Differential inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment in vivo by dextran sulphate and fucoidan.

The selectin-mediated rolling of leukocytes along the endothelial cells is a prerequisite step followed by firm adhesion and extravasation into the inflamed tissue. This initial contact can be suppressed by sulphated polysaccharides. We have studied the effect of sulphated polysaccharides on the ultimate polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) recruitment and plasma leakage in rabbit skin in response to intradermal injection of various inflammatory mediators.

Thrombin triggers the de novo expression of an inducible NO synthase in porcine aortic valve endothelial cells.

The nitric oxide (NO) production by porcine aortic valve endothelial cells was estimated in cusps incubated at 37 degrees C by measuring their cyclic GMP content and the nitrite levels of the incubation medium. After a stabilization period, incubation for 5 min with acetylcholine, bradykinin, ADP and bovine thrombin resulted in a receptor-mediated increase in cyclic GMP which could be blocked by EGTA, N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Incubation with lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) from E.

Effects of enantiomers of M3 antagonists on muscarinic receptors in rabbit trachea.

The effects of the enantiomers of structurally related chiral M3 antagonists (trihexyphenidyl, p-fluorohexahydrodifenidol, hexahydrodifenidol and p-fluorohexbutinol) were studied at the presynaptic M2 and postsynaptic M3 receptor level in the rabbit trachea. All isomers were M3- over M2-selective as they did not increase the release of acetylcholine (an M2 effect) at concentrations that significantly inhibited smooth muscle contraction (an M3 effect). At the smooth muscle receptor, the R-enantiomers were consistently more potent than the S-enantiomers.

Interleukin-8 production in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. The influence of pretreatment with methylprednisolone.

Pulmonary dysfunction caused by pulmonary neutrophil sequestration is a frequent postoperative complication in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. It is yet unclear whether treatment with corticosteroids in vivo in these patients can prevent complement-mediated neutrophil activation and sequestration in the lungs. Therefore, we conducted a prospective study in order to investigate whether methylprednisolone (MP) pretreatment (30 mg/kg) could influence the appearance of IL-8 (a recently discovered cytokine with potent neutrophil-chemotactic activity) in the peripheral circulation.

Dextran sulphate inhibits neutrophil emigration and neutrophil-dependent plasma leakage in rabbit skin.

Rolling of neutrophils in postcapillary venules is believed to be an obligatory step in the adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells, preceding firm attachment and emigration. This rolling on the endothelial surface can be blocked by sulphated polysaccharides. Therefore, dextran sulphate or dextran T500 was injected intravenously (i.

Selective M3 muscarinic receptor antagonists inhibit smooth muscle contraction in rabbit trachea without increasing the release of acetylcholine.

Although five muscarinic receptor subtypes have now been cloned, only three receptor subtypes have been demonstrated pharmacologically in bronchial tissue (designated M1, M2 and M3). By using drugs that show selectivity for these receptor subtypes, in combination with a sensitive and specific high-pressure liquid chromatography method that enables the direct measurement of acetylcholine (ACh) release, the existence and function of these muscarinic receptor subtypes was investigated in rabbit trachea in vitro. Atropine and ipratropium bromide, nonselective antimuscarinic agents, dose-dependently suppressed contraction of rabbit trachea induced by transmural electrical stimulation, but at the same time enhanced the release of ACh, suggesting the presence of an autoregulatory feed-back system.

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and patients at risk for ARDS.

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay was used to measure interleukin 8 (IL-8) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from control subjects, patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery, a risk factor for developing ARDS. Concentrations of IL-8, albumin, total protein and numbers of neutrophils were higher in both patient groups than in controls. Levels of IL-8 were significantly correlated with the influx of neutrophils, plasma protein extravasation and with the PaO2/FiO2 ratio.

Release of arachidonic acid metabolites from isolated human alveolar type II cells.

Human alveolar type II cells are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of lung injury. Patterns of mediator release of arachidonic acid metabolism by type II cells were therefore studied after challenge with calcium ionophore A23187, opsonized zymosan and hydrogen peroxide. A time- and concentration dependent release of cyclooxygenase products was observed, with release of PGE2 greater than 6-keto-PGF1 alpha greater than TxB2.

Development and application of a radioimmunoassay for interleukin-8: detection of interleukin-8 in synovial fluids from patients with inflammatory joint disease.

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for human interleukin-8 (IL-8) was developed using isotopically labeled homogenous natural protein. The detection limit (20% inhibition of 125I-IL-8 binding) was 30 pg/100 microliters; 50% displacement occurred at 140 pg/100 microliters. There was no cross-reactivity with the structurally and functionally related neutrophil-activating peptides 2 and 3 up to 500 ng/100 microliters.

Improved endothelial viability of heart valves cryopreserved by a new technique.

The aim of this study was to compare different techniques of aortic valve cryopreservation by studying the viability of the endothelial cells. Viability was assessed by measuring their in vitro prostacyclin (PGI2) production under basal and stimulated conditions. Fresh and cryopreserved porcine valves were incubated at 37 degrees C in tissue culture medium and PGI2 content in the medium was measured every 15 min up to 300 min.

Tumour necrosis factor stimulates human skin mast cells to release histamine and tryptase.

Besides its effects on tumour cells, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) also acts on a variety of other cells, thus enhancing inflammatory and immune processes. In view of the prominent role of the mast cell in such processes, the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of recombinant TNF-alpha on human mast cells. Mast cells from the infant foreskin obtained during circumcision were dispersed by an enzymatic technique using collagenase and hyaluronidase.

Ridogrel prevents the thromboxane-mediated pressor response and oedema induced by hydrogen peroxide in isolated rabbit lungs.

Perfusion of isolated rabbit lungs with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 3 x 10(-5) M) raised the overflow of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and the perfusion pressure. H2O2 induced oedema formation and endothelial distress, as evidenced by an increased production of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-oxo-PGF1 alpha). Endothelial cell death did not occur since there was no release of lactate dehydrogenase.

Influence of vasoconstriction, temperature, and flow on the kinetics of serotonin uptake in rabbit lungs.

In the process of estimating the kinetic parameters of the pulmonary endothelial serotonin (5-HT) uptake, it is critically important to distinguish the effects of hemodynamic changes from endothelial injury. Therefore, the effects of changes in flow rate (1.7-5.

Time-dependent synergistic interactions between the vasodilator neuropeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and mediators of inflammation.

1. The action of the long lasting neuropeptide vasodilator, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), in potentiating oedema formation and neutrophil accumulation was investigated in the dorsal skin of the rabbit, in vivo. Combinations of agents under test were administered by intradermal (i.

Increased microvascular permeability in vivo in response to intradermal injection of neutrophil-activating protein (NAP-2) in rabbit skin.

Neutrophil-activating protein-2 (NAP-2), an NH2-terminally processed form of the platelet-release product beta thromboglobulin (beta TG), was purified to homogeneity from stimulated human blood leukocytes. In the presence of a vasodilator substance (PGE2, CGRP) picomolar (pmol/l) amounts of NAP-2 induced neutrophil accumulation and plasma leakage on intradermal injection in rabbit skin, whereas the longer forms, beta TG itself and connective tissue-activating peptide III (CTAP-III), had no such effect. NAP-2-induced increased in microvascular permeability was neutrophil dependent and fast in onset, with a half-life of 65 to 75 minutes, comparable to that previously reported for the structural-related neutrophil-activating protein-1/interleukin-8 (NAP-1/IL-8).

GABAA receptor-mediated stimulation of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic neurones in the dog ileocolonic junction.

1. The inhibitory effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the GABAA receptor agonist homotaurine and the GABAB receptor agonist (+/-)-baclofen were investigated on circular muscle strips of the dog terminal ileum and ileocolonic junction. 2.

The neutrophil-activating proteins interleukin 8 and beta-thromboglobulin: in vitro and in vivo comparison of NH2-terminally processed forms.

Isolation of the human neutrophil activating protein (NAP) interleukin 8 (IL8) from leukocytes has revealed that it is structurally related to beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) from platelets. Both these proteins occur as natural mixtures of multiple forms, differing from each other by unequal truncation at the NH2 terminus. In this study we have compared IL8 and beta TG forms for in vitro and in vivo neutrophil activation.

Pharmacological characterization of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors in the canine terminal ileum and ileocolonic junction.

The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), the 5-HT1-like receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine and the 5-HT3 receptor agonist 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine were studied on circular muscle strips of the canine terminal ileum and ileocolonic junction. Serial administration of 5-HT or of 5-carboxamidotryptamine induced slow tonic contractions that at higher concentrations of 5-HT (10(-4)-3 x 10(-4] were preceded by an initial relaxation and a fast phasic contraction. The concentration-response curves to both agonists were competitively shifted to the right by the mixed 5-HT1/5-HT2 receptor antagonist methysergide.

Evidence against ATP being the inhibitory transmitter released by nonadrenergic noncholinergic nerves in the canine ileocolonic junction.

The nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) relaxations in response to electrical stimulation and acetylcholine in the canine terminal ileum and ileocolonic junction were further characterized and the possible involvement of the putative NANC neurotransmitter ATP was investigated. During a norepinephrine-induced contraction, noncumulative administration of ATP and the nicotinic agonist, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) induced concentration-dependent relaxations in both the terminal ileum and ileocolonic junction; these responses were not inhibited by atropine, timolol or guanethidine. Desensitization to ATP blocked the ATP-induced relaxations, but not those to electrical stimulation or acetylcholine.

Evidence for the involvement of prostaglandins in modulation of acetylcholine release from canine bronchial tissue.

A sensitive high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to measure acetylcholine release from canine bronchial tissue in response to electrical stimulation. Indomethacin enhanced the efflux of acetylcholine, an effect that was reversed by the addition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) had no effect on acetylcholine output.

Granulocyte chemotactic protein/interleukin-8 induces plasma leakage and neutrophil accumulation in rabbit skin.

Granulocyte chemotactic protein/Interleukin-8 (GCP/IL-8), purified to homogeneity from endotoxin- or mitogen-stimulated human mononuclear cells, was injected intradermally into rabbits to evaluate the proinflammatory properties of this novel cytokine. In the presence of a vasodilator substance, pmol amounts of GCP/IL-8 induced neutrophil accumulation that was fast in onset, relatively short of duration (half life 60 to 70 minutes), and was associated with a parallel time course of plasma protein extravasation. GCP/IL-8-induced edema formation was found to be neutrophil dependent.

Inflammatory properties of recombinant tumor necrosis factor in rabbit skin in vivo.

We have investigated the ability of recombinant TNF (mouse and human) to produce acute inflammatory lesions in an established experimental model of inflammation. Upon intradermal injection in rabbit skin, TNF, in amounts as low as 3 x 10(-14) mol/site, was found to be very potent at inducing local neutrophil accumulation and neutrophil-dependent oedema formation, thereby fulfilling two important criteria to be considered as an inflammatory mediator. Our findings further indicate that the pro-inflammatory properties of TNF are probably more related to its immediate stimulatory effects on neutrophils rather than to its slow (protein biosynthesis-dependent effects on endothelial cells.

Accumulation of 111In-neutrophils in rabbit skin in allergic and non-allergic inflammatory reactions in vivo. Inhibition by neutrophil pretreatment in vitro with a monoclonal antibody recognizing the CD18 antigen.

The mAb 60.3 recognizes the neutrophil CD18 Ag. We have investigated the effect of in vitro pretreatment of radiolabeled neutrophils with mAb 60.

Different pro-inflammatory profiles of interleukin 1 (IL 1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in an in vivo model of inflammation.

The pro-inflammatory properties of IL 1 and TNF were investigated in an in vivo model of inflammation. IL 1 induced PMN leukocyte accumulation that was slow in onset, reaching a peak rate at 3-4 h and that was inhibitable by Actinomycin D and Cycloheximide. PMN leukocyte emigration was not associated with any significant plasma leakage.