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S I Simon

Publications and source records attributed to S I Simon.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Beta 2-integrin and L-selectin are obligatory receptors in neutrophil aggregation.

We have recently found that antibodies to L-selectin, the homing receptor on neutrophils, are as effective as those to beta 2-integrin at blocking formyl peptide-stimulated aggregation. Therefore, we investigated the requirements for expression of L-selectin and beta 2-integrin on adjacent cells during aggregation. Fluorescence flow cytometry allowed characterization of aggregates on the basis of size and color, as well as antibody binding to these two adhesive molecules. Formyl peptide-stimulated aggregate formation was measured for individual populations fluorescently labeled red (LDS-751) or green (CD44-FITC), and interpopulation red-green cell conjugates. Blocking either the beta 2-integrin or L-selectin adhesive epitope with monoclonal antibody on individual cell populations resulted in an approximately 50% reduction in two-color aggregation as compared with that in unblocked samples. Shedding the L-selectin on a cell population by preincubation with complexes of lipopolysaccharide and its plasma membrane binding protein also decreased aggregation to a control population by approximately 50%. We examined the aggregation of neutrophils from patients genetically deficient in beta 2-integrin and clinically leukocyte adhesion deficient (LAD). LAD adhesion to normal neutrophils was dependent on the expression of L-selectin on LAD cells and beta 2-integrin on normal cells. Thus, the minimum requirement for adhesion between two mixed populations of neutrophils was that one population expressed the beta 2-integrin and the other expressed the L-selectin adhesive epitope.

Animals↗

Endocytosis of beta 2 integrins by stimulated human neutrophils analyzed by flow cytometry.

Flow cytometry and fluorescently labeled monoclonal antibodies were used to investigate endocytosis of human neutrophil beta 2 integrins following cellular activation. CD18 initially present on the cell surface cycled in two phases after exposure to formyl peptide or platelet-activating factor. The first phase lasted 3 min at 37 degrees C; after a lag, CD18 was specifically internalized at approximately 20%/min. Subsequently a second phase was detectable consisting of exponential reduction of internal fluorescence with a half-time of approximately 2 min, representing probe reexpression. At peak endocytosis approximately 40% of CD18 was internalized. All of the internalized CD18 was associated with alpha M (CR3); no endocytosis of alpha L (LFA-1) was observed. When neutrophils were stimulated with phorbol esters or calcium ionophore, CD18 was internalized much more slowly (t1/2 = 5 min) and probe was not reexpressed. Endocytosis of CD18 may participate in regulating neutrophil adhesiveness, removing activated receptors, or permitting receptor recycling.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Neutrophil aggregation is beta 2-integrin- and L-selectin-dependent in blood and isolated cells.

Neutrophil aggregation in response to formyl peptide was analyzed in blood and isolated cells by fluorescence flow cytometry. The isolated leukocyte aggregates and the leukocytes in blood were identified with the vital nucleic acid stain LDS-751. This method enabled us to discriminate nucleated cells from other blood cells and to detect granulocyte aggregates without isolation or E lysis. Cells isolated in the absence of endotoxin retained the characteristics of cells in blood and exhibited similar aggregation kinetics and dose-response to formyl peptide. We show that it is possible to analyze epitope expression in blood with homogeneous flow cytometric assays and that carefully isolated neutrophils retain the expression characteristics of those in blood. The expression of CD18 was at its lowest levels in unstimulated cells, while the rate of formyl peptide stimulated aggregation was most rapid in these cells. Aggregation in isolated cells as well as blood preceded an increase in receptor expression. After stimulation, L-selectin expression decreased in both blood and isolated cells over a time frame similar to disaggregation. The aggregation response in blood was blocked by pretreatment with antibody to CD18 over a concentration range consistent with the amount of antibody bound. Aggregation was also blocked in isolated cells and blood by antibodies DREG-200 and DREG-56 to L-selectin, but not by isotype controls or anti-LFA-1. The results are discussed in terms of the roles of adhesive receptor expression and recognition in neutrophil aggregation. The methods validated here permit linkage between isolated cells and in vivo studies.

Antigens, CD↗

Cytoplasmic strains and strain rates in motile polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

A new method is presented to measure local cytoplasmic deformation and rate of deformation in motile active neutrophils. The deformation is expressed in terms of biomechanical strains and strain rates. For this purpose small phagocytosed latex microspheres were used as intracellular markers. Planar Lagrangian and Eulerian strains and the rate of strain were estimated from the positions of a triad of internalized markers. Principal strains, stretch ratios, and principal directions were computed. The intracellular strains were found to be large relative to the overall cell shape change. Principal cytoplasmic stretch ratios showed large extension in the direction of pseudopod formation and cell locomotion and contraction in perpendicular directions. Regional strain analysis showed contractile strains to predominate in the vicinity of the pseudopod or leading edge of motion. The transitional region between the pseudopod and the main cell body exhibited large shear strains. The posterior region, where the uropod is located, also revealed large extensions but small contractile strains. The rate of strains are relatively small, nonuniform in time, and largely independent of the strain. The method we propose to measure cytoplasmic strain can be applied to a variety of problems in cell mechanics.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗

Flow cytometric analysis and modeling of cell-cell adhesive interactions: the neutrophil as a model.

The immune function of granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, and other specialized cells depends upon intercellular adhesion. In many cases the molecules mediating leukocyte cell adhesion belong to the Leu-CAM superfamily of adhesive molecules. To elucidate the events of homotypic aggregation in a quantitative fashion, we have examined the aggregation of neutrophils stimulated with formyl peptides, where aggregate formation is a transient reversible cell function. We have mathematically modeled the kinetics of aggregation using a linear model based on particle geometry and rates of aggregate formation and breakup. The time course was modeled as a three-phase process, each phase with distinct rate constants. Aggregate formation was measured on the flow cytometer; singlets and larger particles were distinguished using the intravital stain LDS-751. Aggregation proceeded rapidly after stimulation with formyl peptide (CHO-nle-leu-phe-nle-tyr-lys). The first phase lasted 30-60 s; this was modeled with the largest aggregation rate and smallest rate of disaggregation. Aggregate formation plateaued during the second phase which lasted up to 2.5 min. This phase was modeled with an aggregation rate nearly an order of magnitude less than that of the initial fast phase, whereas the disaggregation rate for this phase did not change significantly. A third phase where disaggregation predominated, lasted the remaining 2-3 min and was modeled with a four to fivefold increase of the disaggregation rate. The mechanism of cell-cell adhesion in the plateau phase was probed with the monoclonal antibody IB4 to the CD18 subunit of the adhesive receptor CR3. Based on these studies it appears that new aggregates do not form to a large degree after the first phase of aggregate formation is complete. However, new adhesive contact sites may form within the contact region of these adherent cells to keep the aggregates together.

Cell Adhesion↗

Kinematics of cytoplasmic deformation in neutrophils during active motion.

A procedure is proposed to measure the cytoplasmic deformation in active motile neutrophils in the form of cytoplasmic strains and strain rates. Three neighboring microspheres in a local region of the cytoplasm serve as markers for local motion. Their positions are tracked by means of a high resolution light microscope and serve to compute nonlinear measures of strains and strain rates together with the principal strains and principal directions. Active neutrophils exhibit large cytoplasmic strains both during periodic pseudopod projections and during continuous locomotion in a polarized shape. The cytoplasmic motion is often synchronized with the whole cell deformation. The local cytoplasmic strains exceed the strains estimated for the whole cell and are not reversible except in some cases of single pseudopod projections. Large strains are observed both in attached and freely suspended cells. Strain rates are relatively constant but show an increase during the pseudopod retraction phase. Local cytoplasmic strains in neutrophils are inhomogeneous and reach large values during passage of the contraction rings. Neutrophils rendered passive by treatment with cytochalasin or EDTA show a random motion of microspheres with much smaller displacements. These observations suggest that the cytoplasm of active neutrophil exhibits large cytoplasmic strains and strain rates in the absence of an external stress resulting in a high degree of intracellular mixing. The proposed technique may be applied to a wide range of problems in cell biology.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Biophysical aspects of microsphere engulfment by human neutrophils.

A quantitative investigation into the mechanism of neutrophil phagocytosis of opsonized microspheres possessing well defined dimensions was undertaken. Three aspects were documented: membrane conservation, cell adhesion to the spheres, and active cell cytoplasmic projection around the microspheres. The physical act of internalizing a particle by a cell involves a reduction in its plasma membrane area and an increase in its volume. As a consequence, a cell can internalize only a finite number of particles. A store of membrane area exists on cytoplasmic granules and may be recruited during phagocytosis. Previous measurements of neutrophil membrane area and volume served as a basis for estimates of the maximum number of internalized microspheres. A comparison with experimental prediction based on membrane conservation and degranulation agrees within 10% for a range of microsphere diameters, from 0.5 to 8 microns. This suggests that the limitation for additional particle uptake in the population of engorged neutrophils is the lack of excess plasma membrane area. In a random population of neutrophils, there was a sub-group, approximately 40%, which could no longer phagocytose before depleting their membrane stores. Several aspects of the engulfment process were investigated to elucidate the cause of this phagocytosis deficiency. It could be shown by single cell observation that these cases were associated with a lack of pseudopod projection, although adhesion was still evident between the cell membrane and the microspheres.

Cell Adhesion↗

Effects of AQA-39 on granulocytes in the microcirculation of rat mesentery.

Recent evidence suggests that granulocytes play a key role in perfusion of the microcirculation. In this regard two phenomena are of specific importance: pseudopod formation and adhesion to the endothelium. Thus we studied the influence of AQA-39 on leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium in rat mesentery venules and on pseudopod formation in human granulocytes. Direct intravital estimates of granulocyte fracture stress were obtained by measurement of the ratio of leukocyte and midstream velocity. The marginating and circulating cell flux and the areal density of stationary granulocytes on the intraluminal side of the endothelium were measured simultaneously in the same venular segments. During administration of 10 mg kg-1 AQA-39 the fracture stress is significantly reduced resulting in decreased areal density of marginating cells and also washout of strongly adhering stationary leukocytes found frequently on the endothelium of such vessels. Furthermore it was observed on single granulocytes that AQA-39 leads to transient obliteration of pseudopod formation. These results suggest that the effect of AQA-39 on flow may be mediated in part by reduction in granulocyte adhesion to the endothelium and suppression of pseudopod formation.

Animals↗

Cutaneous insulin reaction resembling acanthosis nigricans.

We describe a patient who developed hyperkeratotic, verrucous plaques at sites of repeated insulin injections. One similar case has previously been reported. This phenomenon may be an unusual manifestation of the trophic actions of insulin.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗

Angiosarcoma of the scalp.

The clinical appearance, histopathology, and fulminating course of an angiosarcoma of the scalp in a 57-year-old man is described. It enlarged rapidly, developed satellite nodules, metastasized to the lungs, and was fatal within five months.

Cysts↗