Effect of Extreme Variations of Fundamental Constants on the Structure of Atoms and Molecules

The fundamental constants (FCs) of physics are promoted to dynamic quantities in modern theories. So far most of the literature focused on small fractional variations in the values of FCs. In this paper, we investigate the novel regime of extreme but transient variations of FCs. We focus on the speed of light (c) and show that its variation can dramatically change the electronic structure and chemistry of atoms and molecules. These changes are induced by increased relativistic effects when c is reduced from its nominal value. To model these changes, we solve the fully relativistic Dirac equation at different values of c. We show that at extreme variations of c, the periodic table is truncated, the nominal ground states of atoms can change, water fails to serve as a universal solvent, and the ammonia molecule becomes planar.

Stochastic fluctuations of bosonic dark matter

Numerous theories extending beyond the standard model of particle physics predict the existence of bosons that could constitute dark matter. In the standard halo model of galactic dark matter, the velocity distribution of the bosonic dark matter field defines a characteristic coherence time τc. Until recently, laboratory experiments searching for bosonic dark matter fields have been in the regime where the measurement time T significantly exceeds τc, so null results have been interpreted by assuming a bosonic field amplitude Φ0 fixed by the average local dark matter density. Here we show that experiments operating in the T ≪ τc regime do not sample the full distribution of bosonic dark matter field amplitudes and therefore it is incorrect to assume a fixed value of Φ0 when inferring constraints. Instead, in order to interpret laboratory measurements (even in the event of a discovery), it is necessary to account for the stochastic nature of such a virialized ultralight field. The constraints inferred from several previous null experiments searching for ultralight bosonic dark matter were overestimated by factors ranging from 3 to 10 depending on experimental details, model assumptions, and choice of inference framework.

Atomic Ionization by Scalar Dark Matter and Solar Scalars

We calculate the cross sections of atomic ionization by absorption of scalar particles in the energy range from a few eV to 100 keV. We consider both nonrelativistic particles (dark matter candidates) and relativistic particles that may be produced inside the Sun. We provide numerical results for atoms relevant for direct dark matter searches (O, Na, Ar, Ca, Ge, I, Xe, W and Tl). We identify a crucial flaw in previous calculations and show that they overestimated the ionization cross sections by several orders of magnitude due to violation of the orthogonality of the bound and continuum electron wave functions. Using our computed cross sections, we interpret the recent data from the Xenon1T experiment, establishing the first direct bounds on coupling of scalars to electrons. We argue that the Xenon1T excess can be explained by the emission of scalars from the Sun. Although our finding is in a similar tension with astrophysical bounds as the solar axion hypothesis, we establish direct limits on scalar DM for the ∼1-10  keV mass range. We also update axio-ionization cross sections. Numerical data files are provided.

Search for topological defect dark matter with a global network of optical magnetometers

Ultralight bosons such as axion-like particles are viable candidates for dark matter. They can form stable, macroscopic field configurations in the form of topological defects that could concentrate the dark matter density into many distinct, compact spatial regions that are small compared with the Galaxy but much larger than the Earth. Here we report the results of the search for transient signals from the domain walls of axion-like particles by using the global network of optical magnetometers for exotic (GNOME) physics searches. We search the data, consisting of correlated measurements from optical atomic magnetometers located in laboratories all over the world, for patterns of signals propagating through the network consistent with domain walls. The analysis of these data from a continuous month-long operation of GNOME finds no statistically significant signals, thus placing experimental constraints on such dark matter scenarios.

Precision Metrology Meets Cosmology: Improved Constraints on Ultralight Dark Matter from Atom-Cavity Frequency Comparisons

We conduct frequency comparisons between a state-of-the-art strontium optical lattice clock, a cryogenic crystalline silicon cavity, and a hydrogen maser to set new bounds on the coupling of ultralight dark matter to standard model particles and fields in the mass range of 10^{-16}-10^{-21}  eV. The key advantage of this two-part ratio comparison is the differential sensitivity to time variation of both the fine-structure constant and the electron mass, achieving a substantially improved limit on the moduli of ultralight dark matter, particularly at higher masses than typical atomic spectroscopic results. Furthermore, we demonstrate an extension of the search range to even higher masses by use of dynamical decoupling techniques. These results highlight the importance of using the best-performing atomic clocks for fundamental physics applications, as all-optical timescales are increasingly integrated with, and will eventually supplant, existing microwave timescales.

Searching for Ultralight Dark Matter with Optical Cavities

We discuss the use of optical cavities as tools to search for dark matter (DM) composed of virialized ultralight fields (VULFs). Such fields could lead to oscillating fundamental constants, resulting in oscillations of the length of rigid bodies. We propose searching for these effects via differential strain measurement of rigid and suspended-mirror cavities. We estimate that more than 2 orders of magnitude of unexplored phase space for VULF DM couplings can be probed at VULF Compton frequencies in the audible range of 0.1-10 kHz.

Sensitivity of Atom Interferometry to Ultralight Scalar Field Dark Matter

We discuss the use of atom interferometry as a tool to search for dark matter (DM) composed of virialized ultralight fields (VULFs). Previous work on VULF DM detection using accelerometers has considered the possibility of equivalence-principle-violating effects whereby gradients in the dark matter field can directly produce relative accelerations between media of differing composition. In atom interferometers, we find that time-varying phase signals induced by coherent oscillations of DM fields can also arise due to changes in the atom rest mass that can occur between light pulses throughout the interferometer sequence as well as changes in Earth's gravitational field. We estimate that several orders of magnitude of unexplored phase space for VULF DM couplings can be probed due to these new effects.

Coherence Preservation of a Single Neutral Atom Qubit Transferred between Magic-Intensity Optical Traps

We demonstrate that the coherence of a single mobile atomic qubit can be well preserved during a transfer process among different optical dipole traps (ODTs). This is a prerequisite step in realizing a large-scale neutral atom quantum information processing platform. A qubit encoded in the hyperfine manifold of an ^{87}Rb atom is dynamically extracted from the static quantum register by an auxiliary moving ODT and reinserted into the static ODT. Previous experiments were limited by decoherences induced by the differential light shifts of qubit states. Here, we apply a magic-intensity trapping technique which mitigates the detrimental effects of light shifts and substantially enhances the coherence time to 225±21  ms. The experimentally demonstrated magic trapping technique relies on the previously neglected hyperpolarizability contribution to the light shifts, which makes the light shift dependence on the trapping laser intensity parabolic. Because of the parabolic dependence, at a certain "magic" intensity, the first order sensitivity to trapping light-intensity variations over ODT volume is eliminated. We experimentally demonstrate the utility of this approach and measure hyperpolarizability for the first time. Our results pave the way for constructing scalable quantum-computing architectures with single atoms trapped in an array of magic ODTs.

Quantum Network of Atom Clocks: A Possible Implementation with Neutral Atoms

We propose a protocol for creating a fully entangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-type state of neutral atoms in spatially separated optical atomic clocks. In our scheme, local operations make use of the strong dipole-dipole interaction between Rydberg excitations, which give rise to fast and reliable quantum operations involving all atoms in the ensemble. The necessary entanglement between distant ensembles is mediated by single-photon quantum channels and collectively enhanced light-matter couplings. These techniques can be used to create the recently proposed quantum clock network based on neutral atom optical clocks. We specifically analyze a possible realization of this scheme using neutral Yb ensembles.

Magnetic-dipole transitions in highly charged ions as a basis of ultraprecise optical clocks

We evaluate the feasibility of using magnetic-dipole (M1) transitions in highly charged ions as a basis of an optical atomic clockwork of exceptional accuracy. We consider a range of possibilities, including M1 transitions between clock levels of the same fine-structure and hyperfine-structure manifolds. In highly charged ions these transitions lie in the optical part of the spectra and can be probed with lasers. The most direct advantage of our proposal comes from the low degeneracy of clock levels and the simplicity of atomic structure in combination with negligible quadrupolar shift. We demonstrate that such clocks can have projected fractional accuracies below the 10^{-20}-10^{-21} level for all common systematic effects, such as blackbody radiation, Zeeman, ac-Stark, and quadrupolar shifts.

Accurate potential energy, dipole moment curves, and lifetimes of vibrational states of heteronuclear alkali dimers

We calculate the potential energy curves, the permanent dipole moment curves, and the lifetimes of the ground and excited vibrational states of the heteronuclear alkali dimers XY (X, Y = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) in the X(1)Σ(+) electronic state using the coupled cluster with singles doubles and triples method. All-electron quadruple-ζ basis sets with additional core functions are used for Li and Na, and small-core relativistic effective core potentials with quadruple-ζ quality basis sets are used for K, Rb, and Cs. The inclusion of the coupled cluster non-perturbative triple excitations is shown to be crucial for obtaining the accurate potential energy curves. A large one-electron basis set with additional core functions is needed for the accurate prediction of permanent dipole moments. The dissociation energies are overestimated by only 14 cm(-1) for LiNa and by no more than 114 cm(-1) for the other molecules. The discrepancies between the experimental and calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies are less than 1.7 cm(-1), and the discrepancies for the anharmonic correction are less than 0.1 cm(-1). We show that correlation between atomic electronegativity differences and permanent dipole moment of heteronuclear alkali dimers is not perfect. To obtain the vibrational energies and wave functions the vibrational Schrödinger equation is solved with the B-spline basis set method. The transition dipole moments between all vibrational states, the Einstein coefficients, and the lifetimes of the vibrational states are calculated. We analyze the decay rates of the vibrational states in terms of spontaneous emission, and stimulated emission and absorption induced by black body radiation. In all studied heteronuclear alkali dimers the ground vibrational states have much longer lifetimes than any excited states.

Highly charged ions as a basis of optical atomic clockwork of exceptional accuracy

We propose a novel class of atomic clocks based on highly charged ions. We consider highly forbidden laser-accessible transitions within the 4f(12) ground-state configurations of highly charged ions. Our evaluation of systematic effects demonstrates that these transitions may be used for building exceptionally accurate atomic clocks which may compete in accuracy with recently proposed nuclear clocks.

Single-ion nuclear clock for metrology at the 19th decimal place

The 7.6(5) eV nuclear magnetic-dipole transition in a single 229Th3+ ion may provide the foundation for an optical clock of superb accuracy. A virtual clock transition composed of stretched states within the 5F(5/2) electronic ground level of both nuclear ground and isomeric manifolds is proposed. It is shown to offer unprecedented systematic shift suppression, allowing for clock performance with a total fractional inaccuracy approaching 1×10(-19).

Rydberg spectroscopy in an optical lattice: blackbody thermometry for atomic clocks

We show that optical spectroscopy of Rydberg states can provide accurate in situ thermometry at room temperature. Transitions from a metastable state to Rydberg states with principal quantum numbers of 25-30 have 200 times larger fractional frequency sensitivities to blackbody radiation than the strontium clock transition. We demonstrate that magic-wavelength lattices exist for both strontium and ytterbium transitions between the metastable and Rydberg states. Frequency measurements of Rydberg transitions with 10(-16) accuracy provide 10 mK resolution and yield a blackbody uncertainty for the clock transition of 10(-18).

Differential light-shift cancellation in a magnetic-field-insensitive transition of 87rb

The precise measurement of transition frequencies of trapped atomic samples is susceptible to inaccuracy arising from the inhomogeneous differential shift of the relevant energy levels in the presence of the trapping fields. We demonstrate near-complete cancellation of the differential ac Stark shift ("light shift") of a two-photon magnetic-field-insensitive microwave hyperfine (clock) transition in ^{87}Rb atoms trapped in an optical lattice. Up to 95(2)% of the differential light shift is cancelled while maintaining magnetic-field insensitivity. This technique should have applications in quantum information and frequency metrology.

"Doubly magic" conditions in magic-wavelength trapping of ultracold alkali-metal atoms

In experiments with trapped atoms, atomic energy levels are shifted by the trapping optical and magnetic fields. Regardless of this strong perturbation, precision spectroscopy may be still carried out using specially crafted, "magic" trapping fields. Finding these conditions for particularly valuable microwave transitions in alkali-metal atoms has so far remained an open challenge. Here I demonstrate that the microwave transitions in alkali-metal atoms may be indeed made impervious to both trapping laser intensity and fluctuations of magnetic fields. I consider driving multiphoton transitions between the clock levels and show that these "doubly magic" conditions are realized at special values of trapping laser wavelengths and fixed values of relatively weak magnetic fields. This finding has implications for precision measurements and quantum information processing with qubits stored in hyperfine manifolds.

Mapping out atom-wall interaction with atomic clocks

We explore the feasibility of probing atom-wall interaction with atomic clocks based on atoms trapped in engineered optical lattices. Optical lattice is normal to the wall. By monitoring the wall-induced clock shift at individual wells of the lattice, one would measure the dependence of the atom-wall interaction on the atom-wall separation. We find that the induced clock shifts are large and observable at already experimentally demonstrated levels of accuracy. We show that this scheme may uniquely probe the long-range atom-wall interaction in all three qualitatively distinct regimes of the interaction: van der Waals (image-charge interaction), Casimir-Polder (QED vacuum fluctuations), and Lifshitz (thermal-bath fluctuations) regimes.

Precision determination of electroweak coupling from atomic parity violation and implications for particle physics

We carry out high-precision calculation of parity violation in a cesium atom, reducing theoretical uncertainty by a factor of 2 compared to previous evaluations. We combine previous measurements with calculations and extract the weak charge of the 133Cs nucleus, QW=-73.16(29)expt(20)theor. The result is in agreement with the standard model (SM) of elementary particles. This is the most accurate to-date test of the low-energy electroweak sector of the SM. In combination with the results of high-energy collider experiments, we confirm the energy dependence (or "running") of the electroweak force over an energy range spanning 4 orders of magnitude (from approximately 10 MeV to approximately 100 GeV). Additionally, our result places constraints on a variety of new physics scenarios beyond the SM. In particular, we increase the lower limit on the masses of extra Z bosons predicted by models of grand unification and string theories.

Micromagic clock: microwave clock based on atoms in an engineered optical lattice

We propose a new class of atomic microwave clocks based on the hyperfine transitions in the ground state of aluminum or gallium atoms trapped in optical lattices. For such elements magic wavelengths exist at which both levels of the hyperfine doublet are shifted at the same rate by the lattice laser field, cancelling its effect on the clock transition. A similar mechanism for the magic wavelengths may work in microwave hyperfine transitions in other atoms which have the fine-structure multiplets in the ground state.

Magic frequencies for cesium primary-frequency standard

We consider microwave hyperfine transitions in the ground state of cesium and rubidium atoms which are presently used as the primary and the secondary frequency standards. The atoms are confined in an optical lattice generated by a circularly polarized laser field. We demonstrate that applying an external magnetic field with appropriately chosen direction may cancel dynamic Stark frequency shift making the frequency of the clock transition insensitive to the strengths of both the laser and the magnetic fields. This can be attained for practically any laser frequency which is sufficiently distant from a resonance.

Trapping of neutral mercury atoms and prospects for optical lattice clocks

We report vapor-cell magneto-optical trapping of Hg isotopes on the (1)S(0)-(3)P(1) intercombination transition. Six abundant isotopes, including four bosons and two fermions, were trapped. Hg is the heaviest nonradioactive atom trapped so far, which enables sensitive atomic searches for "new physics" beyond the standard model. We propose an accurate optical lattice clock based on Hg and evaluate its systematic accuracy to be better than 10;{-18}. Highly accurate and stable Hg-based clocks will provide a new avenue for the research of optical lattice clocks and the time variation of the fine-structure constant.

Proposal for a sensitive search for the electric dipole moment of the electron with matrix-isolated radicals

We propose using matrix-isolated paramagnetic diatomic molecules to search for the electric dipole moment of the electron (eEDM). As was suggested by Shapiro in 1968, the eEDM leads to a magnetization of a sample in the external electric field. In a typical condensed matter experiment, the effective field on the unpaired electron is of the same order of magnitude as the laboratory field, typically about 10(5) V/cm. We exploit the fact that the effective electric field inside heavy polar molecules is on the order of 10(10) V/cm. This leads to a huge enhancement of the Shapiro effect. Statistical sensitivity of the proposed experiment may allow one to improve the current limit on eEDM by 3 orders of magnitude in a few hours accumulation time.

High-accuracy calculation of the blackbody radiation shift in the 133Cs primary frequency standard

The blackbody radiation (BBR) shift is an important systematic correction for the atomic frequency standards realizing the SI unit of time. Presently, there is controversy over the value of the BBR shift for the primary 133Cs standard. At room temperatures, the values from various groups differ at the 3x10(-15) level, while modern clocks are aiming at 10(-16) accuracies. We carry out high-precision relativistic many-body calculations of the BBR shift. For the BBR coefficient beta at T=300 K, we obtain beta=-(1.710+/-0.006)x10(-14), implying 6x10(-17) fractional uncertainty. While in accord with the most accurate measurement, our 0.35% accurate value is in a substantial (10%) disagreement with recent semiempirical calculations. We identify an oversight in those calculations.

Marked influence of the nature of the chemical bond on CP-violating signature in molecular ions HBr(+) and HI(+)

Heavy polar molecules offer a great sensitivity to the electron electric dipole moment (EDM). To guide emerging searches for EDMs with molecular ions, we estimate the EDM-induced energy corrections for hydrogen halide ions HBr(+) and HI(+) in their respective ground X (2)Pi(3/2) states. We find that the energy corrections due to EDM for the two ions differ by an unexpectedly large factor of 15. We demonstrate that a major part of this enhancement is due to a dissimilarity in the nature of the chemical bond for the two ions: the bond that is nearly of ionic character in HBr(+) exhibits predominantly a covalent nature in HI(+). We conclude that because of this enhancement the HI(+) ion may be a potentially competitive candidate for the EDM search.

Observation of the nuclear magnetic octupole moment of 133Cs

We describe our high-resolution measurements of the 133Cs 6p (2)P(3/2) state hyperfine structure. An optically narrowed diode laser excites perpendicularly a highly collimated atomic beam. The spectra are calibrated with a stable reference diode laser using a rf locking scheme allowing us to determine the splittings with an accuracy of < or =2 kHz, an order of magnitude better than previous results. The magnetic dipole a, electric quadrupole b, and magnetic octupole c hyperfine coupling constants are determined. The values we obtained are a=50.288 27(23) MHz, b=-0.4934(17) MHz, and c=0.56(7) kHz. This work represents the first observation of the magnetic octupole moment of the cesium nucleus. We carry out atomic-structure calculations and determine the nuclear electric quadrupole moment Q= -3.55(4) mb and nuclear magnetic octupole moment Omega=0.82(10) b x mu(N).

Ultracold collision properties of metastable alkaline-earth atoms

Ultracold collisions of spin-polarized 24Mg, 40Ca, and 88Sr in the metastable 3P2 excited state are investigated based on molecular potentials obtained from ab initio calculations. We calculate the long-range interaction potentials and estimate the scattering length and the collisional loss rate as a function of magnetic field. The scattering lengths show resonance behavior due to the appearance of a molecular bound state in a purely long-range interaction potential and are positive for magnetic fields below 50 mT. A loss-rate model shows that losses should be smallest near zero magnetic field and for fields slightly larger than the resonance field, where the scattering length is also positive.

Reconciliation of the measurement of parity nonconservation in Cs with the standard model

Contributions from the Breit interaction in atomic structure calculations account for 1.3sigma of the previously reported 2. 5sigma deviation from the standard model in the 133Cs weak charge [S. C. Bennett and C. E. Wieman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 2484 (1999)]. The updated corrections for the neutron distribution reduce the discrepancy further to 1.0sigma. The updated value of the weak charge is Q(W)(133Cs) = -72.65(28)(expt)(34)(theor).

Electric-octupole and pure-electric-quadrupole effects in soft-X-Ray photoemission

Second-order [ O(k(2)), k = omega/c] nondipole effects in soft-x-ray photoemission are demonstrated via an experimental and a theoretical study of angular distributions of neon valence photoelectrons in the 100-1200 eV photon-energy range. A newly derived theoretical expression for nondipolar angular distributions characterizes the second-order effects using four new parameters with primary contributions from pure-quadrupole and octupole-dipole interference terms. Independent-particle calculations of these parameters account for a significant portion of the existing discrepancy between experiment and theory for Ne 2p first-order nondipole parameters.

The role of neutrophil-derived oxidants as second messengers in interleukin 1beta-stimulated cells

The role of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) as potent agonist of the PMN respiratory burst signal transduction cascade has been described. We hypothesized that this phenomenon is self-limiting and that polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-derived reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) might provide feedback regulation on the IL-1beta surface receptor (IL-1betaR)-G-protein-effector enzyme transducing tripartite complex that ultimately leads to NADPH oxidase activation. Therefore, we separately assessed either baseline or IL-1beta-induced activation of each member of the IL-1betaR-G-protein-phospholipase D (PLD) or IL-1betaR-G-protein-phospholipase C (PLC) signaling systems in the presence or absence of one of several specific ROI scavengers/antioxidants. Purified human PMN were lipopolysaccharide primed, adhered for 2 h, and stimulated with 100 ng/mL IL-1beta with or without 1% v/v dimethyl sulfoxide, 10 mM NaN3, 30 mM L-alanine, 200 U catalase, or 300 U superoxide dismutase (SOD). To validate the use of these antioxidants, the production of O2-, H2O2, hypochlorous acid, or myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the employed experimental model was confirmed in a separate set of experiments. The expression of IL-1betaR type I or II was assessed by binding with corresponding 125I-labeled monoclonal antibodies and corrected for nonspecific binding. PLD activation was assessed by measuring phosphatidyl ethanol formation in the presence of ethanol. PLC activation was determined by quantitative measurement of diacylglycerol. The level of Galpha stimulatory and inhibitory subunits was assessed by Western blotting. IL-1betaR type I expression was significantly up-regulated in the presence of catalase and SOD. PLD activation was increased by dimethyl sulfoxide and NaN3, and PLC activation was up-regulated by NaN3, L-alanine, SOD, and catalase. After 5 min of stimulation with IL-1beta, Gialpha expression was significantly down-regulated by NaN3 and SOD, whereas SOD had an up-regulating effect on the expression of Gs alpha. Increasing concentrations of externally added authentic MPO progressively down-regulated both PLD and PLC activity. Thus, PMN-derived ROI, in addition to their role as antibacterial/fungal agents, serve as second messengers in IL-1beta signal transduction, with MPO having the most ubiquitous role as a modulator of PMN second messenger pathways.

Endogenous PMN-derived reactive oxygen intermediates provide feedback regulation on respiratory burst signal transduction

The role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in stemming systemic infection is executed mainly by the utilization of molecular O2 leading to the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). PMN-derived ROI also serve as intra- and extracellular second messengers providing both positive and negative feedback on cellular autoregulation. We investigated the effect of endogenous ROI on two signal transducing pathways: the receptor (R)-G-protein-phospholipase D (PLD) and receptor (R)-G-protein-phospholipase C pathways responsible for the subsequent interleukin-8 (IL-8)-induced PMN respiratory burst. Purified human PMN were primed with LPS adhered to plastic surfaces and stimulated with IL-8 with or without the presence of each of five different selective ROI scavengers/antioxidants: DMSO, N(a)N3, L-alanine, catalase, or superoxide dismutase. Total IL-8 surface receptor expression was assessed by 125I-IL-8 and 125I-labeled mAbs against IL-8R type A and B binding assays; PLD activation was assessed by measuring formation of phosphatidyl ethanol (PEt) in the presence of ethanol; PLC activation was measured by quantitative conversion of [32P]ATP-labeled phosphatidic acid (PA) into diacylglycerol (DAG); expression of G alpha-inhibitory subunit was assessed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with polyclonal Abs against this subunit. Production of O2-, H2O2, HClO, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the experimental model was confirmed in a separate set of experiments. The overall impact of antioxidants on each component of the transducing tripartite complex was stimulatory; however, N(a)N3 and SOD exhibited the most ubiquitous effect with consistent up-regulation by N(a)N3 of IL-8R expression, whereas even trace amounts of externally added authentic MPO significantly down-regulated the functional activity of both effector enzymes. These results demonstrate a multiple site-specific targeting of the signal-transducing complex by endogenous PMN-derived ROI and an overall protective effect of ROI scavengers/antioxidants.

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN)-derived inflammatory cytokines--regulation by oxygen tension and extracellular matrix

The kinetics of IL-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1 beta release by PMN adhered to fibronectin, laminin or plastic for 24 h in response to continuous stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 ng/ml), N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP; 100 mM), or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 10 ng/ml), was investigated under altered oxygen tension conditions. Cell supernatants were sampled for cytokine content every 6 h and measured by ELISA. IL-8 was the most abundant cytokine, produced in a range of up to 5.4 ng/ml; TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta were produced in a range of up to 1 ng/ml. During normoxia, LPS was the most potent stimulus, inducing the release of each cytokine, while fMLP showed a less pronounced effect on IL-8 and IL-1 beta production and markedly inhibited TNF-alpha production. PMA markedly suppressed IL-8 and IL-1 beta release and failed to induce any release of TNF-alpha. Hypoxia had an overall inhibitory effect on cytokine release except for PMA-induced IL-1 beta release, and hypoxia/reoxygenation had a significant up-regulating effect except for a further inhibition of fMLP-induced release of TNF-alpha. Integrinmatrix protein ligation differentiated both spontaneous and externally induced cytokine release and its sensitivity to alteration in oxygen tension. Thus the process of PMN elaboration of inflammatory cytokines is controlled on multiple levels of signal transduction, differentiated by integrin-extracellular matrix interactions, and is sensitive to alterations in microenvironmental oxygen tension.

Altered oxygen tension modulates cytokine-induced signal transduction in polymorphonuclear leukocytes: regulation of the G PLC pathway

The purpose of these studies was to examine the sensitivity of the PIP 2-PLC-transducing pathway (GPLC) and its relationship to the respiratory burst in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated by IL-8, TNF-alpha, or IL-1 beta during sequential changes in buffer oxygen tension from normoxia (pO2 = 180-200 mm Hg), to hypoxia (pO2 < 30 mm Hg) and then reoxygenation (pO2 > 140 mm Hg). Our specific hypothesis was that altered oxygen tensions would regulate the G PLC pathway in human PMN. G PLC activity was assayed by investigating phospholipase C activity by measuring inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol (DAG) formation. Respiratory burst activity was assayed as O 2 production and NADPH oxidase activation in intact PMN and in a cell-free system, respectively, and correlated separately to both early and late DAG production. At 1 min, DAG formation during normoxia was decreased by IL-8 plus fibronectin while hypoxia had no regulatory effect on control of DAG formation by any of the cytokines. In contrast to early DAG formation, hypoxia significantly downregulated late DAG formation induced by buffer without fibronectin, IL-8 plus fibronectin, and IL-1 beta with or without fibronectin. Hypoxia/reoxygenation in and of itself significantly increased DAG formation vs levels seen in the presence or absence of IL-8, TNF-alpha, or IL-1 beta with or without fibronectin. Changes in early DAG production during the alterations in oxygen tension correlated best with corresponding changes in O 2 production in intact cells, whereas late DAG production correlated best with NADPH oxidase activation assayed in the cell-free system. Thus, changes in oxygen tension can directly modulate the extent of the PMN response to stimulation by IL-8, TNF-alpha, or IL-1 beta and the G PLC-receptor pathway is particularly regulated by physiologically relevant periods of hypoxia/reoxygenation.

Altered oxygen tension modulates cytokine-induced signal transduction in polymorphonuclear leukocytes: regulation of the GPLD pathway

We investigated the effect of alterations in buffer oxygen tensions from normoxia (PO2 = 180-200 mm/Hg) to hypoxia (PO2 < 30 mm/HG) and then reoxygenation (PO2 > 140 mmHg) on the GPLD-pathway by measuring phosphatidylethanol formation in the presence of ethanol and subsequent NADPH oxidase activation and O2-production in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Experiments were performed with PMN stimulated with either interleukin (IL)-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, or IL-1 beta in the presence or absence of fibronectin. Hypoxia exerted a downregulating effect on this pathway and reoxygenation restored GPLD activation to levels seen during normoxia; however, supraphysiological concentrations of cytokines were able to reverse this pattern. Changes in GPLD activation correlated best with changes in O2-production during the hypoxia to hypoxia/reoxygenation transition induced by TNF-alpha-Fn and IL-1 beta +/- Fn. Thus, changes in oxygen tension can directly modulate the extent of the PMN response to stimulation by IL-8, TNF-alpha, or IL-1 beta, and activation of the GPLD-pathway appears to be highly sensitive to hypoxia and hypoxia/reoxygenation.