Pentoxifylline does not attenuate acute lung injury in the absence of granulocytes.

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine, can suppress polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activation and attenuate sepsis-induced acute lung injury. We investigated whether PTX prevents non-PMN-dependent lung injury. First we studied four groups of granulocyte-depleted guinea pigs (control, PTX, Escherichia coli, and E. coli + PTX). Lung injury was assessed by wet-to-dry lung weight (W/D) ratio and lung tissue-to-plasma 125I-albumin ratio (albumin index, AI). The E. coli group showed a significant increase in the lung W/D ratio and AI compared with the control and PTX groups. However, PTX did not prevent the E. coli-induced increase in the lung W/D ratio and AI. Next we investigated the effects of PTX on endothelial cell monolayer permeability and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels. Whereas E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone increased the endothelial permeability, PMNs added to the endothelial monolayers and exposed to LPS enhanced the increase. PTX attenuated the permeability increase mediated by LPS-exposed PMNs. PTX did not prevent the LPS-induced increase in permeability when PMNs were not present, although PTX increased endothelial cell cAMP levels. These data demonstrate that 1) PTX does not prevent lung injury in granulocyte-depleted guinea pigs; 2) PTX does not prevent LPS-induced increases in endothelial cell permeability, despite increased cAMP levels; and 3) PTX attenuates PMN-dependent increases in endothelial cell permeability.     

Free radicals mediate amphetamine-induced acute pulmonary edema in isolated rat lung

Intravenous amphetamine abuse may cause serious cardiopulmonary complications via unknown mechanisms. We investigated the role of free radicals in the amphetamine-induced lung injury using isolated rat lungs. Adding amphetamine into the perfusate caused dose-dependent increases in perfusion pressure and lung weight. Amphetamine increased the filtration coefficient (K(f)) by 90 +/- 20% and 210 +/- 10% at doses of 10 microM and 50 microM, respectively, as compared to the baseline level. Pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), an oxygen radical scavenger, abolished the pulmonary hypertension, lung weight gain, and permeability changes. We also examined the effect of amphetamine on free radical generation in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Adding phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 1 nM) enhanced the chemiluminescence indicating the functional viability of the isolated PMN. Amphetamine (50 microM) significantly enhanced the chemiluminescence generation of PMN by 152 +/- 26% as compared with the baseline value. Combination of amphetamine and PMA increased free radical formation by 360 +/- 85%. In summary, our results showed that amphetamine may cause acute lung injury by overproduction of free radicals. Although amphetamine can activate PMN, the source of free radicals remains to be determined.     

Effects of various antioxidants on endotoxin-induced lung injury and gene expression: mRNA expressions of MnSOD, interleukin-1beta and iNOS

Antioxidants have been shown to be effective in attenuating acute lung injury. In this study, we determine the effects of various antioxidants by different mechanisms on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced changes. LPS was administered intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/kg to anesthetized rats. LPS induced a significant decrease in blood pressure (P < 0.01) and increased exhaled nitric oxide (NO) from 3.60+/-0.18 to 35.53+/-3.23 ppb (P < 0.01) during an observation period of 4 h. Plasma nitrate concentrations also increased from 0.61+/-0.06 to 1.54+/-0.22 micromol/l (P < 0.05). LPS-induced oxygen radical release from white blood cells isolated from rat peripheral blood also increased significantly (P < 0.001). After the experiment, the lung weight was obtained and lung tissues were taken for the determination of mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Histological examination of the lungs was also performed. In the control group injected with saline solution, mRNA expressions of iNOS, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and MnSOD were absent. Four hours after LPS administration, mRNA expressions of iNOS, IL-1beta, and MnSOD were significantly enhanced, but TNF-alpha was not discernibly expressed. LPS also caused a twofold increase in lung weight. Pathological examination revealed endothelial cell damage and interstitial edema. Various antioxidants were given 1 h after LPS administration. These agents include SOD, catalase (CAT), SOD + CAT or vitamin C (ascorbic acid). These antioxidants effectively reversed the systemic hypotension, reduced the quantity of exhaled NO and plasma nitrate concentration, and prevented acute lung injury. Administration of various antioxidants also significantly attenuated LPS-induced oxygen radical release by rat white blood cells. LPS induced mRNA expressions of MnSOD and iNOS were significantly depressed by these antioxidants. However, only SOD + CAT and vitamin C inhibited the mRNA expression of IL-1beta. These results suggest that oxygen radicals are responsible for LPS-induced lung injury. Antioxidants can attenuate the lung injury by inhibiting mRNA expressions of iNOS and IL-1beta.     

Phagocytosis of immunoglobulin G and C3-bound human sperm by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes is not associated with the release of oxidative radicals.

Antisperm antibody (ASA)- and complement (C)-mediated immune injury to human sperm is thought to be caused in part by phagocytic neutrophils. To investigate this process, we co-cultured purified human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) with swim-up sperm in the presence of ASA-positive and ASA-negative sera and assayed for PMN respiratory burst activity, monitored by the release of superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and opsonized zymosan were used as positive controls. Phagocytosis of ASA-positive and C-bound sperm by PMN did not enhance O2- production when compared to incubation of sperm with ASA-negative sera. Phagocytosis of ASA-positive and C-bound sperm also resulted in minimal release of H2O2 when compared with ASA-positive and C-negative sperm that were not phagocytosed. In contrast, PMN were maximally stimulated to release O2- in response to either opsonized zymosan or PMA. The kinetics of PMA-induced O2- release was unaffected by the presence of ASA-positive and C-bound sperm. Cytocentrifuge preparations of PMN incubated with ASA-positive and C-bound sperm revealed limited O2- release at the site of PMN/sperm contact. These results indicated that 1) phagocytosis of motile sperm by PMN requires the binding of both ASA and C to the sperm surface; 2) phagocytosis of ASA-positive and C-positive sperm by PMN fails to release reactive oxygen species; and 3) metabolic processes associated with PMN respiratory burst activity may not be coupled to the ingestion of ASA-positive and C-bound sperm.     

Pentoxifylline pretreatment decreases the pool of circulating activated neutrophils, in-vivo adhesion to endothelium, and improves survival from hemorrhagic shock

Recent research suggests that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play an important role in ischemic organ injury by adhesion to the endothelium and by expression of cytotoxicity via oxygen free radical formation. The number of activated circulating PMNs as measured by the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT-positive PMNs) were shown to be closely associated with the trend towards irreversibility in hemorrhagic shock. Our objective was to investigate the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on two aspects of the PMN mediated injury: (a) adhesion to the endothelium, and (b) spontaneous circulating PMN activation as a risk factor in a Wiggers type hemorrhagic shock protocol (35 mmHg mean arterial pressure for 90 minutes). The adhesion energy was estimated from the relative rolling velocity of individual PMNs on the endothelium of post-capillary venules in the rat mesentery before and after PTX treatment. The results indicate: (1) that PTX administration leads to a gradual reduction of the adhesion energy in a dose range between 1 to 100 mg/kg, and (2) it was possible to reduce significantly the spontaneous PMN activation in rats pretreated with PTX orally for at least 6 days (40 mg/kg per day). Although there were no significant differences in the PMN count between the PTX and the control group, the number of circulating NBT-positive PMNs before bleeding, as well as during the hypotensive period, was significantly lower in the PTX than in the control group. The 24-hour survival rate after hemorrhagic shock was improved from 50% in the untreated controls to 91% in the PTX group. These results suggest that manipulation of the circulating pool of PMNs by an agent that decreases the number of activated cells and reduces PMN adhesion to the endothelium, can significantly improve survival in this shock model.     

Dipyridamole inhibits hydroxylamine augmented nitric oxide (NO) production by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils through an adenosine-independent mechanism

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are thought to play a role in reperfusion injury and ischemia. These effects are partly mediated by toxic oxygen species (superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical) acting at the level of the endothelium. It was demonstrated recently that the superoxide anion reacts with nitric oxide (NO) and that interaction leads to the generation of highly toxic peroxynitrite. Several drugs were tested so far in order to affect PMN function. It was demonstrated that dipyridamole (2,6-bis-diethanolamino-4,8-dipiperidinopyrimido-(5,4-d)-pyrimidine) can influence neutrophil function by inhibiting adenosine uptake. However, this action can not fully explain all of the observed effects of dipyridamole action on PMN metabolism. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of dipyridamole on nitric oxide production by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Incubation of PMNs with hydroxylamine (HA) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) generated nitrite (36.4+/-4.2 nmol/h 2x10(6) PMN), dipyridamole at 100 micromol/l, 50 micromol/l and 10 micromol/l caused a considerable drop in nitrite production (11.8+/-1.8, 19.7+/-2.7 and 27.4+/-3.2 nmol/h, respectively). Neither adenosine nor the adenosine analogue could mimic the dipyridamole effect. Moreover theophylline, an adenosine inhibitor could not reverse the dipirydamole action on PMN metabolism. We also found that dipyridamole inhibited hydrogen peroxide release from neutrophils. Catalase that scavenges hydrogen peroxide also largely abolished nitric oxide release from PMN. It is evident that dipyridamole inhibits hydroxylamine-augmented nitric oxide production by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils through an adenosine-independent mechanism.     

A comparison of the effects of intact and deacylated lipopolysaccharide on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Enzymatic deacylation of LPS markedly reduces its activity in the dermal Shwartzman reaction. Inasmuch as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are involved in the genesis of tissue injury in Shwartzman reactions, we have investigated the effects of deacylated LPS (dLPS) on PMN. Compared to LPS, dLPS was ineffectual as a stimulus of both PMN adherence and release of secondary granule enzymes, and dLPS inhibited specific LPS-induced adherence. Neither LPS nor dLPS caused release of the primary granule enzymes, myeloperoxidase, and elastase. Unlike LPS, dLPS failed to prime PMN for superoxide release when a second stimulus (FMLP, 10(-6) M was given. The mechanism of the LPS induced increase in PMN adherence was investigated, and we found that LPS significantly increased the amount of the adhesive glycoprotein CD11b on the surface of the PMN. dLPS had no effect on CD11b expression. Our results suggest that enzymatic deacylation of LPS profoundly alters its ability to stimulate PMN and deacylation of LPS by inflammatory cells in vivo might be an important mechanism limiting the toxic effects of LPS.     

STUDIES ON NITRIC OXIDE FREE RADICALS GENERATED FROM POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES (PMN) STIMULATED BY PHORBOL MYRISTATE ACETATE (PMA)

The interaction of NO and O^?₂free radicals generated from PMA (phorbol myristate acetate)-stimulated PMN (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) was studied by a nitroxide spin trap, DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide). It was found that addition of L-arginine to the system would significantly decrease the trapped O^?₂by DMPO and addition of N^G-monomethyl-arginine (NGMA) would significantly increase the trapped O^?₂by DMPO. It was proved that the formation of ONOO^?by the reaction of NO and O^?₂was the main reason for the decrease of trapped O^?₂in the experiment with xanthine/xanthine oxidase and irradiation of riboflavin systems. The yield of NO during this process was calculated. The generation dynamic of NO was studied by a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence technique and it was found that after stimulation of PMN by PMA, there would be an immediate, significant chemi-luminescence, which came mainly from the active oxygen free radicals generated by PMN. If L-arginine was added to this system, the chemiluminescence would increase about 100-fold, but NGMA inhibited the increase of the chemiluminescence. Ten minutes after addition of L-arginine, this increase did not change, the chemiluminescence peak decreased gradually, but the half life increased. The ESR and chemiluminescence properties of NO and ONOO^?synthesized were also studied in model systems.     

Stimulus-specific effects of endotoxin on superoxide production by rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The release of superoxide (O2-) by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is an important function that contributes to microbial death. Controversy exists as to the effect of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, or LPS) on the production of O2-. We have injected rabbits with 25 micrograms Escherichia coli LPS intravenously and studied PMN function 18 to 24 hours later. Relative to PMN from saline-injected controls, PMN from LPS-treated rabbits released markedly greater amounts of O2- in response to 10 ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) as measured by nmol cytochrome C reduced in 20 minutes (40.8 +/- 7.8 for LPS-treated PMN versus 10.1 +/- 1.6 for control, p less than 0.01). LPS injection, however, significantly reduced O2- release in response to C (complement) 5a (1.4 +/- 0.6 nmole/20 minutes for LPS-treated PMN versus 5.6 +/- 1.3 nmole/20 minutes for control, p less than 0.01). O2- release in response to a third stimulus, n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (10(-7) to 10(-9) M), was not affected by LPS. O2- release in response to PMA was enhanced over a wide range of PMA concentrations (10 to 300 ng/ml). Kinetic studies over 30 minutes indicated that, after a brief initial latency in measurable response, LPS enhanced responsiveness to PMA at all time points observed. The reduced responsiveness to C5a corresponds to a previously reported down regulation of receptors for this ligand after intravenous LPS. The observations indicate that intravenous LPS can alter a critical function of PMN for at least 24 hours in a stimulus-specific manner.     

Temperature influence on stimulated PMN respiratory burst.

Body temperature can modulate the pathogenesis of infectious, metabolic and autoimmune diseases. This effect has been attributed to several hypothesized mechanisms. Body temperature could play an important role in influencing some cellular functions of human white blood cells. In this work we examined the temperature effect on the respiratory burst in human neutrophils. Human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) were obtained from heparinized venous blood by dextran sedimentation and erythrocyte lysis with NH4Cl (0.87%). Granulocytes were stimulated with opsonized zymosan (OZ), formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and monosodium urate (MSU) crystals at different temperatures (26, 37, 39, 40, 42 degrees C). The technique of luminol dependent chemiluminescence (CL) was used as indicator of oxygen free radicals (OFR) release by stimulated cells. OFR production from PMN stimulated with OZ, PMA, FMLP was higher at 37 degrees C than at 26, 39, 40, 42 degrees C (p < 0.001 OZ stimulated PMN at 40-42 degrees C; p < 0.05 PMA stimulated PMN at 42 degrees C. Significantly different from 37 degrees C value). OFR release from PMN stimulated with MSU crystals was significantly increased at 39 degrees C compared to 37 degrees C value (p < 0.001). This effect could not only be attributed to temperature influence on neutrophil activity. The specific polymorphonuclear leukocyte response to the microcrystals and the temperature influence on chemical and physical characteristics of the crystals may play an important role. We are now studying the temperature effect on activity of PMN exposed to others crystals.     

A novel post-translational incorporation of tyrosine into multiple proteins in activated human neutrophils. Correlation with phagocytosis and activation of the NADPH oxidase-mediated respiratory burst.

Activation of human neutrophils by PMA causes a post-translational incorporation of 14C-labeled tyrosine into multiple neutrophil (PMN) proteins, that is distinctly different from the enzymatic tyrosinolation of tubulin in FMLP-stimulated PMN. Post-translational incorporation of other radiolabeled amino acids, including the structurally similar amino acid phenylalanine, does not occur under identical conditions of neutrophil activation, suggesting an involvement of the phenolic hydroxyl group of tyrosine in the PMA-mediated reaction. Similar to the stimulation of PMN tubulin tyrosinolation by FMLP, the PMA-induced incorporation of tyrosine into multiple PMN proteins is closely associated with activation of the NADPH oxidase-mediated respiratory burst in stimulated PMN and can be inhibited by a variety of reducing agents, inhibitors of peroxidase-mediated reactions, and intracellular scavengers of oxygen radicals. Moreover, the PMA-induced post-translational incorporation of tyrosine does not occur in PMN from patients with chronic granulomatous disease and is significantly reduced (50%) in PMN of an individual with myeloperoxidase deficiency. A similar stimulus-induced incorporation of tyrosine into multiple PMN proteins is also observed in PMN exposed to various phagocytic stimuli, and the incorporated radioactivity in cells undergoing phagocytosis is substantially enriched (40- to 50-fold) in isolated PMN phagolysosomes. Consistent with this latter observation, HPLC fractionation of stimulated PMN proteins and analysis of the incorporated radioactivity reveal that the 14C label is primarily associated with PMN membrane proteins. Furthermore, this post-translational incorporation of tyrosine, like that associated with PMA stimulation, is associated with production of oxygen radicals and the generation of protein carbonyl derivatives, which are indicative of oxidative protein modifications via mixed function oxidases. Our findings indicate that tyrosine incorporation into membrane proteins of stimulated PMN is functionally relevant to the physiologic host-defense responses of human neutrophils undergoing phagocytosis.     

Oxygen-derived free radicals producing activity and survival of activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Summary Activation of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes is known to generate oxygen free radicals (OFR). However the fate of activated PMN leukocytes is not known. We investigated the OFR producing (chemiluminescence) activity and the survival of the activated PMN leukocytes. The study was divided into two groups. Group I, In vivo study (n = 7): zymosan (8.4 mg/kg) was administered intravenously in the anesthetized dogs and the blood samples were collected before and after 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min of zymosan administration. This group represents the in vivo pre-stimulated PMN leukocytes; Group II, In vitro study (n = 7): the blood were collected from dogs and further divided into two groups. Group A (n = 7): non-stimulated, without any added zymosan and group B (n = 7): zymosan was added to stimulate PMN leukocytes. Blood samples from group A and B were also collected at various time intervals similar to in vivo studies. Oxygen free radical producing activity of PMN leukocytes was monitored by measuring luminoldependent chemiluminescence (CL). Opsonized zymosan was used to activate PMN leukocytes. The studies in which the PMN leukocytes were stimulated in in vivo, both oxygen derived free radicals and superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitable oxygen free radical CL decreased significantly for 60 min and tended to reach thereafter to the pre-stimulated values. The resting chemiluminescence (chemiluminescence without zymosan stimulation in the assay medium) increased significantly for 15 min reaching to pre-stimulated values at 30 min and thereafter. In in vitro studies, oxygen derived free radicals CL of pre-stimulated PMN leukocytes (Group B) was depressed for the whole duration of investigation while SOD inhibitable CL was depressed for only 60 min. There was approximately a two-fold increase in the resting CL within 5 min of PMN leukocyte activation and it remained high for the whole duration of study. The chemiluminescence of non-stimulated PMN leukocytes in vitro (group A) remained practically normal throughout the period of observation. In in vivo studies, total white blood cells (WBC) and PMN leukocyte counts decreased initially and tended to approach towards pre-stimulated values at the end of the protocol. There were no changes in these counts in in vitro studies. These results indicate that the capacity to generate OFR is decreased in the in vivo and in vitro pre-stimulated PMN leukocytes. However this activity recovers with time. This study also suggests that the activated PMN leukocytes are not destroyed.     

Intermittent Anoxia Reduces Oxygen Free Radicals Formation During Reoxygenation in Rat Hepatocytes

The sensitivity of liver cells to anoxia is a major problem afflicting liver preservation and transplantation. Intermittent ischemia has been proposed to reduce reperfusion injury. The aim of the study was to assess oxygen free radical formation and cell injury during continuous or intermittent anoxia/reoxygenation in rat hepatocytes. Anion superoxide was measured by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence and cell damage by LDH release and trypan blue uptake. During anoxia, superoxide generation dropped to background level in both groups; trypan blue uptake and LDH release, which increased progressively, were significantly greater in hepatocytes exposed to continuous compared to intermittent anoxia. During reoxygenation, a massive generation of superoxide anion formation, followed by a sharp increase in LDH release, was observed in both groups. However, both oxyradical generation and cell injury were significantly greater in cells exposed to continuous compared to intermittent anoxia. The data, showing that intermittent oxygen deprivation reduce liver cell injury and oxygen free radical formation determined by anoxia/reoxygenation, suggest a novel possible approach to the reduction of reperfusion injury.     

Thromboxane does not mediate pulmonary hypertension in phorbol ester-induced acute lung injury in dogs

Thromboxane (Tx) has been suggested to mediate the pulmonary hypertension of phorbol myristate acetate- (PMA) induced acute lung injury. To test this hypothesis, the relationship between Tx and pulmonary arterial pressure was evaluated in a model of acute lung injury induced with PMA in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized male mongrel dogs. Sixty minutes after administration of PMA (20 micrograms/kg iv, n = 10), TxB2 increased 10-fold from control in both systemic and pulmonary arterial blood and 8-fold in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Concomitantly, pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) increased from 14.5 +/- 1.0 to 36.2 +/- 3.5 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased from 5.1 +/- 0.4 to 25.9 +/- 2.9 mmHg.l-1.min. Inhibition of Tx synthase with OKY-046 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 6) prevented the PMA-induced increase in Tx concentrations in blood and BAL fluid but did not prevent or attenuate the increase in Ppa. OKY-046 pretreatment did, however, attenuate but not prevent the increase in PVR 60 min after PMA administration. Pretreatment with the TxA2/prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonist ONO-3708 (10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 iv, n = 7) prevented the pressor response to bolus injections of 1-10 micrograms U-46619, a Tx receptor agonist, but did not prevent or attenuate the PMA-induced increase in Ppa. ONO-3708 also attenuated but did not prevent the increase in PVR. These results suggest that Tx does not mediate the PMA-induced pulmonary hypertension but may augment the increases in PVR in this model of acute lung injury.     

Lung vascular injury after Escherichia coli endotoxin and phorbol myristate acetate infusion in dogs

The effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a potential stimulator of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN), on circulating PMN counts, gas exchange, protein concentration of lavage fluid, pulmonary hemodynamics and pathology of the lung were studied in ten anesthetized dogs. Six dogs were infused with 1 microgram/kg endotoxin plus 10 micrograms/kg of PMA; four other dogs were infused with the same amount of endotoxin but 5 micrograms/kg of PMA. After administration of endotoxin plus 10 micrograms/kg PMA, the number of circulating PMN (per mm3) decreased dramatically from 4081 +/- 1041 to 303 +/- 119, arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) dropped to 49.1 +/- 2.4 mmHg and the arterial alveolar oxygen partial pressure difference (A-a DO2) increased significantly above baseline. Lungs from this group appeared to be grossly damaged: edema with distinct petechial hemorrhage and areas of hemorrhagic consolidation; frothy edema fluid often emanated from the tracheas. The group infused with endotoxin plus 5 micrograms/kg PMA showed no significant decrease in the number of PMN; PaO2 and A-a DO2 maintained comparatively stable. Protein concentration of lavage fluid and lung wet/dry weight ratios in dogs of 10 micrograms/kg PMA group were significantly increased (P less than 0.05) as compared to those of 5 micrograms/kg PMA group. Our study showed that the magnitude of leukopenia after endotoxin and PMA was paralleled with the severity of lung vascular injury. These results support the potential role of PMN in the pathogenesis of acute edematous lung injury.     

Reactive oxygen species‐induced activation of ERK and p38 MAPK mediates PMA‐induced NETs release from human neutrophils

Neutrophils/polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), an important component of innate immune system, release extracellular traps (NETs) to eliminate invaded pathogens; however understanding of the role of signaling molecules/proteins need to be elucidated. In the present study role of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) against phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and NETs formation has been investigated. Human neutrophils were treated with PMA to induce free radical generation and NETs release, which were monitored by NBT reduction and elastase/DNA release, respectively. PMA treatment led to the time dependent phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK in PMNs. Pretreatment of PMNs with SB202190 or U0126 did not significantly reduce PMA induce free radical generation, but prevented NETs release. Pretreatment of PMNs with NADPH oxidase inhibitor (diphenyleneiodonium chloride) significantly reduced free radical generation, p38 MAPK and ERK phosphorylation as well as NETs release, suggesting that p38 MAPK and ERK activation was downstream to free radical generation. The present study thus demonstrates ROS dependent activation of ERK and p38 MAPK, which mediated PMA induced NETs release from human neutrophils. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 532–540, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Endotoxin causes phosphorylation of MARCKS in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endothelial cell (EC) monolayer permeability. Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS), as a specific PKC substrate, appears to mediate PKC signaling by PKC-dependent phosphorylation of MARCKS and subsequent modification of the association of MARCKS with filamentous actin and calmodulin (CaM). Therefore, in the present study, we investigated LPS-induced MARCKS phosphorylation in bovine pulmonary artery EC (BPAEC). LPS potentiated MARCKS phosphorylation in BPAEC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The PKC inhibitor, calphostin C, significantly decreased LPS-induced phosphorylation of MARCKS. In addition, downregulation of PKC with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) did not affect the LPS-induced MARCKS phosphorylation, suggesting that LPS and PMA activate different isoforms of PKC. Pretreatment with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, or genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, prevented LPS-induced MARCKS phosphorylation. Phosphorylation at appropriate sites will induce translocation of MARCKS from the cell membrane to the cytosol. However, LPS, in contrast to PMA, did not generate MARCKS translocation in BPAEC, suggesting that MARCKS translocation may not play a role in LPS-induced actin rearrangement and EC permeability. LPS also enhanced both thrombin- and PMA-induced phosphorylation of MARCKS, suggesting that LPS was able to prime these signaling pathways in BPAEC. Because the CaM-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chains (MLC) results in EC contraction, we studied the effect of LPS on MLC phosphorylation in BPAEC. LPS induced diphosphorylation of MLC in a time-dependent manner, which occurred at lower doses of LPS, than those required to induce MARCKS phosphorylation. In addition, there was no synergism between LPS and thrombin in the induction of MLC phosphorylation. These data indicate that MLC phosphorylation is independent of MARCKS phosphorylation. In conclusion, LPS stimulated MARCKS phosphorylation in BPAEC. This phosphorylation appears to involve activation of PKC, p38 MAP kinase, and tyrosine kinases. Further studies are needed to explore the role of MARCKS phosphorylation in LPS-induced actin rearrangement and EC permeability.     

Protein tyrosine kinase but not protein kinase C inhibition blocks receptor induced alveolar macrophage activation

The selective enzyme inhibitors genistein and Ro 31-8220 were used to assess the importance of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and protein kinase C (PKC), respectively, in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) induced generation of superoxide anion and thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) in guinea-pig alveolar macrophages (AM). Genistein (3-100 muM) dose dependently inhibited FMLP (3 nM) induced superoxide generation in non-primed AM and TXB(2) release in non-primed or in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 ng/ml) primed AM to a level > 80% but had litle effect up to 100 muM on phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (10 nM) induced superoxide release. Ro 31-8220 inhibited PMA induced superoxide generation (IC(50) 0.21 +/- 0.10 muM) but had no effect on or potentiated (at 3 and 10 muM) FMLP responses in non-primed AM. In contrast, when present during LPS priming as well as during FMLP challenge Ro 31-8220 (10 muM) inhibited primed TXB(2) release by > 80%. The results indicate that PTK activation is required for the generation of these inflammatory mediators by FMLP in AM. PKC activation appears to be required for LPS priming but not for transducing the FMLP signal; rather, PKC activation may modulate the signal by a negative feedback mechanism.     

Dosing-time-dependent differences in lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in rats

Dosing-time-dependent differences in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury were examined in rats housed under a 12 h light:dark (LD) cycle. LPS (5 mg/kg) was intravenously injected into different groups of rats at 2, 14, or 20 h after light on (HALO). Elevations in serum liver enzymes after 14 HALO were significantly greater than those after 2 HALO. These parameters were lower in rats given LPS at 20 HALO, compared to 14 HALO. The number of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) in the liver and the amount of hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, which reflects the number of PMN in liver tissues, was significantly greater in the 14 than in the 2 HALO group. In addition, hepatic interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in the 14 HALO group was enhanced compared to that in the 2 HALO trial. These results suggest that LPS-induced liver injury is greater during the early active than during the early resting period. Dosing-time-dependent variation in the accumulation of PMN in the liver and, potentially, subsequent IL-6 production in liver tissues might be involved in this phenomenon.     

Stimulation of free radical generation in human leukocytes by various agents including tumor necrosis factor is a calmodulin dependent process

The mechanism(s) involved in the generation of free radicals in human leukocytes by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), arachidonic acid (AA), and recombinant-tumor necrosis factor-1-alpha (r-TNF-1 alpha) was investigated. Calmodulin antagonists, chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine, inhibited free radical generation in human leukocytes by these stimulants. Dexamethosone, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, could also block free radical generation in human leukocytes induced by r-TNF 1 alpha. PMA, FMP, LPS and TNF can activate phospholipase A2 and induce the release of AA from the cell membrane lipid pool. AA induced free radical generation in human leukocytes can be inhibited by calmodulin antagonists. Hence, it is likely that calmodulin dependent events play a crucial role in the generation of free radicals by human leukocytes in response to various stimulants including TNF.