Toxic Effect of Heavy Metals on Human Blood Neutrophils

Activity of the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide system is proposed as a biological marker of ecological risk of heavy metal contamination of the environment. The effect of lead, copper, mercury, and cadmium ions on peroxidase system activity in human peripheral blood neutrophils was studied using cytochemical methods. A possible mechanism of suppression of peroxidase system activity by metal ions is discussed.__________Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 336–338.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Mushtakova, Fomina, Rogovin.     

Immunotherapy Reduces Allergen-Mediated CD66b Expression and Myeloperoxidase Levels on Human Neutrophils from Allergic Patients

CD66b is a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen family, which mediates the adhesion between neutrophils and to endothelial cells. Allergen-specific immunotherapy is widely used to treat allergic diseases, and the molecular mechanisms underlying this therapy are poorly understood. The present work was undertaken to analyze A) the in vitro effect of allergens and immunotherapy on cell-surface CD66b expression of neutrophils from patients with allergic asthma and rhinitis and B) the in vivo effect of immunotherapy on cell-surface CD66b expression of neutrophils from nasal lavage fluid during the spring season. Myeloperoxidase expression and activity was also analyzed in nasal lavage fluid as a general marker of neutrophil activation.

Results

CD66b cell-surface expression is upregulated in vitro in response to allergens, and significantly reduced by immunotherapy (p<0.001). Myeloperoxidase activity in nasal lavage fluid was also significantly reduced by immunotherapy, as were the neutrophil cell-surface expression of CD66b and myeloperoxidase (p<0.001). Interestingly, CD66b expression was higher in neutrophils from nasal lavage fluid than those from peripheral blood, and immunotherapy reduced the number of CD66⁺MPO⁺ cells in nasal lavage fluid. Thus, immunotherapy positive effects might, at least in part, be mediated by the negative regulation of the CD66b and myeloperoxidase activity in human neutrophils.     

Myeloperoxidase Exocytosis from Activated Neutrophils in the Presence of Heparin

Exocytosis of myeloperoxidase (MPO) from activated neutrophils has been investigated in the presence of the anionic polysaccharide heparin. The optimal concentration of heparin (0.1 U/mL), which did not cause additional activation of cells (lack of augmentation of lysozyme exocytosis from specific and azurophilic granules), was determined. After preincubation of cells with heparin (0.1 U/mL) MPO exocytosis from neutrophils was stimulated by various activators (fMLP, PMA, plant lectins CABA and PHA-L) and was higher as compared to the effects of the activators alone. Experiments performed using MPO isolated from leukocytes have shown that heparin in the range of concentrations 0.1–50 U/mL had no effect on MPO peroxidase activity. Thus, the use of heparin at a concentration of 0.1 U/mL avoids the artifact caused by the “loss” of MPO due to its binding to neutrophils and increases the accuracy of the method of registration of degranulation of neutrophil azurophilic granules based on determination of the MPO concentration or its peroxidase activity in cell supernatants.     

Anisotropy of Bullet-Shaped Magnetite Nanoparticles in the Magnetotactic Bacteria Desulfovibrio magneticus sp. Strain RS-1

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) build magnetic nanoparticles in chain configuration to generate a permanent dipole in their cells as a tool to sense the Earth’s magnetic field for navigation toward favorable habitats. The majority of known MTB align their nanoparticles along the magnetic easy axes so that the directions of the uniaxial symmetry and of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy coincide. Desulfovibrio magneticus sp. strain RS-1 forms bullet-shaped magnetite nanoparticles aligned along their (100) magnetocrystalline hard axis, a configuration energetically unfavorable for formation of strong dipoles. We used ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantitatively determine the magnetocrystalline and uniaxial anisotropy fields of the magnetic assemblies as indicators for a cellular dipole with stable direction in strain RS-1. Experimental and simulated ferromagnetic resonance spectral data indicate that the negative effect of the configuration is balanced by the bullet-shaped morphology of the nanoparticles, which generates a pronounced uniaxial anisotropy field in each magnetosome. The quantitative comparison with anisotropy fields of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense, a model MTB with equidimensional magnetite particles aligned along their (111) magnetic easy axes in well-organized chain assemblies, shows that the effectiveness of the dipole is similar to that in RS-1. From a physical perspective, this could be a reason for the persistency of bullet-shaped magnetosomes during the evolutionary development of magnetotaxis in MTB.     

Capsule Influences the Deposition of Critical Complement C3 Levels Required for the Killing of Burkholderia pseudomallei via NADPH-Oxidase Induction by Human Neutrophils

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis and is a major mediator of sepsis in its endemic areas. Because of the low LD₅₀ via aerosols and resistance to multiple antibiotics, it is considered a Tier 1 select agent by the CDC and APHIS. B. pseudomallei is an encapsulated bacterium that can infect, multiply, and persist within a variety of host cell types. In vivo studies suggest that macrophages and neutrophils are important for controlling B. pseudomallei infections, however few details are known regarding how neutrophils respond to these bacteria. Our goal is to describe the capacity of human neutrophils to control highly virulent B. pseudomallei compared to the relatively avirulent, acapsular B. thailandensis using in vitro analyses. B. thailandensis was more readily phagocytosed than B. pseudomallei, but both displayed similar rates of persistence within neutrophils, indicating they possess similar inherent abilities to escape neutrophil clearance. Serum opsonization studies showed that both were resistant to direct killing by complement, although B. thailandensis acquired significantly more C3 on its surface than B. pseudomallei, whose polysaccharide capsule significantly decreased the levels of complement deposition on the bacterial surface. Both Burkholderia species showed significantly enhanced uptake and killing by neutrophils after critical levels of C3 were deposited. Serum-opsonized Burkholderia induced a significant respiratory burst by neutrophils compared to unopsonized bacteria, and neutrophil killing was prevented by inhibiting NADPH-oxidase. In summary, neutrophils can efficiently kill B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis that possess a critical threshold of complement deposition, and the relative differences in their ability to resist surface opsonization may contribute to the distinct virulence phenotypes observed in vivo.     

Suppression of Anti-Candida Activity of Murine and Human Neutrophils by Glucocorticoids

Effects of glucocorticoid (GC) compounds on inhibitory activity of neutrophils to mycelial growth of Candida albicans were examined by in vitro crystal violet staining method with 14 hr co-culture. Both GC hormones (hydrocortisone ≥6 × 10^–7 m and corticosterone ≥10^–6 m ) and anti-inflammatory GC agents (prednisolone ≥10^–7 m and dexamethasone ≥10^–8 m ) significantly suppressed anti-Candida activity of murine casein-induced neutrophils. Anti-Candida activity of human neutrophils prepared from peripheral blood was also suppressed by hydrocortisone (≥6 × 10^–7 m ). These GC compounds did not affect the Candida growth in the absence of neutrophils. Steroidal compounds without anti-inflammatory activity, cholesterol, cholic acid, aldosterone did not suppress neutrophil activity. These results suggest that GCs at their physiological or clinical concentration may suppress anti-Candida activity of neutrophils in vivo.     

Inhibition by Polyphenolic Phytochemicals and Sulfurous Compounds of the Formation of 8-Chloroguanosine Mediated by Hypochlorous Acid,Human Myeloperoxidase,and Activated Human Neutrophils

The thermal denaturation temperature of a soy protein isolate was increased, but its gel-melting temperature was decreased by the addition of polyols with increasing concentration and number of hydroxyl groups of the polyols. This inverse stabilizing effect of polyols on the protein structure and gel is discussed in terms of the competing solvent effects on intra- and intermolecular hydrophobic interactions and on the peptide-peptide hydrogen bonds of the protein.     

The Production of Reactive Oxygen and Halogen Species by Neutrophils in Response to Monomeric Forms of Myeloperoxidase

It was shown for the first time that myeloperoxidase, a homodimer that consists of two disulfidebonded identical protomers and catalyzes the formation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), is decomposed by HOCl into monomers (MPO-Cl). Dimeric myeloperoxidase can also be converted into monomers (hemimyeloperoxidase) by reduction of the disulfide bond. In this study, the effects of two monomeric forms of myeloperoxidase, MPO-Cl and hemi-myeloperoxidase, and native dimeric myeloperoxidase on the production of reactive oxygen (^?O ₂ ^? and H₂O₂) and halogen (HOCl) species by neutrophils were compared. Neutrophil production of these species was monitored after addition of hemi-myeloperoxidase, MPO-Cl, or dimeric myeloperoxidase and also after the subsequent addition of activators, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate or N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe. HOCl production was assessed by chemiluminescence in the presence of luminol; ^?O ₂ ^? production was assessed by chemiluminescence in the presence of lucigenin and by cytochrome c reduction determined spectrophotometrically, and H₂O₂ production was measured using fluorimetry with scopoletin. The results indicate that MPO-Cl and hemi-myeloperoxidase, which can occur in blood under halogenative stress, do not prime neutrophil NADPH oxidase, and do not enhance the production of reactive oxygen (^?O ₂ ^? and H₂O₂) and halogen (HOCl) species.     

The Effect of Tannins on the Morphology and Hydrogenase Activity of Sulphate Reducing Bacteria

Two strains of Desulphovibrio desulphuricans were found to have much reduced hydrogenase activity for sulphate reduction and methylene blue reduction after repeated subculture in medium containing mimosa tannin. The loss of activity was not reversed on transfer back to a medium containing no tannin. Changes in the morphology and motility of these organisms, and of the related organism Desulphovibrio orientis , brought about by culture in media containing tannins are reported.     

Catalytic Activity and Inhibition of Wegener Antigen Proteinase 3 on the Cell Surface of Human Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils

Proteinase 3 (Pr3), the main target of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, is a neutrophil serine protease that may be constitutively expressed at the surface of quiescent circulating neutrophils. This raises the question of the simultaneous presence in the circulation of constitutive membrane-bound Pr3 (mPr3) and its plasma inhibitor α1-protease inhibitor (α1-Pi). We have looked at the fate of constitutive mPr3 at the surface of circulating blood neutrophils and of induced mPr3 on triggered neutrophils. We found significant Pr3 activity at the surface of activated neutrophils but not at the surface of quiescent neutrophils whatever the constitutive expression. This suggests that constitutive mPr3 is enzymatically inactive or its active site is not accessible to the substrate. Supporting this conclusion, we have not been able to demonstrate any interaction between constitutive mPr3 and α1-Pi, whereas induced mPr3 is cleared from the cell surface when activated cells are incubated with this inhibitor. But, unlike membrane-bound elastase that is also cleared from the surface of activated cells, mPr3 remained bound to the membrane when inhibited by elafin or by a low molecular weight chloromethyl ketone inhibitor, which shows that it binds more tightly to the neutrophil membrane. mPr3 may thus be present at the surface of circulating neutrophils in an environment replete with α1-Pi. The permanent presence of inactive Pr3 at the surface of quiescent neutrophils may explain why Pr3 is a major target of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, whose binding activates neutrophils and triggers inflammation, as in Wegener granulomatosis.Proteinase 3 (Pr3)³ is a neutral serine protease (NSP) that is stored in the granules of circulating neutrophils (1, 2) and has been more recently located within secretory vesicles (3). Pr3, like its homologues neutrophil elastase (HNE) and cathepsin G (CG), participates in the intracellular degradation of phagocytized pathogens at inflammatory sites in combination with microbicidal peptides and the membrane-associated NADPH oxidase system (4). All three NSPs are also released from activated neutrophils and help destroy extracellular matrix components and regulate innate immunity, inflammation, and infection (5). Although NSPs are structurally and functionally related and are synthesized similarly (6), Pr3 differs from the other two by its bimodal, genetically determined, expression on the cell surface of quiescent neutrophils (7, 8). Thus, each individual has two subsets of neutrophils, mPr3^high and mPr3^low, whereas HNE and CG are not present in significant amount at the surface of resting neutrophils. Pr3 also differs from the other two NSPs by its storage within secretory vesicles that readily fuse with the plasma membrane (3). But it is not clear that this explains why Pr3 is constitutively expressed at the surface of a subpopulation of quiescent neutrophils. Supporting this hypothesis, it has been recently demonstrated that CD177 (also called NB1), which is also stored in secretory vesicles and has a bimodal membrane expression, is present on the plasma membrane of the same subset of neutrophils as Pr3 (9, 10).The presence of Pr3 on the surface of quiescent neutrophils would favor neutrophil activation by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) during Wegener granulomatosis (WG) (11). This explains why this protease, unlike HNE and CG, is a risk factor for this autoimmune disease characterized by necrotizing inflammation particularly of the respiratory tract, kidneys, and by small vessel vasculitis (12). Binding of anti-Pr3 antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-α-primed neutrophils is impaired by α1-Pi (13), which suggests that mPr3 activity and the protease-antiprotease balance are involved in neutrophil activation during WG.Measuring the Pr3 activity on the cell surface of quiescent and activated neutrophils requires specific substrates of Pr3 that were not available until recently (14, 15). Because of the storage of Pr3 in both secretory vesicles and primary granules and the presence of constitutive Pr3 at the surface of resting neutrophils, we have determined whether both constitutive and induced Pr3 are enzymatically active when bound to the cell surface, and how they are regulated by protease inhibitors. Pr3 activity is controlled by a variety of natural inhibitors, the most important of which are α1-Pi, elafin/trappin-2, and monocyte neutrophil elastase inhibitor. But none is specific for this protease, so it cannot be specifically targeted in vivo or ex vivo. We have previously shown that mHNE is rapidly cleared from the surface of activated neutrophils by α1-Pi and by EPI-hNE4, a low molecular weight recombinant inhibitor, with which it forms soluble, inactive complexes (16, 17). This raises the question of how mPr3 can be targeted by autoantibodies in the presence of α1-Pi, which efficiently inhibits its soluble form, although more slowly than it does HNE (18). We answered this question by investigating the enzymatic properties of mPr3 and its sensitivity to inhibitors. The behavior of mPr3 clearly differs from that of mHNE, which explains why it may be a preferential target for autoantibodies and so contributes to the pathogenicity of Wegener disease.     

The Mechanism of Bactericidal Activity in Phagosomes of Neutrophils

Myeloperoxidase plays the key role in antimicrobial of phagocytes. This enzyme uses hydrogen peroxide and chloride to catalyze hypochlorous acid formation. HOCl is the most probable agent in the oxygen-dependent bactericidal activity in the phagocyte phagosome. Chlorination markers indicate HOCl generation in the quantities lethal for bacteria. Enzymatic assay for myeloperoxidase indicates proceeding of other reactions involved in bactericidal activity. Superoxide integrates many activities of this kind and is important for physiological function of myeloperoxidase. Elucidation of phagosomes biochemistry can help us to understand why certain pathogens survive in such unfavorable environment.     

Effect of Bacteria and Amoebae on Rhizosphere Phosphatase Activity

The contributions of various components of soil microflora and microfauna to rhizosphere phosphatase activity were determined with hydroponic cultures. Three treatments were employed: (i) plants alone (Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.) (ii) plants plus bacteria (Pseudomonas sp.), and (iii) plants plus bacteria plus amoebae (Acanthamoeba sp.). No alkaline phosphatase was detected, but an appreciable amount of acid phosphatase activity (120 to 500 nmol of p-nitrophenylphosphate hydrolyzed per h per plant) was found in the root culture solutions. The presence of bacteria or bacteria and amoebae increased the amount of acid phosphatase in solution, and properties of additional activity were identical to properties of plant acid phosphatase. The presence of bacteria or bacteria and amoebae increased both solution and root phosphatase activities at most initial phosphate concentrations.     

G-CSF Control of Neutrophils Dynamics in the Blood

White blood cell neutrophil is a key component in the fast initial immune response against bacterial and fungal infections. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) which is naturally produced in the body, is known to control the neutrophils production in the bone marrow and the neutrophils delivery into the blood. In oncological practice, G-CSF injections are widely used to treat neutropenia (dangerously low levels of neutrophils in the blood) and to prevent the infectious complications that often follow chemotherapy. However, the accurate dynamics of G-CSF neutrophil interaction has not been fully determined and no general scheme exists for an optimal G-CSF application in neutropenia. Here we develop a two-dimensional ordinary differential equation model for the G-CSF—neutrophil dynamics in the blood. The model is built axiomatically by first formally defining from the biology the expected properties of the model, and then deducing the dynamic behavior of the resulting system. The resulting model is structurally stable, and its dynamical features are independent of the precise form of the various rate functions. Choosing a specific form for these functions, three complementary parameter estimation procedures for one clinical (training) data set are utilized. The fully parameterized model (6 parameters) provides adequate predictions for several additional clinical data sets on time scales of several days. We briefly discuss the utility of this relatively simple and robust model in several clinical conditions. Dedicated to Lee Segel who guided us to apply mathematics for the benefit of mankind—a teacher, a colleague, a friend. L.A. Segel passed away on 31 January 2005.     

The Effect of Polymeric Nanoparticles on Biocompatibility of Carrier Red Blood Cells

Red blood cells (RBCs) can be used for vascular delivery of encapsulated or surface-bound drugs and carriers. Coupling to RBC prolongs circulation of nanoparticles (NP, 200 nm spheres, a conventional model of polymeric drug delivery carrier) enabling their transfer to the pulmonary vasculature without provoking overt RBC elimination. However, little is known about more subtle and potentially harmful effects of drugs and drug carriers on RBCs. Here we devised high-throughput in vitro assays to determine the sensitivity of loaded RBCs to osmotic stress and other damaging insults that they may encounter in vivo (e.g. mechanical, oxidative and complement insults). Sensitivity of these tests is inversely proportional to RBC concentration in suspension and our results suggest that mouse RBCs are more sensitive to damaging factors than human RBCs. Loading RBCs by NP at 1:50 ratio did not affect RBCs, while 10–50 fold higher NP load accentuated RBC damage by mechanical, osmotic and oxidative stress. This extensive loading of RBC by NP also leads to RBCs agglutination in buffer; however, addition of albumin diminished this effect. These results provide a template for analyses of the effects of diverse cargoes loaded on carrier RBCs and indicate that: i) RBCs can tolerate carriage of NP at doses providing loading of millions of nanoparticles per microliter of blood; ii) tests using protein-free buffers and mouse RBCs may overestimate adversity that may be encountered in humans.     

The Effect of Sodium Salts and pH on the Hydrogenase Activity of Haloalkaliphilic Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

Hydrogenase is the main catabolic enzyme of hydrogen-utilizing sulfate-reducing bacteria. In haloalkaliphilic sulfate reducers, hydrogenase, particularly if it is periplasmic, functions at high concentrations of Na⁺ ions and low concentrations of H⁺ ions. The hydrogenases of the newly isolated sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfonatronum thiodismutans, D. lacustre, and Desulfonatronovibrio hydrogenovorans exhibit different sensitivity to Na⁺ ions and remain active at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 4.3 M and NaHCO₃ concentrations between 0 and 1.2 M. The hydrogenases of D. lacustre and D. thiodismutans remain active at pH values between 6 and 12. The optimum pH for the hydrogenase of D. thiodismutans is 9.5. The optimum pH for the cytoplasmic and periplasmic hydrogenases of D. lacustre is 10. Thus, the hydrogenases of D. thiodismutans, D. lacustre, and Dv. hydrogenovorans are tolerant to high concentrations of sodium salts and extremely tolerant to high pH values, which makes them unique objects for biochemical studies and biotechnological applications.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 4, 2005, pp. 460–465.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Detkova, Soboleva, Pikuta, Pusheva.     

Generation of Free Radicals during Decomposition of Hydroperoxide in the Presence of Myeloperoxidase or Activated Neutrophils

It was shown with the spin trap alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone that myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the presence of its substrates H2O2 and Cl- as well as activated neutrophils destroy tert-butyl hydroperoxide producing two adducts of O-centered radicals which were identified as peroxyl and alcoxyl radicals. Inhibitory analysis performed with traps of hypochlorite (taurine and methionine), free radical scavengers (2,6-di-tret-butyl-4-methylphenol and mannitol), and MPO inhibitors (salicylhydroxamic acid and 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide) revealed that the destruction of the hydroperoxide group in the presence of isolated MPO or activated neutrophils was directly caused by the activity of MPO: some radical intermediates appeared as a result of the chlorination cycle of MPO at the stage of hypochlorite generation, whereas the other radicals were produced independently of hypochlorite, presumably with involvement of the peroxidase cycle of MPO. The data suggest that the activated neutrophils located in the inflammatory foci and secreting MPO into the extracellular space can convert hydroperoxides into free radicals initiating lipid peroxidation and other free radical reactions and, thus, promoting destruction of protein-lipid complexes (biological membranes, blood lipoproteins, etc.).     

Effect of Onions on Blood Fibrinolytic Activity

Twenty-two convalescent patients at rest were given a fat-enriched breakfast with and without the addition of 60 g. of fried or boiled onions. Both forms of onions were found to prevent the expected decrease in fibrinolytic activity, and indeed the latter was actually increased.     

内脂素对转基因小鼠血糖和运动性的影响

目的建立内脂素转基因小鼠动物模型,研究内脂素在转基因表达的情况下对小鼠的影响。方法把内脂素基因插入CMV启动子下游,构建转基因表达载体,通过显微注射法建立内脂素转基因小鼠。PCR鉴定内脂素转基因小鼠的基因型,Western Blot检测基因表达,通过血糖测定、血生化检测、转轮实验以及旷场观察,检测转基因小鼠在血糖和行为等方面的改变。结果建立了2个不同表达水平的内脂素转基因小鼠品系,转入的内脂素基因在骨骼肌和内脏脂肪组织中的表达高于内源性内脂素。血糖、血生化、代谢、疲劳度、协调性和旷场检查证实：内脂素转基因小鼠机体血糖降低,谷丙转氨酶降低,尿素氮升高,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇降低,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇升高,抗疲劳性和和协调性增高。结论成功建立了内脂素转基因小鼠,并证实内脂素对小鼠血糖和运动行为具有明显的影响,为研究脂肪细胞因子的作用机制提供了有价值的动物模型。     

灵芝多糖对人脐血LAK细胞活性的影响

本文研究了灵芝多糖（ＧＬＰ）对人脐血ＬＡＫ（ＣＢ—ＬＡＫ）细胞活性的影响,结果发现,单独ＧＬＰ能刺激人脐血单个核细胞（ＣＢＭＣ）增殖,但不能诱导ＬＡＫ活性,当与５０ｕ／ｍｌｒＩＬ—２伍用时,可增殖ＣＢ—ＬＡＫ细胞诱导活性,不同剂量ＧＬＰ（０．５—１００μｇ／ｍｌ）影响作用不同,以１０μｇ／ｍｌ浓度最好．在不同浓度ｒＩＬ—２（１０—１００ｕ／ｍｌ）诱导ＣＢ—ＬＡＫ细胞过程中加入ＧＬＰ（１０μｇ／ｍｌ）,可明显提高细胞增殖能力,减少ｒＩＬ—２用量。ＧＬＰ亦能促进效应阶段ＣＢ—ＬＡＫ细胞对Ｒａｊｉ肿瘤靶细胞的杀伤作用（Ｐ＜０．００１）。由此看出,ＧＬＰ具有增强ＣＢ—ＬＡＫ细胞活性的作用,是一很好的生物反应调节剂（ＢＲＭ）,有必要进行深入的研究。