Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Weissmann

Publications and source records attributed to G Weissmann.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Mechanisms of lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes: microtubule assembly and membrane fusion induced by a component of complement.

A low-molecular-weight component of complement, similar to or identical with human C5a, interacts with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes treated with cytochalasin B and provokes extracellular release of lysosomal enzymes from these cells. Enzyme release occurs in the absence of particles and is selective in that it is not accompained by release of cytoplasmic enzymes. Cell viability is not altered. Pharmacologic agents that regulate secretion of other inflammatory mediators influenced complement-dependent enzyme release: cAMP and theophylline, prostaglandin E(1) and colchicine inhibited, whereas cGMP enhanced release of enzymes. Ultra-structural histochemistry of cells exposed to this component of complement revealed degranulation, fusion of lysosomal with plasma membranes, and transient assembly of microtubules associated with the release of endogenous myeloperoxidase. Our findings suggest that these intracellular events are common to two important responses of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in inflammation and tissue injury: (a) release of lysosomal hydrolases and (b) chemotaxis.

Chemotaxis↗

Cytochalasin B: effect on lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes.

The morphological and biochemical consequences of treatment of human peripheral blood leukocytes with cytochalasin B were studied. Incubation of human polymorphs with cytochalasin B resulted in nuclear and cytoplasmic spreading, but not in spontaneous release of lysosomal enzymes. Cytochalasin B inhibited particle uptake. Consequently, phagocytic vacuoles were not observed; instead, granule contents were discharged directly into the surrounding medium when cytochalasin B-treated cells were challenged with zymosan particles. Cytochalasin B enhanced the release of lysosomal enzymes from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes whether these encountered zymosan particles or immune complexes on a nonphagocytosable Millipore filter. Cytochalasin B-treated leukocytes thus constitute a model system for quantitative study of lysosome fusion. Augmented enzyme release was blocked by prior treatment of cells with pharmacological doses of agents that influence the accumulation of cyclic nucleotides (cyclic nucleotides themselves, prostaglandin E(1)) or by compounds that interfere with microtubule function (e.g., colchicine, vinblastine). These observations suggest that one action of cytochalasin B on phagocytic cells is to remove the normal constraints to merger of granules, either with each other or with the plasma membrane, and that intact microtubule function is required for translocation of lysosomes.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Mechanisms of lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes. I. Effect of cyclic nucleotides and colchicine.

In order to study mechanisms underlying selective enzyme release from human leukocytes during phagocytosis, the effects were studied of compounds which affect microtubule integrity or the accumulation of cyclic nucleotides. Human leukocytes selectively extrude lysosomal enzymes (beta-glucuronidase) from viable cells during phagocytosis of zymosan or immune complexes, or upon encounter with immune complexes dispersed along a non-phagocytosable surface such as a millipore filter. In each circumstance, lysosomal enzyme release was reduced by previous treatment of cells with pharmacological doses of drugs which disrupt microtubules (e.g. 10(-3)-10(-5) M colchicine) or with agents which affect accumulation of adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cAMP) (e.g. 10(-3) M cyclic nucleotides and 2.8 x 10(-4)-2.8 x 10(-6) M prostaglandin E (PGE) and A (PGA) compounds). Preincubation of cells with 5 microg/ml cytochalasin B resulted in complete inhibition of zymosan ingestion, but not of adherence of zymosan particles to plasma membranes or selective enzyme release. In this system, in which enzyme release was independent of particle uptake, preincubation of cells with colchicine, vinblastine, dibutyryl cAMP, or PGE(1) also reduced extrusion of lysosomal enzymes. When cell suspensions were incubated with membrane-lytic crystals of monosodium urate (MSU), cytoplasmic as well as lysosomal enzymes were released with subsequent death of the cells. However, enzyme release followed phagocytosis of crystals (as measured by enhanced C-1 oxidation of glucose) and was due to "perforation from within" of the lysosomal membrane, rather than lysis by crystals of the plasma membrane. Enzyme release after MSU ingestion was also reduced when cells were treated with pharmacological doses of the test agents. When cells were killed by Triton X-100, acting on the plasma membrane, C-1 oxidation of glucose was abolished and enzyme release could not be inhibited pharmacologically. These observations suggest that lysosomal enzyme release from human phagocytes can be an active process which accompanies plasma membrane stimulation, is independent of cell death, and may be controlled by cyclic nucleotides and agents which affect microtubules.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Effects of cholera enterotoxin on adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and neutrophil function. Comparison with other compounds which stimulate leukocyte adenyl cyclase.

Cholera enterotoxin caused a delayed accumulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in human leukocytes, associated with an increase in leukocyte adenyl cyclase activity. The action of cholera enterotoxin contrasted with that of other agents which stimulate adenyl cyclase: (a) the effects of the toxin were delayed in onset, while prostaglandin-E(1) (PGE(1)) and isoproterenol acted rapidly; (b) removal of the soluble toxin from the extracellular medium did not abolish its effects on cyclic AMP and inhibition of antigenic histamine release, while removal of PGE(1) did prevent its effects; (c) PGE(1), but not cholera enterotoxin, stimulated adenyl cyclase activity when added directly to broken cell preparations. Binding of the toxin to leukocytes was rapid and irreversible, and was followed by a gradual increase in cyclic AMP which was not prevented by cycloheximide. Cholera enterotoxin caused accumulation of cyclic AMP in purified human neutrophils as well as mono-nuclear cells, but did not prevent the extrusion of lysosomal hydrolases from phagocytic cells. The toxin only slightly inhibited the ability of human neutrophils to kill Candida albicans. Thus these results with the toxin cast doubt on previous proposals that cyclic AMP regulates these two functions of neutrophils. The unique action of cholera enterotoxin on cyclic AMP production provides a potentially useful pharmacologic tool, in addition to methylxanthines and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, for testing hypotheses relating cyclic AMP to altered function of leukocytes and, perhaps, of other mammalian cells.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗