Uptake of 12-HETE by human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC): effects on HBEC cytokine production

Esterified eicosanoids: generation, characterization and function

Eicosanoids are oxidation products of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. arachidonic acid) that include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes and hydroperoxy fatty acids. They have important biological roles in vivo, including regulation of renal, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function. Historically, eicosanoids were thought to mediate their signaling actions exclusively as free acids, however evidence is now emerging that they may also be generated attached to other functional groups including phospholipids and glycerol, and that these more complex forms are pathophysiological signaling mediators in their own right. Early studies showed that exogenously added eicosanoids could become esterified into membrane phospholipids of cells, while more recently, it was uncovered that esterified eicosanoids are formed endogenously. This review summarizes our current knowledge of this area, starting with the early discoveries documenting what is known about eicosanoid generation and their esterification, and moving on to discuss the discovery that esterified eicosanoids are generated endogenously by a number of different cell types. Recent research that is highlighting new structures and functions of these important lipid mediators will be presented. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxidized phospholipids-their properties and interactions with proteins.

Mechanisms of GM-CSF increase by diesel exhaust particles in human airway epithelial cells

We have previously shown that exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) stimulates human airway epithelial cells to secrete the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-8, interleukin-1beta, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) involved in allergic diseases. In the present paper, we studied the mechanisms underlying the increase in GM-CSF release elicited by DEPs using the human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o-. RT-PCR analysis has shown an increase in GM-CSF mRNA levels after DEP treatments. Comparison of the effects of DEPs, extracted DEPs, or extracts of DEPs has shown that the increase in GM-CSF release is mainly due to the adsorbed organic compounds and not to the metals present on the DEP surface because the metal chelator desferrioxamine had no inhibitory effect. Furthermore, radical scavengers inhibited the DEP-induced GM-CSF release, showing involvement of reactive oxygen species in this response. Moreover genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abrogated the effects of DEPs on GM-CSF release, whereas protein kinase (PK) C, PKA, cyclooxygenase, or lipoxygenase inhibitors had no effect. PD-98059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase, diminished the effects of DEPs, whereas SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, had a lower effect, and DEPs did actually increase the active, phosphorylated form of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase as shown by Western blotting. In addition, cytochalasin D, which inhibits the phagocytosis of DEPs, reduced the increase in GM-CSF release after DEP treatment. Together, these data suggest that the increase in GM-CSF release is mainly due to the adsorbed organic compounds and that the effect of native DEPs requires endocytosis of the particles. Reactive oxygen species and tyrosine kinase(s) may be involved in the DEP-triggered signaling of the GM-CSF response.

Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB by lipopolysaccharide in mononuclear leukocytes is prevented by inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2

In monocytes, lipopolysaccharide induces synthesis and activity of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2. This enzyme releases arachidonic acid and lyso-phospholipids from membranes which are metabolized to eicosanoids and platelet-activating-factor. These lipid mediators increase activity of transcription factors and expression of cytokine genes indicating a function for cytosolic phospholipase A2 in signal transduction and inflammation. We have shown previously that trifluoromethylketone inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2 suppressed interleukin-1beta protein and steady-state mRNA levels in human lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. In this study, the subcellular mechanisms were analyzed by which trifluoromethylketones interfere with gene expression. We found that they reduced the initial interleukin-1beta mRNA transcription rate through prevention of degradation of inhibitor-kappaB alpha. Consequently, cytosolic activation, nuclear translocation and DNA-binding of nuclear factor-kappaB were decreased. Trifluoromethylketones ameliorate chronic inflammation in vivo. Thus, this therapeutic potency may reside in retention of inactive nuclear factor-kappaB in the cytosol thereby abrogating interleukin-1beta gene transcription.

12-hydroxy-5Z, 8Z, 10E, 14Z, eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) stimulates cAMP production in normal human fibroblasts

We report here that the 12-lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid, 12-hydroxy-5Z, 8Z, 10E, 14Z, eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), stimulates cAMP production in human fibroblasts among various cultured cell lines tested. Although 12-HETE seemed to stimulate the phospholipase C (PLC)-protein kinase C (PKC) system, inhibitors against PLC and PKC did not reduce the cAMP production induced by 12-HETE, indicating that the activation of PLC-PKC system is not positively coupled with the stimulation of cAMP production. On the other hand, the cAMP production induced by 12-HETE was dependent on the Ca2+/calmodulin system in the cells. The results suggest that 12-HETE specifically stimulates Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent adenylyl cyclase to increase cAMP level in the fibroblasts.