Stabilization of leukotriene A4 by epithelial fatty acid-binding protein in the rat basophilic leukemia cell

FABP4 regulates eosinophil recruitment and activation in allergic airway inflammation

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), a member of a family of lipid-binding proteins, is known to play a role in inflammation by virtue of its ability to regulate intracellular events such as lipid fluxes and signaling. Studies have indicated a proinflammatory role for FABP4 in allergic asthma although its expression and function in eosinophils, the predominant inflammatory cells recruited to allergic airways, were not investigated. We examined expression of FABP4 in murine eosinophils and its role in regulating cell recruitment in vitro as well as in cockroach antigen (CRA)-induced allergic airway inflammation. CRA exposure led to airway recruitment of FABP4-expressing inflammatory cells, specifically eosinophils, in wild-type (WT) mice. FABP4 expression in eosinophils was induced by TNF-α as well as IL-4 and IL-13. FABP4-deficient eosinophils exhibited markedly decreased cell spreading/formation of leading edges on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and significantly decreased adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 associated with reduced β2-integrin expression relative to WT cells. Furthermore, FABP4-deficient eosinophils exhibited decreased migration, F-actin polymerization, calcium flux, and ERK(1/2) phosphorylation in response to eotaxin-1. In vivo, CRA-challenged FABP4-deficient mice exhibited attenuated eosinophilia and significantly reduced airway inflammation (improved airway reactivity, lower IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α, and cysteinyl leukotriene C4 levels, decreased airway structural changes) compared with WT mice. In conclusion, expression of FABP4 in eosinophils is induced during conditions of inflammation and plays a proinflammatory role in the development of allergic asthma by promoting eosinophil adhesion and migration and contributing to the development of various aspects of airway inflammation.

Synopsis of arachidonic acid metabolism: A review

Arachidonic acid (AA), a 20 carbon chain polyunsaturated fatty acid with 4 double bonds, is an integral constituent of biological cell membrane, conferring it with fluidity and flexibility. The four double bonds of AA predispose it to oxygenation that leads to a plethora of metabolites of considerable importance for the proper function of the immune system, promotion of allergies and inflammation, resolving of inflammation, mood, and appetite. The present review presents an illustrated synopsis of AA metabolism, corroborating the instrumental importance of AA derivatives for health and well-being. It provides a comprehensive outline on AA metabolic pathways, enzymes and signaling cascades, in order to develop new perspectives in disease treatment and diagnosis.

Common structural and pharmacophoric features of mPGES-1 and LTC4S

Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are produced in the COX and 5-LOX pathways of the inflammatory process. The current drugs target the upstream enzymes of either of the two pathways, leading to side effects. We have attempted to target the downstream enzymes simultaneously. Two compounds 2 and 3 (10 μM), identified by virtual screening, inhibited mPGES-1 activity by 53.4 ± 4.0 and 53.9 ± 8.1%, respectively. Structural and pharmacophore studies revealed a set of common residues between LTC4S and mPGES-1 as well as four-point pharmacophore mapping onto the inhibitors of both these enzymes as well as 2 and 3. These structural and pharmacophoric features may be exploited for ligand- and structure-based screening of inhibitors and designing of dual inhibitors.

Fatty acid binding protein 4/aP2-dependent BLT1R expression and signaling

Previous studies have shown that reduced levels of the adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (FABP)4 (AFABP/aP2), result in metabolic improvement including potentiated insulin sensitivity and attenuated atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of FABP4 in macrophages upregulates UCP2, attenuates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, polarizes cells toward the anti-inflammatory M2 state, and reduces leukotriene (LT) secretion. At the protein level, FABP4 stabilizes LTA₄ toward chemical hydrolysis, thereby potentiating inflammatory LTC₄ synthesis. Herein, we extend the FABP4-LT axis and demonstrate that genetic knockout of FABP4 reduces expression of the major macrophage LT receptor, LTB₄ receptor 1 (BLT1R), via a ROS-dependent mechanism. Consistent with inflammation driving BLT1R expression, M1 polarized macrophages express increased levels of BLT1R relative to M2 polarized macrophages and treatment with proinflammatory lipopolysaccharide increased BLT1R mRNA and protein expression. In FABP4 knockout macrophages, silencing of UCP2, increased ROS levels and led to increased expression of BLT1R mRNA. Similarly, addition of exogenous H₂O₂ upregulated BLT1R expression, whereas the addition of a ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine, decreased BLT1R levels. As compared with WT macrophages, LTB₄-BLT1R-dependent JAK2-phosphorylation was reduced in FABP4 knockout macrophages. In summary, these results indicate that FABP4 regulates the expression of BLT1R and its downstream signaling via control of oxidative stress in macrophages.

Metabolic functions of FABPs--mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Intracellular and extracellular interactions with proteins enables the functional and mechanistic diversity of lipids. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) were originally described as intracellular proteins that can affect lipid fluxes, metabolism and signalling within cells. As the functions of this protein family have been further elucidated, it has become evident that they are critical mediators of metabolism and inflammatory processes, both locally and systemically, and therefore are potential therapeutic targets for immunometabolic diseases. In particular, genetic deficiency and small molecule-mediated inhibition of FABP4 (also known as aP2) and FABP5 can potently improve glucose homeostasis and reduce atherosclerosis in mouse models. Further research has shown that in addition to their intracellular roles, some FABPs are found outside the cells, and FABP4 undergoes regulated, vesicular secretion. The circulating form of FABP4 has crucial hormonal functions in systemic metabolism. In this Review we discuss the roles and regulation of both intracellular and extracellular FABP actions, highlighting new insights that might direct drug discovery efforts and opportunities for management of chronic metabolic diseases.

Cytoprotective role of the fatty acid binding protein 4 against oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

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Oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was elevated by silencing of FABP4.

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FABP4 silencing did not alter levels of glutathione or superoxide dismutase.

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The recombinant FABP4 significantly reduced levels of hydrogen peroxide.

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The resistance of adipocytes to oxidative stress was decreased by FABP4 knockdown.

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Silencing of FABP4 elevated the endoplasmic reticulum stress in adipocytes.

The fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), one of the most abundant proteins in adipocytes, has been reported to have a proinflammatory function in macrophages. However, the physiological role of FABP4, which is constitutively expressed in adipocytes, has not been fully elucidated. Previously, we demonstrated that FABP4 was involved in the regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In this study, we examined the effects of FABP4 silencing on the oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We found that the cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 8-nitro-cyclic GMP levels were significantly elevated in the differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes transfected with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) against Fabp4, although the intracellular levels or enzyme activities of antioxidants including reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase A4 (GSTA4) were not altered. An in vitro evaluation using the recombinant protein revealed that FABP4 itself functions as a scavenger protein against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). FABP4-knockdown resulted in a significant lowering of cell viability of 3T3-L1 adipocytes against H₂O₂ treatment. Moreover, four kinds of markers related to the ER stress response including the endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 (Ern1), the signal sequence receptor α (Ssr1), the ORM1-like 3 (Ormdl3), and the spliced X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1s), were all elevated as the result of the knockdown of FABP4. Consequently, FABP4 might have a new role as an antioxidant protein against H₂O₂ and contribute to cytoprotection against oxidative and ER stress in adipocytes.

Fatty acids induce leukotriene C4 synthesis in macrophages in a fatty acid binding protein-dependent manner

Obesity results in increased macrophage recruitment to adipose tissue that promotes a chronic low-grade inflammatory state linked to increased fatty acid efflux from adipocytes. Activated macrophages produce a variety of pro-inflammatory lipids such as leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and 5-, 12-, and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) suggesting the hypothesis that fatty acids may stimulate eicosanoid synthesis. To assess if eicosanoid production increases with obesity, adipose tissue of leptin deficient ob/ob mice was analyzed. In ob/ob mice, LTC4 and 12-HETE levels increased in the visceral (but not subcutaneous) adipose depot while the 5-HETE levels decreased and 15-HETE abundance was unchanged. Since macrophages produce the majority of inflammatory molecules in adipose tissue, treatment of RAW264.7 or primary peritoneal macrophages with free fatty acids led to increased secretion of LTC4 and 5-HETE, but not 12- or 15-HETE. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) facilitate the intracellular trafficking of fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands and in vitro stabilize the LTC4 precursor leukotriene A4 (LTA4) from non-enzymatic hydrolysis. Consistent with a role for FABPs in LTC4 synthesis, treatment of macrophages with HTS01037, a specific FABP inhibitor, resulted in a marked decrease in both basal and fatty acid-stimulated LTC4 secretion but no change in 5-HETE production or 5-lipoxygenase expression. These results indicate that the products of adipocyte lipolysis may stimulate the 5-lipoxygenase pathway leading to FABP-dependent production of LTC4 and contribute to the insulin resistant state.

The leukotrienes: immune-modulating lipid mediators of disease

The leukotrienes are important lipid mediators with immune modulatory and proinflammatory properties. Classical bioactions of leukotrienes include chemotaxis, endothelial adherence, and activation of leukocytes, chemokine production, as well as contraction of smooth muscles in the microcirculation and respiratory tract. When formed in excess, these compounds play a pathogenic role in several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. An increasing number of diseases have been linked to inflammation implicating the leukotrienes as potential mediators. For example, recent investigations using genetic, morphological, and biochemical approaches have pointed to the involvement of leukotrienes in cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Moreover, new insights have changed our previous notion of leukotrienes as mediators of inflammatory reactions to molecules that can fine-tune the innate and adaptive immune response. Here, we review the most recent understanding of the leukotriene cascade with emphasis on recently identified roles in immune reactions and pathophysiology.

Dose-dependent effects of calorie restriction on gene expression, metabolism, and tumor progression are partially mediated by insulin-like growth factor-1

The prevalence of obesity, an established risk and progression factor for breast and many other cancer types, remains very high in the United States and throughout the world. Calorie restriction (CR), a reduced-calorie dietary regimen typically involving a 20-40% reduction in calorie consumption, prevents or reverses obesity, and inhibits mammary and other types of cancer in multiple tumor model systems. Unfortunately, the mechanisms underlying the tumor inhibitory effects of CR are poorly understood, and a better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to new intervention targets and strategies for preventing or controlling cancer. We have previously shown that the anticancer effects of CR are associated with decreased systemic levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), the primary source of which is liver. We have also reported that CR strongly suppresses tumor development and growth in multiple mammary cancer models. To identify CR-responsive genes and pathways, and to further characterize the role of IGF-1 as a mediator of the anticancer effects of CR, we assessed hepatic and mammary gland gene expression, hormone levels and growth of orthotopically transplanted mammary tumors in control and CR mice with and without exogenous IGF-1. C57BL/6 mice were fed either control AIN-76A diet ad libitum (AL), subjected to 20%, 30%, or 40% CR plus placebo timed-release pellets, or subjected to 30% or 40% CR plus timed-release pellets delivering murine IGF-1 (mIGF-1, 20 μg/day). Compared with AL-fed controls, body weights were decreased 14.3% in the 20% CR group, 18.5% in the 30% CR group, and 38% in the 40% CR group; IGF-1 infusion had no effect on body weight. Hepatic transcriptome analyses indicated that compared with 20% CR, 30% CR significantly modulated more than twice the number of genes and 40% CR more than seven times the number of genes. Many of the genes specific to the 40% CR regimen were hepatic stress-related and/or DNA damage-related genes. Exogenous IGF-1 rescued the hepatic expression of several metabolic genes and pathways affected by CR. Exogenous IGF-1 also rescued the expression of several metabolism- and cancer-related genes affected by CR in the mammary gland. Furthermore, exogenous IGF-1 partially reversed the mammary tumor inhibitory effects of 30% CR. We conclude that several genes and pathways, particularly those associated with macronutrient and steroid hormone metabolism, are associated with the anticancer effects of CR, and that reduced IGF-1 levels can account, at least in part, for many of the effects of CR on gene expression and mammary tumor burden.

Comparative proteomic profiling of patients with atopic dermatitis based on history of eczema herpeticum infection and Staphylococcus aureus colonization

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin disorder in the general population worldwide, and the majority of patients are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. Eczema herpeticum is a disseminated herpes simplex virus infection that occurs in a small subset of patients.

OBJECTIVES

The goal was to conduct proteomic profiling of patients with AD based on S. aureus colonization status and history of eczema herpeticum. We hoped to identify new biomarkers for improved diagnosis and prediction of eczema herpeticum and S. aureus susceptibility and to generate new hypotheses regarding disease pathogenesis.

METHODS

Skin taping was performed on nonlesional skin of nonatopic control subjects and on lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with AD. Subjects were classified according to the history of eczema herpeticum and S. aureus colonization. Proteins were analyzed by using mass spectrometry; diagnostic groups were compared for statistically significant differences in protein expression.

RESULTS

Proteins related to the skin barrier (filaggrin-2, corneodesmosin, desmoglein-1, desmocollin-1, and transglutaminase-3) and generation of natural moisturizing factor (arginase-1, caspase-14, and gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase) were expressed at significantly lower levels in lesional versus nonlesional sites of patients with AD with and without history of eczema herpeticum; epidermal fatty acid-binding protein was expressed at significantly higher levels in patients with methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

CONCLUSION

This noninvasive, semiquantitative profiling method has revealed novel proteins likely involved in the pathogenesis of AD. The lower expression of skin barrier proteins and enzymes involved in the generation of the natural moisturizing factor could further exacerbate barrier defects and perpetuate water loss from the skin. The greater expression of epidermal fatty acid-binding protein, especially in patients colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus, might perpetuate the inflammatory response through eicosanoid signaling.

Stability and analysis of eicosanoids and docosanoids in tissue culture media

Bioactive lipids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids constitute an important set of lipid mediators with diverse homeostatic and pathophysiological activities. The role of bioactive lipids in inflammation, active resolution of inflammation, reproduction, cardiovascular biology, chronic diseases such as cancer and metabolic disorders is an active area of research. Other than the few clinically used eicosanoids such as prostaglandin F(2)α, prostacyclin, and prostaglandin E(2), little is known about the stability of a majority of the bioactive lipids in aqueous solutions despite their extensive use under in vitro experimental conditions. The present study evaluated the stability of eicosanoids and docosanoids as well as their parent polyunsaturated fatty acids in tissue culture media with respect to incubation time, temperature, and composition of the media using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) LC-MS. The results provide a comprehensive and valuable data set on the stability of these bioactive lipid mediators to guide in vitro experimentation.

Location, location, location: compartmentalization of early events in leukotriene biosynthesis

Leukotrienes (LTs), derived from arachidonic acid (AA) released from the membrane by the action of phospholipase A(2), are potent lipid mediators of the inflammatory response. In 1983, Dahlén et al. demonstrated that LTC(4), LTD(4), and LTE(4) mediate antigen-induced constriction of bronchi in tissue obtained from subjects with asthma (Dahlén, S. E., Hansson, G., Hedqvist, P., Björck, T., Granström, E., and Dahlén, B. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 1712-1716). Over the last 25+ years, substantial progress has been made in understanding how LTs exert their effects, and a broader appreciation for the numerous biological processes they mediate has emerged. LT biosynthesis is initiated by the action of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), which catalyzes the transformation of AA to LTA(4) in a two-step reaction. Ca(2+) targets 5-LOX to the nuclear membrane, where it co-localizes with the 5-LOX-activating protein FLAP and, when present, the downstream enzyme LTC(4) synthase, both transmembrane proteins. Crystal structures of the AA-metabolizing LOXs, LTC(4) synthase, and FLAP combined with biochemical data provide a framework for understanding how subcellular organizations optimize the biosynthesis of these labile hydrophobic signaling compounds, which must navigate pathways that include both membrane and soluble enzymes. The insights these structures afford and the questions they engender are discussed in this minireview.

Determination of leukotriene A(4) stabilization by S100A8/A9 proteins using mass spectrometry

Leukotriene A(4) (LTA(4)) is the precursor for the formation of bioactive leukotrienes, but is highly susceptible to nonenzymatic hydrolysis. Although it is chemically reactive, LTA(4) participates in the process of transcellular metabolism, which requires the transfer of LTA(4) from one cell to another for the production of additional leukotrienes. Due to the susceptibility of LTA(4) to hydrolysis, various methods have been used to measure the half-life of LTA(4) in the presence of different proteins in efforts to understand how it is transported between cells. In this work, a new liquid chromatography mass spectrometry technique was developed to improve upon these previous assays that analyzed LTA(4) directly. The new technique derivatizes LTA(4) to stable compounds for analysis and removes the potential for sample decomposition between analytical runs. This assay was used in measuring the capabilities of the S100A8/A9 protein complex isolated from human neutrophils to stabilize LTA(4). It was determined that the S100A8/A9 protein complex protects LTA(4) from hydrolysis in a Ca(2+) dependent manner and increases LTA(4) half-life to in excess of 35 and 5 min at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C, respectively.

The emerging functions and mechanisms of mammalian fatty acid-binding proteins

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are abundant intracellular proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids with high affinity. Nine separate mammalian FABPs have been identified, and their tertiary structures are highly conserved. The FABPs have unique tissue-specific distributions that have long suggested functional differences among them. In the last decade, considerable progress has been made in understanding the specific functions of the FABPs and, in some cases, their mechanisms of action at the molecular level. The FABPs appear to be involved in the extranuclear compartments of the cell by trafficking their ligands within the cytosol via interactions with organelle membranes and specific proteins. Several members of the FABP family have been shown to function directly in the regulation of cognate nuclear transcription factor activity via ligand-dependent translocation to the nucleus. This review will focus on these emerging functions and mechanisms of the FABPs, highlighting the unique functional properties of each as well as the similarities among them.

Biosynthesis and metabolism of leukotrienes

Leukotrienes are metabolites of arachidonic acid derived from the action of 5-LO (5-lipoxygenase). The immediate product of 5-LO is LTA4 (leukotriene A4), which is enzymatically converted into either LTB4 (leukotriene B4) by LTA4 hydrolase or LTC4 (leukotriene C4) by LTC4 synthase. The regulation of leukotriene production occurs at various levels, including expression of 5-LO, translocation of 5-LO to the perinuclear region and phosphorylation to either enhance or inhibit the activity of 5-LO. Several other proteins, including cPLA2α (cytosolic phospholipase A2α) and FLAP (5-LO-activating protein) also assemble at the perinuclear region before production of LTA4. LTC4 synthase is an integral membrane protein that is present at the nuclear envelope; however, LTA4 hydrolase remains cytosolic. Biologically active LTB4 is metabolized by ω-oxidation carried out by specific cytochrome P450s (CYP4F) followed by β-oxidation from the ω-carboxy position and after CoA ester formation. Other specific pathways of leukotriene metabolism include the 12-hydroxydehydrogenase/15-oxo-prostaglandin-13-reductase that forms a series of conjugated diene metabolites that have been observed to be excreted into human urine. Metabolism of LTC4 occurs by sequential peptide cleavage reactions involving a γ-glutamyl transpeptidase that forms LTD4 (leukotriene D4) and a membrane-bound dipeptidase that converts LTD4 into LTE4 (leukotriene E4) before ω-oxidation. These metabolic transformations of the primary leukotrienes are critical for termination of their biological activity, and defects in expression of participating enzymes may be involved in specific genetic disease.

Eicosanoid Transcellular Biosynthesis: From Cell-Cell Interactions to in Vivo Tissue Responses

The biosynthesis of the biologically active metabolites of arachidonic acid involves a number of enzymes that are differentially expressed in cells. Prostaglandins and thromboxanes are derived from the chemically unstable prostaglandin (PG) H(2) intermediate synthesized by PGH synthases (cyclooxygenase-1/2) and leukotrienes from chemically unstable leukotriene A(4) by 5-lipoxygenase. Additional enzymes transform these reactive intermediates to a variety of chemical structures known collectively as the lipid mediators. Although some cells have the complete cassette of enzymes required for the production of biologically active prostaglandins and leukotrienes, the actual biosynthetic events often are a result of cell-cell interaction and a transfer of these chemically reactive intermediates, PGH(2) and leukotriene A(4), between cells. This process has come to be known as transcellular biosynthesis of eicosanoids and requires a donor cell to synthesize and release one component of the biosynthetic cascade and a second, accessory cell to take up that intermediate and process each into the final biologically active product. This review focuses on the evidence for transcellular biosynthetic events for prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and lipoxins occurring during cell-cell interactions. Evidence for arachidonic acid serving as a transcellular biosynthetic intermediate is presented. Experiments for transcellular events taking place in vivo that reveal the true complexity of eicosanoid biosynthesis within tissues are also reviewed.

Microarray analysis indicates an important role for FABP5 and putative novel FABPs on a Western-type diet

Liver parenchymal cells play a dominant role in hepatic metabolism and thereby total body cholesterol homeostasis. To gain insight into the specific pathways and genes involved in the response of liver parenchymal cells to increased dietary lipid levels under atherogenic conditions, changes in parenchymal cell gene expression upon feeding a Western-type diet for 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks were determined using microarray analysis in LDL receptor-deficient mice, an established atherosclerotic animal model. Using ABI Mouse Genome Survey Arrays, we were able to detect 7,507 genes (28% of the total number on an array) that were expressed in parenchymal cells isolated from livers of LDL receptor-deficient mice at every time point investigated. Time-dependent gene expression profiling identified fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) and four novel FABP5-like transcripts located on chromosomes 2, 8, and 18 as important proteins in the primary response of liver parenchymal cells to Western-type diet feeding, because their expression was 16- to 22-fold increased within the first 2 weeks on the Western-type diet. The rapid substantial increase in gene expression suggests that these FABPs may play an important role in the primary protection against the cellular toxicity of cholesterol, free fatty acids, and/or lipid oxidants. Furthermore, as a secondary response to the Western-type diet, liver parenchymal cells of LDL receptor-deficient mice stimulated glycolysis and lipogenesis pathways, resulting in a steady, more atherogenic serum lipoprotein profile (increased VLDL/LDL).

Cationic polypeptides are required for anti-HIV-1 activity of human vaginal fluid

Mucosal surfaces of the vagina are the portals for heterosexual transmission of HIV-1 and therefore play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of primary infection. In the search for direct biological evidence for the role of human vaginal fluid in innate host defense, we characterized the anti-HIV-1 function of cationic polypeptides within minimally manipulated vaginal fluid. In the current study we revealed that vaginal fluid confers intrinsic anti-HIV-1 properties against both X4 and R5 strains of HIV-1 and could protect against HIV-1 infection and reduce proviral genome integration in organotypic cultures of human cervicovaginal tissue. The majority of this activity was contained in the cationic polypeptide fraction, and the depletion of cationic polypeptides using a selective cation exchange resin ablated most of the intrinsic activity against HIV-1. By adding the cationic polypeptide fraction to depleted vaginal fluid, we were able to restore activity against HIV-1. Using a proteomic approach, we identified 18 cationic polypeptides within vaginal fluid, nearly all of which are either known antimicrobials or have other purported roles in host defense. Interestingly, physiologic concentrations of 13 of the cationic polypeptides were not active alone against HIV-1, yet in concert they partially restored the anti-HIV-1 activity of cation-depleted vaginal fluid. These results suggest that synergism between cationic polypeptides is complex, and full anti-HIV-1 activity probably involves the aggregate of the cationic peptides and proteins in vaginal fluid.

Nuclear localization of leukotriene A4 hydrolase in type II alveolar epithelial cells in normal and fibrotic lung

Leukotriene A4 (LTA4) hydrolase catalyzes the final step in leukotriene B4 (LTB4) synthesis. In addition to its role in LTB4 synthesis, the enzyme possesses aminopeptidase activity. In this study, we sought to define the subcellular distribution of LTA4 hydrolase in alveolar epithelial cells, which lack 5-lipoxygenase and do not synthesize LTA4. Immunohistochemical staining localized LTA4 hydrolase in the nucleus of type II but not type I alveolar epithelial cells of normal mouse, human, and rat lungs. Nuclear localization of LTA4 hydrolase was also demonstrated in proliferating type II-like A549 cells. The apparent redistribution of LTA4 hydrolase from the nucleus to the cytoplasm during type II-to-type I cell differentiation in vivo was recapitulated in vitro. Surprisingly, this change in localization of LTA4 hydrolase did not affect the capacity of isolated cells to convert LTA4 to LTB4. However, proliferation of A549 cells was inhibited by the aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin. Nuclear accumulation of LTA4 hydrolase was also conspicuous in epithelial cells during alveolar repair following bleomycin-induced acute lung injury in mice, as well as in hyperplastic type II cells associated with fibrotic lung tissues from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. These results show for the first time that LTA4 hydrolase can be accumulated in the nucleus of type II alveolar epithelial cells and that redistribution of the enzyme to the cytoplasm occurs with differentiation to the type I phenotype. Furthermore, the aminopeptidase activity of LTA4 hydrolase within the nucleus may play a role in promoting epithelial cell growth.

Fatty acid binding proteins stabilize leukotriene A4: competition with arachidonic acid but not other lipoxygenase products

Leukotriene A(4) (LTA(4)) is a chemically reactive conjugated triene epoxide product derived from 5-lipoxygenase oxygenation of arachidonic acid. At physiological pH, this reactive compound has a half-life of less than 3 s at 37 degrees C and approximately 40 s at 4 degrees C. Regardless of this aqueous instability, LTA(4) is an intermediate in the formation of biologically active leukotrienes, which can be formed through either intracellular or transcellular biosynthesis. Previously, epithelial fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP) present in RBL-1 cells was shown to increase the half-life of LTA(4) to approximately 20 min at 4 degrees C. Five FABPs (adipocyte FABP, intestinal FABP, E-FABP, heart/muscle FABP, and liver FABP) have now been examined and also found to increase the half-life of LTA(4) at 4 degrees C to approximately 20 min with protein present. Stabilization of LTA(4) was examined when arachidonic acid was present to compete with LTA(4) for the binding site on E-FABP. Arachidonate has an apparent higher affinity for E-FABP than LTA(4) and was able to completely block stabilization of the latter. When E-FABP is not saturated with arachidonate, FABP can still stabilize LTA(4). Several lipoxygenase products, including 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and leukotriene B(4), were found to have no effect on the stability of LTA(4) induced by E-FABP even when present at concentrations 3-fold higher than LTA(4).