Fractalkine induces chemotaxis and actin polymerization in human dendritic cells.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered as the principle initiators of immune responses by virtue of their ability to migrate into target sites, process antigens and activate naive T cells. Here, the chemotactic activity and intracellular signaling of fractalkine was analyzed and compared to well known chemotaxins. METHODS: The mRNA-expression of G protein-coupled CX3CR1 was analyzed by RT-PCR. Chemotaxis was measured in 48-well Boyden chambers and actin polymerization by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The mRNA-expression of CX3CR1 in immature and mature DCs was revealed. Fractalkine elicited actin polymerization and chemotaxis in a dose-dependent manner in DCs independent of their state of maturation. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that immature and mature DCs express mRNA for the CX3CRI and that fractalkine induces chemotaxis and migration associated actin polymerization in immature as well as in mature DCs, contrasting with the action of other chemokines such as RANTES or MIP-3beta which act only on distinct maturation states of DCs.

Cultured rat microglia express functional beta-chemokine receptors.

We have investigated the functional expression of the beta-chemokine receptors CCR1 to 5 in cultured rat microglia. RT-PCR analysis revealed constitutive expression of CCR1, CCR2 and CCR5 mRNA. The beta-chemokines MCP-1 (1-30 nM) as well as RANTES and MIP-1alpha (100-1000 nM) evoked calcium transients in control and LPS-treated microglia. Whereas, the response to MCP-1 was dependent on extracellular calcium the response to RANTES was not. The effect of MCP-1 but not that of RANTES was inhibited by the calcium-induced calcium release inhibitor ryanodine. Calcium responses to MCP-1- and RANTES were observed in distinct populations of microglia.

Functional expression of the fractalkine (CX3C) receptor and its regulation by lipopolysaccharide in rat microglia.

Functional expression of CX3CR1, a recently discovered receptor for the chemokine fractalkine, was investigated in cultured rat microglia. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiments show abundant expression of fractalkine receptor mRNA in microglia. mRNA expression of fractalkine was undetectable in astrocytes and microglia but was very strong in cortical neurons. Incubation of microglia with lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/ml) transiently suppressed expression of fractalkine receptor mRNA. Fractalkine induced a concentration-dependent (10(-10)-10(-8) M) and, at high concentrations, oscillatory mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in microglia The concentration-response curve of fractalkine was shifted to the right after 12 h incubation with lipopolysaccharide. It is concluded that treatment with endotoxin downregulates expression of fractalkine receptor mRNA in rat microglia and suppresses the functional response to fractalkine.

Carbamazepine-induced upregulation of adenosine A1-receptors in astrocyte cultures affects coupling to the phosphoinositol signaling pathway.

The anticonvulsant and antibipolar drug carbamazepine (CBZ) is known to act as a specific antagonist at adenosine A1-receptors. After a 3-week application of CBZ, A1-receptors are upregulated in the rat brain. We have investigated the consequences of this upregulation for the A1-receptor-mediated signal transduction in primary astrocyte cultures from different regions of the rat brain. CBZ treatment for 10 days had no effect on adenosine A1-receptor mRNA expression in cultures with high basal A1-receptor mRNA levels, but increased A1-receptor mRNA in cultures exhibiting low basal A1-receptor mRNA levels. This upregulation of A1-receptor mRNA was accompanied by an upregulation or induction of A1-receptor-mediated potentiation of PLC activity, a property that was not found in these cultures before CBZ treatment. Thus, CBZ treatment for 10 days induces a new quality of adenosine A1-receptor-mediated signal transduction in cells that express low basal A1-receptor numbers.

Expression and signaling of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in astrocytes and microglia.

Stimulation of astrocytes with the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate leads to the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and the subsequent increase of intracellular calcium content. Astrocytes express both ionotropic receptors and metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, of which mGlu5 receptors are probably involved in glutamate-induced calcium signaling. The mGlu5 receptor occurs as two splice variants, mGlu5a and mGlu5b, but it was hitherto unknown which splice variant is responsible for the glutamate-induced effects in astrocytes. We report here that both mRNAs encoding mGlu5 receptor splice variants are expressed by cultured astrocytes. The expression of mGlu5a receptor mRNA is much stronger than that of mGlu5b receptor mRNA in these cells. In situ hybridization experiments reveal neuronal expression of mGlu5b receptor mRNA in adult rat forebrain but a strong neuronal expression of mGlu5a mRNA only in olfactory bulb. Signals for mGlu5a receptor mRNA in the rest of the brain were diffuse and weak but consistently above background. Activation of mGlu5 receptors in astrocytes yields increases in inositol phosphate production and transient calcium responses. It is surprising that the rank order of agonist potency [quisqualate > (2S,1 'S,2'S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine = trans-(1S,3R)-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD) > glutamate] differs from that reported for recombinantly expressed mGlu5a receptors. The expression of mGlu5a receptor mRNA and the occurrence of 1S,3R-ACPD-induced calcium signaling were found also in cultured microglia, indicating for the first time expression of mGlu5a receptors in these macrophage-like cells.

Adenosine A1 receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C in cultured astrocytes depends on the level of receptor expression.

Adenosine A1 receptors induce an inhibition of adenylyl cyclase via G-proteins of the Gi/o family. In addition, simultaneous stimulation of A1 receptors and of receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C (PLC) results in a synergistic potentiation of PLC activity. Evidence has accumulated that Gbetagamma subunits mediate this potentiating effect. However, an A1 receptor-mediated increase in extracellular glutamate was suggested to be responsible for the potentiating effect in mouse astrocyte cultures. We have investigated the synergistic activation of PLC by adenosine A1 and alpha1 adrenergic receptors in primary cultures of astrocytes derived from different regions of the newborn rat brain. It is reported here that (1) adenosine A1 receptor mRNA as well as receptor protein is present in astrocytes from all brain regions, (2) A1 receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase is of similar extent in all astrocyte cultures, (3) the A1 receptor-mediated potentiation of PLC activity requires higher concentrations of agonist than adenylyl cyclase inhibition and is dependent on the expression level of A1 receptor, and (4) the potentiating effect on PLC activity is unrelated to extracellular glutamate. Taken together, our data support the notion that betagamma subunits are the relevant signal transducers for A1 receptor-mediated PLC activation in rat astrocytes. Because of the lower affinity of betagamma, as compared with alpha subunits, more betagamma subunits are required for PLC activation. Therefore, only in cultures with higher levels of adenosine A1 receptors is the release of betagamma subunits via Gi/o activation sufficient to stimulate PLC. It is concluded that variation of the expression level of adenosine A1 receptors may be an important regulatory mechanism to control PLC activation via this receptor.

Increased sensitivity of the inositol-phospholipid system in neutrophils from patients with acute major depressive episodes.

Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies suggests that the therapeutic and prophylactic effects of lithium in recurrent affective disorders are due to an attenuation of the inositol-phospholipid (IPL) second messenger system. An increased sensitivity of this signal transduction system might therefore constitute a risk factor for affective illness. The extent of the agonist-induced release of intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+ response) can be used as an indicator of the sensitivity of the IPL system. Using this paradigm, we have measured the agonist-induced Ca2+ response in neutrophils of 17 unmedicated patients who were experiencing an acute major depressive episode. The neutrophils were stimulated by the chemotactic peptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine, which activates the IPL system in the cells. The sensitivity of the IPL system in these patients was significantly greater (dose-response curve shifted to the left) compared with its sensitivity in healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. The results indicate that acute episodes of major depression are associated with an increased sensitivity of the IPL system.

Carbamazepine inhibits the potentiation by adenosine analogues of agonist induced inositolphosphate formation in hippocampal astrocyte cultures.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) resembles lithium in its beneficial effects in therapy and prophylaxis of affective disorders. Since lithium is presumed to act via an attenuation of the inositolphosphate/Ca(2+)-second messenger system, it is of particular interest whether or not CBZ might also have inhibitory effects on this type of signal transduction. CBZ is an antagonist of adenosine A1-receptor subtypes. We show here that activation of adenosine A1-receptors potentiates the phenylephrine induced formation of inositolphosphates in hippocampal astrocytes and that this potentiating effect is inhibited by CBZ at a therapeutically relevant concentration. These results indicate that CBZ can by antagonism of adenosine A1-receptors inhibit the inositolphosphate/Ca(2+)-signalling in neural pathways regulated by adenosine.

Interaction of protein kinases A and C in their effects on the proenkephalin gene in astroglial cells.

In several cell types, the expression of the proenkephalin (PEnk) gene is enhanced after activation of protein kinase A. In the present study, astroglial cells cultured from rat cortex were used to investigate whether protein kinases A and C can act in a synergistic manner on the endogenous proenkephalin gene. The activator of protein kinase C tetradecanoylphorbolacetate (0.001-1 microM) increased the level of proenkephalin-mRNA in a concentration dependent manner. When used together with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Rolipram (1 microM), the effect of tetradecanoylphorbolacetate (0.01 microM) was potentiated. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (0.01-1 mM) also enhanced the expression of the proenkephalin gene. When used together with tetradecanoylphorbolacetate (0.01 and 0.1 microM), respectively, both agents had additive effects. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide (35 microM) significantly changed the effects of both agents. While the effect of 8Br.cAMP (1 mM) on PEnk-mRNA was enhanced, that of tetradecanoylphorbolacetate (0.1 microM) was abolished. The results provide evidence for a synergistic effect of protein kinase A and C on the expression of the proenkephalin gene in astroglial cells. However, the protein kinases seem to act via different transcription factors on the expression of the proenkephalin gene.

Decreased agonist-stimulated Ca2+ response in neutrophils from patients under chronic lithium therapy.

The agonist-stimulated increase in the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was determined in neutrophils from patients under chronic lithium therapy and a control group of age- and sex-matched healthy drug-free subjects. Cells were stimulated with the chemotactic peptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanin (fMLP) and the Ca2+ concentrations measured with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fura-2. The Ca2+ response to stimulation with fMLP was significantly attenuated in neutrophils from patients chronically treated with lithium. The data suggest that lithium treatment inhibits the inositol phospholipid second messenger generating system in human cells and support the results of earlier inositol phosphate measurements in fMLP-stimulated neutrophils.

Increased sensitivity to agonist stimulation of the Ca2+ response in neutrophils of manic-depressive patients: effect of lithium therapy.

The agonist-stimulated increase of intracellular free-Ca2+ concentration, an indicator of the sensitivity of the inositol phospholipid second-messenger generating system, was measured in neutrophils from patients with manic-depressive disorder, and controls. Dose-response curves of the calcium response were determined by measuring the fluorescence of neutrophils loaded with fura-2 and stimulated with various concentrations of the chemotactic tripeptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine. EC50 values were obtained for 14 medication-free patients (5 acutely depressive, and 9 symptom free remitted patients with a history of manic-depression or recurrent major depression), 9 lithium-treated, euthymic manic-depressive patients and 10 drug-free healthy controls. The EC50 values of the untreated patients were significantly lower than in the controls. Lithium-treated patients had EC50 values significantly higher than controls. These results suggest that manic-depressive disorder is associated with an increased sensitivity of the inositol phospholipid second-messenger generating system, which is counteracted by lithium treatment.

Growth control of cultured microglia.

Microglia, the resident macrophages of the brain, typically react to injuries or chronic diseases with proliferation and expression of differentiated features, such as production of cytokines associated with inflammatory events. Regulation and control of microglial cytokine expression, therefore, is a major focus of scientific interest. It has been shown that GMCSF and Il-3 are potent mitogens for microglia. Moreover, Il-3 and other cytokines are products of microglia. It is shown here that interleukin-1 (Il-1) as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) increased microglial proliferation in mixed astrocyte-microglial cultures but had no mitogenic effects on isolated microglia. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the bacterial endotoxin, irreversibly inhibited microglial cell division in both mixed astrocyte-microglial cultures and in isolated microglial cultures. By contrast, the corticosteroids hydrocortisone and aldosterone and the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone reversibly inhibited microglial proliferation. They also antagonized the stimulatory effects of Il-3 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF). Estradiol and progesterone had no significant effects on mixed cultures but inhibited microglial proliferation in isolated cultures. Conditioned media from mixed cultures, isolated cultures, from the WEHI-2B cell line, or from fresh (serum-supplemented) media stimulated microglial proliferation to various extents. In summary, cytokine-mediated microglial proliferation can be down-regulated by a variety of steroid hormones. Along with their unimpaired access to brain cells in general, corticosteroids likely maintain an inhibitory tonus on microglial proliferation. It is hypothesized that this inhibition is overcome locally and temporally in brain injury and repair.

Expression of apolipoprotein E during nerve degeneration and regeneration.

A 37-kDa glycoprotein has been described recently, whose synthesis is dramatically increased after injury of the rat sciatic and optic nerves. Cells in the nerve sheath, distal to the site of injury, produce and secrete large amounts of this protein, so that by 3 weeks after injury, it represents 2-5% of the total soluble extracellular protein in the regenerating sciatic nerve sheath, although it fails to accumulate in damaged optic nerve. Results presented here reveal extensive homology between the 37-kDa nerve injury-induced protein and a well-studied serum protein, apolipoprotein E (apoE), that is involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism and that has been shown recently to be present in adult and developing rat astroglia. Both proteins have identical isoelectric focusing points and similar molecular masses. Antibodies raised against the 37-kDa protein recognize apoE and anti-apoE serum crossreacts with the 37-kDa protein. Sequence data for two 14 amino acid stretches of the 37-kDa protein match identical regions of apoE. These data suggest that the 37-kDa protein is identical to serum apoE and that it could have similar functions to the latter. In the nervous system, for example, it may be involved in the mobilization and reutilization of lipid in the repair, growth, and maintenance of myelin and axonal membranes, both during development and after injury.

A specific 37,000-dalton protein that accumulates in regenerating but not in nonregenerating mammalian nerves.

A 37-kilodalton protein is synthesized at higher rates in the peripheral and central nervous system of newborn rats than in adult animals. As a specific response to denervation, the synthesis of the 37-kilodalton protein is increased in the mature peripheral and central nervous system; however, this protein accumulates only in the peripheral nervous system. The differences in accumulation of the protein correlate with the apparent differences in the ability of peripheral and central axons to regenerate. The synthesis of the 37-kilodalton protein is inhibited when proper innervation or reinnervation is established.

Bulk separation and long-term culture of oligodendrocytes from adult pig brain. I. Morphological studies.

A method is described by which oligodendrocytes from adult pig brains can be isolated. It results in a cellular preparation suitable for long-term culture. The entire procedure can be accomplished within 2-3 h. The purity of oligodendrocytes ranges between 80 and 95% depending on the Percoll gradient used and on the time in vitro. Yields between 2.5 and 4 X 10(7) cells per brain and plating efficiencies on the order of 60% make the system very useful for biochemical investigations. It was shown by immunocytochemical studies that oligodendrocytes produce extensive networks of processes, some of them having elaborate membranous expansions. Anti-galactocerebroside (GC) antibodies as well as anti-myelin basic protein (MBP), anti-Wolfgram protein (WP), anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and monoclonal antibodies O1 and O4 are used to identify the cell types and to characterize the cellular composition of the cultures. Anti-GC and O1 are suitable markers for these oligodendrocytes. Both antibodies label similar cells, and the staining intensities are equally strong. In the case of O4, variable staining intensities are observed, and a few additional cells are labeled that are anti-GC-. After 3 1/2 weeks in culture, about 60% of the cells can be labeled by anti-MBP. Here too differences in staining intensities are observed. The anti-WP stain is too weak to be defined as positive. The percentage of GFAP+ cells lies in the range 15-20% at maximum. Cells were also mixed into collagen gels. This method appears to be more useful for outgrowth and branching of fibers than are monolayer systems. Drawbacks, however, include limited access for the antibodies and poor recovery of undamaged cells with their fibers.

Bulk separation and long-term culture of oligodendrocytes from adult pig brain. II. Some biochemical data.

Oligodendroglial proteins labeled with radioactive amino acids were subjected to one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Bands comigrating with myelin proteins, the basic protein (MBP), the proteolipid protein (PLP), and the Wolfgram protein (WP) doublet, were detected by Coomassie Blue staining and by autoradiography. The identity of the MBP and WP in the cellular material is evidenced by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. A comparative study of myelin samples from rat and pig CNS reveals that WP can be detected immunochemically in both species. Different protein patterns, however, are observed. Three protein bands are found with antibodies against the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). The high-molecular-weight component prevails in pig myelin, whereas the medium-molecular-weight component is predominant in rat myelin. Moreover, two protein bands, of molecular weights 35,000 and 33,000 (Ol 1 and Ol 2), are present in high amounts in oligodendroglial particulate material but are not detectable in myelin. These oligodendroglial characteristic proteins are not species-specific, since they are found in preparations of cat oligodendrocytes as well. Activities of cerebroside sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.11) are low in freshly isolated cells and increase during the first week of culture. A reverse course of enzyme activities is observed with 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (EC 3.1.4.37). Values reach a minimum about day 5 in culture and recover their initial values. At day 10 they remain stable until the end of the third week of the culture period.

Oligodendrocytes from postnatal cat brain in cell culture. I. Regeneration and maintenance.

Oligodendrocytes isolated in bulk from white matter of cat brain (8-12 weeks of age) employing a Percoll gradient as the final purification step, were cultured and maintained for more than 10 weeks. Different parameters, e.g. coating material and the age of the animals appeared to have some influence on attachment rate and survival of the cells. Oligodendrocytes from older animals, or oligodendrocytes seeded into poly-L-lysine coated culture dishes revealed a marked tendency to form aggregates. Of the dispersed cells, 80-99% can be classified as oligodendrocytes by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunocytochemical markers. Aggregates which were re-seeded consisted of more than 90% oligodendrocytes. About one day after attachment to the supporting layer the cells start to regenerate their processes which sometimes broaden at their ends into shovel-like, membranous extensions.

Inheritance of amylases in blood serum of cattle.

Serum amylase variants are demonstrated by means of starch gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Phenotypes, allele frequencies, and segregation data for Am1 and Am2 in the cattle breed Deutsche Schwarzbunte are given. Demonstration of Am2 amylases was better in polyacrylamide gels and more isoenzymes were identified than in starch gels. The variants of Am1 amylases found in STAGE could not be reproduced in PAGE by means of the described methods. Both enzyme systems seem to be profoundly different in their molecular constitution and action. For the animals, these differences could be of advantage in the adaption to external influences.