Biomedical subjects

J Balsinde

Publications and source records attributed to J Balsinde.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Diminished cytochrome b content and toxic oxygen metabolite production in circulating neutrophils from patients with Crohn's disease.

Phagocytic, chemotactic, and oxidative metabolic capacity of circulating neutrophils was studied in 20 patients with Crohn's disease. In vitro tests of chemotaxis and phagocytosis of isolated neutrophils from patients did not differ from that of healthy controls. However, superoxide anion production by phorbol-myristate-acetate and formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated neutrophils from patients with Crohn's disease was significantly diminished compared with controls. Measurement of cytochrome b559 in total membranes of neutrophils from patients showed that it was significantly lower than in controls. Disease activity did not correlate either with the production of superoxide anion or with the cytochrome b559 content. It is concluded that oxidative metabolism is impaired in neutrophils from patients with Crohn's disease and that this defect could be caused by a reduced content in membrane b-type cytochrome. Although this defective neutrophil function may contribute to granuloma formation, other factors have to be implicated in disease inflammatory activity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Pathways for arachidonic acid mobilization in zymosan-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Resident peritoneal macrophages release arachidonic acid when challenged by zymosan, a phagocytosable particle. The present study was designed to investigate the pathways for arachidonic acid mobilization in zymosan-stimulated macrophages. Experiments were conducted with [3H]arachidonic acid-labeled macrophages to establish the relative contribution of acyltransferases, phospholipase A2, and diacylglycerol lipase to overall arachidonic acid release. Upon zymosan stimulation, [3H]arachidonic acid incorporation into phospholipids was significantly enhanced. Stimulus-induced activation of arachidonic acid incorporated was not observed immediately, but was found 5 min after cell challenge. On the other hand, the results indicated a rapid accumulation of intracellular free [3H]arachidonic acid that paralleled the appearance of both [3H]glycerol-labeled lysophosphatidylcholine and [3H]glycerol-labeled lysophosphatidylinositol, the by-products of phospholipase A2 action on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol, respectively. A transient accumulation of [3H]arachidonate-carrying diacylglycerol was also observed. However, no appreciable alterations in the levels of [3H]monoacylglycerol were found. The phospholipase A2 inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid substantially prevented the zymosan-induced arachidonic acid release. In contrast, RHC 80267, a diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, though preventing diacylglycerol breakdown, did not have any effect on [3H]arachidonic acid release From these results, it is concluded that: (1) the phospholipase A2 pathway controls arachidonic acid release upon zymosan stimulation; (2) the diacylglycerol lipase pathway appears not to be involved in arachidonic acid release by stimulated cells; (3) the acyltransferases play a remarkable role in controlling free arachidonic acid levels, but they do not participate in the increase of free fatty acid levels observed upon cell stimulation.

Acyltransferases↗

PubMed1992

Phospholipase D activation in human natural killer cells through the Kp43 and CD16 surface antigens takes place by different mechanisms. Involvement of the phospholipase D pathway in tumor necrosis factor alpha synthesis.

We have recently described a novel glycoprotein, Kp43, expressed on the surface of human natural killer (NK) cells that appears to regulate their functional activity. In this report, signaling mechanisms through the Kp43 surface antigen have been studied. Incubation of interleukin 2 (IL-2)-treated NK cells with anti-Kp43 monoclonal antibody F(ab')2 fragments resulted in the time- and dose-dependent stimulation of NK cell phospholipase D. Phospholipase D activation through the Kp43 surface antigen was found to take place in the absence of polyphosphoinositide turnover and appeared not to depend on the presence of Ca2+ in the extracellular medium. On the other hand, signaling mechanisms through the CD16 receptor (FcR-III) on NK cells were comparatively studied. Stimulation of IL-2-treated NK cells with anti-CD16 monoclonal antibody F(ab')2 fragment also resulted in time- and dose-dependent activation of phospholipase D. However, CD16-triggered phospholipase D activation took place concomitant to phospholipase C-mediated polyphosphoinositide breakdown and showed a strong dependence on extracellular Ca2+. These results provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence for the presence of activatable phospholipase D in NK cells, as well as the first indication that distinct receptor-modulated pathways exist for activation of phospholipase D within the same cell type. On the other hand, phosphatidic acid, the physiologic product of phospholipase D action on phospholipids, was found to mimic the effect of anti-Kp43 monoclonal antibody regarding tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) biosynthesis and secretion by NK cells. Addition of phosphatidic acid vesicles to IL-2-treated NK cell cultures stimulated a TNF-alpha production that was abolished when the cells were previously treated with actinomycin D. Other phospholipids, including lysophosphatidic acid, were ineffective. However, phosphatidic acid-induced TNF-alpha production was strongly inhibited by the presence of propranolol, an inhibitor of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase. Moreover, in cells responding to phorbol myristate acetate, a compound that triggers activation of phospholipase D, TNF-alpha synthesis was also inhibited by propranolol. Thus, these data suggest a second messenger role for phosphatidic acid-derived diradylglycerol in the induction of TNF-alpha gene expression.

Antigens, Differentiation↗

PubMed1992

Mouse peritoneal macrophages contain an acylating system specific for twenty-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids. A study with intact cells.

It is widely recognized that in addition to regulating the expression and activity of arachidonic acid (AA)-metabolizing enzymes, the availability of free AA limits eicosanoid biosynthesis. AA participates in a deacylation/reacylation cycle of membrane phospholipids in which the fatty acid is cleaved by phospholipase A2 and reesterified by acyltransferase. Thus, free AA can become available either by phospholipase A2 activation or by inhibition of fatty acid reincorporation. We observed that exposure of [3H]AA-prelabeled macrophages to micromolar concentrations of unlabeled AA resulted in a net release of 3H-radioactivity into the extracellular medium. This was not the consequence of phospholipase A2 activation, but of impaired reesterification of previously liberated [3H]AA. The eicosanoid precursors eicosatrienoic acid (ETA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) mimicked the effect of unlabeled AA on 3H-radioactivity release from [3H]AA-prelabeled macrophages, but all other fatty acids tested were ineffective. Similarly, only AA, ETA and EPA were able to inhibit [3H]AA uptake by macrophages, all other fatty acids being ineffective. From these data, it is concluded that intact macrophages contain an acylating system specific for the eicosanoid precursors AA, ETA and EPA. Altogether, the results of this study underscore the importance of fatty acid reacylation in controlling free AA levels in macrophages.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

PubMed1991

Receptor-mediated activation of arachidonic acid release in mouse peritoneal macrophages is linked to extracellular calcium influx.

The role of external calcium in platelet-activating factor- and zymosan-stimulated arachidonic acid release from mouse macrophages was investigated. Deprivation of external Ca2+ led to strong inhibition of receptor-mediated arachidonic acid release, which was completely restored when Ca2+ was added to the incubation medium. When arachidonic acid release was examined in Ca(2+)-depleted cells, the response took place only in presence of external Ca2+. Verapamil, a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blocker, nearly abolished arachidonic acid release in response to both platelet-activating factor and zymosan. These results suggest that extracellular Ca2+ influx is functionally linked to arachidonic acid release and hence to phospholipase A2 activation in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Platelet-activating factor synergizes with phorbol myristate acetate in activating phospholipase D in the human promonocytic cell line U937. Evidence for different mechanisms of activation.

The activation of phospholipase D by platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the human promonocytic cell line U937 has been investigated. In cells prelabeled with [3H]palmitic acid, addition of PAF or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced the synthesis of [3H]phosphatidylethanol, indicating phospholipase D activation. When U937 cells were preincubated for 5 min with PMA, and then stimulated with PAF, formation of phosphatidylethanol was greatly enhanced. In contrast, under the same experimental conditions PMA treatment blocked completely the PAF-induced inositol phosphates formation in cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol. Thus, PMA treatment demonstrates that phospholipase D activation can occur independently from phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C activation during PAF stimulation in U937 cells. On the other hand, the data herein presented suggest that influx of external calcium is required for phospholipase D activation by PAF, as assessed by complete inhibition of the enzyme activity by chelation of extracellular calcium or by treatment with the calcium channel blocker verapamil. Based on these findings, a hypothetical model for phospholipase D activation is discussed.

Azepines↗

PubMed1991

Arachidonic acid release from diacylglycerol in human neutrophils. Translocation of diacylglycerol-deacylating enzyme activities from an intracellular pool to plasma membrane upon cell activation.

We have studied the capacity of human neutrophils to release arachidonic acid from diacylglycerol, employing 1-stearoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol and 1-[1-14C]stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol as exogenous substrates. We have found that arachidonic acid is removed from diacylglycerol by the sequential action of two enzymes. First, the sn-1 position is split by 1-diacylglycerol lipase activity, and then, arachidonic acid is released from the resulting 2-monoacylglycerol by a 2-monoacylglycerol lipase. The specific activity of the 2-monoacylglycerol lipase, using 2-[1-14C]arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol as exogenous substrate, was at least 9-fold higher than that of 1-diacylglycerol lipase, indicating that the action of the 1-diacylglycerol lipase is the rate-limiting step in arachidonic acid release from diacylglycerol. Postnuclear supernatants from A23187-treated cells showed a 2.5-fold increase in both lipase activities. The arachidonic acid-releasing diacylglycerol lipase system showed an optimum pH of 4.5 and was not inhibited by EGTA or stimulated by Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, or Co2+. However, arachidonic acid release was inhibited by Hg2+, suggesting the involvement of sulfhydryl groups in catalytic activity. The subcellular distribution of both 1-diacylglycerol lipase and 2-monoacylglycerol lipase activities was examined in resting and A23187-treated human neutrophils by fractionation of postnuclear supernatants on continuous sucrose gradients. Both lipases were localized mainly in the membrane of gelatinase-containing granules, which were resolved from cytosol, plasma membrane, phosphasomes, and specific and azurophilic granules. When neutrophils were stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187, a drastic shift of the 1-diacylglycerol lipase and 2-monoacylglycerol lipase toward the plasma membrane was detected. This shift was due to fusion of gelatinase-containing granules with the plasma membrane upon neutrophil stimulation. As a result of the membrane fusion process, the capacity to release arachidonic acid from diacylglycerol was increased. This translocation from the membrane of gelatinase-containing granules to the plasma membrane may play an important role in regulating the diacylglycerol level in stimulated human neutrophils.

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMed1990

Subcellular distribution of fatty acids, phospholipids and phospholipase A2 in human neutrophils.

We have examined the putative relationship between the presence of neutral pH optimum phospholipase A2 activities and the phospholipid and fatty acid composition in the distinct fractions obtained after subcellular fractionation in a continuous sucrose gradient of human neutrophils. Neutral phospholipase A2 activity was found mainly in the plasma membrane, the azurophilic granules and an unidentified fraction which was a little denser than that containing specific granules and endoplasmic reticulum. These differently located phospholipase A2 activities resulted in activation upon calcium ionophore A23187-cell treatment, but the phospholipase A2 activity found in the unidentified region showed the highest degree of activation after cell treatment with A23187 and hydrolyzed preferentially ethanolamine-containing glycerophospholipids. The subcellular distribution of inositol-containing phosphoglycerides was bimodal, with a main peak at the plasma membrane and another peak at the azurophilic granule region. Choline- and ethanolamine-containing glycerophospholipids showed a broad distribution throughout the gradient, with preponderance in the denser part of the gradient, where the intracellular organelle phospholipase A2 activities were located. Interestingly, ethanolamine-containing glycerophospholipids were shown to be enriched in fractions containing the phospholipase A2 which hydrolyzes preferentially this phospholipid class. Most of the arachidonic acid present in the postnuclear fraction of human neutrophils was found in the plasma membrane and resulted to be the only fatty acid released during A23187 stimulation. Thus, plasma membrane phospholipase A2 seems to be involved mainly in the release of arachidonic acid in A23187-stimulated cells. These findings indicate that differences in substrate specificity found in vitro among the phospholipase A2 activities located in distinct subcellular particulates might be a reflection of the distinct phospholipid and fatty acid composition in these particulates.

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMed1990

Involvement of external calcium in the release of arachidonic acid by mouse peritoneal macrophages.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the potential role of extracellular calcium on the release of arachidonic acid from mouse peritoneal macrophages. Both in phorbol ester-treated and in Ca2(+)-depleted cells, a rapid release of arachidonic acid was seen in direct response to added Ca2+. The response was directly dependent on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration, with a Ca2+ threshold of 100 nM. These results support the notion that arachidonic acid release in macrophages is functionally coupled to influx of external calcium.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

The CD11c antigen couples concanavalin A binding to generation of superoxide anion in human phagocytes.

We have found that an anti-CD11c monoclonal antibody (MAb) inhibits the respiratory burst induced in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-differentiated U937 cells as well as in human peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils upon cell stimulation with concanavalin A. The MAb had no effect, however, when the added stimulus was fMet-Leu-Phe or PMA. Flow cytometry analyses indicated that concanavalin A was able to interact with CD11c. The anti-CD11c MAb inhibited significantly concanavalin A binding to differentiated U937 cells, and concanavalin A blocked binding of anti-CD11c MAb to the cells. Binding of labelled concanavalin A to membrane proteins which were separated by PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose paper indicated that proteins with apparent molecular masses similar to those of CD11c (150 kDa) and CD18 (95 kDa) molecules were the main concanavalin A-binding proteins in differentiated U937 cells as well as in mature neutrophils. Similar experiments carried out in the presence of the anti-CD11c MAb showed a specific and significant inhibition of concanavalin A binding to the CD11c molecule. These results indicate that concanavalin A binds to the CD11c molecule and this binding is responsible for the concanavalin A-induced respiratory burst in PMA-differentiated U937 cells as well as in human mature monocytes and neutrophils.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1990

Regulation of arachidonic acid release in mouse peritoneal macrophages. The role of extracellular calcium and protein kinase C.

Primary cultures of [3H]arachidonic acid-prelabeled mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with the physiologic agonists zymosan and Con A. The cells released a large quantity of labeled compounds into the extracellular medium. When the cells were preincubated for 10 min with PMA at concentrations from 10 to 1000 ng/ml, zymosan- and Con A-stimulated compound release was greatly enhanced. PMA also potentiated arachidonic acid release when cells were stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187. However, under the same conditions, PMA treatment blocked agonist- and ionophore-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol. Thus, PMA treatment appears to have dissociated agonist-induced arachidonic acid liberation (index of phospholipase A2) from phosphoinositide hydrolysis (index of phospholipase C), suggesting that these two coupling processes can occur in a parallel and independent manner in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, the ligand-induced arachidonic acid release from PMA-treated macrophages was shown to be directly dependent on the extracellular calcium concentration. Considering that in PMA-pretreated cells, receptor-mediated phosphoinositide breakdown and intracellular calcium mobilization were abolished, our data suggest that the extracellular calcium influx that takes place after receptor-ligand interaction may be a required event for arachidonic acid mobilization in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Induction of the oxidative response and of concanavalin A-binding capacity in maturing human U937 cells.

Differentiation of U937 cells with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induces high stimulation by concanavalin A of the respiratory burst as well as an increase in concanavalin A-binding cell capacity. New concanavalin A-binding proteins are detected as differentiated U937 cells acquire their capacity to be activated by concanavalin A. We identified several concanavalin A-binding proteins, of molecular mass 30-200 kDa, in PMA-differentiated cells, but only some of them seem to be directly related to the concanavalin A effect on the respiratory burst. One of these candidates could be a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass of 140 kDa which behaved as a major concanavalin A-binding protein and is expressed on differentiated cells at the time these cells respond maximally to concanavalin A.

Calcimycin↗

PubMed1990

Phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis by human plasma phospholipase D.

A phospholipase D activity able to hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol has previously been described in the cytosol of human neutrophils. The experiments reported here demonstrate that this phosphatidylinositol-hydrolyzing phospholipase D activity is also present in human plasma. This activity was assessed by free inositol release from phosphatidylinositol substrate, by phosphatidate formation and by phosphatidylethanol formation through its capacity of catalyzing a transphosphatidylation reaction. This plasma enzyme activity shows an optimum pH of 8.0 and is inhibited by EGTA.

Humans↗

PubMed1989

Biochemical characterization of phospholipase D activity from human neutrophils.

We have found a phospholipase D activity in the postnuclear fraction of human neutrophils, employing phosphatidylinositol as exogenous substrate. This phospholipase D activity was assessed by both phosphatidate formation and by free inositol release in the presence of 15 mM LiCl in the reaction mixture and in the absence of Mg2+ ions to prevent inositol-1-phosphate phosphatase activity. To assess further the phospholipase D activity, we studied its capacity to catalyze a transphosphatidylation reaction, as a unique feature of the enzyme. It was detected as [14C]phosphatidylethanol formation when the postnuclear fraction was incubated with [14C]phosphatidylinositol in the presence of ethanol. The phospholipase D showed a major optimum pH at 7.5 and a minor one at pH 5.0. Neutral and acid phospholipase D activities were differentially located in subcellular fractionation studies of resting neutrophils, namely in the cytosol and in the azurophilic granules, respectively. Neutral phospholipase D required Ca2+ ions to the active, whereas the acid enzyme activity was Ca2(+)-independent. The neutral phospholipase D activity showed a certain specificity for phosphatidylinositol, as it was able to hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol at a much higher rate than phosphatidylcholine, in the absence and in the presence of different detergents. This neutral phospholipase D activity behaved as a protein of high molecular mass (350-400 kDa) by gel filtration chromatography. Moreover, neutral phospholipase D activity was detected in the postnuclear fraction of human monocytes, by measuring free inositol release from phosphatidylinositol as exogenous substrate, under the same experimental conditions as those used with neutrophils. The enzyme displayed similar specific activities in both cell types as well as the same degree of activation after cell stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187. These results demonstrate the existence of two phospholipase D activities with different pH optima and intracellular location in human neutrophils. Furthermore, these results suggest that this phospholipase D can play a role in signal-transducing processes during cell stimulation in human phagocytes.

Cell Fractionation↗

PubMed1988

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D: a pathway for generation of a second messenger.

We have found a phospholipase D activity in the postnuclear fraction of human neutrophils which is stimulated by incubation of cells with the calcium ionophore A23187. The phospholipase D activity was assessed by both phosphatidate formation and free inositol release from phosphatidylinositol substrate. The phospholipase D activity shows an optimum pH of 7.5 and hydrolyzes specifically phosphatidylinositol. These results suggest that this phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D can play a role in cell activating process.

Calcimycin↗

PubMed1988

The interaction of ethanol and exogenous arachidonic acid in the generation of extracellular messengers by mouse peritoneal macrophages.

It is increasingly recognized that macrophages play a crucial role in the development of chronic inflammatory states such as alcoholic liver disease. These cells can metabolize free arachidonic acid in the absence of a discernible trigger. The present study was undertaken to examine the short-term effects of ethanol on the generation of these exogenous arachidonate-derived extracellular mediators. Ethanol caused a dose-dependent decrease in the production of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites. Similar effects were observed on the esterification of exogenous arachidonate into cellular lipids. To characterize further the effects of ethanol on exogenous arachidonic acid metabolism, we studied the short-term responses displayed by macrophages challenged with another soluble stimulus; the tumor-promoting agent phorbol myristate acetate. We observed an inhibition by ethanol of the superoxide anion response triggered by phorbol myristate acetate similar to that observed for exogenous arachidonate oxygenation. Our results show that ethanol can inhibit these soluble stimuli-elicited responses, possibly through its disorganizing effect on plasma membrane.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Specific activation by concanavalin A of the superoxide anion generation capacity during U937 differentiation.

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induces changes in the human monocyte-macrophage-like cell line U937 which reflect cellular differentiation. PMA prompted the expression of the superoxide anion (O2-) generating capacity in U937 upon appropriate stimulation. A highly specific stimulation by Concanavalin A (Con A) of O2- release was observed in PMA-differentiated U937 cells, which exceeded in 10-20 times that obtained with Con A-stimulated monocytes and neutrophils. These results indicate that a highly specific machinery required for Con A stimulation, practically absent in mature monocytes and neutrophils, is synthesized during PMA-induced U937 differentiation. A novel cytochrome b putatively involved in O2- generation was detected in U937 cells. This cytochrome b content was increased during PMA-induced cell differentiation, although no linear correlation was found between capability to produce O2- by macrophage-like U937 cells and their content of cytochrome b.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Phospholipase A2 activity in resting and activated human neutrophils. Substrate specificity, pH dependence, and subcellular localization.

We have studied the phospholipase A2 activity in fractionated human neutrophils, employing labeled phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine as exogenous substrates. We used these phospholipid substrates labeled in the sn-1 position and measured the resulting labeled lysophospholipid forms in order to ascertain the phospholipase A2 specificity. In postnuclear supernatants from resting and A23187-activated cells, the phospholipase A2 activity showed a similar pH dependence curve with two pH optima at 5.5 and 7.5. Extracts from activated cells showed a 3-6-fold increase in enzyme activity. The subcellular distribution of phospholipase A2 activity in resting and A23187-treated human neutrophils was investigated by fractionation of postnuclear supernatants on continuous sucrose gradients. The neutral phospholipase A2 behaved as a membrane-bound enzyme and was mainly localized in the plasma membrane, the azurophilic granule, and in an ill-defined region of the gradient between the specific granules and mitochondria. The phospholipase A2 located in this undefined region showed a higher degree of activation than that located in other subcellular particulates in A23187-treated cells. This specific activation of an intracellular phospholipase A2 activity during cell stimulation indicates that cell compartmentalization may play a role in the formation of cell-activating and/or signal-transducing agents through the generation of arachidonate metabolites. Phosphatidylinositol was a better substrate for the plasma membrane enzyme, whereas phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine behaved as better substrates for intracellular organelle phospholipase A2 activities. The phospholipase A2 with maximal activity at pH 5.5 behaved as a soluble enzyme, and was almost completely localized in the azurophilic granules. Upon cell activation this acid enzyme activity was released in a similar way to beta-glucuronidase, a marker of azurophilic granules. These results demonstrate the different molecular properties of the phospholipase A2 activity, on the basis of its cellular location.

Calcimycin↗