Walter-Gunar Friebe

Phospholipase A2 is Involved in Chemotaxis Of Human Leukocytes

Recently, it was shown that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is essential for exposing Mac-1 (CDllb/CD18) on the cell surface of leukocytes1,2. Mac-1 is mandatory for leukocyte migration in vitro, and lack of Mac-1 on human leukocytes is associated with failure of in vitro chemotaxis3. To further substantiate the contribution of PLA2 in cell migration we investigated the effects of PLA2 inhibition on chemotaxis of mixed human leukocytes (MHL) induced by fMLP and the G-protein activator NaF7–9. Migration was measured in a modified 48-well micro-chemotaxis Boyden-chamber6. As PLA2 inhibitors manoalide4, mepacrine5, and BM 16.2115, a new PLA2 inhibitor, were employed.

Evidence for Activation of Cyclooxygenase-1/-2 by Endogenous Nitric Oxide in Adjuvant Arthritic Lewis Rats

Increased enzyme activities of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)1,2,3,4 and the alteration of immunological responses5,6. As determined on messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein level, in human rheumatoid synoviocytes, both, cPLA2 and growth factor-responsive prostaglandin H synthase-2 (PGHS-2 or cyclooxygenase-2, COX-2) activity were induced by interleukin-lβ, while secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) and constitutive prostaglandin H synthase-1 (PGHS-1 or cyclooxygenase-1, COX-1) remained unaffected. Reflecting the enhanced activity of this pathway, its induction was associated with high levels of prostaglandin-2 (PGE2), a mediator of pain and inflammation in the joints of patients with RA2. In addition, patients with RA showed high levels of nitrite (NO− 2, breakdown product of nitric oxide) and 3-nitrotyrosine, indicating elevated NOS activity and nitric oxide (NO•) dependent oxidative damage3,7. In order to evaluate a physiological link between cPLA2, COX-1/-2 and NOS pathway in vivo, we investigated the effect of L-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of NOS, in adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat, while dexamethasone served as control drug, This model exhibits several pathological features similar to those occurring in autoimmune reactive RA in humans, characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints. In our studies following parameters have been determined: i) PGE2 as a product of the PLA2 and COX-1/-2 pathway, ii) platelet-activating-factor (PAF, PAF-acether) as product of the PLA2 and acetyltransferase pathway, iii) NO− 2 as product of the NOS pathway, iv) paw swelling as an indicator of in vivo response.