Adhesion of leukocytes to dermal endothelial cells is induced after single-dose, but reduced after repeated doses of UVA

Approximately 20-50% of ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation delivered to the skin surface may reach the human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) that play a pivotal role in cellular inflammatory tissue; however, the pathophysiologic role of HDMEC in UVA-induced skin changes is largely unknown. Based on previous in vivo and in vitro studies revealing UVA-induced expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, we studied isolated HDMEC under various conditions in order to further delineate the impact of UVA on these cells. The expression of cell adhesion molecules was determined by flow cytometry and the resulting changes of stable adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells were quantitated for granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes using a newly developed multicellular adhesion assay. Additionally, antibody blocking experiments were performed to delineate the role of individual cell adhesion molecules in UVA-induced leukocyte adherence. High-dose polychromatic UVA (25 J per cm2, maximal emission at 375 nm) induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin with different kinetics but correlating the adhesion of leukocyte subsets. This effect subsided, however, in the course of 3-6 daily applied UVA doses. Moreover, pro-inflammatory cytokine challenge by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1-alpha resulted in significantly weaker induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin in repeatedly UVA-exposed HDMEC. Differential quantitation of peripheral blood derived granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes revealed reduced adhesion particularly of lymphocytes followed by monocytes and granulocytes compared with leukocyte adhesion to nonirradiated but cytokine-stimulated HDMEC. It is concluded that UVA substantially influences endothelial cell adhesion molecules expression and thus directly interferes with leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. Divergent UVA-induced effects in this respect can be attributed to the mode of UV exposure as well as to the condition of endothelial cells prior to UVA exposure.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces leukocyte recruitment by different mechanisms in vivo and in vitro

It is well established that E-selectin is the endothelial adhesion molecule that is primarily responsible for mediating leukocyte rolling on TNF-alpha-stimulated cultured endothelial cells. Despite this, few studies in in vivo inflammatory models have observed reduced leukocyte accumulation using mAbs against E-selectin. The objective of this study was to compare the function of E-selectin on endothelial cells in vitro with its role in TNF-alpha-induced leukocyte recruitment in vivo using EL246, a mAb that blocks the function of E-selectin on activated feline endothelial cells. In vitro experiments using feline endothelial cells showed that EL246 functionally inhibits E-selectin-dependent leukocyte recruitment induced by TNF-alpha, without affecting the function of other rolling mechanisms. Intravital microscopy of single 25- to 40-microm venules in the feline mesentery was then used to examine leukocyte rolling and adhesion in response to superfusion with TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha treatment significantly increased the number of both rolling and adherent leukocytes and significantly decreased leukocyte rolling velocity. Treatment with EL246 (1 mg/kg), either i.v. at the start of the TNF-alpha protocol or directly into the superior mesenteric artery after 3 h of TNF-alpha treatment, had no effect on leukocyte rolling, adhesion, or rolling velocity. However, treatment with the selectin-binding carbohydrate, fucoidan, reduced leukocyte rolling to below baseline levels. These results suggest that in contrast to its prominent role on cultured endothelial cells, E-selectin does not contribute to leukocyte recruitment in TNF-alpha-stimulated feline mesenteric venules in vivo.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces adhesion molecule expression through the sphingosine kinase pathway

The signaling pathways that couple tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) receptors to functional, especially inflammatory, responses have remained elusive. We report here that TNFalpha induces endothelial cell activation, as measured by the expression of adhesion protein E-selectin and vascular adhesion molecule-1, through the sphingosine kinase (SKase) signaling pathway. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with TNFalpha resulted in a rapid SKase activation and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) generation. S1P, but not ceramide or sphingosine, was a potent dose-dependent stimulator of adhesion protein expression. S1P was able to mimic the effect of TNFalpha on endothelial cells leading to extracellular signal-regulated kinases and NF-kappaB activation, whereas ceramide or sphingosine was not. Furthermore, N, N-dimethylsphingosine, an inhibitor of SKase, profoundly inhibited TNFalpha-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinases and NF-kappaB activation and adhesion protein expression. Thus we demonstrate that the SKase pathway through the generation of S1P is critically involved in mediating TNFalpha-induced endothelial cell activation.     

Phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of E-selectin is regulated during leukocyte-endothelial adhesion

E-selectin, a selectin expressed on activated vascular endothelium, supports rolling and stable adhesion of leukocytes at sites of inflammation. Previously, we have reported that leukocyte adhesion to cultured endothelial cells induces association of the cytoplasmic domain of E-selectin with cytoskeletal elements, suggesting that outside-in signaling may occur during E-selectin-mediated adhesion. To investigate this potential signaling function of E-selectin, HUVEC activated with recombinant human IL-1beta (10 U/ml, 4 h) were labeled with [32P]orthophosphate, and E-selectin was immunoprecipitated using mAb H18/7. Autoradiography revealed constitutive phosphorylation of E-selectin in these cells and time-dependent dephosphorylation following adhesion of HL-60 cells. Cross-linking of cell surface E-selectin using H18/7 and a polyclonal secondary Ab induced E-selectin dephosphorylation, as did adhesion of beads coated with recombinant P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), an E-selectin ligand. Using adenoviral vector-mediated transfection in HUVEC of a tail-less E-selectin and phosphoamino acid analysis, we documented phosphorylation occurring exclusively within the cytoplasmic domain and involving serine residues. Additional experiments using a series of cytoplasmic domain mutants of E-selectin expressed in COS-7 cells localized the regions that were constitutively phosphorylated. Preincubation with okadaic acid and sodium vanadate abrogated adhesion-induced dephosphorylation of E-selectin. Thus, E-selectin, which is constitutively phosphorylated in cytokine-activated human endothelial cells, undergoes an enzymatically regulated dephosphorylation following leukocyte adhesion. This process appears to be triggered by multivalent ligand binding and/or cross-linking of cell surface E-selectin. Ligand-dependent regulation of the phosphorylation of E-selectin's cytoplasmic domain provides additional evidence for a transmembrane signaling function of this molecule during leukocyte-endothelial interactions.     

Imitation of the sequential structure of actions by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Based on the assumption that glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity might be limiting in preventing peroxide-induced impairment of endothelial regulatory functions, we studied the effect of a series of new selenium-containing GPx mimics on endothelial cells exposed to an inflammatory stress. The two compounds that have the highest GPx activity, BXT-51072 and BXT-51077, were shown to be the most efficient inhibitors of leukocyte recruitment by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), upon incubation with neutrophils (10-fold excess over HUVEC) and with 1 ng/ml TNF-alpha for 1 or 3.5 h. When HUVEC were pre- and cotreated with 10 microM of either compound, neutrophil adhesion and endothelial alteration were markedly inhibited, as assessed by immunoassays of myeloperoxidase and von Willebrand factor, respectively. These two GPx mimics were also found to be the most efficient inhibitors of the TNFalpha-induced endothelial expression of P- and E-selectin and of the TNFalpha- or interleukin1-induced endothelial release of interleukin-8. Our results demonstrate that GPx mimics such as BXT-51072 behave as potent antagonists of TNF-alpha and interleukin-1 through the downregulation of endothelial proinflammatory responses.     

Adhesion molecules (E-selectin and ICAM-1) in pulmonary allograft rejection

Vascular endothelial cells act as antigen-presenting cells in the lung allograft and stimulate alloreactive host lymphocytes. Activated lymphocytes and cytokines can induce expression of leukocyte-endothelial adhesion molecules that facilitate invasion of the allograft by circulating leukocytes. To define the role of endothelial HLA class II antigen and adhesion molecule expression in lung allograft rejection, we prospectively analyzed endothelial expression of HLA class II, E-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) antigens in 52 transbronchial biopsy specimens from 24 lung allograft recipients as compared to normal control subjects. Thirty-one of 52 specimens showed histologic rejection and 8 of 24 patients developed histologic obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) by the end of the study period. Increased expression of HLA class II antigen was seen in 32 of 52 (62%) lung allograft specimens, but increased expression did not correlate with acute rejection or OB. In contrast, E-selectin expression was seen in 30 of 52 (58%) biopsy specimens and was associated with acute rejection (p < 0.005) and with the development of OB (p < 0.05). Increased expression of ICAM-1 was seen in only 18 of 52 (35%) biopsy specimens and did not correlate with acute rejection or OB. These data suggest that E-selectin expression may be a tissue marker of acute and chronic lung rejection possibly by promoting leukocyte adhesion to the allograft endothelium. The high levels of endothelial HLA class II expression may reflect long-term antigenic stimulation of the allograft even in the absence of rejection.     

Survey of rheumatic heart disease in school children of Kinshasa town

Leukocyte adhesion under flow is preferentially mediated by the selectins. In this study we used intravital microscopy to investigate whether E-selectin may promote firm leukocyte adhesion in vivo. E-Selectin is expressed by endothelial cells activated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and causes slow leukocyte rolling. Microinjection of formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) or macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) next to a venule of the TNF-alpha-treated mouse cremaster muscle significantly increased the number of adherent leukocytes. In gene-targeted mice homozygous for a null mutation in the E-selectin gene or in wild-type mice treated with an E-selectin monoclonal antibody (mAb), this response was significantly attenuated (by >80%). No such defect was seen in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-deficient mice. E-Selectin-null mice showed more rapid leukocyte rolling than wild-type or ICAM-1-deficient mice, resulting in significantly shortened leukocyte transit times through venules. Topical application of fMLP onto the whole cremaster muscle generated the same number of adherent leukocytes in wild-type and E-selectin-deficient mice. We conclude that slow leukocyte rolling through E-selectin results in long transit times, which are essential for efficient leukocyte adhesion in response to a local chemotactic stimulus.