心肌细胞吞噬聚乳酸-乙醇酸纳米粒子的形态学实验

目的　探讨心肌细胞吞噬聚乳酸—乙醇酸 ( polylactic polyglycolicacid ,PLGA)纳米粒子的形态学机理 ,制备组织细胞吞噬纳米粒子的相关模型 ,为纳米粒子作为包载各类药物或基因载体提供实验形态学依据。方法 :将制备的PLGA纳米粒子加入生理盐水中 ,超声振荡成注射用纳米粒子悬浮液后 ,注射至活体家兔心肌组织内 ,4 8小时后取材切片、电镜下观察。结果 :心肌细胞胞质内及胞核内可见大量被吞噬的纳米粒子 ,并且出现了PLGA纳米粒子被吸收、降解的迹象。结论 :心肌细胞完全可以通过吞噬方式大量摄取 ;PLGA纳米粒子 ,将PLGA纳米粒子作为向心肌细胞内转运某种药物或基因的载体是完全可行的。     

Influence of ethanol concentration in the phagocytic function of neutrophils against Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in an experimental model

Background/Purpose

Although the prevalence of pneumonia or other extrapulmonary infections is higher in people with alcoholism or acute alcohol intoxication, the possible relationship of acute alcohol intoxication to phagocytic function has not been investigated. Our aim was to determine whether acute alcohol intoxication suppresses phagocytic function in human neutrophils.

Induction of long-term immunity against respiratory syncytial virus glycoprotein by an osmotic polymeric nanocarrier

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of viral deaths in infants worldwide, yet no effective vaccines are available. Here, we report an osmotically active polysaccharide-based polysorbitol transporter (PST) prepared from sorbitol diacrylate and low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine (PEI) showing a potent, yet safe, adjuvant activity and acting as an effective delivery tool for RSV glycoprotein (RGp) antigen. PST showed no toxicity in vitro or in vivo, unlike PEI and the well-known experimental mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin (CT). PST formed nano-sized complexes with RGp by simple mixing, without affecting antigenic stability. The complexes exhibited negative surface charges that made them highly efficient in the selective activation of phagocytic cells and enhancement of phagocytic uptake. This resulted in an improved cytokine production and in the significant augmentation of RGp-specific antibody production, which persisted for over 200 days. Interestingly, PST/RGp enhanced phagocytic uptake owing to the osmotic property of PST and its negative zeta potential, suggesting that PST could selectively stimulate phagocytic cells, thereby facilitating a long-lived antigen-specific immune response, which was presumably further enhanced by the polysaccharide properties of PST.     

IGM is required for efficient complement mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic cells in vivo

A variety of complement components have been detected on apoptotic cells and proposed to facilitate recognition and/or ingestion by phagocytes. The triggers for complement activation remain uncertain. To determine the role of IgM in classical pathway activation and clearance of apoptotic cells in vitro and in vivo, we quantified these parameters in mice deficient in serum IgM (sIgM). Phagocytosis by bone marrow-derived macrophages of apoptotic cells incubated with serum deficient in sIgM was markedly reduced, similar to apoptotic cells incubated with C1q deficient serum in vitro. Similarly, intraperitoneal clearance of apoptotic cells and cellular C3 deposition were significantly reduced in mice deficient in sIgM compared to wild-type mice. Clearance and C3 deposition were reconstituted by addback of IgM. In mice deficient in both sIgM and C1q, addback of both serum factors was required for restoration of clearance. These findings indicate that, on a quantitative basis, sIgM is a potent factor required for intraperitoneal phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, and further demonstrate that IgM and C1q work in concert to activate complement, resulting in C3 deposition on the apoptotic cell surface and ultimately, efficient clearance of the apoptotic cell by macrophages.     

Moonlighting osteoclasts as undertakers of apoptotic cells

Rapid clearance of apoptotic cells, frequently referred to as efferocytosis, is crucial for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and the prevention of autoimmunity. The common model of apoptotic cell clearance involves a system of released “Find me” and exposed “Eat me” signals on apoptotic cells, detected and recognized by matching receptors on macrophages or dendritic cells (DC), referred to as the phagocytic synapse. Osteoclasts share the monocyte lineage with these professional mononuclear phagocytes, thus raising the question if, in addition to bone resorption, osteoclasts can act as scavengers for apoptotic cells. Our qPCR data clearly show that osteoclasts express most of the genes required for dying cell clearance at mRNA levels similar to or even higher than those observed in M1-macrophages, M2-macrophages or DC. Our microscopical analyses reveal that osteoclasts in fact can bind and/or engulf apoptotic cells in an essentially serum-independent fashion. Together with our data on the abundance of the respective mRNAs, these results identify the vitronectin receptor (integrin α_νβ₃)/milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 protein (MFG-E8) axis, the scavenger receptors (CD36, CD68 and class A macrophage scavenger receptor (SR-A)), the complement/complement receptor axis, the Mer/Tyro3/Protein S axis, and the phosphatidylserine (PS) receptor brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) as the most promising candidates to be involved in osteoclast-mediated efferocytosis.     

The effects of selective and nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitors on phagocytic cells in mice

Milrinone (1?mg/kg i.m.), sildenafil (1?mg/kg p.o), and aminophylline (20?mg/kg i.m.) were administered to mice once or five times. The drugs increased the production of IL-1β and NO by peritoneal macrophages. Milrinone or aminophylline did not change the percentage of phagocytosing cells. A single administration of sildenafil increased the percentage of phagocytosing granulocytes (after12?h). Sildenafil administered five times decreased the percentage of phagocytosing monocytes (72?h after the last dose). A single administration of the drugs did not change the oxidative burst activity. PDE inhibitors administered five times temporarily enhanced the percentage of cells producing reactive oxidants.     

SNX3 recruits to phagosomes and negatively regulates phagocytosis in dendritic cells

Phagocytes such as dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages employ phagocytosis to take up pathogenic bacteria into phagosomes, digest the bacteria and present the bacteria‐derived peptide antigens to the adaptive immunity. Hence, efficient antigen presentation depends greatly on a well‐regulated phagocytosis process. Lipids, particularly phosphoinositides, are critical components of the phagosomes. Phosphatidylinositol‐3,4,5‐triphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P₃] is formed at the phagocytic cup, and as the phagosome seals off from the plasma membrane, rapid disappearance of PI(3,4,5)P₃ is accompanied by high levels of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐phosphate (PI3P) formation. The sorting nexin (SNX) family consists of a diverse group of Phox‐homology (PX) domain‐containing cytoplasmic and membrane‐associated proteins that are potential effectors of phosphoinositides. We hypothesized that SNX3, a small sorting nexin that contains a single PI3P lipid‐binding PX domain as its only protein domain, localizes to phagosomes and regulates phagocytosis in DC. Our results show that SNX3 recruits to nascent phagosomes and silencing of SNX3 enhances phagocytic uptake of bacteria by DC. Furthermore, SNX3 competes with PI3P lipid‐binding protein, early endosome antigen‐1 (EEA1) recruiting to membranes. Our results indicate that SNX3 negatively regulates phagocytosis in DC possibly by modulating recruitment of essential PI3P lipid‐binding proteins of the phagocytic pathways, such as EEA1, to phagosomal membranes.     

The effect of yoghurt on the cytotoxic and phagocytic activity of macrophages in tumour‐bearing mice

In a previous paper, it was demonstrated that feeding yoghurt was able to inhibit the growth of an intestinal tumour induced chemically with 1,2‐dimethylhydrazine (DMH). This effect was due to the increase in IgA‐producing cells and a diminution of the inflammatory immune response. In this paper the phagocytic and cytotoxic capacity of macrophages both involved and not involved in the target organ are studied. The study was aimed at determining whether in the intestinal tumour inhibition demonstrated previously the systemic immune response was also increased. The cytotoxic capacity and ß‐glucuronidase enzyme levels of the peritoneal macrophages were analyzed together with the cytolytic effect of the serum on tumour cells and the phagocytic activity of the macrophages infiltrating the intestinal mucosa. Groups of mice were split into three experimental groups. One group was treated with DMH. The others were treated with DMH, and their diets were supplemented with yoghurt for 7 or 10 consecutive days, during 24 weeks. It was demonstrated that feeding yoghurt for 7 or 10 days increased cytotoxic and ß‐glucuronidase levels in peritoneal macrophages, and also the cytolytic capacity of serum, reaching values significantly higher than those in the DMH control. Enhancement of the phagocytic activity of the macrophages associated with the large intestine was also observed. This increase in the macrophage activity involved in the systemic and mucosal immune responses could also be responsible for the tumour inhibition observed in the group of mice fed with yoghurt. The presence in the serum of lytic factors (cytokines) which were released by immune cells activated by feeding yoghurt may also have had a role in tumour inhibition.     

Genetic modulation of TLR8 response following bacterial phagocytosis

Human Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 are important immune sensors of foreign nucleic acids encountered by phagocytes. Although there is growing evidence implicating TLR7 and TLR9 in the detection of intracellular pathogenic bacteria, characterization of such a role for TLR8 is currently lacking. A recent genetic study has correlated the presence of a TLR8 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs3764880:A>G; p.Met1Val) with the development of active tuberculosis, suggesting a role for TLR8 in the detection of phagosomal bacteria. Here we provide the first direct evidence that TLR8 sensing is activated in human monocytic cells following Helicobacter pylori phagocytosis. In addition, we show that rs3764880 fine tunes translation of the two TLR8 main isoforms, without affecting protein function. Although we show that TLR8 variant 2 (TLR8v2) is the prevalent form of TLR8 contributing to TLR8 function, we also uncover a role for the TLR8 long isoform (TLR8v1) in the positive regulation of TLR8 function in CD16⁺CD14⁺ differentiated monocytes. Thus, TLR8 sensing can be activated following bacterial phagocytosis, and rs3764880 may play a role in the modulation of TLR8‐dependent microbicidal response of infected macrophages. Hum Mutat 31:1069–1079, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

小儿支气管肺炎患者中性粒细胞吞噬及细胞内杀菌功能与脂质过氧化关系的探讨

目的：探讨了小儿支气管肺炎患者血液中性粒细胞吞噬及细胞内杀菌功能与脂质过氧化的关系。方法：采用普通酵母菌对62例患者及35例正常人进行中性粒细胞吞噬和细胞内杀菌功能试验和化学比色法测定血浆丙二醛（MDA）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH—PX）含量，放免法测超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），并与35名正常健康人作比较。结果：小儿支气管肺炎患儿在治疗前中性粒细胞吞噬及细胞内杀菌功能均明显低于正常人（P〈0．01），S01）、GSH-PX低于正常人组（P〈0．01），而MDA显著地高于正常人组（P〈0．01），相关分析显示，中性粒细胞吞噬及细胞内杀菌功能与MDA呈显著负相关（r=-0．3118，-0．3024，P〈0．05），经10d治疗后则与正常人比较无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论：检测小儿支气管肺炎患儿血液中性粒细胞吞噬及细胞内杀菌功能与脂质过氧化的关系对临床诊断、治疗和预后观察有重要的临床价值。