Tumor necrosis factor is the major monocyte product that increases complement receptor expression on mature human neutrophils

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and other monocyte products have several important effects on the systemic response to infection in addition to their roles in lymphocyte stimulation. The present studies were carried out to determine whether products of stimulated monocytes activated circulating neutrophils (PMN) to increase expression of receptors for C3b (CR1) and C3bi (CR3), which are necessary for optimal margination, migration, and phagocytosis. Supernatants of human mononuclear cells that had been stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or purified protein derivative (PPD) contained both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-1 and increased CR1 and CR3 expression on isolated PMNs. Supernatants of unstimulated cultures, media alone, or LPS or PPD alone had little or no effect. Supernatant effects were detectable at 1:3,000 final dilution and appeared to have a characteristic slow time course. These supernatants also caused dose- and time-dependent secretion of PMN granular constituents, but maximal receptor expression was accompanied by secretion of less than 10% of the cells' content of lysozyme and less than 16% of the B12 binding protein. Immunoadsorption studies showed that the supernatant's activity could be removed by anti- TNF but not by anti-IL-1. Recombinant IL-1 had no effect on receptor expression, but recombinant TNF increased CR1 and CR3 expression with kinetics similar to the supernatants. These results thus indicate that TNF is the major monocyte product that increases CR1 and CR3 expression on mature blood neutrophils. This would result in increased margination and phagocytic activity and may be an important systemic effect that would help the host eradicate infection.