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Ralph Kettritz

Publications and source records attributed to Ralph Kettritz.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Integrins and cytokines activate nuclear transcription factor-kappaB in human neutrophils.

Neutrophil adhesion to extracellular matrix is necessary for an effective inflammatory response. Adhesion may accelerate neutrophil activation by affecting intracellular signaling pathways. The nuclear transcription factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) controls several cellular functions, including inflammation, proliferation, and cell survival. We explored the role of adhesion in NF-kappaB activation in human neutrophils. Cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). All four initiated neutrophil adherence to and spreading on fibronectin. GM-CSF and IL-8 did not activate NF-kappaB in suspended neutrophils but rapidly activated NF-kappaB under adherent conditions on matrix, as shown by IkappaB kinase activity assay, IkappaBalpha degradation, electromobility shift assay, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. In contrast, TNF-alpha activated NF-kappaB both in suspended cells and adherent cells. fMLP did not activate NF-kappaB in either suspended or adherent cells. Specific beta(2) integrin blockade prevented NF-kappaB activation by GM-CSF and IL-8 on fibronectin. Co-stimulating CD18 and CD11b with activating antibodies resulted in NF-kappaB activation by GM-CSF and IL-8 in suspended cells. We inhibited actin polymerization with cytochalasin and blocked the non-receptor kinase Syk with piceatannol. Both maneuvers prevented the co-stimulatory NF-kappaB-activating signal by beta(2) integrins. Thus, in addition to beta(2) integrin ligand binding, NF-kappaB activation depended on the formation of the receptor-associated intracellular focal adhesion complex. We conclude that beta(2) integrins may provide co-stimulatory signals allowing some soluble mediators to activate the NF-kappaB pathway even when they are not capable of doing so in suspension. This effect may become important when human neutrophils leave the circulating blood and migrate through extracellular matrix during inflammation.

Cytokines↗
PubMed2003

Inhibition of NF-kappaB by a TAT-NEMO-binding domain peptide accelerates constitutive apoptosis and abrogates LPS-delayed neutrophil apoptosis.

Delivery of biologically active peptides into human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) has implications for studying cellular functions and may be therapeutically relevant. The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) regulates the expression of multiple genes controlling inflammation, proliferation, and cell survival. PMNs play a crucial role in first-line defense. Targeting NF-kappaB in these cells may promote apoptosis and therefore facilitate resolution of inflammation. We used an 11-amino acid sequence NEMO-binding domain (NBD) that selectively inhibits the IKKgamma (NEMO)/IKKbeta interaction, preventing NF-kappaB activation. An HIV-TAT sequence served as a highly effective transducing shuttle. We show that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and dexamethasone (DEX) significantly reduced apoptosis after 20 hours. LPS, but not GM-CSF or DEX, activated NF-kappaB as shown by IkappaBalpha degradation, NF-kappaB DNA binding, and transcriptional activity. The TAT-NBD blocked LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression. TAT-NBD accelerated constitutive PMN apoptosis dose dependently and abrogated LPS-delayed apoptosis. These results provide a proof of principle for peptide delivery by TAT-derived protein transduction domains to specifically inhibit NF-kappaB activity in PMNs. This strategy may help in controlling various cellular functions even in short-lived, transfection-resistant primary human cells.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2003

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibition by statins inhibits neutrophil activation by ANCA.

BACKGROUND: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) may modulate cellular inflammatory functions independent of serum cholesterol. We tested the hypothesis that statins decrease respiratory burst activity of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in response to anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). METHODS: Neutrophils were isolated from healthy human volunteers, human immunoglobulins were isolated from patients with proteinase-3 (PR3)- and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA. Superoxide generation was measured by the ferricytochrome C assay and the nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) test. ANCA antigen expression was measured by flow cytometry and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Cerivastatin and simvastatin inhibited respiratory burst activity to ANCA dose-dependently (1 to 25 micromol/L). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-primed neutrophils released 26.7 +/- 2.8 nmol O2-/0.75 x 106 PMN/45 min and 10 micromol/L simvastatin reduced this amount to 18.0 +/- 2.1 nmol. The inhibitory effect was confirmed by the NBT test. The respiratory burst decrease could not be reversed by 500 micromol/L mevalonic acid (MVA). In this assay, both statins also inhibited the response to human ANCA. PR3-ANCA resulted in 19.4 +/- 2.0 nmol O2- nmol. This amount was decreased to 6.0 +/- 1.2 nmol by preincubation with 10 micromol/L simvastatin (P < 0.01). For MPO-ANCA, the values were 22.6 +/- 2.8 nmol for controls versus 16.7 +/- 3.1 nmol with statin (P < 0.01). By FACS, simvastatin decreased TNF-alpha-mediated ANCA antigen translocation (from 219 +/- 33 to 180 +/- 35 MFI for PR3 and 24.0 +/- 2.4 to 18.3 +/- 1.1 for MPO). Finally, since p38 MAPK and ERK control TNF-alpha priming, we studied the effects of both statins on MAPK. Western blotting showed that statins inhibited TNF-alpha-induced ERK phosphorylation in a dose dependent fashion, but had no effect on p38. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors decrease respiratory burst activity of human PMN in response to ANCA. This effect was independent of mevalonate, but involved inhibition of ERK activation during TNF-alpha priming. Our data suggest that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may help limit inflammatory responses.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗
PubMed2003

Membrane expression of proteinase 3 is genetically determined.

Isolated human neutrophils exhibit a bimodal membrane proteinase 3 (PR3) expression. PR3 is the main target antigen in Wegener granulomatosis (WG). Cells with low expression can be easily distinguished from cell subsets with high expression. In a recent study, a large neutrophil subset expressing membrane PR3 (mPR3+) was a risk factor for systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis. PR3 membrane expression patterns are quite stable in a given individual, raising the possibility of genetic variance. The aims of this study were: (1) to investigate the association of mPR3 expression and the risk of WG in an independent German cohort; (2) to test the hypothesis that mPR3 expression on neutrophils is genetically influenced; and (3) to investigate whether or not mPR3 expression is a function of intracellular PR3 content. mPR3 expression was assessed by FACS analysis in isolated human neutrophils. Neutrophil mPR3 expression was studied in 35 patients with WG, 15 patients with other inflammatory diseases, 125 healthy volunteers, and 27 (15 monozygotic and 12 dizygotic) pairs of twins. The intracellular PR3 content was assessed by intracellular flow cytometry and by Western blotting after separating mPR3 low and high expressing cells by FACSort. FACS analysis in a subset of 16 healthy subjects showed a highly conserved PR3 phenotype in two independent investigations >12 mo apart (r = 0.937). Patients with WG demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of mPR3+ neutrophils than healthy controls and patients with other inflammatory diseases. The mPR3+ percentage was highly correlated in MZ twins (r = 0.99) compared with DZ twins (r = 0.06). The intracellular PR3 content was not different in persons with low or high mPR3 expression, nor was the PR3 content different in cells with low or high mPR3 expression within a given individual. These data indicate that WG patients have a higher percentage of mPR3-expressing neutrophils. Furthermore, mPR3 expression is influenced by genetic variance. Finally, mPR3 expression is independent of intracellular PR3 content.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

TNF-alpha--accelerated apoptosis abrogates ANCA-mediated neutrophil respiratory burst by a caspase-dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha rapidly primes neutrophils (PMN) for an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-induced respiratory burst and is thus proinflammatory. TNF-alpha also progressively accelerates apoptosis. We investigated the effect of TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis on ANCA antigen expression and on ANCA-induced superoxide generation in human PMN. METHODS: PMN were brought to apoptosis by 10 ng/mL of TNF-alpha or a combination of TNF-alpha and 2.5 microg/mL cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, or cycloheximide alone for three hours. Apoptosis and ANCA antigen expression were assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and microscopy. Superoxide was determined with the ferricytochrome C assay. RESULTS: TNF-alpha with cycloheximide for three hours caused apoptosis in 87% PMN compared to 2% in untreated controls (N=18; P < 0.01). Accelerated apoptosis was associated with an increase in ANCA-antigen expression for both proteinase 3 and myeloperoxidase (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, apoptosis was paralleled by a decreased proteinase 3 and myeloperoxidase ANCA-induced respiratory burst (P < 0.05). Furthermore, superoxide release in response to immune complexes, phorbol ester (PMA), and bacterial peptide (FMLP) was significantly decreased. Blocking caspase-3 activity prevented apoptosis in TNF-alpha with cycloheximide-treated cells (83% to 2%) and prevented compromised respiratory burst in response to ANCA. Caspase-3 inhibition abrogated apoptosis-mediated ANCA antigen up-regulation (PR3 141.6 +/- 34.1 MFI to 33.9 +/- 7.8; MPO 48.3 +/- 12.9 MFI to 11.9 +/- 3.2, N=6, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TNF-alpha-accelerated apoptosis was associated with increased ANCA antigen expression but with down-regulated respiratory burst activity in response to ANCA. Specific inhibition of apoptosis by caspase-3 blockade prevented the increase in ANCA-antigen expression and preserved the capability of generating superoxide, thereby establishing a causative role for apoptosis. We suggest that TNF-alpha exhibits dual actions by both priming and terminating ANCA-mediated activation of human PMN.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗
PubMed2002

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase controls antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-induced respiratory burst in human neutrophils.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) activate human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) primed with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in vitro. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and the protein-serine/threonine kinase Akt have been implicated in the control of the phagocyte respiratory burst. The hypothesis that PI3-K controls the ANCA-induced respiratory burst was tested. TNF-alpha-primed PMN were stimulated with a monoclonal antibody to myeloperoxidase (MPO) and with PR3- and MPO-ANCA, respectively. Akt activation was assessed with phospho-specific antibodies. Superoxide release was measured with ferricytochrome. ANCA antigen translocation was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The effect of TNF-alpha and MPO-ANCA on Akt signaling was studied with immunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays. Western blotting revealed rapid transient Akt phosphorylation during TNF-alpha priming and a second phosphorylation after ANCA. PI3-K inhibition by LY294002 blocked both Akt phosphorylation and superoxide generation. A total of 20 +/- 3 nmol O(2)(-)/0.75 x 10(6) PMN/45 min was released after stimulation with PR3-ANCA. LY294002 (5 microM) decreased this amount to 0.3 +/- 2.6 nmol (n = 10, P < 0.05); the MPO-ANCA values were 23 +/- 3 versus 1.6 +/- 3.6 (n = 10, P < 0.05). p38 MAPK inhibition with 10 microM SB202190 that also decreased ANCA-induced superoxide generation prevented S473 phosphorylation of Akt in response to TNF-alpha and to ANCA. However, SB202190 but not LY294002 abrogated TNF-alpha-mediated ANCA antigen surface translocation, demonstrating that superoxide generation and ANCA antigen translocation proceed by separate mechanisms. Akt, PAK1, and Rac1 existed as cytosolic complex in resting PMN. TNF-alpha stimulation increased association of PAK1 with Akt. An MPO monoclonal antibody did not alter the Akt signaling complex further. The data demonstrate the importance of PI3-K for the ANCA-induced PMN oxidant production.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗
PubMed2002

Differential expression of classical nuclear transport factors during cellular proliferation and differentiation.

We recently cloned six human importin a proteins that transport specific substrates in complex with importin beta into the nucleus. We now compared their absolute expression levels in different human cell lines. We examined their expression regulation during human cell proliferation and differentiation by means of specific antibodies. Proliferation inhibition by starvation of HeLa and HaCaT cells led to a marked decrease in the expression of various nuclear transport factors. In contrast, re-addition of serum increased alpha-importin expression. We analyzed two models for cell differentiation and found differential importin regulation. Stimulation of rat pancreatic AR42J cell differentiation towards a neuroendocrine phenotype with activin A or towards an acinar phenotype with dexamethasone, caused strong upregulation of importin alpha3 and alpha4 expression. Phorbol ester-induced differentiation of human leukemia (HL60) cells towards a macrophage phenotype led to downregulation of importin alpha1 and alpha4 expression after 72 hours. Similarly, importins alpha1 and alpha4 displayed a strong downregulation when HL60 cells were directed towards a neutrophil phenotype by DMSO treatment. This study is the first to assess all the human importin alpha isoforms in documenting differential nuclear transport factor regulation during cell proliferation and differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Role of mitogen-activated protein kinases in activation of human neutrophils by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) may be important in the pathophysiology of necrotizing vasculitis. ANCA activate human neutrophils primed with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in vitro. TNF-alpha priming results in translocation of ANCA antigens to the cell surface, where they are recognized by the antibodies. The signaling mechanisms involved in TNF-alpha priming and subsequent ANCA-induced activation were investigated. TNF-alpha-primed neutrophils were stimulated with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to human myeloperoxidase (MPO) and proteinase 3 (PR3), and with preparations of human ANCA (three patients with PR3-ANCA and two patients with MPO-ANCA). Respiratory burst was measured with superoxide dismutase-inhibitable ferricytochrome C reduction and using dihydro-rhodamine-1,2,3. Phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were assessed by immunoblotting. ANCA-antigen translocation was studied by flow cytometry. The tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitor genistein, but not calphostin or staurosporin, resulted in a significant dose-dependent superoxide generation inhibition (11.6 +/- 1.7 nmol to 2.1 +/- 0.5 for PR3-ANCA, and 16.0 +/- 2.8 to 3.3 +/- 1.3 for MPO-ANCA). The p38-MAPK inhibitor (SB202190) and the ERK inhibitor (PD98059) diminished PR3-ANCA-mediated superoxide production dose dependently (11.6 +/- 1.7 nmol O(2)(-) to 1.9 +/- 0.6 with 50 microM SB202190 and 4.0 +/- 0.6 with 50 microM PD098059, respectively). For MPO-ANCA, the results were similar (16.0 +/- 2.8 nmol to 0.9 +/- 1.0 nmol with SB202190 and 6.4 +/- 2.4 nmol with PD98059, respectively). Western blot showed phosphorylation of both p38-MAPK and ERK during TNF-alpha priming. The p38-MAPK inhibitor and the ERK inhibitor showed the strongest effect on respiratory burst when added before TNF-alpha priming, further supporting an important role for both signaling pathways in the priming process. Flow cytometry showed that p38-MAPK inhibition decreased the translocation of PR3 (by 93 +/- 2%) and of MPO (by 64 +/- 2%). In contrast, no such effect was seen when ERK was inhibited. Thus, p38-MAPK and ERK are important for the TNF-alpha-mediated priming of neutrophils enabling subsequent ANCA-induced respiratory burst. However, both pathways show differential effects, whereby p38-MAPK controls the translocation of ANCA antigens to the cell surface.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗