Increased degranulation of human myeloperoxidase-deficient polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Effect of methylene blue photodynamic therapy on human neutrophil functional responses

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become an emerging novel therapeutic approach for treating localized microbial infections, particularly those sustained by multidrug-resistant strains. Given the irreplaceable role played by professional phagocytes in limiting infections, such as polymorphonuclear neutrophils, any newly designed antimicrobial therapeutic approach must not interfere with their function. The present investigation presents a detailed analysis of the effect of PDT on the viability and several functional responses of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils loaded with methylene blue (MB), one of the more commonly used photosensitizers in antimicrobial PDT. Taking advantage of the use of a specifically-designed optical LED array for illuminating MB-loaded human polymorphonuclear neutrophils, a number of cell functions have been assayed under miniaturized, strictly controlled and reproducible experimental conditions. The major findings of this study are the following: (1) MB-PDT increases human neutrophils adhesion and does not modify myeloperoxidase release; (2) MB-PDT markedly enhances reactive oxygen species generation that is independent of superoxide-forming phagocytic oxidase and very likely ascribable to LED-dependent excitation of accumulated methylene blue; (3) MB-PDT almost abolishes human neutrophils candidacidal activity by hindering the engulfing machinery. This in vitro study may represent a valuable reference point for future research on PDT applications for treating localized microbial infections.

Neutrophil-Mediated Regulation of Innate and Adaptive Immunity: The Role of Myeloperoxidase

Neutrophils are no longer seen as leukocytes with a sole function of being the essential first responders in the removal of pathogens at sites of infection. Being armed with numerous pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, these phagocytes can also contribute to the development of various autoimmune diseases and can positively or negatively regulate the generation of adaptive immune responses. In this review, we will discuss how myeloperoxidase, the most abundant neutrophil granule protein, plays a key role in the various functions of neutrophils in innate and adaptive immunity.

Myeloperoxidase: a leukocyte-derived protagonist of inflammation and cardiovascular disease

SIGNIFICANCE

The heme-enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) is one of the major neutrophil bactericidal proteins and is stored in large amounts inside azurophilic granules of neutrophils. Upon cell activation, MPO is released and extracellular MPO has been detected in a wide range of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. Recent ADVANCES AND CRITICAL ISSUES: Apart from its role during infection, MPO has emerged as a critical modulator of inflammation throughout the last decade and is currently discussed in the initiation and propagation of cardiovascular diseases. MPO-derived oxidants (e.g., hypochlorous acid) interfere with various cell functions and contribute to tissue injury. Recent data also suggest that MPO itself exerts proinflammatory properties independent of its catalytic activity. Despite advances in unraveling the complex action of MPO and MPO-derived oxidants, further research is warranted to determine the precise nature and biological role of MPO in inflammation.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The identification of MPO as a central player in inflammation renders this enzyme an attractive prognostic biomarker and a potential target for therapeutic interventions. A better understanding of the (patho-) physiology of MPO is essential for the development of successful treatment strategies in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Structural organization of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase: phosphorylation and translocation during priming and activation

The reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is part of the microbicidal arsenal used by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) to eradicate invading pathogens. The production of a superoxide anion (O2-) into the phagolysosome is the precursor for the generation of more potent products, such as hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite. However, this production of O2- is dependent on translocation of the oxidase subunits, including gp91phox, p22phox, p47phox, p67phox, p40phox, and Rac2 from the cytosol or specific granules to the plasma membrane. In response to an external stimuli, PMNs change from a resting, nonadhesive state to a primed, adherent phenotype, which allows for margination from the vasculature into the tissue and chemotaxis to the site of infection upon activation. Depending on the stimuli, primed PMNs display altered structural organization of the NADPH oxidase, in that there is phosphorylation of the oxidase subunits and/or translocation from the cytosol to the plasma or granular membrane, but there is not the complete assembly required for O2- generation. Activation of PMNs is the complete assembly of the membrane-linked and cytosolic NADPH oxidase components on a PMN membrane, the plasma or granular membrane. This review will discuss the individual components associated with the NADPH oxidase complex and the function of each of these units in each physiologic stage of the PMN: rested, primed, and activated.

Oxygen-dependent modulation of release and activity of polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule products

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are important in the defense against the anaerobic microflora of infected gingival pockets. One part of this defense is release of antibacterial granule products by polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the pockets. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in releasing granule products under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were exposed to serum-opsonized zymosan under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The levels of released granule products were determined by combining measurements of activity with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The level of released elastase was twice as high in anaerobic as in aerobic reaction mixtures. A similar difference was not detected for myeloperoxidase. However, myeloperoxidase was inactivated after its release under aerobic conditions. The release of lactoferrin was an efficient under aerobic as under anaerobic conditions. The effect of aerobic conditions on the release of elastase and the inactivation of myeloperoxidase could be ascribed to oxidants formed in the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-chloride system. Also, the activity of the released cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase was inactivated by oxidants formed in the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-chloride system. These findings suggest that, in the anaerobic environment of the gingival pocket, elastase and possibly also other azurophilic granule products are released in higher amounts than under fully oxygenated conditions. In this environment, the released products may also escape inactivation by the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-chloride system.

Myeloperoxidase-dependent oxidative inactivation of neutrophil neutral proteinases and microbicidal enzymes

The susceptibility of a number of human neutrophil granule enzymes to oxidative inactivation was investigated. Addition of H2O2 to the cell-free medium from stimulated neutrophils resulted in inactivation of all enzymes tested. This was inhibited by azide and methionine, indicating that inactivation was due to myeloperoxidase-derived oxidants. Lysozyme was more than 50% inactivated by one addition of 100 nmol of H2O2/ml, whereas myeloperoxidase, beta-glucuronidase, gelatinase and collagenase were almost completely inactivated by three additions. Cathepsin G was slightly less susceptible, whereas elastase was extremely resistant to oxidative attack. Myeloperoxidase-dependent enzyme inactivation may be a means whereby the neutrophil can terminate the activity of its granule enzymes and control the release of degradative enzymes into the tissues.

Quantitative enzyme determination; a parameter for leukemic cell differentiation

In acute myeloid leukemia the leukemic cells are thought to be blocked in their normal differentiation. The stage of differentiation is the basis for the FAB classification. Induction of cell differentiation is a new and promising development in the treatment of some myeloproliferative diseases. The criteria for cell maturation and differentiation are almost all based on the morphology of the leukemic cells. In this study we tried to specify the maturation stage of the leukemic cells by quantitative enzyme analysis. In the HL60 (promyelocytic) cell line cells we determined the following enzymes: myeloperoxidase; alpha naphthyl acetate esterase; alpha naphthyl butyrate esterase and lactate dehydrogenase. The enzyme profiles obtained after culturing the cells in the presence of the differentiation inducing agents 1:25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 and DMSO were compared with several cytochemical and functional parameters. The results obtained in this study show that quantitative enzyme analysis is a useful tool in the study of myeloid or monocytic differentiation.

The effect of oxidants on neutrophil-mediated degradation of glomerular basement membrane collagen

The contribution of activated oxygen species to neutrophil-mediated degradation of basement membrane collagen was investigated. In preliminary experiments, pre-exposure of either albumin or glomerular basement membrane to neutrophil myeloperoxidase with H2O2 and chloride increased their susceptibility to proteolysis 2-3-fold. In the basement membrane model, neutrophils are stimulated by trapped immune complexes to adhere, produce oxidants and degranulate. Degradation, measured as the amount of hydroxyproline solubilised, was due to neutral proteinases, particularly elastase, and depended on cell number and the amount of proteinase released. Experiments with oxidant scavengers and inhibitors and with neutrophils from donors with chronic granulomatous disease or myeloperoxidase deficiency showed that oxidants did not affect degradation of the basement membrane when this was measured on a per cell basis. However, oxidative inactivation of the released granule enzymes occurred. Activities of elastase, beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme were 1.5-2-times higher in the presence of catalase, but were unaffected by superoxide dismutase or hydroxyl radical scavengers. Inactivation did not occur with chronic granulomatous disease or myeloperoxidase deficient neutrophils. When related to the activity of released elastase, or to other degranulation markers, collagen degradation was decreased in the presence of catalase, or with chronic granulomatous disease or myeloperoxidase deficient cells. This implies that the basement membrane was made more digestible by myeloperoxidase-derived oxidants, as occurred in the cell-free experiments. Taken together, the results indicate that neutrophil oxidants have two opposing effects. They increase the susceptibility of the collagen to proteolysis and inactivate the proteinases responsible.

Bactericidal-activities of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte proteins against Escherichia coli O111:B4 coated with C5 or C8

The postnuclear supernatant of disrupted polymorphonuclear leukocytes exhibited bactericidal activity on Escherichia coli O111:B4 coated with immunoglobulin M antibodies and C5 or C8 but not on C3- or C7-coated bacteria. To characterize this antimicrobial activity further, granules obtained from the postnuclear supernatant were extracted with sodium acetate (pH 4) and the soluble extract was subsequently fractionated through carboxymethyl cellulose and Sephacryl S-200. Over 90% of the activity present in the starting material was recovered in the soluble granule extract. Kinetic and dose-response analyses of the bacterial activity of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte extract on BAC1-5 and BAC1-8 revealed different susceptibilities to killing of these two bacterial intermediates; they also differed for their susceptibilities to killing at 37 degrees C and at room temperature. The suggestion raised by these data, that BAC1-5 and BAC1-8 could be killed by different bactericidal factors, was confirmed by the findings that separate fractions of the soluble granule extract obtained by carboxymethyl cellulose and Sephacryl S-200 chromatography exhibited specific activity on either BAC1-5 or BAC1-8, whereas other fractions were active on both intermediates.

A simple method to obtain pure granule-rich eosinophil fragments (cytosomes) from normal human blood

This paper describes a simple, rapid and reproducible method to obtain pure granule-rich eosinophil fragments (cytosomes) with a high yield from normal human blood. The method is based on the treatment of whole blood with saponin and subsequent purification of the cytosomes on Percoll gradient. The enzymatic analysis of the cytosomes shows that the content of 3 granular enzymes is of the same order of magnitude already reported by others for intact eosinophils. This finding suggests that the cytosomes can be employed as starting material for studying the content of the granules or for the isolation of the granular components. The advantages offered by this method over those currently used to obtain eosinophil granules are discussed.