Leucocytes and pulmonary disorders: mobilization, activation and role in pathology

Beta 2 (CD18) and beta 1 (CD29) integrin mechanisms in migration of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes through lung fibroblast barriers: shared and distinct mechanisms

Accumulation of leucocytes in inflamed lung tissue and alveolar space involves their migration through vascular endothelium and then lung connective tissue. As a model of this process, we investigated human polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) and monocyte migration through a biological barrier of human lung fibroblasts (HLF) grown on polycarbonate filters. Very few PMNL (1-2%) or monocytes (3-8%) migrated through the HLF barriers spontaneously. Migration increased to 48-53% of added PMNL and 17-24% of added monocytes, when a C5a chemotactic gradient was present. The monocyte migration induced by C5a was not inhibited by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to CD18 (beta 2 integrins). This CD18-independent migration was partially inhibited (35%) by mAb to gamma 5 of VLA-5 and completely inhibited by the combination of mAb to gamma 4 of VLA-4 with mAb to VLA-5, in the presence of mAb to CD18. In contrast, PMNL migration across HLF induced by C5a was partially inhibited by mAb to CD18 alone, but even with the addition of mAb to VLA-4, VLA-5 beta 1 and VLA-6, the greatest degree of inhibition was only 60%. Blocking the function of CD18 was not required to observe the inhibition by mAb to VLA-4, although the inhibitory effect of mAb to VLA-5 and VLA-6 alone or in combination was only observed when CD18 mechanisms were also blocked with anti-CD18 mAb. These results demonstrate that (a) both monocytes and PMNL can use either CD11/CD18 (beta 2 integrin) or beta 1 (CD49/CD29) integrins to migrate through HLF barriers; (b) in the case of monocytes, the VLA-4 and VLA-5 integrins account for essentially all the CD11/CD18-independent migration mechanisms; and (c) in contrast to monocytes, PMNL CD18-independent migration is mediated not only by VLA-4 and VLA-5, but also by VLA-6, and up to 40% of the migration appears to be via yet to be defined PMNL surface molecules.

Effect of nedocromil sodium on polymorphonuclear leukocyte plasma membrane

The effect of nedocromil sodium on the plasma membrane fluidity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was investigated by measuring steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of 1-[4-trimethylammonium-phenyl]-6-phenyl- 1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) incorporated in the membrane. Our results show that nedocromil sodium 300 muM significantly decreased membrane fluidity of PMNs. The decrease in membrane fluidity of PMNs induced by fMLP was abolished in the presence of nedocromil sodium. These data suggest that nedocromil sodium interferes with the plasma membranes of PMNs and modulates their activities.

Eosinophils adhere to and stimulate replication of lung fibroblasts 'in vitro'

Eosinophils have been implicated in several disorders associated with the development of fibrosis. This led us to investigate the interactions between eosinophils and fibroblasts in vitro. Adhesion between purified guinea pig peritoneal eosinophils and monolayers of human fetal lung fibroblasts was assessed using the rose bengal dye staining assay. Fibroblast replication was assessed using a colorimetric assay based upon the uptake and subsequent release of methylene blue. Addition of phorbol myristate acetate induced a rapid, time-dependent increase in eosinophil adhesion (127% and 328% over basal adhesion after 10 and 30 min, respectively). Phorbol myristate acetate-induced adhesion was inhibited by the peptides RGDS and GRGDS (48% and 42%, respectively using 1 mM peptide) and by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, an inhibitor of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism (46% inhibition at 15 microM). In addition, 24 h culture of fibroblast monolayers with interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) resulted in enhanced adhesion (10 U/ml IL-1 alpha stimulated adhesion by 55% of control, 500 U/ml TNF alpha by 75% of control). Conditioned media from cultured eosinophils stimulated fibroblast replication in a time-dependent fashion with maximal stimulation at 3 h. In contrast, media from guinea pig peritoneal macrophages in culture did not show such an effect. This study indicates that eosinophils are capable of both adhering to and releasing mitogens for fibroblasts in vitro. These observations suggest that eosinophils have the capacity to play a role in the development of fibrosis in disorders where they have been shown to be present.