Regulation of neutrophil migratory function in burn injury by complement activation products.
(33/45)
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils were isolated from patients with burn injury and random mobility, chemotaxis in response to C5adesArg (as agarose-activated control serum) and to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (F-Met-Leu-Phe) were assessed. For a group of eight patients identified as not experiencing systemic infection, all three neutrophil migratory functions were observed to fall below control levels, beginning 4 to 6 days following burn injury, and to return to control levels after 21 to 30 days of hospitalization. Over this time the chemotactic differential (distance chemotactic migration-distance random migration) for F-Met-Leu-Phe remained positive, while the chemotactic differential for activated serum became nil after postburn day 4. This temporal, specific loss of a chemotactic response to activated serum was associated with rises in immunoreactive plasma C3a and C5a. This pattern of loss of chemotactic function was associated with a selective loss of C5a but not F-Met-Leu-Phe binding activity. These results demonstrate that burn injury can alter neutrophil migratory functions generally, and specifically depress chemotactic responsiveness to activated serum. The mechanism of the latter phenomenon appears to be related to desensitization of circulating neutrophils to C5a due to complement activation. (+info)
Human platelet activation by C3a and C3a des-arg.
(34/45)
C3a liberated from C3 by treatment with C3 convertase (or by trypsin) induced aggregation of gel-filtered human platelets and stimulated serotonin release. At concentrations of 10(-10) M to 8 X 10(-12) M, C3a induced aggregation when added alone to platelets. However, at lower concentrations (2 X 10(-12) M) C3a did not aggregate platelets directly but exhibited highly significant synergism (two-way analysis of variance P less than 0.0001) with ADP in mediating platelet aggregation and release of serotonin. Removal of the C-terminus arginine from C3a abolished anaphylotoxin activity but did not affect the platelet-stimulating activity of the peptide. C3a and C3a des-arg were equally reactive in mediating platelet aggregation and release of serotonin. Further C3a and C3a des-arg exhibited synergism with ADP of equal significance in both aggregation and the release reaction. The concentrations of C3a required for the platelet-stimulating activity involve relatively small number of molecules per platelet (4,000-10,000 for the synergistic reaction with ADP). These data suggest the possibility of a C3a (C3a des-arg) receptor on human platelets. This premise is strengthened by the demonstration ultrastructurally of C3a on the platelet membrane subsequent to C3a stimulation. (+info)
A role for sulfhydryl groups in granulocyte aggregation.
(35/45)
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated by high concentrations of the complement component C5A form cellular aggregates, and both the rate and degree of aggregation are influenced by changes in the PMN plasma membrane and cytoskeleton. Since sulfhydryls are important constituents of the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton, we investigated the effect of agents that oxidize and bind sulfhydryls on C5A-induced aggregation. PMN incubated with diamide, a nonspecific sulfhydryl-oxidizing agent, had a marked increase in their aggregation response to C5A. Tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (BHP), which reacts specifically with the soluble sulfhydryl glutathione (GSH), had no effect on aggregation. The enhancement of PMN aggregation by diamide, but not BHP, suggested that oxidation of non-GSH sulfhydryls contributes to the aggregation response. To test the requirement for sulfhydryls in PMN aggregation, PMN were treated with the sulfhydryl-binding agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). NEM markedly impaired aggregation without affecting resting or methylene blue-stimulated [14C]-L-glucose oxidation of the granulocytes. P-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid (PCMPSA), an external sulfhydryl-binding agent, had no effect on aggregation. These studies suggest that cellular sulfhydryls are required for optimal PMN aggregation and that oxidation of these sulfhydryls may be one of the biochemical changes that contributes to aggregation. (+info)
Acute lung inflammation induced in the rabbit by local instillation of 1-0-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine or of native platelet-activating factor.
(36/45)
The intratracheal instillation into rabbits of 1-0-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (AGEPC) or native platelet-activating factor (PAF) was shown to induce a dose-dependent acute pulmonary inflammation characterized by accumulation of macrophages in the alveolar space, degenerative and necrotic changes of alveolar epithelium, and accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and platelets in the alveolar capillary lumens with degenerative changes of endothelial cells. Infiltration of alveolar septa by inflammatory cells and, in a later stage, pulmonary fibrosis were also observed. Intrabronchial instillation of lysoglyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (lyso-GEPC) produced no inflammatory changes or only mild ones. In comparison with acute inflammation induced by intratracheal instillation of C5a des Arg, which is mainly characterized by the presence of neutrophils, red blood cells, and fibrin in the alveolar space, AGEPC and native PAF seem to induce a more severe accumulation of macrophages in the alveolar space and septa and of platelet and PMNs in the lumens of alveolar capillaries. These results are compatible with the concept that during inflammatory reaction an intraalveolar release of PAF contributes to the development of pulmonary injury. (+info)
Identification of classical anaphylatoxin as the des-Arg form of the C5a molecule: evidence of a modulator role for the oligosaccharide unit in human des-Arg74-C5a.
(37/45)
A functionally active and potentially lethal fragment of the fifth component of complement (C5) is generated during complement activation in serum from animals of various species. This factor, termed the "classical" anaphylatoxin, was isolated from porcine serum and was identified chemically as the des-Arg derivative of the well-characterized C5a molecule. Unlike the C3a and C4a anaphylatoxins, porcine C5a does not require the COOH-terminal arginyl residue for spasmogenic activity. Further degradation of porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a by carboxypeptidase Y removed glycine-73 and leucine-72 and decreased the intrinsic spasmogenic activity by >90%. Hence, we conclude that, although the arginyl residue is not essential, the COOH-terminal sequence Leu-Gly-Arg contributes structural information that accounts for >90% of C5a activity. Human des-Arg(74)-C5a, like its porcine counterpart, has instrinsic anaphylatoxin activity; however, higher concentrations were needed to contract the guinea pig ileal tissue (i.e., 1 muM for human des-Arg(74)-C5a versus 1 nM for porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a). Furthermore, the des-Arg form of human C5a was only 0.1% as active as porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a for enhancing vascular permeability in guinea pig skin. In addition to these biological differences, numerous chemical differences exist between the human and porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a molecules, the most prominent feature being an oligosaccharide entity associated uniquely with the human C5a. When the oligosaccharide unit of human des-Arg(74)-C5a was removed by glycosidases, leaving a single glucosamine residue attached to the side chain of asparagine-64, activity was enhanced. The human des-Arg(74)-C5a molecule devoid of the complex oligosaccharide unit exhibited 10-fold stronger spasmogenic activity and 20- to 50-fold greater permeability-enhancing activity than did human des-Arg(74)-C5a containing the oligosaccharide. Consequently, the oligosaccharide associated with human C5a modulates or suppresses potentially harmful activities of this anaphylatoxin. The relatively high levels of spasmogenic activity associated with porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a indicate that this factor is poorly controlled by endogenous serum carboxypeptidase, whereas human C5a is virtually inactivated by the enzyme. Hence, the influence of this oligosaccharide in suppressing human des-Arg(74)-C5a activity is of major physiologic importance in protecting man from potentially toxic effects of this complement factor. (+info)
Diverging effects of chemotactic serum peptides and synthetic f-Met-Leu-Phe on neutrophil locomotion and adhesion.
(38/45)
The chemotactic serum peptide preparations CAT 1.6.1. and C5adesArg induced marked directional locomotion over a wide concentration range without significant effects on random locomotion and adhesion of human neutrophils in Gey's solution containing 2% HSA. In contrast, f-Met-Leu-Phe produced marked negative chemokinetic effects and its capacity to induce directional locomotion was more limited with respect to magnitude and concentration range. The negative chemokinetic effect of f-Met-Leu-Phe correlated closely with increased spreading and cell adhesion. (+info)
IgE-independent interleukin-4 expression and induction of a late phase of leukotriene C4 formation in human blood basophils.
(39/45)
T-helper cells can differentiate into at least two subtypes secreting distinct profiles of cytokines, Th1 and Th2, regulating immunoprotection and different immunopathologies. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is both the product and the inducer of Th2 cells, raising the question whether IL-4 can be produced in response to antigen-independent stimuli. Here we show that human basophils produce IL-4 on stimulation with IL-3 and C5a or C5adesarg in similar amounts as induced by IgE-receptor-cross-linking. C5a-induced IL-4 production requires the presence of IL-3, with little effect of the sequence of stimuli addition. No "Th1-cytokines" (interferon-gamma and IL-2) and even no "Th2-cytokines" (IL-3, IL-5, IL-10, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) are produced by basophils in response to either IgE-dependent or IgE-independent activation. The generation of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) is regulated in a similar manner. However, C5a induces a rapid, transient burst of leukotriene formation only if added after IL-3. Interestingly, upon prolonged culture, a late phase of continuous LTC4 production is observed, which also requires two signals (IL-3 and C5a), but rather depends on their continuous presence than on their sequence of action. These data describe an antigen-independent pathway of very restricted IL-4 expression. Thus, basophils must be considered as central immunoregulatory cells of the innate immune system. Furthermore, the results show that LTC4 can also be generated more continuously for many hours, a phenomenon that may be of particular importance in chornic allergic inflammation, such as asthma. (+info)
Binding of Gc globulin (vitamin D binding protein) to C5a or C5a des Arg is not necessary for co-chemotactic activity.
(40/45)
Gc globulin (vitamin D binding protein) has been shown to augment significantly the leukocyte chemotactic activity of the activated complement peptides C5a and C5a des Arg. However, the mechanism of chemotaxis enhancement is not known. Natural C5-derived peptides contain a carbohydrate side chain that comprises approximately 25% of the mass of the 11-kDa peptides. Previous studies have demonstrated that Gc globulin binds to C5-derived peptides via sialic acid residues on this carbohydrate side chain. The necessity of this carbohydrate side chain for chemotaxis enhancement by Gc globulin was investigated by using both natural (glycosylated) and recombinant (carbohydrate-free) peptides. The dose-response curves of neutrophil chemotaxis to recombinant C5a or C5a des Arg plus Gc globulin were identical to those observed with the naturally derived peptides, despite the fact that natural C5a bound to Gc globulin while the recombinant C5a failed to bind this protein. Moreover, neutrophils pretreated with Gc globulin then washed before addition to the chemotaxis assay displayed significantly enhanced movement to C5a alone. These results indicate that the binding of C5a/C5a des Arg to Gc globulin is not necessary for their chemotactic activity to be augmented. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that the co-chemotactic activity of Gc globulin is generated on the cell surface, independent of C5a binding to its receptor. (+info)