Subcellular localization and properties of adenosine diphosphatase activity in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Cigarette smoke inhibits adenine nucleotide hydrolysis by human platelets

Cigarette smoking is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and thrombotic events. In athero-thrombotic diseases, the extracellular adenine nucleotides play an important role by triggering a range of effects such as the recruitment and activation of platelets, endothelial cell activation and vasoconstriction. NTPDase, a plasma membrane-bound enzyme, is the most relevant enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of extracellular tri- and di-phosphate nucleotides to adenosine monophosphate, which is further degraded by 5'ectonucleotidase to the anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory mediator adenosine. Thus, the preserved activity of these enzymes, regulating the extracellular concentrations of nucleotides, is critical in thromboregulatory functions. In the present in vitro study, performed on human platelets suspended in undiluted or diluted aqueous cigarette smoke extract (aCSE), we demonstrated that undiluted and 1 : 2 diluted aCSE is able to significantly reduce ADP hydrolysis (-24% and 12%, respectively) by intact human platelets. ATP degradation was also reduced (-31%) by undiluted aCSE. Conversely, aCSE did not alter platelet AMP hydrolysis. Results obtained by using N-acetylcysteine, a thiol-containing antioxidant, suggest that stable oxidants present in aCSE are responsible for the platelet NTPDase inhibition induced by aCSE. The decreased adenine nucleotide degradation could play a significant role in the extensive platelet activation and vascular inflammation observed in chronic smokers.

Leukocyte count and leukocyte ecto-nucleotidase are major determinants of the effects of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate on platelet aggregation in human blood

ADP induces platelet aggregation in human whole blood and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). ATP induces aggregation in whole blood only; this involves leukocytes and is mediated by ADP. Here we studied ATP- and ADP-induced aggregation in patients with raised leukocyte counts (mean 46.2x10(3) leukocytes/microl). Platelet aggregation was measured by platelet counting. ATP, ADP and metabolites were measured by HPLC. Aggregation to ADP (1-10 microM) and ATP (10-100 microM) was markedly reduced, but to ATP (1000 microM) was enhanced (all p<0.001). Aggregation to ADP in PRP was normal. Increasing the leukocyte count in normal blood reproduced the findings in the patients. Adding leukocytes (either MNLs or PMNLs) to normal PRP enabled a response to ATP and caused marked inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation. Breakdown of ATP or ADP to AMP and adenosine in leukocyte-rich plasma was rapid (t1/2=4 min) and far higher than in cell-free plasma or PRP. With ATP there was also formation of ADP, maximal at 4 min. The presence of the ectonucleotidase NTPDase1 (CD39) was demonstrated on MNLs (all of the monocytes and a proportion of the lymphocytes) and all PMNLs by flow cytometry. We conclude that leukocytes provide a means of dephosphorylating ATP which enables ATP-induced aggregation via conversion to ADP, but also convert ADP to AMP and adenosine. Platelet aggregation extent is a balance between these activities, and high white cell counts influence this balance.

Release of adenosine triphosphate by adenosine diphosphate in whole blood and in erythrocyte suspensions

In whole blood samples from thrombocytopenic patients, large amounts of ATP were released by ADP, exceeding the level obtained with samples from normal persons by far. Because we suspected that the high potential of ATP in erythrocytes would be the main source for this phenomenon, the release of ATP by ADP was measured in whole blood samples from normal, thrombocytopenic, and leukocytopenic persons and in suspensions of washed erythrocytes. The release was recorded by a Whole Blood Lumi-Aggregometer type 500 VS (Chrono-Log Corporation, Havertown, PA) using the luciferin-luciferase system. Not only in samples from thrombocytopenic persons but also with normal platelet count, increasing amounts of ATP were released with increasing ADP concentrations, finally exceeding the ATP releasable from thrombocytes by thrombin. The amounts of ADP required to match the ATP release of thrombin were closely correlated with the platelet counts in the samples. With lower platelet counts, the release mechanism from erythrocytes could be stimulated more easily by low concentrations of ADP. The binding of ADP to platelets occurred with ostensibly higher affinity. The phenomenon of overshooting ATP release was also observed in samples from extremely leukocytopenic patients. A very large release of ATP was also achieved in suspensions of washed erythrocytes. In this way our hypothesis of ATP release from erythrocytes by ADP was confirmed again. The mechanism of the release from erythrocytes remains unclear. We speculate that its purpose is to regulate extracellular nucleotides in the circulating blood.

An in vitro method for evaluating vascular endothelial ADPase activity

Some xenobiotics, known to promote the development of thrombotic phenomena, affect vascular endothelium ADPase, a regulatory enzyme that inactivates vaso- and platelet-active adenine nucleotides. This proposed new experimental approach represents an improved method of evaluation of vascular endothelial ADPase activity which is assessed by measuring, at pre-established times, the degradation rate of exogenous ADP incubated with aortic bovine patches. The ADP dosage was performed by using a spectrophotometric enzymatic assay. Statistical analyses showed that the method is capable of highlighting the linearity of the ADPase activity time-course, thus indicating that the slopes of time-degradation curves of ADP are a valid index for this endothelial ectoenzyme activity. Results obtained with ADPase inhibiting or stimulating agent confirm that this in vitro method is an efficient tool for estimating the ability of xenobiotics or drugs to modify the nonthrombogenic properties of vascular endothelium.

Characterization of an ATP diphosphohydrolase activity (APYRASE, EC 3.6.1.5) in rat blood platelets

In the present report we describe an apyrase (ATP diphosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.5) in rat blood platelets. The enzyme hydrolyses almost identically quite different nucleoside di- and triphosphates. The calcium dependence and pH requirement were the same for the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP and the apparent Km values were similar for both Ca(2+)-ATP and Ca(2+)-ADP as substrates. Ca(2+)-ATP and Ca(2+)-ADP hydrolysis could not be attributed to the combined action of different enzymes because adenylate kinase, inorganic pyrophosphatase and nonspecific phosphatases were not detected under our assay conditions. The Ca(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ADPase activity was insensitive to ATPase, adenylate kinase and alkaline phosphatase classical inhibitors, thus excluding these enzymes as contaminants. The results demonstrate that rat blood platelets contain an ATP diphosphohydrolase involved in the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP which are vasoactive and platelet active adenine nucleotides.

Platelet aggregation induced by the endoperoxide analogue U46619 is inhibited by polymorphonuclear leukocyte ADPase activity

Platelet activation by the stable endoperoxide analogue U46619 is mediated largely by ADP released from platelet-dense granules. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) endowed with ecto-ADPase activity may operate as antiaggregatory cells in platelet aggregation induced by U46619. Unstimulated PMNs were effective in reducing aggregation when platelets were stimulated by threshold concentrations of U46619, whereas at higher concentrations of the stimulus, PMN activation is required. Evidence that the inhibition was mediated by PMN ecto-ADPase activity was obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, indicating that PMNs were able to efficiently metabolize platelet-active ADP into AMP. Moreover, PMN-derived supernatants were able to inhibit platelet aggregation, suggesting that under this circumstance the inhibition was exerted by an uncharacterized, releasable ADPase activity. This study supports the hypothesis that, besides nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide, ADPase activity may represent another PMN-mediated pathway capable of regulating platelet activity in areas of reduced blood flow, such as those found in conditions of myocardial ischemia.

[Effect of defensin on platelet functional activity]

The effects of human neutrophil peptide defensin were studied on human platelet function. Defensin (0.1-40 micrograms/mL) did not promote platelet aggregation. Defensin decreased platelet aggregation responses to ADF, collagen or thrombin. Defensin significantly lessened ATP level, released during platelet aggregation, and malondialdehyde production, induced by thrombin and collagen. These data reveal that defensins involve in cell-cell interaction between platelets and neutrophils counteracting agonist-induced platelet activation.

Subcellular localization and properties of adenosine diphosphatase in human placenta

It was found that mitochondria from human placenta exhibited an ADPase activity with the following characteristics. The enzyme responsible for this activity was associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane. It was not released by treatment of the submitochondrial particles with solutions of high ionic strength. Maximal ADP hydrolysis was reached at pH 8. Specific inhibitors for alkaline phosphatase (L-phenylalanine), myokinase (P1,P5-di(adenosine-5')pentaphosphate), or 5'-nucleotidase (concanavalin A) did not decrease ADP hydrolysis. ATP synthesis from ADP by myokinase was about 13 nmol/mg/min, whereas ADP hydrolysis reached values around 500 to 550 nmol/mg/min, indicating that a myokinase-H+ATPase combination could not account for the observed rates of ADP hydrolysis. The activity was stimulated by Mg2+, but high concentrations of this cation produced inhibition. High ADP concentrations did not inhibit ADPase activity. Kinetic measurements of the activity in the submitochondrial particles showed that the true substrate was ADP-Mg. The kinetic studies showed V(app) values of 476 and 270 nmol/mg/min, and Kmapp values of 416 and 8.7 microM.

Purification and characterisation of bovine spleen ADPase

ADPase has been purified from bovine spleen. Electrophoresis revealed a minor contaminent in the preparation that may represent ADPase that has been decreased in size by limited proteolysis during extraction and purification. The native enzyme behaves on SDS/PAGE as a 100-kDa protein but ADPase is a glycoprotein and so its electrophoretic behaviour may be anomalous. The apparent molecular mass is decreased to 70 kDa after removal of carbohydrate by treatment with a glycosidase. The use of a cross-linking reagent followed by electrophoresis suggests that the enzyme is composed of a single subunit. The specific activity of the purified material was 115 U/mg protein. The enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of nucleoside di- and tri-phosphates but nucleoside monophosphates are not acted upon. The Km for ADP (approx. 10-15 microM) is unaffected by the state of purification of the enzyme, but catalytic activity of the purified material is stimulated by inclusion of detergent in the assay system and by calcium ions. Maximum activity is seen at pH 8.0-8.5 with ADP as substrate but the optimum shifts to 7.5-8.0 for ATP hydrolysis.

Aggregation of platelets in whole blood from children with pulmonary hypertension

The response of aggregation of platelets to adenosine diphosphate (7.5-120 microM) and collagen (1.25 micrograms/ml) was assessed in whole blood (impedance method) in 10 children with pulmonary hypertension (hematocrit range, 42 to 71%). The response to collagen was normal (9.08 +/- 3.47 vs. 10.36 +/- 1.86 ohms in controls, P = NS) while there was a decreased response to adenosine diphosphate (6.98 +/- 3.83 vs. 11.21 +/- 2.02 ohms, P less than 0.01), in spite of high concentrations of the inducer. Lowering the hematocrit in vitro to 40% with autologous platelet-rich plasma resulted in a rise in the platelet count from 171 +/- 63 to 225 +/- 84 x 10(9) platelets/1 (P less than 0.001) and a significant increase in the response to adenosine diphosphate from 6.98 +/- 3.83 to 9.89 +/- 3.66 ohms (P less than 0.02). As in the baseline condition, high concentrations of adenosine diphosphate were required. The response to collagen did not change significantly. The results indicate that aggregatory response of platelets is relatively preserved in these children. The decreased response to adenosine diphosphate may be a result of a low count and interference of red cells on the accretion of platelets on the electrodes. Because high concentrations of adenosine diphosphate were still required after hemodilution to achieve an aggregatory response close to normal, we speculate that leakage of endogenous adenosine diphosphate from red cells may have accounted for partial activation of the platelets, resulting in a relative refractory state to in vitro stimulation.

Subcellular localization of recently-absorbed iron in mouse duodenal enterocytes: identification of a basolateral membrane iron-binding site

The subcellular distribution of newly absorbed iron in isolated mouse duodenal enterocytes was investigated by analytical subcellular fractionation using sucrose density gradient centifugation. Two major peaks of mucosal 59Fe activity were observed: one soluble and one particulate (density 1.18-1.20 g ml-1). The latter was increased following prior exposure of animals to chronic hypoxia. The particulate 59Fe was localized to the basolateral membranes using the marker enzyme Na+, K+ activated, Mg2+ dependent, ATPase and by washing intact enterocytes with the selective plasma membrane perturbant digitonin. The basolateral membrane can be selectively labelled by in vitro incubation of intact enterocytes at 0 degrees C with 59Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetate complex, confirming the presence of a 59Fe binding site on this membrane. No significant difference in in vitro iron binding to this site was observed between normal and chronically hypoxic animals. Iron binding to the basolateral membrane was significantly higher in disrupted, compared to intact enterocytes, indicating that this site is present on both sides of the basolateral membrane. It is therefore suggested that the increased labelling of this site in hypoxia, in vivo, is a consequence of an increase in a mucosal Fe pool which is available for binding to a membrane receptor.

Extracellular adenine compounds, red blood cells and haemostasis: facts and hypotheses

Previously, the role of adenine nucleotides was thought to be confined to the intracellular space of the cell. Research of the last decades has revealed that nucleotides also occur in the extracellular milieu. This survey deals with extracellular adenine compounds in the blood, focussing on their role as chemical mediators in the haemostatic effect of red cells. Erythrocytes may act as pro-aggregatory cells by at least two chemical mechanisms. Firstly, they can enhance platelet aggregation by releasing adenosine diphosphate (ADP), a well known platelet stimulatory substance. ADP is set free when red cells are stressed mechanically, for instance by shear forces generated in the blood stream; ample experimental evidence supporting this view is summarized. Secondly, erythrocytes efficiently take up extracellular adenosine via their nucleoside transporters, thereby removing a potent inhibitor of platelet function. Extracellular adenosine occurs in the blood stream, either directly released from various tissues or as the end product of extracellular adenine nucleotide metabolism, e.g. after degradation of red cell-born ADP or ATP. Finally, a novel mechanism of action of the antithrombotic drug dipyridamole, which has very recently been put forward, is demonstrated. Dipyridamole inhibits platelet function indirectly by blocking the uptake of extracellular adenosine via the nucleoside transporter of red cells; increased adenosine levels in turn are responsible for the antiaggregatory effect of dipyridamole.

Metabolism of adenine nucleotides in human blood

Biologically active concentrations of potently vasoactive and platelet-active adenine nucleotides are generated in plasma by a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms. Although there is evidence that ATP and ADP are inactivated by endothelial ectonucleotidases, there has been little attempt to study the metabolic routes of their catabolism in blood or to assess the contribution of this process to their clearance in vivo. Therefore, we have studied the rates and patterns of catabolism of ATP, ADP, and AMP in whole blood, plasma, and isolated blood cells. Rates of degradation of each nucleotide in cell-free plasma ranged from 0.07-0.32 nmol/min/ml with 1 microM substrates to 1.1-3.6 nmol/min/ml with 100 microM substrates. The pattern of catabolism indicated that sequential dephosphorylation from ATP----ADP----AMP----adenosine occurs. In whole blood, the pattern was similar although ATP and ADP (but not AMP) breakdown was more rapid. This was due to leukocyte ectonucleotidase activity. The use of selective inhibitors demonstrated that catabolism was not due to nonspecific phosphatase activity and that plasma 5'-nucleotidase is distinct from ATPase or ADPase. In leukocytes, ATPase and ADPase activities were distinguishable, and each contributed substantially to the rates of catabolism in whole blood. Leukocyte 5'-nucleotidase did not measurably contribute to AMP dephosphorylation in blood. By comparison, ecto-ATPase and ecto-ADPase activities on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were similar to those on leukocytes while endothelial 5'-nucleotidase per 10(6) cells was equivalent to the soluble activity in 1 ml of blood or plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Origin, metabolism and function of extracellular adenine nucleotides in the blood

In previous views the role of adenine nucleotides was thought to be confined to the intracellular space of the cell. However, research of the last decades has revealed that nucleotides also occur in the extracellular space. This survey deals with the sources, metabolism and the role in blood of the extracellular adenine mononucleotides ATP, ADP, AMP and the dinucleotides diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) and diadenosine triphosphate (Ap3A). The latter two are novel compounds, which have recently been discovered in human platelets. The mononucleotides originate from damaged tissues, from red blood cells during haemolysis, from activated platelets, the working muscle and from the nervous system, whereas the dinucleotides are exclusively released from stimulated platelets. Both the adenine mono- and the dinucleotides act as signal molecules on blood cells as well as on cells of the vascular wall, thereby modulating physiological processes such as platelet aggregation, histamine release from mast cells, regulation of vascular tone and white cell functions. In order to limit the signal effects of extracellular nucleotides, blood cells, plasma and the interior of the vessel walls are provided with nucleotide splitting enzymes: ATP, ADP and AMP are mainly degraded by ectoenzymes present on blood cells, endothelial and on smooth muscle cells, whereas dinucleotides are primarily metabolized by plasma enzymes. This review closes with the presentation of the clinical utility of Ap3A and Ap4A as tools for the diagnosis of platelet storage pool defects.

Demonstration of a novel ecto-enzyme on human erythrocytes, capable of degrading ADP and of inhibiting ADP-induced platelet aggregation

The role of ADP as an important inducer of platelet aggregation is generally accepted. Therefore it has been postulated by many authors that the enzymatic removal of extracellular ADP from the circulation is essential to avoid platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Here we show that erythrocytes essentially contribute to the clearance of ADP. The removal of ADP from suspensions of washed human erythrocytes was due to at least two different activities. One activity, which had already been observed by earlier workers, was identified as adenylate kinase, on the basis of the reaction products and the inhibition by adenosine(5')pentaphospho(5')adenosine (Ap5A). This enzyme was not associated with the cells and was always detectable in cell-free supernatants, indicating that the enzyme had leaked from the cells into the extracellular medium. In contrast, the second activity, which is described here for the first time, was tightly bound to the cells. The activity was not inhibited by Ap5A. The main product of the reaction was AMP, and enzyme activity depended on the presence of divalent cations. The Michaelis constant was about 28 mumol/l. This activity seemed to be an ecto-ADPase. Studies with various inhibitors revealed that degradation of ADP was not due to a non-specific phosphatase. Besides the well known ADPase on the endothelium, the ecto-activity on erythrocytes may play an important part in destroying pro-aggregatory ADP.

Substrate specificity of alkaline phosphatase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The ability of alkaline phosphatase in purified preparations from human neutrophils and liver to utilize ATP or inorganic pyrophosphate as substrate depended upon the Mg2+ concentration. With pyrophosphate present (1.0 mmol/l), activity peaked at Mg2+ concentrations of 0.25 to 0.50 mmol/l and fell sharply above this. By contrast, p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity was activated with Mg2+ concentration up to 0.75 mmol/l but above this was constant to 5.0 mmol/l. Hydrolysis was abolished by L-levamisole, a specific inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase. Testing butanol extracts of neutrophils from 50 healthy subjects showed good correlation of enzyme activity with p-nitrophenylphosphate and ADP (r = 0.90), and between p-nitrophenylphosphate and pyridoxal phosphate (r = 0.96) as substrate, consistent with hydrolysis of all three phosphoesters by one enzyme. Inhibition studies yielded no evidence of a specific pyridoxal phosphatase. Alkaline phosphatase from human neutrophils has the same broad substrate specificity as other molecular forms of the human enzyme and, like other forms, has little or no activity towards phosphoesters complexed with Mg2+.

Purification and properties of alkaline phosphatase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

A procedure for the purification of alkaline phosphatase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes is described, involving enzyme solubilisation with Triton X-100 and chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL 6B and Cibacron Red F = B-Sepharose 4B. The final enzyme preparation was 244-fold purified and was shown to be capable of hydrolysis of a wide range of phosphorylated substates.

Properties and subcellular localization of adenosine diphosphatase in rat heart

Some properties and subcellular localization of adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) activity from rat heart have been investigated. The pH optimum was 7.4, maximal activity was found with 5 mM MgCl2, and the apparent Km was 20 microM. ADPase activity was strongly inhibited by NaF and AppNHp, and to a lesser extent by AMP and GppNHp. The enzyme was not inhibited by p-nitrophenylphosphate, beta-glycerophosphate, or pyridoxal phosphate. The distribution of ADPase activity in subcellular fractions obtained by differential centrifugation parallel ouabain-sensitive (Na+-K+)ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase activities, suggesting a plasma membrane-bound localization. The functional significance of ADPase in adenosine production and hemostasis is discussed.

Studies on the nature of adenosine diphosphatase activity from rat liver mitochondria

Adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) activity was studied in rat liver with [beta-32P]ADP as a substrate. Mitochondria and outer mitochondrial membrane fractions were isolated and assayed for ADPase and various marker enzymes. ADPase activity was strikingly reduced when the outer membranes were removed from the mitochondria whether by digitonin treatment or osmotic shock. Addition of the inter-membrane space subfraction to the purified outer membranes resulted in enhanced ADPase activity. Addition of the inter-mitochondrial membrane enzyme adenylate kinase to outer membranes also produced a large stimulation of activity. The ADPase activity could also be reconstituted in vitro with adenylate kinase and either mitoplast ATPase or ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. Chloroform-released ATPase, however, was not capable of producing an ADPase activity when combined with adenylate kinase. Gel permeation chromatography of Triton-solubilised outer mitochondrial membranes was unable to resolve ADPase activity from contaminating ATPase. These results suggest that the majority of ADPase activity in rat liver mitochondria consists of the coupled activity of adenylate kinase and ATPase.

Comparison of effects of inhibitors on adenosine triphosphatase and adenosine diphosphatase activities in rat-liver mitochondria

Adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) activity and ATPase activity were assayed in rat liver mitochondria and outer mitochondrial membrane preparations with [beta-32P]ADP and [gamma-32P]ATP as substrates. Inhibition studies were performed with the mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor oligomycin and the adenine nucleotide transport inhibitor, carboxyatractyloside. Kinetic studies were also performed with the nucleotide thiophosphate analogs adenosine 5'-O-thiophosphate, adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) which can act as inhibitors of phosphohydrolases. It is concluded that part of the apparent ADPase activity of intact mitochondria is mediated via ATPase, presumably in conjunction with adenylate kinase. In addition the outer mitochondrial membrane appears to show a distinct ADPase not attributable to contamination by inner membrane ATPase.

Comparative studies on the leucine aminopeptidase activity of different types of leukocytes

The distribution of the leucine aminopeptidase activity among different types of leukocytes in a few animals was examined. In guinea-pig, the enzyme activity was detected in all cell types examined but its activity per cell was diverse among leukocytes, i.e. neutrophils and monocyte-macrophage cell lines, so-called "professional" phagocytes, showed higher enzyme activity than other types of leukocytes, lymphocytes and eosinophils. The same distribution pattern of leucine aminopeptidase activity as that in guinea-pig was also observed among leukocytes in human, rat and mouse. When leukocytes were modified with a poorly permeant reagent, diazotized sulfanilic acid to examine the subcellular localization of leucine aminopeptidase in leukocytes, the leucine aminopeptidase activity of the cells was inhibited by 50% without the inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase, a soluble cytoplasmic enzyme, in various types of leukocytes from all animals used here. The possibility was suggested from these observations that higher leucine aminopeptidase activity is distributed on the cell surface of "professional" phagocytes.

Enzyme analysis and subcellular fractionation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes with special reference to the localization of putative plasma membrane enzymes

Human lymphocytes were isolated from defibrinated blood by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation with erythrocyte hypotonic lysis. Homogenates of mixed lymphocytes were subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation by sucrose gradient centrifugation in a Beaufay automatic zonal rotor. The principal organelles were characterized by their marker enzymes: cytosol (lactate dehydrogenase), plasma membrane (5'-nucleotidase), endoplasmic reticulum (neutral alpha-glucosidase), mitochondria (malate dehydrogenase), lysosomes (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase), peroxisomes (catalase). gamma-Glutamyl transferase was exclusively localized to the plasma membrane. Leucine amino-peptidase, especially when assayed in the presence of Co2+, was also partially localized to the plasma membrane. Experiments with diazotized sulphanilic acid, a non-permeant enzyme inhibitor, showed that these plasma membrane enzymes are present on the cell surface. No detectable alkaline phosphatase was found in the lymphocytes. Acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase were localized to lysosomes and there was some evidence for lysosomal heterogeneity. Leucine amino peptidase, optimal at pH 8.0, showed a partial localization to intracellular vesicles, possibly lysosomes, especially when assayed in the presence of EDTA. These studies provide a technique for determining the intracellular distribution of hitherto unassigned lymphocyte constituents and serve as a basis for investigating the cell pathology of lymphocytic disorders.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate: a possible physiological substrate for alkaline phosphatase in human neutrophils

The intracellular localization of pyridoxal phosphatase activity was demonstrated in human neutrophils by electron microscope cytochemistry. Under alkaline conditions, an enzyme active against pyridoxal phosphate was localized to a cytoplasmic granule population, the phosphasome. These granules have previously been shown by electron microscope cytochemical techniques and by subcellular fractionation to be rich in alkaline phosphatase. Under acidic conditions, a phosphatase activity against pyridoxal phosphate was localized to intracellular multilamellar bodies resembling secondary lysosomes. These were quite distinct from the primary, secondary and phosphasome granules and this unique localization corresponds to that previously demonstrated (tertiary granules) by subcellular fractionation studies of these cells. The similarity in the enzyme reaction requirements of alkaline pyridoxal phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase, and their localization to the same subcellular organelle, suggests that pyridoxal phosphate may be a physiological substrate for human neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.

Properties and subcellular localization of adenosine diphosphatase in arterial smooth muscle cells in culture

The properties and subcellular localization of adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) activity in smooth muscle cells cultured from pig aortas have been investigated. The pH optimum of ADPase activity was 7.3 and the apparent Km for ADP was 10.3 microM. ADPase activity was inhibited completely by EDTA and was restored by the addition of divalent cations. The enzyme activity was not inhibited by 2-glycerophosphate, a substrate for non-specific phosphatases, nor by levamisole, a specific inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase. Smooth muscle cells were homogenized and a post-nuclear supernatant was applied to a sucrose density gradient in a Beaufay automatic zonal rotor. The distribution of ADPase activity in the density gradient was similar to that of 5'-nucleotidase activity, a marker enzyme for the plasma membrane, and distinct from the distributions of the marker enzymes for the other organelles. When the cells were homogenized in the presence of digitonin, an agent which binds to cholesterol and increases the equilibrium density of the plasma membrane, the modal equilibrium densities of ADPase activity and of 5'-nucleotidase activity were increased to similar extents, thus confirming the plasma membrane localization of ADPase activity.

Subcellular localisation of leucine aminopeptidase in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were homogenised in isotonic sucrose and subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The gradient fractions were assayed for leucine aminopeptidase and for principal organelle marker enzymes. Leucine aminopeptidase, when assayed with both L-leucine-7-amido-4-methyl-coumarin and leucyl-2-naphthylamide as substrate, showed a unimodal distribution with an equilibrium density of 1.18 g X cm-3. This distribution was quite distinct from that exhibited by marker enzymes for all the recognized subcellular organelles: there was no leucine aminopeptidase associated with the plasma membrane. Fractionation experiments with neutrophils treated with isotonic sucrose containing a low concentration of digitonin, and studies with the non-permeant ectoenzyme inhibitor, diazotised sulphanilic acid, confirmed that leucine aminopeptidase had a purely intracellular localisation. Fractionation experiments with neutrophils homogenised in sucrose medium containing digitonin, showed leucine aminopeptidase associated with a membrane fraction. It is suggested that leucine aminopeptidase is located to the membrane of a previously unrecognised population of cytoplasmic granules of the human neutrophil.

The release of granule components from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in response to both phagocytic and chemical stimuli

The differential effects of phagocytic and chemical stimuli on neutrophil enzyme and specific protein release were compared. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated release of the specific granule matrix marker, vitamin B-12-binding protein in a dose-dependent manner. Subcellular fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation indicated that the residual vitamin B-12-binding protein is associated with the specific granule fraction. In contrast, neutral alpha-glucosidase and adenosine diphosphatase, associated with specific granule membranes, were not released by PMA. Subcellular fractionation studies suggest that fusion of the specific granule membrane and plasma membrane occurs, thus translocating the adenosine diphosphatase to the cell surface. The relevance of this finding to the possible role of nucleoside phosphatases in limiting platelet aggregation is discussed. Serum-treated zymosan particles also caused a selective release of vitamin B-12-binding protein from the specific granule without release of alpha-glucosidase and adenosine diphosphatase. Neither PMA nor opsonized zymosan caused significant release of azurophil, tertiary granule or cytosol marker enzymes.

Assay, kinetics and properties of plasma adenosine diphosphatase. The relationship to acid and alkaline phosphatase and variations in disease

A rapid radioassay was used to characterise the adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) activities in human plasma. There was a major peak at pH 9.3, 80% of whose activity was attributable to non-specific alkaline phosphatase, with the remaining 20% probably due to a specific ADPase. There was also a small peak of ADPase activity at pH 4.0. Inhibitor and chromatographic studies showed that whilst much of this activity was attributable to non-specific acid phosphatase, there was a discrete acid ADPase. Assays of plasma ADPase activities in vascular disorders, including myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease and diabetes mellitus, reveal no alterations from control values. Activities of alkaline ADPase were elevated in both chronic and acute liver failure. Acid ADPase was also increased in chronic liver disease and it is suggested that alterations in ADPase activities in liver disorders may contribute to the haemostatic problems observed in these patients.

Ultrastructural localization of adenosine diphosphatase activity in cultured aortic endothelial cells

Electron microscopy cytochemical studies demonstrate that the plasma membrane of cultured aortic endothelial cells contain significant amounts of adenosine diphosphatase. The activity is due to an ectoenzyme on the upper surface of the cell. Intracellular activity was noted in multilamellar bodies.

Subcellular localization and properties of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

A new rapid assay for inorganic pyrophosphatase has been developed and the procedure optimised for measurement of the enzyme in human neutrophils. Kinetic studies showed that the activity was optimal at pH 8.0 and was activated by Mg2+. No neutral or acid pyrophosphatase was detected. Neutrophils were homogenised in isotonic sucrose and, after low speed centrifugation the intracellular localization of pyrophosphatase was determined by analytical subcellular fractionation with sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Pyrophosphatase was shown to have a dual localization to mitochondria and cytosol. No activity could be attributed to either the endoplasmic reticulum or alkaline phosphatase-containing granules (phosphasomes). Inhibitor studies clearly show that the cytosolic and mitochondrial pyrophosphatases are due to distinct enzymes. Neutrophils were isolated from control subjects, patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia and subjects in the third trimester of pregnancy. The specific activity (mU/mg protein) of pyrophosphatase, in contrast to that of alkaline phosphatase was similar in the three groups. Levamisole, a potent inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase had no effect on pyrophosphatase activity, confirming that this activity is not attributable to neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.

Subcellular localization and properties of pyridoxal phosphate phosphatases of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their relationship to acid and alkaline phosphatase

Using a novel fluorimetric assay for pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase, human polymorphonuclear leucocytes were found to exhibit both acid an alkaline activities. The neutrophils were homogenised in isotonic sucrose and subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrigfugation. The alkaline pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase showed a very similar distribution to alkaline phosphatase an was located solely to the phosphasome granules. Fractionation experiments on neutrophils treated with isotonic sucrose containing digitonin and inhibitor studies with diazotised sulphanilic acid and levamisole further confirmed that both enzyme activities had similar locations and properties. Acid pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase activity was located primarily to the tertiary granule with a partial azurophil distribution. Fractionation studies on neutrophils homogenised in isotonic sucrose containing digitonin and specific inhibitor studies showed that acid pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase and acid phosphatase were not the result of a single enzyme activity, Neutrophils were isolated from control subjects, patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia and patients in the third trimester of pregnancy. The specific activities (munits/mg protein) of alkaline pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase an alkaline phosphatase varied widely in the three groups and the alterations occurred in a parallel manner. The specific activities of acid pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase and of acid phosphatase were similar in the three groups. These results, together with the fractionation experiments and inhibition studies strongly suggest that pyridoxal phosphate is a physiological substrate for neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.

Subcellular localisation and properties of histone phosphate phosphatase in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: alterations in pregnancy and chronic granulocytic leukaemia and relationship to alkaline phosphatase

Using [32P]histone as substrate, an assay for histone phosphate phosphatase was optimised for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Kinetic studies showed that the activity was optimal at pH 6.8, was stimulated by Mn2+ and Co2+, and inhibited by sodium sulphite and zinc chloride. The apparent Km of the enzyme for histone phosphate was 0.89 mumol/l. Neutrophils were homogenized in isotonic sucrose and, after low speed centrifugation, the supernatant was subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation. Gradient fractions were assayed for principal marker enzymes and for histone phosphate phosphatase. Histone phosphate phosphatase activity was shown to be solely located to the cytosol. No activity was detected in the alkaline phosphatase-containing granules. Neutrophils were isolated from the blood of control subjects, patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia and women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The specific activity (milliunits/mg protein) of histone phosphate phosphatase was significantly reduced in patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia compared to control values but this decrease was considerably less than that found for alkaline phosphatase. The possible implication of the reduced histone phosphatase activity in leukaemia neutrophils is discussed. There was no significant change in histone phosphate phosphatase in leucocytes from pregnant women. These results, together with the subcellular fractionation experiments and inhibitor studies, strongly indicate that histone phosphate phosphatase is not attributable to neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.