Role of free radical processes in stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes produce large quantities of superoxide when they attack and kill bacteria. However, superoxide is a weak oxidizing and reducing agent, and other more reactive oxygen species derived from reactions of superoxide are suggested to participate in the killing processes. To test the hypothesis that a reactive free radical or singlet oxygen is involved in bactericidal activity, human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were exposed to phagocytozable particles containing lipids that contain the easily autoxidized 1,4-diene moiety.

Co-localization of superoxide generation and NADP formation in plasma membrane fractions from human neutrophils.

In order to resolve discrepancies in the literature concerning the subcellular localization of NADPH oxidase, we disrupted human neutrophils by nitrogen cavitation and fractionated the subcellular organelles on a discontinuous sucrose density gradient. The lightest fraction was 20- to 40-fold enriched for plasma membranes as determined by the marker enzymes alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase I as well as by the ratio of lipid phosphorus to protein. There was a significant decrease in the specific activities of the granule markers myeloperoxidase, lysozyme, and beta-glucuronidase.

Arachidonic acid metabolism in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease.

The effect of the calcium ionophore A23187 on the release and metabolism of [3H]arachidonic acid was examined in normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes and those obtained from patients with chronic granulomatous disease. The ionophore A23187 which stimulates oxidative metabolism in normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes was ineffective in increasing oxidative metabolism (chemiluminescence) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease. However, the ionophore A23187 stimulated the release of [3H]arachidonic acid from chronic granulomatous disease neutrophil phospholipids and stimulated its metabolism into hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and leukotrienes.

Flow cytometric studies of oxidative product formation by neutrophils: a graded response to membrane stimulation.

We have developed a quantitative assay to monitor the oxidative burst (H2O2 production) of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) using single cell analysis by flow cytometry, and have examined whether PMNL respond to membrane stimulation with an all-or-none oxidative burst. During incubation with normal neutrophils, dichlorofluorescin diacetate diffused into the cells, was hydrolyzed to 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) and was thereby trapped within the cells. The intracellular DCFH, a nonfluorescent fluorescein analogue, was oxidized to highly fluorescent 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) by PMNL stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA).

Further evaluation of luminol-enhanced luminescence in the diagnosis of disorders of leukocyte oxidative metabolism: role of myeloperoxidase.

Chemiluminescence can be used to identify defects in the oxidative metabolism of granulocytes. This procedure has recently been adopted for use with microliter quantities of whole blood, appropriate for prenatal or neonatal study. Although the contribution of myeloperoxidase to the chemiluminescence assay has been noted, the possible diagnostic confusion between chronic granulomatous disease of childhood (which is rare and severe) and myeloperoxidase deficiency (which is common and of little clinical consequence) has not been stressed.

Mechanism of arachidonic acid release in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Previous studies have demonstrated that [3H]arachidonic acid is released from prelabeled human neutrophil phospholipids when the cells are stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187 or by opsonized zymosan. Neither lysophospholipid generated by phospholipase A2 activity, diacylglycerol nor monoacylglycerol produced via phospholipase C/diacylglycerol lipase action have been identified following neutrophil challenge. The inability to detect any intermediates during the release of arachidonate is due to either rapid reacylation of lysophospholipid or conversion of diacylglycerol (monoacylglycerol) to cellular acylglycerols.

Identification and quantitation of electron-transport components in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Using dithionite difference spectra we have detected cytochrome b in highly purified human neutrophils at a concentration of 0.08 nmol/mg protein. The presence of quinone was identified in lipid extracts at a concentration of approx.

Comparison of the calcium ionophore and phorbol myristate acetate on the initiation of the respiratory burst in human neutrophils.

We investigated the ability of the calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate to elicit a respiratory burst in human neutrophils. In general, the ionophore was considerably more potent than phorbol myristate acetate in generating a chemiluminescent response and slightly less active in generating superoxide anion. In contrast, the ionophore caused a much smaller stimulation of glucose oxidation via the hexose monophosphate shunt.

Pyridine nucleotide-dependent generation of hydrogen peroxide by a particulate fraction from human neutrophils: effect of substrate concentration.

NAD(P)H oxidase activity was determined in particulate fractions from human neutrophils by measuring the production of hydrogen peroxide. Activity was measured over a wide range of substrate concentrations from 0.0 to 4.

Platelet activating factor. Stimulation of the lipoxygenase pathway in polymorphonuclear leukocytes by 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.

1-O-Alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (AAGPC) triggered the release of [3H]arachidonate but not [14C]stearate from cellular phospholipids in cytochalasin B-treated rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Concentrations of AAGPC up to 20 nM caused a dose-dependent release and subsequent metabolism of the released [3H]arachidonic acid. Most of the release of the [3H]arachidonate had taken place within the first 2 min of stimulation.

Does tuftsin alter phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils?

The physiological significance of the putative phagocytosis-promoting peptide, tuftsin, was investigated by measurement of chemiluminescence generated during phagocytosis and by assay of the uptake of radiolabeled bacteria. We found no differences in either assay when we compared serum from splenectomized patients (which purportedly lacks tuftsin) with normal serum. Further, there was no difference when serum from splenectomized patients was employed in the presence of absence of exogenous tuftsin.

Chemiluminescence of human neutrophils induced by soluble stimuli: effect of divalent cations.

The effect of three soluble stimuli, phorbol myristate acetate, concanavalin A, and the calcium ionophore A23187, on the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of human neutrophils was investigated. All three stimuli elicited a strong burst of chemiluminescence which was dose dependent. The effect of phorbol myristate acetate was independent of the presence of divalent cations in the medium and, in fact, was greater in the presence of ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid.

Evaluation of chronic granulomatous disease by a chemiluminescence assay of microliter quantities of whole blood.

In our modification of a chemiluminescence assay to detect chronic granulomatous disease of childhood, whole blood is used and dark-adaptation is not required. This improvement was made possible by the use of luminol as an amplification device and of phorbol myristate acetate as a stimulant. Using this simplified assay, we can assess neutrophil function with 25-100 microL of whole blood, permitting simple evaluation even in very young pediatric patients.

Neutrophil responses to platelet-activating factor.

1-O-Alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine (i.e., platelet-activating factor) was prepared and confirmed to possess potent platelet aggregating activity.

Interaction of Vibrio vulnificus with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: association of virulence with resistance to phagocytosis.

The results of studies described in this report support the ideas that virulence of Vibrio vulnificus is associated, at least in part, with resistance to phagocytosis and that the ability of the bacterium to resist phagocytosis results from its possession of an antiphagocytic surface antigen. These conclusions are based on the observations that (1) human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) exhibited a significantly weaker chemiluminescent response and phagocytic response when interacting with a virulent strain of the bacterium than when challenged with a weakly virulent strain of the bacterium; (2) rabbit antiserum to the virulent bacterium, but not normal rabbit serum, significantly enhanced the chemiluminescent response of PMNLs challenged with the virulent bacterium and significantly enhanced ingestion of the bacterium by the PMNLs; and (3) the opsonic activity of the antiserum was removed by adsorption with a formalin-killed, whole cell preparation of the virulent bacterium.

Release and metabolism of arachidonic acid in human neutrophils.

Dual radiolabel incorporation of [3H]arachidonic acid and [14C]palmitate or [14C]stearate by human neutrophils was employed to study both the release and metabolism of arachidonic acid. Results indicate the involvement of a phospholipase A2 mechanism causing [3H]arachidonate release from membrane phospholipid. Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine were the sources of [3H]arachidonate; about twice as much radiolabeled phosphatidylinositol was degraded as phosphatidylcholine.

1-O-Alkyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholines: a novel class of neutrophil stimulants.

1-O-Alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine aggregates and degranulates platelets and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Here, the bioactivities of this platelet-activating factor, its 2-O-ethyl, and its 2-lyso derivatives were examined further. Each phospholipid aggregated and degranulated rabbit platelets and neutrophils with relative potencies of about 10,000 1,000, and 1, respectively.