-protective concentrations or low concentration of DiI-oxLDL alone. These studies showed that 7,8-dihydroneopterin downregulated the oxLDL uptake in oxLDL-treated HMDM cells. Surprisingly the uptake rates also suggested that there was no relationship between oxLDL uptake and cell death assuming oxLDL and DiI-oxLDL are taken up by the same mechanism. This research showed that oxLDL-induced oxidative stress in macrophage cells causes a rapid oxidative loss of GAPDH activity which leads to the loss of glycolytic activity and a fall in ATP levels. The failure of cell metabolism appears to be a key event in the death mechanism triggered by the oxLDL. The radical scavenging activity of 7,8-dihydroneopterin appears to prevent the oxidative stress as indicated by the protection of the GSH pool. Without the oxidative stress, GAPDH remains functioning, glycolytic activity is maintained and both the U937 cells and HMDM cells did not die. This suggests that within the atherosclerotic plaque, 7,8-dihydroneopterin may act to stabilise the metabolism of macrophage cells in the presence of oxLDL and downregulate the oxLDL uptake.

Introdução: Macrófagos de fenótipo M1 (ativação clássica) e M2 (ativação alternativa) estão relacionados com diversos processos patológicos como o câncer, a aterosclerose e doenças neurodegenerativas. No microambiente tumoral, os macrófagos associados ao tumor (TAM) têm atuação controversa na progressão da doença. Um modelo in vitro pode servir para avaliar a influência dessa alteração fenotípica em diversas patologias. A linhagem celular monocítica humana U937, sob estímulo de PMA (do inglês, Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), se diferencia em macrófagos típicos. Estes adquirem fenótipos M1 e M2 quando estimulados, respectivamente, por LPS/IFN- e IL-4. Objetivo: Estabelecer um modelo in vitro para o estudo do papel dos macrófagos e seu envolvimento na progressão de doenças, bem como, sua caracterização fenotípica nesses eventos. Para tal, utilizamos: a) meta-análise de dois conjuntos de dados de micro-arranjos para avaliar os genes relacionados e b) análise de marcadores de diferenciação celular, taxa de adesão, alterações morfológicas e níveis de espécies reativas. Métodos: Cultura Celular: Linhagem celular humana U937, cultivada com meio de cultura RPMI 1640 e tratada com 10nM de PMA, por 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas. Quantificação de Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio: Células U937 diferenciadas e indiferenciadas incubadas com a sonda DCF para avaliar a formação de espécies reativas, medida fluorescência por 1h. Ensaio de MTT e Adesão Celular: Células U937 diferenciadas e indiferenciadas foram incubadas com solução de MTT por 1h, para análise da viabilidade celular, foi medida absorbância em 560nm e índice de adesão por método de SRB. Produção de óxido Nítrico: Quantificado pelo método de Griess, a 540nm. Análise Morfológica por meio de Imagens das Células: Imagens obtidas após tempos de tratamento com PMA em 0, 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas. Bioinformática: a) obtidos dois conjuntos de dados de micro-arranjos do Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) - GSE5099 e GSE15038; b) criamos redes de genes para o fenótipo M1 e M2, com ferramenta on-line STRING e software MEDUSA; c) rede de genes e informações dos micro-arranjos foram combinados e plotados em gráficos de acordo com a sua topologia, com software ViaComplex. Resultados: As imagens mostraram alteração morfológica característica da célula monocítica U937 (célula proliferativa) para macrófago (célula aderida na placa), quando tratadas com PMA. Quanto aos níveis de espécies reativas formadas e a taxa de aderência medida, foi maior nas células tratadas, no decorrer do tempo de tratamento. A taxa de proliferação da célula controle U937 aumentou com o tempo, enquanto que, observamos uma diminuição na proliferação das células tratadas com PMA. A análise bioinformática mostrou um aumento na expressão, tratadas x controle, de genes do fenótipo M1 e M2, nas células U937 diferenciadas por PMA e polarizadas com LPS/IFN gama e IL-4, respectivamente. O fenótipo M1 mostrou aumento na formação de ER e de NO quando tratado com LPS + IFN-gamacombinados. Houve uma diminuição de NO no fenótipo M2 quando ativadas por IL-4. Conclusão: Nosso trabalho descreve um método válido de diferenciação macrofágica da linhagem humana U937 e a possibilidade de sua polarização ao fenótipo M1 e M2 quando estimulada com PMA e posteriormente com LPS/IFN gama e IL-4, respectivamente. A compreensão das relações entre as alterações fenotípicas dos macrófagos e do microambiente gerado é importante para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas para combater/atenuar a agressividade das patologias. / Introduction: In vitro model of macrophages (MF) can be used to evaluate the influence of these cells in human pathologies. Objective: To establish an in vitro model to study macrophages and it’s evaluating M1/M2 polarization. Methods: The human U937 cell line was grown in medium RPMI 1640 and differentiated into functional macrophages by 10 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treatment, with M1 or M2 phenotypes with LPS/IFNg and IL-4, respectively. Reactive Oxigen Species (ROS) (time course of DCF oxidation), nitric oxide (NO) (Griess method), cell proliferation (MTT assay) and adherence (SRB method), and change in cellular morphology were determined. Moreover, two microarray data sets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) (GSE5099 and GSE15038) were used to analyze differential M1/M2 gene expression with the online bioinformatics tools STRING, MEDUSA and Via Complex. Results: Time course experiments (0, 24, 48 and 72h) showed decreased cell proliferation with increase in morphological changes, cell adherence and ROS generation in PMA-treated U937 cells compatible with the acquisition of a macrophage-like phenotype. Bioinformatics approach showed increased expression in M1/M2 genes by PMA-treatment. 24h of LPS/IFNg- treatment induced increased NO, ROS, and the expression of M1 genes (classical activation MF), while 24h IL-4-treatment induced the expression of M2genes (alternative activation MF). Conclusion: This simple human macrophage-like differentiation and M1/M2 activation protocol could be used in vitro to establish the role of these cells in human pathologies.

Phylloquinone is a natural analog of vitamin K that has been shown to both inhibit cancer cell growth and induce apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. This study examined these effects in a non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell line, known as U937. Cell growth inhibition and apoptosis were assessed through the quantification of cell density and area, following treatment with several concentrations of phylloquinone. In addition, apoptosis was detected and quantified using immunofluorescent markers of apoptosis (i.e. annexin V, APO-BrdU). Treatment with phylloquinone resulted in reduced overall cell density, increased overall cell area, and an increased frequency of apoptosis in U937 cells. Increasing both phylloquinone concentration and treatment time enhanced these effects. These results are significant because they document the anti-cancer effects of this analog of vitamin K, as well as provide insight into the morphological changes that occur during apoptosis in U937 cells.

Introdução: Macrófagos de fenótipo M1 (ativação clássica) e M2 (ativação alternativa) estão relacionados com diversos processos patológicos como o câncer, a aterosclerose e doenças neurodegenerativas. No microambiente tumoral, os macrófagos associados ao tumor (TAM) têm atuação controversa na progressão da doença. Um modelo in vitro pode servir para avaliar a influência dessa alteração fenotípica em diversas patologias. A linhagem celular monocítica humana U937, sob estímulo de PMA (do inglês, Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), se diferencia em macrófagos típicos. Estes adquirem fenótipos M1 e M2 quando estimulados, respectivamente, por LPS/IFN- e IL-4. Objetivo: Estabelecer um modelo in vitro para o estudo do papel dos macrófagos e seu envolvimento na progressão de doenças, bem como, sua caracterização fenotípica nesses eventos. Para tal, utilizamos: a) meta-análise de dois conjuntos de dados de micro-arranjos para avaliar os genes relacionados e b) análise de marcadores de diferenciação celular, taxa de adesão, alterações morfológicas e níveis de espécies reativas. Métodos: Cultura Celular: Linhagem celular humana U937, cultivada com meio de cultura RPMI 1640 e tratada com 10nM de PMA, por 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas. Quantificação de Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio: Células U937 diferenciadas e indiferenciadas incubadas com a sonda DCF para avaliar a formação de espécies reativas, medida fluorescência por 1h. Ensaio de MTT e Adesão Celular: Células U937 diferenciadas e indiferenciadas foram incubadas com solução de MTT por 1h, para análise da viabilidade celular, foi medida absorbância em 560nm e índice de adesão por método de SRB. Produção de óxido Nítrico: Quantificado pelo método de Griess, a 540nm. Análise Morfológica por meio de Imagens das Células: Imagens obtidas após tempos de tratamento com PMA em 0, 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas. Bioinformática: a) obtidos dois conjuntos de dados de micro-arranjos do Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) - GSE5099 e GSE15038; b) criamos redes de genes para o fenótipo M1 e M2, com ferramenta on-line STRING e software MEDUSA; c) rede de genes e informações dos micro-arranjos foram combinados e plotados em gráficos de acordo com a sua topologia, com software ViaComplex. Resultados: As imagens mostraram alteração morfológica característica da célula monocítica U937 (célula proliferativa) para macrófago (célula aderida na placa), quando tratadas com PMA. Quanto aos níveis de espécies reativas formadas e a taxa de aderência medida, foi maior nas células tratadas, no decorrer do tempo de tratamento. A taxa de proliferação da célula controle U937 aumentou com o tempo, enquanto que, observamos uma diminuição na proliferação das células tratadas com PMA. A análise bioinformática mostrou um aumento na expressão, tratadas x controle, de genes do fenótipo M1 e M2, nas células U937 diferenciadas por PMA e polarizadas com LPS/IFN gama e IL-4, respectivamente. O fenótipo M1 mostrou aumento na formação de ER e de NO quando tratado com LPS + IFN-gamacombinados. Houve uma diminuição de NO no fenótipo M2 quando ativadas por IL-4. Conclusão: Nosso trabalho descreve um método válido de diferenciação macrofágica da linhagem humana U937 e a possibilidade de sua polarização ao fenótipo M1 e M2 quando estimulada com PMA e posteriormente com LPS/IFN gama e IL-4, respectivamente. A compreensão das relações entre as alterações fenotípicas dos macrófagos e do microambiente gerado é importante para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas para combater/atenuar a agressividade das patologias. / Introduction: In vitro model of macrophages (MF) can be used to evaluate the influence of these cells in human pathologies. Objective: To establish an in vitro model to study macrophages and it’s evaluating M1/M2 polarization. Methods: The human U937 cell line was grown in medium RPMI 1640 and differentiated into functional macrophages by 10 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treatment, with M1 or M2 phenotypes with LPS/IFNg and IL-4, respectively. Reactive Oxigen Species (ROS) (time course of DCF oxidation), nitric oxide (NO) (Griess method), cell proliferation (MTT assay) and adherence (SRB method), and change in cellular morphology were determined. Moreover, two microarray data sets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) (GSE5099 and GSE15038) were used to analyze differential M1/M2 gene expression with the online bioinformatics tools STRING, MEDUSA and Via Complex. Results: Time course experiments (0, 24, 48 and 72h) showed decreased cell proliferation with increase in morphological changes, cell adherence and ROS generation in PMA-treated U937 cells compatible with the acquisition of a macrophage-like phenotype. Bioinformatics approach showed increased expression in M1/M2 genes by PMA-treatment. 24h of LPS/IFNg- treatment induced increased NO, ROS, and the expression of M1 genes (classical activation MF), while 24h IL-4-treatment induced the expression of M2genes (alternative activation MF). Conclusion: This simple human macrophage-like differentiation and M1/M2 activation protocol could be used in vitro to establish the role of these cells in human pathologies.

Introdução: Macrófagos de fenótipo M1 (ativação clássica) e M2 (ativação alternativa) estão relacionados com diversos processos patológicos como o câncer, a aterosclerose e doenças neurodegenerativas. No microambiente tumoral, os macrófagos associados ao tumor (TAM) têm atuação controversa na progressão da doença. Um modelo in vitro pode servir para avaliar a influência dessa alteração fenotípica em diversas patologias. A linhagem celular monocítica humana U937, sob estímulo de PMA (do inglês, Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), se diferencia em macrófagos típicos. Estes adquirem fenótipos M1 e M2 quando estimulados, respectivamente, por LPS/IFN- e IL-4. Objetivo: Estabelecer um modelo in vitro para o estudo do papel dos macrófagos e seu envolvimento na progressão de doenças, bem como, sua caracterização fenotípica nesses eventos. Para tal, utilizamos: a) meta-análise de dois conjuntos de dados de micro-arranjos para avaliar os genes relacionados e b) análise de marcadores de diferenciação celular, taxa de adesão, alterações morfológicas e níveis de espécies reativas. Métodos: Cultura Celular: Linhagem celular humana U937, cultivada com meio de cultura RPMI 1640 e tratada com 10nM de PMA, por 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas. Quantificação de Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio: Células U937 diferenciadas e indiferenciadas incubadas com a sonda DCF para avaliar a formação de espécies reativas, medida fluorescência por 1h. Ensaio de MTT e Adesão Celular: Células U937 diferenciadas e indiferenciadas foram incubadas com solução de MTT por 1h, para análise da viabilidade celular, foi medida absorbância em 560nm e índice de adesão por método de SRB. Produção de óxido Nítrico: Quantificado pelo método de Griess, a 540nm. Análise Morfológica por meio de Imagens das Células: Imagens obtidas após tempos de tratamento com PMA em 0, 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas. Bioinformática: a) obtidos dois conjuntos de dados de micro-arranjos do Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) - GSE5099 e GSE15038; b) criamos redes de genes para o fenótipo M1 e M2, com ferramenta on-line STRING e software MEDUSA; c) rede de genes e informações dos micro-arranjos foram combinados e plotados em gráficos de acordo com a sua topologia, com software ViaComplex. Resultados: As imagens mostraram alteração morfológica característica da célula monocítica U937 (célula proliferativa) para macrófago (célula aderida na placa), quando tratadas com PMA. Quanto aos níveis de espécies reativas formadas e a taxa de aderência medida, foi maior nas células tratadas, no decorrer do tempo de tratamento. A taxa de proliferação da célula controle U937 aumentou com o tempo, enquanto que, observamos uma diminuição na proliferação das células tratadas com PMA. A análise bioinformática mostrou um aumento na expressão, tratadas x controle, de genes do fenótipo M1 e M2, nas células U937 diferenciadas por PMA e polarizadas com LPS/IFN gama e IL-4, respectivamente. O fenótipo M1 mostrou aumento na formação de ER e de NO quando tratado com LPS + IFN-gamacombinados. Houve uma diminuição de NO no fenótipo M2 quando ativadas por IL-4. Conclusão: Nosso trabalho descreve um método válido de diferenciação macrofágica da linhagem humana U937 e a possibilidade de sua polarização ao fenótipo M1 e M2 quando estimulada com PMA e posteriormente com LPS/IFN gama e IL-4, respectivamente. A compreensão das relações entre as alterações fenotípicas dos macrófagos e do microambiente gerado é importante para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas para combater/atenuar a agressividade das patologias. / Introduction: In vitro model of macrophages (MF) can be used to evaluate the influence of these cells in human pathologies. Objective: To establish an in vitro model to study macrophages and it’s evaluating M1/M2 polarization. Methods: The human U937 cell line was grown in medium RPMI 1640 and differentiated into functional macrophages by 10 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treatment, with M1 or M2 phenotypes with LPS/IFNg and IL-4, respectively. Reactive Oxigen Species (ROS) (time course of DCF oxidation), nitric oxide (NO) (Griess method), cell proliferation (MTT assay) and adherence (SRB method), and change in cellular morphology were determined. Moreover, two microarray data sets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) (GSE5099 and GSE15038) were used to analyze differential M1/M2 gene expression with the online bioinformatics tools STRING, MEDUSA and Via Complex. Results: Time course experiments (0, 24, 48 and 72h) showed decreased cell proliferation with increase in morphological changes, cell adherence and ROS generation in PMA-treated U937 cells compatible with the acquisition of a macrophage-like phenotype. Bioinformatics approach showed increased expression in M1/M2 genes by PMA-treatment. 24h of LPS/IFNg- treatment induced increased NO, ROS, and the expression of M1 genes (classical activation MF), while 24h IL-4-treatment induced the expression of M2genes (alternative activation MF). Conclusion: This simple human macrophage-like differentiation and M1/M2 activation protocol could be used in vitro to establish the role of these cells in human pathologies.

CD26/DPPIV is a dipeptidyl peptidase that cleaves and destroys a variety of substrates such as the chemokine SDF-1α, a chemokine expressed along bone marrow endothelium, which is essential for the recruitment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) via binding with its receptor CXCR4 to the bone marrow. Thus, CD26 is thought to interfere with the second step, chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions, of the cellular migration paradigm. To further study the role of CD26 in the migration of HSCs, we screened several human leukemic cell lines to find a model cell line that expresses active CD26 and discovered that the pro-monocytic cell line, U937 was optimal for this purpose. U937 cells were used to optimize a variety of assays including an CD26 activity assay and transwell migration assay with and without the use of a CD26 inhibitor, Diprotin A. Then, we isolated short-term and long-term HSCs from the bone marrow of C57BL/6N mice using a combination of surface markers and a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The expression levels of Step 2’s homing molecules were measured by FACS in both fractions of HSCs. Interestingly, we detected differences in the expression of CD26 between these two populations that may help explain the inability of long-term HSCs to migrate to the bone marrow. Thus, through the use of a CD26 inhibitor the long-term HSCS migration to the bone marrow could be enhanced, leading to a prolonged and efficient stem cell engraftment activity. Such studies are could help develop protocols to improve stem cell engraftment for patients suffering from hematological diseases such as leukemia.

No description available.

Fibroblasts play a sentinel role in asthmatic disease. They are the main constituents of connective tissue and are increased in number in the asthmatic lung. They are also capable of secreting a diverse repertoire of cytokines and are able to be activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell-cell contact. Previously we have reported that normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) can be activated by monocytes (U937) through cell-cell contact to produce GM-CSF. Here we show that GM-CSF production from NHLF activated by monocyte contact is inhibited by prednisone, a synthetic glucocorticoid used in the treatment of asthma. GM-CSF is an acidic glycoprotein that potentiates development of cells in the granulocyte and macrophage lineage and is secreted at sites of peripheral inflammation. The receptor for GM-CSF was found on NHLF by flow cytometry and was able to be up-regulated by interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and recombinant human (rh) GM-CSF. To test autocrine effects of GM-CSF on fibroblasts, rh GM-CSF was used in proliferation studies and was found to decrease fibroblast proliferation. Prednisone was used to block NF-kappaB activation and GM-CSF gene expression as well. These data indicate mechanism of action and treatment for cell-cell contact mediated inflammation of infiltrating monocytes with fibroblasts as seen in asthma and other diseases like graft versus host disease.