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M Peters-Golden

Publications and source records attributed to M Peters-Golden.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Rapid import of cytosolic 5-lipoxygenase into the nucleus of neutrophils after in vivo recruitment and in vitro adherence.

5-Lipoxygenase catalyzes the synthesis of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid. The subcellular distribution of 5-lipoxygenase is known to be cell type-dependent and is cytosolic in blood neutrophils. In this study, we asked whether neutrophil recruitment into sites of inflammation can alter the subcellular compartmentation of 5-lipoxygenase. In peripheral blood neutrophils from rats, 5-lipoxygenase was exclusively cytosolic, as expected. However, in glycogen-elicited peritoneal neutrophils, abundant soluble 5-lipoxygenase was in the nucleus. Upon activation with calcium ionophore A23187, intranuclear 5-lipoxygenase translocated to the nuclear envelope. Elicited neutrophils required a greater concentration of A23187 for activation than did blood neutrophils (half-maximal response, 160 versus 52 nM, respectively) but generated greater amounts of leukotriene B4 upon maximal stimulation (26.6 versus 7.68 ng/10(6) cells, respectively). Intranuclear 5-lipoxygenase was also evident in human blood neutrophils after adherence to a variety of surfaces, suggesting that adherence alone is sufficient to drive 5-lipoxygenase redistribution. These results demonstrate a physiologically relevant circumstance in which the subcellular distribution of 5-lipoxygenase can be rapidly altered in resting cells, independent of 5-lipoxygenase activation. Nuclear import of 5-lipoxygenase may be a universal accompaniment of neutrophil recruitment into sites of inflammation, and this may be associated with alterations in enzymatic function.

Animals↗

Increased 5-lipoxygenase metabolism in the lungs of human subjects exposed to ozone.

The environmental pollutant ozone, at sufficiently high levels, is known to induce pulmonary inflammation with resultant airway obstruction in normal subjects. Eicosanoids comprise one group of mediators released from alveolar macrophages which are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory lung diseases. We compared the effects of 2-h exposures to 0.4 ppm ozone and filtered air on pulmonary function and eicosanoid levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in 11 normal healthy volunteers. Subjects were exposed to a 6-fold increase in minute ventilation using an adjusted work load on a cycle ergometer. All subjects complained of cough and dyspnea, and demonstrated increased airway obstruction, and increased specific airway resistance following ozone exposure as compared to air exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage cell count demonstrated a 9-fold increase in the number of neutrophils with a lesser reduction in the number of alveolar macrophages following ozone exposure. Notably, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid leukotriene (LT) C4 (8-fold) and to a lesser extent LTB4 (1.5-fold) levels were higher following ozone exposure compared to air control, with no change in prostaglandins. In a subset of four subjects, alveolar macrophage arachidonic acid metabolism was studied in vitro following separate in vivo exposures to both ozone and air. Alveolar macrophages obtained following ozone exposure released more 5-lipoxygenase (1.5-fold) metabolites, with no change in cyclooxygenase metabolites, than did cells obtained following air exposure. These observations document activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in the lung following ozone exposure, and suggest that alveolar macrophages may participate in the generation of LT, whose actions promote airway inflammation and obstruction.

Adolescent↗

Leukotriene-deficient mice manifest enhanced lethality from Klebsiella pneumonia in association with decreased alveolar macrophage phagocytic and bactericidal activities.

Leukotrienes (LTs) are potent mediators of inflammation derived from the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. Although they are known to enhance leukocyte recruitment and function, their role in antimicrobial host defense has not been established. To determine the role of endogenous LTs in the host response to pulmonary infection, wild-type mice and mice rendered LT-deficient by targeted disruption of the 5-lipoxygenase gene (knockout mice) were studied following intratracheal challenge with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Wild-type mice demonstrated a marked increase in lung LT levels and neutrophil numbers following bacterial challenge. As compared with wild-type animals, knockout animals manifested a greater degree of lethality as well as bacteremia following challenge. Interestingly, they displayed no defect in neutrophil recruitment to the lung. However, alveolar macrophages from knockout animals exhibited impairments in bacterial phagocytosis and killing, and these defects were overcome by in vitro addition of exogenous LTB4. We conclude that endogenous LTs play a critical role in the defense against bacterial pneumonia in this murine model.

Animals↗

Translocation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 to the nuclear envelope elicits topographically localized phospholipid hydrolysis.

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is a good candidate for mediating the agonist-stimulated release of arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids. This enzyme undergoes a Ca(2+)-dependent translocation from the cytosol to a membrane site in a variety of cell types, and this site has recently been identified as the nuclear envelope in leucocytes. The functional correlate of this finding has not yet been established. The present study was therefore undertaken to determine whether translocation of cPLA2 to the nuclear envelope was associated with localized phospholipid hydrolysis at this site. Rat alveolar epithelial cells, previously shown to contain cPLA2, were prelabelled with [3H]AA and stimulated with the model agonist, ionophore A23187. Ionophore-induced AA release exhibited characteristics typical of a cPLA2-mediated response, in that it was Ca(2+)-dependent, sn-2 AA-selective, and inhibited by arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone. As determined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopic analysis as well as subcellular fractionation with immunoblotting, ionophore treatment resulted in a translocation of cPLA2 protein from the cytoplasm to the nuclear envelope. To determine whether the nuclear membrane was indeed the source of released AA, prelabelled cells were incubated in the presence or absence of A23187, after which the phospholipid radioactivity was quantified in nuclear and non-nuclear membrane fractions. [3H]AA was distributed in both nuclear and non-nuclear membrane phospholipids. Following A23187 stimulation, the loss of [3H]AA from nuclear membrane phospholipids accounted for 88.1 +/- 5.8% of the total loss from phospholipids and for 92.9 +/- 2.3% of the total [3H]AA released into the medium. These results demonstrate for the first time that agonist-stimulated translocation of cPLA2 to the nuclear envelope is associated with phospholipid hydrolysis which is preferentially localized to that site.

Animals↗

5-Lipoxygenase metabolism in alveolar macrophages from subjects infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Pulmonary infection represents a major source of morbidity and mortality in AIDS. One important component of pulmonary host defense is the elaboration by resident alveolar macrophages (AM) of proinflammatory leukotrienes (LT) and other 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA). In this study, we compared the 5-LO metabolic capacity of AM isolated from normal controls with two groups of HIV-infected subjects: (1) patients with low CD4 counts undergoing diagnostic evaluation for pulmonary indications, and (2) volunteers without pulmonary complaints stratified into normal (> 500) and low (< 200) CD4 count groups. Compared with AM from control subjects, AM from HIV-infected subjects with normal and low CD4 counts demonstrated a marked reduction in LT synthesis. This reduced metabolic capacity could not be attributed to in vivo activation because there was no increase in lavage fluid LTB4 levels. However, there was a reduction (approximately twofold) in 5-LO protein expression in both the normal and the low CD4 subsets. 5-LO-activating protein (FLAP) expression was unchanged in cells from the normal CD4 HIV group, but was decreased threefold in the two groups with low CD4 counts. These observations indicate that there is a graded defect in the 5-LO metabolic capacity of AM from HIV-infected subjects, with decreased expression of only 5-LO in the normal CD4 group, and decreased expression of both 5-LO and FLAP in the low CD4 group. This defect would be expected to compound the immunosuppression seen in these subjects.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins↗

Constitutive activation of 5-lipoxygenase in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disorder characterized by inflammation, fibroblast proliferation, and accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Leukotrienes (LTs) are pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic mediators derived from the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. They are thought to play a role in a number of disease processes, but have received relatively little attention in investigations into the pathogenesis of IPF. In this study, we measured the levels of immunoreactive LTs B(4) and C(4) in homogenates of lung tissue obtained from patients with newly diagnosed, untreated IPF, as compared to levels measured in homogenates of uninvolved nonfibrotic lung tissue from patients undergoing resectional surgery for bronchogenic carcinoma. Compared to homogenates on nonfibrotic control lung, homogenates from IPF patients contained 15-fold more LTB(4) and 5-fold more LTC(4). IPF homogenate levels of LTB(4) were significantly correlated with histologic indices of both inflammation (r=0.861) and fibrosis (r=0.926). Activation of 5-LO is known from in vitro studies to be associated with localization of the enzyme at the nuclear membrane. Immunohistochemical staining for 5-LO protein in alveolar macrophages (AMs) demonstrated that such an "activated" localization pattern was significantly more frequent in IPF lung (19.2+/-3.3% of cells) than in control lung (9.3+/-0.9%); this localization pattern was rarely seen (3.2%) in sections from a truly normal transplant donor lung. Consistent with these data, AMs obtained from IPF patients by bronchoalveolar lavage, purified by adherence, and cultured in the absence of a stimulus for 16 h elaborated significantly greater amounts of LTB(4) and LTC(4) than did control AMs obtained from normal volunteers. These data indicate that the 5-LO pathway is constitutively activated in the lungs of patients with IPF, and the AM represents at least one cellular source of LT overproduction in this disorder. We speculate that LTs participate in the pathogenesis of IPF, and their overproduction in this disorder may be amenable to specific pharmacotherapy.

Adult↗

Effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on eicosanoid production by mononuclear phagocytes.

Granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) primes granulocytes for leukotriene (LT) synthesis. Here, we examined the effects of GM-CSF on arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in rat alveolar macrophages (AM), peritoneal macrophages, and human peripheral blood monocytes. Pretreatment of AMs with GM-CSF for 24 h significantly increased the synthesis of immunoreactive LTB4 upon subsequent stimulation with calcium ionophore. Enhanced LT synthesis required a minimum of 6 h of GM-CSF pretreatment, suggesting that protein synthesis was required for enhanced LT production; indeed, cycloheximide completely abolished the GM-CSF effect on LT synthesis. HPLC analysis confirmed that GM-CSF primed AMs for enhanced generation of LTB4, as well as the 5-lipoxygenase products LTC, and 5-HETE. Moreover, parallel increases in other AA metabolites and free AA were observed following GM-CSF pretreatment. The enhanced production of all AA metabolites indicated that GM-CSF up-regulated AA release. Consistent with this, whole cell lysates from GM-CSF-treated AMs demonstrated increased phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. The increased activity was resistant to DTT, indicating the involvement of a PLA2 other than the 14-kDa PLA2s. By immunoblot analysis, GM-CSF treatment caused an increase in the 85-kDa PLA2 protein comparable to the observed increase in PLA2 activity. Unlike AMs, neither peritoneal macrophages nor peripheral blood monocytes showed increased eicosanoid generation or increased expression of the 85-kDa PLA2 protein following GM-CSF pretreatment. These results indicate that GM-CSF increases the capacity of AMs, but not peritoneal macrophages or peripheral blood monocytes, to generate eicosanoids. This effect results from increased PLA2 activity, due at least in part to increased levels of the 85-kDa PLA2 protein.

Animals↗

Age-related enhancement of 5-lipoxygenase metabolic capacity in cattle alveolar macrophages.

Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism was assessed in cultured alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained from newborn (9- and 23-day-old) and adult (2- and 6-yr-old) cattle. The AM were prelabeled in [3H]AA-containing medium and, thereafter, stimulated with either A-23187 or zymosan. The released radiolabeled AA metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line radiodetection. The results showed that, among different-aged cattle, the synthesis of total 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) metabolites [leukotrienes (LT) B4, LTC4, LTD4, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE)] increased with age in spite of similar levels of phospholipase-catalyzed AA release. In response to A-23187 and zymosan, 5-LO metabolic capacity of adult cattle AM was approximately 4- and approximately 10-fold that of 9-day-old cattle AM, respectively. As 5-LO metabolic capacity increased, the release of prostaglandins and thromboxane tended to decrease. Immunoblot analysis showed that the steady-state expression of 5-LO and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) also increased in an age-dependent manner. In newborn calves, AM do not produce great amounts of LTB4; this factor might contribute to insufficient polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment into the alveolar space and the high susceptibility to neonatal lung infection.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins↗

Colchicine inhibits arachidonate release and 5-lipoxygenase action in alveolar macrophages.

Although colchicine is known to inhibit leukotriene synthesis in neutrophils, its effect on other aspects of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism as well as its mechanism of action are unknown. To address these questions, we investigated the effects of colchicine on resident rat alveolar macrophages (AM), cells that generate a variety of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products after stimulation. Pretreatment of AM with 10 microM colchicine for 1 h dramatically inhibited the synthesis of all 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) metabolites from endogenous AA in ionophore A-23187-stimulated cells. In addition, colchicine inhibited the total release of AA as well as prostanoids to a lesser extent. Similar effects were observed with the other microtubule-disruptive agents nocodazole and vinblastine, and 5-LO product formation stimulated by the particulate agonist zymosan was inhibited as well. A selective inhibitory effect of colchicine on the 5-LO pathway was demonstrated by monitoring the synthesis of 5-LO products from exogenously supplied AA. Cell-free enzyme assays showed that this effect was not through a direct inhibition of the 5-LO enzyme. Moreover, colchicine did not affect the translocation of 5-LO to the nuclear envelope. We next evaluated the effect of colchicine on the levels of the two 5-LO cofactors, ATP and Ca2+. Although colchicine did not affect ATP levels, it did abrogate the ionophore-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration; the inhibitory effect of colchicine on 5-LO metabolism in AM was partially overcome by stimulation with higher doses of A-23187. We conclude that microtubular disruption inhibits agonist-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, with multiple consequences for AA metabolism. These include a reduction in the liberation of AA from membrane phospholipids as well as the selective inhibition of processing of AA by 5-LO.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Phospholipase A2 is involved in the mechanism of activation of neutrophils by polychlorinated biphenyls.

Aroclor 1242, a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), activates neutrophils to produce superoxide anion (O2-) by a mechanism that involves phospholipase C-dependent hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositides; however, subsequent signal transduction mechanisms are unknown. We undertook this study to determine whether phospholipase A2-dependent release of arachidonic acid is involved in PCB-induced O2- production. We measured O2- production in vitro in glycogen-elicited, rat neutrophils in the presence and absence of the inhibitors of phospholipase A2: quinacrine, 4-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), and manoalide. All three agents significantly decreased the amount of O2- detected during stimulation of neutrophils with Aroclor 1242. Similar inhibition occurred when neutrophils were activated with the classical stimuli, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) or phorbol myristate acetate. The effects of BPB and manoalide were not a result of cytotoxicity or other nonspecific effects, although data suggest that quinacrine is an O2- scavenger. Significant release of 3H-arachidonic acid preceded O2- production in neutrophils stimulated with Aroclor 1242 or fMLP. Manoalide, at a concentration that abolished O2- production, also inhibited the release of 3H-arachidonate. Aspirin, zileuton, or WEB 2086 did not affect Aroclor 1242-induced O2- production, suggesting that eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor are not needed for neutrophil activation by PCBs. Activation of phospholipase A2 and O2- production do not appear to involve the Ah receptor because a congener with low affinity, but not one with high affinity for this receptor, stimulated the release of arachidonic acid and O2-. These data suggest that Aroclor 1242 stimulates neutrophils to produce O2- by a mechanism that involves phospholipase A2-dependent release of arachidonic acid.

Animals↗

Translocation and leukotriene synthetic capacity of nuclear 5-lipoxygenase in rat basophilic leukemia cells and alveolar macrophages.

Leukotriene (LT) synthesis involves the translocation of enzymatically active 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) from a soluble site to a bound site, where it interacts with 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP). In human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), 5-LO moves from the cytosol to the nuclear envelope (NE) to interact with FLAP. However, 5-LO has recently been found within the nucleus, as well as the cytosol, of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells and alveolar macrophages (AMs). To assess whether nuclear 5-LO can contribute to LT synthesis in these cells, we investigated whether this enzyme pool 1) translocates upon cell activation, 2) colocalizes with FLAP, and 3) is enzymatically active. By cell fractionation followed by immunoblotting, both cytosolic and nuclear soluble 5-LO decreased dramatically in RBL cells following activation with the calcium ionophore A23187. Concurrently, 5-LO increased in the pelletable nuclear pool, where FLAP was also detected. The loss of both cytosolic and nuclear soluble 5-LO, with concomitant increase exclusively at the NE, as well as co-localization with FLAP, were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent and confocal microscopy. In AMs, the nuclear soluble pool of 5-LO moved to the NE, where FLAP was also found; however, the cytosolic 5-LO pool did not translocate. Application of these methods to PMNs confirmed that cytosolic 5-LO moved to the nuclear envelope and co-localized with FLAP. By cell-free assay, nuclear soluble proteins from both RBL cells and AMs, but not PMNs, were able to generate 5-LO products from arachidonate, and this was inhibited by the direct 5-LO inhibitor zileuton. Cytosolic proteins from all cell types also showed cell-free 5-LO activity. These results demonstrate three distinct patterns of 5-LO translocation that are specific for each cell type: translocation of only a cytosolic pool in PMNs, of only a nuclear pool in AMs, and of both cytosolic and nuclear pools in RBL cells. By virtue of its enzymatic activity and ability to translocate, nuclear 5-LO has the potential to contribute to LT synthesis in RBL cells and AMs. Finally, these results provide a foundation for considering the individual functions of discrete pools of 5-LO in future studies.

Animals↗

Leukotrienes and alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced liver injury.

alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) administration to rats results in periportal hepatic inflammation and injury. Glutathione (GSH) appears to be necessary for the liver injury to occur. The leukotrienes (LTs) are metabolites of arachidonic acid and potent mediators of inflammation that have been implicated in certain liver injury models. Inasmuch as GSH is a cofactor for the synthesis of cysteinyl-LTs and since inflammation is a prominent component of ANIT injury, we hypothesized that LTs are involved in producing the hepatic insult that results from ANIT administration. To test this hypothesis, rats were treated with one of several inhibitors of LT biosynthesis, A63162, Zileuton or MK-886. Each of these agents prevented the formation of LTB4 in Ca++ ionophore-stimulated whole blood from rats treated with the inhibitors. A63162 attenuated the hepatic parenchymal injury caused by ANIT and resulted in a modest decrease in ANIT-induced cholestasis. In contrast, neither Zileuton nor MK-886 attenuated liver injury. AT-125 (Acivicin) inhibits gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of LTD4 from LTC4. AT-125 pretreatment did not prevent ANIT-induced hepatic parenchymal insult. It did, however, ameliorate the cholestasis caused by ANIT. In conclusion, the partial protection afforded by A63162 and AT-125 likely results from effects unrelated to the formation of LTs, since Zileuton and MK-886 inhibited LT synthesis without affording protection. The lack of protection by Zileuton and MK-886 in the face of LT synthesis inhibition suggests that LTs are not necessary for the expression of injury after ANIT administration.

1-Naphthylisothiocyanate↗

Expression and role of cyclooxygenase isoforms in alveolar and peritoneal macrophages.

Prostaglandin synthesis represents one means by which macrophages modulate inflammation. The initial enzyme in the metabolism of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins is cyclooxygenase (COX). Both constitutive (COX-1) and inducible (COX-2) isoforms are recognized. We previously showed that COX activity of rat peritoneal macrophages (PM) exceeds that of alveolar macrophages (AM). In this study, we correlated the steady-state levels of COX-1 and COX-2 proteins with COX activity in resident AM and PM. Freshly obtained AM contained lower levels of COX-1 than did fresh PM. Neither contained substantial amounts of COX-2 in the basal state, but both cell types demonstrated induction when cultured with lipopolysaccharide; once again, COX-2 levels in PM exceeded those in AM. Despite COX-2 induction under these circumstances, its contribution to prostaglandin production appeared to be modest. We conclude that, although both isoforms of COX are expressed in rat AM and PM, COX-1 is responsible for the majority of enzyme activity in both the basal and stimulated states. The lesser prostaglandin synthetic capacity of AM than of PM appears to be the consequence of lower steady-state levels of both COX proteins.

Animals↗

Cultured lung fibroblasts isolated from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have a diminished capacity to synthesize prostaglandin E2 and to express cyclooxygenase-2.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibits fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. In this study, we compared lung fibroblasts isolated from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (F-IPF) and from patients undergoing resectional surgery for lung cancer (F-nl) with respect to their capacity for PGE2 synthesis and their expression and regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX) proteins. Basal COX activity, assessed by quantitating immunoreactive PGE2 synthesized from arachidonic acid, was twofold less (P < 0.05) in F-IPF than F-nl. In F-nl, incubation with the agonists PMA, LPS, or IL-1 increased COX activity and protein expression of the inducible form of COX, COX-2, and these responses were inhibited by coincubation with dexamethasone. By contrast, F-IPF failed to demonstrate increases in COX-2 protein expression or COX activity in response to these agonists. Under conditions of maximal induction, COX activity in F-IPF was sixfold less than that in F-nl (P < 0.05). Our data indicate that F-IPF have a striking defect in their capacity to synthesize the antiinflammatory and antifibrogenic molecule PGE2, apparently because of a diminished induction of COX-2 protein. This reduction in the endogenous capacity of F-IPF to down-regulate their function via PGE2 may contribute to the inflammatory and fibrogenic response in IPF. Moreover, we believe that this represents the first description of a defect in COX-2 expression in association with a human disease.

Base Sequence↗

5-Lipoxygenase is located in the euchromatin of the nucleus in resting human alveolar macrophages and translocates to the nuclear envelope upon cell activation.

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) are two key proteins involved in the synthesis of leukotrienes (LT) from arachidonic acid. Although both alveolar macrophages (AM) and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) produce large amounts of LT after activation, 5-LO translocates from a soluble pool to a particulate fraction upon activation of PBL, but is contained in the particulate fraction in AM irrespective of activation. We have therefore examined the subcellular localization of 5-LO in autologous human AM and PBL collected from normal donors. While immunogold electron microscopy demonstrated little 5-LO in resting PBL, resting AM exhibited abundant 5-LO epitopes in the euchromatin region of the nucleus. The presence of substantial quantities of 5-LO in the nucleus of resting AM was verified by cell fractionation and immunoblot analysis and by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. In both AM and PBL activated by A23187, all of the observable 5-LO immunogold labeling was found associated with the nuclear envelope. In resting cells of both types, FLAP was predominantly associated with the nuclear envelope, and its localization was not affected by activation with A23187. The effects of MK-886, which binds to FLAP, were examined in ionophore-stimulated AM and PBL. Although MK-886 inhibited LT synthesis in both cell types, it failed to prevent the translocation of 5-LO to the nuclear envelope. These results indicate that the nuclear envelope is the site at which 5-LO interacts with FLAP and arachidonic acid to catalyze LT synthesis in activated AM as well as PBL, and that in resting AM the euchromatin region of the nucleus is the predominant source of the translocated enzyme. In addition, LT synthesis is a two-step process consisting of FLAP-independent translocation of 5-LO to the nuclear envelope followed by the FLAP-dependent activation of the enzyme.

Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase↗

Localization of 5-lipoxygenase to the nucleus of unstimulated rat basophilic leukemia cells.

Arachidonate metabolism by 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) coincides with the translocation of the enzyme from a soluble to a pelletable fraction in thoroughly disrupted granulocytic cells. While immunoelectron microscopy has identified the nuclear membrane as the site at which 5-LO, as well as 5-LO activating protein (FLAP), are localized in activated cells, the locale of soluble 5-LO in unstimulated cells could not be established by this technique. We asked whether the nucleus might also be the site for soluble 5-LO in unstimulated cells, and utilized rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells as model granulocytic cells to address this question. Using three different techniques to disrupt cells while leaving nuclei intact (mild nitrogen cavitation, Dounce homogenization, and detergent lysis), immunoblot analysis indicated abundant 5-LO in isolated nuclei. Within purified nuclei, 5-LO existed in two pools: a soluble pool that was readily released upon nuclear disruption and a bound pool that was not removed by 300 mM NaCl treatment. In all cases, 5-LO was also found in cytosolic and non-nuclear membrane fractions. Indirect immunofluorescent microscopy confirmed the presence of abundant 5-LO within the nucleus with minimal extranuclear signal in most cells. However, a minority of cells, characterized by condensed chromatin, showed no nuclear-associated staining with increased cytoplasmic staining for 5-LO. This suggested that some of the cytosolic 5-LO found by cell fractionation resulted from these dividing cells. When the contribution from dividing cells was minimized, either by overnight serum deprivation or by isolating cytoplasts of nucleus-containing cells, 5-LO was prominent in the nuclear fraction but negligible in the cytosolic fraction. In contrast to this distribution in RBL cells, 5-LO in unstimulated human neutrophils was predominantly cytosolic, by both immunoblot and immunofluorescence analyses. In both RBL cells and human neutrophils, FLAP was localized at the nuclear membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum. These data provide the first evidence for the localization of 5-LO in unstimulated granulocytic cells. The finding that a substantial proportion of enzyme is localized within the nucleus of unstimulated RBL cells suggests potentially novel roles for 5-LO or its products within the nucleus.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins↗

Reduced 5-lipoxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid in macrophages rrom 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-deficient rats.

The peripheral blood monocyte (PBM) migrates into tissues and differentiates into mature tissue macrophages. Previous investigations from our laboratory have demonstrated that PBM have reduced 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) and 5-LO activating protein (FLAP) expression as compared to differentiated alveolar macrophages (AM). Moreover, PBM differentiated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) displayed increased leukotriene synthesis and a parallel increase in FLAP expression. In the present study, we sought to examine the physiological role of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the regulation of eicosanoid metabolism in terminally differentiated alveolar and peritoneal macrophages (PM), utilizing a well characterized rat model of vitamin D3-deficiency. AM from vitamin D3-deficient rats demonstrated reduced 5-LO metabolism of AA and a parallel reduction in FLAP expression compared to control rats. Similarly, PM from vitamin D3-deficient rats demonstrated reduced 5-LO metabolism of AA. The effect of vitamin D3 was specific for the 5-LO pathway, not affecting total release of AA or its metabolism via 12-lipoxygenase or cyclooxoygenase (COX) pathways in macrophages. Furthermore, it did not affect COX protein expression in macrophages or type II alveolar epithelial cells. In control animals, 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations were greater in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (2.6-fold) and peritoneal lavage fluid (1.6-fold) than in serum, which may account for the greater FLAP expression in AM and PM than in PBM. These observations suggest that 1,25-(OH)2D3 plays a physiological role in upregulating the 5-LO pathway in tissue macrophages in vivo.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins↗