Immunocytochemical localization of protein kinase C in resting and activated human neutrophils

Involvement of protein kinase Cdelta in the activation of NADPH oxidase and the phagocytosis of neutrophils

This experiment was performed to clarify the role of protein kinase C (PKC) delta in NADPH oxidase-dependent O(2-) production and actin polymerization followed by phagocytosis in neutrophils. Bovine neutrophils and human neutrophil-like differentiated HL-60 (dHL-60) cells were stimulated with serum-opsonized zymosan (OZ) and fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP), respectively. Rottlerin, a specific inhibitor of PKCdelta, attenuated the production of O(2-) from NADPH oxidase in both neutrophils and dHL-60 cells. However, it did not inhibit the translocation of p47(phox) from the cytosol to the membrane in either type of cell or the phosphorylation of p47(phox) in dHL-60 cells. GF109203X (GFX), an inhibitor of cPKC, attenuated not only the production of O(2-) but also the translocation of p47(phox) in both cells. Furthermore, rottlerin significantly attenuated the ingestion of opsonized particles and the formation of F-actin in OZ-stimulated neutrophils, whereas, GFX did not affect those phagocytic processes. These results suggest that both PKCdelta and cPKC regulate NADPH oxidase through different pathways, but only PKCdelta regulates the phagocytic function in neutrophils.

Celecoxib simulates respiratory burst through pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein, a possible signal for β2-integrin expression on human neutrophils

The superoxide anion-generating effect of celecoxib (4-[5-(4-methylpheny)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benzenesulfonamide); SC58633), a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, on human neutrophils was evaluated in this study. Celecoxib induced superoxide anion generation in a concentration-dependent manner in human neutrophils. The EC50 value of celecoxib on superoxide anion generation was 15.5+/-2.5 microM. A NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyliodonium (20 microM), and superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml) completely inhibited the free radical generation caused by celecoxib, indicating that the respiratory burst was activated by celecoxib. 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis(acetoxymethyl ester) (BAPTA/AM;10 microM) and staurosporine (200 nM) completely inhibited the superoxide anion release caused by celecoxib, respectively. These data indicated that celecoxib increased superoxide anion release by increasing intracellular calcium and protein kinase C activation. Moreover, 12-(2-cyanoethyl)-6,7,12,13-tetrahydro-13-methyl-5-oxo-5H-indolo(2,3-a)pyrrolo(3,4-C)-carbazole (Go-6976; 1 microM) and 3-[1-[3-(amidinothio)propyl-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide, methane sulfate (Ro-31-8220; 0.5 microM), specific inhibitors of conventional protein kinase C isotypes (alpha, beta(I) and beta(II)), significantly inhibited superoxide anion release caused by celecoxib. Rottlerin (5 microM), a protein kinase C delta inhibitor, did not affect the free radical generation caused by celecoxib. Celecoxib caused translocation of protein kinase C alpha, beta(I) and beta(II) from the cytosol to the cellular membrane. 2-[2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl]-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (PD98059; 20 microM) and wortmannin (100 nM) did not decrease the superoxide anion generation caused by celecoxib, indicating that Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) were not involved in the respiratory burst induced by celecoxib. Pertussis toxin (2 microg/ml), a Gi-protein sensitive inhibitor, significantly inhibited superoxide anion release. Moreover, pertussis toxin significantly inhibited intracellular calcium mobilization and protein kinase C alpha, beta(I) and beta(II) translocation from the cytosol to the membrane. Celecoxib increased beta(2)-integrin expression on human neutrophils and this effect was inhibited by BAPTA/AM (10 microM), superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml), genistein (25 microM) and PD98059 (20 microM). This information indicated that intracellular calcium, superoxide anion, tyrosine kinase and MAP kinase are involved in beta(2)-integrin expression. Furthermore, BAPTA/AM, superoxide dismutase and genistein inhibited celecoxib-increased MAP kinase activity, indicating that MAP kinase is a downstream signal for beta(2)-integrin expression. In conclusion, celecoxib stimulates superoxide anion release from human neutrophils by activating pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein. An increase in intracellular calcium and protein kinase C alpha, beta(I) and beta(II) is involved in this process. Celecoxib also regulates beta(2)-integrin expression through superoxide anion release, tyrosine kinase and p42/p44 MAP kinase on human neutrophils.

Reprogramming the phagocytic pathway--intracellular pathogens and their vacuoles (review)

Phagocytic immune cells (particularly macrophages and neutrophils) take up and digest particles that have invaded our bodies. In doing so, they represent a very early line of defence against a microbial attack. During uptake, the particles are wrapped by a portion of the phagocyte's plasma membrane, and a new endocytic compartment, the phagosome, is formed. The typical fate of a phagosome is its fusion with lysosomes to yield a phagolysosome in which the particle is digested. Recent data show that some 'intracellular microorganisms' that can cause severe illnesses (tuberculosis, leprosy, legionnaire's disease and others) manage to reprogramme the host phagocytes not to deliver them to the lysosomal compartment. This probably results in increased survival of the pathogens. The analysis of the composition of such 'novel' compartments and research on the molecular mechanisms underlying the microbial interference with host cell functions are likely to yield important insights into: (1) which endocytic/phagocytic compartments phagocytes employ to handle ingested material in general; (2) how some pathogenic microorganisms can reprogramme the phagocytic pathway; and possibly (3) how infections caused by these microorganisms can be treated more effectively. Here, some studies are presented analysing which compartments intracellular pathogens inhabit and how microbes might be able to reprogramme their host cells.

Superoxide production in human neutrophils: evidence for signal redundancy and the involvement of more than one PKC isoenzyme class

Selective protein kinase C (PKC) activators and inhibitors and a physiological agonist, fMLP, were used to study superoxide production and PKC isoenzyme activation in human neutrophils. The data show that the classical PKC isoenzymes, alpha and beta, were activated by TPA and at a time prior to NADPH oxidase complex assembly. fMLP induced activation of PKC-beta over a similar time course. Inhibition of c-PKCs reduced, but did not block, TPA-induced superoxide production completely, suggesting additional PKC isoenzymes were involved beyond NADPH oxidase assembly. PKC inhibitors were unable to inhibit fMLP-induced superoxide generation, indicative of signal redundancy in the induction of superoxide generation in human neutrophils.

Calcium-dependent protein kinase C activity of neutrophils in localized juvenile periodontitis

Protein kinase C is a key molecule in neutrophil signal transduction after receptor stimulation by soluble bioactive molecules. It has been reported that neutrophils from most patients with localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) do not have a normal response after stimulation with a chemotactic ligand such as N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP). To further clarify the mechanism of this altered response and to confirm and expand earlier observations, the calcium-dependent protein kinase C activity of neutrophils from patients with LJP was evaluated. Peripheral blood neutrophils from 12 patients and 12 healthy subjects, age, sex, and race matched, were sonicated and subsequently subfractionated by ultracentrifugation into a soluble fraction (cytosol rich) and a particulate fraction (membrane rich). The calcium-dependent protein kinase C activity was evaluated in each fraction by phosphorylation of histone with radiolabeled ATP in the presence or in the absence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation. Results revealed that the total calcium-dependent protein kinase C activity of neutrophils from patients with LJP and depressed chemotactic migration to FMLP (201.0 +/- 63.6 pmol/min/10(7) cells) was lower than that of neutrophils from healthy subjects (287.6 +/- 55.7 pmol/min/10(7) cells) (P < 0.01). The calcium-dependent protein kinase C activity in neutrophils from patients with LJP exhibited a positive correlation with chemotactic migration to FMLP (P < 0.05). The low activity of calcium-dependent protein kinase C in neutrophils from the patients reflected the low activity in the soluble fraction from the neutrophils. After stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, the calcium-dependent protein kinase C activity was found to be lower from patients with LJP than from healthy subjects. These results suggest that lower calcium-dependent protein kinase C in neutrophils is a predisposing factor for LJP.

Dissimilarities in superoxide anion production by human neutrophils stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate or phorbol dibutyrate

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBU) are known to translocate protein kinase C (PKC) and to induce superoxide anion (O2-.) production in human neutrophils. They are thus currently used to probe the role of PKC in O2-. production. We show here that under certain conditions, O2-. production induced by PMA is not associated with a decrease in cytosolic PKC activity, whereas these two events are associated after PDBU stimulation. (1) In the presence of extracellular calcium (1 mM), O2-. production was related to the concentration of PMA. PMA induced O2-. production at all the concentrations studied, but this was not associated with a decrease in cytosolic PKC levels up to 5 ng/ml PMA (50% maximum O2-. production). (2) Under PDBU stimulation, even at very low O2-. production levels, cytosolic PKC decreased and the decrease as well as the O2-. production were related to the concentration of PDBU. (3) For a given decrease in cytosolic PKC, O2-. production induced by PMA was much greater than that induced by PDBU. (4) In calcium-free medium, O2-. production induced by low concentrations of PMA (up to 5 ng/ml) was lower than that observed in the presence of 1 mM calcium, whereas modifications of cytosolic PKC activity were similar. (5) Cytochalasin B had no effect on PMA-induced O2-. production, regardless of the calcium content of the medium, and had no effect on the decrease in cytosolic PKC. On the contrary, following PDBU stimulation, cytochalasin B increased O2-. production, regardless of the medium, but induced a larger decrease in cytosolic PKC when Ca2+ was present. (6) Preincubation of PMN with 100 microM H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine) before stimulation with PMA or PDBU led to similar inhibition of O2-. production whatever the degree of decrease in cytosolic PKC activity. These findings show that, in contrast to PDBU, O2-. production induced by PMA is not always related to cytosolic PKC activity.

Lack of correlation between translocation and biological effects mediated by protein kinase C: an appraisal

Protein kinase C is involved in the mechanism of action of hormones, growth factors, mitogens and tumour promoters. The correlation between the extent of the biological effects mediated by protein kinase C and its fractional activation shows cell type specific patterns of behaviour. The discrepancy between enzyme activity and biological effects elicited by protein kinase C is particularly relevant to lymphoblastic cells. In B cells, the full expression of some biological responses mediated by protein kinase C may be achieved by activation of less than 5% of the enzyme activity.

Diacylglycerol generation and phosphoinositide turnover in human neutrophils: effects of particulate versus soluble stimuli

Serum-treated, or "opsonized" zymosan (OZ), a particulate material which can be phagocytized by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, activates the superoxide-generating respiratory burst in these cells. The use of dual wavelength spectroscopy in the present studies has allowed accurate continuous monitoring of superoxide generation (cytochrome c reduction) upon cellular activation by this turbid material; activation occurs after a short lag period (about 20 s) which is similar to the lag seen after activation with the chemoattractant formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Unlike the fMLP response which terminates after about 90 s, superoxide generation in response to OZ continues beyond 10 min, and is similar in this regard to the response seen with the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). OZ and fMLP, but not PMA, also activate receptor-linked phospholipase C mechanisms as judged by the appearance of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) (as well as other inositol phosphates) and diacylglycerol (DAG), with the latter measured by a mass assay. The appearance of these potential mediators corresponded to the loss of phosphoinositides, in particular phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The magnitude of DAG and inositol sugar generation as well as the breakdown of PIP2 was considerably greater using OZ than with fMLP. In addition, while fMLP resulted in a transient increase in IP3 and DAG, OZ resulted in a sustained elevation of these molecules. With both agonists, the onset and duration of generation of putative mediators corresponded to the period of generation of O2-, consistent with a role for DAG and/or IP3 in the activation of the respiratory burst.

Protein kinases in neutrophils: a review

In chemotactic factor-stimulated neutrophils, rapid increases of intracellular levels of cyclic AMP, calcium, and diacylglycerol have been observed and may be linked to protein kinase activation. The study of the physiological role and regulation of protein kinases in the neutrophil and the identification of their substrates has provided valuable information on the molecular mechanism of neutrophil activation. The focus of this review is on those aspects of protein kinases that are relevant to neutrophil activation and on the substrate proteins for these protein kinases. The possible role of protein phosphorylation in neutrophil function is also discussed.

Activation of the respiratory burst oxidase in neutrophils: on the role of membrane-derived second messengers, Ca++, and protein kinase C

A major bactericidal mechanism of neutrophils involves activation of the respiratory burst oxidase to generate superoxide (O2-). The oxidase is activated rapidly, often within a minute, in response to extracellular signals such as chemoattractants, inflammatory mediators, and invading microorganisms. Increasing evidence indicates that lipases also respond rapidly, releasing potent regulatory molecules from progenitor lipids. Released molecules include potential regulators of protein kinase C--diacylglycerol (DAG), arachidonate, and sphingosine--and levels of one of these, DAG, frequently correlate with O2- production. In this author's view, the available data implicate DAG and protein kinase C as key factors in the regulation of the respiratory burst. Herein, the array of activating agonists, the generation and function of some lipid-derived mediators, and evidence pertaining to the participation of protein kinase C are reviewed.

Cooperative interactions of protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase systems in human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells

Interactions of protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) systems were investigated in HL60 cells. It was found that the differentiating effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were potentiated by dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In addition, dbcAMP or PGE2 inhibited TPA-induced binding of PKC to plasma membrane, leading to decreased protein phosphorylation, and promoted subsequent redistribution of enzyme to the nuclear membrane region. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that PKC and PKA systems regulate cooperatively the phenotypical differentiation of leukemic cells.

Immunocytochemical localization of protein kinase C in developing brain tissue and in primary neuronal cultures

Antisera to protein kinase C (PKC) have been used to examine the presence and distribution of the enzyme in developing cerebellar cortex of postnatal rat and in cultures of rat sympathetic ganglia. In the cerebellar cortex of 2-,4-, and 6-day old rats, immunostaining was observed in areas of early-forming presynaptic terminals and growth cones. No staining was evident in the cortical proliferative zone. Beginning at 10 days postnatal, nuclear staining, not apparent at earlier stages, was prominent in Purkinje cells. In neuronal cultures of dissociated rat sympathetic ganglia, PKC was immunolocalized in cell bodies and bundles of neuronal processes. Immunoreactivity was particularly striking in growth cones of extending neurites and in axonal varicosities. These results suggest a role for PKC in neuronal growth following cell proliferation and in synaptic function. The appearance of nuclear staining in later developmental stages suggests that the enzyme may be involved in the promotion and maintenance of the differentiated state of neurons.

A spatial-temporal model of cell activation

A spatial-temporal model of calcium messenger function is proposed to account for sustained cellular responses to sustained stimuli, as well as for the persistent enhancement of cell responsiveness after removal of a stimulus, that is, cellular memory. According to this model, spatial separation of calcium function contributes to temporal separation of distinct phases of the cellular response. At different cellular sites, within successive temporal domains, the calcium messenger is generated by different mechanisms and has distinct molecular targets. In particular, prolonged cell activation is brought about by the interaction of calcium with another spatially confined messenger, diacylglycerol, to cause the association of protein kinase C with the plasma membrane. Activity of the membrane-associated protein kinase C is controlled by the rate of calcium cycling across the plasma membrane. In some instances, a single stimulus induces both protein kinase C activation and calcium cycling and thus causes prolonged activation; but in others, a close temporal association of distinct stimuli brings about cell activation via interaction of these intracellular messengers. Persistent enhancement of cell responsiveness after removal of stimuli is suggested to be due to the continued association, or anchoring, of protein kinase C to the membrane.