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Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis that arises when the body mounts an acute inflammatory reaction against a crystallized form of uric acid known as monosodium urate crystals (MSUs). Although MSUs are known to activate neutrophils, the most abundant leukocyte in the synovial fluid of patients with gout, few studies have investigated the effect on neutrophils of the simultaneous stimulation with MSU and proinflammatory mediators in the inflamed joint. Herein, we focused on a protein that is highly expressed in the synovium in gout, S100A9. The predominant expression of S100A9 in and around blood vessels suggests it may prime neutrophils during their migration toward the inflamed joint. Using a combination of functional and signaling assays, we found that S100A9 enhances the production of radical oxygen species as well as IL-1 and IL-8 release by human neutrophils activated with MSU. Moreover, upstream and downstream signaling events activated by MSUs in human neutrophils were also potentiated by S100A9, including the mobilization of intracellular calcium stores, tyrosine phosphorylation, the serine phosphorylation of PKC substrates, Akt, and p38. We also show that S100A9 alone increases glycolysis in human neutrophils, which is suggestive of an additional mechanism through which neutrophils can be primed. Together, our observations indicate a novel way in which S100A9 may contribute to the pathogenesis of gout, by priming neutrophils to respond to MSUs., (© Society for Leukocyte Biology.)

In human peripheral blood neutrophils or in myeloid PLB-985 cells differentiated towards a neutrophil-like phenotype, the peptide N-formyl-L-norleucyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-norleucyl-L-tyrosyl-L-leucyl-fluorescein isothiocyanate (f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-FITC) binds to and activates formyl peptide receptor1 (FPR1) and is submitted to receptor-mediated endocytosis (microscopy, cytofluorometry). This peptide may be considered a C-terminally extended version of f-Met-Leu-Phe which carries a fluorescent cargo into cells. By analogy to other peptide hormones for which we have evaluated epitope-tagged agonists as carriers of antibody cargoes, we have designed and evaluated f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-myc, C-terminally extended with the 10-residue myc tag. This peptide is as potent as f-Met-Leu-Phe to compete for f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-FITC uptake by PLB-985 cells, but did not mediate (10-1000nM) the internalization of the fluorescent anti-myc monoclonal antibody 4A6 added to the extracellular fluid at ~7nM (microscopy). The nonfluorescent version of the antibody (28nM) acts as a pre-receptor antagonist of f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-myc, but not of f-Met-Leu-Phe (superoxide release assay in differentiated PLB-985 cells). A further prolonged analog, f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-(Asn-Gly)5-myc, designed to decrease the possible steric hindrance between FPR1 and the bound anti-myc antibody, has little affinity for the receptor, precluding a direct assessment of this issue. Thus, the relatively low-affinity anti-myc antibody used at a high concentration functionally behaves as a selective pre-receptor antagonist of the agonist f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-myc., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Many cationic drugs are concentrated in acidic cell compartments due to low retro-diffusion of the protonated molecule (ion trapping), with an ensuing vacuolar and autophagic cytopathology. In solid tissues, there is evidence that phagocytic cells, e.g., histiocytes, preferentially concentrate cationic drugs. We hypothesized that peripheral blood leukocytes could differentially take up a fluorescent model cation, quinacrine, depending on their phagocytic competence. Quinacrine transport parameters were determined in purified or total leukocyte suspensions at 37 °C. Purified polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs, essentially neutrophils) exhibited a quinacrine uptake velocity inferior to that of lymphocytes, but a consistently higher affinity (apparent KM 1.1 vs. 6.3 μM, respectively). However, the vacuolar (V)-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 prevented quinacrine transport or initiated its release in either cell type. PMNLs capture most of the quinacrine added at low concentrations to fresh peripheral blood leukocytes compared with lymphocytes and monocytes (cytofluorometry). Accumulation of the autophagy marker LC3-II occurred rapidly and at low drug concentrations in quinacrine-treated PMNLs (significant at ≥2.5 μM, ≥2 h). Lymphocytes contained more LAMP1 than PMNLs, suggesting that the mass of lysosomes and late endosomes is a determinant of quinacrine uptake Vmax. PMNLs, however, exhibited the highest capacity for pinocytosis (uptake of fluorescent dextran into endosomes). The selectivity of quinacrine distribution in peripheral blood leukocytes may be determined by the collaboration of a non-concentrating plasma membrane transport mechanism, tentatively identified as pinocytosis in PMNLs, with V-ATPase-mediated concentration. Intracellular reservoirs of cationic drugs are a potential source of toxicity (e.g., loss of lysosomal function in phagocytes)., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bradykinin (BK) is a vasoactive nonapeptide cleaved from circulating kininogens and that is degraded by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). It has been reported that the PR3 protease from human neutrophil releases an alternate peptide of 13 amino acids, Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser, from high molecular weight kininogen. We have studied vascular actions of this kinin. Its affinity for recombinant B₁ and B₂ receptors is very low, as assessed by the binding competition of [³H]Lys-des-Arg⁹-BK and [³H]BK, respectively, but Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser effectively displaced a fraction of [³H]enalaprilat binding to recombinant ACE. Mutant recombinant ACE constructions revealed that affinity gap between BK and Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser is larger for the N-terminal catalytic site than for the C-terminal one, based on competition for the substrate Abz-Phe-Arg-Lys(Dnp)-Pro-OH in an enzymatic assay. Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser is a low potency stimulant of the rabbit aorta (bioassay for B₁ receptors), but the human isolated umbilical vein, a contractile bioassay for the B₂ receptors, responded to Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser more than expected from the radioligand binding assay, this agonist being ∼30-fold less potent than BK in the vein. Venous tissue treatment with the ACE inhibitor enalaprilat reduced the apparent potency of Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser by 15-fold, while not affecting that of BK. In the rabbit isolated jugular vein, Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser is nearly as potent as BK as a contractile stimulant of endogenous B₂ receptors (EC₅₀ values of 16.3 and 10.5 nM, respectively), but enalaprilat reduced the potency of Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser 13-fold while increasing that of BK 5.3-fold. In vascular tissue, ACE assumes a paradoxical activating role for Met-Lys-BK-Ser-Ser., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Recent investigations have produced novel compounds that act on the receptor for anaphylatoxin C5a. These products are C-terminal analogues of C5a, some of which are modified extensively. We have measured the receptor affinities of such analogues in a binding assay on human neutrophils (PMNs). We have also characterized their pharmacological profiles in vitro on the isolated rabbit portal vein and pulmonary artery, on superoxide release by PMNs as well as in vivo in the anesthetized rabbit (acute hypotensive and neutropenic effects). The metabolic resistance of these analogues was also evaluated in the presence of different peptidases. One of these compounds, MePhe-Lys-Pro-D-Cha-Phe-D-Arg, behaved as an antagonist on the release of superoxide by neutrophils while exerting agonist activity in all other assays. Its partial agonist status was documented in a receptor down-regulation experiment on PMNs where its activity was compared with those of recombinant C5a and of protamine which behaves as a competitive antagonist on these cells. Degradation studies indicated that the discrepancy between the affinity of certain analogues in vitro and their potency in vivo was probably linked to their metabolic stability.

The radiographic contrast agent sodium diatrizoate (DTR) reportedly inhibits f-Met-Leu-Phe-induced chemotaxis in human neutrophils. DTR is also an ingredient of Ficoll-Paque, a density centrifugation medium widely used to purify human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Exposure of PMNs to DTR during preparation had no detrimental effect on subsequent binding characteristics of tritiated f-Met-Leu-Phe, probably owing to a rapid dissociation of DTR from the PMN receptors. DTR competed directly with f-Met-Leu-Phe for receptor binding, but was 160- and 640-fold less potent than phenylbutazone and 1,2-diphenyl-4-[3-(1-naphthyl)-propyl]-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (DPN; an analog of phenylbutazone), respectively. Iohexol and the methylamide of DTR did not compete with [3H]f-Met-Leu-Phe in receptor binding, supporting the existence of a definite interaction between iodinated aromatic molecules and the f-Met-Leu-Phe receptor. DTR did not inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, as did DPN. Both drugs inhibited chemotactic peptide-induced release of superoxide anion in a concentration-dependent manner, and were relatively selective for f-Met-Leu-Phe, as opposed to C5a. Both drugs at 10 microM interfered non-selectively with chemotactic peptide-induced beta-glucuronidase release from PMNs. Available non-peptide antagonists of f-Met-Leu-Phe exhibited other pharmacodynamic properties that could make them unsuitable for future in vivo studies designed to probe the physiological role of the receptor.

The 3,5-pyrazolidinedione (3,5-P) drugs, phenylbutazone and sulfinpyrazone, have been reported to bind to receptors for the chemotactic peptide, f-Met-Leu-Phe, and to behave as functional antagonists of f-Met-Leu-Phe in human and rabbit neutrophils. To explore the structure-activity relationship of this family of drugs for f-Met-Leu-Phe receptor binding, 36 drugs with the 3,5-P structure, a structure related to antipyrine, or an unrelated structure were tested as competitors for the binding of f-Met-Leu-Phe-Lys-fluorescein isothiocyanate on human neutrophils by flow cytometric analysis. Only drugs possessing the 3,5-P ring were significant competitors. The five most potent 3,5-Ps behaved as selective antagonists of f-Met-Leu-Phe-induced superoxide anion release by neutrophils. The potency was not correlated to the pKa or to their capacity to inhibit prostaglandin E2 released from culture fibroblasts but instead appeared to be correlated to their apparent octanol-buffer partition coefficients. The most potent f-Met-Leu-Phe antagonist identified, 1,2-diphenyl-4-(3-(1-naphthyl)-propyl)-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (DPN), may also possess an improved pharmacodynamic specificity compared with phenylbutazone and sulfinpyrazone, as it was less potent than phenylbutazone in the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and it was not cytotoxic. DPN may be a prototype for a valuable new class of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Hemodynamic and hematologic changes occurring after intravascular complement activation have implicated the anaphylatoxins in this response. In this study, the hemodynamic and hematologic effects of purified C5a were investigated in rabbits; and involvement of prostanoids, histamine, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were examined. The anaphylatoxin C5a induces a reversible systemic arterial hypotension which coincides with an increase in central venous pressure (CVP), decreased cardiac output (CO), increased plasma prostanoid levels, as well as neutropenia. Total peripheral resistance (TPR) remained unchanged. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin abolished the C5a-induced hypotension and normalized plasma prostanoid levels without altering the C5a-induced neutropenia. The thromboxane (Tx) A2 synthetase inhibitor dazoxiben reduced TxB2 plasma levels and increased 6-keto-prostaglandin PGF1 alpha and PGE2 levels without altering the hypotensive response. However, with dazoxiben treatment both TPR and CVP decreased. The H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine reduced C5a-induced hypotension and diminished prostanoid release. Both the hypotensive response and elevated prostanoid release were observed after C5a challenge in animals rendered neutropenic prior to challenge. It is concluded that C5a-induced arterial hypotension in the rabbit is a PMN-independent reaction, mediated through cyclooxygenase products and, to some degree, by histamine. The mechanism producing systemic arterial hypotension does not seem to involve peripheral vasodilation but appears to be a secondary effect of pulmonary vasoconstriction, possibly mediated by TxA2.

The disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs sodium aurothiomalate, D-penicillamine and chloroquine phosphate were tested on leukotriene (LT) synthesis in human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with either the ionophore A23187, zymosan or f-Met-Leu-Phe. Lipoxygenase products were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The study demonstrated that the drugs can either inhibit or enhance 5-lipoxygenase product synthesis in human leukocytes, depending on the stimulus used to activate the cells and the drug concentration. The data also suggested that increased substrate availability accounted for the stimulatory effects of the drugs on leukotriene synthesis.