Endothelial cell inflammatory responses to tumor necrosis factor alpha. Ceramide-dependent and -independent mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades

Production of TNF-alpha by primary cultures of human keratinocytes challenged with loxosceles gaucho venom

Primary cultures of human keratinocytes were challenged with increasing doses from 10 ng/mL to 2 &mgr;g/mL of Loxosceles gaucho venom, responsible for dermonecrotic lesion in humans. TNF-alpha was investigated by bioassay and ELISA in the supernatant of the cultures challenged with 100 ng/mL, 500 ng/mL, 1 and 2 &mgr;g/mL of venom. TNF-alpha was detected by bioassay in the supernatant of cultures challenged with 100 ng/mL, after 6 h. The cytokine was detected by ELISA in the supernatant of the cells challenged with doses of l &mgr;g/mL, after 6 and 12 h. The results point out the capacity of this venom to activate the keratinocytes in primary cultures to produce TNF-alpha. The production of cytokines could contribute to the local inflammatory process in patients bitten by Loxosceles sp.

Lysophosphatidylcholine activates mitogen-activated protein kinases by a tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway in bovine aortic endothelial cells

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) is a major component of an atherogenic lipoprotein. In this study, to investigate the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases in the signaling pathway by lyso-PC in endothelial cells, we measured the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in bovine aortic endothelial cells. Lyso-PC activated ERK and JNK in a dose-dependent manner. However, the time courses of activation of these kinases were different. ERK and JNK activation by lyso-PC was inhibited by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, but not by a protein kinase C (PKC) specific inhibitor. We conclude, therefore, that lyso-PC-mediated ERK and JNK activation is caused by a tyrosine kinase-dependent mechanism, but not conventional types of PKC-dependent mechanisms.

Mechanisms of apoptosis in PC12 cells irreversibly differentiated with nerve growth factor and cyclic AMP

PC12 cells treated with cAMP become irreversibly differentiated and die by apoptosis when deprived of trophic support, instead of dedifferentiating and reentering the cell cycle. To approach the molecular mechanism underlying the cAMP-induced switch from differentiation/proliferation to apoptosis, we compared three sequential markers of a candidate apoptogenic signal transduction pathway (ceramide, free radicals and NF-kappaB), after trophic factor withdrawal in PC12 cells before and after irreversible differentiation. Serum withdrawal increased ceramide and free radical production regardless of the state of differentiation of the cells. It was followed by cell death, however, only in the absence of NGF and/or cAMP, and was no longer required for apoptosis in NGF/cAMP-differentiated cells. NGF and cAMP withdrawal sufficed. NF-kappaB was activated by NGF withdrawal in reversibly differentiated PC12 cells during dedifferentiation and reentry into the cell cycle, whereas in NGF/cAMP-differentiated cells, it was activated, at a late stage of the apoptotic process, concomitantly with cell death. These results show that a serum factor inhibits ceramide-dependent apoptosis upstream of ceramide and free radical production, whereas NGF- and cAMP-dependent mechanisms inhibit apoptosis either downstream or parallel to these events. After terminal differentiation by cAMP, apoptosis appears to be initiated from the second site, consistent with the serum independence of these cells and the absence of ceramide and free radical production when the NGF/cAMP-dependent inhibitions are released. The differential regulation of NF-kappaB appears to be an important step in the switch from mitosis to apoptosis that occurs during irreversible differentiation of PC12 cells by cAMP.

TNF-alpha increases ceramide without inducing apoptosis in alveolar type II epithelial cells

Ceramide is a bioactive lipid mediator that has been observed to induce apoptosis in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine whether endogenous ceramide, generated in response to in vivo administration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), increases apoptosis in primary rat alveolar type II epithelial cells. Intratracheal instillation of TNF-alpha (5 microgram) produced a decrease in sphingomyelin and activation of a neutral sphingomyelinase. These changes were associated with a significant increase in lung ceramide content. TNF-alpha concomitantly activated the p42/44 extracellular signal-related kinases and induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation in the lung. Hypodiploid nuclei studies revealed that intratracheal TNF-alpha did not increase type II cell apoptosis compared with that in control cells after isolation. A novel observation from separate in vitro studies demonstrated that type II cells undergo a gradual increase in apoptosis after time in culture, a process that was accelerated by exposure of cells to ultraviolet light. However, culture of cells with a cell-permeable ceramide, TNF-alpha, or a related ligand, anti-CD95, did not increase apoptosis above the control level. The results suggest that ceramide resulting from TNF-alpha activation of sphingomyelin hydrolysis might activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappaB pathways without increasing programmed cell death in type II cells.

G protein regulation of adenylate cyclase

Adenylate cyclase integrates positive and negative signals that act through G protein-coupled cell-surface receptors with other extracellular stimuli to finely regulate levels of cAMP within the cell. Recently, the structures of the cyclase catalytic core complexed with the plant diterpene forskolin, and a cyclase-forskolin complex bound to an activated form of the stimulatory G protein subunit Gs alpha have been solved by X-ray crystallography. These structures provide a wealth of detail about how different signals could converge at the core cyclase domains to regulate catalysis. In this article, William Simonds reviews recent advances in the molecular and structural biology of this key regulatory enzyme, which provide new insight into its ability to integrate multiple signals in diverse cellular contexts.

Role of ceramide in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced signaling. LPS increases ceramide rather than acting as a structural homolog

Ceramide and ceramide-activated enzymes have been implicated in responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1). Although TNF and IL-1 cause elevation of cellular ceramide, which is thought to act as a second messenger, LPS has been proposed to signal by virtue of structural similarity to ceramide. We have investigated the relationship between ceramide and LPS by comparing the effects of a cell-permeable ceramide analog (C2-ceramide) and LPS on murine macrophage cell lines and by measuring ceramide levels in macrophages exposed to LPS. We found that while both C2-ceramide and LPS activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), only LPS also activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). C2-ceramide was also unable to activate NF-kappaB, a transcription factor important for LPS-induced gene expression. Upon measurement of cellular ceramide in macrophage lines, we observed a small but rapid rise in ceramide, similar to that seen upon IL-1 or TNF treatment, suggesting LPS induces an increase in ceramide rather than interacting directly with ceramide-responsive enzymes. We found that C2-ceramide activated JNK and induced growth arrest in macrophages cell lines from both normal mice (Lpsn) and mice genetically unresponsive to LPS (Lpsd), whereas only Lpsn macrophages made these responses to LPS. Surprisingly, LPS treatment of Lpsd macrophages induced a rise in ceramide similar to that observed in LPS-responsive cells. These results indicate that the wild type Lps allele is not required for LPS-induced ceramide generation and suggest that ceramide elevation alone is insufficent stimulus for most responses to LPS.

Ceramide and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) Induce cAMP Response Element Binding Protein Phosphorylation via Distinct Signaling Pathways While Having Opposite Effects on Myeloid Cell Survival

The role of ceramide as a second messenger is a subject of great interest, particularly since it is implicated in signaling in response to inflammatory cytokines. Ceramide induces apoptosis in both cytokine-dependent MC/9 cells and factor-independent U937 cells. Elevation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels inhibits apoptosis induced by ceramide and several other treatments. One target of cAMP-mediated signaling is the transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element binding protein), and recently CREB phosphorylation at an activating site has been shown to also be mediated by a cascade involving p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), one of the stress-activated MAP kinases. Because no role for p38 MAPK in apoptosis has been firmly established, we examined the relationship between p38 MAPK and CREB phosphorylation under various conditions. Ceramide, or sphingomyelinase, like tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) or the hematopoietic growth factor, interleukin-3 (IL-3), was shown to activate p38 MAPK, which in turn activated MAPKAP kinase-2. Each of these treatments led to phosphorylation of CREB (and the related factor ATF-1). A selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, blocked TNF-– or ceramide-induced CREB phosphorylation, but had no effect on the induction of apoptosis mediated by these agents. The protective agents cAMP and IL-3 also led to CREB phosphorylation, but this effect was independent of p38 MAPK, even though IL-3 was shown to activate both p38 MAPK and MAPKAP kinase-2. Therefore, the opposing effects on apoptosis observed with cAMP and IL-3, compared with ceramide and TNF-, could not be explained on the basis of phosphorylation of CREB. In addition, because SB203580 had no effect of TNF- or ceramide-induced apoptosis, our results strongly argue against a role for p38 MAPK in the induction of TNF-– or ceramide-induced apoptosis.

Ceramide and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) Induce cAMP Response Element Binding Protein Phosphorylation via Distinct Signaling Pathways While Having Opposite Effects on Myeloid Cell Survival

The role of ceramide as a second messenger is a subject of great interest, particularly since it is implicated in signaling in response to inflammatory cytokines. Ceramide induces apoptosis in both cytokine-dependent MC/9 cells and factor-independent U937 cells. Elevation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels inhibits apoptosis induced by ceramide and several other treatments. One target of cAMP-mediated signaling is the transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element binding protein), and recently CREB phosphorylation at an activating site has been shown to also be mediated by a cascade involving p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), one of the stress-activated MAP kinases. Because no role for p38 MAPK in apoptosis has been firmly established, we examined the relationship between p38 MAPK and CREB phosphorylation under various conditions. Ceramide, or sphingomyelinase, like tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) or the hematopoietic growth factor, interleukin-3 (IL-3), was shown to activate p38 MAPK, which in turn activated MAPKAP kinase-2. Each of these treatments led to phosphorylation of CREB (and the related factor ATF-1). A selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, blocked TNF-– or ceramide-induced CREB phosphorylation, but had no effect on the induction of apoptosis mediated by these agents. The protective agents cAMP and IL-3 also led to CREB phosphorylation, but this effect was independent of p38 MAPK, even though IL-3 was shown to activate both p38 MAPK and MAPKAP kinase-2. Therefore, the opposing effects on apoptosis observed with cAMP and IL-3, compared with ceramide and TNF-, could not be explained on the basis of phosphorylation of CREB. In addition, because SB203580 had no effect of TNF- or ceramide-induced apoptosis, our results strongly argue against a role for p38 MAPK in the induction of TNF-– or ceramide-induced apoptosis.

Glucose or diabetes activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase via different pathways

Hyperglycemia can cause vascular dysfunctions by multiple factors including hyperosmolarity, oxidant formation, and protein kinase C (PKC) activation. We have characterized the effect of hyperglycemia on p38 mitogen-activated protein (p38) kinase activation, which can be induced by oxidants, hyperosmolarity, and proinflammatory cytokines, leading to apoptosis, cell growth, and gene regulation. Glucose at 16.5 mM increased p38 kinase activity in a time-dependent manner compared with 5.5 mM in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC). Mannitol activated p38 kinase only at or greater than 22 mM. High glucose levels and a PKC agonist activated p38 kinase, and a PKC inhibitor, GF109203X, prevented its activation. However, p38 kinase activation by mannitol or tumor necrosis factor-alpha was not inhibited by GF109203X. Changes in PKC isoform distribution after exposure to 16.5 mM glucose in SMC suggested that both PKC-beta2 and PKC-delta isoforms were increased. Activities of p38 kinase in PKC-delta- but not PKC-beta1-overexpressed SMC were increased compared with control cells. Activation of p38 kinase was also observed and characterized in various vascular cells in culture and aorta from diabetic rats. Thus, moderate hyperglycemia can activate p38 kinase by a PKC-delta isoform-dependent pathway, but glucose at extremely elevated levels can also activate p38 kinase by hyperosmolarity via a PKC-independent pathway.

A possible involvement of ion transporter in tumor necrosis factor alpha and cycloheximide-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells

We examined the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells from the standpoint of ion channels. Cultured vascular endothelial cells from bovine carotid artery were used. Apoptosis was determined by a propidium iodide assay. Treatment of the endothelial cells with TNFalpha and cycloheximide for 6 h induced nuclear fragmentation in a TNFalpha dose-dependent manner (1-10 ng/ml). Concomitant treatment of endothelial cells with TNFalpha at a dose of 10 ng/ml and cycloheximide at a dose of 10 microg/ml elicited endothelial cell apoptosis as high as 23.4+/-4.1% at 6 h after administration. However, 10 ng/ml TNFalpha alone elicited a little apoptosis at 6 h after its administration (% apoptosis=4.1+/-0.8%). Cycloheximide (10 microg/ml) did not induce apoptosis at all. Concomitant treatment of endothelial cells with 1 mmol/l of 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid, which is a chloride bicarbonate exchanger blocker, partially inhibited the TNFalpha and cycloheximide-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. On the other hand, endothelial cell apoptosis due to TNFalpha and cycloheximide was completely inhibited by benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp-CH2OC(O)-2,6-dichlorobenzene (50 micromol/l), an inhibitor of caspase. Moreover, pyrrolidine dithiocarbanate, an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), also suppressed endothelial cell apoptosis induced by TNFalpha and cycloheximide completely. These findings suggest that the endothelial cell apoptosis induced by TNFalpha and cycloheximide is closely related to not only chloride ions, but also both NF-kappaB and caspase activation. That is to say, there is a possibility that chloride ions or bicarbonate (pH) may play an important role in signal transduction such as NF-kappaB and caspase activation in the apoptosis induced by TNFalpha and cycloheximide.

Restoration of E2F expression rescues vascular endothelial cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Normally, quiescent endothelial cells (EC) line the inner surface of arteries and protect against thrombosis and neointimal growth. A variety of noxious stimuli, including balloon angioplasty, may compromise EC integrity, thereby initiating proliferation and triggering the local release of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In vivo blockade of TNF-alpha using a soluble receptor molecule results in accelerated reendothelialization at sites of balloon angioplasty, suggesting an important physiological role of TNF-alpha in attenuating regrowth of endothelium after balloon angioplasty. Our studies reveal that TNF-alpha, an apoptosis-inducing cytokine, induces G1 cell-cycle arrest in proliferating EC. Quiescent EC are relatively immune to TNF-induced apoptosis versus proliferating EC, which display repression of the E2F transcription factor coincident with TNF-induced apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. We also show that in this setting, E2F overexpression exerts a survival effect in proliferating EC and restores cell-cycle progression, in direct contrast to results of prior reports, which revealed that deregulated expression of E2F in normally cycling cells induces apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that TNF-induced apoptosis is highly dependent on cell-cycle activity and that E2F can function as survival factor under certain conditions.

Activation of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and p38 MAPK by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is mediated through the death domain of the 55-kDa TNF receptor

In the mouse fibrosarcoma cell line L929sA, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) stimulates activation of the stress-responsive p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), as well as the classical p42 and p44 MAPK. TNF signaling can be mediated by p55 or p75 TNF receptors. Here, we demonstrate that TNF-R55 is sufficient to activate p42/p44 MAPK and p38 MAPK. Moreover, by expressing different membrane-bound or purely cytoplasmic truncations of TNF-R55, we show that the intracellular death domain of TNF-R55 is the crucial domain involved. The cytoplasmic membrane-proximal region of TNF-R55, known to induce neutral sphingomyelinase activation, is not required for activation of p38 MAPK or p421p44 MAPK.

Effect of flupirtine on cell death of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by reactive oxygen species

Flupirtine (KATADOLON), known as a nonopiate centrally acting analgesic drug, was tested as to its potential to prevent apoptosis of human endothelial cells induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). It was found that Flupirtine displayed no effect on viability and cell proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) up to a concentration of 10 microg/mL. Apoptosis, induced by ROS and generated by hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase (EC 1.1.3.22) (HX/XOD) or t-butyl hydroperoxide, was reduced after preincubation with Flupirtine for 3 hr by 35% and 41%, respectively. The maximal cytoprotective effect against apoptosis was observed at a drug concentration of 1 to 3 microg/mL. Flow cytometric studies revealed that Flupirtine was able to decrease the number of necrotic cells as well as of apoptotic cells. Neither the simultaneous administration of Flupirtine with the apoptosis-inducing agent nor the preincubation of HUVEC with Flupirtine influenced the increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i caused by the production of ROS.

MAP kinases and vascular smooth muscle function

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members are ubiquitously expressed protein kinases activated in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli and shown to be involved in cell growth, transformation, differentiation and apoptosis. MAP kinases have been implicated in both growth and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) which suggests that they play important roles in cardiovascular diseases such as essential hypertension, atherosclerosis, and restenosis followed angioplasty. The MAP kinases are themselves components of specific kinase cascades characterized by activation by specific stimuli, families of related serine and threonine kinases and downstream substrates that include other kinases, transcription factors, membrane receptors and other cell mediators. Cross-talk among the different MAP kinases results in direct modulation of signal transduction. In addition, increased expression and activation of MAP kinase phosphatases plays an important role in MAP kinase inactivation. Our laboratory has used angiotensin II (AngII), a potent activator of all MAP kinases in VSMC, to study mechanisms by which MAP kinases are regulated by vasoactive peptides. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which AngII activates MAP kinases, and potential roles for MAP kinases in AngII-dependent effects on VSMC function.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces adhesion molecule expression through the sphingosine kinase pathway

The signaling pathways that couple tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) receptors to functional, especially inflammatory, responses have remained elusive. We report here that TNFalpha induces endothelial cell activation, as measured by the expression of adhesion protein E-selectin and vascular adhesion molecule-1, through the sphingosine kinase (SKase) signaling pathway. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with TNFalpha resulted in a rapid SKase activation and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) generation. S1P, but not ceramide or sphingosine, was a potent dose-dependent stimulator of adhesion protein expression. S1P was able to mimic the effect of TNFalpha on endothelial cells leading to extracellular signal-regulated kinases and NF-kappaB activation, whereas ceramide or sphingosine was not. Furthermore, N, N-dimethylsphingosine, an inhibitor of SKase, profoundly inhibited TNFalpha-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinases and NF-kappaB activation and adhesion protein expression. Thus we demonstrate that the SKase pathway through the generation of S1P is critically involved in mediating TNFalpha-induced endothelial cell activation.

Signal transduction of stress via ceramide

The sphingomyelin (SM) pathway is a ubiquitous, evolutionarily conserved signalling system analogous to conventional systems such as the cAMP and phosphoinositide pathways. Ceramide, which serves as second messenger in this pathway, is generated from SM by the action of a neutral or acidic SMase, or by de novo synthesis co-ordinated through the enzyme ceramide synthase. A number of direct targets for ceramide action have now been identified, including ceramide-activated protein kinase, ceramide-activated protein phosphatase and protein kinase Czeta, which couple the SM pathway to well defined intracellular signalling cascades. The SM pathway induces differentiation, proliferation or growth arrest, depending on the cell type. Very often, however, the outcome of signalling through this pathway is apoptosis. Mammalian systems respond to diverse stresses with ceramide generation, and recent studies show that yeast manifest a form of this response. Thus ceramide signalling is an older stress response system than the caspase/apoptotic death pathway, and hence these two pathways must have become linked later in evolution. Signalling of the stress response through ceramide appears to play a role in the development of human diseases, including ischaemia/reperfusion injury, insulin resistance and diabetes, atherogenesis, septic shock and ovarian failure. Further, ceramide signalling mediates the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy and radiation in some cells. An understanding of the mechanisms by which ceramide regulates physiological and pathological events in specific cells may provide new targets for pharmacological intervention.

Apoptosis and activation of the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway induced by oxidized low density lipoproteins are not causally related in ECV-304 endothelial cells

Oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) are thought to play a central role in the development of atherosclerosis. Toxic concentrations of mildly oxidized LDL elicit massive apoptosis of endothelial cells (Escargueil-Blanc, I., Meilhac, O., Pieraggi, M. T. , Arnal J. F., Salvayre, R., Nègre-Salvayre, A. (1997) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 17, 331-339). Since the lipid mediator ceramide emerged as a potent inducer of apoptosis, we aimed at investigating the occurrence of ceramide formation and its potential role in oxLDL-induced apoptosis. In ECV-304 endothelial cells, toxic concentrations of oxLDL triggered an early activation of the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway, as shown by both sphingomyelin hydrolysis and ceramide formation. N-Tosyl-L-phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) and dichloroisocoumarin (DCIC), two serine-protease inhibitors (serpins), blocked the oxLDL-induced ceramide generation but, unexpectedly, did not inhibit the oxLDL-induced apoptosis. Conversely, treatment of endothelial cells by bacterial sphingomyelinase, under conditions effectively generating ceramide, did not induce apoptosis. In contrast, short-chain permeant C2- and C6-ceramides elicited apoptosis of ECV-304. However, the mechanisms of apoptosis triggered by C2-ceramide and by oxLDL were (at least in part) different, because C2-ceramide-induced apoptosis was calcium-independent, whereas oxLDL-induced apoptosis was calcium-dependent. In conclusion, it is suggested that oxLDL-induced apoptosis is calcium-dependent but independent of the activation of the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway and that the toxic effect of short chain permeant ceramides is calcium-independent and does not mimic the effect of natural ceramides induced by oxLDL.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-kappaB activation in human endothelial cells involves degradation of IkappaBalpha but not IkappaBbeta

We studied the signal transduction pathways involved in NF-kappaB activation and the induction of the cytoprotective A20 gene by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). LPS induced human A20 mRNA expression with a maximum level 2 h after stimulation. The proteasome inhibitor N-acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norleucinal-H (ALLN) and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A (HMA) blocked A20 mRNA expression and partially inhibited NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity induced by LPS treatment. LPS induced IkappaBalpha degradation at 30-60 min after treatment, but did not induce IkappaBbeta degradation up to 120 min. In contrast, TNF-alpha rapidly induced IkappaBalpha degradation within 5 min and IkappaBbeta degradation within 15 min. Cycloheximide did not prevent LPS-induced IkappaBalpha degradation, indicating that newly synthesized proteins induced by LPS were not involved in LPS-stimulated IkappaBalpha degradation. LPS-induced IkappaBalpha degradation was inhibited by ALLN, confirming that ALLN inhibits NF-kappaB activation by preventing IkappaBalpha degradation. Of note, HMA also inhibited LPS-induced IkappaBalpha degradation. However, tyrosine phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha itself was not elicited by LPS stimulation, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein(s) upstream of IkappaBalpha is required for subsequent degradation. We conclude that in HUVEC, LPS induces NF-kappaB-dependent genes through degradation of IkappaBalpha, not IkappaBbeta, and propose that this degradation is induced in part by HMA-sensitive kinase(s) upstream of IkappaBalpha.

Two Distinct Phospholipases C of Listeria monocytogenes Induce Ceramide Generation, Nuclear Factor-κB Activation, and E-Selectin Expression in Human Endothelial Cells

Infection of endothelial cells by Listeria monocytogenes is an essential step in the pathogenesis of listeriosis. We recently reported that L. monocytogenes induces up-regulation of E-selectin and other endothelial adhesion molecules and subsequent polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adhesion into cultured human endothelial cells. In the present study, we characterized the mechanisms of enhanced E-selectin expression using L. monocytogenes wild type (EGD), the isogenic in-frame deletion mutants for phosphatidylcholine (PC)- and phosphatidylinositol (PI)-specific phospholipases EGDΔplcA and EGDΔplcB, as well as the nonvirulent control strain Listeria innocua. Infection of endothelial cells with EGDΔplcA or EGDΔplcB for 6 h induced, as compared with EGD wild type, intermediate levels of E-selectin mRNA and protein as well as PMN rolling and adhesion at a shear rate of 1 dyne/cm2, indicating that both bacterial phospholipases are required for a maximal effect. Similarly, ceramide content and NF-κB activity were increased in L. monocytogenes-exposed endothelial cells, but only to intermediate levels for PC- or PI-phospholipase C (PLC)-deficient listerial mutants. Phospholipase effects could be mimicked by exogenously added ceramides or bacterial sphingomyelinase. The data presented indicate that PI-PLC and PC-PLC are important virulence factors for L. monocytogenes infections that induce accumulation of ceramides that in turn may act as second messengers to control host cell signal-transduction pathways leading to persistent NF-κB activation, increased E-selectin expression, and enhanced PMN rolling/adhesion. The ability of L. monocytogenes to stimulate PMN adhesion to endothelial cells may be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of severe listeriosis.

Identification of ceramide targets in interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling in mesangial cells

An increasing number of cell-surface receptors have been shown to trigger sphingomyelin turnover and generation of the lipid signaling molecule ceramide. Ceramide plays a role in mediating cellular responses as diverse as inflammation, differentiation, gene expression, growth suppression, and apoptosis. A radioiodinated, photoaffinity-labeling analog of ceramide ([125I]TID-ceramide) was used to identify downstream signaling targets of ceramide. Ceramide was found to bind specifically to and activate protein kinase c-Raf, leading to subsequent activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) module in mesangial cells. We found also that ceramide binds to and differentially modulates the activity of distinct protein kinase C isoenzymes. These data are discussed in the context of interleukin 1beta-induced inflammatory gene expression in mesangial cells.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition attenuates intercellular adhesion molecule-1 up-regulation on human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells

BACKGROUND

Increased expression of pulmonary endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is obligatory to neutrophil adherence culminating in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been established as crucial in leukocyte proinflammatory signaling, but their role in the endothelial cells remains ill defined. We hypothesized that p38 MAPK activity is integral to ICAM-1 up-regulation on pulmonary endothelium.

METHODS

Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) were grown to confluence and pretreated with either the tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitor herbimycin A (1 mumol/L or the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol /L) for 6 hours. ICAM-1 expression was quantified by flow cytometry. Data expressed as mean fluorescence intensity. Western blotting was used to show p38 MAPK activity after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LOS) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

RESULTS

Tyrosine phosphorylation inhibition with herbimycin A attenuated both LPS and TNF-alpha stimulated ICAM-1 up-regulation. Similarly, specific inhibition of p38 MAPK attenuated both LPS (10(-6) to 10(-5) mol/L SB203580) and TNF-alpha (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L SB203580) stimulated expression of ICAM-1 on HMVECs. Both LPS and TNF-alpha induced activation of p38 in HMVECs.

CONCLUSIONS

Signaling through p 38 MAPKs contributes to LP and TNF-alpha stimulated ICAM-1 surface expression on HMVECs. Thus p38 MAPKs appear integral to both neutrophil and endothelial cell proinflammatory signaling and may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of ARDS.

Induction of stress-activated protein kinases/c-Jun N-terminal kinases by the p55 tumour necrosis factor receptor does not require sphingomyelinases

Ceramide has been implicated in the activation of stress-activated protein kinases/c-Jun N-terminal kinases (SAPK/JNK). Binding of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) to its 55 kDa receptor (TR55) leads to the generation of ceramide through activation of either acid or neutral sphingomyelinase (A/N-SMase) as well as to potent activation of SAPK/JNK. We have examined a putative role of both N- and A-SMase in the TR55-dependent activation of SAPK/JNK. The analysis of TR55 deletion mutants expressed in 70Z/3 pre-B cells revealed that activation of SAPK/JNK occurs independently of N-SMase. Although both SAPK/JNK and A-SMase are activated by the death domain of TR55, pharmacological prevention of the TR55-dependent activation of A-SMase, or proteolytic degradation of A-SMase in 70Z/3 cells, did not impair SAPK/JNK activation, indicating that SAPK/JNK are not secondary to A-SMase. In addition, proteolytic degradation of A-SMase also did not affect SAPK/JNK activation by ultraviolet (UV-C) irradiation, arguing against a general role of A-SMase in stress-mediated responses. Furthermore, fibroblasts from Niemann-Pick A patients deficient in A-SMase did not show altered activation of SAPK/JNK in response to either TNF or UV-C. These results suggest that TR55 can activate SAPK/JNK without direct participation of sphingomyelinases or ceramide.

Increased inducible activation of NF-kappaB and responsive genes in astrocytes deficient in the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1

The protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is critical for controlling cytokine signaling through the Jak-Stat pathway and, consequently, for controlling inflammatory cellular immune responses dependent on these cytokines. However, the role of SHP-1 in regulating proinflammatory signaling may be incompletely understood, and it may control other distinct inflammatory agents. The present study analyzed the ability of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), double-stranded RNA, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to induce the transcription factor NF-kappaB in astrocytes expressing or lacking SHP-1. On exposure to the inducers, NF-kappaB was markedly increased in astrocytes obtained from motheaten mice lacking SHP-1 compared with normal littermate cells expressing SHP-1, consisted of p50 and p65 subunits, and was induced in a protein synthesis-independent manner. The increased nuclear NF-kappaB expression coincided with elevated loss of the cytoplasmic inhibitor IkappaB alpha in motheaten mouse cells. Enhanced NF-kappaB expression in motheaten mouse cells correlated with increased expression of genes with functional kappaB sites, including IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes. MHC class I molecules were also increased in motheaten cells, consistent with the increased expression of IRF-1. Together, the data indicate an increased sensitivity of cells lacking SHP-1 to various inducers of NF-kappaB. Therefore, the regulation of not only Stats but also of NF-kappaB by SHP-1 may be important in controlling events promoted by proinflammatory agents in vivo that are especially apparent in multiple tissues of motheaten mice. This study suggests an additional role for SHP-1 in controlling specific and nonspecific immune responses where induction of NF-kappaB is involved.

Potential role for ceramide in mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein

Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) is a hallmark in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions. Mildly oxidized low density lipoproteins (UV-oxLDL), which are mitogenic to cultured AG-08133A SMC, activate the sphingomyelin (SM)-ceramide pathway. We report here the following. (i) UV-oxLDL elicited a biphasic and sustained activation of MBP kinase activity, phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and [3H]thymidine incorporation, which were inhibited by PD-098059, a MAPK kinase inhibitor. (ii) The use of preconditioned media (from SMC pre-activated by UV-oxLDL) transferred to native SMC and blocking antibodies against growth factors suggest that UV-oxLDL-induced activation of MAPK and [3H]thymidine incorporation seem to be independent of any autocrine secretion of growth factors. (iii) UV-oxLDL-induced activation of a neutral sphingomyelinase, SM hydrolysis, ceramide production, and [3H]thymidine incorporation were inhibited by two serine-protease inhibitors (serpins), suggesting that a serpin-sensitive proteolytic pathway is involved in the activation of the SM-ceramide signaling pathway. (iv) UV-oxLDL-induced MAPK activation and [3H]thymidine incorporation were mimicked by ceramide generated in the plasma membrane by bacterial sphingomyelinase treatment or by addition of the permeant C2-ceramide. Serpins did not inhibit the MAPK activation and [3H]thymidine incorporation induced by C2-ceramide, indicating that activation of the MAPK and [3H]thymidine incorporation is subsequent to the stimulation of the SM-ceramide pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that mitogenic concentrations of UV-oxLDL are able to stimulate the SM-ceramide pathway through a protease-dependent mechanism and activate p44/42 MAPK, leading to proliferation of vascular SMC.

Early activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 kinase regulate cell survival in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha

Fas ligand and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) bind to members of the TNF receptor superfamily. Stimulation by Fas ligand results in apoptosis, whereas TNF induces multiple effects including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase pathways is common to Fas and TNF signaling; however, their role in apoptosis is controversial. Fas receptor cross-linking induces apoptosis in the absence of actinomycin D and activates JNK in a caspase-dependent manner. In contrast, TNF requires actinomycin D for apoptosis and activates JNK and p38 kinase with biphasic kinetics. The first phase is transient, precedes apoptosis, and is caspase-independent, whereas the second phase is coincident with apoptosis and is caspase-dependent. Inhibition of early TNF-induced JNK and p38 kinases using MKK4/MKK6 mutants or the p38 inhibitor SB203580 increases TNF-induced apoptosis, whereas expression of wild type MKK4/MKK6 enhances survival. In contrast, the Mek inhibitor PD098059 has no effect on survival. These results demonstrate that early activation of p38 kinase (but not Mek) are necessary to protect cells from TNF-mediated cytotoxicity. Thus, early stress kinase activation initiated by TNF plays a key role in regulating apoptosis.

Enhancement of fibroblast collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-1) gene expression by ceramide is mediated by extracellular signal-regulated and stress-activated protein kinase pathways

Inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 trigger the ceramide signaling pathway, initiated by neutral sphingomyelinase-elicited hydrolysis of cell membrane phospholipid sphingomyelin to ceramide, a new lipid second messenger. Here, we show that triggering the ceramide pathway by sphingomyelinase or C2- and C6-ceramide enhances collagenase-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1; MMP-1) gene expression by fibroblasts. C2-ceramide activates three distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in dermal fibroblasts, i.e. extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), stress-activated protein kinase/Jun N-terminal-kinase (SAPK/JNK), and p38. Stimulation of MMP-1 promoter activity by C2-ceramide is dependent on the presence of a functional AP-1 cis-element and is entirely inhibited by overexpression of MAPK inhibitor, dual specificity phosphatase CL100 (MAPK phosphatase-1). Activation of MMP-1 promoter by C2-ceramide is also effectively inhibited by kinase-deficient forms of ERK1/2 kinase (MEK1/2) activator Raf-1, ERK1 and ERK2, SAPK/JNK activator SEK1, or SAPKbeta. In addition, ceramide-dependent induction of MMP-1 expression is potently prevented by PD 98059, a selective inhibitor of MEK1 activation, and by specific p38 inhibitor SB 203580. These results show that triggering the ceramide signaling pathway activates MMP-1 gene expression via three distinct MAPK pathways, i.e. ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, and p38, and suggest that targeted modulation of the ceramide signaling pathway may offer a novel therapeutic approach for inhibiting collagenolytic activity, e.g. in inflammatory disorders.

Regulation of Raf-1 kinase by TNF via its second messenger ceramide and cross-talk with mitogenic signalling

Raf-1 kinase is a central regulator of mitogenic signal pathways, whereas its general role in signal transduction of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is less well defined. We have investigated mechanisms of Raf-1 regulation by TNF and its messenger ceramide in cell-free assays, insect and mammalian cell lines. In vitro, ceramide specifically bound to the purified catalytic domain and enhanced association with activated Ras proteins, but did not affect the kinase activity of Raf-1. Cell-permeable ceramides induced a marked increase of Ras-Raf-1 complexes in cells co-expressing Raf-1 and activated Ras. Likewise, a fast elevation of the endogeneous ceramide level, induced by TNF treatment of human Kym-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells, was followed by stimulation of Ras-Raf-1 association without significant Raf-1 kinase activation. Failure of TNF or ceramide to induce Raf-1 kinase was observed in several TNF-responsive cell lines. Both TNF and exogeneous C6-ceramide interfered with the mitogenic activation of Raf-1 and ERK by epidermal growth factor and down-regulated v-Src-induced Raf-1 kinase activity. TNF also induced the translocation of Raf-1 from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction, indicating that this negative regulatory cross-talk occurs at the cell membrane. Interference with mitogenic signals at the level of Raf-1 could be an important initial step in TNF's cytostatic action.

Retrograde inflammatory signaling from neutrophils to endothelial cells by soluble interleukin-6 receptor alpha

Endothelial cells initiate the inflammatory response by recruiting and activating leukocytes. IL-6 is not an agonist for this, but we found soluble IL-6 receptor alpha-subunit (IL-6Ralpha), with their constitutive IL-6 synthesis, stimulated endothelial cells to synthesize E-selectin, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1, IL-6, and IL-8, and to bind neutrophils. Neutrophils express significant amounts of IL-6Ralpha and upon stimulation shed it: this material activates endothelial cells through a newly constituted IL-6 receptor. Retrograde signaling from PMN activated in the extravascular compartment to surrounding endothelial cells will recruit more and a wider variety of leukocytes. The limiting signal is a soluble receptor, not a cytokine.

Activated astrocytes induce nitric oxide synthase-2 in cerebral endothelium via tumor necrosis factor alpha

Astrocytes under pathological conditions become activated and produce a variety of cytokines and low molecular weight signal molecules. Previously we demonstrated that activated astrocytes release nitric oxide which can downregulate the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 in co-cultured cerebral endothelium, and also release a transcriptionally regulated factor that can induce NOS-2 expression in endothelium (Borgerding and Murphy: J Neurochem 65:1342, 1995). The activity of this NOS-2-inducing factor was impeded by inhibitors of tyrosine kinases and NF-kappaB activation. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) alone, or in combination with IL-6, induced NOS-2 expression in endothelial cells. A neutralizing antibody against TNF alpha attenuated the NOS-2 expression in endothelial cells exposed to activated astrocytes. These results imply that cytokine-activated astrocytes release TNF alpha which can induce NOS-2 expression in endothelium and suggest that activated astrocytes within the CNS may induce expression of NOS-2 in cells of the adjacent microvasculature. The ensuing alterations in blood-brain barrier properties may be either beneficial or detrimental.

Tumor necrosis factor increases hepatocellular glutathione by transcriptional regulation of the heavy subunit chain of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an inflammatory cytokine that causes cell injury by generation of oxidative stress. Since glutathione (GSH) is a key cellular antioxidant that detoxifies reactive oxygen species, the purpose of our work was to examine the regulation of cellular GSH, the expression of heavy subunit chain of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS-HS), and control of intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species in cultured rat hepatocytes treated with TNF. Exposure of cells to TNF (10,000 units/ml) resulted in depletion of cellular GSH levels (50-70%) and overproduction of hydrogen peroxide (2-3-fold) and lipid peroxidation. However, cells treated with lower doses of TNF (250-500 units/ml) exhibited increased levels of GSH (60-80% over control). TNF treatment increased (70-100%) the levels of gamma-GCS-HS mRNA, the catalytic subunit of the regulating enzyme in GSH biosynthesis. Furthermore, intact nuclei isolated from hepatocytes treated with TNF transcribed the gamma-GCS-HS gene to a greater extent than control cells, indicating that TNF regulates gamma-GCS-HS at the transcriptional level. The capacity to synthesize GSH de novo determined in cell-free extracts incubated with GSH precursors was greater (50-70%) in hepatocytes that were treated with TNF; however, the activity of GSH synthetase remained unaltered by TNF treatment indicating that TNF selectively increased the activity of gamma-GCS. Despite activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) by TNF, this transcription factor was not required for TNF-induced transcription of gamma-GCS-HS as revealed by deletion constructs of the gamma-GCS-HS promoter subcloned in a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter vector and transfected into HepG2 cells. In contrast, a construct containing AP-1 like/metal response regulatory elements increased chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity upon exposure to TNF. Thus, TNF increases hepatocellular GSH levels by transcriptional regulation of gamma-GCS-HS gene, probably through AP-1/metal response element-like binding site(s) in its promoter, which may constitute a protective mechanism in the control of oxidative stress induced by inflammatory cytokines.

The sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway participates in cytokine regulation of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, but not alpha-fibrinogen

Maximal induction of the acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in the human hepatoma cell line Hep3B requires the combination of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1. In contrast, IL-1 inhibits fibrinogen induction by IL-6. To explore the possible participation of the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway in the transduction of cytokine effects, the role of this pathway in expression of CRP, SAA and alpha-fibrinogen was investigated. The cell-permeable ceramide analogues C2 and C6 each greatly potentiated induction of both CRP and SAA mRNA by IL-6+IL-1beta but did not affect the responses of alpha-fibrinogen to IL-6 or to IL-6+IL-1beta. The combination of IL-6+IL-1beta led to increased turnover of sphingomyelin in Hep3B cells. D609, an inhibitor of ceramide production by acidic but not neutral sphingomyelinases, substantially inhibited induction of CRP and SAA by IL-6+IL-1beta. The ability of C2 and C6 to potentiate the effects of cytokines suggests that the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway participates in induction of CRP and SAA by IL-6+IL-1beta under these experimental conditions, most likely by transducing the effects of IL-1beta. C2 and C6 were unable to substitute for IL-1beta in enhancing IL-6 effects on CRP and SAA, consistent with other reports indicating that the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway is only a single component of multiple necessary converging pathways for induction of many genes. In contrast, this pathway does not appear to participate in mediating the inhibitory effects of IL-1beta on fibrinogen induction by IL-6.

Regions outside of the Bcl-2 homology domains, BH1 and BH2 protect a dopaminergic neuronal cell line from staurosporine-induced cell death

Recent evidence demonstrates that the proto-oncogene product, Bcl-2 can protect cells from a variety of cell death-inducing stimuli. Because previous studies have demonstrated that protein kinase (PK) pathways may be involved in the regulation of cell death, we tested various PK inhibitors for their effects on cell death in a dopaminergic neuronal cell line, MN9D, as well as the potential of Bcl-2 family members and structural mutants to block this process. Cells expressing either human Bcl-2 (MN9D/Bcl-2), or neomycin (MN9D/Neo; control cells) were treated with either staurosporine (0.25-2 microM) or trifluoperazine (10-100 microM). In control MN9D/Neo cells, both reagents led to a dose-dependent cell death with morphological features of apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 rescued cells from staurosporine-induced but not trifluoperazine-induced apoptotic cell death. Cell death induced by the specific PKC inhibitor, calphostin C was also significantly attenuated in MN9D/Bcl-2 cells indicating that a PKC pathway represents one mechanism by which Bcl-2 prevents staurosporine-induced cell death. Similarly, the Bcl-2 family member, Bcl-X(L) also blocked staurosporine-induced cell death in MN9D cells whereas overexpression of Bcl-X(S) or Bax did not. Finally, staurosporine-induced cell death was still blocked by the expression of clones encoding mutations in the Bcl-2 homology domains, BH1 and BH2, as well as C-terminally truncated Bcl-2. These data suggest that in the staurosporine-mediated cell death model Bcl-2 is not heterodimerizing to related proteins through these highly conserved structural domains nor does it need to be membrane-anchored. Thus, in this paradigm, either Bcl-2 functions as a homodimer or essential sequences lie outside of the BH1 or BH2 domains.

Novel inhibitors of cytokine-induced IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression show anti-inflammatory effects in vivo

We have identified two compounds that inhibit the expression of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin. These compounds act by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha, resulting in decreased nuclear factor-kappaB and decreased expression of adhesion molecules. The effects on both IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation and surface expression of E-selectin were irreversible and occurred at an IC50 of approximately 10 microM. These agents selectively and irreversibly inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-inducible phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha without affecting the constitutive IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation. Although these compounds exhibited other activities, including stimulation of the stress-activated protein kinases, p38 and JNK-1, and activation of tyrosine phosphorylation of a 130-140-kDa protein, these effects are probably distinct from the effects on adhesion molecule expression since they were reversible. One compound was evaluated in vivo and shown to be a potent anti-inflammatory drug in two animal models of inflammation. The compound reduced edema formation in a dose-dependent manner in the rat carrageenan paw edema assay and reduced paw swelling in a rat adjuvant arthritis model. These studies suggest that inhibitors of cytokine-inducible IkappaBalpha phosphorylation exert anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Phorbol ester-induced sensitisation of adenylyl cyclase type II is related to phosphorylation of threonine 1057

Following up the results from previous studies on chemical fragmentation of TPA-treated, [32P]phosphate labeled adenylyl cyclase type II (AC II) (Böl, G. F., Hülster, A., and Pfeuffer, T. in press) we have replaced serine 871 or threonine 1057 by alanine using site directed mutagenesis. Both mutants had unimpaired catalytic activity, however enhancement by phorbolester TPA was reduced by 60-80 % in the T1057A mutant, but not in the S871A mutant. The stimulation of adenylyl cyclase type II by betagamma subunits of heterotrimeric G-pro teins and that by PKC have been previously shown to be mutually exclusive (Zimmermann and Taussig (1996), J. Biol. Chem. 271, 27161-27166). This is in line with the present findings that AC II expressed in COS-1 cells was only barely stimulated (10%) by coexpressed betagamma-subunits in presence of TPA. Mutation of threonine 1057 to alanine however caused partial regain of betagamma-stimulation in the presence of TPA by 40%, as compared to that of WT adenylyl cyclase type II which was 70% in the absence of TPA. These data strongly implicate the importance of threonine 1057 as phosphate acceptor following PKC-mediated sensitisation of adenylyl cyclase type II.

Alpha toxin from Clostridium perfringens induces proinflammatory changes in endothelial cells

Alpha toxin from Clostridium perfringens type A, a phospholipase C, has been implicated in many of the localized and systemic features of gas gangrene. We demonstrated that human endothelial cells synthesize two vasoactive lipids, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and prostacyclin, in response to alpha toxin treatment. The stimulated synthesis of PAF required the enzymatic activity of the toxin and subsequent protein kinase C activation. Alpha toxin-treated endothelial cells accumulated the products of the phospholipase C reaction, diacylglycerol and ceramide, and exhibited a decrease in the enzymatic precursors phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Furthermore, the temporal accumulation of PAF depended on the concentration of the toxin in the overlying medium and was blocked in the presence of a neutralizing antibody. The cultured endothelial cells also exhibited enhanced neutrophil adhesion in response to alpha toxin which was mediated through the PAF receptor and P-selectin. P-selectin expression by endothelial cells and extravascular neutrophil accumulation were also observed in tissue sections from alpha toxin-injected Sprague-Dawley rats. These endothelial cell-mediated processes are important in maintaining vascular homeostasis and, when activated in a dysregulated manner by C. perfringens alpha toxin, may contribute to localized and systemic manifestations of gas gangrene including enhanced vascular permeability, localized neutrophil accumulation, and myocardial dysfunction.

Human endothelial cells synthesize ENA-78: relationship to IL-8 and to signaling of PMN adhesion

The interaction of endothelial cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs, neutrophils) is a critical determinant of the acute inflammatory response, and mirrors cell-cell interactions in other biologic systems. Adhesion molecules that tether the two cells together, and signaling factors that bind to receptors on the leukocytes and mediate their spatially-localized activation, govern PMN responses as they adhere to and traverse stimulated endothelial cells. Here we show that cultured human endothelial cells express two members of the C-X-C family of chemokines, epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78 (ENA-78) and interleukin (IL)-8, when stimulated by IL-1 or certain other agonists. ENA-78, previously thought to be exclusively a product of epithelium, is expressed by in situ endothelium in inflamed human lung and other tissues as well as by cultured endothelial cells. The regulation of ENA-78 and IL-8 share certain features in common and they have overlapping biologic activities, including the ability to induce PMN adhesiveness. This was demonstrated in experiments in which we found that ENA-78 induces inside-out signaling of beta2 integrins on the PMN surface, as does IL-8. Antibody blocking experiments demonstrated that ENA-78 contributes to the proadhesive activity for neutrophils that is released by endothelial cells stimulated with IL-1 for a prolonged period and that it acts in concert with IL-8, which provides the major component of the signal for adhesion under this condition. We also show, however, that the temporal expression and secretion of ENA-78 and other characteristics of its handling by stimulated endothelial cells vary from the expression of IL-8, indicating that differential regulation of the two signaling chemokines occurs in this cell type.

Bcl-2 antagonizes apoptotic cell death induced by two new ceramide analogues

Ceramides which arise in part from the breakdown of sphingomyelin comprise a class of antiproliferative lipids and have been implicated in the regulation of programmed cell death better known as apoptosis. In the present study, two new synthetic ceramide analogues, N-thioacetylsphingosine and FS-5, were used in Molt 4 cells to induce cell death. Besides their cytotoxic effects at concentrations > or = 14 microM the data obtained clearly show that both analogues induced apoptosis at concentrations below this critical concentration as assessed by trypan blue exclusion and cleavage of the death substrate poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Additional experiments in bcl-2-transfected Molt 4 cells revealed that the apoptotic but not the lytic effects of the analogues were antagonized by the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2. Furthermore, neither N-thio-acetylsphingosine nor FS-5 induced PARP cleavage in bcl-2-transfected Molt 4 cells indicating that the induction of apoptotic cell death by cell permeable ceramides is not due to unspecific disturbance of the cell membrane.

Oncostatin M is a proinflammatory mediator. In vivo effects correlate with endothelial cell expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules

Oncostatin M is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines that is primarily known for its effects on cell growth. Endothelial cells have an abundance of receptors for oncostatin M, and may be its primary target. We determined if oncostatin M induces a key endothelial cell function, initiation of the inflammatory response. We found that subcutaneous injection of oncostatin M in mice caused an acute inflammatory reaction. Oncostatin M in vitro stimulated: (a) polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) transmigration through confluent monolayers of primary human endothelial cells; (b) biphasic PMN adhesion through rapid P-selectin expression, and delayed adhesion mediated by E-selectin synthesis; (c) intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 accumulation; and (d) the expression of PMN activators IL-6, epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78, growth-related cytokine alpha and growth-related cytokine beta without concomitant IL-8 synthesis. The nature of the response to oncostatin M varied with concentration, suggesting high and low affinity oncostatin M receptors independently stimulated specific responses. Immunohistochemistry showed that macrophage-like cells infiltrating human aortic aneurysms expressed oncostatin M, so it is present during a chronic inflammatory reaction. Therefore, oncostatin M, but not other IL-6 family members, fulfills Koch's postulates as an inflammatory mediator. Since its effects on endothelial cells differ significantly from established mediators like TNFalpha, it may uniquely contribute to the inflammatory cycle.

Stimulation of interleukin-8 production by okadaic acid and vanadate in a human promyelocyte cell line, an HL-60 subline. Possible role of mitogen-activated protein kinase on the okadaic acid-induced NF-kappaB activation

Most types of cells can produce interleukin (IL)-8 in response to various inflammatory stimuli. To study the role of protein phosphatases in the signal transduction leading to IL-8 production, a subline of HL-60 (C-15) was treated with okadaic acid (OA) and sodium orthovanadate (VA), inhibitors of phosphoserine/phosphothreonine phosphatase and phosphotyrosine phosphatase, respectively. Both OA and VA dramatically increased IL-8 secretion up to 200-fold in the HL-60 cells. OA and VA stimulation was accompanied by a marked increase in IL-8 mRNA expression and also by activation of a transcription factor, NF-kappaB. In addition, an essential role of the NF-kappaB site in the IL-8 gene activation was confirmed by the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay. IL-8 production by OA or VA was inhibited by protein kinase inhibitors, including staurosporine, H-7, K252a, herbimycin A, and genistein. Both OA and VA induced significant tyrosine phosphorylation of p44, which was presumed to be Erk1, a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, with concomitant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. In parallel, rapid degradation of IkappaB-alpha, an inhibitory component of NF-kappaB, was observed. Since OA-activated Erk1 phosphorylated recombinant IkappaB-alpha in vitro, we assumed that Erk1 is involved in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB-alpha, thus leading to the activation of IL-8 gene transcription.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase in normal human neutrophils stimulated by tumor necrosis factor: comparative study with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

We investigated the cytokine-specific involvement of two members of the microtubule-associated protein kinase family, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)(1 and 2) and p38, in normal human neutrophils. Both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein in human neutrophils, though the time course of its phosphorylation and its band pattern in electrophoresis differed for each of the cytokines. In addition, GM-CSF, but not TNF, induced a mobility shift of 42-kDa ERK2 in human neutrophils. By using immunoprecipitation followed by immunoblotting, we clarified that GM-CSF, but not TNF, induced tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK2 and that TNF, but not GM-CSF, induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p38. Results of a combined stimulation study showed that tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK2 and that of p38 do not interfere or interact with each other at least in human neutrophils. These results indicate cytokine specific involvement and an independent activating system of ERK and p38 in normal human neutrophils stimulated by two cytokines which share many biological activities in these cells.

Early activation signals in endothelial cells. Stimulation by cytokines

With limitation to the "proinflammatory program" induced in endothelial cells by exposure to interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6, we review the available data on the signaling for these three cytokines, from receptor engagement to induction of gene transcription. Only a few molecular pathways have been characterized so far, and key issues in endothelial biology, such as endothelial specificity of gene expression and heterogeneity of different endothelial populations, remain largely unexplored.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced E-selectin expression is activated by the nuclear factor-kappaB and c-JUN N-terminal kinase/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

E-selectin expression by endothelium is crucial for leukocyte recruitment during inflammatory responses. Transcriptional regulation of the E-selectin promoter by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) requires multiple nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding sites and a cAMP-responsive element/activating transcription factor-like binding site designated positive domain II (PDII). Here we characterize the role of the stress-activated family of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in induced expression of this adhesion molecule. By UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that a heterodimer of transcription factors ATF-2 and c-JUN is constitutively bound to the PDII site. TNFalpha stimulation of endothelial cells induces transient phosphorylation of both ATF-2 and c-JUN and induces marked activation of the c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK1) and p38 but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1). JNK and p38 are constitutively present in the nucleus, and DNA-bound c-JUN and ATF-2 are stably contacted by JNK and p38, respectively. MAP/ERK kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), an upstream activator of MAP kinases, increases E-selectin promoter transcription and requires an intact PDII site for maximal induction. MEKK1 can also activate NF-kappaB -dependent gene expression. The effects of dominant interfering forms of the JNK/p38 signaling pathway demonstrate that activation of these kinases is critical for cytokine-induced E-selectin gene expression. Thus, TNFalpha activates two signaling pathways, NF-kappaB and JNK/p38, which are both required for maximal expression of E-selectin.

Endothelial cell death induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha is inhibited by the Bcl-2 family member, A1

Endothelial cells play a central role in the inflammatory process. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is a multifunctional cytokine which elicits many of the inflammatory responses of endothelial cells. While TNF directly causes apoptosis of tumor cells and virally infected cells, normal cells are generally resistant. However, most resistant cells, including human endothelial cells, can be rendered susceptible to TNF by inhibiting RNA or protein synthesis. This finding suggests that TNF provides a cell survival signal in addition to a death signal. We have previously cloned a human Bcl-2 homologue, A1, and shown that it is specifically induced by proinflammatory cytokines but not by endothelial growth factors. In this study, we show that retroviral-mediated transfer of the A1 cDNA to a human microvascular endothelial cell line provides protection against cell death initiated by TNF in the presence of actinomycin D. The induction of A1 by TNF in this system is mediated via a protein kinase C pathway. Since TNF signaling has also been shown to proceed via ceramides, we tested whether exogenous ceramides could induce A1. Our findings indicate that ceramides do not induce A1 but do up-regulate c-jun and induce endothelial death. Ceramide-activated endothelial death is also inhibited by A1, suggesting that TNF may initiate divergent survival and death pathways via separate lipid second messengers.