The phagocyte chemiluminescence paradox: luminol can act as an inhibitor of neutrophil NADPH-oxidase activity

Measurement of Respiratory Burst Products, Released or Retained, During Activation of Professional Phagocytes

Activation of professional phagocytes, potent microbial killers of our innate immune system, is associated with an increased cellular consumption of molecular oxygen (O₂). The O₂ molecules consumed are reduced by electrons delivered by a membrane localized NADPH-oxidase that initially generate one- and two electron reduced superoxide anions (O₂^-) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), respectively. These oxidants can then be processed into other highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can kill microbes, but that may also cause tissue destruction and drive other immune cells into apoptosis. The development of basic techniques to measure and quantify ROS generation by phagocytes is of great importance, and a large number of methods have been used for this purpose. A selection of methods (including chemiluminescence amplified by luminol or isoluminol, absorbance change following reduction of cytochrome c, and fluorescence increase upon oxidation of PHPA) are described in detail in this chapter with special emphasis on how to distinguish between ROS that are released extracellularly, and those that are retained within intracellular organelles. These techniques can be valuable tools in research spanning from basic phagocyte biology to diagnosis of diseases linked to the NADPH-oxidase and more clinically oriented research on innate immune mechanisms and inflammation.

A Quantitative Method to Measure Low Levels of ROS in Nonphagocytic Cells by Using a Chemiluminescent Imaging System

Chemiluminescence (CL) is one of the most useful methods for detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although fluorescence dyes or genetically encoded biosensors have been developed, CL is still used due to its high sensitivity, ease of use, and low cost. While initially established and used to measure high levels of ROS in phagocytic cells, CL assays are not ideal for measuring low levels of ROS. Here, we developed a newly modified CL assay using a chemiluminescent imaging system for measuring low concentrations of ROS in nonphagocytic cells. We found that dissolving luminol in NaOH, rather than DMSO, increased the H2O2-induced CL signal and that the addition of 4-iodophenylboronic acid (4IPBA) further increased CL intensity. Our new system also increased the rate and intensity of the CL signal in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate- (PMA-) treated HT-29 colon cancer cells compared to those in luminol only. We were able to quantify ROS levels from both cells and media in parallel using an H2O2 standard. A significant benefit to our system is that we can easily measure stimulus-induced ROS formation in a real-time manner and also investigate intracellular signaling pathways from a single sample simultaneously. We found that PMA induced tyrosine phosphorylation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK), protein tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), and Src, and increased actin stress fiber formation in a ROS-dependent manner. Interestingly, treatment with either N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) reduced the PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of these PTKs, implicating a potential role in cellular ROS signaling. Thus, our newly optimized CL assay using 4IPBA and a chemiluminescent imaging method provides a simple, real-time, and low-cost method for the quantification of low levels of ROS.

Anti-Leukemic Properties of Histamine in Monocytic Leukemia: The Role of NOX2

In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), treatment with histamine dihydrochloride (HDC) and low-dose IL-2 (HDC/IL-2) in the post-chemotherapy phase has been shown to reduce the incidence of leukemic relapse. The clinical benefit of HDC/IL-2 is pronounced in monocytic forms of AML, where the leukemic cells express histamine type 2 receptors (H2R) and the NAPDH oxidase-2 (NOX2). HDC ligates to H2Rs to inhibit NOX2-derived formation of reactive oxygen species, but details regarding the anti-leukemic actions of HDC remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that human NOX2+ myelomonocytic/monocytic AML cell lines showed increased expression of maturation markers along with reduced leukemic cell proliferation after exposure to HDC in vitro. These effects of HDC were absent in corresponding leukemic cells genetically depleted of NOX2 (NOX2-/-). We also observed that exposure to HDC altered the expression of genes involved in differentiation and cell cycle progression in AML cells and that these effects required the presence of NOX2. HDC promoted the differentiation also of primary monocytic, but not non-monocytic, AML cells in vitro. In a xenograft model, immunodeficient NOG mice were inoculated with wild-type or NOX2-/- human monocytic AML cells and treated with HDC in vivo. The administration of HDC reduced the in vivo expansion of NOX2+/+, but not of NOX2-/- human monocytic AML cells. We propose that NOX2 may be a conceivable target in the treatment of monocytic AML.

Evaluation of Oxidative Metabolism in Leukocytes during Phagocytosis of Escherichia coli Carrying Genetic Constructs soxS::lux or katG::lux

We studied ROS generation by human peripheral blood monocytes and granulocytes during phagocytosis of Escherichia coli soxS::lux or katG::lux responding by luminescence (bioluminescence) to the development of oxidative stress. Initially high sensitivity of the bioluminescent reaction of E. coli katG::lux strain to the effects of model ROS (KO2 and H2O2) and pronounced induction of luminescence upon contact with granulocytes, whereas E. coli soxS::lux demonstrated less pronounced reaction to chemical oxidants and bioluminescence was observed primarily upon contact with monocytes. A correlation was found between quantitative characteristics of E. coli katG::lux bioluminescence and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of leukocytes in some patients, but no dependence of this kind was noted for E. coli soxS::lux. The results can provide experimental substantiation of a new approach for evaluation of ROS production by leukocytes during phagocytosis and choosing the optimal object for these studies.

Measurement of respiratory burst products, released or retained, during activation of professional phagocytes

Activation of professional phagocytes, potent microbial killers of our innate immune system, is associated with an increase in cellular consumption of molecular oxygen (O2). The consumed O2 is utilized by an NADPH-oxidase to generate highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) by a one electron reduction, initially generating superoxide anion (O2 (-)) that then dismutates to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The ROS are strongly bactericidal molecules but may also cause tissue destruction, and are capable of driving immune competent cells of both the innate and the adaptive immune systems into apoptosis. The development of basic techniques to measure/quantify ROS generation by phagocytes during activation of the respiratory burst is of great importance, and a large number of methods have been used for this purpose. A selection of methods, including chemiluminescence amplified by luminol or isoluminol, the absorbance change following reduction of cytochrome c, and the fluorescence increase upon oxidation of PHPA, are described in detail in this chapter with special emphasis on how to distinguish between ROS that are released extracellularly, and those that are retained within intracellular organelles. These techniques can be valuable tools in research spanning from basic phagocyte biology to more clinically oriented research on innate immune mechanisms and inflammation.

Involvement of small GTPase RhoA in the regulation of superoxide production in BV2 cells in response to fibrillar Aβ peptides

Fibrillar amyloid-beta (fAβ) peptide causes neuronal cell death, which is known as Alzheimer's disease. One of the mechanisms for neuronal cell death is the activation of microglia which releases toxic compounds like reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to fAβ. We observed that fAβ rather than soluble form blocked BV2 cell proliferation of microglial cell line BV2, while N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of superoxide, prevented the cells from death, suggesting that cell death is induced by ROS. Indeed, both fAβ1-42 and fAβ25-35 induced superoxide production in BV2 cells. fAβ25-35 produced superoxide, although fAβ25-35 is not phagocytosed into BV2 cells. Thus, superoxide production by fAβ does not seem to be dependent on phagocytosis of fAβ. Herein we studied how fAβ produces superoxide in BV2. Transfection of dominant negative (DN) RhoA (N19) cDNA plasmid, small hairpin (sh)-RhoA forming plasmid, and Y27632, an inhibitor of Rho-kinase, abrogated the superoxide formation in BV2 cells stimulated by fAβ. Furthermore, fAβ elevated GTP-RhoA level as well as Rac1 and Cdc42. Tat-C3 toxin, sh-RhoA, and Y27632 inhibited the phosphorylation of p47(PHOX). Moreover, peritoneal macrophages from p47(PHOX) (-/-) knockout mouse could not produce superoxide in response to fAβ. These results suggest that RhoA closely engages in the regulation of superoxide production induced by fAβ through phosphorylation of p47(PHOX) in microglial BV2 cells.

Annato extract and β-carotene modulate the production of reactive oxygen species/nitric oxide in neutrophils from diabetic rats

Annatto has been identified as carotenoids that have antioxidative effects. It is well known that one of the key elements in the development of diabetic complications is oxidative stress. The immune system is especially vulnerable to oxidative damage because many immune cells, such as neutrophils, produce reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species as part of the body's defense mechanisms to destroy invading pathogens. Reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species are excessively produced by active peripheral neutrophils, and may damage essential cellular components, which in turn can cause vascular complications in diabetes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible protective effects of annatto on the reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (NO) inhibition in neutrophils from alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Adult female rats were divided into six groups based on receiving either a standard diet with or without supplementation of annatto extract or beta carotene. All animals were sacrificed 30 days after treatment and the neutrophils were isolated using two gradients of different densities. The reactive oxygen species and NO were quantified by a chemiluminescence and spectrophotometric assays, respectively. Our results show that neutrophils from diabetic animals produce significantly more reactive oxygen species and NO than their respective controls and that supplementation with beta carotene and annatto is able to modulate the production of these species. Annatto extract may have therapeutic potential for modulation of the balance reactive oxygen species/NO induced by diabetes.

Differentiating between intra- and extracellular chemiluminescence in diluted whole-blood samples

INTRODUCTION

The differentiation between extra- and intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in whole blood was measured by luminol- and isoluminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL).

METHODS

Azide (total CL inhibition), azide + horseradish peroxidase (HRP, restoring extracellular CL), superoxide dismutase + catalase (depleting extracellular ROS) and HRP (enhancing extracellular CL) were used to modulate luminol- and isoluminol-enhanced CL (10(-6) -10(-3) m luminophores) of 125× diluted whole blood which was activated by both calcium ionophore A23187 (Ca-I) and opsonized zymosan particles (OZP) separately.

RESULTS

Both activators stimulated intra- and extracellular production of ROS. Luminol-enhanced CL of Ca-I-activated samples detected the intracellular ROS, and with the addition of HRP detected the extracellular CL as well. CL enhanced with isoluminol in concentrations of 10(-4) m or less was mostly extracellular. There was a mixture of intra- and extracellular CL in OZP-activated samples, probably because of the ingestion of luminophore molecules.

CONCLUSION

Measurement of Ca-I-activated CL enhanced with 10(-4) m luminol is recommended for the detection of intracellular ROS. The addition of HRP leads to the detection of overall ROS production while the OZP-activated system with its addition of HRP can only be used to detect overall ROS production. Ca-I-activated CL enhanced with 10(-4) m isoluminol and with addition of HRP is recommended for the detection of extracellular CL.

On the mechanism of oscillations in neutrophils

We have investigated the regulation of the oscillatory generation of H(2)O(2) and oscillations in shape and size in neutrophils in suspension. The oscillations are independent of cell density and hence do not represent a collective phenomena. Furthermore, the oscillations are independent of the external glucose concentration and the oscillations in H(2)O(2) production are 180 degrees out of phase with the oscillations in NAD(P)H. Cytochalasin B blocked the oscillations in shape and size whereas it increased the period of the oscillations in H(2)O(2) production. 1- and 2-butanol also blocked the oscillations in shape and size, but only 1-butanol inhibited the oscillations in H(2)O(2) production. We conjecture that the oscillations are likely to be due to feedback regulations in the signal transduction cascade involving phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K). We have tested this using a simple mathematical model, which explains most of our experimental observations.

Measurement of respiratory burst products generated by professional phagocytes

Activation of professional phagocytes, potent microbial killers of our innate immune system, is associated with an increase in cellular consumption of molecular oxygen (O2). The burst of 02 consumption is utilized by an NADPH-oxidase to generate highly-reactive oxygen species (ROS) starting with one and two electron reductions to generate superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), respectively. ROS are strongly bactericidal but may also cause tissue destruction and induce apoptosis in other immune competent cells of both the innate and the adaptive immune systems. Thus, the development of basic techniques to measure/quantify ROS generation/release by phagocytes during activation of the respiratory burst is of great importance, and a large number of techniques have been used for this purpose. Three of these techniques, chemiluminescence amplified by luminol/ isoluminol, the absorbance change following reduction of cytochrome c, and the fluorescence increase upon oxidation of p-hydroxyphenylacetate, are described in detail in this chapter. These techniques can be valuable tools in research spanning from basic phagocyte biology to more clinically-oriented research on innate immune mechanisms and inflammation.

The combined luminol/isoluminol chemiluminescence method for differentiating between extracellular and intracellular oxidant production by neutrophils

To address the question why isoluminol, but not luminol, failed to detect oxidants produced intracellularly, differences between these luminophores were investigated with respect to physicochemical parameters and the character of chemiluminescence signal. Our results showed the isoluminol molecule to be more polar, more hydrophilic and possessing lower ability to form intramolecular bonds than the luminol molecule. Therefore, isoluminol: (i) only slightly pervaded biological membranes; (ii) depended essentially on extracellular peroxidase; (iii) did not produce chemiluminescence in the presence of extracellular scavengers; and (iv) it could be considered a specific detector of extracellular radicals. On the other hand, the physicochemical parameters of luminol and partial resistance of its chemiluminescence to the effect of extracellular inhibitors proved the lipo/hydrophilic character of this luminophore and thus its ability to interact with radicals both outside and inside of cells. The luminol chemiluminescence measured in the presence of extracellular scavengers and the isoluminol chemiluminescence were used with the intention to differentiate the effects of two antihistamine drugs on intra- and extracellular radical formation. In activated human neutrophils, brompheniramine inhibited the extracellular and potentiated the intracellular part of chemiluminescence signal, whereas a reducing effect of loratadine was observed in both compartments.

Increased free radical production in hypertension due to increased expression of the NADPH oxidase subunit p22(phox) in lymphoblast cell lines

OBJECTIVES

To confirm increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hypertension, to demonstrate the source of ROS and to analyse NADPH oxidase subcomponent expression in hypertension.

DESIGN

A lymphoblast model was used, as this has previously been used in the study of hypertension and of NADPH oxidase. Chemiluminescence (CL) was chosen to assay ROS production, as it is simple and sensitive.

METHODS

Lymphocytes from 12 hypertensive patients (HT), and 12 age- and sex-matched normotensive (NT) subjects, were immortalized. Luminol, isoluminol and Cypridina luciferin analogue (CLA) CL were used to assay ROS production. NADPH oxidase subunits were measured by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Stimulation with 50 micromol/l arachidonic acid (AA) resulted in increased ROS production in HT cell lines with luminol, CLA and isoluminol CL. Stimulation with 500 nmol/l 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) produced a detectable increase in HT ROS production with luminol and with CLA, whereas there was no significant difference with isoluminol. The ROS production was abolished by diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) but not by rotenone, indicating that a non-mitochondrial flavoprotein such as NADPH oxidase is the source of ROS. Analysis of NADPH oxidase subcomponents revealed an increase in p22(phox) in HT subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown there is increased ROS production in lymphoblasts derived from hypertensive subjects, probably originating from NADPH oxidase. As the ROS production persists in transformed cells, this suggests a genetic predisposition to increased ROS production. Increased expression of p22(phox) in HT lymphoblasts may account for some of the increased ROS.

A comparative study of bovine blood and milk neutrophil functions with luminol-dependent chemiluminescence

In this study, a technique was developed for the chemiluminescence (CL) measurement of bovine milk polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). In the first study, the effects of cell number and the concentration of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), luminol, latex bead particles, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and gelatin on the luminol-dependent cellular CL (LDCL) response were assessed with healthy cows in different stages of lactation. In the second study, the LDCL and in vitro bactericidal activity of blood and milk PMN towards Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. In general, the CL activity of blood PMN was consistently higher than that of milk PMN. We found that (a) the optimal cell density in blood and milk cells for maximal LDCL response ranged from 1.5 x 10(6) to 5 x 10(6) cells/mL; (b) the optimal concentrations of PMA, latex beads and luminol for maximal LDCL response were 100-200 ng/ml, 500 particles/PMN and 0.1 mmol/L, respectively. Concentrations of DMSO of 0.5-1% (v/v) did not significantly affect the maximal CL response of PMN. Gelatin concentrations of 0.1 -0.5 mg/ml had no effect on the LDCL of PMN. In addition, the LDCL of PMN was significantly correlated with bactericidal activity towards S. aureus (r = 0.78, p < 0.001 for blood PMN and r = 0.66, p < 0.01 for milk PMN). Under the optimal experimental conditions for measurement of CL produced by bovine blood and milk PMN defined in this study, LDCL assay is an accurate and reproducible technique for the rapid quantification of PMN bactericidal activity in physiological and pathological conditions of high-yielding dairy cows.

Respiratory burst in human neutrophils

During phagocytosis of microbial intruders, professional phagocytes of our innate immune system increase their oxygen consumption through the activity of an NADPH-oxidase that generates superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). These oxygen metabolites give rise to yet other reactive oxygen species that are strongly anti-microbial but which may also cause damage by destructing surrounding tissue and inducing apoptosis in other immune reactive cells. The development of methodology to measure the generation/release of phagocyte respiratory burst products is thus of great importance, and a number of different techniques are currently in use for this purpose. Three of the techniques that we have used, (luminol/isoluminol amplified chemiluminescence, cytochrome C reduction, and PHPA oxidation technique) are described in more detail in this review. We hope to convince the readers that these techniques are valuable tools in basic as well as more clinically oriented research dealing with phagocyte function. The basic principles for luminol/isoluminol-amplified chemiluminescence is used as the starting point for discussing methodological problems related to measurements of oxygen metabolites generated by professional phagocytes.

Selectivity and sensitivity in the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using chemiluminescent microspheres prepared by the binding of acridinium ester or ABEI to polymer microspheres

Two kinds of chemiluminescent microspheres were prepared as tools for measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) released into phagosomes in phagocytizing cells, by chemically binding acridinium ester or ABEI (isoluminol derivative) to polymer microspheres, and were examined from the viewpoint of specificity and sensitivity to ROS. Acridinium ester-bound microspheres (AE-ms) were found to be a sensitive probe to superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide under a neutral condition (pH 7.2). AE-ms emitted strong chemiluminescence (CL) by hypoxanthine (HPX)/xanthine oxidase (XOD) or hydrogen peroxide. The CL by HPX/XOD was initially inhibited by superoxide dismutase. At pH 5.6, the CL intensity from AE-ms in the presence of HPX/XOD was reduced to about one-eighth of that at pH 7.2. ABEI-bound microspheres (ABEI-ms) were found to be a selective probe for singlet oxygen although not highly sensitive. ABEI-ms emitted CL of moderate intensity with hydrogen peroxide/myeloperoxidase (MPO), but not with hydrogen peroxide alone or with hypochlorite/MPO at pH 5.6. The CL from ABEI-ms with hydrogen peroxide/MPO was completely inhibited by azide. ABEI-ms did not emit CL in the presence of HPX/XOD or by potassium superoxide at pH 5.6. The result of supplemental experiments using dissolved chemiluminescent probes and non-enzymatically generated ROS supported the above-described selectivity and sensitivity of chemiluminescent microspheres.