Effect of thioglycollate and BCG stimuli on glucose and glutamine metabolism in rat macrophages.

The macrophage is a differentiated cell that takes part in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes, such as inflammatory and immunological responses. The stimulation of macrophages involves the acquisition of some functional characteristics such as phagocytosis, ability to kill tumor cells, and processing and presentation of antigens. In this study we have investigated the changes in macrophage glucose and glutamine metabolism as induced by stimulation by thioglycollate (inflammatory) and bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) (activated). The results showed an increase in hexokinase and citrate synthase activities, due to both stimulatory processes. One difference between inflammatory and activated cells is the higher rate of glucose oxidation in the latter. The activation with BCG, however, also led to an enhancement in glutamine metabolism that is not observed in the inflammatory cell. These results suggest that glutamine metabolism might be important for macrophage function during immunological response.

Control of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat lymphoid organs by thyroid hormones.

This study examined the effect of experimental hyper- and hypothyroidism on the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities of rat lymphoid organs (mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and thymus) and muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius-white portion) for comparison. The capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents was also investigated: activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (pentose-phosphate pathway) and citrate synthase (Krebs cycle). Hyperthyroidism tended to enhance lipid peroxide content in all tissues. This effect may result from (1) a high capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents in cytosol and mitochondria and (2) a reduced activity of catalase in the lymphoid organs and of glutathione peroxidase in the muscles. The process of lipid peroxidation in these tissues caused by hyperthyroidism was probably slowed down by the augmentation of CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activities observed under this condition. Hypothyroidism tended to diminish lipid peroxidation and did not affect citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the lymphoid organs and muscles. Low levels of thyroid hormones tended to diminish Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase activities. These findings show that the thyroid hormones might be able to regulate the activities of CuZn- and Mn-SOD, and catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the lymphoid organs and skeletal muscles.

Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the lymphoid organs of diabetic rats.

The effect of alloxan-induced diabetes on CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, as well as the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) were examined in rat lymphoid organs (mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), thymus and spleen) and, for comparison, red and white muscle fibres. The capacity for generation of reduced equivalents was also evaluated by measuring the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (pentose-phosphate pathway-cytosol) and citrate synthase (Krebs cycle-mitochondria). Diabetes raised the capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents in the lymphoid organs: in the mitochondria of the thymus and spleen and in the cytosol of the mesenteric lymph nodes and thymus. In muscles, diabetes reduced CuZn-SOD activity in soleus and raised the activity in gastrocnemius, and depressed the activities of catalase in soleus and of glutathione peroxidase in both soleus and gastrocnemius. In relation to the lymphoid organs, the spleen showed a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities (except for glutathione peroxidase), whereas the thymus showed an increased level (except for Mn-SOD), and the MLN presented a reduction in Mn-SOD and catalase activities and an increase in GPX activity caused by diabetes. The content of TBARs in the tissues followed the changes in GPX activity inversely: i.e. a decrease in the lymphoid organs (except in the spleen) and an increase in the muscles of diabetic rats compared with the control group. All these changes found in diabetic rats were reversed by insulin treatment and were not modified by the normalization of glycaemia.

Effect of epinephrine on glucose metabolism and hydrogen peroxide content in incubated rat macrophages.

The effects of epinephrine on glucose metabolism and hydrogen peroxide content were examined in incubated rat macrophages. An increase in the activities of hexokinase and citrate synthase and a reduction in that of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was found in resident, inflammatory and activated macrophages incubated for 1 hr in the presence of epinephrine. Glucose utilization by incubated resident, inflammatory and activated macrophages was augmented markedly by the addition of epinephrine, whereas lactate formation was depressed. Under the same conditions, there was a 2.6-fold increment of hydrogen peroxide content and of [U-14C]glucose decarboxylation in activated macrophages incubated for 40 min. Similar results were obtained when pyruvate and oxoglutarate was substituted for glucose. These findings suggest that epinephrine may increase hydrogen peroxide production in activated macrophages possibly through a mitochondrial mechanism other than the pentose-phosphate pathway. Between 40 and 90 min of incubation, the content of hydrogen peroxide decreased markedly, and there was no detectable glucose utilization in the presence of epinephrine. These observations are consistent with the idea that this catecholamine stimulates both hydrogen peroxide production and metabolism, the first process being dependent on mitochondrial fuels.

Hormonal regulation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat macrophages.

This study examined the effects of glycocorticoids, insulin, thyroxine, and epinephrine upon the activities of CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and upon hydrogen peroxide production in rat macrophages obtained from the intraperitoneal cavity. The experiments were performed in vivo under conditions causing hormonal dysfunctions: adrenal demedullation, dexamethasone treatment, thyroidectomy, administration of L-tri-iodothyronine (T3) and L-thyroxine (T4), and diabetes. Macrophages were also cultured for 24 hr in the presence of dexamethasone, thyroid hormones, and insulin as to evaluate possible interferences caused in vivo by changes in other hormones. The results indicated that these hormones do control the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and hydrogen peroxide production both in vivo and in vitro. Insulin increased the activities of CuZn-SOD, catalase, and GPX and reduced that of Mn-SOD. Thyroid hormones raised the activities of CuZn- and Mn-SOD and decreased that of GPX, whereas glucocorticoids reduced both Mn-SOD and GPX. The removal of the adrenal medulla caused a decrease of Mn-SOD and GPX activities in the macrophages. Hydrogen peroxide production was increased by insulin and reduced by thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids. The changes in antioxidant enzyme activities caused by these hormones in macrophages may indicate important mechanisms for the establishment of impaired immune function in endocrine pathologies.

Antioxidant enzyme activities in the lymphoid organs and muscles of rats fed fatty acids-rich diets subjected to prolonged physical exercise-training.

Rats weighing 45-50 g were fed 3 diets for 8 wk: a balanced control diet (CD) consisting of 4% fat (polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids [P/S] ratio 2.9/1) and two fat-rich diets: polyunsaturated (UD)--P/S 7.6/1 and saturated (SD) P/S 0.3/1. After 8 wk feeding on the respective diets, rats were subjected to swimming for 90 min at 30 degrees C daily, 5 d/wk for 8 wk. At the end of this period, the rats were killed and the lymphoid organs (LO--thymus, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes) and muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius) removed for the measurement of TBARs (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactant Substances) content and of the activities of antioxidant enzymes (CuZn- and Mn-Superoxide dismutase--SOD--, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase). To evaluate the changes in the sites of generation of reducing equivalents involved in the formation of free radicals, the activities of citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured. The exercise-training clearly modified the enzyme activities and TBARs content of the lymphoid organs and skeletal muscles, but this effect was dependent upon the diet given to the rats. However, fatty acid rich diets had presented a more pronounced effect on the studied aspects than did physical activity. Although one could expect a summatory effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich diet and exercise-training, swimming increased the activities of CuZn- and Mn-SOD in almost all tissues from the elevated level promoted by fat-rich diets.

Metabolic and functional changes in lymphocytes and macrophages as induced by ageing.

Key enzyme activities of glycolysis, pentosephosphate pathway, Krebs cycle, and glutaminolysis were measured in lymphocytes and macrophages of 3- and 15-month-old rats from the control, thioglycollate-injected, and Walker 256 tumor-implanted groups. The percentage of phagocytosis, phagocytic index, and production of H2O2 in macrophages and the rates of [2-14C]-thymidine and [5-3H]-uridine incorporation in cultured lymphocytes were also determined. The results indicate that the percentage of phagocytosis was not affected but the phagocytic index increased by twofold as a consequence of ageing, whereas the production of H2O2 reduced. The rates of both [2-14C]-thymidine and [5-3H]-uridine incorporation in lymphocytes from aged rats were lower as compared to those of mature animals in the three groups. Taken as a whole, the results of enzyme activities suggest that ageing may reduce the capacity for glucose utilization in lymphocytes and macrophages under the three conditions. Lymphocyte and macrophage glutamine metabolism was not markedly affected by ageing. Therefore, an impaired glucose metabolism during ageing may be one important mechanism for the alteration in lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage phagocytosis observed and also for the modification of the response to inflammatory and tumor challenges.

Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in muscle and lymphoid organs of sedentary and exercise-trained rats.

The effect of swimming-training upon the activities of the enzymes involved in the generation of reducing-equivalents (citrate synthase-mitochondria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-cytosol) and of antioxidant enzymes (CuZn- and Mn-SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in the lymphoid organs (thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen) was examined. The skeletal muscles (soleus-red and gastrocnemius-white) were also studied. Although our data suggest an apparently random, organ-specific change in enzymatic activity, some interesting trends can be observed. Firstly, the increased citrate synthase and Mn-SOD activities observed in red, but not in white muscle, corroborate the well-known effect of endurance exercise-training on mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Secondly, there was an inverse relationship between TBARs-monitored lipoperoxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity in all tissues studied, what is in accordance with the previous findings showing that such enzyme exerts the fine control of intracellular lipoperoxide concentration. Except in the case of the spleen, there was a trend for elevated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, coadjuvant of glutathione peroxidase in the antioxidant response to physical exercise in all tissues. Thirdly, Mn-SOD and catalase were conspicuously associated to oxidative stress in the thymus, while glutathione and catalase could be linked to this parameter in the spleen. Fourthly, the lymph nodes seem to be more dependent on the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase/glutathione peroxidase pair for protection against damage promoted by physical exercise. Mn-SOD and catalase activities were lower in the lymph nodes after swimming training.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of a polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich diet on macrophage and lymphocyte metabolism of diabetic rats.

Diabetic subjects present high susceptibility to infections but the mechanisms involved are not fully known. Macrophages and lymphocytes utilize glucose and glutamine at high rates and these metabolites are important for the function of these cells. The present study examines the activities of key metabolic enzymes in macrophages and lymphocytes obtained from alloxan-diabetic Wistar rats (10 weeks old, 7 rats each group). Since the enteral diet was enriched with omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), the effect of these fatty acids was also investigated in the same animals. Diabetes caused a marked decrease of hexokinase activity (48%; 274.23 +/- 18.43 vs 143.29 +/- 10.35 units for control vs diabetic rats) in macrophages and of citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities (70%; 321.76 +/- 9.18 vs 96.25 +/- 5.43 units for citrate synthase and 89.43 +/- 2.33 vs 23.13 +/- 1.09 units for G6PDh for control vs diabetic rats) in mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes. A PUFA-rich diet given for 6 weeks enhanced hexokinase activities by 30% (274.23 +/- 18.43 vs 342.48 +/- 15.39, balanced vs PUFA-rich diets for normal and 143.29 +/- 10.35 vs 189.67 +/- 9.57 for diabetic rats) and reduced citrate synthase activities by 43% (30.31 +/- 1.73 vs 17.42 +/- 0.95, balanced vs PUFA-rich diets for normal and 29.34 +/- 1.23 vs 16.73 +/- 1.02 for diabetic rats) in macrophages, and reduced (< 50%; 59.67 +/- 3.45 vs 48.87 +/- 3.37 for hexokinase and 321.76 +/- 2.33 vs 161.66 +/- 9.97 for citrate synthase, balanced vs PUFA-rich diets) the activities of both enzymes in lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on the function and metabolism of macrophages in rats.

The effect of thyroid hormones on monocyte migration, phagocytic capacity and hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages and the effect of these hormones on glutamine and glucose metabolism was investigated. The experiments were performed on resident, thioglycollate- and BCG-stimulated cells from hypo- and hyperthyroid rats. High plasma levels of thyroid hormones suppressed the migration of monocytes and hydrogen peroxide production, whereas hypothyroidism did not affect cell migration but raised the phagocytic capacity and the hydrogen peroxide production. Hyperthyroidism increased the activities of glutaminase and hexokinase and the rates of decarboxylation of [U-14C]-glutamine and [U-14C]-glucose in inflammatory and activated cells. Hypothyroidism stimulated glucose metabolism and had only a slight effect on glutaminolysis. The activity of the TCA cycle was, however, diminished in the presence of high plasma levels of thyroid hormones and enhanced by the hypothyroid state. These findings suggest that the functional changes are more likely to be related to the activity of the TCA cycle rather than to glutaminolysis and glycolysis.

Metabolic and functional changes in macrophages of rats fed polyunsaturated or saturated fatty acid rich-diets during ageing.

Previous reports from our laboratory showed that rats fed a polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich diet (UC), during an acute intervals, present important changes in macrophage metabolism and function, while a saturated fatty acid diet (SC) did not induce significant changes (10). In this study, two important questions were addressed: 1. the persistence of the changes induced by the UC and 2. the effect of a SC offered during ageing. The maximal activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutaminase, citrate synthase and glutathione peroxidase and the total content of lipid peroxides were measured in resident and inflammatory macrophages of rats fed control chow (CC), UC or SC during 14 months. Intraperitoneal cell migration by thioglycollate injection and the phagocytosis capacity were also evaluated. The results indicate that: 1) the changes caused by UC are exacerbated during ageing, and 2) the SC, given during a prolonged period of time, also caused important alterations of macrophage metabolism and function.

The effect of N-3 PUFA rich diet upon macrophage and lymphocyte metabolism and function.

A large body of evidence from experimental studies has documented that n-3 fatty acids can modify a variety of cell functions and disease states. As lymphocytes and macrophages are important cells for the development of the inflammatory and non-inflammatory immune response and are known to utilize high rates of glucose and glutamine, we have evaluated the effect of n-3 PUFA rich diet on the metabolisation of glucose and glutamine these cells, as well as the effect of one such diet upon the proliferative response of lymphocytes and the phagocytic capacity and hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages. The diet provoked an increase in the flux of glucose through the Krebs cycle in macrophages as well as a reduction in G6PDh and glutaminase activity in these cells. Lymphocytes from n-3 PUFA rich diet-fed rats showed a reduction in glucose and glutamine decarboxylation. Taken together the data show that, at least in part, the functional changes observed in macrophages and lymphocytes from n-3 PUFA-rich diet fed rats are related to the effect of this diet upon glucose and glutamine metabolism, leading to immunosuppression.

The effect of insulin on macrophage metabolism and function.

This study examined the effect of insulin on rat macrophage metabolism and function. The following parameters were studied: cell migration in response to thioglycollate and BCG stimuli, macrophage phagocytic capacity, H2O2 production, glucose and glutamine metabolism as indicated by the measurement of enzyme activities, the utilization of metabolites and production and oxidation of substrates. The results indicate that insulin: (1) did not affect cell migration in response to thioglycollate and BCG; (2) enhanced the phagocytic capacity of macrophages and the production of H2O2 by macrophages; (3) increased the metabolism of glucose and reduced that of glutaminase.

Thioglycollate stimulus modifies lymphocyte metabolism and proliferation. A comparison with lymphocyte activation by Walker 256 tumour implantation.

Key enzyme activities of glycolysis, the pentose-phosphate pathway, the Krebs' cycle and glutaminolysis were measured in lymphocytes obtained from the control (CC), thioglycollate-injected (TG) and Walker 256 tumour-implanted (WT) groups, non-immune and immune inflammatory stimuli, respectively. The rates of incorporation of [2-14C]-thymidine and [5-3H]-uridine into cultured lymphocytes were also determined. The results indicated that the rates of both [2-14C]-thymidine and [5-3H]-uridine incorporation were enhanced in lymphocytes obtained from thioglycollate-injected (by an average of 80 per cent) and tumour-implanted animals (by 2.4-fold) as compared to control rats. Lymphocyte hexokinase activity diminished both in the TG (23 per cent) and WT (61 per cent) groups, whereas glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was not altered due to the non-immune inflammatory stimulus, being reduced (23 per cent) in WT rats as compared to CC. The activity of lymphocyte citrate synthase was lowered by thioglycollate (39 per cent) and tumour-implantation (46 per cent). In contrast, glutaminase activity was augmented in lymphocytes from the TG (41 per cent) and was not modified in the WT groups. Taken as a whole, the presence of the Walker 256 tumour did not affect the capacity for glutamine utilization but depressed glucose metabolism in these cells. On the other hand, the non-immune inflammatory stimulus suppressed the activities of glycolysis and the Krebs' cycle and enhanced that of glutaminolysis in lymphocytes.

Effects of various dietary fatty acids on enzyme activities of carbohydrate and glutamine metabolism and the metabolic response of lymphocytes and macrophages during Walker-256 ascites cell tumour growth in rats.

It was previously shown that polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acid rich diets affected metabolic and functional changes in macrophages and a variety of immune tissues (thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen). This study reports metabolic and functional changes in peritoneal macrophages and lymphocytes of Walker-256 ascites cell tumour-bearing rats which were fed (a) normal balanced diet (3% fat), (b) diet enriched (15% fat) with polyunsaturated fatty acids or (c) diet fortified (15% fat) with saturated fatty acids. Neither of the fatty acid enriched diets affected macrophage migration following tumour cell implantation and ascitic cell growth. However both of these fortified fatty acid regimes enhanced the production of H2O2 by macrophages and lymphocytes. The maximum catalytic capacities of hexokinase, glutaminase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in resident and tumour activated macrophages and lymphocytes obtained from rats fed the three fatty acid dietary regimes during seven days of tumour ascites cell growth. Tumour growth caused an increase in the activities of all of the above enzymes in macrophages irrespective of the fatty acid composition of the diet and notably decreased, independent of dietary fatty acid composition, the activities of the enzymes in lymphocytes. Only glutaminase activity in the lymphocytes of tumour bearing animals fed an unsaturated fatty acid-rich diet was not reduced, but was increased by 78%. Moreover macrophages from control rats fed an enriched polyunsaturated fatty acid diet had increased hexokinase activity (21%), decreased glutaminase (48%) and citrate synthase (decreased 41%) relative to the activities of these enzymes in macrophages of animals maintained on a balanced fatty acid diet. The feeding of both fatty acid rich diets did not modify the pattern of lymphocyte responses during the growth of tumour cells in these animals. None of the fatty acid diets modified the growth rate nor the yield of tumour cells in the peritoneal cavity.

Effect of a polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich diet on macrophage and lymphocyte metabolism of diabetic rats

Diabetic subjects present high susceptibility to infections but the mechanisms involved are not fully known. Macrophages and lymphocytes utilize glucose and glutamine at high rates and these metabolites are important for the function of these cells. The present study examines the activities of key metabolic enzymes in macrophages and lymphocytes obtained from alloxan-diabetic Wistar rats (10 weeks old, 7 rats each group). Since the enteral diet was enriched with omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), the effect of these fatty acids was also investigated in the same animals. Diabetes caused a marked decrease of hexokinase activity (48 per cent ; 274.23 +/- 18.43 vs 143.29 +/- 10.35 units for control vs diabetic rats) in macrophages and of citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities (70 per cent ; 321.76 +/- 9.18 vs 96.25 +/- 5.43 units for citrate synthase and 89.43 +/- 2.33 vs 23.13 +/- 1.09 units for G6PDh for control vs diabetic rats) in mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes. A PUFA-rich diet given for 6 weeks enhanced hexokinase activities by 30 per cent (274.23 +/- 18.43 vs 342.48 +/- 15.39, balanced vs PUFA-rich diets for normal and 143.29 +/- 10.35 vs 189.67 +/- 9.57 for diabetic rats) and reduced citrate synthase activities by 43 per cent (30.31 +/- 1.73 vs 17.42 +/- 0.95, balanced vs PUFA-rich diets for normal and 29.34 +/- 1.23 vs 16.73 +/- 1.02 for diabetic rats) in macrophages, and reduced (< 50 per cent ; 59.67 +/- 3.45 vs 48.87 +/- 3.37 for hexokinase and 321.76 +/- 2.33 vs 161.66 +/- 9.97 for citrate synthase, balanced vs PUFA-rich diets) the activities of both enzymes in lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of insulin on macrophage metabolism and function

This study examined the effect of insulin on rat macrophage metabolism and function. The following parameters were studied: cell migration in response to thioglycollate and BCG stimuli, macrophage phagocytic capacity, H2O2 production, glucose and glutamine metabolism as indicated by the measurement of enzyme activities, the utilization of metabolites and production and oxidation of substrates. The results indicate that insulin: (1) did not affect cell migration in response to thioglycollate and BCG; (2) enhanced the phagocytic capacity of macrophages and the production of H2O2 by macrophages; (3) increased the metabolism of glucose and reduced that of glutaminase.