Cooperative and redundant signaling of leukotriene B4 and leukotriene D4 in human monocytes.

BACKGROUND: Leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are important immune mediators, often found concomitantly at sites of inflammation. Although some of the leukotriene-mediated actions are distinctive (e.g., bronchial constriction for cysLTs), many activities such as leukocyte recruitment to tissues and amplification of inflammatory responses are shared by both classes of leukotrienes. OBJECTIVE: We used human monocytes to characterize leukotriene-specific signaling, gene expression signatures, and functions and to identify interactions between LTB(4)- and cysLTs-induced pathways. METHODS: Responsiveness to leukotrienes was assessed using oligonucleotide microarrays, real-time PCR, calcium mobilization, kinase activation, and chemotaxis assays. RESULTS: Human monocytes were found to express mRNA for high- and low-affinity LTB(4) receptors, BLT(1) and BLT(2), but signal predominantly through BLT(1) in response to LTB(4) stimulation as shown using selective agonists, inhibitors, and gene knock down experiments. LTB(4) acting through BLT(1) coupled to G-protein α inhibitory subunit activated calcium signaling, p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase, gene expression, and chemotaxis. Twenty-seven genes, including immediate early genes (IEG), transcription factors, cytokines, and membrane receptors were significantly up-regulated by LTB(4). LTB(4) and LTD(4) had similar effects on signaling, gene expression, and chemotaxis indicating redundant cell activation pathways but costimulation with both lipid mediators was additive for many monocyte functions. CONCLUSION: Leukotriene B(4) and LTD(4) display both redundant and cooperative effects on intracellular signaling, gene expression, and chemotaxis in human monocytes. These findings suggest that therapies targeting either leukotriene alone may be less effective than approaches directed at both.

Human pulmonary macrophage-derived mucus secretagogue.

Human pulmonary macrophages (PM) obtained from surgically removed human lung tissue released a factor after exposure to activated zymosan that caused cultured human airways to release increased amounts of radiolabeled mucous glycoproteins. The factor was released maximally after 4-8 h of zymosan exposure and caused a dose-related increase in glycoprotein release; it was termed macrophage-derived mucus secretagogue (MMS). MMS release was produced in a dose-dependent fashion by activated but not by nonactivated zymosan. The activation of zymosan was C3 dependent, and C3b-coated Sepharose was also an effective stimulant. The data suggested that cell surface activation of the PM was a sufficient stimulus to cause MMS release and that both C3-dependent activation as well as Fc receptor activation were effective. The synthesis of MMS was sensitive to cycloheximide, and no active MMS was detectable intracellularly. To determine if MMS might be one of the oxidative derivatives of arachidonic acid, PM were incubated with cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors before activation. These maneuvers did not influence MMS generation. MMS-rich supernatants were then extracted into organic solvents or exposed to lipophilic resin; in both cases, MMS remained in the aqueous phase. Thus, MMS is not a derivative of arachidonic acid. Sequential fractionation of MMS on ultramembrane and gel filtration followed by isoelectric focusing and gel filtration indicated that MMS is a small (approximately 2000 daltons), acidic (pI, 5.15) molecule. Therefore, surface activation of human PM results in the synthesis and release of a small acidic molecule that causes airway mucous glands to secrete increased quantities of mucous glycoproteins.

Human monoclonal anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin antibody-secreting hybridoma produced from peripheral blood B lymphocytes of a keyhole limpet hemocyanin-immune individual.

A human IgMk monoclonal antibody, 2F7, of predetermined specificity, has been produced by the fusion of human peripheral blood lymphocytes with the nonsecreting mouse myeloma line SP-1. The heterohybridoma has remained stable for over 8 mo, with culture supernatants containing up to 30 micrograms/ml of specific IgM. The antibody has been shown to be capable of inducing a blastogenic response in the absence of antigen in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal subjects immune to the antigen. The ability to choose an antigen, immunize a human subject to that antigen, and then use the peripheral blood lymphocytes from that subject to produce antigen-specific human monoclonal antibodies should be of great value in a wide variety of investigative, diagnostic, and therapeutic endeavors.U

Immunologic and neuropharmacologic stimulation of mucous glycoprotein release from human airways in vitro.

Human bronchial airways obtained after surgical resection were maintained in tissue culture for 24-48 h. Incorporation of [(3)H]- or [(14)C]-glucosamine, [(14)C]threonine, or Na(2)[(35)S]O(4) to the culture media resulted in biosynthesis of two radiolabeled glycoproteins-one filtering in the exclusion volume of Sepharose 2B, and the other filtering with an approximate molecular weight of 400,000. Both fractions had similar elution patterns from DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography. [(3)H]Glucosamine was incorporated equally into the two fractions. The effects of anaphylaxis, histamine, and several neurohormones upon the release of [(3)H]glucosamine-labeled glycoproteins were analyzed, making no attempt to separate the two glycoprotein fractions. Three lines of evidence were found suggesting that mast-cell degranulation increases mucous release from cultured airways. (a) Supernatant fluids from anaphylaxed peripheral human lung that contained 200-400 ng/ml histamine and 400-1,000 U/ml slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) increased release by 40+/-18%. (b) The addition of antigen to IgE-sensitized airways led to the release of 26+/-7% of the total histamine and a 36+/-14% increase in mucous release. (c) Reversed anaphylaxis with anti-IgE antibodies induced a 36+/-6% release of histamine from the airways and an increase in the release of mucous glycoproteins of 25+/-9%. Exogenous histamine added to airways increased mucous glycoprotein release, an effect prevented by cimetidine, an H-2 antagonist. Selective histamine H-2, but not H-1 agonists increased mucous glycoprotein release, suggesting the possibility that anaphylaxis of airways results in increased mucous glycoprotein release partly through histamine H-2 stimulation.A cholinomimetic agonist, methacholine, increased mucous release; this response was prevented by atropine which alone had no effect. No response to beta-adrenergic stimulation with either isoproterenol or epinephrine was noted. However, alpha-adrenergic stimulation with either norepinephrine combined with propranolol or phenylephrine alone resulted in dose-related increases in glycoprotein release. Both alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation of human tissues induce the formation of guanosine 3',5'-phosphoric acid (cyclic GMP), and 8-bromo cyclic GMP added to the airways led to increased mucous secretion. Thus, it seems likely that neurohormones capable of stimulating cyclic GMP formation in human airways may lead to increased mucous glycoprotein release.

Effects of arachidonic acid, monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and prostaglandins on the release of mucous glycoproteins from human airways in vitro.

Human lung explants maintained in culture for 7 d incorporate [(3)H]glucosamine into mucous glycoproteins. Ethanol-precipitable, glucosamine-labeled mucous secretion was measured, and the effects of different pharmacologic agents upon this secretion were investigated. Anaphylaxed human lung generates prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and increased mucous release. Arachidonic acid (AA), PGA(2), PGD(2), and PGF(2alpha) significantly increased mucous glycoprotein release, whereas PGE(2) significantly reduced release. Evidence which suggests that lipoxygenase products of AA augment mucous release includes the following: (a) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID: acetylsalicylic acid and indomethacin) increase mucous release while preventing prostaglandin formation. (b) The increase in mucous release induced by AA or NSAID is additive once the agents are combined. (c) Several nonspecific lipoxygenase inhibitors (eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid; vitamin E; nordihydroguaiaretic acid; and alpha-naphthol) inhibit mucous release. Three additional lines of evidence directly indicate that monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) causes increased mucous release: (a) the addition of a mixture of synthetic HETE (24-600 nM) increases mucous release; (b) pure 12-HETE (1-100 nM) also increases mucous release; (c) mucous release is increased synergistically by the combination of HETE and NSIAD. These data taken together demonstrate that HETE are capable of increasing mucous release and that conditions which may influence HETE production alter mucous release. Thus, although not directly demonstrating HETE production by human airways, the data strongly suggest that lipoxygenase products of AA in airways may profoundly influence mucous release; and it seems possible that lipoxygenase inhibitors may have a role in treating bronchorrhea.

Human monocyte-derived mucus secretagogue.

Human peripheral monocytes were stimulated with opsonized zymosan or protein A-containing Staphylococcus aureus to examine whether factors might be released that were capable of stimulating mucous glycoprotein release from cultured human airways, as has recently been described with human pulmonary macrophages. While the supernatant from monocytes exposed to opsonized zymosan or protein A-containing S. aureus caused an impressive activity was found in the control samples that were cultured in parallel and exposed to nonactivated zymosan or S. aureus that was deficient in protein A. The responsible factor was termed monocyte-derived mucus secretagogue (MMS). The maximum MMS release was reached 4-8 h after stimulation, and the amount of MMS released was dependent on the dose of opsonized zymosan added. Chromatographic analyses of MMS indicate that its molecular weight was approximately 2,000 and that the isoelectric point (pI) was 5.2, with a smaller second peak of 7.4 on isoelectric focusing. MMS itself was not detected in monocyte lysates, nor was it formed by monocytes treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, before exposure to activating particles. MMS was not a prostaglandin, could not be extracted into organic solvents, and is probably not an eicosanoid. Based on these observations, we conclude that stimulated human peripheral monocytes synthesize a small, acidic molecule, termed MMS, that is capable of stimulating human airways to secrete mucus and in nearly every respect is identical to pulmonary macrophage-derived MMS.

Human airway monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid generation and mucus release.

The effects of 5-, 8-, 9-, 11-, 12-, and 15-monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) (0.1-100 nM) on mucous glycoprotein release from cultured human airways were determined. Each of the HETE was an active secretagogue of mucus at concentrations greater than 1-10 nM with 12- and 15-HETE, the most active. Both 5- and 9-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HPETE) were also active as secretagogues at 100 nM, although of somewhat lower potency. As cultured airways were capable of responding to HETE with mucous glycoprotein release, it was of interest to identify and quantitate airway HETE formation. Accordingly, airways were incubated with tracer quantities of [14C]arachidonate for 16-48 h, and the spontaneous formation of 5-, 12- and 11- and/or 15-HETE was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Indeed, sizeable quantities of 11- and/or 15- greater than 5- greater than 12-HETE were generated. This HETE generation was increased by the addition of 25 micrograms/ml of arachidonate and was reduced somewhat after 18-21 d in continuous tissue culture. Reversed anaphylaxis of human airways using anti-human IgE markedly increased the HETE formation, resulting in the production of micromolar concentrations of 5- and 11- and/or 15-HETE. Thus, human airways not only are capable of responding to the presence of HETE with mucous glycoprotein release, but also generate (both spontaneously and in response to anaphylaxis) at least three species of HETE, and do so in quantities capable of acting as mucus secretagogues.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides prime human neutrophils for enhanced production of leukotriene B4.

Neutrophils can be "primed" for an enhanced respiratory burst by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in concentrations measurable in patients with septic shock. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is the primary eicosanoid product of neutrophils and is felt to be a mediator of host defense and inflammation. We investigated the in vitro effects of LPS on neutrophil production of LTB4 and the omega-oxidation metabolites of LTB4. Incubation of neutrophils with LPS in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100 ng/ml did not result in production of LTB4 or metabolites in the absence of a second stimulus. Priming neutrophils with LPS and then stimulating with opsonized zymosan, phorbol-myristate-acetate or a low concentration of the calcium ionophore A23187 resulted in enhanced production of LTB4. LPS priming of neutrophils occurred in a concentration dependent manner. LPS did not result in LTB4 production in response to the chemoattractant peptide FMLP. LPS priming of neutrophils had no effect on cytosolic calcium concentrations of resting or zymosan-stimulated cells. These results suggest that LPS might effect host defense and tissue injury by potentiating the effect of other stimulants on neutrophil production of LTB4. This LPS induced enhancement may represent an important pathogenetic pathway in patients with gram negative sepsis.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide in human nasal mucosa.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which is present with acetylcholine in parasympathetic nerve fibers, may have important regulatory functions in mucous membranes. The potential roles for VIP in human nasal mucosa were studied using an integrated approach. The VIP content of human nasal mucosa was determined to be 2.84 +/- 0.47 pmol/g wet weight (n = 8) by RIA. VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were found to be most concentrated in submucosal glands adjacent to serous and mucous cells. 125I-VIP binding sites were located on submucosal glands, epithelial cells, and arterioles. In short-term explant culture, VIP stimulated lactoferrin release from serous cells but did not stimulate [3H]glucosamine-labeled respiratory glycoconjugate secretion. Methacholine was more potent than VIP, and methacholine stimulated both lactoferrin and respiratory glycoconjugate release. The addition of VIP plus methacholine to explants resulted in additive increases in lactoferrin release. Based upon the autoradiographic distribution of 125I-VIP binding sites and the effects on explants, VIP derived from parasympathetic nerve fibers may function in the regulation of serous cell secretion in human nasal mucosa. VIP may also participate in the regulation of vasomotor tone.

A circulating myocardial depressant substance in humans with septic shock. Septic shock patients with a reduced ejection fraction have a circulating factor that depresses in vitro myocardial cell performance.

We have previously described a subpopulation of patients with septic shock who had a reversible depression of radionuclide-determined left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). To investigate the mechanism of this myocardial depression, an in vitro model of mammalian myocardial cell performance was established employing primary spontaneously beating rat myocardial cells. The contraction of a single cardiac cell was quantitated by recording the changes in area occupied by the cell during contraction and relaxation. In 20 septic shock patients during the acute phase, the mean left ventricular EF was decreased (mean = 0.33, normal mean = 0.50), and serum obtained during this acute phase induced a mean (+/- standard error of the mean) 33 +/- 4% decrease in extent and 25 +/- 4% decrease in velocity of myocardial cell shortening during contraction (P less than 0.001). In contrast, serum obtained from 11 of these same patients before shock (n = 2) or after recovery (n = 9) of the left ventricular EF (mean = 0.50) showed a return toward normal in extent and velocity of shortening (P less than 0.001). Sera from 17 critically ill nonseptic patients, from 10 patients with structural heart disease as a cause for a depressed EF, and from 12 healthy laboratory personnel, induced no significant changes in in vitro myocardial cell performance. In 20 patients during the acute phase of septic shock, the decreased EF in vivo demonstrated a significant correlation (r = +0.52, P less than 0.01) with a decrease in the extent of myocardial cell shortening in vitro. The quantitative and temporal correlation between the decreased left ventricular EF and this serum myocardial depressant substance argues for a pathophysiologic role for this depressant substance in producing the reversible cardiomyopathy seen during septic shock in humans.