Purification and partial sequence of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte-derived lymphocyte proliferation potentiating factor resembling IL-1 beta

A rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)-derived lymphocyte proliferation-potentiating factor (PMN factor) was finally purified to homogeneity. PMN factor was released from early inflammatory peritoneal exudate cells (98% of PMN) stimulated with kaolin under roller bottle culture conditions. PMN factor was purified by large sequential scale steps, using membrane-type ion exchangers and gel filtration, followed in this order by HPLC steps with cationic ion exchangers and a hydroxylapatite column. Homogeneity was manifested based on the criteria of a single m.w. 18, 500 band on silver-stained polyacrylamide gel, a superimposable activity on a UV absorbance peak in analytic HPLC gel filtration, and detection of a single amino-terminal sequence. The homogeneous PMN factor had an isoelectric value of 7.2 and an activity of 1.9 x 10(7) U/mg in the thymocyte comitogenic assay. PMN factor stimulated one-half of the maximal response of thymocyte proliferation at 2.8 x 10(-12) M. Because of similarities in the physicochemical properties, specific activity, and amino-terminal sequence between rabbit PMN factor and human IL-1 beta, this PMN factor is therefore considered to be a rabbit IL-1 beta.     

A transient rise in intracellular free calcium is not a sufficient stimulus for respiratory burst activation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Binding of murine monoclonal antibody PMN7C3 to human neutrophils results in a large rapid, dose dependent transient increase in intracellular free calcium as measured by QUIN-2 fluorescence. Unlike other calcium mobilizing agents PMN7C3 does not induce any increase in respiratory burst activity over basal level. The PMN7C3 effect requires multivalent binding. Chelation of extracellular calcium does not significantly decrease the fluorescence transient generated by exposure to PMN7C3. Lowering of basal levels of intracellular free calcium concentration by maintaining QUIN-2-loaded PMN in calcium free medium eliminates the fluorescence transient. The observations demonstrate that a cell surface receptor mediated intracellular free calcium transient may be generated without any associated respiratory burst activation.     

Molecular heterogeneity of platelet-activating factor produced by stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The molecular heterogeneity of platelet-activating factor (PAF) produced by stimulated human neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was assessed by both normal and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As detected by rabbit platelet stimulation, at least 5 PAF molecules were separated by HPLC. Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry revealed one of these PAFs was acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (AGEPC) with a C_16:0 alkyl chain in the $\text{sn}$-1 position. Although the structures of the remaining PAFs are unknown, two of the peaks of PAF activity had the same retention times on reverse phase HPLC as the C₁₅- and C₁₈-saturated alkyl chain AGEPC homologues. These studies indicate that the human PMN produces multiple molecular species of PAF.     

Balance between autocrine interleukin-1beta and caspases defines life versus death of polymorphonuclear cells

The role of endogenous IL-1beta in regulating spontaneous and Fas-triggered apoptosis of human PMN has been studied in relation to the activity of the IL-1beta-generating enzyme ICE (caspase-1), an enzyme also involved in the mechanism of cell death. Upon in vitro culture, PMN undergo spontaneous apoptosis and express increasing levels of IL-1beta, caspase-1- and caspase-3-like enzymes. Endogenous IL-1beta protects PMN from apoptosis, since inhibition of either IL-1beta or caspase-1 activity can accelerate PMN apoptotic death. Thus, in spontaneous PMN apoptosis caspase-1 essentially plays an anti-apoptotic role by inducing maturation of protective IL-1beta, whereas other molecules are responsible of driving apoptosis. Upon Fas triggering, PMN apoptosis is greatly accelerated, in correlation with increased caspase activity, whereas IL-1beta production is not augmented. Inhibition of IL-1beta activity can increase Fas-induced apoptosis, whereas caspase-1 inhibitors are without significant effect. It is hypothesized that in Fas-induced PMN apoptosis caspase-1 has a double role: it can protect from apoptosis through generation of protective IL-1beta, as in spontaneous apoptosis, and it can also exert pro-apoptotic activity which counterbalances the protective effect and allows accelerated apoptosis.     

Differential synthesis of two interleukin-1 receptor antagonist variants and interleukin-8 by peripheral blood neutrophils

With a short lifespan and containing only few ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum structures, neutrophils are thought to have a limited capacity for protein synthesis. We here show that peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are able react to stimulants with differential production of two interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) isoforms, secreted IL-1ra (sIL-1ra) and the 16kDa intracellular form of IL-1ra (icIL-1ra3), as well as IL-8. Neutrophils of a high purity and with a low degree of preactivation upregulate mRNA and de novo synthesize protein of both IL-1ra variants and IL-8 in response to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and lipopolysaccharide. The cytokines are differentially regulated and distributed in two intracellular compartments. In comparison with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), PMN produce distinctly more sIL-1ra but significantly less IL-8. This may indicate an anti-inflammatory role, enabling PMN to antagonize proinflammatory signals. It is therefore possible that PMN play an important role in immune regulation by counteracting a dysregulation of the inflammatory process.     

Molecular characteristics of cytochrome b558 isolated from human granulocytes, monocytes and HL60 and U937 cells differentiated into monocyte/macrophages.

Enriched cytochrome b558 preparations were obtained from human mature monocytes (MN) and retinoic acid plus interferon gamma induced human myeloid leukemia cell lines HL-60 and U937, using an adaptation of the procedure described by A.W. Segal (Nature (1987) 326, 88-91) for purification of cytochrome b558 from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Spectral characteristics of cytochrome b558 were determined and found to be independent of cell type and specific heme b content of the preparation. To increase the sensitivity of the spectral assay, analysis in the gamma band were used and delta epsilon 427-413 was determined to be equal to 158 mM-1 cm-1. An alpha beta type heterodimeric cytochrome b558 was found for PMN and MN by the concordant elution of heme b spectral activity from heparin agarose and the detection of two polypeptide chains by SDS-PAGE. The expression of the lighter polypeptide alpha chain in the various human monocyte-like cell lines was assessed and its identity, as a component of cytochrome b, was confirmed by immunodetection using a rabbit polyclonal antibody reacting with the alpha subunit of PMN cytochrome b558. Immunoblotting studies detected the alpha subunit in monocyto-macrophagic differentiated HL-60 and U 937 cells and mature MN at 22 kDa, but not in uninduced cells which did not express the respiratory burst. Whatever the specific content or the cell origin of the cytochrome b558-enriched preparations, the heme b binding site was shown to be associated with the alpha subunit defined by a constant molecular mass of 22 kDa, as evidenced by the finding of a constant ratio between the silver stained band intensity and the corresponding heme b amount. The heavy polypeptide beta chain from MN cytochrome b was found to have a significantly higher molecular weight than the beta subunit from PMN at 94 +/- 5 kDa instead of 90 +/- 4 kDa. In contrast, in cytochrome b preparations from induced monocyto-macrophagic cells, isolated with a low heme specific content, the variability in the detection of the staining intensity of the beta band either in SDS-PAGE or immunodetection reactivities precludes accurate definition of its molecular mass and estimation of the stoichiometry between the alpha and beta subunits in the differentiated cells. However, wheat-germ agglutinin binding studies indicated the presence of N-glycosylated protein in the range of 85-110 kDa.     

Involvement of a calpain-like protease in the processing of the murine interleukin 1 alpha precursor

Interleukin (IL) 1 alpha is synthesized as a 33-kDa precursor that is enzymatically cleaved to the 15-17-kDa forms that are found in the culture supernatants of activated macrophages. We have explored the possibility that calcium might enhance IL-1 processing and secretion via the stimulation of a calcium-dependent protease. We have found that lysates prepared from human peripheral blood monocytes, the human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U937, and the murine macrophage cell line P388D1 contain a calcium-dependent IL-1 alpha processing activity that cleaves the IL-1 alpha precursor to its mature form. Although NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell lysates also contain IL-1 processing activity, lysates from the murine thymoma EL-4, the human epidermoid cell line HEp-2, and the human foreskin fibroblast line FS-4 lack this activity. IL-1 processing activity is inhibited by leupeptin and exhibits a molecular mass of 80-110 kDa. The processing activity is also inhibited by a monoclonal antibody directed against calpain type I. These results indicate that the processing of the IL-1 alpha precursor is mediated, at least in part, by a member of the calpain family of proteases. Mixing experiments revealed that lysates from EL-4 or HEp-2 cells contain an inhibitor(s) of the calpain-like protease in macrophage extracts. It is, therefore, likely that many non-macrophage cell types are unable to process the IL-1 alpha precursor because the calpain present in these cells is only weakly active due to the presence of a specific inhibitor(s) such as calpastatin.     

Cytokine regulation of IL-1 beta gene expression in the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte

Although recently polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) have been identified as producers of IL-1 beta in response to LPS and granulocyte/monocyte colony stimulating factor, little is known regarding the ability of other cytokines to induce the production of IL-1 beta in the PMN. Inasmuch as IL-1 and TNF have been shown to be important priming agents, as well as agents that induce migration of PMN, we investigated their effect on IL-1 beta gene expression in human peripheral blood PMN. In the present study, we demonstrate that human peripheral blood PMN produce IL-1 beta in response to IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha. Control (unstimulated) human PMN had virtually undetectable levels of IL-1 beta mRNA. Either IL-1 beta or TNF, induced PMN to transiently express IL-1 beta mRNA with peak expression at 1 h, returning to untreated levels by 2 h. A dose response indicated that as little as 0.05 ng/ml of IL-1 beta or TNF resulted in IL-1 beta induction, with maximal effects at 1 ng/ml of IL-1 beta and 5 ng/ml of TNF. IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta exhibited similar dose responses in IL-1 beta mRNA induction. Inasmuch as cytokines have been shown to have synergistic effects in cell function studies, we induced PMN with a combination of maximally effective doses of TNF plus IL-1 beta. They demonstrated a cooperative effect on IL-1 beta gene expression, in that mRNA levels were sustained for three hours. IL-1 beta Ag expression, as measured by ELISA, paralleled IL-1 beta mRNA expression with cell associated peak levels at 2 to 4 h. IL-1 beta Ag levels in PMN lysates and supernatants correlated with IL-1 beta mRNA levels, i.e., TNF + IL-1 greater than TNF greater than IL-1. Thus, these studies represent the first demonstration of IL-1 and TNF induction of IL-1 beta gene expression in the PMN. Furthermore, the time course of induction is unique to the PMN, with peak induction of mRNA at 1 h, which is consistent with the short lived nature of these cells in inflammatory lesions.     

Interleukin-10 inhibits neutrophil phagocytic and bactericidal activity

Abstract Effective host defense against bacterial invasion is characterized by the vigorous recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, which is dependent upon the coordinated expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a recently described cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro. In this study we investigated whether IL-10 could directly regulate the ability of neutrophils (PMN) to phagocytose and kill bacteria. Initial studies demonstrated that human recombinant IL-10 (hrIL-10) inhibited the ability of PMN to phagocytose Escherichia coli in vitro. Inhibition of phagocytosis occurred in the absence of changes in CR1 (C3b) or Fc receptor expression, as treatment of PMN with IL-10 failed to induce significant changes in FcγIIR, FcγIIIR or CR1 cell surface expression. However, incubation of PMN with IL-10 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in CD11b (Mac-1) expression. In addition to effects on PMN phagocytosis, hrIL-10 significantly attenuated PMN microbicidal activity, as bactericidal assays revealed that co-incubation of PMN with hrIL-10 resulted in a marked decrease in killing of phagocytosed bacteria. Furthermore, IL-10 inhibited the production of superoxide from PMA-stimulated PMN, suggesting that the detrimental effects of IL-10 on PMN microbicidal activity were due, in part, to suppression of respiratory burst. In summary, our studies indicate that IL-10 inhibits PMN-dependent phagocytosis and killing of E. coli in vitro, and suggest that this cytokine may impair effective antibacterial host defense in vivo.     

Purification of guinea pig tumor necrosis factor (TNF): comparison of its antiproliferative and differentiative activities for myeloid leukemic cell lines with those of recombinant human TNF

Recently, we suggested that the effect of differentiation inducing factor (D-factor) which is found in the supernatant of macrophages, and induced the differentiation of a mouse myeloid leukemic cell line, M1, into macrophage-like cells, may be a result of the cooperative effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL-1). In this study, we purified guinea pig (G.P.) TNF secreted from peritoneal macrophages and compared the antiproliferative and differentiative effects of the G.P. TNF with those of recombinant human TNF (rHuTNF). The purification scheme consisted of ultrafiltration, gel filtration-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), DEAE-HPLC, and reverse-phase HPLC. The cytotoxic activity of the purified substance was approximately 1.5 x 10(8) U/mg. The isoelectric point was 5.2. The molecular weight was 40 to 45 kDa as estimated by gel filtration and 18 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be Ser-Ala-Ser-Gln-Asn-Asp . . . . Approximately 76 or 71% homology between G.P. TNF and mouse or human TNF exists in the NH2-terminal 21 residues. The purified G.P. TNF and rHuTNF demonstrated D-factor activity only in the presence of recombinant human IL-1 alpha in M1 cells. We also determined the effect of TNF on two human myeloid leukemic cell lines (THP-1 and U937). The purified G.P. TNF and rHuTNF inhibited the growth of U937 cells, but did not induce their differentiation. In THP-1 cells, TNF slightly inhibited the growth and induced differentiation. In mouse cell lines G.P. TNF was more effective than rHuTNF for differentiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces interleukin 1 production by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

The purpose of this study was to determine whether human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), which share a common cell lineage with macrophages, could produce factors such as IL-1. We show by Northern blot analysis and bioassays that PMN can be induced to accumulate mRNA specific for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta indistinguishable in size from IL-1 mRNA synthesized by activated human macrophages and consequently to release IL-1-like activity in their culture supernatants, that could be neutralized by a mAb to IL-1. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was identified as a major physiologic inducer for PMN-IL-1.     

Synthesis of platelet-activating factor by polymorphonuclear neutrophils stimulated with interleukin-8.

Human interleukin-8 (IL-8) was evaluated for its capability to induce the synthesis and release of platelet-activating factor (PAF) from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). IL-8 promotes in a dose-dependent fashion (1-100 ng/ml) a rapid synthesis of PAF, which is only partially released. The synthesis of PAF is preceded by the activation of acetyl-CoA: 1-alkyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine acetyl-transferase, suggesting that IL-8 activates the "remodeling pathway" of PAF synthesis. By thin layer chromatography and reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography, we demonstrated that PAF synthesized by human PMN stimulated with IL-8 is heterogeneous: the 2-acetylated phospholipids having the biological and physicochemical characteristics of PAF include the 1-O-alkyl form, which is produced in large extent (51%), and the 1-acyl form (20%). The analysis of the individual molecular species of radyl chain indicated nine peaks, 16:0 and 18:0 being the predominant forms. These results identify PAF as a direct product of IL-8 stimulation in PMN.     

Identification of a major 50-kDa molecular weight human B-cell growth factor with Tac antigen-inducing activity on B cells

A bioassay was developed using human small B cells adherent to anti-human IgM (anti-mu)-coated wells. These B cells were stimulated to proliferate by culture supernatants of concanavalin A (Con A)-activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (Con A Sup) even in the presence of high concentrations of anti-mu coated on assay wells. Human B-cell growth factor (BCGF) activities were partially purified from Con A Sup. Preparative chromatography (Sephacryl S-200 and isoelectrofocusing) yielded a major peak of BCGF activity for B cells adherent to anti-mu-coated wells with a molecular weight of 50,000 (50 kDa) and a pI 7.6. The 50-kDa BCGF was further purified by sequential chromatography using DEAE-Sephacel, CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, CM-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and hydroxyapatite (HA)-HPLC. The HA-HPLC-purified 50-kDa BCGF was free of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon activities, but could support growth of BCL1 cells, similar to BCGF-II. Neither IL-1 nor interferon-gamma had any growth-stimulating effect in our B-cell proliferation assay with or without BCGF in Iscove's synthetic assay medium. BCGF-induced proliferation of B cells adherent to anti-mu-coated wells could be markedly augmented by the simultaneous or sequential addition of recombinant human IL-2 (rIL-2). When cultured for 3 days with 50-kDa BCGF, about 40% of B cells adherent to anti-mu-coated wells expressed Tac antigen, and monoclonal anti-Tac antibody inhibited rIL-2 enhancement of proliferation of 50-kDa BCGF-preactivated B cells. In addition, 50-kDa BCGF could induce Tac antigen on an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line (ORSON) in the presence of a suboptimal dose of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and also on a natural killer-like cell line (YT cells). We have therefore identified a major 50-kDa BCGF activity with Tac antigen-inducing activity that also has a synergistic effect with IL-2 on normal B-cell proliferation.     

O- and N-glycosylation lead to different molecular mass forms of human monocyte interleukin-6

The biosynthesis and secretion of human interleukin-6 (IL-6) was studied in monocyte cultures stimulated with endotoxin. After labeling with [35S]methionine and immunoprecipitation with a specific antiserum one major (24 kDa) and four minor (27.5, 23.3, 22.5 and 21.8 kDa) molecular mass forms of IL-6 could be found in the cells and media. Incubation of monocyte media with sialidase and subsequently with endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, which cleaves Gal(beta 1-3)Gal-NAc from serine or threonine, led to the formation of only two forms of IL-6 with apparent molecular masses of 25 and 21.8 kDa. The latter had an electrophoretic mobility indistinguishable from that of 125I-labeled recombinant human IL-6. The results suggest that human monocyte IL-6 carries O-glycosidically bound carbohydrates with a Gal(beta 1-3)Gal-NAc core to which only sialic acid is bound. Differences in O-glycosylation are the major cause for the molecular heterogeneity of IL-6. A small part of IL-6 (27.5 kDa form) is in addition N-glycosylated. Incubation of monocytes with tunicamycin and 1-deoxymynnojirimycin and treatment of IL-6 with endoglucosaminidase H suggested that the 27.5 kDa form of IL-6 carries at least one N-linked complex-type oligosaccharide chain.     

Stimulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate kinase by concanavalin A and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine is calcium-independent. Correlation with maintenance of actin assembly.

Chemoattractants directly stimulate the enzyme activity that synthesizes phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), phosphoinositol-4-monophosphate (PIP) kinase. The present study determined whether stimulation of this enzyme correlates with actin assembly by assessing the calcium dependence of this reaction. Incubation of neutrophils with 5 to 100 micrograms/ml Con A caused a concentration-dependent increase in PIP kinase activity ranging from 1.38- to 3.4-fold. The effective concentration which stimulated PIP kinase by 50% (17 micrograms/ml, EC50) corresponded with the EC50 for Con A-induced superoxide production (32 micrograms/ml). Like chemoattractants, the increase in PIP kinase by Con A was characterized by a 2.6-fold increase in the maximum velocity (Vmax) of the enzyme, and no change in the Km for ATP. The kinetics of FMLP- and Con A-induced filamentous actin formation preceded stimulation of PIP kinase and was sustained over the same time period that this increased enzyme activity was noted. Although transmembrane signaling by FMLP and Con A requires an increase in intracellular calcium for some polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functional responses, calcium depletion of PMN by incubation with 100 microM Quin 2 A/M and 5 mM EGTA did not prevent the stimulation of PIP kinase by FMLP or Con A. In addition, calcium depletion did not prevent the increase in filamentous actin formation by FMLP and Con A in PMN. These findings demonstrate that Con A increases PIP kinase activity in human PMN and that PIP kinase stimulation and maintenance of actin assembly are independent of calcium fluxes in these cells. Because PIP2 controls the function of the actin-regulatory proteins, profilin and gelsolin, changes in the synthetic rate of PIP2 through regulation of PIP kinase may provide a molecular basis for the prolonged stimulation of actin assembly in human PMN by agonists such as Con A and FMLP.     

A Novel Bifunctional Protein TNFR2-Fc-IL-1ra (TFI): Expression, Purification and its Neutralization Activity of Inflammatory Factors

Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF) and internleukin-1 (IL-1) are the most potent proinflammatory cytokines involving in autoimmune and inflammatory human diseases. Many anti-inflammatory agents have been exploited for anti-inflammation treatments by targeting cytokines including TNF and IL-1. Theoretically, simultaneously neutralizing or blocking two important inflammatory mediators may achieve a synergistic therapeutic effect. We have developed a recombinant fusion protein, TNFR2-Fc-IL-1ra (TFI), which consists of a TNF-neutralizing domain that specifically binds to TNF-α, an IL-1 receptor antagonist domain, and a dimerization Fc portion of human IgG1, for bifunctional inflammatory inhibitor. Recombinant DNA expressing the sequence of this fusion protein was expressed in CHO-S cells. The protein product was purified using a two-step purification protocol and the identity of the protein was confirmed by western blot analysis. The purified recombinant protein had a purity of about 98 % as determined by HPLC, and a molecular mass of 164.6 kDa as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. The results of cell binding inhibition indicate that TFI was able to strongly neutralize TNF activity and antagonize IL-1r activity, suggesting that TFI may be used as a bifunctional ligand with enhanced anti-inflammatory effect. The result obtained in this study may provide a platform for extending bifunctional anti-inflammatory drug development.     

The N-terminal lipopeptide of a 44-kDa membrane-bound lipoprotein of Mycoplasma salivarium is responsible for the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on the cell surface of normal human gingival fibroblasts

The activities to induce TNF-alpha production by a monocytic cell line, THP-1, and ICAM-1 expression and IL-6 production by human gingival fibroblasts were detected in plural membrane lipoproteins of Mycoplasma salivarium. Although SDS-PAGE of the lipoproteins digested by proteinase K did not reveal any protein bands with molecular masses higher than approximately10 kDa, these activities were detected in the front of the gel. A lipoprotein with a molecular mass of 44 kDa (Lp44) was purified. Proteinase K did not affect the ICAM-1 expression-inducing activity of Lp44, but lipoprotein lipase abrogated the activity. These results suggested that the proteinase K-resistant and low molecular mass entity, possibly the N-terminal lipid moiety, played a key role in the expression of the activity. The N-terminal lipid moiety of Lp44 was purified from Lp44 digested with proteinase K by HPLC. Judging from the structure of microbial lipopeptides as well as the amino acid sequence and infrared spectrum of Lp44, the structure of the N-terminal lipid moiety of Lp44 was speculated to be S-(2, 3-bisacyloxypropyl)-cysteine-GDPKHPKSFTEWV-. Its analogue, S-(2, 3-bispalmitoyloxypropyl)-cysteine-GDPKHPKSF, was synthesized. The lipopeptide was similar to the N-terminal lipid moiety of Lp44 in the infrared spectrum and the ICAM-1 expression-inducing activity. Thus, this study suggested that the active entity of Lp44 was its N-terminal lipopeptide moiety, the structure of which was very similar to S-(2, 3-bispalmitoyloxypropyl)-cysteine-GDPKHPKSF.     

Analysis of cytosolic ionized calcium variation in polymorphonuclear leukocytes using flow cytometry and Indo-1 AM

The present report describes the increase in cytosolic-free calcium levels (Ca2+i) induced by chemoattractants in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) using the new fluorescent Ca2+ chelator Indo-1 AM. Increases in cytosolic Ca2+ were measured by flow cytometry. With this approach, 98% of PMN were found to respond to F-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) stimulation. Although both substances induced a rapid and relatively homogeneous rise in Ca2+i, only FMLP gave a sustained Ca2+i rise, whereas that induced by LTB4 appeared transient. In addition, the combined use of wide-angle light scatter and electronic cell volume measurement allowed analysis of Ca2+i variations in the total peripheral blood cell population. The supernatant of a human fibrous histiocytoma cell line (GCT) was able to increase Ca2+ release in PMN. This activity may be ascribed to a new granulocytic activation factor, as neither human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), nor granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which were present in this supernatant, were able to induce a Ca2+i rise in PMN.     

A role for beta(2) integrins (CD11/CD18) in the regulation of cytokine gene expression of polymorphonuclear neutrophils during the inflammatory response.

Growing evidence supports the idea that adhesion via beta(2) integrins not only allows cellular targeting, but also induces intracellular signaling, which in turn activates functional responses of adherent cells. This study investigates whether beta(2) integrin-mediated adhesion of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) has a functional impact on cytokine production. Aggregation of the beta(2) integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) by antibody cross-linking was found to induce substantial de novo synthesis of IL-8 mRNA as measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Northern blotting technique, respectively. Induction of IL-8 mRNA was also observed upon adhesion of PMN to immobilized fibrinogen, a functional equivalent of its clotting product fibrin that serves as a native ligand of Mac-1. Results were confirmed using PMN derived from CD18-deficient mice, which were unable to produce MIP-2 mRNA, a homologue of human IL-8, in the presence of immobilized fibrinogen. In contrast, a substantial increase of MIP-2 mRNA was observed when wild-type PMN were incubated on immobilized fibrinogen. In human PMN, ELISA technique showed that the gene activation that required tyrosine kinase activity resulted in a substantial production and secretion of biologically active IL-8 and IL-1beta. In contrast, no TNF-alpha or IL-6 production was found, revealing that beta(2) integrins mediate differential expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The biological relevance of the present findings was confirmed in an in vivo model of acute inflammation. Altogether, the present findings provide evidence for a functional link between clotting and inflammatory responses that may contribute to the recruitment and/or activation of PMN and other cells at sites of lesion.