Is there a role of taurine bromamine in inflammation? Interactive effects with nitrite and hydrogen peroxide

Objective and Design: The myeloperoxidase system of neutrophils generates chlorinating and brominating oxidants in vivo. The major haloamines of the system are taurine chloramine (TauCl) and taurine bromamine (TauBr). It has been demonstrated in vitro that TauCl exerts both antiinflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Much less is known about TauBr. The present study was conducted to compare bactericidal and immunoregulatory capacity of TauBr with that of the major chlorinating oxidants: HOCl and TauCl. Moreover, the effect of nitrites and H₂O₂ on TauBr activity was investigated.Materials: TauBr was prepared by reaction of HOBr with taurine. The reaction was monitored by UV absorption spectra.Methods: Bactericidal activity of TauBr, TauCl and HOCl was tested by incubation of E. coli with the compounds and determined by the pour-plate method. To test the anti-inflammatory activity the compounds were incubated with LPS and IFN- stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages. The production of following mediators was measured: nitrites by Griess reaction; TNF-, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40 using capture ELISA. In some experiments the compounds were incubated with either nitrites or H₂O₂.Results: In our experimental set-up TauBr and HOCl exerted strong bactericidal effects on E. coli (MBC = 110 M and 8 M, respectively), while TauCl (< 1000 M) did not kill test bacteria. However, both, TauBr and TauCl, at noncytotoxic concentrations (< 300 M) inhibited the cytokine and nitric oxide production by macrophages. H₂O₂ completely abolished the biological activities of TauBr but not those of TauCl. Nitrites did not affect any activity of TauBr or TauCl while they diminished the HOCl^– mediated bacterial killing.Conclusion: TauBr, despite very low concentration of Br^– in body fluids, may support TauCl and HOCl in the regulation of inflammatory response and in killing of bacteria by neutrophils. However, TauBr activity in vivo will depend on the presence of H₂O₂ and possible other mediators of inflammation which can compete with target molecules for TauBr.Received 16 August 2004; returned for revision 16 September 2004; accepted by A. Falus 13 October 2004     

Cellular localization of inflammatory cytokines in human glomerulonephritis

We evaluated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in renal tissues obtained from 45 patients with several types of glomerulonephritis. Immunofluorescence studies with specific antibodies to interleukin (IL)-1, IL-1, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-, and TNF- showed intense cytoplasmic staining in the glomeruli and interstitium. Cells positive for these cytokines were found frequently in tissue from patients with lupus nephritis (WHO Class IV) and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and, to a lesser extent, in tissue from patients with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, and minimal change nephrotic syndrome. Most of these cells were dual-stained with a monoclonal antibody to monocytes-macrophages. In situ hybridization for cytokine mRNA, combined with immunoperoxidase staining for monocytes-macrophages, detected IL-1, IL-6, and TNF- mRNA in monocytes-macrophages infiltrating the glomeruli and interstitium. Occasionally, there was weak or moderate immunostaining for IL-1, IL-6, and TNF- in the glomerular mesangial and epithelial cells, but in situ hybridization signals were rarely found in these loci. These findings suggest that infiltrating monocytes-macrophages, rather than resident glomerular cells, are the major source of inflammatory cytokines in human glomerulonephritis.     

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene transfer into tumor cells induces macrophage infiltration but not tumor suppression

In order to analyze the effect of a high local concentration of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF; CSF-1) on tumor growth, the plasmacytoma cell line J558L was transfected with the human M-CSF gene and injected into syngeneic BALB/c mice. In contrast to the parental tumors, M-CSF transfectants were heavily infiltrated by macrophages as evidenced by immunohistochemistry with antibodies to Mac-1 and Mac-3 and by isolation of the macrophages from the tumor. Nevertheless, tumor growth was only slightly affected by M-CSF and M-CSF-producing cells grew as tumor in all cases. The growth retardation of M-CSF-producing cells varied depending on the experiment and seemed to be due to an indirect effect because the growth rate of the cells in vitro had not changed upon gene transfer. Attempts to activate the tumor-infiltrating macrophages for tumor suppression by systemic application of interferon-γ and/or lipopolysaccharide were not successful. Altogether, our results suggest that M-CSF is a potent chemoattractant for macrophages in vivo but alone is not sufficient to activate these macrophages for tumoricidal activity.     

LBP对LPS激活巨噬细胞内p38信号通路的影响 

目的:探讨脂多糖结合蛋白(LBP)对脂多糖(LPS)激活肺泡巨噬细胞内p38信号通路的调节作用。方法:经硫酸铵盐析、Bio-Rex70阳离子交换层析和MonoQ阴离子交换层析, 从大鼠急性期血清中分离纯化LBP。分别用0.01mg/L和1mg/L的LPS刺激肺泡巨噬细胞, 并加入不同浓度LBP(0mg/L、0.01mg/L、0.1mg/L、1mg/L和10mg/L), 观察肺泡巨噬细胞中p38蛋白激酶的磷酸化程度。结果:纯化的大鼠LBP在SDS-PAGE的60kD处呈现单一条带, 并可增强LPS与单核细胞的结合。当LPS浓度为0.01mg/L时, 1mg/L以下的LBP可明显增敏LPS对肺泡巨噬细胞内p38信号通路的激活, 并且这种增敏作用随LBP浓度的增加而增强。但LBP为10mg/L时, LBP对LPS的增敏作用反而有所减弱;当LPS为1mg/L时, LBP对LPS激活肺泡巨噬细胞内p38信号通路无调节作用。结论:LBP对低浓度LPS(0.01mg/L)激活肺泡巨噬细胞内p38信号通路有明显的调节作用;而高浓度LPS(1mg/L)不需LBP的增敏作用, 可能通过LBP非依赖途径直接激活p38信号通路。     

p38蛋白激酶对大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞活化机制的调控

目的:探讨p38蛋白激酶对LPS诱导大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞激活机制的作用。方法:提取细胞核蛋白,采用Western印迹分析p38蛋白激酶水平。用放射免疫法检测细胞上清TNF-α、IL-8的含量。结果:LPS显著增加肺泡巨噬细胞TNF-α、IL-8的合成,呈剂量依赖性诱导p38的活化。特异性p38蛋白激酶抑制剂SB203580能显著降低LPS诱导的肺泡巨噬细胞核蛋白p38的含量及细胞上清TNF-α、IL-8水平。结论:LPS刺激肺泡巨噬细胞释放炎性细胞因子TNF-α、IL-8受p38蛋白激酶调控。     

Alteration of cytokine production in follicular cystic ovaries induced in mice by neonatal estradiol injection

PROBLEM: Neonatal estradiol injections in mice lead to follicular cystic ovaries that are similar to ovaries in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The present study examined ovarian cytokine production following neonatal estradiol injection. METHOD OF STUDY: Female (C3H,HeJ x 129/HeJ)F1 mice were injected daily with 20 microg 17beta-estradiol from 0-3 days postpartum. At intervals, animals were sacrificed to determine ovarian architecture, circulating levels of estradiol, ovarian and peritoneal macrophage cytokine production, and ovarian P450 aromatase enzyme mRNA levels. RESULTS: Similar to PCOS, our results show that neonatally estradiol-injected mice have lower levels of circulating estrogen that are correlated with decreased mRNA levels of P450 aromatase enzyme. Our data also show that follicular cystic ovaries have increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 production. This increase in TNF-alpha and IL-6 production is also observed in peritoneal macrophages of estradiol-injected mice. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that neonatal estrogen injection in mice has an overall systemic effect on cytokine production. We speculate that increased cytokine production may alter certain important steps in follicular maturation, ultimately contributing to ovarian dysfunction.     

Mast cell types and cell-to-cell interactions in lymph nodes of the opossum Didelphis albiventris

Previous light-microscopic studies have shown a unique population of mast cells in lymphatic sinuses of lymph nodes located in the head, neck, axillary fossa and inguinal region of the opossum. In the present work, scanning and transmission electron-microscopic studies in the opossum mandibular and superficial axillary lymph nodes have strengthened the differences between connective-tissue mast cells (CTMC) and the lymphatic-sinus mast cells (LSMC). Further, close appositions of mast cells to other cells were described. At the nodal capsule, CTMC contacted fibroblast and granulocytes. In the lymphatic sinuses a few CTMC contacted LSMC, macrophages and reticular cells. The LSMC contacted macrophages, reticular cells and other LSMC. A few LSMC could be located in the medullary cord in close contact with plasma cells or other lymphoid cells, keeping the same ultrastructural features of those found in the lymphatic sinuses. An important new finding was provided by light-microscopic studies in nine abdominal lymph nodes. Most of them (para-aortic, common iliac, cardial, cecocolic and those of the body and tail of the pancreas) displayed numerous LSMC with the same distribution and histological features described herein. However, the mesenteric, pyloric and head-of-pancreas lymph nodes were virtually devoid of LSMC. Instead, their mast cells occurred mainly at the medullary cords and were very similar to the CTMC. Ultrastructural studies at the mesenteric lymph nodes confirmed the CTMC character of the mast cells located at both medullary cords and sinuses, and disclosed interactions with macrophages and lymphoid cells. Accepted: 8 September 1999     

M1型巨噬细胞源外泌体增强卵泡膜细胞的活力

目的:探讨M1型巨噬细胞源外泌体对卵泡膜细胞活力的影响及其作用机制。方法:采用脂多糖(LPS)处理Raw264.7小鼠巨噬细胞,构建M1型巨噬细胞模型及巨噬细胞-卵泡膜细胞共培养体系。超速离心法分离巨噬细胞分泌的外泌体;通过电镜、Western blot和纳米流式检测仪鉴定外泌体。体外分离培养小鼠卵泡膜细胞,与PKH67荧光标记的外泌体共孵育,观察卵泡膜细胞摄取外泌体的情况。CCK-8法检测细胞活力,流式细胞术分析细胞周期分布,q PCR及Western blot检测细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1B(CDKN1B)的表达。结果:在巨噬细胞-卵泡膜细胞共培养体系中,LPS诱导的M1型巨噬细胞通过外泌体增强卵泡膜细胞活力。电镜、Western blot及纳米流式检测结果显示,巨噬细胞源外泌体被成功分离。PKH67标记的外泌体与卵泡膜细胞共孵育实验证实卵泡膜细胞能摄取大量巨噬细胞源外泌体。这些外泌体可增强卵泡膜细胞的活力,使卵泡膜细胞G0/G1期比例下降,S期比例升高,且卵泡膜细胞CDKN1B的m RNA及蛋白相对表达量均明显低于对照组。结论:卵泡膜细胞能摄取巨噬细胞分泌的外泌体。M1型巨噬细胞源外泌体通过抑制CDKN1B的表达而增强卵泡膜细胞的活力。     

Episomal and stable expression of the luciferase reporter gene for quantifying Leishmania spp. infections in macrophages and in animal models

We have expressed the reporter firefly luciferase gene (LUC) in Leishmania donovani and Leishmania major either as part of episomal vectors or integrated into the parasite genome under the control of their respective ribosomal promoter regions. An excellent linear correlation between parasite number and luciferase activity was observed with all the transfectants. LUC-expressing recombinant parasites were useful to monitor Leishmania spp. infections in macrophages or in animal models. For prolonged growth in absence of drug selection, such as within animal models, quantitation of parasites is more reliable when the reporter gene LUC is stably integrated in the parasite genome. These recombinant strains should be useful tools to monitor Leishmania growth under a number of conditions.     

Long-term inhibition of intimal hyperplasia using vascular photodynamic therapy in balloon-injured carotid arteries

Flexible treatments for intimal hyperplasia after angioplasty are still needed. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the long-term effects of vascular photodynamic therapy with talaporfin sodium on intimal hyperplasia following interventional injury. Intimal hyperplasia was induced by balloon distension injury to the carotid artery in 31 rabbits. Talaporfin, 5.0 mg/kg, was delivered systemically immediately after balloon injury. The injury site was irradiated with a diode laser light of wavelength 664 nm using a fluence of 50 J/cm² after 30 min. At day 3 and weeks 3, 6, 9, 15, and 25 after photodynamic therapy, the treated artery of each rabbit was excised and examined immunohistochemically. Thirty minutes after talaporfin administration, drug fluorescence was found only in the balloon-injured carotid artery wall. At 3 days, no smooth muscle cells were seen in the media of the photodynamic therapy-treated arterial segments. Intimal hyperplasia developed progressively in the balloon-injured and untreated segments; however, in the segments treated with photodynamic therapy, intimal hyperplasia was markedly suppressed until 25 weeks and the media was repopulated by smooth muscle cells without macrophages. Vascular photodynamic therapy with talaporfin may be used to inhibit restenosis after vascular intervention. An erratum to this article is available at .