Metabolic requirements for maintenance of the chlortetracycline-labeled pool of membrane-bound calcium in human neutrophils

The effects of N-ethylmaleimide on extracellularly and intracellularly generated chemiluminescence in neutrophils indicate that the rate of deactivation of NADPH-oxidase is higher when the oxidase system is localized on the plasma membrane than when it is localized on the phagosomal membrane

Sustained generation of reactive oxygen metabolites following respiratory burst activation in neutrophils is a result of continued replenishment of a pool of active NADPH-oxidase. The sulphydryl-modifying reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) has been shown to be without effect on the turnover of activated NADPH-oxidase but to inhibit the replenishment of active oxidase molecules (Akard et al., 1988). NEM was thus used to determine the rate of deactivation of extracellularly and intracellularly generated chemiluminescence in human neutrophils. We have shown that deactivation is more rapid when activation leads to a release of oxygen metabolites (extracellular chemiluminescence) than when the metabolites are generated intracellularly. The results indicate that the rate of deactivation of NADPH-oxidase is higher when the oxidase system is localized on the plasma membrane than when it is localized on the phagosomal membrane.

Correlation between chemotactic peptide-induced changes in chlorotetracycline fluorescence and F-actin content in human neutrophils: a role for membrane-associated calcium in the regulation of actin polymerization?

Several observations indicate that the triggering event for receptor-mediated actin polymerization takes place in or close to the plasma membrane. Stimulation of human neutrophils with the chemotactic peptide formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) causes rapid and transient changes in both chlorotetracycline (CTC) fluorescence and the cellular content of filamentous actin (F-actin), thus suggesting a regulatory role for membrane-bound calcium in actin polymerization. In the present study, tetracaine, a proposed antagonist to membrane-bound calcium, totally inhibited the rebinding of the membrane calcium released by fMet-Leu-Phe. This was accompanied by a magnified and sustained increase in the cellular content of F-actin. In agreement, N-ethylmaleimide, an inhibitor of motile functions, completely abolished the fMet-Leu-Phe-triggered changes in both CTC fluorescence and F-actin content and rapidly reversed the responses when added after the peptide. The tumor promoter phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, caused only small changes in CTC fluorescence and F-actin content, and reduced a subsequent fMet-Leu-Phe-induced CTC response and actin polymerization. Inhibition of the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, by calcium depletion, had no significant effects on the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced CTC response and alterations in F-actin content, whereas pretreatment with pertussis toxin totally inhibited both these responses. Consequently, the strong correlation between changes in CTC fluorescence and F-actin content, found in this study, suggests a triggering or modulating role of membrane-associated calcium on actin polymerization in human neutrophils.

The effects of heavy metal cations and sulfhydryl reagents on degranulation from digitonin-permeabilized neutrophils

Digitonin-permeabilized neutrophils were exposed to micromolar levels of a variety of heavy metal cations and sulfhydryl oxidants to gain insight into the potential biochemical mechanisms underlying neutrophil degranulation. The results from this study suggest that the oxidation of intracellular sulfhydryl groups may play a role in neutrophil signal transduction. Evidence to support this conclusion is based on the observation that cupric phenanthroline and Cu2+/cysteine, agents reported to induce disulfide bond formation, evoke significant granule enzyme release when presented to permeabilized neutrophils. The stimulatory actions of these compounds occur in the absence of Ca2+ and are blocked by the sulfhydryl reducing agent, dithiothreitol. In addition, we observed marked potentiation of Ca2+-induced secretion by potentially physiological levels of Ni2+. Although we are unaware of any Ni2+-requiring enzymes in eukaryotic cells that are likely to be pertinent to degranulation, the ability of this divalent metal cation to lower the Ca2+ requirements for granule secretion suggests that it may play an important regulatory role in Ca2+-dependent processes. Finally, we observed significant granule release when permeabilized neutrophils were exposed to the heavy metal cations, Hg2+ and Ag+. The apparent stimulatory actions of these metals were the result of lysis rather than degranulation. Thus, the ability of these metals to lyse intracellular organelles such as lysosomal granules may contribute to their toxicological properties.

Effect of staphylococcal alpha-toxin on intracellular Ca2+ in polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Staphylococcal alpha-toxin, a channel-forming protein, stimulates leukotriene B4 formation in rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) (N. Suttorp, W. Seeger, J. Zucker-Reimann, L. Roka, and S. Bhakdi, Infect. Immun. 55:104-110, 1987). The concept was advanced that transmembrane toxin pores act as Ca2+ gates allowing passive Ca2+ influx into the cell, thus initiating stimulus response coupling. A critical step in this hypothesis is the demonstration of an increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i). [Ca2+]i and membrane-associated Ca2+ were therefore monitored in quin-2- or chlorotetracycline-loaded PMN exposed to alpha-toxin. The effects of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin and the chemotactic tripeptide formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP) were studied in parallel. All stimuli increased [Ca2+]i in dose- and time-dependent manner. In the presence of an EDTA excess there was a decrease of [Ca2+]i due to an efflux of Ca2+ in alpha-toxin- and ionomycin-treated cells, while addition of fMLP still induced an increase of [Ca2+]i. In the presence of verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, [Ca2+]i was reduced after stimulation with fMLP but not with alpha-toxin or ionomycin. Addition of fMLP and ionomycin but not of alpha-toxin to PMN resulted in a rapid and substantial mobilization of membrane-associated Ca2+. The collective data demonstrate that exposure of PMN to staphylococcal alpha-toxin results in an increase in [Ca2+]i which is due to an influx of extracellular Ca2+ and not to a mobilization of intracellularly stored Ca2+. The concept of initiating stimulus response coupling by Ca2+ influx through transmembrane pores may be generally applicable to other channel-forming cytolysins.

Synergy between phorbol esters, 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol, urushiol, and calcium ionophore in eliciting aggregation of marine sponge cells

Aggregation of marine sponge cells (Microciona prolifera) resembles stimulus-response coupling of higher organisms in which activation of protein kinase C and movements of intracellular Ca provide twin signals. We now report that activators of protein kinase C (phorbol esters) and ionomycin act synergistically to aggregate sponge cells. Surprisingly--since extracellular Ca is required for integrity of the species-specific aggregation factor--synergistic aggregation proceeded in the complete absence of added extracellular Ca (2.5-20 mM EDTA). The order of activity of phorbol esters and related compounds was that of their effect on protein kinase C (phorbol myristate acetate, phorbol dibutyrate greater than phorbol diacetate much greater than phorbol, 4 alpha-phorbol). 1-Oleyl, 2-acetylglycerol a synthetic activator of protein kinase C, also showed synergy with ionomycin. Phorbol esters and 1-oleyl, 2-acetylglycerol acted in synergy with ionomycin to liberate membrane Ca as detected by decreased fluorescence of chlortetracycline in prelabeled cells. Moreover, urushiol, the toxic principle of poison ivy, but not pentadecanylcatechol, its inert analogue, showed synergy with ionomycin. Synergistic aggregation was inhibited by calmidazolium (10 microM), piroxicam (20-100 microM), and pertussis toxin (20 micrograms/ml). The data not only confirm that marine sponge cell aggregation follows the general sequence of stimulus-response coupling in the cells of higher organisms but also support, in this most ancient of multicellular creatures, the hypothesis that mobilization of intracellular Ca and activation of protein kinase C provide the twin signals for cell activation in the absence of added extracellular Ca.

The effects of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents on membrane-associated calcium in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils

Several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIAs) (flufenamate, flurbiprofen, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, piroxicam and salicylate), one anti-inflammatory steroid (hydrocortisone) and three compounds known to affect cellular calcium metabolism [nifedipine, calcium ionophore A23187, 8-(diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5,-trimethoxy benzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8)] were tested for their effects on membrane-associated calcium in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils using the fluorescent probe chlortetracycline (CTC). The NSAIAs reduced the level of fluorescence attained by incubating neutrophils with CTC, and caused an immediate reduction in the fluorescence of CTC-loaded neutrophils, both effects being concentration-related. Nifedipine, A23187 and TMB-8 also reduced the fluorescence of CTC-loaded cells. However, these measured reductions in fluorescence were due in whole or in part to a drug-induced drop in the autofluorescence of the neutrophils. After applying a correction factor which took account of this effect there was still an immediate concentration-related reduction in CTC-dependent fluorescence after the addition of all the NSAIAs. A23187 also caused a reduction in CTC fluorescence, but nifedipine, TMB-8 and hydrocortisone were inactive. Flufenamate, indomethacin and piroxicam reduced the drop in fluorescence brought about by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). These findings suggest that NSAIAs and A23187 displace membrane-associated calcium. Electron microscopical findings confirm that indomethacin and salicylate both affect membrane-associated calcium. Using the fluorescent probe Quin 2, an attempt was made to determine whether or not the displacement of membrane-associated calcium by NSAIAs was accompanied by changes in cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration. This was unsuccessful, however, since the effects of the NSAIAs on the fluorescence of Quin 2-loaded neutrophils was accounted for almost entirely by their effects on the autofluorescence of the cells.

Inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions by chlortetracycline

Chortetracycline (CTC) inhibits chemotaxis, exocytosis and metabolic burst in rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), when these cells are activated in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+ CTC has little or no inhibiting effect on these functions. The inhibiting effect of CTC in the absence of Ca2+ occurs at concentrations which are not cytolytic. The inhibiting effect of CTC can be reversed by washing the cells or by addition of Ca2+ or Mg2+ to CTC-pretreated cells. Inhibition of the metabolic burst by CTC depends on the activator used. When phorbolmyristate acetate is used to activate the cells, the metabolic burst is inhibited at lower CTC concentrations than with chemotactic peptide as an activator. With due observance of the chemical properties of CTC and literature data about the requirement of intracellular Ca2+ for neutrophil functions, the results obtained are consistent with the view that CTC interferes with neutrophil functions, by complexing intracellular Ca2+, and that this inhibition is reversed when sufficient extracellular Ca2+ moves into the cell.

Intracellular calcium pools and their metabolic dependence in normal versus simian virus 40-transformed human fibroblasts

Previous studies indicate that although normal and Simian virus (SV40)-transformed WI38 human fibroblasts have similar levels of intracellular Ca++ on a per mg protein basis, their ability to maintain this intracellular Ca++ against a low concentration of extracellular Ca++ differs markedly. The transformed but not the normal cells rapidly lose Ca++ when exposed to low extracellular Ca++, suggesting Ca++ transport and/or sequestration differ in the two cell types. In this study we have extended our investigations of Ca++ metabolism in the two cell types. We observe that normal WI38 cells, when exposed to metabolic inhibitors to deplete intracellular ATP, undergo a twofold increase in intracellular Ca++ levels. Under similar conditions and over the same time course, no comparable change in Ca++ level is observed in the SV40-transformed cell, despite the extensive depletion of ATP. 45Ca++ desaturation curves indicate that the bulk of the net increase in cell Ca++ following ATP depletion of the normal WI38 cell comes to reside in a slowly exchanging Ca++ pool. The data also indicate that glycolysis, and not oxidative phosphorylation, drives the active extrusion of Ca++ from these cells, an observation consistent with previous studies on the Na+-K+ pump in other cell types. Finally, the data indicate that in these cells mitochondria do not appear to be the major subcellular organelle responsible for regulation of at least the two cellular Ca++ pools measurable using isotope desaturation analysis. This is based on the inability of the respiratory inhibitor rotenone to alter significantly the size of either of these Ca++ pools. These pools compose 80-90% of total cell Ca++ in both cell types.