Peptides derived from the complementarity-determining regions of anti-Mac-1 antibodies block intercellular adhesion molecule-1 interaction with Mac-1.

Peptides or small molecules that can block the interaction of the integrin Mac-1 with its receptor, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), have not previously been developed. We studied this interaction by measuring the adherence of ICAM-1-expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to immobilized, purified Mac-1. Nucleotide sequence information was obtained for the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of three antibodies (44aacb, MY904, and 118.1) shown to block Mac-1-mediated cell adherence. Peptides were synthesized based on the predicted amino acid sequences of the CDRs and tested for the ability to block cell adhesion to Mac-1. Peptides derived from CDR1 of 44aacb, CDR2 of 118.1, and CDRs 1 and 3 of MY904 heavy chains were found to possess blocking activity at 10-100 muM. This may indicate that one or two CDRs contribute disproportionately to the antibody binding affinity. The binding of ligands to Mac-1 has been shown to require a region of the alpha-chain known as the I- or A-domain. We have recombinantly produced Mac-1 I-domain, and show that it is also capable of supporting the adherence of ICAM-1-expressing CHO cells. The adherence of ICAM-1-CHO cells to the I-domain is inhibited by 44aacb and 118.1 and by the CDR peptides from 44aacb and 118.1. By using phage display of peptide libraries based on the 118.1 CDR peptide with five residues randomized, we were able to identify a novel peptide inhibitor of Mac-1 with substitutions at all five positions. These peptides provide lead structures for development of Mac-1 antagonists.

Novel anti-inflammatory compounds induce shedding of L-selectin and block primary capture of neutrophils under flow conditions.

Leumedins are small molecules that inhibit neutrophil movement into inflamed tissues. These compounds have been shown to inhibit the adherence of neutrophils in static adhesion assays mediated by beta2-integrins. We now report that leumedins, like activating agents, induce the loss of L-selectin from the neutrophil surface. The loss of L-selectin is unrelated to the inhibition of static adhesion, since neutrophils that have been pretreated with leumedins to cause shedding of L-selectin, followed by removal of drug, adhere normally in a static adhesion assay, and this adhesion is inhibited upon readdition of leumedin. In an assay of adhesion to endothelial cells under conditions of physiologic wall shear stress, leumedins prevent both primary capture of neutrophils mediated by L-selectin and firm adherence mediated by beta2-integrins.

Novel anti-inflammatory compounds prevent CD11b/CD18, alpha M beta 2 (Mac-1)-dependent neutrophil adhesion without blocking activation-induced changes in Mac-1.

Leumedins are small organic molecules with anti-inflammatory properties in vivo. We report here that leumedins inhibit the CD11b/CD18 alpha M beta 2 (Mac-1)-dependent adherence of neutrophils to serum proteins. The activation of neutrophils leading to adherence via Mac-1 is associated with an increase in cell surface Mac-1 level, and with an increased affinity of Mac-1 for adhesion partners. Inhibition of neutrophil adherence by leumedins does not require blocking the recruitment of Mac-1 from intracellular granules to the cell surface. Furthermore, leumedins do not block the expression on Mac-1 of the epitope for an "activation-specific" antibody (CBRM1/5). Time course studies show that leumedins inhibit adherence by targeting an event which occurs concurrently with changes in Mac-1 level and induction of the CBRM1/5 epitope. Therefore, leumedins block an unknown process which is permissive for Mac-1-dependent adherence.

Fluorenylalkanoic and benzoic acids as novel inhibitors of cell adhesion processes in leukocytes.

A series of fluoren-9-ylalkanoic and alkylbenzoic acids was prepared as simplified analogues of a previously reported series of antiinflammatory agents which act to inhibit neutrophil recruitment into inflamed tissue. The previous compounds ("leumedins") contained (alkoxycarbonyl)amino or benzoic acid moieties tethered to a fluorene ring. This functionality was replaced with simple structural elements. The new compounds were, in general, found to be more potent than the earlier series at inhibiting adherence of neutrophils to serum-coated wells or endothelial cells in vitro. Compound 9 was approximately 10-fold more potent than the previously reported FMOC-phenylalanine, of which it is an analogue. Similarly, compound 19 was superior in potency to its first generation progenitor, NPC 16570. The new compounds were shown to inhibit neutrophil adherence under conditions in which adherence is mediated by Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18); they thus appear to target beta 2-integrins in their antiadhesion activity. These compounds provide a departure point for the further development of new cell adhesion inhibitors which should exhibit enhanced potency and a more selective mode of action.

Regulation of human type II phosphatidylinositol kinase activity by epidermal growth factor-dependent phosphorylation and receptor association.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates phosphatidylinositol PtdIns) hydrolysis in many cell types by effecting the specific interaction between the EGF receptor and phospholipase C gamma. Several studies have suggested that PtdIns 4-kinase activity can also be regulated by EGF, but the mechanism of this stimulation was unclear. We report here that EGF treatment of intact A431 cells increased the association of type II PtdIns kinase with the EGF receptor within 1 min at 37 degrees C. Phosphorylation of immunoprecipitated EGF receptor also increased the association of PtdIns 4-kinase. Furthermore dephosphorylation of phosphoserine residues on the stimulated receptor immune complex led to inactivation of the bound PtdIns 4-kinase, while dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine residues led to activation. Unlike the stimulated activity measured in total cell and plasma membrane lysates, the changes in activity of the immunoprecipitates were apparent at high substrate concentration. Metabolic labeling was used to show that a 55-kDa phosphoserine and phosphotyrosine-containing protein comigrated with renatured PtdIns 4-kinase activity on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, while in vitro labeling revealed only serine phosphorylation. These data are discussed with reference to the direct regulation of PtdIns 4-kinase by phosphorylation, PtdIns compartmentalization, and the formation of a multienzyme signal transduction complex.

CD36 is a receptor for oxidized low density lipoprotein.

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arterial wall is thought to contribute to human atherosclerotic lesion formation, in part by the high affinity uptake of oxidized LDL (OxLDL) by macrophages, resulting in foam cell formation. We have utilized cloning by expression to identify CD36 as a macrophage receptor for OxLDL. Transfection of a CD36 clone into 293 cells results in the specific and high affinity binding of OxLDL, followed by its internalization and degradation. An anti-CD36 antibody blocks 50% of the binding of OxLDL to platelets and to human macrophage-like THP cells. Furthermore, like mouse macrophages, 293 cells expressing CD36 recognize LDL which has been oxidized only 4 h, whereas more extensive oxidation of the LDL is required for recognition by the other known OxLDL receptors, the acetylated LDL (AcLDL) receptor and Fc gamma RII-B2. CD36 may play a role in scavenging LDL modified by oxidation and may mediate effects of OxLDL on monocytes and platelets in atherosclerotic lesions.

A macrophage Fc receptor for IgG is also a receptor for oxidized low density lipoprotein.

The internalization of oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) by macrophages is hypothesized to contribute to foam cell formation and eventually to atherosclerotic lesion formation. OxLDL is a ligand for the acetylated low density lipoprotein (AcLDL) receptor, however, our data show that this receptor accounts for less than half of OxLDL uptake by mouse macrophages, suggesting additional receptors for OxLDL. We have developed a novel expression cloning strategy in order to isolate clones encoding OxLDL receptors. In addition to the AcLDL receptor, we isolated a molecular clone for a structurally unrelated receptor capable of mediating the high affinity uptake of OxLDL following transfection into cells. This receptor has been identified as the mouse Fc gamma RII-B2, a member of a family of receptors known to mediate immune complex uptake through recognition of the Fc region of IgG. The uptake of OxLDL by cells transfected with the Fc gamma RII-B2 clone is not blocked by AcLDL but is blocked by the anti-Fc gamma RII monoclonal antibody, 2.4G2.

Purification and characterization of human erythrocyte phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase. Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate 4-kinase are distinct enzymes.

PtdIns 4-kinase has been purified 83,000-fold from human erythrocyte membranes. The major protein detected by SDS/PAGE is of molecular mass 56 kDa, and enzymic activity can be renatured from this band of the gel. The characteristics of this enzyme are similar to other type II PtdIns kinases previously described: PtdIns presented in Triton X-100 micelles is preferred as a substrate over PtdIns vesicles, the enzyme possesses a relatively low Km for ATP (20 microM), and adenosine is an effective inhibitor. A monoclonal antibody raised against bovine brain type II PtdIns 4-kinase is an effective inhibitor of the purified enzyme. PtdIns(4,5)P2 inhibits by approx. 50% when added in equimolar amounts with PtdIns; PtdIns4P has little effect on activity. A PtdIns3P 4-kinase activity has also been detected in erythrocyte lysates. Approximately two-thirds of this activity is in the cytosolic fraction and one-third in the membrane fraction. No PtdIns3P 4-kinase activity could be detected in the purified type II PtdIns 4-kinase preparation, nor could this activity be detected in a bovine brain type III PtdIns 4-kinase preparation. The monoclonal antibody that inhibits the type II PtdIns 4-kinase does not affect the PtdIns3P 4-kinase activity in the membrane fraction. The cytosolic PtdIns3P 4-kinase can be efficiently recovered from a 60%-satd.-(NH4)2SO4 precipitate that is virtually free of PtdIns 4-kinase activity. We conclude that PtdIns3P 4-kinase is a new enzyme distinct from previously characterized PtdIns 4-kinases, and that this enzyme prefers PtdIns3P over PtdIns as a substrate.

A monoclonal antibody distinguishes two types of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase.

A monoclonal antibody has been developed against the type II PtdIns 4-kinase from bovine brain. This antibody, 4C5G, causes greater than 90% inhibition of the type II PtdIns 4-kinase from bovine brain, rat brain and human erythrocytes. However, it fails to inhibit type III PtdIns 4-kinase from bovine brain or PtdIns 3-kinase from rat liver. These results suggest that type II and type III PtdIns 4-kinases are distinct gene products, and that 4C5G will be useful in studying the function of the type II PtdIns 4-kinase.

Phosphatidylinositol kinase or an associated protein is a substrate for the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase.

The tyrosine kinase activity intrinsic to the insulin receptor is thought to be important in eliciting the intracellular responses to insulin; however, it has been difficult to determine the biochemical functions of the proteins which are substrates for this receptor. Treatment of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells overexpressing the human insulin receptor (CHO.T) with insulin results in a 38 +/- 11 (mean +/- S.E., n = 9)-fold increase in a phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) kinase activity in anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates of whole cell lysates. One minute of treatment of cells with insulin causes a dramatic increase in the PtdIns kinase activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates; the activity peaks within 5 min and remains elevated for at least 60 min after addition of insulin to the cells. This response is only slightly delayed compared with the time course we observe for activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. The insulin dose-response curves are also very similar for the activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity and for the appearance of PtdIns kinase in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates. Stimulation of the endogenous insulin receptor of CHO cells also results in the association of PtdIns kinase activity with phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. However, CHO cells are less sensitive to insulin than CHO.T cells, and the maximal PtdIns kinase activity in antiphosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates from CHO cells is one-sixth that of CHO.T cells. In contrast, immunoprecipitates from CHO.T cells made with anti-insulin receptor antibodies do not contain significant levels of PtdIns kinase activity. This demonstrates that the PtdIns kinase is either a substrate for the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase or is tightly associated with another tyrosine phosphoprotein, which is not the insulin receptor.

Lipogenesis from ketone bodies in perfused livers from streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Production of ketone bodies and their contribution to lipogenesis were measured in isolated livers from normal and streptozocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) rats perfused with tracer amounts of 3H2O and (R)-3-hydroxy[3-14C]butyrate. Diabetes decreased by 80-95% the total rates of fatty acid and 3-beta-hydroxysterol synthesis in perfused livers and livers of live rats. The activity of cytosolic acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase was slightly (17%) decreased in livers from STZ-D rats. The incorporation of ketone bodies into fatty acids and sterols was markedly inhibited in perfused livers from STZ-D rats despite the stimulation of ketogenesis by diabetes and the presence of oleate. Treatment of the rats with insulin before liver perfusion led to a normalization of the rates of ketogenesis and fatty acid synthesis. The rates of sterol synthesis were only partially normalized by insulin treatment. We conclude that in STZ-D, ketosis does not stimulate hepatic lipogenesis via cytosolic activation of acetoacetate.

Lipogenesis from ketone bodies in the perfused rat liver: effects of acetate and ethanol.

The interactions between acetate or ethanol metabolism, lipogenesis, and ketone body utilization have been studied in isolated livers from fed rats perfused with 15 mM glucose and 10 mM acetate or ethanol. The contribution of acetate to ketogenesis is constant; on the other hand, the contribution of ethanol to ketogenesis increases with time, presumably because of the accumulation of acetate in the perfusate. Ketogenesis is decreased in the presence of ethanol (but not acetate), while ketone body utilization is not affected by ethanol or acetate. Acetate contributes one third and ethanol contributes one half of the carbon incorporated into fatty acids and 3-beta-hydroxysterols. Only a small fraction (less than 5%) of the incorporation of acetate or ethanol into fatty acids and sterols occurs via transient incorporation into ketone bodies.

Bovine brain contains two types of phosphatidylinositol kinase.

Two phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinases from bovine brain were separated by rate zonal sucrose gradient centrifugation of detergent-solubilized membranes. Of the total PI kinase activity, 43% migrates on sucrose gradients with a size of approximately 55 kilodaltons (kDa); this kinase has properties similar to one of two PI kinase activities characterized in fibroblasts [Whitman, M., Kaplan, D. R., Roberts, T., & Cantley, L. (1987) Biochem. J. (in press)] and has been termed type 2. The remainder of the activity migrates in a second peak with a size of approximately 230 kDa. This enzyme possesses properties which are unlike both fibroblast PI kinase activities and has been termed type 3. The type 2 and type 3 enzymes have very different affinities for adenine nucleotides and are readily distinguishable by their sensitivities to inhibition by adenosine. The KMs of types 2 and 3 kinases for ATP are 54 and 742 microM, and the Kis for adenosine are 18 and 1520 microM, respectively. The two enzymes also differ in their affinities for PI, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, and Mg2+ as well as in stimulation and inhibition by other phospholipids. When PI kinase from erythrocyte ghosts is fractionated by sucrose gradient centrifugation, only one peak of activity is observed which is indistinguishable from brain type 2 PI kinase.

Monocyte adherence to endothelial cells in vitro is increased by beta-VLDL.

The adherence of blood monocytes to the arterial endothelium is an early event in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. The possibility was investigated that alterations in the level and composition of plasma lipoproteins may contribute to this phenomenon. The adherence of human mononuclear cells to primary bovine aortic endothelial cells was measured in an in vitro monolayer collection assay. Preincubation of endothelial cells with beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) from cholesterol-fed rabbits or with very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) from cholesterol/saturated fat-fed cebus monkeys resulted in a significant increase in the subsequent adherence of monocytes to the endothelial cells. The effect of beta-VLDL was maximal at 100 micrograms protein/ml. The response increased with time when endothelial cells were incubated with beta-VLDL for 0-120 minutes, then remained maximal for up to 4 hours. The adherence of a human monocytic cell line (U937) to endothelial cells was also increased by beta-VLDL. These results suggest that diet-induced alterations in lipoprotein composition may contribute to the development of atherosclerotic lesions by affecting the adherence of monocytes to the arterial endothelium.

LDL enhances monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in vitro.

Monocyte adhesion to the arterial endothelium is an early event in diet-induced atherogenesis. The possibility that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may influence this adhesion was investigated by using an in vitro monolayer collection assay. Postprandial and fasting LDL was isolated from 12 normal adult human donors (8 male and 4 female) and incubated with primary cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) for 6 hours. 51Cr-labeled mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) were then added and incubated an additional 30 minutes. When results were expressed as the ratio of adherent counts per minute in LDL-treated BAEC cultures to that in PBS-treated controls, 10 of the 16 LDL samples isolated from male donors induced a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in MNL adhesion (1.06-1.27) attributable to esterase-positive cells. This increase was dose-dependent and maximal at 100 micrograms LDL protein/ml. The magnitude of the response was significantly correlated with LDL composition (r = 0.857, P less than 0.01) such that LDL rich in cholesterol and triglyceride relative to protein enhanced MNL adhesion, whereas lipid-poor LDL (typically isolated from the women) reduced adhesion.

Phosphatidylinositol kinases and cell transformation.

Products of phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover have recently been implicated as regulators of cell growth and differentiation. Transformation of cells in culture by infection with certain viruses (Rous sarcoma virus, Kirsten sarcoma virus, and polyoma virus) or by transfection with the oncogenes carried by these viruses affect the steady-state level of intermediates in the PI turnover pathway. In addition, immunoprecipitates of the transforming gene products of Rous sarcoma virus and polyoma virus contain activities of certain enzymes in the PI turnover pathway. We have previously reported that polyoma middle T immunoprecipitates can catalyze phosphorylation of PI to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP). This activity is not intrinsic to middle T or pp60c-src but is due to a cellular enzyme that specifically associates with the middle T/pp60c-src complex. The PI kinase is found in immunoprecipitates of the middle t protein from polyoma viruses that are capable of cell transformation but does not associate with mutants of middle t defective in transformation, suggesting that this association may be important for transformation. Two PI kinases from fibroblasts (type I and type II) that are separable by anion exchange chromatography have been partially purified and characterized. These enzymes differ in their Km for ATP as well as their Ki for adenosine and ADP. Only the type I PI kinase specifically associates with the transformation-competent mutants of middle T.

The shunt pathway of mevalonate metabolism in the isolated perfused rat liver.

The shunt pathway of mevalonate metabolism (Edmond, J., and Popják, G. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 66-71) has been studied in isolated livers from fed rats perfused with physiological concentrations of variously labeled [14C]mevalonates. The measured rates of 14CO2 production were converted to rates of mitochondrial acetyl-CoA production from mevalonate by methods which take into account underestimations of metabolic rates derived from 14CO2 production. Our data confirm that the shunt pathway leads to mitochondrial acetyl-CoA. The apparent negligible rate of mevalonate shunting in liver, previously reported by others, stems from the very low contribution (congruent to 0.1%) of plasma mevalonate to total mevalonate metabolism in the liver. This contribution was assessed from the relative incorporations of 3H2O and [5-14C]mevalonate into sterols. In livers from fed rats, the shunt diverts about 5% of the production of mevalonate. The total rate of mevalonate shunting in the liver is about 200 times greater than in two kidneys. The liver is therefore the main site of mevalonate shunting in the rat.

Lipogenesis from ketone bodies in the isolated perfused rat liver. Evidence for the cytosolic activation of acetoacetate.

The production of ketone bodies by the isolated perfused rat liver has been measured by the dilution of the specific activity of tracer amounts of beta-hydroxy[3-14C]butyrate and by accumulation in the perfusate. The latter method has been found to underestimate ketogenesis by 12 to 44% because it does not take into account acetoacetate utilization by the liver. Incorporation of ketone bodies into fatty acids and 3-beta-hydroxysterols was compared to total lipid synthesis measured by incorporation of tritium from tritiated water. A preferential labeling of 3-beta-hydroxysterols over fatty acids was observed, which is consistent with the activation of acetoacetate in the cytosol by acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase. Ketone bodies contribute 19 to 80% of the carbon incorporated into sterols and up to 22% of the carbon incorporated into fatty acids, depending upon the metabolic status of the liver. The activity of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase is more than sufficient to account for the rate of ketone body utilization. Conditions that decrease the citrate cleavage pathway of acetyl group translocation through the mitochondrial membrane are associated with an increase in carbon flux through acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase. Formation of acetoacetate in the mitochondria and its utilization in the cytosol thus appear to be a secondary pathway of acetyl group translocation operating concurrently with the predominant citrate cleavage pathway.

The source of acetyl coenzyme A for acetylcholine synthesis in the perfused rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm.

Acetylcholine release by the phrenic nerve was measured in the isolated, perfused rat hemidiaphragm. In controls, the rate of release of acetylcholine increases with time; however, when (--)-hydroxycitrate, an inhibitor of ATP-citrate lyase, is added to the perfusate, the release of acetylcholine stabilizes at a level 40% below the final control value. In this preparation, the capacity of the citrate cleavage pathway to transfer acetyl coenzyme A from the nerve cell mitochondria to the cytosol increases with time; this is not the case for other transport processes.