Adhesion of U-937 monocytes induces cytotoxic damage and subsequent proliferation of cultured human mesangial cells

In an in vitro model of monocyte adhesion to glomerular cells, U-937 myelomonocytic leukemia cells irreversibly bind to human mesangial cell monolayers. Adhesion is enhanced in mesangial cells proliferating in response to fetal bovine serum, and in the presence of several cytokines and vasoactive agents. In the present study, co-culture with U-937 followed by removal of non-adherent cells time-dependently decreased viability of mesangial cells, measured either by fluorometry after dual labeling with calcein acetoxymethylester and ethidium homodimer, or by the release of lactate dehydrogenase. The cytotoxic effects of co-culture with U-937 cells were significantly reduced by a combination of free radical scavengers, indicating involvement of reactive oxygen species. U-937 cells also stimulated subsequent proliferation of mesangial cells, assessed by [H-3]-TdR incorporation and direct cell counts 24 hours later (from 1,034 +/- 83 to 14,611 +/- 959 and from 2,931 +/- 201 to 19,400 +/- 2,124 cpm/well, quiescent/cycling mesangial cells, respectively, P < 0.01). Controls to rule out TdR incorporation by adherent U-937 cells included selective [H-3]-TdR labeling and demecolcine pretreatment. Cell counts at 24 hours confirmed U-937-induced proliferation of quiescent HMC, from 50,575 +/- 3,596 to 143,012 +/- 10,039 cells/cm(2) (P < 0.01). Agents that promote U-937 cell adhesion, such as the TxA(2) mimetic, U-46619, or angiotensin II, enhanced cytotoxicity while inhibiting the proliferation of both quiescent and cycling mesangial cells, when added during co-culture and the subsequent 24 hours (+1 mu M U-46619, 1,875 +/- 131 and 2,546 +/- 125 cpm/well, respectively, 79,793 +/- 5,744 cells/cm(2), P < 0.01 vs. U-937 only; +1 mu M Ang II, 5066 +/- 560 and 5,784 +/- 306 cpm/well, respectively, 81,068 +/- 4,671 cells/cm(2), P < 0.05). Blocking antibodies against the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 and leukocyte counterreceptors (LFA-1, VLA-4) prevented the proliferative response, which could not be duplicated with the conditioned media of U-937 alone or co-cultured with mesangial cells. These findings may reflect the interactions occurring in vivo between infiltrating leukocytes and resident cells during glomerular inflammation.