Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor delays neutrophil apoptosis by inhibition of calpains upstream of caspase-3

Neutrophils have a very short life span and undergo apoptosis within 24 hours after leaving the bone marrow. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is essential for the recruitment of fresh neutrophils from the bone marrow but also delays apoptosis of mature neutrophils. To determine the mechanism by which G-CSF inhibits neutrophil apoptosis, the kinetics of neutrophil apoptosis during 24 hours in the absence or presence of G-CSF were analyzed in vitro. G-CSF delayed neutrophil apoptosis for approximately 12 hours and inhibited caspase-9 and -3 activation, but had virtually no effect on caspase-8 and little effect on the release of proapoptotic proteins from the mitochondria. However, G-CSF strongly inhibited the activation of calcium-dependent cysteine proteases calpains, upstream of caspase-3, via apparent control of Ca(2+)-influx. Calpain inhibition resulted in the stabilization of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and hence inhibited caspase-9 and -3 in human neutrophils. Thus, neutrophil apoptosis is controlled by G-CSF after initial activation of caspase-8 and mitochondrial permeabilization by the control of postmitochondrial calpain activity.     

Apoptosis of neutrophils

Regulation of the neutrophil life span by apoptosis provides a fine balance between their function as effector cells of host defense and a safe turnover of these potentially harmful cells. Alterations of neutrophil apoptosis are associated with a number of diseases. As do other cell types, neutrophils possess components of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic routes. The intrinsic pathway of apoptosis seems to be of major importance in neutrophils since they are programmed for a rapid spontaneous cell death. However, in neutrophils this mechanism of apoptosis has special features, probably due to peculiarities of neutrophil mitochondria, which are believed to be a core regulator of intrinsic cell death. A better understanding of mechanisms underlying neutrophil cell death would help to understand neutrophil physiology and contribute to the search of new approaches for handling of pathology related to disturbances in neutrophil apoptosis and also increase our knowledge of inflammation in general.     

Calpain system and its involvement in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury

Calpains are ubiquitous non-lysosomal Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases also present in myocardial cytosol and mitochondria.Numerous experimental studies reveal an essential role of the calpain system in myocardial injury during ischemia,reperfusion and postischemic structural remodelling.The increasing Ca2+-content and Ca2+-overload in myocardial cytosol and mitochondria during ischemia and reperfusion causes an activation of calpains.Upon activation they are able to injure the contractile apparatus and impair the energy production by cleaving structural and functional proteins of myocytes and mitochondria.Besides their causal involvement in acute myocardial dysfunction they are also involved in structural remodelling after myocardial infarction by the generation and release of proapoptotic factors from mitochondria.Calpain inhibition can prevent or attenuate myocardial injury during ischemia,reperfusion,and in later stages of myocardial infarction.     

Mitochondrial matrix Ca2+ as an intrinsic signal regulating mitochondrial motility in axons

The proper distribution of mitochondria is particularly vital for neurons because of their polarized structure and high energy demand. Mitochondria in axons constantly move in response to physiological needs, but signals that regulate mitochondrial movement are not well understood. Aside from producing ATP, Ca(2+) buffering is another main function of mitochondria. Activities of many enzymes in mitochondria are also Ca(2+)-dependent, suggesting that intramitochondrial Ca(2+) concentration is important for mitochondrial functions. Here, we report that mitochondrial motility in axons is actively regulated by mitochondrial matrix Ca(2+). Ca(2+) entry through the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter modulates mitochondrial transport, and mitochondrial Ca(2+) content correlates inversely with the speed of mitochondrial movement. Furthermore, the miro1 protein plays a role in Ca(2+) uptake into the mitochondria, which subsequently affects mitochondrial movement.     

Impairment of mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticular functions during the development of heart failure in cardiomyopathic (UM-X7.1) hamsters

The oxidative phosphorylation as well as calcium transporting properties of heart mitochondria and calcium transport activities of the fragments of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (microsomes) were studied during the life span of cardiomyopathic hamsters (UM-X7.1). Control healthy hamsters of the same age group were used for comparison. No changes in the oxidative phosphorylation ability of cardiomyopathic mitochondria were seen at early and moderate stages of heart failure; however, at severe stages, mitochondrial respiratory functions, but not the ADP:0 ratio, were impaired. Both creatine phosphate and ATP contents were decreased without any significant changes in the ATPase activities of myofibrils from the failing hearts. Heart mitochondria from cardiomyopathic animals at severe stages of failure exhibited less calcium binding and uptake activities in comparison with the control values whereas no changes in the mitochondrial calcium binding and uptake were seen in cardiomyopathic hamsters which showed no clinical signs of heart failure. Although mitochondrial calcium binding in cardiomyopathic hearts at early and moderate stages of failure was decreased, mitochondrial calcium uptake was not significantly different from the control. Microsomal calcium binding activity, unlike calcium uptake activity, was decreased in the hearts of cardiomyopathic hamsters without any signs of heart failure. Both calcium binding and calcium uptake activities of microsomes from animals with early, moderate and severe heart failure were less in comparison with the control values but were not associated with any changes in the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity. These results suggest that changes in the process of mitochondrial energy production and mitochondrial Ca2+-transport may be secondary to other factors whereas alterations in the sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+-transport may lead to the development of heart failure in the cardiomyopathic hamsters.     

Regulation of sodium-calcium exchange and mitochondrial energetics by Bcl-2 in the heart of transgenic mice.

Our previous work in cultured cells has shown that the maintenance of mitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis is essential for cell survival, and that the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 is able to maintain a threshold level of mitochondrial Ca(2+) by the inhibition of permeability transition. To test whether Bcl-2 also affects the mitochondrial Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange (NCE), a major efflux pathway for mitochondrial Ca(2+), studies using transgenic mice that overexpress Bcl-2 in the heart have been performed. NCE activity was determined as the Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) efflux in the isolated mitochondria. Overexpression of Bcl-2 led to a significant reduction of NCE activity as well as increased resistance to permeability transition in the mitochondria of transgenic heart. This was accompanied by increased matrix Ca(2+) level, enhanced formation of NADH and enhanced oxidation of pyruvate, an NAD(+)-linked substrate. Furthermore, there was induction of cellular Ca(2+) transport proteins including the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger of the sarcolemma (NCX). Bcl-2 not only stimulates NCX expression in the sarcolemma but also attenuates the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange in the mitochondria. These results are consistent with the protection by Bcl-2 against apoptosis in heart following ischemia/reperfusion.     

Glucocorticoid modulation of Bcl-2 family members A1 and Bak during delayed spontaneous apoptosis of bovine blood neutrophils

Neutrophils are critical for innate immune defense against microbial invasion but can also cause inflammatory tissue damage if their life span is not tightly regulated. Antiinflammatory glucocorticoids delay spontaneous apoptosis in human, rodent, and bovine neutrophils, but mechanisms involved are unknown. We hypothesized here that glucocorticoids delay neutrophil apoptosis by altering expression of key Bcl-2 apoptosis regulatory proteins, A1 and Bak, via activation of the cell's glucocorticoid receptors. To test this hypothesis, isolated bovine blood neutrophils were exposed to dexamethasone with and without glucocorticoid receptor antagonism (RU486) and aged ex vivo over 0-24 h for assessment of various spontaneous apoptosis pathway indicators and A1 and Bak abundance. Results show that dexamethasone preserved neutrophil mitochondrial membrane integrity, delayed caspase-9 activation, and reduced the rate of spontaneous apoptosis. Also, dexamethasone increased A1 and decreased Bak mRNA abundance. RU486 pretreatment of the cells abrogated each of these dexamethasone effects. Dexamethasone-induced increases in A1 mRNA were reflected in A1 protein increases, which also were observed in circulating neutrophils of dexamethasone-treated animals. Bak protein decreases were observed in neutrophils of the dexamethasone-treated animals but not in isolated neutrophils, suggesting that stimuli additional to (and perhaps regulated by) glucocorticoid are required to affect Bak protein expression changes in neutrophils. Collectively, our results are unique in demonstrating a mechanism behind glucocorticoid regulation of spontaneous apoptosis and implicate steroid receptor activation and subsequent regulation of A1 and Bak as contributors to mitochondrial membrane stability, reduced caspase-9 activity, and delayed apoptosis in bovine neutrophils exposed to glucocorticoids.     

Tumor necrosis factor-induced degranulation in adherent human neutrophils is dependent on CD11b/CD18-integrin-triggered oscillations of cytosolic free Ca2+.

We have recently been able to correlate closely the "spontaneous" oscillatory activity of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent human neutrophils with the ability of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to induce secretion of granule proteins from these cells. In the present work we show with a single-cell technique that preincubation of human neutrophils with antibodies to CD18, the common beta chain of leukocyte adhesion proteins, inhibits TNF-induced secretion of lactoferrin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Similar effects of CD18 antibodies were found on chemotactic factor (fMet-Leu-Phe)- but not on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced secretion, suggesting that cell-surface-receptor-mediated secretion is dependent on integrin-associated signals. Similarly, antibodies to CD11b (alpha chain of macrophage 1) also inhibited TNF- and fMet-Leu-Phe- but not phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated release of lactoferrin. Antibodies to CD11a (alpha chain of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1) or CD11c (alpha chain of p150,95) had only a minimal effect on agonist-induced secretion. Data obtained in several laboratories, including our own, made us suspect that integrin interaction with the surface is responsible for the oscillatory activity of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent cells. Indeed, preincubation with antibodies to either CD18 or CD11b, but not to CD11c, inhibited the oscillations of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent neutrophils. This inhibitory effect was evident both as a reduction of the number of responding cells and as a reduction of the oscillatory activity in the cells. In conclusion, the oscillatory activity of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent neutrophils is mediated through the CD18/CD11b integrins. The generation of this Ca2+ signal may explain how adherence, by way of the integrins, changes the functional properties of the cell and enables TNF to induce secretion.     

Calcium signal transmission between ryanodine receptors and mitochondria in cardiac muscle.

Ryanodine receptor (RyR) mediated Ca(2)+ signals play a central role in excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle. To support the rhythmic contractile activity there is a need for continuous tuning of cellular oxidative energy generation in the mitochondria to the actual work-load. Evidence has emerged that RyR-mediated cytosolic Ca(2)+ signals are efficiently transmitted to the mitochondria, providing a means for coupling cardiac muscle excitation to oxidative energy production, through activation of Ca(2)+ sensitive mitochondrial dehydrogenases. Recent data suggest that the Ca(2)+ signal transmission between RyR and mitochondria is dependent on local Ca(2)+ interactions between subdomains of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondria. Here we give a short overview of the determinants and spatio-temporal organization of Ca(2)+ signal transmission between SR and mitochondria.     

New roles for mitochondria in cell death in the reperfused myocardium

Mitochondria play an important role in regulating the life and death of cells. They provide the cell with energy via oxidative phosphorylation but can quickly turn into death-promoting organelles in response to stress by disrupting adenosine triphosphate synthesis, releasing pro-death proteins, and producing reactive oxygen species. Due to their high-energy requirement, cardiac myocytes are abundant in mitochondria and as a result, particularly vulnerable to mitochondrial defects. Myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Therefore, future therapies will focus on preserving mitochondrial integrity and function in hopes of minimizing the impact of ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. It is well established that myocardial I/R activates both necrosis and apoptosis, and that blocking either process reduces the levels of injury. However, recent studies have demonstrated that alterations in mitochondrial dynamics or clearance of mitochondria via autophagy also can contribute to cell death in the myocardium. In this review, we will discuss these new developments and their impact on the role of cardiac mitochondria in cell death following reperfusion in the heart.     

Involvement of GTP-binding proteins in actin polymerization in human neutrophils.

The motility of human neutrophils, which is of vital importance for the role of these cells in host defense, is based on rapid and dynamic changes of the filamentous actin F-actin) network. Consequently, to understand how neutrophils move and ingest particles, we need to know how polymerization and depolymerization of actin are regulated. Previous studies by several investigators have, based on indirect evidence obtained with pertussis toxin, suggested a role for GTP-binding protein(s) (G protein) in chemotaxis-induced, but not phagocytosis-induced, reorganization of the F-actin network. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of directly activated G proteins (i.e., without prior ligand-receptor complex formation) on the F-actin content in human neutrophils. AlF4- induced a pronounced and sustained increase in F-actin in intact neutrophils. This effect coincided with an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+, indicating that phospholipase C and the subsequent transduction mechanism were also activated. Inhibition of phospholipase C activity by extensive depression of the cytosolic free Ca2+ level (less than 20 nM) only marginally affected the AlF4(-)-induced rise in F-actin content. The major part of the AlF4(-)-induced rise in F-actin content was also resistant to pertussis toxin, suggesting that pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins in neutrophils are also able to trigger actin polymerization. The specificity of AlF4- in activating G proteins was also tested in permeabilized cells. In this case the effect was more rapid and could be totally abolished by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate. In analogy, in permeabilized cells guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate mimicked the effect of AlF4- on actin polymerization, and the effect induced by this nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue could also be totally abolished by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate. In summary, the present data support our previous hypothesis that G proteins are intimately linked to actin polymerization in human neutrophils.     

Characterization of influenza A virus activation of the human neutrophil

Neutrophil dysfunction consequent to influenza A virus infection has been described in vivo and in vitro and may contribute to the serious bacterial sequelae which occur in influenza-infected hosts. On the premise that such dysfunction may represent a form of "deactivation," we sought to characterize neutrophil activation by the virus in comparison with other agonists. The virus induces a respiratory burst in which H2O2 (but not O2-) are formed. Preceding the respiratory burst, a rise in intracellular calcium (Ca2+i) is noted, but both responses are nearly independent of extracellular Ca2+, unlike those elicited by the other well-characterized Ca2+-dependent agonists, formyl-methyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), or Concanavalin-A (Con-A). The Ca2+ increase is paralleled by IP3 generation, implying that it is the result of phospholipase C (PLC) activation. The virus also elicits neutrophil membrane depolarization, which is independently mediated from the Ca2+ increase and respiratory burst and may reflect protein kinase C (PK-C) activation. Virus-induced responses are insensitive to pertussis toxin (PT); cholera toxin does inhibit these responses but in a nonspecific manner. Thus, although influenza virus activates PLC in neutrophils, it does so in a PT-insensitive manner and does not elicit or require a discernible Ca2+ influx to generate a respiratory burst response. In aggregate, the data indicate that influenza A virus activates neutrophils in a manner distinct from that of other well-described neutrophil agonists. These results illustrate the diversity of neutrophil activation mechanisms and support the notion that further characterization of this pathway may facilitate understanding of neutrophil dysfunction induced by the virus.     

Neutrophil life span in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

We have studied neutrophil intravascular life span in six patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH); four had normal neutrophil counts when studied and two were neutropenic. Five patients had enough circulating neutrophils to isolate for tests in vitro. Lysis of labeled neutrophils was greatly increased, compared to that of normal volunteers, when these neutrophils were incubated with acidified fresh serum as a source of active complement plus serum containing antineutrophil antibodies (from three different sources). Despite the in vitro lesion, however, each of these patients had a normal neutrophil intravascular life span as measured by the 32P- diisopropylfluorophosphate technique. One neutropenic patient, who had a normal neutrophil life span, had a shift of cells from the circulating to marginated pool of sufficient degree to cause the neutropenia. A second (severely) neutropenic patient was found to have developed extreme marrow hypoplasia, also explaining the neutropenia. Thus, in contrast to the shortened red cell life span, we have been unable to find a shortened neutrophil life span in PNH.     

Calcium and ischemic injury

Ischemia increases [Ca(2+)](i) in cardiac myocytes despite the initial decrease in force development observed. This increased [Ca(2+)](i) contributes to myocyte injury by diverse mechanisms, including activation of proteases and phospholipases, and mitochondrial injury. Increased [Ca(2+)](i) may also contribute to reperfusion injury by causing hypercontracture when ATP is resynthesized to allow Ca(2+)-induced cycling of the myofilament cross-bridges. In addition, enhanced cellular Ca uptake by Na-Ca exchange, resulting in Ca(2+) loading of mitochondria or other intracellular organelles during reperfusion, may alter postreperfusion recovery. Thus, alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis probably contribute to ischemic injury; however, other injury pathways not involving an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) or total cellular Ca content are also undoubtedly important.     

Ehrlichia ewingii infection delays spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis through stabilization of mitochondria

The uncultivable obligate intracellular bacterium Ehrlichia ewingii, previously known only as a canine pathogen, is the most recently recognized agent of human ehrlichiosis. E. ewingii is the only Ehrlichia species known to infect neutrophils. In the blood or in ex vivo culture, neutrophils generally have a short life span. In the present study, we investigated the effect of E. ewingii infection on spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils. E. ewingii infection significantly delayed dog neutrophil apoptosis during ex vivo culture. The inhibitory effect on neutrophil apoptosis by E. ewingii was reversible on clearance of the organism. By using the fluorescent mitochondrial dyes Mitotracker Red 580 and JC-1, we found that E. ewingii infection stabilized mitochondrial integrity by maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential in neutrophils. These results suggest that E. ewingii delays spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils via stabilization of host cell mitochondria.     

Elevated cytosolic Na+ decreases mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake during excitation-contraction coupling and impairs energetic adaptation in cardiac myocytes

Mitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+]m) regulates oxidative phosphorylation and thus contributes to energy supply and demand matching in cardiac myocytes. Mitochondria take up Ca2+ via the Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) and extrude it through the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (mNCE). It is controversial whether mitochondria take up Ca2+ rapidly, on a beat-to-beat basis, or slowly, by temporally integrating cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]c) transients. Furthermore, although mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux is governed by mNCE, it is unknown whether elevated intracellular Na+ ([Na+]i) affects mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and bioenergetics. To monitor [Ca2+]m, mitochondria of guinea pig cardiac myocytes were loaded with rhod-2-acetoxymethyl ester (rhod-2 AM), and [Ca2+]c was monitored with indo-1 after dialyzing rhod-2 out of the cytoplasm. [Ca2+]c transients, elicited by voltage-clamp depolarizations, were accompanied by fast [Ca2+]m transients, whose amplitude (delta) correlated linearly with delta[Ca2+]c. Under beta-adrenergic stimulation, [Ca2+]m decay was approximately 2.5-fold slower than that of [Ca2+]c, leading to diastolic accumulation of [Ca2+]m when amplitude or frequency of delta[Ca2+]c increased. The MCU blocker Ru360 reduced delta[Ca2+]m and increased delta[Ca2+]c, whereas the mNCE inhibitor CGP-37157 potentiated diastolic [Ca2+]m accumulation. Elevating [Na+]i from 5 to 15 mmol/L accelerated mitochondrial Ca2+ decay, thus decreasing systolic and diastolic [Ca2+]m. In response to gradual or abrupt changes of workload, reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH) levels were maintained at 5 mmol/L [Na+]i, but at 15 mmol/L, the NADH pool was partially oxidized. The results indicate that (1) mitochondria take up Ca2+ rapidly and contribute to fast buffering during a [Ca2+]c transient; and (2) elevated [Na+]i impairs mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, with consequent effects on energy supply and demand matching. The latter effect may have implications for cardiac diseases with elevated [Na+]i.     

Myeloperoxidase delays neutrophil apoptosis through CD11b/CD18 integrins and prolongs inflammation

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes have a central role in innate immunity and their programmed cell death and removal are critical for efficient resolution of acute inflammation. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a heme protein abundantly expressed in neutrophils, is generally associated with killing of bacteria and oxidative tissue injury. Because MPO also binds to neutrophils, we investigated whether MPO could affect the lifespan of neutrophils. Here, we report that MPO independent of its catalytic activity through signaling via the adhesion molecule CD11b/CD18 rescued human neutrophils from constitutive apoptosis and prolonged their life span. MPO evoked a transient concurrent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Akt, leading to phosphorylation of Bad at both Ser112 and Ser136, prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction, and subsequent activation of caspase-3. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Akt, or caspase-3 reversed the antiapoptosis action of MPO. Acute increases in plasma MPO delayed murine neutrophil apoptosis assayed ex vivo. In a mouse model of self-resolving inflammation, MPO also prolonged the duration of carrageenan-induced acute lung injury, as evidenced by enhanced alveolar permeability and accumulation of neutrophils parallel with suppression of neutrophil apoptosis. Our results indicate that MPO functions as a survival signal for neutrophils and thereby contribute to prolongation of inflammation.     

Contractile function and Ca2+ transport system of myocardium in ageing

Experiments with animals with various species-specific life span (rats, rabbits, cats, dogs) and different models (in situ heart, isolated perfused heart, isolated papillary muscle) have proved the reduction of functional capacity of the ageing heart. Diversely directional age-dependent shifts have been established involving myocardial Ca2+ transport system, i.e. an increase in the rate of Na+-Ca2+ exchange and passive Ca2+ transport across sarcolemma and a decrease in its Ca2+-binding capacity and a decrease in Ca2+ accumulation by sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria (Ca2+ uptake). The experiments revealed a decrease in the Ca2+ ATPase myosin activity in the myocardium of aged animals and absence of age changes in the K+ ATPase activity. The findings obtained suggest that the development in the cardiac contractile function disorders in ageing largely depends on the age-related changes in the Ca2+ transport system.     

CRYAB and HSPB2 deficiency increases myocyte mitochondrial permeability transition and mitochondrial calcium uptake

Double knockout (DKO) of the small heat shock proteins CRYAB and HSPB2 increases necrosis and apoptosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in vitro, but the mechanisms involved are unknown. We examined [Ca2+]i during metabolic inhibition (MI) changes in [Ca2+]m induced by exposure to elevated [Ca2+]i, and whether mitochondria in isolated DKO ventricular myocytes (VM) are more susceptible than wild type (WT) to induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). The rise in [Ca2+]i in DKO myocytes during metabolic inhibition (MI) was less than in WT, and ouabain caused a greater increase in [Ca2+]m in DKO than in WT. These findings suggested that Ca2+ uptake was increased in mitochondria in DKO myocytes. Measurements of Rhod 2 fluorescence during exposure of permeabilized VM to 1000 nM [Ca2+] for 5 min confirmed that DKO myocytes have enhanced mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, and this difference between DKO and WT myocyte mitochondria was eliminated by inhibition of NO synthesis. MPT was induced more readily by ouabain, PAO, or TMRM in DKO myocytes than in WT. Thus, Ca2+ uptake by mitochondria is increased in DKO VM by a NO-dependent mechanism. This can predispose to the development of MPT, and increased VM injury during I/R. These findings indicate an important role of CRYAB and/or HSPB2 in mitochondrial function.