Glycogen metabolism in stored granulocytes

Optimal function of transfused granulocytes (PMNs) requires adequate glycogen metabolism. Previous studies in our laboratory suggested that stored PMNs had decreased glycogen. We report here the glycogen content and chemotaxis of stored PMNs, and the ability of fresh and stored PMNs to use glycogen as the fuel source for chemotaxis. PMNs were prepared from 8 fresh units of blood drawn into citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine, suspended at 2 or 8 X 10(7) PMN per ml in autologous plasma with or without 15 mM sodium bicarbonate, and stored at 22 to 24 degrees C in transfer packs for 48 hours. Glycogen was measured on resting PMNs, and after challenge with opsonized zymosan and F-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP). The chemotaxis of fresh and stored PMNs was measured in the presence or absence of extracellular glucose. Fresh PMNs contained 10.3 +/- 0.5 (mean +/- SEM) micrograms of glycogen per 10(6) PMN. Glycogen decreased by 4.2 +/- 0.9 micrograms per 10(6) PMN after challenge with opsonized zymosan and by 1.1 +/- 0.6 micrograms per 10(6) PMN after FMLP. After 48 hours of storage, neutrophil glycogen increased by 18 percent, except in units stored at a concentration of PMN of 8 X 10(7) per ml without sodium bicarbonate. In PMNs from these units stored without bicarbonate, glycogen decreased by 9 percent (p less than .05), and there was a 19 and 55 percent decrease in the ability of PMN from these units to metabolize glycogen after exposure to opsonized zymosan and FMLP, respectively (p less than 0.05). In addition, in PMNs from units stored at a concentration of PMN of 8 X 10(7) per ml without bicarbonate, there was a 47 and 70 percent decrease in chemotaxis at 24 and 48 hours, respectively (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte microbicidal activity and oxidative metabolism by fibrinogen degradation products D and E.

Fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) D and E are typically present in blood of patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation and related conditions in which granulocyte (PMN) defense against bacterial infection may be compromised. This study was intended to determine whether FDP modify PMN functions critical to their bactericidal activity. Incubation of human PMN and Escherichia coli with 50-100 micrograms/ml FDP did not affect phagocytosis, but reduced by greater than 90% the cells' ability to inhibit bacterial colony growth compared with control PMN incubated with albumin or fibrinogen. FDP (10-100 micrograms/ml) inhibited PMN O2- release and chemotaxis stimulated by FMLP by 17-50% (P less than 0.005) and 41% (P less than 0.01), respectively. Fragment E3, and not fragment D1, was primarily responsible for inhibition of FMLP-induced PMN O2- release. Phorbol myristate acetate (10 ng/ml), 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (10(-6) M), AA (4.2 x 10(-5) M), and zymosan-activated serum-stimulated PMN O2- release were also decreased 37-63% by FDP compared with control protein. There are at least two mechanisms by which FDP may impair PMN responses. With respect to FMLP, FDP (16-100 micrograms/ml) inhibited specific binding to the cell surface over a ligand concentration range of 1.4-85 nM [3H]FMLP. In contrast, FDP did not effect the extent of phorbol ester binding to PMN but blocked activation of protein kinase C. These data suggest that elevated plasma FDP inhibit several PMN functions critical to the bactericidal role of these inflammatory cells.     

Effects of plasma, tumour necrosis factor, endotoxin and dexamethasone on extracellular proteolysis by neutrophils from healthy subjects and patients with emphysema

1. Neutrophils from patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema or age-matched control subjects were cultured on a substrate of 125I-fibronectin. The neutrophils from patients with lung disease digested significantly more fibronectin and released more elastase into the culture supernatant than did cells from control subjects. Preincubation of neutrophils from emphysematous patients with plasma from control subjects significantly inhibited fibronectin digestion by the patients' neutrophils by, on average, 10%. Preincubation of control subjects' neutrophils with plasma from emphysematous patients had no effect on fibronectin digestion. 2. Tumour necrosis factor increased fibronectin digestion in a dose-dependent manner when the cytokine was added to the adherent cells but not when preincubated with the polymorphonuclear leucocytes in suspension. Bacterial endotoxin in concentrations above 6 micrograms/ml significantly increased fibronectin digestion by neutrophils, but leukotriene B4, interferon-gamma and interleukin-1 alpha had no significant effects. 3. Dexamethasone inhibited fibronectin digestion by neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner, from 11% at 10(-10) mol/l to 68% at 10(-3) mol/l.     

Effect of bacterial endotoxin on lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase metabolites by rat neutrophils and correlation with cellular functional parameters

The effect of Salmonella enteritidis endotoxin on in vitro rat neutrophil cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolism, phagocytic activity, superoxide (O2-) generation, and microbicidal activity was investigated. Incubation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) with 5, 25, and 50 micrograms of endotoxin significantly enhanced synthesis of immunoreactive (i) leukotriene (LT)C4/D4 and thromboxane (Tx)B2 (P less than 0.001) as compared to control cells. Endotoxin 5 micrograms/ml produced optimal stimulation of the arachidonic acid metabolites. Calcium ionophore, A23187, significantly enhanced iLTC4/D4 and iTxB2 synthesis more than that elicited with endotoxin. Although phagocytic function was not significantly altered by endotoxin, intracellular killing of C. albicans demonstrated enhanced microbicidal activity at 5 micrograms/ml of endotoxin. Superoxide generation was significantly enhanced in neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Endotoxin (5 micrograms/ml) further potentiated superoxide generation by these cells when stimulated by PMA. These findings demonstrate that endotoxin directly enhances neutrophil iLTC4/D4 and iTxB2 synthesis. The enhanced arachidonic acid metabolism elicited by endotoxin in these cells parallels increased microbicidal activity and superoxide generation.     

Tissue factor generation by human mononuclear cells: effects of endotoxin and dissociation of tissue factor generation from mitogenic response.

The effects of the presence of endotoxin in a mononuclear cell culture system have been assessed. Endotoxin was shown to be mitogenic for human peripheral blood lymphocytes and capable of stimulating the generation of tissue factor. Concentrations of endotoxin, found to contaminate many commercial mitogens and antigens, activated mononuclear cells in a time-dependent manner. Generation of tissue factor was detected in cultures harvested from 2 to 72 hours following stimulation with endotoxin. Dose-response curves relating concentrations of endotoxin to mononuclear cell stimulation were determined; as little as 0.001 microng/ml. of E. coli endotoxin was capable of stimulating the generation of tissue factor in the cell cultures. The mitogenic effect of endotoxin was modest, however, and appeared to be unrelated to the ability of endotoxin to active tissue factor. Inhibition of DNA synthesis in the cell cultures by cytosine arabinoside or nonlethal irradiation failed to impair the generation of tissue factor. Endotoxin contamination of various reagents used in cell culture was evaluated with the Limulus assay, which detected as little as 1 X 10(-4) microng/ml. of endotoxin. Endotoxin was detected in preparations of phytohemagglutinin, purified protein derivative of the tubercle bacillus, mumps vaccine, tetanus toxoid, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen. Because of the broad implications of contamination by endotoxin of various reagents, we assessed the specificity of the Limulus assay for the detection of endotoxin in the lectin, concanavalin A, and determined that the reaction was specific for endotoxin. Contamination by endotoxin of mononuclear cell culture systems should be considered as a possible factor in the production of various biological effects attributed to some commonly used mitogens and antigens.     

Human whole blood interleukin-1-beta production: kinetics, cell source, and comparison with TNF-alpha.

Because removal of monocytes from their natural milieu may alter their subsequent immune response patterns, we have compared the production of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1-beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by cultured human whole blood to that by purified monocytes. IL-1-beta was released in a dose-dependent fashion by whole blood after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that monocytes were the main producers of IL-1-beta in whole blood cultures. On a per monocyte basis, after stimulation with 10 micrograms/ml lipopolysaccharide, much more IL-1-beta was released by cultured whole blood (56.2 +/- 8.3 ng/10(6) monocytes) than by purified mononuclear cells maintained in tissue culture medium (7.1 +/- 2.6 ng/10(6) monocytes). However, maintaining purified mononuclear cells in autologous plasma restored IL-1-beta release to levels observed in whole blood cultures. IL-1-beta release by whole blood peaked at 9 to 12 hours, in contrast to release of TNF-alpha, which peaked at 6 hours. In parallel with protein production, IL-1-beta messenger RNA levels peaked later and were more sustained than TNF-alpha messenger RNA levels. These experiments suggest that plasma augments the stimulatory effect of endotoxin and that IL-1-beta and TNF-alpha have differing kinetics in whole blood.     

Long-term culture and cloning of nontransformed human B lymphocytes

B lymphocyte-enriched cell populations cultured with mitogens in initial suspension cultures formed colonies in soft agar when the same mitogenic agent was present in the lower layer of a two-layer soft agar system. Colony formation depended upon the presence of T cells in the initial culture, and was optimal after an initial 72-h culture with phytohemagglutinin (PHA; 12.5 microliters/ml), pokeweed mitogen (PWM; 2.5 micrograms/ml), or protein A (10 micrograms/ml). The colonies could be picked from the agar and propagated by feeding every 3 d with medium supplemented with a growth factor-containing tissue culture supernate. The growth factor-containing supernate was prepared by stimulating pools of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells for 72 h with PHA or PWM. The lines propagated in this manner were membrane Ig+, lacked sheep erythrocyte rosette-forming ability, and did not ingest latex. They lacked the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) and had 46 chromosomes. Such lines have been propagated for over 1 yr. One line (BL1) was subjected to limiting dilution cloning and a line, BL1.1, was prepared that contained 96% lambda-bearing cells and no kappa-bearing cells. This line was also EBNA negative. This procedure can thus be used to prepare and clone long-term lines of nontransformed human B lymphocytes.     

Membrane-bound lactoferrin alters the surface properties of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) aggregate and avidly attach to endothelium in response to chemotactic agents. This response may be related in part to the release of the specific granule constituent lactoferrin (LF). We found by using immunohistology and biochemical and biophysical techniques that LF binds to the membrane and alters the surface properties of the PMN. Upon exposure of PMN treated with 5 micrograms/ml cytochalasin B to 2 x 10(-7) M formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine for 5 min, the PMN mobilized LF to their surface as observed by immunoperoxidase staining for LF. At added LF levels ranging from 4 to 15 micrograms/10(7) PMN there was a dose-dependent reduction in PMN surface charge reaching 4 mV, when the partitioning into the membrane of a charged amphipathic nitroxide spin label was measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, whereas transferrin was without effect. When 125I-FeLF was added to human PMN in increasing amounts and the results corrected for the residual amount of free LF contaminating the cells, the PMN were saturated with LF at concentrations between 100 and 200 nM in the medium. Human PMN bound 1.35 x 10(6) molecules per cell and the calculated value for the association constant for these receptors was 5.2 x 10(6) M-1. Additionally, 6 micrograms/ml LF served as an opsonin for rabbit MN to promote PMN uptake by rabbit macrophages, when assessed by electron microscopy, but lysozyme did not. These studies indicate that LF can bind to the surface of the PMN and reduce its surface charge. This correlates with enhanced "stickiness" leading to a variety of cell-cell interactions.     

Hydrogen ion maintenance improves the chemotaxis of stored granulocytes

Through technological advances in granulocyte collection, it has become possible to collect neutrophils (PMNs) routinely in high concentration (greater than 5 X 10(7) PMN/ml) for transfusion. Previous studies in this laboratory suggested that storage of neutrophils for transfusion at high PMN concentrations resulted in impaired adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and hydrogen ion maintenance. The studies we report here were designed to assess the effect of PMN storage at concentrations which are usual (2 X 10(7) PMN/ml), intermediate (5 X 10(7) PMN/ml), and high (8 X 10(7) PMN/ml) on chemotactic responses, and to identify variables which are easily measured and might predict the chemotactic function of stored PMNs. Granulocyte concentrates were stored in plastic bags at 2,5, and 8 X 10(7) PMN per ml, with or without 15 mM bicarbonate (HCO3). The random migration (RM) chemotaxis (CTX), ATP, and relative cell size (VOL) of the fresh and stored cells and the pH, glucose, and lactate concentrations in the supernatant medium were measured in the freshly prepared units after 24 and 48 hours storage at room temperature. We found that RM, CTX, ATP, glucose, and pH decreased significantly (p less than .02) following storage for 24 and 48 hours, particularly in units stored at the higher cell concentrations. Cell volume and lactate increased significantly with storage for 24 and 48 hours, and these values were also greater in units stored at the higher cell concentration (p less than .02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Activity of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of experimental intra-abdominal abscesses in mice

The therapeutic efficacy of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of experimental intra-abdominal abscesses in mice caused by a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis was compared with that of ampicillin and clindamycin. The abscesses were produced by intraperitoneal administration of a bacterial suspension obtained by bacterial culture of S epidermidis diluted to 10(8) CFU/ml mixed with sterilized rat feces and barium sulphate in male BALB/C mice. The following doses of antibiotics were given twice a day for seven days: ciprofloxacin, 1 microgram/100 microliters; clindamycin, 1.5 micrograms/100 microliters; and ampicillin, 3.6 micrograms/100 microliters. The antibiotic serum and pus concentrations were also determined by an agar well diffusion assay. The maximum serum concentrations were obtained 30 minutes after intraperitoneal administration (ciprofloxacin, 2.7 micrograms/ml; clindamycin, 9.0 micrograms/ml; ampicillin, 3.9 micrograms/ml). The penetration inside the abscess was also satisfactory (ciprofloxacin, 0.51 microgram/ml; clindamycin, 3.4 micrograms/ml; ampicillin, 3.8 micrograms/ml). A favorable clinical and bacteriologic response was obtained in 69% of the mice following the ciprofloxacin treatment and in 56% following ampicillin. The efficacy of ciprofloxacin was much higher than that of clindamycin and ampicillin, presumably because of its much higher intrinsic potency against the pathogen rather than for its pharmacokinetic characteristics and its penetration inside the abscess.     

Subcellular location and properties of bactericidal factors from human neutrophils

We examined the subcellular location of bactericidal factors (BF) in human neutrophils, using an efficient fractionation scheme. Nitrogen bomb cavitates of DIFP-treated PMN were centrifuged through discontinuous Percoll gradients, each fraction extracted with 0.05 M glycine, pH 2.0, and tested for the killing of Escherichia coli. greater than 90% of BF coisolated with the azurophil granules. After lysis of azurophils, 98% of azurophil-derived BF (ADBF) sedimented with the membrane. ADBF activity was solubilized from azurophil membrane with either acid or nonionic detergent (Triton X-100, Triton X-114). Bactericidal activity was linear with respect to protein concentration over the range 0.3-30 micrograms/ml. 0.1-0.3 microgram/ml ADBF killed 10(5) E. coli within 30 min at 37 degrees C. At 1.4 micrograms/ml, 50% of 2 X 10(5) bacteria were killed within 5 min. ADBF was effective between pH 5-8, with peak activity at pH 5.5. Glucose (20 mM), EDTA (1-25 mM), and physiologic concentrations of NaCl or KCl had little or no inhibitory effect on ADBF. ADBF killed both Gram-positive and Gram-negative virulent clinical isolates, including listeria, staphylococci, beta-hemolytic streptococci, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, under these conditions of cell disruption, fractionation, extraction, and assay, almost all BF in human PMN appeared to be localized to the membrane of azurophilic granules as a highly potent, broad-spectrum, rapidly acting protein(s) effective in physiologic medium. Some of these properties appear to distinguish ADBF from previously described PMN bactericidal proteins.     

Heparin and heparan sulphate are inhibitors of human leucocyte elastase.

1. Heparin and heparan sulphate strongly inhibited human leucocyte elastase activity in an automated assay using the soluble substrate, n-succinyl-(L-alanine)3-p-nitroanilide (50% inhibition of 250 microliters of 10 micrograms of human leucocyte elastase/ml was obtained with 80 microliters of 2.8 micrograms of heparin/ml and 8 micrograms of heparan sulphate/ml). Less significant inhibition at the same concentrations was seen with the other glycosaminoglycans tested: hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphates A-C. 2. Heparin and heparan sulphate also strongly inhibited human leucocyte elastase activity towards insoluble human lung elastin, as determined by an e.l.i.s.a. for soluble elastin-derived peptides released by elastolytic activity on the elastin. This inhibition was shown not to be due to a direct interference of the glycosaminoglycans in the e.l.i.s.a. nor to the inhibition causing a change in the size of the elastin-derived peptides. However, unlike the chromogenic assay with n-succinyl-(L-alanine)3-p-nitroanilide as substrate, where heparin was the more effective inhibitor, in this assay system heparan sulphate was the more effective inhibitor (50% inhibition of 100 microliters of 50 ng of human leucocyte elastase/ml was obtained with 100 microliters of 4.5 micrograms of heparin/ml and 0.8 microgram of heparan sulphate/ml). These results suggest that heparin and heparan sulphate, as components of cellular and basement membranes, are likely to have a role in protecting structural proteins, such as elastin, from the proteolytic activity of human leucocyte elastase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pentoxifylline modulates activation of human neutrophils by amphotericin B in vitro.

The antifungal agent amphotericin B (AmB) alters neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMN]) function, and this may be the mechanism for some of the adverse effects caused by AmB. AmB is a potent inhibitor of PMN migration, increases PMN adherence and aggregation, and primes PMN for increased oxidative activity in response to a second stimulus. AmB also stimulates mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) to release inflammatory mediators which augment the effects of AmB on PMN function. In the present study, we observed that the methylxanthine derivative pentoxifylline decreased the effects of AmB on PMN function. AmB (2 micrograms/ml) priming doubled PMN chemiluminescence stimulated by fMet-Leu-Phe. In the presence of MNLs, AmB priming increased fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated PMN chemiluminescence to 622% of unprimed PMN activity. Pentoxifylline (100 microM) blunted the rise in AmB-augmented PMN chemiluminescence in the presence of MNLs to 282% of unprimed PMN activity, and pentoxifylline metabolites were active at 10 microM. Pentoxifylline (100 microM) also blocked AmB-augmented PMN oxidative activity in whole blood, as measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction. In the presence of MNL, AmB (2 micrograms/ml) doubled the expression of the important PMN adherence factor Mac-1. Pentoxifylline (1 mM) decreased AmB-stimulated PMN Mac-1 expression back to unstimulated amounts. In the presence of MNLs, AmB (2 micrograms/ml) decreased PMN nondirected and directed migration to fMet-Leu-Phe to 40 and 38% of control PMN migration, respectively. Pentoxifylline (300 microM) counteracted AmB inhibition of nondirected and directed migration to fMet-Leu-Phe, resulting in migration that was 71 and 87% of control PMN migration, respectively. In contrast, the methylxanthine caffeine (100 muM) increased AmB-enhanced chemiluminescence but did not affect AmB-inhibited PMN migration. Pentoxifylline should be evaluated as adjunctive therapy to lessen the inflammatory damage caused by AmB.     

The effect of storage on degranulation by human neutrophils

We investigated the possibility that the functional impairment in neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis which occurs during granulocyte concentrate storage might be due to autotoxicity from the release of neutrophil granule contents during storage. Preliminary experiments confirmed that the exposure of fresh PMNs to the intracellular contents of disrupted PMNs, decreased the subsequent chemotaxis of the fresh PMNs by 63 +/- 5 percent compared to control PMNs (p less than .01). Freshly harvested neutrophils were stored at low (2 X 10(7) PMN/ml) or high cell concentration (8 X 10(7) PMN/ml) with or without 15 mM sodium bicarbonate (in order to maintain pH). Prior to storage, and 24 and 48 hours after storage at 22 to 24 degrees C, we measured the cell and unit plasma content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), beta-glucuronidase, and lysozyme. These enzymes served as markers for cell lysis, and primary and specific neutrophil granule contents, respectively. We also measured the effect on neutrophil chemotaxis of adding a protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), to the storage medium. In addition, we measured the ability of PMNs to degranulate in response to an inflammatory stimulus before and after storage. The cell content of granule markers was largely unchanged during storage, except in the case of the units at a concentration of 8 X 10(7) PMN per ml stored without bicarbonate. In these units, lysozyme activity decreased by 15 +/- 7 percent after 48 hours of storage (p less than 0.02 vs. fresh PMNs). Likewise, the plasma content of LDH, beta-glucuronidase, and lysozyme increased significantly during storage, especially in units of high cell concentration stored without bicarbonate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Lipopolysaccharides prime whole human blood and isolated neutrophils for the increased synthesis of 5-lipoxygenase products by enhancing arachidonic acid availability: involvement of the CD14 antigen

Stimulation of heparinized blood with 1 microM formyl-methionyl-leucyl- phenylalanine (FMLP) resulted in the formation of < 30 pmol/ml plasma of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) products. The preincubation of blood with 1 microgram/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (Escherichia coli 0111-B4) for 30 min before stimulation with FMLP resulted in the accumulation of 250- 300 pmol of 5-LO products per ml plasma. The major products detected were leukotriene B4 and (5S)-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid which were produced in equivalent amounts. The priming activity was detectable with as little as 1-10 ng LPS per ml blood and was optimal using 1-10 micrograms LPS/ml blood. The priming for 5-LO product synthesis was optimal after 20-30 min of preincubation with LPS and declined at preincubation times > 30 min. The priming effect of LPS was also observed using the complement fragment C5a or interleukin 8 as agonists. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells accounted for 80 and 20% of the synthesis of 5-LO products, respectively. The ability of LPS to prime isolated PMN was dependent on the presence of plasma and was inhibited by the anti-CD14 antibody IOM2, indicating a CD14-dependent priming mechanism. The priming of whole blood with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and LPS was additive and the presence of mononuclear cells did not enhance the ability of LPS to prime PMN, indicating that the priming activity of LPS is independent of LPS-induced TNF-alpha synthesis. The mechanism by which LPS enhance 5-LO product synthesis in PMN was investigated. Treatment of PMN with LPS strongly enhanced the release of arachidonic acid after stimulation with FMLP. The release of arachidonic acid was optimal 2-3 min after stimulation with FMLP, attaining levels 5-15-fold greater than those observed in unprimed cells stimulated with FMLP. These results demonstrate that LPS dramatically increases the ability of blood to generate 5-LO products, and support the putative role of leukotrienes in pathological states involving LPS.     

Immunoradiometric assay for human complement component C9 utilising monoclonal antibodies

A two-site immunoradiometric assay for human C9 has been developed. The assay utilised two non-competing monoclonal antibodies to C9 in a single incubation assay protocol. The detection limit of the assay was 0.1 ng (1.4 X 10(-15) moles) in a sample volume of 100 microliters. Using this assay the C9 concentration in normal human plasma was 60.2 +/- 14.9 mg/l (mean +/- 1 standard deviation, 8.5 X 10(-10) mol/l. Significantly elevated levels were found in the plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (90.4 +/- 19.9 mg/l, mean +/- 1 SD). Measurements of C9 in cerebrospinal fluid and synovial fluid were also performed. The low levels of C9 in cerebrospinal fluid (less than 1 mg/l), undetectable by previously available assay methods, were easily measurable with this highly sensitive assay.     

Effects of leukotriene B4 in the human lung. Recruitment of neutrophils into the alveolar spaces without a change in protein permeability.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a major product of human alveolar macrophages and has potent chemotactic activity for neutrophils (PMN) in vitro. To evaluate the effects of LTB4 in the normal human lung, we instilled LTB4 (5 X 10(-7)M, 10 ml) into a subsegment of the right middle lobe and 0.9% NaCl (10 ml) into a subsegment of the lingula using a fiberoptic bronchoscope in 12 healthy human volunteers. 4 h later, we performed bronchoalveolar lavage of the same subsegments. Compared with the NaCl instillation, LTB4 caused a large increase in lavage total cells (NaCl = 6.8 +/- 1.0 X 10(6) vs. LTB4 = 26.4 +/- 5.0 X 10(6), P less than 0.01), most of which were PMN (NaCl = 12.2 +/- 4.6% vs. LTB4 = 55.7 +/- 6.0%, P less than 0.001). In contrast, there was only a small increase in lavage total protein, and the lavage total protein correlated weakly with lavage total cells and PMN. The production of superoxide anion by the lavage PMN in response to phorbol myristate acetate was similar to that of peripheral blood PMN. The migration of lavage PMN was normal toward the chemotactic peptide FMLP, but reduced toward LTB4 and zymosan-activated human serum. Morphometric analysis using transmission electron microscopy indicated a selective loss of small granules in the lung neutrophils as compared with peripheral blood neutrophils. The data indicate that in the normal human lung, LTB4 can recruit active PMN into the airspaces without causing a significant change in the protein permeability of the epithelial barrier.     

Lipid complexing decreases amphotericin B inflammatory activation of human neutrophils compared with that of a desoxycholate-suspended preparation of amphotericin B (Fungizone).

Amphotericin B (AmB) has toxic effects and alters neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMN]) function. A lipid-complexed formulation of AmB (AmB-LC) has been reported (A. S. Janoff, L. T. Boni, M. C. Popescu, S. R. Minchey, P. R. Cullis, T. D. Madden, T. Taraschi, S. M. Gruner, E. Shyamsunder, M. W. Tate, R. Mendelsohn, and D. Bonner, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:6122-6126, 1988) to be less toxic than a desoxycholate-suspended preparation of AmB (AmB-des; Fungizone). In this study we compared the effects of AmB-des and AmB-LC on in vitro PMN function. Neither form of AmB stimulated PMN chemiluminescence, but AmB-des (2 micrograms/ml) nearly tripled PMN chemiluminescence in response to f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), a phenomenon known as priming. Because AmB stimulates monocytes to release cytokines which can affect PMN function, we studied the effects of AmB on PMNs in mixed leukocyte cultures. AmB-des (1 to 2 micrograms/ml) increased the chemiluminescence of PMNs plus mixed mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) to fMLP. The activity was about three times that of PMNs plus MNLs and seven times the activity of PMNs stimulated with fMLP in the absence of MNLs. Cell-free AmB-des (2 micrograms/ml)-stimulated, MNL-conditioned medium primed pure PMNs to a level equal to that of whole MNLs treated with AmB-des. AmB-LC was much less potent. AmB-LC (20 micrograms/ml) increased fMLP-stimulated chemiluminescence to two times that of PMNs plus MNLs without AmB-LC. AmB-des (2 micrograms/ml) (but not AmB-LC [2 micrograms/ml]) increased nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by PMNs in whole blood from 31 to 52% of positive cells. Neither form of AmB increased Mac-1 (the CD11b/CD18 integrin) expression of pure PMNs. AmB-des (0.5 to 2 micrograms/ml) (but not AmB-LC [< or = 40 micrograms/ml]) nearly doubled PMN Mac-1 expression in the presence of MNLs, and cell-free AmB-des (2 micrograms/ml)-stimulated, MNL-conditioned medium stimulated PMN Mac-1 to 125% of the control level. AmB-des (0.2 to 2 micrograms/ml) (but not AmB-LC [< or = 40 micrograms/ml]) decreased chemotaxis of pure PMNs to fMLP by as much as 35% and that of PMNs in the presence of MNLs by as much as 50%. Desoxycholate by itself had no effect on PMN function. These differences in activity between AmB-des and AmB-LC may explain the lessened toxicity observed with AmB-LC.     

Effects of amodiaquine, chloroquine, and mefloquine on human polymorphonuclear neutrophil function in vitro.

This study concerns the in vitro interaction with human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) of amodiaquine, chloroquine, and mefloquine, three antimalarial drugs currently in use for the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria. It was found that mefloquine (100 and 50 micrograms/ml) significantly altered PMN viability while the other two drugs did not. Neutrophil chemotaxis was impaired by chloroquine (100 micrograms/ml) and mefloquine (greater than 10 micrograms/ml) but not by amodiaquine. Phagocytosis was decreased by about 50% in the presence of chloroquine (100 micrograms/ml) or mefloquine (10 micrograms/ml). The three antimalarial drugs altered neutrophil oxidative metabolism as assessed by luminol-amplified chemiluminescence. The strongest effect was observed with mefloquine, which abolished almost completely the neutrophil burst at concentrations of greater than 10 micrograms/ml whatever the stimulus used. This effect was not reversed by washing. Chloroquine and amodiaquine also impaired this PMN response by approximately 80 and 50%, respectively, but only at the highest concentration used (100 micrograms/ml). In the case of amodiaquine, the neutrophil response was restored by washing, except for stimulation with opsonized particles. After washing, the depressive effect of chloroquine was reversed completely in the case of phorbol myristate acetate stimulation and partly in the case of opsonized particle stimulation, but the formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced response was not restored. These data show that although they are structurally related, amodiaquine and chloroquine exhibit qualitatively and quantitatively different depressive effects on PMN function and probably interfere at different points of cell activation, although the precise mechanisms are as yet unresolved.     

Effects of in vitro treatment with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide and hyperthermia on leukemic progenitor cells

A key point of autologous bone marrow transplantation for leukemic patients is how to remove leukemic cells from their own bone marrow grafts. In this study a leukemic progenitor cell assay was used to evaluate the antileukemic efficacy of marrow-purging protocols that employed hyperthermia or 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4HC) against leukemic blasts obtained from patients. After the treatment of 2 x 10(7) nucleated bone marrow cells/ml with 100 micrograms/ml of 4HC in the presence of 7% suspension of packed autologous erythrocytes, leukemic colonies were eradicated in 10 of 13 cases and reduced to less than 0.3% as compared with the colony count in untreated cultures in two cases. More than 10% of leukemic progenitor cells survived after hyperthermia treatment (42 degrees C 60 min) in 7 of 9 cases. It is suggested that treatment of leukemic cells and 7% autologous erythrocytes with 100 micrograms/ml of 4HC is effective to eliminate leukemic progenitor cells. Treatment with hyperthermia may not be effective enough to eliminate leukemic progenitor cells from autologous bone marrow.