Identification of phospholipase D (PLD) activity in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

It is now believed that PLD may contribute to the sustained generation of diacylglycerol (DAG) within activated cells. DAG can be formed from phosphatidylcholine by the sequential actions of PLD and phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase. Phorbal myristate acetate (PMA, 1 microM), A23187 (10 microM) or platelet-activating factor (PAF, 100 nM) caused significant enhancement of intracellular 14C-phosphatidic acid levels 2-5 min after the addition of stimulus, in cultures of peritoneal macrophages pre-labelled with 14C-palmitate.

Glucose increases cytosolic calcium concentration and inositol lipid metabolism in HIT-T15 cells.

We have investigated the effects of glucose on cytosolic free calcium concentration in the insulin-secreting cell line HIT-T15. Addition of glucose (10 mM) caused a 20-75% increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] within 5 minutes compared to controls in the absence of glucose. A maximal increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] was obtained with 5 mM glucose.

Lactate alters plasma membrane potential, increases the concentration of cytosolic Ca2+ and stimulates the secretion of insulin by the hamster beta-cell line HIT-T15.

We have studied the effect of lactate on a number of intracellular events which may be important in controlling the secretion of insulin by the hamster beta-cell line HIT-T15. Using the fluorescent dye Oxonol V, as well as intracellular recording techniques to measure changes in membrane potential, we found that lactate, glucose, K+ and tolbutamide caused depolarization of HIT cells, while valinomycin resulted in hyperpolarization. Consistent with these findings was the observation that 10 mM lactate caused an increase of 69.

Effects of nutrient and non-nutrient stimuli on cytosolic pH in cultured insulinoma (HIT-T15) cells.

Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in the insulin-secreting HIT-T15 cell line using the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5'(6')-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). It was observed that the addition of a weak acid (e.g.

Effects of lactate on pancreatic islets. Lactate efflux as a possible determinant of islet-cell depolarization by glucose.

The secretion of insulin from perifused rat pancreatic islets was stimulated by raising the glucose concentration from 5.6 to 20 mM or by exposure to tolbutamide. The addition of sodium lactate (40 mM) to islets perifused in the presence of glucose (5.

Is intracellular pH a coupling factor in nutrient-stimulated pancreatic islets?

Intracellular pH (pHi) was monitored in dispersed pancreatic islet cells from rats using the fluorescent dye 2'7'bis-carboxyethyl-5'(6')-carboxyfluorescein. The addition of a weak acid (acetate, propionate or formate) provoked a rapid fall in pHi, corresponding to approximately 0.2 units, following by a slower return to the basal value.

Retinoids and synovial factor(s) stimulate the production of plasminogen activator by cultured human chondrocytes. A possible role for plasminogen activator in the resorption of cartilage in vitro.

Agents such as retinol, interleukin 1 and catabolin stimulate resorption of cultured cartilage. This process seems to be mediated by chondrocytes, but the mechanism by which breakdown occurs remains unknown. We have found that (10(-6)-10(-8) M) retinoic acid and (1 X 10(-6) M) retinol, in the presence or absence of a factor derived from cultured synovium (synovial factor), stimulate the degradation of fibrin by human chondrocytes in culture.

Partial purification of a factor from human synovium that possesses interleukin 1, chondrocyte stimulating and catabolin-like activities.

Human synovial explants in culture release material that stimulates the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and several extracellular enzymes by human chondrocytes. Fractionation of conditioned medium by gel filtration revealed a protein of approx. 15 kDa, which in addition to stimulating production of PGE2 and plasminogen activator by human articular chondrocytes, possessed interleukin 1 activity and induced cartilage degradation.

Modulation of connective tissue metabolism by partially purified human interleukin 1.

We have investigated the relationship between the monokine interleukin 1 (IL-1) and the connective tissue-stimulating activities produced by monocytes such as mononuclear cell factor (MCF). Using almost exclusively human tissue we have monitored a wide range of MCF-like activities through the partial purification of IL-1 by gel filtration and isoelectric focusing. Activities measured include stimulation of chondrocytes to produce prostaglandins, plasminogen activator and proteoglycanase, enhancement of synovial cell proliferation, and stimulation of cartilage resorption, in addition to IL-1 (lymphocyte activating factor) activity.

In vitro activation of human chondrocytes and synoviocytes by a human interleukin-1-like factor.

Monocytes have been shown to secrete factors which stimulate the destruction of cartilage. Since one of the monocyte products, interleukin-1 (IL-1), has been shown to stimulate the release of collagenase and prostaglandin E from synoviocytes, we have investigated whether IL-1 is also responsible for chondrocyte activation. Purified preparations of IL-1 derived from human blood monocytes stimulated the production of prostaglandin E and plasminogen activator by human articular chondrocytes.

Stimulation by human interleukin 1 of cartilage breakdown and production of collagenase and proteoglycanase by human chondrocytes but not by human osteoblasts in vitro.

Human articular chondrocytes in culture synthesise collagenase and neutral proteoglycanase in response to addition of a 12-17 kDa protein produced by cultured human monocytes. This factor copurifies with interleukin 1, as assessed by lymphocyte activating factor activity, on gel filtration chromatography and isoelectric focusing. The interleukin 1 and chondrocyte-stimulating activities are destroyed by pretreatment of the material with phenylglyoxal.

Enhanced production of prostaglandins and plasminogen activator during activation of human articular chondrocytes by products of mononuclear cells.

We have examined the way in which products of cultured human blood mononuclear cells activate human articular chondrocytes. Conditioned medium from mononuclear cells enhanced the production of prostaglandin E by cultured human chondrocytes and also stimulated fibrinolytic activity in these cultures. These two effects may be interrelated, since the increased fibrinolysis in response to products of mononuclear cells was partially inhibited by indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Effects of retinol and dexamethasone on cytokine-mediated control of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors by human articular chondrocytes and synovial cells in culture.

Human articular chondrocytes in culture produced large amounts of specific mammalian collagenase, gelatinase and proteoglycanase when exposed to dialysed supernatant medium derived from cultured human blood mononuclear cells (mononuclear cell factor) or to conditioned medium, partially purified by fractionation with ammonium sulphate (60-90% fraction), from cultures of human synovial tissue (synovial factor). Human chondrocytes and synovial cells also released into culture medium an inhibitor of collagenase of apparent molecular weight about 30 000, which appeared to be similar to the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases synthesised by tissues in culture. The amounts of free collagenase inhibitor were reduced in culture media from chondrocytes or synovial cells exposed to mononuclear cell factor or synovial factor.

Adenylate cyclase of human articular chondrocytes. Responsiveness to prostaglandins and other hormones.

Adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.

Interactions in connective tissues involving monocyte/macrophages and control of production of proteinases and proteinase inhibitors.

Using human articular chondrocytes in monolayer culture as an experimental system, we have been studying mechanisms of control of production and activity of neutral proteases which degrade connective tissue matrices. Soluble factors from cultured human blood mononuclear cells (MCF) or synovial fragment cultures (SF) stimulate the production of collagenase and proteoglycanase by chondrocytes. Chondrocytes also release a collagenase inhibitor (mol.

Messenger function of prostaglandins in cell to cell interactions and control of proteinase activity in the rheumatoid joint.

Destruction of joint structures in arthritis may result from failure of normal mechanisms controlling interactions among cells of the various tissues of the joint. Normal synovium in culture produces less prostaglandin E (PGE) and collagenase than rheumatoid. When rheumatoid synovium is dissociated into cells, the adherent cell cultures rapidly lose the ability to synthesize large amounts of PGE and collagenase and become indistinguishable from normal synovial cells.

Intercellular messengers in joint tissues in rheumatoid arthritis. How disturbed control mechanisms may contribute to tissue destruction and repair.

Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is uncertain, the mechanisms by which destruction of joint tissues may occur have been studied extensively. The inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis are probably mediated by a variety of different agents which include prostaglandins, leukotrienes, kinins and other peptide mediators, complement components, and immune complexes. The ultimate destruction of proteoglycans and collagen within cartilage similarly depend upon the release of the appropriate degradative enzymes.

Cell-cell interactions in the rheumatoid joint.

Although rheumatoid synovium has been extensively studied in organ culture, particularly with respect to the synthesis of prostaglandins and proteinases, the behaviour of normal human synovium in culture has been much less well characterized. In this study, cultures of fragments of normal synovial tissue produced significantly less prostaglandin E (PGE) than cultures of rheumatoid synovium. The difference, however, did not persist when synovial cells obtained by enzymatic dispersion of normal and rheumatoid tissue were compared in monolayer culture.