PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

G O Till

Publications and source records attributed to G O Till.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The role of complement in experimental bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a blistering skin disease associated with an IgG autoimmune response directed against the ectodomain of the hemidesmosomal protein, BP180. An animal model of BP has recently been developed by our laboratory based on the passive transfer of rabbit antimurine BP180 antibodies into neonatal BALB/c mice. The experimental animals develop a blistering disease that reproduces all of the key immunopathological features of BP. In the present study we have investigated the role of complement in the pathogenesis of subepidermal blistering in the mouse model of BP. We demonstrate the following. (a) Rabbit anti-murine-BP180 IgG was effective in inducing cutaneous blisters in a C5-sufficient mouse strain, but failed to induce disease in the syngeneic C5-deficient strain; (b) neonatal BALB/c mice, pretreated with cobra venom factor to deplete complement, became resistant to the pathogenic effects of the anti-BP180 IgG; (c) F(ab')2 fragments generated from the anti-BP180 IgG exhibited no pathogenic activity in the mouse model; and (d) histologic evaluation of the skin of mice described in points b and c above showed minimal or no neutrophilic cell infiltration in the upper dermis. Thus, anti-BP180 antibodies trigger subepidermal blistering in this BP model via complement activation. This experimental model of BP should greatly facilitate future studies on the pathophysiology of autoantibody-mediated diseases of the dermal-epidermal junction.

Animals

Phorbol-stimulated influx of extracellular calcium in rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Stimulation of rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAEC) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) resulted in an increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i). Unlike the response to bradykinin, C5a and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) previously reported (15), the PMA-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was predominantly dependent on extracellular calcium. The PMA response paralleled the BAY K 8644-induced, extracellular calcium-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i. Pretreatment of endothelial cells with the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of the increase in [Ca2+]i in response to PMA. The ability of PMA analogues to induce significant increase in [Ca2+]i paralleled their ability to induce O2- generation in neutrophils. The PMA-induced influx of extracellular Ca2+ was inhibited by the L-channel selective antagonists diltiazem, nifedipine, nicardipine, and verapamil in a dose-dependent manner. Depolarizing conditions induced by high [K+]o enhanced the calcium response to PMA. The data presented are consistent with the hypothesis that PMA-induced increases in [Ca2+]i in endothelial cells are the result of Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy

Role of selectins in local and remote tissue injury following ischemia and reperfusion.

Ischemia (4-hour) followed by reperfusion (4-hour) of rat hind limbs results in local injury as well as remote (lung) injury. It has recently been shown that injury in this model is neutrophil- and cytokine-dependent and requires the beta 2 integrin adhesion molecules CD11a/CD18 and CD11b/CD18. The role of selectins in events leading to injury (as determined by leakage of albumin and by hemorrhage) was assessed either through the use of blocking antibodies to L-, E- or P-selectins or by the use of oligosaccharides that are reactive with selectins. Lung injury was found to be L- and E-selectin-dependent. When the ischemia and reperfusion times were reduced, lung injury was also found to be P-selectin dependent. In the case of hind limb injury involving the crural muscle mass, injury was L-selectin-dependent but independent of requirements for P- and E-selectin. Injury in both organs was blocked by the infusion of sialylated Lewis pentasaccharide, whereas sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine pentasaccharide failed to protect against injury. In general, when selectin-blocking approaches were protective, there were parallel reductions in tissue content of myeloperoxidase. These data underscore the role of selectins in ischemia-reperfusion injury and suggest that selectin requirements may vary with the vascular bed under study.

Animals

Role of leukocyte adhesion molecules in lung and dermal vascular injury after thermal trauma of skin.

Acute second degree thermal injury of rat skin involving 25 to 30% total body surface of anesthetized rats results at 4 hours in evidence of vascular injury both locally (in skin) and remotely (involving lung). The neutrophil dependency for both types of injury has now been established. Monoclonal antibodies to various adhesion molecules have been used to define the requirements for these molecules in the development of vascular injury. In dermal vascular injury, a requirement for Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) but not for leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18) has been established. In this model requirements have also been demonstrated for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E- and L-selectin but not for very late arising antigen-4 (VLA-4) or P-selectin. With respect to lung vascular injury, dual requirements for both leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 and Mac-1 were found as well as for ICAM-1 and E- and L-selectin but not for VLA-4 and P-selectin. In the lung, there was a close correlation between neutrophil content of the tissue (as assessed by myeloperoxidase) and the effects of protective interventions (directed against blocking of adhesion molecules). These data emphasize the roles of beta 2 integrins, selectins (L and E), and ICAM-1 in events that lead to neutrophil-mediated vascular injury of dermis and lung after thermal trauma to skin.

Animals

Requirements for tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 in limb ischemia/reperfusion injury and associated lung injury.

Ischemia in rat hind limbs followed by reperfusion results in local as well as remote organ (lung) injury characterized by increased vascular permeability (125I-labeled bovine serum albumin leakage) and hemorrhage (51Cr-labeled rat erythrocytes extravasation) in skeletal muscle and lung, together with an associated increased tissue content of myeloperoxidase, reflecting neutrophil accumulation. Within 60 minutes of reperfusion following ischemia, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6 plasma levels increased significantly, reaching maximum levels after 2 hours of reperfusion. Polyclonal antibodies to TNF-alpha and IL-1 provided significant protection against vascular injury in both muscle and lung. These results were confirmed by the use of soluble TNF-alpha receptor and IL-1 receptor antagonist. In rat lungs following ischemia and reperfusion, there was immunohistochemical evidence of E-selectin expression in the lung vasculature; this expression was blocked by treatment of animals with anti-TNF-alpha. These data indicate that both local (hind limb) and remote (lung) organ injury after ischemia/reperfusion requires participation of TNF-alpha and IL-1. The cytokines may, in part, be involved in the up-regulation of endothelial adhesion molecules.

Animals

Roles of beta 2 integrins of rat neutrophils in complement- and oxygen radical-mediated acute inflammatory injury.

The roles of beta 2 integrin molecules in neutrophil accumulation and tissue injury have been examined by the use of antibodies that are reactive with human CD11b and CD18 and cross-react with the homologous epitopes on rat neutrophils. Adherence to rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells by human neutrophils and endothelial cell killing by phorbol ester-activated human neutrophils required CD11b, CD11c, and CD18. Companion adherence studies between rat neutrophils and endothelial cells revealed a requirement for both CD11b and CD18. Neither anti-CD11b nor anti-CD18 depressed in vitro responses (O2- generation and chemotactic migration) of rat neutrophils. The accumulation of neutrophils in glycogen-induced peritoneal exudates was diminished substantially in rats treated with either anti-CD18 or anti-CD11b. In oxidant-mediated acute lung injury induced by rapid intravascular infusion of cobra venom factor, treatment of rats with either anti-CD18 or anti-CD11b significantly attenuated injury as assessed by increases in vascular permeability and hemorrhage. These protective effects correlated morphologically with diminished adhesion of neutrophils to interstitial intrapulmonary capillary endothelial cells. In studies of immune complex (BSA-anti-BSA)-induced alveolitis and dermal vasculitis, anti-CD18 had protective effects at all doses of anti-BSA employed. The protective effects of anti-CD18 correlated with diminished neutrophil accumulation in tissues at lower doses of anti-BSA. Although anti-CD11b was not effective under the same experimental conditions, intratracheal administration of this antibody conveyed protection against immune complex-induced lung injury, suggesting that both CD11b and CD18 are required for the full expression of injury. The current studies also demonstrated that when surface-bound IgG immune complexes were treated with fresh rat serum, the increment in O2- and TNF alpha generated by alveolar macrophages was suppressed by anti-CD18, but not by anti-CD11b, suggesting a heretofore unrecognized role for CD18 in the O2- and TNF-alpha responses of alveolar macrophages. Thus, neutrophil beta 2 integrins play a requisite role for the full expression of complement-dependent and oxygen radical-mediated injury of the lung and dermal vasculature.

Animals

Superoxide responses of endothelial cells to C5a and TNF-alpha: divergent signal transduction pathways.

There is increasing evidence that endothelial cells respond to a variety of mediators. In the current studies rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAEC) responded to human recombinant C5a and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with the generation of superoxide (O2-). RPAEC responsiveness was dependent on whether cells had been obtained from confluent or subconfluent cell monolayers. RPAEC responded to C5a and TNF-alpha in a dose-dependent manner, with increases in intracellular Ca2+ (Cai2+), formation of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], and generation of O2-. Optimal O2- responses occurred in cells that had been pretreated with the inhibitor of superoxide dismutase (SOD), diethyldithiocarbamate, and O2- responses were allopurinol insensitive. Pertussis toxin pretreatment abolished the ability of C5a to cause increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Cai2+ and formation of O2- but did not inhibit the changes in Cai2+ and formation of O2- after addition of TNF-alpha. The O2- response to C5a but not to TNF-alpha was abolished by pretreatment with the inhibitor of protein kinase C, staurosporine. These data indicate that signal transduction events in response to C5a and TNF-alpha were fundamentally different.

Alkaloids

Adhesion molecules in experimental phacoanaphylactic endophthalmitis.

Intraocular accumulation of inflammatory neutrophils is an important feature of experimental phacoanaphylactic endophthalmitis (EPE). Increasing evidence suggests that localization of neutrophils to the site of inflammation requires the participation of neutrophil and endothelial adhesion molecules. These studies were undertaken to determine if blocking of adhesion molecules on neutrophils (CD18) or endothelium (ELAM-1) could attenuate EPE in Lewis rats. Treatment of experimental animals with anti-CD18 or anti-ELAM-1 significantly suppressed intraocular neutrophil accumulation, retinal hemorrhage, and vasculitis, and attenuated retinal edema formation by 48% and 70%, respectively. These observations demonstrate that antibodies directed against adhesion molecules on the neutrophil (CD18) or the vascular endothelial cell (ELAM-1) exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects, resulting in a striking amelioration of injury in EPE in rats.

Animals

Xanthine oxidase: its role in the no-reflow phenomenon.

This study was designed to probe the hypothesis that oxygen-derived free radicals are involved in initiation of the no-reflow phenomenon. We developed a reproducible model of no reflow in the rat hind limb. Laser Doppler studies confirmed that the hind limbs perfused well after 2 or 4 hours of ischemia, but perfusion ceased in the first 10 minutes after 6 hours of ischemia. Venous blood samples and biopsy specimens of skin and muscle were taken after 2 and 4 hours of ischemia to study tissue injury. Blood samples were evaluated for xanthine oxidase (XO), xanthine dehydrogenase, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activities. Conjugated dienes and iodine 125-labeled albumin extravasation were quantified in tissue samples. Groups of animals were treated with inhibitors of XO (allopurinol), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase plus catalase), and free radical scavengers (dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl thiourea) to assess the roles of free radicals in ischemia-reperfusion injury in the hind limbs. After 4 hours of ischemia followed by reperfusion, plasma XO activity rose threefold over preischemia levels (p less than 0.05). Xanthine dehydrogenase activity did not change; conjugated diene levels in muscle rose twofold; CPK levels rose sixfold, and 125I albumin extravasation rose twofold (p less than 0.05). Pretreatment with the XO inhibitor allopurinol reduced XO activity to negligible levels and significantly attenuated conjugated diene levels, CPK levels, and albumin extravasation. Albumin extravasation was also significantly attenuated by pretreating animals with superoxide dismutase together with catalase, dimethyl thiourea, and dimethyl sulfoxide. In all animals pretreated with allopurinol or superoxide dismutase and catalase, reperfusion persisted after 6 hours of ischemia. These data suggest that, in ischemia followed by reperfusion, tissue injury is related to oxygen products derived from XO activity.

Allopurinol

Role of oxygen radicals in tourniquet-related ischemia-reperfusion injury of human patients.

In the current study we evaluated effluent blood from extremities of human patients undergoing reconstructive surgical treatment which is routinely accompanied by upper extremity exsanguination and application of a tourniquet. Following tourniquet release (reperfusion), there were immediate increases in the plasma levels of xanthine oxidase activity, uric acid, and histamine. Xanthine dehydrogenase activity was not detectable. Plasma also contained products consistent with the formation of oxygen-derived free radicals, namely hemoglobin and fluorescent compounds. Our data indicate in humans that ischemia-reperfusion events are associated with the appearance of xanthine oxidase activity and its products in the plasma effluent.

Adult

Modulation of IgM antibody formation by lipid peroxidation products from burn plasma.

Lipid peroxides (conjugated dienes) have been shown to increase in the plasma of thermally injured animals and in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine if conjugated diene-rich fractions extracted from the plasma of burned rats 3 hours after injury would alter humoral immune function in unburned animals. Plasma diene extracts from burned or normal rats were dissolved in ethanol and given intraperitoneally to Long-Evans rats. Fifteen minutes after diene injection, the rats were immunized with sheep erythrocytes. Five days later, serum and spleen cells obtained from these immunized rats were tested for IgM immunity against sheep erythrocytes. Both plaque-forming cells from spleen and hemagglutination titers in serum were significantly enhanced in the group treated with dienes obtained from the thermally injured rats. These data suggest that conjugated diene-bearing lipid fractions from burn plasma may modulate immune function and support the concept that humoral immunity is enhanced after thermal injury.

Animals

Mechanisms of oxidant-induced changes in erythrocytes.

There is an increasing body of experimental studies demonstrating the toxic effects of oxygen-derived free radicals. Evidence supports an important role for free radicals in ischemic injuries, inflammation, and chemical-induced tissue injury. Free radicals are involved in normal biochemical processes like oxidative reduction and cellular metabolism; however, they also mediate disease processes. The participation of oxygen free radicals in lysis of red cells is important in some situations of intravascular hemolysis. This article will review neutrophil-derived oxygen free radicals, emphasizing: (1) their effects on the erythrocyte and (2) how these effects may be attenuated.

Animals

Absence of complement-mediated events after protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation.

Protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation is associated with adverse hemodynamic effects that may be attenuated with protamine pretreatment (PP). This study assesses the role of complement activation during these phenomena in adult cardiac surgery patients. Sixteen individuals undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were given intravenous normal saline or protamine (2 mg/kg) as a randomized pretreatment prior to undergoing heparin anticoagulation (400 IU/kg), coronary artery revascularization, and subsequent reversal of the anticoagulated state with protamine (4 mg/kg). Blood pressure, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PAD), heart rate, and cardiac output (CO) were measured during and after pretreatment, prior to heparin reversal by protamine, and for 10 min after reversal. Total hemolytic complement (CH50), C3 conversion to C3b, C3a/C5a, platelet count, and white blood cell count (WBC) were also measured at the same time periods. No significant correlation existed between complement activation and hemodynamic events, as might have been evident by decreased CH50, increased C3 conversion to C3b, or elevations in C3a/C5a levels. PP significantly prevented the CO decrease occurring at 1 and 3 min following heparin reversal by protamine (-0.8 and -1.4 liters/min vs 0.1 and -0.2 liters/min, P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively). Reversal hypotension was less with PP, although PAD fell equally in both groups. WBC decreases after heparin reversal were less after PP (-25% vs -7%, P = 0.06). These data support the conclusion that, contrary to earlier reports, adverse hemodynamic and hematologic responses accompanying protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation do not appear to be correlated with activation of complement. In fact, those patients having the greatest C3a generation exhibited the least hemodynamic changes.

Adult

Lung injury and complement activation: role of neutrophils and xanthine oxidase.

Evidence is presented that oxygen products generated from xanthine oxidase (XO) may also be involved in the pathogenesis of neutrophil-mediate lung injury following intravascular activation of complement with cobra venom factor (CVF). CVF injection in rats resulted in a rapid increase in plasma of both XO activity (but not xanthine dehydrogenase) and its reaction product, uric acid. These changes were greatly attenuated in allopurinol-treated animals. The appearance of XO activity was paralleled by a rise in plasma of histamine. Prevention of histamine release by pretreatment of rats with cromolyn abolished both the rise in plasma histamine and the increase in XO activity. Since we have previously shown that histamine can enhance XO activity in vitro and in vivo (Am. J. Pathol. 135:203, 1989), these observations suggest that the increase in plasma XO activity following CVF injection is related to the appearance in plasma of histamine. Accordingly, pretreatment of rats with xanthine oxidase inhibitors (allopurinol, lodoxamide) or prevention of histamine release by pretreatment with cromolyn significantly attenuated development of lung injury following injection of CVF. Our data support the concept that oxygen radicals derived from both neutrophils and XO are playing a role in the CVF-induced acute lung injury.

Animals

The use of immobilized protamine in removing heparin and preventing protamine-induced complications during extracorporeal blood circulation.

Heparin, currently used in extracorporeal blood circulation procedures, may lead to hemorrhagic complications. Protamine, used for reversal of heparin-induced anticoagulation at the end of such procedures, can cause adverse hemodynamic responses. To prevent both types of complications, we have developed a reactor device containing immobilized protamine (i.e., a protamine bio-reactor) that can be placed at the distal end of the circuit, thus providing simultaneous extracorporeal heparin removal and protamine treatment. In preliminary in vivo studies involving dogs at a blood flow of 100 ml/min, the bio-reactor removed about 50% of the administered dose of heparin (i.e., 100 units/kg) in 10 min. While rapid injection of protamine in dogs anticoagulated with heparin produced a transient and significant (P less than 0.005) decreases in systemic arterial blood pressure (-39.5 +/- 9.2 mmHg), cardiac output (-1.59 +/- 0.23 L/min), and mixed venous oxygen saturation (-7.5 +/- 1.3%) and increases in pulmonary artery systolic (+12.7 +/- 4.4 mmHg) and diastolic pressures (+10.0 +/- 3.6 mmHg), the use of the protamine bio-reactor did not elicit any statistically significant change in any of the variables measured. Hemolysis was not significant, as reflected by a statistically insignificant change of the animals' red blood cell counts, hematocrits, and total hemoglobin values. In addition, hemolytic complement was found to be reduced only by 10% in animals with the protamine bio-reactor, whereas it was reduced rapidly by 20% in animals receiving intravenous protamine administration and progressively by 20% in control animals with a sham reactor that contained no protamine. Furthermore, the use of the protamine bio-reactor also significantly reduced the protamine-induced transient thrombocytopenic and granulocytopenic responses. The white blood cell counts and platelet counts decreased to 87.7 +/- 7.5 and 83.3 +/- 5.0% of baseline, respectively, in dogs with the protamine bio-reactor compared to 35.5 +/- 14.3 and 32.1 +/- 8.1% of baseline in dogs receiving intravenous protamine. The protamine bio-reactor may provide a unique means to simultaneously control both heparin- and protamine-induced complications.

Animals

Histamine: a promoter of xanthine oxidase activity in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion.

Xanthine oxidase (XO)-derived oxygen radicals are thought to play an important role in the intestinal injury resulting from ischemia and reperfusion. In vitro data shows enhanced XO activity in the presence of histamine. Histamine is known to be released during intestinal ischemia and reperfusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between histamine and XO in vivo in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Using an established model of gut ischemia and reperfusion, portal venous plasma was obtained and assayed for histamine levels, XO activity, and xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) activity following injury. Intestinal ischemia for 120 minutes resulted in a 200% increase in plasma histamine levels (263.4 +/- 36.9 nmol/mL control, v 548.7 +/- 35.1 nmol/mL experimental, P less than .05). Reperfusion for 15 minutes resulted in a further increase in plasma histamine (to 658.3 +/- 33.9 nmol/mL), compared with 120 minutes of ischemia alone. No significant change in plasma XO activity resulted after simple ischemia for 120 minutes. However, XO activity doubled within 15 minutes of reperfusion of the ischemic intestine (6.37 +/- 0.53 nmol O2- per milliliter per minute v 3.12 +/- 0.25 nmol O2- per milliliter per minute, P less than .05). Reperfusion for 60 minutes resulted in the maximal observed increase in plasma XO activity (9.49 +/- 0.67 nmol O2- per milliliter per minute). Analysis of XD activity demonstrated no significant decrease compared with controls until 120 minutes of ischemia and 60 minutes of reperfusion (1.62 +/- 0.49 nmol uric acid per milliliter per minute at 60 minutes of reperfusion, versus 5.02 +/- 0.52 nmol uric acid per milliliter per minute control, P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals