Modulation of colony stimulating factor-(CSF) dependent growth of acute myeloid leukemia by tumor necrosis factor

In this study we demonstrate that tumor necrosis factors (TNF alpha and TNF beta) are potent modulators of the in vitro proliferation of human AML cells. Blast cells from 11 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) were incubated with recombinant TNF alpha or TNF beta in serum-free 3H-TdR uptake and colony culture systems in the presence or absence of recombinant interleukin-3 (IL-3), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), G-CSF, or M-CSF. Depending on the supplemented CSF, TNF could upregulate or suppress AML blast proliferation. Enhancement of AML growth by TNF was observed in the presence of IL-3 (in 9 of 11 cases in 3H-TdR assay; 6 of 9 cases in colony assay) and GM-CSF (in 8 of 11 cases in 3H-TdR assay; 4 of 9 cases in colony assay). In certain cases in which IL-3 or GM-CSF alone was unable to induce proliferative responses of AML cells, the simultaneous addition of TNF elicited colony growth and DNA synthesis suggesting a synergistic action between TNF and IL-3 or GM-CSF. In contrast, TNF suppressed G-CSF-induced growth (9 of 10 cases in 3H-TdR assay; 5 of 6 cases in colony assay). TNF could also stimulate DNA synthesis (in 2 of 11 cases) or colony formation (in 2 of 9 cases) in AML cultures without the addition of other growth factors. Experiments with neutralizing antibodies and specific radioimmunoassays for individual CSFs showed that the synergistic and antagonistic effects of TNF on AML growth could not be attributed to a release of one of these CSFs by the AML cells. The opposing consequence of exposure of AML blasts to TNF are of interest in view of our understanding of the pathophysiology of AML growth and the in vivo application of recombinant cytokines in AML patients.