Immunohistochemical studies with skin mast cells

Corticotropin-releasing hormone induces skin vascular permeability through a neurotensin-dependent process

Many skin disorders are associated with increased numbers of activated mast cells and are worsened by stress; however, the mechanism underlying these processes is not understood. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is secreted under stress from the hypothalamus, but also in the skin, where it induces mast cell activation and vascular permeability. We investigated the effect of CRH in a number of animal models by using i.v. Evans blue extravasation as a marker of vascular permeability. Intradermal CRH is among the most potent peptides at 100 nM, its effect being nearly comparable to that of neurotensin (NT). Pretreatment of skin injection sites with the NT receptor antagonist SR48692 blocks CRH-induced vascular permeability, which is diminished in NT-/- mice, implying that NT is necessary for the effect of CRH. CRH and NT precursor mRNA are shown to be expressed in both dorsal root ganglia and skin, whereas the latter also expresses mRNA for prohormone convertase 5, an enzyme that cleaves pro-NT into its active form. We also show that the effect of both CRH and NT is absent in W/W(v) mast cell-deficient mice; however, only a fraction of skin mast cells express CRH receptors, as shown by FACS analysis of CRH receptor (CRHR) and c-kit double-positive disaggregated mouse skin mast cells. These findings suggest that CRH induces skin vascular permeability through NT acting on mast cells and that both peptides should be considered in the pathogenesis of skin disorders exacerbated by stress.

Mode of action of poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide) in preventing silicosis: effective scavenging of carbonate anion radical

Small particles of crystalline silicon dioxide (crystallites) are exceptionally toxic. Inhalation of quartz crystallites causes silicosis, a devastating lung disease afflicting miners, particularly coal and stone workers. Poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide)s (PVPNOs) have been applied in the prevention and treatment of silicosis, but their mode of action has been obscure. Recently, the sites of inducible *NO synthase activation and of nitrotyrosine formation were associated anatomically with the pathological quartz particle-caused lesions in the lungs. It has been suggested that the *NO formed combines rapidly with O2*- to yield ONOO-, a potential mediator of lung injury following silica exposure. Here, we show that PVPNOs do not react with peroxynitrite but scavenge exceptionally rapidly CO3*- radicals, which are produced in the decomposition of ONOO- in bicarbonate solutions. The rate constant for the reaction of CO3*- with PVPNO was found to be independent of the type and size of PVPNO, i.e., k = (1.9 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) per monomer. In contrast, the rate constant for the reaction of CO3*- with the small molecule 4-methylpyridine N-oxide did not exceed 1 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1). The underlying reason for the difference is that, in the dissolved polymeric PVPNOs, the electrostatic repulsion between the N-oxide zwitterions destabilizes them, increasing dramatically their pKa. The protonated N-oxides at physiological pH have abstractable hydrogen atoms and are expected to react rapidly with CO3*-, just as cyclic hydroxylamines do. It is also shown that PVPNO inhibits tyrosine nitration by peroxynitrite at pH 7.6 in the presence of excess of CO2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Hence, binding of PVPNO to the quartz particles and eliminating CO3*- could prevent the killing of macrophages, the associated release of macrophage-recruiting cytokines, and the amplification of the local concentration of *NO by the recruited macrophages. The latter causes necrosis of the macrophage-infiltrated lung tissue and, upon repair of the necrotic lesion, results in the growth of the dysfunctional fibrotic tissue, which is the hallmark of silicosis.

Acute immobilization stress triggers skin mast cell degranulation via corticotropin releasing hormone, neurotensin, and substance P: A link to neurogenic skin disorders

Many skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, worsen during stress and are associated with increased numbers and activation of mast cells which release vasoactive, nociceptive, and proinflammatory mediators. Nontraumatic acute psychological stress by immobilization has been shown to induce mast cell degranulation in the rat dura and colon. Moreover, intradermal injection of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) or its analogue urocortin (10(-5)-10(-7) M) induced skin mast cell degranulation and increased vascular permeability. Here, we investigated the effect of acute immobilization stress on skin mast cell degranulation by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Immobilization for 30 min resulted (P < 0.05) in degranulation of 40.7 +/- 9.1% of skin mast cells compared to 22.2 +/- 7.3% in controls killed by CO(2) or 17.8 +/- 2.4% in controls killed by pentobarbital. Pretreatment intraperitoneally (ip) with antiserum to CRH for 60 min prior to stress reduced (P < 0.05) skin mast cell degranulation to 21.0 +/- 3. 3%. Pretreatment with the neurotensin (NT) receptor antagonist SR48692 reduced (P < 0.05) mast cell degranulation to 12.5 +/- 3.4%, which was significantly (P < 0.05) below control levels. In animals treated neonatally with capsaicin to deplete their sensory neurons of their neuropeptides, such as substance P (SP), mast cell degranulation due to immobilization stress was reduced to about 15%. This is the first time that stress has been shown to trigger skin mast cell degranulation, an action not only dependent on CRH, but apparently also involving NT and SP. These findings may have implications for the pathophysiology and possible therapy of neuroinflammatory skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis, neurogenic pruritus, or psoriasis, which are induced or exacerbated by stress.

Angiotensin II Generation at the Cell Surface of Activated Neutrophils: Novel Cathepsin G-Mediated Catalytic Activity That Is Resistant to Inhibition

Human neutrophils express inducible, catalytically active cathepsin G on their cell surface. Herein, we report that membrane-bound cathepsin G on intact neutrophils has potent angiotensin II-generating activity. Membrane-bound cathepsin G on activated neutrophils 1) converts both human angiotensin I and angiotensinogen to angiotensin II; 2) expresses angiotensin II-generating activity equivalent to 8.6 ± 2.3 (±SD) × 10−18 mol of free cathepsin G (5.2 ± 1.4 × 106 molecules)/cell; and 3) has similar high affinity for angiotensin I compared with free cathepsin G (Km = 5.9 × 10−4 and 4.6 × 10−4 M; kcat = 4.0 and 2.0/s, respectively). In marked contrast to soluble cathepsin G, membrane-bound enzyme was substantially resistant to inhibition by plasma proteinase inhibitors and converted angiotensin I to angiotensin II even in undiluted plasma. There was a striking inverse relationship between inhibitor size and its effectiveness against membrane-bound cathepsin G activity. α1-Antichymotrypsin was a markedly ineffective inhibitor of membrane-bound enzyme (IC50 = 2.18 μM and 1.38 nM when tested against 1 nM membrane-bound and free cathepsin G, respectively). These data indicate that membrane-bound cathepsin G expressed on neutrophils is an inducible and mobile angiotensin II-generating system that may exert potent local vasoactive and chemoattractant properties at sites of inflammation.