Phorbol myristate acetate potentiates superoxide release and membrane depolarization without affecting an increase in cytoplasmic free calcium in human granulocytes stimulated by the chemotactic peptide, lectins and the calcium ionophore

The effect of a Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 on superoxide production, aggregation and adhesion in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

We investigated the involvement of p160ROCK (a Rho-associated coiled coil-forming protein kinase), one of Rho kinases on superoxide anion production (O(2)(-) production), aggregation and adhesion of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes under physiological condition, using a selective p160ROCK inhibitor, (+)-(R)-trans-4-(1-aminoethyl)-N-(4-pyridyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide (Y-27632). Y-27632 inhibited the O(2)(-) production stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) in a dose-dependent manner. Stauroprorine blocked the PMA-induced O(2)(-) production while wortmannin did not. Y-27632 also inhibited the O(2)(-) production by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP(gamma)S) 100 microM. N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-induced O(2)(-) production was not influenced by Y-27632, but was inhibited by wortmannin. The enhanced O(2)(-) production by Ca-ionophore A23817 and thapsigargin was not inhibited by Y-27632. Y-27632 did not change the basal intracellular Ca(2+) concentration nor its elevation stimulated by fMLP. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes aggregation induced by PMA was dose-dependently decreased by Y-27632 while their aggregation stimulated by fMLP was enhanced by the agent. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes adhesion induced by PMA or fMLP was not influenced by Y-27632.These results suggest that p160ROCK is involved in the PMA-induced O(2)(-) production and aggregation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. This kinase might locate in downstream of protein kinase C in polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Involvement of protein phosphatase 2A in PKC-independent pathway of neutrophil superoxide generation by fMLP

We examined the effects of okadaic acid, a protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor, on superoxide generation in human neutrophils. Superoxide generation induced by fMLP was inhibited by low-dose okadaic acid (10-100 nM), but it had no effect on superoxide synthesis by PMA, and the fMLP-induced rise of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration was not affected by low-dose okadaic acid. These findings suggested that the inhibitory mechanism of okadaic acid might involve PKC-independent and Ca(2+)-independent pathways in fMLP induced NADPH oxidase activation. Both fMLP-stimulated phosphorylation of serine residues in p47phox and its translocation to the plasma membrane were suppressed by low-dose okadaic acid. On the other hand, PMA-induced phosphorylation and translocation of p47phox were not affected by such a low dose of okadaic acid. These findings suggested that fMLP induced phosphorylation of serine residues in p47phox was regulated by protein phosphatase 2A, and its phosphorylation was necessary for translocation and superoxide generation in fMLP-activated human neutrophils.

Suppressive role of endogenous endothelial monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 on monocyte transendothelial migration in vitro

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, or monocyte chemotactic and activating factor) is thought to play an important role in monocyte infiltration into tissue, but little is known about its effect on monocyte-endothelium interaction. We examined the effect of MCP-1 produced by cytokine-activated endothelial cells (ECs) on monocyte-endothelium adhesion and subsequent transendothelial migration by using a double-chamber vessel model. Unstimulated ECs showed no MCP-1 expression, but exposure to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta, 25 U/mL) induced marked MCP-1 mRNA expression and protein synthesis. When placed in the lower compartment, recombinant human (rh) MCP-1 (100 ng/mL) produced a 1.9-fold and a 2.7-fold increase in adhesion and migration, respectively, compared with a corresponding 51% and 59% decrease when placed in the upper compartment. Migration of monocytes was dependent on a gradient of rh-MCP-1 from the apical to basilar side of the EC layer. Furthermore, a forward gradient of MCP-1 induced adherent cells to increase their subsequent migration, whereas a reverse gradient induced the cells to detach and completely inhibited their subsequent migration. Pretreatment with IL-1 beta for 4 and 24 hours produced a 20% and 63% increase in monocyte migration, respectively. In the presence of anti-MCP-1 antibody, the increase was further enhanced by 52% and 152%, respectively. These results suggest that endogenous endothelial MCP-1, when secreted by IL-1-stimulated ECs, suppresses monocyte migration in the presence of MCP-1 on the basilar side of the EC layer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration modulates the surface expression of effector cell molecules on human monocytes

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been shown to stimulate human neutrophil functions, both in vitro and in vivo. We examined the effects of G-CSF administration on the surface expression of effector cell molecules on human neutrophils and monocytes. G-CSF (50 micrograms/m2/d) was administered subcutaneously to five healthy volunteers once a day for 7 d. Venous blood was obtained immediately before and after the completion of G-CSF administration and 1 week after the last G-CSF administration. The surface expression of complement receptors (CR), Fc receptors for IgG(FcR) and cellular adhesion molecules on human neutrophils and monocytes were determined by indirect immunofluorescence using flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies. The expression of CR1, CR3, FcRI and FcRII on neutrophils increased significantly after G-CSF administration and then decreased after the last G-CSF administration. The expression of human leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1) on neutrophils reflected the above expression. On the other hand, the administration of G-CSF increased the expression of CR1, CR3, FcRI and FcRIII on monocytes. The expression of CR1, CR3 and FcRI on monocytes then decreased after the last G-CSF administration, whereas the expression of FcRIII remained at an increased level. These findings indicate that G-CSF administration modulates the expression of effector cell molecules on circulating monocytes as well as on neutrophils, resulting in enhanced defence against selected infections or in potentiation of the tumouricidal capacity of phagocytes in cancer patients.

Activation of the respiratory burst and tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in human neutrophils: no direct relationship and involvement of protein kinase C-dependent and -independent signaling pathways

Human neutrophils maximally stimulated with the optimal concentration (100 ng/ml) of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a direct activator of protein kinase C (PKC), for 5 min at 37 degrees C did not respond with superoxide (O2-) release to the later addition of PMA itself or the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. However, these cells did respond with enhanced release of O2- to the later addition of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or concanavalin A (Con A). In these PMA-pretreated cells, an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) induced by ionomycin was unaffected, whereas that induced by FMLP was inhibited by 50-60% and that induced by Con A was completely abolished. A 42-kDa protein was predominantly and consistently tyrosine-phosphorylated by FMLP, PMA and ionomycin with the different kinetics according to the stimuli. The dose-response curves showed that tyrosine phosphorylation and O2- release were stimulated in parallel by PMA, whereas tyrosine phosphorylation and an increase in [Ca2+]i, but not O2- release, were stimulated in parallel by FMLP or ionomycin. The potency of inducing tyrosine phosphorylation was ionomycin > FMLP = PMA, whereas the potency of triggering of O2- release was PMA > ionomycin = FMLP. UCN-01, a PKC inhibitor, inhibited O2- release and tyrosine phosphorylation induced by PMA, but not by FMLP or ionomycin. In contrast, pertussis toxin inhibited O2- release and tyrosine phosphorylation induced by FMLP, but not by PMA. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (erbstatin and genistein) inhibited O2- release induced by FMLP, but not by PMA. However, both tyrosine kinase inhibitors did not impair FMLP- or PMA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein was also detected in immature myeloid cells (HL-60 cells) stimulated by PMA, but not by ionomycin. These findings suggest that FMLP and Con A trigger the respiratory burst in human neutrophils by activating the definite pathway which include other signals than activation of PKC and an increase in [Ca2+]i; tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein is induced by the PKC-dependent and independent mechanisms according to the stimuli, and the PKC-independent and ionomycin-sensitive mechanism is inoperative in HL-60 cells; and tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein is unlikely to be causally related to activation of the respiratory burst.

Desensitization by protein kinase C activation differentially uncouples formyl peptide receptors from effector enzymes in HL-60 granulocytes

The hypothesis that protein kinase C (PKC) participates in agonist-mediated desensitization of formyl peptide receptors in HL-60 granulocytes was tested. fMet-Leu-Phe and leukotriene B4(LTB4) produced homologous desensitization of agonist-stimulated intracellular calcium transients. Pre-treatment with the PKC activator, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 10 nM), abolished both fMet-Leu-Phe and LTB4-stimulated calcium transients. Membranes prepared from control HL-60 granulocytes (NM) or cells treated with 10 nM PMA (PMA-M) demonstrated increased formyl peptide receptor and G protein density, as determined by radioligand binding and pertussis toxin- and cholera toxin-catalysed ADP ribosylation. fMet-Leu-Phe stimulation of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]-triphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding and GTP hydrolysis and GDP inhibition of fMet-Leu-Phe binding were not different between NM and PMA-M. Pre-treatment with 10 nM PMA did not inhibit subsequent fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated superoxide generation or phospholipase D activation. We conclude that PKC desensitizes fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated phospholipase C, but not phospholipase D, responses and that PKC activation does not mediate agonist-induced desensitization of formyl peptide receptors.

Effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on respiratory burst activity of neutrophils in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

The superoxide (O2-)-releasing capacity in response to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and the priming effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) on FMLP-induced O2- release were investigated in neutrophils from 14 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The O2(-)-releasing capacity in MDS neutrophils varied from patient to patient. As compared with normal neutrophils, the O2(-)-releasing capacity in MDS neutrophils was increased in 9/14 patients, normal in three patients and decreased in two patients. There was no close relationship between the O2(-)-releasing capacity and the peripheral blood neutrophil count or the plasma concentration of C-reactive protein. The priming of neutrophils by rhG-CSF was not observed in five patients, whereas rhGM-CSF primed neutrophils from all patients. The priming effect of rhGM-CSF was consistently greater than that of rhG-CSF in each patient. The intravenous administration of rhG-CSF (300 micrograms/body) to two MDS patients showed an increase in the peripheral blood neutrophil count and enhancement of neutrophil O2- release. These findings demonstrate that the neutrophil O2(-)-releasing capacity in MDS varies from patient to patient and is not always impaired, and that rhGM-CSF is able to prime neutrophils which never respond to rhG-CSF.

Gold complexes and activation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Dissociation of changes in membrane potential and oxidative burst

The effects of the gold compounds on the alteration of membrane potential of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in response to various stimulants have been compared with their effects on the oxidative burst. The present studies have shown that gold complexes [auranofin (AF), aurothiomalate (Autm), aurocyanide (Au(CN)2-)] have contrasting effects on the membrane potential of 3,3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine [di-O-C5(3)] loaded PMN. Au(CN)2- at concentrations which inhibit the oxidative burst of PMN did not affect the membrane depolarization after activation of PMN by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP); Autm slightly stimulated the oxidative burst but had no effect on the depolarization of PMN. In contrast, AF inhibited the depolarization of stimulated PMN to an extent depending upon the concentration of AF, the time of preincubation and the stimulus. The membrane depolarization of PMN caused by PMA, FMLP and concanavalin A (ConA) was inhibited by AF (5 microM) but the depolarization induced by calcium ionophore (A23187) was not affected. AF at the same conditions inhibits the oxidative burst of PMN induced by all these single stimuli including the calcium ionophore. Dissociation of membrane depolarization and superoxide generation caused by AF was also seen in PMN activated by two stimuli. AF (5 microM) had little initial inhibitory effect on the oxidative burst of PMN stimulated by combinations of PMA and ConA or PMA and FMLP whereas it almost totally blocked the depolarization caused by these combinations. Preincubation of cells with 5 microM AF for less than 5 min prior to the addition of PMA allowed membrane depolarization which was followed rapidly by repolarization. None of the gold complexes studied had any effect on the resting membrane potential of PMN.

Enhanced neutrophil functions in a patient with colony-stimulating activity-producing lung cancer

We studied neutrophil functions in a patient with colony-stimulating activity (CSA)-producing lung cancer. A 59-year-old man had an abnormal chest X-ray and leucocytosis, predominantly with neutrophils. Pneumonectomy was performed, and the histological diagnosis of the tumour was large-cell carcinoma of the lung. The tumour induced marked granulocytosis in tumour-transplanted nude mice, and the conditioned media of the tumour contained very strong human-active CSA. Superoxide release and membrane depolarization in neutrophils stimulated by the chemotactic peptide, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, were markedly enhanced in the patient. These findings suggest that CSA produced by the tumour primed neutrophil functions in vivo in the patient.