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Biomedical subjects

R O Webster

Publications and source records attributed to R O Webster.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Rabbits with elevated serum C-reactive protein exhibit diminished neutrophil infiltration and vascular permeability in C5a-induced alveolitis.

In previous studies, we have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) inhibits chemotaxis of neutrophils to complement fragments in vitro. To evaluate the effect of CRP on C5a-induced inflammation in vivo, a rabbit model of alveolitis was used. Rabbits pretreated with subcutaneous injections of croton oil had serum CRP increase from undetectable levels to 270 +/- 70 micrograms/ml 48 hours later. Rabbits were intubated and C5a des arg (10 micrograms/ml) instilled directly into the lungs via an endotracheal tube. Four to six hours later, the animals were killed and bronchoalveolar lavage performed. Rabbits pretreated with croton oil had significantly (P < 0.01) reduced C5a des arg-stimulated neutrophil infiltration (30 +/- 5%) into alveolar air spaces compared to untreated rabbits (64 +/- 9%). Increased numbers of total leukocytes in the alveolar washes coincided with increased neutrophil numbers whereas alveolar macrophages remained unchanged in all groups. Rabbits pretreated with croton oil also had a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in total protein (320 +/- 50 micrograms/ml) in lavage fluid after C5a instillation compared with untreated animals (850 +/- 140 micrograms/ml). In vitro, rabbit CRP (50 micrograms/ml) added to normal rabbit serum significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited chemotaxis of human neutrophils by 41%. Finally, direct intravenous pretreatment of rabbits with purified CRP also significantly reduced C5a-induced alveolitis. The CRP-C5a group had 33 +/- 10% neutrophil infiltration, a significant (P < 0.01) reduction from the C5a group (71 +/- 6%). The total protein content of the CRP-C5a rabbits was 986 +/- 165 micrograms/ml in the lavage fluid, which was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the C5a group (1645 +/- 363 micrograms/ml). Therefore, CRP inhibits the development of neutrophil alveolitis and protein leakage in vivo and inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. These data indicate that CRP offers a protective effect in neutrophil-mediated lung injury by reducing neutrophil influx and protein leak.

Animals↗

A soluble form of Fc gamma RIII is present in human serum and other body fluids and is elevated at sites of inflammation.

We have developed a highly sensitive and specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the concentration of Fc gamma RIII in serum and other body fluids. This ELISA is based on the use of monoclonal antibody (MoAb) (3G8) to Fc gamma RIII and a rabbit antiserum against Fc gamma RIII. The lower limit of detection of this ELISA was 1.5 nmol/L. The concentration of soluble Fc gamma RIII in normal serum ranged from 7.3 to 75.9 nmol/L. Soluble Fc gamma RIII was also present in other normal biologic fluids such as saliva, urine, and seminal fluid, but at much lower concentrations than that found in serum. Rabbit anti-Fc gamma RIII immunoblotted polypeptides immunoprecipitated with MoAb 3G8. Fc gamma RIII immunoprecipitated from a neutrophil lysate migrated from 40 to 76 Kd, whereas Fc gamma RIII immunoprecipitated from serum from the same donor migrated from 40 to 66 Kd. The soluble form of Fc gamma RIII apparently was bound to serum IgG, because immunoprecipitation of soluble Fc gamma RIII by MoAb 3G8 coprecipitated polypeptides that were identified by goat antihuman IgG. Incubation of neutrophils in vitro at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C showed that Fc gamma RIII was released after 30 minutes of incubation at 37 degrees C. To determine whether there was a correlation between the concentration of soluble Fc gamma RIII in biologic fluids and inflammatory diseases, we measured the concentration of Fc gamma RIII in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in the synovial fluid from patients with various forms of arthritis. In ARDS, we found concentrations of soluble Fc gamma RIII that were five to seven times higher than that found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from healthy adults. The concentration of soluble Fc gamma RIII in the synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis ranged from 10 nmol/L to 28 mumol/L. These results suggest that activated neutrophils, such as those at sites of inflammation, may release Fc gamma RIII.

Antigens, Differentiation↗

Priming of human neutrophil functions by tumor necrosis factor: enhancement of superoxide anion generation, degranulation, and chemotaxis to chemoattractants C5a and F-Met-Leu-Phe.

Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF) stimulated increased generation of superoxide anion (O2-) by human neutrophils in a concentration-dependent fashion. Preincubation of human neutrophils with rTNF (2.2-2200 units/ml) for 10 min enhanced the subsequent generation of O2- in response to C5a and f-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP). Recombinant TNF did not enhance O2- generation by neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Recombinant TNF alone failed to induce release of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lysozyme by neutrophils. However, it did enhance the release of MPO and lysozyme by neutrophils stimulated with C5a and FMLP, but not with PMA. Although rTNF alone (0.001-50,000 units/ml) was not chemotactic for neutrophils, preincubation of neutrophils with rTNF (0.001-0.1 units/ml) enhanced the chemotactic activity of suboptimal concentrations of C5a (0.1 nM) and FMLP (5 nM). Neutrophils treated with high concentrations of rTNF (100-10,000 units/ml) showed inhibition of random movement and of chemotaxis induced by C5a or FMLP. We conclude from these studies that rTNF primes neutrophils for enhanced responses to subsequent stimuli and thus may augment the inflammatory response by increased oxidant production and lysosomal enzyme release and promote down-regulation of chemotactic movement.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗

Cyclooxygenase inhibition prevents PMA-induced increase in pulmonary vascular permeability to albumin.

In a previous study, we demonstrated that phorbol myristate acetate-(PMA) induced injury in isolated blood-perfused rabbit lungs was characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and permeability to water as measured by fluid filtration coefficient (Kf). The Kf increase was prevented by pretreatment with three cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and meclofenamate. Other studies have shown that PMA causes a decrease in pulmonary vascular surface area, probably due to the increase in arterial resistance. Measurement of Kf requires increased microvascular pressure, and therefore Kf estimates the permeability of the entire vascular bed. Thus the permeability of the flowing vessels may be overestimated by Kf. In this study, we chose to investigate the effect of PMA on vascular permeability to protein by measuring albumin leak. Because this measurement does not require a hydraulic stress, it is more likely to reflect the permeability of flowing vessels. PMA administration (5 x 10(-8) M) caused significant increases in both PVR and 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin leak. Cyclooxygenase inhibition with indomethacin, ibuprofen, or meclofenamate prevented the PMA-induced increase in albumin leak without affecting the PVR increase. These results suggest that cyclooxygenase-mediated products of arachidonic acid mediate the PMA-induced increase in vascular permeability to both water and protein.

Albumins↗

Ceruloplasmin and transferrin levels are altered in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The respiratory burst of neutrophils generates oxygen radicals that can result in lipid peroxidation and may contribute to acute lung injury in the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Because ceruloplasmin and transferrin are inhibitors of lipid peroxidation and may play a role in regulating tissue injury, antigen levels of ceruloplasmin and transferrin and ceruloplasmin oxidase levels were measured in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ARDS patients (n = 28), patients at risk for ARDS (n = 22), and normal control subjects (n = 45). Serum ceruloplasmin levels were similar in ARDS (mean +/- SEM) (3.8 +/- 0.3 microM) and at-risk (3.3 +/- 0.4 microM) patients compared with control subjects (3.2 +/- 0.2 microM). Serum transferrin levels were decreased in ARDS (14.9 +/- 1.7 microM) and at-risk (20.4 +/- 1.7 microM) patients compared with normal control subjects (32.9 +/- 1.2 microM), and serum transferrin levels correlated with serum unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC). Ceruloplasmin was detected in only one of 38 normal BALF samples (0.002 +/- 0.002 microM) and two of 13 at-risk BALF samples (0.15 +/- 0.1 microM), yet it was present in 17 of 23 ARDS BALF samples (0.9 +/- 0.2 microM). Transferrin was also increased in ARDS BALF (5.4 +/- 1.1 microM) compared with at-risk (0.7 +/- 0.5 microM) and normal (0.4 +/- 0.1 microM) samples. Ceruloplasmin that was present in the BALF and serum samples had functional oxidase activity, and purified human ceruloplasmin inhibited hydroxyl radical formation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated neutrophils.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors prevent ethchlorvynol-induced injury in rat and rabbit lungs.

The effect of three chemically dissimilar cyclooxygenase inhibitors on ethchlorvynol-(ECV) induced acute lung injury was studied in isolated buffer-perfused rat and blood-perfused rabbit lungs. ECV caused the microvascular fluid filtration coefficient (Kf) to increase by greater than threefold in the rat lungs and twofold in the rabbit lungs. ECV caused increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and microvascular pressure measured by the double occlusion technique (Pdo) compared with the vehicle control group in the rat experiments. However, ECV had no effect on PVR or Pdo in the rabbit experiments. Pretreatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin, ibuprofen, and meclofenamate prevented the increase in microvascular permeability in both the rat and rabbit lung preparations. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors also prevented the ECV-induced PVR and Pdo increases in the rat lungs but had no effect on PVR or Pdo in the rabbit lungs. These results indicate that cyclooxygenase products of arachidonate metabolism mediate the ECV-induced Kf increase in both isolated rat and rabbit lungs.

Animals↗

Vascular resistance and Kf in normal and PMA-injured rabbit lungs: effects of adenosine.

The effects of adenosine (ADO) on pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) distribution, vascular compliance (C), and permeability were determined in normal and PMA-injured isolated rabbit lungs perfused with a 1:1 mixture of 6% albumin in Krebs-Henseleit buffer and autologous blood. ADO or vehicle was continuously infused into the reservoir at 1,4, or 5 mumol/min after a 1-mumol bolus of ADO or vehicle. The capillary filtration coefficient (Kf) and arterial, venous, and double occlusion pressures were measured at baseline and 30 min after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 4 x 10(-8) M) or vehicle. Perfusate differential and total leukocyte counts as well as adenine nucleotides, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) concentrations were determined at each measurement period. ADO was recovered as hypoxanthine and inosine in the perfusate. ADO alone did not alter PVR, C, Kf, or TxB2 but reduced 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels. PMA induced an increase in Kf (0.024 +/- 0.002 to 0.040 +/- 0.006 g.cmH2O-1.min-1, P less than 0.05) that was completely blocked by 4 or 5 mumol/min ADO. PVR increased by 63 +/- 11% after PMA, primarily in the arteries and arterial and venous microvessels. The postcapillary resistance increase was blunted by 4 mumol/min ADO; 5 mumol/min ADO prevented the PVR increase in all segments. ADO did not affect the initial adherence of neutrophils in the lung or the PMA-induced 87 +/- 2% decrease in circulating leukocytes (greater than 98% lymphocytes) or threefold increase in TxB2 levels. These results suggest that protection by ADO is not mediated by the altering of cyclooxygenase products or by leukocyte adherence.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Adenosine prevents phorbol ester injury in rabbit lungs: role of leukotrienes and TNF.

The objective of this study was to determine whether adenosine (ADO) prevents phorbol myristate acetate- (PMA) induced lung injury by modulating peptidoleukotrienes (LT) and/or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. PMA significantly increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR, 275 +/- 4 to 447 +/- 30 cmH2O.1-1.min) and microvascular filtration coefficient.(Kf, 0.024 +/- 0.002 to 0.040 +/- 0.006 g.min-1.cmH2O-1) in isolated blood-perfused rabbit lungs. ADO (5 mumol/min) blocked the increases in PVR (257 +/- 9 to 283 +/- 26) and Kf (0.028 +/- 0.005 to 0.018 +/- 0.002). After PMA (30 min), perfusate levels of LTC4 + LTD4 increased by 15.3 +/- 2.1 pg/ml; LTE4 increased by 15.1 +/- 4.1 pg/ml. ADO reduced the increase in LTC4 + LTD4 to 2.7 +/- 6.1 pg/ml, but total LT increased by 31.9 +/- 16.6 pg/ml, implying that ADO enhanced the conversion of LTC4 and LTD4 to LTE4. MK-886 (L663,536), an LT synthesis inhibitor, blocked the increase in total LT (6.1 +/- 13.9 pg/ml) but did not reduce the PMA-induced increase in Kf (0.022 +/- 0.003 to 0.035 +/- 0.005) or PVR (238 +/- 11 to 495 +/- 21). After PMA administration, perfusate TNF levels were not different from the 10-fold increase observed in control experiments and were not reduced by ADO or MK-886. TNF production was independent of perfusate blood components and presumably due to low levels of endotoxin in the perfusate (70-90 ng/ml). These results indicate that ADO does not protect against PMA-induced acute lung injury by altering circulating levels of LT or TNF.

Adenosine↗

Concentration-dependent regulatory effects of prostaglandin E1 on human neutrophil function in vitro.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has recently been used clinically as a purported modulator of activated neutrophils in certain forms of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We now report that PGE1 does not have a uniform inhibitory effect upon human neutrophil functions in vitro. Cells were first pretreated with PGE1 followed by incubation with either N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), or C5a. Lysosomal enzyme release (myeloperoxidase, lysozyme), superoxide anion generation, and chemotaxis were then quantitated. PGE1 alone lacked any appreciable effect on these neutrophil functions. However, neutrophils pretreated with PGE1 (50 to 100 microM) followed by stimulation with FMLP (50 nM) showed as much as 40% inhibition of lysosomal enzyme release compared with control values (p less than 0.0005). In contrast, 0.1 nM to 1 microM PGE1 enhanced FMLP-stimulated enzyme release as much as 50% above baseline control values (p less than 0.05). Preincubation with 0.1 nM PGE1 followed by stimulation with variable doses of FMLP also resulted in enhancement of lysosomal enzyme release by as much as 187 +/- 3% of control values. The enhancing but not inhibitory effects of PGE1 were reversible with serial washing of the neutrophil preparations. Enhancement of enzyme release was not observed when either PMA or C5a was used as a stimulus after PGE1 pretreatment. However, cells pretreated with PGE1 (50 to 100 microM) and subsequently stimulated with C5a showed as much as 40% inhibition of lysosomal enzyme release. Preincubation of neutrophils with PGE1 (1 microM) resulted in a slight (15%) enhancement of chemotaxis to FMLP, but it had no significant effect on C5a-induced chemotaxis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alprostadil↗

Cyclooxygenase inhibition prevents PMA-induced increases in lung vascular permeability.

The effect of cyclooxygenase inhibition in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced acute lung injury was studied in isolated constant-flow blood-perfused rabbit lungs. PMA caused a 51% increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (localized in the arterial and middle segments as measured by vascular occlusion pressures), a 71% increase in microvascular permeability (measured by the microvascular fluid filtration coefficient, Kf), and a nearly threefold increase in perfusate thromboxane (Tx) B2 levels. Cyclooxygenase inhibition with three chemically dissimilar inhibitors, indomethacin (10(-7) and 10(-6) M), meclofenamate (10(-6) M), and ibuprofen (10(-5) M), prevented the Kf increase without affecting the pulmonary arterial pressure increase or resistance distribution changes after PMA administration. The specific role of TxA2 was investigated by pretreatment with OKY-046, a specific Tx synthase inhibitor, or infusion of SQ 29548, a TxA2 receptor antagonist; both compounds failed to protect against either the PMA-induced permeability or the vascular resistance increase. These results indicate that cyclooxygenase-mediated products of arachidonic acid other than TxA2 mediate the PMA-induced permeability increase but not the hypertension.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

A rabbit model of pulmonary hypertension induced by the synthetic platelet-activating factor acetylglyceryl ether phosphorylcholine.

Development of effective treatment for human pulmonary hypertension (PHT) has been hampered by an incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis. We present a rabbit model of PHT based on platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent phospholipid autacoid synthesized by a variety of mammalian cells. PAF was intravenously infused into rabbits for 4 wk. After the infusion, rabbits underwent pulmonary arterial catheterization for hemodynamic evaluation, and lung tissue was morphometrically analyzed for changes in cross-sectional areas of intima and media, and alteration in number of small pulmonary arteries. The heart was evaluated by the method of Fulton for right ventricular hypertrophy. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 20 +/- 2 mm Hg in PAF-treated rabbits compared with 12 +/- 1 mm Hg in vehicle-treated control rabbits. PAF induced a trend toward loss of small muscular pulmonary arteries, measuring 50 to 200 microns in diameter, and right ventricular hypertrophy. There was a decrease in circumference of the internal elastic lamina in vessels accompanying alveolar ducts and in alveolar walls, and a relative increase in the intimal cross-sectional area of these vessels. These lesions were associated with a trend toward medial hypertrophy. No increase in lung water was found. Pressure changes occurred in the absence of alterations in hematocrit and arterial partial pressure of oxygen. We conclude that chronic intravenous infusion of PAF, a naturally synthesized substance, into rabbits provides a potentially useful model for the study of vascular changes associated with PHT.

Animals↗

Human C-reactive protein inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro: possible implications for the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein whose serum concentration can rise dramatically after onset of inflammation. Although the precise physiologic role of elevated CRP is not known, in vitro studies have shown that CRP potentially has both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. We hypothesized that an elevation in serum CRP may be a mechanism to control acute inflammation by down-regulating some neutrophil functions. Therefore, elevated serum CRP levels in an inflammatory state in the lung, such as the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), may have a protective effect. We observed that highly purified CRP, at levels greater than 25 micrograms/ml, inhibited both random neutrophil movement and C5a-induced chemotaxis. Neutrophils incubated with CRP showed a dose-dependent diminution of migration toward chemotactic stimuli, with complete inhibition occurring at 100 micrograms/ml. This inhibitory effect of CRP on neutrophil movement was only partially reversed by washing the CRP-treated cells before assaying their chemotactic movement to 1 nmol/L C5a. Next we examined the neutrophil chemotactic activity of serum collected from normal nonsmokers, from patients at high risk for developing ARDS, and patients with ARDS. Both high-risk and ARDS serums has significantly less (p less than 0.001) neutrophil chemotactic activity than serums from normal subjects. In addition, serums from high-risk and ARDS patients had significantly elevated (p less than 0.001) levels of CRP compared with normal subjects. Anti-CRP treatment of ARDS and high-risk serum samples resulted in a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in the neutrophil chemotactic activity. Finally, addition of highly purified CRP to normal serum significantly reduces its neutrophil chemotactic activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Regulation of human neutrophil functions by adenine nucleotides.

Previous work has shown that platelet-derived adenine nucleotides modulate neutrophil superoxide anion (O2-) generation. Additional studies were undertaken to characterize the effects of authentic adenosine (ADO) and its nucleotide derivatives on the inflammatory functions of human neutrophils. Stimulus-specific inhibition of neutrophil O2- generation by ADO in response to FMLP was verified. In addition, the ability of ATP, ADP, and AMP to limit neutrophil O2- generation induced by FMLP (0.2 to 0.5 microM) was demonstrated. The concentration producing 50% inhibition for nucleotide inhibition of neutrophil O2- generation was in the rank order of ADO (0.1 microM) less than AMP (0.5 microM) less than ADP less than or equal to ATP (5 microM). Guanine and inosine nucleotides (0.01 to 100 microM) did not inhibit FMLP-stimulated neutrophil O2- generation. Neutrophil degranulation in response to FMLP was only modestly inhibited by adenine nucleotides and ADO. Adenosine and ADP failed to affect chemotaxis of neutrophils stimulated with FMLP. The inability of non-metabolizable analogs to mimic the inhibitory effects of authentic ATP or ADP on the neutrophil O2- response suggested that metabolism of added nucleotides is necessary for their effectiveness. Both TLC and HPLC confirmed that ATP and ADP were converted to AMP and ADO after their incubation with unstimulated or FMLP-activated neutrophils. The addition of adenosine deaminase to neutrophil reaction mixtures in which conversion of added nucleotides was apparent removed detectable ADO but failed to completely abrogate the inhibition of neutrophil O2- generation by accumulated AMP. The kinetics of inhibition of FMLP-induced neutrophil O2- generation by ATP and ADP also indicated that conversion of these nucleotides to ADO and/or AMP may be essential for their ability to reduce neutrophil responses.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Immunoreactive interleukin-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of high-risk patients and patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by increased neutrophils and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), an inflammatory mediator produced by macrophages, has been shown to be chemotactic for neutrophils and to stimulate lymphocyte activation and proliferation of fibroblasts. BAL was performed in patients with ARDS, patients at high risk to develop ARDS, and in normal nonsmokers. After removal of cells and surfactant-complexed lipids by centrifugation, the remaining supernatant was concentrated by ultrafiltration utilizing membranes retaining substances greater than 5000 daltons. The concentrate was assayed for immunoreactive IL-1 beta by a radioimmunoassay method. Patients with ARDS (n = 9) had an IL-1 level of 184 +/- 67 pg/ml, high-risk patients (n = 9) had 172 +/- 62 pg/ml, and normals (n = 10) had 4 +/- 1 pg/ml. There was a significant (p less than or equal to .05) increase in IL-1 in the ARDS and risk groups compared to normals. IL-1 was detected in serum from patients with ARDS (n = 19), high risk (n = 19), and normals (n = 8), but no difference was noted among the three groups. BAL cell differentials revealed that neutrophils were increased (p less than .05) in both the ARDS (59 +/- 10%) and high-risk (65 +/- 8%) groups compared to normals (2 +/- 1%). There was a correlation (r = 0.64, p less than .001) between IL-1 levels and BAL protein concentration. BAL IL-1 levels were highest in patients with the fully developed syndrome but were also elevated in patients at high risk. The absence of significant amounts of IL-1 in serum suggests that it may be produced within the lung.

Adult↗

Human C5a and C5a des Arg exhibit chemotactic activity for fibroblasts.

C5a and C5a des Arg are chemotactic factors for inflammatory cells but it is not known whether these agents are chemoattractants for fibroblasts. Accordingly, C5a, purified from zymosan-activated human, and C5a des Arg, prepared by incubating C5a with immobilized porcine carboxypeptidase B, were studied for fibroblast chemotactic activity. We observed that both C5a and C5a des Arg stimulated human skin fibroblasts and fetal bovine ligament fibroblasts to migrate in a concentration-dependent fashion, and that the migratory responses were similar in magnitude to the responses achieved with optimal concentrations of two known fibroblast chemoattractants, platelet-derived growth factor and human fibrinopeptide B. The peak responses to C5a and C5a des Arg occurred at approximately 10(-9)M. With ligament fibroblasts, there was a greater response to C5a des Arg than to C5a, but with human fibroblasts there was no difference. Cochemotaxin, which enhances the chemotactic activity of C5a des Arg for neutrophils, had no effect on C5a des Arg fibroblast chemotactic activity but appeared to increase the fibroblast chemotactic activity of C5a. These results indicate that the effects of C5a and C5a des Arg in vivo may extend to the recruitment of mesenchymal cells. Moreover, the findings represent another example of an activity retained by C5a after removal of its carboxyl terminal arginine.

Antibodies↗

Inhibition of neutrophil functions by platelets and platelet-derived products: description of multiple inhibitory properties.

The effect of platelets and their products on in vitro responses of human neutrophils to f-met-leu-phe (fMLP) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was studied. Platelets produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of neutrophil superoxide anion (O2-) generation with maximum inhibition of the response to fMLP approaching 42.2 +/- 5.4% and that to PMA approaching 85.9 +/- 3.4%. Supernates of thrombin-activated platelets produced maximal inhibition of neutrophil O2- generation in response to fMLP (66.3 +/- 4.2%) at a ratio of 10 platelet equivalents (PEQ) to 1 neutrophil but failed to affect the cells' response to PMA. In contrast, lysate of sonicated platelets inhibited neutrophil O2- generation in response to both fMLP (59.6 +/- 2.0%) and PMA (90.1 +/- 1.3%). Biochemical characterization of platelet lysate identified at least two stimulus-specific inhibitory activities which differ in size, thermal stability and enzyme sensitivity. Platelet lysate also maximally inhibited neutrophil degranulation and chemotaxis at a ratio of 20 PEQ to 1 neutrophil. Our findings indicate that physiologically achievable levels of platelets or their products modulate the response of neutrophils in a stimulus-specific manner and are thereby capable of potentially limiting tissue damage which accompanies neutrophil activation during inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Inhibition of neutrophil superoxide anion generation by platelet products: role of adenine nucleotides.

Previously, we demonstrated the stimulus-specific ability of platelet lysate or release products to inhibit neutrophil functions in response to f-met-leu-phe (fMLP) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The present study further characterizes these activities and identifies one of the platelet inhibitors of neutrophil superoxide anion (O2-) generation. Sephadex G-200 chromatography revealed two fMLP-specific inhibitory activities in platelet lysate. One component eluted with materials less than 13 kilodaltons (kD) molecular weight, whereas the second fractionated at the void volume (Mr greater than 200 kD). PMA-specific inhibitor(s) cofractionated at the void volume with the lysate's fMLP-inhibitory activity. Release products of activated platelets contained low-molecular-weight (less than 13 kD), fMLP-specific inhibitor activity but failed to demonstrate PMA-specific inhibition of neutrophil O2- generation. Biochemical characterization identified two distinct high-molecular-weight inhibitors in platelet lysate. Pretreatment with adenosine deaminase (ADA) completely abrogated the maximum inhibitory effect (43.8 +/- 7.5%) of the high-molecular-weight, fMLP-specific lysate component but failed to reduce maximum PMA-specific inhibition (93.0 +/- 2.0%) of neutrophil O2- generation. Likewise, while the lysate's fMLP-specific inhibitor was heat stable, heating reduced the PMA-specific inhibition 56.5 +/- 10.4%. Equal sensitivity to ADA, resistance to trypsin, and heat stability were demonstrated by the low-molecular-weight inhibitor(s) in platelet lysate and release products. Neither high- nor low-molecular-weight platelet inhibitors scavenged O2-. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the low-molecular-weight inhibitory activity from both platelet lysate and release products revealed physiological levels of adenine nucleotides. Addition of pure adenine nucleotides at physiological levels (1-10 microM) mimicked the effectiveness of the platelet inhibitor. We conclude that stimulus-specific limitation of neutrophil O2- generation by platelet adenine nucleotides may represent a mechanism for reducing inadvertent tissue damage during inflammation.

Adenine Nucleotides↗