Mechanisms of lysosomal enzyme release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Effects of phorbol myristate acetate

PMA enhanced release of the azurophil granule enzyme, beta-glucuronidase, as well as lysozyme, from cytochalasin B-treated PMN's exposed to either zymosan particles or C5a. PMA was active at nanomolar concentrations, was not toxic to the cells, and was most effective when present for brief durations (0-1 min) before exposure of the cells to the stimuli. Beta-glucuronidase was not released in significant amounts from PMN's exposed to PMA alone, in the absence of stimuli such as zymosan or C5a. In contrast, only the specific granule enzyme, lysozyme, was released from unstimulated cells. Electron micrographs of cells exposed to PMA revealed an increase in the number of visible cytoplasmic microtubules as compared to control cells. Enhancement of lysosomal enzyme (beta-glucuronidase) release by PMA appears to be independent of effects on release of specific granule enzymes (lysozyme), but rather is likely due to PMA-induced elevations of cellular cGMP.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: parasite-induced release of lysosomal enzymes by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) engaged in phagocytosis and lysis of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes was studied in the presence or absence of chagasic serum. Lysosomal enzyme release was enhanced when parasites were sensitized with serum from a chronic Chagas' patient, increased up to 3 hr of incubation at 28 C, and depended on the PMN:parasite ratio. The release of lysosomal enzymes was determined by the presence of 2 mM cyanide, 2 microM azide, 3 mM amobarbital, and 1 mM phenylbutazone. These drugs inhibited the killing of sensitized T. cruzi by interfering with the oxidative microbicidal mechanisms of PMN without affecting the uptake of the parasites. Lysosomal enzyme release occurred in the presence of cyanide and azide, indicating that in these cases the enzymatic release was unrelated to the killing of the parasites. Amobarbital and phenylbutazone, which stabilize PMN membranes, inhibited the release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme by PMN. The addition of 10 micrograms/ml of cytochalasin B inhibited the phagocytosis and killing of sensitized T. cruzi by PMN but increased the enzymatic release by effector cells. Since cytochalasin B did not affect the close contact between PMN and parasites, it appears that the enzymes released to the extracellular milieu were not toxic to noningested parasites. Furthermore, the lysosomal enzymes did not lyse bystander unsensitized parasites. Therefore, the release of lysosomal enzymes during the interaction of T. cruzi epimastigotes and PMN seems to be related to the triggering event of the phagocytic process and does not bear a cause-effect relationship with parasite death.     

Intracellular or extracellular calcium can be used to trigger C5a-stimulated enzyme secretion from rabbit neutrophils

The ability of C5a to stimulate lysosomal enzyme release and 45Ca2+ efflux from rabbit neutrophils was studied. C5a stimulated beta-glucuronidase release from cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils either in the presence or absence of extracellular calcium. Depletion of cell calcium by pretreatment with the calcium ionophore A23187 blocked both the ability of C5a to elicit enzyme release in the absence of extracellular calcium and its ability to stimulate 45Ca2+ efflux. Both actions were dose-dependent over the same concentration range (10(-8)-10(-6) M ionophore A23187). In contrast, ionophore pretreatment had no effect on C5a-stimulated enzyme release in the presence of extracellular calcium. These results suggest that (a) release of cell calcium is required for enzyme secretion in the absence of extracellular calcium, and (b) C5a can trigger near-maximal enzyme release by using calcium from either of two sources: the extracellular space or an intracellular site.     

Microfilaments and microtubules in calcium ionophore-induced secretion of lysosomal enzymes from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Human peripheral blood leukocytes (PMN) are induced to release lysosomal enzymes by the calcium ionophore A23187 in the presence but not the absence of extracellular Ca++. Whereas secretion induced by particulate or immune stimuli is accompanied by an increase in visible microtubules and is inhibitable by colchicine, secretion induced by A23187 and Ca++ was not accompanied by an increase in microtubule numbers and was not inhibited by colchicine. Ca++ did not appear to regulate microtubule assembly in these cells since resting PMN had a mean of 22.3 +/- 2.0 microtubules in the centriolar region as compared to 22.3 +/- 1.1 in ionophore-treated cells and 24.9 +/- 1.5 in cells exposed to ionophore and 1 mM Ca++. Bipolar filaments, 10 nm thick and 300--400 nm long, were numerous in the pericortical cytoplasm of cells exposed to both reagents. Microtubules in these cells were decorated with an electron-opaque fibrillar material. PMN exposed to A23187 and Ca++ were contracted in two directions at right angles to each other: (a) Contractions parallel to the plasma membrane resulted in extensive plication of the cell membrane. The cytoplasm subjacent to the plicae contained dense filamentous webs. Plication was prevented by cytochalasin B or reversed by subsequent exposure to an endocytic stimulus such as zymosan. (b) Contractions perpendicular to the plasma membrane, toward the cytocenter, resulted in the formation of vacuoles in normal PMN and of membrane invaginations in cytochalasin B-treated PMN. Whereas contractions parallel to the plasma membrane could occur in the absence of enzyme release (ionophore alone) and enzyme release could occur in the absence of such contractions (ionophore plus calcium plus cytochalasin B), contraction toward the cytocenter occurred in all experimental conditions in which significant enzyme release was obtained. Thus, lysosomal enzyme secretion in PMN involves contractile movements in the plasma membrane toward the lysosomes rather than the reverse. These calcium-mediated contractile events are mediated by cytochalasin B-insensitive microfilaments but not by microtubule assembly.     

Effective approach to greatly enhancing selective secretion and expression of three cytoplasmic enzymes in Escherichia coli through synergistic effect of EDTA and lysozyme

An effective approach to greatly enhancing the selective secretion and expression of recombinant cytoplasmic enzymes in Escherichia coli was successfully developed through the synergistic effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and lysozyme. The method was applied to two endoglucanases (EGs) and an amylase. The optimal culture conditions of temperature and concentration of isopropyl-β-D: -1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) were 23-30?°C and 0.2?mM, respectively, under which the three enzymes could be expressed in active form. Among all the chemicals tested, EDTA was found to be most suitable for enhancing the secretion of EG-I-1A into the medium. Addition of lysozyme alone had little influence on the secretion and expression. In contrast, on the basis of the addition of 5?g?EDTA/L at the induction time of 12?h, the simultaneous addition of 0.15?g?lysozyme/L further significantly increased the secretion and expression of the three enzymes, demonstrating the synergistic effect of EDTA and lysozyme. The production of EG-I-1A in the culture medium by adding 5?g?EDTA/L and 0.15?g?lysozyme/L under the optimal culture conditions of 23?°C and 0.2?mM IPTG was over 260-fold higher than that without EDTA and lysozyme under the standard conditions of 37?°C and 1?mM IPTG. In summary, the advantage of this novel cultivation approach for secretion was that not only did it selectively enhance the secretion of the proteins of interest, but also greatly increased the expression of the three enzymes by over 80?%.     

Phorbol myristate acetate-induced release of granule enzymes from human neutrophils: inhibition by the calcium antagonist, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated the extracellular release of the granule-associated enzyme lysozyme from human neutrophils. The extrusion of lysozyme was not accompanied by the release of β-glucuronidase or the cytosol enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. A time dependent PMA-induced release of lysozyme occurred in the absence of extracellular calcium and when neutrophils were preincubated with EGTA. 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8), an antagonist of intracellular calcium, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of lysozyme release from neutrophils exposed to PMA in a calcium-free medium. This effect of TMB-8 could be reversed by the addition of calcium to the extracellular medium. These studies indicate that TMB-8 represents a valuable pharmacologic tool used to define the dependence of a secretagogue such as PMA on intracellular as opposed to extracellular calcium.     

Modulation of platelet-activating factor (PAF) synthesis and release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN): role of extracellular Ca2+

Extracellular Ca2+ regulated the synthesis and release of platelet-activating factor (PAF) from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated with N'-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) in the presence of cytochalasin B. Maximum PAF synthesis and release required the presence of 0.14 mM Ca2+ whereas 1.4 mM Ca2+ was necessary for maximum lysosomal enzyme secretion. The synthesis of PAF occurred within 2.5 min after PMN stimulation in the presence of 1.4 mM Ca2+; however, PAF release did not occur until 5 min after stimulation. Peak PAF release occurred by 7.5 min but accounted for only 30-40% of the total amount of PAF synthesized, the remainder being retained on or within the PMN. Stimulation of PMN in the presence of 0.01 M EDTA or EGTA decreased PAF synthesis and release by greater than 95%. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, stimulated PMN synthesized PAF in amounts that were 10-30% of maximum, but there was no release of the newly synthesized PAF. At Ca2+ concentrations greater than 0.01 mM, there was a dose-dependent (up to 0.14 mM) increase in PAF synthesis that was associated with the initiation and concomitant increase in the amount of PAF released. These data suggest the presence of a PAF synthesis-release coupling mechanism in which the extracellular Ca2+-dependent release of PAF stimulates additional PAF synthesis.     

PGBX, a prostagandin derivative, mimics the action of the calcium ionophore A23187 on human neutrophils

The interactions have been studied of a water-soluble, polymeric derivative of prostaglandin B1, PGBX, with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). PGBX, which is a potent ionophore of divalent cations, provoked superoxide anion (O2.-) generation and lysosomal enzyme release in cytochalasin B-treated PMN in the presence of extracellular divalent cations (Ca2+, Sr2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Ba2+). Kinetic and dose-response studies showed that PGBX mimicked te action of ionophore A23187 in PMN. Both ionophores induced superoxide generation and release of enzymes from specific and azurophil granules (lysozyme > beta-glucuronidase) without provoking release of the cytoplasmic marker enzyme lactic dehydrogenase. In contrast, the precursor of PGBX, prostaglandin B1 (PGB1), and arachidonate did not mimic ionophore-induced stimulation of PMN. PGBX induced enzyme release both in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and Ba2+ (both of which it translocates in model liposomes), whereas A23187 showed specificity for Ca2+ (which it translocates preferentially over Ba2+). These studies indicate that the actions of a water-soluble polymer (PGBX) derived from a naturally occurring prostaglandin (PGB1) on human neutrophils resemble those of a classical ionophore (A23187). Moreover, they provide additional evidence that increments in the intracellular levels of divalent cations may signal stimulus-secretion coupling in human neutrophils.     

Calcium-induced lysozyme secretion from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Calcium ions, in the absence of other stimuli, are capable of provoking the release by exocytosis of the granule-associated enzyme, lysozyme, from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Calcium-induced extrusion of lysozyme occurs in a concentration, time and temperature-dependent fashion. It is enhanced in the presence of extracellular inorganic phosphate and the ionophore, A-23187, and is not accompanied by the release from cells of cytoplasmic or lysosomal marker enzymes.     

Spontaneous induction of superoxide release and degranulation of neutrophils in isotonic potassium medium: the role of intracellular calcium

When guinea pig peritoneal neutrophils were suspended in the isotonic medium of potassium, rubidium, and cesium ions at 37 degrees C, the cells released superoxide, while low activity was observed in the isotonic medium of sodium and lithium ions. The activity induced in the potassium medium was enhanced by potassium-ionophores, valinomycin, and gramicidin, and decreased by a potassium channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine. The superoxide-releasing activity was not affected by the presence or absence of extracellular calcium but was inhibited by an intracellular calcium antagonist-8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate(TMB-8) with the half-inhibition concentration of 50 microM. The release of granular enzymes, lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase, was also induced in the isotonic potassium medium in the absence of extracellular calcium and inhibited by TMB-8. A remarkable elevation of the intracellular free calcium concentration in neutrophils, which was monitored by quin-2 fluorescence, was found when the cells were added to the potassium medium without calcium. The elevation was inhibited by the addition of TMB-8. These observations suggest that calcium mobilization from intracellular storage sites, not an influx of calcium from the extracellular medium, causes the release of superoxide and the granular enzymes in isotonic potassium medium.     

Effect of 6,9-deepoxy-6,9-(phenylimino)-delta 6,8-prostaglandin 1(1) (U-60,257), an inhibitor of leukotriene synthesis, on human neutrophil function

A23187, a calcium ionophore, stimulated a time-dependent generation of 5(S), 12(R)-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (leukotriene B₄), production of superoxide anion (O₂^?) and release of granule-associated β-glucuronidase and lysozyme by human neutrophils. Leukotriene B₄ also elicited the selective release of granule enzymes from cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils. U-60,257, a recently identified inhibitor of leukotriene (LT) C₄ and D₄ synthesis, caused a dose-related (1–10 μM) suppression of LTB₄ production by A23187-activated neutrophils. Degranulation and O₂^? generation by neutrophils exposed to A23187 and the chemotactic oligopeptide, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), were also inhibited with U-60,257.     

Inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte oxidative metabolism by exogenous phospholipase C

We studied the effects of exogenous, purified phospholipase C (PLC) on neutrophil oxidative metabolism, lysosomal enzyme release and aggregation. We found that PLC inhibited O2- and H2O2 generation and oxygen consumption, but did not alter glucose oxidation via the hexose monophosphate shunt. In contrast, we found a striking stimulation of aggregation and release of the lysosomal enzymes lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase. In experiments designed to further characterize the mechanism of the PLC effect on membrane activation we studied the effect of PLC on intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i and found that PLC did not interfere with the fMLP-mediated rise in [Ca2+]i, suggesting that its inhibitory effect on the respiratory burst does not involve inhibition of early signal transduction events. In addition, we found that PLC alone results in mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores, consistent with its stimulatory effect on aggregation and lysosomal enzyme release.     

Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) trigger the release of histamine from human basophils

Circulating basophils are well established sources of the granule-associated mediator, histamine. The physiological control, however, of histamine release from human basophils is poorly understood. Because histamine may play a role in the transendothelial transport of various compounds, including very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and its hydrolysis products, we investigated the possibility that VLDL regulates mediator release from basophils. The incubation of VLDL (at physiological concentrations) with basophils (isolated as mixed leukocyte preparations) resulted in a significant release of histamine. Histamine release was dependent on VLDL concentration (half-maximal stimulation occurring at VLDL-protein concentration of 15-20 micrograms/ml), length of incubation (half-maximal release at 5-12 min), temperature (37 degrees C optimum) and required calcium (concentration 0.5-2.0 mM). Furthermore, VLDL-induced histamine release was inhibited by three different mediator-release inhibitors: dimaprit, dibutyryl cAMP and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Incubation of basophils with LDL or HDL under the same experimental conditions did not result in significant histamine release from basophils. The histamine-secretory response of basophils obtained from different donors varied considerably. Basophils isolated from 28 donors and challenged with 100 micrograms/ml VLDL released 23 +/- 5% of their cellular histamine (mean +/- S.E.; with a range of 0-94%). Desensitization of VLDL-induced histamine release could be accomplished by preincubation of basophils with either VLDL or anti-IgE but not with N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine. Through the secretion of histamine, a potent vasoactive mediator (and also possibly through granule-associated glycosaminoglycans, stimulants of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase), this novel effect of VLDL may be part of a physiological loop for the regulation of VLDL hydrolysis and lipid transport. This effect of VLDL may also have deleterious consequences, because of the atherogenic properties of histamine.     

Metabolic comparison between basophils and other leukocytes from human blood

Basophilic granulocytes were purified from the blood of normal individuals by successive isopyknic centrifugation and elutriation centrifugation. Starting with the leukocyte-rich fraction of 500 ml of blood, we recovered 31 to 80% (mean 51%, n = 20) of the basophils in 45 to 87% purity (mean 69%, n = 23). The contaminating cells were mainly lymphocytes. The basophils were greater than 98% vital (exclusion of ethidium bromide and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate). The histamine content of the basophils was 1.1 to 2 pg/cell (mean 1.6 pg/cell, n = 22). With anti-IgE, 30 to 50% of the histamine was released; with phorbol myristic acetate (PMA) or the calcium ionophore A23187, 70 to 100% of the histamine was released. Serum-opsonized zymosan (STZ) did not induce histamine release. Reactions with monoclonal antibodies revealed that the basophils expressed the C3bi receptor (CR3) and the leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA1), but not the gp 150,95 antigen, the C3b receptor (CR1), or the low avidity Fc gamma receptor. Basophils carry class I but not class II HLA antigens. During incubation of the basophils with serum-opsonized Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, these bacteria were neither phagocytized nor killed. STZ, PMA, A23187, or anti-IgE did not initiate an "oxidative burst" in the basophils. This was tested with oxygen consumption, cytochrome c reduction, NBT reduction, chemiluminescence, and release of hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, we did not detect cytochrome b558, superoxide dismutase, catalase, or peroxidase in the basophils. Of the typical granule-associated enzymes lysozyme, Vitamin B12-binding protein, and beta-glucuronidase, only beta-glucuronidase was present in the basophils in detectable amounts. This enzyme was released, together with histamine, on incubation of the cells with PMA, A23187, or anti-IgE, but not with STZ. We conclude that basophils from normal human blood are not phagocytes and are probably not involved in the oxidative defense of the host against foreign antigens.     

Detection of induced enzyme secretion from neutrophilic granulocytes in the human--a marker of cell activation

A simple, effective method with an objective analysis for the detection of induced, i.e. not cytotoxic release of enzymes from human neutrophils (PMN) is described. As marker enzyme for lysosomes we determined lysozyme activity and as indicator of cell damage the lactatdehydrogenase activity. The PMN were isolated from peripheral blood. Latex-, zymosan particles and inactivated mycobacteria for phagocytosis model, and heat aggregated human IgG and surface-bounded immune complexes for the Fc-receptor-mediated activation were used as stimulators of enzyme secretion. With these substances we could show an increase of secretion referring to unaffected control in all tested probands. The spontaneous and also the induced secretion are influenced by strong individual variations. It is accentuated, that also without influence of cytochalasin B this process is representable and that this is the supposition to carry out functional tests with PMN under extensively physiological conditions.     

Stability and Specificity of the Cell Wall-Associated Proteinase from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris H2 Released by Treatment with Lysozyme in the Presence of Calcium Ions

The cell wall-associated proteinase from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris H2 (isolate number 4409) was released from the cells by treatment with lysozyme, even in the presence of 50 mM calcium chloride. Cell lysis during lysozyme treatment was minimal. The proteinase activity released by lysozyme treatment fractionated on ion-exchange chromatography as three main forms, the molecular masses of which were determined by gel exclusion chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two of the enzyme forms released, 137 and 145 kDa, were the same as those released by incubation of cells in calcium-free phosphate buffer. In the presence of calcium, lysozyme treatment also resulted in the release of a 180-kDa enzyme molecule. The total proteinase activity released by lysozyme treatment (in the presence or absence of calcium) was not only greater than that released by phosphate buffer but was also greater than that initially detectable on the surface of whole cells, suggesting an unmasking of enzyme on the cell surface. The presence of calcium during release treatment resulted in increased stability of the crude enzyme preparations. For the proteinase preparation released by using lysozyme with 50 mM CaCl₂, the half-life of proteinase activity at 37°C was 39 h, compared with 0.22 h for the calcium-free phosphate buffer-released preparation. In all cases, maximum stability was observed at pH 5.5. Comparison of β-casein hydrolysis by the three forms of the enzyme showed that the products of short-term (5- to 30-min) digestions were very similar, although subtle differences were detected with the 180-kDa form.     

Differential stimulation of the respiratory burst and lysosomal enzyme secretion in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by synthetic diacylglycerols

Binding of chemoattractants to receptors on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulates the phosphodiesteric cleavage of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to produce inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerols. To investigate the possible second messenger function of diacylglycerols in PMN activation, we tested the ability of a series of synthetic sn 1,2-diacylglycerols, known to stimulate protein kinase C in other systems, to promote superoxide anion release, oxygen consumption, lysosomal enzyme secretion, and chemotaxis. None of the diacylglycerols initiated the chemotactic migration of PMN. Several of the diacylglycerols however, were, active in stimulating superoxide anion release and lysozyme secretion, with dioctanoylglycerol (diC8) being the most potent. Unexpectedly, didecanoylglycerol (diC10) induced lysosomal enzyme secretion, but failed to stimulate superoxide production or oxygen consumption. All other biologically active diacylglycerols tested displayed similar EC50 for stimulating lysozyme secretion and superoxide production. The ability of the diacylglycerols to compete for phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) binding in intact PMN suggested a mechanism for the divergent biological activity of diC10. Although the compounds that stimulated both superoxide production and lysosomal enzyme secretion competed for essentially all [3H]PDBu binding from its receptor, diC10, which only stimulated secretion, competed for 45% of the bound [3H]PDBu. Thus diacylglycerols can selectively activate certain functions of leukocyte chemoattractant receptor. The data suggest that a discrete pool of protein kinase C may mediate activation of the respiratory burst in PMN.     

Modulation of platelet-activating factor (PAF) synthesis and release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN): role of extracellular albumin

Human neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated with N'-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) in the presence of cytochalasin B but in the absence of human serum albumin (HSA) synthesized only small amounts of platelet-activating factor (PAF) that attained maximum levels within 60-120 s after stimulation; in addition, no release of PAF occurred. However, in the presence of 2.5 mg HSA/ml, there was a threefold increase in PAF synthesis, 30-40% of which was released within 5 min after FMLP stimulation. In the presence of 50 mg HSA/ml there was at least a fourfold increase in PAF synthesis and release, with maximal synthesis occurring 10-20 min after stimulation. Thus, the presence of HSA during PMN stimulation not only induced an albumin dose-dependent increase in PAF release but significantly augmented the synthesis of PAF. In contrast to PAF synthesis and release, the presence or absence of HSA had no effect upon lysosomal enzyme secretion from FMLP-stimulated PMN, which was maximal within 30-60s after stimulation. These results demonstrate that HSA plays an essential role in vitro in the synthesis and release of PAF from human PMN, and support the hypothesis that there is a cyclic PAF synthesis-release coupling mechanism in the stimulated human PMN.     

The exocytosis induced in HL-60 cells by 4-hydroxynonenal, a lipid peroxidation product, is not prevented by reduced glutathione

The effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) was studied on exocytosis triggered by 4-hydroxynonenal in HL-60 cells induced to differentiate towards the granulocytic cell line by dimethylsulfoxide; we measured beta-glucuronidase secretion from cells incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM GSH. GSH addition to the cell suspensions failed to induce any significant change of the exocytosis stimulated by HNE concentrations between 10(-8) and 10(-6) M. In contrast however, 5 mM GSH was able to fully prevent the release of lactate dehydrogenase observed in the presence of 50 microM HNE, a concentration much higher than that able to stimulate the exocytotic secretion. As the activation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) has been shown to play a major role in HNE-induced exocytosis, we studied the GSH effect on the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate added to plasma membranes isolated from rat neutrophils and incubated in the presence of increasing concentrations of the aldehyde. In neutrophil membranes HNE induced a significant increase of PLC activity when used in the same concentrations as those able to stimulate beta-glucuronidase secretion in DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells; the presence of 5 mM GSH failed to prevent its action. Our results suggest that these low aldehyde concentrations, which have actually been found in exudates, may increase tissue damage in inflammation through the release of lytic enzymes by neutrophils; it seems unlikely that their effects could be influenced by the levels of -SH groups present in the exudate and by its protein concentration.     

Platelet activating factor. Stimulation of the lipoxygenase pathway in polymorphonuclear leukocytes by 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

1-O-Alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (AAGPC) triggered the release of [3H]arachidonate but not [14C]stearate from cellular phospholipids in cytochalasin B-treated rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Concentrations of AAGPC up to 20 nM caused a dose-dependent release and subsequent metabolism of the released [3H]arachidonic acid. Most of the release of the [3H]arachidonate had taken place within the first 2 min of stimulation. Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine served as the sources of [3H]arachidonate with about 50% of the label coming from each pool. Challenge of cytochalasin B-treated polymorphonuclear leukocytes with AAPGC led to the production of [3H]hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and [3H]dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. No significant production of [3H]prostaglandins or [3H]thromboxanes was detected. AAGPC also caused a dose-dependent degranulation of cytochalasin B-treated rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes as shown by the release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme. Both the AAGPC-stimulated production of arachidonate metabolites and the degranulation response were blocked by eicosatetraynoic acid and non-dihydroguaiaretic acid at similar inhibitor concentrations. These findings suggest the bioactions of AAGPC on polymorphonuclear leukocytes may be mediated by the release of arachidonic acid and the production of mono- and dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids.