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J el Benna

Publications and source records attributed to J el Benna.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Regulation of human neutrophil oxidative burst by pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines].

Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils play a key role in host defenses against invading microorganisms. In response to a variety of stimuli, neutrophils release large quantities of superoxide anion (O2.-) in a phenomenon known as the respiratory burst. O2.- is the precursor of potent oxidants, which are essential for bacterial killing and also potentiate inflammatory reactions. Regulation of this production is therefore critical to kill pathogens without inducing tissue injury. Neutrophil production of O2.- is dependent on the respiratory burst oxidase, or NADPH oxidase, a multicomponent enzyme system that catalyzes NADPH-dependent reduction of oxygen to O2.-. NADPH oxidase is activated and regulated by various neutrophil stimuli at infectious or inflammatory sites. Proinflammatory cytokines such as GM-CSF, TNF and IL-8 modulate NADPH oxidase activity through a priming phenomenon. These cytokines induce a very weak oxidative response by PMN but strongly enhance neutrophil release of reactive oxygen species on exposure to a secondary applied stimulus such as bacterial N-formyl peptides. Priming phenomena are involved in normal innate immune defense and in some inflammatory diseases. The mechanisms underlying the priming process are poorly understood, although some studies have suggested that priming with various agonists is regulated at the receptor and post-receptor levels. Resolution of inflammation involves desensitization phenomena and cytokines are involved in this process by various mechanisms. A better understanding of phenomena involved in the regulation of NADPH oxidase could help to develop novel therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases involving abnormal neutrophil superoxide production.

Cytokines↗

The phosphorylation targets of p47phox, a subunit of the respiratory burst oxidase. Functions of the individual target serines as evaluated by site-directed mutagenesis.

The respiratory burst oxidase of phagocytes and B lymphocytes catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to O2- at the expense of NADPH. Dormant in resting cells, the oxidase is activated by exposing the cells to appropriate stimuli. During activation, p47phox, a cytosolic oxidase subunit, becomes extensively phosphorylated on a number of serines located between S303 and S379. To determine whether this phosphorylation is necessary for oxidase activation, we examined phorbol-elicited oxidase activity in EBV-transformed B lymphoblasts deficient in p47phox after transfection with plasmids expressing various S-->A mutants of p47phox. The mutant containing S-->A mutations involving all serines between S303 and S379 [S(303-379)A] was not phosphorylated, did not translocate to plasma membrane during activation and was almost devoid of function. As to individual serines, S379 was of special interest because (a) p47 phox S379 was phosphorylated in phorbol-activated lymphoblasts expressing wild-type p47phox, and (b) p47phox S379A failed to translocate to the membrane, and was as functionless as p47phox S(303-379)A; other single S-->A mutations had little effect on oxidase activity. These findings suggest that the phosphorylation of S379 may be important for oxidase activation in whole cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The phosphorylation of the respiratory burst oxidase component p47phox during neutrophil activation. Phosphorylation of sites recognized by protein kinase C and by proline-directed kinases.

The respiratory burst oxidase catalyzes the production of O2.- from oxygen and NADPH. It is dormant in resting cells but becomes active when the cells are stimulated. Activation is accompanied by the phosphorylation of multiple serines in the cytosolic oxidase component p47phox, which moves from cytosol to the membrane during oxidase activation. Using immunopurified p47phox isolated from 32Pi-loaded neutrophils activated with phorbol myristate acetate, we showed that all the 32P was in the C-terminal CNBr fragment of the protein, and that in that fragment, Ser-303, Ser-304, Ser-320, Ser-328, Ser-345, and Ser-348 and at least one of the three serines, Ser-359, Ser-370, and Ser-379, were phosphorylated, while Ser-282, Ser-287, Ser-381, and Ser-388 were not. Of the phosphorylated serines, Ser-303, Ser-304, Ser-320, and Ser-328 are located in protein kinase C substrate sequences. Ser-345 and Ser-348, however, are located in sequences recognized by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (-PXSP-). This finding suggests that MAP kinase or a related proline-directed kinase may participate in the regulation of O2.- production by activated neutrophils. The tryptic peptide map of p47phox phosphopeptides from neutrophils activated by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine closely resembled that of p47phox phosphopeptides from phorbol-activated cells, suggesting that the same serines were phosphorylated in response to each agent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cytosolic guanine nucleotide-binding protein Rac2 operates in vivo as a component of the neutrophil respiratory burst oxidase. Transfer of Rac2 and the cytosolic oxidase components p47phox and p67phox to the submembranous actin cytoskeleton during oxidase activation.

The respiratory burst oxidase is responsible for O2- production in stimulated neutrophils and B lymphocytes. Components of this oxidase include cytochrome b558, a membrane-bound flavohemoprotein; the cytosolic polypeptides p47phox and p67phox; and one or more small G proteins including Rac1, Rac2, and/or Rap1A. We found that when normal neutrophils were activated, small percentages of each of the cytosolic proteins p47phox, p67phox, and Rac2 were transferred to the membrane cytoskeleton. However, Rac2 was not transferred to the membrane during activation of p47phox-deficient neutrophils. In normal cells, some p47phox also became associated with the non-cytoskeletal portion of the plasma membrane, but p67phox, Rac2, and O(2-)-forming activity were restricted to the cytoskeleton. Neutrophil activation also causes the phosphorylation of multiple serines in p47phox. The most heavily phosphorylated forms of p47phox were found solely in the membrane cytoskeleton. These results suggest that 1) the membrane cytoskeleton participates in respiratory burst oxidase activation, 2) the fully phosphorylated p47phox is located in the active oxidase, which resides in the membrane cytoskeleton, and 3) Rac2 acts like a dedicated component of the respiratory burst oxidase.

Actins↗

Cefdinir (CI-983), a new oral amino-2-thiazolyl cephalosporin, inhibits human neutrophil myeloperoxidase in the extracellular medium but not the phagolysosome.

Cefdinir, a new oral 2-amino-5-thiazolyl cephalosporin, inhibited the luminol-amplified chemiluminescence (LACL) response of human neutrophils stimulated by PMA but not opsonized zymosan, in a concentration-dependent but not time-dependent manner. The LACL response to opsonized zymosan in cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils was, however, inhibited by cefdinir. Various cephalosporins, regardless of the presence of a 2-amino-5-thiazolyl moiety, did not significantly alter the neutrophil LACL response triggered by PMA and zymosan. The LACL response induced by the calcium ionophore A23187 and FMLP was also impaired by cefdinir, and this impairment was increased in cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils. Superoxide anion generation by neutrophils, measured in terms of lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence and cytochrome c reduction, was not altered. Spontaneous and FMLP-induced neutrophil degranulation, assessed by lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase release, were not modified by cefdinir. Furthermore, cefdinir inhibited LACL generation in cell-free systems consisting of H2O2, NaI, and either horseradish peroxidase or a myeloperoxidase-containing neutrophil extract. Orthodianisidine oxidation in these two acellular systems was inhibited by cefdinir. Cefdinir did not alter neutrophil bacterial killing at concentrations that inhibited myeloperoxidase-containing neutrophil extract-dependent reactions induced by soluble stimuli. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that cefdinir directly inhibits the activity of myeloperoxidase-containing neutrophil extract released into the extracellular medium during neutrophil stimulation by soluble mediators, but has no effect on that released into the phagolysosome during phagocytosis. This unusual property of a member of the beta-lactam family could be of interest in modulating the exaggerated inflammatory process often associated with infectious diseases.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗

Resolution of major protein kinase substrates in neutrophil cytosol in response to DAG/PS and arachidonic acid stimulation and the selective action of various protein kinase inhibitors.

Stimulation of human neutrophils induces phosphorylation of several cellular proteins. Human neutrophils possess calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) alpha and beta isoforms and calcium-independent n isoforms. Little is known, however, of the physiological substrates of each isoform. In this study, we characterized the substrates of calcium-dependent and -independent PKC isoforms and the substrate of PKC activated by arachidonic acid. Furthermore, we found that the PKC inhibitor H-7 failed to inhibit phosphorylation of endogenous substrates of calcium-independent PKC activity. These results may help to understand the role of PKC in neutrophil activation and shed light on the different responses elicited by H-7 in intact cells.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Stimulation of the human neutrophil respiratory burst by formyl peptides is primed by a protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine.

Stimulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) by phorbol esters or formyl peptides (fMLP) generates large quantities of superoxide anion, the so-called respiratory burst (RB), a phenomenon associated with intense phosphorylation of a 47-kD protein (p47 phox). Staurosporine, a potent protein kinase C (PKC) antagonist, inhibits both responses when PMN are stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), suggesting a positive role of PKC. In this study, we reassessed these PMN responses in fMLP-stimulated cells and found that staurosporine had opposite effects depending on the duration of PMN treatment with staurosporine. Short PMN incubation (0.5 to 3 minutes) with 25 to 100 nmol/L staurosporine inhibited the fMLP-induced RB, whereas longer treatment (15 to 20 minutes) enhanced it by up to about 200% relative to controls. In contrast, the PMA-mediated RB was depressed by staurosporine in a time-dependent manner. A primed fMLP-induced RB was also observed after long (15 minutes) PMN treatment with 5 to 100 mumol/L H-7, whereas shorter treatment (5 minutes) resulted in a small decrease in RB. By contrast, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (2 to 80 mumol/L) depressed fMLP-induced RB whatever the duration of PMN treatment. Analysis of 32P-phosphorylated proteins in fMLP-stimulated cells showed that short PMN treatment (< 8 minutes) with staurosporine abolished the phosphorylation of the 47-kD protein, which was identified as p47 phox, whereas long treatment partially restored p47 phox phosphorylation up to approximately 50% of the control value. In PMA-stimulated PMN, phosphorylation was reduced in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the staurosporine-primed RB and the staurosporine-induced recovery of phosphorylation were inhibited by sphingosine but not by genistein. Thus, in addition to its known depressive effect, staurosporine markedly potentiated fMLP-stimulated RB as a function of the duration of PMN treatment. The restoration of p47 phox phosphorylation suggests that staurosporine may alter the interactions between different protein kinases, producing marked time-dependent changes in signalling pathways. These data emphasize the care that should be taken in interpreting data obtained using this kinase inhibitor that may, however, be helpful analyzing in signalling pathways.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Modulation of human polymorphonuclear neutrophil function by macrolides: preliminary data concerning dirithromycin.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) play a prominent role in the host response to infectious diseases. One major bactericidal mechanism used by these cells is the production of reactive oxygen species during what is referred to as the oxidative burst. However, excessive oxidant generation can also be involved in cell and tissue damage associated with severe inflammatory reactions. Macrolide antibiotics are able to penetrate and concentrate within phagocytes and have been successfully used to treat infections due to facultative intracellular pathogens. However, intracellular accumulation of macrolides with possible alkalinization of cellular compartments may interfere with normal cell function. In-vitro and ex-vivo data suggest that macrolides affect various phagocytic functions. This paper presents an overview of the published data concerning the modulation of neutrophil function by macrolides. Preliminary data concerning the in-vitro modulation of the neutrophil oxidative burst by dirithromycin and its metabolite, erythromycylamine, are also discussed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Inhibition of human neutrophil protein kinase C activity by the antimalarial drug mefloquine.

Mefloquine (alpha-(2-piperidyl)-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinemethanol) , an antimalarial drug, has been shown to inhibit human neutrophil functions, particularly oxygen-dependent bactericidal activity. Since calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) has a central role in the regulation of this function, we hypothesized that its activity might be altered by mefloquine. We found that mefloquine directly inhibited PKC in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 45 microM. This inhibition appeared to be non-competitive with respect to ATP, histone and phosphatidylserine. In addition, mefloquine inhibited the binding of [3H]phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate to PKC, indicating that it interacts with the regulatory domain of PKC. By contrast, mefloquine had little or no effect on neutrophil cAMP-dependent protein kinase or its catalytic subunit. Phorbol myristate acetate-induced protein phosphorylation in intact neutrophils was also inhibited by preincubation with mefloquine at concentrations similar to those inhibiting superoxide anion production. These data suggest that inhibition of neutrophil functions by mefloquine may be due to the inhibition of cellular PKC and that mefloquine could have further biological effects in situations in which PKC is involved.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

[Alteration of bacteria induced by subinhibitory concentrations of cefixime: consequences on bactericidal activity of human polynuclear neutrophils].

Subinhibitory concentrations of most parenteral cephalosporins have been reported to alter bacterial infectivity and, in particular, to increase the susceptibility of altered bacteria to the killing effects of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). Few data on this issue are available for oral cephalosporins. This study investigated the effects of sub-MIC concentrations of the new oral cephalosporin cefixime on two bacterial targets, i.e., S. aureus 209P (MIC 20 mg/l) and E. coli K12 (MIC 0.15 mg/l). After overnight incubation (18 hours) with 10 or 5 mg/l cefixime, susceptibility of S. aureus to the killing effects of PMNs was increased two-fold as compared with control organisms and susceptibility to the O2-independent PMN bactericidal system (PMN extract) was also increased. In contrast, the susceptibility of E. coli to PMN and to cell-free bactericidal systems was identical for cefixime-exposed strains (0.1 and 0.05 mg/l) and for unexposed controls. However, cefixime-exposed E. coli were filamentous, suggesting that bactericidal efficacy in terms of the bacterial mass eliminated was enhanced in exposed strains. These data show that low levels of cefixime are capable of producing major alterations in susceptible and resistant bacteria and of increasing their susceptibility to PMN. These effects may be relevant in vivo, in particular when low concentrations of antibiotics persist over long periods in infected sites.

Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary↗

Effects of anti-infectious agents on polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils play a crucial role in host defences against infectious diseases. New trends in anti-infectious therapy require knowledge of the possible interactions between the drugs and the natural defence system. This overview summarizes some of the in vitro data on the effects of anti-infectious agents on neutrophils. The relevance for the clinical situation is discussed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Effect of monodesethyl amodiaquine on human polymorphonuclear neutrophil functions in vitro.

We have previously observed that the antimalarial drug amodiaquine impairs the human polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) oxidative burst in vitro. However, the drug acted at a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml, far higher than that which is achievable therapeutically. Since amodiaquine is extensively metabolized into monodesethyl amodiaquine, we investigated whether the metabolite modified PMN functions at lower concentrations than amodiaquine does. Monodesethyl amodiaquine strongly depressed PMN chemotaxis and phagocytosis at concentrations as low as 10 micrograms/ml. This inhibition was reversed by washing out the drug. The PMN oxidative burst was markedly depressed by monodesethyl amodiaquine, whatever the assay technique (luminol-amplified chemiluminescence, lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence, myeloperoxidase activity) or stimulus used (opsonized zymosan, phorbol myristate acetate, formylmethionyl leucyl phenylalanine). There were extreme interindividual variations in sensitivity to the depressive effect of monodesethyl amodiaquine when the PMN oxidative burst was assayed in terms of luminol-amplified chemiluminescence or lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence. PMN samples were divided into two groups on the basis of the MIC of the drug: 60% of the samples were "highly sensitive," being strongly inhibited at concentrations as low as 0.1 micrograms/ml (obtained during therapy), whereas the "moderately sensitive" samples were inhibited at concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml and above. The difference between the two groups was highly significant. This PMN sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of the drug was not related to intrinsic oxidative metabolism. Our data indicate that monodesethyl amodiaquine, the main metabolite of amodiaquine, has a far stronger inhibitory effect on various PMN functions in vitro than the parent drug, warranting relevant in vivo studies.

Amodiaquine↗

Quinine uptake by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

The antimalarial drug quinine has been shown to impair human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functions. To gain insight into the mechanism of this phenomenon, we investigated quinine uptake by PMN with a fluorometric assay based on the fluorescence properties of this drug. After 30 min of incubation at 37 degrees C in the presence of 1 and 10 micrograms of quinine per ml, PMN-associated quinine reached 90 +/- 6 and 780 +/- 150 ng/2.5 x 10(6) PMN, respectively, giving a cellular-to-extracellular concentration ratio of 140 to 150. A steady state was reached within 5 min. Uptake was partially dependent on temperature, cell viability, and extracellular pH. Fractionation studies showed that 30 to 40% of the PMN-associated quinine was located in the particulate fraction. The efflux of PMN-associated quinine was rapid and complete when the incubation mixture was replaced by drug-free medium. These data suggest that several mechanisms are involved in the uptake of quinine by PMN, including a viability- and energy-independent process possibly related to reversible association of quinine to cell structures (particularly the membrane). Other mechanisms could involve trapping by protonation and/or active PMN transport systems. Thus, most of the quinine taken up by resting PMN is found in the soluble fraction of disrupted cells. This may partly explain the depressive properties of quinine.

Antimetabolites↗

Effect of quinine and cinchonine on human neutrophils functions in vitro.

We have compared the in-vitro interactions of quinine and cinchonine, two alkaloids from cinchona bark, with human neutrophil functions. Although these molecules are structurally similar, they induced a quantitatively different depressive effect on neutrophil chemotaxis and oxidative response. Quinine produced the strongest effect at concentrations as low as 10 mg/l, which may be achievable in serum during therapeutic use of this compound. The depression induced by cinchonine was noticeable only at 100 mg/l. Chemotaxis was decreased by about 25% (formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) or 39% (serum) for quinine (100 mg/l) only if a constant concentration of the drug was maintained during the assay while cinchonine had no effect on this PMN function. The greatest impairment was observed for the PMN oxidative burst: this was dose-dependent whatever the stimulus used (phorbol-myristate-acetate or opsonized zymosan). After 30 min incubation in the presence of the drugs, the zymosan-induced chemiluminescence response was decreased by 96% and by 67% with quinine, 100 and 10 mg/l, respectively, and by 62% with cinchonine 100 mg/l. The myeloperoxidase-mediated iodination of PMN was reduced by 100% and 46% with quinine, 100 and 10 mg/l, respectively, whereas cinchonine decreased this function by about 95% at 100 mg/l and 14% at 10 mg/l. Superoxide anion generation was impaired by 94% (quinine 100 mg/l) or 45% (cinchonine 100 mg/l). The relevance to the clinical situation and the possible mechanisms of such effects are discussed.

Cell-Free System↗

Synergistic bactericidal interaction of josamycin with human neutrophils in vitro.

Josamycin and erythromycin have been compared for their in-vitro interaction with bactericidal killing by human neutrophils. The mechanism of this interaction was studied in two ways. First, the target organisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were incubated for 60 min with josamycin, erythromycin or control buffer prior to use in a human polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) killing assay. Second the macrolides were added directly to acellular killing systems mimicking those acting inside the phagolysosome; oxygen-independent systems were obtained from a crude granule extract of PMN and oxygen-dependent systems consisted either of a mixture of xanthine plus xanthine oxidase or of a solution of H2O2. Whereas josamycin-pretreated P. aeruginosa were twice as sensitive to killing by PMN than were control cells, this was not the case for S. aureus. Both oxidant generating systems were more effective in destroying S. aureus in the presence of josamycin (3 and 30 mg/l). Erythromycin showed a similar synergy but only with the xanthine plus xanthine oxidase system. This synergy was observed with neither of the O2-independent systems for S. aureus, nor with any acellular system for P. aeruginosa. These data suggest that at least two kinds of mechanism may explain the bactericidal synergy observed between macrolides and PMN. The first (for macrolide-resistant species such as P. aeruginosa) could be due to alterations in the bacteria by the antibiotics, while the second (for macrolide-sensitive species such as S. aureus) could be based upon an as yet unexplained transformation of the molecules by reactive oxygen species into more "toxic" forms. These differences between josamycin and erythromycin could arise from differences in their chemical structure.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗

Comparison of cefodizime with various cephalosporins for their indirect effect on the human neutrophil oxidative burst in vitro.

Cefodizime, a 2-amino-thiazolyl cephalosporin, is reported to display in-vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo immunomodulatory properties; in particular, it enhances the survival of mice infected with cefodizime-resistant pathogens. We have used an in-vitro model to assess the indirect effect of this drug (compared with other cephalosporins) on the neutrophil (PMN) oxidative response. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was employed as the bacterial target for cefodizime and cefotaxime (MICs greater than 128 mg/l), cefsulodin (MIC 16 mg/l) and ceftazidime (MIC 32 mg/l). After overnight growth in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of each drug (10 mg/l), the altered filamentous P. aeruginosa induced a stronger oxidative response of PMN than untreated control bacteria. For all cephalosporins this was related to alterations of bacterial structure leading to increased deposits of antibodies and/or complement. Furthermore, increased non-opsonin dependent stimulation of the PMN oxidative burst was obtained; the strongest response was observed with cefodizime-treated P. aeruginosa in the case of low responder PMN, which displayed a deficient response after stimulation by control bacteria. The possibility that cefodizime could enhance this PMN function in opsonin-deficient patients requires further investigation.

Cefotaxime↗

[Synergism of josamycin and oxidation against Staphylococcus aureus].

We have previously reported that josamycin (JM) displayed a bactericidal synergy with human neutrophils (PMN) in vitro without altering significantly various cell functions (Labro et al., Path. Biol., 1989, 37, 329-334). Since JM may concentrate into phagocytes, and partly at least into lysosomes, it was of interest to analyze if the presence of this molecule could enhance the bactericidal activity of some acellular systems mimicking those acting inside the phagolysosome, using Staphylococcus aureus as the bacterial target. Erythromycin (EM) was assessed comparatively. While none of the macrolides increased the lethal effect of a crude PMN extract (02-independent system), an enhancement of the bacterial killing by an oxidant stress was observed in the presence of the 2 molecules. However, the effect of JM was strongest that the one induced by EM: S. aureus survival after exposure to xanthine + xanthine oxidase was 38 +/- 17.2% and it was reduced to 11 +/- 5.0 and 23 +/- 15.6 with JM (30 and 3 mg/l) and 22 +/- 13.1 and 23 +/- 9.7 with EM (30 and 3 mg/l). On the other hand, S. aureus survival after exposure to H2 O2 was reduced only by JM (16 +/- 9.4 and 32 +/- 6.9% versus 43 +/- 11.2% for controls). Pretreatment of S. aureus for 60 min by JM or EM did not alter the sensitivity of the bacteria either to PMN or to acellular systems. These data suggest that JM (and at a lesser degree EM) could be transformed by reactive oxygen species generated inside the phagolysosome to become more toxic for the bacteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗