Effect of fluoride, pertussis and cholera toxin on the release of arachidonic acid and the formation of prostaglandin E2, D2, superoxide and inositol phosphates in rat liver macrophages

Potential Role of Fluoride in the Etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease

The etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease has not been fully explained. Now, the disease is widely attributed both to genetic and environmental factors. It is believed that only a small percentage of new AD cases result solely from genetic mutations, with most cases attributed to environmental factors or to the interaction of environmental factors with preexistent genetic determinants. Fluoride is widespread in the environment and it easily crosses the blood⁻brain barrier. In the brain fluoride affects cellular energy metabolism, synthesis of inflammatory factors, neurotransmitter metabolism, microglial activation, and the expression of proteins involved in neuronal maturation. Finally, and of specific importance to its role in Alzheimer's disease, studies report fluoride-induced apoptosis and inflammation within the central nervous system. This review attempts to elucidate the potential relationship between the effects of fluoride exposure and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. We describe the impact of fluoride-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathogenesis of AD and demonstrate a role for apoptosis in disease progression, as well as a mechanism for its initiation by fluoride. The influence of fluoride on processes of AD initiation and progression is complex and warrants further investigation, especially considering growing environmental fluoride pollution.

Fluoride as a factor initiating and potentiating inflammation in THP1 differentiated monocytes/macrophages

It is well known that exposure to fluorides lead to an increased ROS production and enhances the inflammatory reactions. Therefore we decided to examine whether cyclooxygenases (particular COX-2) activity and expression may be changed by fluoride in THP1 macrophages and in this way may change the prostanoids biosynthesis. In the present work we demonstrate that fluoride increased concentration of PGE2 and TXA2 in THP1 macrophages. Following exposure to 1-10 μM NaF, COX-2 protein and COX-2 transcript increased markedly. COX-2 protein up-regulation probably is mediated by ROS, produced during fluoride-induced inflammatory reactions. Additional fluoride activates the transcription factor, nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, which is involved in the up-regulation of COX-2 gene expression. This study indicated that even in small concentrations fluoride changes the amounts and activity of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes taking part in the initiating and development of inflammatory process.

PGE(2) suppression of innate immunity during mucosal bacterial infection

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an important lipid mediator in inflammatory and immune responses during acute and chronic infections. Upon stimulation by various proinflammatory stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin (IL)-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, PGE2 synthesis is upregulated by the expression of cyclooxygenases. Biologically active PGE2 is then able to signal through four primary receptors to elicit a response. PGE2 is a critical molecule that regulates the activation, maturation, migration, and cytokine secretion of several immune cells, particularly those involved in innate immunity such as macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. Both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria can induce PGE2 synthesis to regulate immune responses during bacterial pathogenesis. This review will focus on PGE2 in innate immunity and how bacterial pathogens influence PGE2 production during enteric and pulmonary infections. The conserved ability of many bacterial pathogens to promote PGE2 responses during infection suggests a common signaling mechanism to deter protective pro-inflammatory immune responses. Inhibition of PGE2 production and signaling during infection may represent a therapeutic alternative to treat bacterial infections. Further study of the immunosuppressive effects of PGE2 on innate immunity will lead to a better understanding of potential therapeutic targets within the PGE2 pathway.

Activation of phospholipase A(2) by low levels of fluoride in THP1 macrophages via altered Ca(2+) and cAMP concentration

Phospholipases (PLA's) participate in the regulation of physiological and pathological processes in the cell, including the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and stimulation of inflammatory processes. It is also well known that fluoride can increase the inflammatory reactions. Therefore we decided to examine the effect of fluorides in concentrations determined in human serum on cPLA(2) and sPLA(2) activity. The incubation of macrophages in fluoride solutions significantly increased the amount of synthesized cellular cAMP, intracellular calcium and sPLA(2) activity in a dose-dependent pattern. The cPLA(2) activity, estimated by the amount of released arachidonic acid, increased significantly when 10 μM NaF was used. The results of our study suggest that fluoride may change the activity of phospholipases in macrophage cells. Probably, increased cAMP concentration activates protein kinase C (PKC) and thus stimulates PLA(2). cAMP also regulates the passage of Ca(2+) through ion channels, which additionally influence PLA(2) throughout Ca(2+)-calmodulin dependent protein kinase.

Role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in arachidonic acid release of rat-liver macrophages: regulation by Ca2+ and phosphorylation

In this study we have verified the existence of a cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in rat-liver macrophages. Stimulation of these cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), zymosan and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but not with the Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187, leads to phosphorylation of cPLA2 and activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, supporting the hypothesis that MAP kinase is involved in cPLA2 phosphorylation. We show furthermore, that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein prevents the LPS- but not the PMA- or zymosan-induced phosphorylation of cPLA2 and activation of MAP kinase, indicating that tyrosine kinases participate in LPS- but not in PMA- and zymosan-induced cPLA2 phosphorylation and MAP kinase activation. Phosphorylation of cPLA2 does not strongly correlate with stimulation of the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade: (1) A23187, a potent stimulator of AA release, fails to induce cPLA2 phosphorylation; (2) withdrawal of extracellular Ca2+, which inhibits PMA-stimulated AA release (Dieter, Schulze-Specking and Decker (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 177, 61-67), has no effect on PMA-induced phosphorylation of cPLA2; (3) LPS induces cPLA2 phosphorylation within minutes, whereas increased AA release upon treatment with LPS is detectable for the first time after 4 h; and (4) genistein, which prevents LPS-induced cPLA2 phosphorylation, does not inhibit AA release in response to LPS. From these data we suggest that a rise in intracellular Ca2+, but not phosphorylation of cPLA2, is essential for activation of the AA cascade in rat-liver macrophages.

A pleiotropic effect of fluoride on signal transduction in macrophages: is it mediated by GPT-binding proteins?

The activation of GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) by sodium fluoride + aluminum (AlF4-) was shown in several cell free systems. In the intact cell, NaF +/- aluminum was shown to activate various signal transduction pathways and indirect evidence is in line with effector mechanisms involving regulation of G-protein activity. We have explored the effect of NaF on several components of signal transduction pathways in macrophages. NaF was shown to reduce intracellular ATP levels and to suppress agonist-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species formation. NaF led to in situ activation of nitrogen activated protein kinase, phospholipase A2 and PtdIns-phospholipase C. Addition of AlCl(3) or deferoxamine, a chelator of aluminum, had little or no effect on NaF mediated enzyme activation. The results suggest that at least some of the pleiotropic effects of NaF in intact cells may not be mediated by G-protein activation but rather by depletion of ATP which is essential for protein phosphorylation reactions.

Arachidonic acid and eicosanoid release

The major techniques for the study and determination of eicosanoid metabolism in eukaryotic cells will be described. These techniques include the determination of free arachidonic acid and its metabolites in biological fluids and cell media by immunochemical techniques (RIA, ELISA) and by HPLC. The different methods will be explained and critically compared.