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Biomedical subjects

M S Klempner

Publications and source records attributed to M S Klempner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The effect of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the synthesis of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor by mononuclear cells.

We examined whether the synthesis of interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor, two cytokines with potent inflammatory activities, is influenced by dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids. Nine healthy volunteers added 18 g of fish-oil concentrate per day to their normal Western diet for six weeks. We used a radioimmunoassay to measure interleukin-1 (IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha) and tumor necrosis factor produced in vitro by stimulated peripheral-blood mononuclear cells. With endotoxin as a stimulus, the synthesis of IL-1 beta was suppressed from 7.4 +/- 0.9 ng per milliliter at base line to 4.2 +/- 0.5 ng per milliliter after six weeks of supplementation (43 percent decrease; P = 0.048). Ten weeks after the end of n-3 supplementation, we observed a further decrease to 2.9 +/- 0.5 ng per milliliter (61 percent decrease; P = 0.005). The production of IL-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor responded in a similar manner. Twenty weeks after the end of supplementation, the production of IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, and tumor necrosis factor had returned to the presupplement level. The decreased production of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor was accompanied by a decreased ratio of arachidonic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid in the membrane phospholipids of mononuclear cells. We conclude that the synthesis of IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, and tumor necrosis factor can be suppressed by dietary supplementation with long-chain n-3 fatty acids. The reported antiinflammatory effect of these n-3 fatty acids may be mediated in part by their inhibitory effect on the production of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor.

Adult↗

Prevention of recurrent staphylococcal skin infections with low-dose oral clindamycin therapy.

We conducted a double-blind, controlled trial of low-dose (150 mg/d) oral clindamycin hydrochloride vs placebo to prevent recurrent staphylococcal skin infections. Twenty-two patients (11 in both the placebo and clindamycin treatment groups) completed the trial and were assessable. The two groups did not differ as to age, sex, race, or the number of recurrent abscesses preceding the trial. In pretrial evaluations, no patient had hypogammaglobulinemia or abnormal neutrophil function. Sixty-four percent (7/11) of the placebo-treated patients had a recurrent abscess within three months of enrollment whereas 82% (9/11) of the patients treated with clindamycin were free of any infection during the three-month treatment period. Of the nine patients who responded to clindamycin treatment, six did not have a recurrent infection for at least nine months after discontinuing antibiotic therapy. All patients tolerated the regimen without side effects. We conclude that a three-month course of low-dose oral clindamycin is an effective, convenient, well-tolerated, and often durable approach to prevention of recurrent staphylococcal skin infections.

Administration, Oral↗

Calcium release associated with discharge of specific granule contents from human neutrophils.

Neutrophil discharge of calcium into the ambient medium was measured, using an ion-sensitive electrode, after cells were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate. Dose-dependent calcium efflux was observed over the same range of stimulus concentrations associated with specific granule marker release. Calcium efflux was preserved when cells were treated with vanadate to inhibit the plasma membrane calcium ATPase. However, less calcium was released than in previous studies employing a complete secretagogue to discharge both specific and azurophil granule contents. These studies suggest that calcium is stored in both the azurophil and the specific granules of the neutrophil, and can be mobilized from both sites during degranulation.

Calcium↗

Lysosomotropic behavior of adrenergic antagonists in interactions with human neutrophils.

Autonomic neurohormones affect the secretory activity of neutrophils by modulating release of lysosomal enzymes in response to immunologic stimuli. Autonomic agents are also weak bases which might modify cell function by accumulating in the acidic interior of the lysosome, in addition to their receptor-mediated activity. We examined the association of the beta-adrenergic antagonist [3H]dihydroalprenolol with human neutrophils and lysosome and membrane fractions derived from neutrophils, and the subcellular distribution of the photoaffinity-labeled beta-adrenergic ligand [3H]azidobenzylcarazolol after incubation with intact cells. Isolated neutrophil lysosomes accumulated significantly more [3H]dihydroalprenolol than isolated membrane preparations. Decreasing the transmembrane pH gradient markedly reduced [3H]dihydroalprenolol accumulation by intact cells or lysosomes but not by membranes. Since [3H]dihydroalprenolol accumulated by intact cells remained rapidly exchangeable, the photoaffinity ligand [3H]azidobenzylcarazolol was used to assess ligand distribution after association with whole cells. After cell disruption, 18.5 +/- 1.3% of this ligand appeared in the lysosome fraction as compared to 2.2 +/- 0.6% in the membrane fraction. The secretagogue phorbol myristate acetate caused release of the ligand as well as lysosomal enzymes from cells. These findings suggest that there is significant pH-dependent lysosomal accumulation of beta-antagonists. This lysosomotropic interaction may be important both as it affects the sequestration and redistribution of the drugs, and as it might in some circumstances affect host defense functions of the neutrophil.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Lysosomotropic amines modulate neutrophil calcium homeostasis.

Lysosomotropic amines can raise the acidic internal pH of the neutrophil lysosome and inhibit neutrophil function. Because pH and calcium regulation are intimately connected in various types of excitable cells, we studied the effects of several lysosomotropic weak bases on neutrophil calcium homeostasis. Base-treated cells had normal to minimally elevated resting cytosol free calcium, but weak bases produced significant release of calcium from organelles when this release was directly measured in permeabilized cells, even after depletion of inositol-triphosphate-sensitive stores. Collapse of transmembrane pH gradients with monensin similarly released organelle calcium. The initial cytosol calcium response to f-met-leu-phe was enhanced by some of the lysosomotropic amines but the calcium rise was more transient in base-treated cells than in control samples. These findings suggest that existence of an acidic intracellular compartment, such as the lysosome, is important to normal calcium homeostasis in the neutrophil and that pH sensitivity and inositol triphosphate sensitivity may define two pools of releasable organelle calcium. The effect of pH perturbation on calcium homeostasis may partially account for the inhibition of neutrophil function by lysosomotropic amines.

Adult↗

An abnormal calcium uptake pump in Chediak-Higashi neutrophil lysosomes.

Calcium is mobilized from intracellular stores during phagocyte activation and appears to be involved in stimulus-response coupling in these and other cell types. Because the lysosome is a calcium-sequestering organelle in the neutrophil and abnormal lysosome morphology is associated with defective neutrophil function in Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS), we examined ATP-dependent calcium uptake in neutrophil lysosomes from the beige mouse model of CHS. We present findings indicating that CHS lysosomes have an enhanced capacity for ATP-dependent calcium uptake relative to control lysosomes. Kinetic analysis showed differences in Vmax and in the Km for both ATP and calcium, suggesting that both the number of lysosomal calcium uptake pumps and their substrate affinity may be altered in CHS. We conclude that a genetically determined abnormality of a subcellular calcium transport system may contribute to the structural and functional defects of CHS cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

In vitro effects of omega-3 fatty acids on neutrophil intracellular calcium homeostasis and receptor expression for FMLP and LTB4.

Diets enriched in omega-3 fatty acids exert antiinflammatory properties by suppressing some neutrophil (PMN) functions. Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, are important for PMN activation and are in part regulated by membrane Ca2+ ATPases. Since membrane proteins are influenced by their lipid environment, we investigated the in vitro effects of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the [Ca2+]i of PMNs in response to f-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and ionomycin. The resting [Ca2+]i of PMNs (in high Ca2+ environment) was increased after pretreatment (37 degrees C, 2 h) with DHA, but not with EPA, or the other fatty acids, oleic acid (OA), or linolenic acid (LA). The stimulated [Ca2+]i by either FMLP or LTB4 was suppressed in a high Ca2+ environment after pretreatment with either EPA or DHA but not with OA or LA. The stimulated [Ca2+]i rise by ionomycin was augmented after pretreatment with DHA but not with EPA, OA, or LA. Pretreatment of PMNs with either EPA or DHA reduced the receptor expression for both FMLP and LTB4. Since omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the expression of receptors for two activators of PMNs, FMLP and LTB4, as well as the [Ca2+]i rise in response to those two stimuli, we propose that the antiinflammatory properties of EPA and DHA may be attributed, at least in part, to alteration in membrane activation of phagocytes.

Adult↗

Comparison of prostaglandins E2 and D2 as inhibitors of respiratory burst in neutrophils from atopic and nonatopic subjects.

Neutrophils from atopic and nonatopic donors were treated with prostaglandins D2 and E2 before stimulation of the respiratory burst. Both agents inhibited neutrophil response to formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, but superoxide production was inhibited much more profoundly by D2 than by E2. Inhibition was similar in atopics and nonatopics. Phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of superoxide production was not significantly altered by prostaglandins. These findings suggest that minor alterations in pathways of prostaglandin synthesis may have major effects on modulation of neutrophil function, and exploration of the mechanism of stimulus-specific inhibition may further elucidate the role of neutrophils in the inflammatory response.

Dinoprostone↗

Characterization of the neutrophil respiratory burst in atopy.

Activated neutrophils may play a part in atopic disorders. In these studies, neutrophils were obtained from atopic and nonatopic adults for assessment of respiratory-burst activity. Superoxide production was measured in the resting state and after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-met-leu-phe), or calcium ionophore A23187. Inhibition of this response by histamine was also measured. Neutrophils from atopic subjects produced more superoxide in the basal state, or in response to calcium ionophore A23187, or submaximal concentrations of f-met-leu-phe, than cells from control subjects. Histamine inhibition of f-met-leu-phe-stimulated superoxide production was less in atopic subjects than in control subjects. These findings suggest that neutrophils from atopic subjects may be hyperreactive in that they produce more superoxide in response to stimuli of low potency and are less readily inhibited than cells from control subjects. These properties may reflect a general attribute of cellular function in atopy and may contribute directly to tissue damage in allergic diseases.

Calcimycin↗

Diminished activity of protein kinase C in tetanus toxin-treated macrophages and in the spinal cord of mice manifesting generalized tetanus intoxication.

In previous studies, we have demonstrated that tetanus toxin (TT) inhibits macrophage (MO) lysozyme secretion and that the inhibition of secretion was not directly linked to perturbation of cytosolic calcium homeostasis. Because MO secretion in response to phorbol myristate acetate, a stimulus that activates protein kinase C (PKC), was inhibited by TT, we examined whether TT might interfere with PKC activity. We report that MOs treated with TT have diminished PKC activity. Purified TT as well as commercial TT diminished PKC activity, whereas heated TT and supernatant from which TT had been removed had no effect on PKC activity. We further examined PKC activity in homogenates of brain and spinal cord from mice manifesting generalized tetanus. Spinal cord cytosolic PKC activity (pmol/mg of protein per min) was depressed in TT-intoxicated mice (87.3 +/- 25) compared with controls (182.6 +/- 47; P less than .02, n = 7). In contrast, cytosolic protein kinase A activity was similar in control- and TT-treated MOs and mice. These results provide the first evidence that PKC activity is diminished during TT intoxication.

Animals↗

Effects of pH on killing of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by constituents of the neutrophil phagolysosome.

Lysosomotropic weak bases impair in-vitro neutrophil functions including intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus strain 502a. To investigate whether prevention of phagosomal acidification could account for impaired microbicidal activity, a model phagosome was formulated with a freeze-thawed granule extract as a source of lysosomal enzymes and H2O2 as a source of toxic oxygen metabolites. The lysosomal extract alone killed Escherichia coli strain S15 efficiently at pH 5.5 and 7.0, but had little activity against S. aureus 502a. Sublethal concentrations of the two agents, when combined, acted synergically against either organism. Each organism was killed more effectively at pH 5.5 than at pH 7.0 by the lysosome extract-H2O2 combination, but the killing of E. coli was more rapid than that of S. aureus in the same conditions. These findings suggest that impairment of neutrophil antistaphylococcal activity by weak bases may be mediated by their ability to raise phagosomal pH, and that persistence of E. coli in similar conditions does not occur because the latter is killed by lysosomal constituents in a non-pH-dependent fashion.

Adult↗

Linkage between neutrophil degranulation and calcium discharge.

Calcium flux across organelle and plasma membranes is an important event in neutrophil activation. We measured calcium discharge into the media from neutrophils stimulated with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine after treatment with cytochalasin b. Cytochalasin markedly potentiated calcium efflux from stimulated neutrophils, and similarly promoted release of lysosomal enzymes into the media. Colchicine neither reproduced nor modified the cytochalasin effect. Neutrophil cytoplasts discharged very little calcium in response to stimulation, and discharge was not significantly altered by cytochalasin b. These findings indicate that neutrophil degranulation is accompanied by efflux of calcium into the media, and suggest that the neutrophil granules constitute a source of mobilizable calcium which could be used to modify the extracellular microenvironment.

Calcium↗

Human recombinant interleukin 1 beta has no effect on intracellular calcium or on functional responses of human neutrophils.

The effect of human recombinant interleukin 1 beta (rIL 1 beta) on human neutrophils was examined. rIL 1 beta, even at concentrations of 100 ng/ml (100 half-maximal T cell stimulating U/ml) did not change significantly the intracellular free calcium concentration, [Ca++]i, whereas the control stimulus, fmet-leu-phe, significantly elevated [Ca++]i. rIL 1 beta also failed to stimulate production of superoxide, degranulation of lysosomal enzymes, phagocytosis of bacterial particles, chemotaxis, or chemokinesis of human neutrophils. This is substantial evidence that superphysiologic concentrations of interleukin 1 have no direct effect on [Ca++]i, as well as on functional responses of neutrophils.

Adult↗

Two functional domains in the phagocyte membrane glycoprotein Mo1 identified with monoclonal antibodies.

Granulocytes from patients genetically deficient in the leukocyte glycoprotein family, Mo1, LFA-1, and Leu-M5 (P150,94), have defective complement receptor type III (CR3) activity as well as abnormal adhesion-dependent functions such as spreading, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis. To determine the contribution of the Mo1 heterodimer deficiency to the various functional aberrations observed in deficient granulocytes, we mapped the functional domains of Mo1 using several monoclonal antibodies to this molecule. In addition to iC3b binding, two granulocyte adhesion functions were examined: Cell spreading on plastic coverslips and chemotaxis. One monoclonal antibody to Mo1, 44, inhibits all three functions. Other monoclonal antibodies (903, Leu-15, and OKM10) inhibit iC3b binding to granulocytes but have no effect on cell spreading and/or chemotaxis. Another antibody, 904, has no significant inhibition of iC3b binding but inhibits spreading on plastic and chemotaxis. These studies suggest the presence of two functional domains in Mo1: one involved in iC3b binding and the other in enhancing certain granulocyte adhesion-dependent functions.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) potentiates neutrophil responses to formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine.

The ability of purified (80,000-fold) human leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) to modulate several formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-met-leu-phe)-induced neutrophil functions was evaluated. Although not affecting directed migration itself, at low concentrations (1/2 to 2 U/ml), LIF was demonstrated to potentiate chemotaxis induced by f-met-leu-phe (40.3% +/- 8.1) and to reduce the concentration of f-met-leu-phe necessary for maximal chemotaxis (10(-8) to 10(-9) M). Similarly, LIF did not directly induce the respiratory burst, but potentiated both superoxide generation (151.6% +/- 77) and hydrogen peroxide production (54.9% +/- 15.5) in the presence of f-met-leu-phe (10(-7) M). LIF was also shown to induce degranulation of neutrophil-specific granules in a dose-dependent manner. Neutrophil-specific granules have been shown to contain an intracellular pool of receptors for f-met-leu-phe, and on degranulation provide the surface membrane with a fresh source of receptors. Our data suggested that LIF potentiation of neutrophil stimulation by f-met-leu-phe might be mediated, at least in part, by increasing the number of available membrane receptors as a result of its ability to induce degranulation. Radioligand receptor analysis using f-met-leu-[3H] phe was performed, and LIF was shown to mediate an increase in receptors for f-met-leu-phe from an average of 18,600 on untreated cells to 27,000 after pretreatment with LIF. This increase in receptors could "sensitize" the neutrophils for f-met-leu-phe and possibly explain the potentiation of neutrophil stimulation observed in the presence of the ligand. LIF was also found to have a more generalized effect on the transduction of neutrophil activation stimuli, mediating a 35.8% increase in superoxide production after exposure to calcium ionophore. The data do not permit a determination as to whether the increase in receptor number is responsible for the potentiation of f-met-leu-phe-mediated function, or whether this occurs secondary to the more generalized effect on neutrophil stimulation transduction.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗

Inhibition of macrophage secretion by tetanus toxin is not directly linked to cytosolic calcium homeostasis.

Tetanus toxin (TT) inhibits secretion of neurotransmitters from neurons and lysozyme from human macrophages (Mphi). Because these secretory events are associated with changes in cytosolic free calcium [Ca2+]i, we examined the effect of TT on Mphi calcium homeostasis and secretion in response to ionomycin and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Using Quin 2 to report [Ca2+]i, basal [Ca2]i was similar for control cells (133 nM) and Mphi treated with TT (127 nM). In response to ionomycin (50 nM) [Ca2+]i increased to 548 +/- 74 nM in control cells and to 357 +/- 36 nM in TT-treated Mphi (p less than 0.02, N = 12). Despite this rise in [Ca2+]i, neither control Mphi nor TT-treated Mphis secreted the lysosomal enzyme lysozyme in response to this concentration of ionomycin (50 nM). In both control and TT-treated Mphi, stimulation with a higher concentration of ionomycin (1000 nM) caused saturation of the quin 2 fluorescence signal. However, lysozyme secretion from TT-Mphi was inhibited. In response to the phorbol ester, PMA (3 uM), [Ca2+]i did not increase in either control Mphi or TT-treated Mphi. However, secretion of lysozyme from TT-treated Mphi was also inhibited in response to this stimulus (70.8% of control, p less than 0.02, N = 3). These data indicate that the ability of TT to inhibit secretion from Mphi is not directly linked to alterations of cytosolic calcium homeostasis.

Aminoquinolines↗

In vitro evaluation of clindamycin in combination with oxacillin, rifampin, or vancomycin against Staphylococcus aureus.

In a study of antibiotic combinations of clindamycin with rifampin, oxacillin, or vancomycin using the time kill-curve method, the combination of clindamycin and rifampin were sometimes synergistic (5 of 15 times), otherwise indifferent and always enhanced killing of fifteen tested Staphylococcus aureus isolates. In contrast, vancomycin and clindamycin or oxacillin and clindamycin were either indifferent or antagonistic (approximately 50%). Vancomycin alone, however, was generally as effective as the combinations of clindamycin and rifampin.

Clindamycin↗

Inhibition of neutrophil oxidative metabolism by lysosomotropic weak bases.

Maintenance of an acidic intralysosomal compartment may be relevant to multiple aspects of neutrophil function. The effect of lysosomal alkalinization on the neutrophil respiratory burst was studied by measuring cytochrome c reduction in response to soluble stimuli in the presence of lysosomotropic weak bases. The weak bases chloroquine, ammonium chloride, methylamine, and clindamycin all raised the intralysosomal pH and inhibited neutrophil oxidative metabolism at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 mmol/L. Inhibition was dose dependent for each base and correlated significantly with the degree of lysosomal alkalinization. Concentrations that did not alkalinize the lysosome did not inhibit the respiratory burst. Inhibition by weak bases was seen when oxidative metabolism was stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate, calcium ionophore A23187, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, opsonized zymosan, or sodium fluoride. Increasing the stimulus concentration (from 5 ng/mL to 5 micrograms/mL phorbol myristate acetate and from 0.5 to 1 mumol/L A23187) diminished or abolished inhibition by weak bases. Washing the cells after incubation with bases and before stimulation substantially reversed the inhibition. None of the bases impaired detection of superoxide in a cell-free xanthine-xanthine oxidase assay. Other indexes of oxidative metabolism, including oxygen consumption and hydrogen peroxide release, were also inhibited by weak bases. Analysis of particulate NADPH oxidase activity from neutrophils stimulated in the presence of bases suggested that these cells assemble a subnormal amount of an enzyme complex with normal kinetic characteristics. Lysosomotropic weak bases alkalinized the neutrophil lysosome and produced inhibition of oxidative metabolism that was dose related, was not stimulus specific, and was largely reversed by washing the cells before stimulation. A possible explanation would be altered assembly of the enzyme complex involved in respiratory burst activation as a consequence of impaired granule/plasma membrane fusion in the presence of diminished transmembrane pH gradients.

Ammonium Chloride↗