Biomedical subjects

C C Liu

Publications and source records attributed to C C Liu.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Expression of cytolytic mediators by synovial fluid lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

To understand the role of cytolytic lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, we investigated the expression of lymphocyte cytotoxicity mediators, perforin, and serine esterases, in lymphocytes derived from the synovial fluid of 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Previous work has shown that CD8+ lymphocytes that possess markers of activation appear to be present in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). By means of in situ hybridization techniques and immunohistochemical analysis, the authors show that perforin and two serine esterases (serine esterase 1/Hanukah factor/granzyme A, and serine esterase 2/granzyme B) are expressed by subpopulations of CD8+ and CD56+ lymphocytes obtained from synovial fluid. The presence of these cytotoxic mediators suggests a possible mechanism for tissue damage, and provides evidence implicating cytolytic lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1991

Post-translational modifications and binding properties of the apically secreted 80-kDa glycoprotein from Madin-Darby canine kidney cells: similarities to the C-terminal portion of the basolaterally secreted fibronectin.

Apically secreted 80-kDa glycoprotein (gp 80) from Madin-Darby canine kidney cells was found to be immunoprecipitated by the polyclonal antiserum against fibronectin or a monoclonal antibody specific for the fibronectin C-terminal fibrin binding domain. Upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), gp 80 migrated as a doublet band under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, gp 80 was resolved into three distinct bands, respectively of 45-, 40-, and 35-kDa molecular mass. Analysis by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE revealed that gp 80 exists in two molecular forms: one consisting of a 45-kDa subunit and a 40-kDa subunit, and one consisting of a 45-kDa subunit and a 35-kDa subunit. V-8 protease mapping indicated the 40 and 35-kDa subunits as being of the same homologous group and also as bearing partial homology to the 45-kDa subunit. Radioactive labeling revealed that labeled gp 80 was subjected to covalent modifications by sulfation and phosphorylation. Sulfate analysis showed that [35S]sulfate-labeled gp 80 contained ca. 2.45 +/- 0.07% tyrosine-bound [35S]sulfate with the rest being presumably carbohydrate-bound. [32P]-Phosphate-labeled gp 80, on the other hand, was found to contain serine-O-phosphate as the predominant phosphorylated amino acid residue. Employing the affinity gel fractionation technique, it was shown that gp 80 exhibited binding affinities toward heparin and fibrin. Binding of gp 80 to heparin-agarose or fibrin-Sepharose, however, was inhibited in the presence of added fibronectin or the monoclonal antibody. Tryptic peptide mapping revealed common peptide spots between fibronectin and the three subunits of gp 80. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that fibronectin could be recognized and bound by anti-gp 80 antibodies. These results indicate that gp 80 bears both structural and functional similarities to the C-terminal portion of the fibronectin molecule.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Identification of complexes between the tyrosine-O-sulphate-binding protein and tyrosine-sulphated proteins in bovine liver membrane lysates.

Rabbit antiserum against electrophoretically purified bovine liver tyrosine-O-sulphate (TyrS)-binding protein was prepared. Affinity-purified antibodies from the antiserum were found to be capable of immunoprecipitating the TyrS-binding protein from the sodium choleate extract of a bovine liver microsomal membrane fraction. Using purified specific antibodies as the probe, Western blot analysis for the presence of TyrS-binding protein/tyrosine-sulphated protein complexes in bovine liver membrane lysates was performed. It was found that the TyrS-binding protein co-precipitated with three tyrosine-sulphated proteins (fibronectin, fibrinogen and complement C4) immunoprecipitated by their respective antibodies. In contrast, for the two non-tyrosine-sulphated proteins (haptoglobin and transferrin) tested, co-precipitation of the TyrS-binding protein was not observed. On employing an affinity gel fractionation technique, it was shown that partially purified TyrS-binding protein exhibited binding affinity towards Sepharose gels covalently bonded to fibronectin or fibrinogen, but not towards Sepharose gels bonded to albumin or transferrin. These results indicate that the TyrS-binding protein formed complexes with tyrosine-sulphated proteins both in vivo and in vitro, and thus provide support for the putative role of the former being the receptor of the latter.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Structure of the mouse pore-forming protein (perforin) gene: analysis of transcription initiation site, 5' flanking sequence, and alternative splicing of 5' untranslated regions.

We studied the 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the mouse lymphocyte pore-forming protein (PFP, perforin, and cytolysin). 5' UTRs were determined by primer extension analysis, sequencing PFP cDNA clone PFP-7, ribonuclease protection assays, and amplification of poly(A)+ RNA of cytolytic T lymphocyte using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two alternatively spliced 5' UTRs, designated type I and type II, of 222 and 115 bp, respectively, were found associated with PFP. Type II is identical to type I, except for being 107 bp shorter in the second exon. This deletion was generated by the use of alternative acceptor splice sites. The mouse PFP gene (Pfp) encodes three exons, is separated by two small introns, and spans a chromosomal region of approximately 7 kb. The first exon contains 79 bp of 5' UTR, the second exon contains 143 or 36 bp of 5' UTR (type I or type II UTR, respectively) plus the NH2-terminal region of the mouse PFP, and the third exon contains the rest of the COOH-terminal mouse PFP. The organization of the mouse Pfp is similar to that of the human gene. Moreover, the 5' flanking sequence of the mouse Pfp is highly homologous to that of the human Pfp. In contrast to the human sequence, the more immediate 5' flanking sequence of mouse Pfp contains two tandem "TATA" box-related elements and a GC box, but lacks a typical CAAT box-related sequence. Several other enhancer elements were found further upstream, including cAMP-, phorbol ester-, interferon-gamma-, and UV-responsive elements, and PU box-like and NFkB binding site-like elements. In addition, we found a nuclear inhibitory protein-like element, a transcriptional silencer, and a pair of purine-rich sequence motifs that were found in other T cell-specific genes, and three repeats of GGCCTG that may be a variation of a highly repetitious GCCCTG consensus sequence found in human Pfp.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Expression of perforin and serine esterases by human gamma/delta T cells.

gamma/delta T cells have recently been described in association with a number of disorders, including autoimmune diseases. gamma/delta T cells are thought to play a cytotoxic role, but their mechanism of action is not known. Several granule mediators of cytotoxicity, including a pore-forming protein (perforin), and a family of serine esterases, have been isolated from cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. We demonstrate here that gamma/delta T cells also express these mediators. Northern blots show that gamma/delta T cells express perforin, serine esterase 1 (SE 1), and SE 2. Three polyclonal antisera - raised against murine perforin, a peptide composed of amino acids 1-34 of human perforin, and human peforin expressed in bacteria - all reacted with a 70-kD protein in gamma/delta T cells on Western blots. Immunostaining with antiperforin antisera shows that primary gamma/delta T cells also contain perforin. Electron microscopy reveals that the granules of gamma/delta T cells resemble those of CTL, LAK, and NK cells. Gamma/delta T cells also resemble LAK cells in possessing inclusion bodies in their nuclei. These results imply that gamma/delta T cells resemble other cytolytic lymphocytes in their mechanism of action.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1991

Cytolytic lymphocytes induce both apoptosis and necrosis in target cells.

We examined the role of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in killer lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Two parameters of cell death, 51Cr release and DNA fragmentation, were assayed. Lymphokine-activated killer cell- or CTL-mediated death was inhibited in target cells where transcription or translation were blocked. Dying target cells showed ultrastructural changes typically associated with both apoptosis and necrosis. In contrast, target cells pretreated with macromolecular synthesis inhibitors and incubated with lymphokine-activated killer cells showed morphologic signs of necrosis only. Zn2+, an inhibitor of endonucleases, inhibited DNA fragmentation, but not 51Cr release in YAC-1 target cells, suggesting that the two effects can be dissociated. Finally, the cytotoxic effect of perforin, a pore-forming protein of killer lymphocytes that is known to cause necrotic death, was unaffected by the inhibition of either RNA or protein synthesis in target cells. Taken together, these results suggest that killer lymphocytes can induce both necrosis and apoptosis and that the two types of death can be dissociated with specific inhibitors.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Bone-cell changes in estrogen-induced bone-mass increase in mice: dissociation of osteoclasts from bone surfaces.

Early studies in certain avian and mammalian species have described estrogen-associated bone-cell changes, which were based on bone cells that were neither quantified nor identified histochemically (osteoclasts). In the experiments described here, weanling female mice were given a pharmacological dose of 17 beta-estradiol benzoate (1 mg/week) for 1 and 4 weeks, and changes in osteoclasts and osteoblasts were assessed in tibial metaphyses and diaphyses. In the proximal metaphysis, the number of osteoclasts/mm surface length was significantly reduced by estrogen at 1 week (43%) and 4 weeks (64%), which was accompanied by significant increases in the number of osteoclasts in the marrow space not in contact with bone surfaces (no./mm2: 382% and 999%, respectively). These increases, along with observations of decreased osteoclast size (19%), of changes in osteoclast morphology, and of numerous acid-phosphatase-positive fragments in the marrow space, suggest that estrogen treatment causes the dissociation and disintegration, and thus decreased activity, of osteoclasts. The above changes were accompanied by more than 48% increases in the number of trabecular osteoblasts. In the diaphysis, the number of endosteal osteoclasts was significantly decreased by estrogen at 1 week (32%), but was not significantly changed at 4 weeks. These changes were attended by significant increases in the number of osteoclasts in the marrow space not in contact with bone surfaces (no./mm2: 393% at 1 week and 342% at 4 weeks). The number of endosteal osteoblasts was also increased by estrogen at 1 week (132%), and so was the size of endosteal osteoblasts (39% at 1 week and 81% at 4 weeks). Comparable results were obtained when a lower dose of 17 beta-estradiol benzoate (20 micrograms/week) was given to ovariectomized mice. The increase in bone mass and its associated cell changes following estrogen treatment were also found in athymic nude mice, suggesting that these bone/bone cell changes are independent of the thymus.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Granzyme A and perforin as markers for rejection in cardiac transplantation.

The use of granzyme A and perforin as markers for rejection after cardiac transplantation has been investigated. Using in situ hybridization we have detected lymphocytes expressing granzyme A and perforin RNA that are infiltrating the donor heart after transplantation. A total of 29 different biopsies from 17 different patients who had undergone cardiac transplantation were examined. Twelve biopsies classified by conventional histological criteria as showing evidence of rejection were found to contain lymphocytes expressing granzyme A and perforin. Seven biopsies classified as showing no histological evidence of rejection infiltrating lymphocytes were found not to be expressing granzyme A or perforin. However, in 10 other biopsies from 5 different patients that had been classified as showing no evidence of rejection by the conventional grading system, lymphocytes expressing granzyme A and perforin were detected. In six of these cases the patient was found to have undergone a subsequent rejection episode. In the other four cases the biopsies were either taken at a very early stage after transplantation and the high doses of immunosuppression used routinely at that stage are likely to have averted any rejection episodes, or it was not possible to follow subsequent rejection episodes. These results, which are statistically significant (p = 0.06), demonstrate that granzyme A- and perforin-expressing lymphocytes can be identified in rejecting biopsies before histological damage is seen. The identification of perforin and granzyme A expression in vivo suggest a possible role for these proteins in the cytolysis that occurs during transplantation rejection. Furthermore, the data presented here suggest that it may be possible to use granzyme A and perforin as early predictive markers of transplantation rejection.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1991

Preexisting bone loss associated with ovariectomy in rats is reversed by parathyroid hormone.

Previous studies have demonstrated that when parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration to rats is started immediately following ovariectomy, it prevents bone loss due to ovarian hormone deficiency. In this study, we examined whether bone loss induced by ovariectomy could be reversed by parathyroid hormone if hormone therapy is started after the bone loss had already occurred. In the first experiment, two groups of animals were ovariectomized or sham operated, killed after 40 days, and their bones examined to ensure that bone loss occurred. In the second experiment, three groups of rats were studied. Group 1 rats were sham operated, and rats in groups 2 and 3 were ovariectomized. Each rat in group 3 received a single subcutaneous injection of 8 micrograms parathyroid hormone [hPTH-(1-34); Bachem, CA] per 100 g body weight per day, starting 40 days following ovariectomy. Rats in groups 1 and 2 received solvent vehicle, and all animals were sacrificed on day 60. Ovariectomized rats had lost an appreciable amount of bone 40 days after surgery, as indicated by a significant decrease in femoral and vertebral densities and calcium and an over 55% loss of cancellous bone in the tibial metaphysis. The loss of bone was reversed by intermittent PTH administration. Increased cancellous bone in the parathyroid hormone-treated ovariectomized rats was associated with increased trabecular osteoblasts, decreased trabecular osteoclasts, and increased serum osteocalcin and urinary hydroxyproline. Our findings indicate that parathyroid hormone can substantially augment bone mass after the loss due to ovarian hormone deficiency has already occurred. The hormone caused positive bone balance in vivo in ovarian hormone-deficient animals by increasing bone formation and decreasing bone resorption.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Bone-inducing implants in head and neck surgery: an experimental study.

The use of autologous bone for head and neck reconstruction requires a separate harvesting procedure which provides limited quantities of bone that may become infected or undergo resorption after being implanted. In this study, a collagen/ceramic carrier containing osteoinductive factor extract (OFE) was used in a rabbit facial augmentation model. Bone-inducing activity of these implants were evaluated in subcutaneous, intramuscular, and subperiosteal sites. Implants with (test) and without OFE (control) were placed on opposite sides of the face in 40 rabbits, and were harvested at 21 days. Bone formation was evaluated by implant alkaline phosphatase determinations and histomorphometry. Osteoblastic activity, bone formation, and preservation of facial augmentation were noted in the OFE implants, showing maximal bone formation when implanted subperiosteally. Control (no OFE) and demineralized bone implants showed no bone formation. Before these implants can be used clinically, novel bone-inducing factors must be manufactured by recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methodology to verify activity of the homogeneous molecule which would be free of other proteins or infectious agents.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1991

A comparative study of the actions of tamoxifen, estrogen and progesterone in the ovariectomized rat.

This study was undertaken to examine the separate and combined effects of tamoxifen (T), estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P) treatment on ovariectomized (Ooph) rats. The animals were treated for 40 days. Ovariectomy reduced cancellous bone volume at the proximal tibia by 50%. Estradiol treatment completely prevented the bone loss and further increased bone volume 77% over the level for the control group. Tamoxifen also prevented the ovariectomy induced bone loss, but significantly reduced the increase in cancellous bone induced by estradiol. In the ovariectomized rats, cancellous bone apposition rate increased 23%. This increase was suppressed 63% by estradiol, and only 18% by tamoxifen. Tamoxifen significantly suppressed the inhibitory effect of estradiol on cancellous bone apposition rate. In contrast, the effect of progesterone treatment was only marginal. Our findings indicate that the action of tamoxifen on bone is influenced by the ambient level of circulating estradiol, such that in estrogen deficiency, tamoxifen has a weak estrogen agonist action on bone, and in the presence of estrogen it has anti-estrogen actions, with the dose level and mode of administration employed. These conclusions have implications for the use of tamoxifen in the treatment of pre- and postmenopausal women.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Skeletal response of ovariectomized rats to low and high doses of 17 beta-estradiol.

Recent studies indicate that the mode of action of estrogen in preventing bone loss due to ovarian hormone deficiency may vary with the dose of the hormone. In this study four groups of ovariectomized animals were maintained on a wide range of doses of 17 beta-estradiol to further determine the relationship of dose to the mechanism by which estrogen prevents ovarian hormone deficiency bone loss. Ovariectomy caused a significant decrease in bone density and cancellous bone volume at the proximal metaphysis of the tibia. The decrease was prevented in a dose-dependent manner by estradiol. The rate of bone apposition in cancellous bone in the proximal tibia was increased by ovariectomy, and inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by estradiol. Similarly, ovariectomy increased the excretion of urinary hydroxyproline, an index of the rate of bone turnover, and serum alkaline and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. The increases were prevented in a dose-dependent manner by estradiol. In addition, the very high dose of estradiol, but not the lower doses, caused a marked (50%) decrease in serum osteocalcin. Our interpretation of these findings is that the low to very high doses of estradiol used in this study decreased the progression of the bone loss due to ovariectomy by suppression of the rate of bone turnover that involved the depression of both osteoclastic resorption and osteoblastic bone formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

In vivo actions of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on bone formation and resorption in rats.

The in vivo action of insulin-like growth factor-I on bone metabolism has been studied using a new model. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was continuously infused into the arterial supply of the right hindlimb of ambulatory rats for up to 14 days and the effects on cortical and trabecular bone formation and the number of osteoclasts were determined by histomorphometric techniques. The contralateral limb acted as an internal control. IGF-I infusion significantly increased cortical bone formation (p less than 0.01). Trabecular bone was increased 22% (p = 0.07), but the infusion was only for seven days. These effects of IGF-I were age dependent, being absent in young, rapidly growing animals, but present at least until one year of age. IGF-I appears to be a purely anabolic hormone for bone formation, since it significantly stimulates osteoblasts and decreases the number of osteoclasts. Thus, although IGF-I mediates the growth-promoting effect of growth hormone, it does not mediate growth hormone's action on bone resorption.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Extracellular ATP as a trigger for apoptosis or programmed cell death.

Extracellular ATP is shown here to induce programmed cell death (or apoptosis) in thymocytes and certain tumor cell lines. EM studies indicate that the ATP-induced death of thymocytes and susceptible tumor cells follows morphological changes usually associated with glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis of thymocytes. These changes include condensation of chromatin, blebbing of the cell surface, and breakdown of the nucleus. Cytotoxicity assays using double-labeled cells show that ATP-mediated cell lysis is accompanied by fragmentation of the target cell DNA. DNA fragmentation can be set off by ATP but not the nonhydrolysable analogue ATP gamma S nor other nucleoside-5'-triphosphates. ATP-induced DNA fragmentation but not ATP-induced 51Cr release can be blocked in cells pretreated with inhibitors of protein or RNA synthesis or the endonuclease inhibitor, zinc; whereas pretreatment with calmidazolium, a potent calmodulin antagonist, blocks both DNA fragmentation and 51Cr release. The biochemical and morphological changes caused by ATP are preceded by a rapid increase in the cytoplasmic calcium of the susceptible cell. Calcium fluxes by themselves, however, are not sufficient to cause apoptosis, as the pore-forming protein, perforin, causes cell lysis without DNA fragmentation or the morphological changes associated with apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that ATP can cause cell death through two independent mechanisms, one of which, requiring an active participation on the part of the cell, takes place through apoptosis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1991

Immunogold labeling of perforin and serine esterases in granulated metrial gland cells.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells are cytolytic lymphocytes known to produce a pore-forming protein, named perforin or cytolysin, that lyses target cells by creating large pores on the target plasma membrane. Besides perforin, the granules of CTL and NK cells contain a family of serine esterases. Perforin has also been localized in granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells of the murine embryo implantation site by light microscopic immunostaining. Ultrastructural immunogold labeling with antibodies against perforin and a serine esterase (MTSP 1 or granzyme A) shows that GMG cells contain both perforin and serine esterases in the fine granular matrix of their granules. Perforin has been located in all of the granules, whereas gold particles corresponding to serine esterases have been found in most of the granules. Results from the double immunogold technique indicate that perforin and serine esterases colocalize to most of the same granules in GMG cells. This study supports the view that GMG cells are related to cytolytic lymphocytes.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Expression of lymphocyte perforin in the mouse uterus during pregnancy.

In situ hybridization and immunofluorescence were used to study the expression of a lymphocyte pore-forming protein (perforin) in the uterus of pregnant mice. Cells expressing perforin mRNA were detected as early as gestation day 5, whereas perforin protein was detected one or two days later. Although the number of cells expressing both perforin mRNA and perforin protein varied subsequently with time, they were consistently observed from the day of implantation until parturition. The highest levels of mRNA expression were observed sometime during midgestation. The high abundance of this cytolytic protein in the metrial gland during pregnancy and the time course of its expression thus suggest that GMG perforin expression is tightly regulated, probably hormonally, by the uterus, and that GMG cell perforin plays an important role in the normal completion of pregnancy.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Mini-dose intrathecal morphine for post-cesarean section analgesia.

Dose-response relationship of mini-dose intrathecal morphine (0.025-0.125 mg) for analgesia after Cesarean section was studied. Sixty-three patients were randomly divided into six groups by the following intrathecal morphine injection: group 1 (0 mg), group 2 (0.025 mg), group 3 (0.05 mg), group 4 (0.075 mg), group 5 (0.1 mg), and group 6 (0.125 mg). The selected dose of morphine mixed with 2 ml 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) was administered intrathecally to induce spinal anesthesia. The mean analgesia duration in each group was 3.6 +/- 2.0, 10.6 +/- 7.1, 17.3 +/- 13.8, 25.6 +/- 7.5, 33.9 +/- 10.1, and 39.5 +/- 11.9 h respectively (mean +/- SD). In morphine groups, duration of analgesia was significantly longer (p less than 0.05) than control group (0 mg), and the first 24 h pain scores were also lower (p less than 0.01). Furthermore, a significant linear dose-response relationship between analgesic duration and the dose of intrathecal morphine was revealed (y = 3.28 + 295.5x, r2 = 0.64, p less than 0.05). Among morphine groups, analgesic quality was significantly better in patients in groups 4-6 than those in group 2 and 3 (p less than 0.05), so as in the proportion of effective analgesia in the first 24 h (p less than 0.01). Neonatal condition was not adversely affected by such mini-dose of intrathecal morphine. The most common maternal adverse effect observed was pruritus, and its incidence was significantly greater in groups 3-6 than in the control group (p less than 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed among all morphine groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Endothelial and leukocyte forms of IL-8. Conversion by thrombin and interactions with neutrophils.

We have recently shown that endothelial cell-derived IL-8 inhibits neutrophil adhesion to IL1-beta-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers. IL-8 secreted by T lymphocytes or monocytes has been characterized as a promoter of neutrophil degranulation and chemotaxis. The IL-8 isolated from each of these cell types is a mixture of two IL-8 polypeptides, one consisting of 72 amino acids (herein called [ser-IL-8]72) and the other 77 amino acids (an N-terminal extended form herein called [ala-IL-8]77). IL-8 derived from T lymphocytes and monocytes is predominantly [ser-IL-8]72, whereas endothelial-derived IL-8 is highly enriched (greater than 80%) in [ala-IL-8]77. We address the relationship and activities of these two forms of IL-8 using recombinant proteins expressed by both mammalian cells and Escherichia coli. Thrombin was found to efficiently convert [ala-IL-8]77 to [ser-IL-8]72. In contrast, urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activator were unable to cleave [ala-IL-8]77, and trypsin generated multiple IL-8 cleavage fragments. In competitive binding assays using 125I[ala-IL-8]77 neutrophils exhibited a twofold preference for [ser-IL-8]72 over [ala-IL-8]77. Both forms of IL-8 inhibited neutrophil adhesion to IL-1-beta-activated HUVEC monolayers by up to 90%. However, [ser-IL-8]72 was approximately 10-fold more potent than [ala-IL-8]77 in these assays (ED50 approximately 0.3 nM for [ser-IL-8]72 vs approximately 3 nM for [ala-IL-8]77. Both forms of IL-8 promoted degranulation of cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils [[ser-IL-8]72 (ED50 greater than 10 nM) was two- to three-fold more potent than [ala-IL-8]77], although in this regard they were less active than FMLP. Our data suggest that [ala-IL-8]77 and [ser-IL-8]72 have qualitatively similar and potentially complex biological activities, and that full activation of IL-8 requires cleavage to the [ser-IL-8]72 form. In the case of inflamed endothelial cells this activation could be mediated by thrombin generated in the procoagulant environment associated with these cells.

Cell Adhesion↗