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Biomedical subjects

G Weissmann

Publications and source records attributed to G Weissmann.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Constitutive and induced phosphorylation of the alpha- and beta-chains of the CD11/CD18 leukocyte integrin family. Relationship to adhesion-dependent functions.

We sought to determine whether the activation event which renders the CD11/CD18 leukocyte integrin/Leu-CAM glycoproteins capable of promoting cell to cell adhesion was associated with the induced posttranslational modification of phosphorylation. In neutrophils, two species of alpha-chains, a predominant CD11b 165-kDa subunit and a minor 150-kDa CD11c subunit were found to be constitutively phosphorylated. However, the 95-kDa CD18 common beta-chain was not phosphorylated in resting cells but became strongly phosphorylated in cells incubated with PMA. The beta-chain was phosphorylated in a dose-related manner within 1 min of the addition of PMA, reached maximal intensity between 4 to 10 min, and remained fully phosphorylated at 30 min. The similarities of the kinetics of homotypic aggregation induced by PMA to the time course of phosphorylation suggest that phosporylation may be relevant to at least this type of Leu-CAM-dependent adhesion. In contrast, in the presence of FMLP which induces aggregation with different kinetics than PMA, no phosphorylation of the common beta-chain was observed over a time interval of from 30 s to 10 min further emphasizing the apparent differences in the two modes of activation to an adhesive state. The phosphorylated species on neutrophils were readily detected by immunoprecipitation with each CD18 mAb and most but not all CD11b mAb which otherwise precipitated 125I-labeled CD11b species suggesting that the CD11b alpha-chain labelled with 32P may differ slightly from the 125I-labeled species in terms of its recognition by certain CD11b mAb. In mononuclear cells, similar constitutive phosphorylation of the CD11a and CD11c alpha-chains was observed that remained unchanged in the presence of either FMLP or PMA. As was demonstrated in neutrophils, phosphorylation of the CD18 beta-chains of mononuclear cells was not constitutive but was induced in the presence of PMA and not FMLP. Taken together these data suggest the existence of specific recognition sites on beta-chains for a regulatory kinase-phosphatase system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs exert differential effects on neutrophil function and plasma membrane viscosity. Studies in human neutrophils and liposomes.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit neutrophil functions via mechanisms separate from their capacity to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. We have studied discrete events in the process of signal transduction: NSAIDs but not a related analgesic drug (acetaminophen), inhibited aggregation in response to the chemoattractants f-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP), leukotriene B4, and C5a. NSAIDs, but not acetaminophen, inhibited binding of radiolabeled FMLP to purified neutrophil membranes. Gpp(NH)p, a GTPase insensitive analog of GTP, also inhibited the binding of FMLP but, paradoxically, enhanced superoxide anion generation and lysozyme release. The inhibition of ligand binding by NSAIDs did not correlate with their capacity to inhibit FMLP-induced increments in diacylglycerol (DG): piroxicam, but not salicylate effectively inhibited appearance of label ([3H]arachidonate, [14C]glycerol) in DG. Finally, NSAIDs exerted differential effects on the viscosity of neutrophil plasma membranes and multilamellar vesicles (liposomes): membrane viscosity was increased by piroxicam and indomethacin, decreased by salicylate, and unaffected by acetaminophen. Thus, the different effects of NSAIDs on discrete pathways are not due to their shared capacity to reduce ligand binding but rather to a capacity to uncouple postreceptor signaling events that depend upon the state of membrane fluidity.

Acetaminophen↗

Activation of the neutrophil by calcium-mobilizing ligands. I. A chemotactic peptide and the lectin concanavalin A stimulate superoxide anion generation but elicit different calcium movements and phosphoinositide remodeling.

The relevance of phosphoinositide remodeling to calcium movements and to the physiological response of superoxide anion (O2-) generation was probed in neutrophils stimulated by the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe and the lectin concanavalin A. fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered O2- generation but elicited different patterns of calcium mobilization and phosphoinositide remodeling. fMet-Leu-Phe (10(-7) M) triggered a rise in cytosolic calcium by mobilization of intracellular calcium (fura-2) and increased calcium permeability (45Ca uptake), while concanavalin A (100 micrograms/ml) elicited a rise in cytosolic calcium, primarily by uptake of extracellular calcium (45Ca uptake). fMet-Leu-Phe triggered rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol, and generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). In contrast concanavalin A triggered breakdown of phosphatidylinositol, but not PIP2, nor was there a significant increase in IP3. However, both fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered a rapid biphasic increase in levels of labeled diacylglycerol (in [3H]arachidonate or [14C]glycerol prelabeled cells) and a 3-fold increase in [32P] phosphatidic acid. These results are concordant with a role for PIP2 breakdown and generation of IP3 specifically in intracellular calcium mobilization but not for other aspects of the signaling pathway for O2- generation. Calcium permeability changes were associated with elevated diacylglycerol and [32P]phosphatidic acid, although a cause and effect relationship is not apparent. Ligands such as concanavalin A enhance cytosolic calcium and trigger generation of O2- without significant PIP2 remodeling; elevated diacylglycerol and cytosolic calcium are the common events associated with ligand-induced O2- generation.

Benzofurans↗

Activation of the human neutrophil by calcium-mobilizing ligands. II. Correlation of calcium, diacyl glycerol, and phosphatidic acid generation with superoxide anion generation.

Calcium and protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) have been proposed to act as signals in triggering superoxide anion (O2-) generation by neutrophils. We have probed the adequacy and necessity of calcium and diacylglycerol (DG), activators of protein kinase C, in eliciting O2- generation and degranulation. Activation of neutrophils by the ligand 10(-7) M fMet-Leu-Phe triggered elevation of cytosolic calcium (fura-2) and a rapid, biphasic increase in labeled DG in [14C]glycerol and [3H]arachidonate prelabeled cells. Buffering of the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced elevation of cytosolic calcium with MAPTAM (a cell permeant EGTA analogue) inhibited O2- generation by 90% and degranulation by 50%, concordant with a role of calcium in signaling. However, buffering the increase in calcium also decreased DG. Since phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate breakdown in response to fMet-Leu-Phe was not inhibited and phosphatidic acid levels were enhanced in MAPTAM pretreated cells, the removal of calcium may enhance further DG metabolism. Thus, a requirement for calcium could not be differentiated from a requirement for DG, and the profound inhibition of O2- generation in the presence of MAPTAM may reflect removal of DG. Four stimuli, fMet-Leu-Phe, 10(-7) M leukotriene B4, 100 micrograms/ml concanavalin A, and 200 nM ionomycin elevated cytosolic calcium and triggered release of specific granules, but only fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered substantial O2- generation. Nevertheless, all four stimuli significantly increased labeled DG. Therefore, elevated DG and elevated calcium may be necessary but do not appear adequate to elicit O2- generation. Only fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered generation of phosphatidic acid (PA) together with DG. Correlation of O2- generation with PA may reflect a requirement for PA per se or for a specific pool of DG that can be further metabolized to PA.

Calcium↗

Transmembrane calcium movements mediated by ionomycin and phosphatidate in liposomes with Fura 2 entrapped.

A novel liposomal method permits studies of Ca movements across the bilayers of multilamellar vesicles (MLV) which had entrapped the Ca-dependent, fluorescent indicator dye Fura 2. Ionomycin-mediated Ca translocation across MLV of phosphatidylcholine (PC)/dicetyl phosphate (DCP), 9:1, obeyed simple first-order kinetics since log-log plots of initial rates versus ionomycin or Ca concentration yielded slopes of approximately 1. Since Ca is translocated in a Ca-dependent fashion in the course of stimulus-response coupling of cells which form diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidate (PA) from polyphosphoinositides, we compared effects of PA with those of DAG. PA and DAG were preincorporated in PC/DCP vesicles, in which trace amounts of ionomycin provided transmembrane potential (due to Ca2+/H+ exchange). Significant increases in Ca movements were observed in the presence of egg lecithin PA, dioleoyl-PA, and dipalmitoyl-PA when compared with DCP- or DAG-containing MLV. DAGs such as 1-oleoyl-2-acetoylglycerol or 1,2-dioleoylglycerol in liposomes decreased rates of Ca translocation. Ca influx into PA-containing MLV was dependent on the mole percent of the PA in bilayers; the complex kinetics of Ca influx were compatible with the formation of nonbilayer states. Incorporation of cholesterol into the liposomes inhibited initial rates of Ca uptake by MLV presumably by condensing the bilayers. Ca influx increased with increasing pH of the external medium from 6.9 to 7.9 in liposomes with an internal pH of 7.4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzofurans↗

Stimulus-response coupling in marine sponge cell aggregation: lipid metabolism and the function of exogenously added arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids.

Cells of the marine sponge, Microciona prolifera, the most ancient of the animal cells which clump on recognition, resemble neutrophils and platelets in undergoing stimulus-response coupling when exposed to Ca2+ ionophores and phorbol esters. We have studied lipid content and remodelling in sponge cells by thin-layer, gas-liquid, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses supplemented by ultraviolet and mass spectroscopy. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) (35.6%), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) (27.4%) and phosphatidylserine (PS) (21.4%) constituted the bulk of phospholipids detected. The major fatty acids were all polyenoic; 22:6 (22%), 26:2 (17%) and 26:3 (15%). Arachidonic acid (20:4), present as 2.7% of total phospholipid, and docosahexanoic acid (22:6) were found to elicit aggregation of sponge cells when added (10 microM) in synergy with ionomycin (1 microM), resembling in their effects those of phorbol esters (but not phorbol) and 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG). Moreover, 20:4 and 22:6, as well as phorbol ester and OAG, overcame the block to aggregation imposed by colchicine and vinblastine. Kinetic studies of lipid remodelling showed that aggregating cells diverted [14C]22:6 or [14C]20:4 from triacylglycerol into diacylglycerol and phospholipids; appearance of label in phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol (PI) anteceded labeling of phosphatidylcholine. In unstimulated cells, [14C]22:6 was rapidly incorporated into phosphatidylcholine with little accumulation in phosphatidate. Although 22:6 and 20:4 resembled OAG and phorbol esters in overcoming the effects of colchicine and vinblastine (which had no effects on overall lipid metabolism), they did not reverse the block to aggregation of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) (which inhibited lipid metabolism). Under none of these circumstances was 22:6 or 20:4 converted to cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase products in the course of aggregation: all labeled acyl groups remained present as unmodified fatty acids on alkaline hydrolysis. These data not only extend the observations of Muller et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 262 (1987) 9850-9858) on the role of phosphoinositides and C kinase in marine sponge cell aggregation, but also demonstrate that sponges form diacylglycerols in the process. We suggest that exogenous 22:6 and 20:4 (like phorbol esters or OAG) can substitute for endogenous diacylglycerol in the activation of protein kinase C.

Animals↗

Occupancy of adenosine receptors raises cyclic AMP alone and in synergy with occupancy of chemoattractant receptors and inhibits membrane depolarization.

We have recently demonstrated that adenosine, acting via adenosine A2 receptors, inhibits generation of superoxide anions (O2-) by stimulated neutrophils. To determine the mechanism(s) by which adenosine inhibits O2- generation stimulated by the chemoattractant N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP), we examined cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations, stimulated membrane depolarization and Ca2+ movements. Neither adenosine nor 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), the most potent agonist at adenosine A2 receptors, increases neutrophil cAMP content. However in the presence of the non-methylxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro-20-1724, both adenosine and NECA elicit a reversible increase in intracellular cAMP concentration. The chemoattractant FMLP also elicits an increment in the neutrophil cAMP content. NECA, in the presence of Ro-20-1724, synergistically enhances the increment in cAMP following stimulation by FMLP. However Ro-20-1724 does not potentiate the inhibition of O2- generation by NECA. Unlike other agents which increase neutrophil cAMP concentrations, NECA, even in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, only trivially inhibits degranulation. We also found that adenosine markedly inhibits stimulated membrane depolarization but does not affect the stimulated increment in free ionized intracellular calcium. Moreover, inhibition by adenosine of O2- generation does not vary with the concentration of extracellular calcium. These results fulfil the last criterion for the demonstration of an A2 receptor on human neutrophils, and indicate that adenosine occupies an A2 receptor on neutrophils to raise intracellular cAMP in synergy with occupancy of the FMLP receptor. The results reported here also indicate that cAMP is not the second messenger for inhibition of O2- generation by adenosine and its analogues.

4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone↗

Changes in diacylglycerol labeling, cell shape, and protein phosphorylation distinguish "triggering" from "activation" of human neutrophils.

Upon activation neutrophils release reactive oxygen intermediates such as superoxide anion (O2-) which are potent mediators of inflammation. Various agents elicit different responses; N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP) (0.1 microM) provokes brisk generation of superoxide anion; leukotriene B4 (LTB4, 0.1 microM) is a poor stimulus. In contrast, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 1.6 microM) acting directly via protein kinase C is a potent stimulus for O2-. We compared the kinetics of appearance of various "second messengers" with the capacity of these ligands to elicit O2- generation. Kinetic analysis showed a two-phase response to membrane ligands; both an "early" (less than or equal to 15 s) and a "late" (greater than 15 s) increase in [3H]- and [14C]diacylglycerol (DG) was noted in response to fMLP. In contrast, LTB4 elicited only a rapid early increase in DG. The rise in DG evoked by PMA was late. Cytochalasin B increased the late phase of DG labeling elicited by all agonists. Moreover, comparison of increases in [3H]DG versus those of [14C]DG at early and late time points suggested that DG was not formed exclusively from the hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides. Early increments of DG were also accompanied by addition of plasma membrane (ultrastructural morphometry); the ratio of surface perimeter to area increased rapidly (10 s) and persisted (60 s) in response to fMLP. Increments were more gradual in response to PMA. Kinetic analysis of protein phosphorylation was compared to the early and late increments of DG labeling. A 47,000 Mr protein was phosphorylated with kinetics consistent with the production of O2- and DG in response to fMLP (early and late) and PMA (late). In contrast, LTB4 provoked only early phosphorylation of this protein. The temporal pattern of the formation of diacylglycerol and the phosphorylation of proteins describe a dual signal. The data suggest that neutrophils require not only "triggering" (the rapid generation of a signal) but also "activation" (the maintenance of a signal) to sustain responses.

Diglycerides↗