Role of tyrosyl phosphorylation in neutrophil priming by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Dietary supplementation with green tea extract promotes enhanced human leukocyte activity

BACKGROUND

Leukocytes play a vital role in the host defence and inflammatory systems, the latter being responsible for the pathogenesis of a wide spectrum of acute and chronic diseases. Green tea is a popular beverage, which is consumed worldwide and its active ingredients are epicatechin derivatives, which possess distinct anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate if a green tea extract could enhance leukocyte function in humans.

METHODS

Volunteers were asked to take 300 mg of the green tea extract daily for 14 days and the capacity of circulating leukocytes to release both myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin was assessed. Whole blood from volunteers was stimulated with the bacterial peptide Formyl-Methionine-Leucine-Phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe). Myeloperoxidase an enzyme that converts hydrogen peroxide to hypochlorous acid and is stored and secreted from the granules of neutrophils and monocytes and was measured as well as lactoferrin which is an iron-binding protein stored and secreted from the neutrophils. In conjunction the antioxidant capacity of the blood of the volunteers was also determined using a chemiluminescence method that measures the capacity of plasma to scavenge superoxide.

RESULTS

After 14 days of treatment there was a significant increase in the release of myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin when whole blood was stimulated with fMet-Leu-Phe (p<0.05), which activates a number of leukocytes including mature neutrophils and monocytes. This was mirrored by a significant increase in the total antioxidant status after 14 days of green tea ingestion (p0.05). After the "wash-out" period of 4 weeks, all parameters were consistent with those observed at the start of the trial (day 0). Treatment with the green tea extract also caused a slight but non-significant decrease in the number of circulating leukocytes, but the counts remained within published "normal" ranges for healthy human adults.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that a green tea extract when taken as a dietary supplement for 14 days can increase the leukocyte activity and the total plasma antioxidant status and may have role to play in the prevention of inflammatory disease.

Annexin A2: the importance of being redox sensitive

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is an important second messenger in cellular signal transduction. H₂O₂-dependent signalling regulates many cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis. Nevertheless, H₂O₂ is an oxidant and a major contributor to DNA damage, protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, which can ultimately result in cell death and/or tumourigenesis. For this reason, cells have developed complex antioxidant systems to scavenge ROS. Recently, our laboratory identified the protein, annexin A2, as a novel cellular redox regulatory protein. Annexin A2 possesses a reactive cysteine residue (Cys-8) that is readily oxidized by H₂O₂ and subsequently reduced by the thioredoxin system, thereby enabling annexin A2 to participate in multiple redox cycles. Thus, a single molecule of annexin A2 can inactivate several molecules of H₂O₂. In this report, we will review the studies detailing the reactivity of annexin A2 thiols and the importance of these reactive cysteine(s) in regulating annexin A2 structure and function. We will also focus on the recent reports that establish novel functions for annexin A2, namely as a protein reductase and as a cellular redox regulatory protein. We will further discuss the importance of annexin A2 redox regulatory function in disease, with a particular focus on tumour progression.

Dynamic aspect of reactive oxygen and nitric oxide in oral cavity

Oral mucosa is a critical protective interface between external and internal environments. Therefore, it must serve as a barrier to a huge number of microbial species present in the environment. Saliva is an important factor that provides for the environment in the oral cavity, and it is indispensable to the host defense reaction in this manner. Oral neutrophils are also important contributors to maintaining the balance between health and disease in this complex environment. These produce reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and several antimicrobial peptides, and enzymes. Neutrophils and saliva all contribute to the maintaining the health of the oral cavity in overlapping but independent ways. In addition to production by neutrophils and macrophage, some bacteria can also generate superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide. Dietary intake of nitrate-enriched vegetables might play important roles in the protection of the oral and stomach against hazardous pathogens via the gastro-intestinal-salivary cycle of nitric oxide (NO) and related metabolites. This review will focus on defense system of the human oral cavity and metabolism of reactive oxygen and NO.

Reactive oxygen species in TNFalpha-induced signaling and cell death

TNFalpha is a pleotropic cytokine that initiates many downstream signaling pathways, including NF-kappaB activation, MAP kinase activation and the induction of both apoptosis and necrosis. TNFalpha has shown to lead to reactive oxygen species generation through activation of NADPH oxidase, through mitochondrial pathways, or other enzymes. As discussed, ROS play a role in potentiation or inhibition of many of these signaling pathways. We particularly discuss the role of sustained JNK activation potentiated by ROS, which generally is supportive of apoptosis and "necrotic cell death" through various mechanisms, while ROS could have inhibitory or stimulatory roles in NF-kappaB signaling.

TNFalpha and reactive oxygen species in necrotic cell death

Death receptors, including the TNF receptor-1 (TNF-RI), have been shown to be able to initiate caspase-independent cell death. This form of "necrotic cell death" appears to be dependent on the generation of reactive oxygen species. Recent data have indicated that superoxide generation is dependent on the activation of NADPH oxidases, which form a complex with the adaptor molecules RIP1 and TRADD. The mechanism of superoxide generation further establishes RIP1 as the central molecule in ROS production and cell death initiated by TNFalpha and other death receptors. A role for the sustained JNK activation in necrotic cell death is also suggested. The sensitization of virus-infected cells to TNFalpha indicates that necrotic cell death may represent an alternative cell death pathway for clearance of infected cells.

Mechanism and characteristics of stimuli-dependent ROS generation in undifferentiated HL-60 cells

It has been widely believed that undifferentiated human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) have no ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) responding to stimuli. We report here that undifferentiated HL-60 cells possess NADPH oxidase and that generation of superoxide can be measured using a highly sensitive chemiluminescence dye, L-012. Five subunits of NADPH oxidase, namely, gp91(phox), p22(phox), p67(phox), p47(phox), and Rac 2, were detected in undifferentiated HL-60 cells by immunoblotting analysis. The contents of these NADPH oxidase components in the cells were increased with the differentiation induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), except for p22(phox). Messenger RNAs of these subunits were also detected by the RT-PCR method, and their expressions increased except that of p22(phox) with the differentiation induced by PMA. Kinetic analysis using L-012 revealed that HL-60 cells generated substantial amounts of ROS by various stimulants, including formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, PMA, myristic acid, and a Ca2+ ionophore, A23187. Both diphenyleneiodonium (an inhibitor of FAD-dependent oxidase) and apocynin (a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase) suppressed this stimuli-dependent ROS generation. Genistein, staurosporine, uric acid, and sodium azide inhibited the ROS generation in undifferentiated HL-60 cells in a similar way to that in undifferentiated neutrophils. These results suggested that the mechanism of ROS generation in undifferentiated HL-60 cells is the same as that in primed neutrophils.

Suppressive effects of cyclosporin A and FK-506 on superoxide generation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes primed by tumor necrosis factor alpha

Most previous studies have found no effects of cyclosporin A and FK-506 on active oxygen generation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Recently various differences in biologic properties have been reported between unprimed peripheral blood human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and tissue or primed human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of cyclosporin A and FK-506 on superoxide (O(2)(-)) generation induced by the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine in human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes primed or unprimed with tumor necrosis factor alpha. Neither cyclosporin A nor FK-506 suppressed N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine-induced O(2)(-) generation in unprimed human polymorphonuclear leukocytes at concentrations between 0.1 nM and 10 microM, as in previous studies. Only at 1 microM of cyclosporin A and 100 nM of FK-506 were marginal suppressive effects observed. On the other hand, cyclosporin A and FK-506 both suppressed N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine-induced O(2)(-) generation in tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha-primed human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, strongly and dose dependently, at concentrations between 1 nM and 1 microM. Neither cyclosporin A nor FK-506 influenced tyrosyl phosphorylation of 115 kDa protein, which is inducible during the priming process, suggesting that neither cyclosporin A nor FK-506 influenced the tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha-induced priming process itself, and instead modified the biologic response of primed human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Deficiency of Src homology 2-containing phosphatase 1 results in abnormalities in murine neutrophil function: studies in motheaten mice

Neutrophils, an essential component of the innate immune system, are regulated in part by signaling pathways involving protein tyrosine phosphorylation. While protein tyrosine kinase functions in regulating neutrophil behavior have been extensively investigated, little is known about the role for specific protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) in modulating neutrophil signaling cascades. A key role for Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1), a PTP, in neutrophil physiology is, however, implied by the overexpansion and inappropriate activation of granulocyte populations in SHP-1-deficient motheaten (me/me) and motheaten viable (me(v)/me(v)) mice. To directly investigate the importance of SHP-1 to phagocytic cell function, bone marrow neutrophils were isolated from both me/me and me(v)/me(v) mice and examined with respect to their responses to various stimuli. The results of these studies revealed that both quiescent and activated neutrophils from motheaten mice manifested enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins in the 60- to 80-kDa range relative to that detected in wild-type congenic control neutrophils. MOTHEATEN: neutrophils also demonstrated increased oxidant production, surface expression of CD18, and adhesion to protein-coated plastic. Chemotaxis, however, was severely diminished in the SHP-deficient neutrophils relative to control neutrophils, which was possibly attributable to a combination of defective deadhesion and altered actin assembly. Taken together, these results indicate a significant role for SHP-1 in modulating the tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signaling pathways that regulate neutrophil microbicidal functions.

Acid instillation enhances the inflammatory response to subsequent lipopolysaccharide challenge in rats

Aspiration of gastric contents is one of leading causes of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The pathogenesis of acid aspiration-induced acute lung injury is well understood. Less clear is why patients who have suffered acid aspiration are susceptible to ARDS. We studied the effects of acid instillation on the inflammatory response to subsequent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in rats. Instillation of acid into the right lung worsened the pathology induced by LPS that was administered 24 h after acid instillation. This included worsened oxygenation, increased pulmonary edema, increased production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant, neutrophil accumulation and mobilization to the alveolar spaces, and nitric oxide (NO) production. Of interest, neutrophil mobilization, NO production, and protein permeability were also magnified in the left lung. These effects were attenuated by administration of the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors genistein and tyrphostin AG556. These data suggest that acid instillation primes the rat to enhance the inflammatory response to subsequent endotoxin challenge and that at least part of the augmented inflammatory response depends on PTK.

Concentrations of serum granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

In order to elucidate the potential role of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) during the course of normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, we measured the serum concentrations of G-CSF in both normal pregnant women and preeclamptic patients.

METHODS

Sera of 10 nonpregnant women, 34 normal pregnant women (n = 10, first trimester; n = 10, second trimester; n = 14, third trimester), 10 postpartum women, 10 mild preeclamptic patients, and 10 severe preeclamptic patients were collected. The serum concentrations of G-CSF were measured by enzyme immunoassay.

RESULTS

The serum level of G-CSF in normal pregnant women (third trimester: 38.3 +/- 15.3 pg/mL; mean +/- SD) was significantly increased when compared with the levels observed in nonpregnant women (20.3 +/- 10.1 pg/mL, p < 0.05), which was similar to the G-CSF concentrations in postpartum subjects (20.7 +/- 9.1 pg/mL). The mild and severe preeclamptic patients showed significantly higher levels of G-CSF (56.9 +/- 18.8 pg/mL, p < 0.05; 73.2 +/- 30.4 pg/mL, p < 0.0001, respectively) than those noted in the third trimester women. The preeclamptic patients who presented with edema had greater (p < 0.01) serum levels of G-CSF (75.5 +/- 25.0 pg/mL) compared with nonedematous patients (44.7 +/- 14.9 pg/mL). The serum levels of G-CSF significantly correlated with both weight gain (p < 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), but not with white blood cell counts.

CONCLUSION

Serum concentrations of G-CSF are increased in normal and, even more so, in preeclamptic pregnancies. Because there was no relationship between serum G-CSF concentration and the number of leukocytes, G-CSF might act not to promote the physiological leukocytosis of pregnancy, but to stimulate the function of leukocytes such as phagocytosis. Moreover, it might be that G-CSF plays important roles in the activation of granulocytes or vascular endothelial injury, which are considered to be important pathological conditions in the development of preeclampsia.

Selective inhibition of formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF)-dependent superoxide generation in neutrophils by pravastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase

It has been shown previously that inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, such as compactin, lovastatin, and pravastatin, block cholesterol synthesis, suppress lymphocyte functions, and beneficially affect atherogenesis. Recently, it was reported that compactin and lovastatin inhibit the respiratory burst of DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells, an effect reversed by mevalonic acid. The mode of action of these inhibitors in this role is not understood fully. Thus, we studied the mechanism of inhibition of neutrophil superoxide (O2*-) generation by pravastatin and found that pravastatin at 0.5 mM inhibited the receptor-mediated tyrosine kinase (TK)-dependent pathway of O2*- generation and also luminol chemiluminescence but not the protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent or the TK- and PKC-independent pathways of O2*- generation in neutrophils. Pravastatin also inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-alpha- and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced phosphorylation of a tyrosine of a 115-kDa protein. These effects were not reversed by mevalonate. From these results it is concluded that pravastatin inhibited receptor-mediated O2*-generation by decreasing tyrosine phosphorylation but not by inhibiting the formation of an intermediate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.

Different effect of diastereoisomers of L-cystathionine sulfoxide on the stimulus coupled responses of human neutrophils

The priming effect of L-cystathionine sulfoxide, which is one of the unusual cystathionine metabolites found in the urine of patients with cystathioninuria, on the stimulus-induced superoxide generation by human neutrophils was examined. The synthetic L-cystathionine sulfoxide significantly enhanced the superoxide generations induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine [fMLP], opsonized zymosan [OZ], arachidonic acid [AA], and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate [PMA]. Then the synthetic L-cystathionine sulfoxide was separated into two diastereoisomers, CS-I and CS-II, which showed a peak at 76 and 83 min on chromatogram by amino acid analyzer, respectively. CS-I enhanced the superoxide generations induced by AA and PMA but not those induced by fMLP and OZ. On the contrary, CS-II enhanced the superoxide generations induced by fMLP and OZ but not those induced by AA and PMA. The superoxide generation induced by PMA with CS-I was suppressed by H-7 and was enhanced by genistein, while that by fMLP with CS-II was suppressed by genistein and was enhanced by H-7.

Biochemical properties of human oral polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) isolated from the oral cavity of healthy human volunteers, spontaneously generated superoxide, nitric oxide (NO) and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) which exhibited strong luminol chemiluminescence (LCL). To understand the physiological roles of oral PMN (OPMN), biochemical properties of the cells were analyzed. Biochemical analysis revealed that OPMN were already primed under physiological conditions. Western blot analysis revealed that they strongly expressed the inducible type of NO synthase (NOS II) and exhibited the activity to catalyze tyrosine phosphorylation of various proteins including a 115 kDa protein (cbl product). OPMN also generated H2O2 and .OH by some superoxide dismutase (SOD)-sensitive mechanism and released myeloperoxidase (MPO). Kinetic analysis using specific inhibitors revealed that OCl- generated by OPMN was predominantly responsible for the enhanced LCL. During the incubation under standard culture conditions, OPMN underwent apoptosis which proceeded more rapidly than that of the circulating PMN (CPMN). Immunochemical analysis revealed that expression of apoptosis-related gene products, such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Bax, was below detectable levels with both cell types. However, caspase-3 but not caspase-1 was markedly activated in OPMN. These results indicate that the primed OPMN spontaneously generate ROS and play an important role in the defense mechanism in the oral cavity and that the generated ROS activate caspase-3 thereby inducing apoptosis of the cells.

The effects of serum iminodipeptides and prednisolone on superoxide generation and tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins in neutrophils from a patient with prolidase deficiency

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of serum iminodipeptides and prednisolone on superoxide generation and tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins in neutrophils from a patient with prolidase deficiency, and also to find the causative effects of superoxide on inflammatory skin lesions. When the neutrophils from a patient with prolidase deficiency (PDPPMN) were preincubated with prolyl-proline (Pro-Pro), which is one of the iminodipeptides found at high concentration in the serum of patients with prolidase deficiency, the N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced superoxide generation was enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner, although the extent of enhancing effect was lower than that in neutrophils from healthy humans (HPPMN). Pro-Pro also enhanced superoxide generation induced by opsonized zymosan (OZ) in PDPPMN but not that induced by arachidonic acid or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Herbimycin A and genistein decreased the fMLP- and OZ-induced superoxide generations after priming by Pro-Pro. 1-(5-isoquinoline-sulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine (H-7) and staurosporine did not decrease, but rather enhanced, the superoxide generation in a low concentration range. When PDPPMN were prepared, tyrosyl phosphorylation of 45 kDa protein in PDPPMN had already occurred. The phosphorylation was scarcely increased by incubation of the cells with Pro-Pro, in contrast to that in HPPMN. Genistein decreased the phosphorylation of 45 kDa protein in both PDPPMN and HPPMN. These results suggest that the priming effect of iminodipeptides on superoxide generation in PDPPMN is coupled with phosphorylation of 45 kDa protein by protein tyrosine kinase. Protein tyrosine kinase may play a critical role(s) in the regulatory mechanism of priming by iminodipeptides and activation of NADPH oxidase in the patient's neutrophils. In prolidase deficiency, the characteristic skin manifestations are inflammatory indurations and chronic leg ulcers. Prednisolone improves the ulcers, and this compound decreased the fMLP- and OZ-induced superoxide generation and tyrosyl phosphorylation of 45 kDa protein in the patient's neutrophils after priming by Pro-Pro. When inflammatory skin lesions were present, the levels of iminodipeptides in the patient's serum were elevated and the superoxide generation by neutrophils was up-regulated. When skin lesions were healing or absent, the levels of iminodipeptides in the patient's serum and superoxide generation by neutrophils were higher than those of healthy controls but lower than those in the inflammatory stages. Thus, the enhancement of superoxide generation by neutrophils via serum iminodipeptides would be one of the inducers of inflammatory skin lesions. Corticosteroid administration might be a therapeutic modality of choice for skin lesions.

Induction of Jak/STAT Signaling by Activation of the Type 1 TNF Receptor

Cellular responses to TNF are initiated by either of two cell surface receptors, the type 1 TNF receptor (TNFR1) and the type 2 TNF receptor (TNFR2). Although neither receptor contains an intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase, such activity has been implicated in TNF action. In this study, we show that murine TNF induces the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the intracellular Janus tyrosine kinases Jak1, Jak2, and Tyk2 in murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Activation of Jak kinases by TNF was associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT3, STAT5, and STAT6, but not STAT2 or STAT4, showing that TNF acts on a specific subset of these latent cytoplasmic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Agonist antiserum to TNFR1 induced Jak kinase and STAT protein phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of Jak proteins was also induced by human TNF, which selectively binds to TNFR1 on murine cells. 35S-labeled Jak kinases were precipitated from a cell-free system and from lysates of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the cytoplasmic domain of TNFR1. These results suggest that the cytoplasmic domain of TNFR1 can directly interact with and form signaling complexes with Jak kinases. Jak2 was precipitated from HeLa cells by antiserum to TNFR1, directly demonstrating their association in vivo. Thus, TNF activates a Jak/STAT signal-transduction cascade by acting through TNFR1.

Requirement of Src kinase Lyn for induction of DNA synthesis by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Treatment of cells with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. G-CSF stimulates both the activation of protein tyrosine kinases Lyn, Jak1, and Jak2 and the association of these enzymes with the G-CSF receptor. Wild-type, lyn-deficient, and syk-deficient chicken B lymphocyte cell lines were transfected with the human G-CSF receptor, and stable transfectants were studied. G-CSF-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of Jak1 and Jak2 occurred in all three cell lines. Wild-type and syk-deficient transfectants responded to G-CSF in a dose-responsive fashion with increased thymidine incorporation, but none of the clones of lyn-deficient transfectants did. Ectopic expression of Lyn, but not that of c-Src, in the lyn-deficient cells restored their mitogenic responsiveness to G-CSF. Ectopic expression in wild-type cells of the kinase-inactive form of Lyn, but not of the kinase-inactive form of Jak2, inhibited thymidine incorporation in response to G-CSF. These studies show that the absence of Lyn results in the loss of mitogenic signaling in the G-CSF signaling pathway and that activation of Jak1 or Jak2 is not sufficient to cause mitogenesis.

Lipopolysaccharide protects polymorphonuclear leukocytes from apoptosis via tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signal transduction pathways

BACKGROUND

The present study was undertaken to determine if tyrosine phosphorylation signal transduction pathways, which are known to be activated in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), play a role in priming of PMN oxidative burst and protection of PMN from apoptosis by LPS, and to determine if an interface between these two signaling pathways exists.

METHODS

PMN were combined with or without 10-fold serial dilutions (0.1 ng-1 microgram/ml) of LPS and incubated at 37 degrees C/5% CO2. After 24 h PMN apoptosis was assessed using fluorescence microscopy and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. Additional PMN were pretreated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbamycin A before addition of LPS. Tyrosine phosphorylation was detected by immunoblotting. Oxidant production was quantitated by following the oxidation of a chromophore to its fluorescent product.

RESULTS

LPS delayed the onset of apoptosis and prolonged the survival of PMN in a dose-dependent fashion. Both tyrosine kinase inhibitors blocked the protective effect of LPS on PMN apoptosis; however, only genistein blocked the priming effect of LPS on PMN oxidative burst.

CONCLUSIONS

Tyrosine phosphorylation signal transduction pathways are central to protection of PMN from apoptosis by LPS. Although tyrosine phosphorylation pathways also play a role in priming of the oxidative burst in PMN, our data suggest that there is not an interface between these important signaling pathways.

Priming effect of N-acetyl-S-(3-oxo-3-carboxy-n-propyl)cysteine in human neutrophils and tyrosyl phosphorylation of 45 kDa protein

Human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes were preincubated with N-acetylcystathionine and N-acetyl-S-(3-oxo-3-carboxy-n-propyl)cysteine (NAc-OCPC) found in the urine of a patient with cystathioninuria. NAc-OCPC significantly enhanced the N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced superoxide generation, whereas N-acetylcystathionine did not enhance the superoxide generation. When the cells were incubated with NAc-OCPC, the tyrosyl phosphorylation of 45 kDa protein of the cell was markedly increased with time. The phosphorylation process was dependent on the concentration of NAc-OCPC. Both the superoxide generation and the tyrosyl phosphorylation of 45 kDa protein increased by NAc-OCPC were inhibited by genistein and herbimycin A, the inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase, but were rather enhanced by staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C.

Expression of cell adhesion molecules at the surface of in vitro human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected human monocytes: relationships with tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1beta, and interleukin 6 syntheses

Further evidence suggests that cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) expressed on the surface of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected cells are regulated during lentiviral infection. To address this hypothesis we have investigated the kinetic pattern of CAM expression at the surface of HIV-1Ba.L-infected human monocytes during the first 72 hr of infection. A significantly lower expression of CD18 and CD54 as well as a decrease in CD44 expression level were observed at the surface of infected monocytes when compared with mock-infected cultures. No modification of CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD58, and CD62L expression was detected. Except for CD18, the expression of which at the cell surface is decreased, no modification of CD44 and CD54 expression was observed after heat-inactivated HIV-1 treatment of monocytes. Investigation of soluble forms of CAMs (sCAMs) and cytokine production in the culture supernatants of infected monocytes showed a peak of sCD44, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 release between 2 and 24 hr after infection. Treatment of monocytes with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against CAMs showed that engagement of some CAMs may trigger TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production. In addition, pretreatment of infected monocytes with a TNF-alpha synthesis inhibitor, RP 55778, or with MAbs directed against IL-1beta, confirmed the role of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the regulation of CD18, CD44, and CD54 expression.

Protein tyrosine kinase involvement in the production of superoxide anion by neutrophils exposed to Aroclor 1242, a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls

Neutrophils produce superoxide anion (O2-) when exposed in vitro to Aroclor 1242, a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The mechanism for this effect shares some similarities with the mechanism by which the physiologic agonist f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) activates neutrophils. Since production of O2- in response to fMLP involves GTP-binding proteins and protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), the current study was undertaken to determine whether these signalling pathways are involved in PCB-induced neutrophil activation. Neutrophils exposed to Aroclor 1242 or fMLP produced significant O2-. Pretreatment of intact neutrophils with pertussis toxin or cholera toxin or exposure of permeabilized cells to GDPbetaS significantly inhibited O2- production in fMLP-treated neutrophils but did not alter the response to Aroclor 1242. Pretreatment with genistein, an inhibitor of PTKs, significantly inhibited O2- production in both Aroclor 1242- and fMLP-treated neutrophils; however, daidzein, a structural analogue of genistein which lacks activity against PTKs, was without effect. Exposure of neutrophils to Aroclor 1242 resulted in an increase within 1 min in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the 40 and 60 kDa molecular mass ranges which persisted for up to 10 min. Similar results were obtained with 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (2,2',4,4'-TCB), a PCB congener that stimulates O2- production. In contrast, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (3,3',4,4',5-PeCB), a congener that does not generate O2-, caused only a transient increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the 40 kDa range with no effect on 60 kDa proteins. These data suggest that Aroclor 1242 activates neutrophils to produce O2- by a mechanism that requires tyrosine kinase activity; however, heterotrimeric G-proteins are not likely to be involved.

The roles of protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation in tumor necrosis factor antitumor effects

The roles of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on L-929-transformed fibroblasts were explored. Genistein and erbstatin, specific inhibitors of tyrosine kinase, had antiproliferative but not cytotoxic effects on the cells by themselves and synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of TNF-alpha. Immunoblot analysis with a monoclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibody revealed that TNF, administered for 5-180 min, induced tyrosine dephosphorylation of two pairs of membranal proteins, 34-36 kDa and 50-52 kDa, and potentiated tyrosine phosphorylation of a 115-kDa protein in both the cytosolic and membranal fractions of the cells. A very brief exposure (30 sec) to TNF induced rapid phosphorylation of several proteins, whereas genistein, but not inhibitors of other protein kinases, enhanced this effect of TNF. The results suggest that TNF activity could be potentiated by the inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation and point to specific proteins that are dephosphorylated on tyrosine in response to TNF.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), melanoma growth-stimulatory activity, and neutrophil-activating peptide selectively mediate priming of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase through the type A or type B IL-8 receptor

The capacity of neutrophils to generate superoxide (O-2) can be enhanced by prior exposure to "priming" agents such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), melanoma growth-stimulatory activity (MGSA), and neutrophil-activating peptide (ENA-78). The biological effects of these chemokines are mediated by at least two distinct receptors: type A (IL-8-RA) and type B (IL-8-RB). Using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to IL-8-RA and IL-8-RB, we have investigated the contribution each receptor makes to the priming response. Preincubation with IL-8, MGSA, or ENA-78 enhanced the ability of neutrophils to generate O-2 following stimulation with the bacterial peptide formyl-Met-Leu-Phe. The priming effect of IL-8 was eliminated by an anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is known to bind IL-8 with high affinity and prevent receptor occupancy. Incubation of neutrophils with a neutralizing mAb specific for IL-8-RA blocked IL-8-induced priming but had no effect on priming by MGSA or ENA-78. In contrast, treatment with a neutralizing mAb specific for IL-8-RB failed to inhibit the priming effect of IL-8 but blocked both MGSA and ENA-78-induced priming. These observations indicate that the priming effect of IL-8 on the neutrophil respiratory burst is predominantly mediated via IL-8-RA, whereas priming by MGSA and ENA-78 is mediated by IL-8-RB.

Application of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis to the peptide mapping of pepsin isoenzymes

A combination of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPCL) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used for the characterization of peptide maps of swine pepsin after its digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin. Peptide maps obtained by both methods were compared and five selected chromatographic peaks were identified on an electrophoreogram. The different order of peaks found in RP-HPLC compared to CZE confirmed the complementarity of these two methods. More peptide fragments were resolved by RP-HPLC, which was also found to be less sensitive to salt content in peptide mixtures, than by CZE, but only CZE was able to separate and identify phosphorylated and dephosphorylated peptide fragments of swine pepsin digest. CZE provides faster separation than RP-HPLC, however, the salts have to be removed by ultrafiltration or by RP-HPLC pre-separation prior to CZE analysis. Combined use of RP-HPLC and CZE for peptide mapping makes it possible to distinguish between the phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of swine pepsin. This is important from a diagnostic point of view, because pepsin phosphorylation may be associated with gastric cancer.

Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine phosphorylation by tumor necrosis factor correlates with loss of cytotoxic activity

TNF induces cytotoxicity in human tumor cells through a receptor-mediated process with unknown signaling characteristics. Evidence suggests that overexpression of transmembrane growth factor receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity may suppress the antiproliferative or cytotoxic activity of TNF, suggesting antagonism between these two signaling pathways in tumor cells. To investigate TNF cytotoxic signal transduction, ME-180 cervical carcinoma cell variants were isolated that expressed complete cytotoxic sensitivity (ME-180S) or resistance (ME-180R) to TNF but identical levels of p55 TNF receptor expression. ME-180R cells expressed threefold higher EGFR than the ME-180S cell line and TNF treatment stimulated EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation only in resistant cells. Activation of tyrosine phosphorylation in ME-180R cells was TNF concentration dependent and maximally stimulated (three- to-five-fold) after 10-15 minutes of treatment. Other tyrosine phosphoproteins were not affected by TNF incubation demonstrating specific TNF-stimulated tyrosine phosphomodulation of EGFR. Pretreatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tryphostin before incubation with TNF resulted in partial reversal of TNF cytotoxic resistance in ME-180R cells and enhanced TNF responsiveness in ME-180S cells, suggesting a "protective" role for tyrosine phosphorylation in TNF-induced cytotoxicity. Together these results demonstrate that TNF-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation is differentially regulated in sensitive and resistant tumor cells and may play a critical role in the cytotoxic signaling process through differential expression or regulation of tyrosine protein kinases and phosphatases.

Suppression by anticancer agents of reactive oxygen generation from polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The influence of anticancer agents on signal transduction for reactive oxygen generation was examined in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacyl glycerol levels in formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-stimulated PMN were decreased by cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 137Cs, and peplomycin (PLM, a bleomycin analog) in this order. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) level and protein kinase C (PKC) activity in the membrane after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation were decreased by 5-FU and CDDP but not by 137Cs and, in contrast, were increased by PLM. The level of [Ca2+]i was decreased by 8 h treatment with 5-FU and CDDP. 5-FU and CDDP inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of 83-kDa and 115-kDa proteins, however 137Cs did not inhibit their phosphorylation and PLM enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation. Short term (< or = 4 h) treatment with PLM, 5-FU and CDDP enhanced respiratory burst of PMN, whereas long term (8 h) treatment, as well as radiation, suppressed reactive oxygen generation from PMN in a dose dependent manner. Genistein suppressed chemiluminescence in 5-FU-, CDDP-, and 137Cs-pretreated PMN to a greater extent than it did in PLM-pretreated PMN, however near suppression of chemiluminescence by staurosporine, 4-bromophenyl bromide and methionine was observed in PMN pretreated with these agents. In conclusion, these results indicate that long term treatment of PMN with 5-FU and CDDP inhibit respiratory burst, suppressing intracellular calcium mobilization, PKC translocation and tyrosine kinase activation, in adverse, short term treatment with PLM enhances PKC translocation and tyrosine kinase activation, but inhibits myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and radiation causes weak inhibition of signal transduction for respiratory burst.

The binding of type I collagen to lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA) 1 integrin triggers the respiratory burst of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Role of calcium signaling and tyrosine phosphorylation of LFA 1

Monoclonal antibodies to the alpha L beta 2 integrin inhibit the binding of type I collagen to PMN (polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes) as well as the subsequent stimulation of superoxide production and enzyme secretion-elicited by this collagen. Pepsinized collagen still binds PMN but no longer stimulates them. The I domain of the alpha chain of the integrin is involved in the binding. Two sequences of the alpha 1(I) polypeptide chain of collagen participate in the process. Experiments of competitive inhibition by synthetic peptides showed that the sequence RGD (915-917) is used for binding to the cells and DGGRYY (1034-1039) serves to stimulate PMN. Experiments of radioactive labeling of the cells and affinity chromatography on Sepharose-collagen confirmed the presence in PMN extracts of two proteins, 95 and 185 kDa, respectively, corresponding to the molecular weights of the beta 2 and alpha L chains of the integrin and recognized by their specific monoclonal antibodies. The transduction pathways depending on the alpha L beta 2 integrin do not involve a G protein (ruled out by the use of cholera and pertussis toxins), whereas the cytoskeleton was found to participate in the process, as evidenced by inhibition by cytochalasin B. After collagen stimulation, cytoplasmic inositol trisphosphate and calcium ion increased sharply for less than 2 min. The use of the inhibitors staurosporine and calphostin C demonstrated that protein kinase C was involved. Evaluation of the activity of this enzyme showed that, upon stimulation of PMN with collagen I, it was translocated to plasma membrane. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of the protein bands corresponding to the integrin alpha L beta 2, followed by immunoblotting using monoclonal antibodies to phosphotyrosine, permitted us to demonstrate that, prior to stimulation by type I collagen, there was no phosphorylation, whereas after stimulation, both alpha L and beta 2 chains were stained by anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. The adhesion of PMN to pepsinized type I collagen triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta 2 chain of the integrin, without stimulating O2-. production by these cells, whereas their stimulation by complete type I collagen induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of both alpha L and beta 2 subunits. The tyrosine phosphorylation of both integrin subunits during transduction of stimuli is a heretofore undescribed phenomenon that may correspond to a new system of transmembrane communication.

Neutrophil priming: the cellular signals that say 'amber' but not 'green'

One of the most intriguing gaps in our understanding of how neutrophils work concerns the mechanism by which the oxidase response in these cells is 'primed'. In the primed state, there is no increase in oxidase activity, yet subsequent stimulation provokes a response that is larger than in nonprimed, activated cells. Thus, neutrophils exist in one of three states: quiescent, primed or active. Individual primed cells may be thought of as being 'ready to go' but awaiting further stimulus before the oxidase response is elicited. The primed neutrophils are thus held at 'amber', awaiting 'green' before activity is triggered. Here, Maurice Hallett and Darren Lloyds suggest a molecular basis for the signals that say 'amber' but not 'green'.

Development of oxidase 'priming' in maturing HL60 cells: correlation with protein expression and tyrosine phosphorylation

The mechanisms involved in 'priming' of the oxidase response of neutrophils are unknown. Two major problems are encountered in using circulating neutrophils; firstly, prior exposure to circulating 'priming' cytokines cannot be controlled and secondly, non-intentional 'priming' during cell separation can occur. In this study, these problems were avoided by differentiating the promyeloid leukaemic cell line, HL60, towards granulocytes using dibutyrl cyclic AMP, to produce a 'virgin cell' model system. We have demonstrated that the ability of substance P to both prime the oxidase response and induce tyrosine phosphorylation increased during differentiation. The major tyrosine-phosphorylated protein, with molecular weight of 74 kDa, was not recognised by anti-c-raf1 antibodies. Furthermore, c-raf1 expression rapidly declined during HL60 cell granulocytic differentiation. This data shows that although there was no simple relationship between c-raf quantity and priming, the data were consistent with tyrosine phosphorylation of a 74 kDa protein being important for oxidase 'priming'.

Inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell K+ currents by tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and ST 638

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to characterize the effects of several tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the voltage-gated K+ current (IK) in rat and rabbit pulmonary artery cells. IK was blocked in a dose-dependent manner by genistein (20 to 100 mumol/L) and ST 638 (0.5 to 40 mumol/L) but not by the inactive genistein analogue diadzein (100 mumol/L). This inhibition was not significantly altered when ATP was excluded from the patch pipette or when it was replaced by the poor tyrosine kinase substrate ATP-gamma-S. The inhibition was also unaffected by inclusion of the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor orthovanadate in either the bath (0.5 mmol/L) or pipette (0.2 mmol/L) solutions. In the rat, IK ordinarily inactivated negligibly over 300 ms. In the presence of 10 mumol/L ST 638, however, IK reached a peak approximately 5 ms after depolarization (to +60 mV) and then decayed markedly. In the rabbit, IK demonstrated a prominent rapidly decaying initial component that was only slightly inhibited by ST 638, which preferentially blocked the sustained current; genistein showed the opposite selectivity. These observations indicated that IK blockade by genistein and ST 638 was not mediated by an inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity and further suggested that in both types of cells genistein and ST 638 preferentially blocked rapidly and slowly inactivating components of IK, respectively.

Contrasting influence of peplomycin and azelastine hydrochloride (Azeptin) on reactive oxygen generation in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, cytokine generation in lymphocytes, and collagen synthesis in fibroblasts

The influence of peplomycin (PLM) and azelastine hydrochloride (Azeptin) on reactive oxygen (RO) and cytokine generation was examined in human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and rabbit alveolar macrophages (RAM). In addition, the influence of these drugs on DNA and collagen synthesis was investigated in human gingival and rabbit pulmonary fibroblasts. In vitro, PLM increased the FMLP- and PMA-induced chemiluminescence and superoxide (O2-) generation in human PMN and RAM in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to PLM, Azeptin dose-dependently suppressed RO generation. Such contrasting actions of PLM and Azeptin were also observed in RAM and PMN obtained from rabbits treated with PLM or Azeptin. Even when human PMN were preincubated with 10-100 micrograms/ml of PLM, the increase in RO generation was negligible in the presence of 10(-5) M Azeptin in the culture medium. No increases in RO generation were observed in RAM or PMN obtained from rabbits that had received PLM (0.1 mg/kg per day) and Azeptin (0.04 mg/kg per day) concomitantly. PLM suppressed superoxide dismutase activity in RAM and human PMN, while Azeptin did not affect this activity. In vitro, PLM up-regulated the release of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor both from human cells and from RAM and pulmonary fibroblasts. In the generation of these cytokines, Azeptin abrogated the up-regulatory action of PLM. PLM and Azeptin also had contrasting actions in [3H]thymidine and [3H]proline incorporation in human and rabbit fibroblasts. Furthermore, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, in particular that of a 115-kDa protein in human PMN, was suppressed by Azeptin and enhanced by PLM. These results seem to indicate that up-regulated RO and collagen generation are the causative factors of PLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis and that Azeptin may suppress the adverse effect.

Beta 2 integrin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin in human neutrophils treated with tumor necrosis factor

The focal adhesion protein paxillin undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in response to signals mediated by integrins, neuropeptides and oncogene products, possibly via activation of the focal adhesion-associated kinase, p125FAK. In the present work, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin in human neutrophils. Cell adhesion and participation of the beta 2 integrin CD18 were necessary, but not sufficient, for the response. Adherent neutrophils also tyrosine phosphorylated paxillin in response to phorbol ester, formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and opsonized bacteria. In contrast, p125FAK was constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in a manner unaffected by adherence and/or TNF. Thus, cytokines and microbial products are among the stimuli that can induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, and kinases other than p125FAK may be responsible. This is the first identification of paxillin and p125FAK in human cells and neutrophils, and one of the few identifications of a specific protein that undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in response to any agonist in neutrophils or in response to TNF in any cell.

CoA-independent transacylase activity is increased in human neutrophils after treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha

CoA-independent transacylase (CoA-IT) appears to play a critical role in lipid mediator generation by rapidly moving arachidonate (AA) between phospholipid pools during cell activation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) pretreatment of human neutrophils increases agonist-induced production of inflammatory mediators. The current study tested if the TNF-induced increase in lipid mediator production may be, in part, due to altered CoA-IT activity. Neutrophils were treated with TNF (250 U/ml, 30 min), homogenates prepared, and CoA-IT activity measured by the ability of these homogenates to acylate 1-[3H]alkyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (GPC). There was an increased CoA-IT activity, from 9.1 +/- 1.1 to 13.7 +/- 1.4 pmol/mg per min in control vs. TNF-treated samples, respectively. Varying the concentration of 1-alkyl-2-lyso-GPC revealed an increased CoA-IT activity in microsomes that was due to an increased Vmax, from 26 to 54 pmol/mg per min. The ability of TNF to increase CoA-IT activity was concentration-dependent, with maximal response observed at 25 U/ml. This effect on CoA-IT appears to be specific, in that TNF treatment of neutrophils had no effect on CoA-dependent acylation of 1-acyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, using either AA-CoA or linolenoyl-CoA as substrates. In the intact cell, the movement of [3H]AA from other phospholipids into PE in fMLP-stimulated neutrophils was greatly enhanced after TNF treatment, demonstrating a functional consequence of increased CoA-IT activity. In addition, TNF treatment doubled platelet-activating factor production in response to the chemotactic peptide fMLP, as measured by [3H]acetate incorporation, while the response to A23187 remained unchanged. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence of modulation of CoA-IT activity by a proinflammatory cytokine and suggest that one mechanism for augmented lipid mediator formation is through increases in CoA-IT activity.

Suppression of respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by azelastine hydrochloride (Azeptin)

The inhibitory action of azelastine hydrochloride (Azeptin) on the respiratory burst in peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) has been studied. Azeptin in vitro suppressed chemiluminescence and superoxide (O2-) generation by human PMN in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Phorbol myristyl acetate (PMA) and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced O2- generation were strongly suppressed by 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M Azeptin, respectively. PMN and PAM from rabbits injected with Azeptin 0.2 mg.kg-1 for 5 days showed lower chemiluminescence and O2- generation than cells from untreated rabbits. Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction activity in human PMN was suppressed by treatment of PMN with 10(-6) M Azeptin for 6 h. Inositol trisphosphate, intracellular free calcium, and protein kinase C activity were decreased by 10(-6) M to 10(-5) M Azeptin. The tyrosine phosphorylation of many proteins, especially a 115 kDa protein, was suppressed by 10(-5) M Azeptin. However, superoxide dismutase activity in PMN, PAM, and lung tissue samples was only slightly decreased, even when the rabbits were treated with 1.0 mg.kg-1 Azeptin for 5 days. The results suggest that Azeptin suppresses multiple signal transduction steps in the respiratory burst of PMN. This suppressive action should be very useful in the prevention and treatment of reactive oxygen-associated disorders.

Neutrophil "priming" induced by orthovanadate: evidence of a role for tyrosine phosphorylation

The mechanism of neutrophil "priming" is unknown. In this study the level of tyrosine phosphorylation within intact neutrophils, using orthovanadate, have been manipulated. It has been demonstrated that this procedure both increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of protein substrates, including a prominent band at 74 kDa, and also primed the neutrophil oxidase response with a time and orthovanadate concentration-dependency, which were consistent with a role for tyrosine phosphorylation. No effect of orthovanadate on cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration or actin polymerization was detected. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by genistein prevented "priming" by orthovanadate. This data thus provided evidence of a role for tyrosine phosphorylation in neutrophil "priming".

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor signaling involves the formation of a three-component complex with Lyn and Syk protein-tyrosine kinases

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a glycoprotein that critically regulates the viability, proliferation, and differentiation of granulocytic precursors and the function of neutrophils by signaling through its receptor. Cloning of the human G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR) cDNA has demonstrated sequence homology with other members of the hematopoietic/cytokine receptor superfamily. G-CSF stimulates the appearance of phosphotyrosine proteins in several types of human and murine myeloid cells. Since the receptor does not possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, we hypothesized that G-CSFR interacts with and activates cytosolic protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs). In vitro protein kinase assay of human G-CSFR immunoprecipitates demonstrated at least two tyrosine phosphoproteins, pp55 and pp70. We observed that G-CSF activated p53/p56lyn, a Src-related PTK, and p72syk, a non-Src-related PTK. Lyn and Syk were recovered in anti-G-CSFR immunoprecipitates; Lyn was detected in the absence of ligand. In addition, upon G-CSF stimulation, Lyn coimmunoprecipitated with Syk. Analysis of the G-CSFR amino acid sequence revealed a potential receptor activation motif for Syk. On the basis of immunoprecipitation and sequence analysis data, we propose that the human G-CSFR forms a three-component signaling complex with Lyn and Syk. Their sequential recruitment into the G-CSFR signaling complex demonstrates the coordinated involvement of two PTKs with a member of the hematopoietic/cytokine receptor superfamily.

Lidocaine inhibits priming and protein tyrosine phosphorylation of human peripheral neutrophils

The addition of agents, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, to human peripheral neutrophils (HPPMN) induces priming, which enhances the receptor-mediated superoxide (O2-) generation and tyrosine phosphorylation of several HPPMN proteins. Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, inhibited both enhanced O2- generation and tyrosine phosphorylation of a 115 kDa protein in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Lidocaine also inhibited protein kinase C sensitive O2- generation induced by phorbol myristate acetate, but not time dependently. Furthermore, lidocaine inhibited O2- generation by non-primed HPPMN induced by formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, but this inhibition needed a higher concentration of lidocaine compared with that of primed HPPMN. These results suggest that lidocaine inhibits the priming step of neutrophil activation and that it is linked to the inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation of a 115 kDa protein.

The effects of the serotonin1A receptor agonist buspirone on the blood glucose and pancreatic hormones in rats

The effects of the serotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonist buspirone on the plasma glucose and pancreatic hormones insulin and glucagon were investigated in rats. Buspirone elicited significant hyperglycemia and hyperglucagonemia, although it did not affect the insulin levels. Adrenodemedullation inhibited both the increase in blood glucose and glucagon levels. These results indicate that buspirone-induced hyperglycemia and hyperglucagonemia are mediated by adrenaline release from the adrenal gland.