Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after repeated ozone exposure.

As known from studies in animal and human subjects, ozone can exert effects on the immune response including allergic sensitisation and allergen responsiveness. The objective of the present study was to assess the changes in lymphocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after single and repeated ozone exposures. Twenty-three healthy subjects underwent single exposures to 200 ppb ozone or filtered air (FA), as well as repeated exposures to 200 ppb ozone on four consecutive days, each during 4 h of intermittent exercise. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed 20 h after the single exposure or the last of the repeated exposures. Lymphocytes were identified by sideward scatter and CD45 expression, and their subsets by eight different panels of antibodies. Checksums were calculated to assess the validity of the results. The percentage and the absolute number of lymphocytes, mostly comprising T-lymphocytes (CD2+; overall mean 98.8%), increased after single (P < 0.05; each), but not after repeated ozone exposure, compared with FA (7.4 vs 5.8 vs 6.5%; 680 vs 419 vs 301 x 10(3)). In addition, we observed small but statistically significant changes in the proportions of lymphocyte subpopulations. The percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes increased after single (P < 0.05) and repeated ozone exposure (P < 0.01), whereas the percentage of CD8+ cells decreased after repeated exposure (P < 0.05). The proportion of activated lymphocytes (CD25+) was elevated after repeated, compared with single, ozone exposure (P < 0.01), and the percentages of natural killer (NK) cells were decreased after both single (P < 0.05) and repeated (P < 0.01) exposures. Our data suggest that single but not repeated ozone exposures cause a change in absolute numbers of lymphocytes in BALF, whereas the proportions of lymphocyte subsets are affected by single as well as repeated exposures.

Rapid screening of possible cytotoxic effects of particulate air pollutants by measurement of changes in cytoplasmic free calcium, cytosolic pH, and plasma membrane potential in alveolar macrophages by flow cytometry.

BACKGROUND: Inhalable particulate dusts are involved in the genesis of several lung diseases. Besides the well-known toxic dusts, i.e., asbestos and quartz, heavy metal-containing pollutants are considered as possible harmful substances. In the present study, we compared the effect of silica chemically coated with certain metal oxides and dusts from industrial productions on cell physiological parameters of bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM). METHODS: The cytosolic free calcium concentration, [Ca2+](i), the intracellular pH (pH(i)), and the plasma membrane potential (MP) of BAM were measured by flow cytometry. The dust-induced secretion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured enzymatically. RESULTS: Compared with control incubations with pure silica, the dust-induced secretion of ROS by BAM was not affected when the particles were coated with Cr(2)O(3), NiO, and Fe(3)O(4), whereas VO(2)-coated dust induced a marked increase in ROS release. This effect was not correlated to changes in [Ca2+](i), pH(i), or MP. On the other hand, Cr(2)O(3)-coated silica caused alterations in all of the three latter parameters. The same pattern of changes has been reported previously for quartz dusts (Tárnok et al.: Anal Cell Pathol 15:61-72, 1997). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that cell physiological measurements by flow cytometry could extend the palette of tools to evaluate possible toxic effects of environmental dust samples.

Flow cytometric analysis of the effect of dithiothreitol on leukocyte surface markers.

Pretreatment with dithiothreitol (DTT) is necessary to dissolve mucus in samples of induced sputum prior to analysis. However, DTT may affect cell surface markers which are essential for lymphocyte subtyping. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DTT on an appropriate panel of surface markers. Peripheral blood leukocytes were used because these cells, in contrast to sputum cells, could be obtained without DTT treatment. Peripheral blood from healthy donors was incubated with either DTT according to standard sputum procedures or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), washed and incubated with fluorochrome-labelled antibodies. After lysis of erythrocytes, analysis was performed using a calibrated flow cytometer. Leukocyte populations were identified by their light scattering properties. For analysis, fluorescence intensity was compared between DTT- and PBS-treated samples. After treatment with DTT, fluorescence intensity was significantly increased in CD16-positive granulocytes; it was reduced in CD2-positive lymphocytes, CD45-positive lymphocytes and CD14-positive monocytes (p < or = 0.001). These changes occurred in all samples. The fluorescence intensity of CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, CD19-, CD56- and histocompatibility leukocyte antigen DR-positive lymphocytes was not altered by DTT. However, there were statistically significant (p<0.001), although small, changes in the percentages of leukocytes. The present data demonstrate that, although dithiothreitol as used in sputum analysis affects some surface markers of peripheral blood leukocytes, comparability between samples concerning lymphocyte surface markers is preserved. Therefore, it is suggested that treatment of sputum samples with dithiothreitol does not invalidate the immunocytochemical analysis of lymphocytes.

Agonist-stimulated alveolar macrophages: apoptosis and phospholipid signaling.

Bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) were labeled with [3H]-choline or [3H]-ethanolamine and exposed to quartz dust, metal oxide-coated silica particles, Escherichia coli-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumor promotor 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (PMA). The activation of phospholipases A2, C and D (PLA2, PLC and PLD) acting on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation and liquid scintillation counting of water- and lipid-soluble phospholipid metabolites. Exposure of BAM to quartz dust, metal oxide-coated silica particles, and LPS led to a transient PLD activation while treatment with PMA caused a prolonged rise in PLD activity. LPS and quartz dust induced a short-term increase of PLC cleavage products. All agonists caused a transient activation of PLA2. To induce apoptosis, BAM were stimulated with C8-ceramide, calcium-ionophore 23187, or gliotoxin. Apoptosis was investigated by qualitative and quantitative methods like flow cytometry, propidium iodide/Hoechst 33258 double staining, Cell Death Detection ELISA, and electrophoretical detection of DNA fragmentation. All three agonists led to apoptosis of BAM in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. After stimulation with gliotoxin an increase in ceramide and a drastic decrease in sphingosine-1-phosphate levels were observed, suggesting an involvement of these sphingolipids in gliotoxin-mediated apoptosis.

Protein phosphorylation in alveolar macrophages after stimulation with heavy metal-coated silica particles.

The aim of our study was to determine agonist- and time-dependent phosphorylation of distinct proteins in bovine alveolar macrophages after activation with quartz dusts and heavy metal-coated silica particles. Silica particles were coated with vanadium oxide or cadmium oxide. Separation of proteins was achieved by one-dimensional and optimized horizontal two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Protein phosphorylation was either determined by [32P] labeling and subsequent autoradiography or Western blotting using monoclonal antibodies against phosphotyrosine. One of the phosphorylated proteins was identified as the heat shock protein HSP-27. Stimulation with cadmium oxide-coated silica particles and PMA led to a significant increase of phosphorylated HSP-27. Additionally cadmium oxide-coated silica particles induced tyrosine phosphorylation of six main proteins. Stimulation with vanadium oxide-coated silica particles drastically increased the amount of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins while this effect was not observed with uncoated silica particles.

Hsp27 phosphorylation is induced in alveolar macrophages exposed to CdO-coated silica particles.

Protein phosphorylation in bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) activated by quartz dusts and metal oxide-coated silica particles was investigated by means of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and densitometric 32[P]-phosphate image analysis. BAM activity was monitored by determining generated superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide. In vitro stimulation of BAM with cadmium oxide-coated silica particles (LiC-CdO) resulted in characteristic time-dependent changes in 2D-PAGE spot patterns, that were similar to the effects induced by 4ss-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Phosphorylation of two proteins with apparent molecular masses of 29 and 42 kDa appeared as main signals in both LiC-CdO and in PMA treated BAM but with different kinetics. Phosphoprotein spot pp29 was identified as an isoelectric form of Hsp27 by microsequence and Western blot analysis. In contrast to PMA stimulation, LiC-CdO-induced Hsp27 and p42 phosphorylation did not correlate with the amount of generated reactive oxygen intermediates. Other potent BAM activators like quartz dust SIKRON F600 or VO-coated silica particles did not show Hsp27 and p42 phosphorylation. LiC-CdO-mediated Hsp27 phosphorylation was inhibited by SB 203580 indicating that p38 MAP kinase is the upstream mediator of the activated signaling pathway(s), while MEK inhibitor PD 98059 had no effect.

Mechanisms of lipid peroxidation in human blood plasma: a kinetic approach.

There is strong evidence that the oxidation of plasma lipoproteins plays an important role in atherogenesis. The exact mechanisms by which lipoprotein oxidation occurs in the presence of other plasma constituents, however, remains unclear. To investigate the role of different antioxidants for this process, we studied the oxidation of human plasma supplemented in vitro with physiological amounts of major plasma antioxidants alpha-tocopherol, ubiquinol-10 ascorbate, urate, bilirubin and albumin. The plasma was diluted 2-fold and oxidized by 3.75 mM Cu(II). The concentrations of the antioxidants, fatty acids, linoleic acid hydroperoxides and oxycholesterols in oxidizing plasma were measured. The oxidation was characterized by three consecutive phases similar to the known lag, propagation, and decomposition phases of low density lipoprotein oxidation. The rate of the initiation of oxidation as calculated from antioxidant consumption rates was raised by supplementation with alpha-tocopherol or ascorbate. The oxidation rate in the lag phase was lowered by supplementation with any of the antioxidants, whereas in the propagation phase the oxidation rate was slightly higher in supplemented than in unsupplemented plasma. The kinetic chain length in the lag phase was less than one in supplemented plasma and about one in unsupplemented plasma. The chain length in the propagation phase was between three and six for all plasma samples. A higher rate of urate consumption and a reduced rate of alpha-tocopherol consumption were found in plasma supplemented with ascorbate in comparison with unsupplemented plasma. These data suggest that: (i) the reduction of Cu(II) by alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate is a major initiating event in Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of human plasma; (ii) the following lag phase is caused by radical-scavenging effects of all antioxidants with alpha-tocopherol as a major lipophilic and urate as a major hydrophilic scavenger; (iii) interactions between antioxidants, such as regeneration of ascorbate by urate and of alpha-tocopherol by ascorbate, take place during the lag phase; (iv) in the absence of added antioxidants the oxidation in the lag phase can occur via a chain reaction; and (v) in the propagation phase the oxidation is not inhibited by antioxidants and occurs autocatalytically.

Silica induces changes in cytosolic free calcium, cytosolic pH, and plasma membrane potential in bovine alveolar macrophages.

The mineral-dust induced activation of pulmonary phagocytes is thought to be involved in the induction of severe lung diseases. The activation of bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) by silica was investigated by flow cytometry. Short-term incubation (< 10 min) of BAM with silica gel and quartz dust particles induced increases in the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), decreases in intracellular pH (pHi), and increases in plasma membrane potential (PMP). The extent of these changes was concentration dependent, related to the type of dust and was due to Ca2+ influx from the extracellular medium. An increase in [Ca2+]i was inhibited, when extracellular Ca2+ was removed. Furthermore the calcium signal was quenched by Mn2+ and diminished by the calcium channel blocker verapamil. The protein kinase C specific inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide II (GF 109,203 X) did not inhibit the silica-induced [Ca2+]i rise. In contrast, silica-induced cytosolic acidification and depolarization were inhibited by GF 109,203 X but not by removal of extracellular calcium. Addition of TiO2 particles or heavy metal-containing dusts had no effect on any of the three parameters. Our data suggest the existence of silica-activated transmembrane ion exchange mechanisms in BAM, which might be involved in the specific cytotoxicity of silica by Ca(2+)-dependent and independent pathways.

Expression of IGF receptors on alveolar macrophages: IGF-induced changes in InsPi formation, [Ca2+]i, and pHi.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors and insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate (IGF-II/Man6P) receptors in cultured bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) was demonstrated by competitive binding studies and crosslinking experiments. Western blotting of protein extracts from cultured BAM using an anti bovine IGF-II/Man6P receptor antiserum (#66416) confirmed the presence of IGF-II/Man6P receptors on BAM. The effects of IGFs and Man6P on generation of inositol phosphates was measured by HPLC analysis of perchloric acid extracts from myo-[3H]inositol-labelled cultured BAM. IGF-I at nanomolar concentrations and Man6P (10[-8]-10[-3] M) stimulated the accumulation of both Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 after 30 sec. IGF-II (up to 2.3 x 10[-8] M) had no significant effect on inositol phosphate accumulation under the same conditions. Both IGFs and Man6P induced a rise in [Ca2+]i in cultured BAM. In addition, using the fluorescent dye SNARF-1/AM we could demonstrate rapid but small IGF-II (10[-9] M) triggered acidification (0.07 pH units) of cultured BAM. Taken together, our results indicate not only the presence of both IGF-I and IGF-II/Man6P receptors on BAM, but also provide evidence of the linkage of the IGF-I receptor to the inositol phosphate system.

Mechanisms of particle-induced activation of alveolar macrophages.

Bovine alveolar macrophages were exposed in vitro to quartz dusts, metal-containing dusts or silica particles coated with a single metal oxide. The release of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) was measured in short-term incubations (90 min). The secretion of both ROI was markedly enhanced by silica particles coated with vanadium oxide and lowered by copper oxide-coated particles. The particle-induced ROI release was significantly decreased by the inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) as well as phospholipase A2, suggesting the involvement of both enzymes in the NADPH oxidase activation. Quartz dusts induced a transient increase of free cytosolic calcium ion concentration, slight intracellular acidification, and depolarization of the plasma membrane. In the presence of EGTA or verapamil the rise of [Ca2+]i was diminished, suggesting an influx of extracellular calcium ions. The PKC inhibitor GF 109203X did not inhibit the quartz-induced calcium rise, while both the cytosolic acidification and depolarization were prevented. BSA-coating of the quartz particles abolished the calcium influx as well as the decrease of pHi, and possibly hyperpolarized the plasma membrane.

Protein kinase C activity and phosphoprotein pattern in stimulated alveolar macrophages.

Bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) were stimulated with quartz dusts, metal oxide-coated silica particles, and zymosan. To investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the mechanism of agonist-induced activation 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), staurosporine, and the PKC specific inhibitor GF 109203X were applied. PKC activity was determined by means of a continuous fluorescence assay [1]. The assay is based on the measurement of fluorescence decrease caused by phosphorylation of an acrylodan-labelled MARCKS peptide, a specific substrate of PKC. The PKC fluorescence assay was verified with the purified enzyme, but it could not be adapted to cytosolic and membrane homogenates of BAM, as it is sensitive to the activity of proteases. PKC-mediated protein phosphorylation in intact BAM was achieved by mapping the [32P]phosphoproteins with an optimized horizontal 2D electrophoresis technique with subsequent autoradiography and image analysis. Agonist- and time-dependent changes of phosphoprotein patterns in BAM were detected and analysed.

Betaine generation in cardiac myocytes after adrenergic activation of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis.

In this report, effects of alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation on phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydrolysis and the subsequent generation of water-soluble choline metabolites were investigated after preincubation of isolated cardiac myocytes of adult rats with [methyl-3H]choline. Choline uptake into cardiac myocytes was apparently mediated by a choline carrier which could be inhibited by hemicholinium-3. Analysis of the intracellular choline metabolites was performed by HPLC. Adrenergic stimulation of cardiac myocytes by (-)-phenylephrine, which is also known to activate the phosphoinositide signaling system, induced the generation of betaine as a selective signal transduction response. Agonist-induced generation of betaine in cardiac myocytes was maximal at 10 min after stimulation, and was optimal at physiologically relevant (-)-phenylephrine concentrations (1-10 microM). Betaine accumulation was transient, and no betaine remained detectable after 15 min. CDP-choline, however, was still elevated after 15 min which is indicative of continued PC resynthesis after adrenergic stimulation. The source of betaine in cellular signalling appeared to be hydrolysis of membrane PC to phosphatidic acid and choline by phospholipase D with subsequent oxidation of choline to betaine. This is based on the observation that radioactivity in unstimulated cells is present only in the lipid phase (presumably as PC) or as phosphocholine in the aqueous phase of the cells. The latter finding suggests that choline is rapidly phosphorylated after uptake into cardiac myocytes. Collectively, these results suggest a hypothetical role of betaine in the cellular signal transduction response to alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation in cardiac myocytes.

Measurement of phospholipase A2 and 1-alkylglycerophosphocholine acetyltransferase activities in stimulated alveolar macrophages by HPLC analysis of NBD-labeled ether lipids.

The importance of phospholipases in cellular signaling and 1-alkylglycerophosphocholine acetyltransferase in the formation of platelet-activating factor (PAF) has stimulated demand for methods to measure these enzyme activities in inflammatory cells. Most of the assays currently used rely on radiolabeled substrates. We have synthesized NBD-labeled ether lipids as substrates for measuring enzyme activities of the PAF cycle and of lysosomal phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The fluorescent lipids were incubated with homogenates of stimulated bovine alveolar macrophages. The generated products were separated from the substrates by HPLC on a normal phase and monitored with a fluorescence detector. NBD-lyso-PAF was well accepted by acetyl- and acyltransferases of the cell-free preparations, which metabolized the substrate into NBD-PAF and NBD-alkyl-acylglycerophosphocholines. Homogenates of stimulated cells showed an enhanced production of NBD-PAF. The increased formation of the biological mediator was dependent on the nature of the stimuli and the time of stimulation. Lysosomal PLA2 was measured with 1-O-(12-NBD-aminododecyl)-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine as substrate. By varying the pH and the calcium concentration, it was possible to distinguish between the cytosolic PLA2 and the lysosomal PLA2 activity. Optimal conditions for the determination of the lysosomal PLA2 were obtained at pH 4.5 and in the presence of EDTA. Stimulation with particulate agonists induced an enhancement of the lysosomal PLA2 activity in macrophages.

Comparative studies of induction and repair of DNA double-strand breaks in X-irradiated alveolar macrophages and resting peripheral blood lymphocytes using constant-field gel electrophoresis.

Induction and repair of X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks (dsbs) was compared for normal broncho-alveolar macrophages and human peripheral blood lymphocytes, using CHO cells as a reference cell model. The cells, upon their separation, were processed in a similar manner. After X-irradiation, cell lysis and proteinase K treatment, the DNA samples were subjected to constant-field gel electrophoresis (CFGE) followed by fluorimetric densitometry for quantification of released DNA. Induction of dsbs after X-ray doses of 5-100 Gy was found to show no gross differences for all cell systems used. Repair of dsbs was studied after X-ray dose of 60 Gy for up to 24 h after irradiation. The repair curves obtained proved to be similar for bronchoalveolar macrophages and CHO cells (97% of all dsbs rejoined after 24 h). However, in blood lymphocytes from normal subjects and from bone marrow recipients, dsb repair proceeded rapidly only for 0.5-1 h post-irradiation, being followed by the gradual degradation of DNA at longer intervals. The kinetics of DNA degradation correlated with cytological features of pyknosis and necrosis.

Effect of heavy metal ions on the release of reactive oxygen intermediates by bovine alveolar macrophages.

Short-term incubations of bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) with metal-containing dusts induce the release of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). Incubations of BAM (90 min) with dissolved metal compounds (0.1-100 microM) combined with quartz dusts were performed to investigate the effects of single elements on BAM stimulation. As(III), as well as the calcium antagonists, Ni(II) and Ce(III), inhibited the secretion of superoxide anions (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). O2- concentrations were lowered by Mn(II) and Fe(II). Increased ROI concentrations were observed with V(IV) (O2- and H2O2) and Fe(III) (O2-). The addition of Cd(II), Cr(III) and V(V) showed no effect on the dust-induced respiratory burst. The influence of insoluble heavy metal compounds on ROI secretion by BAM were studied with metal oxide-coated silica particles. In most cases the release of ROI was not affected by the chemical modification of the particle surface. Coating with CuO markedly lowered the concentrations of O2- and H2O2, whereas vanadium(IV) oxide considerably increased both ROIs. Although most of the investigated metal compounds did not alter ROI secretion our present results with V(IV) and Fe(III) confirm our recent statistical evaluation of the effects of heavy metal-containing dusts on ROI secretion (Berg et al., 1993, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 39, 341).

Cytotoxicity of dust constituents towards alveolar macrophages: interactions of heavy metal compounds.

The interactions between different heavy metal compounds which affect their cytotoxicity towards rabbit alveolar macrophages were investigated. The cells were exposed in vitro to combinations of As3+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, or V5+ with different concentrations of another heavy metal compound. Toxicity was determined as the depression of zymosan-induced release of superoxide anion radicals. Significant antagonisms occurred in the combinations Cd2+/Zn2+, Hg2+/As3+, and Hg2+/Se4+, while significant synergisms were exhibited by the combinations Cd2+/Cu2+, Cd2+/Sn2+, Hg2+/Cu2+, Ni2+/Cd2+, Ni2+/Cu2+, Ni2+/Sn2+ and V5+/Cu2+. In the combinations As3+/Zn2+, Hg2+/Cd2+ and Hg2+/Zn2+, both kinds of interactions were observed depending on the concentrations of the heavy metal compounds. An interpretation of the measured heavy metal interactions with reference to the toxicity of heavy metal-containing dusts is attempted.

Increase of bovine alveolar macrophage superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide release by dusts of different origin.

The release of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) from bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) after stimulation with heavy metal-containing dusts was investigated. BAM were obtained by postmortem lavages of bovine lungs. The dusts were collected from waste incineration, sewage sludge incineration, an electric power station, and from two different factories. Three quartz dusts were used as heavy metal-free controls. The dusts were fractionated by sieving and sedimentation and analyzed by electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP). Incubation of BAM with the dusts (12.5-1000 micrograms/ml medium) led to concentration-dependent increases in ROI release. The secretion of ROI was already seen after 15 min and lasted throughout the experiment up to 90 min, with the exception of a waste incinerator ash, which contained the highest contents of some heavy metals and where the release of ROI ceased after 60 min. We suggest that this dust exhibits simultaneously stimulating and inhibiting effects. The ratio of the secreted O2- and H2O2 varied, depending on the dust being investigated. The release of hydrogen peroxide correlated best, in descending order, with the content of iron, manganese, chromium, vanadium, and arsenic in the dusts.

Identification and characterization of insulin-like growth factor receptors on adult rat cardiac myocytes: linkage to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation.

Cultured cardiac myocytes from adult Sprague-Dawley rats express both insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors and insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose 6-phosphate (IGF-II/Man6P) receptors and respond to IGF-I with a dose-dependent accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate [Ins(1,4)P2]. Specific binding of [125I]IGF-I to isolated membranes from cultured cardiac myocytes amounted to 1-1.2%. Binding of [125I]IGF-I was inhibited by unlabeled IGF-I at nanomolar concentrations and insulin at much higher concentrations. These data suggest that IGF-I binds to its own receptor on rat cardiac myocytes. Competitive binding studies using isolated membranes from cardiac myocytes and [125I]IGF-II showed 2-4% specific binding. Binding of [125I]IGF-II was inhibited by IGF-II and much less potently by IGF-I and insulin. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) 3637 (an IgG directed against the IGF-II/Man6P receptor) partially inhibited binding of [125I]IGF-II whereas nonimmune IgG did not. Affinity cross-linking studies with [125I]IGF-II and cardiac myocyte membranes and subsequent analysis of the ligand-receptor complex using SDS-PAGE and autoradiography showed a radiolabeled band of approximately 250 kilodalton (kDa). The formation of the [125I]IGF-II-receptor complex was inhibited by incubation with IGF-II and IgG 3637 but not by insulin or nonimmune IgG. Western blotting of protein extracts from cultured cardiac myocytes was performed using IgG 3637 and an immunoperoxidase technique for the visualization of the IGF-II/Man6P receptor protein. A specific band at 220 kDa under nonreducing conditions was detected on the blots, providing further evidence for the expression of the IGF-II/Man6P receptor by cardiac myocytes. The effect of IGFs on the accumulation of inositol phosphates was measured by HPLC analysis of perchloric acid extracts from myo-[3H]inositol-labeled cultured cardiac myocytes. IGF-I (50 ng/ml) stimulated the accumulation both of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,4)P2 after 30 sec by 43% and 63%. IGF-II (up to 500 ng/ml) had no significant effect on inositol phosphate accumulation under the same conditions. However, in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Man6P, IGF-II (500 ng/ml) also increased Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation by 59%. We conclude that cardiac myocytes from adult rats express IGF receptors and respond to IGFs with the accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,4)P2. This effect seems to be mediated by an IGF-I receptor-specific pathway.

Inhibition of alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated inositol phosphate accumulation in cultured cardiac myocytes by cyclic AMP-generating compounds.

Exclusive stimulation of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor in cultured cardiac myocytes led to a time-dependent increase of multiple inositol phosphate isomers. However, under physiological conditions, alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation is accompanied by beta-adrenergic stimulation as noradrenaline is a ligand for both receptors. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the cross-talk between the alpha 1- and the beta-adrenoceptor on the post-receptor level. When both the alpha 1- and the beta-adrenoceptor were stimulated with noradrenaline for 30 s, a diminished increase in all inositol phosphates and a concomitant increase in cAMP was observed. Similar results were obtained by pre-incubation of the myocytes with forskolin for 2 min and subsequent stimulation of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor for 30 s. In contrast, after 15 min the inhibitory effect of simultaneous beta-stimulation as well as of forskolin pre-treatment upon the alpha 1-mediated inositol phosphate response was abolished, although the concentration of cAMP was still elevated. These data suggest that beta-adrenoceptor- and forskolin-induced cAMP production or a cAMP-activated subsequent signal have a short-term, transient, inhibitory effect on alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated inositol phosphate response.

Inositol tetrakisphosphates as second messengers induce Ca(++)-dependent chloride currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Microinjection of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate induced distinct chloride membrane currents in defolliculated Xenopus laevis oocytes. To decide whether these Cl(-)-currents were due to the injected compounds or their metabolic products, [3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 or [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 were injected into oocytes and their metabolites were analyzed by HPLC. Our results indicate that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 itself or its metabolite Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 is able to induce Cl(-)-membrane currents, most likely by increasing the cytosolic Ca(++)-concentration.