Microtubule dynamics and glutathione metabolism in phagocytizing human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Glutathione oxidants such as tertiary butyl hydroperoxide were shown previously to prevent microtubule assembly and cause breakdown of preassembled cytoplasmic microtubules in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The objectives of the present study were to determine the temporal relationship between the attachment and ingestion of phagocytic particles and the assembly of microtubules, and simultaneously to quantify the levels of reduced glutathione and products of its oxidation as potential physiological regulators of assembly. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes from human peripheral blood were induced to phagocytize opsonized zymosan at 30 degrees C. Microtubule assembly was assessed in the electron microscope by direct counts of microtubules in thin sections through centrioles. Acid extracts were assayed for reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), by the sensitive enzymatic procedure of Tietze. Washed protein pellets were assayed for free sulfhydryl groups and for mixed protein disulfides with glutathione (protein-SSG) after borohydride splitting of the disulfide bond. Resting cells have few assembled microtubules. Phagocytosis induces a cycle of rapid assembly followed by disassembly. Assembly is initiated by particle contact and is maximal by 3 min of phagocytosis. Disassembly after 5-9 min of phagocytosis is preceded by a slow rise in GSSG and coincides with a rapid rise in protein-SSG. Protein-SSG also increases under conditions in which butyl hydroperoxide inhibits the assembly of microtubules that normally follows binding of concanavalin A to leukocyte cell surface receptors. No evidence for direct involvement of GSH in the induction of assembly was obtained. The formation of protein-SSG, however, emerges as a possible regulatory mechanism for the inhibition of microtubule assembly and induction of their disassembly.     

Inhibition of phosphoinositide metabolism in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by S-adenosylhomocysteine

Transmembrane signaling by chemoattractants in leukocytes appears to require activation of phosphoinositide metabolism with subsequent generation of the second messenger substances, inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. In addition, previous studies have shown that conditions which lead to an intracellular increase in S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy), a by-product and competitive inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine-mediated methylation reactions, inhibit all chemoattractant-mediated functions of leukocytes, suggesting that AdoHcy also interferes with chemoattractant transmembrane signaling. In the present study, we determined whether AdoHcy altered the metabolism of phosphoinositides in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Treatment of 32P-labeled polymorphonuclear leukocytes with the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, plus exogenous adenosine and L-homocysteine thiolactone, conditions which cause an increase in AdoHcy, produced as much as a 37% decrease in the amount of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate associated with the cells. The formation of inositol bisphosphate was inhibited by as much as 45% by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, adenosine, and L-homocysteine thiolactone suggesting decreased availability of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate. In support of this, AdoHcy, in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 mM, inhibited the transfer of gamma-32P from gamma-[32P] ATP to phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns). The inhibition of PtdIns kinase was competitive with an apparent Ki for AdoHcy of 43 microM. Increased intracellular AdoHcy reduced chemoattractant-mediated increases in inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate formation suggesting abrogation of transmembrane signaling. These findings for the first time demonstrate that AdoHcy is a competitive inhibitor of PtdIns kinase and thus a regulator of the phosphoinositide pathway.     

Tumor necrosis factor is chemotactic for monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induced migration across polycarbonate and nitrocellulose filters of human peripheral blood monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, TNF was active in inducing migration at concentrations less than 1 U/ml, and maximal responses (observed at greater than 100 U/ml) were comparable to those elicited by standard reference chemoattractants (FMLP, 10 nM; activated human serum, 5%). Checkerboard analysis performed by seeding different concentrations of TNF above and below the filter revealed that maximal induction of migration required a positive concentration gradient between the lower and upper compartments and that TNF elicited an actual chemotactic response in phagocytes. An anti-TNF rabbit antiserum and anti-TNF mouse monoclonal antibody abolished the chemotactic activity of TNF. Recombinant lymphotoxin was also chemotactic for phagocytes, and its activity was blocked by an anti-lymphotoxin antiserum. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells and blood large granular lymphocytes did not respond chemotactically to TNF under conditions in which appropriate reference chemoattractants were active. The chemotactic activity of TNF may serve to recruit phagocytic cells from the blood compartment to amplify resistance against noxious agents.     

Chemotaxis of blood monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with diabetes mellitus]

The chemotaxis of blood monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes was measured in 20 adult patients with diabetes mellitus and 11 normal control subjects. In experiments dealing with monocytes, the diabetics had a chemotaxis value (125+/-10) significantly lower than that of controls (368+/-22); the polymorphonuclear leukocytes chemotaxis value of diabetics (468+/-31) was also lower than normal (1256+/-62). Adding insulin (10 unit/1000 cc) to the diabetes leukocytes suspension significantly increased the value of chemotaxis.     

Specific binding sites for the phagocytosis stimulating peptide tuftsin on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes

Highly purified and biologically active [³H]tuftsin (specific activity 9 Ci/mmol) was synthesized and its binding to several types of human circulating blood cells was studied at 22°C. The binding to polymorphonuclear leukocytes and to monocytes was found to be specific, fast, saturable and reversible. Values for the dissociation constants (K_D) were derived from equilibrium experiments and are 130 and 125 nM, respectively. The number of binding sites is approximately 50,000 and 100,000 per cell, respectively. Under the same experimental conditions lymphocytes exhibited only a threshold binding capacity for [³H]tuftsin whereas erythrocytes revealed no detectable binding.     

Regulation of inositol phospholipid and inositol phosphate metabolism in chemoattractant-activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Binding of chemoattractants to specific cell surface receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) initiates a series of biochemical responses leading to cellular activation. A critical early biochemical event in chemoattractant (CTX) receptor-mediated signal transduction is the phosphodiesteric cleavage of plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), with concomitant production of the calcium mobilizing inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) isomer, and the protein kinase C activator, 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). The following lines of experimental evidence collectively suggest that CTX receptors are coupled to phospholipase C via a guanine nucleotide binding (G) protein. Receptor-mediated hydrolysis of PIP2 in PMN plasma membrane preparations requires both fMet-Leu-Phe and GTP, and incubation of intact PMNs with pertussis toxin (which ADP ribosylates and inactivates some G proteins) eliminates the ability of fMet-Leu-Phe plus GTP to promote PIP2 breakdown in isolated plasma membranes. Studies with both PMN particulate fractions and with partially purified fMet-Leu-Phe receptor preparations indicate that guanine nucleotides regulate CTX receptor affinity. Finally, fMet-Leu-Phe stimulates high-affinity binding of GTP gamma S to PMN membranes as well as GTPase activity. A G alpha subunit has been identified in phagocyte membranes which is different from other G alpha subunits on the basis of molecular weight and differential sensitivity to ribosylation by bacterial toxins. Thus, a novel G protein may be involved in coupling CTX receptors to phospholipase C. Studies in intact and sonicated PMNs demonstrate that metabolism of 1,4,5-IP3 proceeds via two distinct pathways: 1) sequential dephosphorylation to 1,4-IP2, 4-IP1 and inositol, or 2) ATP-dependent conversion to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4) followed by sequential dephosphorylation to 1,3,4-IP3, 3,4-IP2, 3-IP1 and inositol. Receptor-mediated hydrolysis of PIP2 occurs at ambient intracellular Ca2+ levels; but metabolism of 1,4,5-IP3 via the IP4 pathway requires elevated cytosolic Ca2+ levels associated with cellular activation. Thus, the two pathways for 1,4,5-IP3 metabolism may serve different metabolic functions. Additionally, inositol phosphate production appears to be controlled by protein kinase C, as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) abrogates PIP2 hydrolysis by interfering with the ability of the activated G protein to stimulate phospholipase C. This implies a physiologic mechanism for terminating biologic responses via protein kinase C mediated feedback inhibition of PIP2 hydrolysis.     

Enterococcus faecalis: specific and non-specific interactions with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

In previous studies we have demonstrated that the ability of Enterococcus faecalis to adhere to and to be internalized in human urinary tract epithelial cells, Girardi Heart cells and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), was dependent on whether the strain had been isolated from urinary tract infections (UTI) or endocarditis (EN) respectively. These properties were further modified by growth of the organism in human serum. In the present report, using competition assays we show that adhesins containing a D-glucose moiety play a role in mediating the interactions between human PMNs and E. faecalis strains isolated from UTI and grown in brain-heart infusion broth (BHIB). On the other hand, adhesins containing both D-glucose and D-galactose moieties were involved in the interactions between PMNs and serum grown UTI isolates or EN isolates grown in either BHIB or human serum. Moreover, the impairment in the association between both UTI and EN strains after growth in serum appears to be at least partially related to a decrease in enterococcal surface hydrophobicity.     

Tuftsin and some analogs: synthesis and interaction with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The phagocytosis-stimulating tetrapeptide tuftsin, L-threonyl-L-lysyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine, was synthesized by both conventional and polymeric-reagent approaches. Using a combination of the two methods several analogs were prepared, including: [Ala1]tuftsin, [Lys1]tuftsin, [Ser1]tuftsin, [Val1]tuftsin, acetyl-tuftsin, p-aminophenylacetyl-tuftsin and tyrosyl-tuftsin. [Des-Thr1]tuftsin and [omega-NO2(4)]tuftsin were synthesized using a conventional procedure. The effects of synthetic peptides on the phagocytosis of heat-killed yeasts and on the reduction of the dye nitroblue tetrazolium by normal human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were investigated. Tuftsin and to a lesser extent [Lys1]tuftsin and [Ser1]tuftsin were found to stimulate phagocytosis, whereas the other analogs synthesized as well as [Ser1]tuftsin exhibited inhibitory effects to tuftsin's action. Tuftsin alone has stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium reduction; [Des-Thr1]tuftsin and [Ala1]tuftsin repressed this stimulation, while the other peptides showed no effect.     

Biochemical characterisation of porcine polymorphonuclear leucocytes: comparison with human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes were isolated from pig blood relatively free from other cells and were characterised biochemically and morphologically and compared with human PMNLs. The activities of 16 enzymes of porcine and human PMNLs were measured and compared. Alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, malate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase had higher specific activities in procine than in human cells. Alkaline phosphatase has an 87-fold higher specific activity in porcine than in human cells. beta-glucuronidase, lysozyme, beta-galactosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, beta-glucosidase, myeloperoxidase and catalase had higher specific activities in human than in porcine cells. beta-glucuronidase and myeloperoxidase showed over a 1000- and a 13-fold higher specific activity, respectively, in human than in porcine cells. Porcine PMNLs are readily available in large numbers and are recommended for studies of phagocytosis, chemotaxis and membrane biochemistry.     

A comparison of the effects of intact and deacylated lipopolysaccharide on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Enzymatic deacylation of LPS markedly reduces its activity in the dermal Shwartzman reaction. Inasmuch as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are involved in the genesis of tissue injury in Shwartzman reactions, we have investigated the effects of deacylated LPS (dLPS) on PMN. Compared to LPS, dLPS was ineffectual as a stimulus of both PMN adherence and release of secondary granule enzymes, and dLPS inhibited specific LPS-induced adherence. Neither LPS nor dLPS caused release of the primary granule enzymes, myeloperoxidase, and elastase. Unlike LPS, dLPS failed to prime PMN for superoxide release when a second stimulus (FMLP, 10(-6) M was given. The mechanism of the LPS induced increase in PMN adherence was investigated, and we found that LPS significantly increased the amount of the adhesive glycoprotein CD11b on the surface of the PMN. dLPS had no effect on CD11b expression. Our results suggest that enzymatic deacylation of LPS profoundly alters its ability to stimulate PMN and deacylation of LPS by inflammatory cells in vivo might be an important mechanism limiting the toxic effects of LPS.     

Cytochalasin E-induced oxidative metabolism in polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The extent of the cyanide-resistent oxidative burst of polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes after stimulation with cytochalasin E was shown to depend markedly on the osmolarity of the cell-suspension medium. With granulocyte concentrations up to 2 X 10(6) cells/ml, optimal oxygen consumption and releases of H2O2 and superoxide anions were reached at 180 mOsmol and 2 X 10(-5) M cytochalasin E. After removal of unbound activator, the cellular oxidative activity remained unaltered and continued to depend on the used osmotic conditions. It is proposed that binding of cytochalasin to the plasma membrane induces an irreversible activation of the oxidative system, whereas the resulting metabolic activity depends on conformational changes in the plasma membrane.     

Effect of phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and rabbit alveolar macrophages on 2-deoxyglucose transport.

2-Deoxyglucose transport was characterized in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM). The Km was 1 mM for human PMN and 1.6 mM for rabbit AM, and the Vmax was 0.66 x 10(-3) micromoles/45 sec/10(6) PMN and 5.09 x 10(-4) micromoles/45 sec/10(6) AM. The rate of 2-deoxyglucose transport was the same before and after phagocytosis in PMN from normal individuals and three patients with chronic granulomatous disease, as well as rabbit AM. Studies of the kinetics of 2-deoxyglucose transport and intracellular fate of 2-deoxyglucose in human PMN indicate that the nature of the membrane transport system is not altered by phagocytosis. The results support the concept that the plasma membrane is mosaic in character with geographically separate transport and phagocytic sites.     

Different patterns of arachidonate metabolism in autologous human blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages

As peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) differentiate into tissue macrophages, they undergo a variety of functional changes. One such difference which has been described is an enhanced metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) via the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway in alveolar macrophages (AM) as compared to PBM. In order to elucidate a possible mechanism for this difference, we compared the metabolism of endogenously released AA mobilized by agonists and of exogenously supplied fatty acid in adherent autologous PBM and AM obtained from six normal subjects. Exogenous AA was metabolized to larger amounts of both cyclooxygenase (CO) and 5-LO products by PBM as compared with AM. Although the two cell types released similar amounts of endogenous AA in response to ionophore A23187, marked differences in the pattern of its metabolism were observed. In PBM, a large proportion of released AA remained unmetabolized, and that which was metabolized was converted predominantly to CO products. In contrast, arachidonate released by AM was efficiently metabolized, predominantly via the 5-LO pathway. Similar results were obtained when cells were stimulated with the particulate zymosan, with PBM synthesizing mainly CO and AM, mainly 5-LO eicosanoids. In addition, culture of PBM for up to 5 days in an aerobic environment did not alter their response to A23187 stimulation. These results suggest that the lesser 5-LO metabolism by PBM than AM is not explained by lesser phospholipase or 5-LO activities, but rather a compartmentalization of the endogenous AA deacylated by phospholipase and the 5-LO enzyme in the PBM. The acquisition of the capacity to metabolize endogenous AA to large quantities of 5-LO products as mononuclear phagocytes differentiate in the lung may equip them with the ability to mount an inflammatory response in the alveolar space.