A permeability test for the study of mitochondrial injury in in vitro cultured heart muscle and endothelioid cells.

A cytochemical permeability test for the detection of injury to in situ mitochondria of cultured heart cells is presented. The test is based on the increased rate at which injured mitochondria stain for succinate dehydrogenase activity. Whereas an intact inner mitochondrial membrane limits the rate at which Nitro Blue tetrazolium and phenazine methosulphate reach succinate dehydrogenase, injured mitochondria allow these reactants to reach the enzyme more rapidly to form microscopically-observable formazan granules. The extent of staining at fixed durations of incubation with the reactants was assessed on a blind basis with pseudo dark-field microscopy, using a standardized rating scale. Differences in the staining of control and treated cells were analysed statistically by a semi-quantitative method. Treatment of the cultures with either vitamin A or chlorpromazine, resulted in more rapid mitochondrial staining. Brief pre-fixation of the cells with cold acetone also labilized the mitochondria as did a delay in the change of culture medium.     

The lysosomal permability test modified for toxicity testing with cultured heart endothelioid cells

Synopsis A modified lysosomal fragility test is described which is suitable for use with cultured cells. The permeability (fragility) of the lysosomal membranes of the cells to the substrate -glycerophosphate is measured by assessing the degree of particulate lysosomal staining seen after exposing the cells to the Gomori acid phosphatase staining reaction under carefully controlled conditions. Monolayer cultures of endothelioid cells from the hearts of neonatal rats have been used in all experiments. The time-course of lysosomal staining for cells exposed to various treatments (normal saline, isotonic sucrose, 0.25 M sucrose, distilled water, acetate buffer pH 5.0, cold acetone, neutral formalin, acetic-ethanol, Triton X-100, hydrocortisone, chloroquine and vitamin A) was compared with that of control cells stained under identical conditions. Statistical differences in staining between the test and control cells were determined by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and also by regression analysis following a transformation designed to allow for the saturation character of the reaction. The success of the modified technique depends upon meticulous methodology. It is capable of demonstrating both lysosomal membrane labilization and stabilization, second- and third-stage lysosomal activation, and apparent lysosomal enzyme loss or destructionin situ. The technique also allows the degree of reversible or first-stage lysosomal activation to be subdivided on an almost continuous basis and is suitable for investigating the effects of drugs and other agents on the integrity of the lysosomein situ.     

Superoxide-dependent and superoxide-independent pathways for reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium in isolated rat cardiac myocytes.

Spectroscopic studies indicated that nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) could be reduced to blue formazan by several distinct reactions in suspensions of isolated rat cardiac myocytes. Both NADPH- and NADH-linked pathways for reduction of NBT were observed. NADPH-linked NBT reduction showed little activity in the absence of digitonin, but could be stimulated an average of 9.5-fold by digitonin permeabilization of the plasma membrane. NADH-linked NBT reduction occurred in the absence of digitonin, and could be increased an average of 3.5-fold by digitonin treatment. Analysis of the effects of cell viability on the extent of digitonin stimulation with these substrates suggested that the NADPH-linked reaction involved a cytosolic component, while the NADH-linked reaction involved an intracellular membrane enzyme system. With either NADPH or NADH, NBT reduction was completely inhibited by dicoumarol (100 microM). Dicoumarol-insensitive NBT reduction could subsequently be observed following the addition of 2 mM cyanide, a level of cyanide known to inhibit cytosolic superoxide dismutase. Cyanide-stimulated, dicoumarol-insensitive NBT reduction was augmented by the presence of either antimycin or doxorubicin, two agents which enhance superoxide formation by different mechanisms. The results indicate the existence of multiple pathways for both superoxide-independent and superoxide-dependent reduction of NBT. Dicoumarol-insensitive, cyanide-stimulated NBT reduction may be useful as a spectroscopic probe for intracellular superoxide formation.     

Neonatal rat heart cells cultured in simulated microgravity

Summary In vitro characteristics of cardiac cells cultured in simulated microgravity are reported. Tissue culture methods performed at unit gravity constrain cells to propagate, differentiate, and interact in a two-dimensional (2D) plane. Neonatal rat cardiac cells in 2D culture organize predominantly as bundles of cardiomyocytes with the intervening areas filled by nonmyocyte cell types. Such cardiac cell cultures respond predictably to the addition of exogenous compounds, and in many ways they represent an excellent in vitro model system. The gravity-induced 2D organization of the cells, however, does not accurately reflect the distribution of cells in the intact tissue. We have begun characterizations of a three-dimensional (3D) culturing system designed to mimic microgravity. The NASA- designed High-Aspect Ratio Vessel (HARV) bioreactors provide a low shear environment that allows cells to be cultured in static suspension. HARV-3D cultures were prepared on microcarrier beads and compared to control-2D cultures using a combination of microscopic and biochemical techniques. Both systems were uniformly inoculated and medium exchanged at standard intervals. Cells in control cultures adhered to the polystyrene surface of the tissue culture dishes and exhibited typical 2D organization. Cells cultured in HARVs adhered to microcarrier beads, the beads aggregated into defined clusters containing 8 to 15 beads per cluster, and the clusters exhibited distinct 3D layers: myocytes and fibroblasts appeared attached to the surfaces of beads and were overlaid by an outer cell type. In addition, cultures prepared in HARVs using alternative support matrices also displayed morphological formations not seen in control cultures. Generally, the cells prepared in HARV and control cultures were similar; however, the dramatic alterations in 3D organization recommend the HARV as an ideal vessel for the generation of tissuelike organizations of cardiac cells in vitro.     

Modulation of the beta-adrenergic-response in cultured rat heart cells

Summary Subcellular fractionation studies in resting human neutrophils indicated a bimodal distribution for cytochrome b. A. major peak of cytochrome b co-sedimented with gelatinase under different experimental conditions. This localization was partially overlapped with specific granules (using lysozyme and lactoferrin as specific granule markers), but clearly resolved from azurophilic granules, plasma membrane, mitochondria, as well as from a novel alkaline phosphatase-rich intracellular organelle. A minor localization of cytochrome b was found in fractions enriched in both the plasma membrane marker 5-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase. A significant portion of ubiquinone cell content co-fractionated with the gelatinase-containing granules. After phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-cell stimulation, cytochrome b was mobilized to fractions showing respiratory burst activity and enriched in 5-nucleotidase activity. This mobilization paralleled secretion of gelatinase and lysozyme to the extracellular medium. Furthermore, neutrophil stimulation with fluoride in the absence of cytochalasin B induced release of gelatinase and generation of superoxide anion with only minimal release of lysozyme. Preincubation of cells with the anion channel blocker 4,4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS) prevented lysozyme release, but had only a minor effect on the release of gelatinase and did not inhibit the superoxide anion generation elicited by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine or PMA. These results suggest a main location of cytochrome b in mobilizable gelatinase-containing granules, which can constitute a subpopulation of specific granules. Furthermore, these findings show that the gelatinase-containing granule is functionally involved in the respiratory burst in neutrophils and that membrane fusion between plasma membrane and the gelatinase-containing granule occurs during activation of cells.Abbreviations DIDS 4,4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid - FMLP N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine - PMA 4-phorbol, 12-myristate, 13-acetate     

Ability of granulocytes to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium in uremic patients treated conservatively

NTB reduction test, both spontaneous and stimulated with E. coli endotoxin, was performed in peripheral blood granulocytes of 40 individuals of both sexes aged between 18 and 64 years treated conservatively at the nephrologic outpatient clinic. Serum creatinine, urea and uric acid were assayed at the same time. A control group included 40 healthy individuals of both sexes aged between 20 and 56 years. Statistically significant increase in spontaneous reduction of NTB was achieved in the group of the uremic patients in comparison with the control group. Moderately positive correlation between creatinine level and percentage of NTB-positive cells in the spontaneous test was shown. Possibility of granulocyte stimulation by uremic toxins is being considered.     

NADPH: nitroblue tetrazolium reductase found in plasma membrane of human neutrophil

After phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation the increase of NADPH:nitroblue tetrazolium reductase activity in the plasma membrane almost corresponded with the stimulated activity of respiratory burst oxidase. Solubilization of plasma membranes from PMA-activated neutrophils with n-octyl glucoside resulted in high recoveries of the two enzymatic activities. When solubilized plasma membrane was subjected to non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 35 mM n-octyl glucoside, we could see three major bands stained with NADPH-dependent nitroblue reductase activity giving molecular masses of approx. 95, 45 and 40 kDa, respectively. Activity was specific for NADPH but not for NADH. These bands also stained weakly in the plasma membranes obtained from resting cells. The activities for NADPH oxidase and nitroblue tetrazolium reductase were found to elute as a very similar protein peak on an anion-exchange HPLC, at about 0.32 M KCl. This elution peak also contains 45 and 40 kDa proteins showing NADPH:nitroblue tetrazolium reductase activity.     

Modulation of the beta-adrenergic response in cultured rat heart cells

Incubation of rocker-cultured neonatal rat heart cells with 3 mM L(+)-lactate led to a sharp increase in the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline, as measured by their chronotropic response. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in the arachidonic acid content of the total phospholipids. The phospholipase A₂-activator melittin as well as free arachidonic acid induced this supersensitivity to the same degree. On the other hand, the L(+)-lactate-evoked supersensitivity could be blocked by the phospholipase A₂ inhibitors mepacrine and n-bromophenacyl-bromide, suggesting an involvement of phospholipase A₂ in the process of beta-adrenergic sensitization. The sensitizing action of arachidonic acid was blocked by the lipoxygenase inhibitors esculetin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, but not by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Supersensitivity was likewise evoked by 15-S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-S-HETE), but not by 5-S-HPETE or 5-S-HETE. These findings suggest that the phospholipase A₂-15-lipoxygenase pathway plays a role in the induction of beta-adrenergic supersensitivity in the cultured cardiomyocytes and point to a new physiological role of the lipoxygenase product 15-S-HETE.Abbreviations NDGA nordihydroguaiaretic acid - HETE hydroeicosatetraenoic acid - HPETE hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid     

Electrophoretic detection of ascorbate oxidase activity by photoreduction of nitroblue tetrazolium

A method for the detection of ascorbate oxidase in electrophoretic gels is described. This method relies on the ability of the enzyme to prevent the photoreduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). The method is based on that described by C. Beauchamp and I. Fridovich (1971, Anal. Biochem. 44, 276-287) for the superoxide dismutase and was made specific for ascorbate oxidase detection by treating the gel with 0.1 M hydrogen peroxide. Ascorbate (25 microM) or riboflavin (500 microM) was used as the electron donor. The possible reaction mechanism in the presence of ascorbate has been investigated. Western and Northern blot analyses confirmed the results obtained from the NBT staining procedure.     

Quantitative characteristics of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by the neutrophils in experimental systemic candidiasis

The quantitative study of the reduction capacity of neutrophils with respect to nitro blue tetrazolium in experimental systemic candidiasis has revealed an increase in this capacity within 20 days of the infection. The reduction capacity has been found to depend not only on the degree of the contamination of the body with Candida cells, but also on the stage of the inflammatory process.     

Kinetics of the reaction of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by human blood neutrophils

Kinetics of Nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction to diformasan by neutrophils was investigated using 27 samples of human blood. Analysis of alteration in the share of activated neutrophils (ANP) and activated neutrophil index (ANI) was done in relation to the reaction time. The former reaction is an irreversible reaction of zero (pseudozero) order, while the latter is an irreversible reaction of the first (pseudofirst) order. It has been found out that an induced NBT reduction occurs in parallel with a spontaneous reaction, and that neutrophils have essentially different oxidizing power. The kinetic approach enabled us to discover some indices (NBT quantity involved in the reaction, and reaction speed constant of the first order) which in different samples varied within broader limits than ANP or ANI (within the limits of an order), i.e. provided a possibility to make a more delicate analysis of processes in neutrophils.     

The interaction of aminogroups with pyrroloquinoline quinone as detected by the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium

The interaction of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) with amino groups was followed by measuring the capacity of adducts to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). Of the natural amino acids only glycine, ornithine, and lysine interacted strongly with PQQ. The reducing activity of other less reactive amino acids, but not of lysine, was increased by ammonia, primary or secondary amines. Divalent cations, in contrast inhibited development of NBT-reducing activity. PQQ also developed NBT-reactivity in the presence of serotonin and albumin. A reaction scheme is proposed which explains these findings. It is suggested that the NBT-reducing activity of plasma which is not caused by glycation of plasma proteins, arises from PQQ adducts inherent to plasma. This NBT-reducing activity corresponds to approximately 10 micrograms PQQ/ml plasma.