The regulation of pinocytosis in mouse macrophages. IV. The immunological induction of pinocytic vesicles, secondary lysosomes, and hydrolytic enzymes

Tinkering with targeting nucleotide signaling for control of intracellular Leishmania parasites

Nucleotides are one of the most primitive extracellular signalling molecules across all phyla and regulate a multitude of responses. The biological effects of extracellular nucleotides/sides are mediated via the specific purinergic receptors present on the cell surface. In mammalian system, adenine nucleotides are the predominant nucleotides found in the extracellular milieu and mediate a constellation of physiological functions. In the context of host-pathogen interaction, extracellular ATP is recognized as a danger signal and potentiates the release of pro-inflammatory mediators from activated immune cells, on the other hand, its breakdown product adenosine exerts potential anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. Therefore, it is increasingly apparent that the interplay between extracellular ATP/adenosine ratios has a significant role in coordinating the regulation of the immune system in health and diseases. Several pathogens express ectonucleotidases on their surface and exploit the purinergic signalling as one of the mechanisms to modulate the host immune response. Leishmania pathogens are one of the most successful intracellular pathogens which survive within host macrophages and manipulate protective Th1 response into disease promoting Th2 response. In this review, we discuss the regulation of extracellular ATP and adenosine levels, the role of ATP/adenosine counter signalling in regulating the inflammation and immune responses during infection and how Leishmania parasites exploit the purinergic signalling to manipulate host response. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities in targeting purinergic signalling and the future prospects.

Macropinocytosis, mTORC1 and cellular growth control

The growth and proliferation of metazoan cells are driven by cellular nutrient status and by extracellular growth factors. Growth factor receptors on cell surfaces initiate biochemical signals that increase anabolic metabolism and macropinocytosis, an actin-dependent endocytic process in which relatively large volumes of extracellular solutes and nutrients are internalized and delivered efficiently into lysosomes. Macropinocytosis is prominent in many kinds of cancer cells, and supports the growth of cells transformed by oncogenic K-Ras. Growth factor receptor signaling and the overall metabolic status of the cell are coordinated in the cytoplasm by the mechanistic target-of-rapamycin complex-1 (mTORC1), which positively regulates protein synthesis and negatively regulates molecular salvage pathways such as autophagy. mTORC1 is activated by two distinct Ras-related small GTPases, Rag and Rheb, which associate with lysosomal membranes inside the cell. Rag recruits mTORC1 to the lysosomal surface where Rheb directly binds to and activates mTORC1. Rag is activated by both lysosomal luminal and cytosolic amino acids; Rheb activation requires phosphoinositide 3-kinase, Akt, and the tuberous sclerosis complex-1/2. Signals for activation of Rag and Rheb converge at the lysosomal membrane, and several lines of evidence support the idea that growth factor-dependent endocytosis facilitates amino acid transfer into the lysosome leading to the activation of Rag. This review summarizes evidence that growth factor-stimulated macropinocytosis is essential for amino acid-dependent activation of mTORC1, and that increased solute accumulation by macropinocytosis in transformed cells supports unchecked cell growth.

P2X currents in peritoneal macrophages of wild type and P2X4 -/- mice

In this study the ATP-induced (P2X) currents in isolated peritoneal macrophages of wild type (WT) and P2X(4) knockout (P2X(4)(-/-)) mice were studied by means of whole-cell patch clamp in order to (1) survey the P2X currents of native macrophages and (2) to investigate the expression of P2X(4)-like currents in the WT versus P2X(4)(-/-) mice. Three types of currents were observed in the isolated macrophages: (1) in approximately 10% of both WT and P2X(4)(-/-) macrophages a fast activating and inactivating P2X1-like current was recorded with low concentrations (0.1-1 microM) of ATP; (2) 85% of wild type and 100% of P2X(4)(-/-) macrophages exhibited a non-desensitizing P2X(7)-like current activated at high concentrations of ATP (10mM). The identity of the P2X(7) current was confirmed using the specific blocker A-740003; (3) 88.6% of the WT but none of the P2X(4)(-/-) macrophages showed a small P2X(4)-like current that desensitized slowly upon ATP application at intermediate concentrations (3-300 microM). Several observations indicated that the slowly desensitizing current in WT macrophages was P2X(4). The EC50 value of 5.3 microM ATP was as expected for P2X(4) and the current induced by 3-300 microM ATP was absent in P2X(4)(-/-) mice. Upon application of 3 microM ivermectin, a P2X(4)-selective modulator, the amplitude of this current was increased and the desensitization was inhibited in WT cells. In addition, this current was facilitated by 10 microM Zn(2+) but inhibited by Cu(2+) (in contrast to P2X(2)). We conclude that the P2X(4) and P2X(7) currents are functionally expressed in recruited peritoneal macrophages of WT mice and that the P2X(4)-like current is absent in P2X(4)(-/-) mice.

Zanvil Alexander Cohn 1926-1993

Zanvil Alexander Cohn, an editor of this Journal since 1973, died suddenly on June 28, 1993. Cohn is best known as the father of the current era of macrophage biology. Many of his scientific accomplishments are recounted here, beginning with seminal studies on the granules of phagocytes that were performed with his close colleague and former editor of this Journal, James Hirsch. Cohn and Hirsch identified the granules as lysosomes that discharged their contents of digestive enzymes into vacuoles containing phagocytosed microbes. These findings were part of the formative era of cell biology and initiated the modern study of endocytosis and cell-mediated resistance to infection. Cohn further explored the endocytic apparatus in pioneering studies of the mouse peritoneal macrophage in culture. He described vesicular inputs from the cell surface and Golgi apparatus and documented the thoroughness of substrate digestion within lysosomal vacuoles that would only permit the egress of monosaccharides and amino acids. These discoveries created a vigorous environment for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior and visiting faculty. Some of the major findings that emerged from Cohn's collaborations included the radioiodination of the plasma membrane for studies of composition and turnover; membrane recycling during endocytosis; the origin of the mononuclear phagocyte system in situ; the discovery of the dendritic cell system of antigen-presenting cells; the macrophage as a secretory cell, including the release of proteases and large amounts of prostaglandins and leukotrienes; several defined parameters of macrophage activation, especially the ability of T cell-derived lymphokines to enhance killing of tumor cells and intracellular protozoa; the granule discharge mechanism whereby cytotoxic lymphocytes release the pore-forming protein perforin; the signaling of macrophages via myristoylated substrates of protein kinase C; and a tissue culture model in which monocytes emigrate across tight endothelial junctions. In 1983, Cohn turned to a long-standing goal of exploring host resistance directly in humans. He studied leprosy, focusing on the disease site, the parasitized macrophages of the skin. He injected recombinant lymphokines into the skin and found that these molecules elicited several cell-mediated responses. Seeing this potential to enhance host defense in patients, Cohn was extending his clinical studies to AIDS and tuberculosis. Zanvil Cohn was a consummate physician-scientist who nurtured the relationship between cell biology and infectious disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Receptor mechanisms of the neonatal intestine and their relationship to immunoglobulin absorption and disease

Immunoglobulin absorption by the calf has been the subject of considerable research. Despite these efforts little is known about the cytological events that occur at the level of the intestinal epithelial cell. These events have been studied extensively and characterized in the laboratory rodent; however, there have been few attempts to make corollaries between the two species. All neonatal animals display certain similarities in their intestinal morphology that may be correlated, with immunoglobulin absorption. Selectivity in absorption appears to be variable among neonatal animal species; however, all demonstrate some selectivity. Selectivity in absorption implies that receptors are a necessary component in the transport of immunoglobulins. Selectivity further requires binding of immunoglobulins to an endocytic vesicle membrane to ensure transport through the cell, circumvention of intracellular digestion, and release at the basolateral cell membrane. A decrease of immunoglobulin absorption may be accomplished in a variety of ways such as competition between intestinal microbes and immunoglobulins for a common receptor on the intestinal epithelial cell. An additional consideration is aberrant synthesis or recycling of the cell membrane receptor, as induced by metabolic decelerators such as cortisol. Failure to recycle immunoglobulin receptors also would decrease efficiency of absorption.

Relationship between ultrastructure and specific functions of macrophages

The main function of the macrophages, which is to ingest and degrade any foreign molecules or particles penetrating the organism, appears in the development of the different structures implicated in endocytic activity. The macrophage's high endocytic property first appears in its irregular shape and the large number of extensions of the cell membrane, allowing the rapid capture of extra-cellular material. Adhesion between macrophage cell surface and molecules or particles is greatly enhanced by the presence of varied kinds of receptors: lectin-like receptors which bind specific sugars or highly specific receptors such as Fc and C3b receptors, which increase phagocytosis of opsonized microbes. The microbicidal properties reside in part in the production of superoxide anions which result from the activity of a NAD(P)H oxidase. This enzyme is located in the plasma membrane. Its activity could be demonstrated with a cytochemical method, on the cell surface and along the phagosome membrane. It is, however, very weak in resident macrophages and increases after stimulation or activation. The second kind of bactericidal property corresponds to cationic proteins located in lysosomes. After fusion between lysosomes and phagosomes, they contribute to microbe killing by permeabilizing microbe envelopes. Lysosomes, which contain diverse acid hydrolases and are responsible for the degradation of ingested material, play a crucial role in macrophage endocytic activity. Their number increases in parallel with endocytic activity during macrophage differentiation and is particularly high after ingestion of degradable material. Contrary to polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophage is very poor in granules containing peroxidase. The latter, which are rather abundant in monocytes, disappear during macrophage maturation. They do not seem thus to be implicated in macrophage microbicidal activity. Endocytosis is accompanied by rapid and intense exchanges between the different membrane compartments of the cell (plasma membrane, pinosomes or phagosomes, endosomes, lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, etc.). These exchanges seem to occur by transitory fusions between vesicles coming from different compartments, rapidly followed by their recycling to their original compartment. This system of membrane shuttle has been clearly observed after formation of phagosomes or pinosomes in which the internalized plasma membrane is recycled back to the cell surface within a few minutes after their formation. This membrane traffic is especially intense in macrophages, the endocytic activity of which is very high, but it also exists in all cell types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Macrophage polykarya

Multinucleated giant cells are commonly found in a wide variety of inflammatory reactions. They are formed at sites of tissue injury by fusion of freshly exuded monocytes, the rate of fusion being dependent on a range of extracellular and intracellular factors. Electron miscroscopy shows that the pooled components of the fused monocytes are not randomly dispersed in the syncytium, but are highly reorganized into a functioning unit. In addition, histochemical and biochemical profiles of cell populations containing these polykarya display a range of metabolic activities, including DNA synthesis, which, on occasions, is followed by successful mitotic division and the formation of polyploid daughter cells. Fusion results in the loss of some surface receptors which in turn interferes with the phagocytic performance of polykarya, which is generally less pronounced than their mononuclear precurses. In addition, polykarya are not as actively motile as macrophages although phenomena of contact inhibition are less obvious. On the other hand, the multinucleate giant cells display prominent exocytosis which may aid in the degradation of extracellular material. The properties of macrophage polykarya contrast with macrophage homokarya produced in vitro. The latter are actively phagocytic, do not synthesize DNA, and have a longer half-life than the syncytia produced in chronic inflammatory reactions. It may well be that the polykarya in such reactions are not true homokarya.

A quantitative study of pinocytosis and intracellular proteolysis in rat peritoneal macrophages

A method for the culture of rat peritoneal macrophages in vitro is described, in which pinocytic uptake of colloidal [198 Au]gold, 125I--labelled poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and [14C]sucrose proceeds at contant and fairly reproducible rates for several hours. The rat of uptake of colloidal [198 Au]gold, which wxhibited some inter-batch variation, was approx. 100 times that of the other two substrates. Colloidal gold did not affect the rate of uptake of 125I-labelled poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and therefore its own high rate of uptake could not be attributed to a stimulation of the formation of pinocytic vesicles. It conclude that uptake of collodial gold is highly dependent on adsorption on binding sites on the plasma membrane. Uptake of formaldehyde-treated 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin was followed by the release of [125I]iodo-L-tyrosine into the culture medium and took place at a rate intermediate between those of collodial [198Au]gold and the other two non-digestible substrates, 125I-labelled poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and [14C]sucrose.

The mechanism of fusion of hamster macrophages induced by antimacrophage serum

The mechanism of antihamster macrophage serum (AHMS)-induced fusion of hamster macrophages has been investigated using the serum alone or conjugated to ferritin or Sepharose beads. It has been shown that AHMS attaches to and is interiorised by hamster macrophages. When macrophages are brought into contact before AHMS bound to their surface is interiorised, fusion results. The results strongly support the hypothesis that macrophage fusion is the consequence os simultaneous endocytosis of particles or colloids. It is suggested that a similar mechanism underlies the formation of macrophage giant cells in granulomata where closely packed macrophages attach to and interiorise the denatured materials produced in the chronically inflamed environment.

Attachment and ingestion of mycoplasmas by mouse macrophages. II. Scanning electron microscopic observations

Mycoplasmas adhere closely to the central region of the surface of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. They do not appear connected to each other or the macrophage membrane, and they induce no change in the surface of the cell. After addition of antimycoplasma antibody, mycoplasmas show interconnections and the cell shows an increase occurrence of ruffled membrane and folding over the mycoplasmas. Large and small lacunae appear in the membrane at sites other than those taking in organisms, and the cell develops a diffusely granular appearance. These changes are associated with an increase in pinocytosis of horseradish peroxidase that is 85% above controls. Five minutes after addition of antibody, the macrophage appears contracted and engorged and has persistent membrane changes consisting of pits, openings, and membrane folds. Trypsin causes slow ingestion of surface mycoplasmas without the obvious membrane folding over organisms but with evidence of a predominantly invaginating process of phagocytosis. The macrophage surface has numerous microprojections, but is does not have the granular appearance seen after addition of antibody. Trypsin and Mycoplasma pulmonis antigen do not enhance macrophage pinocytic rates. (Am J Pathol 87:347-358, 1977).

Pressure-induced changes in the ultrastructure of the endothelium lining Schlemm's canal

In a transmission electron microscopic investigation of the endothelium lining Schlemm's canal subjected to graded levels of intraocular pressure (0 to 50 mm Hg for one hour), there was an increase in the number of vacuolar structures with the increase in pressure (range, 8 to 30 mm Hg). At 0 mm Hg, giant vacuoles were absent, while at 50 mm Hg their numbers were less than at 22 and 30 mm Hg. Vacuoles were invaginations either from the meshwork or from the canal surface of the endothelium. A few were transcellular channels that possibly served as a pressure-sensitive outflow system. In addition, the numbers of nonvacuolar transcellular channels and minipores increased with an increase in pressure while the numbers of pinocytotic and micropinocytotic vesicles decreased. The changes were not accompanied by alterations in organelles associated either with protein or energy production. At 50 mm Hg, breaches in the endothelium lining the trabecular wall were obvious and aqueous outflow was considered to be by nonphysiologic routes.

Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by normal mouse peritoneal macrophages

Although Staphylococcus aureus is incapable of intracellular multiplication in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, it is killed at a much slower rate than the avirulent Staphylococcus epidermidis. In addition to the presence of capsular material which inhibits phagocytosis of specific strains of S. aureus, the data show that a number of cellular and environmental factors affect the functional capacities of mononuclear phagocytic cells. The data obtained by varying the initial level of infection indicate that the number of ingested bacteria may subsequently alter the kinetics of intracellular killing. In vitro maturation of macrophages in culture was also found to exert a pronounced effect on the kinetics of bacterial death.

The selective inhibition of macrophage phagocytic receptors by anti-membrane antibodies

Rabbit antibodies were prepared against purified mouse macrophages, erythrocytes, and liver lysosomes. In the presence of complement each of these reagents was capable of lysing mouse erythrocytes and macrophages. In the absence of complement, all antisera agglutinated mouse erythrocytes and at high concentration produced a cytotoxic effect on macrophages. At IgG concentrations of 100 microg/ml, no morphological evidence of cytotoxicity was evident. These data suggest the presence of common antigens on the erythrocyte and macrophage plasma membrane. Anti-macrophage, anti-erythrocyte, and anti-lysosomal gamma-globulins and IgG, employed at subtoxic concentrations, all inhibited the attachment and ingestion of opsonized erythrocytes and mycoplasma. This occurred without significant reduction in the phagocytosis of polystyrene particles, formalinized erythrocytes, and yeast cell walls. Each of the anti-membrane IgG antibodies was capable of blocking the Fc receptor on the macrophage plasma membrane. Attachment to the macrophage membrane occurred by means of the Fab region. However, a role for the Fc portion of the molecule was suggested since pepsin-digested IgG was unable to block the receptor. Each of the IgG antibodies produced a partial blockade of the complement receptor and reduced the ingestion of EAC1,4,2,3 by approximately 50%.

Alterations of macrophage functions by mediators from lymphocytes

Sensitized lymphocytes were incubated in vitro with the specific antigen Supernatants from these cultures were chromatographed on Sephadex G-100 columns. Supernatant fractions containing MIF, chemotactic factor, and lymphotoxin, but free of antigen and antibody, were incubated with normal peritoneal exudate macrophages. Macrophage adherence, phagocytosis, spreading, motility, and direct hexose monophosphate oxidation were enhanced, while protein synthesis was unaffected. Thus, antigen-stimulated lymphocytes secrete a factor or factors which enhance certain macrophage functions. Implications for models of cellular immunity and cellular hypersensitivity are discussed.

Crystals in the intestinal epithelium of neonatal pigs

Laminated crystalline structures occurred within vacuoles of absorptive intestinal cells in colostrum-fed pigs. They are believed to be bilirubin crystals formed by breakdown of ingested red blood cells, but this could not be substantiated histochemically, and they could not be produced experimentally.

The influence of immunologically committed lymphoid cells on macrophage activity in vivo

It has been shown that the immune response of mice to infection with L. monocytogenes gives rise to a population of immunologically committed lymphoid cells which have the capacity to confer protection and a proportionate level of delayed-type hypersensitivity upon normal recipients. The cells were most numerous in the spleen on the 6th or 7th day of infection, but persisted for at least 20 days. Further study revealed that the immune cells must be alive in order to confer protection, and free to multiply in the tissues of the recipient if they are to provide maximum resistance to a challenge infection. The antibacterial resistance conferred with immune lymphoid cells is not due to antibacterial antibody; it is mediated indirectly through the macrophages of the recipient. These become activated by a process which appears to depend upon some form of specific interaction between the immune lymphoid cells and the infecting organism. This was deduced from the finding that immune lymphoid cells from BCG-immunized donors, which were highly but nonspecifically resistant to Listeria, failed to protect normal recipients against a Listeria challenge unless the recipients were also injected with an eliciting dose of BCG. The peritoneal macrophages of animals so treated developed the morphology and microbicidal features of activated macrophages. It is inferred that acquired resistance depends upon the activation of host macrophages through a product resulting from specific interaction between sensitized lymphoid cells and the organism or or its antigenic products. Discussion is also made of the possibility that activation of macrophages could be dependent upon antigenic stimulation of macrophages sensitized by a cytophilic antibody.

Studies on the antigen reacting with the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (LATS) in thyrotoxicosis

LATS could be demonstrated in IgG but not IgA or IgM fractions of thyrotoxic sera. Changes in biological activity on fragmentation with papain or on reduction and acidification paralleled the decrease in antigen binding capacity obtained with human thyroglobulin autoantibodies treated similarly.

LATS activity could be completely absorbed by homogenates of human thyroid tissue; post-mortem thyroids, non-toxic goitres, thyrotoxic glands and autonomous hyperfunctioning adenomas were all effective. Up to 23 per cent of the absorbed LATS could be recovered by acid elution under conditions known to dissociate immune complexes, whereas only 1 per cent or less of the added radioactive normal IgG marker was found in these eluates. No LATS could be extracted directly from fresh thyrotoxic glands by acid treatment.

Kidney homogenates apparently inactivated about 30 per cent of the thyroid-stimulating activity of thyrotoxic sera, probably by affecting the responsiveness of the assay animal rather than by an antigen—antibody reaction involving LATS. Thus the interaction of thyroid with LATS is organ specific.

Of thyroid particulate subcellular fractions, the `microsomes' were the most effective in absorbing LATS but the presumed antigen was also found in the nuclear and mitochondrial fractions. Cell sap and extracts from washed particulates were also inhibitory even after prolonged centrifugation. Some purification of the inhibitor was achieved by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The results obtained are consistent with the hypothesis that LATS is an auto-antibody reacting with the thyroid; the possibility that the antigen is a constituent of the plasma membrane of the epithelial cells is discussed.

The effect of phytohaemagglutinin and other lymphocyte mitogens on immunoglobulin synthesis by human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro

Amino acid incorporation techniques and immunofluorescence have been used to investigate the effect of mitogenic substances on immunoglobulin synthesis by human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. Radioelectrophoresis, radioimmunoelectrophoresis and controlled immunological precipitation methods suggest that only a small amount of immunoglobulin is synthesized in the culture system used. Immunofluorescent staining of fixed cell preparations showed that during the first 24 hr in culture only a small percentage of cells reacted positively for immunoglobulin; after 24 hr these cells were no longer demonstrable. This suggests that the small amount of immunoglobulin detected was synthesized during the first few hours in culture by these cells, having the morphological appearance of medium lymphocytes. The slight enhancement of immunoglobulin synthesis obtained in one experiment with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) probably occurred within this same cell type since after 24 hr in vitro no cells in the transformed cultures could be stained by the fluorescent anti-immunoglobulin. Fixed preparations of blast cells obtained by stimulation with anti-lymphocytic serum and staphylococcal filtrate also gave negative reactions. However, using a staining technique with suspensions of viable cells, it was possible to demonstrate positive staining for immunoglobulins with PHA stimulated cells as previously described by Ripps & Hirschhorn (1967). A number of controls suggest that this reaction depends upon the presence of exposed immunoglobulin groups or markers on the cell surface and that intracytoplasmic staining is the result of endocytosis of conjugate.

In contrast with the negative results obtained with PHA-transformed blasts, a small percentage of lymphocytes from cultures stimulated by pokeweed or tuberculin reacted positively when fixed preparations were stained with conjugated anti-immunoglobulin.

Cellular hypersensitivity and cellular immunity in the pathogensis of tuberculosis: specificity, systemic and local nature, and associated macrophage enzymes

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