Peptide leukotriene involvement in pulmonary eosinophil migration upon antigen challenge in the actively sensitized guinea pig.

Male Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs, actively sensitized to ovalbumin (OA) and pretreated with mepyramine (1 mg/kg i.p.), were challenged with OA as an aerosol. Histological analysis of the lung for eosinophils (EOs) showed significant accumulations in the submucosa of the airways (8 h: 1.477.3 +/- 43 EOs/mm2 airway, n = 3, p less than 0.01), after antigen challenge compared to saline control (478.6 +/- 104 EOs/mm2 airway, n = 4). Pretreatment with both mepyramine and cimetidine (10 mg/kg i.p.) did not affect this response. Aerosolization of OA to unsensitized guinea pigs resulted in no significant accumulation of EOs (360.2 +/- 49 EOs/mm2 airway, n = 4) when compared with the saline-challenged sensitized control group. Pretreatment with the leukotriene (LT)D4 receptor antagonist MK-571 (1 mg/kg p.o.) significantly inhibited the OA-induced EO migration (95 +/- 5% inhibition, n = 5, p less than 0.01) compared to vehicle in the presence of mepyramine and cimetidine, while indomethacin (3 mg/kg p.o., n = 4) had no effect. Aerosolization of synthetic LTC4 (0.3-30 micrograms/ml) resulted in a dose-dependent migration of EOs into the submucosal layer over 8 h, reaching significance at the 10-micrograms/ml dose, with comparable results obtained with LTD4. Pretreatment of animals with MK-571 (1 mg/kg p.o.) before LTC4 and LTD4 aerosol results in inhibition of the response in both cases, suggesting that this effect may be mediated through the LTD4 receptor. We conclude that peptide LTs produce eosinophilia in the airways of the guinea pig.     

Antigen-induced release of histamine from passively sensitized guinea pig lung slices. I. Optimum conditions for in vitro passive sensitization and challenge with antigen.

The effect of several parameters (pH, Ca++ concentration, time, temperature, lung slice size) on in vitro antigen-induced histamine release from passively sensitized guinea pig lung slices was investigated. With respect to pH, Ca++ concentration and time, the optimal conditions for the passive sensitization step (pH 7.8, Ca++ 1.5 mM, 2 h) were distinctly different from those for the antigen challenge step (pH 8.2, Ca++ 10mM, 15 min). Maximum antigen-induced release was obtained with 3 X 0.25 X 0.25 mm lung slices at 37 degrees C using air as gas phase.     

Release of high-molecular-weight neutrophil chemotactic activity from resected human nasal turbinate after antigen challenge

Eleven patients with allergic rhinitis were studied. All subjects were sensitive to house dust mite documented by skin test, RAST score, and nasal provocation test. The patients needed lower turbinectomy because of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. Tissues of the lower turbinate were obtained at the time of surgery, fragmented, and subsequently challenged with house dust mite in vitro. Diffusates were collected for measurement of neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) and histamine. NCA and histamine were released in a dose-dependent manner, and the time course of release of these mediators was identical. Release of NCA and histamine correlated significantly (p less than 0.001). The prior administration of the antiallergic drugs, disodium cromoglycate or tranilast, significantly blocked the release of NCA and histamine from antigen-challenged tissues. NCA released from nasal tissues eluted as a single peak with estimated molecular size of between 669 kd and 440 kd in three subjects and as two or three peaks in two patients. These results provide evidence that NCA might be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.     

Late appearance of phospholipid platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4 in human skin after repeated antigen challenge

Inflammatory mediators were assessed in supernatants of chamber fluids from eight ragweed- or grass-sensitive subjects during antigen-induced cutaneous inflammatory responses. Platelet activating factor (PAF) accumulated at concentrations of 1 pm to 90 mumol/L in six of eight subjects beginning at 3 hours and continuing for 9 hours after antigen challenge. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was detectable at cutaneous sites of antigen challenge in five of five subjects throughout the 9-hour period at levels from 1 to 36 nmol, a range of 38% to 80% of which were omega-oxidation metabolites. Histamine levels peaked in the first hour at 106 +/- 18 ng/ml and decreased to a plateau of 11 to 13 ng/ml at 3 to 9 hours after antigen challenge. No PAF and only very low levels of LTB4 (0.1 to 1.3 nmol) and of histamine (less than 2 ng/ml) were detected at buffer-control sites during the 9 hours of study. Continuous antigen exposure thus results in the persistent release of histamine and LTB4 and the late appearance of PAF, all of which may contribute to the chronicity of allergic disorders and may have a bearing on the IgE-mediated, late-phase cutaneous response.     

Release of monokines by pulmonary macrophages following antigen challenge in sensitized guinea pigs

Guinea pigs were passively sensitized with immune serum to ovalbumin (OA), control serum, or saline. Twenty-four hours later, they inhaled aerosols of OA (2% in saline), saline, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Following anesthesia, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min postinhalation. Alveolar macrophages (AM) were isolated from the BAL fluid and incubated (18 h) in medium alone or with zymosan (1 mg/ml). Supernatants were collected and levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) determined by bioassays. Unstimulated AM from animals that inhaled OA, saline, or LPS secreted similar amounts of IL-1 at 30, 60, and 90 min postinhalation. Zymosan (1 mg/ml) significantly increased IL-1 secretion by AM collected at 60 and 90 min from OA-sensitized animals that inhaled OA or saline. AM from guinea pigs sensitized to OA that inhaled OA or LPS secreted significantly increased amounts of IL-6 at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min postchallenge compared to saline sensitized controls. In all groups, AM from LPS-treated animals secreted large amounts of TNF- at all sampling times postchallenge; AM from OA-sensitized and challenged animals secreted increasing amounts of TNF- with time postchallenge, spontaneously and in response to zymosan. By contrast, AM from saline sensitized and challenged guinea pigs did not release detectable amounts of TNF- spontaneously and secreted very low amounts in the presence of zymosan. These findings show that antigen challenge results in a rapid activation of AM isolated from BAL and suggest AM may initiate the development of inflammatory processes associated with antigen challenge.     

6-trans-leukotriene B4 is a neutrophil chemotaxin in the guinea pig dermis.

The products of the 5- and 12-lipoxygenase (5-LO, 12-LO) pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism are implicated as proinflammatory mediators in a number of disease states. 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(R)-HETE] is present in large quantities in human psoriatic lesional skin and can be further metabolized by 5-LO to 5(S), 12(R)-dihydroxy-(6E,8Z,10E,14Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid (6-trans-LTB4). Furthermore, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and the sulfidopeptide leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4) can be transformed to 6-trans-LTB4. When injected into the guinea pig dermis, 6-trans-LTB4 (1.0, 10.0, 20.0 micrograms/intradermal site) caused a significant (P less than 0.02) infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) at 4 hr as assessed by histology and the levels of the PMN marker enzyme myeloperoxidase. 6-trans-LTB4 is a more potent PMN chemoattractant than 12(R)-HETE in the guinea pig dermis but is far less potent than LTB4. Pharmacological interdiction of leukotriene production or receptor binding should take into account the proinflammatory activity of 6-trans-LTB4.     

Down-regulation of receptor antigen in leukotriene B4-induced chemotactic deactivation of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

Pretreatment of suspensions of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) with leukotriene B4 (LTB4) induces chemotactic deactivation, characterized by diminished expression of high-affinity LTB4 receptors and selectively decreased chemotactic responsiveness of the PMNL to LTB4. Rabbit anti-idiotypic antibodies (a-Id) to mouse monoclonal anti-LTB4, which bind to 60,000-80,000 molecular weight (MW) membrane protein of PMNL receptors for LTB4 in Western blots and block binding of [3H]LTB4 to high-affinity receptors of PMNL, detected a reduction in LTB4 receptor antigen during chemotactic deactivation. Loss of high-affinity receptors for LTB4 from the surface of PMNL deactivated by incubation with 10 nM LTB4 was significant after 1 min and after 20 min reached a mean maximum of 82% and 61%, respectively, as assessed by binding of [3H]LTB4 and a-Id. Inhibitors of PMNL proteases did not prevent the deactivation-induced decreases in surface receptors for LTB4. Disruption of deactivated PMNL and solubilization of membrane proteins failed to expose intracellular LTB4 receptors. Incubation of membranes isolated from PMNL with 100 nM LTB4 resulted in a loss of LTB4 receptors similar to that observed in intact PMNL. Changes in LTB4 receptor protein structure or membrane localization, rather than endocytosis or proteolysis, thus appear to explain the rapidly decreased expression of LTB4 receptors, which results from stimulus-specific deactivation.     

Mechanisms of leukotriene-induced contractions of guinea pig airways: leukotriene C4 has a potent direct action whereas leukotriene B4 acts indirectly

The leukotrienes (LT's) are a group of arachidonic acid derivatives implicated as mediators of allergic bronchoconstriction and acute inflammation. Tracheal spirals and strips of lung parenchyma from guinea pigs were used under non-flow conditions to characterize the contractions caused by LTA4, LTB4 and LTC4. Cumulative administrations of leukotrienes desensitized the lung strip, whereas non-cumulative dose-response relationships for the leukotrienes and histamine were reasonably parallel. Half maximal contractions of the lung strips were obtained at a final bath concentration of 1 nM for LTC4 and 300 nM for LTA4 or LTB4, as compared with 6 000 nM for histamine. In the trachea, LTC4 was approximately 100 times more potent than LTA4 and histamine. Leukotrienes B4 and C4, but not acetylcholine or histamine, elicited release of the bronchoconstrictive thromboxane A2 from the lung under non-flow conditions. Indomethacin blocked the contractile response to LTB4, whereas the contractile effect of LTC4 remained unaltered. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol and the LTC4 antagonist FPL 55712 attenuated the contraction, but not the release of thromboxane A2, induced by LTC4. Changing to a perifusion technique rendered the lung strips less sensitive to the direct action of LTC4, and released thromboxane A2 now contributed significantly to the contractile response. In addition, the perifusion experiments indicated that LTB4 released histamine as well. We conclude that the chemoattractant LTB4 is an indirectly acting bronchoconstrictor, whereas the slow reacting substance LTC4 contracts the airway muscle by a predominantly direct mechanism. The exquisite bronchoconstrictive activity of LTC4 may be unrelated to its ability to induce formation of thromboxane A2.     

Parainfluenza virus type-3 infection attenuates the respiratory effects of antigen challenge in sensitized guinea pigs

Respiratory viral infections not only exacerbate asthma symptoms but may also be important in the pathogenesis of the disease. We therefore explored the effects of respiratory viral infection on the respiratory response of sensitized guinea pigs to antigen challenge. Lung tissue obtained from uninfected guinea pigs sensitized to ovalbumin aerosol released histamine upon incubation with the antigenin vitro. After antigen challengein vivo, sensitized animals had significantly greater numbers of eosinophils in their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid than did nonsensitized animals and exhibited airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine aerosol. When ovalbumin sensitization was initiated 7 days after inoculation with parainfluenza virus type-3 (PI-3), antigen challenge elicited little histamine release from infected lung tissuein vitro. Likewise, subsequent to antigen challengein vivo, animals failed to exhibit airway hyperresponsiveness or an increased eosinophil population in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Similar effects were observed when sensitization was begun 19 days after PI-3 virus inoculation. The mechanism(s) responsible for the attenuated responses to antigen in PI-3 infected animals are unknown but may involve virus-induced effects on immune cells.     

Conversion of leukotriene D4 to leukotriene E4 by a dipeptidase released from the specific granule of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Leukotriene D4 (LTD4), the most active spasmogenic leukotriene constituent of the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis was converted by suspended human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) to a single, less polar metabolite which was not further catabolized. This product was identified as leukotriene E4 (LTE4) by its retention time during reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and subsequent bioassay on the guinea-pig ileum. LTD4 with a retention time of 21 +/- 1.6 min (mean +/- SD) and a contractile activity of 5.0 +/- 0.4 u./pmol (mean +/- SD) was quantitatively converted extracellularly by PMNs to LTE4 with a retention time of 26 +/- 1.8 min and a contractile activity of 1.2 +/- 0.3 u./pmol. Subcellular fractionations of PMNs revealed the recovered LTD4-to-LTE4 converting activity, termed LTD4 dipeptidase, to be localized only in he granule fraction. There was a time- and calcium-dependent extracellular release of LTD4 dipeptidase in association with lysozyme (r = 0.97, n = 16, P less than 0.001), a constituent of both specific and azurophilic granules, in the absence of release of cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and of beta-glucuronidase from the azurophilic granule. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which selectively induces secretion of specific granules, released lysozyme and the LTD4 dipeptidase in a constant dose-dependent manner from PMNs (r = 0.96, n = 8, P less than 0.001). Calcium ionophore A23187 at concentrations less than 10(-7) M stimulated the parallel secretion of LTD4 dipeptidase and lysozyme (r = 0.91, n = 9, P less than 0.005), dipeptidase and lysozyme (r = 0.91, n = 9, P less than 0.005), whereas higher concentrations resulted in secretion of beta-glucuronidase and additional lysozyme without further release of dipeptidase. Thus, human PMNs can convert LTD4 to LTE4, a less vasoactive and spasmogenic leukotriene, via the secretion of a dipeptidase associated with the specific granules.     

Activation of human neutrophil LFA-1 (CD11a) by leukotriene B4

Homotypic aggregation (HA) of human neutrophils by the potent leukotactic factor, leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was evaluated by recording the net decrease in absorbency at 650 nm of suspensions of 10⁷ neutrophils/ml in a microtiter plate reader, which was found to correlate with microscopic evidence of aggregation. LTB₄-elicited HA was increased maximally by approximately one third above HA in buffer at 30 min, whereas PMA-induced HA reached a maximal level more than 21–fold higher than buffer control at 60 min. The involvement of LFA-1 in LTB₄-induced HA of neutrophils was suggested initially by the inhibitory effect of monoclonal anti-CD 18 and anti-CD11a antibodies. The binding to neutrophils of a monoclonal anti-LFA-1 antibody (NK1-L16) specific for an activation epitope of CD11a was increased a maximum of 28-fold and sixfold, respectively, after 1 and 5 min of preincubation with 10 nM LTB₄and fivefold after 5 min with PMA. Thus, both LTB₄ and PMA induce an activating conformational change in the CD11a adherence receptor of human neutrophils.     

Recombinant gamma interferon causes neutrophil migration mediated by the release of a macrophage neutrophil chemotactic factor

A dose-dependent neutrophil migration was observed following the injection of purified (Hu IFN-gamma) or recombinant (rIFN-gamma) human gamma interferon into rat peritoneal cavities. This finding contrasts with their inability to cause chemotaxis in vitro in the Boyden chamber. Neutrophil migration into peritoneal cavities and subcutaneous air pouches induced by both preparations of interferon was abolished by pretreatment of the animals with dexamethasone. IFN-gamma-induced neutrophil migration was enhanced when the macrophage population of the peritoneal cavities was increased by previous injection of thioglycollate and reduced by peritoneal lavage. Macrophage monolayers pretreated either with rIFN-gamma or with lipopolysaccharide from E. coli release into the supernatant a factor that stimulates neutrophil recruitment in animals treated with dexamethasone. Dexamethasone blocked this release but did not affect the neutrophil recruitment induced by this factor. These results suggest that IFN-gamma-induced neutrophil migration in vivo may be mediated by the release from resident macrophages of a neutrophil chemotactic factor and that dexamethasone blockade of neutrophil recruitment by IFN-gamma is due to inhibition of the release of this factor.     

In-vivo blockage of neutrophil migration by LPS is mimicked by a factor released from LPS-stimulated macrophages

The present study was performed to determine the effect of an intravenous injection of the macrophage-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MNCF) (Cunha & Ferreira 1986) on neutrophil migration to rat peritoneal cavities, which were challenged with chemotactic stimuli. Macrophage monolayers stimulated by LPS release a factor (MW greater than 10,000 D) which, when injected intravenously, blocked neutrophil migration in carrageenin-induced peritonitis. This inhibition was dependent on dose and lasted more than 2 h. It was not due to neutropaenia, hypotension or LPS contamination. Neutrophil migration induced by LPS, MNCF, the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also blocked by intravenous administration of the factor. Intravenous injection of recombinant interleukin 1 beta or tumour necrosis factor-alpha, present in the samples of the factor, failed to reproduce the described inhibitory effect on neutrophil migration. The release of this factor by LPS-stimulated macrophage monolayers was inhibited by dexamethasone but not by indomethacin. It is suggested that the failure of neutrophils to migrate during septicaemia may be the result of a continuous release of chemotactic factors in the circulation, particularly of the macrophage-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor(s).     

Immunomodulatory oligonucleotides inhibit neutrophil migration by decreasing the surface expression of interleukin-8 and leukotriene B4 receptors

Neutrophils play important roles in many inflammatory diseases. The migration of neutrophils to the inflammatory site is tightly regulated by specific chemokines, of which interleukin-8 (IL-8) and leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) constitute key mediators by binding to the surface receptors CXCR1/2 and BLT1, respectively. Oligonucleotides (ODN) containing CpG motifs mediate potent immunomodulatory effects through binding to Toll-like receptor 9. So far, knowledge on how ODN can affect neutrophil migration during inflammation is lacking. This study demonstrates that several novel CpG ODN significantly down-regulate the surface expression of CXCR1/2 and BLT1. In addition, the ODN significantly blocked IL-8-induced and LTB₄-induced neutrophil migration in vitro, as well as leucocyte migration in vivo demonstrated in mice by intravital microscopy and in a model of airway inflammation. The down-regulation of CXCR1 is rapid, occurring 15 min after ODN stimulation, and can be mediated through an endosomally independent mechanism. Inhibition of the IL-8 and LTB₄ pathways may provide new opportunities of therapeutic intervention using ODN to reduce neutrophil infiltration during inflammation.     

Effects of leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist, LY293111Na, on antigen-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness and leukocyte infiltration in sensitized guinea pigs

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: LY29311 Na, 2-[2-propyl-3-[3-[2-ethyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxyphenoxy] propoxy] -phenoxy]-benzoic acid sodium salt, is a novel leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor antagonist. Its effects on guinea pig models of asthma were compared with those of dexamethasone. METHODS: Effects of LY293111Na were tested in antigen (ovalbumin, OA)-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and leukocyte accumulation in actively sensitized guinea pigs. Its effects on antigen-induced acute bronchoconstriction in passively sensitized guinea pigs were also studied. RESULTS: LY293111 Na (10 to 30 mg/kg p.o., 1 h before and 6 h after OA challenge) inhibited BHR to acetylcholine. LY293111 Na (3 mg/kg p. o.) significantly inhibited accumulation of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid 24 h after antigen challenge but it did not inhibit accumulation of eosinophils and macrophages at any doses used. In contrast, dexamethasone (30 mg/kg p.o., 4 h before OA challenge) not only inhibited BHR but also reduced the infiltration of all three types of leukocytes. A significant increase of LTB4 levels in BAL fluid was noted at 3 and 15 min after the antigen challenge. LY293111Na did not inhibit antigen-induced acute bronchoconstriction in passively sensitized guinea pigs. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that LTB4 may participate in antigen-induced BHR but not in eosinophil infiltration and acute bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.     

Histological study of mast cells in the actively sensitized guinea pig lung and after challenge: effect of a corticosteroid

Although mast cells are sometimes considered to play a minor role in hypersensitivity reactions, we used a histological method to show the modifications in the guinea pig lung mast cell population in the course of such reactions. We sensitized guinea pigs with ovalbumin and studied the effect of the challenge with and without corticosteroid treatment. We observed that the mast cell count was not modified after sensitization but was decreased after challenge. Twenty-four hours after challenge, the number of mast cells returned to the control value, indicating a renewal of the mast cell pool. A second challenge, 1 week after the first, did not provoke the same mast cell degranulation, suggesting a non-responsiveness to aerosol antigen. Betamethasone dipropionate treatment protected mast cells against challenge: in treated guinea pigs, mast cell degranulation was prevented, and we did not observe any change in mast cell count after challenge. The present study was useful to show an effect of corticosteroids on mast cell degranulation in immediate hypersensitivity reactions in vivo.