Effects of a protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro 31-7549, on the activation of human leukocytes by particulate stimuli

Cell signaling and transcription factor activation by asbestos in lung injury and disease

Signaling pathways initiated at the external cell surface or within the cytoplasm regulate transactivation of transcription factors and gene expression that are causally related to a number of critical cellular outcomes including proliferation, apoptosis, cell survival, and production of inflammatory cytokines. Asbestos, a ubiquitous pathogenic group of mineral fibers, can stimulate gene expression in a variety of cell types in the lung via intracellular signaling pathways. These cell signaling cascades may be initiated through receptor-mediated events or integrins. Alternatively, they may be stimulated by oxidants generated both during phagocytosis of minerals and/or by redox reactions on the mineral surface. Once initiated, these pathways can lead to promotion of gene expression critical to cellular injury, proliferation and inflammation-events leading to the development of fibroproliferative diseases of the lung and pleura. The elucidation and relevance of critical signaling cascades to lung injury or repair following asbestos exposure could aid in developing strategies to prevent or treat asbestos-associated lung and pleural diseases.

Production of reactive oxygen species by man-made vitreous fibres in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) or erythrocytes, isolated from human blood, were exposed to graded doses of asbestos (chrysotile), quartz, or man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), i.e. refractory ceramic fibres (RCF), glasswool, or rockwool fibres. None of the MMVF affected either the viability of PMNL, as measured by trypan blue exclusion test, or induced haemolysis, whereas the positive controls, quartz and chrysotile, dose-dependently induced haemolysis in PMNL. MMVF did not increase the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from the PMNL, whereas the positive controls, chrysotile and quartz, induced a marked and dose-dependent release of LDH. When PMNL were exposed to MMVF, some of the fibre types slightly increased the levels of free intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) within the cells in a manner similar to that induced by chrysotile or quartz. All MMVF induced a dose-dependent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PMNL, with RCF-induced production of ROS being the most marked. Production of ROS by MMVF seemed to depend on the availability of extracellular calcium because it could be attenuated with a Ca2+ channel blocker, verapamil, or a Ca2+ chelating agent, EGTA. Production of ROS may be a common pathway through which PMNL respond to MMVF-induced cell activation, but alterations of levels of free intracellular Ca2+ do not seem to be an absolute prerequisite for this effect. Fibre length seemed not to be an important factor in affecting the ability of MMVF to induce ROS production in PMNL. However, the balance between different elements in the fibre seemed importantly to affect the biological activity of a fibre.

Signal transduction and phagosome biogenesis in human macrophages during phagocytosis of Mycobacterium bovis BCG

Downstream signal transduction via heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins to protein kinase C has been reported to be a central event in induction of rapid phagocytosis of extracellular particles by macrophages. However, the signalling pathway involved in mycobacterial uptake and phagosome biogenesis is poorly understood, and there is lack of information about in situ localization of PKC, cytoskeletal proteins, and G-proteins in mycobacterial vacuoles. Employing immunocytochemical methods, we provide evidence that alpha-subunits of stimulatory and inhibitory G-proteins and PKC beta as well as two major cytoskeletal components, microfilaments and microtubules, participate in uptake of Mycobacterium bovis BCG by human macrophages and co-localize in phagosomes. This implies that cellular signalling via G-proteins and PKC beta may occur not only at the level of the plasma membrane; rather, the alpha-subunit of G-proteins and PKC beta may be translocated to the effector proteins involved in phagosomal biogenesis. A similar pattern of accumulation of G-proteins, PKC, and both microfilamental and microtubular cytoskeleton around vacuoles containing internalized latex beads indicates their general role in phagocytosis.