Interleukin-1 potentiates antigen-mediated arachidonic acid metabolite formation in mast cells

Mast cells were isolated from human lung tissues using density gradient centrifugation and a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Purified cells were sensitized passively with serum from allergic patients sensitive to grass pollen and then challenged with antigen (grass pollen). When these cells were challenged with antigen, LTC4, and PGD2 (19 +/- 6, and 42 +/- 9 pmol/10(6) cells, respectively) were released during 2 hr of incubation. When mast cells were incubated with interleukin-1 (IL-1) no detectable amount of LTC4 or PGD2 was generated. However, when mast cells were challenged with antigen and IL-1, LTC4 and PGD2 were released (60 +/- 15 and 97 +/- 21 pmol/10(6), respectively) after a 2 hr incubation period. The stimulatory action of IL-1 was both time- and dose-dependent (over a 10-1000 units/ml range). In addition, greater activity was observed if IL-1 was added 5-30 min prior to the antigen. Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolic pathways prevented the release of LTC4 and PGD2 from mast cells activated with antigen and IL-1. This study shows that IL-1 does not stimulate arachidonic acid metabolite release by mast cells but potentiates the release induced by antigen.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits prostaglandin D2 generation by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase-2 in cultured human mast cells

BACKGROUND: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is catalysed by cyclo-oxygenase (COX), as is arachidonic acid, and is a competitive inhibitor of arachidonate metabolism. OBJECTIVES: We examined the effect of EPA on prostaglandin (PG) D2 generation in the cultured human mast cells with IgE-anti-IgE challenge incubation. METHODS: Cultured human mast cells were incubated with EPA (1 micromol/L) for 20 h, then challenged with anti-IgE incubation after treatment with IgE. At the same time, COX inhibitors were tested to identify COX-1 and COX-2 activity. PGD2 synthetic activity was also assayed in a cell-free homogenate of cultured mast cells with COX inhibitors and EPA. Histamine in the culture medium and in cells was assayed with the HPLC-fluorescent method. PGD2 and PGD3 were assayed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the stable isotope dilution method. RESULTS: Although EPA incubation did not affect histamine release by cultured human mast cells in response to IgE-anti-IgE challenge incubation, it did decrease PGD2 generation by inhibiting the COX-2 pathway. In contrast, in the cell-free homogenate of cultured human mast cells, EPA inhibited both COX-1 and COX-2 activities. CONCLUSION: Pre-incubation with EPA primarily affects the COX-2 pathway in cultured human mast cells and reduces PGD2 generation in response to IgE-anti-IgE challenge incubation. These findings suggest that COX-1 and COX-2 have different substrate flow systems in mast cells. They also suggest that endogenous EPA diet supplementation would reduce PGD2 production and could serve as an anti-inflammatory substrate in human mast cells.     

Human neutrophil-derived histamine-releasing activity (HRA-N) causes the release of serotonin but not arachidonic acid metabolites from rat basophilic leukemia cells.

The effects of neutrophil-derived histamine-releasing activity (HRA-N) on arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism is unknown. Human basophils exposed to HRA-N released 25% of total histamine but no leukotriene C4 (LTC4). To confirm this phenomenon, rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells were exposed to HRA-N as well as anti-IgE, or calcium ionophore A23187. RBL cells incubated with A23187 released 44% of available serotonin and 59 and 124 pmol/10(6) cells of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and LTC4, respectively. Anti-IgE stimulation resulted in 34% serotonin release and the generation of 34 pmol PGD2 per 10(6) cells and 72 pmol LTC4 per 10(6) cells. In contrast, HRA-N (2 U/ml) induced 20% serotonin release, 4 pmol PGD2 per 10(6) cells, and 0.6 pmol LTC4 per 10(6) cells. Neither increasing the dose nor the incubation time of HRA-N enhanced the generation of AA metabolite. Additionally, the spectrum of AA metabolites generated by RBL cells in response to those agents was examined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. RBL cells stimulated with A23187 released PGD2, LTB4, and its isomers, LTC4, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. In contrast, HRA-N stimulation resulted in only minimal PGD2 generation and no other discernable AA metabolites. Thus, HRA-N causes selective release of serotonin without inducing AA metabolites. These data suggest that HRA-N activates mast cells through a unique pathway.     

Role of lipoxins A4 and B4 in the generation of arachidonic acid metabolites by rat mast cells and their effect on [3H]serotonin release.

Basophils located in tissues are called mast cells and are found in connective tissue. Many different compounds are secreted from basophil granules upon appropriate stimulation. Products such as heparin, histamine, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), and membrane-derived materials which give rise to arachidonic acid metabolites, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes, are some of the more important compounds released by mast cells. These compounds, when released after stimulation with a variety of molecules, such as IgE, specific antigen anaphylotoxin, as well as the compound 48/80 (C48/80) or calcium ionophore A23187, cause contraction of endothelial cells and mediate atopic or anaphylactic hypersensitivity. In this report, we study the generation of some arachidonic acid products, namely leukotrienes C4, D4, E4, and B4 and the prostaglandins D2 and E2 by rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC), using calcium ionophore A23187 as a degranulating agonist. We have also studied the new lipoxygenase products, lipoxins A4 and B4, on RPMC secretion using C48/80 as a secretagogue. A rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL) was also used to compare results with RPMC. In this paper we have demonstrated that RPMC stimulated with A23187 release LTC4, LTD4, LTE4 and LTB4 and also PGD2 but not PGE2. These results were also confirmed when RBLs were used. In addition, we have shown that mast cells pretreated with LTC4, LTD4, LTE4 or 15-HETE do not modify the release of [3H]5HT exerted by C48/80 (0.5 microgram/ml) or A23187 (5 micrograms/ml). When LXA4 or B4 was used, mast cells were inhibited slightly (not statistically significant) from degranulating after the secretagogue treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A dominant role for chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on T helper type 2 (Th2) cells (CRTH2) in mediating chemotaxis of CRTH2+ CD4+ Th2 lymphocytes in response to mast cell supernatants

Human cultured mast cells, immunologically activated with immunoglobuin E (IgE)/anti-IgE, released a factor(s) that promoted chemotaxis of human CRTH2+ CD4+ T helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocytes. Mast cell supernatants collected at 20 min, 1 hr, 2 hr and 4 hr after activation caused a concentration-dependent increase in the migration of Th2 cells. The effect of submaximal dilutions of mast-cell-conditioned media was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by ramatroban (IC50 = 96 nm), a dual antagonist of both the thromboxane-like prostanoid (TP) receptor and the chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2), but not by the selective TP antagonist SQ29548, implicating CRTH2 in mediating the chemotactic response of these Th2 cells. The effect of mast-cell-conditioned media was mimicked by prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and this eicosanoid was detected in the conditioned media from activated mast cells in concentrations sufficient to account for the activity of the mast cell supernatants. Treatment of the mast cells with the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor diclofenac (10 microm) inhibited both the production of PGD2 and the CRTH2+ CD4+ Th2-stimulatory activity, while addition of exogenous PGD2 to conditioned media from diclofenac-treated mast cells restored the ability of the supernatants to promote chemotaxis of these Th2 cells. The degree of inhibition caused by diclofenac treatment of the mast cells was concordant with the degree of inhibition of chemotactic responses afforded by CRTH2 blockade. These data suggest that PGD2, or closely related metabolites of arachidonic acid, produced from mast cells may play a central role in the activation of CRTH2+ CD4+ Th2 lymphocytes through a CRTH2-dependent mechanism.     

Mast cell histamine release induced by intermediate products of arachidonic acid metabolism

This study was performed to evaluate the role of intermediate products of arachidonic acid metabolism on histamine release from rat serosal mast cells. Arachidonic acid in concentrations ranging from 10(-9) to 10(-4) M caused no histamine release from purified rat peritoneal mast cells. High concentrations (10(-6)-10(-6) M) of the terminal products of the arachidonic acid metabolism were also devoid of any significant histamine-releasing properties. The metabolic activation of arachidonic acid with prostaglandin-H-(PGH)-synthase isolated from calf seminal vesicles, evoked a significant release of histamine from rat serosal mast cells. The liberation of histamine was not accompanied by a significant leakage of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and the electron microscopical features were consistent with an exocytotic release. The phenomenon was blocked by reduced glutathione (GSSH) and by D-mannitol, a hydroxyl free-radical scavenger. These results suggest that free radical derivatives of arachidonic acid are generated during the catalysis which triggers mast cell histamine release.     

Modulation of the eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) release from various cells and their subcellular components by phospholipids

An eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) can be released from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), rat mononuclear and rat mast cells by the calcium ionophore (A23187), during phagocytosis, by arachidonic acid and phospholipase A2. It has been suggested that stimuli such as the ionophore and the phagocytic event lead to phospholipid turnover with the generation of arachidonic acid which is subsequently transformed by a lipoxygenase-like enzyme into ECF. Addition of phospholipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol during ionophore stimulation of various cells increased the ECF release significantly. ECF activity is also enhanced in the presence of indomethacin at concentrations which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. With bromphenylacylbromide and eicosatetraynoic acid, ECF generation as well as the chemotaxis of eosinophils is inhibited suggesting that the phospholipase A2-arachidonic acid pathway represents a common link for ECF release as well as for the chemotaxis of eosinophils. From the cytosol of human PMN an ECF-containing enzyme was obtained. Incubation of phospholipase A2 and phospholipids with the ECF-converting enzyme led to potent ECF indicating that addition of phospholipids provides the soluble ECF-generating system with an additional source of arachidonic acid. The data represent a molecular approach to analyze the mechanisms of ECF release from soluble components after immunological triggering of the cells.     

Prostaglandin D2 generation in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells exposed to dexamethasone is associated with endogenous peroxidase activity

The appearance of fixative-sensitive peroxidase activity in the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) cultured in the presence of 1 microM dexamethasone (DM) for up to 14 days and its relationship with immunologic release of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) by these cells were studied. Endogenous peroxidase activity, previously shown as a marker of arachidonic acid metabolism in various cell types, was visualized by cell incubation in 3,3' diaminobenzidine-containing solution before glutaraldehyde fixation. PGD2 release was induced by passive sensitization of BMMC with an optimal dose of monoclonal IgE and subsequent challenge with specific a antigen. We found that 4-week-old BMMC, used as the starting population of the present study, exhibited immature morphologic features, did not present peroxidase activity when cytochemically processed, and released minute amounts of PGD2 in response to IgE-dependent stimulation. When such BMMC were exposed to DM during 24 hours, they showed aldehyde-inhibited peroxidase activity in the perinuclear envelope and a few endoplasmic reticulum segments. As compared with untreated cells, 24-hour DM-exposed BMMC released higher amounts of PGD2 upon immunologic stimulation. After an additional 14-day period of DM exposure, an intense peroxidase activity was detected in the perinuclear envelope and the endoplasmic reticulum of BMMC, which, under immunologic stimulation, released as much as 42.4 +/- 14.7 ng of PGD2/1 x 10(6) cells. Aminotriazole (20 and 50 mM) extinguished both peroxidase activity and PGD2 release from BMMC whereas indomethacin (1 microM) suppressed PGD2 production, but did not alter endogenous peroxidase activity. Previous cell fixation with glutaraldehyde totally inhibited endogenous peroxidase reaction in DM-exposed BMMC. Moreover, 14-day DM-exposed BMMC exhibited morphologic characteristics of mature mast cells and possessed alcian blue+/safranin+ granules. Therefore, the present data suggest that appearance of peroxidase activity in the nuclear envelope and the endoplasmic reticulum of DM-exposed BMMC is associated with the ability of the cells to synthetize PGD2 and appears as a cytochemical marker of the in vitro maturation of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.     

Role of phospholipase A2 and pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins in histamine secretion induced by substance P

Incubation of mast cells with substance P or ionophore A23187 resulted in histamine release and arachidonic acid liberation from purified rat peritoneal mast cells. The treatment of mast cells with 100 ng/ml of pertussis toxin for 2h inhibited the effect of substance P on both histamine release and arachidonic acid liberation, but the response to the ionophore A23187 was not affected. Para-bromophenacyl bromide, a selective inhibitor of phospholipase A₂, inhibited similarly histamine and arachidonate release induced by substance P but not that evoked by ionophore A23187. These results suggest that phospholipase A₂ plays a key role in the histamine secretion induced by substance P.

     

Release of prostaglandin D2 and leukotriene C4 in response to hyperosmolar stimulation of mast cells

BACKGROUND: Mannitol-induced bronchoconstriction in subjects with exercise-induced asthma is associated with increased urinary excretion of 9alpha, 11beta-PGF(2), a metabolite of prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) serving as a mast cell marker. It has however been questioned whether or not human mast cells release PGD(2) and leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) after osmotic challenge with mannitol in vitro. METHODS: Cord blood-derived human mast cells were stimulated osmotically, immunologically or with a combination of both. Supernatants were analysed for PGD(2), LTC(4) and histamine contents with enzyme immunoassays. RESULTS: Significant release of de novo synthesized eicosanoids, predominantly PGD(2) [12 (8.8, 14) pmol/10(6)cells; median (25th, 75th percentile) but also LTC(4) (0.1 (0.08, 0.15) pmol/10(6) cells] were found in mast cells in vitro in response to 0.7 M mannitol stimulation. A massive release of histamine [70 (5.3)% of total; mean (SEM)] was also found. There were no correlations between the levels of released mediators after mannitol stimulation. In contrast, there was a correlation between release of PGD(2) and LTC(4), following immunological stimulation. CONCLUSION: The findings support that hyperosmolar challenge activates mast cells, but different than antigen stimulation.     

A new class of COX-2 inhibitor, rutaecarpine from Evodia rutaecarpa

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We investigated the effect of a new class of COX-2 inhibitor, rutaecarpine, on the production of PGD2 in bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMC) and PGE2 in COX-2 transfected HEK293 cells. Inflammation was induced by lambda-carrageenan in male Splague-Dawley (SD) rats. MATERIAL: Rutaecarpine (8,13-Dihydroindolo[2',3':3,4]pyridol[2,1-b]quinazolin -5(7H)-one) was isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. BMMC were cultured with WEHI-3 conditioned medium. c-Kit ligand and IL-10 were obtained by their expression in baculovirus. METHODS: The generation of PGD2 and PGE2 were determined by their assay kit. COX-1 and COX-2 protein and mRNA expression was determined by BMMC in the presence of KL, LPS and IL-10. TREATMENT: Rutaecarpine and indomethacin dissolved in 0.1% carboxymethyl cellulose was administered intraperitoneally and, 1 h later, lambda-carrageenan solution was injected to right hind paw of rats. Paw volumes were measured using plethysmometer 5 h after lambda-carrageenan injection. RESULTS: Rutaecarpine inhibited COX-2 and COX-1 dependent phases of PGD2 generation in BMMC in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.28 microM and 8.7 microM, respectively. It inhibited COX-2-dependent conversion of exogenous arachidonic acid to PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner by the COX-2-transfected HEK293 cells. However, rutaecarpine inhibited neither PLA2 and COX-1 activity nor COX-2 protein and mRNA expression up to the concentration of 30 microM in BMMC, indicating that rutaecarpine directly inhibited COX-2 activity. Furthermore, rutaecarpine showed in vivo anti-inflammatory activity on rat lambda-carrageenan induced paw edema by intraperitoneal administration. CONCLUSION: Anti-inflammatory activity of Evodia rutaecarpa could be attributed at least in part by inhibition of COS-2.     

Inhibitory effects of oxatomide on intracellular Ca mobilization, Ca uptake and histamine release, using rat peritoneal mast cells

Oxatomide at concentrations of 0.01-10 microM inhibited not only an increase in 45Ca uptake but also the intracellular Ca2+ release induced by compound 48/80 in rat peritoneal mast cells. At higher concentrations, ketotifen or other calcium antagonists caused similar inhibitory effects. However, the inhibitory effect of oxatomide on the 45Ca uptake into rat neonatal heart cells was much weaker than that of verapamil. Through image processing of quin 2-stained mast cells, it was revealed that oxatomide inhibited Ca2+ release from the intracellular store. Although oxatomide alone did not affect cAMP and cGMP contents in sensitized guinea pig lung samples, the drug effectively prevented changes in the nucleotide contents evoked by antigen challenge. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of oxatomide on histamine release may be caused by a combination of prevention of Ca uptake, which is highly selective toward mast cells; inhibition of Ca2+ release from the intracellular Ca store, and elevation of the cAMP content in mast cells.     

The strain difference in the effect of mercuric chloride on antigen-triggered serotonin release from rat mast cells is not mediated via interferon-gamma.

Previous work has shown that in vitro exposure of Brown-Norway (BN) rat peritoneal mast cells to mercuric chloride (HgCl2) causes enhancement of subsequent mediator release induced by cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin E (IgE). This enhancing effect is seen significantly less often with peritoneal cells from Lewis rats. In addition HgCl2 has been shown to suppress interferon (IFN)-gamma production by BN but not Lewis splenocytes. Given that IFN-gamma is known to inhibit mediator release by mast cells, we hypothesized that the strain difference in the effect of HgCl2 on mediator release was mediated via a differential effect on IFN-gamma release from T cells in the mixed peritoneal cell population: IFN-gamma release would be suppressed in the case of the BN rat, releasing the mast cells from inhibition and resulting in the enhancing effect of HgCl2. The aim of the study was to test two predictions of this hypothesis. Exposure of BN rat mast cells to IFN-gamma inhibited subsequent antigen-induced mediator release but did not significantly reduce HgCl2-mediated enhancement of this release. Exposure of Lewis rat mast cells to blocking concentrations of anti-IFN-gamma did not reveal any HgCl2-mediated enhancement of mediator release. These observations provide strong evidence against the hypothesis that the differential effects of HgCl2 on BN and Lewis rat mast cells are mediated via IFN-gamma. In addition the results revealed that BN rat mast cells are significantly more sensitive than Lewis rat mast cells to the inhibitory effects of IFN-gamma on antigen-induced mediator release.     

Effect of amiloride on arachidonic acid and histamine release from rat mast cells

The effect of a putative Na⁺/H⁺ exchange inhibition on histamine and [¹⁴C]arachidonic acid ([¹⁴C]AA) release has been examined in rat peritoneal mast cells, using either addition of amiloride or removal of extracellular Na⁺. The cells were stimulated by non-immunological agents, i.e. calcium ionophore A23187, nerve growth factor (NGF), thapsigargin and compound 48/80. On the basis of the results obtained, a possible role for Na⁺/H⁺ exchange in rat mast cell secretion is discussed.     

Pharmacological modulation of activation-secretion of rat serosal mast cells by chymase, an endogenous secretory granule protease.

The action of pharmacologic agents on chymase-induced exocytosis of beta-hexosaminidase and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism by rat serosal mast cells (RSMC) was determined and compared with their effects on anti-IgE induced activation. Indomethacin (INDO) (less than or equal to 10 microM), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, did not affect chymase- or anti-IgE-mediated exocytosis, while completely inhibiting prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) release at 1.25 microM. Theophylline (THEO), mepacrine, 3-amino-1-[m-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]-2-pyrazoline (BW755C), and diethylcarbamazine (DEC), inhibitors of adenosine binding and phosphodiesterases, phospholipases, AA metabolism, and vesicular transport as well as leukotriene A4 formation, respectively, inhibited exocytosis with ID50 values of 3.4, 0.22, 3.4 and 1.9 mM for chymase and 2.4, 0.17, 2.8 and 5.2 mM for anti-IgE. These agents inhibited net PGD2 release with ID50 values of 2.1, 0.04, less than 0.05, and 1.5 mM for chymase and of 0.5, 0.1, less than 0.05, and 4 mM for anti-IgE. 5,6-Dehydroarachidonic acid (DHA) and arachidonyl hydroxylamine (AH), 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, did not affect chymase-mediated exocytosis; anti-IgE-mediated exocytosis was not altered by AH but was suppressed by DHA (ID50 = 20 microM). Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an antioxidant, inhibited chymase-mediated exocytosis dose-dependently (ID50 less than or equal to 13.3 microM) while decreasing anti-IgE-mediated exocytosis by only 30% at 2.5-20 microM; net PGD2 release induced by both stimuli was inhibited dose-dependently. 2',5'-Dideoxyadenosine (DDA) and 1,6-di(0-(carbamoyl)cyclohexanone oxime)hexane (RHC 80267) and inhibitors of adenylate cyclase and of di-triglyceride lipases, respectively, had little effect on exocytosis induced by chymase but inhibited that induced by anti-IgE with ID50 values of 0.4 mM and 37 microM, respectively. With DDA the inhibition of net PGD2 release occurred with anti-IgE but not chymase, whereas RHC 80267 inhibited both chymase and anti-IgE-mediated PGD2 release. Differential inhibition of activation-secretion suggests either that chymase provides a step inhibited in IgE-mediated exocytosis by DDA, RHC 80267 and DHA, or that the activating pathway initiated by chymase is distinct.     

Release of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by cultured human bronchial epithelial cells

Human bronchial epithelial cells were isolated from macroscopically normal bronchi obtained from lobectomy specimens. Cells were grown in nutrient F12 medium, and after the third or fourth subculture they were stimulated with arachidonic acid, histamine, leukotrienes (LT) C4, D4, or E4, prostaglandin (PG) D2, anti-IgE, acetylcholine, bradykinin, or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Neither mast cell mediators (i.e., histamine, LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, or PGD2) nor anti-IgE stimulated the release of arachidonic acid metabolites from the epithelial cells. However, arachidonic acid, acetylcholine, bradykinin, and PMA stimulated the release of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) as major and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as minor products. The maximal release of 15-HETE and PGE2 occurred in 1 h with arachidonic acid stimulation and in 2 h with other stimuli. Arachidonic acid at 30 microM caused the release of 258 +/- 76 ng and 29 +/- 15 ng (n = 12) of 15-HETE and PGE2, respectively, from 10 x 10(6) epithelial cells, whereas acetylcholine, bradykinin, or PMA caused the release of approximately 2- to 10-fold less 15-HETE and PGE2. These results demonstrate that human bronchial epithelial cells selectively generate 15-HETE as the predominant arachidonic acid product and PGE2 as a minor metabolite. The role of bronchial epithelial cells and their mediators in the pathogenesis of bronchial hyperresponsiveness needs further study.     

Histamine release from serosal mast cells by intermediate products of arachidonic acid metabolism

In the present paper we report the results of experiments carried out to measure the release of histamine from isolated rat mast cells during the metabolic activation of arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid (10^–8–10^–4 M) and the terminal products (10^–6 M) of the arachidonic acid pathways were devoid of any significant histamine releasing properties. A substantial amount of histamine was released from rat mast cells by low concentrations of arachidonic acid during incubation with prostanoid generating systems, such as guinea-pig lung microsomes, rat serosal macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells and prostaglandin-H-synthase from calf seminal vesicles. The release of histamine was not accompanied by a leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and was blocked byd-mannitol and by lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase pathway inhibitors. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that free radical derivatives of arachidonic acid, originating from hydroperoxy fatty acids, are generated during catalysis, causing mast cell histamine release.     

Evaluation of the effects of peptide antibiotics human beta-defensins-1/-2 and LL-37 on histamine release and prostaglandin D(2) production from mast cells

Antimicrobial peptides, human beta-defensins (hBD-1/-2), and LL-37 (a peptide of human cathelicidin CAP18) are predominately expressed at epithelial tissues, where they participate in the innate host defense by killing invading microorganisms. In this study, to investigate the interactions between epithelial cell-derived antimicrobial peptides and mast cells, we evaluated the effects of hBD-1/-2 and LL-37 on mast cell functions using rat peritoneal mast cells. hBD-2 and LL-37 but not hBD-1 induced histamine release and intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization, and hBD-2 was more potent than LL-37. Interestingly, histamine release and intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization elicited by hBD-2 and LL-37 were markedly suppressed by BAPTA-AM (an intracellular Ca(2+) chelating agent), pertussis toxin and U-73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor). In addition, among the peptides examined, only hBD-2 significantly induced PGD(2) production, which was abolished by indomethacin (cyclooxygenase-1/-2 inhibitor) but not NS-398 (cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor), suggesting that hBD-2-induced PGD(2) production is mediated by cyclooxygenase-1. Likewise, the PGD(2) production was suppressed by pertussis toxin and U-73122. These observations suggest that hBD-2 and LL-37 stimulate mast cells to mobilize intracellular Ca(2+) and release histamine or generate PGD(2) in a G protein-phospholipase C-dependent manner. Thus, hBD-2 and LL-37 may have modulatory effects on inflammatory reactions.     

Prostaglandin H2 induces the migration of human eosinophils through the chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule of Th2 cells, CRTH2

The major mast cell product PGD2 is released during the allergic response and stimulates the chemotaxis of eosinophils, basophils, and Th2-type T lymphocytes. The chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule of Th2 cells (CRTH2) has been shown to mediate the chemotactic effect of PGD2. PGH2 is the common precursor of all PGs and is produced by several cells that express cyclooxygenases. In this study, we show that PGH2 selectively stimulates human peripheral blood eosinophils and basophils but not neutrophils, and this effect is prevented by the CRTH2 receptor antagonist (+)-3-[[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl] methyl amino]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-carbazole-9-acetic acid (Cay10471) but not by the hematopoietic PGD synthase inhibitor 4-benzhydryloxy-1-[3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-propyl]piperidine (HQL79). In chemotaxis assays, eosinophils showed a pronounced migratory response toward PGH2, but eosinophil degranulation was inhibited by PGH2. Moreover, collagen-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited by PGH2 in platelet-rich plasma, which was abrogated in the presence of the D-type prostanoid (DP) receptor antagonist 3-[(2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2,5-dioxo-1-(phenylmethyl)-4-imidazolidine-heptanoic acid (BWA868c). Each of these effects of PGH2 was enhanced in the presence of plasma and/or albumin. In eosinophils, PGH2-induced calcium ion (Ca2+) flux was subject to homologous desensitization with PGD2. Human embryo kidney (HEK)293 cells transfected with human CRTH2 or DP likewise responded with Ca2+ flux, and untransfected HEK293 cells showed no response. These data indicate that PGH2 causes activation of the PGD2 receptors CRTH2 and DP via a dual mechanism: by interacting directly with the receptors and/or by giving rise to PGD2 after catalytic conversion by plasma proteins.