A critical concentration of neutrophils is required for effective bacterial killing in suspension

We have examined the effect of neutrophil concentration on killing of a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Human neutrophils at concentrations varying from 10(5) to 10(7) per ml were mixed in suspension with S. epidermidis at concentrations varying from 10(3) to 10(8) colony-forming units/ml, and the concentration of viable bacteria was assayed after various times at 37 degrees C. The rate of bacterial killing depended on the concentration of neutrophils and not on the ratio of neutrophils to bacteria. Below a critical concentration of neutrophils, bacteria growth was greater than neutrophil killing of bacteria even when the ratio of neutrophils to bacteria was 100:1. We fitted the time course of bacterial concentration and its dependence on neutrophil concentration with an exponential function, the exponent of which is (-kp + g)t, where k is the second-order rate constant for bacterial killing, p is the neutrophil concentration, g is the first-order rate constant for bacterial growth, and t is time. We found that k approximately 2 x 10(-8) ml per neutrophil per min, and g approximately 8 x 10(-3)/min. Only when p is greater than g/k, which we call the critical neutrophil concentration, does the bacterial concentration fall. Under optimal assay conditions, the critical neutrophil concentration was 3-4 x 10(5) per ml, a value very close to that (< or =5 x 10(5) per ml) known to predispose humans to bacterial and fungal infections.     

Neutrophil function in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Frequent and recurrent episodes of peritonitis are a major cause of morbidity in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). One factor contributing to this problem may be an abnormality of neutrophil function in these patients. We have therefore quantified phagocytosis and killing by circulating and peritoneal neutrophils from patients on CAPD with and without peritonitis. Circulating neutrophils from uninfected patients showed reduced phagocytosis of both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida guilliermondii because of an opsonic defect in CAPD serum and because of a defect of the neutrophils themselves. In contrast, phagocytosis by circulating and peritoneal neutrophils from patients with peritonitis was normal. Intracellular killing of C. guilliermondii was normal in all groups of neutrophils but killing of S. epidermidis, the organism most commonly isolated in CAPD peritonitis, was reduced. The possible mechanisms for the enhanced neutrophil activity seen in peritonitis, and for the decreased killing of S. epidermidis in contrast to normal killing of C. guilliermondii are discussed. A defect in killing of S. epidermidis may explain why peritonitis caused by this organism can be difficult to erradicate.     

Neutrophil inflammation and activation in bronchiectasis: comparison with pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary inflammation in bronchiectasis, pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is dominated by neutrophils. Pathophysiologic differences are seen in the degree of airway and tissue destruction. Neutrophil activation and neutrophil proteolytic activity might differ between bronchiectasis, pneumonia and IPF. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether levels of inflammatory and protective markers in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) differed among cases of bronchiectasis, pneumonia and IPF. METHODS: We studied 11 bronchiectasis patients (group 1), 30 pneumonia patients (group 2), 15 IPF patients (group 3) and 12 healthy volunteers (group 4). In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, concentrations of alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase-alpha(1)PI complex were determined using immunoluminometric assays. Elastase inhibition capacity (EIC) and elastase activity were determined using a colorimetric assay. RESULTS: No EIC, but free elastase activity, was found in 82% of group 1, 20% of group 2, 20% of group 3 and 0% of group 4. Median MPO concentration was highest in group 1: 7,951 ng/ml (16th-84th percentile [16-84%]: 256-36,342) vs. 692 ng/ml (106-2,279; group 2), 332 ng/ml (98-1,657; group 3), and 0.12 ng/ml (0.08-0.26; group 4). Bronchiectasis patients with bronchial Pseudomonas infection showed higher amounts of neutrophils (p < 0.01) and higher elastase activity (p < 0.05) than patients with sterile lavage. CONCLUSION: Bronchiectasis patients show a severe imbalance between neutrophil activity and protective molecules leading to possible lung destruction. Chronic Pseudomonas infection might trigger neutrophil activation. Future research and treatment strategies should focus on increased bacterial clearance and inhibition of neutrophil toxicity.     

CD64、CRP、PCT及NLR对儿童社区获得性肺炎的诊断价值

目的探讨中性粒细胞CD64、C反应蛋白(CRP)、降钙素原(PCT)及中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(NLR)在儿童社区获得性肺炎(CAP)中的诊断价值。方法选取海口市人民医院收治的CAP患儿186例,依据病原体不同分为细菌性肺炎组(95例),支原体肺炎组(43例)和病毒性肺炎组(48例)。细菌性肺炎患儿依据入院病情严重程度分为轻症组(75例)和重症组(20例)。采用流式细胞术检测外周血中性粒细胞CD64的表达,同时检测CRP、PCT及NLR水平。应用ROC曲线分析CD64、CRP、PCT及NLR水平对细菌性肺炎的诊断价值。结果细菌性肺炎组治疗前CD64(8.85±3.40 vs 2.26±0.74,2.42±0.95,2.38±0.80)、CRP(38.62±8.50 vs 3.25±0.96,3.42±1.15,4.16±1.53,mg/L)、PCT(6.17±1.40 vs 0.15±0.03,0.34±0.12,0.62±0.28,ng/mL)及NLR(7.84±3.25 vs 2.05±0.96,1.37±0.62,2.48±1.16)水平均明显高于对照组、病毒性肺炎组和支原体肺炎组(P<0.01)。细菌性肺炎患儿治疗后CD64(2.70±1.06 vs 8.85±3.40)、CRP(4.63±1.58 vs 38.62±8.50,mg/L)、PCT(0.21±0.06 vs 6.17±1.40,ng/mL)及NLR(2.28±1.07 vs 7.84±3.25)水平均明显低于治疗前(P<0.01)。重症细菌性肺炎患儿CD64(10.42±4.36 vs 7.60±2.58)、CRP(43.25±10.47 vs 34.85±8.16,mg/L)、PCT(9.26±2.18 vs 4.62±1.15,ng/mL)及NLR(9.75±4.12 vs 6.53±2.90)水平均明显高于轻症细菌性肺炎(P<0.01)。ROC曲线分析显示,CD64、CRP、PCT及NLR单项指标诊断细菌性肺炎的最佳截值分别为3.25、14.80 mg/L、1.83 ng/mL、4.37,四项联合诊断细菌性肺炎的AUC(0.948,95%CI:0.887~0.992)最大,其敏感度和特异度为96.2%和89.3%。Pearson相关分析显示,细菌性肺炎患儿CD64与CRP、PCT及NLR呈正相关(r=0.573、0.729、0.536,P<0.01),CRP与PCT及NLR呈正相关(r=0.602、0.497,P<0.01),PCT与NLR呈正相关(r=0.514,P<0.01)。结论CD64、CRP、PCT及NLR四项联合检测有助于提高细菌性肺炎的诊断价值,并可作为判断CAP患儿病情严重程度的实验室指标。     

Interleukin 8-stimulated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase activity regulates the migration of human neutrophils independent of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases

Chemoattractants and chemokines, such as interleukin 8 (IL-8), are defined by their ability to induce directed cell migration of responsive cells. The signal transduction pathway(s) leading to cell migration remain ill defined. We demonstrate that phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) activity, as determined by inhibition using wortmannin and LY294002, is required for IL-8-induced cell migration of human neutrophils. Recently we reported that IL-8 caused the activation of the Ras/Raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in human neutrophils and that this activation was dependent on PI3K activity. The regulation of cell migration by IL-8 is independent of ERK kinase and ERK activation since the ERK kinase inhibitor PD098059 had no effect on IL-8-induced cell migration of human neutrophils. Additionally, activation of p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase is insufficient and activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase is unnecessary to induce cell migration of human neutrophils. Therefore, regulation of neutrophil migration appears to be largely independent of the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases. The data argue that PI3K activity plays a central role in multiple signal transduction pathways within the human neutrophil leading to distinct cell functions.     

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.     

Leukotriene production by fresh human bone marrow cells: evidence of altered lipoxygenase activity in chronic myelocytic leukemia

The metabolism of arachidonic acid through the lipoxygenase pathway was studied in suspensions of fresh human bone marrow cells from eight patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and 10 normal controls. After the cells were incubated with the calcium ionophore A23187 and arachidonic acid, a technique including reverse- and straight-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to isolate and detect different lipoxygenase-mediated compounds. The detected compounds included leukotriene B4 (LTB4), with its two major nonenzymatic isomers 6-trans-LTB4 and 12-epi-6-trans-LTB4 5S,12S-DHETE, and the monohydroxy eicosatetraenoic acids 5-HETE, 12-HETE, and 15-HETE. The pattern of lipoxygenase-mediated products from the bone marrows was similar to that previously described from human peripheral blood. Of eight bone marrow samples from CML patients, five expressed values above 600 ng LTB4/10(8) nucleated cells, as compared to only one out of 10 controls. In contrast, the CML patients produced significantly lower amounts of both the double-dioxygenation product 5S,12S-DHETE (56.8 +/- 16.0 ng [mean +/- SE] versus 146.1 +/- 31.3 ng; p less than 0.05) and the monohydroxy acid 12-HETE (965 +/- 351 ng versus 4390 +/- 1801 ng; p less than 0.05), indicating a 12-lipoxygenase deficiency. The present results show that leukotrienes are formed by human bone marrow cells and further suggest the existence of altered lipoxygenase activity in CML.     

Localization and quantitation of the vitamin D binding protein (Gc- globulin) in human neutrophils

Plasma-derived vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is an important physiologic regulator of the neutrophil chemotactic response to activated complement. A cell-associated form of DBP has been observed in numerous cell types. We now report that mature, circulating human neutrophils also contain cell-associated DBP. Immunofluorescence studies of normal untreated neutrophils showed the presence of DBP on the cell surface. Western blotting of detergent-soluble neutrophil lysates with a polyclonal anti-DBP showed two major immunoreactive bands, one with an apparent molecular weight of 56 Kd (identical to purified plasma-derived DBP) and a second less prominent band at 12 to 14 Kd. Quantitation of the immunoreactive bands by video densitometry indicated that normal human neutrophils contain 1.5 +/- 0.8 ng DBP/10(6) cells (n = 9). Immunoprecipitation of detergent-soluble lysates with the polyclonal anti-DBP showed only the 56-Kd form by Western blotting. In contrast, a monoclonal anti-DBP immunoprecipitated the 12 to 14 Kd form of DBP from lysates of surface-radioiodinated cells. Western blots of subcellular fractions showed that immunoreactive bands were found in the specific (secondary) granule and plasma-membrane fractions. In addition, pretreatment of neutrophils with 10 nmol/L phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) resulted in approximately a 50% reduction in the amount of DBP in both the specific granule and plasma-membrane fractions. Finally, analysis of the cell- free supernates showed that DBP was spontaneously released into the extracellular milieu: moreover, this release was enhanced if the cells were first stimulated with C5a, formyl-norleucyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fNLP) or PMA.     

Arachidonate metabolism by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or complement component C5a is independent of phospholipase activation.

Release of arachidonic acid by the membrane phospholipase and metabolism by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway was examined in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The 5-lipoxygenase pathway is activated when PMNs are given arachidonic acid in ethanol and there is extensive metabolism to 5-hydroxyicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). This activation event was shown to be altered by the ethanol because resting PMNs given arachidonic acid with bovine serum albumin fail to metabolize arachidonic acid. However, cells activated by the inflammatory agents N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF) or complement component C5a recruit the 5-lipoxygenase to metabolize exogenous arachidonic acid to 5-HETE and LTB4. When PMNs were incubated with arachidonic acid-bovine serum albumin and challenged with fMLF or C5a (des-Arg-C5a) they produced 49-75 pmol of LTB4 and 310-440 pmol of 5-HETE per 10(7) cells. PMNs stimulated by fMLF or C5a (des-Arg-C5a) do not induce membrane phospholipases to mobilize endogenous arachidonic acid and neither 5-HETE nor LTB4 is formed. In contrast, PMN stimulation by the ionophore A23187 activates both the membrane phospholipase and the 5-lipoxygenase to produce 5-HETE and LTB4 from endogenous arachidonic acid. Our results indicate that the lipoxygenase pathway is inoperative in resting PMNs but can be recruited by chemotactic factors to act on arachidonate from extracellular sources. It was previously believed that formation of 5-HETE and LTB4 by the PMN depends solely on phospholipase to mobilize endogenous arachidonic acid. The results reported here refute this concept and indicate that the role of phospholipase activation in PMN may be overestimated. Therefore, subsequent involvement of lipoxygenase products in mediating stimulation of PMN by inflammatory factors (e.g., as in aggregation and chemotaxis) remains in question unless an exogenous source of arachidonate can be identified.     

Cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 translocates to membrane fraction in human neutrophils activated by stimuli that phosphorylate mitogen-activated protein kinase.

The addition of the chemotactic peptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) to human neutrophils pretreated with the cytokine granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) results in a 10-fold enhanced activity of phospholipase A2, measured as the release of arachidonic acid. It is found that GM-CSF increases the tyrosine phosphorylation, enhances the activity of a mitogen-activated protein kinase, and greatly potentiates the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced activity of this kinase. Stimuli that increase the tyrosine phosphorylation, enhance the activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, and cause a rise in the intracellular concentration of free calcium increase the amount of phospholipase A2 associated with the plasma membrane. This increase corresponds to a decrease in the amount found in the cytosol. Whereas GM-CSF alone produces only a small increase in the amount of phospholipase A2 associated with the membrane, it potentiates greatly the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced increase. The total amount (whole cell) of phospholipase A2, as measured by immunoblotting using anti-phospholipase A2 antibody, does not change upon stimulation of human neutrophils with GM-CSF, fMet-Leu-Phe, or both. In addition, the band that corresponds to phospholipase A2 is shifted upward in membrane isolated from neutrophils stimulated with fMet-Leu-Phe, suggesting that the enzyme has been altered, possibly phosphorylated, though not on tyrosine residues. A working hypothesis is presented. Briefly, stimulation of human neutrophils with GM-CSF, in the absence of an additional stimulus, increases the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase, which in turn phosphorylates and activates cytoplasmic phospholipase A2. In the presence of an increased intracellular concentration of free calcium the phospholipase A2 is translocated to the plasma membrane where its substrate is located. GM-CSF also potentiates greatly the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase and, since fMet-Leu-Phe causes an intracellular calcium rise, the amount of the phospholipase A2 that is associated with the membrane fraction.     

Activation of MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 in human neutrophils after phorbol ester or fMLP peptide stimulation

In response to extracellular stimulation, one of the earliest events in human neutrophils is protein phosphorylation, which mediates signal transduction and leads to the regulation of cellular functions. Mitogen- activated protein (MAP) kinases are rapidly activated by a variety of mitogens, cytokines, and stresses. The activated MAP kinases in turn regulate their substrate molecules by phosphorylation. MAP kinase- activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase 2, a Ser/Thr kinase, has been shown to be phosphorylated by p38 MAP kinase both in vivo and in vitro. Phosphorylation of the Thr-334 site of MAPKAP kinase 2 results in a conformational change with subsequent activation of the enzyme. To better define the role of MAPKAP kinase 2 in the activation of human neutrophils, its enzymatic activity was measured after stimulation by either a phorbol ester (phorbol myristate acetate [PMA]), a potent protein kinase C activator, or the tripeptide fMLP, which is a chemotactic factor. The in vitro kinase assays indicate that both PMA and fMLP stimulated a transient increase in the enzymatic activity of cellular MAPKAP kinase 2. The induced kinase activation was concentration-dependent and reached a maximum at 5 minutes for PMA and 1 minute for fMLP. To identify potential substrate molecules for MAPKAP kinase 2, a highly active kinase mutant was generated by mutating the MAP kinase phosphorylation site in the C-terminal region. The replacement of threonine 334 with alanine resulted in a marked augmentation of catalytic activity. Analysis of in vitro protein phosphorylation in the presence of the active kinase indicates that a 60-kD cytosolic protein (p60) was markedly phosphorylated and served as the major substrate for MAPKAP kinase 2 in human neutrophils. Based on the MAPKAP kinase 2 phosphorylation site of Hsp27, a competitive inhibitory peptide was synthesized. This competitive inhibitory peptide specifically inhibited MAPKAP kinase 2 enzymatic activity, as well as the in vitro and in vivo kinase-induced p60 phosphorylation. To assess the contribution of MAPKAP kinase 2 in neutrophil function, the oxidative burst response after manipulation of endogenous kinase activity was measured. Intracellular delivery of the competitive inhibitory peptide into human neutrophils reduced both PMA- and fMLP- stimulated superoxide anion production. Thus, the results strongly suggest that MAPKAP kinase 2 is involved in the activation of human neutrophils.     

Transmembrane signaling in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils: 15(S)-hydroxy-(5Z,8Z,11Z,13E)-eicosatetraenoic acid modulates receptor agonist-triggered cell activation.

15(S)-Hydroxy-(5Z,8Z,11Z,13E)-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) exerted a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of superoxide anion (O2-) production and exocytosis of both azurophil and specific granule constituents from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) stimulated with the receptor-specific agonists, N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP), platelet-activating factor, and leukotriene B4, but not that elicited by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. 15-HETE did not alter the binding of FMLP to its specific receptors on PMN but, rather, appeared to interfere with a subsequent process in signal transduction. Receptor-coupled production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and increases in cytosolic free calcium elicited with FMLP, platelet-activating factor, and leukotriene B4 were suppressed by 15-HETE. 15-HETE did not, however, inhibit the mobilization of 45Ca from intracellular stores elicited by the addition of InsP3 to permeabilized PMN. 15-HETE suppressed O2- production and increases in intracellular [Ca2+] induced when cell-surface receptors were bypassed and the PMN were activated directly by the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) activators aluminum fluoride (AlF4-) and mastoparan. 15-HETE, however, did not perturb all G protein functions because cAMP production in FMLP-activated PMN was essentially unaffected by 15-HETE. These data support the proposition that 15-HETE modulates receptor-triggered activation of PMN either by uncoupling G protein stimulation of phospholipase C or by directly inhibiting phospholipase C, thus inhibiting the InsP3-dependent rise in intracellular [Ca2+] that is prerequisite for PMN responsiveness to receptor agonists.     

Phospholipase activity in human bile

To investigate the importance of bacterial infection in the formation of free fatty acids found in brown pigment gallstones, free fatty acids and phospholipase activity in hepatic bile, with or without the presence of bacterial infection, were compared. The concentration of free fatty acids in bile with bacterial infection [0.467 +/- 0.447 mg per ml (mean +/- S.D.)] was significantly higher than when bacterial infection was absent (0.073 +/- 0.041 mg per ml; p less than 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the composition of free fatty acids in hepatic bile when bacterial infection was present. Biliary phospholipase activity was determined by counting [14C] palmitic acid released from [14C]dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine that was incubated with native bile. The biliary phospholipase activity was significantly higher when bacterial infection was present. Furthermore, a positive correlation (p less than 0.001) was found between the activity of biliary phospholipases and the concentration of free fatty acids in hepatic bile. Most bacterial strains isolated from bile were shown to have both phospholipase A1 and A2 activity. On the other hand, human pancreatic juice and human gallbladder epithelial cells contained mainly phospholipase A2. Since fatty acids in the gallstone are mainly palmitic acid and must have been cleaved from first position in the biliary phosphatidylcholine molecule, bacterial phospholipase A1 seems to play an important role in the formation of calcium palmitate found in brown pigment gallstones.     

Targeting lipopolysaccharides by the nontoxic polymyxin B nonapeptide sensitizes resistant Escherichia coli to the bactericidal effect of human neutrophils

The nonapeptide of polymyxin B (PMBN) has been reported to sensitize various pathogenic gram-negative bacteria to the direct bactericidal effect of human serum. To investigate the impact of PMBN on human neutrophil-effected killing of the serum- and phagocytosis-resistant Escherichia coli strains C14 and O111, serum was coapplied with PMBN or with neutrophils, but this did not result in decreased numbers of viable bacteria. In contrast, the most potent bacterial killing occurred in the presence of neutrophils plus serum components plus PMBN. The effect of this on E. coli C14 was the appearance of inositol phosphates, diacylglycerol, respiratory burst, elastase liberation, and generation of lipid mediators (leukotriene B(4), 5-HETE, and platelet-activating factor). Strong neutrophil activation required early, but not late, complement components and was blocked by inhibition of phagocytosis with cytochalasin D. PMBN seems to cause dramatic support of natural host defense by complement-dependent sensitization of E. coli to the bactericidal efficacy of human neutrophils.     

Platelet-activating factor induces protein kinase activity in the particulate fraction of human neutrophils

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a proinflammatory lipid that has both platelet- and phagocyte-stimulating properties. Because several known activators of calcium-, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase c, PKC) also stimulate neutrophil responses and because neutrophil stimuli such as phorbol diesters and the chemotactic peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe are reported to increase protein kinase activity in neutrophil (PMN) particulate fractions, we investigated the effect of PAF on neutrophil protein kinase activities. In neutrophils exposed to 10(-6) mol/L PAF, cytosolic PKC activity was 521 +/- 38 pmol 32P/10(7) PMN/min (mean +/- SEM), which was not significantly lower than cystolic activity in buffer-treated controls (558 +/- 32 pmol 32P/10(7) PMN/min, n = 14). PAF-exposed cells exhibited a concomitant rise in protein kinase activity associated with the particulate fraction with 53 +/- 4 pmol 32P/10(7) PMN/min compared with 32 +/- 2 pmol in control cells (n = 14). Particulate protein kinase activity was independent of the presence of calcium and phospholipid in the assay medium. The specific PKC inhibitor H-7 inhibited particulate protein kinase activity, however, which suggested that the enzyme activity assayed in this fraction may be PKC in a constitutively activated form. The increase in particulate protein kinase activity induced by PAF required the presence of cytochalasin B, was detectable within 5 seconds of exposure to PAF, and was not reversed by washing the cells free of extracellular PAF after initial exposure. Although PAF did not have a direct effect on PKC activity from cytosolic fractions from resting cells, the increase in particulate protein kinase activity induced by PAF was inhibited when the cells were first depleted of calcium by incubation with Quin 2. These results suggest that PAF induces an increase in particulate protein kinase activity in neutrophils by a calcium- dependent mechanism and that the induction of membrane-associated protein kinase activity may be involved in neutrophil-stimulating actions such as superoxide production, which occur at higher concentrations of PAF.     

肺结核病患者外周血α-防御素HNP1-3的表达及意义

目的探讨肺结核病患者外周血α-防御素HNP1-3水平与疾病的关系。方法共纳入研究对象199例,其中肺结核患者113例,健康对照86例。运用酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)、实时荧光定量(qPCR)等方法检测研究对象外周血HNP1-3水平及外周血中性粒细胞HNP1-3的mRNA表达水平。进一步将结核组分为病原学阳性组TB(+)组和病原学阴性组TB(-)、初治肺结核组(NTB)和复治肺结核组(RTB)、重症肺结核组(Severe)与轻症肺结核组(Mild)、肺结核组(TB)与肺结核合并糖尿病组(TB+DM),并比较各组HNP1-3水平情况。结果肺结核组外周血HNP1-3为(22.6±14.4)ng/mL,显著高于健康对照组(16.1±5.7)ng/mL(t=4.008、P<0.001);肺结核组中性粒细胞HNP1-3的mRNA表达为健康对照组2.17倍,差异无统计学意义(t=2.221、P=0.051);TB(+)组与TB(-)组外周血HNP1-3水平分别为(23.5±14.5)ng/mL、(20.0±10.4)ng/mL,差异无统计学意义(t=1.360、P=0.175);NTB组与RTB组外周血HNP1-3水平分别为(22.1±13.7)ng/mL、(23.8±15.7)ng/mL,差异无统计学意义(t=0.596、P=0.552);重症组外周血HNP1-3水平(25.2±16.3ng/mL)显著高于轻症组(19.5±11.0ng/mL),两组差异有统计学意义(t=2.098、P=0.038);肺结核合并糖尿病组外周血HNP1-3水平(28.6±13.9)ng/mL显著高于未合并糖尿病肺结核组(20.9±14.1)ng/mL,两组差异有统计学意义(t=2.398、P=0.018)。肺结核患者外周血HNP1-3水平与IL-8及中性粒细胞比例呈正相关。结论结核病患者HNP1-3水平高于健康人群,且与疾病病情、预后及炎症程度密切相关。     

Calcium channel blockers suppress cytokine-induced activation of human neutrophils

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils, in concert with proinflammatory cytokines, play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Calcium channel blockers are commonly used in the treatment of hypertension, and their pleiotropic effects, other than the lowering of blood pressure, have been recently recognized. METHODS: We studied the effects of various calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, nicardipine, cilnidipine, benidipine, efonidipine, nifedipine, azelnidipine, verapamil, and diltiazem; each being used at 5 and 10 micromol/l) on superoxide (O(2)(-)) release, migration, and signaling pathways in human neutrophils stimulated by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). RESULTS: GM-CSF-induced O(2)(-) release was suppressed by amlodipine, nicardipine, and cilnidipine, whereas TNF-alpha-induced O(2)(-) release was suppressed by amlodipine, nicardipine, cilnidipine, benidipine, efonidipine, nifedipine, and azelnidipine. TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt, but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), was attenuated by nicardipine, cilnidipine, benidipine, efonidipine, and azelnidipine. By contrast, GM-CSF-induced phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and Akt was affected by none of the blockers. GM-CSF-induced neutrophil migration was also suppressed by amlodipine and nicardipine, but not by azelnidipine, when these blockers were assessed for their effect on neutrophil migration. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that (i) some calcium channel blockers can suppress cytokine-induced neutrophil activation, leading to possible prevention of the progression of atherosclerosis; and (ii) that activation of the ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways, induced by TNF-alpha but not by GM-CSF, is selectively affected by some blockers.     

The effect of erythropoietin on platelet and endothelial activation markers: a prospective trial in healthy volunteers

Erythropoietin (EPO) enhances formation of red blood cells and also affects thrombopoiesis and platelet function. We hypothesized that the effect of EPO may be reflected by changes in thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and endothelial cell function. Six male and six female subjects received recombinant human epoetin alpha (Erypo?) intravenously (300?U/kg). Biomarker levels were assessed at baseline and 4, 24, 48 and 72?hours after infusion. Epoetin alpha increased TXB2 levels by 140%, which reached significance at 48?hours (6.6?±?5?ng/ml vs. 15?±?9?ng/ml; p?=?0.044) and remained at that level at 72?hours. In line, epoetin alpha increased E-selectin levels by 25% already at 24?hours (39?±?21?ng/ml vs. 49?±?26?ng/ml; p?相似文献