Gabriella Fóris

Bidirectional effect of met-enkephalin on macrophage effector functions

SummaryMet-enkephalin (ME) exerts a bimodal effect on functional activities of rat peritoneal macrophages (PM); in a range of low concentration (10-9-10-7 M) antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)was markedly stimulated with a simultaneous decrease of Fcγ receptor (FcγR) mediated phagocytosis while the opposite was observed at 10-6-10-5 M concentrations.Studying the possible underlying mechanism(s) the followings were recorded: (1) ME in all applied concentrations induced an early Na+ influx which was followed by a Ca2+ efflux in the range of low concentrations. In the range of high concentrations Na+ influx was accompanied by a Ca2+ influx. (2) ME at 10-8 M concentration induced a rise in cGMP level with a plateau in the 60–120th min of incubation. This effect was prevented by 10-5 M of naloxone. At 10-6 M concentration a transient rise of cAMP level was recorded which was not affected by naloxone. (3) Verapamil in 10-6 M abolished both the Ca2+ influx and the rise in cAMP level induced by 10-6-10-5 M ME but not the rise in cGMP level induced by lower ME concentrations. (4) cAMP elevation by high ME concentrations was abolished by enkephalinase inhibitory puromycin. (5) PM-enkephalinase as assessed by the cleavage of fluorogenic substrate L-alanine beta naphthylamide (ABNA), was inhibited by 10-6-10-5 M of ME. This inhibition was abolished by verapamil, but not affected by naloxone. In the range of low concentrations ME appears to act on specific delta opioid receptors and its action is positively coupled to guanylate cyclase. In relatively higher concentrations ME-action is not mediated by specific delta opioid receptors and it appears to involve Ca2+ influx, adenylate cyclase activation as well as the processing of hormone by PM-enkephalinase.

Met-enkephalin induced alterations of macrophage functions

Met-enkephalin /Met-enk/ was found to stimulate IgG2a-mediated antibody dependent cytotoxicity /ADCC/ of thioglycollate elicited rat peritoneal macrophages /PM/ through naloxone-sensitive opiate receptors in concentrations ranging from 10(-9) - 14(-7) M. Phagocytosis of IgG2a coated 51Cr-sheep red blood cell /SRBC/ was suppressed by M-enk in the same concentration range. In the same range of concentrations, M-enk was observed to induce a significant increase in the generation of luminol dependent chemiluminescence /LDCL/. The observed stimulation of ADCC was abolished by calmodulin inhibitor triflouroperazine /TFP/ in 10(-6) M concentration. The involvement of cyclic nucleotides in the M-enk induced functional alterations is indicated by finding cGMP accumulation to be augmented in M-enk treated PMs.

Age related variations of some polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions

The age-related alterations of some biochemical processes in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) obtained from 20 healthy aged male and 20 healthy aged female (age: 60-94 years) subjects were investigated. The basic level of luminol dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL) was increased, whereas the basal value of reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH per GS-SG) was decreased in the aged groups. The enhancement of LDCL was more significant by PMNLs of aged males than of females. The change of both GSH and GS-SG levels during phagocytosis were diminished in the PMNLs of aged subjects. The L-alanine beta-naphthylamide specific elastase like protease (ELP) activity measured in living cell suspension was markedly increased with aging in male subjects. Therefore, it was concluded that the aging of PMNLs is partly a sex related process. The intensive release of both beta-glucuronidase (beta-G) and ELP by the PMNLs of aged subjects after in vitro treatment with calcium ionophore A23187, Cytochalasin B or low density lipoprotein (LDL) suggests that they could play an important role in some age-related disorders.

The mechanism of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity stimulation by somatostatin in rat peritoneal macrophages

Somatostatin (SS) in 10(-9)-10(-7) M concentrations stimulated the lysis and inhibited the incorporation of IgG2a-coated 51Cr-labeled sheep red blood cell (SRBC) by rat peritoneal macrophages (PM). The intracellular killing capacity of PM remained unchanged. The enhancement of Fc receptor (R) activity and generation of active oxygen species were found to be responsible for the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-stimulating effect of SS. It was demonstrated that the stimulation of ADCC was abolished by the calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine (TFP), whereas it proved to be independent of the Ca2+ uptake. In addition, SS in the ADCC-stimulating concentrations diminished the intracellular cAMP generation and progressively increased the cGMP level. In higher (10(-6)-10(-7) M) concentrations, SS had a controversial effect on PM: it inhibited ADCC through the activation of both the adenylate cyclase and Ca2+ influx.

Age-related changes in cAMP and cGMP levels during phagocytosis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Alterations of cyclic nucleotides have been studied during the incorporation of opsonized yeast cells into human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) from both young and aged subjects. In PMNLs obtained from healthy young males the cAMP level rose to a maximal value during the first 15 min and returned to the starting level at the 60th min of phagocytosis. The cGMP level started to rise only at the 30th min of incorporation and enhanced progressively up to the 120th min. In contrast, the elevated cAMP level remained increased during the 120 min of phagocytosis in PMNLs obtained from aged subjects, whereas the cGMP level was not altered during the same period. The basic level of cAMP diminished, while the cGMP level was found to be elevated with ageing in PMNLs. It is concluded that phagocytosis was not impaired with age yet cytotoxic functions were diminished and that the data presented support the idea that cyclic nucleotides may be directly involved only in the latter process.

Altered signal pathway in angiotensin II-stimulated neutrophils of patients with hypercholesterolaemia

Angiotensin II (AII) in 1-10 nM concentrations has an in vivo immunostimulating effect on human neutrophils. The release of superoxide anions and leukotrienes (LTs) is significantly increased by 10 nM AII-stimulated neutrophils of patients with hypercholesterolaemia (HCH). These oxidizing agents may be involved in the damage of vessel walls, i.e., in atherosclerotic plaque formation. To clarify the receptor types and signal pathways in neutrophils of healthy controls and patients, inositol trisphosphate (IP(3)) production and Ca(2+) signalling were studied. Neutrophils were pretreated before AII stimulation with different inhibitory drugs. In control cells, the stimulation occurred predominantly through pertussis toxin-sensitive, type angiotensin 1 receptors. This induced IP(3) production and Ca(2+) signalling from intracellular pools. In neutrophils of hypercholesterolaemic patients, the enhanced release of oxidizing agents was dependent more on type angiotensin 2 than type angiotensin 1 receptors. After stimulation, there was no IP(3) production detected. The Ca(2+) signalling was lower than in control cells and was dependent on extracellular Ca(2+).

Age-Dependent Variations of Intralysosomal Enzyme Release from Human PMN Leukocytes under Various Stimuli

The intralysosomal beta glucuronidase and elastase release from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) of young and aged male subjects were determined after 60-min incubation with 10 micrograms/ml Cytochalasin B (CB), 10(-6) M of Ca ionophore A 23187 and various concentrations of human low density lipoprotein (LDL). The beta glucoronidase secretion was triggered by both A 23187 and LDL; however, no significant differences were found between the enzyme release from PMNLs of young and aged subjects. In contrast, a marked elastase release was triggered in the young group only by LDL, whereas in the aged group, all of the applied drugs induced a significant elastase release. LDL caused the most dramatic enzyme release from PMNLs of aged males. It was concluded that the release of PMNL-elastase after LDL incorporation as well as by CB and Ca ionophore stimulation may be an age-related process.

Concentration-Dependent Effect of Met-Enkephalin on Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Met-enkephalin in 10(-9)-10(-7)M concentrations exerts an ADCC-stimulating effect on human PMNLs through naloxone-sensitive opiate receptors, elevating the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ and cGMP levels. In higher, 10(-6)-10(-5)M concentrations ME has a cAMP-elevating effect and a rapid 45Ca2+ influx was observed. This latter effect of ME, which is also associated with the suppression of ADCC activity, was abolished by the enkephalinase inhibitor, puromycin. A strong relationship is suggested between the suppressing effect of metenkephalin, enkaphalinase and the protein kinase C system.

Obesity abrogates the concentration-dependent effect of leptin on endogenous cholesterol synthesis in human monocytes.

Leptin the cytokine-like hormone is involved not only in local inflammations, but it regulates cholesterol biosynthesis in human monocytes. Since, monocyte-membrane composition in obesity shows considerable difference from control cells, our aim was to elucidate the concentration dependence of the effect of leptin in OW monocytes, and the downstream signaling of high and low leptin concentrations. Control and OW monocytes were stimulated with leptin in the presence or absence of different inhibitors. Our results are as follows: a concentration-dependent biphasic effect could only be detected in control monocytes whereas in OW cells only elevated cholesterol synthesis was found. The signal pathway of 50 ng/mL leptin stimulation involves Ca(2+) signal, activation of PI3K, MAPK and HMG CoA reductase. In the 500 ng/mL leptin-stimulated control monocytes the suppression of cholesterol synthesis was dependent on the Ca(2+) signal, the H-7 sensitive cPKC and PI3K activation, whereas in OW monocytes only PI3K was involved in increased cholesterol synthesis. We conclude that leptin-signaling in OW monocytes is characterized by Ca(2+) influx, abrogation of H-7 sensitive cPKC activation, and by PI3K mediated PKC activation.

The Association between Angiotensin II-Induced Free Radical Generation and Membrane Fluidity in Neutrophils of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is able to induce free radical generation in neutrophils, which is more elevated in neutrophils of patients with hypercholesterolemia (HC). In addition, the signal processing through angiotensin I (Ang I) receptors is altered. In present study, we compared the Ang II-triggered free radical generation of neutrophils obtained from patients with relatively isolated forms of metabolic syndrome (MS) with membrane-bound cholesterol content and membrane fluidity. We determined the enhancement of Ang II-induced superoxide anion and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) generation, membrane fluidity and cell-bound cholesterol content of neutrophils obtained from 12 control subjects, 11 patients with obesity (Ob), 10 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2-DM) and 12 patients with HC. The alteration of signal processing was studied after preincubation with different inhibiting drugs. Superoxide anion, LTC4 production and membrane rigidity were increased in the following order: control < Ob < t2-DM < HC. Both Ang II-induced superoxide anion and LTC4 generation were decreased in control cells by pertussis toxin and fluvastatin (Flu), whereas in each patient group, mepacrin, verapamil and Flu were effective, suggesting alterations in signal pathways, which may be attributed to isoprenylation. The enhancement of superoxide anion and LTC4 generation correlated significantly with membrane rigidity, independently from the experimental groups and membrane-bound cholesterol content. Membrane rigidity of neutrophils, obtained from patients with MS, plays a role in Ang II-induced free radical generation independent of intracellular cholesterol homeostasis.