Rab27a Is Essential for the Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in Neutrophil-Like Differentiated HL60 Cells

Neutrophils play a crucial role in host defence. In response to a variety of inflammatory stimulation, they form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs are extracellular structures composed of chromatin fibers decorated with antimicrobial proteins and developing studies indicate that NETs contribute to extracellular microbial killing. While the intracellular signaling pathways that regulate NET formation remain largely unknown, there is growing evidence that generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a key event for NET formation. The Rab family small GTPase Rab27a is an important component of the secretory machinery of azurophilic granules in neutrophils. However, the precise mechanism of NET formation and whether or not Rab27a contributes to this process are unknown. Using neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells, we show here that Rab27a plays an essential role in both phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- and Candida albicans-induced NET formation by regulating ROS production. Rab27a-knockdown inhibited ROS-positive phagosome formation during complement-mediated phagocytosis. To investigate the role of Rab27a in neutrophil function in detail, both primary human neutrophils and neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells were treated with PMA, and NET formation process was assessed by measurement of release of histone H3 into the medium, citrullination of the arginine in position 3 of histone H4 and chase of the nuclear change of the living cells in the co-existence of both cell-permeable and -impermeable nuclear indicators. PMA-induced NET formation occured sequentially in both neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells and primary neutrophils, and Rab27a-knockdown clearly inhibited NET formation in association with reduced ROS production. We also found that serum-treated Candida albicans triggers NET formation in a ROS-dependent manner, and that Rab27a-knockdown inhibits this process as well. Our findings demonstrate that Rab27a plays an important role in NET formation induced by both Candida albicans infection and PMA treatment by regulating ROS production.     

Phagocytosis of Streptococcus pyogenes by All-Trans Retinoic Acid-Differentiated HL-60 Cells: Roles of Azurophilic Granules and NADPH Oxidase

Background

New experimental approaches to the study of the neutrophil phagosome and bacterial killing prompted a reassessment of the usefulness of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-differentiated HL-60 cells as a neutrophil model. HL-60 cells are special in that they possess azurophilic granules while lacking the specific granules with their associated oxidase components. The resulting inability to mount an effective intracellular respiratory burst makes these cells more dependent on other mechanisms when killing internalized bacteria.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this work phagocytosis and phagosome-related responses of ATRA-differentiated HL-60 cells were compared to those earlier described in human neutrophils. We show that intracellular survival of wild-type S. pyogenes bacteria in HL-60 cells is accompanied by inhibition of azurophilic granule–phagosome fusion. A mutant S. pyogenes bacterium, deficient in M-protein expression, is, on the other hand, rapidly killed in phagosomes that avidly fuse with azurophilic granules.

Conclusions/Significance

The current data extend our previous findings by showing that a system lacking in oxidase involvement also indicates a link between inhibition of azurophilic granule fusion and the intraphagosomal fate of S. pyogenes bacteria. We propose that differentiated HL-60 cells can be a useful tool to study certain aspects of neutrophil phagosome maturation, such as azurophilic granule fusion.     

The Extracellular Matrix of Candida albicans Biofilms Impairs Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

Neutrophils release extracellular traps (NETs) in response to planktonic C. albicans. These complexes composed of DNA, histones, and proteins inhibit Candida growth and dissemination. Considering the resilience of Candida biofilms to host defenses, we examined the neutrophil response to C. albicans during biofilm growth. In contrast to planktonic C. albicans, biofilms triggered negligible release of NETs. Time lapse imaging confirmed the impairment in NET release and revealed neutrophils adhering to hyphae and migrating on the biofilm. NET inhibition depended on an intact extracellular biofilm matrix as physical or genetic disruption of this component resulted in NET release. Biofilm inhibition of NETosis could not be overcome by protein kinase C activation via phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and was associated with suppression of neutrophil reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The degree of impaired NET release correlated with resistance to neutrophil attack. The clinical relevance of the role for extracellular matrix in diminishing NET production was corroborated in vivo using a rat catheter model. The C. albicans pmr1Δ/Δ, defective in production of matrix mannan, appeared to elicit a greater abundance of NETs by scanning electron microscopy imaging, which correlated with a decreased fungal burden. Together, these findings show that C. albicans biofilms impair neutrophil response through an inhibitory pathway induced by the extracellular matrix.     

Resistance to nitric oxide-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 variant cells is associated with increased activities of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase

Nitric oxide (NO) released from (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DETA/NO or NOC-18) induces apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells. In this study, we isolated a HL-60 variant cell line, HL-NR6, that is resistant to DETA/NO toxicity as assessed by DNA fragmentation, morphology, and colony forming ability. The variant cells also showed resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide as well as NO donors, but not to anti-tumor drugs. We found that HL-NR6 cells when compared with HL-60 cells possessed twice the activities of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) and catalase, but no change in Mn-SOD nor in glutathione peroxidase. Immunoblotting confirmed the high levels of both enzymes in the variant cell. We also observed that ROS generation following DETA/NO exposure was substantially higher in HL-60 cells than in HL-NR6 cells, using the 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein fluorometric method. Moreover, the SOD mimetic Mn(III) tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin and exogenous catalase effectively attenuated DETA/NO-elicited DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells. Taken together, these data suggested that the NO resistance in HL-NR6 cells is associated with the increased Cu,Zn-SOD/catalase and that NO-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 cells is correlated with the generation of ROS and derived molecules like peroxynitrite.     

The human granulocyte nucleus: Unusual nuclear envelope and heterochromatin composition

The human blood granulocyte (neutrophil) is adapted to find and destroy infectious agents. The nucleus of the human neutrophil has a segmented appearance, consisting of a linear or branched array of three or four lobes. Adequate levels of lamin B receptor (LBR) are necessary for differentiation of the lobulated nucleus. The levels of other components of the nuclear envelope may also be important for nuclear shape determination. In the present study, immunostaining and immunoblotting procedures explored the levels of various components of the nuclear envelope and heterochromatin, comparing freshly isolated human neutrophils with granulocytic forms of HL-60 cells, a tissue culture model system. In comparison to granulocytic HL-60 cells, blood neutrophil nuclear envelopes contain low-to-negligible amounts of LBR, lamins A/C, B1 and B2, LAP2β and emerin. Surprisingly, a “mitotic” chromosome marker, H3(S10)phos, is elevated in neutrophil nuclei, compared to granulocytic HL-60 cells. Furthermore, neutrophil nuclei appear to be more fragile to methanol fixation, than observed with granulocytic HL-60 cells. Thus, the human neutrophil nucleus appears to be highly specialized, possessing a paucity of nuclear envelope-stabilizing proteins. In consequence, the neutrophil nucleus appears to be very malleable, supporting rapid migration through tight tissue spaces.     

Characterization of an amsacrine-resistant line of human leukemia cells. Evidence for a drug-resistant form of topoisomerase II

HL-60/AMSA is a human leukemia cell line that is 100 times more resistant to the cytotoxic actions of the antineoplastic, topoisomerase II-reactive DNA intercalating acridine derivative amsacrine (m-AMSA) than is its parent HL-60 line. HL-60/AMSA cells are minimally resistant to etoposide, a topoisomerase II-reactive drug that does not intercalate. Previously we showed that HL-60 topoisomerase II activity in cells, nuclei, or nuclear extracts was sensitive to m-AMSA and etoposide, while HL-60/AMSA topoisomerase II was resistant to m-AMSA but sensitive to etoposide. Now we show that purified topoisomerase II from the two cell lines exhibits the same drug sensitivity or resistance as that in the nuclear extracts although the magnitude of the m-AMSA resistance of HL-60/AMSA topoisomerase II in vitro is not as great as the resistance of the intact HL-60/AMSA cells. In addition HL-60/AMSA cells are cross-resistant to topoisomerase II-reactive intercalators from the anthracycline and ellipticine families and the pattern of sensitivity or resistance to the cytotoxic actions of the various topoisomerase II-reactive drugs is paralleled by topoisomerase II-reactive drug-induced DNA cleavage and protein cross-link production in cells and the production of drug-induced, topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage and protein cross-linking in isolated biochemical systems. In addition to its lowered sensitivity to intercalators, HL-60/AMSA differed from HL-60 in 1) the susceptibility of its topoisomerase II to stimulation of DNA topoisomerase II complex formation by ATP, 2) the catalytic activity of its topoisomerase II in an ionic environment chosen to reproduce the environment found within the living cell, and 3) the observed restriction enzyme pattern on a Southern blot probed with a cDNA for human topoisomerase II. These data indicate that an m-AMSA-resistant form of topoisomerase II contributes to the resistance of HL-60/AMSA to m-AMSA and to other topoisomerase II-reactive DNA intercalating agents. The drug resistance is associated with additional biochemical and molecular alterations that may be important determinants of cellular sensitivity or resistance to topoisomerase II-reactive drugs.     

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity does not parallel copper levels in copper supplemented HL-60 cells

The objective of this research was to develop a method for measuring Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) (E.C. 1.15.1.1) in HL-60 cells and subsequently examine the relationship between cellular copper levels and the activity of this copper-requiring enzyme. In cells such as the neutrophil or HL-60 promyelocyte cell line, the activity of Cu/Zn-SOD cannot be measured because of an increase in the oxidation rate of the substrate by some unknown compound in the cells. Others have utilized heat treatment to inactivate the responsible compounds, however, we found that heat treatment of HL-60 cells resulted in a loss of over half of the activity of the enzyme. The method described here utilizes sodium azide to inhibit the substance(s) that are responsible for the enhanced rate of pyrogallol's oxidation. Gel filtration data confirmed that the compound responsible for the enhanced rate of pyrogallol oxidation was sensitive to azide and did not affect Cu/Zn-SOD activity. When HL-60 cells were incubated with various levels of copper, Cu/Zn-SOD activity did not reflect the cellular copper levels.     

Nuclear Envelope Composition Determines the Ability of Neutrophil-type Cells to Passage through Micron-scale Constrictions

Neutrophils are characterized by their distinct nuclear shape, which is thought to facilitate the transit of these cells through pore spaces less than one-fifth of their diameter. We used human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells as a model system to investigate the effect of nuclear shape in whole cell deformability. We probed neutrophil-differentiated HL-60 cells lacking expression of lamin B receptor, which fail to develop lobulated nuclei during granulopoiesis and present an in vitro model for Pelger-Huët anomaly; despite the circular morphology of their nuclei, the cells passed through micron-scale constrictions on similar timescales as scrambled controls. We then investigated the unique nuclear envelope composition of neutrophil-differentiated HL-60 cells, which may also impact their deformability; although lamin A is typically down-regulated during granulopoiesis, we genetically modified HL-60 cells to generate a subpopulation of cells with well defined levels of ectopic lamin A. The lamin A-overexpressing neutrophil-type cells showed similar functional characteristics as the mock controls, but they had an impaired ability to pass through micron-scale constrictions. Our results suggest that levels of lamin A have a marked effect on the ability of neutrophils to passage through micron-scale constrictions, whereas the unusual multilobed shape of the neutrophil nucleus is less essential.     

氟苯达唑对人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞的增殖抑制作用研究

目的:研究氟苯达唑对人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞增殖的抑制作用,明确氟苯达唑对HL-60细胞周期,凋亡发生的作用机制。方法:噻唑蓝法(MTT)检测氟苯达唑对人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞的生长抑制作用,流式细胞术检测氟苯达唑对HL-60细胞周期,DNA片段化的影响,免疫印迹法检测Caspase, Raf, Bcl-2家族蛋白表达。结果:氟苯达唑抑制人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞生长,HL-60细胞G2/M期增加,与阴性对照组相比,在一定的剂量和时间内,差别具有显著统计学意义;DNA片段化上升,0.25,0.5,1μM组与对照组相比差别具有显著统计学意义,促使Cleaved PARP,Cleaved-caspase 3,Cleaved-caspase 9蛋白表达量趋势增加;Bag-1和Bcl-2蛋白表达量降低;b-raf,c-raf磷酸化蛋白表达水平逐渐降低。结论:氟苯达唑通过诱导HL-60细胞阻滞于G2/M期,增加DNA片段化水平,激活Caspase, Raf, Bcl-2家族介导的凋亡相关通路抑制人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞增殖,诱导人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞发生凋亡而发挥抗肿瘤作用。     

Anaplasma phagocytophilum AnkA binds to granulocyte DNA and nuclear proteins

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The bacterium infects, survives, propagates in, and alters neutrophil phenotype, indicating unique survival mechanisms. AnkA is the only known A. phagocytophilum component that gains access beyond neutrophil vacuoles and is transported to the infected host cell nucleus. The ability of native and recombinant AnkA to bind DNA and nuclear proteins from host HL-60 cells was assessed by the use of immunoprecipitation after cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cis-DDP) DNA-protein crosslinking, by probing uninfected HL-60 cell nuclear lysates for AnkA binding, and by recovery and sequence analysis of immunoprecipitated DNA. AnkA binds HL-60 cell DNA as well as nuclear proteins of approximately 86, 53 and 25 kDa, whereas recombinant A. phagocytophilum Msp2 or control proteins do not. DNA immunoprecipitation reveals AnkA binding to a variety of target genes in the human genome, including genes that encode proteins with ATPase, tyrosine phosphatase and NADH dehydrogenase-like functions. These data indicate that AnkA could exert some effect on cells through binding to protein:DNA complexes in neutrophil nuclei. Whether AnkA binding leads to neutrophil functional alterations, and how such alterations might occur will depend upon definitive identification of binding partners and associated metabolic and biochemical pathways.     

Production of Extracellular Traps against Aspergillus fumigatus In Vitro and in Infected Lung Tissue Is Dependent on Invading Neutrophils and Influenced by Hydrophobin RodA

Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important airborne fungal pathogen causing life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Macrophages and neutrophils are known to kill conidia, whereas hyphae are killed mainly by neutrophils. Since hyphae are too large to be engulfed, neutrophils possess an array of extracellular killing mechanisms including the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) consisting of nuclear DNA decorated with fungicidal proteins. However, until now NET formation in response to A. fumigatus has only been demonstrated in vitro, the importance of neutrophils for their production in vivo is unclear and the molecular mechanisms of the fungus to defend against NET formation are unknown. Here, we show that human neutrophils produce NETs in vitro when encountering A. fumigatus. In time-lapse movies NET production was a highly dynamic process which, however, was only exhibited by a sub-population of cells. NETosis was maximal against hyphae, but reduced against resting and swollen conidia. In a newly developed mouse model we could then demonstrate the existence and measure the kinetics of NET formation in vivo by 2-photon microscopy of Aspergillus-infected lungs. We also observed the enormous dynamics of neutrophils within the lung and their ability to interact with and phagocytose fungal elements in situ. Furthermore, systemic neutrophil depletion in mice almost completely inhibited NET formation in lungs, thus directly linking the immigration of neutrophils with NET formation in vivo. By using fungal mutants and purified proteins we demonstrate that hydrophobin RodA, a surface protein making conidia immunologically inert, led to reduced NET formation of neutrophils encountering Aspergillus fungal elements. NET-dependent killing of Aspergillus-hyphae could be demonstrated at later time-points, but was only moderate. Thus, these data establish that NET formation occurs in vivo during host defence against A. fumigatus, but suggest that it does not play a major role in killing this fungus. Instead, NETs may have a fungistatic effect and may prevent further spreading.     

Molecular mechanisms involved in the antiproliferative action of protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor potassium bisperoxo(1,10-phenanthroline)oxovanadate

Potassium bisperoxo(1,10-phenanthroline)oxovanadate, bpV(phen), a powerful protein phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor and a potent insulinomimetic, influenced three fundamental cellular processes in HL-60 human leukemic cells: 1) inhibition of proliferation, 2) induction of differentiation and 3) apoptotic cell death. In the presence of micromolar concentrations of bpV(phen) cell number and DNA synthesis decreased progressively with time of incubation. A single treatment with bpV(phen) (3 microM) activated a differentiation program; after 6 days of incubation 82% of cells were differentiated, but differentiation started already within the first 24 h. Concentrations of 5-10 microM bpV(phen) caused the characteristic DNA ladder pattern, starting after 4.5 h. Differentiation in HL-60 cells appear to be associated with activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase while apoptosis is connected with phosphorylation and activation of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The antiproliferative and apoptotic action of bpV(phen) could be exploited in combination chemotherapy in leukemia.     

Cutting edge: heat shock protein (HSP) 60 activates the innate immune response: CD14 is an essential receptor for HSP60 activation of mononuclear cells

Heat shock proteins (HSP), highly conserved across species, are generally viewed as intracellular proteins thought to serve protective functions against infection and cellular stress. Recently, we have reported the surprising finding that human and chlamydial HSP60, both present in human atheroma, can activate vascular cells and macrophages. However, the transmembrane signaling pathways by which extracellular HSP60 may activate cells remains unclear. CD14, the monocyte receptor for LPS, binds numerous microbial products and can mediate activation of monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells, thus promoting the innate immune response. We show here that human HSP60 activates human PBMC and monocyte-derived macrophages through CD14 signaling and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, sharing this pathway with bacterial LPS. These findings provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular HSP may participate in atherosclerosis and other inflammatory disorders by activating the innate immune system.     

The Novel Recognition Site in the C-Terminal Heparin-Binding Domain of Fibronectin by Integrin α4β1 Receptor on HL-60 Cells

The hematopoietic cell recognition sites of human fibronectin (FN) are the Arg–Gly–Asp–Ser (RGDS) sequence recognized by widely distributed integrin receptor α5β1 and the type III connecting segment (III CS) containing two cell-binding sites, designated CS1 and CS5, that are recognized by the α4β1 receptor. The C-terminal heparin-binding domain of FN (Hep II) has recently been demonstrated to support adhesion of α4β1-dependent melanoma cells [A. P. Mould and M. J. Humphries (1991)EMBO J.10, 4089–4095]. Previously we demonstrated that this region of FN mediated binding of FN to HL-60 cells (acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line) by direct interaction independently of RGD and CS1 [H. Fujitaet al.,(1995)Exp. Cell Res.217, 484–488]. In this study we have characterized a novel site in the Hep II region for binding to HL-60 cells. α4β1 and α5β1 were expressed on HL-60 cells, while α2β1 and α3β1 were not present, as shown by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies specific for the different integrins. Anti-α4β1 (P4C2) and anti-β1 (JB1a) antibodies inhibited binding of a 29-kDa dispase-digestive fragment of FN to HL-60 cells. This fragment contains the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of FN but lacks CS1 and CS5. Only the peptide representing the sequence from Val¹⁸⁶⁶to Arg¹⁸⁸⁰, designated E1, inhibited the binding of the 29-kDa fragment to HL-60 cells. The active region of this peptide was a sequence of Thr–Asp–Ile–Asp–Ala–Pro–Ser (TAI- DAPS), which is homologous to Leu–Asp–Val–Pro–Ser (LDVPS) derived from the active site of CS1. Furthermore, labeled E1 peptide directly bound to HL-60 cells. The anti-α4β1 antibody (P4C2) inhibited this interaction. These results indicate that the site of binding to hematopoietic cells is present in the Hep II region of FN and the definition of the chemical structure of FN clarifies a fundamental mechanism of cell invasion of the extracellular matrix.     

Neutrophil extracellular traps directly induce epithelial and endothelial cell death: a predominant role of histones

Neutrophils play an important role in innate immunity by defending the host organism against invading microorganisms. Antimicrobial activity of neutrophils is mediated by release of antimicrobial peptides, phagocytosis as well as formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). These structures are composed of DNA, histones and granular proteins such as neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase. This study focused on the influence of NET on the host cell functions, particularly on human alveolar epithelial cells as the major cells responsible for gas exchange in the lung. Upon direct interaction with epithelial and endothelial cells, NET induced cytotoxic effects in a dose-dependent manner, and digestion of DNA in NET did not change NET-mediated cytotoxicity. Pre-incubation of NET with antibodies against histones, with polysialic acid or with myeloperoxidase inhibitor but not with elastase inhibitor reduced NET-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting that histones and myeloperoxidase are responsible for NET-mediated cytotoxicity. Although activated protein C (APC) did decrease the histone-induced cytotoxicity in a purified system, it did not change NET-induced cytotoxicity, indicating that histone-dependent cytotoxicity of NET is protected against APC degradation. Moreover, in LPS-induced acute lung injury mouse model, NET formation was documented in the lung tissue as well as in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These data reveal the important role of protein components in NET, particularly histones, which may lead to host cell cytotoxicity and may be involved in lung tissue destruction.     

Capillin,a major constituent of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. flower essential oil,induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway in human leukemia HL-60 cells

BackgroundNatural products are one of the most important sources of drugs used in pharmaceutical therapeutics. Screening of several natural products in the search for novel anticancer agents against human leukemia HL-60 cells led us to identify potent apoptosis-inducing activity in the essential oil fraction from Artemisia capillaris Thunb. flower.MethodsThe cytotoxic effects of extracts were assessed on human leukemia HL-60 cells by XTT assay. Induction of apoptosis was assessed by analysis of DNA fragmentation and nuclear morphological change. The plant name was checked with the plant list website (http://www.theplantlist.org).ResultsA purified compound from the essential oil fraction from Artemisia capillaris Thunb. flower that potently inhibited cell growth in human leukemia HL-60 cells was identified as capillin. The cytotoxic effect of capillin in cells was associated with apoptosis. When HL-60 cells were treated with 10⁻⁶ M capillin for 6 h, characteristic features of apoptosis such as DNA fragmentation and nuclear fragmentation were observed. Moreover, activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was detected after treatment with capillin preceding the appearance of characteristic properties of apoptosis. Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria was also observed in HL-60 cells that had been treated with capillin.ConclusionCapillin induces apoptosis in HL-60 cells via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, which might be controlled through JNK signaling. Our results indicate that capillin may be a potentially useful anticancer drug that could enhance therapeutic efficacy.