P. J. Del Vecchio

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein and CD14 interaction induces tumor necrosis factor-alpha generation and neutrophil sequestration in lungs after intratracheal endotoxin.

It has been proposed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) bound to the 60-kD LPS binding protein (LBP) forms an LPS/LBP complex that, in turn, binds to the CD14 receptor on monocytes/macrophages and stimulates the release of cytokines. We examined the role of LBP and CD14 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production and neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMN]) sequestration in lungs induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS using rabbit lungs perfused at constant flow with lactated Ringer-albumin solution. LPS alone (Salmonella minnesota, wild type; 20 ng) or in the presence of LBP (500 ng) was injected intratracheally. In some experiments, human PMNs (5 x 10(7)) were added to the perfusate after a 2-hour period of perfusion. Samples of lung perfusate were collected every 30 minutes for 180 minutes when bronchoalveolar lavage was also performed. TNF-alpha concentrations in the perfusate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined by use of a bioassay with L-929 fibroblasts, and PMN accumulation in lungs was determined by myeloperoxidase assay of lung homogenates. LPS alone did not significantly increase TNF-alpha production or lung PMN accumulation, whereas the LPS/LBP complex increased TNF-alpha concentration in perfusate twofold and PMN accumulation twofold compared with the effect of LPS alone. Intratracheal instillation of anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody MY4 (40 micrograms) with the LPS/LBP complex prevented TNF-alpha release and PMN sequestration, whereas an isotype-matched control monoclonal antibody was ineffective. Therefore, LBP in the airspace enhances the LPS effect on TNF-alpha production via a CD14-dependent pathway, and as a result, CD14 activation can contribute to lung PMN sequestration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thrombin-mediated release of lipids from pulmonary artery endothelial cells promotes neutrophil adherence.

We previously have described the ability of alpha-thrombin (the native procoagulant enzyme) to stimulate adherence of neutrophils to pulmonary artery endothelial cells. In the present study, we observed that conditioned medium factors released by alpha-thrombin (10(-8) M) treatment of cultured ovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells increased neutrophil adherence to naive pulmonary artery endothelial monolayers. This effect was independent of any residual alpha-thrombin present in the medium. In contrast to thrombin-induced neutrophil adherence, adherence of neutrophils mediated by the conditioned medium was not inhibited by the anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody 60.3, indicating a CD18-independent mechanism. The factors generated by the action of alpha-thrombin on endothelial cells also resulted in concentration-dependent neutrophil migration. The neutrophil adherence- and migration-promoting activities were isolated in the ether portion after extraction of the conditioned medium. Chromatographic analysis showed that the active components (which resolved into two peaks by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography) were relatively hydrophilic low molecular weight lipids without phosphorus or amino acids. Reconstitution of these peaks indicated that they mediated neutrophil adhesion and migration responses. The results indicate that lipid factors promoting neutrophil adhesion and migration are generated by the action of thrombin on pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The generation of these factors may contribute to the amplification of the lung inflammatory response after pulmonary intravascular coagulation induced by thrombin.

Combined Cytotoxic Effects of Bacterial Shiga Toxin, TNF, IL-1 and LPS on Vascular Endothelial Cells, in Vitro

To better understand the development of the altered coagulation state seen in kidney glomeruli from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) patients, our laboratory is continuing to investigate the effects of bacterial Shiga toxin (ST) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human kidney cells (HKC) isolated from glomerular remnants. The present study is an initial survey of the cytotoxic effects of the 65kD ST combined with either LPS, hrIL-1 or hrTNF on both HUVEC and HKC. The HKC (mesangial) and HUVEC expressed approx. 107and 106 Shiga toxin receptors per cell, respectively.