Ethanol Suppresses Mycobacteria tuberculosis-Induced mRNA for Nitric Oxide Synthase in Alveolar Macrophages, In Vivo

Acute ingestion of alcohol [ethanol (ETOH)] adversely affects the immunocompetence of both naive individuals as well as chronic alcohol abusers. An increased incidence and severity of tuberculosis is found in chronic alcohol abusers. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by alveolar macrophages (AMs) may play a role in the in vitro killing of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Moreover, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is believed to be a primary cytokine mediator of NO production by AMs. Recent studies from our laboratory demonstrated that ETOH suppressed endotoxin-induced increases in both TNF-α and NO in AMs, in vivo. We tested the postulate that acute ingestion of ETOH can interfere with myco-bacteria-induced upregulation of the NO system in AMs, in vivo. We show that heat-killed M. avium complex (MAC) and human virulent MTB instilled into rat lungs rapidly increased mRNA for inducible NO synthase II (iNOS) of AMs in fluid obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL fluid). This was associated with production of reactive nitrogen intermediates [(RNIs); NO_2- and NO_3-] in BAL fluid, lung homogenate, and AMs in the absence of a significant increase in BAL fluid TNF-α. A single dose of ETOH (5.5 g/kg, ip) administered 30 min before intratracheal administration of MAC or MTB attenuated both MAC and MTB-induced increases in RNI in BAL fluid, lung, and AMs, and the increase in mRNA for iNOS. Thus, mycobacteria upregulate iNOS mRNA and enhance RNI production by AMs without any increase in the production of TNF-α. Moreover, ETOH attenuates mycobacteria-induced upregulation of mRNA for iNOS and RNI production in the absence of ETOH-mediated suppression of TNF. Speculatively, ETOH-mediated inhibition of the AM NO system may offer an explanation for the increased severity of mycobacterial infections in alcoholics.     

Novel mode for neutrophil protease cathepsin G-mediated signaling: membrane shedding of epidermal growth factor is required for cardiomyocyte anoikis

Neutrophils are thought to orchestrate myocardial remodeling during the early progression to cardiac failure through the release of reactive oxygen species, antimicrobial peptides, and proteases. Although neutrophil activation may be beneficial at early stages of disease, excessive neutrophil infiltration can induce cardiomyocyte death and tissue damage. The neutrophil-derived serine protease cathepsin G (Cat.G) has been shown to induce neonatal rat cardiomyocyte detachment and apoptosis by anoikis. However, the involved signaling mechanisms for Cat.G are not well understood. This study identifies epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation as a mechanism whereby Cat.G induces signaling in cardiomyocytes. Cat.G induced a rapid and transient increase in EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, and inhibition of EGFR kinase activity, either with AG1478 or by expression of kinase inactive EGFR mutants (EGFR-CD533), markedly attenuated EGFR downstream signaling and myocyte anoikis induced by Cat.G. Consistent with this effect of EGFR, high level expression of wild-type EGFR was sufficient to promote myocyte apoptosis. We also found that matrix metalloproteinase-dependent membrane shedding of heparin-binding EGF was involved in Cat.G signaling and that membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase activation may constitute a potential target that entails matrix metalloproteinase activation induced by Cat.G. The paradoxical proapoptotic effect of EGFR appeared to be dependent on protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 (Src homology domain 2-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2) activation and focal adhesion kinase downregulation. These results show that Cat.G-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis involves an increase in EGFR-dependent activation of SHP2 that promotes focal adhesion kinase dephosphorylation and subsequent cardiomyocyte anoikis.     

Translational control of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by arginine can explain the arginine paradox

L-Arginine is the only endogenous nitrogen-containing substrate of NO synthase (NOS), and it thus governs the production of NO during nervous system development as well as in disease states such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and HIV dementia. The "arginine paradox" refers to the dependence of cellular NO production on exogenous L-arginine concentration despite the theoretical saturation of NOS enzymes with intracellular L-arginine. Herein, we report that decreased availability of L-arginine blocked induction of NO production in cytokine-stimulated astrocytes, owing to inhibition of inducible NOS (iNOS) protein expression. However, activity of the promoter of the iNOS gene, induction of iNOS mRNA, and stability of iNOS protein were not inhibited under these conditions. Our results indicate that inhibition of iNOS activity by arginine depletion in stimulated astrocyte cultures occurs via inhibition of translation of iNOS mRNA. After stimulation by cytokines, uptake of L-arginine negatively regulates the phosphorylation status of the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF2 alpha), which, in turn, regulates translation of iNOS mRNA. eIF2 alpha phosphorylation correlates with phosphorylation of the mammalian homolog of yeast GCN2 eIF2 alpha kinase. As the kinase activity of GCN2 is activated by phosphorylation, these findings suggest that GCN2 activity represents a proximal step in the iNOS translational regulation by availability of l-arginine. These results provide an explanation for the arginine paradox for iNOS and define a distinct mechanism by which a substrate can regulate the activity of its associated enzyme.     

Ethanol Differentially Affects Metabolic and Mitotic Processes in Chick Embryonic Cells

Our laboratory has been investigating the mechanisms by which ethanol-induced growth inhibition occurs in a developing embryo, and our studies have focused on disruption of cellular signaling pathways. Previous work on ethanol-induced changes in signaling systems that regulate omithine decarboxylase activity indicated that the pathways containing protein kinase A, protein kinase C (PKC), and insulin-dependent tyrosine kinase were important for the control of omithine decarboxylase in chick embryonic cells. Herein, we report ethanol's effect on the regulation of glucose uptake and thymidine uptake by these same kinase pathways. A pronounced increase in glucose uptake was associated with PKC downregulation in both vehicle- and ethanol-exposed cells, with the larger increase occurring in ethanol-exposed cells. An increase in thymidine uptake was associated with an activation of all three kinases, as well as with downregulation of PKC. Because previous work on signaling pathways has looked for changes in the insulin signaling pathway, the work herein focuses on the signaling pathways involving protein kinase A and PKC. cAMP levels were increased by ethanol treatment, but the increase was relatively small. Analysis of changes in PKC activity induced by ethanol exposure showed a significant suppression of PKC activity in the ethanol-treated cells and suggested that, overall, ethanol treatment affects the regulation of glucose uptake in embryonic cells predominantly by PKC downregulation.     

Noradrenaline-induced paxillin phosphorylation, ERK activation and MEK-regulated contraction in intact rat mesenteric arteries

In rat mesenteric arteries, noradrenaline (NA) induces a time-dependent increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins, one of which was identified as paxillin. NA-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation was ablated by tyrosine kinase inhibition, virtually unaffected by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition or PKC downregulation and was mimicked by KCl. NA also caused a time-dependent activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1 and ERK2. These responses were blocked by the ERK-activating kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 and by tyrosine kinase inhibition but only modestly attenuated by PKC downregulation or inhibition. Pretreatment of cannulated mesenteric arteries (50 mm Hg internal pressure) with PD98059 significantly reduced the contractile responsiveness of the vessels to NA (1.56 +/- 0.14 microM, EC(50) control; 3.32 +/- 0.49 microM, EC(50) + PD98059, p < 0.01). Thus, NA induces time-dependent increases in protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and ERK activation in rat mesenteric arteries that could suggest a role for Ca(2+)-dependent non-receptor tyrosine kinases and ERKs in the response of small arteries to NA. In addition, the modulation of NA-induced mesenteric artery contraction by inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway further implicates ERK in the regulation of, though perhaps not the mediation of NA-induced small artery contraction.     

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in the activation of tyrosine kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase by angiotensin II

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been proposed to mediate vascular hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). Recently, we and others have shown that growth-promoting signals by Ang II involve protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). However, whether ROS contribute to the Ang II-induced PTK and/or ERK activation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remains largely unclear. Here, we have investigated the possible involvement of ROS in Ang II-induced PTK and ERK activation. In the presence of a NADH/NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) or an antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol, Ang II-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation of two major proteins (p120, p70) and ERK activation were markedly reduced, whereas ERK activation by epidermal growth factor was unaffected. DPI also inhibited Ang II-induced H2O2 production and PTK activation. In this regard, H2O2 and a membrane permeable thiol-oxidizing agent, diamide, stimulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation of p120 and p70, and ERK activation in VSMCs. H2O2 also enhanced PTK activity. From these data, we conclude that ROS play a critical role in the Ang II-induced PTK and ERK activation in VSMCs, thereby contributing to vascular growth associated with enhanced Ang II activity.     

Fetal hemoglobin induction by histone deacetylase inhibitors involves generation of reactive oxygen species

OBJECTIVE: Several compounds, including butyrate and trichostatin A, have been shown to activate gamma-gene expression via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. In eukaryotic cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as signaling molecules to mediate phosphorylation of tyrosine kinases such as p38 MAPK to regulate gene expression. Therefore, we determined the role of the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in drug-mediated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) induction. METHODS: H(2)O(2) levels were measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate in K562 cells after drug treatments. To confirm a role for H(2)O(2) in HbF induction, studies were completed with the mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitor myxothiazole, which prevents ROS generation. The ability of myxothiazole to block gamma-globin mRNA accumulation and HbF induction was measured in K562 cells and burst-forming unit-erythroid colonies respectively using quantitative real-time PCR and alkaline denaturation. RESULTS: Butyrate and trichostastin A stimulated p38 MAPK phosphorylation via a H(2)O(2)-dependent mechanism. Pretreatment with myxothiazole to inhibit ROS formation or SB203580 to impede p38 MAPK signaling attenuated gamma-gene activation in K562 cells and HbF induction in erythroid progenitors. However, myxothiazole had no effect on the ability of hydroxyurea to induce HbF. CONCLUSION: The findings presented herein support a ROS-p38 MAPK cell signaling mechanism for HbF induction by butyrate and trichostatin A.     

Murine T-lymphocyte proliferation induced by interleukin 2 correlates with a transient increase in p56lck kinase activity and the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 97-kDa protein.

The addition of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) to anti-CD3-activated murine G0 phase T cells results in an increased level of tyrosine phosphorylation of a single 97-kDa protein. The degree of tyrosine phosphorylation paralleled the amount of rIL-2 added and correlated with the extent of DNA synthesis. IL-2 treatment resulted in a transient increase in p56lck kinase activity without detectable modification of its level of tyrosine phosphorylation and gel mobility. When G0 T cells were activated by phorbol dibutyrate in the absence of IL-2, the high-affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expressed failed to induce a proliferative signal, and neither the tyrosine phosphorylation of the 97-kDa protein nor the transient increase in p56lck kinase activity was detected. Northern analysis of the total RNA extracted from these cells showed the accumulation of IL-2R alpha chain-specific mRNA but neither c-myc nor cdc2 mRNA was expressed. The addition of 100 nM rIL-2 to T cells activated by phorbol dibutyrate was able to induce a proliferative response, and under these conditions tyrosine phosphorylation of the 97-kDa protein, the transient increase in p56lck kinase activity, and specific mRNA for IL-2R alpha chain, c-myc, and cdc2 were detected. Unstimulated G0 T cells responded to 100 nM rIL-2 in the same manner as phorbol dibutyrate-activated cells. Irrespective of the signal-transducing structures involved, the IL-2-induced proliferative response closely correlates with an increase in p56lck kinase activity along with the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 97-kDa protein.     

Retinal pericytes control expression of nitric oxide synthase and endothelin-1 in microvascular endothelial cells

Pericytes are known to communicate with endothelial cells by direct contact and by releasing cytokines such as TGF-beta. There is also strong evidence that pericytes act as regulators of endothelial cell proliferation and differentiation. We have investigated the effect of pericyte-conditioned medium (PCM) on proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells in vitro, together with the expression of the vasoregulatory molecules, constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthases (ecNOS and iNOS), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Expression was measured at the mRNA level using semiquantitative RT-PCR for all three genes and at the protein level for ecNOS and iNOS using Western blotting. Growth curves for HMECs showed that PCM inhibits proliferation, eventually leading to cell death. Exposure to PCM repressed iNOS mRNA expression fivefold after 6 h. A similar, though delayed, reduction in protein levels was observed. ecNOS mRNA was slightly induced at 6 h, though there was no significant change in ecNOS protein. By contrast, ET-1 mRNA was induced 2.3-fold after 6 h exposure to PCM. We conclude that pericytes release a soluble factor or factors that are potent inhibitors of endothelial cell growth and promote vasoconstriction by up-regulating endothelin-1 and down-regulating iNOS.     

Involvement of tyrosine kinases in the activation of human peripheral blood neutrophils by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the involvement of human neutrophil tyrosine kinase(s) in the signal transduction mechanism of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Stimulation of neutrophils with GM-CSF resulted in a time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation of several proteins having estimated molecular weights of approximately 40, 55, 74, 97, 118, and 155 Kd, detected by immunoblot using a monoclonal antibody directed against phosphotyrosine. GM-CSF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was inhibited in a dose- and time-dependent manner by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erbstatin. Using this inhibitor, we were able to correlate tyrosine phosphorylation with several functional effects of GM-CSF on human neutrophils. Pretreatment of neutrophils with erbstatin before incubation with GM-CSF completely inhibited the GM-CSF-induced intracellular alkalinization, downregulation of the leukotriene B4 receptor, enhancement of fMet-Leu-Phe-induced intracellular calcium mobilization, as well as the accumulation of mRNA for the proto-oncogene c-fos. Taken together, these data suggest that tyrosine kinase activation in human neutrophils plays a critical regulatory role in both the stimulation and priming of neutrophil function by GM-CSF.     

Phosphorylation sites of protein kinase C delta in H2O2-treated cells and its activation by tyrosine kinase in vitro

Protein kinase C delta (PKC delta) is normally activated by diacylglycerol produced from receptor-mediated hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids. On stimulation of cells with H(2)O(2), the enzyme is tyrosine phosphorylated, with a concomitant increase in enzymatic activity. This activation does not appear to accompany its translocation to membranes. In the present study, the tyrosine phosphorylation sites of PKC delta in the H(2)O(2)-treated cells were identified as Tyr-311, Tyr-332, and Tyr-512 by mass spectrometric analysis with the use of the precursor-scan method and by immunoblot analysis with the use of phosphorylation site-specific antibodies. Tyr-311 was the predominant modification site among them. In an in vitro study, phosphorylation at this site by Lck, a non-receptor-type tyrosine kinase, enhanced the basal enzymatic activity and elevated its maximal velocity in the presence of diacylglycerol. The mutation of Tyr-311 to phenylalanine prevented the increase in this maximal activity, but replacement of the other two tyrosine residues did not block such an effect. The results indicate that phosphorylation at Tyr-311 between the regulatory and catalytic domains is a critical step for generation of the active PKC delta in response to H(2)O(2).     

T-cell receptor antagonists induce Vav phosphorylation by selective activation of Fyn kinase

T cell receptor (TCR) antagonists inhibit antigen-induced T cell activation and by themselves fail to induce phenotypic changes associated with T cell activation. However, we have recently shown that TCR antagonists are inducers of antigen-presenting cell (APC)-T cell conjugates. The signaling pathway associated with this cytoskeleton-dependent event appears to involve tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Vav. In this study, we investigated the role played by the protein tyrosine kinases Fyn, Lck, and ZAP-70 in antagonist-induced signaling pathway. Antagonist stimulation increased tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity of Fyn severalfold, whereas little or no increase in Lck and ZAP-70 activity was observed. Second, TCR stimulation of Lck(-), Fyn(hi) Jurkat cells induced strong tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav. In contrast, minimal increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav was observed in Lck(hi), Fyn(lo) Jurkat cells. Finally, study of T cells from a Fyn-deficient TCR transgenic mouse also showed that Fyn was required for tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Vav induced by both antagonist and agonist peptides. The deficiency in Vav phosphorylation in Fyn-deficient T cells was associated with a defect in the formation of APC-T cell conjugates when T cells were stimulated with either agonist or antagonist peptide. We conclude from these results that Vav is a selective substrate for Fyn, especially under conditions of low-affinity TCR-mediated signaling, and that this signaling pathway involving Fyn, Vav, and Rac-1 is required for the cytoskeletal reorganization that leads to T cell-APC conjugates and the formation of the immunologic synapse.     

The pleckstrin homology domain of Bruton tyrosine kinase interacts with protein kinase C.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.112) [Btk, encoded by Btk in mice and BTK in humans (formerly known as atk, BPK, or emb)], which is variously mutated in chromosome X-linked agammaglobulinemia patients and X-linked immunodeficient (xid) mice, has the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain at its amino terminus. The PH domain of Btk expressed as a bacterial fusion protein directly interacts with protein kinase C in mast cell lysates. Evidence was obtained that Btk is physically associated with protein kinase C in intact murine mast cells as well. Both Ca(2+)-dependent (alpha, beta I, and beta II) and Ca(2+)-independent protein kinase C isoforms (epsilon and zeta) in mast cells interact with the PH domain of Btk in vitro, and protein kinase C beta I is associated with Btk in vivo. Btk served as a substrate of protein kinase C, and its enzymatic activity was down-regulated by protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation. Furthermore, depletion or inhibition of protein kinase C with pharmacological agents resulted in an enhancement of the tyrosine phosphorylation of Btk induced by mast cell activation.     

Activation of Lyn is a common element of the stimulation of human neutrophils by soluble and particulate agonists

The functional responsiveness of human neutrophils is known to be initiated and modulated by protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The regulation of the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation is most likely the result of the coordinated actions of tyrosine kinases and phosphatases, which have so far been only very partially characterized. In the present study, we present evidence demonstrating that the stimulation of neutrophils by a variety of agonists (soluble as well as particulate) leads to the activation of the src-related tyrosine kinase lyn. The stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity of lyn was detected using an immune kinase assay as well as an in situ labeling technique. Phosphoaminoacid analysis of lyn indicated that the autophosphorylation of the kinase was exclusively on tyrosine residues. The time course of the activation of lyn is consistent with its playing a role in the early tyrosine phosphorylation responses of neutrophils. The ability of agonists with widely varying functional end responses to stimulate the activity of lyn indicates that this event plays a key and central role in the control of the activation of human neutrophils.