The kinetics of chemotactic peptide-induced change in F-actin content, F-actin distribution, and the shape of neutrophils

Formyl-met-leu-phe (fMLP) induces actin assembly in neutrophils; the resultant increase in F-actin content correlates with an increase in the rate of cellular locomotion at fMLP concentrations less than or equal to 10(-8) M (Howard, T.H., and W.H. Meyer, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 98:1265-1271). We studied the time course of change in F-actin content, F-actin distribution, and cell shape after fMLP stimulation. F-actin content was quantified by fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis of nitrobenzoxadiazole-phallacidin-stained cells (Howard, T.H., 1982, J. Cell Biol., 95(2, Pt. 2:327a). F-actin distribution and cell shape were determined by analysis of fluorescence photomicrographs of nitrobenzoxadiazole-phallacidin-stained cells. After fMLP stimulation at 25 degrees C, there is a rapid actin polymerization that is maximal (up to 2.0 times the control level) at 45 s; subsequently, the F-actin depolymerizes to an intermediate F-actin content 5-10 min after stimulation. The depolymerization of F-actin reflects a true decrease in F-actin content since the quantity of probe extractable from cells also decreases between 45 s and 10 min. The rate of actin polymerization (3.8 +/- 0.3-4.4 +/- 0.6% increase in F-actin/s) is the same for 10(-10) - 10(-6) M fMLP and the polymerization is inhibited by cytochalasin D. The initial rate of F-actin depolymerization (6.0 +/- 1.0-30 +/- 5% decrease in F-actin/min) is inversely proportional to fMLP dose. The F-actin content of stimulated cells at 45 s and 10 min is greater than control levels and varies directly with fMLP dose. F-actin distribution and cell shape also vary as a function of time after stimulation. 45 s after stimulation the cells are rounded and F-actin is diffusely distributed; 10 min after stimulation the cell is polarized and F-actin is focally distributed. These results indicate that actin polymerization and depolymerization follow fMLP stimulation in sequence, the rate of depolymerization and the maximum and steady state F-actin content but not the rate of polymerization are fMLP dose dependent, and concurrent with F-actin depolymerization, F-actin is redistributed and the cell changes shape.     

Regulation of oscillations in filamentous actin content in polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with leukotriene B(4) and platelet-activating factor.

Stimulation of neutrophils with LTB(4) or PAF results in the production of a rapidly oscillating actin polymerization/depolymerization response. Treatment of neutrophils with inhibitors of PKC prior to stimulation with ligand resulted in a masking of the F-actin oscillations. Because myosin has been shown to be a substrate for neutrophil PKC, this protein was investigated as a potential downstream mediator of F-actin oscillations. Stimulation of neutrophils with LTB(4) resulted in myosin light chain being serine phosphorylated in a PKC-dependent manner. This phosphorylation was shown to occur in a manner that is kinetically distinct from the myosin phosphorylation induced by FMLP, a potent activator of actin polymerization that alone does not induce F-actin oscillations. Additionally, disruption of intracellular actin-myosin interactions resulted in inhibition of LTB(4)- as well as PAF-induced F-actin oscillations. These data suggest that PKC and downstream phosphorylation of myosin as well as actin-myosin interaction may play roles in mediating the production of neutrophil F-actin oscillations.     

Impaired deformability of copper-deficient neutrophils

We have previously shown that dietary copper deficiency augments neutrophil accumulation in the lung microvasculature. The current study was designed to determine whether a diet deficient in copper promotes neutrophil chemoattraction within the lung vasculature or if it alters the mechanical properties of the neutrophil, thus restricting passage through the microvessels. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed purified diets that were either copper adequate (6.3 microg Cu/g diet) or copper deficient (0.3 microg Cu/g diet) for 4 weeks. To assess neutrophil chemoattraction, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was assayed for the neutrophil chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neutrophil deformability was determined by measuring the pressure required to pass isolated neutrophils through a 5-microm polycarbonate filter. The MIP-2 concentration was not significantly different between the dietary groups (Cu adequate, 435.4 +/- 11.9 pg/ml; Cu deficient, 425.6 +/- 14.8 pg/ml). However, compared with controls, more pressure was needed to push Cu-deficient neutrophils through the filter (Cu adequate, 0.150 +/- 0.032 mm Hg/sec; Cu deficient, 0.284 +/- 0.037 mm Hg/sec). Staining of the filamentous actin (F-actin) with FITC-Phalloidin showed greater F-actin polymerization and shape change in the Cu-deficient group. These results suggest that dietary copper deficiency reduces the deformability of neutrophils by promoting F-actin polymerization. Because most neutrophils must deform during passage from arterioles to venules in the lungs, we propose that copper-deficient neutrophils accumulate in the lung because they are less deformable.     

Characterization of tetramethylrhodaminyl-phalloidin binding to cellular F-actin.

Fluorescent derivatives of phalloidin are widely used to measure filamentous actin (F-actin) levels and to stabilize F-actin. We have characterized the kinetics and affinity of binding of tetramethylrhodaminyl (TRITC)-phalloidin to rabbit skeletal muscle F-actin and to F-actin in lysates of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). We have defined conditions where TRITC-phalloidin can be used to inhibit F-actin depolymerization and to quantify F-actin without prior fixation. By equilibrium measurements, the affinity of TRITC-phalloidin binding to rabbit skeletal muscle F-actin (pyrene labeled) or to PMN lysate F-actin was 1-4 x 10(-7) M. In both cases, the stoichiometry of binding was approximately 1:1. Kinetic measurements of TRITC-phalloidin binding to PMN lysate F-actin resulted in an association rate constant of 420 +/- 120 M-1 sec-1 and a dissociation rate constant of 8.3 +/- 0.9 x 10(-5) sec-1. The affinity calculated from the kinetic measurements (2 +/- 1 x 10(-7) M) agreed well with that obtained by equilibrium measurements. The rate with which 0.6 microM TRITC-phalloidin inhibited 0.1 microM pyrenyl F-actin depolymerization (90% inhibition in 10 sec) was much faster than the rate of binding to pyrenyl F-actin (less than 1% bound in 10 sec), suggesting that phalloidin binds to filament ends more rapidly than to the rest of the filament. We show that TRITC-phalloidin can be used to measure F-actin levels in cell lysates when G-actin is also present (i.e., in cell lysates at high concentrations) if DNase I is included to prevent phalloidin-induced polymerization.     

Actin reorganization and morphological changes in human neutrophils stimulated by TNF,GM-CSF,and G-CSF: the role of MAP kinases

Stimulation of human neutrophils with tumor necrosis factor- (TNF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) resulted in decreased fluorescence intensity of FITC-phalloidin (actin depolymerization) and morphological changes. Cytokine-induced actin depolymerization was dependent on the concentration of cytokines used as stimuli. The maximal changes were detected at 10 min after stimulation with TNF or GM-CSF and at 20 min after stimulation with G-CSF. Cytokine-induced actin depolymerization was sustained for at least 30 min after stimulation. In contrast, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) rapidly (within 45 s) induced an increase in the fluorescence intensity of FITC-phalloidin (actin polymerization) and morphological changes. TNF- and GM-CSF-induced actin depolymerization and morphological changes, but not FMLP-induced responses, were partially inhibited by either PD-98059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase, or SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, and were almost completely abolished by these inhibitors in combination. G-CSF-induced responses were almost completely abolished by PD-98059 and were unaffected by SB-203580. These findings are consistent with the ability of these cytokines to activate the distinct MAPK subtype cascade in human neutrophils. Phosphorylated ERK and p38 MAPK were not colocalized with F-actin in neutrophils stimulated by cytokines or FMLP. Furthermore, FMLP-induced polarization and actin polymerization were prevented by cytokine pretreatment. These findings suggest that TNF, GM-CSF, and G-CSF induce actin depolymerization and morphological changes through activation of ERK and/or p38 MAPK and that cytokine-induced actin reorganization may be partly responsible for the inhibitory effect of these cytokines on neutrophil chemotaxis. neutrophil; actin reorganization; cytokines; mitogen-activated protein kinase; tumor necrosis factor-; granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor     

Kinetic analysis of F-actin depolymerization in polymorphonuclear leukocyte lysates indicates that chemoattractant stimulation increases actin filament number without altering the filament length distribution

The rate of filamentous actin (F-actin) depolymerization is proportional to the number of filaments depolarizing and changes in the rate are proportional to changes in filament number. To determine the number and length of actin filaments in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the change in filament number and length that occurs during the increase in F-actin upon chemoattractant stimulation, the time course of cellular F-actin depolymerization in lysates of control and peptide-stimulated cells was examined. F-actin was quantified by the TRITC-labeled phalloidin staining of pelletable actin. Lysis in 1.2 M KCl and 10 microM DNase I minimized the effects of F-actin binding proteins and G-actin, respectively, on the kinetics of depolymerization. To determine filament number and length from a depolymerization time course, depolymerization kinetics must be limited by the actin monomer dissociation rate. Comparison of time courses of depolymerization in the presence (pointed ends free) or absence (barbed and pointed ends free) of cytochalasin suggested depolymerization occurred from both ends of the filament and that monomer dissociation was rate limiting. Control cells had 1.7 +/- 0.4 x 10(5) filaments with an average length of 0.29 +/- 0.09 microns. Chemo-attractant stimulation for 90 s at room temperature with 0.02 microM N-formylnorleucylleucylphenylalanine caused a twofold increase in F-actin and about a two-fold increase in the total number of actin filaments to 4.0 +/- 0.5 x 10(5) filaments with an average length of 0.27 +/- 0.07 microns. In both cases, most (approximately 80%) of the filaments were quite short (less than or equal to 0.18 micron). The length distributions of actin filaments in stimulated and control cells were similar.     

Relationship of F-actin distribution to development of polar shape in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Polymerization of actin has been associated with development of polar shape in human neutrophils (PMN). To examine the relation of filamentous actin (F-actin) distribution to shape change in PMN, we developed a method using computerized video image analysis and fluorescence microscopy to quantify distribution of F-actin in single cells. PMN were labeled with fluorescent probe NBD-phallicidin to measure filamentous actin and Texas red to assess cell thickness. We show that Texas red fluorescence is a reasonable measure of cell thickness and that correction of the NBD-phallicidin image for cell thickness using the Texas red image permits assessment of focal F-actin content. Parameters were derived that quantify total F-actin content, movement of F-actin away from the center of the cell, asymmetry of F-actin distribution, and change from round to polar shape. The sequence of change in F-actin distribution and its relation to development of polar shape in PMN was determined using these parameters. After stimulation with chemotactic peptide at 25 degrees C, F-actin polymerized first at the rim of the PMN. This was followed by development of asymmetry of F-actin distribution and change to polar shape. The dominant pseudopod developed first in the region of lower F-actin concentration followed later by polymerization of actin in the end of the developed pseudopod. Asymmetric F-actin distribution was detected in round PMN before development of polar shape. Based upon these data, asymmetric distribution of F-actin is coincident with and probably precedes development of polar shape in PMN stimulated in suspension by chemotactic peptide.     

Dynamic changes in neutrophil cytoskeleton during priming and subsequent surface stimulated functions.

The naturally occurring inositol polyphosphate, inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6, phytic acid) primes human neutrophils for enhanced responses to stimulatory agonists. Unlike other primers InsP6 has no effect at high doses (up to 500 microM) on the neutrophil's basal rate of superoxide production (O2-). Pretreatment of the cells for 2 min with InsP6 (100 microM) substantially enhances fMet-Leu-Phe (FMLP) (10(-7) M)-induced respiratory burst. In investigations of the dynamic aspect of neutrophil actin during priming and stimulation with FMLP the content of F-actin has been measured with and NBD (nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)-phallacidin assay. The induced assembly of F-actin is rapid (peaks at approximately 45 s) followed by depolymerization. In contrast, priming with InsP6, with or without FMLP stimulation, results in a sustained assembly of F-actin as visualized with a rhodamine-phalloidin staining technique. These changes in macromolecular status and distribution of F-actin during InsP6 priming occur in the absence of any other demonstrable functional responses and thus InsP6 may be a useful tool to follow early events in neutrophil functions or to monitor the presence of unprimed and preprimed subpopulations in the circulation. Since InsP6 is present in high concentrations in neutrophils (up to 100 microM), its release from damaged or effete cells may have a modulatory role on neutrophil functions.     

Role of gelsolin interaction with actin in regulation and creation of actin nuclei in chemotactic peptide activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

In vitro Ca++ activates gelsolin to sever F-actin and form a gelsolin-actin (GA) complex at the+end of F-actin that is not dissociated by ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) but is separated by EGTA+PIP/PIP2. The gelsolin blocks the+end on the actin filament, but the-end of the filament can still initiate actin polymerization. In thrombin activated platelets, evidence suggests that severing of F-actin by gelsolin increases GA complex, creates one-end actin nucleus and one cryptic+end actin nucleus per cut, and then dissociates to yield free+ends to nucleate rapid actin assembly. We examined the role of F-actin severing in creation and regulation of nuclei and polymerization in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). At 2-s intervals after formyl peptide (FMLP) activation of endotoxin free (ETF) PMNs, change in GA complex was correlated with change in+end actin nuclei,-end actin nuclei, and F-actin content. GA complex was quantitated by electrophoretograms of proteins absorbed by antigelsolin from cells lysed in 10 mM EGTA,+end actin nuclei as cytochalasin (CD) sensitive and-end actin nuclei as CD insensitive increases in G-pyrenyl actin polymerization rates induced by the same PMNs, and F-actin content by NBDphallacidin binding to fixed cells. Thirty three percent of gelsolin was in GA complex in basal ETF PMNs; from 2-6 s, GA complexes dissociate (low = 15% at 10 s) and sequentially+end nuclei and F-actin content and then-end nuclei increase to a maximum at 10 s. At > s GA complex increase toward basal and + end nuclei and F-actin content returned toward basal. These kinetic data show gelsolin regulates availability of + end nuclei and actin polymerization in FMLP. However, absence of an initial increase in GA complex or - end nucleating activity shows FMLP activation does not cause gelsolin to sever F- or to bind G-actin to create cryptic + end nuclei in PMNs; the results suggest the + nucleus formation is gelsolin independent.     

pH control of actin polymerization by cofilin

Cofilin, a 21,000 molecular weight actin-regulatory protein (Nishida, E., Maekawa, S., and Sakai, H. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 5307-5313), was here shown to be capable of reversibly controlling actin polymerization and depolymerization in a pH-sensitive manner. When cofilin was reacted with F-actin at different pH, the depolymerized actin concentration (= monomeric actin concentration) was higher at elevated pH. At pH less than 7.3, the monomeric actin concentrations did not exceed approximately 1 microM even in the presence of excess amounts of cofilin, whereas at pH greater than 7.3 it increased in proportion to the concentration of cofilin added, and complete depolymerization of F-actin occurred by the addition of an excess amount of cofilin. Moreover, in the presence of cofilin, rapid interconversion of monomeric and polymeric forms of actin can be induced by simply changing the pH of the medium. Thus, this study provides a new possible mechanism regulating actin polymerization, pH control.     

Mechanisms responsible for F-actin stabilization after lysis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes

While actin polymerization and depolymerization are both essential for cell movement, few studies have focused on actin depolymerization. In vivo, depolymerization can occur exceedingly rapidly and in a spatially defined manner: the F-actin in the lamellipodia depolymerizes in 30 s after chemoattractant removal (Cassimeris, L., H. McNeill, and S. H. Zigmond. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:1067-1075). To begin to understand the regulation of F-actin depolymerization, we have examined F-actin depolymerization in lysates of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Surprisingly, much of the cell F-actin, measured with a TRITC-phalloidin-binding assay, was stable after lysis in a physiological salt buffer (0.15 M KCl): approximately 50% of the F-actin did not depolymerize even after 18 h. This stable F-actin included lamellar F-actin which could still be visualized one hour after lysis by staining with TRITC-phalloidin and by EM. We investigated the basis for this stability. In lysates with cell concentrations greater than 10(7) cells/ml, sufficient globular actin (G-actin) was present to result in a net increase in F-actin. However, the F-actin stability was not solely because of the presence of free G-actin since addition of DNase I to the lysate did not increase the F-actin loss. Nor did it appear to be because of barbed end capping factors since cell lysates provided sites for barbed end polymerization of exogenous added actin. The stable F-actin existed in a macromolecular complex that pelleted at low gravitational forces. Increasing the salt concentration of the lysis buffer decreased the amount of F-actin that pelleted at low gravitational forces and increased the amount of F-actin that depolymerized. Various actin-binding and cross-linking proteins such as tropomyosin, alpha-actinin, and actin-binding protein pelleted with the stable F-actin. In addition, we found that alpha-actinin, a filament cross-linking protein, inhibited the rate of pyrenyl F-actin depolymerization. These results suggested that actin cross-linking proteins may contribute to the stability of cellular actin after lysis. The activity of crosslinkers may be regulated in vivo to allow rapid turnover of lamellipodia F-actin.     

Evidence for a gelsolin-rich, labile F-actin pool in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Filamentous (F) actin is a major cytoskeletal element in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and other non-muscle cells. Exposure of PMNs to agonists causes polymerization of monomeric (G) actin to F-actin and activates motile responses. In vitro, all purified F-actin is identical. However, in vivo, the presence of multiple, diverse actin regulatory and binding proteins suggests that all F-actin within cells may not be identical. Typically, F-actin in cells is measured by either NBDphallacidin binding or as cytoskeletal associated actin in Triton-extracted cells. To determine whether the two measures of F-actin in PMNs, NBDphallacidin binding and cytoskeletal associated actin, are equivalent, a qualitative and quantitative comparison of the F-actin in basal, non-adherent endotoxin-free PMNs measured by both techniques was performed. F-actin as NBDphallacidin binding and cytoskeletal associated actin was measured in cells fixed with formaldehyde prior to cell lysis and fluorescent staining (PreFix), or in cells lysed with Triton prior to fixation (PostFix). By both techniques, F-actin in PreFix cells is higher than in PostFix cells (54.25 +/- 3.77 vs. 23.5 +/- 3.7 measured as mean fluorescent channel by NBDphallacidin binding and 70.3 +/- 3.5% vs. 47.2 +/- 3.6% of total cellular actin measured as cytoskeletal associated actin). These results show that in PMNs, Triton exposure releases a labile F-actin pool from basal cells while a stable F-actin pool is resistant to Triton exposure. Further characterizations of the distinct labile and stable F-actin pools utilizing NBDphallacidin binding, ultracentrifugation, and electron microscopy demonstrate the actin released with the labile pool is lost as filament. The subcellular localization of F-actin in the two pools is documented by fluorescent microscopy, while the distribution of the actin regulatory protein gelsolin is characterized by immunoblots with anti-gelsolin. Our studies show that at least two distinct F-actin pools coexist in endotoxin-free, basal PMNs in suspension: 1) a stable F-actin pool which is a minority of total cellular F-actin, Triton insoluble, resistant to depolymerization at 4 degrees C, gelsolin-poor, and localized to submembranous areas of the cell; and 2) a labile F-actin pool which is the majority of total cellular F-actin, Triton soluble, depolymerizes at 4 degrees C, is gelsolin-rich, and distributed diffusely throughout the cell. The results suggest that the two pools may subserve unique cytoskeletal functions within PMNs, and should be carefully considered in efforts to elucidate the mechanisms which regulate actin polymerization and depolymerization in non-muscle cells.     

Comparison of actin changes and calcium metabolism in plastic- and fibronectin-adherent human neutrophils.

Human neutrophils adherent to a polystyrene plastic surface are vigorously activated, whereas those adherent to fibronectin manifest only a priming response. The basis of these metabolic differences was further characterized; polystyrene-adherent cells, which were shown to spread quickly upon adhesion, exhibited an increase of cytoskeleton-associated actin (F-actin) (measured by a nitrobenzoxadiazole-phallacidin fluorescent staining assay) and a decrease of monomeric G-actin concentration (measured by a DNase inhibition assay); in contrast, fibronectin-adherent cells exhibited little spreading and decreased their F-actin, after 1.5 min of adhesion, to 33.49 +/- 6.9% (mean +/- SD, n = 5) of initial levels found in suspended cells before plating. Actin depolymerization in fibronectin-adherent cells was confirmed by measuring G-actin, which sharply increased during the first minute of adhesion, rising from 0.065 +/- 0.007 to 0.20 +/- 0.035 microgram/microgram of protein (mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.05), and then remained elevated during 5 min of observation. In contrast, soluble fibronectin induced a decrease of G-actin in suspended cells. Cells pretreated with 1 microM cytochalasin D and allowed to adhere to a plastic surface did not spread, failed to generate O2-, and exhibited elevated concentrations of G-actin (0.1 to 0.2 microgram/microgram of protein) during the 5 min of observation. Actin changes, as well as respiratory burst, in adherent cells were shown to proceed through a pertussis toxin-insensitive pathway. Fluo-3 measurements of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) showed a fourfold and twofold [Ca2+]i increase in polystyrene- and fibronectin-adherent cells, respectively, after 2 min. The small rise in [Ca2+]i in fibronectin-adherent cells corresponds to a primed response of these cells to subsequent activation with FMLP. Ionomycin (1 microM) added to neutrophils just before adhesion on fibronectin induced full activation, i.e., O2- production and actin polymerization. The metabolic events controlling metabolic priming and actin depolymerization are as yet uncharacterized, but fibronectin receptor-linked responses beyond the mediation of cell adhesion have now been identified, suggesting complex metabolic functions of integrin receptors.     

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte adherence induces actin polymerization by a transduction pathway which differs from that used by chemoattractants

Nitrobenzoxadiazole-phallacidin in combination with quantitative fluorescent microscopy have been used to measure F-actin concentrations in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) as they adhere to a plastic surface. Like stimulation with chemoattractants, adherence is associated with a twofold rise in F-actin content. However unlike the rapid rise in F-actin induced by chemoattractants which peaks within 30 s, actin assembly induced by adherence is slower, maximum F-actin values not being observed until 10 min. Furthermore the rise in F-actin induced by adherence is persistent, remaining constant over 60 min while F-actin returns to near basal levels after 20 min exposure to chemoattractant. The combination of adherence (5 min) followed by chemoattractant (FMLP 5 x 10(-8) M for 40 s) resulted in an additive rise in F-actin content to greater than threefold over unstimulated values. Unlike chemoattractant induced actin assembly, adherence- associated PMN actin polymerization was not inhibited by pertussis toxin, but was markedly reduced by lowering extracellular Ca2+. Fluorescent micrographs of adherent PMN stained with nitrobenzoxadiazole-phallacidin revealed F-actin in the lamellipodia and in small foci on the adherent surface. These findings suggest that the transduction mechanisms by which adherence induces PMN actin polymerization differ from those used by chemoattractant receptors.     

Chemotactic peptide-induced changes in neutrophil actin conformation

The effect of the chemotatic peptide, N- formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP), on actin conformation in human neutrophils (PMN) was studied by flow cytometry using fluorescent 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD)-phallacidin to quantitate cellular F-actin content. Uptake of NBD-phallacidin by fixed PMN was saturable and inhibited by fluid phase F-actin but not G-actin. Stimulation of PMN by greater than 1 nM FMLP resulted in a dose-dependent and reversible increase in F-actin in 70-95% of PMN by 30 s. The induced increase in F-actin was blocked by 30 microM cytochalasin B or by a t- BOC peptide that competitively inhibits FMLP binding. Under fluorescence microscopy, NBD-phallacidin stained, unstimulated PMN had faint homogeneous cytoplasmic fluorescence while cells exposed to FMLP for 30 s prior to NBD-phallacidin staining had accentuated subcortical fluorescence. In the continued presence of an initial stimulatory dose of FMLP, PMN could respond with increased F-actin content to the addition of an increased concentration of FMLP. Thus, FMLP binding to PMN induces a rapid transient conversion of unpolymerized actin to subcortical F-actin and repetitive stimulation of F-actin formation can be induced by increasing chemoattractant concentration. The directed movement of PMN in response to chemoattractant gradients may require similar rapid reversible changes in actin conformation.     

Actin deoxyroboncuclease I interaction. Depolymerization and nucleotide exchange

Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) forms a 1:1 complex with globular actin (G-actin) and also will depolymerize filamentous actin (F-actin) to form a 1:1 complex. The effect of DNase I on the exchange of the actin nucleotide has been investigated. When DNase I is added to G-actin, the rate of nucleotide exchange is decreased from 1.16 +/- 0.25 X 10(-4) s-1 to 0.28 +/- 0.09 X 10(-4) s-1 (0 degrees C). The presence of ATP or ADP in the actin has little effect on the rate of exchange of the nucleotide for ATP. This suggests that the weaker affinity of ADP than ATP for actin is due to a slower association rate of ADP. The rate of the nucleotide exchange in the actinDNase I complex is increased by the addition of NaCl or MgCl2. When DNase I is added to F-actin, the rate of nucleotide exchange (6.2 +/- 1.6 X 10(-4) x-1, 0 degrees C) is similar to the rate of depolymerization as measured by loss of viscosity. The actinDNase I complex formed by depolymerization of F-actin exchanges nucleotide at a 4-fold faster rate than the G-actinDNase I complex in the same ionic conditions. This and other experiments suggest that DNase I binds first to F-actin before dissociating the monomer from the filament. These results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms of action depolymerization.     

Cytochalasin D acts as an inhibitor of the actin-cofilin interaction

Cofilin, a key regulator of actin filament dynamics, binds to G- and F-actin and promotes actin filament turnover by stimulating depolymerization and severance of actin filaments. In this study, cytochalasin D (CytoD), a widely used inhibitor of actin dynamics, was found to act as an inhibitor of the G-actin-cofilin interaction by binding to G-actin. CytoD also inhibited the binding of cofilin to F-actin and decreased the rate of both actin polymerization and depolymerization in living cells. CytoD altered cellular F-actin organization but did not induce net actin polymerization or depolymerization. These results suggest that CytoD inhibits actin filament dynamics in cells via multiple mechanisms, including the well-known barbed-end capping mechanism and as shown in this study, the inhibition of G- and F-actin binding to cofilin.     

Chemotactic peptide modulation of actin assembly and locomotion in neutrophils

To determine the relationship between the state of actin polymerization in neutrophils and the formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced changes in the locomotive behavior of neutrophils, the mean rate of locomotion (mROL), the percent G-actin, and the relative F-actin content of neutrophils were determined. The mROL was quantified by analysis of the locomotion of individual cells; the percentage of total actin as G-actin was measured by DNase I inhibition; and the F-actin was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis of nitrobenzoxadiazol (NBD)-phallacidin-stained neutrophils. Neutrophils stimulated with fMLP exhibit a change in their mROL that is biphasic and dose dependent. The mROL of neutrophils exposed to 10(-8) M fMLP, the KD, is 11.9 +/- 2.0 micron/min (baseline control 6.2 +/- 1.0 micron/min). At 10(-6) M fMLP, the mROL returns to baseline levels. Stimulation of neutrophils with fMLP also induces action polymerization. Evidence for actin polymerization includes a 26.5% reduction in G-actin and a twofold increase in the amount of NBD-phallacidin staining of cells as determined by FACS analysis. The NBD-phallacidin staining is not due to phagocytosis, is inhibited by phalloidin, requires cell permeabilization, and is saturable at NBD-phallacidin concentrations greater than 10(-7)M. The fMLP-induced increase in NBD-phallacidin staining occurs rapidly (less than 2 min), is temperature dependent, and is not due to cell aggregation. Since NBD-phallacidin binds specifically to F-actin, the increase in fluorescent staining of cells likely reflects an increase in the F-actin content of fMLP-stimulated cells. FACS analysis of NBD-phallacidin-stained cells shows that the relative F-actin content of neutrophils stimulated with 10(-11)-10(-8)M fMLP increases twofold and remains increased at concentrations greater than 10(-8)M fMLP. Therefore, the fMLP-induced increase in F-actin content of neutrophils as determined by FACS analysis of NBD-phallacidin-stained cells coincides with a decrease in G-actin and correlates with increased mROL of neutrophils under some (10(-11)-10(-8)M fMLP) but not all (greater than 10(-8)M fMLP) conditions of stimulation. Quantification of the F-actin content of nonmuscle cells by FACS analysis of NBD-phallacidin-stained cells may allow rapid assessment of the state of actin polymerization and correlation of that state with the motile behavior of nonmuscle cells.     

GPCR-mediated PLCβγ/PKCβ/PKD signaling pathway regulates the cofilin phosphatase slingshot 2 in neutrophil chemotaxis

Chemotaxis requires precisely coordinated polymerization and depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton at leading fronts of migrating cells. However, GPCR activation-controlled F-actin depolymerization remains largely elusive. Here, we reveal a novel signaling pathway, including Gαi, PLC, PKCβ, protein kinase D (PKD), and SSH2, in control of cofilin phosphorylation and actin cytoskeletal reorganization, which is essential for neutrophil chemotaxis. We show that PKD is essential for neutrophil chemotaxis and that GPCR-mediated PKD activation depends on PLC/PKC signaling. More importantly, we discover that GPCR activation recruits/activates PLCγ2 in a PI3K-dependent manner. We further verify that PKCβ specifically interacts with PKD1 and is required for chemotaxis. Finally, we identify slingshot 2 (SSH2), a phosphatase of cofilin (actin depolymerization factor), as a target of PKD1 that regulates cofilin phosphorylation and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton during neutrophil chemotaxis.     

Actin reorganization is required for the formation of polarized B cell receptor signalosomes in response to both soluble and membrane-associated antigens

B cells encounter both soluble Ag (sAg) and membrane-associated Ag (mAg) in the secondary lymphoid tissue, yet how the physical form of Ag modulates B cell activation remains unclear. This study compares actin reorganization and its role in BCR signalosome formation in mAg- and sAg-stimulated B cells. Both mAg and sAg induce F-actin accumulation and actin polymerization at BCR microclusters and at the outer rim of BCR central clusters, but the kinetics and magnitude of F-actin accumulation in mAg-stimulated B cells are greater than those in sAg-stimulated B cells. Accordingly, the actin regulatory factors, cofilin and gelsolin, are recruited to BCR clusters in both mAg- and sAg-stimulated B cells but with different kinetics and patterns of cellular redistribution. Inhibition of actin reorganization by stabilizing F-actin inhibits BCR clustering and tyrosine phosphorylation induced by both forms of Ag. Depolymerization of F-actin leads to unpolarized microclustering of BCRs and tyrosine phosphorylation in BCR microclusters without mAg and sAg, but with much slower kinetics than those induced by Ag. Therefore, actin reorganization, mediated via both polymerization and depolymerization, is required for the formation of BCR signalosomes in response to both mAg and sAg.