Inhaled porcine pancreatic elastase causes bronchoconstriction via a bradykinin-mediated mechanism.

Neutrophil elastase has been linked to inflammatory lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, adult respiratory distress syndrome, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis. In guinea pigs, aerosol challenge with human neutrophil elastase causes bronchoconstriction, but the mechanism by which this occurs is not completely understood. Our laboratory previously showed that human neutrophil elastase releases tissue kallikrein (TK) from cultured tracheal gland cells. TK has been identified as the major kininogenase of the airway and cleaves both high- and low-molecular weight kininogen to yield lysyl-bradykinin. Because inhaled bradykinin causes bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic patients and allergic sheep, we hypothesized that elastase-induced bronchoconstriction could be mediated by bradykinin. To test this hypothesis, we measured lung resistance (RL) in sheep before and after inhalation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) alone and after pretreatment with a bradykinin B(2) antagonist (NPC-567), the specific human elastase inhibitor ICI 200,355, the histamine H(1)-antagonist diphenhydramine hydrochloride, the cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor antagonist montelukast, or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Inhaled PPE (125-1,000 microg) caused a dose-dependent increase in RL. Aerosol challenge with a single 500 microg dose of PPE increased RL by 132 +/- 8% over baseline. This response was blocked by pretreatment with NPC-567 and ICI-200,355 (n = 6; P < 0.001), whereas treatment with diphenhydramine hydrochloride, montelukast, or indomethacin failed to block the PPE-induced bronchoconstriction. Consistent with pharmacological data, TK activity in bronchial lavage fluid increased 134 +/- 57% over baseline (n = 5; P < 0.02). We conclude that, in sheep, PPE-induced bronchoconstriction is in part mediated by the generation of bradykinin. Our findings suggest that elastase-kinin interactions may contribute to changes in bronchial tone during inflammatory diseases of the airways.     

Bacterial pneumonia stimulates macromolecule secretion and ion and water fluxes in sheep trachea

In vivo instillation of Pasteurella haemolytica (greater than or equal to 10(7) colony-forming units/kg) into a lobar bronchus of sheep produced bacterial pneumonia by 7 days postinoculation. Infection was verified bacteriologically and histologically. Macromolecule secretion and ion and water fluxes were subsequently measured in tracheal tissues in vitro and were compared with values from sham-infected sheep. Macromolecules were radiolabeled with 35SO4 and [3H]threonine, and we measured the secretion of macromolecule-bound radiolabel onto the mucosa. Unidirectional fluxes of Cl-, Na+, and water were measured with radioactive tracers under open-circuit and short-circuit conditions. Lung infection increased basal secretion of bound 35SO4 (by 189%) and bound [3H]-threonine (by 110%). It significantly increased net Na+ absorption under open- and short-circuit conditions and induced open-circuit net absorption of Cl- and water (16 +/- 29 microliters X cm-2 X h-1). These changes were associated with specific recruitment of neutrophils and elevated levels of arachidonate metabolites (thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4) in the airways. Thus the bacterial pneumonia-induced changes in tracheal mucus secretion may be the result of airway inflammation.     

Proteome of the phytopathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas citri</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">citri</Emphasis>: a global expression profile

Background  

Citrus canker is a disease caused by Xantomonas citri subsp.citri (Xac), and has emerged as one of the major threats to the worldwide citrus crop because it affects all commercial citrus varieties, decreases the production and quality of the fruits and can spread rapidly in citrus growing areas. In this work, the first proteome of Xac was analyzed using two methodologies, two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D LC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).     

Mechanism of pyocyanin- and 1-hydroxyphenazine-induced lung neutrophilia in sheep airways

Pyocyanin (Pyo)and 1-hydroxyphenazine (1-HP) are extracellular products ofPseudomonas aeruginosa. To testwhether these products were capable of producing an inflammatoryresponse in the airways, combinations of Pyo and 1-HP at concentrationsof 10⁴ and10⁵ M were instilled intosheep airways, and indexes of inflammation were assessed bybronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 24 h later. Challenge with the phenazinescaused a significant dose-dependent increase in the number of cells andneutrophils recovered by BAL. Control challenges produced no suchchanges. The lung neutrophilia was accompanied by an increasedconcentration of albumin in BAL. The increases in BAL neutrophils andalbumin could be blocked by treating the sheep with the 5-lipoxygenaseinhibitor zileuton. Neither 1-HP nor Pyo was chemotactic to neutrophilswhen tested in vitro, but when alveolar macrophages (AM) were culturedin vitro in the presence of both Pyo and 1-HP (1 µM), thesupernatants caused neutrophil chemotaxis. Analysis of AM culturesupernatants incubated with the combination of pigments showedsignificant increases in leukotrieneB₄ and interleukin-8, and blockingthese mediators separately or together reduced AM supernatant-inducedneutrophil chemotaxis. We conclude that local instillation of Pyo and1-HP can initiate an inflammatory response in the airways of sheep invivo. This effect can be explained, in part, by the release ofchemotactic factors produced by AM.

     

Leukocytic cell sources of airway tissue kallikrein

Lung tissue kallikrein (TK) is a serine proteinase that putatively plays a role in the pathophysiology of asthma by generating kallidin and bradykinin, mediators that contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness. In previous studies we observed biphasic increases in TK activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid following airway allergen challenge in allergic sheep. Although glandular TK is likely a major source of the initial increase in TK, the sources of the late increases in TK that are associated with the development of airway hyperresponsiveness may be dependent on activated resident and recruited inflammatory cells including alveolar macrophages (AMs) and neutrophils (PMNs). These cells increase concomitantly with the late increases in TK activity. To test this hypothesis, we obtained AMs from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and PMNs and monocytes (precursors of AMs) from sheep blood and determined whether these cells contained TK and whether these same cells could release TK upon activation. Using confocal microscopy, immunocytochemical techniques, and enzyme activity assays, we found that all three cell types contained and secreted TK. All three cell types demonstrated basal release of TK, which could be increased after stimulation with zymosan. In addition, PMNs also released TK in the presence of phorbol ester, suggesting multiple secretory pathways in these cells. Furthermore, we showed that human monocytes also contain and secrete TK. We conclude that in the airways, monocytes, PMNs, and AMs may contribute to increased TK activity. Knowing the sources of TK in the airways could be important in understanding the mechanisms of inflammation that contribute to the pathophysiology of asthma and may help in the development of new therapies to control the disease.     

Effects of deer,mice and dwarf bamboo on the emergence,survival and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies homolepis</Emphasis> (Piceaceae) seedlings

In the subalpine mixed forest of Mt. Ôdaigahara, mid-western Japan, the understory is dominated by dwarf bamboo (Sasa nipponica), which is the major forage of overly populous sika deer (Cervus nippon). In the present study, we monitored the survival and growth of Abies homolepis seedlings over 5years to determine how they responded to the experimental removal of dwarf bamboo and to the exclusion of sika deer and mice (Apodemus argenteus and A.speciosus). Deer and dwarf bamboo reduced the survival of seedlings but had different effects on growth. The stems of seedlings were shorter in the presence of deer, indicating that taller seedlings were apt to be browsed by deer, whereas the diameters of seedlings were smaller in the presence of dwarf bamboo, mainly owing to its shading effect. The presence of mice decreased the number of seedlings germinating in a particular site, but had no effect on seedling survival after germination. There was no significant indirect effect whereby the survival of seedlings was predicted to be facilitated by the decreased biomass of bamboo because of grazing by deer. We supposed that this might be because the direct negative effect of deer was so large as to conceal the positive indirect effect.     

New genes of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri involved in pathogenesis and adaptation revealed by a transposon-based mutant library

Background  

Citrus canker is a disease caused by the phytopathogens Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolli and Xanthomonas alfalfae subsp. citrumelonis. The first of the three species, which causes citrus bacterial canker type A, is the most widely spread and severe, attacking all citrus species. In Brazil, this species is the most important, being found in practically all areas where citrus canker has been detected. Like most phytobacterioses, there is no efficient way to control citrus canker. Considering the importance of the disease worldwide, investigation is needed to accurately detect which genes are related to the pathogen-host adaptation process and which are associated with pathogenesis.     

Escape flights of yellowhammers and greenfinches: more than just physics

Wintering birds increase their fat reserves throughout the day, and impaired escape performance is often considered to be an important cost of fat reserves. Since lifting a larger mass requires more energy, if birds escape at maximum power output, an increase in mass will impair the escape flight. In this study we did not find support for mass-dependent escape performance for yellowhammers, Emberiza citrinella, and greenfinches, Carduelis chloris, with natural daily mass increases of 7-8%. This suggests either that the birds were not performing at maximum output at dawn, when light, or that maximum power output was higher at dusk, when heavy. Either way, the birds seemed to be able to put more effort into their escape flight when heavier. In both species, when alarmed, birds took off significantly faster and at a steeper angle than when not alarmed. Yellowhammers escaped at a higher speed and angle than greenfinches, and reacted faster to the predator model. This suggests that predator escape is more than just Newtonian physics, and may be influenced by behavioural, as well as morphological, adjustments. Different species may have evolved different responses to predation risk. Our results seem to be in disagreement with recent ideas about mass-dependent predation risk. However, to build up reserves, birds have to increase exposure time, which increases predation risk. This cost may be more important than impaired escape performance when relatively small, daily, changes in body mass are considered. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Recombinant alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor blocks antigen- and mediator-induced airway responses in sheep.

Alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor (alpha(1)-PI) is a natural serine protease inhibitor. Although mainly thought to protect the airways from neutrophil elastase, alpha(1)-PI may also regulate the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), as indicated by our previous findings of an inverse relationship between lung alpha(1)-PI activity and the severity of antigen-induced AHR. Because allergic stimulation of the airways causes release of elastase, tissue kallikrein, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), all of which can reduce alpha(1)-PI activity and contribute to AHR, we hypothesized that administration of exogenous alpha(1)-PI should protect against pathophysiological airway responses caused by these agents. In untreated allergic sheep, airway challenge with elastase, xanthine/xanthine oxidase (which generates ROS), high-molecular-weight kininogen, the substrate for tissue kallikrein, and antigen resulted in bronchoconstriction. ROS and antigen also induced AHR to inhaled carbachol. Treatment with 10 mg of recombinant alpha(1)-PI (ralpha(1)-PI) blocked the bronchoconstriction caused by elastase, high-molecular-weight kininogen, and ROS, and the AHR induced by ROS and antigen. One milligram of ralpha(1)-PI was ineffective. These are the first in vivo data demonstrating the effects of ralpha(1)-PI. Our results are consistent with and extend findings obtained with human plasma-derived alpha(1)-PI and suggest that alpha(1)-PI may be important in the regulation of airway responsiveness.