Short communicationa simple way to obtain sufficient amounts of arterial endothelial cells from human umbilical cords.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Dunzendorfer.
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In the present study, we investigated the effects of the anti-inflammatory drug pentoxifylline (PTX) on activation of endothelial cells for enhanced adhesion and transmigration of neutrophils by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). To evaluate the mechanism by which PTX exerts its effect, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were pretreated with theophylline, 2'-O-dibutyryl-3', 5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (db cAMP), and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, respectively, prior to stimulation. Pretreatment of HUVEC with PTX significantly antagonized TNF-, IL-1-, and G-CSF-activated transmigration of neutrophils. Additive stimulatory effects of PTX were seen with LPS. With the exception of theophylline, all other test cAMP-raising agents stimulated transmigration in similar fashion to PTX. Upon stimulation with TNF or LPS, HUVEC produced IL-8 and PTX affected this process in opposing fashions, with inhibition of the effects of TNF and augmentation of those of LPS. These results demonstrate that PTX differentially affects mediator-induced activation of HUVEC. The present IL-8 dependent and cAMP-regulated augmentation of LPS-induced stimulation of transmigration is the first description of an additive effect of PTX with a pro-inflammatory agent.
Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent neutrophil chemotaxin, which can also be produced by endothelial cells to facilitate leukocyte emigration. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the anti-inflammatory drug thalidomide (THD) on chemotaxin release from endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) or endotoxin (LPS) in the presence or absence of various concentrations of THD. Endothelium-derived interleukin-8 (eIL-8) in supernatants was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biological activity of the harvested eIL-8 was tested in Boyden chamber chemotaxis assays on PMNL. THD itself had no effect on eIL-8 release. Upon stimulation with TNFalpha or LPS, HUVEC produced increased amounts of eIL-8 and THD affected this process in a bidirectional manner, with augmentation of TNFalpha- and inhibition of LPS-effects. Functionality of eIL-8 was confirmed in chemotaxis experiments and by inhibition of chemotactic effects of supernatants with anti-human IL-8 monoclonal antibodies. Results explain and emphasize immunomodulatory properties of THD in cytokine- and endotoxin-induced inflammation and regulation of transendothelial migration.
OBJECTIVES: Focus of the current study was on the significance of bacterial endotoxin, which shows a variety of pro-atherogenic properties and may occur at high concentration in the circulation of infected subjects. BACKGROUND: The possibility of an infectious risk factor in atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease has stimulated research interest, but the nature of such process remains obscure. METHODS: We measured plasma endotoxin levels (LAL assay) in a random population of 516 men and women 50 to 79 years old at the 1990 baseline evaluation (Bruneck Study). End points of this prospective survey were incident (early) atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries as assessed with high-resolution Duplex ultrasound (five-year follow-up rate, 98%) and incident cardiovascular disease (follow-up rate, 100%). RESULTS: Median endotoxin concentration amounted to 14.3 pg/ml (range, 6.0 to 209.2 pg/ml). Subjects with levels beyond 50 pg/ml (90th percentile) faced a threefold risk of incident atherosclerosis (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.9 [1.4-6.3]; p < 0.01). The risk associated with high endotoxin was most pronounced in subjects with chronic infections and in current and ex-smokers. Notably, smokers with low endotoxin levels and nonsmokers did not differ in their atherosclerosis risk, whereas smokers with high levels almost invariably developed new lesions. All findings emerged as independent of vascular risk factors. Similar results were obtained for incident cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: The current study yields first epidemiologic evidence that endotoxemia constitutes a strong risk factor of early atherogenesis in subjects with chronic or recurrent bacterial infections and a link in the association between cigarette smoking and atherosclerotic disease.
Thalidomide is effective in the treatment of some tumor necrosis factor-related diseases, but its cellular target is not known. Effects of thalidomide were investigated on lymphocytes and monocytes. Cell migration was examined in a Boyden chamber. Effects on protein kinase C (PKC) were investigated functionally by use of PKC inhibitor and in purified enzyme preparations. Thalidomide itself showed no direct chemotactic effect on lymphocytes or monocytes. Preincubation with the drug significantly enhanced random migration of both cell types. This effect was bisindolylmaleimide-reversible, suggesting involvement of PKC. Preincubation with thalidomide diminished the chemotactic response of monocytes towards formyl peptide but failed to influence lymphocyte chemotaxis towards RANTES or interleukin-8. In a cell-free assay, inhibition of PKC activation by bisindolylmaleimide could be reversed by thalidomide, indicating direct interactions of thalidomide with PKC. Results suggest that effects of thalidomide in chronic inflammation may be related to actions on leukocyte functions.
AIM: Review of evidence that the 33-amino-acid polypeptide secretoneurin, which is generated by proteolytic cleavage of secretogranin II, plays a role in neurogenic inflammation. METHODS: Survey of the literature using a MEDLINE search database. RESULTS: Secretoneurin is synthesized in spinal ganglia, transported through the dorsal roots and stored in the axon terminals of primary afferent neurons. Investigations using capsaicin suggest that secretoneurin functions as an excitatory transmitter. Secretoneurin specifically activates various cell functions including the chemotactic migration of monocytes, eosinophils, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells, which suggests that the peptide may modulate inflammatory reactions. Secretoneurin receptors have been functionally characterized. They are G-proteins linked and effects are abrogated by inhibition of protein kinase C. CONCLUSION: With actions as diverse as those seen with other mediators such as tachykinins, secretoneurin may be considered another sensory neuropeptide with modulatory potential in neurogenic inflammation.
Effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on T cell migration are mediated by structurally distinct types I (VIPR1) and II (VIPR2) G protein-associated receptors. The two receptor types were proposed to transduce opposite effects on human T cells, since cytokine-induced chemotaxis of VIPR1-bearing HuT 78 human T cells, in contrast to T cells that express VIPR2, was inhibited by VIP. We studied chemotactic effects of VIP and related agonists with different affinities for VIP- and peptide histidine-isoleucine (PHI)-related receptors. All, VIP, secretin (SEC), a specific ligand for VIPR1, helodermin (HEL), an activator of helodermin-preferring VIPR2, as well as PHI, stimulated chemotaxis into micropore filters of both normal human peripheral blood T and B cells. Involvement of VIPRs was supported by inhibition of VIP-related agonist-induced migration of T and B cells with a VIPR antagonist. Peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) chemotaxis to VIP, SEC, HEL and PHI was reduced by inhibition of tyrosine kinase and pertussis or cholera toxin, whereas inhibition of protein kinase C only affected SEC-induced chemotaxis of PBL significantly. VIP-related agonists induced deactivation of migration at high concentrations. Findings in PBL suggest that VIPR1 activation can stimulate normal T and B cell chemotaxis. Different signaling mechanisms may be involved in mediating chemotactic activation of VIPRs and PHIRs, which may allow further exploration of receptor-dependent mechanisms and signaling pathways of VIP as mediator of PBL functions.
Secretoneurin (SN), a 33-amino acid neuropeptide, is derived from secretogranin II that is released from sensory afferent C-fibers by capsaicin. Described functions of secretoneurin include chemotaxis of monocytes and endothelial cells, and inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation. Inhibition of monocyte chemotaxis by staurosporine indicated involvement of specific signaling pathways. We have tested effects of SN, substance P (SP), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) on eosinophil migration in modified Boyden chambers including signaling mechanisms of neuropeptide and cytokine stimulation of human eosinophils. Experiments showed SN as eosinophil chemoattractant comparable in its potency to IL-8. Checkerboard analysis, usage of a specific anti-SN-antibody, and receptor desensitization experiments confirmed the chemotactic activity. Preincubation of the cells with effective concentrations of staurosporine or tyrphostin-23 showed no effect, whereas treatment with wortmannin (WTN) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantin (IBMX) completely blocked SN-induced migration. Additionally, experiments ruled out tyrphostin-23- and WTN-sensitive signaling pathways for SP-induced chemotaxis of eosinophils. We conclude that SN-stimulated human eosinophil chemotaxis is mediated via a unique and specific signal transduction pathway that involves activation of phosphodiesterases and WTN-sensitive enzymes, ie, phospholipase D and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. In contrast, we report that activation of the latter and tyrosine kinases is required for SP-induced chemotaxis of eosinophils.
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is a severe ocular disorder characterized by unwanted proliferation of cells and excessive production of fibrous tissue, which leads to the formation of cellular membranes on the surface of the retina and in the vitreous. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is the most common cause of failure in retinal reattachment surgery, approximately occurring in one out of ten operated eyes. Proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial cells and fibroblasts is a cornerstone in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. An in vitro-proliferation assay showed previously that intraocular fluid from patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy is potently effective in stimulating proliferation of human fibroblasts. Here we show that exposure of human fibroblasts to vitreous fluids from patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy causes a rapid and sustained increase in arachidonic acid metabolite release as measured by competitive enzyme-immunoassay. The findings implicate prostaglandin E2 as a contributor to enhanced intraocular fibrosis in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. As prostaglandin E2 is a mediator of continuous aqueous-blood retinal barrier breakdown in this severe disease, cycclooxygenase inhibitors such as acetylsalicylic acid, which was successfully used in this study for blocking the effect of intraocular fluid, may be useful agents in targeting the progression of intraocular fibrosis.
At inflammatory sites, leukocytes may confront multiple, competing chemoattractive signals. We compared the chemotactic potencies of several sensory neuropeptides with regard to signal transduction pathways in eosinophils. Eosinophils were enriched using magnetic cell sorting and migration was assayed in a Boyden microchemotaxis chamber. We found stimulatory effects of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), secretoneurin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and secretin on eosinophil migration. Actions of VIP are predominantly mediated via VIP receptor type I. Migration toward secretoneurin, VIP, and secretin was blocked by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which, in contrast failed to affect substance P- and CGRP-induced eosinophil chemotaxis. Wortmannin blunted the migratory responses induced by all neuropeptides tested and substance P-induced effects on eosinophils were tyrphostin-23-sensitive. We conclude that substance P, CGRP, secretoneurin, and VIP/secretin stimulate eosinophil migration involving wortmannin-sensitive enzymes. Moreover, secretoneurin and VIP/secretin require additional activation of phosphodiesterases to stimulate eosinophil migration.
OBJECTIVE: The release of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the vessel wall may lead to accumulation of monocytes in the subendothelial space. The role of neutrophils (PMNL) in the initiation of this process is unknown. We tested whether PMNL are able to induce the production and release of MCP-1 in endothelial cells. METHODS: PMNL were allowed to interact with human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers in culture. Culture media were collected and assessed for chemotactic activity on mononuclear leukocytes (MNC) or purified monocytes in a modified Boyden chamber assay. Additionally, MCP-1 levels in supernatants were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: Media from unstimulated HUVEC culture supernatants induced a slight increase (1.2-fold) of MNC and purified monocyte chemotaxis, which was significantly augmented by addition of PMNL for 1 h (1.4-fold; P < 0.05). The increase in chemotaxis was time- and dose-dependent and could be blocked by an anti-MCP-1 monoclonal antibody. Media obtained after coculture of PMNL and HUVEC for 1-5 h contained increased amounts of MCP-1 as measured by ELISA; addition of cycloheximide abolished this response. CONCLUSIONS: Interaction of PMNL with endothelium induces the release of functionally active MCP-1 suggesting that in the vascular wall, PMNL may play a role in the recruitment of MNC.
BACKGROUND: In atherosclerosis, both reductions and elevations in plasma levels of antioxidants have been reported. This study investigated total antioxidant capacity of plasma from subjects with atherosclerotic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 48 men with or without carotid atherosclerosis. At baseline (1990) carotid arteries were evaluated by duplex sonography and plasma samples were obtained for testing antioxidant capacity by two different test systems. One assay system used neutrophils from healthy volunteers as a source of oxygen free radicals activating the non-fluorescent dichlorofluorescin diacetate in the presence of antioxidant containing plasma from study subjects. In the other test system, total plasma antioxidants were detected colorimetrically by using 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate), metmyoglobin and superoxide in the presence of plasma. Carotid arteries were re-evaluated for the development of new plaques 5 years later (1995). RESULTS: Increased baseline total antioxidant capacity of plasma was significantly associated with the development of new atherosclerotic lesions during a period of 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous antioxidant capacity of plasma is increased in patients with active atherosclerotic disease. As scavenging of oxygen free radicals is thought to protect from atherogenesis, elevated antioxidative capacity may represent an adaptive mechanism.
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Lymphocytes can be activated to produce and release opioid peptides. We investigated the levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The concentrations of beta-endorphin in mononuclear leukocytes of 30.2 +/- 6.9 pg/10(6) cells on admission were in the normal range of 20-40 pg/10(6) cells and decreased significantly to 6.9 +/- 1.9 pg/10(6) cells after 48 h (p < 0.05). Decreased levels of mononuclear leukocyte-associated beta-endorphin in acute myocardial infarction may be due to the release of endogenous opioid after stimulation by stress and acute-phase reactants and play a role in inflammation and pain.
Endothelial cells used in transendothelial migration assays have been derived from different sources including human umbilical vein and bovine pulmonary artery. As plasma-induced activation of endothelial cells for enhanced transmigration of leukocytes may be pathophysiologically relevant, the role of species differences between plasma and endothelial cells was studied. The effects of human plasma on human umbilical vein and bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells with regard to transmigration of neutrophils were compared. Transendothelial migration of neutrophils was tested employing endothelial cell-covered Transwell cell culture chamber inserts with micropore filters of 5 microns pore size. Results showed that human plasma induces neutrophil transmigration of both human umbilical vein and bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers. Plasma samples from 50 to 69 year old men with and without carotid arteriosclerosis (N = 152) stimulated endothelial cells of human origin significantly stronger for transmigration of neutrophils than endothelial cells of bovine origin. Analyses of limits of agreement and of correlation of the two methods indicated that bovine pulmonary artery and human umbilical vein endothelial cells cannot replace each other in assays of plasma-induced activation of transmigration. Plasma levels of soluble adhesion molecule P-selectin, which are elevated in patients with arteriosclerotic diseases, are inversely related to plasma-induced activation of neutrophil transmigration of endothelial monolayers of human origin but not of bovine origin (N = 65). As rates of transmigration that were induced by plasma from subjects without carotid arteriosclerosis (N = 73) were significantly related between human and bovine endothelium, elevated plasma levels of soluble P-selectin may thus affect results of assays for plasma-induced activation of neutrophil transmigration of endothelial monolayers in a species-specific manner.
TNF is produced by monocytes/macrophages in response to endotoxin, which may lead to septic shock. TNF stimulates neutrophil adherence, degranulation, and superoxide production, but inhibits neutrophil migration. A mitigating anti-inflammatory effect can be experimentally induced in septic shock by TNF blockers, such as pentoxifylline, and is also suggested for treatment with hrG-CSF. With regard to the combination of pentoxifylline and hrG-CSF, the purpose of this investigation was to explore whether and in what way the effects of hrG-CSF and pentoxifylline interact with each other in neutrophils. To this end, we studied the effects of pentoxifylline on TNF- and G-CSF-induced modulation of neutrophil chemotaxis and O2 release. TNF and G-CSF decreased directed migration of neutrophils to FMLP or IL-8. High-dose pentoxifylline (1 mM) was able to counteract the effect of TNF but not that of G-CSF on neutrophil migration. In the presence of pentoxifylline, TNF and G-CSF were unable to stimulate respiratory burst. In contrast, pre-exposure of cells to pentoxifylline followed by washing increased the priming effect of TNF or hrG-CSF on neutrophil respiratory burst activity. The methylxanthine derivative by itself showed no effect on spontaneous and fMLP-stimulated O2 release by neutrophils. Stimulation of neutrophil respiratory burst by pentoxifylline may not be detectable in the presence of pentoxifylline due to its known oxygen-radical scavenging function. Results suggest that by blocking the inflammatory action of TNF on neutrophils, pentoxifylline may diminish endothelial cell damage caused by inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis. On the other hand, since transiently present pentoxifylline may enhance the respiratory burst activity of TNF- or hrG-CSF-primed neutrophils, concomitant administration of pentoxifylline and hrG-CSF to patients with SIRS/sepsis might diminish beneficial effects of the latter and additional deleterious effects might occur.
Vascular endothelium activated by endotoxin and cytokines plays an important role in organ inflammation and blood leukocyte recruitment. Neutrophils, which are a homogeneous population of effector cells, are rapidly attracted in large numbers to sites of inflammation where they form an early response to infection or injury. Excessive production of various interleukins, TNF, arachidonic acid metabolites, and other substances by neutrophils and macrophages results in systemic endothelial cell injury, a fundamental problem. In the present study, we investigated in vitro the effects of thalidomide (THD) on activation of endothelial cells for enhanced transmigration of neutrophils by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), and interleukin-1 (IL-1). Modulation of endotoxin- and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemotaxis and respiratory burst by THD were also studied. Treatment of HUVEC with THD in combination with LPS, TNF, and IL-1, respectively, antagonized LPS-activated transmigration of neutrophils but stimulated the effects of TNF and IL-1. All of the agents used-THD, LPS, TNF, and IL-1-inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis. Addition of THD to the neutrophils had no effect on LPS-inhibited chemotaxis whereas the TNF- and IL-1-induced chemotaxis was modulated in a bimodal manner. However, THD failed to influence neutrophil respiratory burst activity. Results demonstrate that THD differentially affects mediator-induced activation of HUVEC and neutrophils.
We studied chemotactic effects of interleukin-8 (IL-8) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) using micropore filter assays. As identification of chemotactic responses depends on the status of activation of cells, magnetic cell sorting (MACS) was performed providing freshly isolated B-lymphocytes of highest purity. B-lymphocytes responded chemotactically to IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that IL-8 may play a role in both T- and B-lymphocyte trafficking by acting directly on the cells.