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J J Lemasters

Publications and source records attributed to J J Lemasters.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Role of free radicals in primary nonfunction of marginal fatty grafts from rats treated acutely with ethanol.

Acute treatment with one large dose of ethanol, which mimics binge drinking, causes marginal fatty liver and decreases survival significantly after liver transplantation in rats, yet mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the possible role of free radicals in primary nonfunction caused by acute ethanol. Female donor rats were administered ethanol (5 g/kg orally) 20 hr before explantation, and grafts were stored in UW cold storage solution for 24-42 hr before implantation. Free radicals were trapped with alpha-(4-pyridyl 1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone after transplantation, and adducts were detected using electron spin resonance spectrometry. Ethanol increased a carbon-centered radical adduct in bile approximately 2-fold and elevated serum lipid hydroperoxides approximately 4-fold. Ethanol also increased transaminase release 3.7-fold and decreased bile production by 55%. Catechin, a free radical scavenger, minimized the increase in free radicals, blunted transaminase release, and elevated bile production significantly, indicating that free radical production plays an important role in ethanol-induced fatty graft injury. GdCl3 (20 mg/kg intravenously), a selective Kupffer cell toxicant, largely blocked the increases in free radical and lipid hydroperoxide production caused by ethanol. In addition, ethanol nearly doubled white blood cell adhesion after transplantation, leading to increased superoxide production in fatty grafts. GdCl3 largely blocked leukocyte adhesion as well as superoxide production. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, also diminished free radical production, blunted transaminase release, and improved bile production in fatty grafts significantly. Taken together, we conclude that free radical formation increases in ethanol-induced fatty grafts due mainly to activation of Kupffer cells and increased adhesion of white blood cells. Antioxidants can effectively block free radical formation and minimize injury to marginal fatty grafts caused by binge drinking.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Reperfusion injury after liver preservation for transplantation.

Preservation injury remains an obstacle to greater utilization of liver transplantation therapy. Livers can be preserved a maximum of 24 h in University of Wisconsin solution. After longer times, reperfusion precipitates endothelial cell killing and activation of Kupffer cells (liver macrophages). Together, Kupffer cell activation and endothelial cell killing cause microcirculatory disturbances, leukocyte and platelet adhesion, and a systemic inflammatory response after graft implantation. Down-regulation of Kupffer cells with calcium blockers or pentoxifylline improves graft survival, whereas priming with lipopolysaccharide or alcohol worsens survival. Flushing grafts after storage with Carolina rinse solution containing antioxidants, adenosine, calcium blocker, energy substrates, and glycine at pH 6.5 decreases endothelial cell killing, reduces Kupffer cell activation, and improves graft survival. Understanding of the roles of different cells in storage/reperfusion injury forms the basis for strategies to prolong organ storage, improve graft function, and reduce failure of fatty grafts from alcoholic donors.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mitochondrial permeability transition in hepatocytes induced by t-BuOOH: NAD(P)H and reactive oxygen species.

Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) induces the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) in hepatocytes, leading to cell death. Using confocal microscopy, we visualized pyridine nucleotide oxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation induced by t-BuOOH. Reduced mitochondrial pyridine nucleotides (NADH and NADPH) were imaged by autofluorescence. Mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS, onset of MPT, and cell death were monitored with tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM), dichlorofluorescin, calcein, and propidium iodide, respectively. t-BuOOH rapidly oxidized mitochondrial NAD(P)H. Oxidation was biphasic, and the second slower phase occurred during mitochondrial ROS generation. Subsequently, MPT took place, mitochondria depolarized, and cells died. beta-Hydroxybutyrate, which reduces mitochondrial NAD+, delayed cell killing, but lactate, which reduces cytosolic NAD+, did not. Trifluoperazine, which inhibits MPT, did not block the initial oxidation of NAD(P)H but prevented the second phase of oxidation, partially blocked ROS formation, and preserved cell viability. The antioxidants, deferoxamine and diphenylphenylenediamine, also prevented the second phase of NAD(P)H oxidation. They also blocked ROS formation nearly completely and stopped cell killing. Both antioxidants also prevented the mitochondrial permeability transition and subsequent mitochondrial depolarization. In conclusion, NAD(P)H oxidation and ROS formation are critical events promoting MPT in oxidative injury and death of hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mitochondrial permeability transition in pH-dependent reperfusion injury to rat hepatocytes.

To simulate ischemia and reperfusion, cultured rat hepatocytes were incubated in anoxic buffer at pH 6.2 for 4 h and reoxygenated at pH 7.4. During anoxia, intracellular pH (pHi) decreased to 6.3, mitochondria depolarized, and ATP decreased to < 1% of basal values, but the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) did not occur as assessed by confocal microscopy from the redistribution of cytosolic calcein into mitochondria. Moreover, cell viability remained > 90%. After reperfusion at pH 7.4, pHi returned to pH 7.2, the MPT occurred, and most hepatocytes lost viability. In contrast, after reperfusion at pH 6.2 or with Na(+)-free buffer at pH 7.4, pHi did not rise and cell viability remained > 80%. After acidotic reperfusion, the MPT did not occur. When hepatocytes were reperfused with cyclosporin A (0.5-1 microM) at pH 7.4, the MPT was prevented and cell viability remained > 80%, although pHi increased to 7.2. Reperfusion with glycine (5 mM) also prevented cell killing but did not block recovery of pHi or the MPT. Retention of cell viability was associated with recovery of 30-40% of ATP. In conclusion, preventing the rise of pHi after reperfusion blocked the MPT, improved ATP recovery, and prevented cell death. Cyclosporin A also prevented cell killing by blocking the MPT without blocking recovery of pHi. Glycine prevented cell killing but did not inhibit recovery of pHi or the MPT.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1997

Adaptive Kupffer cell alterations after femur fracture trauma in rats.

Because Kupffer cells constitute the largest fixed macrophage population and reside at a strategic position in hepatic sinusoids, interacting with hepatocytes, circulating cells, and mediators from the gut, they may be important in the inflammatory response after injury. This study examined the effect of remote tissue injury on Kupffer cell function. Femurs of Sprague-Dawley rats were fractured under anesthesia. Subsequently, their livers were perfused for measurement of oxygen consumption and the isolation and culture of Kupffer cells. At 2 and 48 h after femur fracture, hepatic oxygen consumption increased 17 and 19%, respectively. Gadolinium chloride pretreatment to ablate Kupffer cells blocked this increase of hepatic oxygen consumption after femur fracture but had no effect in sham-operated animals. In Kupffer cells isolated and cultured 2 h after femur fracture, superoxide formation stimulated by phorbol ester increased eightfold, phagocytosis increased fourfold, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated prostaglandin E2 increased sixfold in comparison to sham-operated controls. In contrast, LPS-stimulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide production decreased 50 and 60%, respectively. These data show that peripheral trauma rapidly induces changes in hepatic macrophages characterized by adaptation to a more antimicrobial and less proinflammatory phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

When does the lung die? Kfc, cell viability, and adenine nucleotide changes in the circulation-arrested rat lung.

Lungs harvested from cadaveric circulation-arrested donors may increase the donor pool for lung transplantation. To determine the degree and time course of ischemia-reperfusion injury, we evaluated the effect of O2 ventilation on capillary permeability [capillary filtration coefficient (Kfc)], cell viability, and total adenine nucleotide (TAN) levels in in situ circulation-arrested rat lungs. Kfc increased with increasing postmortem ischemic time (r = 0.88). Lungs ventilated with O2 1 h postmortem had similar Kfc and wet-to-dry ratios as controls. Nonventilated lungs had threefold (P < 0.05) and sevenfold (P < 0.0001) increases in Kfc at 30 and 60 min postmortem compared with controls. Cell viability decreased in all groups except for 30-min postmortem O2-ventilated lungs. TAN levels decreased with increasing ischemic time, particularly in nonventilated lungs. Loss of adenine nucleotides correlated with increasing Kfc values (r = 0.76). This study indicates that lungs retrieved 1 h postmortem may have normal Kfc with preharvest O2 ventilation. The relationship between Kfc and TAN suggests that vascular permeability may be related to lung TAN levels.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1997

The mitochondrial permeability transition in toxic, hypoxic and reperfusion injury.

Opening of a non-specific, high conductance permeability transition pore or megachannel in the inner mitochondrial membrane causes onset of the mitochondrial permeability transition, which is characterized by mitochondrial swelling, depolarization and uncoupling. Inducers of the permeability transition include Ca2+, oxidant stress and a permissive pH greater than 7.0. Blockers include cyclosporin A, trifluoperazine and pH < 7. Using laser scanning confocal microscopy, we developed techniques to visualize onset of the mitochondrial permeability transition in situ in living cells. In untreated cells, the permeability transition pore is continuously closed and does not 'flicker' open. By contrast, the pore opens in liver and heart cells after exposure to oxidant chemicals, calcium ionophore, hypoxia and ischemia/reperfusion, causing mitochondrial uncoupling and aggravation of ATP depletion. In injury to hepatocytes from tert-butylhydroperoxide, an analog of lipid hydroperoxides generated during oxidative stress, onset of the mitochondrial permeability transition is preceded by oxidation of mitochondrial pyridine nucleotides, mitochondrial generation of oxygen radicals and an increase of mitochondrial Ca2+, all inducers of the mitochondrial permeability transition. In ischemia, the acidosis of anaerobic metabolism protects strongly against cell death. During reperfusion, recovery of pH to normal levels is a stress that actually precipitates cell killing. Onset of the mitochondrial permeability transition may be responsible, in part, for this pH-dependent injury, or pH paradox. The mitochondrial permeability transition may also be responsible for a variety of pathological phenomena. In particular, the mitochondrial permeability transition may underlie Reye's syndrome and Reye's-like drug toxicities. In conclusion, multiple mechanisms contribute to cell injury after hypoxia, ischemia/reperfusion and toxic chemicals, but a common final pathway leading to acute cellular necrosis may be ATP depletion after mitochondrial failure. One important mechanism causing mitochondrial failure is the mitochondrial permeability transition, which both uncouples oxidative phosphorylation and accelerates ATP hydrolysis. Interventions that block this pH-dependent phenomenon protect against onset of cell death.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Protection by Carolina rinse solution, acidotic pH, and glycine against lethal reperfusion injury to sinusoidal endothelial cells of rat livers stored for transplantation.

The critical injury causing graft failure after prolonged liver storage involves reperfusion-induced killing of sinusoidal endothelial cells and activation of Kupffer cells. Treatment of stored livers with Carolina rinse solution (CRS) prevents endothelial cell killing, reduces Kupffer cell activation, and improves graft survival. Accordingly, our aim was to evaluate the components of CRS and other agents for protection against reperfusion injury to rat livers stored 24 hr in University of Wisconsin solution. CRS virtually abolished endothelial cell killing, prevented denudation of the sinusoidal lining, and decreased structural changes in Kupffer cells indicative of activation. The only component of CRS preventing endothelial cell killing was acidic pH of 6.5. However, when pH was subsequently increased to 7.4, antioxidants (allopurinol, deferoxamine mesylate, and glutathione), vasodilators (adenosine and nicardipine), and possibly energy substrates (fructose, glucose, and insulin) partially blocked pH-dependent cell killing (pH paradox). Na+/H+ exchange inhibition, protease inhibition, and Ca(2+)-free buffer did not decrease reperfusion injury, but the amino acid glycine protected strongly. Strychnine, which binds to glycine receptors in the central nervous system, protected equally well. Protection by glycine and CRS was synergistic, virtually.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Cadaver lungs for transplantation. Effect of ventilation with alveolar gas.

In an effort to increase the donor pool for lung transplantation (LTX), we have demonstrated the feasibility of LTX from circulation-arrested cadavers in a canine LTX model. We hypothesized that ventilation of the cadaver lung with alveolar gas (20% O2, 5% CO2, balance N2) (AG) would be superior to ventilation with 100% oxygen (O2) after circulatory arrest of the donor. Twelve mongrel dogs were intubated, heparinized and euthanized by pentothal injection and ventilated with AG (n=6) or O2 (n=6). Four hours later, donor animals underwent sternotomy, and the lungs were flushed with cold modified Euro-Collins solution, harvested, and stored inflated in ice slush. Left lung allotransplantation was performed, and recipients were made dependent o n the transplanted lung by occlusion of the contralateral bronchus and pulmonary artery. Recipient animals were ventilated with an FiO2 of 0.4 and followed for 8 hr. Total ischemic time was 7.9 hr for both groups. Pulmonary edema developed in all recipients of AG lungs; one recipient survived the 8-hr observation period with poor oxygenation. In contrast, three of six recipients of O2-ventilated lungs survived for 8-hr with excellent gas exchange. Specimens of donor lungs before and after transplant were evaluated histologically utilizing trypan blue exclusion as an indicator of cell viability. At the time of organ retrieval 4 hr after death, 6% of cells were nonviable in the O2-ventilated cadaver lungs. Circulation-arrested cadaver lungs ventilated with 100% O2 prior to organ retrieval have superior pulmonary function after transplant compared with lungs ventilated with AG. Ventilation of cadaver lungs with AG induces pulmonary injury in this model. retrieval of donor lungs from circulation-arrested cadavers has potential for increasing the pulmonary donor pool.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Mitochondrial free calcium transients during excitation-contraction coupling in rabbit cardiac myocytes.

Mitochondrial free Ca2+ may regulate mitochondrial ATP production during cardiac exercise. Here, using laser scanning confocal microscopy of adult rabbit cardiac myocytes co-loaded with Fluo-3 to measure free Ca2+ and tetramethylrhodamine methylester to identify mitochondria, we measured cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ transients during the contractile cycle. In resting cells, cytosolic and mitochondrial Fluo-3 signals were similar. During electrical pacing, transients of Fluo-3 fluorescence occurred in both the cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments. Both the mitochondrial and the cytosolic transients were potentiated by isoproterenol. These experiments show directly that mitochondrial free Ca2+ rises and falls during excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes and that changes of mitochondrial Ca2+ are kinetically competent to regulate mitochondrial metabolism on a beat-to-beat basis.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed1996

Down-regulation of HCW9 mRNA in rat hepatocytes during chemical hypoxia involves both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.

HCW9 cDNA encodes a rat protein with 95% homology to mouse phospholipase A2 activating protein (PLAP). Its mRNA, which is substantially decreased in rat hepatocytes during chemical hypoxic injury, was found to be expressed in all rat tissues examined, including liver, heart, brain, spleen, lung, skeletal muscle, kidney, and testis. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for this hypoxia-induced down-regulation of HCW9 mRNA levels, the transcription rate and half-life of HCW9 mRNA were measured. Nuclear run-off assays revealed a 54-57% inhibition in the transcription rate of HCW9 gene during chemical hypoxic injury. The half-life of HCW9 mRNA decreased from approximately 15 min under normoxic conditions to approximately 7 min during chemical hypoxic injury. These findings suggest that HCW9 expression in rat hepatocytes is regulated at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels during chemical hypoxia.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Destruction of Kupffer cells increases survival and reduces graft injury after transplantation of fatty livers from ethanol-treated rats.

This study investigated the role of Kupffer cells on survival and graft injury in transplanted fatty livers from rats treated acutely with ethanol. Donor rats were given ethanol (5 g/kg, by mouth) 20 hours before explantation, and liver grafts were preserved in University of Wisconsin cold storage solution for 24 to 42 hours prior to implantation. Blood samples were taken from the inferior vena cava for 3 hours after implantation. During this time, serum aspartate transaminase levels increased gradually from 122 U/L to 597 U/L in control rats, while ethanol treatment elevated values to 2,278 U/L. Gadolinium chloride (20 mg/kg, given intravenously to recipients 24 hours before explantation), a selective inactivator of Kupffer cells, minimized the increase in aspartate transaminase levels significantly. After implantation of grafts cold-stored for 42 hours, survival rates were 88% in control rats but only 33% in ethanol-treated rats. Gadolinium chloride improved survival nearly to control values. Ethanol nearly doubled white blood cell adhesion, an effect also largely blocked by gadolinium chloride. Further, alpha-(4-pyridyl 1-oxid)-N-tert-butylnitrone radical adducts detected in the bile were increased twofold by ethanol treatment. This effect was also reversed by gadolinium chloride. Taken together, these data indicate that survival is poorer and graft injury is greater in fatty livers from ethanol-treated rats. Inactivation of Kupffer cells minimized graft damage, most likely by improving hepatic microcirculation and diminishing lipid peroxidation.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

The pH paradox in ischemia-reperfusion injury to cardiac myocytes.

During myocardial ischemia, a large reduction of tissue pH develops, and tissue pH returns to normal after reperfusion. In recent studies, we evaluated the role of pH in ischemia/reperfusion injury to cultured cardiac myocytes and perfused papillary muscles. Acidosis (pH < or = 7.0) protected profoundly against cell death during ischemia. However, the return from acidotic to normal pH after reperfusion caused myocytes to lose viability. This worsening of injury is a 'pH paradox' and was mediated by changes of intracellular pH (pH(i)), since manipulations that caused pH(i), to increase more rapidly after reperfusion accelerated cell killing, whereas manipulations that delayed the increase of pH(i) prevented loss of myocyte viability. Specifically, inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger with dimethylamiloride or HOE694 delayed the return of physiologic pH(i) after reperfusion and prevented reperfusion-induced cell killing to both cultured myocytes and perfused papillary muscle. Dimethylamiloride and HOE694 did not reduce intracellular free Ca2+ during reperfusion. By contrast, reperfusion with dichlorobenzamil, an inhibitor of Na+/Ca2+ exchange, decreased free Ca2+ but did not reduce cell killing. Thus, the pH paradox is not Ca(2+)-dependent. Our working hypothesis is that ischemia activates hydrolytic enzymes, such as phospholipases and proteases, whose activity is inhibited at acidotic pH. Upon reperfusion, the return to normal pH releases this inhibition and hydrolytic injury ensues. Increasing pH(i) may also induce a pH-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition and activate the myofibrillar ATPase, effects that increase ATP demand and compromise ATP supply. In conclusion, acidotic pH is generally protective in ischemia, whereas a return to physiologic pH precipitates lethal reperfusion injury to myocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Studies of rat lung viability and adenine nucleotide metabolism after death.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies from our laboratory have supported the use of cadaveric lungs for transplantation. In this study we investigated different preservation strategies for lungs retrieved from cadavers 4 hours after circulatory arrest. METHODS: Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed and then ventilated with 100% oxygen for 4 hours. The lungs were then flushed with modified Euro-Collins, University of Wisconsin, or Carolina rinse solution, either alone, with prostaglandin E1, or with prostaglandin E1 plus the free radical scavenger dimethylthiourea. After an additional 4-hour cold storage, the left lung was flushed with trypan blue solution to quantify cell viability, whereas the right lung was used to determine wet-to-dry weight ratios and to measure the levels of the adenine nucleotides adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and adenosine monophosphate by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Viability was consistently better in the lungs flushed with Carolina rinse solution; these differences were statistically significant compared with those in the corresponding modified Euro-Collins subgroups (p < 0.005). The addition of prostaglandin E1 to all three preservation solutions improved the total adenine nucleotide levels; this increase was statistically significant for the modified Euro-Collins subgroup (p < 0.005). The total adenine nucleotide levels for the University of Wisconsin subgroups were higher than those for the corresponding modified Euro-Collins subgroups. The highest total adenine nucleotide levels were obtained in lungs flushed with Carolina rinse plus prostaglandin E1. Wet-to-dry weight ratios were always significantly lower in the lungs preserved with University of Wisconsin solution (p < 0.05), with a value similar to that of fresh tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of the solution used to flush and to store rat cadaveric lungs have an impact on lung viability and adenine nucleotide metabolism. The ideal preservation strategy may allow for lung retrieval from cadavers for safe transplantation.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1996

Cyclosporin A delays mitochondrial depolarization induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate in cortical neurons: evidence of the mitochondrial permeability transition.

N-Methyl-D-aspartate causes a rapid increase in intracellular Ca2+ leading to collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential and eventually cell death in cortical neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism responsible for mitochondrial depolarization using laser scanning confocal microscopy of single cultured rate cortical neurons. To monitor mitochondrial membrane potential, neuronal mitochondria were labeled with tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester, a cationic fluorophore that accumulates in polarized mitochondria. In neurons cultured on poly-D-lysine-coated coverslips, N-methyl-D-aspartate caused mitochondrial depolarization in 88% of cells in 30 min. Cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition, delayed depolarization in a dose-dependent manner (0.2-1 microM). In neurons cultured on an astrocyte feeder layer, N-methyl-D-aspartate also caused mitochondrial depolarization. Cyclosporin A again delayed mitochondrial depolarization, although higher concentrations were needed. These data show for the first time that mitochondrial depolarization induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate may be due to the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Contribution of pH-dependent group II phospholipase A2 to chemical hypoxic injury in rat hepatocytes.

Numerous studies have suggested that enhanced membrane phospholipid degradation contributes to hypoxic and ischemic injury. Recently, acidosis has been found to potently protect against hypoxic and ischemic injury. To investigate the interrelationships of these two events in hypoxic injury, we studied the role of a pH-dependent group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2, E.C. 3.1.1.4) in chemical hypoxic injury in rat hepatocytes. Northern blot analysis of RNA extracted from normoxic and hypoxic rat hepatocytes with group II rat liver PLA2-specific oligonucleotide cDNA probes revealed a 0.9 kb transcript whose abundance was significantly increased in rat hepatocytes within 15 min after initiation of chemical hypoxia and remained high until cells lost viability. Immunofluorescence staining of hepatocytes with polyclonal antibodies that recognize group II PLA2 demonstrated a substantial increase in the level of PLA2 protein in hypoxic rat hepatocytes within 30 min of initiation of hypoxic injury. Treatment of hepatocytes with group II PLA2-specific anti-sense DNA oligonucleotides: 1) abolished accumulation of PLA2 protein in hypoxic rat hepatocytes as assessed by immunofluorescence staining with anti-PLA2 antibodies; 2) decreased the enzymatic activity of PLA2 manifested as decreased arachidonic acid release in hypoxic hepatocytes; and 3) significantly delayed cell death evoked by chemical hypoxia as indicated by a decrease in propidium iodide uptake. These findings suggest that pH-dependent group II PLA2 plays an important role in chemical hypoxic injury of rat hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Endocytosis and Ca2+ are required for endotoxin-stimulated TNF-alpha release by rat Kupffer cells.

Endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] is a cell wall polymer derived from Gram-negative bacteria that stimulates macrophages to produce a variety of inflammatory mediators. In these studies, we examined LPS-stimulated formation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by cultured rat Kupffer cells. Cytochalasin B and methylpalmitate, blockers of endocytosis, decreased LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release by > 92%. Bafilomycin A, monensin, and chloroquine, which prevent endosomal acidification, also blocked LPS-stimulated release of TNF-alpha by > 90%. Cytochalasin B and bafilomycin A decreased TNF-alpha mRNA levels by > 90% after LPS stimulation. Consistent with the requirement for LPS uptake and processing was the observation that Kupffer cells required 30 min of contact with LPS for maximal TNF-alpha release. LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release was unaltered by incubation in Ca(2+)-free ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid medium, and A-23187, a Ca2+ ionophore, failed to stimulate TNF-alpha release in the absence of LPS. However, nisoldipine, a Ca2+ channel blocker, suppressed LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release in cells cultured both in Ca(2+)-containing and Ca(2+)-free media. Although thapsigargin did not block TNF-alpha release, this depleter of intracellular Ca2+ stores blocked LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha synthesis in Ca(2+)-free medium and decreased TNF-alpha mRNA levels by 80%. Furthermore, LPS induced a late rise in intracellular free Ca2+ demonstrated by video microscopy of fura 2-loaded Kupffer cells. De novo protein and RNA synthesis were required, since cycloheximide and actinomycin D also inhibited LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release. We compared free TNF-alpha secreted into culture supernatants with cell-associated TNF-alpha and found that cytochalasin B, bafilomycin A, chloroquine, monensin, and nisoldipine did not increase bound, cell-associated TNF-alpha. We conclude that endocytosis and endocytic processing may be necessary for LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release from Kupffer cells. Ca2+ release, regulated by dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels, also appears to be necessary for LPS-induced signaling and may arise from intracellular stores associated with the endosome/lysosome compartment.

Animals↗