Activation of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase by protein kinase C in a partially recombinant cell-free system

The leukocyte NADPH oxidase is an enzyme present in phagocytes and B lymphocytes that when activated catalyzes the production of O-2 from oxygen at the expense of NADPH. A correlation between the activation of the oxidase and the phosphorylation of p47(PHOX), a cytosolic oxidase component, is well recognized in whole cells, and direct evidence for a relationship between the phosphorylation of this oxidase component and the activation of the oxidase has been obtained in a number of cell-free systems containing neutrophil membrane and cytosol. Using superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction to quantify O-2 production, we now show that p47(PHOX) phosphorylated by protein kinase C activates the NADPH oxidase not only in a cell-free system containing neutrophil membrane and cytosol, but also in a system in which the cytosol is replaced by the recombinant proteins p67(PHOX), Rac2, and phosphorylated p47(PHOX), suggesting that neutrophil plasma membrane plus those three cytosolic proteins are both necessary and sufficient for oxidase activation. In both the cytosol-containing and recombinant cell-free systems, however, activation by SDS yielded greater rates of O-2 production than activation by protein kinase C-phosphorylated p47(PHOX), indicating that a system that employs protein kinase C-phosphorylated p47(PHOX) as the sole activating agent, although more physiological than the SDS-activated system, is nevertheless incomplete.

The alveolar macrophage as a model of calcium signaling in oxidative stress

Regulation of the free intracellular calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, plays a major role in physiological signal transduction. Many of the essential enzymes in signaling cascades are Ca(2+)-dependent, as are numerous proteins that participate in the regulated function. Oxidative stress, which for many years was considered synonymous with cell and tissue injury, has more recently been demonstrated to alter signal transduction in both positive and negative directions. The realization that hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides are produced as part of normal metabolism has led to the proposal that these oxidants function as second messengers. Exposure to environmental and other agents that produce hydroperoxides or the addition of exogenous hydroperoxides also causes elevation of [Ca2+]i in some cells. At sublethal exposure to hydroperoxides, the elevation in [Ca2+]i can either alter or mimic physiological stimulation. In addition to endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and the extracellular space, the phospholipid- and Ca(2+)-binding proteins known as annexins constitute a Ca2+ pool from which this ion may be released under situations of oxidative stress. In this article, the source and consequences of Ca2+ elevation are reviewed with an emphasis on studies done with alveolar macrophages. These phagocytes, which modulate much of the physiological and immunological function of the lung, are susceptible targets for environmental oxidants.

Kinase-dependent activation of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system. Phosphorylation of membranes and p47(PHOX) during oxidase activation

The leukocyte NADPH oxidase catalyzes the 1-electron reduction of oxygen to O2- at the expense of NADPH: 2 O2 + NADPH --> 2 O2- + NADP+ + H+. The oxidase is dormant in resting cells but acquires activity when the cells are stimulated with a suitable agent. Activation in whole cells is accompanied by extensive phosphorylation of p47(PHOX), an oxidase subunit located in the cytosol of resting cells that during oxidase activation migrates to the plasma membrane to complex with cytochrome b558, an oxidase-specific flavohemoprotein. Oxidase activation can be mimicked in a cell-free system using an anionic amphiphile as activating agent. We now report a cell-free system in which the oxidase can be activated in two stages using phosphorylated p47(PHOX). The first stage, which effects a change in the membrane, requires ATP and GTP and is blocked by the protein kinase inhibitor GF-109203X, suggesting a protein kinase requirement. The second stage requires phosphorylated p47(PHOX) and GTP, but no ATP, and is unaffected by GF-109203X; assembly of the oxidase may take place during this stage. Activation is accomplished by p47(PHOX) phosphorylated by protein kinase C but not protein kinase A or mitogen-activated protein kinase. We believe that activation by phosphorylated p47(PHOX) is more physiological than activation by amphiphiles, because the mutant p47(PHOX) S379A, which is inactive in whole cells, is also inactive in this system but works in systems activated by amphiphiles.

Hydroperoxide-induced increases in intracellular calcium due to annexin VI translocation and inactivation of plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase

Oxidative stress can cause changes in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) that resemble those occurring under normal cell signaling. In the alveolar macrophage, hydroperoxide-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i modulates the respiratory burst and other important physiologic functions. The source of Ca2+ released by hydroperoxide is intracellular but separate from the endoplasmic reticulum pool released by receptor-mediated stimuli (Hoyal, C. R., Gozal, E., Zhou, H., Foldenauer, K., and Forman, H. J. (1996) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 326, 166-171). Previous studies in other cells have suggested that mitochondria are a potential source of oxidant-induced [Ca2+]i elevation. In this study we have identified another potential source of hydroperoxide-releasable intracellular calcium, that bound to annexin VI on the inner surface of the plasma membrane. Translocation of annexin VI from the membrane during exposure to t-butyl hydroperoxide matched elevation of [Ca2+]i as a function of time and t-butyl hydroperoxide concentration. The translocation was possibly due to a combination of ATP depletion and oxidative modification of membrane lipids and proteins. A sustained increase in [Ca2+]i occurring > 50 pmol/10(6) cells (50 microM under these conditions) appeared to be a consequence of membrane Ca2+-ATPase dysfunction. These results suggest that exposure to oxidative stress results in early alterations to the plasma membrane and concomitant release of Ca2+ into the cytosol. In addition it suggests a mechanism for participation of annexin VI translocation that may underlie the alterations in macrophage function by oxidative stress.

Modulation of the rat alveolar macrophage respiratory burst by hydroperoxides is calcium dependent

Sublethal concentrations of hydroperoxides (H2O2 or tert-butylhydroperoxide) produce a dual effect upon the respiratory burst of rat alveolar macrophages in which low concentrations (< 50 microM) enhance and higher concentrations (> 50 microM) produce inhibition (J. K. Murphy, et al., Free Radical. Biol. Med. 18, 37-45, 1995). These effects correlate with transient versus sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i caused by exposure to hydroperoxides prior to stimulation of the respiratory burst. In the present study changes in [Ca2+]i caused by exposure to sublethal levels of hydroperoxide were buffered by incubating macrophages with the acetoxy-methyl ester of BAPTA, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator. The enhancement of the phorbol ester-stimulated respiratory burst by tBOOH was abolished by BAPTA, while the inhibition was attenuated. Thus, the modulation by tBOOH appears to be largely dependent upon the changes in [Ca2+]i. Receptor mediated stimulation of the respiratory burst (ADP stimulation) involves release of Ca2+ from the inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3)-sensitive pool in the endoplasmic reticulum. Comparisons were made of the effects of thapsigargin (TG), an endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase inhibitor, with tBOOH on release of intracellular Ca2+ and the respiratory burst. Treatment with TG did not affect changes in [Ca2+]i caused by tBOOH or vice versa. Although TG decreased the ADP-stimulated respiratory burst, it had no effect upon tBOOH modulation. Thus, the effect of tBOOH upon the respiratory burst is dependent upon the release of Ca2+ and the release of Ca2+ occurs from a non-IP3-dependent pool. This aberrant mimicry of normal signal transduction underlies oxidative modulation of the respiratory burst.

Modulation of the alveolar macrophage respiratory burst by hydroperoxides

Exposure of alveolar macrophages to hydroperoxides (ROOH) inhibits subsequent stimulation of O2.- production (the respiratory burst). Previous studies (under nonoxidant stress conditions) have shown that elevation of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) participates in both initiation and termination of O2.- production. In this investigation, the effects of sublethal ROOH exposure on [Ca2+]i and the respiratory burst of rat alveolar macrophages were compared. Exposure to a sublethal range of H2O2 or tert-butylhydroperoxide (10-100 pmol/10(6) cells; initially 10-100 microM under the experimental conditions) for 15 min resulted in dose-dependent effects on the respiratory burst stimulated by various agents, ADP, ATP, zymosan-activated serum, and phorbol myristate acetate. Low concentrations of the ROOH (10 or 25 pmol/10(6) cells) were found to enhance stimulation, whereas exposure to 75 or 100 pmol/10(6) cells resulted in significant inhibition for all of the stimuli. All concentrations of ROOH caused a rapid elevation in [Ca2+]i. For those concentrations of ROOH that produced enhancement of subsequent stimulation of the respiratory burst, [Ca2+]i returned to near baseline before the end of the 15-min preincubation. The temporal- and concentration-dependent effects of ROOH on [Ca2+]i correlate with subsequent enhancement or inhibition of stimulated O2.- production. Similarities between the ROOH-induced changes in [Ca2+]i and the effect of [Ca2+]i changes in physiological regulation of the respiratory burst suggest a potential relationship.