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Specific allergens enhance elastase release in stimulated neutrophils from asthmatic patients.

BACKGROUND: The presence of the three forms of IgE receptor - the heterotrimeric high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc(epsilon)RI), the low-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc(epsilon)RII/CD23) and the Mac-2/IgE-binding protein (epsilonBP) - has been demonstrated on human neutrophils. We have previously shown that specific allergens are able to activate functional responses by neutrophils from allergic patients sensitized to those allergens. Neutrophils are present at the sites of allergic inflammation. The primary (azurophilic) granules of neutrophils contain a variety of enzymes, such as elastase, that might potentiate inflammation. It is not known whether specific allergens are able to elicit elastase release by neutrophils from allergic patients. In addition, we attempted to evaluate the relationship between neutrophil degranulation and lung function of the patients, measured as FEV(1). METHODS: Neutrophils were challenged in vitro with the specific allergens that produced clinical symptoms in asthmatic patients. The cells were also challenged with allergen to which the patients were not sensitive. Neutrophils from normal subjects were challenged with allergens as control. RESULTS: The in vitro challenge of neutrophils with allergens to which the patients were sensitive elicited a release of elastase by these cells. The in vitro activation of neutrophils was highly allergen specific; allergens other than those accounting for clinical symptoms did not evoke elastase release, and allergens were ineffective on neutrophils from healthy donors. A significant inverse correlation was observed between elastase release and patients' lung function, measured as FEV(1). CONCLUSION: An IgE-dependent mechanism might promote elastase release by neutrophils at allergic sites. There is a significant inverse relationship between levels of elastase released by neutrophils from allergic patients and lung function, as assessed by FEV(1).

Allergens↗

Activation of human neutrophil by cytokine-activated endothelial cells.

Cytokine activation of vascular endothelial cells renders the hyperadhesiveness for neutrophils. During the processes of inflammation and atherosclerosis, the production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils contributes to endothelial cell (EC) damage and injury. However, the precise mechanisms for neutrophil activation by ECs remain unknown. Thus, we investigated what kinds of pathophysiological factors synthesized by inflammatory cytokine-activated ECs potentiated the activity of neutrophil functions. The magnitude of O(2)(-) release from neutrophils, which is one of pivotal neutrophil functions, was measured as an indicator potentiated by activated ECs. Neutrophils release massive amounts of O(2)(-) on coculture with activated ECs. Anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) antibody (Ab) or specific platelet-activating factor (PAF)-receptor antagonist suppressed the O(2)(-) release from neutrophils on coculture with the activated ECs by 50% to 70%. The supernatants from activated ECs also induced O(2)(-) release by neutrophils. This stimulatory effect of activated EC supernatants on O(2)(-) release by neutrophils was abolished by anti-GM-CSF Ab or by PAF-receptor antagonist. As we previously reported, we demonstrated the expression of GM-CSF mRNA by Northern blotting and protein synthesis of GM-CSF by ELISA on tumor necrosis factor as well as interleukin-1-activated ECs. Although phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases was observed in ECs stimulated by tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1, treatment of ECs with PD98059 (MEK1 inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor) in the presence of the cytokine failed to attenuate the stimulatory effect of activated ECs on neutrophil activation. We found that activated ECs regulated neutrophil function on coculture. We show here for the first time, to our knowledge, that the collaboration between GM-CSF and PAF synthesized by activated ECs markedly potentiated neutrophil activation.

Antibodies↗

Activated neutrophils secrete stored alpha 1-antitrypsin.

Neutrophil elastase (NE), a potent serine protease, is stored in primary granules of neutrophils and released following neutrophil activation. Alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT), the major inhibitor of NE, is synthesized by mature neutrophils. In the context of the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, we hypothesized that neutrophils may be able to store alpha 1-AT, thus having it available for release concordantly with NE. Immunofluorescence and quantitative flow-cytometric studies of neutrophils and monocytes labeled with fluorescein-conjugated alpha 1-AT-antibody demonstrated larger amounts of cytoplasmic alpha 1-AT in neutrophils than in monocytes. [35S]methionine-labeling and anti-alpha 1-AT immunoprecipitation analysis showed that although both neutrophils and monocytes synthesize alpha 1-AT, the proportion of newly synthesized intracellular alpha 1-AT was much higher in neutrophils than in monocytes. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that in the presence of surface stimulation with cytochalasin B followed by formyl-methionyleucylphenylalanine (fMLP), mean intracellular alpha 1-AT was decreased in stimulated neutrophils compared with that in resting cells, suggesting that the stored alpha 1-AT was rapidly released following surface triggering. Evaluation of surface-stimulated neutrophils by [35S]methionine labeling and anti-alpha 1-AT immunoprecipitation demonstrated increased secretion of alpha 1-AT compared with that of resting neutrophils, with some of the secreted alpha 1-AT capable of forming complexes with NE. Thus, neutrophils respond to surface stimulation not only by secreting NE but also by secreting its inhibitor, alpha 1-AT, suggesting that these cells have an inherent mechanism for damping the local effects of NE, their most powerful proteolytic enzyme.

Cytochalasin B↗

Disturbed granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor priming of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation and Rac activation in fMLP-stimulated neutrophils from patients with myelodysplasia.

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human neutrophils is imperative for their bactericidal activity. Proinflammatory agents such as granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) can prime ROS production in response to chemoattractants such as N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP). In neutrophils from patients suffering from Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a clonal, hematological disorder characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, this GM-CSF priming is severely impaired. In this study, we set out to further delineate the defects in neutrophils from MDS patients. We examined the effect of GM-CSF priming on fMLP-triggered activation of Rac, a small GTPase implicated in neutrophil ROS production. In contrast to healthy neutrophils, activation of Rac in response to fMLP was not enhanced by GM-CSF pretreatment in MDS neutrophils. Furthermore, activation of Rac was attenuated by pretreatment of neutrophils with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor LY294002. Unlike healthy neutrophils, fMLP-induced accumulation of the PI-3K lipid product PI(3,4,5)trisphosphate was not increased by GM-CSF pretreatment in MDS neutrophils. The disturbed Rac and PI-3K activation observed in MDS neutrophils did not appear to reflect a general GM-CSF or fMLP receptor-signaling defect, as fMLP-triggered Ras activation could be primed by GM-CSF in MDS and healthy neutrophils. Moreover, fMLP-induced activation of the GTPase Ral was also normal in neutrophils from MDS patients. Taken together, our data suggest that in neutrophils from MDS patients, a defect in priming of the PI-3K-Rac signaling pathway, located at the level of PI-3K, results in a decreased GM-CSF priming of ROS production.

Enzyme Activation↗

Evaluation of lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of equine neutrophils.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of equine neutrophils in blood. SAMPLE POPULATION: Blood samples from 5 healthy adult Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURES: Neutrophil integrin (CD11/CD18) expression, size variation, degranulation, and deformability were measured with and without incubation with LPS. Time and concentration studies were done. The mechanism of endotoxin-induced neutrophil activation was investigated by inactivating complement or preincubating neutrophils with inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) synthesis, prostaglandin-leukotriene synthesis, or platelet-activating factor. RESULTS: Incubation of equine neutrophils with LPS increased cell surface expression of CD11/CD18, decreased neutrophil deformability, increased and decreased neutrophil size, and induced neutrophil degranulation. The LPS-induced neutrophil activation was attenuated by addition of inhibitors of TNF-alpha and prostaglandin-leukotriene synthesis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Equine neutrophils are readily activated in vitro by LPS, resulting in increased expression of integrin adhesion molecules, decreased deformability, variation in neutrophil size, and degranulation. The tests used to detect activated neutrophils in this study may be useful in detecting in vivo neutrophil activation in horses with sepsis and endotoxemia.

5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid↗

Conditions under which immobilized platelets activate as well as capture flowing neutrophils.

Immobilized activated platelets present P-selectin and efficiently capture flowing neutrophils. We investigated how the treatment of the platelets affected whether adherent neutrophils rolled continuously or became immobilized. Washed platelets were maintained in a 'resting' state by Ca++ chelation, prostacyclin and theophylline. When these platelets were adhered to glass that had been coated with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APES) they retained discoidal morphology. Compared to a confluent surface of spread platelets prepared by allowing heparinized platelet-rich plasma to settle on APES-glass, 'resting' platelets captured far fewer flowing neutrophils, which rolled rapidly. However, if neutrophils were perfused along with thrombin (>/= 0.2 U/ml), then the resting platelets rapidly changed shape, neutrophil binding increased markedly, rolling velocity decreased, and 40-70% of the neutrophils were immobilized via beta2-integrins. Similar effects could be induced using ADP perfused with the neutrophils. Thrombin did not itself activate neutrophils, and stationary adhesion could also be induced if platelets were treated with thrombin before addition of neutrophils. After thrombin treatment of platelets, rolling adhesion was only fully re-established after a prolonged period of washout. Thus, platelets presented a stable surface-bound agent able to activate neutrophils. Blockade of platelet-activating factor receptor, leukotriene B4 receptor, or CXC-chemokine receptor 1 (CXCR1) on neutrophils did not inhibit conversion from rolling to stationary adhesion, but blockade of CXCR2 maintained a higher proportion of rolling adhesion. Thus, platelets attached to damaged vessels may capture flowing neutrophils, but the stability of neutrophil deposition will depend on the scale of the local generation of platelet agonists such as thrombin and ADP.

Blood Platelets↗

Expression of adhesion molecules on neutrophils of periparturient cows and neonatal calves.

OBJECTIVE: To determine expression of the beta 2-integrin (CD18) family of adhesion molecules and L-selectin (CD62L) on neutrophils from periparturient cows and calves. ANIMALS: 8 periparturient Holstein cows and 9 Holstein calves. PROCEDURE: Constitutive CD18 and CD62L expression on neutrophils was determined by flow cytometry, using specific monoclonal antibodies. Platelet-activating factor was used to activate neutrophils in vitro to measure down-regulation of CD62L and up-regulation of CD18 on activated neutrophils. RESULTS: Mean values for constitutive and platelet-activating factor-stimulated CD18 expression on neutrophils from cows and calves were highest at parturition, then decreased during the first 24 hours after parturition on calf neutrophils, whereas CD62L expression decreased markedly by 9 to 24 hours after parturition on cow and calf neutrophils. Constitutive amounts of CD18 and CD62L on cow neutrophils returned to prepartum values by day 3 after parturition. Amounts of CD18 expression on calves' neutrophils recovered by 1 week of age, but did not reach original birth values, whereas CD62L expression exceeded birth values by day 3 after parturition. Cows had leukocytosis (neutrophilia), with a doubling of circulating neutrophils 9 hours after calving that was inversely correlated with CD62L expression on neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Low amounts of CD62L and CD18 on calf neutrophils and of CD62L on neutrophils from cows for several days after parturition may result in impaired inflammatory response. Low CD62L expression may contribute to increased susceptibility to disease.

Animals↗

Regulation of neutrophil interleukin 8 gene expression and protein secretion by LPS, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta.

Neutrophils are possibly involved in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases through the release of numerous mediators. In the present study, we studied the regulation of IL-8 gene induction and protein secretion in human blood neutrophils. Northern blot analysis revealed that LPS increased IL-8 mRNA levels in neutrophils, with a maximal fivefold increase by 2 h. IL-8 mRNa levels returned to baseline values within 12 h. In contrast, LPS-stimulated monocytes demonstrated a sustained increase of IL-8 mRNA levels for more than 24 h. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and phorbol myristate acetate also increased IL-8 mRNA levels in neutrophils. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that IL-8 was localized within stimulated neutrophils. IL-8 secretion by neutrophils and monocytes was quantified using a specific ELISA for IL-8. Resting neutrophils secreted minimal IL-8 activity. However when cells were stimulated with LPS, TNF-alpha, or IL-1B, neutrophils secreted IL-8. IL-8 secretion was most marked during the first 2 h after stimulation and decreased thereafter. In contrast, monocytes maintained a high rate of IL-8 secretion over 12 h. Although a single monocyte secreted 70-fold more IL-8 than did a single neutrophil after 4 h of incubation, the high abundance of neutrophils in peripheral blood made the neutrophil-secreted IL-8 more significant. During the first 2 h, neutrophils secreted approximately 40% of the IL-8 released by monocytes in the same volume of blood. This ratio decreased to 9% after 12 h. Neutrophil-secreted IL-8 may play an autocrine or paracrine role during the initial stage of inflammation.

Cells, Cultured↗

Infusion of zymosan-activated plasma affects neutrophils in peripheral blood and bone marrow in sheep.

Intravenous infusion of zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP) in sheep results in acute lung injury mediated in part by free radical release from stimulated neutrophils that are retained in increased numbers in the pulmonary microcirculation. ZAP infusion is also associated with long-term reduction in elicited superoxide anion generation from segmented neutrophils in the circulating and bone marrow pools for at least 24 h after the infusion. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of ZAP infusion on leukocyte counts and neutrophil granule-associated enzyme activity in the circulating and bone marrow pools. Cytochemical methods were used to characterize enzyme activity in primary granules (acid phosphatase and myeloperoxidase) and secondary granules (alkaline phosphatase). During the infusion period, neutrophil differential counts decreased less in venous blood than in matched arterial blood. Release from bone marrow stores was evident as increased numbers of circulating band neutrophils during and after the infusion. Neutrophils in venous and arterial blood smears were degranulated acutely during and 1-3 h after the infusion was stopped. Band and segmented neutrophils in bone marrow also appeared slightly degranulated 1-2 h after the infusion. In vitro experiments showed that band and segmented neutrophils in bone marrow degranulated in response to ZAP incubation. Immature polymorphonuclear leukocytes did not degranulate. Five to 24 h after ZAP infusion, enzyme activity in circulating and bone marrow neutrophils was at baseline levels, suggesting that new cells were being released into the circulating pool because degranulated neutrophils do not synthesize new granules. Another indication of a long-term effect in bone marrow were slight decreases in the percentage of immature polymorphonuclear leukocytes and band neutrophils and a significant decrease in the percentage of eosinophils, all of which coincided with a significant increase in the percentage of segmented neutrophils. Our results demonstrate that circulating complement anaphylatoxins affect neutrophils in bone marrow as well as the vascular space.

Anesthesia↗

CD66a, CD66b, CD66c, and CD66d each independently stimulate neutrophils.

Four members of the carcinoembryonic antigen family, CD66a, CD66b, CD66c, and CD66d, are expressed on human neutrophils. In neutrophils these proteins are activation antigens in that their surface expression is increased following stimulation. To examine their potential role in neutrophil signaling, the effects on neutrophil adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells of a panel of well-characterized CD66 mAbs was tested. CD66a, CD66b, CD66c, and CD66d antibodies each increased neutrophil adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers. This increase in neutrophil adhesion caused by CD66 antibodies was blocked by a CD18 antibody and associated with up-regulation of CD11/CD18 on the neutrophil surface. This increase in neutrophil adhesion required physiological extracellular calcium concentrations at or near the time of CD66 antibody binding to the neutrophil. The incubation of CD66 antibodies with neutrophils in the absence of calcium for 10 min before repletion of calcium resulted in no increase in neutrophil adhesion. The data suggest that CD66a, CD66b, CD66c, and CD66d antibody binding to the neutrophil surface triggers a transient activation signal that requires extracellular calcium and regulates the adhesive activity of CD11/CD18. Sequential desensitization experiments indicated that CD66a, CD66b, CD66c, and CD66d can each independently transmit signals in neutrophils.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Two patterns of early neutrophil accumulation in acute inflammatory lesions.

A model of acute inflammation in the skin of sheep was developed using [111In]oxine-labeled neutrophils to quantify the accumulation of neutrophils in inflammatory lesions. Peak accumulation occurred during the first hour in lesions induced by zymosan-activated sheep plasma (ZAP, 100%) and during the second hour in lesions induced by endotoxin (10(-11) moles) and casein (2 x 10(-8) moles). The accumulation of neutrophils after the final stimulus diminished when lesions were restimulated every 2 h on two or more occasions. Thus desensitization of inflammatory lesions previously observed in rabbit skin is not restricted to that species. The early accumulation of neutrophils in primary and restimulated lesions was measured in lesions from 10 min to 2 h old. In primary lesions, ZAP induced significant neutrophil accumulation by 10 min, whereas 30 to 45 min elapsed before significant neutrophil accumulation occurred in lesions induced with endotoxin and casein. The initial responses in restimulated lesions were not diminished, but there was a failure of neutrophil accumulation to continue for as long as occurred in primary lesions. This finding indicates that regulation of the neutrophil influx into dermal inflammatory lesions may occur at a point after occupancy of the putative tissue receptors in the pathway which leads to accumulation of neutrophils at the injection site. The results indicate that there are at least two patterns of neutrophil accumulation in primary inflammatory lesions. The delayed pattern of neutrophil accumulation induced by casein and endotoxin resembles the enhanced binding of neutrophils to stimulated endothelial cultures in vitro, whereas the basis for the immediate response induced by ZAP remains conjectural. It is proposed that the primary action of chemotactic agents may be to provoke changes in the adhesive properties of endothelium and resident connective tissue cells thus permitting the migration of neutrophils into inflammatory lesions.

Acute Disease↗

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents inhibit stimulated neutrophil adhesion to endothelium: adenosine dependent and independent mechanisms.

All nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit neutrophil aggregation (homotypic cell-cell adhesion) and do so without affecting expression of CD11b/CD18. Since the first step in acute inflammation is a critical interaction between neutrophils and the vascular endothelium (heterotypic cell-cell adhesion), we determined whether NSAIDs diminish the adherence of neutrophils to the endothelium. At antiinflammatory concentrations (0.5-5 mM) sodium salicylate, an NSAID that does not inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, inhibited stimulated but not unstimulated neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells (IC50 < 1 mM, P < 0.00001). Salicylates have previously been shown to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation and, predictably, sodium salicylate inhibited oxidative phosphorylation, as evidenced by depletion of ATP stores (875 +/- 75 pmol/10(6) PMN, [2.92 +/- 0.25 mM]) in stimulated (FMLP, 0.1 microM) but not resting neutrophils treated with antiinflammatory doses of sodium salicylate (EC50 = 1 mM, P < 0.00001). Indomethacin and piroxicam (10 and 30 microM) only minimally decreased ATP concentrations in stimulated and resting neutrophils. ATP is metabolized to adenosine, and we have previously demonstrated that both endogenously released (180-200 nM) and exogenous adenosine (IC50 = 250 nM) inhibit stimulated neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells. To determine whether the increased metabolism of ATP and the resultant increase in adenosine release were responsible for inhibition of neutrophil adhesion to endothelium, we determined whether addition of adenosine deaminase (ADA, 0.125 IU/ml), an enzyme that converts extracellular adenosine to its inactive metabolite, inosine, affected inhibition of neutrophil adhesion to endothelium by stimulated neutrophils. ADA significantly reversed inhibition of neutrophil adherence to endothelium by sodium salicylate (0.5-5 mM, P < 0.00001). This suggests that sodium salicylate inhibits neutrophil adherence by increasing adenosine release. Whereas indomethacin and piroxicam (10-50 microM) also inhibited stimulated neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells, ADA did not affect their inhibition of adherence. These studies demonstrate a heretofore unexpected antiinflammatory mechanism for salicylates: salicylates increase ATP hydrolysis and thereby enhance release of adenosine. Moreover, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that NSAIDs differ from one another with respect to their mechanisms of action.

Adenosine↗

Effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on human neutrophil adherence in vitro.

We measured the effects of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on the adherence of human neutrophils by using a dacron fiber system to assay the adhesive ability of neutrophils. rhG-CSF enhanced neutrophil adherence to dacron fibers. N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) induced neutrophil-neutrophil interaction (neutrophil aggregation) in addition to neutrophil-dacron interaction, whereas rhG-CSF did not cause neutrophil aggregation. These results indicated that rhG-CSF increases the adhesive ability of neutrophils without neutrophil-neutrophil interaction, and the action of rhG-CSF in neutrophil activation is different from the neutrophil activation caused by fMLP.

Cell Adhesion↗

Effects of ex vivo manipulation on the expression of cell adhesion molecules on neutrophils.

In vitro studies of neutrophil adhesion generally utilise purified populations and are often performed at 37 degrees C. This study determines the effects of temperature changes and neutrophil separation procedures on the expression of cell adhesion molecules on neutrophils. We found that neutrophil separation procedures involving erythrocyte sedimentation and hypotonic lysis are associated with a significant increase in the expression of both a structural and functional epitope of the beta 2 integrin CD11b, an increase in the expression of sialyl Lewisx (CD15s) and the hyaluronate receptor (CD44) as well as a significant decrease in L-selectin (CD62L) expression. Separated neutrophils are also more resistant than unseparated neutrophils to PMA induced upregulation of a functional epitope of CD11b. Incubating neutrophils at 37 degrees C is associated with increases in the expression of structural and functional epitopes of CD11b. Neutrophil separation is also associated with increases in the expression of both structural and functional epitopes of CD11b which is greater when neutrophil separation is performed at room temperature compared with neutrophil separation at 0-4 degrees C. However, this difference is lost when the latter are incubated at 37 degrees C. Furthermore, neutrophil separation at both 0-4 degrees C and room temperature is associated with a significant increase in CD15s expression. This increase is less when separation is performed at room temperature. These findings suggest that neutrophil separation should be performed at room temperature unless the cells are going to be used at 0-4 degrees C. Researchers using purified neutrophil populations need to be aware of these significant structural and functional changes when extrapolating in vitro results to in vivo situations.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Thromboxane mediates neutrophil superoxide production in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: We recently reported that activation of neutrophils obtained from pregnant women resulted in production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by a thromboxane- and cyclooxygenase-2- dependent mechanism. Activated neutrophils also generate reactive oxygen species such as the superoxide anion, which can lead to oxidative damage of biomolecules. In this study, we tested the possibility that thromboxane plays a role in neutrophil superoxide generation in pregnancy via cyclooxygenase-2 by inhibiting key enzymes in the pathway leading to its synthesis. STUDY DESIGN: Neutrophils were isolated from normal pregnant women and incubated for 2 hours in phosphate-buffered saline with glucose alone or with treatments. Experiment 1 treatments were: (1) indomethacin at a dose sufficient to inhibit phospholipase A2 (100 microM); (2) aspirin (100 microM), a cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor; (3) NS-398 (10 microM), a specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor; (4) nordihydroguaiaretic acid (10 microM), a lipoxygenase inhibitor; and (5) pinane thromboxane, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor. Experiment 2 treatments were arachidonic acid (50 microM and 100 microM) and arachidonic acid (100 microM) alone or in combination with phorbol myristic acid plus varying doses of pinane thromboxane (5 microM to 100 microM). RESULTS: Indomethacin inhibited superoxide production to one fourth of control. Aspirin, NS-398, and pinane thromboxane also significantly decreased neutrophil superoxide production. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid had no significant affect on neutrophil superoxide generation. Arachidonic acid stimulated superoxide generation by neutrophils, and this was inhibited by pinane thromboxane in a dose-dependent manner. Pinane thromboxane also significantly inhibited superoxide production by neutrophils exposed to arachidonic acid plus phorbol myristic acid, a known activator of neutrophils. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that thromboxane is involved in the production of superoxide by neutrophils obtained from pregnant women. Neutrophil superoxide generation is significantly decreased by inhibition of thromboxane synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, or phospholipase A2. NS-398 inhibits neutrophil superoxide generation as effectively as aspirin, suggesting that cyclooxygenase-2 plays an important role in neutrophil superoxide production mediated by thromboxane.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Comparison of respiratory burst activity of inflammatory neutrophils in ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) and carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Neutrophils of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) were previously shown to have unusually high respiratory burst activity (RBA). To understand this unique character of ayu neutrophils, the RBAs of resting and inflammatory neutrophils of ayu and carp (Cyprinus carpio) were compared. Inflammation was induced in the peritoneal cavity by injecting killed-bacteria. The RBA of peritoneal-exudate (inflammatory) neutrophils was measured after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Resting neutrophils were obtained from kidney and blood of non-injected fish. In carp, the RBA of inflammatory neutrophils was much higher than that of resting neutrophils. On the other hand, in ayu no significant difference was observed. The RBA of neutrophils was already high in the kidney stock. The process of inflammation did not further enhance RBA. In addition to PMA, other stimulants (zymosan, opsonized-zymosan, and zymosan-treated serum) were used to measure RBA. Even with these stimulants, the RBA of inflammatory neutrophils was always higher than that of kidney neutrophils in carp. On the other hand in ayu, the RBA of kidney neutrophils was already high in the kidney stock, and no significant difference was observed between peritoneal and kidney neutrophils in ayu. These results indicate ayu neutrophils have spontaneously activated characteristics with the respect to the ROS generation in the kidney hematopoietic-stock.

Animals↗

Inhibition by dipyridamole of neutrophil adhesion to vascular endothelium during coronary bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Release of reactive oxygen radicals by activated neutrophils and neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells have been observed after cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative dipyridamole treatment on neutrophil superoxide anion generation and endothelial cell-neutrophil interactions. METHODS: Two groups of patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to receive oral dipyridamole or a placebo. Nitro blue tetrazolium scores of circulating neutrophils, neutrophil CD11b/CD18 expression, and their adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells were assayed before anesthesia, 30 minutes after the beginning of cardiopulmonary bypass, at the end of bypass, and 60 minutes postoperatively. RESULTS: In both groups, cardiopulmonary bypass resulted in a significant increase in nitro blue tetrazolium scores in circulating neutrophils as well as a significant increase in both neutrophil CD11b/CD18 expression and neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells. The extent of neutrophil superoxide anion generation was higher in the control group; a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells was observed 1 hour postoperatively in the dipyridamole group. In 5 patients treated with dipyridamole, the incubation of activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes with adenosine deaminase significantly increased their adhesion to endothelial cells (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that preoperative treatment with oral dipyridamole significantly reduces both neutrophil superoxide anion generation and extent of neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells after coronary bypass grafting procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass. The mechanism is probably mediated by endogenous adenosine.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Impaired neutrophil microbicidal activity in rat cholestasis.

BACKGROUND: Previously, we have documented impaired neutrophil recruitment to inflammatory sites in cholestatic rats. However, there may be additional neutrophil defects that could account for the increased incidence of septic complications in cholestatic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate neutrophil functional defects in cholestasis. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were either bile duct resected (BDR) or sham resected (sham). Five days after surgery, peripheral blood neutrophils were assayed for bacterial killing, phagocytic activity, superoxide anion (O2-) production, and degranulation. RESULTS: BDR neutrophils showed several functional defects. An in vitro killing of Staphylococcus aureus (5 x 10(6) CFU/mL) showed that BDR neutrophils were less efficient at killing bacteria than sham neutrophils. Furthermore, bacterial killing by sham and BDR neutrophils was significantly attenuated in the presence of BDR sera. Phagocytosis and neutrophil degranulation did not seem to contribute to impaired killing in BDR neutrophils. However, a rightward shift was observed in the dose-response curve of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated BDR neutrophil O2- production. CONCLUSIONS: O2- generation and bacterial killing are depressed in BDR neutrophils, and BDR sera appear to accentuate the defect in BDR neutrophil bacterial killing. These defects may contribute to lowered resistance to microbial invasion in cholestasis.

Animals↗