Pertussis toxin and voltage dependence distinguish multiple pathways modulating calcium channels of rat sympathetic neurons.

Agonist-induced suppression of current in voltage-gated Ca2+ channels was studied in rat sympathetic neurons. We have previously distinguished two intracellular signaling pathways used by muscarinic agonists to suppress neuronal Ca2+ current-one fast and membrane delimited, the other slow and acting via a diffusible second messenger. We now show that the fast pathway is sensitive mainly to pertussis toxin and shifts the gating of Ca2+ channels to more positive voltages (voltage dependent). The slow pathway is pertussis toxin insensitive and depresses currents at all test potentials (voltage independent). Muscarinic agonists may also activate a pertussis toxin-insensitive fast pathway. alpha-Adrenergic agonists use the fast pertussis toxin-sensitive and the fast insensitive pathways, but not the slow one.     

Pertussis toxin facilitates secretagogue-induced catecholamine release from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Pretreatment of cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells with pertussis toxin facilitated nicotine-induced catecholamine release. This facilitation was correlated with the ability of the toxin to catalyze the ADP-ribosylation of an approximately 40-kDa membrane protein. The actions of the toxin were reversed by isonicotinamide, an inhibitor of ADP-ribosylation. Catecholamine release due to high K+ and muscarine was also enhanced by pertussis toxin. In all cases, 45Ca2+ uptake was unaltered in cells treated with the toxin. These results suggest that ADP-ribosylation of a 40-kDa membrane protein facilitates catecholamine release from bovine chromaffin cells without affecting 45Ca2+ uptake.     

Pertussis toxin inhibits retinoic acid-induced expression of tissue transglutaminase in macrophages

Retinoic acid rapidly induces the accumulation of a specific enzyme, tissue transglutaminase (EC 2.3.2.13), in mouse macrophages. We have used the induction of tissue transglutaminase to study the regulation of gene expression by retinoic acid. In this study we report that pertussis toxin can inhibit retinoic acid-induced expression of tissue transglutaminase in mouse resident peritoneal macrophages. This inhibition is paralleled by the ADP-ribosylation of 41,000-dalton macrophage membrane protein.     

Opposite effects of adrenalectomy on eicosanoid release in rat peritoneal macrophages and spleen

The effect of adrenalectomy on the formation of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase products by activated peritoneal rat macrophages was determined and compared with that of the spleen. After isolation, the cells and tissues were incubated with [1-14C] arachidonic acid and the Ca-ionophore A23187 and the metabolites isolated by HPLC chromatography. The main components formed in the macrophages of the controls are 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TxB2 and 12-HETE. One peak represents 5, 12 di HETE. Smaller amounts of PGF2 alpha, PGE2, PGD2, LTB4 and 15-HETE are also present. After adrenalectomy, a considerable increase occurs in the amounts of LTB4, 15-HETE and 12-HETE. The increase in the PG is smaller. The compounds formed from endogenous arachidonic acid are also determined. In the cells of the controls, the formation of LTB4 is considerably increased after adrenalectomy. In the spleen, PGD2 and 12-HETE are decreased after adrenalectomy. The effect of the macrophages is most probably related to a diminished amount or inactivation of lipocortin, a glucocorticosteroid induced peptide with PlA2 inhibitory activity in adrenalectomized animals. In the decrease in formation in the spleen, the absence of the permissive effect of glucocorticosteroids on the hormone-induced lipolysis may play a role.     

Opposite effects of adrenalectomy on eicosanoid release in rat peritoneal macrophages and spleen

The effect of adrenalectomy on the formation of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase products by activated peritoneal rat macrophages was determined and compared with that of the spleen. After isolation, the cells and tissues were incubated with [1-¹⁴C] arachidonic acid and the Ca-ionophore A23187 and the metabolites isolated by HPLC chromatography. The main components formed in the macrophages of the controls are 6-keto-PGF_1α, TxB₂ and 12-HETE. One peak represents 5, 12 di HETE. Smaller amounts of PGF_2α, PGE₂, PGD₂, LTB₄ and 15-HETE are also present. After adrenalectomy, a considerable increase occurs in the amounts of LTB₄, 15-HETE and 12-HETE. The increase in the PG is smaller. The compounds formed from endogenous arachidonic acid are also determined. In the cells of the controls, the formation of LTB₄ is considerably increased after adrenalectomy. In the spleen, PGD₂ and 12-HETE are decreased after adrenalectomy.The effect of the macrophages is most probably related to a diminished amount or inactivation of lipocortin, a glucocorticosteroid induced peptide with PlA₂ inhibitory activity in adrenalectomized animals. In the decrease in formation in the spleen, the absence of the permissive effect of glucocorticosteroids on the hormone-induced lipolysis may play a role.     

Eicosanoid production by adult Fasciola hepatica and plasma eicosanoid patterns during fasciolosis in sheep.

Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep is known to cause anaemia, fever and elevated levels of liver enzymes. It was hypothesised that eicosanoids play a role in these pathophysiological changes, so the pattern of plasma eicosanoids during the course of acute and chronic fasciolosis was studied in sheep infected with a single dose of 800 F. hepatica metacercariae. Blood plasma was collected weekly until week 17 p.i. from infected sheep, and from uninfected controls. Adult F. hepatica were then recovered from bile ducts and incubated for production of ES products. Eicosanoids were determined by enzyme immuno-assay in blood plasma, fluke homogenates and ES products after chromatographic purification of the samples. Fever and anaemia were seen from 3 to 12 weeks p.i. and from 8 to 17 weeks p.i., respectively. Onset of fever was accompanied by elevated liver enzyme activities (aspartate amino transferase and gamma glutamyl transferase) in the plasma. In general, the plasma levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were reduced during the acute and chronic stages of the infection, whereas thromboxane B2 (TXB2) was reduced only at 8 weeks p.i. The TXB2/PGI2 ratio was increased in favour of TXB2 at 3 and 11 weeks p.i. Additionally, TXB2, PGI2, PGE2 and LTB4 were detected both in ES products and in homogenates of F. hepatica. It was concluded that eicosanoid depletion in the plasma is caused by parasite-induced liver damage. The changes in eicosanoid levels are highly correlated to the clinical signs of the disease. Changes in the pattern of host plasma eicosanoids during fasciolosis, as well as parasite-derived eicosanoids, may reflect or contribute to the pathology of the disease.     

Pertussis toxin treatment attenuates some effects of insulin in BC3H-1 murine myocytes

The effects of pertussis toxin (PT) treatment on insulin-stimulated myristoyl-diacylglycerol (DAG) generation, hexose transport, and thymidine incorporation were studied in differentiated BC3H-1 myocytes. Insulin treatment caused a biphasic increase in myristoyl-DAG production which was abolished in myocytes treated with PT. There was no effect of PT treatment on basal (nonstimulated) myristoyl-DAG production. Insulin-stimulated hydrolysis of a membrane phosphatidylinositol glycan was blocked by PT treatment. ADP-ribosylation of BC3H-1 plasma membranes with [32P]NAD revealed a 40-kDa protein as the major PT substrate in vivo and in vitro. The time course and dose dependence of the effects of PT on diacylglycerol generation correlated with the in vivo ADP-ribosylation of the 40-kDa substrate. Pertussis toxin treatment resulted in a 71% attenuation of insulin-stimulated hexose uptake without effect on either basal or phorbol ester-stimulated uptake. The stimulatory effects of insulin and fetal calf serum on [3H]thymidine incorporation into quiescent myocytes were attenuated by 61 and 59%, respectively, when PT was added coincidently with the growth factors. Nonstimulated and EGF-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation was unaffected by PT treatment. These data suggest that a PT-sensitive G protein is involved in the cellular signaling mechanisms of insulin.     

Gender differences in eicosanoid production from macrophages of arthritis-susceptible mice

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rodents is an experimental animal model that shares many clinical and pathologic findings with rheumatoid arthritis in man. Our previous findings suggested that the amelioration of CIA in mice by a fish oil diet was associated with macrophage accumulation and metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid and a subsequently altered prostaglandin (PG) profile. In these experiments, we examined the role of gender and found that macrophages from female arthritis-susceptible B10.RIII or B10.G mice synthesized more PG and thromboxane than macrophages isolated from the males. Compared with males, female mice had higher circulating anti-type II collagen antibodies but were less likely to develop CIA. Females, especially those on a fish oil diet, developed a much less severe disease than the males. This supports our hypothesis that the type and/or amount of eicosanoid produced from the macrophage may alter the course of experimentally induced arthritis.     

Possible mechanisms involved in the release and modulation of release of neuroactive agents

Although it is almost universally assumed that exocytosis is the mechanism whereby the release of neuroactive agents is effected, a critical examination of the evidence reveals that other mechanisms may be operative. Possibilities involving gating mechanisms include Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, protein phosphorylation, protein carboxymethylation, the “phosphatidyl inositol effect” and lipid transmethylation. Because of the speed of neurotransmitter release, the more leisurely biochemical cascades are more likely referable to modulation of release rather than functioning in the release process itself.     

Lysophosphatidylcholine induces adenosine release from macrophages via TRPM7-mediated mitochondrial activation

Purinergic Signalling - Even though macrophages have the potential to harm tissues through excessive release of inflammatory mediators, they play protective roles to maintain tissue integrity. In...     

Pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a 41 kDa G-protein impairs insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in BC3H-1 myocytes

In this study, we examined the effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on the ADP-ribosylation of guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins) and various insulin-stimulated processes in cultured BC3H-1 myocytes. Treatment of intact myocytes with 0.1 microgram/ml PT for 24 hours resulted in the complete ribosylation of a 41 kDa protein. The 41 kDa PT substrate was immunoprecipitated with antibodies directed against a synthetic peptide corresponding to a unique sequence in the alpha subunit of Gi-proteins. PT treatment of intact cells had no effect on insulin receptor binding or internalization. However, PT inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose transport at all insulin-concentrations tested (1-100 ng/ml). Maximally stimulated glucose transport was reduced by 50% +/- 15%. Insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation was also decreased by 31% +/- 8%. The toxin had no significant effect on the basal rates of glucose transport and glucose oxidation. The time course of PT-induced inhibition on glucose transport correlated with the time course of the "in vivo" ADP-ribosylation of the 41 kDa protein. The results suggest that a 41 kDa PT-sensitive G-protein, identical or very similar to Gi, is involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism by insulin in BC3H-1 cells.     

Pertussis and cholera toxin ADP-ribosylation in Dictyostelium discoideum membranes

We report a 39 kDa substrate for cholera and pertussis toxins is present in D. discoideum membranes. This protein did not co-migrate with alpha subunits of either Gs (45 kDa and 52 kDa) or Gi (41 kDa) from control mammalian cells. The presence of GTP or its non-hydrolyzable analogs enhanced the ADP-ribosylation in response to cholera toxin, but did not significantly alter ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin. Divalent cations inhibited the ADP-ribosylation by both toxins. The possible association of this novel G-protein with D. discoideum adenylate cyclase may underlie some of the unique regulatory features of this enzyme. Alternatively, this G-protein may regulate one of several other cellular responses mediated by the cAMP receptor.     

Pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins are not involved in activation of T-lymphocytes.

Multiple effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on Jurkat T-cells can be distinguished on the basis of their dose-response and their kinetics. High concentrations of PT deliver to cells an activating signal resulting in a rapid rise in [Ca2+]i followed by IL-2 synthesis. This activation is accompanied (within 2 h) by a down-regulation of the CD3/TCR complex from the cell surface. Cells then become refractory towards stimulation by CD3 mAb or PHA. All these effects, referred to as 'mitogenic effects', present the same dose-response curves with an EC50 of 0.5 micrograms/ml. Short term effects (PT-induced Ca2+ movements, down-regulation of CD3/TCR complex and inhibition of PHA and CD3-induced Ca2+ signal) are observed under conditions where no PT-induced ADP-ribosylation can be detected. In contrast, ADP-ribosylation of the 40,000 alpha-subunit of G-proteins requires a sustained (18 h) incubation of intact cells in the presence of low concentration (EC50 = 0.3 ng/ml) of PT. Dose-response curves for PT-dependent ADP-ribosylation and mitogenic effects are separated by three orders of magnitude. Covalent modification of G-protein has no effect on CD3-induced increase in [Ca2+]i and IL-2 synthesis induced by a combination of phorbol ester and either CD3 mAb, PHA or calcium ionophore. These data indicate that transduction of the mitogenic signal does not involve a PT-sensitive G-protein. Furthermore, inhibition of mitogenic signals following PT treatment results from a PT-induced activation leading to a down-regulation of the CD3/T cell receptor complex.     

Pertussis toxin pretreatment reveals differential effects of adenosine analogs on IgE-dependent histamine and peptidoleukotriene release from RBL-2H3 cells

The effects of adenosine (A) and the nonmetabolizable adenosine analogs, N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), L-phenylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA), D-PIA and 2-chloroadenosine (2CHA) were examined on the IgE-dependent mediator release from RBL-2H3 cells, a model for mast-cell function. Adenosine and the adenosine analogs failed to influence mediator release from cells, previously sensitized with monoclonal anti-TNP mouse immunoglobulin E (anti-TNP IgE), when added alone. When added prior to conjugated trinitrophenol-ovalbumin (TNP-OVA), adenosine and the adenosine analogs (10(-8)-10(-4) M) significantly potentiated the release of both histamine (marker for degranulation) and peptidoleukotrienes (LT) (marker for de novo synthesized mediators). The effects were concentration-dependent with the potency order being L-PIA greater than NECA greater than A greater than D-PIA, 2CHA. The stimulatory effect on both histamine and LT release were reversed by prior treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin but not by the purinoceptor antagonists, theophylline and 8-phenyltheophylline, nor adenosine uptake blockers. At higher concentrations (above 10(-5) M), adenosine and adenosine analogs were also inhibitory on LT but not on histamine release. This inhibition was more evident on pertussis-toxin-treated cells in which there was no effect of adenosine or adenosine analogs on histamine release, but a concentration-dependent inhibition of IgE-dependent LT release. These findings demonstrate that adenosine analogs have two distinct mechanisms on mediator release from RBL-2H3 cells; a stimulatory effect on both histamine and LT release, mediated via a pertussis-toxin-sensitive G protein and an inhibitory effect on LT release via a pertussis-toxin-insensitive pathway. An abstract of this work has been published.     

Pertussis toxin inhibits autophosphorylation and activation of the insulin receptor kinase.

Pertussis toxin is an ADP-ribosyltransferase which alters the function of some of the GTP-binding proteins and inhibits some actions of insulin. In vivo, pertussis toxin (2 micrograms/ml/2h) inhibited insulin-stimulated tyrosyl autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor by 50% in FaO cells, and nearly completely inhibited phosphorylation of the cellular insulin receptor substrate pp185. Similarly, insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation and kinase activity of the insulin receptor purified on wheat germ agglutinin-agarose from pertussis toxin-treated FaO cells was diminished 50%; however, treatment of cells with the catalytically inactive B-oligomer of the toxin had no effect on receptor tyrosine kinase activity in vitro. Pertussis toxin did not alter insulin binding or the cellular levels of ATP, cAMP, and cGMP. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation of the insulin receptor from intact cells with anti-insulin receptor antibodies showed that pertussis toxin did not increase the phosphorylation of serine or threonine residues in the insulin receptor. These results suggest that pertussis toxin can modulate signal transduction of insulin at the level of the insulin receptor kinase.     

Pulmonary surfactant phosphatidylglycerol inhibits Mycoplasma pneumoniae-stimulated eicosanoid production from human and mouse macrophages

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a human pathogen causing respiratory infections that are also associated with serious exacerbations of chronic lung diseases. Membranes and lipoproteins from M. pneumoniae induced a 4-fold increase in arachidonic acid (AA) release from RAW264.7 and a 2-fold increase in AA release from primary human alveolar macrophages. The bacterial lipoprotein mimic and TLR2/1 agonist Pam3Cys and the TLR2/6 agonist MALP-2 produced effects similar to those elicited by M. pneumoniae in macrophages by inducing the phosphorylation of p38(MAPK) and p44/42(ERK1/2) MAP kinases and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. M. pneumoniae induced the generation of prostaglandins PGD(2) and PGE(2) from RAW264.7 cells and thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) from human alveolar macrophages. Anti-TLR2 antibody completely abolished M. pneumoniae-induced AA release and TNFα secretion from RAW264.7 cells and human alveolar macrophages. Disruption of the phosphorylation of p44/42(ERK1/2) or inactivation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2)α (cPLA(2)α) completely inhibited M. pneumoniae-induced AA release from macrophages. The minor pulmonary surfactant phospholipid, palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), antagonized the proinflammatory actions of M. pneumoniae, Pam3Cys, and MALP-2 by reducing the production of AA metabolites from macrophages. The effect of POPG was specific, insofar as saturated PG, and saturated and unsaturated phosphatidylcholines did not have significant effect on M. pneumoniae-induced AA release. Collectively, these data demonstrate that M. pneumoniae stimulates the production of eicosanoids from macrophages through TLR2, and POPG suppresses this pathogen-induced response.     

Ionic mechanisms involved in the release of 3H-norepinephrine from the cat superior cervical ganglion

It has previously been reported that in the isolated cat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) labeled with tritiated norepinephrine (3H-NE), the stimulation of the preganglionic trunk at 10 Hz as well as the exposure to 100 microM exogenous acetylcholine (ACh), produced a Ca++-dependent release of 3H-NE. The present results show that a Ca++-dependent release of 3H-NE was produced also by exposure to either 50 microM veratridine or 60 mM KCl. Tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM) abolished the release of 3H-NE induced by preganglionic stimulation, ACh and veratridine but did not modify the release evoked by KCl. The metabolic distribution of the radioactivity released by the different depolarizing stimuli showed that the 3H-NE was collected mainly unmetabolized. In the cat SCG neither the release of 3H-NE evoked by KCl nor the endogenous content of NE was modified by pretreatment with 6-OH-dopamine (6-OH-DA). On the other hand, this chemical sympathectomy depleted the endogenous content of NE in the cat nictitating membrane, whose nerve terminals arise from the SCG. The data presented suggest that the depolarization-coupled release of NE from the cat SCG involves structures that are different to nerve terminals and that contain Na+ channels as well as Ca++ channels.     

Eicosanoid release from human bronchial epithelial cells upon exposure to toluene diisocyanate in vitro

Epithelial injury and inflammation are involved in airway hyperresponsiveness and asthma induced by toluene diisocyanate. In that isocyanates are insoluble and highly reactive compounds, bronchial epithelial cells may represent the most important target cells of their toxic effect. We hypothesized that damage to airway epithelium by toluene diisocyanate may result in the release of metabolites of arachidonic acid, which are known to promote inflammation and to alter epithelial cell function and airway smooth muscle responsiveness. To test this hypothesis we examined eicosanoid products in the culture media of bronchial epithelial cells exposed in vitro to 8 and 18 ppb toluene diisocyanate. Epithelial cells derived from human bronchi obtained at surgery were cultured to confluency on collagen-coated microporous membranes. Those cells, which expressed differentiated characteristics of epithelial cells (they showed keratin-containing filaments and had a cobblestone appearance), were alternatively exposed to toluene diisocyanate or air for 30 min in a specially designed in vitro chamber. The production of metabolites of arachidonic acid was assessed by measuring the release of immunoreactive products into the cell medium at the end of the exposure and during a 2 hr period after exposure. This method revealed a predominant isocyanate-induced release of immunoreactive 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. Release rate of this compound tended to be dose-related and was associated with cell damage as assessed by the release of lactate dehydrogenase in the medium.