Neutrophil-mediated damage to human vascular endothelium. Role of cytokine activation.

Cytokine activation of cultured human vascular endothelial cells renders them hyperadhesive for blood leukocytes. Co-incubation of freshly isolated, unstimulated human blood neutrophils with confluent cytokine-activated human endothelial monolayers for 90 minutes results in extensive endothelial detachment and destruction of monolayer integrity. In contrast, unactivated endothelial monolayers remain intact. Using this in vitro model, we have explored the neutrophil-effector mechanisms involved in this injury. Coincubation in the presence of a serine protease inhibitor (phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride) or specific elastase inhibitors (Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-chloromethyl ketone or alpha-1-protease inhibitor) markedly diminished injury. In contrast, scavengers or inhibitors of oxygen-derived free radicals (superoxide dismutase, catalase, mannitol, or sodium azide) were not protective. Purified human neutrophil elastase mimicked the effect of the neutrophils suggesting a key role for elastase in the neutrophil-mediated injury in this model. Interfering with direct neutrophil-endothelial cell contact by interposing a microporous barrier insert prevented endothelial cell detachment. Furthermore, this neutrophil-mediated detachment could be inhibited with interleukin-8, an action correlated with a decrease in neutrophil adhesion to activated endothelial monolayers. By defining the role of endothelial activation in neutrophil-mediated injury, this in vitro model may provide useful insights into potential therapeutic interventions designed to prevent disruption of the endothelial barrier function.     

Response of the rabbit VH subgroups a and y following antigenic stimulation.

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated neutrophils were found to destroy B lymphoblast tumour cells (Raji) as determined by the 51Cr release assay. The target cell lysis was prevented by azide, suggesting the involvement of the myeloperoxidase enzyme. Catalase and cytochrome c caused a marked impairment of the neutrophil-mediated cytolysis, whereas superoxide dismutase significantly enhanced the target cell destruction. These data indicate that hydrogen peroxide plays a key role in the target cell injury; superoxide anion appears to be devoid of direct cytotoxic activity, despite its requirement as a precursor of hydrogen peroxide. The target cell destruction required the presence of the iodide ion as oxidizable co-factor for the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide system. The chloride ion alone was uneffective. Inhibition of target cell metabolic pathways, involved in the cellular defences against oxidative injury, by the anti-neoplastic agent 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosurea (BCNU) resulted in an increased neutrophil-mediated cytolysis. Under the experimental conditions employed, PMA-activated neutrophils incubated with BCNU-treated Raji cells became cytotoxic also in the presence of the chloride ion alone as myeloperoxidase co-factor. Our results suggest that Raji target cell destruction by PMA-activated neutrophils depends on the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide system. The cytolytic event is influenced by target cells themselves, which should be regarded as an active component of the cytotoxic system, capable of interfering with the lytic mediators of the effector cells.     

Eosinophil- and eosinophil granule-mediated pneumocyte injury

The function of the eosinophil in eosinophilic pulmonary syndromes and asthma is uncertain. To determine if eosinophils might play a harmful role in these conditions, we cocultured purified human eosinophils, eosinophil major basic protein (MBP), and chromatographically eluted eosinophil granule fractions with human A549 and rat type II pneumocytes. Damage to these target cells was measured as cell lysis and nonlethal cell detachment. We found that unstimulated intact eosinophils affected minimal lysis or detachment of either pneumocyte target, but eosinophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and other activators produced time- and dose-dependent nonlytic detachment of both targets. In contrast, supernatants from activated eosinophils did not produce significant injury, suggesting that close apposition of the effector and target cells was required. Catalase and superoxide dismutase did not inhibit the detaching activity of eosinophils, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion were not activity of eosinophils, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion were not responsible for mediating this form of injury. In contrast to our findings with intact eosinophils, we observed that the addition of purified eosinophil MBP to pneumocytes caused marked cytolysis with little detachment. When sequential fractions of eosinophil granules separated by Sephadex G-50 chromatography were added to A549 and rat type II pneumocyte targets, it was found that different fractions produced distinct forms of injury. Higher molecular weight fractions containing lysosomal enzymes and eosinophil peroxidase produced predominantly detachment, whereas fractions enriched in MBP produced lysis. These results indicate that intact eosinophils can produce nonlytic detachment of alveolar pneumocytes that is probably not dependent on the generation of toxic oxygen radicals but rather appears to be mediated by granule-associated products, possibly lysosomal enzymes. Furthermore, although intact eosinophils are not capable of lysing alveolar epithelial cells under the conditions of our assay, MBP has the potential to do so when the protein is released in high enough concentrations. The in vivo relevance of these findings in eosinophilic lung diseases may be that eosinophils, by producing both desquamation and death of alveolar epithelium cells, may increase the permeability of the alveolus to fluid and cells. Moreover, these forms of damage might also enhance the ingress of inhaled antigens across the pulmonary epithelial barrier, thus increasing immunologic sensitization.     

Oxidative stress and vascular remodelling

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of vascular diseases. Reactive oxygen species, especially superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, are important signalling molecules in cardiovascular cells. Enhanced superoxide production increases nitric oxide inactivation and leads to an accumulation of peroxynitrites and hydrogen peroxide. Reactive oxygen species participate in growth, apoptosis and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, in the modulation of endothelial function, including endothelium-dependent relaxation and expression of proinflammatory phenotype, and in the modification of the extracellular matrix. All these events play important roles in vascular diseases such as hypertension, suggesting that the sources of reactive oxygen species and the signalling pathways that they modify may represent important therapeutic targets. Potential sources of vascular superoxide production include NADPH-dependent oxidases, xanthine oxidases, lipoxygenases, mitochondrial oxidases and nitric oxide synthases. Studies performed during the last decade have shown that NADPH oxidase is the most important source of superoxide anion in phagocytic and vascular cells. Evidence from experimental animal and human studies suggests a significant role of NADPH oxidase activation in the vascular remodelling and endothelial dysfunction found in cardiovascular diseases.     

DNA strand break formation following exposure of bovine pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells to reactive oxygen products.

Experiments were performed to investigate the hypothesis that exposure of vascular endothelial cells to low levels of reduced oxygen products results in DNA strand breakage as an early event and to determine if endothelial cells derived from bovine pulmonary artery demonstrate a susceptibility to oxidant injury that is different from that of cells derived from bovine aorta. Endothelial cells grown in culture were exposed to H2O2 (either added directly or generated from glucose oxidase) or superoxide radical (generated from xanthine oxidase), and DNA strand breakage was determined using fluorescent analysis of DNA unwinding. Cell injury was also assessed by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or the release of 51Cr from prelabeled cells. Whereas LDH or 51Cr release detected injury resulting from exposure of endothelial cells to greater than or equal to 100 microM H2O2 and was apparent only 2 or more h after exposure, DNA strand breakage was detectable after 15 min of exposure of endothelial cells to 50 microM H2O2. Approximately equivalent DNA strand breakage resulted from exposure to 50 microM H2O2, to 25 mU glucose oxidase, or to 10 mU xanthine oxidase; this injury is similar to that seen following exposure to 10 gray X-radiation. DNA strand breakage following exposure of cells to xanthine oxidase was preventable by catalase but not by superoxide dismutase or hydroxyl radical scavengers, suggesting that H2O2 is the active extracellular oxidant mediating DNA strand breaks. No differences were seen in the susceptibility of pulmonary artery or aortic endothelial cells to oxidant injury.     

Aspirin-induced,neutrophil-mediated injury to vascular endothelium

Previous studies indicate that aspirin can promote neutrophil (PMN) adhesion to endothelial cells and neutrophil-mediated endothelial cell detachment. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether PMN adhesion is a pre-requisite for aspirin-induced, PMN-mediated endothelial cell detachment and whether neutrophil-derived oxidants and/or proteases are responsible for the cell detachment. Human PMNs were added to confluent monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and coincubated with or without aspirin at a clinically relevant concentration (300g/ml). Aspirin-activated PMNs induced endothelial cell detachment, but not cell lysis. Endothelial cell detachment was always preceded by retraction of endothelial cells within the monolayer. The aspirin-induced, neutrophilmediated cell detachment was prevented by a monoclonal antibody directed against CD11/CD18 adhesion integrins on PMNs. Elastase inhibitors, but not superoxide dismutase or catalase, prevented both endothelial cell retraction and detachment. If aspirin-activated neutrophils were allowed to migrate across the monolayers, endothelial cell retraction or detachment did not occur. These studies indicate that aspirin-induced, PMN-mediated endothelial cell retraction and detachment requires PMN adhesion to the target cells and is due to neutrophil-derived elastase. Endothelial cell retraction, induced by activated neutrophils, may represent an exaggeration of a normal physiologic event, i.e., neutrophil emigration.Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (DK 41399, DK 43785, HL 48855).     

脂联素抗人脐静脉内皮细胞氧化损伤的作用研究

目的:研究脂联素（APN）对过氧化氢(H2O2)诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞 (HUVECs) 脂质过氧化的影响。方法：采用Annexin V-FITC标记后流式细胞检测方法观测H2O2引起的细胞凋亡情况。用硫代巴比妥酸微量法测定丙二醛(MDA),黄嘌呤氧化酶法测总超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),可见光法测过氧化氢酶(CAT）。体外自由基捕捉实验检测APN对超氧阴离子和羟自由基的清除率。结果：APN能明显抑制H2O2引起的细胞凋亡。APN预处理HUVECs后,H2O2（200 μmol/L,6 h）所致的细胞膜脂质过氧化反应明显减弱,MDA产生减少,CAT和SOD活性增加,但仅以APN孵育HUVECs对SOD和CAT活性没有明显的影响。结论：结果表明APN对超氧阴离子和羟自由基有明显的清除效果。APN通过抗脂质过氧化发挥抑制细胞凋亡,保护血管内皮细胞抵抗损伤的作用。     

Expression of superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase in myometrium, fetal membranes and placenta during normal human pregnancy and parturition

Superoxide, an agent which attenuates the half-life of nitric oxide, is metabolized and synthesized by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase, respectively. Over the last few years much work has focused on the role of nitric oxide in human parturition. The aim of this study was to determine whether the onset of human parturition is associated with a change in the expression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) or xanthine oxidase within the uterus. Samples of myometrium, placenta, decidua and fetal membranes were obtained from women before and after the onset of labour at term. Immunocytochemistry was used to localize Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD and xanthine oxidase and measure SOD enzyme activity. Cu/Zn and Mn SOD-like immunoreactivity was detected in syncytiotrophoblast cells, villous stromal cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels in the placenta. In the myometrium Cu/Zn and Mn SOD were localized to myocytes and endothelial cells and to some vascular smooth muscle cells. In the fetal membranes we observed staining for Cu/Zn SOD and Mn SOD in the amnion, chorion, extravillous trophoblast and decidua. There was no difference in SOD enzyme activity or staining intensity for SOD between different cell types before and during labour. Xanthine oxidase immunoreactivity was identified in each of the tissues examined and again there was no difference in immunostaining in tissues obtained from women delivered before or after the onset of labour. These results show that the pregnant uterus is capable of both synthesizing and degrading superoxide and suggest that superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase may play a role in the maintenance of uterine quiescence during pregnancy, but not in the initiation of parturition.      

Xanthine oxidase activity in rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells and its alteration by activated neutrophils.

The possibility that endothelial cell-derived oxidants could contribute to neutrophil-mediated endothelial cell injury and cytotoxicity has been a subject of speculation. Rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAECs) were examined for the presence of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, a well-known source of O2-. Using a sensitive assay based on measurements of radioactive xanthine conversion to uric acid by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), RPAEC extracts were found to contain both XO and xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) activities. Extracts from early passage cells have 55.3 +/- 11.7 (mean +/- SE) units/10(6) cells of total (XO + XD) activity, one unit of activity being defined as the conversion of 1% of substrate to product in 30 minutes of incubation. XO comprised 31.6 +/- 3.1% of this total activity. Addition of human neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) caused a rapid and dose-dependent increase in RPAEC XO activity from 31.6 +/- 3.1% to 71.7 +/- 4.8% of total without altering total (XO + XD) activity. The neutrophil dose-response curve for increase in XO paralleled closely the curve for neutrophil-mediated RPAEC cytotoxicity. The basal XO and XD activities and the neutrophil-induced increase in XO activity were inhibited by treating RPAECs with allopurinol, oxypurinol, and lodoxamide, which also inhibited cytotoxicity, but not by catalase, superoxide dismutase, or deferoxamine. Addition of H2O2 failed to cause an increase in RPAEC XO activity or XD to XO conversion. The results suggest that during neutrophil-mediated injury, rapid conversion of RPAEC XD to XO occurs, resulting in increased XO, catalyzed endogenous oxidant production, which may contribute to the oxidant burden in the killing mechanism initiated by activated neutrophils. Although the mechanism for conversion of XD to XO is uncertain, it appears that neutrophil-derived H2O2 is not sufficient to cause this phenomenon. Furthermore, neither O2- nor chelatable iron is required for neutrophil-induced XD to XO conversion. Supernatant fluids from activated neutrophils failed to induce XD to XO conversion in RPAECs. This in vitro system provides an opportunity to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the in vivo phenomenon of XD to XO conversion associated with ischemic/reperfusion or inflammatory tissue injury.     

Activated neutrophils disrupt endothelial monolayer integrity by an oxygen radical-independent mechanism

We have measured the effect of activated neutrophils on endothelial monolayer integrity in vitro by assessing the capacity of endothelial monolayers on polycarbonate filters to exclude 125I-albumin. Although formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-activated neutrophils failed to induce 51Cr-release or detachment after 4 hours of incubation with endothelial monolayers cultured in polystyrene wells, FMLP-activated neutrophils produced a marked increase in the passage of 125I-albumin across bovine aortic or pulmonary artery endothelial monolayers on polycarbonate filters. This effect was evident as early as 30 minutes following the addition of FMLP-activated neutrophils to the monolayer and reached 180% over control values at 2 hours (p = 0.001). Light and transmission electron microscopic examination of the polycarbonate filters exposed to FMLP-activated neutrophils revealed focal disruption of the endothelial monolayers. Chronic granulomatous disease neutrophils produced similar disruption of the endothelial monolayer at 2 hours. Moreover, catalase and superoxide dismutase failed to reduce significantly the neutrophil-mediated increase in 125I-albumin passage at 2 hours. Cell-free postsecretory supernatants of FMLP-activated neutrophils, leukotriene C4, and platelet activating factor did not induce a significant increase in 125I-albumin passage across the endothelial monolayers. Of note, FMLP-activated neutrophils from a patient with a congenital abnormality of neutrophil adhesion and chemotaxis did not induce disruption of the monolayer or increase 125I-albumin passage. We conclude that activated neutrophils mediate rapid, nonlytic disruption of endothelial monolayer integrity by an oxygen radical-independent mechanism that requires neutrophil-endothelial contact.     

O-phenylenediamine oxidation by phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: characterization of two distinct oxidative mechanisms

O-Phenylenediamine (OPD) oxidation has been extensively utilized for the measurement of peroxidase-mediated catabolism of hydrogen peroxide. However, until now this system has not been evaluated for the measurement of hydrogen peroxide produced upon activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMPS) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). OPD oxidation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated PMNs was mediated by both hydrogen peroxide and superoxide produced by the activation of the HMPS. Furthermore, OPD oxidation by an oxidative mechanism independent of the HMPS was observed by the PMA stimulation of PMNs obtained from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). This HMPS-independent OPD oxidation was inhibited by superoxide dismutase or 1 mM potassium cyanide (KCN). Superoxide dismutase, catalase, or 1 mM potassium cyanide inhibited 50% OPD oxidation obtained with PMA-stimulated normal PMNs. PMA treatment of purified human myeloperoxidase (MPO) produced OPD oxidation which is inhibited by superoxide dismutase or 1 mM KCN. These data indicate that OPD oxidation observed with CGD PMNs is mediated by a PMA-induced oxidase activity of myeloperoxidase. OPD oxidation in the presence of 1 mM KCN is a method comparable in sensitivity with ferricytochrome c reduction for the evaluation of HMPS activity. Furthermore, the OPD assay can measure myeloperoxidase oxidase activity in PMA-stimulated PMNs.     

Immune complexes in sera from patients with rheumatoid vasculitis induce polymorphonuclear cell-mediated injury to endothelial cells

The ability of sera from 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated by leukocytoclastic vasculitis (RV) to induce injury to cultured monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HEC) was investigated. Injury was assessed in vitro using assays of cell lysis and cell detachment. Sera from patients with RV produced neither direct injury to HEC monolayers nor indirect injury when cocultured with HEC and normal peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMN). However, immune complexes (Icx) isolated from these sera induced nonlytic PMN-mediated HEC detachment. The inhibitory effect of serum on PMN-mediated HEC detachment induced by Icx could be attributed both to a different response of PMN to Icx present in serum compared to isolated Icx and to the presence of protease inhibitors in serum. The results of this study show that sera from patients with RV do not contain factors that can injure HEC directly and provide further support for the hypothesis that Icx and PMN play important roles in the pathogenesis of immune vascular injury.     

Human endothelial cells are activated by interferon-gamma plus tumour necrosis factor-alpha to kill intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to activate endothelial cells. To investigate the effect of cytokines on the interaction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cells were treated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plus tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) for 24 hr and exposed to P. aeruginosa suspension for 1 hr. Light microscopy showed that activated cells internalized significantly more bacteria than control cells. To ascertain the effect of cytokines on the microbicidal activity of HUVEC, the concentrations of viable intracellular (IC) bacteria in control and activated cells were determined, at 1 and 5 hr postinfection, by the gentamicin exclusion assay. In control cells, no significant decrease in the concentration of bacteria was detected 5 hr postinfection. In contrast, in activated cells the concentration of viable bacteria at 5 hr was significantly lower. Concentrations of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide detected in supernatants of activated cells were significantly higher than in control cell supernatants. HUVEC anti-P. aeruginosa activity was insensitive to the antioxidants superoxide dismutase, dimethylthiourea and allopurinol as well as to the L-arginine analogues aminoguanidine and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), but was significantly inhibited by catalase. Our results indicate that HUVEC can be activated by IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha to kill IC P. aeruginosa and suggest a role for reactive oxygen radicals, notably hydrogen peroxide, in HUVEC antibacterial activity.     

Kinetics of thrombomodulin release and endothelial cell injury by neutrophil-derived proteases and oxygen radicals

Thrombomodulin is a transmembranous glycoprotein of endothelial cells. In vitro it is a marker of endothelial cell injury. In vivo the levels of serum thrombomodulin are regarded as a parameter of activity in vasculitides. The latter are pathophysiologically determined by neutrophil-derived inflammation and endothelial cell injury caused by secretion of proteases and hydrogen peroxide. It was the objective of this study to determine whether thrombomodulin is only a late marker of advanced endothelial cell injury or whether it indicates also earlier stages of cell alterations. Over 24 hr endothelial cell cultures were incubated with hydrogen peroxide or the neutrophil proteases proteinase-3, elastase and cathepsin G. The time-dependent increase of thrombomodulin in the supernatant was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot. In addition the viability (eosin, tetrazolium dye assay), detachment (crystal-violet assay), and apoptosis (4',6-diamine-2'-phenylindole-dihydrochloride assay) of the respective endothelial cells were determined for adherent and non-adherent cells. A rapid thrombomodulin increase was found under all experimental conditions. The additional immunoblotting analysis showed the pattern of proteolytic cleavage caused by the protease reactivity. In case of hydrogen peroxide the thrombomodulin increase was closely correlated with the loss of cell viability and lysis. The incubation of endothelial cells with the different proteases resulted in a time-dependent detachment of primarily viable cells. In addition to cell necrosis apoptotic cell death was found in the subgroup of detached endothelial cells after prolonged incubation over 24 hr with proteinase-3 (23%), elastase (31%), and cathepsin G (19%). In contrast, still adhering cells did not show any signs of necrosis or apoptosis. In summary these studies confirm in vitro that soluble thrombomodulin is not only a parameter of advanced endothelial cell destruction itself but also in addition an early marker of initial endothelial cell membrane changes induced by neutrophil derived proteases and oxygen radicals.     

Hydrogen peroxide mediates damage by xanthine and xanthine oxidase in cerebellar granule neuronal cultures

The free radical-generating system of xanthine and xanthine oxidase is commonly used experimentally as a source of superoxide anion, which can produce oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage and death. Models of oxidative stress are important in elucidating pathologies associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species, including stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. We therefore, examined the effect of the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system on the viability of postnatal cerebellar granule neurones obtained from 8-day old Sprague–Dawley rat pups. Xanthine (100 μM) and xanthine oxidase (0.02 U/ml) applied for 1 or 6 h reduced the viability of cells at 8 div assessed using the alamar blue assay, and induced morphological changes, such as shrinkage of the cell bodies and neurites. Heat-inactivation of xanthine oxidase resulted in complete loss of its activity. Superoxide dismutase (250 U/ml) failed to modify the damage by xanthine and xanthine oxidase, while catalase (250 U/ml) completely prevented it. When applied alone, xanthine oxidase significantly lowered cell viability, an effect that was blocked by allopurinol and catalase, but not by superoxide dismutase. The results indicate that xanthine and xanthine oxidase can produce predominantly hydrogen peroxide instead of the superoxide anion. Cerebellar granule cells in culture may also possess significant levels of endogenous xanthine.     

Invasive cytotrophoblasts manifest evidence of oxidative stress in preeclampsia

In preeclampsia, poor placental perfusion may result in maternal endothelial dysfunction, but the pathways involved are largely unknown. Candidate placental mediators include products of oxidative stress released into the maternal circulation. Xanthine oxidase has been implicated in postischemic-reperfusion injury via the generation of superoxide anion radicals (superoxide; O(2)(.-)) and hydrogen peroxide. We examined placentas and placental bed curettings and/or biopsies from preeclamptic control pregnant women to test the hypothesis that xanthine oxidase is a mediator of oxidative stress in placentas from women with preeclampsia. The expression of xanthine dehydrogenase/xanthine oxidase holoenzyme and the activity of xanthine oxidase, the isoform known to generate reactive oxygen species, were increased in a subpopulation of cytotrophoblasts of preeclamptic women. Additionally, the expression of superoxide dismutase, which would scavenge superoxide produced by xanthine oxidase, was reduced in the same cells. Furthermore, fluorescence immunostaining for nitrotyrosine, which was suggestive of superoxide-nitric oxide interactions to form peroxynitrite anion (ONOO(-)) in vivo, was increased in these cells and in villous vessels. Thus, our data indicate an increased capacity of placental cells to generate reactive oxygen species in preeclampsia.     

Hydrogen peroxide stimulates endocytosis in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Fluid-phase uptake of macromolecules by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells was measured using FITC-dextran (70000 Da). Low doses of hydrogen peroxide added extracellularly stimulated the uptake of macromolecules by the endothelial cells. There was no general increase in the passive permeation or the transport across the cell layer. Moreover, when endothelial cells were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), macromolecules uptake was also enhanced. The PMA effect was blocked with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, suggesting a pivotal role of oxygen metabolites in fluid phase uptake of macromolecules by endothelial cells.     

Adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to endothelium enhances the efficiency of detoxification of oxygen-free radicals.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes can produce active oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide under various conditions. Because these substances can be toxic to cells, it is possible that the interaction between the circulating leukocytes and the blood vessel wall, either in normal circulation or during the acute inflammatory response, could damage the endothelial lining. Using an in vitro system of cultured endothelial cells and isolated polymorphonuclear leukocytes, we have measured the levels of detectable superoxide when neutrophils are attached to either endothelial monolayers or to plastic. Our results show that the levels of superoxide, on a per-cell basis, are lower when the neutrophils are attached to endothelium than when attached to plastic, even if the neutrophils are stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate. This is also reflected in data showing that no injury occurs to the endothelial cells, as measured by 51Cr release, under these same conditions. When endothelial cells are pretreated with an inhibitor of superoxide dismutase, diethyldithiocarbamate, the levels of superoxide detected are the same for neutrophils stimulated on plastic and those on the endothelial monolayer, suggesting that endothelial superoxide dismutase may remove a portion of the neutrophil-generated superoxide from the detection system. Further evidence for the role of endothelium in destroying superoxide is suggested by results that show that the level of detectable superoxide released from neutrophils attached to formalin-fixed endothelial monolayers is the same as that for neutrophils attached to plastic. It is important to note that with the inhibitor of superoxide dismutase present, the endothelial monolayers do not display enhanced 51Cr release under the conditions employed. When both endothelial catalase and glutathione reductase are inhibited, we detect increased 51Cr release from endothelial cells in response to stimulated neutrophils. Our results show that the endothelial cells are important in affecting the apparent reduction of toxic oxygen products derived from polymorphonuclear leukocytes attached to their surface.     

Neutrophil-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against erythrocytes. Mechanisms of target cell destruction

Human neutrophils were cytotoxic to IgG coated ox erythrocytes as determined by a 51Cr release assay. Target cell phagocytosis was found to take place during the cytotoxic reaction, suggesting that cytolysis occurs as a post-phagocytic event. Studies, performed with neutrophils from patients with chronic granulomatous disease, demonstrated that these cells had an impaired cytotoxic activity, despite their ability to normally ingest target cells. Thus the cytotoxicity of human neutrophils against sensitized ox erythrocytes depends mainly on oxidative mechanisms. Oxygen radical scavengers failed to prevent the target cell lysis, possibly because of their inability to gain access into the killing sites. However, when cytotoxicity was carried out in presence of latex particles, pre-incubated with oxygen radical scavengers, a significant inhibition of target cell lysis by superoxide dismutase and cytochrome c was obtained. As well, in these experimental conditions, catalase had no effect. Furthermore, cytotoxicity was unaffected by hemeprotein inhibitors, cyanide and azide. Together, these results indicate that superoxide anion plays a key role in the neutrophil-mediated cytotoxicity against ox erythrocytes, whereas hydrogen peroxide alone or in combination with myeloperoxidase is unoperative under the experimental conditions employed.