A sensitive chemiluminescence assay for pertussis toxin and for evaluation of cell-free pertussis toxoids

Abstract Pertussis toxin (PT) inhibited luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence induced in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils by N'-formyl- l -methionyl- l -leucyl- l -phenylalanine (fMLP) at doses as low as 0.8 ng·ml⁻¹, even in the presence of a 10-fold higher concentration of filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA). A cell-free extract of Bordetella pertusis , containing predominantly PT and FHA, suppressed the neutrophil response to fMLP. After toxoiding with carbodiimide, the inhibitory activity of the extract was abolished and an enhancement of neutrophil chemiluminescence was observed due to FHA activity. Abrogation of the chemiluminescent response of neutrophils to fMLP is proposed as a sensitive, in vitro assay for PT, and may be useful for monitoring the residual toxin activity in pertussis toxoids and for determining the anti-toxic effects of anti-PT antibodies.     

Localization of neutrophil adherence-inhibiting factor in guinea pig platelets

The effect of constituents of guinea pig platelets on neutrophil adherence was examined. The platelet sonicate supernatant contained adherence-inhibiting activity which strongly inhibited neutrophil adherence to glass. When the platelet sonicate supernatant was treated with neuraminidase or trypsin, the adherence-inhibiting activity was significantly inhibited, suggesting that the adherence-inhibiting factor (AIF) is a glycoprotein. The subcellular fractionation experiments indicated that the AIF activity was present at about 40% in both the cytosol and granule fractions. From the Sephadex G-200 gel filtration analysis, AIF of cytosol fraction and granule fraction proved to be different molecules, with molecular masses of about 230 and 12 kDa, respectively. When platelets were stimulated with thrombin, about 20% of total AIF was released extracellularly without the release of the cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. These results suggest the possibility that a biologically active substance, AIF, is released from platelets in response to stimuli and regulates neutrophil functions through interference with neutrophil adherence.     

Adenosine, a cytoprotective autocoid: effects of adenosine on neutrophil plasma membrane viscosity and chemoattractant receptor display

At inflammatory sites neutrophils are stimulated to produce a variety of toxic agents, yet rarely harm the endothelium across which they migrate. We have recently found that endothelium releases adenosine which, acting via receptors on the surface of human neutrophils, inhibits generation of toxic metabolites by stimulated neutrophils but, paradoxically, promotes chemotaxis. Agents which diminish plasma membrane viscosity affect neutrophil function similarly, possibly by modulating chemoattractant receptor number or affinity. We therefore determined whether adenosine receptor agonists modulate neutrophil function by decreasing membrane viscosity and/or chaning the affinity of chemoattractant (N-fMet-Leu-Phe, FMLP) receptors. Surprisingly, 5′-(N-ethylcar☐amido)adenosine (NECA, 10 μM), the most potent agonist at neutrophil adenosine receptors, increased plasma membrane viscosity, as measured by fluorescence anisotropy of the plasma membrane specific probe 1-(4-trimethylaminophenyl)-6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH), in unstimulated neutrophils from a mean microviscosity of 1.67 ± 0.02 (S.E.) to 1.80 ± 0.02 (p < 0.001) while inosine (10 μM), a poor adenosine receptor agonist, had no effect (1.73 ± 0.04, p =n.s. vs. control, p < 0.01 vs. NECA). Adenosine receptor agonists increased plasma membrane viscosity in neutrophils with the same order of potency previously seen for inhibition of superoxide anion generation and enhancement of chemotaxis (NECA > adenosine = N⁶-phenylisopropyladenosine). The adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline reversed the effect of NECA on plasma membrane viscosity. Unlike other agents which modulate plasma membrane viscosity, NECA (10 μM) did not significantly change the number or affinity of [³H]FMLP binding sites on neutrophils. In contrast to the hypothesis of Yuli et al. these results indicate that occupancy of adenosine receptors on neutrophils increases plasma membrane viscosity without affecting chemoattractant receptor display.     

Evidence that de novo protein synthesis participates in a time-dependent augmentation of the chemotactic peptide-induced respiratory burst in neutrophils: Effects of recombinant human colony stimulating factors and dihydrocytochalasin B

We examined the effects of the recombinant human colony stimulating factors GM-CSF and G-CSF, cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor) and dihydrocytochalasin B (a microfilament disrupting agent) upon FMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine)-stimulated O₂ ⁻ production by neutrophils. We confirmed a time dependent augmentation of O₂ ⁻ production following preincubation of neutrophils either alone or with colony stimulating factors. Furthermore, we found that GM-CSF, but not G-CSF, increased O₂ ⁻ production at some concentrations of the stimulus. Preincubation of neutrophils with cycloheximide in the absence of CSF caused a marked fall in O₂⁻-production that was first evident at 2 hours. The fall in O₂⁻-forming capacity caused by cycloheximide was much less pronounced if dihydrocytochalasin B was also included in the preincubation buffer. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized role for de novo protein synthesis in maintaining the ability of neutrophils to manufacture O₂⁻, and support earlier studies indicating that the cycling of FMLP receptors between the cell membrane and an intracellular compartment is important in determining the magnitude of the respiratory burst in FMLP-stimulated neutrophils.     

Activation of the respiratory burst of guinea pig neutrophils by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

DCCD activates the respiratory burst in guinea pig peritoneal neutrophils. The onset of the superoxide producing activity is preceeded by a lag, inversely proportional to the dose of the stimulant and to the temperature. Initial rates of superoxide formation exhibit different dependencies on the concentrations of DCCD and on temperature. Activation of NAD(P)H oxidase is inhibited by preincubation of neutrophils with 2-deoxyglucose and does not require the presence of extra cellular Ca2+.     

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor potentiates anti-Candida albicans growth inhibitory activity of polymorphonuclear cells

Abstract Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates a subset of granulocyte colony forming cells and when administered to neutropenic individuals results in recovery of blood neutrophil numbers to normal levels. Therefore, G-CSF may be a useful therapeutic agent for infections in immunocompromised hosts. However, to date there has been only limited information that G-CSF activates the antimicrobial activity of neutrophils. In the present study, we found that recombinant G-CSF promotes the anti- Candida albicans activity of normal human blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in vitro using both a ³H-glucose uptake procedure and a Candida colony counting assay. As little as 0.1 ng/ml G-CSF induced significant anti-Candida activity in the PMN cultures. G-CSF treatment also enhanced superoxide anion production by the PMNs in response to f-MLP as determined by the superoxide dismutase inhibitable cytochrome C reduction method. Such results show that G-CSF can promote the antimicrobial activity of peripheral blood PMNs against C. albicans .     

ICU呼吸机相关性肺炎患者病原菌分布及NLR、血清磷、PCT联合检测对死亡风险的预测价值探讨

摘要 目的：研究重症监护室（ICU）呼吸机相关性肺炎（VAP）患者病原菌分布及中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞计数比值（NLR）、血清磷、降钙素原（PCT）联合检测对死亡风险的预测价值。方法：选取上海市第一人民医院于2020年1月～2022年1月收治的60例VAP患者。采集所有患者呼吸道分泌物并进行细菌培养。此外,将其按照预后的不同分为死亡组21例以及存活组39例,比较两组NLR、血清磷及PCT水平。以单因素及多因素Logistic分析VAP患者死亡的危险因素,并通过受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析NLR、血清磷及PCT预测死亡的效能。结果：60例VAP患者呼吸道分泌物检出病原菌共82株,以革兰阴性菌占比最高,共检出革兰阴性菌75.61%、革兰阳性菌21.95%、真菌2.44%。按照占比从高到低的顺序分别为鲍氏不动杆菌20.73%,铜绿假单胞菌18.29%,肺炎克雷伯菌17.07%,金黄色葡萄球菌13.41%,大肠埃希菌12.20%,其他革兰阴性菌7.32%,表皮葡萄球菌4.88%,肠球菌属3.66%,真菌2.44%。死亡组NLR及PCT水平均高于存活组,而血清磷水平低于存活组（P＜0.05）。单因素分析结果显示：急性生理与慢性健康评分（APACHEⅡ）评分及有创机械通气时间均和VAP患者死亡有关（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示：APACHEⅡ评分较高、有创机械通气时间较长与NLR、PCT水平较高均是VAP患者死亡危险因素,血清磷水平较高是VAP患者死亡的保护因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示：NLR、血清磷及PCT联合预测VAP患者死亡的效能优于上述三项指标单独预测。结论：VAP患者主要病原菌为革兰阴性菌,临床应合理选用抗菌药物治疗,NLR、血清磷及PCT均和患者死亡有关,联合检测对死亡风险的预测价值较高。     

外周血NETs、TP53、STAT3表达与弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤临床病理及预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探究外周血中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网（NETs）、TP53、信号转导与转录因子3（STAT3）表达与弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL）临床病理及预后的关系。方法：选取2020年3月-2021年12月收治的71例DLBCL患者作为研究对象,抽取患者外周静脉血,采用R-CHOP方案进行治疗,记录患者外周血NETs、TP53、STAT3表达情况并分析DLBCL患者外周血NETs、TP53、STAT3表达与其临床病理及预后的关系。结果：髓细胞组织增生蛋白（MYC）阳性在TP53阳性中的占比显著高于TP53阴性,差异有统计学意义（x²=28.844,P＜0.001）;Hans分型生发中心B细胞（GCB）在STAT3阳性中的占比显著高于STAT3阴性（x²=4.331,P=0.037）,其余差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;随访截止至2022年6月,随访时长8~28个月,71例患者中共53例缓解DLBCL患者,其余18例为R/R DLBCL患者;NETs阳性、TP53阳性、STAT3阳性患者无进展生存期（PFS）显著低于NETs阴性、TP53阴性、STAT3阴性患者,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）且NETs阳性、TP53阳性、STAT3阳性患者存活率均低于NETs阴性、TP53阴性、STAT3阴性患者（P<0.05）;单因素分析结果显示Ann Arbor分期、NETs、TP53、STAT3为DLBCL患者的影响因素（P<0.05）;以患者预后情况（R/R DLBCL=1,缓解DLBCL=0）为因变量,将Ann Arbor分期、NETs、TP53、STAT3单因素分析有统计学意义的因素纳入COX回归模型中,结果显示：NETs、TP53、STAT3为DLBCL患者预后的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：TP53、STAT3表达与DLBCL临床病理存在一定相关性,临床应对DLBCL患者TP53、STAT3表达情况引起重视;NETs、TP53、STAT3表达为DLBCL预后的危险因素,可作为DLBCL患者不良预后的预测指标。