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Effect of hypersensitivity on protein uptake across the air-blood barrier of isolated rabbit lungs.

In previous studies with isolated perfused rabbit lungs, we observed that human serum albumin (HSA) and ovalbumin, introduced into the isolated lungs as an aerosol, entered the pulmonary circulation antigenically intact. The "inhaled" proteins were also broken down in the lung. When lungs from animals immunized with one protein inhaled the two proteins simultaneously, absorption of intact antigen was specifically reduced, and there was a nonspecific increase in the appearance of metabolites of both proteins in the blood. In the present study, we investigated the antigen-specific and nonspecific effects of two types of hypersensitivity responses on protein absorption across the air-blood barrier of isolated rabbit lungs. In one group of lungs, an acute hypersensitivity response was induced by introducing HSA into the blood perfusing lungs from HSA-immunized rabbits. In another, the rabbits had been previously exposed to chronic HSA aerosol until their lungs exhibited a chronic immunologic inflammatory response. Lungs from both groups were insufflated simultaneously with HSA, and a nonspecific protein, ovalbumin. Lungs in which the acute anaphylactic response was induced showed no alteration in the absorption of either intact protein compared with HSA-immunized controls, but absorbed a somewhat larger quantity of breakdown products of the specific antigen. Lungs undergoing the chronic alveolar inflammation were more permeable to nonspecific protein than were noninflamed lungs. Despite the increased permeability to nonspecific protein, the absorption of antigen was blocked as effectively as in immune but noninflamed controls. In these chronically inflamed lungs, the absorption of antigen breakdown products was enhanced. The results indicate that both immunologic and inflammatory mechanisms may control the amounts of inhaled soluble proteins that reach the blood via the alveolocapillary barrier. Alterations in the absorption of inhaled proteins and their metabolites across the air-blood barrier during certain types of hypersensitivity responses may be of immunologic and pathologic significance.

Absorption↗

Cellular uptake of albumin from lungs of anesthetized rabbits.

Resolution of alveolar edema depends on clearance of serum protein, as well as liquid from the alveolar space. Protein clearance is slower than liquid clearance and may take days to weeks. Our earlier studies presented evidence for the importance of paracellular removal of soluble protein from the air spaces. However, long-term protein clearance may also depend on uptake by alveolar epithelial cells or macrophages. This study examined cellular uptake of soluble human albumin and insoluble colloidal gold-albumin from the lungs of anesthetized rabbits. Native albumin was endocytosed by both alveolar type I and type II cells and appeared in vesicles and endosomes. Neither cell type took up colloidal gold-albumin over periods as long as 8 h. Alveolar macrophages took up native albumin and colloidal gold-albumin to a greater extent and more rapidly than alveolar epithelial cells. The tracer proteins were found in vesicles, endosomes, and phagolysosomes. Similarly, cultured alveolar macrophages took up native albumin more rapidly than cultured type II cells. Thus macrophages may be important in clearing precipitated protein from the air spaces, and they may have a role in completing the clearance of soluble protein. The potential for transepithelial transport of soluble alveolar protein exists, but based on this work and our prior studies, it appears to be a low-capacity pathway.

Animals↗

Catalase prevents increased lung vascular permeability during air emboli in unanesthetized sheep.

We studied the effects of bovine catalase on increased lung vascular permeability to fluid and protein during air emboli in unanesthetized sheep. Pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures, cardiac output, lung lymph flow, lymph and plasma protein concentrations, arterial PO2, and numbers of arterial leukocytes were measured in paired experiments in which each sheep served as its own control. We found an increase in protein-rich lung lymph flow during embolization in untreated sheep, indicating an increase in microvascular permeability. When sheep were pretreated with intraperitoneal injections of catalase (50 mg/kg divided over the 24 h before air infusion), vascular pressures, arterial PO2, and leukocyte counts were not different from when the sheep were untreated, but the expected increases in transvascular fluid and protein flow during emboli were significantly attenuated (by approximately 50%). This effect required catalase enzyme activity, as demonstrated by the failure of enzymatically inactivated catalase (by reaction in vitro with aminotriazole in the presence of H2O2) or catalase vehicle (0.1% thymol in water) to affect the lung lymph response to air emboli. We conclude that H2O2 plays a role in the pathogenesis of the acute lung injury caused by intravenous air infusions into unanesthetized sheep. Because both catalase and superoxide dismutase have protected sheep lungs from air emboli-induced increased vascular permeability, a possible specific cause of microvascular barrier injury could be hydroxyl radicals formed from reactions between H2O2 and superoxide anion.

Animals↗

Oxidative inactivation of the molybdenum-iron-protein component of nitrogenase from clostridium pasteurianum.

The sensitivity of the molybdenum-iron(MoFe)-protein of Clostridium pasteurianum nitrogenase toward oxidation has been studied by determining the enzymatic activity of this component after incubating it anaerobically in ferricyanide solutions of various oxidizing strengths (as measured by their oxidation potentials). It was found that the MoFe-protein remains active at potentials up to +350 mV (vs. standard hydrogen electrode) but becomes readily inactivated at more oxidizing potentials, after a lag period, depending on the potential level and temperature. Oxidative inactivation by ferricyanide results in the release of most of the Mo, Fe and S atoms from the protein which causes the loss of the absorption bands in the visible region. The metals and sulfur could be re-incorporated by incubation in a mixture containing thiol, sulfide, molybdate, and ferric iron. The EPR spectrum of the oxidatively inactivated MoFe-protein showed that both the high- and low-field signals are readily affected. Re-incorporation of the metals and sulfur into the "bleached" protein produced an EPR spectrum similar to that of the air-inactivated protein. Incubation of the Mo-Fe-protein with mersalyl abolished its enzymic activity. The difference spectrum before and after mersalyl treatment resembles that of the soluble spinach ferredoxin.

Clostridium↗

A new type of temperature-dependent serum M protein: a case of IgG-lambda type multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of temperature-dependent serum M protein (thermoprotein), monoclonal IgG(1)-lambda protein isolated from 90-year-old female with advanced multiple myeloma. METHODS: M protein was identified in the blood plasma of the patient by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP). To evaluate the types of bonds, the properties of the protein after reduction and chemical treatment were examined. RESULTS: This protein was irreversibly precipitated at or above room temperature when exposed in the air. This protein was redissolved by 30 mmol/l dithiothreitol, 4 mol/l urea, or 8 mmol/l EDTA. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike other immunoglobulins reported to date, this data suggests that hydrogen, disulfide, and ionic bonds are involved in the temperature-dependent precipitation of this M protein.

Aged↗

Neutron and X-ray reflectivity studies of human serum albumin adsorption onto functionalized surfaces of self-assembled monolayers.

Neutron and X-ray reflectivity (NR and XR) have been widely used for the investigation of the structure of thin organic films. Here we demonstrate how these sensitive techniques may be applied to the study of protein adsorption to well-characterized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with different chemical functionalities. NR can be used for in situ study, while XR provides complementary information on the initial surfaces and dried layers measured in air after protein has been adsorbed. In situ measurements of adsorption of human serum albumin onto a hydrophilic NH2-terminated monolayer clearly show the presence of a thin layer of adsorbed protein next to the SAM. Adsorption of albumin onto a hydrophobic, deuterated, CD3-terminated SAM causes even bigger changes in the NR. Upon replacing the protein solution with protein-free buffer solution, the reflectivities from both kinds of monolayers do not change, demonstrating that the albumin adsorption is irreversible after several hours of contact with the protein solution. X-ray reflectivity measurements of dried substrates performed ex situ in air provide a lower bound estimate of the amount of protein which must be at the interface in situ. This combination of techniques provides a uniquely sensitive approach for studying changes that occur upon protein adsorption at an interface.

Adsorption↗

Evaluation of the potential of air jet milling of solid protein-poly(acrylate) complexes for microparticle preparation.

It was the aim of this study to evaluate the potential of air jet milling for the preparation of protein-loaded microparticles in industrial quantities. The model protein horseradish peroxidase was incorporated via co-precipitation in carbomer (NaC934P) (1:100) and a poly(methacrylate) (Eudragit L100-55) (1:100) used as carrier matrix. Co-precipitation of the model protein and each polymer in aqueous solution was achieved either by a pH-shift or by the addition of various non-solvents. Dried protein/polymer complexes (desiccator under vacuumization at 4 degrees C with silica blue gel) were ground with an air jet mill and resulting microparticles were investigated regarding protein load, remaining protein activity, size distribution and shape. Results of this study showed that the polymer used and the method of co-precipitation has a great impact on protein load. Using carbomer a maximum protein load of 60 +/- 1% was achieved, whereas in case of Eudragit L100-55 the maximum was 78 +/- 5% (means +/- SD; n = 3-4). Using petroleum ether, isopropanol or tetrahydrofurane as non-solvents led to significantly higher protein loads than a pH-shift from 7 to 5, 4 and 3.5, respectively. Determination of the remaining protein activity after milling showed, that the grinding air pressure (GAP) has a major impact on protein stability. In case of Eudragit L100-55 at a GAP of 4.5 bar peroxidase activity was almost completely lost, whereas 42 +/- 1% loss in activity was determined at a GAP of 2.5 bar. The mean particle size of protein/carbomer and protein/poly(methacrylate) particles was determined to be 3.6-5.2 and 4.5-8.7 microm at a GAP of 2.5 bar and 2.7-3.1 and 2.4-3.1 microm at a GAP of 4.5 bar, respectively. Generally, 90% of all particles were in the range of 3-16 microm. All particles were of spherical shape exhibiting a non-porous surface. According to these results, air jet milling seems to represent a novel method for the large-scale production of protein drug loaded microparticles.

Acrylic Resins↗

Low conservation of alternative splicing patterns in the human and mouse genomes.

Alternative splicing has recently emerged as a major mechanism of generating protein diversity in higher eukaryotes. We compared alternative splicing isoforms of 166 pairs of orthologous human and mouse genes. As the mRNA and EST libraries of human and mouse are not complete and thus cannot be compared directly, we instead analyzed whether known cassette exons or alternative splicing sites from one genome are conserved in the other genome. We demonstrate that about half of the analyzed genes have species-specific isoforms, and about a quarter of elementary alternatives are not conserved between the human and mouse genomes. The detailed results of this study are available at www.ig-msk.ru:8005/HMG_paper.

Alternative Splicing↗

Effect of mutation of cysteinyl residues in yeast Cu-metallothionein.

Metallothioneins have been isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae CUP1 mutants generated by Wright et al. (Wright, C. F., Hamer, D. H., and McKenney, K. (1986) Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 8489-8499). In the mutant metallothioneins, pairs of cysteinyl residues have been converted to seryl residues. The mutant proteins differ only in the positions of the double substitutions; each mutant molecule contains 10 cysteinyl residues. Each mutant protein lacks the first 8 residues at the amino terminus from the decoded gene sequence of the CUP1 locus. Mutant molecules consist of 53 residues analogous to the wild-type metallothionein and are designated 9/11, 24/26, 36/38, and 49/50 (in reference to the sequence positions of the Cys----Ser conversions). The properties of the mutant metallothioneins are vastly different, and host cells harboring the different plasmid-encoded mutant molecules show marked differences in sensitivity to CuSO4. Growth inhibition was observed at CuSO4 concentrations up to mM in cells containing the 9/11, 24/26, and 36/38 molecules, but not for cells containing protein 49/50. A CuSO4 concentration of 5 mM was required to inhibit the growth of yeast containing either 49/50 or the wild-type metallothionein. In the purified proteins the copper binding stoichiometry of each molecule, except protein 24/26, was nearly 8 mol eq. Protein 24/26 bound 5.5 copper ions/molecule. The Cu(I) chelator bathocuproine disulfonate reacted with over 50% of the copper ions in proteins 9/11, 24/26, and 36/38, but less than 10% of the copper ions in proteins 49/50 and wild-type metallothionein were reactive. The thiolates in 9/11, 24/26, and 36/38 were also more reactive in a disulfide exchange reaction with dithiodipyridine compared with the sulfhydryls in 49/50 and the wild-type molecules. The four mutant copper proteins are luminescent and exhibit a similar quantum yield. The cluster structures contributing to the particular electronic transitions are markedly more sensitive to oxygen in proteins 9/11, 24/26, and 36/38 compared with 49/50 and the wild-type molecules. The air-sensitive proteins exhibit a tertiary fold not recognized by polyclonal antibodies directed to a conformational epitope on yeast Cu-metallothionein. Protein 49/50 cross-reacts with the antibody in a concentration-dependent fashion similar to the wild-type protein. Mutation of 2 cysteinyl residues in the carboxyl portion of metallothionein does not significantly alter properties of the molecule, whereas mutation of several cysteines in the amino-terminal portion of the molecule yields a different conformation.

Carrier Proteins↗

Combined surface pressure-interfacial shear rheology studies of the interaction of proteins with spread phospholipid monolayers at the air-water interface.

The adsorption of two model proteins, catalase and lysozyme, to phospholipid monolayers spread at the air-water interface has been studied using a combined surface pressure-interfacial shear rheology technique. Monolayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (DPPG) and DPPC:DPPG (7:3) were spread on a phosphate buffer air-water interface at pH 7.4. Protein solutions were introduced to the subphase and the resultant changes in surface pressure and interfacial storage and loss moduli were recorded with time. The results show that catalase readily adsorbs to all the phospholipid monolayers investigated, inducing a transition from liquid-like to gel-like rheological behaviour in the process. The changes in surface rheology as a result of the adsorption of catalase increase in the order DPPC<DPPC:DPPG<DPPG. Lysozyme behaves in a similar manner beneath a DPPG monolayer, but shows no measurable differences when injected beneath DPPC or the DPPC:DPPG (7:3) mixed monolayer. It is proposed that DPPG monolayers are more susceptible to penetration by adsorbing protein molecules. The interaction between DPPG and lysozyme is further enhanced due to electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged DPPG and the positively charged lysozyme.

Adsorption↗

Damage of amino acids and proteins induced by nitrogen dioxide, a free radical toxin, in air.

Damage of amino acids and proteins induced by nitrogen dioxide, a free radical toxin in polluted air, was investigated. When nitrogen dioxide (30-90 ppm) in air was exposed to a solution of an amino acid at pH 7.5 for several hours, tryptophan and tyrosine were damaged. Degradation of tryptophan was accompanied by formation of a nitroindole derivative. Decrease of tyrosine was accompanied by formation of 3-nitrotyrosine and fluorescent dityrosine. When nitrogen dioxide was exposed to a solution of bovine serum albumin, human gamma-globulin and bovine eye lens alpha-crystallin, the proteins were crosslinked by nondisulfide bonds. Tryptophan and tyrosine residues in the proteins were extensively decreased, and significant amounts of 3-nitrotyrosine and fluorescent dityrosine were formed. The modification of the proteins with nitrogen dioxide in air may have toxicological significance. Because fluorescent dityrosine is detected in a wide variety of natural proteins, nitrogen dioxide may play a role in its occurrence in natural proteins.

Air Pollutants↗

Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway controls autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene expression in granulo-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-stimulated myelomonocytic leukemia OTC-4 cells.

Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene is a responsible gene for the rare autosomal recessive autoimmune disease: autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). Although it has been reported that AIRE is expressed in the thymic epithelial cells and monocyte-dendritic cell lineage, the regulatory mechanisms of AIRE gene expression have as yet been poorly understood. Here we show that the expression of AIRE gene was induced in granulo-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-stimulated myelomonocytic leukemia OTC-4 cells. In GM-CSF-stimulated OTC-4 cells, stat5 was not phosphorylated, while mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including MAPK kinase (MEK) 1/2 and p38 MAPK, were phosphorylated, indicating activation of MAPK pathway. In addition, the expression of AIRE gene was inhibited by specific p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), whereas the expression was rather enhanced by the MEK1/2 inhibitor (U0126), suggesting that AIRE gene expression is regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Cells, Cultured↗