Activation mechanism of NADPH oxidase by SDS in intact guinea pig neutrophils

The association between angiotensin II-induced free radical generation and membrane fluidity in neutrophils of patients with metabolic syndrome

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is able to induce free radical generation in neutrophils, which is more elevated in neutrophils of patients with hypercholesterolemia (HC). In addition, the signal processing through angiotensin I (Ang I) receptors is altered. In present study, we compared the Ang II-triggered free radical generation of neutrophils obtained from patients with relatively isolated forms of metabolic syndrome (MS) with membrane-bound cholesterol content and membrane fluidity. We determined the enhancement of Ang II-induced superoxide anion and leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) generation, membrane fluidity and cell-bound cholesterol content of neutrophils obtained from 12 control subjects, 11 patients with obesity (Ob), 10 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2-DM) and 12 patients with HC. The alteration of signal processing was studied after preincubation with different inhibiting drugs. Superoxide anion, LTC(4) production and membrane rigidity were increased in the following order: control < Ob < t2-DM < HC. Both Ang II-induced superoxide anion and LTC(4) generation were decreased in control cells by pertussis toxin and fluvastatin (Flu), whereas in each patient group, mepacrin, verapamil and Flu were effective, suggesting alterations in signal pathways, which may be attributed to isoprenylation. The enhancement of superoxide anion and LTC(4) generation correlated significantly with membrane rigidity, independently from the experimental groups and membrane-bound cholesterol content. Membrane rigidity of neutrophils, obtained from patients with MS, plays a role in Ang II-induced free radical generation independent of intracellular cholesterol homeostasis.

AT1 blockade prevents glucose-induced cardiac dysfunction in ventricular myocytes: role of the AT1 receptor and NADPH oxidase

Enhanced tissue angiotensin (Ang) II levels have been reported in diabetes and might lead to cardiac dysfunction through oxidative stress. This study examined the effect of blocking the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor on high glucose-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction. Rat ventricular myocytes were maintained in normal- (NG, 5.5 mmol/L) or high- (HG, 25.5 mmol/L) glucose medium for 24 hours. Mechanical and intracellular Ca2+ properties were assessed as peak shortening (PS), time to PS (TPS), time to 90% relengthening (TR90), maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/-dL/dt), and intracellular Ca2+ decay (tau). HG myocytes exhibited normal PS; decreased +/-dL/dt; and prolonged TPS, TR90, and tau. Interestingly, the HG-induced abnormalities were prevented with the AT1 blocker L-158,809 (10 to 1000 nmol/L) but not the Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) inhibitor AG-490 (10 to 100 micromol/L). The only effect of AT1 blockade on NG myocytes was enhanced PS at 1000 nmol/L. AT1 antagonist-elicited cardiac protection against HG was nullified by the NADPH oxidase activator sodium dodecyl sulfate (80 micromol/L) and mimicked by the NADPH oxidase inhibitors diphenyleneiodonium (10 micromol/L) or apocynin (100 micromol/L). Western blot analysis confirmed that the protein abundance of NADPH oxidase subunit p47phox and the AT1 but not the AT2 receptor was enhanced in HG myocytes. In addition, the HG-induced increase of p47phox was prevented by L-158,809. Enhanced reactive oxygen species production observed in HG myocytes was prevented by AT1 blockade or NADPH oxidase inhibition. Collectively, our data suggest that local Ang II, acting via AT1 receptor-mediated NADPH oxidase activation, is involved in hyperglycemia-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction, which might play a role in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Ultracytochemical study on the localization of superoxide producing sites in stimulated rat neutrophils

Superoxide anion production in neutrophils plays an important role in the microbicidal defense system in the body. In this study, isolated rat neutrophils were stimulated experimentally and examined by electron microscopy to determine the site of superoxide production and its subsequent translocation during different cell stimulation time periods. Blood and peritoneal neutrophils were incubated for periods of 5, 10, and 15 min with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), and combinations of PMA and cytochalasin B (CB) and fMLP and CB. Ultracytochemical detection of O(2)(-) was performed with the 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine-manganese (DAB/Mn) cytochemical method and cationized ferritin (CF) particles were added to stimulation media to monitor endocytotic events that occurred during neutrophil stimulation. Unstimulated neutrophils were devoid of O(2)(-) activity in cytoplasmic granules and at the plasma membrane surface. After 5 min stimulations with PMA, PMA + CB, or fMLP + CB, electron-dense DAB/Mn reaction product was detected in small, centrally located tubular compartments within the neutrophils. CF particles which were added to the stimulation media became internalized in endocytotic vesicles after 5 min stimulation; these vesicles were devoid of O(2)(-) activity. At 10 min stimulation with PMA, O(2)(-)-positive granules subsequently fused with each other and translocated to sub-plasma membrane regions where they either contacted the plasma membrane or fused with CF-containing endocytotic vesicles. Little reaction product was observed on the surface of the neutrophils. Spectrophotometric comparison of the stimulatory effects of PMA, fMLP, and fMLP + CB revealed different rates and yields of O(2)(-) production. Results from this study suggest that the O(2)(-)-producing sites of rat neutrophils originate intracellularly and translocate to the plasma membrane surface following stimulation with PMA, PMA + CB, and fMLP + CB, but not with fMLP or CB alone. Furthermore, these compartments appear to possess the ability to fuse with endocytotic vesicles, a process that may be linked to intracellular microbicidal activity in circulating and tissue neutrophils.

Pervanadate activates NADPH oxidase via protein kinase C-independent phosphorylation of p47-phox

We studied differences between the NADPH oxidase activation pathways triggered by pervanadate, a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, in guinea pig neutrophils. Previously, pervanadate has been shown to activate NADPH oxidase via the tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway (Yamaguchi et al. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 323, 382-386, 1995). Both pervanadate and PMA induced superoxide anion (O-2) production, translocation of the 47-kDa protein component of the phagocyte oxidase (p47-phox) to the plasma membrane, and phosphorylation of p47-phox in the membrane. A selective protein kinase C inhibitor, GF 109203X, markedly inhibited PMA-induced O-2 production, p47-phox translocation, and p47-phox phosphorylation, but did not inhibit pervanadate-induced O-2 production and only slightly suppressed pervanadate-induced translocation and phosphorylation. These results demonstrate that pervanadate activates NADPH oxidase independently of protein kinase C. Phosphopeptide mapping of p47-phox revealed differences in the mechanism between pervanadate-induced and PMA-induced phosphorylation. Furthermore, some protein kinases which phosphorylate p47-phox-derived peptide are activated by pervanadate. These results suggest the existence of novel protein kinases responsible for the phosphorylation of p47-phox and the activation of these protein kinases by tyrosine kinase.

Bacterial energetics and antimicrobial resistance

Defining resistance to antimicrobics with specific terms is very useful as the precise mechanisms often lead to better susceptibility testing and improved treatment of bacterial infections. When one can characterize a class of phenotypic resistant organisms as electron transport variants, this has value in that it provides information about the basis for resistance and removes them from the non-specific categorization as phenotypically resistant. Studies of bacterial small colony variants (SCVs) has provided new insights into antimicrobial resistance as well as the connection between expression of virulence factors and energy metabolism. It also provides a framework for further studies which link antibiotic resistance to phase of growth, availability of nutrients, other environmental conditions, and adaptations to stress into a single model wherein the bacterial cell uses the products of energy metabolism to detect its sense of well being and to alter its response to antibiotics (Fig. I). Levels of NADH and ATP are able to act as signaling molecules in both gram positive an gram negative bacteria to activate stress sigma factors and two component systems. In the future, a full understanding of the signaling pathways in bacterial pathogens may provide new targets for the development of drugs to reduce bacterial virulence and to enhance the activity of existing antibiotics.