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Han-Pin Kuo

Publications and source records attributed to Han-Pin Kuo.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of endogenous nitric oxide on hyperoxia and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced leukosequestration and proinflammatory cytokine release in rat airways.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of endogenous nitric oxide on hyperoxia and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced leukosequestration and proinflammatory cytokine release in rat airways. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. SETTING: Experimental laboratory. SUBJECTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 350-500 g. INTERVENTIONS: The rats were pretreated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 mg/kg) or saline intravenously 4-6 mins before intratracheal administration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, 95% oxygen, or both, when the vasopressor effect of L-NAME had reached a plateau. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was recovered from the airway of rats after exposure to 95% oxygen and tumor necrosis factor-alpha for 6 hrs under ventilator support. Neutrophils in lavage fluid were isolated and examined for the inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by flow-cytometric assay. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta in lavage fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentage of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar fluid was significantly higher in rats exposed to hyperoxia + tumor necrosis factor-alpha (29.7 +/- 12.5%) compared with rats with hyperoxia (16.3 +/- 1.2%), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (4.2 +/- 1.1%), or room air (5.0 +/- 1.8%) alone (p <.05). Rats exposed to hyperoxia + tumor necrosis factor-alpha had significantly higher concentrations of inducible nitric oxide synthase of neutrophils (350.1 +/- 75.7 mean fluorescence intensity), compared with rats with hyperoxia (64.9 +/- 1.6 mean fluorescence intensity), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (102.6 +/- 15.3 mean fluorescence intensity), or room air (111.2 +/- 25.8 mean fluorescence intensity) alone (p <.05). Rats exposed to hyperoxia + tumor necrosis factor-alpha significantly produced higher concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, compared with rats with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, hyperoxia, or room air alone. Hyperoxia + tumor necrosis factor-alpha also significantly increased growth-related oncogene/cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (GRO/CINC)-1 in bronchoalveolar fluid, compared with those receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha alone, hyperoxia alone, or room air alone. L-NAME significantly enhanced the percentage of neutrophil recovery and the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and GRO/CINC-1 in airways compared with the corresponding hyperoxia + tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous nitric oxide may be an important endogenous inhibitor of hyperoxia + tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced leukocyte recruitment and subsequently tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and GRO/CINC-1 release.

Animals↗

Lipoteichoic acid-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression requires activations of p44/42 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathways.

This study investigated the role of p44/42 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in cyclooxygenase-2 expression caused by lipoteichoic acid in human pulmonary epithelial cell line (A549). Lipoteichoic acid-induced increases in cyclooxygenase activity and cyclooxygenase-2 expression were attenuated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and tyrphostin AG126), a MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor [2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone] (PD 98059) and a p38 MAPK inhibitor [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)1H-imidazole] (SB 203580). Lipoteichoic acid-induced p44/42 MAPK activation was inhibited by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors [12-(2-cyanoethyl)6,7,12,13-tetrahydro-13-methyl-5-oxo-5H-indolo(2,3-a)pyrrolo(3,4-c)-carbazole] (Go 6976) and [3-[1-[3-(amidinothio)propyl-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide]] (Ro 31-8220), genistein and PD 98059. Lipoteichoic acid-induced increase in p38 MAPK activity was inhibited by Go 6976, Ro 31-8220, genistein and SB 203580. Lipoteichoic acid-mediated formation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)-specific DNA-protein complex was inhibited by genistein, tyrphostin AG126, PD 98059 and SB 203580. These results suggest that the activations of both p44/42 and p38 MAPK by lipoteichoic acid result in stimulation of NF-kappa B-specific DNA-protein binding and subsequent cyclooxygenase-2 expression in A549 cells. Both events required activation of upstream tyrosine kinase and PKC.

Blotting, Western↗

Respiratory response to carbon dioxide stimulation during low flow supplemental oxygen therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Oxygen supplementation is the treatment most commonly used to relieve dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is a lack of data, however, on the response of the respiratory drive to low flow oxygen in severe stable COPD. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the magnitude of chemoresponsiveness to low flow supplemental oxygen in patients with COPD of variable severity in terms of mouth occlusion pressure at 100 msec (P0.1), P0.1 and minute ventilation (MV) response to CO2 stimulation, and blood gas tension. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with stable COPD of variable severity were divided into two groups: those with mild airway obstruction and normocapnia (n = 14) and those with hyperinflation and hypercapnia (n = 12). RESULTS: Arterial oxygen tension, oxygen saturation, and arterial CO2 tension were significantly increased after oxygen therapy in COPD patients with or without hypercapnia (all p < 0.01). COPD patients with hypercapnia had a significantly higher P0.1 (0.7 +/- 0.07 kPa) than those with normocapnia (0.3 +/- 0.03 kPa, p < 0.01). Oxygen significantly decreased the P0.1 adjusted by end tidal CO2 pressure (delta P0.1/PETCO2) only in patients with hyperinflation and hypercapnia, from 0.2 +/- 0.05 to 0.1 +/- 0.03 kPa (p < 0.05). There was a weak correlation between P0.1/PETCO2 and forced vital capacity (FVC; r = 0.41, p < 0.05) or forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; r = 0.45, p < 0.05). In addition, the arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) was inversely related to P0.1/PETCO2 (r = -0.57, p < 0.01). The MV with 6% CO2 (MVCO2) was also significantly decreased in the hypercapnic group from 17.9 +/- 3.7 to 14.8 +/- 4.9 L after oxygen therapy (p < 0.01). The maximum inspiratory pressure did not change after oxygen usage in either group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that short-term oxygen therapy may blunt respiratory response to CO2 in COPD with chronic hypercapnia. Cautious observation of respiratory response is needed during oxygen therapy in COPD patients with a higher magnitude of air-trapping and hypercapnia.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Neutrophil elastase induces IL-8 synthesis by lung epithelial cells via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

The sequestration of neutrophils in the lung and the release of proinflammatory mediators, including neutrophil elastase, are responsible for sepsis-induced microvascular permeability and alveolar epithelial cell damage. To assess the underlying mechanism, human neutrophil elastase (0.01-0.5 microg/ml) was added to cultured A549 epithelial cells in the presence or absence of inhibitors. IL-8 was analyzed by ELISA or by RT-PCR to measure the IL-8 synthesis capacity. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity was detected by Western blot analysis. Neutrophil elastase dose-dependently increased IL-8 release from cultured A549 epithelial cells. Pretreatment with a specific elastase inhibitor, elastase inhibitor II (at 0.5, 5, and 50 microg/ml), dose-dependently inhibited neutrophil elastase-induced IL-8 release. The activities of MAPK, p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were upregulated by neutrophil elastase. Nuclear transcriptional factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) were also activated. These responses were significantly inhibited by elastase inhibitor II. A specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK (SB203580) and an NF-kappaB inhibitor (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate), but not an ERK inhibitor (PD 98059), significantly inhibited neutrophil elastase-induced IL-8 release and mRNA expression. The specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, also inhibited IL-8 release and mRNA expression as well as p38 and NF-kappaB activation. There was no significant effect by the protein kinase A inhibitor, H-89, on neutrophil elastase-induced IL-8 synthesis or p38 MAPK activation. Our results indicate that neutrophil elastase activates p38 MAPK which upregulates NF-kappaB and AP-1 activities, thus inducing IL-8 mRNA expression and protein synthesis. Tyrosine kinase and PKC are implicated in neutrophil elastase activation of the MAPK pathway.

Cell Adhesion↗

Cytoprotective response of A1, a Bcl-2 homologue expressed in mature human neutrophils and promyelocytic HL-60 cells, to oxidant stress-induced cell death.

The ability to generate reactive oxidative intermediates is one of the quintessential properties of mature human neutrophils. Endogenously generated oxidants have been shown to be an important mechanism underlying neutrophil cell death. In acute lung inflammation, newly recruited neutrophils further encounter external oxidants, including reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates. In our present study, we showed that A1, a constitutive and inducible Bcl-2 homologue expressed in mature circulating human neutrophils, might confer the protection from hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))- and peroxynitrite (ONOO)-induced cell death. Utilizing the myeloid precursor cell line, HL-60, we further examined the hypothesis that A1 was capable of conferring cytoprotective activity against these oxidative stresses. Whereas the control-transfected HL-60 cells expressed small amounts of A1 and were sensitive to the biologically relevant, cell death-inducing oxidants, H(2)O(2) and ONOO, the stable transfectants that overexpressed A1 were significantly more tolerant. Furthermore, there was a correlation between the level of A1 expression and the antiapoptotic activity. Thus, our results suggest a cytoprotective role of A1 in mature human neutrophils under oxidant stresses in host defense and inflammation.

Apoptosis↗

Apoptotic neutrophils undergoing secondary necrosis induce human lung epithelial cell detachment.

Clearance of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages plays an important role in the resolution phase of lung inflammation. If not cleared, apoptotic neutrophils are postulated to release histotoxic granular contents. Since numerous cellular proteins are degraded during apoptosis, we sought to determine whether functional serine proteinases are indeed released by apoptosing neutrophils in vitro. In a coculture system, cytokine-activated neutrophils induced detachment in the human epithelial cell line, A549. This process was CD18- and serine proteinase-dependent. Early apoptotic neutrophils induced significant detachment, but live, senescent, resting neutrophils and terminal, secondary necrotic neutrophils had a different effect. This detachment process was CD18-independent but serine proteinase-dependent. Similarly, detachment occurred with primary human small airway epithelial cells. Notably, epithelial cell detachment correlated with the transition of early apoptotic neutrophils to secondary necrosis and with the accumulation of elastase in the supernatant. The membrane integrity of lung epithelial cells was damaged in advance of significant cell detachment. These observations suggest that not only live activated neutrophils but also apoptosing neutrophils can reveal functional elastase activities. Furthermore, the rapidity of the transition emphasizes the importance of the prompt clearance of apoptotic neutrophils before they progress to secondary necrosis at the site of lung inflammation.

Apoptosis↗