Studies on the inactivation of superoxide dismutase activity by nitric oxide from rat peritoneal macrophages

Rat peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) generated increased levels of superoxide anions (O2ú-) by 122% as compared to those stimulated with PMA alone. However, Nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors-n-monomethyl arginine (nMMA) or spermine-HCI lowered the enhanced levels of O2ú- released by LPS treated macrophages. The Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in LPS treated macrophages was 51% lower than that observed in resident cells. NO synthase inhibitors prevented the loss of SOD activity in LPS treated cells. Exogenously added SOD during sensitization of cells with LPS also inactivated the enzyme. This inactivation of SOD is inhibited by Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. PMA alone did not affect SOD activity. NO synthase inhibitors also did not affect PMA activated superoxide anion generation in macrophages. These studies indicate that nitric oxide generated by LPS treated macrophages can inactivate SOD activity.     

小鼠巨噬细胞吞噬马尔尼菲青霉酵母相细胞的实验观察

目的探讨小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞对马尔尼菲青霉酵母相细胞的影响,为研究抗马尔尼菲青霉的免疫机制提供一定的实验依据。方法将马尔尼菲青霉酵母相细胞与小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞在体内和体外两种方式下进行共培养,分别于60min、120min、240min和360min后进行菌落形成单位(CFU)计数,统计分析体内组与体外组CFU数结果的差异性。利用钙荧光白染色巨噬细胞胞内的马尔尼菲青霉酵母相细胞,荧光显微镜下观察细胞形态特征的变化。结果经体内和体外两种方式共培养,两组之间的CFU计数差异无统计学意义,但两组内不同时间点的CFU计数差异存在统计学意义。荧光显微镜下可见巨噬细胞内的酵母细胞被钙荧光白染上淡蓝色荧光。结论小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞在体内、外对马尔尼菲青霉酵母相细胞不起明显的杀灭或溶解作用,其最大的吞噬时间为共培养240min。钙荧光白染色可快速有效的区分巨噬细胞与真菌,是一种良好的检测真菌方法。     

Effects of endotoxic shock in several functions of murine peritoneal macrophages

Gram negative sepsis and septic shock continue to be a major medical problem, with a complex physiopathology and it is associated with high mortality. Although secretion of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha by macrophages is the principal host mediator of septic shock, other characteristic functions of macrophages implicated in their phagocytic capacity have not been studied in the process of endotoxic shock. In the present study we have used an intraperitoneal injection of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 mg/kg) in order to obtain an endotoxic shock model in adult female BALB/c mice. Peritoneal cell suspensions were obtained at several times (2, 4, 12 or 24 h) after injection and the following functions were studied on the peritoneal macrophages: adherence to substrate, mobility (spontaneous and directed or chemotaxis), ingestion of particles and superoxide anion production. The results showed a stimulation of adherence, ingestion and superoxide production as well as a decrease of chemotaxis in the animals injected with LPS. These effects changed with time after LPS injection. Thus, the increase of adherence and the decrease of mobility were higher during the first hours, whereas the increase in ingestion and superoxide production turned larger with time.     

The production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor by murine macrophages infected with mycobacterial strains differing by hemolytic activity.

In this study, we compared the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) by murine macrophages infected in vitro with hemolytic or unhemolytic mycobacteria isolates. We observed that unhemolytic mycobacteria induced more intensive NO production by macrophages and were more susceptible to bactericidal effect of mononuclear phagocytes than hemolytic mycobacterial strains. In contrast, the high-virulence hemolytic isolates induced significantly stronger TNF-alpha production by infected macrophages than the low-virulence unhemolytic bacilli.     

马内菲青霉蛋白酶的体外诱导及其活性测定

目的 建立马内菲青霉蛋白酶的体外诱导方法并进行活性测定。方法 制作酶诱导培养基, 在不同pH 条件下培养马内菲青霉, 在280 nm紫外光下分光光度法检测不同诱导时间的蛋白酶活性。结果 成功诱导并定量测定了马内菲青霉在不同pH条件下、不同诱导时间的体外蛋白酶产出量。pH 4. 0 时, 菌株在第6 天出现分泌高峰; pH 5. 6 时, 菌株在第3 天出现分泌高峰; 而pH 7. 2 时, 菌株几乎无蛋白酶产出。结论 建立了马内菲青霉蛋白酶产出的体外诱导和检测方法, 为进一步研究马内菲青霉体外蛋白酶的理化特性提供了途径。     

Kinetic analysis of superoxide anion production by activated and resident murine peritoneal macrophages

Using a continuous spectrophotometric assay, we have monitored the formation of superoxide anion (O₂^?) by activated and resident murine peritoneal macrophages. Macrophages elicited by injection with Corynebacterium parvum, as well as resident macrophages from untreated mice, were kept in suspension culture overnight to eliminate short-lived, contaminating neutrophils. Cytochemical analysis of the cultured macrophages disclosed that essentially all of the activated macrophages reduced nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye vigorously. In contrast, only 18% of the resident macrophages demonstrated vigorous NBT reduction; the remainder of the resident macrophages reduced NBT very weakly. Kinetic analysis of macrophage O₂^? formation revealed that activated macrophages exposed to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) produced O₂^? at a 13-fold greater maximum rate than resident macrophages. The decline in the rate of O₂^? production with time by activated macrophages was also greater than that of resident macrophages. The data indicate that the greater O₂^? production by activated macrophage populations is due to (i) the presence of an increased percentage of macrophages that respond to PMA with vigorous O₂^? production, and (ii) an increased maximum rate of O₂^? formation by these macrophages.     

Electron spin resonance detection of extracellular superoxide anion released by cultured endothelial cells

Objective and Methods Endothelium produces oxygen-derived free radicals which play a major role in vessel wall physiology and pathology. Whereas NO^· production from endothelium has been extensively characterized, little is known about endothelium-derived O^-·₂. In the present study, we determined the O^-·₂ production of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1 pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.

Results An ESR adduct DMPO-OH detected in the supernatant of BAEC after stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187 originated from the trapping of extracellular O^-·₂, because coincubation with superoxide dismutase (30 U/ml) completely suppressed the ESR signal, whereas catalase (2000 U/ml) had no effect. A23187 stimulated extracellular O^-·₂ production in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The coenzymes NADH and NADPH both increased the ESR signal, whereas a flavin antagonist, diphenylene iodonium, abolished the ESR signal. Phorbol myristate acetate potentiated, whereas bisindolylmaleimide I inhibited the A23187-stimulated O^-·₂ production, suggesting the involvement of protein kinase C. These signals were not altered L-NAME, a NO-synthase inhibitor, suggesting that the endogenous production of NO^· did not alter O^-·₂ production. Finally, the amount of O^-·₂ generated by A23187-stimulated post-confluent BAEC was one order of magnitude higher than that evoked by rat aortic smooth muscle cells stimulated under the same conditions.     

HIV抗体阳性合并马尔尼菲青霉菌感染的临床特点

目的 对HIV阳性合并马尔尼菲青霉菌的临床特点进行分析,揭示免疫能力递减的程度,易感马尔尼菲青霉菌之间的关系,给临床诊断提供帮助。方法 以我院收治的3例HIV阳性合并马尔尼菲青霉菌感染患者为例,总结分析其生物学特点。结果 三位患者都为中年男性,以间断发热、呼吸困难、干咳为主要临床表现,肺部影像学提示双肺弥漫性病变,外院治疗无效后转入我院,确诊为HIV阳性,经血培养诊断为马尔尼菲青霉菌感染。患者血CD4+ T细胞计数后,CD4+ T细胞均＜2%（正常值31%~60%）。结论 HIV阳性时,不明原因发热,肺部感染,免疫功能受损到一定程度时,易合并马尔尼菲青霉菌感染,临床症状较重并有很高的死亡率。     

电穿孔介导马尔尼菲青霉转化体系的建立和优化

目的 建立和优化马尔尼菲青霉电穿孔转化体系,为其基因功能研究提供良好平台.方法 直接使用马尔尼菲青霉缺陷株SPM4（pyrG-,niaD-）萌发孢子进行电穿孔转化,并通过改变孢子龄、孢子萌发时间、质粒浓度、电场强度等影响因素对体系进行优化.结果 适合SPM4电穿孔转化条件为：孢子龄为6d,孢子萌发时间为4h,电场强度为5 kV/cm.上述条件下分别使用1 μg环状或线性化质粒DNA转化SPM4,平均可得到21个和13个转化子.结论 马尔尼菲青霉电穿孔转化效率高,重复性好,针对SPM4萌发孢子,环状质粒较线性化质粒电穿孔转化效率高.     

Interferon enhances the bactericidal activity of peritoneal exudate macrophages against Salmonella typhimurium in mice

The treatment of macrophages of mouse peritoneal exudate has been found to enhance their bactericidal activity with respect to S. typhimurium. This activation depends on the dose of interferon and the cells/bacteria ratio. The action of interferon is species-specific.     

Role of TNF-alpha in the induction of fungicidal activity of mouse peritoneal exudate cells against Cryptococcus neoformans by IL-12 and IL-18

We have recently demonstrated that two IFN-gamma-inducing cytokines, interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18, synergistically induced the fungicidal activity of mouse peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) against Cryptococcus neoformans through NK cell production of interferon (IFN)-gamma and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. In the present study, we further dissected these effects by examining the involvement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the induction of IL-12/IL-18-stimulated PEC fungicidal activity. The addition of neutralizing anti-TNF-alpha mAb significantly suppressed IL-12/IL-18-stimulated PEC anticryptococcal activity. This effect was ascribed to the inhibition of macrophage NO synthesis, but not of IFN-gamma production by NK cells, because the same treatment inhibited the former response, but not the latter one. On the other hand, combined treatment with IL-12 and IL-18 synergistically induced the production of TNF-alpha by PEC and this effect was almost completely abrogated by neutralizing anti-IFN-gamma mAb. The cell type producing TNF-alpha among PEC was mostly macrophage. TNF-alpha significantly promoted macrophage NO production and anticryptococcal activity induced by IFN-gamma, and furthermore anti-TNF-alpha mAb partially inhibited these responses. Considered together, our results indicated that TNF-alpha contributed to the potentiation of IL-12/IL-18-induced PEC fungicidal activity against C. neoformans through enhancement of IFN-gamma-induced production of NO by macrophages, but not through increased production of IFN-gamma by NK cells.     

Effects of cyclic AMP-elevating hormones and autacoids on LPS-activated rat peritoneal, bronchoalveolar and hepatic (Kupffer) macrophages

Peritoneal, bronchoalveolar and hepatic (Kupffer) macrophages activated in vitro by endotoxin, exhibit alterations in nitric oxide production when certain hormones or other biologically active agents (autacoids) are present in the culture medium. They also show changes in acid beta-glucuronidase activities and morphological changes concerning cell size and general appearance. Agents known to elevate the intracellular levels of cyclic AMP, e.g. adrenalin, prostaglandin E2 and dopamine, increase the nitric oxide production in all three types of macrophage. The addition of H-89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A, abolishes the increase in nitric oxide production. Adrenalin also increases the extracellular activity of beta-glucuronidase. The results of this work suggest that cyclic AMP-elevating hormones and autacoids affect the functions of endotoxin-activated macrophages, such as the production of nitric oxide and the activity of acid beta-glucuronidase.     

Comparative toxicity studies on bromochloroacetate,dibromoacetate, and bromodichloroacetate in J774A.1 macrophages: Roles of superoxide anion and protein carbonyl compounds

The brominated and mixed bromo‐chloro‐haloacetates, such as dibromoacetate (DBA), bromochloroacetate (BCA), and bromodichloroacetate (BDCA), are by‐products of water chlorination and are found at lower levels than the fully chlorinated acetates in the drinking water. The toxicities of the compounds were assessed in J774A.1 cells and were found to induce concentration‐dependent increases in cell death and superoxide anion and protein carbonyl compounds production. Compared to the previously tested concentrations of dichoroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) in the same cell line, the tested haloacetates induced similar effects on cellular viability and superoxide anion production but at DBA and BCA concentrations that were approximately 40–160 times lower than those of DCA and TCA, and at BDCA concentrations that were 4–16 times lower than those of DCA and TCA. Also, production of super oxide anion, protein carbonyl compounds, and induction of phagocytic activation are suggested to play a role in their toxicity.     

Pharmacological induction of vascular extracellular superoxide dismutase expression in vivo

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) treatment reduces progression of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction and decreases oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in rabbits. These effects are associated with decreased vascular superoxide production, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Previous studies demonstrated that endogenous nitric oxide could regulate the expression of extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) in conductance vessels in vivo . We investigated the effect of PETN and overexpression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS⁺⁺) on the expression and activity of ecSOD. C57BL/6 mice were randomized to receive placebo or increasing doses of PETN for 4 weeks and eNOS⁺⁺ mice with a several fold higher endothelial-specific eNOS expression were generated. The expression of ecSOD was determined in the lung and aortic tissue by real-time PCR and Western blot. The ecSOD activity was measured using inhibition of cytochrome C reduction. There was no effect of PETN treatment or eNOS overexpression on ecSOD mRNA in the lung tissue, whereas ecSOD protein expression increased from 2.5-fold to 3.6-fold ( P < 0.05) by 6 mg PETN/kg body weight (BW)/day and 60 mg PETN/kg BW/day, respectively. A similar increase was found in aortic homogenates. eNOS⁺⁺ lung cytosols showed an increase of ecSOD protein level of 142 ± 10.5% as compared with transgene-negative littermates ( P < 0.05), which was abolished by N^ω-nitro-L-arginine treatment. In each animal group, the increase of ecSOD expression was paralleled by an increase of ecSOD activity. Increased expression and activity of microvascular ecSOD are likely induced by increased bioavailability of vascular nitric oxide. Up-regulation of vascular ecSOD may contribute to the reported antioxidative and anti-atherosclerotic effects of PETN.     

粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子诱导的巨噬细胞外向K+电流的特性

以粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ,１６ｎｇ／ｍｌ）长期（０．５－６ｄ）刺激小鼠腹腔渗了的巨噬细胞,采用全细胞膜片箝技术研究在ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ刺激过程中细胞膜电流的变化,观察到一种ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ诱导的瞬间失活的外向Ｋ电流,该电流在生理电压范围内可发生稳态失活,且当施加０．５ＨＺ的去极化脉冲刺激时其失活具有频率依赖性。该电流对胞外４－ＡＰ高度敏感,胞内Ｃａ＾２＋浓度「Ｃａ＾２＋」升主可抑制其幅度,     

Comparison of the inhibitory effect of isothiourea and mercapto-alkylguanidine derivatives on the alternative pathways of arginine metabolism in macrophages

Novel, non-arginine based compounds have been identified as potent inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Members of the isothiourea and mercapto-alkylguanidine classes have generated much interest, as some members of these classes show selectivity towards the inducible isoform of NOS (iNOS), which plays a role in inflammation and shock. Here we compared the effect of a number of these compounds as well as L-arginine based NOS inhibitor reference compounds on macrophage-derived and liver arginase and macrophage iNOS activities. From the nonarginine based NOS inhibitors studied only S-aminoethyl-isothiourea (AETU) caused a slight inhibition of arginase activity. This inhibition was kinetically competitive and due to the rearrangement of AETU to mercapto-ethylguanidine (MEG). The weak inhibitory effect of non-arginine based iNOS inhibitors on arginase activity further supports the view that such compounds may be of practical use for inhibition of NO production in cells simultaneously expressing iNOS and arginase.     

Effect of polar glycopeptidolipids from Mycobacterium Chelonae (GPLp-Mc) on phagocytosis and superoxide anion production of macrophages from mice. Influence of physical activity

It is not clear how macrophages respond to exercise when the immune system is previously activated. The aim of the present work was to determine the response of macrophages to exercise in already immunostimulated animals with polar glycopeptidolipids extracted from Mycobacterium chelonae (GPLp-Mc). Results showed an increased phagocytosis and O₂ ^- production in murine macrophages induced by the intraperitoneal administration of 25 mg/kg body weight of GPLp-Mc. In addition exercise stimulated phagocytic activity and decreased the O₂ ^- production of these cells. Unexpectedly, exercise did not potentiate the immunostimulatory effect of GPLp-Mc. However, we can conclude that the effect of exercise is not detrimental to immunostimulated animals.