Metabolism of testosterone to 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol in alveolar macrophages from rat lung--II. Effects of intratracheal instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7

Activity of the steroid 5 alpha-reductase in pulmonary alveolar macrophages from adult male rats has been investigated in vitro. Intratracheal instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7 lowered the enzyme activity within 6 h, and the reduction was significant on the subsequent 2, 4 and 7 days. The activity of this enzyme was significantly decreased only 6 and 24 h after instillation when measured in the 800 g supernatant fraction of whole lung. Instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7 increased serum levels of corticosterone. Serum levels of triiodothyronine and thyroxine decreased except for a transient increase 3 h after the K2Cr2O7 instillation. Subcutaneous administration of 200 micrograms dexamethasone/100 g b.wt, 200 micrograms/100 g b.wt of testosterone, 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one (5 alpha-DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone or corticosterone had no effect on the 5 alpha-reductase activity of the pulmonary alveolar macrophages within 12 h. The combined treatment with dexamethasone s.c. and intratracheal instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7 reduced the steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity in the pulmonary alveolar macrophages to about 25% of controls. Measurement of the steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity in pulmonary alveolar macrophages as an index of lung damage when exposed to toxic material is discussed.     

Mitigation of pulmonary hyperoxic injury by administration of exogenous surfactant

We studied the effects of surfactant supplementation on the progression of lung injury in rabbits exposed to 100% O2 for 64 h and returned to room air for 24 h. At this time, rabbits not treated with surfactant exhibit a severe lung injury with hypoxemia, increased alveolar premeability to solute, decreased total lung capacity (TLC) and lung edema. For surfactant treatment, 125 mg of calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE), suspended in 6-8 ml of normal saline, were instilled intratracheally at 0 and 12 h posthyperoxic exposure. At 24 h postexposure, these CLSE-treated rabbits compared with saline controls had significantly higher amounts of lung phospolipids (34 +/- 4 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.6 mumol/kg body wt) and increased TLC (42 +/- 2 vs. 27 +/- 1 ml/kg), with significantly lower amounts of alveolar protein (36 +/- 3 vs. 56 +/- 3 mg/kg) and decreased lung wet weight-to-dry weight ratios (5.6 +/- 0.1 vs. 6.3 +/- 0.3). Surfactant supplementation also decreased the degree of lung atelectasis as reflected by the increase in arterial O2 partial pressure (PaO2) after breathing 100% O2 for 20 min (PaO2 = 460 +/- 31 vs. 197 +/- 52 Torr). These findings indicate that instillation of exogenous surfactant mitigates the progression of hyperoxic lung injury in rabbits.     

Effect of chromium on growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Tolerance level to trivalent chromium-Cr(salen)(H2O)2+ and hexavalent chromium-K2Cr2O7 was assessed in P. aeruginosa isolated from tannery effluent soil. It could tolerate 80 and 100 ppm in liquid cultures and up to 100 and 200 ppm in plate count agar in the presence of trivalent and hexavalent chromium respectively. Unadapted cells took a longer time to grow than adapted cells in the presence of K2Cr2O7. Chromium influenced the cellular contents, morphology and respiration of P. aeruginosa. The chosen trivalent salt of chromium was more toxic than the hexavalent one.     

Alveolar hyperoxic injury in rabbits receiving exogenous surfactant

We have previously demonstrated that instillation of a calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE) in rabbits after exposure to 100% O2 for 64 h mitigates the progression of lung pathology after return to room air (J. Appl. Physiol. 62: 756-761, 1987). In the present study, we investigated whether we could prevent or reduce the onset and development of hyperoxic lung injury by sequential instillations of CLSE during the hyperoxic exposure. Rabbits were exposed to 100% O2. CLSE (125 mg, approximately 170 mumol of phospholipid) was suspended in 10 ml of sterile saline and instilled intratracheally into their lungs, starting at 24 h in O2, a time at which no physiological or biochemical injury was detected, and at 24-h intervals thereafter. Control rabbits breathed 100% O2 and received either equal volumes of saline or no instillations at all. CLSE-instilled rabbits had higher arterial PO2 (Pao2) values throughout the exposure period and survived longer when compared with saline controls [120 +/- 4 vs. 102 +/- 4 (SE) h; n greater than or equal to 10; P less than 0.05]. At 72 h in O2, CLSE-instilled rabbits had significantly higher lavageable alveolar phospholipid levels (12.5 +/- 1.5 vs. 5 +/- 1 mumol/kg) and total lung capacities (41 +/- 2 vs. 25 +/- 3.5 ml/kg) and lower levels of alveolar protein (24 +/- 3 vs. 52 +/- 8 mg/kg), minimum surface tension (2 +/- 1 vs. 26.1 dyn/cm), and lung wet-to-dry weights (5.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 6.5 +/- 0.3). After 72 h in O2, lungs from both CLSE- and saline-instilled rabbits showed evidence of diffuse hyperoxic injury. However, atelectasis was less prominent in the former. We concluded that instillation of CLSE limits the onset and development of hyperoxic lung injury to the alveolar epithelium of rabbits.     

Poractant alfa (Curosurf?) increases phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages in vivo

Background

Clearance of apoptotic neutrophils in the lung is an essential process to limit inflammation, since they could become a pro-inflammatory stimulus themselves. The clearance is partially mediated by alveolar macrophages, which phagocytose these apoptotic cells. The phagocytosis of apoptotic immune cells by monocytes in vitro has been shown to be augmented by several constituents of pulmonary surfactant, e.g. phospholipids and hydrophobic surfactant proteins. In this study, we assessed the influence of exogenous poractant alfa (Curosurf^®) instillation on the in vivo phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages.

Methods

Poractant alfa (200 mg/kg) was instilled intratracheally in the lungs of three months old adult male C57/Black 6 mice, followed by apoptotic neutrophil instillation. Bronchoalveloar lavage was performed and alveolar macrophages and neutrophils were counted. Phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils was quantified by determining the number of apoptotic neutrophils per alveolar macrophages.

Results

Exogenous surfactant increased the number of alveolar macrophages engulfing apoptotic neutrophils 2.6 fold. The phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils was increased in the presence of exogenous surfactant by a 4.7 fold increase in phagocytosed apoptotic neutrophils per alveolar macrophage.

Conclusions

We conclude that the anti-inflammatory properties of surfactant therapy may be mediated in part by increased numbers of alveolar macrophages and increased phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages.     

Development of O2 tolerance in rabbits with no increase in antioxidant enzymes

Instillation of exogenous surfactant into rabbits exposed to 100% O2 increases survival time and decreases alveolar epithelial injury. In this study we investigated whether rabbits with increased levels of endogenous pulmonary surfactant are more resistant to hyperoxia. Rabbits were exposed to 100% O2 for 64 h and then returned to room air for 8 days (preexposed). At this time, they had normal gas exchange and alveolar permeability to solute and increased levels of lavageable alveolar phospholipids compared with control rabbits breathing air (26 +/- 2 vs. 12 +/- 2 mumol/kg). Preexposed rabbits survived significantly longer than control rabbits when reexposed to 100% O2 (166 +/- 24 vs. 80 +/- 6 h; n = 7; P less than 0.05) and had significantly higher values of total lavageable phospholipids after 72 h in 100% O2 (15 +/- 2 vs. 5 +/- 2 mumol/kg). Controls developed arterial hypoxemia after 72 h in 100% O2. On the other hand, preexposed rabbits maintained arterial PO2 values greater than 100 Torr throughout the hyperoxic exposure and developed progressive respiratory acidosis. Specific activities of CuZn and Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in lung homogenates and isolated alveolar type II pneumocytes of preexposed rabbits were unchanged from those of controls before O2 reexposure and after 72 h in 100% O2. We concluded that 1) increases in pulmonary antioxidant enzyme specific activities are not necessary for the development of O2 tolerance in rabbits and 2) pulmonary surfactant may play a role in O2 adaptation.     

Conversion of androstenedione to testosterone and other androgens in guinea-pig alveolar macrophages

Alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of lungs of male and female guinea pigs were incubated with tritium-labelled androstenedione to evaluate the steroid metabolizing enzymes in these cells. The radiolabeled metabolites were isolated and thereafter characterized as testosterone, 5 alpha-androstanedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, androsterone, isoandrosterone, 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol and 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol. Thus, the following androstenedione metabolizing enzymes are present in guinea-pig alveolar macrophages: 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 5 alpha-reductase, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The predominant androstenedione metabolizing enzyme activity present in alveolar macrophages was 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The rate of testosterone formation increased with incubation time up to 4 h, and with macrophage number up to 1.6 X 10(7) cells per ml. Androstenedione metabolism was similar in alveolar macrophages obtained both from male and female guinea pigs. These results suggest that alveolar macrophages may be a site of peripheral transformation of blood-borne androstenedione to biologically potent androgens in vivo and, therefore, these cells may contribute to the plasma levels of testosterone in the guinea pig.     

Restoration of PPARγ reverses lipid accumulation in alveolar macrophages of GM-CSF knockout mice

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a lung disease characterized by a deficiency of functional granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) resulting in surfactant accumulation and lipid-engorged alveolar macrophages. GM-CSF is a positive regulator of PPARγ that is constitutively expressed in healthy alveolar macrophages. We previously reported decreased PPARγ and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) levels in alveolar macrophages from PAP patients and GM-CSF knockout (KO) mice, suggesting PPARγ and ABCG1 involvement in surfactant catabolism. Because ABCG1 represents a PPARγ target, we hypothesized that PPARγ restoration would increase ABCG1 and reduce macrophage lipid accumulation. Upregulation of PPARγ was achieved using a lentivirus expression system in vivo. GM-CSF KO mice received intratracheal instillation of lentivirus (lenti)-PPARγ or control lenti-eGFP. Ten days postinstillation, 79% of harvested alveolar macrophages expressed eGFP, demonstrating transduction. Alveolar macrophages showed increased PPARγ and ABCG1 expression after lenti-PPARγ instillation, whereas PPARγ and ABCG1 levels remained unchanged in lenti-eGFP controls. Alveolar macrophages from lenti-PPARγ-treated mice also exhibited reduced intracellular phospholipids and increased cholesterol efflux to HDL, an ABCG1-mediated pathway. In vivo instillation of lenti-PPARγ results in: 1) upregulating ABCG1 and PPARγ expression of GM-CSF KO alveolar macrophages, 2) reducing intracellular lipid accumulation, and 3) increasing cholesterol efflux activity.     

Nimesulide inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced production of superoxide anions and nitric oxide and iNOS expression in alveolar macrophages

The study was designed to investigate the effect of nimesulide on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory oxidants production by rat alveolar macrophages (AMs). Effects of LPS and nimesulide on antioxidant defense and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were also studied. It was found that nimesulide could scavenge superoxide anions (O2*-), nitric oxide (NO*) and total oxidant burden induced by LPS in AMs in vitro. Approximately 850 nmoles of nimesulide had activity equivalent to one IU of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Further, to confirm the in vitro observation, Male Wistar rats were orally administered with nimesulide (9 mg/kg b. wt. twice daily) for one week followed by intratracheal instillation of 2 microg LPS to stimulate lung inflammation. AMs from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were collected 18 h after instillation of LPS. Nimesulide pretreatment could inhibit O2*-, NO() and lipid peroxidation in AMs. Nimesulide also suppressed LPS-induced iNOS expression in AMs in vivo and in vitro. Nimesulide could also normalize LPS-induced changes in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in AMs. Inhibition in production of oxidants in LPS-challenged AMs by nimesulide could be one of the pathways for its anti-inflammatory action.     

Chromosomal aberrations and morphological transformation in hamster embryonic cells treated with potassium dichromate in vitro

The addition of K2Cr2O7, at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 microng/ml, to hamster total embryonic cells for 24 h, resulted in consistent and drastic chromosomal aberrations including gaps, breaks and exchanges. The above effect, however, was reduced successfully by the addition of a reducing agent, Na2SO3. Among other chromium compounds examined, divalent and trivalent chromium salts were ineffective on chromosome morphology even at a concentration of 3.5 microng/ml as chromium, whereas a hexavalent compound, CrO3, was highly effective. K2Cr2O7 also enhanced the morphological transformation rate in a short-term colony assay, in whicy hamster embryonic cells (1x10(4) cells/60-mm dish) were treated and the morphology was observed 8 to 10 days after the treatment.     

Various cells of the immune system and intestine differ in their capacity to reduce hexavalent chromium

The cells of the immune system form a strong line of defence against foreign substances. The present study was undertaken to investigate the capacity of different cells of Wistar rats to reduce potentially carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) into less toxic trivalent chromium in vitro. 5 x 10(6) cells were incubated with 10 or 25 microg ml(-1) of Cr (VI) in the form of K2Cr2O7 at 37 degrees C in the presence of 5% CO2 in air. At various time periods the remaining amount of Cr (VI) was measured and the percentage of Cr (VI) reduced was calculated. Among the single cell suspensions from the splenic cells a peak reduction of 55% was observed with the total spleen cells, 40% with the B-lymphocyte-enriched subpopulation, 10% with T-lymphocytes and 24% with the macrophages. The reduction by splenic and peritoneal macrophages was similar. Total thymocytes reduced 54% of the Cr (VI). Since the most common route of entry of chromium is through drinking water and food, intestinal cells were also investigated. Among the intestinal cells the maximum reduction of 100% (of 10 microg ml(-1)) was observed with the upper villus cells and 72% with the middle villus cells while reduction was the least (4%) with the crypt cells. The reduction in the intestinal loop in situ was 100%. The time taken by each cell type for the peak reduction to Cr (VI) was markedly different. The findings thus show that the capacity of different cells in the body differs vastly in their capacity and time taken to reduce hexavalent chromium. The most efficient handling of Cr (VI) by the intestine, due to the presence of a variety of cells and bacteria, protects the body from its adverse effects.     

Protective effects of elevated endogenous surfactant pools to injurious mechanical ventilation

Depletion of alveolar macrophages (AM) leads to an increase in endogenous surfactant that lasts several days beyond the repletion of AM. Furthermore, impairment to the endogenous pulmonary surfactant system contributes to ventilation-induced lung injury. The objective of the current study was to determine whether increased endogenous surfactant pools induced via AM depletion was protective against ventilation-induced lung injury. Adult rats were intratracheally instilled with either control or dichloromethylene diphosphonic acid (DMDP) containing liposomes to deplete AMs and thereby increase endogenous surfactant pools. Either 3 or 7 days following instillation, rats were exposed to 2 h of injurious ventilation using either an ex vivo or in vivo ventilation protocol and were compared with nonventilated controls. The measured outcomes were oxygenation, lung compliance, lavage protein, and inflammatory cytokine concentrations. Compared with controls, the DMDP-treated animals had significantly reduced AM numbers and increased surfactant pools 3 days after instillation. Seven days after instillation, AM numbers had returned to normal, but surfactant pools were still elevated. DMDP-treated animals at both time points exhibited protection against ventilation-induced lung injury, which included superior physiological parameters, lower protein leakage, and lower inflammatory mediator release into the air space, compared with animals not receiving DMDP. It is concluded that DMDP-liposome administration protects against ventilation-induced lung injury. This effect appears to be due to the presence of elevated endogenous surfactant pools.     

Comparative toxicity of trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds in fig moth Ephestia cautella (Walker)

Of the trivalent (CrSO4) and hexavalent (K2Cr2O7) chromium compounds, only the hexavalent produced significant deleterious effects on development and fertility of E. cautella, when eggs were reared on laboratory medium supplemented with different concentrations of these salts.     

Fetal lung disaturated phosphatidylcholine. Ostensible increase following exposure to dexamethasone

Fetal rat lung removed at 15 days gestation and placed in organ culture incorporates choline into phosphatidylcholine. Addition of 10(-9) M dexamethasone resulted in increased rates of choline incorporation per micrograms protein after both 6 and 12 days culture. This concentration of dexamethasone did not increase tissue phosphatidylcholine or disaturated phosphatidylcholine. Thus, at a culture time when dexamethasone had a significant effect on choline incorporation, there was no change in either the total phospholipid or disaturated phosphatidylcholine content of the lung tissue. The transplacental administration of dexamethasone decreased fetal lung DNA and phospholipid content. At the mid-range dosage tested (400 micrograms), dexamethasone depressed DNA (51%) appreciably more than total phosphatidylcholine (28%) and disaturated phosphatidylcholine (33%). These results show that the hormone does not increase the total amount of surfactant per lung. The increased disaturated phosphatidylcholine per mg DNA results in an ostensible beneficial effect of dexamethasone on surfactant and may reflect an increased proportion of Type II cells in fetal lung both in vitro and in vivo following hormone exposure. Disaturated phosphatidylcholine per Type II alveolar cell is no doubt increased but the trade-off is fewer total cells in the lung.     

Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster cells treated in vitro with hexavalent chromium compounds.

Chinese hamster cells (CHO line) were treated in vitro for 30--39 h with hexavalent chromium compounds (K2Cr2O7 and Na2CrO7), at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 microgram of Cr6+ per ml, in medium containing BUdr. Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges were scored on BUdr-labelled 2nd division metaphases, collected at the end of treatment and stained with Giemsa. Treatment with mitomycin C 0.009--0.030 microgram/ml) was carried out as a control for the responsiveness of the cell system to chromosomal damage. Both chromium compounds induced marked mitotic delays. Chromosomal aberrations were increased about 10-fold by exposure to Cr6+ (1.0 microgram/ml). The principal aberrations observed were single chromatid gaps, breaks and interchanges, whose frequencies increased proportionally to the concentration of chromium. Dicentric chromosomes, isochromatid breaks, chromosome and chromatid rings were also induced. The frequenyc of sister-chromatid exchanges was hardly doubled 30 h after exposure to Cr6+ at 0.3 microgram/ml, whereas it was trebled 39 h after treatment, in the cells whose division cycle had been slowed down by chromium.     

六价铬对薏米人工湿地微生物群落数量的影响

通过桶栽构筑微型模拟垂直流薏米人工湿地(CAW),以1/2 Hoaglands营养液为营养源,在营养液中添加不同浓度的Cr6+(0,5,20,40,60mg/L,以K2Cr2O7配置),各浓度处理均以不种植薏米湿地(NPW)为对照,以研究铬(Cr6+)对薏米人工湿地基质真菌、细菌及放线菌群落结构数量的影响。结果表明:(1)真菌、细菌、放线菌的数量在薏米人工湿地(CAW)中明显多于无植物对照处理(NPW);(2)中低浓度(5、20mg/L)Cr6+对CAW真菌,对NPW细菌、放线菌数量有促进作用,薏米人工湿地微生物对低中浓度的Cr6+胁迫有一定的耐受能力。     

Alveolar macrophage depletion is associated with increased surfactant pool sizes in adult rats.

Pulmonary surfactant is a lipid-protein material that is essential for normal lung function. Maintaining normal and consistent alveolar amounts of surfactant is in part dependent on clearance of surfactant by alveolar macrophages (AM). The present study utilized a rat model of AM depletion to determine the impact on surfactant pool sizes and function over time. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and intratracheally instilled with PBS-liposomes (PBS-L) or dichloromethylene diphosphonic acid (DMDP) containing liposomes (DMDP-L) and were killed at various time points up to 21 days for compliance measurements, AM cell counts, and surfactant analysis. AM numbers were significantly decreased 1, 2, and 3 days after instillation in DMDP-L vs. PBS-L, with 72% depletion at 3 days. AM numbers returned to normal levels by 5 days. In DMDP-L rats, there was a rapid increase in surfactant-phospholipid pools, showing a ninefold increase in the amount of surfactant in the lavage 3 days after liposome instillation. Surfactant accumulation progressed up to 7 days, with pools normalizing by 21 days. The increase in surfactant was due to increases in both subfractions of surfactant, the large aggregates (LA) and small aggregates. Surfactant protein A levels, relative to LA phospholipids, were not increased. There was a decreased extent of surfactant conversion in vitro for LA from DMDP-L rats compared with controls. It is concluded that the procedure of AM depletion significantly affects surfactant metabolism. The increased endogenous surfactant must be considered when utilizing the AM depletion model to study the role of these cells during lung insults.     

Clearance of surfactant phosphatidylcholine from adult rabbit lungs

Rabbits were given various doses of rabbit surfactant and treatment doses of approximately 100 mg/kg body wt of calf surfactant and Surfactant TA by tracheal injection. The linear loss of radiolabeled phosphatidylcholine from the total lung (alveolar wash and lung tissue) was 3.1, 1.5, and 1.8%/h for rabbit surfactant, calf surfactant, and Surfactant TA, respectively. After 24 h only 6% rabbit, 19% calf, and 9.7% Surfactant TA phosphatidylcholine were recovered by alveolar wash, and alveolar macrophage fractions contained less than 1% of the injected labeled phosphatidylcholine. The loss of rabbit surfactant phosphatidylcholine 24 h after tracheal injection did not change for doses in the range of 0.5-70 mumol phosphatidylcholine per kilogram, indicating nonsaturable clearance pathways. Very little of the labeled rabbit surfactant phosphatidylcholine lost from the lungs could be recovered in other organs, and 90% of the recovered labeled phosphatidylcholine in the liver was unsaturated, implying de novo synthesis using precursors from degraded phosphatidylcholine. The surfactant did not change endogenous lung phosphatidylcholine synthesis or its secretion to the alveolus. There were no adverse effects of the surfactant treatments noted in healthy rabbits.     

Tracheal insufflation of tumor necrosis factor protects rats against oxygen toxicity

Tracheal insufflation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF; 5 micrograms or 1.2 x 10(5) U) markedly enhanced the survival of adult rats exposed to 100% O2: 12 of 17 rats (71%) survived for greater than 11 days, whereas 30 of 30 control (Hanks' balanced salt solution) insufflated rats (100%) died within 3 days of O2 exposure. Insufflation of gamma-interferon (5 micrograms) or intraperitoneal injection of up to 40 micrograms TNF did not afford any protection. At 55 h after O2 exposure, TNF-insufflated rats showed less pulmonary edema, as determined by the extravascular lung water content-to-bloodless lung dry weigh ratio and less alveolar capillary leak as determined by the protein content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, than control insufflated rats similarly exposed. This protection against O2 toxicity by TNF insufflation was associated with increased lung superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. The enhancement of lung antioxidant enzyme activities was noted at 55 h of O2 exposure, when control animals began to die of O2 toxicity. This temporal relationship suggests that TNF-induced increase in antioxidant enzyme activities contributes, at least in part, to the observed protection.