Modulation of neutrophil migration by captopril

The therapeutic value of protein (de)nitrosylation in experimental septic shock

Cardiovascular dysfunction and organ damage are hallmarks of sepsis and septic shock. Protein S-nitrosylation by nitric oxide has been described as an important modifier of protein function. We studied whether protein nitrosylation/denitrosylation would impact positively in hemodynamic parameters of septic rats. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Female Wistar rats were treated with increasing doses of DTNB [5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)] 30min before or 4 or 12h after sepsis induction. Twenty-four hours after surgery the following data was obtained: aorta response to phenylephrine, mean arterial pressure, vascular reactivity to phenylephrine, biochemical markers of organ damage, survival and aorta protein nitrosylation profile. Sepsis substantially decreases blood pressure and the response of aorta rings and of blood pressure to phenylephrine, as well as increased plasma levels of organ damage markers, mortality of 60% and S-nitrosylation of aorta proteins increased during sepsis. Treatment with DTNB 12h after septic shock induction reversed the loss of response of aorta rings and blood pressure to vasoconstrictors, reduced organ damage and protein nitrosylation and increased survival to 80%. Increases in protein S-nitrosylation are related to cardiovascular dysfunction and multiple organ injury during sepsis. Treatment of rats with DTNB reduced the excessive protein S-nitrosylation, including that in calcium-dependent potassium channels (BK_Ca), reversed the cardiovascular dysfunction, improved markers of organ dysfunction and glycemic profile and substantially reduced mortality. Since all these beneficial consequences were attained even if DTNB was administered after septic shock onset, protein (de)nitrosylation may be a suitable target for sepsis treatment.

Hormetic Dose-Response Relationships in Immunology: Occurrence, Quantitative Features of the Dose Response, Mechanistic Foundations, and Clinical Implications

This article provides an assessment of the occurrence of immune-system-related hormetic-like biphasic dose-response relationships. Such dose-response relationships are extensive, with over 90 different immune response-related endpoints reported, induced by over 70 endogenous agonists, over 100 drugs, and over 40 environmental contaminants. Such hormetic responses were reported in over 30 animal models, over a dozen mammalian and human cell lines. These findings demonstrate that immune-system-related hormetic-like biphasic dose-response relationships are common and highly generalizable according to model, endpoint, and chemical class. The quantitative features of the dose response are generally consistent with previously published examples of hormetic dose responses for other biological endpoints. These findings were generally recognized and explicitly discussed by the original authors, often with consideration given to possible mechanistic foundations as well as numerous clinical implications. Despite the recognition by individual authors of the hormetic nature of these observed responses, the overall widespread nature of immune-related hormetic responses has been only little appreciated, with a general lack of insight into the highly generalizable nature of this phenomenon as well as the complex regulatory networks affecting biological switching mechanisms that result in the hormetic responses.

The effect of sodium aurothiomalate on stimulated and non-stimulated migration by human neutrophils: the role of cyclic GMP

Preincubation of human neutrophils with aurothiomalate had little effect on random migration or chemotactic migration towards the chemotactic peptide fMLP. However, a strong enhancement of migration was observed when aurothiomalate was present in a concentration gradient; the effect of the drug was chemotactic rather than chemokinetic. Thiomalate also caused a chemotactic enhancement of migration but here a tenfold higher concentration of the drug was required as compared with aurothiomalate. Aurothiomalate caused an increase of cellular cGMP level, and inhibitors of guanylate cyclase inhibited the activating effect of aurothiomalate. Three specific antagonists of cGMP-dependent kinase (G-kinase) strongly inhibited aurothiomalate-induced migration of electroporated neutrophils. The results suggest that stimulation of migration by aurothiomalate is mediated by cGMP and a G-kinase. Monoclonal anti-IL-8 inhibited aurothiomalate-induced stimulation of migration. Though no increased release of IL-8 could be established upon exposure of neutrophils to aurothiomalate, it seems conceivable that the stimulating effect of aurothiomalate is mediated by IL-8.

The role of cyclic nucleotides in neutrophil migration

1. The literature concerning the effects of cAMP and especially cGMP on neutrophil migration is reviewed. 2. Experiments with agents that enhance cGMP level, and with electroporated neutrophils in which cGMP was introduced, show that the nucleotide has different effects. There is a maximal stimulation at a specific concentration while higher concentrations are less effective or even inhibitory. 3. Some physiologically active peptides such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), atrial natriuretic factor, and endothelin appear to modify neutrophil migration via a cGMP-dependent mechanism. 4. Dependent on concentration and conditions (random migration vs. fMLP-activated migration, using nitric oxide (NO), NO donors, and inhibitors of NO synthase), NO has stimulatory or inhibitory effects on neutrophil migration. 5. The differential effects of cGMP and cAMP on neutrophil migration are discussed with regard to intracellular actions, metabolism, interaction with calcium, and relation to structural changes required for cell movement.

Atrial natriuretic factor stimulates migration by human neutrophils

Atrial natriuretic factor causes a strong stimulation of human neutrophil migration in the concentration range of 4 x 10(-9) and 10(-7) M. The effect, which depends on the presence of extracellular Mg2+ but not on extracellular Ca2+, is composed of a chemokinetic and a chemotactic component. Cyclic GMP level of neutrophils is enhanced by atrial natriuretic factor. Two inhibitors of soluble guanylate cyclase, 6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione (LY 83583) and methylene blue, have no effect on stimulation of migration by atrial natriuretic factor. Atrial natriuretic factor-activated migration is inhibited by pertussis toxin. Migration by electroporated neutrophils is synergistically enhanced by guanosine-5'-[gamma thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma[S]) and atrial natriuretic factor or by GTP gamma[S] and chemotactic peptide, while GTP gamma[S] and dioctanoyl glycerol give an additive effect. The results suggest that besides a modulation via cGMP a part of the effect of atrial natriuretic factor on migration is regulated via the ANF receptor-subtype that does not activate guanylate cyclase.

Differential stimulation of neutrophil functions by pyrithioxine

The drug pyrithioxine strongly stimulated in vitro migration by rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. The stimulating effect appeared to be chemotactic rather than chemokinetic. Though the drug did not induce exocytosis by itself, it stimulated fMet-Leu-Phe-induced exocytosis. The effect on exocytosis induced by other activators was not statistically significant. No stimulating effect of pyrithioxine on superoxide production was observed, either in the absence or in the presence of activators. For a maximal stimulating effect on migration and exocytosis the presence of extracellular Ca2+ was required. Pyrithioxine caused an increase of cGMP level in neutrophils. The hypothesis is presented that the differential activation of neutrophil functions by pyrithioxine is mediated by cGMP, and that cGMP has a differential importance for the neutrophil functions studied.