Dexamethasone-induced changes in glucose transporter 4 in rat heart muscle, skeletal muscle and adipocytes

To clarify the effect of glucocorticoid on glucose transporters (GLUT) in adipocytes and muscle, we examined the changes of GLUT4 in rat heart muscle, skeletal muscle and adipocytes during long-term administration of dexamethasone and the translocation of GLUT4. The levels of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane and the low-density microsome fraction were measured by Western blotting using anti-GLUT4 peptide antibody. The levels of GLUT4 in the heart and skeletal muscles of rat were unchanged by treatment of dexamethasone. In the adipocytes the level of GLUT4 in plasma membrane was changed, but it was decreased in the low-density microsome fraction. Although adipocytes are less involved in blood sugar regulation than skeletal muscle, this finding suggests that glucose metabolism in Cushing's syndrome is affected partly by a decrease of GLUT4 in the adipocytes.

Autoradiography-based cytochemical detection of ecto-ATPase, ecto-ADPase, 5'-nucleotidase, and extracellular adenosine production, employing 141Ce3+ as a capturing agent

A method for the visualization of the ecto-nucleotidase enzyme activities present on the cell surface, employing 141Ce3+ as a capturing and labelling agent, is described. Phosphate ions precipitated at the cell surface can be detected by coating the cells with an autoradiographic emulsion, followed by light microscopical inspection of the formed silver grains. The activities of ecto-ATPase, ecto-ADPase and 5'-nucleotidase were detected by this approach in four different cell lines. Parallel biochemical measurements of the activities of the corresponding enzymes were carried out in order to validate, evaluate, and optimize the cytochemical detection. The finding that Ce3+ ions are inhibitory to ecto-ATPase provided evidence for the necessity of carefully establishing appropriate reaction conditions for the cytochemical determination of ecto-nucleotidases. The application of this method to the indirect detection of extracellular adenosine production from substrates like ATP has also been documented. It allows a cytochemical determination of adenosine formed through cascade nucleotide dephosphorylation. This newly described method is of high sensitivity and potentially of value for a variety of applications, including not only cytochemistry but also cell biology, and molecular biology studies.

Effect of eugenol on drug-metabolizing enzymes of carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rat liver

The chemoprotection extended by eugenol against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication was established by studies on drug-metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes. An overall decrease in drug-metabolizing enzymes, namely NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, NADH-cytochrome reductase, coumarin hydroxylase, 7-ethoxy coumarin-O-deethylase, UDP-glucuronyltransferase and glutathione-S-transferase, was observed with CCl4 intoxication, with a subsequent decrease in cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 content. CCl4 caused a significant decrease in microsomal phospholipids and the marker enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase, and an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Simultaneous administration of eugenol with CCl4 inhibited the accumulation of TBARS and the decrease in the microsomal phospholipids and marker enzymes. Further, the chemical onslaught imposed by CCl4 on the drug-metabolizing system was removed successfully by eugenol. Eugenol appears to act as an in vivo antioxidant and as a better inducer of phase II enzymes than phase I enzymes. It is therefore suggested that eugenol could be an interesting basic structure for drug design.

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase is expressed by pericytes and fibroblasts in the rat heart

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase is anchored at the outer surface of cell membranes and thus its reaction product adenosine is released into the extracellular space. Extracellular adenosine displays via specific receptors a wide range of physiological effects in heart. There are discrepancies in the literature concerning the distribution of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in heart. Since we suspected that these may be due to technical problems, in the present study on ecto-5'-nucleotidase in rat heart we attempted to circumvent some technical pitfalls. Good preservation of the tissue with open capillary lumina, providing a clear identification of endothelium, was obtained by perfusion fixation. At the light microscopic level, the distribution of ecto-5'-nucleotidase studied by enzyme histochemistry and immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal and a polyclonal antibody yielded congruent results. The enzyme was rather homogeneously distributed throughout the myocardium, with a slightly higher incidence of stained cells in the outer thirds than in the inner third of the wall. Consistently high levels of ecto-5'-nucleotidase were seen only in interstitial cells. The walls of large vessels and heart muscle cells were constantly negative for ecto-5'-nucleotidase. The endothelia of capillaries were mostly negative but a few profiles occasionally displayed a weak immunoreaction. The interstitial cells staining positive for ecto-5'-nucleotidase could be identified as pericytes and as fibroblasts according to their shapes and localizations. The immunoreactivity of fibroblasts was confirmed by electron microscopy. These data indicate that adenosine may be formed extracellularly in the interstitium of the myocardium, where it would have direct access to important targets such as myocytes, arterioles and nerve endings.

Association of canalicular membrane enzymes with bile acid micelles and lipid aggregates in human and rat bile

This study was undertaken to gain insights into the characteristics of the polymolecular association between canalicular membrane enzymes, bile acids, cholesterol and phospholipids in bile and into the celular mechanisms whereby the enzymes are secreted into bile. With this purpose, we studied the distribution of bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids, proteins and representative canalicular membrane enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase), which can be considered specific marker constituents, in bile fractions enriched in phospholipid-cholesterol lamellar structures (multilamellar and unilamellar vesicles) and bile acid-mixed micelles. These fractions were isolated by ultracentrifugation from human hepatic bile, normal rat bile and bile of rats treated with diosgenin, a steroid that induces a marked increase in biliary cholesterol secretion, and were characterized by density, lipid composition and transmission electron microscopy. These studies demonstrate that alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase are secreted into both human and rat bile where they are preferentially associated with bile acid-mixed micelles, suggesting a role for bile acids in both release of these enzymes and lipids from the canalicular membrane and solubilization in bile. In addition, heterogeneous association of these enzymes with nonmicellar, lamellar structures in human and rat bile is consistent with the hypothesis that processes independent of the detergent effects of bile acids might also result in the release of specific intrinsic membrane proteins into bile.

A histochemical study on the enzymatic activity in the proximal epiphysis of the humerus during the prenatal and postnatal periods in rats

In order to investigate the activity of certain enzymes [Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Acid phosphatase (ACP), Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), 5'-Nucleotidase (5'-N)] in the proximal epiphysis of the humerus, tissue specimens were obtained from pregnant rats on the 15th, 17th, 19th and 20th days of gestation and on the 1st, 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th and 60th days of postnatal development. Enzymatic activity in the chondral ossification, in the perichondral areas of the epiphysis, was first seen on the 15th day of gestation. ALP and ATPase could also be observed for the first time in fetuses aged 15 days, whereas ACP and 5'-N could not be detected. These latter enzymes were observed for the first time in the proximal humeral epiphysis of fetuses aged 17 days. ALP, a marker for hypertrophic and calcifying cartilage, was observed extensively in the central hypertrophic part of the cartilaginous perichondral zones, which showed calcification during the development of the epiphysis. ALP, ATP and 5'-N activity was very marked in the cytoplasm of osteoblasts and in the periosteal matrix, but strong ACP activity was found in the cells of the chondrolysis zone. In conclusion; according to our observations, heterogeneity of the proximal epiphysis of the humerus exhibits intrinsic differences between the cells of different zones. The activity of all enzymes showed an increase according to the developmental age. This suggests that all of these enzymes play a role during developmental ossification.

[Adenylate cyclase and 5'-nucleotidase activities in the sensorimotor and limbic structures of the rat brain after training in a manipulative skill]

The activities of adenylate cyclase (AC) and 5'-nucleotidase (NT) were studied in the limbic (amygdala, hippocampus) and sensorimotor (cortex, striatum) brain structures of three rat groups: control (without training), not well and well learning to perform movements with pushing the operandum. It was found, that after training the activity of AC was decreased in all structures studied. Moreover, in the cortex and the striatum the decrease was more pronounced in the group of well learning rats, while in the amygdala--in not well learning ones. The activity of NT in all brain structures, excepting the striatum, was more significantly decreased in the rats with low ability to learn the movements with prolonged pushing. Only in the striatum the increase of NT activity (initially the lowest in the control animals--1.0 +/- 0.04 microgram P(i)/mg protein/min) up to 1.3 +/- 0.1 in not well and up to 2.0 +/- 0.1 in well learning animals was found. The interhemispheric [correction of intrahemispheric] asymmetry of AC activity in the cortex and of NT in the hippocampus was revealed. Thus, the changes of the activity of the enzymes, participating in the biogenesis of adenosine (NT) and c-AMP (AC) are different in the limbic and sensorimotor structures dependently on learning ability of rats. The increase of NT activity after learning only in the striatum could reflect a specific role of purinergic system of this brain structure in the regulation of sensory controlled movements.

Differential effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on human skin fibroblasts

To better understand the mode of action of omega 3 fatty acids in cell membranes, human foreskin fibroblasts were grown in serum-free medium supplemented with 50 microM oleic acid linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and the effects on membrane composition, fluorescence polarization and enzyme activities were followed. The cells were enriched with EPA and DHA up to 7 and 13% of total lipids, respectively, of which > 95% was associated with phospholipids. In addition, the concentration of 22:5n-3 increased with both EPA and DHA to 7.5, and 2.1% of the total fatty acids, respectively. When compared to controls (oleic acid), cells treated with DHA showed a decrease in cholesterol, phospholipids, arachidonic acid (AA) and free cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (P < 0.05). In the presence of EPA, only decreases in AA and cholesterol were significant (P < 0.05). Membrane fluidity, assessed by fluorescence anisotropy, was increased 16% in cells enriched with DHA (P < 0.05), but showed no change with EPA or linoleic acid. There was an increase in membrane-associated 5'-nucleotidase (+27%) and adenylate cyclase (+19%) activities (P < 0.05), in DHA-enriched, but not in EPA-enriched cells, when compared with oleate controls. The studies show that incorporation of DHA, but not EPA, into cell membranes of fibroblasts alters membrane biophysical characteristics and function. We suggest that these two major n-3 fatty acids of fish oils have differential effects on cell membranes, and this may be related to the known differences in their physiological effects.

[Aspects of the enzymatic evaluation in Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection]

To try to find effects of malaria on clinical serum activity of certain enzymes, 3 groups of infants--malarial, asymptomatic carrier and normal controls--have been designed. Parasitologic data have been compared with serum concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and 5'nucleotidase (5'Nu). Results show that only LDH and HBDH are significantly increased. Respective coefficients of correlation r = 0.32 (p < 0.05) and r = 0.39 (p < 0.01) show that increasing in LDH and HBDH are linked to malarial parasite density. LDH and HBDH increasing might therefore constitute a marker of malaria.

Biochemical and cellular characterization of cardiac valve tissue after cryopreservation or antibiotic preservation

It has been reported that aortic homografts that have been cryopreserved before transplantation remain viable longer as an allograft than tissue stored at 4 degrees C in an antibiotic solution. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that storage of cardiac valve tissue by cryopreservation or by antibiotic preservation may alter the metabolic status of the tissue. Initially, we collected aortic valves composed of cardiac tissue, aortic root, and valvular tissue from cadaver donors. These specimens were divided into three equal portions, and one portion was analyzed before storage while the other two parts were stored for 3 weeks at either 4 degrees C in an antibiotic solution or at -196 degrees C in liquid nitrogen. All specimens were examined with regard to the following parameters: tissue structure, tissue viability, cell proliferative capacity, metabolic function, and identification of cell-specific antigens. We found no significant alterations in the structure of any of the three tissue components after antibiotic preservation or cryopreservation; however, cell viability and cell number were decreased in all three groups. All tissue samples grew in culture before storage. When we compared activities of the following organellar marker enzymes--lysosomal acid lipase, plasma membrane 5' nucleotidase, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase, and microsomal neutral alpha-glucosidase--we observed no major differences between tissues stored by either technique. In addition, we observed no loss of enzymic activity as a result of storage. Finally, when cell lines isolated from each tissue specimen were incubated with monoclonal antibodies against cell-specific antigens in an immunoperoxidase assay, all the cell cultures proved to be endothelial cells. These results suggest that although cardiac valve tissue stored by cryopreservation or by antibiotic preservation retained its normal structure and metabolic capabilities, both storage techniques produced significant decreases in cell numbers and viability. However, only endothelial cells from tissue stored by cryopreservation retained the capacity to proliferate in vitro. These findings have important implications for the function of aortic homografts transplanted after storage.

Liver plasma membrane-bound enzymes and lipids in golden hamsters infected with Ancylostoma ceylanicum

Infection of golden hamsters with Ancylostoma ceylanicum caused significant decrease in body weight, liver weight and the protein content of liver plasma membrane. Significant inhibition of liver plasma membrane enzymes activities-5'Nucleotidase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, NADHK3Fe (CN)6 reductase, Na+/K(+)-ATPase, CA(2+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase was observed in infected animals compared to corresponding controls. Sialic acid content and phospholipid/cholesterol ratio in liver plasma membrane of the infected group were significantly reduced. The study suggests that changes in both the structural and functional organization of membrane may be a biochemical basis of the hepatotoxic effects.

Morphology and distribution of ecto-5'-nucleotidase-positive cells in the rat choroid plexus

The aim of this report was to find out whether adenosine can be produced locally in the choroid plexus of rats. Therefore we investigated the distribution of the enzyme ecto-5'-nucleotidase which hydrolyzes extracellular adenosine monophosphate to adenosine and phosphate. Enzyme activity histochemistry and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that ecto-5'-nucleotidase is present in the stroma but not in the epithelium. The positive cells in the stroma were identified as fibroblasts by their localization and by their shape. Double-labelling immunohistochemistry actually showed that ecto-5'-nucleotidase was absent from MHC class II-positive cells and from vessel walls. These data indicate that adenosine may be produced in the choroid plexus, and specifically in the interstitium. From there, adenosine would have direct access to nerves, immune cells, the epithelium and microvessels. Because adenosine has been reported to modulate blood supply and the rate of production of cerebrospinal fluid, a local control mechanism involving adenosine might operate in the choroid plexus in a similar way to that described in other tissues. Effects of adenosine on nerves and immune cells are discussed. The exclusive presence of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in the fibroblasts that are in contact with choroid plexus epithelium suggests that the expression of the enzyme is controlled by factors produced by epithelial cells, for instance by extracellular nucleotides.

4'-Amino-benzamido-taurocholic acid selectively solubilizes glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins and improves lipolytic cleavage of their membrane anchors by specific phospholipases

Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins (GPI-proteins) are normally identified either by cleavage of the lipid anchor using (glycosyl)phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases C or D (GPI-PLs) or by metabolic labeling of the lipid moiety with specific building blocks. Therefore, methods for discrimination between transmembrane proteins and GPI-proteins on the basis of their physicochemical properties are desirable. Here we are presenting a selective extraction method for typical well-characterized mammalian GPI-proteins, e.g., acetylcholine esterase, alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, and lipoprotein lipase, using a derivative of taurocholate. The results were compared to those obtained with well-characterized transmembrane proteins, e.g., insulin receptor and hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A-reductase, glucose transporters, or aminopeptidase M and several commercially available detergents. With regard to total membrane proteins, it was possible to selectively enrich GPI-proteins up to 8- to 14-fold by using concentrations between 0.1 and 0.3% of 4'-NH2-amino-7 beta-benzamido-taurocholic acid (BATC). In addition, the cleavage specificity and efficiency of (G)PI-PLs were increased in the presence of identical concentrations of BATC compared to commonly used detergents, e.g., Nonidet P-40. Therefore, the present study shows that the use of BATC facilitates the identification of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins.

Electrophoretic fractionation of 5'-nucleotidase

Human isonucleotidases were separated by electrophoresis on a cellulose acetate membrane. Three 5'-nucleotidase forms, NTP1, NTP2, and NTP3, were resolved with this method and quantified by densitometry. The procedure was not only simple and rapid but also sufficiently precise (between-run CV < 20%) and sensitive (detected nucleotidase fractions of > 0.5 U/L). The effects of various treatments (heat, neuraminidase, glycosidases, proteases, lectins, and detergents) on the electrophoretic pattern of 5'-nucleotidase were studied. NTP1 (mean 12% of total 5'-nucleotidase, SD 5%), NTP2 (mean 30%, SD 8%), and NTP3 (mean 58%, SD 8%) were found in all normal persons studied. The increase in total 5'-nucleotidase in patients with hepatobiliary disease was mainly due to the NTP1 isoform.

Cytochemical study of the effect of aluminium on cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells

The cytotoxic effect of aluminium was studied on cultured goat brain microvascular endothelial cells used as an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier. Confluent monolayers of these cells were exposed for 4 days to aluminium maltol and, for control purposes, to maltol alone, and also to cadmium chloride as a known cytotoxic substance. The localization of plasmalemma-bound enzymatic activities of 5'-nucleotidase and Ca(2+)-ATPase and the distribution of sialic acid residues were studied at the ultrastructural level. It was observed that the reaction for 5'-nucleotidase activity was only insignificantly affected, indicating its resistance to the cytotoxic action of both substances used. On the contrary, the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase was evidently suppressed, especially in the interendothelial clefts where junctional complexes are presumably to be formed. Aluminium also affects the density of sialic acid residues, as shown by their redistribution, leading to the appearance of relatively long segments of unlabelled apical cell surface. The data obtained suggest that observed changes in the localization of Ca(2+)-ATPase and sialic acid residues can lead ultimately to impairment of the formation and maintenance of intercellular junctions and to disturbances in the negatively charged domains of the endothelial cell surface. Whether these alterations, induced in vitro, contribute to in vivo disturbances of blood-brain barrier function requires further experimental study.

Development and cell phenotypes in primary follicles of foetal sheep lymph nodes

Lymph nodes from sheep foetuses and postnatal lambs were examined to determine the participation of different leucocyte populations in primary follicle formation, with special emphasis on the emergence and subsequent development of follicular dendritic cells during late gestation and early postnatal life. A series of immune and enzyme histochemical markers was used. The first 5'-nucleotidase-positive primary follicles were found at 80 days gestational age (gestation in sheep is 150 days) in superficial cervical lymph nodes. In the last month of gestation the primary follicles possessed follicular dendritic cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and CD5-positive lymphocytes, in addition to IgM-positive cells. Follicular dendritic cells in primary follicles were found to be ultrastructurally immature. These follicular dendritic cells were characterised by a few, course surface projections and many ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. A final differentiation to mature follicular dendritic cells was coincident with the postnatal germinal centre reaction. Computer-assisted morphometric analysis demonstrated that the size of 5'-nucleotidase-positive primary follicles in the distal jejunal lymph node, but not in the superficial cervical lymph node, increased significantly during late gestation. It was concluded that stromal cells in primary follicles of foetal sheep lymph nodes were a continuously developing population but that ultrastructural maturity was only achieved in the germinal centres of postnatal lambs.

One-minute high-performance liquid chromatography assay for 5'-nucleotidase using a 20-mm reverse-phase column

A general procedure is described for developing HPLC-based assays for nucleotidases by using a 20-mm C-18 reversed-phase column. The method is applied on the determination of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase activity in human erythrocytes lysate and plasma. The activity is detected using isocratic conditions which separate the product (nucleoside) from the substrate (nucleotide) in less than 1 min with 100 mM potassium phosphate, pH 6.0, at a 2 ml/min flow rate. Nucleoside products of the enzymatic reactions are directly quantitated from their ultraviolet absorbances. The activity value closely agreed with that determined by measuring the production of inorganic phosphate. The method does not require prior dialysis of the sample and is 50-fold more sensitive than that based on colorimetric measurements of inorganic phosphate. Furthermore, avoiding the use of radioactive materials offers significant advantages with respect to commonly adopted assays and can be conveniently used for the determination of nucleotidase activity from different sources.

Cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase/nucleoside phosphotransferase: a single assay for a bifunctional enzyme

Cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase/nucleoside phosphotransferase has been purified from calf thymus. Since the same protein is able to catalyze both the hydrolysis and the interconversion of several nucleoside monophosphates, it is necessary to study the effect of different metabolites and assay conditions on both activities in order to elucidate their physiological roles. We describe herein a method which allowed us to follow both activities contemporaneously in the same assay mixture. The method takes advantage of the observation that deoxyGMP is both a good substrate for hydrolysis and a good phosphate donor for the phosphotransferase reaction, but its dephosphorylated product, deoxyguanosine, is not a phosphate acceptor. As a consequence, it is possible to follow both the deoxyguanosine production and the transfer of phosphate from deoxyGMP to the best phosphate acceptor, inosine, during the reaction, applying a method for the chromatographic separation on HPLC of both substrates (inosine and deoxyGMP) and both products (IMP and deoxyguanosine). The method was applied to the determination of the KM for inosine.

Transient association of the HNK-1 epitope with 5'-nucleotidase during development of the cat visual cortex

During early postnatal development of the kitten visual cortex the ectoenzyme 5'-nucleotidase undergoes a characteristic redistribution. Until about postnatal week 6 it is essentially confined to synaptic contacts in input layer IV and its expression is related to the use-dependent segregation of thalamic afferents into ocular dominance columns. Subsequently, 5'-nucleotidase becomes distributed uniformly throughout all layers and is then associated selectively with glial cells. Here we describe an age-dependent alteration in the expression of a carbohydrate epitope of 5'-nucleotidase which correlates with the developmental change of the enzyme's localization. We have isolated 5'-nucleotidase from the occipital cortex of kittens of varying age and from adult cats and investigated by immunoblotting the association of the HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope with the protein. 5'-Nucleotidase carries the HNK-1 epitope in kittens of 3-9 weeks but the epitope is absent from 12-week-old kittens or adult cats. Thus, the appearance of the HNK-1 epitope correlates with the transient localization of the enzyme at synapses. The HNK-1 carrying 5'-nucleotidase may be involved in synaptogenesis and use-dependent modifications of synaptic connections.

Adaptations of plasma membrane glucose transport facilitate cryoprotectant distribution in freeze-tolerant frogs

Natural freeze tolerance in several anuran species involves the accumulation of high concentrations of glucose as a cryoprotectant in body fluids and tissues. The present study identifies an important new molecular mechanism supporting freeze tolerance, an adaptive increase in the capacity for facilitated transport of cryoprotectant across plasma membranes by increasing the numbers and/or activity of plasma membrane glucose transporters. Glucose transport by membranes isolated from liver and skeletal muscle was analyzed in two species, the freeze-tolerant wood frog Rana sylvatica and the freeze-intolerant leopard frog Rana pipiens. Membranes from both liver and muscle of R. sylvatica displayed much higher rates of carrier-mediated glucose transport, measured by a rapid filtration technique, compared with corresponding rates for R. pipiens membranes. For the liver Vmax values for glucose transport by membrane vesicles were 69 +/- 18 and 8.4 +/- 2.3 nmol.mg protein-1.s-1 at 10 degrees C for R. sylvatica and R. pipiens, respectively. This difference was due primarily to a greater number of glucose transporters in R. sylvatica liver membranes; the total number of transporter sites, determined by cytochalasin B binding, was 4.7-fold higher in the freeze-tolerant species. For muscle membranes, the Vmax for glucose transport was 4.9 +/- 1 and 0.6 +/- 0.16 nmol.mg-1 x s-1 at 22 degrees C for R. sylvatica and R. pipiens, respectively. However, in muscle there were no differences in the number of membrane transporters between species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A simple assay for ecto-5'-nucleotidase using intact pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Effect of endotoxin-induced cell injury

Adenosine may be protective in acute vascular injury by inhibiting platelet aggregation and neutrophil oxidant release. In contrast, adenine nucleotides, which may be released with acute vascular injury, stimulate platelet aggregation and neutrophil oxidant release. Ectonucleotidases, membrane enzymes that catabolize extracellular nucleotides, are the primary mechanism for degrading circulating nucleotides to adenosine. Ecto-5'-nucleotidase converts extracellular AMP to adenosine. We hypothesized that endothelial cell injury alters ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity. Using a novel assay first reported by Jamal et al. (Biochem J 250: 369-373, 1988) with rat adipocytes, we studied the properties of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in intact monolayers of cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC) and examined the effect of endotoxin on enzyme activity. The assay uses a fluorescent analog of AMP, 1,N6-etheno-AMP (E-AMP), as the substrate for ecto-5'-nucleotidase, and measures ethenoadenosine (E-Ado) formation. Etheno-AMP in Hepes buffer, pH 7.4, at 22 degrees, was added to confluent monolayers of BPAEC; samples of supernatant were collected after various intervals, and E-AMP and E-Ado were quantitated by HPLC. Using these methods we found a Km of 15 +/- 6 microM, a pH optimum of 7.48, minimal effect of MgCl2 or CaCl2 at physiologic pH, and inhibition by alpha,beta-methylene ADP, a known 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor. We established that the monolayer assay was indeed measuring cell surface associated 5'-nucleotidase. To determine the effect of endotoxin, we incubated confluent monolayers with endotoxin in Minimal Essential Medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum for 24 hr, washed them, and assessed the conversion of E-AMP to E-Ado by the endotoxin-injured cells. Endotoxin stimulated endothelial ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity. This increase in 5'-nucleotidase activity in response to endotoxin injury may represent an important clearance mechanism for circulating adenine nucleotides and may be protective in acute vascular injury by increasing adenosine production.

Isolation of the phagocytic compartment from macrophages using a paramagnetic, particulate ligand

Isolation of Fc receptor-dependent phagosomes from a macrophage cell line, J774 A.1, was accomplished using antibody-opsonized, paramagnetic beads. Following binding and ingestion of these beads, cells were homogenized in a standard membrane isolation buffer. Phagosomes containing the trapped paramagnetic beads were isolated by subjecting the whole cell homogenate to a magnetic field. The method is extremely simple and the preparation of an enriched phagosome fraction from a whole cell homogenate is rapid and highly selective. The method should provide useful starting material for investigators interested in cytoskeletal involvement in phagocytosis, in kinetic studies of ingestion, in phagosome-lysosome fusion, and in the ability of a particular ligand to initiate phagocytosis.

Surface expression of adenosine deaminase in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) expression on the surface of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes was studied by flow cytometry. The gate for lymphocytes was located by cell size (forward scatter), cytoplasmic complexity (side scatter) and by expression of the markers CD2, CD4, CD8 and CD19. After mitogenic proliferation two populations appeared, one corresponding to non-stimulated cells, and the other consisting of larger cells which showed relatively high expression of adenosine deaminase on their surface. The increase was similar to that observed for CD71 expression, and paralleled the increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation. There was a correlation between ADA and CD71 expression (r = 0.92 for phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and 0.97 for pokeweed mitogen (PWM)). These results suggest a role for ecto-adenosine deaminase in lymphocyte proliferation and/or triggering.