Biochemical analysis of the activation of adherent neutrophils in vitro

The role played by neutrophil oxidative responses in host defense and injury is an area of active investigation. In order to study neutrophil responses in vitro, methods are required for cell purification, enumeration, and quantification of activation responses, which mimic the in vivo situation as closely as possible. In this communication (and its companion paper, Albertine et al., 1988) improved methods for all of these tasks are described and applied to investigate neutrophil structure-function relationships in vitro and in vivo. Human neutrophils were purified by using a series of platelet-poor plasma-Percoll gradients (51, 62, 76 and 80% in Percoll). This modification of previously published procedures results in consistently successful neutrophil purification and has allowed us to purify neutrophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as blood. Activation of human and sheep neutrophils (superoxide anion production) was quantitated by the reduction of ferricytochrome c using a microtiter plate reader to measure the increase in absorbance at 550 nm from adherent neutrophils. Adherence of neutrophils was quantitated by measurement of LDH in cells lysed with Triton X-100 using a new method which uses readily available commercial reagents and can quantitate the LDH content of as few as 5000 neutrophils (or the LDH released from 5% of 100,000 neutrophils). Assay conditions for superoxide anion were optimized, limitations both in assay design and instruments used to measure OD were explored and enumerated, and these methods were used to quantitate sheep and human neutrophil activation responses. Using methods described in Albertine et al. (1988) for fixing neutrophils in microtiter wells after assay of their functional capacity, we have studied the same cells functionally and morphologically. We have used these techniques to study blood and alveolar neutrophils from a patient with acute respiratory failure. His alveolar neutrophils displayed 67% of the activation response as peripheral neutrophils (4.31 +/- 0.12 nmol superoxide released per 250,000 neutrophils at 60 min vs. 6.38 +/- 0.18 in blood, P less than 0.01) and structural changes which suggested previous activation in vivo. These studies demonstrate that similar morphological changes are observed in neutrophils activated with phorbol myristate acetate in vitro, as are observed in cells which have been activated by pathophysiologic processes in vivo.     

Zymosan-activated plasma causes prolonged decreases in PMN superoxide release in sheep

It is well established that activation of neutrophils within the pulmonary circulation produces acute lung injury in which adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells is an obligatory step in the mechanism of injury. The effects of in vivo activation of neutrophils on the in vitro responses of these cells to stimulation have not been determined, although such information may be important in understanding how different etiological factors may interact to produce infection or acute respiratory failure. By using an assay to sequentially measure superoxide anion (O2-) release from adherent neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), we measured the in vitro activation response of peripheral blood neutrophils isolated before and 24 h after infusion of zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP; or untreated plasma as a control), air bubbles, or PMA in awake, instrumented sheep. Each of the three inflammatory agents produced an increase in lung microvascular permeability characteristic of acute lung injury; control plasma did not. For the in vivo ZAP experiments, stimulated O2- release in vitro by using PMA was approximately 50% lower (P less than 0.05) for neutrophils isolated 24 h after the in vivo infusion (4.3 +/- 0.8 nmol/500,000 cells) than before (8.1 +/- 0.2 nmol/500,000 cells). For the air emboli or PMA in vivo experiments, there were no changes in neutrophil activation responses in vitro. Similarly, infusion of control plasma did not result in reduced neutrophil O2- release. These results show that alterations in the inflammatory potential of neutrophils may occur in vivo and that such alterations appear to be dependent on the mechanism and agent by which lung injury is produced.     

Delineation of the catalytic components of the NADPH-dependent O2- generating oxidoreductase of human neutrophils

Four catalytic components of the NADPH-dependent O2- generating oxidoreductase of human neutrophils have been identified. DCIP reductase, cytochrome c reductase and a chromophore 450-455 reductase are present in phorbol myristate acetate stimulated neutrophils and absent in resting cells and phorbol myristate acetate stimulated chronic granulomatous disease cells. Quinol dehydrogenase activity has also been demonstrated in activated and resting cells. Furthermore, a chromophore absorbing in the reduced state at 450-455 nm participates in superoxide production. This chromophore is reduced by NADPH or duroquinol and is missing in cell lysates derived from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease.     

Characteristics of the production of active oxygen species from adherent and non-adherent neutrophils

Our objective was to evaluate the characteristics of the production of AOS from the neutrophils that had adhered to the endothelial cells, fibronectin or polystyrene, using the method of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping. Neutrophils and endothelial cells were isolated from human venous blood and umbilical veins, respectively. AOS production from neutrophils was not elicited only by adhesion. The stimulation of adherent neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced the production of AOS. The production of AOS from adherent neutrophils to endothelial cells, but not to fibronectin or polystyrene, decreased with the interval time between the adhesion and the stimulation by PMA. The amount of AOS produced by the neutrophils adherent to fibronectin or polystyrene was maintained for one hour after stimulation with PMA, whereas that by suspended neutrophils gradually decreased with the time after stimulation. Results indicate that adherent and non-adherent neutrophils exhibit differing time course of AOS production.     

Protein kinase C phosphorylates a component of NADPH oxidase of neutrophils

A protein of 31.5 kDa belonging to the NADPH oxidase of neutrophils was phosphorylated following stimulation of the cells with phorbol myristate acetate. The same protein was phosphorylated in vitro in the presence ofcytosol and of Ca²⁺ and phosphatidylserine. The phosphorylation in vitro of the 31.5 kDa protein was increased by phorbol myristate acetate and was inhibited by trifluoperazine. The data are compatible with an involvement of protein kinase C in the activation of NADPH oxidase.

NADPH oxidase Cytochrome b₋₂₄₅ Phosphorylation Protein kinase Neutrophil activation Respiratory burst     

Neutrophil activation by surface bound IgG is via a pertussis toxin insensitive G protein

Pre-treatment of neutrophils with either pertussis or cholera toxins does not inhibit neutrophil activation by surface bound IgG. In contrast, pretreatment with the phorbol ester, phorbol myristate acetate, results in a dose dependent inhibition of degranulation by surface bound IgG. This inhibition is similar to that seen with soluble ligands where it is thought to be due to interference with the interaction of an activated guanine nucleotide binding protein with phospholipase C (J. Biol. Chem.,262,6121,1987). More directly, GTP binding and GTPase activity are enhanced when human neutrophil membranes are incubated in wells containing surface bound IgG. Neither of these G protein functions were inhibited when membranes were prepared in the presence of pertussis toxin, suggesting that neutrophil activation by surface bound IgG proceeds by a mechanism that involves a pertussis toxin insensitive G protein.     

Labelling of lipids and phospholipids with [3H]arachidonic acid and the biosynthesis of eicosanoids in U937 cells differentiated by phorbol ester

Phorbol esters induce morphologic and biochemical differentiation in U937 cells, a monocyte/macrophage-like line derived from a human histiocytic lymphoma. We are interested in the phorbol ester-stimulated release of arachidonic acid from cellular membranes and the subsequent synthesis of eicosanoids, as it may prove to correlate with the induced cellular differentiation. Undifferentiated log-phase U937 cells released little recently incorporated [3H]arachidonic acid, but phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate increased its apparent rate of release to that of cells differentiated by exposure to phorbol myristate acetate for 3 days. Exposure of washed differentiated cells immediately prelabelled with [3H]arachidonic acid to additional phorbol myristate acetate did not augment the release of [3H]arachidonic acid. The basal release of nonradioactive fatty acids from differentiated cells was 5-10 times that of undifferentiated cells, and phorbol myristate acetate increased their release from both types of cell 2- to 3-fold. Differentiated cells immediately prelabelled with [3H]arachidonic acid exhibited greater incorporation into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine, and contained more radioactive free arachidonic acid, compared with undifferentiated cells. Undifferentiated cells contained more radioactivity in phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and neutral lipids. Phorbol myristate acetate caused differentiated cells to release [3H]arachidonic acid from phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, but release from neutral lipids was reduced, and the content of [3H]arachidonic acid increased. In undifferentiated cells incubated with phorbol myristate acetate, radioactivity associated with phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and neutral lipid was reduced and [3H]arachidonic acid was unchanged. Synthesis of cyclooxygenase products exceeded that of lipoxygenase products in both differentiated and undifferentiated cells. Phorbol myristate acetate increased the synthesis of both types of product, cyclooxygenase-dependent more than lipoxygenase-dependent, especially in differentiated cells. The biological significance of these changes in lipid metabolism that accompany phorbol myristate acetate-induced differentiation are yet to be established.     

Suppressive effect of rebamipide, an antiulcer agent, against activation of human neutrophils exposed to formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine

Rebamipide, an antiulcer agent, has been shown to be able to prevent gastric mucosal injury resulting in part from activation of neutrophils. The mechanism of its suppressive action, however, remains to be established. The present study aimed to determine the effect of rebamipide on activation of isolated human neutrophils and to identify the signal transduction pathway involved in its regulation. In unstimulated cells, alkaline phosphatase activity was found residing in short rod-shaped intracellular granules. Upon stimulation with a chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, the granules fused to form elongated tubular structures and spherical vacuoles. Rebamipide inhibited reorganization of alkaline phosphatase-containing granules along with upregulation of alkaline phosphatase activity and CD16, a marker of the granules. It also suppressed chemotaxis, an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration, and NADPH oxidase activation in cells stimulated with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. In contrast, the drug showed no inhibitory action toward upregulation of alkaline phosphatase activity and CD16, and activation of NADPH oxidase in cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate, an activator of protein kinase C. These findings demonstrate that rebamipide exerts a broad spectrum of suppressive actions toward biological functions of human neutrophils stimulated with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, but not with phorbol myristate acetate, and suggest that the upstream point of protein kinase C is the signal transduction pathway involved in its regulation.     

Heavy water (D2O)-induced shape changes, movements and F-actin redistribution in human neutrophil granulocytes

Heavy water (D2O) induces characteristic shape changes and a distinct type of movement in human neutrophil granulocytes. In contrast to front-tail polarity as evoked by chemotactic peptides and microtubule-disassembling agents, D2O-based media produce non-polar neutrophils with many small or long surface projections. This phenotype is similar to that elicited by both phorbol myristate acetate and diacylglycerols, but the surface projections are smaller and more densely placed and are often associated with a single large projection. D2O-induced non-polar cells with surface projections perform continuous shape changes without front-tail polarity and without the unidirectional movement and cytoplasmic streaming seen in cells with front-tail polarity. Some of the cells show circus movements of a large projection indicating circular polarity. In neutrophils suspended in D2O, F-actin is shifted to the cell periphery, mainly into the surface projections of activated cells. The D2O-induced effects are reversed in H2O-based medium. D2O is dominant over the chemotactic peptide, N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP), colchicine and taxol in that the combined action of D2O with any of these agents results in the D2O-induced phenotype. In contrast, cytochalasin B alone and in combination with fMLP induces a considerable decrease of non-polar cells and an increase of spherical cells similar to non-stimulated cells in H2O-based medium. Earlier studies indicated that D2O acts on microtubules. Our results suggest that D2O may act on the microfilament system. Neutrophils suspended in D2O-based medium may represent a useful model to study the relationship between shapes, movements, and particular functions of these cells.     

The human promyelocytic HL60 cell line: a model of myeloid cell differentiation using dimethylsulphoxide, phorbol ester and butyrate.

The release of the reactive oxygen species that accompanies the oxidative burst was studied in HL60 cells differentiated with either dimethylsulphoxide, butyrate or phorbol myristate acetate in order to establish the extent to which differentiated cells are phenotypically similar to human neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages. When phorbol myristate acetate was used as a stimulus, the rates of superoxide production by dimethylsulphoxide and butyrate differentiated HL60 cells was not significantly different from those observed in neutrophils and monocytes isolated from normal peripheral blood. Similar results were obtained when luminol-dependent chemiluminescence was measured in the presence of horseradish peroxidase using phorbol myristate acetate as the stimulus. However, in the absence of horseradish peroxidase, the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in the dimethylsulphoxide and butyrate-differentiated HL60 cells was significantly lower than that of the control cells isolated from human blood, reflecting the absence of myeloperoxidase in the differentiated cells. In contrast, HL60 cells differentiated by phorbol myristate acetate failed to show any increased generation of superoxide or luminol-dependent chemiluminescence upon stimulation. Impaired release of lysosomal enzymes by the chemically differentiated cells suggests impairments in the extent of differentiation resulting in cells with defective azurophilic degranulation processes. It is concluded that HL60 cells differentiated by the above agents are somewhat controversial models of promyelocyte differentiation into typical neutrophilic, monocytic and macrophage-like cells.     

Reversible activation of the neutrophil superoxide generating system by hexachlorocyclohexane: correlation with effects on a subcellular superoxide-generating fraction

gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane was found to exert profound effects on the phosphatidylinositol cycle, cytosolic calcium level, and the respiratory burst of human neutrophils. Exposure of neutrophils prelabelled with 32P to 4 X 10(-4) M gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane almost tripled radioactivity in phosphatidic acid and correspondingly decreased radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate. Under similar conditions, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane evoked the generation of superoxide at a rate of over 11 nmol/min/10(6) cells and more than doubled cytosolic-free calcium concentration as monitored by Quin-2 fluorescence. Because intermediates of the phosphatidylinositol cycle, via increases in available calcium levels or activated protein kinase C, are considered potential second messengers for activation of the NADPH-dependent O-2-generating system, we compared neutrophil responses to gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane with responses to phorbol myristate acetate, an activator of protein kinase C with well known effects on neutrophils. Like phorbol myristate acetate, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane induced neutrophil degranulation but was not an effective chemotactic stimulus. The ability of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane to induce a pattern of oxidative activation in neutrophil cytoplasts similar to that in intact cells indicated that concurrent degranulation was not required for sustained O-2 generation in response to this agent. When neutrophils or neutrophil cytoplasts exposed to gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane were centrifuged and resuspended in stimulus-free medium, O-2 generation ceased entirely but could be reinitiated by addition of the same stimulus. This finding was in contrast to the continued O-2 production by phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated neutrophils similarly washed and resuspended in stimulus-free medium. Unlike subcellular fractions of phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated neutrophils, corresponding fractions prepared from gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane-stimulated neutrophils contained almost no detectable NADPH-dependent O-2-generating activity. Subcellular oxidase activity was not recovered when cells and membrane fractions were continuously exposed to gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane during disruption and fractionation after cell stimulation, nor could it be induced by the addition of the stimulus to the subcellular fractions. Thus, the stimulus dependence of continuous neutrophil superoxide release evoked by gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane does not merely reflect a physical interaction of the agonist with the enzyme system involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effect of isorhapontigenin on respiratory burst of rat neutrophils

The effect of Isorhapontigenin (Iso) isolated from Belamcanda chinensis on respiratory burst of rat neutrophils was investigated. Iso (1, 10, 100 mmol/l) showed an inhibitory effect on superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) activated rat neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopy detected that Iso (100 mmol/l) protected against surface changes in rat neutrophils stimulated with PMA. Also, 100 mmol/l Iso inhibited the release of beta-glucuronidase from the activated neutrophils. Electron-spin resonance (ESR) detected that Iso scavenged oxygen free radicals generated in the PMA activated Neutrophils. These results suggest that Iso inhibits respiratory burst of PMA-activated rat neutrophils by scavenging oxygen free radicals.     

Effect of an inhibitor of protein kinase C on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte degranulation

The protein kinase C inhibitor C-I reduced superoxide production by human neutrophils in response to phorbol myristate acetate by greater than 50%. In contrast to its effects in oxidative metabolism, 100 microM C-I caused minimal inhibition (5-18%) of lysozyme release in response to phorbol myristate acetate. Enzyme release produced by the formylated oligopeptide FMLP was enhanced by 23-54% in neutrophils pretreated with 100 microM C-I. These findings suggest that protein kinase C activation is not required for phorbol myristate acetate induced enzyme release. Enhancement of FMLP stimulated degranulation by C-I suggests that protein kinase C activation may have inhibitory effects on the release of granule enzymes by human neutrophils.     

Changes in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid in stimulated human neutrophils. Relationship to calcium mobilization, aggregation and superoxide radical generation

Human neutrophils aggregate and release mediators of inflammation, such as active oxygen species and lysosomal enzymes, when exposed to the chemoattractant, fMet-Leu-Phe, or the tumor promotor, phorbol myristate acetate. In order to 'stage' events which may lead to such neutrophil responses, we determined the temporal relationship between stimulus-induced changes in the endogenous phospholipids phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid, the mobilization of calcium, and the onset of aggregation and generation of superoxide anion during the initial 2 min of cell activation. Within 5 s after addition of fMet-Leu-Phe (10(-7) M) neutrophils accumulated phosphatidic acid and the levels of PI decreased, as determined by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and phosphorus determinations. By 5 s, phosphatidic acid levels rose approximately 3.5-fold and at 15 s the loss of PI exceeded the quantity of phosphatidic acid generated. In response to phorbol myristate acetate (1 microgram/ml), however, changes in PI or phosphatidic acid were not observed until after 60 s. Accumulation of phosphatidic acid in fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated cells was not inhibited by chelation of extracellular calcium. Neutrophils exposed to either fMet-Leu-Phe or phorbol myristate acetate also showed rapid decrements in fluorescence of cell-associated chlorotetracycline (used as an indirect probe of mobilization of intracellular membrane-associated calcium) and took up 45Ca2+ from the extracellular medium (under 60 s). The results indicate that changes in calcium mobilization, together with the alterations in phospholipid metabolism (under 5 s) anteceded aggregation and the generation of O2-. (10-15 s) induced by fMet-Leu-Phe. In contrast, when neutrophils were exposed to phorbol myristate acetate, changes in PI and phosphatidic acid (over 60 s) were observed after the mobilization of calcium (under 5 s) and the onset of O2-. generation and aggregation (30-35 s).     

A simple approach for the analysis of intracellular movement of oxidant-producing intracellular compartments in living human neutrophils

In human neutrophils, superoxide is generated primarily within specialized oxidant-producing intracellular compartments. The present study employs a simple methodological approach to evaluate the intracellular movement of these structures in living human neutrophils. Using a CCD camera system, we monitored fluorescence in cells loaded with the succinimidyl ester of dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, which is nonfluorescent until oxidized by reactive oxygen species. Fluorescence-positive intracellular compartments became detectable after neutrophils were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate for 1 min. Further stimulation increased the intracellular compartments in both number and size in a time-dependent manner. Upon stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate, no fluorescence was seen in intracellular compartments of neutrophils isolated from patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease lacking gp91-phox, a membrane component of NADPH oxidase. The method enables tracking of the movement of a single oxidant-producing intracellular compartment following cell stimulation and visualization of the intracellular structures formed by fusion of oxidant-producing intracellular compartments with endocytotic vesicles and phagosomes. Therefore, it is considered to be an informative tool for evaluation of the intracellular dynamics of oxidant-producing intracellular compartments in living human neutrophils and may have a diagnostic value.     

Expression of surface antigen and mRNA for the CD11c (alpha X, p150) subunit of the human leukocyte adherence receptor family in hematopoietic cells

We characterized the surface antigen and mRNA expression for the CD11c (alpha X, p150) subunit of the human leukocyte adherence receptor family during hematopoietic cell differentiation. The CD11c subunit antigen and mRNA are constitutively expressed in undifferentiated HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, and levels increase markedly with differentiation along the monocyte/macrophage pathway using phorbol myristate acetate. Human monocyte-derived macrophages and human alveolar macrophages express elevated levels of the CD11c subunit antigen and mRNA, indicating that the changes observed in vitro are present in vivo. Dot blot analysis of immature and mature lymphoid and myeloid cells and cell lines demonstrate equivalent levels of CD11c mRNA expression. We conclude that CD11c gene expression is selectively increased during hematopoietic cell differentiation along the monocyte/macrophage pathway.     

NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidation and externalization of phosphatidylserine during apoptosis in Me2SO-differentiated HL-60 cells. Role in phagocytic clearance

Resolution of inflammation requires clearance of activated neutrophils by phagocytes in a manner that protects adjacent tissues from injury. Mechanisms governing apoptosis and clearance of activated neutrophils from inflamed areas are still poorly understood. We used dimethylsulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 cells showing inducible oxidase activity to study NADPH oxidase-induced apoptosis pathways typical of neutrophils. Activation of the NADPH oxidase by phorbol myristate acetate caused oxidative stress as shown by production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, depletion of intracellular glutathione, and peroxidation of all three major classes of membrane phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. In addition, phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of the NADPH oxidase caused apoptosis, as evidenced by apoptosis-specific phosphatidylserine externalization, increased caspase-3 activity, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Furthermore, phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of the NADPH oxidase caused recognition and ingestion of dimethylsulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 cells by J774A.1 macrophages. To reveal the apoptosis-related component of oxidative stress in the phorbol myristate acetate-induced response, we pretreated cells with a pancaspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD-fmk), and found that it caused partial inhibition of hydrogen peroxide formation as well as selective protection of only phosphatidylserine, whereas more abundant phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, were oxidized to the same extent in the absence or presence of z-VAD-fmk. In contrast, inhibitors of NADPH oxidase activity, diphenylene iodonium and staurosporine, as well as antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase/catalase, completely protected all phospholipids against peroxidation, inhibited expression of apoptotic biomarkers and externalization of phosphatidylserine, and reduced phagocytosis of differentiated HL-60 cells by J774A.1 macrophages. Similarly, zymosan-induced activation of the NADPH oxidase resulted in the production of superoxide and oxidation of different classes of phospholipids of which only phosphatidylserine was protected by z-VAD-fmk. Accordingly, zymosan caused apoptosis in differentiated HL-60 cells, as evidenced by caspase-3 activation and phosphatidylserine externalization. Finally, zymosan triggered caspase-3 activation and extensive SOD/catalase-inhibitable phosphatidylserine exposure in human neutrophils. Overall, our results indicate that NADPH oxidase-induced oxidative stress in neutrophil-like cells triggers apoptosis and subsequent recognition and removal of these cells through pathways dependent on oxidation and externalization of phosphatidylserine.     

Synthesis of eicosanoids by gamma-interferon-differentiated U937 cells

Interferons induce morphological, biochemical and functional alterations in monocyte macrophage and myeloid cell lines. We studied the effect of 3 days incubation with gamma-interferon from human buffy coats on the global synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites by U937 cells. Interferon-induced morphologic changes including cytoplasmic and nuclear changes and the appearance of multiple lysosomal-like granules consistent with cellular differentiation were observed by electron microscopy. The labeling of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine was increased and that of phosphatidylinositol, free fatty acids as 3H-arachidonic acid and neutral lipids reduced, when interferon-treated cells were incubated with 3H-arachidonic acid. Interferon caused qualitative and quantitative changes in the synthesis of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products. A23187, a calcium ionophore, and the tumor promotor, phorbol myristate acetate, greatly increased the synthesis by interferon-differentiated cells of 2 cyclooxygenase products; synthesis of lipoxygenase products was reduced. In the presence of indomethacin, 'shunting' into putative lipoxygenase products occurred. The relationship between interferon-induced morphologic and functional changes, the development of altered phospholipid and eicosanoid metabolism and the identity of these metabolites are yet to be established.     

Cytoplasmic lipid bodies of neutrophils: formation induced by cis- unsaturated fatty acids and mediated by protein kinase C

Lipid bodies, nonmembrane-bound cytoplasmic inclusions, serve as repositories of esterified arachidonate and are increased in cells associated with inflammatory reactions. We have evaluated stimuli and mechanisms responsible for lipid body formation within human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Arachidonic acid and oleic acid stimulated dose-dependent formation of lipid bodies over 0.5-1 h. Other C20 and C18 fatty acids were less active and demonstrated rank orders as follows: cis-unsaturated fatty acids were much more active than trans-fatty acids, and activity diminished with decreasing numbers of double bonds. Lipid bodies elicited in vitro with cis-fatty acids were ultrastructurally identical to lipid bodies present in PMNs in vivo. Lipid body induction was not because of fatty acid-elicited oxidants or fatty acid-induced ATP depletion. Cis-fatty acid-induced activation of protein kinase C (PKC) was involved in lipid body formation as evidenced by the capacity of other PKC activators, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol and two active phorbol esters, phorbol myristate acetate, and phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate, but not an inactive phorbol, to induce lipid body formation. The PKC inhibitor, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-glycerol, inhibited PMN lipid body formation induced by oleic and arachidonic acids and by 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol and phorbol myristate acetate. Other PKC inhibitors (staurosporine, H-7) also inhibited lipid body formation. Formation of lipid bodies in PMNs is a specific cellular response, stimulated by cis-fatty acids and diglycerides and apparently mediated by PKC, which results in the mobilization and deposition of lipids within discrete, ultrastructurally defined cytoplasmic domains.     

Enhancement of the expression of a rat neutrophil-specific cell surface antigen by activation with phorbol myristate acetate and concanavalin A

A monoclonal antibody against rat neutrophils, RP-1, was produced by hybridizing a mouse myeloma (P3-X63-Ag8.653) with BALB/c mouse spleen cells sensitized with peritoneal neutrophils from Wistar-King-Aptakeman/Hok rats. RP-1 specifically reacted to neutrophils and bone marrow cells from rats of various strains. The expression of an antigen reactive to RP-1 on rat peritoneal neutrophils was enhanced by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and concanavalin A. The experimental result that the expression of an antigen reactive with another anti-neutrophil monoclonal antibody was not enhanced by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate indicates that the antibody-binding capacity of stimulated neutrophils was not nonspecifically enhanced. The enhancement of antigen expression was temperature dependent. A glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and an inhibitor of intracellular calcium mobilization, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)-octyl ester hydrochloride, which inhibited hydrogen peroxide release from stimulated neutrophils, did not inhibit enhancement of the expression of an antigen reactive with RP-1.